ASK AC - YOUR QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED

09/11/04 YOUR SPORTS QUESTIONS ANSWERED


With the NBA season over, Wagercom.com will be starting a new feature with NBA guru AC Titticock. AC will be answering reader e-mail every week or two, so keep e-mailing him with questions, ideas, and/or naked photos of your sisters. Questions can be about the NBA, Major League Baseball, Fantasy sports, or the great Taylor Rain-Janine Lindemuller debate. Just send your questions to ac@wagercom.com

I know it’s been awhile since I answered your questions but I decided to put my pen down (and by pen I mean keyboard) for a week to cool off from the anger that was watching my Northwestern Wildcats lose to TCU in their college football opener. Before I get to the e-mails, I do need to vent about having the worst kicker in the history of football at any level, Brian Huffman, kicking for my alma-mater. In case you missed it (and Mr. Huffman missed many), NU lost in double overtime as our kicker went 1-6 in field goals including misses from 24 and 38 in the 2 overtimes. The worst part of it is Randy Walker is keeping him on the team and has even referred to him as the best kicker in the big ten (how insulting to the poor guy on purdue, just minding his business). I would rather have a one-legged gimpy midget with no cataracts and a sprained ankle kicking for me than letting this guy have another chance. Seriously, I will now be withholding alumni donations until Huffman is out of uniform (you hear that Bienen, you’re not getting my $20 for a new paper towel dispenser).

Anyway, a somewhat deranged friend of mine (and by deranged I mean not mainstream in the nicest way) sent me two e-mails after the loss which I have had him post on our messageboard http://dcforum.whathelps.com/sportshelps/forums/Wagercom/23.html. You all really need to read these two e-mails to appreciate the company I have to keep. Interestingly enough, while I was reading Huffman’s biography, I came across a fact that he originally tried out for the role of Corky on Life Goes On (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121630/) but was rejected for the role because casting agents deemed him “too mentally handicapped.” Ok, I just made that up but I am sure it is true.

Thanks for letting me vent, now onto the questions…

I'm in a 15 man roster, 12 dood leauge. My draft came up a bit short on RB. I'm thinking of picking up James Jackson because of all the talk of him going to Miami. I can't decide which WR I have to drop though. Another possiblity was Justin Fargas.

Who should get cut?

Eric Parker

David Terrell

Robert Ferguson

Plaixco Burress

I'm also reading here and there that the Eagles defense may not be as good this year. I'm thinking of getting the Vikings or someone else, but I'm unsure there too. Any ideas?

Here's what's left to pick from:

Vikings, Packers, 49ers, Saints, Bills, Colts, Steelers, Giants, Browns, Lions, falcons, jets, raiders, redskins, bengals, texans, chargers, cardinals.

Here is my full roster.

Pos Player Tm Bye

QB M. Vick ATL 9

QB B. Johnson TB 8

RB A. Green GB 9

RB C. Dillon NE 3

RB R. Dayne NYG 6

WR S. Smith CAR 3

WR A. Johnson HOU 7

WR P. Burress PIT 7

WR E. Parker SD 10

WR R. Ferguson GB 9

WR D. Terrell CHI 5

TE L. Smith PHI 5

TE D. Graham NE 3

PK J. Carney NO 8

Def Eagles PHI

Any help you can give if greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Damian Maher

Damian, first of all your team is terrible, and I only say that because you have many of the same players I do. AC knows pro hoop, AC knows baseball, AC even knows some hockey (thanks to being the national SEGA hockey 1993 NHL champion, with the trophy to prove it), but AC only marginally knows football (if by marginally one means being able to sing the whole Patriots and We song from 1985 and being able to deify the Z-29 skid as the best play ever in old school NFL Quarterback Club 1997). However, I want to help you out as I feel for the fantasy football challenged.

You’re team is basically a high beta team (http://www.moneychimp.com/glossary/beta.htm) with Vick either going to be a bust or a star, Dillon always injury prone and his role not defined in a pass oriented offense, and Plaxico coming off of a terrible year (I took Mr. Burress in round three last year and have yet to live it down). I traded Faulk for Vick at the end of last year so I could have him for what I believe will be a breakout year this year (we have a keeper league so I am betting on my boy Vick), so while I made fun of your team, I actually think there is a ton of upside.

Anyway, here is the deal, James Jackson is not very good and by not very good I mean he sucks. If you can’t beat out Lee Suggs and William “Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em” Green you probably shouldn’t be in the NFL. Seriously, even if he is traded to Miami, he still has to gain yards for him to be valuable. Justin “Huggy Bear” Fargas may be a better pick-up but then you are gambling that Wheatley fails even though he has had a strong camp. If I were you, I would take a gamble on somebody like Troy Hambrick who just got traded to the Cardinals. We all know Emmitt sucks, is 900 years old, and will not be the starter for more than 2 games. If Hambrick is available, it may be your best opportunity.

As to which WR to drop, I would definitely keep Plaxico, he is having a huge camp and is a baller. Eric Parker is the top guy in San Diego (which may be like being the smart kid on the short bus but I digress) so you may want to keep him as he will have a high ceiling (and I don’t think I mean a ceiling that smokes the sticky ricky, but then again, I may). If it comes down to Ferguson vs. Terrell, I would dump Terrell like a Bahamian meal. Ferguson can play the game and the Bears have been shopping Terrell around like he has the same venereal disease that Jason Giambi has. Dump Terrell, pick up Hambrick and hope Vick is the man.

As for defense, don’t doubt the Eagles. They are going to be good, and they are deep. Seriously, be happy with that pick. If you want a back-up D, take the Steelers out of all of the teams you listed, but be confident that Philly is going to be tough this year.

One more thing, do you really have Ron Dayne on your team??? Please tell me that is a typo.

AC, your Sox are catching up to the Stankees, only 2.5 out now. Do you think they can catch them?

JJ Jones, Alberta

I have to say that while I am 100% on the bandwagon including ringing the bell and helping other people on it, I do not think the Sox can catch NY. The Sox are a good team, not a great team, and statistically speaking they can’t keep up a winning % over .800 like they have had over the past few weeks. Additionally, the Yankees have been playing much better and their line-up is just too tough even with the mediocre pitching they have been getting. I think the Sox will make it close (ie. It could come down to the Yankees-Sox series in Boston) but in the end they will grab the wild card. However, the Yankees will lose in the first round of the playoffs, even though they will hold on to win the East. And speaking of NY, has there been a stupider injury at a worse time than Kevin Brown breaking his hand by punching a wall? Reminds me of the great Irvin Fryar hand cutting incident before the Pats Superbowl run in 1985. Kevin Brown may win the Kobe Bryant award for stupidest athlete of 2005.

With ESPN doing all of these top 25 lists, who would be your top 5 basketball players over the past 25 years?

Randy Haggerdon, Chestnut Hill, MA

Good question, one I could spend about 19 pages answering (and I will one day, yes I will) but here is the short version.

1. Michael Jordan—This is sacrilegious as I am a member of the cult of Bird but I have to give MJ props. Bird played a better game, got his teammates involved and did the little things that were not as flashy, but Jordan just dominated. There was nothing he couldn’t do and was just a scary scary athlete. Probably the best athlete of the past 25 years.

2. Larry Legend—LB was the man. He could shoot, pass, rebound, defend (sort of), cure cancer, and I am sure if he put his mind to it figure out a way to get a money shot in lesbian porn (the biggest dilemma of my life, and yes I need help). He played the game like a great conductor would lead an orchestra (and by great conductor leading and orchestra, I mean Peter North directing a movie). He played hurt, he played sick, he played every day he could. There will never be another Bird, but there may be another Jordan. I am glad to have been able to see him play.

3. Earvin Magic Johnson—Imagine Larry Bird but not able to shoot. Magic could simply play the game. As much as I hate to give props to anybody on the Lakers of the 1980’s, I have to give Magic his due.

4. Charles Barkley—Nope, I am not kidding here. Chuckie was about five foot eleven (give or take 8 inches) and took it to everybody down low. When Chucky wanted to play, he could not be stopped, no matter how much of an ass he was.

5. Hakeen Olajuwon—Sorry Shaq, but Hakeem would have destroyed you in his prime (and I believe he did) Olajuwon was just nasty quick and had an unbelievable touch downlow (I know I said unbelievable touch downlow, but work with me here). If he played in a larger media market, all the kids would be wearing old school Olajuwon jerseys instead of their old school Sam Bowie and Kevin Duckworth threads.

Until Next Time, AC.

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