Daily Loaf

This Saturday’s college slate gives us a quick breather from the top-ranked, head-to-head matchups we’ve seen so much of lately. The weekend features only one contest between ranked teams and a number of distinct favorites squaring off against theoretically lesser opponents. That doesn’t mean we won’t see our fair share of surprises. It does mean that if you like betting money lines, you stand to make a nice chunk of change if your underdogs hit. In the NFL, the three remaining unbeatens all hit the road, two of whom will be playing in very hostile environments.

Once again, here’s what you should be watching….

Clemson at Miami (10) – (Saturday, 3:30 pm – ABC – UM minus 4.5)

If you like speed, this could be the game to watch. At 3-3, Clemson still has a chance to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division but any effort the school put into hyping CJ Spiller as a Heisman candidate could have been better invested in junk bonds. Spiller has only scored three touchdowns this season. The Tigers face a Miami team which is ranked 10th in the BCS but 4th in their own division. Go figure. Clemson has yet to win a road game and Miami has yet to lose at home this season which means the Hurricanes should definitely win this game, right?

Tennessee at (2) Alabama – (Saturday, 3:30 pm – CBS – Bama minus 14.5)

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I’m not sure why I didn’t object when my husband boldly posted a training schedule on our refrigerator and announced that we were going to do a half-marathon.  I was in the midst of my unemployment stint and deeply distressed.  Either he believed that a goal would alleviate some of my misery or he was not-so-subtly recommending that I drop a few pounds.  Regardless of his motivation, I agreed, and the next Monday we drove down to Bayshore to begin our training. Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this week hopeful young ladies attended the Tampa Breeze tryouts to become part of the bay area’s hottest sports team.  The St Pete Times Forum was loaded with prospective players suited up in T-shirts, short shorts, and shoulder pads.  The Lingerie Football League may sound cute, but it’s no joke. These girls are ready to play hardcore smash-mouth football, all while looking hotter than any cheerleaders safely yelling from the sidelines.

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Look, I am by no means a Michael Vick apologist (or fan for that matter). As far as I can tell, he’s pompously arrogant, and his apology before entering prison last year did nothing to change that. Of course, I do not know him personally but my feeling is that he’s going to come out of jail pretty much the same guy that he was when he went in. That feeling, though, has far more to do with the criminal justice system than it does with Vick specifically.

Still, he was released from prison on Wednesday of last week and, on Friday, he contacted his probation officer confirming his arrival in VA. The ultimate question from a sports perspective is “should Vick get a second chance int he NFL”.

The question isn’t “if” because the answer to that is “of course”. With all apologizes to John Connor,  there is fate that we do not make for ourselves and one of them is that Vick will be back playing in the NFL. Sure, PETA will have a flip out and they should. VIck’s actions were atrocious. Then again, that’s why he went to prison, isn’t it? This is the system that we have, like it or not, for punishing criminals in our society. When they leave, of course they have a “Scarlett letter” for the rest of their lives and Vick will, and should, be no different. In fact, if anything, Vick has at least answered for the wrongs that he’s committed, unlike some NFL players (I’m looking at you, Adam Jones).

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On Saturday, several teams of dragonboats took to Garrison Channel, a thin strip of water separating Harbour Island from the St. Pete Times Forum and the rest of Channelside. Racing in small groups of five teams, the races ran continually throughout the morning. The 6th Annual Tampa Dragonboat Race brought corporate teams and dragonboat enthusiasts alike.

Keep reading for photos of all the action. Read the rest of this entry »

In yet another sign of the Tampa Bay Bucs’ drastic facelift, the team released perhaps the most stalwart player in franchise history, LB Derrick Brooks, a sure-fire future Hall of Famer. Joining him on the cuts list were another popular Buc, RB Warrick Dunn, who returned to the team last year after several with the Falcons; WR Joey Galloway; WR Ike Hilliard; and LB Cato June.

All except June were past-their-prime players with substantial salaries. June, who turns 30 later this year, signed in 2007 as a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts, but never made the impact expected.  June was considered the heir apparent to Brooks, so it’s a bit odd that he was released as well. But overall, the cuts are indicative of a Tampa Bay youth movement, or to use a taboo word: rebuilding.

The Brooks release is easily the most controversial. He’s been an absolutely great player for the team, an 11-time Pro Bowler, and a pillar of the community. He even restructured his contract a couple of times to provide the franchise with salary cap space to sign free agents.

Salary cap is not currently a problem with the  Bucs. The team is a reported $42 million under the cap, most in the NFL.

What do all these moves augur? The optimist might think that the Bucs are gearing up for a run at free agents like monster DT Albert Haynsworth. Those with less sunny outlooks might see it as the new administration following ownership’s mandate to run the team on the cheap. The Glazer family owns the Manchester United soccer team, which is widely regarded to have the highest payroll in all of professional sports.

I don’t have a strong read on it either way — but I do know that if with the Bucs parting ways with Brooks and the rest, they had better be counter those moves by loosening the purse strings or else risk alienating their fanbase more than it already is.

—Eric Snider

A press conference has been scheduled for 3 p.m.

From the official site:

Bucs Call 3:00 PM Press Conference

Feb 25, 2009 -

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have called a press conference at team headquarters beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday afternoon.

The team will make both Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Mark Dominik available to speak and answer questions at the press conference.

The press conference will be carried live on Buccaneers.com and a recorded version will be posted shortly after its conclusion.

This is just coming down the pipe: New York Yankees‘ third baseman Alex Rodriguez sat down for an interview with Peter Gammons of ESPN this afternoon when he admitted to using steroids between 2001-2003. The interview will air on Sportscenter at 6 p.m. tonight.

Here’s an exerpt:

His voice shaking at times, Alex Rodriguez met head-on allegations that he tested positive for steroids six years ago, telling ESPN on Monday that he did take performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers during a three-year period beginning in 2001.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” Rodriguez told ESPN’s Peter Gammons in an interview in Miami Beach, Fla. “Back then, [baseball] was a different culture…

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Watch the CL Street Team snuggle, drink and “sausage” their way through the tailgating parties at Super Bowl XLIII.

More CL TV

This was a busy week for the Street Team!

We went to downtown St. Pete and downtown Tampa handing out Super Bowl supplements to out-of-town visitors, we hit the St. Pete Times Forum, we saw Al Roker Thursday morning at Teatro in Ybor (and even got our CLTampa.com sign on the Today Show!), we rocked out to the Pink Floyd Orchestra at the Mahaffey Theater, saw Snoop Dogg and 3 Doors Down at Bud Bowl and finally tailgated outside RayJay for Super Bowl 43.

Here are some pics from Bud Bowl to hold you over. More pics and video of Super Bowl weekend to come.

Sooner Holley:  In addition to the constant ribbing I’m getting lately about how “Tebow is Superman – just admit it” and how I better start mining for kryptonite, there’s a more personal Holley-criticism which is coming to me more and more frequently: Apparently, I lack objectivity.  By not admitting that Tim Tebow may as well be Zeus and Apollo combined because he has faced more top 50 defenses than Sammy B. and the Sooner offense, I am failing to recognize some legitimate facts and therefore, am not an objective fan.

Objective….Fan….Objective….Fan….there’s something that doesn’t feel right about that pairing of words.

Oh, it’s that they are completely contradictory.

If you are a “fan”, you have a bias.  That is the definition of the word.  You support a particular team, group, cause, ice cream flavor, grocery store, yada yada yada.  Objectivity doesn’t really have a place in “fandom” or “fannery” or “fanaticism”.  (I think that last one is the correct noun, but honestly, I like “fannery” the best.  It has a nice ring, doesn’t it?)

Example: Read the rest of this entry »

Each Fall an army of eighteen-year-old “adults” floods USF, expecting to finally set foot in the long prophesized “real world.” They soon discover that college, and the real world, are whatever these freshmen make of them.  In constructing their identities, most are required to take a basic writing course. Creative Loafing has chosen four of those students to blog for the Daily Loaf.

The Buffalo Bills are somehow undefeated, which is, to me, the most surprising outcome of the 2008 NFL season so far. I can only name two players on their entire roster: Marshawn Lynch (starting RB), and their free agency acquisition from the Jaguars Marcus Stroud (starting DT).

Stroud is a great addition to their defensive line, but he alone shouldn’t be what turns the Bills into a playoff team. Other than these two star players, I cannot recognize anyone on the roster. Trent Edwards? I had no idea who he was until this season… Read the rest of this entry »

Time for another round of pigskin prognostications nobody seems to care about — yet.  We’re hard at work developing a series of bribes that should change your tune right quick, Tampa Bay.  But in the meantime, we’re just going to keep ramming this thing down your throats like Max Hardcore on a meth bender.

This week in football, Detroit Lions fans everywhere (all 13 of us!) rejoiced when staggeringly incompetent General Manager Matt Millen was finally ousted after seven years of — you guessed it — staggering incompetence.

Unfortunately for the rest of the country, Mr. Millen was then immediately summoned to Washington as an emergency financial consultant.

Onward to this week’s picks …

Eric Snider sez:

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A tough call here.  Bucs are one-point favorites, playing on their home field after an emotional OT victory, which could help their confidence.  At this point, it’s hard to tell how good — or bad — the Bucs really are.  I wouldn’t touch this bet, but I’ll pick Tampa Bay (especially if the team deactivates second-round pick, kick returner Dexter “Slip-Slidin’ Away” Jackson.  Can you be a bust by your third NFL game?)

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The line is Jax by eight — I’d give the points and take the Jags.  Houston looks like they’ve regressed.  Jax can run it all day and their late, come-from-behind win over Indy should be a confidence booster.

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

Oakland gets eight points here too, and that’s substantial.  The temptation is to think that SD has finally arrived and that Oakland, with its lame-duck coach, is dead in the water.  I’m picking the Chargers to win, but not to cover.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears

This was going to be Snider’s lead pipe-lock-bet-the-ranch-can’t-miss special.  But Brian Westbrook is hurt, so I’ve downgraded this pick to Snider’s lead pipe-lock-bet-the-ranch special.  Westbrook or no, Philly can score, and their defense will swarm Bears QB Kyle Orton.  The line is Philly by three.  Give the points and take the Iggles.

Fantastic Sal sez:

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday Night)

The Ravens and Steelers are one-two in total defense, meaning this potentially low-scoring affair should be the perfect tonic for anyone who misses those NHL Norris Division battles of yore.  I hope the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland enjoy watching this MNF dose of gridiron valium.  Take the Steelers, I guess.

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Time was when Arrowhead Stadium and “home-field advantage” were synonymous.  No longer, which makes this the perfect occasion for us to refine the whole “home-field advantage” axiom: Being at home might make a good team play better, but it can’t make a bad team suck less.  Denver in a romp.

Buffalo Bills @ St. Louis Rams

To steal a phrase from the obnoxious Chris Berman, the Buffalo Bills have circled the wagons and are on their way to 4-0 at the quarter mark of the season.  At least once they get through with the hapless Rams, who are at the bottom of the league in offense AND defense.  And have just turned to perennial journeyman/concussion liability Trent Green as QB.  Considering the Bills’ subpar record in domes, I’m tempted to take the Rams and the points.  Just not that tempted.

Joe Bardi sez:

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinatti Bengals

Possibly the ugliest dog fight since Michael Vick’s last Christmas party. The Bengals and Browns have come to define futility and mediocrity for the 2008 NFL season. Lackluster play is nothing new for the heartless Bengals, but the Browns were supposed to be a serious playoff contender. Someone has to win, right? Actually, no. They don’t. When the zebras blow the whistle on overtime, the score will stand 9-9 and both teams will remain winless.

San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints

This one has got “shootout” written all over it, especially since both teams play defense about as well as 20th-century France. Sure, San Fran beat the Seahawks and New Orleans bested our hometown Buccaneers, but neither team can be trusted to play well on any given Sunday. Take the Saints, but only because they seem to have the Niners’ number, winning seven of the last 10 meetings and all three games since 2004.

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys

I’m tempted to go with the Cowboys, who seem to be on a roll that might soon begin to resemble New England’s epic season from a year ago. However, I have watched a lot of Cowboys/Redskins match-ups in my day. You see, growing up I was a Dallas fan and my brother was a staunch DC defender. I can recall far too many meetings where I trash-talked a lackluster Skins squad, only to see them best a superior Cowboys team in the end. Call it 21-20 Cowboys, or call my brother on Monday and congratulate him.

The Lowly Intern sez:

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers

The remarkably unoriginal Falcons plan to copy a current trend against the Cats and utilize scatback Jerious Norwood in the direct snap shotgun formation this week.  Unfortunately for him, the end result should be a bunch of direct shots to the chinstrap; especially from loaded weapons Jon Beason and Julius Peppers.  Carolina covers not only the spread, but also the field — with Norwood’s remains.  Yeesh.

Minnesota Vikings @ Tennessee Titans

Never underestimate the potential impact of Vikes RB Adrian “All Day” Peterson against any given defense; even one as good as the Tits’, which so far resembles anything but a bunch of boobs on the opposite side of the ball.  Fuck, man, I need Peterson to have a big game as much as anyone (he is, after all, the crown jewel of my fantasy squad), but I don’t see it happening here.  I hate to say it: “All Day” becomes “Not Today” this time out.  Take Vince’s Young Men and laugh all the way to the shrink.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Jets

This one’s for you, Amanda: Jets 41, Cards 17.  Incidentally, I loathe Kurt “Chachi” Warner almost as much as I worship Brett Favre (and would gladly bear the latter’s man-babies).  Jesus may love you, Kurt, but you’re going down in flames against the real American Idol.

Yep, that Jason Bartlett.

At least according to the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America; heads up to my Favorite Sports Blog Ever, firejoemorgan.com, for their hilarious commentary.

I can’t say I disagree with FJM’s assessment that the selection of Barlett for this honor is, at best, horribly misguided conjecture.

Longoria, anyone?