The Sports Beatdown with Lance Clarke  

'the hand that rocks the cradle is sitting on the table in the other world'-Hella.  
    I don't know what that really means but its a cool song by a really cool band.  Somethings I do know, there are some people in this crazy world that have no tact, no manners, or social skills.  What do I mean? well let me give you a quick example, I was riding the bus the other day when a group of lets say younger guys hop aboard and amble towards the back, were I happen to sit. One of the dudes, plops down directly in front of me, facing inward, (i could explain the way the seats are in the bus, but there's no point) as the dude and his buddies were yacking about lord knows what, he brings his foot back and puts it right on mine. Hello? dude don't you feel somthing under your foot? Apparently not cause the dude starts to jiggle his foot which was still on top of mine, this is after I tell the guy that his on my foot.  So reverting to sign languge I give the dude a hard poke in the shoulder, and go 'Dude your on my foot'. Well the dude being the prize pig that he is goes 'oh', no "I'm sorry", or a "my bad," no a 'oh'. shoot he was lucky I didn't go Rikki Oh on him and punch him so hard in the head that it would explode.  
    Deep breath, lets move on to something I truly know, and that's the football draft is upon us again, and to me and everyone else who eats, sleeps and number two's football, is the beginning of the football season. Of course when does the football season really end, I think its when the champs come back from Disneyland and the losers (i'm sorry but if you didn't win the big one you're a loser) are done chasing a little white ball around a lush green field and are chomping at the bit to finally hit someone hard, preferably the champs.  Yes the football draft were we get to see who's gonna go boom bap like a BDP bassline, prime examples, Matt Ryan who was given the keys to sports car that is the Atlanta Falcons and had everyone going Micheal Who? or Adrian "the second coming of Earl Campbell" Peterson running over, no sorry make that running through defense like they were wet paper bag.  better still how about in 2004 with the Eli Manning/ Philip Rivers fiasco, both were being touted as the heirs to the QB throne, yet who would a thought that the 11th pick, Ben Rothlisberger, who would go on to have a phenomenal (whew needed the dictonary for that one) rookie season and was the first out of the three to get a ring, I'm still waiting Rivers.   
    Of course the draft is like that Katie Perry song (you know which one) and there have been some mighty duds that stank their way through the NFL.  Were to begin let's see Jeff George,  Andre Ware, and my not so favourite Ryan Leaf (nah I'm just kidding...just a little), probably the best dud who pulled a Ryan Leaf before anyone heard of Ryan Leaf, Todd Marinovich, who? Todd Marinovich, you know the kid who was trained by his dad to be the perfect quarterback, who was put through special training and visits with sports doctors, to get his noodle right and special diets to be some kinda superman, thus spoke Zarathustra much? that therey didn't work for a certain painter with a bad moustach, and its not ganna work now. little side note but I do belive that Nietzeche had himself commited after he wrote that one, tells you something.  
    Which brings me to tomorrow or today depending on when I get this piece done, its going to be very interesting, because to me the incoming class does not look very strong on the offence side of the ball. Sure Matthew Stafford looks like a clear number one pick for Detriot, but are the Lions ready to gamble Ford Field on still wet behind the ears rookie and rebuild their team around Stafford, or will they go with Aaron Curry the linebacker from Wake Forest cause we all know defence wins games.  Speaking of potential stink bombs that will go off this season, I don't know what Mark Sanchez has going in his brain (I think its rocks) but he shouldn't have declared after one solid season as a starter, his not even a junior. Even his coach doesn't think its wise that.  Didn't Sanchez learn from another past USC qb formerlly mentioned Todd Marinovich, who did the same thing. Seriously I don't think Sanchez is to be ready for the NFL, those defences are going to eat him alive with fries on the side.  Hey who knows the Lions could go with someone thats been flying under everyone's rader, you just never know that's what's so great about the draft.
    Another thing I do know the 3-4 defence doesn't work for everyone Green Bay I'm looking at you. historiclly the 3-4 has only really and truly work for two teams the Steelers and the Ravens, that's beacusethey know who to make it work by drafting the right people, case in point the Steelers often draft ends and convert them into outside linebackers.  the Ravens find the biggest guys you know the ones built like houses to clog up the middle so Ray Lewis can strike fear in the hearts of men, well quarterbacks and running backs.  You can't just change your playbook cause it work for someone else.  (I'm shaking my head in utter dispointment.)    
    Ok let me wrap this up cause quite honestly I'm running out of things to write about but I'll for sure (like you know) have something to say about the draft but that's for another time. So a quick thanks and respect to Lance,  Kendra (heh) and just for the hell of it cause she's awesome, Penny Flame. Alright thats my time

Terrence Lin-Tsung