Blair softball flexed its muscles again last night, beating the Gaithersburg Trojans 7-2 to advance to the Region Finals of the Maryland State softball tournament. Softball's offensive firepower reared its head again against the Trojans, and senior pitcher Annie Denenberg threw a complete game. For the first time in 30 years, the Blazers will be playing for the 4A West title; Blair will face either Quince Orchard or Damascus Friday.
Two years ago, as Blair softball geared up for a playoff run, Richard Montgomery came to Blazer Field and shocked the Blazers with a furious seventh-inning rally that ended Blair's season. Last night, the Rockets strolled onto Blazer Field hoping to upset the Blazers for the second time in three seasons and once again end Blair's quest for a state championship. But the Blazers, a handful of whom were on the team that fell to R.M. in 2005, were determined to make the 2007 playoffs a success. The dominating pitching of senior Annie Denenberg and an onslaught of offense from a loaded Blair lineup fueled the Blazers to a 9-1 win over the visiting Rockets.
The NFL's Final Four is set, and the smell of the Super Bowl is in the air. Will it be the Pats, Colts, Bears or Saints, time will only tell. But before we get to the Big One in Miami, today's games will be fought. So as you enjoy the day's snow flurries, be sure to holla at the TV, too, because some great NFL action is goin' down. Here are our picks:
This year's NFL divisional playoffs are loaded with questions. Can Manning win on the road? Will the Pats stun the Chargers? Can the Saints keep hope alive? Can Rex Grossman not throw an interception? SCO's team of NFL experts does its best to answer those questions and more. Read on...
Senior Deontay Twyman led Sherwood's football team to two straight 4A title games and amassed 7,093 passing yards and 80 touchdowns in three years as the team's starting quarterback. He is one of the state's top football prospects and has been offered a full scholarship from a Division I football team. And, apparently, Twyman can play basketball, too. He led the Warriors with 19 points in Sherwood's 65-52 victory over the boys' varsity basketball team last night, the Blazers' third straight loss.
Wild-card weekend is in full effect, and although the Redskins couldn't make it this year, there are still four intriguing matchups to look forward to. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Pia held on to take the top spot in this year's NFL picks.
The first month of the boys' varsity basketball team's season can be described by only one word: frustration. The Blazers (2-6) have shown glimpses of greatness only to be followed by cold shooting, mental mistakes and poor execution, leading the Blazers down the familiar path to a losing record. Blair's frustration continued last night, as the Blazers fell to the Whitman Vikings 60-53 in overtime, less than a week after having lost to the defending 4A state champions in Quince Orchard's Holiday tournament.
When we started NFL picks this season, Pia was the underdog. Now, the rest of us are fighting to get out of last. From the three (lovable?) losers, Abe, Josh and Phil, this is our last set of picks from the past two years. And we finished where we started—the bottom of the barrel. Peace out NFL predictions, it's been real. Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays! Overall
| Josh | 130-93 |
| Abe | 129-94 |
| Pia | 139-84 |
| Phil | 131-92 |
After evening their record at 1-1, the boys' basketball team has dropped two straight games, the latest to the Springbrook Blue Devils (5-0), who outlasted the Blazers (1-3) on Tuesday to come away with a 53-45 win. Sloppy play on both ends of the court plagued the Blazers, as they struggled to put together back-to-back defensive stops and successful offensive possessions.
Last week, we had the pleasure of picking alongside Mike Wilbon, and in the process we proved our mighty pick 'em smarts, as only Josh couldn't top the new guy. As usual, Pia continued to fry the rest of us, as Abe closed the gap with Phil and Josh. As for week fifteen, there's some good games, some ugly games and of course the Redskins game in New Orleans. Think Drew Brees is licking his chops?
Last Tuesday, the SCO sports staff had the honor and privilege of meeting one of the best local and national sportswriters we know, and a guy that we look up to: Michael Wilbon. This week, he found the time to send us his picks for this week. Read on as our SCO staff take on the legendary Wilbon.
The boys' basketball team hoped their season opener would prove to the community that the program had reversed its fortunes. Instead, the Blazers reverted back to the bad habits that have plagued Blair basketball for nearly a decade: turnovers, lackadaisical defense and poor shot selection.
Thursday night games premiere this week on NFL Network, which means either more excitement or more frustration for football fans, and earlier deadlines for us. But either way you slice it, it's football.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our loyal readers out there, and be sure to plop down in front of the tube for some post-stuffing NFL football.
As we reviewed the standings this week, we noticed that there was a discrepancy in the number of games we had each picked. Somehow, Pia had two less games than the rest of us. Josh suggested giving her two losses, hoping to even the field. Phil said we should hand her one win and one loss, keeping her totals even. Wondering what to do and where we had gone wrong, we poured over the last ten weeks of predictions, hoping to find a clue as to where we had done some bad math. As fate would have it, we found the mistake. So what did we find? We omitted two of Pia's correct predictions. Her two more wins plus another week of superiority mean she's pulling away fast, as the rest of us are left stunned and embarrassed. As for this week…
The SCO sports staff is currently Ballin'!!, and with a full docket of games on the schedule, all our senior experts will be looking to close the gap between their records and Pia's. Too bad she never has a bad week.
Forget the records, the injuries, the controversies and anything else you've heard this week. Dallas vs. Washington is all that matters…
The Blair boys' varsity soccer team was hoping to play its way to a State Championship this season. The Blazers wanted a piece of the best teams Maryland has to offer: squads like Magruder, Whitman and Churchill. But Blair was unable to get past one team this year that proved to be the thorn in the Blazers' side. Instead of moving one step closer to school history and state glory, the Blazers fell 3-0 to the Walter Johnson Wildcats in last night's 4A West region semifinal in shocking, heartbreaking fashion.
The boys' varsity soccer team advanced to the 4A West region semifinal with a 4-2 Halloween night win over the Quince Orchard Cougars (7-7).
It's the beginning of the end for Pia. I see it now. Last week was just the beginning as she lost ground. Amazingly, Phil was the best last week, even though as a group we unanimously picked six games wrong. There are a couple of real tough games this week, including Denver versus Indy in a matchup with playoff implications. Abe makes his return to the picks and looks to gain ground from his last-place standing, which is highly unlikely. Check it out for yourself"
When the Blair boys' soccer team limped off the field Tuesday night following a stunning 1-0 loss to Walter Johnson, the previously undefeated Blazers emitted a mix of emotions. First, there was the anger and frustration at losing a hard-fought battle and ending their undefeated streak. Then, with reflection, came the satisfaction of one of the most spectacular regular seasons in Blair soccer history. And last, the Blazers (11-1) looked toward the future and began to mentally prepare for the postseason.
The Blair boys' varsity soccer team, ranked #7 in the area by The Washington Post last Thursday, remained undefeated in a 7-0 whipping of Damascus Tuesday night. The Blazers (6-0) returned to top form against the Hornets, scoring five goals in the first half and coasting to an easy victory in front of a sparse but energetic crowd at Blazer stadium.
For Redskins fans, this week is big. Real big. The difference between 3-2 and 2-3 could mean the difference between playoff contention and a season destined for Jason Campbell's development. Plus, the 'Skins travel to New York to face the Giants, who you may recall have a certain flashy linebacker by the name of Arrington who would love to lay out some Washington players. As for the rest of the NFL, the Bears may have established themselves as the league's top team and T.O. returns to Philadelphia. So pour yourself a cold drink, grab the chips and dip and plop down for a Sunday of zoning out on football.
The Blair boys' varsity soccer team won their fifth straight game Tuesday afternoon, beating local rival Springbrook 2-0 in lackadaisical fashion. The Blazers (5-0) came into the game riding high after consecutive wins over Wheaton, Sherwood, Churchill and Quince Orchard, but played shoddy against a winless opponent on a bumpy, tilted field and escaped with an unsatisfying win.
Mark Brunell will face his old team Jacksonville this week when the Jags invade FedEx Field for a big matchup with the Redskins, Seattle and Chicago square off Sunday night for the right to be called #1 in the NFC and the Chargers face the Ravens for a defensive battle that will leave one team undefeated and the other with an L on their record. In short, this Sunday's slew of NFL games is a big one. It's time for teams to separate from the pack, and as for our standings so far, well, Pia has done most of the separating. She still hasn't gone over the 10-loss mark yet…jeez, Josh, Phil and I need to step our game up.
When the final whistle was blown last night at Blazer Stadium, the Blair boys' varsity soccer team- along with a throng of avid supporters- erupted in celebration, waving jerseys, hugging teammates and chanting songs of victory. The Blazers (3-0) had just notched one of the biggest victories in recent Blair soccer history, knocking off perennial soccer power Churchill 2-1 in thrilling fashion.
Strange things are afoot in the NFL. From an OT comeback to an embarrassment in Dallas to the lowest-scoring Monday Night Football game in history, football has gotten weird again, and we wouldn't have it any other way. And as for our panel of so-called "experts," Pia still leads the way, proving once again that excluding Phil, everyone with a name that starts with the letter "P" is extremely smart (as in "Pratik").
The Blair boys' varsity soccer team dominated the defending state champion Sherwood Warriors last night en route to a 3-1 victory that made the Blazers' presence known as a force in Montgomery County soccer and served as a coming out party for sophomore midfielder Mikey Funes.
Okay, so the Redskins dropped a tough game to the Vikings on Monday night. Boo-hoo. Buck up and get ready for week two, the weekend that solidifies our opinions on teams that looked great or terrible in week one. More importantly, if you're still looking to win that friendly wager with a buddy or you just want to check out how bad our crew of "experts" is doing this week, we've got you covered. And by the way, don't sleep on Pia, the leader out of the gates.
Are you ready for some football? SCO definitely is. With Pratik gone to who-knows-which-super-smart-college, we bring back two experts in Abe Schwadron and myself, Josh Zipin to analyze all the games on Sundays. I take pride in introducing to you our newest recruit, Pia Nargundkar"don't hate, she knows her stuff. We also bring back one lesser talent in the form of Phillip Allen (sorry, Phil). This season we will do our best to predict the Redskins all the way to the Super Bowl, and along the way hopefully win some bragging rights. I sit on the throne as last season's pick 'em champion, and I'll be there until one of these so-called "experts" knocks me off. Here are our passionate picks for the first week of NFL games.
Breathe. The months of waiting for pro football to return are over. Lord football is back and ready to reign once again. Whether you need to check up on your favorite team, analyze this year's Super Bowl contenders or just want to do a little light reading before the NFL kicks off later tonight, SCO's staff of NFL experts is here for you.
The NBA is officially in uncharted territory. Neither the Dallas Mavericks nor the Miami Heat have ever made it to the NBA Finals in their franchise histories. With Shaq now as a backseat driver to the Heat's Championship bus, Miami looks to its young phenom, Dwyane Wade (a.k.a. "Flash") to propel the team to their first title. On the other side of the court lies Dirk Nowitzki, a reformed player who now attacks the basket instead of hoisting European-style jump shots. With rookie teams in the finals, but NBA veterans facing off on the biggeset stage of them all, SCO breaks down what should be a hard-fought series.
Dozens of students line the perimeter of the arena, raucously rooting on their favorite teams and erupting in cheers after every amazing save, complex move and devastating goal. Although the atmosphere rivals that of a professional event, the players are Blair students, rocketing a soccer ball around the small gymnasium to the screams of their countrymen, fans and foes. The Blair Sports Academy's (BSA) indoor soccer league has become the most popular after-school activity for Blazers, and as the 26-team league reaches its championship game today, Friday, the BSA is the talk of Blair Boulevard.
America's Pastime is back. With the first month of April out of the way, things are starting to get interesting in the baseball world. In the first month of the 2006 season, Barry Bonds had a syringe thrown at him, Chris Shelton and Jonathan Papelbon arose out of anonymity to become household names and Albert Pujols dominated (again). With the month of May still in its early stages, Silver Chips Online breaks down a couple of the most intriguing plot lines developing around the league.
The NFL Draft. Some call it a crapshoot. Others call it a science. However you look at it, the draft signifies the official return of football season. While you can likely pencil in Reggie Bush as the number one pick, the remainder of the first round is as unpredictable as Chad Johnson's new touchdown dances. So in honor of the re-entering of the glorious game of football into the lives of sports fans once again, SCO's primary sports experts channel Mel Kiper, Jr. to predict and break down the NFL Draft. Read on…
In a year with an unusually large amount of upsets, and the Cinderella of all Cinderella's in George Mason, the SCO sports experts give you team-by-team breakdowns and does its best to predict (very humbly) the future.
Less than three years ago, before George Mason guard Folarin Campbell was lighting up the scoreboard on the national stage (he dropped 15 points against the Huskies), he was wreaking havoc on the Blazers as a member of Blair's arch-rival from a few miles up the road, the Springbrook Blue Devils.
A great rap album combines intense, meaningful lyrics about intriguing stories with super production and impeccable beats. A great rap album is smooth, concise and powerful. Juvenile's latest, highly heralded release, "Reality Check," is not a great rap album. In fact, Juve's new CD is immature, not meaningful, and is sloppy, not smooth.
A basketball shoe is more than stitched cloth, rubber and paint. Not only does a sneaker have a sole; a sneaker has a soul. The feel, the design and the vibe emanating from a shoe can inspire players to do their best on the court. Players' shoes can speak volumes about their game, their personality and their mood. To the sneakerhead or the avid shoe-wearer, a person's footwear gives insight into their life. Any retro design can be worn to school, but not every shoe deserves to grace the hardwood. So with the basketball shoe industry adding more and more features to the latest styles of baller-approved sneakers, we present a synopsis of the basketball kicks that we'd like to see make a return to the court.
Boys' varsity basketball coach Orlando Larracuente was released today, March 1, according to Blair Athletic Director Dale Miller and James Short, Blair's administrator in charge of athletics.
Basketball fans will focus their attention on Houston during the All-Star Break is not just because some of the best players in all of the NBA will appear in the featured game. Yes, technically the NBA stops to focus on showcasing its best players and hype the All-Star Game nearly to death, but the real showcase takes place the night before the game during the skills competitions. Last year's competitions produced quite a few memorable moments. So in honor of dunkers, shooters and dribblers of past, present and future, SCO offers a guide to the most exciting part of the NBA weekend — All-Star Saturday night.
Walk through the dingy front door of The Woodside Deli, and you may be expecting overcooked burgers and dry pancakes. But don't be fooled by the Deli's outwardly uninviting, outdated looks. The Woodside's extensive menu of mouth-watering chow and friendly service will have you calling the diner "hip" in no time.
With the NBA closing in on its All-Star Weekend, the Detroit Pistons have yet to lose 10 games, the Dallas Mavericks have found their defense and the tragedy-plagued New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets are among the NBA's playoff-hungry teams. Ron Artest, Ricky Davis, Wally Szczerbiak and Peja Stojakovic are sporting new colors, while LeBron and his Cavaliers look poised to make a playoff run. So with so much to look forward to in the season's second half, we present our midseason analysis of the glorious game of basketball, composed by our sharpest NBA experts.
The Grammy Awards are more than just hardware. The Music Industry's Oscars aren't about taking home the mini record player trophies. The Grammys are about respect. Artists put their hearts and souls into their works and this is when they get recognized for it. On a night when every major musical artists holds their breath hoping to hear their name, SCO offers its very own guide to the 48th annual Grammy Awards, complete with nominations for selected categories and our predictions.
When Wally Szczerbiak and Ron Artest met on the court Friday night, they were not in Minnesota, nor in Indiana, where until last week the two had been for seven and five years respectively. Instead, the pair met in Boston, where Szczerbiak's new team, the Celtics, hosted Artest's new squad, the Sacramento Kings. Artest and Szczerbiak found new homes last week via trades that could have a significant impact on the second half of the NBA season.
Every single game this week is a rematch of a regular season game...how weird is that? The Redskins are still alive this week...let's hope that they'll be here next week too.
Losing streaks are never fun. So when the JV boys' basketball team left the court on Wednesday night after losing their third straight game, head coach Emanuel Charles could only find one word to describe his emotions. "Terrible," said Charles. "Just terrible." The Blazers' fell to the Churchill Bulldogs, 56-53, in a game highlighted by an uptempo style and lights-out shooting from both teams.
JAN. 6, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM -
With the Washington Redskins in the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 1999, local football fans have something to celebrate. To those casual fans who like to share the excitement and learn the game, this means a weekend of social stimulation. But to those supporters who take their fandom seriously, Saturday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers means ecstasy or depression, love or hate, life or death. All this banter begs the question, what kind of Redskins fan are you? This short quiz will determine exactly where you lie on the spectrum on Washington football fanatics.
Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...
It's the Super Bowl of NCAA Football. It's a college pigskin fan's favorite time of year. It's a time for chips, dip and a comfy chair. It's Bowl season, baby!
While much of the attention in the last two weeks of the NFL season will be devoted to the wild-card chase, the playoff push and the march to the Super Bowl, football's weakest teams will be focused on something much more important—a player so dynamic his name triggers highlights of ankle-breaking moves and breath-taking speed: Reggie Bush.
What ever happened to the golden days of professionalism in sports? Gone is the era when the NBA's Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing were heroes to young athletes. In today's money-centered sporting world, kids have more bad role models than good role models to look up to.
Comparisons can often be tough to live up to, especially when a young artist is being compared to the king of a genre. Sixteen-year-old Chris Brown has been deemed the next Usher, sometimes to the awe and surprise of fans. But if Usher is indeed the Michael Jordan of R&B, then Chris Brown is most definitely the LeBron James.
Dallas vs. Washington. Nothing else matters.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane, snow is glistening, a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland...Happy Snow Day! On an unrelated note, we make all of our picks without consulting one other so that we uphold the highest standards of integrity (and also so that we can brag about it when we have the best record), but amazingly, this week, Josh, Abe and I all picked exactly the same...how weird is that?
15-1. That's all I'm going to say.
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the picks and don't worry about how much you eat; you can always work it off later...
We're back up to 16 games this week so that's another six hours of football for all you fanatics out there. Seems like I'm the only one that gives Carolina a chance against Chicago. Well, I guess we'll see who's right huh? By the way, Reggie Bush had 513 all-purpose yards last night. That's more than most teams get in a game! Can anyone else say that he's making a huge case to be the number one pick in next year's draft?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of MCPS yesterday, Nov. 14, in a case involving the administration of special education plans in schools, according to The Washington Post. The decision maintains the legal system's practice of putting the burden on parents of special education students to prove that their child's plan is inadequate.
"For the record, I don't rap, I chat with rhythm," Jin declares on "Mr. Popular." The self-proclaimed "nicest Asian to ever lift the mic" rhythmically discusses his views on modern hip-hop on his latest release, "The Emcee's Properganda," a successful tribute to rap history.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Supposedly. Well, now that we've passed the halfway point of the season, it's definitely time for the teams that are serious about the playoffs to take their game to the next level. Which of these teams will be able to go on a run and set themselves up for the playoffs? Dear God, let's hope it's the 'Skins...
Midway through the 2005 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings have been the center of a sex scandal, the Indianapolis Colts remain undefeated, and the NFC East is perhaps the strongest division in football. So with our coverage of the NFL sitting on the 50-yard line, we present our midseason power rankings, awards, biggest stories and second-half predictions for an historic year in football.
As the JV Football team sauntered off the field at Blazer Stadium Thursday night, a wide grin appeared on the face of sophomore Milton Colquehon. Colquehon and his teammates had just wrapped up a 27-0 thrashing of the Blake Bengals, a game highlighted by Blair's superior team defense and efficient offensive production. The win tips the Blazers' record to 5-4 on the season.
Well, nine weeks into the NFL season, we finally have some inkling of how good any given team is. Also, Josh finally overtook Abe atop the picks lead while I'm still fending off Phil by a hair. Anyway, this is where the real pros step it up and the pretenders fall by the wayside. Who's got what it takes to get into the playoffs? More important, who's going to win the picks?
Last week, the NBA announced that it would be implementing a league-wide dress code for all players and personnel, effective at the start of the 2005-2006 season, which tips off on Tuesday. The dress code- stressed as "business casual"- states that players should dress in professional attire during all team and league activities and publicity-related events. The dress code forbids the wearing of hats, "do-rags," chains, medallions, jeans, sneakers and jerseys while players are on the team bench, at press conferences or on team trips.
Amazing...Phil "forgot" to do his picks and Josh "forgot" to do the Monday Night pick. Amazingly, Abe remembered how to do his picks and actually sent in all the games. I should give him a raise. Let me see, 10% of nothing is...uh...carry the 0...oh yeah, nothing so he gets nothing + nothing = nothing. All right, now that I've ridiculed my colleagues, on to the picks...
In a world of one-hit wonders, only a truly special artist can carry a 16-song, 72-minute live set. Such a performance requires outstanding and consistent vocals, instrumental perfection, an endless supply of hot songs, excellent lyrics and an audience-friendly presence. The woman for the job is the beautiful and exceptionally talented Alicia Keys, whose new live CD, "Unplugged," has put MTV's live concert series back on the map.
The 2005 World Series is set, and this fall baseball will award its championship trophy to either the American League's Chicago White Sox or the National League's Houston Astros. The superb starting pitching of the White Sox propelled them past the Angels in five games, while the clutch hitting of young superstars and seasoned veterans helped the Astros shake off the defending NL champion Cardinals in six. So as the 102nd World Series gets underway on Saturday, we give you our thoughts on the matchup.
Nothing clever or inspirational this time but hey, I'm not in last place anymore. On to the picks...
Do not be fooled by the warm, inviting commoners of Elizabethtown. For all the spectators who intend to enter the world of sappy, chick-flick torture, be prepared for 123 minutes crying "Is it over yet?" and resisting the urge to punch the movie screen in frustration.
Four. Yes, four. That's how many picks out of 14 I got right. Thank god SCO doesn't pay me anything because if they did, I would be fired. What a weird league. Who would've figured that Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Green Bay, New York Jets, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh would win? Ay caramba…
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The Chicago White Sox swept the reigning World Series champ Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series last week, meaning baseball will crown a new champion this fall. The White Sox will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who are coming off an emotional series-ending victory over the Yankees on Sunday. In the National League, the slugging St. Louis Cardinals face off against the Houston Astros, who beat the Atlanta Braves in a series that included the longest postseason game in baseball history, an eighteen-inning marathon. So as we get going in round two, here are my amended predictions:
OCT. 6, 2005, BLAZER STADIUM As the JV Football team left Blazer Stadium Thursday night, a deafening silence filled the air, broken only in intervals by the joyful cries of Watkins Mill supporters. Blair continued its losing streak with a heartbreaking 20-13 loss to the Watkins Mill Wolverines. The loss marks the Blazers' third in a row, putting their record at 2-3 on the season.
There are four unbeaten teams left in week five: Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay and Washington. Of the four, the two that most people aren't sold on yet are Washington and Cincinnati. Both of these teams face good tests this week against Denver for the 'Skins and against Jacksonville for the Bengals. And I'm in last place. Again. This will end, I promise...
The Washington Wizards announced last Wednesday they will not match the offer sheet signed by backup point guard Steve Blake, officially making him the newest member of the Portland Trailblazers. Blake becomes the second Wizard to sign with the Blazers this offseason, joining former Maryland backcourt mate Juan Dixon in Portland.
With steroid scandals, violence on and off the field and embarrassing play (sorry, Royals fans), the 2005 Major League Baseball season could have been marred by bad publicity and mediocrity. But the most compelling storyline of the year turned out to be the great division and wild-card races, which came down to the wire in both the American and National Leagues. The teams who did get in are ready to rumble, and we can't wait to see what happens. In honor of the start of baseball's fall classic, we broke down each series by starting pitching, bullpen and hitting and added a final word about our favorites.
So, amazingly, we all (even Phil) did better this week. I know, I know, I'm in last place. But I needed to give the young 'uns a bit of confidence before I demolish them, right? Besides, if I really needed to, I could change all of their picks at the last minute. But I wouldn't do that or so I say...
Okay, so I had the worst week; I'm still beating Phil. But seriously, can anyone make sense out of the first two weeks? I mean, the Giants and the Bucs are 2-0 whereas San Diego and Baltimore are 0-2. Oh well, I can't complain. The Redskins won, remember?
As the final whistle blew at Blazer Stadium on Thursday night, a sea of red swarmed in triumph, jumping up and down in celebration. The Blazers could hardly hide their emotions, smiling wide and thrusting their scarlet helmets in the air. Despite minor injuries to starting tailback Clifford Gossin and quarterback Terrance Kelly Jr., the JV football squad improved their record to 2-0 with a 13-2 win over archrival Springbrook.
Every successful rapper has a special characteristic that makes his flow unique. Lloyd Banks has the punch lines, Young Buck has the Southern swagger and Eminem has the exceptional storytelling ability. Tony Yayo, the latest addition to the G-Unit family, has no unique characteristics.
With the exception of Phil, the whole panel had a 9-7 record last week. Not bad considering upsets by Miami over Denver and the 49ers over the Rams. With some more info going into week two, I expect a much better record overall. Anyway, on to the picks.
With less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Blair clinging to a one-point lead and the Richard Montgomery offense moving deeper into Blazer territory, the Rockets' quarterback rolled out to his right and lofted a soft, mesmerizing spiral inside Blair's 20-yard line. Just as the Rockets' receiver reached out his hands, Blair freshman Terrance Kelly, Jr. came blazing into the ball's flight path and snagged the pigskin with a leaping, two-handed grab, sealing the JV Football's 7-6 season opening win.
Poor Izzy has gone to St. Andrews for college. Nick is gone as well. Bushnell has defected to print (traitor...). So you're left with me and a couple of green recruits. As we march on to Super Bowl XL (Xtra-Large?), I introduce to you Phillip Allen, Abe Schwadron and Josh Zipin as the other members of SCO's "expert" panel. Already onset by laziness, Phil and Josh have not given me their takes on the game, just their picks. Whatever. At least I have Abe to count on, right?
The NFL is in the midst of a transformation, with young, energetic teams like the Cardinals and Lions will beat out aging, traditionally powerhouse teams like the Rams and Packers for playoff spots. The Patriots are the NFL's defending champions for the third time in four years, and the "dynasty" label has been slapped on Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, and the rest of the Patriots. But in spite of the Pats' dominance, the Indianapolis Colts' top-ranked offense and improved defense will finally beat the Patriots in the playoffs, something the team has never done with Peyton Manning at the helm. Here are the rest of our picks for the NFL in 2005.
As he strolled in from the bullpen in the seventh inning of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game Tuesday in Detroit, Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers was showered with boos from baseball fans disgusted by Rogers' actions during an early July incident involving a group of on-field cameramen.