Mike Roberto's Blog » Sports

Good Riddance to James Laurinaitis and the 2008 Ohio State Senior Class

Berto — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:16:59 +0000

This post is a follow-up to last year’s article, James Laurinaitis: Ohio State’s Most Overrated Linebacker Ever.

This post has three main messages:

The first message is one giant middle finger to every brainwashed, spiral-eyed zombie Ohio State fan who sent me hate mail regarding the aforementioned post. I was right and you were wrong. James Laurinaitis is not only overrated, but he sucked in every big game he played for us, including this week’s Fiesta Bowl disappointment. I may have seen him make about two impact plays since I wrote that, and one of them was during a Michigan State rout.

The Fiesta Bowl was over the second Texas figured that they could simply pass it over the middle a few yards over #33′s head time and time again. He was absolutely lost in coverage, and got schooled by Colt McCoy his thousand-yard passing entourage. I won’t bother posting pictures or videos, someone else can go prove me right. I’m sure whoever does it will find a few good pics where JL is jumping on piles after the whistle and is somehow upside-down too, for good measure. That is, when he’s not standing around like an idiot with his thumb up his ass during passing plays.

My second message is good riddance to the 2008 Ohio State football senior class. You have continually let us down, you never played with ANY heart, and you have diminished the respect of this University (note to spiral-eyed zombie Ohioans – I’ve lived in Texas and CA. We have zero respect and I’m getting sick of defending my degree.)

I should have known there’d be four years of disappointment from these clowns when I saw punter AJ Trapasso starting fights at a local campus bar before he even enrolled into the school. Or when perpetual-disappointment Alex Boone got a DUI and hasn’t made a block since. I’ve never seen an offensive line so out of shape as they were in the second-half of the Fiesta Bowl. I’ll lump Malcolm Jenkins in on the blame too – you all go down together – Jenkins perhaps you should have stepped up as a leader after #33 failed us the first 3 big games?

My third message is that I refuse to enter the Shoe until some major changes are made. I’m not supporting this bullshit. Fire Bollman and every other lopsided Tressel cronie, get an offensive coordinator who knows how to call plays, and find someone who knows what to do with Terrelle Pryor, who is possibly the best player in college football for the next three years unless you continue to waste him. Until then, I’ll fly to Columbus, wear my OSU shirt, hang with friends, and laugh at the morons who pay $800 to watch a truly elite team like USC obliterate us.

I’d rather go 8-4 and show some heart than beat up on the pathetic Big Ten and leave nothing on the table against real teams. Good fucking riddance.

GO BUCKS 2009.

PS – To the thousands of people who found my blog by searching for James Laurinaitis’s girlfriend – GET A LIFE.

Fellow Buckeyes – So You Wanna Visit LA?

Berto — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:16:24 +0000

Two years ago, I wrote the first-ever post on mikeroberto.com: Fellow Buckeyes – So You Wanna Visit Austin?. This posting was passed around many discussion forums and groups of people, and has yielded 6,370 hits over the course of time. The average person stays for 6 minutes, and 20% of visitors go on to read something else on my blog.

I loved Austin and wanted to share my joy (and contempt) for the city. I received a lot of good and bad press due to my comments. I learned that when writing, you are putting yourself out there — you need to be thick-skinned and stick to your guns.

Since then, I moved to Hermosa Beach in the South Bay area of Los Angeles to start a new life chapter. I can honestly say that with the possible exception of the 2002 football season or the entire 2004 school year at Ohio State, I’ve never been a happier person. I love life, I love where I live, and I love what I do on a daily basis.

The thing is, I no longer have anything to prove to you. I don’t care if you have a good or bad time in LA. I don’t care if you go to Hollywood when you really should be checking out the South Bay and parts of Orange County.

So many people in the Midwest have never visited LA (or CA for that matter), but still had to share their opinions that I shouldn’t come here. They think it’s a horrible place because “they’ve heard”. They heard there were too many mean people. Rude drivers. High crime, gays, drug abusers, etc.

Rather than listen to the uninformed, sheltered Midwestern masses, I came and experienced. It took me three weekends, but I found the spot in this big city where I could get along. Sure there are bad elements – it is a big city after all – but that’s why you shop around.

So I am not going to write a guide on what to do here. There are plenty of places to find that out, such as yelp.com or the OSU and USC message boards.

Instead, I’m going to tell you a bit about the South Bay, the area where I live in LA.

That first year in LA is rough — if you don’t approach it right, it will eat you alive. If you don’t get active in some sort of productive scene, you will perish. If you are a slug and don’t latch onto the energy, you will get kicked to the curb and turn into a nobody.

For me, the scene that brought me into this fold of energy and activity was beach volleyball. It is definitely the best way to meet normal people out here. It has given LA such a small-town feel for me. You can’t just go out to bars here and expect to meet quality people.

I don’t know why, but when I moved here, I didn’t expect there to be so much partying. Instead, I learned that down here, nobody grows up. There are 35 year olds partying harder than I did as a 25 year old. Nobody gets married. Everyone is dating 4 other people. There is always something going on. Everyone is beautiful and in good shape. It is an adult playground. IT IS COMPETITIVE.

This competition is scary, but don’t let it scare you off. You must step up your game here, in all aspects of the word. You must adapt to the energy. For me, it brought my fight and drive back. It has brought my social skills to new levels.

Californians are a different breed. I still don’t understand them, but let me tell you, they love to talk. At first, I thought they were trying to get something out of me, but then I learned to relax — all they want is a nice Midwestern ear to fill. When everyone talks and is hopped up on 8 cups of coffee, they will fall in love with a listener.

Despite the ridiculous amounts of stimulant-enriched energetic people here, they’re still super laid back. I love it, it’s the best of both worlds.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PEOPLE ARE NICE.

In my Austin post, I talked about how dumb some Texans were. While true, let me tell you, I had no clue what I was in for in LA. What’s ridiculous is the diversity here – you might be walking down the street with one guy next to you who has got to be the biggest idiot on the planet, and on your other side is literally a brilliant rocket scientist. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. There is no range like this anywhere else.

Everyone in LA is a goddamned real estate expert.

The way I see it, there are only two reasons to move to LA:
1. To be by the ocean
2. To get into “the industry”

I personally see no point to living in the Inland Empire, especially if renting. I also see no reason how people live by the beach/ocean but never use them.

The traffic is awful. I stay off the highways and schedule my life around it. I don’t see how people sit in traffic every day like lemmings. Is this really what we want to be doing with our lives?

Rude drivers? I don’t know, I haven’t really seen it. I’ve never had a time when people would not let me into a lane. I’m rarely cut off by a madman on the loose. Sure, if you sit at the intersection playing on your stupid phone, you will get honked at quicker than in Texas. But there’s a lot of cars out here and we need you moving your ass on green. I have no problem honking when people deserve it, but it doesn’t happen as much as I would have thought.

The highways. It’s not Route 405, or 405. It’s THE 405. Almost like it’s THE Ohio State University, except you say “thuh” and not “thee”. The best explanation I’ve heard for having “The” in front of all of the highways is that each highway has its own very unique personality and thus becomes a proper noun. I personally love it.

I’m not into most LA clothing style. I hate the black print shirts, I hate straight brimmed hats, I hate plaid shorts, I hate high black socks, I hate sagging, and I hate that stupid ass piece of facial hair under your lower lip.

Most of the styles mentioned above are what all the “bros” wear. Unless you are one of my best friends out here, I am NOT your “bro”. I am a dude, or a man.

The heavy metal shows out here are weak as balls.

I have caught myself saying “gnarly”. I plan on keeping this one, just like I occasionally bust out a “y’all” still.

Californians like to say “no worries”. I rarely catch myself saying it, I’m just a “no problem” kind of guy.

I don’t know a damned thing about Hollywood. Don’t ask me about it, and don’t expect me to take you there when you visit, because I don’t go there unless I have a concert to attend. It’s out of my “bubble”, or my small LA geographical area of interest. It’s a pain to get there and it’s not my scene. I’m sure a Buckeye in Hollywood could write an equally interesting rant with a completely different theme… but I prefer to stay by the beach and play with dolphins.

I am falling in love with the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes she lets me ride on her shoulder, other times she beats the piss out of me. It will be tough to leave her — and I’m not sure if I ever will — I don’t make plans like that anymore. No plans.

Californians seem to drink more soda than pop. Unlike other Buckeyes, I don’t fight for “pop”. I just order a Diet Coke — why bother with vagaries?

Girls who’ve lived out here all their life hate the “transplants”, especially other girls. Those are the girls who give LA a bad name. They come out here and try to become something they’re not. They begin to FLAKE.

… and “flaking” is a big problem out here. You can make plans with some people, and have no clue who will really show up. I tend to quickly remove flakes from my life, so it doesn’t bother me too much anymore. Two or three flakes and you’re a goner. I have too many other girls chasing me to care.

Yes, the girls do chase out here. Maybe my game is just that much better, but I don’t think that’s all. If you are a girl and you don’t chase, your mating prospects will be harder. But don’t chase too hard, because that’s a turn-off too. The tables have certainly turned.

Everyone loves the environment. I now recycle like a fiend and love it. I swim in that ocean, put your garbage somewhere else.

If you’re tight on time, don’t get a Californian hybrid owner talking about their hybrid. You might still be there through sunrise.

Despite the enormous Aerospace industry out here, don’t bother talking politics if you’re a neocon. You won’t like what you find. Liberals and third-parties can get along just fine.

Gas is expensive. But not as expensive as Europe, so quit bitching. GM is really regretting killing the EV1 though. Don’t mention that to the guys in Torrance who developed the drive train for it though.

Tattoos run rampant. Especially the full-arm sleeve ones. Kind of scary, but kind of cool too. Don’t expect to see me with one anytime soon though.

If I can’t wear flip flops and a T-shirt (preferably my new Iron Maiden one), I’m not coming.

Sand is EVERYWHERE. I can’t get it out of my bed. I flew home to Cleveland and it ended up in my bed there too – I think I transported it with my ears and belly button. After enough volleyball, you eventually just give up and get used to rolling around in sand.

Sushi is on every corner. Everyone has their own favorite hole-in-the-wall Sushi spot that they love and everyone else hates. Those are fun.

Unlike Texas, good pizza CAN be found out here. It’s still difficult though.

Nobody seems to care about Arnold anymore.

Lastly,

Ohio State – 21
USC – 20

Ohio State goes undefeated, and loses the BCS National Championship to Georgia.

Have fun!

“Never let defeat have the last word.”

Berto — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:46:13 +0000

Never

Let

Defeat

Have

The

Last

Word.

Ohio State to Exorcise Its Demons (and LSU) in the BCS National Championship Game

American Airlines Tries to Put Damper on MS150

Berto — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:24:20 +0000

There’s nothing quite like getting an e-mail from your airline that says “CANCELED” when you’re on your way to the airport.

Then again, you weren’t surprised, since you’re flying on an American Airlines MD-80, which has been grounded due to someone forgetting to use the proper colored tie-wrap.

(changing to first tense) So I went home while getting American Airlines on the phone and checked my options. Fly into San Antonio with another airline? See what American could do for me? DRIVE for 20 hours halfway across the country?? (Yes, I was willing to do this since all you donators [who will be thanked later]) didn’t pay money to see me get stuck in LA!

Finally, I got a nice young woman on the line, and explained to her that I’d love to see if I could get flown into Austin by Friday or Houston by Saturday, but would need to fly out of Austin regardless. Feeling the confused expression on her face, I explained the bike race, the Multiple-Sclerosis Foundation, and was generally flexible and charming (I only have about 10 minutes of this superpower per day, and wisely used it then).

She then booked me on a non-MD-80 flight to Dallas, after which she’d get me to Austin tomorrow 3 hours before our bus leaves for Houston. Perfect!

Little did I know that this wonderful woman also booked me on first class! So while 250,000 travelers are stranded, I’m sitting there flying to Texas in first class with a glass of wine, a real meal, and plenty of legroom! Thank you so much random customer service representative – Let’s get married!

Not wanting to get stuck in Dallas, I rented a car and drove to Austin.

So greetings from Austin, fortune has lied in our favor and we’re ready to ROCK!

Riding the 2008 MS 150 From Houston to Austin: Help Donate!

Berto — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:00:18 +0000

Hey everyone!

On April 12, I will be joining the MS 150, a 2-day biking adventure from Houston to Austin to help raise funds for people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

The path is roughly 165 miles long. The 2008 tour map isn’t out yet, but you can see the 2007 map here.

I need to raise $400.00 to the MS Society to ride. Please help me by donating a few bucks to my MS150 fund.

In return for your donations, I promise to work very hard and finish the race (barring any major catastrophes).

Most of you know that I’m a swimmer and not a biker. In order to learn more about the hardcore training that bikers go through, I’ve been reading Cyclist’s Training Bible by Joel Friel. It is for bikers way more experienced than myself, but I enjoy the technical and scientific aspects of the sport.

I’ve been training along the South Bay Bike Path, which gets extremely interesting once you make it past the airport and into Venice Beach. For hill work, I will begin going to parts of this Palos Verdes Peninsula path.

Thanks for your endless support!
berto

PS: I am going to be taking a break from writing for a while. My past few articles have received a great amount of traffic, and I should ride that momentum, but I have too many projects going on for now. I’ll be back later, feel free to contact me.

James Laurinaitis: Ohio State’s Most Overrated Linebacker Ever

Berto — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:10:24 +0000

Update 2009-Jan-08: I have posted a follow-up to this infamous article here: Good Riddance to James Laurinaitis and the 2008 Ohio State Senior Class

This will come as complete blasphemy to the Buckeye faithful, but it is true: James Laurinaitis is the most overrated linebacker Ohio State has ever had.

I’m not saying this because I hate the guy, or because I think I’m better than him — I am not. I am saying this because the fingers have been pointed all over the place for our terrible loss to LSU, except for one of the most important spots: the heart of the defense. And if we are going to prevent humiliation in 2008, the problems need to be addressed.

For those of you still with me, I urge you to stop being spiral-eyed, brainwashed zombies for 15 minutes so that you can objectively look at the game film with me.

All season long, we have endured Laurinaitis’ endless hesitation, jumping on top of piles after the plays are already over, and shooting of the wrong gap, which are occasionally joined by an impact play. But everyone slobbered over his ‘tackle count’ and occasional interception. LSU and Illinois both knew this, and exposed us right where it counted: straight up the middle.

Enough talk, let’s get to the OSU vs. LSU game film (this is not easy to do, but we must do it):

First Quarter

Defensive Play 1, 1st and 10, 13:34
Freeman already makes the play, JL jumps on the pile. Good play #1. A sign of things to come? For Freeman, no. For Laurinaitis, yes.

So I’m guessing this was one of #33′s 18 tackles?
Defensive Play 2, 2nd and 7, 13:05
Pass play in the flats dropped by LSU
Freeze to video of Tedd Ginn Jr. wearing Chicago White Sox gear, some ridiculous t-shirt, and beads. How about this, Teddy — get the fuck off the field.
Defensive Play 3, 3rd and 7, 12:53
Botched snap, JL second man on the scene. All Buckeyes are laughing at this point.
Defensive Play 4, 1st and 10, 9:12
Grant makes the first of his many good plays. JL in pursuit, gets a bit stuck in traffic, then jumps on the pile.
Defensive Play 5, 2nd and 9, 8:35
You can’t see him here, but I assure you that #33 is behind #79 and 71 (Carnell Stewart, who he’ll be seeing plenty of). A double-team that nobody in college football is going to beat. Another Larry Grant play.
Defensive Play 6, 3rd and 7, 7:50
Pass away from JL, blown coverage by Freeman, first down LSU.
Defensive Play 7, 1st and 10, 7:25
LSU dumps off to the right to #45 Johnson, Larry Grant on the coverage/tackle. JL was the third guy there. So far not looking that bad…
Defensive Play 8, 2nd and 7, 7:15
Hester run, pretty tough stop made by Laurinaitis. Get your hat in front of him and you might be able to stop that extra yardage, but that’s no easy feat on Hester. A good play, could have been great.
Defensive Play 8, 3rd and 3, 6:45
JL absolutely manhandled by 71. But it looks like he might be able to shake free and make the play!

Guess not. Denlinger blew it on this one too.
Defensive Play 9, 1st and 10, 6:11
Russell absolutely burned. Laurinaitis can only watch from the middle.
Defensive Play 10, 1st and 10, 5:59
Run left, Laurinaitis makes the angle-grabbing tackle on Doucet. Not a bad play, but Katzenmoyer and company would have put him 6 feet under.
Defensive Play 11, 2nd and 6, 5:25

Play already made by Freeman, JL has a chance to finish him off and drive him backwards, but instead sets him down nice and easy. What a gentleman!
Defensive Play 12, 3rd and 1, 4:41
JL in position to make a huge play, look where he’s got his helmet on Hester! Unfortunately, he is overpowered due to the futility of his sideways-tackle (he is literally perpendicular to the ballcarrier). Yeah, those usually don’t work on a guy like Hester. First down Tigers.
Defensive Play 13, 1st and 10, 4:09
Flynn runs, Grant with another solid play. Hey, look who’s jumping on the pile! Go get em Animal, just like in the WWF!
Defensive Play 14, 2nd and 10, 3:20
JL blitzes outside, goes nowhere. Blown play on Flynn, entire defensive front in there.
Defensive Play 15, 3rd and 13, 2:31
Pressure Gholston and Heyward, Flynn throws it away. Field goal LSU, 10-3 Buckeyes.
Defensive Play 16, 1st and 10, 0:07
Whoops! Can you guess who catches this one? Probably the guy that’s wide open in the middle of our baby-soft zone. End of first quarter

Second Quarter

Defensive Play 17, 2nd and 4, 15:00
Now this is a good one! JL and Freeman both make their blockers miss, who then in turn block each other! Tackle made by #1 mostly, but #33 is definitely there.
Defensive Play 18, 3rd and 1, 14:23
Heacock blitzes Laurinaitis, which opens a big hole. Stupid play call! Hester vs. Anderson Russell = bloodbath. First down LSU.
Defensive Play 19, 1st and 10, 14:05
Option left, how did Grant not get Perrilloux? Laurinaitis blocked at both levels and looked slow on this one. Bullshit Late hit, but the first of many stupid OSU penalties.
Defensive Play 20, 1st and 10, 13:55
Dump left, Laurinaitis drops back, gets blocked, and dives 7(!) yards from the tackle in an obvious attempt to jump on the pile. Great play Heyward. I’m starting to wonder where these 18 tackles came from, so I’m guessing they gave #33 one here too.
Defensive Play 21, 2nd and 11, 13:16
If you listen close enough, you can hear Laurinaitis and Freeman yell “Oh, shit!” simultaneously here. Freeman blows a big one.

But wait, there’s more! Facemask on #33! Great job guys! And we’re excited to have both of them back for 2008?
Defensive Play 22, 1st and 10, 13:05
Yep. All-American.

If you can’t tell by this picture, let me put it to you this way: There’s nobody in between the tight end and the endzone.
(Missed Robiskie TD pass [hey, he's from Cleveland, what'd you expect?], blocked field goal [what happened to Tressel's special teams over the past few years?])
Defensive Play 23, 1st and 10, 10:42
Option right.
Announcer: “Gholston doesn’t take the bait but will have no help behind him”

By “no help”, he means #33 and everyone else are getting punished by #71 again.
Defensive Play 24, 2nd and 1, 10:29
Pass incomplete down the sideline, Larry Grant puts a hit on Flynn. Man is he a beast.
Defensive Play 25, 3rd and 1, 10:23
Hester is in… so let’s blitz Freeman on the strong side and send JL over to the left, leaving the middle wide open.

HEACOCK STOP BLITZING YOU FOOL!
Defensive Play 26, 1st and 10, 10:03
I’m running out of synonyms for “manhandled”. Stewart (71) is having his way with JL. Grant on the stop.
Defensive Play 27, 2nd and 10, 9:20
Dear God. Heacock blitzes JL to the left, who realizes his coach’s folly and makes his way back to the runner all in time to whiff on the the tackle!

Gain of 9 on this one. Looks unlikely from the picture, doesn’t it?
Defensive Play 28, 3rd and 1, 8:45
Flynn keeps it, defensive line gets owned, it doesn’t matter who your LB is here.
#33 somehow becomes the last person on the pile, but the last person to get up, swimming his way towards Flynn and further padding his stats.
Defensive Play 29, 1st and 10, 8:24
Pass batted down by Grant. JL in coverage.
Defensive Play 30, 2nd and 10, 8:13
Flynn on another keeper, and look at this — JL has a chance to put him on his back right here!

But what happens? Another terrible form tackle around the ankles, giving Flynn 3 more yards. This is Flynn, not Hester.
Defensive Play 31, 3rd and 5, 7:40
Laurainitis blitz, gets to Flynn but a second too late. Touchdown LSU. This is getting painful. LSU 17, OSU 10.
Defensive Play 31, 1st and 10, 6:15 (Boeckman interception)
Another worthless MLB/WLB combo blitz. Barrow drops into coverage, can’t keep up, 8 yard pass. Way to go Heacock. Please resign.
Defensive Play 32, 2nd and 2, 5:45
Grant and Laurinaitis blitz AGAIN. Nobody is in the middle (I mean nobody!) Heacock, you are now officially retarded. You think this blitzing isn’t working?
Defensive Play 33, 1st and goal, 5:29
WOW. Now THAT’S how OSU linebackers play. Hester gets pasted by JL here. Wow!
Defensive Play 34, 2nd and goal, 4:56
Hester stuffed again by Larimore and Laurainitis. Finally some good plays!
Defensive Play 35, 3rd and goal, 4:30
#33 hesitates way too long and makes the stop one step too short. I don’t understand how you can go from play 33 to this garbage on the goal line. He simply dances while Hester gains the momentum of a freight train. Touchdown LSU.

Two good plays and one awful play = you lose. I know the punt is an important play, Jim, but what about 3rd downs?

Third quarter

Defensive Play 36, 1st and 10, 15:00
1. JL gets blown up

2. JL gets off the block, but overpursues

3. JL jumps on the ballcarrier after Freeman has already tackled him.

That sounds about typical.
Defensive Play 37, 1st and 10, 14:40
At this point, LSU has figured things out and are simply attacking Laurinaitis. A wonderful one-handled catch, which #33 should have been able to knock away if he was within 2 steps of the receiver. Good coverage is not good enough.
Defensive Play 38, 2nd and 5, 13:59
Option. JL covers his assignment (the pitch), but Perrilloux keeps. Unfortunately, #33 also dances for 2 seconds while Perrilloux has already crossed the line of scrimmage. This guy has no killer instinct.
Defensive Play 39, 3rd and 1, 13:23
James and Heacock are both having a terrible game. A Hester run up the middle and he is nowhere to be found. Not sure who made this gap assignment, but I like my middle linebackers to stay in the middle on 3rd and 1 and an obvious Hester play.
Defensive Play 40, 1st and 10, 13:06
4 receivers set right, screen pass. JL gets blocked pretty hard by a receiver, throws him away like a rag doll, but the damage is done and the play is over — 7 yard gain.
Defensive Play 41, 2nd and 3, 12:28
You need to watch this play on tape to see how lost Laurinaitis is. Totally bit a terrible play fake. He does almost get back into the play, but once again, he gets pushed back and it’s too late.
Defensive Play 42, 3rd and 1, 12:12
I don’t think I need to tell you which player is upside down in this picture. First down LSU. Unbelievable.
Defensive Play 43, 1st and 10, 11:42
Owned.
The good news is that it wasn’t #71. The bad news is that he was busy pancaking Heyward.
Defensive Play 44, 2nd and 8, 11:04
JL in coverage. Intentional grounding Flynn. Gholston will be missed.
Defensive Play 45, 3rd and 23, 10:50
Big stop, roughing the punter on Spitler (ironically, Laurinaitis’s backup). Here we go again…
Defensive Play 46, 1st and 10, 10:33
Run right, good stick by JL! Solid tackle… but what’s this? Heyward punches someone in the face? We are now in meltdown mode. This game is about over.
Defensive Play 47, 1st and 10, 10:26
No comment.
Defensive Play 48, 2nd and 1, 9:22
LSU throws away from JL, who is in coverage, and at this point, nobody else on OSU can tackle either.
Defensive Play 49, 1st and goal, 9:13
This is the play where every defensive back misses the tackle on Doucet and LSU scores/wins the game.
Defensive Play 50, 1st and 10, 5:46
Incomplete pass.
Defensive Play 51, 2nd and 10, 5:43
JL can’t get off his block, but does manage to get himself pancaked.
Defensive Play 52, 3rd and 4, 5:07
Laurinaitis beat on a slant again.
Defensive Play 53, 1st and 10, 4:40
JL finally sheds Stewart and helps Grant make the tackle after Coleman misses! Nice play!
Defensive Play 54, 2nd and 8, 3:52
Interception Jenkins!! Are we alive? (Offensive touchdown OSU)
Defensive Play 55, 1st and 10, 1:31
Flynn gets hammered by Freeman and Jenkins.
Defensive Play 56, 2nd and 10, 0:50
Doucet sweet, JL behind the rest of traffic.

Fourth quarter

Defensive Play 57, 3rd and 6, 15:00
Flynn runs, JL drops back, another big OSU stop. Heacock finally figured out that the blitz wasn’t working, but it’s too little, too late.
Defensive Play 58, 1st and 10, 10:37
Hester run up the middle for 3. JL stands straight up, looks timid and tired and is a non-factor in this play.
Defensive Play 59, 2nd and 7, 10:00
JL gets off his block just in time to jump on the pile. I wonder how many tackles the book-keepers have at this point. 14? Because I have about 4.
Defensive Play 60, 3rd and 4, 9:20
Blitz JL on another pass play, but Heyward bats it down! Big play!
Defensive Play 61, 1st and 10, 5:43 (Boeckman interception)
Doucet wimps out and gets chased out of bounds by JL. Good move stopping the clock #33
Defensive Play 62, 2nd and 5, 5:37
Another ridiculous Flynn keeper, JL brings him down but he falls forward for 2.
Defensive Play 63, 3rd and 3, 4:52
Short inside pass to Doucet, JL with a wrestling-style ankle-tackle, stopped short of the first. I’ll take it, but can you please form-tackle someone and stop giving up yards after the initial hit?
Defensive Play 64, 4th and 1, 4:04
*sigh* #33 and every other number in scarlet get blown back. JL is nowhere near this play.
Defensive Play 65, 1st and 10, 3:40
Run Hester… it’s garbage time.
Defensive Play 66, 2nd and 6, 3:37
The Flynn keeper works! OSU has given up
Defensive Play 67, 1st and 10, 3:08
Huge run on Murphy. JL is burned and misses, but then again, so does everyone else.
Defensive Play 68, 1st and goal, 2:40
Wait! JL breaks through on a blitz and is about to DEMOLISH this guy!!!

Oh, but he falls on his ass instead. What a playmaker.
Defensive Play 69, 2nd and goal, 1:56
Another Freeman/Laurinaitis suckfest combo. It’s okay though, USC is all about media hype so they won’t even think about tearing into these two overrated guys like LSU did.

To summarize, I think that Laurinaitis is the most overrated linebacker Ohio State has ever had, and not just because of this miserable game. This has been going on all season long. He does not hold a candle to the hard-hitting, smart-playing guys of our past. He plays on his heels, thinks too much, and does not have that killer instinct.

While I think JL can come back and have a phenomenal 2008, he has things to work on, just like everyone else. My main point is that he, above all others, does NOT get a free pass for the atrocious performance displayed here, despite the “18″ tackles he somehow logged.

This was a terrible 3 hours of my life and I’m glad it’s over.

PS – See some Discount Supplements, whey protein isolate, and beta alanine

Despite Making it to the Top, We Have Hit Rock Bottom

Berto — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:44:20 +0000

I don’t have anything to say that hasn’t been said everywhere else. I just thought I’d etch in stone one of the coolest quotes I’ve ever come up with:

Despite making it to the top, we have hit rock bottom

No related posts.

Results of the OSU 2007 National Championship Cleveland Watch List

Berto — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:15:32 +0000

This is a follow-up to this article

I forgot to mention that Jim Tressel is from Cleveland.

The Ohio State 2007 National Championship Cleveland Watch List

Berto — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:30:15 +0000

Last year’s humiliating Buckeye defeat against Florida left most Ohioans with months and months of painful deliberation regarding what went wrong during that game.

In a conversation with my friends Dan and Jordan, we came to the easy determination that the game was squandered because it was put on the shoulders of two Clevelanders, Troy Smith and Ted Ginn.

Clearly, being the Clevelanders (read: losers — see this link if you need a recap) that Troy and Teddy are, they could not cope with the weight of the big stage. Smith’s triumph of winning the Heisman Trophy was unquestionably far too much for any Clevelander to handle. Thus, he entered the game lost, overweight, and seemingly indifferent to the outcome.

Ginn, on the other hand, was knocked out of the game early after an amazing kickoff return when teammate Roy Hall tackled him in celebration. By the way, do you know where Roy Hall is from? You guessed it — Cleveland!

So in order to prevent the mistakes of last year, I have devised the Ohio State 2007 National Championship Cleveland Watch List.

The Ohio State depth chart¹ is proudly riddled with Ohioans, but I am pleased to say that there are very few Cleveland-based starters on the list to play spoiler to our hopes and dreams. Among these starting Clevelanders are:

Alex Boone, OLT²
Brian Robiskie, WR
Ray Small, PR/KR
Dimitrios Makridis, LS (is Warren, OH really part of Cleveland though?)

Among the two-deep are:

Josh Kerr, OLT
Bryant Browning, ORT
Robert Rose, DE
Jamario O’Neal, SS

Clearly, less of our core nucleus is based of Clevelanders, a decision which I believe to be by design. Our biggest concern is obviously at the left tackle position, where we got burned all night long last year. We hope that Alex Boone has learned from it, and if not, Tressel must provide support because Boone’s backup, Josh Kerr, is also from the Mistake on the Lake.

While QB Todd Boeckman watches his blindside, he must spread the ball out, and must not rely on Robiskie or Small too much.

As fans, there is nothing we can do but keep an eye on the players on our Cleveland Watch List and pray that they don’t give the game away. Jim Tressel will have our lovable losers ready for action, but if they are not, expect a healthy dose of Beanie Wells to the right all night long.

Unfortunately, LSU has no Clevelanders.

On a Serious Note, inside sources have stated that this team is better prepared and more motivated than any other Ohio State team ever. Vernon Gholston (pictured right) has obviously not missed any workouts. I am expecting an extremely hard-hitting, rough game, and I expect OSU to beat LSU by two scores.

Ohio State 34, LSU 16

PS: Don’t believe my theories? Who led us to the 2002 Championship? You got it – a thug from Youngstown and a brainiac from Michigan! (the best defense ever didn’t hurt either)

¹ This is the depth chart from Michigan. There are some minor changes, such as Antonio Henton moving into the second-string QB spot. Henton is not a Clevelander.
² Boone also stunk up the joint in last year’s game, even though equal blame must go to the coaching staff for their lack of halftime adjustments in his area.

Florida Shows Off That Southern Speed in 2007 Bowl Season

Berto — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:00:14 +0000

Wow, just look at that SOUTHERN SPEED we keep hearing about from the media!! Let’s see how our good friends down in Florida did this year:

Florida
Despite losing four bowl games in a row, Michigan takes the hated Gators out 41-35. Florida bounces off of their National Title with a glamorous four-loss season.
And who was the last team Michigan beat in a bowl game? Drumroll… The Gators! (2003 Outback Bowl).
South Florida
Humiliated for 56 points by an Oregon team with a back-up quarterback. Back to irrelevancy…
UCF
Wow, a three-point jaw-dropper to fall to five-time-loser Mississippi State in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Florida State
Loses a mere three dozen idiots due to suspension and then loses to those basketballers at Kentucky. Hey Bowden – Great job on another classy 7-6 season!
Miami
I can’t find them on the ESPN scoreboard. Oh wait, that’s right — THE U went 5-7 and was not invited to a bowl game. Easy come, easy go.

Hey, at least Florida Atlantic took it to six-loss Memphis in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl!

Now THAT’S some Southern Speed!