Last Thursday night, assistant opinion editor Jack Whitaker and I went to the Bucs-Panthers game at Raymond James Stadium. Our seats were incredible, and the crowd was rampant as well as sold out, which hasn’t been a usual sight the past few years. However, this did not last. Cam Newton and the Panthers blew out the hometown Bucs, 31-13, and most of the crowd went home dejected midway through the fourth quarter. As the game went on, the fans howled “Fire Schiano!” As a lifelong Buccaneers fan, I must say this was an absolute embarrassment. Despite a horrid 0-7 start in which the Tampa Bay defense has been overworked while its offense has been largely inept, there is no need for that kind of behavior. These players have worked tirelessly throughout the season, and they constantly put out their best effort every time they step on the field. For fans to act that like in the establishment that those players call home is obscene. But enough about that. Let’s get on to this past week in sports.
Just when we thought Calvin Johnson couldn’t get any better, he goes out and puts on an even better show for football fans. After breaking the all-time single-season receiving yardage record last season, Johnson has been hobbled to say the least. Some nagging injuries have held him back. But if you watched him on Sunday, you would have never guessed it. Johnson, aka “Megatron,” went off in the Lions’ 31-30 victory over Dallas, catching 14 passes for a staggering 329 yards and a touchdown reception. That total was the second-highest single-game total in NFL history, only behind Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard mark for the Los Angeles Rams in 1989. We might be witnessing the best receiver to ever play the game right now, and it’s a spectacular sight to behold.
The Aaron Hernandez saga continues to rage on. After a loss to Hernandez’s former team, Miami center Mike Pouncey was served a subpoena to appear before a Massachusetts grand jury in regard to the Hernandez case by Massachusetts State Police. Hernandez, who was been indicted on murder charges, as well as five other gun-related charges, is currently awaiting trial. The fact that the men he played college football with at Florida are now being dragged into his case is troubling indeed. This appears to be an affair that will continue to drag on.
Another Saturday, another crazy turn of events in college football. South Carolina came back and ruined Mizzou’s perfect start with a wild 27-24 victory in double overtime. Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw came off the bench after not starting due to an injury and threw two touchdown passes to lead South Carolina from behind. Meanwhile, Duke became bowl eligible for the second straight season as they upset No.16 Virginia Tech, 13-10, in a low scoring and gritty affair. Oregon, Alabama and Florida State’s dominant runs have continued, but each of them have important tests upcoming. The Crimson Tide still have to go against LSU in two weeks, while Florida State has to get through unbeaten Miami and its main rival in the Florida Gators. However, Oregon’s test will be the toughest: it has to go against No.8 Stanford in Palo Alto in what will be one of the best games of the year. These next few weeks look to be full of its own upsets.
The NBA starts in a few days, and I have never seen both conferences look so close. The top six teams in each conference each have a legitimate shot at winning the title next June. The defending champion Miami Heat will definitely have their hands full this season. Reigning MVP LeBron James will have to lead the team through a daunting gauntlet of teams in the Eastern Conference that have improved considerably since last season. These teams include the Indiana Pacers, who took the Heat to the limit in the Eastern Conference finals last season; the Chicago Bulls, who bring back Derrick Rose after missing him all last season; and the retooled Brooklyn Nets, who hope to capture a title in new coach Jason Kidd’s first season at the helm with new yet aging stars in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Andrei Kirilenko.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference looks to be even more top heavy. The San Antonio Spurs look to ride their aging core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to one more title, but at least three other teams will definitely stand in their way: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. OKC is led by the player said to be the second best in the world, Kevin Durant. His willpower and outstanding scoring ability will sustain the Thunder’s run while star point guard Russell Westbrook is out with an injury. The Rockets picked the game’s best center in Dwight Howard to pair with another one of the league’s best players in shooting guard James Harden. As for the Clippers, let’s just say the addition of Doc Rivers as their new head coach will be the move that pays the largest dividend for Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the rest of the squad.
This upcoming season of the NBA has the potential to be one of the best the league has ever had. High-scoring offenses and star players will lead the way to an exciting postseason come next spring. Can’t wait to tune in on opening night. See everyone next week. I have to go catch the latest episode of The Walking Dead.
Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com.