NFL's Two Key Week 16 Matchups

Originally posted Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008

Once again, credit the schedule makers for a pair of big games on the Week 16 NFL schedule.

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) take their 6-1 road record into Tennessee (12-2) for a showdown for the AFC's No. 1 seed. After starting the season 10-0, the Titans have now split their last four, and now are in danger of losing the conference's top seed to the red-hot Steelers.

Pittsburgh, winners of five straight, clinched its second straight AFC North title with a 13-9 come-from-behind win in Baltimore. The win over the Ravens marked the second straight week the Steelers rallied late in the fourth quarter to pull one out, as this time Santonio Holmes caught a four-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger with only 43 ticks remaining.

A week earlier, the Steelers had stunned the visiting Dallas Cowboys with 17 points in the fourth quarter for a 20-13 triumph.

Meanwhile, Titans head coach Jeff Fisher will be second-guessed for his decision in the fourth quarter of Tennessee's 13-12 defeat in Houston. Down by the same score with two minutes remaining, Fisher opted to go for it on 4th-and-3 at the Houston 32-yard line instead of trying for a go-ahead field goal. QB Kerry Collins' thrown down the field went just out of Justin McCareins' reach.

So this sets up a classic Steelers-Titans tilt at LP Field in Nashville on Sunday, where things get interesting.

Click here for more.

**Not only does KP Wee write for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales,” on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**

The "Idiot Kicker" in the NHL

People will rip me for this article, but that’s fine.

It may or may not garner me votes for "Controversial NHL Article" awards down the road, but whatever, I’m cool with that.

Yes, I am comparing NHL players to baseball and football players, which is like comparing apples to oranges; yes I know, totally different things. But I’m going to do it anyway.

Nope. I am no Sean Avery fan; I have no rooting interest in whether or not he plays again in the NHL. I don’t really care much for Dallas Stars netminder Marty Turco either.

Turco has been called "the smartest goalie in the NHL" by Don Cherry before, so perhaps that’s gone to his head or something.

But anyway, the Avery suspension by the NHL for comments about opposing players and ex-girlfriends has been well documented.

Of course, Stars forward Mike Modano was publicly critical of Avery, saying the team had been "tarnished" by the comments, which were "unacceptable."

Fine, I can live with that. Modano, of course, was a former captain and a Cup winner with the team. In fact, Modano has been with the Stars organization his entire NHL career, so his opinions can be respected. After all, captain or not, he is one of the leaders of the Stars.

Goaltender Turco, however?

Sure, Turco has been a Star (a Dallas Star, that is, not a superstar) since the 2000-01 season, but can he really be looked upon as one of the "leaders" on the team?

Click here for more.

**Not only does KP Wee write for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales,” on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**

Tale of two NFL teams...

After Week 8 of the NFL season, two of the AFC’s perennial contenders were arguably the biggest disappointments of the entire league.

The Indianapolis Colts were coming off five straight AFC South titles and looked again to be the class of the division. In fact, the Super Bowl XLI champs had won at least 12 games in each of those last five campaigns, and were expected to continue that trend. Heck, didn’t they start off every year going 7-0 and challenging to go undefeated?

The San Diego Chargers had won three AFC West titles in the last four years—including a 14-2 season in 2006—and were one victory away from getting to the Super Bowl last season. Many were picking the Chargers as a Super Bowl team this season.

After Week 8 though, things were completely different from the way many had envisioned. (Let me now say that I am neither an Indy nor San Diego fan, before the Chargers fans email me to rip me for 'praising' the Colts.)

The Colts were 3-4 at the time, and were considered lucky to even have three wins.

The Chargers were 3-5 following two straight defeats heading into their bye week.

The Colts have managed to recover. The Bolts, however, couldn’t. But thanks to the sometimes-ineptness of the Denver Broncos, the Chargers are somehow still alive in the AFC West race despite a 6-8 record...

Click here for more.

The worst employee ever?

A week ago, I had posted a link where someone wrote about the worst employees/co-workers of 2008.

I beg to differ on all of them.

As a co-worker of a certain NDP person, I think it's my responsibility to post about the antics of this particular individual....

More to come later.

But let's just say if he wants to sue me or something, go ahead, because I speak the truth and actually I'd love for all this to come out.

Laughing at the Jets

It is certainly amusing to see the New York Jets lose...again! Hahaha. I think over the years the Jets have lost meaningful December games when they were in contention... other than the 1998 season. Anyway, a loss in San Francisco (4-8 going in) for Favre's troops, after a defeat at home to the Denver Broncos (6-5 at the time) last week. The Jets are now tied with New England (which had a late comeback in Seattle) and Miami (which beat Buffalo in the first regular season game held in Canada). All three teams are 8-5. Miami's story is certainly a great one, since the Dolphins were 1-15 last year and have the ex-Jet Chad Pennington (who was dumped in favor of Favre) leading the way. New England, of course, has been without MVP Tom Brady since Week One, and is doing just fine with Matt Cassel leading the way.

(Okay, okay, before anyone gets excited, New York currently holds the tie-breaker, so the Jets are No. 1, followed by the Pats and 'Fins.)

Looking at the remaining schedule for the three teams, it shapes up to be a fun way to end the season.

Jets: vs Buf, @ Sea, vs Mia
Pats: @ Oak, vs Arz, @ Buf
Dolphins: vs SF, @ KC, @ Jets

The Bills have been fading (1-6 since a 5-1 start) and have already lost to the Jets earlier in the year. The Seahawks are brutal (2-11) and have lost six in a row. Assume the Jets beat the both, setting up a showdown at the Meadowlands against the Dolphins to end the season.

Chad Pennington, dumped before the season because of Favre, going back to Giants Stadium and coming up with a big game against his ex-teammates, potentially knocking the Jets out of the playoffs? That'd be interesting to watch.

Miami, though, plays the equally inept 49ers (5-8) and Chiefs (2-11) prior to the finale against the Jets.

Meanwhile, the Patriots will face the Raiders (3-10), the Cardinals (8-5) in Foxborough, and then take on the Bills.

Interestingly, of Oakland's three wins this year, one came against the Jets. And now the Jets also fell in 'Frisco. Don't forget the San Diego Chargers, who have been snake-bitten all year long and are 5-8, have also beaten New York. Could the Seahawks, 1-6 at home this year, pull out an upset win over the Jets at Qwest Field in Week 16?

Arizona in New England in Week 16 is an interesting opponent. The Cards have wrapped up the NFC West and would be playing for one of the top two seeds in the conference, but have been brutal against teams with winning records, losing already to the Giants, Eagles, Redskins, Jets, and Panthers. The Cards are 3-4 on the road, but those three wins came in San Fran, St. Louis, and Seattle. Hardly anything to brag about. They might well lose in the cold in New England.

Thus, if the Pats win out--don't forget, they are 21-2 in December since 2003, they would clinch the AFC East if Miami wins in New York. Could happen!

Random Thoughts VIII

Trout, here's my thoughts on Maddux and his retirement.


Random Links:
Woman dies during proposal
Holiday dating tips
10 Worst Employees of '08

Legends of the game...

Rick and Trout are true legends in my book. Trout with his wit and everything - despite his status as a fish, he'll always be a legend.

Cliff is one too! He's on TV so many times it's old hat, and check THIS out!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=C4&Date=20081123&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=811230802&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=2

Way to go, Cliff!

Gala: Show Time! (Part 3)

Saturday was time for the Gala, and there were dance performances from the local kids - nope, I didn't take pictures of them... (kinda creepy, I think, for me to post pictures on here when I don't know them and I don't want to just post random people's pics on the Internet... who knows what psychos out there might get them?)

Sandra K., one of the authors, got the big prize: a surprise song-and-dance performance dedicated to her title, "Numbers with Attitude." THAT was huge. However, I didn't get any such stuff for "Rainbow Trout" but oh well. Would have been cool. In fact, I hadn't known Sandra K. would be in attendance, otherwise I would have brought my copy of "There are no Lighthouses in Kentucky" for her to autograph it.

Got a chance to chat with Donald Mills as well as a few others at our table, a little bit of dancing and mingling, so it was a fun event. Well planned and a good turnout!

The book signing for Sunday had to be postponed because the Wal-Mart store - where I would be doing the signing - hadn't received their shipment of my books (there were 50 being ordered). Thus, the CPH CEO offered to pay for my transportation once they books are in so I could take part in the signing, which is fine. I ended up not leaving early on Sunday afternoon, taking the opportunity for picture-taking; I checked out the museum, glass museum, and the Tacoma Dome - but alas, my battery died before I got a decent picture of the Dome.

All in all, a fun weekend and great hospitality from the CPH staff. Wasn't too bummed out about the missed signing - after all, as one wise man said recently (and you know who you are), "Don't get caught up in always striving for the next level of success, enjoy the success you're achieving now!"

Congratulations to Cliff! He got on a website talking about the Detroit Lions! Way to go!

Gala Trip: a hectic week (Part 2)

So, things looked great on Friday, Nov. 14th, when I was notified of the potential book signing.

Alas, bad news came right away. I was sick on Sunday the 16th, but had to report to the office because because I'd committed to being there (as Team Leader I probably should), and the Yogurt project was happening the day after. Luckily I was there and kind of salvaged that project, and Project Manager Jay expressed appreciation for my efforts.

Then the next day I found out I would be training FOUR new employees simulatenously, basically starting from scratch, and I hadn't fully recovered yet, so it wasn't a great experience for me. Fortunately, only three showed up, so I can't complain there.

But come Friday, it was off to the Greyhound terminal, with the creatures on Zonk entertaining me as I was waiting for the bus to depart...

Trip for the Gala: Setting the Stage (Part 1)

Okay, so here's the Seattle trip info:

All authors were notified over six months earlier the annual CHP Gala would be held Saturday, Nov. 22nd. I'd immediately decided not to attend, as I didn't think it was an important event for me to be present for.

However, in October, we were reminded about the Gala again, and asked to see if we'd like to attend, as there would be readers and book lovers present for authors to sign books and mingle. That caught my eye, as I figured it'd be nice for me to put a face to my name, and perhaps talk some book stuff with readers. So, on Oct. 21st, I asked for an estimated itinerary for the event, and I was told there would be "(a) silent auction, dance performance by a local dance school, poetry reading, live singing, dinner, DJ with dancing and awards for our authors..." Sounded like a fun event... BUT one thing from the reply stood out.

Now, for those of you who read my posts regularly on the Zonk on overanything.com, I'll bet you know which ONE word in the quoted text jumped out at me. If you see how I post on there, you'll know. Yup. I was extremely intrigued by that ONE word:

Awards.

Thus, I definitely wanted to check it out and see if "Young Chasing Rainbow Trout" would garner any award or anything noteworthy. That way I could stick it to Trout. Bragging rights, you know. On the same day, I asked Farhan Devji (a Vancouverite like myself and a fellow author with CPH) if he was planning to attend, but alas, he couldn't, as he'd have exams coming up. But something he said to me eventually made me decide, sure, I'd go and check things out.

As some may know too, I do market research on the side too, and thus on Oct. 23rd, I asked Candace for the weekend of Nov. 21-23rd off, providing sufficient notice as a time-off request. If I didn't, Steph or Yana (long stories - for both) might mess me up with their scheduling.

Thus, everything was set. The time-off request was granted.

On Nov. 14th, I was picking up my tuxedo for the event (of course, I'd already confirmed my Gala attendance) when I received a call from the author liaison asking me when I would depart Tacoma, WA (where the Gala would be held). I'd just reserved my Greyhound tix online, scheduling me to leave Tacoma on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. The AL asked me if I could extend my stay because there would be a potential book signing event that Sunday from 12-2 p.m. Seeing that the awards were the main reason I was going down to Washington State, having a book signing was a bonus.

Thus, I found out from Greyhound it was okay to catch the 5:20 p.m. bus with my existing 1:45 p.m. ticket for no extra charge, so I jumped at the chance for the signing and agreed to it!

The obvious reasons for making the trip were: 1) potential award(s), 2) putting a face to my name - and perhaps being one of the "main" authors for CPH, ie. a star, and come on, really, a ride from Vancouver to the Seattle area is nothing... .and suddenly there was a book signing to boot. So, pretty good stuff!

Back in town...

I'm back in town (got in late last night) - but no days off for me. It's back to work this morning, so I'll have to post details a bit later. Also, I'll need to figure out the camera and how to get them on the computer.

But, luckily the Greyhound ride wasn't as uncomfortable as people had cautioned before; it's the long wait at the terminals that weren't cool.

Got to watch USA Network in the hotel Saturday before catching HNIC on CBC in the afternoon - and hooray! heard the news of Luongo's injury. Nice!

Anyway, will post later.

Book Signing: Nov 23, 2008

Great news! My publisher has set up a book signing for me for Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, in the Seattle, WA area.

The signing will last four about two hours starting at 12 noon, which will allow me to do autographs, smile, and talk about my book.

Then afterwards, it will be back home for work on Monday morning... *sigh*

In the meantime, here's the Amazon link to purchase your own copy...

Randomness...

KP's Sports Link:
Warner's Cards: 10+ wins?

Today's Random Links:
Incomes based on birth order
Foods & Health: Tips

Yesterday on the news, today (actually later...) at the library

Well, an interesting two days that surely wiped out all the negative stuff that happened earlier in the week.

On Friday, it was my brief appearance on the CBC News.

Today, I found out by checking out the VPL.ca website that "Showing Their Scales" by KP Wee has been ordered by the public library! Hooray! That means the book will be on the shelves soon enough.

During the graduation party of the previous group of students that finished my course, I presented the student with the top score a signed copy of my book.

On Friday, another group of students completed the course, but I didn't hand out any prizes. Two students failed to receive a diploma because they didn't successfully fulfill the requirements of the program, so it wasn't really a celebration for everyone else, I would think.

Besides, I spent the bulk of the day researching the CBC stuff I was talking about and had to run off to another meeting after that.

Anyway, wonder if there'll be any more nice stuff coming...

CBC.... ah, CBC...

Talk about irony.

This morning at work, I was compiling a list of educational videos on the CBC website for the courses I teach. The reason was to contact CBC to get those tapes.

Well, this afternoon as I was walking downtown, I was approached by a CBC news and camera man to get my thoughts on the Olympic fiasco. I gave my two cents, and hoped they would air it on TV!

Yup. I was on the CBC Evening News at Six, for three seconds! Good, I was on TV. Bad, it was for three seconds. For TV veterans like Rick and Cliff, this is nothing.

Well, never mind those educational videos... I want a copy of that CBC newscast!!

Today's KP Link...

Baseball apparently wants to eliminate coin flips to determine the site of one-game playoffs.

Bad idea, I say.

Think 1995, 1978, 1951, and so on...

Here's my Bleacher Report commentary:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/78629-baseball-epics-created-by-coin-flips-please-dont-change-it

Random Thoughts VII

Bruins October Recap:
In a sports town where the other three teams have won championships this decade, the Boston Bruins are the weak link in Beantown.

However, the B's had a decent month of October, and went 5-3-3. Along the way were some memorable games. Here's a brief recap on the thrillers last month:

Read more...

I jinxed them!
I wrote about the Calgary Flames' six-game winning streak Saturday.

Yup. I jinxed them....just as I'd done to Jesse Litsch and the other baseballers this past season. Calgary lost less than 24 hours later in Anaheim.

Say, didn't the Leafs lose in Carolina just hours after I'd complimented them too?


Today's Random Links
Who's the next MLB team to rise to the top?
More 2008 postseason stuff
Series MVP discussion

0 > 1 ?

0 > 1 ? Yes, I would say so.

Read the following passage and write the appropriate word in the blanks.

-diverse

-enterprise

-esssential

-everyday

-functioning...

All businesses, large and small, must maintain an inventory of supplies. In most offices, the types of essential, but common,

(1)_________ items needed, including...

Every week, I give this type of test to my students, and the last two weeks, I discovered something "interesting."

One student scored zero out of 24 last week, with the test sheet completely blank. It appeared no attempt whatsoever was made on it, which I guess is okay once in a while. Perhaps that person was having a bad day or was sick and what not.

This week, that student's test sheet was completely filled out. The only problem? The score was ONE out of 24.

So, this brings me to my question: Which is better? Not trying at all and getting a zero, or trying (well, I'm not sure how much effort was put into it but hey, the sheet was filled out this time) and getting 23 wrong answers?

I would say the former is better. Getting the goose-egg. I mean, I wouldn't want to write all those answers and score only one point.

Wonder what other people think... Trout? Rainbow Trout? Care to weigh in?

Leafs won!? Another comeback from down 2-0

Different Leafs in 08-09? (Rick says the Leafs are so terrible, but I'm sure House is excited about this one...)

The New York Rangers-Toronto Maple Leafs tilt at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night was the type of game the Leafs would have lost last season.

The NHL-leading Rangers were up 2-0 with under ten minutes left in the final period, having scored with 9.3 ticks left in the first and added another goal late in the second.

Rookie Leafs center John Mitchell went to the penalty box at the 10:10 mark of the third, and Toronto looked dead, especially with Steve Valiquette in the Rangers goal.

Valiquette was 3-0 lifetime against the Leafs, and had already beaten Toronto 1-0 in a shootout on October 17th.

Instead of going for another shutout against the Leafs, the wheels soon fell off for Valiquette and the Rangers.

New York didn't score on the power play, and Mitchell skated into the Rangers zone and beat Valiquette to break the goose-egg with 7:24 left.

It was Mitchell's first NHL goal, and it seemed to spark the Leafs, who amazingly reeled off five straight goals--all in a span of 5:21--to pull out a 5-2 triumph.

Incredibly, it was the fourth time in the last six in which Toronto had fallen behind 2-0, only to rally to get at least a point.

The Leafs lost in a shootout to Anaheim in the controversial "switch-to-Curtis-Joseph-for-the-shootout" game, and have now beaten Boston, New Jersey, and the Rangers despite the slow starts.

Had this been last season, no way the Leafs would have gotten points in those contests. In fact, they would have gone ahead 2-0 in every game and then found ways to blow them.

The Leafs won't have time to celebrate this latest victory, as they'll be in Carolina for a Sunday night tilt against the Hurricanes, who are coming off a 3-1 loss to Edmonton, a game in which Ethan Moreau scored twice with 1:28 left to clinch it for the Oilers.


**Not only does KP Wee write for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales,” on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**

Why not Andy Moog?

The Hockey News recently listed former Boston Bruins netminder Andy Moog's 1992-93 mask as being the scarriest in hockey history.

That's great, but why is Moog not applauded for his on-ice accomplishments?

Sure, the Hockey Hall of Fame is tough on goaltenders, as only a couple from Moog's era (Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy) have been inducted.

Moog, however, won 372 games in his 18-year NHL career, and finished with a decent 3.13 GAA. (Remember he started his career in the 1980s, an era when high-scoring games were the norm.) When he retired in 1998, Moog had the highest winning percentage, all-time in history, among NHL goalies with at least 10 seasons.

Moog was the first of his era to reach the 300-win plateau. Sure, he began his career before Roy and Fuhr, and thus was able to get to the milestone quicker. But other top goalies who started playing before Moog did, such as Mike Liut and Greg Millen, never got to the 300 club.

Nope, Moog never helped a team win the Stanley Cup as a number one goalie, but he did have his playoff moments, both for the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins.

Moog was the 21-year-old rookie who had played only seven NHL games in 1981 when injuries to the other Oilers goaltenders made him the starter in the playoffs.

Edmonton, which had never won a playoff series up to that point, received spectacular goaltending from Moog as the No. 14-seeded Oilers upset the No. 3-seeded (and heavily favoured) Montreal Canadiens in a three-game sweep of the preliminary round.

The Oilers fell to the defending champion New York Islanders in the round, but Moog's heroics were certainly memorable.

After an embarrassing first-round defeat to the L.A. Kings in 1982 with Fuhr in goal, Edmonton coach Glen Sather went back to Moog in the 1983 playoffs.

Moog started every game that spring and went 11-1, carrying the Oilers to the Cup Finals against the Islanders. A 2-0 loss (Moog allowed one goal and the Isles scored an empty-netter to clinch it) in Game One against New York ended Edmonton's run, and the Islanders never looked back.

A four-game sweep at the hands of the powerful Isles wasn't a perfect ending to the 1982-83 season, but Moog had helped Edmonton reach the Finals for the first time in franchise history.

The next season, Fuhr was the starter between the pipes in the playoffs but it was Moog who played the final two games (with Fuhr out with an injury) as the Oilers defeated the Islanders to clinch their first Cup.

Moog was 143-53-21 in seven seasons with the Oilers. However, Fuhr was always seen as superior than Moog. (Ironically, during the same time, Fuhr's regular season stats were similar to Moog's; Fuhr was 148-56-33 when he and Moog were teammates.)

It was on to Boston, where Moog's Bruins, who had beaten the Canadiens in the playoffs only once all-time and had lost 18 straight series to the Habs, suddenly reversed the trend.

Moog's Bruins knocked out Roy's Canadiens in the 1990, 1991, and 1992 playoffs, with Andy owning a 12-4 record against St. Patrick in those contests. (Like Dave Stewart dominating Roger Clemens in the baseball postseason.)

With Moog, the Bruins made it to the Finals in 1990, before they fell victim to the Oilers in five games.

Boston made it to the Wales Conference Finals in 1991 and 1992, but the Bruins fell short, losing to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins both years.

Leading the Bruins to three straight Final Four appearances is no small feat, and Boston has not come close to sniffing any kind of playoff glory since.

After Moog's departure from Boston (at the end of the 1992-93 season), the Bruins have won only two playoff series. Two series in the last 13 years. And the Bruins have employed a plethora of goalies, such as Jon Casey, Jim Carey, Bill Ranford, Andrew Raycroft, Byron Dafoe, Craig Billington, and Blaine Lacher. None have been as solid as Moog, the true "Hab-Killer" come playoff time.

Nope. Moog isn't seen as one of the top three goalies all-time in Edmonton, as Fuhr, Ranford, and Curtis Joseph are all highly regarded as Oilers legends.

Nope. Boston has its own history of great netminders in Tiny Thompson, Frank "Mr. Zero" Brimsek, and Gerry Cheevers, who'd all won Stanley Cups for the Bruins. So Moog isn't ranked atop the B's all-time list of great, great goalies.

Ironically, Moog was traded away from Boston before he could claim his 300th career win, and was also denied the opportunity to play in the final game in Boston Garden. (Moog was traded two seasons before the Garden was replaced by the FleetCenter.) Patrick Roy was also shipped out of Montreal before he could win No. 300 and shortly before the last game was to be played at the Forum.

At least Moog managed to play in the historic final game at the Forum, when his Dallas Stars took on the Habs in 1996. And Moog also participated in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, going 4-0-0 in his games. (Team Canada finished fourth, as the team didn't fare as well in Sean Burke's starts.)

However, no jersey retirement in Edmonton. None in Boston. It would have been nice to see Moog inducted into the Hall of Fame with Ray Bourque and Cam Neely, as they were the "Big Three" in Boston in the early 1990s, the way both Michel Goulet and Peter Statsny were inducted together as Quebec Nordiques' legends.

Mike Richter (Rangers) and Mike Vernon (Calgary), who are not Hockey Hall of Famers (yet), have all had their jerseys retired by their former teams. Ron Hextall is in the Philadelphia Flyers' Hall of Fame, despite not winning a Cup (losing the Finals in 1987 and 1997).

When will Andy Moog get his due?

**Not only does KP Wee write for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales,” on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**