Week 8: Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams: BREAKDOWN

Well hell!  If defense wins championships, then you can crown the Panthers!

It wasn't exciting.  It wasn't flashy.  But the Carolina Panthers won their 3rd game of the season & their 2nd game in a row against the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 13-10 improving their record to 3-5 on the season.

**WARNING: the word "inconsistent" is abundant in this blog**


OFFENSIVE:

The defense for both teams dominated the game.  Although the Panthers came away with the win the Rams were a big, bad thorn in the offensive side of Carolina.  The Rams' defense was able to sack Cam Newton (cleanly) 6 times & completely shut down the running game.  But Cam still had a decent day for an MVP with 20 of 32 passes being completed for 225 yards & a touchdown.  WR Kelvin Benjamin caught 5 passes for 76 yards while Cam's favorite target, TE Greg Olsen, caught 5 passes for 52 yards & the lone touchdown.

The offensive line did the best they could with 2 starters out but were inconsistent.  Cam got hit too many times & the running attack was non-existent.  But it seemed like when it really mattered they were able to hold up.  We need Oher back at Left Tackle badly.  Mike Remmers is more than capable at Right Tackle but spotty on the left side.  I honestly feel that if Oher comes back healthy & capable that he will solidify a struggling offensive line even if All-Pro center Ryan Kalil needs a few weeks to heal from injury.  If this O-Line can get it together, the entire offense (especially an offense loaded with weapons) will meet their expectations of greatness.  But it all starts up front.

Because of the offensive line issues, Cam Newton's play has been inconsistent as well.  Sometimes Cam throws laser beams that hit receivers in stride.  Other times Newton has trouble completing 10 yard passes to wide open receivers.  Cam's getting pressured, sure, but he's ALWAYS gotten pressured throughout his career & dealt with it accordingly.  Cam is hesitant to scramble & even when he stays in the pocket has offset footwork causing sidearm passes that are 5 yards short, long or out of bounds.  If the QB & MVP of the team is inconsistent, then the whole team is in trouble.  But the look on Cam's face at the end of the game, even in a victory, said a lot.  Newton is very aware, I'm sure, that he could play better & has to if the team will be successful.


DEFENSIVE:

Carolina's defense is definitely making good progression with their core of young DB's, especially at the cornerback position which is comprised entirely of rookies.  Linebackers Luke Kuechly & Thomas Davis are the definite leaders of the team & proved it with their impressive play.  Davis in particular had a huge game with 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble & an interception.  The interception from Davis led to the 3 points that won Carolina the game.

BIG shout out to the defensive line who had a great game after struggling all season.  But, just like last week against the Cardinals, they were able to break down the pocket pressuring the Rams' QB Case Keenum & breaking down the ground attack of Todd Gurley.  Errant throws along with 4 defensive sacks (3 by the D-Line, 2 for Mario Addison alone) & only 59 yards rushing speaks volumes of how the defensive front is starting to get the job done.


THE CLOSER:

Again, like last week, I hate to be negative at all with a win.  But I have to be honest.  I have faith in this Carolina Panthers team to get at least a winning record.  I just think this year's Panthers team is too inconsistent to win big.  They could make the playoffs, but what damage could they really do once & IF they get there?!

I think this season's best case scenario is to make the playoffs with a 10-6 record & maybe win the Wild Card weekend game.  Worst case is obvious & I'm not even going to type the words.  Again, I can't emphasize enough how much I'm trying to stay positive but I'm not going to lie to myself or to you, my readers.  This Carolina Panthers squad is just too unpredictable & INCONSISTENT to win big or even win more than 10 games.


But, hey, that's just my 2cents....


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Week 7 - Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: BREAKDOWN

FINALLY!!!  It took 4 games of terrible to get here, but dammit we're here!

1st thing I have to say is congratulations to longtime, career Panther Thomas Davis with his 1st defensive touchdown in 140 career games.  Hard to believe that was his 1st, but there's a 1st time for everything.

Okay, that said, I have to acknowledge that, even though the Panthers' defense let the Cardinals back into the game, they played lights out for almost the entire 1st half.  8 total sacks on Carson Palmer was the most he's ever taken in his 14 NFL seasons.  Plus the Thomas Davis fumble return for a touchdown on the 1st possession (of the game AND for the Cardinals' offense) put the Panthers up 7-0 & they never looked back.  It was never tied or within 2 possessions except for when the score was 7-0.  That's a huge achievement for a defense that has struggled all season long.

I think the DB's are playing better, but they aren't quite there.  However, with a young core of CB's there is always a learning curve & they are definitely improving weekly.  Speaking of young CB's, it looks like Charlotte has a 2nd generation "L.J." to root for in Leonard Johnson!  That guy provided energy, a sack & a HUGE swat that took away a potential 2-point conversion at the end of the game that would have given the Cardinals a chance to get back within one possession for a tie.

The offensive line went down one more starter (arguably the one we need most) when All-Pro center Ryan Kalil got injured.  But, the "next man up" mentality worked it's magic.  Gino Gradkowski stepped in & it seemed like business as usual with good protection for Cam (who wasn't sacked once) & exceptional run blocking as well.

BIG shout-out to the referees who, aside from one hit at Cam Newton's legs that went unpenalized, gave the Panthers all the right calls & even a few that they probably shouldn't have gotten.  But with the way the season has gone with these refs, the Panthers were due.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY:

All in all, the Carolina Panthers implemented an "old school" gameplan & worked it to perfection.  Hard-nosed running, stifling defense & control at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball led the team to victory.  Jonathan Stewart played lights out & pounded the rock with 25 carries for 95 yards & 2 touchdowns.  Our defense had 2 forced turnovers including the late Kony Ealy interception that sealed the game.  When a defensive end is intercepting passes, it's a good defensive day!

THE CLOSER:

I hate to be negative in any way because, after all, the Panthers finally won.  Today is a day for celebration as the Carolina Panthers snapped a 4 game losing streak & put one more in the win column.  At this point, take them however they come.

However, I still haven't seen this team play consistently, AS A TEAM, 4 quarters of good, solid football.  If they can't go 60 minutes they will not be winning too many more games this season I can guarantee that.

But, I think with the defensive improvements that are already showing & a taste of victory in their mouths, the Panthers might just have a chance at a winning record &, God-willing, a spot in the playoffs.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....


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Them Bye Week Blues...

Sorry folks, it's been awhile & hard to write ANYTHING.  I'm so sick of writing negative Panthers blogs, but here goes another one.  Good news: I'll keep it short.  Bad news: This year's Carolina Panthers team is underwhelming & hard to watch.

After week 6's New Orleans nail-biter, I just gave up.  What more can be said?  When the defense plays well, like the week before against Tampa Bay, the offense is terrible.  Then, the defense let us down after the Panthers' offense racked up 38 points in stunning fashion.  Both games were lost by last second field goals.

Bottomline: this team is bound for a big, fat, disappointing end to the season.  Panther Nation has another 2 months of this team until the season mercifully ends & we can look forward to next season.  All we can hope for as fans is that the Panthers will be bad enough for a top 10 draft pick.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....


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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers: BREAKDOWN

Take a look at what you won't be seeing this year.

No statistics, no numbers, just my opinion; I'm keeping this blog short & bitter:

The Carolina Panthers are a mess.  The whole team from the top down.  From the offense, defense & coaching (including two time NFL Coach of the Year Ron Rivera), we are garbage & one of the worst teams in the league.  Our personnel has improved from last year, so I can't even begin to explain what is going on with the Carolina Panthers; we should be better than we were last year.  But after the Monday Night Football game loss to a now 2-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, it is clear that the Carolina Panthers went from the NFC Champions to the NFC chumps.

I'll stick to the fourth quarter (since the 1st half was uneventful anyway).  The decision to call a play-action pass on a 1st down, 1 yard, goal-line play.  The score was tied 14-14 & a touchdown would've potentially sealed Tampa's fate.  When RUNNING the ball got you to the 1 yard line, you would think 3-in-a-row would make sense.  Instead we tried to be fancy & went for a play-action pass.  BAD PLAY-CALLING!  But on a play where QB Derek Anderson could have & should have thrown the ball away, he threw into double coverage & the ball was intercepted in the endzone after a brilliant drive.  So two boneheaded mistakes (one by Offensive Coordinator Mike Schula & one by Derek Anderson).

Add to that the Panthers' had the Bucs on a 3rd & long with less than 2 minutes to play & Tampa Bay lined up in a formation of only ONE RECEIVER & that ONE RECEIVER caught the ball for a 1st down.  Head Coach Ron Rivera called one of his two timeouts with less than 2 minutes to play on that beauty.  The two timeouts ultimately gave the Buccaneers enough time to score a game-winning field goal as time expired & all I can do is shake my head.

The Panthers are in BIG trouble.  So far, our 1-4 record puts us in special company as one of the league's worst teams.  HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!  How do you go from an elite team to a joke so fast?!  All I know is the Carolina Panthers as an entire organization had better figure it out.

The Panthers are playing in New Orleans this Sunday (another rivalry & NFC South game) so it's not going to get easier to win.  I just can't see us being 2-4 by 5pm on Sunday.  What I can see is a Panthers team that may be able to squeeze out 5 wins all year.  Say goodbye to 2016 & start looking forward to a top ten draft pick & a fresh start next year in 2017.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....


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Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons: BREAKDOWN

Well damn...

Rough start for the Carolina Panthers this season.  Their 1st game was a close loss against the Denver Broncos; so acceptable for a team that made it to the Super Bowl last year & exceeded expectations.  Then, in their 2nd outing, they had a sloppy win against a bad 49ers team.  Last week, in their 3rd game, they laid a giant egg by breaking their 14 home-game winning streak, getting dominated by a depleted Vikings squad.

This week against a division rival, the Atlanta Falcons, wasn't pretty either.

The Panthers spent 3 quarters being manhandled.  At the start of the 4th quarter the score was 34-10, favoring Atlanta.  The only Panthers touchdown scored at that point was by safety Kurt Coleman on an interception return.  Then when the defense for Atlanta was playing prevent, our offense finally got a touchdown.  Following our 1st offensive touchdown our franchise quarterback, team captain & the reigning league MVP Cam Newton was injured on a 2 point conversion.  He was hit with an unnecessary & illegal helmet-to-helmet collision at the goal line when it was clear he was going to score.  Newton was left concussed while the entire Panthers offense erupted on the referees who threw only one flag: an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Panthers.

After Cam was hit by the opposing player's helmet he was taken back to the locker room for the league's concussion protocol.  So at least the Panthers' staff was taking care of our quarterback.  The referees, as usual, did not throw a flag for the hit against Newton which marks the 3rd game this season he has been hit illegally (and dangerously) without repercussion to the opposing team.  I honestly fear that Cam's career will be shortened if these referees don't start protecting him.

Nevertheless, backup quarterback Derek Anderson came in & did more in 11 minutes than Cam Newton did the entire game.  He threw two touchdowns getting us back into the game.  Anderson led the team to almost double their score when he came into the game in just 11 minutes of play.  We kept fighting until various plays, both offensive & defensive, left us defeated by a final score of 48-33.  But we stood by our motto of "Keep Pounding".  We never gave up & it could ignite a fire inside this sleeping giant of a team.

If the clock weren't against us, if Anderson hadn't been "pressing" due to the lack of time, we could have won the game.  But down by 16 points with 11 minutes to go leaves a team in a position where there is a serious sense of urgency to make a play happen.  When you are left with limited choices as far as playcalling & personnel in football, you become one-dimensional & vulnerable.  Big plays happened for both teams, unfortunately, which left us at a stalemate going tit-for-tat on offense & defense.  It was just too little, too late.  But it could give us momentum moving forward in the season.

What To Take Away:

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan looked rejuvenated throwing for 503 yards, 4TD's & 1 INT.  His counterpart, All-Pro wide-receiver Julio Jones had 12 catches for 300 yards & 1TD.  Both set franchise/career records & flirted with the NFL record books as well.  All I could wonder throughout their tandem assault on our defense was why someone on the Panthers coaching staff didn't think to stop having a man coverage scheme on Jones.  Most of the game he was in single-man coverage with a safety over the top.  Obviously, this has to change when we meet them again in Charlotte.

Even though the offense was stagnate throughout the game, I have to blame Cam Newton.  When he was in, he was making errant throws, holding the ball too long in the pocket, & generally making bad decisions.  When his backup Derek Anderson came in, he went 17-23 with 172 yds, 2TD's & 2INT's doubling Newton's touchdowns & surpassing his throwing yards in just 11 minutes.  Anderson's throws were accurate (aside from the last minute interceptions obviously).  The entire game it looked like the Falcons' defense had great coverage.  But accurate throws from Derek Anderson blew that "great" coverage statement out of the water.  If Cam would have been as accurate as Anderson throughout the game, using proper footwork & trusting the pocket, we could have seen a very different game altogether.  But, that will have to wait until we see them later in the season.

Let me make one thing clear: I'm not trashing Cam Newton.  I LOVE Cam.  I think Cam is incredible & a one of a kind talent.  You don't just bench someone like him because he's having a bad game.  However, he may have injured his shoulder significantly right before halftime.  He was visibly wincing & even called a timeout after taking a big hit with less than 2 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter.  Yet he refused to come out of the game.  I know he's tough & doesn't want to quit.  But, with the abuse he takes, he has to realize that he's actually hurting the team if he's not capable of playing to his full potential.  Accepting a situation is not the same as quitting.  If you're hurt, you suck it up.  But, if you're injured, take a seat for God's sake!  Anderson is more than capable as Cam's backup.  Someone on that coaching staff (*cough* Rivera) needs to tell the kid there's no shame in sitting down for a few plays or even the rest of a game if he needs to.

Now, the defense.  We are in serious trouble with these young corners.  AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT JOSH NORMAN!  If you take the time & look at what happened 6 months ago, you will see we placed the franchise tag on him.  He didn't sign the franchise tender because his agent told him not to.  His agent & Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman got into it & Gettleman was forced to release Norman.  Norman IMMEDIATELY fired that agent following his release, hired a new one & signed with the Redskins.  He didn't want to leave & we wanted him to stay.  But, what can you do?!

WITH THAT SAID, these young guys (our secondary) better be learning on the fly or it's going to be a LOOOONG season.  The Panthers' secondary let up 503 yards of passing to 8 different receivers & 300 yards to one guy named Julio Jones who is arguably the best receiver in the league!  It wasn't a surprise that Julio Jones was the guy to watch!  But, as a whole, we let the falcons score touchdowns at will.  Most notably on 3 separate 90, 92, & 99 yard drives.  That should NEVER happen.  Especially to a 3rd ranked defense.  But our All-Pro linebackers were lost at times as well.  Plus the front four didn't get nearly enough pressure on a statuesque quarterback like Matt Ryan which would have at least made him shuffle around in the pocket causing him to make bad throws.  But, again, I have a feeling that will change when we see the Falcons again in Charlotte on Christmas Eve.

The Closer:

One last thing that I have to say about Cam Newton:  If these referees & the NFL as a whole don't start to protect Cam from these illegal helmet-to-helmet hits, his career could end this season.  When one team gets away with it, the next team will do it too because they know they can & will get away with it!  And that's exactly what we're seeing.  No flags on the field, no fines or suspensions off the field.  Something has to be done to correct this or Cam (and I'm not joking) could have serious brain damage, paralysis, etc. before too long.  In the Falcons game, he was clearly across the goal-line when the defender hit him, full speed leading with his helmet.  He just can't keep taking helmet-to-helmet shots like this:

THAT ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THIS:

THE DEFENDER KNOCKED HIMSELF BACKWARD!!!

All I know is that the season is far from over.  We could win 8 straight games & be 9-3 with this team.  I mean, who saw them winning 14 in a row last year?!  I'm not giving up hope.  But we have to get it together.  If we can bring that sense of urgency we showed in the last 11 minutes of play against Atlanta during a 60 minute game, we will win more games than we lose....hell, maybe we'll win the rest of our games with that kind of tenacity.

But, as I said in my blog in July, BEWARE!  Every team in the NFL has us circled on their calendar!  Nobody is fooled by the read-option, they're looking for it.  Nobody thinks Cam Newton is overrated, they know he's the reigning MVP for a reason: he's that damn good!  But they also have a license to kill (right now at least) & they sure as hell don't want him dancing in the endzone!

Our next game is at home in a primetime, Monday Night Football match-up against a storied division rival: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  So we have to come correct.  If the Panthers can take this week's 4th quarter effort into the 1st quarter of every game from here on out, they are all but guaranteed to win.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....


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San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers: BREAKDOWN

The best way to describe the Carolina Panthers high-scoring 46-27 victory: Jekyll & Hyde.

There was a lot to take away from Sunday's game that would make any Panthers fan happy.  But for many of the hardcore fans, it was a disappointing victory.  Sure, we won.  Sure we scored 46 points.  But that was expected against the 49ers.  What wasn't expected was a 2nd play interception, 5 dropped passes, a Ted Ginn Jr. "I'm just going to let the ball touch my leg on a kickoff.  Then I'll stand around & wait for the 49ers to recover on their own 1 yard line", or our defense to let Blaine Gabbert look like Joe Montana.

I'm really trying to put it delicately, so here's my best attempt:  When we play at our best, we are better than what we showed on Sunday.

The 17-10 score at halftime reflected how we reverted back to the John Fox era of playing down to our competition.  The Ron Rivera Panthers do something else.  It's called dictating the pace of every game.  That is what got us to the Super Bowl last season.

Cam Newton gave a speech to his team at halftime that seemed to stoke the fire of the most talented team in football.  Like a true leader, he wouldn't let his team into the locker room until he spoke to them.  That MVP mentality is still there.  Even with a 7 point lead, it seems Cam saw what I saw: A team that was NOT playing their best football.

The 31-10 score halfway through the 3rd quarter was a reflection of that mentality.  We kicked the ball to the 49ers, got a quick 3 and out, then scored a touchdown.  After that, we did it again.  Now THAT is what I am used to seeing this team do.  It was like we played 6 bad quarters just so we could get that way of playing out of our system.  The 2 scores gave us serious momentum & 24 unanswered points.

Then we started brain farting all over the place.

Sloppy defense, bone-headed plays & complacency sunk in & the score was quickly 31-20 with the entire 4th quarter to play.

But we got our groove back & aside from a long touchdown pass due to broken coverage, we played Panther football & shut it down getting the 1st victory of the 2016 season & extending our home winning streak to 14 games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Cam newton threw for 353 yards on 26/40 passes with 4 TD's & one early (2nd play of the game) interception.  Bouncing back from a first throw interception to a "player of the week" performance speaks volumes about the maturity & progression of a young guy like Cam.  The guy is only 26-years-old!  He's still got potential for growth & is likely going to get better folks!  Now that's scary!  He also broke franchise records for most 300-yard passing games & most passing TD's (121) previously held by Jake Delhomme.  Newton also had 6 carries for 37 yards.

3rd year wide-receiver Kelvin Benjamin had some unbelievable catches.  He finished the game with 7 grabs for 108 yards & 2 TD's.  All I can say is welcome back KB!

Veteran tight-end Greg Olsen had the best catch we have seen in a long time with a 78 yard grab for a TD which was also his 50th career touchdown catch.  He finished the game with 5 grabs & 122 yards.

When starting running-back Jonathan Stewart got injured early in the 1st quarter, Fozzy Whitaker stepped in & had the best game of his career!  He finished the game with 16 carries for exactly 100 yards (a career high & also his 1st 100 yard rushing game) plus 3 catches for 31 yards.

On defense, 2nd year linebacker Shaq Thompson recovered a fumble early & ran it for his 1st career touchdown.  That early turnover/touchdown put us up 7-3 & we never looked back.  All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly got tangled up in coverage & beat downfield for a 70+ yard touchdown only to bounce back & get an interception on the 49ers next drive proving why he is the best defensive player in the league.  Plus rookie cornerback James Bradberry got his 1st career interception to close out the game....So welcome to Panther Nation Mr. Bradberry!

What To Take Away:

The Panthers were able to show what they are capable of.  They had 529 yards of total offense which is nothing to shake a stick at.  But if we would have played consistently throughout the game, that number could have been up in the 700 yard range.

Our defense also let a Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers team obtain 302 yards of offense.  Chip Kelly may be their head coach, but we are the best defense in the league.  However, we seemed to get it together, then lose it, then get it together again to finish out the game.

The Carolina Panthers showed glimpses of their capabilities throughout the game on Sunday.  Then they showed glimpses of the mistakes they could easily make.  But, the crazy thing to me is we NEVER lost the lead.  From the time we went up 7-3, we held the lead.  Considering how bad we were at times, that's pretty impressive.

But, if we were playing another team, that probably would not have been the case.  A good team would have seized every opportunity & taken back the lead.  So this team has to be aware of that.  I'm sure coach Rivera is very aware of it & will get these guys firing on all cylinders by next week.  If not, this could be a very long & disappointing season for Panthers fans.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

Click the link below for a YouTube recap of the game:
https://www.youtube.com/Panthers&49ers


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Broncos vs. Panthers: Week 1 BREAKDOWN

Where to begin?

As a Panthers fan, I am obviously disappointed in this loss to the Denver Broncos.  Our last two games ended up being two losses to the same to team.  And with both games being primetime games on top of everything, it's just a bitter pill to swallow.  But I am more disappointed that the game was as close as it was.  I am mostly disappointed with the referees.

With the new "Concussion Protocols" and the NFL commissioner acting like he cares about player's health, we better see some fines for the players & referees after what occurred during the game; a game which the entire country was watching.  The referees, in particular, should be penalized for not protecting Cam Newton after some brutal hits.  There were multiple, illegal, helmet-to-helmet hits that could have left Cam concussed or worse.  If it wasn't a big guy like Cam Newton, if it was an average NFL player, I think in all seriousness someone could have been paralyzed by those hits.  And nobody on that referee crew seemed to care.

The only flag thrown for roughing the passer was negated because as Newton threw the ball, he was hit & the ball did not get back to the line of scrimmage which is, technically, intentional grounding.  So the penalties offset each other.

I honestly think that Cam's career will be shortened if the referees & the NFL in particular doesn't start paying more attention to these hits.  I guess they figure he's so big & strong he can take it.  But that's not right.  Rules are rules.  And I am pissed!

Now, let's get to the actual game:

The Panthers defense had a great game.  They caused 3 turnovers (2 interceptions & 1 fumble) after letting the Broncos offense drive to within their own 30 yard line.  So we basically gave them hope then took the wind out of their sails on 3 separate occasions.  But the offense was only able to get 7 points off of 3 takeaways.  We just didn't capitalize on the opportunities given.

The best drive for the Panthers offense was an 86 yard touchdown drive in the 2nd quarter which ate up about 8 minutes with over 15 plays.  We methodically ran & passed for enough yards on every play to warrant a lot of 3rd downs converted to 1st downs which ended up gaining the Panthers 7 points.  That deflates & wears down defenses.  But after that drive, it seemed like Mike Schula (the Panthers Offensive Coordinator) was too busy patting himself on the back to call the rest of the game because it was our last touchdown scored.

We threw the ball when we should've run, a lot.  One occasion led to a tipped pass & interception by the Broncos.  An interception that quarterback Cam Newton is all too familiar with....One that wasn't his fault.  But on a drive where the run & clock management should've been our weapon of choice, Schula decided to pass on 2nd & 5 which led to a wide receiver letting the ball go through his hands, up in the air & inevitably intercepted within scoring distance for the Broncos.  The score at that point was 17-14, Panthers.

The defense did what they could with such short yards behind them to defend.  But the power running attack was too much as the Broncos went ahead 21-17 with a touchdown run.  A touchdown run which I feel could have been prevented with better playcalling & coaching.

The game was somehow still close although the Carolina Panthers only played one solid half of "Carolina Panthers Football".  We got a field goal drive leaving the score at 21-20 & had a chance to win the game with a last second field goal.  But Graham Gano's kick sailed wide left & we lost the game.

What to take away:

A lot of people want to blame Gano for missing the kick.  But it should have never come to that.  We went in to the half with a 17-7 lead & let the reigning Super Bowl champion Broncos back into the game.  It was a mix of bad play-calling & lazy plays on both sides.

The offensive line was phenomenal for 3 quarters.  When we went down 21-17, they crumbled & let Cam get hit a lot.  The defense was up & down, but mostly up.  We were just too inconsistent.

In an earlier blog I wrote, I already said that this season was not going to go well if we don't play four quarters.  Last season's Super Bowl team went 15-1 through the regular season but at least half of the wins were games where the Panthers were up by 3 scores & let their opponents back into the game winning only by a slim margin.  WE CAN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR!

If we expect to win a Super Bowl or even make the playoffs, we have to play four quarters of good football!  Not just one half, not 3 quarters.  Every single game, from here on out, the Panthers must play 60 minutes of their best football in order to win.  Everybody knows how good we are & have us marked on their calendar.  They want to beat us if nobody else.  Especially with our MVP Cam Newton making flashy plays, dancing in the endzone & on 1st downs.

Not for nothing, but our newly acquired punter Andy Lee had a great debut setting a Carolina Panthers record for the longest punt with a 78 yard boot.  Also, Kelvin Benjamin had 6 grabs for 91 yards & a touchdown in his return from an ACL tear which left him sitting on the bench all of last season.  And tight-end Greg Olsen made some clutch, 3rd down catches that kept drives going.

Also, "Superman" Cam Newton had 248 total yards including a passing & rushing touchdown.  He also broke Steve Young's record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 44.  He also broke the record for having the most games with a passing AND a rushing touchdown in the same game.  Cam is still very young, not even in his prime.  So that number could easily hit 100 before he retires from football.

Final Analysis:

Look, I'm not hitting any panic buttons.  We have 10 days to prepare for the home opener & we are playing the 49ers.  In those 10 days, our two-time NFL Coach of the Year Ron Rivera will get this team ready to move forward & win games.  They will learn from their mistakes.  I feel that this close loss was actually better than if we would have gotten a close win.  A close win would not place a sense of urgency into this team.  But a close loss which we should have won will officially put a big chip on the entire team's shoulders.

BUT!  If we lose to the 49ers, close or not, start worrying!  Hit ALL the panic buttons you can find!  With a 10 day rest & preparation time frame, we better come correct or this season is going to be long & hard to watch for Panthers fans.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

It started like this!

It ended like this...

The UFC202 Main Event was a bout between two elite fighters who absolutely despised each other.  Nate Diaz (pictured on the right above/left below) was set to fight the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor (Pictured on the left above/right below) for the 2nd time in a much anticipated rematch.  Diaz beat McGregor, much to the surprise to UFC & MMA fans, in their 1st bout at UFC196 in which McGregor was submitted by a rear naked choke.  The loss was McGregor's 1st defeat in the UFC.

Luckily for McGregor, it was a Catchweight bout at 170lbs. so he didn't lose his Featherweight (145lb.) Title.  The rematch at UFC202 was set for 170lbs. as well leaving the Featherweight Title out of the picture.

The lead-up to the fight was entertaining all by itself.  Both Diaz & McGregor are trash talking machines so, needless to say, the words were flying for months.  Then at the pre-fight press conference, the two fighters sent water bottles flying at each other as well.  McGregor insisted that Nate Diaz got lucky & "won the lotto" in their 1st fight so he was looking to avenge his loss in a big bad way.  But nobody could have predicted the fight that would come.

Nate Diaz & Conor McGregor spent 5 rounds (25 minutes) in a bloody, knockdown filled, adrenaline fueled fight that brought out the best in both fighters.  Strikes were thrown by each fighter on multiple occasions that would have ended any other fight.  But both fighters had too much heart to quit or accept defeat unless they had been declared clinically dead.  By the end of the fight, disdain turned into a mutual respect for one another.

In the end, everyone who saw the fight knew one thing: these two fighters were destined to fight each other.  They were made for each other much like Ali & Frazier.  By the end of the Main Event, the two fighters knew it, the whole world knew it, and the sport of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gained a few thousand more fans.  A lot of people who grew up with boxing were on the fence about MMA until they saw this fight.  Now ESPN analysts & hardcore boxing fans are starting to pay attention because this fight that played out like the 1st "Rocky" movie.

When all was said & done, McGregor fell over from exhaustion & Diaz came over to give him help up.  Hand extended, Diaz picked up his opponent who was breathing heavily on the mat & gave the man who made his face look like shredded steak a handshake with a hug.  That's called RESPECT!

Notice that I never told you who won the fight?!  It's because it doesn't matter.  (For those that REALLY care, Conor McGregor won by unanimous decision with 3 judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47, & 47-47.  A lot of people still dispute the decision with some saying Diaz should have won the fight.  Most said it should have been a draw.  But, as I said before, much like "Rocky" it didn't really matter who won.)  What does matter is this:

Two guys started out hating each other intensely, wanted to kill each other.  But, at the end of all the drama, all the fighting, all the threats, ended up respecting each other by doing what they do best.  A lesson can be learned here.

Now, unless you are a professional fighter, I don't suggest/promote fighting or violence to solve your problems.  However, I do think that if these two could find respect for one another, anyone can.  But you got to do what they did by stepping up bravely & exhausting yourself to work toward a resolve....if you really want to.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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Still Trippin'

The Rams football franchise spent 20 years in St. Louis, MO where they won a Super Bowl with Hall of Fame players like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Issac Bruce & were given the moniker of "The Greatest Show on Turf".  However, before the move to St. Louis, they were a longtime L.A. franchise with Hall of Fame players like the great Eric Dickerson.

So I don't know why it's weird to me they moved back to their original city.

Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities in the United States.  But they have been without a professional football team for a long time.  They have two NBA teams, two MLB teams, an NHL & MLS team, but went years without a team that participates in the USA's most popular sport: football.  I understand the move back home.  I also remember when the Rams were in L.A. & how passionate their fanbase is.  But at the same time, I don't know if it's passion or status that Los Angeles is really longing for by getting the Rams & professional football back to their city.

Since I live in Charlotte, NC I know what it's like to have a team you love move to another city.  The Hornets franchise moved on us to New Orleans.  I also know what it's like to have that team return, the excitement in the air that feels like a hurricane of adrenaline surrounding the city.  So I get it.  But for us, it's still in the air.  I don't know if it will be the same for L.A.

If the Rams suck, they have basketball AND hockey season to look forward to (we all know the Lakers & Clippers are perennial playoff favorites for basketball and the Kings are always a good bet to make the playoffs in hockey) .  If that's a dead-end for some reason, then baseball is right around the corner.  And now that the Rams are back, if the Dodgers or Angels (both top notch, playoff caliber teams as well) aren't making any noise in the playoffs, then the WHOLE cycle starts again with football season.  Must be nice.

When the Hornets left Charlotte, all we had was a minor league baseball & hockey team plus a professional football team left.  So our loss was greater.  Not to discount the gain for the true fans of L.A. that are pictured here:

But, to be honest, I don't think these fans will stay this passionate especially if their team doesn't win consistently.  From my understanding most L.A. fans are fair-weather at best.  They show up in the 3rd inning & leave during the 7th inning at Dodger games.  They expect championships from the Lakers every year and have Hollywood's elite sitting courtside.  So I guess it's hard for me to take pity on a general fanbase that probably doesn't have the passion that a mid-west fanbase has.

St. Louis still has an MLB team & an NHL team (which is finally doing well) but now their football team is gone.  The worst part is, they are loyal to their core.  To have their team go from greatness, then mediocrity, and finally move cities is kind of rough.  I feel bad for the hardcore St. Louis fans.

I know I would lose my mind if the Carolina Panthers left Charlotte, let alone the North/South Carolina region.  L.A. is also rumored to get the Chargers franchise from San Diego next season (which also blows my mind) and the Raiders are said to be on their way to Las Vegas as well.

It's not that I don't like change, I just don't like when loyal fans get robbed of something they love.  This feels like when the Baltimore Colts were ripped away & set-up in Indianapolis.  Then the Browns were stolen from the (in my opinion) most loyal fans in any city, Cleveland, Ohio.  Then, after decades of stagnation, won a Super Bowl in their new city under a new team name ( The Baltimore Ravens) & all the while the same owner was in control of the team.

Those situations were more due to greed though.  This Rams move definitely has a "homecoming" vibe coming from it, not greed.  But it's still just weird.  When I hear the Rams, I think St. Louis.  But if the Chargers & Raiders franchises move too I will probably think of San Diego & Oakland 1st as well.  I don't know.  What I do know is the Rams will kick off their season as the "Los Angeles Rams" this Monday night & they have a fanbase that can't wait.

But I just don't think that a city like L.A. can appreciate what they have.  They already take their other 6 major professional teams for granted.  They act as if going to a game is like going to Disneyland instead of acting like it's their duty as fans to support their team.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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This Is Why Politics & Sports Don't Mix!!

Okay.  Being that I know soldiers, I know actual oppressed people, and I had two grandfathers fight in World War II to preserve America & all the things it stands for/offers to people, I HAD to say something.  I have contemplated all weekend whether or not to write about it because I don't write about political things.  But I wrote about HB2 & the All-Star Game being pulled from our city, so here it goes:

Regarding the Colin Kaepernick situation from the American Flag, disrespecting our country, ignoring/sitting during the singing of our National Anthem, refusing to acknowledge the country that gives him & others the opportunity to make millions while playing a game situation.....THIS IS WHY I DON'T TALK ABOUT POLITICS!

Sports are supposed to take our minds off of real world problems! That's the beauty of sports!  I don't watch ESPN for the activism, I'll leave that business to CNN.  If he did something during the off-season, fine.  If you're a politician or activist, great.  But why during a game?!

MY personal opinion is that Kaepernick's career hit a dead-end after one season, he rides the bench & this act of stupidity was the only way he could or would get his name out there.  He can't play well anymore, so this was all he had.  The guy makes MILLIONS & all he has to do is show up to games & sit on a bench.

In what other country is that possible?!

Yet he chose to stand against our great country while he takes advantage of all of it's opportunities.  He also simultaneously (maybe inadvertently, I'll give him that) took advantage of ALL the victims & the truly oppressed people that have actual problems by acting as though he knows what it's like just to make a publicity move.

That's all it was, people, a publicity stunt!!

I'm sure Kaepernick thought he was doing something bold & making a statement, but what he did wasn't helpful.  It was just offensive.  If he wants to help, donate some of those millions to the families of the victims he "stands for", but don't disrespect a country that gives you the opportunity to make an honest living, be on magazine covers, get paid for wearing Beats headphones while drinking Gatorade, etc.

I've tried to understand it, but it's impossible to see a good thing from his actions.  If you want to make a statement or take a stand, then why not do it in game 1 of the preseason?  Why not during his Super Bowl appearance?  I'll tell you why: because he found out that he'll be spending another season on the bench & wanted attention.  So he did something childish.  And, like any child does, he did something dumb to get attention.

For videos & explanations from Kaepernick & the 49ers organization, click the link below:

NFL.com/colin-kaepernick-explains-why-he-sat-during-national-anthem

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Olympic Gold Medals Or NBA Titles....Which Is More Important?

Since the US Men's National Basketball Team recently won their 3rd straight Olympic Gold medal in Rio, an NBA superstar named Carmelo Anthony became the 1st player in Olympic basketball history to win three Gold Medals.  Since Carmelo Anthony, or Melo, has never won an NBA title, everyone has asked which is more important: An NBA Title or an Olympic Gold Medal?

I like to take all arguments & comparisons to their core.  So let's break it down.

First and foremost, in the Olympics you represent your country & compete against other countries to see who has the best team & players on the planet.  In the NBA, there are franchises that give money to players to join their team.  So the 1st thing to point out is that playing in the Olympics is about pride.  Playing in the NBA is about a paycheck.

The NBA is a basketball organization, albeit with foreign players, that is based in America.  The Olympic Games are played on a global scale (as far as competition) usually on neutral ground.  Also, Olympic teams have tryouts and only the best players can represent their country.  The NBA selects their teams based on salary capabilities & their ability to get available players.  So, in my mind, the Olympic level is more selective & exclusive.

There are at least five players in my lifetime who deserved to win an NBA Title who didn't.  They did, however, win Olympic Gold medals during their careers.  So I would have to say the Olympics mean more as far as a career achievement than an NBA Title.  But the recent 2016 Summer Olympics, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had one player representing the USA that has won both now: Kyrie Erving.  This is what he has to say:

Interesting.  Straight from the horse's mouth.  However Kyrie Erving has won an NBA Title (including Finals MVP) & an Olympic Gold Medal in the last 6 months.  Maybe the exclusivity is lost on him.  Maybe not.  His 2016 Olympic teammate DeAndre Jordan has not yet won an NBA Title.  Let's hear his opinion:

Is it because Jordan hasn't won an NBA Title that he said that?  You be the judge.

However, I have to stand by my argument. The selectivity & rarity of Olympic Gold (given every four years to the best country in the world) as opposed to an NBA Title (given to the best team every year in one organization) should speak for itself.  The key word I consider is "exclusive".  There are many bench warmers who have NBA Titles & Hall of Fame players that don't.  But ALL the Hall of Fame players from the NBA that have participated in the Olympics have an Olympic Gold Medal.

This is really a tough call & there are no wrong answers.  I simply have my opinions & I stand by them.  Despite Kyrie Erving's opinions,  I think pride beats money every time or why would these players play in the Olympics at all?  However, I encourage you to be the judge & leave your comments below.

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Carolina Panthers vs. Tennessee Titans: BREAKDOWN

Big play offense. Ball hawking defense. Carolina Panthers football is back!

After the 1st preseason game against the Ravens, the Panthers looked unimpressive at best. But the thing to keep in mind is that the 1st team offense and defense only played for 2 drives. So we did not get a look at what the Panthers would bring to the table as a regular season team. But against the Titans, we did.

QB Cam Newton only played for 1 and a half quarters but did some damage in 20 minutes and showed his progression as an NFL quarterback. On the team's 1st drive, Newton connected with speedy WR Ted Ginn Jr. for a 61 yd. touchdown putting the Panthers up 7-0 early. Throughout his 20 minutes of play, Newton did not look to run (which we will see more of in the regular season, I’m sure) but instead held himself in the pocket as long as possible while looking for open receivers downfield. Basically, he took advantage of what the preseason is for: a warm-up.

Then, the defenses’ 1st drive let the Titans' 1st team offense drive to the Carolina 30yd line only to have a pass intercepted by 2nd year CB Bene Benwikere. Thomas Davis Sr. & Luke Kuechly looked impressive as always, but the young cornerbacks looked especially sharp as did the defensive line. In the last two minutes of the 2nd quarter, rookie CB Zack Sanchez intercepted a pass as well showing the potential of a young secondary that the Panthers are relying on to be dependable this season.  The defense finished the game with 3 turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 fumble) leading to 10 points.

What really stood out to me was Cam. At one point, showing his 5th year maturity and MVP status, QB Cam Newton went for a 3rd down scramble that came up short due to a rough tackle. 3rd year, Pro-Bowl G Tre Turner wanted to go after the tackler to protect his QB during a preseason game that ultimately didn't matter.  But Cam knew better.  He pulled his G away from the tackler and said to Turner “Come on, man".  Now that’s a leader.

The things to take away are this: Our starters are impressive to say the least. Both the offense & defense made big plays on their 1st drives, respectively, and showed the Carolina Panthers fans what to look forward to this year. Another thing to take away from the game is this young secondary led by veteran safety Kurt Coleman is aggressive, motivated & only getting better.  The last thing is that our back-up players seem to have a high IQ.  They learned from the 1st game which should add depth in case of injury later this season.

The Panthers ultimately won the team’s 2nd preseason game 26-16 with the starters only playing for about a third of the game. But when the starters were playing, the Panthers jumped to an early 10-0 lead and never looked back. Looking good and looking to complete a mission they came up short on last season: Winning the Super Bowl.  BLACK & BLUE!!!

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21 Would Be 82...

Hall of Fame slugger Roberto Clemente died almost 44 years ago on New Year's Eve, 1972. You probably already know a lot of the background. Clemente was killed with four others in a plane crash as they tried to get food and other supplies from his native Puerto Rico to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. He was just 38 years old and finished with exactly 3,000 hits in his Major League Baseball career.

Clemente's premature death is the equivalent to "Day the Music Died" for baseball fans. Even if you didn't have a chance to see Clemente play, it chokes you up. It certainly makes you wonder what might have been, if he had lived. The Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period — something previously done only for Lou Gehrig — and Clemente was admitted to Cooperstown the summer following his death. Being the first big baseball star from Latin America, Clemente is considered a Jackie Robinson-type figure to many Latino players today.

But did you also know that Neil Walker, the former Pirates second baseman now playing for the New York Mets, might not be here today if not for Clemente?

Among those interviewed in the video below — along with the likes of countryman Orlando Cepeda and teammate Steve Blass — was Tom Walker, a friend of Clemente who played with him in winter ball and who wanted to help Clemente get supplies to Nicaragua on New Year's Eve 1972.  This is his statement made following the 40th anniversary of Clemente's death:

"Forty years later, I think of a man that, probably, saved my life," Tom Walker said. "He said, ‘No, you need to go back and enjoy the evening.’ And I can’t help but think about that now. I’ve had four wonderful children and, it turns out that one of them is the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And if you look at the right-field wall (at PNC Park), it’s the Clemente Wall. It’s got his number, 21, and I’m sure that my son Neil comes out of the dugout and goes out to second base … he’s got to see that wall everyday."


Neil Walker commented on this link during the 2012 season.

Tom Walker had been a 23-year-old rookie with the Montreal Expos the year Clemente died. He pitched for three other teams — the Angels, Cardinals and Tigers — over parts of six seasons. By 1978, his baseball career was over.

But in 1985, he and his wife welcomed Neil Walker into the world. And, as Tom Walker mentioned, they had three other kids as well — all people that wouldn't have been here if Clemente accepted Tom Walker's offer on New Year's Eve 1972.

Roberto Clemente is a hero to many and broke the mold for Hispanic and Latin American Major League Baseball players. With out Clemente, we would not have David Ortiz, Melky Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, and the list goes on throughout the list of All-Stars that Roberto paved the way for. And they know it. His number was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and will soon be retired by Major League Baseball, I'm sure. The rebuilt stadium for the Pirates, PNC Park, features a 21 foot wall in right field (Roberto Clemente's position) to honor him. All I can say is thank you Roberto for teaching us this:

I know that Roberto would be happy that an '86 kid, like me, knows who he is as a person first and not a player.  You're legacy lives on 21.  Here's the most crazy sentence I may ever write:  Happy Birthday and R.I.P. Roberto Clemente.

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BIG OLYMPIC SHOCK!!

WOW!  Brazil's Women's Beach Volleyball team pulled off a huge upset by beating the US team in straight sets.  Kerri Walsh Jennings & April Ross were the undeniable favorites to win Gold in the event going into Rio.  But Brazil had other plans as Barbara Seixas & Agatha Bednarczuk beat the US Team in stunning fashion.  Now Brazil's team is the undeniable favorite going into the Gold medal match.

The most debilitating statistic for the U.S team is that their loss to Brazil in the semi-finals match was Kerri Walsh Jennings' 1st Olympic loss.  She had a 26-0 Olympic record going into the match against the Brazilian team.  Now that record has a blemish.  But nobody is perfect.  Walsh Jennings hinted at retirement before the Olympics started.  With this loss, however, we may see her in Tokyo after all.

An Olympic Bronze Medal is nothing to shake a stick at though.  But with her perfect record gone, Kerri Walsh Jennings must be in total shock right now.  I hope the loss doesn't carry over into the Bronze Medal match.  Her teammate April Ross will be ready no matter what.  But that first Olympic loss has to be a bitter pill to swallow for Walsh Jennings.

I knew all day that the USA vs. Brazil match would be THE event to watch.  It sure delivered too.  Both sets were very close.  The intensity was incredible to watch especially if you were rooting for the US team.  But the better team won.  Since the Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro, it's only fitting that the home team gets a shot at a Gold medal, especially in upset fashion.


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The Greatest American Athlete? YES!!

What more can be said about Michael Phelps?  He is, by far, the greatest American athlete that has ever lived.  From the age of 15 until the age of 31, he made more marks in Summer Olympic history than anyone else on the planet.  He competed in 5 Summer Olympic events.  He won more medals than anyone in history.  He IS history, a living legend.  With August 13th, 2016 being his potential last appearance in Olympic events, let's recap some of the standout statistics from Phelps with an illustration:

 Need a little more? Here you go: 

From bottom to top:

• 2 Bronze, 6 Gold, totaling 8 Olympic Medals from the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece (He broke 2 World Records and 3 Olympic Records)
• 8 Gold Medals from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China (He broke 7 World records and 1 Olympic Record)
• 2 Silver and 4 Gold Medals from the 2012 Olympics in London, England
• 1 Silver and 5 Gold Medals from 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (He broke an Olympic Record)

Now that is crazy, insane, bananas, etc.  Call it what you will, the point is: Michael Phelps is the greatest athlete to compete in any sporting event, PERIOD!  If his swimming career is over after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, then he will go down in history with these record breaking statistics as well:

• He broke Leonidas of Rhodes' record set in 152 B.C. of winning Gold in 12 individual titles at the Olympics.  Phelps won 13 individual events for Olympic Gold Medals.
• He reached the finals in 30 Olympic Events earning 28 Olympic Medals in those finals.
• His 28 Olympic Medals and 23 Gold Medals are an Olympic record.
• He's the 1st Olympian to earn an Olympic Gold Medal in 4 straight Olympic Games.
• The 23 Gold medals he has are 14 more than anyone else has won.
• Phelps broke Mark Spitz's record for most Gold Medals in a single Olympic event in 2008 with 8 1st place finishes to Spitz's 7.
• Michael Phelps has won more Gold Medals (23) than over 100 countries and would be the 32nd ranked country (if Phelps was a country) among all-time Gold Medal winners.

Need anything else?!  Now that's what I call G.O.A.T. status.  When you can boast those stats and start a country, I mean come on!  However, Yahoo Sports writer Frank Schwab thinks that he is NOT the greatest American athlete of all time.  Schwab says it's because athletes like Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice and Babe Ruth all had to play their respective sports against some kind of defense.  Schwab also hinted that there is no defense for Michael Phelps in the sport of swimming.

Now let me tell you what I would say to Schwab if he were standing in front of me: 

1. I would tell him that he is simply a journalist that refuses to acknowledge the greatness he just witnessed and his defense argument is weak, at best.  
2. He was reaching, clawing for a way to write a negative article disputing what every American already knows: Michael Phelps just made WORLD sports history, not just American.
3. That he was writing a fluff piece just to get his name out there as "The Guy That Disputed Phelps".  

What about the other swimmers in the pool?  They swim beside him, gaining on him, which makes him swim harder, right?  Well if I was playing football as Jerry Rice and the DB was right beside me, I would run a little faster to gain an advantage and catch the ball, right?  And, in comparison, the catching of a football is the same as the stride of a swimmer: both must be perfect in order to complete your goal.  That, to me, is playing against defense.

The same thing can be said about Michael Jordan and playing basketball.  He would have to dribble up the court faster to beat his opponent and making the shot is the same as the stride of a swimmer and the catching of a football by comparison, right?  I'm not even going to acknowledge that baseball has a "defensive" aspect if you're Babe Ruth swinging a bat.  It is only if your team is playing defense, if you are the defenseman, that there is defense in baseball.  Nobody has ever tried to swat a baseball away from a batter. (Last time I checked anyway)  Frank Schwab's argument is soft.  It's fluffy and has no weight.  It's a dust-in-the-wind statement made toward the greatest American athlete, or world athlete, we may see for another 2,000 years.  Click here for a link to his "story" if you want to hear him out:   sports.yahoo.com/news/the-biggest-reason-michael-phelps-is-not-the-greatest-athlete-ever-171803346.html

People, we have just witnessed history, make no mistake about it.  We will be telling our children, our grandchildren and maybe even our great-grandchildren (if we're lucky) about Michael Phelps and how we watched him perform live.  How we watched him break the records he broke for over a decade.  How we watched him represent the United States of America in a foreign land and get a standing ovation from the crowd while he received his last Gold Medal.  

After standing on the podium for the last time, he was quoted, saying "My swimming career might be over, but I have the future ahead of me."  If this is the end of his swimming career, I say to the American icon named Michael Phelps God bless and have a fun ride.  Life is short, but your legacy lives forever despite what the Frank Schwab's in the world might say.  Above all, I say thank you for one more Olympic outing that rewrote history and made the world drop its jaw in respect.  And thank you Michael Phelps for showing the world that an American was the best.

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Who's The Better Fielder?

A shock was given to the sports world when Prince Fielder, son of the legendary Cecil Fielder, had to retire suddenly on August 10th, 2016 because of injury.  Considering he was the MLB's "Iron Man" at one point, playing in 547 consecutive games, it is almost ironic (no pun intended) Prince Fielder had a great career cut short like that.  Prince Fielder only played 12 seasons and could have done a lot more in his baseball career.  He was well on his way to hitting the coveted 500 home run mark and could have won a World Series ring at some point.  But, that will never happen now.

So now the comparisons between father and son begin:

Both Cecil and Prince Fielder were known for their burly physique and hitting power.  Both players were home run machines.  They also made their career marks in the MLB playing for the Detroit Tigers (For Cecil, professionally and Prince, financially).  They even shared the same positions at 1st base and as designated hitters.

In 1990, in his 5th season and playing as a Detroit Tiger, Cecil Fielder was the 1st player to hit 50 home runs in a season since George Foster did it for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.  Prince, however, did it three years into his career.

Prince Fielder made MLB history by being the 1st player to win the Home Run Derby as a National and American League MVP.  Also, he was only the 3rd player to win it more than once.  His father Cecil never won an MVP and never won a Home Run Derby either.  Prince was also a 6x All-Star while his father Cecil was a 3x All-Star, half of his son's number of appearances.

The biggest difference to me is the fact that Cecil Fielder won The World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996.  While Prince Fielder went to the World Series in 2012 as a Detroit Tiger, they never won a game and he only went 1-14 at bat.  To me, championships are the ONLY thing that matter in any sport; they are the best statistic you can have.  As far as individual statistics go, Prince was better than his father Cecil.  But Cecil has a championship.  This is why I am torn.

Take a look at the images below and you will see a very uncanny and even spooky resemblance to each player's career statistics.  Judge for yourself then comment below (at the bottom of the page).  I can't make up my mind.  They were both great ballplayers and I think Prince would have been better if he got to play longer.  But, as it stands, I really can't say.  They're both great.

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