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Average Bro's Below Average Picks: NFL Week 14

Hey there Sports Pros and Average Bros! Welcome back to another Edition of Average Bro's Below Average Picks.

And boy, oh boy! Did those picks live up to their title or what! The Washington vs. Jets game was close at the end. I actually thought my 3 point line would be spot on! But of course, if there's one thing Washington excels at (even more than personnel decisions and turning good athletes into confused children) it's disppointing people. And was I ever disappointed.


Chicago vs. Kansas City was just a bad pick. But in my defense, Orton only came in for one play (which he threw an incompletion). He was able to stare down Cutler far longer than I thought he'd be able to. That gave it away right there.

And Jaguars vs. Chargers, what was I thinking? I guess I forgot that Blaine Gabbert has all the pocket presence of a peanut butter sandwich. If they didn't have Maurice Jones-Drew, I'm pretty confident the game would have been over at halftime. There new owner would have just decided this was a bad investment and take all of the players and give them jobs at his road making company. It would probably be a good career move for Gabbert.

So I had a few bad picks. It was my first week! We will move on from this and we will be better. Now that I'm established, I can guarantee that these picks will be better than last week. I really hope.

No Time like Tebow Time!

Today's post is written by Guest Bro, Chris Housel.

Tim Tebow doesn’t own a watch, it’s always Tebow Time. This critically bashed Christian Football player has become an absolute phenomenon, only building since the day he got drafted. “Why?” Some people ask, but think about it. He is always looking to run, which is immediately contrasting the fact that he is a white quarterback and most white QB’s are pocket passers. He is extremely open about his religion, he’s a lefty, and he’s a bulldozer. The kid can get Chick-Fil-A on Sundays. Are people jealous? Or can they just not fathom how he can play quarterback and win football games? I think it’s a little bit of both.

Average Bro's Below Average Picks! NFL Week 13

Hey there Sports Pros and Average Bros! Welcome to the new SPAB series: Average Bro's Below Average Picks! This is where I, the Average Bro, delve deep into the week's match-ups and give you my below average picks! Why are the picks below average you might ask? It's because I don't look into a teams success against a certain type of defense or a particular players average yardage. No I use something different, Pointless Made-up stats! That's right, none of the reasoning in this article would seem to affect game play at all. You know how ESPN is big on "Next Level Stats" these days? Well these are more like "Lower Level Stats". You might say, "Hey! What does any of this have to do with the game?" The only answer I can give to that is, I've got a feeling. I've got a feeling about particular match-ups based on what jumps out at me. And let me guarantee, you can take these picks to the bank!*

*(I wouldn't actually take these picks to the bank)

So here we go. We'll keep it brief since Sundays coming up soon. I can't just have this great insight on a whim. Let's start with a game that's very important to me.

Changing the MLB Post-Season: For the Better?

Thanks to the quick working of the MLB litigators, baseball has become the model of labor peace in the sports world. The deal, which will go through the 2016 season, will mark 21 years since the '94-'95 strike. Parts of this deal speak to conditions of HGH testing, the All-star game and even tobacco use.

But...

The issue of tobacco doesn't go far enough for some people. HGH testing still has its kinks to be worked out. And people still couldn't care less about the All-Star game (though hopefully this will be a step in the right direction). Really, the part of this deal that means the most both in terms of popularity and practicality (besides the expansion of instant replay, I'll talk about that in a different post) is a clause I didn't mention: The 2nd Wild Card Team.

ESPN High School: What they would have been.

This year, the book, ESPN: Those Guys Have All the Fun, was released. I haven't read it because it's bigger then my head, but I couldn't agree with the premise more. They always look like they're having so much fun. And it reminds me of the most fun days of my life: High School. Me and my friends would have had a blast with some of these guys and gave some good swirlies to some other ones. But if ESPN was one big High School....how would everybody fit in?

Might as well start from the top with

The Principal

Bob Ley

Look at him. So authoritative. He knows this school better then the back of his hand. He's probably interviewed every new student and approved of them too. He's done his time as a student but now he's taking a break. He still does some work every now and then but all in all he's just running the show. Bravo Principal Bob.

The Assistant Principal - Head of discipline

Chris "Boomer" Berman

He might seem like a guy you could have fun with and he definitely is! But he also means business. Hope you don't mind getting yelled at pansy freshman, because this guy can do some yelling! What?! You better watch your tone John Buccigross! You! Might! Go! All! The! Way! To the principal’s office!

Sports Centered: The Phillies Fall and its Effect

Well it happened. The scary possibility I couldn't shake since the beginning of the Post season. The best team in baseball lost an elimination Game 5 to a team who had to claw and scratch to make its way to where they are. The Phillies, in a 3 hit debacle, lost their hopes to become World Series Champions. I really can't explain directly how I feel right now. I'm thinking this is the mood many Philly fans find themselves in now. Let me do my best to list just how I think I feel.

September Rush: The last night of 2011

There are few excuses for not acknowledging September 28, 2011 as the most exciting night of your life:

1. You don't like sports ( Which is completely unacceptable if you're a guy. I have a huge beef with you. Ladies: still unacceptable, but less beef. More like a side of beef.)
2. You don't like baseball (C'mon! Now you're just being dumb. Everybody likes baseball! Get on the bandwagon, jerk!)
3. At some point in your life you have found the cure for a disease. (I am fine with this night being second place for people like Marie Curie and Will Smith)
4. You have no pulse ( This is a bigger problem then just not liking baseball. I would get in touch with Marie and Will to see if they could cure that for you.)

Otherwise, you have no excuse.

3 v 3 Basketball Tournament! Coming soon!

Hey there Pros and Bros! Weve got the 1st Annual Sports Pro and the Average Bro 3 v 3 basketball tournament! Want to enter your team? Want to just find out some way to get involved or help out the event for charity? Send an E-mail to Sportsproaveragebro@gmail.com or comment on this post or get to us on facebook! You've got no excuse not to! Show us some interest and we'll show you the money! (that we will be giving to charity).

Cool Start Bro! Bros and Busts Week 2

“Hindsight is 20/20”

I had a guy tell me that one time, that “Hindsight is 20/20”, but I didn’t get what he meant so I just walked away, and to this day I’m still unsure of what it actually means. Does it have something to do with that show 20/20? Does have something to do with a dog’s hind legs, and watching that show 20/20? Was he complimenting me on my vision, and my dog’s legs, while at the same time inviting me over to watch that show 20/20? Who knows? What I do know is that spending my valuable seconds thinking about a stupid phrase that one cashier at Arby’s said to me 20 years ago when he forgot to put cheese on my sandwich, is just plain dumb, and the same rule applies to fantasy owners. We can’t spend our time from Tuesday to Saturday worrying over the picks we made last week, or how we chose to start LeGarrette Blount and sit Ray Rice. We must instead focus on the future; finding ways in which we can improve our odds to get a W. So in order to help you all achieve this, I’ve put together another list of Bros and Busts for week two.

Home Team Bias

The 2008 World Series win for the Philadelphia Phillies was the greatest sports related moment in my life. Come to think of it, maybe the best non sports related moment as well. The drama, the excitement, the sight of Brad Lidge falling to his knees and Carlos Ruiz embracing him. It still gives me chills watching it to this day. But I always wonder if the Phillies were not my home team would I feel this way? If Citizens Bank Park wasn't just a short drive down 95 South, would I have felt years of losing seasons and missing the playoffs was finally worth it? If I was a Phillies fan from lets say, Kentucky, would I really have had the same feeling? I do not think I would have, but that raises this question. Is it really ok to be a fan of a non-home team?

Before I give you my answer to that question I would like to give a break down on different types of Sports fans.

Home Team Across The Board: They like every pro sports team from their home city. They hate every rival team, and display their colors proudly. The best type of fan. This one gets a thumbs up.

The Different City Allegiance Fan: They, or their parents are from a different area but their allegiance remained. My friend's father is from New York, he likes the Jets and the (please hold your laughter to the end) Mets even though he lives in the Philadelphia Area. This type of fan is totally acceptable in my book. If I were to move, my allegiance would remain with Philadelphia. This fan also gets a thumbs up.

My Children's Game

The year was 1876. Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for a little invention he called the "telephone". Johns Hopkins University opened in Baltimore, Maryland. And Heinz Tomato Ketchup was introduced to the public. The nation was only a baby at one hundred years old, but so many great people were causing great things to happen. Greater than all of these events and all these Men, however,  was a greater celebration. In this year, the great Walter Camp was at the Massasoit Convention, drafting the first rules of American Football.

Cool Start Bro!: Week One Bros and Busts.

We last left off with me attempting to explain just how important it is to stay level-headed, and mentally stable, throughout the entirety of the fantasy season; no rash decisions, no feelings about sleepers, and certainly no trades without consulting your uncle Sports Pro first (as my uncle Sports Pro used to tell me). So hopefully you followed my insight, your draft in turn was a success, and your team, and season, looks very promising, if so then I congratulate you. This however is a very small minority, for the most of us will be staring at a borderline team wondering what to do, but it’s okay, there’s no need to panic, especially not today. All you need is a little bit of help, a little bit of advice on how to start your season off right, and with these next few days being the most crucial ones of the year, the days in which we must decide whom we will start/sit for week one, I’ve decided to make it my responsibility to be that help. Now I’m sure, as I stated in previous articles, you may not truly trust what I’m about to say, and due to this lack of trust you may turn to other fantasy writers for advice, and I completely understand, but that would be a terrible move. All the help you could ever need is with me, a man who’s not afraid to admit that he’s made, and learned from, plenty of terrible fantasy decisions in the past…..

NFL Best in Bro

OOH! OUCH! Hot off the presses! The NFL Best in Bro! Featuring our new addition "The Sultan"! We rattle down our lists of who gets the playoff spots in this NFL Season.

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College Football: The Average Bro Experiment

It is a strange time of the year for sports fans. Most divisions in baseball have been decided (the few that haven't include the Yankees-Red Sox battle where the loser will have the terrible shame of...making it into the playoffs) , regular season football is still a week away, there is no NBA on the horizon and the Little League World Series is over. What a boring time. A boring time for every one except for one group of people (who are actually a pretty big majority). Fans of College Football.

This topsy-turvey NFL

With a limited off season and the mad rush for practice and free agency, people have predicted this will be a very interesting season. And if we just look at the preseason, I would say that this holds true. I know it's just preseason, but I think this preseason is far different than any we've seen before. These games are OTAs, mini-camp, try-outs, and exhibition all in one. Some of the leagues best quarterbacks seem to be falling flat, while some of the other guys are making impressive runs. I know, I know! It's just preseason. But....

Fantasy Success? Why Yes!: The Formula

Hello my fellow sports fans, and welcome to the Sports Pros first ever edition of “Fantasy Success? Why Yes!” For weeks I have been waiting to make my blog debut, struggling with ideas on how I can make my first impression perfect. My original plan, back in May, was to wait for the summers upcoming World Cup, where I would dazzle readers with my vast knowledge of the world’s most popular sport in a column I would call “ Soccer: Two cups awesome, one cup world”. I soon came to realize that in fact there was no world cup this year (don’t count the women’s) and that they only play every four years; which is shocking for how popular soccer is. (sarcastic if you an American reading this, and completely truthful if your European) So instead of waiting three more years to write my column, I decided to take charge and write one on what most people want to read, fantasy football.

A look back: MLB Best in Bro

Those of you who have been with us since the early days will remember the sports pro, the average bro, and the beans made their picks for the MLB playoff picture. Now that we are about 3/4 of the way through the MLB season, let's look back on the MLB Best in Bro and see how we would do if the season ended today.

Out of town Fan? Share your story with SP&AB!

Are you a die hard fan of any particular team? Is that particular team outside of your hometown? We want to hear about it!

Is there a heartfelt, interesting, or funny story behind pledging your allegiance to a team out of your market? Send your story to Sportsproaveragebro@gmail.com with your name and hometown. We'll pick our favorites and post them to the blog.

Now's your chance to show you're a true fan of your favorite team and a fan of Sports Pro and the Average Bro! Don't miss your chance!

Flying without a Pilot: Washington Quarterback-less plans

It's 2011. The ESPN proclaimed "Year of the Quarterback". Arron Rodgers brought the current champions of football to the Lombardi Trophy despite a core of older veteran receivers and a slew of injuries. Tom Brady is such a great quarterback that he takes 5'9" Deion Branch and Wes Welker and makes them dangerous threats in the backfield. Drew Brees makes his receivers top fantasy prospects who, without him, would be 8th round picks at best. It would seem during this "pass-first" era in the NFL, the Quarterback would naturally be the main gun in any teams arsenal. Even in any era this would seem to be common sense.

So, for yet another season, Washington strives to work against common sense.

All In-dians? : Cleveland's High Hopes

As the trade deadline passes, many teams make out like baseball bandits in the market. I've been very happy with the goings on around the league. My Phillies scored Houston OF, Hunter Pence, without needing to give up young Dominic Brown or rookie RHP Vance Worley. And the Yankees did absolutely nothing. That's got the makings of great mid season trades in my book.

Umpires or Emperors? When is their power too much?

As is known, I am an avid Phillies fan. But I also have family in Pittsburgh and (as is also known) I love a good underdog story. Mix that with the Pirates playing the NL Wildcard leader Atlanta Braves, I'm already into it. Combine a dose of a 19 inning pitch off! You have my full and undivided attention Pirates. Please proceed.

A Double Play Double Standard

As I watched last nights Phillies vs. Marlins game, I was hoping for the same thing many in the city of Philadelphia were. A sweep of the Marlins. It wouldn't have meant much. The Marlins have taken a sharp nose dive since they were competing for the division lead. The Phils' whomped them the night before scoring the most runs they have all season. But we haven't been able to close on a sweep for some time since the four game stand against the same team in mid June. I'm not complaining. You have to go a week back before that to find a series they've lost.

The sweep would have been nice but that's not the subject of this post. It's more something that could have caused the sweep. Let me take you through my night of watching the game.

The Fifth Sport

MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL. The four major American sports. They dominate Sports Center and the hearts of our nation. Baseball is the Great American Past Time. Football is the Great American Sport. America is a Basketball haven, and Hockey is something Canada would sue us for stealing if they weren't so darn nice. Point is, we have our main four sports and for years we have been happy with that. We have our niche sports for different people. Golf, Nascar, boxing, tennis. They gain popularity at different times but can't touch the draw of our Big 4.

An open letter to the media. RE: Lebron James

Dear sports journalists, sports casters, game reporters, radio show hosts, and other media outlets,

Isn't Lebron James awful!

I mean look at the guy. He came out of high school in a blitz of fame and glory. We were told he was going to be the greatest player of the new era. He was dubbed "King James" and we were told we would "Witness". He dove right into the NBA. To his credit he remained in a struggling Cleveland for seven years, hogging all the credit and the ball. He went with the Cavaliers to four playoff games including the finals against San Antonio. He received the NBA MVP award back to back years. He made the Cleveland Cavaliers (and essentially the city of Cleveland) dependent on him. Little did they know he was about to flip everything around.

He became a free agent. He visited other teams during the course of the off season and at least 5 other organizations were in serious consideration. He spent the whole summer in decision of where he would go. America was beat over the head with where he was at every particular day. He was visiting New York. He just left New York. I wonder what he was talking about with New York. This went on for 2 months. Sports center had nothing but Lebron coverage.

Then he made his decision. In a glamorous fashion. He went on television to stab Cleveland in the back and take a short cut to get a ring, by joining with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. And long story short, he lost in the big finals. He just couldn't cut it.

Now he'll never be the same player and he doesn't deserve any of our respect. Or so the media has so told us.

Don't quit your 7-months-a-year job: Athletes turned musicians

After hearing Tennessee RB, Chris Johnson's new single, "Act on Deck", it got me to thinking. Why would any successful athlete ever want to ruin his image by making music too. Athletes are athletes, musicians are musicians. Very rarely should anyone cross that line.

Or at least that's what I thought. Then I did a little research. Turns out there are a few exceptions to this idea.

Next Steps for Terrelle Pryor

It has now been a few days since the Ohio State controversy reached its boiling point (or at least they hope its as bad as it will get). Jim Tressel resigned after a catastrophic attempt at cover up after cover up. Terrelle Pryor, the central character in the continuing Ohio State investigation, decided he would not return for his senior season for the best of the University. This was just days after Pryor claimed he would do just the opposite and stay. That was before more information leaked about Pryor breaking even more NCAA rules than was originally thought.

  Was this the right decision? I am not sure. I don't know Terrelle himself and I cannot judge him. The only thing I can look at is what he has done. I understand him leaving. It is the easier way out. He buried himself very deep (with the help of his head coach and former/current teammates) and would need a bull dozer to dig himself out (hopefully not one paid for by OSU). When all you want to do is play football, why should you worry about a huge distraction if you don't have to? Based on this we now need to look at his future options.

My Underdog Affections

Throughout the NBA Finals, I convinced myself I wanted the Miami Heat to win it all (after they beat out the Sixers of course). I, however, am a minority, along with the city of Miami. A couple of things have led to this decision.

• I like Lebron James. I don't know what it is about him. It's not like he's ever been described as a likable guy. Lebron James hate tops even that of Bernie Madoff in many places. I just think he carries himself very well and is a very articulate and intelligent speaker. He seems like he really thinks his thoughts through in press conferences. After Miami's win in game 3, a CBS reporter asked Lebron about "shrinking" in big moments of the fourth quarter. Lebron, calmly and intellectually proceeded to tell the reporter that his cohort, Dwayne Wade, had a hot night so they got the ball to him. He also informed him that he had a great night defensively and instructed the reporter to rewatch the game tape and "ask a better question tomorrow". I even find myself cheering for Lebron at press conferences!

• Another reason I've become an interim Miami fan is because of the legacy i think it could lead to. My uncle is a Chicago Bulls fan. He got to witness his team 3-peat...twice! He is one of those guys who knows Michael Jordan is the best player in history and no player will ever compare. I don't completely disagree (because disagreeing with that fact is punishable by a pair of cement shoes and a dip in the Chicago River). The problem is, I'm jealous of this. I want to see a legacy like this. The closest thing I have seen in any sport would be the Lakers 3-peat and follow up repeat. But the teams of Michael's and Kobe's are far different. Kobe was his team. He had Shaq and Fisher for his first run and then added Gasol, Bynum and Odom for his second. No player can be great without a supporting cast but Kobe was the only common denominator (aside from Phil Jackson) and the only way they got to their title. And in either run, he couldn't compare with the dream team of the Bulls. Some people may say this is an unfair and erroneous argument. I only have one other point. It was Kobe's team. Kobe's legacy. And for whatever reason, I don't like Kobe. I feel like Lebron and D Wade (and even Bosh if he doesn't end up getting traded) have made the Heat great and therefore it will be their legacy. And I will witness it.

• My final reason is a little simpler than my others. The Heat struggled in the regular season against good teams. They were highly criticized for coming together in such an extravagant manner and getting pummeled in big games. People said they weren't ready and that they would be great but it was going to take some time playing together before they could be actual contenders. They were booed in every major arena they entered. No one wanted them to succeed. They became underdogs. And there is nothing I love more in sports, than a good underdog story.

Episode 4 is here

Our most pathetic podcast yet! We discuss our busted brackets and our 15 minute guide to fantasy draft success

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Episode 3 hot off the presses!

Episode 3 of Sports Pro and the Average Bro is out now! We discuss March Madness, your opportunity to make some cash, and our March Madness Madman bracket!

It's funny! It's sports! It's the Sports Pro and the Average Bro!

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Oops!

After talking with an inside source about the podcast posted yesterday, we realized we made a few little errors in our research. Mainly they're about current NFL players.

• Julius Peppers is currently with the Chicago Bears, not the Carolina Panthers
• Brady Quinn was traded to the Denver Broncos for Peyton Hillis. He is not dead
  
• Champ Bailey is still with the Denver Broncos, not waiting outside our studio
• The Golden State Warriors play in Oakland (which is close to San Fran)

Thanks to friend of the podcast, James Depew for filling us in on our errors.

Episode 2 is here!

On this weeks episode we will discuss the NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL Draft and our post-trade NBA Best in Bro! Check it out!

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• Check us out and follow on twitter @ProsAndBros
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So many ways to get in touch and make yourself a part of your new favorite sports podcast! What are you waiting for! Get to the feedback!

Episode 1 is here!

The First Episode of Sports Pro and the Average Bro where we will discuss the Phillies rotation, the NFL CBA, and our MLB Best in Bro rankings.

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Episode 1

It's almost here! Episode Uno of The Sports Pro and Average Bro is about to hit you like Mickey Ward...or maybe Mike Tyson? Either way its almost here. Buckle up guys! The first one is a fairly long one but its so worth it!

Let's get this thing started!

Yo Pros and Bros!
This is the home of the greatest sports podcast that you've never heard! You need to change that!
It's coming soon! Get ready for it! Cuz ready or not...it's gunna be awesome!
Stay tuned!