Please Note: “Vic’s Picks” will be posted every Saturday that will include whatever Victor from the “Victor and Matt” show has on his mind. Whether it be a prediction, an event you must watch this weekend, linking his favorite story on the web or giving kudos to a great game or play. Here is this week’s installment of Vic’s Picks:
- When the NFL released the schedule for 2011 on Tuesday it showed why the National Football League was king. Even in the midst of a lockout, and with a slight possibility the season may be shortened, the NFL figured out a way that if games do not begin as scheduled on September 8 and through the weekend of September 11 and 12 they will still have the chance to play a full 16-game season. They achieved this by making sure every game in Week 3 has teams which share the same bye week later in the season. Translation: teams could make up that week’s games on what was originally scheduled to be their bye. Steps were also taken to reserve hotel rooms in Indianapolis, site of Super Bowl XLVI, for two weeks, which would allow the Super Bowl to be played a week after the scheduled date of February 5. By playing the Super Bowl a week later, the week between the conference championships games and the Super Bowl would be lost. Now, all that has to be figured out is ending the lockout, but after seeing these precautions taken, I am confident we will see a full 16-game season played this fall.
- “Cubs Threw 1918 World Series?” The title of this article would naturally catch the eye of any baseball fan or sports fan in general. Reports surfaced this week that one or more Cubs were paid $10,000 to throw the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Ironically, it was the season before the infamous Black Sox scandal, in which the White Sox fixed the Series against Cincinnati. Was it possible for the Cub players to throw the Series for more many? Of course, since players back then normally had two jobs to survive. However, the man coming forward with this claim, Eddie Cicotte, a member of the Black Sox who is now banned from baseball, isn’t revealing too much information. He does not divulge any details about how the player or players were paid, in fact, he doesn’t mention any names. Until Cicotte reveals names of players, his claim cannot be taken too seriously, but you decide: did the Cubs Throw the 1819 World Series?
- After the first week of the NBA Playoffs there have been a few surprises, but none bigger than the top two seeds in the west, the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, losing their opening round games to the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets, respectively. This marked the first time in NBA history that the top seeds both lost their first games of the playoffs. However, the Spurs and Lakers have way too much experience and both will win their series, it may just take a little longer than expected. Known as a defensive stopper, as evident by winning his third-straight NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, Dwight Howard is been nothing short of remarkable against the Atlanta Hawks. He has been a scoring machine. If Howard continues to be a factor offensively, Orlando may be playing longer than expected.
- Continuing with an NBA theme, two teams are one step closer to the second round: the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. The Bulls have struggled with an Indiana team, but have managed to make plays down the stretch to win the games. The Heat have outplayed Philadelphia for all but a couple of quarters. Facing elimination games this weekend, the Pacers and 76ers have nothing to lose and may take chances they normally would not take. However, the Bulls and Heat are better teams, with better players and will ultimately send Indy and Philly packing from the playoffs to an early vacation. Chicago beats Indiana on Saturday and Miami wins on Easter Sunday to complete a sweep of Philadelphia.
- Also, don’t forget to listen to our latest (4.20.11) podcast show with HBO and NBC Sunday Night Football contributor, Andrea Kremer.
Thanks for reading the Victor and Matt blog. Contact Victor by email at victor(at)radioexiles(dot)com. You can also follow the show (@victorandmatt) on Twitter.