Fan Stop Central

In a lawsuit filed in Jackson County, Missouri in which John Coomer claims he was just chillin’ at a game on September 8, 2009 — when Slugger “climbed atop the third base dugout and started shooting hotdogs into the stands from an air gun.”

Coomer claims Slugger eventually put the air gun down — and started firing off the wieners by hand … when, according to the suit, things went horribly wrong.

In the docs, Coomer claims “Slugger lost control of his throw or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hotdog directly into the Plaintiff.”

Coomer claims the dog hit him right in his left eye — leaving him with a detached retina and the development of cataracts.

Seriously?! Anyone else have a hard time believing that a hot dog tossed behind-the-back (while wearing a mascot suit) could inflict enough damage to DETACH A RETINA!!??!!??!!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Congratulations to New Orleans and its Saints … Super Bowl Champions!!! Doesn’t quite sound right to us to say those words together, but the Saints well-deserved it this year. Congratulations.

Now, for Fan Stop Central, the NFL season wasn’t as pretty. It’s recap time. Let’s quickly take a look at our predictions and just how wrong we were:

AFC
West – San Diego
North – Pittsburgh (Cincinnati)
South – Tennessee (Indianapolis)
East – New England
WC – Baltimore
WC – Indianapolis (New York)

NFC
West – Seattle (Arizona)
North – Chicago (Minnesota)
South – New Orleans
East – Philadelphia (Dallas)
WC – Dallas (Philadelphia)
WC – Atlanta (Green Bay)

So, we were decent in our playoff participants predictions … we only had 5 completely wrong and we had a few division winners and wild cards swapped, but overall, pretty good. Now, here’s where we go wildly astray:

AFC – New England
NFC – Philadelphia

Champion – Philadelphia

Popularity: unranked [?]

With a $30 million gift from Missouri State alumnus and Springfield, Mo.-based hotel developer John Q Hammons, construction has begun on JQH Arena, the new home to the MIssouri State Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams and an iconic tribute to Missouri State intercollegiate athletics.

The arena, located adjacent to Hammons Student on John Q. Hammons Parkway, will contain more than 11,000 seats – including 50 courtside seats – The Grand Entrance, 22 suites, a club and other amenities. The design also includes shell space for home locker rooms, offices and a training room, which can be completed later. For now, the current Hammons Student Center facilities will be used for these functions, with a connecting corridor to JQH Arena.

Building a new basketball arena has been a long-time dream for Missouri State. Establishing one as grand as JQH Arena will allow Missouri State to live up to its name, be a magnet for Springfield and make the community proud. The JQH Arena will impact recruiting efforts, putting the basketball programs on par with other Division I schools in the country as we move into the 21st century. The new arena will be a premier basketball facility that will give Missouri State an overwhelming home-court advantage and make the Bears’ and Lady Bears’ games the place to be in Springfield.

In addition, JQH Arena will qualify to host women’s NCAA postseason games and will be an ideal place to host local, regional and statewide high school events, plus concerts and other public events.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Let’s look back at some predictions sure to go wrong. On March 25, 2009 I put together my MLB predictions. Let’s take a look at how I’ve done so far:

AL West – Seattle Mariners
AL Central – Cleveland Indians
AL East – New York Yankees
AL Wild Card – Oakland A’s

NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Central – St. Louis Cardinals
NL East – Atlanta Braves
NL Wild Card – Chicago Cubs

American League Champion – New York Yankees
National League Champion – Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series Champion – New York Yankees

As you can see, my first round was fairly dismal, but I did get 3 right, and two of those, I have moving on to the big show.

Yeah … just tooting my horn a little bit!

Popularity: 11% [?]

It’s that time of year again. Time to put it all on the line … and maybe even check the Vegas lines … in a run for the NFL Championship.

Let’s start in the AFC.

In the West … well, this really isn’t a discussion this year. Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders are all challenging each other for second in the division. San Diego (in all rights) should run away with this division.

In the North … Cincinnati? Cleveland? They don’t seem to be poised to have a shot. This (as it has been) will be a fight between Baltimore and Pittsburgh with the Steelers coming out on top of the North division.

In the South … Tennessee? Houston? Indy? Jacksonville? The Jags have the tools to get it done, but I don’t see it happening. Houston showed some moxi in the preseason, but I still don’t see them ready to be on top for 16 weeks. Indy has a few changes to adjust to in their franchise that I think will keep them down this year, but if anyone can bring them together and over the top it’s Peyton. But I think the South goes to Tennessee.

In the East … There’s big speculation all over this division. JETS? No, rookie QB success doesn’t strike like it did last year. Dolphins? While they turned heads last year, they now have Venus, Serena, Mark Anthony and Jimmy Buffet as part-owners. Can anyone really take this team seriously anymore? Buffalo? They do have talent at WR with T.O., but really no one to throw it to him. That leaves us with the Patriots. They aren’t just the defacto division winners. They have the best chance to win the division.

Now to the NFC.

In the West … I don’t see Arizona repeating. Just like the rookie QB success of last season, so to was this a lightning strike (i think?), but this division isn’t very cut and dry. Seattle? San Fransisco? St. Louis? If you go by the Preseason results (and we all know you can – snicker) then it would seem Arizona will tank again and Seattle will take the division. St. Louis will be improved as will San Fransisco, but I think Seattle takes the division.

In the South … New Orleans looks poised to make a run, but with the QB success in Atlanta combined with the talent and experience of Tony Gonzales, might make the Falcons the team to beat in the South. Carolina and Tampa Bay … thanks for playing. Since I am a Chiefs fan thru and thru, I have to pick New Orleans just to jab Gonzalez for bolting on the team he’s played for his entire career.

In the North … Again if you go by Preseason results … you’d get nowhere. They all had a 3-1 record. If you cut through all the hype, I don’t think Favre will bring enough to the table to get the Vikings over the hump. Green Bay looks sharp with Rodgers at the helm. Detroit had an inspiring turnaround (according to the preseason), and Chicago looks to be more solidified at the QB spot. This may be the division with the best QBs from team to team, and I think the division will be an old fashioned slug-fest with Chicago coming out on top.

In the East … Giants? Cowboys? Redskins? Eagles? They all sucked in the Preseason, but i think some showed their hand more than others. Washington may give a surprising run, but I wouldn’t bank on it. New York doesn’t really seem to be making waves in the league. The Cowboys have a nice and shiny new stadium, but I think that will be more of the downfall. I could really see the Eagles coming out on top in the East.

AFC
West – San Diego
North – Pittsburgh
South – Tennessee
East – New England
WC – Baltimore
WC – Indianapolis

NFC
West – Seattle
North – Chicago
South – New Orleans
East – Philadelphia
WC – Dallas
WC – Atlanta

AFC – New England
NFC – Philadelphia

Champion – Philadelphia

Popularity: 15% [?]