Just a bit smarter than the rest.

"Pac-Man is a game about the hunted, suddenly empowered (by nature, god, technology, whatever), becoming the hunter. Ghosts... chase Pac-Man around a maze. He eats a pill and becomes a superman. Now those hunting him flee in terror. You can decide for yourself whether or not this is abstract art. I will decide for you that it is a fantastic idea for a video game."

Reason #407 Why I love Kotaku. It often provides insightful commentary on the industry I've put a large amount of time in. This is better than 99% of the descriptions of Pac-Man you're likely to hear. It makes sense and it doesn't feel overthought. It make sense why a game of this concept works so well. Every successful game balances this well. Halo, where you feel like a badass going up against grunts or when you're in a tank. Or scurrying in fear trying to avoid Brute patrols and Wraiths when you're heavily out-gunned. Well played sir. Well played.

WEEK 12
Thursday, November 25

New England at Detroit, 12:30 pm tickets
I really do want Detroit to win this game. I like the underdogs.

New Orleans at Dallas, 4:15 pm tickets
This could be the best game of the night. A resurgent Dallas team going against the team whose undefeated streak they ended last year.

Cincinnati at New York Jets, 8:20 pm tickets
The Cardiac Jets vs the team formerly known as the Cardiac Cats. Now they’re the Flatline Bungles. Either way I foresee this game being a blowout in favor of the Jets.

Sunday, November 28
Tennessee at Houston, 1 pm tickets
Texans

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 1 pm tickets
Baltimore

Jacksonville at New York Giants, 1 pm tickets
NYG. I hate Jacksonville I think/hope/pray that they’ll wake up

Carolina at Cleveland, 1 pm tickets
Cleveland is a better team that will be starting an actual QB. I think Colt McCoy has more career passes thrown.

Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 1 pm tickets
Pittsburgh is a better team than Buffalo. I know, that’s the same argument I used last time.

Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 pm tickets
Philly is awesome

Minnesota at Washington, 1 pm tickets
I’m going with the team with the less dysfunctional team.

Green Bay at Atlanta, 1 pm tickets
Atlanta

Kansas City at Seattle, 4:05 pm tickets
Seattle

Miami at Oakland, 4:05 pm tickets
I hate the raiders. Yet I think they’ll win this game. East Coast team on the west coast

St. Louis at Denver, 4:15 pm tickets
I generally root for the Rams, but in this case I ’m going against my root against the co

San Diego at Indianapolis, 8:20 pm tickets
Indy will win this game. I’m not that sure about this though. If I were a gambling man (which I’m not) I’d go with the spread.

Monday, November 29
San Francisco at Arizona, 8:30 pm tickets
I’m so sick of the 49ers, but they’re better than the awful Cardinals.

Bills Thoughts

I generally save my posts for good teams. However in celebration of win number 1 for the Bills I'm dedicating this to them.

In Madden 11, I worte this about my franchise Bills.

The Bills are currently an awkward team. They're 2-2. They beat the division rival Dolphins and Jets and were bludgeoned by the Pats and Packers. The difference is obvious. The Patriots and Packers scored 42 and 20 points respectively. Also, as a surprise, the Bills aren't a just a pass first team, they're a pass only team. This is why they've gotten rid of Mashawn Lynch and Brian Westbrook for Draft picks. So far it has been successful. Of course this is provided that the Tampa Bay Bucs are as bad as they appear to be. Injuries have also crippled this years squad. The Bills are not a Super bowl contender and probably not a playoff contender. Both of their interchangeable QBs are awful with current starter Trent Edwards getting benched in the Pats game.

Real Life

- The Bills need to keep the other team down, because they won't win shootouts.
- The Bills have generally been a pass only team.
- They got rid of Marshawn Lynch for draft picks
- Trent Edwards was benched, then let go.

Reason #484 why Madden is realistic

Let us Pray

 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work - James 3:16

"For you so loved the NBA that you sent "the Chosen One" to Miami so that the Eastern Conference may live. He has suffered greatly, but he has come through for his team dropping 31 on the hated Celtics. May you continue to bless King James, that we may all be witnesses to his victory not with a crown of thorns but a championship ring. Amen"

But seriously,

I had high expectations of the Heat and those expectations were dampened yesterday. Lebron is as advertised but the team is not. They need time to gel to make this work. Unlike the Celtics, the team is centered around young guys. I don't like Bosh, but his lackluster individual performance could have been the result of Boston's defense. However, how is Miami supposed to beat the beasts of the East? I’m also worried about the harm that the Bible verse predicts. If the Heat don’t start off well, could a schism form  between Wade (3), Bosh (1), and Lebron (6)?

Also, I've gotta admit that I like the Lebron Commercial "Rise" was great. The shot at Charles Barkley was funny. The commercial, and its references (some more subtle than others is better explained here. If you hate Lebron the commercial won't change your mind. But if you’re a bandwagon hater, then the commercial has a decent message behind it. Should I be what you want me to be. Sorry rest of the NBA, everyone can't be Durant and Duncan. Sometimes people like attention, like Charles Barkley and MJ, who blatantly criticized him for the move to Miami. I have no doubt that they would have gladly played together if possible. (Think 91 Jordan wouldn’t have wanted Barkley at Power Forward over Oakley or Grant… I thought so. Didn’t Barkley go championship chasing at the end of his career? I thought so.)

Quarter 1 NFL Power Rankings

Certain Contenders
1	Jets	I have them as a tentative number one. On one hand, they are the only team that is amazing. Sanchez has 0 interceptions and 0 fumbles. On the other hand I don't trust Sanchez, and I am absolutely fearful that the Jets will collapse under their own pressure.
2	Ravens	Surprise, the Ravens are good. They’ve become more of a pass offense than I’m used to. Flacco might be the best QB in Ravens history despite the fact that this is faint praise.
3	Steelers	The Steelers are only so low because they lost to the Ravens who I still contend are a great team. That being said, they have had an impressive set of wins and they've gone 3-1 without Big Ben. Bye this week and then they play the Browns. Don't be surprised if they move up
4	Packers	The Packers are still the team to beat in their division, and as far as I'm concerned, they're the team to beat in the conference. I like their defense, and I think their passing attack is pretty impressive.
5	Saints	They are only this high because they are still the Super Bowl Champs and have (a tie for) the best record in the conference. They haven't played like a Super Bowl winner.
6	Texans	I was right about Houston. I hope. I said I should have drafted Arian Foster, but. I didn't and I'm sorry for it. Schaub has been pedestrian.
7	Falcons	I wasn't down on the Falcons but I’m a bit surprised at their win in New Orleans. Their offense is great. I know I'm going to get flack for rating them below a team that they beat, but I still don't completely trust the Falcons
Probable Contenders
8	Broncos	The Best passing offense in the League is in Denver. You cannot be serious
9	Cowboys	I overreact to every win and every loss. Guilty as charged, but I'm pacified by the win against the Texans. Hopefully Dez Bryant pays Roy Williams back with a great on field performance coming out of the bye. Is this my bias at work? Probably but It is dependent on how the 'Boys do coming out of the bye. If they don't show up for these games then I'm dropping them quickly.
10	Chiefs	The best record in the league. They haven't lost yet. They are almost certainly going to drop, especially because they are going to play the team below them in the rankings this Sunday. However, they are a young fun team.
11	Colts	Not great, I said that their lack of defense would catch up and that hasn't really been the case, their offense has been somewhat Stagnant by Indianapolis standards
12	Patriots	The other side of the Moss deal is that the Pats offense is now downgraded a bit. I think they are still above average. BTW the Pats have double picks for the 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round and 4th round.
13	Vikings	Show me something. Make me a believer. I have yet to see anything from the Vikes to make it seem like they'll be a real contender. I think they could lose 10 games. Their WR core hasn't been able to step up. Then again, Sidney Rice will be returning soon. Very soon. Edit: Randy "Straight Cash, Homey" Moss is coming to the team. I'm so unhappy because of it. I mean I'm happy for Moss and for the Vikings. But they could potentially rip through the next couple of games.
14	Dolphins	Hi haters. The dolphins are still good. They are fun, interesting and they aren't like any other team in the league. The Pats loss exposed the dolphins’ special teams woes. And is it surprising that they miss Ted Ginn Jr. now. Go figure.
Possible Contenders
15	Chargers	San Diego, Wish you had signed Vincent Jackson now, eh? Thank you management for letting the distraction boil over for too long, and tanking your team in the process. And Rivers may literally explode there is another WR drop this year.
16	Bears	They are who we thought they were, last year. I expected Cutler to do well and I jumped off the wagon too early. And lo and behold the return of the windy city flyer, Devin Hester. I’m not as concerned about the giants loss, just because it was relatively fluky. I'm more concerned the Cutler was hurt during the course of the game.
17	Bengals	The Pass offense was supposed to be amazing this year. It isn't. The Run offense was supposed to be solid, it's not. The Defense was supposed to be a division contender. It might be the 4th best in the AFC North
18	Redskins	After the Cowboys win they were a bit overhyped. They still have a dysfunctional offense that pales in comparison to their defense.
19	Giants	They stink. I'm not a believer at all in the Giants. They (the defense) is not very good.
20	Lions	The Stafford injury is crippling them. I think they could have had a better record were it not for the injury he got early in the year. To be fair, Shaun Hill has been amazing over the last couple of week. Jahvid Best is overworked and I am highly worried that his career won't last.
21	Rams	Check out the young gun Bradford. I'm still shocked at how well the Rams have done in the last few games
22	Buccaneers	They are 2-1, so I should give them some love. But I don’t believe in Tampa Bay right now, they are not the real deal so there is no use in pretending that they are.
23	Titans	I'm pretty down on the team from Nashville. Don' t know why but they always were more of a Madden team than a real life team.
24	Eagles	Vick. 2-0 when Vick starts. 0-2 when Kolb appears. To be fair. Kolb was hurt in game one and Vick got hurt in game 2. I don't know what I have to say about this team. Unlike most people I trust Andy Reid to lead them to a good regular season and guide them through their regular season. That being said, if Kolb is their QB of the future, that's fine, just don't expect them to make any noise in January until the future.
25	Raiders	Typical raiders stuff. Free agent QB benched, tons of crippling injuries, and the raiders are a bad middling team. Once again, typical.
26	Jaguars	Seeing the Jags causes me to be incredibly bored. They have no home crowd, they win in boring ways and Mike Sims-Walker needs to stop sleeping with David Garrard's wife or Spilling ink on Jack Del Rio's suits, or Carrying someone's pads or whatever he's doing that he's getting no targets.
27	Seahawks	2-2, division leaders. Good only at home.
28	49ers	Gore! Gore! Gore! Honestly, don’t know what to say, just take everything I said in the preseason rank and negate it.
Dead in the Water
29	Browns	Seneca Wallace is starting. Nuff Said.
30	Panthers	Wanted: good QB. That is all.
31	Cardinals	The Cards have been defined by their QBs, neither of whom is Kurt Warner. The security blanket is Fitzgerald who hasn't been able to do anything.
32	Bills	Despite thinking they were not going to be good they have managed to limbo under my low expectations. The pass offense is awful. The run game is stagnant. Spiller gets no love... The defense has been crippled. They're in the Jake Locker sweepstakes.

On the Docket- Week 3

WEEK 3

Sunday, September 26
Buffalo at New England, 1 pm
Can't we demote Buffalo to the CFL already. They haven't been relevant in years, and they're going to Toronto, Canada anyway. The Toronto Bills can play other teams on its level rather than get buried every week. Then again I may be giving the Bills too much credit. Worse off they're playing in Foxboro right after the Pats lost in convincing fashion to the Jets. Start Brady this week on your fantasy squad. Start the Pats D. Start the kicker, provided that he doesn't get fatigued from kicking extra points every 6 minutes. This one has 41-7 written all over it.

Atlanta at New Orleans, 1 pm
I don't know how good ATL is. But they're in the superdome, and I'm never ever picking them to beat the Saints in New Orleans. I guess I'll have to wait. Doesn't hurt that Turner is injured. EDIT: (No pun intended)

Detroit at Minnesota, 1 pm
Detroit is better than everyone (except me) thought. Minnesota is worse than everyone (including me) thought. I'd say I smell upset, but I just can't bet against the Vikings here.

Cleveland at Baltimore, 1 pm

Baltimore is going to pitch a shut out. Flacco will have to hand the ball off to the Browns for Cleveland to win this one.

Dallas at Houston, 1 pm
One team will be 0-3 the other will be 3-0.

San Francisco at Kansas City,
Love KC and all, I really do. Ryan Succop won me my matchup last week and all but come on San Fran. If they lose this one, even in Arrowhead, I'm diving off the 49ers bandwagon.

Tennessee at New York Giants, 1 pm
If Addai can torch the NYG defense, imagine what CJ2k is going to do. (Althought if he has a pedestrian performance, we might have to call him CJ1.5K)

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 1 pm
If Pitt doesn't win this one I give up. I've picked both teams to lose each week.

Cincinnati at Carolina, 1 pm
Carolina has inept QB. Cinci has great corners. Wonder how thats going to turn out?

Philadelphia at Jacksonville, 4:05 pm
Dammit Kolb. Here's hoping he either pulls another 300-yd game out of his hat, or is awful and gets pulled in time for Vick to save the day.

Washington at St. Louis, 4:05 pm
Washington has to win this one, right?

Oakland at Arizona, 4:15 pm
If Oakland wins, is it an upset? I didn't think so either.

San Diego at Seattle, 4:15 pm
Seattle. No particular reason, just feeling that the week 1 energy could carry over

Indianapolis at Denver, 4:15 pm
Indy. Just because they need to win 12 games.

New York Jets at Miami, 8:20 pm
Hmm. I think the Dolphins could upset the Jets here, but do I have the courage to pick against Gang Green. I think I will.

Monday, September 27
Green Bay at Chicago, 8:30 pm tickets
Green Bay. Could be a shootout though. I'm back on the Cutler bandwagon.

The Dog Days of Summer

It’s summer. No sports going on actively that I care to watch. Although that may be a good thing considering that I’m doing LSAT Prep at St John’s University School of Law. Football is only a few months away. Baseball’s playoffs are still a while away. Right now its the summer. It’s a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the near future. And seeing as I‘m still a student, it’s not too selfish for me to consider the year as starting in August. With that being said… recap time

I’m 21.

Lebron, Wade and Bosh are joining together. Seeing as the Lakers seem to be a lock every single year now, I’m glad that the Eastern Conference has gotten its collective act together. Miami should be a lock for first playoff seeding. Although I still don’t think that they could beat the Magic in a best of seven series, they have the power to be a true contender to the Lakers, Celtics, Magic triumvirate. There used to be a team from Ohio but when King James left he took their chances of success with him.

The other team I feel should be on everyone’s watch list is OKC. Clearly I’m an unabashed Durant fan. I love the Thunder though. They play great team defense. The superstar is low-key and unselfish. Everyone on the team has the ability to score at the last minute. That’s the difference between OKC and last year’s Cleveland squad. Everyone else seemed unwilling to shoot but the best player. In Oklahoma everyone can shoot except the center. 

Football season is coming up and I’m looking to figure out what I’m going to do. I want to do some pre-season evaluation. I feel like I’m at the point where I can make unbiased predictions about teams that don’t play in Texas.  Mostly anyway.

Baseball. Yankees. All else is irrelevant.