Fox's blunder?

Are you watching the Cardinals-Jets game.  It doesn't come to much surprise that both QB's are playing horrible.  In fact after Sanchez had a pass batted down the crowd cheered as if to say, "see Rex he sucks take him out".  Then Fox showed what seemed to be a shocked fan.  You be the judge.

Powerball and sports

Check out this crazy coincidence.  The winning numbers from the record setting Powerball two nights ago are all jersey numbers worn by former Kansas City Royals hall of Famers.  The crazy part is one of the winning tickets was sold in Missouri.  The couple said they picked the numbers at random, but are Royals fans.  Would have be awesome if they didn't.

The AZ Sports Guru Info

So I have been doing this consistently for about a month now.  I really enjoy doing and hope you do as well.  I just wanted to take a few moments to ask for your help.  Please please leave a comment whether you like the blog or not.  You can also sign up with your email and every time I post it will be automatically emailed to you.  I am also looking for some guest commentary so if you would like to have your piece on The Az Sports Guru's blog feel free to submit something for consideration.  Also if you have any topics you would like covered feel free to let me know.

Very Interesting!

Isn't it weird how much of an impact sports has on our everyday life.  Sports makes people that otherwise wouldn't even talk seem like they are the best of friends.  You always see people giving there input about sports to pretty much anyone who will listen.  The interesting thing is for them to find someone who will listen.
The other day I was in the mall and walked into the sports store and the two workers were talking about football.  My instinct was to jump right in and start giving my opinion.  I was with my wife and kids and decided not too.  Until one of the guys said something that I totally disagreed with.  The not so smart mall worker said that RGIII is not even a top 15 quarterback in the NFL.  I value people's opinion and firmly believe everyone has a right to their own.  But it bothers' me when people say things and have no evidence to back it up.  His main argument was that Grffin III is just a rookie and hasn't finished a whole season.  He compared him with Cam Newton saying Newton started off great and look at him now.  What a fool.
In one of my earlier blogs I too said RGIII is like Newton, the only difference is RGIII is good.  If you look at his stats he has only thrown three pics all season.  He has well over 2,000 passing yards.  That alone puts him in the top 15.  Then when you consider how his play has lifted the play of his teammates and they are still in contention for a playoff spot.  They may even win the NFC East.  Something else that puts RGIII in the top 5 is that he has played all 11 games this season.  If you look at the QB's as of today there is no reason not to put RGIII in the top 10.  Needless to say I did not purchase anything at that sports store.

Why you need a great QB

As we count down the final days of November and start preparing for the holidays, the NFL is getting ready for the playoffs.  We are entering week 13 and a lot of teams still have hope for the playoffs.  Some dreams will be dashed this week and others will start to become reality.  If a team wants to go far in the playoffs they need a superstar QB taking snaps from under center.
History has proven that to win championships in this league you need a take control dominant quarterback.  All the top teams in the NFL have a great signal caller, a coach on the field.  Every team that is projected to get into to the playoff has a great QB, for example Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub.  These guys are able to single handily help there team win a game.  Teams that are on the bubble or already out of playoff contention are struggling at QB.  The Eagles and the Cowboys come to mind .  Other teams are good depending on the play of their quarterback such as the Cowboys and the Steelers.  The Redskins for example have a great QB that is finally clicking with the rest of his team.  With Pierre Garcon back in the line up and on fire look for Washington to make a significant run at the playoffs and who knows maybe even the Super Bowl.
Regardless of how this season turns out a great QB is going to make a play that decides the outcome of the game and propel his team to great success.

Whisenhunt's days are numbered in Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals started the season 4-0.  Expectations were very high.  Then they went to St/ Louis to play the Rams in a Thursday night game.  They suffered their first loss.  They played the Rams again today, and they lost again.  The bad part is that in-between the two losses they lost five other games.  They are now 4-7 and you have to wonder how much longer Ken Whisenhunt will be the head coach for the Cardinals.
He has a reputation for pulling a guy if he is not producing.  He has not produced as a coach and its time for him to go.  A few weeks ago he stressed change is coming and probably in hopes of saving his job.  He brought in a rookie QB in what many feel was too soon.  The rookie, Ryan Lindley looked awful today.  He has no timing with his receivers and made bad read after bad read.  He threw four interceptions, two which were returned for touchdowns.
When a team is on a long losing streak such as the Cardinals, everyone wants someone to blame.  A scape goat.  Whisenhunt is such a great coach that he has never been the blame to the media.  There have been many others to blame.  They started the season with QB questions that seem like they will never go away.  They have two young tackles on both sides of the line that have not protected the QB's at all.  Their running backs have taken turns being hurt and it has forced the Cards to rely on their number three and four running back.  In order to keep fans happy the front office is going to have to do something to show they are committed to winning.  A few weeks ago they could have sent that message by firing line coach Russ Grim.  Whisenhunt is a loyal guy and didn't.  That may cost all of his coaches their jobs.  Its too late to let go of Grimm because now the problem is way bigger than just the offensive line.  The other reason is when they started Potter at tackle and he held his own it showed that Grimm can produce young talent.  Whisenhunt has five games left this season, if he's lucky, to prove he is worthy of being the Cardinals coach in2013.

Upset in the making?

We are about five minutes into the third of the USC-Notre Dame game.  Notre Dame leads 16-10.  With a win tonight the Irish punch their ticket to the National championship game on January 7, 2013. Most people assumed that the Irysh were going to have their way with the Trojans.  USC has had a bad year with an uncharacteristic four losses.

It no surprise that USC is giving the Irish a money for their nation championship money.  What should worry the Notre Dame faithful is this.  Notre thus far has controlled the clock and played well, but only lead by six.  USC has a QB making his first start that really isn't doing anything.  Yet they are still in this game.  The positive thing for the Irish is that Manti Te'o has done anything.  Before you get upset, let me explain myself.  Te'o will not go an entire game without making an impact.  Look for big Manti Te'o to make a huge play and end the Trojans dream of an upset.  He will make the play that puts the Fighting Irish in the national title game.

The territorial Cup

Today is the newest installment of one of the oldest rivalries in college football.  Arizona State travels down the I-10 to visit the University of Arizona.  These games means so much to both programs and the players that are in it.  Every year when these teams meet it is an all out battle for the right to take home the Territorial Cup.
The Wildcats of Arizona are 7-4 and ranked 24 nationally.  They have a very high powered offense powered by hometown running back Ka'deen Carey.  He is literally running over the competition and piling on the all purpose yards at the same time.  They also have a talented QB in Matt Scott.  If the Wildcats want to win they are going to have to put pressure on the ASU QB and get on the scoreboard early.
ASU is 6-5 and looking to avoid another non winning season with a victory tonight.  They led by a dual threat at QB and a freshman running back.  D.J. Foster is also a hometown kid who is having a great season.  If there stud defensive lineman Will Sutton has a good game it will be a long night for the Wildcats.
The intriguing factor in tonights game is the coaches.  Both first year coaches trying to restart programs that have been down hill the last few years.  The ironic part is that ASU coach Todd Grahm used to work under U of A coach Rich Rodrigues at West Virginia.  If you read Grahm's ASU bio it doesn't mention that he worked under Rodriguez.  And that might be because Rodriguez fired him.  To add fuel to the fire two of Grahm's assistant last year at Pittsburgh left to be reunited with Rodriguez.  Grahm was not happy and let the media know how disappointed he was that they jumped ship.  Then he left two weeks later. I guess its ok to for the pot to call the kettle black sometimes.

Redskins beat Cowboys

I hope everybody enjoyed their Thanksgiving.  I know RGIII and the Redskins nation did.  The Redskins absolutely destroyed the Cowboys int the first half and hung on for a 38-31 win.  This win was huge for the Redskins in many aspects.
First and foremost it keeps Washington's playoff hopes alive.  They are now 5-6 and tied for second in the NFC East.  They can get some help this Sunday if the Packers can knock off the Giants.  Washington's next game is December 3 against the Giants.  The Redskins could possibly be playing for share of the conference lead.  They still play all three division opponents one more time so it will be interesting to see if the redskins can make the playoffs.
Another thing that made the win yesterday so much more better is that the Redskins had not beaten the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.  They were 0-6 in previous games.  RGIII continued his great play and threw for four more touchdowns.  That's eight in two weeks against division opponents.  I'm not sure if that's ever been done, and probably not for a rookie.  The bottom line is if RGIII continues to stay on fire like he has been and get the Redskins to the playoffs its going to be really hard not to give him Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.
The best thing about the win over the Cowboys is that it gives Redskins fans something to hope for.  Piere Garson is back with a vengeance.  He had a breakout game along with Santana Moss.  The Redskins have a very talented defense and a solid offensive line.  They have a superstar QB, one of the top rushers in the league, a very fast WR(one of the fastest in the NFL) and a kicker who hasn't missed a field goal yet.  And I'll leave you with this though.  Those players are all rookies.  If not this year look for the Redskins to contend for a Superbowl.
                                                               

Be Thankful for Football

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  Even if you are in a country where Thanksgiving isn't celebrated you should always take time away from your everyday life to be thankful.  One thing I feel you should be thankful for is football.
To the average person that doesn't sound very reasonable, but to some people that males the most sense in the world.  For many underprivileged youth football is the way out of a rough life.  Many inner city poor children find an outlet in football.  People don't realize that you learn more than just X's and O's from football.  You learn how to be a productive member to society after football.  Many youth and high school coaches spend a lot of time and effort to make sure these children stay off the streets and in the classrooms.  They give real life meaning to the tern "blood sweat and tears".
I know a handful of guys that would not have even finished high school if it wasn't for football.  I myself stayed out of would be trouble because of what I was taught during high school football.  I was touched so much that since leaving high school I have always been involved in football and now I am an assistant coach at the high school level.  You may consider me a success story, but there has been many other guys that haves used football to get themselves into college.  Now those guys have a shot at being something in life.
Here is a another great reason to be thankful for football.  A guy Jerome Harrison was going to be traded for the Lions to the Eagles.  A lot of people don't know this but when you are traded in the NFL( and most other major sports) you must take and pass a physical before the trade can be finalized.  So thinking nothing of it Harrison goes and takes his physical.  Next thing he knows he is getting a CAT scan of his brain.  They found a tumor on his brain stem.  They then take him in for emergency surgery. A surgery that is expected to last only three hours lasts over seven hours.  But he pulls through.  The next day he gets a blood clot and has a stroke.  The stroke leaves him a quadriplegic.  Again he pulls through and does not give up on life.  Today he is doing so much better, he is no longer paralyzed and he is very thankful for being able to celebrate this Thanksgiving with his wife and two children.
So just remember football isn't always just for entertainment.  It has impacted many lives on and off the grid iron.