SCOTT JACOBS

Bill Laimbeer was one of the elite centers in the NBA in the 1980’s, and one of the nastiest players as well.  He was aggressive, hard nosed, and relentless, and he played every game like his job depended on it.  Laimbeer may have been a  mean, ruthless player on the court, but he’s a class act off of it. He talked to us for fifteen minutes, but we had more questions, so we continued our candid conversation a few hours later.

All in all we talked about 25 minutes, and I came off very impressed by how honest and easygoing he was to talk to. He may seem like a mean cuss on the court, but off of it, Laimbeer is one of the nicest and most respectful athletes I’ve ever spoken with.  So here in it’s entirety is my entire conversation with the Laimbeer.  It’s a Juiced Sports exclusive.  Enjoy!

Juiced Sports: You went to Notre Dame, but flunked out as a freshman.  How did flunking out your first year change your perception on things, and drive you to work harder at a technical school for one year so that you could rejoin the Irish and show them what you could do?

Bill Laimbeer: As a freshman I admit that I didn’t like going to class. You had to go to class to get the grades you needed to play, and I didn’t.  I learned thorough the experience about having more discipline in my own life.  You had to do what was asked, if you wanted to play the game.  I had to do what was asked of me if I wanted to participate.

JSB: College Basketball is huge today, and the NCAA Tournament is like a national four day holiday the third week of March, but you played when the game was not always on center stage.  In fact, there was no ESPN during most/if not all of your college years.  What’s it been like for you to see college basketball’s explosion from well kept secret to one of America’s national past-times?

BL: No question that TV has created the explosion.  It spread the talent out.  There are great players now spread apart on more and more teams.  The number of teams that can compete for a title has increased dramatically.  It draws more fans in, and it’s great for the players, because not everybody is going to play pro basketball (the majority won’t), so it gives them recognition that may help them one day in a business career.

JSB: You were drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they took so long to offer you a contract that you decided to go to Italy instead.  Was that a really difficult decision to make?

BL: No, Italy gave me a guaranteed contract of $40,000.  {So I guess times have changed, huh?} Yeah, Times have certainly changed.

JSB: You got dealt to the Detroit Pistons in 1982 who were not very good.  Every athlete seems to have a comically bad story from their days playing on a hapless team; Any memories that stick out for you?

BL: Isaiah Thomas didn’t like practice one day, and Coach Scotty Robertson told him that he we very serious about practice and asked Isaiah if he was serious.  Isaiah said no, so Roberson told him to leave.

JSB: In 1989 and 1990 the Pistons repeated as champions.  Which championship was sweeter: the first or the second?

BL: Winning the first one was a relief.  Finally we could say we won something!  We believed we’d win the first one.  The second one was fun, and you could enjoy it more.  We didn’t believe we were going to repeat, we knew!

JSB: Now a lot of people probably forget that you were one of the NBA’s Iron Men at one point during your 12 year career.  You played 685 games in a row.  How did you do it?  Were NBA players tougher back then compared to the more pampered stars of today?

BL: I would have played over 1000 in a row had it not been for suspensions.

JSB:  So Cal Ripken would’ve had nothing on you!

BL: (Laughs) NBA Players were definitely tougher then.  The competition for jobs was stiffer.  You couldn’t take any nights off, because this was the pre-expansion era and because of tht there was less teams.  There were much deeper teams back then, and I made sure I played hard every night to keep my job.

I think I hold players respect by what I accomplished in my playing days, but that only goes so far.  I am honest, I say what everybody else is thinking, but they’re afraid to say.  Team comes first, before me, them, or any star.

JSB: Did you ever feel threatened that you might loss your job?

BL: No, I played hard every night, so I always kept my spot in the starting line up.

JSB: Do players today take their starting jobs for granted?

BL: Definitely, I think players take their starting position for granted. Not everybody does, but a lot of them.

JSB: You were not exactly the most beloved player by any means, due mostly to your physically rugged style of play.  But players respected you.  Do you think that if you played in the NBA today, where the game has become more about quickness and finesse that your style would be just as effective?

BL: I think so.  I rebounded, set good screens, hit open shots, and I was a good teammate.  Those are traits that never go away.

JSB: You were called the Prince of Darkness, amongst other things, and collected some of the most unique nicknames in NBA history.  Did you get a kick out of all the nicknames people gave you, and what’s the best one someone ever called you that few people know about?

BL: It was funny to read a lot of the stuff that people would say and write.  I didn’t mind it because I knew we were doing something right.  You have to laugh at all of them.  It’s no big deal.  The best one was Prince of Darkness.  That would be my favorite

JSB: You played the majority of your NBA career with just one team.  It seems rarer by the day with free agency, the salary cap, and luxury taxes for a great player to play the duration of his career with the same team; Is this a trend that we as the sports fan just need to get used to?  Is loyalty dead?

BL: Yes, fans need to get used to it.  The trend will continue.  There is loyalty, however there is money.  Salary caps and players wanting bigger contracts cause moves to be made, as well as trades.  That’s business.

JSB: What was it like playing with Dennis Rodman?

BL: Rodman was great.  He was a great teammate; he worked hard, knew his responsibility, and did his job very well.

JSB: Were there any antics with Detroit?

BL: There were no antics during his Pistons years; we would not have allowed it.  When he started to go that route, he was traded.

JSB: Were you upset when he was dealt or was it something that needed to be done?

BL: It was something that needed to happen.

JSB: In 2003 you took the WNBA’s Detroit Shock from worst to first in just a single year.  What was that experience like for you?  Is there anything more rewarding for a coach than to lead a turnaround that remarkable and that quick?

BL: It was a great experience.  We rode an emotional wave that year.  It was a great reward to have that quick of a turnaround and to cap it off with a championship.  That’s a rare feat.

JSB: You’ve won three WNBA titles since taking over the reigns in Detroit in 2002, including last year’s title over the San Antonio Silver Stars.  Clearly you’re doing something right.  So my question to you is what makes you such a great coach?

BL: I think I hold players respect by what I accomplished in my playing days, but that only goes so far.  I am honest, I say what everybody else is thinking, but they’re afraid to say.  Team comes first, before me, them, or any star.

JSB: A lot of people disrespect the WNBA, some even say that it’s a joke.  Does that bother you?  Do you just laugh at people who make those remarks?  As a coach who’s had a chance to see these girls year in and year out what would you say to that?

BL: Those that disparage it have not watched it.  Ten years ago the WNBA was average basketball, but today it is great basketball.  It bothers you, but you have to laugh about it, because they’re just naïve.  Once they watch it, we’ll get many more fans.

JSB: How much longer do you plan on coaching?

BL: I don’t know.  There is no timetable, and I enjoy what I’m doing.

JSB: You’re promoting Coke Zero’s Taste the Madness, which is a very cool interactive site for college basketball fans.  If you could tell all of our readers a little bit about the contest and the site that would be much appreciated.

BL: Sure. Coke Zero is a huge sponsor of the NCAA Tournament.  They want fans to send in videos of their crazy rituals, traditions, fight songs, etc. and the more bizarre and wild the better.  You upload it at www.tastethemadness.com and every video is posted.  Judges will judge every last one of them, and the winning videos will be shown during the title game on CBS.  Papa Johns will even throw all the winners a pizza party.

JSB: How’d you get involved?

BL: They asked me to.  Previous experience in the Final Four with the Irish was a big reason.

JSB: So I take it when it comes to the Coke versus Pepsi debate you like…

BL: Coke.  I am a big Coke supporter.

JSB: Mr. Laimbeer, thanks so much for your time.  You may have been a Bad Boy and a rugged hard nosed player on the court, but you are a hell of a nice and cordial guy off of it.

BL: Thanks very much, I enjoyed talking to you.

Photo: AP by Eric Gay

SCOTT JACOBS

Welcome to the show boys!… and girls of course!  Today, Juiced Sports has an article featured on ESPN.com’s Page 2 Uni Watch.  Being a huge fan of logos, jersey designs, and all things sports aesthetics this is a great thrill for us.

So what’s featured?  Mitch’s article on the original Baltimore Ravens logo, read it here.  Mitch’s article interestingly enough dates back to October 2007, but who cares right?  How many times can you say you’ve got a link on ESPN.com?  And we don’t care how big the World Wide Leader in Sports’ website is.  Being on there, even if we’re tucked away neatly in the 16th paragraph (yeah we counted, big whoop, want to fight about it?) is very very cool.

The excerpt here (the link to our page is in bold):

“Swint hasn’t yet hired a lawyer or decided whether to pursue litigation (he realizes his lack of documentation hurts whatever claim he might have). Either way, this isn’t the first time a fan has claimed that his unsolicited design submission was appropriated by a team. When the Baltimore Ravens unveiled their original helmet logo in 1996, a Maryland security guard named Frederick E. Bouchat claimed that the logo design was based on a drawing he had faxed to the team the previous year. A federal court later agreed (which is why the Ravens switched to this helmet logo in 1999), although Bouchat received no monetary damages.”

So yeah, so we thought we’d share that with you.  Read the entire Uni Watch article here.

Photo: Baltimore Sun

SCOTT JACOBS

1:03

ESPN analyst Shaun King who picked the Dolphins to win the AFC East, apparently has no plans on jumping ship now.  When I asked him who he’s picking to win the Phins-Jets clash at the Meadowlands, King didn’t think twice:

“im nostradomus lol dolphins by 10″

And so with that, we start our coverage on an unbelievable week 17.  This should be a season finale for the ages.

1:08

O dear, Buffalo’s first punt of the game in the swirling winds of Ralph Wilson Stadium goes 13 yards.  This game is not for the kicker’s faint of heart, so if I was either team I wouldn’t be hoping that this game comes down to any kind of kick.

1:15

Wow, the Bills dodge a huge bullet.  Bills punt returner Leodis McKelvin muffed Chris Hanson’s punt, and it was a free for all from there, as the Pats failed to recover it in the endzone, and instead, Fred Jackson saves the day for the Bills for a rather harmless, but heart stopping touchback.  Still 0-0.

1:19

Start the countdown to 0-16.  The Packers are on the board as DeShawn Wynn goes 73 yards.  7-0 Pack.

1:29

I know it’s early, but the Rams are beating Atlanta 7-3.  Any chance of a letdown after an emotional playoff clinching win last week over Minnesota?

1:31

The Bears are up early in Houston, racing out to a 10-0 cushion.  A win by Chicago, and a loss by the Vikings to New York would clinch the Bears the NFC North.

1:37

The first quarter ends in Buffalo with the Bills having failed to throw a single pass the entire quarter! They have good reason: the wind wouldn’t allow them to throw the ball.  They must be thrilled to switch sides!

1:42

Detroit may be a lock for 0-16 before the first half is over.  Jermichael Finley’s three yard touchdown puts the Packers up 14-0 and we’re still in the first quarter.

1:45

Holy Buffalo!  Rian Lindell’s 47 yard kick  goes from left to wayyyyyyyyyy right.  The howling winds just destroyed that kick.  It will be interesting to see how the two teams choose to play this game with these unbelievable winds swirling around Ralph Wilson.

1:52

NFC North race: Vikings lead Giants 10-0, Bears lead Texans 10-0.  Advantage: Vikings, they’re the team that wins and they’re in.

Drew Brees Record watch: He needs 402 yards to break Dan Marino’s all time record for yards passed in a season: 47 yards so far

1:57

They’re holding down the goal posts so the Patriots will be able to kick a ‘fair’ field goal.  I have never in my life seen this before.  What an incredible 26 year field goal attempt into the wind.

1:58

And Gostkowski misses it!  The kick looked perfect, and then the wind just took it for a joy ride.  This is wild!

2:15

Bizarre finish to the first half in Buffalo.  The Bills were deep in Pats territory, ran a running play with 22 seconds left and no timouts, and then somehow were unable to get off another play.  Just a nightmare in terms of clock management to finish that half.  3-0 Pats in a wild one in Western New York.

Carolina is rolling, as they fly out to a 23-3 lead over the over-rated Saints, and Drew Brees, who has just 101 yards doesn’t appear to have any chance of catching Marino for the all time season record.

2:21

Bucs appear on version of implosion, as JaMarcus Russel hits Chaz Schilens for a three yard score.  Tampa Bay has lost three in a row, and is trailing the lowly Raiders 14-7 with any playoff hopes they have at stake.  This is great news for Eagles fans, who need a Bucs loss and either a Vikes or Bears loss as well to have any shot of making the playoffs as an NFC wild card.

2:28

Best sign of the day so far: “Jets fan for a day” held up by a Patriots fan.  Stat of the day: going into the swirling Buffalo winds neither the Pats or Bills have attempted a single pass.  Wow.

Eagles watch: The stars are really aligning for Philly right now.  The Eagles need Tampa to lose (they’re trailing Oakland at halftime 14-7) and a Bears or Vikings loss (Bears are losing to the Texans 14-10), as well as a victory of their own against the hated Cowboys to get in.  At this rate, that 4:15 Dallas-Philadelphia game could be winner take all for the NFC’s sixth and final playoff spot.  We’ll keep our eye on that as the day goes on.

2:36

Breaking News from CBS Sportsline: “Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is carted off on a stretcher with an apparent head or neck injury after a hit late in the second quarter against Cleveland.”

The Steelers opted to play Roethlisberger in their meaningless game against the Browns, and if this injury is as serious as it initially looks, Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl dreams could be put on ice before the playoffs even start.  This would be the second year in a row a Steelers offensive star suffered a devastating injury: last year it was Willie Parker.

2:42

Updates on the irrelevant games (games that have no impact on playoff picture):

Draft Pick Bowl: Bengals 13 Chiefs 0.  Backup Bowl: Colts 16 Titans 0.  Steelers 14 Browns 0.  We’re still awaiting word on Big Ben’s injury.  It is a given that he won’t be playing any more today, but how serious is the injury?  Steelers fans must be shaking with terror right now.  If Big Ben is done for the year, so are the Steelers.

2:50

11 plays, 41 yards, and just like that the Patriots are up two scores.  And they tack on the oddest looking extra point. 10-0 Pats.  Remember, they need a win and a Dolphins or Ravens loss to get into the playoffs.  Anything else, and they could be out of the playoffs even with an 11 win season.

2:55

Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are now over 1000 yards rushing on the season apiece, and with that, they become just the fourth set of team-mates to both hit the century mark in rushing in the same season.

Here’s the latest on Roethlisberger: he laid motionless for 15 minutes before being carted off.  He gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he was taken off the field, and we will keep you posted as we find out more information on this huge injury.

3:02

Drew Brees chase for the record: not going so well.  He’s 15/27 for 185 yards and not even halfway to what he needs to eclipse Marino.  But the Saints are getting pounded into submission by a motivated Panthers team, that must have been ticked by all the naysayers this week who didn’t think they would win this ever crucial game.  Looks like the Panthers will wrap up the NFC’s #2 seed and a first round bye.  With that the Falcons will be locked into the 5th seed.

3:06

Things are getting very interesting in the NFC North.  David Carr’s 23 yard touchdown to Domenik Hixon puts the Giants ahead 16-10, and revives hope for the Bears, who are also trailing 21-17.  It’s looking right now like the team that wins will take the Norris, but only the Vikings know a win gets them in.

3:09

Have two teams from the same conference ever missed the playoffs after both finishing 10-6?  It’s a prospect the AFC potentially faces if the Jets beat Miami, and New England finishes off the Bills (they’re leading 13-0 now early in the 4th).  The Pats would be 11-5, and the Dolphins and Jets would be on the outside looking in (baring a Ravens loss) at 10-6.

3:13

0-16 Lions watch: Packers 14 Lions 14.  Infamy could come down to the wire at Lambeau.

3:20

0-16 watch: Ryan Grant ran 80 yards for a touchdown breaking a 14-14 tie, but in a rare twist of good luck the Lions challenged the play and the refs ruled that he was down by contact, turning an 80 yard score into a 21 yard gain.  Maybe no team is meant to lose ‘em all?

Tarvaris Jackson is not the answer in Minnesota.  First he throws a bad pick to James Butler, and then he gets a bad penalty hitting Butler out of bounds.  The Bears still trail at Houston, but the Vikes are giving Chicago every possible opportunity to claim the division.  Either way, neither one of these teams (Chicago or Minnesota) will go anywhere in the playoffs.  In fact, I’d argue both Arizona and the NFC North winner could be underdogs next week hosting their respective wildcard games.

3:29

This has to be some sort of a record: four teams might be shutout today (Buffalo, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Tennessee).  I guess no one’s running to hand Vnce Young the Titans starting QB job anytime soon.

3:31

The Raiders are making it interesting: Johnnie Lee Higgens 12 yard TD reception closes the gap to three, as the Bucs hold on for dear life to their playoff dreams.  The way they’re playing, I don’t think they belong in the post-season, but with a win and a Cowboys loss they’d indeed be in.  We’ll keep our eye on that one.

3:34

Put this one in the who woulda thunk it category: St. Louis is tied with Atlanta 24-24 with 13 minutes left in the fourth.

3:37

Shutout #1 is in the books: The Colts win the Backup Bowl 23-0 over the Titans.  The game was meaningless for both teams, as the Titans had already clinched the top seed and the Colts were locked into the fifth seed.  The Colts will play the winner of the AFC East next week (either New England or Miami).

3:39

Jerod Mayo sacks Trent Edwards, and the Patriots will defeat Buffalo.  The only question now is if they will hold onto the shutout they are pitching.  With the win the Patriots continue their dominance over the Bills to 11 straight games.  So it’s simple now: the Jets cannot win the AFC East.  Their only hope of getting into the playoffs is to beat Miami and get some help from the Jags, who have nothing whatsoever to play for after a terrible season.

3:46

Drew Brees record watch: not only are the Saints fighting back against the Panthers after digging themselves a 30-10 hole, Brees is positioning himself for a chance at the record.  Brees has 341 yards, remember he needs 402 to break Marino’s single season record, and there’s still over five minutes left to play. Not only that, but the Saints are now down just 30-24.  Meanwhile, the Falcons are having their own issues with one of the NFL’s worst teams, the Rams, who are driving deep into Falcons territory with the game tied at 24 and under seven minutes to play.

3:49

Two shutouts in the books.  Pats finish off Bills 13-0.  They need a Dolphins loss to win the AFC East or a Ravens loss to secure the AFC’s sixth and final wildcard.  The Jets have no hope of making the playoffs, but they can be spoilers.

3:50

Are you kidding me Tampa Bay?  Michael Bush and Oakland just took a 28-24 lead on the shell shocked Bucs, who are laying an end of season egg.  Remember, the Bucs were 9-3 a few weeks ago with a chance to win the NFC South.  Since then, they’ve lost three straight and are in danger of losing a fourth in a row.  Jon Gruden’s job may be on the line if Tampa Bay loses this one.

3:54

Just win baby?  Nah!  The Vikings might lose their game against New York, but it won’t matter because the Bears are trailing Houston by two touchdowns with under three minutes to play.

0-16 watch: It’s getting close now.  Green Bay just took a 10 point lead and there’s 7:16 to play.  Does Detroit have a miracle left in a season of unspeakable nightmares?  It doesn’t look good right now.

3:57

No freaking way!  Drew Brees has led the Saints to a 31-30 lead over Carolina, and in doing is now just 16 yards shy of Marino’s record.  If you can believe it, the only thing likely preventing Brees from getting the record is a sustained drive by Carolina for the winning field goal.  If the Panthers turn the ball over and Brees gets the ball back with the lead would the Saints still continue to throw to get Brees the mark?  Or would they take a knee and secure an amazing comeback?

4:01

Atlanta just took the lead on St. Louis, and the Panthers are trailing in New Orleans (but driving).  Wow, what a crazy finish to a crazy season!

4:03

Ryan Longwell from 50 yards out to clinch the NFC North for the Minnesota Vikings…

4:05

The kick is up and it’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!  Vikings win!  Clutch!  Clutch!  Minnesota locks up the NFC North on a terrific kick!

4:06

Meanwhile, Carolina trails by a point and they too need a field goal to win their division.  42 yard attempt to claim the South and he got it!  Right down the middle with just one second remaining!  Unbelievable!  Within the span of like 5 seconds, two divisions are won on field goals!  Gotta love the NFL.  There is still one second left, will New Orleans call a fair catch and give Brees a chance to get the record on a short pass?

4:08

One final play: Brees needs 16 yards to break Marino’s mark.  And a delay of game on New Orleans?  Baffling, just baffling.

Atlanta has won.  The Panthers win too as Brees pass hits the carpet.  Brees falls just 16 yards short.

4:09

Jeff Garcia is sacked.  Tampa Bay is done.  Unbelievable.  The Oakland Raiders, of all teams, go into Tampa and beat the Bucs.  Of all the teams to go across the country, who would have ever thought that the Raiders would be the ones to pull it off?  What a stunning disappearance act by the Buccaneers.

4:10

And with the loss, the NFC East clash between the Eagles and Cowboys will determine the NFC’s final wild card spot.  Wow, two winner take all games to come.  This is scintillating, memorable stuff.

4:15

Playoff spots still up for grabs:

AFC East
AFC West
AFC Final Wild Card
NFC Final Wild Card

With the win Atlanta will travel to Arizona next week as the five seed.  The Vikings will host the winner of the Cowboys/Eagles game.

In the AFC, the Colts will play the AFC West winner, and the the other matchup is still up in the air.

The Panthers are locked into the number two seed, and all byes have been secured.

4:15

This is the most exciting week of football I’ve ever seen!

And we are underway in New Jersey!

4:23

0-16 watch: Detroit Lions lose 31-21.  Packers avoid embarrassment, Lions sure to feel a lot more of it, as they become the first team in NFL history to fail to win a game since the NFL went to a 16 game schedule.  And with the NFL potentially changing their schedule to 17 or 18 games in 2010 no team may never accomplish this feat again!

4:33

Favre is a pro bowler?  He throws his 20th pick of the season to Andre Goodman, and now he has just one more TD throw then his leading INT total.  Ouch!

Meanwhile, the Ravens lead 3-0, and so do the Eagles.  If both of those teams win, they’re in.

And the Cardinals are trailing Seattle at home 7-0.  Oy Vey, what a miserable conclusion to a once promising season.  Atlanta must be salivating at the thought of a playoff game with the Cards.

5:49

Halftime and the playoff picture is beginning to really clear up

Dallas has run out of chances, and are getting whacked in Philly 27-3!  The Eagles will secure the NFC’s sixth seed with a win over the pathetically free falling Cowgirls, who just might cost Wade Phillips his job.  If the Eagles, who are up four scores, hold on, they will complete an improbable turnaround from 5-5-1 to 9-6-1.  That tie was a gift from above, and so was Oakland’s shocking victory over Tampa Bay.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins lead the Jets 14-9 at halftime.  Brett Favre has already tossed two picks to add to his league leading total, including one that was taken back for six by Philip Merling, and the Jets also botched an extra point.  If the Dolphins win, they clinch a stunning AFC East crown.  A loss hands the division to the Patriots.

In Baltimore, the Jags presented an early challenge, but have since folded.  The Ravens lead 24-7 now, and would lock up the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot if they hold on.  The Pats and Jets are at the mercy of the Ravens.  A Dolphins and Ravens win would knock out both the Jets and Patriots.  A Jets win and a Ravens loss would give New York the wildcard.  A Dolphins win and a Ravens loss would hand New England the wild card.

The AFC West is to be decided tonight, winner take all in San Diego.

7:08

The Ravens have defeated Jacksonville 27-7.  They have clinched the AFC’s last wild card.  Their win eliminates the Jets from the playoffs.  The Patriots, who won 11 games including a gutsy 13-0 shutout at Buffalo today, will amazingly fall short

7:17

The Dolphins, leading 24-17 are 17 seconds away from securing the most improbable, unbelievable, seemingly unattainable division crown arguably in NFL history.  In typical Miami fashion, the Dolphins punted the ball away and pinned the Jets inside the five. 17 seconds, are the Dolphins, from completing this miracle turnaround.  They won one game last year!  One.  And now, with CBS’s best announcing the game on the last day of the season, Miami is on the verge of securing the AFC East and knocking the Pats out of the playoffs.

7:18

Ouch, Brett Favre took a lick on that lateral.  Seven seconds left, and they’re taking Brett out of the game.  In what will be likely his final game.  The Jets lateral the ball all over the field, and finally its recovered by Miami!  Tony Sparano gets the Gatorade shower.  Chad gets his revenge.  Miami wins!  Miami wins!  They will play Baltimore next weekend, a rematch of two teams who played last year during lost seasons.  Remember, the Ravens were Miami’s only win last year.  Now the two will meet with two rookie head coaches, and a combined 22 wins between them.

7:21

Chad Pennington for MVP! I think he should win it.  Sorry Peyton.

7:22

I still can’t believe Miami just won the East.

7:23

Next week’s schedule (times to be determined after tonight’s Denver-San Diego winner take all):

AFC

6. Baltimore at 3. Miami
Early Line: One of the most improbable playoff matchups in recent memory, between two teams who last year won six combined games.

5. Indianapolis at 4. San Diego/Denver
Early Line: Colts finish season with seven straight wins; AFC West winner gets a playoff spot by default.

Byes: Tennessee, Pittsburgh

NFC

6. Philadelphia at 3. Minnesota
Early Line: Eagles pulverized Cowboys into the ground, and lo and behold that tie saved their season; Vikings barely won North.

5. Atlanta at 4. Arizona
Early Line: Expect points and lots of them.  We’ll put our money on this being the most exciting game of the weekend.

Byes: New York Giants, Carolina

SCOTT JACOBS

It was a crazy year in college football.  Georgia started the year number one, and they were number two the next week– after winning their first game.  I believe five teams were number one at some point in the year in the AP Poll (Georgia, USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama) before Florida beat the Crimson Tide in the SEC title game to make it six.  Once again, no major school went undefeated (But uh, don’t tell that to Utah or Boise State). We had another BCS title game controversy, and another reminder that the system isn’t going away (with ESPN buying the rights to the BCS and all).  ABC’s Saturday Night Football reminded us that just three big schools played a big game every week (Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech), or I guess it just felt that way.  Joe Pa had the Nittany Lions (not a real lion by the way) on the verge of the National title game, and then was handsomely rewarded with a three year extension.  We’re all for 80 year old head coaches, but 83?  C’mon.

We saw Notre Dame lose to Syracuse!  LSU almost lost to Troy,  and Michigan lost to just about everyone this year.  We saw the most points in college football history scored by one team.  But out of this crazy college football season, what will we most remember here at Juiced Sports? Read on, we don’t tease.  We cut right to the chase.

Note: JSB is not liable for any hurt feelings this article may provoke.

And away we go…

Best game of the year: TEXAS-TEXAS TECH
There were so many great games this year, but this one topped em all.  Texas Tech’s coming out party ultimately cost Texas a Big 12 South title and a chance at the BCS Championship game, but it was the way this wild game played out that made it so special.  Tech rolled to an early 19-0 lead and appeared to have a stunning upset in hand, when the Horns came storming back. Early in the fourth, down 10, Colt McCoy found Malcolm Williams down the sidelines and hit him with a perfect strike for a 91 yard touchdown cutting the Red Raiders’ lead to 29-26.  With just a minute and a half left, and down by six, Longhorns running back Vondrell McGee marched into the endzone on a four yard run to give the Horns their first lead of the game, seemingly deflating the Red Raiders and stunning a hostile Lubbock crowd. But it wasn’t to be on this night, as Graham Harrell connected with Michael Crabtree for an unbelievable 28 yard touchdown with just one second on the clock putting the Red Raiders ahead for good.  Crabtree appeared to be wrapped up, but got away from his defender, and willed the ball into the endzone sending Lubbock into a frenzy.  The ending was so good that fans rushed the field before the game was over, delaying the end of a historic win.  The fans had to be pushed back on the sideline until the kickoff, when they were more than happy to re-storm the field, as Tech claimed the biggest victory in school history.

Wildest Game: FLORIDA STATE-MIAMI
Fundamentals?  Not in this game.  Good special teams?  Not in this game.  Turnover free football? Ha! FSU’s soggy, muddy, ugly 41-39 blooper fest over Miami back in early October wasn’t exactly a clinic on how to play football, but there’s no denying it was one of the wildest games of the 2008 season.  There were seven turnovers, 22 penalties, and 80 combined points, not to mention two horribly botched snaps on punts by FSU.  FSU also nearly blew a 24-3 halftime lead, as well as a 31-10 lead in the third quarter and was teetering on the fence of disaster all second half, before they finally finished the Canes off on a 20 yard touchdown by Antoine Smith (who had four for the game). These two programs certainly aren’t what they once were, but this game was as entertaining as it gets.

We thought this one should have meant more: TEXAS-OKLAHOMA
No. five Texas’s 45-35 win over No. one Oklahoma on a neutral field in Dallas, TX was supposed to answer the debate about who the better team was (Texas).  But because of crappy luck, a stunning loss at the end to Texas Tech, and a whacky tie-breaker instituted by the Big 12 in case of three team ties for the division, the Horns head to head win over the Sooners in the end meant a whole lot of nothing. Sure, one could argue that it’s when you win that matters in college football, not who you beat, or how convincingly you beat them, but Texas truly got ripped off.  Because Oklahoma was the highest ranked team in the BCS, Texas not only didn’t win their conference, they didn’t win their division.  No doubt the Big 12 will be looking at that rule in the offseason.

Best Story- UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO 
Widely regarded as one of the worst college football programs in the country, the Buffalo Bulls completed a 180 in 2008 that was so dramatic it was almost hard to believe.  The Bulls who had failed to win more than two games in a season from 2002-2006, won a school record eight games, including an impressive 42-24 win over previously unbeaten Ball State in the MAC Championship.  It was an unbelievable turnaround for coach Turner Gill, who took the job in 2006 as the Bulls were coming off of a 1-10 record.  In 2006 Gill doubled that win total.  In 2007 the Bulls won five games, and finished with a winning record in the conference (5-3).  And in 2008 Gill led the Bulls to their first ever bowl game and conference championship.  This week Gill was rewarded with a nice extension that will keep him a Bull for at least one more year.  And now, believe it or, there are expectations at the University of Buffalo.  Yeah, who woulda ever thunk it?

Worst Story- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Michigan’s been playing football for a long time, so to lose the most games in school history following a nice farewell Capital One Bowl win for Lloyd Carr the year before, was in a word, stunning.  The Wolverines didn’t fall from grace in 2008, they free falled, going 3-9, and failed to make a bowl game for the first time in 34 years.  In addition to the worst record in school history, the Maze and Blue had a losing season for the first time in 41 years!  It was all done in a year’s work for new coach Rich Rodriguez, whose system didn’t match the players Michigan had.  Following an ugly divorce from West Virginia, Rodgriguez’s 2008 nightmare in Ann Arbor probably didn’t help. Making matter worse was a 42-7 pummeling to hated rival Ohio State, making it five straight losses for UM to OSU.

The Slipper Didn’t Quite Fit: OREGON STATE
With their stunning 27-21 win over heavily favored USC early in the season, the Beavers ultimately knocked out the Trojans from a chance at another national title. They also gave themselves an improbable opportunity to get into the Rose Bowl.  And boy did they come close.  After eeking out a win over Arizona in Tuscon, all the Beavers needed to do was beat Oregon at home to secure the school’s first Rose Bowl berth since 1964.  But they never really came close.  Oregon put up 65 and pummeled Oregon’s Rose Bowl dreams into the ground, beating the Beavers by 27.  It was the highest scoring game in the history of the storied Civil War, but not a game Oregon State fans will want to remember. Instead, the Beavers fell to 8-4, and out of the BCS, landing in the Sun Bowl, where they will playanother late season disappointment: Pitt.

Where did they come from?: RUTGERS
After starting the season 1-5 many fans around the country were wondering if Greg Schiano really had the resources to continue to make Rutgers a relevent football school year after year.  Well, it’s never easy to say what the future holds, but in 2008 the Scarlett Knights went from nightmare to lights out, winning their final six games to claim a winning record, and an impressive 5-2 mark in a tight Big East. After squeaking by UConn 12-10, Rutgers got things rolling, scoring no less than 30 points the rest of the season uncluding a 63-14 slaughtering over Louisville to end the year.  To say the Knights are peaking at the right time– well, that’s an understatement if there ever was one.

What happened?: MISSOURI
Coming off a dream season in which they were number one going into the Big 12 title game, the Tigers looked primed for another special year.  Instead, they saw their delusional national title dreams fade after a red hot start.  The Tigers opened 5-0 and scored more than 40 points in each of their first five wins, but a surprising loss to Oklahoma State at home, and a blowout loss to Texas knocked the Tigers from No. three to No. fifteen in just two weeks. By then Missouri’s title dreams were dead (BCS that is).  But they still had a chance to finish the season strong after winning the North, as well as an opportunity to avenge their 2007 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game.  But that storyline became moot as Oklahoma mutilated Mizzou 62-21 in Kansas City, dropping the once high flying Tigers entirely out of the top 25, and into the Alamo Bowl, a far cry from where they had hoped to be.

It sucks to be in a non-BCS Conference: BOISE STATE
Boise State beat six schools that are going to bowl games this year, including Oregon, but running the table and winning the WAC convincingly didn’t truly get them a sniff of the BCS.  Close, kinda.  That is if you consider the top 10 close, which is where the No. nine Broncos find themselves.  Unfortunatley, Utah also ran the table, and was ranked higher in the BCS, so the Broncos, who went undefeated for the third time in five years, once again find themselves on the outside of the BCS picture looking in. It really has to suck when you don’t get picked by the Fiesta Bowl, because Ohio State brings in more fans. But that’s how the system works, and Boise State has to really hate this system.

Most Mind Blowingly Irrelevant BCS Conference: BIG EAST
Once West Virginia stumbled out of the gate the Big East was pretty much forgotten as a whole. It’s not often a team can go 11-2, and still remain completely annonymous to pretty much the whole country, but Cincinatti managed to pull that small feat off.  Look, the Bearcats are a nice story, and going to the Orange Bowl for them has to be a huge thrill, but can anyone look me in the eye and persuade me that the Big East truly deserves a team in the BCS?  And I’m not just picking on the Big East, because I don’t think the ACC has any right to have a team in there either.  Fittingly the Bearcats and Hokies face off in Miami in what may be the lowest rated BCS game in history.

Don’t ever take a Bowl Game for Granted: VANDERBILT
This is to all the Michigans’ and Florida States’ of the world: never take a bowl game for granted, no matter how crappy the bowl game is.  Why?  Because Vanderbilt is ecstatic to be going to the Music City Bowl, their first bowl appearance in 26 years!  How bad has Vandy been?  Consider: Vandy hasn’t had a winning season in 25 years and counting, and their 6-6 record this year doesn’t change that. Vanderbilt started the season out 5-0, and had some believing they might even be an SEC contender (ha!), but things quickly fell apart for the early season surprise, which had to scrap past Kentucky to secure bowl eligibility.  Vandy then proceeded to lose their final two, failing to record a winning record.  But hey, thanks to the current bowl system, they’re getting rewarded for mediocrity.  In an alternative universe, where only good teams get rewarded, they’d have to wait another 25 years.

SCOTT JACOBS

Who’s getting our Heisman?  Why don’t you, uh, click the link…

Thanks to the Blue Work Horse, sports bloggers from around the country were able to send in their picks for who should win the Heisman, followed by who should be 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th.  I took the time to send him my ballot (below) and the Blue Work horse took all 73 ballots cast in an extensive Heisman vote, and came up with a winner.  And it wasn’t really even close folks.  If you want to see who won (wasn’t my vote) check out their in depth breakdown here.  Keep reading if you want to see who I picked, as I explain the method to my madness.

The Heisman Trophy

1. Colt McCoy- He did the most with the least in leading the Longhorns to an 11-1 record. But it wasn’t enough to win Texas the Big 12 South, nevermind the conference.  Still, don’t hold that against the man who threw for 3445 yards, and 32 touchdowns.  The 6 foot 3 junior completed almost 78 percent of his throws, and he came up large in big games. Against Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech when the lights shined brightest, McCoy threw 7 touchdowns, and just 2 picks.  When you throw in his 576 yards rushing, that just seals the deal of how special of a player he really is.

2. Sam Bradford- 4464 yards, 48 touchdowns, and the orchestrator of the highest scoring team in college football history.  Yeah, Sam had what you might say was a pretty decent season in leading the Sooners to Miami for a shot at the national title.

3. Tim Tebow- 28 touchdowns through the air, 12 on the ground,and Tebow still falls well short of his ridiculous 55 scores from 2007. I’m sorry: there are guys with better numbers, who played against better teams in better conferences than Tebow, and I just don’t think he was the best player in the nation this year.  Awesome, yes.  Heisman, not quite.

Don’t forget about: Graham Harrell: The man threw for over 4700 yards, 47 touchdowns, and just seven picks.  But he got jobbed when the Heisman committe didn’t invite him.  I don’t know, it seems awfully unfair that one horrible loss in Norman was enough to derail what looked like a sure Heisman invite for #6.

SCOTT JACOBS

So are you ready? Like really really ready?  Cause basketball season is just about upon us, and we’d hate for you to the be the one who’s left behind.  Got your mind wrapped around football, the World Series, and hockey? That’s just fine (Seriously, we commend you if you still keep up with hockey, you’re a dying breed).  But hey, there’s always room for one more squaw (That’s a quote from something, can’t quite remember what).

Yesterday, University of Arizona coach Lute Olsen retired out of nowhere (it was a long time coming, but the timing was unexpected).  Arizona’s made the NCAA tournament 24 straight times, which is currently the longest running streak in the nation, but trip number 25 in a row, if they get there, will be under a new head boss.  Olsen will be missed.  He was one of the great teachers of the game, and a fabulous recruiter of young talent.  Check around the NBA and you’ll see a flurry of former Arizona Wildcats on NBA teams.

Anyhow, that brings us to DirecTV, which for a short time only, is offering you $20 off of their ESPN Full Court Package.  This way you can keep up with the Wildcats, or any other team that you can’t watch normally.  But hey, maybe you like pro hoops too.  If the NBA is your thing, we’ve got your back as well.  Save $20 now if you sign up for DirecTV’s NBA League Pass, and experience what it’s like to save some green so you can do other things with it: like buy team hats, or make donations to presidential candidates who are not even on all the ballots.  Whatever you do, we’re not judging.  But we know how to judge a good deal, and this one’s staring you right in the face.

Act now, or wonder ‘what if’ forever.  Twenty dollars!  It’s more then ten.  We’re not exactly mathematicians, but you might be able to buy a hotdog and a drink at a game with that money.  And you can even get like 1/15 tank of gas too! 

Don’t like clicking graphics? Check out each deal here:

NBA LEAGUE PASS
http://www.usdirect.com/nbaleaguepass/?kbid=13598

ESPN FULL COURT PRESS
http://www.usdirect.com/espnfullcourt/?kbid=13598

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