The 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Quarter-Finals Preview, Part II

National Hockey League playoff action kicked off last night with five games, each amazing in its own regard. Tonight, the three remaining series will get underway. Previews and predictions follow the jump, as do some stats and links of interest from the Tweeds. As for my predictions, on yesterday's games, well, if they were all decided on one game, I'd be 2-3. There's still plenty of hockey left in this first round for my horses to find their giddy-up, though, so I'll hold off on the face-palming. For now.

The Eastern Conference, tonight

In what could easily be called the biggest match of the first round, the third-seed Boston Bruins meet rival, six-seed Montreal Canadiens at 6 p.m. Central. Head Coach Claude Julien led his club to a Northeast Division-winning campaign, compiling 103 points (Montreal had 96), and saw the point production evenly distributed among his forwards. David Krejci led the way with 62 points, while defenseman Tomas Kaberle posted a four-goal, 43-assist season. In net for the Bs is Tim Thomas, who quietly put together a 2.00 goals-against average, and a .938 save percentage through 55 starts.

On the Habs side of things, Head Coach Jacques Martin has to be proud of a similarly even distribution in production from his club. Tomas Plekanec had a nice 22-goal, 35-assist season, while blue-liner James Wisniewski, despite having his face gashed open, amassed 51 points. Between the pipes for Montreal is Carey Price, who, through 70 starts, posted a 2.35 GAA, a .923 save percentage. The Canadiens have the edge in both the season series (4-2), and playoff history (24-8), although Boston made easy work of the Habs last post-season, eliminating them courtesy of a sweep. And, of course, I'd be remiss not mentioning a key aphrodisiac in this rivalry's spice cabinet.

The pick: Boston may have proved last season that they're beyond first-round chokes: Bs win in seven.

Thirty minutes after the action gets underway in Boston, the two-seed Philadelphia Flyers host the seven-seed Buffalo Sabres. Peter Laviolette's defending Eastern Conference champion Flyers saw his first three lines of forwards combine for an astronomical 480 points this season, while his defense held their own (Matt Carle alone tallied 40 points). Through 52 starts in net, Sergei Bobrovsky posted a 2.59 GAA, .915 save percentage, all while curiosity bubbled concerning his kinship to a certain animated-TV character.

While Philly took the Atlantic Division with 106 points, Buffalo was not too far behind in the Northeast, with 96 of their own. Head Coach Lindy Ruff -- the current third-longest-tenured coach in American professional sports, deserves credit for seeing his Sabres squad through several rebuilding phases, and now, courtesy of seasons like Thomas Vanek's (32 goals, 41 assists) and Tyler Myers' (37 points), looks to make another post-season push. The Sabres have none other than U.S. Olympic badass Ryan Miller (2.59 GAA, .916 save percentage) protecting the net, and will have his work cut out for him: Philadelphia took three of four against Buffalo during the regular season, and owns the playoff edge -- 5-3 -- against the Sabres as well.

The pick: Buffalo has made strides to their return of five-years-ago, 10-years-ago status, but the Flyers will be too much for them: Philly in six.

The Western Conference, tonight

The lone western series of the evening is an all-California dual. It gets going circa 9 p.m. Central, and features the two-seed San Jose Sharks against the seven-seed Los Angeles Kings. Bench boss Todd McLellan captained the Shark ship to a Pacific Division title, via 105 points, while Los Angeles was not far behind with 98. Leading the offensive charge for the Sharks is Patrick Marleau (37 goals, 36 assists), and Dan Boyle shores up the D with an impressive 50-point effort. Wielding the big stick and blocker pads for San Jose is Antti Niemi (2.38 GAA, .920 save percentage through 60 starts).

For the Kings, it's Terry Murray wearing the tie and carrying the grease board. His club was led by Anze Kopitar (73 points), and defenseman Jack Johnson (42 points). Jonathan Quick (2.24 GAA, .918 save percentage) roams the blue section of ice for L.A., and must be on point, given that San Jose took the season series at 3-1-2. This is the first post-season meeting for the two clubs, and if memory serves, the first time that four of five Pacific squads have qualified for tournament play, especially when one of them is not the Dallas Stars.

The pick: San Jose still has some playoff-choke kinks to work out of their skin: The Kings are this season's dark horse: L.A. in five.

NHLNewsNow's Twitter feed offers some insight into Philly/Buffalo.

Darren Pang tweets some interesting NHL television ratings spikes: "The top 5 NHL ratings growth on cable RSNs were: 1.St.Louis (+43%),Boston (+41%), 3Tampa Bay (+33%), 4. Dallas (+29%), 5. Nashville(+25%)."

Never a dull statistical moment from John Buccigross on Twitter:

* "Sabres: won last four games of regular season and 9-1-2 in last 12 games overall.

* "Sharks making seventh straight postseason appearance, the second-longest active streak in the NHL."

* "Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams hurt. Kopitar led the Kings in points with 73.. Williams was tied for second on the team with 57 points." (Editor's Note: So much for that dark horse thing.)

Here's your broadcast schedule. Take a look at who the computers think will compete for the Cup. And if you haven't had enough bracketology, here's one of the coolest ever. Enjoy the first round of the playoffs. Come back for more NHL nuggets as the semi-finals approach.
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Saturday Studmuffins: pr_capone

No. I don't have any idea who the dude is either, but he did post this:

Guy goes up to the Bronco ticket counter and asks to buy playoff tickets... the lady at the counter tells him, "Sorry, the Broncos didn't make the playoffs."

The next day the same guys goes back to the ticket counter and asks for playoff tickets. The lady at the counter says, "Like I said yesterday, the Broncos didn't make the playoffs...there are no tickets to buy."

The next day the man arrives at the counter again asking for playoff tickets The lady at the counters says to the man, "THE BRONCOS DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!"

The man responded: "I know, but I drive all the way from Kansas City just to hear you say that."

...over on a Chiefs Planet message board.

bane_58 follows it up with:

"Josh McFistpump's first season as the Donkholes coach,titled "Chokefest 09" ended the same way anyone with active brain cells knew it would.With a late season flop and an embarrassingly epic blowout by the Kansas City Chiefs at Pile High.Looks like their playoff run will remain IN-COME-PLETE! (sic)

(props to Arrowhead Pride for the link)
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Wednesday Whatnot: Random Link Dump

Don't ask. I don't know.

Chris over at Arrowhead Pride got engaged a while back, the result of which was handing the site reins over to his brother. Then he got married, the result of which was him dropping his first-post-of-the-day time back by three hours. The lesson: Getting married, while it may produce long-lasting love and happiness cough, wheeze, totally fucks with your blog. Anyway, the time-strapped former hub of AP shared this post with us. It's a nice find, and, well, it gives us yet another reason to thank Herm for a job well done in Kansas City.

Big Daddy Drew over at Kissing Suzy Kolber has apparently read Jon Krakauer's new book on Pat Tillman. Then he had some stuff to say about it. If you're the United States Army, this is not Men's Wearhouse material. I guarantee it.

As J. Kenneth K. over at Bronco Talk puts it, Denver fans might want to track down the homeslice behind this operation.

The Big Lead does not agree with Joe Posnanski's assertion that Albert Pujols is one of the greatest hitters of all time.

More no-huddle from the Chiefs? Kent Babb of The Kansas City Star thinks so.

Got Broncos-Chargers questions? Ask away. Actually, don't waste your time. Instead, head over to Awful Announcing and peep this shit: Rod Smith=good nosticator de prog, not too shabby at RickeySpeak, either.

That'll be the only time the Donkeys links out-appear those of the Chefs. Make it end now. I'm talking to you, Marm'.
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Foxy, Fluffy, Favre-y, Fantasy Football Friday

Fantasy football draft number one is out of the way. Thought my team looked pretty good last night, but, uh, I was wasted. Doesn't look so good this morning. Football that matters, however, after the jump.

How's KC going to do this year? Is a 3-13 Chiefs season in the works? Let's hope not.

Is it possible for the Chiefs and the Royals to lose on the same day to teams from the same town? You bet it is.

Never seen an episode of The Office, but I'm told I'd enjoy it.



This clip has Old No. 7's favorite professional mascot in it. It's also pretty flippin' silly.

There's a lot of quarterback talk going on since Saturday's loss to the Texans. Some, the minority I'm unqualified to say, feel that Brodie Croyle could beat out Matt Cassel for the starting job.

Jason Whitlock's take in The Kansas City Star is hands down, a must-skim. It would be unprofessional of you to read the whole thing.

It would be unprofessional of us to leave out Kissing Suzy Kolber's look at this year's AFC West.

And finally, the Chiefs have a new Web site,

and I'm wondering...



...does Brett Favre ever shave? I mean, like, correctly?

(Update: My bad. That was rude. Since the rough focus of this blog is in fact the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, I should toss one in for the bad guys. There isn't much in the way of news in this story, but the headline tickled me in a most savory fashion.)
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Thursday ThumbTubes & YouNails (now with less sports!): 7-23-09

Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired. If you're still up, peep some stubes and tumbs, yonder.

You know it's a rough season when, um...



...this happens.

The feel-good, non-sports, don't-know-what-it's-about-but-I-like-it Tube:

If you secretly love Don Mattingly, and I know you do,



then you may or may not find this interesting. Actually, don't bother. It's stupid petty gossip, but dare I pass up on an opportunity to mess with Yankee fans? Course not.

Manny Pacquiao will get back in the ring,



and this time, it counts.

Everyone knows about "Sleeping Monkey,"

but how about swimming monkey?

Um,



go here.

If I tell you it's Lima Time,



you better be-leeee dat!

But don't believe...

<a href="http://www.atom.com" target="_blank">Twits</a>

Twits

...those crazy kids and their Tweets.

Know what else is crazy?



Two perfect games by the same dude.

Speaking of crazy...



No. Not the fact that these allegations have come out, but the fact that some listeners on the Sports TalkRadios today wanted to say that ESPN didn't post this story to their Web site yesterday because Big Ben is white. That is, if he were black, they would've posted it immediately. You know, 'cause that's how the man do.

While we're on the ESPN corner,



that was easily the dumbest commercial they've ever made.

We know that Dick Vermeil and Mike Shanahan were at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. We just learned, however, that Michael Jordan was there...



...with, um, something awkward in the background.

Tank's empty, kids. Come back next week. Bring more quarters.
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Tradition Tuesday: Blah, Bluh, Blah-Blah, Blah

Four score and somethin' or other, the rough focus of this blog was the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos. It's either been replaced by a theme of drunken laziness, or it's simply the off-season. I'd offer more of an in-depth analysis than that, but I need a nap. A wee, mildly entertaining handful of links for you, coveted reader, after the jump.

B-Marsh is apparently not going anywhere, which could only fuel his alleged hatred, I suppose, for the city of Denver.

Hey look: You can subscribe to Predominantly Orange ! Before doing so, set aside a solid two and-a-half reading hours per day.

Trent Green filling in for Peter King makes for some decent reading.

Michael Jackson and an Andre Rison jersey . Who knew?

There is of course this gem on Elvis Grbac, which is pretty sad.

Kinda like this post!

Tune in next week. We sort of half-assedly guarantee to put forth less effort.
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Thursday Link Thirty

While I'm pondering how best to give word-birth to the Great American Post--watch out for the placenta, it's slippery--here are some links with which to entertain yourselves, you gang of slavering, grunting apes.

This is a week or so late, but if you haven't read it...wow. Good dog!

A good life lesson.

Both Bronco and Chef fans would be happy with this first round, although I'm not sold on Maybin.

This isn't the best version of this tune, but man, Bob Log III rules.

Everyone is crazy with this Mark Sanchez talk.

Jake Plummer finally breaks his silence--thank God--about the Broncos-Cutler kerfuffle.

Pete Prisco wipes a little Belichick off his chin.

Delicious ghetto burgers.

How did it take so long for this to happen? I demand answers.


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Saturday Evening Post

I can't believe this is the first time I've used the above title. Perhaps due to the fact that I'm usually just polluted by this point and incapable of turning on a computer? I dunno.

Anyway, some linkery for you. I won't even make you wait 'til past the jump. That's simply the kind of helpful, plainspoken westerner I am.

L.J. gets probation. WHAT A CROCK HES THE BVESTE PLAYER ON KC /ESPN Chef fan'd

Pat Kirwan owns a spectacular soup-strainer. He also has the Broncos taking two guys they will be really, really lucky to get. Not to mention a Texas-sized bust waiting to happen for KC. I love this mock draft.

Looks like Jim Calhoun, one of the least likeable personalities in sports, will live to talk shit and look old another day. I'd say this helped my brackets, but nothing will help my brackets at this point. Fucking Cleveland State.

There is something wrong with almost every sentence of this blog post. Bill Williamson, master of not knowing what the fuck is going on. Larry Johnson's beef was with the previous regime? Yeah, I'm sure that will help his case. After all, he's getting a fresh start...with a new group that really looks fondly on off-the-field incidents. Especially for 30 year-old running backs that play quotes from Scarface during press conferences. Also, way to not get the context of the Jeff George quote. Fuck me, this guy has a job and I'm working for free.

Really old sea creatures.

Have you all subscribed yet? SUBSCRIBE YOU BASTARDS.



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Happy Birthday to Us

Zoinks, Scoob. I almost forgot: It's our birthday. We won't get into some of the elaborate recollections like last year. Instead, we'll just touch on a few highlights that've occurred in our two-year existence. And if you don't know where that's gonna happen, well, I really just can't help you.

Obviously, our first post happened two years ago today. Don't bother clicking; it's pretty bad. It has, on occasion, been downhill from there. There've certainly been setbacks, though. Like when Old No. 7 blazed the HoG path of racism, or when he dropped the atomic here's-what-this-blog-was-originally-gonna-be-about bomb. There was the trio of moments in which Seven and I thought Cecil had officially lost it.

And from there, we kind've pretended to get semi-serious about delivering quality inside this here House of Georges. Seven went way, way yard with the first ever Tradition Tuesday. I attempted to hit clean-up with the first installment of We Are Hot Chicks Wednesday, and Cecil kept the mashing going with his first NFL Draft sequence.

Frankly, once we'd lumped that mound of coal onto the fire, the smoke just kept churnin'; we almost turned into regular-feature machines. There's "Baseball in the Daytime," "Sleeping with the Enemy," the good ol' "ThumbTubes & YouNails," and my personal favorite: the thus-short-lived, but currently fixin'-to-stage-a-comeback "Friday Fiction Fix."

Sometimes, friends, a cliche will say exactly what you want to communicate. It's a tool that lazy, untalented writers like myself must pull from the shed every now and again, and I use one here to say that that list of links and highlights is but a mere scratch on one lone pane of a House of Georges window. The posts listed within those links should be more reading material than most any person should really ever spend on this site, but in the event that it's not, there's always the (now with two full years of material!) archives that are conveniently listed in chronological order near the bottom of our home page.

With that, we'll leave you with some song. I for one have enjoyed the Iron Triangle's construction of this here House, and look forward to the many added wings in the months and years to come. Happy Birthday to us.


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Friday Afternoon Fracasita: More Updateage on The Messiah (with Update) (and more Update)

To cut down to it, the Kissing Suzy Kolbers, among others, have put together a couple of good posts this week regarding the sands-throught-the-hourglass riDonculism going on within the organization known as the Denver Broncos Football Club. Links to those posts, just after the jump.

Earlier in the week, the boys over at KSK weighed on the Josh McDaniels-Jay Cutler situation. Now they've straight up written an open letter about the scenario. Some dweezil over at SI thinks this could wind up being a positive, and I suppose it could. One of the fellas at Mile High Report wonders, much like our own Cecil has, if Cutler's agent Bus Cook isn't to blame for the whole thing. With Leather had an entirely different approach to the matter: They think he's gender confused. All I know is that if I'm Jay Cutler, putting on an orange-and-blue jersey beats the heck out of one that's periwinkle and silver.

I'm guessing that some light will finally be shed on this little cracked nest egg when they have their little pow-wow on Monday. Have a fantastic weekend, y'all.

(Update: Wait a minute. What. The fuck:

"With offseason workouts scheduled next week at Dove Valley and uncertainty about whether Jay Cutler will show up, the quarterback on Thursday put his multi-million dollar house in Parker up for sale. "

-- props to Arrowhead Addict)

(Update II: This guy listened to Rich Eisen today, who feels pretty certain that Cutler will be traded on draft day.)
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Taking a Massive (link) Dump

This is the reason I'm posting right now. Yelberton Abraham Tittle, better known as Y.A., has his own website. Yelberton.

But wait, there's more! The Administrator already referenced this in a comment. But it needs more attention, because, well, seriously.

Wtf?

If you're gonna put in a 3-4, you need a dude like this.

Or this.

This guy earned his Bad Motherfucker wallet.

Bad news for everyone in the draft's top 15. Especially Denver.

These guys already have a seven round mock draft ready. It's wacky, but it's ready.



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Friday Evening Fracas: 1-09-09

It's been a bit unorganized and free-for-allish around these parts lately, but don't fret: piece by piece, we are in fact gettin' the band back together. In due time, we'll find our circuits shorting, and our memory banks full, our very precise system of time management plundered and diminished. But that's just what keeps us going: your desire for more, and still more House of Georges originality.

In news of the non-bullshit, we've taken painful efforts to snoop around this series of tubes and find out what's goin' on out there. Come along. We won't disappoint. Too much...

Well, I'll be damned. All that gripin' I did about being a loser Kansas City fan has statistically paid off. Thanks, Mouthpiece Sports. You're the greatest.

The Big Lead draws a two-fer this evening: They think the Chiefs will get "that tackle" from the Crimson Tide, and, in extra, bonusy news, they've interviewed The Lone Reader's favorite all-time professional sports commissioner.

Yesterday, I thought Kissing Suzy Kolber had really outdone themselves. Only they can outdo themselves on consecutive days.

We haven't checked in on ol' JoePos lately. Check out this killer post on every Chiefs' fan's favorite topic, Herman Edwards.

Hugging Harold Reynolds has linked to this post today. I don't really know what's going on in it, but they call Chargers fans gay, so, uh, I'm down.

As any fan of the sports blogs knows, there's always lots of good reading material going on at Deadspin. Today's no different: They've linked to a story that suggests that Bill Romanowski wants to coach the Broncos (Editor's Note: God -- remember how I channelled you not too long ago, and begged for your heavenly assistance? I probably said something along the lines of never asking you for anything ever again. And, well, I lied. Please, if you can possibly intervene, allow Pat Bowlen to hire this man. I'm on my knees here, God.) And of course, yesterday was Jamboroo day. Get your read -- and your Kathy Ireland bikini look -- on.

Finally, Awful Announcing shows us the way to Joe Sports Fan's impeccable list of media faux pas in 2008.
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Thursday Thimble: 1-08-09

What, you are probably asking, is the ridiculousness behind that headline? Well, it means time's of the essence, and we've uncovered a few tidbits worth sharing. Said tidbits, overturned, after the jump...

In what I'm dubbing the shockingest news (thus far) in the new calendar year, Old No. 7's favorite quarterback -- occasionally referred to as Old No. 4 -- is not going to get his 39-year-old hustle on with regard to his decision to continue dragging out his career.

Speaking of Old No. 7, crafty sage that he is, he once told me that having your team featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" was a jinx to the club's upcoming season. Zoner Sports silently suggests that he's right.

And the news just keeps getting shockinger: Adam Jones allegedly involved in another night-club shooting, cut by the Dallas Cowboys.

The crew at Kissing Suzy Kolber frequently shocks with their words, humor, and PhotoShop contributions. I promise, if you click here, they'll really get you with the latter.

In updates more pertinent to this very House of Georges, Arrowhead Pride has two Patriots-related scoops of plump juicy raisins to offer: There are allegations that Clark Hunt has made an offer to Scott Pioli; they link to Mile High Report who suggests that New England Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels is separating himself from the pack as the next possible leader of the Bronctinent.

That is all. Please return to your free online porn, more professional sports-blogging sites, and personal lives. Oh, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
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Spying on the Enemy: Week 15, Chargers @ Chiefs

Last year, I had no luck rounding up a fan to interview for "Sleeping with the Enemy." One week, I got in touch with this kid, and we set the thing up, and he no-showed. By the time the second Chiefs-Chargers game rolled around, I decided to blow the whole thing off. That turns out to be a lot less work, and works out well with my strong desires to be lazy. I'm sure I could've contacted someone and put something together for this year's November 9 game in San Diego, but I was super-occupied with a giant case of lazy. Now I'm just continuing a theme. Maybe this will be the new fad: not interviewing Chargers fans. Who knows. I do have one buddy that's a fan of the Bolts, but he's, uh, in the can with 10 years on his shelf. So instead, I'll just peek in on some other Charger bloggers and see what they're up to, after the jump that is.

Chiefs Gab has put together one of those handy injury report thing-a-ma-jigs.



If you're not familiar with the sustained excellence that is the San Diego franchise, you could always catch up with some epic Chargers history.



Ultimately, it's probably best to stick with current San Diego topics, though. That of course means spending some time with Marmalard, that "lights out" douche clock, and the visored one.

We've always joked that Chargers fans are gay. Well, it's no longer a joke. I mean really, really gay. Kinda seems as if some of the folks that cover them are, too. I suppose it's quite possible that the entire city is, but that wouldn't do much in the way of explaining all of the breeding out there.

And I don't even know what's going on here.



Here, however, are some interesting numbers in Chiefs-Chargers history. And here are some of the ladies that root for the Bolts.

SignOnSanDiego is at least focusing on a couple of the Chiefs' better players in '08. They also think highly of KC's chances in 2009.

Can't think of that perfect Christmas gift? Check out the variety here. Also, don't forget about the musically gifted.



There's a dude that's been blogging Bolts since 1995. His modern-day lineup looks like it's 13 years old. But at least it's got a totally awesome classic rock song attached to each post. I'll be visiting those pages frequently as I'm always hankerin' for some Argent or Thin Lizzy.



This cat's calling for a 26-10 Chargers victory over the Chiefs, and a Carolina Panther win against Denver, 31-20.

Wow. Turns out that Chargers bloggers are not near as lazy as I am. Go Broncos Chiefs!
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Missing Lynx

Went shopping with the wife this afternoon. Stood in the shoe store for about 9 hours, she ended up with one pair of shoes. Shoe stores are the warehouses of the damned. There wasn't even a fucking bathroom.

Well, what can you do? Friends, I blog to kill the pain.

Mike Shanahan thinks everything is going to be fine. Unless it isn't. But either way, he's stuck on Denver like Herpes.

And why can't Marshall get an ounce of love? I know sports'n'politics need remain forever separated, never the twain shall meet etc., but it seems to me that the last thing he was really thinking of was himself. Of course, Armstrong and his donut-fueled brethren are the same guys that think Chad Johnson is hilarious.

This kid looks 12 and works for Examiner.com--which started off being the internet arm of the San Francisco Examiner but is now flipping ubiquitous--where he evidently writes about the Cardinals. He doesn't think they have a shot at Matt Holliday. To which I say, good. Fuck the Cardinals.

Mike Leach never even played college football. I was watching the Minnesota/Michigan game for no particular reason and they featured that little tidbit as part of a trivia question: who are the other current college head coaches who never suited up for their alma mater? See if any of you three can guess. You'll get at least one if you click the link.

My favorite bit of that piece is this:

"Before a game at Texas A&M, for example, Leach noticed the Aggies' core of cadets with their uniforms and buzz-cuts. Bemused, he wondered aloud, "How come they get to pretend they are soldiers? The thing is, they aren’t actually in the military."

(Which is true; they aren’t.)

“I ought to have Mike's Pirate School,” Leach continued. “The freshmen, all they get is the bandanna. When you're a senior, you get the sword and skull and crossbones.”

Leach loves pirates. More power to him.

Around my house, this is the number one television program these days.

And hey, never too early start preparing for next year's draft! Especially for Broncos and Chiefs fans. Excuse me while I drink a pony of toilet bowl cleaner.

Image courtesy of http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/509855795_193c0875a5.jpg

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Midweek Meanderings: Balls, HoG QBs, and Sargent Gaffes

Isn't that picture nice and lovely? Agreed; it is. I'm happy we shared that moment, and I'll ask you to remember it as, after the jump, we'll revert to being our snide-and-crude usual selves, full as usual of information somebody else put together solely for us to link to (Editor's Note: I may have taken some liberties with the word "solely" just there.). Come along...

We might as well call this Drew Magary week here on the blogospheres. After all, his new book is officially out, and he's taking advantage of every possible opportunity to plug it, like sitting in at the helm of With Leather for the day. Most of them are pretty darn funny, too. Like this one at Pro Football Talk wherein he discusses how Vernon Davis, like many NFL players, is nothing more than a piece of human excrement. CBSSportline has an occasionally funny, borderline-bare-it-all interview with him, which I reccommend reading, but not really.

In news of less-unsolicited, more-HoG-appropriate content, Deadspin has some insulintacular pictures of Jay Jams.

Chris Kolb of KC Chiefs Fanatic makes regular contributions to Arrowhead Addict. He's put together a great post on what the Chiefs should be doing in the upcoming off-season: finding a quarterback. Before I dug in to the piece, I had to scroll to the bottom with the thought "Please don't say Tim Tebow, Please don't say Tim Tebow" running through my brain. And though he wasn't a highlight per se, I did wind up screaming "Doh!"

And of course we wouldn't be just another collection of misfits in basements without our completely unoriginal dontations to the Danyelle Sargent cause.



Those naturally include this one and this one.
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Saturday Shorty: Brief Choncosphere Scopage

Somewhere in the back of my brain is the tendency to hope/believe that the more I think/write about the upcoming game, the better the Chiefs' chances of winning are. While this clearly isn't true, I can throw that misguided optimism into the winds of possibility, and at worst case, be better armed with reasons why Kansas City would've won if I'd been wearing the headset on the sideline. In any case, it's fun to take a look around the Web, and see what more professional sports bloggers are saying about Chiefs/Falcons and Broncos/Saints. It's not that I care about the latter beyond a poor performance by Cutler, an Eddie Royal injury, and a Saints victory, but more so an obligated feeling to touch on the Denver squad's contest since the other slouches in this House make my laziness look like Olympic training compared to theirs. So we'll have a slanted look at both, just after the jump.

Big Knoxy over at KC Chiefs Football has put together a post consisting of key matchups for tomorrow's game. Number one on the list is "Tyler Thigpen vs. Tyler Thigpen," which I couldn't have said better myself. Hopefully, he participated in some tackling drills this weekend, because if he telegraphs passes in Atlanta like he did against the Raiders, he'll frequently be the last line of defense.

To a degree, we're all homers, right? I know the three of us here are, but realistically so. Earlier in the week, Mile High Report sat down with SaintSational, who writes for the Canal Street Chronicles. Their aim was to of course discuss tomorrow's game, and SaintSational is of course picking Brees and Co. to get the win, 35-34.

Finally, a writer out there agrees with me on Brodie Croyle and the Chiefs. His name's Pat Clifton and he writes for Warpaint Illustrated. The piece he put out earlier this week hints that Croyle -- in terms of quarterbacks currently on the roster -- is certainly the number one:

"Croyle isn't a winner" is "an unfair assessment. Dwayne Bowe has a bad record in a Chiefs uniform, but no one is saying he’s not a winner. Glenn Dorsey’s 0-2 as a pro, but he’s not yet been labeled a loser. This team, as a whole, over the last 18 games has not been much of a winner...The lesson to be learned here is that the Chiefs go from mediocre to really bad when Croyle is not playing...He’s not a great quarterback, but Croyle is an NFL-caliber player, something that can’t be said for Huard or Thigpen, who may develop into a decent player, but...he's not even close right now."

In this business (Editor's Note: No, I don't know what business that is.) slants are a good thing. I'm sure Ian over at BroncoTalk would agree. He's compiled a list of statistics that apply to this Broncos/Saints game that make it look like club from the Big Easy's got its work cut out for it. Well, at least the "Quick Facts" section makes it seem so. Either way, a good read.

The gang at Arrowhead Pride sat down with Dave the Falconer (of The Falcoholic fame)for a quick Q&A. The piece touches on some key factors for the matchup, and though it has multiple interviewers, it fits a mold similar to our Falcons' blogger Q&A.

More importantly, though, is how Broncos' first-rounder Ryan Clady is fitting into the mold of a Denver offensive lineman. How, you might ask, can we check on that? Well, we can ask Cecil's best buddy Bill Williamson.

"Denver Broncos rookie left tackle Ryan Clady got a "Welcome to the NFL" greeting from the league office. The No. 12 overall draft pick was fined $5,000 for a chop block on San Diego defensive lineman Igor Olshansky in Denver's 39-38 win over the Chargers on Sunday...Two years ago, Olshanky and Denver center Tom Nalen had an incident in which both players were fined."

Wow. That didn't take long at all. I mean, really...double-wow. Two weeks into his professional career, and Clady's chop-blocking and getting fined $5K for it. But, wait; stop before you cast judgment, because every other team in the league does it, and they do it just as often as the Broncos do. Riiiiggghhhhttt....Let's look around and see how many other rookie offensive lineman have been rung up for chop blocking two games into the '08 season. Hmm. None. Maybe there weren't any other O-lineman drafted this year. Yeah. That's got to be it.



And that's your Saturday fix, folks. Let's cheer that gold NFC team to victory, right after we leave the red-and-black one hurting at home.
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Thursday ThumbTubes & YouNails: 9-11-08

It's all baseball and football today. Just the way I like it. Well, until there's hockey to throw into the mix. Don't fret; it won't be long at all.

Until then, baseball... good. Football... good. Sounds like a winner. Some trinkets and tidbits on both of those delectable American games -- on a now-American day of the year follows. Follows what? The jump, rook'. Haven't we done this before?

Now, I've always liked Mike Ditka behind the desk, and obviously he was a great tight end and head coach. But in the booth? That's a horse of a different color.

(clip courtesy of The Big Lead)

In other football news, looks like Eddie Kennison will be getting another tattoo.



Oh. Right. He already has that one.

Chris at Arrowhead Pride thinks the Raiders are the stray dogs of the AFC West.



I'll agree. For some insight into the Chiefs/Raiders rivalry, check out Warpaint Illustrated's podcast this week, as Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier break it down.

Ben over at Broncos Gab analyzes the Broncos offensive line,



while Kim at Predominantly Orange is dreaming of some Denver footall, February-style. In Tampa.

I don't really enjoy that sentiment, but I did enjoy "Little Miss Sunshine." Apparently, so did the Los Anaheim Angels.



(clip courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Speaking of the Angels, Sooze at Babes Love Baseball is happy that someone



has qualified for the post-season.


Also geared up for October ball, Baseball Musings gives us potential



tie scenarios in the standings.

And that'll do it for today. Mas manana.
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Mas Dumpage

It's time once again to bring you a collection of ThumbTubes and YouNails, only without the YouThumbs, or the TubeNails. I'm not sure which. Lots of good reading after the jump, though, so hop to it.

Not only did we already know that that the New York Yankees organization is gay in the mouf, and its fans are assholes, With Leather shows us how barbaric and unruly they can really be.

Deadspin -- who apparently now owns a nation -- via the Chicago Bull, shows us a nomination for Name of the Year.

Chiefs Nation, on the other hand, is um, being scrutinized by some random, scarcely dressed gal.



(clip courtesy of Arrowhead Addict)

Awful Announcing has compiled some interesting Favre photos.

Bugs and Cranks has another installment on the Bonds v. Ruth series.

Homerun Derby has one final, fond look at the last snapshots taken of Harry Caray at Wrigley.

More Brodie Croyle "analysis":



(link courtesy of Chiefs Gab)

The Onion has some precious rap-rhymin' ideas.

Gotta offer kudos to the Missouri Southern alum, occasional fourth-string Broncos quarterback. He was one of few Broncos I always respected.



(clip courtesy of Bronco Talk)

HercRock is convinced #80 won't wind up in Canton.
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Weekday Whippoorwill: 7-23-08

Yes. That's right. Two "original" posts in one day and we're back to the link dumpage. Wanna fight about it?

Kidding. There're a few sports items to gloss over, and not one of them has to do with cell phones or Brett Favre. We'll get after it, just after the jump.

The zany intern Bill over at The Big Lead has uncorked an Oakland newspaper columnist that questions the mantras of one Billy Beane.

All Balls has compiled a top 10 list. The topic? Best athletes whom have posed in Playboy.

Baseball reflections has a handy list of the week (thus far) in MLB transactions.

Rumors and Rants has a great read, a piece of guys who went out on top. Yes. John Elway is in there. Why? I'm not sure. I always thought he liked being on the bottom.

End Zone Buzz is running through NFL divisions and previewing them. Here are their thoughts on the AFC West. In a shocking display of unexpectedness, they think the Chiefs have no shot at the division.

Major League Jerk gifts us this video of two (alleged) playmates interviewing Bronson Arroyo:



Finally, with all of the NFC North chatter going on, it seems as though everyone has forgotten about the Bears. Deadspin thinks the job of quarterback may lie in the fate of a coin flip, while Sports by Brooks informs us that that wicked return specialist Devin Hester seeks more jack.
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