The Vicious Circle of Success and Destruction: A History of the Florida and Miami Marlins – Part 2

Phase V: Regrowth Through Youth and Pitching

With their moves, the new Marlins of 1998 had only a $15 million total salary payroll.  This was a staggering change from the $52 million of the year prior - leaving only 29% of the cost remaining.  Livan Hernandez and Preston Wilson would make up some of the very few good pieces this team had left.  All in all, the Marlins would become the first  (and only in history to this point) team to lose 100 games in a defense of a World Series Championship.

1999 would be a year of change for the Marlins, though not necessarily in a positive moving direction.  Wayne Huizenga finally sold the team; to Boca Raton native, John Henry.  They also struck big in the draft, selecting future World Series MVP, Josh Beckett, with the first overall pick.

A Dangerous Precedent: The Niners and Benching Alex Smith

49ers QB Alex Smith was carrying the 3rd best Quarterback Rating in the NFL going into their game with the St. Louis Rams on November 11.  In that game, he was concussed from a hit resulting in him missing the remainder of the game and the following matchup with one of the league's top defenses, the Chicago Bears, on Monday Night Football.

In his stead came Colin Kaepernick, the potential-laden 2nd year player from Nevada.  Blessed with a rocket for an arm and the ability to run anywhere on the field, many in San Francisco were excited to see him play.

After going for 117 yards passing and 66 rushing with a touchdown, Kaepernick followed that up with a shocking 243 yards and 2 TD efficient and strong performance vs. the Bears.  Following the game, it became obvious with coach Jim Harbaugh's press conference that the "hot hand" was going to remain the starter.

The Game Where Mark Sanchez Runs Into Brandon Moore’s Ass and Fumbles

Random Jets Fan: "If they beat the Patriots tonight, maybe we can make it to the playoffs"

Random Jets Fan: "Don't ever allow me to speak again."

What Must Happen for the Jets to Have a Happy Thanksgiving?

1. Tom Brady Must Throw Interceptions
The turnover game will be a key to winning.  Over the past 2 games, Muhammad Wilkerson has been on fire with two forced fumbles, a sack, and a fumble recovery touchdown.  Getting pressure on Brady and making him make mistakes will allow the Jets give the offense easier opportunities to score.

The Vicious Circle of Success and Destruction: A History of the Florida and Miami Marlins – Part 1

Every year of my childhood, I spent two weeks in Florida each year with my grandparents.  For whatever reason, I began to have a kinship with the new sports teams that would appear in the South Florida market over those years - specifically the Panthers and Marlins.  While relevant for a few years, the Panthers have lived a fairly mediocre and uneventful existence since 1996.

The Marlins, on the other hand, have been full of success, controversy, and reinvention.  Just this week, once again, Miami was full of change when a mega-deal between the Marlins and Blue Jays commenced sending every Marlin making money to Toronto - including Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Josh Johnson - in return for cheap prospects.

While my following of the team has fallen to being inconsequential over the years, they have always been very intriguing to look into.  They are coming up on their 20th anniversary in 2013, so it is as good of a time as any to look back at the eventful history of the Marlins:

Save the Sanchize: Why the Rams Game Could Be The Most Important Game of Mark Sanchez’s Career

Mark Sanchez has played in a ton of big games so far in his career.  In the first two years, he did very well in them, including big wins he played well in during the playoffs that he still does not get enough credit for.

Last year, we saw a bit of a regression out of Sanchez in the clutch, as well as fewer big games for him to play.

Now we are at a possible turning point in the Jets-Sanchez relationship.  For all intents and purposes, the season will probably be over if they cannot defeat the Rams this Sunday.  It will definitely be over if they cannot come back 4 days later and beat the Patriots on Thanksgiving, but without winning the Rams game, the former is probably unwinnable.

Vice President Joe Biden’s 1993 Cameo on “Where In the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”

From time to time, I will write about non-sports subjects, and this seemed quite fitting for my first one.  This clip comes from the early 90's gameshow, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?", one of my favorites as a child.  Here Joe Biden, then a Senator from Delaware, shoots the breeze with the host of the show.

Previously, on the Jets Traveling To Seattle….

Last time the Jets traveled to Seattle to face the Seahawks, it was a different team with Brett Favre at the helm.  It was a loss, which ultimately helped keep the ball rolling for a Jets collapse and them missing the playoffs in Favre's only season in NY.

But the ball most remember from this game is the large snowball DE Shaun Ellis threw at a fan in the crowd.  Here is that video:

The Many Faces of Eli Manning

ESPN and Grantland's Bill Simmons once termed the phrase "Manning Face", a term of non-endearment towards the Colts' long time QB.  As Malcolm Gladwell once coined its meaning:

"The look of someone who has just faced up to a sobering fact: I am in complete control of this offense. I prepare for games like no other quarterback in the NFL. I am in the best shape of my life. I have done everything I can to succeed—and I'm losing.

In the years since then, Peyton's brother, Eli, has entered the same elite level of play Gladwell describes, and with it, has developed some of the same faces his brother has.

So in dedication to his latest one, here are the top five Eli Manning Faces on Record:

A Non-Gimmicked Streak: The 3-0 New York Knicks

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnVrSZHnvYY&w=560&h=315]

It's possible...

[It's not]

...that the Knicks...

[I mean, they're the Knicks, so we must consider we are all being set up]

...did this right?

[See, not even the most positive can be sure].

Well...lets assess this from all sides.

NBA Season Preview (In 500 words or less)

Nets:

Opening Day Starting Lineup (Pts/Reb/Ast)
PG: Deron Williams 21.0/3.3/8.7
SG: Joe Johnson 18.8/3.7/3.9
SF: Gerald Wallace 15.2/6.8/3.1
PF: Kris Humphries 13.8/11.0/1.5
C: Brook Lopez 19.2/3.6/1.2

Biggest Question: Is this team really rising?