And just when I was getting excited about Colts football again. No COLTSTRONG hashtag on this one. Where are his friends? Why haven't they staged an intervention before now? Not the news we need out of Indy.
KRAVITZ: Irsay Fighting for His Life, Needs Help...
http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/kravitz/2014/03/17/kravitz-irsay-fighting-for-his-life-needs-help/6523925/
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Blog Relaunch
I have missed blogging here the last couple of seasons, except for occasional posts here and there. Life just got in the way.
Now that things are settling down, I want to post a regular column here and get ramped up for the 2014 season. I saw somewhere a couple of weeks ago that we are 2 Sundays past the 2013 NFL season with just 28 Sundays to go. When put in that perspective, it's not too long a wait. I'll bide my time the next month or so, watching college hoops. It is March Madness, after all, and this Hoosier is a basketball junkie this time of year. But I digress...
It was a stellar year for my Seminoles, reminding the nation once again that the mighty Seminole tribe is not to be forgotten, beaten or taken for granted. And just like our namesake, the Florida State Seminoles were UNCONQUERED in 2013, completing the perfect season, catapulting Jameis Winston to the Heisman Trophy winner's circle and FSU to it's third national title. It was a tri-fecta, much like the one we accomplished in 1999. Did you know that every year the Seminoles have won the National Championship in college football, they've also been led by a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback? First, it was the venerable Charlie Ward, then the veteran Chris Weinke, both leading our teams in a successful bid for the Sears Trophy. All three Heisman winners got to jubilantly hoist that coveted crystal football in the air!
KUDOS to Winston, Benjamin, Jernigan, Joyner and Co. on completing the perfect season, making all of Seminole Nation proud!
COLTS
Will my NFL team be making a run at a Superbowl ring anytime soon? Who knows. Current, pre-NFL Draft thinking has them focusing on receivers and key offensive positions. I'm not so sure that's the best approach to bolstering this roster for future success. If Reggie Wayne returns to a decent receiver corps, we should be solid in that area. Without the Pro-Bowler, we were still an offense to be reckoned with...just ask Seattle or San Francisco! So why are we not focusing instead on our defense. The bend-but-don't break, two deep safety system we've employed since the 1990's isn't going to get us to our goals. As Seattle proved once again, the old adage is most certainly true, "Defense wins championships!" When is the Irsay brain trust going to get it? I've been very happy with the young GM Grigson, but he needs to set Irsay straight and let Luck and Co., as is, handle the advancement of the football. He needs to set his sights on building the best defense in the league and break the pattern of mediocrity Colts fans have become so accustomed to. A stout defense puts the offense in better field position, helps them by scoring points and giving Andrew Luck the ball. The future HOF'er can't score touchdowns from the sidelines. The defense makes certain he stays on the field. It's kind of a no-brainer.
Well, that wraps up this overdue relaunch of my Colt-Nole blog. I'll leave you with this breaking news from legendary cable newsman, Ron Burgundy...
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
END OF HISTORIC ERA
While the rest of the world is contemplating where the invaluable HOF quarterback will land, allow me to reflect on 14 great seasons with Peyton Manning. After a tearful goodbye in Indianapolis, everyone and their neighbor is speculating where Manning will land. Personally, I'm hoping for Miami, as I am now only a 2-hour drive away. I'd love to see #18 and #87 dawn the Dolphin aqua-marine! Manning to Wayne for ANOTHER DOLPHIN TOUCHDOWN! But I digress...
This is a retrospective post.
I wasn't even 30 years old when Bill Polian and the Colts organization drafted a rookie out of the University of Tennessee. All I knew about Peyton Manning, other than his pedigree, was that he was never able to overcome his nemesis, and hated rival of my Seminoles, the Florida Gators. They just seemed to have Manning and Tennessee's number year after year. So, I wasn't the most ecstatic fan in Indianapolis the first day of the 1998 NFL Draft.
Once he got into his groove, there was no telling how far he would take the underachieving Colts franchise. I mean, we used to marvel at Captain Comeback, aka Jim Harbaugh, but he was no Peyton Manning. A few years into his career and I was still wondering if he'd ever be capable of winning the "big one." My doubts were never higher than the year we went into the playoffs undefeated, only to be humiliated by the New York Jets.
Then there was always the Colts defense, or lack thereof. I feared that no matter how perfect a game PM put together, our defense would always let us down. And even during our first Super Bowl run, the defense played terribly right up until the playoffs. The porous D who let Maurice Jones-Drew slash them for 200+ yards, suddenly became a brick wall in Kansas City and throughout the 2007 NFL Playoffs. It seemed as though destiny had finally taken over.
In the Miami rain that year, Peyton put all fears to rest and quieted all doubters, even me. He led the Colts to their first Super Bowl win since arriving in Indianapolis my freshman year of high school. He made us forget all about Captain Comeback with flashes of Unitas-like brilliance. His line-of-scrimmage antics have become the stuff of legend, and they pale in comparison to the split-second reads and laser-accurate throws that have wowed us for years!
Yes, Peyton Manning is the REAL DEAL! A solid, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, the guy is not only a brilliant on-field general, he's a class act all the way around. The namesake for St. Vincent's Childrens Hospital, he's been a great champion for the terminally ill and less fortunate in Indianapolis. A devoted family man and philanthropist, he quickly won the hearts of Hoosiers who respect and admire his character. A humble guy who has every reason to gloat, he is just a stellar human being. I cannot say enough good things about him.
I am very grateful that he became and remained an Indianapolis Colt. And while I am sad to see him go, I wish him well with whichever team is lucky enough to land him. I hope his recovery continues and he regains his throwing strength. No matter to what capacity or where he lands, I'll always be a fan of #18.
Thanks for the great memories, Peyton. Sorry that I ever doubted you. Peace!
This is a retrospective post.
I wasn't even 30 years old when Bill Polian and the Colts organization drafted a rookie out of the University of Tennessee. All I knew about Peyton Manning, other than his pedigree, was that he was never able to overcome his nemesis, and hated rival of my Seminoles, the Florida Gators. They just seemed to have Manning and Tennessee's number year after year. So, I wasn't the most ecstatic fan in Indianapolis the first day of the 1998 NFL Draft.
Once he got into his groove, there was no telling how far he would take the underachieving Colts franchise. I mean, we used to marvel at Captain Comeback, aka Jim Harbaugh, but he was no Peyton Manning. A few years into his career and I was still wondering if he'd ever be capable of winning the "big one." My doubts were never higher than the year we went into the playoffs undefeated, only to be humiliated by the New York Jets.
Then there was always the Colts defense, or lack thereof. I feared that no matter how perfect a game PM put together, our defense would always let us down. And even during our first Super Bowl run, the defense played terribly right up until the playoffs. The porous D who let Maurice Jones-Drew slash them for 200+ yards, suddenly became a brick wall in Kansas City and throughout the 2007 NFL Playoffs. It seemed as though destiny had finally taken over.
In the Miami rain that year, Peyton put all fears to rest and quieted all doubters, even me. He led the Colts to their first Super Bowl win since arriving in Indianapolis my freshman year of high school. He made us forget all about Captain Comeback with flashes of Unitas-like brilliance. His line-of-scrimmage antics have become the stuff of legend, and they pale in comparison to the split-second reads and laser-accurate throws that have wowed us for years!
Yes, Peyton Manning is the REAL DEAL! A solid, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, the guy is not only a brilliant on-field general, he's a class act all the way around. The namesake for St. Vincent's Childrens Hospital, he's been a great champion for the terminally ill and less fortunate in Indianapolis. A devoted family man and philanthropist, he quickly won the hearts of Hoosiers who respect and admire his character. A humble guy who has every reason to gloat, he is just a stellar human being. I cannot say enough good things about him.
I am very grateful that he became and remained an Indianapolis Colt. And while I am sad to see him go, I wish him well with whichever team is lucky enough to land him. I hope his recovery continues and he regains his throwing strength. No matter to what capacity or where he lands, I'll always be a fan of #18.
Thanks for the great memories, Peyton. Sorry that I ever doubted you. Peace!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
FSU Basketball Powerhouse?
I know this is a football blog, but with the Super Bowl now fading in our rearview mirror and National Signing Day behind us--yes Jimbo Fisher and staff snagged the second-best recruiting class of 2012--indulge me in a little Seminole Basketball.
Since joining the ACC in 1992, I cannot remember a better start in conference play for the Noles. They have now reeled off seven straight wins against the best in the conference--and the country--and now sit atop the ACC with a 7-1 conference record. The team is being led this year by sharpshooter Michael Snaer who is sinking 41-percent of his shots behind the three-point arc. One of his most memorable of the season came against Duke, snapping their 45-game winning streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Seminoles have a history the last two decades of giant-killing, usually beating a top-ranked Duke or North Carolina team in Tallahassee. They don't usually do it on the road in the span of ONE WEEK! In a 10-day stretch during the month of January, they beat the Tar Heels, Blue Devils AND the Maryland Terrapins. Still, the coaches weren't impressed enough to give them more than honorable mention. It took another week of ACC dominance for the Noles to break into the Top 25 in both major polls. With a win over ranked Virginia last week, expect them to crack the top 15 today.
In addition to Snaer's sharpshooting prowess, FSU features a stifling defense that has ranked atop the NCAA-Division I the last two years. Leonard Hamilton knows the old football adage that says "defense wins championships," and he's coaching a tenacious squad nicknamed the "Junkyard D." Scrappy doesn't even begin to describe them. With a huge interior, they are a formidable force in the paint and have totally shut down the league's leading big men, knocking one of them out of a game.
Has FSU become a basketball powerhouse? No, we're still a football school to be sure. But a force to be reckoned with in the ACC? I think that goes without saying. And after all, it IS the powerhouse conference. I'm very pleased with Leonard Hamilton, now turning around his third program since becoming a head coach. GO SEMINOLE BASKETBALL!!!
Since joining the ACC in 1992, I cannot remember a better start in conference play for the Noles. They have now reeled off seven straight wins against the best in the conference--and the country--and now sit atop the ACC with a 7-1 conference record. The team is being led this year by sharpshooter Michael Snaer who is sinking 41-percent of his shots behind the three-point arc. One of his most memorable of the season came against Duke, snapping their 45-game winning streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium.The Seminoles have a history the last two decades of giant-killing, usually beating a top-ranked Duke or North Carolina team in Tallahassee. They don't usually do it on the road in the span of ONE WEEK! In a 10-day stretch during the month of January, they beat the Tar Heels, Blue Devils AND the Maryland Terrapins. Still, the coaches weren't impressed enough to give them more than honorable mention. It took another week of ACC dominance for the Noles to break into the Top 25 in both major polls. With a win over ranked Virginia last week, expect them to crack the top 15 today.
In addition to Snaer's sharpshooting prowess, FSU features a stifling defense that has ranked atop the NCAA-Division I the last two years. Leonard Hamilton knows the old football adage that says "defense wins championships," and he's coaching a tenacious squad nicknamed the "Junkyard D." Scrappy doesn't even begin to describe them. With a huge interior, they are a formidable force in the paint and have totally shut down the league's leading big men, knocking one of them out of a game.Has FSU become a basketball powerhouse? No, we're still a football school to be sure. But a force to be reckoned with in the ACC? I think that goes without saying. And after all, it IS the powerhouse conference. I'm very pleased with Leonard Hamilton, now turning around his third program since becoming a head coach. GO SEMINOLE BASKETBALL!!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Clean slate
Okay, now that the season for both teams is over, we can start with a clean slate. Let us put 2011 behind us and look toward the future. The most pressing issues, by far, lie with the Colts organization.
All the pundits on cable are giving every conceivable scenario for the Colts quarterback position moving forward. Yes, Andrew Luck is most likely the QB of the future and yes, ideally, we'd love to have him as PM's understudy for a couple of seasons. But let's look, first, at a very likely scenario. Peyton Manning may not play another down of football. Has he been cleared by anyone to do so? Will his throwing arm ever be the same? These are the most pressing questions that need to be answered. Forget who the heir-apparent is or how he might get along with "the Sheriff." Heck, forget how to pay premiums for both QB's, including PM's 28-mil. due in March. Let's find out if the old guy will ever throw another football in the NFL, first!
Regardless, Andrew Luck is the franchise QB of the future. To pass up on him would be the dumbest decision by the Colts organization since the 2011 signing of Kerry Collins.
And speaking of that lame-brained decision, how about it Bill Polian? Still feeling vindicated? Good riddance you old fart! Don't let the screen door on the barn hit you on the way out! And take Scrappy Doo with you, too!
Okay, I feel much better now. The season is behind us. The Colts have secured #1, i.e. Andrew Luck, and should be on their way to greatness once again.
We'll give the Seminoles a little time to bask in the glory of another bowl win. Then, when recruiting season kicks into gear, we'll look forward to another blue-chipper crop of athletes.
I'm just glad we made it out of 2011 alive. The first half of the Champs Sports Bowl nearly gave me a coronary!
All the pundits on cable are giving every conceivable scenario for the Colts quarterback position moving forward. Yes, Andrew Luck is most likely the QB of the future and yes, ideally, we'd love to have him as PM's understudy for a couple of seasons. But let's look, first, at a very likely scenario. Peyton Manning may not play another down of football. Has he been cleared by anyone to do so? Will his throwing arm ever be the same? These are the most pressing questions that need to be answered. Forget who the heir-apparent is or how he might get along with "the Sheriff." Heck, forget how to pay premiums for both QB's, including PM's 28-mil. due in March. Let's find out if the old guy will ever throw another football in the NFL, first!
Regardless, Andrew Luck is the franchise QB of the future. To pass up on him would be the dumbest decision by the Colts organization since the 2011 signing of Kerry Collins.
And speaking of that lame-brained decision, how about it Bill Polian? Still feeling vindicated? Good riddance you old fart! Don't let the screen door on the barn hit you on the way out! And take Scrappy Doo with you, too!
Okay, I feel much better now. The season is behind us. The Colts have secured #1, i.e. Andrew Luck, and should be on their way to greatness once again.
We'll give the Seminoles a little time to bask in the glory of another bowl win. Then, when recruiting season kicks into gear, we'll look forward to another blue-chipper crop of athletes.
I'm just glad we made it out of 2011 alive. The first half of the Champs Sports Bowl nearly gave me a coronary!
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