Mad-dened by the Results

You know I was thinking last night….

No really, I was.

And I’m starting to really believe in the Madden video game curse. It’s a lot more legit than the Sports Illustrated curse…or even the Red Sox/Cubbie curse.

For those of you not in the know…this curse isn’t about winning and losing (though it does indirectly affect that).

It’s about something much much worse! It’s about devastating injuries.

The curse goes like this —– the star football player chosen to appear on the cover of the latest version of Madden gets injured!

Ladies and gentlemen — this is not a joke. This is very very very serious.

Just ask Shaun Alexander. Donovan McNabb…. Michael Vick. The list goes on and on. This curse is scary.

And all I can think about is: PLEASE OH PLEASE DON’T ACCEPT THE “HONOR” next season LaDanian! Please don’t put our LT on the cover of Madden 2008! I BEG YOU!

The curse actually isn’t exclusive to just injuries. If a player is fortunate enough to escape the doctor’s office, they then wind up having the worse years of their careers.

See: Eddie George (2001), Daunte Culpepper (2002…plus an injury to boot), Marshall Faulk (2003), Ryan Leaf (his career…oh wait. You say he didn’t grace the cover? My bag – I just figured…well, it’s an honest mistake).

Again — LT…we beg you! Don’t do it!

Speaking of doing it: Justice was partially served yesterday when Denver Bronco offensive linemen Tom Nalen was fined $25k for his dirty cut block on the Charger’s Igor Olshansky. Granted, Igor was fined $10k (and ejected from the final minute of the game) … but the fact that Nalen was fined more than Olshansky speaks volumes.

HOOP IT UP:

We haven’t talked Basketball in a while, so it’s about time to start a little on the court dribbage.

Starting in Los Angeles… where for at least one more day, LA once again belongs to the Lakers. Yes, I know, a 105-101 victory in the regular season doesn’t amount to much…but whens the last time the Lakers were in first place after 11 games? If I were a betting man, I’d say it was when a certain big guy roamed Staples Center.

The Clippers are legit though! They are a top 5 team in the West. And that’s saying something — being that they’re in a conference where any of 6 could do some damage come playoff time.

Actually, all 8 playoff participants this year will likely be threats to do some damage! And chances are the Clippers will contend for the Western Conference Finals.

PLEASANT SURPRISES:

• Utah Jazz. Going into tonight, they sport a league best record of 11-1. These are the Jazz folks…and no, Stockton and Malone aren’t lacing it up. They are a team of very good, but not great players –working together as one. And while they lack a Superstar, they feature studs like Carlos Boozer, M. Okur, Andrei Kirilenko and now even their point guard Deron Williams is averaging 8.9 assists a game. The Jazz won’t keep up this pace, but they will be a very unwelcomed guest for some unlucky team come playoff time.

• Orlando Magic: They’re 8-4…in first place (granted a weak division) and haven’t lost Grant Hill to injury… yet.

• New York Knicks: Already have five more wins than most thought they’d have all-year. Their record is 4-8.

• Cleveland Cavs: In first place and living up to expectations.

• Atlanta Hawks: They have the same record as Miami — so what if Shaq’s out and Miami is 3 games under 500…that’s a good year for the Hawks.

• Golden State Warriors: Nellie’s got them winning 7 out of 10 and the Bay Area thinking playoffs for the first time since…well EVER!

• New Orleans Hornets: It’s like an unwritten code that you have to view every sports team in Louisiana as Cinderellas — as a team that can do no wrong, as a team carrying it’s city on it’s back. But regardless of this code, the Hornets are actually playing really good ball right now.

• L.A. Lakers. They are 8-3…in first place, 3 games up on Phoenix…and don’t look now, but they are deep! Plus, they are taking advantage of having 8 of their first 11 games at home.

• LA. Clippers: No longer second fiddle to the Lakers (and no this doesn’t contradict what I wrote earlier) …and no, they’re not really a surprise — AND THAT’S what’s surprising about it.

ROTTEN EGGS:

• Phoenix Suns: In last place. Pee-u!!!

• Miami Heat: They deserve to be in last place. Not looking good for the Champs at this point…but does the regular season even matter for a Shaq-centered team?

• Chicago Bulls: Guess we all over-rated them. Ben Wallace is not even amongst the top 10 leaders in rebounds. But ironically Tyson Chandler is.

Hey did you hear — Commissioner Stern officially changed the type of poultry NBA players can eat on Thanksgiving. It’s now tofurky. The Players are complaining that the meat tastes like rubber and is slippery when wet.

Ironically, scoring on the road has increased

HAPPY TURKEY DAY EVERYONE!!! Thanx for joining me in the bleachers and reading along!