Thursday, March 26, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Tom Brady New England Patriots QB: The best ever?
Tom Brady New England Patriots QB: The best ever?
Tom Brady, the NFL's Captain America, no
QB in NFL history has played in more playoff games (28) 20-8 record.
Brady has the most playoff wins of all time (20), 3 time Super Bowl
champion, 2 time Super Bowl MVP, the most super bowls appearances (6),
3-2 record, 2 time NFL MVP, most career playoff touchdown passes (49),
10 time pro bowler, 9 career NFL conference championship appearance 6-3,
most career postseason passing yards, regular season stats 53,258 yards
392 TD's 143 ints and career QBR 95.9. If Tom Brady wins this years
Super Bowl that would be his 4th Super Bowl victory matching Terry
Bradshaw, & Joe Montana for most Super Bowl wins of all time with 4.
Brady 179 wins is 3rd all time only behind Brett Favre (186) and number
1 Peyton Manning (190). With these credentials and remarkable resume',
Tom Brady is undeniably the best QB that the NFL has ever seen.
Jody Coleman ATGS Senior Writer
1/20/15
Tom Brady, the NFL's Captain America, no
QB in NFL history has played in more playoff games (28) 20-8 record.
Brady has the most playoff wins of all time (20), 3 time Super Bowl
champion, 2 time Super Bowl MVP, the most super bowls appearances (6),
3-2 record, 2 time NFL MVP, most career playoff touchdown passes (49),
10 time pro bowler, 9 career NFL conference championship appearance 6-3,
most career postseason passing yards, regular season stats 53,258 yards
392 TD's 143 ints and career QBR 95.9. If Tom Brady wins this years
Super Bowl that would be his 4th Super Bowl victory matching Terry
Bradshaw, & Joe Montana for most Super Bowl wins of all time with 4.
Brady 179 wins is 3rd all time only behind Brett Favre (186) and number
1 Peyton Manning (190). With these credentials and remarkable resume',
Tom Brady is undeniably the best QB that the NFL has ever seen.
Jody Coleman ATGS Senior Writer
1/20/15
The Road Less Traveled
The Road Less Traveled
Fifteen years ago, Pete Carroll was fired
from the Patriots, thus paving the way for Bill Belicheck to take over.
Belicheck was a Bill Parcels disciple who had resigned as the head
coaching job with the Jets after he was handpicked to succeed his
mentor. It was unimaginable that Belicheck could achieve such success.
He joined forces with Tom Brady, who was actually a replacement for the
former franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
Bill Belicheck
was known as a superior defensive coordinator. Under his tutelage the
New York Giants were very successful in the 1980’s winning two Super
Bowls; however in his first tenure as a head coach with the Cleveland
Browns he was not successful and subsequently fired. With the Patriots
he has made six Super Bowl appearances with four victories in the past
fifteen years. He and Tom Brady, are by far the most successful coach
quarterback tandem in modern football history.
Pete
Carroll took a different path with NFL success. He too held various
defensive coordinator and head coaching positions in the NFL. After an
unsuccessful stent with the Patriots he landed a job at USC. He achieved
meteoric success at southern California before being involved in a
scandal with boosters and athletes receiving improper benefits. As a
result of the scandal the Trojans had to vacate their 2005 national
championship and Reggie Bush was forced to relinquish his Heisman
trophy. Amidst allegations Pete Carroll decided to resign from USC and
return to the NFL.
No one really expected much from
Carroll in the NFL. It was thought that being a successful college
coach could not translate into being a successful NFL coach. His first
year he lead the Seahawks to a division title and a playoff win over the
then defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints. Great
draft picks have paved the way for franchise success during Carroll’s
tenure, with a vast majority of players being lower round draft picks
and undrafted free agents.
The quarterbacks of the two
teams have taken similar paths down the road to NFL prominence. Tom
Brady was a sixth round, 199 overall pick in 2000 from the University of
Michigan. He was marginal at best. No one expected him to be a started
in the NFL. He was to be a serviceable back up at best. It wasn’t until
the third game of the 2001-2002 seasons when the Patriots starter was
knocked virtually unconscious, and sustained serious internal injuries,
that Brady received his opportunity to become a starter. Drew Bledsoe
never started another game for the Patriots. It was not a popular
decision but winning cures all.
In contrast Russell Wilson
was a third round draft pick who was expected to compete for the second
string quarterback position in Seattle. Matt Flynn who had just signed
a very lucrative multi-year deal was anticipated to be the starter,
later losing his position to Wilson in training camp and subsequently
traded to Oakland. An important lesson to up and coming players: It
doesn’t matter when you were drafted or how much money you make, someone
with nothing to lose can take your position if they are determined
enough and given the right opportunity. By Taurus A. White 2/2/15
Fifteen years ago, Pete Carroll was fired
from the Patriots, thus paving the way for Bill Belicheck to take over.
Belicheck was a Bill Parcels disciple who had resigned as the head
coaching job with the Jets after he was handpicked to succeed his
mentor. It was unimaginable that Belicheck could achieve such success.
He joined forces with Tom Brady, who was actually a replacement for the
former franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
Bill Belicheck
was known as a superior defensive coordinator. Under his tutelage the
New York Giants were very successful in the 1980’s winning two Super
Bowls; however in his first tenure as a head coach with the Cleveland
Browns he was not successful and subsequently fired. With the Patriots
he has made six Super Bowl appearances with four victories in the past
fifteen years. He and Tom Brady, are by far the most successful coach
quarterback tandem in modern football history.
Pete
Carroll took a different path with NFL success. He too held various
defensive coordinator and head coaching positions in the NFL. After an
unsuccessful stent with the Patriots he landed a job at USC. He achieved
meteoric success at southern California before being involved in a
scandal with boosters and athletes receiving improper benefits. As a
result of the scandal the Trojans had to vacate their 2005 national
championship and Reggie Bush was forced to relinquish his Heisman
trophy. Amidst allegations Pete Carroll decided to resign from USC and
return to the NFL.
No one really expected much from
Carroll in the NFL. It was thought that being a successful college
coach could not translate into being a successful NFL coach. His first
year he lead the Seahawks to a division title and a playoff win over the
then defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints. Great
draft picks have paved the way for franchise success during Carroll’s
tenure, with a vast majority of players being lower round draft picks
and undrafted free agents.
The quarterbacks of the two
teams have taken similar paths down the road to NFL prominence. Tom
Brady was a sixth round, 199 overall pick in 2000 from the University of
Michigan. He was marginal at best. No one expected him to be a started
in the NFL. He was to be a serviceable back up at best. It wasn’t until
the third game of the 2001-2002 seasons when the Patriots starter was
knocked virtually unconscious, and sustained serious internal injuries,
that Brady received his opportunity to become a starter. Drew Bledsoe
never started another game for the Patriots. It was not a popular
decision but winning cures all.
In contrast Russell Wilson
was a third round draft pick who was expected to compete for the second
string quarterback position in Seattle. Matt Flynn who had just signed
a very lucrative multi-year deal was anticipated to be the starter,
later losing his position to Wilson in training camp and subsequently
traded to Oakland. An important lesson to up and coming players: It
doesn’t matter when you were drafted or how much money you make, someone
with nothing to lose can take your position if they are determined
enough and given the right opportunity. By Taurus A. White 2/2/15
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Notre Dame's Comeback Win Over North Carolina
It looked as if North Carolina had this one in the bag until the Fighting Irish started raining threes to get them back in the game and to take the lead. Ball movement and high percentage shots was the key to Notre Dame winning the ACC Tournament. Jarian Grant & Pat Connaughton were the difference makers in this game. Connaughton scored 20 points while shooting 78% from the field. Jerian Grant added 24 points to lift the Irish to victory. North Carolina lost their steam after Brice Johnson got winded. Marcus Paige had a team high 24 points as the Tarheels failed to finish the game. Notre Dame wins the ACC Championship and should be a threat in March Madness. By ATGS Jeros McCain 3/14/15
Big 12 Champs Iowa State Cyclones Storms Back To Beat Kansas Jay Hawks 70-60
Kansas vs
Iowa State was one of the most battle tested games of this championship
season. Iowa State battled back from a 23-37 halftime deficit to take
the lead and hold on for the win against a very tough Jay Hawk team.
Georges Niang led the charge to start the second half, finishing the
game with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Iowa State has won its second
straight Big 12 Championship. Are the Cyclones a number 2 seed going
into March Madness with this win over the Jay Hawks? Will the Cyclones
compete for a national title? All questions yet to be answered in the
Big Dance. By ATGS Jerod McCain 3/14/15
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
A Growing NBA
is worth a record $1.1 billion dollars. The National Basketball
Association is growing at an alarming rate. Factors playing a role in
this growth are players receiving global recognition, TV and internet
access and the technological advances in today’s world.
The twenty-four hour media machine is
playing a significant role on merchandising and advertising sales. In
the NBA today, there are 11 franchises worth over $ 1 billion dollars.
Totaling an estimated value of $18.35 billion dollars combined. I would
say that the league is economically sound at this point. The $18 billion
dollar estimate doesn't include the 22 other NBA teams that have net
worth of $500 million dollars or more each. It is only a matter of
time until those teams reach that billion-dollar mark especially with
the access that smartphones, tablets and computers give consumers to the
sport. As the world produces more billionaires, the desire of being in
an elite group of team owners and the lure of a market that has an $80
billion dollar TV deal in place starting in 2016 should influence many
startup ventures ready to capitalize on this growing market. What
investor wouldn’t want in on the money sport? Between the 11 teams worth
over a billion dollars the average change in value for each team was an
astonishing 84%, change. Meaning, teams who were worth $500 million in
2013-14 are now worth almost $2 billion today. We saw this with the LA
Clippers when the team was sold for an NBA record $2 billion dollars in
2014. The team had a value of $575 million dollars in 2013, up 34% from
its original purchase price of $12.5 million dollars in 1981. Players
are key components of the value of teams, the more popular the players
on a team the more exposure the team gets and the more merchandise it
sells along with major media deals. Expect player salaries to skyrocket
past the now lucrative deals in place to individual athletes today.
Technology and the growing market of cell phone use and social media
accessibility will spike viewer numbers tremendously. Sport web sites
like AgainstTheGrainSports.com and media giant ESPN are ready to reap
the benefits of such a market. Internet advertising is a fast growing
business that overcame cable television and nearly exceeded those of
broadcast television in 2011 according to Wikipedia. The revenues in
just the United States alone totaled $42.8 billion dollars. With the
increase in smartphone usage, the NBA will reach even more of the market
they now connect too. According to Video Ink, smartphones accounted for
13.6% of online video starts in Q2 of 2014 a percentage of 38.2 billion
“online videos”. At this rate, online content will overtake TV
broadcast within the next 5 to 10 years. The NBA has a great economic
future to look forward too. Major TV networks shouldn’t be worried
though since every network has its own digital media web site that can
facilitate any online viewer’s smartphone, tablet, and computer. As the
NBA game expands its global market, it will command the attention of
viewers across the globe. For example, Internet growth in India is
mainstreaming amongst their young population with smartphone access as
the leading way of connecting to the internet. With more than 200
million people connected, the National Basketball Association will be
looking if it has not already has plans to diversify their marketing
plans on and offline according to SlideShare’s Digital Statistics.
According to bleacher reports mock draft, 11 overseas players are
expecting to enter the 2015 NBA Draft in 2015. Of those 11 players,
Emmanuel Mudiay from Guangdong China is projecting to be in the top five
picks. This means that fans in China will follow him to the NBA. There
are 32 NBA teams, eleven of them are worth an average of $1 billion
dollars today, and twenty-two are worth an average of $700 million.
Expect all teams to be valued at over $3 billion in the next five years
with the global players influence along with technology increasing at a
high-speed rate. The NBA is an economically sound business investment
right now and well into the future, if you are a fan, an investor, or an
entrepreneur it behooves me to say that this market has a bright
upside.
By ATGS Jerod McCain
The twenty-four hour media machine is playing a
significant role on merchandising and advertising sales. In the NBA today,
there are 11 franchises worth over $ 1 billion dollars. Totaling an estimated
value of $18.35 billion dollars combined. I would say that the league is
economically sound at this point. The $18 billion dollar estimate doesn't
include the 22 other NBA teams that have net worth of $500 million dollars or
more each. It is only a matter of time until those teams reach that
billion-dollar mark especially with the access that smartphones, tablets and
computers give consumers to the sport. As the world produces more billionaires,
the desire of being in an elite group of team owners and the lure of a market
that has an $80 billion dollar TV deal in place starting in 2016 should
influence many startup ventures ready to capitalize on this growing market. What
investor wouldn’t want in on the money sport? Between the 11 teams worth over a
billion dollars the average change in value for each team was an astonishing
84%, change. Meaning, teams who were worth $500 million in 2013-14 are now
worth almost $2 billion today. We saw this with the LA Clippers when the team
was sold for an NBA record $2 billion dollars in 2014. The team had a value of
$575 million dollars in 2013, up 34% from its original purchase price of $12.5
million dollars in 1981. Players are key components of the value of teams, the
more popular the players on a team the more exposure the team gets and the more
merchandise it sells along with major media deals. Expect player salaries to
skyrocket past the now lucrative deals in place to individual athletes today.
Technology and the growing market of cell phone use and social media
accessibility will spike viewer numbers tremendously. Sport web sites like
AgainstTheGrainSports.com and media giant ESPN are ready to reap the benefits
of such a market. Internet advertising is a fast growing business that overcame
cable television and nearly exceeded those of broadcast television in 2011
according to Wikipedia. The revenues in just the United States alone totaled
$42.8 billion dollars. With the increase in smartphone usage, the NBA will
reach even more of the market they now connect too. According to Video Ink,
smartphones accounted for 13.6% of online video starts in Q2 of 2014 a
percentage of 38.2 billion “online videos”. At this rate, online content will
overtake TV broadcast within the next 5 to 10 years. The NBA has a great
economic future to look forward too. Major TV networks shouldn’t be worried
though since every network has its own digital media web site that can
facilitate any online viewer’s smartphone, tablet, and computer. As the NBA
game expands its global market, it will command the attention of viewers across
the globe. For example, Internet growth in India is mainstreaming amongst their
young population with smartphone access as the leading way of connecting to the
internet. With more than 200 million people connected, the National Basketball
Association will be looking if it has not already has plans to diversify their
marketing plans on and offline according to SlideShare’s Digital Statistics.
According to bleacher reports mock draft, 11 overseas players are expecting to
enter the 2015 NBA Draft in 2015. Of those 11 players, Emmanuel Mudiay from
Guangdong China is projecting to be in the top five picks. This means that fans
in China will follow him to the NBA. There are 32 NBA teams, eleven of them are
worth an average of $1 billion dollars today, and twenty-two are worth an
average of $700 million. Expect all teams to be valued at over $3 billion in
the next five years with the global players influence along with technology
increasing at a high-speed rate. The NBA is an economically sound business
investment right now and well into the future, if you are a fan, an investor,
or an entrepreneur it behooves me to say that this market has a bright upside.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Against The Grain Sports Don't Overlook The HBCU'S
When student athletes are in their recruiting process for collegiate
football the common names of Division I football come to mind: The Ohio
State Buckeyes (2015 National Champions), Alabama Crimson Tide (3
National Championships in the last 5 seasons), USC Trojans (over 100
players drafted to the NFL since 1990), and The Texas Longhorns (2005
BCS National Champions). For the recruits that have dreams and
aspirations of one day playing in the NFL, often overlook the
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Many recruits shy
away from HBCU's because they are not aware of the rich traditions that
they intel. Central State University located in Wilberforce, Ohio in the
1980's & 90's were a NFL hot bed for talent. CSU has accumulated 22
NFL players that have attended the university, led by Dave West the 1st
CSU player to ever play in the NFL (1963). Not only did CSU players go
to the NFL, but starred with such athletes as Hugh Douglas the 16th
overall selection of the 1995 NFL draft to the New York Jets. He also
played for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was
the 1995 Defensive Rookie of the year, 3 time Pro Bowl selection, 2
time 1st team All-Pro selection with 361 tackles, 80 sacks, & 1 int
in his illustrious 10 year career. Erik Williams the former Dallas
Cowboy, & Baltimore Raven at Left Tackle compel a tremendous
professional career with 3 Super Bowl Championships, 4 time Pro Bowl
selection, 3 time 1st team All-Pro selection in 146 career NFL games.
The Marauders may not be the traditional powerhouse for NFL prospects,
or 5 star recruits, but if you're looking for an opportunity to play,
the small HBCU Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio maybe the
college for you.
NFL
players who attended Central State University (22): Curtis Anderson,
Alfonso Boone, De auntae Brown, Orlando Brown, Vince Buck, Vince
Carreker, Hugh Douglas, Darrell Grymes, Brandon Hayes, Vince Heflin,
Charles Hope, Alonzo Johnson, Marlon Jones, Mel Lunsford, Roosevelt Nix,
Jerry Parker,, Victor Simmons, Michael Stone, Kerwin Waldroup, Donnie
Walker, Dave West, & Erik Williams
Jody Coleman ATGS Senior Writer
3/10/15
Terrell Davis Deserves To Be A Hall Of Famer
Terrell Davis Deserves To Be A Hall Of Famer
Terrell
Davis formerly of the Denver Broncos (1995-2001) was drafted in 1995
from the Unversity of Georgia in the 6th round the 196th selection.
Denver selected Davis as a fullback and special team players. That was
until the 3rd pre-season game in 1995, where Davis was on the verge of
being release. Davis made one of the most remarkable special tackle in
some years, in which caught Head Coach Mike Shanahan's eye. Davis went
from potential being cut to NFL Offensive of player of the year in just
two short seasons. Davis career unfortunately was cut short due to a
devastating knee injury. In Davis 6 year career he was a 3 time Pro
Bowler (1996,97,98), 3 time 1st team All pro (1996,97,98), 2000 yards
rushing in a single season, 2 time NFL offensive of player of the year, 2
time Super Bowl Champion, and Super Bowl MVP. His career numbers 1,655
carries 7,607 yards 60 TD's, average per season 276 carries 1,268 yards
10 TD's. He also had 169 receceptions 1,268 yards 5 TD's which gave him
8,887 All purpose yards and 65 total TD's. Compared to other Hall of
Fame Running Backs such as the incredible Gale Sayers (RB/return
specialist) who also only played 6 season (1965-71) finished his career
with 4,956 yards rushing, 39 rushing TD'S, 9,435 All-purpose yards and
56 total TD's. Davis out rushed Sayers by 2,651 yards and had 4 more
total TD's. Also, Davis's 4.6 career yards per carry average ranked
higher than Hall of famers Walter Payton (4.2), Eric Dickerson (4.4),
Tony Dorsett (4.4), Jerome Bettis (4.0), Marcus Allen (4.0), Franco
Harris (4.1), Thurman Thomas (4.2), Curtis Martin (4.0), John Riggins
(3.9), Marshall Faulk (4.4) to name a few. Davis two Super Bowls would
rank him only behind Franco Harris (4), & Emmitt Smith (3) Super
Bowl Championships. I'm not sure what the qualifications are to go in
the Hall of Fame, but Terrell Davis accolades, and resume is quite
impressive and deserves some consideration.
Jody Coleman ATGS Senior Writer
2/16/15
Terrell
Davis formerly of the Denver Broncos (1995-2001) was drafted in 1995
from the Unversity of Georgia in the 6th round the 196th selection.
Denver selected Davis as a fullback and special team players. That was
until the 3rd pre-season game in 1995, where Davis was on the verge of
being release. Davis made one of the most remarkable special tackle in
some years, in which caught Head Coach Mike Shanahan's eye. Davis went
from potential being cut to NFL Offensive of player of the year in just
two short seasons. Davis career unfortunately was cut short due to a
devastating knee injury. In Davis 6 year career he was a 3 time Pro
Bowler (1996,97,98), 3 time 1st team All pro (1996,97,98), 2000 yards
rushing in a single season, 2 time NFL offensive of player of the year, 2
time Super Bowl Champion, and Super Bowl MVP. His career numbers 1,655
carries 7,607 yards 60 TD's, average per season 276 carries 1,268 yards
10 TD's. He also had 169 receceptions 1,268 yards 5 TD's which gave him
8,887 All purpose yards and 65 total TD's. Compared to other Hall of
Fame Running Backs such as the incredible Gale Sayers (RB/return
specialist) who also only played 6 season (1965-71) finished his career
with 4,956 yards rushing, 39 rushing TD'S, 9,435 All-purpose yards and
56 total TD's. Davis out rushed Sayers by 2,651 yards and had 4 more
total TD's. Also, Davis's 4.6 career yards per carry average ranked
higher than Hall of famers Walter Payton (4.2), Eric Dickerson (4.4),
Tony Dorsett (4.4), Jerome Bettis (4.0), Marcus Allen (4.0), Franco
Harris (4.1), Thurman Thomas (4.2), Curtis Martin (4.0), John Riggins
(3.9), Marshall Faulk (4.4) to name a few. Davis two Super Bowls would
rank him only behind Franco Harris (4), & Emmitt Smith (3) Super
Bowl Championships. I'm not sure what the qualifications are to go in
the Hall of Fame, but Terrell Davis accolades, and resume is quite
impressive and deserves some consideration.
Jody Coleman ATGS Senior Writer
2/16/15
Better Leadership=Better Play
Better Leadership=Better PlayThe Cleveland Cavaliers
are starting to click since the return of Super Star Player LeBron
James has returned to the line up. LeBron's presence has had a positive
effect on the team especially Jr. Smith. Smith seems to be more involved
in the game offensively and defensively unlike the on and off again effort he put forth in New York. I think James will help Jr. Smith with his personality outburst and to stay focused on basketball. Smith has had double-digit scoring games of 29, 27, 20, and 21 for the Cavs since being acquired. Smith is averaging 15 PPG and has earned a starting position with his new team. He is still a very good shooter and if LeBron can get him to use his penetration and play making skills the Cavaliers will have a great chance at competing for the Eastern Conference title. Iman Shumpert can also benefit from playing with a player like James. The Cavs should be able to get into the 4th or 5th seed in the playoffs if everyone stays healthy. By ATGS Jerod McCain 1/25/15
Monday, March 9, 2015
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