Dare I? Yes. The last two Laker games without Kobe Bryant, out with a left ankle injury, have been two of the most fun games I’ve seen from LA in a long time. Is the game super clean? No. Are there bad plays? Yes. But is there more ball movement? Oh yes. Is there effort? Incredibly so.  Is it so much fun to watch? Hell yes.

There is not a lack of talent on this team. Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom make a dynamic front court (at this time Bynum is out with a sore hip) and the Trio of Fisher, Farmar and Shannon Brown at the point combine to make an incredible triple headed point guard (smart, fast, and mad hops). I’m not saying that the Lakers are better without Kobe but the remaining Lakers have just announced that they are the best team surrounding their superstar. Lebron can’t say that with his remaining Cavs. Kobe should be proud and counting his blessings. 12 of them, one for each great team mate.

Super Bowl XLIV - Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints

The WCBias.com staff’s super stupid predictions for Super Bowl XLIV, Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints:

Pembertonian:

Ok, so EVERYONE wants the Saints to win, right? Because of the hurricane, because black and gold are fun colors, because they’ve always sucked – whatever.

Remember those bags the fans used to wear over their heads? Made them look like the Unknown Comic? Yeah. You’ve come a long way, ‘Aints. Strike up the Dixieland band and give yourself a big Cajun pat on the back.

Of course, the Colts were pretty awful when they first moved to Indianapolis. (Come to think of it, GOOD teams rarely leave their hometown in the middle of the night). But then along came Manning, and they’ve won a gazillion regular season games. Given that they’ve only been to one Super Bowl during that time, I can see why they gave up on that whole undefeated idea.

Anyway, this is a great offensive matchup – maybe the best of any Super Bowl — which can only mean one thing: It’ll probably be a low-scoring game.

Both teams have shown pretty decent defenses. The Saints with their turnover-inducing game against Minnesota and the Colts with a D that’s been fairly consistent all year.

But seriously? I was just kidding about that low-scoring thing. This one IS all about offense, and here I think the Colts have an edge for two reasons:

1.) Manning is the best quarterback ever. Seriously. No QB has ever led his team to so many dramatic comebacks. And the guy has pinpoint accuracy. As a side note, he’s also not a meathead, like most NFL guys. (Yeah, I’m talking to you, Bradshaw!)

2.) The Colts have more weapons. Even after they lost star receiver Anthony Gonzales, this team is STILL stacked with weapons. So if you guard Wayne and Dallas Clark, you still have Collie and Garcon. (By the way, don’t you just LOVE saying “Garcon?”)

Oh — and also? I lived in Indiana for 18 years. Get ‘em, Shoes.

Prediction: Colts 31 Saints  27

BG:

Right…the Super Bowl.  For the last 4 years of my life I have been rocking an old school TV.  You know the ones—like the kind your grandma has, you know?  4:3 aspect ratio (hip to be square), kinda bubbled glass screen, weighs maybe 900 pounds?  That’s me.  But with THE BIG GAME right around the corner, my tax refund burning a pocket in my hole and a bunch of sales offering TVs at essentially component prices I figured what the hell—let’s get a new TV and watch the Colts and Saints in style.  So I ordered the TV I wanted from Sears and was told I could pick it up right away.  That was four days ago and so far I have been too lazy to drive the 2 miles from my house to the store to pick the damn thing up.  Why?  Because who wants to watch Gatorade Presents: Media Day 2010 in hi-def?  Who wants to watch Stu Scott pretend he can actually see the football coming his way on ESPN’s In-Studio mini field?  Boner Jamz!  Who even cares?  The Super Bowl is the ultimate sporting event for your mom, your receptionist, your landlord, the guy in the office who asks you if watched “the game” last night—basically anybody who is not a real sports fan but knows that you are and figures you must be 100% gung-ho about the Super Bowl because it’s popular and people must flip for it.  Real conversation I had with a lady yesterday:

Lady: Brian, who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?

BG: The Cubs.

Lady: Wow.  Yeah, do you think they will win?

BG: I really do.  I think their front 12 are unstoppable and their Waggle Back will just run people over.  It’s gonna be mental!!

Lady: How exciting!

So, my prediction? Cubs over the Raptors by a score of Quidditch to eXtreme!!

And if you want to come over and help me christen my new TV that is freaking fine by me, just don’t be surprised if I get really excited about The Who playing during the 7^th Inning Stretch because everybody knows the kids are so into The Who right now and that’s all that they ever listen to while they are break dancing around listening to their Sony Walkmans (with AM/FM radio!).  It’s gonna be mental.

Ryantific:

So since I don’t give a darn about the Super Bowl or the sport of Football (Bball is my game) I’m gonna discuss the Super Bowl battle between Pulled Pork Sandwiches  and Shredded Chicken Sandwiches. Honestly it really comes down to  what you are in the mood for at the time. But for this Super Bowl. Pulled Pork is the obvioous winner. It really comes down to two words that give the pulled pork the advantage… Low and Slow. By throwing a couple Pork shoulders or Boston Butts in the oven and cooking them low for 6-7 hours, they come out deliciously moist and shred easily. I have grilled chicken in the past and shredded (delicious because of the wonderfall grilled flavor) and I have poached a chicken (made the meat way to chewey. I don’t recommend that to anyone) but neither really fell apart like the pork. Besides whats more southern bbq then pulled pork, rich vinegar bbq sauce, on a warm bun, and topped with crucnchy cole slaw. I sound like a commercial…  like Lebron, I’m loving it!

Prediction: Saints 114, Colts 114, Pulled Pork:A million

B$lim:

Not sure what I’m looking forward to most on Sunday. Peyton Manning audible No. 314, by the midway point in the first quarter. Reggie Bush flexing his “natural” biceps for the 315th time, in pregame. Or Tim Tebow pushing his beliefs on us for the 3:16th time, during an 8-hour stretch of commercials that make no sense (or cents) whatsoever.

Oh wait, I’m not looking forward to any of that.

What I’m interested in is No. 93.

Is Colts DE Dwight Freeney healthy, or nothing more than a dummy out there?

That’ll be the difference in this one, because if Indy can’t put pressure on Drew Brees and Co., they could be in trouble.

But I have no doubt Freeney will suit up and try to play.

The real question is: How many pills will the dude be on? It seems like the more the merrier in this sport. If he can feel that bum ankle at all, he hasn’t had enough juice.

I’m expecting a dozen cortisone shots, a 6-pack of RedBull, and Freeney will be good to go. He’ll be flying higher like Kirk Gibson on that beautiful October night in 1988, and he’ll be getting after Brees like a crazed wolfboy.

Or maybe, just maybe, the NFL will miraculously come to terms with its drug problem and blood test everyone on both teams, leading to more flunked drug tests than sobriety tests on this Super Sunday. The failed test would force the league to suspend 90% of the two rosters because of HGH abuse, and BG, Patrick, Ryantific and I will be invited to Scab Bowl XtraCLean as replacement players because of our investigative blogging and whistle blowing on the league.

What the hell am I talking about Tebow? I abort this whole freakin’ post.

Prediction: Colts win – Freeney 112 pills, Saints 111.

Whoa — what happened? Last thing I remember, I was writing a post about Ron Artest. Or maybe it was that hot race car driving chick . Then all of the sudden I blacked out for a month or two.

Man, feel like that dude with the beard. Uh, what’s his name?

Rumplemintz?

You know who am talking about? I think he was in a coma or something.  Probably drug related, I figure.

Anyway, I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but my agent, Scott Bored Ass, has been in negotiations with WCBias for more pay. So far the only payment I’ve received is a couple of football helmet stickers you get from those grocery store gumball machines — and one of them was the Raiders, which I figure hasn’t been worth anything in about seven years. Frustrated, I’ve taken to standing in front of the WCBias office with one of those “Shame On WCBias” union banners that do nothing but show just how weak and lame labor unions have become.

I think when the mob buried Hoffa they also buried the labor movement. But that’s another story except that it brings to mind that old rumor that Hoffa was buried in the end zone at Giants Stadium, which recalls that old joke that he spent more time in the end zone than the Giant offense. Which brings me — in some meandering way — to Eli Manning, who, being related to Peyton Manning, brings me to the real topic I’m writing about:

That hot race car driving chick.

No, no, no — just kidding.  I’m really, actually talking about the Colts.

I guess I’m pretty tired of the naysayers complaining about the Colts basically giving up against the Jets. They say the Colts should have kept their regulars in and gone for that undefeated season and blah blah blah. But I wonder what those people would say if Manning had remained in the game and gotten the ole Joe Theisman treatment, ruining the Colts chances at a championship.

While the Colts are the winningest (that a word?) NFL team of any decade, the fact remains that they have won just one Super Bowl. And going undefeated in the regular season doesn’t really do much to help them win another.

Besides, it’s not like it hasn’t been done. The Patriots were 16-0 just recently. And while the Colts could have gone for the perfect undefeated regular season + undefeated playoffs, the fact is it’s just hard to win that much.

As the Patriots discovered.

When you think about it, it’s just not natural to win that much.  After all, what good does being perfect do for you?

And, if nothing else, Colt fans, let’s not forget that the Chargers have been your nemesis in the past few years, and they’re looking good again. So maybe a bit of rest would do some good.

So this Sunday against the Bills? Rest the entire team.  It’s at Buffalo so no one there will care. In fact, maybe Peyton Manning should take a little nap like that bearded dude – Rumple What’s His Face.

This is so last year, but what the heck, let’s kick off Christmas week with a little Surfing Santa, hitting the waves at Pismo Pier last year. Happy Holidays everyone.

Dolla Dolla Bill Y'All

So this whole divorce thing is going to turn into a pisser, that’s for sure.  With a fair chunk of change committed for 2010 but then almost nothing beyond (how good is this website, by the way?) the Dodgers would seem to be positioned perfectly to make a run at some serious talent and continuing their perch atop the NL West.  We’re looking at a delta of about $50MM in payroll from last year to next coming off the books (good bye, Jason Schmidt, it’s been real) but thanks to the McCourts’ troubles and a slew of arbitration eligible players we’re sadly not going to be able to cash in on many/any top tier Free Agents.  Let’s break down the Arb cases and take a look at what we’d like to see Ned do on the market:

The No Brainer Payouts:

• Kemp–Ethier got a bump last year from the minimum to $3.1M, so figure the same for Kemp
• Ethier–Does he double his current salary and make $6M+?
• Billingsley–The wobbly second half probably keeps him affordable at $4
• Broxton–Figure another $3 here

The Enigmas:

• Russ Mart–LA signed him to a ~$4M deal before last year, figure $5 large here
• Loney–While the power numbers aren’t there the RBI are and those will be worth a cool $3M

Relievers:

• Kuo–$1MM
• Sherrill–?  Do they keep him even?  No clue what they’ll want to do here

After chalking those up we’re looking at about another $20MM in overhead and without the deep pockets coming through we can’t even look at a Holliday or Lackey type of impact signing (not that Holliday fits in anywhere, I’m just saying) which means we’ve got to look at the bargain bin and see what turns up.  My three favorite arms on the market (not counting Wolf, who will be missed) are the incredibly injury prone troika of Ben Sheets, Rich Harden and Erik Bedard.  While signing one (or more) question mark is not a recipe for success for a team currently boasting about three-fifths of a rotation, I can’t help but think that Sheets, who has now had a full year off, could be had for something like 3 years-$27MM or thereabouts.  Bedard has always been a favorite of mine and is coming off a season where he was the dreaded effective-when-healthy in a good pitcher’s park with a good outfield behind him.  The Dodger D is a step below that of the Mariners but still not too shabby and anything lost there would be made up by the transition to the AAAA National League.  So let’s ink him too…4 years-$52MM?  That get it done?  And there we have it.  We still don’t have a real second baseman so hopefully Blake DeWitt can avoid embarrassing himself and keep it real at the keystone and hold down the 8th slot.  And then we win the World Series.  Easy enough, right?

It’s basically 2010, people and that can only mean one thing-end of the year lists that you don’t care about.  But you know what?  I don’t care about you not caring.  So here’s the 10 albums that made the most noise around the WC BIAS offices this year.  Boo yah.

Yeah they have a weird name, get over it

1. Fanfarlo – “Reservoir” – This album can do no wrong.  The easiest way to describe Fanfarlo is to call them the Arcade Fire Unplugged but that’s overly simplistic and incomplete.  Safe to say if you like/love Arcade Fire (and how could you not) you’ll love Fanfarlo but there’s a ton of sheer joy on this album.  You won’t hear anything better than this, guaranteed.
2. Sunset Rubdown – “Dragonslayer” – Holy crap.  While 2009 may not have produced the quantity of albums we would have liked, there’s no denying the quality, as this album would have ranked #1 most other years.  While not quite a concept album and not quite not a concept album, “Dragonslayer” is nothing short of a total mind bending, quasi drug fueled opus.  Was a better song released this year than “Silver Moons“?  No.  No there was not.  Plus the album title gave us a great nickname for Andre Ethier and his late inning heroics.
3. Blind Pilot – “3 Rounds and a Sound” – Nothing but nice songs made by nice people to be enjoyed on a nice day.  Pretty, indie rock that everybody would like and I mean that in the best way possible.  It’s haunting and beautiful and there’s always room for that on your iPod.
4. The Rural Alberta Advantage – “Hometowns” – In the long line of singer’s with voices that are less than stellar (Neutral Milk Hotel, Jets to Brazil, Bright Eyes) comes The RAA and the dubious pipes of Nils Edenloff.  And they are perfect pipes for these stripped down yet wondrously complete songs.  You know how when you eat falafel you’re thinking there’s no way it’ll fill you up and you’ll wish you had a hot dog or something with more meat in it but then after you eat you’re like, “dude, that was great, I can’t wait to get falafel again!”?  That’s how you’ll feel after you listen to this record.
5. Conor Oberst – “Outer South” – Come on, did you think I would make a list that didn’t include Conor/Bright Eyes in some way?  In a lot of ways “Outer South” represents some of his best songwriting with the Biblical based “All the Lights in the Windows” and “Roosevelt Room” (a protest song that would make even Bob Dylan jealous) being my personal favorites.  You can make a case for this album being better than his first solo album in terms of completeness but if I had to chose between the two I’d go with the first one.
6. Mason Jennings – “Blood of Man” – A darker Mason here than we’ve seen before and I like it.  There aren’t any songs that are 10s here and most would probably end up on the cutting room floor of a “Best of” album there aren’t any clunkers.  Gritty, heavy and still hopeful, these are some tight ass tracks.
7. Handsome Furs – “Face Control” – Sigh.  This album was hyped to the moon for me, since their first record is probably a top 10 album for me (of all time) and the fact that there are only two tracks here that I really, really like made it a bit of a disappointment.  Still, those two tracks are retardedly good.
8. Monsters of Folk – “Self-Titled” – Conor’s got 3 songs here that are fantastic and then we’ve got a bunch that just didn’t do it for me.
9. Blitzen Trapper – “Furr” – The title track and “Black River Killer” are 10s.  Just sicker than sick.
10. Manchester Orchestra – “Mean Everything to Nothing” – Not totally sold on these guys but not opposed either.  I think from top to bottom I liked this one more than Brand New’s total misfire but this 10th spot is fluid and I reserve the right to change my mind over this last month.

Ain't right on the Left Coast.

OK, so I recently wrote about how the West Coast sucks and all of that, but you know I didn’t mean it my WC hommies. It’s just the Dodgers and Angels botching the N and ALCS really got my boxers in a bunch.

Then this … Yankees World Series Championship Gear ads displaying right there in the right-hand sidebar of WCBias.com! Why don’t you kick our dogs while you’re at it Google Adsense! I’d remove the ads, but we get 1/1000th of a penny every time those ads get clicked.

But that championship gear got me thinking, maybe it’s time to create some more WCBias apparel (you know, like the popular Free Manny T-shirt and Thuggish Ruggish Nuggets gear) to combat the other Yankees Tees we’re inadvertently pimping.

How’s this for hypocritical: Now you can buy the official WCBias.com New York Yankees Suck T-Shirt for only $15 … with the Yankees “Secret Formula” for success across the bottom: $423 Million (CC, AJ, Tex) + A-Roid = 27th Title. This would go great with the A-Rod is an A-hole bumper sticker.

And speaking of ’roids, here’s to getting Manny back to make things interesting in 2010.

Maybe that secret formula will work out in the West Coast’s favor next season.

What is going on with the West Coast sports scene?
Two weeks ago we were talking about a WCBias.com-sponsored Freeway Series … but instead of L.A. vs. L.A. (of Anaheim, Orange County, Southern Cali., California, West Coast …), we’ve got New York vs. Philly?!
Wow. Who woulda thought there wouldn’t be any Left Coast love in this series?
Then the NBA season kicks off and the Clippers’ last remaining hope (top draft pick and Lambo idol, Blake Griffin) goes down with a busted kneecap before the season opener … and the curse continues. Sure, that was good for the Lakers, who collected their rings and beat up on the poor Clips in the season opener, but then they turn around and get smoked by Dirk and the Mavs?
I don’t know about you, but I blame the swine flu … excuse me, the H1N1, which apparently the East Coast is laughing about these days. Don’t believe me? Well, here’s a screenshot from the USA Today this morning (click the image to see it full screen). Apparently the Boston Celtics are getting a nice laugh out of our misery. Why do I feel like 2009-10 is going to turn out like the 2007-08 season … only we’ll get to watch the Cs win another title while the rest of us are in bed with the swine. PIGS! Hire some freaking copy editors USA Today!

The East Coast is laughing at us ... and our swine flu.

Hello friends,

The Boys Are (Not) Back in Town

If you’re reading this it’s because you’re a Dodger fan and, like me, you’ve spent the majority of this week feeling like you’ve been kicked in the balls.  And not some glancing blow either but a straight up Adam Vinatieri 50 yard field goal to the nuts.  We spend six months following these guys, reading about them, writing about them, watching them, driving to see them and thinking about them at just about all times in between.  The sharp, crushing sensation that began Monday night with Jimmy Rollins’ liner into the gap has dissipated into a dull ache that has finally settled somewhere in the pit of my stomach and, as of yet, hasn’t completely gone away.  As we enter into this offseason of uncertainty with arbitration clocks ticking, Vinny’s final season, and (at best) three-fifths of a rotation we owe it to ourselves to ask: when is it our turn?  When do we get to taste those fruits of victory that I remember hearing so much about?  I was in fourth grade the last time the Dodgers went to the World Series.  Matt Kemp had just turned four years old.  It’s been a while, you know what I’m saying?

Obviously, we here in Dodger land have it better than you poor yokels in Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Cincinnati.  I know this.  We’ve got a team that can compete essentially every year for a postseason berth which is more than most can say.  But is that it?  A few wins over some NL Central foe and a quick parting gift while thousands of “Los Angeles Dodgers: NL Champs!” t-shirts are shipped to some third world country?  I want to win.  I want Kemp and Ethier locked up with 5 year deals for $50M each.  I want John Lackey at the top of the rotation next year and I want Roy Halladay added at the deadline if need be.  I’m tired of running into the Phillies and getting beat every which way in October.  And yes, we will be with you guys win or lose either way…but we’d prefer winning, if at all possible.

BG

Guerrero -- the key to the Dodger's comeback?

Well, it’s looking pretty grim in Dodgerwood. Just when it looked like ther Men in Blue were going to tie up the series, a little rally spoiled their hopes, and now they’re seriously on the ropes.

With that in mind, I’ve thought of a few things the Dodgers can do to beat the Phillies. So, without any further adieu, here are the Top Ten Things The Dodegrs Can Do To Beat Philly:

* Convince the Phillies that the next game is Thursday and hope they don’t show up for Wednesday’s game.

* Share players, like Vlad Guerrero, from the Angels. (Hey, it’s still L.A., right?)

* Call for retro uniform night in hopes that Philly will wear blue and get confused.

* Cork bats!!!

* Secretly pour pepper in the jocks of all the Philly players and steal bases like crazy as they scratch their nads.

* Tell Broxton to get off his ass and start throwing 110-mph fastballs.

* Have Don Zimmer tackle Pedro Martinez.

* Make new rule where all Philly hitters have to bat left-handed.

* Sign Michael Vick as a free agent.

* Free Dodger Dogs to any Philly who strikes out.