A$$ Whooping of the Week (Week 8)

Despite the upset of a top-ranked team and several Heisman worthy performances, this weeks beat down came from an unlikely source:  Florida Atlantic University.  During Saturday's game against Arkansas State, the Owls' QB Jeff Van Camp took a hit to the helmet while sliding, leading announcer Dave Lamont to go on quite a rant before threatening to fight the people in the press box around him.  While no actual fight occurred, the potential match up between an aging and potentially chemically imbalanced announcer against his producers is clearly worthy of an A$$ Whooping of the week.  Enjoy!

Week 8 College football Recap

Week 9 starts in full force tomorrow, so now seems like a great time to recap the week that was. We will begin with...

• OU.  For the third consecutive week the top-ranked team went on the road and lost to a ranked opponent.  Turnovers and Landy Jones' ineffectiveness hurt the Sooners, but its also pretty hard to win on the road when you give up 486 yards.  Missouri now replaces OU which replaced Nebraska which replaced Texas as this weeks overrated Big 12 school.  OU gets a week off plays Colorado this week, but Mizzou will be challenged in Lincoln against a top-15 Nebraska squad.  I'm not sure the Tigers have the big play running back or receiver needed to score against the Blackshirt defense, and will rely on their own defense holding Taylor "Whitey" Martinez in check.  
• Speaking of Nebraska and Taylor Martinez, the 'Huskers put on an offensive clinic against a hapless Oklahoma State defense in Stillwater.  Martinez threw for over 300, rushed for over 100, and accounted for 5 TDs as Nebraska totaled 540 yards and 51 points.  The Cowboys were able to keep it close thanks to 200 yards from Kendall Hunter and 157 yards form Justin "the DUI" Blackmon.  Blackmon went head to head against the best cornerback in the Big 12 and dominated.  In addition to his 5 catches and 2 touchdowns, Blackmon was the target of pass interference twice.  Unfortunately, Blackmon will be suspended for Saturdays game following his arrest this weekend.  His Heisman chances will probably join him on the sideline as well. 
• Oregon replaced OU as the top ranked team in the AP poll after dismantling UCLA.  The Ducks doubled the Bruins offensive output and dominated from start to finish.  LaMichael James' Heisman campaign remains in full force.  This weekend Oregon will try to end the losing streak for the top ranked team as they travel to Los Angeles to face USC.  Matt Barkley has over 700 yards and 8 TDs with no INTs in his last two games and USC, who is bowl-ineligible this season, will playing purely for pride.  This could wind up being a very exciting West Coast shootout.
• Auburn supplanted the Sooners as the top ranked BCS team after rushing for 440 yards against LSU.  Cam Newton would be the Heisman winner if the season ended today and Newton and Auburn will have a few weeks to pad there stats before ending their season against Alabama.  Jock Talk is hoping the Cam Newton Bandwagon keeps on rolling into December.
• For the first time in history, Iowa State defeated Texas.  After allowing over 50 points in their previous two games, the Cyclones limited the Longhorns to 21 points (6 in the first 3 quarters) and forced 4 turnovers.  Texas seemed poised to put its season back on track following their upset in Lincoln, but after a historically disturbing upset Mack can't be pleased about the direction his team is headed.  Baylor is currently the only Big 12 school from Texas ranked, meaning the MVC has as many Texas teams ranked as the Big 12.  Texas' season is already a disappointment, but the Longhorns do have a chance to regain dominance in the own state by beating Baylor on Saturday.  
• Michigan State will travel to Iowa on Saturday.  Both teams (as well as Wisconsin and even Ohio State) are fighting for the top position in the Big 10.  Michigan State is only undefeated team and title contender in the conference.  Just in case Oregon or Auburn falter, Jock Talk would like to see the Spartys remain undefeatd, thereby blocking Boise's road to a National Championship appearance.  

NBA Prediction Time

At the risk of proving me know absolutely nothing, we are posting our predictions for the upcoming season.

	JC	Taylor
Western Conf.	Heat over Magic	Heat over Magic
Eastern Conf.	Lakers over Thunder/Mavs	Thunder over Lakers
Fianls	Heat over Lakers	Heat over Thunder
ROY	Blake Griffin	Blake Griffin
MIP	Roy Hibbert	Michael Beasley
MVP	LeBron James	Kevin Durant

We will be back to check our progress at mid-season.

NBA Preview Show!!!!

JC and Taylor put on a clinic for how to butcher an NBA preview.  Enjoy!

Week 8 Recap

The guys discuss the Jock Talk curse, Cam Newton's bandwagon, JC sabotaging his flag football team, Justin "the DUI" Blackmon, and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Sorry Justin

Justin Blackmon, the number one receiver in the country with 1,112 yards and 14 TDs, was charged with a misdemeanor DUI at 3:45 A.M Tuesday morning upon leaving the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants Monday Night football game.  He supposedly was under the legal limit for blood-alcohol level but since he was underage he was charged with a DUI.  He was clocked going 90 mph in 60 mph zone.  Oklahoma State has suspended Blackmon for one game.  In JockTalk's personal opinion, Justin's biggest mistake was speeding.  Lets examine the situation...  He and 3 teammates were invited to a football game by his good friend and ex-teammate Dez Bryant. He was the only one with a big enough car to drive his friends.  He had a beer and hung out with Dez and friends after the game and knew he was sober enough to drive.  He was speeding, got pulled over, and was asked if he had been drinking. Its sad that people are pegging Justin as a bad guy after this incident, aside from the speeding he appears to have been fairly responsible considering he was hanging out in Dallas with his superstar wide receiver friend.   Should he have probably slept in Dallas for a few hours and left early in the morning?  Yes.  Should he had not been drinking underage?  Yes.  Should he have been going the speed limit?  Yes.  Should an entire Oklahoma State football team be punished for a slightly bad mistake that didn't even count as a felony?  No.  Blackmon shouldn't have been suspended and Gundy knows this.   He had to do it in order to save face in the media. He had to because its a DUI in Texas as opposed to a DWI in Oklahoma. He had to do it because of the stigma that goes with a DUI and the national scrutiny that would occur from other coaches if he didn't suspend him.  Still, without Blackmon Okie State is a 4.5 favorite in Manhattan, we shall see... Go Pokes

NBA preview part 2

If you are looking for part 1, the LeBronicles, click here. In part 2 we'll go discuss a few teams and the state of the NBA in general.

• Lets open up with the Miami Heat, who already lost their season opener.  The LeBrons led the league in wins the last two seasons, going for 66 in one season while losing just one home game LeBron played in.  Putting LeBron on a team with Wade and Bosh and the supporting cast Riley has gathered should be 75-win, undefeated at home lock.  He won 66 without Wade.  Forget about Bosh, just adding Wade to LeBron should give them 75 wins.
• Here Jock Talk we are die hard for the Thunder.  Last season the Thunder showed incredible growth but were also very lucky in the health department.  Kevin "Durantula" Durant will win the scoring title again this year and it won't be close.  He will put up 35 a game and probably win the MVP.  The most intriguing player will be Serge "Chewblocka" Ibaka.  The Thunder lack an offensive threat in the post and need a strong interior defensive presense to offset Jeff Green's lack of size.  Ibaka showed flashes of both in the postseason and could be a real surprise this season.  Heading into the season the Thunder are the consensus no. 2 in the West, trailing only the...
• ...Lakes.  Still technically the team to beat lest just pencil them into the Western Conference championship game and move on.
• The Celtics are the defending Eastern Conference champs but were already an aging team, and adding Shaq doesn't get you younger.  The most exciting thing about this team is no longer the "Big Three", Rajon Rondo is the best player on the Celtics.  The Rondo-Rose match ups will be some of best for several years to come.
• Speaking of Derrick Rose, the Bulls should be one of the leagues most improved teams this year.  Rose could emerge as a perennial MVP candidate this year and the Bulls now have a low post scoring threat in Carlos Boozer as well a high energy forward with Noah.
• Staying in the East, Orlando is one Dwight Howard low post move away from making the leap to serious title contender.  If Kobe can spend a summer working on his post game with Hakeem, why can't an actual center?
• The Spurs and Mavericks will continue to pose a threat despite aging, but it will be interesting to see if the Jazz will compete without Boozer.
• This offseason there was an exodus of talent from the West to the East, as Boozer and Amare shifted leagues.  This season Carmelo and Chris Paul may both be on the move and it seems like each may more East as well.  After years of West domination the shift may be occurring.
• Go Thunder!!!