Every week, while doing a game, someone wins and someone loses.  Announcers, and I am one of them, praise the winners and talk about how difficult it might be to rebound from a loss, and coming back the following week.  It’s just the verbiage of sports.

This past week, the RCN studio family suffered a loss that dealt a blow to our very core. It was the loss of one of our own – cameraman and producer Bob Gery.  Bob was always “behind the scenes” and he would not have wanted it any other way.  Unless you are a rare viewer who actually reads the credits at the end of a program or sporting event, you would not have seen the name.  The sad part is that those very people (directors, engineers, cameramen, audio and graphics people, grips, etc.) are greatly responsible for your enjoyment of a game or a program.  They are in the background to you, but not for those of us in front of the cameras.  We know and appreciate their value.

Bob produced Community Spotlight, kept our vehicles safe and running, and worked our weekend sporting events, doing audio or manning a camera.  He did all of these jobs extremely efficiently and was so conscientious about his performance.  He was a man of character and would take time to make sure everything was in order.

Personally, Bob was a very simple man.  He never wanted the material things in life.  Early on, he took care of his parents until they passed.  He was a dedicated and loving son.    He was quietly interested in life.  He loved history; he loved politics; and he loved reading.  He was quite intellectual and enjoyed debating the current issues of the world.  One of his pastimes was to visit the graves of past presidents and the Presidential libraries.  He was a huge Beatles fan and was planning a trip to England this coming summer.

I looked forward to his frequent visits to my office.  He always wanted to talk about high school and Lafayette College sports.  He was adamant about this current election and I cannot believe he will not vote.  He ALWAYS voted and cast a thoughtful and well-informed ballot.  He felt it was his duty.

Recently, he had been discussing with me the pros and cons of retirement.  His financial advisor told him he could make that decision because he had been frugal all his life.  His finances were in order. He was ready to leave the daily grind of television and reap the rewards of his labor.  No one deserved to do that more than Bob.  Fate took that away from him.

And there was no warning.  Bob worked camera for a weekend football game on October 7, as he has done for 17 years.  We all had a rare Saturday off since Lafayette was not being televised.  Bob thoroughly enjoyed the Lafayette games, but he looked forward to the break and even took the following Monday as a vacation day.

None of us at the studio ever spoke with Bob again.

The RCN studio just does not feel the same right now.  There is an empty cubicle in the office and an empty spot in our hearts.  We will continue on; ask someone to take on Bob’s responsibilities; and cope; and manage our loss.  No one knew better than Bob that in our world the show must go on.

But, make no mistake; it will not be the same.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. If you want to pick the Super Bowl winner right now, the best bet would be the New England Patriots. Tom Brady’s numbers in his two games back from suspension are ridiculous – 782 yards and six touchdowns.  And the defense gives up just 15.2 points per game.
2. The Steelers’ loss to Miami this week not only killed one of my “just for fun” pools, but Las Vegas reported that there were seven times more straight bets placed on Pittsburgh than on Miami. And there were 15 times more bets on Pittsburgh as a package with other games.  The bad guys won again.
3. Watching Clayton Kershaw pitch against the Cubs on Sunday night and win 1-0 made me assume that he was greatly responsible for their success this season. But the Dodgers won 74 games without him.  Manager Dave Roberts has done a masterful job changing lineups and utilizing the entire pitching staff.  Going up against Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon makes this a particularly interesting series for the student of the game.
4. If you need to blame someone for the Eagles’ loss to the Redskins on Sunday, blame Lane Johnson and he did not even play. And that is the problem.  Johnson is suspended for 10 games for using performance-enhancing drugs.  His replacement was awful and allowed Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan to dominate the line of scrimmage.
5. On Friday, October 21, the RCN-TV crew will have the Saucon Valley – Notre Dame game LIVE at 7:00 PM followed by Emmaus- Easton. That game is on at 10:00 PM.  The crew will have Lafayette at Bucknell on Saturday LIVE at 1:00 PM.

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 10-5; Overall – 55-37 – 60%)
Week Seven
 
GREEN BAY
GIANTS
MINNESOTA
KANSAS CITY
DETROIT
CINCINNATI
BUFFALO
JACKSONVILLE
INDIANAPOLIS
BALTIMORE
ATLANTA
TAMPA BAY
NEW ENGLAND
SEATTLE
DENVER

Obviously, I spent much of Sunday watching NFL football.  Between the Eagles, the Steelers, and the Red Zone, the day was filled up from 1:00 – 7:30.  And, once you get into that frame of mind, it is hard to adjust to other programming.  It is an afternoon of adrenaline.

Other programming on Sunday consisted of “60 Minutes” and the second Presidential Debate.  “60 Minutes” did not calm me down because it was all about artificial intelligence, which seems to be closing in on replacing all of us no matter what we do.

Since I was still wired from football, and certainly not calmed by a report that robots could replace us all, I found myself watching the debate in a football frame of mind.  I looked at both candidates as if I were an NFL official.  And it didn’t take long to throw the penalty flag.  For example:

FALSE START:  Neither candidate shook the opponent’s hand to begin the debate.  That should be a 5-yard penalty.

DELAY OF GAME:  Both had trouble sticking to the two-minute time limit for their answers.  They obviously need to work on their “two-minute drill”.

ENCROACHMENT:  This 5-yard penalty could have been tossed on numerous occasions as Donald Trump stalked Hillary Clinton as she was answering questions.  Instead of taking a seat, he paced and hovered throughout the debate.

NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION:  Hillary often stepped over onto Trump’s side of the field to get closer to the crowd.  There’s another 5-yard penalty.

ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION:  When asked about e-mails and Benghazi, Clinton substituted Russia and Syria; when Trump was asked about his biases, he substituted ISIS.  These penalties were offsetting.

PASS INTERFERENCE:  Since “making passes” seemed to be a favorite pastime for Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, the media exposure is an excellent example of “pass” interference.  Due to contact by both sides, those penalties were “offsetting”.

TAUNTING:  No explanation necessary and that is a 15-yarder against both candidates.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT:  Both Clinton and Trump were quite eager to bring up the indiscretions alluded to by the Trump  tapes that were released a few days earlier, and Trump not only brought up Bill Clinton’s past problems with women, but he had four of the women in the audience.  Both should have been given 15-yard penalties.

TOO MANY MEN ON THE FIELD – For the life of me, after all the rhetoric of the last year, how can anyone say they are still an “undecided”?  The audience on Sunday was made up of just those people and there were too many of them.  Throw the flag on all of them and tell them to pay better attention.
And like any player that spent the day engaged in battle, I went and took a shower!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Locally, there has been so much talk about Carson Wentz, the rookie quarterback of the Eagles, that many around here have not noticed what Dallas rookie QB Dak Prescott has done. The Cowboys are 4-1.  On Sunday, he took apart the Bengals and passed Tom Brady’s record for most pass attempts to start a career without an interception.  The Eagles play at Dallas on Sunday night, October 30.  Tony Romo should be healthy by then.  Should Romo or Prescott start?
2. Speaking of Carson Wentz, he lost his first game this past week against the Lions and most post-game headlines talked about his interception at the end. He certainly could have run his first real two-minute drill better, but the game should not have come down to Wentz at all.  Without the Ryan Matthews fumble, the Eagles probably win the game.
3. I’m watching the MLB playoffs and wondering how anybody hits these top pitchers. They are scary good!  If you can, catch the Real Sports show on HBO where they discuss the use of the ball-strike box to actually call the pitches.  It’s a fascinating report.  More robots!
4. Which team or teams will win the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South division title? Bethlehem Catholic and Emmaus have one loss and Parkland, Nazareth, and Liberty have two.  Beca finishes with Whitehall, Freedom, and Central Catholic (this game doesn’t count for the division).  Emmaus has Liberty, Easton, and Parkland.  There could be multiple champions.
5. On Friday, October 14, the RCN-TV crew will have the Emmaus – Liberty game LIVE at 7:00 PM followed by Palmerton facing Catasauqua. That game is on at 10:00 PM.  The crew will have Nazareth at Freedom on Saturday LIVE at 7:00 PM.  Lafayette travels to  West Point to play Army.  You can watch that game on CBSSN at noon.

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 9-5; Overall – 45-32 – 58%)
 Week Six
 

DENVER
PITTSBURGH
NEW ENGLAND
BUFFALO
GIANTS
PHILADELPHIA
NEW ORLEANS
DETROIT
JACKSONVILLE
TENNESSEE
GREEN BAY
ATLANTA
KANSAS CITY
HOUSTON
ARIZONA

The American League
The Rangers had the best record (95-67) in the American League.  Amazingly, they won 36 one-run games.  And, more amazingly, their bullpen has not been all that good, ranked 14^th in the league.  That does not bode well for them in the playoffs.

The Indians pitching staff WAS strong, but no longer.  Their three top starters are probably out of the postseason, so they will need plenty of players to step up.  If their starters can get the job done until the Indians get to the bullpen, they have a chance.

The Red Sox could make some noise if, and it’s a big IF, David Price looks like the David Price of last year and not this year.  Their ace is Rick Porcello and he should get his job done, which is win when he pitches.  If he wins and Price is the old Price, the Red Sox will be formidable in the playoffs.

The Blue Jays did not play well at all down the stretch going 26-26 since early August.  Their hitters didn’t hit and their bullpen was dismal.  Based on recent performances, they should not make it to the World Series.

No team hits the ball as far as the Orioles (253 home runs –the best in the majors).  Six players hit 20 or more and Mark Trumbo hit 47.  However, the playoffs are almost always about pitching, but maybe the Orioles can change that perception.

As you can see, choosing a pennant winner in the AL is difficult   I am picking the Red Sox and the onus for that prediction lies on David Price.

The National League
The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908 and, in case you don’t want to tax your math skills, that’s 108 years ago. They last played in the World Series in 1945.  They then went 39 years without getting into the playoffs.  The Cubs were one victory away from the World Series in 1984 and again in 2003.  Last year, they made it to the National League Championship Series.  The Cubs have the best record in baseball, but it’s the playoffs – will that matter?  Let’s look at their biggest competition.

The Nationals won 94 games and won the NL East easily.  But they have problems going into the postseason.  Their catcher is out, Daniel Murphy hasn’t played for two weeks, Bryce Harper has a sore thumb, and Stephen Strasburg hasn’t pitched since the first week of September.  These players are the heart of this team.

The Dodgers really struggle against left-handed pitching and do not seem strong enough to make the NLCS.  The Mets are just too banged up with six players out due to injuries. And did you know that only the Phillies posted a worse second half record than the Giants?

The Cubs should be in the National League pennant.

The Cubs will beat the Red Sox in six games and the 108-year drought will come to a close!!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Ryan Howard played his last game as a Phillie on Sunday and the Philadelphia crowd showed their appreciation. He made his Philadelphia debut on September 1, 2004, at the age of 24, and played 13 years with the Phils.  He hit 382 home runs; his last, a two-run shot on Saturday.  His MVP year, Howard hit 58 home runs and batted .313, with 149 RBIs.  Many think he will become an AL designated hitter.
2. The #3 Louisville at #5 Clemson game came down to the wire with an interesting 4^th and 12 play. If you want to watch an analysis of that play, check this out:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/10/2/13136970/louisville-clemson-football-james-quick-first-down

3. Speaking of officials’ calls, we had an interesting one on Friday at the Emmaus-Freedom game. Emmaus “pooched” a kickoff near the end of a tight game and their own player caught the ball in mid-air.  The officials seemed very confused with what to call.  The rule says the ball must touch the ground or a receiving player before the kicking team can touch the ball.  Interference was finally the call and was correct, but it seemed that it was not enforced properly.  Emmaus should have been penalized 15 yards and Freedom taking the ball after the penalty.  Instead, there was a penalty and “rekick”.
4. The Ryder Cup is the best of television golf. Instead of your attention being on a few leaders, every match and every player is significant.  Sunday’s crowd and the drama of watching some great matches made it scintillating television.  For that given Sunday, I chose the golf over the NFL.
5. On Friday, October 7, the RCN-TV crew will have the Parkland – Bethlehem Catholic game LIVE at 7:00 PM followed by a Freedom facing Whitehall. That game is on at 10:00 PM.  The crew will have a Saturday to themselves with Lafayette traveling to the Bronx to take on Fordham.  You can watch on campusinsiders.com at 1:00 PM.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 7-8; Overall – 36-27 – 57%)

Week Five

ARIZONA
MINNESOTA
MIAMI
NEW ENGLAND
PITTSBURGH
BALTIMORE
PHILADELPHIA
CHICAGO
ATLANTA
BUFFALO
OAKLAND
DALLAS
GREEN BAY
CAROLINA

I am sure you have heard the phrase, “The greatest thing since sliced bread”.  Sliced bread was invented in 1928 – there has to be something by now considered greater!  And I have found it – it’s my TiVo box powered by RCN.

With my technical knowledge, my TiVo box powered by RCN is just a thing that records shows.  If you need a better definition, “It’s an electronic device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive” (or it’s a thing that records shows).  The prototype of today’s product first appeared in 1999.

This past Sunday, I was absolutely convinced there is no better invention since… well, you know.  Imagine my dilemma – the Miami Dolphins are playing the Cleveland Browns and I need Miami to win the game because I need Miami to win the game (this is my way of taking the fifth).  And right around the same time, the Philadelphia Eagles are ready to kick off against the Pittsburgh Steelers (the NFL state championship!)  And at the same time professional golfers are trying to decide which player will win $10 million.  And the Red Zone is showing all the other NFL games that are finishing up and the ones just starting.

I’ll start with the Browns-Dolphins.  Every NFL fan knows how inept the Browns are.  But, on this day, when I NEED them to lose, they are locked in a 24-24 tie with seconds to go and looking at, by NFL standards, a short field goal for the win.  Browns’ kicker Cody Parker pulled the kick to the left, missing his third, that’s right, his THIRD, field goal of the day (Lafayette’s Jake Bissell would have made them all).  In overtime, Miami wins.  Did I mention I NEEDED them to win!

I put the TiVo on pause for the Eagles and the golf to watch that finish.  Now I pick up the Eagles and they are playing much better than anyone thought they would.  Carson Wentz is having quite a start as is the defense.  The Eagles are scoring and not allowing the Steelers to do anything on offense.  I need a commercial to get to the golf.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of commercials during NFL games.  Off to the Tour Championship in Atlanta.  I pick up where I paused that match just to see Rory McIlroy hit an iron 137 yards into the 16^th hole for a eagle two on a par 4.  He goes on to tie Ryan Moore and Kevin Chappell for first place and a playoff is necessary.  If McIlroy wins the playoff, he wins the Championship AND the FedEx Cup and will pocket $11.5 million.  But, thankfully, golf takes time between shots.

Back to the Eagles, I look in on the Red Zone; keep tabs on the golf; explain to my wife why I cannot eat dinner NOW!!  I’m exhausted… back to golf (McIlroy wins it all!)…back to the Eagles (they crush the Steelers)…back to Red Zone (I watch EVERY touchdown from EVERY game)… it’s never-ending.  But, I see it all!!  TiVo!  TiVo!

What’s for supper?  Ham and cheese between SLICED BREAD!  Sliced bread…Still, a great invention.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Eagles’ rookie quarterback Carson Wentz is the first player in NFL history with 100-plus attempts, 60-plus completions, 5-plus touchdowns, and zero interceptions in his first three career games. Now that’s special.
2. And how about Eagles’ head coach Doug Pederson? The Eagles dominated the Steelers on Sunday every way possible.  No matter how you look at it, that involves great coaching.
3. Most of the time, teams in the NFL look forward to a bye week. The way the Eagles have started the season, they probably would just like to keep on playing.  The Lions and the Redskins are up next and both games are on the road.
4. Rest in peace, Arnie. We will certainly miss you.  One of my favorite interviews back in 2000.
5. On Friday, September 30, the RCN-TV sports teams get a chance to see the undefeated Emmaus Green Hornets as they take on Freedom LIVE at 7:00 PM followed by a solid Bethlehem Catholic team facing an Easton team that needs a win after two straight losses. That game is on at 10:00 PM.  On Saturday at 3:30 PM, Lafayette opens the Patriot League season hosting Holy Cross.  Watch it all on RCN channel 4/1004 HD.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 8-8; Overall – 29-19 – 60%)

Week Four
Cincinnati
Indianapolis
Houston
Washington
Jets
New England
Carolina
Baltimore
Detroit
Denver
Arizona
San Diego
Dallas
Pittsburgh
Minnesota

Since there were so many upsets the first two weeks in the NFL, I got to wondering how the Las Vegas odds makers were faring.  Las Vegas is one place with a legal US sports book for gamblers.  There are, also, legal online sites…OR you could choose a local guy, but you should understand that doing that is illegal.

I am certainly aware that no one throws an “illegal procedure” flag on the millions of people who play fantasy football, NFL “tickets” or get into “survivor” pools.  There is no question that being involved in these weekly competitions makes watching the NFL that much more fun and interesting.

But what if we lived in Las Vegas where gambling on the NFL is legal?  Just out of curiosity, I wondered how the gamblers and  the Las Vegas bookies fared in the first two weeks of the NFL season.  According to my research, in week one, the Sunday night game between the Patriots and the Cardinals was the “make or break” match-up for each side.  80% of all the money wagered on that game was on the Cardinals.  After all, Tom Brady was out, Rob Gronkowski was out, and other key players would not play.  Four times as much money was bet on the Cardinals to win and the Cardinals were, also, seven times more likely to be on wagers that included more than one team.

As you know, New England won the game 23-21 on a field goal and many a bettor’s ticket was torn up and thrown away.  As a matter of fact, six underdogs won on the first Sunday, including the Miami Dolphins who were 10.5 point underdogs.  It was a good day for the casinos.

Week two proved even more profitable for Las Vegas.  With the unlikely wins by the Falcons over the Raiders and the Rams beating the Seahawks, Sunday afternoon created a windfall for the sports books.  That scenario got even better when gamblers in Vegas took the Packers over the Vikings in the Sunday night game six times more often than vice versa.  The Vikings won and Sunday became a spectacular day for the “bad guys”.

There was, however, one “feel-good” story for the guy who tries to beat the “house” (and, rarely, if ever does).  One Nevada gambler won $179,940 betting on college football when he placed three separate bets in three different locations.  Believe it or not, he picked twelve out of twelve – TWELVE – college games correctly against the point spread.  Although his name was not divulged, he did say he had made a similar bet every week during college football season for years and this is the first time he has ever won.  I hope that, with his win, he has at least broken even now.  Why do I doubt it?

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. It probably isn’t news to you if I tell you that you can buy a University of Florida Tim Tebow jersey. It is news if I tell you that you can also buy a Tim Tebow Mets jersey.  He has signed a $100,000 bonus contract with the Mets and was sent to their instructional league at Port St. Lucie, Florida.
2. What is the story with the Seattle Seahawks offense – 15 points in two weeks and to Miami and the Rams? They do not have a healthy running back and QB Russell Wilson can’t run on a bad ankle.
3. If Bill Belichick’s Patriots beat Houston this week with their #3 quarterback, then you must admit, even though you may hate him, that he is the best coach in the NFL.
4. Five years ago, Lafayette traveled to North Dakota State (where Carson Wentz played) to play the Bison. That team has won the national FCS championship every year since 2011.  This past Saturday, they beat #13 Iowa 23-21 of the FBS (those are the big boys).  You can use permanent ink when you pick them to win the FCS title again this year.
5. On Friday, September 23, RCN-TV offers up undefeated Saucon Valley at Southern Lehigh (7:00pm) followed by Celtic Classic highlights. Lafayette will host nationally ranked Villanova on Saturday.  The live broadcast begins at 6:00pm.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 11-5; Overall – 21-11 – 66% )
Week Three

Houston
Cincinnati
Oakland
Arizona
Baltimore
Miami
Giants
Green Bay
Carolina
Seattle
Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh
Kansas City
San Diego
Dallas
Atlanta
 

Thomas Paine wrote three works that, after this weekend, seem appropriate to reflect on as they pertain to the National Anthem and some players in the National Football League.  The titles of these three works speak volumes in themselves – Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason.

When I was teaching, I taught a course called “Books That Changed the World” (The Prince, An Essay on the Principle of Population, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Mein Kampf, etc.) and one of the books I chose was Common Sense.  It was written in 1776 and its sole purpose was to convince the colonists that breaking away from England to become a separate nation was the only course of action that made sense.  It was this logic, bravery, and determination of the citizenry that led to the forming of the United States of America.

The American Revolution was, in its most fundamental way, a protest and one which had serious consequences.  And because we won the battle, men like Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Paine, and Franklin are all considered heroes today.

So how should we treat those members of the NFL who deem it necessary to send a message of dissatisfaction with the country when our National Anthem is played?  First, we must consider WHY they are protesting.  The players, from what I have gathered, feel there is a racial injustice going on in this country and to ignore that is just plain wrong.  Believe me; I have never felt that I know anything about the effects of racial prejudice.  I am white and I have never been subjected to an attack on me due to my skin pigment.  I read Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin when I was young and it left an indelible impression on me.  Griffin, a white American, darkened his skin and spent six weeks in the Deep South as a black man.  He faced prejudice every single day.  That book opened my eyes.

Thomas Paine expressed what I believe the players feel – “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”  So, the players protest.  In this country, protest was and remains our foundation.  Free speech is what makes America, America.  The message may cause one to suffer consequences, but history has taught us that for every action, there is often a reaction.  Thomas Paine was well aware that a British victory would have meant his death for treason, but as he said, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

I would not think of sitting or kneeling when the National Anthem is being played and the players who kneel or raise their fists in protest will most certainly feel the wrath of many.  They should expect that.  But don’t take away their right to seek change and don’t take away the right to criticize them for it.  After all, speaking your mind is truly American.  It is one of our fundamental rights.  That is why there is America.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Well, the Browns didn’t take Carson Wentz in the draft because they felt he wasn’t good enough. They could have. How do you think they feel today?
2. Some interesting coaching decisions on the first NFL weekend. Hue Jackson of the Browns tried a fake punt in the Eagles game that was unbelievably ill-conceived (the punter was on the line of scrimmage) and led to three easy points for the Birds.  Jack Del Rio of the Raiders, on the other hand, went for two instead of just tying the game against New Orleans with 47 seconds to go.  They were successful and won 35-34.  There’s a fine line between “goat” and “hero”.
3. The first touchdown on Sunday in the NFL was the Carson Wentz TD pass.
4. Terrelle Pryor, who is a converted QB now at WR for the Browns, made some great catches Sunday. He is the SAME Terrelle Pryor who was the quarterback at Jeanette High School when they lost to the Lehigh Valley’s Wilson Warriors for the PIAA state football championship in 2006.  Jeanette and Pryor won the State Championship the following year.
5. Friday, September 16, RCN-TV offers up Parkland at Easton (7:00pm) and Bethlehem Catholic at Nazareth (10:00pm). Lafayette travels to Princeton for a Saturday broadcast at 5:00pm.  You’re invited.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 10-6;  Overall – 10-6 – 63% )
Week Two

JETS
DETROIT
HOUSTON
NEW ENGLAND
BALTIMORE
PITTSBURGH
WASHINGTON
GIANTS
CAROLINA
ARIZONA
SEATTLE
DENVER
OAKLAND
SAN DIEGO
GREEN BAY
PHILADELPHIA

The first weekend of the 2016 NFL season begins Thursday night, September 8, when the Broncos host the Panthers and it ends on Monday night with the 49’ers welcoming the Rams.  The other teams all play on Sunday.  So that can only mean one thing – it is time for my season outlook.  Last week, I looked at the AFC and this week it’s the NFC.  Remember everyone is 0-0 at the moment and the aspirations of the fans are running high.  If I dampen your spirit with my thoughts, just remember I don’t know any more than you do and, quite possibly, even less.

NFC EAST 

1. Washington Redskins – They won the division last year so I will go with them again. Their offense can be explosive and the defense might just be good enough.  This division is wide open, but the Tony Romo injury helped everybody but the Cowboys.
2. New York Giants – They had to shore up their defense and they did with money and draft picks. The offense should be problematic for opponents under new head coach Bob McAdoo.  It would be no surprise if they win the East.
3. Dallas – All they needed to be favored in the East was to get their offense healthy again. Well, forget that with the injury to Romo and a defense that does not impress.  They needed to outscore opponents and now that will not happen.  But even with rookie Dak Prescott, they should win more games than the Eagles.
4. Philadelphia – I would have picked them third, with the injury to Romo. Then they went and traded Bradford. Their schedule includes some of the best of the AFC and the NFC North so there are no easy wins.  The offensive line is a real concern.  And now, they start a rookie quarterback.  So, back to last place.

NFC NORTH 

1. Green Bay – Who else could be favored here? Aaron Rodgers has his receivers back and the defense looks strong again.  They have a tough opener at Jacksonville, so don’t panic if they lose that one.
2. Minnesota – Does this team EVER catch a break? They won the division last year and looked to be really good this season.  Then their starting quarterback goes down with a freak non-contact serious knee injury and is likely out for the year.  But they went out and got Sam Bradford.  Their defense is solid, and the offense if Bradford stays healthy should be pretty good now.
3. Chicago – If only their offense was better. The Bears will be as fierce as ever on defense and John Fox’s teams improve with him at the helm.  They may surprise.
4. Detroit –They played exceptionally well after their horrendous start last year (1-7). Calvin Johnson has retired and that hurts.  With a tough division, they are still picked last.

NFC SOUTH 

1. Carolina – This could be the NFL’s best offensive team with some added weapons. The defense is certainly good enough to compete for a Super Bowl.
2. New Orleans – Drew Brees always makes them dangerous and Mark Ingram is back at running back. If defense wins games as they say, the Saints will fall short in that department.
3. Atlanta – They have a very tough road schedule (Oakland, Denver, and Seattle) which could keep them from the playoffs. If Matt Ryan has an exceptional year, they could be a wild card.
4. Tampa Bay – How good is Jameis Winston at quarterback after a year under his belt. I don’t think he’s good enough to overcome their other deficiencies.

NFC WEST 

1. Arizona – This will be one of the very best teams in the NFL – the defense is strong and the offense is ridiculous. Could be a good Super Bowl pick.
2. Seattle – The best defense and a solid offense. They will make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year and are always a contender for the title.
3. Los Angeles – They will probably start #1 draft pick, Jared Goff, at QB; travel to London for a game; and await a new stadium. Lots of distractions, not to mention their HBO Hard Knocks show.
4. San Francisco – Chip Kelly tries his system in a MUCH tougher division than the NFC East where the Eagles sat. He will struggle this year, but gets to spend four weeks back on the East Coast.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
NFC Playoffs
Championship Game – Cardinals vs Carolina
NFC Champions – Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl Champions – Arizona Cardinals

NFL Picks – Week One
Carolina
Houston
Atlanta
Tennessee
Philadelphia
Cincinnati
Oakland
Kansas City
Baltimore
Green Bay
Seattle
Giants
Indianapolis
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Los Angeles
 

The first weekend of the 2016 NFL season begins Thursday night, September 8, when the Broncos host the Panthers and it ends on Monday night with the Redskins welcoming the Steelers.  The other teams all play on Sunday.  So that can only mean one thing – it is time for my season outlook.  This week, I will analyze the AFC and do the NFC next week.  Remember everyone is 0-0 at the moment and the aspirations of the fans are running high.  If I dampen your spirit with my thoughts, just remember I don’t know any more than you do and, quite possibly, even less.

AFC EAST 

1. New England – Tom Brady will miss four games and Jimmy Garoppolo will take over. It probably will not matter.  Brady comes back stronger and fresher than ever; Garoppolo makes his case to get a big contract and start somewhere else; and, surprise, surprise the Patriots win the division.
2. Buffalo – They had a great draft; will get New England without Brady in one game; and have a good shot at making the playoffs.
3. Jets – Ryan Fitzpatrick has settled his differences and the back-up situation seems muddled at best with three other QB The schedule is murderous at the beginning and they get Brady for both games.
4. Miami – Adam Gase is the new head coach and the Dolphins have had a good preseason. The Dolphins just seem to underachieve.  If Gase can change that mindset, perhaps they can move ahead of the Jets.

AFC NORTH 

1. Pittsburgh – Their offense is virtually unstoppable as long as they stay healthy and avoid any more suspension problems (Le’Veon Bell). They need to improve in the secondary, but if the defense gets even a little better, the Steelers will not only win the division, but could have a shot at another Super Bowl ring.
2. Baltimore – They were really banged up last season placing 20 players on the injured reserve list. Since they finish the season with the Patriots, and the Steelers, their final game with the Bengals could be for the playoff spot.
3. Cincinnati –They are better than the Ravens and they have reached the playoffs for five consecutive years, but something always seems to go wrong here. Their final game with the Ravens could move them up to #2.
4. Cleveland – It’s Cleveland!

AFC SOUTH 

1. Jacksonville – This team is solid – QB Blake Bortles is really good. If they can beat out the Texans, they could do well in the playoffs.
2. Houston – This team could be VERY good. Only playing with a new QB and a new RB could cause some early problems as well as the absence of JJ Watt until his back heals.
3. Indianapolis – Andrew Luck makes them competitive; their defense does not.
4. Tennessee – A tough schedule and an overall improved division keeps them at the bottom.

AFC WEST 

1. Kansas City – Jamaal Charles is back and he may be just enough to push them over the top. Andy Reid has a winner here.
2. Denver – Plenty of lost personnel here starting with Peyton Manning, but my gut says they will not miss an offensive beat; defense was hurt more by free agency and the division got tougher.
3. Oakland – The Raiders have an easier schedule than most, especially at the start. If they get confidence and momentum, they could crack the playoffs.
4. San Diego – If you can run the ball and stop the run, you can win. The Chargers can’t do either; ergo, they won’t win.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
AFC Playoffs
Championship Game – Steelers vs Patriots
AFC Champions – The Pittsburgh Steelers

My Week One NFL predictions are coming next week.

Friday, August 26, at 7:00pm, the high school football season begins!  I know it seems early.  That’s because it is.  To accommodate the addition of two more classifications (AAAAAA and AAAAA), and the PIAA state championship finals, the season begins a week earlier than in the past.  Remember when no games were played until after Labor Day – this year, two will be played BEFORE Labor Day!  That’s the earliest start ever for Pennsylvania.  And the earliest finish to the regular season if your team does not have a Thanksgiving Day game – October 28-29.  Good or bad, that’s the way it is.

If you want to look ahead already to Districts, here are the Lehigh Valley teams and their classes:

AAAAAA – Allen, Dieruff, Easton, Emmaus, Freedom, Liberty, Nazareth, Northampton, and Parkland.
AAAAA – Southern Lehigh, Whitehall (both are guaranteed a spot in Districts with only four teams)
AAAA – Central Catholic, Bangor, Bethlehem Catholic, Northern Lehigh, Saucon Valley
AAA – Northern Lehigh, Notre Dame, Palisades, Pen Argyl, Salisbury, Wilson
AA – Catasauqua
A – No Lehigh Valley schools

Five new coaches will lead their schools in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Colonial League.

In the EPC, Harold Fairclough replaces Randy Cuthbert at Emmaus.  Harold coached six years at Central and took the team to a state title in 2010.  Tim Moncman takes over the Parkland program replacing Jim Morgans, who won over 250 games with the Trojans.  Moncman coached 10 years at Liberty and took them to a state title in 2008.

Chris Labatch will start his first head coaching job at Wilson, replacing Matt Senneca.  He recently was the defensive coordinator for Saucon Valley, which is coming off a record-setting year.  Wilson was 1-9 last year.  Phil Sams is the new Saucon Valley coach.  He has the toughest act to follow as the Panthers went 14-1 last year under Matt Evancho.  Like Labatch, Sams was an assistant last year at Saucon.  Finally Phil Stambaugh will be the new head coach at Notre Dame – Green Pond.  Former head coach Chuck Muller has moved to Saucon as a defensive coordinator.  Stambaugh led Pius X to a 43-19 record before the school closed.

It appears that the EPC will be extremely competitive with Parkland coming back slightly to the pack.  I still think the Trojans will win the South, but Freedom, Easton, and Whitehall all could sneak in; Central will win the North. Saucon Valley will repeat as the champion of the Colonial League, but Notre Dame could surprise everyone.

I will be at Frank Banko Field on Friday night for the Central Catholic – Freedom game.  If you see me, say hello.  I will be wearing an RCN shirt and have a big smile on my face because FOOTBALL IS HERE!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

I need to preface my musings this week because they are about the Olympics and I watched the competitions on a big screen at poolside aboard the Anthem of the Seas while on a cruise.  I was amongst people from all over the world which made for an interesting perspective.  I recommend this viewing spot to anyone.

1. Did you know there were lifeguards on duty at the swimming venue? The world’s greatest swimmers need a lifeguard?
2. Fiji won their first gold medal ever when they beat Great Britain 43-7 in rugby.
3. Simone Biles is “unworldly”. Four golds and a bronze and the best smile at the Games.
4. Did you notice the difference in women’s beach volleyball uniforms when Egypt participated – skimpy bikinis covering little, on one side, and a hijab, covering everything but face, hands, and feet on the other.
5. Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky performed as expected and that is not always easy to do.
6. Ryan Lochte embarrassed himself, his fellow team members, and the US with his college drunken weekend escapade. There were few black marks at this Olympics, but this was one of them.

The Olympics in Rio are up and running.  Despite all of the warnings about crime and the Zika virus, there has been very little bad news to come out of the Games.  As I write this, the United States is doing very well (men’s gymnastics aside) and, as is often the case, television viewership ratings rise as the Games proceed.  NBC and their family of cable channels do a marvelous job of covering what must be a monumental challenge.  Being a very small part of the business of television, I find it mind-boggling to think of what goes into producing and televising the Olympics.  Between the set-up for all the venues and the personnel necessary to man the events, the organization and the price tag must seem like running a small country.

According to Forbes, the cost just to acquire the rights to televise from the IOC is just over $1 billion.  NBC recently just extended their contract for 6 Olympics through 2032 at a cost of $7.75 billion.  This does not include the cost of ACTUALLY producing the event.  That price tag is estimated at a little over $1 million per year.  So can it possibly be worth it?

The audience size (21 million plus per night) approaches NBC’s Sunday Night Football, the network’s most watched program.  More women watch the Olympics than men and the audience is made up of viewers with higher than average incomes. This is an advertiser’s dream.  Couple that with the fact that the other networks tend not to challenge the Olympic broadcasts.  Reruns are the norm, with even LIVE shows taking a couple of weeks off.

NBC has announced that they broke revenue records this year with over $1 billion of advertising sales.  The audience profile and the ability to televise most events LIVE because of the one-hour time zone difference made this year a very attractive product.  And it never hurts that advertising during the Olympics looks like a very patriotic thing to do.

Ironically, the largest advertiser is NBC itself. The Olympics is the perfect way to promote their programming and their other cable channels.  In addition, the Olympics draw a huge audience on digital devices, which is the future of broadcasting.  Getting more and more eyes on mobile devices, social sites, and online cannot be a bad thing.

So, with an expense budget of a small country, does NBC make or lose money on the Olympics?  It appears they come very close to breaking even financially, but they certainly are winners when you account for all of the positive intangibles they acquire.

Everyone from upper management, to the talent, to the various crews that man the events, can take pride in knowing that “going for the gold” has pretty much been accomplished.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. For some reason, I did not think I would get into the Olympics like years past. I was wrong.  As soon as I am going around the dial, I find I stop on them and get caught up in all the interesting stories and the events themselves.
2. Rio should be very upset with the media for keeping people away with all of their foreboding of crime and Zika. Now reporters are saying the Olympic area is like any other big city – know where and where not to go and you will be fine andit seems, so far, mosquitoes took the two weeks off.
3. Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees will play his final game on Friday, August 12. He will not play next year and still make $28 million. He signed for 10 years in 2007 for $275 million. If you are looking to retire, try to get his “exit plan”.
4. If you are a “Seinfeld” fan and you are looking for a good summer read, check out Seinfeldia: how a show about nothing changed everything by Jennifer Armstrong. It is an interesting read about all the inner workings of the show and the characters.
5. High school football begins the RCN season on Friday, August 26, with Central Catholic at Freedom. LIVE at 7:00.