Thursday, April 30, 2009

Niners ALMOST turn back the clock...

Making this year’s draft even better – the 49ers unveiled their new jerseys.


While it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, I think it is a definite improvement.


I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, so I will defer to the expert: UniWatch


Here are some pictures:

Draft Reaction – Best Case Scenario.

Well – I kept saying I had a feeling someone interesting would fall to the 49ers – little did I know it would be the best player in the draft.

After months of speculating which non-Michael Crabtree prospect the 49ers should take, he fell in their laps (All thanks to Al Davis-the fruit basket is on the way). I still can’t believe the Raiders let him go – who cares what his 40 time is when he can run away from the other players on the field.

I wish I had video of the reactions in our living room - it would be the number one video on Youtube right now.

This might be the best draft Scot McCloughan has helmed since he got here. Sure, it helped Crabs fell to him at 10, but his other moves were bold. He was able to deal their 2nd and 4th for a 1st rounder next year. I wouldn’t have thought that a good feat, until I realized just how weak this draft is. Last year, DeSean Jackson went 49th overall; would he have fell that far this year?

Anyway, McCloughan was able to get a 1st rounder in a stronger draft, while still picking up an intriguing running back prospect, a middle linebacker who might be able to take over for Takeo, a QB project with great measurables, and a defensive end who looks like a beast.

Hell, they even snagged a few undrafted free agents who could turn some heads.

Kevin Lynch of sfgate.com thinks it was a departure from previous draft strategies, where video tape ruled over combine times, ala Vernon Davis. I tend to agree, considering all these players fell due to mostly off field issues, not production.

Matt Maiocco and Matt Barrows both suggest the team has ammo to pull off a major trade – they both mentioned Julius Peppers, but Maiocco also throws out my man-crush Terrell Suggs, even though I doubt Ozzie Newson allows him to leave Bal’more.

Whatever the outcome, the team is improving, and it’s catching the eyes of the right people. Michael Silver is impressed, and so am I.

I think there is plenty of room for improvement – I don’t see a franchise QB on the roster, and I am worried about the pass rush. But this will be the season to see if Alex Smith is going to deliver on the promise he showed back in 2006, or do we see if Shawn Hill can win as consistently over a full 16 game schedule.

Pushing the Peppers pipe dream aside, I would like to see the team pursue recently cut Travis Laboy, who can provide pass rush standing up or putting his hand on the ground, giving even more depth to the linebacking crew.

Who knows – all seven players drafted could be busts. But I am going to enjoy the good feeling while it lasts – because I have seen bad drafts before (See Donhue, Terry), and I recognized they were bad drafts as they went on, and viola – they were bad. I like being excited about one for a change – I know Raiders fans know what I’m talking about

Friday, April 24, 2009

Mock me HARD!

Ok, I am so horny/cised/jacked up (whatever) for the draft!

I know, I know – it is a weak class – but you never know how things will unfold, and the drama is got me antsy.

I though, just for fun, I would see who the consensus first round picks for the local teams would be, so I scoured the Internet looking at mocks.

Here is what I found:

Clark Judge, CBS sports:
Raiders: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
49ers: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Raiders: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
49ers: Andre Smith, T, Alabama

Chad Ruter, CBS Sports:
Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
49ers: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Rob Rang, CBS Sports:
Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
49ers: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Peter Schrager, FoxSports.com:
Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
49ers: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Todd McShay, ESPN:
Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
49ers: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

Mel Kiper, ESPN:
Raiders: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
49ers: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

http://walterfootball.com/draft2009.php
Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
49ers: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

Don Banks, SI.com:
Raiders: Maclin
49ers: Crabtree

Mr X, Profootballtalk.com:
Raiders: Heyward-Bey
49ers: Oher

So what does all this mean? Well, nothing really, because any/all of these players could be gone by the time our bay area teams make their selections.

I actually take more info from the comments the teams have made in the past few days.

The Raiders are usually pretty tight lipped about their moves, and even though they have a rap sheet for drafting fast guys way too high, I just can’t see them taking Percy Harvin at 7.

Anyone drafting Harvin, for all the ability in the world, has to be cautious about his positive test.

49ers GM Scot McCloughan has made some very interesting comments this week. Originally I thought taking a receiver with the team’s first pick was a long shot, but now after his comments to the bay area media this week, I think anything is possible.

I am still kind of in shock he said the team could draft 2-3 wide receivers, but I think that makes Crabtree and Maclin possibilities with the 10th pick.

I still think it is a long shot the team takes a QB at ten, but I think that Pat White could be a possibility later on in the draft, either him or some late round QB we’ve never heard of. White, Wild Cat or not, intrigues me – he looked like the best QB at the combine.

Whatever happens, there promises to be plenty of intrigue and a surprise or two. Lets just hope the local teams are able to take advantage this year.

P.S. I love mock draft season - as I was writing this, McShay changed his picks:
Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Niners: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas

LETS GO!

Friday, April 17, 2009

When did America go full retard?

I am ready to slap someone.

This division between Americans is getting ridiculous – and it is frustrating.

Let’s start off with this ridiculous Tea Party – has there ever been this much outrage over a tax increase? I tried searching over the internet without much luck.

But here was something I found – what the REAL Boston Tea Party was about. Did you know the Boston tea party (what this protest was mirroring) was over taxation without representation? Who knows that, besides everyone who passed 4th grad US History?

So how are these protestors not represented? We have our own elected officials. The ironic part about this is people’s actions, whether they know it or not, directly reflects the feeling they are not represented in government because the head guy isn’t a whitey. Yes I said it – it might not be the reason every person is protesting, but the symbolism of the act is astounding.

America looks ugly; no wonder people hate us. We are so worried about our own personal wellbeing - people forgot to look out for their neighbor.

The most frustrating part of this whole debacle is the people leading this movement. These are obviously people with plenty of free time on their hands (IE Jobless or without much work to do), and I am assuming they aren’t the people making 251k a year that are sweating these tax hikes. Why someone who makes 40k a year is worried about a millionaire getting taxed more fucking baffles me.

And usually I defend them, but I am going to put part of this on the media. I am usually one to defend media, but the bias is insane. Fixed News, or Fox Noise, (I can’t decide which term of Keith Olbermann’s I like better) seems to just try and fan the flames of hatred, getting people to pay attention to things like whether or not Obama’s dog was a “rescued animal”. Who gives a fuck?!?!? There is empty store front everywhere, signs everywhere that the economy is in trouble, and yet the media needs to focus on where the first family got their pooch. Give me a break.

The problem is that media has just become a launching pad for agendas, rather than presenting real news. Maybe if media outlets were more interested in presenting the facts rather than the BS, so many people wouldn’t be so misinformed about our current economic state.

One thing I have learned is that being progressive, as a person, a company, a community, a country, is very important. We can’t always do things the way they were done in the past. In many ways, we are forward thinking. But then I drive by some shit head with a “NObama” sign with the Kool Aid guy on it, and I just shake my head and wonder when they are going to start requiring IQ tests to register to vote.

Earth to these Americans – having a gun, not giving any money to the less fortunate, being racist and holding an American flag in the air does not make you patriotic. If you want to be a true patriot, look to the future and start doing things that are right for the whole, not just looking out for your slice of the pie.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Mess V. Buster Bluth

I just felt like laughing...


This might be his best ever Halloween costume

You be the judge...

Opening day victory gives reason for optimism.

All spring training when people asked me what I thought of the Giants 2009 version, I was very cautious with the rays of hope I saw – which came in young players forcing the hand of management to let them play.

Needless to say, this team is VASTLY improved from where it was a year ago today.

Opening day was a good sample of why it is OK for fans to get excited. While this squad likely won’t be a playoff contender, it is nice to know that the team can score in more than just one inning, or come back from a deficit. Last year, once the other team got up a couple runs, it was usually time to change the channel.

Another positive is the bullpen. Last year the pen failed the team time and time again. This year, the team has totally revamped the pen, with two vets signed to hold down the late innings, and young guys there to fill the gaps between the starters and the late inning guys. Joe Martinez did a wonderful job, since Tim Lincecum was wild and came out early.

And it isn’t just the production on the field. The Giants farm system was recently ranked the 5th best in the majors. There was a time when cracking the top twenty just wasn’t possible. The team has shown a new vigor and ability to develop players. Last year, the team had old hacks starting all over the infield. Yesterday, the team fielded 4 home grown position players – when was the last time that happened? Did Marvin Benard, Rich Aurilia, Ramon E. Martinez and Doug Mirabelli ever start on the same day?

Sure, there are still plenty of needs. The left side of the infield looks like it will have its challenges defensively, Aaron Rowand may not be built to play center in SF, and the hitters aren’t going to score ten runs a game – but it is all steps in the right direction – hopefully they stay the course.
Plus - it can be nothing but a good omen is Sully is throwing out the first pitch...

50 Posts?

Congrats me - you have written a lot of stuff - to read yourself
At least I have one follower!

Friday, April 3, 2009

When did we become slaves to our cell phones?

Ok – I have had it – we need to put down the cell phones.

I know – I am just as bad as most – I like to text, I talk on the phone in the car (screw bluetooth), I check my e-mail and sports scores on the internet – the 09 cell phone is a laptop in your pocket.

But we have become too cell phone centric. Perfect example – I hit the Bank of America cafeteria the other day, and some guy in front of me was getting all the same things – same food, soda machine, checker – but had to do all of it while he had his effing cell phone lodged between his shoulder and his face.

After I paid for my food, I walked to my table and noticed the offender – sitting at a table alone having a quiet lunch.

Word? Since when did we become a society that can’t let a call go unanswered, can’t pick up and say “hey, I’m trying to pick up lunch, let me call you back when my hands aren’t full”?

The simple answer is Miss Manners would take a chainsaw to our generation – we have absolutely no common courtesy when it comes to cell phone usage in public. Its not just our gen – Barack is addicted to his blackberry!
Well I am putting my foot down – putting it down to loud personal conversation havers on BART, to people who just stop walking in front of you so they can read/send a text, ro just any sort of general rudeness when it comes to cell phones.

And next time I get a call, I’ll try taking my yelling ass outside rather than force my convo upon everyone… it’s a sickness people – one we need to fix!