Author: kassienette

Kassie’s NFL ReKap, Week 5

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Football, NFL, Panthers, Sports, WolfpackLeave a comment

(Wrote this yesterday and forgot to publish it. Ooops).

Yep, I did not do a rekap last week. Just in case you were wondering.

Here we go…

My 9ers look to be back on track with a dominating win over the Texans on Sunday Night Football. I mean, we could not stay down for long, right? Now if Kap could just get hot again…

My Panthers lost. Again. ‘Scuse me. We got smashed. Again. Sigh.  By the Cardinals. Sigh.

Peyton Manning ya’ll!! #18 threw for four more touchdowns as his Broncos narrowly escaped Dallas with a dubya. Oh and #18 scored another TD on the slowest bootleg known to man. For the season, #18 has 1,884 yards, 20 touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 136.4. Peyton Manning ya’ll!!

The Browns beat the Bills. And I am still scratching my head about that Jim Brown thing.

The Saints beat the Bears to go to 5 and Oh. Beignets for everyone!

LOL at the Patriots. Or should I LOL at the Bengals. Every year it seems like the Bengals start the season strong and then fade down the stretch. Either way, the Bengals handed The Brady Bunch their first loss. Kudos.

Lawd. One of the Lions fans pushed the Packers James Jones out of the stands as he tried to get his Lambeau Leap on Sunday. I guess a 22-9 loss will make you a little bitter.  By the way, players can not celebrate touchdowns, excessively, anymore but they can still Lambeau Leap? Hmmmmm.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs beat the Titans to go to 5 and Oh. Why do I have a feeling that no one, including myself, is taking the Chiefs serious?

The Colts beat the Seahawks. Yes!! Now normally I would not cheer against a team lead by a Wolfpacker butter rum their loss benefits my 9ers. Brings us one game closer to tying for first place in our division. So thanks Colts! Go Pack!

The Jaguars lost to the Rams. Nothing to see here folks. Oh and as a consolation prize, the Jags get the Broncos next week. Lawd hamemrcy. #18 is gonna have a field day with that defense. Six TD’s easy. Or may be not. #18 may be on the bench after halftime.

If the Fins could have found them a running game, they might have had a chance to beat the Ravens. Oh well.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Owen. Owen who? Owen 5. (Dedicated to all you Giants fans.)

That deserved a line all by itself. Eagles beat the Giants and lost Michael Vick to a hamstring injury in the process. Lets hope it is not too serious!

The Chargers lost to the Raiders. Did not see that coming. Even in “The Black Hole.”

So who predicted the Falcons would be 1 and 4 at this point in the season? Oh. Nobody? And they let rookie Geno Smith lead his team down the field with less than two minutes left to set up the game winning field goal. Insert jokes here.

Until next time….TOODELLS.

What the Jim Brown?

On By kassienetteIn Football, NFL, Sports4 Comments

It is Fridaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

Last night I was watching the Cleveland Browns vs Buffalo Bills game last night and the commentator mentioned that the Browns would be honoring the legendary Jim Brown at halftime. At the time, I did not give much thought to it because I think I heard something earlier in the week about the Browns honoring him. I naturally  assumed they were honoring him for some type of milestone or anniversary. Wrong. Upon returning to NFL Network to finish watching the game after another jaw dropping season premiere of Scandal, I learned that the Browns had inducted Brown into their Ring of Honor. *raises hand* Hol lup. Yes. Hol lup, you mean to tell me Jim Brown was not already in the Ring? THIS IS JIM BROWN!! THE JIM BROWN WHO AVERAGED MORE THAN 100 YARDS PER GAME IN HIS CAREER. No one else has done that. THE JIM BROWN  WHO RAN FOR 12,312 YARDS IN NINE SEASONS. Seasons where they only played 12 & 14 games. THE JIM BROWN WHO AVERAGED 5.2 YARDS PER CARRY FOR HIS CAREER. THIS IS 2013!! How is arguably the NFL’s greatest running back not in the Browns Ring of Honor? Am I missing something here? I have got to be.

{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}

 

Now ya’ll know Google is my friend. So off to the Cleveland Browns website I went in search of answers. While watching the game, my boy Mike and I could tell there were other names in the Ring which left us shaking our heads. Shocked much? The Browns website informed me that the Ring of Honor was established in 2010. Brown was a part of the initial Ring of Honor class but had not officially been inducted. It was in reading that little tidbit that I remembered the dispute he had with former Browns president Mike Holmgren. Brown has never been one to bite his tongue and he expressed vocally how he felt about Holmgren relieving him of his special advisor duties in 2010, shortly after the Ring was established. As a result, when it came time for the Ring induction that year Brown refused to be honored.

I try to some extent to keep up with the Browns because they were my granddaddy’s favorite team but yeah this totally got by me. So now new owner Jimmy Haslam has righted the ship. He fired Holmgren, rehired Brown and saw to it that Brown’s name went into the place it belonged, the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor. All is well. I guess. I still have an issue though. I am still in total disbelief that it took until the year 2010 for the Browns to establish a Ring of Honor. Jim Brown has been in the NFL Hall of Fame since 1971. That is 42 years man!!! Even if they could not afford to do a ring, they could have done a semi-circle or something. This was long overdue. Seriously. No wonder Jim does no tongue biting. If this is how the Browns treat their GREATEST ambassador then one does not have to wonder very long as to why the organization has been nothing but below sub par since Brown retired. Hey, do not mind me. I am just Jim Browning. Telling it like it is.

 

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Exit #42

On By kassienetteIn Baseball, Heroes, MLB, SportsLeave a comment
{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}

I really wish I had appreciated Mariano Rivera more while he was playing. Let me clarify my statement. I have always been a big fan of Rivera but I am not a fan on the New York Yankees. I do not really have anything against the organization. I just always enjoy seeing them lose :-}. So it was hard to cheer for Rivera at times because of who he played for.

Tonight was the end of an era. The last player to ever wear the #42 in Major League Baseball “exited” off the mound. How fitting that a man who has exemplified nothing but class, humility and dignity gets to be the last representative of such a prestigious number. You know you have something special when your rival has a special ceremony for you in your last game at their field, which is exactly what the Boston Red Sox did on September 16.

I was shocked that none of the major networks carried tonight’s game. In a time when all that seems to be highlighted in sports are liars, cheaters, law breakers, whiners, performance enhancement users, drunk drivers and adulterers, you would think MLB would be chomping at the bits to ensure that such a momentous occasion would be broadcasted nationally. Thankfully because of social media sites such as Twitter, many of us did not have to wait long to see Rivera’s last pitch. And what a moment that was. Rivera entered the game in the 8th inning and retired all four players he faced. And then it was time. If you are not familiar with the routine in baseball, the manager always comes to the mound to relieve the pitcher. Well, Rivera is too special to just do things the normal way. Instead of the Yankees manager, Joe Giradi, relieving him, long time teammates Andy Pettitte, who will also retire at the end of the season, and Derek Jeter received that honor. Rivera whom smiled as the two approached the mound was immediately overcome by emotion as he hugged Pettitte. So was I. Rivera, who received a standing ovation that was over four minutes long, took it all in as he hugged teammates, coaches and Yankees personnel before he took the field again for one last curtain call at Yankee Stadium.

{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}

In case you missed it, Rivera’s number read like this…19 MLB seasons(all with the Yankees), 652 career saves(most in MLB history), 2.21 career ERA(lowest in MLB history with a minimum of 1,000 pitches), 0.70 ERA in postseason(best ever in MLB history) 42 career postseason saves(24 more than any other pitcher), saved games for six Cy Young winners(tied for most all time).

On Sunday, September 29, the Yankees will play their last game of the season, officially ending the Rivera era. There are rumblings that he may play center field for at least one inning during the series in Houston. Why not? He has earned it!!!

Exit #42. See you in Cooperstown.

The MOment…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_voxdzu2bvY

{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}
{Source: ESPN}
{Source: ESPN}

Kassie’s NFL ReKap, Week 3

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, NFL, Panthers, SportsLeave a comment

Interesting twists and turns in the NFL this week….

I have already discussed my Niners. No need to go there again.

My Panthers won!!! Finally. Yes! Yes! Yes! I mean I know the New Yawk Midgets sent their little league team to play but a win is a win!

The Bengals had a 14 point lead over the Vikings. Then they were down by 16. Then they won by four. Yeah, that really happened.

The Cowgirls beat down the Rams. Their nation rejoices, until December.

The Titans beat the Chargers. Jake Locker threw a TD pass to Justin Hunter with 15 seconds left to secure the victory. It was the first time the Titans had beaten the Chargers since 1992. I was 11.

The Chiefs are 3-0 after taking down the Eagles in Andy Reid return to Philly. The Chiefs already have more wins than last year. Could they be this year’s “it” team??

The Patriots moved to 3 and Oh with a win over the Bucs who are now Oh and 3. I wonder how long it will be before the pundits start to “fire Greg Schiano.”

Arizona could not muster up enough of anything to hang with the Saints. They were defeated 31-7 in NOLA. I hope they at least got some beignets before they left.

After being the dashing darlings of the NFC last year, winning the NFC East, the Redskins look like the Redskins of two years ago. Mistake after mistake. The Lions took advantage of that and squeaked out a 27-20 victory. The Redskins are now Oh and 3.

{I laugh everytime I see this...LOLOLOLOLOL} Source: Google Images
{I laugh everytime I see this…LOLOLOLOLOL}
Source: Google Images

The Ravens found them some offense. The Texans apparently could not find their defense.

Soooooooo, the Fins are 3 and Oh. Yeah, the Dolphins. Yes, the Miami Dolphins. who would’ve thunk it? I am sure the Falcons did not.

The Jets beat the Bills. Nothing to see here folks.

Seattle blasted Jacksonville. And Jaguars everywhere, in the zoo, in the wild, are embarassed.

Is anyone surprised at what is taking place in Pittsburgh? Their production level has been on a decline for the past couple of years. An Oh and 3 Steeler team though? They looked like they might get their first win when they managed to get within seven of the Bears. However, the Bears defense saw to it that they would not get any closer. #BearDown

1,143 yards passing. 12 touchdowns. No interceptions. Those are Peyton Manning’s number through three games. THREE GAMES. Oh yeah and the Broncos beat the Raiders last night. Ridiculous.

 

Until next time…TOODELLS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Niners. My Niners. SMH.

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Football, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

They look like my team. They talk like my team. They don’t play like my team though. WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY NINERS???!!! I am not in panic mode but I am in concerned mode. I definitely thought last week was a fluke and that Seattle just got the best of us. However, if I am going to be honest, the red flags were raised during the first game of the season against Green Bay. The defense did not look very cohesive in that game but since it was the first game of the season I was not very concerned. Plus Aaron Rodgers was on the other side of the field and he can light up anyone’s defense.

We have looked horrible. Absolutely horrible the past two games.  I do not know what happened to my team. We are not aggressive. We do not seem very confident on either side of the ball. We are not blocking well. We are not tackling well. I really can not tell you anything we are doing well. Well wait, we ran the ball well yesterday, in the first half. Then we abandoned the run game. Sigh.

Like I said I am not panicking. Oh and we are going to be without Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis on Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams. I am crossing my fingers tight hoping my Niners can show up and remind me why I picked them to win the Super Bowl cause right now we are looking like we are going to be drinking from the punch bowl come January.

Until next time….SIGH.

D.C. UNITED

On By kassienetteIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

My plan this afternoon was to blog about how horrible my San Francisco 49ers looked last night. Was not going to make any excuses. Was going to give the Seattle Seahawks the props that they deserved. Was going to talk about how that wake-up call does not change my Super Bowl prediction. That was going to be my afternoon until I heard about D.C…

Once again, our nation is faced with the difficult task of dealing with the aftermath of another mass shooting. At approximately 8:20 am shots rang out in Washington’s Navy Yard, a facility that employs 3,000. Details are still sketchy, at this point. What we do know is that there are 12 people confirmed dead including the shooter. However, there is a possibility that there may be other shooters. Others have been wounded, some critically. Others have been wounded mentally and emotionally.

As most of you know, D.C. is special to me. It is where I have completed the most difficult physical task of my life, the Marine Corps Marathon. Twice.  Before then, I had ties to D.C. but it became extra special after the first race. As I sat at my desk, I wondered if any of those that were killed or injured today cheered me on during my race. I wondered if any of them gave me that extra boost by saying, “You’ve got this Kassie!” when I needed it most. I wondered if any of the fine men and women of the US Navy that participated in the race were somehow connected to this tragedy. I got caught up in my feelings and I offer no shame in doing so.

To say enough is enough would be an understatement. It is almost starting to feel like we spend our days just waiting on the next tragic event. That is no way to live life. I will never understand why these events take place and I am not even going to attempt to try and understand them. It will never make sense to me. What I do understand is that people are hurting in this country. People are suffering in this country. People are crying out for help in this country. And sometimes, those cries are unnoticed, ignored and glanced over. Who knows if what has happened today could have been prevented. From what I am hearing, the gunman was someone who’s employment at the Navy Yard recently changed. There is no telling what state of mind he slipped in to upon receiving that news.

What is telling is the fact that despite all these mass shootings and less we not forget the shootings that take place on a daily basis in our neighborhoods, communities and cities, the United States Congress still thinks there is no need to make changes to how readily accessible guns are.  How many children have to grow up without a mommy or daddy as a result of gun violence before Congress is willing to make changes? How many parents have to bury their young sons and daughters as a result of gun violence before Congress is willing to make changes? How many people have to live with the daily reminder that they survived what others did not as a result of gun violence before Congress is willing to make changes? No, we can not rid this country of all guns but we can make changes to ensure that there are not as many on the streets. We can make changes to ensure that those who are mentally unstable can not easily become armed and dangerous. We can make changes to ensure that the statistics of young black men dying in this country as a result of gun violence decreases. Or are the lives of innocent men, women and children not worth THEIR political risk?

Actions speak louder than words.

 

blue-ribbon

The One

On By kassienetteIn Boxing, SportsLeave a comment

Saturday night, I watched a clinic. A clinic that featured fancy footworking, swift bob and weaves and quick combos. There were jabs, uppercuts and hooks. The clinic also featured low blows, trash talking and a shirtless Little Wayne. If you missed the Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez fight, you missed a treat. Mayweather put on a show. Yes, I can admit that even though I was pulling for Canelo.

I have never been a fan of Mayweather. His arrogance is just too much for me. I was hoping he would get some humble pie Saturday night. Wishful thinking. Despite my dislike for him, I can not ignore the fact that is the best boxer walking on planet Earth right now. Notice I said now, not ever. I know he is calling himself The Best Ever and I hope that refers to his weight class because if he thinks he is better than Muhammad Ali and “Iron” Mike Tyson….

Regardless of where he thinks he ranks, after that performance there is no denying his greatness. He is a master at his craft. The only chance Canelo had of winning was to knock Mayweather out. Unfortunately, Canelo was too slow to do just that. Give him a few years and I think he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. He did not fight terribly Saturday night. Mayweather was just much, much, much better.

Now about Manny Pacquiao vs Mayweather…..