Observations and Predictions... Week 14 (sunday edition)

Ok, so I already have one loss this week, thanks Steelers. Here is how I think the rest of this week will shake out.

I think my beloved Cowboys will win a shootout against the very capable and surging Chargers. I think the Cowboys will rediscover their running game and ride Barber, Jones and Choice to victory. I have the Saints in a close one over Atlanta. Packers continue their roll over the Bears. Colts beat the Broncos in the equine battle of the week. The Bills pull on out on the road over KC. Vikings in a close defensive battle over the Bengals. Pats over the Panthers. Jets behind Kellen Clemens beat the Bucs. Dolphins beat the Jags in the battle of Florida. Ravens over Detroit. Texans with a big passing day over the Seahawks. Titans ride Johnson to a win over St Louis. Redskins in a close one over the Raiders. Eagles pull one out against the Giants. Cards over the Niners.

Fantasy Picks of the Week
QB-Matt Schaub: With the Texans RB situation in flux I expect Schaub to pass early and often.
WR-Larry Fitzgerald: Big week from Fitzyin a division battle against the Niners.
RB-Chris Johnson: Should have a field day against the weak Rams.
TE-Antonio Gates: I like the matchup against the Cowboys backers who are better rushing the passer then running with athletic tight ends.
DEF-Ravens: Favorable matchup against the banged up Lions.
Special Teams-Saints: I like their return game against the Falcons, as well as Garrett Hartley's big, rested leg.

Observations and Predictions... Week 14 (thursday edition)

Busy at work, no time to blog. Just wanted to go on record and pick the Steelers over the Browns tonight. Big game for Big Ben... also look out for Mike Wallace. I think he can sneak into the end zone.

Iron Art (Kirby)

I'm a huge comic book fan. In fact for most of my life when asked what I wanted to do, I'd reply "I want to be a comic book artist". If you asked me the same question today, I'd say the same thing. Although I'm way to slow to ever truly be a comic artist, it still is a dream of mine.

One of the reasons its a dream of mine is the early Marvel work of Jack 'King" Kirby. He is simply put the godfather of all comic artists. He changed the game with his composition and dynamic poses. Characters jumped off the page and interacted with readers. You would generally see the characters hips cocked toward the reader in a dramatic stance. He also introduced U.S. audiences to speed lines as well as created the oft-copied Kirby bubbles.

When I found this Kirby piece of Iron Man, I instantly knew I wanted to recreate it. Iron Man was not a character commonly associated with Kirby so I was automatically intrigued. Then my co-worked and I spoke about doing a collaboration where he would drop a background and mural on a wall behind Iron Man.

The pencils took me a little over an hour. Inks were about the same. It's a piece I was thrilled with. So thrilled that I put together another Iron Man piece right after it... i'll post a more modern take on the man of iron tomorrow...

Observations and Predictions... Week 13

Last week I went 11-5. The Giants and Pats let me down with a few stinkers. The Steelers lost a gutty close one with a third stringer starting (and playing well... until overtime) against the Ravens.

Performers of the Week
QB-Drew Brees: Went insane against the Pats weak secondary, 371 yards and 5 TDs.
WR-Miles Austin: 145 yards and a TD on a national stage... I wonder if I can turn my 19 Keyshawn jersey into a Austin?
RB-Justin Forsett: Shredded the Rams for 130 and 2 scores.
TE-Antonio Gates: 118 yards and 2 scores as the Chargers took it to the Chiefs.
Defense-Jets: 6 points allowed with 3 sacks, 4 picks and a TD.
Special Teams-Eagles: Strong Akers kicks and great returns by Jackson set up the Eagles all day.

On to Week 13. Cowboys have a tough matchup on the road against the Giants. Jerry Jones didn't help by putting Wade on notice. With all the distractions I think the Cowboys pull one out. Too many injuries on the Giants. I have the Jets over the Bills in Canada. Eagles in a tight one over the Falcons. The Bears beating the Rams. Bengals big over Detroit. Titans in an upset over the Colts. Broncos over Chiefs. Pats big over Dolphins. Steelers over the Raiders. Saints big over the Redskins. Panthers over Bucs. Texans over Jags. Chargers blow out the Browns. Niners over Seahawks. Vikings beat the Cards. PAckers over the Ravens.

Fantasy Picks of the Week
QB-Carson Palmer: Should have a big day against the Lions
WR-Jeremy Maclin: With DeSean Jackson hurting, he could see an increased role in the offense.
RB-Chris Johnson: Look out for the surging Titans. Especially Johnson who should match up nicely both out of the backfield and in the receiving game.
TE-Brent Celek: Coming off his signing an extension, he should have a big week versus ATL.
Defense-Steelers: Nice rebound game against the Raiders.
Special Teams-Bengals: With Scott back on kick duty, he and Graham should do work against the Lions.

Books I Like

So I've written a few "Books We Like" columns for ADW. The section should really be called "Books I Like" as I'm the only person who has reviewed a book so far. I'll be posting a few of these small book reviews over the next few days.


The Yankee Years by Tom Verducci and Joe Torre
A wonderful account of Joe Torre’s dozen years at the helm of the New York Yankees. At heart, the book is about trust and what happens when that trust is broken. Games are recounted in great detail, but the passages I was most drawn to were those on the human elements of the player’s ego and Torre’s deft handling of often explosive situations. The book also offers a rare and unprecendented look into not only the club house (Cone, Jeter, Giambi and Pettitte are some of the current players who speak on the record), but also to the front office (and the changing face of statistical analysis) of the Yankees. This book is a great read for both sports and non-sports fan alike.

Observations and Predictions... Week 12

First off let me say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Especially to my baby boy who is celebrating his first thanksgiving. He's only two and a half months old, and can't have turkey, but we're all thankful he's here.

I went 13-3 last week, special thanks to my bro-in-law for correcting my score from two weeks ago (I was 7-8 instead of 8-7). Those Steelers cost me a ton of money in my suicide pool. Bengals went down to the Raiders. Cowboys barely snuck by the Redskins. Lions and Browns played the game of the week in a high scoring shootout.

Top Performers of the week
QB-Aaron Rodgers: He's been a fantasy stud all year. His performance against the Niners was the norm for this rising star.
WR-Terrell Owens: Finally showed a pulse for Buffalo. almost 200 yards and a score.
RB-Ricky Williams: With Ronnie Brown shelved, Williams lit up the Panthers.
TE-Vernon Davis: Another name becoming a regular among top fantasy performers.
Defense-San Diego: Held the Broncos to 3 points in knocking them from first.
Special Teams-Raiders: Janikowski kick and a big turnover produced by the kickoff team won the game.

Here are the week 12 picks:
Packers big over the Lions. Cowboys big over the Raiders. The Giants in a close one over the Broncos, the only close game of the day. Falcons beat the Bucs. Buffalo pulls one out over the Dolphins. Bengals hold off the Browns. Rams shock the Seahawks. Panthers beat the Jets. Eagles keep the Skins reeling. Colts over the Texans in a shootout. Chargers over the Chiefs in another high scoring game. Niners over the Jags. Surging Titans beat the tough Cards. Vikings beat the Bears. Banged up Steelers win a close one over the Ravens. Pats give the Saints their first loss.

Fantasy picks of the week
QB-Aaron Rodgers: Nice matchup versus Deroit
WR-Reggie Wayne: Should benefit from a Houston shootout.
RB-Adrian Peterson: Always seems to play well against the Bears.
TE-Tony Gonzalez: Seems to have clicked with Ryan, pluse they face the Bucs.
Defense-Green Bay: A decimated Lions team on Thanksgiving shouldnt provide much of a battle.
Special Teams-Vikings: Longwell and Harvin have played well all season.

Fantasy picks of the week

Observations and Predictions... Week 11

Last week wasn't great. It started out poorly with the Bears losing on Thursday night and got worst as the Cowboys lost to the Packers. All in all it was a very average week, 8-7.

Top Performers of the Week
QB-Peyton Manning: He and Brady staged a shoot out Sunday night with MAnning getting the upper hand. 327 yards and 4 scores.
WR-Randy Moss: Back to the Sunday night game for the top WR of the week. Moss was brilliant versus the overmatched and young Colts secondary 179 yards and 2 scores.
RB-Chris Johnson: Ran for and caught for over 100 yards. Toss in two scores as well for a huge day.
TE-Kellen Winslow: Winslow had a second straight strong week with Freeman at the helm.
Special Teams-Bengals: Bengals special teams accounted for all the scores in this upset of the Steelers.
Defense-Ravens: pitched a shut out against the awful Browns.

I think the Panthers should be able to hold off the Dolphins. With Ronnie Brown out, does that mean more PAt White in the Wildcat? Cowboys over the Redskins in a close one. Lions beat the Browns. Packers over the Niners. Steelers (my lock of the week) over the Chiefs. Vikings destroy the Seahawks. Giants over the reeling Falcons. Saints kill the Bucs. Jags run all over Buffalo. Indy in a close one over the Ravens. Cardinals beat the Rams. Chargers upset the struggling Broncos. Bengals destroy the Raiders. Pats beat the Jets. Eagles over the Bears. Titans win their 4th in a row over the Texans.

Fantasy Picks of the Week
QB-Kurt Warner: Should light up his former squad.
WR-Marques Colston: TB secondary has struggled. Look for Brees and Colston to connect.
RB-Maurice Jones Drew: The Bills have struggled against the run. Should be a long day versus the Jags workhorse.
TE-Greg Olsen: Philly struggles with TE's, Olsen should give them fits.
Special Teams-Vikings: Longwell kicks and Harvin returns should help dominate the Seahawks.
Defense-Bengals: Should beat the Raiders silly, after their big win against the Steelers last week.

Top 20 of 2008: Rhino

On of my favorite movies of 2008 also produced one of my favorite toys. Bolt was a wonderful Disney animated film which starred the voices of Miley Cyrus and John Travolta. IT told the story of a canine actor that didn't know he wasn't a real-life superhero. When he thinks Penny is in trouble he escapes the television studio to embark on a real world adventure to rescue Penny. Along the way hijinks ensue as Bolt teams up with Mittens and Rhino.

This particular toy was a plush doll that my daughter got as a Christmas gift for my wife. Rhino proudly sits on our coffee table constantly watching the TV ala his character in the movie.