Chris Henry Dead

This past week the world found out that 26-year-old Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, Chris Henry, died because of complications he sustained after falling out of the bed of his girlfriend's parents' pickup truck earlier in the week. He was running after his girlfriend, who was getting away from him after Henry and her had an argument. What a tragedy! It's a shame that someone so young, and so talented can just die out of the blue. It really gets you thinking about the important things in your life whenever someone dies.

This makes me wonder why in the first place would Henry jump into a moving pickup truck? I mean, if your girlfriend is leaving with her parents, you can try to convince her before she is in motion inside of the truck. Now, I'm not trying to bash Henry, I'm just stating my opinion on how his dumb decision cost him his life. He was a great football player. He just made a dumb decision, like a lot of his troubled young career, and this time it finally caught up with him. The impact of Henry's death was shown throughout the league last week, and especially on Henry's team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Besides Henry's family, the person who took the death the hardest was probably fellow wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, Chad Ochocinco. I still think Johnson sounds better, though (Johnson was his last name before he changed it). Name-changing aside let's get back to Henry. When Ochocinco was interviewed by the press following the death of Henry, you could see how hard he was trying to hold back his tears. Now, I think it takes some guts for a football player, and especially one as tough as Ochocinco, to cry in front of the camera, but that's just me.

What made me kind of angry was the fact that Ochocinco was not allowed to wear Henry's number 15, because of league rules. I think the NFL should have let this one go just for one game. I mean a teammate did just die! But this just shows how strict some of the rules of the NFL are, and make me wonder if they are just a little too strict.

All negatory comments aside, I would like to end this post with a simple message. R.I.P. Chris Henry and may you never be forgotten.

"Above: Chris Henry, Bengals wide receiver, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com"

Fantasy Football Finally Done :(

If the Vikings getting manhandled tonight wasn't enough, my Sunday has gotten even worse with the news that I have officially been eliminated in my fantasy football league. I guess it's not that big of a deal. I mean, it is FANTASY football we're talking about. I guess it's just hard to see the season come to a close, especially after a great year like my team had.

Coming into this playoff matchup this weekend, my team was 12-2 and were scoring a lot of points. Then, this week, they lay a stinker and lose. OUCH!!! The season done, and in the blink of an eye my season was over. It did give me self relief to remember that we didn't play for money. Whew!

I'm not sure if there is a consolation game for third place next week, but I sure hope so. I need to end this wonderful, fantasy football season on a high note. And what better way to do that than to be in the top 1/4 of your fantasy football league. I mean, that's everyone's goal in life, right? Ok maybe it's just me, but I think it would be a fitting end to a great year.

This year, being my first year participating in fantasy football, I didn't know what to expect. My dad has played for the last few years, and I always thought it looked like fun. And man was I right! It was better than I ever thought fantasy football could be. I loved building my team from the ground up, watching as my trades panned out perfectly, setting up my lineups at 11:50 AM on gamedays, and, most of all, getting that magical feeling of winning, which I was lucky enough to feel twelve times this season. Although I would have liked, more than anything to get that feeling this week, but it just didn't work out. All bad feelings aside, I do know one thing. I am now officially hooked on fantasy football, and can't wait until I can try my luck for a fantasy title next season. Now, I just need to persuade my friends to empty out their wallets a little and make fantasy football more interesting next season!

"Above: Fantasy football logo, http://www.rootzoo.com"

Vikings Lay an Egg in Carolina

Well, tonight was a big disappointment. The Minnesota Vikings for the second time in three weeks, lose on Sunday Night Football. This week was an even bigger disappointment with the Vikings losing to the 6-8 Carolina Panthers 26-7. As a Vikings fan, it was very hard to watch as the Vikings were manhandled by the Carolina Panthers. It seemed like every time the Vikings had a big play, they would get a penalty which would make for longer downs. This led to the Vikings offense not really ever starting up. To make matters even worse for the Vikings was the fact that they gave up 100 yards rushing to an opponent running back for the first time in 30+ games! Overall this was a bad performance.

On the bright side, the Vikings are still 11-3 and clinched the NFC North today with the Green Bay Packers losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-36! The Vikings also still have a chance, albeit a long one, to gain the number one seed in the NFC and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In order for this to happen, the New Orleans Saints need to lose their last two games and the Minnesota Vikings need to win their last two games, which would put both teams at 13-3 with Minnesota getting the tiebreaker. This will not be easy, however, as the Saints take on the terrible Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the reborn Carolina Panthers. The Vikings, on the other hand, take on the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants.

With wins and losses put aside, the Vikings are really starting to get me nervous. Sure, they're 11-3, but they haven't looked very good. Maybe it's just a Sunday night thing. I sure hope so, because the Vikings are sure a lot better football team than they showed tonight. At times, tonight, it was so bad that I could barely stand to watch the game without feeling the urge to punch a hole in the wall, which by the way is a bad idea for obvious reasons. But, then again, they are 11-3 and division champions! They will begin to play better and I think they will learn from this and be a better football team because of it.

We Wish You a Happy Holiday?

This weekend I took part in a Christmas concert at my school called Cocoa & Carols. Everything was great, except for one thing. One elementary school sang the well known song, "We Wish You a Happy Holiday". Confused? Because I sure am. The song is "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and it is a Christmas song, not for all holidays, just Christmas. I know they wanted to change it so they didn't offend anyone, but in the process it got me thinking. When did Christmas become a swear word? It seems like no one can use it in a public setting because it could offend someone.

Now I'm a Christian and celebrate Christmas, but that doesn't mean I have something out for other religions. I just feel that Christmas should be a celebrated word, not a shunned one. Slowly but surely it seems like the world is losing its Christmas spirit. In my opinion, if Christmas offends you, then just ignore it, because it shouldn't. It is a fact that the majority of the United States is Christian, yet we can say Christmas in songs because it could offend someone? This doesn't make any sense to me. If someone of another religion doesn't want to sing about Christmas, they can feel free to not. No one is forcing anyone to do that.

What really made me angry was the fact that the so-called offensive nature of the word Christmas is so controversial that they have to mess with Christmas songs. What's next? Is "White Christmas" going to change to "White Holiday"? Are we not going to be able to sing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" because it talks about God? I sure hope not. I just want the word Christmas to be welcomed back into the holiday cheer, so everyone, myself included, can have a happier holiday.

"Above: A crossed out Christmas tree, http://www.wnd.com"

Christmas Time is Here! (Almost)

With twelve days left until Christmas, I can't help but get excited. The presents, the snow, the food; nothing is better. That is why Christmas is my favorite holiday.

This year has got me thinking. What makes me like Christmas so much? Is it just the presents? Well, I don't think so. Sure, the presents are nice, but nothing beats spending a cold, Christmas morning indoors with your family playing games and having a good time. But of course, one of the greatest things about Christmas is the presents.

All year I have heard my parents tell me to wait until Christmas when I saw something I wanted. All year it built up. And then finally Christmas comes, and you finally get what you wanted in the first place. Of course you are ecstatic, I mean who wouldn't  be? But then, before you know it Christmas is over and the cycle repeats.

To make the Christmas holidays even better is the Christmas music! The music has to be one of my favorite kinds of music. It is catchy, fun to listen to, and makes for a very relaxing Christmas morning. With classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Deck The Halls, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and much more, the hits never stop. I like the music so much that I am actually listening to two different Christmas CD's in my car right now. The group is Straight No Chaser, an a capella group that sings cool arrangements of everyone's holiday favorites. They are great CD's and make for a very enjoyable car ride.

Another great thing about Christmas is the time of year it occurs, the winter! Nothing is better than sledding on Christmas break on the snow, and having intense snowball fights with friends and family. Then you can come inside and warm up with a nice big cup of hot cocoa. Yum!

Christmas also occurs during college football bowl season, the greatest time of the year for college football fans. This year I will be tuning in to the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, where the Iowa Hawkeyes will be taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Sure, the game takes place a little later than Christmas break, but it is still the general time of year.

So, put up your Christmas trees, cook your treats, hang up the mistletoe, and bundle up with a nice, warm glass of hot cocoa, because another great Christmas is coming your way!

"Above: A Christmas Tree, http://walking.about.com"

Vikes Win, One Win Away From Clinching Division

Wow! Boy did the Vikings respond today with a huge win after that embarrassment in Arizona last week with a 30-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at home.

This was a big game for the Vikings. Last week, in route to a 30-17 loss against the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings were manhandled. And, as I mentioned last week, they lost MLB E.J. Henderson for the year after a gruesome upper leg injury. But everything changed this week.

The Vikings dominated on both sides of the ball. Their defense was brilliant giving up just ten points, 210 total yards, and under 100 yards passing and rushing respectively. Their offense rebounded as well, scoring 30 points, even though Favre was held to under 200 yards passing and Peterson was held to under 100 yards rushing. What really mattered was the touchdowns they scored; Peterson ran for two and Favre threw for one.

A lot of people were starting to question the Vikings and just how good they were. How they hadn't beat any team above .500 besides the Packers this year, and how, when they finally play someone good, they get demolished. Well, man did they respond in a big way, beating a Cincinnati team that came in at 9-3 and have looked very sharp this year. The Vikings showed they are no joke this season, and that last week was just not a good week for them.

It was a good thing they got back on the winning side, because at their heels are the Green Bay Packers, who, with their win over the Bears today, have moved to 9-4. But all was for not as the Vikings moved to 11-2, and with either a win next week or a Packer loss the Vikings will clinch the NFC North, as they have the tiebreaker over the Packers because they beat them head-to-head both times this season.

It sure looks like the Vikings are well on their way to the playoffs, and boy I couldn't be much happier. But, just because it's the giving season, I ask the football gods to give New Orleans a couple losses please!

Minnesota Loses, Still 10-2

Tonight was not a good night to be a Minnesota Vikings fan. After manhandling their last two opponents, the Vikings struggled. They ended up losing 17-30. And to make matters worse, Viking middle linebacker, E.J. Henderson got injured and looks like he's done for the year.

But it is only one game. The Vikings and Favre have looked really sharp this year, and tonight just wasn't their night. This is bound to happen a couple of times during a season, so I am not the slightest bit nervous.

And the bad news just kept piling up last night for the Vikings. They are now two back from the New Orleans Saints, who won in overtime over the Washington Redskins. They are both fighting for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and it looks like the Vikings will most likely have to win out to secure this. This is still very possible. The Saints do need to lose, though, and that hasn't happened yet this season. But even though we might not win home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, we are still going to be a force to reckon with when the playoffs come around. We are very good this year and have shown, in 10 out of this year's 12 games, that we are very talented and are one of the best, if not the best in the National Football League.

As I said before, games like this are bound to happen. I'm glad they're getting this out of their systems now, and I still really like their chances this year in the playoffs.

Let me throw this out there really quick and get it over with. Brett Favre did not have a good game last night. Now all you Packers fans are probably thinking that Favre is finally back to his old ways. Well, hold your horses. He still has 26 touchdown passes on the year and just 5 interceptions. Sure he threw 2 last night, but that is just one game. I'm positive that he can put this behind him and be the MVP-caliber quarterback that the fans in Minnesota have grown accustomed to this season.

Hawks in the Orange Bowl

Well, it was an interesting year for the Hawkeyes, but now just one game is left on the schedule. After tonight's BCS Bowl Selection Show, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the rest of the nation, found out that they will be facing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Fed-ex Orange Bowl!

Iowa made the BCS bowl as an at-large bid, because they finished second in the Big Ten. Georgia Tech earned their spot by way of an automatic bid given to the winner of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference). It will be a very interesting contest. The Hawkeyes have a great defense and will be going up against a Georgia Tech team that gives opposing defenses heavy doses of the triple option. As I said in my last post, this will be the first BCS bowl bid for the Hawks since they lost a few years ago to the USC Trojans.

All season the Hawkeyes have barely scooted by opponents. They needed two consecutive blocked field goals to beat UNI, they had to win on a last second pass to beat MSU, they barely beat Arkansas State, and they had to comeback to beat the Indiana Hoosiers. But it doesn't matter. All that matters is that Iowa won all of those games, and put together a great season. Critics kept saying how Iowa was unimpressive. How they weren't that talented, they just won. But Iowa didn't listen to the critics, and if they did they didn't show it. They put all that behind them and had a great year.

Overall this season went pretty well for the Hawkeyes, with a few balls bouncing their direction along the way. On their way to a very impressive 10-2 record the Hawkeyes started a school-best 9-0. They did stumble, however, losing two of their last three games, and finishing the season second, behind the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State  will also be participating in a BCS bowl, the Rose Bowl, in which they will face the Pac-10 Conference champions, the high-scoring Oregon Ducks.

The stubborn Hawk fans such as myself still think that the Hawks would have been undefeated this season had Stanzi not been injured in the Northwestern game. But we have to put the past behind us and focus on the present. The Hawks are going to the Orange Bowl! Today I'm proud to be an Iowa fan.

"Above: Orange Bowl logo, http://www.sportslogos.net"

C'mon Nebraska

Well, they almost did it. This weekend was the Big 12 Championship game with the unbeaten Texas Longhorns facing off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. For Texas, the national championship was on the line. For Nebraska, they were playing for a BCS bid in the Fiesta Bowl.

It was a defensive struggle with the Longhorns outlasting the Cornhuskers 13-12. It didn't come as easy as predicted. Coming into the game the Longhorns were heavy favorites, with just Nebraska in their way on their road to the national championship game.

I, as hard as it is for me to say this as I am usually for the underdog, was rooting for the favored Longhorns.  With a Longhorns win the Hawkeyes would most certainly make a BCS bowl as an at-large bid. And boy the game didn't disappoint.

All night long the Cornhusker defense kept quarterback, Colt McCoy and the high-scoring Longhorns offense out of the end zone for almost the entire game. Leading the stout Nebraska defense was defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh with 4.5 sacks. But all was for not, as the Longhorns pulled out a victory on a last second, 46 yard field goal with one second left in regulation which finally capped off a perfect season for the Texas Longhorns and a bid in the BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. And to make things even better, the Hawkeyes found out today that they will be facing Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, a BCS bowl.

But I do feel kind of sorry for Nebraska. They fought very hard, and in my opinion, should have won the game. But, their bone-head kicker kicked the ball out of bounds at the end of the game, giving the Longhorns great field position, which set up the game-winning field goal. I mean, I can't complain, but how could they make such a dumb mistake. But what's done is done, and I couldn't be any happier.

Instead of Nebraska going to a BCS bowl, they will go to a much worse bowl game. But I could care less. The Hawks are back in a BCS bowl game, and will be hoping for a better outcome than their last trip when they lost to USC in the Orange Bowl.

"Above: Picture of Nebraska logo, http://ksfy.com"