Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

THE INTRO

In these playoffs, if you have picked all favorites to this point, you are 4 – 4 with and without the spread. So what it really comes down to, if you are going to be a playoff winner, is getting a few of those upset picks right, while not getting the games where the favorite covers wrong.

If thats what it takes to be a playoff winner, I am without question a playoff loser.

Maybe its because its such an even playing field, and every pick is a virtual 50/50 chance, and I’m just guessing wrong. I like that theory. Maybe I’ve completely lost my touch, and I suck again, like the old days. Not a fan of that theory. Maybe the teams that “should” be winning aren’t? Perhaps, but isn’t that what the NFL is all about? No best of 5s or 7s here – the team that plays harder and gets the bounces wins, the team that doesn’t goes home.

With 4 superbowl calibur teams left, I’m not expecting a perfect 2 – 0 week here. Hell, I’d be happy with 1 for 2. So, lets get to it; Keep your fingers crossed for me, please?

Indianapolis Colts… Why All the Hate?

Peyton Manning and the Colts lose in the big game yet again. “They had the table set for them”, “They are choke artists”, etc. But more on the game later. I have a question, and its proposed to each and every one of you (those that know what the hell I’m talking about, anyways); What is everyone’s problem with the Colts?

In class on Monday and Tuesday, all I heard was people talking about how thrilled they were that the Colts and the Patriots lost. Patriots I understood just fine; the win the frigging thing every year, I can understand the casual fan looking for a change. But what about the Colts? Why do people love to see them lose? Why do I get ragged on when I wear my Peyton Manning jersey, yet my other 12 non-Raider jerseys go without comment or sometimes compliment? The Raiders… theres another team I can understand people hating. But lets take a look at the Colts.

First of all, they are a high powered offense driven team. Yes, I respect the hell out of a great defense, or smash mouth football. But when it really comes down to it, my favorite super bowls are the ones where the offenses take the spotlight, such as New England/Carolina from a few years back and, more so, the St. Louis/Tennessee super bowl of the 99 season. If a 38 – 35 game can’t get you pumped up, you must not have a pulse. The Colts are a high-octane, shoot out team. Under the assumption that a few more bounces went their way and they shook of their rust a little sooner, its easy to argue that the Colts could (or should) have won that game last weekend, and then carried their momentum into this week and beaten the Broncos. Then, we would have seen an offensive powerhouse of a SB against Carolina or Seattle, who could both shoot out if need be. Instead, with the Broncos or Steelers in there, we’re likely going to see a high percentage of runs and defense. Wouldn’t the Colts, shaken of their rust, been a much more fun team to see in the super bowl?

And lets look at the star personnel, the main reason why MOST teams are disliked.

Peyton Manning, QB – 100% class act, and the best (though certainly not the most clutch) quarterback in football. He’s friendly, marketable, and is a welcome change to the usual attention hogging – negative media professional athlete. A great role model, even.

Edgerrin James, RB – One of the best RBs in the league, and barely recognized for it. Why? Because thats the way he likes it. With his unkept hair and lousy teeth, he is hardly a marketer’s dream; and given the option to fix himself up for commercialism, and make tons more money, he declined. He just wants to play the game of football. With people like Mike Ditka pitching erectile disfunction pills nowadays, isn’t a guy like this a fresh breath of air?

Marvin Harrison, WR – Sure, you could make the arguement that a Steve Smith or Chad Johnson is a better WR, but no one can question Harrison’s production over his career. He is widely known as one of the top 3 in the league, next to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. TO, the sideshow clown of the season, and Randy Moss, a guy who had to be traded because his whole team hated him in Minnesota. Harrison is just a quiet, productive WR. Again, football is the main focus.

Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokely, WRs – A few more guys that just catch footballs and get the job done year in and year out, without having yacht orgies and drunken barfights.

Dwight Freeny, DT – The Tazmanian Devil. This guy is so exciting to watch; his blinding speed and quick spin moves make him a threat to the QB on every play, and he alone gives you good reason to watch the Colts on defense as well.

Tony Dungy, Head Coach – One of the least controversial guys you are going to see at this position. Respectful and smart, he just wins football games (again, until the playoffs roll around..) and does so without all of the stupidity that you see in so many head coaches in this league.

So, do you hate these guys BECAUSE they arent a bunch of side show clowns? You can’t hate them for winning all the time, because they don’t do it n the playoffs – they are an underdog there. Enlighten me, Colts haters. Or, tell me that I have persuaded you. Either way, I look forward to your responses.

THE RECORD

Season (Final)
With the spread: 138 – 111 – 7 (.554)
Without the spread: 167 – 89 – 0 (.652)
$$Money Picks$$: 33 – 22 – 5 (.600)
^^Zen Picks^^: 27 – 13 – 1 (.675)

Playoffs Last Week

With the spread: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)
Without the spread: 1 – 3 (.250)
$$Money Picks$$: 0 – 0 – 0 (N/A)
^^Zen Picks^^: 0 – 1 – 0 (.000)

Playoffs

With the spread: 2 – 6 – 0 (.250)
Without the spread: 3 – 5 (.375)
$$Money Picks$$: 1 – 1 – 0 (.500)
^^Zen Picks^^: 0 – 1 – 0 (.000)

LAST WEEK’S RECAP OF DAVE’S BRILLIANCE AND FOOLISHNESS
(Usually Brilliance?!?)

Saturday

Washington 10 11 – 6 (+9.0) @ Seattle 20 13 – 3 (-9.0)
The only game that went exactly as I planned it to! Thank you so much, Seattle! Even without Alexander, the Seahawks still had enough in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Seattle

New England 13 11 – 6 (+3.0) @ Denver 27 13 – 3 (-3.0)
“I’m just not going to pick against New England in the playoffs, and if I get three points in the process, so be it. Denver is the “better team”…” – And they played like it, 100%. While I hate them with every cell in my body, I respect them big time for this huge win. They have gone from a stepping stone to the Patriots to a clear cut super bowl favorite in my book.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *$New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *New England

Sunday

Pittsburgh 18 12 – 5 (+8.5) @ Indianapolis 21 14 – 2 (-8.5)
What an absolutely wild game this was. My brother Brian, 3 days before the game, had this to say. “Dave, your wrong about the Colts. They are going to come out cold, the Steelers are going to take an early 10 or 14 – 0 lead, and it will just be too much for the Colts to overcome on such a stingy defense.” I laughed at my little brother, and called him stupid as I often do. And as I type this, $40 poorer and quite humbled, there is no question who is laughing now. Credit the Steelers for coming in to this game with no fear, and getting the job done. Too bad Manning is taking all the blame for this one; his offense line certainly didn’t do much to help him. Still, he’d have gotten the bulk of the credit had they won, so that is just how it goes.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – Indianapolis

Carolina 29 12 – 5 (+3.0) @ Chicago 21 11 – 5 (-3.0)
Not exactly the defensive struggle I was looking for… nor the outcome. There is no question that Carolina is the real deal, especially in the playoffs; they are just not a fun team to play against. Is there any answer for Steve Smith? If there is, the Bears certainly didn’t have it, as he absolutely torched them in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Chicago
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – Chicago

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
$ – Indicates Money Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

I’m tossing in over/under this week as well, since there are only two games. Over/Under works like this; whatever the number is (lets say its 40), you have to decide whether or not you feel that there are going to be more than 40 (over) or less than 40 points (under). If 40 points exactly are scored, it is a tie.

Sunday

Carolina 13 – 5 (+6.0) @ Seattle 14 – 3 (-6.0)
With Steve Smith on the prowl, no team is safe; but all the same, I still think this is the year that the Seahawks will finally make it into the Super Bowl. They’ve had too strong of a season and come too far to choke at home in this one; at least, I hope and think thats the case. And the numbers don’t disagree with me.
OVER/UNDER 44: UNDER, 17 – 10 Seattle
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Seattle

Pittsburgh 13 – 5 (+3.0) @ Denver 14 – 3 (-3.0)
This should be a hell of a game, and this could go either way very easily. I really hate to pick against the Steelers, especially after they burned me so hard last week, but I really think that the Broncos are the team to beat. Plummer has much better movement than Manning, and the Bronco’s O-Line should have a better game than the Colt’s did. So, I’m taking the dangerous pick here and going with the Broncos – though I will be rooting for the Steelers in this one.
OVER/UNDER 41.5: OVER, 28 – 24 Denver
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Denver
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Denver

KINGS HOCKEY

Before I get in to my injury rant, I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate Luc Robitaille on tying and passing Marcel Dionne as the Kings highest goal scorer of all time with 551 goals. Just because it was his night, he also added ANOTHER goal to that total, of the empty net variety. His hat trick (3 goals in one game) prompted Brian and I to throw our hats; Brians was a weak toss that went down to the bottom section, while mine was thrown about 100 mph in the wrong direction and pegged the crap out of some innocent cheering bystander a few rows away. All the same, he tossed it below (after regaining his senses), and the family and I got to be there for a great moment in Kings history. Hats off to you Luc (literally), you are now officially our highest goal scorer, and Mr. Kings Hockey himself!

Now on to what I had written BEFORE this joyous event.

Los Angeles Kings
Name Injury Status
Eric Belanger, C Groin IR (12/30)
Valeri Bure, RW Back strain IR (9/29)
Pavol Demitra RW Deep leg bruise IR (1/7)
Ryan Flinn, LW Concussion IR (11/27)
Alexander Frolov, LW Flu DTD (1/17)
Aaron Miller, D Back spasms IR (12/22)
Jeremy Roenick, C Fractured finger IR (12/21)

Dallas Stars
No injuries.

Thats about the best I can sum it up; the foxsports.com injury page. Belanger was supposed to return this week, but reinjured his groin during a morning skate, and his return has been set back for an undetermined amount of time. Demitra’s original diagnosis of a leg bruise is in fact much more serious, and he has no timetable for his return, either. This has been the King’s story for the past few years; strong start, entire team goes down to injury, lousy finish, no playoffs. I don’t think that will be the case this year; fortunately the start was VERY strong, and some of the injured will be returning shortly, playoffs are still a very real part of our potential future. Still, as we keep dropping precious points, its hard not to be saddened by all of the minor league players on our team, and the question that plagues me most; “Why us?”

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Have a great weekend everyone!

MY TEAMS RECORDS
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 29 – 18 – 3
*USC TROJANS: 12 – 1 – 0*
*OAKLAND RAIDERS: 4 – 12 – 0*

TROJAN OUTSCORING O-METER
Season:
TROJANS 638
OPPONENTS 297

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