Ten Thoughts on a Thursday

Welcome to the Ten Thoughts, sorry about last week, thought I would go ahead and break my New years resolutions early.

That being said- lets get a move on!

I'm leaking Brain Fluid

I

Saw the first two Caged episodes this Monday. For those of you who missed it, you need to go see it. Basically, its going to follow 3 amateur fighters and show their lives.
I’m not a reality fan, but I was brought into MMA by the Ultimate Fighter. To give a little background, this was thought to be about a dozen, then 10, then 5 and now 3. I think the producers saw something with these three, and I’ve met all three of these guys multiple times, and they all are respectful, nice and very giving of their time to the fans. I’m a tiny bit upset over some they didn’t show they interviewed, but getting guys like Brandon Rondon, Quinten Henry and all the guys at Karate Mafia on TV is a good thing.
The fun thing here is all the guys that are around, training these guys. LA does not have a major pro-footprint, but Ring Rulers is the largest amateur organization in the country, and possibly the most well-known alumi is Dustin Porier- currently about 2-3 fights from fighting for a UFC title.
On the show, you saw Brandon Rondon, who is dynamic, plus a guy who I’d bet anything will be in the UFC in Quentin Henry (you saw his highlight on the show.) There’s also Tony Kelly, who was supposed to be on the show, but like Henry is now a pro, Kelly is just a scary dude when he’s on his game.
I’m not going to talk about the main 3 guys, I’ll wait till after the show for that.

II

I’ll be the first one to admit I was DEAD wrong.
If you were reading me last year, I said the Panthers should resign Matt Moore, let him and every other QB on the Roster have a chance, and draft Patrick Peterson #1 or even trade down to 3 or 4 and draft him there and get another couple of picks.

I said Peterson was going to be a Pro-bowler for the next DECADE.

Well, as far as PP is concerned- he’s 1 for 1 so far, albeit as a punt returner, but not a bad CB either. Would have been a worthy addition next to Chris Gamble in the Panther secondary.

But Cam? I had NO idea he would be this good. I was expecting at BEST a less accurate Steve Young, but would have been happy with a vastly more mobile Big Ben with less clutch. (less clutch? Is that accurate?
Screw it, its sports- It counts)

What I got was a guy go from a late round flier to possibly the 2nd or 3rd QB off the board in the next decade of fantasy drafts. Maybe even a top 5 pick if Lafell gets possessed by the spirit of Alvin Harper.

But as much as I love Cam on the field, its off the field that he impresses, I want to see Steve Smith traded, he’s too good to see 3
more rebuilding years and retire ringless. Steve Smith to the Pats for 3 first day picks? I’d take it just to let Steve get his ring. Steve was unhappy, and having to live with the QBs he’s had- he deserves Brady. But Cam won him over, and SS is happy in Carolina. Cam made a fan in Shockley as well. If he can win over those two, then the rest of the lockerroom is simple.

The Defense stinks- but the ENTIRE first string LBs went down, plus the DTs. I hope Beason isn’t the second All-Pro MLB to have multiple seasons lost to injury.

The Panthers have a top 10 pick. Too late to get Morris Clairborne- the second LSU DB who should go top 5 (if not top 3), I’m not sure if Carolina can move up to get that high, Atlanta kinda set a high bar last year. Carolina should be set to get the best DT on the board, or the second best CB. Second round should be either LB or CB. To be honest, If I’m Ron Rivera, I’m telling my offensive coaches to not even show up to the draft until the last day- I’m carpet bombing the defense with picks.

III

I love me some King Mo. My autocorrect keeps changing him to King Month, but seriously, King Mo is, with Diaz and Mayhem gone, the best (ranked) talker in Strikeforce.
But I have some issues with what he said post fight and afterward.

Let’s Break it down. (Mo is in Italics)

“It’s like this, if he wants to come to Strikeforce and get beat, he can.
- No, he can’t. He’s in the UFC under contract, and the same lawyers that have you on Showtime drew his papers up.
He needs to stick to acting and doing movies, cause to me in my mind and in my eyes, he ain’t got it no more.
- No, Rampage does NOT need to do movies. Please.
 He can hit me up on Twitter and talk trash, try to get me off my game, but we all know the truth.
- Rampage talks trash about everyone. Rampage trash talked a guy during TUF who wasn’t even in his weight class! Some people STILL want that fight! I would be willing to bet if Rampage thought he’d have a chance in hell vs Anderson Silva, he’d be trashing him.
He’s a actor, a subpar actor. He should  be on the B-team not the A-Team.”
- True, but was he worse than Randy Couture, Shaq or John Cena?

Bottom Line. Month is better off in Strikeforce, because he’s already been outclassed once. A fading Rampage is still better than Month on his BEST day (so far)

 IV

The NFL MVP

Matt Flynn should get half of whatever bonus Brees gets for being MVP. Flynn, a solid QB whom I saw for years at LSU, torched a PLAYOFF team, with 1 less target than Aaron had for most of the year.
Brees broke a 27 year old record, went undefeated at home, and even though he had a SHIT defense- well, skip that one- the Packers D sucks too.
But Flynn tips the scales, the Lions didn’t rest any, still looking to get in the playoffs, and do you think Mark Brunell rolls ANY team under center for the Saints?
Bottom line, If the Packers lost in Week 3, this discussion is over. Just like the NCAA, when the team lost decided the winner.

My MVP top 5

Brees
Rodgers
Brady
CAM
Eli Manning

 V

NFL released the finalists for the HOF this week, I’ll hit a few, but again, I feel the HOF should have an up or down vote on year 1, then again in year 10/15- for the vet committee. None of this first year, third year ballot crap. Cris Carter didn’t get better last year. I can see having a vet committee, some players look much better viewed with their contemporaries after a time.
That being said- my qualifications for the HOF is simple:
For a lengthy period of time, was this player among the best at his position, or did the player change the game?

The best player in this class, is Willie Roaf. Roaf not making the Hall the SECOND he was eligible, makes the voters look stupid. The writer for the Saints shouldn’t have had to talk more than 20 seconds. Roaf could pass and run block with ease, and rarely got nailed offsides. The problem with Roaf is you never heard from him. He rarely talked, you never heard his name during a game (or the guy he was blocking) the Saints pretty much played 10 on 10 almost every game. Just a crime he had to wait a year.

VI

Question Time!

This one comes from one of my fellow writers

Would you blow up the Bucks and start over?

This would lead to my follow up.

Does Jennings want to stay. If he wants to go- then I trade everyone.  No choice.

If he wants to STAY, then I have options.

First off, I trade bogut. I want a HIGH post scorer/rebounder. Target #1. Al Horford.

Al Horford for Bogut.

My Next trade is going to be a little tougher.

Captain Jack and a protected #1 to Cleveland for Gibson and Casspit

I get a 37% 3pt shooter who is 6’9 at SF and a Point that can play 10-12 minutes and let Jennings play SG vs a quick team or work on his driving.

The offseason is where I need to get to work. I should have around 13M, plus 9 if I can get rid of Jackson. Here are my targets.

#1 Roy Hibbert

Indiana is going to be wanting to keep Granger, and I can throw 10-12M at Hibbert, and he will be able to float between PF and C with Al.

#2 Anthony Tolliver

Big Man that can run, and might fit in well in the transition game.

#3 Landry Feilds

6’7 restricted free Agent. Take a shot.

So My starting lineup is

Hibbert
Horford
Casspi
Fields
Jennings

Plus in 2013 Beno and Livingston come off the cap, so I can give that 10M to Jennings.  if I can talk him into taking less- Courtney Lee is out there if Fields is a bust.

VII

It’s AMAZING how much two and a half men sucks right now. I am tired of the Walton’s penis jokes (worse than the Hung comments that seem to have sprung from everywhere this week), and even though Alan Harper has always been a lousy man and a sad sack, holy crap, how has he not shot himself already? My life stinks, but holy crap, how does this guy pay the bills on his office, and how has he not hung himself there?
It’s ended for me there.

VIII

This weeks Podcast review is
Big Pop Fun.
Part of the Nerdist Network, this one stars Tom Wilson, best known as Biff on the Back to the Future trilogy. He’s very aware of his place in life, and is not afraid to throw in stories, opinions and tangents about stars in his podcasts. Its highly entertaining, and a fun time-waster.
I’m not saying that as a bad thing, there are MANY times I’ve listened to a podcast or watched a movie and wanted those two hours of my life back. You never feel like that with BPF, and even though its not a podcast that you are refreshing Itunes waiting for it, but when you see it on the Q, you give a quick smile knowing at least something good is on. Its like a new episode of Night Court (or 2 Broke Girls today).
Tom is at his best when he just shows he doesn’t care. Hey, I got an hour to kill, and we are gonna hang out. I made up a song- wanna hear it? Here we go! If you are under 20, you may not be that interested, but over 25/30? You are in the wheelhouse.
Rating: B+

IX

I went 2-2 like the rest of humanity last weekend but here we go for the title games!

SF vs NY

Alex Smith looked REALLY good, but I think with the better weather, Eli is going to be even better, and the Giants are GOING to run the ball this time. SF is going to shorten the game with Gore, but lose anyway.

Giants 24-14

NE vs Balt

Whitlock went all racist on this game, but I’ve never seen The Wire. I just think the Ravens are going to try too hard to get a short field for Flacco, and Brady is going to burn them deep when it counts. Once that defense sees the offense go 3 and out when down two scores, it gives up.

New England 37-17

X

Thats it this week. Think on that. And give me some comments ya slackers! Sorry, Its late, and I’m off to enjoy Friday.

Ex Wives Suck.