The two weeks that span the time between the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 have to be the absolute worst time of the year for sports fans. It’s just brutal. No football. No great basketball - college or pro (not that there’s a lot of NBA following here). No great golf … and when you’ve got 6 inches of snow on the ground, it makes it kind of tough to get hyped about it. No baseball.
Here’s what we’ve got:
- various regular season basketball (college/pro)
- NHL?
- NBA?
- NASCAR speedweeks
- Golf in tropical and arid climates
And a lot of waiting around for Spring Training to hit, Daytona 500 to kick-off NASCAR, and March Madness to captivate us all.
THE MATCH-UP
Kansas City and Denver will meet for the first time this season in an important AFC West contest for both squads as the Chiefs host the Broncos. The Chiefs remain in a first-place tie with San Diego atop the AFC West standings with a 4-4 record, but defeated the Chargers earlier this year by a 30-16 margin at San Diego (9/30). The Chiefs have won 10 of their last 12 meetings with Denver at Arrowhead and will be seeking to register their fifth consecutive home victory over their division rivals.
The Chiefs have rebounded from an 0-2 start to register victories in four of their last six contests. Kansas City is coming off a wild 33-22 home loss vs. Green Bay (11/4). Since the start of the ‘90 campaign, the Chiefs are 26-9 (.743) in their next game at Arrowhead following a home loss. Kansas City hasn’t lost back-to-back games at Arrowhead since 2004. After starting the season 2-0, Denver has lost five of its last six contests after suffering a 44-7 setback at Detroit (11/4).
Kansas City’s defense has been one of the primary reasons that the Chiefs are atop the AFC West standings. The Chiefs defense has allowed opposing offenses to score just 15.6 points per game, a mark that ranks fifth in the league. In terms of total points allowed, KC ranks ninth in the league, giving up 18.3 ppg. Meanwhile, Denver is 28th in that category, allowing 28.4 ppg. The Chiefs have held seven of their eight opponents to 20 points or less this season. Denver has been held to 20 points or less in each of its five losses. KC has permitted 14.0 ppg in its four wins and has allowed 22.5 ppg in its four setbacks. The Broncos have scored 23.0 ppg in their three wins, but have managed just 11.4 ppg in their five losses.
Offensively, QB Damon Huard owns a 5-2 record as a starter at Arrowhead. His two favorite targets this season have been TE Tony Gonzalez and rookie WR Dwayne Bowe. Gonzalez has 52 receptions and is on pace to break his team single-season record of 102 catches in 2004. Bowe has 29 receptions for 499 yards and is on schedule to establish new Chiefs rookie standards in both areas. Two-time Pro Bowl RB Larry Johnson suffered a foot sprain vs. Green Bay (11/4). If he is unable to play on Sunday, three-time Pro Bowl RB Priest Holmes could make his initial start in 742 days. Holmes’ last start came at San Diego (10/30/05).
Sports Illustrated has an unbelievable column quoting citizens of Atlanta on the Michael Vick story. It’s “bigger than Ray Lewis and the Chris Benoit murders.”
People died in those situations.
These are dogs.
Is there any question about the devaluation of human life in this country due to abortion?
Many e-mailers totally miss the boat on the Vick story. Nobody is defending Michael Vick, but what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Ray Lewis and numerous sports figures are allowed to continue playing while being accused of murder and other heinous acts against HUMANS. When it comes to animals people have visceral, emotional reactions.
Priest Holmes informs Chiefs he will Report to Training Camp on Saturday
Kansas City Chiefs RB Priest Holmes informed President Carl Peterson on Wednesday that he intends to report to training camp at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls on Saturday. Holmes has passed a physical and has been cleared to begin activities with the club. Holmes is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2009 campaign.
Peterson received a call from Todd France (Holmes’ representative) and indicated that Priest had made a decision that he wants to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007. Peterson then received a phone call from Holmes in which he personally reiterated his intentions for 2007. The Chiefs then coordinated visits with the team’s orthopedic physicians and specialists in Miami. Everyone conferred following the examination and it was the opinion of the doctors that Priest could play NFL football in 2007.
“In my conversation with Priest, he was excited about playing,” Peterson explained. “Later, Herm (Edwards) and I sat down with Priest here in Kansas City and discussed his decision and our thoughts on his return. We may put him on active PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) initially to gauge his football conditioning and to see how he feels after non-contact drills. But he indicated very strongly to me that he wanted to play and his motivation was to help the Kansas City Chiefs win a championship.
“For myself, I think without question by what Priest Holmes has contributed to this franchise, he deserves the right and opportunity to play again for the Chiefs,” Peterson continued. “He wants to do that and we’re going to afford him that opportunity. From a personal standpoint, certainly I have said many times that I would never count this player out like so many did after his hip surgery. He’s a very unique human being, a very unique talent and I think he will prove some people wrong again. We are going to take it slow to gauge and monitor where he is every day, but there’s no question that if Priest Holmes is close to what he was before his injury, he’ll make a significant impact on the offensive side of the football.”
… more
What’s the deal with all the coaching changes and back-outs? (a bit Seinfeld-esque)
Just the latest in the indeciciveness:
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando Magic has agreed to let Billy Donovan out of his contract, paving the way for the former Florida coach to return to the Gators.
Donovan agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million deal late last week with the Magic, but approached both sides about getting out of the contract over the weekend … AFTER being formally indrotuced at a news conference on Friday. Donovan had already turned down offers from Kentucky and the Memphis Grizzlies, and looked to be staying in Gainesville before being announced in Orlando.
Other notables THIS season:
Dana Altman: Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced as Arkansas’ new basketball coach earlier this spring, then decided to return to Creighton two days later.
Gregg Marshall: Charleston hired Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall, but Marshall told the Cougars one day later he was returning to Winthrop.
I could understand if they changed their minds and cancelled the deal before the news conference, but after being introduced as the new leader? Come on.
There is a precendece for this, though.
In 1993, Bobby Cremins accepted the South Carolina job, then changed his mind two days later and returned to Georgia Tech.
Bill Belichick was introduced as the Jets new football coach. One day later he changed his mind.
Eddie Stanky was introduced as Texas Rangers manager. One day later he changed his mind.
