Hey guys, the Autistic Sports Nerd here!
Things are getting chaotic. I have begun my duty as the Tangerine Sports Editor and my internship at the Observer Dispatch.
More importantly, things are getting chaotic in the world of sports.
NFL
The Jets rally but fall short against the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. The Packers went into Soldier Field and defeated their arch-rivals, the Bears. This sets up a Steelers-Packers Super Bowl 45 match-up in Dallas.
It should be a great game as both teams have good offenses and defenses Ben Roethlisberger missed the first four games of the regular-season due to suspension but Pittsburgh was able to win three of those games and continued going strong when Big Ben returned. They are now in the Super Bowl.
Aaron Rodgers, who hasn't won a playoff game prior to this season, has led the Packers to a second half of the season surge and they are now in the Super Bowl. Who do I like?
This one should come down to the wire. I know Pittsburgh has players that have been in this situation and succeeded before but I am going to pick the Packers. When their offense is on, and it usually is, they are dangerous. Their great defense is overshadowed because of how great their offense is. Their secondary can shut-down even the best of offenses.
Packers-24
Steelers-20
By the way, like every year, the Pro Bowl was horrible. There is a rule that bans defenses from blitzing. Seriously? I know they are trying to prevent injuries from occurring but can they at least let the defenses play? These high-scoring All-Star games are ridicules. You might as well have no defensive players on the field. It seems that fan who ran out onto the field was showing more effort than the NFC/AFC defenses but that's not a knock against them. It's the foolish Pro-Bowl rules.
I will say that I am glad that they play the Pro Bowl a week before the Super Bowl rather than the week after like they used to do. It gives us something to watch while we wait for Super Bowl Sunday, although not one person I know including me ever looks forward to watching the Pro Bowl.
And Speaking of Hi-Scoring All-Star Games
NHL ALL Star Games
Goal after Goal after Goal. The game was in slow motion. I am well aware that players don't want to get injured during the All-Star game but that was brutal to watch. During the Skills Competition, it was funny seeing the goalies in full gear participating in the fastest skater competition.
Cam Ward was participating in an interview while playing in goal at the same time. What a multi-tasker!
How about Henrik Lundqvist making the save off of Duncan Keith on the first ever All-Star game Penalty shot?
11-10 final score? That's a hi-scoring baseball score, not a hockey score. The Team Lidstrom/Team Stall idea where the two captains choose their own players in a draft was a unique idea. I'll give the NHL a lot of credit for trying something new. It was cool seeing two of the three Stall brothers play together on one team.
WWE
Alberto Del Rio wins the Royal Rumble just like how I hoped and predicted. It was cool to see Kevin Nash making a surprise return and portraying the Diesel character again and it was great to see Booker T. back as well.
I think the two Wrestle-mania 27 Main events will be The Miz vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship and Alberto Del Rio vs. Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship with Del Rio winning the gold.
NCAA Basketball
Syracuse is sliding down faster than I do when I play Chutes and Ladders. Three bad losses in a row to inferior Big East teams, especially the one to Seton Hall at home.
How about St. John's upsetting #3 Duke by 25 at the Garden? Man, things are getting chaotic in College basketball.
UC Hockey
A big congratulations to the UC Men's Hockey team for sweeping Hobart in two crucial conference games at the AUD this past weekend. Hobart was the hottest team in the nation going into last weekend's pair of games as they had won 10 of their previous 11 games. UC dominated both games and won all three games against the Statesmen for the first time in the history of the program.
Congratulations to Tim Coffman who earned his 100th career point this weekend.
It's a home and home weekend at Manhattanville. On Friday, we go to Rye Playland, not to ride the Dragon Coaster, but to hopefully get another big conference win. I hope my family is able to make it since it's just 15 minutes from where I live.
In non-related news, I will be returning to Pool-Pals this semester after all, as a pool-side assistant.
Brett Favre: Autistic Sports Nerd, you said you would retire at the end of last semester. You made an emotional facebook status while announcing it. Now you are coming back again so suddenly? You are a liar and a diva!
Autistic Sports Nerd: Eh, whatever.
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Autistic Sports Nerd #81
Hey guys, the Autistic Sports Nerd here!
I don't like to brag but I'll do it anyway.
Last weekend, I went 4-0 in my NFL Divisional picks. I have also picked seven out of eight total picks right in the playoffs so far. If you guys need any advice on how to pick playoff games, let me know and I can help you out. haha
For the third playoff game in a row, Tom Brady gets shut down by a great defense. The Patriots lit up 45 points on the Jets during their last regular season game but when it came to playoff time, that's when the Jets defense stepped up. The Patriots have yet to win a playoff game since losing the Super Bowl to the Giants.
The Jets meanwhile will play in the AFC Championship game for the second consecutive year. The last two times the Jets have been in the AFC Championship game (1998 at Denver, last year at Indy) they went up by two possessions but lost both times.
They will be facing the Steelers this year, who performed an impressive feat. They were down by 14 to Baltimore at halftime as I was pondering if halftime meant it was too late to change my pick. Good thing I didn't because the Steelers rallied to win the game. Baltimore has always been known for their incredible defense (The main reason why they won the 2000 Super Bowl) so for them to blow such a big lead was a huge shock.
The Jets won at Pittsburgh towards the end of the regular season. Both teams are very physical and it should be a defensive struggle. I am feeling an aura surrounding the Jets. They are on a magical run knocking off both the Colts and the Patriots on the road in consecutive weeks. Mark Sanchez has been on fire lately.
My Pick: Jets over the Steelers 20-17.
The Seahawks got exposed by the Bears. It's still sad that the Seahawks finished with a record of 8-10* (*includes playoff games).
The Packers showed how red-hot they were by smoking the #1 seed Falcons on the road. They are definitely the most dangerous team in the NFL with the Patriots getting knocked off.
The Packers and Bears will compete for the NFC Championship at Soldier Field and I expect another great battle of the defenses. This is epic because this is the NFL's oldest rivalry going at it to determine who goes to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Packers win 13-10.
All four possible Super Bowl match-ups are very intriguing. There is not one bad crisscross and both championship games have great match-ups and should be great games.
If my predictions come true, the two #6 seeds will face each other in the Super Bowl and that would be epic.
The Autistic Sports Nerd returns to Boston with UC Hockey
For the second time, I went to Boston. It wasn't about giving Autism Lectures like the first time, this time it was with the Utica College Hockey team.
We arrived in Boston on Friday as we passed Fenway Park and the famous Citgo sign. I attended my first Men's Division I game with my teammates as we watched host Northeastern take on the University of Vermont. It was a fast-paced game as Vermont won 3-1.
The next day, we went to Harvard. We were walking around campus as I was taking photos with my phone like crazy. My teammates practiced at Harvard's rink while the coaches and I saw the Harvard locker room and it's incredible Track and Field.
After practice was over, my teammates let me borrow some of their sticks and shot the puck around. My ability to score (empty net) goals has really improved. When the goalie is in front of the net, not so much.
We were staying at the same hotel as the Vermont team so we walked past them a couple of times. We then went to the old Boston University rink for our game against Suffolk. The Womens' Boston University team still played there and we walked past them after they completed practice.
Before our game, we saw some old man's hockey game between a company in Boston donning Boston Bruins' jerseys and a team from New York City.
Man, what a showdown this is going to be!
Boston won 7-2.
Finally UC played against Suffolk and we won 6-1. It was ugly hockey but the most important thing is, UC got the job done.
The next day, we went to Wentworth who played at the same Northeastern rink we went Friday night. We saw the third period of the Womens' Northeastern game. Their opponent: Boston College!
Awesome!
Boston College won 4-1 with BC scoring three goals in the third period while Northeasterns' lone goal also came in the third. We walked past the Boston College team after the game.
Finally, it was UC against a pretty good Wentworth team. UC won again 4-1. The Pioneers took care of business in Boston and it was another successful Boston trip.
The two time I have been in Boston, I did the things that I love to do. Lecture about Autism and film/watch a lot of Hockey games.
My Quote of the Trip: (While I am in a Boston sports' store)
"Hey where are the Patriots' 18-1 T-shirts?"
-Autistic Sports Nerd
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
I don't like to brag but I'll do it anyway.
Last weekend, I went 4-0 in my NFL Divisional picks. I have also picked seven out of eight total picks right in the playoffs so far. If you guys need any advice on how to pick playoff games, let me know and I can help you out. haha
For the third playoff game in a row, Tom Brady gets shut down by a great defense. The Patriots lit up 45 points on the Jets during their last regular season game but when it came to playoff time, that's when the Jets defense stepped up. The Patriots have yet to win a playoff game since losing the Super Bowl to the Giants.
The Jets meanwhile will play in the AFC Championship game for the second consecutive year. The last two times the Jets have been in the AFC Championship game (1998 at Denver, last year at Indy) they went up by two possessions but lost both times.
They will be facing the Steelers this year, who performed an impressive feat. They were down by 14 to Baltimore at halftime as I was pondering if halftime meant it was too late to change my pick. Good thing I didn't because the Steelers rallied to win the game. Baltimore has always been known for their incredible defense (The main reason why they won the 2000 Super Bowl) so for them to blow such a big lead was a huge shock.
The Jets won at Pittsburgh towards the end of the regular season. Both teams are very physical and it should be a defensive struggle. I am feeling an aura surrounding the Jets. They are on a magical run knocking off both the Colts and the Patriots on the road in consecutive weeks. Mark Sanchez has been on fire lately.
My Pick: Jets over the Steelers 20-17.
The Seahawks got exposed by the Bears. It's still sad that the Seahawks finished with a record of 8-10* (*includes playoff games).
The Packers showed how red-hot they were by smoking the #1 seed Falcons on the road. They are definitely the most dangerous team in the NFL with the Patriots getting knocked off.
The Packers and Bears will compete for the NFC Championship at Soldier Field and I expect another great battle of the defenses. This is epic because this is the NFL's oldest rivalry going at it to determine who goes to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Packers win 13-10.
All four possible Super Bowl match-ups are very intriguing. There is not one bad crisscross and both championship games have great match-ups and should be great games.
If my predictions come true, the two #6 seeds will face each other in the Super Bowl and that would be epic.
The Autistic Sports Nerd returns to Boston with UC Hockey
For the second time, I went to Boston. It wasn't about giving Autism Lectures like the first time, this time it was with the Utica College Hockey team.
We arrived in Boston on Friday as we passed Fenway Park and the famous Citgo sign. I attended my first Men's Division I game with my teammates as we watched host Northeastern take on the University of Vermont. It was a fast-paced game as Vermont won 3-1.
The next day, we went to Harvard. We were walking around campus as I was taking photos with my phone like crazy. My teammates practiced at Harvard's rink while the coaches and I saw the Harvard locker room and it's incredible Track and Field.
After practice was over, my teammates let me borrow some of their sticks and shot the puck around. My ability to score (empty net) goals has really improved. When the goalie is in front of the net, not so much.
We were staying at the same hotel as the Vermont team so we walked past them a couple of times. We then went to the old Boston University rink for our game against Suffolk. The Womens' Boston University team still played there and we walked past them after they completed practice.
Before our game, we saw some old man's hockey game between a company in Boston donning Boston Bruins' jerseys and a team from New York City.
Man, what a showdown this is going to be!
Boston won 7-2.
Finally UC played against Suffolk and we won 6-1. It was ugly hockey but the most important thing is, UC got the job done.
The next day, we went to Wentworth who played at the same Northeastern rink we went Friday night. We saw the third period of the Womens' Northeastern game. Their opponent: Boston College!
Awesome!
Boston College won 4-1 with BC scoring three goals in the third period while Northeasterns' lone goal also came in the third. We walked past the Boston College team after the game.
Finally, it was UC against a pretty good Wentworth team. UC won again 4-1. The Pioneers took care of business in Boston and it was another successful Boston trip.
The two time I have been in Boston, I did the things that I love to do. Lecture about Autism and film/watch a lot of Hockey games.
My Quote of the Trip: (While I am in a Boston sports' store)
"Hey where are the Patriots' 18-1 T-shirts?"
-Autistic Sports Nerd
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Autistic Sports Nerd #80
Hey guys! The Autistic Sports Nerd here. Happy New Year everybody, we are now in 2011. Last week was a magical week for me but let's get right into it.
NFL Playoffs
I went 3-1 with my picks during the Wild Card Playoff weekend. The only pick I got wrong was the Seahawks/Saints game. Did the defending Super Bowl Champions get eliminated in the playoffs by a 7-9 team? Why is a 7-9 team even in the playoffs? To be fair, the Seahawks did win their division. They were the "best" team in their division so it's not like they shouldn't have been in the playoffs.
Give them credit, nobody including myself thought they had a shot against the Saints despite being at home and they proved all of us wrong. The Seahawks move on against the Bears at Soldier Field. The Seahawks have played at Soldier Field already this season and came away with a victory.
The Ravens powerful defense and timely offense smacked the Chiefs while the Packers were able to hang on against the Eagles. The Packers are without a doubt the hottest and most dangerous team in the NFL right now.
The Jets get over the hump and beat the Colts to avenge their loss to them in the AFC Championship game the previous year. Defense wins championships and outside of one big play by Peyton Manning, the Jets defense was able to shut Manning and company down.
On to the Divisional games and predictions:
Ravens at Steelers
Both teams are very physical and this should be a low scoring defensive struggle. With the Steelers being at home and having the better QB and weapons, I predict the Steelers will win a tight one 17-14.
Seahawks at Bears
Seattle won at Soldier Field earlier this year but I think the Bears will make adjustments. They have a pretty good defense which should shut Seattle down. As long as Cutler could limit his mistakes, and that's a big if, the Bears should win this by a score of 20-7.
Packers at Falcons
Atlanta won against Green Bay at home during he regular season but Green Bay is a lot better now then they were then. They are red-hot right now and we have seen Atlanta lose big games at home this season (like against the Saints). My Pick: Packers win in a shootout 34-27.
Jets at Patriots
The Patriots destroyed the Jets last time they played each other but I think that was an off-game by the Jets. The Jets defense is much better than New England's and the last two times Brady faced great defenses in the playoffs (Giants in the Super Bowl and the Ravens last year) he got crushed. The Jets avenge their loss and win 23-17.
BCS National Championship Game
Thanks to a last second chip-shot Field Goal as time expired, Auburn beats Oregon to win the National Championship. Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers
Brett Favre
This season, Favre's streak of games played/started ended when he got injured against the Bills. His streak stopped when he faced the Giants on Monday Night Football in Detroit (That was an unusual scenario). After missing even more games, Favre says he is going to retire. We have all heard this a million times before but I believe him this time. Seriously. I mean since he didn't play in quite a few games this season, anything's possible. We'll find out in September if Favre really is retired.
UC Hockey
After losing heart breakers to Curry at the AUD in every way possible during the course of the last three years, the Pioneers finally got over the hump to beat Curry at the AUD by a convincing score of 5-2. The next night, UC smoked Cortland 10-1. We travel to Boston this weekend to take on two teams in two days as well as going to a Division I game the night before. I can't wait!
Rangers' Game
Last Wednesday, my younger brother and I went to the Rangers' game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Garden. It was a thrilling game which was tied at 1 at the end of regulation. Both teams had plenty of good scoring chances. In one of the most thrilling moments I have even been to in a a game, Mats Zuccarello scores his first career NHL goal as the Rangers won it in overtime. It was a thrilling experience.
Last year when Stephen and I went, Chris Higgins scored the game winning goal with 1:29 left in regulation to help the Rangers beat the Bruins 3-2. These past two years we have seen some exciting games. Hopefully the traditionally annual Brothers' Ranger games continue.
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
NFL Playoffs
I went 3-1 with my picks during the Wild Card Playoff weekend. The only pick I got wrong was the Seahawks/Saints game. Did the defending Super Bowl Champions get eliminated in the playoffs by a 7-9 team? Why is a 7-9 team even in the playoffs? To be fair, the Seahawks did win their division. They were the "best" team in their division so it's not like they shouldn't have been in the playoffs.
Give them credit, nobody including myself thought they had a shot against the Saints despite being at home and they proved all of us wrong. The Seahawks move on against the Bears at Soldier Field. The Seahawks have played at Soldier Field already this season and came away with a victory.
The Ravens powerful defense and timely offense smacked the Chiefs while the Packers were able to hang on against the Eagles. The Packers are without a doubt the hottest and most dangerous team in the NFL right now.
The Jets get over the hump and beat the Colts to avenge their loss to them in the AFC Championship game the previous year. Defense wins championships and outside of one big play by Peyton Manning, the Jets defense was able to shut Manning and company down.
On to the Divisional games and predictions:
Ravens at Steelers
Both teams are very physical and this should be a low scoring defensive struggle. With the Steelers being at home and having the better QB and weapons, I predict the Steelers will win a tight one 17-14.
Seahawks at Bears
Seattle won at Soldier Field earlier this year but I think the Bears will make adjustments. They have a pretty good defense which should shut Seattle down. As long as Cutler could limit his mistakes, and that's a big if, the Bears should win this by a score of 20-7.
Packers at Falcons
Atlanta won against Green Bay at home during he regular season but Green Bay is a lot better now then they were then. They are red-hot right now and we have seen Atlanta lose big games at home this season (like against the Saints). My Pick: Packers win in a shootout 34-27.
Jets at Patriots
The Patriots destroyed the Jets last time they played each other but I think that was an off-game by the Jets. The Jets defense is much better than New England's and the last two times Brady faced great defenses in the playoffs (Giants in the Super Bowl and the Ravens last year) he got crushed. The Jets avenge their loss and win 23-17.
BCS National Championship Game
Thanks to a last second chip-shot Field Goal as time expired, Auburn beats Oregon to win the National Championship. Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers
Brett Favre
This season, Favre's streak of games played/started ended when he got injured against the Bills. His streak stopped when he faced the Giants on Monday Night Football in Detroit (That was an unusual scenario). After missing even more games, Favre says he is going to retire. We have all heard this a million times before but I believe him this time. Seriously. I mean since he didn't play in quite a few games this season, anything's possible. We'll find out in September if Favre really is retired.
UC Hockey
After losing heart breakers to Curry at the AUD in every way possible during the course of the last three years, the Pioneers finally got over the hump to beat Curry at the AUD by a convincing score of 5-2. The next night, UC smoked Cortland 10-1. We travel to Boston this weekend to take on two teams in two days as well as going to a Division I game the night before. I can't wait!
Rangers' Game
Last Wednesday, my younger brother and I went to the Rangers' game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Garden. It was a thrilling game which was tied at 1 at the end of regulation. Both teams had plenty of good scoring chances. In one of the most thrilling moments I have even been to in a a game, Mats Zuccarello scores his first career NHL goal as the Rangers won it in overtime. It was a thrilling experience.
Last year when Stephen and I went, Chris Higgins scored the game winning goal with 1:29 left in regulation to help the Rangers beat the Bruins 3-2. These past two years we have seen some exciting games. Hopefully the traditionally annual Brothers' Ranger games continue.
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Autistic Sports Nerd's Wild Card Weekend Picks
Hey guys! The Autistic Sports Nerd here.
Here are my predicted winners for the NFL Wild Card playoff games:
Saints (Seahawks are a bad team)
Jets (Better defense and a strong rushing attack)
Ravens (Defense is too strong)
Packers (They are the hottest team in the NFL)
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
Here are my predicted winners for the NFL Wild Card playoff games:
Saints (Seahawks are a bad team)
Jets (Better defense and a strong rushing attack)
Ravens (Defense is too strong)
Packers (They are the hottest team in the NFL)
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!
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