Shocker

Well, well, well...look who decided to actually post something on his blog. The Pensington Bone, the Winchester Rifle, the Phi Alpha Gamma co-founder has returned. Let me tell you, the working world really does not allow for much time with such nonsense as regularly updating a blog, even one with as devoted a readership as The Blue Team. Devoted to what, I don't know, but you readers as surely all devoted to something. Combine a busy schedule with no internet at my living quarters and you get no posting for three months. After enduring many complaints and much frustration, I decided to post something.

So quickly, let's hit ten topics that I have something to say about.

1. The BCS. Sucks. After defending it for a few years, I've nearly given up. College football's method of deciding a national champion has long been a joke. AP voters, coaches poll voters, the Bowl Alliance, the BCS...it's all the same. None crown a champion without controversy. The BCS is indeed the most effective of the aforementioned systems, but that does not mean it gets the job done. I'm not sure a "Plus One" system is perfect, but at least it's better than this. Try it and in five years (after it's failed at least three times), then move to a playoff. It's just ridiculous when every other sport of relevance has a post-season tournament.

2. AI. Allen Iverson has a new home. My affection for Denver's players just grew even more. I've been riding the Nuggets bandwagon since they drafted Carmelo (and debuted those still-snazzy unis. I'm a sucker for various shades of powder blue). Now they're adding one of my favorite guys to watch in Iverson. I'm concerned long-term about the Nuggs ability to defend on the perimeter (Iverson, JR Smith, and Anthony...not an All-NBA defensive squad) and lack of quality post players, but they are an improved team nonetheless. There comes a point when a team maximizes it's ceiling for contention and Denver had reached that. They were headed to the playoffs again and would, at best, lose in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. When you get to the point that your team can get no better with the players it has, combined with contracts locking you into your foundation players, then it's time to make some changes and take some risks. If you improve, great. If you get worse, it's really not that big of a deal because you weren't going to win the whole thing anyway. Memphis Grizzlies, take notes. LA Clippers, you too.

3. My Carolina Panthers are abysmal. Yes, I picked them to play in the Super Bowl. For the first time in forever, I drank the hype machine kool-aid on a team I pull for. Normally, I downplay the ability to contend for any team I am a true fan of (see Tar Heels, North Carolina, 2004-2005). However, the Panthers looked to be the best NFC team on paper. When healthy, they're still pretty close to that. But sometimes, one bad loss or general bad karma mess up a season. The NFL is the sport most affected by momentum, motivation, and psyche to me because there are only sixteen games in the regular season. The playoffs are a bit of a different story, but in the regular season, a team can just catch a good vibe early on and ride it out. The opposite happened the Carolina. From the season-opening loss to Atlanta, something just felt bad. Certainly the loss at Minnesota is week two furthered that thought. Yes, there is an ebb and flow to every team's season. However, sometimes it's just not your year. New Orleans caught the fever early and has prolonged it to clinching a playoff berth. To me, this is a major reason for the parity in the NFL.

4. Big picture NFL. Everyone has question marks. I can't remember a recent season that there was not a prohibitive favorite entering the playoffs in either league. The Chargers are solid, but they still have a first-year starter at QB. Baltimore has no consistent offense. Chicago is banged up on defense and shaky on offense. Dallas' pass defense is weak. New Orleans is inexperienced. New England is great at times and horrible at times, as is Indianapolis. Everyone else is just inconsistent and flawed in multiple facets. A total crapshoot as far as I am concerned.

5. NCAA Hoops. Finally in full swing, with the conference season right around the corner. UCLA is still unbeaten and has impressed me thus far. Certainly a Final Four contender, even a favorite, at this point. Florida is just hanging out, waiting to turn it on and trying to get healthy. Ohio State is improving by every second closer to "fully healthy" that Greg Oden gets. Wichita State, Butler, and Gonzaga lead the "mid-major" league teams, all with many quality non-conference wins early on.

6. Duke. Overrated. Enough said. Well, maybe not. Currently ranked sixth in the nation, the Blue Devils are vastly overrated. Like hugely. As in, gigantically overrated. This is maybe a top-20 team right now. However, they keep winning. Coach K is just unbelievable. It's like he listened all year last year to how good a job Roy Williams was doing down the road and decided to one-up him this year. Speaking of Roy...

7. Carolina Basketball. This could be a column unto itself and probably will be at some point. First, the bad. Extremely young still. The intangible of playing with desperation is so important in the NCAA Tournament. Last year's team had five new players who didn't understand the finality of losing in the NCAA Tournament until it happened. It so upset Tyler Hansbrough that he sat motionless, jersey on, for five minutes following the upset loss to George Mason. Ok, so Psycho T gets it now. But Ty, Brandan, Wayne, etc haven't been there yet. Communicating to these young players that the effort and "I must win this game or else I don't get to play again" mentaility must be there in March. And yes, I'm worried about March already. Because honestly, the regular season just isn't going to matter that much with this team. The Heels plays at Duke, BC, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Clemson, all teams capable of making the NCAA Tournament. Also, a road game with NC State. And of course, the trip to Arizona at the end of January. All that being said, the team should finish the regular season with no more than six total losses, and probably more like four. Winning at Arizona will be tough, and the three road games at the end of February will produce much worriation. However, this team's goal is to win its last game in April.

8. Carolina Basketball. The Good. Wayne Ellington is way, way, way better than I envisioned. Carolina hasn't had a shooter like this since Joe Forte (shudder). Rashad McCants was a terrific shooter, but was much more of a scorer, posting up, finishing strong on the break, and driving to the basket. I got frustrated with Rashad when he just stood outside the arc and shot three balls all day. But Ellington's shot is great, especially mid-range. He also has the ability to get to the basket and finish, which hopefully can be applied when he has a poor shooting game in the NCAA Tournament (because it will happen, it always does). Ty Lawson has improved greatly from the first game. I'm interested to see how Bobby Frasor fits into this system when he gets healthy. Marcus Ginyard's defense is unbelievable, something that can be relied on every night. However, he and Danny Green do so many other little things to help this team out. Putbacks, running the break, rotating on defense, etc. Brandan Wright is channeling Sam Perkins (yes, I took the easy way out by comparing the two smooth, long lefties like everyone and their brother does) which is a very good thing. He needs to body up better on rebounds, but his loooooong arms help compensate. He will get pushed around in the ACC though by guys like Ogsy, Costner, and the three non-offensive, bulky, near-henchmen at UVA. Tyler Hansbrough...I'm not even going to bother.

9. Carolina Basketball. The Eh. Wes Miller has not contributed much of anything offensively. This is only a problem because I like him a lot and there will be a game that we need him to hit shots. He will. Ultimately, as long as Frasor recovers quickly from his injuries, Miller will not play a lot of crucial minutes. Quentin Thomas is still out and will not factor into the rotation this season. Unfortunate, but not tough to see coming. Reyshawn Terry...sometimes I want to kill him, sometimes I want to hug him. He's playing better recently, but it's only because of open looks. Please drive to the basket. Please. And play defense. Please. Thanks.

10. Carolina Basketball. Two years from now. In two years, Hansbrough & Wright will be gone. Heck, they could be gone in four months. Let's just hope with a national title. Anyway, while I don't want Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson as the starting lineup next year, I'm not opposed to it in two years. Stepheson is basically what I thought he'd be: solid frame, good rebounder, limited offensively, plays hard. Not a superstar, but he'll be fine and there aren't many times that I feel uncomfortable with him in the lineup. Now for Deon Thompson. There will come a point in two years or so that Carolina will be on ESPN against a ranked opponent. Let's say Duke, who should be good in two years. Ok, they'll be nasty in two years. Anyway, for a stretch of the game, the Carolina point guard (Lawson, Frasor, Larry Drew Jr maybe? Let's hope the first one) will throw Deon the ball in the post and he will score. Then he'll score on a putback. Then he'll hit a baby hook. Then he'll steal the ball, run the floor trailing our super-fast point guard, get the ball dumped off to him in the lane, and slam home a furious two-handed dunk. And the following will take place:

"Oooohhh America, are you serious?!? Neon Deon is amazing!!! He was a diaper dandy, but now he's the Big Man on Campus!!! Ohhhh!!! The aircraft carrier!!! Oooohh!! America!!!! North Carolina!!!!"

At that point, Dickie V might actually levitate. The point is, Thompson will never be spectacular. But, he will be a force inside on the offensive end. Think Elton Brand more than Sean May. Either way, the result will be the same. I'm big on this guy. Turnin' up the Deon Thompson Kool-Aid and chugging it.

Ok, so I cheated. I really only talked about a few topics. Oh well, at least I posted something. Niiice.

Merry Christmas to everyone. All I want for Christmas is you.