I Pick Every NFL Game in 2011 - Week 16

Last week's here -  I'm 102-114-8 against the number, 152-72 straight up.

Texans -5.5 Colts (loss/loss)
Oakland +2.5 KC(win/win)
Jags +7 Titans (Tenn wins)(win/win)
Bengals -4 Cards(win/win)
Bills +3 Denver(win/win)
Rams +15.5 Steelers (Pit wins)(loss/win)
Giants +3 Jets(win/win)
Wash -6.5 Min(loss/loss)
Mia +10.5 NE (Pats win) (win/win)
TB+7.5 Carol (Panthers win game)(loss/win)
Ravens -12.5 Cle(loss/win)
Det -2.5 SD(win/win)
Dall -1.5 Phil(loss/loss)
Niners -2 Seattle(push/win)
GB -12.5 Chi(win/win)
Atl +7 NO (Saints win game)(loss/win)

8-7-1, 110-121-9
13-3, 165-75

2011 Athlete of the Year

Aaron Rodgers

This sneaked up on me a little bit.  Who I was tracking for most of the year was Djokovic, but in the end, the vote for Rodgers is based on the same rationale that earned Maya Moore the 2010 award - an early year title followed up by a nearly perfect season.  Dirk finished third.

Here's the history of my Athlete of the Year Award:

1990: Joe Montana
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Mario Lemieux
1993: Michael Jordan
1994: George Foreman
1995: Hakeem Olajuwon
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Tiger Woods
1998: Mark McGwire
1999: Tiger Woods
2000: Tiger Woods
2001: Barry Bonds
2002: Barry Bonds
2003: Lance Armstrong
2004: Peyton Manning
2005: Reggie Bush
2006: Roger Federer
2007: Tom Brady
2008: Usain Bolt
2009: Manny Pacquiao
2010: Maya Moore

2011-2012 NBA Predictions

66 game schedule for the NBA starts Sunday; historically, my predictions for season long win totals are my strongest forecasts.  It's a little more up in the air this season given the circumstances, but here we go.  The sportsbook I generally use in this space when making predictions does not have season long win totals on its board; my assumption is the reduced season has made those bets hard to find.  There are lines for division winners however; so, were the win totals here to provide a possible opportunity against those lines, I'll note it.  The Simmons win totals are out today on his podcast; I've yet to listen - I whipped him pretty good last year, so that makes up for his beating me in every other conceivable metric in our lives.

Atlantic
Boston (40)
Philly (37)
NY (35)
NJ (28)
Toronto (23)

Celtics are -130; maybe consider a value play for the Sixers, as they're +800 to win the division.  I've got Celtics (3rd), Sixers (5th) and Knicks (6th) in the playoffs.  Nets and Raptors in the lottery.

Central
Bulls (47)
Indy (35)
Bucks (33)
Det (25)
Cle (20)

Bulls are -3000, so no play.  They're my (2nd) seed in the East, the Pacers are (7th) and the Bucks are (8th). Pistons and Cavs in the lottery, Cleveland's the worst team in the NBA.

Southeast
Heat (50)
Magic (40)
Atlanta (32)
Wash (21)
Charl (21)

Heat's -2000, no play.  They're the best team in basketball, I'll take them to win the chip.  I've got Orlando (4th) and the rest in the lottery.

Miami to beat Chicago in the Eastern finals

Southwest
Spurs (40)
Mavs (38)
Memphis (35)
Houston (33)
NO (26)

The Spurs are +200, so consider that play.  They're my (2nd) seed in the West, Dallas is (5th) and Memphis is (8th).  Lottery for Rockets and Hornets.

Northwest
OKC (43)
Den (39)
Port (38)
Minn (31)
Utah (28)

OKC is -400 and a pretty solid bet to win.  They're my top seed in the West; I'll say they lose in the finals to the Heat.  I've got Denver (4th), Portland (7th) and the others in the lottery.

Pacific
Clippers (41)
Lakers (37)
GSW (26)
Suns (25)
Kings (25)

The Clips are getting +250, so consider that play.  I've got them (3rd) in the west, the Lakers (6th); my Warriors and the others in the lottery.

Athlete of the Month, December 2011

November is here.



Drew Brees.  Runners-up: Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Keith Price

That's it.  Our year is over.  Athlete of the Year has been decided (and it won't be Coaches K and Summit) and will be released this week.  Here are the nominees:

Nick Fairley

Aaron Rodgers

Kemba Walker

Danielle Adams

Dirk Nowitzki

Rory McIlroy

Novak Djokovic

Justin Verlander

Cliff Lee

David Freese

Matt Barkley

Drew Brees 

See you soon for the 22nd annual Athlete of the Year Award.

The 50 Greatest Bay Area Athletes of All Time

CSN Bay Area just did a countdown of the top 20 "legends" in San Francisco Bay Area sports history.

Here was its list:

1. Joe Montana
2. Willie Mays
3. Bill Walsh
4. Al Davis
5. Jerry Rice
6. Barry Bonds
7. Rickey Henderson
8. Rick Barry
9. Willie McCovey
10. John Madden
11. Bill Russell
12. Steve Young
13. Jim Plunkett
14. Joe DiMaggio
15. Reggie Jackson
16. Ronnie Lott
17. Eddie DeBartolo
18. Tim Lincecum
19. Charlie Finley
20. Juan Marichal

So, that was that list.  I'm just going to pick players; I'm not going to rank them.

There might be a way to compare a boxer from a hundred years ago to a high school quarterback, but I'm unaware of it.  I'm just going to pick 50 and you can sort it out any way that makes sense.

I took 25 from the major professional franchises in the Bay Area, and the other 25 from college, high school, or who otherwise spent a significant amount of athletic time in the Bay Area.

So, in no particular rank - the 50 greatest Bay Area athletes of all time.

Rick Barry
Chris Mullin
Nate Thurmond
Jerry Rice
Joe Montana
Ronnie Lott
Steve Young
John Brodie
Leo Nomellini
Jimmy Johnson
Barry Bonds
Willie Mays
Juan Marichal
Willie McCovey
Will Clark
Gaylord Perry
Gene Upshaw
Jim Otto
Willie Brown
Art Shell
Fred Biletnikoff
Rickey Henderson
Reggie Jackson
Sal Bando
Patrick Marleau
Tiger Woods
KC Jones
Bill Russell
Matt Biondi
John Elway
Andrew Luck
Jim Plunkett
John McEnroe
Jason Kidd
Bob Mathias
Hank Luisetti
Joe Kapp
Gino Marchetti
Don Budge
Joe DiMaggio
Lefty O'Doul
OJ Simpson
Joe Morgan
Frank Robinson
Tom Brady
Mark Spitz
Willie Stargell
Gary Payton
Dan Fouts
Jim Corbett