Bleacher Report - Articles by Fred Richani

Eddie "Umaga" Fatu: Bulldozing Into Fans' Hearts Until the Very End

Fred Richani — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:31:13 -0500

This article was originally posted on TheSportsCourier.com .

On Dec. 4, 2009, the world of professional wrestling suffered yet another untimely loss. This time, it was Eddie Fatu, better known to most as former WWE superstar Umaga.

It has been reported that Fatu suffered a massive heart attack, which led to his death.

It's a real shame. He was one of the greatest super heavyweights ever and among my favorite competitors.

Usually I'm a wordsmith with articles, even ones that have touchy subjects, but it's really hard to put into text (or verbal words) how terrible of a loss this is.

For those that never witnessed Fatu's greatness, I have to say you missed out and should YouTube him A.S.A.P.

From the incredible intimidation to the phenomenal psychology to his ability to move like a cruiserweight at well over 300 pounds, the man known as Umaga wowed fans on a nightly basis.

Whether it was his hip-head-smasher-thing move, the Samoan Spike thumb strike to the Adam's Apple, or more importantly his great matches, Fatu always put on a show.

It sucks having writer's block, especially due to the shock of Fatu's death, as I really wish I could write a better tribute to the man.

At age 36, he was way too young to die. The man had a family, great career, and friends that loved him dearly. I don't know how else to say this but this sucks.

This is one of those days where quite frankly, it sucks to be a wrestling fan. I'm not saying drugs played a part in his death, despite WWE releasing him last June over his refusal to attend a rehabilitation center after a failed Wellness test.

Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if that played a part in Fatu's passing. Should we be surprised anymore? I won't begin to speculate. There's plenty of sites that can do that.

Have wrestling fans become desensitized to death?

I don't know the answer to those questions above. I just know that one of my favorite wrestlers and greatest performers of his generation is dead at 36—another unfortunate victim of the wrestling epidemic.

Don't forget, folks, a wrestler doesn't have to be on drugs to suffer what happened to Fatu.

The human body can only take so much physical and emotional stress before it quits on you. That may very well be the case here.

No matter what led to his death.

It's important that fans remember Eddie Fatu as a great wrestler, a superstar who headlined WrestleMania 23 a.k.a. the highest selling wrestling pay-per-view ever (in a match vs. Bobby Lashley that also featured Vince McMahon and Donald Trump's hair on the line), and a family man that has exited this earth far too soon.

Rest in peace, Samoan Bulldozer.

Wrestling stars' on Umaga's passing via Twitter:

WWE's Maria: So sad. Eddie was a friend. He loved wrestling and was a great entertainer. My prayers go out to Eddie's beautiful family. A great loss.

Chris Jericho: Eddie Fatu was an awesome guy and one of the brothers. I trusted him and that's a rare thing for me. I am devastated.

Chavo Guerrero Jr.: Thank u 4 your prayers 4 Umaga. He will be missed!

JBL: Had a ball tag teaming with Eddie Fatu (known as Umaga in WWE) in some of my last house show (non TV) matches, I will miss my friend.

Eric Bischoff: My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Eddie Fatu (formerly known as Umaga). He was a great performer and a wonderful person.

Lilian Garcia: Just heard news about Eddie aka Umaga. So sad. Loved him. Prayers 4 him & family

TNA President Dixie Carter: On behalf of everyone at TNA, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Fatu family.

TNA's Pope D'Angelo Dinero, said: "This is rough, very rough. My heart and prayers goes out to Umaga's wife, his boys, and family."

JTG: RIP MY FRIEND

Shannon Moore: R.I.P Ecki....Mad love and respect.We will miss you and I will cherish the times we had together.

Daniels: RIP Eddie Fatu. I'm glad I got to know you in the short time you were here.

Maryse: prayers for UMAGA and all his family!

Torrie Wilson: Much love my friend. Much love

Gangrel: Have a good journey ecki see you soon you where a ray of light in dark time one love uce

Matt Morgan: Me and my family's condolences to Eckie(Umaga)'s family. This just plain out SUCKS! Yet another great guy taken from us too early.

PAUL HEYMAN: The world is minus one very cool Samoan tonight. We offer our most profound condolences to the Fatu Family.

For more information on Eddie Fatu and his career: Click Here.

Jets-Bills: Fred Richani Previews (Video)

Fred Richani — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:43:24 -0500

The Sports Courier's Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani previews Thursday night's AFC East showdown between the New York Jets (5-6) and Buffalo Bills (4-7). Don't forget the game kicks off tonight at 8:20PM ET, only on NFL Network.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courie r , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com .
He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an away hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Jay Cutler Becomes Trending Topic on Twitter for All the Wrong Reasons

Fred Richani — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:50:22 -0500

Philadelphia 24, Chicago 20

Another primetime game, another loss for the Chicago Bears, coach Lovie Smith, and Jay Cutler.

Yes, the Bears lost on Sunday Night Football once again, this time to the Philadelphia Eagles by the final score 24-20.

You could say it was Philly's 377 total yards compared to Chicago's 284 that did the Bears in. You could say it was allowing occurrences such as a 34-yard run by Michael Vick to happen.

I say it's a lot of things. It's mostly a depleted defense that's a shadow of its former self and the fact that it seemed like all night, Cutler was trying to not throw picks, as opposed to just playing the game.

And what did the Bears in at the end with a chance to score a game-winning touchdown?

You guessed it: A Jay Cutler interception!

He was a good quarterback in Denver, under offensive genius Mike Shana-Tan, in conjunction with the great receiving core consisting of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokley.

Either the pressure of being a starting quarterback in Chicago has gotten to him or this guy was just a product of Shanahan's system and nothing more (which I really don't believe, due to his natural ability and arm strength). I mean this guy can't be THAT bad.

Yes, his receiving core stinks compared to his previous one he had in Denver, but come on, people! Tom Brady made guys like David Givens and Deion Branch look like Jerry Rice and Chris Carter during New England's Super Bowl years.

I'm not saying Cutler is even on Brady's level, but great quarterbacks can make their receivers better. Chicago's receivers stink compared to other teams, but I wouldn't classify them as "straight up trash, homey."

Regardless of tonight's loss, next week's game, and so on, if Cutler doesn't get it together, then Lovie Smith can kiss his job goodbye. And so can his receivers. Cutler will get one more year to prove he is an elite NFL quarterback after this season. Too bad the honeymoon ended for him before it even started.

Hey, Jay—at least you're a trending topic on Twitter!!

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier, 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com .

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an away hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

I Will SURVIVE! Survivor Series 2009 Preview and Predictions

Fred Richani — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:57:19 -0500

WWE has hyped Survivor Series pretty well this year. Well...sort of. I love what they've done with the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches, but the WWE Championship triple threat build up has been extremely suspect at best.

Regardless of all that, this card looks damn good on paper and definitely a lot better than last year's lackluster showing by far.

It's time to preview and predict Survivor Series 2009!

Mickie James, WWE Divas Champion Melina, Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, and Gail Kim vs. WWE Womens Champion Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Alicia Fox and Layla (Survivor Series Elimination Match)

WWE has trained us not to care about the Divas, so I really have no interest in this match—other than pointing out all the women competing are gorgeous and deserve better.

Well, at least the women that can actually wrestle (Phoenix, James, Kim, Hall, and Melina) do.

Prediction: Look for my girl Beth Phoenix to pin Melina to become the sole survivor, not Michelle McCool. Lord knows how many times she's been overexposed on TV and NOT in the good way.

Dave Batista vs. Rey Mysterio

Big Dave got tired of his b.f.f.s for life turning on him, so he beat the crap out of Rey Mysterio at Bragging Rights back in October. Technically, all Rey did was try to win the World Heavyweight Championship in a fatal four way match, which is you know, every man for himself.

The Animal didn't get the memo and proceeded to destroy Rey-Rey after the match.

Which leads us to their big showdown. This should feel like a bigger deal, but WWE's rapid fire build up combined with lackluster promos, makes this one an "okay, this MAY be interesting" kind of match.

They should have held this match off until WrestleMania, since it's you know, one of the few original and semi-entertaining feuds left for Batista.

Prediction: After a long match with Mysterio getting many near falls, Batista knocks him out with a devastating clothesline, followed by not one, not two, but THREE Batista bombs for the win.

Post-match, Big Dave powerbombs Mysterio through the announcers' table, putting him out of action until he makes a surprise return at the Royal Rumble. Meanwhile, Batista sets his sights on the World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE Intercontinental Champion John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, and Finlay vs. United States Champion The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger (Survivor Series Elimination Match)

This match annoys me. Dolph Ziggler just lost ANOTHER Intercontinental Title match to John Morrison. It's pathetic that one of WWE's hottest heels can't catch a break. He's on a PPV? GREAT.

This guy should be champion. Not like Morrison needs the belt right now, as they're probably pushing him higher up the card in a few months anyway. Oh well, I understand the concept of Miz and JoMo trying to outdo each other, but hate that it's at the expense of Mr. Ziggles and his monster potential.

And don't get me started on Jack Swagger and Shelton Benjamin! That being said, it's nice to see all the young talent in one ring (minus Finlay who regardless of his age, can still go).

Prediction : When it's all said and done, Morrison and Miz will be the final two in the ring. After a fun back and forth exchange, JoMo reverses the Skull-Crushing Finale into a DDT, setting Miz up for a dose of Starship Pain, giving Team Morrison the victory.

Kofi Kingston, MVP, Mark Henry, Christian, and R-Truth vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, C.M. Punk, and William Regal (Survivor Series Elimination Match)

I'll give Vinny Mac and Co. their props. They have finally had Kofi Kingston do away with the happy-go-lucky Jamaican gimmick and are making fans taking him seriously, via his white-hot feud with Randy Orton and The Legacy.

Too bad I can't say the same for MVP. This video pretty much sums up the awesomeness of Kingston's coming of age and the feud overall.

Wow that was awesome!

Prediction: I want to say Kofi Kingston's team wins, but I have a feeling RKO will pin the former Jamaican with a...um...RKO. That sets up a big time match between the two at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

Either that or they could have Orton punt Kofi's head to the heavens and have him return to eliminate The Viper at the Royal Rumble, setting up a huge WrestleMania match.

Hmmm.....WWE slowly booking towards Mania with one of their young stars? Eh, I won't hold my breath.

The Undertaker vs. Big Show vs. Chris Jericho (Smackdown World Heavyweight Title - Triple Threat Match):

Jeri-Show are the current Unified World Tag Team Champions. There has been tension in recent weeks between the two, setting the stage for this match very nicely. All three men can go in the ring, which is a huge plus.

Big Show is the brawn. Undertaker brings the incredible psychology. And Jericho is one of the most all-around gifted performers ever . If done correctly, this match could be one of the best triple threats and WWE main events in awhile.

This could also be Undertaker's best match since Mania 25 with HBK. It won't be nearly as good as that classic, but The Phenom has seemed a step slower since coming back in late August.

Look for a ton of near falls, Jericho getting bounced around like a basketball, and Taker and Show participating in a super heavyweight game of one-upsmanship.

Prediction: WWE will go one of two ways. They will either have Undertaker retain the title via the Hell's Gate triangle choke hold and then move on to a great match between The Phenom and Batista at TLC.

Or they could have Jericho sneakily claim the World Heavyweight Title by allowing Show and Taker to take each other out, as the self-righteous Canadian swoops in for the pinfall. I'm really hoping for the latter.

Think about it.

Yes, Jericho and Taker fought on Smackdown a couple weeks back, but who wouldn't wanna see these two again at Mania—especially if Edge isn't back by then. Then again, this past Raw indicates it'll be Taker vs Cena at WrestleMania 26. O-M-G! Unpredictability in wrestling! Vintage Attitude Era! I hate Michael Cole.

John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (WWE Heavyweight Title - Triple Threat Match):

This sucks. This is a match that could be a classic. These are three of WWE's biggest stars in terms of popularity, drawing power, and how strong they are portrayed on television, yet the average fan wouldn't know there was any actual tension between the three.

You see, unlike the Smackdown main event, which has been hyped through competitive matches, great promos, and hints of deception amongst tag team partners, RAW's marquee bout has been the total opposite.

When a world title program involves Hornswoggle aka the leprechaun-like midget, comedy, more comedy, really really bad comedy, lame comedy promos that aren't funny, and more crapola of the aforementioned, then you know the build-up sucks.

You also lose that feeling of epicness (I made that word up, so shut your mouth). Sigh, I can only think of what could have been had WWE PROPERLY built this match up.

Prediction : Despite the horrendous build up, this match should be extremely fun to watch, with hints of a Triple H heel turn. Whether it'll happen now or later on remains to be seen, but look for Cena to somehow, someway, retain the WWE Title and beat the odds! Again. Vintage Cena (Damn you, Cole)! YAWN.

Next month at TLC, I predict we'll see Christian vs. CM Punk, The Undertaker vs. Batista (Hopefully I'm very wrong about Jericho losing at this PPV!), and Orton vs. Cena vs. Michaels vs. DX (Ultra-YAWN). Enjoy the November classic everybody!

Photos courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE.com

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, N.J., just an away hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Knicks Win the First-Ever Toilet Bowl in NJ

Fred Richani — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:51:58 -0500

1:00 PM ET, November 21, 2009
IZOD Center
East Rutherford, NJ

Who says the NBA can't have bowl games?

Today at the New Jersey Nets' own arena, the franchise reached an incredible milestone. This accomplishment has gone beyond mediocrity and the depths of NBA lottery hell.

Today, the Nets faced their Atlantic division rivals, the New York Knicks.

The game featured extremely sloppy plays and just plain bad basketball between the worst the NBA has to offer. Now I have never lied about this, but I'll say it again. As a guy that grew up 20 minutes away from New York City, I do have a soft spot for the teams in the area.

That being said, I'm very unbiased and when a team is just plain bad, I say it. Saturday afternoon featured two teams that are atrocious. I can't describe it any other way.

The Knicks should have beaten New Jersey by more than seven, as the final score was 98-91 . After all, the majority of their team is healthy, yet still 3-9 after Saturday. As for the Nets, now 0-13 , they are running out of excuses.

All-Star guard Devin Harris did come back from a groin injury, but only off the bench, with 26 minutes played—good enough for 12 points and seven assists. Trenton Hassell (yes, he's still in the league) played 36 minutes.

Yes, they gave Trenton Hassell 36 minutes.

I can't hold my tongue any longer. As nice as the Nets organization has been to my friends and I in the past with great prices and phenomenal courtesy, I find it sickening to watch another game this season—unless it's to see a big star on the opposing team (LeBron James, Steve Nash, etc.).

Okay, so the Nets will have around 24 million in cap room, if not, much more come the Summer of 2010. Great. Luckily, I'm not a season ticket holder.

But tell me something Kiki Vandeweghe and Rod Thorn....

What the hell do you tell your season ticket holders?

Bad breaks happen, I understand. Injuries happen, I get it. But 0-13? The franchise is only four games back from the record of 0-17 to start a season. They could even break the record and be the all-time worst.

I think Devin Harris is a fine player, but try telling your All-Star to make things happen with Yi Jianlian, Sean "PacMan Jones' bastard son" Williams, and Trenton freakin' Hassell.

Oh, don't forget an underachieving Rafer Alston, who magically stinks up the joint after having impressive seasons with Houston and Orlando. Either that guy has lost his touch or he just doesn't blend in.

AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
Is there a better way to sum up the Nets' season?

Like I've previously said, I believe Chris Douglas-Roberts, Devin Harris, and Brook Lopez will be the remaining Nets next year. Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams aren't locks, but they are good young players that can develop.

As for the Knicks, they are bad with or without Allen Iverson. If there's one thing I'll applaud the franchise for, it's not signing A.I., who while great, is incredibly selfish and not what that franchise needs after the Stephon Marbury-Isiah Thomas era.

As far as everything else goes, the team and organization altogether puts a terrible product on the court and if they don't deliver on their big surprise next year, then hello NBA lottery hell for another five years.

And my condolences to Knicks season ticket holders that have to spend even more money than Nets fans do to watch a team that has talent, but no chemistry, direction, resourcefulness, or hope (for now). My thoughts and prayers are with your bank accounts.

Whoops! Where was I?

Oh yeah, New York beat New Jersey 98-91 in The Toilet Bowl, brought to you by Bed, Bath, & Beyond. This game proves that two teams that are "straight up trash, homey" can be LEGALLY scheduled by David Stern for an audience's viewing anguish. And more proof that the NBA can have bowl games.

Craig Sager : Congratulations, Donnie Walsh! Your team just won The Toilet Bowl. What are you gonna do now? Go to Disney World?!

Donnie Walsh : No, Craig. I'm going to thank God for Jerome James no longer being on my roster and pray that Mikhail Prokhorov (future Nets owner) doesn't haunt me in my nightmares.

Atlanta Hawks Making the NBA Take Notice

Fred Richani — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:36:38 -0500

When experts were asked who would be contending for an NBA Championship in 2009-10, I believe they mentioned the following teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Orlando Magic.

I don't think any of them expected much from the Atlanta Hawks, who are now 10-2—tied with the Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA.

The Atliens are coming!

Okay, so while the Mavs and Suns lead their respective divisions, it shouldn't be that surprising, considering they have more than one legitimate All-Star that plays for them. The Hawks don't have that luxury.

They have Joe Johnson, who took the heat (pun intended) out of Miami on Wednesday, with 30 points, to tie his Hawks with Phoenix for the NBA's best record thus far.

Not bad for a team with a coach that was previously in lame-duck status. When I mentioned before about the Hawks only having one legitimate All-Star, I didn't make that statement to bury the rest of the team. I meant it from a fan's perspective.

When you think of All-Star forwards in the Eastern Conference, the names Garnett, LeBron (who can play multiple positions), and Bosh are the ones that most likely come to mind first.

Well forget them for a second and enter Josh Smith (a.k.a. the player that bares a striking resemblance to west coast rapper The Game). At only 23-years old, the College Park, GA native (home of Yung Joc for you hip-hop heads out there) has already been in the league for five seasons and counting (drafted out of high school).

It took him awhile to mature, but that dude can ball.

Just take a look at his averages the last three seasons, counting this one(numbers rounded to nearest tenth. Ex: 16.7 ppg = 17 ppg):

2007-08: 17 points per game , three assists, three blocks , and eight rebounds

2008-09: 16 points per game, two assists, one block, and seven rebounds

2009-10 (12 games played): 16 points per game, three blocks, 9 rebounds

If those numbers aren't impressive, then maybe his dunks will do send you the message (he is 2005's Slam Dunk Champion). But the Hawks' talent doesn't stop there.

They have a great veteran guard in Mike Bibby, famous for those Sacramento Kings teams that were so fun to watch in the early/mid-2000s. Guard Jamal Crawford has finally found a place where he can play like...well, Jamal Crawford, averaging nearly 17 points and three assists. He sure can score.

If there is one guy from the ATL people need to take notice of, beyond the team's scorers, it's their center, Al Horford. Here's a guy that may not score a ton of points (career average in his two-plus seasons is 11), but gets the job done on the defensive side of things, averaging nearly a double-double in every NBA season he's played.

The man who could be considered an undersized center at 6'10” and 245lbs, comes from a winning background via the University of Florida. He won two National Championships in 2006 and 2007 and took home the NCAA Finals MVP Award both times as well. What the statistics don't show you is his hustle.

Just watch his playoff games against the eventual NBA Champion Celtics back in 2008. I dare you to tell me there's fear in those eyes and he was a rookie back then, going up against the likes of Kevin Garnett!

The bottom line is that the Florida alum is a winner. He won in college. He's won playoff berths in the NBA and last season, his team even won the first round. Don't underestimate Al Horford.

Actually, don't underestimate the entire Atlanta Hawks team. Who knows where they'll be in a month's time or as far as the All-Star break. But screw the immediate future for now. I'm not Miss Cleo. Let's focus on the now. And right now, the Atlanta Hawks are the best team in league, record-wise.

That might not last, but don't be surprised if they upset one of your championship picks this postseason.

ATL, stand up!

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com .

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, N.J., just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Bills Contact Someone Slightly More Qualified Than Dick Jauron

Fred Richani — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:46:11 -0500

Just one day after firing head coach Dick Jauron (or Dick The Cadaver, considering how he carried himself), the Buffalo Bills have contacted their ideal candidate—someone just a little more qualified.

Okay, that is an understatement if there was ever one.

According to sources and ESPN's NFL insider Adam "The Iron Schef" Schefter, Buffalo has contacted/in the process of arranging a meeting with former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan coached the Denver Broncos from 1995-2008. He won two Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998 with a little help from some dudes named John Elway and Terrell Davis.

Besides his brilliant tan, Shanahan would be a significant upgrade from Jauron, due to his winning pedigree and great judgment of talent—mostly on the offensive side of the ball.

You would think the Bills would be decent on offense with Marshawn Lynch (a candidate for the NFL All-Ugly team), a solid quarterback in Trent Edwards (who has been out with yet another concussion), and two outstanding wideouts: Lee Evans (one of the better players no one has ever heard of) and Terrell Owens (or T.O.: Team Obliterater, as Skip Bayless calls him).

Think again!

The team is 29th in total offense, only in front of the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Bums Browns. Not cool, Buffalo, especially for your fans.

How about Denver's ranking last year under Shanahan?

2008: No. 2

And that's a team that didn't even make the playoffs last season. Yes, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and 1,000 running backs were on that team, but Shanahan even made things work with prior to 2008 with mistake-prone Jake Plummer, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals—pre-non-perennial-losers era.

I have no idea if T.O. will be back next year, but if he can't find another team, it might be in his best interest to stick around if Shana-Tan is at the helm, who may not be the best guy to pick out defensive stoppers, but has an uncanny knack for drafting productive, offensive talent.

Unless he'd rather play for Wade Phillips again..............................................

..................That's what I thought.

Shooting Burritos?! R.I.P. 2009-10 Nets

Fred Richani — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:28:15 -0500

Many of you might be wondering why I didn't post a recap of the Nets losing 91-83 to the Indiana Pacers last night. After all, 0-11 is a horrendous record and their worst start in franchise history. Well, there are a few reasons:

After watching the game live and in-person, my head exploded. Yes, the seats were $10, which was an extremely kind gesture by the Nets organization, but Tuesday night was depressing. Sure, the Izod Center has never been sold out on a consistent basis, yet it would always be rockin'.

Last night, the arena looked half empty. It was lifeless—much like the play on the court.

I don't live in Los Angeles, so I don't watch the Clippers on a regular basis, but what I saw last night was not worth going into detail about who scored how much.

Bottom line, last night was just horrendous basketball.

The Nets' only bright spots, outside of injured All-Star Devin Harris, are Chris Douglas-Roberts, who scored a career-high 27 points and Brook Lopez, who added 26 points and 16 rebounds. I know quite a few of the players are/have been injured for New Jersey. Still, that is no excuse.

The Nets had a chance to cut the lead or tie and got so close, only to miss key rebounds and commit fouls (I'm talking to you, Sean Williams).

Outside of the three aforementioned players, Courtney Lee, and perhaps rookie Terrence Williams, none of these Nets will be there next year. Not Bobby Simmons. Not Trenton Hassell (yes, he's still in the league). Not Yi Jianlian...especially not Yi Jianlian.

You can argue with me that the Nets are a rebuilding team and all. Go ahead.

I already know New Jersey has potential, but potential doesn't equal wins. 2010 seems so far away right now.

Sigh...it's going to be a long, long season.

Oh, by the way, the Nets weren't shooting t-shirts into the crowd last night...as WFAN 's Steve Somers said, they were "shooting burritos..."

Burritos?!

You know your team is bad when that becomes the topic of discussion on local sports talk radio. 'Nuff said.

Allen Iverson: Me First, Team Later

Fred Richani — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:03:02 -0500

Just when you thought the "me first" culture in New York Knicks basketball was changing, post-Isiah Thomas era, THINK AGAIN!

Knicks president Donnie Walsh claims his team will at least look into signing the recently-waived guard Allen Iverson. Yes, A.I.'s tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies is done already. Go figure.

Sure, on the surface, New York looks to be a good fit. Iverson would have a great coach in Mike D'Antoni and a nice cast of young guys that desperately need a spark at 1-9. But here's the thing: New York is a good fit for A.I., yet the future Hall of Famer is NOT a good fit for the team.

Why, you ask?

His tenure at Memphis barely lasted a couple of weeks. His stint in Detroit last season was embarrassing to the game, considering the fact he openly complained about coming off the bench.

I mean if he was a backup to say, Acie Law, then I could understand. But the guy was backing up Richard "Rip" Hamilton, a.k.a. former NBA champion. A.k.a. the leader of the Pistons, who last time I checked has been to a lot more Conference/NBA Finals than Iverson has in his entire career.

How about Iverson's time in Denver?

Iverson always complained about not playing with a true superstar. He got his wish when he was traded a few years back to the Denver Nuggets to play with All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The result? A team that couldn't distribute the ball properly and underachieved.

Now like I said, Allen Iverson is a Hall of Fame guard. He's also one of the most selfish players in recent memory—at least for his caliber of play. Keep in mind, this is the same Allen Iverson that contemplated retirement if he didn't find a starting job in the NBA! Newsflash: it's a young man's game.

And if A.I. does sign somewhere as a starter, the only place that would make sense is Charlotte, where his old Philly 76ers coach Larry Brown is currently at.

Let's be real here. There's a reason why this guy is not on contending teams such as the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Blazers, Magic, and Cavaliers. The reason is because he is Allen Iverson: great player, who still, at the age of 34, can't understand the concept of team. Perhaps, he should ask Manu Ginobli if he'd rather start or win championships.

So maybe I'm a bit biased at the moment. No, not because Iverson played in Philly. No, not because I hate A.I. (I don't). I'd rather not have one of the teams of my youth be further plagued by someone selfish. Sure, he's nowhere near of a jerk as estranged guard Stephon Marbury, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't cause problems.

And while Iverson would be a huge upgrade from Chris Duhon, I doubt he'll distribute the ball much or trust his teammates. If anything, it seems like nothing's ever good enough for him.

He wants to win and has a chance to join a contender, but spurns them due to a sixth man role. He wants to start in Detroit and when he starts losing, it proves that the man was a bad fit—guess what happens?

"Hey coach, I have issues. See ya later!"

I know the Knicks are "straight up trash, homey," but if Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni truly want to build a winning culture in New York, Allen Iverson is NOT the answer.

See, folks. ESPN2's Skip Bayless can be right. And his old assessment of A.I. could never be more true.

Even to this day, A.I. is still all about Me, Myself, and I-Verson.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com .

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, N.J., just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Baltimore Soils Cleveland in Shutout

Fred Richani — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:40:44 -0500

Baltimore 16

Cleveland 0

8:30 PM ET

Nov. 16, 2009

Cleveland Browns Stadium,

Cleveland, OH

Both teams were scoreless at halftime, but that didn't stop the Baltimore Ravens from soiling the Cleveland Browns' chances of upsetting their AFC North rival.

Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn was "straight trash homey," with only 13 completions to 31 attempts, a meager 99 passing yards, and two costly picks, including one that was ran in for a touchdown. QB Rating for the night: 23.5.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco didn't have to do much, but got the job done, going 13/18 for 155 yards with a 98.1 QB rating.

The Ravens also outperformed Cleveland on the ground—134 rushing yards and a touchdown via Le'Ron McClain, Ray Rice, and Willis McGahee, compared to the Browns' 86 from Josh Cribbs, Chris Jennings, and Jamal Lewis.

This was an emotional game for the soon-to-be retired Lewis, who ran for only 36 yards against his old team. This lose definitely won't help those emotions.

If anything, playing for the Browns probably makes him want to retire tomorrow. Sorry, Cleveland, but you know it's true.

The final score: 16-0. Baltimore is now back on the winning track at 5-4 and set to take on the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (9-0) this Sunday. The Colts barely got past New England Sunday night. Perhaps, Baltimore will have better luck. Remember, the Ravens need this game way more than Indy does.

As for the Browns, well....they're 1-8 and face the Detroit Lions, a team with the same record. Unlike the Browns, Detroit actually has a dominant wide receiver in the name of Calvin Johnson.

This will either be a great offensive day for Detroit or a close game that may be one of the worst contests in NFL history.

Take your pick because I won't be watching.

Quick Hits:

Ray Lewis on Brady Quinn's questionable chop-block on Terrell Suggs, who injured his knee because of it : "Heck yeah, it was a cheap shot. When you're running down and you're looking at the quarterback going at somebody's knees who doesn't even have the ball. I want to see if he gets the same fine I got or even higher. Now this man is out four or five weeks because of some baloney like that."

Injury: Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs was carried from the field on a stretcher at the end of the game, as a result of a nasty hit. No word on his condition, although Eric Mangini states he was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. I smell fine....make that FINES.

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides in Freehold, N.J., just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Ravens-Browns: The Definitive Preview

Fred Richani — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:38:58 -0500

Baltimore at Cleveland

8:30 PM ET, November 16, 2009
Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
ESPN

Ah, it's that time of the week again. The point of this preview is to get you all excited for Monday Night Football. I mean outside of WWE Raw, I don't think there's a greater tradition on Monday Nights. This Monday, we have the match-up of the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) vs. the Cleveland Browns (1-7).

Now I know what your initial reaction might be when you see this game on paper: R.I.P. Browns.

I get that. At 1-7, respect will not come the way of the Cleveland Browns, whose season is all but done with eight games left to play. And when I mean done, I mean no chance for AFC North contention, let alone a playoff berth.

That being said, there are some positives and key storylines that will make this game a heck of a lot more enjoyable for you, the viewers.

The Quarterbacks:

NFL.com

The Cleveland Browns have been horrible at quarterback for a while now. Derek Anderson had one great year in 2007 (29 TD, 19 INT) and then proceeded to fall so far off the NFL map statistically that it made Browns fans' heads explode.

Two years after his “flash in the pan” season, Anderson is enjoying the year 2009 with 681 passing yards, two touchdowns, nine interceptions, and an abysmal 36.2 quarterback rating. Where's Tim Couch when you need 'im?

On the other side of Cleveland's spectrum comes another quarterback, former Notre Dame standout Brady Quinn—a once-heralded savior of the Browns, now floundering.

Now don't be quick to throw Quinn under the bus just yet. Since 2007, he's only played in eight regular season games.

Yes, the stats are not that impressive: 972 passing yards, three touchdowns, five interceptions, and a career QB rating of 64.1. On the surface, it's easy to say “Brady sucks,” but think about this.

Brady Quinn got hurt last year when he finally started. This year, he was named the guy , only to be yanked by the world's most-controlling-coach-who-gets-nowhere, I mean, Eric Mangini, early in the season after a couple bad outings.

Really?

Well, needless to say, “Mangenius” looked like a dope for putting Anderson back in the helm and now has gone back to Quinn.

So why should we care?

Brady Quinn was a standout at Notre Dame. He's a great athlete and if you haven't noticed, he's probably the most muscular/shredded/oh-my-God-I-didn't-know-he-was-THAT-jacked quarterback in the entire league. That should say something about how he's committed to getting better each day—at least physically.

Monday night is his chance to shine and exploit a Baltimore defense that's not nearly as good as they used to be.

Now on to Baltimore's Joe Flacco. Many say he should have been Rookie of the Year last season, given the fact that he led his team to the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the actual winner of the award, Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan, was one and done in the postseason.

No matter the recipient of awards, Flacco proved his worth in 2008 and has improved by leaps and bounds in 2009.

Last season, my New Jersey friend from Audubon (where ever the hell that is) had the following stats: 2,971 passing yards, 14 TD, 12 INT, and a QB rating of 80.3.

Now enter 2009 in just eight games played: 2,044 passing yards, 12 TD, and 7 INT. He's on pace for over 3,000 passing yards and more than 14 TD.

Not bad for the 6'6” sophomore, who seems cooler than a cucumber at times.

Unfortunately for him, some in the general NFL audience may not care about Flacco or by golly, have even heard of him (Yes, I used golly. Shut up.)

This is Flacco's chance to show people that Matt Ryan, Chad Henne, and other young quarterbacks that he is one of the premiere players in the league.

Heck, it can be a coming out party for him in front of a national audience. Maybe when the game's over people will say “He's no Brady or Manning, but he can get there.”

Offense/Defense

Okay, the Browns are dead last in defense and second-to-last in offense (only ranking higher than the Oakland Raiders). The Ravens are 11th in offense and 12th in defense. But don't go crazy just yet.

If Quinn is indeed the spark the Browns need, then this could turn into a fun game, with two young quarterbacks looking to outshine each other.

Defensively, look for the Ravens to make an example out of Quinn and receiver/returner/runner/everything-else-man Josh Cribbs.

Jamal Lewis

If for no other reason, you should watch this game to see Browns running back Jamal Lewis play against his old team one last time. Lewis, who spent his first six seasons with Baltimore, announced last week that he would retire at the end of this season.

He is currently 21st all-time in rushing yards with 10,456—7,801 of them (including the second-highest single season rushing record of 2,066 yards in 2006) came wearing the Ravens' purple and black.

He was also the youngest player back in 2001, to win a Super Bowl title (via the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV victory over the New York Giants).

Al Tielemans/SI

And even though Lewis has been dismal this season with only 349 rushing yards with no touchdowns, remember he has been hampered by injuries, bad coaching, and the Browns' offensive woes.

But you can forget that on Monday night. Even with an ankle injury, Lewis plans to play.

In every season of his career (excluding this one), he has rushed for over 900 yards. I think he still has something left in the tank—at least for this game, given the extra motivation it will provide.

The Bottom Line

See, this game won't be THAT bad, if not bad at all. It might make for a hard-hitting and unexpectedly spectacular clash between two AFC North rivals for all their marbles. For Baltimore, winning this game is imperative to stay alive in the crowded AFC Wild Card hunt.

For Cleveland, this is a great game to utilize as a measuring stick to see where they are at this season and more importantly—the future.

Enjoy your Monday night!

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, N.J., just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Indianapolis Colts Stun New England Patriots with Miraculous Comeback

Fred Richani — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:04:57 -0500

Indianapolis 35

New England 34

At one point in the fourth quarter, the Indianapolis Colts were down 34-21. All hope was lost, right?

WRONG.

Peyton Manning and his offense came roaring back with two touchdowns: one on the ground via running back Joseph Addai and another courtesy of receiver Reggie Wayne.

With two interceptions, it definitely wasn't Peyton Manning's best day, but his four touchdowns, 327 passing yards and Indianapolis' incredible defense in crunch time more than made up for it.

Not to be outdone, Pats QB Tom Brady threw for 375 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. Both teams played extremely hard, but what did New England in were two inexplicable timeouts in the fourth quarter that were unlike Bill Belichick.

One was right before a new set of downs. The other was during a Fourth and Two situation, where the Pats could have punted the ball and attempted to defensively stuff the Colts at their own goal line.

So much for that.

Instead, the Pats gave the ball up on downs and eventually lost the game. Next Sunday, the Patriots, now at 6-3, will face the New York Jets (4-5), who have lost five of their last six games.

As for the undefeated Colts (9-0), they hope to continue their amazing momentum against the Baltimore Ravens, who are still a very dangerous team at 4-4.

Regardless of what occurs next week, the real winners tonight were the fans. There's only two words that truly describe this game: INSTANT CLASSIC.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com .

He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Bengals Shock Steelers in Season Sweep

Fred Richani — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:00:57 -0500

1:00 PM ET
November 15, 2009
Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh, PA

The Cincinnati Bengals are used to being the red-headed (in this case—orange) stepchild of the AFC North division. Actually, outside of a couple .500 or better seasons over the years, the Bengals haven't had much success in general. That's disappointing considering the talent the team had and STILL has.

Well, that's all the past because at 7-2, they sit atop the AFC North—four of those seven wins coming against the Baltimore Ravens and the team they beat this Sunday: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Cincinnati Bengals have the second-best record in the entire AFC, the AFC North division all but wrapped up, and are owners of the NUMBER TWO rushing defense in the NFL.

Cincinnati 18 Pittsburgh 12

The final score of Sunday's game was 18-12 in favor of the Bengals. They have swept the two teams that represented the AFC in the championship game last postseason in Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Not only is that incredibly impressive, but more so since they still have Marvin Lewis as their coach (somehow, some way), a similar cast of characters that are now healthy (Palmer, Ochocinco, Henry), and the fact that historically, at least recently, the team hasn't been very good.

Even with their star running back Cedric Benson out with a hip injury during the second half, the orange and black found a way to win at the Steelers' own house.

Then again, when Pittsburgh can't get their rushing attack going and Big Ben Roethlisberger has to throw 40 times (only completing 20 passes), including one pass that ended up being picked off, then it's hard to win a football game—especially against the new and improved Bengals.

The Steelers didn't have the services of safety Troy Polamalu for practically the whole game (except the opening series of downs), aggravating the left knee injury that previously sidelined him for four games. No word yet on his status or when he will return.

Despite the injury, at 6-3, the defending Super Bowl Champions are still in good shape with a relatively light (by their standards) schedule in front of them. However, any hopes of a first-round bye in the postseason or an AFC North division crown can be kissed goodbye.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Eddie Guerrero: Forever Young

Fred Richani — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:48:57 -0500

It seems just like yesterday when I found out one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero passed away, due to heart failure. Nov. 13, 2005 was such a sad day for wrestling fans around the world. It was definitely a tragic moment that hit the wrestling world hard like a meteorite.

Guerrero's employer, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), publicly implemented a wellness policy, consisting of stringent drug tests for all their superstars. Superstars that test positive end up suspended and may receive rehabilitation treatment.

Guerrero's death may not have been drug-related directly, but certainly, his past use of pain killers, steroids, and alcohol did contribute to his untimely demise.

It is a shame, since he was clean for a number of years prior to his death, although the Signature Pharmacy scandal of 2007 reveals that illegal performance enhancing drugs were shipped to his home two weeks before his passing.

Whatever the true circumstances surrounding his death may be, Latino Heat is considered one of the greatest ever. The man had it all—good look, suave attitude, charisma, and most of all, exceptional in-ring ability.

His matches with Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Edge, and Rob Van Dam (just to name a few) were almost always instant classics.

Guerrero spanned the globe too, wrestling for AAA in Mexico, NJPW in Japan, and ECW, WCW, and WWE in the states.

As nice as it is to see Guerrero's family members Vickie and Chavo Jr., as well as friends Batista and Rey Mysterio getting great exposure in WWE, that still doesn't change the fact the company over-exploited his death via a series of angles that tastelessly referenced him in late-2005, early-2006.

I know it's a show and it must go on, but using his name in an angle to get heat for then-Smackdown superstars Randy Orton and Chavo Guerrero was extremely insensitive. Then again, no one held a gun to their heads, so who knows...

Regardless of how you feel about the aforementioned angles, there should be no doubt in anybody's mind that Eddie Guerrero was one of the best of his generation. He overcame demons, worked hard, won the hearts of millions, and still leaves an impact on WWE today, as proven by their recent tribute to him on A Decade of Smackdown.

I could go on and on about Eddie Guerrero, but that video does all the justice for Latino Heat. It may have been four years since his death, but Eddie Guerrero will be forever young and loved. Rest in peace, Eddie. Thanks for the memories.

Viva La Raza!!!!!

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Jay Cutler Becomes NFL Leader—in INTERCEPTIONS

Fred Richani — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:59:03 -0500

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is now the league leader in interceptions with 17 in only nine games this season. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns. Not a good look for Cutler, who forced a trade from the Denver Broncos to Chicago after having his feelings hurt by head coach Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels attempted to trade Cutler for then-New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel.

Cutler on the Bears? Not a good look so far........

To make matters worse, the Bears lost tonight to the San Francisco 49ers (4-5) , who snapped a four game skid Thursday by the final score of 10-6. The Bears are now 4-5, in large part thanks to Cutler's incredibly awful night against San Francisco, highlighted by FIVE INTERCEPTIONS (CAREER HIGH) and a QB RATING OF 33.6!

That makes Niners' quarterback Alex Smith (a first-round pick that was a bust, now back from the NFL dead) look like Joe Montana.

These tweets by ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and columnist Jemele Hill said it best...

PTI (PTIShow): Somewhere, Rex Grossman is chuckling.

jemelehill: RT @thetillshow : Dear Jay Cutler, you aint nothin w/o me. Signed, Brandon Marshall

And my personal favorite....

Rex Grossman to Jay Cutler: C'mon Son.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Best Team of NFL Midseason: New Orleans Saints

Fred Richani — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:29:07 -0500

I was close to ranking the Indianapolis Colts higher simply because of quarterback Peyton Manning's stellar play, but with the loss of Bob Sanders (yes, AGAIN), among other injuries, I can see Indy being one and done in the postseason yet again.

As for the Saints, they are the best team in the league for a few reasons. First of all, they have Drew Brees, arguably the best quarterback in the league not named Brady or Manning. Just look at the numbers: 106.1 QB rating, 2,336 passing yards, and 17 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

And even though Brees hasn't gone ballistic as much as last season (not that he has to), that's actually a good thing.

It shows that it's not always Brees that has to make a big play. Thanks to the Saints' improved defense, specifically their safety and pick-sixing (look it up in the Fred Richani dictionary) extraordinaire Darren Sharper, who already has seven interceptions—three returned for touchdowns.

Oh, I realize at this time the Saints are ranked 16 in total defense (tackles, sacks, interceptions, points allowed, etc.) at this time, which may not impress some. Well news flash: they were ranked towards the bottom last season. That's still a pretty significant improvement.

One more thing.

The Saints still have Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey (who as a Giants fan I DESPISE), great offensive line, and a running back palooza featuring Mike Bell (same one that disappeared off of the earth two seasons prior), Pierre Thomas (who has to be the toughest Frenchman to come from France since.......okay let's move on), and Reggie Bush (aka the man lucky enough to get back with Kim Kardashian after they broke up. And you know what? I don't blame him!).

Did I mention they have Drew Brees and that the Saints are number one in total offense (yards per game) with 426.9?

I rest my case.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com, and everythingyntk.com. Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline, Pro Wrestling Torch, GOOGLE News, and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

For Knicks and Nets, Hope is a Year Away

Fred Richani — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:29:51 -0500

The following column has been featured on CBS Sports.

Oh...My...Gosh.

The New York Knicks are 1-8—off to their worst start since the 2002-2003 season (the start of Isiah's Years of Hell). And the New Jersey Nets are 0-8—off to their worst start in franchise history.

What the hell is wrong with New York area teams?!

At least the Giants have hope, despite losing four straight after a 5-0 start. After all, they have a quarterback, coaches, and a variety of players that can say, “We've won the big one.” I don't see that guy on either one of my local basketball teams.

The Nets are a case of the worst luck a team could have outside of being run simultaneously by Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, and Eric Mangini (Yikes!). They have injury issues with their All-Star point guard Devin Harris (groin), Courtney Lee (groin), and reliable sixth man Keyon Dooling (hip).

If that's not bad enough, Chris Douglas-Roberts has the H1N1 virus (swine flu). There goes the Nets' depth at guard.

Also F Bobby Simmons has left the team for the time being, due to personal issues.

Wow.

That's certainly more bad luck than most teams should have in their first eight games. Oh, and Yi Jianlian stinks (out with sprained right MCL). Yeah, I said it.

The Knicks on the other hand are, well...the Knicks: A talented group of young players that don't have the chemistry to consistently win games. Double-double machine David Lee, Nate Robinson, and a much-improved Danilo Gallinari make a nice threesome for New York, but apparently not good enough for abundant victories.

Those guys can be cornerstones for the Knicks or other teams, but the chemistry among the entire squad is missing. The resourcefulness is missing. That relevant (not you, Eddy Curry) veteran presence is equally absent.

Both teams seem to be waiting until 2010 to make a major splash, although in fairness to the Nets, they still, by some miracle, have a chance to be an eighth-seed in the "Leastern" Conference.

The Chicago Bulls started 0-7 in the 2004-05 season, yet still made the playoffs with a relatively young core like this Nets' squad.

Plus, the Nets have more upside. They have a talented, young center in Brook Lopez, who is currently averaging 18 points and nearly eight rebounds per game. They also still have All-Star Devin Harris; a point guard that has the potential to make New Jerseyans temporarily forget the name Jason Kidd.

Either way, both teams are looking to sign a 2010 free agent like Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, or LeBron James.

To me, James' current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, still have the best chance to be his 2010 destination and beyond.

With the start the Miami Heat are having at 6-1, it's safe to say that Pat Riley is making his case for Dwyane Wade to stay put. Who would want to leave a potentially great team post-2010 free agency that plays near South Beach?

That's what I thought.

Furthermore, Nowitzki seems too loyal to Mark Cuban to leave the Dallas Mavericks, but you never know in the NBA. Toronto Raptors' star Chris Bosh can ball, but he may very well be the RuPaul of the NBA, as Shaquille O'Neal kindly put it last season.

And don't get me started on T-Mac or Boozer because those guys won't get the money that they'll be looking for given a lower salary cap, their history of injuries, and in McGrady's case—lack of postseason success.

Then again, if LeBron, Wade, and Nowitzki stay put, that leaves Amar'e Stoudemire (offensively great, but defensively not so much), Bosh (RuPaul), Boozer, McGrady, and veterans like Steve Nash as the major names in the '10 pot.

A team might just be desperate enough to overpay for one.

The Knicks and Nets are both aiming at 2010 for success. One free agent won't make these teams contenders, but could tremendously boost their overall presence and assist them in obtaining immediate success. Like I said before, the Nets are in much better shape with Douglas-Roberts, Lopez, Lee, and Harris.

Talk about an all-potential team right there (sorry Blazers).

A guy like Boozer or Bosh could make that team a perennial playoff qualifier and perhaps, when the squad has matured—a contender.

The Knicks could get a big time free agent too, but one guy doesn't fix everything. There is no guarantee that Robinson and Lee will be on the team next season, or anyone on the current roster for that matter.

Unless LeBron decides that giving new life to a once-great franchise and the Mecca of Sports (Madison Square Garden) could make him more legendary than winning in Cleveland, than the Knicks don't have a chance of signing him. Sorry, Knicks fans.

The summer of 2010 is going to be upon us eventually. Until then, the Knicks and Nets could improve or continue to lose and make their fans miserable.

Take your pick on what happens next.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com, and everythingyntk.com. Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline, Pro Wrestling Torch, GOOGLE News, and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides between New York City and Philadelphia in Freehold, NJ.

Al Davis Involved in Fantasy Football Scandal

Fred Richani — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:44:25 -0500

According to documents obtained by The Sports Courier, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has allegedly been paying off fantasy footballers to draft/trade for players on his roster, despite the fact that as a unit, they are horrendous.

This stunning revelation occurred when The Sports Courier's Fred Richani chatted with the alleged suspect in this fantasy football scandal, Sean William Descartes—a 17-year-old from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. In a nutshell, the message was random, asking Richani if he could trade all his fantasy players.

It turns out Richani's fantasy players did not match the ones Becker desired. Oddly, Becker wanted to trade for the entire Oakland Raiders......OFFENSE. Now unless the young man is heavily intoxicated, no one would want to pick up JaMarcus Russell and his 48.3 quarterback rating, highlighted by two touchdowns to nine interceptions.

A source close to Becker that wished to be referred to as Nick The Anonymous, claims that the young man does not participate in drug use, but rather that his attempts to trade for the Oakland Raiders offense were a result of a hefty pay off by Al Davis.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Al Davis, and the entire Raiders organization could not be reached for comment. More details to come.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor and columnist. Richani founded The Sports Courier n 2009. He is currently a columnist and album reviewer for 411Mania.com and a syndicated writer for BleacherReport.com.

His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline, 1Wrestling.com, Pro Wrestling Torch, Gerweck.net, GOOGLE News, and USAToday.com. He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides between New York City and Philadelphia in Freehold, NJ.

Steelers Out-Muscle Broncos at Mile High

Fred Richani — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:16:49 -0500

The Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road and dominated the Denver Broncos on Monday night for a final score of 28-10. The game was a lot closer than you may think--until the second half. It was 7-3 in favor of the Steelers at halftime, but Denver stayed in it.

Both teams may have scored a touchdown in the third quarter to make it 14-10, but all hell broke loose for the Broncos after that--specifically for their defense, as the Steelers scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton finished the night with three interceptions (INT), no touchdowns (TD), and 221 passing yards on 23/38 completions to attempts. Oh--and he had a zero quarterback rating in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 21/29 with 233 passing yards, three TD, and one interception.

The biggest reason why the Denver Broncos lost?

Not being able to run the ball and forced to have Kyle Orton attempt to make big plays--unsuccessfully. It doesn't take an expert to realize you're usually not going to win a football game when your quarterback throws three INT and running backs can't get their rushing attack going.

Shall we take a look at the rushing totals?

Steelers: 173 rushing yards (thanks in HUGE part to Rashard Mendenhall's 155 yards )

Broncos: 27 rushing yards

I rest my case.

The Steelers at 6-2 are now tied with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North Division, although Cincy still leads because they hold the tie breaker after a win against the defending Super Bowl champions earlier this season. Pittsburgh looks to get revenge against the Bengals this Sunday at home

As for the Broncos, they are no longer the darlings of the NFL, having lost two straight to AFC North opponents--Ravens and Steelers.

With the rival San Diego Chargers (5-3) just one game back of the Broncos' AFC West lead after three consecutive victories, Denver looks to bounce back against the dysfunctional Washington Redskins (2-6). So no need to panic, Denver fans.

Now if they lose to the Redskins, then you might want to be nervous--very nervous.

Daniel Snyder—You're an Idiot

Fred Richani — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:14:56 -0500

On the surface, a guy like Daniel Snyder is an incredibly smart businessman. He purchased the Washington Redskins back in 1999 for around $800 million. The Redskins are now worth over $1.3 BILLION. Too bad the football side of things hasn't been as prosperous as the financial portion of the organization.

If you don't know about the Redskins, they have been one of the greatest and most recognizable franchises in football history. When people heard the team's name, they instantly thought of Hall of Famer and legendary coach Joe Gibbs.

They thought of the franchise's three Super Bowl championships from 1982 (XVII), 1987 (XXII), and 1991 (XXVI). Heck, if people are old enough to remember, they think of the team's 1932 inception as the Boston Braves!

Unfortunately, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has flushed those memories down the sports toilet with his horrendous mismanagement. Sure, you could say the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders have far worse ownership from a talent evaluation standpoint (when it comes to scouting and hiring the right people to do so), but Snyder is a different cat.

His vice puppet...I mean...President of Football Operations is just a...well...puppet (or talking head to put it nicely).

Five head coaches in ten years and signing countless veterans who haven't had Father Time on their side (according to The Washington Post, the team has 17 players over age 30. The team average in the NFL is 10.) will do that to you.

You would think a guy who spent years with the San Francisco 49ers (when they were still good to great in the '90s) could do a better job of drafting and assembling a team.

So much for that type of success in this millennium (although who know how much influence Cerrato actually has at this point).

Two playoff appearances in four years seems like a recent accomplishment for the the Cerrato-Snyder regime, but this is the Redskins we're talking about (or was THE Redskins . Now they're just...the Redskins and mediocre).

The NFL is a “What have you done for me lately?” league. Since the 2008 season, the 'Skins are 10-14 with zero playoff games played and none likely to be held for the team in 2009. That's not good.

It's bad enough Snyder hired a lame duck coach in Jim Zorn, who seems like a good man that's simply not cut out for his position (at least at this stage of his career). After all, the guy was never an offensive coordinator before until he was hired by Snyder and them boom--later became head coach in a month or so.

Not bad for a guy that was a pretty good quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks, famous for developing former Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck (pre-injury plagued seasons). Too bad he's shown his unqualifiedness (yes, I just made that word up. Sue me).

That's not Zorn's fault, though. I would have taken the millions thrown at him too. It's also not Zorn's fault that Snyder hired a man that was out of the NFL for five years in Sherman Lewis to call the offense.

Lewis was qualified many years ago, considering he was an offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 1992-1999 (aka some of Brett Favre's golden years).

Too bad for the last five years he worked at a senior center playing Bingo games and delivering Meals on Wheels. Again, Lewis too seems like a nice guy, but the game of football has changed since 2004 when he last called plays. If Lewis was hired in the offseason, then I could understand this move to an extent...

But the middle of the season?!

It was only a few weeks ago that Vice President Cerrato (a title/name Redskins fans must hate by now) announced that Zorn would have job security until the end of the season, after the constant media circus kept badgering the organization about the subject.

I don't blame the media nor the fans for wondering what the heck is exactly happening to that once-great organization. Props to Zorn for keeping his head up and not resigning. And shame on Daniel Snyder.

Snyder comes off as a big jerk in recent years. Despite that, he cares about his players enough to pay them handsomely. I'll give him credit for the fact he writes the big checks and attempted to apologize for this awful start to the season, but I'll stop there.

How can fans get behind a team whose ownership makes their head coach look like a cadaver? You fans tell me.

Actually, there might be less 'Skins fans by the time this is published.

If alienating your head coach isn't bad enough, Snyder has been even more generous and decided to do the unthinkable—alienate his team's fan base via confiscating any signage at Washington's home stadium (FedEx Field, near the nation's capital, which preaches “free speech”) and even going as far as SUING ticket holders .

Hold on, a sec...suing ticket holders?

Snyder has sued fans that have lost their jobs in this tough economy for not being able to afford the rest of their five-ten year season ticket packages because going to a 'Skins game is more important than you know, paying your mortgage or car insurance.

You can check the link out above and decide for yourself. That pretty much puts my dislike for his recent actions over the top.

But hey, I'm a Giants fan. What do I know?

I guess I know enough to realize that once you drive your fan base away, a number of them, paying customers included, may never come back. Perhaps Daniel Snyder really isn't a bad guy. Maybe he just runs a business and sees things strictly from a corporate point of view.

In that case, he might not be a bad guy. Instead, Snyder may just go down as one of the biggest idiots to ever own a sports franchise for not realizing how bad his organization treats coaches and especially--the fans.

But hey, at least the players get paid, right?

Daniel Snyder—You're an IDIOT.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com, and everythingyntk.com. Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sports, Pro Wrestling Torch, GOOGLE News, and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides between New York City and Philadelphia in Freehold, NJ.

New York Jets: You're IDIOTS

Fred Richani — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:34:40 -0500

The New York Jets started this season 3-0, and are now 4-4 after a 1-4 stretch. Not good for Gang Green. When new head coach Rex Ryan was hired, and started mouthing off about how he was not afraid of the Patriots, or Dolphins, I laughed. I laughed a lot.

Here's a guy who did a phenomenal job of running the Baltimore Ravens' defense for many years, and is the son of Buddy Ryan, architect of the '85 Chicago Bears D that was unstoppable en route to a Super Bowl win.

Not bad lineage, right?

So here are the New York Jets, typically second-class celebrities compared to their Giant (pun intended) counterparts. They haven't won a Super Bowl since Joe Namath in 1969. The team hasn't had a legit quarterback in quite some time. They had the Shell of Chad Pennington a few years back, as well as Kellen "Not Roger" Clemens.

In comes the rookie out of USC, Mark Sanchez. After making few mistakes in the first three games in his NFL career, he went ape-crapola (Yes, I made that word up. Deal with it.) with costly turnovers, and just plain bad decisions.

And don't forget key injuries to running back Leon Washington, and nose tackle Kris Jenkins. Both injuries seemed to have been a sign of bad things to come. But hey, all is well when the Jets can back up their trash talk, right?

Wait...they can't?!

Now even though I am a Giants fan that admittedly receives joy, on occasion, seeing Jets lovers drown in sorrow (for no reason other than to rub it in to people like my old co-worker Matt "Mr. Delusional" Sobel, who finds everything negative to say about New York's far more successful football team), I root for them.

As a New York team, I'd like to see them succeed. Sometimes I'd like to see them succeed so that my friend with The World's Most Generic Irish Name in Patrick Liam O'Connor can crack a smile through that occasional beard of five o'clock shadow-ness, and plethora of frowns caused by the misery at his job via the dreaded world of retail.

Other times, I just feel bad for their fans, and think they deserve better. Actually, they DO deserve better. That I can't argue with whatsoever. When Rex Ryan said he wouldn't kiss New England's Super Bowl rings, I laughed, and applauded when his Jets defeated the arch-rival Pats earlier this season.

However, every team hits that point where talk becomes cheap, and they need to start producing on the field. The Giants talked trash prior to Super Bowl XLII, and backed it up by defeating the unbeaten Patriots, who were quite smug at times.

Shaquille O'Neal once called the Los Angeles Lakers' rival Sacramento Kings a different name—the "Sacramento Queens."

Shaq's Lakers ended up gaining four NBA Finals berths, and won three championships. The Kings? ZERO.

The Washington Wizards for consecutive seasons talked trash about LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Guess where they ended up after the first round of the playoffs? HOME.

You see, trash talk is fun in sports, but gets real old real fast if you don't back it up. It's been said no NFL team feels bad for you even when your squad stinks. I'm not saying the Jets stink, but they could be playing a whole lot better at the moment.

I doubt any of their opponents will feel too bad.

Especially after Bart Scott's latest comments after another LOSS to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday (final score 30-25 with the Fins sweeping the season series), courtesy of ESPN's NFL blogger Tim Graham, and ProFootBallTalk.com for dissecting his words carefully . Here's some of the good stuff:

"They’re a great team," Scott said. "They’ll probably contend for the Super Bowl. They have a tremendous offense, great running backs, a great quarterback, a great tight end. They are stacked across the board. I’m serious. They are great.

After being asked a similar question about his thoughts on the Miami Dolphins...

"Like I said, they have a great team. They have a tremendous offense and they showed it today. They are Super Bowl contenders and they will probably take it all the way."

Something tells me there's a hint of sarcasm (assuming you can detect MY SARCASM). Oh, Rex Ryan also said the Jets were the better team, and ticked off former Colts coach, and NFL analyst TONY DUNGY of all people on NBC (you know you said too much when you do that).

I like Bart Scott. That dude can ball. I like Rex Ryan. I want the Jets to succeed. I really do. But I also want them to shut the heck up.

Beating the Patriots in an early season game when Tom Brady is still returning from a serious knee injury is one thing. Beating the Pats again, and securing that playoff berth the franchise has missed out on since 2006 is a whole 'nother ball game.

So Rex Ryan, please don't have press conferences and talk about how you don't feel bad about Dolphins players being injured. Bart Scott, stop the sarcasm, and man up in defeat. And Mark Sanchez, please stop embarrassing your long lost brother, Vincent Chase of Entourage fame with your boyish good looks, yet bad decision making.

And for all the Jets fans that might say "Hey, well your Giants stink lately." Well, you're absolutely right. Too bad the Jets haven't proven to be a serious contender since 1998 (sorry, I have to be prepared with a comeback or two!).

Like I said, I don't hate the Jets. I wish them the best as a New Jersey native. It's just hard to root for a team that keeps verbally digging their own grave, in addition to their on-the-field issues. But hey, what do I know?

Maybe Bart Scott really thinks the Miami Dolphins can go all the way this year. Thanks for making my case for your team's idiocy, Bart!

New York Jets—You're IDIOTS.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com. He has been featured on GOOGLE News, USA Today, and Sportsline.com and has interviewed Platinum selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Fred currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

Larry Johnson: You're an Idiot

Fred Richani — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:36:24 -0400

Years ago, Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was one of the premier players at his position. The guy could bulldoze through just about anyone. Then came injuries, aging, and a slew of off the field issues that have hampered his once Pro Bowl portfolio.

Let's take a look:

2005: 1,750 rushing yds, 20 TDs

2006: 1,789 rushing yds, 17 TDs

His production has sharply dropped since then:

2007: 559 rushing yds, 3 TDs (played only eight games)

2008: 874 rushing yds, 5 TDs (12 games played)

As you can see, his production has declined due to injuries and a horrendous offensive line. It also doesn't help Johnson's cause that he's shown to be Pacman Jones-esque off the field. Bring in the bullet points!

Arrested four times since 2003 on various assault charges against women
Arrested for assault when a woman accused Johnson of pushing her to the ground in 2005 (case dropped after woman didn't show up to court)
Arrested for assault in 2008 for allegedly pushing over a woman by the head at a nightclub
Arrested AGAIN in 2008 for non-aggravated assault via spitting a drink in a woman's face
Oct. 19, 2008, deactivated in a game against the Tennessee Titans for violating a team rule
Pleaded guilty to the two 2008 arrests in March and was sentenced to two years probation

So what have we learned here, besides keeping away from LJ at the club? Well, seeing as how he's plead guilty to pushing a woman's head and spitting in another's face, I don't think the guy is someone a father would introduce their daughter to.

Now, you might wonder why I've certified Johnson as an idiot when this has been public knowledge for quite some time. I'll tell you why. I logged on Twitter and ProFootballTalk.com and read something that put my dislike for Johnson's idiocy over the top.

Yes, rookie head coach Todd Haley is currently 1-6 with the Chiefs. Yes, he is a bit inexperienced. Keep in mind, Mr. Haley also has no offensive line, a quarterback that still needs to prove himself in terms of consistency, no big time receivers, and oh yeah—the ghost of Larry Johnson's career.

It's being reported that Johnson called out Coach Haley on his Twitter page. Keep in mind his page is not verified (yet), but I wouldn't be surprised by the comments knowing LJ's history (and the fact a number of outlets are reporting it is indeed his).

Here are some of the highlights of this ridiculous tirade (including terrible spelling):

"My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches," Johnson started innocently enough. His dad is the defensive line coach at Penn State. Johnson's first tweet ended with "Google my father!!!!!!!"

"My father 3 or 4 state champs in Maryland. 3 or 4 1st rd picks Penn State. . Not including son!!!"

And my personal favorite:

"My father played for the coach from "rememeber the titans". Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn"

Okay. Let's start with obvious. One, you don't publicly call out your coach. That's one thing. Second of all, Larry Johnson hasn't been relevant in years. This season he's averaging under three yards per carry. Not great at all.

If Larry Johnson was putting up Adrian Peterson-like numbers or close, I might not have as much of a problem with him saying something to the media at a press conference, since emotions run high after a bad loss. But The arrest-attracting, head-scratching, irrelevant ghost of Larry Johnson's career?

As John Stossel would say, "Give me a break!"

And the fact Johnson allegedly did this in such a fashion that buries the head coach on TWITTER makes this that much worse (and immature).

Oh, nothing says fan-friendly and professional responses like this:

Make me regret it. Lmao. U don't stop my checks. Lmao. So "tweet" away.about 3 hours ago from UberTwitter
@KD2407 then don't reply then. Still richer then u. Keep goin. Come play our game ooops forgot u can't.about 3 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to KD2407
@DrewK30 got nuthn to do wit hiring my father. But u wouldn't know cuz u don't play either so keep on the sideline lil gril n cheer.about 3 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to DrewK30
@DrewK30 sorry to tell u ur the reason y ur broke n dissn on twitter lmao.about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to DrewK30
@jaredlaunius think bout a clever diss then that wit ur [expleteive] pic. Christopher street boy. Is what us east coast cats call u.about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to jaredlaunius
@jaredlaunius. Sorry ur a cornball n ur mom birthed u broke. But I'm cakn patna. While u work or school for 5 dollas n hour. Ha!about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to jaredlaunius

As far as Todd Haley's qualifications go, being the offensive coordinator of last year's NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals (famous for their high-powered offense) certainly qualifies him to be a head coach in the NFL. At this stage of Johnson's career, he doesn't qualify to be a starting running back or even have a roster spot on any team.

I know what Johnson does qualify for—a few tests. Perhaps a background check, drug test, sensitivity test, mental evaluation, etc.

Like I said before, maybe that really isn't the running back's Twitter page, despite numerous and credible news outlets reporting it. Either way, the fact that I wouldn't be surprised if it was his page and comments proves my point about his public perception.

Sorry, man. I wish I could give you the benefit of the doubt. Too bad your past tells me otherwise. Larry Johnson—You're an IDIOT.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com. He has been featured on GOOGLE News, USA Today, and Sportsline.com and has interviewed Platinum selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Fred currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

Isiah Thomas: His Own Worst Enemy

Fred Richani — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:28:58 -0400

It's pretty ironic that prior to reading what I saw on ESPN.com about Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, I was listening to Lit's 1998 Modern Rock hit "My Own Worst Enemy." You'll know why in a second, but for those that aren't familiar with the Thomas-Johnson drama, well in a very swollen nutshell (more details on ESPN.com ), this is it.

Former Boston Globe and current ESPN columnist Jackie MacMullan collaborated with NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson for the book "When The Game Was Ours."

The book details the Bird-Johnson rivalry from their perspectives and features their takes on a number of moments, interactions, among other things they experienced during their playing days.

Okay, now you know about the book. What's the controversy?

Well to sum it all up, the book states Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, as well as others kept Isiah Thomas off the original Dream Team (sorry, Beijing brothers).

The reason?

Isiah Thomas's personality was the reason, particularly a loss of respect by his peers for allegedly telling people/thinking/asking/who-knows-what-else that he thought his best friend Magic Johnson got infected with HIV because of his sexuality.

Yes, allegedly Zeke figured that Magic Johnson contracted the virus because he was gay or bisexual. Now there's nothing wrong with whatever a person's sexuality is. "To each their own," as my buddy Ben Ostner once told me. That being said, Magic already had enough problems in the early 1990s.

He retired, then un-retired. His teammates were scared to hug and kiss him. He was under a ton of media attention. Most importantly, he must have been scared as heck about his health.

If I'm in Magic's shoes and I've gone on record saying I obtained the virus via numerous interactions with women, specifically unprotected sex, I don't need my best friend questioning my explanation or sexuality—especially to my peers.

That's pretty much what Isiah Thomas is being accused of—being a two-faced liar of a best friend. Unfortunately, while this revelation is surprising to say the least, it's not that far fetched given the fact that Isiah Thomas is the name of the apparent antagonist.

I'm not going to say I really grew up watching Thomas because at 20-years old, when I think of the NBA during my childhood, the following names come to mind: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill, Shaq, Penny Hardaway, Patrick Ewing, as well as many more I waste your time with by listing them.

Luckily for this column's sake, I consider myself a student of the sport, trying to study all the history of the game, so I have watched a lot of Isiah Thomas.

Isiah Thomas was a phenomenal basketball player in his day.

He nearly averaged a double-double for his career (19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game), had 12 All-Star selections, made the All-NBA First Team three times, won two championships, was named the 1990 Finals MVP, and oh one more thing—he became member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Thomas was not good. He was great. He was undersized by NBA standards, but made up for it with incredible quickness, tenacity, and clutch shots throughout his career as a Detroit Piston. Sorry, Allen Iverson, but Thomas is the greatest small man in NBA history.

However, his basketball career off the court has been the complete opposite of great, unless that word is preceded by the term “disappointment.”

Just look at Thomas's stint as president/coach/media punching bag with my New York Knicks from 2003-2008. The Knicks went from a prestigious franchise to a team that was kind of on a decline to the “Oh my God, we are THAT bad?!” depths of lottery hell.

Yes, Knicks owner James Dolan deserves a good amount of blame for keeping Thomas around for seemingly forever (at least to Knicks fans) without success to show for the franchise's commitment in the Hall of Famer. Yet, Dolan hired Isiah to make the basketball decisions in the first place and he did so—horribly.

I even pained myself to write about how the Knicks were the Amy Winehouse of the NBA!

That was painful. Here's a rundown of the Best of the Worst of Isiah Thomas's Knicks tenure (oxymoron I know, but you get my point):

Careless spending by trading for/signing the worst players to build a franchise with including
- Stephon Marbury
- Zach Randolph
- Eddy Curry
- Jared Jeffries
- Stevie Francis
- Jerome James (I still can't believe this one)
Careless spending that resulted in salaries totaling over $90 MILLION
Allowed the team to sink to the depths of lottery hell with five straight losing seasons
Successfully sued by former Madison Square Garden (MSG) employee Anucha Brown Sanders based on her allegations of sexual harassment
Had his employer MSG pick up the tab...all $11.5 million of it

So I guess you can see how a great player, who is a not-so-great executive can ruin his public image. It's one thing to completely stink up the joint as an executive, but still be a respected public figure for your accomplishments as an athlete (Matt Millen comes to mind).

It's another thing to stink as an executive in the worst possible city to do so (New York, New York...) and be found liable in a high profile sexual harassment case. I don't hate Isiah Thomas despite the fact he destroyed one of the teams of my youth. This column isn't meant to bash him (I humorously did that last year). Fair or not, Thomas is a prime example of an old saying.

“Your reputation precedes you.”

Think about that. Thomas is in the Hall of Fame, so let's forget about his playing career for a second and just think about him as a person. Think about his lack of judgment as an executive to make irrational business decisions.

Think about how he put himself in a position to be accused of sexual harassment in his workplace, as a husband and father.

And think about how oblivious he was in thinking that Magic Johnson and him were still close after all these years.

According to an Oct. 22 interview on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption , “When The Game Was Ours,” Jackie MacMullan set the record straight—Johnson was never close to Thomas again after finding out about his then-best friend's betrayal post-HIV diagnosis.

Johnson was still cordial to Thomas if he ever saw him because he is a professional on and off the court. I really want to believe Isiah Thomas is a decent human being. Regardless, he should have been on the 1992 Dream Team—sorry, Christian Laettner.

Yet if Thomas's personality would have been THAT polarizing on the Dream Team, then he was better off not on the roster. After all, USA Basketball could have recruited him if they wanted to.

Alright, enough of that “what could have been” stuff for today!

The bottom line is that Isiah Thomas has been seemingly preceded by his reputation. On the court he was known as a fierce competitor, but off it, his character may forever be in question. I'm not saying Thomas is a bad person.

Perhaps he's just made some very poor decisions that have affected the grand scheme of things in his life. Then again, perception is reality these days. Good or bad, basketball royalty like a Magic Johnson have no problem being honest about Thomas and his character.

At this point, the best thing Isiah Thomas can do is work hard, strive to be a better person, and put his past mistakes behind him and into perspective by being honest with the media, his peers, and the most important person of all—himself.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com, and everythingyntk.com. Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline, Pro Wrestling Torch, GOOGLE News, and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic. Richani currently resides just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia in Freehold, NJ.

Ten Sports Books You'll Never See

Fred Richani — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:38:08 -0400

These are 10 sports books by people that you are never likely to see on the shelves. Not at Barnes and Noble. Not at Borders. Not even at Amazon's. These books would probably be New York Times Best Sellers solely due to the fact that they would be "so bad they're good." That's never a good thing if you are a person looking for a nice read. If you are looking for a good read, these books are not for you. If you are looking for a piece of literature equivalent to any kind of logic, these books are not for you. And if you are looking for these featured pieces of literature on Oprah Book Club, well then these sure as heck are not for you.

Begin Slideshow

NFL in "No Rush" to Sell St. Louis Rams

Fred Richani — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:40:05 -0400

When I heard about Rush Limbaugh's bid to purchase the struggling St. Louis Rams franchise of the NFL, I thought it had the words "bad idea" written all over it. I'm really tired of writers saying he should be able to own a sports franchise—an NFL franchise for that matter.

Well, let me start by saying the following. I don't like Rush Limbaugh and it's not because of his political beliefs.

Actually, I could care less about his political beliefs, as a number of my close friends are conservative to some extent. Political views never get in the way of friendships and business for me. I'm the type of guy that can respect people's views, beliefs, culture, and heritage.

I can't say the same for Rush Limbaugh. Mr. Limbaugh shouldn't own an NFL team. Heck, he shouldn't own any team for that matter. At least not one in the NFL, MLB, NBA, or even NHL. People that say he deserves to own the St. Louis Rams if he has the cash need to realize one important thing.

The NFL is about public relations and their appeal to a national (and in recent cases, global) audience. A loud mouth shock jock, who has arguably offended African Americans and others more often than not is a PR nightmare for the NFL.

Sure, Michael Vick is back in the league despite dog fighting charges. The difference? Vick is a great athlete and spent two years behind bars. Limbaugh profits on being a bigot. Here are a few instances you can find on a variety of news outlets that prove this point, courtesy of a simple GOOGLE search:

Playing the song "Barack The Magic Negro" on his radio show, which states white people have a black candidate they need to vote for due to guilt from slavery.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve," Limbaugh said regarding Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Compared the NFL to the Crips and Bloods only without weapons.

And my personal "favorite" (note the intensified sarcasm)...Keep in mind this was retracted by a few newspapers. It's too bad people would actually believe he said this anyway (he still may/may not have):

"I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: Slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back. I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark," Limbaugh on the subject of slavery.

Forget the political views. Forget the fact the guy has money. Think about it. Look at those things I aforementioned. Tell me with straight face that those comments are NOT offensive to African Americans or any other minorities.

They're offensive to me and I'm not African American, but as a person that is friends with many people of different backgrounds, I find that disrespectful. I'd imagine all 65-percent of the NFL that consists of African Americans would fine those comments disrespectful, racist-filled, and tasteless as well.

Rams fans, do you really want a guy like that running your team?

Like I said before, I don't care if he is a Republican or Democrat. When NFL players such as Justin Tuck start speaking out, you know there's a problem. In a way, it may be a blessing in disguise that Limbaugh attempts to purchase the Rams to some extent.

It's refreshing to hear players go on record and discuss social issues, rather than just rock Jordans and act like they don't have a care in the world. That being said, if you haven't figured it out already, the league is in no rush (pun intended) to have Limbaugh own a team. In fact, I'll go on record and say it won't happen.

Just listen to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the topic: "We're all held to a high standard here and divisive comments are not what the NFL's all about," said Goodell. "I would not want to see those kind of comments from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL, no. Absolutely not."

There you have it. I know it's not against the law to have a lot of money and be a dirt bag. That I understand. Marge Schott was living proof of that. Of course, her bigotry eventually caught up with her.

Last time I checked, playing in the NFL was a privilege, not a birth right. Owning an NFL team is just that—a privilege.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor, songwriter, and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com. He has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, 1Wrestling.com, LayUpDrill.com, GOOGLE News, USA Today, and CBSSportsline.com. He is also the host of his own series FRIDAY NIGHT F-Bomb (Youtube.com/FBombAndCo). He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

WWE's MVP is MWO: Most Wasted Opportunity

Fred Richani — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:34:36 -0400

So I'm watching RAW as I do every Monday night. My main man Jack Swagger just won a match to team up with RAW's top stars to face Smackdown's best at the brand war pay-per-view Bragging Rights. I should be ecstatic. I just wrote a column a couple weeks ago about how Swagger should be mixing it up in the main events.

Now he's in a pay-per-view main event. Here's the thing. I should be happy, but I'm not. If you're wondering why, it's the fact that he beat Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) to qualify. You know, the same MVP that superstars such as Batista predicted to breakout in 2009 and become the top guy he should be by now.

It's October 2009. Two months are left in the year. MVP went from bouncing back from a 20-plus match losing streak to winning the United States Championship. Since he lost the title to Kofi Kingston earlier this year, the Miami, FL native has been lost in the shuffle.

Okay, he's had huge wins over Chris Jericho and Jack Swagger this year. Then, WWE usually follows it up with him losing to those guys. In the summer, MVP faced Triple H in a Night of Champions WWE Championship contender's match. He lost via a kick and Pedigree, despite being in control most of the match.

Not saying he should have beat Triple H in a TV match, but a reversal into a kick and Pedigree sounds kind of like a quick loss. This week's RAW, MVP lost to Jack Swagger...clean. That's not good for MVP.

At one point, MVP had huge momentum after being drafted on RAW, having an impressive showing against Randy Orton in a non-title match.

Rather than have Mr. 305 (that's the Miami zip code for all you non-Ebonics speakers) headline a pay-per-view or two against Orton for the sake of keeping things fresh, he's been in virtual midcard limbo. I don't get it. The guy has a good looks, great in-ring ability, charisma, mic skills, and a tailor-made story of inspiration and redemption.

For those that don't know, MVP spent almost 10 years behind bars for armed robbery and kidnapping, starting with being charged at the age of 16. For a man to go from jail to United States Champion, competing in front of millions worldwide is a huge deal.

That should have been treated as such. Instead, those details regarding his past life experiences were overlooked in his feud with Jack Swagger—one that could sure as heck have used more exposure on a show dominated by the same three guys (Orton, Cena, Triple H).

It all started when MVP turned face seemingly overnight without any explanation besides "Hey he lost 1,000 matches, so cheer for him!" Gone was MVP's Terrell Owens-like attitude that made him so appealing. You would think that after his face turn, WWE would make vignettes about his troubled past.

They didn't.

You would have thought moving MVP to WWE's flagship show/brand RAW would mean that bigger things were in store for him. Nope. And Sherri Shepherd doesn't count because nothing says I'm cool and appeals to the male fanbase like dating some chick from The View. REAL COOL, man.

WWE has done the unthinkable. They have taken a picture-perfect wrestler with a phenomenal real life story that reeks of inspiration and sympathy, only to push him and his tale by the waste side. I don't care if he rubbed a few people the wrong way. What's good for business is well,good for business!

I love The Miz, Legacy, and Jack Swagger, as well as their recent pushes. Anybody that has read my recent work can tell you that. Just remember one thing. Those aforementioned competitors are still in their twenties. MVP is almost 36. Much like an aging sports team, his world championship window is closing—fast.

I know there's always 2010, but if MVP gets put over the top next year, he'll be the new Booker T or Rob Van Dam (RVD). Older fans may recall that it took the two forever to win a world title in WWE, despite being over with fans, possessing a great combination of skills necessary to be main eventers, etc.

Yet backstage politics and other things that have the scent of a bull's feces hampered their chances of getting to the top. Booker T debuted in WWE in 2001 and probably should have been World Heavyweight Champion by 2003 when he received a shot against Triple H at WrestleMania XIX. He didn't win the big one until 2006.

RVD also debuted in 2001. From the start of his WWE career, fans fell in love with his laid back attitude and incredible feats in the ring. He too had a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, only his match took place at Unforgiven 2002. Like Booker T, RVD had a ton of momentum going into the match, only to lose.

RVD wouldn't get another major one-on-one World title match until One Night Stand 2006, when he defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship. As great as that moment was, it had the same feeling Booker T's title win gave fans.

Awesome, but a little too late.

In a way, MVP's WWE career has been sport entertainment's version of the Phoenix Suns. Once a great franchise that looked to be on the cusp of playing for and even winning a world championship, suddenly is now the complete opposite of what made it popular, due to poor management, behind the scenes politics, and lack of direction.

The difference between the Suns and MVP is that the WWE superstar still has that championship window open, even if it's only slightly ajar. Maybe I shouldn't be so skeptical (or optimistic). MVP may get his due next year.

An MVP World title win might be equivalent to the ones RVD and Booker T gained in 2006...Better late than never.

Unfortunately, that win could be too late to mean as much as it could have. WWE can still pull the trigger on the main event push MVP deserves. Too bad the damage may already be done to his career.

Mike Mizanin: You Are Awesome!

Fred Richani — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:35:23 -0400

On Oct. 5, 2009, history was made. A superstar who never seemed to see light at the end of the tunnel finally made it out of there. It wasn't too long ago people doubted Mike Mizanin, due to his MTV reality show background.

I mean, I've seen MMA fighters turn pro wrestlers. We've all seen NFL players become wrestlers if only for one time (Lawrence Taylor and Steve McMichael come to mind). Hell, we've even seen chairmen and CEOs step inside the squared circle at one time or another (the McMahon family).

Yet reality TV stars? Jonny Fairplay doesn't count.

Enter Mike Mizanin, better known to wrestling fans as The Miz. Now I'm not going to pretend I actually liked The Miz at first because I didn't. Well I did, but wasn't sure what to make of his skills. He seemed like a cool guy and I dig MTV, but was never into The Real World or Road Rules stuff he was apparently on.

But hey, it helped him get a spot on Tough Enough 4 (aka The Million-Dollar Tough Enough) back in 2004.

For those that don't know or remember, Tough Enough was a reality show (Miz's specialty) that was like the American Idol show of professional wrestling, where a number of hopefuls would compete until one (or in some cases two) competitors remained, winning the grand prize—a World Wrestling Entertainment contract.

The Miz came up short against eventual winner Daniel Puder, however, as the first runner-up, he certainly gained valuable exposure and was signed to a developmental (minor league) deal with WWE in 2005.

After a number of dark (untelevised) matches throughout 2005, The Miz finally debuted for WWE on their Smackdown! brand in 2006. Unfortunately for the Cleveland, Ohio native, he would serve as more of a host or on-air personality rather than doing what he always wanted to do—wrestle.

The Miz finally got that chance in the Fall of 2006, having a nice streak of wins until coming across the beyond-weird presence of The Boogeyman. Needless to say, it was tough to take the pretty boy seriously when Smackdown! commentator John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) constantly bashed him.

Then again, it's normal to have doubts about any new superstar. Those that doubted The Miz should have known better, considering his past TV experience only strengthened his preparation for his wrestling career. At least entertainment-wise. That's the key word—should.

After floundering in midcard limbo on Smackdown! for months, The Miz was drafted to the ECW brand in the Summer of 2007, where he was able to truly flourish. A feud with Balls Mahoney and a stint as a self-proclaimed chick magnet, complete with the Divas, brought back memories of The Godfather and his special train, albeit with a twist.

It wasn't until The Miz crossed paths with John Morrison that the magic really happened (not that magic, sickos). Following a brief feud with then-ECW Champion CM Punk (capped off with an impressive showing at Cyber Sunday 2007), The Miz started interacting with another up-and-comer in John Morrison.

Sure, Morrison had a sudden stint as ECW Champion prior to their interactions, but he was definitely not ready to carry the extreme brand. The two styles clashed. One was a handsome, over-the-top Hollywood-esque star with abs of steel. The other being The Miz, a self-proclaimed chick magnet who made fedoras look good.

The unlikely duo became WWE Tag Team Champions in November 2007 and their chemistry strengthened, as did their reign, until it ended in July 2008 at The Great American Bash.

Throughout their reign as WWE Tag Team Champions and later on as World Tag Team Champions of the RAW brand, the two provided fans with great comedy and entertaining matches. A majority of the comedy came via their hit WWE.com show The Dirt Sheet.

Started in late-2007, the show still runs on the Web site semi-regularly, even after the team's split. It's tough to sum up The Miz and Morrison in a nutshell, but they were the best tag team to come along since the days of Edge and Christian, Dudleys, Hardys, and APA. And that's saying something for present-day WWE tag teams.

Their run together led to one of the longest WWE Tag Team Championship reigns in recent memory, the highest rated show on WWE.com, and two Slammy awards. Most importantly, it gave both men great exposure and showcased their potential as singles stars.

When they were split up via the 2009 WWE Draft, many predicted John Morrison would be on a collision course to main event status sooner rather than later, while The Miz would have a harder time plying his singles craft.

Well, while John Morrison may be a better wrestler in terms of athleticism and technical ability, The Miz has proven on RAW that he was the foundation of the tag team.

Yes, John Morrison is incredible and will be main eventing by 2010. Hold on a second, though.

Does anyone know why John Morrison is a babyface besides silently turning overnight? Has there been anything in his character that screams, "Please emotionally invest in me!"? I don't think so. The Miz, on the other hand, has made people emotionally invested in his character, even if that feeling is usually hatred.

He's had a much harder road than John Morrison. Miz lacks the six-pack. Miz lacks that big win over a RAW main eventer, despite WWE's countless chances to have him score a victory during his feud with John Cena.

In fact, I'm not afraid to say it. WWE should have had The Miz beat Cena, albeit a fluke victory. They didn't, but The Miz persevered. He stayed sharp on the mic. He berated crowds. I guess you can only complain so much when you're main eventing episodes of RAW, even in losing efforts.

After a number of losses that would have hurt a lesser performer's momentum, The Miz went to back to the basics.

The Miz changed his look. Screw the shorts. Screw the crazy hair dye. The fedoras? Goodbye! Almost instantly, The Miz's luck started turning around. He decided to vouch for Kofi Kingston's United States Championship. Then, it happened...again. The Miz had countless chances to win the title in singles and multi-man matches to no avail.

That big, potentially career-defining moment slipped away once again. I know the guy's from Cleveland, but cut him some slack. The Cavaliers have a hard enough time winning the "Big One."

All I could think to myself was, "Does WWE know what to do with the guy?!" I mean if there has been anything The Miz has shown all of us this year, it's that he is not only incredible on the mic, but he can go in the ring.

Back to Oct. 5, 2009—RAW after Hell in a Cell. I can't help but feel disappointed in The Miz losing to Kofi Kingston yet again the night before (although I was there live and the show was awesome in-person). Oh look, another United States Title match is booked for tonight. It's the familiar matchup of Kingston vs. The Miz. Here we go again!

But that night was different. Kofi Kingston and The Miz were given ample time to tell a story of physicality, struggle, desperation, and urgency. Heck, I'll go as far as saying that was one of the best RAW matches ALL YEAR. The result made the match even more special...

A NEW United States Champion was crowned. The name announced—The Miz. The Miz finally won a singles title in WWE. A prestigious one for that matter. Kingston was a great champion and The Miz defeating him meant more than most secondary title wins usually do.

The Miz's victory wasn't just a storyline or some filler for the show. The Miz's victory was huge. Not just for the live audience and the millions watching around the world, but for the most important one of all—Mike Mizanin.

With that victory, Mike Mizanin proved that he truly belongs in WWE and their future plans. Kofi Kingston was a great champion, but I can't remember a recent time WWE has made us care about his character. The Miz is another story.

Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison may be future cornerstones of WWE, but I wouldn't count out The Miz and his crossover appeal.

Oct. 5, 2009 will be remembered as the night that changed Mike Mizanin's life forever. It's his culmination of hard work, perseverance, and hushing all the naysayers that ever doubted him. The Miz can rock the mic. The Miz can wrestle. And now, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin can call himself champion without anyone telling him otherwise.

Congratulations, Mike Mizanin. You're The Miz and...

You are AWESOME.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor, songwriter and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com. He has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, 1Wrestling.com, LayUpDrill.com, GOOGLE News, USA Today and CBSSportsline.com. He is also the host of his own series FRIDAY NIGHT F-Bomb (Youtube.com/FBombAndCo). He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

The Good, Bad, Ugly, and Everything In Between: Week 3

Fred Richani — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:43:53 -0400

What an interesting Week 3. Welcome to my new weekly column The Good, Bad, Ugly, and Every In Between... where I go over the good, bad, and ugly of the NFL season. Yes, I'm a couple weeks late, but I had some business outside of Bleacher Report to attend to, since I write for my college's newspaper and analyze music on 411Mania.com (shameless plugs, I know).

Anyway, this was an interesting week that taught us a lot, despite what you think you may know. People, we live in an era of 16-0 teams and the Miami Dolphins going from 1-15 to 11-5 with a division title. Nothing surprises me anymore. Well, nothing SHOULD surprise me anymore........Onto the list!

The Good

Empire State of Mind: No, not the Jay-Z song, although that is a great track. I'm talking about the two New York football teams—the Giants and Jets. Both are 3-0 thus far, looking impressive in their recent victories. Then again, I can look good against the Bucs with Byron Leftwich throwing for 22 yards.

Give the Jets props too. They beat what was supposed to be a very good Tennessee Titans team.

Mark Sanchez has the confidence of Entourage's Vinnie Chase and looks like an early candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Gang Green's defense isn't too shabby either, ranking third in the league. Giants are just a notch above at number two. New York, New York.......

Favre The Barbarian?: Okay, Favre is not a barbarian, but he technically is a Viking (figuratively). The 49ers played their butts off against Minnesota, only to lose with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter via Favre miracle comeback drive number 50,764.

As much as I don't like his personality at times, Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback and earned his paycheck Sunday. Whether he will have a meltdown like last season remains to be seen.

Un-Be-Lievable

(AP Photo/Pioneer Press, Ben Garvin)

The 49ers: Now that's a team that looked great in defeat. The only real lapse they had was by not being more aggressive towards the end of the fourth quarter. Run, run, run, punt isn't the best option in a close game with Brett Favre on the other team, even if you are in the lead.

Bad game plan at the end by Mike Singletary, but no doubt about it, the 49ers are a team that's going in the right direction.

Don't Doubt BeliBrady: I got so tired (mucho cansado for my bilingual friends) of hearing people crap on Belichick and Brady. “Oh they're not the same. Tom Brady is a shell of his old self.” People are stupid. The Patriots lost to the Jets in Week 2 because Gang Green is very good and played better.

Tom Brady had been back for TWO games leading up to Sunday's victory against the Falcons. Well the good people in the ATL learned that Tom Brady is still Tom Brady. And Bill Belichick is still Bill Belichick. Not the Pats best outing, but a win nonetheless.

Not all Brady's fault his receivers couldn't catch at times (Joey Galloway is hiding in a corner somewhere.).

No McNabb, No Westbrook, NO PROBLEM: Kevin Kolb has not looked good these last couple of weeks. Actually, he hasn't looked good since the Eagles drafted him. Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs, Kolb looked like a million bucks, throwing for an impressive 327 yards coupled with two touchdown passes.

DeSean Jackson looked even more impressive with 149 yards via six receptions that resulted in a touchdown (one that came as a result of a 64-yard run!). At least Jackson's shown flashes of brilliance in the past.

Quote The Ravens, Never...never mind: Wow that was a bad title to segue into this next topic. The only thing bad about the Baltimore Ravens' 34-3 win Sunday was their opponent. More on that later.

You Can Kiss His Bear A.....: So much for that abomination of a season debut for Jay Cutler a couple weeks ago. After upsetting the Super Bowl Champion Steelers last week, the Bears with a little Jay Cutler magic managed to skid past a depleted Seattle Seahawks team.

Seneca Wallace has always been a pretty good backup. Unfortunately, he's not Matt Hasselbeck, who was out with a cracked rib. Given his history of injuries, 'Hawks fans have reason to be concerned. Luckily it's still early in the season, especially in a wide open NFC West.

Go Pack Go!: The Green Bay Packers keep on chucking as they knocked off the lowly Rams. They also knocked out Marc Bulger, who left the game with an injury (Sound familiar?).

The Packers must now gear up for a real challenge next week when they take on the Minnesota Vikings and former face of their franchise/apparent Benedict Arnold (depending who you ask)—Brett Favre.

MJD Can Still R-U-N: Matt Schaub has another great game, going 26-35 for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Super Mario Williams is my man, but his defense couldn't stop the run.More specifically, they couldn't stop Maurice Jones-Drew from putting up over 100 yards and three touchdowns on them. 31-24 in favor of Jacksonville.

Coach Del Rio's job is safe....for now.

Broncos Expose JaMarcus Russell as....JaMarcus Russell: The Broncos are either better than anyone thought they were or as my buddy Pat O'Connor a.k.a. the man with the world's most generic Irish name put it “The Biggest Fluke in the NFL.” Either way, they reminded us that JaMarcus Russell is still JaMarcus Russell.

Saints March on Bills: 27-7. Who do you think that score was in favor of? That's what I thought. Saints off to a nice 3-0 start even with Drew Brees throwing for ZERO touchdowns! I guess you can expect the impossible these days.

Peyton Manning Being Peyton Manning: Do I really need to go in detail? Manning. Four Touchdowns. Game over.

Dolphins Shouldn't Play With Electricity: The Chargers won. The Dolphins are 0-3 and Chad Pennington is out for the season. On the bright side, the Chad Henne era comes early for Tony Sparano to evaluate.

Changing of the Guard?: Steelers lost a tough game to the Cincinnati Bengals (no longer the Bungles for now). The Bengals have beaten the Packers and Steelers in consecutive games. That's impressive. Cedric Benson having a career rebirth is ultra impressive. Marvin Lewis is still the Bengals head coach.

That's just divine intervention or something.

Detroit Lions: Yes, they probably, more than likely, or definitely still stink. They also won their first game since 2007. Show them some love!

The Bad

Cowboys-Panthers: I don't care if the Cowboys won 21-7. That game was sloppy and hard to watch. Props to the 'Boys for bouncing back from a tough loss against the Giants, but let's see how they fair when they play more teams that are headed in the right direction and not in a tailspin.

Carolina has two studs for running backs, a Super Bowl quarterback, a Super Bowl coach, and one of the premiere wideouts in the game. Not to mention Julius Peppers on the defensive side, who they paid handsomely.

What does that get you? 0-3. Something's not right and Jake Delhomme isn't the only problem.

The Steelers: No Polamalu? Bad. An offensive line that draws comparisons to Casper the Friendly Ghost? Really bad. Despite their O-Line woes, I think the Steelers will be just fine.

The 'Fins: Chad Pennington out for the season. And they're now 0-3. If Bill Parcells wasn't running the team, I'd say their season is done. It is in trouble, but don't doubt Tuna just yet.

Buffalo Bills and Their Media: The Bills stunk up the joint against the Saints. Will Smith (not THAT Will Smith) held Terrell Owens to his first catch-less game since his rookie season way back in 1996. If a 27-7 loss isn't bad enough, T.O. was constantly baited by the Buffalo media to say something T.O.-esque.

To his credit, he didn't crack. Hey, I think he realizes at this stage of his career, he needs to shut up and get paid until he signs with a contender in the offseason (assuming he puts up the numbers we're used to seeing). Props to you, T.O.

And to the dumb reporter that kept trying to provoke T.O., you're an idiot. Everyone knows T.O. will eventually be T.O. all on his own. Or will he?

Drew Brees: Drew Brees and the Saints did win, but millions of people who had him on their fantasy team didn't see the points they were expecting from the touchdown machine this week. Good thing I don't play fantasy.

Tennessee Titans: Jeff Fisher needs to make a change. Maybe that Wildcat offense would help him win some games. Not like he has LenDale White, Chris Johnson, and Vince Young all on the same team. Oh, wait! He does!

Much like Kerry Collins, Vince Young didn't have the flashiest stats prior to his benching last season, but got the job done.

In my opinion, he has more upside than Kerry Collins, due to his age and chance to still grow as a player (and person). No matter what Fisher chooses to do, it better result in a win next week. The Titans are not a bad team. At least I don't think they are (yet).

The Ugly and Everything Else in Between

Michael Vick Over-saturation: Yay, Michael Vick's back! He played! Yes! While it is a nice story of redemption (I'm on the fence, but I'd imagine this issue splits opinions across the board.), I don't need to read 900 Michael Vick articles. His interviews with ESPN and NFL Network were enough for me.

The Redskins Stink: This team doesn't look good. Especially after losing to the Detroit Lions. They lost to the Lions. The LIONS. Did I mention they lost to THE DETROIT LIONS?!

Carolina Panthers: On paper, Carolina should have a great offense like they were last year. That's not happening this year. Jake Delhomme is on a downward spiral for one reason or another. Their defense is not to be outdone in mediocrity either, especially after their Monday night loss to Dallas.

Kurt Warner: Kurt Warner was scrambling on Sunday. And scrambling. And scrambling. And scrambling.....

The Bad Teams are REALLY BAD: As Colin Cowherd said it best on his Monday edition of The Herd, “The bad teams are REALLY BAD!” The Bucs had less than 17 minutes of possession, in conjunction with a grand total of 86 yards of offense.

Yes, 86 yards. Former starting quarterback (now third on the depth chart) Bryon Leftwich threw for 22 yards. His backup had 36 yards. Derrick Ward has 96 yards in three games after rushing for over 1,000 big ones last season. The Bucs are bad. Real bad.

Unlike the Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Jaguars, and Redskins that still have a glimmer of hope, the Browns don't. The Cleveland Browns are win-less. They have an identity crisis starting with the quarterback.

Had coach Eric Mangini flat out said “Brady Quinn is my guy.” and instilled confidence in the former Notre Dame-standout, I guarantee you the Browns would have a win. I also guarantee you the Browns would play a lot harder for a guy not named Eric Mangini.

According to some media outlets in Ohio, at least 10 of Eric Mangini's players on his roster have filed a grievance for excessive fines. Not like the guy fined a dude a couple grand over a three dollar water bottle not being paid for or anything. Okay, that one might be true.

As for the Raiders, they are still dysfunctional. And JaMarcus Russell is not very good. Okay, time for the inner fan in me to come out and say it—he sucks. His accuracy is equivalent to Tom Brady....if he inserted pepper spray into his eyes that is. 12-21 for 61 yards is a fantasy owner's worst nightmare.

Russell can still improve. For Raiders fans, he can't improve soon enough.

Ah, the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt Cassel gets injured before the regular season. He comes back last week and has a sub-par game. This week, he threw for only 90 yards, but had two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Don't be fooled. The man has no idea who to throw it to..

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

He also has no receivers. Or running game. Yeah, that guy that used to be Larry Johnson is an impostor or maybe just a man that's done in the NFL. However, Todd Haley is an offensive mastermind, who will maximize his players' potential eventually. His defense on the other hand..................

Chad Pennington Done For Good?: Some call it a potentially career-ending shoulder injury. I call it an early quest to be named the NFL's first three-time winner of Comeback Player of the Year!

THE COMEBACK KID, Part III?!

(AP Photo/Chris Park)

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor, songwriter and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com. He has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, 1Wrestling.com, LayUpDrill.com, GOOGLE News, and CBSSportsline.com. He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

WWE's All-American Has Swagger

Fred Richani — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:45:18 -0400

It's no secret to any die-hard WWE fan. The RAW brand has been lacking freshness this year. Please, hear me out. I mean that in the nicest way possible. We all grew up watching RAW, but the last few months have been anything but that. The show is supposed to be cutting edge and bad ass.

Yes, the guest host gimmick is pretty cool and huge kudos to WWE for garnering mainstream exposure. Also, kudos to WWE for finally giving Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes some much needed credibility. It's just as nice to see Kofi Kingston having a United States title run. He deserves it.

And Miz has finally bounced back from his previously-bestowed status via John Cena.

However, nothing at the top of RAW's card stands out anymore. I love MVP, but they really need to build him up quick because his character needs momentum if he wants to get a sniff of the main events. Miz can be a breakout star, but of course we all know he's not at that level yet.

At least WWE wants us to believe that, courtesy of John Cena.

Speaking of Cena, I will never take anything away from the guy's work ethic and ability. He is in his position because he deserves it. Plus, he sells a ton of merchandise. Money talks. The fans do too. Some of that talking sounds like frustration. Frustration arising from John Cena's lack of opponents.

Come on, do you REALLY want to see another Orton-Cena match? I don't. Triple H-Cena XXXVI?! Hell no. The only match that could intrigue me involving John Cena would be him facing Shawn Michaels. Let's not forget these two never had a blow-off match in 2007 to their amazing feud and excellent series of matches.

But what happens after that? Cena beats The Miz. Been there, done that. He beats the crap out of Legacy. Check. Maybe Randy Orton gets another run with the belt. Ultra yawn.

I dig "The Viper," but his heat has really waned due to the constant bashing his character has suffered through this year at the hands of Hunter and Cena. In my opinion (and this is all MY opinion), I don't have any interest in seeing Rhodes and DiBiase going their separate ways just yet.

Rather, I say WWE try something different. WWE needs to be RAW again (pun intended). Well, their red brand does. They need an edge. Wait, Edge is injured! More so, they need swagger (another pun intended). Jack Swagger to be exact.

Just look at the guy. He is money. He's got the looks of a model at your local mall's Abercrombie and Fitch you love to hate. His pure wrestling ability is uncanny on the RAW brand. The Oklahoma alum is not too shabby on the mic either. The problem is exposure, which seems to be the ongoing issue for lower-tier talent on RAW.

I say save The Passion of Chavo Guerrero's Career for Superstars on Thursdays and dedicate more time to building up young talent, particularly Jack Swagger. MVP may be underrated and have more charisma. Mark Henry could freshen things up with his new found persona.

Nonetheless, Swagger has the total package for an up-and-comer that can freshen up a stale main event picture: good looks, athletic, and legit ability.

Jack Swagger is not Gary Busey's son. I swear!

This is the same guy that set a single season record for pins as an amateur wrestler in college with 30. The same guy that's intelligent, proving that with a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Oklahoma University (Jim Ross is pumping his fist somewhere.).

The same guy that hung with veterans such as Matt Hardy and Christian, putting on some of the better TV matches of 2008 and 2009.

If he can develop that psychology aspect of his game, then he will be a breath of fresh air for a stale RAW brand. I dig DX, Cena, and Orton. I just hate seeing the same exact guys in the same feuds with the same storylines. Damn, that's a lot of sames!

I don't have a doubt in my mind Swagger can hang with DX, Orton, and Cena in the ring. It's up to WWE to cultivate his in-ring personality. The unintentional tribute to Scott Steiner with the push-ups in his entrance accompanied by pyro is certainly a step in the right direction. A U.S. title shot at Hell in a Cell isn't bad either.

Forget Hell in a Cell, though. To me, Jack Swagger proved himself in ECW as the brand's champion, despite him being inexplicably left off WrestleMania XXV. He's above the U.S. title. Let The Miz win the title because he has more heat with fans and needs to increase his in-ring credibility.

Swagger showed ECW why he is the future. Isn't it time RAW learns?

With Swagger the in-ring credibility is already there. It's now time to develop his personality. Forget the over exaggeration of his lisp. Forget the fact he's still a relative newcomer. WWE needs to do something different. They need to take a risk.

They took a risk on Jeff Hardy and it payed off (prior to his arrest). Same with CM Punk. I never thought CM Punk would be World Champion due to his "non-WWE" look, but I'm so glad I was wrong on that one.

Jack Swagger is an intelligent, educated, good-looking, and athletically gifted young man that has top heel written all over him. Come on WWE, pull the trigger and build this guy up to the top of the card.

You don't have to have a finance degree to see that Jack Swagger is money.

The caption says it all......

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor, songwriter and columnist for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com, and has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, LayUpDrill.com, GOOGLE News, and CBSSportsline.com. He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

Brandon Marshall: You're an IDIOT

Fred Richani — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:57:50 -0400

It's been a while, Bleacher Creatures. After a nice stay in my home country in Lebanon, just a few minutes outside Beirut and a free tour of Cairo, Egypt prior to a connecting flight, I am officially re-energized.

Well, sort of. The dreaded writer's block did me in for a few weeks, but I'm here ready to conquer it at the expense of Brandon Marshall.

While I was gone, it didn't surprise me to see Brandon Marshall continually bitch and complain like past primadonna wide receivers. Sure, he has certainly outplayed his current contract and is a Pro Bowl receiver, but there are different ways of asking for a new contract than disrupting your already distraught franchise.

If it wasn't bad enough for Denver Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen to fire longtime friend and coach Mike Shanahan, trade away his crybaby franchise quarterback Jay Cutler to the Bears, and draft players that are good, but not the defensive help his team was looking for, now he has to worry about Brandon Marshall.

Yes, the same Brandon Marshall that went to the Pro Bowl. The same Brandon Marshall that when on his game is one of the best in the league. He's also the same Brandon Marshall that choked, along with the rest of his team, during last year's AFC West division race with the rival San Diego Chargers.

Marshall should take advice from The Governator.

And as much as I dislike Terrell “T.O.” Owens, at least his teams have made the playoffs—and Super Bowl.

Some people may still be hung up on Keyshawn Johnson's departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004 in which he was deactivated the final seven games of the 2003, but KJ didn't necessarily want a new deal—he hated Jon Gruden. Oh, by the way, he also helped lead his team to a Super Bowl title the previous year.

Let's see...How many playoff appearances have the Broncos had since Marshall was drafted in 2006? Zero. How many Super Bowls? Zero.

Yes, B-Ran, you did outplay your current deal. You also exceeded expectations in contending for the Pacman Jones Award for Off the Field Distractions. It's quite impressive. Much more impressive than your accomplishments off the field. Let's take a look!

Courtesy of Wikipedia and The Associated Press archives because I sure as heck don't feel like typing up all this crap:

Halloween 2004: While a student at UCF, Marshall was arrested in Orlando on charges of assault on a law enforcement officer, refusal to obey, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer.

March 26, 2007: Marshall was arrested in the Highlands Ranch suburb of Denver on suspicion of domestic violence after his girlfriend reported that following a domestic dispute, Marshall prevented a taxi she was in from leaving his house.

October 22, 2007: Marshall was arrested in the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area at the intersection of 14th and Blake St. for driving under the influence of alcohol. A trial was scheduled for Sept. 16, but Marshall instead agreed to a plea bargain four days earlier; he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired. He was sentenced to one-year probation and 24 hours of community service.

June 12, 2008: Marshall was ticketed for an illegal lane change, then found to be without his license and proof of insurance. The case was eventually dropped as part of a plea bargain for the Oct. 22, 2007 driving incident involving alcohol.

September 17, 2008: article on CompleteColorado.com stated that the solicitor's office in Fulton County, Georgia filed misdemeanor battery charges on Sept. 10 for an alleged incident on Mar. 4, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. Marshall was booked on Mar. 6, then released the next day after posting a $1,000 cash bond. The case was assigned to Judge John Mather in Georgia state court. On Aug. 14, 2009, a jury in Atlanta found Marshall not guilty.

March 1, 2009: Marshall was arrested in Atlanta for disorderly conduct after allegedly being involved in a fight with his fiancee, Michi Nogami-Campbell. Marshall was released on a $300 bond. The charges were dropped the following day.

End of ridiculously-long rap sheet

As my buddy and former WCW World Champion Ron Simmons would say “DAMN!”.

Even the Florida State football legend dislikes Marshall's antics...

That rap sheet is longer than most have had in a lifetime. So let's see, if I decided to constantly get arrested, put myself in a position to be in trouble, and complained in a diva-like way at my retail job in an undisclosed location, I would NOT be asking for a raise, no matter how much I've sold.

And if I did, I would do it in the nicest possible way, while showing my boss at the same time, I can stay out of trouble, be a model citizen, and perform when the lights were on brightest. Especially since I wouldn't always have the luxury of being traded (in my case, transferred) to another store.

Must be nice for Brandon Marshall to potentially have that luxury, should a proposed trade by the New York Jets goes through.

The thing that really got me to write this column wasn't just the fact that I needed someone other than Tony Romo to use as a literary and cinematical (I know that's not a word, but if The Rock can create “Smackdown” then I can create cinematical) punching bag.

Heck, at least Romo has guided his team to winning seasons, behaved for the most part, and taken the 'Boys to the playoffs (minus last season).

What really got me to thinking Brandon Marshall lacked serious common sense was a statement Keyshawn Johnson made on ESPN, saying that when he wanted to be traded by the New York Jets back in 2000, he calmly wrote a letter to management stating his request.

He didn't belittle the team, nor make a complete ass out of himself during practice in front of rookies, veterans, authority, and media.

Only an idiot would do that. Wait, Brandon Marshall DID do that. Well, I hope for Mr. Marshall's sake, he learns to act like a professional, in addition to just being an athlete.

Maybe one day he can stop getting accused of doing things that make people end up in jail and the NFL purgatory (Freddie Mitchell says “Hi.”) and become a wide receiver that can bring positivity to his team, community, and others around him both professionally and personally.

I hope that day comes for him. People can change. Too bad that day can't come soon enough for the Denver Broncos.

Until then...

Brandon Marshall—YOU'RE AN IDIOT.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor and writer for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com, and has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, LayUpDrill.com, 1Wrestling.com, GOOGLE News, and CBSSportsline.com. He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.