Randomness and Some Jazz

All right all right, big day tomorrow and after that, unless something very noteworthy occurs (like a Jets loss, cough, cough)...well, you won't see me for a few days until I come back from a wee bit vacation. Me and the girlfriend are going to upstate New York, to a nice cabin for a few and while we do have internet connection--would you work on your blog if up there?

Didn't think so. So, enough about what I'm doing--as excited as I am to go up there for New Year's, let's talk some sports...and in particular, the Utah Jazz. Over the next few weeks, I am going to focus on a particular NBA team that has a chance of winning the championship, and go over their pros and cons--to be followed by the usual random observations.

The Utah Jazz have a definite shot at winning the title because of three key elements:

1. A core group of big men, led by the resurgent Carlos Boozer who is having a monster year. Add a sweet-shooting Okur and the shot-blocking hound dog AK-irelenko, and that spells a lethal front court.

2. Have a great coach in Jerry Sloan, one of five men to win 1,000 games or more. While never winning a title, there is no doubt the man knows basketball. Could this be the year he wins? There have been rumors that Sloan had not been gelling with his young talent, but there are no ill words this year--winning has a habit of silencing tongues all around.

3. they have a solid guard in young Deron Williams. This 6'3 guard is averaging almost 17 points a game with a very healthy 9 assists per, in only his second season.

Leadership is a bit of an issue however. True they have Derek Fischer, but they lack a true star that you can hand the ball off to in the final seconds, down by one, and have them win a game for them (a la Jordan, shoving Byron Russel to throw up the winning jumper, the last time the Jazz were in the finals). On top of leadership issues, they have been prone to injuries (as any fantasy owner of Kirilenko can attest to), but--but--when Kirilenko went down this year for five games, the Jazz won all five...

Are times changing? The Jazz certainly do have history working against them, but they are currently sitting 4th in the good NBA conference, leading the division by a very healthy margin, and looking to climb the ranks. If they can get home-court throughout, that will up their chances considerably (they have the league's best home record, and Salt Lake is a tough place for opposing teams to win in). After suffering through a December, where they were 9-5, they will be looking to make a run for the new year...for they have the championship on their minds...

Now for some randomness, hitting up the Bowl series...

Does anyone really watch those early bowl games? Half the time, I forgot they were on...oh, Northern Illinois and TCU...yawn...great for the home school, but bring on the big games already...unless there were a playoff system and those first games meant a lot more...

How much would it cost me to replace the grass in my backyard with the turf from Bronco Stadium, a.k.a. Boise State's field? My dad takes his lawn very seriously, always has, and if he were to wake up to see that...it would really be priceless.

Can we get Bam Margera or someone from Jackass to do this? I really want to see a person's reaction when their beloved green property turns blue.

This bowl season totally underscores the fact at how boring College Football can be, totally unlike NCAA hoops. I watch every game of March Madness (well, except for the 1-16 and 2-15's, for the most part), because anything can happen and the excitement builds and bursts in such a short time. College Football, however...once the team get's blown out, it's pretty much done...

So enter Texas Tech VS Minnesota in the Insight Bowl, automatic classic. Down by four touchdowns at halftime, the Gophers forget how to play offense and Texas Tech rolls to tie it up in regulation, then win it in overtime. How great a game was that? How great?

But still...the excitement naturally increases within a tournament, because it is win or go home. Most of the minor bowl games, it's like winning a pee-wee league, it's nice, but it's not a real championship...you know?

Okay, how many more arguments for a playoff system can we hear?

And how long is this blog post? All right, screw it. It's a day away from New Year's Eve, there is a ton of sports to cover, I'll do it all when I get back, with a special bowl games post. Until then, stay sharp and play smart--in sports and in life. No drinking and driving, it's just not worth it. Got it?

Got it. Let's go party...