10 Notes, Facts and Thoughts

Christmas went well at TBG's house and I hope you can say the same. I received a glorious Oklahoma City Thunder blanket and fell asleep under its warmth last night. The sports scene was rather weak yesterday with the best game being the 5th and final NBA game between the Blazers and Nuggets. It's been a little since a long post so here we go...

1. The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will take place. Maybe not on March 13 as it has been tentatively scheduled but it will happen. Money is Mayweather's motivator and Pacquiao knows a win over Pretty Boy Floyd would validate his status as an all-time great boxer. Too much to gain for both fighters to lose out on this bout.

2. Gerald Wallace is the most underrated player in the NBA. The former Sacramento Kings bench-warmer is scoring 18.1 PPG and grabbing an absurd 12.1 boards per. The former expansion draftee plays for a team some people still haven't even heard of but is proof that if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around we do hear it thanks to today's technology (Sportscenter highlights and espn.com statistics page).

3. The Bulls will make the playoffs this year. The East flat out sucks this year and once the Bulls fire coach Vinny Del Negro they will hit their stride as long as they hire a competent replacement.

4. My beloved Thunder will not make it out of the West in the playoffs this year. UNLESS one of the current top eight teams endure a major injury or the Thunder pull off a huge trade for a veteran low post presence.

5. I am sticking with my Super Bowl prediction of Ravens over Packers. Both teams are going to make a Wild Card spot. The Packers have hit their stride recently and should be 10-4 if not for a great throw by Roethlisberger. While the secondary will be in question for the rest of the season for the Pack look for the pass rush to help cover the coverage weaknesses. Meanwhile, in Baltimore this has been a black and blue season. An 8-6 record through an extremely tough schedule is something to be proud of. The Ravens will be the most battle tested team in the playoffs this year.

6. Chris Johnson currently has 519 more rushing yards than Steven Jackson, the number 2 rusher in the NFL this year. Take a minute to think about that. That is absurd. With only 128 yards to go to 2,000 Johnson and the Titans will make sure he gets his against the Seahawks next weekend. The only question is how will Johnson play next year. The last two 2,000 yard club member, Jamal Lewis and Terrell Davis were never the same backs after their historic seasons. A smaller runner more in the mold of Eric Dickerson perhaps Johnson will be able to continue to thrive like Dickerson did.

7. Drew Brees is my MVP. Without that guy, they'd be done. No way the Saints are 13-1 with an average QB. In fact, I don't see them as a playoff team. Brees elevated his name into the Manning, Brady, Favre level this year and needs to be rewarded.

8. The Colts will waltz to 16-0 after they dismantle the Jets at home tomorrow and crush the lowly Bills on the road. However, the Colts were exposed last week by the Jags. A team with a solid run game and a better defense (Cinncy or Baltimore?) could take the Colts down and will before the Super Bowl.

9. The 2006 Rose Bowl was the game of the decade. Easily. The best football game I have ever watched was loaded with talent and showcased the single best performance I have ever seen. Vince Young owned that game and will forever attempt to live up to that level of play in the NFL.

10. VY will never dominate that way in the NFL but will become a very solid NFL starter by continuing to do what he has always done: win.

TBG