Why the 2008 Utes are better than any team Boise State has ever had

For those of you who follow this blog, or know me personally, you know that I'm not a big Boise State fan.  In fact I really don't like them at all.  It bugs me how much attention they get year after year for playing a terrible schedule.  I have never said that Boise State is bad.  They are a good team.  They just don't deserve the praise that they get.  Many people want BSU to have a chance at the national championship.  Let's take a look at what last years title winning team had to play to get the the 'ship shall we?

This guy doesn't like Boise State too much either.

Last year Auburn took home the trophy after a controversial season.  Did I like them?  No.  Do I think they cheated?  Yes.  However Boise State has had allegations against their recruiting too.  Auburn's first test of the year was Mississippi State.  This year the Bulldogs have fallen on some rough times, but last years team wen 9-4, beat Michigan in the bowl game, and finished the year in the top 25.  Next they played another team that made it to a bowl game in Clemson.  Clemson didn't have the best season, but at least made it to a bowl game.  After they had to play (then) #12 South Carolina, who ended up being the SEC East champion of last year.  That's 3 weeks in a row with high quality games.  Boise State's lucky if they get 2 quality games in a whole regular season.  Auburn had a close encounter with another bowl bound Kentucky a couple weeks later followed by another game with the #12 ranked Razorbacks.  The week after they played #6 LSU.  That's 4 top 25 teams played in 8 games.  That's not even mentioning the classic they had with Alabama in the Iron Bowl, then manhandling South Carolina in the SEC championship game, followed by the National Championship against Oregon.  Eight of the 14 games Auburn played were against top 25 teams, and 9 of 13 games in the prior to the national championship against teams that were going to a bowl game.

Last year Boise State played 4 teams who were ranked in the top 25.  Virginia Tech (who lost the next week to FCS' James Madison), Oregon State (who didn't even play in a bowl game last year), Nevada (who the Broncos choked against), and Utah (who was overrated all year and playing with a backup QB).  It's not a question of whether or not Boise State is good enough.  But whether or not they deserve it.  Last year I don't think anyone can argue that the most definitely didn't.  This year, Boise has one decent win against Georgia.  Georgia lost the next week as well against an underachieving S. Carolina team, and is currently ranked number 22 in the latest BCS standings.  Other than that, they don't play another ranked team all year, and seldom play a team with a winning record.  They don't deserve to even be in the conversation with the other 3 teams in the top 4.  If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and in college football, the best will beat the best on a constant basis.

Now let's take a look at other "great" teams Boise State has produced.  In 2009 Boise State won the Fiesta Bowl over TCU.  Who did they play before that?  Good question.  We would have to go all the way back to the first game of the year.  They played Oregon who went on to be the Pac-10 champions and would lose in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State.  So they did have 1 quality win in the regular season.  Other than that the most points they gave up were 35 against the La. Tech Bulldogs.  While the big teams are beating down top 25 competition, big bad Boise goes and picks on San Jose State and Bowling Green.  Even if they do have the same talent, they should have to earn it just like everyone else does.  In 2009 Boise didn't earn it.  (Alabama who was the national champion that year, played, and won 4 games against teams in the top 9.)

"Well what about 2006?  We beat Oklahoma that year!" argues the diehard Bronco fan.  But the question is, what did they do to earn the right to even be on the same field as Oklahoma?  I know that wins over Sacramento State, Wyoming, and on the road at bitter, bitter rival Idaho are impressive...but that doesn't cut it for me, or for anyone with a brain.  You can't do nothing the entire regular season, and expect to have the same benefits as a team who plays a death march of a schedule to get there.  This has lead me to my point.

She woulda said, "no" if they had lost.

Any team that doesn't play in an AQ conference, with the BCS system in tact is going to have a tough time getting where they want to go because of a weak schedule.  That wasn't the case with the 2008 Utah Utes.  Boise State usually opens the season with a game against a big team at a neutral site.  The 2008 Utes opened the season with a true road game against the winningest program in college football history, and won.  A few weeks later, a 5-0 Utah team plays against an Oregon State team that had just knocked off the number 1 team in the nation, USC.  Utah beat them too.  Oregon State finished the season 9-4 and in the top 25.  After Oregon State, Utah played TCU (who was ranked 11 or 12 depending on the poll), and beat them too.  Finally the Utes, to solidify another BCS bid, played the number 14 ranked BYU Cougars, and won again.  4 quality wins in the regular season.  That's more quality wins in 1 regular season, than Boise State has had in this regular season, '09, and '06 combined.  After a great regular season, Utah went on to play a team that thought they should be playing in the national championship in Alabama, and Utah destroyed them.  They didn't have a close game like Boise State's games against Oklahoma and TCU.

This is what people do when they win 31-17

Utah proved they had a deserved to be there and they proved it in the regular season.  Boise State has never done that and they won't do it again this year but they'll still make it to a BCS game.  The 2008 Utes proved they belonged, when Boise still hasn't had more than 1 quality wins in a regular season in a looooooooong time.  Down with Boise and all other teams who don't deserve what they get.

At least A-Town understands me.

Follow me on Twitter @crackalacka22

How one team can single-handedly ruin the NBA

Some of you may have heard that the NBA finals are being played between the Dallas Mavericks and the dreaded Miami Heat.  This series has been really interesting for me.  I grew up a fan of the small market Utah Jazz, and traditionally have never cared about the Heat ('til this year), and have despised Dallas for a loooooooooong time.  I want the Mavericks to win, but I have the Heat in 6.

This series has put me in deep thought for some time now.  How could I, Austin Christensen, a life-long Jazz fan, who has hated the Mavericks for as long as I have (started with the 1st round playoffs when the Jazz went up 2-0 and Dallas won 3 straight to win the series) cheer so fervently for them to win the Holy Grail of NBA basketball?  It's because if the Miami Heat win the NBA championship it will completely, utterly, and absolutely destroy the NBA as we know it.  

The NBA has some teams from small markets that have contributed in big ways to the leagues history, and tradition.  The San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trailblazers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Supersonics, and Sacramento Kings have all contributed in great ways and have had great playoff runs in the Western Conference.  All are smaller markets.  In the East you have teams like the Pacers, even the Milwaukee Bucks when they had Lou Alcindor,and Cleveland who are all smaller markets, and have made playoff runs of their own.  The league has a history of smaller markets who make runs in the playoffs and even steal TV ratings (i.e. Memphis this year, and Golden State of 2006).  If the Heat win the Finals this year, it will completely ruin these smaller markets, and in turn, ruin more than half the league.

NBA players normally don't want to go to smaller markets, and the players that are in the small markets, all want to get out (i.e. Rony Seikally and Derek Harper being traded to Utah, and Deron Williams staying in Utah).  LeBron James left his smaller market, home-town team to join Chris Bosh (also leaving a smaller basketball market) and DeWayne Wade in Miami.  The three players contacted each other during the summer, and planned to form a dream team in a desirable market, and are now on the verge of winning an NBA championship.  Amare Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony soon followed suit, joining up in New York, another desirable market to live and play in.  

If the Heat win, all the NBA's superstars are going to be calling each other and trying to find a good location to play ball, and make their own dream teams, virtually eliminating teams like Indiana, Utah, Milwaukee, Minnesota etc. from getting any superstar players of their own.  All the Superstars are going to want to take pay-cuts, and go to bigger markets to play for rings.  Dallas didn't have to do that, and that is why ALL of America, but especially small market America, should be cheering for Dallas to win the NBA Finals.  Dallas is the team that can stick it to the man, and prove that the superstars of the NBA can't do whatever they want to do.  

Miami winning the Finals would mean an end of balance (if there was any to begin with) talent, and depth to the NBA, making it even more predictable, boring, and one-sided than ever.  America, and the NBA need the Mavericks to win this series.  Let's go Mavs!  

Follow me on Twitter @badgerbadger630

2/28/10

Due to popular demand (I can't believe I'm saying that about my blog) I'm back again.  I believe that this is the most I've blogged in, um...ever.  Twice in 5 days.  That's saying something for me.  This has been an interesting week for me personally and in the world of sports, which in all honesty and sadly enough is the world I live in.
Today I want to make some comparisons in between some college basketball teams.  I watched the BYU basketball game this last week.  I was really impressed.  BYU played a great game and shot lights out from behind the 3 point line.  They ended up winning in a hostile Viejas Arena, by double digits.  With the win, and another win over CSU earlier in the week, BYU climbed to number 3 in the latest ESPN polls.  I will say it once and for all, I NEVER SAID THAT BYU IS A BAD TEAM.   I think that they deserve the number 3 spot in the polls by default, because everyone ahead of them keeps losing.  BYU hasn't lost in a while and they should be rewarded for that.  They are doing something that the other top teams aren't: winning.  I think that the quality of the San Diego State win is really overrated though.  Regardless of RPI and the ranking, it is completely overrated.  San Diego State has now only lost two games this year, both to BYU.  Who else have the Aztecs played that would even present a challenge?  Gonzaga (not ranked and is not at the same level of Gonzaga teams of the past), and Saint Mary's (who also doesn't have a quality win on the year).  They were ranked number 4 (or 6 depending on the poll) out of default as well.  BYU beat SDSU and is clearly the better team of the two, and is clearly the best team in the Mountain West.  But SDSU has beat who?  No one.
BYU has also beat an Arizona team this year.  Arizona was ranked in the top ten before a loss to UCLA last week.  Arizona is a good team, but I will use Doug Gottlieb's words as my own "...name the wins BYU has...ZONA and ??? Utah State?"  I think that BYU has talent, but I don't think they can/will match up against other top teams in March.  BYU has 1 win which I would really consider quality (the Zona win), and 0 bad losses.  The teams ranked ahead of BYU are Ohio State  (#1) and Kansas (#2).  Let's take a look at their schedules.  Ohio State's quality wins; @Florida, Minnesota (x2), Michigan (x2), and Purdue.  OSU has two losses on the year as well, coming in two of the toughest places to play in the country.  At Wisconsin, and at Purdue.  Now let's look at Kansas.  Quality wins; Arizona, UCLA, Memphis, @Michigan, Kansas St., and Mizzou.  Losses coming against a good Texas team, and another good Kansas St. team.  When you look at the resumes there is no comparison.  To show everyone I'm not a homer, I'll compare BYU to the Utes.  Once Utah football actually played someone worth noting, they got crushed.  Utah was ranked number 5 in the nation by default.  All the teams ahead of them were losing and Utah just kept winning.  Utah played TCU and we all remember what happened.  I don't think that BYU can compete with Kansas, Ohio St., or even some of the teams they are ranked higher than like Duke, or Pitt.  I think that if BYU played any of them they would lose.  But I do think that BYU is the best team in the conference still.  I think BYU will win at least one game in the Big Dance as well.
Tonight the Jazz will play and honestly probably lose to the Celtics.  From what I've seen in the last two games with Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, the Jazz' future is very bright.  The Jazz did lose against Detroit but all facts considered I wasn't that disappointed.  We had a guy starting at Point Guard who had practiced with the Jazz once, and they were playing in back-to-back nights, not-to-mention the fact that the Jazz just aren't playing very well lately.  But the future looks promising with our new players.  Devin Harris had 17 points and 12 assists against the Pistons.  That's after one practice.  Also, when he was asked what he brings to the Jazz he responded in one word, "leadership".  I've liked this guy for a while.  I'm also happy that we lost a "leader" in Deron Williams, but picked up perhaps a better one in Devin Harris.  Go Jazz.
That's the way it is folks.  Love it or hate it, it's just the way it is.  Let the debating begin.

2/23/10

It's been a while, and I sincerely apologize to both of you that read this.
There is a lot of stuff I could write about right now.  I could talk about Jerry Sloan, the Jazz, BYU basketball, #1's losing, but I choose to talk about Deron Williams.
Deron was a great Jazz point guard for about 5 1/2 seasons.  During that entire time I could never see Deron playing for another team.  I thought I would be seeing number 8 hanging in the rafters at ESA in about 10 years.  Earlier this season Deron was involved in an argument with Jazz legend, and former Head Coach Jerry Sloan.  The day after said argument, Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson both resigned from their positions.  These two were so iconic in the state of Utah, that the other day an asian exchange student stopped me on campus and said, "Now you no have Sa-loan.  What you do now?"  After running Jerry outta town it seemed like the end was near.  Now it's a whole new ball game.
Deron was the one running the team.  It was so out of control that not even Jerry Sloan was willing to handle it.  He could of had he wanted to, but he didn't want to so he resigned.  Tyrone Corbin was named the new Skipper of the Jazz, but Deron still had control of the team.  With Deron at the helm things were only looking down.
Today, 2/23/10, The Utah Jazz traded Deron Williams for Derrick Favors (who was the number 3 draft pick from last years draft), and Devin Harris who is a year older than Deron, and is a solid, disciplined point guard.  The Jazz also get 2 draft picks in the deal, and both very well could be lottery picks.
This team is now %100 Tyrone Corbin's team.  Devin Harris isn't necessarily the best point guard number wise in the league.  He is, however, something that the Jazz love, and need which is a disciplined point guard who is great at distributing the ball.  He can drive, drive and dish, and he can score.
The Jazz also got Derrick Favors.  6'10", 245 lbs, athletic, and has a ton of potential.  The Jazz height is loaded now.  We have Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Memo (when healthy), Fesenko, Evans, Elson and the recently acquired Favors.  The Jazz have height.  I think the Jazz need to improve their back court with the upcoming draft.  A consistent 2 guard who can slash and defend is a must for the Jazz.  Right now Wes Matthews is looking really good.  I tweeted (follow me @badgerbadger630) that Jazz fans haven't been truly happy with a 2 guard since Jeff Hornacek.  I had someone tell me that fans were happy with Kyle Korver.  Fans liked him because he's a shooter, and fans love shooters, but he wasn't a great fit with the Jazz.  Devin Harris, though he's not Deron Williams, is a solid Point Guard, and lead the Mavericks to some great seasons.
Deron had to go.  We've known it for a couple of weeks now.  Get it all over with now.  Interesting times to be a Jazz basketball fan.  Jazz, welcome to the future.