Giant Expectations by Carlos Morales

Yes, we are talking about the playoffs. At the beginning of the year, who would have thought that these Giants would be in position to make the playoffs? Let alone win the NFC East division? NOBODY! With all the injuries to the defense, only one sorta big name receiver, a revamped offensive line, and Eli coming off a 25 Int season, you could see why nobody believed in this team.  Except the Giants organization themselves did. Critics, “experts”, and even fans (myself included) were just hoping that we didn’t have an embarrassing record. Imagine all the Jet fans running their mouths if we did? Would have been horrible. However, this is not the case. The Giants have done what many seemed to be the impossible. Put themselves in a position to make a playoff run. Only thing that stands in their way and that would be our rivals in the east, who play out west. The Dallas Cowboys, led by Tony “for some reason people think I’m better than Eli” Romo, are also playing for the Division crown. These two teams, filled with their ups and downs over the course of the season, now battle one another at MetLife Stadium Sunday night for the chance to get to the Super Bowl.  Two very talented, but at times mentally handicapped, teams will battle it out on national television. Should be exciting. But how did this year culminate to end with one oh so important game?

First, we have to thank the Eagles and their “dream team” for just not showing up at all this year. The team many thought would take the NFC East by a landslide and be one of the contenders to win it all, just laid one fat egg. Do I care? Oh hell no. Fuck Philly and their fan base (This is my blog I don’t have to be impartial). I completely enjoyed the beating the Giants put on them at The Linc in September. I also enjoyed the poor tackling, the weak offensive line, the many injuries Vick endured, DeSean Jackson being benched…TWICE!, the failure that is the “wide 9” defensive line, and all the Andy Reid getting fired rumors. It was quite enjoyable. So with them out the way and Washington sporting Rex Grossman and John/Josh Beck (should I look up his name? yes…..but why waste my time…its one of the two) virtually made this a two team race.

Giants could have avoided this early playoff game in week 17 of the regular season, but that wouldn’t be true Giant fashion to let their fans breath a little easy. Losses to the Redskins….TWICE!, Seahawks, and the Alex Smith led 49ers hurt a lot. Not to mention the close loss to Green Bay when Aaron Rodgers went all Aaron Rodgers on our depleted secondary with 59 seconds left to play. This game would have been rendered meaningless as well if it wasn’t for the bright lights of Cowboy Stadium blinding Miles Austin and the hand of JPP blocking the game tying field goal at the end of a 12 point come from behind win for the Giants. If the Giants can play the same way they did in their wins against the entire AFC East (we owned that division this year), the first Eagles and Cowboys games, and even the loss to Green Bay, then I like their chances on Sunday night. Also having Justin Tuck looking like his old self again and Osi practicing at full speed, and it seems as if he’s good to go for the game, just boosts the confidence of us Giant fans. Teams can barely handle Pro Bowl bound JPP. If the other two are causing havoc along the line as well, Dallas will have to worry more about Romo’s overall well being and not just his hand. Eli, Nicks, Cruz, and the run game need to step up again as well. Jacobs was able to run on the Cowboys defense, so he should be able to do it again. Baring any curfew violations, Bradshaw should be playing the entire game as well. The thousands of fans chanting “Cruuuuuuz!” will keep the young receiver energized. Nicks and Manningham, both of whom are questionable for the game (knee and hamstring respectively) should have an impact, if they can actually HOLD ON TO THE DAMN BALL! Eli should just be is calm and collected self and its all good. I’m less worried about Eli to tell you the truth. He’s been carrying this team all year and has thrived in pressure situations.

However, there is one thing you have to worry about when it comes to this Giants team. It has nothing to do with the Rob Ryan and his defense (I think he’s overrated anyway), not the problems the Giants have at LineBacker or the secondary, not even the lack of a running game (to its credit, has been coming around the last few weeks). What I am worried about, is the let down game. The over confidant players thinking they got this wrapped up and it’s a no brainer win for the Giants. That was the mindset going into week 1. Despite all our injuries, it was only the Redskins and Grossman lining up against them. Giants lose. After a big win in Philly, which was Victor Cruz coming out party, we lose to the Seahawks at home. Starting our hellish schedule to begin the second half the season, the Giants beat the Patriots, ending their home winning streak. What follows is a loss to the 49ers, loss to the Eagles, blown out by New Orleans, and a close loss to the Packers. Giants rebound and in dramatic fashion to beat the Cowboys. They follow that up by losing to the Redskins again. Now, after a big “road” win against the Jets, are the Giants capable of holding on to that momentum? Can they end the season 4-4 at home? Or will they let down once again? Let’s hope it’s not that last one, or jobs may be lost and fans hearts will be broken. GO GIANTS!

Debut Podcast and guest writer Carlos Morales

Extra-curricular activities after Knicks 106-104 season opening win

 Before we get to our guest writer (Carlos Morales), we will introduce today our first podcast.  Although today's is only a 4 minute solo effort by myself, this will be a weekly podcast featuring both Carlos Morales and myself, enjoy and please give us your feedback. 

Click here to hear our first Podcast 

Hope. With the new year around the corner, people are hoping for many different things. Hoping that that 2012 will bring them money, better jobs, a nicer home, or even more money. However, New York Knick fans are starting to hope for other reasons. Not for the firing of an inept GM. Not for players with ridiculous contracts to be traded, retire, or meet their early and sad demise from the world. Not even for James Dolan to sell the team to an owner who knows what he’s doing. We aren’t hoping for any of this. Not anymore. We, however, are hoping for a championship. Yes, title aspirations have come back to New York after what seem to be a lifetime. Last year we hoped to make the playoffs, and we did. Although we got swept by long time, newly renewed rivals of Boston, it was the first step in bringing back the Knicks to where we all want to see them. Down the Canyon of Heroes carrying the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Since the Knicks traded Ewing, there hasn’t been much of “good” hope with this team. What we did have was a lot of “bad” hope though. We hoped that Isaiah Thomas knew what he was doing….he didn’t. We hoped that Stephon Marbury would reinvent himself as a leader……negative. We hoped that Eddy Curry and Jerome James would anchor this team to wins and playoff appearances…….like I said, not much “good” hope for the Knicks that decade. Ten years of losing records, humiliating lawsuits, horrible contracts, ridiculous trades, and an owner more concerned with his Jazz Band than with an NBA franchise. Hope was all but lost on the Knicks and with their fans. We have succumbed to accepting the fact that we were going through the dark ages of the team. Having to deal with being the laughing stock of the league. Even surpassing the Clippers and their laughable owner, Donald Sterling, for this honor.

Then one summer, after the brilliant moves made by now departed GM Donnie Walsch, the Knicks were able to shed those bad contracts and get under the cap. To start courting our savior. The one who will make the Knicks relevant again. Bring us out of out dark times and back to respectability. However, he decided to run away from the bright lights and take his talents elsewhere. So what did we do? We signed a 6’11 power forward with surgically repaired knees and vision problems to a 5 year $100 million contract. This was the new face of the franchise. Knick fans, to say the least, weren’t too hopeful with this acquisition. Anyone who tells you different is full of shit. Then this new superstar we had acquired made a bold statement, “The Knicks are back!” he said. We were hoping he was right, and he was. Alone, leading this team of over achieving rookies and below average role players, he made the Knicks respectable, just not contenders….yet.

Rumors started to boil over all around the league. A Brooklyn born player, raised in West Baltimore, who played for the Orange, wanted out of a Mile High city and join up with that power forward with bad knees and iffy vision. Knick fans were hoping we would get him. Hoping that they would pull the trigger on the trade that would gut our rotation and land another superstar. Yet again, we weren’t foolish in hoping for this to happen. Thankfully David Stern didn’t veto this trade, and we landed our second superstar in Broadway. Playoff hopes ran wild. A playoff series victory would have to wait though. Playoffs lasted just four games. The same amount as the last time the Knicks had made the playoffs.

After a lockout, that dragged on for six months, finally ended, the Knicks made some moves that bring us to today, and the hope that fills every New Yorker. No it wasn’t an all star point guard, but a champion center that made the Knicks have their own “big three.” Literally a big three. Chandler, Stoudemire, and Anthony making up what is arguably the best front line in all of basketball. A 7’1 defensive minded center coming to  New York? When was the last time we saw this? When was the last time there was a buzz like this around the Knicks? If you know the answer to these questions, you know what happened next. Division titles, conference titles, consecutive playoff appearances, and two finals appearances. Now we fell short of seeing those Knick teams have their parade down the Canyon of Heroes, but maybe 2012 will be different. Hopefully.

Argentina 1 - Bolivia 1

Argentina was able to avoid a humiliating defeat at home, when substitute Lavezzi leveled the score late in the second half and gave the hosts a share of the spoils.

Bolivia, with a disciplined and organized defense was able to nullify the Argentina attack. Messi played at a mediocre level at best and newcomer Ricky Alvarez looked out of his depth. Although Argentina had much of the possession, they were unable to convert and Marcelo Martins made them pay as he undressed Demichelis and gave Bolivia a shock 1-0 lead. Argentina was able to get a quick equalizer, they did little after that. Bolivia actually enjoyed chances off the counter attack late in the game and could have taken all three points. It was a second straight disastrous effort by the Argentines who now face a tough trip to Colombia on Tuesday.
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UPDATE

Second half and Bolivia is holding on to a 0-0 tie in Argentina. They have all eleven men behind the ball and frustrating the hosts. Messi has been bottled up by multiple defenders at all times.
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South American Qualifying: Matchday 3

Previews for match-day 4 on Tuesday November 15th will be posted by Sunday.

ARGENTINA vs. BOLIVIA

            Buenos Aires

Referee:            Carlos Vera (ECU)

Assistant #1:     Carlos Herrera (ECU)

Assistant # 2:    Byron Romero (ECU)

4^th Official:        Alfredo Intriago (ECU)

Last time these two faced off in World Cup qualifying, Bolivia humiliated Messi and co. 6-1 in La Paz.  Maradona’s men were thoroughly outplayed and out classed in Bolivia, and they will be out for revenge.  Over the summer, in Copa America, the Bolivian came away with a shock 1-1 draw against the hosts, as they played a cautious game and disciplined game.  They will need the same performance, coupled with a bad outing by the Argentines (not far fetched) to get a positive result.  Argentina comes off a comprehensive loss in Venezuela, and Bolivia disappointed its home crowd in a 2-1 loss to Colombia.  Both come in bad form, and the Argentine’s will likely be without Manchester City ace Kun Aguero, but this will matter little as Argentina has more than enough class to come out with all three points.  Look for Messi to toy with the Bolivian defense and for the game to be in the bag by halftime.

Prediction: Argentina 3 – Bolivia 0

 URUGUAY vs. CHILE

            Montevideo

Referee:            Héctor  Baldassi (ARG)

Assistant #1:     Gustavo Esquivel (ARG)

Assistant #2:     Diego Yamil Bonfa (ARG)

4^th Official:        Néstor Pitana (ARG)

This should have been the game of the day, except for the fact that Chileans Jean Beausejour, Arturo Vidal, Jorge Valdivia, Carlos Carmona and defender Gonzalo Jara have been suspended for the game by their coach.  All five players were cited for showing up to practice in an “unacceptable” state, after the players were out drinking the night before.  Uruguay has been on a roll since the World Cup in South Africa and are currently top of the table in qualifying.  Chile will have a tough time in this game without the suspended players and on the road.  Uruguay should coast through this game and take all three points.

Prediction: Uruguay 2 – Chile 0

COLOMBIA vs. VENEZUELA

            Barranquilla

Referee:              Omar Ponce (ECU)

Assistant #1:     Juan Cedeno (ECU)

Assistant #2:     Christian Lescano (ECU)

4^th Official:        Daniel Salazar (ECU)

This should be the most entertaining of the day.  Both teams come off wins in the last match day.  Colombia took all three points in the altitude of Bolivia and Venezuela pulled off a historic win at home against Argentina.  Colombia will be without start forward Radamel Falcao Garcia, which is a huge blow.  Both teams play an attractive, attacking style, which should make for many scoring opportunities; however Venezuela will come out looking to hold off Colombia before venturing out on the attack.  If  Venezuela can hold off the initial barrage, they should be in good position to get at least a point in this match.

Prediction : Colombia 1 – Venezuela 1 

PARAGUAY vs. ECUADOR

            Asunción

Referee:            José Buitrago (COL)

Assistant #1:     Eduardo Diaz (COL)

Assistant #2:     Wilson Berrio (COL)

4^th Official:        Imer Machado (COL)

 Watching paint dry, watching grass grow, and this game. Luckily for our eyes and sanity, this game will be played at the same time as the Colombia vs Venezuela game.   These are two teams who could very well find themselves shout out of the festivities in Brazil three years from now.  Ecuador has three points thanks to Venezuela sending a “b” team to Ecuador, and Paraguay was outplayed by both Peru and Uruguay, and was lucky to capture a last minute tie at home against the Uruguayans.  Since both teams are not allowed to lose, I give the edge to an Ecuadorian side with more speed and skill than the defensive minded Paraguayans.  A home loss here can be the beginning of the end for Paraguay.

Prediction: Paraguay 0 – Ecuador 1

Feel free to email me at gustavo.escobar10@yahoo.com