THE NBA IS BACK!!! LEBRON, D-WADE LOOK UNBEATABLE, DA BULLS LOOK ROSE-Y......

   The NBA kicked off their 2011-2012 season on Christmas day with five games on three networks over the course of 12 hours with three blow outs and couple of nail biters. The NY Knicks and the Boston Celtics played down to the wire, in a hum dinger of a ding dong dilly ( alright I'll stop) at the Garden where Carmelo Anthony with 17 points in the fourth (37 for the game) edge the C's 106-104 in a back and fourth opener reminiscent of the old Knicks-Celtics battles years ago.

Then came the much anticipated finals rematch between the Mavs and the Heat, with Dallas receiving there championship rings from the Commish and making funny faces at Lebron as they got them, (ok they only thought about doing that). Once that was over, the Dallas faithful should have left the arena, because once the game began D-Wade, Lebron and company crushed the Mavs from start to finish with James finishing with 37 and D-Wade 26 with the Heat leading most of the game by 30 or more points until garbage time trimmed the lead to its eventual 105-94 score.

The big game of the day for me was Da -Bulls opening up against the Lakers. If you weren't sure if Derrick Rose was a MVP type player, you have to believe it now. Trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter Rose, Luol Deng and company came all the way back to take the lead on a Rose jumper in the lane with 4 seconds left, then blocked a Kobe Bryant runner to win, as time expired to steal a victory from the Lakers in front of a packed house at the Staples Center.

So at the end of the day, opening night in the NBA was was exciting, but told us one thing for sure, unless Lebron James goes into choke mood again in the palyoffs, its the Heats title to lose, with the Bulls right there in case he does. (one can only hope)........

Happy Holidays!!!



Schabes

THE HOKIES VS THE TIGERS FOR THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP, I SMELL A BLOWOUT!!!

   Tonight at Bank of America Stadium, you have the big game of the year, the ACC championship in Charlotte between Virginia Tech and the Clemson Tigers. On paper this looks like a great match up, with both teams sporting high powered offenses, and good if not great defenses (see VT. stats, 9th in nation against the run), but if you watch alot ACC football like I do you see two teams going in different directions.

Virginia Tech 11-1 (7-1) in the ACC is on a seven game winning streak and clicking on all cylinders whereas Clemson 9-3 (6-2) in the ACC is reeling coming into tonights game after getting spanked and humiliated in there last two games (Nc State and South Carolina), in blow out fashion.

This game comes down to Clemson's talented (not lately) QB Tajh Bowd reconnecting with Freshman sensation Sammy Watkins (72 rec 1073 yds 10 td) to have any chance of beating the Hokies tonight, because running the ball tonight against a Virginia Tech defense will be difficult (95 yds per game allowed).

My Take:  Virginia Tech avenges there early season loss to Clemson and wins 42 -21. They contain Tajh Bowd, gets some turnovers, and the Hokie offense led by QB Logan Thomas and RB David Wilson run the ball through a weak Clemson run defense.

Enjoy the game everybody

Schabes

UNC VS NC STATE SAT 12:30 AT CARTER FINLEY, WHICH STATE TEAM WILL SHOW UP?

  You gotta ask yourself if your a NC State fan, who's gonna show up to play the Tar Heels this sat. Will it be the group that beat a much improved virginia cavalier football team 28-14 with Mike glennnon throwing 3 touchdown passes and making you forget for just a minute about Russell Wilson or the team that lost last week to florida state 34-0 and looked like a pop warner team that played liked they where deer in the headlights. Glennon in that game threw two interceptions and was sacked multiple times and the defense played like they where mad at the offense and being torched up and down the field by the Florida State offense.

So like the song M&M sings, will the real slim shady please stand up please stand up, will the real Mike Glennon please show up please show up or the Tar Heels 6-3 (2-3) in the ACC and already Bowl eligible are gonna give the wolfpack a good old fashion butt whoopin and break there four game losing streak to NC State.

there are two keys to the game:  1).  You might think its QB Bryn Renner 19 td's 9 picks, but the key for State to win this game is to stop possible ACC player of the year Giovani Bernard 945 yards rushing 243 yards receiving. State must limit his touches and finish off there tackles (he's only 5-8, but very strong and elusive) and play 8 in the box especially in running situations.  2). Mike (Opie Taylor) Glennon must play at the top of his game. limit his turnovers (preferable none) and be effiicient with his throws (19 td's) just 8 interceptions on the season. O btw throw every pass to TJ Graham that's a start!!!

Prediction=     NC State show's up and plays well at home in front of a sold out crowd at Carter Finley Stadium, TJ Graham make plays on special teams and the Wolfpack wins there fifth in a row against the Tar heels 34-24............................... sorry Larry Wilson and Keith Klutz!!!


Enjoy the tailgating and the game

Schabes

WE LET RUSSELL WILSON GO PLAY FOR WISCONSIN FOR ONE YEAR SO WE CAN HAVE MIKE GLENNON FOR TWO, REALLY!!!

     Don't get me wrong folks, Mike Glennon is and will be a fine QB for NC State the next two years, but when you have an all ACC three year starting QB like Russell (got signing bonus bank from the Rockies) Wilson able to come back and lead you again after a nine win season, you gotta be kidding me. All Russell Wilson has done at Wisconsin (granted there bigger better and from the Big Ten) is lead them to two lopsided victories and hasen't even played in the fourth quarter yet. Lets put it this way, with Wilson at QB, State is a potential BCS Bowl team, without him they will struggle but will get a Bowl bid (7 wins).

My guess is that coach Tom O'brien never thought in a million years Wilson would be aloud to come back after the Colorado Rockies drafted him in the fourth round of the Major League baseball draft(they gave him a quarter mil signing bonus) and hung himself out to dry by promising Glennon the job after last year. So with Military man O'brien, who is not going to be someone who would ever go agaainst his word (honorable) here we sit with MG instead of RW.

Looking at tomorrow's game against South Alabama junior college (I think?)  6:00 pm sat at Cater Finley Stadium, it should be a big day for State and a fun day for us tailchasers (sorry) tailgaters (hope the weather holds up)..............................

PREDICTION        NC State 35 South Alabama 3

Schabes

NFL OWNERS AND PLAYERS FINALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO DIVIDE 9 BILLION. R U READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!

   The (idiot) NFL owners and the (spoiled brat) player's association finally figured out that 9 billion in profits each year ain't bad (yes ain't) and decided to deflate there egos and settle just in time for the 2011 season.

The greatest thing settled in the dispute was rookie salaries. This is a huge win for the Owners, and also a great deal for veteran Players where the big contracts should really go. Two words describe why this needed to be, Jamarcus Russell. Dude held out for more money after being the no 1 pick in the 97 Draft, got it and turned out to be one of the biggest busts in NFL history (Ryan "BIG BABBY" Leaf easily the biggest ever in 98).

The other most important change that the owners wanted that didn't happen was increasing the regular season schedule to 18 games. That's never gonna happen, because two more games will lead to more injuries to star players and water down the playoffs even more, and a 17 game slate would be a scheduling nightmare with the odd number.

So R U ready for some football, hell yes my "Schabes Maniacs" haha. The first preseason games start Aug 11th with the Chargers and the Seahawks on ESPN, which is just one week from TODAY!!!. I just wanna say i'm so excited for the season to start that all I'm wearing right now is my Bears helmet, short shorts and my spikes. Now there's a visual for ya.......




SCHABES

RORY MCLLROY US OPEN champ, is he the next Tiger, H_ _ L no!!!

   The next best thing in Golf as of 6/19/2011 is a Irish kid who this time didn't shoot 80 on Sunday (like he did at the Masters) and won the US OPEN on fathers day by 8 shots. The Tiger comparisons are coming up more than his porn star girlfriends, but there's a problem, Mr porn dater has won 14 majors at age 35, Rory Mcllroy 1 major at age 22. To put that into perspective of Tigers greatness, if Rory won a major every year from now till age 35 he would tie porn boy and the likelihood of that happening would be like thinking Schabes On Sports will become as popular as Steve Schaible (this is when u start throwing up in your mouth!!!).

   Rory's a great kid, and the PGA tour couldn't be happier, but the reality is, what  T Woods did from 97 to 08 will never be matched. Take this to the bank, Rory (im not afraid to drink from the US OPEN cup) Mcllroy will win his share, with the dream final pairing at a major matching Tiger vs Mcllroy happening soon, when that happens Coke, Pepsi, and cialis (easy boys) better get there pocket books out because the ratings will rival the Super Bowl and beyond.................................


SCHABES

  

BULLS VS HEAT GAME 2. CHICAGO'S DEFENSE AGAINST MIAMI IN GAME 1 ALMOST AS GOOD AS DA 85 BEARS!!!

   Hampton, Dent, and Singletary from the 85 Bears (the greatest defense in NFL history) would have sat in awe the way the Bulls played defense against the Miami Heat Sunday at the UC. Lebron, D-Wade and the rest of the Heat where shut down by the likes of Noah, Rose and Taj Gibson (will Post his mammoth dunk at the end) with as good of defensive performance you will ever see.

Denials at the rim, close outs on jump shooters and great rebounding (especially in the second half) made the heat leave the floor thinking are you sure were the favorites to win this series.

One game does not win a series, but for the bulls to beat the heat, they have to play the same pressure De-Fence and let Derrick Rose do his thing. Ps. The Bulls must hold serve tonight at home to take a 2-0 lead down to South Beach or you can throw game 1 out the window, but so far the 85 bears are watching and going "not bad for a sissy sport".

STAY THIRSTY MY FRIENDS.......................................

SCHABES

HOCKEY PLAYOFFS IN FULL SWING. DEFENDING CHAMPS SHOW GRIT WITH 5-0 ROUT IN VANCOUVER

    It doesn't matter whether you like Hockey a little or a lot, come playoff time even the casual pucks fan turns on the Versus Network (gotta look it up first, ahhhh channel 65 on Time Warner cable) come playoff time.  For the avid Hockey fan you know their will be less fighting and more Hockey from a skill and skating standpoint, so that you and the little ones can watch the games together without your son saying, nock his freaking teeth out!!!.

It even looks like Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are going to advance out the first round (lost last year to Montreal) while Detroit (won their series) Pittsburgh and San Jose, lead 3-1 in their series and should advance, other series like the Briuns Canadians, Flyers and Sabres series could easily go seven games in the First round.

The series that has changed in a blink of an eye is the Vancouver, Chicago series. The Canucks led by the Sedin twins jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead that left the defending champs all but dead. then in game 4 at home and not wanting to lose the series on home ice, the Hawks reeled off 7 goals and even knocked out star goalie Roberto Luongo to extent the series back to Vancouver for a game 5. Then last night when the Barry Melrose's of the world said it ends tonight in vancouver, the Blackhawks showed why they are the defending Stanley cup champs by crushing the canucks 5-0 to force a game 6 back in Chicago.
Can the Blackhawks do the unthinkable and win games 6 and 7....
Stay thirsty my Hawks fans!!!

Happy Easter


Schabes

8 SWEET SIXTEEN GAMES TODAY AND TOMORROW, LETS BREAK IT DOWN

   Hello-Everybody, so does your NCAA bracket look like S--t, don't worry most eveyone's does, but I'm willing to bet your still in the running to win the whole thing (unless of course you had Pitt "oops").  The pool I'm in, has three tied for first with 44 points including yours truly, and that my friends is a low first place total, (64) possible. Who had Butler beating Pitt? ya thats right the kid had it!!!. How about Butler, they loose Gordon Hayward and still come back this year and make the sweet sixteen, but that all ends tonight against wisconsin.

Here's tonights four match ups......

3 U CONN vs 2 SDSU 7:15 all times eastern

3 BYU vs 2 Florida 7:27

5 Arizona vs Duke 9:45

8 Butler vs Wisconsin 9:57

MY TAKE......   It will be to much Kimba Walker for U CONN, over SDSU whose fairy tale season comes to a end.

BYU and Jimmer (I aint havin sex during the season Fredette) and the cougars just to hot for Fla in a close one.

You add Kyrie Irving to a all ready strong Duke team, they win going away vs AZ.

Butler's dream ends here against Wis, who is to big and strong for the Bulldogs to handle tonight.

Fridays matchups

11 Marquette vs 2 UNC 7:15

12 Richmond vs 1 Kansas 7:27

4 Kentucky vs 1 Ohio St. 9:45

11 VCU vs 10 Florida ST. 9 :57

MY TAKE......

 UNC better take care of the basketball tonight against a talented and athletic Marquette team and not get down early like in the ACC tournament. If they minimize there turnovers and take advantage of their lenght (Henson and Zeller) they should move on.

The Love affair for the Richmond Spiders comes crashing down tonight. Kansas by 20..................

Might be the game of the year tonight. There are probably 5 or 6 first round draft picks playing in this game, led by Player of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger. Take a coin and flip it, its going to be a good one (I took Kentucky in my bracket).

What a great game no one cares about, the reason, "no one has either of these freakin teams in this game lol".
I'll tell you why you should watch this game. Joey Rodriguez, VCU point guard. He can handle it, shoot it, and dish it. VCU gets to the final 8........

Enjoy the games everyone and I'll talk to you about the final 4 next week!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOO Kansas (guess who I got to win it all)

SCHABES

THE ACC TOURNAMENT IS UP FOR GRABS, ANYBODY CAN WIN IT. ALRIGHT WHO AM I KIDDING ITS GONNA BE UNC VS DUKE IN THE FINAL.

   The ACC tournament starts Thursday in Greensboro, and all I can say is, same ol same ol. Come Sunday at 1:00 pm at the old barn, its gonna be UNC vs Duke for the ACC championship (and by the way you don't beat coach K. twice in one week, Duke by 10). For you Wolf Pack fans, 15 and 15 NC State ( please fire Lowe) plays Maryland at 7 pm Thur in the third play in game of the day (the winner plays on fri in the quarters against Duke) so unless they step it up against the Terps on Thursday they will finish with a losing record and done for the year. The only teams playing well enough to compete against the Tar Heels or the Blue Devils are Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson ( Florida State has the best chance, 11-5 in conference and a first round draft pick in Chris Singlelton, 6-9 225, keep a eye on him during the tourney.

   This is one of the best weekends of the year to live in the Triangle area because of how people love to watch the ACC tournament. The bars will be packed, companies let people off work early because they know if they didn't, a lot them would call in with the 48 hour flu (Thursday Friday) and great weather. So get all your work related stuff done by noon on thursday, find a sports bar (If you do, your bound to find me) order a cold one and enjoy the games everyone....
                                    
           
                                                 

                                                                                
                                                                                        

SCHABES                                                                               

THEY THOUGHT SIDNEY LOWE WAS IN THE KNOW, BUT WE ALL KNOW HE'S GOT TO GO!!!

   Somewhere (Arizona State) Herb Sendek is got to be telling his friends I told you its tough to beat unc and duke when your the coach of nc state. At least he can say he took nc state to the ncaa tournament a few times something Sidney Lowe can not. Hey, where's David thompson and tommy burleson, two of the key former players to help oust Sendek because he couldn't beat duke or unc enough. They said they needed a nc stsate guy to get the top flight recruits to compete with the tar heels and the blue devils. The only thing you hear from them know is mute, nada, nothing, but really, what can they say. I like Sidney Lowe but he's gotta go. In 5 years his record overal is 85 and 75, but its his acc record that should get him fired. He's 24 and 53 in acc play and with his best recruiting class they have had in a long time, have gottin knocked around by unc and duke including a 12 point loss at home wed night to the tar heels. Whats the answer, probably a national search for a new coach, but I think the best answer to replace Sid, sits right next to him on the bench. Monty Towe, the fiery little point guard from the 74 championship team. He's got coaching experience (U of New Orleans) and obvious ties to the state program that would keep the alumni happy ( until he starts losing to the tar heels and the blue devils). Quick take: If C.J. Leslie goes pro after this year (and he probably will) the program will be back to square one. Tracy Smith, and Javier Gonzales are seniors so things don't look up for whoever takes over at state next year, and who knows maybe David and Tommy will make a couple of calls and get Sid a extention because he's their guy (YIKES WHAT A THOUGHT!!!).


Thats it, no more vodka for lunch...............




SCHABES

PACKERS VS STEELERS SUPER BOWL XLV, WHAT'S THE KEY TO THE GAME, "I'LL TELL YOU"........

      Finally the super bowl is here. Two weeks is way too long to wait ( just ask Green bay and Pittsburgh fans) for the big game. It just seems to take the momentum away even if your just a fan of the NFL and your team has been eliminated (da Bears, who da coach says will still win this game "what"). One week is perfect, it keeps the fan flow goin, the teams are used to it and do we really want to watch the f -in pro-bowl on the off Sunday, I'd rather watch corn grow.

       Ok here's my take on the game (I know you've been waiting so you can make your bet, lol).

            LINE:  Green Bay -2.5 over Pittsburgh    over under 44.5

      The key to super bowl XLV is Aaron Rodgers, period. If he stays in the game and does not get hurt (see Troy Polomalu) he is the hottest most accurate QB going and especially indoors (see stat line vs Atl).
 Dude likes the warm weather, not that big Ben doesn"t, but the Packers have no chance without him if he gets his bell rung. Pittsburgh on the other hand has to stop Clay Mathews And I predict they won't, to have a chance in this game. They have the experience (two rings under big Ben), but might be a little long in the tooth at wide receiver and here's a key, their rookie center and pro bowl pick Maurkice Pouncey is out with a knee injury which won't help stopping Green Bay's pass rush.     Prediction: take Green Bay and lay the 2.5 and take the over, it should be a high scoring game.          Final Score:     Green Bay 31 Pittsburgh 21.    " SORRY ALL MY STEELER FANS"


ENJOY THE GAME


SCHABES

4 TEAMS ENTER 2 TEAMS LEAVE, W.W.S.D. "WHAT WOULD SCHABES DO"!!!

    Here are my picks for the NFC and AFC championship games (how bout that for a arrogant title for the blog lol).


       NFC championship   Packers -3.5 over the Bears    over under 43

     Never has there been more hype for a football game in Chicago and Green bay than this one. these two rivals play twice a year but have not played in a playoff game since 1941.

      MY TAKE :  This game comes down to two words, Devin Hester. If he makes plays on punt returns and kick returns, he will either score or set up the Bears with a short field like he did against Seattle. If he doesn't the Packers are playing to good on both offense and defense (see Clay Mathews) for the Bears to beat them straight up, Butttttt I think Hester is the difference so I'll take the Bears (shocker) and the 3.5 and take the over...........................


        AFC championship   Steelers -3.5 over the Jets        over under 38.5

      MYTAKE :   The Jets are the love em or hate em team in the palyoffs this year and boy was I wrong on that game last week. This week is a different story. The Steelers are playoff tested (2 titles 2005, 2008) and With Ben Roethlisberger healthy, the Jets are going to have a hard time stopping him from making plays outside the pocket after the initial contact (he's the best in the business at extending the play) along with their defense (see Troy Palamalu) the Steelers finally send the Jets home. So I'll take the Steelers and give the 3.5 points over the Jets and take the over, 38.5 is way low dudes!!!.


Happy Betting


SCHABES

4 GREAT GAMES THIS WEEDKEND IN THE NFL, WHO YA GOT AND WHO'S GONNA COVER......

    What a great slate of NFL football we got this weekend. Two games each this sat and sun (ya baby ya) with Balt at Pitt sat 4:30pm, the fudge packers (sorry I mean Green Bay) at Atl 8:00 on sat, and on sun Seattle at da Bears 1:00pm then the most talked about game of the weekend, the NY (run our grills) jets at New England at 4:30 to finish off the weekend. Here's a look at each game with the spead, the over under and of course MY-TAKE!!!.

      Baltimore at Pittsburgh :  point spread Pitt -3.5 over Baltimore. over under 37.  
MY TAKE : The third meeting between bitter divisional rivals this year. Baltimore is a great road team because their defense led by Ray (I aint killed nobody) Lewis and Ed Reed make home crowds quite early, but Big Ben Roethlisburger is healthy (his nose still looks like s_ _t) plus their at home so I'll take Pittsburgh, lay the points and take the over (the defense will score points in this one).

      Green Bay at Atlanta : point spread Atl - 2.5 over Green Bay. over under 43
MY TAKE : The Packers are on a roll in all three phases of the game, special teams, offense (how good is Aaron Rodgers playing right now)  and defense. Atlanta with the best recond in the NFC should play well at home, but the ground game has lagged and Matt Ryan can't win it by himself, so take the Packers (can't beleive i'm saying this) and the 2.5 points and take the over (should be somewhat of a shootout).


       Seattle at chicago : point spread Chicago -10 over Seattle.  over under 41
MY TAKE : Stayyyyyy away from this game. If anything take Seattle and the 10 points. As you know I'm a huge Bears fan, but thats too big a number to cover. Jay Cutler is to hot and cold to predict this game, but I think he steps up and play well against the Seahawks and the Bears should be able to run the ball (Seattle is the worst team against the run in the NFL) so hopefully that will take pressure of Cutler. Go with the over in this one, the  Bears should score a lot points and Seattle offense is coming around..................


         NY Jets at New England : point spread New England - 8 over NY over under 44
MY TAKE : Will the Jets ever shut up!!!. Antonio Cromartie (aka toast) needs to just shut up and play after getting their ass kicked just weeks ago against these same Patriots. We all know Tom Brady is a stuck up pretty boy, but you don't want to piss him off (see Michael Jordan) when it comes down to a playoff game and their at home. The Jets are a banged up football team and their coach has a creepy foot fetish with his wife (at least make her wear high heeled boots, sorrry, that's my fetish!!!) so I'm Taking the Patriots to cover and the over gets crushed........................................ Enjoy the games everyone.


SCHABES

Gratuitous female sports pick #6.................... Colleen Dominguez
                                football sideline reporter