The Weekend That Was

 Only one player in the 2006 draft was better than Vick...yet he wasn't drafted...

*  On Friday, Marcus Vick, younger brother of you-know who, was interviewed about the draft and the top three QB's (Young, Leinart, Cutler).  Vick said Young was the only QB better than he is.  Here is what Marcus had to say:

Marcus Vick versus Vince Young, a hero of his: "He's great. He'll throw for 300 and run for 200. He's like a taller Michael Vick."  Marcus Vick versus Matt Leinart: "I'm taking Marcus Vick in this case right here, because it's something about when you have an athlete at the quarterback position it just changes the game."  And Marcus Vick versus Jay Cutler: "I'm taking Marcus Vick once again."   After being kicked out of Virginia Tech for his nice rap sheet and stomping on a Louisville linebacker's calf, Vick was bypassed in all seven rounds.  That's 255 picks.  Yeah Marcus, you are definitely better than Matt Leinart.

 Get well soon Wayne, England needs you.

*  Manchester United and England star, Wayne Rooney, broke a bone in his right foot over the weekend in a 3-0 loss to Chelsea.  The injury, which will put him out for six weeks, puts the World Cup in jeopardy for Rooney.  England play Paraguay in Germany on June 10 in their first game of the tourney.  Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Sunday he'll put Rooney on the World Cup roster even if there is only a slight chance of him playing. 

*  If it's true that Chris Berman gets all the picks in his ear before the Commisioner Tagliabue reads it at the podium, I am going to be furious.  Berman sat there throughout the entire first round saying right before each pick 'I think they'll go with Cutler here...' then Cutler was the pick.  It happened the ENTIRE FIRST ROUND.  If you didn't watch as much as I did you don't realize how annoying it was. 

 Kobe has talent, I'll give him that.

*  As much as I dislike Kobe Bryant (and it's well-documented that I do), he and his Laker teammates were fantastic at the end of regulation and in overtime in their 99-98 win over the Suns at the Staples Center on Sunday.  Smush Parker hit a huge three near the end of regulation to get the Lakers within two.  Parker then stole a pass from Steve Nash, tipped it to Devean George, who gave it to Kobe who made a great layup to take the game into overtime.  In overtime, Kobe hit the winner with no time left from 15 feet out.  Kobe's winner was eerily reminiscent of Michael Jordan's game-winner over the Hawks in his first comeback.  Anybody else remember that shot?  He ran straight to mid-court and pumped his fist just like Kobe did on Sunday. 

Turn That Frown Upside Down Matt

 No need to be sad Matt...well, I guess you did lose $14 million or so...

Sitting at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday for 90 minutes, it looked as if Matt Leinart had just lost his best friend.  That's how long it took for the USC QB to be drafted.  Leinart would have been the top pick in the 2005 draft.  He had everything going for him.  He'd won the Heisman trophy, a national championship and could have strolled into the NFL as the 49ers starting quarterback with everything.  He goes back to school, takes one ballroom dancing class, has another terrific year and somehow falls to the Arizona Cardinals with the tenth pick in this year's draft.

Somebody please explain this to me.  Leinart is as smooth as they come.  He's a leader, has an amazing football IQ, he's tough and is mature (see Notre Dame game).  What does he not have?  All he did was win games at USC.  Al Davis doesn't like left-handed quarterbacks.  That's a solid reason to pass him up.  Lord knows Leinart is going to be the next Todd Marinovich.  No wonder the Raiders can't win.  I am ecstatic for Leinart.  He walks into an offense with Edgerrin James at running back, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at wide receiver and Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback. 

I haven't been happier for any player in the last ten years than I am for Leinart.  He didn't deserve to fall to number ten, but he'll make the most of it...with an All-Pro running back and two fantastic wide receivers.  Tear it up Matt.

The Next Joe Montana

College football fans remember Tennessee's Casey Clausen.  A very solid quarterback who left UT in 2003 number two in career touchdowns behind somebody named Peyton Manning.  Think about this.  He has a brother.  No, not Rick.  Another brother.  A brother who is being compared to Joe Montana. 

 The Kid With The Golden Arm

Meet Jimmy Clausen.  Last Fall, on the first day of recruiting, Notre Dame head coach, Charlie Weis showed up at Clausen's school.  Why is this unique you ask?  Clausen is a junior.  Weis, in his first year in South Bend, was trying to bring in a great class.  On the first day he showed up at a junior's door.  You know the kid's good when Charlie Weis shows up in his first full recruiting day after helping the Patriot's become the best NFL offense in ten years.  He could be at any Senior's door, but he's at yours.  No pressure there. 

The 6-foot-3, 207 pound Clausen has 88 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions in his last two years for Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California.  His team averages 53 points per game and he is 27-0 as a starter.  Clausen has completed 68 percent of his passes over the last two years and has thrown for 7,234 career yards.  Not bad. 

Jimmy's brother, Rick, who started a few games for the Volunteer's this past fall, has stated 'Jimmy is better than both of us right now.'  Imagine having that load on your shoulder's.  Seventeen years old, being compared to Joe Montana, being told you are the Lebron James of high school football and that you are better than your brother who is starting for one of the best teams in the Southeastern Conference. 

How about being told you have 'the arm of John Elway, the composure of Tom Brady and the quick release of Joe Namath?  Clausen carries the ball high, by his ear, which gives him a short, accurate and ridiculously consistent motion.'  "I've never seen anyone with a quicker release than Jimmy has," says Brian Sipe, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback and NFL MVP who is now the coach at Santa Fe Christian inSan Diego. "I didn't expect to see that at the high school level."

Get ready world.  Jimmy Clausen is going to take over college football...well in 2007 he is.

Other Tidbits:

*  I flipped on HBO Saturday afternoon to see the Wladimir Klitschko vs Chris Byrd heavyweight fight live from Mannheim, Germany.  Wow, that was exciting.  Byrd couldn't dodge a left from a 90-year-old blind woman.  Second, Byrd's wife was going absolutely insane in the crowd yelling at him that he needs to start 'throwing more punches.'  Nice wife.  She's insane.  Third, Byrd just stinks. 

 How was Chris Byrd ever the champion?

*  Yessirree, the NBA Playoffs started over the weekend.  Which seven game series is going to last six weeks this year?  Game 1 of the Bucks/Pistons series was Sunday; Game 2 in Detroit again is Wednesday.  Right.  These guys need 3 full days of rest between games.  You can not be serious.  I will say this though.  I am definitely more interested in the NBA Playoffs this year than any other year over the past 8 years.  Two words:  Lebron James. 

*  One person on this earth can say they know how to beat Roger Federer:  Rafael Nadal.  Nadal on Sunday beat Federer for the fourth time in five tries in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5).  Most of those wins are on clay though.  Not on hard courts where two of the four majors (U.S. and Australian) are played.  Nadal certainly won't be Federer on the grass at Wimbledon either. 

 

Funny Movie Time

Haven't seen a funny movie in a while?  Having to be at work early on a Saturday morning, I had this lovely Friday evening to watch one of my favorite funny movies (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle).  I felt after watching this movie a need to list my funniest movies of all time.  Some of these movies are funny, some of these movies are hysterical, some of these movies must be watched after a drink or two...

My Top Eight Funniest Movies (and a favorite quote from each):

1.  Office Space -- 'It's not that I'm lazy; it's just that I don't care.'

 

2.  Caddyshack -- 'I hear this place is restricted Wang...so don't tell 'em your Jewish.'

 'This place got a pool?' - Carl.  'It's got a pool and a pond.  Pond would be good for you.' - Ty.

3.  National Lampoon's Vacation -- 'Ma...can you tell Audrey to stop pushing Aunt Edna on me?' 

4.  Wedding Crashers -- 'Janice, I apologize to you if I don't seem real eager to jump into a forced awkward intimate situation that people like to call dating. I don't like the feeling. You're sitting there, you're wondering do I have food on my face, am I eating, am I talking too much, are they talking enough, am I interested I'm not really interested, should I play like I'm interested but I'm not that interested but I think she might be interested but do I want to be interested but now she's not interested? So all of the sudden I'm getting, I'm starting to get interested... And when am I supposed to kiss her? Do I have to wait for the door cause then it's awkward, it's like well goodnight. Do you do like that ass-out hug? Where you like, you hug each other like this and your ass sticks out cause you're trying not to get too close or do you just go right in and kiss them on the lips or don't kiss them at all? It's very difficult trying to read the situation. And all the while you're just really wondering are we gonna get hopped up enough to make some bad decisions? Perhaps play a little game called "just the tip". Just for a second, just to see how it feels. Or, ouch, ouch you're on my hair.'

5.  Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle -- 'Thank you, come again!'

6.  Old School -- 'I have a wife and kids. Do I seem like a happy guy to you, Frank?'

7.  Anchorman -- 'Well, I could be wrong, but I believe, uh, diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.'

8.  Super Troopers -- 'I don't want a Large Farva.'  'You mean Shenanigans?'

The list could go on and on.  There could be a top eight list with Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn movies alone.  Some of my other favorite funny movies are:  Clerks, Mallrats, National Lampoon's European Vacation & Christmas Vacation, Friday, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, 40 Year Old Virgin and Napoleon Dynamite, Tommy Boy, Billy Madison, Road Trip, Dumb and Dumber and American Pie. 

*  Have a favorite movie that I haven't listed?  Leave a comment  *

Scrabble

I have come to realize I am very (VERY?) competitive.  I always thought it was with sports.  Playing my brother one-on-one (up to 100 by 1's) or in H-O-R-S-E when I was young.  Then it became more than basketball.  It became whoever I was playing at any sport.  I wanted to win.  Tennis.  Golf.  Ping pong.  I don't play cards but I have a sneaky suspicion that if I played I would need to win.  I do remember playing War with my sister and if I didn't win I would, or she would, be gone in a huff.  That's just my way. 

I have watched documentaries on Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods and you realize what makes these two, and I'm sure millions of others, good at something or everything is how competitive they are.  Tiger Woods is known on the golf course for not talking to his playing partners and being extremely focused when he plays.  Can't fault him for that, he's made a pretty good living on the links.  On '60 Minutes' a couple weeks ago, Tiger was being interviewed by Ed Bradley.  Bradley asked Tiger 'What would happen if we played ping pong and I won?'  Tiger responded with 'We'd play again.'  'And if I won again?' said Bradley.  'We'd play again,' said Tiger.  Get the point? 

Michael Jordan is another person synonymous with being extremely competitive in everything he does.  One assistant coach at the University of North Carolina remembers playing Jordan in a game of pool.  The coach won and Jordan was so furious he didn't talk to the coach for a week.  It's also well known that Jordan is a very competitive golfer and gambler.  Nothing wrong with that.  I can't see MJ going half-ass at anything. 

Not to put myself in that same category, but I realize that it has gone well past sports for me.  Prime example:  SCRABBLE.  I loved SCRABBLE growing up and always wanted to play more.  I remember 7-8 years ago playing with a girlfriend at the time and her sister.  I remember giving the sister a hard time about all the words she was trying to use, looking them up in the dictionary, etc.  After I won, she vowed 'I'll never play with you again.'  Her loss. 

More recently I have started playing with a friend.  Being Mr Competitive that I am, I won the first game and started a running tab on each scorecard thereafter with 'Scrabble Tournament, Ryan leads 1-0' then 2-0, then 3-0.  You get the point.  I had won 11 straight until my friend had won a game.  Of course, as soon as that game was over I wanted to play again.  Sound familiar?  I am not a good loser as some of you can imagine.  It doesn't get any worse (or better depending on how you look at it) then when we played a week or so ago.

We were in a close game and I wanted (needed) to win.  It was my turn.  I tend to take my time when it's my turn trying to come up with the best possible scenario to get the most points, yet make sure my opponent doesn't have a chance to get a big score on their turn.  Okay, so here's what happened.  I am looking over the board of what I could do.  It was late in the game and there weren't many squares left and we were finding points tough to come by.  In the bottom right hand corner of the board was NEWS with the next square being a triple word score.  (If you don't know SCRABBLE, let me explain a little.  Each little is worth a point value.  For example, N is worth 1, E is worth 1, W is worth 4 and S is worth 1.  That's 7 total points). 

I'm going over the board left and right, frantically searching for something, anything.  My friend asks for the dictionary and I hand it to them.  My opponent is looking directly at NEWS with the dictionary wide open so I can see that they are in the N section of the dictionary.  My opponent blurts out 'WOOHOO, I got you now WILMOT!'  I'm thinking 'NO NO NO, this can't be happening.  I need something big.'  I look at NEWS and my letters and ask for the dictionary back.  I go to news and find the word NEWSY.  Newsy is defined by Webster's as 'containing or filled with news.'  (Do you really think I could have come up with the word NEWSY on my own?  Not so much.)  I look at my letters again and realize I have a Y.  I start laughing and put the Y down for NEWSY, add up the score: 7 points plusthe four for Y (11), times three (triple word score) and put down my score (33 points).  Friend was none to happy.  They said I cheated.  'I'm never playing with you again Wilmot!.  You cheat.' 

At Barnes & Nobles yesterday, I went to the games section to find the 'OSPD' - The Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary - and found a great book by Stefan Fatsis called 'Word Freak,' Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive SCRABBLE Players.  Want a good read?  Pick that up here.  Fatsis is a sports journalist for The Wall Street Journal and has become a very competitive Scrabble player.  What do you call somebody who goes home at night and studies up on all the two-letter and three-letter words in the dictionary?  I've got a couple words, but I can't put them up on here.

I love Scrabble, but I know I'll never get to that point.  It really was my turn.  That's not cheating, is it?  That's when I realized I had turned a friendly game of SCRABBLE into a much more competitive game.  Or was it when I put 'Scrabble Tournament:  Ryan leads 11-0?' 

*  Want to find a roster of clubs, upcoming local tournaments, and where you can be rated (yes, you too can be rated as a Scrabble player), go to the NSA - National SCRABBLE Association. 

 

Mistie Williams

 Williams, right, and point guard Lindsey Harding celebrate Duke's win over LSU.

Janesville's own Mistie (Bass) Williams will be playing for a national championship Tuesday night.  Williams, a starting power forward for Duke, helped the Blue Devils beat LSU on Sunday night, 64-45.  Williams led Duke in points (14) and rebounds (7).  They will play Maryland, who upset top-seeded UNC, 81-70. 

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