NBA, bulls, week 9 NFL picks
The above pictures has nothing to do with the Bulls, but I would classify it as “fairly hilarious.”
Here’s a more appropriate one:
Crap, sorry:
Like most other lifetime Bulls fans, my interest in the team went from a peak during the ‘96-‘98 championship years to absolutely nothing from ‘99 until (perhaps) last year. After Jordan “retired” for the second time and Krause broke up the rest of the team, I just didn’t care about the Bulls for a number of years. It was near impossible to maintain interest in a team that had the best and most competitive athlete alive (MJ) one year to a team with a bunch of scrubs for the next 5 years. It would be like going from being married to Jennifer Aniston to learning that you’re the father of Britney’s new kid.
That said, I started following the Bulls more closely last year after they actually started to win with their core of Gordon, Deng, Hinrich, and Wallace. Heck, I even went out to a bar for one of their playoff games (which they lost). Call it a mild interest.
A couple nights ago was the Bulls’ opener, and I managed to catch the 4th quarter and part of overtime (the Bulls ended up losing). And you know who impressed me the most? Stacey King (!), the Bulls’ new color guy (although I think he was their color guy last year too…see how much I watched games last year?). Making up for his disappointing playing days with the Bulls, King does a great job at what he’s supposed to do: point out and give insight on things that casual viewers don’t always notice. Up until this year, the only Bulls broadcasting team that I had ever known was Tom Dore and Johnny ‘Red’ Kerr. Dore is still solid, but man, I think the only reason the Bulls keep Kerr around is for one of the same reasons that the Cubs kept Haray Caray around: fans don’t want the change. In about a 5-minute stretch of basketball, Kerr randomly screamed out about 10 times at the end of plays, and 9 of those didn’t make sense. I’m pretty sure that Dore and King’s job descriptions have the phrase “just ignore what Kerr says”.
As far as the Kobe trade rumors, I believe that the Bulls need to do something to get this guy. As it is, the team isn’t built to win a championship. They have 4 guys who effectively play the same position: Deng, Ty Thomas, Joakim Noah and Joe Smith; and a shooting guard in Ben Gordon who is as erratic as he is sometimes-unstoppable. Why not give up two of the forwards, Gordon, and some draft picks for the best scorer in the NBA? That gives the team at least a chance to take out one of the Western Conference powers.
My prediction for the Bulls sans Kobe: lose in the conference finals to the Pistons.
My prediction for the Bulls with Kobe: lose in the NBA finals to the Spurs in 6.
Onto the week 9 NFL picks. Last week: 10-3. Kenny Fletcher’s best week ever! My only losses involved NFC North teams - see how well I know the Bears’ division? Season: 54-54-8. Whew, back to .500. A handicapper’s goal is to set lines so that people hover right around .500 with their picks. Well, they’re doing a good job.
Washington (-3.5) over NY JETS - ‘Skins rebound past a horrendous Jets team.
Green Bay (+2.5) over KANSAS CITY - I’ve been picking against this team all year, time to change that. Pack continue their very ‘01 Bears-esque season (lucky wins followed by a first round playoff exit).
TAMPA BAY (-3.5) over Arizona - Bucs scored 23 against an impressive Jacksonville D last week.
Carolina (+4) over TENNESSEE - Panthers 4-0 on the road; Vince Young doing his Juice Williams impersonation the past few games.
ATLANTA (-3) over San Fran - One of those “I seriously have to pick this game?” I guess I’ll go with the home team.
NEW ORLEANS (-3.5) over Jacksonville - “Turn it on Again”? Brees doing his best Phil Collins impersonation. Mark my words: Saints will take the NFC South.
DETROIT (-3) over Denver - Broncs lose two in a row to the NFC North.
BUFFALO (PK) over Cincy - Losman/Edwards duo continue to conduct the Bills’ win streak.
San Diego (-7) over MINNESOTA - Having Tarvaris Jackson QB your team should be an automatic (-10) for the opposing team.
Seattle (+1) over CLEVELAND - Seahawks D shuts down the Browns’ high-powered O.
New England (-5.5) over INDY - The biggest regular season game ever!! OMG!! Actually, it is a really big game. I just don’t see the Pats losing this game or the spread, especially because of their penchant for running up the score on teams. Here’s how I justify: the Pats lost by 4 points to essentially the same Colts team, at Indy, in last year’s AFC Championship. The Pats’ biggest weakness was their WR’s, so they went out and picked up Moss, Welker and Stallworth this year, and they’ve been unstoppable. Brady’s 30 TD - 2 INT line just looks slightly better than Manning’s 13 - 3. My prediction: Pats 41, Colts 27; and Brady gets injured because Belicheat leaves him in game for too long. It should be noted that I will be cheering for the Colts, though.
OAKLAND (-3) over Houston - Schaub out, Texans out.
Dallas (-3) over PHILLY - If the Bears can beat the Eagles on the road, the Cowboys sure can too.
Baltimore (+9) over PITTSBURGH - Just because I felt like I picked too many favorites this week.
The Bears have a bye week this week…which pretty much means that they can’t lose.
Hey, at least I’ll be saving $$ this year since I won’t be going out for any Bears playoff games.
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