Sports Sni

Super Bowl 46 - Matchup

2012-02-05T09:39:00.004-07:00

17 - 21
It was a good game. I did get to watch most of it. It started later than i thought it would. I say i was pretty darn good on my prediction. Even the score. I'm bad.

Prediction: Giants win by 3.
Oh how about 22-19
I think its goounnna be a pretty good game..
that i won't watch..
maybe i'll figure out some way to record it...
so i can watch it later..
i'm stupid

Game 20 Utah Jazz vs LA Clippers

2012-02-01T02:35:00.002-07:00

105 - 107

Well we went to another really fun Jazz game. The only bad thing again was that they lost. I do enjoy watching the games. I like this Jazz team. Even though they are not perfect and they're not going to win every game, they play hard and you pretty much know they will be in the game at the end. The Jazz just about pulled this one off to have a shot to tie at the end. The Clippers played it smart and safe tho and fouled the Jazz instead of letting them put up a 3 attempt to tie the game.

There was a couple of Clippers fans around and at first i was a little bugged, but after a while i sorta got to thinking that if they've been Clipper fans for very long they have not had much to cheer about. Good for them, the Clippers are really doing something so far this year. They deserve to win once in a while too. I still wished the Jazz could have finished this one out better and beat the Clippers, but good for the Clippers finally getting a win in Utah after so long.

Our seats: Sec: 107 Row 13 Seats 15,16

Conference Championships - Matchups

2012-01-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

NFC Championship
vs
17 - 20
OT
I got both games right this week. I'm good. I felt bad for that Williams guy on the 49ers in this game. Poor guy lost the game for the 49ers. What a big game to lose.

Prediction: Giants win 28-24

AFC Championship

vs
23 - 20
The Patriots won, and i don't really care too much.

Prediction: Patriots win 37-24

Divisional Round: NFC Matchups

2012-01-15T15:17:00.001-07:00

vs
20 - 37
Kind of a shocker this one ended up. Packers got beat pretty bad by the Giants. I didn't see the Giants doing this at all... last week or this week. I guess they are better than i thought. Maybe i won't overlook them again. This week at least i went 3-1 in my picks. Much better than last week.
15-1 ............................... 10-7
Prediction: Packers win 31-24

vs
36 - 32
This was a good game. I watched it on the television set and enjoyed it. Good game. Bunch o scoring in the final minutes. My prediction was pretty close, just needed to add more points to each.

13-3 .............................. 14-3
Prediction: 49ers win 27-21

Divisional Round: AFC Matchups

2012-01-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

vs
45 - 10
It just wasn't even close. I picked the Patriots to win, and i picked a close game because i was hoping Denver could stay in it, but they didn't.

13-3 ...................... 9-8
Prediction: Patriots win 20-17
It would be awesome to see Denver win again... but i don't think i'd bet on that happening. Seems like teams have a better chance of winning if i don't pick them anyway.

vs
20 - 13
I was pretty close on this one. I don't know about anything else.
12-4 ...................... 11-6
Prediction: Ravens win 24-10

Game 10 Utah Jazz vs LA Lakers

2012-01-11T00:36:00.008-07:00

87 - 90
OT
Season Record: 6-4

Well, this was a really really fun game except for the one thing that wasn't all that great... the Jazz lost. Man it was a fun game tho. The Lakers in town, an overtime game, close the whole way through. I don't think either team lead by more than 5 or 6 points the entire game. In the end, the Jazz just missed the shots. They made enough to send it to overtime and then to have a shot at it at the end of overtime, but just a shot or two more to go and they would have come out victorious. I'm just glad they pushed it to overtime, they were down by 5 pts with just under a minute left i believe. Kobe did his thing again and made a bunch o shots. He did miss a couple that could have ended the game sooner in a win for the Lakers.

Don't know how many games we'll get to this year, but this was a good one. Its always fun to see meaningful games when its at least close. i hate to see the Jazz get blown out, thats never really fun.

This was the Jazz first home loss of the season, and it snapped their 5 game win streak. They were on a roll, maybe they can just get it going again. Forget about the Lakers. Who needs dem guys?

I thought maybe i'd start putting where our seats were at the sporting events we go to, just in case. Maybe some day i'll wish i knew. Probably not but maybe. So if i remember, i'll just put it on these posts.

Sec 123 Row 20 Seats 3,4

Wildcard Round: AFC Matchups

2012-01-08T23:44:00.000-07:00

vs
29 - 23
OT
Boy o boy. I's wrong on another one. That puts me at 1-3 for the wildcard round. This was the best game of the weekend though. I can't believe the Broncos won. The Steelers winning this game was my most confident prediction of all the games. I know i've not liked the Tebows before in the season, but i found myself rooting for them now in the playoffs. I think i was just mad at them for the way they beat the Bears. That sucked. Its pretty cool tho how the year has gone for them and Tebow. Man, just about everyone is nuts about Tebow. They either hate him or love him. I don't think he's an incredibly great QB, but he can play and make big plays when needed. I think he's pretty decent for a rookie. Plus by what i see, he seems like a pretty good guy. It sure would be cool for the Tebows to beat the Patriots next week. I think there'd be madness in the streets.
So without going on forever, (maybe i will more later) this was one of the best football games i've seen in quite a while.
8-8 ............................ 12-4
Prediction: Steelers win 24-7

vs
31 - 10
Didn't get this one right at all. Oh well, i didn't really have too good of an idea on either of these teams, and didn't think either team had a great chance going forward after this game. Could be wrong tho, i am often.

10-6 ............................ 9-7
Prediction: Bengals win 31-21

Wildcard Round: NFC Matchups

2012-01-08T20:31:00.001-07:00

vs
24 - 2
Wrong on another one. I didn't think the Giants would show up like they did. I don't know about the Giants, i'm probably wrong, but i just don't think they are as good as some of the other teams left. Who knows. I don't.

9-7 ............................ 10-6
Prediction: Falcons win 28-17

45 - 28

Well i think i just about nailed this one. It was pretty much like i thought it would be. The Lions did stick around through the first half and were right there in the game, but the Saints offense was too much in the second half. Poor Lions. I don't really like em much but they've sucked so bad for so long and finally make the playoffs and doesn't end well for them.

13-3 .................................. 10-6
Prediction: Saints win 40-21

Game 8 Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors

2012-01-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Jazz Win

88 - 87
Record: 5-3

A. Jazz win their first road game of the season.
B. Jazz win their 4th straight game.
3. I watched my first Jazz game of the season. On the computer. It was fun.
D. It was a close game, came down to the end.
E. Jazz have a 5-3 record. Good after a 1-3 start.
F. I had other things to say, but i typed them here already. I got all done and somehow my post would not publish and i lost most of my stuff, so i really just don't feel like writing it again. You got jipped. Sorry. I'll just give you a little taste... it was about b-ball, and the players, and the complaining about foul calls, and me not knowing a whole lot. You can probably put it together from there.

Game 7 Utah Jazz vs Memphis Grizzlies

2012-01-06T23:45:00.004-07:00

Win

94 - 85
Season Record 4-3

Jazz win again. Now they've got a decent 4-3 record... and also impressive is their 4-0 record at home. 0-3 on the road, but we can just forget about that for now, its only 3 games and they can change that around. They are not playing too bad. I listened to the end of the game and was happy to hear the Jazz play.

Week 17 Bears at Vikings

2012-01-01T17:46:00.002-07:00

Win

17 - 13

Season Record 8-8

The Bears won. Now the season is over.

It just wasn't one of those season ending wins that felt good to get a win. The Bears season has not been good for weeks. Everything went wrong that could go wrong.

Game 3 Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers

2011-12-30T17:21:00.002-07:00

Win

102 - 99
Season Record 1-2

First Jazz home game of the year. First win of the year. I'm just glad they got a win. I haven't watched any Jazz games and like i said, probably won't be able to watch many at all. Hopefully i can catch some online when they are on. I don't know. I do like their alternate green jerseys they have this year. I've always liked the green. You know.

Seems like this team is going to need some work. Maybe they can get rolling during this year and have a good year, but i'd guess this year might be pretty sad for the Jazz. Hope i'm wrong.

Week 16 Bears at Packers

2011-12-25T17:33:00.002-07:00

21 - 35
Season Record 7-8

Bears lost to the Packers. The Packers are pretty durn good. Bears not so good any more. Ok then.

Jazz Season 2010-11 Thoughts

2011-12-21T01:56:00.004-07:00

So i was meaning to do this a long time ago but i never have. I figured i'd quick do it now before the new season starts... but since its been so long this probably won't be all that long. Just thought i'd recap the season a bit.

Lets start with a video of Jazz top 10 for the season.

I thought the Millsap game should probably be #1 but thats just my thoughts. I guess that game wasn't really just one play that was great, but like 4 or 5. Plus the whole big ol comeback thingy too.

Here's just a regular old NBA top 10 for the year, if you wanted to watch. I didn't really want to, but i did.

There it is. Did you like it? Me neither. I should have told you not to watch it.

So i know last year i did a thing on my top games and everything, but i think i'll just say some stuff. No top lists for me this year.

The game in Miami that i mentioned earlier, with the Millsap shtuff. Awesome. One of the greatest games. Seriously. Look at my post from the game if you want. Or this post with some other junk about that game.

We made it to 4 regular season games this year. Won the first 3 and lost the last game we went to against the Bulls. Ended up being Coach Sloan's last game of coaching. That was a sucky game. Not one of my most memorable games if you know what i mean. Glad i got to go, glad i got to be there for Jerry's last game. I'm just still so bitter about the whole thing. Makes me mad. Deron was traded to NJ 3 losses later. AND, the season sorta went downhill after that. I didn't watch a ton... I ended up not posting a ton with the last bunch of games. Jazz missed the playoffs by quite a bit.

I think i'm blabin' too much now.
I'll just put a couple links to my Jerry Sloan posts back when i posted them and call it a season.
Jerry Sloan Post 1 ..... Post 2

Jazz are back!

2011-12-20T20:44:00.003-07:00

The NBA/Jazz season is now starting. I have kinda just stayed away from basketball while the NBA was in lockout because who knew if there was even going to be a season, but now that its back on in a few days, i'm actually getting pretty excited for basketball again. I've missed it. So you can probably expect to see more basketball stuff on here now. Probably not much football... da bears... blew it.

Just so you know, i'm thinking i will not do a post for every game this year. I don't have satellite tv anymore so really i'll probably watch very few games, plus the season is so packed with games this year with the lockout and everything that there will be a game every night or two. I'll probably just post every once in a while when i have something to say about a game. Just not every single game. I know, everyone is sad now.

Week 15 Bears vs Seahawks

2011-12-18T14:50:00.001-07:00

14 - 38
Season Record 7-7

Ok, season's over. I don't know if the Bears are mathematically out of the playoffs, so it may not literally be over, but by what i've seen the last 4 weeks since Jay got hurt.... its over. There has not been much good to see since that 7-3 record. Its now 7-7. The defense has been decent, but not great, and the offense, not good. I have nothing against Hanie, and i'll always love how he came in last year in the NFC championship game and just about led the Bears past the Packers. But he has not looked good this year. Not very good.

Week 14 Bears at Broncos

2011-12-11T14:45:00.001-07:00

10 - 13
OT
Season Record 7-6

Mad. Thats what i am after this game. You just can't give up a 10-0 lead with a few minutes left in the game. The mistakes were just bad in the end. Running out of bounds to stop the clock and then fumbling the ball in OT. I don't know. This one was just bad thats all there is to it. Really really bad. Those dang Tebows.

Week 13 Bears vs Chiefs

2011-12-04T14:42:00.002-07:00

3 - 10
Season Record: 7-5

No offense for the Bears any more. The defense played well enough, and stopped the Chiefs but the Bears could do nothing. The season is not going so well now. 7-5 is not horrible, but the Bears have to change things. Fast.

Week 12 Bears at Raiders

2011-11-27T20:00:00.003-07:00

20 - 25
Season Record: 7-4

Here he is, the guy the Bears have to depend on to finish their drive to the playoffs. I didn't get to watch this game with church stuff and everything, and now that we don't have a DVR i can't just record games and watch them later. (if it was even on tv i don't know). It didn't really go like i hoped tho. The defense seemed to give up too many points.

This wasn't what i wanted to see Hanie doing, but it is what it is. Since i didn't watch the game i can't really say what i think about Hanie... but his stats were not horrible. I don't know. Maybe i can just watch him play sometime.

With other teams losing, this loss didn't hurt the Bears a ton in their playoff hopes, but it sure would have been nice to capitalize on other team's losses and get some breathing room with a win in this game. The next 3 weeks are against teams that are not elite, so it'll give us a chance to see if the Bears have what it takes at all.

Week 11 Bears vs Chargers

2011-11-20T03:05:00.001-07:00

31 - 20
Season Record: 7-3

Well another great win for the Bears, thats now 5 straight. They are just doing a great job against teams lately. Jay is looking the best i've seen him as a Bear. So now the bad news. Now that i'm writing this review of the game we now know that Cutler broke his thumb or whatever when he was trying to tackle the interception man. SO he needs surgury. SO he's out for at least the rest of the regular season. SO thats possibly the entire rest of the season. I've had my beefs with Jay in the past and i haven't always loved everything he does. Far from that. BUT, like i said he's been doing really good and i've thought he's been much better this year. And now this. When he finally seems to get it, he gets hurt and is out.

I liked how Caleb Hanie looked last year when he came in during the NFC championship game. He did some good things against the future champs Packers. He didn't expect to play and did pretty good. Hopefully now that he's expecting to play he can do even better. Nobody really expects him to do much. I don't even know what i think, but i guess we'll just have to see.

I wanted to just revel in this great victory, but its a little unsure looking from here on out so its hard to just be happy about everything. I definitely don't think they are out or anything, but this just makes it that much harder for them.

Week 10 Bears vs Lions

2011-11-13T00:07:00.006-07:00

37 - 13
Season Record: 6-3

Payback! Yeah buddy.

It wasn't even close. The Bears pounded the Lions. They dominated. Those dirty Lions.

Last time the Bears and Lions met, the Bears got embarrassed a bit and looked bad. This way more than made up for that. The week 5 loss to the Lions was bad, but it was nothing like this game. The Bears in week 5 just kept doing stupid things like false starts and other junk. This week though I think the Bears showed the Lions who they're really dealing with.

What i really like about the Bears is that they are spreading it around on the offense. Everyone is getting involved. Forte has been the beast and has a whole lot of the load on his back, but everyone else is in there getting TDs and producing on offense as well.

The Bears schedule is definitely not easy coming up, but really, i could see them winning out at least til they face Green Bay in week 16. Not saying they will for sure go into that game 11-3... but they could. It looks do-able. Either way, i'd like if they went into that game and got some payback on the Packers like they did on the Lions this week. Maybe the Bears can give the Packers their first loss of the season in week 16. If they are still undefeated that is.

No surprises here. Hester another punt return TD. Is this guy ever going to slow down?

Week 9 Bears at Eagles

2011-11-07T01:40:00.002-07:00

30 - 24
Season Record: 5-3

And the Bears own Vick again. The Bears are flawless against that guy. I love that. I don't think the Eagles are the kind of team everyone thought they'd be, but this was still a very nice quality win. Seriously, the Bears looked like they were really struggling early on in the season, but i am seeing a Bears team a lot like last year and i'm lovin it. Whats scary tho is that this year it seems like the offense is better than it was last year. Scary good.

Welcome back Earl Bennett. That guy is Cutler's go to man, i like when he is in the game. He's the man. What a sweet action Monday night game to watch. Bears>Eagles again.

Week 7 Bears at Buccaneers

2011-10-23T00:59:00.002-06:00

24 - 18
Season Record: 4-3

The Bears looked pretty good in this game. They just about gave the lead up in the end, but really most of the game this was not all that close. The Bears now sit at 4-3... not totally frickin awesome, but not too shabby right now. They can work with that. I looked back on their last 3 seasons and they have had a 4-3 record in every single season those last three years. As we know last year turned out good with the Bears making the playoffs and making the NFC championship. The two years before that they didn't make the playoffs. Which way will they go this year? I've seen some real good, but some pretty bad too.

Next the Bears go into their bye week. Last year they played great after their bye week. They have the Eagles next week.

Week 6 Bears vs Vikings

2011-10-16T00:47:00.002-06:00

39 - 10
Season Record 3-3

Man what a change from last week. This looked like a totally different team. Cutler was protected and seeing very little pressure. The Bears defense held the Vikings to very little. I know this Viking team is not what you'd call a great opponent and a win like this over them is not really all that impressive, but its a start i'll take it for now. Still tho, the Vikings so far this year have had quite a good defense and have had good pass rush against other teams. So the fact that the Bears were able to protect Jay is really good news.

Hester had another kickoff return TD. Teams all try to avoid him and kick away from him, but he'll still get it every once in a while and he's going to get return TDs for as long as he gets chances. Its a huge weapon for the Bears, not only when he is returning kicks for TDs but when they kick away from Hester, the Bears usually get much better field position than they would have got otherwise.

Week 5 Bears at Lions

2011-10-10T00:06:00.004-06:00

13 - 24
Season Record: 2-3

oh poo. So many things went wrong in this game. Holy crap that was a whole lot of false starts on the Bears, and a whole lot of other procedural penalties. It was just maddening.

Plus two huge plays they gave up for touchdowns to the Lions. That was really what killed them. I mean the game was fairly close. Even in the end the only lost by 11. But those two plays they gave up to Johnson and Best were not like the Bears. Since 2001 they've only given up 3 long plays like that until this season. Already this season they've given up 3. I hope they can figure it out. They were up 10-7 at halftime and i was feelin allright about everything even with the penalties. Now with three loses already, they really can't afford many more or they'll miss the playoffs.

All the Bears crap aside in this game, the Lions are definitely a much much better team this year. Seriously they're a pretty good team. If they can keep it up the rest of the year they'll even make the playoffs maybe.

Week 4 Bears vs Panthers

2011-10-02T00:22:00.000-06:00

34 - 29
Season Record: 2-2

I haven't really watched much Bears football, other than the week 1 game. At least week 5 is a monday night game so i can just enjoy the game. The Bears did win this game, and now are 2-2. Not bad, just i'm not really feeling great about the team. Not bad, just not great. Hopefully that can change as the season goes on, i'd love to see another playoff run like last year, sort of like last year.

Hester got a return td in the game... another td for his record.

Next week, the much improved Detroit Lions, with an impressive 4-0 start.

Week 3 Bears vs Packers

2011-09-25T09:46:00.001-06:00

17 - 27
Season Record: 1-2
I watched only half the game because only half recorded. The second half didn't seem to get any better. Yeah, at least it wasn't a blowout and they hung in the game.. but, the Packers look like a better team at this point of the season, and the Bears are now 1-2 so if they are going to have a good season or a playoff season, they'll have to turn things around here pretty quick.

I was giddy about the orange though. I like them.

Week 2 Bears at Saints

2011-09-18T00:21:00.000-06:00

13 - 30
Record: 1-1

Didn't watch or listen to this game.

I know it was close early on and that the Bears scored first. But its the Bears first loss of the season. I thought they might not win this game, it being in New Orleans and everything.

Ogden Raptors vs Great Falls Voyagers: Game 2

2011-09-15T01:04:00.009-06:00

2011 Playoffs, Championship Series Game 2

1 - 7
Series Loss 0-2

I hated this game. It wasn't even close. There was some hope in the first inning and early on. The Raptors got one run in the first, but really after that it was just sad, they couldn't really do anything. A close game in which the Raptors lost would have been crappy too, but i would have so much rather that have happened.
I guess i'm the one who said this year's playoffs were going like last years. It didn't stop in the Divisional round. It was the same all the way through to the end. Crazy how similar the two years are. It has been a few hours since the game got over so i'm starting to feel ok with it, it was a real successful season really. I'm just bummed because Allston and I were going to go up to Great Falls tomorrow to be there for a final Game 3. That would have been fun and an awesome game to go to. Now we'll just wait for the next time the Raptors are in the finals. Darn Voyagers.

So since i mentioned it i wanted to do a quick comparison of this year and last year's playoffs. Ok then.

...................2010..................................2011...............
Game 1....Win 2-1.........................Win 3-2.
Both low scoring close games won by just one run.
Game 2.... Loss 10-17....................Loss 2-5
The score was not all that close, but both were blowouts really.
Game 3.... Win 12-9......................Win 12-9
Exact same score. Orem went up multiple runs in the top of the first both years and Raptors came back to win it.
Game 1 .... Loss 2-3 .....................Loss 7-9
Both quite close games.
Game 2 .... Loss 3-14.....................Loss 1-7
Again, not close games. Crappy bad losses.

So you see every single game of the postseason went very very similar. The exact same games were lost and won. The only difference was the home field advantage in the Championship series.

This sorta turned into a season recap as well as the game recap, but thats fine. The season is now over for the Raptors. Until next year, which is a freakin long time away. My streak of attending only losing playoff games will continue for a while longer.

Here's the darn Voyagers after winning the darn championship of the darn Pioneer League.

At least the Raptors beat the Owlz.

This is do or die for the Raptors. Win, and force a final game 3 Friday night.

Ogden Raptors vs Great Falls Voyagers: Game 1

2011-09-13T01:45:00.009-06:00

2011 Playoffs, Championship Series Game 1

7 - 9
Series: 0-1

Crap!

It was a back and forth game. Pretty darn exciting, except for the last couple innings when the Raptors couldn't take the lead back. The Raptors made a few real big base running mistakes early on in the game. It might have ended up costing them the game. So our win less streak of playoff games continues. It'll have to wait til next year, and maybe then we can make it to a playoff win. If they make the playoffs again next year, its no guarantee. We could be waiting a while for that playoff win.

Well the series is definitely not over. With just a best of 3 game series, its never really over. All the Raptors have to do is win two games on the road. Very doable. I hope they will doable it. I'll listen to the games on the radio Thursday and Friday. It'd be a great comeback if they can go there to Great Falls and win it in 3 games. I'd really be a happy man.

Nice pajama pants i say.

This was the final home game for the Raptors this year. I hate the season is over already.

Game Preview: This is game 1 of the best of 3 game series. First game is at home and game 2 and 3 if necessary would be at Great Falls. I wish the Raptors had home field advantage in this series so i could see them win the game when they win the series, but no. They don't do the home field advantage by record or head to head or anything, they just switch every year. Last year the south division had home field so this year the north division has it. Last year i watched the Brewers win the championship in Ogden. This year the Raptors will have to win it in Great Falls.

I am real impressed that the Raptors have made it to the Championship Series two years in a row. The only other year they made the series was 1996 when they lost in 2 games to the Brewers. Now they've made it 2 years in a row. They've never won it all.... yet

Ogden Raptors vs Orem Owlz: Game 3

2011-09-11T03:15:00.003-06:00

2011 Playoffs, South Division Game 3

vs
12 - 9
Series Win 2-1
Good day for sports..

It felt like it was last year all over again. The Owlz jumped out on the Raptors right away in the first inning. They hit a home run on the first pitch of the game. They ended the first inning with 3 runs. Not quite the 7 runs they had at the end of the first inning last year, that was nuts. But this year the Raptors came back with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the first. This was so different from the first two games of the series when it seemed like both teams were having a hard time scoring. Today the scoring came easy. I would have liked to be at this game, it was pretty intense to listen to and i really wanted to be there, but my good ol buddy Paul taught me no games on Sunday. SO since the Raptors won, we'll just have to go to their Championship Series game 1 on Tuesday. They better win.

I'm so glad the Raptors beat the Owlz again this year, just like they did last year. I hate those guys. I don't know why, but i just hate those guys.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Orem	3	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	2	9	14	1

Ogden	3	0	5	0	0	2	0	2	x	12	11	1

Week 1 Bears vs Falcons

2011-09-11T01:51:00.002-06:00

30 - 12
Season Record: 1-0

Loved this game!! My recap coming soon

What can i say? I don't really know how week 1 for the Bears could have gone much better. I heard none of the "sports people" predict the Bears to beat the Falcons in this one. The Bears, however, dominated this game. It was so freakin sweet! I love when the Bears defense shows up like they did today. Urlacher was his good self, and the Bears offense was clicking with different players coming up big on every drive. Cutler, that guy who just drives me nuts sometimes, he was just good in this game, thats what i want that guy to do! I hope this means we'll see more of him like this in the future.

I actually like it when people underestimate the Bears against good teams. It makes a Bears win all the more sweet. Looking ahead to next week i see they are already favoring the Saints to beat the Bears by 7. Good. I hope i'm as happy after that game as i am now after this game.

Ogden Raptors vs Orem Owlz: Game 2

2011-09-10T08:00:00.004-06:00

2011 Playoffs, South Division Game 2

vs
2 - 5
Series Tied 1-1

I just hope someday i can go to a dang Raptors playoff game when they win. I'll put more on here about this game later. I'm goin to bed.

We had nice seats right behind the Raptors dugout. Lots of room and no one in front of us. Seriously though, i would love to go to a playoff game when the Raptors win. I've only been to 3 playoff games because the playoffs don't last long, but all three games have really been frustrating. This one was probably the worst. The Raptors couldn't hit anything off the Owlz starting pitcher. The Owlz pitcher was pitching a perfect game up until the 7th inning. The Raptors had only 1 hit going into the 9th inning. They did make it a tiny interesting in the bottom of the 9th by getting two runs and having a man on 2nd base, but not quite enough in the end.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Orem	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	3	5	7	1

Ogden	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	1

I do love the atmosphere at these baseball playoff games. I wish there were more games to go to, but there are only 4 teams to make the playoffs and they only play best of 3 game series. I was not quite as happy as Allston was at this point of the game.

This is why i wasn't quite as happy.

Ogden Raptors at Orem Owlz: Game 1

2011-09-09T05:58:00.005-06:00

2011 Playoffs, South Division Game 1

3 - 2
Series: Raptors 1-0

G-reat game. Just listened to it on the radio. It was close the whole time. Both teams had a hard time getting hits with runners in scoring position, but especially the Raptors. They had so many chances to put more runs up but just kept being held.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Ogden	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	7	0

Orem	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	7	1

It was a close entertaining game, i hope they can close it out at home tonight. Should be a fun game.

Noel Cuevas ended up hitting the game winning single in the 7th inning. Put the Raptors on top for good.

Quick Season Recap: The Raptors had a great start to the season, but barely won the division for the first half of the season on a tiebreaker with the Owlz. They kept losing games to start the second half, but after starting 1-9 they ended up the second half with a 19-19 record. They seem pretty good right now and i'm pretty confident for them going into the playoffs. If they play like they have for 75% of the season they'll win, just hoping that bad 25% doesn't happen.

Preseason 4 Bears vs Browns

2011-09-01T22:11:00.003-06:00

This is what i think of preseason too.

Bears win 24-14.

Preseason 3 Bears at Titans

2011-08-27T23:37:00.002-06:00

Bears lose 13-14.

I wonder if the Bears will wear their orange jerseys this year. I hope so. Me like.

Raptors lose 7-13 vs Osprey

2011-08-26T23:24:00.004-06:00

I stink Missoula was not happy about losing 12-0 to the Raptors last night. They were hittin z ball hard from the beginning and got a 9-0 lead right away. The Raptors kept it close ish but never really really close. The games are always fun though. Allston got his ball signed by a few more players, so now he has 4 signatures on it. He is excited the whole game to get them to sign it afterwards.
Its nice sitting back up in the seats. I like being able to see the game.

Allston wants a churro next time we go.

I wish we could go to baseball every night.
I'm excited for the playoffs, but i wish they could last longer. If i'm lucky there will be two playoff games to go to.

Raptors win 10-4 vs Brewers

2011-08-24T22:46:00.002-06:00

The Raptors won tonight and swept the home series against the Brewers. Felicia and Allston and his friend Benjamin from next door came so we sat out on the grass... behind the Brewers bullpen area. The Raptors scored their 10 runs on just 5 hits. Not bad. The Raptors really struggled the last bit of the first half and the first bit of the second half of the season, but now seem to be back on their winning way. They've now won 7 of their last 10 games and seem to be more good, like they were for a while there in the first half of the season.

I don't have anything else good to say. I likes baseball.

Preseason 2 Bears at Giants

2011-08-22T21:01:00.000-06:00

Bears lose 13-41.
Nothin' really to say. Just excited for the season to start.

Preseason 1 Bears vs Bills

2011-08-13T22:28:00.004-06:00

Bears win 10-3
Really i don't think the pre-season means a whole lot except guys get to play a little and get warmed up for the season. I mean, last year it was a 0-4 preseason for the Bears, so that sucked but the season ended up being a pretty darn good season.
Preseason just gets me giddy for the season to start. I'm excited for football this year.

I didn't watch the game or anything, they don't really do too many preseason games on tv, so i don't have anything really to say about the game. I did see that the Bears allowed 9 sacks on their QB's. That was a stupid thing they did a lot last year, so i hope thats just a preseason thing they will not do during the season.

Raptors win 13-7 vs Owlz

2011-08-11T23:19:00.002-06:00

Allston said he wanted to sit in section D, right behind home plate. So we did. He insisted, and luckily they had a couple seats there for us.

Allston made friends with all the old ladies who sat near us. They all had season tickets and everything.
With all the games the Raptors have been losing lately, i'm glad we went to this one. They got a good win and now have won a whole two games in a row! Yeah dude.

SO i was going to do a post a bit ago with the first half of the season ending, but i did not do it. The Raptors barely won the first half. It ended in a tie with the Owlz but the Raptors beat them head to head so had the tie-breaker. Sucks that the Raptors are really struggling as of late, but at least they won the first half and got them selves in to the post seas on. At least they have some time left in the season to get things back on track. They are 4-13 in the last 17 games. BUt two in a row. I've been so sick of seeing them lose leads and just get wiped lately so i was worried going to this game would be that kind of game, but they really looked pretty darn good tonight.

Raptors get an big ol' win in 11 innings

2011-07-28T12:31:00.003-06:00

The first half of the season is just about over. Raptors are just barely hanging on to a 1 game lead over the Owlz. Three games left in the first half. That was a crazy game last night. I listened to some and checked updates the rest of the time. Raptors were up 8-4 going into the sixth, and gave up their lead and went to the bottom of the 9th down 8-11. Couple home runs and a sac fly later the game was tied at 11 and went to extra innings. They won with a walk off home run in the 11th. They really needed this game. Orem is playing well and the Raptors just need a couple more wins to clinch the first half and a playoff spot.


Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
Ogden	22	14	.611	-	-	13-7	9-7	5-5	W1
Orem	21	15	.583	1.0	2	14-5	7-10	7-3	W3
Idaho Falls	15	21	.417	7.0	E	7-12	8-9	4-6	L3
Casper	10	26	.278	12.0	E	6-8	4-18	2-8	L1

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Billings	3	0	0	0	1	2	1	3	1	0	0	11	12	1

Ogden	2	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	2	13	15	3

Raptors win 7-5 vs Voyagers

2011-07-21T23:44:00.003-06:00

7 - 5

Raptors game at last. I don't know why it took us a month into the season to get to a game, but this is the life.

I caught a ball. First ball i ever caught. I'm pretty cool. See look at me.

Best part of the game, Raptors win. Best record in the league and closing in on securing a playoff spot for the year. Dude.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Great Falls	0	0	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	5	7	1

Ogden	0	0	0	4	0	1	1	1	x	7	10	4

Sweet stat - Raptors win 11th straight at home.

Sweep!

2011-07-08T00:55:00.004-06:00

This guy Joc Pederson hit a grand slam... and the Raptors take a 3 game sweep over the Owlz. They tied the last series in Orem 2-2 with the Owlz, but now after their sweep, they have a clear lead in the South Division. Baseball, i sure like it.

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Billings	10	8	.556	-	-	5-5	5-3	6-4	L1
	Helena	9	9	.500	1.0	20	5-4	4-5	4-6	W1
	Missoula	9	9	.500	1.0	20	3-5	6-4	6-4	L1
	Great Falls	8	10	.444	2.0	19	4-5	4-5	4-6	W1

PIO South
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Ogden	12	6	.667	-	-	6-3	6-3	7-3	W3
	Idaho Falls	9	9	.500	3.0	18	4-8	5-1	6-4	L1
	Orem	8	10	.444	4.0	17	5-3	3-7	2-8	L6
	Casper	7	11	.389	5.0	16	4-3	3-8	5-5	W1

Raptors First 10

2011-06-30T14:49:00.003-06:00

The first 10 games are done and the Raptors are at 6-4. Just a game behind them Owlz for the lead in the South Division. After the Raptors first two games when they scored a combined total of 32 pts, i would have hoped for better after 10 games, but 6-4 is reasonable. Its the 3rd best record of the 8 teams in the league.

In the Pioneer League there's a first half and second half of the season. The Raptors just have to win the South Division for one half of the season to make the playoffs. I liked the playoffs last year so how bouts they win one of the halves.

Game tonight against the Owlz is the 3rd game of this road series. They split the first two and i'd love to see the Raptors beat the Owlz again. I hate those guys. Last year's playoff series win against the Owlz was seriously probably one of the coolest things i've ever seen. The comebacks and everything, and beating the Owlz on the road in game 1 and coming back after being down 7-0 in the first inning of game 3. Sweet.

Raptors are back!

2011-06-21T16:10:00.000-06:00

Two games into a new Raptors season. 2-0 start. 32-4 scoring difference in the first two games. I thought the first game was a typo or something. 20-0 holy little mac. One of these days we have to go to some games. I wish the season were longer. Its only about 3 months long.

The Finals

2011-05-28T15:55:00.003-06:00

Heat vs Mavericks - My pick: Heat in 5. Thats what they've done in every other series... i really don't know on this one. I want to pick the Mavericks and really do think they have a good chance to win, but maybe thats why i shouldn't pick them.

Conference Finals - the West

2011-05-16T00:53:00.003-06:00

So i was mostly wrong in that second round. Good thing i don't claim to be any kind of expert at this crap.

Mavericks vs Thunder - My pick: Mavericks in 5. Thats just my pick, it'll either be right or wrong. One or the other. I do like how the Mavs are playing tho, i think they might win it all. Might.

Conference Finals

2011-05-14T00:56:00.004-06:00

If the Grizzlies can pull off a game 7 win on Sunday, i guess it'll be a decent round of predictions for me... otherwise i haven't got a whole lot right in round 2. The Lakers going down in a sweep was a very welcome outcome though, and i'll never mind being wrong on that. That game 4 was one of the most wonderfully fulfilling games i've watched in a while. Just watching the Lakers get wiped in that game and for the series. They got worked and some of them showed just how poor sports they really are. (Bynum and Odom in particular). It was like spoiled kids who can't handle losing.

So here's my conference finals predictions then:
East
Bulls vs Heat - My pick: Bulls in 6. I could be wrong, i know i was wrong about the Heat in the last round, its just that i've seen it with LeBron his whole career and i've seen it from the Heat during the season. I just see a meltdown coming. I think once someone really challenges the Heat and gets ahead in the series, the Heat will come undone.

Western Conference: Round 2

2011-05-01T18:33:00.002-06:00

Lakers vs Mavericks - My pick: Lakers in 6
I don't know. I did pretty good with my picks in the first round, but second round is a bit more fuzzy. I don't really think the Lakers will lose though, and thats the reason behind my pick.

Thunder vs Grizzlies - My pick: Grizzlies in 7
I know, an 8 seed in the conference finals. But if you look at the Grizzlies record the last part of the season, i think they are as good as any team that is left out there. It seems they are proving it in the playoffs too. They beat the Spurs in 6 and really it should have been in 5. So, the Thunder will give them a lot to handle, but i don't really like how the Thunder play. Durrant is great, but i don't think Westbrook is as good as many think. He just doesn't play the PG spot well i believe.

Eastern Conference: Round 2

2011-04-28T14:05:00.004-06:00

I figure i'll just add other matchups for the 2nd round when teams win in the first round, that way maybe i'll get them all predicted before the all the series actually start.

Bulls vs Hawks - My pick: Bulls in 5
The Hawks will probably have a harder time with the Bulls than they did with the Magic. It seemed like they just had the advantage against the Magic.

Heat vs Celtics - My pick: Celtics in 6
I really think this series is going to be a lot like the Celtics, Caveliers series last postseason. I know LeBron now has Wade and Bosh, but i still think its going to be like that. I think the Celtics will dominate too many areas in these games. Lebron i think will revert to his regular postseason self. So far he's been a great regular season player, but always seems to lose his game in the playoffs. We'll see, just about anything could happen in this series, i don't trust the Celtics all that much either.

Western Conference: Round 1

2011-04-18T16:36:00.001-06:00

Sorry, you don't get logos and all that nifty lookin stuff like last year. I'm just getting back into the NBA blogging stuff. I got a bit out of it with all the Jazz stuff going on. Since the retirement of Jerry i've had a hard time getting into it.
BUT the playoffs are here, and i've been enjoying it more than i ever thought i would with the Jazz missing from the action. Each series has played a game already, but my picks didn't change, just how many games the series would go might have changed. So here's my picks and wisdom on each series.

Spurs vs Grizzlies - My pick: Spurs in 6
The Grizzlies won the first game and are up 1-0 on the top seed Spurs. Originally i would have thought the Grizzlies win a game probably, but after they won the first game i upped that to 2 games i think they will win. It would not be a huge surprise if they won more or even if they won the series. Memphis finished the season big, coming from the lower regions of the West to make the playoffs. They are a good team. The Spurs i think will win tho. They are good.

Lakers vs Hornets - My pick: Lakers in 7
I think i probably would have picked the Lakers in 4 or 5, but i think the Hornets might be able to take this the distance. The Hornets will not win the series, i don't think the Lakers can lose in the first round of the playoffs. It just won't happen, one way or another, they will make it to the second round.

Mavericks vs Blazers - My pick: Mavs in 7
This was a hard pick for me. Game 1 didn't really change anything. It was a close game, and i think the series will go the same way. Seems like the Mavs will just squeak by on this one.

Thunder vs Nuggets - My pick: Thunder in 6
I think the Nuggets will win a couple games, but the Thunder'll win.

Eastern Conference: Round 1

2011-04-18T16:26:00.003-06:00

Bulls vs Pacers - My pick: Bulls in 4
Game 1 was close, but i don't really think the rest of the series will be all that close. Could be wrong, but i'm just sayin.

Heat vs 76ers - My pick: Heat in 4
Same with this series. Game 1 was pretty close, but i see it being a sweep. 76ers could win one, but i don't really think so.

Celtics vs Knicks - My pick: Celtics in 6
The Knicks just aren't really that good. They'll probably win a couple but the Celtics are much better, even with their struggles. The Knicks have a lot of potential and could change things around, but as it is now and has been in the last months, the Knicks don't have what it takes.

Magic vs Hawks - My pick: Magic in 7
Tough fought series, with the Magic taking game 7 at home.

Game 70-82: Its All Over

2011-04-18T15:12:00.005-06:00

A lot more losses for the Jazz during this stretch, but they did get a few good wins to end the season. They beat the Lakers in LA and then beat the Hornets and Nuggets to finish off the season. We were able to see a lot more of the young Jazz players. Hayward showed a lot of good stuff, Favors is a pretty good player. A Jazz season has not ended like this in quite a while. My Jazz playoff hopes were gone quite a while ago tho so at least the end did not come as a shock with the Jazz just barely missing the playoffs.

Sometime in the next while i'll do a full season recap with some memories of some good Jazz times this season. Thats all i have for now.

Game 66-69: Utah Jazz win some more

2011-03-18T11:54:00.003-06:00

Game 66: Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
101-122
Season Record: 34-32
Listened to this butt kicking at work. Sad day for the Jazz. Losing is one thing and can be acceptable, but getting wiped is another thing.

Game 67: Utah Jazz at Chicago Bulls
100-118
Season Record: 34-33
I hoped for a different outcome, but i pretty much figured this would be how the game went. The Bulls are playing really really good and are now the #1 team in the East. Another wiping of the Utah Jazz.

Game 68: Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers
112-107
Season Record: 35-33
Same as Game 65. Didn't watch or listen. At least the Jazz are finding a way to get some wins and are .500 in March. They are staying close to that 8 seed in the West and a chance to make the playoffs.

Game 69: Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves
119-104
Season Record: 36-33
Did not watch or listen to the game... again. But good news, two Jazz wins in a row for the first time since January 12. Also its the biggest win by the Jazz point wise since January 14. Like i've said before i would like to see some Jazz wiping of other teams, even bad teams. This was some good revenge from a few games ago when the Jazz got wiped by Minnesota. Ok, i'm all caught up on my Jazz games. I really hope the Jazz can keep winning and get back into the playoff spots. Really they are only a couple games out of the #6 spot. There are a bunch of teams pretty close in this whole range so really the Jazz could end up anywhere. Not really anywhere, but mostly anywhere. I like watching the Jazz, but honestly its just not been all that exciting since the very beginning of the year. Not too bad, just not exciting like the Utah Jazz usually are. Maybe the end of the year can get me all excited and pumped up about the good ol Jazz.

Game 62-65: Utah Jazz in March

2011-03-18T11:39:00.003-06:00

I guess i'll just quickly catch up with the first half of March since i've been so lazy to do this.

Game 62: Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets
101-103
Season Record: 32-30
What a crappy game. The Jazz should really have won it, then they lost it, then by some miracle Kirilenko had the ball sort of in his hands with a second left right at the basket with a chance to tie the game. What a nuts ending. Jazz were down by 5 with 5 or 6 seconds left. Harris hit the 3-pointer with just over a second left. Martin bobbled the ball on the inbounds right under the basket and Andre stole the ball, he never got good control and couldn't get a good shot up, just a little flip that barely hit the rim. On replays however we can see that after Andre stole the ball Martin reached in and hit the ball while standing out of bounds. Should have been Jazz ball out of bounds with like a second left. Oh well, crazy, i couldn't believe what i was seeing. Either way though, this was a tough loss.

Game 63: Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings
109-102
Season Record 33-30
I don't really have anything to say bout this game. I only watched a couple short bits, but was glad to see the Jazz get the win. First home win for coach Corbin in Salt Lake.

Game 64: Utah Jazz at New York Knicks
109-131
Season Record 33-31
Wasn't close

Game 65: Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors
96-94
Season Record 34-31
I didn't watch or listen to this game. Not because i didn't want to, but was just busy. Seems like thats when the Jazz win. I haven't watched a Jazz win in a long time.

Update. Top 10 all-time nba.

2011-03-01T17:13:00.003-07:00

I updated my top 10 all-time NBA players list. Check it out if you're stupid enough to be here in the first place.
Clicky here

Game 61: Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics

2011-02-28T17:10:00.002-07:00

102 - 107
Season Record: 32-29

Ray Frickin Allen. That guy was the difference in this one. I thought the Jazz were putting a good push on there at the end and really could have had this one. Ray Ray Ray. Why'd you have to go and do that.

I'm not happy about the loss, but i was impressed by the Jazz. The Celtics are good and the Jazz could have had this one. Its kind of how things have been going in 2011 for the Jazz. I liked what i saw out there tho and if the Jazz play like that every game, they should win most of the time. Just not tonight i suppose.

I liked seeing the new guys play so got a couple videos. I really am impressed with these guys.

Harris did this like 4 or 5 times. He sure is able to make some tough shots. I like how he runs, and finishes on the break.

For a rookie this Favors dude is pretty freakin awesome. I don't think i've seen any of him really before tonight (i never really watched the Nets) but he's got some skills and hustle. He did quite a bit of this.

Game 60: Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons

2011-02-26T17:08:00.001-07:00

116 - 120
Season Record: 32-28

The Jazz lost to the Pistons. Normally i'd be pretty bummed by that, and of course i'm bummed, but i'm feeling good about this Jazz team even in a loss. I think i'm more happy about the Jazz than i've been for a while. Jazz only half a game out of the 8 spot right now.
22 games remaining.

Game 59: Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers

2011-02-25T17:02:00.001-07:00

95 - 84
Season Record: 32-27

Some new Jazz basketball has begun. I'll have to come up with a new name for this Jazz era with a new coach and a bunch of new players. I know i can fully support this Jazz team and i hope this era of the Jazz is as successful as the coach Sloan era has been. I really miss Jerry as the coach of my team, but i have to accept that he is gone.. and will never be coming back to the team.

Here's the two new member of the Jazz. Devin Harris and Derrick Favors. Its a little weird to see these guys on the Jazz, but i have to say as i watched the game tonight, i kinda liked the look of this Jazz team. I don't know exactly how to explain, but it just felt right. It felt like the good ol Jazz... as much as we can without Stockton, Malone, and Sloan. I don't really know if this team will do great the rest of the year, or make the playoffs, or win any rounds in the playoffs. Its just too early to tell, but i think they do have potential be quite good. Hopefully that can happen sooner.

This Jazz win was the first Jazz win under coach Corbin. I hate not having Sloan in there but i always want the Jazz to succeed, and i do like Ty Corbin, what i've seen of him.

23 games left of the regular season. The Jazz are in a fight to make the playoffs and it's not really something we are used to as Jazz fans. Usually they are comfortably in and fighting for the best seed they can get. This year its a fight to get in. Its kind of exciting. I hope they make the playoffs, but if not that they at least stay in the race right up til the end.

Game 58 Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks

2011-02-23T16:55:00.001-07:00

99 - 118
Season Record: 31-27

Final King Williams Era Record: 0-3
This morning we found out that Deron Williams will no longer be a Jazz dude. The Jazz great 3rd pick of the 2005 draft was traded to the Nets. The Jazz got PG Devin Harris and PF Derrick Favors in the trade and a couple of future first round draft picks plus some change ($3 million.)

Its strange, the trade did hit me by total surprise, but at the same time it really doesn't surprise me when i think about it. It just sorta makes sense i guess. As i thought about the trade it has been pretty weird how little negative i've heard from Jazz people and fans about it. Before this year started if you would have said Deron would be traded i think fans would have gone nuts about it. Seems like people around here thought Deron was the guy of this team, the most important component if you will. I think it really shows the loyalty this area had for Jerry Sloan. Personally i don't think i would have ever been able to see Deron the same way again. He would never have been the guy he used to be to me. The Coach Sloan thing was a huge deal breaker to me and i lost the respect i had for Deron. Maybe thats wrong, but that's how it is for me.

Now just because he's been traded i am not going to sit here and say i hated the guy and i'm so glad he's gone and won't miss him. I like Deron as a player and the Jazz will miss him. As the season has gone on tho it has seemed like for whatever reason he has been less and less the player he is capable of being. I don't think overall he has gotten better this year from last year. I am a bit sad about him leaving. I am a bit surprised tho how little sadness i feel about it and the fact that i have even some good feelings about the trade. I am excited about the new guys on the team. With this trade the Jazz have Favors who was this year's #3 pick in the draft. What i've seen of Harris i like, i don't know that he will ever be Deron but who knows. Favors could end up being a great thing for the Jazz. He's a good player and could maybe be great. A great big man is something the Jazz have been lacking for a long time.

So the King Williams era was a short one for the Jazz. Its all for the better. Any suggestions for a name for the new lookin Jazz times?

Oh there was a game tonight as well, not just a trade deadline and trade for the Utah Jazz. The Jazz lost to the Mavs, again. Sucks but oh well, new Jazz men will be here next game.

NBA All Star Weekend 2011

2011-02-20T17:28:00.001-07:00

Friday:
Rookies beat the Sophomores. I just skimmed through this game. Didn't really watch much.
Skimmed the celebrity game too. Silly kind of. Pippen made a bunch of three's though.

Saturday:
Jones won the three-point contest. Griffin won the dunk contest. That was really no surprise.
2 complaints about the dunk contest. First, the dunk contest used to be about the best dunkers in the league. The only contestant i really knew anything about this year is Griffin. I'd heard of Ibaka before but really knew nothing about him. The other two, i couldn't have even told you what team they play for. When did it become rookies and people hardly anyone knows of? It used to be players like Jordan and Wilkins and the most well known players in the game. I don't know, i guess it was just a bit more entertaining to me when the best players in the game were competing, thats all. Second complaint, they should go back to just giving them one re-do or something if they miss. This whole 2 minutes to complete a dunk is dumb. I sit here and get bored while they dink around and by the time they actually make a dunk i've stopped watching already.

Sunday:
All-star game. West won. Kobe got MVP. It was ok and i watched, but i just kept thinking how different the all-star game is now. 10-15 years ago it was so different. I guess the players were quite a bit different back then too.
Anyway, here's a video of some of the stuff from the game.

Happy now?

Game 57: Utah Jazz vs Golden State Warriors

2011-02-16T15:06:00.003-07:00

100 - 107
Season Record: 31-26
King Williams Era Record: 0-3

I'm glad it's the All-Star break. Maybe it'll be just what the Jazz need.

Crappy stat of the night: Jazz lost 5 straight at home for the first time since 1982. A couple months before i was even born. For the first time in my life the Jazz lose 5 straight at home. Sad day.

Game 56: Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns

2011-02-15T00:55:00.002-07:00

Utah Jazz vs

101 - 102
Season Record: 31-25
King Williams Era Record: 0-2

Another close game, hard loss, and good effort by the Jazz. But, another loss as well. Like i've said before i would much rather see this kind of game than one that the Jazz don't have good effort and don't play hard. Winning would be nice, but that just doesn't always happen.
I thought the Jazz had this game just about taken care of when they were up 89-81, but the Suns took over control and went up 92-89 i think. The Jazz had a chance to steal this game in the closing seconds, but ended up without even getting a shot up.

The Jazz are now sitting in the 8 spot in the West. Just a half game ahead of Memphis in the 9 spot. The Suns are only 2 and a half behind in the 10 spot. Still a lot of season left, but the fact is if the Jazz want in the playoffs they have to change things around. The teams below the Jazz have a winning record in the last 10 games, as the Jazz have a losing record in their recent games. It could come right down to the end of the season with the Jazz involved in a playoff race to get in.

Jerry Sloan Thoughts 2

2011-02-14T19:06:00.003-07:00

1. While i was reading around the blog world, i came across this post at Salt City Hoops that said a lot of things i've been thinkin. So i'll quote some here, but if you want to read the whole post or other posts on the website click below.

Salt City Hoops

And here is some things it said, i agree:

When I was a kid, I liked the Jazz because my dad did. I was from Utah, and it was our team. As I’ve gotten older though, I’ve stayed loyal to the Jazz because I’ve been proud to call them “my” team. If you know the history of the team then you know that the Utah Jazz were a gift from the Miller family to the Salt Lake community, and the family has worked diligently to make it a true team. From the days of Pistol Pete through Stockton & Malone, the Jazz have never been run by the superstars. Larry H. Miller worked hard to develop an organization that was focused on winning, and winning right. The team was built on principles of putting in a hard day’s work, playing your role, and leaving it all on the court each night. In the four major American sports, there are very few fans that can say that their team’s ownership built their team the right way from top to bottom, but a Utah fan could say it and mean it. The Utah Jazz did things the right way.

Jerry Sloan was the heart and soul of this franchise because he embodied the Jazz’ efforts to do things the right way. I’m not saying he was perfect. Sloan has a lot of good qualities, but also has his fair share of bad, and to say that he’s had Jazz nation’s undivided support over the past 23 years is revisionist history. Sloan made mistakes, fans (and players) were quick to judge, and there were times that we called for his head, but in those moments, do you know what happened? Nothing. The Jazz trusted their coach, knew that they had the right guy, and in every instance took a stand against the fans and sent the message that they were not a reactionary team. The Jazz, for better or worse, were an organization that stood by their man. In a world where coaches are traded in & out on the whims of teenage players, a 23-year tenure sends a powerful message. It says that Coach Sloan’s voice was the most important one in the gym. The front office’s implicit trust of Sloan told fans, superstar players, and other organizations that this team was principled. No matter who walked through the door at the beginning of the year, one thing always stayed the same: Coach Sloan. He was qualified, he was smart, and they trusted him. For Jazz fans that trust paid dividends. How did second round picks turn into all stars? How did a small market team consistently make the playoffs and contend against giants? It was because of the consistency of Jerry Sloan, and the understanding that he would be here longer than any one player. There was accountability, opportunity, and expectations. All because of coach Sloan. He was a symbol of the way things were done in Utah, and nothing could change that… until last Wednesday.

Nobody knows exactly what went down in Kevin O’Conner’s office after that Bulls game, but it could not have ended worse for Jazz fans. Yes the team lost a great coach, but what we truly lost was our ability to implicitly trust an organization that was supposed to be THE organization. It doesn’t matter why Sloan left, what matters is that someone thought it was time for him to go… someone thought it was best for a Hall of Fame coach to leave his team in the middle of the season while his floundering squad was in desperate need of leadership. That tells me one thing: Coach Sloan’s word was no longer the most important word in the Jazz gym, and the Jazz’ model of consistency broke down. Something went seriously wrong, and suddenly the Jazz are just like nearly every other organization in the league. Maybe I’m an elitist, or maybe I just expect more out of a team that taught me expect more out of a sports franchise. I would never want Jerry Sloan to feel like he’s trapped on a failing team, but this is not the way you send off a Hall of Fame coach. This event, and the way it played out has created a crisis of confidence in Jazz land. We lost a superb coach on Thursday but with him also went many of the foundational principles that made this team unique.

2. Also on another Jazz site i like there are a bunch of quotes from bunch o people about Jerry.
Living and Dying by the Jazz
Click on the link above for some good stuff.

3. I'd like to also explain a thing about my Jazz recaps you'll be seeing. I've decided to call this new Jazz era the King Williams Era, so i'm keeping track of the Jazz record in this new "era" if you will. I think for the last 23 years Jerry has been the leader of this team. Even when Stockton and Malone were on the team, Jerry was the man. Here's one of the things Malone said in his interview at the game last friday.

Look, did I get upset with Coach Sloan? You bet I did. Did he get upset with me in the huddle? If you only knew. But I’ll tell you one thing, when we’re on that court, we did it like he said it, and we did it over and over and over. And that’s how it was, and when it was over with, it was over with…

Jerry has been the boss. We don't know all the particulars of what happened and why Jerry stepped down. We don't know everything. We don't know how big a part Deron was with Jerry leaving. One thing i am absolutely sure about is that Jerry is not the leader of this team any more. This new era of the Jazz will have to be with another leader at the top. I'm almost certain that new leader is now Deron Williams. So i call it the King Williams Era because of this and because i am honestly not really happy about it. I don't think players should have too much power on a team. Like the quote was up at the beginning of this post said... this makes the Jazz more like most other organizations and less like the good ol Jazz team that we know and love. The Jazz had something special, and now they have almost certainly lost that.

4. I've had the Jazz on my mind a lot in the past almost a week. I almost feel ashamed to admit it but for the first time in my life i've found myself almost hoping for a little bit of Jazz failure. I say almost because really i don't want that, i love the Jazz and just want them to succeed and will cheer for them no matter how good or bad they are. But i ALMOST want them to fail for a bit so those who think they are too good for Jerry and his system can realize how wrong they are. So they can realize that good old fashioned basketball WINS GAMES. Thats the goal right? Jerry knows how to win games. So i'm ashamed to admit these occasional feelings but thats how it is. I never thought it would be this way ever.

5. Thats all i've got for now

Jerry Sloan Thoughts 1

2011-02-13T21:32:00.004-07:00

Jerry Sloan was what made the Jazz great for me. I can't believe the day has finally come that will be the end of coach Sloan. I have always thought that this team will lose a lot when they lose Jerry. I've always been worried that when Jerry goes, so will the consistency and winning seasons of the Jazz. I really hope that doesn't happen, but we will see. In the past 5 or so years i've listened to radio shows where you had a few people here or there call in and say they wanted Jerry gone. They said he was bringing the Jazz down and without him they could win a title. I just CANNOT understand how these people can even think that at all. Look at what Jerry has done here, how many other teams in the league have had the overall success the Jazz have had? They are in the playoffs like every frickin year. They had 1 losing season under Jerry.

What i say is that the Utah Jazz franchise is an incredibly worse team without Jerry Sloan as the head coach. I hope it doesn't go too wrong for the Jazz. I am really worried though. The Jazz have had so much success, i'm worried those days are over. I still hold the Jazz a lot higher than any other team in the NBA, but they have taken a major drop in my book in the last week since Jerry stepped down. I have been disappointed in the Jazz before, but that was just because of bad play or a disappointing loss to the Bulls in the finals or something like that. However, those were just things that happen as a fan of a team. They let you down sometimes in that way. This week though is the first time i have felt any kind of disgust for the Jazz. I've never had these type of feelings for the Jazz organization before. I hope it gets less rather than more because i don't like it.
Here watch a nice video of some highlights of Sloan.

The press conference...

More Jerry stuff coming soon....

Chicago Bears, Season Recap

2011-02-13T18:59:00.003-07:00

The Bears ended this season with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs after a couple years drought. It was an exciting season for me, it seemed like i got to watch and listen to a lot more games than usual. As a whole, i thought this season was a big success for the Bears.

My list of best games of the regular season:

1. Week 3 vs the Green Bay Packers.
Bears won 20-17. Devin Hester returned his first return of the year for a TD. It was the start of a record breaking season for him. The Bears played this one tough against a heavily favored Packers team.

The game was tied in the end and the Packers had the ball. Urlacher caused a fumble recovered by the Bears and the winning field goal was kicked. Great game. My favorite this year.

2. Week 11 at the Miami Dolphins.
Bears won 16-0. This was the Bears 3rd straight win after their bye week and they were really getting into a groove.

The Bears defense shut out the Dolphins. Only the 2nd time the past 40 years that the Dolphins have been shut out at home. This was a perfect game to see the Bears play. I don't need high scores for the Bears, just low scores for the other team.

3. Week 12 vs the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bears won 31-26. The Eagles were a hot team at this point and hardly anyone expected the Bears to stop Vick and the Eagles. The Eagles had been rolling over teams for the past couple weeks and it was expected they would do this to the Bears as well. Still in week 12 the Bears were getting hardly any respect as a top team in the league. Oh well, the Bears did stop Vick and the Eagles. The Bears handed the Eagles their first loss of the season with Vick starting. They also got the first interception on Vick all season. Best of all, Vick is 0-4 vs the Bears all-time.

The Bears played great all around to get this win. Proving to a few more that they are one of the top teams.

Some Bears stats and stuff from the Season:

Bears total season score: 332 ...... 20.8 ppg
Opponent total season score: 286 ...... 17.9 ppg

Week 1 vs Lions. Win 19-14. Record 1-0
Week 2 at Cowboys. Win 27-20. 2-0
Week 3 vs Packers. Win 20-17. 3-0
Week 4 at Giants. Loss 3-17. 3-1
Week 5 at Panthers. Win 23-6. 4-1
Week 6 vs Seahawks. Loss 20-23. 4-2
Week 7 vs Redskins. Loss 14-17. 4-3
Week 9 at Bills. Win 22-19. 5-3
Week 10 vs Vikings. Win 27-13. 6-3
Week 11 at Dolphins. Win 16-0. 7-3
Week 12 vs Eagles. Win 31-26. 8-3
Week 13 at Lions. Win 24-20. 9-3
Week 14 vs Patriots. Loss 7-36. 9-4
Week 15 at Vikings. Win 40-14. 10-4
Week 16 vs Jets. Win 38-34. 11-4
Week 17 at Packers. Loss 3-10. 11-5

Wild-card Round: Jan 8, 9
NFC:
1-Falcons: Bye
2-Chicago Bears: Bye
3-~~Eagles~~ vs 6-Packers. Packers win 21-16
4-Seahawks vs 5-~~Saints~~. Seahawks 41-36

AFC:
1-Patriots: Bye
2-Steelers: Bye
3-~~Colts~~ vs 6-Jets. Jets win 17-6
4-~~Chiefs~~ vs 5-Ravens. Ravens win 30-7
-----------------------------------------

Divisional Round: Jan 15, 16
NFC:
1-~~Falcons~~ vs Packers. Packers win 48-21
2-Chicago Bears vs ~~Seahawks~~. Win 35-24

AFC:
1-~~Patriots~~ vs Jets. Jets win 28-21
2-Steelers vs ~~Ravens~~. Steelers win 31-24
-----------------------------------------

Conference Championships: Jan 23
NFC:
~~Chicago Bears~~ vs Green Bay Packers
Bears lose 14-21
AFC:
Pittsburgh Steelers vs ~~New York Jets~~
Steelers win 24-19
-----------------------------------------

Super Bowl 45: Feb 6
Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Packers win 31-25

Devin Hester breaks the all-time punt and kickoff return record. 14 returns for a touchdown.

Here's a video of all 14 of Hester's returns. His last 3 came this year and he now holds the NFL record.

Playoff Run:
The Bears made a return to the playoffs this year and held the #2 seed in the NFC. With a first round bye, they then hosted the Seattle Seahawks who upset the Saints. The Bears had lost their regular season meeting with Seattle, but this game in the playoffs was nothing like that. Bears dominated.
Next came the NFC championship game. The Green Bay Packers came back to town for this battle. The Packers were playing like everyone thought they should during the season.... really good. The Bears could have knocked the Packers out of the playoffs with the final game of the regular season but couldn't get that game. Lost 3-10. The NFC championship game was a bit similar. I won't recap the whole thing. Check out my recap here if you want some more of that.

I did want to talk a bit about Cutler though. He took a lot of crap from everyone, players included for sitting out most of the second half with an injury. Look, you know i've had my doubts about Cutler and my dislikes of his play at times, but i'm not going to go after the guy for not going back in. I wasn't there and i'm not him. Also i've seen interviews and read stuff from Bears players and coaches who say otherwise. Lovie Smith said that he and other coaches kept Cutler from going back in when he wanted to. Basically what i'm sayin is that i'm not going all against Cutler for this one game. No he really didn't play all that well, but that's just what happens sometimes. He doesn't always have great games, some games kinda suck. I don't know whether he could come back in so i'm not going to worry about it a ton. He didn't play so good and he does have a lot to improve on during his NFL career. I hope he does improve. But he's the quarterback of my team the Bears. Give him a little credit for what he did do this year. Led the Bears to the NFC Championship and looked much better than he did last year. If he improves that much next year, he should actually be one of the better QBs in the league.

I was proud of the Bears in this game against the Packers. I thought Hanie came in and did a great job in Cutler's absense. He could be a decent quarterback with some experience. He showed a lot of promise. I would have liked a Bears super bowl appearance and win, but i see this season as a big ol success. Thanks to the Bears for a great season. Gots to love the Bears, hope they do even better next year.

If you're still reading, you're an idiot.

Game 55: Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns

2011-02-11T00:16:00.008-07:00

Utah Jazz vs

83 - 95
Season Record: 31-24
King Williams Era Record: 0-1

The new era of the Jazz begins. I want to start this era by saying, i have nothing against Tyrone Corbin. He's probably a good coach, and i hope for the Jazz sake that he is. When i talk about disappointment in the Jazz its not really necessarily directed to Ty. He's been put in a tough spot, and honestly i don't think anyone could come out of the spot he's in without some failure.

So i guess we can talk about the game now. I think the Jazz for this game at least are doing the opposite of their normal. Good first quarter... horrible rest of the game.
The Jazz scored a whopping 27 points in the entire second half. And really, they were at 77 points with less than a minute left in the game, which had their second half total all the way at 21 points. It was only because of a couple of garbage time shots at the end that it went to 27 points for the half. Bad halfs can happen i know, but this was not one of those. The Jazz did not really look like a good team who was just having a bad half. They just plain looked bad and they didn't even compete. (As Jerry would say.)

So if you're wondering why i'm saying negative things about the Jazz when i said i was not going to... well, i guess that goal of mine to only say good things resigned along with Jerry and Phil.

We are just one game into this new Jazz, so i know i'm not basing all my opinions on much, but so far i don't like what i've seen. So far, this is no Sloan Jazz team. The Jazz were Jerry's team. He was the leader. I know many have been talking this year about how Deron is stepping up as a leader of this team now that Boozer is gone. Yeah, i agree he needs to lead this team, but Jerry was the real leader. Until now. There really is no leader now. At least no one who can lead like Jerry. So i worry. I worry that the Jazz will never be the Jazz again. I worry they will fall farther away from the team that Jerry has built here. The one i've had pride in. The team i will always cheer for because they deserved cheering. I worry i will never feel that same pride in the Jazz again.

I will still cheer for this team and always will i believe... but for now they are not really the Jazz. Not the Jazz i know. I hope they will be again.

Game 54: Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls

2011-02-09T00:04:00.006-07:00

86 - 91
Season Record: 31-23

I'd been excited for this game since i got tickets for it at the beginning of the season. In the end really it was a good game, and really fun to be there, just the biggest bad from this game was the Jazz couldn't win it. After the game and the next day there was much to put a different look on this game for me, but, i will just focus on this particular game for this post and talk about that other sni in a different post.

I did like how the Jazz kept fighting in this one. It did seem like they really wanted it and had the passion to go after it. The really ironic thing is that when the game was over i thought to myself that i was glad this is a Jerry Sloan team, because i knew he wouldn't let them stop fighting. I thought this loss would be ok, the team could learn from it. The Jazz could continue being a Jerry team who would win games purely because they were tougher than the other team. Little did i know... little did i know.

The Chicago Jazz were here in this picture after beating their old team the Utah Jazz. Just sad to me. The Jazz did keep Boozer down and played some serious good defense on that guy, which was nice to see. The crowd did love seeing Boozer fail. And while i don't hate Boozer and never did hate him when he was on the Jazz, i also was happy to see Boozer fail in this game. Mostly for me though, because he is on another team and i'd always like him to feel like he left the best team he will ever play for.

Now lets talk some Deron Williams. Not stuff from after this game yet, but just things i thought while at this game and things i've thought about in recent days and weeks. First of all, in this game: Deron was outplayed by Rose and it really wasn't even all that close. Before i go any farther, i'd just like to say that i do like Deron Williams, and think he's a good player, and want him to succeed with the Jazz. That said, i was not happy with his decisions and play in this game... especially down the stretch. Now i can forgive a guy for some bad play, everybody has times they don't play well, but to me it seems like Deron is not getting better this year. If anything it seems he is going the opposite way.. down. I see less hustle, less pride in the Jazz, less heart, less taking over of games, less, less less.

I like Deron, and thats why i have these worries when i see these things. Maybe i'm wrong, maybe he is getting better and these things really aren't going on, but i just have not really loved his attitude this year. And these opinions are not coming from what happened with Jerry after this game. These thoughts have been in my head most of the season, i've just been trying to ignore them.

I can't remember when it was, i think just before the season or something, Boozer was talking to media or something and said Rose was a great point guard and something like he was the best he's seen. Sorry i can't remember exactly what he said but it was something along those lines. At the time i was mad a bit at Boozer, and thought he was just a dufus. I figured he'd be proved wrong throughout the year and especially when the Jazz face the Bulls. Usually Deron has done well head to head against top point guards in the league. It sucks to say it, but Boozer just might have been more right than i thought. Especially since Rose is just in his second season i believe. Rose was really good out there in this game against the Jazz.

Here's a couple videos i took and then just a recap of the game.

Good defense by the Jazz on Boozer

Deron's turnover pass to end the game... just broke my little heart. The crowd was all pumped and ready for the Jazz to kick butt. It didn't happen the way we hoped.

I'll talk about Jerry Sloan more in another post, but this will be the last game recap ever of a Sloan coached Jazz team. If it had to end, at least i am glad i can say i was able to see Jerry's final game. Its not what i would have wanted in a final game, but like it or not, it was his final game. So i end my post of Jerry's final game with a thank you to Jerry. He was the Jazz, and will always be the Jazz to me.

Game 53: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings

2011-02-07T11:04:00.003-07:00

107 - 104
Season Record: 31-22

I was hoping the Jazz would get this road win. I wanted them to have some momentum and feel good going into Wednesday's game against the Bulls.
The Jazz won the game with a good 4th quarter, which is really the most important thing. A win and a good 4th quarter. I hope this will help in getting the November Jazz team at the game against the Bulls Wednesday. Allston and I have been lookin forward to going to this Jazz and Bulls game for a while. I think the Jazz are on their way to being back at the level they were in November.
At this point of the season i'll take a Jazz win no matter how close the game is. I don't need a blowout win. Just a win.

Super Bowl 45: Matchup

2011-02-06T15:03:00.002-07:00

vs
25 - 31
No season matchups.
Prediction: Steelers win.
At this point there's hardly any worth in looking at records and stuff like that. Really its just both teams are playing well right now. Its just one game for all the marbles. I say the score will be something like 27-24.
It was close in the end, but it all seemed to come down to the turnovers. 3 on the Steelers and none for the Packers. And so again.... i was wrong.

Game 52: Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City

2011-02-05T11:03:00.003-07:00

105 - 121
Season Record: 30-22

Sucks to lose to the Thunder. The Jazz are just slipping farther and farther back from the top of the West. Its a really slow slip, but a slip. I did watch only the best part of this game, so in my book, by what i saw, the Jazz played great. (I only was able to watch the 1st quarter if you're wondering.)

I do think the Jazz are starting to play better tho, even if they are not on winning streaks right and left. They do seem to be figuring things out a little at a time.

Game 51: Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets

2011-02-04T11:02:00.004-07:00

113 - 106
Season Record: 30-21

This is what i like to see. I've been missing this kind of game from the Jazz for quite a while. I thought Deron got the best Technical foul so far this year for the Jazz. Raja had a couple good ones earlier in the year, but tonight was the best. If it wouldn't have gotten him kicked out of the game and suspended, i would have liked to see him do more to Smith. I like to see the Jazz play with unity like that and play like they actually really want to win. It was great to see them battle this one out and win it.

JR Smith didn't even seem to care that he knocked Bell down hard, didn't go for the ball or anything. But, i guess i could see that coming anyway. He's a dingus.

This game i thought was worth putting up the game recap on here.

Game 50: Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets

2011-02-02T11:00:00.003-07:00

96 - 97
Season Record: 29-21

Even with the Jazz losing this was a fun game to watch. With Williams out again and Watson playing more the Jazz fought hard in this one. Man it would have been such a better game if the Jazz won though. However, i did like how the Jazz played.

I read this on another blog, and i feel the same... i didn't mind this game anywhere near as much as those Jazz losses recently where there just was not much effort and they were getting blown out. I'd much rather see a tough fought game by the Jazz and have them lose a heartbreaker at the end. It just happens sometimes.

Game 49: Utah Jazz vs Charlotte Bobcats

2011-01-31T10:59:00.003-07:00

83 - 78
Season Record: 29-20

I did watch quite a bit o this game. It was nice to see the Jazz get the lead right away and keep it for the entire game. I don't have stats of that kind and i'm too lazy to find them, but i'm sure that has not happened much at all for the Jazz this season. This was not a blowout game at all, but that makes it a little impressive for the Jazz to never give up the lead even though the Bobcats stayed right there close for the whole game. The Jazz kept getting a bit of a lead and then would lose the lead and it'd be a close game.

I like basketball and i'm not saying that i want the season to be over by any means, but sometimes the middle of the season at this time can kinda get a little bla for me. I think a lot of that is that this seems to be the time most years that the Jazz have a while of playing like crap. Thats never fun for me so maybe thats why i look forward to later in the season. I'd just like to see the Jazz get some wins in all these losses to stay at least close to the 3 or 4 spot in the West. I'm pretty sure the Spurs are out of reach for the Jazz, but even the Lakers at the 2 spot are not really that far away from the Jazz. Definitely in reach right now, and i just hope the Jazz get out of this muddy middle of the season with that 2 spot still in close view. Thats all.

Jazz won this season series with the Bobcats 2-0

Game 48: Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors

2011-01-30T10:58:00.002-07:00

81 - 96
Season Record: 28-20

The good part of this game is that i didn't watch any of the second half except for the first couple minutes of the second half. So, i missed most of the bad stuff. What i did see was not really bad for the Jazz, but in the end, see below, the Warriors were the ones smiling, and playing hand clapping games.

Season Series vs Golden State: 1-2

Game 47: Utah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-01-28T10:55:00.006-07:00

108 - 100
Season Record: 28-19

Two things. The Jazz won the first quarter of a game, and they won the game.

All is good in Jazz land.

Three games left on the schedule this month. If the Jazz can turn around these last three games they can still end the month with a .500 record at 8-8 for the month. That'd be nice.

Game 46: Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs

2011-01-26T10:51:00.002-07:00

105 - 112
Season Record: 27-19

The Spurs have the best record in the NBA and i'd say are probably the best team at this point. They came into Utah tonight to play against the Jazz.
The Jazz had a decent first quarter and really hung on with this Spurs team. They weathered a run by the Spurs in the second quarter and stayed in striking distance the rest of the game. With a late game rally they were close enough in the end to make it interesting right down to the last few seconds. I guess they just needed a few Millsap threes to get this one. Pretty good effort tho by the Jazz. They seem pretty frustrated by this losing streak. I am too.

But..

Deron seemed to get things going a lot more this game and scored 39. Thats good, he'd really seemed to be struggling a bit of late, but didn't tonight at least in scoring.

Side note: I don't think the playoff race in the West will be quite as crazy this year. It could change and i could be wrong, but i think at least the top 8 will be pretty set a while before the end of the season. This could also be wrong, things do change. Teams go from good to suck pretty quick and also the other way around, from suck to good.

Game 45: Utah Jazz at LA Lakers

2011-01-25T10:49:00.002-07:00

91 - 120
Season Record: 27-18

There were some good things that happened in this game. The first is that the Jazz evened the Lakers in the third quarter. Both teams scored 27 points in that quarter. Another good thing, the Jazz scored way more than the 59 points that Cleveland managed to score against the Lakers a while back and the Jazz definitely did not lose by 50+ points like Cleveland did. The Jazz had a total of 16 offensive rebounds, thats pretty darn good.

So really i guess the only bad thing i can think of about this game is that the Jazz didn't win.

Season series vs Lakers tied 1-1

NFC Championship: Bears vs Packers

2011-01-23T00:01:00.007-07:00

NFL Postseason 2010: Conference Championships

14 - 21

Game Recap:
1st quarter: Packers go down and score on their first posession. Packers looked real good. Bears offense not really making the plays. A play here or there but nothing to keep drives going.

2nd quarter: Packers able to score again but Bears defense doing better. Packers offense kept getting great field position because the Bears couldn't get anywhere on offense. It looked like the Bears could get right back into this game before halftime even after such a bad game. They got the interception and were driving when Cutler threw a long pass downfield that was intercepted and pretty much half over. The game didn't really feel all that close at this point but the Bears were down only 14 and almost cut that to less. (About that interception at the end of the half: The play was reviewed and to me it sure looked like the ball hit the ground and moved around in his arms. The game announcers thought the call would be reversed as well and the Bears would get it back. For some reason tho, those who reviewed it thought it was a good catch. Bad break. Oh well.)

3rd quarter: Packers could not do anything against the Bears defense. Urlacher got an interception and the Bears were stopping the Packers. Bad news: Bears couldn't do anything either. Cutler got hurt so just played one series and did nothing. He went out for the rest of the game so Collins came in and did even worse for two series.

4th quarter. More great Bears defense. Caleb Hanie went in as QB for the Bears. He actually did pretty good. The Bears offense got going and scored a touchdown midway through the quarter. Just a 7 point game after all this. Bears defense still great so the offense gets the ball back with a chance to tie the game. This was where the play came that killed the Bears, the interception run back for a touchdown. The Packers were doing nothing against the Bears so that score just hurt. Now just under 5 minutes left and the Bears were down 14 again. BUT they kept moving the ball and got another touchdown from Bennett of a nicely placed pass. Just a 7 point game again. Story of the second half - Bears stop the Packers again and get the ball back. I couldn't believe they had it with a chance to go down the field and tie. I was so glad they were out there fighting and did not give up and had a chance in the end. Thats the Bears team i knew would show up. I just wish the offense part would have shown up in the first half. The Bears only allowed Green Bay 21 points in the game and if you figure 7 of those came off an interception return. So the Bears defense gave up only 14 points to the Packers. I'll take that any day, you can't really do much better than that. I read some recaps of the game and most of them still went on and on in praise of Rodgers even though the Bears kept him from doing a whole lot and Rodgers had the worst passer rating he's had in a while. I guess he did deserve a lot of praise compared to Cutler who couldn't really do anything at all this game. Back to the game the Bears had a chance to tie and were moving in closer when the game ending interception happened. See pictures below. That was it. The season is over. Congratulations to the dirty Packers. They played a good game, and now go on to the Super Bowl.
Game Highlights
Tillman Mic'd Highlights
Here's some pictures and stuff. I'll do another post in the next few days about this game. I've got a few more things to say but for now i'm done.

Urlacher had the sweet interception at the beginning of the second half that could have got the Bears going sooner... but Cutler and Collins could do nothing at the beginning of the second half, so the great defensive play by the Bears was just not enough all by itself.

The first of the two Bears touchdowns, once the Bears got going there in the final quarter, they were not half bad.

The play that most killed the Bears. If not for the interception and return for a touchdown by the freakin biggest man on the field, i think the Bears would have possibly and quite likely could have won this game. The Packers scored their first 14 points in the first half, but the Bears defense was holding them to nothing after that point. If this interception would not have happened i think the game just might have ended different.

The last moments of the Bears season. Up until this play the Bears were still in it, the season was still alive. The pass to Knox was intercepted and then run back a bit. This was the end of the Bears season.

This was the last thing i wanted to see at the end of the Game. Rodgers with a silly grin on his face.

Jay Cutler may not be a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers... he for sure is not seen as a better quarterback by anyone who is an expert of football... but for today at least, Cutler will be greater than Rodgers. The Bears will be greater than the Packers.

Chicago Bears Eve

2011-01-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

I'm giddy for tomorrow. Win or lose for the Bears i am just getting my jollies about the Bears in the NFC Championship game. So i've got a couple thoughts on this Chicago Bears game eve, and here they are.

1. Prediction: As you would expect i predict the Bears to win this game. The Packers have the pick of most i know, but this is nothing new for the Bears this season. When have the Bears been favored to win anything this season? Once or twice maybe. I say 27-17 for the Bears tomorrow.

2. Bring on the Packers. I know the Packers are playing good right now, and of course they are picked to win the Super Bowl over any of the 4 remaining teams. However, I would rather the Bears face no one else on their road to the Super Bowl. I want a Bears win, most for the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl, but next after that i just want to see the Bears knock out these Packers. I'm sick of the Packers and i want the Bears to beat them more than any other dang team in the league at this point. SO i'm glad the Bears got the Packers this week. Its going to be a great game and a great matchup. Bears and Packers have only met in the playoffs once before this, like in the 1940s or something. In my somewhat short career of being a Bears fan, this is by far my most anticipated game, and the biggest game i'll have seen. I read a lot of Bears blogs and stuff like that too and this game is the biggest one for Bears fans of 30+ years as well.
Lets just say this: I want nothing more than the Jazz to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs and go on to win a Championship. This Bears win over the Packers tomorrow is just barely a notch below that. Just a notch. The dirty Packers are just going to have to go home while the Bears go to the Super Bowl. Sorry.

3. What did everyone expect? Well i'd say just about no one expected the Bears to do what they have done this year. They have proven themselves time after time. They've accomplished a lot this season, much more than they were expected to. I am all for a Bears Super Bowl win this season. They've defied all the odds makers to get here. I'd be lying if i said i thought all along they'd make it to the Super Bowl and win it all. I've had my doubts during crappy times of the season. But i have most of the season and do believe in the Bears now. I've had my doubts in Cutler. I don't think he will ever be the best quarterback in the league, but i see him leading this Bears team all the way to the top. He's different, he can make a lot of mistakes, but that said he can play a great game and help the Bears win. I believe in Cutler as well. Go Bears.

Conference Championships: Matchups

2011-01-22T15:01:00.002-07:00

NFC Championship
vs
14 - 21

Season Meetings: Tied 1-1
at Chicago- Bears won 20-17
at Green Bay- Packers won 10-3
Prediction: Bears win
The end for the Bears. I was wrong with my prediction, but the Bears did do a lot of things i thought they would. They played a heck of a game and tho the game was very disappointing and the outcome was depressing, i was not disappointed in the Bears.

AFC Championship

vs
24 - 19

Season Meeting: Jets won 22-17
Prediction: Steelers win
Close game, kinda went how i thought it would. I didn't end up watching the game, i was just done with football after the Bears game. And at that point i didn't really care a whole lot who won this game.

Game 44: Utah Jazz at Philadelphia 76ers

2011-01-22T10:48:00.001-07:00

vs
85 - 96
Season Record: 27-17

Good things:
The Jazz did not lose by 24 like last night to the Celtics.

Game 43: Utah Jazz at Boston Celtics

2011-01-21T10:47:00.003-07:00

86 - 110
Season Record: 27-16

The Celtics looked happy, the Jazz did not. The Jazz lost the game tonight and have lost 3 in a row now. The last time the Jazz lost 3 in a row was in January of 2010. I guess thats a good thing the Jazz haven't gone on long losing streaks, but this one has me a little worried. I hope they surprise me, but i think things are going to keep getting worse before they get better, and i don't know how long it will take for them to figure this out.

Maybe it is something they can fix easily, but they just seem so off right now. They don't seem to care a whole lot and don't seem to be having all that much fun. I'm not too worried, Jazz teams seem to figure things out. I just have to wait for those better times and hope that they'll still be in a position to make a title run.

I do really enjoy watching Jazz games and love the Jazz but its just hard to watch lately. I'm sick of 1st quarters. Tonight it only took me about 4 minutes into the game to know that the Jazz were going to get blown out and it wouldn't be close. I guess i didn't "know" but i could pretty much guess what was going to happen.. and i was right. I've said it lots that the Jazz have some good things going and have shown ability to comeback in games this season. One thing it seems like they haven't been doing tho is blowing teams out. I don't expect it every game or anything, just once in a while, even against a lower level team would be fine. They just don't seem to be blowing anyone out. Every game goes down to the end.

I think i'm going to stop talking about the bad things about the Jazz. It just makes me mad. Probably in like a month things will be going better for the Jazz and i won't even really remember these times. I know teams just go through slumps sometimes. So for now even if the Jazz suck and lose a lot more games i'm just going to concentrate on the good. Just the good things, thats all. So i'll end this post now so i don't get tempted to say bad things. Good day.

Game 42: Utah Jazz at New Jersey Nets

2011-01-19T10:46:00.004-07:00

95 - 103
Season Record: 27-15

For a recap of this game, just see 90% of the recaps from other games, except unlike the early games in the season, the Jazz are not winning them any more. So the Jazz are now 27-15, tied for the 4 spot in the West with Oklahoma City. 3-6 are all 1 game apart in the standings, so really the Jazz are just right in that mix. The Lakers at the 2 spot are not far ahead, but also the Nuggets at the 7 spot are hardly behind the pack either.

I guess what i'm saying is that the Jazz are fine and are in an ok spot, but they could easily drop to a not very ok spot. Luckily so far this season the Jazz have not had extended stretches of bad play and losing lots of games, they have found ways to win games and stay in the mix in the West. Its normal to have bad streaks and so i'm not all that worried right now about the Jazz. There is still a lot of season left, but hopefully the Jazz don't fall too far before they can figure this out. Hopefully they can figure it out. Thats not a for certain either.

The Jazz were dominated on rebounds and have been many many times this season. It feels to me like the Jazz are just having a struggle to play hard and play together as a team. I don't know.. its hard to say, i'm not on the team, i don't know what the players want and how close they are as a team.

There's a lot of good things the Jazz do, but enough bad that right now they wouldn't contend for the Championship. They'd be a first or second round exit, conference finals at best. Things can change, sometimes things can change real fast. Teams can even get hot all of a sudden even as late as the playoffs and make a title run. Lets hope for some changes that can help the Jazz have a better shot at the big prize.

Halfway through the season now. Maybe i'll start with my Jazz confidence ratings when i feel like it.
My Jazz Confidence to this point: 63%
Check out my system here.

Game 41: Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards

2011-01-17T10:45:00.003-07:00

101 - 108
Season Record: 27-14

Same old story again! The Jazz got it close in the very end, made me hope for an unlikely victory, but it wasn't to be.

This was an early 11 am game and i would have missed it if i hadn't turned on the radio at work.

Divisional Round: Bears vs Seahawks

2011-01-16T00:02:00.005-07:00

NFL Postseason 2010: Divisional Round

35 - 24

Bears playoff football begins!

Game Highlights
Peppers wired Highlights
Just about as good as a Bears game gets. Snow in the first half, great defense, and everything clicking for Bears offense. Best of all, Bears are still playing football in the playoffs. Four teams left now, and one Bears win away from getting back to the Super Bowl. Many many good pictures from this. I'll let the pictures direct my blog and if i have more to say in the end.. I will.

Cutler's first playoff game ever. I know i've not always felt real great about Cutler mostly from his struggles last season and some this season, but he has done mostly great since the Bears bye week. Cutler has been given no love from media and experts. While i understand where they are coming from with his interceptions and such, he hasn't been given much credit for the good things he has done this year, most of which is led the Bears to an 11-5 record during the season, and now a trip to the NFC championship game.

It wasn't really snowing at kickoff, but got thicker and thicker as the game went on until halftime it pretty much stopped and they cleared the snow off the field.

The Bears led 21-0 at half, and pushed that lead to 28-0 i think in the second half.

Matt Forte did just what i expected and played well, he's such a big part of this offense. He went for a dive into the endzone, but got hit and upended short of the goal line.

Chester Taylor pretty much ran just as well. Both backs have been great.

As you can see, there were quite a few Bears celebrations for good plays.

The game was really not as close as the final score says. The Bears dominated this game until the last half of the 4th quarter, they sorta seemed to stop playing. Why the crap would Forte try to make a pass like this. I have no idea what they were thinking. If he's going to take the snap, just run it or hand it off to someone else. Forte is definitely not a QB. Don't try to make a pass again Forte. Unless you're up by a ton of points, i guess i won't be too upset if you try it again.

Jay played really good in his first playoff game. Like i said, no one expected him to be one of the great QBs this week, but he really was. He played smart, passed great, ran great with 2 rushing TDs.

You should smile Jay.

Jay is too cool to kneel with the rest of them.

The Bears will host the NFC championship game next week. The Packers come to Chicago again, this time to determine the NFC representative in the Super Bowl.
I didn't like the Bears losing to the Packers at the end of the season to let Green Bay into the playoffs. Now that the Packers took out the Eagles and the Falcons handily, the Bears have to take the Packers down to get to the Super Bowl. I think the Bears have more up their sleeve than they showed the Packers in that final game of the season, but the Packers are going to be a hard team to beat. Can the Bears do it? Heck yeah

Divisional Round: NFC Matchups

2011-01-15T01:46:00.007-07:00

vs
21 - 48
13-3 ........................... 11-6
Season Meeting - Falcons 20-17
Prediction: Falcons Win
The Packers killed the Falcons in this one. I think i would have liked to see the Bears meet that Falcons team in the NFC championship. I don't think the Falcons looked very good tonight. Maybe it was just the Packers making them look bad. Either way the Bears have to get past the Seahawks first, then worry about the Packers.

vs
35 - 24

11-5 .............................. 8-9
Season Meeting - Seahawks 23-20
Prediction: Bears Win
See my Bears game post for what i have to say about this game.

Divisional Round: AFC Matchups

2011-01-15T00:52:00.004-07:00

vs
21 - 28

14-2 ................... 12-5
Season Meetings: Tied 1-1
at NYJ: Jets 28-14
at NE: Patriots 45-3
Prediction: Patriots Win
The Jets are a good team, but this was probably a surprise to just about everyone. During pre-game, all the commentator guys picked the Patriots to win. Everyone has been raving lately about how good the Patriots are and how they will be in the Super Bowl and whatnot. Well, the Jets beat them. It was a bit of a surprise to me, but i'm not too sad about it. I feel like if the Bears beat the Packers and make it to the Super Bowl that i'd rather they played the Jets than the Patriots. I think they'd have a better chance against the Jets. The Steelers could be there and i'm not really sure about the Bears matching up against them.

vs
31 - 24

12-4 .................... 13-4
Season Meetings: Tied 1-1
at PIT: Ravens 17-14
at BAL: Steelers 13-10
Prediction: Ravens Win
I thought i was going to be right about this prediction. The Ravens were up 21-7 at halftime. The second half was all the Steelers tho. I was 0-2 on my picks for today.

Game 40: Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Caveliers

2011-01-14T10:44:00.003-07:00

121 - 99
Season Record: 27-13

This game wasn't important enough for many pictures. This is the only one they had. But i saw some of the game. The Jazz played a good game and finally won a first quarter.

Cleveland played tuesday against the Lakers. They lost 57-112. So after that game, this game had to seem like a sort of victory. They got 99 points tonight and only lost by 22.

Season series v Cleveland: 2-0

Game 39: Utah Jazz vs New York Knicks

2011-01-12T10:42:00.003-07:00

131 - 125
Season Record: 26-13

You can't really score 131 points in a game and get off to a slow start. So thats good the Jazz got off to a good start tonight. One of the few times this season. I listened to most of the game at work and i think the better start was really really good for the Jazz in this game. Yeah they have shown they can battle back and overcome a deficit. Yeah they can stop teams defensively at times to get back in a game. However, i've seen many games that they have got down early and the other team can stay hot and hold off the Jazz. I'm sure this game would have been just that. The Knicks were shooting great and the Jazz couldn't really stop them, but it didn't really get the Jazz down much because they were in the lead.

I know its obvious, but the Jazz really play better from ahead than from behind. I'm glad they can play decent from behind and overcome and comeback, but man they really play better when in the lead, they are just a better team. True of all teams i think. Starting slow is just one chink in the Jazz armor i think.

Wildcard Round: Chicago Bears Bye

2011-01-09T20:11:00.003-07:00

NFL Postseason 2010: Wildcard Round

4 Teams were eliminated this week while the Bears waited for their Divisional round matchup.
8 Teams are now remaining and the Bears have just two games to win to make it to the Super Bowl.

The Bears go up against the 4 seed Seahawks next week at home at Soldier Field. The Bears did lose their regular season match against the Seahawks so i know that the game is not an automatic win by any means. The Seahawks are definitely good enough to beat the Bears. Still tho, this is the matchup we would have hoped for of all the playoff teams. The Seahawks went 7-9 during the regular season. They do have something to try to prove, and they did that against the Saints this week.

So i was a little bummed not to watch Bears football this weekend, but i was also glad i didn't have to watch them play and risk being eliminated from the season.
The Bears have their road set. Seahawks, Packers or Falcons, Super Bowl...
doable.

Wildcard Round: NFC Matchups

2011-01-09T08:09:00.001-07:00

36 - 41
11-5 ....................... 7-9
Season Meeting - Saints 34-19
Prediction: Saints win

This was my most confident prediction of all these wildcard games. Not that i didn't think Seattle had a chance, but did not really think they would pull it off. Well, they did. Hopefully that will shut up the people saying Seattle didn't deserve to go to the playoffs and they don't belong there. They won their division and made it to the playoffs and are now moving on to the divisional round. The Seahawks are a possible matchup for the Bears now in the Divisional round. It all depends on the Eagles Packers game. I'll talk more about the matchup for the Bears when we know if they'll play the Eagles or the Seahawks. Either way, what an upset this was for Seattle and what a great game it was for those fans to see having this game at home. It was actually pretty cool to see the underdog win like this at home.

16 - 21
10-6 ....................... 10-6
Season Meeting - Packers 27-20
Prediction: Packers win
Packers won, i thought they would. The Eagles didn't seem to be playing quite so good lately and the Packers are pretty much playing their best of the year. This win by the Packers puts the Bears against the Seahawks in the Divisional round. The Packers will play the Falcons. I don't know for sure if i would have rather the Bears play the Eagles or the Seahawks, but if we just go by regular season record, getting the Seahawks in the next round is a very good thing for the Bears. We'll see.

Wildcard Round: AFC Matchups

2011-01-09T07:24:00.001-07:00

vs
7 - 30
10-6 ......................... 12-4
No Season Meeting
Prediction: Ravens win
Ravens dominated after the first bit of the game. I almost changed my pick on this game right before it started. But i didn't.

vs
17 - 16
11-5 ................ 10-6

No Season Meeting
Prediction: Jets win
Not too surprising to me how this one went. I figured it would probably be a close game. Pretty cool ending if you're a Jets fan. It looked like Manning had led the Colts to a game winning field goal, but thats not what it turned out to be.

Game 38: Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets

2011-01-08T23:40:00.001-07:00

103 - 99
OT
Season Record: 25-13

Ok i said i wanted to say some good things about the Jazz so i will do that in this post... after i say just one thing. Holy crap, please just start games better Jazz. You are becoming less able to comeback and win games night after night and the Jazz record in December and January shows that.

Good things about el Jazz:
1. Jazz have only lost back to back games twice so far this season. They lost games 1 and 2, and then games 36 and 37. The Jazz have always bounced back good from a loss and won the next game. Hopefully the 36,37 thing is not an indication of what will come. If the Jazz can keep up with not losing two games in a row it will be a huge thing for them and will help them get farther in the playoffs.

2. Lots of different guys are standing out in each game for the Jazz. They have a lot of players who can have big games and make big contributions.

3. The Jazz are coached by Jerry Sloan. Win or lose i love that the Jazz have Jerry as their coach. I just hope they can win one for him before he is done. He might end up with the ranks of John and Karl tho. Close but not quite.

4. The Jazz have quite a decent road record this season. They are 12-6 on the road. The road games have really been a struggle for the Jazz in recent years, so this is good to see them play better on the road. They have been playing better on the road than at home.

5. This was a good entertaining game and it was good to see the Jazz pull out another close game in the end.

Season Series vs Rockets: 1-0

Jazz Player of the Game: Paul Millsap
Paul did it again and the Jazz pretty much owe this win to Millsap.

Game 37: Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies

2011-01-07T16:51:00.001-07:00

99 - 110
Season Record: 24-13

Ok so i was thinking while i watched the beginning of this game as i was frustrated again at the Jazz in the first bit... I thought that when i wrote this post i'd have to talk about some of the good things that the Jazz do and some of their strengths. They do have some. Seeing how the game went tho i think i'll just hold off on that post i don't really have a ton of good things going through my head right now. Maybe in the next game recap i'll feel like it.

I only saw the first half of the game. This is what i was doing after that. Monster trucks.

I came out of monster trucks hoping the Jazz had come back and won the game and that they had not dropped two straight games since the first two games of the year. I hoped, but they did lose two straight games. Poo

Since winning their game on Dec 1 and winning 7 straight, the Jazz have been 9-8. At that point after Dec 1 they were 15-5. I know there's going to be some crappier times during the season, i think this is one of them.

Game 36: Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks

2011-01-05T12:28:00.006-07:00

87 - 110
Season Record: 24-12

The Hawks owned the Jazz tonight, in Salt Lake worst of all. Like i've said before, i like a lot of things about the Jazz this year so far, and at the beginning of the season if you would have asked if i'd be happy if the Jazz were 24-12 i would have said yeah. However, there are a few things that have me worried about the Jazz that they've got to fix if they want to go far into the post-season.
1. Start games better. I'm sick of watching first quarters and seeing the Jazz get down double digits in just about every game, home and away. Its good that they've shown that they have enough heart to stick in games and come back and win, but, we've seen that now, we know they can do it, stop making it so that you have to every night.
2. Play better at home. Like Paul says the Jazz have not played very well at home this year. We are used to the Jazz being great at home and hardly ever losing there. This year the Jazz are 13-7 at home and 11-5 on the road. I'm happy about their success on the road this year, but their home record is just not good enough. A few years ago the Jazz lost just 5 games at home all year. Come on buddies.. play better at home.

Season Series vs Atlanta: 1-1

Game 35: Utah Jazz vs Detroit Pistons

2011-01-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

102 - 97
Season Record: 24-11

Another close game. Jazz outscored in the first quarter. As long as the Jazz keep winning these close ones against teams they should beat i don't care how they do it. Just win them and don't drop a ton of games to lower level teams.

Jazz Player of the Game: Paul Millsap
4 for 4 from the line in the last couple minutes. Big free-throws to tie the game up and then give the Jazz a 2 point lead.