Last night, the Heat took a page right out of the Spurs playbook. They played a smothering style of defense against the Pacers, and on offense, actually tried to get their role players more involved. Points by Chalmers and Battier helped to contribute to closing out the series against the Pacers, who just didn't seem to have the personnel to keep up. Hell, there was even a Mike Miller sighting. Now granted, if they continue to share the ball, they might win the series against the Celtics (I know, the Celtics have not won yet....but they will)....but there's no way they beat the Spurs (I know, the Spurs have not won yet....but we will) in the Finals. Why you ask? Simple...our bench. No other team in the NBA right now, have anywhere near the bench that the Spurs have. And down the stretch...that will be the difference. But I got to give props to the Pacer fans, who when they're team was being eliminated in the final seconds....when they would normally be yelling "Let's Go Pacers"...they were yelling "Thank You Pacers". That's classy...I like that!!

I have to tip my hat to the Clippers, they didn't roll over last night like everyone thought they would. They fought hard and refused to just give up. I admire that. They did a good job defensively on the Spurs, and on offense, they were shooting much better than in previous games. They're a class act. I've liked their coach ever since he played for the Spurs, he's a class act as well. Their bench just wasn't deep enough to keep their star players rested, and at the end of game 4 last night, it showed. They were exhausted!! They'll definitely be back next year. But props to them for keeping their composure and not going all Ron Artest on us!

The good news is that the 2012 Astros seem to be better than the 2011 Astros. I know it's early, but I'm encouraged. There is one thing I've noticed this year in MLB, that seems to be more common than in year's past. Players are really losing their tempers at an alarming rate. And just a few days ago, Bryce Harper actually, in a fit of anger, slams a bat into the wall of the tunnel, and has it bounce back and hit him in the face (requiring several stitches). REALLY?? C'mon man!! Listen....nothing, and I mean nothing good EVER happens when you lose your temper. Composure is the name of the game...it's got to be. Just ask Stoudemire. And speaking of Bryce Harper, the Nats might want to use him behind the plate since their backup catcher just went down...and since he sucks in the outfield. Anyway, keep fighting Astros!! If you keep working hard, good things will happen.

In light of the latest embarrassments in the NBA (Artest with his elbow to The Beard & Rondo bumping an official), it dawned on me that the Spurs will never be included in these type of reports. Now, Artest said he didn't even know The Beard was next to him....and Rondo said he tripped into the official. But, unlike these guys, the TAPE DON'T LIE!! Both of these "meltdowns" were clearly intentional. Listen, David Robinson set the tone for this franchise many years ago when his message to the team was, "You don't HAVE to profess a faith in Jesus...but if you're going to be a Spur...you're going to be squeaky clean". No folks, we let the Pistons have their "Bad Boys", and the Lakers & Heat have their "gangstas", nothing but character guys on this team. And the F.O. has done an outstanding job of making sure they ONLY sign these type of guys. It even trickled down to the fans. After each one of our FOUR Championships, while in other cities, the fans were setting fires and rioting, our fans were walking down the streets of downtown "high fiving" each other. NOTHING but class...from the players AND their fans!! Now...there's an old saying that "Good guys finish last". But the Spurs have four (getting ready to be five) Championships that say that old saying is FALSE!! Let's go Spurs...let's go get that fifth Championship and prove to the world that good guys CAN finish first!!

(1.) Do you think there are any teams that are afraid to play the Titans? (Cuz until the answer to that is yes, it's really going to be hard to WSS in 2012)...... (2.) Do you think there's a possibility that we could return to the old days when defensive players made bone crushing hits on guys, not to receive a $1,000 cash bounty, but because it was their job!!?? Back then, the incentive was "Do your job, and then you get to keep your job"!! Now part of this is the NFL's fault for changing the penalties to protect the QBs. Next year, if anyone even looks cross eyed at Peyton Manning, they'll get flagged. But I remember back when the Steelers came to the Astrodome to play the Oilers, they would bring in two extra ambulances, not because anyone was getting paid bounties, but because when these two rivals got together it was going to be a lot of very hard hits and some injuries, that's just how it was. In fact Jerry Glanville used to give an old WWII helmet after every game, to the defensive player who made the most bone crushing hits in that game. And the player would wear it all week long, in meetings, in practices...until the next game. When opposing players would watch that on TV, they would really be intimidated and somewhat afraid to come in and play the Oilers. Now, I'm not talking about "cheap shots" (ala Ron Artest), I talking about clean in your face I'm coming at you type hits. Welsh described it as the old Ratbird & Steelers type defenses. Because until we can get back to being a hard nosed, tough, nasty type defense, it's going to be a "I hope we can score more points than they do" kind of thing.

OK folks, this is the question. If it came down to drafting a player with mad skills, but who had questionable character issues....OR...a player who might not be quite as dynamic on the field, but who was a real "Boy Scout" type of guy...which one would you select? Now while the Boy Scout was not a bad player, he didn't exactly light it up either. But he visited kids in the hospital and served food down at the homeless shelter. The other guy was lights out on the field, I mean made plays that just left you shaking your head in disbelief...BUT...we were going to have to bail him out of jail a couple of times every year & might have to miss some practices due to court dates. Which one would you draft? And please don't say you'd take a guy who was BOTH good & talented, because although that would be the obvious choice...that's NOT the question. The question is if you had to pick from one OR the other. OK guys, let's hear what YOU would do.

I have to say, NOBODY saw this coming....including myself. And I know nobody on MCM did. Especially A-Dub!!
Meanwhile, the most important stat in football is something that the Cold, Hard Football Facts call Real Quarterback Rating– it’s basically passer rating, but accounting for all aspects of the position, not just passing. Real Quarterback Rating also measures rushing, sacks, fumbles, rushing TDs, etc.

Teams better at Real Quarterback Rating win an incredible 89 percent of all NFL games. There is not better stat in football, period. (You can read more about the indicator, including the rankings of each team each week, at CHFF Insider.)

And, well, do you know who’s a master of Real QB Rating week in and week out?

That’s right, Tim Tebow. Here’s a look at how Tebow stacked up in Real QB Rating against each opponent he’s faced this year.

Week 7—Denver 18, Miami 15
Matt Moore: 69.6 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 80.5 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+10.9)

Week 8—Detroit 45, Denver 10
Matt Stafford-Shaun Hill: 118.2 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 48.2 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Stafford (+70.0)

Week 9—Denver 38, Oakland 24
Carson Palmer: 69.4 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 108.2 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+38.8)

Week 10—Denver 17, Kansas City 10
Matt Cassel-Tyler Palko: 67.9 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 122.7 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+54.8)

Week 11—Denver 17, N.Y. Jets 13
Mark Sanchez: 62.2 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 87.1 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+24.9)

Week 12—Denver 16, San Diego 13
Philip Rivers: 68.8 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 94.4 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+25.6)

Week 12—Denver 16, San Diego 13
Philip Rivers: 68.8 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 94.4 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+25.6)

Week 13 – Denver 35, Minnesota 32
Christian Ponder: 75.9 Real QB Rating
Tim Tebow: 123.5 Real QB Rating

Real QB Rating advantage:Tebow (+47.6)

Notice a trend here, folks? The Broncos are 6-0 when Tebow outplays the other quarterback. They’re 0-1 when he’s outplayed by the other quarterback This is how the NFL works – you win with superior play at QB. Armed with this information, you quickly realize that the Tebow phenomenon is no statistical mystery.

He may not pass the ball 40 times a game. But who cares? He’s consistently the most efficient quarterback on the field, the one most likely to get the ball in the end zone and least likely to turn it over. And that’s why Denver has suddenly won six of its last seven games.

Last night, I was called a Mavs fan (that really hurt Drums) and a Grizzlies fan (I guess because of my sign on)....so I thought maybe I should let you guys know who I am (not like anybody really cares). I am 56 yrs old, and I grew up in San Antonio. I now live out at Canyon Lake with my wife & our 4 kids (well actually 3 now...my oldest daughter lives in Waco...she's graduating from Baylor next month). I remember going to the Arena to watch the Spurs back in the day when Gervin , Gilmore  and Silas played. I remember when we drafted David Robinson and how we had to wait for him to get out of the Navy. And then FINALLY...in 1999...when Sean made that 3 pointer where his tippy toes where just inside the line (my oldest son and I went absolutely hysterical) and then went on to win the Championship...and how classy all the Spurs fans handled the win (when we all heard of other cities rioting after Championships). And BTW, the reason I'm a Titans fan is because I grew up following the Oilers (not the Cowboys like everybody else)...so when they moved to Tenn...I couldn't stop my loyalty to them...THAT was my team (If nothing else, I'm faithful). Just wanted you guys to know who I was...and I've really enjoyed this site...you guys are really cool. And it hurts me deeply when I see our team go down in flames. Sorry for making my comment before the game ended...but I could see where it was going. I will NEVER stop believing in our team. AND...I will NEVER stop cheering for them either....GO SPURS GO!!!

I mentioned in yesterday's game thread (even before Lyon came into the game) that I thought Lopez should have pitched the 9th inning. That wasn't received very well by most of you (for obvious reasons). But here's the reason I felt that way. My Dad told me a long time ago, "If it's not broke, don't fix it ". Lopez had just dispatched the Phillies in the bottom of 8th with 12 pitches. What did that tell us? That he was spot on yesterday. Now, we all know that some days great pitchers have bad days...and some days, so-so pitchers have great days. The Managers job is to figure out who's having what kind of day, and then select his players accordingly. I know what you're thinking...then why have a "closer" at all if you're going to let your set-up guy close? Answer: Some days your set-up guy is not going to be spot on...that's when you would bring in your closer (and it might even be in the 8th....another move that is usually considered unorthodox). You see, I don't give a darn about baseball etiquette!! All I care about is winning games, and if that means being unorthodox....so be it!! The Astros are not willing to win games at any cost....they're just going through the motions....and that's why..."Being an Astros fan is tough "!!!

So just when we thought that the only single fact that we could hold onto was that there was NO way that things could get any worse.....they did!! Now, our organization has sunk to an all time low, as we seem to be the laughing stock of the whole NFL. No, not because we've lost 4 games in a row....not because our starting QB had a meltdown and cussed out the coach...not because most of our team, on both sides of the ball, have evidently taken the rest of the year off....not because our top players can't seem to stay out of fights at strip clubs or because they can't seem to pay their tickets....not beacause our owner undermines what little authority the head coach seems to have....although any of those things would have been enough. The reason now is that our "bad boy" DB got the crap beat out of him, evidently to everyone's delight!!

Now here's where Bizarro World comes into play. AJ got rewarded for punching out Finney. They gave him the friggin game ball!! This is a landmark move for the NFL. They are setting a precedent for breaking the rules!! The message from this is...."break the rules and we'll reward you"!! It's Bizarro World 101...where everything that's right...is actually wrong. And everything that's wrong...is actually right!! Break the rules and you get the GAME BALL!!!!!BTW, this is not restricted to just the twisted NFL...unfortunately, it's our society....it's upside down!!...But hey, other than that...everything is great....:-(

If you could use one word to describe the 2010 Titans Offense...that word would be...FRUSTRATING!!! It seems like every time we get something going, we get a costly penalty...or...even worse...a costly turnover. You know, I was wondering yesterday how that MCMer's car was coming along (he was going to paint it with Titan colors & logos), and it dawned on me that this offense is alot like an older car that you always have trouble getting into gear. The tank is full, the engine works, you can gun it really loud and make alot of noise, but until you get it in gear...you're going nowhere. Listen, we've got all the intregal parts of a high powered offense here. We've got a playmaker type receiver in Kenny Britt...we've got an explosive running back (who happens to be the fastest player in the entire NFL)...and we've got a QB that can do it all, run...pass..adjust on the fly. So what keeps these guys from scoring 35 every Sunday? The answer lies in that 6 inches between their ears. They've got to have that same mindset that they had when they engineered that last drive in the Cardinals game last year. DO OR DIE TRYING BABY!!! What's funny, is that we were all concerned about the defense going into this season...but with the draft choices & free agent signings...we sure shored that unit up!! So please guys (I know they don't read this stuff...but maybe ATV will pass it along) let's get this offense in gear...otherwise...I'm going to have read all next off-season on here about how Fish is only a .500 coach and how he'll never be able to get us to a Super Bowl (even though, of all the coaches we've had in the 50 years of this franchise's history.....he is the only coach that has)

Now I know what you're saying. "Wasn't this the guy who slammed Big Al for being a person of questionable integrity"? Ah...that would be me, yes. But before you accuse me of flip-flopping, hear me out. It dawned on me that one of the reasons I was not in favor of bringing him back originally was because our D-Line was looking soooooo strong, and I just couldn't see jacking with something that was working so well. But what if we didn't bring him back to play on the D-Line....what if we brought him back to play on the O-Line? Can you imagine the opposing defenses trying to get around him to get to VY? FORGET ABOUT IT!!! I'd give him 2 weeks with Mr. Munchak, and I promise you, he'd be ready to go. I'd like to hear what you guys think of this highly unorthadox suggestion. All I know is.....NY Giants D-Line + our O-Line = disaster for us!!! So...if not Big Al....then who?

Since I live in Texas, alot of people want to know, "why are you a Titans fan"? There are many reasons, but one of them was displayed Saturday night during our pre-season game against the Seahawks. Stafon Johnson went down with what looked to be a season ending injury. The replays were hard to look at, and it made me wonder with the way that these guys fly around on the field, why there aren't more of these type of injuries. Then, Pete Carroll came over to check on Stafon, which I thought was a really classy move on his part. And something you rarely see in the NFL, for the opposing coach to come over to check on a fallen player. And what happened next brought tears to my eyes, and is one of those reasons why I'm a Titans fan. What seemed like the entire Titans team came out on to the field and all huddled around, took a knee, and proceeded to pray. A very rare occurance indeed, and something that by today's standards would be considered "politically incorrect ". And now, coach Fisher is saying that he could come back anywhere between 8-12 weeks, which most of us would no doubt say , "if it happens, it would be a miracle". A miracle? Well, we won't know anything for at least 8 weeks, but, if he DOES come back, one will have to wonder if that "rare occurance" had something to do with it. Just sayin....:-)

Well boys, the draft is OVA!! And, unless you're a NBA/MLB fan, it's gonna be very boring from now until August. So...I thought it would be fun to see who ya'll thought had the best draft (on paper, anyway). Personally, I thought we did pretty good...but I was kinda pissed when we picked Robert Johnson when Crezdon Butler was still on the board...but I'll get over it. Especially if Johnson turns out to be a beast!! Anyway, IMO....the Seattle Seahawks had the best draft.....1.a. rd-Russell Okung-OT-Okla. St......1.b. rd-Earl Thomas-SS-Texas.....2nd rd-Golden Tate-WR-Notre Dame......OMG, if they stopped here, they'd get my vote!!!......4.a. rd-Walter Thurmond-CB-Oregon (I purposely did NOT mention this guy thinking that we might get him :-(...........4.b. rd.-E.J. Wilson-DE-N. Carolina......5th rd-Kam Chancellor-FS-Virg. Tech.......6th rd-Anthony McCoy-TE-Southern Cal........7.a. rd-Dexter Davis-DE-Arizona St........7.b. rd-Jameson Konz-WR-Ohio St.

Well guys that my pick....who do YOU think had the best draft (and please try to stay objective)

to be a bandwagon fan? Your favorite team would always be the team with the best record at that time. You'd have a closet full of caps & shirts from every team, so whatever team was on top, that would be what you'd wear that day. You'd always feel the thrill of victory...never the agony of defeat. You'd never throw things at your TV or have meltdowns in your living room. You'd never be totally depressed or lose the will to live. Just think about it guys, there'd be nothing but dominance & victory parades. Wouldn't it be nice? I know, I can't do it either. I've been watching these guys for 50 yrs (that's half a friggin century). There's no way I can stop now. I may get pissed at them, but at the end of the day, they're still my team. Kind of like with your kids, they screw up sometimes & it upsets you, but it doesn't mean you stop loving them.


Guys, the way the Stros have played this 1st series is totally unacceptable. The pitching has been pathetic & the hitting has been dismal. It would be considered below minor league standards...much less MAJOR league. Now, the FO & Coach will typically say things like, "Well, we've had some injuries & we have some new guys that are still trying to get acclimated to the team...and it's too early to panic right now...and blah, blah, blah......STOP...PLEASE JUST STOP...nobody is buying any of that crap!! There are no excuses, these guys have GOT to man up, step up & suck it up and GO TO WORK & GET ER DONE....PERIOD!!! How many times have we seen at the end of a season where 2 teams are tied, and they play one game to determine who goes home & who goes to the playoffs. EVERY SINGLE GAME IS SOOOOOO IMPORTANT!!! Guys, you can't just say, "We'll take April off and then start playing after the all-star break....IT'S TOO LATE BY THEN!!! Look, I not asking you to do it for the fans, I mean I get it, who really cares about the crazy fans, right? I'm asking you to do it for yourselves...for your own self respect, so you can go to bed at night knowing you did everything you could to succeed. When you guys DO give 100%, then at least, win or lose, you'll be able to hold your heads high knowing that you gave everything you had, instead of just going through the motions. Success doesn't just happen...it takes TOTAL effort...it takes TOTAL commitment...but it's well worth it, trust me.

When I was a kid, I thought that sluggers made the moon. I remember, for example, Mickey Mantle (I know I'm dating myself here). Man, that guy was awsome. And I wasn't even a Yankees fan. But when Mickey came to the plate, you stopped everything...all eyes were on him. Back then, I didn't pay much attention to pitchers. Except I used to love the look on their faces when the sluggers took them deep. That look was "priceless".


Fastforward to the future. I got married married and ended up having four kids. Our second child was a boy. Man, was I a proud papa (insert pic of Drew Brees & son here). When Dylan was a year & a half, I had him on the floor and I rolled a baseball to him and said "roll it back to Daddy, son". He picked it up & whizzed it by my head! I thought "I wonder if this is how Nolan Ryan started out?

 Dylan started pitching at the age of 5, and boy did he an arm! Through the years, his teamates didn't really have to score alot of runs. Just get ahead by a run or two, and then bring in Dylan. Being his coach all those years, I can tell you, it was GREAT to have that kind of pitching to rely on. Now, he is in the tenth grade. Last night, his HS varsity team had a scrimmage with a 4A varsity's team north of us (our school is only 3A). Dylan started at short stop, and made some great plays, too. But in the bottom of the 8th, our pitcher walked the first 2 batters. We were 1 run ahead at the time. In comes Dylan. The catcher wanted to go over the signs and he tells him, "I'm just going to bring the heat & you just catch it". The catcher says "Okaaay". A pop up, a strike out, and a ground ball to an infielder and we're back in the dugout. Same thing happens in the 9th and the victory is sealed. (BTW...he has a heater in the upper 80's and a nasty breaking ball....and he's only 15!!)

Guys, in baseball, pitching isn't a luxury...it's mandatory!! Now, I know what you're thinking...it's going to be alot harder for Dylan to do that in college & especially in the pros...and you're probably right. But the principles are the same...they just get bumped up a notch the higher up you go. Now, I still like to see Lance go to the Crawford boxes, but don't ever be mistaken....the most important thing in baseball is.....PITCHING!!!

I had a dream last night that I was distraught over another Titans lose (wait a minute, that really happened!!)
and I was ready to end it all. I was on a bridge looking down at the icy river below, when out of nowhere this old guy jumps into the river. He's screaming and flailing around in the water, course my instincts took over and I jumped in and saved him. As we're sitting in the shack drying our clothes, the guy tells me his name is Clarence. When I asked him why he jumped in, he said that he did it to save me. He told me he knew that I was going to jump in so he figured that if he jumped in first, that I would save him and therefore actually saving me. When I asked him how he knew I was going to jump, he said that he was my Guardian Angel. He said he knew everything about me. Said he saw me back when the Oilers used to play at Rice stadium when I used to play under the grandstands with the other kids. Said he saw me at the astrodome when Bum Phillips used to run Earl Campbell a million times every game. Said he saw me when Warren Moon used to run the run & shoot, and when they blew the biggest lead in NFL history (I almost jumped then, too.) I finally looked at him and told him "Sometimes I wish I had never been a Titans fan at all". He said "Oh no, you must not say that, just think of all the good you did by being a Titans fan". I insisted that it was just too painful & that I really wish I had never heard of this team in my life. Then he looked up and said "Yeah, ok...that just might work". He then looked at me and said ok, you're not a Titans fan...never have been one. All of a sudden I woke up, I said whoa, that was a weird dream. Then I went to work. My boss and I were talking and I said "man, the Titans really sucked last night, huh? He said "why do you care, you don't care about the Titans. I said "what are you talking about, I love the titans". He laughed and said "very funny, you know you're a true Cowboys fan like the rest of us". I left shaking my head. Then my wife called "honey, did you get the tickets to the game for Sunday? I said "what game? She laughed and said " the Cowboys game silly, what else? I raced home to check out my closet...sure enough...it was loaded with Coyboys gear (instead of all my Titans stuff). I raced to the computer & pulled up MCM...I tryed to post to August, and Jimmy, and gramsey, and T-Rac, and hal...they said "we've never heard of you, you don't have a profile here". Then....I screamed "Clarence, where are you Clarence...turn things back the way they were !! All of a sudden, I woke up in my bed...I raced to my closet...YEA, all my Titans stuff was there. I grabbed my wife and hugged & kissed her and said "I'M A TITANS FAN!!! The moral of the story is " A man is truely rich who has friends" (and who gets to be a Titans fan....so quit bitching!!!!!!! 

Now gather around my children and you will hear the legend of (cue scary music now)..."The Curse of the Astrodome". It all started back when the Oilers used to play in the Astrodome. Now legend has it that Billy Graham was coming to town and wanted to hold the Crusade in the Astrodome. Well, since the Oilers were scheduled to play there that weekend, Uncle Bud gave him the (cue scary music now) "double bird salute". Said something about not wanting to change the schedule...rather than playimg the game on the road, instead. Rumor has it that God put a curse on the Astrodome (even the Astros couldn't win there!). And from that time forward...these teams were cursed as long as they played there! EXAMPLE: The debacle in Buffalo (cue Uncle Bud's famous flip off now) that still stands as the biggest CHOKE in NFL history. EXAMPLE: Mike Renfro catching the game winning pass in the endzone that the refs called him out of bounds (playoff game against the dreaded Steelers....cue Bum Phillips saying "next year we'll KICK IT IN!") which was THE play that lead to the NFL coming up with the INSTANT REPLAY that we have all come to know & love today.

So you see boys and girls, the Oilers had to get out of the Astrodome...and when the city gave Uncle Bud the double bird...they had no choice but to leave. But thank God, the people of Tenn. took them into their hearts and homes...and at last the curse was broken! EXAMPLE: TITANS GO TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!  And with God on our side NOW...who do we have to fear? (except Peyton). So play on young Titans....THE VICTORY IS YOURS!!                                            

P.S. The Lord told me that He forgives Uncle Bud...and that He is waiting with open arms when he decides to confess his sins and repent (and from the way you look in your last pic, Uncle Bud, I'd use the "hurry up offense" on this one). May God bless Tenn. & the Titans!!!