New Kid on the Block

I'm what you would call a traditional sports fan. Though I embarrassingly admit to watching the debut of the XFL, and attending several live WWE events in my lifetime, I mainly stick to the sports that have history.

Mixed martial arts, and more specifcially the UFC, aren't really my thing. Don't get me wrong, I can understand why two guys in a cage with no rules (basically) and a variety of fighting styles meshed into one "anything goes" match is popular. However, it's just never really translated for me. I compare it to horror movies. Some people like being frightened. They pay money to be scared for two hours in a dark theatre. That's not my thing. I get it, it's just not for me.

The UFC is having an event in Indianapolis for the first time on Saturday, and the popularity of the sport is at an all-time high. We even had Chris "Lights Out" Lytle on the radio show today to plug it. As much as I may be opposed to following the sport, it may get to a point where I'm forced to.

I haven't given the UFC much of a chance. But, if the attendance and PPV numbers are true, maybe I should reconsider.

Rocky Start for Irish

After a heart-wrenching 34-31 loss to rival Michigan State, Notre Dame already finds themsevles at a crossroads for the 2010 season. While most expectations were lukewarm for the Irish, this season can quickly spiral out of control for Brian Kelly in Year #1.

At 1-2, the schedule doesn't give Notre Dame too many favors over the next three weeks with games against Stanford, at Boston College, and Pittsburgh. Breaking down the rest of the schedule, seven wins could be the best-case scenario for Notre Dame.

Even having dropped two out of three to Navy, you have to expect Notre Dame to beat the Midshipmen when the teams meet later this season. Tulsa, Western Michigan, and Army, will all be easy victories barring catastrophe. There are five wins. The rest of the schedule is anyone's guess. Notre Dame will have to go at least 1-4 against Stanford, at Boston College, Pittsburgh, Utah, and at USC. That should be do-able to get bowl eligible. However, 2-3 over those five games may be asking too much.

I promosted myself that I wouldn't judge Brian Kelly on wins and losses in his first year. That was already done with Tyrone Willingham (10-3) and Charlie Weis (9-3) and we all know how those eras ended up. But, with a 1-5 start a realistic possibility, the margin for error is shrinking.

Predicting the 2010 Colts

To me, predicting stuff is the worst part about being a talking head. It's really a lose-lose situation because regardless of what picks you actually get right, chances are you're going to get at least 75% of them wrong. The good news is that lately with the Colts, it's been fairly easy to get things right.

I broke their schedule into three categories: Gimmie games, Probable wins, Probable losses.

GIMMIE GAMES
at Denver - though they trail the all-time series 11-7, the Colts have dominated the Broncos in their matchups recently, winning the regular season meetings in 2007 and last year, and routing Denver in their two playoff meetings in 2003 and 2004.

at Jacksonville, Jacksonville - I'm predicting the Jaguars to finish in last place and last place teams rarely beat the Colts. I'm actually more confident with the Colts playing the Jaguars in Jacksonville than playing them in Indy. The Colts haven't lost in Florida since the 275 rushing yard debacle in 2006.

Kansas City - they'll be better, but this team isn't close to being ready to hanging around with the NFL's elite.

at Washington - I don't care how bad the Redskins are, it's always tough to go to the East Coast and play in front of 90,000 rabid fans. They finally have a quarterback and a coach this year, but not much else.

at Oakland - the Raiders will be better, but is this team worlds different from the '07 squad that the Colts beat?

PROBABLE WINS
NY Giants - I think the Giants will be somewhere in the 8-8, 9-7 range this year. They're a solid team that can cause the Colts come problems, but their defense was woeful last season and couldn't have drastically improved overnight.

at Houston, Houston - the Colts have won 15 of the 16 all-time meetings. In this series, the Colts have either a) found a way to win or b) watched the Texans implode upon themselves.I keep hearing that this is the Texans' year, but that's what we've heard the last three years. I'll believe it when I see it.

Cincinnati - can someone tell me the last time the Colts lost a game that actually counted to the Bengals? Anyone? I didn't think so.

San Diego - this team looks like they're taking a step back this season. They still have Phillip Rivers who is always a threat, but there defense isn't what it was 2-3 years ago.

at Tennessee - I really struggled calling this game a "probable win". Since the AFC South was formed, Nashville has by far been the toughest division road game for the Colts. Maybe Vince Young reverts to his 2009 form. Maybe Vince Young reverts to his 2007 form. I'm leaning towards the latter.

PROBABLE LOSSES
at Philadelphia - with new quarterback Kevin Kolb, it's tough to determine what the Eagles will do this year. One thing that is different about this team is that they have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, something that they never surrounded Donovan McNabb with (outside of Brian Westbrook). Tough atmosphere, tough team, tough task.

at New England - I still think this team has a good run in them. The defense is a problem, but the offense should still be elite. They moved the ball at will against the Colts last season before self-destructing late.

Dallas - this is likely going to be the best all-around team that the Colts face this season. Being at home will help, but something about DeMarcus Ware going up against that porous Colts' O-Line worries me.

Tennessee - it's Week 17, duh.

Final Schultz's Shots prediction: 12-4, AFC South Champs

Week 1 Recap

Every week of the college football season, we'll hit the main bullet points for Indiana, Notre Dame, and Purdue.

Brian Kelly's debut: while Saturday may not have been the offensive explosion that Kelly was used to at Cincinnati, it was a smart, efficient, and fitting start to his coaching tenure. For the first time in a long time, the Irish played terrific fundamental football with solid tackling and some spectacular Special Teams' play. Considering Notre Dame was four yards away from turning this game into a 27-3 blowout, and then weathered a furious Purdue comeback in the fourth, there are reasons for optimism going forward.

MARVElous: perhaps the only debut that was just as highly-anticipated as Brian Kelly's was that of Miami transfer Robert Marve for the Boilers. Playing in his first game in nearly two years, Marve showed some rust at times, but overall showed why he earned so much praise in the offseason. The final line - 31-42, 220 yards, 2 TD - isn't jaw-dropping, but Marve was able to show-off his powerful arm and deceptive speed. Though the two interceptions were largely the fault off defensive pressure (ND had four sacks on the day), both were crucial because they came in Notre Dame territory. The flip into the endzone on the touchdown run was not only in poor taste (Still trailing by eight? On the road? Seriously?), but it gave Notre Dame a chance to change the field position after their next possession, and pin Purdue deep into their own territory.

Cupcakes, please: say what you want about IU's pillowy-soft non-league schedule, but for the Hoosiers a win is a win (is a win). Considering their struggles in year's past against teams such as Nicholls State and Eastern Kentucky, Indiana was far more impressive in their 51-17 drubbing of FCS-team Towson. Ben Chappell (2 TD, 0 INT) was his usual solid self, while Darius Willis (14/102) continued to show promise. The score may be a bit misleading, as the Hoosiers were actually outgained by Towson 392-360. The defense is still a work in progress, but IU will have a bye week before their 2nd game against Western Kentucky to iron some things out.

Questioning Reggie

Earlier this week, Bob Kravitz brought up a topic that I hadn't thought much about: Reggie Miller's Hall-of-Fame candidacy. Given his playoff heroics, and his status as the 14th All-Time leading scorer in NBA history, I figured that he was a lock. I might've been wrong.

For fun, judge these two players:

PLAYER A
18.2 career ppg (20.6 career playoff ppg)
3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 apg
5-time NBA All-Star (once as a starter)
3-time All-NBA (3rd Team each time)
Finished in the MVP voting twice (13th in 2000, 16th in 1998)
Averaged 24 ppg or better game in one season
NBA All-Time leader in 3-pointers made and attemped

PLAYER B
21.5 career ppg (28.5 career playoff ppg)
6.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg
7-time NBA All-Star (six starts)
Seven-time All-NBA (2X 1st Team, 3X 2nd Team, 2X 3rd Team)
Finished in the MVP voting Top 8 six times (twice finished 4th)
Averaged 24 ppg or better in seven seasons
Two NBA scoring titles

Player A is Reggie Miller. Player B is Tracy McGrady.

What the above shows is that a player's contributions have to go beyond what a sheet of paper says. Given what he did for the Pacers franchise. and his countless clutch playoff moments, I still think Reggie Miller is a Hall-of-Famer. I think most of the voters will agree with me.