SUPER BOWL 51 EDGE AT QUARTERBACK – BRADY OR RYAN?
When the position-by-position comparisons are spit out from various sources during Super Bowl LI hype week, it will be interesting to see who’ll rate the edge at quarterback – New England’s Tom Brady or Atlanta’s Matt Ryan.
Advantages for Ryan – Youth (he’s 31; Brady is 39)…slightly more offensive weapons (factoring in the season-ending injury to New England tight end Rob Gronkowski)…slightly more mobility…slightly better 2016 season:
Ryan – 16 games; 373-of-534 (.699); 4,944 yards passing; 309.0 yards passing per game; 38 TD passes; 7 INTs; 117.1 passer rating (his only 100.0 passer rating and by far the best of his nine-year career).
Brady – 12 games; 291-of-432 (.674); 296.2 yards passing per game; 28 TD passes; 2 INTs; 112.2 passer rating.
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Ryan’s 2017 passing line was slightly better than Brady’s career-best 2007 passing line: 398-of-578 (.689); 4,806 yards passing; 300.4 yards passing per game; 50 TD passes; 8 INTs; 117.2 passer rating.
Advantages for Brady – Experience and savvy…track record in championship games…consistency (five seasons with passer ratings of 100-plus).
“BIG BABY” VS. LUIS ORTIZ COULD BE A SPRING BOXING SMASH
Rochester’s latest favorite heavyweight boxer – Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller – could be facing his biggest ring test yet against top-five contender Luis Ortiz this late winter or spring in Brooklyn, Big Baby’s home town.
The colorful and outspoken Miller, a former kickboxer, is 18-0-1. His most recent fight was a third-round KO of overmatched journeyman Fred Kassi at Rhinos Stadium Aug. 19, 2016 in defense of his NABO heavyweight title.
Ortiz is 27-0-2 and 37 years old. He is known for his size (though not quite as large as “Big Baby”) and punching skills. Miller has displayed a great chin and has shown surprising stamina in the ring considering his immense size.
This extra-heavy heavyweight showdown would be carried on HBO or Showtime in April or May from Barclays Center. The winner probably would be in line for a major heavyweight title fight.
A SHOCKING MONDAY FOR THE NBA
There were nine games in the NBA Monday night and the results were no less than shocking. The underdog won eight of the nine games outright:
Knicks over Pacers...Wizards over Hornets…Kings over Pistons…Clippers over Hawks…Bucks over Rockets…Thunder over Jazz…Pelicans over Cavaliers… and (trumpets, please) the Heat over the Warriors.
The only victorious favorite was Spurs over Nets.
The NBA – the most predictable of the four major team sports in North America – needs more nights like that.
SHORT SHOTS
The Buffalo Sabres soared seven spots – from 28th to 21st – in this week’s ESPN NHL Power Rankings: “This is as well as the Sabres have played all season: 6-3-1 run in January.”
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney compares quarterback Deshaun Watson to Michael Jordan. Maybe Phil Jackson will draft him for the Knicks.
Tuesday’s trade for second baseman/leadoff man Logan Forsythe is a big boost for the Los Angeles Dodgers and makes them team to beat (again) in the National League West.
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is the Hickok Belt Athlete of the Month for December 201 6. He deserved it. January 2017 was not so good.
California Chrome drew the outside No. 12 post position and is the early 6-to-5 favorite to win then $12-million Pegasus World Cup Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Arrogate drew the inside post position and is the 7-to-5 second choice. Keen Ice is the third favorite at 12-to-1. If California Chrome wins, he’d top $20 million in career earnings in his farewell race.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO…
Wednesday, January 25 – Danny Woodhead (32)…Patrick Willis (32)…Robinho (33)…Randy McKay (50)…Esa Tikkanen (52)…Chris Chelios (55)…Rick Adduono (62)…Wally Bunker (72)…Don Maynard (80). Alicia Keys (36) can sing Happy Birthday.
Thursday, January 26 – Montrezl Harrell (23)…Sasha Banks (25)…Manti Te’O (26)…Torrey Smith (28)…Vince Carter (40)…Gerald Green (31)…Wayne Gretzky (56)…Dale McCourt (60)…Bob Uecker (82). Ellen DeGeneres (59) is invited to the birthday party.