Ever have to explain why you are a Chargers fan? posted by David Lassen
Here in Oregon I've gotten that question a thousand times it seems. Many times if I'm at a place watching a Chargers game on satellite, or just wearing Charger merch, I get people asking me that. Like I have to explain why...I hardly ever see a Raiders, Packers, Cowboys, or Steelers fan having to explain themselves why they like the team they do. But to be a Bolts fan, there has to be more to it? And of course the question gets posed more often when San Diego has success. For me, I've been a Chargers fan going on 30 years now. Heck, I still even have a Chargers shirt from then with a 1978 copyright date. No no, it doesn't fit anymore. Probably the last time it was worn was maybe what, 1981? My early memories of watching them on television unfortunately are based around the Holy Roller game in '78. They got hosed on that. Several years ago I picked up a VHS copy of it, and man...it seems like the entire game the Chargers would go on to win. What people never mention is that if kicker Rolf Benirschke would not have missed a PAT the game would have gone overtime, final score being 21-20. Anyway, growing up I had relatives in San Diego. My mother lived for a time in Lemon Grove. So of all the NFL cities that's what I identified with. We visited a few times in the late '70s/early '80s. It seemed like paradise, and I'm not just talking the climate. Driving around and seeing Chargers stuff on billboards, buildings, and just about anything was the greatest thing in the world. Plus, Dan Fouts played his college ball at the University of Oregon here in Eugene. So that was the l... [read more]

Inbound link contest - Win $100! posted by Earn Money Blogging

To try and motivate our bloggers to get inbound links we're going to have a contest to see which blogger can get the most inbound links to their blog. The contest begins now and ends July 31st, 2008. To be entered in to the contest all you have to do is go out and get as many websites to link to your blog as you can and at the end of the month send us an email listing all those links. All links must be active from August 1st through August 7th when we'll be judging the entries - a winner will be announced on August 7th. All entry emails must be received by Midnight on July 31st, 2008. You can email them to sportsfan@nbabasketballonline.com

We're going to impose some restrictions on the types of links you can get so please see below for the full list of links that do NOT count.

To get started simply go to Google and find other websites and blog that are about the sports and teams that you write about. Email the website owner and ask them for a link by explaining that you think your blog would be a good resource for their readers. Or offer to write a guest post for them with your by-line and URL at the bottom of the article. Or offer to exchange links with them by writing a quick write up of their site and a reciprocal link back to them. Some webmasters will be happy to add you to their blog roll even if you don't give them a link back (which is ideal) but some may want you to link back to them - you can easily do this with a quick blog entry on your blog about their website.

To learn more about inbound links and marketing your blog in general check out this post:--b... [read more]

Brett Favre Leaving Green Bay posted by Anthony "The Moneyball" Moniello

Amongst a busy week in the life of The Moneyball- I did have to comment on this topic.

Favre leaving the Packers to me is like Derek Jeter leaving the Yankees, Magic Johnson leaving the Lakers, or Cal Ripken Jr. leaving the Orioles.

But should we be so surprised? Do we forget Joe Montana and the Chiefs, Michael Jordan and the Wizards, Wade Boggs and the Devil Rays and Yankees? Folks, it happens. It is a part of sports where teams want to move on out from the shadows of the legacies that filled their stadiums and franchise record books. From the pressure that strains front offices to put their fate in once great, but now flawed men of unimaginative power over their fans. Brett Favre draws the people, and is great...but he no longer represents the future.

So let's see Favre in purple and gold, or Tampa Bay orange. Let's get a Rodgers-Favre showdown of the Bears in Lambeau. Let's enjoy the awkwardness of an old Brett Favre on his last legs...or maybe a still prime one ready to ride his horse around the championship celebration of Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay.

 

Anthony "The Moneyball" Moniello ... [read more]

3 More Issues With The Kansas City Griefs posted by John J Savala

In my previous blog i talked about the three things that i saw as the biggest problems plauging the Chiefs throughout the 2007 season: Tackling, lack of offensive production and the increasing number of big plays given up on defense.  Since this is clearly a rebuilding year, i saw fit to post another blog illustrating three more issues that caused us Grief: The Offensive Line, The Quarterback Situation and the Coaching Staff Crisis.

1.  Offensive Line:  In 2003, the Chiefs offensive line gave up only 21 sacks with an aging and immobile Trent Green behind the center.  This year we surrendered 55 sacks and our play callers had much younger legs under them.  It seems like the opposing D Line spent as much time in the backfield as any particular player on the Chiefs squad.  Other than C Casey Wiegman and G Brian Waters, our offensive line is populated with hold-happy non-blocking lineman.  Don't be suprised if this problem is addressed in the 2nd or early 3rd round of the NFL Draft.

2.  The Quarterback Situation:  This one is pretty obvious.  Our journeyman starter Damon Huard was largely ineffective long before LJ was injured.  He compiled 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions before becoming injured himself and being replaced by 2nd year man and Chiefs quarterback of the future Brodie Croyle.  Brodie did only slightly better with 11 interceptions and 11 touchdowns while leading the Chiefs to six losses as a starter.  We need an offensive playcaller who is also a leader in the huddle and on the ... [read more]

Parting is such sweet sorrow... posted by John J Savala

    Well, it's finally over.  My beloved Kansas City Chiefs closed out the season with their ninth  consecutive loss on sunday, this one coming againts the equally hapless Jets.  It seems like only yesterday that we were 4-3 and sitting atop the AFC West, with at least 5 "sure win" games ahead of us.  But alas, how quickly everything falls apart.  While the New England Patriots were making a run at history with a 16-0 record, so too were the Chiefs chasing their own piece of history, finishing with their worst single season record since 1978. In the recent past, teams dreaded the day they came to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs on their own turf, but now, most teams mark their calendar excitedly with a W long before the game actually takes place. I remember a time, (granted i am only 25) when the Chiefs were renowned for being the only team to make it to the playoffs every year in the 1990's.  And now we are seen as the butt of many jokes around the NFL.  What caused this decline in prestige and wins in recent years?  Here are just a few reasons we went from the Chiefs to the Griefs:

 

1.  Offensive Production:  Actually, I should say lack of offensive production.  This year the Chiefs were ranked 31st in points, barely beating out the San Francisco 49ers by one touchdown.  Even if you count the yards gained by both of our leading rushers, we still did not break the 1000 yard rushing mark.  As far as the passing game goes,  we had 17 touchdowns and 20 interception... [read more]

Looking Great for '08 posted by Jeffrey
Wow so the Broncos didn't go 6-10 they went 7-9. Still a bad record for the type of team the Broncos claim to be. All I hear in the post game interview is "We've go so much talent on this team...we're too good to be playing like this...its just about making plays." Geez if I could get paid on how many times that was said in a post game interview I wouldn't have to work my $7.50 an hour job...heck I might even be getting paid a hundredth of what those guys rake in each year. Anyway, I think I'll be looking forward to the '08 season though its quite a long way away from right now. Some thoughts on the Minnesota game: Did any one else have a horrid feeling in their stomach when in the 4th quarter, the Broncos opted not to kick that field goal, then failed to convert on that 4th down play? Somehow it seemed everyone in that multimillion pleasure plex knew that Minnesota Vikings would come alive. Classic momentum changer. Also, Is Javon Walker starting to sound like a whiny money monger? Yes he is. If he acts that way in Green Bay hes going to act that way around here. And thirdly, I think Brandon Marshall will follow suit. He's a great receiver but I predict he plays the old "Grumble about my contract when there's a year left" card. Ok well its been a challenge to be a Broncos fan this season but hey at least they're not the Chefs- I mean Chiefs.... [read more]

Donald L. Vasicek kicks it with Denver Broncos posted by Donald L. Vasicek

Donald L. Vasicek, a Denver area resident, watched the first Denver Broncos' football game in 1960.  Then, the Broncos wore vertically-striped socks.  Vasicek, owner of Olympus Films+, LLC, an award-winning film company, has watched ever Denver Bronco game since that first one in 1960.  Vasicek said, "My brother and I went to old Mile High Stadium (originally known as Bears Stadium) on a cold, snowy Bronco-Kansas City Chiefs game in 1960.  We were unable to see fans in the stands, partially due to the blizzard, and partially due to the fact that hardly no one else was there.  In the end, the Broncos lost by a field goal that was kicked by the Chiefs tight end, a name that escapes me at the moment."

 ... [read more]

K.C. Chiefs, A Truly Offensive Team...To Watch posted by John J Savala
    For most Kansas City Chiefs fans, it was bittersweet to watch the Denver Broncos get knocked out of playoff contention thursday night versus the Houston Texans on NFL Network.  On one hand, watching the archrival Broncos lose to any team makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  The fact that Denver needed a win to stay in the AFC wildcard hunt made that particular loss even warmer and fuzzier.  And yet, as soon as I begin thinking about the available AFC playoff spots, I am reminded of the spot my beloved Chiefies are currently occupying, the cellar.  With only four wins this season the only possible way, mathematicallly or otherwise, for the Chiefs to make a playoff appearance would be for them to buy a plane ticket and watch the game from the stands.  And rightly so.  The once high-powered, virile Kansas City offense that instilled fear in opposing defenses only two years ago, has become a feeble, ineffective joke on the field.  Oh sure, there are some high points from the offensive side of the ball, mainly the electric play of rookie reciever Dwayne Bowe and the sure-handed tight end Tony Gonzalez, but usually not enough to produce wins.  Usually protection is so horrible, the opposing defensive tackles spend more time in the backfield than any particular Chiefs quarterback.  And the only reason that the interchangeable quarterbacks (Croyle, Huard and Thigpen) ever have enough time to throw the ball, is because the defense is shocked coming off the ball and seeing the K.C. passing offense instead of ... [read more]

Chiefs sign 1st-rounder, but not Dorsey (AP)

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed tackle Branden Albert, the second of the team's two first-round draft picks, the team announced Thursday. Financial details of the five-year agreement were not released. The team appears far from an agreement with its other first-round pick, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. [read full article]

Posted Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:05:45 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Raiders add former Chiefs S Wesley (AP)

The Oakland Raiders agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Kansas City Chiefs safety Greg Wesley on Tuesday, adding depth to the position on the eve of training camp. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Wesley was happy to remain in the AFC West and looked forward to playing against the Chiefs twice this season. [read full article]

Posted Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:43:04 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Chiefs sign 3rd-rounders Charles, Cottam (AP)

The Kansas City Chiefs signed third-round draft picks Jamaal Charles and Brad Cottam to three-year deals on Monday. Contract details were not released. Charles, a running back, rushed 538 times for 3,328 yards and 36 touchdowns in three seasons at Texas. He will compete for the backup running back job behind starter Larry Johnson. [read full article]

Posted Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:32:42 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports

Chiefs TE Gonzalez saves man's life (AP)

A California man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager, told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Huntington Beach, Calif. "Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. [read full article]

Posted Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:03:44 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports