UNLEASHED / Final Match

UNLEASHED sports fans....

THIS IS IT!!!!

GAME 7 - two words...they send a collective chill through your heart.

How does it feel to know your team's season could come down to one shot, one pass or one phantom call? You have to wonder how you will survive the day let alone the rest of the summer of your team loses, and if they win..you live to fight another day.

This is a day when stats such as being 7-0 at home having 16 banners hanging from the rafters are not going to save you, nor is Larry Bird, Bill Russell or John Havlachek are going to come off the bench, all that matters is the final score, I'am a sports historian and the fact that Boston is 18-0 in game 7's doesn't scare me, because history is that..HISTORY.

Make no mistake this is like breaking into the Rock all over again, a real Mission Impossible, and after hearing the pro-Boston hype machine aka ESPN I' am beginning to get a sense of angst and fear from "The Nation" because the Big 3 have become the Big None..with the exception of KG, there are Amber alerts out on Allen and Pierce.

I'll admit that losing Gibson is a blow, but if I feel there is an X-factor that could decide this game is Lebon's trust in making the right pass and when to shoot, because The C' s will collapse on The King like a Arkham Asylum inmate..so it is on the teams shoulder's to come through.

And in Game 7..it is the King and his Men who could either add to Boston's legacy or cripple an entire nation and create their own on their fabled parquet.

GAME 7 is here.. RISE UP!!!!

Dawgfather...

UNLEASHED / Last Stand?

UNLEASHED sports fans,

As I'm sure you had the misfortune of watching another Cleveland team blow a big lead in a playoff game, it kinda makes you numb when you think about it from time to time, I mean "The Comeback", "The Drive", "The Fumble" and of course Jose Mesa bring back such fond memories. With the Cavaliers 24 hours away from playing their final(?) home game of the year, against Boston, could this be the King's last stand?

With fellow sidekick, Daniel Gibson out with a separated shoulder, and the fact that the Cavs cant hit their free throws down the stretch, you can't help but be a little nervous, MEMO TO MIKE BROWN: Teach the team how to shoot FTS!!, make them work two-a-days, hire the guru that made Shaq a clutch FT shooter...ok kidding but you get my point!!

If the Cavs are going to beat Boston in Game 6 to force a return trip, they must HIT THEIR FREE THROWS!!!, it was like a boring New Year's day parade of watch Andy Varejao, Delonte West, and even the King himself put up bricks like they were building the next great pyramid, heck maybe even making the next monument to Zeus himself. and as annoying as that smart-ass bratty cheerleader in the background, ESPN is already forecasting the Cav's demise...whatever!!

From what I've seen the best way to beat Boston is do a lot of weak-side cuts and sag into the post on KG, Garnett has been killing the Cavs, but Allen and Pierce have pulled a Houdini and disappeared almost entirely!! But Rajon Rondo worries me with his ball handling and if the Cavs are going to win Game 6 and make their date with Detroit, they must hit their free throws!!!

On to the Browns who have begun their OTA's and so far reports are :

Anderson is throwing the ball with some touch, along with adding on some muscle.

Rookie TE, Marty Rucker is catching some eyes as well and with Winslow working out in San Diego, Rucker will have a chance to shine and show off his skills.

Watch out for a deadly WR corps of Edwards and Stallworth, and even a possible Paul Hubbard sighting or two..

Chud is looking to be more aggressive downfield, and expect to see more of Cribbs in some Randel-El/Slash plays.

The new additions on defense, Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, could make for a formidable defense.

Enjoy Game 6...GO CAVS!!! RISE UP!!!!

Dawgfather

UNLEASHED / King's Punishment..

UNLEASHED sports fans...

Simple question which Lebron throwdown was more fierce..

This dunk over Rasheed Wallace last year in Game 3 of the East Finals...





Or last night over KG?.... Memo to The C's : I hear Dr Phil is available becuase they got a serious case of trauma....


Your vote must be heard!!! RISE UP!!!!!!
Dawgfather..

Browns Backers, and all other sports fans...

I guess ESPN can hold off on Lebron's obituary just yet, and in case you haven't visited their pimp site at ESPN.com, I'm sure you noticed that no mention of the Cav's beating the all mighty Celtics huh!! I mean aren't the Celtics supposed to dominate and sweep their way to the Finals and bring their 17th title back to Beantown? I mean Boston is so title-starved right now!!!I know a few refugees in the Sudan that would disagree. I guess The Celtic's with their vaunted Big 3 were supposed to sweep into C-town, lay a smacking and go back to Beantown up 3-0 or sweep the DEFENDING Eastern Conference Champions right off their floor right?.

On a night that seem vintage Cavaliers, you had Bobbie hitting clutch 3 balls, the Cav's playing quicksand lock-down D that would make Indiana Jones cringe...oh and the King brought the hammer down on KG, making his dunk on Rasheed look like a JV warm-up, and even the King brought his mom as the new sixth man!!!..NICE!!

This game brought back so many fond memories from the Cav's magical run to the Finals, and were the overachieving group of 4 playing sidekick to LeBron, and they were SUPPOSED to lose to the Pistons remember that?, I may suffer from short-term memory loss when I'm saying this but all I remember is Lebron dunking on Tashayun, who bailed like a little girl, The King's 48 point conquering of the Palace, and Boobie's 31 point barrage to put the Pistons on the shelf, Now we have to deal with a media-created ESPN hyped darling, and what a surprise it's a team from Boston!!...the once mighty, but now downtrodden C's who all of a sudden have their "Three Amigos" and SI covers, and constant ESPN over-saturation, they are America's Team!!

The Cav's have no problem ruining another victory parade for Beantown(I guess Cleveland can burrow NYC's book on how to crush Boston sports dreams in 5 easy steps, and it would be nice to get some payback for the ALCS!!) In a close and tight game that was dominated by defense on both ends, once again the perfect C's looked fallible on the road and if you think the Yinzer Meter is up..then the Bean Poll is off the charts..because they cannot win on the road..I mean..THIS team that won 66 games got taken to 7 games by the HAWKS...THE ATLANTA HAWKS..WHO HAD 35 WINS!!!!

Yeah right I'am scared..Cav's in 6..


On to the Browns.. As I'm sure all of you are aware, the Browns will begining their OTA's in a few hours, and with that many questions and clues for the upcoming 2008, will we finally see Bentley?, who will get a leg up on the QB battle? will Tucker be a eventual replacement for Winslow?..who knows but knowing the Browns' this summer will be anything but dull! ESPN(as if I care) just recently released their 2008 NFL Power rankings with the Brown and Orange coming in at #9, and I just enjoyed seeing ESPN blow-hard, Mark Schlerath basically calling the Browns"overrated" and a "one-hit wonder", saying that they need to do it on a "consistent basis" before they are to take the next step.

And to add fuel to Paul's longstanding belief that the media loves to hate on Ohio State, The Buckeyes were named one of the most hated teams in sports according to SI.com...the others are

The New York Yankees(obviously!),
The L A Lakers
Every Boston sports team(hell yeah!!)
Chelsea FC (boo!!...joking!!)

All I gotta say is wow on that one!! If any of you have the chance please check out the newly redesigned UNLEASHED blog, and leave a comment and vote on the 2008 Browns QB Anderson or Quinn, and one of the new features I'am doing this year is a UNLEASHED/ Rivals Report that will cover the AFC North, My very good friend from college, Josh will contribute a guest column covering the Steelers, and a new friend, and Ravens blogger, Michael Seff will guest blog on UNLEASHED as well..(he hates all things Boston so he can't be that bad!!), check out his site, Pitching Ideas http://www.pitchingideas.net/...


I'am just loving how ESPN is in a tizzy over their beloved C's losing on the road(again!!) and that all year they have hyped them up as the perfect A team, and Cleveland gave them a big F!! they stand a better chance of hitting a Cliff Lee change-up..


and 1 - 2 -3 like a Cabrera triple play, I'am out!!!

Dawgfather
http://roberts-rant.blogspot.com/

Browns Backers,

Quick question, what is more bloated than C.C Sabathia's ERA as overrated as DeShawn Stevenson? and had more trading than a Wall Street boiler room?

The 2008 NFL Draft for all it's hype and spectacle has become next to Super Bowl Sunday, America's second biggest unofficial holiday, you have the anticipation of a team hoping to draft that one player that could put it over the edge, while another hopes it is ready to take that next step(like Cleveland..) and thanks to the constant media hype, talking head Mel Kiper is the closest thing to a permanent fixture during this time of year, next to Dick Vitale they should carve out two extra heads for them on Mt Rushmore!

Seriously, I think I could see my reflection in Kiper's super hair gel, which by this point has burned a hole in the ozone, but this year's draft had as much originality as Stephen Vander Ark, at least last year's draft was more original!!

It started out as a LONG day, and I mean that , because there must have been excitement, maybe the most excitement I got was watching the crazy Jets fans actually cheer and clap for once when they took De/LB Vernon Gholston and watching Miami become the Michigan Dolphins by taking both OT Jake Long and QB Chad Henne in the second round(what no Manningham or Arrington) Parcells must be slipping!!

In what was either the biggest faux pas or stroke of genius, The Raiders took Darren McFadden,from Arkansas and either they are going to run a 40 yd dash to decide the new RB or Davis has offically lost it, my boy Julian was more than a little pissed that they did not take Howie's son, and so was Howie from what I hear..I mean you have Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan and with Dominic Rhodes released, you have to wonder what were they thinking?

Bitter AFC rival, Kansas City made out like robbers getting DT Glenn Dorsey at #5, when considering that the experts(chuckle..) had him going as high as #1, I guess his knees got weighed down by winning all those awards in Baton Rouge.

I will say this is that The Chiefs are one of the biggest winners in the 2008 NFL Draft, my official winners are the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, St Louis Rams and The Pittsburgh Steelers....yup I said the Yinz had a great draft...even though they deviated from their tradition of drafting for need and went with the best player available when Mendenhall slipped to them at #23, only one thing that would worry me(but makes me laugh instead..) is that they didn't address OL/DL early took QB/WR Dennis Dixon from Oregon, whom they will either groom to replace Charlie Batch or mold into the next Kordell Stewart, and no CB, especially when face Anderson and Palmer...OK!

Now on to the Browns..hey we had to wait till Sunday to even watch them pick 6'2 UNLV ILB, Beau Bell, whom they have been eyeing since they scouted last year's #2 pick Kenny Wright, they did address their need at ILB with the pick and also traded(again with Dallas!) for 6'5 Mizzou TE, Martin Rucker who played at Winslow's alma mater and add depth.

The Browns also added depth on the defense by selected Iowa State, DE, Ahytba Rubin and St Augstine College standout DE, Alex Hall, but the Browns failure to draft at the RB and CB position would lower my grade to a B-,(not counting the Quinn, Rogers and Willams) "early draft".

I say that the Browns scored on some late gems with Bell and Tucker, and it wouldn't surprise me if both play this year, and now with the draft officially over, we can now focus our attention on the Cav's shutting up DeShawn and trashing some defective hibachis....roll on!!!

Dawgfather.

Prime Time!!!!

Dawgs go Primetime!!!!
Browns 2008 schedule released, features five prime-time games


Daunt - " To repress or subdue the courage of; to check by fear of danger; to cow; to intimidate; to dishearten "


Good Evening, Browns Backers(and Yinzers..boo!!)


As I'm sure by now most of you have digested and may have even gone into shock at seeing the new 2008 schedule which was released Tuesday which features five prime time games for the Browns, their most ever, and first since 2003 when the Browns lost on MNF to St Louis, only San Diego has more prime time games with six.

The Browns open at home for the 10th straight year hosting The Fox National Game of The Week© when the Tony Simpsons..I mean Dallas Cowboys visit Cleveland and the following week is the much anticipated and dreaded visit from the Yinz, who like to call Browns Stadium, "Heinz Field West"..let's be sure to give them a nice "homecoming".

With three Monday Night games with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles(road trip!!) and a "road" game vs the Buffalo/Toronto Bills, they match Green Bay for most Monday night games, they also have a date with Denver on Thursday night, And there will be no turkey in the Browns house this year as The Brown and Orange will not be playing on Thanksgiving.

Are the Browns prime time big dogs or daytime puppies? Make no mistake the Browns schedule is filthy!! It is the #9 toughest schedule with a combined record of 140-116 and a winning percentage of .547, They also play seven teams that made the playoffs in 2007(Dallas, Pittsburgh, Jax, NYG, Washington, Indy, Titans) and also against arguably the two toughest conferences in the AFC South and NFC East which sent 3 teams each to the playoffs!!

Now while many of us can probably distract ourselves with the thought maybe going 8-8, I'am going to go out on a limb..cancel that, I'am going to make like a lumberjack and cut up the whole tree and say that the Browns will go.....12-4!! Yup 12-4..I said it mark it down!! I'am not crazy, and off my meds or anything but I have three good reasons to make a case for a 12-4 record.

(1) The toughest games are at home, with the exception of Pittsburgh, which is a division rival..the game of the year for the Browns will be Dallas becuase next to the T.O circus that will be coming to town, the Cowboys are in ESPN football analyst's mind, Cris Carter, "The Class of the NFC"..and what a measuring stick to gauge the Browns growth, now the question is will they reach full bloom or will they be stunted?

If the Browns can get to the bye at 2-2 consider that a major victory, if they are 1-3, listen for the "Brady" chants...the toughest games at home are Pittsburgh(obviously!!), Dallas, NYG, Denver, Houston(my sleeper pick!) and Indy..if the Browns can repeat their 7-1 record at home...watch out NFL!! Their toughest road game is Pittsburgh new stepdad, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have always befuddled the Browns, Buffalo could be a stout contest as well.

(2) The major pitfall in the Browns was obvious..DEFENSE!!! and pass rushing!!, now while Kam had a breakout rookie season, his second season saw a dropoff due to teams focusing on him, but also a lack of a complementary sack artist, I sense that the Browns will address this in the actual draft on the 26th, much like they addressed their porous matador run defense in their "early draft" of Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, I see the Browns selecting, DE/LB, Shawn Crable from Michigan with their pick to help Kam and Peek.

The defense I felt let two games slip away from the Browns and that they "could/shoulda/woulda" been 12-4, it depends on how you look at it..Arizona and Oakland, I mean we let Lamont Jordan, (a washed up has-been!!) run thru our defense like we go through Halo 3 multiplayer..come on man!!, I think that we have addressed this black eye of a problem and it will make the team better immediately, and also make our secondary look like a actual secondary and not let them try to "cheat into the box" on run support only to get torched over the top.

(3) The Browns new aggressiveness is simple : Win Now!! The addition of WR Donte' Stallworth to the potent Browns attack, the QB commitment to Derek and resigning of Jamal show me that the Browns want to win the Super Bowl now, if not within the next 2-3 years, which is a relatively do-able window of time considering the parity in the NFL, they are no longer happy with improving and being mediocre..it is clear that the terrific triumvirate of Lerner, Savage and Crenell are willing to do whatever it takes to bring the Lombardi to Cleveland.




2008 Browns Season Prediction


12-4 - AFC North Champions



Dallas - W ( Game of the Year vs the "class of the NFC"..Browns look to come out strong)

Pittsburgh - W ( More than a game now..Browns already have this circled..)

Baltimore - W ( Troy Smith's return home will not be good..)

Cincinnati - W ( Browns are hungry for payback, and the Convicts are guarding against a Ocho Cinco prison break..)

Bye

New York- W (This could be the game that shapes the Browns destiny..beating the champs at home would be epic..)

Washington - W ( In a new WC system, Campbell will be looking out of place and up at Wimbley's face mask)

Jacksonville - L ( always tough..JAX may be the team in the AFC..)

Baltimore - W ( Troy Smith or Matt Ryan...hmmm??)

Denver - W ( Browns would love to send Cutler back to the Vanderbilt glue factory..)

Buffalo - W ( Sleeper team in the AFC..Browns better not take Bills lightly, Edwards is a gamer)

Houston - W ( A new rival, Houston and Cleveland are mirrors on and off the field..)

Indy - L ( Beating one Manning is good, beating Big bro, Peyton and call me God!!)

Tennesee - L ( Young is going to be turned loose, and will have his old Texas WR, Sweed and Crumpler to throw on us..)

Eagles - W ( Center City and South Street, here I come!!)

Cincinnati - W ( Houceyourmama may be getting ready to bolt from Alcatraz at this point..)

Pittsburgh - L ( hunch...)


And that deafening moan is the sound of Yinzers throughout Stiller Nation, choking on their Primanti's when the NFL gave the "Men of Steal" the toughest schedule (winning percentage of .598 and a opponents record of 153-103) ouch!!!...ok not really, but you have to wonder if you're a Steeler fan how you are even going to finish .500 let alone with this schedule and no major off-season signing, Hines ain't getting any younger,(or taller!!) Ben got richer and he still didn't get his tall WR, letting Faneca walk, leaves his blind side wide open, and with Michigan LT, Jake Long working on a contract with the Dolphins, the premier LT in this years draft will not be there to protect Ben(like we care!!), the only way I can see the Steelers getting a impact player is to trade up and grab someone like they did for Pulamahairdo. But the NFL gave the Yinz a real death sentence of a schedule, with that in mind my bold prediction for the Yinz is...6-10.



Yinz Stillers Schedule..n'that

6-10

Houston - W ( Steelers fans start looking forward to going 2-0 vs the Browns..)

Cleveland - L ( which doesn't happen..Browns dominate 51-0!!)

Eagles - L (McNabb has a great game vs a defense still recovering from Anderson whiplash)

Ravens - W ( like we care..)

Jax - L (Given up for adoption by their hard drinking daddy, New England, their even more abusive step-dad takes them to the woodshed!)

Bye

Cincy - L (Bumble in The Jungle is more like it!!..Johnson may have his sentence pardoned)

Giants - L ( Manning and the Giants should just play all of their games away..)

Redskins W - ( Ben briefly returns to form, slicing apart the Redskins secondary..)

Colts - L ( I don't think the Steelers want to see another Manning again..)

Chargers - L ( They have LT, Yinz have Parker...we know who wins right?)

Cincy - W ( Steelers bounce back to crush Convicts, and deport them back to Hamilton County.)

Patriots - L ( A warm father-son reunion turns into child abuse...quickly!!)

Cowboys - L (It gets worse as T.O brings his popcorn and own towel..becuase he can!!)

Ravens - L (we care..a little)

Titans - W (Vince will running..from Harrison and Woodley)

Browns - W (hunch..)



For the first time since I was watching the Kosar teams of the 80's, and seeing Sipe as an infant.. I am confident that the Browns will win a Super Bowl, and truly return to the glory days of old, I truly miss seeing Kosar sling it to Slaughter, Langhorne and Brian Brennan and the "Dawgs" bringing the heat on D with Minnifield and Dixon. Derek reminds me of a taller Brian Sipe with a stronger arm, Jamal reminds me of Mack in his prime and Edwards reminds me of Slaughter, and JJ is Brian Brennan all over again.

Now is the time to see if the Browns are for legit and real PTP'ers baby!! The Browns have a new generation of stars now and s omething that has been missing for a long time...hope.



Always barking..Dawgfather
http://roberts-rant.blogspot.com


Congrads Dickie V!!! on making it to the Basketball Hall of Fame!! you're awesome baby!!!

Gib"The Gibber" Shanley dead at 76

Longtime radio voice of Browns, Gib Shanley dead at 76

Browns Backers,

As I'm sure you may have heard the other day, longtime radio voice and Channel 5 broadcaster, Gib Shanley passed away over the weekend at the age of 76.

If Nev Chandler was the passion of Cleveland sports than Gil Shanley was without a doubt the Michael Lang of Cleveland sports. as he was the voice of the Browns for nearly a quarter of a century.

Born on Aug 6,1931 in Belliare, Ohio as an only child he would late excel in doing radio and being the last sportscaster to call a Cleveland championship sports team, the 1964 Browns.

Many of the current and new generation such as myself remember him best for being on WUAB Channel 43 alongside with Jeff Phelps and Ron Jantz doing the sports segment, when his contract was not renewed by WUAB he left the station ending his 33 year run in Cleveland sports.

His career included friendships with Art Modell, which including buying WJW radio in 1976, criticizing Cavs owner, Ted Stephien, and burning a Iranian flag on the air to protest the 1979 hostage crisis. Shanley would also go on to win the Ohio Sportscaster of the Year several times

Gib Shanley will be greatly missed and to quote the Plain Dealer, his exit is truly a civic loss.

Rest in Peace, Gibber..

Dawgfather..