This Week's Picks... Randomized

            This week, I'm going to randomize my picks. This year has been pretty subpar compared to previous years, so I'm going to have a little fun this week. Like the previous randomized picks, this is purely for fun and not to be taken seriously. Besides, anything can happen on Week 17 (or any football week, for that matter). The bottom two games are not randomized. Those are my actual picks. Here we go!!

• Jets over Bills
• Dolphins over Patriots
• Saints over Falcons
• Ravens over Bengals
• Steelers over Browns
• Texans over Jaguars
• Titans over Colts
• Redskins over Cowboys
• Eagles over Giants
• Bears over Lions
• Panthers over Bucs
• Raiders over Chiefs
• Chargers over Broncos
• Seahawks over Cardinals
• 49ers over Rams
• Packers over Vikings

#1 Clemson vs. #4 Oklahoma: The Sooner's offense doesn't just consist of Baker Mayfield (3,389 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, five interceptions). Samaje Perine (211 carries, 1,291 yards, 15 touchdowns) has been impressive during his tenure with Oklahoma. Also keep an eye on Sterling Shepard (79 receptions, 1,201 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns), Mayfield's top target. Plus, the Sooners look to avenge a 40-6 ass-whooping in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl at the hands of Clemson. Final Score: Oklahoma 38, Clemson 24

#2 Alabama vs. #3 Michigan State: This game will be a lot closer than you think. Alabama's offense revolves around Derrick Henry and Michigan State's biggest weakness is giving up the deep pass. However, the Spartans are ranked 7th in rushing yards allowed per game. This will be a close game prompted by a defensive standoff, probably coming down to the last field goal. But I have a feeling it'll be a 'Bama-Oklahoma final. Final Score: Alabama 23, Michigan State 20

Prowling Panthers

            The Carolina Panthers aren't the only "Panthers" in professional sports having a terrific season. The Atlanta Falcons might've ended their quest for perfection, but Carolina has their eyes set on the Super Bowl. Anyways, there's another Panthers team that has seen success early in their season and they're located in South Beach. In fact, they were in 1st place in the Atlantic division on Sunday. They are the Florida Panthers.
            The Florida Panthers are currently riding a six-game winning streak. During their current six-game winning streak, they've averaged 3.67 goals per game. That might not seem like much when compared to other sports, but it's quite an amount in hockey. If you want to go even further, the Panthers have won 12 of their last 15 games. Not bad for the other Panthers squad considering how mediocre their franchise history has been.
            Florida has gotten things done through the likes of being stagnant on allowing goals. They are ranked third in the NHL in goals allowed with 2.3 goals per game allowed. The goaltending tandem of Al Montoya (5-1-1, 1.79 GAA, .930 save %) and old Panther favorite Roberto Luongo (15-11-3, 2.20 GAA, .924 save %) has proven to be an effective duo for Florida. Jaromir Jagr has shown flashes of 1990s-2000s Jagr, leading the team with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).
            Florida's been plagued by relocation rumors for the longest time possible due to ownership issues and lack of attendance. Therefore, it might take time for South Beach residents to be convinced that there's a viable product on the ice (27th in average attendance this season with 13,286 fans per home game). They are in the same market as the Miami Heat, after all. But if the Panthers continue this type of success, then the Florida Panthers might be able to reel in the same type of success as their basketball brethren.

This Week's Picks (Steve Harvey Edition)

            Since we don't have any shows this week (Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!), we shall dust off the old blog and dish out some picks here. This week, I've put a spin on it and picked the games from a Steve Harvey perspective. Basically, it's not the pick that I'm going with (The Steve Harvey pick is the opposite of the team I'm picking to win). In parentheses is my picks for the week. Last week was good for picks and I'm hoping to duplicate that same success this week. Here we go!!!

• Chargers over Raiders (Raiders over Chargers)
• Redskins over Eagles (Eagles over Redskins)
• Patriots over Jets (Jets over Patriots)
• Cardinals over Packers (Packers over Cardinals)
• Giants over Vikings (Vikings over Giants)
• Broncos over Bengals (Bengals over Broncos)

Greatest Hail Marys

            In honor of the 'Hail Mary' thrown by Aaron Rodgers on Thursday, we shall take a look back at some of the greatest 'Hail Mary's' thrown in football. Collegiate or pro, it doesn't matter here. Here are some of the greatest (or not so greatest) last gasps of air for these teams.

On the Playlist

            It's another edition of "On the Playlist!" Some songs you might like, some you might not. Anyways, check it out!

My Article on Frank Russell (Revised by Frank Russell)

            Having a career as an athlete is something many dream of. For others, it’s an opportunity toward better ventures. 

            For Frank Russell, playing just one season in the NBA helped pave the way for opportunities in Pontiac and throughout the US and the World. 

            “Basketball was a vehicle for greater things,” Russell said. 

            It all started with playing sports at the park around the corner with his brothers, Conus, Aaron, Ted, Campy and Larry. 

            “We were active year-round playing hockey, baseball, football, and basketball,” Russell said. “But we didn’t specialize in a sport (basketball) until high school.” 

            "Even when there was snow on the ground, me and my brothers would shovel it off the court and play a game.”

             Russell comes from a deep basketball bloodline. His mother was an all-state player in Denmark, Tennessee in 1938. His other brothers, Campy and Walker, played in the NBA as well.                    One of his most memorable games was a nationally televised contest against then-No. 1 Marquette in 1972. Russell had a triple double for Detroit-Mercy in that game as the Titans upset Marquette by 20 points. 

             After his one season with the Bulls, he went back to school and graduated from college. He spent five years at the Pontiac Police Department as a counselor for juvenile offenders. 

            “I’ve had a lot of kids come back and tell me how I turned their lives around,” Russell said.                 Russell attributes his preparation for basketball afterlife to his parents Jake & Mary Russell, his two older sisters Mary E (a 1952 Graduate of Lane College in Jackson Tenn), Rachel and his coach at Detroit-Mercy, Jim Harding and Ben Bluitt. 

            “There was nothing I wasn’t prepared for,” Russell said. “He helped me master the game offensively and defensively.” 

             Now, he works at the Oakland County Department for human resources and publishes his own publication, The Pontiac News. 

             One of the goals with the publication is to cater to the Pontiac area and its surrounding communities by raising awareness on specific issues of today and providing a forum. 

             The advice he has for younger generations regarding their dreams is simple. “Set goals and have a plan to achieve those goals,” Russell said. “Most people don’t set plans for their goals.”