Domination Station

Joe Flacco
By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.imageslides.com

I remember it clearly – I was a young Sports Editor on staff at the Quad, the West Chester University school newspaper.  It was early 2007, and the WCU Golden Rams were opening their season against the Delaware Blue Hens.  Remember who was quarterbacking the Blue Hens that day?  Joe Flacco.

West Chester lost the game 35-0.  But it wasn’t about the win.  This game didn’t matter to us, it didn’t affect our conference record or playoff hopes.  It was cool for us to watch, because we knew that we were witnessing something, someONE, special.  We knew Flacco was destined for greatness.  Just how great was left to be determined.

Joe was drafted by the Ravens in 2008 under rookie coach John Harbaugh.  That first season, the Ravens made the playoffs with an 11-5 record.  2009, 9-7, playoffs.  2010, 12-4, playoffs.  2011, 12-4, playoffs.  2012, 10-6, playoffs, Super Bowl. 

Photo Cred sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Joe Flacco has five complete seasons under his belt. He has made the playoffs in all five, culminating last week in an incredible 34-31 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.  How can we categorize Joe Flacco as anything but dominant?

We know his career record has been impressive.  When you look at those stats, Flacco looks like a shoe in for the title of elite quarterback.  But, that’s the one thing he has been unable to obtain.  No matter how many years he makes playoffs in a row, Joe still seems to catch so much flak from the critics (I wonder if it’s because his last name is Flacco?). They critique his effectiveness as leader and quarterback, and blame the team’s success on the defense or the running back, or something else. 

I believe, as it looks like others do too, that Joe Flacco has firmly established himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.  I’m not basing this off of his play in the Super Bowl alone.  He did play a great game there, and earned his MVP award.  I’m basing this off of his entire four game postseason, specifically three games against arguably the league’s three best teams that were heavily favored.

Let’s let his stats speak for themselves.

Photo Cred www.nydailynews.com

Wild Card Playoff: Indianapolis – 24-9 win.  282 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT.

Divisional Playoff: Denver – 38-35 OT win.  331 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT.

AFC Championship: New England 28-13 win.  240 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT.

Super Bowl: San Francisco – 34-31 win. 287 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT.

That’s over 1,000 yards, 14 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.  That is elite.  That is domination.  I dare you to disagree.

4th and Long

Where the Bad Boys Go

By Caleb Musselman

            When I was a wee laddy I used to go to a friend’s house a few times a week. As 8 year-old boys, we were in heaven. We played cowboys and indians, cops and robbers, Eagles and Cowboys, etc. In our next phase, three or four of us would jump on the trampoline for hours on end. We’d start out jumping, then start kicking, and every time we would end up wrestling, punching and clawing. Eventually, like a tickle fight, it would turn from extremely fun to unbearably terrible in a matter of seconds. Mrs. Mom would come outside and give us the speech: “If you guys don’t cut it out, everyone is going home. If you can’t play nice, then you can’t play at all.”

Photo Cred www.mit.zimfs.com

            This dreaded speech whipped us into shape quicker than a smoothie in a blender. We went from trying to kill each other to sticking up for each other in an instant. Why? Because we understood the consequences! Now, you’re wondering how I’m going to relate this to the NFL. Read on.

            During Super Bowl XLVII, a few tussles broke out between the Ravens and the 49ers. The boys were playing but things were becoming touch and go. Near the middle of the second quarter, tempers began to boil over. During this extended shoving match, Cary Williams, the undisputed trash talk king, decided to rip his helmet off and throw a fit. Williams, who would lose the quiet game against a murder of crows, began shoving players left and right.....and left again. In fact, he became so handsy that when a referee tried to hold him back, he shoved him too! Check it out.

See Cary Williams Push the REF!

            In other news, Williams was not flagged on this play. However, what was called were two offsetting personal fouls, one on each team. Now, this was a borderline brawl. Players were tackled to the ground, helmets were ripped off; and offsetting personal fouls is a legitimate penalty for this nonsense? Here it is. If I punch you, and you punch me, we’ll just act like it didn’t happen and move on with the game. Basketball has the technical, soccer has the yellow/red card, and hockey has the penalty box. A change needs to happen THIS offseason to make amends to this travesty in the game.

Photo Cred www.premiershiptalk.com

            I have a few different ideas on the subject but I will speak about the most realistic of my ideas.

Solution - The Box of Shame

            Very similar to hockey, I’m advocating a “timeout” corner for NFL players. What does this look like? Well if player A hits player B he sits out for two plays. If player B hits player A back they both sit for two plays. Pretty simple stuff people. Now for more severe instances, a possible man down situation could be called upon. In my solution, a series of shoves after the play (one or two) would warrant a 2 play penalty. Further, a post-whistle blow to the head would warrant a 5 play penalty. Worst of all, an after play tackle or helmet dislodging or something along these lines would result in a 5 play man down system. These are simple ideas but further expounded upon seem to work very well in theory. In addition, every other major contact sport has some type of disciplinary action that causes players to think twice about throwing that extra punch. Why should the NFL, our most physical sporting league, be the exception?

           

Photo Cred www.sportsdork000.files.wordpress.com

            Good gravy. Can you imagine the excitement and thrill of throwing this type of curveball into the NFL? Can you imagine how much cleaner the post-whistle game would become? Can you envision a world where offsetting penalties no longer exist? I know it seems too good to be true, but if me and my elementary friends are held to a certain standard, why shouldn’t athletes who get paid millions to run, jump, tackle and do the dougie in the end zone be subject to at least those same standards?

            As the years pass and the NFL continues to get more physical in nearly every aspect, the NFL must find ways to contain the unbridled physicality of the post-whistle game. Can you imagine seeing Cary Williams pouting on the sideline while Kaepernick throws a game winning touchdown to Crabtree? Or Asante Samuel throwing a fit on the bench while his opponent catches a jump ball TD? These are beautiful pictures, my friends, and they could be yours if Mr. Goodell puts on his thinking cap. Remove the offsetting penalties from the game. Toss them into the depths of the sea never to be heard from again. And in its place? The box of shame. #boxofshame

30 Degrees of Banking

Nascar 2013: The Year of ...

By Ryan Frisco



Sunday marked a dark day in the world of sports: the end of football season.  What now?  Yeah, NBA and NHL are in the middle of their seasons, but the NFL is America’s game.  Fortunately, I know just the remedy for this situation; NASCAR!



Photo Cred www.benchwarmersports.com



That’s right, in the next couple of weeks the teams will be gathering in Daytona Beach, Florida for Speedweeks.  February 24^th is the Super Bowl of NASCAR, the Daytona 500.  Fast cars, big crashes and tons of drama; isn’t this the perfect way to overcome end of football season depression?

So before everything begins, why don’t we take a look at the year’s hot topics and big storylines.

1. Rookie Rivalry…or Romance? – This year we are looking at two of the most high profiled rookies in recent memory. 



Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. has won the past two Nationwide Series Championships.  He is coming in under one of the top teams in the business, Rousch Fenway Racing, and is taking over for 2003 Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth.  Those are tough racing shoes to fill, but if anyone is capable of it, it’s this kid.  The only thing that may get in his way is…



Danica Patrick.  Even if you don’t care about NASCAR any more than Betty White’s 2^nd Annual 90^th Birthday Celebration, you know who she is.  The first legit girl driver.  The Go Daddy Girl.  The Nationwide spokeswoman.  She’s everywhere.  And now, she is making her rookie debut at racing’s highest level. Can she become the first female driver to win a race, let alone a championship?



Photo Cred www.espn.go.com



For these two, there is one big factor to rookie success; each other.  You see, during the offseason, Danica Patrick divorced her husband and began dating again.  The name of her new suitor?  Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.  That’s right, for the first time ever, competitors on the track are dating off the track.  What’s going to happen when they meet on the track?  Will they draft with their teammates or each other?  If the other is in front for the win, will they challenge or block?  Oh, the possibilities.  This rookie rivalry should be the most interesting yet!

2. Same Faces, New Places – Each year comes with it new drivers with new teams, and this year is no different.  After the final race at Homestead, two drivers on two of the top teams in NASCAR changed rides. 



Photo Cred www.dodgeforum.com



Matt Kenseth – For well over a decade, Matt Kenseth has been the epitome of consistency during his reign with Rousch Fenway Racing.  He doesn’t usually dominate and win tons of races, but he’s always a contender.  He won the championship with one win.  That kind of consistency is unheard of.  The longest tenured driver for Rousch will be departing this season to make way for the young gun Stenhouse, Jr. 



Where is he heading?  Joe Gibbs Racing.  From one powerhouse to the next.  Kenseth will now be teaming up with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, both top drivers who have been in the spotlight and championship picture the last five years.  Now driving a Toyota Camry, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Matt Kenseth once again a front runner. This new gear may be the ticket that takes him from a consistent contender to a dominating force.



Photo Cred www.620wdae.com



Joey Logano – With every driver addition comes another driver who gets the boot.  That was the unfortunate case for Joey Logano, who just a few years earlier became the youngest driver to ever win a race.  Matt Kenseth comes in, Joey goes out.  Fortunately for him, a new seat wasn’t far away, as Penske Racing brought on the young stud to fill the #22 Shell Gasoline Ford for the 2013 season (Penske made the move from Dodge Charger to Ford Fusion during the offseason). 

What does this mean for Logano?  Oh, just that he is now teamed up with one of the most prestigious teams in the racing world, as well as NASCAR’s newest Sprint Cup Champion, Brad Keselowski.  Joey Logano has shown signs of stardom, but performed at a generally average level.  Let’s see if this move gives him the tools he needs to make a championship run.  We know this team is capable of it.



Photo Cred www.aol.sportingnews.com



3. Earnhardt, Jr. and Gordon – These two knuckleheads need to get something going this year.  Jeff Gordon ended last year with an embarrassing run in with Clint Bowyer.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. got a free pass on poor performance due to a ‘concussion’ suffered in an accident.  All eyes have always been on these two guys, and lately, there hasn’t been much performance to justify it.  The world will be watching again this year; they better perform.

4. The Contenders – There is so much talent in NASCAR nowadays.  The saying ‘Any Given Sunday’ really does apply in this sport.  Any driver on the track really does have a chance, especially if rain is on the way.  But the champion holding the trophy at the end of the year?  There are a select few who, in reality, could hold that title.  These are my Top 5 Contenders (Plus a Dark Horse!).

Kasey Kahne – I like this guy.  He’s always been good, but was plagued by bad luck.  At Hendrick, much of that can be controlled.  He was the hottest guy the second half of last year, and frankly, unless a meteor (or Jeff Gordon) seeks him out on the track, I don’t think much can get in his way this year. He's my pick to steal the cup.



Photo Cred www.nascar.com



Denny Hamlin – Last season was an off year for Denny Hamlin…and he still finished sixth in points.  He has the ability to dominate often.  Same great team, new great teammate.  I’m flying high on this #10 team this year.  He’s been close in recent years, maybe this season he can seal the deal.

Brad Keselowski – As they’ve said before, ‘All this kid does is win!’  Brad is the true zero to hero story.  He came bursting out of nowhere, now he’s a champion.  He has to be on this list, he will continue to be a perennial championship contender.

Kyle Busch – Close.  That is what Kyle has been hearing so much of his career.  He is the all time all around most winningest driver in NASCAR’s three circuits.  But, he chokes under pressure.  He has dominated the regular season, only to fold in the Chase.  Last year, he had victories locked up, only to relinquish.  He was so close to making last year’s chase…but didn’t.  This year will be different.  This year, it will be more than close for Kyle.

Jimmie Johnson – The Quest for #6 continues.  Held out of the title two years in a row now, Jimmie is motivated.  Uncharacteristic mechanical problems ended last year’s run.  He will not let that happen again.

Photo Cred www.tsminteractive.com

Dark Horse: Carl Edwards – Carl has had some spectacular years.  He has had some forgettable years.  Last year was one of those.  Edwards seems to be a cyclical kind of driver.  With that in mind, I believe we’re going to be seeing a lot of Carl Edwards flipping from the roof of his car this year.

5. Hot Wheels – 2013 marks a big change in NASCAR.  This season, the car bodies will be different depending on the make and model of the car.  No more generic body.  These cars don’t all fit together like a puzzle anymore.  They don’t mesh when you get close to one another.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. found that out the hard way, when he started a 13 car pile up in testing last month.  Acclimating to this new car may take some time…and shredded sheet metal.

We’re almost there!  Let’s get them wheels a turnin!

4th and Long

The Superdome Snuffed out the Candlestick

By Caleb Musselman

Photo Cred www.empowerednews.net

            In the last weekend of January in the year 2001, a young Ray Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to a resounding 34-7 demolition of the New York Giants. Almost unbelievably, Ray Lewis won the MVP of that game with a measly 4 tackles and 4 blocked passes. That game, which featured Trent Dilfer and Kerry Collins at QB, can truly be called the most boring Super Bowl since the year 2000. Dilfer completed only 12 passes for 150 yards and a TD and Collins threw 4 interceptions. Even if spoken by a PA announcer, those stat lines sound dismal.

            12 years later, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a similar situation at the end of the second quarter. They led 21-6 against a solid 49ers team that was doing there best rendition of the dead fish. It looked like Baltimore was going to break the 50-point mark when Jacoby Jones returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown. But then the Superdome decided to act up. Lights, Camera, Lights...Lights?.....

Photo Cred www.rack.3.mshcdn.com

            The Superdome may have lost power, but there was a small Candlestick on the sideline that sprung to life. Once the lights returned and Flacco finished his sideline yoga, what looked like a replay of 2001 turned into one of the most exciting halves of football in a long time. Kaepernick seemed to regain his mojo, Gore started turning Hulk-mode, and Vernon Davis was Vernon Davis. In the end, however; poor timeout management and abysmal red zone play selection snuffed out the candle just a few short yards from glory.

            There are so many articles that could be written and so many things to be said about this Super Bowl, but my job is to look back on Ryan’s preview and critique his “performance”.

Photo Cred www.img.bleacherreport.net

            First, he said that the Ravens needed to stop the running game. Basically, the Ravens defense did everything to perfection in the first half. They stopped the running game, they didn’t take bad penalties, and they pressured Kaepernick. They caused quick three and outs and allowed Baltimore to completely dominate time of possession. The Ravens held San Francisco to 3.1 yards per carry in the first half. Mission accomplished, 1 for 1 Ryan.

            Second, Ryan said the Ravens needed to contain Vernon Davis. Well, Davis had 6 catches for 104 yards so they didn’t quite contain him but they did keep him out of the end zone. A definite mission accomplished especially on that final drive. You just have to find Davis on one of those plays. Good gravy. 2 for 2 Ryan. I’ll give you that one.

Photo Cred ww3.hdnux.com

            Third, he said the Ravens needed to attack the 49ers secondary. I tried to stick up for Carlos Rogers in our showcase showdown, but you hit this one right on the head. Chris Culliver was atrocious every time he was shown on camera, and Flacco exploited their secondary for almost 300 yards and 2 long touchdown throws over 20 yards. 3 for 3.

            Very solid stuff Ryan. I had a feeling you were going to be correct with these keys and in fact you were. This game truly was a heavy weight battle. The Ravens had San Fran bloodied and bleeding in the first few rounds, but San Francisco came back and took it to Baltimore in the middle of this fight. It took til the last round, and a punter awkwardly shuffling about in the end zone, for Baltimore to deliver the knockout punch. Congratulations to Baltimore and Ray Lewis. Fortunately, we will be seeing much more of these teams in the coming years. The Candlestick is snuffed out, and the Raven soars. Bring it on baseball. 

4th and Long

A Tale of 5 Yards

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.christianpost.com

After 10 seconds in the second half, the score was 28-6.  Then, the lights went out.  This is literal; the lights did physically go out in the stadium.  But for the Ravens, this is so metaphorical as well.  I can’t tell you how many people told me they turned the game off at the point, thinking the game was over.  But, for myself, Caleb and anyone else who knows anything about momentum and the San Francisco 49ers, we knew things were just getting started (that is, in addition to the lights).

After reviewing Caleb’s arguments for the 49ers, and taking a look at their keys to victory, it would appear San Francisco did everything they had to in order to win the Super Bowl. 

Photo Cred www.edition.cnn.com

Caleb said that Colin Kaepernick needed to play within himself.  And, for the most part, he did exactly that.  The kid threw for 302 yards and a touchdown.  In the second quarter, the Ravens allowed him to run, so he did just that; 62 yards and a touchdown.  The first half was rough, but Jim’s top choice at QB found himself in the second half, almost pulling out an improbable defeat.

Another key was getting Vernon Davis the ball.  I knew this, saying the Ravens had to keep him in check.  Well, they didn’t, as Davis went for 104 yards on 6 catches.  Somehow though, this didn’t come back to bite them, as the Ravens were able to contain Davis in the fourth quarter for zero catches.

Photo Cred www.nydailynews.com

Kickers were supposed to be big in this game, and Akers couldn’t miss.  He didn’t, but the 49ers still lost the game.

So what went wrong?  Caleb highlighted a fourth key in the game: The Smith Brothers needed to pressure Flacco.  San Francisco could not get to Joe.  The defense recorded one sack in the game.  Flacco, the game’s MVP, had all day in the pocket, and was able to find his receivers downfield all day long.  Yes, Carlos Rogers held Torrey Smith to 2 catches for 35 yards.  Unfortunately, he couldn’t cover two guys at once, as Chris Culliver got burned repeatedly by Anquan Boldin and once on a huge 56 yard touchdown to Jacoby Jones at the end of the second quarter.   The D-line could not get to Joe Flacco, and the secondary paid big time. 

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

Almost Caleb, so so close to being right this time.  I knew, even when the game seemed out of reach, that it was nowhere near over.  I wasn’t about to pop open my victory bottle of sparkling cider until the clock struck zero.  Baltimore lost all of their momentum when the lights went out, and San Francisco capitalized like no other team could.  It’s a shame for one of these teams to lose, but that’s the truth in the matter; there can only be ONE winner.  The Black Out Bowl will go down as an Instant Classic.

It came down to 5 yards in the end.  It was a controversial call, and I agree, San Fran should have had four downs from the goal line to win the game.  But seriously guys, you blew so many shots earlier in the game, and let up too many big plays.  The 49ers were the better team, but they didn’t play well enough to win.  Don’t blame the refs.

And the Foul

The ACL

By Ben Makin

Photo Cred www.orthopedics.about.com

I found a fact online; the ACL is the worst thing that ever happened to sports. So, that may be an exaggeration, and people are probably saying, “Now Ben, modern science has diminished the time needed to recover, and players are coming back stronger than ever!” My response—“Shut-up...please.”

Look at it from this angle- throw out some rare cases of a few noted athletes who tore their ACL’s (Adrian Peterson-the only superstar, David West, Al Jefferson, Cory Brewer), and we have Tom Brady, Ricky Rubio, Tiger Woods, Michael Owen, and Derek Rose who all missed an entire season, or parts of 2 different seasons. All of these players were ascending the ladder, either at the prime of their careers, or slowly working their way to elite status.

    -Tom Brady was coming off statistically the most impressive season we’ve ever seen at the quarterback position. A loss in the Super Bowl, and a 50 TD record to break, Tom was headed for great things. BAM first game in there goes his ACL. Now a non-mobile quarterback becomes less mobile.

    -Now, picture a small white kid controlling the flow of an NBA game, diming left and right, a constant threat to make you look silly. No look pass here, through your legs there. POW Rubio takes a wrong step. Good-bye Ricky.

   -Michael Owen, coming of a huge contract, won the WORLD player of the year, gliding down the flank looking to cross- SLIDE, POP. Done. Career was never the same.

   -Tiger Woods- I think he has more problems than a bum ACL…

   -Derek Rose- Reigning League MVP and leading a very good bulls team in the playoffs. Jumping, shooting, dunking over players like they’re statues. Crossover, jump step, bucket- blown ACL.

Photo Cred www.nba.com

Enter Rajon Rondo. I think he was feeling left out of such an elite group, so he tears his ACL just to fit in. In what was a sad scene earlier this week, Jackie MacMullen had the displeasure of reporting that Rondo did in fact tear his ACL. The Celtic’s players were crushed to know their best player was done, and their playoff chances just got slimmer. 

What does this mean for the Celtics? Well originally it looked like trouble. The Celtics did win a big game at home versus Miami that day, but before that were on a big 6 game losing streak (3 of the loses were against sub-500 teams). Now without Rondo, the future looks worse for the C’s. BUT WAIT! Boston is currently on a four game winning streak (2 wins coming against Heat and Clippers) and look like a solid team again, riding Paul Pierce and Garnett like the golden years!

These four wins have been earned (they legitimately played well, Avery Bradley is stepping up and showing he can ball), but looking ahead, the Celtics are in for a rough February. Eight of their 11 games come against potential playoff teams, and another against the Raptors who are rejuvenated with the acquisition of Rudy Gay. That's tough for anyone, let alone a team who will be without their best player. After the month of February, we’ll be able to gauge how the Celtics really are. Personally, I think that Danny Ainge (Celtics GM) is going to have to shake things up. There is no way they can maintain the recent success they’ve been having for an entire month, let alone the rest of the season.  I do think the Celtics can still make the playoffs. The east is so weak this year, but so are the Celtics. I see them being quickly ousted by the 1 seed in 5 games.

Photo Cred arielkprice.wordpress.com

Garnett and Pauly P are old. KG has been about to retire for the last three seasons, and while he is practically playing at a defensive MVP caliber, he can’t anchor a team. Paul Pierce is clutch. His numbers are down, but he is doing what the team needs; passing, rebounding, taking the hard shots. It is impressive, but he can’t anchor a team either.  DROP THE HAMMER DANNY!

There will be a shakeup in Boston before the trade deadline. I think that Garnett (and maybe Pierce) is going to be traded, and the Boston Celtics are going to try and get younger. The only reason the KG and PP are still there is because the Celtics organization believed that with the youth of Rondo, the older guys could be role players en route to a championship. There is no chance of the Celtics winning a title without Rondo. Garnett’s stock is higher than its been in 3 years, and Paul Pierce’s is slowly falling, so now would be the best time to get rid of one of them for some youth. Barbosa and Terry are also up there in age, and could be used as trade bait. Like they did in 2008, the C’s could use a huge infusion of talent, and turn the eyes of the league.

Photo Cred www.masslive.com

I hate to say it, but a new era in Boston is upon us. The Big 3 cannot stay put any longer if the Celtics want to seriously contend for a title. They have too rich of a history to swim in mediocrity, and you know Boston fans need wins. With a base of Rondo-Green (underrated defender)-Sullinger, the Celtics aren't high and out.  They need to assess the value of their aging veterans, and look to the future. Bring back the success we’ve come to know in Beantown.

AND 1

This morning on twitter, there were rumors talking about a potential KG to LA Clippers trade. This would be exciting for LA, but I don't think the Clips have enough youth to entice the Celtics. They would never give up Crawford, and the Celtics would have two EXTREMELY good point guards next year if they acquired Bledsoe.

Hot/Not

Some of these athletes dominated their sport this week...some of them did not

HOT

San Antonio Spurs - Winners of 9 straight, the Spurs (37-11) have shown they are not ready to concede the West to Oklahoma City quite yet.  Tim Duncan continues to dazzle in the most boring way as he leads his team to the top spot in the West.

Photo Cred www.vuhoops.com

San Jose Sharks - The Sharks have begun the 2013 campaign with a perfect 6-0 start.  While the Kings got all the preseason hype.  Patrick Marleau and the Sharks have dominated opponents with a +16 goal differential.  A perennial regular season powerhouse, the question remains: Can the Sharks prove themselves in the playoffs?

Villanova Basketball - Amidst a mediocre 2012-2013 season, the Wildcats surprised the nation by taking down Syracuse and Louisville in the same week, ranked #3 and #5 respectively.  This monstrous week has given the young Wildcats new life in a Big East Conference with no legitamate #1 team.

Novak Djokovic - Djokovic captured his 3rd Australian Open this past weekend.  Further, in an era of Federer and Nadal dominance, he has established himself as the legitamate #1 player in the world.

Deer Antler Spray - Have you ever heard of Deer Antler Spray before this week?  What does it even do?  Thanks to Ray Lewis alleged usage, Deer Antler Spray is the new HOT commodity!

NOT

Photo Cred www.washingtonpost.com

Randy Moss - Did you hear the humble statement Randy made this week during media week?  He only said that he was the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game.  Really Randy?  That's bold, especially without even mentioning the greatest ever, Jerry Rice.

Andrew Bynum - Another star with a dumb statement this past week.  According to Andrew, it doesn't really matter when he comes back to the court.  Yeah, just so you know Bynum, the Philadelphia fans don't care when you come back either...NOT!

Lesean McCoy - On the field, McCoy is the man.  Off the field, he has some growing up to do. This week on Twitter, Lesean got into a tweeting fight with his son's mother.  After a slew of uncalled for and inappropriate tweets, he finally deleted his account.  Gotta do some maturing bro, and get a PR person.

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

MLB Players Using HGH - At least 20 players, including Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and Gio Gonzalez, were reported to have used illegal HGH.  Guys, it's a banned substance.  Stop using it!

Marshall Faulk and Tim Brown - Both of these former players have come out the past couple of weeks complaining they were cheated out of a Super Bowl ring.  Brown says his coach threw the game.  Faulk says the Patriots cheated through Spygate.  Both Super Bowls were at least 10 years ago.  Let it go men, let it go already.

Got any Hots or Nots to add?  Comment below!