Up to the end of Week 3 of the 2009 NFL season, Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones has compiled the career stats as follows:
2008: 30 rushes, 266 yards, 8.9 average, 3 TDs.
2009: 21 rushes, 212 yards, 10.1 average, 1 TD.
Career: 51 rushes, 478 yards, 9.4 average, 4 TDs.
An average of over 9 yards per carry? Is that a typo?
Too bad that Jones doesn't seem to be able to stay healthy. If he does, who needs Tony Romo?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Look How Bad You Are
That's the nickname of long-time Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, picked up after his two appalling races in place of the injured Felipe Massa at Valencia and Spa-Francorchamps.
And I really feel sorry for him.
Perhaps I always have a soft spot for underdogs (and being a Michael Schumacher-hater), I was thrilled to see Schumi decided not to make a comeback and instead let Badoer fill Massa's seat.
It was in 1999 when Badoer last raced in Formula One, with the (un)forgettable Minardi team. When he retired from a strong fourth place during the final laps of the European Grand Prix at Nürburgring that year, racing fans all over the world remember how he sobbed inconsolably at the side of his car, knowing that his best chance of scoring his first ever point in Formula One was gone.
But then it wasn't.
His second chance came 10 years later, as a replacement for the injured Massa at this year's European Grand Prix at Valencia, a street circuit where he had never raced before. This, however, proved to be an inopportune moment for him. Before the race, many thought that Badoer, mostly because of Ferrari's strong performance in recent races, would at least bring the car near the top of the grid or even finish in the points. However, he managed to qualify last (nearly two seconds adrift of the second-to-last driver Jaime Alguersuari, a rookie himself in just his second race) and went on to spin a handful of times during the race. A 17th-placed finish was the best he could muster.
With the next race at Spa just seven days away, Ferrari decided to stay put and give Badoer one more chance to prove his worth. But he once again qualified last (half a second slower than another rookie, Romain Grosjean, also in his second race) and was the last car on the lead lap in the race. His teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, fared just a little better by getting to celebrate on the top step of the podium ...
Not surprisingly, Badoer got the axe after the race, and was replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella, the hero at Spa. While Badoer complained that the negative reports by the press (plus the nickname) was the main reason behind his dismissal, and vowed that he would do better on the third race back, sadly this would likely be the last we would hear from him, as he has just started his journey into oblivion.
Sometimes fate can be unforgivingly cruel to the nicest people. Had Badoer not made a comeback and had these two nightmarish races, the thing we all will remember about him is his crying on that rainy day in Nürburgring in 1999.
Now, he's got a nickname that will stick with him forever.
And I really feel sorry for him.
Perhaps I always have a soft spot for underdogs (and being a Michael Schumacher-hater), I was thrilled to see Schumi decided not to make a comeback and instead let Badoer fill Massa's seat.
It was in 1999 when Badoer last raced in Formula One, with the (un)forgettable Minardi team. When he retired from a strong fourth place during the final laps of the European Grand Prix at Nürburgring that year, racing fans all over the world remember how he sobbed inconsolably at the side of his car, knowing that his best chance of scoring his first ever point in Formula One was gone.
But then it wasn't.
His second chance came 10 years later, as a replacement for the injured Massa at this year's European Grand Prix at Valencia, a street circuit where he had never raced before. This, however, proved to be an inopportune moment for him. Before the race, many thought that Badoer, mostly because of Ferrari's strong performance in recent races, would at least bring the car near the top of the grid or even finish in the points. However, he managed to qualify last (nearly two seconds adrift of the second-to-last driver Jaime Alguersuari, a rookie himself in just his second race) and went on to spin a handful of times during the race. A 17th-placed finish was the best he could muster.
With the next race at Spa just seven days away, Ferrari decided to stay put and give Badoer one more chance to prove his worth. But he once again qualified last (half a second slower than another rookie, Romain Grosjean, also in his second race) and was the last car on the lead lap in the race. His teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, fared just a little better by getting to celebrate on the top step of the podium ...
Not surprisingly, Badoer got the axe after the race, and was replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella, the hero at Spa. While Badoer complained that the negative reports by the press (plus the nickname) was the main reason behind his dismissal, and vowed that he would do better on the third race back, sadly this would likely be the last we would hear from him, as he has just started his journey into oblivion.
Sometimes fate can be unforgivingly cruel to the nicest people. Had Badoer not made a comeback and had these two nightmarish races, the thing we all will remember about him is his crying on that rainy day in Nürburgring in 1999.
Now, he's got a nickname that will stick with him forever.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Quick Thoughts on NFL Week 1
Jake Delhomme's days as a premier quarterback in the NFL are over. But if you think the Carolina Panthers had suffered enough for his 9 picks and 11 turnovers in the last two games, think about this: Their top backup in Week 1 was Josh McCown, who was put on the injured reserve after the game due to foot and knee injury. They should have drafted a QB in the last couple of years. They should also have given Jeff Garcia a call ...
But the Philadelphia Eagles snapped up Garcia after their QB Donovan McNabb broke a rib in a meaningless touchdown run late in their blowout against the Panthers. Good news is, Garcia will probably start next week. Bad news is, when Michael Vick is finally reinstated in Week 3, the Eagles will have four good QBs on their roster. One of them has to go, and that would likely be Kevin Kolb, a former top (second-round) pick.
The Oakland Raiders played better than many expected. Their running game was strong, and their passing game was effective as well. And the player who stood out in their close loss against the San Diego Chargers was rookie receiver Louis Murphy, who had outplayed first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey by grabbing a long touchdown. However, he should have had two but he just couldn't hang on to the ball when he fell down in the endzone in the second quarter. The mistake cost Raiders four points which turned out to be their margin of defeat. With the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs struggling, the Raiders could be a big surprise this season.
The other Bay Area team, the San Francisco 49ers, could be another surprise this season. I like Mike Singletary as a player, and I like him as a coach too for his no-nonsense style of play. Their QB, Shaun Hill (whom I had criticised before), may not be the flashiest player you'll ever see, but what he does is keep winning games. And if they start their season well, don't be surprised to see Michael Crabtree, their first-round pick this year who is still holding out, to report to camp immediately.
But the Philadelphia Eagles snapped up Garcia after their QB Donovan McNabb broke a rib in a meaningless touchdown run late in their blowout against the Panthers. Good news is, Garcia will probably start next week. Bad news is, when Michael Vick is finally reinstated in Week 3, the Eagles will have four good QBs on their roster. One of them has to go, and that would likely be Kevin Kolb, a former top (second-round) pick.
The Oakland Raiders played better than many expected. Their running game was strong, and their passing game was effective as well. And the player who stood out in their close loss against the San Diego Chargers was rookie receiver Louis Murphy, who had outplayed first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey by grabbing a long touchdown. However, he should have had two but he just couldn't hang on to the ball when he fell down in the endzone in the second quarter. The mistake cost Raiders four points which turned out to be their margin of defeat. With the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs struggling, the Raiders could be a big surprise this season.
The other Bay Area team, the San Francisco 49ers, could be another surprise this season. I like Mike Singletary as a player, and I like him as a coach too for his no-nonsense style of play. Their QB, Shaun Hill (whom I had criticised before), may not be the flashiest player you'll ever see, but what he does is keep winning games. And if they start their season well, don't be surprised to see Michael Crabtree, their first-round pick this year who is still holding out, to report to camp immediately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)