Thoughts On The Bailout...
Michael D. Wright
9.30.08
Let me get this straight, we're going to foot the bill for overzealous (greedy/parasitic) lenders who bit off more than they could chew? We are going to pay TWICE for their mistakes? Those of us who have debt, we're already paying them, and now we're paying them AGAIN if/whenever they pass this economic bailout bill into law? I don't see the sense in that, as if it truly is the thing that buoys the U.S. economy.
When I was little, in the 1980s, I remember getting lines of credit or a regular credit card being something that only White people and others who had substantial income (and in essence, did not really NEED credit) could attain.
Slowly, but surely, once Bill Clinton took office as President, and thereafter, much more quickly and willingly, creditors gave out credit cards, lines of credit, and mortgage financing (sometimes up to three times the amount of the value of the house the people were buying) until your neighbor's DOG could have $100,000 of credit with little or no concern for how much income you had or your level of risk, when it came time to repay the loaned funds.
That is not to say that consumers are by no means responsible for the way they have and currently do use credit, it just reflects how greedy the lenders were.
I said to myself in February 2006, when the new credit guidelines took effect (depending on the balance owed on your accounts, you would have to pay 3% or another prescribed amount per month in the form of a minimum payment; not considering interest) that a LOT of people who were living on the edge -- living paycheck to paycheck... maxing out credit cards just to get by... people you see eating out every night and going on exquisite trips and going to ball games, all of which more than exceeded their liquid assets -- all of which made me wonder -- WHEN IS THIS ALL GOING TO COME HOME TO ROOST?
Well, it took two years. I am only surprised it didn't occur sooner. These people you see taking trips, going to professional sports games -- games that cost the amount of most people's mortgage payments -- PER PERSON!!! are living off CREDIT!
On a personal note, I was debt-free. COMPLETELY debt-free in May of 2003. That same month, I went in for emergency surgery for a wisdom tooth and another extraction. Because I had spent the prior fifteen months getting out of debt, my on-hand funds were depleted. I had to resort to a loan in order to pay the orthodontist fees, which were nearly $1,000. I was still in good shape, though. I decided to add another arm to my business ventures and began doing consulting; which necessitated I had a laptop computer, as I was traveling even more than ever. OK, still no problem. Then, my Mazda 626 did what 90% of all 626s had done -- the transmission went bad for the second time. Instead of expending so much time and money to get it repaired, I went to the Nissan people, where I had a connection and got a pretty good deal on a brand new Nissan 350Z ('04 model, freshly shipped in from 150 miles away with my own requested package). This was September 2003. That New York mindset (especially Harlem) was still there, unfortunately. Always flashy over frugality. I thought I had shaken off the desire to be fly when I left New York in 1998. Not so. The minute I was tempted and had the ability to go back to it, I did.
My credit score was right around 800, which guaranteed that I could sign and drive that $34,000 car off the lot that night. I did so, non-chalantly, but in the back of my mind and at the bottom of my heart, I know I was making a bad decision that would affect my financial situation negatively in the long-term. I was making very good money at the time, and as long as I continued in that sector, I would be fine financially. However, long-term I knew I would either be like the people I mentioned earlier, or worse yet, LOSE IT ALL.
So instead of being debt free as I was just four months earlier in May, I now had nearly $40,000 in debt. My credit cards were barely being used until the general problem that occurred with that model of the 350Z (tires wearing in prematurely... Z-rated tires at that -- some of the most expensive tires out there, FYI) began to manifest. I went through five sets of tires within eighteen months. It was ridiculous. Add to that, the flashy attire crept back into the picture, as I had gone "all in" again with my spending habits.
Yet still, I was not in a bad situation. By the summer of 2004, I was disenchanted with my job. I was 25 and was NOT trying to be a lifer at Aetna, like many of my colleagues had become (many of whom had Masters, Doctorates and a few Ph.Ds were mixed in as well). I began praying for the Lord to bring to my remembrance the things that I was most passionate about and what steps I needed to take in order to take advantage of those gifts in a professional nature. I started my first business at age 18 in December 1997, but I got away from it once I began working at Aetna and making a comfortable salary.
I had a long and contentious relationship with my first college, Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus), and because I left the school in somewhat of a rush (a separate blog entry altogether), some paperwork was improperly processed at LIU, leaving me to repay nearly $10,000 in fees to the school before I could return to college ANYWHERE.
One reality that makes this reflection extra painful is the fact that St. John's University out in Queens was actively recruiting me to return to New York City and I would have had a full ride. FREE. This was 2003, while I was in the midst of car-buying. It was a tough decision to make. I was involved in real estate and looking to buy my first house for myself. The ONLY reason I did not go to St. John's was the fact that they did not offer campus housing; and everyone from New York knows that rent is ridiculous. As a full-time student, that was out of the question. However, looking back, and given that I am basically in that same position again next summer when I return to New York for graduate school, I wonder why I allowed such a thing to prevent me from moving forward. These past five years would not have been such a colossal and depressing tragedy had I gone back.
I had applied to Seton Hall University, which was five minutes from my then-home, Newark, New Jersey. I got in, but would have had to incur even more debt to pay for it. So I passed on that. Besides, as a New York resident, I could only get a reduction in tuition at a New York school. Given that I already knew that the City University system was a sick joke, I did not even apply there.
So later, I came back to North Carolina and applied to UNC-Chapel Hill (denied), UNC Charlotte (accepted, pending the transcripts that were being withheld until I repaid the aforementioned $10,000 to LIU -- so I could not go), NC A&T (accepted, no questions asked -- but I only applied to see if I COULD get in, never once in my life had I any desire to attend that school. No offense to A&T students and alumni). I applied to UNC Greensboro, which accepted me pending the transcripts. I swallowed the pill and paid the thousands of dollars to get my transcripts. That put me in even MORE debt. Then, because my financial aid was not processed in time, I could not attend in the Fall of 2004, as I desired. Because I was now an adult/independent student, even though I had a 3.5 GPA, I received nothing but loans from school. MORE DEBT.
I had plenty of haters who dinged up, keyed up, egged up my car the four years I had it. (Some of my friends remember how homicidal I was the night the kids from the neighborhood repeatedly egged my car. I had the gun in the glove compartment and sat in the car in the dark waiting for them to do it again -- thank God, for their sakes, they did not). That only made the situation worse. Then, as I began my first semeseter at UNCG, I ran into conflict with my supervisor at work, who already had it in for me and was just looking for a reason to fire me. She had nothing on me, but she COULD make it impossible for me to go to school and continue working there -- which she, of course, did with such glee. I was one of the best claims analysts in our division, they did not want me to leave, but at the same time, my boss did. Instead of waiting for her to set another trap, I threw myself into yet another business endeavor and gave the boss the universal "screw you" sign with my arms and left abruptly.
OK, now I have no income, several maxed out credit cards (due to the tires on the car, which were $1,500 every time I had to buy them), no job, and a car which used 93 octane gas, high insurance, because it was a sports car and no means to really do much financially, since everything was predicated upon my income. I had several thousand dollars saved up, well over $10,000, actually. But bills, business-starting costs and school-related expenses ate that up within a year and a half. Now I'm having to put the new business on the back burner and find work. Later, I had to sell the car. The whole situation would have been avoided, except...
THE NEW LAW THAT WAS PASSED, ALLOWING CREDIT CARD COMPANIES TO CHARGE THE GREATER OF 3% AND THE ASCRIBED MINIMUM PAYMENT. In short, if your minimum balance was $200/mo. in December 2005, it TRIPLED after that law took effect. It is easy to see why I, and many people who I know, ended up in financial ruin.
Keep this in mind as this $777B bill is being haggled over. If/when they pass it, there are going to be EVEN MORE people who went through what I've been through in the past five years. All the foreclosures, downsizing, having to sell cars, homes, businesses to stay afloat -- we have not seen ANYTHING YET. Do not get into credit card debt. PERIOD.
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Introducing... Camp's Corner
Introducing... Camp's Corner
By Kyle Campion
9.30.08
* Editor's Note:
Kyle is a New York Mets expert and an authority on all things related to Baseball, life in New York and North Carolina, the differences between a real slice of pizza and the knock-offs that are featured as "authentic New York Pizza" in other areas. He's also a BBQ connoisseur. That in an of itself earned him a spot on the Professor's blog. Check out his introductory column:
9.30.08
First off I would like to thank Mr. Wright for the opportunity to be able to contribute to this blog and with any luck I will hopefully add to the already spectacular content.
Before I say any thoughts I would like to introduce myself to you guys. I'm Kyle Campion, a 20 year old Junior at UNC-Greensboro down in North Carolina. Just like the editor and chief I was also born in Durham, NC before I moved to New York (Brooklyn and Long Island) where I spent the majority of my childhood. Being from Long Island it's only right that I grew up a Mets fan (for those unfamiliar with New York; Long Island is unquestionably the heart of Met-land due to its proximity to Shea and it's large ex-Brooklynite population). Being a Mets fan I am obviously in a state of sadness and anger and thus I am writing this to all the haters out there bashing on my Amazins...
Here are my thoughts on the following teams and their fan-bases:
Braves: It's funny you'd think I would have more hatred for this team than any other but I truly don't because it's hard to hate a fan base that you don't take seriously. Having been to Atlanta a few times to see the Mets, I don't think I can imagine a more pathetic fan-base. Only Atlanta can claim to be the team of an entire region yet not even sell out a playoff game! That's a sick joke if you ask me. Mostly the fan base consists of UGA students with little knowledge of the game and a few rednecks who openly spew hatred on New Yorkers who usually claim a good 20% of the seats at Turner. The only positive attribute is that the females at Turner are the CREAM OF THE CROP Southern Belle types who have just enough spunk and baseball knowledge to make any New Yorker try the tomahawk chop at least once.
Florida: While I'm not sure they even have fans I will say this much about their team...they need to get their priorities in order. While I understand that it's annoying that your home games turn into away games when the Mets are in town but that doesn't mean your entire season should revolve around trying to "spoil" the Mets season (trust me the opposing team doesn't matter, the Mets would choke if they were playing the Toms River, NJ Little League team). They're team is kind of like that kid in your group of friends who can only beat one person in Madden but constantly loses to everyone else...yet he only cares about beating that one kid...really cool guys...enjoy playing in Pro-Player in front of less people than your average HS football game.
Phillies: This is an interesting bunch of people. They will openly rip on the Mets for being too "flashy" yet their roster consists of Shane Victorino, Ryan "stare at my home runs" Howard and freakin' Jimmy Rollins... hmm. They're also quick to label New York fans as being irrational, trash and obnoxious...almost as quick as they throw batteries at their own players (for the record: John Rocker was asking for it and got what he deserved). Outside of this they are actually quite similar to Mets fans except they have seen even less success than we have.
Yankees: Although not all follow the stereotype, most Yankee fans, specifically the bandwagon variety are obnoxious, rude, and quite honestly just plain aggravating. Outside of that there are many good true-blue Yankee fans who know their stuff and are actually very friendly to fellow New York fans even if they root for royal blue instead of the dark navy they rock in the Bronx.
Red Sox: Up until about 5 years ago I considered myself to be a Met-sox fan which is a rare breed of fans who hate the Yankees as much as they love their own team. But after the two championships the fan base has just gotten out of hand. Suddenly "B" hats and championship t-shirts have been as prevalent as the fake swagger that permeates throughout the UNCG male student body...it's THAT bad. Just like the Yankees the average Sox fan knows his stuff and is fiercely loyal and for that I give him props and well deserved respect. But just like any fan base they need to know their limits, and quite frankly 2 championships over a 90+ year span is (the same as my Mets I may add) is certainly not enough to justify the same elitist attitude the Patriots adopted until Justin Tuck and the Giants defense beat it outta them (pause).
Final thoughts: I know I sound biased but there's no question in my mind that the North East is EASILY the best region for baseball. In my opinion the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs and White Sox (in no particular order) are the five best fan bases in baseball. I can't add Philly in there because we constantly invade their stadium and it's hard to ever add California teams into the mix when their fans are way too "cowabunga dudeeee" for my taste.
Monday, September 29, 2008
NFL Week 5: Power Rankings
NFL Week 5: Power Rankings
By Michael D. Wright
9.29.08
I hate ESPN's Power Rankings, because you can see their bent toward (and conversely AGAINST) certain teams. Mine is less biased and based upon reality, the way all facets of each team plays and the overall impression each team leaves on me -- regardless of fandom and rivalries. I figure the Week 4 mark is 1/4 of the season and the first true barometer of where teams stand. I will probably do this bi-weekly, depending on how drastically things shift in the league. If not, it will remain quarterly (Week 8, 12, 16/17, etc.)
1. New York Giants
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Washington Redskins
7. San Diego Chargers
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
11. Chicago Bears
12. Denver Broncos
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New York Jets
19. New Orleans Saints
20. San Francisco 49ers
21. Atlanta Falcons
22. Indianapolis Colts
23. Minnesota Vikings
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. Cleveland Browns
26. Houston Texans
27. Detroit Lions
28. Oakland Raiders
29. Kansas City Chiefs
30. Miami Dolphins
31. Cincinnati Bengals
32. St. Louis Rams
Here are ESPN's Power Rankings
9.30.08
* Previous Week's Ranking in ( )
1 (2) Giants 3-0-0 Took the NFC East lead without getting off the couch. With the Seahawks coming in, Giants are staring at 4-0. (MM)
2 (4) Titans 4-0-0 Hard to find fault with the franchise's first 4-0 start. But you have to take note that the teams they've beaten are 3-12 combined. The Titans are the only team that has played three home games. (PK)
3 (1) Cowboys 3-1-0 We'll see if the loss to the Redskins is a wake-up call. The good news is Cincinnati, Arizona and St. Louis are next. (MM)
4 (6) Bills 4-0-0 The Bills have overcome three straight fourth-quarter deficits to remain undefeated. Their opponents have a combined record of 4-11, but the Bills have been sensational when it matters most. (TG)
5 (5) Steelers 3-1-0 The Steelers got back on track with a big win against Baltimore to solidify their spot as one of the AFC's best. (JW)
6 (15) Redskins 3-1-0 Beating the Cowboys on their home turf has to count for something. Big game with Philly looms. (MM)
7 (10) Panthers 3-1-0 Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad give Panthers best receiver duo since Muhammad's departure three years ago. (PY)
8 (9) Chargers 2-2-0 The Chargers' win over Oakland wasn't pretty, but 25 points in the fourth quarter is a nice indication of what this team can do. (BW)
9 (3) Eagles 2-2-0 Deserve a little grace for playing without Brian Westbrook, L.J. Smith and Shawn Andrews. Can't afford to lose at home to the Redskins. (MM)
10 (13) Buccaneers 3-1-0 Brian Griese 3-0 since taking over as starter. (PY)
11 (7) Broncos 3-1-0 The Broncos will continue to slide down the rankings if their defense can't improve. Too much pressure is being put on the Denver offense. (BW)
12 (14) Jaguars 2-2-0 Two consecutive late-game rallies, spurred by a precise David Garrard. They've officially survived the 0-2 start and losses to Tennessee and Buffalo don't look so bad. (PK)
13 (11) Patriots 2-1-0 Eviscerating loss to Dolphins in Week 3 gave Patriots plenty to work on in their bye week. If they can't beat the 49ers on Sunday, prepare for panic to set in. (TG)
14 (17) Ravens 2-1-0 There's nothing wrong with a 2-1 start. But the Ravens missed out on a chance to make a huge statement in Monday's road loss to Pittsburgh. (JW)
15 (8) Packers 2-2-0 The Packers might have to start their backup quarterback for the first time in 16 years if Aaron Rodgers can't recover from a sprained shoulder. (KS)
16 (16) Saints 2-2-0 Deuce McAllister is back to bring much-needed balance to the offense. (PY)
17 (12) Colts 1-2-0 The Colts enjoyed a week off to help refocus and heal. But the best medicine could be the Texans, who've only beaten Indy once. (PK)
18 (20) Bears 2-2-0 The Bears hope they turned the corner in defeating
Philadelphia. One thing is for certain: They showed important versatility on offense. (KS)
19 (21) Jets 2-2-0 Brett Favre's six-touchdown day breathes new life into the Jets heading into their bye week. But defense ranks 28th on points allowed and 24th in yards allowed. (TG)
20 (18) Cardinals 2-2-0 Pass protection must improve or Kurt Warner won't last. Cards face must-win vs. Buffalo. (MS)
21 (19) Vikings 1-3-0 It doesn't get any easier this week at New Orleans on Monday Night Football. (KS)
22 (22) 49ers 2-2-0 J.T. O'Sullivan has taken 19 sacks in four games. Tough week for Niners with Pats coming off bye. (MS)
23 (23) Seahawks 1-2-0 Bye week allowed Seahawks to get healthier at receiver. Defense must step up. (MS)
24 (24) Falcons 2-2-0 Falcons beating bad teams and losing to good ones. Must keep Michael Turner running against the good ones. (PY)
25 (26) Browns 1-3-0 The Battle of Ohio wasn't pretty. But the Browns finally got a win and have the bye week to try to get better. (JW)
26 (25) Dolphins 1-2-0 Dolphins shocked the NFL with a crazy romp over the Patriots in Week 3. If the Dolphins can follow up with a win at home over the Chargers, they would rekindle long-lost hopes in South Florida. (TG)
27 (27) Texans 0-3-0 Remaining upbeat despite losing a game they should have won. Ready for a full month at home in Reliant Stadium with the roof open. (PK)
28 (29) Raiders 1-3-0 The Raiders may be a mess, but this team is playing hard. Good things will start to happen if that trend continues. (BW)
29 (31) Chiefs 1-3-0 The Chiefs deserve a lot of credit for their big win over Denver. Many pundits thought they'd go 0-16. That is no longer a worry. (BW)
30 (28) Bengals 0-4-0 This team wasn't good with Carson Palmer. Without him, it might be the worst team in the league. (JW)
31 (30) Lions 0-3-0 Matt Millen's departure doesn't make them any better. At least not this year. (KS)
32 (32) Rams 0-4-0 Rams would be wise to give Marc Bulger another shot. Trent Green's not the long-term answer. (MS)
By Michael D. Wright
9.29.08
I hate ESPN's Power Rankings, because you can see their bent toward (and conversely AGAINST) certain teams. Mine is less biased and based upon reality, the way all facets of each team plays and the overall impression each team leaves on me -- regardless of fandom and rivalries. I figure the Week 4 mark is 1/4 of the season and the first true barometer of where teams stand. I will probably do this bi-weekly, depending on how drastically things shift in the league. If not, it will remain quarterly (Week 8, 12, 16/17, etc.)
1. New York Giants
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Washington Redskins
7. San Diego Chargers
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
11. Chicago Bears
12. Denver Broncos
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New York Jets
19. New Orleans Saints
20. San Francisco 49ers
21. Atlanta Falcons
22. Indianapolis Colts
23. Minnesota Vikings
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. Cleveland Browns
26. Houston Texans
27. Detroit Lions
28. Oakland Raiders
29. Kansas City Chiefs
30. Miami Dolphins
31. Cincinnati Bengals
32. St. Louis Rams
Here are ESPN's Power Rankings
9.30.08
* Previous Week's Ranking in ( )
1 (2) Giants 3-0-0 Took the NFC East lead without getting off the couch. With the Seahawks coming in, Giants are staring at 4-0. (MM)
2 (4) Titans 4-0-0 Hard to find fault with the franchise's first 4-0 start. But you have to take note that the teams they've beaten are 3-12 combined. The Titans are the only team that has played three home games. (PK)
3 (1) Cowboys 3-1-0 We'll see if the loss to the Redskins is a wake-up call. The good news is Cincinnati, Arizona and St. Louis are next. (MM)
4 (6) Bills 4-0-0 The Bills have overcome three straight fourth-quarter deficits to remain undefeated. Their opponents have a combined record of 4-11, but the Bills have been sensational when it matters most. (TG)
5 (5) Steelers 3-1-0 The Steelers got back on track with a big win against Baltimore to solidify their spot as one of the AFC's best. (JW)
6 (15) Redskins 3-1-0 Beating the Cowboys on their home turf has to count for something. Big game with Philly looms. (MM)
7 (10) Panthers 3-1-0 Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad give Panthers best receiver duo since Muhammad's departure three years ago. (PY)
8 (9) Chargers 2-2-0 The Chargers' win over Oakland wasn't pretty, but 25 points in the fourth quarter is a nice indication of what this team can do. (BW)
9 (3) Eagles 2-2-0 Deserve a little grace for playing without Brian Westbrook, L.J. Smith and Shawn Andrews. Can't afford to lose at home to the Redskins. (MM)
10 (13) Buccaneers 3-1-0 Brian Griese 3-0 since taking over as starter. (PY)
11 (7) Broncos 3-1-0 The Broncos will continue to slide down the rankings if their defense can't improve. Too much pressure is being put on the Denver offense. (BW)
12 (14) Jaguars 2-2-0 Two consecutive late-game rallies, spurred by a precise David Garrard. They've officially survived the 0-2 start and losses to Tennessee and Buffalo don't look so bad. (PK)
13 (11) Patriots 2-1-0 Eviscerating loss to Dolphins in Week 3 gave Patriots plenty to work on in their bye week. If they can't beat the 49ers on Sunday, prepare for panic to set in. (TG)
14 (17) Ravens 2-1-0 There's nothing wrong with a 2-1 start. But the Ravens missed out on a chance to make a huge statement in Monday's road loss to Pittsburgh. (JW)
15 (8) Packers 2-2-0 The Packers might have to start their backup quarterback for the first time in 16 years if Aaron Rodgers can't recover from a sprained shoulder. (KS)
16 (16) Saints 2-2-0 Deuce McAllister is back to bring much-needed balance to the offense. (PY)
17 (12) Colts 1-2-0 The Colts enjoyed a week off to help refocus and heal. But the best medicine could be the Texans, who've only beaten Indy once. (PK)
18 (20) Bears 2-2-0 The Bears hope they turned the corner in defeating
Philadelphia. One thing is for certain: They showed important versatility on offense. (KS)
19 (21) Jets 2-2-0 Brett Favre's six-touchdown day breathes new life into the Jets heading into their bye week. But defense ranks 28th on points allowed and 24th in yards allowed. (TG)
20 (18) Cardinals 2-2-0 Pass protection must improve or Kurt Warner won't last. Cards face must-win vs. Buffalo. (MS)
21 (19) Vikings 1-3-0 It doesn't get any easier this week at New Orleans on Monday Night Football. (KS)
22 (22) 49ers 2-2-0 J.T. O'Sullivan has taken 19 sacks in four games. Tough week for Niners with Pats coming off bye. (MS)
23 (23) Seahawks 1-2-0 Bye week allowed Seahawks to get healthier at receiver. Defense must step up. (MS)
24 (24) Falcons 2-2-0 Falcons beating bad teams and losing to good ones. Must keep Michael Turner running against the good ones. (PY)
25 (26) Browns 1-3-0 The Battle of Ohio wasn't pretty. But the Browns finally got a win and have the bye week to try to get better. (JW)
26 (25) Dolphins 1-2-0 Dolphins shocked the NFL with a crazy romp over the Patriots in Week 3. If the Dolphins can follow up with a win at home over the Chargers, they would rekindle long-lost hopes in South Florida. (TG)
27 (27) Texans 0-3-0 Remaining upbeat despite losing a game they should have won. Ready for a full month at home in Reliant Stadium with the roof open. (PK)
28 (29) Raiders 1-3-0 The Raiders may be a mess, but this team is playing hard. Good things will start to happen if that trend continues. (BW)
29 (31) Chiefs 1-3-0 The Chiefs deserve a lot of credit for their big win over Denver. Many pundits thought they'd go 0-16. That is no longer a worry. (BW)
30 (28) Bengals 0-4-0 This team wasn't good with Carson Palmer. Without him, it might be the worst team in the league. (JW)
31 (30) Lions 0-3-0 Matt Millen's departure doesn't make them any better. At least not this year. (KS)
32 (32) Rams 0-4-0 Rams would be wise to give Marc Bulger another shot. Trent Green's not the long-term answer. (MS)
NFL Week 4: Monday Morning Watercooler
NFL Week 4: Monday Morning Watercooler
By Michael D. Wright
9.29.08
So... how did I do with my picks in Week 4?
HORRIBLY.
Just as I have pretty much since Week 1. The NFL is more wide-open than ever, when I'm not even breaking even with my picks. Here is a rundown:
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans.
LP Field
Nashville, Tennessee
1 PM
I don't know what to make about the Vikings right now. They benched their starting QB (T. Jackson) and put in ol' man Gus Frerotte. Gus doesn't make many mistakes, but the problem with Minnesota is still the fact they don't stretch the field well enough with their WRs. Their defense is very good up front, but when the defensive line does not get pressure on the QB, the secondary looks average at best. They call Adrian Peterson A.D. because he can run... well... ALL DAY. With Chester Taylor spelling him whenever Peterson needs a breather, the Vikings are tough on the ground.
The Titans have Kerry Collins in for Vince Young at QB. Collins is to Frerotte as Young is to Jackson. Collins doesn't try to do too much (at least until he feels like he's the starter, then he reverts to the dumb nonsense he did while QB of the Giants). Like Minnesota, the Titans can run the ball all day. Their defense is tough up front like Minnesota's. This is a pick 'em game, and I'm going to go with the team that has been most consistent this far.
Call:
Minnesota 23
Tennessee 27
Actual:
Minnesota 17
Tennessee 30
OK, I figured the Titans' defense alone would be enough to stop Minnesota. While A.D. did his thing on the ground against the top-ranked Titans defense, they don't have a competent QB in their stead and that killed them. I got the call right, but the margin of victory... yeah, next!
---
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
1 PM
The Chiefs are abysmal. Every week I wonder how Herm Edwards still has a job. Then I remember, the GM, Carl Peterson is one of his lifetime buddies. I get it now. Both teams are awful on defense, and you would think this would be one of those Pinball games, where the last team with the ball wins 51-48 or something, except the Chiefs don't have that kind of offense.
Denver is for real. I totally got it wrong with them in the preseason. They might rack up historic numbers on KC this weekend. Poor Herm.
Call:
Denver 48
Kansas City 10
Actual:
Denver 19
Kansas City 33
Just when I take a sip of Jim Jones'... *ehem*... Mike Shanahan's grape Flavor-Aid, they come out and lay this egg against arguably the second-worst team in the NFL. I don't get it. I'm not going to dwell on this. Here's to Denver fulfilling my ORIGINAL prediction about their season. I feel very strongly about this.
---
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints.
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
1 PM
The 49ers are game. I thought they would be like fishkill this season, but not the case. They Play. To Win. The. Game! The Saints are smarting right now (to steal a line from Hubie Brown). They're smarting. Missing Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey for about six weeks will hurt the Saints' offense. Reggie Bush is good in space, so Pat Willis and Co. will have their hands full. The 49ers' secondary is terrible outside of Nate Clements, but they won't be tested too often in this game. Brees will stick to underneath passes and patterns in the flat. I think Frank Gore has one of his annual "he's going to win the rushing title... watch!" games.
Call:
San Francisco 21
New Orleans 17
Actual:
San Francisco 17
New Orleans 31
Same thing here. I figured the Saints would be missing too many weapons on their offense to overpower the 49ers. Along with a porous defense, it is easy to see why I picked San Francisco. Rule #432 in calling games -- NEVER bet on a Mike Nolan-led team to win any game.
---
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets.
The New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
1 PM
Anyone who thinks the Cardinals are not for real, let me tell you: THEY ARE LEGIT. Their offense can score with the best of them, and as I've said every week, their defense is very good. They just do not get much publicity because they play out west and don't get National TV exposure due to their annual ritual of not making the playoffs.
Benching Matt Leinart was the best thing the Cards could have done. Edgerrin James does his thing. Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald form arguably the best WR tandem in the NFL. Both could catch 100 passes and well over 1,000 yards and possibly 10 TDs apiece if Kurt Warner stays healthy. The defense has players at each level who make plays every week. DE Bert Berry will not play Sunday, however. Brett Favre should thank God.
I think the Jets are a middle of the road team. Now that the New York media has gotten over the honeymoon with Favre, they know what football people already know: Brett Favre is AVERAGE. Their receivers, while being guys who I like (pause) are not game breakers. The Jets spent tons of money on both sides of the ball to improve and as of right now, they have not seen a return on their investment. I think the Jets will spend the entire game on their heels on both sides of the ball.
Call:
Arizona 38
NY Jets 21
Actual:
Arizona 35
NY Jets 56
Something crazy always happens when I am traveling while the games are on Sundays. Week 1, the Chargers lose to the Panthers on a Mike Patrick Special on the last play of the game (aka when he welps, "ARE YOU BELIEVING THIS?!?!?!" during a Duke/UNC basketball game and a player makes a great play). This week, an overrated Brett Favre and overtalked-about Jets team, both average at best, lay 56 on a very good defense! Kurt Warner just proved again why the Rams and Giants tired of him and his act. He can put up numbers like a pinball machine, but then every 3-4 games he'll do what he did against the Jets -- throw 3 INTs, fumble the ball 4 times and get sacked 5 times at that. The Cards' defense isn't as bad as the 56 points may indicate, as the Jets were working with a short field following Warner's FIVE turnovers -- including a couple of them going in for quick scores on the turnover. Ridiculous. Your kneejerk reaction would be to bench him, but then you remember another overrated USC bum named Matt Leinart is sitting there. So you stick with Warner and hope he plays as he did in Weeks 1 and 2.
---
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
1 PM
The Old "Bay of Pigs" rivalry (as Chris Berman calls it). It has lost its luster as guys like Warren Sapp, Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman are gone. However, the Bucs still have Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn is back after spending the past six seasons in Atlanta. The Bucs' defense is solid and keeps them in most games. No one knows who the Bucs' QB is from game to game, but Earnest Graham and Dunn get enough done on the ground to make defenses play them honest.
The Packers looked shellshocked against the Cowboys on Monday. No shame in that. I do notsee there being a carryover effect, though. Rodgers is the real deal. The question will be can the Packers control the ball long enough to outscore Tampa Bay? The Bucs typically eat up a lot of clock and their defense still gets it done even without all the big name stars they once had. Ronde Barber makes plays and so do Jermaine Phillips and Brian Kelly. I like the Bucs in this one.
Call:
Green Bay 27
Tampa Bay 30
Actual:
Green Bay 21
Tampa Bay 30
The outcome of this game was pretty much what I expected. Of course no one can predict what will happen during the course of the game to make it all come to pass as such, but I figured the Bucs to put up 30 and for them to shut down the Packers' running game (Grant didn't break 50 yards) and force A. Rodgers to win the game. Try as he might, Rodgers did not. So the Pack did not win. Simple as that.
---
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers.
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
1 PM
The Falcons are surprisingly 2-1. The Panthers are, also. However, I expected the Panthers to be good (I have them winning the NFC South). I thought the Falcons would royally suck for the remainder of this decade and into the next. Matt Ryan's playing some decent ball at QB, and his big play to WR Roddy White last week got me a few fantasy league points LOL
DE John Abraham is still the same guy who always gets 10+ sacks and he will get after Garcia (should Garcia start). Keith Brooking is the QB of the defense and keeps them under control. I figured the loss of DeAngelo Hall would hurt them dearly. Not so (thus far). I like the dimension that RB Michael Turner brings to the Falcons. He makes teams play the Falcons honest, so they cannot just tee off on Ryan, thereby preserving Ryan and lengthening his learning curve.
The Panthers look poised to go on a winning streak. QB Jake Delhomme looked rattled at times versus the Bears, but that is to be expected. WR Steve Smith is back in the fold, and with Muhsin Muhammad on the other side, the Panthers look like the team that went to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. Their offense is intact with two very good running backs. The aforementioned wide receivers are very good, and the defense is healthy. That has been the key for the Panthers the past four years - the relative health of their players, especially on defense. I like the Black Cats in this one.
Call:
Atlanta 24
Carolina 34
Actual:
Atlanta 9
Carolina 24
I gave the Fulcons (as the guy doing the game likes to call them) too much credit. I know the Panthers are too good to lose to this team comprised of rookies, aging vets and castoffs who couldn't cut it on already-bad teams. The Panthers are the second best team in the NFC behind the Giants.
---
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
1 PM
The Texans are not as bad as they have looked in their two games. Their Week 3 game versus Baltimore might have been a better barometer of how good they are, but it was rained out due to Hurricane Ike. The Jaguars look like the average team that they are. Allowing DT Marcus Stroud to go to Buffalo in free agency was borderline lunacy. But hey, I'm not their capologist.
I think Andre Johnson lined up against Rasean Mathis is palpable TV. Mathis might get an INT, but I think Johnson will have about 8-10 catches for over 100 yards in this game.
The problem the Texans have is stopping the run. The Jaguars run the ball very well with Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew (questionable) and Greg Jones. Should be a close, low-scoring game. I think the Texans notch their first win.
Call:
Houston 19
Jacksonville 14
Actual:
Houston 27
Jacksonville 30
You just never know, huh? I thought the Texans were going to turn the corner this year with their guys healthy. I guess not. The Jaguars still aren't that good in my mind. David Garrard did not turn the ball over on INTs. That was the only difference between this game and the last two Jacksonville games.
---
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
1 PM
Everytime these teams play, it is high scoring. They gave us a 51-45 last year and the game before that was high scoring as well. Both teams are a disgrace defensively, especially when stopping the run (although the Bengals did a surprisingly good job versus the Giants in Week 3). I see another shootout. Neither team has changed personnel or philosophy since last year. And I see Cleveland pulling it out because the Bengals just aren't good at all; which is a shame, with Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh on offense.
Call:
Cleveland 48
Cincinnati 44
Actual:
Cleveland 20
Cincinnati 12
The high score was the only that could have made this game interesting. They couldn't even manage this. Both these teams are even worse than I originally thought. I had Cleveland winning the division, which won't happen. I had the Bengals winning six games, which won't happen either.
---
San Diego (Super) Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders.
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California
4:05 PM
The Chargers got untracked last week versus the Jets on Monday Night Football. I hope my eyes aren't deceiving me, but all those carries (approaching 2,500) are catching up with LaDainian Tomlinson. I know he has a toe injury, but he still looks as if he lost a step. I hope not. The Chargers can score with anyone, though. The defense is better than people think, but they have given up a ton of yards and points early.
I don't see the Raiders giving much of a fight. JaMarcus Russell will be glad to get in the whirlpool Monday after he gets sacked a half dozen times.
Call:
San Diego 41
Oakland 16
Actual:
San Diego 28
Oakland 18
I don't know why the Chargers even struggled with these losers for over a half. But a win's a win. Tomlinson finally got 100 yards for the first time this season. Philip Rivers shook off a couple of early INTs and played well in the second half. The Chargers' slow start is the only thing that preventing this game from turning out exactly the way I called it.
---
Buffalo Bills vs. St. Louis Rams.
The Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
4:05 PM
So the Rams switched QBs from Marc Bulger to Trent Green. *sigh*. This reeks of desperation on the part of head coach Scott Linehan. He might be gone before the end of this season if the Rams keep playing like this. They are the absolute worst team in the NFL -- the same NFL with the Raiders and Chiefs! Bulger isn't the problem. They just have an awful offensive line. They let WR Isaac Bruce leave. WR Torry Holt has lost a step. RB Steven Jackson cannot find holes in his turnstile of an offensive line. The defense is cavernous. They brought in a career backup and released a starter? I don't get it. The Rams don't have a plan. They look like Jimmy Carter at the end of his term in the White House in 1980-81! (History buffs know what I am referring to).
The Bills are for real. They may very well win the division. No other AFC East team is as balanced on both sides of the ball as Buffalo is. The Patrios are long in the tooth defensively. QB Matt Cassel will see more of the same pressure for the rest of the season. The Jets are middle of the road at best. The Dolphins think they are onto something because they got away with a few trick plays against a slow defense. Big deal. Watch out for the Bills.
Call:
Buffalo 47
St. Louis 21
Actual:
Buffalo 31
St. Louis 14
So they finally fired Scott Linehan in St. Louis. Now the GM and the interim coach aka the leader of the worst defense in the NFL (logic, please?) in Jim Haslett need to go before the Rams have a shot at ever being relevant again with the current set of stud (pause) players they have.
---
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys.
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas
4:15 PM
I suppose I gave the Redskins too much of a learning curve in Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. They matched up well with the Saints in Week 2 and last week handled the wide-open Arizona offense. That tells me something. DE Jason Taylor is out indefinitely with a potentially career/life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
The Cowboys better not enter this game with a smug demeanor. Their receivers will not run free this week like they did versus Green Bay in the second half of their Week 3 game. FS LaRon Landry will meet WR Terrell Owens in the middle of the field a time or two. However, I don't see any of the Redskins' DBs stopping Owens or Crayton.
This game will be close.
Call:
Washington 35
Dallas 34
Actual:
Washington 26
Dallas 24
See, I know what I am talking about. The game was close. I also said the Redskins would pull it out late. Enough said. No reason to gloat with my bad picks.
---
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears.
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
8:15 PM (Sunday Night Football - NBC)
Why are the Bears on national TV so much? They are an eyesore.
Anyway, the Eagles are very good, but not better than Dallas or the NY Giants. That said, every team in the NFC East is better than the rest of the teams in the NFC except the Carolina Panthers. That may very well be the six-team lineup in the playoffs, if not for the 4 division winners automatically getting playoff bids (making the NFC North winner a waste of space, and preventing the 4th NFC East team from making the playoffs rightfully). I see Dallas and New York battling for the NFC East title, the one who doesn't get it gets the 5 seed, I see Philly making it and I see Chicago (now) winning the NFC North and the Cardinals winning the NFC West. Nonetheless, the Bears are the Smoke & Mirrors team of 2008. They are a joke offensively, but hey, they don't turn the ball over too much to the point where it kills them. Defensively, they're stout as always. They will get after Donovan F. McNabb, especially if B. Westbrook cannot play.
I can't name four guys on the Bears' offense (just kidding), but most people can't. Starting with their RB. However, this game will be close. The Iggles are too inconsistent to run away from decent-to-above average teams. The Bears are somewhere between decent and above average. Hence...
Call:
Philadelphia 25
Chicago 27
Actual:
Philadelphia 20
Chicago 24
Same thing here. Close game as predicted. Although we were basically watching The Unit while the fumble-fest was taking place in the second half of this game. I only wanted the Iggles to lose so that they, along with Dallas, would ensure that the Giants would be in first place ALONE heading into Week 5 vs. Seattle in East Rutherford.
---
By Michael D. Wright
9.29.08
So... how did I do with my picks in Week 4?
HORRIBLY.
Just as I have pretty much since Week 1. The NFL is more wide-open than ever, when I'm not even breaking even with my picks. Here is a rundown:
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans.
LP Field
Nashville, Tennessee
1 PM
I don't know what to make about the Vikings right now. They benched their starting QB (T. Jackson) and put in ol' man Gus Frerotte. Gus doesn't make many mistakes, but the problem with Minnesota is still the fact they don't stretch the field well enough with their WRs. Their defense is very good up front, but when the defensive line does not get pressure on the QB, the secondary looks average at best. They call Adrian Peterson A.D. because he can run... well... ALL DAY. With Chester Taylor spelling him whenever Peterson needs a breather, the Vikings are tough on the ground.
The Titans have Kerry Collins in for Vince Young at QB. Collins is to Frerotte as Young is to Jackson. Collins doesn't try to do too much (at least until he feels like he's the starter, then he reverts to the dumb nonsense he did while QB of the Giants). Like Minnesota, the Titans can run the ball all day. Their defense is tough up front like Minnesota's. This is a pick 'em game, and I'm going to go with the team that has been most consistent this far.
Call:
Minnesota 23
Tennessee 27
Actual:
Minnesota 17
Tennessee 30
OK, I figured the Titans' defense alone would be enough to stop Minnesota. While A.D. did his thing on the ground against the top-ranked Titans defense, they don't have a competent QB in their stead and that killed them. I got the call right, but the margin of victory... yeah, next!
---
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
1 PM
The Chiefs are abysmal. Every week I wonder how Herm Edwards still has a job. Then I remember, the GM, Carl Peterson is one of his lifetime buddies. I get it now. Both teams are awful on defense, and you would think this would be one of those Pinball games, where the last team with the ball wins 51-48 or something, except the Chiefs don't have that kind of offense.
Denver is for real. I totally got it wrong with them in the preseason. They might rack up historic numbers on KC this weekend. Poor Herm.
Call:
Denver 48
Kansas City 10
Actual:
Denver 19
Kansas City 33
Just when I take a sip of Jim Jones'... *ehem*... Mike Shanahan's grape Flavor-Aid, they come out and lay this egg against arguably the second-worst team in the NFL. I don't get it. I'm not going to dwell on this. Here's to Denver fulfilling my ORIGINAL prediction about their season. I feel very strongly about this.
---
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints.
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
1 PM
The 49ers are game. I thought they would be like fishkill this season, but not the case. They Play. To Win. The. Game! The Saints are smarting right now (to steal a line from Hubie Brown). They're smarting. Missing Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey for about six weeks will hurt the Saints' offense. Reggie Bush is good in space, so Pat Willis and Co. will have their hands full. The 49ers' secondary is terrible outside of Nate Clements, but they won't be tested too often in this game. Brees will stick to underneath passes and patterns in the flat. I think Frank Gore has one of his annual "he's going to win the rushing title... watch!" games.
Call:
San Francisco 21
New Orleans 17
Actual:
San Francisco 17
New Orleans 31
Same thing here. I figured the Saints would be missing too many weapons on their offense to overpower the 49ers. Along with a porous defense, it is easy to see why I picked San Francisco. Rule #432 in calling games -- NEVER bet on a Mike Nolan-led team to win any game.
---
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets.
The New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
1 PM
Anyone who thinks the Cardinals are not for real, let me tell you: THEY ARE LEGIT. Their offense can score with the best of them, and as I've said every week, their defense is very good. They just do not get much publicity because they play out west and don't get National TV exposure due to their annual ritual of not making the playoffs.
Benching Matt Leinart was the best thing the Cards could have done. Edgerrin James does his thing. Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald form arguably the best WR tandem in the NFL. Both could catch 100 passes and well over 1,000 yards and possibly 10 TDs apiece if Kurt Warner stays healthy. The defense has players at each level who make plays every week. DE Bert Berry will not play Sunday, however. Brett Favre should thank God.
I think the Jets are a middle of the road team. Now that the New York media has gotten over the honeymoon with Favre, they know what football people already know: Brett Favre is AVERAGE. Their receivers, while being guys who I like (pause) are not game breakers. The Jets spent tons of money on both sides of the ball to improve and as of right now, they have not seen a return on their investment. I think the Jets will spend the entire game on their heels on both sides of the ball.
Call:
Arizona 38
NY Jets 21
Actual:
Arizona 35
NY Jets 56
Something crazy always happens when I am traveling while the games are on Sundays. Week 1, the Chargers lose to the Panthers on a Mike Patrick Special on the last play of the game (aka when he welps, "ARE YOU BELIEVING THIS?!?!?!" during a Duke/UNC basketball game and a player makes a great play). This week, an overrated Brett Favre and overtalked-about Jets team, both average at best, lay 56 on a very good defense! Kurt Warner just proved again why the Rams and Giants tired of him and his act. He can put up numbers like a pinball machine, but then every 3-4 games he'll do what he did against the Jets -- throw 3 INTs, fumble the ball 4 times and get sacked 5 times at that. The Cards' defense isn't as bad as the 56 points may indicate, as the Jets were working with a short field following Warner's FIVE turnovers -- including a couple of them going in for quick scores on the turnover. Ridiculous. Your kneejerk reaction would be to bench him, but then you remember another overrated USC bum named Matt Leinart is sitting there. So you stick with Warner and hope he plays as he did in Weeks 1 and 2.
---
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
1 PM
The Old "Bay of Pigs" rivalry (as Chris Berman calls it). It has lost its luster as guys like Warren Sapp, Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman are gone. However, the Bucs still have Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn is back after spending the past six seasons in Atlanta. The Bucs' defense is solid and keeps them in most games. No one knows who the Bucs' QB is from game to game, but Earnest Graham and Dunn get enough done on the ground to make defenses play them honest.
The Packers looked shellshocked against the Cowboys on Monday. No shame in that. I do notsee there being a carryover effect, though. Rodgers is the real deal. The question will be can the Packers control the ball long enough to outscore Tampa Bay? The Bucs typically eat up a lot of clock and their defense still gets it done even without all the big name stars they once had. Ronde Barber makes plays and so do Jermaine Phillips and Brian Kelly. I like the Bucs in this one.
Call:
Green Bay 27
Tampa Bay 30
Actual:
Green Bay 21
Tampa Bay 30
The outcome of this game was pretty much what I expected. Of course no one can predict what will happen during the course of the game to make it all come to pass as such, but I figured the Bucs to put up 30 and for them to shut down the Packers' running game (Grant didn't break 50 yards) and force A. Rodgers to win the game. Try as he might, Rodgers did not. So the Pack did not win. Simple as that.
---
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers.
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
1 PM
The Falcons are surprisingly 2-1. The Panthers are, also. However, I expected the Panthers to be good (I have them winning the NFC South). I thought the Falcons would royally suck for the remainder of this decade and into the next. Matt Ryan's playing some decent ball at QB, and his big play to WR Roddy White last week got me a few fantasy league points LOL
DE John Abraham is still the same guy who always gets 10+ sacks and he will get after Garcia (should Garcia start). Keith Brooking is the QB of the defense and keeps them under control. I figured the loss of DeAngelo Hall would hurt them dearly. Not so (thus far). I like the dimension that RB Michael Turner brings to the Falcons. He makes teams play the Falcons honest, so they cannot just tee off on Ryan, thereby preserving Ryan and lengthening his learning curve.
The Panthers look poised to go on a winning streak. QB Jake Delhomme looked rattled at times versus the Bears, but that is to be expected. WR Steve Smith is back in the fold, and with Muhsin Muhammad on the other side, the Panthers look like the team that went to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. Their offense is intact with two very good running backs. The aforementioned wide receivers are very good, and the defense is healthy. That has been the key for the Panthers the past four years - the relative health of their players, especially on defense. I like the Black Cats in this one.
Call:
Atlanta 24
Carolina 34
Actual:
Atlanta 9
Carolina 24
I gave the Fulcons (as the guy doing the game likes to call them) too much credit. I know the Panthers are too good to lose to this team comprised of rookies, aging vets and castoffs who couldn't cut it on already-bad teams. The Panthers are the second best team in the NFC behind the Giants.
---
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
1 PM
The Texans are not as bad as they have looked in their two games. Their Week 3 game versus Baltimore might have been a better barometer of how good they are, but it was rained out due to Hurricane Ike. The Jaguars look like the average team that they are. Allowing DT Marcus Stroud to go to Buffalo in free agency was borderline lunacy. But hey, I'm not their capologist.
I think Andre Johnson lined up against Rasean Mathis is palpable TV. Mathis might get an INT, but I think Johnson will have about 8-10 catches for over 100 yards in this game.
The problem the Texans have is stopping the run. The Jaguars run the ball very well with Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew (questionable) and Greg Jones. Should be a close, low-scoring game. I think the Texans notch their first win.
Call:
Houston 19
Jacksonville 14
Actual:
Houston 27
Jacksonville 30
You just never know, huh? I thought the Texans were going to turn the corner this year with their guys healthy. I guess not. The Jaguars still aren't that good in my mind. David Garrard did not turn the ball over on INTs. That was the only difference between this game and the last two Jacksonville games.
---
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
1 PM
Everytime these teams play, it is high scoring. They gave us a 51-45 last year and the game before that was high scoring as well. Both teams are a disgrace defensively, especially when stopping the run (although the Bengals did a surprisingly good job versus the Giants in Week 3). I see another shootout. Neither team has changed personnel or philosophy since last year. And I see Cleveland pulling it out because the Bengals just aren't good at all; which is a shame, with Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh on offense.
Call:
Cleveland 48
Cincinnati 44
Actual:
Cleveland 20
Cincinnati 12
The high score was the only that could have made this game interesting. They couldn't even manage this. Both these teams are even worse than I originally thought. I had Cleveland winning the division, which won't happen. I had the Bengals winning six games, which won't happen either.
---
San Diego (Super) Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders.
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California
4:05 PM
The Chargers got untracked last week versus the Jets on Monday Night Football. I hope my eyes aren't deceiving me, but all those carries (approaching 2,500) are catching up with LaDainian Tomlinson. I know he has a toe injury, but he still looks as if he lost a step. I hope not. The Chargers can score with anyone, though. The defense is better than people think, but they have given up a ton of yards and points early.
I don't see the Raiders giving much of a fight. JaMarcus Russell will be glad to get in the whirlpool Monday after he gets sacked a half dozen times.
Call:
San Diego 41
Oakland 16
Actual:
San Diego 28
Oakland 18
I don't know why the Chargers even struggled with these losers for over a half. But a win's a win. Tomlinson finally got 100 yards for the first time this season. Philip Rivers shook off a couple of early INTs and played well in the second half. The Chargers' slow start is the only thing that preventing this game from turning out exactly the way I called it.
---
Buffalo Bills vs. St. Louis Rams.
The Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
4:05 PM
So the Rams switched QBs from Marc Bulger to Trent Green. *sigh*. This reeks of desperation on the part of head coach Scott Linehan. He might be gone before the end of this season if the Rams keep playing like this. They are the absolute worst team in the NFL -- the same NFL with the Raiders and Chiefs! Bulger isn't the problem. They just have an awful offensive line. They let WR Isaac Bruce leave. WR Torry Holt has lost a step. RB Steven Jackson cannot find holes in his turnstile of an offensive line. The defense is cavernous. They brought in a career backup and released a starter? I don't get it. The Rams don't have a plan. They look like Jimmy Carter at the end of his term in the White House in 1980-81! (History buffs know what I am referring to).
The Bills are for real. They may very well win the division. No other AFC East team is as balanced on both sides of the ball as Buffalo is. The Patrios are long in the tooth defensively. QB Matt Cassel will see more of the same pressure for the rest of the season. The Jets are middle of the road at best. The Dolphins think they are onto something because they got away with a few trick plays against a slow defense. Big deal. Watch out for the Bills.
Call:
Buffalo 47
St. Louis 21
Actual:
Buffalo 31
St. Louis 14
So they finally fired Scott Linehan in St. Louis. Now the GM and the interim coach aka the leader of the worst defense in the NFL (logic, please?) in Jim Haslett need to go before the Rams have a shot at ever being relevant again with the current set of stud (pause) players they have.
---
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys.
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas
4:15 PM
I suppose I gave the Redskins too much of a learning curve in Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. They matched up well with the Saints in Week 2 and last week handled the wide-open Arizona offense. That tells me something. DE Jason Taylor is out indefinitely with a potentially career/life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
The Cowboys better not enter this game with a smug demeanor. Their receivers will not run free this week like they did versus Green Bay in the second half of their Week 3 game. FS LaRon Landry will meet WR Terrell Owens in the middle of the field a time or two. However, I don't see any of the Redskins' DBs stopping Owens or Crayton.
This game will be close.
Call:
Washington 35
Dallas 34
Actual:
Washington 26
Dallas 24
See, I know what I am talking about. The game was close. I also said the Redskins would pull it out late. Enough said. No reason to gloat with my bad picks.
---
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears.
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
8:15 PM (Sunday Night Football - NBC)
Why are the Bears on national TV so much? They are an eyesore.
Anyway, the Eagles are very good, but not better than Dallas or the NY Giants. That said, every team in the NFC East is better than the rest of the teams in the NFC except the Carolina Panthers. That may very well be the six-team lineup in the playoffs, if not for the 4 division winners automatically getting playoff bids (making the NFC North winner a waste of space, and preventing the 4th NFC East team from making the playoffs rightfully). I see Dallas and New York battling for the NFC East title, the one who doesn't get it gets the 5 seed, I see Philly making it and I see Chicago (now) winning the NFC North and the Cardinals winning the NFC West. Nonetheless, the Bears are the Smoke & Mirrors team of 2008. They are a joke offensively, but hey, they don't turn the ball over too much to the point where it kills them. Defensively, they're stout as always. They will get after Donovan F. McNabb, especially if B. Westbrook cannot play.
I can't name four guys on the Bears' offense (just kidding), but most people can't. Starting with their RB. However, this game will be close. The Iggles are too inconsistent to run away from decent-to-above average teams. The Bears are somewhere between decent and above average. Hence...
Call:
Philadelphia 25
Chicago 27
Actual:
Philadelphia 20
Chicago 24
Same thing here. Close game as predicted. Although we were basically watching The Unit while the fumble-fest was taking place in the second half of this game. I only wanted the Iggles to lose so that they, along with Dallas, would ensure that the Giants would be in first place ALONE heading into Week 5 vs. Seattle in East Rutherford.
---
Thursday, September 25, 2008
NFL Week 4 Picks
NFL Week 4 Picks
By Michael D. Wright
9.25.08
OK, I blew a few games last week, and I've been outright DEAD WRONG about some teams (Denver, Houston, Indianapolis - thus far). But I think my picks this week will be solid; especially since the Jints are on a bye LOL
Here are the picks:
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans.
LP Field
Nashville, Tennessee
1 PM
I don't know what to make about the Vikings right now. They benched their starting QB (T. Jackson) and put in ol' man Gus Frerotte. Gus doesn't make many mistakes, but the problem with Minnesota is still the fact they don't stretch the field well enough with their WRs. Their defense is very good up front, but when the defensive line does not get pressure on the QB, the secondary looks average at best. They call Adrian Peterson A.D. because he can run... well... ALL DAY. With Chester Taylor spelling him whenever Peterson needs a breather, the Vikings are tough on the ground.
The Titans have Kerry Collins in for Vince Young at QB. Collins is to Frerotte as Young is to Jackson. Collins doesn't try to do too much (at least until he feels like he's the starter, then he reverts to the dumb nonsense he did while QB of the Giants). Like Minnesota, the Titans can run the ball all day. Their defense is tough up front like Minnesota's. This is a pick 'em game, and I'm going to go with the team that has been most consistent this far.
Call:
Minnesota 23
Tennessee 27
---
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
1 PM
The Chiefs are abysmal. Every week I wonder how Herm Edwards still has a job. Then I remember, the GM, Carl Peterson is one of his lifetime buddies. I get it now. Both teams are awful on defense, and you would think this would be one of those Pinball games, where the last team with the ball wins 51-48 or something, except the Chiefs don't have that kind of offense.
Denver is for real. I totally got it wrong with them in the preseason. They might rack up historic numbers on KC this weekend. Poor Herm.
Call:
Denver 48
Kansas City 10
---
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints.
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
1 PM
The 49ers are game. I thought they would be like fishkill this season, but not the case. They Play. To Win. The. Game! The Saints are smarting right now (to steal a line from Hubie Brown). They're smarting. Missing Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey for about six weeks will hurt the Saints' offense. Reggie Bush is good in space, so Pat Willis and Co. will have their hands full. The 49ers' secondary is terrible outside of Nate Clements, but they won't be tested too often in this game. Brees will stick to underneath passes and patterns in the flat. I think Frank Gore has one of his annual "he's going to win the rushing title... watch!" games.
Call:
San Francisco 21
New Orleans 17
---
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets.
The New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
1 PM
Anyone who thinks the Cardinals are not for real, let me tell you: THEY ARE LEGIT. Their offense can score with the best of them, and as I've said every week, their defense is very good. They just do not get much publicity because they play out west and don't get National TV exposure due to their annual ritual of not making the playoffs.
Benching Matt Leinart was the best thing the Cards could have done. Edgerrin James does his thing. Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald form arguably the best WR tandem in the NFL. Both could catch 100 passes and well over 1,000 yards and possibly 10 TDs apiece if Kurt Warner stays healthy. The defense has players at each level who make plays every week. DE Bert Berry will not play Sunday, however. Brett Favre should thank God.
I think the Jets are a middle of the road team. Now that the New York media has gotten over the honeymoon with Favre, they know what football people already know: Brett Favre is AVERAGE. Their receivers, while being guys who I like (pause) are not game breakers. The Jets spent tons of money on both sides of the ball to improve and as of right now, they have not seen a return on their investment. I think the Jets will spend the entire game on their heels on both sides of the ball.
Call:
Arizona 38
NY Jets 21
---
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
1 PM
The Old "Bay of Pigs" rivalry (as Chris Berman calls it). It has lost its luster as guys like Warren Sapp, Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman are gone. However, the Bucs still have Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn is back after spending the past six seasons in Atlanta. The Bucs' defense is solid and keeps them in most games. No one knows who the Bucs' QB is from game to game, but Earnest Graham and Dunn get enough done on the ground to make defenses play them honest.
The Packers looked shellshocked against the Cowboys on Monday. No shame in that. I do notsee there being a carryover effect, though. Rodgers is the real deal. The question will be can the Packers control the ball long enough to outscore Tampa Bay? The Bucs typically eat up a lot of clock and their defense still gets it done even without all the big name stars they once had. Ronde Barber makes plays and so do Jermaine Phillips and Brian Kelly. I like the Bucs in this one.
Call:
Green Bay 27
Tampa Bay 30
---
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers.
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
1 PM
The Falcons are surprisingly 2-1. The Panthers are, also. However, I expected the Panthers to be good (I have them winning the NFC South). I thought the Falcons would royally suck for the remainder of this decade and into the next. Matt Ryan's playing some decent ball at QB, and his big play to WR Roddy White last week got me a few fantasy league points LOL
DE John Abraham is still the same guy who always gets 10+ sacks and he will get after Garcia (should Garcia start). Keith Brooking is the QB of the defense and keeps them under control. I figured the loss of DeAngelo Hall would hurt them dearly. Not so (thus far). I like the dimension that RB Michael Turner brings to the Falcons. He makes teams play the Falcons honest, so they cannot just tee off on Ryan, thereby preserving Ryan and lengthening his learning curve.
The Panthers look poised to go on a winning streak. QB Jake Delhomme looked rattled at times versus the Bears, but that is to be expected. WR Steve Smith is back in the fold, and with Muhsin Muhammad on the other side, the Panthers look like the team that went to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. Their offense is intact with two very good running backs. The aforementioned wide receivers are very good, and the defense is healthy. That has been the key for the Panthers the past four years - the relative health of their players, especially on defense. I like the Black Cats in this one.
Call:
Atlanta 24
Carolina 34
---
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
1 PM
The Texans are not as bad as they have looked in their two games. Their Week 3 game versus Baltimore might have been a better barometer of how good they are, but it was rained out due to Hurricane Ike. The Jaguars look like the average team that they are. Allowing DT Marcus Stroud to go to Buffalo in free agency was borderline lunacy. But hey, I'm not their capologist.
I think Andre Johnson lined up against Rasean Mathis is palpable TV. Mathis might get an INT, but I think Johnson will have about 8-10 catches for over 100 yards in this game.
The problem the Texans have is stopping the run. The Jaguars run the ball very well with Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew (questionable) and Greg Jones. Should be a close, low-scoring game. I think the Texans notch their first win.
Call:
Houston 19
Jacksonville 14
---
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
1 PM
Everytime these teams play, it is high scoring. They gave us a 51-45 last year and the game before that was high scoring as well. Both teams are a disgrace defensively, especially when stopping the run (although the Bengals did a surprisingly good job versus the Giants in Week 3). I see another shootout. Neither team has changed personnel or philosophy since last year. And I see Cleveland pulling it out because the Bengals just aren't good at all; which is a shame, with Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh on offense.
Call:
Cleveland 48
Cincinnati 44
---
San Diego (Super) Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders.
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California
4:05 PM
The Chargers got untracked last week versus the Jets on Monday Night Football. I hope my eyes aren't deceiving me, but all those carries (approaching 2,500) are catching up with LaDainian Tomlinson. I know he has a toe injury, but he still looks as if he lost a step. I hope not. The Chargers can score with anyone, though. The defense is better than people think, but they have given up a ton of yards and points early.
I don't see the Raiders giving much of a fight. JaMarcus Russell will be glad to get in the whirlpool Monday after he gets sacked a half dozen times.
Call:
San Diego 41
Oakland 16
---
Buffalo Bills vs. St. Louis Rams.
The Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
4:05 PM
So the Rams switched QBs from Marc Bulger to Trent Green. *sigh*. This reeks of desperation on the part of head coach Scott Linehan. He might be gone before the end of this season if the Rams keep playing like this. They are the absolute worst team in the NFL -- the same NFL with the Raiders and Chiefs! Bulger isn't the problem. They just have an awful offensive line. They let WR Isaac Bruce leave. WR Torry Holt has lost a step. RB Stephen Jackson cannot find holes in his turnstile of an offensive line. The defense is cavernous. They brought in a career backup and released a starter? I don't get it. The Rams don't have a plan. They look like Jimmy Carter at the end of his term in the White House in 1980-81! (History buffs know what I am referring to).
The Bills are for real. They may very well win the division. No other AFC East team is as balanced on both sides of the ball as Buffalo is. The Patrios are long in the tooth defensively. QB Matt Cassel will see more of the same pressure for the rest of the season. The Jets are middle of the road at best. The Dolphins think they are onto something because they got away with a few trick plays against a slow defense. Big deal. Watch out for the Bills.
Call:
Buffalo 47
St. Louis 21
---
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys.
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas
4:15 PM
I suppose I gave the Redskins too much of a learning curve in Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. They matched up well with the Saints in Week 2 and last week handled the wide-open Arizona offense. That tells me something. DE Jason Taylor is out indefinitely with a potentially career/life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
The Cowboys better not enter this game with a smug demeanor. Their receivers will not run free this week like they did versus Green Bay in the second half of their Week 3 game. FS LaRon Landry will meet WR Terrell Owens in the middle of the field a time or two. However, I don't see any of the Redskins' DBs stopping Owens or Crayton.
This game will be close.
Call:
Washington 35
Dallas 34
---
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears.
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
8:15 PM (Sunday Night Football - NBC)
Why are the Bears on national TV so much? They are an eyesore.
Anyway, the Eagles are very good, but not better than Dallas or the NY Giants. That said, every team in the NFC East is better than the rest of the teams in the NFC except the Carolina Panthers. That may very well be the six-team lineup in the playoffs, if not for the 4 division winners automatically getting playoff bids (making the NFC North winner a waste of space, and preventing the 4th NFC East team from making the playoffs rightfully). I see Dallas and New York battling for the NFC East title, the one who doesn't get it gets the 5 seed, I see Philly making it and I see Chicago (now) winning the NFC North and the Cardinals winning the NFC West. Nonetheless, the Bears are the Smoke & Mirrors team of 2008. They are a joke offensively, but hey, they don't turn the ball over too much to the point where it kills them. Defensively, they're stout as always. They will get after Donovan F. McNabb, especially if B. Westbrook cannot play.
I can't name four guys on the Bears' offense (just kidding), but most people can't. Starting with their RB. However, this game will be close. The Iggles are too inconsistent to run away from decent-to-above average teams. The Bears are somewhere between decent and above average. Hence...
Call:
Philadelphia 25
Chicago 27
---
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
8:30 PM (Monday Night Football - ABC)
The Ravens? Hmmm... they are somewhat like Chicago. They have a rookie QB in Joe Flacco. RB Willis McGahee is back in the lineup. They have no-name WRs and a patched up offensive line, following the retirement of Jonathan Ogden. They seem to get it done, nonetheless.
The Steelers looked unbeatable until last week. The Iggles showed what teams need to do in order to get Roethlisberger out of his comfort zone. Teams like Philly, Baltimore and NY Giants, teams the Steelers must face this year, have the personnel to emulate what the Iggles did last week. I think Big Ben will look more like Tiny Tim after this game also. The Ravens are tough. ON THE ROAD...
Call:
Baltimore 24
Pittsburgh 17
---
Back on Tuesday with commentary...
By Michael D. Wright
9.25.08
OK, I blew a few games last week, and I've been outright DEAD WRONG about some teams (Denver, Houston, Indianapolis - thus far). But I think my picks this week will be solid; especially since the Jints are on a bye LOL
Here are the picks:
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans.
LP Field
Nashville, Tennessee
1 PM
I don't know what to make about the Vikings right now. They benched their starting QB (T. Jackson) and put in ol' man Gus Frerotte. Gus doesn't make many mistakes, but the problem with Minnesota is still the fact they don't stretch the field well enough with their WRs. Their defense is very good up front, but when the defensive line does not get pressure on the QB, the secondary looks average at best. They call Adrian Peterson A.D. because he can run... well... ALL DAY. With Chester Taylor spelling him whenever Peterson needs a breather, the Vikings are tough on the ground.
The Titans have Kerry Collins in for Vince Young at QB. Collins is to Frerotte as Young is to Jackson. Collins doesn't try to do too much (at least until he feels like he's the starter, then he reverts to the dumb nonsense he did while QB of the Giants). Like Minnesota, the Titans can run the ball all day. Their defense is tough up front like Minnesota's. This is a pick 'em game, and I'm going to go with the team that has been most consistent this far.
Call:
Minnesota 23
Tennessee 27
---
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
1 PM
The Chiefs are abysmal. Every week I wonder how Herm Edwards still has a job. Then I remember, the GM, Carl Peterson is one of his lifetime buddies. I get it now. Both teams are awful on defense, and you would think this would be one of those Pinball games, where the last team with the ball wins 51-48 or something, except the Chiefs don't have that kind of offense.
Denver is for real. I totally got it wrong with them in the preseason. They might rack up historic numbers on KC this weekend. Poor Herm.
Call:
Denver 48
Kansas City 10
---
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints.
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
1 PM
The 49ers are game. I thought they would be like fishkill this season, but not the case. They Play. To Win. The. Game! The Saints are smarting right now (to steal a line from Hubie Brown). They're smarting. Missing Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey for about six weeks will hurt the Saints' offense. Reggie Bush is good in space, so Pat Willis and Co. will have their hands full. The 49ers' secondary is terrible outside of Nate Clements, but they won't be tested too often in this game. Brees will stick to underneath passes and patterns in the flat. I think Frank Gore has one of his annual "he's going to win the rushing title... watch!" games.
Call:
San Francisco 21
New Orleans 17
---
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets.
The New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
1 PM
Anyone who thinks the Cardinals are not for real, let me tell you: THEY ARE LEGIT. Their offense can score with the best of them, and as I've said every week, their defense is very good. They just do not get much publicity because they play out west and don't get National TV exposure due to their annual ritual of not making the playoffs.
Benching Matt Leinart was the best thing the Cards could have done. Edgerrin James does his thing. Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald form arguably the best WR tandem in the NFL. Both could catch 100 passes and well over 1,000 yards and possibly 10 TDs apiece if Kurt Warner stays healthy. The defense has players at each level who make plays every week. DE Bert Berry will not play Sunday, however. Brett Favre should thank God.
I think the Jets are a middle of the road team. Now that the New York media has gotten over the honeymoon with Favre, they know what football people already know: Brett Favre is AVERAGE. Their receivers, while being guys who I like (pause) are not game breakers. The Jets spent tons of money on both sides of the ball to improve and as of right now, they have not seen a return on their investment. I think the Jets will spend the entire game on their heels on both sides of the ball.
Call:
Arizona 38
NY Jets 21
---
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
1 PM
The Old "Bay of Pigs" rivalry (as Chris Berman calls it). It has lost its luster as guys like Warren Sapp, Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman are gone. However, the Bucs still have Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn is back after spending the past six seasons in Atlanta. The Bucs' defense is solid and keeps them in most games. No one knows who the Bucs' QB is from game to game, but Earnest Graham and Dunn get enough done on the ground to make defenses play them honest.
The Packers looked shellshocked against the Cowboys on Monday. No shame in that. I do notsee there being a carryover effect, though. Rodgers is the real deal. The question will be can the Packers control the ball long enough to outscore Tampa Bay? The Bucs typically eat up a lot of clock and their defense still gets it done even without all the big name stars they once had. Ronde Barber makes plays and so do Jermaine Phillips and Brian Kelly. I like the Bucs in this one.
Call:
Green Bay 27
Tampa Bay 30
---
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers.
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
1 PM
The Falcons are surprisingly 2-1. The Panthers are, also. However, I expected the Panthers to be good (I have them winning the NFC South). I thought the Falcons would royally suck for the remainder of this decade and into the next. Matt Ryan's playing some decent ball at QB, and his big play to WR Roddy White last week got me a few fantasy league points LOL
DE John Abraham is still the same guy who always gets 10+ sacks and he will get after Garcia (should Garcia start). Keith Brooking is the QB of the defense and keeps them under control. I figured the loss of DeAngelo Hall would hurt them dearly. Not so (thus far). I like the dimension that RB Michael Turner brings to the Falcons. He makes teams play the Falcons honest, so they cannot just tee off on Ryan, thereby preserving Ryan and lengthening his learning curve.
The Panthers look poised to go on a winning streak. QB Jake Delhomme looked rattled at times versus the Bears, but that is to be expected. WR Steve Smith is back in the fold, and with Muhsin Muhammad on the other side, the Panthers look like the team that went to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. Their offense is intact with two very good running backs. The aforementioned wide receivers are very good, and the defense is healthy. That has been the key for the Panthers the past four years - the relative health of their players, especially on defense. I like the Black Cats in this one.
Call:
Atlanta 24
Carolina 34
---
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
1 PM
The Texans are not as bad as they have looked in their two games. Their Week 3 game versus Baltimore might have been a better barometer of how good they are, but it was rained out due to Hurricane Ike. The Jaguars look like the average team that they are. Allowing DT Marcus Stroud to go to Buffalo in free agency was borderline lunacy. But hey, I'm not their capologist.
I think Andre Johnson lined up against Rasean Mathis is palpable TV. Mathis might get an INT, but I think Johnson will have about 8-10 catches for over 100 yards in this game.
The problem the Texans have is stopping the run. The Jaguars run the ball very well with Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew (questionable) and Greg Jones. Should be a close, low-scoring game. I think the Texans notch their first win.
Call:
Houston 19
Jacksonville 14
---
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
1 PM
Everytime these teams play, it is high scoring. They gave us a 51-45 last year and the game before that was high scoring as well. Both teams are a disgrace defensively, especially when stopping the run (although the Bengals did a surprisingly good job versus the Giants in Week 3). I see another shootout. Neither team has changed personnel or philosophy since last year. And I see Cleveland pulling it out because the Bengals just aren't good at all; which is a shame, with Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh on offense.
Call:
Cleveland 48
Cincinnati 44
---
San Diego (Super) Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders.
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California
4:05 PM
The Chargers got untracked last week versus the Jets on Monday Night Football. I hope my eyes aren't deceiving me, but all those carries (approaching 2,500) are catching up with LaDainian Tomlinson. I know he has a toe injury, but he still looks as if he lost a step. I hope not. The Chargers can score with anyone, though. The defense is better than people think, but they have given up a ton of yards and points early.
I don't see the Raiders giving much of a fight. JaMarcus Russell will be glad to get in the whirlpool Monday after he gets sacked a half dozen times.
Call:
San Diego 41
Oakland 16
---
Buffalo Bills vs. St. Louis Rams.
The Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
4:05 PM
So the Rams switched QBs from Marc Bulger to Trent Green. *sigh*. This reeks of desperation on the part of head coach Scott Linehan. He might be gone before the end of this season if the Rams keep playing like this. They are the absolute worst team in the NFL -- the same NFL with the Raiders and Chiefs! Bulger isn't the problem. They just have an awful offensive line. They let WR Isaac Bruce leave. WR Torry Holt has lost a step. RB Stephen Jackson cannot find holes in his turnstile of an offensive line. The defense is cavernous. They brought in a career backup and released a starter? I don't get it. The Rams don't have a plan. They look like Jimmy Carter at the end of his term in the White House in 1980-81! (History buffs know what I am referring to).
The Bills are for real. They may very well win the division. No other AFC East team is as balanced on both sides of the ball as Buffalo is. The Patrios are long in the tooth defensively. QB Matt Cassel will see more of the same pressure for the rest of the season. The Jets are middle of the road at best. The Dolphins think they are onto something because they got away with a few trick plays against a slow defense. Big deal. Watch out for the Bills.
Call:
Buffalo 47
St. Louis 21
---
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys.
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas
4:15 PM
I suppose I gave the Redskins too much of a learning curve in Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. They matched up well with the Saints in Week 2 and last week handled the wide-open Arizona offense. That tells me something. DE Jason Taylor is out indefinitely with a potentially career/life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
The Cowboys better not enter this game with a smug demeanor. Their receivers will not run free this week like they did versus Green Bay in the second half of their Week 3 game. FS LaRon Landry will meet WR Terrell Owens in the middle of the field a time or two. However, I don't see any of the Redskins' DBs stopping Owens or Crayton.
This game will be close.
Call:
Washington 35
Dallas 34
---
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears.
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
8:15 PM (Sunday Night Football - NBC)
Why are the Bears on national TV so much? They are an eyesore.
Anyway, the Eagles are very good, but not better than Dallas or the NY Giants. That said, every team in the NFC East is better than the rest of the teams in the NFC except the Carolina Panthers. That may very well be the six-team lineup in the playoffs, if not for the 4 division winners automatically getting playoff bids (making the NFC North winner a waste of space, and preventing the 4th NFC East team from making the playoffs rightfully). I see Dallas and New York battling for the NFC East title, the one who doesn't get it gets the 5 seed, I see Philly making it and I see Chicago (now) winning the NFC North and the Cardinals winning the NFC West. Nonetheless, the Bears are the Smoke & Mirrors team of 2008. They are a joke offensively, but hey, they don't turn the ball over too much to the point where it kills them. Defensively, they're stout as always. They will get after Donovan F. McNabb, especially if B. Westbrook cannot play.
I can't name four guys on the Bears' offense (just kidding), but most people can't. Starting with their RB. However, this game will be close. The Iggles are too inconsistent to run away from decent-to-above average teams. The Bears are somewhere between decent and above average. Hence...
Call:
Philadelphia 25
Chicago 27
---
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
8:30 PM (Monday Night Football - ABC)
The Ravens? Hmmm... they are somewhat like Chicago. They have a rookie QB in Joe Flacco. RB Willis McGahee is back in the lineup. They have no-name WRs and a patched up offensive line, following the retirement of Jonathan Ogden. They seem to get it done, nonetheless.
The Steelers looked unbeatable until last week. The Iggles showed what teams need to do in order to get Roethlisberger out of his comfort zone. Teams like Philly, Baltimore and NY Giants, teams the Steelers must face this year, have the personnel to emulate what the Iggles did last week. I think Big Ben will look more like Tiny Tim after this game also. The Ravens are tough. ON THE ROAD...
Call:
Baltimore 24
Pittsburgh 17
---
Back on Tuesday with commentary...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
It's Time for a Get Together
It's Time for a Get Together
By Valorie Burton
Author & Life Coach
Is it time for a get together? 4 easy ways to reconnect with friends despite your busy schedule ...
When is the last time you had a friend over for a visit?
When researching for my book, How Did I Get So Busy?, I was stunned when 55 percent of respondents to that question—350 adults in all—told me it had been more than two months since they had someone over! Why? Life is too busy. There's so much to do that friendships get crowded out. If busyness has become your excuse for not getting together with friends and loved ones, it's time to reclaim your schedule and make time for some fun and friendship.
This week, I challenge you to make it a priority to get together with some friends it's time to reconnect with. Make it simple. Make it fun. Make it happen. Here are a few ideas:
Game night
Dust off the board games from the top shelf of the closet, hook up your Wii and let the games begin. Having a "game night" is a great way to get friends or family together for something more than looking at a movie or television—activities that don't encourage conversation or interaction. Rediscover your inner kid, and have fun.
Ice cream social
Whether it's the holidays or a barbecue, our friends know I'll be making them made-to-order ice cream sundaes. But the first time I made them for friends, it was just a time-saving alternative to baking a cake! The sundaes were a hit, and I've been doing it ever since. Host your own ice cream social on a weekend afternoon—no cooking required.
Pizza and conversation
Invite over a friend or several, order pizza, and hang out. How about tonight? Or this coming weekend?
Celebrate something!
Milestones, birthdays, wins—find reasons to celebrate. It's a great 'excuse" to get together. A neighbor recently had a get-together to celebrate returning home after a long trip. Another threw a party to celebrate a friend emerging successfully from a health challenge. Make a habit of finding reasons to get together and celebrate life. It's a contagious form of gratitude that brings people together.
Just stop by.
With some friends and family, getting together couldn't be more simple. And yet, so many people take for granted the friends and family that live nearby. Stop by for a visit this afternoon or this week, just to say 'hi.'
My Challenge to You:
Reconnect with friends this week. Have fun!
Journaling Assignment:
Who would you like to connect with, but haven't in a while? When will you do it? What would you like to do to get together?
Related Resource:
For help reclaiming your busy life, check out the book or audio book How Did I Get So Busy? Publishers Weekly says, "Burton's book is a wakeup call—an effective and inspiring plan for change."
Taken from Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter. Written and distributed by Inspire, Inc. © 2008 Valorie Burton. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.valorieburton.com.
Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, What's Really Holding You Back?, Why Not You? and her latest, How Did I Get So Busy?
By Valorie Burton
Author & Life Coach
Is it time for a get together? 4 easy ways to reconnect with friends despite your busy schedule ...
When is the last time you had a friend over for a visit?
When researching for my book, How Did I Get So Busy?, I was stunned when 55 percent of respondents to that question—350 adults in all—told me it had been more than two months since they had someone over! Why? Life is too busy. There's so much to do that friendships get crowded out. If busyness has become your excuse for not getting together with friends and loved ones, it's time to reclaim your schedule and make time for some fun and friendship.
This week, I challenge you to make it a priority to get together with some friends it's time to reconnect with. Make it simple. Make it fun. Make it happen. Here are a few ideas:
Game night
Dust off the board games from the top shelf of the closet, hook up your Wii and let the games begin. Having a "game night" is a great way to get friends or family together for something more than looking at a movie or television—activities that don't encourage conversation or interaction. Rediscover your inner kid, and have fun.
Ice cream social
Whether it's the holidays or a barbecue, our friends know I'll be making them made-to-order ice cream sundaes. But the first time I made them for friends, it was just a time-saving alternative to baking a cake! The sundaes were a hit, and I've been doing it ever since. Host your own ice cream social on a weekend afternoon—no cooking required.
Pizza and conversation
Invite over a friend or several, order pizza, and hang out. How about tonight? Or this coming weekend?
Celebrate something!
Milestones, birthdays, wins—find reasons to celebrate. It's a great 'excuse" to get together. A neighbor recently had a get-together to celebrate returning home after a long trip. Another threw a party to celebrate a friend emerging successfully from a health challenge. Make a habit of finding reasons to get together and celebrate life. It's a contagious form of gratitude that brings people together.
Just stop by.
With some friends and family, getting together couldn't be more simple. And yet, so many people take for granted the friends and family that live nearby. Stop by for a visit this afternoon or this week, just to say 'hi.'
My Challenge to You:
Reconnect with friends this week. Have fun!
Journaling Assignment:
Who would you like to connect with, but haven't in a while? When will you do it? What would you like to do to get together?
Related Resource:
For help reclaiming your busy life, check out the book or audio book How Did I Get So Busy? Publishers Weekly says, "Burton's book is a wakeup call—an effective and inspiring plan for change."
Taken from Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter. Written and distributed by Inspire, Inc. © 2008 Valorie Burton. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.valorieburton.com.
Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, What's Really Holding You Back?, Why Not You? and her latest, How Did I Get So Busy?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Why Men Don't "Open Up" Nor Commit
Why Men Don't "Open Up" Nor Commit
By Michael D. Wright
9.23.08
I will keep this one short, because it doesn't warrant much explanation.
However, as most of you know, I have a great number of female acquaintances and some of them are true friends. And with those who are close to my age, I hear a lot of gripes about men. Most of what they say is on point and true, sadly, but one of the questions that I get asked quite a bit (as if I'm some sort of relationship expert) is "Why is it so hard for men to commit?" and "No matter what I try, he won't open up!"
Well, the answer is quite simple -- maybe it is because I am a man.
1. Most men are scared to death of the idea of committing. For starters, it (for most men) means they have to cut some things out that they've been accustomed to doing for the sake of having a healthy relationship. They do indeed realize when they have a good woman and don't want to lose her, but at the same time, the prospect of keeping vows, avoiding jumpoffs and other activities that are detrimental to the relationship is a scary one.
I liken it to a person who knows God through Jesus Christ, knows what the Bible says concerning the things they are doing (sin) and fighting the urge to yield to the temptation of engaging in those acts -- while facing a sure-fire improvement by turning to God instead of their fleshly desires. That is something that everyone faces: TEMPTATION (whether you believe in Christ or not).
Do I yield to the temptation and know eventually that nothing good will come of this?
Do I avoid the temptation and turn away, do what is right and benefit long-term, even though my desires lead me the other way?
This is what goes on in a man's mind when he has a good woman.
Now of course if he's with a slag or a jumpoff, all bets are off.
2. Opening up is synonymous with being "sensitive" (in the negative sense) or being a "sissy", "soft", "whipped", "hen-pecked" or any other adjective you can come up with. Along with that, women, now more than ever, are trying to keep up with their male counterparts when it comes to infidelity and betrayal.
Knowing this, most men are not going to open up their hearts about anything past the superficial when he knows that chances are 1) This relationship may not last, and whatever I say to her can be used as blackmail or topic of mockery and ridicule amongst her "girls" and/or 2) The minute you open up to a woman and start telling her things that are buried in the deep recesses of your heart and soul is the best way to become a hen-pecked husband or boyfriend. Once that happens, information can be manipulated out of you very easily and she'll walk right over you in every disagreement.
If a man wanted to "open up" in the 1960s or 1970s... maybe even as late as the mid-1980s, he did not have to worry as much about the potential of that information being used against him, because the number of female "playas" was much like the price of gasoline: $.59/gallon in 1985, $4.14/gallon in 2008... whereas 1 in 10 women was a playa back then, now every other woman you come across is working an angle/a playa/whore/generally can't be trusted -- you generally knew who the female playas were back then -- they were obvious, and you have a few pew-warmers (had a few experiences with this type myself; one of them had the audacity to use my access to a particular pastor just so she could get him in the sack!) and sneaky types who cheated on their man for 30 years and he never even suspected a thing (I've seen it happen first-hand).
Men are stupid when it comes to certain things, but knowing these facts about women -- especially in 2008, they aren't as dumb as they appear.
So if you find yourself wondering why a man won't open up or commit as quickly as women are willing to, keep these facts in mind. It's a form of self-preservation, not because he doesn't love or care for you, but because in the back (as well as the forefront) of his mind, he knows everything I just said is true. Prove yourself trustworthy over a period of time and like Maxwell used to say "don't ever wonder" about ol' boy again.
Peace.
By Michael D. Wright
9.23.08
I will keep this one short, because it doesn't warrant much explanation.
However, as most of you know, I have a great number of female acquaintances and some of them are true friends. And with those who are close to my age, I hear a lot of gripes about men. Most of what they say is on point and true, sadly, but one of the questions that I get asked quite a bit (as if I'm some sort of relationship expert) is "Why is it so hard for men to commit?" and "No matter what I try, he won't open up!"
Well, the answer is quite simple -- maybe it is because I am a man.
1. Most men are scared to death of the idea of committing. For starters, it (for most men) means they have to cut some things out that they've been accustomed to doing for the sake of having a healthy relationship. They do indeed realize when they have a good woman and don't want to lose her, but at the same time, the prospect of keeping vows, avoiding jumpoffs and other activities that are detrimental to the relationship is a scary one.
I liken it to a person who knows God through Jesus Christ, knows what the Bible says concerning the things they are doing (sin) and fighting the urge to yield to the temptation of engaging in those acts -- while facing a sure-fire improvement by turning to God instead of their fleshly desires. That is something that everyone faces: TEMPTATION (whether you believe in Christ or not).
Do I yield to the temptation and know eventually that nothing good will come of this?
Do I avoid the temptation and turn away, do what is right and benefit long-term, even though my desires lead me the other way?
This is what goes on in a man's mind when he has a good woman.
Now of course if he's with a slag or a jumpoff, all bets are off.
2. Opening up is synonymous with being "sensitive" (in the negative sense) or being a "sissy", "soft", "whipped", "hen-pecked" or any other adjective you can come up with. Along with that, women, now more than ever, are trying to keep up with their male counterparts when it comes to infidelity and betrayal.
Knowing this, most men are not going to open up their hearts about anything past the superficial when he knows that chances are 1) This relationship may not last, and whatever I say to her can be used as blackmail or topic of mockery and ridicule amongst her "girls" and/or 2) The minute you open up to a woman and start telling her things that are buried in the deep recesses of your heart and soul is the best way to become a hen-pecked husband or boyfriend. Once that happens, information can be manipulated out of you very easily and she'll walk right over you in every disagreement.
If a man wanted to "open up" in the 1960s or 1970s... maybe even as late as the mid-1980s, he did not have to worry as much about the potential of that information being used against him, because the number of female "playas" was much like the price of gasoline: $.59/gallon in 1985, $4.14/gallon in 2008... whereas 1 in 10 women was a playa back then, now every other woman you come across is working an angle/a playa/whore/generally can't be trusted -- you generally knew who the female playas were back then -- they were obvious, and you have a few pew-warmers (had a few experiences with this type myself; one of them had the audacity to use my access to a particular pastor just so she could get him in the sack!) and sneaky types who cheated on their man for 30 years and he never even suspected a thing (I've seen it happen first-hand).
Men are stupid when it comes to certain things, but knowing these facts about women -- especially in 2008, they aren't as dumb as they appear.
So if you find yourself wondering why a man won't open up or commit as quickly as women are willing to, keep these facts in mind. It's a form of self-preservation, not because he doesn't love or care for you, but because in the back (as well as the forefront) of his mind, he knows everything I just said is true. Prove yourself trustworthy over a period of time and like Maxwell used to say "don't ever wonder" about ol' boy again.
Peace.
Father To The Fatherless
Father to the Fatherless
Today's Scripture
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy” (Psalm 68:5).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
So many people today carry hurt and insecurity because they didn’t have a relationship with their earthly father the way God intended. But no matter how you were raised or where you are in life today, you do have a wonderful Father, and you were born with a purpose and a destiny. God promises to meet all your needs, and He is the Father to the fatherless and defender of widows!
Every morning when you get up, look up toward the heavens and just imagine that your Heavenly Father is smiling down on you. He loves you. He believes in you. He will guide and protect you. He will never leave you. You are His most prized possession. He has you in the palm of His hand. As you open your heart and allow Him to heal you with His love, He’ll meet every need that you have. Choose forgiveness and allow Him to strengthen and empower you to fulfill the wonderful destiny He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for choosing me as Your own. I open my heart to You today and ask that You fill me with Your peace, love, and forgiveness as I follow Your ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Today's Scripture
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy” (Psalm 68:5).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
So many people today carry hurt and insecurity because they didn’t have a relationship with their earthly father the way God intended. But no matter how you were raised or where you are in life today, you do have a wonderful Father, and you were born with a purpose and a destiny. God promises to meet all your needs, and He is the Father to the fatherless and defender of widows!
Every morning when you get up, look up toward the heavens and just imagine that your Heavenly Father is smiling down on you. He loves you. He believes in you. He will guide and protect you. He will never leave you. You are His most prized possession. He has you in the palm of His hand. As you open your heart and allow Him to heal you with His love, He’ll meet every need that you have. Choose forgiveness and allow Him to strengthen and empower you to fulfill the wonderful destiny He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for choosing me as Your own. I open my heart to You today and ask that You fill me with Your peace, love, and forgiveness as I follow Your ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Friday, September 19, 2008
NFL Week 3 Picks
NFL Week 3 Picks
By Michael D. Wright
9.19.08
Okay, we have some potential high-scoring affairs and a couple of potential snoozers coming up this week. However, I was wrong... DEAD WRONG on a couple of picks last week, so I'll just stick to what I can tell with the information I have as of 4PM EDT.
Week 3
Kansas City vs. Atlanta. Things are ugly for the Chiefs. Larry Johnson is already doing what most people do when they hit a tough stretch in a relationship -- he is ready to bail (see his thinly veiled pleas for a trade on YouTube). The Chiefs are on their third QB of the season, their third DIFFERENT QB starting a game this season. Indeed, the Chiefs had three different QBs play in their Week 2 loss to Oakland alone! The Chiefs have no running game whatsoever, they don't have receivers and they don't have a QB who can get them the ball consistently. Their defense, while not bad, stays on the field far too long to be effective.
The Falcons, on the other hand, can at least run the ball. Matt Ryan hasn't looked bad, since he is being thrown into the fire immediately out of college. The Falcons also still have John Abraham, who can get to the QB and Keith Brooking manning the middle of the field at Mike LB. This could very well be a blowout, but since it is the Falcons, I won't stretch it.
Call:
Kansas City 9
Atlanta 24
---
Oakland vs. Buffalo. The Bills are very good. Their 2-0 is not a fluke. The Raiders looked a little better in Week 2 after being blown to dust by the Broncos in Week 1. JaMarcus Russell has a LONG way to go, but the Raiders can definitely run the ball. Fargas seems to get 100 yds every game and Darren McFadden burst out with a 164-yd performance last week. While I do not believe either one of those RBs will approach those numbers vs. Buffalo, I still believe that as long as the offensive line for Oakland can give Russell time, that he can get the ball to Ronald Curry and Javon Walker (provided he plays). The Bills have a pretty decent offense, with Trent Edwards playing well at QB, Marshawn Lynch running the ball and Lee Evans being the deep threat. I see Buffalo ekeing this one out.
Call:
Oakland 27
Buffalo 31
---
Tampa Bay vs. Chicago. I still believe the Bears are overrated. Too much has been made of their "win" vs. Indianapolis in Week 1. Manning was rusty and so is the offensive line, missing LT Tony Ugoh and C Jeff Saturday. The Bears have discovered a RB in Matt Forte, but I dare anyone to name their WRs. The Bears play solid defense, don't give up too many points and occasionally score on defense themselves. No wonder, given that Chicago's head coach, Lovie Smith, was an assistant coach under current Tampa Bay defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin. Tampa (Gruden, that is) doesn't know who to make QB week to week. Earnest Graham rushed for over 100 yards last week, but I doubt that he does that this week. WHOEVER the Bucs' QB is, he will have to be precise out there. Ronde Barber is still a ballhawk and Brian Kelly, who gets burned a lot, still makes a lot of plays in run support. Old man Derrick Brooks is still the best LB that the Bucs have and he still flies to the ball. This should be a very good game for those who like defense.
Call:
Tampa Bay 17
Chicago 13
---
Carolina vs. Minnesota. Well, the Black Cats get "Steven" Smith back this week. They have hardly missed him, but let's not be frivolous; the Panthers are MUCH BETTER with Smith in the lineup. Jake Delhomme has been accurate and making most of the throws. Muhsin Muhammad being back in Charlotte helps open things up for Smith on the other side. Combine the passing attack with the one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, and the Panthers look a lot like the team that went to the Super Bowl in 2003. I know you have the Williams boys in the middle of Minnesota's defense, but both Panthers' backs have the speed to get outside (along with the linemen who can kick out and pull in order to set up blocks out in space).
Minnesota is benching QB Tavaris Jackson. While he could have played better thus far, the fans have been relentless with their (largely) unnecessary boos. Instead of supporting the QB that head coach Brad Childress believes in, they booed him after every incomplete pass, every three and out series and every turnover, even when they were not his fault. Gus Frerotte is no savior, but he doesn't make the number of mental errors that Jackson makes. The Vikings also have a potent running game, second to the Giants' in caliber. Adrian Peterson is questionable as of 4 PM EDT on Friday. Chester Taylor, while a 1,200+ back himself, is no A.D. Could be a long day for Minny if the Panthers come out guns ablaze.
Call:
Carolina 35
Minnesota 24
---
Miami vs. New England. Does the other shoe finally drop on the Patriots this week? Nah (as much as I would like for it to do so). Cassel doesn't make mistakes. Their offense goes as WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker go. RB Laurence Maroney isn't a game-changer, because he doesn't get enough touches to do so. RB Kevin Faulk is the ex-factor in this game. Miami does not have a single solitary soul who can cover him in space. While the Patriots' defense is aging and creaky, they seem to find a way to get it done.
Miami is still atrocious, but most people would agree that this was going to be a rebuilding year for the Dolphins, with the expectation of only winning 3-5 games as a projected outcome. They don't do anything well at this point.
Call:
Miami 6
New England 28
---
Cincinnati vs. New York Giants. The Bengals are the worst team in the AFC. And that is a shame, given the amount of talent they have. I believe that's what gets them this ranking. Oakland, Kansas City and Miami are all in rebuild mode, while the Bengals are proving the the New York Knicks aren't the only professional sports team that can have boatloads of talent and not win.
The Giants will get after QB Carson Palmer all day, force a couple of INTs and rack up about a half dozen sacks, which is what they do every other week or so. The Bengals' defense is a sick joke as well. With the Giants possessing the best running game in the NFC, if not the entire NFL, this could get out of hand early.
Call:
Cincinnati 10
NY Giants 41
---
Houston vs. Tennessee. Hmmmm... old Oilers that moved from Houston to new Houston franchise. I think Week 1 was a fluke for the Texans. They are not a bad team at all, and Pittsburgh, with their smoke and mirrors, aren't as good as that Week 1 beatdown vs. Houston made them look. Tennessee plays great defense and aside from QB Vince Young's injuries and off-the-field woes, the Titans are very good. I look for a breakout game for QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson, though. Johnson should have a field day vs. the Titans' CBs, unless DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch spend all day in the Texans' backfield. They are a formidable duo, but we will definitely see what's really good with both teams after this one. I have it as a nailbiter.
Call:
Houston 27
Tennessee 25 (2 pt. conversion no good)
---
Arizona vs. Washington. People ask if the Cardinals are for real. I say they are. They would've made the playoffs if they didn't have that overrated CAREER BACKUP by the name of Matt Leinart in there blowing close games. QB Kurt Warner isn't what he once was with the Rams, but he still gets it done (see his last 10 games dating back to last season). With WRs Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald putting up Pro Bowl numbers perennially, you just need a QB who can get the ball to them. Warner does that. RB Edgerrin James gets his yards here and there and will end up with about 1,200 "quiet" yards this year. The real eye-opener for the Cards is how TOUCH they are on defense. DT Darnell Dockett (FROM?!?!), LB Karlos Dansby and CBs Antrel Rolle (FROM?!?! The U.) and Adrian Wilson (FROM?!?! High Point, NC!) they are not a mirage.
The Redskins, even after their "fortunate win" vs. a beat up New Orleans team last week are still going to be bad for the first half of the season. QB Jason Campbell and RB Clinton Portis will be feeling some serious pains on Monday. Indeed, Portis got into it with a local Washington, DC sports talk guy this week. Portis is already looking like a wounded lion, then he unleashes on this radio guy. Hmmm.
Call:
Arizona 38
Washington 28
---
Detroit vs. San Francisco. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...
Call:
Detroit 17
San Francisco 12
---
St. Louis vs. Seattle. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... (aren't all the NFC West teams aside from Arizona terrible?)
Call:
St. Louis ZZZ
Seattle ZZZ
Nah,
St. Louis 17
Seattle 21
---
New Orleans vs. Denver. I don't know to make of QB Jay Cutler. I still think he's overrated. No one outside of Denver can name their WRs. I only know their names because I follow all the teams. They are very good, but the Broncos' change in philosophy from running the ball 60% of the time has been overhauled. Now they are passing it about 65% of the time. Hey, it's working for them. Why change?
The Saints are beat up in their secondary. They are also missing WR Marques Colston, who took a helmet to the forearm after making a catch in front of CB Ronde Barber in Week 1. QB Drew Brees still has weapons in Shockey and Henderson, as well as Reggie Bush out in space, but this is a tough game to pick.
I think the Broncos showed more moxie in "beating" San Diego in Week 2 (even though Ed Hochuli, my favorite referee, gave them the game) than New Orleans did in losing to Washington in Week 2. I give the slight edge to Denver.
Call:
New Orleans 34
Denver 38
---
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia. The Battle For Pennsylvania? I don't think the Eagles are that good. They are a game or two better than I picked them originally (6-10), but Dallas' defense isn't that good, so those 37 they hung on the Cowboys are rather empty in the grand scheme of things. If they can put up HALF of that vs. the Steelers, I'd be convinced. As for right now, two costly sacks and a killer fumble by McNabb vs. Dallas shows that most leopards cannot change their spots. Add in a couple of his patented skip-passes that bounce 5 feet in front of an open receiver and you have a LONG day for Iggles fans.
Call:
Pittsburgh 31
Philadelphia 21
---
Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis. This is the game I want to see. The Jaguars usually give Peyton Manning fits. But losing DT Marcus Stroud to Buffalo has set the Jags' defense back a step or two. They're above average, but they rarely make big plays. They are more of a bend-but-don't break defense. Manning and the Colts' offense should be better in tune for this game. The first two games saw RB Joseph Addai rush for an alarmingly low 64 yards total on nearly 30 carries. That won't get it done, even with Manning at QB. The Colts are about to experience another setback with S Bob Sanders suffering his annual 4-6 week visit to the injury list. In the past, whenever he has been out, the Colts' defense looks like toy soldiers. Given that the Jaguwires throw RBs Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew and FB Greg Jones (remember Dexter Reid, Aug. 30, 2003 vs. FSU LOL -- look it up on YouTube) at you and it could be a very long day for the Colts. Since the Jags don't score much and Garrard has thrown the same number of INTs this year (3) as he did all of last year, it's safe to say that these aren't the Jags from last year. I still have the Colts winning somehow in the end. But it will be close.
Call:
Jacksonville 24
Indianapolis 28
---
Cleveland vs. Baltimore. On paper, the Browns are much better than the Ravens. Inside my TV set, they look awful. How can this be? They have Jamal Lewis running the ball. They have QB Derek Anderson getting the ball to TE Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon "Butterfingers" Edwards, who I swear is related to Kwame Brown. I don't get it. The Ravens are starting a rookie QB in Joe Flacco (FROM?!?! Delaware Blue Hens!) and Willis McGahee has been out. The defense is old and not as formidable as they were from 1999-2005. They are still good, though. If they bring enough heat to Anderson and force him to make bad throws, Ed Reed could have a field day at safety, so could CB Samari Rolle (FROM?!?!?!)
Call:
Cleveland 23
Baltimore 28
---
Dallas vs. Green Bay. We will see what Aaron Rodgers is made of in this game. Again, Dallas' defense is overrated. Their offense is NOT, however. Rodgers should be able to get the ball to his WRs and has to hope that RB Ryan Grant is 100%. The Cowboys can blow anyone out of any game on the strength of their offense alone. It will be important for the Packers to establish the run, because the Cowboys have a bona fide BEAST in Marion Barber back there, along with rookie Felix Jones.
Matchup to watch: WR Terrell Owens vs. CBs Al Harris and/or Charles Woodson. Harris usually plays Owens, but Owens moves to both sides of the field. Whether Harris shifts with him remains to be seen. I don't see either one of them stopping Owens, however.
Add to that, the Cowboys' running game vs. an average Packer defense...
Dallas 34
Green Bay 28
---
New York Jets vs. San Diego. The Chargers should very well be 2-0. A fluke play at the end of Week 1 vs. Carolina and Ed Hochuli's Broncos getting new life to score at the last second in Week 2 is the only difference between them being a 2-0 and 0-2 team. The Jets aren't very good. Whether they come on late in the season remains to be seen, but if they were unable to muster more than 10 points vs. the Patriots, they'll be hard-pressed to do anything more vs. the Chargers.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson has been slowed by a toe, OLB Shawne Merriman is out for the year and the defense looked discombobulated vs. Denver. I expect that to change with the Jets. Although the Jets have decent WRs in Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, they don't have favorable matchups vs. CBs Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie. If the Jets WRs aren't open, QB Brett Favre will DEFINITELY try to force it in. I see him throwing at least 2 INTs in this game, breaking the Jets' collective backs.
Call:
NY Jets 17
San Diego 38
Feel free to comment here up through Monday Night and check back to see how my picks turned out in Week 3!
By Michael D. Wright
9.19.08
Okay, we have some potential high-scoring affairs and a couple of potential snoozers coming up this week. However, I was wrong... DEAD WRONG on a couple of picks last week, so I'll just stick to what I can tell with the information I have as of 4PM EDT.
Week 3
Kansas City vs. Atlanta. Things are ugly for the Chiefs. Larry Johnson is already doing what most people do when they hit a tough stretch in a relationship -- he is ready to bail (see his thinly veiled pleas for a trade on YouTube). The Chiefs are on their third QB of the season, their third DIFFERENT QB starting a game this season. Indeed, the Chiefs had three different QBs play in their Week 2 loss to Oakland alone! The Chiefs have no running game whatsoever, they don't have receivers and they don't have a QB who can get them the ball consistently. Their defense, while not bad, stays on the field far too long to be effective.
The Falcons, on the other hand, can at least run the ball. Matt Ryan hasn't looked bad, since he is being thrown into the fire immediately out of college. The Falcons also still have John Abraham, who can get to the QB and Keith Brooking manning the middle of the field at Mike LB. This could very well be a blowout, but since it is the Falcons, I won't stretch it.
Call:
Kansas City 9
Atlanta 24
---
Oakland vs. Buffalo. The Bills are very good. Their 2-0 is not a fluke. The Raiders looked a little better in Week 2 after being blown to dust by the Broncos in Week 1. JaMarcus Russell has a LONG way to go, but the Raiders can definitely run the ball. Fargas seems to get 100 yds every game and Darren McFadden burst out with a 164-yd performance last week. While I do not believe either one of those RBs will approach those numbers vs. Buffalo, I still believe that as long as the offensive line for Oakland can give Russell time, that he can get the ball to Ronald Curry and Javon Walker (provided he plays). The Bills have a pretty decent offense, with Trent Edwards playing well at QB, Marshawn Lynch running the ball and Lee Evans being the deep threat. I see Buffalo ekeing this one out.
Call:
Oakland 27
Buffalo 31
---
Tampa Bay vs. Chicago. I still believe the Bears are overrated. Too much has been made of their "win" vs. Indianapolis in Week 1. Manning was rusty and so is the offensive line, missing LT Tony Ugoh and C Jeff Saturday. The Bears have discovered a RB in Matt Forte, but I dare anyone to name their WRs. The Bears play solid defense, don't give up too many points and occasionally score on defense themselves. No wonder, given that Chicago's head coach, Lovie Smith, was an assistant coach under current Tampa Bay defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin. Tampa (Gruden, that is) doesn't know who to make QB week to week. Earnest Graham rushed for over 100 yards last week, but I doubt that he does that this week. WHOEVER the Bucs' QB is, he will have to be precise out there. Ronde Barber is still a ballhawk and Brian Kelly, who gets burned a lot, still makes a lot of plays in run support. Old man Derrick Brooks is still the best LB that the Bucs have and he still flies to the ball. This should be a very good game for those who like defense.
Call:
Tampa Bay 17
Chicago 13
---
Carolina vs. Minnesota. Well, the Black Cats get "Steven" Smith back this week. They have hardly missed him, but let's not be frivolous; the Panthers are MUCH BETTER with Smith in the lineup. Jake Delhomme has been accurate and making most of the throws. Muhsin Muhammad being back in Charlotte helps open things up for Smith on the other side. Combine the passing attack with the one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, and the Panthers look a lot like the team that went to the Super Bowl in 2003. I know you have the Williams boys in the middle of Minnesota's defense, but both Panthers' backs have the speed to get outside (along with the linemen who can kick out and pull in order to set up blocks out in space).
Minnesota is benching QB Tavaris Jackson. While he could have played better thus far, the fans have been relentless with their (largely) unnecessary boos. Instead of supporting the QB that head coach Brad Childress believes in, they booed him after every incomplete pass, every three and out series and every turnover, even when they were not his fault. Gus Frerotte is no savior, but he doesn't make the number of mental errors that Jackson makes. The Vikings also have a potent running game, second to the Giants' in caliber. Adrian Peterson is questionable as of 4 PM EDT on Friday. Chester Taylor, while a 1,200+ back himself, is no A.D. Could be a long day for Minny if the Panthers come out guns ablaze.
Call:
Carolina 35
Minnesota 24
---
Miami vs. New England. Does the other shoe finally drop on the Patriots this week? Nah (as much as I would like for it to do so). Cassel doesn't make mistakes. Their offense goes as WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker go. RB Laurence Maroney isn't a game-changer, because he doesn't get enough touches to do so. RB Kevin Faulk is the ex-factor in this game. Miami does not have a single solitary soul who can cover him in space. While the Patriots' defense is aging and creaky, they seem to find a way to get it done.
Miami is still atrocious, but most people would agree that this was going to be a rebuilding year for the Dolphins, with the expectation of only winning 3-5 games as a projected outcome. They don't do anything well at this point.
Call:
Miami 6
New England 28
---
Cincinnati vs. New York Giants. The Bengals are the worst team in the AFC. And that is a shame, given the amount of talent they have. I believe that's what gets them this ranking. Oakland, Kansas City and Miami are all in rebuild mode, while the Bengals are proving the the New York Knicks aren't the only professional sports team that can have boatloads of talent and not win.
The Giants will get after QB Carson Palmer all day, force a couple of INTs and rack up about a half dozen sacks, which is what they do every other week or so. The Bengals' defense is a sick joke as well. With the Giants possessing the best running game in the NFC, if not the entire NFL, this could get out of hand early.
Call:
Cincinnati 10
NY Giants 41
---
Houston vs. Tennessee. Hmmmm... old Oilers that moved from Houston to new Houston franchise. I think Week 1 was a fluke for the Texans. They are not a bad team at all, and Pittsburgh, with their smoke and mirrors, aren't as good as that Week 1 beatdown vs. Houston made them look. Tennessee plays great defense and aside from QB Vince Young's injuries and off-the-field woes, the Titans are very good. I look for a breakout game for QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson, though. Johnson should have a field day vs. the Titans' CBs, unless DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch spend all day in the Texans' backfield. They are a formidable duo, but we will definitely see what's really good with both teams after this one. I have it as a nailbiter.
Call:
Houston 27
Tennessee 25 (2 pt. conversion no good)
---
Arizona vs. Washington. People ask if the Cardinals are for real. I say they are. They would've made the playoffs if they didn't have that overrated CAREER BACKUP by the name of Matt Leinart in there blowing close games. QB Kurt Warner isn't what he once was with the Rams, but he still gets it done (see his last 10 games dating back to last season). With WRs Anquan Boldin (FROM?!?!) and Larry Fitzgerald putting up Pro Bowl numbers perennially, you just need a QB who can get the ball to them. Warner does that. RB Edgerrin James gets his yards here and there and will end up with about 1,200 "quiet" yards this year. The real eye-opener for the Cards is how TOUCH they are on defense. DT Darnell Dockett (FROM?!?!), LB Karlos Dansby and CBs Antrel Rolle (FROM?!?! The U.) and Adrian Wilson (FROM?!?! High Point, NC!) they are not a mirage.
The Redskins, even after their "fortunate win" vs. a beat up New Orleans team last week are still going to be bad for the first half of the season. QB Jason Campbell and RB Clinton Portis will be feeling some serious pains on Monday. Indeed, Portis got into it with a local Washington, DC sports talk guy this week. Portis is already looking like a wounded lion, then he unleashes on this radio guy. Hmmm.
Call:
Arizona 38
Washington 28
---
Detroit vs. San Francisco. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...
Call:
Detroit 17
San Francisco 12
---
St. Louis vs. Seattle. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... (aren't all the NFC West teams aside from Arizona terrible?)
Call:
St. Louis ZZZ
Seattle ZZZ
Nah,
St. Louis 17
Seattle 21
---
New Orleans vs. Denver. I don't know to make of QB Jay Cutler. I still think he's overrated. No one outside of Denver can name their WRs. I only know their names because I follow all the teams. They are very good, but the Broncos' change in philosophy from running the ball 60% of the time has been overhauled. Now they are passing it about 65% of the time. Hey, it's working for them. Why change?
The Saints are beat up in their secondary. They are also missing WR Marques Colston, who took a helmet to the forearm after making a catch in front of CB Ronde Barber in Week 1. QB Drew Brees still has weapons in Shockey and Henderson, as well as Reggie Bush out in space, but this is a tough game to pick.
I think the Broncos showed more moxie in "beating" San Diego in Week 2 (even though Ed Hochuli, my favorite referee, gave them the game) than New Orleans did in losing to Washington in Week 2. I give the slight edge to Denver.
Call:
New Orleans 34
Denver 38
---
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia. The Battle For Pennsylvania? I don't think the Eagles are that good. They are a game or two better than I picked them originally (6-10), but Dallas' defense isn't that good, so those 37 they hung on the Cowboys are rather empty in the grand scheme of things. If they can put up HALF of that vs. the Steelers, I'd be convinced. As for right now, two costly sacks and a killer fumble by McNabb vs. Dallas shows that most leopards cannot change their spots. Add in a couple of his patented skip-passes that bounce 5 feet in front of an open receiver and you have a LONG day for Iggles fans.
Call:
Pittsburgh 31
Philadelphia 21
---
Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis. This is the game I want to see. The Jaguars usually give Peyton Manning fits. But losing DT Marcus Stroud to Buffalo has set the Jags' defense back a step or two. They're above average, but they rarely make big plays. They are more of a bend-but-don't break defense. Manning and the Colts' offense should be better in tune for this game. The first two games saw RB Joseph Addai rush for an alarmingly low 64 yards total on nearly 30 carries. That won't get it done, even with Manning at QB. The Colts are about to experience another setback with S Bob Sanders suffering his annual 4-6 week visit to the injury list. In the past, whenever he has been out, the Colts' defense looks like toy soldiers. Given that the Jaguwires throw RBs Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew and FB Greg Jones (remember Dexter Reid, Aug. 30, 2003 vs. FSU LOL -- look it up on YouTube) at you and it could be a very long day for the Colts. Since the Jags don't score much and Garrard has thrown the same number of INTs this year (3) as he did all of last year, it's safe to say that these aren't the Jags from last year. I still have the Colts winning somehow in the end. But it will be close.
Call:
Jacksonville 24
Indianapolis 28
---
Cleveland vs. Baltimore. On paper, the Browns are much better than the Ravens. Inside my TV set, they look awful. How can this be? They have Jamal Lewis running the ball. They have QB Derek Anderson getting the ball to TE Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon "Butterfingers" Edwards, who I swear is related to Kwame Brown. I don't get it. The Ravens are starting a rookie QB in Joe Flacco (FROM?!?! Delaware Blue Hens!) and Willis McGahee has been out. The defense is old and not as formidable as they were from 1999-2005. They are still good, though. If they bring enough heat to Anderson and force him to make bad throws, Ed Reed could have a field day at safety, so could CB Samari Rolle (FROM?!?!?!)
Call:
Cleveland 23
Baltimore 28
---
Dallas vs. Green Bay. We will see what Aaron Rodgers is made of in this game. Again, Dallas' defense is overrated. Their offense is NOT, however. Rodgers should be able to get the ball to his WRs and has to hope that RB Ryan Grant is 100%. The Cowboys can blow anyone out of any game on the strength of their offense alone. It will be important for the Packers to establish the run, because the Cowboys have a bona fide BEAST in Marion Barber back there, along with rookie Felix Jones.
Matchup to watch: WR Terrell Owens vs. CBs Al Harris and/or Charles Woodson. Harris usually plays Owens, but Owens moves to both sides of the field. Whether Harris shifts with him remains to be seen. I don't see either one of them stopping Owens, however.
Add to that, the Cowboys' running game vs. an average Packer defense...
Dallas 34
Green Bay 28
---
New York Jets vs. San Diego. The Chargers should very well be 2-0. A fluke play at the end of Week 1 vs. Carolina and Ed Hochuli's Broncos getting new life to score at the last second in Week 2 is the only difference between them being a 2-0 and 0-2 team. The Jets aren't very good. Whether they come on late in the season remains to be seen, but if they were unable to muster more than 10 points vs. the Patriots, they'll be hard-pressed to do anything more vs. the Chargers.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson has been slowed by a toe, OLB Shawne Merriman is out for the year and the defense looked discombobulated vs. Denver. I expect that to change with the Jets. Although the Jets have decent WRs in Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, they don't have favorable matchups vs. CBs Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie. If the Jets WRs aren't open, QB Brett Favre will DEFINITELY try to force it in. I see him throwing at least 2 INTs in this game, breaking the Jets' collective backs.
Call:
NY Jets 17
San Diego 38
Feel free to comment here up through Monday Night and check back to see how my picks turned out in Week 3!
The Best Is Yet to Come
The Best Is Yet to Come
By Cliff Young
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
The expectation of summer was always an exciting time for me as a child. My dad would get tickets to a baseball game and I would stare at those colored pieces of paper for weeks thinking about the game, dreaming of catching a foul ball or meeting one of my heroes.
The anticipation was almost as good as the game itself because I could envision any outcome or situation that I wanted. The sky was the limit! Even as the final innings of the game approached, there was always another game I could dream about—this gave me a hope for the future and something I could hold onto.
Today, many of us have lost a childlike eagerness for the future and we find it difficult to live free of feelings of trepidation. Economic instability, housing foreclosures, rising gas prices, national security issues, unemployment, aging parents and (for some) singleness leads us to believe our best days are over. As a result, we tend to approach each day worried and anxious. The Bible addresses these thoughts that we battle.
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34).
Nearly every occurrence of the word worry in the (NIV) Bible is preceded by do not. Throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, Scripture tells us do not worry. It is a command for us to follow. Why? Worrying doesn’t help, it causes further personal problems, and it shows a lack of trust in God.
Worrying Doesn’t Help
Jesus asks, ‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?’ (Matthew 6:27).
Jesus posed this question during his Sermon on the Mount, and those teachings from the first century apply to us today. He gives us instruction on how to face anger, adultery, divorce, revenge, enemies, prayer, money and possessions—not by worrying, but by shining your light, trusting the Lord, repenting of your sins, reconciling with or confronting those who sinned against you (or who you’ve sinned against), loving and giving to your neighbor, coming clean before God, praying, and carrying out the vows you have made to the Lord. Nowhere does he call us to worry.
I have found that worrying about my work, finances, relationships, and future solves nothing! I fail to see or find any solution by focusing on what might happen instead of focusing on the problems themselves.
Worrying Cause Further Personal Problems
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.
— Corrie Ten Boom
I only thought that worrying could cause gray hair; however, I have learned there is an actual medical condition for worrying as well.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – excessive and unreasonable worry over events or activities, such as work, school or health; inability to control or stop worrying; causes fatigue, tension headaches, sleep troubles or muscle aches.
Worrying is the basis of all sorts of medical conditions from stress to depression, and the medical community is still discovering further ramifications of worrying and living with anxiety. At the very least, worrying causes physical and emotional discomfort. At the very worst, it breaks our fellowship with God. Worry not only adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed where it weakens you emotionally, but it can also debilitate our spirit and weakens our confidence in God. However, the Bible gives us encouragement to walk through our struggles.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
Worrying Shows a Lack of Trust in God
Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are (Matthew 6:26).
And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! (Matthew 6: 28, 30).
When I read these passages, I feel as if Jesus is speaking directly to me. I am reminded of my lack of faith and trust in Him when it comes to giving Him all of my thoughts, concerns and worries. When I choose to struggle on my own without first seeking Jesus, my pride is revealed in thinking I can do it myself or do it better.
If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him, and He will gladly tell you (James 1:5).
I have often been told that I don’t have because I don’t ask. I struggle with asking anybody for anything because I don’t want to bother someone, don’t want to seem needy, or don’t want to be seen as weak. I often do the same with God and that shows a lack of trust.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
What Can I Do About Worry and Anxiety?
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
I love the simplicity of God’s Word.
Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything.
Prayer should not be a foreign act. It should be more common to us than texting, e-mailing or calling a friend. It should be the first thing, the last thing and everything in between when facing anything in our lives. Everything we do or plan should be bathed in prayer.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
God, through Jesus, has given us a direct line to Him. There is no one we need to go through, go around, or make an appointment with. God asks us to tell Him what we need and give thanks for all He has done. Prayer is not a ritual or some esoteric event. It is simply a child asking his Father for what he needs.
You will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Who wouldn’t want to experience a peace that is more wonderful than we can imagine? How much better is this peace compared to the stress that worry brings? If we make it all about Him instead of making it all about us, what is there to worry about?
Singer, songwriter Scott Krippayne wrote these words in his song, “The Best Is Yet to Come” …
The race is long, sometimes I stumble, He helps me up, each time I fall
And I lose hope, He gives me courage, so I press on, and give my all
And I know I never have to run alone, and I can hardly wait to make it home
The best is yet to come the promise when heaven awaits
I finally see my Lord and Savior face to face
For He has set me free for all eternity when my life on earth is done, the best is yet to come
In every joy, in every trial, I need to keep, my eyes on Him
He is the way, my sole provider, no matter how the road may bend
When earth’s big treasures cloud my point of view, He reminds me that I’m only passing through
The best is yet to come the promise when heaven awaits
I finally see my Lord and Savior face to face
For He has set me free for all eternity when my life on earth is done, the best is yet to come
Nothing can compare to what’s in store, when we will join the angels singing “Holy is the Lord”
It is not easy to have an optimistic outlook in the midst of financial challenges, personal struggles, tough decisions and loneliness; however, we must believe and have faith that the best really is yet to come. It is God’s promise to us.
For surely you have a future ahead of you; your hope will not be disappointed (Proverbs 23:18).
Where do you place your hope when you choose to worry? Do you place it in yourself, in your strength? Or do you place it in the One who promises you eternal life? Your hope will never be disappointed if you place it in God.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
Cliff Young is a contributing writer to Sandlot Stories (ARose Books), as well as the monthly column, He Said-She Said, in Crosswalk.com's Singles Channel. An architect and former youth worker, he now works with Christian musicians and consults for a number of Christian ministries. Got feedback? Send your comments and questions to CYdmg@yahoo.com.
By Cliff Young
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
The expectation of summer was always an exciting time for me as a child. My dad would get tickets to a baseball game and I would stare at those colored pieces of paper for weeks thinking about the game, dreaming of catching a foul ball or meeting one of my heroes.
The anticipation was almost as good as the game itself because I could envision any outcome or situation that I wanted. The sky was the limit! Even as the final innings of the game approached, there was always another game I could dream about—this gave me a hope for the future and something I could hold onto.
Today, many of us have lost a childlike eagerness for the future and we find it difficult to live free of feelings of trepidation. Economic instability, housing foreclosures, rising gas prices, national security issues, unemployment, aging parents and (for some) singleness leads us to believe our best days are over. As a result, we tend to approach each day worried and anxious. The Bible addresses these thoughts that we battle.
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34).
Nearly every occurrence of the word worry in the (NIV) Bible is preceded by do not. Throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, Scripture tells us do not worry. It is a command for us to follow. Why? Worrying doesn’t help, it causes further personal problems, and it shows a lack of trust in God.
Worrying Doesn’t Help
Jesus asks, ‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?’ (Matthew 6:27).
Jesus posed this question during his Sermon on the Mount, and those teachings from the first century apply to us today. He gives us instruction on how to face anger, adultery, divorce, revenge, enemies, prayer, money and possessions—not by worrying, but by shining your light, trusting the Lord, repenting of your sins, reconciling with or confronting those who sinned against you (or who you’ve sinned against), loving and giving to your neighbor, coming clean before God, praying, and carrying out the vows you have made to the Lord. Nowhere does he call us to worry.
I have found that worrying about my work, finances, relationships, and future solves nothing! I fail to see or find any solution by focusing on what might happen instead of focusing on the problems themselves.
Worrying Cause Further Personal Problems
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.
— Corrie Ten Boom
I only thought that worrying could cause gray hair; however, I have learned there is an actual medical condition for worrying as well.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – excessive and unreasonable worry over events or activities, such as work, school or health; inability to control or stop worrying; causes fatigue, tension headaches, sleep troubles or muscle aches.
Worrying is the basis of all sorts of medical conditions from stress to depression, and the medical community is still discovering further ramifications of worrying and living with anxiety. At the very least, worrying causes physical and emotional discomfort. At the very worst, it breaks our fellowship with God. Worry not only adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed where it weakens you emotionally, but it can also debilitate our spirit and weakens our confidence in God. However, the Bible gives us encouragement to walk through our struggles.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
Worrying Shows a Lack of Trust in God
Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are (Matthew 6:26).
And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! (Matthew 6: 28, 30).
When I read these passages, I feel as if Jesus is speaking directly to me. I am reminded of my lack of faith and trust in Him when it comes to giving Him all of my thoughts, concerns and worries. When I choose to struggle on my own without first seeking Jesus, my pride is revealed in thinking I can do it myself or do it better.
If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him, and He will gladly tell you (James 1:5).
I have often been told that I don’t have because I don’t ask. I struggle with asking anybody for anything because I don’t want to bother someone, don’t want to seem needy, or don’t want to be seen as weak. I often do the same with God and that shows a lack of trust.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
What Can I Do About Worry and Anxiety?
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
I love the simplicity of God’s Word.
Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything.
Prayer should not be a foreign act. It should be more common to us than texting, e-mailing or calling a friend. It should be the first thing, the last thing and everything in between when facing anything in our lives. Everything we do or plan should be bathed in prayer.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
God, through Jesus, has given us a direct line to Him. There is no one we need to go through, go around, or make an appointment with. God asks us to tell Him what we need and give thanks for all He has done. Prayer is not a ritual or some esoteric event. It is simply a child asking his Father for what he needs.
You will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Who wouldn’t want to experience a peace that is more wonderful than we can imagine? How much better is this peace compared to the stress that worry brings? If we make it all about Him instead of making it all about us, what is there to worry about?
Singer, songwriter Scott Krippayne wrote these words in his song, “The Best Is Yet to Come” …
The race is long, sometimes I stumble, He helps me up, each time I fall
And I lose hope, He gives me courage, so I press on, and give my all
And I know I never have to run alone, and I can hardly wait to make it home
The best is yet to come the promise when heaven awaits
I finally see my Lord and Savior face to face
For He has set me free for all eternity when my life on earth is done, the best is yet to come
In every joy, in every trial, I need to keep, my eyes on Him
He is the way, my sole provider, no matter how the road may bend
When earth’s big treasures cloud my point of view, He reminds me that I’m only passing through
The best is yet to come the promise when heaven awaits
I finally see my Lord and Savior face to face
For He has set me free for all eternity when my life on earth is done, the best is yet to come
Nothing can compare to what’s in store, when we will join the angels singing “Holy is the Lord”
It is not easy to have an optimistic outlook in the midst of financial challenges, personal struggles, tough decisions and loneliness; however, we must believe and have faith that the best really is yet to come. It is God’s promise to us.
For surely you have a future ahead of you; your hope will not be disappointed (Proverbs 23:18).
Where do you place your hope when you choose to worry? Do you place it in yourself, in your strength? Or do you place it in the One who promises you eternal life? Your hope will never be disappointed if you place it in God.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
Cliff Young is a contributing writer to Sandlot Stories (ARose Books), as well as the monthly column, He Said-She Said, in Crosswalk.com's Singles Channel. An architect and former youth worker, he now works with Christian musicians and consults for a number of Christian ministries. Got feedback? Send your comments and questions to CYdmg@yahoo.com.
Why Living Together Before Marriage Doesn't Work
Why Living Together Before Marriage Doesn't Work
By Mike & Harriet McManus
Authors, Living Together
No group is more supportive of living together—despite evidence that four out of five couples who begin cohabiting will not build a lasting marriage—than the young. While 90 percent of teenagers believe in marriage, they view cohabitation as a stepping-stone in the relationship—a good way to get know their partner and avoid a future divorce. Sixty-nine percent say they “approve” of couples “living together before they get married.” They say, “If things don’t work out, we can chalk it up to experience and move on. At least we will have learned something about ourselves and marriage.”
Pamela Smock, Ph.D., a sociologist at the University of Michigan, writes: “Common sense suggests that premarital cohabitation should provide an opportunity for couples to learn about each other, strengthen their bonds, and increase their chances for a successful marriage. . . . The evidence, however, suggests just the opposite. Premarital cohabitation tends to be associated with lower marital quality and to increase the risk of divorce, even after taking into account of variables known to be associated with divorce. . . . The degree of consensus about this central finding is impressive.”
What starts as lower levels of commitment among those who choose to cohabit eventually translates into lower levels of relationship happiness both before and after the wedding, if there is a wedding. This outcome will come as a surprise to men who insist on living with a woman before considering marriage. The truth is, instead of improving their odds of success, they unwittingly improve their odds of failure.
Why is the divorce rate so much higher for couples who marry after cohabiting? Two theories have credence.
1. The “Selection Effect”
The first theory, put forth by Dr. Bumpass, is the “selection effect.” Those who live together before marriage differ substantially from those who do not, and those differences increase the likelihood of marital instability for former cohabitors. Cohabitors tend to be less educated. For example, cohabiting women are twice as likely to be high-school dropouts than college graduates. Cohabitors also tend to have nontraditional values and attitudes.
They are less likely to be religious and more likely to dismiss advice to remain chaste before marriage. They are more likely to be children of divorce. They are less committed to marriage and, when troubles arise, more open to divorce.
The problem with this theory is that most high-school dropouts in 1960 didn’t cohabit before they married, nor did the less religious nor the more liberal. It simply was not done. Additionally, few of their parents had divorced.
What has changed the culture so dramatically? The Sexual Revolution. When the birth control pill was introduced, the perceived dangers of premarital sex were lessened and the era of “free love” was ushered in. Premarital sexual activity brought less of a stigma; it actually became a badge of honor and a sign of modernity. Eventually sex without the bonds of marriage became accepted as the norm. The “Playboy Philosophy,” popularized by Hugh Hefner, promoted consensual sex anywhere, anytime, with anyone. Widespread cohabitation is the logical outgrowth of such a societal frame of reference.
2. The Cohabitation Effect
The other, more probable, theory to explain why living together dooms so many marriages is that the experience of cohabiting changes young adults in ways that increase their chances of divorce. The very act of cohabiting, with its casual, impermanent bonding, diminishes respect for commitment, especially the till-death-do-us-part vows of marriage.
As Pamela Smock notes: “Through cohabitation people learn about and come to accept the temporary nature of relationships and in particular that there are alternatives to marriage.” She cites a study showing that living together between the ages of eighteen and twenty-three “significantly alters young men’s and women’s attitudes toward marriage and divorce.” It changes “people’s attitudes in ways that make them more prone to divorce.”
But cohabitation changes even more than people’s perspectives on marriage and divorce. It seems to dramatically affect the way people view and respond to their partners. Dr. Catherine Cohan of Pennsylvania State University explained to Reuters Health what she observed in yet another eye-opening study comparing the marriages of people who had cohabited with those who had not: “Those people who lived together were more negative and less positive when resolving a marital problem and when providing support to their partner.” She found that even those who cohabited for just one month before marriage actually displayed poorer communication and problem-solving skills than those who did not live together.
According to Dr. Cohan’s report, coauthored with Stacey Kleinbaum, in the February 2002 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, 60 percent of test subjects who had cohabited before marriage were more verbally aggressive, less supportive of one another, and more hostile than the 40 percent of spouses who had not lived together.
Researchers visited the couples at home, interviewed partners separately, and then videotaped two fi fteen-minute sessions, in the absence of the interviewer, in which the partners sought to solve a problem that had been selected by each from a list that included sex, money, children, housework, career, and religion. The videotapes revealed that couples who had first lived together displayed more negative behavior than those who had not. Husbands who had cohabited, for example, were more likely to attempt to control their wives, while the wives were more verbally aggressive.
Cohan and Kleinbaum concluded that couples who live together before marriage enter the relationship with lower commitment. It takes a higher level of commitment to marry than to cohabit. “The open-ended nature of the relationship may cause them to be less motivated to develop their conflict resolution and support skills.”
The researchers said those who cohabited were not doomed to divorce but did have “poorer communication skills” than those who remained separate until the wedding. Cohan added, “I can say, however, there’s nothing in the research that says living together helps people in the long run.”
People who cohabit seem to lose respect for themselves and for their partner, while those who form a household only after marriage have inherently higher self-respect and respect for their spouse.
Cohabitation is a supercharged engine producing dissatisfied couples and, as a result, more divorces—thus contributing to and sustaining America’s high divorce rate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From LIVING TOGETHER by Mike McManus and Harriet McManus. Copyright (c) 2008 by Michael J. McManus and Harriet E. McManus. Reprinted by permission of Howard Publishing, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Mike McManus is a Duke graduate who was Time's youngest correspondent in 1963. He has been a nationally syndicated columnist since 1977, whose award-winning "Ethics & Religion" column is published weekly. Mike's book Marriage Savers inspired clergy to create Community Marriage Policies that have reduced divorce and cohabitation rates in more than one hundred cities. He and his wife, Harriet, cofounded Marriage Savers, Inc., to help clergy better prepare, enrich, and restore marriages. They have personally mentored fifty-seven couples preparing for marriage.
Harriet McManus married Mike in 1965. She was the first editor of Marriage Savers and Mikes other books and is editor of Mike's columns. Together they have initiated a premarital marriage ministry in their church, Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda, Maryland, and they pioneered the training of Mentor Couples to administer a premarital inventory. She works full-time for Marriage Savers as a writer, editor, and trainer. She and Mike have three sons and six grandchildren.
By Mike & Harriet McManus
Authors, Living Together
No group is more supportive of living together—despite evidence that four out of five couples who begin cohabiting will not build a lasting marriage—than the young. While 90 percent of teenagers believe in marriage, they view cohabitation as a stepping-stone in the relationship—a good way to get know their partner and avoid a future divorce. Sixty-nine percent say they “approve” of couples “living together before they get married.” They say, “If things don’t work out, we can chalk it up to experience and move on. At least we will have learned something about ourselves and marriage.”
Pamela Smock, Ph.D., a sociologist at the University of Michigan, writes: “Common sense suggests that premarital cohabitation should provide an opportunity for couples to learn about each other, strengthen their bonds, and increase their chances for a successful marriage. . . . The evidence, however, suggests just the opposite. Premarital cohabitation tends to be associated with lower marital quality and to increase the risk of divorce, even after taking into account of variables known to be associated with divorce. . . . The degree of consensus about this central finding is impressive.”
What starts as lower levels of commitment among those who choose to cohabit eventually translates into lower levels of relationship happiness both before and after the wedding, if there is a wedding. This outcome will come as a surprise to men who insist on living with a woman before considering marriage. The truth is, instead of improving their odds of success, they unwittingly improve their odds of failure.
Why is the divorce rate so much higher for couples who marry after cohabiting? Two theories have credence.
1. The “Selection Effect”
The first theory, put forth by Dr. Bumpass, is the “selection effect.” Those who live together before marriage differ substantially from those who do not, and those differences increase the likelihood of marital instability for former cohabitors. Cohabitors tend to be less educated. For example, cohabiting women are twice as likely to be high-school dropouts than college graduates. Cohabitors also tend to have nontraditional values and attitudes.
They are less likely to be religious and more likely to dismiss advice to remain chaste before marriage. They are more likely to be children of divorce. They are less committed to marriage and, when troubles arise, more open to divorce.
The problem with this theory is that most high-school dropouts in 1960 didn’t cohabit before they married, nor did the less religious nor the more liberal. It simply was not done. Additionally, few of their parents had divorced.
What has changed the culture so dramatically? The Sexual Revolution. When the birth control pill was introduced, the perceived dangers of premarital sex were lessened and the era of “free love” was ushered in. Premarital sexual activity brought less of a stigma; it actually became a badge of honor and a sign of modernity. Eventually sex without the bonds of marriage became accepted as the norm. The “Playboy Philosophy,” popularized by Hugh Hefner, promoted consensual sex anywhere, anytime, with anyone. Widespread cohabitation is the logical outgrowth of such a societal frame of reference.
2. The Cohabitation Effect
The other, more probable, theory to explain why living together dooms so many marriages is that the experience of cohabiting changes young adults in ways that increase their chances of divorce. The very act of cohabiting, with its casual, impermanent bonding, diminishes respect for commitment, especially the till-death-do-us-part vows of marriage.
As Pamela Smock notes: “Through cohabitation people learn about and come to accept the temporary nature of relationships and in particular that there are alternatives to marriage.” She cites a study showing that living together between the ages of eighteen and twenty-three “significantly alters young men’s and women’s attitudes toward marriage and divorce.” It changes “people’s attitudes in ways that make them more prone to divorce.”
But cohabitation changes even more than people’s perspectives on marriage and divorce. It seems to dramatically affect the way people view and respond to their partners. Dr. Catherine Cohan of Pennsylvania State University explained to Reuters Health what she observed in yet another eye-opening study comparing the marriages of people who had cohabited with those who had not: “Those people who lived together were more negative and less positive when resolving a marital problem and when providing support to their partner.” She found that even those who cohabited for just one month before marriage actually displayed poorer communication and problem-solving skills than those who did not live together.
According to Dr. Cohan’s report, coauthored with Stacey Kleinbaum, in the February 2002 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, 60 percent of test subjects who had cohabited before marriage were more verbally aggressive, less supportive of one another, and more hostile than the 40 percent of spouses who had not lived together.
Researchers visited the couples at home, interviewed partners separately, and then videotaped two fi fteen-minute sessions, in the absence of the interviewer, in which the partners sought to solve a problem that had been selected by each from a list that included sex, money, children, housework, career, and religion. The videotapes revealed that couples who had first lived together displayed more negative behavior than those who had not. Husbands who had cohabited, for example, were more likely to attempt to control their wives, while the wives were more verbally aggressive.
Cohan and Kleinbaum concluded that couples who live together before marriage enter the relationship with lower commitment. It takes a higher level of commitment to marry than to cohabit. “The open-ended nature of the relationship may cause them to be less motivated to develop their conflict resolution and support skills.”
The researchers said those who cohabited were not doomed to divorce but did have “poorer communication skills” than those who remained separate until the wedding. Cohan added, “I can say, however, there’s nothing in the research that says living together helps people in the long run.”
People who cohabit seem to lose respect for themselves and for their partner, while those who form a household only after marriage have inherently higher self-respect and respect for their spouse.
Cohabitation is a supercharged engine producing dissatisfied couples and, as a result, more divorces—thus contributing to and sustaining America’s high divorce rate.
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From LIVING TOGETHER by Mike McManus and Harriet McManus. Copyright (c) 2008 by Michael J. McManus and Harriet E. McManus. Reprinted by permission of Howard Publishing, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Mike McManus is a Duke graduate who was Time's youngest correspondent in 1963. He has been a nationally syndicated columnist since 1977, whose award-winning "Ethics & Religion" column is published weekly. Mike's book Marriage Savers inspired clergy to create Community Marriage Policies that have reduced divorce and cohabitation rates in more than one hundred cities. He and his wife, Harriet, cofounded Marriage Savers, Inc., to help clergy better prepare, enrich, and restore marriages. They have personally mentored fifty-seven couples preparing for marriage.
Harriet McManus married Mike in 1965. She was the first editor of Marriage Savers and Mikes other books and is editor of Mike's columns. Together they have initiated a premarital marriage ministry in their church, Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda, Maryland, and they pioneered the training of Mentor Couples to administer a premarital inventory. She works full-time for Marriage Savers as a writer, editor, and trainer. She and Mike have three sons and six grandchildren.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Why Looks Are More Important To Men Than Women
Why Looks Are More Important To Men Than Women
By Michael D. Wright
9.16.08
I felt compelled to blog about this topic, because I have been bombarded with inquiries as to why I like what I like in women CONSTANTLY over the past few days. Not sure why so many women are trying to get into my head all of a sudden, but hey, no reason to complain -- I'll let it ride.
However, the common denominator that all their messages have is they mistake the slight difference between being attracted to someone (and the importance of pursuing her, etc.) and being "hung up" on looks. Indeed, we all know looks fade. Heck, even Halle is starting to look... well, older. It happens. You can't beat it. You can staple your face and inject botulism into your face as much as you want, you will age. Some worse than others. We know looks fade. That's that. As a matter of fact,
I've had a philosophy since high school that I will stick to for life: "looks are the bait, the spirit and character of a person is what hooks you". I live by that. My decisions in which women I have pursued over the past 12 years has been centered around that premise. Sure, you have some women who don't like it. That's fine. You can't please everyone, and after I went through what I did in high school with my skin, you BEST believe those days of being a slave to peoples' opinions are LONG gone.
(I could go on a tangent about how my swag has broken the swag-meter in recent years, since having to overcome what I did in high school is responsible for it, but I shant).
At any rate, the flipside of that corollary is what I want to focus on for a few lines.
I discussed how my personal philosophy has guided me in my choices in women. There was nothing wrong with them, they were "doing them" and not where they needed to be spiritually to be yoked with me, with the calling that God has on my life. I need a praying woman, a woman of strength who also is strong-willed and not a pushover. Conversely, I do not like having to summon up even more testosterone than the excessive amounts that drip off me as it is, while dealing with a bull-headed woman who likes to arga (argue), complain and manipulate 24/7. Not lumping any one group together, but that has been my experience.
Nevertheless, my question lately has been "why do women expect men to act as women do when it comes to selecting who they will date/allow into their hearts/marry? Women are "wired" differently than men. Women are designed to be perceptive, to examine and analyze everything, to DISCERN a person's spirit and character first -- and THEN, if looks are pleasant, it is the cherry on top. The problem is, in our out-of-order society in 2008, you have women doing the flipside -- only focusing on what a man can do for them, instead of looking to see how they can help a man who is doing something for himself.
Likewise, for men, you have a majority who focuses on NOTHING but looks and the size of a woman's breasts (I had a chick "correct" me the other day about my usage of the term "chick" -- when it is not synonymous with "slag" in my book -- not sure why she thought it was, but I digresss), the size/shape of her posterior region and all those other things that will sag once she hits 50. However, we knew this already, because you have far more women complaining about the shortcomings of men than you hear men complaining about women and their shortcomings (believe it or not, they DO have them!) Some guys know better than to go there, so they just be quiet.
However, my point is simply that men are designed to be hunters. We are to seek out what (in this case, a woman) is pleasing to us and pursue it (her) once we find it (her). You have to use your eyes to do this. You do not, as a man, perceive and know enough about her to discern whether she is a sheep or a wolf in sheep's clothing. Women are too slick and cunning to disguise the truth. Men aren't given to cunning and ruses to cover up an ulterior motive as women naturally are (it's true, like it or not). That's not to say that men don't do it, but women do it far more than men do.
Women can discern men's motives (and about each others', which is why trifling women don't try to run game on each other, since "game recognizes game"). No. As a man, you go off looks, which attract you, and then, in the course of getting to know her, you get to know more and more and decide with the information that you have gleaned whether she is who she porports herself to be. In essence, it is the flipside of what women are designed to do. Why so many women expect men to think and act as women do is beyond me. But I hope taht this shines some light on how men (not boys) think and what goes into our decision-making when it comes to pursuing women and our reasons for doing so.
Cheers.
By Michael D. Wright
9.16.08
I felt compelled to blog about this topic, because I have been bombarded with inquiries as to why I like what I like in women CONSTANTLY over the past few days. Not sure why so many women are trying to get into my head all of a sudden, but hey, no reason to complain -- I'll let it ride.
However, the common denominator that all their messages have is they mistake the slight difference between being attracted to someone (and the importance of pursuing her, etc.) and being "hung up" on looks. Indeed, we all know looks fade. Heck, even Halle is starting to look... well, older. It happens. You can't beat it. You can staple your face and inject botulism into your face as much as you want, you will age. Some worse than others. We know looks fade. That's that. As a matter of fact,
I've had a philosophy since high school that I will stick to for life: "looks are the bait, the spirit and character of a person is what hooks you". I live by that. My decisions in which women I have pursued over the past 12 years has been centered around that premise. Sure, you have some women who don't like it. That's fine. You can't please everyone, and after I went through what I did in high school with my skin, you BEST believe those days of being a slave to peoples' opinions are LONG gone.
(I could go on a tangent about how my swag has broken the swag-meter in recent years, since having to overcome what I did in high school is responsible for it, but I shant).
At any rate, the flipside of that corollary is what I want to focus on for a few lines.
I discussed how my personal philosophy has guided me in my choices in women. There was nothing wrong with them, they were "doing them" and not where they needed to be spiritually to be yoked with me, with the calling that God has on my life. I need a praying woman, a woman of strength who also is strong-willed and not a pushover. Conversely, I do not like having to summon up even more testosterone than the excessive amounts that drip off me as it is, while dealing with a bull-headed woman who likes to arga (argue), complain and manipulate 24/7. Not lumping any one group together, but that has been my experience.
Nevertheless, my question lately has been "why do women expect men to act as women do when it comes to selecting who they will date/allow into their hearts/marry? Women are "wired" differently than men. Women are designed to be perceptive, to examine and analyze everything, to DISCERN a person's spirit and character first -- and THEN, if looks are pleasant, it is the cherry on top. The problem is, in our out-of-order society in 2008, you have women doing the flipside -- only focusing on what a man can do for them, instead of looking to see how they can help a man who is doing something for himself.
Likewise, for men, you have a majority who focuses on NOTHING but looks and the size of a woman's breasts (I had a chick "correct" me the other day about my usage of the term "chick" -- when it is not synonymous with "slag" in my book -- not sure why she thought it was, but I digresss), the size/shape of her posterior region and all those other things that will sag once she hits 50. However, we knew this already, because you have far more women complaining about the shortcomings of men than you hear men complaining about women and their shortcomings (believe it or not, they DO have them!) Some guys know better than to go there, so they just be quiet.
However, my point is simply that men are designed to be hunters. We are to seek out what (in this case, a woman) is pleasing to us and pursue it (her) once we find it (her). You have to use your eyes to do this. You do not, as a man, perceive and know enough about her to discern whether she is a sheep or a wolf in sheep's clothing. Women are too slick and cunning to disguise the truth. Men aren't given to cunning and ruses to cover up an ulterior motive as women naturally are (it's true, like it or not). That's not to say that men don't do it, but women do it far more than men do.
Women can discern men's motives (and about each others', which is why trifling women don't try to run game on each other, since "game recognizes game"). No. As a man, you go off looks, which attract you, and then, in the course of getting to know her, you get to know more and more and decide with the information that you have gleaned whether she is who she porports herself to be. In essence, it is the flipside of what women are designed to do. Why so many women expect men to think and act as women do is beyond me. But I hope taht this shines some light on how men (not boys) think and what goes into our decision-making when it comes to pursuing women and our reasons for doing so.
Cheers.
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