Jim Szoke's Sports Blog

Sweet Caroline

The Panthers (2-0) start is impressive considering the caliber of competition they have faced and that they won without their top playmaker.  It says a lot about the defense that the win over Chicago came with just 217 yards of total offense.  Rookie Jonathan Stewart saved the day with his ability to break tackles and score two touchdowns.  Now, with Steve Smith returning this week against Minnesota, defenses will no longer be able to stack the line of scrimmage with 10 defenders as the Bears did.   

Jon Beason and Chris Harris have given the Panthers defense the rough edge they need to be intimidating over the middle.  Both should get Pro Bowl consideration if they keep up the pace.  Harris has forced fumbles in the first two games after leading the NFL in that category last season.  Chris Gamble recovered both fumbles this year and quietly has become the best of the Panthers talented cornerback trio.   

The Panthers have taken a song page from Davidson, playing "Sweet Caroline" at the end of their home victory over the Bears.  Might need to book Neil Diamond to sing the national anthem if this keeps up.  Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie and the Blowfish had the honors on Sunday, keeping the Panthers undefeated when he performs.   

One of the nice stories early in the NFL season has been Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.  After riding out the Brett Favre retirement saga in the off-season, he took his first "Lambeau Leap" with a touchdown in their opener, then threw three more touchdowns in their blow-out of the Lions....I guess the Patriots do have a few more players beside Tom Brady.  It will be interesting to see how smart Bill Belichick looks as a coach without Brady over the long haul though...the Chargers are going to need professional counseling after getting beat on a walk-off touchdown by the Panthers, then the referees robbing them on two crucial calls in a 39-38 loss to Denver...wonder if the Browns will ever beat the Steelers after dropping their 10th consecutive game against Pittsburgh.

Appalachian State made headlines last year, and now it's East Carolina's turn off to a (3-0) start and ranked 15th in the AP poll this week...Georgia must have made somebody mad as they win each week and drop in the rankings again, now from first to third... Southern Cal looks like they can punch their ticket to the BCS title game even though it's only mid-September...Ohio State wasn't even in the same class as USC.  In fact, the Big 10 and ACC may need to petition the NCAA to keep their Division 1-A football status if they don't pick up the pace....Charlie Weis didn't sell his soul, but did give up a knee ligament for Notre Dame to beat Michigan.   

Season's Greetings

The Panthers will find out immediately where they stand this season when they open at San Diego.  Carolina looks like a playoff team to me.  Once Steve Smith returns in week-3 the offense can operate at full capacity, and without him will have to pound it with the one-two punch of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  Jake's arm looks stronger than ever, Julius Peppers has the "pep" back in his step, and Jon Beason may supplant Brian Urlacher as the top middle linebacker in the NFC.    

The Chargers are the trendy AFC pick to reach the Super Bowl pick for those tired of penciling in Tom Brady's Patriots and Peyton Manning's Colts.  Of course, injuries to those two could actually slow them down to say 40 touchdown passes each this year.  We seldom travel out more than one day before a game for a roadtrip, but we will get an early jump out to San Diego.  Tough assignment, as we stay around the corner from Torrey Pines, where the US Open was held.  To balance it out, we get two days in Oakland later this season.

Important NFL notes to start your season...Bengals WR Chad Johnson is to officially be referred to by his new legal name, Chad Ocho Cinco.  Ocho Cinco actually means "8-5" in Spanish, not "85," but too much trouble to change it again.  I guess he didn't take coach Marvin Lewis' suggestion of Ocho Psycho.

While Detroit Lions new running back, Rudi Johnson was meeting with team coaches and management, out-going running back Tatum Bell stole his luggage.  This was actually caught by surveillance video cameras at the Lions complex.  A woman later returned the Gucci bags, minus Rudi's credit cards, ID and underwear.  I guess Tatum is not planning on playing for another team in the NFL and was looking for some parting gifts.

Nice start to the NBA by former Kansas stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur.  The league throws a four-day transition symposium to acclimate the incoming college stars to the NBA.  But Chalmers and Arthur got evicted by commissioner David Stern after being busted for having marijuana and women in their room.  Security had to break into their room since the players wouldn't let them in, and one person was in the bathroom repeatedly flushing the toilet.  Guess they had to miss the Dennis Rodman lecture by leaving early.