Early Prep and Good Pre-season is a Bargain for a Super Bowl

Preseason games count!

(Aug. 5, 2004) — Winning preseason games is important. Just look at the numbers. As a barometer of regular-season success, preseason records are a remarkably accurate gauge.

The past 10 Super Bowl champions had a combined 30-12 (.714) preseason record in the year they won the Super Bowl. Nine of those 10 teams posted .500 or better preseason records. Last summer, the eventual Super Bowl teams — New England and Carolina — were unbeaten (8-0) in the preseason.

In the free agency/salary-cap era, developing veteran cohesiveness and team depth in preseason is more important than ever.

“There are certain things you can do in preseason to establish the foundation of your football team,” said Houston Texans head coach Dom Capers. “We place great value on the development of our team through the use of preseason games.”

Preseason records of the past 10 Super Bowl champions:
Year Team Preseason record
2003 New England 4-0
2002 Tampa Bay 3-1
2001 New England 3-1
2000 Baltimore 4-0
1999 St. Louis 2-2
1998 Denver 3-1
1997 Denver 3-2
1996 Green Bay 3-1
1995 Dallas 2-3
1994 San Francisco 3-1
TOTAL: 30-12 (.714)

Preseason success has translated to Super Bowl victories throughout NFL history. Of the 38 Super Bowl champions, 30 (78.9 percent) posted a preseason winning percentage of .500 or higher. Overall, the 38 Super Bowl winners have a combined 115-65-2 (.637) preseason record.

Since 1995, the final four playoff teams (AFC and NFC Championship Game participants) have combined for a preseason record of 95-53 (.642).

“My approach to the preseason is we try to win every game we play,” says new New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, whose Jacksonville team played in two of those championship games. “It’s much easier to teach and to learn when you’ve been in a winning situation.”

Over the past 10 seasons, 81 of the 120 teams (67.5 percent) that made the playoffs were .500 or better during the preseason. Division winners combined for a 153-119 (.563) preseason record in that span, while all playoff teams posted a 282-224 (.557) preseason record.

“Preseason success gives the players and coaches something to build on,” says Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells. “It’s something positive to think about.”
NFL head coaches stress the value of the preseason

* Herman Edwards, New York Jets: In 1977 as a free agent, Edwards parlayed a start in his first preseason game into a 10-year NFL career. “We want to win every preseason game. If they’re keeping score, then it’s our jobs as professionals to win the game. I put a lot of value into preseason games. It’s an opportunity to prepare for the regular season, work on new plays and evaluate our draft picks and free agents.”
* Dennis Erickson, San Francisco 49ers: “The preseason has three important values for us. First, it allows us to put in the basis of what we are going to do offensively and defensively. Second, it gives our first unit a tuneup for the regular season and allows us to evaluate some of our younger players. Finally, with a new defensive coordinator this year, the preseason will give us a chance to implement our new style of play.”
* Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans: “The preseason is an integral part of preparation for the regular season. It is imperative that players experience all aspects of the game. This includes pregame warmups, competing in games, adjusting to the speed of the game and learning how to win.”
* John Fox, Carolina Panthers: “Everybody goes into these games trying to win them. It certainly beats the alternative.”
* Jim Mora, Atlanta Falcons: “The preseason is extremely important for a couple of reasons. Obviously, it is important for players who are fighting for positions and for a team with a new coaching staff that is learning a new system. It is important for another reason, too. The preseason gives both coaches and players a feel for the way things will be in the regular season. It is our first chance to go against another opponent and see how they react to our schemes. The most important part is that preseason sets the tempo for the regular season. If you really watch the games and study the way the teams play, you can see that the tempo and the way that a team will conduct itself starts with how the team plays in the preseason.”
* Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos: “As a coaching staff, preseason games are an important part of our evaluation process. Not only do they give our veteran players a good opportunity to work together in a game situation, but they give us a great chance to take a look at our rookies and younger players, to see how they respond in a game setting. Any time you can see how a guy responds and how he handles himself in that situation, it helps your evaluation that much more. I think the fans get excited about seeing these new players for the first time. You’re seeing guys competing and playing their hearts out to try to earn a spot on the roster.”
* Mike Sherman, Green Bay Packers: “Preseason games serve two purposes for me. First, there is no substitute for game experience. Even your most seasoned veteran needs to acclimate himself to the tempo, speed and fatigue a game presents. Secondly, it offers me an opportunity to evaluate our younger players in game situations where it matters the most.”
* Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears: “I believe the preseason is important to our football team for two key reasons. First, playing preseason games is the best way to get ready for opening day. Veterans and rookies both need the preseason schedule to prepare mentally and physically for the speed and intensity of the regular season. We keep the intensity level high in practice, but you can never truly simulate game conditions. Second, these games are critical in the evaluation process of our players, especially the draft picks. We need to see how players raise their level of play in the competitive atmosphere of a game.”
* Dick Vermeil, Kansas City Chiefs: “This is a physical, fundamental, technical game. The more reps you give your players, the more time it gives you to teach them to do it better. The more you get to work with young kids, the more they get to do some real good things.”

Bargain Sweep for Russian Heavyweights

Russian Takes Last Heavyweight Belt from U.S.

LOS ANGELES — Oleg Maskaev scored a 12th round victory over Hasim Rahman to claim the WBC heavyweight championship on Saturday in Las Vegas, leaving the United States without a heavyweight champion.

Rahman, making his second defense, was the busier boxer throughout and had appeared headed for a narrow victory until the 37-year-old Maskaev came to life late, leaving everything to fight for as the bell sounded for the final round.

Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs) staggered Rahman with a right-left combination then pinned the American in the corner landing a series of hard rights before referee Jay Nady stepped in and stopped the contest with just 43 seconds left in the 12th round.

“This was like I said it was going to be, a war,” Maskaev told ringside television after the fight. “But I believed until the last minute that I was going to win.

“I believed the fight was even and I had to push it up if I was going to win this fight.

“I knew I had two more rounds, three more rounds left, if I want to win this title I had to fight.”

Maskaev’s victory means fighters born in the former Soviet Union now hold all four major heavyweight belts.

Maskaev was born in Kazakhstan and was an army officer in the former Soviet Union but became an U.S. citizen two years ago and lives in Staten Island.

The three other belts are held IBF champion Wladimir Klitscho a native of Ukraine, WBA champion Nikolay Valuev from Russia and WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich of Belarus.

“I’m a proud Russian American,” said Maskaev, who also knocked out Rahman in an earlier meeting in 1999. “There is a message to everybody that European fighters, they’re tough and strong as athletes.

“They have a chance to go somewhere.”

Rahman, using his jab to great effect, dominated the early rounds while Maskaev seemed content to try and land the same thundering right that knocked the American out of the ring in the eight round of the first meeting.

But Rahman tired in the later rounds and in the 12th was caught by vicious combination from Maskaev, who had won his last 10 fights, eight by knockout.

“I thought I was winning the fight, the ref said break and that was it,” said Rahman. “The ref said break, don’t throw a punch and I was hit with a shot.

“I’m disappointed. I’m extremely disappointed.

“I think (American heavyweights) are a little spoiled, make too much money too quick and lose sight of the grand prize which is to win the title and keep it.”

“Daddy, How Was I Born?”

A little boy goes to his father and asks “Daddy, how was I born?”

The father answers: “Well son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway!”

“Your Mom and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom and we met at a cyber-cafe.”

“We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said…

(scroll down)

You got male!!!!

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL REVIEW 8/14/06

Well, Oakland Raiders improved their winning record on MNF by sliding by Vikings 16-13. Aaron Brooks still did not impress me or any other Raider fan. He was 1-6 for 16 yards that came early in the game, a completion to randy Moss on the right sideline against a second string CB. During that drive Moss was also taken out, which caused a little temper tantrum by the star receiver. He quoted, “ “I was just more ticked because I’ve never in my career been taken out of a game, preseason, during a drive,” Moss said with a puzzled tone. “It’s funny to me. I don’t call the shots. I guess I just go back to the drawing board.” Personally , I think Art Shell needs to consider how long will he give Brooks to develop and start blending in with the offensive scheme. In the interview he stated that he had patience, but does Al Davis have patience with a non productive quarterback. Maybe he is too old and tired to deal with it….NOT. If Brooks does not show up in the first three games, he might find himself in the same situation as many house in New Orleans, under water. The QB that looked really good and maybe emerging as a starter is Andrew Walter , who was (10-19, 148 yards, 2 INT’s). Raiders still need to improve the running game, they only gained 99 yards on 29 carries. Jordan looked the best out of all RB’s, Vargas still looks like he is not hitting the holes like I saw him do at ND High School in Sherman Oaks, CA, or Michigan. It looks like he is still worried about his injury and not running as hard. I really hope he gets going in the positive direction and help the Raiders get back to the playoffs.

On the other hand, the last years second stringer Brad Johnson looked great , calm , and confident. By the looks of things, Culpepper will not be missed at all, in fact I believe that are better without him. After looking at the Vikings with Johnson leading the team, they look like a contender, or at least a playoff team. Their run defense looked good, they held Raiders to 99 yards rushing, 5 sacks and two interceptions. The new coach Childress looked very calm, assertive and the offense looked like it responded to a new look. Vikings will now rely on short passes and a ball -control game, and not off the big Moss play offense.

I still keep dwelling on the fact that it is too early to tell who will emerge as a leading team. You can tell the improvements and changes of coaching staffs are defiantly helping certain teams to regain their position in the league. One thing that Shell will have to work on and I am sure he is upset about it arfe the penalties that the Raiders are constantly getting. I mean close to a 100 yards a game is unacceptable to any coach, on any level, on any team.

Your humble reporter,

Vinnie D

First weekend look at NFL

This was the first time everyone had a chance to see starters play for more then one series of downs. Still to early to tell who is going to do what , but there were a couple of major developments. One negative, or a sad note is Clinton Portis’s injury , and on the other hand Keyshawn Johnson looked really good and helped Carolina beat Buffalo 14-13 . While there are still much to be seen before we start making Super Bowl predictions, you can see what teams are sharper or should I say “jelling” better. Is “jelling ” even a word? I wonder about myself too sometimes.

Some questions around the league could be answered soon like,” Can a new coach and Johnson keep Vikings in a contender circle? Are we going to see the new “Eagles”? Is Cinci going to keep it rolling ? Did Farve make the right choice by continuing his pro career? Can Eli lead the Giants to a Super Bowl?

Hopefully we all will have a better idea come September 7, 2006, the official date of the NFL season opener between Miami and Pittsburgh. Until then we can only hope that our teams dont get riddled with injuries and no one gets arrested.

NFL’s humble reporter,

Vinnie

Bargains on the Net (fraud Pt.2)

Good Monday to all bargain hunters. This is the second part of our fraud series. Fraud is crippling our economy and causes tremendous losses in the retail industry. Not only does this drive up prices, but also puts the consumer in the state of fear to use credit. I hope that everyone is aware that criminals are not compassionate people and usually don’t care about the victims. There are steps that were taken to hurt this criminal element and hopefully discourage others. I will discuss this later in this article.

In 2006 the US Bureau of Justice Statistics for the federal Justice Department, drawing on interviews with members of 42,000 randomly selected households over the last half of 2004, claimed that 3.6 million US households were victims of identity theft during that period – in contrast to a Federal Trade Commission study that estimated 9.3 million victims. It estimated the identity theft-related loss to households at US$3.2 billion.These statistics may I remind you only pertain to USA, you can only imagine what the numbers are worldwide.Now lets chat a bit about the other three ways to scam credit cards.

Forth way is called mail non-receipt fraud where a thief intercepts the replacement or a new card sent to a legitimate owner. This is the reason why most credit card companies urge you to call from your home when activating a new or a newly replaced card. The called ID will verify that the person calling matches the home number information on the original application. The other ways they verify is by social security number, mothers maiden name, where you first got the card and home address.

Another creative way to scam a credit card company is chargeback, this is where a legitimate card holder makes a purchase on goods or service, but then claims that they never authorized the transaction . This is also called first-party fraud.

The last fraud that we are going to talk about is very personal to me, since that is how I got frauded. Its called skimming, this is where an employee of a legitimate merchant manually copies the credit card information, or uses a card reader to copy the magnetic strip information. Cards that contain smart chip can not be copied by a magnetic strip reader.

Now we ask, how do we protect ourselves, and what is being done about it. Well folks the help is on the way and it came as a white knight riding with a huge sword called “Operation Cyber Sweep” . They are the angels that took down a small ring of crooks that I trusted with my company information as well as personal information. I started one of the first Wireless Broadband companies in Southern California just to be shattered by these crooks. They were part of a huge sting, but you can read about it more in detail by clicking on this link .

Mutual Admiration Society

I notice every year around this time, the self annointed experts and commentators analyze the 32 teams prospects. Interestingly, every team is going to be either improved or greatly improved. This is the time of year to pick the perennial losers like Arizona to win the west. I think this self promoting love fest is a little sickening. Maybe these media types don’t want to dishearten a certain fan base. For once I’d like to hear someone say they think a team is really undermanned and they expect a poor outcome for the season. Some of these analysts must think these things and should try to not let their relationships with the various teams color their view.

Your not roving reporter,

Pete K.

And they are off!!!!!!

Pre-season football kicked off this past week with a Hall of Fame game between Raiders and Eagles. It was really hard to judge how the teams will begin their season, but it was not hard to tell what the Raiders and Eagles need to work on. Although McNabb looked good in the opening drive, his back ups failed to score a TD for the rest of the game against a defense that suppose to be easy to pass against. On the other hand the report are that Brooks is looking good in camp and is getting comfortable with the offense and receivers. Eagles need much work on offense specially if McNabb gets injured, which as we all know due to his competitive nature is always a possibility. Garcia still looks short off the field and on the field. At one instance he had a receiver wide open about 20 yards down and chose to bounce the ball to him. Third string QB Timmy Chang had no chance to be impressive as one of the passes he threw was kindly fumbled back to the Raider’s defense by RB Bruce Perry.

One bright spot that I was happy about is a chance to see Justin Vargas play. I watch him at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks as he sliced and diced his way to many CIF records. I really liked the comment of the analyst made about so far disappointing NFL career of Justin Vargas who’s father was better known as Huggy Bear on the show Starsky & Hutch. He commented that this year Vargas should try to make a name for himself to be known for his playing ability rather then his kinship. I am really pulling for him to do well, but it seems that he needs to get his mind right and since his injury I can tell his is not hitting the holes as hard as he did in college.

Art Shell is an offensive Hall of Famer, but it looks like he surrounded himself with all his old coaching staffto work on defense.You can tell by the second quarter that Martinez’s coaching has improved LB’s. Oakland force numerous turnovers, including two key turnovers late in the game that lead to field goals.

Janikowski looked accurate and kicked two field goals over 50 yards which should not be a surprise since he is 6′-2″ 250 pounds. The punter looked pretty good , although in the second quarter he did shank a punt, but the roll helped,so Raiders did get a good defensive position.

Overall it was tough to tell what Raiders will show up, or how high the Eagles will fly this year. One good thing is that football is here and I am booked every Sunday through January.

Please post your comments and any additional information that I might have left out.

Sincerely,

Vinnie D.

We are all looking for the best deals on the Internet.

How do we tell a great deal from a bogus one? One thing I did learn growing up in different countries and areas of our great country of United States of America is that in the capitalistic setting everyone is trying to make a profit without actually using any ethics or care for the customer. Throughout the years me being a salesperson and a customer, I have seen many companies use great marketing techniques and phone sales pitches to push their product. As the Internet became more popular many retailers jumped on the e-commerce market, which catered to all whom had a plastic credit card and a CVS code. This “e-trend” created a brand new market and an evil playground for credit card fraud. Speaking from personal experience and being a victim of my business identity being stolen I realized how careful you have to be when dealing with merchants in person or on the web.
First thing to remember is to realize that when the deal is too good to be true, it is too good to be true. If you have not seen a price even close to what they are offering you in the store, catalog, or the Internet be vary weary about this merchant.
Second there are what is called Phishing website. What these brilliant criminals do is create a perfect copy of a very popular web sites. Then they buy a list from a list company with the targeted company as criteria. Then they mask the return email to look like its coming from the authentic source. Once you decide to open the email and click on that coded link it will take you to, what I called the “info-black-hole”. This is where any information that you provide inside the form provided is sent to a server that could be in another country and going through a “proxy” server that can hide the thief’s identity. If USA does not have the authority to check logs, records or the company that hosts the server does not cooperate you are basically out of luck.
Third and final lesson for today’s post is not to judge the book by its cover.
There are those really “smart” people that you don’t see during the day, and most likely will not see them at night, because when everyone is sleeping or closed they are lurking
trying to open your “e-wallet” to get your personal information, SSI number, account numbers and passwords. You will be surprised what these people look like. They can be a 12-year-old kid or that transient picking through your garbage can. A rule to follow is “DO NOT TRUST ANYONE WITH YOUR PERSONAL DATA.”
There are plenty of clever ruthless people that will try to prey on the weak and the elderly. Make sure you shred all your documents, statements, anything that has your personal information, account numbers, PIN, passwords.
One of the new comers to change that is http://bargainshaq.com. This site is getting a full work over this weekend and by Monday will be much more organized. Easy to find bargains including various categories and a special section for Super Hot Bargains that will be updated daily.

Please check in now and then for a complete list of merchandise and categories.
http://bargainshaq.com/”

This is Part 1 of a series regarding protecting the consumer from fraud and identity theft.
By,

Vinnie

Local NFL Fans Lose Network in Fee Dispute

Newly converted Time Warner Cable customers are upset. League-owned channel files complaint.

By Larry Stewart, Times Staff Writer
August 2, 2006

Time Warner Cable pulled the NFL Network out of its lineup without warning Tuesday because of a fee dispute, taking the network away from at least 1.6 million households in the Los Angeles area.

In turn, NFL Network on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, asking that Time Warner be required to restore a carriage agreement for 30 days. The network contends that when Time Warner abruptly dropped it from its programming, federal rules were violated.

The move against the league-owned network comes one day after Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. completed the purchase of Adelphia Communications Corp., which had filed for bankruptcy protection in 2002.

With the purchase, Time Warner now controls Adelphia’s 1.1 million cable households in the L.A. region and, in an asset swap, Comcast’s 500,000 households here.

A number of these subscribers were unhappy about losing NFL Network, which this season will offer 52 preseason games and eight regular-season games.

Richard Medina of Buena Park, previously an Adelphia subscriber, was one of them.

“We get a channel that shows us how to hang wallpaper, but we can’t get a channel that televises preseason NFL games,” Medina said, adding that he had been looking forward to seeing former USC stars Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart with their NFL teams.

Time Warner Cable, which had been servicing 360,000 homes in the L.A. market, has been unable to come to terms on a carriage agreement, contending NFL Network is asking for a 350% fee hike, mostly for the new eight-game package that kicks in Thanksgiving Day.

NFL Network denies the fee hike is that high, although spokesman Seth Palansky declined to discuss numbers.

He said the crux of the dispute, instead, is Time Warner’s desire to put NFL Network on a digital pay tier. The network is demanding it be allowed to remain part of the basic cable package to reach as many households as possible.

A wider distribution enables NFL Network to charge more for advertising.

With Monday’s merger, Time Warner, Charter and Cox now control the majority of the L.A. cable market — 52% of 5.3 million households. DirectTV and Dish Network control the satellite market, which represents 28%. NFL Network also does not have a carriage deal with Charter, but does with the other three.

Nationally, the 2 1/2 -year-old network has been able to reach agreements with cable and satellite companies that reach 65 million of the 91 million pay-television households. There are 26 million U.S. homes serviced by cable companies that don’t have a deal with NFL Network, and 15 million are Time Warner homes.

Patti Rockenwagner, a spokeswoman for Time Warner Cable in L.A., said her company would like to reach a deal.

“We have offered to carry NFL Network on our sports tier, similar to the way the network has been offered to many Comcast and Adelphia customers in the past,” she said. “What NFL Network is asking for is a 350% increase in rates for [essentially] eight games. That’s not a reasonable value for our customers.

“Our customers will still be able to watch more than 100 regular-season games on CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN — all available in high definition,” she said. “Of the preseason games NFL Network is offering, 87% are on tape delay.”

Indeed, of the 52 preseason games — the first of which airs Aug. 11 — only six will be carried live, but only because the network cannot show more than one game at a time. Nineteen will be in high definition. There also will be midweek replays of four games — two on Tuesdays and two on Wednesdays — plus its usual round-the-clock NFL-related programming.

Said Palansky of Time Warner, “This is a company that is desperate to divert the issue of removing a channel you subscribed to without any advance notice.”

Neither Palansky nor Rockenwagner would discuss the subscriber fees NFL Network is asking, but the Sports Business Journal said the fees have gone from 25 to 35 cents per subscriber per month to 85 to 95 cents, and that there is a $2 surcharge for cable companies such as Time Warner that want to put the network on a digital pay tier.

Palansky said the network’s West Coast headquarters in Culver City was swamped with complaints. The Times also received a number of complaint calls.

Medina, the former Adelphia subscriber, said he got a message on Channel 178, which previously carried NFL Network, that in part read: “Nice to meet you. Hello, my name is Time Warner Cable.” And there was a scroll that told viewers the NFL Network was “asking you to pay a premium for eight out-of-market games you got free last year. We are negotiating a deal for you.”

Les Haan of Bellflower, previously a Comcast subscriber, said Channel 244 on his system began running a warning from NFL Network on Saturday.

Haan said he called Time Warner on Tuesday to complain, but got no satisfaction.

“DirecTV is coming to install a new system on Saturday,” he said. “Time Warner just lost a customer.”