It’s been a long time

…..but I’m back and rejuvenated heading into the end of the year.  It’s Monday, so Let’s go over the highlights of the weekend:

1. The Bengals beat the Steelers.
My boys were swept by the Bungals, who look for real.  And word is that they’re getting Larry Johnson, too.  Even more real is that as I’m typing, the Ravens are beating the batter out of the Browns.  So the AFC North looks like this:

1. Cincinnati ………7-2

2. Pittsburgh………6-3

3. Baltimore……….5-4

Cincy has 4 easy games (@Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City), 2 tough games (@Minnesota and a @ a red-hot San Diego), and one who knows game (@NY Jets to end the year). While the Steelers have 3 relatively easy games (@KC, Oakland, @Cleveland), two more they SHOULD win (Green Bay, @Miami), and two who-knows games with the Ravens. The Ravens have the two Steelers games and a Colts game, then 5 games they should win. All things being equal we could very well have three playoff teams from this division. I think we’re looking at records of 12-4 (Cincy), 11-5 (Pitt), and 10-6 (Baltimore). What’s the best division in football?


2. Manny Pacquiao Beat Down Miguel Cotto

Manny by no means kicked his arse, but it was a very good fight until the last couple of rounds. Unfortunately it was stopped in the 12th round, which made no sense to me. Either you stop the fight in the 10th, when it looks decisive, or you let the man fight til the end. He’s earned the right, having taken the pounding through 12 rounds. Anyway, rant over.  Now we can pay our attention to the potential Mayweather/Pac-Man fight.  As Mayweather bet millions on Manny on Saturday and was seen celebrating his “earnings” with Diddy and Ray-J.

But does this mean that the matchup is inevitable?  I’m sure there will be plenty to read on this dream fight, so I’ll pass on my .02 for now.


>3. Young Money drops a double nickel on the Dubs
He looks like a cross between Trey Songz and Terrence from 106th and Park, his game reminds us of AI, and he’s from the city of Compton. He’s got the mouth to start ish, and the game to back it up. Be prepared for the Ochocinco of the NBA here folks. Or the second coming of AI, which ever you prefer. Oh and he was callin himself Young Money (i don’t know if he calls himself that anymore) before Lil Wayne, Drake an’ ’em wanted to fuck every girl in the world. Did i mention he spent the pre-draft talking trash about Ricky Rubio? The Bucks are the surprise team of the year (with my beloved Kings flying under the radar), and he’s the main reason.  Young Mooooola, baby!


4. Belichick also went for it on fourth, in case you haven’t heard
In the least hyped game of the year (sarcasm alert!), Belichick went for it on 4th and 2. My take is the guy knows what he’s doin. As much as i loathe Belichick, the guy has 3 rings – why criticize? This is not Eric Mangini we’re talking about here.


5. Carmelo and the Nuggets destroy the Lakers, then the Rockets do too
The Lakers faced their two main foes from last year’s playoffs and lost to them both. First Carmelo and crew absolutely destroyed them on the latter end of a back-to-back. Then, the star-less Rockets pick-and-rolled them apart as well. Suddenly, the Lakers don’t look so invincible in the West.
6. Buzzer Beaters: Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, John Wall
Dwayne broke the Nets’ hearts last night, then tonight Dirk did the same in OT to Young Moola and the Bucks, then John Wall shook off any upset threats from Miami of Ohio and saved Kentucky with a buzzer beater of his own. By the way, keep an eye on Wall, he’s my pick for College Player of the year. Think about it: who’s returning that’s got any clout? Cole Aldridge? Perhaps not even the best player on his own team. Luke Harrangody? Child, please…. Kyle Singler? Great player, not Player of the Year quality. Kalin Lucas? Are you kidding? Willie Warren or Scottie Reynolds would by my pick of the returning class, but this year’s draft sucked the talent pool clean of the returning players. I’d go with Wall #1, with Avery Bradley #2. Going to Kentucky and Texas, they arrive to coaches who know a thing or two about freshman sensations (John Calipari has had Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans the past two seasons, and Rick Barnes had Kevin Durant).


7. The biggest album of the year leaked
Sorry Hov, Slim, and Weezy, but Rih Rih’s comeback is the biggest album of the year. It also leaked sometime Friday night/Saturday morning.  “Hard” is ill with Young Jeezy, and it looks like the next single.  “Rock Star 101” has hit single written all over it as well.  I’m still gathering my opinion on this album and I’ll drop it later.


8. Fiddy called out Jigga, again
The G-Unit/Roc rivalry continued this weekend as 50 Cent jumped on the hook of Beans’ new single and called out JiggaMan at the ending. Not sure where this is goin, or if I even care.

9. ESPN’s College Basketball Marathon just started
….And I’m watchin UCLA tryin to avoid an upset from CS Fullerton (which is a big baseball school, but not much of a hoops school). I’m out, as I attempt to watch as much of this marathon as humanly possible.