The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

It’s called the Alliance of American Football (AAF).  It was spawned by filmmaker Charlie Ebersol after he made a documentary about the old XFL, a league that failed.  Former NFL general manager Bill Polian is considered a co-founder.  Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, Justin Tuck, Mike Pereira, and Dick Ebersol are all involved.  The league played this past weekend.

The eight teams will play four games each weekend (two on Saturday and two on Sunday).  There is an Eastern Conference (Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express, Orlando Apollos) and a Western Conference (Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders, San Diego Fleet).  The season will last 10 weeks with a four-team playoff and a championship game April 27 in Las Vegas.

Every player signed a three-year, $250,000 contract ($70,000 the first year).  Every player no matter the position is paid the same amount with potential bonuses.  Community contributions can earn a player more money.  Some players were selected based on their college locality and the AAF team’s location.  It was called a territorial draft so fans in a given region would know some of their players.

Some interesting differences with the NFL:

• No TV timeouts (60% fewer full-screen commercials)
• The goal is to play a game under 150 minutes compared to the 180 for an average NFL game
• No extra points – only two-point conversions
• Defenses can only rush five players and none from more than two yards outside the tackles
• No kickoffs; possessions are started at the 25-yard line
• The play clock is 35 seconds (the NFL is 40)
• Only the coaches’ challenges will be replayed with automatic replays, if needed, in the final two minutes of each half
• Overtime consists of putting the ball on the 10-yard line and giving each team a possession and the team can only score via a touchdown. After one possession, if the score is still tied, the game ends in a tie.
• There will be an extra official (called a sky judge) who reviews every play and that judge can add or take away penalties missed or made by the on-field officials.

CBS, CBSSN, NFL Network, TNT, and Sirius XM will all air select games.  The NFL Network’s involvement is a good sign.  CBS, which televised the opening regional games, had higher ratings than the NBA game on ABC, but a rerun of America’s Got Talent had the highest ratings.

So, I ask you, “Will you watch it?”

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING) 

1. MLB’s spring training is right around the corner. The Phillies have already improved their roster, but the Philly fans want Manny Machado or Bryce Harper or both.  If they get either, watch out.  Between the Sixers and the Phillies, and maybe the Flyers, the town could go crazy!

2. The Flyers are generating some hockey interest again with their new goalie, Carter Hart. He has won a record eight straight for Philadelphia, and set a record for consecutive wins by a goalie under 21 years of age.  They currently trail Pittsburgh by six points for a playoff spot.

3. With all the excitement about the Sixers adding Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, JJ Redick performs at a high offensive level every night. He is averaging 18.7 points per game, makes 90% of his free throws, and 39% of his three-point shots.

4. Congratulations are in order for the Bethlehem Catholic and the Northampton wrestling teams. The Lehigh Valley can be proud of the fact that two local teams were in the PIAA 3A championship final.  Beca won their 7^th title and their second in a row.  But it is good to see Northampton is back.

P.S. Nazareth and Liberty are probably the next two best teams in the state.

5. The EPC and the Colonial girls’ and boys’ championships are on RCN-TV on Friday night – six hours of outstanding basketball starting at 6:00pm.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

The last line on my blog last week was “Enjoy the game”.   I obviously meant the Super Bowl.  In all honesty, it was hard to enjoy because almost nothing happened. There was one touchdown and there were 14 punts, nine by the Rams alone, one meaningless turnover, two missed field goals and little “official calls” controversy.  In a word, the game was “boring”.

But I did keep some notes as I watched so here is how the broadcast unfolded for me in no particular order:

1. You may have missed the best commercial of the day because it occurred in the post-game.  Take a look.  It is hilarious. Helium never fails to disappoint.

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/In2V/state-farm-helium

2. I also enjoyed the Peyton Manning-John Malkovich introduction to the game. Manning has impeccable comedic timing and Malkovich is Malkovich.  Despite its length, it was a great way to start the pre-game.

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/2/3/18209771/peyton-manning-john-malkovich-super-bowl-intro-cbs-video

3. There were 115 cameras at the game, according to CBS. That’s 109 more than we use.  Our crew still seems to get all the important shots.  But imagine if we had 109 more.
4. Why does anyone interview Bill Belichik? His pregame stop to talk to the CBS announcer was a total waste of time and Belichik looked totally disinterested and put out that he had to answer.  The NFL requires the coach to do it.
5. Wal-Mart did a clever job with the famous cars from TV and movies. I’m sure many, like me, spent the time trying to figure out where you had seen that vehicle before, while getting the subtle Wal-Mart message.  Isn’t that what a good ad is supposed to do – get the viewer involved?  This one did for me.
6. I did not like the early penalty on the Rams for making a tackle on a Patriot receiver. They said he was defenseless.  It did not appear that way to me.  Not much was made of it.  If it occurred later in the game, it would have been emphasized more.
7. The Hyundai “elevator” commercial was one of the best of the day. Car shopping was put into the same category as root canal, jury duty, a vegan dinner party, etc. as the elevator was going down.  The message was clear that would not be the experience if you shopped for a Hyundai.  The elevator was going up for that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5FzKB5TW0Y

8. Mermaids selling spiked Seltzer did not work for me – I never heard of Bon-Vivo.
9. The announcers’ jinx came into play on the first New England field goal attempt. No one had missed a field goal in that stadium all year (31-31), the announcers said.  Of course the field goal was missed and so was another later in the game.  I have the same problem when I mention a player is a really good foul shooter.
10. I’m not a beer drinker, but based on Bud Light’s plethora of commercials, corn syrup is bad for me. It’s some form of sugar, I assume, and is in some beers, but not Bud Light.  I heard the corn farmers were really upset with the spot, as were the beers that were attacked for using corn syrup.  Let them battle it out in next year’s pre-game.  I know it’s not the Puppy Bowl, but….
11. Okay, I am going to say it here – I am not a fan of Tony Romo. I know he has been getting a number of plaudits lately, but to me, he is annoying and has managed to bring Jim Nantz down with him.  There you have it.  Let me know if you agree or disagree.  The people I talk to tend to agree with me.
12. The Audi electric car looks great! I want to drive one.  I also was amazed by the Google translator app.  Just point to the foreign phrase with your phone and your phone translates it into English – Oh, My!
13. Did you see the set CBS built for the pre-game, half-time, and post-game announcers? A bit much, but impressive.
14. I thought the Halftime show with Maroon 5, etc. was a bit disjointed and underwhelming. It was certainly not one of the best.
15. CURE Auto Insurance “screw in head” commercial was really strange and cost @ $5 million. What?

https://www.popisms.com/TelevisionCommercial/207939/CURE-Auto-Insurance-Commercial-for-Super-Bowl-LIII-2019-Screw-in-the-Head-C

6. Did you know there was skull shaver? Me, neither.
7. Have you noticed I am not writing much about the game because nothing happened!
8. Eat at Burger King, like Andy Warhol does. I can’t wait for my next Whopper now!
9. The MVP went to Julian Edelman for his 10 catches and 141 yards. It should have gone to the defense of the Patriots, but it is hard to divide it up into so many pieces.
10. Sony Michel, the Patriots running back played for the NCAA national championship on the same field a year ago, only to come back and play in the Super Bowl. What a year!
11. CBS’ Tracy Wolfson had a tough job after the game trying to interview Tom Brady. It was a mob scene and she was getting crushed.  You would think there would have been some post-game preparations for the interview.  And, how do all those people get on the field?
12. With all that, I still can’t wait for LIV!
13. Finally (this blog is almost as long as the game – my apologies), I did predict the correct winner. My final numbers are:

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 1-0)  (Overall: 168-82-2  67% )

SUPER BOWL WINNER –  NEW ENGLAND

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 

TopEnd Sports has offered up some interesting facts and figures about the Super Bowl.  Which of these did you already know?

• The first Super Bowl game was played on January 15, 1967, as a playoff between the AFL and NFL champions. The game was called the “World Championship of Professional Football”.
• No network footage exists of Super Bowl I. Apparently it was taped over for a soap opera.
• At every Super Bowl, two Lombardi trophies are present in the unfortunate event that one is accidentally destroyed in the celebrations.
• Super Bowl day is the second-largest U.S. food consumption day, following Thanksgiving.
• Mike Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two men to win a Super Bowl both as a player and a coach.
• Each Super Bowl trophy is handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. master artisans at their workshop in Parsippany, New Jersey, and is valued at $12,500.
• The lowest amount of points scored in a Super Bowl is 3, scored by the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.
• The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched U.S. television broadcasts of the year, attracting many companies to spend millions of dollars on commercials.
• Each Super Bowl trophy takes approximately four months and 72 man-hours to create.
• The name ‘Super Bowl’ came from AFL founder and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. He had jokingly referred to the proposed interleague championship as the “Super Bowl” after seeing his daughter playing with a toy called a Super Ball. The ball is now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
• The Minnesota Vikings have played in four Super Bowls, but have never led a Super Bowl for even a single second.
• Chuck Howley, the MVP winner from the 1971 Super Bowl, is the only player from a losing team to be named MVP.
• The last true day game (one which ended before local sunset) was Super Bowl XI in January 1977.
• In 1978, both Randy White and Harvey Martin were co-winners of the MVP award.
• The only player to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal was Bob Hayes. He won the 100m at the 1964 Olympic Games, and was part of the winning Dallas Cowboys team of 1972.
• The record crowd at a Super Bowl game was 103,985 in 1980 at the Rose Bowl stadium.
• In what is now known as the Philly Special, during the 2018 Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles caught a touchdown pass, and became the first player in Super Bowl history to both throw and catch a touchdown.

ENJOY THE GAME!!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING) 

1. I would like to see the Rams win Sunday’s game, but I find it hard to believe that Bill Belichik will be outsmarted in this one, although I really think Sean McVay is a great coach. The cities have had this championship matchup before but never in football.  This past year, the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.  The Boston Celtics played the Los Angeles Lakers 11 times in NBA championships.  Boston won eight.  It sure looks like Boston has the edge.

2. The Patriots were moved this week from 2.5-point favorites to 3-point favorites. That just means most big bets are picking the Patriots.  One Vegas sportsbook operator said so far 94% of all bets taken on the game picked the Patriots.  By the way, it is estimated that $6 billion will be bet on the game.

3. EA Sports’ Madden predicts the Rams will beat the Patriots 30-27. The game says that Tom Brady will be sacked four times by Ram defensive lineman Aaron Donald.  According to the simulation, the Rams score a late touchdown to win the game.

4. Eagles’ fans: Las Vegas is predicting a 9-7 season next year for the Birds. That should, once again, make them a playoff team.

5. It is hard to believe there are only two weeks left in the regular season of high school basketball. There are still league, conference, and district slots to be filled.  We’ll try to help you figure it out with doubleheader action on Tuesday and Friday nights.  The District wrestling team championship is LIVE on Saturday at 5:30pm.  In addition, Lafayette basketball features a women’s and men’s doubleheader on Wednesday starting at 6:00pm.  The women play Boston University and the men play arch-rival Lehigh.  The men play Army on Saturday at 2:00pm.  Find a comfortable chair. 

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 2-0)  (Overall: 167-82-2  67% ) 

SUPER BOWL WINNER 

NEW ENGLAND

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 

I am sure it is only natural for a parent to feel proud of their children and their accomplishments.  I know I do.  In all honesty, I am not sure how much credit I can take for their success (it was probably Mom), but most parents do it anyway.  We tend to disregard any of their shortcomings and, if we accept them, we certainly do not take the blame.

Well, a teacher has a very similar response to their former students.  If they do well, then the teacher feels as if he or she had a very positive influence on their growth and career achievements.  Should a student struggle in their life pursuits, then certainly their teachers are not to blame.

As a teacher, I have had students who ended up in jail, embezzled money, and committed murder.  Don’t look at me to take any of the blame.  They went wrong somewhere, just not under my tutelage.

On the other hand, I have taught scientists, writers, news people, actors, authors, etc.  I’m “sure” I played a part in their intellectual growth.

For example, in this week between the Conference championships and the Super Bowl, I want to brag a bit about one of my former students, Jeff Fisher.  You may remember him locally as a sports director and announcer for WFMZ. He created The Big Ticket, which is still the place to go for a recap of Lehigh Valley Friday night high school football action.  He worked for FOX Sports Net in Chicago and he has reported on the Olympics, the World Series, and the Super Bowl.  He is a co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football in America (highschoolfootballamerica.com).

Jeff has written a book you might enjoy if you are a football fan – High School Football in Texas.  In 23 chapters, Jeff traces the lives of the very best national football figures who began their athletic lives playing football in Texas.  The list includes Drew Brees, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Andy Dalton, “Mean Joe” Greene, Andrew Luck, Baker Mayfield, Johnny Manziel, and so on and so on.  There are over 45 famous football players and coaches highlighted.  Each has a unique story to tell.

For instance, Drew Brees did not play tackle football until the ninth grade.  He was the only player on the team who did not play in his first scrimmage.  He wasn’t even the starting QB on his JV team.  When the starter was injured, Drew moved in to the starting role.  That team went 10-0 and Drew’s career towards becoming an NFL Hall-of-Fame began.

Football fans certainly remember the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” and their leader, “Mean Joe” Greene.  Well, it turns out, in his early high school days in Texas, he was not so mean.  In fact, he was bullied.  Despite weighing 150 pounds in seventh grade and being tall, he was afraid to walk home.  It wasn’t until a friend of his took $5 given to him by his mother that he learned to stand up for himself.  He was bullied no longer and went on to win four Super Bowls with the Steelers.

That’s only two of the stories found in the book.  Each is interesting in its own way.  The road to success in any field, obviously, takes many paths.  You will enjoy the stories of these famous Texas football people.

Rumor has it he wants to do a similar book on Pennsylvania football players.

Jeff Fisher was one of my students.  I am proud of that.  I hope he remembers me as playing a small role in his success.  If not, I’ll take some credit anyway, much like a parent.

You can order the book on his website.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING) 

1. As you can see at the bottom, I went 2-0 for the AFC and NFC championship games, but I do not feel good about it. The Saints should have won the game, if not for the HORRIBLE missed pass interference or helmet-to-helmet call at the end which allowed the Rams to tie the game.  I picked the Rams.  I should have lost.

2. I hate the NFL overtime rule. In college and high school, the teams get an equal number of possessions in overtime.  If one team scores on their possession, the other team gets a chance to match that score until a winner is determined.  Allowing just one team to possess the ball and then win if they score a touchdown is ludicrous and unfair.  Winning a coin toss should not determine the outcome.  I picked New England, but I do not feel good about it.

3. So the best young coach (Sean McVay) takes on the greatest coach ever (Bill Belichick). McVay took over a 4-12 mess when he took the Rams job.  In two years, he has 26 wins and is taking his team to the Super Bowl.  Belichick is headed towards his ninth in 18 years and third in a row.  I will root for the youngster, but will pick the GOAT.

4. Drew Brees said he will be back for a 19^th season, despite turning 41 next season. This year he broke Peyton Manning’s NFL record for career passing yards.

5. So many high school basketball teams find themselves “on the bubble” trying to fight their way into the District playoffs. You need to win half your games (11) or half your league games (8).  We will feature four teams trying to earn a spot this coming week.  RCN-TV also has the EPC wrestling championships on Saturday night.  We are closing in on “crunch time”.  Join us. 

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 2-0)  (Overall: 167-82-2  67% ) 

SUPER BOWL WINNER 

NEW ENGLAND

If you recall, last weekend in the NFL, all of the underdogs won.  That’s right.  The teams that were favored to win did not.  And the thought by many was that the Colts, Cowboys, Chargers, and the Eagles all had a legitimate shot to do the same thing this weekend.  Perish the thought!

The Colts were never in the game with the Chiefs (31-13).  Dallas needed a late score to make the game look closer than it was against the Rams (30-22).  The Chargers were anemic against the Patriots (41-28).  The Eagles, on the other hand, came within an unfinished drive of beating the Saints, but they, too, did not prevail (20-14).

So, the divisional round games were basically a bunch of “yawners”.  But, that should not be the case this coming weekend.  Each match-up is extremely intriguing.

According to the lines on the games – 3 points for the Chiefs and 3.5 points for the Patriots – the only difference between the four appears to be the home field advantage.  The other interesting thing about the match-ups is each game involves high-scoring offenses.  Again the over/under line is 57 for the Rams and the Saints and 57.5 for the Patriots and the Chiefs.  The 114.5 combined number is the largest in 30 years.

Obviously, the Vegas odds makers don’t just take offense into consideration when they arrive at over/under numbers.  They also must look at the defenses.  The Chiefs’ defense is the worst of the bunch and the rest of the group have average defenses, at best.

The other huge asset for each of these four teams and, it may be the best predictor of a great Sunday of football, are the four coaches.  What announcer has not mentioned the Andy Reid tree in the last month?  Sean Payton has maintained excellence throughout his career and then (duh) – there’s Bill Belichick.  That leaves Sean McVay of the Rams, who is, by far, the most innovative mind of the young coaches.  This is an elite group, for sure.

Speaking of elite – there’s the quarterbacks – Brady, Brees, Mahomes, and Goff – two future Hall of Famers and the best young talent around.

Sunday promises to be a great day of NFL football!!

P.S.  Check Gary’s Guesses to see which teams make it to the Super Bowl at the end of the blog.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING)

1. As much as Eagles’ fans want to keep Nick Foles around (and why wouldn’t they?), it will not happen. Carson Wentz is their future and the Eagles cannot possibly carry the $20.5 million price tag attached to Foles.

2. There are cries to fire Jason Garrett of the Cowboys. He certainly is one of the most apathetic appearing coaches on an NFL sideline.  He does not seem to be the type to light a fire under his team, BUT, in the last three years, only the Patriots, Steelers, and Chiefs have won more games.  And all the noise about firing him comes from the outside, not from within the locker room. So, wait and see.

3. If either the Patriots or the Saints win the Super Bowl, will Tom Brady or Drew Brees call it quits? Both have contracts that run through 2019.  They are so competitive that this is a tough call.  Look for them both to return.

4. Alshon Jeffery dropped three passes all season, but every Eagles fan will remember the last one. And that is a shame. Alshon Jeffery is a great receiver and certainly was one of the main reasons the Eagles overachieved this year.  It is more appropriate to feel badly for Jeffery than to condemn him.

5. RCN-TV has been the home of a number of upsets this basketball season – Easton over Beca, Liberty over Emmaus to name a few. This week, it’s Easton at Northampton on Tuesday night, Navy men at Lafayette on Wednesday, Easton at Parkland wrestling on Thursday, and Allen at Emmaus on Friday followed by Wilson at Bangor.

 
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 3-1)  (Overall: 165-82-2  67% )
 
NFL PLAYOFFS
 
NEW ENGLAND
RAMS

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I would like to think that every RCN-TV sports broadcast is special to someone.  Over the years, I have heard from so many parents, grandparents, and players who were so happy that they were able to watch their special team or special someone LIVE or on Video On Demand.

If this week is any indication that we will have plenty of special moments in 2019, viewers should get their DVRs warmed up.

On Friday night, Scott Barr and Ryan Nunamaker and the RCN television team traveled to Memorial Gymnasium in Bethlehem to present the Bethlehem Catholic at Liberty wrestling match.  It is an inner city rivalry and, of late, it is always won by Beca.  Liberty has not beaten their cross-town rivals in nine years. In fact, in the last seven years, the Golden Hawks have not lost to ANY EPC wrestling team.

Through the first ten bouts, it was business as usual.  Liberty trailed Beca 30-17 and there were only four more bouts to wrestle.  The crowd was huge; the energy sapped a bit by the Beca lead; and I am sure some fans were thinking about hitting the exits early to beat the crowd.  And then, it all turned.

The Liberty Hurricanes won the final four bouts.  Liberty won 5-4 at 170 pounds; 8-2 at 182 pounds.  The score was 30-23.  Unless Liberty did something special, the best they could hope for was a tie.  New life was generated into the gymnasium when Damen Moyer pinned his opponent in 2:57.  It was 30-29 going into the final bout.

The final crucial bout was tied 1-1 with 28 seconds to go.  Senior Jake Ahmad got a takedown for Liberty and the Hurricanes won the match 32-30. The homeside fans went crazy as did the Liberty wrestlers and coaches.  The nine-year winless streak had come to an end.  It was great in the gymnasium and it was great television.

And the RCN-TV excitement continued into Saturday night.  This time it was all about high school basketball.  The two teams considered to be the area’s best, Emmaus and Bethlehem Catholic, would play each other for the only time this season, unless they would meet again in the EPC playoffs.  Both were ranked in the top ten in the state.

Again, there was a packed house with a number of fans trying to squeeze into the designated TV area.  Emmaus had lost only once and Beca just twice.  Two of those losses were to out-of-area schools.

There was added interest to the game.  Beca’s Justin Paz needed only eight points to set the all-time scoring record at the school.  That record had stood for 58 years!  Paz, who averages almost 21 points, scored only seven in the previous game and it was obvious the pressure was getting to him.  He had only four first half points.

He changed his sneakers at the half and that, perhaps, made all the difference.  At the 6:28 mark of the third period, he hit a 3-point shot and the record was his.  The crowd went wild.  His family was there and the moment was very special.

Beca won the game and will certainly be ranked #1 in the area.

Both Liberty and Bethlehem Catholic now have very special memories that were captured on RCN-TV.  Anyone who wishes can now cherish the moments for as long as they like.

The first week of 2019 has been a good one for RCN-TV sports.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING) 

1. The Eagles can’t possibly win another Super Bowl, can they? After Cody Parkey made a 43-yard field goal that didn’t count and then missed one that did, the Eagles are starting to look like a team of destiny.  Parkey was formerly an Eagle.  He missed eight field goals during the season and three extra points.  It came out on Monday that the kick may have been tipped by Treyvon Hester.  For the Eagles, it’s on to New Orleans.

2. The Browns, Packers, Bucs, Jets, Broncos, Dolphins, Bengals, and Cardinals all fired their coaches this season. The good news for them is that they still get paid if they have time on their contract and, for those aspiring to be NFL head coaches, there is plenty of room available.

3. Most fans probably did not realize that Nick Foles had the best QB rating of any QB in the wild-card games. It sure would be nice, but probably impossible, if the Eagles could find a way to keep him on the roster for next season.  Call it Wentz insurance.

4. By the way, all four underdogs covered the spread this past weekend. In fact underdogs have covered the spread in the last 10 playoff games.  And… Cody Parkey’s missed field goal cost one gambler $100,000 when he missed the field goal in the Eagles game.  The gambler had placed a $260,000 bet on the game.

5. There is plenty of sports action on RCN-TV this week. There is high school basketball on Tuesday: Northampton at Freedom and Nazareth at Allen; on Friday – Liberty at Emmaus and Freedom at Parkland. Lafayette basketball will be televised on Wednesday when the men take on Loyola and on Saturday when the women play Bucknell.  Liberty wrestles at Emmaus on Wednesday night following the Lafayette game.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 2-2)  (Overall: 161-81-2  67% ) 

NFL PLAYOFFS 

KANSAS CITY

NEW ENGLAND

RAMS

PHILADELPHIA

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 14-2) (Overall: 159-79-2 67% )

Wild Card Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS

SEATTLE

BALTIMORE

PHILADELPHIA

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 13-3)  (Overall: 145-77-2  65% )

Week SEVENTEEN

DALLAS

KANSAS CITY

NEW ORLEANS

NEW ENGLAND

PHILADELPHIA

GREEN BAY

HOUSTON

BALTIMORE

ATLANTA

BUFFALO

INDIANAPOLIS

PITTSBURGH

CHICAGO

CHARGERS

SEATTLE

RAMS

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I hope someone noticed that I was away from the cameras last week. Chris Michael, Tom Stoudt, and John Leone covered the opening week of high school basketball, with some very interesting results, I must say. It will be a year of parity which means exciting games.

My wife and I went on another cruise. This time we had to fly. Lately, we have been going out of Bayonne, but not this time of the year – too cold. So we flew to Fort Lauderdale. The flight down was uneventful, except, for some reason, for the first time, we received “Pre-check” security approval and whizzed through. I was told that TSA randomly does that from time to time to allow people to experience it so they would be inclined to purchase it. I am now inclined, but I don’t fly enough to make the investment.

We sailed on the Harmony of the Seas. Up until a few months ago it was the largest ship on the ocean. It has since been surpassed by the Symphony of the Seas. Harmony has 2,747 state rooms so there are easily over 5,000 passengers on board. And there is an almost equal number of crew on board. Suffice it to say, it is a small city.

And all the things you have heard about cruising – 24-hour food, beautiful scenery, beaches, a wide variety of entertainment (comedy clubs, Broadway shows, two ice shows, two diving and aquatics spectacles, parades, intimate lounge music, casino gambling, etc.), and more. The service is spectacular from the restaurant staff to a room steward who cleans your room twice a day and makes sure your bed is turned down at night. Just like NOT at home.

But with all of that, the most interesting part of the trip is usually the people you meet. We like to share our dinner table even though you never know who you will get as your table mates. This time we sat with two couples who have cruised over 50 times each. The one gentleman, who was 85 years old, played hockey for the Chicago Black Hawks. His wife was an avid cruiser 19 years his junior. She booked five more cruises on the ship during this cruise. They are always within a few weeks of their next one.

The other couple owned a swimsuit business in Florida. He, at one time, was part of the start-up for Sharper-Image. That business took him to Moscow where he was kidnapped by the Russian Mafia and forced to pay $5,000 to be freed (I told you we meet interesting people).

We sat in a hot tub with a couple from Zimbabwe and listened to their journey to America years ago. And once my wife explains how she came to America from Germany as a baby with Ukrainian parents a new story is added to their repertoire.

There is never a dull moment and there is very little sleep. Yet, we always come away feeling fortunate that we can experience life through the eyes of so many others.

Going home was not as much fun – our flight from Fort Lauderdale to Philadelphia was changed. We had to go to Boston and then on to Philly. In Boston, the flight to Philly was delayed by an hour and a half. Instead of arriving home on Sunday night at 7:00pm, we walked in the door at 11:15pm.

Rest assured, however, we are ready to do it again!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING)

1.   I watched the Eagles game on the flight home and saw the finish later. They looked like last year’s Eagles. Now can they get lucky enough to make the playoffs? Dallas has a one-game lead in the East over the Redskins and the Eagles and they own the tiebreaker over both. So, Dallas must lose the last two and the Redskins and/ or the Eagles must go 2-0.  Keeps you watching, right?

2. The MVP this year appears to be the Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes. He should pass for over 5,000 yards and over 50 touchdowns. Those numbers have only been achieved one time – by Peyton Manning in 2013. The Chiefs could win the Super Bowl.

3. If you are a Dallas fan, how do you feel about Jason Garrett? After going on a five-game winning streak, they got shut out on Sunday by the Colts. Were you ready to fire him earlier, and then ready to keep him lately and now ready to fire him again? Oh, the NFL – so fickle – just ask Eli Manning!

4. Don’t expect an NBA championship out of the 76ers quite yet. Jimmy Butler certainly has helped, but he missed a few games this past week with injury. Even with him, they are barely one of the ten best teams in the league.

5. I am taking a two-week holiday break from blogging, but the NFL picks will continue. I hope you use them so you have someone else to blame.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 9-7) (Overall: 132-74-2 64% )

Week SIXTEEN

TENNESSEE

BALTIMORE

CHICAGO

DALLAS

NEW ENGLAND

CAROLINA

MIAMI

INDIANAPOLIS

PHILADEPHIA

MINNESOTA

GREEN BAY

CLEVELAND

RAMS

NEW ORLEANS

SEATTLE

DENVER

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Six years ago, the RCN Marketing Department had the “brilliant” idea to ask me to write a weekly “blog”. My first thought back then was, “What exactly is a blog?” My next thought was why would anyone care what I think, let alone read about what I think. I must say those thoughts still remain every time I sit down to fulfill the task put before me. And I am about to do it again for the 300th time (OMG!)

The name “blog” was created from joining the words “web” + “log”. Blogs began in the 1990’s according to my research and were, back then, normally the work of a single individual. Blogs by an individual usually center around one single general topic – politics, food, the arts, etc. In my case, the idea was that I would write about sports.

My co-worker, Chris Michael, was asked to do the same so I took on the college and professional games, for the most part, and Chris focused on the local high school scene. From time to time, I have ventured into other areas to the delight of my female editors.

The process seems simple enough. Every Monday (or Sunday night), I sit down and stare at the keyboard hoping there will be some topic or inspiration from the past week that will allow me to write. There are Mondays when I stare for a very long time.

Since accepting this task, I have learned to truly admire journalists who must tap out story after story to fulfill their vocational responsibilities. For example, Keith Groller of  The Morning Call must write a dozen or more stories every week. Some of them are recaps of sporting events he has covered, but many are opinion pieces.

The Morning Call opinion writer, Bill White, has been knocking out three articles a week for the past 20-plus years on a variety of human interest stories. Bill wrote his last opinion pieces this past week as he is retiring. He will be missed.

Both have my admiration for their writing skills, but, even more so, for their innate ability to find a topic every time they need to.

So, here I sit, contemplating that I have had to come up with something to write about 300 times. When I finish, I know that at least three people will read it (I send it to five). It is their responsibility to make sure I do not say something stupid or grammatically incorrect. Since I taught English, the latter is much less likely than the former.

Within a day after my submission, I see the word, “posted” on an email and know that what I have written is out there for the world (probably 10 or so people) to see, with Lehigh Valley billboards promoting the title with my picture (blame the marketing people again).

So, for the 300th time, I have put words to computer screen. Three-hundred is the same number as a perfect bowling score and the same number as the lowest possible credit score. Should you attain the bowling score, I guess there would be euphoria. If 300 is your credit score, I am assuming the number causes you great consternation. I can only hope my blog is somewhere in the middle.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSING)

1.  Local NFL, Penn State, broadcasting legend and Whitehall product, Matt Millen, has been awaiting a heart transplant for over two months and, according to reports, time is running out. Matt has amyloidosis, a rare disease that requires the transplant. As I write this, a match has not been found. Time for some divine intervention!

2. It is not unusual for an NFL coach to be fired during the season. It happens all the time. But this past Sunday, a coach was fired by a team during the season – something that team had never done before. The Green Bay Packers fired Mike McCarthy after 12+ years as their head coach. In the 98-year history of the Packers, they had never done that before.

3. Tom Brady, the outstanding thrower but unimpressive runner, finally attained a thousand yards rushing for his career! It took him 19 years and 265 games to do it. His best year was 2002 when he rushed for a total of 110 yards.

4. Two years ago, Deandre Swift ran roughshod over the Parkland Trojans in the PIAA state quarterfinal when he played for St. Joe’s Prep from Philadelphia. I hope you recognized the name this past Saturday when he almost led the Georgia Bulldogs to a monumental upset over the #1 undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama needed three unanswered TD’s at the end to win the game. Swift rushed for a team-best 75 yards and a TD and caught six passes, one for a TD. He has 1037 yards for the season and 10 TD’s, both team highs. He will suit up again on January 1 in the Sugar Bowl against Texas.

5. High school football is over for the Lehigh Valley teams. Congratulations to the Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks for making it to the state semifinals and being the last local team standing. After a one-week respite, our high school basketball season kicks off on December 11 at Emmaus when the Green Hornets take on Parkland. The local basketball picture looks like it will be a very competitive year! Join us.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 10-6) (Overall: 123-67-2 65% )

WEEK FOURTEEN

TENNESSEE

BUFFALO

CAROLINA

GREEN BAY

KANSAS CITY

NEW ENGLAND

NEW ORLEANS

GIANTS

HOUSTON

CHARGERS

DENVER

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

DETROIT

RAMS

SEATTLE