Around the horn with Craig Dewa t
AROUND THE HORN
With Craig Dewalt
Hello and welcome back
for the fourth edition of Around the
Horn with Craig Dewalt. In case
you don't know the rules; I prepare
a series of questions and ask four
contestants for their responses.
The four contestants will give their
answers and be scored with pluses
and minuses. If a comment is
really good they can receive up to
three pluses. If their comment is
downright awful they can receive
up to three minuses. If their answer
is so terrible I will shut them up
by putting them on mute. After
each question one person will
be eliminated. The winner will
then get their time to shine in the
"Moment of Fame" section. Here is
this weeks round of questions:
1. What do you think
about the Patriots running
up the score on opponents?
Disrespectful or part of the
game?
2. With the NBA season
underway, who do you
think will be competing in
the Finals as the East and
West champions?
3. The Red Sox are world
champions, but that seems
to be overshadowed by
the free agency of A-Rod
and Bonds. Where do you
think these players will
showcase their skills in
2008?
QUESTION I
Sarver: "Unfortunately I do not
believe that any team should run
up the score in the NFL and if you
do it should be your second or third
string players that are doing it.
(++) When you're up 38-0 in the
beginning of the Lill' Quarter I think
it is safe to put your second string
in. (+) However the other argument
is if you can't stop them then you
deserve to get blown out. That's a
bunch of crap. Granted the Patriots
had a cake-walk of a schedule to
start the season. But seeing what a
good defense, like the Colts, can do
against this high-powered offense
proves that they can be stopped. I
think that Bill Belichick has been
running up the score to get the Spy-
Gate allegations off his back. (+)
The Patriots are winners but I think
they are disrespectful and it starts
with their Head Coach. (+) Did you
see the hand shake after the game
between Belichick and Dungy? Way
to step up and be a man Belichick.
(6 points)
Me: "This is probably the perfect
answer to this question. Sarver,
great job."
Aumiller: "Part of the game. The
Patriots are playing with a chip
on their shoulder for being called
cheaters earlier this year. (+) If you
got insulted, you would come out
and punish some people too. (-) A
lot of writers came out and said
their rings were tainted so Brady,
Belichik, and crew are coming out
week by week and dismantling
everyone in sight."
(0 points)
Me: "Aumiller, people weren't
calling them cheaters as an insult,
they were calling them cheaters
because it was a proven fact. I
hope that one of these weeks the
Patriots are running the score up on
a Dolphins or Redskins like team,
and that team sends out a scrub to
blindside Brady, then proceed to run
to the sideline and drop kick that
sweatshirt wearing prick."
Carroll: "Running up the score?
The Patriots have no running
game and cannot run out the clock
the way many other great teams
have done. (-) Look at most of
their opponents and the explosive
offenses they have, no lead is safe
in today's NFL. (-) Plus with teams
concentrated on stopping their
passing attack, leaving only 6 in the
box, the Patriots are only 8' in the
NFL in rushing and have only had
3 100 yard rushers and twice had
a team leader in rushing under 50
yards. (+) Besides you have to go
get yours while you can to reach all
the players individual bonuses. (+)
It's like beating up on Aumiller in
Wii tennis, its fun and no one really
gets hurt. (++)"
(2 points)
Me: "Carroll, Maroney and Sammy
Morris are both backs that are
capable of keeping the offense on
the field. The Patriots. ust choose
to pass. Yes they played some
good offenses, but when you're
running up the score, do you
want to risk the golden boy, Tom
Brady? Bonus points for the cheap
shot on Aumiller, and the tasty
Watchamacallit."
McComas: "It is definitely just
part of the game. Last year, the
Indianapolis Colts made a great
comeback against the New England
Patriots in the AFC championship
game. (+) That game probably
taught the Patriots a lesson about
shutting down the offense and
playing a prevent defense. (+)
Anytime a team can score they
should. I don't care what the
situation is. In the world of sports,
you never know what can happen.
(+) Historic comebacks are part
of the game, even though they are
some what of rarity. And I mean
they are a rarity in the sense of
making up major points in about
half the game. If the other teams
have a problem with the Patriots
running up the score then maybe
they should play better defense and
not allow themselves to be put in
that situation. (-)
(2 points)"
Me: "I agree with you 100% when
you're in the playoffs, but would
it hurt to pull your key players
like Brady and Moss, and throw in
reserves. If the team scores and gets
close, you can always throw them
back in."
QUESTION 2
"Sarver: "This is a pretty ridiculous
question to be asking since it is
only 2 games into the season. (-)
However us sports analysts or guru'
always like to make these stupid
picks to see how much luck is, on
our side at the end of the season. So
for the little basketball that I have
seen so far I will have to go with
the Boston Celtics led by the Big
3; Kevin Garnet, Ray Allen, and
Paul Pierce to come out of the East
and have home court advantage
throughout to finals. (++) There is
no team in the East with a defense
that can stop this force. (+) Not even
my boys in Detroit. Lebron does
not have enough talent around him
to get through the Green Machines.
(+) So Celtics will be waiting for
the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.
The Spurs led by Duncan, Ginoboli,
and Parker are too talented for
anyone in the West to compete. (-)
I believe that the Celtics and Spurs
match up in the NBA Finals will
be the best that any of us have seen
in the last five years. (+) feel that
KG, RA, and PP will get their first
championships and bring the 18th
title to Beam town. (-)
(2 points)"
Me: "I like the Celtics. Look for
Lebron and the Cays to come close
though. In the West, San Antonio
is a good answer, but I think Dallas
and Phoenix can compete with
them, and maybe take it. If Boston
is in the Finals playing the Spurs,
Suns, or Mays, it should be a great
game. Also, Beam town is Bean
town."
Carroll: "The Suns will win the
West. (+) You have to believe that
it's finally their turn. With Nash,
Amare Stoudemire, and Shawn
Marion you have to give them the
edge. (+) None of the teams in
the West really improved in the
off season so this season the Suns
should get to the finals in the West
again and hopefully not get robbed
by the refs again. (+) Predicting the
East is like trying to catch fire in a
bottle, im-freaking-possible. I'll go
with the Celtics though, because I'm
Irish and they landed Garnett and
Allen. (+) Garnett single-handedly
carried a team of bums into the West
playoffs every year so why not win
the anemic East. (--) For Garnett
it should be like beating Khoa in
Wii Tennis, good kid, no skills, he
laughs too much to dominate. (+)
(3 points)
Me: "Garnett hasn't been to the
playoffs in three years, therefore
your comment is false. Stick to
something you know, like dressing
up, schmoozing your girlfriend, and
building sports bars on run-down
golf courses just to get a break on
your liquor license. Thanks for the
Watchamacallit, but you're out of
here. (Insert Khoa giggle here), yes,
when I eliminate you, I can and will
steal your material."
McComas: "I'm sure there are no
surprises when I say the Boston
Celtics and their bandwagon (+) will
play the defending champs, the San
Antonio Spurs (-). The Spurs are
in the midst of a dynasty and until
they are dethroned I think you have
to pick them. (+) In addition, Tony
Parker is getting better and that
means trouble for every other team,
not only in the Western Conference,
but the entire NBA. (+) As far as
Intermural flag
Photo by MARIN BENDORITIS/Capital Times
The intermural flag footbal teams, Ownage and Team Do Work competed in playoffs Thursday the Bth. Team Do Work
won 26-12. Penn State Harrisburg offers IM sports such as flag football, water polo and table tennis though out the
year.
THE CAPITAL TIMES
the Celtics go, there "Big 3" is off
to a good start. All three superstars
are getting along because of Kevin
Garnett. In his first meeting with
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen he said
this is Pierce's team. He expressed
that comment to let Pierce know he
wasn't trying to take over the team
and to tell Allen he shouldn't try to
either. (++) Also, with the passing
of Red Auerbach in the off season,
you knew the "Green Machine"
was going to play with passion
this year. (+) In a weak Eastern
Conference and an even weaker
Atlantic Division, "Beantown" ill
be celebrating more than the Red
Sox and Patriots. (+)"
(6 points)
Me: "McComas, I like the Celtics
pick, but you seem to think that
the Spurs will dominate anyone in
the West and I
ew arver
dominant player
on your team. I
do not believe
that he is going
to get $350
Mil, but with the recent signing of
Joe Torre with the L.A. Dodgers
takes the spot light away from the
Angels. Look A-Rod to be wearing
football highlight: playoffs
disagree. The
Suns added some
defense, and the
Mays are deadly.
Any of the three
can make it to
the finals; it just
comes down to
who's hot, and
who doesn't
get screwed
by the refs.
It's time for a
Sarver/McComas
showdown, and
one of them will
walk away with
their first career
victory."
QUESTION 3
Sarver: "Well
Stat Boy A-Rod
and his agent
Scott Boras were
reported to tell
the Yankees to
not even schedule
a meeting unless
they had an offer
of at least $350
MILLION!! Are
you kidding me?
The Pittsburgh
Pirates are only
worth $270
Million. (+) Yes
I do believe that
A-Rod is the
greatest player
in the game and
I hope he does
break Bonds'
Homerun Record
but no player is
worth that much.
(+) You can not
win a World
Series with one
November 12, 2007
an Angels uniform. (+) I leek we'll
all probably find out about the
signing during the halftime of the
Super Bowl. As for Barry Bonds
there is not a National League team
that wants his old worn out legs in
left field. (+) However he would
make a nice fitting with the Oakland
Athletics or even the Angels.
(+) Even though I don't think the
Angels have enough payroll to
sign both A-Rod and Bonds, but
Barry Bonds will not be signing
with anyone east of the Rocky
Mountains. (+)
(5 points)
Me: "This is probably the best Matt
Sarver answer ever. Great research
and good answer. I think A-Rod
will end up in LA whether it's the
Dodgers or the Angels. If it's the
Dodgers, look for the Angels to snag
Bonds. If he goes to the Angels, I
believe Bonds may be wearing the
pin stripes, giving me more reasons
to hate New York."
McComas: "A
-Rod turned down
the Boston Red Sox once and I
don't see him accepting this time
around either. (+) I do think Alex
Rodriguez would follow Joe Torre
to the Dodgers, but Los Angeles
doesn't have the money to sign him,
so that eliminates them. The New
York Mets are a definite possibility,
but I think Rodriguez is looking for
a change of scenery and preferably
a warmer climate. (+) Earlier I
mentioned that the L.A. Dodgers
do not have the money, but the L.A.
Angels, of Anaheim, do. I think you
will see A-Rod leave one big market
for another and trade coasts. Look
for him to trade in his pin stripes for
a halo next season. (++)
(4 points)
Me: "McComas, thanks for
answering half of the question.
You left out Bonds, and therefore I
must leave you out of the Moment
of Fame. Sarver is the champion.
What has this world come to when
Sarver is winning Around the Horn'?
McComas you dropped the ball."
MOMENT OF FAME
Sarver: "Finally the true Champ
has won. First I would like to say
that I will never be able to tailgate
at any sporting event again like the
way myself, McComas, Aumiller,
and others did with Mr. Matthew
Carroll. The man brought a turkey
fryer to the PSU vs. OSU game and
we fried a 121 b turkey, a chicken,
pirogues, hash browns, and Oreos.
Carroll you are officially a tailgating
legend in my books. Now I would
like to call out a certain Sports
Buff who beat me in the last issue,
Mr. Kupfer (a.k.a. - the greatest
teacher ever). You act like you
know it all in every sports history
class, but we know deep down you
got no knowledge about sports.
I'm challenging you in the next
couple of issues to Bring It. I will
embarrass you like my Steelers did
to your Ravens last Monday!!