Coaches on Hot Seat for 2010

Bruce Feldman has posted his Top 10 Hot Seat coaches...guess who made the cut.

1. Zooker
Shocking. He makes one Rose Bowl and has a handful of horrible years. How do you think this year will turn out? I'm guessing with him looking for a Recruiting Coordinator position at a different school.

2. Dan Hawkins - COL
16-33 at COL...not quite what they were hoping for. I really don't see it getting any better, this guy really can't coach - I think it's been proven that Petersen was the man behind the success at BOISE the whole time. I don't think it's likely he survives this year and I can't see him getting another job as a HC for a while.

3. DickRod
Dead. Unless the D drastically improves he might as well start looking right now. Add to the horrible performances with a potential scandal and sanctions...I give him 2% chance of surviving this season with anything less than 8 wins. His offense is working for the most part, but the D is awful...and I can't see that changing. Hate to brag, but I called his death before last season started and told the world to temper their enthusiasm after the nice 4-0 start last year.

4. Todd Dodge - NTEX Mean Green
Can you really have a Hot Seat at N.Texas? Next.

5. Paul Wulff - WASH ST.
How this guy hasn't been fired yet I will never know. 2 seasons, 3-22, can't score and can't stop anyone. This is a case of a little school guy trying to step up and just being totally unprepared. One more season of comedy in Pullman, then he'll be gone and WASU will likely once again be a P10 member that has a chance.

6. Ralph Friedgen - MARY
They already have a coach in waiting, so I don't think I'd refer to this as a hot seat. His squads have struggled lately, but overall I think he can coach. I doubt he gets fired, but maybe the transition will happen after this season.

7. Greg McMackin - HAW
Gay slur guy - probably not the best way to start your HC run. They have struggled since June Jones left, and they struggled before he got there. Hmmm...maybe they should have just anted up and kept their program on the map.

8. Dennis Erickson - ASU
I think he's lost his touch a little bit. This team started hot in his tenure, but it has been rough the lately. I can't imagine him getting fired, barring a major disaster, but you have to think he will get sick of mediocrity sooner than later.

9. BREWSTER
Yeah, this is definitely warranted. He has talked a big game from day one, and now it's time to win some meaningful games. The last 2 seasons have been very Mason-esque, which isn't what we were hoping for. Whether that was expecting too much from a 1st time coach or not, this University has no excuse to not be competing regularly with the neighbors to the South and East...so if it doesn't happen this season I doubt Brew will get a chance to make it happen in 2011.

10. Mike Sherman - A&M
Weird hire when it happened, but this team should be tough this season. They score a lot, which makes it fun to watch, but I don't understand why they can't play any D. I think he'll keep this job if he wants to, but I don't think the Aggies would be excited with anything less than 8 wins.


4.

Sporting News Top 100

Booooooo! Sporting News posted its Top 100 teams for 2010...we made the list, but barely. Your Maroon and Gold check in at #98! 2nd lowest BCS conference team ahead of only the unranked Washington State Cougars that might have had the worst 2 year run in the history of college football.

This is stupid. We might not be a major threat for anything besides a low end bowl game this season, but 98th!?!?! Clearly, Sporting News has very little knowledge about anything regarding College Football and they are now officially dead to me.

Some of these teams ahead of MN are just comical...

MDTN - #43!
No.Illinois - #49!
Temple - #63
Bowling Green - #66
Duke - #70
LTECH - #72
FLA INTL - #84, really? A bad Sun Belt team is better than a mid-pack B10 team.

Gophers can beat all of these teams, not really sure how they came up with these rankings, but logic was clearly not involved.

Golf Confirmation - Island View

We are locked and loaded at Island View for June 19th.

I have 3 tee times starting at 10am, $88/guy for 27 holes with cart.

So far I have 9 confirmed for golf, MC is the only Football Challenge member I have not heard from as of today.

I am going to start throwing out more invites one at a time until we get to 12 guys or we can probably deal with a couple extra if necessary and have a 3 man team or two.


Currently, I'm thinking of gathering some kind of handicap info (nothing official, just a rough, honest estimate on how you are playing) and setting up 2 man teams (with strokes if necessary). Then we'll play 18 holes of best shot, gather in the clubhouse, and realign for the final 9 with the same partners but different groups so we can have the leaders playing together and get some drama going down the stretch. I'm open for any other brilliant ideas if you have them, but this was the best I could come up with right now. We'll throw in cash for the tourney and a skins game to keep it interesting.

Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, interested players, etc.

Thanks Guys - can't wait for the 19th.

Golf Update

I just got a call back from the pro at Island View, which appears to be a great looking course (see the attached link), and here's the details he gave me:

$88/guy for 27 holes and a cart if we have more than 2 groups. If we have 2 groups or less it will be $97/guy. Tee times would be 3 or 4 back to back starting at 11am.

I'm interested in playing a course that is really nice and this is a pretty great rate for 27 holes with a cart.

I've temporarily locked it in, but I would like to get some more confirmation from everyone who is still undecided.

If anyone has concerns with this, please let me know. I'll continue to shop around, but if we can get the total package for under $90/guy at a great course then I might be sold on this plan.

Also, as a reminder, this is the day before Father's Day in case any of you have some conflicting plans that you may have forgotten about.

Sorry for all the emails, just trying to lock this down so we don't get stuck playing Riceville!

Golf/Cards Gathering - 1 month away

So we are exactly one month away from the June 19th gathering at my place for a day of competition. I've started looking into things a bit and want to throw out some questions to try and lock in who will be there and who won't and use that to determine the plans for the day.

1. Please let me know if you will be attending - it's likely going to be an all day Saturday with golf starting around 10ish, followed by cards the rest of the night.

2. Here's who I've heard from:
JG - Y
GR - Y
MR - Y
Bomb - Y?
Chris & Tim Roe - Y?
SS - Not likely

There are still a few of you on the list that I'm waiting on, once I have a somewhat final list I will make some plans. Right now I'm expecting about 8-10, and I can scrounge up a couple more if necessary to make the golf teams work out right.

GOLF
I'm thinking we can get started around 10ish on that morning. I figure we can get in 27 and still have plenty of time to get back and throw lots of cards around. I've looked at a lot of places, but it might be tricky to get 3 consecutive tee times on a great course on a Saturday morning...but I will try. I've also contacted a couple of courses looking for some kind of a deal so we'll be allowed to play 27, if not then we'll roll through 18 only. I'm thinking a best shot format would be the best plan to keep everyone sane. I've played golf with most of you, and I think we're pretty even for the most part...but those of you I haven't played with will have to fill me in so we can get some even teams or at least correct handicaps.

So what do I need - let me know if you plan on coming for golf/cards/both/overnight...my wife pointed out that sleeping arrangements could be tricky and that I need to start planning for it. So while I'm not too worried about it, I want to have a good idea of how many guys plan on spending the night.

Once I have a list, I'll send out more details on the rest of the day. I'm really looking forward to it guys - hope you can all make it.

One last thing - any insight on courses would be helpful...here's what I'm thinking:
Island View (Waconia), Bluff Creek (Chan), Stonebrooke (Shakopee), Braemar (Edina), Chaska Town (Chaska)

Let me know what you think.

NFL Week 1 Lines

Just to get you going a little and see what we all have to look forward to in September...here's what the Hilton has for NFL Week 1 Games:

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010
8:30 p.m. ET -- NBC
Minnesota Vikings 54 +175
New Orleans Saints -4 -200

Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010
1 p.m. ET
Carolina Panthers 41 +270
New York Giants -7 -330



1 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins -2 1/2 -140
Buffalo Bills 38 1/2 +120



1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons 42 +105
Pittsburgh Steelers -1 1/2 -125



1 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions 43 1/2 +270
Chicago Bears -7 -330

1 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals 44 1/2 +230
New England Patriots -6 -270

1 p.m. ET
Cleveland Browns 37 1/2 +110
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2 -130



1 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos 42 1/2 +125
Jacksonville Jaguars -2 1/2 -145

1 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts -3 -160
Houston Texans 48 +140



1 p.m. ET
Oakland Raiders 42 +330
Tennessee Titans -8 -400



4:15 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers 46 1/2 +105
Philadelphia Eagles -1 1/2 -125



4:15 p.m. ET
San Francisco 49ers 39 -110
Seattle Seahawks PICK -110



4:15 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals -3 -120 -175
St. Louis Rams 42 +155



8:20 p.m. ET -- NBC
Dallas Cowboys -4 -200
Washington Redskins 44 +175



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
7 p.m. ET -- ESPN
Baltimore Ravens 38 1/2 +125
New York Jets -3 +105 -145

10:15 p.m. ET -- ESPN
San Diego Chargers -5 1/2 -260
Kansas City Chiefs 45 1/2 +220

NBA Lottery

Once again, the most dramatic night of the year for our joke of an NBA franchise comes in mid-May and doesn't involve a playoff game. Yep, it's Lotto night, which has been just plain awful for our Woofies over the past...well forever I guess. We've never moved up...ever. That's hard to do considering we have been in this thing nearly every year of our existence besides a small KG window when we we're 1-and-done every year.

So this season we have the 2nd best chance at landing the #1 pick, nearly a 20% chance. Well, I probably don't have to point this out, but it won't happen. Since Kahn and his GM-type people have labeled this a "3 player draft", and we can pick anywhere from 1 to 5...where do you think we'll end up?

I'm almost willing to guarantee a #4 pick for the Wolves this evening. I know it's not rigged, right? But even so, I think I can come pretty close to narrowing down who will come out on top in this thing tonight.

CHANCE AT #1/#2 (John Wall & Evan Turner)
1. NJ Nets
NBA likes the move to Brooklyn coming in a couple of years, and this team actually has a couple of nice players to build with at this point. They have $$$ to spend, so adding a top pick is almost a no-brainer for the NBA. They will be in the TOP 3.

2. WOLVES
Zero chance. Cursed franchise that has been black-balled and will likely never change. We will pick 4th.

3. KINGS
This club is kind of spinning it's wheels as well. They have Evans, but I can't see the NBA wanting to help out this crew - they'll pick 5th.

4. WARRIORS
Steph Curry has changed the outlook for this squad. I think they are moving to the good side of the force within the NBA, so I'll give them a shot at landing a Top 3 pick. Getting 1-2 probably doesn't make a ton of sense for them with all their nice guards they already have, but I could see a swap with someone if they do land in the Top 2 which would allow them to pick up a big (Al Jefferson) and draft another big fella (Cousins or Favors).

5. WIZARDS
I don't think they have a shot. With the Arenas gun thing, and having the Flip/Wolves connection, this doesn't look good. No luck in WASHINGTON.

6. PHILLY
Actually a kind of decent looking club, and I think the NBA misses having them as a competitive threat a la AI's stint in PHILLY. I could very much see this club landing that #1 slot and getting John Wall.

7. DETROIT
I think this club had it's run and is going to assume it place back amongst the bottom feeders. NBA will not provide any help here tonight.

8. LA CLIPPERS
Nailed it last year, and we saw how that worked out. Stern and company will not want to see another #1/#2 pick go down for the season, so he won't send them to LA to be a Clipper.

9. UTAH
No. I think the league is annoyed that they are so good already, and you never see a team that acquires a pick via trade win the lotto. No chance.

10. INDIANA
Nope. Slim chances anyway, and the NBA won't make the miracle happen for a nothing franchise like this...now if it was the Knicks or Orlando...hmmm..

11. HORNETS
Thought to be a major contender, now it seems not as clear. With Paul's seemingly uncertain future this could be a non-factor team very soon. On the other hand, getting a guy like Turner could jump start this once promising progrum...I'll give them a slight chance at #2.

12. MEMPHIS
These guys are drafting about as poorly as the 1990's Woofies, no way does the NBA send one of the future stars to this train wreck.

13. TORONTO
Let's see, they've had 2 stars in their history and both are getting the hell out at their earliest chance...yeah, they won't get another one right now.

14. HOUSTON
Worst odds in the whole thing, so I think it's asking too much to expect to move up. All others are an option, but sitting 14th pretty much eliminates you.

So who has a shot? For me it's 4 teams: NEW JERSEY, GOLDEN STATE, PHILLY, and NEW ORLEANS.

My official prediction:

#1 PHILLY
#2 GOLDEN STATE
#3 NEW JERSEY

Obviously, I'll be holding out hope and believing that the Woofies actually have a chance tonight, but I will be disappointed once again.

I guess there's also a game tonight - how about my BOS take??!? $$$! ORL is beaten. They'll be closer tonight, but I think BOS wins a tight one and this thing is O-V-E-R.

CELTICS vs. LAKERS, just like the classic Sega Genesis game.

NBA Bet

Love the UNDER 194 tonight in the NBA...follow me if you dare! Also
like BOS to win the East at 7:2 odds, ORL is getting way too much love
right now for sweeping a pathetic ATL team. Boston matches up well
with them and has the veterans that could take them to another title.
NBA thoughts anyone?

Poker/Golf outing will be kid/wife free, just got clarification on
that. Don't forget June 19th....be there!

Sent from my iPhone

Gophers - USC 2:30 ESPN

1. I found this a couple of different places, so I'll go with it as being official. 2:30 kickoff for the matchup with the Trojans this September.

I also think there is potential for a nice time slot on the PSU game because most of the B10 games have already been announced as 11am, it's Vegas week so another 2:30 game would be outstanding.

2. B10 Expansion seems to be finally figuring some things out - MIZZOU, NEB, RUTGERS will all be part of the league, why would they turn us down? ND on the other hand still seems hesitant, and I highly doubt that they will give in and join until something else happens. So that would put us at 14...would they stay there or look for 2 more? I have a hard time believing that the B10 won't lead the way to the 16 team mega conference, so once these initial 3 invites are accepted I look for the conference to send out 2 more and get their numbers up to 16. The Big East will be done and the B12 will also likely be done. It will end up being about 4-5 mega conferences that will dominate the entire landscape of NCAA Football.

3. Baseball
Wow, I'm really hating my Braves pick right now - this team can't score any runs, but I'll stick with it...until next month at least.

4. Tigger
He played lik garbage 2 weeks ago, then once he fell totally out of contention this week he just quit. I know, I know, he has a severe neck injury that he just couldn't play through any more...whatever. Yeah, he's been battling it for weeks and playing through it...but he just couldn't any more once he realized he was a complete non-factor last Sunday. Hilarious. This guy's game/life is falling apart so quickly I don't know if I'll have enough time to take it all in. His golf game is very shaky right now and I am starting to think he might not ever make it back to regular "Tigger Level" championship form. I'll go out on a limb and put a bet on the ZERO Major wins this year for Tigger. Now I hear that his swing coach has bailed on him - when it rains it pours.

5. VIKES
Finally, I have some bad feelings about the Purple this season. Everyone is expecting so much, but a couple of days ago I just started getting this bad feeling that it will not be such a smooth ride this year. Will Favre get hurt? Will he for sure be back? Will he not have another career year? I haven't put my finger on it yet, but I am just feeling a little doom and gloom for the Purple right now. I think the defense could drop a bit with the Williams' suspension and the very likely Sack Tracker hold out. The offense, without a QB, is not impressive. I think the schedule is tougher than last year as well. I don't like this feeling, but I just don't see the domination like they had last year and I think it might be a very unfulfilled final year from #4. I hope I have a change of heart, but I'm a little frightened about the Purple right now.

MLB - Month 1

The first of my monthly MLB check-ins...not a lot of other baseball discussion on this site, so I figured I'd try to stay on top of it at the beginning of each month with a check-in.

AL EAST

TB - great start, will be in a 2 horse race for the division crown with NYY, but loser should end up with the WC either way.

NYY - Nice .680 start, they can just put it on cruise control until we hit September.

TOR - 5 back, kind of s surprise so far, but I really don't think it can last. This club will fade sooner rather than later.

BOS - 6.5 back. Trainwreck. Already 6.5 back, I bet by next month I will be discussing the massive trade that they have made/will make because their 2010 plan of pitching, speed, and defense is not working out too well. Mainly because their pitching has been horrible and they are allowing 5.5 rpg! They are terrible against RHP and have been bad (1-5) in extra innings. I don't see this team getting any better no matter what they do. Rebuilding year - but they'll be back in 2011.

BAL - we thought they would suck...and they do. They've cemented their 5th place finish in the East once again.

AL CENTRAL

TWINS - this team is very good. They should not have any problem reaching the playoffs and even having a chance to make a run through some of the heavy hitters they would match up against...(TB/NYY loser). Twins have the only good pitching & defense combo in the division.

DET - 1.5 back: Playing better than expected, but I really don't think it will last the whole year. They play well at home, but I am not overaly impressed with the lineup. They might hang around, but I don't like their WC chances or their division chances.

SOX - 6 back: Everyone was in love with this pitching staff going into the season, well...what do you think of their pitching now?!? Peavy has been average, Buerhle has been horrible, and the rest of their staff is average. Jenks is not a dominant closer any more and the lineup has less punch than any SOX lineup the last 5 years! The are averaging 4.28 rpg and can't win on the road = not going anywhere in 2010.

CLE - 6.5 back: they'll be in quite a battle with KC for the 4 spot in the division. They've only scored 86 runs (3.44 rpg), tough to win when you have a starter making a QS and you still lose most of the time! Very young and not worth any more space this month.

KC - 7 back: same story, different year. They are scoring some runs, which has been a problem in the past, but I don't think they have any kind of run in them.

AL WEST

TEXAS - they've won 4 straight to take a 1.5 game lead in the division. The pitching is doing okay, and the offense is strong. This division will be wide open until the end.

OAK - 1.5 back: My least favorite team in the division, I think they depend on too many young guys for too many things to be considered a serious threat in this division or WC race.

LAA - 2.5 back: Worst pitching in the AL right now. Ouch. Offense is near the bottom as well. I think they've lost too much the last few years to be a contender this season. The division has enough parody, and they have the best manager, so I think they could hang until the end.

SEA - 2.5 back: People were in love with this club as well in the pre-season, and granted they have been without Lee most of the month...but this is not a very good team. Major late game struggles have stung them many times, and the lineup lacks much punch outside of the top 3-4 guys. Worst offense in the AL makes their nice pitching staff look bad because they can't win every game 2-1. Unless Lee and Felix win every time out this team won't make any noise this year.

PICKS - NYY, MIN, TEX, TB

NL EAST

PHIL - the favorite coming into the season ends the first month on top. They've played well, struggled unexpectedly at times, but should be well on their way to a division title. Halladay is ridiculous.

NYM - 1/2 game back: Playing very well at home this season, and pitching extremely well right now. They score enough to be a contender, but I'm not totally sure I trust their staff down the stretch. And these are the Mets, they will likely find a way to become a non-factor by September.

FLA - 1 back: this is another young club that's fun to watch. But I'm just waiting for the stretch where they lose 15 of 20 and knock themselves out of the race. Not a threat for the post-season at this point in my opinion.

WAS - 1 back: the Nats? Really? Nope. Next.

ATL - 3 back: the Braves have the talent to be a contender in this league. I think their pitching might be 2nd to only PHIL in the division and I like their lineup as well. Look for this team to make a run and be in the 2 spot by the time the stretch run starts.

NL CENTRAL

CARDS - your 2010 NL Central champs. Congrats! Great pitching, a nice lineup, and maybe the best hitter of all-time. I like their chances.

CUBS - 5 back: all of these teams are playing for the WC already. The Cubbies actually might have the best chance at it from this division. The bats have come alive lately, and the pitching hasn't been terrible...yet. It's early, but I think we'll all be tuning into WGN in September for some meaningful games this season.

CIN - 5 back: Pitching has been too suspect for me to like these guys chances. Lots of potential but very little in the form of results. Not hitting extremely well either, and they have a ton of injury risk guys that haven't got hurt yet. They'll fade quickly.

MIL - 7.5 back: 7.5 back in 1 month! Not so hot for a team with post-season aspirations. Their bullpen is scary, and I don't like their starters that much more. Lineup is packed with power, but they're still being outscored. Brewers...dead!

PIT - 7.5 back: This team is 10-15 and giving up 7 rpg! How have they won 10 games? Well, they are 5-1 in 1 run battles...that won't last. They are probably heading for the cellar unless the pitching improves. But they're not in the basement right now because...

HOU - 9.5 back: The honeymoon is over for HOU. They got off to a terrible start, then rebounded slightly, now have lost 7 in a row and counting. Bad, bad team with no offense (2.92 rpg) and very average pitching. Start planning for football season if you live in Houston.

NL WEST

SD - 1 game lead: surprise! this team always has a roster of no-namers, but they are playing pretty well this season. 3rd best pitching in NL at this point, partly because they play in the largest park in the history of the world, but partly because they have some talent. The bats are improving from years past, but I still don't think they have enough firepower to make this last.

SF - 1 back: Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, and the Kung Fu Panda. That's all they got, but it's working. Their staff is ridiculous. They've given up 70 runs (2.9 rpg). If the staff stays healthy and they start winning some of the close ones (1-5 in 1 run games) they will walk away with this division. Did I mention that I love their pitching?

COL - 3 back: this is the club that I am picking to actually win the division. i don't think the GIANTS ridiculous pitching can stay at this level, so I am taking the Rockies to win the West right now. Pitching has been good, hitting is very good as well. This team will just continue to get better.

ARI - 4 back: Lots of pop in this lineup (5.88 rpg), but not a lot of pitching (6 rpg). A great bet for a few overs here and there, but I don't think I'd pick them for much else. Not a post-season threat in my mind.

LAD - 4.5 back: the lowly, last place Dodgers. Their own fans are already done with this team. But I'm not willing to count them out yet. The pitching has been really bad, but I think that will change. Torre is a great manager, and he'll get these good arms turned around and they will be in the 3 team race by the dog days of summer.

PICKS: PHIL, STL, COL, SF

Okay. That's enough baseball for this month.