Matt Booher http://www.mattbooher.com You are meant to play the ball as it lies - Grantland Rice posterous.com Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:58:43 -0800 Finally...a city that doesn't act like its owed a championship http://www.mattbooher.com/finallya-city-that-doesnt-act-like-its-owed-a http://www.mattbooher.com/finallya-city-that-doesnt-act-like-its-owed-a

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:36:00 -0800 Why I'm intrigued by the iPad, but likely won't buy http://www.mattbooher.com/why-im-intrigued-by-the-ipad-but-probably-won http://www.mattbooher.com/why-im-intrigued-by-the-ipad-but-probably-won

When Apple announced the iPad, my first response was "neat...I'll have
to check that out." Well...time has passed and after some prodding by
a colleague to participate in the discussion, I'll share my thoughts:
I'm intrigued by the iPad, but don't see myself buying one. While not
terribly expensive (though more expense than a netbook), it just feels
a bit like deja-vu. And while I love the idea of that people might
start living their lives through something other than a 3.5-inch
screen, I just don't see this working. It seems like a cool device and
will likely spark a new round of innovation in personal computing. But
I have a hard enough time typing with a real keyboard and its too big
to sneak into the bathroom at work.

The iPad has been dubbed the next e-reader killer. Cue the doomsday
scenarios for the Amazon Kindle, Sony e-Reader, B&N Nook, etc because
Apple's now in the game. I'm not so sure. I quite like my Kindle, have
the software on my iPod Touch, and since the device is no different
from an iPod, the need to upgrade isn't there for me. My library is
with Amazon. Plus, its a just a damn book. Unless the book comes to
life in ways I haven't imagined, I'll stick to reading on my Kindle
and iPod Touch when I want an e-book.

Another "sell" of the iPad is its convenience, especially for those of
us that like to consume media while multi-tasking. Well, the lack of
multi-tasking functionality is well documented on the iPhone and I
don't see any plans to change that. So ix-nay on another beneficial
use. Even if I tooled around on the iPad while watching television,
what exactly am I going to be doing with it that I can't already do on
my laptop? Check email? Laptop. Draft a blog post? Laptop. Watch two
shows at once? Laptop.

Finally, the iPhone/Pod/Pad is a closed network. With a computer, I
can configure it to fit my preferences. The iPad works one way,
Apple's way. I don't like that. In addition, I have to pay to play. I
could buy the Wi-Fi version only, but otherwise I have to purchase
another data plan for 3G access when wi-fi is not available. When is
that? While I'm driving between cities or on the go? That seems like a
bad idea.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:17:24 -0800 Review: The Winners Manual by Jim Tressel http://www.mattbooher.com/review-the-winners-manual-by-jim-tressel http://www.mattbooher.com/review-the-winners-manual-by-jim-tressel Ohio State football critics might joke that Jim Tressel's The Winners
Manual is incorrectly named. Given the program's struggles in the BCS
spotlight, its an easy joke. But make no mistake, regardless of the
Buckeye's performance on the field, Tressel's simple compilation of
anecdotes, advice, and life guidelines is a solid read - especially
for Buckeye faithful.

For the most part, the book stays off the field and chooses to focus
on the programs the Buckeyes head coach puts in place to help his
players develop into leaders on and off the field. Tressel introduces
the reader to concepts such as the "Block O of Life" and "Big Ten
Fundamentals" and explains how the football program uses the tools in
the book to help his players define success both in terms of football
and life. Question and answer space at the end of each chapter and a
blank "Block O" provide the reader an opportunity to jot down their
own reflections and thoughts to the concepts put to paper by Tressel.
Overall, there is plenty for everyone.

While I generally enjoyed the insight into the Buckeye football
program and many of the stories Tressel relays about his formative
days at Youngstown State, the book itself came up a bit short for me
in an autobiographical sense. There simply wasn't enough. For every
detailed story about a part of the winners manual, dozens of other
components go untold. Tressel also shares stories about his players
and how they put the Winners Manual into practice to fulfill personal
ambitions and goals. Again, these are really good but you're left
wanting to learn more about the players and what drives athletes that
perform at the highest levels of collegiate football.

Buckeye fans should read, though those looking for an autobiography
will need to turn elsewhere.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:42:00 -0800 Soccer hooligans beware of Jets and Colts fans http://www.mattbooher.com/soccer-hooligans-beware-of-jets-and-colts-fan-0 http://www.mattbooher.com/soccer-hooligans-beware-of-jets-and-colts-fan-0

Every sports discussion I've ever had about football and soccer inevitably devolves into a "at least we don't have hooligans" rant. Really? An NFL game is free from drunken idiots doing stupid things and hurting people? Jets fans harassing women on the Meadowlands concourse. Colts fans assaulting Jets fans. I've been to enough away games in my Browns gear to endure the verbal nonsense and physical taunts to know we aren't any better.

Its only a matter of time before this gets out of hand. The NFL needs to recognize this is a simmering pot ready to boil over, and when it does, it isn't going to be pretty. Just ask England.

via Deadspin by Barry Petchesky on 1/29/10

No Taser this time, just a Jets fan getting his skull broken in a fight after Sunday's game. No suspects yet, as Midwesterners don't snitch, out of politeness. [Staten Island Advance]

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:38:36 -0800 Google Analytics IQ requirement now a B- http://www.mattbooher.com/google-analytics-iq-requirement-now-a-b http://www.mattbooher.com/google-analytics-iq-requirement-now-a-b The Google Analytics IQ test used to accept C students. That is no longer the case. In a change that seems entirely reasonable, 80% will be the new requirement. Given the growth in the sector, raising the bar is a good thing.

via Google Analytics Blog by Alden DeSoto on 1/26/10

Since the Google Analytics IQ launch, people from all over the world have taken the online course and test. Web analytics is increasingly important to all kinds of organizations. Online retailers, agencies, large consumer brands and non-profits are just a few of the many kinds of organizations that rely on people who are trained in Google Analytics. So, we've decided to raise the bar on what it means to be Google Analytics qualified and increase the minimum passing score from 75% to 80%.

If you're already Google Analytics qualified, but you received a score less than 80%, don't worry. This change doesn't affect your current qualification. But be sure to review the online course when it's time to renew your qualification (18 months after you initially qualified). At that time, you'll be expected to score at least 80%.

For details or to start the course, visit ConversionUniversity.com. There's a FAQ with details and a link to the Google Analytics IQ test. Best of luck to everyone!


Posted by Alden DeSoto, Google Analytics Team

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:21:00 -0800 Web Analytics Association releases requirements for Web Analyst certification program http://www.mattbooher.com/web-analytics-association-releases-requiremen http://www.mattbooher.com/web-analytics-association-releases-requiremen

Download now or preview on posterous
waa_knowledge-required-for-certification.pdf (406 KB)

The Web Analytics Association (WAA) released a document detailing the educational requirements necessary for an individual to sit for the WAA’s recently developed certification program. The document outlines the skills and educational requirements necessary for earning the certification. The WAA web site link follows: http://webanalyticsassociation.org/education/certification/knowledge/

This is a fantastic step and the most comprehensive detailing of web analytics responsibilities I’ve seen to date. Kudos to the WAA Educational Committee for putting this together. I’m confident this will help even the most seasoned professionals out there to find areas for improvement and growth.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:23:00 -0800 Making the switch to Posterous http://www.mattbooher.com/making-the-switch-to-posterous http://www.mattbooher.com/making-the-switch-to-posterous

So I've spent the better part of today switching my Wordpress blog over to Posterous. No real good reason other than I wasn't updating it regularly and really liked the promise of simplicity. Note, however, that Wordpress is not complicated. Nor was I unhappy with it. It's just my nature to try something different and see what happens - even if it costs me some search engine rankings and goobers up my analytics for a few months. I'm sure my dozen readers won't mind, or notice, the change.

One of the main reason I switched over from Wordpress was to reduce the amount of tinkering with presentation and spend more time actually creating content to read. I won't go into how much time I've wasted online over the years messing with blog layouts.

I'd have to give myself low marks already as I toyed with the custom style sheet section for about three hours before reminding myself why I made the switch. So I just left well enough alone save a few color changes.

Going forward I'm increasing my emphasis on simplicity and drafting this post via email and sending it to a simple email address meets that end. So far so good. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how the nine different supported formats will work on Posterous. I'm also looking forward to toying with Autopost to see how much content I can get out there and what different tools drive return traffic to my blog. Check back in a month or so to see what I've learned.

**UPDATE**

Note the awkward formatting of this post. After you post via email and make edits via the Posterous interface, you're forced to wrestle with carriage returns, <br> tags, and the like. Big thumbs down.

**UPDATE2**

Worked to correct all the awkward line returns. Hope this settles it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:09:00 -0800 McKenna Felice Booher http://www.mattbooher.com/mckenna-felice-booher http://www.mattbooher.com/mckenna-felice-booher

Two weeks ago today my daughter McKenna Felice Booher entered the world. 6 pounds,15 ounces. 19 1/4 inches. Enjoying my new perspective on life.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:58:00 -0800 Kokinis thrown under the bus - who's next? http://www.mattbooher.com/kokinis-thrown-under-the-bus-whos-next http://www.mattbooher.com/kokinis-thrown-under-the-bus-whos-next

The dismissal of George Kokinis as General Manager of the Cleveland Browns sounds like an act of desperation and these are desperate times for the franchise. But make no mistake, this move was no act of desperation. Kokinis's dismissal was a direct shot at head coach Eric Mangini as Mangini personally selected Kokinis as GM. But Mangini is no longer in control.

After Sunday's game owner Randy Lerner said the team needed to hire a "strong, credible, serious leader." He took the first step on Monday by letting Kokinis go. The second step is around the corner as Lerner will likely seek a personality similar to Martin O'Niell, the man running his Aston Villa soccer club - an experienced, credible, and highly respected manager of men. The difficult thing about the Kokinis firing is how it sounds a bit criminal - as if the Browns could not tolerate his presence any longer and they needed to escort him from the premises.The only criminal behavior at this point is the Browns performance on the field and the fact that the players actually get to collect paychecks after increasingly sad and pathetic performances.

Kokinis did leave the Browns with a solid salary cap situation and did manage to find a taker for Kellen Winslow and his creaky knees. But it appears he all to often rubber stamped Mangini's player personnel plans and didn't act like the boss. It's clear this saga is far from over. The firing and hiring of a strong football leader is only the start. But as this soap opera unfolds, we can only wonder what's coming next? My guess is its not nearly as predictable as a Browns incompletion on third down.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:21:00 -0700 Manny Acta next Tribe manager. Who? http://www.mattbooher.com/manny-acta-next-tribe-manager-who http://www.mattbooher.com/manny-acta-next-tribe-manager-who

Well Tribe fans, this one is a head scratcher. The Cleveland Indians introduced Manny Acta as manager yesterday afternoon, and, while very little is known about him by the fans, you have to wonder what Mark Shapiro and Larry Dolan are thinking. Less than six months ago Acta was let go by the anemic Washington Nationals - a team that lost 103 games and actually improved once Acta left. Under Acta the Nats were 22-61. And now he is manager of the Cleveland Indians - a 97-loss team that fell on its face under Eric Wedge.

Shapiro cited Acta's communication skills, energetic leadership, and positive mindset as reasons for the hire. Hmm...didn't see winning in there. And I guess you'll need a positive mindset when you look at a roster that no longer has an All-Star catcher and two consecutive Cy Young winners that will be each starting Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday for someone else. It's getting hard to take the Indians front office seriously anymore. They couldn't wait for Don Mattingly and decided a guy with some experience, even if some of it is a circus act, didn't fit their master plan, er, budget in Bobby Valentine.

But with all that said, it would be unfair and unreasonable not to give Acta a chance. If anything, we'll no longer have to listen to monotone monologues about how the guys need to grind it out during another season of unmet expectations. But in truth, Acta didn't have a lot to work with in Washington. He's starting with a team that's starting over in Cleveland and maybe the fans can hit the reset button themselves. Perhaps its somewhere on the top of our heads. For more, check out Cleveland.com's rundown of what others are saying about Acta and the hire.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:59:00 -0700 Why Mangini is winning me over http://www.mattbooher.com/why-mangini-is-winning-me-over http://www.mattbooher.com/why-mangini-is-winning-me-over

Just a few weeks ago I wrote about how Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini was taking the Browns on a road to nowhere. I laid out arguments about he was an arrogant jerk despite his lack of success in New York, how his teams play boring football, and lamented the general absence of progress in the first seven games of the season (including the four preseason games).

Well...I'm starting to change my mind. Sure, trading malcontent and general pain-in-the-ass Braylon Edwards helped with my opinion. Shedding the franchise of a guy that seemed to blame everyone but himself for his problems and didn't want to be a part of the Cleveland Browns demonstrated to me that Mangini actually cares enough about the franchise to only include guys willing to put in the work for the betterment of the team. Mangini could have taken the easy way out, but he made a deal, got a few players in return, and then the team went out and won a game. Case closed.

So back to why I've changed my mind. Over past three weeks (OT loss to Bengals, win at Buffalo, expected loss at Pittsburgh) the team has made genuine progress. The defense is still giving up big plays, but more and more, they are finding ways to get off the field. Special teams play has been outstanding. The offense, while still unable to mount anything closely resembling a passing game, hammered out two consecutive 100-yard rushing performance by two different backs. It's still not anywhere near where it needs to be...but its better. And the whole quarterback thing - well, we're just going to have to make do and wait another year.

The cause of this improvement you might ask? In my mind, the change in demeanor. I've suddenly noticed Mangini smiling a bit more. Perhaps the Ravens beat down knocked out much of his spite, but Mangini seems to be employing a program that allows his players to have some fun while simultaneously trying to win football games. It shows. The Browns are showing some fight. And the creativity helps, too. The Cribbs wildcat formation kept the Steelers on their heels and infused some much needed energy into the team.

With all that I just said, however, there is still work to be done. The lack of talent will mean that a lack of winning will continue. I'm not quite sure about the vision of the team and the question at the quarterback position must be answered in the offseason. And what I said last week still holds true - Mangini has yet to win big, he still rubs many in the game the wrong way, and the Browns will certainly own a Top 5 pick in next year's draft. But, unlike last month, I'm more willing to give him a chance.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:39:44 -0700 Ohio State Buckeyes facing a bleak future if things don't change http://www.mattbooher.com/ohio-state-buckeyes-facing-a-bleak-future-if http://www.mattbooher.com/ohio-state-buckeyes-facing-a-bleak-future-if The Ohio State Buckeyes are peering over the ledge of a precipice. At the bottom sits what every Buckeye fan fears - a mediocre football program coupled with year and after year of middle of the pack Big Ten Conference finishes. Think Minnesota. Purdue and, god forbid, Michigan State. Recent flops in big games have already tarnished the Buckeyes national reputation. Along with the losses, the Big 10 has taken hits along the way. Penn State and Michigan no longer hold national cache. Ohio State, while generally respected, no longer contributes to the national power discussion. That table is now reserved for USC, Florida, Texas, and to an extent, a handful of SEC teams like Alabama and LSU. This hurts recruitment. Why play for a great program in a modest conference if you can play big games every week for some of these other programs? The Buckeyes will always recruit big name players. NFL alumni that once called Columbus home are numerous and influential in the game of the football. See Derron Carter as an example. But a roster once stocked with blue-chip recruits two and three deep will soon become a roster of a handful of blue chippers with local Midwestern talent mixed in. But if the coaching staff doesn't start to show an ability to develop big name talent and the type of athletic players forcing changes in the way football is played, Ohio State's growing dinosaur reputation will soon see desirable as fans start picking through the bones dreaming of a once proud history. Terrelle Pryor is struggling and regressing. An offense with such a talented player at QB such as Pryor shouldn't struggle this much. The coaching staff may be trying to develop his more traditional quarterback skills such as pocket passing and checking down to his third and fourth receivers. But you can't take a Mercedes offroading. It's disingenuous and hurting the player. Some might point to Troy Smith's success in the Buckeyes offense as proof that Tressel and his coaching staff can handle the task of developing Pryor. That's not hard to refute. But watching Pryor throw temper tantrums and exude general frustration, you have to wonder if he is putting in the work to develop. Smith started as a backup and wasn't highly regarded as a quarterback. But he put in the work and become a great Buckeye. The coaching staff developed an offense to take advantage of his skills and the team excelled. So far with Pryor, the team looks lost with a bunch of parts not fitting together. Generally speaking, the style of play does not fit the players. The coaches call passive zone defense schemes that don't have quick, agile linebackers blitzing the quarterback. A ball-hawking secondary that is asked to sit back and protect against the big play. Slow, trap-oriented running plays with lineman that can't get on their blocks fast enough. Overall, the coaches seem to be stuck in a timewarp, coaching a game that isn't played by anyone anymore. Check out a Friday night football game throughout the state of Ohio and you'll see more innovation coming from them than you see from the crew up in Columbus. This isn't the conservative label...I think Tressel's in-game management is moderate if not polite to opponents, but they just seem out of ideas. Pryor never really played quarterback in high school. He played a game that felt more like a video game as he danced around opponents and generally racked up massive numbers. He had a national rep and wanted to stay relatively close to home. But I'm confident he didn't think he would regress as a player and play for a team that increasingly looks more and more like a Big 10 also ran. That's on the coaches. And its up to them to peak over the ledge, reject what they see and where they are headed, start making some changes, and revive the Buckeyes reputation as the best of the best.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:12:09 -0700 Mangini offering Browns road to nowhere http://www.mattbooher.com/mangini-offering-browns-road-to-nowhere http://www.mattbooher.com/mangini-offering-browns-road-to-nowhere If you're not a fan of Eric Mangini, get in line. Get in line behind the Browns fans, the Browns players, the local media, the national media, and likely, the Browns front office. This certainly can't be what Randy Lerner had in mind when went against popular sentiment and made Mangini the fourth head coach in 11 years to lead this once-proud franchise. But as the early season losses continue to increase in severity and the Browns look as lost as they have at any point in the history of the franchise, the Mangini Era might be as short-lived as the competitiveness of the team he's putting on the field. Its easy for Browns fans not to like Eric Mangini. He's arrogant. His teams play boring football. He hasn't won anything and it doesn't appear that the Browns will be winning anytime soon. The Browns can't score. The Browns can't tackle. Progress has not been made and they've run out of patience with another Belichick coaching tree branch after just three games. And the players can't enjoy playing for a guy that can't find joy in a game. They also can't like a guy that makes them take a 10-hour bus ride to his camp while he takes a flight. His nitpicking isn't translating to success on the field and after the 34-3 pasting at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, you'd have to wonder if they're interested in playing for the guy another week. Free agents certainly will be adding Cleveland to their no-way-in-hell-will-I-play-there list. Even Cincinnati has to be a more attractive option at this point. The local media didn't seem to be too fond of the games Mangini played with the media regarding the starting quarterback and the CIA-like secrecy he conducted his first training camp in Berea. And the national media certainly dislikes Mangini. Check out this doozy from Gregg Doyel as he eviscerates Mangini calling him a jerk and a pathetic bully that gets off on little man power trips like hiding the identity of the starting quarterback. ESPN seemed all to happy to let us know that five players have filed grievances against him. And most analysts simply laugh at the Browns as the ineptitude grows. But I guess none of this matters to Mangini unless the guy employing him decides he's had enough. And my guess is that Randy Lerner, while frustrated, isn't one to make rash decisions such as hiring a very undesirable head coach when more qualified and skilled coaching candidates were still on the market. So far we're not at the end of the line.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:07:59 -0700 Premier League Week 1 Recap http://www.mattbooher.com/premier-league-week-1-recap http://www.mattbooher.com/premier-league-week-1-recap Game of the Week: Tottenham 2 - Liverpool 1. The Sunday afternoon kickoff featured Tottenham's return to the upper echelon of the Premier League with a convincing 2-1 victory at White Heart Lane. Suddenly, questions are being asked of Liverpool's title credentials as Spurs summarily dominated the match. Rafa Benetiz will need to regroup the Reds as a slow start to could dampen title aspirations. Shock of the Week: Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal. Aston Villa's 2-0 clunker against Wigan looked like a shoe-in for this mention until Everton turned in an appalling performance against the Gunners in the late kickoff. One game doesn't make a season but it sure looked as if only one of the two teams expected to sink this season got the message. Arsenal absolutely dismantled Everton, serving notice to many the Big Four remains intact. Transfer Goat of the Week: Martin O'Niell While it might be a bit unfair to single out MON after all he has done to remake the club, the Villans performance at home shows that his inability to bring in replacements for Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen has jeopardized Villa's place among the better Premier League clubs. With European commitments adding further strain to an already thin squad, its not been a good week for MON. Big Four Snoozer of the Week: Manchester United 1 - 0 Birmingham City. United's title defense started with a Wayne Rooney goal in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, that is all that happened as many of the Red Devils' chances came to nothing. Relegation Six-Pointer of the Week: Stoke City 2 - Burnley 0. Points weren't going to come easy for newly promoted Burnley as they see Manchester United, Everton, and Chelsea in the next three matches following a trip to Stoke. Unfortunately, it looks as if Burnley could close out August stuck on zero. Let the relegation talk begin.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:35:22 -0700 Liverpool tops my 2009-2010 Premier League Preview http://www.mattbooher.com/liverpool-tops-my-2009-2010-premier-league-pr http://www.mattbooher.com/liverpool-tops-my-2009-2010-premier-league-pr When making Premier League predictions it's probably much easier to just go with some combination of the top four - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United - and three relegation candidates. Add in a few Europa League spots for fifth, sixth, and seventh and only half of the predictions really carry any weight. But of course, that would say nothing about the clubs disappointed by just barely missing out on European football or the sheer ecstasy of the team finding themselves 17th on the final day of the season, just clear of the drop and secure in another Premier League campaign the following year. Liverpool, 1st If there ever was a time for Liverpool to win the Leauge, 2009-2010 would appear as it. Manchester City weakened the top four with a raid for players on Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Rafael Benitez, however, did little to improve the second-place squad during the summer transfer period only bringing in two key players - Glen Johnson from Portsmouth for 17m and Alberto Aquiliani from AS Roma for 20m - and selling off a handful of midfielders including Xavi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. Once again Liverpool's resolve will be tested as early season injuries to Carragher and Aquiliani leave the Reds scrambling for cover. Injuries will likely tell the story of LIverpool's title chase. If Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres stay healthy, there is no duo more capable of turning a match on its head. Benitez's squad rotation policy aims to keep the team fresh - but it will be interesting to see how a title chase effects the policy if Liverpool hold the lead as the season winds down. No key weaknesses and a sound overall approach to the season should keep the Anfield faithful hopeful for the Barclay's trophy provided they're willing to settle for less in Europe. Chelsea, 2nd Another Russian import highlights Roman Abramovich's summer transfer activity. Yuri Zhirkov arrives from CSKA Moscow to Stamford Bridge for 18m. Carlo Ancelotti assumes the Chelsea hot seat and all its trophy expectations. The former AC Milan figurehead is no stranger to high expectations and should be able to handle the London cauldron. Last season's coaching carousel still saw the Blues finish third in the League, earn a Champions League semifinal, and win the FA Cup. Anything less this season will be considered a failure. Chelsea appears to be constructing a side intent on conceding the fewest goals in the Premier League and will look to Frank Lampard, Nicholas Anelka, and Didier Drogba to provide the goals at the other end of the pitch. Drogba's health, an ongoing saga last season, may well remain a storyline in 2009-2010. With only Manchester City wonder kid Daniel Sturridge providing cover, Chelsea could find themselves thin upfront during League games if Ancelotti chooses to run out both Anelka and Drogba for Champions League matches. European demands may ultimately hinder Chelsea's Premier League efforts. Manchester United, 3rd Despite the highly dramatized departure of World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in the offseason, the Red Devils remain a favorite to win a third consecutive Premier League title when the season wraps up in May 2010. Sir Alex Ferguson spent most of the summer tempering expectations regarding transfer activity - particularly after moving early to secure the services of midfielder Antonio Valencia from Wigan for a small portion of the 80m earned from the sale of Ronaldo. While many expected Man United to match the money thrown around by Real Madrid and their Eastlands counterparts, Ferguson focused more on keeping the club strong with additions Michael Owen and Valencia heading into Old Trafford. The Red Devils will remain solid in the back with Edwin Van Der Saar and a deep back four will ensure fresh legs for the inevitable fixture congestion. And while one could expect the midfield to be weakened by the departure of Ronaldo - the addition of Valencia will keep United stout in the middle. Expect Owen to shine in Ferguson's attack and Dmitri Berbatov should rebound from a subpar 08-09 campaign. Even with only three proven strikers upfront, United is not without attacking options but it might not be enough firepower to lift the Red Devils to the top of the table. Manchester City, 4th Oil money has build championship sides before - read Roman Abramovich - and there is no reason to think the same can't be done at the Eastlands. Of course, after shelling out over 105m this summer putting together an impressive collection of players, one has to wonder how much time Mark Hughes will be given to turn a group of expensive players into a competitive outfit that will compete for trophies. It'll be interesting to see who will be upfront for City during any given match. With eight strikers, six of them will likely be spending the afternoon on the bench. Perhaps Sheik Monsour bin Zayed al-Nahan felt City was better off weakening everyone else by buying their strikers and putting them on his bench. Despite all of the money being splashed around on talent. Stephen Ireland remains the best Manchester City player in recent memory and expect him to thrive surrounded by upgraded talent. The addition of Kaolo Toure helps solidify a notoriously porous back four. Shay Given provides nice cover on the goal line, but it'll be interesting to see if City will be able to keep the ball out of the back of its own net. A weakened top four improves City's chances of breaking the monopoly but mercenary football never seems to work and it'll be interesting to see if Hughes will be given time to actually build a balanced side. Aston Villa, 5th Villa emerged as a contender to upset the balance of the Top Four last season but faded down the stretch as the European comittments stretched the Premier League's smallest squad to its limits last season, eventually costing the Midlands side a shot at Champions League football as the Villans fell to sixth in the League. The departures by Gareth Barry (Manchester City) and Martin Laursen (retirement) certainly weaken the side, but Martin O'Niell targets Fabian Delph and Stuart Downing should prove adequate replacements. Aston Villa do have questions in front of keeper Brad Friedel, but the midfield anchored by Stylian Petrov, and James Milner can control matches. O'Niell has large targets Emile Heskey and John Carew up top and pacy wingers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young provide constant threats. If O'Niell can sort out his backline and build some squad depth, Villa can push the Top Four and still maintain a solid European campaign. Arsenal, 6th Arsene Wegner's claims that Aston Villa and Manchester City can create a Big Six in the Premier League might be saying more about his own squad than paying compliments to his adversaries. Wegner's only significant summer addition, Thomas Vermaelen, joins a back four that at times showed significant frailty at various points during the season. The losses of Emanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure weaken the side, but in typical Arsenal fashion, they do have a plethora of young talent poised to fill the void. The return of Eduardo gives Wenger options up front and a dynamic midfield with the likes of Csec Fabregas, Theo Walcott, and Andriy Arshavin will keep opponents cautious about pushing up too forward intent on exploiting a weakened back line. Wegner may be tempering expectations for a club expected to compete for trophies every season, but even with diminished expectations, if any club above the Gunners stumbles, be sure they'll be poised to exploit the slip and climb the table. Everton, 7th Nobody gets more out of their club than David Moyes. Every season Everton lack resources to make a significant splash in the transfer market, but every season Moyes spends smartly and fields a side capable of playing with the best in England and Europe. Moyes has secured the services of Jo from Manchester City for another season at Goodison Park, but otherwise, Everton has done little to improve a squad that finished fifth in the Premier League last season. Once again, Everton lacks significant striker options with Jo and Louis Saha favorites to start out front. A strong crop of attack-minded midfielders lead by Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, and Phil Neville help mitigate weaknesses out front. Jolean Lescott leads a Everton backline that can struggle at times and a potential move to the Eastlands would signal alarm bells in front of Tim Howard. With fellow Merseysiders Liverpool pushing for a league title, expect Everton to challenge for European football and continue its excellent run of top-half Premier League finishes. Tottenham Hotspur, 8th The slow start under Juande Ramos last season hampered Tottenham's ability to qualify for Europe but did lead to the hiring of managerial journeyman Harry Redknapp. Under Redknapp, Spurs began to show signs of life and a late season push overcame early season relegation concerns. White Heart Lane will always appeal to the cosmopolitan footballer and Tottenham's transfer activities bear that out. This summer's additions Peter Crouch, Sebasstian Bassong, and Kyle Naughton relfect that appeal and give Redknapp options heading into the 2009-2010 campaign. Injuries to Johnathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson leave questions at the back in front of eccentric keeper Huerilio Gomes. Tottenham struggled in defense away from home and any push toward European football needs to be coupled with an improved away record. Expect Lucas Modric to settle in to the Premier League after initially struggling to find his footing in the English game last season. The strike trio of Crouch, Robbie Keane, and Jermaine Defoe will certainly see Spurs scoring goals this season, but Redknapp knows the season will be won or lost at the back as he continues to look for reinforcements. West Ham United, 9th West Ham will play some beautiful football in 2009-2010 thanks in part to a full season with Gianfranco Zola at the helm. But the financial troubles the club finds itself in will significantly hinder the club's ability to make a serious push into the upper echelons of the Premier League. Widely considered the 'best of the rest', West Ham will find a top-half finish this season a pleasant success and spend most the season finding ways to avoid the relegation struggle. No significant signings this summer will mean goals will have to come from everyone on the pitch as the strike force of Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton won't see significant support anytime soon. At the back, West Ham might find itself without stalwart Matthew Upson by the time the season begins placing additional pressure on Robert Green to keep the Hammers in matches. A solid midfield comprised of Mark Noble, Scott Parker, and a compelling mix of youth and experience will need to overachieve if West Ham's season is to pay significant dividends. Fulham, 10th Roy Hodgson piloted Fulham to a surprise European qualification in 2009 thanks in part to a stingy defense that conceded only 34 goals in 38 matches. The West London club, however, will find it hard to balance the commitments of both the Premier League and the Europa League with a squad ill-equipped to cope with inevitable fixture congestion European football creates. European nights as part of group play could help with the profile of the London-based club longer term but might come at the expense of its all important Premier League campaign and positioning for a return trip to Europe next season. Hodgson will have to work his magic once again in 2009-2010. The Cottagers benefited from last season's relegation battle that saw as many as 10 teams caught up in the fight. As other teams battled the pressure, Fulham plugged away mid-table. Expect more of the same this season. The quartet of Bredge Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Paul Konchesky, and John Pantsil logged considerable minutes last season and there is very little beyond them to protect Mark Schwarzer from oncoming attacks. Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey, and Simon Davies lead a midfield-driven offense that needs to find the net more often. Blackburn Rovers, 11th When Sam Allardyce inherited the club from Paul Ince last season, relegation seemed a real possibility for a side that had enjoyed European football for two of the past three seasons. This season, Allardyce aims to put an end to the free fall and stabilize Rovers as a top-flight club for years to come - bringing in a handful of continental Europeans and replacing some of the troublesome areas that nearly earned Blackburn a trip to the Championship. Blackburn boasts a top keeper in Paul Robinson but still conceded too many goals. Rovers -20 goal difference was a 22-goal shift from the season before. At times injuries forced central defender Christopher Samba into a striker role, but if Rovers remain healthy, they have some weapons in Morten Gamst-Pederson, Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, and El-Hadji Diouf. A relegation scrap doesn't appear to be in the cards for Rovers this season and the Ewood Park faithful should breathe easy as Allardyce has the team back to it rightful place fighting for European football. Bolton, 12th Gary Megson certainly has his detractors but his philosophy of building a club from the back forward is reflected in his approach to the transfer market in 2009. The additions of Zat Knight, Sam Ricketts, and Paul Robinson strengthen a stingy defense. After escaping relegation in 2007, Bolton should be able to field a side this season that will avoid a relegation battle and test the patience of opponents hoping for an easy three points at the Reebok. Kevin Davies provides the attacking threat in front of a deep midfield that includes Premier League workhorses such as Matthew Taylor, Ricardo Gardner, and Gavin McCann. Bolton is strongest in the back with Gary Cahill and Gretar Steinsson anchoring a stingy defense. Jussi Jaaskailenan provides leadership and while a European push doesn't seem likely, there seems to be enough in this year's squad to secure a mid-table finish. Sunderland, 13th Sunderland always seems to be boxing above its weight-class in every transfer window in attempt to build a side capable of avoiding the yo-yo between the Premier League and Championship, and the 2009 summer transfer window appears to be no different. While new coach Steve Bruce was linked to some big names, the Black Cats did secure the services of Darren Bent, Frazier Campbell, Lorik Cana, and Paulo Da Silva this summer. Bruce will attempt to replicate his effort at Wigan and keep Sunderland up for another season and mold the side into a permanent Premier Leauge fixture. Club-record 10m signing Bent and workhorse Kenwye Jones will provide a threat upfront and a decent midfield that includes Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson should provide a enough firepower to protect a defense that exhibited frequent lapses last season. With the Roy Keane saga in the rearview mirror and Bruce bringing a new sense of accountability to the club, Sunderland should avoid the drop and continue its push toward Premier League consistency. Stoke City, 14th For much of the 2008-2009 season, Stoke City looked destined to go down. With 10 games to go, the Potters sat 19th on 26 points. But a late season surge lifted Stoke up 13th position and the prospects for Premier League survival look promising for another season as Tony Pulis has kept the squad mainly intact while bringing in Dean Whitehead from Sunderland for 3m. Keeper Thomas Sorensen has top flight experience with both Stoke and Aston Villa. Ryan Showcross and Danny Higginbotham pilot a back four intent on absorbing opposition attacks and launching long balls upfield forcing the offense to reset and try again. The midfield creates chances with Rory Delap's long throws and Liam Lawrence's ability to score from all areas of the pitch. Pulis has options up front with Ricardo Fuller, James Beattie, and Dave Kitson. Stoke won't surprise anyone this season, but as long as The Britannia Stadium remains the loudest and rowdiest venue in the Premier League, chances are decent that the Potters will remain in the top-flight for a third season. Wolverhampton Wolves, 15th Wolves earned automatic promotion by running out to Championship title with an impressive 90 points. Mick McCarthy's squad looks capable of making things interesting in the Premier League with the additions of Reading's Marcus Hennemahn and Kevin Doyle, Sunderland's Greg Halford and Red Star Belgrade's Nenad Milijas. Hennemahn will likely start in the net for Wolverhampton while Doyle and Milijas will look to complement scoring threat Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Wolves aim to avoid a quick return to the Championship like Midlands rival West Brom did last season. Wolves should be given every opportunity to earn its place for at least another season and avoid its 20th-place finish from a few seasons ago. Portsmouth, 16th These are dark times on the South Coast as Portsmouth sold off its two best players in Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson for a combined 26m. Couple the firesale with Paul Hart's stewardship of an uninspiring relegation escape and significant ownership questions, and things don't look terribly promising for the 2009-2010 season. If Portsmouth do find themselves going into administration, the 10-point deduction might just be too much for the team to overcome. On the bright side, Pompey still have the ageless David James in goal and experienced defenders in Sol Campbell, Herman Hreidarsson, and Steve Finnan protecting the back line. Playmaker Nico Kranjcar can creatively turn a defense inside out, but without any proven strikers, Portsmouth may have a hard time finding goals, especially away from Fratton Park. Expect another relegation battle this season even if they manage to retain the services of a few key players. Birmingham City, 17th City quickly returns to the Premier League earning automatic promotion by finishing second to Wolves after being relegated at the close of the 2007-2008 season. Alex McLeish subsequently went on a bit of a preseason spending spree when the transfer window opened in July bringing in no less than seven new players to make sure a return to the Championship is not in the cards for 2009-2010. One key acquisition, Manchester City loan Joe Hart, should help stabilize a back line that at times looked overmatched during the Blues last stay in the Premier League. A pair of Lees in Lee Bowyer and Lee Carsley bring a gritty element to the midfield. Alex McLeish expects big signing Christian Benitez to bring goals in return for his 9.2m fee. This time around Birmingham should have enough to stay up given some of the newer clubs to the Premier League this time around as the relegation battle will look a lot like recent Championship title races. Wigan Athletic, 18th Mid-table mediocrity has marked Wigan's tenure in the Premier League - finishing a shock 10th in their first season with a 14th and 11th-place finish the past two seasons after narrowly avoiding relegation three seasons ago. This season, relegation appears likely as a new head coach lacks resources and proven Premier League talent to cope with the demands of the inevitable relegation scrap. Scott Sincalir comes over from Chelsea on loan, but the Latics look weak in front of both goals as they lack any legitimate scoring threat and sport a skittish backline. The loss of Antonio Valencia to Manchester United weakens the midfield, and Charles N'Zogbia and Lee Cattermole will provide limited threats to the opposing defenses. A slow start could only increase the pressure on Roberto Martinez. Its likely to be a long season at the JJB. Burnley, 19th Of the newly promoted clubs into the Premier League this season, Burnley appears the least likely to survive relegation back to the Championship due to the overall lack of proven top-level talent on the roster. The Clarets enter the season with only David Edgar from Newcastle logging any significant Premier League minutes last season. Of course, Burnley will be one of the better organized sides this winter with Owen Coyle at the helm. Scotland stopper Steven Caldwell anchors a savvy back four in front of debutant keeper Brian Jensen. Burnley's midfield and attack will have to collectively find a way to muster goals as they lack a proven top-flight scorer among them. It may be a long season at Turf Moor, but if a few results can go their way and they can remain organized despite the pressures of the top flight, they may very well find a way to stay up. Hull City, 20th Phil Brown will need to reach into his bag of tricks this season if he expects to prevent Hull City from slipping back into the Championship after a rocky first season in the Premier League that saw the Tigers get out to a fast start only to stumble toward the bottom as the season progressed. Without the early season run, Hull would have found themselves hopelessly relegated as they earned only 15 points in the final 23 games of the season and three points in the final 10 games. As result, Brown aggresively pursued talent upgrades across the squad bringing in Jozy Altidore on loan from Villareal and Seyi Olifinjana from Stoke. However, this likely won't be enough to keep the Tigers up. They lack a serious scoring threat upfront and its main offensive threat, Geovanni, has a tumultous relationship with Brown. Hull remains solid at the back led my Michael Turner but he may not finish the season with Hull if things start off slowly. Editor's Note: Yes, I am an Aston Villa fan and would not enjoy seeing Villa do any worse than seventh, no matter its likelihood. Chances are the defensive crisis at the back could have us sink to seventh, but its still the preseason and this is for fun.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:01:16 -0700 USA A-OK vs Brazil http://www.mattbooher.com/usa-a-ok-vs-brazil http://www.mattbooher.com/usa-a-ok-vs-brazil Despite Brazil's three second-half goals, its really hard to be frustrated with the USA's performance today in the Confederations Cup Finals this afternoon. The second goal was a thing of beauty and the USA made Brazil earn the cup.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:15:29 -0800 Review: The Man Who Invented Pro Football by George Cantor http://www.mattbooher.com/review-the-man-who-invented-pro-football-by-g http://www.mattbooher.com/review-the-man-who-invented-pro-football-by-g Paul Brown's legacy casts a long shadow into the modern version of professional football. In Paul Brown: The Man Who Invented Pro Football, George Cantor touches on some of Brown's modern innovations and chronicles his journey through Ohio football from high school to the professional ranks. Brown began his career at Massillon Washington High School and quickly compiled an impressive 80-8-2 record. When the Ohio State job opened in 1941, Brown quickly moved to fill the role due to his popularity as a successful high school coach. Eventually, when Cleveland's entry into the AAFC needed a coach, Brown took the job. Cantor discusses how the war impacted the college game and eventually left Brown with little choice but to move on the blossoming professional game where he eventually built a dynasty. Brown introduced many practices in place today - position coaches, sending plays in from the sidelines, and an offensive scheme predicated on short passes and a complementary run game typically referred to as the West Coast offense. The book spends some time discussing these innovations, but in the end the book reads more like a timeline of Brown's coaching exploits, tracing his steps from boyhood through retirement. The story never digs too deeply into any one specific area, but the cadence of the biography moves the reader through Brown's career in a way that nicely mimics Brown's coaching journey. In the end, many of the characteristics that lead to Brown's success also contributed to many of his problems. Brown mandated discipline from his players and his uncompromising approach alienated many of his players later on in their careers despite the continue championships. Resentment mounted. Ironically, though, Brown did not apply that same approach to the game. His stubbornness with people contradicted the innovation he brought to coaching. Recognizing the game as always changing and looking for an edge, Brown was willing to explore new ways to play the game provided his players remained consistent and disciplined. Cantor spends a good amount of time discussing Brown's falling out in Cleveland and his resentment toward Art Modell and his relationships with the players. For Brown, he took it personally and spent the better part of his final days trying to make peace with how he felt he was wronged by the team he built. For readers interested in how Paul Brown built the Cleveland Browns into the first modern NFL dynasty, Cantor's biography delivers.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:04:53 -0800 Blogging the Buckeyes http://www.mattbooher.com/blogging-the-buckeyes http://www.mattbooher.com/blogging-the-buckeyes Ohio State's presence in this game is mostly indefensible - they were slaughtered by USC earlier in the season and haven't performed in the last two BCS Championship games. Yet, here they are facing the other defacto argument against the BCS in the Fiesta Bowl. For the Buckeyes, redemption has to be the motivation. For the Texas, the No. 3 BCS ranking doesn't sit well with Mack Brown and the Longhorns faithful. Both have something to prove for different reasons.  Kickoff. Ohio State 0 - 0 Texas First Quarter - 12:52. Buckeyes come out sloppy - two penalties, a dropped pass, and a Pryor scramble short of the first down marker when the first down was easily attainable. Some cause for optimism, however, as the Buckeyes punt. The two quarterback look might have surprised the Longhorns. First Quarter - 11:47. Three and out for the Longhorns. Funky rugby style punt. Even when teams punt they go unconventional against the Big 10. Tressel taking notes? First Quarter - 7:28. Ohio State 3 - 0 Texas. 51-yard field goal by Petry caps an uneven drive. Again, some good and some bad on the drive. Thankfully no ugly. First Quarter - 3:55. Longhorns convert a nice 3rd and 4 when the Buckeyes blitz. Glad to see Ohio State not sitting back and letting Texas dictate play. Another rugby style punt by the Longhorns to slow down the Buckeyes rush. Could turn into a fake punt later in the game. First Quarter - 0:39. Wells breaks off another gainer. Pryor escapes three Longhorns for a first down. FOX shows total yards: 114 Ohio State, 39 Texas. Bad snap disrupts Petry's 51-yard field goal attempt. Buckeyes strong play not reflected on the scoreboard. End of First Quarter. Ohio State 3 - 0 Texas. Second Quarter - 11:45. Ohio State 3 - Texas 3. Longhorns pick up a big first down on an underneath route to continue a nice drive. 50 TDs on 64 trips into the red zone for Texas in 2008 but the Buckeyes hold after a sack of McCoy on first down. 27-yard field goal ties the game. Colt McCoy. Could there be a more Texas name for a Texas quarterback? Sounds like it was lifted from a Dan Jenkins novel. Second Quarter - 5:37. Ohio State 6 - Texas 3. Wells moves the pile as the Buckeyes continue to work the Longhorns up the middle. Next is a screen pass that's not the prettiest screen pass you'll see, but it does the trick as the Buckeyes cross midfield. Longhorns sniff out a screen and Pryor makes another play with his legs. Texas used to win like this. 30-yard field goal from the short-range Pretorius. Another big game and the Buckeyes need Google Maps to find the endzone. On a sidenote, that infernal G commerical just ran. I think its for Gatorade...earlier in the game the camera oddly zoomed in on a Gatorade container on the Longhorns sideline. Very random, but maybe a hint. Yep, its Gatorade. A bunch of rebranding. Second Quarter - 5:35. Shaun Lane goes down on the kickoff. The Buckeyes are out to show support and the camera catches a classy Longhorn fan showing respect. Nice gesture - or at least I hope. You never know anymore. Second Quarter - 2:25. Longhorns crank it up on offense as it appears the Buckeyes unleash their bowl game defense conceding everything underneath. Buckeyes blow up a 4th and 7 and slam McCoy to the turf. Turnover on downs. Is Heacock calling the defense? Second Quarter - 0:56. Wells pounds out another first down. Texas blitzes Ohio State into another punt. Second Quarter - 0:03. A stupid penalty by Gibson prevents the Buckeyes from getting out of the half unscathed. What a fool. Buckeyes surrender almost 60 yards in 25 seconds and all momentum is lost until McCoy attempts to replicate a Pryor screen passs and finds Anderson Russell at the goal line. Russell plays for the Buckeyes. Halftime. Ohio State 6 - Texas 3. The question remains as to whether the Buckeyes can sustain this smash mouth style for four quarters and manage a victory in this touchdown-less ballgame. If Texas steals a score because Ohio State can't find the endzone it becomes a much different game to the end. Perhaps the Buckeyes should zoom in and see if they can find point A below: View Larger Map Third Quarter - 8:29 . Ohio State 6 - 10 Texas. Longhorns convert a long 3rd and 8 and push the tempo by going no huddle. Pass interference gives the Longhorns another first down. Announcerns point out that the Longhorns haven't tested Malcolm Jenkins. A fake punt gives the Longhorns another first down on 4th and 1. Another 4th and 1 conversion. What haven't they done to get a first down on this drive? Gibson earned the first penalty in the first half - but maybe they should put a dress on him as he dances into the endzone after another roughing the passer penalty. Is it now all over but the shouting? Third Quarter - 6:58. Buckeyes answer with a three-and-out. Time to lean on the defense. Third Quarter - 5:07. Pitch and catch by the Longhorns move them up the field.  Intentional grounding forces a 3rd and 28. Suddenly the Longhorns are going backwards. And the Buckeyes get the ball near midfield. Third Quarter - 3:51. Ohio State's offense suddenly lacks imagination with a draw on 3rd and 13. Here comes the Tressel ball as the Buckeyes punt again. You have to wonder what second half adjustments the Buckeyes made and now the Buckeyes are chasing the game. Third Quarter - 1:04. Ohio State 6 - 17 Texas. Texas lops off huge gains as the Buckeyes rush four and sit back in the zone. It's deja vu all over again as the Buckeyes look unprepared and overmatched. And since the offense has had back-to-back three-and-outs the defense has spent the entire second half on the field. And it shows. End of Third Quarter. Ohio State 6 - 17 Texas. Fourth Quarter - 13:22. Ohio State 9 - 17 Texas. Robiske makes an amazing catch as Boeckman delivers a bomb and saves the defense for another three downs. Pryor almost picked off in the endzone on a play he maybe should have ran. Another field goal as it returns to a one-possession game. Tressel loves kicking so much you have to wonder if he'd enjoy coaching the Columbus Crew. Fourth Quarter - 9:41. Buckeyes still haven't solved the hurry-up offense. You think they would have figured something out while the offense was on the field. McCoy puts it on the turf and it rolls out of bounds. Three man rush and the Buckeyes get beat over the top but get lucky as the reciever steps out of bounds.The rugby kick rolls into the endzone. The Buckeyes haven't demonstrated an ability to go 80 yards yet.  Fourth Quarter - 7:26. Ohio State 15- Texas 17. Robiske bails out Pryor with another nice catch. Wells on the sideline as Pryor cranks out some yardage on the ground. Holes up the middle harder to come by in the second half as the Longhorns continue to jam up the middle on the running game. Sniff...sniff...sniff...still can't find the scent. Texas acts shocked as Beasley holds Robiske up from going after a short pass. Add a dash of unsportsmanlike conduct and suddenly you can smell it. Boeckman to Pryor - wow. Conversion pass comes up short. Fourth Quarter - 6:34. Buckeyes force a punt. Fourth Quarter - 2:05. Ohio State 21 - 17 Texas. Buckeyes fumble a snap and Herron bails out Pryor. Ballard makes a fantastic catch across the middle. Herron takes it off the edge catches the Longhorns pinching the middle. And again. Touchdown. Another two-point conversion try as the officials call off-setting pass interference penalties. Failed again. Did the Buckeyes leave too much time? Fourth Quarter - 0:16. Ohio State 21 - 24 Texas. This is turning out to be one hell of a game. Texas with two timeouts as the clock ticks. Almost an outstanding catch by Cosby as its nearly picked by the Buckeyes.  Buckeyes jump offsides as the Longhorns reach the 50 with 1:03 to go. Buckeyes show a blitz and push McCoy out of the pocket. Nice aggressive call. Almost picked and now its 4th and 3 with 0:43 to play. McCoy rolls out and it depends on the spot. Chaos ensues. No review of the spot in the college game? Here it comes as each team gets a challenge. Looks like the Longhorns get it on a nice play by Kirkendall. Play stands. McCoy splits the zone and another first down. Buckeyes whiff on the tackle and its Longhorns and the end zone. What defense where the Buckeyes playing leaving Russell man-to-man? Ballgame. Ohio State 21-24 Texas . Pryor has the arm...or do they play for the field goal? Sack by Arakpo...you cant take that there. Hail Mary comes up short. Boeckman played outstanding - but you just can't take a sack there. Tip your hat to both teams. Texas eeked it out in the end but unless your deaf - the Buckeyes answered some critics with a solid performance against a team many felt should be playing Thursday night in the BCS Championship game. Credit Ohio State for not folding when they went down 17-6 early to close out the third quarter. Same goes for McCoy and that final drive. He hit the throws and delivered in the clutch. Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock will have to explain the defense he called there at the end.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:08:44 -0800 Predictions for 2009 http://www.mattbooher.com/predictions-for-2009-2 http://www.mattbooher.com/predictions-for-2009-2 Some random musings on what may transpire in the upcoming year: - The Cleveland Browns hire Scott Pioli (yeah, tough to see this one coming after recent events) but while go with another unproved head coach at the NFL level. Fan anxiety quickly dissipates as the Browns return to its climb out of obscurity and give fans reason to believe the future will be better than the past. - In the world of sports media, a significant mainstream media vs. blogosphere conflict will play out in 2009. Popular sports sites such as Deadspin and Pro Football Talk will continue to fire away at the establishment until a redrawing of the lines becomes inevitable. So far, its seems ESPN's response to this is to continue much of what its already been doing - which is being a massive sports media conglomerate. But sooner or later the conflict of interests will become to apparent (BCS and SEC anyone) that fan sentiment will to turn away from the big boys. ESPN will respond in kind.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/386714/n827740525_5155696_731_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eK1nQtjkKB Matt Booher Matt Matt Booher