1998 Flashbacks, Leaf, Tulo and Cain

How the mighty have fallen. OK, so he was never that any good. Still, a sad story for Ryan Leaf, who went from the 2nd pick of the NFL draft, behind Peyton Manning, to robbing homes for painkillers. Leaf was arrested again, days after he posted a $76,000 bail for being arrested on similar charges. Police found 89 hydrocodone pills in his bathrobe pocket. What? Who wears bathrobes? Oh and Mr. Leaf, I remember when ASU whipped your ass when you were at Washington State. Those were the warning signs. As it turns out, losing to ASU is nearly impossible to do.

So, let's take a look at the offseason for the 1st two picks of the 1998 NFL Draft. Peyton Manning signs a new 5 year, $96 million deal with the Denver Broncos. Ryan Leaf almost gets 96 painkillers, has to settle for 89 and an arrest.

In Cactus League action, Troy Tulowitzki and Ubaldo Jiminez continue their cat fight. Weeks after Jimenez said he didn't understand why Tulo got a new deal with the Rockies and he didn't, Ubaldo decided to drill Tulo to prove his point. Umm, Ubaldo, the only point you are proving is that the Rockies were smart to sign Tulo and let you go, because this just in: You are terrible! He'll now start the season serving a 5 game suspension. Next up, AAA.

For sure this shirt was made in '98.How about baseball's newest 112M dollar man? Matt Cain is now the highest paid right-hander pitcher in all of baseball history. He's good. Is he that good? Doubtful. Maybe we should ask Dodger fans about the last right hander to get a $100M+ deal. Kevin Brown, anyone? Yeah, that didn't work out so well for LA. The year of that deal? 1998. Same year the San Diego Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf to be their franchise QB. Oh, and by the way, they moved up to get him.

To think the Arizona Cardinals, who originally had the 2nd overall pick in that draft, could have had Ryan Leaf. Instead they got Jake Plummer, the handball king.

Hoping for a shootout: San Francisco 49ers v the Saints

In full disclosure I want a shootout because don't know who to root for. I like both teams. Kind of. I actually think I hate the 49ers, yet I find myself cheering for them. Why? Maybe it's Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh's a motivator and a leader and he's passed the energy to every player including Alex Smith, who was terrible before. That team rallies around Harbaugh. He is one of them. I mean dude is out there throwing passes to wide receivers before the game. Plus, he's loyal to the West Coast, University of San Diego, Stanford and now the 49ers.

I like the Saints a lot, too. They're super entertaining. They are playing lights out football with Drew Brees and D. Sproles leading the mix. (Oh Chargers, what to do?) Their defense is legit and Sean Payton's a bad ass. And a Packers v Saints NFC Championship would be incredible.

In the end, the 49ers win ugly, they win pretty, they win on field goals, they win on special teams. Bottom line they just win. It would be an upset if they do it, something tells me they pull this one off. As I frequently cheer for the underdog, I guess I'm going San Francisco 49ers. I think. 

The 49ers v Saints will be the best game of the weekend, still you've got the Tebow v Brady rematch and the Giants versus Packers. As a side note, is a Gisele an animal or is that a gazelle? They sound so similar. If a gisele were an animal it would look a lot like Gisele, Tom Brady's girl. Which would be pretty freaking cool. Think about it. If you've forgotten what she looks like, click here.

West Coast Wednesday: NBA, NFL, Jimmer

Teach me how to Jimmer. Lead all Kings players last night in points w/ 17, off the bench. Just sayin'.

Now that we got that out of the way, on to the NBA docket for this evening.

Philadelphia 76ers v the Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets. Blah. Who cares?

G-State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs. Looking forward to this one. The Spurs are without Manu Ginobili. Dude broke his shooting hand. Not good. Is it me or is he hurt alot? I think Montae Ellis, Steph Curry and G-State can hang with them. Perhaps pull the upset?

Suns v Mavs. I like to call the Mavericks PHX East. It's mainly because they have former Suns players Shawn Marion (I miss the Matrix) and J. Kidd, and it has a little to do with the fact they have a Championship and the Suns do not. Good for them. That's the difference between having an owner who cares like Mark Cuban and one who doesn't do a damn thing in Robert Sarver. 

SacTown Kings v Denver Nuggets. Teach me how to Jimmer.

Rockets v Clip Joint. Kevin McHale is coaching the Houston Rockets? When the F did that happen? Blake, CP3 and their Clip Joint friends are going to blaze up the Rockets and smoke 'em.

Don't look now, but Kobe had 37 and Bynum went for 20 points and 20 rebounds.

The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Thunder. I have a strong feeling the West may come down to these two teams. Let's monitor this, shall we? Harden (ASU) had 23 points, Durant 22, LaMarcus Aldridge went for 30. He's a beast.

Norv is staying put in SD. So is GM AJ Smith. I can tell you, Chargers fans are not happy. I actually think it's a good move. Teams are too quick to break things up these days. Give it one more shot. See what happens.

With that being said, former Chargers Drew Brees and Darren Sproles are now with the Saints. The Saints do play the Detroit Lions in an NFC Wild Card game tomorrow. (The Chargers, well... they did not make the playoffs).

Three AFC West teams finished the season at 8-8. Oakland, San Diego and Denver. Crazy. The division came down to tie-breakers and in a Google like algorithm, Denver won it. I guess that is why Norv and AJ are staying put. In that division, you just got to be a little bit better and you'll run away with it.

Denver and TT15 take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tough matchup for Tim Tebow. John Elway said Tebow just needs to, "pull the trigger." Might I start the official rumor: Tim Tebow will be an Indianapolis Colt next year. You heard it. Tebow to the Colts, Andrew Luck to the Denver Broncos. (I'll be posting an article this week about why this actually makes sense for both teams).

That's it. Whew. Take a breather. Lots happening on the West Coast.

Hey Timmy, Win or Go Home

Well not exactly. Technically, the Broncos can still lose and make the playoffs. They would however need the Raiders to lose. So what are we looking at here in the AFC West's final weekend of football?

The afore mentioned Denver Broncos take on the KC Chiefs in Denver, at Mile High Stadium. As a side note, did you know that University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals is the second highest stadium in elevation? True fact. Play some trivia at the bar with your friends. That was more that a side note, it ended up being the majority of the paragraph. Anyway.

So it all comes down to this. Kyle Orton v Tim Tebow. Orton, you may remember started the year as Denver's starting QB before losing it to Baby Jesus. Interesting though that Orton is the one who looks more like Jesus with that beard of his. Orton is now running the offense for KC and you can bet the great beard of Zeus that he'd love to stick it to the Broncos.

He'll go #1. It will be Denver or San Diego.In Oaktown, the San Diego Chargers are fighting to finish .500 as they battle Carson Palmer, the Black Hole and the Oakland Raiders. California Love? Hardly. These two teams do not like each other. SoCal v NorCal. I'm rooting for a Raiders loss for two reasons. #1) It would be nice to see the Bolts finish 8-8 and #2) What in the world would we do with no Tim Tebow for the playoffs? We'd have no excuse to show pictures of attractive ladies and make ridiculous claims that they are dating America's Last Virign.

Go Bolts! Go Broncs! Surf and Ski. Denver deals with me all the time.

Playoffs? Don't talk about Playoffs!?

Go West, young man. Yes, Jim Mora, Jr is headed West. UCLA calls. To inaugurate his new coaching position, we'll dedicate this post to his Pops and ask the question, Playoffs? Yes, we're talking about playoffs.

GB v KC - The quest for perfection continues. The Green Bay Packers (13-0) head to Arrowhead, where the only thing the Chiefs have perfected is how not to attract head coaches. Todd Haley out, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Aaron Rodgers makes it look easy. Tyler Palko does not.

DET v OAK - Megatron. Matthew Stafford. Carson Palmer. Run DMC. This has the makings of a good one, where the loser will likely find themselves out of the playoffs. Remember, both these teams still have to play the Packers. 

NE v DEN - Tom Brady is meat and potatoes. Tim Tebow is a Steve Jobs euphoric-like, carrot-salad-only-diet. Bill Belichick is the cloaked magician. John Fox, the read-option master. East versus West. Beauty versus Beast. Will Cinderella keep the glass slipper? And a better question, who has the better life right now: Tebow or Brady?

Brady has Gisele, Tebow has, well.... anyone he wants. He denied rumors he is dating US Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn.

CLE v AZ - Seneca Wallace gets the start for the injured Colt McCoy. John Skelton starts for Kevin Kolb. And the red-hot, "Rise Up Red Sea" Arizona Cardinals are still alive in the playoff hunt. Wallace scares me a bit as he used to destroy Arizona when he played them as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. 

BAL v SD - Ray Rice, Ray Lewis and the Ray-vens decided they needed a little beach time before their playoffs begin. You know, soak up some rays? OK, I'll stop. Meanwhile Rivers and Co. need to win for a chance to get in. Luckily for the Chargers, the beach is nice and close.

PIT v SF - Monday Night Football will not know what hit it when these two defenses collide. Both teams are 10-3, yet the Steelers are still fighting for a playoff seed and the San Francisco 49ers are a #2 seed. Guess it pays to be in the NFC, especially the NFC West.