So, yesterday was the official start to the football season with the Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.  The result of the game matters little in the grand scheme of things, as come Sept 5, all the records will be reset to zero and the regular season begins.  I have my own opinions as to who will be good teams and who will be ad teams, sadly both of my favorite teams (Browns and Buccaneers) fall into the latter category, but it wont keep me from cheering for them any less, cause when you are a fan, you cheer and cry for them in good times and bad.  The important thing is that Football is back, I am excited, and for those that missed it, I have once again started “The Sports Nerd” weekly Spreecast,  The Sports Nerd Show starring myself and good friend Bob Pizor.  The show will be every Sunday night from 7:30pm until whenever Bob and I have run out of things to say.  It will include recaps of The Sunday games as well as discussion of anything sports related.  Please come join us and have a good time smack talking, laughing and carrying on like teenagers. 

I have some thoughts on the upcoming season that include predictions, comments, and overall observations.  First I feel that the team to beat this year will be the San Francisco 49ers.  They are heavy favorites to win it all this year.  the only team I see competing with them in the NFC are the Seattle Seahawks, which means that division race is going to be quite exciting all the way to week 16, including a week 14 matchup between the two in San Francisco.  That game could decide the division, even with 3 weeks to go.  In the AFC I have the Broncos wining the conference with only the Texans or Patriots being able to possibly sneak by them.  I’m really looking forward to the season and cant wait for it to officially start. 

On to other sports.  This week has seen a lot of drama in Baseball, specifically A-Rod and his issues, along with 12 other players that include Nelson Cruz, Everth Cabrera, and Jhonny Peralta.  The fallout of this whole thing is that Baseball once again is getting a black eye because players cant seem to resist trying to get an edge by using banned or illegal substances.  this hardens back to the days of Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa.  All these players already have talent or they would not be in Major League Baseball,. why in the world do they think that by doing drugs they will be even better, or why do they feel that they have to be better than they already are without taking drugs.  They face the risk of exactly what has happened, major suspensions, certain snub if they should ever come up for HOF consideration, and not to mention the ultimate criticism of not just their peers, but the fans.  they make god awful amounts of money for playing a GAME, and yet they feel that to get an extra 10 hits, or maybe 3 more HR’s in a season they have to juice.  I don’t get it, call me a purist, but it is just sad.   Once again the sport I loved growing up has taken another slide to the rear of all the other sports that I follow, including, Golf and Tennis.  NFL will always be number one, but alas, there are cheaters there too I know, but not to this extent and the drug policy and testing in the NFL is far and above that of MLB and cheaters are discovered much easier. 

In closing, I am disappointed in the players, A-Rod can go to hell and he needs to drop the appeal and just fade away, just like McGuire, Sosa, and Bonds have done.  take your punishment, swallow it, and just go away.  As for me, I am ready for the NFL and will concern myself with Baseball only should the Rays make it to the playoffs.