The Starting Five

Just something I’m throwing out there because of all the coaching vacancies lately. Grambling St. was the first school I knew about. Yes, there was a house full of my Pop’s boys checking out USC and the Juice, but I was just a little lad and was appreciative to be hanging out with the fellas so I was excited only when the fellas screamed “Go Juice!”. Eddie Robinson affected me in another way during my formative years. He was more than a coach. He was a soul of legend who instilled everything missing in the mind of today’s man. I wanted to play for him and took it to heart when he passed…hard. 200 of his players went on to play in the NFL. Crazy number considering Grambling was a 1-AA team. He owned a record of 408–165–15 during his 56 years coaching at the only school he ever loved.

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Do you remember this dunk and everything in San Antonio sick with it? It’s not usual a man gets to exact revenge on one he so idolized as a high school player years before only to get dissed the first time he meets him. Karma…hmmm. Which gets me to wonder…Who would you dunk on? Visions of sugarplums huh? Anyway, anyway, somehow, someway Blake Griffin should have been named a starter in some sort of secret balloted, fan gimme gimme, he’s gonna dunk on your whole family for all to see, type joint. (Whatcha gonna do Black Ice?) Griffin, who reminds me of The Thing, is absolutely super strato but I have to agree with what Chuck said last night that he’s not a rookie. Anyone who has the op to lift weights in a professional sports facility for a year and sit on an NBA bench for a year would be a fool to not soak up everything soul rock and still be on the clock. Ok, ok…to the voting…Fans got most of these right but of course Yao Ming’s NBA ghost continues to chew up votes in an alarming  but somehow almost extinct rate. Voting breakdown and Tracy Morgan’s TNT moment not so good close the piece.

Presented by AutoTrader.com

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After two great Conference Championship games, it all boils down to the Packers in Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. The most compelling story this week has been Jay Cutler mailing it in during the NFC Championship Game and the fallout from players like Deion Sanders and Darnell Dockett. Even more compelling was Cutler’s behavior on the sideline basically refusing to give third stringer Caleb Haine any input on what he was facing out on the field. Also, Carson Palmer wants out of Cincy and more…

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One thing Evan Turner will take from his rookie season is his play against the Phoenix Suns. Turner continued his steady progression as he was a key contributor along with Thaddeus Young off the bench in the Sixers 105-95 victory over the Suns last night.

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I’ll admit Rex Ryan is far from the court jester that some of us (myself included) made him out to be. For all of the talk that he’s done, his New York Jets have cashed the checks that his mouth has written. He’s taken out Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in successive weeks. Today they go after Big Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In my opinion Mike Tomlin has done the most impressive coaching job this season. As Roethlisberger served a four-game suspension the Steelers went 3-1 during that stretch. The Steelers fought tooth and nail with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title and finally disposed of their arch nemesis in last week’s Divisional Round. In Week 15 the Jets came into Heinz Field and handled the Steelers 22-17.

What gives today?

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The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is one that helped to shape the NFL in the days of George Halas and Vince Lombardi, while both teams faced dry spells in the 1970′s – the Bears would emerge in the mid ’80′s to claim their only Super Bowl title. The 90′s saw the Packers - while winning only one Super Bowl in the decade returned to prominence as a force in the NFL.

These two teams have previously met 182 times, but none will be as important as today’s meeting which holds the right to play in the Super Bowl.

And for the trophy that bears Lombardi’s name.

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This Sunday at the New Alhambra Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., the Chikara Pro wrestling circuit begins its 10th season with a stacked card.  I hope all of you in the greater Philadelphia area would go right now to Chikarapro.com and order tickets.

Why you ask? Because I’ll be there. You can see me, holler at me for some column I wrote that you didn’t like, and have a free cupcake. I’ll be making some. 

Should AFL and NFL Championships prior to 1967 (Super Bowl I – the game was still considered the AFL – NFL World Championship Game until after the 1970 merger) carry the same weight as a Super Bowl victory in today’s NFL.

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With another great weekend of football in the books, there were also some movings and shakings throughout the NFL. We’ll take a look at a few of those moves as well as the Conference Championship games on tap for Sunday.

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Maybe I’ll get one right this weekend. Here’s my look at the New York Jets/New England Patriots rubbermatch.

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It’s a good thing that my predictions are made with Monopoly money on the table or Luca Brasi would be paying me a visit. The final two tickets to Championship Sunday will be punched today. Let’s look at the first meeting today between the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.

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In 2011 - and to a lesser extent in 2010, there was only one fight that garnered any serious attention with mainstream boxing fans. It was Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao. And to be honest, it’s STILL the only fight that mainstream fans care about. But if you’re a hardcore boxing fan like me there are more. And the first one of the year is Devon Alexander vs Timothy Bradley.  Also, if you’re like me, this reminds you of another great fight from days gone past. Full preview and prediction after the jump.

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While Joe Flacco continues to hand the Steelers their tickets to the AFC Championship game, I figured I better get to work on the NFC Divisional Playoff between the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons.

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Last season each team won on their homefield – this season it was the exact opposite. As if the bitter rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers needed any more fuel.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream was for all of humanity but it was thought of with us in mind. On the 25th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday becoming a national holiday. What road is Black America on in 2011 politically, socially and economically. Feel feel free to add onto anything I’ve missed.