Bleacher Report - Articles by Jimmy Kimmel

Predicting the Top 12 Sprint Cup Drivers in 2009

Jimmy Kimmel — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:24:44 -0500

As we near the start of another NASCAR season it is time for many to really look at what has changed. So this could be considered the year of the merger as you have Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprise came together to form Richard Petty Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Incorporated joined forces with Chip Ganassi Racing to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Tony Stewart left the only team he ever knew to start his own team and brought Ryan Newman. Mark Martin made Hendricks super team complete by coming out of partial-retirement to try and win a championship. Overall there have been 13 major driver changes. Dale Jr. has had an off season that was very uneventful. But my biggest surprise leading into 2009 is the appearance of Jimmie Johnson's facial hair. So on we go to who I believe will be the top 12 at years end.

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NFL Final Four: Predictions

Jimmy Kimmel — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:33:29 -0500

So, after another exciting weekend in the NFL we are left with four teams. Two six-seeds are left, one of which will be favored. This all sets up for one exciting weekend. Last week I picked only one team correctly: Philadelphia.

So here are my picks for the 2009 Conference Championship Weekend.

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Eagles are the first NFC sixth seed to make it this far, yet Arizona is the surprising team in this matchup. Both teams are coming off of double-digit upset wins. I have picked against the Cardinals all postseason.

The Eagles were my preseason Super Bowl pick.

Philadelphia's defense dominated the Giants and the offense had a solid day considering the conditions. The Eagles have been playing great football over the last month and a half. Westbrook was a non-factor in the Giants game, but look for him to play well against a Cardinal's defense that has been average until this postseason.

McNabb's numbers aren't great—although considering three drops by tight ends and one drop by Kevin Curtis that would have gone for about 40 yards, his numbers could have been a lot better. McNabb and Westbrook owned the Cardinal's defense on Thanksgiving Day.

Now to what brought the birds this far, the Eagle's defense. They controlled the game against New York and don't look for them to slow down.

The Cardinals have been a surprise and they killed the Panthers. Arizona discovered a thing called a run game. They have an explosive offense and their defense has been equally as good in 2009.

Kurt Warner is playing like well Kurt Warner. Larry Fitzgerald is amazing and Anquan Boldin should be back, although not 100 percent.

I see this being a good game. But with Boldin not being healthy and the Eagle's defense looking unstoppable, I don't see the Cardinals racking up too many points. McNabb wants to prove to Philly fans how much they really need him, Westbrook runs wild, and Akers tacks on a few field goals to his NFL record 18 consecutive makes.

The Eagles win and advance to the Super Bowl.

Eagles 37, Cardinals 17

MVP: Donovan McNabb

AFC

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Round Three. The Steelers swept the season series in two close games. Baltimore won a hard-fought close game in Tennessee. The Steelers blew out the Chargers and didn't really break a sweat. Big Ben didn't seem to show any side effects from his concussion.

Don't expect any surprises in this game, but do expect two things: defense and running. These are two of the best defenses in the NFL and don't expect either team to score over 20.

I think the key to this game is the fact that the Steelers are relatively fresh and Baltimore has played two very physical games.

This game will probably be more physical than both. I see the Steelers setting up an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

Steelers 16 Ravens 10

MVP: Troy Polamalu

This year has proven two things. First, defense can win games.

Second, the NFL is very unpredictable. So with seven days until we know who will be in the Super Bowl, something tells me there are a few surprises still to be seen.

NFL Divisional Playoffs: 2009 Predictions

Jimmy Kimmel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:00:52 -0500

As I watched the Wild Card games this weekend, I was very encouraged by one thing, old-school football coming out. Defense and the run game can usually indicate a very boring game, but this weekend it lead to some exciting football. So without further ramblings, here are my predictions for the Divisional round.

NFC

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers

West-coast teams were dominated this year when traveling to the East Coast. The Cardinals are a prime example of this, as they went 0-5 on the East Coast, losing by an average of 20 points per game. This includes a 27-23 loss at Carolina.

The Panthers had a week off and it should have given key players some time to get fresh. Arizona is coming off of a great win. If Edgerrin James shows up like he did this week, look for it to be a close game. Look for a good game but the Panthers win 30-17.

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants

My preseason pick for the Super Bowl was Philly. That being said, they just came off a very hard fought, physical game. The teams split the season with the Eagles winning at the Meadowlands in December.

The Eagles could have very well won both of those games. The Giants lack a dominate number one receiver, this will allow the Eagles to have Brian Dawkins come on the blitz and help on run defense.

The Giants' week off allows Brandon Jacobs to get healthy, but I don't see him being too big of a factor. I'll stand by my preseason prediction and go with the Eagles, 27-21.

This leaves a rematch of the 2003 NFC Championship game.

AFC

Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans

Two of the games best defenses face off. The Titans won the meeting in the regular season, 13-10. That game was played in Baltimore. The Ravens played a great game and Ed Reed is an animal.

Joe Flacco had an off game but had no mistakes. The Titans had a bye week but had practice all week. Jeff Fisher will put the ball in the hands of his running backs and Kerry Collins will be asked to protect the football.

I see the Titans repeating their regular-season performance. Titans win 13-10.

San Diego Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

I had the Chargers in the Super Bowl in the preseason. That was before injuries plagued the team. Last week, I said to watch them to be a dark horse throughout the playoffs. The Chargers held the Colts to 17 points, which could have been 10 if they wouldn't have taken a play off.

The Steelers won a very close 11-10 game in Week 11, although the referees missed the call at the end of the game. That was a completely different Chargers team. I have the Chargers winning 14-10.

So, in the AFC Championship, the Chargers would travel to play the Titans.

So, if you don't like defense and running in your NFL game, this is not a playoff year for you. Look for a heavy dose of both in all of the games in the upcoming weekend.

NHL Winter Classic 2010

Jimmy Kimmel — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 10:08:41 -0500

Which Venues Should Host the Next Classic?

I love the idea of having one outdoor NHL game every year, but only one. If you have a second, third, or fourth outdoor game, it looses it's allure. So with that being said, here are my top three venues for the 2010 Winter Classic.

1. Citizen's Bank Park—Philadelphia, PA

The Flyers are a very popular team. They are a very fun team to watch and open up many classic opponents that could draw ratings and fans. Rivalry games between New York, New Jersey, Boston, Pittsburgh, or Detroit would make a great game.

Now to the venue. Citizen's Bank Park is a beautiful stadium that has newly-minted history with the recent championship by the Phillies. The fans in Philadelphia are top notch, and are, in my opinion, the best in sports.

2. Fenway Park—Boston, MA

Boston is one of the most surprising teams this year and is arguably doing more with less talent than anyone in the NHL. Much like Philadelphia, there are many intriguing match ups that are possible.

Fenway is a national treasure. It would match what was done this year by using the historic Wrigley Field. Boston fans are very passionate, and nothing would be more thrilling than watching a game with the Green Monster in the backdrop.

3. New Yankee Stadium—New York, NY

A good team with good fans. New York has always been the center of the sports universe. The Rangers could easily draw record crowds with almost anyone they play.

The New Yankee Stadium could really gain the allure of hosting a NHL game and could start to live up to its predecessor.

There are two other venues that nearly made it into the top three. My honorable mentions are National Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Coors Field in Denver, CO.

TUF: Top 5 Most Improved

Jimmy Kimmel — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:30:00 -0500

As another Ultimate Fighter season approaches it seems like a fitting time to look back at some of the fighters the show has given us. These are my choice for the five most improved fighters.

5. Junie Browning

I know he only has one fight since the Ultimate Fighter, but it was impressive. I put Junie on this list for what he did outside of the Octagon. He's now in control of his alcohol problem, which not only makes him a better fighter but helps him lead a better life.

He's with a great MMA team with Xtreme Couture, and he takes direction from his corner better. He may have been the most talented fighter on the previous season, and if he continues with his improvement, he very well could be a champion in the UFC.

4. Michael Bisping

Since he got off the show he has gone 6-1, with his only loss being to current Light-Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans. He has improved all aspects of his game and has defeated a lot of good fighters to prove it.

He made the move to 185, which is a much better fit for him and has been dominant. His next opponent will either be Rich Franklin or Dan Henderson, after TUF9. If he wins this fight, he will be in line for a shot at Anderson Silva.

3. Mike Swick

Swick was a solid fighter on the show and has proven with his ability in the octagon that his skills have improved. He is a top contender at 170.

Look for him to have some huge fights in 2009. He is right there with Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch for the third best welterweight right now. I would rank him fifth at that weight, but he has all the tools to prove me wrong.

2. Josh Koscheck

Josh's stay on TUF was marked with one thing, wrestling. No one will ever doubt Josh's wrestling.

He was the most controversial fighter on the first season. He had a Junie Browning-esque attitude. But like Junie, he got together with a good team at American Kickboxing Academy and really has improved his attitude.

What he lacked was a stand-up game and the ability to mix up his style. If you become predictable, you will lose. Josh has stepped up his stand-up and he now has one of the best double-leg takedowns in all MMA.

All his improvement has come to fruition with one of the most brutal knockouts of the year over Yoshida. Look for a year full of rematches for Josh and a possible match-up with Mike Swick.

1. Rashad Evans

He has the gold to prove he has improved. He was a Josh Koscheck clone when he was on TUF. He wrestled and that's about it.

He now has one of the best stand-up games in all of MMA. starting with a knockout of Jason Lambert and then the kick that erased about 10 years of memory from Sean Salmon's head.

He followed it with a draw with Tito Ortiz and then a win over Michael Bisping. Then all of his improvement showed with his next two fights: destroying Chuck Liddell and claiming the 205 title with a TKO win over Forrest Griffin.

There are many great fighters who also could be on this list. My honorable mentions are: Chris Leben, Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, C.B. Dalloway, and Matt Hamill.

I know there are still fighters who deserve recognition, but these are my most improved fighters.

Mixed Martial Arts 2009: 10 Predictions

Jimmy Kimmel — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:22:54 -0500

As 2008 is now officially history many look back at the year in Mixed Martial Arts and have differing opinions on the sports success. I found this to be a great year in MMA but here are my 10 predictions for the upcoming year.

10. Although against the idea Dana White gives a contract to Gina Carano.

OK I will admit this is a long shot but I watched EliteXC for one reason and that was to watch Gina fight. Dana said he has no interest in this but this would be a great draw on a free card. Lets face it Gina is an amazing fighter and does draw people. Of course I give this a chance for one reason, Dana likes do things that attract attention to the sport.

If you would have ask me two years ago who would have been the Heavyweight Champion in the UFC I would have said ever Heavyweight I could think of and Brock Lesner's name would not have appeared. With that being said I give this prediction a 25% Chance.

9. Fedor Emelianenko gets his first loss.

I know his record shows a loss but that's a crock. Fedor will probably fight 3 times next year one of those fights being against Andrei Arlovski. Although very unlikely Fedor could lose this fight. I see Affliction sticking around for one more card on July 4, but will get crushed by UFC 100.

So if Fedor takes care of business against Arlovski he will likely fight Josh Barnett. Barnett has defeated an Emelianenko abut that was the younger brother Aleksander. So that leaves about six months left in 2009. So now that leaves it up to Dana White to get it done with Fedor. I can see Fedor fighting whoever is the UFC heavyweight Champ on the day after Christmas in Ultimate 2009.

So who will be the champ, well i can see Randy regaining the championship but i think whoever is the champ will defeat Fedor. Fedor will rebound and avenge his loss in 2010. So all that being said I give this a 45% Chance.

8. Josh Koscheck wins gold at 170.

Josh is the third best at 170 and I think he can beat Thiago if he is given time to prepare. Josh continues what he started in 2008 and blows through the competition and surprises the UFC universe when he wins gold late in the year. I give this a 50% Chance.

7. Deigo Sanchez claims the lightweight belt.

Deigo goes down to 155 and is a nightmare to Joe Daddy and knocks out Kenny Florian again. Next up is BJ Penn and I personally can't wait for this fight. Deigo gets it done and I give this Prediction 40% Chance.

6. Satoshi Ishii makes his UFC debut and does not disappoint.

For those who dont know who Satoshi is he won the gold metal for over 100kg at the Olympics this Summer and is negotiating with the UFC. Whether he fights at 205 or in the Heavyweight division I can see him becoming a legend. There are reports that he could make his debut with Heavyweights on the Tenth Season of the Ultimate Fighter, mostly to get a following with MMA fans. Look for him to train with Xtreme Couture. This is an almost slam dunk, 99% Chance.

5. Chick Liddell goes unbeaten in 2009 and becomes a contender.

It has been a bumpy road since Chuck lost to Rampage, but look for him to bounce back an avenge a loss or two in 2009. One of the fights of 2009 will be won by Chuck when he beats Anderson Silva. Chuck sets up for a title shot in 2010. This is only going to happen if Chuck changes it up a little. I give this a 40% Chance.

4. Urijah Faber regains his WEC title and makes his UFC debut.

Does anyone doubt that Faber will win back his title? After he again beats Jens Pulver, he reclaims his belt. Now to the UFC part of this prediction. Dana won't add 145 in the UFC so Faber moves up to 155 and tries to avenge his only other loss in a rematch with Tyson Griffin. Incidentally this earns Tyson his fifth Fight of the Night Bonus. This one I give 55% Chance.

3.Anderson Silva fights at 205 twice, but only wins once.

185 has no real contenders outside of Bisping, Silva moves up and fights twice at 205. He wins against a contender, like Forrest or Wanderlei. But when the dream match with Chuck Liddell happens his unbeaten UFC record gets its first blemish. Don't worry Silva fans he bounces back and knocks out Bisping. I give this a 65% Chance.

2. Tito Ortiz gets more CAT Scans than wins.

One of the most overrated fighters in MMA gets knocked out twice by relative nobodies. I can see one of his losses coming from Seth Petruzelli. This proves that Ortiz is nearing the end of his career. Don't worry if your a fan of Tito he bounces back by doing what he does best and that is beating someone more over-rated than him, Kimbo or Ken Shamrock. CAT Scans win 2-1 and this one has a 90% Chance.

1. UFC further proves it superiority of MMA organizations and signs a deal with ESPN.

Every single organization that has threatened the UFC has fallen, and Affliction is soon to follow. Shows like the Ultimate Fighter and Fight Night stay on Spike, but ESPN throws money down and get the rights to two UFC fights. ESPN broadcast their first fight in the fall and it is a huge success. This one has potential i give it a 85% Chance.

2008 gave us a great year full of interesting fights and even better story lines. Hopefully 2009 trumps it and gives us all more to talk about.

NFL Wild-Card Weekend '09

Jimmy Kimmel — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:22:53 -0500

So, as the season came to a close last night around 10 pm (Lets face it everyone knew the Chargers we're going to run away with the game in the second half) I started to look at the match-ups for the wild-card weekend.

Four weeks ago, when I predicted this exact playoff scenario my friend looked at me like I lost my mind. I will admit I had the Eagles winning out, but thanks to the Raiders and Texans my picks were saved. So let's get to the games.

NFC

Atlanta Falcons vs Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta is the feel good story of the year and Matt Ryan is my Rookie of the Year. You have to remember the Falcons were five seconds away from a No. 2 seed and a bye, but a field goal by the Panthers ended that.

Arizona left after Thanksgiving, well actually before. But they do have great potential with a great receiving core. I think this one is closer than most think but I'll take Atlanta, 27-21.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings' fans were calling for Brad Childress to be fired until he turned to Gus Frerotte. The Vikings are now back to that team and looked good down the stretch. But a QB problem will be exploited by a Jim Johnson Defense.

What can you say about the Eagles. Well it depends on what Eagles team shows up. But momentum is everything and the Eagles have it.

Expect Hank Baskett, Kevin Curtis, and LJ Smith all to be back. Philadelphia also beat every NFC playoff team they played this season. The rest the Eagles got at the end of the Dallas game will only help. Westbrook runs wild, McNabb plays for his job, the Defense dominates, and Desean Jackson is a difference maker.

I'll take the Eagles, 34-13. The Giants should be worried because the last meeting between them and the Eagles showed a flawed New York team.

That leaves us with the Divisional round looking like this:

Falcons vs Panthers and Eagles vs Giants.

AFC

Indianapolis Colts vs San Diego Chargers

Both teams are red hot. Both teams were counted out earlier this year. Both teams have been here before. L.T. looked great as did the Chargers Defense, a dangerous combination. The Chargers don't have those pesky Patriots to deal with in the playoffs and could be the dark horse pick this year.

The Colts are the Colts, Manning is Manning, and they have looked unbeatable the past two months. That being said in my upset pick, I see the Chargers winning, 35-34, in a slug-fest.

Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins

In a game that may decide coach of the year it is the Wildcat put up against the great Ravens' defense. Both teams have a lot to prove, the Ravens won the AFC North but were robbed by a bad call.

The Dolphins are the biggest turnaround team in NFL history. But Miami will get a reality check as they get a taste of their own medicine as Troy Smith throws a TD out of the Wildcat and Chad Pennington spends most of his game on the ground. Baltimore, 23-7.

That leaves us with the Divisional round looking like this:

Ravens vs Titans and Chargers vs Steelers.

This is looking like one of the most unpredictable playoffs in recent memory, and only time will tell what happens.

Kevin Kolb: The Philadelphia Eagles' Future?

Jimmy Kimmel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:09:52 -0500

21.81 seems like an unimportant number, but not if you are a Philadelphia Eagles fan. 21.81 is the so called "future" quarterback Kevin Kolb’s career QB rating. Now, to put this number in perspective, if I were to take a snap as a NFL QB and threw the ball out of bounds my rating would nearly double that of the Kevin Kolb (39.58).

Kevin Kolb was a second round pick when better QB's were on the board—Trent Edwards for one. He came out of a shotgun-oriented offence much like the 49ers' Alex Smith.

Just looking at Kolb's career numbers, 50% completion, 144 yards, 0 TD's, 2 Fumbles, 4 interceptions (2 of which were returned for TD's), you could say he just needs more playing time.

Yes, he is young and has potential but how can any intelligent fan call for McNabb's job. This is the same McNabb that led the Eagles, without a prominent wide receiver, to four consecutive NFC Championship Games. This the same McNabb who in 2004 without a certain No. 81, led his team through the playoffs to the Super Bowl.

This the same McNabb that has five Pro-bowl appearances and is the greatest passer in Eagles' history but it shouldn’t surprise me that my fellow Eagles' fans could be so naive. These are the fans that booed when McNabb was drafted over a certain marijuana smoking NFL has been.

These are the same fans that blamed McNabb for being injury prone. Look at two of the plays that took McNabb out, a simple run out of bounds that lead to a torn ACL and a tackle on a safety that lead to a sports hernia. Now look what this man has done through injury.

This being a game in which he broke his ankle on the first play of a week 11 game against Arizona, and went on to go 20 for 25, 255 yards, four touchdowns, and a QB Rating of 132!

Now, let's put McNabb's numbers in historical context. He is one of 34 QB's to ever post a perfect passer rating, this less than a year after reconstructive ACL surgery. He also is currently the best QB when it comes to interception to attempts ratio...in history.

So, one of the best QB's in NFL history, a future Hall of Famer, who if given a No. 1 wideout, even though D Jackson is stepping up, and a power back to supplement B. Westbrook would have a Superbowl ring.

Or would you rather a unproven QB that spent his college years in a shotgun oriented offense....But hey, it could work; just ask San Francisco.