Illuminating Sports- Enlightening Tidbits from the Wide World of Sport

Hey guys a new segment which will entertain you as well as enlighten you I hope. I will post up links to interesting links to articles and videos to do with the sports industry  mostly. Please let me know what you liked about the post or what you would like to see more and I will try and accommodate that for you. Love to hear your feedback.

• First of all congratulations to the Black Caps for their first away test win in over a year. The old saying 'catches win matches' was accurate as both Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson made outstanding catches to help dismiss the Sri Lankans. Which made me think of other great NZ catches. There's Matthew Sinclair's catch to dismiss Matthew Hayden in 2004, Nathan Astle made this incredible one handed catch on the boundary against the West Indies and Shane Bond's ridiculous caught and bowled. We may not win many matches but we must be one of the best fielding sides in the world.

• Do you know what Football League has the best attendance per game in the world? Most people would say the English but it is in fact the German Bundesliga with an average of over 41,000 per game. Guardian Journalist David Conn has wrote an article this week about the reasons for this, including cheaper tickets and a difference in fan appreciation compared to the EPL.

• Every year in the United States hundreds of the best American Football  college players leave school and hope to make it in the NFL. Only 250 get selected in the draft and another couple of hundred get invited to training camps to have a longshot to make a roster. A feature piece from the New York Times follows one of these undrafted players. It's a great read and gives you a better understanding about the behind the scenes of the NFL and the absolute ruthlessness of the industry. Even if you don't follow American Football it gives you a great insight into the culture which worship this game.

• Documentary of the week: The history of Football Hooliganism. Aired in UK in 2002 this documentary breaks down the progression of fan football violence from the late 60's to the turn of the century, starting in Britain and spreading throughout Europe. Very informative and it doesn't sensationalise it like many other movies or documentaries on the topic. Split into two parts. Part One here, Part Two here.

• And finally the New York Jets have had another unforgettable season. This GiF sums up the whole season- a great laugh for anyone. As a New England Patriot fan it's great when you don't have to do a thing and your arch rival shoots themselves in the foot like the Jets have done the last couple of years. May it continue!

Hope you enjoy these while completing your work at the same time. Remember to click the button below to 

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Peace.

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Andrew Hore's Suspension- A Breakdown and Critique

This weeks suspension of hooker Andrew Hore couldn't have come at a worst time for the All Blacks. His, shall we say, "ill advised" swinging forearm into the head of a Welsh player saw him banned for the next five matches. With the upcoming match against England this weekend Hore's actions have created a lot more news- to the detriment of the All Blacks. A couple of thoughts on the incident-

• Hore is lucky not to be banned for more games in my opinion. A swinging blind-side hit to the head has no place in the 21st century game of rugby, especially with concussions becoming a huge talking point in contact sports these days. Missing two Super 15 matches is a very light punishment for what he just did. Maybe the ban should have carried over to test matches only. That would be a more effective deterrent for these actions at this level perhaps?
• I think Hore's explanation that he wasn't aiming for the head is laughable. The fact that Davies, a lock, is significantly taller then him, meant he had to visibly reach up to strike him in the head. The only thing which was even more ridiculous was that the judicial panel believed his story! 
•  Those defending Hore's actions by saying he was provoked is just a condoning the small minded thinking of the yesteryears. He's a professional rugby player and should conduct himself in that manner. He is paid to play rugby within the rules of the game- not be a vigilante. 
• If he had done that off the field he could quite easily face time in prison. So why is it acceptable to people on a rugby pitch?
• Hore hasn't had a reputation in the past for being a dirty player so it is even more surprising that at the tail end of his career he would do something like this. If he was just starting out I think this incident would have damaged his reputation in NZ and would have taken years to recover from. See Keith Murdoch.
• The All Blacks management response was disappointing and the lack of conviction in the apology carries a long term tradition of arrogance when it comes to disciplinary incidents. It would be nice to see an All Black player or coach give a genuine apology for a hit for a change. 

The response from the media and opponents of the All Blacks has been predictable and disappointing for me. Journalists, pundits and fans of England especially have used this incident as a chance to ridicule the team and to question the moral fibre of the All Blacks. The fact is that every international team commits acts of thuggery on the field- it's not just one team. What has been highlighted again though is the International Rugby Board (IRB) inconsistency of the disciplining of the players guilty of such acts. What is also of note is that the All Blacks are on the receiving end of these acts more times then what they dish. Yet players have escaped with little or no punishment. Here are some examples of players who have acted with malicious intent to injure All Blacks:

South African Victor Matfield received no punishment for this late swinging arm to the head to Byron Kelleher in 2005


Englishman Dylan Hartley somehow escaped any punishment for this after the whistle forearm to Richie McCaw.(Skip to 2:12 if you just want to see the hit.)


Yet Hartley would receive a eight week ban for an alleged finger biting incident vs Ireland in which video evidence wasn't as clear.

Quade Coopers knee to McCaw's face last year also received no ban despite being blatantly malicious.

It goes both ways thought- the All Blacks have been just as guilty for illegal behaviour and getting away with it. The most famous would be Kevin Mealamu and Tana Umaga taking out Brian O'Driscoll against the Lions in 2004. Both of them didn't receive a single game for an off the ball spear tackle which ended the Irishman's tour in the first minute of the tour. The attitude of the All Blacks was hush hush and it will all go away. No official apology from either player or the team and this tradition carries on to this day. Being subject to that sort of treatment from oppositions can't be given as an excuse to do likewise. The modern sporting world is moving from an eye for an eye mentality which has been so prevalent for so long.

The problem is that the authorities have failed over time to police the game effectively however. The IRB haven't put in a rigid system for how infractions on the field should be punished. The NRL have a effective grading system which make it very clear how many weeks a player is banned for dependent on the foul and the previous history of the player. Rugby Union stills seems to be a potluck of what sorts of bans are given out. It reflects badly on the IRB and will continue to do so until they find a solution. Certainly the current system does not work and is prone to controversy. The more inconsistencies in the game the less credibility it receives unfortunately.

Photo sourced from tv3.co.nz

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NBA Season Preview Part Two- Western Conference

Here is Part Two of my NBA preview with a gambling aspect to it.Where I pick the OVER/UNDER win totals for each team.

Dallas Mavericks-44.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 7th in the Western Conference.

Key Acquisitions:  PG Darren Collison, SG OJ Mayo, PF Elton Brand, C Chris Kaman.

Key Losses: PG Jason Kidd, SG Jason Terry.

Best Players: PF Dirk Nowitzki

Things to like: They have acquired a bunch of intriguing players on one year contracts. Collison and Mayo are both explosive while Kaman is a solid center when healthy. Coach Rick Carlisle is one of the best in the business.

Things to be concerned about: Nowitzki is out for the first month with a knee injury. The lack of cohesion in the squad may mean this team may start slow.

My Pick: UNDER. Nowitzki out for the foreseeable future is not a good sign for a team which is starting to show its age. If he's out for any significant time this team might as well tank for next year.

Denver Nuggets-49.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 6th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions:  SF Andre Igoudala

Key Losses: SG Arron Afflalo.

Best Players: PG Ty Lawson, Iguodala, PF Kenneth Faried.

Things to like: Perhaps the deepest team in the league, they go ten players deep. Iguodala provides a defensive presence they missed last year. This team's fast paced play is going to make them a difficult matchup.

Things to be concerned about: They don't have consistently good shooters in the team. Will be undersized against teams with centers.

My Pick: OVER. I really rate this team this year with their exciting style of play and depth. I project them to win over 55 wins and be one of the top 4 teams in the West.

Golden State Warriors-36.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 13th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions:  PF Carl Landry, PG Jarret Jack

Key Losses: SF Brandon Wright

Best Players: PG Stephen Curry, C Andrew Bogut, SG Klay Thompson.

Things to like: A healthy Bogut and Curry would make this team very good. Bogut is one of the best defensive players in the league something this team has struggled with recently.

Things to be concerned about: Bogut is still recovering from injuries and Curry's ankles are the weakest in the league.

My Pick: UNDER. A promising team for the future. Young promising players like Thompson and Harrison Barnes need time to develop. Still a year away from competing for the playoffs. Looks like a 32-35 win team.

Houston Rockets-30.5 OVER/UNDER WINS (pre Harden trade)

Previous years record: 9th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions:  SG James Harden, PG Jeremy Lin, C Omer Asik

Key Losses: PG Kyle Lowry, PF Luis Scola, SG Kevin Martin.

Best Players: Harden, Asik, PF Chandler Parsons.

Things to like: Harden is a top 20 player and makes this team relevant. Defensively this team will be one of the best especially in rebounding.
Things to be concerned about: Their is a lack of consistent scoring outside of Harden, Asik especially is a liability on the offensive end.

My Pick: OVER. The line has inevitably gone up since the Harden trade to maybe 35-36 wins. Before the trade this team was looking like the worst team in the Western Conference. Harden is an elite player and will help push this team to the edge of the playoffs.

Los Angeles Clippers-50.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 5th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions: SG Jamal Crawford, SF Grant Hill, PF Lamar Odom

Key Losses: PG Mo Williams, SG Nick Young, F Reggie Evans.

Best Players: PG Chris Paul, PF Blake Griffin, C DeAndre Jordan, PG Eric Bledsoe.

Things to like: A deep team especially in the shooting department. Chris Paul is still one of the best PG's in the NBA.
Things to be concerned about: Blake Griffin has to show he can do more then just dunk to warrant the hype surrounding him. Rebounding is a weakness, Griffin and Jordan aren't that good at it. Coach Vinny Del Negro has the knack of making questionable moves during games, he is always on the hot seat. It remains to be seen whether Odom has anything left to contribute to basketball after a disastrous season with the Mavs last year.

My Pick: OVER. Another year of Griffin and Paul working together should mean better results. Crawford maybe a sneaky add on and Grant Hill will provide the professional veteran leadership. This team will get into the mid fifties.

Los Angeles Lakers-59.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 3rd in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions: C Dwight Howard, PG Steve Nash, PF Antawn Jamison

Key Losses: SF Matt Barnes.

Best Players: SG Kobe Bryant, PF Pau Gasol, Howard, Nash.

Things to like: Had the best offseason by acquiring the best center in the world and the two time MVP in Nash. Gasol and Howard create the best frontcourt in the league. Should relieve the pressure on Kobe to run things entirely.

Things to be concerned about: A very top heavy roster, almost no depth. Howard is still recovering from back surgery. This team needs time to gel as a team.

My Pick: UNDER. With the lack of time together I was picking the under for this team before the start of the season. Now due to the poor 1-4 start  their coach Mike Brown has been fired. This team was always going to struggle early on with Howard at 70-80% and Nash recovering from a fractured foot. The troubling thing was the fact they were running the Princeton offence which made Nash redundant. Nash is best when he has the ball in his hands and creating opportunities for team mates and himself. Why sign Nash if you aren't going to use him in the right way? With the firing of Brown this team is set for a long year of ups and downs but ultimately I think they will come together for the playoffs and be the most dangerous team in the West.

Memphis Grizzlies-49.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 4th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions: none

Key Losses: none

Best Players: C Marc Gasol, PF Zach Randolph, SF Rudy Gay, PG Mike Conley, SG Tony Allen.

Things to like: The roster has been together for three years now and they know what works best. Gasol and Randolph can dominate the boards and score consistently. Defensively one of the soundest teams.

Things to be concerned about: Injuries are the only thing which is going to derail the team. They missed Randolph for a large proportion of the season last year. Rudy Gay has to be more consistent on the offensive end.

My Pick: OVER. This team can beat the Spurs and the Lakers and can give the Thunder a run for its money. I see this team making it to 55-58 wins and going deep into the playoffs.

Minnesota Timberwolves-39.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 12th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions: SG Brandon Roy, PF Andrei Kirilenko, F Chase Budinger.

Key Losses: SF Michael Beasley, SG Wesley Johnson.

Best Players: PF Kevin Love, PG Ricky Rubio, Kirilenko.

Things to like: Getting Kirilenko was a great acquisition- he provides a great defensive presence. A lot more veterans on the team compared to previous years.

Things to be concerned about: Ricky Rubio is most likely out for the whole year with a knee injury. Kevin Love is out for the first two months with a broken hand.

My Pick: OVER. This team can hang around .500 until Love gets back. I see this team with a real chance of sneaking into the playoffs as the 8th seed.

New Orleans Hornets-26.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 15th in the Western Conference

Key Acquisitions: F Ryan Anderson, C Anthoney Davis

Key Losses: C Chris Kaman, C Emeka Okafor, PG Jarrett Jack, PF Carl Landry.

Best Players: Anderson, Davis, SG Eric Gordon.

Things to like: They got the right to select Davis as the No.1 pick last year. He is looking like a bona fide franchise player.

Things to be concerned about: Eric Gordan's knee is a cause for concern as he has ruled himself out despite doctors saying otherwise.

My Pick: OVER. Davis alone pushes this team to 30 wins. He is that good.

Oklahoma City Thunder-60.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 2nd in the Western Conference regular season. NBA finalists.

Key Acquisitions: SG Kevin Martin, SG Jeremy Lamb.

Key Losses: SG James Harden, SG Daequan Cook.

Best Players: PF Kevin Durant, PG Russell Westbrook, PF Serge Ibaka.

Things to like: Have one of the youngest squads in the NBA and they made the Finals last year. Durant and Westbrook are Top 10 players and are both under 25.

Things to be concerned about: Their decision to trade Harden was a difficult one as it is rare to see a team so close to being champions getting rid of such an important component of their success. Time will tell if this was the right decision to make.

My Pick: OVER. I still think they will win over 61 games in the regular season. I'm not so sure whether they will make it back to the Finals though as the Lakers, Spurs and Grizzlies have the ability to beat this team.

Phoenix Suns-33.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 10th in the Western Conference.

Key Acquisitions: PG Goran Dragic, SF Michael Beasley, PF Luis Scola.

Key Losses: PG Steve Nash, SF Grant Hill, C Robin Lopez.

Best Players: Dragic, C Marcin Gortat,

Things to like: They finally started rebuilding after Nash. Dragic and Gortat are above average at their position.

Things to be concerned about: The rest of the squad is not that good. A long season awaits for the team.

My Pick: UNDER. This team is not playoff bound this year and maybe not for another couple of years. The loss of Nash will hurt this year. 30 wins for them I project.

Portland Trail Blazers-34.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 11th in the Western Conference.

Key Acquisitions: PG Damian Lilard

Key Losses: SG Jamal Crawford, C Marcus Camby, PG Raymond Felton.

Best Players: PF LaMarcus Aldridge, Lilard, SF Nicolas Batum.

Things to like: Lilard seems to be a great draft pick. A point guard who can score and create for others. Batum finally gets a shot at the starting role and a chance to show the potential the Frenchmen has flashed at times. Aldridge is one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

Things to be concerned about: The rest of the squad is largely unproven and it remains to be seen whether they made enough changes from the forgettable season last year.

My Pick: OVER. A tough pick for me. I think they will end up with a win total around the 35-38 win total. I think Lilard and Batum will emerge to carry the team to the OVER. Not quite playoff bound but close.

Sacramento Kings-30.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 14th in the Western Conference.

Key Acquisitions: F Thomas Robinson.

Key Losses: none

Best Players: C DeMarcus Cousins, SG Tyreke Evans.

Things to like: Cousins is turning into a beast and could become a superstar.They have players who can score in bunches.

Things to be concerned about: This team is entirely made up of selfish, shoot first, players in every position. Wildly undisciplined and immature bunch of individuals.

My Pick: UNDER. This team is built like a fantasy team. A bunch of scorers and no cohesion. This team is going to struggle again this year and should be broken up at the end of this year.

San Antonio Spurs-54.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 1st in the Western Conference regular season.

Key Acquisitions: none

Key Losses: SF Richard Jefferson

Best Players: PF Tim Duncan, SG Manu Ginobli, PG Tony Parker, SF Kawhi Leonard.

Things to like: The best coached team in NBA this team defies the age of its top players by consistently winning. No exactly what they can and cannot do as a team.

Things to be concerned about: There's always a chance that Duncan's and Ginobli's bodies breakdown. Without them this team will struggle to compete with the Lakers and OKC.

My Pick: OVER. This team defies odds last year and ended up with the best record in the Western Conference. They should again be right up there as they know this maybe one of the last opportunities for this team to compete for a title. 57-59 wins I project.

Utah Jazz-42.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 8th in the Western Conference.

Key Acquisitions: SF Marvin Williams, PG Mo Williams.

Key Losses: PG Devin Harris.

Best Players: SF Gordon Hayward, F Al Jefferson, F Paul Millsap.

Things to like: They have a lot of depth in the frontcourt with Jefferson, Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. Somehow they have to get all of them involved.

Things to be concerned about: The backcourt of Mo Williams and Foye is pretty average and doesn't scare anyone. The Jazz are the definition of an average team.

My Pick: OVER. Another tough pick as I think they will right around this win total. Ultimately I think they will be in the hunt again for the final playoff spot in the West but not much more.



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Photo sourced from flagship.com

NBA Season Preview Part One- Eastern Conference

One of the most anticipated seasons in NBA history started the past week and not a moment too soon. The NBA returns to a full slate of games after a lockout shortened season which threatened to damage the reputation of the league. It turned out to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory and resulted in NBA MVP LeBron James winning his first title with the Miami Heat. Favourites to retain their title the Heat are the team to beat which has led to significant player movements around the other prime contenders. My season preview will be split into two parts: Eastern and Western Conferences. I decided to base the previews around their sport betting regular season win totals from sportsbook.ag and choosing whether they win OVER that amount of games or UNDER that amount. A fun way to look at the games as well as giving some advice to those readers who like to have a wee dabble at gambling.

Atlanta Hawks- 42.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 5th in Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: PG Devin Harris, PG/SG Lou Williams.

Key Losses: SG Joe Johnson, SF Marvin Williams.

Best Players: Al Horford, Josh Smith.

Things to like: Have one of the best forward duo's in the NBA- Al Horford and Josh Smith. Better scoring depth then previous years. Brought in great scoring options off the bench in Lou Williams and Devin Harris. Got rid of Joe Johnson and his $90 million contract.

Things to be concerned about: The loss of Johnson leaves the back court weak on the defensive end. Josh Smith in a contract year could lead to more ill-advised 18 foot shots from him.

My Pick: OVER. Not sure why this team is rated so low this year by the bookies. They may actually be better this year with a stronger overall team. Horford and Smith are going to make this team competitive with almost any team. I see them reaching 50 wins again. They have already beaten the defending Western Conference champions Thunder away this season. Point guard Jeff Teague had this monster dunk over Kevin Durant in the game. This will be an exciting team to watch for a change.

Brooklyn Nets- 44.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 12th in Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: SG Joe Johnson.

Best Players: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace.

Things to like: Johnson and PG Deron Williams form perhaps the best back court in the NBA. They have cool uniforms. They have a new hi-tech stadium to play in as well.

Things to be concerned about: Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries make a very weak starting front court who will struggle against the best teams. The contracts of Williams and Johnson tie them down for the foreseeable future. If these two don't play well this team is in serious trouble.

My Pick: OVER. This team has received a boost from the move to Brooklyn from New Jersey this year from a team which has been historically bad. Both Williams and Johnson are top 5 in their respective positions and this should result in them getting around the 50 win range also. I do have reservations about the long term future of the term due to their ages and the size of their contracts however.

Boston Celtics- 51.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: Eastern Conference Runners Up.

Key Acquisitions: SG Jason Terry, SG Courtney Lee, C Jared Sullinger.

Key Losses: SG Ray Allen

Best Players: Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce.

Things to like: The acquisition of Terry is an upgrade over Allen, he's younger and he's able to create his own shot.  Deeper team then last year. Should score more this year which was their weakness last year.

Things to be concerned about: Health is the biggest issue. Garnett and Pierce aren't getting any older. Avery Bradley is coming back from a serious knee injury and Jeff Green had heart surgery.

My Pick: OVER. This team is easily the second best team in the East this year. If Garnett can continue to anchor the defensive end they will have more scoring options to combat the Heat this year.

Charlotte Bobcats-19.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: Worst record in the NBA

Key Acquisitions: SG Ben Gordon, SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, PG Ramon Sessions

Key Losses: None but they had nothing to lose in the first place.

Things to like: They will probably be in the favourite to get the No 1. pick in next years draft. Unfortunately they were in the same position last year and failed to get it.

Things to be concerned about: They are bad, really bad.

My Pick: UNDER. I'm betting this team will have the worst record again in the entire NBA, they just don't have the talent to compete. It's going to be another long year for the fan base.

Chicago Bulls-48 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: No. 1 in the Eastern Conference after regular season.

Key Acquisitions: None

Key Losses: PG CJ Watson, SG John Lucas III, C Omer Asik, SG Kyle Korver

Best Players: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng.

Things to like: They have one of the best coaches in the NBA. Tom Thibodeau will keep them competitive until Rose gets back from his injury.

Things to be concerned about: Rose is out till January so somebody has to pick up the scoring he produces. They lost Asik, Watson and Lucas who were an effective bench. Their lack of explosiveness is a concern.

My Pick: UNDER. This team was the second best team last year in the East until Rose blew his knee out right at the end of the regular season. They are going to struggle to even make the playoffs this year with out a healthy Rose. The rest of the squad is not very good offensively. I'm expecting around 42-43 wins this year. If Rose can return healthy though I think they can get around 48 wins.

Cleveland Cavaliers-30.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 13th in the Eastern Conference

Key Acquisitions: SG Dion Waiters, C Tyler Zeller.

Key Losses: None.

Best Players: PG Kyrie Irving, C Anderson Varejao

Things to like: In Irving they have one of the up and coming superstars of the NBA. They will be one of the most exciting teams to watch.

Things to be concerned about: Very young and unlikely to make the playoffs. Waiters was a suspect pick in this years draft for such a high pick. There isn't much scoring other then Irving.

My Pick: OVER. I like this young team, there are no expectations on them as they are still a couple of years away from competing but they are talented enough to be competitive in almost every matchup. I like them winning 34-36 games this year as long as Irving stays healthy.

Detroit Pistons-31.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: PF Andre Drummond.

Key Losses: SG Ben Gordon.

Best Players: PG Rodney Stuckey, C Greg Monroe.

Things to like: Drummond and Monroe have the ability to be a solid front court in the future. They got rid of Ben Gordon's atrocious contract.

Things to be concerned about: GM Joe Dumars has put together one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NBA right now. No identity as a team and not one true star.

My Pick: UNDER. This team will be one of the worst this year despite players like Monroe. They invested in the wrong players and are still a year away from being competitive. This will be a long year for the team. 23-25 wins I predict.

Indiana Pacers-50.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 3rd in the Eastern Conference

Key Acquisitions: PG DJ Augustin, C Ian Mahinmi

Key Losses: PG Darren Collison.

Best Players: SF Danny Granger, C Roy Hibbert, PF David West, SG Paul George.

Things to like: They have a deep team of above average players. Play with tenacity and won't back down to no team. Came close to beating the Heat in the playoffs last year so they have the belief that they can go all the way. Paul George and George Hill are a strong and talented backcourt.

Things to be concerned about: Centre Roy Hibbert is overated. Was given a max deal this offseason only because of the lack of centres in the league. They lose Collison is was an underrated point guard and bought in Augustin to replace him which is a significant downgrade.

My Pick: UNDER. For me this a classic over hyped team who over achieved last year and is due for a drop. I thought this even before their best player, Danny Granger was announced to have tendinitis in his knee and will be out for three months. This team is going to make the playoffs but they aren't going to win 50 games like many fans are expecting. Somewhere in the 46-48 range for me.

Miami Heat- 61.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: NBA Champions. 2nd in the Eastern Conference after the regular season.

Key Acquisitions: SG Ray Allen, PF Rashard Lewis.

Key Losses: none

Best Players: SF LeBron James, SG Dwayne Wade, PF Chris Bosh.

Things to like: Now that LeBron finally won a title I think the pressure is off them. They know who they are as a team and that will result in more confidence with in themselves. Ray Allen provides a perfect complimentary piece. He can just sit in the corners and wait for LeBron and Wade to collapse defences, leaving him open for easy 3's.

Things to be concerned about: Health would be the only issue. Wade missed a lot of time last year but seems to be healthy this year. Wing players Battier, Miller and Allen need to stay healthy otherwise this team becomes exclusively the LeBron/Wade show and that's not a good thing.

My Pick: OVER. An easy pick here, this line should be five wind higher. With Wade back healthy this year and LeBron in his absolute prime we are going to see a dominating year for this team. They are going to be incredibly hard to beat this year and are favoured to defend their title.

Milwaukee Bucks-37.5 OVER/UNDER

Previous years record: 9th in the Eastern Conference

Key Acquisitions: C Samuel Dalembert

Key Losses: none

Best Players: PG Brandon Jennings, SG Monte Ellis.

Things to like: Will be more exciting this year with Jennings and Ellis shooting. Dalembert provides a solid defensive presence in the paint.

Things to be concerned about: Both Ellis and Jennings are both shoot first and shoot second players. They need the ball in their hands to be effective. Both are in contract years so they will be fighting for the ball to show they are worth a max contract.

My Pick: UNDER. This team has the talent to be a playoff team but I think this could be one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NBA. Their two best players are selfish and erratic. Coach Scott Skiles could be one the first to be fired this season. I think they will have a so-so year with around 35 wins.

New York Knicks- 46.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record:

Key Acquisitions: PG Jason Kidd, PG Raymond Felton

Key Losses: PG Jeremy Lin

Best Players: SF Carmelo Anthony, C Tyson Chandler.

Things to like: Chandler's defence and Carmelo's scoring will keep them competitive. Jason Kidd could help change the 'me first' culture in the side.

Things to be concerned about: Melo and JR Smith are incredibly selfish. Amare Stoudamire is injured again and Jason Kidd is 60 years old. How are they going to work as a team.

My Pick: UNDER. I just don't like the make up of this team. Their best player seems unwilling to share the ball and make his team mates better. Amare is the white elephant in the room, they just can't unload that horrendous contract of his. This team is always going to be rated because they are the Knicks but there lack of depth and cohesion will be their downfall. 45 wins looks likely to me.

Orlando Magic-24.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 6th in the Eastern Conference

Key Acquisitions: SG Arron Afflalo, PF Al Harrington, PF/C Nikola Vucevic

Key Losses: C Dwight Howard, SF Ryan Anderson

Best Players: Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Afflalo.

Things to like: Despite losing Howard they are still talented enough to compete. A team full of solid, but not spectacular NBA veterans.

Things to be concerned about: Losing Howard was a killer. They aren't quite bad enough to tank and be into the running for the No.1 pick in next years draft but not good enough to make the playoffs. Stuck in the middle- the worst position for an NBA team.

My Pick: OVER. Since the Howard trade occurred people automatically assumed the Magic would become the worst team in the NBA. However they have a lot of veteran talent that will see them competing regularly. It depends on how they start. If they are competitive early I see them winning over 30 games. If they start poorly though I see them trading away players and tanking to get a high pick in next years draft.

Philadelphia 76ers-47.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 8th in the Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: C Andrew Bynum, SG Jason Richardson, SF Dorrell Wright.

Key Losses: SF Andre Iguodala, PG/SG Lou Williams, PF/C Nikola Vucevic

Best Players: Bynum, PG Jrue Holliday, SG Evan Turner.

Things to like: A team who realised in their current state they had reached their ceiling they made the Andrew Bynum for Iguodala trade. The 2nd best centre in the NBA gives the 76ers a real shot of competing in the East.

Things to be concerned about: Acquiring Bynum also has its risks though. The state of his knees are a big problem, he has yet to play a game. The loss of scoring guard Lou Williams is also a blow. Instead they brought in one of the most selfish shooting guards in the league in Nick Young to take his place. That can't be good.

My Pick: UNDER. This teams future depends entirely on Bynum's knees. If he is healthy then they can win over 50 games easily. But he isn't healthy and the timetable for his return is uncertain. I think this team is going to struggle to make the playoffs without him. I see 41-44 wins for the 76ers.

Toronto Raptors-32.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 11th in the Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: PG Kyle Lowry, SF Landry Fields.

Key Losses: none

Best Players: Lowry, SF DeMar DeRozan, PF/C Andrea Bargnani.

Things to like: Acquring Lowry was a fantastic move for Toronto. He is an explosive all-round player who will make the entire team better.

Things to be concerned about: The lack of talent around Lowry is a concern. Lithuanian rookie centre Jonas Valanciunas is promising but young and may not contribute much this year. Also the fact that they gave a max contract to DeRozan in the offseason. This despite the fact that no other team would have given him close to that amount raises more questions about the management of this team.

My Pick: OVER. I think this team has the potential to fight for a playoff spot this year. Kyle Lowry is the key to this. Without him this team is very average-just like it has been for the last couple of years. I see them winning 34-36 wins.

Washington Wizards-29.5 OVER/UNDER WINS

Previous years record: 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Key Acquisitions: C Emeka Okafor, SF Trevor Ariza.

Key Losses: none

Best Players: PG John Wall, C Nene.

Things to like: On paper they look like a solid mix of young talent and veterans. Nene and Okafor would be a solid front court if healthy.

Things to be concerned about: Their may not be a team managed so poorly in the league then the Wizards. Poor signings and a losing/immature culture within the team as led to continually poor seasons. John Wall needs to translate his immense physical gifting's into wins. Injuries are probably the biggest problem though. Both Wall and Nene are struggling with nagging injuries and will be limited for the start of the season. Also Trevor Ariza is one of the worst SF's in the game.

My Pick: UNDER. John Wall is not healthy and I personally don't believe he is an All Star calibre player. Coach randy Wittman is on a short leash and maybe the first coach to be fired. Another lottery bound 20 win season awaits unfortunately.

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Peace.

Photo sourced from flagship.com

Resurgent Highlanders- Changing Coach is Changing the Culture.

There is nothing more frustrating as a fan of a team then seeing year in and year out of poor results combined with bad management decisions that perpetuate that losing culture. So when an obvious 'told you so!' move is made which turns things around quickly it's even more infuriating for me at least. Jamie Joseph's appointment as Otago Highlanders coach is one of those moves for me. After years of struggles for the franchise on and off the field the Highlanders are looking on the up.

Ten years ago the Otago Highlanders were one of the very best teams in the then Super 12 competition. Over a stretch of five years (1998-2002) they reached the semi finals three times and the finals once- losing to the Crusaders. Over that time the Highlanders had a wealth of talented players and All Blacks- Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft, Carl Hayman, Kees Meeuws, Taine Randall, Byron Kelleher, Tony Brown, Pita Alatini and Jeff Wilson made the team formidable and tough to beat especially at their home ground Carisbrook- The House of Pain.

However once these players left or retired the wheels fell off the Highlanders. They have had the worst record amongst the New Zealand Super Franchises in the past decade failing to make the playoffs once. Players didn't want to play for the team and there has been a lack of talent being developed in Otago and Southland. Both rugby unions have struggled financially which has had a direct impact on the resources it could put into player development. This has been perpetuated in the fact they have failed to attract top players from around the country to play for the franchise. The past five years have seen the Highlanders become the team where castoffs of the other NZ franchises went to play.

Jamie Joseph's appointment as coach in July 2010 has been a  fresh of breath air for the franchise. His results before joining the Highlanders were good as he led the Wellington NPC team to back to back titles 2008-2009. He brought with him an expansive way of playing which was exciting for players. It's also more appealing for fans and attracts people to attend games- the number one objective for a professional sports team.

Plodding forward oriented rugby has been shown to be an antiquated strategy in the modern game. The rules of the game have meant the ability to score tries is the key. People from the deep south of the country pride themselves on being 'purists' of the game. Where hard work and gritty determination, not talent and athleticism produces wins. Where kicking penalties and strong defence are the recipe for success.  The arrival of professional rugby to the shores of New Zealand has meant that the game has evolved in a short space of time to the extent that players have to be full time athletes. You can't be just big and work hard you have to be able to do everything- run, pass, offload. In this sense I feel Otago and Southland Rugby Unions are behind the eight ball. Just look at the All Blacks who have come from the them in the past five years- Jimmy Cowan, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson. A small list for a region who have produced some of the best players in our game.

There must be something about Joseph as a coach because he is attracting some good players to move down to Dunedin to play for him. In the past two years he has managed to assemble a solid mixture of veteran and youth. Last year he brought Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore and up and coming half-back Aaron Smith with him. This off season he has managed to convince current All Blacks Tony Woodcock and Ma'a Nonu to leave the Blues and move down south. He's also convinced the ageing dual-code legend Brad Thorn to come and play for him. There will have twelve current or former All Blacks on the squad next year.

Despite finishing ninth in last years Super 15 competition they were competitive throughout the season. There is a lot of optimism for the upcoming season and so there should be. It's amazing how quickly a team can be turned around and made competitive again with the right leadership and coaching. It maybe too hasty to say that the Highlanders are playoff bound this year but at least they will be relevant. Considering how the team has fared over the past decade it's a step in the right direction. Now all they need is a first five who doesn't have a glass jaw....

Photo sourced from ort.co.nz

Sports Clippings- Entertaining Stuff from the Sporting World

SPEEDO COPS! (If haven't heard of it, this sums it up quite nicely)

Now that I got your attention Here's some interesting sports related things I came across the last couple of weeks that you may enjoy.

• My only Kenyan follower requested more Football posts. I will be releasing a Football focused post later this week but for now here are two great goals you may have missed. The first is from Dutch player Rafael Van Der Vaart playing for HSV in Germany. A shame about the music I know.

• And then there is this ridiculous goal from Palermo (that's in Italy for those who don't know) striker Fabrizio Miccoli-

• The All Black rugby team as many of you know are currently on pace to beat the world record for most consecutive wins. Maybe it comes down to a little known speech from 'That Guy' several years ago which made them realise that the game of ruby is very simple.

• The NBA season is fast approaching us. Media day last week produced some hilarious looks from players. Check this blog by The Score. Even if your not a basketball fan you will still have a good laugh at these photos.

• American Football maybe the most confusing name for those not from the US. This German DJ sums it up really well actually:

• I wish we had this problem with NZ rugby when it came to season ticket owners- it would be an indication that the game would be worth going to for a change.

Worst play of the NFL season

Now you may think- he just fractured his foot(which happened) he must be in extreme pain. Holmes though forcefully throws the ball away, it takes MORE effort to throw the ball away the way he did rather than hold onto it before a defensive player touched him. For me this sums up the WR so well, as his is selfishness and immaturity is well known. It's one of the reasons why the Pittsburgh Steelers got rid of him despite being the Super Bowl MVP in 2008.

Cross-Sports Moment of the Week(CSMW))

Most pro golfers haven't made a putt this long. Swimming super star landed this monster shot last week. Fluke or just naturally athletically gifted?

Hope you enjoyed this.

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Indecent Non-Exposure- How the use of Child Labour by Canterbury Clothing has gone largely unnoticed in New Zealand.

After a year-long investigation, a report released lastweek by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Bevan Doherty, revealed that two sports apparel companies have been using child labour to stitch balls together for a dollar a day.  Canterbury Clothing Company, one of New Zealand's best-known clothing labels, is one of the companies named, yet has anyone seen an article about this on a New Zealand media website to date?

 The Sydney Morning Herald is owned by Fairfax News Media.  Fairfax also owns many of New Zealand's print and online 'newspapers'. I discovered this story because of the furore on Australian media websites last week.  The other company involved, Sherrin, is undergoing a lot of scrutiny in Australia and has already lost credibility.

 Established in Christchurch in 1904, Canterbury Clothing Company is now a global sports apparel leader. It sponsors numerous professional rugby teams around the world, the NZ Warriors rugby league team and recently has ventured into sponsoring  Portsmouth football club in England. It’s global recognition came from the time when it sponsored the All Blacks, which it did until 1999.  The majority of CCC manufacturing is done overseas now but the company’s image is still closely linked with New Zealand.  The logo depicts three Kiwis for goodness sake! Surely  the fact that some of its products have been produced by  illegal child labour should warrant some coverage and scrutiny from the mainstream news media in NZ?

There are several parties involved who may have directly or indirectly had an impact on this becoming a non-story in New Zealand.

CCC

The most obvious would be the company itself.  If the NZ media really focused on this story as much as their Australian counterparts did then CCC would have to fight hard to maintain its brand image. Sherrin,  who produce the official ball for Australian Rules Football, are dealing with the possibility of losing those rights and the subsequent loss of revenue.  If the media chose to pick this up in New Zealand what would the reaction be?  What would be the ramifications in terms of lost sales and negative impact on the CCC brand?  In terms of sponsorship, no other sports apparel company  invests as much into the NZ sport scene at all levels of competition.

According to a message on their website, from  Canterbury Global CEO Chris Stephenson the company is concerned about these allegations:

       "We are extremely concerned about recent media claims of child labour in connection with the      production of Canterbury-branded sports products in India.

  We take this claim very seriously and have launched a thorough investigation. We are committed to responsible business practices and we expressly prohibit child labour. The welfare of our employees, and those employed by all of our suppliers, is extremely important to us."

 An internal investigation is occurring as a result.  But when was the last time the NZ media left a company to do internal investigations?  Where is the accountability?

Media

The lack of coverage on such a relevant story in New Zealand is the most mystifying part of this whole situation.

Is it because they believe that the New Zealand public wouldn’t find a story about child labour relevant?  Considering the increasing demand for ethically made goods in NZ, I would say people do care about this issue.  Social enterprises like Fair Trade, Trade Aid and Freeset have brand recognition in NZ which wasn’t there a decade ago.  The NZ public also show their concern for global human rights with their money. Recent studies have shown that individual Kiwis are some of the most generous financial givers to charities in the world. Many people would at least know someone who sponsors a child through World Vision.

Is it because these kinds of stories don’t sell advertising, their main source of revenue that the media sites aren’t running them?  Maybe.  But when did news media sites in NZ become solely about producing entertaining articles?  Is it the fact that New Zealand media are spread too thin and therefore busy trying to fulfil the public’s insatiable desire for entertainment?

Another way of looking at it is what do they have to lose if they published this story?  It certainly wouldn’t be credibility.

Consumers

Or is it us, the consumers?  Are we more excited by media outlets producing entertaining stories than actual news?  Is it the same people who do World Vision 40hr Famines who made an article about  an eel stuck up a man’s backside the most-read article on the NZ Herald website for three days straight last week (I'm not linking it sorry)?  Are we afraid of knowing the truth- is ignorance bliss when it comes to understanding how the products we are consuming were made?  Would we be bound to act on that knowledge once we had it?  In NZ it seems far too easy to hide yourself away from issues which are a reality only halfway across the world or even in our own waters...

There are evidently people in New Zealand who do care about social and ethical issues.  Do they even visit NZ media sites anymore? Why do people have to rely on overseas media sites such as The Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald to cover issues like this?  Maybe the majority of them are overseas with the ‘brain drain’?

Government

The Government have the ability to make this a pressing issue in NZ society right now.  Officially, the NZ Government are against child labour they signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child in 1990.Article 32 of the convention addressed child labour, as follows:

 " ...Parties recognise the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development."

So why wouldn’t they speak up about something which they are supposedly opposed to?  Do governments have too much to lose if the public becomes well-informed about supply chains, imports, taxes and the like?  In 2009 the National Party and the Act Party, still the current government, opposed an amendment to the Customs and Excise Bill which would ban imports of slave-made products into New Zealand.  Their reason for not supporting it was that New Zealand’s existing legislation was sufficient to prevent such importation.  The time to use that legislation may be at hand.  Will we see the government stand up for the supposed ideals it aspires to in this country?  Is it just too close to an election year?  

The issue of International Fishing companies treating their labourers illegally in NZ waters is already a talking point in society, why isn’t it the fact that a NZ company has been doing the same thing offshore?  This story deserves to be given more time and attention than what is has received in NZ media so far.  We are viewed around the world as a progressive nation when it comes to respecting human rights and protecting those who can’t speak up for themselves.  Should we be taking an honest look at our companies, our media, our government and ourselves?  What more can we do to combat injustice in the world?

So will this be the first article on the subject to be published on a New Zealand news domain?

 I sent it to Stuff.co.nz so we will have to wait and see. (Editor note: the article was published, with subtle editing which dulled down the message of the poor job the media have done. Check it out here if you want, like it or share it to friends if you want to but I feel this version is better).

If you really want to see these sorts of stories published in our media news sites I implore you to send this post to your friends and family members. The media is going to cover what the public want and the Government will act when the public voices their concern. Help by making this an issue worthy of front page news in New Zealand by spreading the news. 

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Photo sourced from theage.com.au

About B*!!*y Time! NFL and Ref's Reach Agreement!

I love it when you write a report on a particular situation, it gets published in a New Zealand media site with your name incorrect and then a couple of hours later a development makes that report obsolete. Well this happened to me yesterday when I wrote an article on the current contract negotiations between the NFL and referees. Later that day it was announced that they had indeed reached an agreement and they will officiate NFL games starting today. This article deals more with aftermath of the agreement and the impact it has on the league and the owners specifically.

After a needless year long contract stand off between the NFL and the NFL Referee Association an agreement was finally reached yesterday. The result comes as a relief to all those involved in the league after the debacle that's transpired in the first 3 weeks of the regular season. Replacement ref's from Division III  College football and the Lingerie Football League (not kidding, look it up, just not on the work computer) have instead officiated and the results were disastrous. The ref's were shown to be well out of their depth. Their calls have consistently inconsistent and they have allowed themselves to be bullied by coaches and players. Yet the NFL and the referee association showed no urgency to compromise and get a deal done while the NFL became a breeding ground of anger and frustration.

 It took the now infamous 'inaccurate reception' play last Monday, which cost the Packers a win, for both sides to realise that enough damage had been done. All the frustration from players and fans boiled over after the game and the owners could no longer ignore the fact that they needed to settle the dispute now. The owners relented to most of the referees demands. They now have some of the best part-time positions in the world right now, working a quarter of the year and getting paid on average US $150,000 plus pension benefits. The ironic thing is that these ref's are seen as saviours when in reality these ref's have made plenty of bad decisions in the past. It won't take long for people to start complaining about poor performances form these ref's. At least they won't put up with the bullying tactics from coaches or players.

The sad thing about this whole situation is the great hypocrisy and arrogance that the owners have shown in the whole process. They have consistently said that the integrity of the game is one of their top priorities. Yet their unwillingness and stubbornness to pay the ref's a comparatively measly sum of roughly $50 million dollars over eight years has really confirmed that it's business first, integrity second for the owners. It's not like the NFL is currently in hard times, it makes $3 billion each year on broadcasting rights alone, not to mention ticket sales and merchandise. 

If history shows us the NFL has to be very careful with how they treat their product and their consumers. It's the most popular sport in America right now but for how long? Major League Baseball was the most popular sport in America for the majority of the 20th Century and the National Basketball Association dominated the 80's and 90's. Yet both have made way for the NFL in the first decade of the 21st century as the most lucrative sport in the USA. The reason it has become so popular is because the games themselves are managed professionally and with minimal outside influences. The inept performances of the replacement referees raised genuine concerns that the game would be vulnerable to match fixing if they continued to officiate. Both the MLB and NBA have dealt with match fixing scandals in the past which has tainted the leagues significantly. 

This whole saga has, in the short term, affected the reputation of the NFL. It may still affect the league in the long term, especially if the owners continue to focus on monetary gains and not the integrity of the game. Fans of sports won't put up with it forever, they will just move onto another sport. Just look at the 'sport' of Boxing. Corruption and match fixing along with the governing bodies unwilling to tackle these issues sincerely as resulted in it becoming marginalised and irrelevant. I'm hoping the NFL doesn't go the same way.

A couple of interesting statistics from the past week to finish off-

• The touchdown call on Monday affected more then just Green Bays win total. According to sports-betting website pregame.com almost $150 million was lost by punters worldwide who gambled on the Packers to win, a $300 million swing altogether in favour of the bookies. With such inconsistency in the replacement ref's decisions it's not unreasonable to think that somebody would try to fix a result if they had continued to officiate. It would be very difficult to identify whether a call was due to match fixing or incompetence.

• Not one player has been ejected from a game so far- the replacement ref's just didn't have control of the games and it showed in the amount of scuffles after plays. Expect this to be dealt with by the 'real' ref's immediately.

• Last week was the first time that quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have all lost in the same week. It really goes to show how crazy the start of this season has been.

Great sporting moments-Maradona's goal vs England

When you think of brilliant individual sports moments which turn a game, you have to include Maradona's goal vs England in 1986. It was, in fact, voted by fans as the "Goal of the Century" on FIFA.com in 2002. It remains, 10 years on, the defining moment of his career, the moment where a plucky 5"5 Argentinian took on half the England team and won.

The 1986 World Cup quarter final was hanging in the balance at the start of the second half when Maradona shocked England by scoring two goals in 4mins. His first was the infamous "Hand of God" where he blatantly used his hand to punch the ball into the net. The second, though, was legitimately a masterpiece...

Receiving the ball 60m away from the goal, Maradona proceeded to out-dribble and juke around six English players to score. The ease with which he runs around the English is astounding, it almost looks like he's on a fast-forward setting, compared to the rest of the players. In today's game, this play would never have happened due to the physical nature of the game.  Therefore, this goal will stand alone as the best single run of all time.


Argentina would eventually win the match 2-1 and would go on to win the tournament. Maradona won the best player of the tournament award and would become known as one of the Top 5 greatest football players, ever. Nothing was more instrumental in his becoming a football legend than this goal.

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Real Deal or Mirage- Are NFL teams Displaying or Masking their True Colours?

The great thing about the NFL is that, on average, 5-6 new teams make the playoffs each year.  This year, teams who were expected to win are struggling and teams seemingly destined to mediocrity are exceeding expectations. The first two weeks of the season are always the time of big upsets and over hyping average teams who start well.  So I wanted to have a look at the most intriguing teams so far and breakdown whether they will continue on the path that they seem to be setting or whether it's just a mirage.

San Francisco 49ers 
Record: 2-0

Many (including myself) expected that the 49ers would take a step back this year, after their breakout 13-3 season, last year. Well, they sure proved that notion wrong after beating fellow playoff favourites Green Bay and Detroit  in a convincing fashion over the last two weeks.  The defence is stifling and downright nasty. With leaders like Patrick Willis it creates ample turnovers. The run game is also dominating oppositions right now which allows them to control the clock. Even though their Quarterback, Alex Smith,  is not a dynamic player, he doesn't turn over the ball, which is key.  The only way teams are going to beat them is getting ahead of them and forcing them to throw.

Outlook- They are the best team in the NFL, they are an early contender to be the the NFC champions..

Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 2-0
Despite turning the ball over nine times in their first two games the Eagles have somehow won both.  You can only run on luck for so long though.  Head Coach Andy Reid is known for assembling talented teams who are madly inconsistent.  He is also a very stubborn coach when it comes to play calling, to the detriment of the team.  The best example of this is that he continually allows QB Mike Vick to throw and expose his brittle body to hits like this one when he has one of the best running backs in the NFL in LeSean 'Shady' McCoy. This week's game away against the red-hot Cardinals will be another hard game for the Eagles, especially with the mounting injuries amongst their Offensive line.

Outlook:  There is no way Vick can stay healthy for the full season considering the frequency with which he is being hit.  When he misses games the Eagles are really going to struggle to compete and I see them missing the playoffs, especially being in the competitive NFC East division.

Atlanta Falcons 
Record: 2-0

No team was more hyped to have a successful season than the Falcons after the preseason games.  After relying on a conservative run game over the past four years, they have decided to become a passing team and the results have been promising.  Having beaten the hapless Chiefs, away, they beat a good Broncos team at home.  QB Matt Ryan is looking great, passing to perhaps the best wide receiver duo in Roddy White and Julio Jones.  The defence also looks solid.  Another challenge awaits them this week as they travel to face the 2-0 Chargers.  This will be a good litmus test for both teams to see whether they are legit playoff prospects this year.  I think the Falcons are a better team though and I expect them to come away with the win.

Outlook: With their rivals The Saints struggling, the Falcons should be considered favourites to win the NFC South.  The defence needs to be more consistent but the signs are looking good for the Falcons to do well this year.

New Orleans Saints
Record: 0-2

The Saints had the worst off season possible with the 'Bounty Gate' scandal which resulted in their head coach and offensive coordinator being banned for one year and 8 games respectively. This has really showed in the first to games, losing both games and looking nothing like the team that won the Super Bowl only three season ago. The defence is the main issue as they can't stop the pass or the run right now, conceding a combined 75 points in both games. With Drew Brees commanding the offence they will stay competitive but he can't do it all himself.

Outlook: The Saints will improve and will be competitive all year long but I think the loss of head coach Sean Payton has been underestimated and this team is going to struggle to make the playoffs. Their defence is just not good enough to stop anybody- pure and simple.

Arizona Cardinals
Record: 2-0

The biggest surprise of the season so far.  Nobody expected the Cardinals to win their  two opening games, they are now 9-2 since last season, thanks to their elite defence and special team's play. The win against the Patriots was even more remarkable because the Cardinals offence was atrocious, yet they still won.  Not enough  media coverage is being given to just how bad the offence is, especially their offensive line and QB. Kevin Kolb is a horrendous QB and it's a real shame as they have arguably the greatest WR in the NFL right now, Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals gained  a measly 7 first downs in total, as opposed to the Patriots 17, for instance.  Their defence will have to contain the opposition to less then 20 points if this team has any chance of winning.

Outlook: The defence keeps them competitive but this team can't score and in a QB dominated league, that just doesn't cut it these days. I can't see them making the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 0-2

The complete opposite to the Cardinals are the Chiefs who are the most disappointing team so far, in the entire NFL. A sneaky pick to win the AFC West, they have been blown out in both their games by a combined 34 points. They were supposed to have a Top 5 defence as well as an elite rushing attack, both have been extremely disappointing. To be honest, the writing was on the wall for another bad season when they hired defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to the full head coaching role. Crennel was previously fired as the Browns head coach, never a good sign. The defence can't continue to allow the opposition to score early as the offence is not designed to come from behind.

Outlook:  There is too much talent on this team for it to not compete and I see them bouncing back. If they don't improve soon though I don't think Crennel is going to last very long as head coach.

New England Patriots
Record: 1-1

Last weeks result vs the Cardinals was the first opening day loss at home since 2001, when a little known reserve QB called Tom Brady took over after an injury to Drew Bledsoe. The rest of course is history.  The Patriots had an off day, where they were simply out coached and the players executed poorly. The funny thing is that it's not there defence, perhaps the worst in the league last year, that is the problem as they improved markedly. The offensive line, a strength last year, has suffered from retirements and injuries and is not giving Brady enough time in the pocket to find open receivers. The most concerning thing however, is the offensive play calling from coordinator Josh McDaniels. The running game has been a strength of the team this season but he is stubbornly calling a lot of passing plays. This along with his refusal to utilise Wes Welker, an All Pro receiver last year, makes you wonder whether he is the right man for the job.

Outlook: The coaches need to realise that with the OL playing so poorly that they need to run the ball more to relieve the pressure on Brady. The defence is seriously improved from last year so they don't have to rely on their offence to win games. This team is still one of the best in the NFL, they just have to play to the strengths, not the previous years ones.

San Diego Chargers
Record: 2-0

Over the past decade the Chargers are hyped to go far every season but have traditionally struggle early on and then at tail end of the season a flurry of wins allows them to squeak into the playoffs. So it's with irony that this year, when their is less hype on them, is the year they start with two emphatic wins. The defence looks strong and their QB Philip Rivers isn't turning the ball over like he did last year. To me this is a mirage. The two teams they played, the Raiders and Titans, look likely to be two of the worst teams this year. We should get a better indication of how good this team really is when they play the Falcons this week and I this certainly won't be easy for them

Outlook: I think their start is fools gold and they will undoubtedly face stronger opposition. When they do their weaknesses at offensive line and running back will be exposed big time. I still think the Denver Broncos are the better team in the division.

What NFL teams do you think are showing or not showing their true colours so far?

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Photo sourced from sports.yahoo.com