The Colts' Problems

The Andrew Luck era has been a total success thus far in Indianapolis. The Colts are now 19-10 under Luck in two seasons, and have clinched their division already.

The Colts and their fans should be pleased to have this much success early in the Luck era. After a 2-14 season without Peyton Manning, the Colts went out and selected Luck, first overall from Stanford. Few people expected the Colts to do anything, including make the playoffs last year.

In his rookie season, Luck led a team that had gaping holes on both sides of the ball to an 11-5 record and a wild card spot. This season, Luck and the Colts have defeated three top NFL teams, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle. After sitting at 6-2, the Colts have dropped three of their last five, leading to a cause for concern from most Colts fans.

Before jumping to criticize the front office, the coaching, or even the team’s star QB, you have to look at things from a different perspective. Indianapolis was the worst team in football two seasons ago. During a crazy season last year, fueled by the story of head coach Chuck Pagano’s leukemia recovery, Indianapolis was starting six rookies on offense at one point in the season.

The Colts were getting out of this world production from WR LaVon Brazill, a 6^th round pick, and WR T.Y. Hilton,  a 3^rd round pick. Tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener were successful rookies. Additionally, due to injury and lack of production from starters, the Colts were starting RB Vick Ballard, yet another rookie alongside Luck.

This season, the story has been injuries. The Colts are down reliable veteran and team leader, Reggie Wayne. Dwayne Allen and Vick Ballard are out for the season. Continuing, the Colts are playing without free agent Ahmad Bradshaw and LG Donald Thomas. Right now, the Colts are missing so many offensive weapons, it would be challenging for any team to be successful on the offensive side of the ball.

Looking ahead, the currently 8-5 Colts appear to be in trouble. They will most likely finish with 10 or 11 wins, which should get them the four seed in the AFC. This sets up a first round game with Kansas City at home. A win there sets up a road game at Denver or New England.

The Colts may not win a playoff game this season. However, before anyone jumps on head coach Chuck Pagano, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, or QB Andrew Luck, do not forget that this very young Colts team has been decimated by injuries all over the field. In the future, the Colts will be a force to be reckoned with, once they fill some holes on the offensive line, get everyone healthy, and mature as a football team. 

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Is Ruben Amaro Jr. Crazy for Wanting to Deal Domonic Brown?

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported earlier today that Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was looking to deal All-Star Domonic Brown, and would plan to sell high. What would make Amaro want to deal arguably the best hitter on the Phillies, at a time when the Phillies need young talent? Is he crazy for wanting to do this? For once, I actually agree with Amaro Jr., especially if he deals Brown in a package that includes Jonathan Papelbon, as was reported by Jim Salisbury, a CSN Philly Insider.

If Brown is indeed the Phillies best hitting option, that means a guy that had a .272 batting average with 27 homers and 83 runs batted in will be the heart of the Phillies for the future. That is pretty good for a years span, but consider that half of Brown's homers came in that three week stretch at the end of May and beginning of June where he was arguably the best player in baseball. What does that mean? It means that Dom Brown was great for three weeks last year, and was average the rest of the season. 

The Phillies do not need to have an average player as their best option when they could trade him for more than he is worth. If Amaro Jr. could trade an average player in Dom Brown along with Jonathan Papelbon and can actually good prospects/young talent in return, he would be insane not to do it. Get rid of Brown while his stock is high, and if the Phillies have to eat money with Papelbon, Amaro Jr. should not hesitate to do so.

It is evident that the Philadelphia Phillies will not be good for a couple of years, maybe more, as they have an aging core and a horrific farm system. There is no point in keeping your best player, who is average, if his talent will not be contributing towards success. Trade him while his stock is high as he's entering his prime, and eat the money on Papelbon if he's a part of the package. 

If Ruben Amaro Jr. can trade Dom Brown for top prospects along with Jonathan Papelbon, it would be a genius move (Ruben Amaro Jr. and the word "genius" in the same sentence, you won't see that too often). I would actually like to see Papelbon go before Brown, but no team will take him unless they get Brown, which I would not be upset with either. 

To sum things up, Ruben Amaro Jr. is not crazy for looking to trade Domonic Brown, the most average All-Star I have ever seen; and he especially is not crazy for wanting to deal Brown along with Papelbon. But, if Ruben cannot trade Papelbon in the same package as Brown, I would not trade Brown at all. Take it for what it's worth Ruben, I am with you on this one. 

Image Source: CSN Philly (http://www.csnphilly.com/sites/csnphilly/files/062513_domonic-brown.jpg)

The Philadelphia Eagles Continue to Fly

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles continued their winning ways with a 34-20, in a game that will go down as the "Snow Bowl". This was the Eagles fifth win in a row, three of which have been in Philly, where the Eagles could not buy a win earlier in the year and in the latter part of last year. The offense is clicking on all cylinders, and the defense continues to make key stops along with forcing turnovers. Chip Kelly critics are now struggling to come up with ways to blather his apparent "college offense" that put up 34 points in a blizzard, and ran for 299 yards against the NFL's second best rush defense in Detroit.

What more do people need to see from Nick Foles? The dude is an efficient, scoring machine. It took eight inches of snow and horrific conditions for Foles to throw his first interception; and he would not have thrown an interception on that specific play if Mother Nature had been favorable yesterday. Foles is plowing through the checklist that all young quarterbacks need to go through in order to prove that they can be a franchise quarterback. Have consistent play for an extended period of time? You can check that off (I'd say a five-game winning streak and a 7-1 record in his starts is consistency). Play well against a respectable defense? Check (Cardinals and Lions). Battle in a tough environment and get the win? Check (Won at Green Bay and in yesterday's blizzard). If you rode Foles off after his horrendous start against Dallas, he has proven you wrong; and if you still think Foles has something to prove, you're insane.

LeSean McCoy along with the rest of the Eagles offensive weapons have proved why they should be considered one of the best in the NFL.  McCoy personally is not only making a case for MVP, but he is also making the case to be considered the best running back in the NFL. He has the most rushing yards in the NFL with 1,305, and has the most yards from scrimmage with 1,744 (439 receiving yards). DeSean Jackson and Riley Cooper are emerging as a dominant WR combination; and lets not forget that Jeremy Maclin is out. When Maclin comes back next year, the Eagles WR core will extremely dangerous with Foles throwing to them. These past two games against the Cardinals and Lions, the Eagles have shown that teams should not sleep on tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. With Shady McCoy doing Shady McCoy things, Jackson and Cooper continuing to light it up, and Ertz along with Celek emerging as a respectable TE combination, the Eagles offense will be tough to stop for the remainder of this year, and for years to come.

The Eagles defense is finally starting to get the respect that it deserves around the league. They only gave up eight points to an explosive Lions offense (12 of the Lions 20 points came off of punt and kick returns). People may use the weather as an excuse for the Lions only scoring eight points, but the Eagles offense had to function in the same conditions, and they put up 34 points. No excuses. The Eagles defense has not given up 21 points or more since they went up against Peyton Manning in week 4 back in September. One of the main arguments bashing the Eagles defense is that they give up "too many yards". Who cares? Last time I checked, the score board counts points, not yards.

Both the offensive and defensive line units have been the unsung heroes of this Eagles team. Evan Mathis, the Eagles right guard, is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He was left in a horrible situation last year when the rest of the Eagles offensive lineman got hurt, and Mathis was stuck blocking with a bunch of scrubs, which made him look bad. This year, with All-Pro tackle Jason Peters along with All-Pro guard Todd Herremans and center Jason Kelce returning from injury, the Eagles offensive line has been one of the best units in the NFL, needless to say they also have a rookie in Lane Johnson at right tackle. The Eagles defensive line has also done a tremendous job causing havoc at the line of scrimmage with their blitz schemes. Bennie Logan, Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Trent Cole, Brandon Graham, and Connor Barwin deserve a tremendous amount of credit for their pass rushing abilities along with how they've slowed down opponents rushing attacks, which is something the Eagles could not do at the end of the Andy Reid regime.

Andy Reid did not leave this team in shambles when he got fired, the players themselves were just literally in shambles. There was talent on this team, but Reid's philosophy and ways of doing things were just no longer working. Chip Kelly and his coaching staff's fresh approach to football is both effective and entertaining.

The Philadelphia Eagles will win the NFC East this year, there is no doubt in my mind. If week 17 at Dallas means anything, the Eagles will go down there and take of business, clinching a playoff spot for the first time in three years. Football is meaningful in Philadelphia again, and it is fantastic to watch.

Image Source: USA Today (http://usatq.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/ap_lions_eagles_football_60412752.jpg?w=640&h=426)

Dexter's Labratory Moves To Houston: Analysis

On Tuesday, the Houston Astros acquired 27-year-old outfielder Dexter Fowler and a player to be named later in a trade with the Colorado Rockies. In return, Colorado received 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles and a great defensive outfielder in 27-year-old Brandon Barnes. However, I think the Astros have gotten the better part of the deal. Fowler is a switch-hitting speedster with a .365 career on-base percentage. His ability to get on base and swipe bags is something that the Astros lacked dearly in their lineup last season. They were caught stealing 61 times in 2013 - more than any team in the majors. Fowler was caught stealing 32% of the time in his 28 steal attempts last season. Given the fact that he was dealing with a string of injuries and only played 119 games in 2013, I think if Fowler can stay healthy he'll definitely be more productive for the Astros on the base pads. 

Another upgrade that the Astros have gotten by acquiring Fowler is that they'll have a more consistent center fielder at the plate. Brandon Barnes - who was Houston's everyday center fielder in 2013 - slashed .240./.289/.346 with 8 homers and 41 RBI in 2013. Fowler on the other hand slashed .263/.369/.407 with 12 homers and 42 RBI. The big difference between Fowler and Barnes - from a hitting standpoint - is their ability to get on base and not strikeout. With the speed that they both posses, putting the ball in play could be the difference between a strikeout or an infield single. Barnes struck out 31% of the time in his 408 at-bats in the 2013 season - compared to Fowler striking out 25% of the time in his 415 at-bats last season. They had about the same amount of at-bats in 2013 and the numbers speak for themselves - Fowler is an upgrade from Barnes in center field for the Astros. Fowler's numbers at the plate may decrease a little bit now that he's not playing half of his games in a hitter friendly park like Coors Field, but I still think he'll be a productive bat in Houston's lineup playing in Minute Maid Park. With the Crawford Boxes in left field, Fowler will be a threat to go yard when he's batting right-handed. Take a look at his hot zones as a right-handed batter:

Even though the hot zones only show contact statistics, I think his contact will lead to more than 12 homers in 2014 - especially if he plays more than 119 games. His hot zones are in slightly better areas than Brandon Barnes. Fowler has hot zones in more areas as opposed to Barnes' limited ability to drive the ball when thrown in certain locations. Here's a look at Barnes' hot zones:

Barnes may have been an everyday starter with the Astros, but I doubt he'll be an everyday starter for the Rockies. I see him being a forth outfielder for Colorado, as the outfield will probably look like this: Micheal Cuddyer in left field, Carlos Gonzalez moving back to center field and Charlie Blackmon in right field. With Barnes' inability to be a consistent hitter, I think being the Rockies forth outfielder is a more realistic position for him in 2014.

So the fact that the Rockies gave up Fowler and a player to be named later for a forth outfielder and a pitcher in Jordan Lyles who has yet to figure out how to be consistent at the major league level shows that the Astros will be benefiting more from this trade than the Rockies. I expect Fowler to have a bigger impact for the Astros than Lyles and Barnes will for the Rockies in 2014, as it should be exciting to see Fowler in an Astros uniform this upcoming season.

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End Of The Kubiak Era

I've been thinking ever since last night what to write about that concerns the Texans. Should I write a game recap? Since Matt Schaub replaced Case Keenum last night, should I write a comparison between the two and give my opinion who's better? Should I write about what I think the Texans should do in the draft? I was left clueless until something this afternoon happened, and it was like The Good Lord was speaking to me saying "Steven, the world needs this".

This afternoon, Texans owner Bob McNair announced that the Texans have fired 8th year head coach Gary Kubiak.

In his tenure with the Texans, Kubiak had a record of 61-63, including back-to-back AFC South division championships and two victories in the playoffs, although both trips were cut short in the Divisional Round by Baltimore, and New England respectively. And ever since 2007, Kubiak had tried to cement Matt Schaub as the Texans franchise quarterback and make him this teams legacy. Isn't it fitting that the play that sealed last nights game, and Kubiak's career, was a Matt Schaub interception?

Bob McNair announced that the Texans are now in the hunt for a new coach, and that he has no vision to rebuild a team with all the talent on it. And Bob is right. You got talent like Andre Johnson, Deandre Hopkins, Owen Daniels, Garret Graham, Duane Brown, J.J Watt, Brian Cushing, DJ Swearinger, and Shiloh Keo. This team is one of the most loaded rosters in the AFC, and probably the entire NFL, but the system was awful. The reason why the Texans lost to Seattle was because the Seahawks knew what play was going to be ran in this oh so predictable offense, and turned everything around, giving Matt Schaub his then 3rd straight game with a Pick-6.

So who's the answer?

I never thought that Jon Gruden would come back, but I've never been in a situation where the Texans really needed a coach (I was just 8 during the 2005 season and didn't know much about sports yet), but now that I see this problem, it's sorta real. But I believe the real answer will come in the form of Lovie Smith. But in the mean time, Wade Phillips will fill in as Interim-Head Coach, and these last three games of the year between Indy, Denver, and Tennessee will determine if Phillips will get a real job as Head Coach.

But personally, I think it was too early to kick out Kubiak anyway. The Texans will still have to use his offense unless they have some sort of emergency system that Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison had just in case, and if that is the case, label him a magician and tell him to start reading minds, because Houston might need that.

Bowling Green Falcons: Northern Illinois's Nightmare?

The Bowling Green Falcons. 

The other MAC team in the MAC Championship game.

But first lets talk about

Jordan Lynch.

Heisman contender. All around great athlete and quarterback. Shattering his own records. Lynch and the NIU Huskies have made a major impact in the national spotlight.  They've ravaged defenses with their running attack and Lynch himself has single handedly picked apart defenses running and throwing like a surgeon. However, the best defense he has faced all year was the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team who ranks 49th in Total Defense.  Sure NIU is a MAC team and by all means are impressive going 12-0 and running wild on the conference.  The team he hasn't played yet is Bowling Green.

Lets talk about some of the Falcons statistics defensively.

6th in the nation in Total Defense. 

5th in the nation in Scoring Defense at just under 14 points a game

............... and the NUMBER 1 Red Zone Defense in the nation as teams are only scoring just over 50% of their red zone opportunities against the Falcons.

It's arguable that Bowling Green may have one of the best front-7's in college football, even after losing one of arguably their best defensive players in LB Gabe Martin.   This is a team that plays with a ferocious defense that pursues the ball better than most people have ever seen at the MAC level, a conference known with a reputation of speed, spread offense and scoring.  And although people would argue that its just the MAC so BGSU's defense isn't stopping high caliber teams, this defense held SEC schools like the Florida Gators and Mississippi St. Bulldogs to 27 and 21 points respectively in 2012 and 2013.

All that is being said here is don't crown Jordan Lynch and the NIU Huskies MAC Champions and BCS busters too fast.  They have to beat BGSU and the most elite defense they will have seen all season.

I expect a great MAC Championship game at Ford Field and one that likely will be remembered for the ages.

The Business And Ethics Of Tanking In Sports

    

It's no question at all how talented the upcoming NBA draft class is. The lottery picks are endless and the underlying mid major all stars are just as impressive. With the focus on this draft class, a new thought was posed. Should a team tank their season from the beginning in order to have a shot at Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, or Marcus Smart? Or you could pick the other 4 Kentucky freshman, who all happen to be future all-stars. Though this is nothing new to sports, the scale that it's been talked about in basketball is. Even an anonymous GM spoke about the possibility.

Examples of tanking are in every sport. In football it starts about week 6 or so, once a team has started winless and no longer has hope for the future or happiness.

In baseball it happens in July before the trade deadline, when you try to get draft picks and gear up to rebuild. But the NBA is different. It's the one major American sport that can be so utterly impacted by a draft. The NFL has a premium on the draft but it doesn't always impact a teams success, and in baseball it's 2 years at the minimum before we see a player in most cases. The NBA is different though, allowing a kid 2 years removed from high school to start and impact their team. Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose before he got the knees of a 90 year old, the list can go on. All of these players immediately impacted their teams. Of course basketball can be much more easily impacted than the other sports. Thus the draft is paramount.

   Tanking in sports has two large aspects, the ethics and the business. Both are to be taken into consideration when discussing this subject. The way to start is with the ethics. Is it really right in a sport where every team is trying to be the best to lose on purpose? Didn't the 1919 Chicago 'Black' Sox get banned for that? It just doesn't seem right as a fan, to know that your favorite team is losing on purpose to try and get better. It always seems as if that can't be the logical solution, that all you need is to play harder and be more passionate. But to be honest, tanking isn't a fan thing or a player thing. It's a management issue. The decision is all up to the big brass, the ones who are designed to make the team a money making business. The reason fans often hate tanking is because it usually involves degrading the team by creating inconsistent lineups or trading key fan favorite players. Believe me I know this. As a Boston Bruins and Tyler Seguin fan, I was very unhappy when the B's traded him and Rich Peverley to the Stars. Although I didn't like it, that was the smart move to make. The Bruins got a group of players improving in Providence and Loui Eriksson, but as fan it still doesn't take away the anguish of having a player exiled. But that's not managements concern. Their concern is fielding a team that will eventually bring you and your money back. And to do that you have to win championships. 

   This is where sports have diverged. The passion of the game has to be rivaled with the necessity to make money, both on and off the field. Winning conflicts with making a profit and you have to ride the fine line between titles and money bands.  So as you ask yourself which side you stand on, ask yourself one simple question: do you want to win or not? Then you'll see that to some teams it's necessary. Some teams are more adept for it than others. Many teams that are just now realizing their season is screwed like the Grizzlies, Knicks, Cleveland, and especially Brooklyn. This is a decision every team will have to make at some point during the season. 

   The bottom line is that tanking can actually be useful in sports, and just as every subject you have to make your own judgment. As someone who loved playing GM on every video game, I see the benefits of it. I'm also a winner, so I want my team to be in the best spot possible. Of course you may be a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and winning will never again come to you. So you aren't involved here.

   As always, which is basically twice now, thanks for reading this. Any support is greatly appreciated and I am a fan of anyone who can sit through my babble. 

 

Lets Meet MVP Finalist Mike Magee

December 5, 2013 the day that the MLS announces the MVP of the year. This years list of finalists include: Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy), Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact), Diego Valeri (Portland Timber), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls) and Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps). Their is one word to describe that list of names; wow. However one name sticks out the most to me, Mike Magee.

Mike Magee was drafted fourth overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the New York/New Jersey Metrostars, he made his professional debut and became the youngest player in New York history at the time at 18 years,222 days on April 12, 2003 vs. Columbus in the season opener.Magee also became the youngest player to score a winning goal in New York history at the time at18 years, 236 days. Magee led the team with most games played and was second for most goals scored with seven goals and two assists. During the next three years with the MetroStars he would account for fifteen goals and would accumulate eleven assists. In 2006 the Austrian company Red Bull, bought the MetroStars and  named the team New York Red Bulls. The change in name would stop Magee from doing his thing, he would score three goals that year however he only had one assist. His success with New York would turn out to be impressive nonetheless, over his five years with them he would score twenty-three goals and rack up twelve assists before being traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2009 for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

Mike Magee would make a name for himself with the Los Angeles Galaxy, his first two seasons with LA, were 'forgetable' he would only score three goals and tally seven assists. Come 2011 Magee and the Galaxy were an explosive team, led by Landon Donvon who had twelve goals and Mike Magee with four. Magee would have his best year by becoming the only player to score in the regular season, the postseason, the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. He also finished the year as the leading scorer in the playoffs. Magee and the Galaxy would replicate the 2011 season and go on to win it all again in 2012.

Come March of 2013, the MLS season was ready for a fresh start; so was Mike Magee. Magee started the year with the Galaxy, but would only play ten games before being traded to the Chicago Fire in exchange for the right of first refusal to Robbie Rogers on May 25, 2013. That transaction between the two clubs, would turn out to be the best thing for Magee who was now playing in his hometown. There seemed to be a mathmatical formula that would come in to play for Magee, new club + fresh start = MLS Golden Boot finalist. He would go on to play his best soccer of his carerr with the Fire, scoring fifteen goals and accounting for four assists. With less then 24 hours until commissioner Don Garber reviels the 2013 MLS MVP winner, Mike Magee , Robbie Keane, Marco Di Vaio , Diego Valeri , Tim Cahill and Camilo wait to see if its their name that climbs to the top of the MLS world as most valuable player.



A Look Back On Shabazz Napier's Career And How Fitting It Would Be To End In A Championship Sandwich

 



Shabazz Napier has almost every quality ever used to describe a great college basketball player. He's extremely talented, he's a leader, he's clutch, and most importantly he's a winner. Shabazz was just a freshman coming off the bench when the UConn Huskies beat the resilient Butler Bulldogs in April of 2011, but that doesn't mean he didn't contribute to that team and wasn't vital to their road to victory. Shabazz wasn't much of a scorer in the NCAA tourney that year but that was simply because he just didn't have to be. Kemba Walker was obviously the main attraction on that team but having a guy like Napier come in and log an average of 27 minutes a game during the tournament was certainly a weapon.

Shabazz's sophomore year resulted in him taking over as starting point guard for the reigning champs. With experience under his belt and a little more room to show off his skills, Shabazz would average 13.0 points per game while also averaging 5.8 assists a game setting up teammates Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond. Shabazz also showed off his clutch gene, when he hit what is probably the most memorable shot of his career (debatable after tonight); a game winning three with 2 seconds on the clock from the frigging Liberty Bell in Philadelphia against the Villanova Wildcats. Unfortunately Shabazz and the Huskies didn't duplicate their success in 2012 and were quickly sent home in the 1st round (bite me NCAA, IT'S THE 1st ROUND!), by Royce White and Iowa State Cyclones.

Going into Shabazz's Junior year, UConn was faced with some recruiting violations. That meant no NCAA tourney that year for the Huskies. Shabazz would not be taking part in March Madness and forfeit his chance for a second net cutting if he stayed in Storrs, but his loyalty to the school and his teammates kept him a Husky. Just because there wouldn't be any playoffs didn't mean that Shabazz didn't have big plans that season for himself and the program. He would average a team high 17.1 points per game from the 1 spot, good for 81st in the country. He would lead his squad to a season opening win against the #14 Michigan State Spartans in Germany in which he would drop 25 points and snatch 2 steals. The highlight off the season though was the Huskies win in Hartford over #6 Syracuse. Shabazz would score 10 points, record 7 dimes, grab 3 boards and 2 steals, and had the responsibility of guarding the future 11th overall pick in Michael Carter-Williams.

While this is the final season of Shabazz's illustrious career, he's seemed to start off right were he left off last year. He is clearly the backbone of the #12 Connecticut Huskies and is right back to his clutch, winning ways. Last night's miraculous buzzer beater, down 1 with .6 seconds on the clock to defeat #15 Florida Gators, is a microcosm of the kind of player Shabazz has proven to be.

 He did not give up on the play after miserably bricking his initial shot attempt but rather was in the right place at the right time, prepared to drill his second chance. Place tonight's victory with 3 neutral court victories over tough foes, Maryland, Boston College, and Indiana and the Huskies seem to be playing some top notch basketball at the birth of the season. If they keep playing like this and Napier continues to be one of the most productive 1 guards in the country, I don't see why they can't be a National Contender. It would be all too fitting for Shabazz to end his career the same way he began it: A champion!

Sporting Kansas City's Dom Dwyer, Is Looking Forward To Another Title

Sporting Kansas City's forward Dom Dwyer, looks to capture his second title this year. Dwyer was out on loan with Orlando City SC a team that plays in the USL PRO league as of right now, but in 2015 Orlando will be competing in the MLS, the league got together and awarded Orlando City as an expansion team making them the 21st team in the league. Dwyer helped Orlando City FC win the league championship on September 7 by scoring four goals in a 7-4 win over Charolette.  Dwyer started his career in England, were he played with the Norwich City FC academy. Following his stint with Norwich City, Dwyer went on and played for the College of West Anglia Football Academy and at a semi-professional level with Kings Lynn FC and Staines Town FC. Dwyer's resume is quite impressive for a twenty-three year old, in 2009-2010 Dom was named the NJCAA National Player of the Year in his second season at Tyler (Texas). Where he helped lead the team to back-to-back junior college championships. Throughout those two seasons, Tyler(Texas) went 40-0-1 and scored 52 goals in 42 games with 10 assists.

Following high school, Dwyer enrolled into the University of South Florida, where he played soccer. In 2011 Dwyer was a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalist and NSCAA All-American Second Team selection after he was name Big East Offensive Player of the Year. He led the Bulls with 16 goals and two assists in 21 games, helping his team reach the quarterfinals of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

In January of 2012, Dwyer entered the MLS SuperDraft, and was drafted 16th overall by Sporting KC. Dwyer got his first chance to play professionally against Orlando City SC in a U.S. Open Cup game, and would get his opportunity to play his first ever MLS game on September 1 against Toronto FC. Out of the twenty games played this year in the MLS, he has scored three goals and accounted for two assists. Not to bad of a resume for a twenty-three year old. There is only one thing Dwyer is focused on right now and that's bringing home the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy ( MLS Cup) this Saturday at Sporting Park, Kansas City, where Sporting KC will take on Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup Final.

Follow me on Twitter  @Christian_2796

Happy Birthday Houston Astros

I missed this yesterday because of all the NFL action, and watching the replay of Auburn's miraculous game-winning field goal return. But 49 years ago yesterday, the Houston Astros and the Houston Astrodome were given their names and enshrined in baseball legacy.

From their creation in 1962, the Astros were originally known as the Houston Colt .45s. You know, after the gun. The stadium, was known as the Harris County Domed Stadium, and I'm so happy they changed that name, because that is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to say (so long, I bet you didn't even read all the "A"s) and the name just sounds like a 4 year old came up with it.

In 1965, a dispute between the Colt .45s and Colt Firearms resulted in a name change. Then on the day of December 1st, 1965, the Houston Astros became the official name of the team, that would play on the Houston Astrodome.

The Astrodome was the first of its kind. Never before had a stadium been enclosed by a dome. And never before had a playing field used artificial turf, which is where the word "astroturf" comes from.

At the end of the 1999 season, the Astros left the Astrodome and move on to Minute Maid Field. Since that move, the Astros have been at the highest of highs, reaching the World Series in 2005, to the lowest of lows, having the worst record in the MLB the last 3 seasons, all with 100 losses. And I wish that the 100 loss seasons were the worst part, but it's not!

After voting last month, the now named Reliant Astrodome will be torn down in 6 days. The stadium that hosted the Astros, Houston Oilers, Live Stock Show and Rodeo, the battle of the sexes, and for a long time, held the record for longest playoff game in MLB history (16 inning against the New York Metropolitans) saw its first stage of destruction 5 days ago. The famed stadium one known as the "8th wonder of the world" is a landmark in the city of Houston, and to me, its not being there will be just strange.

So, after all the mess of destruction, lets just celebrate. Happy birthday Houston Astros and Reliant Astrodome. Thank you for the memories, and just know, we can't wait for more.

New Orleans Saints Vs. Seattle Seahawks: Very Slight Edge To New Orleans

So, if you have been hiding under a rock or in your closet for the past few weeks (which is a horrible way to try and strive for success in life), you probably didn't know that Monday Night Football is showing what has the potential for the most exciting and close matchup in ages tonight. Marshawn Lynch and Seattle play at home against New Orleans to take on the Ordained Saint himself, Drew Brees.

Let us magnify this a little bit->

• Seattle is currently the top seed in the NFC, while New Orleans is right on their heels, which ESPN (Everything Sports Propaganda Network) has been heralding in commercials for weeks now, further intensifying the magnitude of this game. 
• Both teams have had some surprisingly goofy slipups this year, with Seattle losing to now sputtering Indianapolis, and almost falling to those pitiful Tampa Bay Buccaneers (excuse me while I laugh). New Orleans fell to the J-E-T-S JETS... (whoops, I fell into another laughing fit, excuse me). So in other words, these two teams are not invincible, but for now, they are the top of the wild NFC.

Lets look at these two team's offenses.

• In the quarterback position, Drew Brees is of the top 2 quarterbacks in the NFC, but Russell Wilson is not exceptionally far behind now. The reason Brees has much more inflated stats than Wilson is because of the talent around him. I'd say Wilson would have extremely bloated numbers if he had Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston to throw to! If there is one thing I can say today, and know it is a fact, it is that Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston are MUCH better receivers than Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin. No disrespect to Tate and Baldwin, but they should not be the focal points on any team in the NFL, especially not Baldwin. Then why does Seattle score so many points a game? The answer is the consistency and power of running back Marshawn Lynch. If Lynch runs for 75 yards and a touchdown tonight, he would become the only man to rush for 1,000 yards and score at least 10 rushing touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. The 'Skittles Beast' just is a hammer, pounding out yards, and really has a lot of football smarts. New Orleans running back corp is an interesting platoon that is currently ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards. It really starts with Pierre Thomas, who leads the bunch with 485 yards on the season. On down the line, we see a man who simply looks like a draft bust in Mark Ingram, and then rookie Khiry Robinson. Where on earth is Darren Sproles? 4th on the list, with 146 yards. Sproles just hasn't looked himself this year. He's had flashes, but for the most part has not been very productive. So, right now, we see that New Orleans is the best in WR and QB positions, but Seattle is leading in the RB department.

Let's move to defense.

• Let's think about something-> Seattle leads the NFL with the best pass defense, and New Orleans is 3rd. That really tells the story about how good these defenses are, but this does give a significant advantage to New Orleans, actually. Seattle doesn't have very good receivers, probably letting Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, and outstanding rookie Kenny Vaccaro to simply shut Seattle's passing game down. Seattle's secondary is the best in the NFL, as we said, with the sensational play of Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, but a suspension has weakened the group over the past week. Brandon Browner was a big cog in the secondary, and he will be missed, especially tonight against these Saints. Talent-wise, I'd say the Saints and Seahawks are close to equal in the front 7. Both D-Lines are stacked, with Seattle's 2013 offseason acquisition Cliff Avril, and New Orleans budding stars of Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks. The LBs for both teams are also just as impressive, as Seattle hails 3 sensational men: Bruce Irvin, KJ Wright, and Bobby Wagner. The Saints claim the sack-happy Junior Galette, and a great tackler in Curtis Lofton.

And so, my friends, I ask you, "After telling you all that, who will win the game?"

Heck, I don't know. One thing that does scare me for New Orleans is that this is in Seattle, at CenturyLink Field, probably the loudest stadium in the United States during Seahawks games. However, I just think there are a few questions Seattle's defense needs to answer before I pick them to win tonight. I want to see if that secondary can hold up very long against the scorching hot bunch from the Bayou. Right now, I will go out on a limb and say New Orleans will win, 28-27. Sound good? OK. Let's roll with that.

For now, this has been Ben Anderson, now signing off...

Close But No Cigar- Texans Game Recap

                                                                           

The Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. One of them is my favorite team, and the other is my absolute back breaker! Take a guess which one is which. In a game where the Texans were expected to get run out of their own town, my upset prediction almost came true! But what happened? Lets walk through this, and believe me, I'm going to be very frustrated.

To start the game, Houston and New England would trade possessions before the Texans would punch it in with Ben Tate. The Texans would then take a field goal drive after Jonathan Joseph picked off Tom Brady, a rare mistake for the future Hall of Famer. But following the pick, Brady would find Gronkowski in the endzone to tighten things up, 10-7.

To start the second half, Houston let a 17-7 lead turn to a 21-17 deficit, it seemed like the nightmare would begin again. But Houston roared back, and showed that the Patriots won't escape that easily.

The Texans punched back in every way they could. Ben Tate scored 3 touchdowns, and after the game, declared that he believes he's "one of the best backs in the NFL". Texans quarterback Case Keenum, making his 6th career start, also ran in a score for Houston that caught all of Reliant Stadium off guard.

In the final 3 minutes Stephen Gostkowski kicked a field goal to put the Pats up 34-31. Case Keenum to lead the Texans to a victory against Tom Brady and the Patriots?!?! Unheard of.....I wonder why.

You might want to listen here, because I guarantee you won't hear this on any sports show. That on a third down play, Keenum had Deandre Hopkins 1 on 1. Kyle Arrington gets beat, but holds on to Hopkins, and even grabs inside Hopkins' helmet. NO FLAG. Who am I kidding though? It's the Patriots. The Patriots didn't have a single penalty all game! And this one was oblivious too. If that penalty is called right, nothing is stopping Houston from ending the nightmare losing streak. But I can't say that happened.

The Patriots won 34-31 in a game where Houston was a 7 point underdog and in a game I bet 3/4 of the people reading this didn't think the Texans would make a game like this. I guess now I'll leave this alone now.  But I hope Bill Belichick doesn't believe in ghosts, because I can't wait for this one to come back and haunt him.

• Side Notes:
• Andre Johnson became the second fastest receiver in NFL history to 900 career receptions.
• The Texans all time record fell to 79-109.
• Case Keenum threw his third career interception.
• The Texans matched their season high amount of points scored at 31, previously set Week 1 against San Diego.
• Houston plays Thursday night in Jacksonville to possibly determine the #1 pick in the draft.

Ruben, Ruben, Ruben

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. should consider renaming the Phillies ballpark to "Senior Citizens Bank Park", as all of his players will be eligible for Social Security by the end of the season. Amaro may be putting together the worst Phillies team since the late 90s, which would be very hard to do. The Phillies will have five of their eight everyday players over the age of 34 to start the season in Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ruiz, and Marlon Byrd. Now, the Phillies would be in no position to win regardless of who Amaro brings in this off season, but Amaro has to start setting this team up for the future, and he is not doing that.

I am all for bringing in veteran talent when the youth in the farm system is developing and is not that good; but when you overpay and over-sign that veteran, I start to have problems. Yes the Phillies need a right-handed bat with some power, but the Phillies do not need to have a 36-year old in Marlon Byrd signed for two years and 16 million dollars, with a vesting option for a third year. What is one of the first things Ruben Amaro Jr. does once the off season hits? He signs Marlon Byrd to a two-year deal worth 16 million with a vesting option for a third year. I would have no issue bringing in Byrd for a year with an option for a second, but do not bring him in for two years with an option for a third, especially when you sign him for 8 million dollars per year.
Signing Grade: D

Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz is one of my favorite players on the Phillies, but do I think that he is worth 8.5 million dollars for three years? No. The issue with the Phillies, which falls right back to Amaro, is they do not have a suitable replacement for Chooch at the moment. Their top catching prospect, Tommy Joseph, suffered concussion after concussion last year, which set his development back. For Ruben's sake, Joseph has to work out, as he was the top prospect in return for Hunter Pence back in 2012; but enough about Joseph. The Ruiz signing seemed to be a situation where Ruben Amaro Jr. panicked. He knew that Boston really wanted him, and offered Ruiz a higher contract than what Amaro himself originally offered. So Amaro added some more dough along with an extra year because he currently did not have a replacement for Chooch. Amaro should have offered Chooch a two-year deal for 16 million, and said "take it or leave it". Ultimately, I am happy to see one of my favorite Phillies re-sign with the team, but I do not like the price and length at which he returned for.
Signing Grade: B-

Although he has been great for the Phillies for 2 1/2 seasons, Ruben Amaro Jr. should not resign Roy Halladay, let him walk. Ruben would be the one who overpaid Doc, only to be his fourth or fifth starter, which Halladay would be if he returned to Philly. Keep Jonathan Pettibone in as your fifth starter for the season and see what he can do over a season's length (barring injury).

Ruben Amaro Jr. could do something great in the off season, or he could continue to tear a part the Phillies organization with bad signing after bad signing. Bringing in Byrd and re-signing Ruiz were not awful moves, he just overpaid both players and signed them for a year too long. Lets also not forget that Amaro also has Jimmy Rollins (35 years old) signed through next season with an option for 2015, while also having Ryan Howard signed through 2016 with an option for 2017.

This was and will continue to be a big off season for Ruben Amaro Jr., considering most Phillies fans are unhappy with the job that he has done and with the position he has put their beloved Phillies in. In the end, I see this being the last off season Amaro has as the Phillies GM, due to the tremendous hole he has put this franchise in, and with another disappointing season of Phillies baseball awaiting.

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