Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 12-4; OVERALL – 155-84 – 65%)
 
Week Seventeen
 
BALTIMORE
DETROIT
BUFFALO
CAROLINA
NEW ORLEANS
TENNESSEE
NEW ENGLAND
INDIANAPOLIS
PITTSBURGH
WASHINGTON
MINNESOTA
PHILADELPHIA
CHARGERS
SEATTLE
KANSAS CITY
RAMS

I know this is the time of the year when most writers look back on the past year and reminisce on the highlights of the 2017. You will be able to find plenty of those articles and opinions in the next week or so.  I am not much for looking back.  I tend to think except for the nostalgia value, not much is gained by it.  Instead, I like to look ahead – you know, have a reason to look forward to the next day and the one after that.

So, with that in mind, and since this will be my last blog for the year (“Gary’s Guesses” will continue, however), I thought I would offer up some of the questions I look forward to the future answering in 2018. They are in no particular order:

1. Can the Eagles actually get to and win the Super Bowl?
2. Are there better NFL games to watch than the Steelers against the Patriots?
3. With that in mind, when is a catch a catch in the NFL?
4. Will there be any prominent males left in positions of power at the end of 2018 or will they all have harassed someone and left their positions?
5. Since it is a foregone conclusion that Penn State and Whitehall football player Saquan Barkley will head for the NFL draft, will he sign with a team I can root for? (I certainly want to root for him).
6. Now that it looks like all Philadelphia sports teams are on the rise, will the spring and summer (Phils), fall and winter (Flyers, 76’ers, Eagles) all create year-round excitement in the City of Brotherly Love?
7. When will there be a positive story about the concussion problem in football – like advancements being made? (The Larry Johnson story in Sunday’s Morning Call was very difficult to read, but well worth reading).
8. Will the District XI use the PPL Center again for their showcase high school winter sports (wrestling and basketball)?
9. Jay Wright and his Villanova Wildcats are #1 in the nation in college basketball. Can they stay there and win their second national championship in three years?
10. Will excitement return to College Hill in Lafayette football and basketball?

Well, that’s enough to chew on for a while, with new questions cropping up every week. Before I call it a year, I do want to thank all the people who made this past year so gratifying – the RCN-TV crew and management (they are an amazing group); athletic directors and coaches (their cooperation is essential); the players (your dedication and effort inspires me every game); the Lafayette Sports Information Department (you make me feel like part of the team); and, especially, you, the fans.  Nothing makes our day than when so many of you take the time to tell us how much you enjoy our product.

I hope we all can spend 2018 together once again!

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 13-3; OVERALL – 143-80 – 64%)

 Week Sixteen

 BALTIMORE

MINNESOTA

DETROIT

CHARGERS

RAMS

CHICAGO

CAROLINA

NEW ORLEANS

WASHINGTON

KANSAS CITY

NEW ENGLAND

JACKSONVILLE

GIANTS

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

PHILADELPHIA

Carson Wentz just got done throwing a record-setting 33^rd TD pass to Alshon Jeffery when he left the field.  After watching the hard, sandwich hit he took on what turned out to be a non-play due to a penalty, I was amazed he went back into the huddle to play another down.  But, Carson Wentz played another four plays throwing a TD pass on fourth down.  He walked off the field and appeared to be limping just a little.  And then, he went into that dreaded tent.  When that happens in a game, my first thought is always “concussion protocol”.  Not this time.

Wentz left the tent and walked, under his own power, to the locker room. The injury still did not look season-ending.  But, on Monday it was reported he had suffered an ACL injury.  That injury would put him out for the season this year and, perhaps, next year.  The Eagles can ill afford to take any chances with their franchise quarterback.  They must give him the time to fully recover.

So with arguably the NFL’s MVP out for the season, how will the Eagles fare without Wentz?   Perhaps, the better question is, “Can the Eagles win with Nick Foles?”  Foles started one game for the Chiefs last year and posted a QB rating of 12.5 (not close to being even mediocre).  He certainly does not have Wentz’s mobility and was injured in each of his years with the Eagles.  Next up would be third–string QB Nate Sudfeld who has never thrown an NFL pass.  Or… dare I say it – Colin Kaepernick?

So is there hope? Yes – the Eagles can certainly run the ball with Blount, Ajayi, and Clement.  They should be able to throw safe and short passes to their three tight ends.  The Eagles’ defense is solid and seems to play at their very best with their backs against the wall.  And there should be time to learn to mesh with Foles.  They have the Giants away, and the Raiders and Cowboys at home.  They should be able to win those games and give Foles a chance to get comfortable.  Win them all and they are guaranteed the top seed in the NFC.

In 1990 the Giants won the Super Bowl with Jeff Hostetler, who was in the lineup because Phil Sims went down in Week 15. The Giants won the Super Bowl that year.

Can the Eagles do the same without Carson Wentz? I, along with throngs of Eagles’ fans have our doubts.  The season has been magical so far and it might need a true magician to reach the desired finish.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. 1. Seahawks defensive lineman, Quentin Jefferson, tried to go into the stands on Sunday in Jacksonville when, after being ejected, a fan threw a drink on him. His attempt was thwarted by an equipment manager.
   2. I was at the December 23, 1979, hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins played at Madison Square Garden when every Bruins player except one went into the stands after a Rangers fan reached over the glass and hit a Bruin player. I was far enough away to just be a spectator, but when we left the arena, angry fans had surrounded the Bruins bus. It looked like the entire NY police force was there to allow the players to leave the city. No one seemed to be in the holiday spirit. (There were suspensions, lawsuits, and installation on higher glass).
   3. Thanks to the NFL Red Zone, I was able to watch a great deal of the Bills–Colts game played in blizzard-like conditions on Sunday. I now understand what weathermen mean by “lake-effect snow.” The Bills won in overtime in a surreal environment.
   4. The Browns just cannot win a game. Even after wide receiver Josh Gordon caught his first TD pass since 2013 and having a 21-7 lead going into the fourth quarter, they still managed to lose to the Packers in OT 28-21. They now are 0-13. The Ravens are next.
   5. No one would argue that it has been a good winter so far for a Philadelphia sports fan (except for the Flyers) – the Eagles are great; the ’76-ers play exciting and winning NBA basketball; and the Villanova Wildcats are now the #1 college basketball team in the nation (Duke and Kansas both lost this week).

• Two great wrestling matches will occur next week on RCN-TV when PA’s #1 team Bethlehem Catholic takes on Northampton on December 20 and Nazareth faces Easton on December 21. This is an early holiday gift for wrestling fan. High school basketball will be on RCN-TV Tuesday and Friday.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 8-8; OVERALL – 130-77 – 63%)

Week Fifteen

DENVER

DETROIT

CHARGERS

PHILADELPHIA

CAROLINA

MINNESOTA

MIAMI

JACKSONVILLE

NEW ORLEANS

WASHINGTON

BALTIMORE

RAMS

NEW ENGLAND

TENNESSEE

DALLAS

ATLANTA

No one knows the source, but someone once said the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I feel that way about this blog.  I want to make two points – one about college football and one about the Pennsylvania state football playoffs, knowing full well that this is a waste of computer space and will fall on deaf ears.  But, I will do it anyway.

Let’s start with the high school football playoffs. District XI, in my opinion, and I think most of our viewers would agree, has pretty good football.  This year we sent undefeated AAA Palisades , twice beaten (by AAAAAA schools) AAAA Bethlehem Catholic, AAAAA 9-3 Whitehall (2 losses to AAAAAA schools), and undefeated AAAAAA Parkland to the PIAA playoffs.  Three of the four were pummeled by Philadelphia private schools, where the student body of those schools had virtually no boundaries, not even by state. Palisades lost 34-17; Bethlehem Catholic lost 34-14; Parkland lost 49-14.  Whitehall did not lose to a Philadelphia school, but the team that beat them lost to one, Archbishop Wood, by a 41-14 score.

Now I understand this may sound like sour grapes. “Boo-hoo” – the Lehigh Valley teams lost and let the whining begin.  However, the playing field is not equal here.  Everyone knows it.  So since we all know the roster makeup of the Philly private schools will not be regulated, why not create a system where we have public school champions and private school champions?  If the PIAA is insistent on six classifications, then have four public and two private classifications.  May the best teams of both types, on an equal playing field, win!

Now that I have wasted my time on high school football, let me turn my attention to the college football playoffs – four teams in – Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama; everybody else is out. That means Ohio State (Big 10 champion), Wisconsin (12-1), Auburn (beat Alabama), and USC (PAC 12 champions) and undefeated (the only one in the Top 25, by the way) UCF are all out.  I have no argument with the committee’s top four FBS selections; there just needs to be four more teams added to the mix.  That simply means one more week of football – eight teams to four; four to two; and the national championship game.  Ironically, the FCS (made up of schools like Lafayette and Lehigh) does it with many more teams – 24!  So arguments about time away from class and scheduling are moot.

There will still be plenty of arguments from teams below the top eight, but the volume of disgruntlement will be much less. Not having the Big Ten champion and the PAC 12 champion in the national playoffs just seems completely wrong.

The NCAA playoff system is in place until 2025 so no expansion is on the horizon.

In conclusion, the PIAA high school playoffs will not change; the NCAA college football playoffs will not change. Therefore, I have just wasted your time and my time.

But I plead “guilty by reason of insanity.”

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. A wise sage once told me that the reason a football game is lost can be broken down into five critical plays. Looking at the Eagles game on Monday against Seattle, how about these five:

• A fumble by Carson Wentz at the one-yard line
• An overthrow by Wentz to Nelson Agholor (probable TD)
• Alshon Jeffery holds on a play where LeGarrette Blount ran to the one- yard line
• Challenging a ball spot when the Eagles only needed an inch for a first down which they got on the next play
• Not challenging a forward lateral which would have stopped a scoring drive by the Seahawks
• That’s the game in a nutshell.

1. Beca’s opponent on Friday, Imhotep Charter, won 34-14 without top player Isheem Young. He was considered one of the top athletes in all of Pennsylvania. However, the morning of the game, he was charged with armed robbery of a WAWA in July. He has since been removed from the Penn State’s commitment list by a recruiting site.
2. I hope Eli Manning has a chance to latch on to a new NFL team next year. For the Giants to think they accomplished anything by playing Geno Smith this past weekend and benching Manning is a good indicator of why their season (2-10) has been so bad. Even the front office got it this week by firing head coach Bob McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese.
3. Tiger is back! It makes golf much more enjoyable to watch when one of the greatest returns and Tiger’s successful weekend in the Bahamas sure had a tremendous impact on viewership and interest. Let’s hope he stays healthy.
4. High school basketball begins on Tuesday, December 12, with Bethlehem Catholic at Parkland and Central at Whitehall. Friday, December 15, we will have Central at Liberty and Emmaus at Northampton. Let the games begin! 

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 10-6; OVERALL – 122-69 – 64%)

Week Fourteen

NEW ORLEANS

DETROIT

BENGALS

INDIANAPOLIS

JACKSONVILLE

KANSAS CITY

VIKINGS

GREEN BAY

HOUSTON

CHARGERS

JETS

TENNESSEE

PHILADELPHIA

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

NEW ENGLAND

High school football has two more weekends and college football for the RCNTV crew has come to a close. College basketball has begun and high school basketball is right around the corner.

That can only mean that it is once again time for one of my favorite nights of the year and it has nothing to do with athletics. It is the night that I co-host the Dream Come True Telethon. Believe it or not (and I am a “not”), we will be doing the Telethon for the 32^nd  year.  I did not host in the very early years (just a guest), but I have been around for most.

The Dream Come True organization, in case you did not know, was founded in 1984 by Kostas Kalogeropoulous, a local businessman. The goal of the organization is simple – fulfill the dreams of children who are seriously, chronically, and terminally ill and reside in the greater Lehigh Valley area.  Children are referred by family, friends, clergy, doctors, social workers, etc. and the dreams usually fall into three categories – trips, contact with celebrities, and special gifts (computers, shopping sprees, for example).

Scott Barr will be co-hosting again this year. We have spent this night together for many, many years and I would not want to work with anyone else. The telethon includes an online auction, which has already commenced. Scott handles the auction area during the telethon and, boy, is he terrific! If you watch Home Shopping Network or any of the other television all-day shopping channels, just watch Scott do his thing during the three-hour night.  He is as good as, if not better, than the professionals.

Here are the specifics:

 2017 Dream Come True Telethon & Online Auction

The 32 ^nd ANNUAL DREAM COME TRUE TELETHON is Monday, December 4, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, live on RCN TV. The goal of the telethon is to raise funds for and increase awareness of Dream Come True, an organization that grants the dreams of children who are terminally, chronically, or seriously ill. Join hosts Gary Laubach, Scott Barr and Vanessa Keiffer for heartwarming interviews with Dream recipients, special guests, and featured auctions.

Bid on incredible auction items  donated by your favorite networks! Online bidding opened Monday, November 20, and closes Monday, December 4, at 8:00 PM.

Make a financial contribution to Dream Come True by calling in during the Telethon or donate on-line now.

You will find a variety of unique items. If you want something really special that cannot be found in any store, tune in and bid on the items. You will make Scott’s night and, more importantly, help to make a child’s dream come true.

Vanessa Keiffer’s interviews with the children who have had their dreams fulfilled will demonstrate to you just how valuable your donations are.

The important facts again are:

The Date:        Monday, December 4
The Time:        6:00 – 9:00 PM
The Purpose:   To fulfill as many hopes, dreams and fantasies for seriously, chronically, and terminally ill children as possible
The Phone Number to Make a Donation:       1-800-749-8099

All proceeds from the online/on-air auction go directly to Dream Come True.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and support!  Your donation will help make a child’s dream come true!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. With the town of Philadelphia ecstatic about the success of the Eagles and the ‘76ers, it’s a shame the Flyers cannot be a part of it. As I write this, they are in last place in their division and mired in an eight-game losing streak.
2. I had a chance to chat with two former Eagles this past Saturday when Parkland played St. Joe’s Prep. They were there to watch their sons play, one on the Parkland team and one on the St. Joe’s team. While talking to them, it became evident that one of their major concerns as they age is memory loss from concussions.  One of them pointed out that he was already suffering.  He pointed out that the game was much different back then with very little precautions taken.  Those older players are now paying the price.
3. Speaking of football concussions, there is a new helmet being touted – the ZERO1.  It has ranked #1 in the testing labs set up by the NFL. The helmet is supposed to be a great improvement over the current ones.  The downside is that each one costs @$1500.  That is certainly an investment the pros could make, but could colleges and high school programs afford them?  It will be interesting to watch where the priorities will lie.
4. Parkland, without question, was the best football team in our area, going undefeated and, for the most part, unchallenged. And then they ran into St. Joe’s Prep this past weekend, a Philadelphia Catholic school. Prep is made up of players from all over the city and many from New Jersey.  There was no comparison in the talent level on the field.  But, it is not a level playing field.  It’s time to have public school and private school champions in Pennsylvania.  If Pennsylvania wants six classifications, how about two private champions and four public school champions?
5. There is one more football game on our schedule – Bethlehem Catholic against Imhotep Charter (another Philadelphia private school). This is the PIAA state semifinal AAAA game. We will televise it on RCN-TV LIVE this Friday night at 7:00pm.  No matter the outcome, our football season will come to a close.  The state finals will be on PCN the following weekend.  Thanks for watching!!

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 11-5; OVERALL – 112-63 – 64%)

Week Thirteen

WASHINGTON

BALTIMORE

CHICAGO

ATLANTA

NEW ENGLAND

MIAMI

TENNESSEE

JACKSONVILLE

GREEN BAY

KANSAS CITY

CAROLINA

CHARGERS

RAMS

OAKLAND

PHILADELPHIA

PITTSBURGH

FROM THE RCN-TV STAFF

GAMES

 PIAA State Football

    VS Saint Joe’s on Saturday, November 25, LIVE at 1:00 on RCN-TV

  VS Selinsgrove on Friday, November 24, LIVE at 7:00 PM on RCN-TV

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 10-4; OVERALL – 101-58 – 64%)

Week Twelve

DETROIT

DALLAS

WASHINGTON

CINCINNATI

PHILADELPHIA

NEW ENGLAND

KANSAS CITY

ATLANTA

CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

SEATTLE

NEW ORLEANS

JACKSONVILLE

OAKLAND

PITTSBURGH

BALTIMORE

Even though I am sure the Eagles were quite happy that every team in the NFC East lost this past Sunday while they were enjoying a pleasant bye week, this week’s results actually did not help them as much as one might think.

Right now, the Eagles have the best record in the NFC and, for that matter, all of football. But, that honor is a precarious one.  The Vikings, the Saints, and the Rams all won their games this past Sunday and they are all 7-2 and certainly ready to become the team with the best record in the NFC should the Eagles falter.

If you are so inclined to use analytics, a crystal ball, or tarot cards, take a look at the remaining schedule for the Eagles and the teams chasing them:

• Vikings (2 game lead in division) – Rams, Lions, Falcons, Panthers, Bengals, Packers, and Bears
• LA Rams (1 game lead in division) – Vikings, Saints, Cardinals, Eagles, Seahawks, Titans, and 49’ers
• Saints (1 game lead in division) – Redskins, Rams, Panthers, Falcons, Jets, Falcons, and Bucs
• Eagles (3 game lead in division) – Cowboys, Bears, Seahawks, Giants, Raiders, and Cowboys

The Eagles will certainly win their division – their toughest opponent may be the Seahawks. They will not encounter a suspended Ezekial Elliott the first time around against Dallas and may miss facing left offensive tackle Tyrone Smith for both games with the Cowboys.

The Vikings look like the most likely team to surpass the Eagles for the home field advantage based on remaining schedules.

There are, also, teams lingering: Dallas (5-4), Atlanta (5-4), Detroit (5-4), Carolina (6-3), and Seattle (6-3).  Remember there are four division winners and two wild card teams in the playoffs.

The final six weeks should be very interesting and Eagles fans should be excited! They could not be in a better position at this stage in the season.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Did you see where Colin Kaepernick was named “Citizen of the Year” by GQ magazine? In the article entitled “Colin Kaepernick Will Not Be Silenced”, he is not quoted once.
2.  In case you were wondering, the win Sunday by the Patriots was the 270^th for Bill Belichick. He is now tied for third place with the Cowboys’ Tom Landry. Do you know who #1 and #2 are? The answer is at the end of the musings.
3. According to the ESPN Power Rankings, the 76ers are now #11 up from #17 last week. This could be the year that proves the last five awful years were worth the pain!
4. Well, Notre Dame and Penn State fans in the Valley (and there are plenty of them) have been in tears the last few weeks. Penn State lost two in a row before this weekend and Notre Dame was routed by Miami on Saturday after climbing into the Top Four. Notre Dame is now #9 and Penn State is #13. Maybe they could play each other in a bowl game. It would not be for a national championship, but the stadium and television interest would be off the charts!
5. Parkland will try to win their sixth straight District XI AAAAAA championship this Friday when they take on Freedom. The game will be LIVE on RCN-TV at 7:00 from Northampton.
6. On Saturday RCN-TV will have the 153^rd addition of Lafayette–Lehigh, college football’s most played rivalry. Game time is 12:30.

P.S. #1 – Don Shula (347); #2 – George Halas (324)

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-5; OVERALL – 91-54 – 63%)

Week Eleven

PITTSBURGH

DETROIT

KANSAS CITY

TAMPA BAY

GREEN BAY

RAMS

ARIZONA

JACKSONVILLE

NEW ORLEANS

CHARGERS

CINCINNATI

NEW ENGLAND

PHILADELPHIA

ATLANTA

It has been a long time since the Lafayette Leopards have played an important game in November. They have not won a November game since beating Lehigh at Yankee Stadium in 2014.  The Leopards won only three games total the past two seasons and certainly were not part of any Patriot League Championship conversation.  All of that has changed.

Going into the last two weekends of the season, Lafayette is 3-1 and tied at the top of the Patriot League with Colgate and with Lehigh. Their next two games, as you might have guessed, are against both Colgate and Lehigh.  If Colgate gets by Lafayette, they should win easily the following week against a Georgetown team that has won only one game.  However, should Lehigh beat both Holy Cross and Lafayette, Lehigh holds the tie-breaker with a controversial win over Colgate.

None of that will matter, however, if Lafayette can win against Colgate and Lehigh. And the Leopards have found a formula for winning – little or no offense and the stingiest of defenses.

Offensively, the Leopards against Patriot League opponents are averaging just 9.5 points per game, but they are giving up just 4.25 points. That’s not a misprint – their defense has been phenomenal in the League.  They have not yielded a point in the last nine quarters and no touchdowns in the last 10 quarters.  They beat Holy Cross 10-7; Fordham 14-10; lost to Bucknell 13-7 in overtime with both Bucknell scores coming on interceptions returned for touchdowns.  This past weekend, Lafayette beat Georgetown 7-0.

No matter what happens on Saturday, John Garrett, Lafayette’s first year head coach, has made the last two weeks of the season important again. Their last championship came in 2013 after winning three championships in a row in ’04, ’05, and ’06.  2013 was also the last year they had a winning record in the Patriot League.

Not to put a damper on anyone’s expectations, but the Leopards will be underdogs the next two weeks. They certainly will not win either game by scoring nine points.  But there is an adage in football that “defense wins championships”.  If that is true, then Lafayette has a chance to do what at the beginning of the season seemed virtually impossible – win a Patriot League championship!

If you can make it to Fisher Stadium, you will be rewarded:

If you cannot get there, watch the game on the Lafayette Sports Network or on the internet on the Patriot League Network.

I can’t wait for the kickoff on Saturday at 12:30pm!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. Undefeated Parkland trailed Liberty by nine going into the fourth quarter of Friday’s 6A quarterfinal game. It was their first real scare of the year. They responded with 22 unanswered points to win their eleventh straight game. This game, however, may have given Easton and Freedom some hope that the Trojans can be beaten. Parkland has won five straight District titles.
2. The Colonial League had to be proud of the performances by the Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh football teams this past weekend. They both beat EPC teams handily. Saucon beat Central Catholic and Southern Lehigh beat East Stroudsburg South. Both will have a chance to do it again this weekend for District championships.
3. Penn State football managed to let another game get away this past weekend at Michigan State, losing on the final play of the game. No invitation to the championship playoffs will be forthcoming. And the Heisman dreams for Saquon Barkley may also be fading. Let’s hope both the team and Saquon have great finishes to the season.
4. The Penn State basketball team played at Lafayette on Saturday and won going away 102-80. Despite the score, I see why the Big Ten prognosticators see Penn State as a middle-of-the-pack team. They are good, but not impressively good. Lafayette’s problems remain the same – rebounding and defense.
5. District football playoffs continue this week. Parkland will host Easton on Friday night at 7:00pm on RCN-TV in a 6A semifinal. Whitehall and Southern Lehigh will battle for the 5A championship at 10:00pm. Saturday RCN-TV will have the huge Patriot League matchup between Colgate and Lafayette at 12:30p, (see above). At 9:30pm, RCN-TV will bring you the 4A championship game featuring Bethlehem Catholic against Saucon Valley.

P.S. Two weeks ago, I picked the Astros to win the World Series in seven. (I wish I believed my own predictions – I could make them financially beneficial).

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-4; OVERALL – 82-49 – 63%)

Week Ten

SEATTLE

WASHINGTON

CHICAGO

PITTSBURGH

JACKSONVILLE

JETS

TENNESSEE

NEW ORLEANS

DETROIT

RAMS

DALLAS

GIANTS

NEW ENGLAND

CAROLINA

This past week the Cleveland Browns left the USA to lose another football game. Playing in London against the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns actually led at the half, 13-12.  It was their first halftime lead of the year.

In a game televised back home in the morning, there seemed to be little fan interest at the stadium and the game itself was lackluster. But the Browns did manage to play terrible football in the second half and lost again 33-16.

It just doesn’t seem worthwhile to play these games in England. The home team loses a game in their stadium; the players lose valuable practice time; and American fans must watch early Sunday morning.  There are big crowds, for sure (@ 75,000 on Sunday), but ticket prices are very, very low compared to NFL prices back home.  I understand the NFL is trying to expand their global footprint, but it doesn’t seem to be working.

Speaking of not working – the Browns are currently 0-8 and showing little signs that they will win a game this year. Their coach, Hue Jackson, has won one game and is now 1-23 in his two-year tenure with Cleveland.  They lost 14 games in a row and were 1-15 last year.  Their quarterback, DeShone Jackson, is learning on the job, but he is far from being an NFL quarterback right now.  To add to their woes, their receivers are just not very good.

And the Browns can only blame themselves. You probably remember that it was the Browns who traded their #2 draft pick because they did not believe in Carson Wentz – yes, the Eagles’ Carson Wentz.  Right now with his team at 7-1, sporting the best record in the NFL, Carson Wentz is probably the League’s MVP.  The Browns were quoted as feeling Wentz would never be a top-20 quarterback in the NFL.

Carson Wentz is certainly much, much better than a Top 20 QB. He is an elite QB.  He stands in the pocket despite heavy rushes; he runs with abandon when chased out of that pocket; sees defensive weaknesses as he spreads the ball around to all of his receivers; and he shows toughness and mental acuity at the same time.

Carson Wentz is just what the Browns needed and, typical of the Cleveland Browns front office, they just didn’t know it. It’s been ten years since the Browns had a winning record; it has been NEVER since they did not win ANY games.  This could very well be their year to “accomplish” that.  I’m not sure their current fan base even remembers how to spell V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)  

1. I don’t mean to brag (by the way, anytime someone says that, they DO mean to brag), but after a couple of dismal weeks of NFL picks, I had a perfect 13-0 week! I have never done that before. The past two weeks I am 24-4 (88%). I don’t mean to brag.
2.  After Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Ohio State, it does not appear that Penn State will play for a national championship this season. The Nittany Lions will need some help from other teams and must win out themselves.
3. Gabe Kapler, the director of player development for the Dodgers, is the new Phillies manager. He beat out Red Sox manager John Farrell and Iron Pigs manager Dusty Watham. Kapler played for six major league teams and is known to have a very strong background in analytics (the buzz word of the day in professional sports).
4. The 76ers are looking better, but their #1 draft choice Markelle Fultz will be out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury. Fans should be resigned to the fact that the Sixers seem to only draft players who can’t play the first year.
5. District football playoffs begin this week. Parkland looks unbeatable in 6A, Whitehall and Southern Lehigh should battle for the 5A championship, 4A and 3A are up for grabs. It all starts Friday night on RCN-TV with Freedom taking on Emmaus LIVE at 7:00 and Nazareth going back to Easton at 10:00. Saturday RCN-TV will have the Saucon Valley–Central game LIVE at 6:00.

RCN TV will have exhibition college basketball with Penn State taking on Lafayette LIVE at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon. This game is a charity event to help disaster victims.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 13-0; OVERALL – 73-45 – 62%)

Week Nine

BUFFALO

PHILADELPHIA

RAMS

NEW ORLEANS

JACKSONVILLE

CAROLINA

HOUSTON

TENNESSEE

ARIZONA

SEATTLE

KANSAS CITY

OAKLAND

DETROIT

Saturday, for many, is a day of rest. The daily grind of the previous week is over and you can look forward to doing things you love to do – work around the house, attend an event, watch your favorite sports team, or do nothing.

Saturday, for me, is never a day of rest, but it sure is a day of great anticipation and expectation. This Saturday offered both to the extreme.  I like to start the day with a nice morning walk.  It was a beautiful day and the walk was just the right way to ease into the afternoon.

At 1:00, I headed to Lafayette College for the much-anticipated Lafayette – Bucknell Patriot League game set to begin at 3:30. Lafayette was 2-0 and tied at the top of the Patriot League standings.  Bucknell was 0-1.  Both teams had formidable defenses, the best in the League.  I expected a low-scoring fast game.  “Fast” was something I hoped for because my wife and I had tickets to a show in Bethlehem at 8:00.

The game was a nail-biter! Bucknell scored a defensive touchdown on the fourth play when they intercepted a pass and took it in for a six points.  It was 7-0 and we had only played for two minutes and four seconds.  No one scored the rest of the first half.  I liked the speed of the game, but not the score.

The first time Lafayette had the ball in the second half, they marched 60 yards in eight plays and scored their first rushing touchdown of the season. It was 7-7!  The game continued to move along at a very rapid pace.  I was not concerned any longer about making the show on time.

But no one scored again! Lafayette blocked what would have been a winning field goal by Bucknell with less than a minute to go.  The game would not be done early – it was going overtime.

On Lafayette’s first overtime possession on the very first play, Bucknell intercepted a Leopard pass and ran it back 95 yards for a touchdown – Game Over!! Bucknell wins – Lafayette loses a heartbreaker without giving up a defensive point.

It was time to jump in the car and pick up my wife for the 8:00 curtain. The tickets included a “Meet and Greet” with the performers.  The last time this happened there were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  I would turn this into my dinner and drinks.  But, alas, we met members of the cast, but there were no drinks and, more importantly, no munchies (in my case – dinner).

The show was very good and enjoyable. It lasted two full hours.

After arriving home, I broke the news that I would be spending the rest of Saturday into the wee hours of Sunday morning watching the Penn State-Michigan game. I did not know anything about the outcome so, thanks to TIVO, I watched  from the very beginning and marveled at Penn State’s efficiency and Whitehall’s Saquon Barkley’s talent.  The Lions won and would remain #2 in the nation.

I finished up the game around 1:15 AM. I was pretty exhausted from my Saturday/Sunday “day of rest”.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. It’s the Astros against the Dodgers in the World Series. Two exceptional teams with great pitching staffs. Most are picking the Dodgers. I like the Astros in seven.
2.  The NFL regained some semblance of normalcy this week. It wasn’t just the Browns that did what they were supposed to do – lose. I went 11-4 and would have been even better if Oakland had not beaten Kansas City on the last play of the game and the Jets would not have blown a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. After the previous two weeks I am ecstatic with 11-4. And the Eagles have the best record in the NFL.
3. The Broncos and the Colts were shut out this past Sunday for the first time in 20-plus years.
4. The Colonial League never seems to disappoint when we go to do one of their football games. We had a shoot-out this past Friday when Notre Dame beat Saucon Valley 52-34. The game was back and forth until late into the fourth quarter. The talents of Alston Wolfe, Zach Petiet (SV), and Cole DeFranco (ND) were awesome. This was a really good “Friday night under the lights.”
5.  It is hard to believe that the regular season of high school football ends this Friday and we have two big games for you – Emmaus at undefeated Parkland followed by Nazareth at Easton. Saturday we are happy to give you Allen vs. Dieruff, two football teams that get very little TV exposure. Here is their chance to shine. District playoffs are in two weeks. 

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 11-4; OVERALL – 60-45 – 57%)

Week Eight

BALTIMORE

MINNESOTA

NEW ORLEANS

ATLANTA

CAROLINA

PHILADELPHIA

BUFFALO

CINCINNATI

NEW ENGLAND

SEATTLE

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

KANSAS CI