Learning Something New

Its Game Day
 I love Sundays! When I'm working ( like today) it sort of interrupts my Sunday flow. But the good thing about this Sunday is the Pats game is on at 4 since they are on the Left Coast.  I leave here with just enough time to get into my "football gear" this = cozy, and head over to some friends house where I know a recliner is waiting along with my fave Octoberfest. Jamie and Chris you are the best!

You are probably wondering what my new found knowledge is, well let me get to it. Last Sunday  Pats Cornerback (defends the other teams best wide receiver) Devin McCourty got called for pass interference penalty which is a spot foul. They move the offense to wherever the penalty occurs. Its a harsh penalty as it gives the offense huge chunks of yards and puts the defense in a tough spot. The refs call this penalty generally if the corner does not turn his head around to look for the ball and is holding on to the wide receiver (its probably more complicated than that). This is easier said than done. But instead of me trying to explain the call and all the disgusted reactions from fans read this little nugget from an interview that Bill Belicheck did with WEEI http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4731828/defensive-backs-turning-for-ball.

So like me I hope you got a little nugget of understanding in this game of football. If I come across anymore easily explained rules/calls I'll be sure to pass it along.

The College football Update
Alabama is still the # 1 in the AP polls as they trounced Missouri yesterday. The fighting Irish are fighting hard as they move into the top 5 with last nights win against Stanford. I know Janelle and Jim are happy as they were out in the wet and cold for the game. They are loyal fans, and when you go to ND you do business and business is being done.

Heisman Watch
Geno Smith  from WVU is still the front runner even though they had a tough loss yesterday. Lets see if the K-state QB can keep knocking on the door.

Enjoy the NFL Game day I know I will! Next post I might share a recipe that I need to try.

We are Back!

Well Hello Everyone!

The Zone Coverage blog is back from Hiatus!

You are probably wondering where I've been since the football season in already onto week 5. Well I needed a new lap top as my "tank" finally decided not to turn on. Thanks Kimmers for the laptop it lived longer here than it would have there :). I now have this sleek ultrabook that I'm in love with. Mich and D-rock, I stuck with the PC maybe the next one will be a Mac something.

A friend on facebook made a comment a few weeks ago daring anyone to come up with a better 4 month span on the sports calendar than September to December, I'll even go 5 months with the playoffs in January. Football baby, Love it!

Football you say, yep! College football and the NFL are in full swing. So whats going on in both you might ask. These little conversation nuggets should help for any fall gatherings you may be attending.

• The NFL and its refs got a deal done and the real refs got standing O's on there return. This clip from CBS last week says it all about the state of the officiating and how happy teams and fans were to have these guy back. http://youtu.be/nnITnOjVs3Y. Sorry to those Packers fan for the loss that should not have been loss. I Could argue the same for my Patriots but its all in the past and we are moving on.

• The season so far seems sort of Topsy Turvy, that  the Saints are 0-4 says it all. Payton Manning is in Bronco orange and the NY Jets are falling apart (oh happy day). The Texans and the Falcons seem to be playing the best right now, we'll see if they can keep it up.

• As for college football its just fun to watch. I've got no real rooting interest in any team and  my UB Bulls are not very good. But if you were wondering, Alabama is still #1 and Geno Smith for West Virginia is in the Heisman conversation. The WVU Mountaineers and The Baylor Bears played last week and the final score looked like a basketball game. The mountaineers were not much better tonight but they won against Texas.

• A non football thought. Apparently baseball is still going on with the playoffs starting this weekend. In these parts we are thankful that the Red sox dreadful season is over. The dysfunction continues at Fenway, we shall see what they do in the hiring of a new manager.

Ladies edition (March Maddness)

Well its that time off year, the time when productivity at works drops because everyone is consumed with the NCAA march madness tournament. Either with watching the endless amount of games on the first weekend or with filling out and keeping track of all the brackets they have filled out. It is truly March Madness!

If you were clueless like me a few years ago, don't worry I've got a few tidbits and conversation pieces.
Tidbits
1. The tournament starts with 64 teams, and goes 6 rounds to crown the champion. That is a lot of basketball!
2. The teams are broken down into regions, West, East, Midwest and South. The games are played mostly on neutral sites. The March madness bracket is based off these regions. I've never won a bracket  pool maybe some of you have had more luck than me.
3. The teams are seeded in each region 1 -16 and the 16seed plays the one seed and so forth. No, 16 seed has ever won against a one seed. Though it seems like UNC Asheville came close today to knocking off Syracuse.
4. The four #1 seeds this year are Syracuse, Kentucky, Michigan state and, UNC.
 Those are a few tidbits don't want to overwhelm you all now.

Those conversation pieces If you happen to be going to a tournament party or out with coworkers go something like the following:
1. You could say "I wonder how far Syracuse is going to go since their starting center Fab Melo (That is his real name, guess he's Brazilian and his full name is Fabricio) is out of the tournament due to eligibility concerns".
2. You could mention that, "locally Harvard is playing in its first tournament in something like 66 years".
3.Lastly you could throw out a, "I wonder who is going to be this year's Cinderella team?"Last year's Cinderella was Virginia Commonwealth a low seeded team that made it all the way to the final four. 

Well everyone this is just a quick guide to the chaos of March madness, when generally sane people turn just a tad crazy.

Enjoy the games!

Withdrawal

Well all the hype is done now, two weeks and lots of chatter has come and gone with one game. It was the ultimate game and the Pats lost to the Giants AGAIN! I think it is almost mind boggling how they have lost to the G-men in the same fashion in every game they've played the last 4 years. AHHH... I was pretty confident leading up to the game but I knew the G-men were a bad match up. I wanted the Niners, oh well. The game has come and gone and I'm just about over it and doing well. Now its 7 months with out any live football game. Hockey anyone?

As an avid fan of the NFL and specifically the Patriots it hurts when they lose. I know intellectually they can't win them all, but man did they have to lose to the Giants?? But thinking back to 2008 when they lost to them the first time, I am doing 1000 times better. I like to to say when friends ask how I'm doing (and thanks everyone for checking up on me even if you dislike the Pats) I'm disappointed but not devastated. Thinking back to 2008 I was completely crushed. It was like going through a bad break up. I had nightmares that it was not real, I could not eat, I could not sleep, I literally had to stay away from TV, radio and internet. This game not so. I did stay away from ESPN and other sports related media for the last week but it was not a complete black out like the last time. 

Again they chose the wrong game to have their worst game of the season. There was just a general lack of execution! Oh well I'm going to turn the page. Now I'm looking  ahead like I'm sure a lot of Patriots Nation. Free agency and the draft are the big things on the calendar. The wish list from this fan is that the Pat's resign Welker, get another wide receiver and get safety help for the secondary.

Well that's it, let me know what you all want to know about in relation to my avid fandom of Boston sport teams. I always have an opinion.

Yo Soy Fiesta Superbowl

Well my Pat's are playing in the Superbowl tomorrow and I am excited! But I wanted to take a little time to give all my girls out there a few tips if going to a Superbowl party and you want to sound knowledgeable and interested. You don't want your friends and significant others to think you are just watching for men in tight pants and the commercials. The commercials should be fun though!

Here are five things to know and or mention during today's parties!

1. Rob Gronkowski is the Patriots all world tight end , he blocks and catches passes and he got injured in the AFC championship game. Its been the big story of Superbowl week , at some point just before the game starts you can throw out "I wonder how effective Gronk will be with that ankle injury?"

2. The Giants have a great defensive line, these are the guy that "Rush the Passer". You could throw out at some point as the game starts "I wonder if the Pats offensive line can protect Brady?" (Offensive linemen are the big guys who block for the QB)

3. One of the big stories for the Pats this year was the non factor that wide receiver Chad OchoCinco has become. You could ask "I wonder if Ocho gets a catch tonight better yet can he get a score?"

4. A nugget that you could mention is that the Pats ranked third in turn over differential, you can say "I hope the the Pats can get a turnover to get a defensive score.

5. If all else fails just cheer when the Pats score!

OK Friends enjoy the game, even if you are not a Pat's fan or Giants fan it should still be a great game.

 A few last things ,Superbowl 46 is a rematch of Superbowl 42, blah.. # 11 Julian Edelman plays offense and Defense (he sometimes gets mistaken for Welker). Vince Wilfork is the Pats best defensive line man and hopefully he has a good game.

Finally, Yo Soy Fiesta was a quote from Gronk after winning he AFC championship game and has taken on a life of its own. Check out this link  from T & R in Boston and "play audio."http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/01/24/toucher-rich-party-gronk-yo-soy-fiesta/