Tag: Sports

Kick It Sunday

OAKLAND RAIDERS PRACTICE

First Sunday of the NFL 2017 season is here. My fantasy line ups stand ready. I’m confident in my teams this year. I have a few question marks, wait and see’s, however I expect a strong year in both leagues again. The Choose One, Derek Carr and my Oakland Raiders face their equals in the humble Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans at 10 AM (PST). This week couldn’t end any better. Next week couldn’t start any better.

The last few weeks have challenged my patience and confidence in myself.  I just need to remember to keep faith in myself. Don’t underestimate myself. Don’t under sell myself. Keep believing in my personal and professional goals. Continue doing the right things, even when no one sees it or appreciates it. I have a huge ego which I need less of. Don’t get in my feelings all the time. It’s a strength and a weakness. I need to make sure I use the strong side of that sword, and avoid the dull side.

Today I’m taking the opportunity to enjoy some football, see the glass is half full, not empty, and appreciate the things I have now. Look forward to realizing my dreams. Have more patience with my fantasy teams, The Raiders, my career, my personal life. Learn when things don’t go how I want them to get frustrated so easily. Don’t give up, be persistent for things I want. They say life’s too short, but there’s so much life still left to live. Start enjoying it more and often. Life is too short not to take every opportunity to experience it but long enough to avoid living in your short comings.

Raw Thoughts After Season Opener

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

  • The Patriots defensively rely too heavily on Dont’a Hightower. After he went down it was open season on the Patriots defense. Alex Smith looked like Joe Montana.
  • Tom Brady is still a legend, but his running backs and receivers were just a bunch of guys. Danny Amendola is no Edelman. There’s no threat in the middle of the field. Gronk was invisible.
  • This defense is still really vulnerable from last year. Yeah they won a Super Bowl but got burned by Atlanta and I’m pretty confident saying New England got every break they needed cap off an amazing come back. Give credit where it’s due but The Falcons lost that Super Bowl rather than New England winning it.
  • The Chiefs are the real deal when Alex Smith’s job comes into question. Smith played with urgency I haven’t seen since his Jim Harbaugh days. It’s like he finally has something up his ass to get his shit in gear. He was at his best. Let’s check back after week four but they can go all the way if he plays like this throughout the year.
  • Say what you want about Tyreek Hill the person. He’s trash. As a fantasy player on my team, he’s highly productive. Looks like he’s the number one receiver for The Chiefs and makes Alex Smith better by being a reliable target and world class athlete. Again, garbage person, but promising player.
  • I wish I drafted Kareem Hunt. Don’t we all? For a guy I knew nothing about and where he was drafted in my leagues there was no way I’d take him. No one has a crystal ball but he was stout last night. Let’s also be fair, New England’s defense was pathetic and vulnerable. I don’t believe Hunt will have a better performance this year but will he continue scoring touch downs and racking up yards, no doubt. He’s a legitimate work horse back for this team. Best since Jamaal Charles.
  • The New England Patriots will still at least make the AFC Championship. Look, it’s no secret. They’ve gone through many changes to their roster but the last three times during the Brady-Belichick era the team started 0-1, The Patriots won the Super Bowl. Don’t forget the last time The Chiefs routed them, even Bill Simmons called the era dead, during his Grantland days. The Pats will adjust to their failures and the personnel changes. I’m not going against that brain trust until it’s truly over, i.e. they leave the team.
  • Don’t fall into classic Belichick mantra. Virtually everyone is perceiving doubt on The Patriots now, which is probably what the team wants. With a big loss to a very good team, he can really get into his players mistakes and shortcomings. It’s a lot harder to do that with a winning team. A losing one, the coach has leverage to get on everyone’s ass, including Brady’s. Now Belichick can preach to this team about how everyone doubts them and they have something to prove now.