Friday December 4, 2009

Welcome to my 13^th week of NFL picks. I went 12-4 with my picks, bringing my total for the season 119-57 (not counting Thursday’s game). Here is a recap of last week (the X stands for the picks I got wrong):

Week 12
THU, NOV 26	TIME (ET)	TV
Green Bay at Detroit	12:30 PM	FOX
Oakland at Dallas	4:15 PM	CBS
NY Giants at Denver	8:20 PM	NFL X
SUN, NOV 29	TIME (ET)	TV
Tampa Bay at Atlanta	1:00 PM	FOX
Miami at Buffalo	1:00 PM	CBS X
Cleveland at Cincinnati	1:00 PM	CBS (s.o.)
Arizona at Tennessee	1:00 PM	FOX X
Seattle at St. Louis	1:00 PM	FOX
Chicago at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX
Carolina at NY Jets	1:00 PM	FOX
Washington at Philadelphia	1:00 PM	FOX
Indianapolis at Houston	1:00 PM	CBS
Kansas City at San Diego	4:05 PM	CBS
Jacksonville at San Francisco	4:05 PM	CBS X
Pittsburgh at Baltimore	8:20 PM	NBC
MON, NOV 30	TIME (ET)	TV
New England at New Orleans	8:30 PM	ESPN

The Jets kept their playoff hopes alive, but Mark Sanchez sprained his right knee and is questionable for Dec. 13 at Tampa Bay. Plus, Matt Ryan (toe, will not play), Eli Manning (foot, will play), Kurt Warner (concussion, doubtful), and Ben Roethlisberger (concussion, probable) are all banged up since Week 5. The offensive line must protect their QBs better. Here are all of my picks for Week 13. The teams that are NOT crossed out are my picks. The s.o. stands for shutout, and the * stand for upset. Both logos will be next to the TV stations:

THU, DEC 3	TIME (ET)	TV
NY Jets at Buffalo (at Toronto)	8:20 PM	NFL
SUN, DEC 6	TIME (ET)	TV
Philadelphia at Atlanta	1:00 PM	FOX
St. Louis at Chicago	1:00 PM	FOX
Detroit at Cincinnati	1:00 PM	FOX
Tennessee at Indianapolis	1:00 PM	CBS
Denver at Kansas City	1:00 PM	CBS
New Orleans at Washington	1:00 PM	FOX
Tampa Bay at Carolina	1:00 PM	FOX
Houston at Jacksonville	1:00 PM	CBS (*)
Oakland at Pittsburgh	1:00 PM	CBS (s.o.)
San Diego at Cleveland	4:05 PM	CBS
San Francisco at Seattle	4:15 PM	FOX
Dallas at NY Giants	4:15 PM	FOX
New England at Miami	1:00 PM	CBS
MON, DEC 7	TIME (ET)	TV
Baltimore at Green Bay	8:30 PM	ESPN

Now comes the game that is on everyone’s minds.

Game of the Week:

NBC features a Sunday Night battle between the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals. It was supposed to be a battle of old quarterbacks in an offensive fury. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner might not play, which means Matt Leinart will take on a Vikings defense that can shut down anyone. Brett Favre is having an MVP-caliber season, while Adrian Peterson is running up the field “all day” as he says. The Cardinals will provide the Vikings a huge test. They always show up to play. However, the Vikings will be too much at Arizona.

Prediction: Vikings 27-14

We also have a huge fight night in mixed martial arts. Time for the magic man to take over!

Pure Magic:

The Ultimate Fighter will end their 10^th season tomorrow at 9PM EST on Spike TV (check local listings). Four marquee fights will be on display for everyone to see.

1. Marcus “The Darkness” Jones vs. Matt Mitrone (Heavyweight bout)- Jones and Mitrone have had problems stating back to the show. Mitrone was not the easiest guy to get along with, and it didn’t help when he injured one of Jones’ teammates. Jones waited long enough to get his chance against Mitrone, and he won’t disappoint.
   

   Prediction: Jones in 1 via submission (armbar)
   

2. Kimbo Slice vs. Houston “The Assassin” Alexander (catch weight: 215 lbs.)- Kimbo Slice gets his first live opportunity in the UFC. He must beat Alexander or at least show Dana White he can hang with the big boys. Alexander needs the victory to move up in title contention. This will not be the fight of the year, but it will surprise some people.
   

   Prediction: Alexander in 3 via TKO
   

3. Ultimate Fighter Contract: Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs. Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub (Heavyweight bout)- these two men have earned this fight opportunity. Nelson finished his opponents by overpowering them. Schaub upset Marcus Jones to get to the finals. Schaub must NOT take it on the ground. Otherwise, Nelson becomes the next ultimate fighter.
   

   Prediction: Schaub in 3 via unanimous decision
   

4. Matt “The Hammer” Hamill vs. Jon “Bones” Jones (Light-Heavyweight Bout)- our main event of the evening is a light-heavyweight fight between two similar fighters. Both like to throw hands and can wrestle if need to. Hamill has the heavier hands, but Jones is quicker. It depends who gets that last shot in, because this one is too tough to call. Let’s hope this fight does not go into a decision.
   

   Prediction: Jones in 2 via TKO
   

Well, that’s all the time I have for today. If you disagree with anything I say, leave a comment below or email me at spidey23us@yahoo.com. You can also contact me via Facebook. Thanks for reading and good luck with your teams.

Yours Truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright @ 2007

Tuesday December 1, 2009

Hey guys; how was your Thanksgiving? I hope you guys enjoyed yours. This Thursday’s game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills will take place in Toronto. It’s the first NFL regular season game to ever be played in Canada. My pick is the Jets to beat the Bills as they will get their revenge.

In other news, congratulations to Derek Jeter for becoming Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year.” Jeter earned it through numerous accomplishments on and off the field.

Plus, tune in tomorrow on SpikeTV for the last episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights!” Who will fight Saturday night for a contract in the UFC? (Check local listings) See you Saturday.

February 16, 2009

There are always two sides of an event, no matter how ugly the situation is. The top sports story in the past week was not hyping the World Baseball Classic. It was not the NBA All-Star festivities. It was the fall of Alex Rodriguez, as he admitted to the world he cheated on America’s pastime as a Texas Ranger. Yet, how far did he fall? How much of his reputation has been damaged? Plus, how does this affect the sport and the administrators of the game?

It all started with a leaked report last Sunday. Sports Illustrated reporter Selena Roberts found information on 104 players that took steroids. Rodriguez was on that list and was the only name released to the press. According to her source, Rodriguez took testosterone and primobolan. Primobolan improves strength and maintains lean muscle with minimal bulk development and has few side effects. Rodriguez was looking bad in every possible way. Yet, he decided to tell his story as soon as possible.

Rodriguez was interviewed by ESPN senior reporter Peter Gammons. Some criticized the interview for being a glorified A-Rod show, but this was not the case. Gammons calmly interviewed Rodriguez while coming at him hardball style. Rodriguez answered every question truthfully about his use. He also appeared to hold his emotions in check. Rodriguez told Gammons and the world that he took steroids during his time as a Ranger. He said he did not take steroids as a Yankee or prior to Texas (including Seattle). Rodriguez apologized as he called himself “stupid, naïve.” ESPN and Gammons even showed the interview from 60 Minutes with Katie Couric, where he told her that he did not take steroids. Rodriguez told Gammons, “How can I be honest with her if I wasn’t honest with myself?” The interview seemed to be an immediate victory for Rodriguez.

The day after the interview was when all hell broke loose. Rodriguez criticized Selena Roberts and attacked her, saying that he had proof that she followed him everywhere including the University of Miami and his penthouse. Roberts released a statement saying that these allegations are false. The Miami police also said that they had no record of any incidents involving Roberts and Rodriguez. Rodriguez’s apology was not going to be trusted, but a little luck might ease the pain.

Roberts has a book on Rodriguez that will reveal more information on him and him alone. The book was supposed to be released in stores May 19^th. Yet, HarperCollins (the publisher of the book) bumped up the release date to April 19^th. A representative claimed that the information had to be released as soon as possible. Yet, this does not make Roberts well. The last time a book came out with steroid information cost two reporters to be incarcerated (see Game of Shadows). It also might not make Roberts a credible source for the truth. The scrutiny may not be that bad, but maybe that’s the reason why the other names have not been shown.

Rodriguez has endured the press well after the interview. He has not talked about steroid use, only in his quest for redemption. He seems to be doing well. Rodriguez still wants to do good for the future of this sport. His college alum, the University of Miami, still named their baseball field after him. Rodriguez gave a nice speech about owning up to mistakes, as he knows that he must rebuild his trust with the fans and the world of baseball. He also apologized to Roberts for the accusations against her during the ESPN interview. This is a good start to repairing his image.

In yesterday’s New York Times: Week in Review section, Bill Marsh’s article The Voice Was Lying. The Face May Have Told the Truth revealed a psychologist’s study on Rodriguez’s interview on 60 Minutes. Dr. Paul Ekman has specialized in the meanings of facial expressions and body movements, whether a person has lied or not. He found at least three movements. The first one is the gestural slip, where it is a slight raise of a shoulder that slips out of a full gesture. The second one is called “unilateral” contempt, which is the raising and tightening of the corner of the lip that can indicate arrogance or superiority. The third one is called “microfear,” which is a horizontal stretching of the lips that is used to conceal fearfulness. This brings up an intriguing question: Who knew that Rodriguez lied when the interview just came out?

Now, what have we learned? It turns out that you can’t trust anyone without proof. It also turns out that the people that release certain information aren’t necessarily heroes. It’s also interesting how one act from the past can turn you into public enemy number one. Who can you side with? Do you side with Rodriguez and try to forgive him? Do you side with Roberts and want even more information about his troubles? In my experiences when dealing with lies and deceit, I have learned the best side is to look at it from a “grey” perspective.

It appears that this is only the beginning of this saga. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets burned for this. Rodriguez and Roberts will probably fight over the course of this season. If we pick a side, then we must accept the bad with the good. If you side with Rodriguez, then you must defend him for his lies as well as the truth. If you side with Roberts, then you must defend her for her book and her reasons to attack Rodriguez. If you cannot do any of these things, then look at it from all sides. Nobody is perfect, so pick at your own risk.

Well, that’s it for today. If you disagree, don’t be shy. E-mail me back right here, and I’ll respond. Until then, stay cool you KNUCKLEHEADS!!!

Yours truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright © 2007 by Sebastian Maldonado

SHOOTING FROM THE MOUTH:

Who is ready for a shootout? I am.

Welcome sports fans to the grand finale of the piece I call “SHOOTING FROM THE MOUTH”. It’s a sad day for the update, but that doesn’t mean that we go out quietly. I still got some things to say before this baby wraps. However, someone else wants to speak their mind. Let’s hear it for Terry of Scarsdale, NY, with her first “shoot-off”.

“Sports hero”

Who is your sport hero? We all have one…I mean really, the one who changes your way of thinking, your way of being…you. Think about it.

I’ll tell you mine…Phil Jackson. Not so much Phil

Jackson Lakers coach, but the Phil “mophead” Jackson of the NY Knicks and Chicago Bulls. He captured my heart when I was in HS and he was a NY Knick. I pursued it to the point that we became pen-pals. He knew about my college years, marriage, teaching job, divorce etc…..he knew all about my life. Then for several years we lost touch. When he became an asst. coach for the Chicago Bulls I once again pursued. As luck would have it, the summer right before he debuted as the head coach of the Bulls, I finally met him. Yeah, 3000 miles away from home, I met my sport hero in CA.

Sometimes we put our heroes on a pedestal and think he/she can do no wrong. Yet, when I finally met Mr. Phil Jackson I was not disappointed. He was everything I imagined him to be and more. From the physical to the cognitive to the spiritual, I knew he would forever be my sport hero for life. My point? Don’t ever give up on your hero. You may not ever meet him/her….but at least know that the way you imagine them may just be real. Who is your Sport Hero?

That was a great piece; I’m sure that everyone indeed as a sports hero. I would like to know who YOUR favorite sports hero is. That would be very good to know. Now, it’s time for the final shootout.

There are many hot stories in the NFL. The infamous “Spygate” case is just one of the various subplots within this league. Yet, the case that will remain throughout the year is Tiki Barber vs. the Giants. Tiki left to pursue other interests, but he revealed that he might have returned if Giants coach Tom Coughlin was fired. Barber also attacked the Giants defense in the first two weeks of football. Yet, he gave them a lot of credit (well-deserved) for their victory against the Redskins. One victory will not shut Barber up. The Giants are still the team that should take a pounding because they did not address their needs on both sides. Barber will be waiting to point out the mistakes they make for the next loss. In the end, Barber already won the fight before the first pass was thrown.

There are many stories within all of sports. There are two of them that are very important in this sports world filled with cheaters and liars. The Yankees literally came back from the dead to be in post-season contention. The bullpen may be shaky, but there is a back-up bridge for closer Mariano Rivera. The 22-year old Joba Chamberlain is the man for the job, but his story is very inspirational. Chamberlain is a Native-American Nebraska native. His parents divorced when he was three. His father, Harlan, has been battling polio for all of his life. He had to play catch with one hand and was unable to move the other. Yet, in the present day, Harlan can watch his son achieve a dream that many people wish to do: play for the New York Yankees. Harlan has always been a Yankee fan, and seeing Joba always brings a tear when he’s on that mound. When Joba pumps his fist after a strikeout, so does his father. Nothing in this world should make a parent prouder than that.

The other story is one of the NFL’s “better stories”. Brett Favre is still playing, and many people (including myself) thought that Favre should have retired after the 2006 season. Yet, Favre is still in the league. Since 1991, announcers have been saying, “Favre throws a touchdown”. The same question has been repeated in everyone’s mind: Why doesn’t he retire already? Well, he just can’t. Can Brett Favre really see himself as something else other than a football player? The answer in his mind is no. He’s suffered so much in recent memory. His father passed away in December of 2003, and Favre persevered. His wife, Deanna, battled breast cancer in 2004. Favre’s family lost their house during Hurricane Katrina. Favre has already won a Super Bowl and an MVP award. Why does he keep playing? He keeps playing because football is his sanctuary. His teammates and coaches are extended members of his family. He may be selfish at times, but all he wants to do is to win once more. Favre tied Dan Marino for the most touchdown passes in NFL history by a quarterback. He will break this record. That is inevitable. Yet, no matter what happens to the Packers in the season, Brett Favre is already a legend. Breaking this record will only make him an immortal. Brett Favre is a winner in my book.

The point of “Shooting From The Mouth” was to get people thinking. Sometimes, I would get in people’s faces. Other times would have me speculating on the future. I got some people to agree with me, and others to disagree. I got what I wanted: FEEDBACK! Just because that “Shooting From The Mouth” is saying good-bye does not mean that this is the end. It’s just a new beginning. I would like to thank everyone that has subscribed to these updates and encourage you to see who else would like to read them. Expect a regular update for Saturday, as I will bring you the latest with a new format. Until then, sports fans, good night everybody.

Yours truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright © 2007 by Sebastian Maldonado

Sports Special: 2009 NBA Finals

Summer has arrived, so you know what that means. It’s time for another NBA season to end. This year, the NBA is going out the same way it came in, with style.

The NBA Finals is the equivalent of the highest pinnacle in sports. It is where great players become household names (Magic, Bird, Jordan, etc.). The NBA has recaptured the excitement as a new champion will be crowned. This Thursday will feature two teams who are very different. On one side, the Orlando Magic is a young and unpredictable team that keeps their opponents off-balance. The other side features the Los Angeles Lakers, who make their 30^th all-time Finals appearance. They are led by a mixture of veterans and young players. Coaches Stan Van Gundy and Phil Jackson have led their teams through perseverance against impossible odds. These teams have been battle tested throughout the season and the playoffs, but their biggest challenge has just begun.

The Orlando Magic is a team built on the strength of All-Star center and Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard. The Magic have relied on Howard’s presence and ability to dominate the paint. The Eastern Conference Champions also live by the 3-pointer and die by the 3-pointer. Nearly every player, such as Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, is a 3-point specialist. At least ten of their players are automatic from downtown. Their road to the NBA Finals was a difficult one. After breezing through the first round, the Magic beat the defending champion Celtics in seven games. They went on to beat LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in six. These playoff series have been thrilling for the Magic, whom have conquered playoff battle after playoff battle. They might have All-Star PG Jameer Nelson coming back to play in at least a bench player capacity. Are they ready to win the war?The Los Angeles Lakers is a team led by their All-Star and former MVP Kobe Bryant. They rely heavily on Bryant’s leadership and clutch performances. The Western Conference Champions also rely on veterans and the “spark-plugs.” They have shooters and these “spark-plugs” that come off the bench to keep the tempo, such as Trevor Ariza. Veterans such as Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher can carry the load if Bryant has a bad day. Their road to the NBA was also not easy. The Lakers were able to coast through the first round but went to seven games against the Rockets. They also won a tough and exhausting battle against the Nuggets. Are they ready to win the war?

Both teams have shown resilience and the courage to strive forward to achieve the ultimate goal in basketball. Now, both teams are at the big stage. The Magic has an inside game that makes their outside game even more impressive. The Lakers have an all-around game with veterans that are Finals tested. For the Magic to win, they must contain Kobe Bryant and control the paint. For the Lakers to win, they must shut down the 3-point onslaught and get Howard in foul trouble early. My Prediction: Magic in 7!!! I believe that they have what is necessary to shut L.A. down. However, this classic confrontation will take a while before a victor is crowned. This has all the making to be an epic battle between two unstoppable forces.

Well, that’s it for today. Remember, coverage for the NBA Finals starts tomorrow at 8:30 PM Eastern (check local listings) on ABC. If you disagree, don’t be shy. I would love to hear your predictions. E-mail me back right here, and I’ll respond. Until then, stay cool you KNUCKLEHEADS!!!

Yours truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright © 2007 by Sebastian Maldonado

Friday October 22, 2004

Hey sports fans; this is Sebastian Maldonado, and welcome to this special occasion of a true baseball player.  He exemplifies the true meaning of this phrase: loved by many, hated by few, respected by all.

Bernie Williams is arguably the most underrated Yankee on this team of All-Stars.  He has fought through countless injuries (too many to mention) in his career.  Yet, he carries on the battle just to be champion again.  Now, he has ascended into being a living icon &, possibly, a living legend.  In this season, Bernie joined the likes of Don Mattingly, Yogi, and others in the 2000 hit category as a Yankee.  He also clinched the American League East Title with a walk-off home run.  And in the Yankee’s loss to “Beantown,” he literally wrote his name in postseason history.  Bernie Williams was the only guy that came through in all 7 games of this series.  He now leads the postseason in all-time home runs, extra base hits, and RBIs. He passed the great baseball players that held that record, which were George Brett and Pete Rose.  Is he something or what!

Congratulations Bernie, you’ve earned this; what you have done this season will make people talk about you forever.  You will be compared to all the great Yankee outfielders before you; from the Babe and the Iron Horse to the M&M boys and Mr. October, you will join that list.  Hell, when you retire, you should be in Monument Park, where all Yankee greats lie.  But the greatest way for me to honor you was to wear your number in my last year playing baseball.  That’s every baseball player’s dream in New York: to wear you number.  They don’t want #s 2, 13, 11, 55, not even 7 or 3.  They want to wear #51. Why? Because everyone respects you, and I’m not just saying Yankee fans.  Even people that HATE & DESPISE the Bronx Bombers say they can’t hate you; they also respect you.  You are the heart and soul of that team.  You have become not just another center fielder in New York; you have become THE center fielder in New York.  And for that, I thank you.

Please reply back for those that read this e-mail.  I hope you guys agree with me, and see you soon.

Sincerely,

Sebastian Maldonado

P.S. “Now batting, the center fielder, #51, Bernie Williams, #51!”  Thank you, Bernie.

Copyright © 2007 by Sebastian Maldonado

Quick announcement

Hey guys; the fall semester is winding down. This means I will have time to post some of my older blogs. Remember, most of them are dated. Take care everyone.

Saturday November 28, 2009

Welcome to my 12^th week of NFL picks. I went 14-2 with my picks, bringing my total for the season 107-53 (not counting Thursday’s games). Here is a recap of last week (the X stands for the picks I got wrong):

THU, NOV 19	TIME (ET)	TV
Miami at Carolina	8:20 PM	NFL
SUN, NOV 22	TIME (ET)	TV
Washington at Dallas	1:00 PM	FOX
Cleveland at Detroit	1:00 PM	CBS
San Francisco at Green Bay	1:00 PM	FOX
Pittsburgh at Kansas City	1:00 PM	CBS X
Atlanta at NY Giants	1:00 PM	FOX
New Orleans at Tampa Bay	1:00 PM	FOX
Buffalo at Jacksonville	1:00 PM	CBS
Indianapolis at Baltimore	1:00 PM	CBS
Seattle at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX (s.o.)
Arizona at St. Louis	4:05 PM	FOX
NY Jets at New England	4:15 PM	CBS
Cincinnati at Oakland	4:15 PM	CBS X
San Diego at Denver	4:15 PM	CBS
Philadelphia at Chicago	8:20 PM	NBC
MON, NOV 23	TIME (ET)	TV
Tennessee at Houston	8:30 PM	ESPN (*)

Thanksgiving games were all but good. The Packers and Cowboys won in dominating fashion, while the Broncos embarrassed the Giants in primetime. Here are all of my picks for Week 12. The teams that are NOT crossed out are my picks. The s.o. stands for shutout, and the * stand for upset. Both logos will be next to the TV stations:

Week 12
THU, NOV 26	TIME (ET)	TV
Green Bay at Detroit	12:30 PM	FOX
Oakland at Dallas	4:15 PM	CBS
NY Giants at Denver	8:20 PM	NFL X
SUN, NOV 29	TIME (ET)	TV
Tampa Bay at Atlanta	1:00 PM	FOX
Miami at Buffalo	1:00 PM	CBS
Cleveland at Cincinnati	1:00 PM	CBS (s.o.)
Arizona at Tennessee	1:00 PM	FOX
Seattle at St. Louis	1:00 PM	FOX
Chicago at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX
Carolina at NY Jets	1:00 PM	FOX
Washington at Philadelphia	1:00 PM	FOX
Indianapolis at Houston	1:00 PM	CBS
Kansas City at San Diego	4:05 PM	CBS
Jacksonville at San Francisco	4:05 PM	CBS
Pittsburgh at Baltimore	8:20 PM	NBC (*)

Game of the Week:

Tom Brady returns to the place he won his first Super Bowl: New Orleans. The Patriots, who know a thing or two about being undefeated, take on the Saints. Drew Brees and company are starting to feel the pressure, and New England can make the game plan to shut them down. This will be a high scoring game, but it might depend on the last few seconds.

Prediction: Saints 34-31

Well, that’s all the time I have for today. If you disagree with anything I say, leave a comment below or email me at spidey23us@yahoo.com. You can also contact me via Facebook. Thanks for reading and good luck with your teams.

Yours Truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright @ 2007

Tuesday November 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving sports fans.  Are you ready for that turkey?  Don’t forget, we got three football games for you.  Watch the games with your families and root for whomever you please.  Here are the games with my picks:

Green Bay at Detroit

Oakland at Dallas

NY Giants at Denver

That’s it for today.  Stay tuned this Saturday for the rest of your football picks.  Gobble Gobble!!!

November 21, 2009

Welcome to my 11^th week of NFL picks. I went 9-6 with my picks, bringing my total for the season 93-51. Here is a recap of last week (the X stands for the picks I got wrong):

THU, NOV 12	TIME (ET)	TV
Chicago at San Francisco	8:20 PM	NFL
SUN, NOV 15	TIME (ET)	TV
Buffalo at Tennessee	1:00 PM	CBS
New Orleans at St. Louis	1:00 PM	FOX
Tampa Bay at Miami	1:00 PM	FOX
Detroit at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX (s.o.)
Jacksonville at NY Jets	1:00 PM	CBS X
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh	1:00 PM	CBS X
Denver at Washington	1:00 PM	CBS X
Atlanta at Carolina	1:00 PM	FOX X
Kansas City at Oakland	4:05 PM	CBS
Dallas at Green Bay	4:15 PM	FOX X
Seattle at Arizona	4:15 PM	FOX
Philadelphia at San Diego	4:15 PM	FOX (*) X
New England at Indianapolis	8:20 PM	NBC
MON, NOV 16	TIME (ET)	TV
Baltimore at Cleveland	8:30 PM	ESPN

Miami kept their playoff hope alive. They beat Carolina but will have to make do without their star running back Ronnie Brown. He is out for the year with a broken foot. Here are all of my picks for Week 11. The teams that are NOT crossed out are my picks. The s.o. stands for shutout, and the * stand for upset. Both logos will be next to the TV stations:

THU, NOV 19	TIME (ET)	TV
Miami at Carolina	8:20 PM	NFL
SUN, NOV 22	TIME (ET)	TV
Washington at Dallas	1:00 PM	FOX
Cleveland at Detroit	1:00 PM	CBS
San Francisco at Green Bay	1:00 PM	FOX
Pittsburgh at Kansas City	1:00 PM	CBS
Atlanta at NY Giants	1:00 PM	FOX
New Orleans at Tampa Bay	1:00 PM	FOX
Buffalo at Jacksonville	1:00 PM	CBS
Indianapolis at Baltimore	1:00 PM	CBS
Seattle at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX (s.o.)
Arizona at St. Louis	4:05 PM	FOX
NY Jets at New England	4:15 PM	CBS
Cincinnati at Oakland	4:15 PM	CBS
San Diego at Denver	4:15 PM	CBS
Philadelphia at Chicago	8:20 PM	NBC
MON, NOV 23	TIME (ET)	TV
Tennessee at Houston	8:30 PM	ESPN (*)

Now it’s time for the game that should be the best one on TV this week.

Game of the Week:

The Colts have a tough opponent to face this week: the Ravens. Baltimore has the home-field advantage and the better defense, but they came off a less-than stellar victory over Cleveland this past Monday.

Prediction: Colts 24-14

We also have a huge fight from mixed martial arts. Time for the magic man to take over!

Pure Magic:

UFC 106: “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin (10PM EST on PPV)- this light-heavyweight rematch is a must win for both fighters. Griffin is coming off an embarrassing loss against Anderson Silva. Ortiz, on the other hand, returns after a two-year absence and back surgery. They went the distance in their last outing, but both were different fighters. Ortiz was not 100%, while Griffin was merely getting his feet wet in the Octagon. This fight will NOT go the distance, but it will be close. VERY close

Prediction: Griffin in 3 via TKO

Well, that’s all the time I have for today. If you disagree with anything I say, leave a comment below or email me at spidey23us@yahoo.com. You can also contact me via Facebook. Thanks for reading and good luck with your teams.

Yours Truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright @ 2007