Mani's BlogMani's BlogA blog to discuss latest news, sports, politics, business, health and much more. Articles
MLB
2008-04-18 19:24:00 It's never too early to predict the perfect Fall classic....American League1) Divisional SeriesBoston vs Anaheim - Red SoxBaltimore vs Chicago - Orioles2) League Championship SeriesBoston vs Baltimore - Red SoxNational League1) Divisional SeriesNew York vs Chicago - CubsPhiladelphia vs Arizona - Diamond Backs2) League Championship SeriesChicago vs Arizona - CubsWorld SeriesBoston vs Chicago - Red Sox....the Cubs just have to wait...!!!
NHL Playoffs
2008-04-18 19:14:00 I know I'm late with my predictions, nevertheless......it's better to be late than never...So here it goes...!East Montreal vs Boston - Bruins (Yes, I believe Bruins will come back, force game 7)Pittsburgh vs Ottawa - Pens won alreadyPhiladelphia vs Washington - FlyersNew York vs New Jersey - RangersWestDetroit vs Nashville - The WingsSan Jose vs Calgary - FlamesMinnesota vs Colorado - AvalancheAnaheim vs Dallas - Stars More About: Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
2008-04-18 19:08:00 Here are my predictions for first round of the NBA 2008 playoffs.East:Atlanta vs Boston - Celtics in 4Philadelphia vs Detroit - Pistons in 5Washington vs Cleveland - Cavaliers in 7Toronto vs Orlando - Magic in 6West:Denver vs LA Lakers - Lakers in 5Dallas vs New Orleans - Mavs in 7Phoenix vs San Antonio - Suns in 7Utah vs Houston - Jazz in 6 More About: Playoffs
Superbowl
2008-02-04 14:50:00 Well if you are Patriot fan then you've to be disappointed with the outcome ofSuperbowl XLII.The most disappointing aspect of the game is not the loss but the way the Patriots played. True that the Giants played well but the Patriots should have put together a much better game plan and played lot better. You would have never heard me say this - Tom Brady looked average, Bill Billicheck looked like a coach who didn't know what he was doing and that Patriot defense looked old and tired. First of all the Patriots couldn't stop the Giant running game right from the first drive. In addition, they let Eli Manning convert four third downs in that drive, that to me was unacceptable. Why couldn?t they have put 8 men in the box, stopped the run and made Eli Manning pass more in that drive.More than all of that, the Patriots were leading 7-3 most of the game. I absolutely don't understand why they didn't run the ball more. I understand if they were down by two touchdowns, and that they ha...
Road to the Superbowl
2008-01-10 07:48:00 If you are a football fan, you've to absolutely love the games this weekend."Playoffs.....playoffs....are you kidding me.....don't talk about playoffs...playoffs" - hold on hold on....this is the playoffs, so let's talk about it.1) Seattle vs Green Bay - PackersI know that the Seahawks beat Redskins at home at last weekend. However, the Packers are a much better team offensively than the Redskins. The Packers will run the ball better than the Redskins. Also, I expect the Packer defense to give Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawk offense fits.Plus, I like the Brett Favre factor, so don't forget to watch a 37 year old quarterback get it done on Saturday.2) Jacksonville vs New England - PatriotsI've a lot of respect for Jack Del Rio, the head coach of the Jaguars, his coaching style and the Jaguars. The Jaguars play ball controlled football and don't turn the ball over. Also, their defense is spectacular. However, we all saw how they almost lost last week's game by turning the ball ... More About: Superbowl , Road , The Super
Week 13 Predictions
2007-11-28 19:16:00 My sixth sense tells me that this is the week of all upsets, so let's get to it right away.1) San Diego vs Kansas City - ChargersI saw a much better Charger team last week against the Baltimore Ravens. Though, the Chargers won't be able to score that many points against that Chief defense, they wouldn't need to do so as the Chief offense is bad.2) Houston vs Tennessee - TitansThe Titans have lost three straight games giving up 97 points in all those games combined. However, the Texans don't have an explosive offense, so I expect the Titan defense to step up and help their offense.3) Jacksonville vs Indianapolis - Jaguars (Upset of the week)As a team the Colts are much better than the Jaguars, but I'll give this one to the Jaguars because they are hungry and are playing solid fundamental football. The Colts have struggled in the last three games they played before they played the Falcons. Good teams overcome injuries and that shouldn't be an excuse with Peyton Manning as quarte... More About: Predictions , Week
Asha Calendars
2007-11-24 15:12:00 Asha for Education 2008 calendars are on sale for $10 each. These calendars look fantastic, above all the proceeds go toward helping underprivileged children in India. If you want one, please e-mail me. More About: Calendars , Asha
Week 12 Predictions
2007-11-20 14:08:00 Due to popular demand, I'm back again predicting this week's games.1) Green Bay vs Detroit - PackersWe all know about Brett Favre and that fantastic Packer defense. But, did you know that the Packers are running the ball well lately. That, to me is the missing piece of the puzzle that's going to take them deep into the playoffs. In the last three games, the Packers have run the ball 71 times for a total of 296 yards, averaging 4.16 yards/carry.On the other side, the Lions are making too many mistakes. Kitna does not protect the ball well -has thrown eight interceptions so far, fumbled the ball 11 times and been sacked 37 times. Also, the Lions do not run the ball well. You can't win games if you don't do those two things well. The Lion offensive line has to do a much better job to give themselves any decent chance. I just don't see it happening against the Packers.2) NY Jets vs Dallas - CowboysThe Cowboys will get this one at home. The Cowboys are playing good football and the... More About: Predictions , Week
Quote of the Day
2007-11-20 10:00:00 "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."Michael Jordan More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Quote of the Day
2007-11-09 17:41:00 "He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help."Abraham Lincoln More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Week 10 Predictions
2007-11-08 17:36:00 With half of the NFL season over, predicting games has been fun as ever.1) Minnesota vs Green Bay - PackersHow can I pick against Brett Favre and the Packers? He's 37 years old and having one of his best seasons. He has thrown 13 touchdowns, passed for 2406 yards and we're just half-way into the season. The only downside to the Packer football team is their inability to run the football effectively. However, the Packers are a solid team defensively. I expect them to stop Adrian Peterson, and we all know that Minnesota can't pass the football.2) Jacksonville vs Tennessee - TitansI have to go with the Titans here. If David Gerrard was playing quarterback for the Jaguars, then it's a different story. I'm not impressed with Quinn Gray at all, he doesn't read the defense well, throws into multiple coverages - thrown 5 interceptions in 3 games and the list goes on and on. Plus, the Titan defense is just relentless, they can blitz, rush the quarterback and create problems. Even, if D... More About: Predictions , Week , Predict
Week 8 Predictions
2007-10-26 16:16:00 After a sub-par week with a record of (9-5), I'm back to do it all over again.1) Detroit vs Chicago - BearsChicago beat Philly last week. Griese is starting to justify Lovie Smith's decision to start him at quarterback. I think he'll come through solid this week also. Plus, Detroit is not a good road team. Brian Urlacher and that Bear defense will give John Kitna and the boys some fits.2) Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati - BengalsOverall, Pittsburgh is not that good. They got beat by a poor Denver team last week. If you ask me Big Ben is highly overrated. He threw two interceptions against the Broncos and I'm not impressed with the Bronco's secondary. I think Pittsburgh's defense has been bailing out their offense a lot. These Bengals can score on anyone, expect them to score 20+ points on Sunday.3) Oakland vs Tennessee - TitansThis one's easy. 4) Cleveland vs St.Louis - BrownsI feel sorry for the Rams, hope they get their first win soon. It's just not going to happen this week thou... More About: Predictions , Week , Predict
World Series - Game 2
2007-10-26 15:43:00 Last night, I saw one the best baseball games in a while. Curt Schilling does own October, and the way things are going for him he's going to have that ownership for a while. To be honest, he didn't have spectacular stuff last night. In fact, it was kind of an average performance - he gave up 1 run through 5 1/3 innings and threw 82 pitches. Nevertheless, we won, that's what so special about him. To me, finding a way to win even when you don't have solid stuff is what makes you great. The mark of a good salesman is selling an average product and the mark of a winner is winning even with average stuff.Going back to the game, I think we should be fortunate to have won that game.We didn't swing our bats well, managed only 6 hits. I expected more than that, at least at Fen way park. Also, with Ubaldo Jimenez walking 5 hitters, I think we should have found a way to come up with more runs. We left 12 hitters on base, any time that many get on base you need to score more than 2 runs.H... More About: World , Series , Game , World Series , Serie
World Series - Game 1
2007-10-25 17:59:00 If you're a Red Sox fan then you have every reason in the world to be happy. Last night, we routed the Colorado Rockies 13-1. Josh Beckett again proved that he's a winner. I absolutely love the way we swung our bats, we made Jeff Francis, a 17 game winner, look like a minor leaguer. Guys were hitting all over the ball park. Also, until last night the Rockies had won 17 straight games going back to the regular season. Beating that team, the way we did says something about us. It looks like we also set some records for a game 1 in World Serie s .Well, I normally don't pay too much attention to some baseball stats..because you'll find something like - Red Sox scored 2 runs more when their manager shaved his moustache than with one or something like that, or some would even go far that ....with moustache and ate 5 peanuts than 6...!! you get the idea.However, the records that these Red Sox set last night is pretty amazing.1) Tied the all-time World Series record for extra-base hits (9... More About: Game
Lights out Baseball
2007-10-19 14:47:00 Wow! what a game last night, lights out baseball, perfect fall classic.Josh Beckett came through for us when we needed him the most.Beckett pitched 8 solid innings, struck out 11 and gave up only one run - what a gutsy performance. It was fantastic to see his command over his pitches even in the seventh and eight innings. His curve ball curved, sinker sunk, and the fast ball was fast enough!!!!And of course, our hitting came through solid as well, enabling us score 7 runs. I'm happy the way we hustled and put pressure on the Indian defense, that's how you win in the playoffs. Now we have the momentum, hold on...hold on..., did we lose that to begin with, well according to the media but not according to the Red Sox club house.Anyway, the series shifts back to Boston Saturday. With Schilling pitching game 6, I like our chances. Let's hope for the best, I absolutely miss being in Boston right now. More About: Baseball , Boston Red Sox , Lights
Good ones
2007-10-16 15:17:00 1) http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/ article.cfm?articleid=42272) Al Gore's Video - http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ 3)http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/c ontent/oct2007/gb20071016_143714_page_3.h tm More About: Good
Quote of the Day
2007-10-12 16:54:00 "Genius is eternal patience."Michelangelo More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Week 6 Predictions
2007-10-11 20:20:00 So, do you agree that I'm getting good at this now. I was (10-4) last week, let's see what happens this week.1) Minnesota vs Chicago - BearsMinnesota is ranked 27th overall in the NFL. They are averaging 35% on third downs. If you want to win close games, you better convert on third downs. They are good defensively though, looks like they can stop the run. The Bears are coming off of an emotional win on the road over the Packers. I expect the Bears to play better at home. Griese will limit the mistakes, and will beat the Vikings with his arm.2) Miami vs Cleveland - ClevelandMiami is just a bad football team. They can't score, can't stop anybody.3) Philadelphia vs New York Jets - PhillyPhilly is coming off of a bye week. You know what, Andy Reid is 8-0 in all games that he has coached at Philly after a bye. Jets are also a bad football team. They are 29th on offense. Expect the eagle front 7 to be all over Chad Pennington on Sunday, right now he's just Bad Pennington.4) Washingt... More About: Predictions , Week , Predict
Quote of the Day
2007-10-11 15:30:00 ?You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.?Swami Vivekananda More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Baseball - Playoffs
2007-10-11 14:53:00 National League Championship SeriesColorado vs Arizona - This is going to be a hard fought series. Both teams have good pitching, however I think the Diamondbacks have an edge in Brandon Webb. I think he is one guy in this series who can just dominate and take over a game. Also, both the teams swing the bats well and play solid defense. I think the Diamondback shortstop Stephen Drew is going to come out flying.So, will go with the Diamondbacks.American League Championship SeriesRed Sox vs Indians - Do I really have to write my prediction here. Well, if I must thenit is the Boston Red Sox. I'm having pleasant memories of 2004 and of course smell the victory parade already.We have solid pitching - Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K and of course the knuckle ball pitcher Tim Wakefield. On the other side, I think we can hit the Indians one two punch - C.C.Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. Cleveland does have solid defense, but I think our defense is underrated. Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell are mu... More About: Baseball , Playoffs
Quote of the Day
2007-10-08 16:58:00 "The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes." Tony Blair More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
iPhone
2007-10-08 16:04:00 Nothing is going to change my mind!!http://www.businessweek.com/technol ogy/content/oct2007/tc2007105_056012_page _2.htm More About: Iphone
Chicago Cubs
2007-10-07 04:16:00 Ouch!!! different year, same result in the North side of Chica go . The Cubs were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks today. If you are a Cub fan there is nothing to be ashamed of, your team just got beat by a better one. After finishing last in the division in 2006 with a horrible record of 66-96, the 2007 Cubs made it to the playoffs, if you ask me that's tremendous improvement. I know winning is fun and nothing better will prepare you for that than losing. So, there's hope in Chicago for 2008. If you are thinking that it's easy to say than practice, hey!! we waited for 86 years before we got our championship, go figure!! More About: Chicago Cubs
Verizon - Iphone look alike
2007-10-06 20:40:00 Verizon has launched LG Electronics' Voyager, an iPhone look alike, this week. It looks like it has pretty much all the features of an iPhone in addition to an external touch screen that also slides to reveal a keypad. Also, Verizon uses a 3G data network to access Internet which is faster than what AT&T uses.Nevertheless, iPhone is iPhone, so will go with it!!! More About: Iphone , Verizon , Izon , Look-alike
Baseball
2007-10-06 15:52:00 If you are a die-hard Red Sox fan like me, then I'm sure you're feeling fantastic right now. We are up 2 -0 against the Angels and the Yankees are down 0-2 to the Indians. I like everything that we are doing, swinging the bats well though I would take more runs, solid pitching and defense. I think if Beckett, Dice-K and Schilling are solid as they have been and if Pappelborn continues to close games the way he's been, then I'm sure we'll have a memorable October 2007. Keep it going guys!!!!!!!So, both the Pats and Sox are doing great, with KG, Ray Allen and PP leading the way who knows Celtics could get something going... Too bad I don't live in Boston...!!! More About: Baseball , Patriots , Monday Night Football , Base
Quote of the Day
2007-10-05 15:59:00 ?The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.?Mahatma Gandhi More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Week5 Predictions
2007-10-05 14:40:00 So, last week I was (7-14). Still not there yet, shooting for 100%.Here's my prediction for this week.1) Atlanta vs Tennessee - Tennessee. You are not going to believe me say this, but I think Vince Young is for real. I have been his biggest critic so far, but think he's a winner and that's what matters the most.2) Arizona vs St. Louis - Arizona. I don't care if it is quarterback by committee or whatever, it is working in Arizona. They hadn't won two games in a row for eternity until last week.Why fix something that ain't broke. Moreover, St.Louis has got problems on all phases of the game.3) Jacksonville vs Kansas City - I'm going with KC. I have said this over and over again, and will say it once more - I like Herm Edwards, he'll get the guys compete and play hard.4) Cleveland vs New England - Of course, New England5) Carolina vs New Orleans - Saints. Saints are a pretty good football team but definitely under achieving. They haven't won a game so far this year and it's ... More About: Predictions , Predict
Quote of the Day
2007-10-04 14:34:00 We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.Albert Einstein More About: Quote Of The Day , Quote
Football 501, Cover-2, Cover-3
2007-10-03 20:53:00 If you watch NFL you are probably used to the terms cover-2 and cover-3. The commentators, analysts, coaches mention these terms a lot. So what exactly do these terms mean?I'll try to do my best to explain here.Cover -2As the name indicates, the two safeties will play deep zone coverage, each covering half of the field. The safeties will probably play 30-40 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. One other thing to keep in mind is all cover-2 schemes involve a 4-3 defense, i.e 4 defensive linemen and 3 linebackers.So, the 4 defensive linemen will rush the passer. The 3 linebackers and the 2 corners will each cover 1/5 of the field, where the linebackers cover the middle of the field and the two corners play 5-10 yards right/left (flat) to the line of scrimmage. Cover-3Tony Dungy the head coach of Indianapolis Colts devised something called cover-3 a few years ago. If you understand cover-2, cover-3 should be pretty straightforward. Just take a linebacker and have him cover the field dee... More About: Football
Baseball - Playoffs
More articles from this author:2007-10-03 16:58:00 It's October, guess what time for the Fall Classic. Here's my prediction for the divisional series.1) Red Sox Vs Angels - this is a no brainer, everyone knows which team I'm going with- the Boston Red Sox.2) Cubs Vs Diamondbacks - call me crazy, I'm going with the lovable losers from the North side of Chicago. Lou will get them play fundamental baseball and compete. I like the Cubs.3) Yankees Vs Indians - I'll go with the Indians, not just because I hate the Yankees, but because I believe Yankees pitching is weak again. These Indians can score, at the end of the day if you don't have strong pitching you are not going to win many playoff games.4) Rockies Vs Phillies - Rockies. They have the momentum with the one game playoff win over the Padres. Keep it rolling guys!! More About: Baseball , Playoffs , Base 1, 2, 3 |



