NFL Slants for Week 3

Checking Down:

-Seattle may not be great, but their 12^th man is the best in the league. I know SD is not the best symbol of composure, especially missing their LT, but they got killed on false start penalties and late play calls. Hell, in the NFC West, a 12^th man may win the division.

-New England worries me. If they get in to the playoffs and host a first round playoff game versus a team like the Texans, Colts, Ravens, or Steelers, and either get points or are even, we might be betting that heavily.

-Peyton Manning is on a ridiculous 9-0 TD INT rip right now, 3TDs in 3 games each. He is going to have a very geometrically pretty year right now.

-Orton continues his great play. Why did they select Tim Tebow again? A great lineman or pass rusher wouldn’t have helped this team?

-Wow, David Garrard. That was bad.

-I am just not buying Bruce Gradkowski. That was Arizona. Run DMC, however, looks legit. They should give DMC and Michael Bush 16+ carries minimum a week each.  

-The Bears are for real. I got laughed at for selecting Cutler so high in so many leagues, but that has paid off in spades. The real life team looks great too.

-There is something wrong with the Saints, and I am not sure a kicking change will fix it. However, this sputtering version of the Saints can still win 10 games and the division.

-This will make 7 coordinators in 6 years for Alex Smith in SF now that Raye is gone. Anyone wonder why Alex never succeeds over time? 

-I am not buying Washington being a good team in disguise, despite me thinking the Rams are a decent team. They need to run it and stop the run better.

-I am still not buying the Jets as an elite team. Elite teams have elite QBs. They don’t. That’s it.

-I love these teams I have labeled as “barely functional running game, great passing” teams. These include but are not limited to the Bolts, Saints, Packers, Patriots, Bears, and Dallas.

-The Titans and Giants are both masquerading as real teams, neither will be there in the end. The Titans can’t come

from behind, and the Giants can’t put it all together on one day.

Going Long:

-There have been some absurd passing totals in the NFL the past 3 weeks, including regular games in the 350+ range, and some over 500 yards. Schaub and Brees I expect, but Kyle Orton? This has been the trend overall the last few years, with more 4000+ seasons than ever. If the 18 game schedule does go into effect, seeing 5000 yard season may be more commonplace, and I think Marino’s yardage total goes down to Rodgers, Cutler, someone.

-Someone is very wrong with San Diego, and yet, I have never been more convinced they are a great team. I don’t buy the lack of Vincent Jackson is the issue, but I think the other missing people will solve most of their issues. Getting the tackle McNeil back will tremendously help the team, as will a healthy pass rush. However, Norv Turner still cannot be trusted in important situations, and the lack of running is still an issue. AJ Smith may have just mastered how to have a successful winning team without winning in the playoffs. They have the 3^rd lowest payroll in the league. The Chargers are the complete opposite of European Soccer teams: most profit per win possible. No wonder they are on the edge of blackouts despite having Phillip Rivers.

-Both the Cowboys and Vikings saved their seasons yesterday, but it doesn’t matter. The NFC East is most likely Philly’s to lose, and the Cowboys are still a Wade Phillips coached team. Wild Card, maybe. They need to run more Barber, and did start on that line. I see a finish between 7-9 and 9-7 for them, and an early playoff exit. The Vikings, however, are burnt. They should lose at least 3 of 4 times to Chicago and Green Bay, and that will kill them. I like Detroit, it is a nice little team. However, they shouldn’t hang 30 on you, especially when you had a dominant running game. AP can only bring them so far. I see 6-10 out of them, all by AP. Farve will make it through the season, but it will be a ghost doing it, and he’ll disappear quickly after it.

NFL 2010 Week 3 Predictions

Let us reflect on the first few weeks of the NFL 2010 season. First, the games have been ridiculously close. Somehow, I am 9-1 straight up and 4-5 against the spread, and the lines have not been overly large.

Traditionally, the first two weeks of the regular season are not great indicators of what happens later. Brees and Schaub struggled the first two weeks of 09, and obviously that season went well for them. The Giants were 0-2 a few years ago, and won the Super Bowl (and that still hurts).

Neither Rodgers nor Brees has been spectacular so far, but the teams are 2-0, and Brees actually leads the league in completion %. Also, both have RB injury issues, so they will be airing it out more often. Logic and tradition dictates that one of the 0-2 teams will rise up and finish over .500 (I’d bet on the Cowboys), and one of the 2-0 will fall back quickly (going with Tampa Bay on that one, though I still do not believe in the Steelers either).

My top 5:

1. New Orleans

2. Green Bay

3. Houston

4. Indianapolis

5. Chicago

My bottom 5:

28. Cleveland

29. Seattle

30. Oakland

31. Carolina

32. Buffalo

Buffalo looks truly terrible. I also think Green Bay is better than New Orleans, but I don’t knock the champs off until they lose.

And now, the picks.

NFL 2010 week 3 picks:

Saints -4 over Falcons, 27-21

-I am a little nervous about this because while the Saints are still on an extended winning streak, they haven’t covered twice in a row, and really haven’t clicked yet. However, they are at home, the Falcons haven’t been dominant either, and NO owns ATL. Pierre Thomas owns ATL specifically, it is a great time to play him if you have him, especially with Bush’s injury.

Bills +14.5 over Pats, 20-34

-The Pats don’t look great, but are a much better team and are at home. However, 14.5 is a lot. I might have bit on 13.5, but this is too much. Look for a 10-14 point victory.

-NB: Probably your best Eliminator pick, especially because the Pats really aren’t in the “wait to use later in the season” category any more.

Bengals -3 over Carolina, 27-10

-Carolina was bad, and now is switching to the backup rookie QB. You tell me how this is going to go.

Ravens -10.5 over Browns, 27-13

-The Ravens are much better, and I think Flacco figures it out this week. Ray Rice may have a HUGE day. Look for Cribbs to get involved and do well, but the rest of the Browns to be REALLY bad.

The Houston-Dallas game is a stay away, but the over at 46 is great.

Lions +11 over Vikings, 17-24

-The Vikings will obviously win, and AP may have 200 yards-3 TDs. However, the Lions have shown an ability to hang close, each of Calvin and Jahvid will find a way to score, and the Vikings will win by pounding it, not passing it. Thus, a lower point total and a cover.

Eagles -2.5 over Jags, 24-14

-Do I like Mike Vick being the starter? Not at all. But, we are still talking about a team that is much better than Jacksonville. Garrad is terrible, and while the Philly pass defense isn’t great, it does feast on opportunities. Garrard will provide those as MJD will get stuffed in the run game. I also think Jeremy Maclin will score for a third game in a row, as the attention will be shifted to Jackson and Celek here.

Rams +3.5 over Skins, 17-16

-I like the Rams, who seem to be really making progress. They are really only like 3-4 starters and 3-4 decent bench players away from being competent, especially in that division. I don’t trust the Skins quite yet, and will take the points here, especially where the Rams are home and the Skins are coming off such a tough loss. Bradford also looks like the real deal.

Colts -5.5 over Broncos, 27-13

-If Champ doesn’t play, this could be worse. Moreno should have a good game, and Royal could be good for some underneath passes that will add up. However, the Colts seem to be back on, and I don’t see how they can win this game. The Colts should roll here.

Cardinals -4.5 over Raiders, 20-10

-The Raiders fans are happy they are switching to a guy described as a “slower, smaller” Jeff Garcia. Questions?

Chargers -5.5 over Seahawks, 28-7

-This could be ugly, but it is in Seattle. The Chargers are getting on track, and Seattle could be ready to fall off it. If Seattle gets going early, it could be closer. However, it is more likely that the Bolts get on Hasselbeck early and force mistakes that lead to Rivers scoring early TDs. However, don’t expect an amazing game out of Gates, the Seattle LBs are decently rangy and will do okay covering him.

Packers -3 over Bears, 31-27

-I really like what the Bears are doing. They are playing to their strengths and maximizing what they do well. However, I think the Bears at max capacity and the Pack right now are pretty much the same thing. The Packers will get better and shift into gear. The Bears are at home, but in the Green Bay/Chicago weather battle, it is always a draw. I do really respect the Bears, but the Pack are simply better.

NB: The over at 46 is delectable.

 

Record last week:

Straight up: 8-1

Against the Spread: 4-4

Record this year:

Straight up: 9-1

Against the Spread: 4-5

Lifetime record:
Straight up: 127-69
Against the Spread: 105-93

NFL Slants for Week 2

Checking Down:

-Seattle is not a good team. I am not sure who the RB is, and Carroll should just punt this season and put in Whitehurst to see if he can do this. However, he won’t because the NFC West is so bad, and they could win it at 7-9. 

-New England cannot run or stop the pass. Neither is a death mark for a team with Super aspirations, not in the NO, ARI, and IND were in the last two Super Bowls era, but it is troubling. I still say they come out of the East, but there are problems there, and I think they are a first round exit.

-Houston may be the most complete team in the league.  Most of their best players are spread across both skill and line positions, and in their primes, under contract. Just saying, it may ACTUALLY be their year to jump the Colts. Bet the Colts get them in the playoffs though.  

-There’s Peyton Manning! Fantasy note: Reggie Wayne caught 3 catches for 56 yards and a TD on a drive in the 4^th quarter when they were up multiple TDs. This is why we invest heavily in Colts. Just remember to trade them around week 10.

-Don’t look now, but Denver has a cream puff week 12-15 schedule (STL, KC, ARI, OAK). Try to trade for Orton, Moreno, Royal, and Demaryius Thomas (yes, Thomas is viable as flex/3WR in that time, especially in deeper leagues).

-David Garrad is done. He had his time being a game manager, and that didn’t really work anyway. They need a QB, and, I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth, maybe should have selected Tim Tebow. You can now light me on fire.

-Oakland invents dysfunctional. When you are clamoring for a guy who reminds people of a “shorter, slower” Jeff Garcia, things are BAD.

-Dallas will be okay, but needs to pick a running back and run it more. Felix gained some muscle, gaining a little strength and losing a lot of explosiveness.

-The Eagles will regret the Mike Vick appointment. When he throws for 3 picks and rushes for under 20 in some game in two weeks, we’ll see Kolb again.

-I feel so bad for Detroit. However, I’ll tell you, they will have a surprising 2011, they just need a few more linemen and some luck with health. Best is clearly the real deal, and could have a Chris Johnson-like season next year with a decent team around him.

-The Vikings are done, put a fork in them. With their lack of corners and passing, they can’t come back in a game. That’s a problem when you play 4 games versus Green Bay and Chicago.

-Well, at least Carolina is embracing the youth movement with Clausen. Sorry, Steve Smith owners. Carolina should look at trading DeAngelo, he’s gone at the end of year anyways.

-Pierre Thomas looks AWESOME for fantasy right now. Because of the wealth in NO, he still can’t be considered elite. However, he was a useful starter before, and now the back getting his TDs is in PHI and the guy who gets his catches has a broken leg for at least 6 weeks. Just saying, 100 total yards, 3 catches, .5 TDs a week is not out of the question.

-Frank Gore may miss time and have some bad games due to play calling, but in real life, he’s a top 5 back, and I’d love to have him on a real time.

-Clinton Portis has lost a lot of shine in fantasy and real life, but he is a warrior. He works hard in between the tackles (not his strong suit), pass blocks extraordinarily well, and if you saw his down-the-field block versus Houston, you can see his effort.

Going Long:

All of my larger topics this week deal with the QB position. Nothing is more important than that position and the play you get from it. Ask Minnesota right now.

Chicago – So, you give the QB a coordinator that will tailor the game plan to his strengths and teach him, and he succeeds? What a new concept. Oh wait, that is what Brady, Manning, and Brees have had for years? Right, they did, and they win. Will Chicago maintain the hot start? Probably not. Will the cold weather in Chicago eventually make the passing suffer? Probably yes. However, they will be at least competitive, and at or above .500. Imagine if the line blocked…..

Baltimore - Joe Flacco is the key to Baltimore. If he’s good, they are a 10 win at least second round playoff team. If he’s great, they are the class of the AFC. If he stinks, they are a 2 win team. It is that simple. This team has good receivers and tight ends, but they are all possession receivers. They require the QB to read the coverages and put the ball on target to WRs running routes. Flacco needs to be decisive and accurate. Last week he was neither. They will not win unless he is competent. And, if he is great, I stand by my Super Bowl prediction for the Ravens

Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been outstanding, just good. And, he is adjusting a new running game (slash no running game). Yet, the team still looks great. Unlike my Baltimore pick, I am feeling good about my Packers-for-the-Super Bowl pick. Rodgers will get there, and the results will be awesome. We are talking about a potential 13-14 win team, with Rodgers absolutely lighting it up.

Cleveland - Here is what your options are if you don’t have a clear QB set in stone for now and the next few years. If your team is contending, start a good QB who can make a few plays when needed and manage otherwise. If you are going to stink anyways, start a young QB with promise who needs on the job training time to learn the system and get experience. For the Browns, the first QB is Seneca Wallace. The second is Colt McCoy. Notice Jake Delhomme shouldn’t be involved here. Can someone tell Mangini this?

 My picks column will come tomorrow. 

NFL 2010 Week 2

NFL 2010 week 2 picks: Nice week, some very clear cut games. Good luck!

KC +3 over CLE, 24-10

-Delhomme probably isn’t playing, but then again, does it matter? KC is a better team, and I have no idea why they are getting points here. In fact, the 140 straight up line looks great. I also think KC will bust off another special teams TD. As a side note, if you need a cornerback in your fantasy league and get points for return yards, Javier Arenas ROCKS as an option. I am starting him in some leagues that do so. Don’t be worried about McCluster – he’s so dynamic they will have him more involved on offense. I am standing behind my "KC as wildcard" pick, and after the SD game, their odds for the AFC West aren’t bad.

GB -14 over BUF, 34-6

-GB should roll, and Brandon Jackson should get his job firmly settled. Buffalo is just terrible, and the two touchdown spread is honestly not enough. While the Bills pass defense is okay, Aaron Rodgers will figure it out quick, and I expect a 2 TD passing day with a GB defensive TD on top.

PHI -6.5 over DET, 27-13

-The Eagles lost their QB, but so did Detroit. Philly’s backup is much better than Detroit’s backup, and the team was better anyways. Expect to see Philly run a little bit more, and we know they can crush the run. This game could be a disaster for Jahvid Best. They will double Calvin Johnson, and that’ll be all there is to this game.

I am conflicted about the CHI-DAL game, thinking CHI may cover. However, the over under of 41 looks delightful. I see a 27-30 game here one way or another.

OAK -3.5 over STL, 17-10

-Both teams are terrible, but STL may not have Steven Jackson at full strength. Oakland’s pass defense is decent too, and you know Oakland will run it down their throats. Under is tempting here too, but I’d stay away.

HOU -3 over WAS, 31-13

-I see Houston opening up the passing attack as Washington overcompensates on the RBs. I also see Owen Daniels getting a little bit more action, as I don’t think Washington’s LBs can cover him. Andre should score as well.

SD -7 over JAX, 28-17

-SD isn’t perfect, but they are definitively better than Jacksonville, and will do well at home against them. I see Rivers getting on page with Floyd and LN, at least enough for a decently easy victory.

NE -3 over NYJ, 26-17

-Okay, so go ahead, tell me I am a homer. But, here’s my case. I don’t understand the fascination with the Jets. They backed into the playoffs last year at 9-7, and at one point were 7-7, with two layups versus CIN and IND once those teams had given up and were waiting for the playoffs. They do have a nice formula in the RB/Tight Defense thing, but guess what, that formula doesn’t work anymore. The 2000 Ravens were the last team to win under that formula. Also, the great runner isn’t even there anymore, and the defense just lost its anchor. Revis is not well, and may be a bit out of shape anyways, and Sanchez is terrible. At this point I’d take Delhomme, Bradford, Trent Edwards, and Orton in a “2 minutes to go, need to scores 4 points” contest over Sanchez. Plus, his knee is really screwed up. Do they have talent? Yes, they do. However, they are lacking in some areas, and Bill B knows how to poke holes in your vulnerable places. It will be something like 26-17, but I say it looks uglier.

IND -6 over NYG, 31-24

-Battle of the Manning face! IND wins 11 games every year, doesn’t lose two in a row, and is at home. The NYG pass defense doesn’t give me confidence. Best part of this game? We get to see the Manning face no matter who wins!

NO -6 over SF, 28-13

-Alex Smith looks terrible, and while the Saints defense isn’t great, it is opportunistic. Why is this only 6 points? Could it be a 7 point victory only? Sure, but 6 is enormously safe. I think both Pierre and Gore have good days here.

Record last week:

Straight up: 1-0

Against the Spread: 0-1

Record this year:

Straight up: 1-0

Against the Spread: 0-1

Lifetime record:
Straight up: 119-68
Against the Spread: 101-88

Blog Status update

Hello readers!

I have officially transitioned from my previous wordpress blog to this one, for many reasons. I will present articles on sports, specifically the NFL and NBA, both in form of season previews and weekly opinions. I will also produce my opinions on different societal concerns, many of them revised from my articles in the past from previous blogs.

My record last year was

Straight up: 118-68
Against the Spread: 101-87

You can see the complete picks and predictions from my previous blog at: http://sportsworldbliss.wordpress.com/

My week 2 picks will be up quickly, thanks for the continued support!

MIKE

What are the Odds?

Again, like the last column, these odds were posted 10 days ago, but I have switched blogs. Some of them look good after 1 week, so not so good. We will see, though week 1 typically means nothing.


Welcome to 2010 Everyone. I know it has been awhile, but football has returned, and so will my column. I will be doing a roundabout introductory column to the season. Instead of covering every team, I am going to highlight some odds I really like being offered right now. You know, for if gambling was legal.

Team wins:
Patriots over 9.5 wins.
-This is a lock, 2 wins versus Buffalo and at least 1 versus Miami make them at worst 3-1 before anyone else. They get Cleveland and Detroit also. The rest is decently tough, but I see 5-1 in those games before anything else, so 10 weeks is a lock. The defense won’t be as bad as most people think.

Colts over 10.5 wins.
-This is more dangerous because the division is really good. However, they have won 11 games for 7 years. They also get Washington, Oakland, KC, and Denver. I see 3-1 right there, and they get at least 4 from the 6 games versus Houston, Jacksonville, and Tennessee. So, we have 7-3 minimum. As long as they have Peyton, I see victories piled up.

Packers over 9.5 wins.
-I like Detroit, but there is 2 wins. Chicago is at worst a split. They should get Minnesota at least once. There is at worst 4-2, and they get Buffalo and Washington. This team is simmering on offense, and I think they dominate their division.

I love the Packers to win their division odds, the AFC South to have the best record, and the NFC West to have the worst. All are good odds.

Individual Stats:

5-1 odds on Andre Johnson leading the NFL in receiving yards. He has done it two straight years. He is a horse in his prime. His team throws the ball. And who else is going to dominate in yards? Wayne, Jennings, White, etc share too many other good guys. Moss is TDs, not really yards. 5-1 odds, really? Get on that.

3-1 odds on Chris Johnson to lead the league in rushing yards. Okay, 3-1 better. Unless he gets hurt, it is a two horse race between him and AP. And, Brett Farve will want to throw too much. The Titans will run it like crazy. He did pace the league by a ton last year.

1500 yards on Chris Johnson, Over. I just don’t see him going under this. He is going to get the carries. Houston and Indy are four games of high potential yardage for him. Plus, he’s Chris Johnson.

11.5 TDs on Randy Moss, Over. He did this with Matt Cassell and a half healthy Brady last year. Now he gets fully healthy Brady in a contract year. It’s Moss. He looks good, Wes is there but won’t get as many catches as usual. The TEs will draw safety help down, and Moss will get one on ones deep. You know what happens when they do that.

1050 yards for Larry Fitzgerald, Over. I know, he has Derek Anderson. But, he’s in his prime, and someone has to catch balls. He is still awesome. Go for it. Easy odds.

60% for Kevin Kolb, Over. At first, a strange stat. However, this is a West Coast system. They check down to TEs and RBs. Westbrook/McCoy caught over 70 balls a year ago, and those are at a high rate. Celek is a great possession TE, again at a high percentage catching rate. Easy odds.


MVP odds:

15-1 odds on Tony Romo. I like this because of the outrageous 15-1 odds. It should be like 12-1 or 10-1. The voters love Dallas. Dallas is expected to do well, but the expectations aren’t sky high. Romo had a great year quietly last year. He added the best WR in the draft. He has three good RBs, but none of them will dominate and draw attention. He has a decent defense, special teams, and coach, but not great in any of those categories. If the Cowboys go 14-2, he can clearly be pointed to as the reason why. He just turned 30, he is focused, he knows this offense, and finally has full weapons. He’s not my favorite to win, but the odds rock.

5-1 odds on Aaron Rodgers. He clearly is an outstanding individual performer. People started noticing him last year. His already great numbers can jump more. He isn’t Brett Farve. The fantasy geeks love him. 5-1. Just saying.

The next column will have a more normal prediction schedule. Remember everyone, set your rosters…

2010 NFL season predictions

My predictions for this season. I originally posted these before last week, (including a 31-17 Saints victory over the Vikings, which was slightly off). Due to switching blogs, here they are again.


Overall,

Saints win NFC South, Falcons are wildcard team
Cardinals win NFC West
Packers win NFC North
Eagles win NFC East, Cowboys are wildcard team

Notes: Falcons win 11 games, but get Wilcard because the Saints win 12. Tampa Bay goes 2-14. Cardinals and 49ers end up 8-8, and Cardinals win the tie break. Packers go 14-2 and look like the best team. They beat the Vikings twice. Eagles go about their business and win a boring 11 games again, while Dallas goes on major win and loss streaks to finish 10-6.

Colts win AFC South, Texans are wildcard team
Chargers win AFC West, Chiefs are wildcard team
Ravens with AFC North
Patriots win AFC East

Notes: Colts win 11 games again, Texans finally get in the playoffs at 10-6. Chargers win 10 games in a weak division, but the Chiefs surprise at 9-7 and sneak in. The Ravens go 11-5 and win the North handily. The Bengals and Steelers don’t get it together until the end, and get beaten by the Ravens early to end up at 7-9 overall. The Patriots are better than anyone thought, and the Jets and Dolphins beat themselves up too much and end up 8-8 each. Sanchez melts down and throws 20 picks.

NFC Title Game – Packers over Saints, 37-28
AFC Title Game – Ravens over Patriots, 31-24
Super Bowl – Packers over Ravens, 34-17
-Ravens are good complete team, but the team can’t quite beat Packers in a shootout, even with a healthier secondary.

For Love and Hate of the Game

There is frequent talk of what exactly the term “sports” represents. Dictionary.com defines the noun as first “an athletic activity requiring physical prowess”. This is the commonly understood definition of sports. As children, our parents support sports because it makes you grow faster, stronger, and keeps you in shape. It also provides a way for kids to blow off their creative energies that is not destructive. This fits well into a subsequent definition for sports, “a diversion or recreation”. It works much this way for children.

Proponents for youth sports commonly suggest that sports provide a medium for children to learn leadership, teamwork, seniority, and accountability. And, it does. Perhaps not to the degree that people think, but it does. For the kid, it is mainly about the game, and that it is fun.

So, eventually kids grow up and become adults. Adults either follow professional and collegiate teams, or try to play in communal leagues. Eventually, sports become something that is held down by large segments of the populace. The stereotyped reaction to sports is that is a waste of time. It takes over the entire calendar. The professional players are paid too much and we have inappropriately distributed the wealth in our society. We are supposed to outgrow the games of our youth, and grow up to enjoying bridge, book clubs, and 60 minutes. However, what we don’t realize is that these arguments are either faulty, or our own fault.

Sports are a measure of leisure time. We take our leisure time to watch them. It is said that the mark of a civilization’s progression towards full development is how much leisure time that civilization has. In this country, we spend much of our time watching sports. Other countries have more leisure time than the United States (Western European countries come to mind), but dedicate less time than Americans to sports. They also have fewer professional level sports to follow than Americans. Americans watch more sports per minute of free time than almost anyone else. This country has provided a type of sport for pretty much any person. This is in response to demand by the customers through the cable subscriptions, sports gear, and attendance in stadiums. We have created the sports machine that is such a large part of the American entertainment system, the same one we argue about.

From a basic humanistic, contributory perspective, are football players paid too much? Yes, they are. Teachers contribute more to the world. Firemen contribute more. So do judges, doctors, and even bus drivers. But, the same people who would support these conclusions buy tickets to games, and season passes to the NFL Network. We support the industry. Most of the salary caps for sports and the percentage of profit the players get is determined based of off a percentage of the previous year’s team profit. We directly provide the players high salaries. This brings me back to the third given definition of sports, that of the diversion.

In general, the majority of the population of this country, never mind the world, does not enjoy their occupation. For most of those that do, there is some other pressure that makes them unhappy with their status in life. By bills, family problems, or perhaps physical or mental issues, most people are made somewhat unhappy. There are very few people that would qualify themselves as truly happy. Diversions are things that make people happy. They escape their dysfunctional world and become part of something else. This was the function of reading and cinema. Sports as entertainment represent a diversion. It is a way for people to get out of their daily lives and enjoy something else. It is a diversion from problems. Athletics can serve a purpose to make people in society productive and content to move about their lives. In Roman times, there is the famous example of the gladiators. That was the sport of the time, and showed the confluence of the primitive shows of strength and such contests as diversionary entertainment. To soothe the anger of the population at hard times, emperors would call games and give out food while gladiators killed each other to roaring crowds. Barbaric as it was, sports served a purpose for that society too.

Sports also ties into something that is so interesting in human culture: competition. Humans have forever loved competition. For hundreds of years, we have loved games and competition. Soccer and baseball have been around for hundreds of years. Card playing has been popular for centuries. Going back to cavemen times, there would be boulder throwing and club hitting as contests of strength.

America has embraced the spirit of competition, but taken it to an almost more ruthless level than the Romans. Our daily work is competition based. Instead of embracing the talents of others around us, we instead fight to get up the next rung in the ladder. There is less cooperation, and more cutthroat tactics. That is the free market system we have created. This aspect of our lives continues into the free time we possess. We love watching sports. From this, we have created more ways of having competition. Thus, fantasy sports were born.

There is no better way of showing how much sports has integrated with society that the example of fantasy sports. We created a way of competing based on a game of competition. And this new form of playing a game has exploded so that everyone and his brother now play fantasy sports in some form. The internet has made this even more popular, and diversified the type of sports followed.

It should now be accepted that sports are staying, are nothing more than distractions to our current lives, and symbols of our culture. However, it should also be accepted that there is nothing wrong with this. Athletics, like academics, are one pinnacle of human evolution and dedication. Athletics, sports, can show the best of the human race, and that is something that should be celebrated. We all love seeing the best win, and also, seeing that underdog overcome all challenges.

Perhaps those who fervently argue against the existence and success of professional sports should focus a bit more on the cutthroat policies of the general workplace, and making sure that the next generation takes the best parts of sports and applies those to their lives instead of the negative ones.

Bliss