Week 3

Sports Bucket List

Due to the fact that I saw the movie, “The Bucket List” for the first time this week, I decided to make my very own bucket list; sports style.  These are some of the things that I would like to do before I die.  I’m not going to put them in any certain order.  Keep in mind that they are things I would personally like to do, not necessarily things that I suggest everyone else do.  Enjoy!

1-Attend an Olympic men’s volleyball match

                Volleyball is a lot of fun, it’s fast, and very exciting.  Very underrated sport

2-Attend the NCAA football national championship

3-Attend the 3 games of the men’s basketball Final Four

4-Go to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field

5- Go to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, and cheer for the Red Sox

6-Go to an LSU football game in Death Valley

                Any stadium that can cause a minor earthquake when their team scores a touchdown, is definitely worth seeing.  Plus LSU is my favorite SEC team.

7-Go to a Men’s Basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

                I’ve always liked Duke, and any arena that only holds 8,000 people and still scares the heck out of opponents has got to be a good time.

8-Go to a Utah vs. USC football game in the Coliseum

                I don’t like USC, but there is a lot of history there.  Utah is going to be playing there every other year now as well.

9-Get courtside tickets to a Utah Jazz playoff game

10-Get sideline passes to a University of Utah vs. BYU football game at Rice Eccles Stadium

11-Attend a Flamengo game in Rio de Janeiro in Maracana. 

                Brazilian soccer fans are NUTS, plus that stadium holds 120,000 screaming fans

12-Go to a Brazil national team soccer game at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

                Everything you hear about Brazil during the world cup is true.  The place stops.  I’ve never seen a place as depressed and sad as when they lost against Holland this last year.  I’ve also never seen a place get as passionate for a team as the Brazilians did

13-Go to a World Series game

14- Go to a Super Bowl

15-Go to ANY Boise State game and cheer against them

                I’ve never liked them and I think it would be crazy fun to cheer against them.  I went to their game against Utah State in 2007 in E.L. Romney Stadium, but I don’t think you could really call that a game.  USU lost 59-0.

16-Go to a Michigan vs. Ohio St. football game in the Big House

17-Go to a game of the Dream team in the Olympics

                I saw them once in ’96 when Stockton and Malone were still on the team against Australia in what is formerly known as the Delta Center.  I wasn’t old enough to appreciate it though.

18-Go to every University of Utah football game 1 year, home and away

19-Go to a UCLA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion

20-Drive a Zambonie at an intermission of a hockey game.

This week has been dubbed around the country as, “Rivalry Week”.  Most of the traditional big rivals will be playing this week in college football.  There will be the Bedlam Game in Oklahoma (between OU, and OSU.  Should be interesting considering that both teams are ranked in the top 15 for the first time since who knows when.), Michigan vs. Ohio State (shouldn’t be nearly as fun, because Michigan’s defense is horrible, and they aren’t playing very good football), The Iron Bowl between Bama and Auburn (always a classic.  A lot of hate in this one.  Auburn is trying to keep it’s N.C. appearance hopes alive, and Bama is arguably the best 2 loss team in the nation), Texas vs. Texas A&M, the Battle for the Golden Boot between LSU and Arkansas as well (both teams in top 12, LSU is playing for the chance at an appearance in Atlanta for the SEC championship game); however the big game this week for me, is the “Holy War” between the Runnin’ Utes, and BYU. 

1^st off I’d like to say that this game isn’t a “Holy War”.  BYU vs. TCU, SMU, or Notre Dame is a Holy War.  In my opinion, the game should just be called the “Battle for the Beehive Boot” or somewhere along those lines.  The U. isn’t a religious institution, therefore it doesn’t make sense to dub the rivalry a “holy” one.  BYU fans would definitely agree that Utah fans aren’t holy as well.  Just ask Max Hall or Austin Collie

Something that also bugs me about this rivalry, is the lack of national attention and respect that it gets.  I recently read on a respected sports website that this is the best in-state rivalry there is.  He wrote that the rivalry is huge, it just doesn’t get any respect from outside the state of Utah, which I would have to agree with.  There is a lot of passion, energy, emotion, and (sadly enough) hate in this rivalry.  People from around the nation just don’t care though for a couple of reasons.  They don’t care because (for now) both teams are playing in the cupcake Mountain West conference.  They also don’t care because Utah isn’t a traditional football state.  Utah for a long time was known for putting up great basketball teams, and mediocre football teams.  Now the tides have turned a bit, it just seems like the national tide is not recognizing it.

I’ve wrote about this game before, various times actually.  I always love when “Rivalry Week” rolls around.  This time it’s coming around on Thanksgiving weekend.  I’m very excited to be home for the big game this weekend.  My house truly becomes a house divided on Rivalry Week, and even more so this week.  There will be the heated Madden Bowl against A-Town; a turkey day tradition between my older brother and I.  Also, there is the huge BYU vs. Utah game.  The winner will get a bid to the not-so-important Las Vegas bowl this year against the 5^th place team from the Pac-10.  I’m very excited for this game this year because it seems like the fans (mostly from one side of the rivalry which I will not name) have been exceptionally obnoxious this year.  I’ve been saying for weeks now that neither team should, or even could trash talk, because they are both beating up on the same teams that have losing records.  After this weekend, let the trash talk start.

Some of my best sporting memories, great moments and traditions have come from this game.  34-31, Utah using BYU for its launching pad into the BCS two times, Kaneshiro goes off the upright, Harline breaks Utah’s heart in the endzone, overtime wins, backup quarterbacks stepping in to win the game, 4^th quarter comebacks, Max Hall throwing 5 interceptions in 1 game, and lots of trash talk.  7 of the last 10 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, and 2 of them in Overtime  This time around, there is no doubt as to who has had the better season.  BYU has just gotten hot at the right time.  An announcer for the Mtn. said that he thinks that BYU is playing as well as anyone in the conference, INCLUDING TCU.  1^st off, I agree BYU is playing a lot better than they were before, 2^nd off BYU is nowhere NEAR TCU.  Not even close!  BYU fans are now hallucinating that their team is one of the best in the nation, just as Utah fans were when they played, and smashed all these 1 or 2 win bo didilee schools.  BYU has a longer winning streak, and Utah is coming off 2 huge letdowns, and 1 emotional (and classic) come from behind victory in San Diego where Jordan Wynn finally re-hit his stride.

When I think of this game, there are a couple of huge elements that are going to play against BYU.  The crowd at Rice-Eccles stadium in my opinion is one of the best in the nation.  That place is one of the most underrated stadiums, and home-field advantages in the western half of the U.S.  That being said, home-field hasn’t mattered a whole lot in this rivalry.  BYU has won quite a bit in Salt Lake recently.  But we also have to take into consideration that BYU will be playing with Jake Heaps at quarterback.  Jake Heaps hasn’t played in, or even thought of a game of this stature in his life.  It will be interesting to see how he does with the crowd noise, and with his poise.  If he can keep his composure BYU will have a much better chance.  If.

Utah also has a couple of things going against them.  Utah’s pass defense has been horrible lately.  It’s been one of the worst in the nation.  BYU’s passing offense has been almost impeccable recently too.  Jake Heaps looked like a 10 year old Pop Warner quarterback earlier this season.  In the first 6 games of the season he had only 1 touchdown pass, and 4 picks.  In the last 3 he is yet to throw an interception. 

Both teams has a lot going for them, and have a lot going against them.  Utah was definitely overrated earlier this season, and in all honesty, I think that BYU is overrated now.  Which teams will show up this Saturday at Rice Eccles?  I can’t gurantee anything.  But my prediction is Jake Heaps getting really messed up with his communication, and the noise at R.E.S., Utah’s defense making some big plays, and  Utah pulls out the victory 34 BYU 27.

WE’LL FIGHT FOR DEAR OLE CRIMSON FOR A U-TAH MAN AM I!!!!!!!!!  GO UTES!!!!!

Week 2

I give a greeting to both of you who actually read this blog.  It's been an interesting weekend in sports.  BYU and Utah football played.  I'll also be talking about why neither of these teams can, or should be trash-talking until after the game is played.  Let's get to steppin'!

So BYU played Colorado State this last weekend in Fort Collins, Co.  After a 49-10 trouncing of the 3-8 (2-5) Rams, BYU and their fans were very excited and I don't blame them.  It was a big win and Jake Heaps had a big week.  Threw for 242 yards, and is starting to actually resemble a quarterback somewhat.  Good for him.  I'm happy for him, and BYU.  They did suffer a lot earlier this season, and it's about time that they started picking things up.  I will admit as well that Bronco Mendenhall (even though I don't like him), has impressed me a lot with some of the things he's done at BYU.

1- Bronco is the person who really developed and dare I say created the 3-3-5 stack defense.  This defense is Bronco's baby.  He made it big when he was at New Mexico as the D. Coordinator.  When he came to BYU it seemed like it spread throughout the land pretty fast.  I was impressed because Bronco abandoned it when he realized that it isn't working.  He got rid of it, and went to a more traditional 3-4.  That takes a lot of guts from someone who spent so much time trying to develop it.
2-He trusted someone else to be his defensive coordinator.  He did fire his d cooridinator this year, but there are many people (i.e. Gary Crowton) who don't allow assistants in their field of expertise.  Bronco did trust someone.  It didn't work out, but it was impressive to me.  Now he's taken his defense back, and they really  are looking good.
3-Bronco is one of the few people who realizes that BYU's success right now is because of the lack of competition.  On 1320 KFAN today on the DJ and PK show, Bronco admitted that BYU's recent success is due to a lack of quality competition.

I did some research about BYU's schedule recently.  The teams they've played in the 2nd half of the season.  They've played traditional powerhouses of college football, such as 3 win Colorado State, 2 win Wyoming and UNLV, and 1 win New Mexico.  The combined record of the teams that BYU has played or will play in the second half of the season is a combined 26-36.  19 of those 26 wins come from Utah, and TCU; however, BYU is the hot team heading into November 27th's showdown in Salt Lake City.

Utah football also had quite the weekend.  Quite the weekend indeed.  They headed to arguably the biggest college football powerhouse (not recently) in history, in South Bend, Indiana this week to play the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  I had multiple friends at the game, and they all told me that this place is reaking with history.  Notre Dame has won more NCAA football championships than any other school, with 11.  Heading into this game, Notre Dame was 4-5 and they were going to be starting a true freshman at QB.  Utah was coming out with a chip on their shoulder, and had the opportunity to prove how good they were on national TV.  Couldn't be a bigger, or better setting for the Utes right?  Wrong!

Utah came out and scored a Field Goal on the opening drive.  3-0.  I thought to myself that I'd rather have a touchdown, but a field goal will do.  After that it only went down hill.

Utah's pass defense (which 3 weeks ago was ranked 6th in the nation) got torn up by the freshman Tommy Rees, for 3 touchdowns.  I could hear my Dad in Sandy yelling "TOAST!" to Utah's secondary.  I could see my brother Aaron putting his head in his hands, and my Mother pumping her fist, and screaming "'U' had it coming!" at the TV.  I, for myself, was sittin here in Ephraim, drinking Dr. Pepper and eating pringles in disbelief as I saw 1 of Sellwood's many punts on the day get blocked, and returned for a touchdown.

Utah is lucky to even be ranked still.  They don't even look like a top 50 team.  Jordan Wynn looks the the backup QB that played on my JV team in high school.  His passes aren't crisp, and the passes he is making, are horrible. I understand that Wynn might very well be, "the quarterback of the future", but he did NOTHING to earn his spot.

I love Kyle Whittingham.  I think he's a good person, as well as a great coach.  He is arguably one of the best defensive minds of our time in College Football.  Utah's defense has put up one of the best defensive teams in the nation year in and year out.  I've never been as upset, or frustrated with him, as I am right now.  Why am I frustrated?  On we go!

1-Shaky Smithson, who has been the bright spot of Utah all year, game in and out has made few mistakes this year.  Against Pitt he fumbled the ball twice.  In between the Pitt game, and the ND game, he had 3 returns for over 70 yards, 2 returned for touchdowns, and has been the best returner in the nation (hands down), showing flashes of football genius and doing things that I've never seen done.  He made one mistake against ND, and he got benched.  After 1 mistake, the best player at his position in the nation is benched.

2-Terrance Cain as a starter at the University of Utah is 10-0.  He's never lost.  He's perfect.  He might not have put up the biggest numbers, but the man won.  Other QB's that didn't put up big numbers but won big games...hmmm...Brian Johnson, or Brandon Doman perhaps?  If I remember correctly Johnson did lead the Utes to a perfect season, and a Sugar Bowl victory.  Doman lead BYU to an amazing come from behind victory AT Utah, and to a 12-2 season.  If you only throw for 100 yards every game, and win every game, I don't care what you do.  You're winning.  Terrance Cain is a man who wins.  Why is he benched?

3-Jordan Wynn is not winning.  He's Wynning.  I've never been a Jordan Wynn fan.  I didn't see him last year, but from what I've seen from him this year I don't like him.  I never have.  Going back to the mistakes thing, Jordan Wynn threw 3 interceptions against Wyoming.  Yes you read that right, 3 against Wyoming.  That really was the...uh...turning point of Utah's season.  After that game everything went downhill.  The offense, defense and special teams.  Wynn threw for 148 yards against TCU, and 194 against ND.  In those three games he's thrown 2 TD's, and 6 interceptions, they've scored a total of 35 points (they were averaging over 40 before this stretch) and the Utes are 1-2.  He's done something that Cain hasn't.  He's lost.  Why isn't Wynn on the bench?

Whittingham claims that he hasn't heard the boos or comments from Utah fans complaining about Wynn's recent performance.  Is he deaf?  Does he not read the newspaper, or listen to the radio, or talk to ANYONE who is involved, or likes, or even pays attention to the program that he is leading?  In the Salt Lake tribune after the Notre Dame game, he said that Utah was going to "re-evaluate the Quarterback position".  I was assuming that that meant Cain was going to start talking.  Today he came out and said that Wynn will get the start, "for now".  Does Kyle Whittingham not like winning?  Does he want our offense to not score points?

For BYU, and Utah it's been complete role-reversal.  BYU's first half opponents have a combined record of 37-23.  Those included games against 9-1 Nevada, and in Tallahassee to play a 7-3 Florida State team.  Utah's first half opponents?  16-45 including 2 teams that have won only 1 game.  Out of those teams, 10 of the wins come from a 5-4 Pitt team, and an underrated 5-6 Iowa State team.

What about the second half of the season?   Utah's opponents 38-25, and BYU's 26-36.  BYU fans don't realize that they are crushing the same teams that Utah has already owned.  Utah's been there and done that.  The Mountain West Conference as a whole is very very weak.  It's making TCU look like Boise State.  They get 1 big game a year, win it, than it's home free.  BYU is a little over-confident (as was Utah in the first half of the season), and Utah was (and still is) waaaaaaay overrated.  Utah is a mediocre team who crushed those first half teams in all their cupcake games, and lost all the big ones.  That's exactally what BYU is doing right now.  They are a very average team who is dominating the pillow-fight games that Utah has already yawned through.

Neither one of these 2 teams can trash talk.  Why?  Because both of them lost the big games that they played, and both teams are beating the same teams, that won't even finish with a .500 record to qualify for one of the way-too-many bowl games there are.  I think that overall the better team is Utah.  I really do.  However, it doesn't matter who the better team is, just who's hot at the time.  Just ask LeBron, Dwight Howard, or Joe Johnson about that.  BYU fans are trying to trash talk me, or other Utah fans about BYU's recent success.  What can they say?  "We beat CSU by 39!" Utah beat them by 53.  Or, "We've won 3 in a row!"  Utah won 8 in a row.  The point is, every game counts.  Some count a little more than others.  The ones that count a little more than others, neither team won.  They are two average teams, who will play a very heated game this year, and will get an average bowl game to go to, that don't really matter for anything anyway.  Utah very well could go to the Vegas Bowl, and BYU to the Poinsettia bowl, but neither of those games count for nearly anything when we put it into perspective.

Thanks for reading.  Don't be stupid fans.  Stay classy Utah!

Week 1

I've been a sports fan for as long as I can remember.  A big one.  My earliest sports memories were from when I lived in Holladay, Utah watching a Utah Jazz vs. Boston Celtics game on TV with my parents.  I was somewhere from 2-4 years old in this time period.  I remember seeing my Dad laying on the ground, my Mom on the couch, and both were yelling at the T.V.  From that point in time I've been some might say a bit obsessive with sports.  I love them.  I've always wanted my chance to share my opinions with others.  Splitting the D was created so I could do so.
This weeked was an interesting one.  I'm currently attending Snow College in Ephraim, Utah which is about 2 1/2 hours south of Salt Lake.  I bought a ticket to the Utah vs. TCU game this week and sat with my brother in the MUSS.  It was an interesting game for me.  It was my first D. I college football game since I've been home from a 2 year break from American sports.  I was very impressed with Utah's crowd.  I thought the crowd was awesome, and was probably the best crowd I've ever seen at ANY sporting event I've ever attended.  My voice was gone before the game even started, and there were no empty seats, 15 minutes before the game even started.  It had the atmosphere of a BCS game.  I remember going to the Fiesta on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 2004-05.  There were a lot of similar festivities and activities before the game.  The hype was there, as were College Gameday, and ESPN radio. 
It started out at the tailgate party for the MUSS, and I got 1 number off on the raffle to win sideline passes for the whole game.  That would have been fun being down by Utah greats such as, but not limited to Ben Moa, Alex Smith, and Jamal Anderson.  After that we saw the crazy accordion guy singing "Utah Man Sir" in a polka style.  Never seen, or heard the likes of that.  I probably never will again for the rest of my life either.  It was fun!  Not something I'd like to see every day though.  After that we entered into the line, and Scott, Aaron and I started talking about how it's too bad to see the Utah, BYU rivalry get as bad as it's going to be next year.  I've had some great memories with this rivalry.  Some of my best sports memories have come from it.  There have been some absolute classic games in this rivalry.  The conference championship has been decided in this rivalry game.  Next year, Utah and BYU will be in different conferences (actually BYU won't even be in a conference), and the game is going to be played in the 3rd game of the season, right after Utah plays USC in L.A.  Those 2 factors are going to change the shape of this rivalry.  BYU fans get mad at Utah for leaving and going to the Pac-12.  But honestly, if BYU had the decision it would have done the same thing.  It would be stupid NOT to accept actually. 
Anyway, we were talking about it and a drunk guy in front of us heard it.  He turned around and made some...interesting points.  He said, "who needs BYU anyway.  I'd rather have a rivalry with Utah State.  It's a nicer drive.  It's a nicer place to play in, and...who needs BYU anyway?  I mean do you know what the 5th place bowl is for the Pac-12?"  To which I responded, "The Las Vegas Bowl."  "Exactally.  Who needs BYU anyway.  Instead of going to Laramie, Albuquerque, San Diego.  Well San Diego is a nice place, but they don't have fans.  But we're going to be getting the sun, going to the beach and the Oregon coast.  We get the Sun Bowl..." I jumped in, "The Rose Bowl."  He looked shocked, and said, "Oh no you di-ent!"  "Oh yes I did!"  That was definitely one of the funniest things I saw all day.  Almost as funny as seeing Jordan Wynn trying to pick apart the TCU defense...oh boy.
We got into the game, the MUSS was ready, the whole crowd (with exception of the visitors section) was decked out in black.  I was stoked.  I never felt like Utah was going to win this game.  I never made any predictions because my head, and heart got a little confused.  But once the game started, and Andy Dalto and TCU marched right down the field for their 1st touchdown I knew we were in trouble.  That whole 1st drive the crowd was excited, and loud.  Loudest crowd I've ever heard.  Gary Patterson said before the game that he wanted to take the crowd out of it early.  That's exactally what they did.  I also told my brother before the game that if Utah wanted to have a chance, the crowd would have to stay in it.  I told him we couldn't let TCU score on their first 2 posessions...which they did, and successfully took the crowd out of the game.
Everything was going TCU's way.  There were at least 3 missed pass interference, 3 holdings, and 2 blocks in the back that I saw that should have gone against TCU.  They got a couple of lucky bounces (i.e. fumble recovered 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and returned for a td).  Jordan Wynn played horribly, and even got booed by home fans.  I don't remember the last time I saw a QB performance as bad as Wynn's last.  In my opinion Terrance Cain never should have lost his starting job.  The guy is a winner.  He is 10-0 as a starter.  What more can you ask for?  He started 2 games this season, and made some pinpoint passes.  Perfect passes.  Why isn't he starting?  I appreciate Kyle Whittingham thinking about the future.  But is the future enough of a reason (or excuse) to forget about the now?  Why did he not put Cain in?  I don't see ANY logic behind it.  So really there were a couple of things that really needed to be better in this game.  1-Reffering (I realize that the missed calls they didn't make weren't going to make a difference, but they missed a couple of blatent ones), 2-Quarterbacking (Wynn isn't the man.  I've never been a fan, and he proved why I shouldn't be a fan in this last game) 3-Coaching (TERR-ANCE CAIN!  TERR-ANCE CAIN) 4-Utah's tackling, 5-Utah's receiving.  Wynn wasn't playing well at all, but whenever he did make a good throw, it seemed like his receivers, I won't mention names *cough DeVonte Christopher cough* wouldn't make the catch, or would fumble.  TCU played their very best game, and Utah played it's very worst.
In the end I had a great time.  I really did.  We danced the rest of the game away, heckled as only true fans can, and laughed our stinkin' guts out.  I'm glad I could make my way up to see the biggest game (and letdown) in Utah history.
After that I came home, plopped down on the couch after dancing the ride home away with my bro, and decided to watch some Jazz basketball...much to my dismay they were down 18, to the Clippers, at home.  Yes you read that right.  Long story short, the Jazz come from behind to win in 2 OT.  I'm happy the Jazz got the "W".  I really am.  A win is never ever a bad thing.  However, as most "Jazz fans" celebrated, I wasn't as happy.  There were a couple of really disappointing, and even disgusting facts about this game to me.  Let's review.  1-The Jazz were down 18 points to the Clippers.  To me, and Jerry Sloan I'm sure that is not acceptable at all.  The Clippers!  I understand they have Eric Gordon, and Blake Griffin, but the Jazz are clearly the more talented team, and always have been.  2-The Jazz were down 18 points to the Clippers AT HOME!  We claim to have a great home-court advantage; I still think we do, but at home?  That's rough.  3-It took the Jazz OT to beat the Clippers at home.  Really?  4- It took the Jazz 2 OT to beat the Clippers at home.  5-We gave up the lead that we regained late in the game to let the Clippers come back.  The Clippers were making big plays (i.e. Eric Gordon's hammer dunk down the lane to tie it up), but also the Jazz just didn't look excited to play.  Our defense was really bad IMHO, but there were a couple of bright points about the game as well.  1- Paul Millsap is the man.  He truly is emerging to be an NBA star, and arguably one of the best 4's in the game right now.  I can't say how impressed I am with the overlooked 2nd round draft pick.  One of Kevin O' Connor's best moves EVER.  2- Andrei started getting into a rhythm.  He is the 6th highest paid player in the NBA.  Better start playing like it.  3- The Jazz showed they can come from behind, and 4-we can win close games.  I'm hoping the Jazz are just in a slump right now.  I'm hoping that Memo can make a difference as well when he comes back.  One things for sure, something's got to change with the way we are playin ball.  We've got Miami (in South Beach) tomorrow, followed up by other strong teams in the East, Orlando, and Atlanta, after which we get the lowly Bobcats.  The who's who of former NCAA stars.  This trip will show a lot about the Jazz.  Should be interesting seeing how we match up against the Miami "Threet", and how Big Al and our low post game matches up against the manchild Dwight Howard.  I'm looking forward to it, but I don't expect the Jazz to get more than 2 wins on this trip.
On a brighter note, the Snow College Badgers did beat Phoenix CC this last weekend to solidify the conference championship for the billionth year in a row!  They are in a 2-way tie with the Gauchos of Arizona Western for 1st place.  Congrats!  I'm excited to see the game this weekend against the conference champion from the scenic northwest of the U.S. of A., then to see them in the ever-so prestigious Top of the Mountians Bowl at Rio Tinto Stadium!
Anyone see that hit on Austin Collie?  Man...he must have done something really unrighteous this time.  He has had a great year though.  Clean hit too.  Hmmph!
Thanks for reading this weeks edition!  I'm out!  Be excellent to each other!