The State Of The New York Football Giants (2009 Season Recap)
1.4.10
M.D. Wright
***EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a continuation of the mid-season assessment of the Giants from early November in 2009.
If you think we're going to win the division or make the playoffs (especially if we don't beat Atlanta, which will be the team looking for the last wild card slot most likely)...
...nah, we're done. If we somehow win the division, it will be because we have the Skins and a Vikings team that will be resting their starters late. I honestly think it will take 11 wins to win the division and with the way we play, we won't even win 10.
I'm going to tell you why. When teams slump, they have answers to fix it. Usually, it's because 1-3 guys are hurt for a few weeks, maybe one is out for the season. Maybe it's because of schematics.
However, that's not the issue here. ... Read More
Cris Carter or one of those guys on ESPN made a great point (which is rare) there are problems that the Giants have that WON'T GET FIXED THIS YEAR.
1. We REALLY miss Kenny Phillips more than Giants haters, casual fans and even some Giants fans figured we would. I knew we would miss him ENORMOUSLY.
2. Our offensive line scheme has been atrocious in the running game. We're getting manhandled like the Falcons offensive line. We, on numerous occasions, have been unable to convert 3rd and 1s with a 265-lb running back. Our linemen are getting pushed around and manhandled in both the running AND passing game. Out of everything, that's the ONE thing that possibly COULD be fixed.
3. The defensive line can't get consistent pressure. We get there, but don't get the sack. We get there, and maybe strip the ball -- but don't get the recovery (that has happened a half dozen times this season by my count and each time we DIDN'T get the recovery, the team went down and scored DEAR GOD). We get there, as we did with Rivers today, and hang all over him and he still makes a throw to a WIDE OPEN player, which leads to my other point:
4. Our linebackers are ridiculously flawed. Clark can't cover downfield. I like him as a person, he's a good dude, and he has a good skill set, but he's good in run support. I have seen him on far too many occasions trailing plays downfield and out of position to make a play on his man. We are a SIEVE across the middle of the field. Pierce is a fatass and can't run anymore. It's outrageous how he is still starting. We definitely need to be eyeing a Mike in the draft or free agency. Boley, with all his speed, CAN'T stay healthy.
5. The cumulative effect of the defensive issues in the front seven leads to our already severely depleted secondary who can't cover for SHIT to be compromised further. Evidenced again by the final drive of the game when the Chargers went RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD with no resistance whatsoever. Even guys like Corey Webster, who is a Top 5 CB are being made to look foolish because they can't get to the QB when they blitz up front.
We're not getting Phillips back this year, obviously (and what confounds me more and more every time we get beat deep -- which is a half dozen times a game -- is the fact that he was able to play. His knee was arthritic, but they forced him to go on IR; he had played two GREAT games so obviously he was fine with playing through the pain). Canty just finally played today, but was a non-factor. Same with Boley. Whenever Ross DOES come back (who stays out almost 3 months with a hamstring unless it's torn? I've never seen that before) he's going to be rusty. We can't stop anyone when we need to.
We can't convert short yardage. We can't protect Eli and our special teams has me AGHAST on both sides of it every week. Hixon is WORTHLESS to this team. He doesn't run routes properly, nor does he make adjustments with the ball in mid-air. He doesn't do anything in the return game. We just have terrible decision-makers outside of Coughlin. Gilbride has caused several coronaries and strokes by some Giants fans I'm sure, since 2005. Every week he finds a new way to hold this team back and cost us games when we lose (all but maybe 5 or 6 losses since 2006 can be attributed to Gilbride's awful play-calling which leaves 10-20 points on the field on the average every game). Bill Sheridan can't decide when to blitz and when to fall back and play zone. Every week he gets outcoached. We really miss Spags, and I was one of the few people who was saying he was going to regret taking that job. The Rams aren't going anywhere in the next 3-4 years. By then, he'll be fired and be looking to be someone ELSE'S Defensive Coordinator. He should've stayed here, worked his magnificent scheme and succeeded Coughlin once he burns out and gets sick and tired of boneheaded players (112 yards in penalties today???) because I know I'd probably have a stroke and die on the field if I was coaching this team right now.
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(January 2010)
It turns out the things I wrote back in November were right. But then again, this has been my team since 1985 and I've watched them ardently. Our defense has NEVER been as bad as it was this season in my entire lifetime. That's not just aesthetically, but also STATISTICALLY. We had (for all intents and purposes) the worst defense in the NFL.
As of January 4, 2010, the Giants fired Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan. Giants fans began questioning his hire during and especially after the Saints' loss in Week 6, when the Giants seemed to be two steps behind everything Saints' head coach Sean Payton and Gary Gibbs were doing.
The Giants' problems run deep, but the good thing is, everything can be fixed. I will do a quick breakdown of what needs to be done at each position going into the offseason.
Although we could not realistically see it coming, the Saints game was a precursor of things to come. The Saints had the most potent offense for most of the season, so losing to them was no sin. But then the first Philadelphia game (the Iggles are one-dimensional and live by the big play, which is the common denominator in every one of their losses), and on and on from there (although remarkably, we beat Dallas handily -- go figure).
GRADES:
HEAD COACH: C+
Coughlin should have final say and sign off on any decisions made by either of his coordinators and who gets cut or signed. The debacle that was the Giants' defense was indefensible. Too much talent to play like a sieve. This defense couldn't have stopped option teams in FBS college subdivision. The offense was potent, but too often Coughlin trusted Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride (who he goes back 20 years with as Gilbride is a Connecticut native) with play-calling that stifled many Giants' drives. As potent as the offense was, the defense was just as inept -- and the Giants left a good 100 points on the field this year. No hyperbole. That would have been good enough to be best in the NFL in points per game scoring.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: C
Sure, the Kevin Gilbride-led offense had explosive numbers in the passing game. The Giants have never been a big passing team. It is not our nature. We are run-first and a tough defense team, then pass. That's why we haven't had a Pro Bowl WR in 41 years and just had our first 100-catch WR this year in 85 seasons of playing football.
Noticeable were the running statistics. Most fans were alarmed that RB Brandon Jacobs could not break any runs against the exact same Washington defense he had been annihilating his entire career previously. Ahmad Bradshaw had great moments, but too often the play-calling leaned toward abandoning the run, despite Bradshaw averaging nearly 5 yards per carry all season. Too often this was the case, too often the play-calling was predictable, and FAR too often it was flat out INANE. I could point out scenarios in the losses and wins alike where Gilbride's play-calling either prevented the Giants from winning going away (Kansas City game ended up being one play from being a one score game late because of the over-conservative play-calling, and let's not begin on the numerous blunders in each of the blowout losses).
For all of the offense's exploits (8th in the NFL, 3rd in the NFC, Manning surpassing 4,000 yards and having 27 passing TDs), the running game has always been the Giants' staple and despite both RBs being injured all season (and DJ Ware likewise, as the 3rd RB), there were too many situations when Manning was passing when the Giants should have been running. To be fair, the Giants struggled in short yardage situations all season.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: F-.
Former Giants (fired today) Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan was embattled from the beginning of his tenure, following Giants fan-favorite Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's departure to take the Head Coach position with the St. Louis Rams last offseason. DE Osi Umenyiora (who hinted several times this season he may not be back with the Giants -- okay, AND???) walked out on practice on a couple of occasions and the defense never seemed to respect Sheridan.
Giants fans were expecting more of what Spagnuolo did with the defense, considering the Giants retained all their key players at each level and added depth. NO DICE.
To be fair, the league-worst secondary became such with losses at 3 of the 4 starting positions, and at one point ALL of the starting defensive backs were out at one point or another, most of the defensive line was banged up and curious lineup changes were made similar to Jimmy Carter's cabinet (both desperation save-faces) before he was sonned by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 Election.
QUARTERBACK: A.
Eli Manning had a great season. His detractors, who will always hate him because 1) The Draft Day Situation in 2004, 2) simply because he is and never will be Peyton and 3) seems not to care by his demeanor (although Giants fans often rolled their eyes and heads and yelled just as often as he did when his WRs caught whatever Braylon Edwards brought to New York (because he definitely didn't drop passes anymore). Manning had career highs in pass yardage, completion percentage, rating, touchdowns and made very few mistakes, considering he had tons of drops by his relatively-young receiving corps, a shockingly regressed offensive line which gave him less time to pass than he's had since 2005 and an all-of-a-sudden-average running game. Other than a couple of INTs here and there when games were out of reach, I can't say anything about Manning's season, all things considered, other than "REMARKABLE". Anyone who says otherwise should have their tongues forked with a hot, rusty stake and not be allowed to comment on football.
QB David Carr is no longer shell-shocked and he wouldn't completely fall apart if Ironman Eli ever went down or ever missed a game (he hasn't since becoming starter and hopefully won't). He makes enough plays to keep the offense moving.
RUNNINGBACK: C.
To properly assess the running back position, one must not play the novice game of stating the obvious "Yeah, but Jacobs only averaged 3.7 yards per carry" blah blah blah. Real football analysts know there is a cause and effect for everything.
Jacobs played all season with a bad knee. Some believe it is a carryover from the same knee that has plagued him since he became a starter in 2007. He had to miss games intermittently in that season, then again last season, before playing all of 2009 -- although he was never 100% nor complained of it. His arthroscopic knee surgery immediately following the Giants' elimination from playoff contention confirmed insiders' suspicions that Jacobs was visibly slow with good reason -- he's on bad wheels. Not sure how long he will hold up anyway at his size, but his curious numbers had a manifold cause. Not only the knee situation, but also the offensive line being a mess. These are the same guys who have played together as a unit since Eli Manning became the starter of the team midway through the 2004 season. The way they regressed, with none of them being older than 32 is startling. I hear Giants fans talking "these guys are getting old and long in the tooth". None of the guys are old. The Chiefs had a similar dominating unit, most of whom played until they were 36 or 37 before they began looking genuinely "old". Age isn't the issue. They were simply getting beat off the ball. There weren't nearly as many holes for the backs to run through (most of Bradshaw's big runs came because of his speed, quickness and cutback ability). Jacobs wasn't 100% and also isn't 5'9" 200 lbs like Bradshaw, he's 6'4" 255 (he's not that big up close, no homo). The Giants have Andre Brown returning (possibly) as a rookie out of NC State who missed his entire rookie season with a nasty injury. They know they cannot depend on Jacobs for long and having him next year and the offensive line having a year to regroup and retool (maybe a 4th round selection) and the running game will be fine. Not really my major concern.
Gartrell Johnson only played in mop-up duty.
FULLBACK: B.
FB Madison Hedgecock played decently. We did not pass to him as much (most of us Giants fans prefer it that way, we went nuts throughout 2008 as we watched young Madison drop wide open passes in the flat that were sure first downs). He failed to open many holes for Jacobs and Bradshaw, especially in short yardage. But he was good in pass blocking when he had responsibilities on edge rushers and defensive backs blitzing. DJ Ware played very well in limited work, as he was hurt and out for about half the season.
OFFENSIVE LINE: C-.
As previously mentioned, the line regressed a bit this year. Eli wasn't sacked overwhelmingly, but he was rarely touched in 2008. The running game had been the best in the league the previous 4 seasons. And although they weren't great in 2009, the running game wasn't awful, either. Just not what expectations were from the team nor the fans. Key injuries to RT Kareem McKenzie (who, in addition to missing the last 2 1/2 games, was nicked up at various times and missed parts of 4 other games) and LG Rich Seubert doomed the Giants in the very end when they needed to win games.
Despite receiving no accolades, RG Chris Snee may still be the 2nd best right guard in the NFC and LT Dave Diehl doesn't get beat at all (Peppers beat him once, but DeMarcus Ware did not get past him a single time in two games, and Trent Cole only did once, and once in a running situation -- albeit registering a key strip of RB Brandon Jacobs in the 2nd matchup with Philadelphia).
C Shaun O'Hara still played well enough to be an alternate in the Pro Bowl. Rookie RT Will Beatty seemed comfortable filling in for McKenzie and only got beat once. G Kevin Boothe filled in as a backup, but is nothing special. A band-aid, but not a sieve nor to be mistaken for vintage Larry Allen, obviously.
WIDE RECEIVER: B.
WR Steve Smith had a breakout season, as I predicted. He is Eli Manning's safety blanket and so it was fitting he ended up with 107 catches this season. He did everything we needed him to. Over half of his catches went for first downs.
WR Mario Manningham made huge strides, considering he had only played sparsely in his rookie season in 2008. He made tons of plays and proved to be elusive, but he dropped tons of wide open passes, route-running gaffes had at least 3 TDs taken off the board and he does not block well yet.
WR Hakeem Nicks was no surprise to me. I thought he would be the most NFL-ready WR in the 2009 Draft and I was glad we landed him. He is just a flat out player. He reminds me a bit of Michael Irvin. His route running is very good for a rookie, although it needs work. He has Baker's Oven Mitts for hands. He had a couple of key drops, but he was the Giants' big play threat all season, notching a half dozen plays of over 40 yards while finishing second to Steve Smith on the team with 6 TD.
WR Domenik Hixon was used less frequently this year, and his showing after Plaxico Burress went down last year proved to be the right move going into this year. But he did make a couple of nice catches.
WR Derrick Hagan made a few plays, including a late TD grab vs. Washington in Week 15, but he didn't get enough playing time to be accurately assessed.
WR Sinorice Moss may be the odd man out as he has never done enough to impress the coaches enough to even warrant playing in the slot.
WR Ramses Barden needs to see the field in 2010. Unless he was injured or in witness protection, there was no reason why he should not have played in Weeks 16 and 17 at the very least. We need the height that we lost with Burress.
TIGHT END: B.
TE Kevin Boss takes too many solid shots. At 6'7", he doesn't run nearly as well as Jeremy Shockey did, but he is just as good of a blocker. He must work on getting his pads lower if he wants to play for long. Expect TE Travis Beckum to see more of the field in 2010. TE Darcy Johnson is mostly used in short yardage situations.
DEFENSIVE LINE: D.
The Giants' strength for as long as I have been alive has been the defensive line. From guys like Jim Burt, Erik Howard, Leonard Marshall, Erik Dorsey, Keith Hamilton and Michael Strahan to HEALTHY Justin Tuck and pre-2008 Osi Umenyiora, this was the pride and joy of the Giants team and Giants fans. They were equally culpable as the weakness of the team (along with the slow footed linebackers and banged up/clueless secondary). LE Justin Tuck is a warrior. Some say he's soft because he pulls up lame and grimaces every game. What have you. He gets cheap-shotted by Flozell Adams two games a year when he beats him twice a game (this year the shoulder injury sustained when Adams leg-whipped him in Week 2 -- http://vimeo.com/6704982 added to the leg injury he had coming into the season).
RE Osi Umenyiora may not be 100% recovered from his ACL surgery, but he seemed to not be giving effort half of the time. He was already slow to the QB as it were, but teams' best runs came at his and Danny Clark's side. Umenyiora did lead the team in sacks and had a boatload of forced fumbles, but those mask how many plays he was flat out run by every week by opposing WRs and even a few QBs.
DT Fred Robbins started off the year flat and just played flat all season before being benched. The Giants lost DT Jay Alford in preseason and he might have been the only tackle to give a damn. DT Barry Cofield just took up space all season, doing nothing of note vs. the run nor vs. the pass.
Backups DE Chris Canty and DT Rocky Bernard made a play this year apiece. And yes, I mean A. PLAY. These guys were brought in to beef up the already stout defensive line, but they were wastes of money with other needs on the table.
DE/LB Mathias Kiwanuka tries hard, but he does not shed blockers well, and isn't stout against the run. Given his slight build, even when he replaced Umenyiora when the latter was benched late in the season, teams still gashed the Giants' weakside for big runs.
LINEBACKERS: D-.
Where do you start? MLB Antonio Pierce appears to be 6 months pregnant and can't run with anyone anymore. For all the heart and composure he brings to the defensive unit, he's as big of a liability as anyone. His injury may have given the Giants a convenient excuse to part ways with him coming up on his walk year and steeply declining skills-wise. He should not be back next season. If so, the Giants will continue to struggle in both run and (most noticeably with Pierce) pass defense. Jason Witten, Brent Celek and Chris Cooley owned him the past 2-3 seasons -- all tight ends; Pierce's main responsibility in the passing game when Boley or Kavika Mitchell (who departed following the Super Bowl and made more plays in one season than Clark has made in two and Boley made this year combined). WLB Danny Clark is decent in spots, but he is not fleet afoot and opposing teams' best runs were at his side. Pierce began regressing as early as 2007. He was poor in coverage then. Ever since, he's begun looking like a defensive tackle with his build. He can't run anymore and the only thing he's good for is a quote and aligning the defense. That's all fine and well if you're the linebackers coach (hey, didn't Sheridan vacate that role?) but if you're putting your already-thin defense in a position where they're playing 10 on 11 against opposing offenses, you are a liability. Plain and simple.
SLB Michael Boley did not seem as fast as he was with Atlanta. Maybe it was his injuries coming into the season, maybe it was a combination of that and the fact that EVERYONE (cue the very first drive in the 2nd game vs. Philadelphia when the team seemed clueless as to what types of looks to give the entire first drive) was thinking more than reacting (i.e. PLAYING FOOTBALL), but he wasn't much of an asset. Chase Blackburn at least knows where to be, even if he is not fast and gets on my nerves at times.
WLB Danny Clark was just a body out there. He had a couple of sacks, but did nothing else noteworthy.
Backups Jonathan Goff and Chase Blackburn looked like the rookies and Gary Reasons/Corey Widmer knockoffs that they are.
Somewhere LT, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons -- THE GUYS I GREW UP WATCHING when I was little -- have to be shaking their heads in collective disgust.
SLB Clint Sintim played sparingly (should have played more) and Bryan Kehl barely played outside of special teams.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: F.
FS Kenny Phillips is not yet known league-wide, as he was just entering his 2nd year in the NFL. Giants fans know he is already the best Free Safety we've ever had (as we've never been strong at that position). He was coming into his own and had started 2009 quickly with 2 INT in two games and never getting beat. He had the speed, hitting ability and awareness to play the position with the guile of Darren Sharper and Ed Reed, and hitting like Sean Taylor (RIP son) Lite. We knew we'd miss him big time, but we were like a turnstile at the 42nd Street 1-2-3/N-R-W lines during peak hour back there once he went down. He went on Injured Reserve with Patellaosteoarthritis (a shock to him, since he knew the knee was not right, but able to play and play remarkably well despite it) after the Week 2 win vs. Dallas.
SS Michael Johnson (missed several games), LCB Corey Webster (missed several games, regressed in his play) and RCB Aaron Ross (missed 13 games) were the starters who missed numerous games for the Giants. Nevertheless, the players plugged in to play for the injured starters looked completely lost -- especially and notoriously C(an't) C(over) Brown at FS. CB Bruce Johnson played well, especially given his status as an undrafted free agent. CB Kevin Dockery made a few plays, but he gave up even more big plays than he made. FS Aaron Rouse played like he was 5'9" and 180 instead of the 6'4" 230 that he is listed. And he is slower than most, if not all, free safeties in the NFL. Even the guy he was brought in to replace in Green Bay 5 years ago (Darren Sharper, who is at the end of his career at age 34).
We couldn't cover most invalids after Week 5. The worst defense I've ever seen from a Giants team in my LIFE. BY FAR. Anyone who is over 30 and has been a Giants fan longer than I am readily agrees.
CB Terrell Thomas was the lone bright spot and played magnificently being a 2nd year and being thrust into a starting role after initially being cast as a nickel CB -- he led the team in interceptions easily.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KICKING: A.
K Lawrence Tynes had a very good year. Other than Seabass (Sebastian Janikowski), he was the most reliable kicker out there. There was a time that Law Tynes would be the Rey Ordoñez of kicking. He'd blow the easy ones and make the tough ones, but he's the least of our concerns.
PUNTING: A.
P Jeff Feagles is still the DEAN of punting. He can kick for us as long as he feels like it. Tilted field position as always and his patented coffin corner kicks and pinning teams within the 10-20 yard range at LEAST put our defense in position to get stops and get the offense the ball back, but...
KICK RETURNS/PUNT RETURNS: B-.
WR Domenik Hixon had moments. He housed a couple and had a couple of other long returns, but far too many fumbles and other times where they tried to house punts and kicks when there was no alley. Everyone else who had been back there the past 5 years was putrid, disgusting and made me want to puke, so I shant complain.
SPECIAL TEAMS DEFENSE: C.
Too many big returns, the final nail in the coffin of the Giants' season came when they gave up a ridiculous 67 yard return to Eagles' WR DeSean Jackson when they had him pinned to the sidelines and four Giants were within 3 yards of him and none touched him (if my eyesight isn't bad). This happened -- albeit not so elusively on the part of the other returners -- far too often for my liking. Josh Cribbs would have housed us 3 times a game if we played the Browns.
Bryan Kehl and Chase Blackburn were standouts when tackles WERE MADE.
Overall, the team was .500 and an average team in every regard. They gave up as many points as they scored. They had an 8 win, 8 loss record. The defense was as bad as the offense was good. Just a pure Jekyll & Hyde, night and day outfit. Considering this team (haters, ESPN hacks -- aka MORE HATERS and disqualified think-they-know-it-alls aside) had NFC East winning, Super Bowl contending, 12-13 win talent and ability, this season was a gross disappointment.
Firing Sheridan was a start, but the blame is hardly his alone. Kevin Gilbride ought to have been fired first, to be perfectly frank.
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
Draft-wise, the Giants need to check out a few players at the LB and S positions.
Players who should be available when the Giants pick:
LB Brandon Spikes, UF
LB Sergio Kindle, Texas
S Taylor Mays, USC
However, the main needs with the (at least) 7 picks the Giants have in the 2010 Draft are as follows (in order from the greatest to the least):
STRONG SAFETY
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER
OFFENSIVE LINE (GUARD)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
CORNERBACK
WIDE RECEIVER (HEIGHT -- DESPITE BARDEN NOT PLAYING THIS YEAR)
STATISTICAL TEAM LEADERS
Courtesy Of Giants.com:
http://www.giants.com/team/giants_stats.html
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Leave Eldrick T. Woods Alone. Please. NOW.
Leave Eldrick T. Woods Alone. Please. NOW.
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
***EDITOR'S NOTE: In lieu of the upcoming Vanity Fair spread featuring Woods, the following column is necessary.
... And mind you, this is coming from someone who doesn't care about the man beyond the golf course. I like to see the best of the best play and excel in every sport, but off the field/course/court, I couldn't care less what they do outside of murder, treason or other high crimes. The people pointing the fingers the most at this man are guilty of some of the same things he's done -- or WORSE -- themselves. Knock it off, sheesh.
But my bigger gripe, beyond Tiger getting caught in a gaffle is the ones I hear complaining most.
Yes, beyond Tiger and the story being on the front page of the Daily News, Post, Times longer than 9/11 coverage was (a RECORD number of consecutive days), it is the outrage that he doesn't come out and claim he's Black (fair enough, I couldn't care less, remember) and the worst yet:
BROADS ARE MAD THAT HE CHEATED WITH ONLY WHITE SLAGS.
Seriously, why do you care? If he had been cheating with Black women, would you have applauded it (you who have this gripe with him and are bellyaching about that sole fact?)
I don't feel sorry for him. He got caught with his pants down (pun intended) and he's not sorry about it. He's just sorry he got caught and it's costing him millions upon millions (as more companies jump off the bandwagon) in endorsements. So be it -- even if a lot of these guys making these board decisions are guilty of doing the same things themselves and have the nerve to cite ethics clauses and image clashes.
Whatever.
Guys like Woods, who grew up in the suburbs in Central Coast California, doesn't "speak" or "act" Black, and marries a White woman, after doing his best to sidestep any association with blackness besides the requisite acknowledgement of his father and obvious Black-tinged phenotypical features, never stand a real shot with 97.8% of Black women as it is. If it's not being mocked for not being "Black enough", then he's going to get clowned for being nerdy (high marks entering and exiting Stanford University, world renown for its high academic standards). I'm not even on his level in any way academically, professionally and fiscally, and I've seen it myself. Now, granted, I've lived in the hood here and there in between stints of living in suburban areas, but dear God. I can switch it up and not be flagged as a fronter. But Woods, well, he got his upbringing honest. And no matter his desire to breakdown his ethnic heritage, no matter his choice of woman to marry, no matter that he cheats (although I definitely don't condone nor condemn it), why are the very type of women who would give him the most grief for who he is and how he grew up now voicing their displeasure solely because he didn't cheat with women of color?
GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES ALIVE. Enough with the Tribal Race nonsense.
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
***EDITOR'S NOTE: In lieu of the upcoming Vanity Fair spread featuring Woods, the following column is necessary.
... And mind you, this is coming from someone who doesn't care about the man beyond the golf course. I like to see the best of the best play and excel in every sport, but off the field/course/court, I couldn't care less what they do outside of murder, treason or other high crimes. The people pointing the fingers the most at this man are guilty of some of the same things he's done -- or WORSE -- themselves. Knock it off, sheesh.
But my bigger gripe, beyond Tiger getting caught in a gaffle is the ones I hear complaining most.
Yes, beyond Tiger and the story being on the front page of the Daily News, Post, Times longer than 9/11 coverage was (a RECORD number of consecutive days), it is the outrage that he doesn't come out and claim he's Black (fair enough, I couldn't care less, remember) and the worst yet:
BROADS ARE MAD THAT HE CHEATED WITH ONLY WHITE SLAGS.
Seriously, why do you care? If he had been cheating with Black women, would you have applauded it (you who have this gripe with him and are bellyaching about that sole fact?)
I don't feel sorry for him. He got caught with his pants down (pun intended) and he's not sorry about it. He's just sorry he got caught and it's costing him millions upon millions (as more companies jump off the bandwagon) in endorsements. So be it -- even if a lot of these guys making these board decisions are guilty of doing the same things themselves and have the nerve to cite ethics clauses and image clashes.
Whatever.
Guys like Woods, who grew up in the suburbs in Central Coast California, doesn't "speak" or "act" Black, and marries a White woman, after doing his best to sidestep any association with blackness besides the requisite acknowledgement of his father and obvious Black-tinged phenotypical features, never stand a real shot with 97.8% of Black women as it is. If it's not being mocked for not being "Black enough", then he's going to get clowned for being nerdy (high marks entering and exiting Stanford University, world renown for its high academic standards). I'm not even on his level in any way academically, professionally and fiscally, and I've seen it myself. Now, granted, I've lived in the hood here and there in between stints of living in suburban areas, but dear God. I can switch it up and not be flagged as a fronter. But Woods, well, he got his upbringing honest. And no matter his desire to breakdown his ethnic heritage, no matter his choice of woman to marry, no matter that he cheats (although I definitely don't condone nor condemn it), why are the very type of women who would give him the most grief for who he is and how he grew up now voicing their displeasure solely because he didn't cheat with women of color?
GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES ALIVE. Enough with the Tribal Race nonsense.
2009 In Review/2010 At-A-Glance
2009 In Review/2010 At-A-Glance
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
Let's see: 2009 was definitely eventful. Ne'er a dull moment, plenty of tumult, heartbreak, a few (VERY FEW) triumphs mixed in, tons of moving around and traveling and still struggling to get things going. I feel like a 4X4 stuck in mud 5 feet deep and I'm not naive enough to think that a calendar changing is going to matter. God doesn't operate on our calendar. In that sense, I'm not relegated to having to wait until January 1 every year to see dramatic changes -- DEAR GOD I saw them on a nearly weekly basis in 2009 (and pretty much every year since I left Aetna in 2005).
JANUARY
January began innocuous enough. I moved (once again) back over to campus at UNCG into my own apartment. I was still seething because I had to leave City College in Harlem and an internship with CBS Sports because CUNY (City University of New York) screwed up my financial aid package and took MONTHS to process what most schools process in mere days. Typical CUNY. Most of my friends who have gone to a CUNY school know my pain. That internship with CBS would have done wonders for me. I would probably be there now, post-grad.
As it stands, I fasted, was optimistic about some changes that I had made in every facet of my life, but not much happened.
FEBRUARY
February was decent, looking back. My final semester of undergrad at UNCG and my professors were mostly all ones I was cool with and had before. So I wasn't nearly as stressed as I had been the previous 4 semesters when I saw my hairline run from my face like the RoadRunner (trying to maintain a business, losing everything you own, having to sell your car, deplete your entire savings, go into credit card debt AND incur student loan debt all to pay for 4 years of undergraduate studies? And having nightmares trying to find a job after all that? PRICELE$$).
I hit my number in a parlay, but typical me -- it took weeks for me to cash out, because of *ehem site's* rules (not ABOUT to dry snitch on myself). NIGHTMARES. I hit a big parlay. Almost $500. Took a month to get that money. I had Spring Break plans and had to cancel them partially because of this.
MARCH
March was very eventful. I was excited, because Aflac had contacted me, stating that they wanted to interview me for management. I'm thinking "finally, someone is going to give me a shot, with all of this previous experience and being licensed". I had spoken with this guy down in the Financial District (Manhattan) before, but he had forgotten. I should have known it was a backdoor (no homo) way to get people in to do sales.
Side note: I'm sick of companies here in New York City trying to get people to do sales on 100% commission, no draw, no company help for the first 6 months, etc. We live in the most expensive city to live in and you're asking people to (in essence) bust their hump 50-60 hours a week and possibly not see a dime for MONTHS? Arrite.
I had planned to go to Miami and see a couple of friends during Spring Break, and had the cash to do so, but decided to come back to New York to "interview". Colossal waste of my time. To make matters even more depressing, it rained the entire break and I got a $45 ticket for being FIVE MINUTES LATE moving my car out of the No Parking Zone due to Street Cleaning Rules being in effect that particular day. I was already tight after being duped by the Aflac guy. It was bad enough that these clowns who live on my cousin's street have 3 cars (2 brothers) and never move them, but I had to park on 117th and that was the entire reason I was late getting to the car in time. I probably spent close to $1,000 between driving, gas, tolls, parking, that ticket, and a little shopping out in Short Hills that trip.
Classes were going well and I had completed most of the research I needed for my final work before graduating. All I needed to do was attend class and participate in the debates in one of my Sociology classes and I was good bread.
Oh by the way, aside from a couple of caring friends (you know who you are) what a rotten 30th Birthday. Should've been at the Borgata playing Blackjack or South Beach or something DEAR GOD.
APRIL
Warmer weather, but no car, applying for jobs feverishly (as I had been since March 2006; haven't had a full-time job since August 2005 -- and have filed over 4,000 job applications in person, online and through contacts TO NO AVAIL -- and people still suggest I need patience ha?)
I finished all of my graduation requirements with three weeks to spare, so I was able to concentrate on moving back here and trying to at least find some work out on Staten Island, since I was going to be out here for the summer (more on that later).
MAY
Graduation was upon us, my sole focus was surviving and trying to find a job. I was getting OD tight by this point, because I was trying to avoid moving back without a job and having to stay on this island for more than the summer. Graduation was pretty uneventful. My closest family members were there and I appreciated it. But many were unable to make it. My grandfather (on my father's side) and my grandmother (on my mother's side) were unable to make it. My grandfather was fully capable to make it, but no one could travel to bring him to Greensboro. I hate that, since he passed away 4 months later. Same with my grandmother. I wanted her to see me graduate, since none of my grandparents were going to see me get married (apparently). She was unable to make it, either. This year was going from warmed over garbage to downright sour, putrid SI LANDFILL TRASH very quickly.
One thing did save the month, however. My cousin Tonia got married the day after my graduation, and that was probably the one day that I didn't have to stress about anything and it was a good occasion.
JUNE
I caught a minor break, and was offered the job at Staten Island Day Camp on the spot. So at least that covered my summer (or so I thought). I went down to North Carolina and brought my younger cousin Josh up to New York for the first time. Showed him all five boroughs, the Meadowlands, all three airports (Newark, Kennedy, LaGuardia), Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, took him through Harlem, showed him some of my spots, our cousin's crib, later took him out to Palisades up in Nyack and out to Short Hills. That was about the only good thing about JUNE.
We did go to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and that was decent.
The job began at the end of June (a full week later than they expected originally).
JULY
July was all about work and I loved what I was doing. I was excited to be working again, even if I was being GROSSLY underpaid (especially for having to deal with those snotty, bratty, spoiled spawn of rich Staten Islanders). We went out to Camden (briefly) to see some of my father's family out there. Some of whom I had met for the first time either that day or the summer before. That was pretty decent, but we had to come back to the city sooner than expected. Being me, I made the most out of the rest of the day, attempting to catch the fireworks display over by Riverside Church, but we were a good 60 blocks away and couldn't get great views.
Other than that, I worked every day and relaxed in the city on weekends throughout July. The job was not without its ups and downs (as I got moved around three times), but I didn't complain. It was all good and expected from me. What I found, however, is that I could never take any time off, which meant I missed out on a golden opportunity to attend a massive career fair at Madison Square Garden on July 30, nor interview for any jobs in the city whatsoever, because the camp required all of my day from 7 am until 5 pm.
I had to go back down south to Greensboro in order to close out my lease and move my belongings out on July 31, meaning I could only take THAT DAY, not the day before it (remember, the career fair?) That trip didn't go at all as planned. As always, young Mike came with me (he helped me -- along with his mother -- move me into my spot when I left Newark to start college at Long Island Univ. out in Brooklyn back in '97, even though he was only 6 ha) and we were going to go see his brother. We weren't able to, which was a drag. I went to see my grandmother, which turned out to be the last time that I would. I kind of knew it, deep down, but I had another opportunity that fell by the wayside because I made the mistake of traveling down south without transportation (NEVER AGAIN).
I was able to move everything out in time and had to be back home by Sunday, so you can imagine driving down there nonstop, moving an apartment full of things, driving right back after one afternoon of rest, then working the following Monday was very tough. But you know me...
AUGUST
August turned out to be a month of (negative) transition. I was making more money than any of the other counselors at the camp. Some of them knew it, and to this day I believe it rubbed them the wrong way. I knew a few of them had it in for me, but I was pulling more weight than any of them also (in addition to working with both the 5 and 6 year olds, I moved over to help with the 9 and 10 year old boys, plus was a basketball counselor initially). I was due $800 upon leaving the camp and I had spoken with others who said the camp has had a history of getting rid of people to avoid having to pay out monies they were due. To this day I have never gotten a straight story from that side, only being let go "with cause" over some trumped up allegation that never occurred.
So now, if you're keeping count at home, I spent my entire summer wasting my time, as it turned out -- got cheated out of $800, now unable to afford to move Uptown, which I was planning to do after the summer, because I spent my entire summer working at that camp with no free time to go over to Manhattan to interview for jobs.
So after I was fired on August 10, I began applying for jobs rapid fire. I even applied for what few jobs exist on Staten Island. Anything. Nothing worked.
SEPTEMBER
It was crunch time in my mind. I never intended to stay on this island long. I do not belong out here. Many of my friends live Uptown and in the Bronx, or out in Brooklyn and peppered all over Queens. Getting to hangouts with them from Staten Island is an UTTER NIGHTMARE. My social life took a significant blow. We did make it to Calico Jack's on the East Side (bust) and Nevada Smith's later, which were good times, but that was about the extent of my social outings in September. The heartbreak was beginning the night (well, morning -- since I got in at 8 am) I came back from Nevada's.
I went to sleep, turning my phone on mute at 8:05 am. I woke up at 2:30 pm, but I looked at my phone and I had received three calls just 5 minutes after I had laid down to sleep. It turned out that my sister, my mother and a family friend were all calling to notify me that my grandfather had passed. I was crushed for two reasons. First of all, I was told he was getting better and had been regaining his strength, was joking and being his old self just 36 hours previous. I had made plans to go down just a week and a half later with my cousin Tyhesia, so you can understand how that hit me like a ton of bricks.
So I had to fly out for a 4th time this year. Of course getting to LaGuardia had to be a nightmare, but I had a great relationship with my grandfather. We had the same sense of humor and he never minced words. Does that sound like anyone you know ha?
D'Ann's birthday was the following week and I was unable to do anything for her like I had planned. Again, this whole thing of not working is for the birds. I was in my prime when I was working a job 45-55 hours a week, going to school full-time, working on a business (non-profit at the time) and over the Singles Ministry in church -- ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY. And not having cash as I had been accustomed to was driving me nuts. I went from driving a 350Z car, shopping whenever I felt like it (my friends can attest, I had a new pair of Air 1's, Mikes, Air Maxes, Timbs, what have you, A|X, Ralph, new fragrance, dining out -- every week), traveling when I wanted and always having cash to THIS??? It makes me want to puke just thinking about it.
I began to regret not coming back to New York sooner to attend St. John's. I had always come back every summer and a couple of other times during the year, and went by NYU, Columbia, even prospected for Law School at Brooklyn Law a few summers back, but I would never make that trek out to Jamaica in 2003 (when they made the full-ride offer -- dumb move by me, as I chose to buy that 350Z instead; always trying to be fly back then) nor any summer following. Now that I had graduated, I couldn't begin my graduate studies. I had spent several thousand of my OWN money going back and forth to doctors in 2007 and 2008 after I broke my back (and yes, it was SPINAL -- Tyson fans get the joke).
I had incurred tons of charges due to the doctor's visits right before my last semester, along with an asthma attack that racked up over $600 in charges on my account. I managed to pay part of it, but to this day I still owe UNCG $425 and cannot receive my transcripts until it is paid. I had planned to start law school in 2008! Much less not being able to go in 2009 and may not be able to go in 2010 either. Just utter nightmares. I can't even begin my Masters at John Jay until the transcripts can be retrieved (plus the application fees). Now, knowing what I've said just about 2009 to this point, you know I'm in quite a quandry.
I'm still not getting any breaks in terms of jobs.
OCTOBER
This was the dullest month of the year. Tons of interviews, no dice. Not able to collect unemployment, no social life whatsoever (due to both the lack of cash on hand and the lack of desire of sitting on the MTA for 2 hours going AND coming back).
I did manage to merit a call from a temp agency that placed me immediately at the end of the month with Aegis Communications down off Wall Street.
NOVEMBER
More headaches. The job began, and I was feeling like I had been with Aflac earlier in the year. Told one thing from the beginning, and it turned out to be something else. They stressed several times a day that we couldn't miss days, that almost anything could be an "incidence" with compliance (coming back more than 2 minutes late from lunch -- itself, only 30 minutes), not being logged into the phones apart from lunches and breaks, and we were in there 9 hours a day. Even then, I didn't mind. I had been notified by the FBI that I was up to continue procedure on the 15th of November. Six days later, my mother called me to tell me that my grandmother had passed. I was floored.
So now, what cash I HAD made at this job went toward transporting all five of us (my aunt, three cousins and myself) down south for the funeral. This happened to be two days after Thanksgiving, which made Thanksgiving very empty. All of my grandparents were now gone (lost 3 of them within the past 2 1/2 years and two within two months). I had to come right back home to do my Phase I exam with the FBI in Lower Manhattan and once again go right back down south to attend my parents' 30th Anniversary/Renewal of Vows. I was told by the guy that I dealt with at the temp agency that the interviews would begin after Thanksgiving for additional positions. I was going to miss 8 days from work from Aegis, and as I mentioned, they were very adamant about attendance, so I notified everyone that I needed to that it was best for me to leave and get placed elsewhere.
If the guy from the temp called you, then he called me. And I've reached out to him about a half dozen times since then. See why I despise people who are not dependable, unreliable and don't keep their word?
DECEMBER
The month began with my FBI procedure, and then my parents' ceremony. The week following we were in Delaware celebrating my cousin's wife's birthday. A good getaway.
December was wicked. I began getting a few interviews, but no one really followed up. I even went to another temp, but all of a sudden, I can't get a response about anything, despite calling and emailing every other day since the 8th of December.
I landed one other interview on the 29th of December -- which I am in the midst of following up with now. It looks promising, but we shall see. It's been a week and I'm waiting on the closing.
Christmas was okay, but I came down with a cold the day before, and it got worse as Christmas Day wore on. We were over at some friends' house out here on the island and it was good to be around good people. Food, Lakers (even though they didn't show up) and MADDEN '10.
New Year's Eve was subdued for me, but it needed to be. I don't enjoy drinking myself into "Bolivian" (again, Tyson fans know) like others do. I didn't have a drop of alcohol. Went to see "Avatar" and that was about it. None of my original plans came to fruition, so I couldn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
And that was a microcosm of 2009, the way New Year's Eve ended -- not near a TV, WILLFULLY not near Times Square (although I did pass through several times before and after the "ball drop" -- I just leave that for our visitors here. No other New Yorker I know personally wants to be around that charade) and, because we went to the 9:40 showing of Avatar (and I was unaware that the movie was 3 hours long) I didn't even realize it was after midnight until I happened to check my watch out of curiosity. That's about the best way to sum up 2009. What a train wreck.
AS FOR 2010:
I am undeterred. I still have my plans written and have other endeavors in the works. My cousins, my sister and I decided to get serious about Uptown Media Group, LLP (you can find the group on Facebook) and I am in the process of taking Solid Rock Collegiate Outreach, Inc. (the non-profit I co-founded with my cousin in 2004 while attending UNCG) for-profit and working it in New York while she works it in North Carolina as a for-profit venture.
I also want to start my Masters at John Jay at the very least -- this summer. Now that I've been back in New York long enough, I have re-established residency, so that helps me save tons of money.
I was unable to re-take the LSAT in December, as that was the date of my parents' ceremony (I had been previously unaware that the date was moved to December 5th, since their actual anniversary is December 25). So I'm going to have to cram and re-take it February 6, 2010 (I had taken it September 29, 2007, but not with the results that I wanted) or be relegated to take it in the summer and hope I am able to still get into Law School someplace for the Fall of 2010, or else be relegated to wait until the Fall of 2011. YIKES.
I just need a break right now. If this job that I am currently interviewing for is God's will for me, so be it. I'm praying for favor. For the Saints out there that know the words, please do so as well.
As far as moving goes, as soon as I am able to do so, I am out of here. I feel so isolated on this island. Making my way to my spots in Harlem won't be a trek anymore -- as I still go over 2-3 times per week -- it will be just a short walk or bus ride, like it used to be.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE RIGHT NOW. The first four days of this year have not been encouraging, so I'm encouraging MYSELF.
DISCUSS>>>
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
Let's see: 2009 was definitely eventful. Ne'er a dull moment, plenty of tumult, heartbreak, a few (VERY FEW) triumphs mixed in, tons of moving around and traveling and still struggling to get things going. I feel like a 4X4 stuck in mud 5 feet deep and I'm not naive enough to think that a calendar changing is going to matter. God doesn't operate on our calendar. In that sense, I'm not relegated to having to wait until January 1 every year to see dramatic changes -- DEAR GOD I saw them on a nearly weekly basis in 2009 (and pretty much every year since I left Aetna in 2005).
JANUARY
January began innocuous enough. I moved (once again) back over to campus at UNCG into my own apartment. I was still seething because I had to leave City College in Harlem and an internship with CBS Sports because CUNY (City University of New York) screwed up my financial aid package and took MONTHS to process what most schools process in mere days. Typical CUNY. Most of my friends who have gone to a CUNY school know my pain. That internship with CBS would have done wonders for me. I would probably be there now, post-grad.
As it stands, I fasted, was optimistic about some changes that I had made in every facet of my life, but not much happened.
FEBRUARY
February was decent, looking back. My final semester of undergrad at UNCG and my professors were mostly all ones I was cool with and had before. So I wasn't nearly as stressed as I had been the previous 4 semesters when I saw my hairline run from my face like the RoadRunner (trying to maintain a business, losing everything you own, having to sell your car, deplete your entire savings, go into credit card debt AND incur student loan debt all to pay for 4 years of undergraduate studies? And having nightmares trying to find a job after all that? PRICELE$$).
I hit my number in a parlay, but typical me -- it took weeks for me to cash out, because of *ehem site's* rules (not ABOUT to dry snitch on myself). NIGHTMARES. I hit a big parlay. Almost $500. Took a month to get that money. I had Spring Break plans and had to cancel them partially because of this.
MARCH
March was very eventful. I was excited, because Aflac had contacted me, stating that they wanted to interview me for management. I'm thinking "finally, someone is going to give me a shot, with all of this previous experience and being licensed". I had spoken with this guy down in the Financial District (Manhattan) before, but he had forgotten. I should have known it was a backdoor (no homo) way to get people in to do sales.
Side note: I'm sick of companies here in New York City trying to get people to do sales on 100% commission, no draw, no company help for the first 6 months, etc. We live in the most expensive city to live in and you're asking people to (in essence) bust their hump 50-60 hours a week and possibly not see a dime for MONTHS? Arrite.
I had planned to go to Miami and see a couple of friends during Spring Break, and had the cash to do so, but decided to come back to New York to "interview". Colossal waste of my time. To make matters even more depressing, it rained the entire break and I got a $45 ticket for being FIVE MINUTES LATE moving my car out of the No Parking Zone due to Street Cleaning Rules being in effect that particular day. I was already tight after being duped by the Aflac guy. It was bad enough that these clowns who live on my cousin's street have 3 cars (2 brothers) and never move them, but I had to park on 117th and that was the entire reason I was late getting to the car in time. I probably spent close to $1,000 between driving, gas, tolls, parking, that ticket, and a little shopping out in Short Hills that trip.
Classes were going well and I had completed most of the research I needed for my final work before graduating. All I needed to do was attend class and participate in the debates in one of my Sociology classes and I was good bread.
Oh by the way, aside from a couple of caring friends (you know who you are) what a rotten 30th Birthday. Should've been at the Borgata playing Blackjack or South Beach or something DEAR GOD.
APRIL
Warmer weather, but no car, applying for jobs feverishly (as I had been since March 2006; haven't had a full-time job since August 2005 -- and have filed over 4,000 job applications in person, online and through contacts TO NO AVAIL -- and people still suggest I need patience ha?)
I finished all of my graduation requirements with three weeks to spare, so I was able to concentrate on moving back here and trying to at least find some work out on Staten Island, since I was going to be out here for the summer (more on that later).
MAY
Graduation was upon us, my sole focus was surviving and trying to find a job. I was getting OD tight by this point, because I was trying to avoid moving back without a job and having to stay on this island for more than the summer. Graduation was pretty uneventful. My closest family members were there and I appreciated it. But many were unable to make it. My grandfather (on my father's side) and my grandmother (on my mother's side) were unable to make it. My grandfather was fully capable to make it, but no one could travel to bring him to Greensboro. I hate that, since he passed away 4 months later. Same with my grandmother. I wanted her to see me graduate, since none of my grandparents were going to see me get married (apparently). She was unable to make it, either. This year was going from warmed over garbage to downright sour, putrid SI LANDFILL TRASH very quickly.
One thing did save the month, however. My cousin Tonia got married the day after my graduation, and that was probably the one day that I didn't have to stress about anything and it was a good occasion.
JUNE
I caught a minor break, and was offered the job at Staten Island Day Camp on the spot. So at least that covered my summer (or so I thought). I went down to North Carolina and brought my younger cousin Josh up to New York for the first time. Showed him all five boroughs, the Meadowlands, all three airports (Newark, Kennedy, LaGuardia), Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, took him through Harlem, showed him some of my spots, our cousin's crib, later took him out to Palisades up in Nyack and out to Short Hills. That was about the only good thing about JUNE.
We did go to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and that was decent.
The job began at the end of June (a full week later than they expected originally).
JULY
July was all about work and I loved what I was doing. I was excited to be working again, even if I was being GROSSLY underpaid (especially for having to deal with those snotty, bratty, spoiled spawn of rich Staten Islanders). We went out to Camden (briefly) to see some of my father's family out there. Some of whom I had met for the first time either that day or the summer before. That was pretty decent, but we had to come back to the city sooner than expected. Being me, I made the most out of the rest of the day, attempting to catch the fireworks display over by Riverside Church, but we were a good 60 blocks away and couldn't get great views.
Other than that, I worked every day and relaxed in the city on weekends throughout July. The job was not without its ups and downs (as I got moved around three times), but I didn't complain. It was all good and expected from me. What I found, however, is that I could never take any time off, which meant I missed out on a golden opportunity to attend a massive career fair at Madison Square Garden on July 30, nor interview for any jobs in the city whatsoever, because the camp required all of my day from 7 am until 5 pm.
I had to go back down south to Greensboro in order to close out my lease and move my belongings out on July 31, meaning I could only take THAT DAY, not the day before it (remember, the career fair?) That trip didn't go at all as planned. As always, young Mike came with me (he helped me -- along with his mother -- move me into my spot when I left Newark to start college at Long Island Univ. out in Brooklyn back in '97, even though he was only 6 ha) and we were going to go see his brother. We weren't able to, which was a drag. I went to see my grandmother, which turned out to be the last time that I would. I kind of knew it, deep down, but I had another opportunity that fell by the wayside because I made the mistake of traveling down south without transportation (NEVER AGAIN).
I was able to move everything out in time and had to be back home by Sunday, so you can imagine driving down there nonstop, moving an apartment full of things, driving right back after one afternoon of rest, then working the following Monday was very tough. But you know me...
AUGUST
August turned out to be a month of (negative) transition. I was making more money than any of the other counselors at the camp. Some of them knew it, and to this day I believe it rubbed them the wrong way. I knew a few of them had it in for me, but I was pulling more weight than any of them also (in addition to working with both the 5 and 6 year olds, I moved over to help with the 9 and 10 year old boys, plus was a basketball counselor initially). I was due $800 upon leaving the camp and I had spoken with others who said the camp has had a history of getting rid of people to avoid having to pay out monies they were due. To this day I have never gotten a straight story from that side, only being let go "with cause" over some trumped up allegation that never occurred.
So now, if you're keeping count at home, I spent my entire summer wasting my time, as it turned out -- got cheated out of $800, now unable to afford to move Uptown, which I was planning to do after the summer, because I spent my entire summer working at that camp with no free time to go over to Manhattan to interview for jobs.
So after I was fired on August 10, I began applying for jobs rapid fire. I even applied for what few jobs exist on Staten Island. Anything. Nothing worked.
SEPTEMBER
It was crunch time in my mind. I never intended to stay on this island long. I do not belong out here. Many of my friends live Uptown and in the Bronx, or out in Brooklyn and peppered all over Queens. Getting to hangouts with them from Staten Island is an UTTER NIGHTMARE. My social life took a significant blow. We did make it to Calico Jack's on the East Side (bust) and Nevada Smith's later, which were good times, but that was about the extent of my social outings in September. The heartbreak was beginning the night (well, morning -- since I got in at 8 am) I came back from Nevada's.
I went to sleep, turning my phone on mute at 8:05 am. I woke up at 2:30 pm, but I looked at my phone and I had received three calls just 5 minutes after I had laid down to sleep. It turned out that my sister, my mother and a family friend were all calling to notify me that my grandfather had passed. I was crushed for two reasons. First of all, I was told he was getting better and had been regaining his strength, was joking and being his old self just 36 hours previous. I had made plans to go down just a week and a half later with my cousin Tyhesia, so you can understand how that hit me like a ton of bricks.
So I had to fly out for a 4th time this year. Of course getting to LaGuardia had to be a nightmare, but I had a great relationship with my grandfather. We had the same sense of humor and he never minced words. Does that sound like anyone you know ha?
D'Ann's birthday was the following week and I was unable to do anything for her like I had planned. Again, this whole thing of not working is for the birds. I was in my prime when I was working a job 45-55 hours a week, going to school full-time, working on a business (non-profit at the time) and over the Singles Ministry in church -- ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY. And not having cash as I had been accustomed to was driving me nuts. I went from driving a 350Z car, shopping whenever I felt like it (my friends can attest, I had a new pair of Air 1's, Mikes, Air Maxes, Timbs, what have you, A|X, Ralph, new fragrance, dining out -- every week), traveling when I wanted and always having cash to THIS??? It makes me want to puke just thinking about it.
I began to regret not coming back to New York sooner to attend St. John's. I had always come back every summer and a couple of other times during the year, and went by NYU, Columbia, even prospected for Law School at Brooklyn Law a few summers back, but I would never make that trek out to Jamaica in 2003 (when they made the full-ride offer -- dumb move by me, as I chose to buy that 350Z instead; always trying to be fly back then) nor any summer following. Now that I had graduated, I couldn't begin my graduate studies. I had spent several thousand of my OWN money going back and forth to doctors in 2007 and 2008 after I broke my back (and yes, it was SPINAL -- Tyson fans get the joke).
I had incurred tons of charges due to the doctor's visits right before my last semester, along with an asthma attack that racked up over $600 in charges on my account. I managed to pay part of it, but to this day I still owe UNCG $425 and cannot receive my transcripts until it is paid. I had planned to start law school in 2008! Much less not being able to go in 2009 and may not be able to go in 2010 either. Just utter nightmares. I can't even begin my Masters at John Jay until the transcripts can be retrieved (plus the application fees). Now, knowing what I've said just about 2009 to this point, you know I'm in quite a quandry.
I'm still not getting any breaks in terms of jobs.
OCTOBER
This was the dullest month of the year. Tons of interviews, no dice. Not able to collect unemployment, no social life whatsoever (due to both the lack of cash on hand and the lack of desire of sitting on the MTA for 2 hours going AND coming back).
I did manage to merit a call from a temp agency that placed me immediately at the end of the month with Aegis Communications down off Wall Street.
NOVEMBER
More headaches. The job began, and I was feeling like I had been with Aflac earlier in the year. Told one thing from the beginning, and it turned out to be something else. They stressed several times a day that we couldn't miss days, that almost anything could be an "incidence" with compliance (coming back more than 2 minutes late from lunch -- itself, only 30 minutes), not being logged into the phones apart from lunches and breaks, and we were in there 9 hours a day. Even then, I didn't mind. I had been notified by the FBI that I was up to continue procedure on the 15th of November. Six days later, my mother called me to tell me that my grandmother had passed. I was floored.
So now, what cash I HAD made at this job went toward transporting all five of us (my aunt, three cousins and myself) down south for the funeral. This happened to be two days after Thanksgiving, which made Thanksgiving very empty. All of my grandparents were now gone (lost 3 of them within the past 2 1/2 years and two within two months). I had to come right back home to do my Phase I exam with the FBI in Lower Manhattan and once again go right back down south to attend my parents' 30th Anniversary/Renewal of Vows. I was told by the guy that I dealt with at the temp agency that the interviews would begin after Thanksgiving for additional positions. I was going to miss 8 days from work from Aegis, and as I mentioned, they were very adamant about attendance, so I notified everyone that I needed to that it was best for me to leave and get placed elsewhere.
If the guy from the temp called you, then he called me. And I've reached out to him about a half dozen times since then. See why I despise people who are not dependable, unreliable and don't keep their word?
DECEMBER
The month began with my FBI procedure, and then my parents' ceremony. The week following we were in Delaware celebrating my cousin's wife's birthday. A good getaway.
December was wicked. I began getting a few interviews, but no one really followed up. I even went to another temp, but all of a sudden, I can't get a response about anything, despite calling and emailing every other day since the 8th of December.
I landed one other interview on the 29th of December -- which I am in the midst of following up with now. It looks promising, but we shall see. It's been a week and I'm waiting on the closing.
Christmas was okay, but I came down with a cold the day before, and it got worse as Christmas Day wore on. We were over at some friends' house out here on the island and it was good to be around good people. Food, Lakers (even though they didn't show up) and MADDEN '10.
New Year's Eve was subdued for me, but it needed to be. I don't enjoy drinking myself into "Bolivian" (again, Tyson fans know) like others do. I didn't have a drop of alcohol. Went to see "Avatar" and that was about it. None of my original plans came to fruition, so I couldn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
And that was a microcosm of 2009, the way New Year's Eve ended -- not near a TV, WILLFULLY not near Times Square (although I did pass through several times before and after the "ball drop" -- I just leave that for our visitors here. No other New Yorker I know personally wants to be around that charade) and, because we went to the 9:40 showing of Avatar (and I was unaware that the movie was 3 hours long) I didn't even realize it was after midnight until I happened to check my watch out of curiosity. That's about the best way to sum up 2009. What a train wreck.
AS FOR 2010:
I am undeterred. I still have my plans written and have other endeavors in the works. My cousins, my sister and I decided to get serious about Uptown Media Group, LLP (you can find the group on Facebook) and I am in the process of taking Solid Rock Collegiate Outreach, Inc. (the non-profit I co-founded with my cousin in 2004 while attending UNCG) for-profit and working it in New York while she works it in North Carolina as a for-profit venture.
I also want to start my Masters at John Jay at the very least -- this summer. Now that I've been back in New York long enough, I have re-established residency, so that helps me save tons of money.
I was unable to re-take the LSAT in December, as that was the date of my parents' ceremony (I had been previously unaware that the date was moved to December 5th, since their actual anniversary is December 25). So I'm going to have to cram and re-take it February 6, 2010 (I had taken it September 29, 2007, but not with the results that I wanted) or be relegated to take it in the summer and hope I am able to still get into Law School someplace for the Fall of 2010, or else be relegated to wait until the Fall of 2011. YIKES.
I just need a break right now. If this job that I am currently interviewing for is God's will for me, so be it. I'm praying for favor. For the Saints out there that know the words, please do so as well.
As far as moving goes, as soon as I am able to do so, I am out of here. I feel so isolated on this island. Making my way to my spots in Harlem won't be a trek anymore -- as I still go over 2-3 times per week -- it will be just a short walk or bus ride, like it used to be.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE RIGHT NOW. The first four days of this year have not been encouraging, so I'm encouraging MYSELF.
DISCUSS>>>
2010 NFL Playoff Picture: As It Is Set
2010 NFL Playoff Picture: As It Is Set
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
Now that we know the playoff teams, their seedings and who plays where, let's get down to it.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
WILD CARD WEEKEND
#1 Seed
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (14-2)
AND
#2 Seed
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (13-3)
BYE - Do Not Play During Wild Card Weekend
---------------------------------------------------------------
WILD CARD PLAYOFF
#5 Seed
NEW YORK JETS (9-7)
vs.
#4 Seed
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-6)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
PAUL BROWN STADIUM
Cincinnati, Ohio
4:30 PM - NBC
Notes:
The Jets dominated the Bengals in a game that meant little to the Bengals with regards to playoff stance. However, there were many things to take away from the NFL Week 17 regular season finale: The Jets ran the ball at will. Mark Sanchez, while strictly serving as "Game Manager", doesn't make any mistakes and the Bengals were helpless to stop the Jets' rushing attack. Conversely, the Jets stuffed everything the Bengals ran. The Bengals were already missing three key players on defense and lost two more (and an offensive lineman) in this game. Hard to fathom whatever they had up their sleeves for the Wild Card Playoff is going to be substantive to beating the Jets' league-best defense.
I watch the Jets play every week. Their defense is no fluke. Those stats are not inflated. Their defense is for real and so is their running game (buoyed by a mammoth offensive line). It seems as though everything that embodied the Giants up until last year got transferred to the Jets. The Jets are a scary team to beat if Mark Sanchez is put in a position where he does not commit turnovers. In years past, the Jets were the team that would lose 44-7, 44-9 and beat the hottest team in the conference (for the Giants this year, that was Dallas -- TWICE) in the same breath. Rex's boys are going to be a force to be reckoned with -- (the Bengals just do not have the personnel in any phase of the game to beat the Jets, let's face it).
Pick:
NY Jets 23
Cincinnati 17
FINAL
-----------------------
#6 Seed
BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7)
vs.
#3 Seed
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010
GILLETTE STADIUM
Foxborough, Massachusetts
1:00 PM - CBS
Notes:
The Ravens, by all accounts and for all intents and purposes "should've" beaten the Patriots earlier this year when they traveled to Foxborough. A dropped pass late by Mark Clayton was the difference. The Ravens were driving and able to beat the Patriots' relatively slow back seven for scores in this game. Opportunities will be had in the Wild Card Playoff. Tom Brady is allegedly playing with 3 broken ribs and a busted ring finger. The cynic in me is saying either or both of the following is true: Belichick is trying to play cat and mouse with the Ravens and trying to get them to focus on Brady and/OR they're (Patriots) trying to paint Brady as some tough guy warrior who's going to play and gut it out regardless. You can't be a tough guy when you beg referees for flags on plays that were negligible at best.
Ravens are coming in playing decent ball and they're more physical than the Patriots overall. Not to mention the fact that the Patriots are missing their key cog to their offense in Wes Welker (Out for Season, Torn ACL/MCL).
They weren't going to win anyway, but they definitely aren't after getting a full dosage of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.
Pick:
Baltimore 28
New England 20
FINAL
-----------------------
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
WILD CARD WEEKEND
#1 Seed
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3)
AND
#2 Seed
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-4)
BYE - Do Not Play During Wild Card Weekend
--------------------------------------------------------------
WILD CARD PLAYOFF
#6 Seed
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-5)
vs.
#3 Seed
DALLAS COWBOYS (11-5)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
COWBOYS STADIUM
Arlington, Texas
8:00 PM - NBC
Notes:
What a weird twist of events these past two weeks. The Giants went from playing for the division, to winning two straight after the loss to Philadelphia which sealed their fate concerning the division, then lose to Carolina in embarrassing fashion, while Dallas has won two games they normally would not win in December and the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16.
The Eagles went from being almost locks to secure the #2 seed to being the #6 seed (and had the Giants beaten the Iggles in Week 13, who knows?). That has to concern them to an extent, but read on.
The Cowboys are playing error-free football. That's what you want. Tony Romo hasn't made a bad throw in almost a month. The Cowboys' running game gets yards in gashes and wears teams down with three different running backs at that.
I love how that arrogant Roy Williams is getting humbled quickly down in Dallas. He has been full of himself since he was at the University of Texas and seeing the Drake of the NFL in Miles Austin (I mean that both as a nod to his quick ascension/major success and a knock because I hate the guy for some reason other than being a Cowboy -- just as I hate Drake, but that's another column ha) and one-trick pony Patrick Crayton surpassing you as Romo's chief WR targets.
The Eagles did not show up Sunday. I figured they would take DeSean Jackson away, as they have both games this year, however, I did not think the Eagles' complete game plan would look so trashy. They had no continuity at any point in the game.
That being said, I really don't think there will be any parallels between the 24-0 rout by the Cowboys over the Iggles otherwise.
Maybe Andy Reid was holding back a bit, but that's hard to fathom, because the Iggles had a first round bye and a week to rest (AND PREPARE) at stake. So there's not an excuse Philly fans can use. The Cowboys whipped them fair and square.
I just really believe there will be adjustments made and the Dallas' winless-in-the-playoffs streak extends to an alarming 14th year. The Cowboys haven't beaten themselves, which is why they haven't lost since losing to the Giants (somehow) a few weeks ago. However, the Eagles did leave 2 touchdowns on the field as Don could not make a good throw to DeSean Jackson and on another occasion, Jeremy Maclin. Those plays (and several others) will be there next week, because Dallas didn't do anything special or in particular to stop the Eagles' deep game to Jackson nor Brent Celek (who DID have a big game, BTW).
Pick:
Philadelphia 26
Dallas 21
FINAL
---------------------------
#5 Seed
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5)
vs.
#4 Seed
ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM
Glendale, Arizona
4:40 PM - FOX
Notes:
Green Bay fans are excited about being back in the playoffs. Understandably so, after the way they exited them once their smoke-and-mirrors show ended in 2007 and not making the playoffs at all in 2008. The Packers have played remarkably well the second half of the season. They managed to stay under the radar in the NFC and in the entire NFL as teams focused on what the Saints and Vikings were and WEREN'T doing, and how Philadelphia had gone on a patented run and had a shot at the #2 seed, while Dallas DID NOT implode in December as they did the rest of the 2000s decade -- while the reigning NFC East champion Giants, who finished 12-4 in 2008 (albeit reeling late and continued it throughout 2009 despite their fast start), began 2009 with a 5-0 record, with 3-8 the rest of the season and looked like the worst team in football while doing so. But no one was talking about the Packers.
Never fear, I watch them every week. There are some key things to point out that they do well (and some statistics that are deceiving in their favor which need to be dispelled).
The season began as the Packers were middling at best, with a 4-4 record. They could not protect QB Aaron Rodgers, which most fans and other viewers such as myself pinned the majority of the Packers' problems upon. Once they began protecting him better, he made plays on his way to his second consecutive 4,000 yard passing season (and these aren't empty, we're 6-10 and playing from behind every week, 4,000 yards, these are within the context of the offense and the game, type 4,000 -- sort of like Kobe averaging 30 PPG right now with the Lakers, if you will).
However, the defensive statistic that their fans like the cite in the same breath has to stop. The Giants were ranked #10 and everyone KNOWS once you take away the first 5 games of the season, the Giants literally and figuratively had the worst defense in football. Were they a 10th ranked defense? Not in my eyes. And so it is with the Packers. They built up their numbers playing against the NFC's dregs in the Lions (TWICE), the Bears (TWICE) and teams like St. Louis. When faced with legitimate offenses, they struggled and had to get into shootouts with them -- unable to stop them.
Also, people are saying that Ryan Grant is running the ball exceptionally well. No. He's getting yards here and there, but there's nothing spectacular about the Packers' running game.
The Cardinals effectively took Week 17 off, resting Warner after the 1st quarter. They did have a few players leave the game banged up and they will not be 100% when these two teams play again on Sunday (DE Calais Campbell (hand), WR Anquan Boldin (everything), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee). The Cardinals are a legitimate offense and you already know how I feel about the Packers playing one of those.
Grant won't be running the ball with Darnell Dockett (FROM?!?!) disrupting everything. If Campbell cannot go, the Cards may miss him a bit, but the Cards have playmakers at every level (Dockett, Dansby, Okeafor, DRC, Rolle, Adrian Wilson FROM?!?! High Point, etc.)
Too much in the desert.
Pick:
Green Bay 23
Arizona 34
FINAL
------------------------
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NOTES COMING IN ONE WEEK.
M.D. Wright
1.4.10
Now that we know the playoff teams, their seedings and who plays where, let's get down to it.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
WILD CARD WEEKEND
#1 Seed
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (14-2)
AND
#2 Seed
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (13-3)
BYE - Do Not Play During Wild Card Weekend
---------------------------------------------------------------
WILD CARD PLAYOFF
#5 Seed
NEW YORK JETS (9-7)
vs.
#4 Seed
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-6)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
PAUL BROWN STADIUM
Cincinnati, Ohio
4:30 PM - NBC
Notes:
The Jets dominated the Bengals in a game that meant little to the Bengals with regards to playoff stance. However, there were many things to take away from the NFL Week 17 regular season finale: The Jets ran the ball at will. Mark Sanchez, while strictly serving as "Game Manager", doesn't make any mistakes and the Bengals were helpless to stop the Jets' rushing attack. Conversely, the Jets stuffed everything the Bengals ran. The Bengals were already missing three key players on defense and lost two more (and an offensive lineman) in this game. Hard to fathom whatever they had up their sleeves for the Wild Card Playoff is going to be substantive to beating the Jets' league-best defense.
I watch the Jets play every week. Their defense is no fluke. Those stats are not inflated. Their defense is for real and so is their running game (buoyed by a mammoth offensive line). It seems as though everything that embodied the Giants up until last year got transferred to the Jets. The Jets are a scary team to beat if Mark Sanchez is put in a position where he does not commit turnovers. In years past, the Jets were the team that would lose 44-7, 44-9 and beat the hottest team in the conference (for the Giants this year, that was Dallas -- TWICE) in the same breath. Rex's boys are going to be a force to be reckoned with -- (the Bengals just do not have the personnel in any phase of the game to beat the Jets, let's face it).
Pick:
NY Jets 23
Cincinnati 17
FINAL
-----------------------
#6 Seed
BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7)
vs.
#3 Seed
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010
GILLETTE STADIUM
Foxborough, Massachusetts
1:00 PM - CBS
Notes:
The Ravens, by all accounts and for all intents and purposes "should've" beaten the Patriots earlier this year when they traveled to Foxborough. A dropped pass late by Mark Clayton was the difference. The Ravens were driving and able to beat the Patriots' relatively slow back seven for scores in this game. Opportunities will be had in the Wild Card Playoff. Tom Brady is allegedly playing with 3 broken ribs and a busted ring finger. The cynic in me is saying either or both of the following is true: Belichick is trying to play cat and mouse with the Ravens and trying to get them to focus on Brady and/OR they're (Patriots) trying to paint Brady as some tough guy warrior who's going to play and gut it out regardless. You can't be a tough guy when you beg referees for flags on plays that were negligible at best.
Ravens are coming in playing decent ball and they're more physical than the Patriots overall. Not to mention the fact that the Patriots are missing their key cog to their offense in Wes Welker (Out for Season, Torn ACL/MCL).
They weren't going to win anyway, but they definitely aren't after getting a full dosage of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.
Pick:
Baltimore 28
New England 20
FINAL
-----------------------
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
WILD CARD WEEKEND
#1 Seed
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3)
AND
#2 Seed
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-4)
BYE - Do Not Play During Wild Card Weekend
--------------------------------------------------------------
WILD CARD PLAYOFF
#6 Seed
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-5)
vs.
#3 Seed
DALLAS COWBOYS (11-5)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
COWBOYS STADIUM
Arlington, Texas
8:00 PM - NBC
Notes:
What a weird twist of events these past two weeks. The Giants went from playing for the division, to winning two straight after the loss to Philadelphia which sealed their fate concerning the division, then lose to Carolina in embarrassing fashion, while Dallas has won two games they normally would not win in December and the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16.
The Eagles went from being almost locks to secure the #2 seed to being the #6 seed (and had the Giants beaten the Iggles in Week 13, who knows?). That has to concern them to an extent, but read on.
The Cowboys are playing error-free football. That's what you want. Tony Romo hasn't made a bad throw in almost a month. The Cowboys' running game gets yards in gashes and wears teams down with three different running backs at that.
I love how that arrogant Roy Williams is getting humbled quickly down in Dallas. He has been full of himself since he was at the University of Texas and seeing the Drake of the NFL in Miles Austin (I mean that both as a nod to his quick ascension/major success and a knock because I hate the guy for some reason other than being a Cowboy -- just as I hate Drake, but that's another column ha) and one-trick pony Patrick Crayton surpassing you as Romo's chief WR targets.
The Eagles did not show up Sunday. I figured they would take DeSean Jackson away, as they have both games this year, however, I did not think the Eagles' complete game plan would look so trashy. They had no continuity at any point in the game.
That being said, I really don't think there will be any parallels between the 24-0 rout by the Cowboys over the Iggles otherwise.
Maybe Andy Reid was holding back a bit, but that's hard to fathom, because the Iggles had a first round bye and a week to rest (AND PREPARE) at stake. So there's not an excuse Philly fans can use. The Cowboys whipped them fair and square.
I just really believe there will be adjustments made and the Dallas' winless-in-the-playoffs streak extends to an alarming 14th year. The Cowboys haven't beaten themselves, which is why they haven't lost since losing to the Giants (somehow) a few weeks ago. However, the Eagles did leave 2 touchdowns on the field as Don could not make a good throw to DeSean Jackson and on another occasion, Jeremy Maclin. Those plays (and several others) will be there next week, because Dallas didn't do anything special or in particular to stop the Eagles' deep game to Jackson nor Brent Celek (who DID have a big game, BTW).
Pick:
Philadelphia 26
Dallas 21
FINAL
---------------------------
#5 Seed
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5)
vs.
#4 Seed
ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM
Glendale, Arizona
4:40 PM - FOX
Notes:
Green Bay fans are excited about being back in the playoffs. Understandably so, after the way they exited them once their smoke-and-mirrors show ended in 2007 and not making the playoffs at all in 2008. The Packers have played remarkably well the second half of the season. They managed to stay under the radar in the NFC and in the entire NFL as teams focused on what the Saints and Vikings were and WEREN'T doing, and how Philadelphia had gone on a patented run and had a shot at the #2 seed, while Dallas DID NOT implode in December as they did the rest of the 2000s decade -- while the reigning NFC East champion Giants, who finished 12-4 in 2008 (albeit reeling late and continued it throughout 2009 despite their fast start), began 2009 with a 5-0 record, with 3-8 the rest of the season and looked like the worst team in football while doing so. But no one was talking about the Packers.
Never fear, I watch them every week. There are some key things to point out that they do well (and some statistics that are deceiving in their favor which need to be dispelled).
The season began as the Packers were middling at best, with a 4-4 record. They could not protect QB Aaron Rodgers, which most fans and other viewers such as myself pinned the majority of the Packers' problems upon. Once they began protecting him better, he made plays on his way to his second consecutive 4,000 yard passing season (and these aren't empty, we're 6-10 and playing from behind every week, 4,000 yards, these are within the context of the offense and the game, type 4,000 -- sort of like Kobe averaging 30 PPG right now with the Lakers, if you will).
However, the defensive statistic that their fans like the cite in the same breath has to stop. The Giants were ranked #10 and everyone KNOWS once you take away the first 5 games of the season, the Giants literally and figuratively had the worst defense in football. Were they a 10th ranked defense? Not in my eyes. And so it is with the Packers. They built up their numbers playing against the NFC's dregs in the Lions (TWICE), the Bears (TWICE) and teams like St. Louis. When faced with legitimate offenses, they struggled and had to get into shootouts with them -- unable to stop them.
Also, people are saying that Ryan Grant is running the ball exceptionally well. No. He's getting yards here and there, but there's nothing spectacular about the Packers' running game.
The Cardinals effectively took Week 17 off, resting Warner after the 1st quarter. They did have a few players leave the game banged up and they will not be 100% when these two teams play again on Sunday (DE Calais Campbell (hand), WR Anquan Boldin (everything), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee). The Cardinals are a legitimate offense and you already know how I feel about the Packers playing one of those.
Grant won't be running the ball with Darnell Dockett (FROM?!?!) disrupting everything. If Campbell cannot go, the Cards may miss him a bit, but the Cards have playmakers at every level (Dockett, Dansby, Okeafor, DRC, Rolle, Adrian Wilson FROM?!?! High Point, etc.)
Too much in the desert.
Pick:
Green Bay 23
Arizona 34
FINAL
------------------------
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NOTES COMING IN ONE WEEK.
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