The Timely Return of His Airness

Legendary Washington Wizards guard Michael Jordan is finally a playable character in a video game, and not a second too late!  I was never a big fan of MJ, to the surprise of no one, but I can appreciate finally being able to play him in this year’s NBA 2K11 because I never could.  Growing up the NBA was second to none, but Basketball games lacked all of the league’s personality by not featuring Jordan (Of course I just wanted the chance to beat MJ).  The lack of a game to extend the fan’s brand engagement, like Madden with Football and FIFA with “Football,” surely played a part in the NBA’s popularity decline.  It’s hard to believe that Jordan is still a relevant figure in a sport whose culture notoriously skews young, and yet he’s still the ultimate ‘get.’ 

I found it amusing how EA (and I like EA) is scrambling to compete against the 2K series, it delayed the release of its game NBA Elite 11 and its now trying to revive NBA Jam.  A few years back EA took 2K out of the Football game business by signing an exclusivity deal with the NFL, and while NBA games will never be the cash cow that Madden is, Karma is still kind of a bitch.  I give this game a solid ‘alright.’

My college picks last week also get a solid ‘alright,’ I went 8 for 13 for 62% picking against the spread, but only went 33.33% picking the pros.  Alabama has been a good team for a while now, but I did not expect them to destroy Florida like they did last week, they’re truly a scary team.  Fortunately my National Championship pick, Oregon, is an equally scary team, any of you AP clowns still want to see Boise State play for the National Title?  I didn’t think so.

College Football Predictions – Week 6

• Baylor +1.5 at Texas Tech – A couple of years ago Baylor came oh so close to upsetting the Red Raiders and sending Texas to the Big XII title game, like most of my wishes this one’s also a few years late.
• #1 Alabama -7.5 at #20 South Carolina – The Gamecocks’ strength is the running game, something Alabama doesn’t have any problems with.
• #18 Stanford -10 over USC – Last week showed that the Trojans have clearly checked out of this season early, Stanford wins big at home to prove they’re still one of the elite teams in the nation.
• #13 Arkansas -6 over texas a&m – I wonder how the crowd will split at Dallas Cowboys stadium, traditionally a sooner stronghold. Hogs are done licking their wounds and are dedicating the rest of their season to gaining a BCS at large.
• #17 Michigan -4.5 over #16 Michigan State – Finally, a spread the Michigan defense can cover!  Robinson is going to run all over the Spartans.
• #12 Florida -6 over #9 LSU – I don’t think the Gators can make enough mistakes for the Tigers to steal another win.
• #25 Northwestern -9 over Purdue – The Wildcats like to keep games close, but without Marve I think a 10 point win over Purdue is doable.
• #8 Auburn -6.5 at Kentucky – Cam Newton is a great athlete, and enough to beat Kentucky by at least a touchdown.
• Iowa State +6 over #10 Utah – Anybody else get the impression that Utah isn’t getting all the Boise and TCU hype because they ‘sold out’ and are moving to the Pac 12?  It’s okay, they’re losing this one anyway.
• #3 Oregon -36.6 at Washington State – Screw it, make it 48!

Pro Football Predictions – Week 5

• Colts -7.5 over Chiefs – Indy is at home, sorry KC.
• Falcons -3 at Browns – A suspiciously easy pick, I wonder if it’s a trap….
• Packers -3 at Redskins – Redskins haven’t won back-to-back and I don’t expect them to start now!
• Raiders +6.5 over Chargers – San Diego is about to get McFaddened!
• Saints -7 at Cardinals – A would be trap game if New Orleans weren’t playing so crappy and Arizona had a starting QB.
• Lions -3 over Rams – I doubt Stafford will play, but Ndamukong Suh will be hunting Bradford all day!
• 49ers -3.5 over Eagles – No Michael Vick means trouble against San Francisco’s D!

-Kanan