Football season is upon us. The college kickoff happens next weekend and the NFL the week after. I wouldn't call my hopes for the two teams I support high, but I certainly think of them as potential sleeper teams. I'll start with the college game.
It's sad, but I actually know UVa's fight song and not my alma mater, Washington and Lee's famous W&L swing (though I do know a very inappropriate version sung by my fraternity). I have been going to UVa football games since I was at least in 5th grade and despite the fact that they seem to be the second fiddle to VT, I will always root for them. No one is predicting much for them this year. However I think a bowl is very likely. Last year they had a not so good offense because they didn't really have a quarterback; Jameel Sewell, who led the team in '07 to a top 25 finish, was academically ineligible. Yet despite this they were about 3 minutes away from not only beating VT, in Blacksburg, but also being bowl eligible. This year with the introduction of a spread offense and either the return of Sewell, Vic Hall, a 3 year starter at corner and former state champ winning QB for Gretna in high school, taking over, or a more experienced Marc Verica that should not be a question mark position. Also Mikell Simpson should be healthy and there is an entire stable of variously shaped and sized backs behind him. If the defense and o-lines can be as good as the past few years then 7 wins would be easy (but let's be honest 1 win against a certain team would be a successful season).
In the pros I have always and will always be a Redskins fan. No one is picking them to do anything. Ok yeah they are in one of the toughest division in football. I love it when no one likes the Skins because they almost always make the playoffs that year. They would have made it last year if the offensive line wasn't playing with the 8th string in by the end of the year. I think having Jason Campbell in the same offensive in consecutive years for the first time since his sophomore year in college is going to work wonders. Clinton Portis is always a horse and Ladell Betts is one of the best spell backs in the league. I think Malcolm Kelley is about to become a great 3rd receiver (it usually takes a year for receivers to adjust fully to the pro game). Chris Cooley, Santana Moss, and Antwan Randle El are always productive. I don't need to say anything about the defense. It was great last year and got better this year with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo (and a full season of Deangelo Hall). Don't sleep on this team. They could make some noise, they really will only need to score 20 points a game to win.
Now to my newest passion: European soccer. I just want to thank ESPN profusely for buying EPL and La Liga rights to replace their loss of Champions League coverage. Sure the CL is much more prestigious, but week in and week out league play is ten times more exciting because there is a lot more history between the sides involved. I also want to thank Comcast for finally getting on the ESPN360 ship, so now I can watch even more coverage. I think I have never been more excited for a soccer season, probably because I understand the game so much more, and because of my beloved FC Barcelona's dream season last year. Even after becoming the first Spanish side to win 3 trophies in a campaign, we have no pressure; thanks to crisis mode in the nation's capital. The Madridistas brought in over 200 million euros worth of talent including Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Xabi Alonso. All we did was sell off Samuel Eto'o and replace him with much needed height, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. So we are not the favorites for anything, yet I'm extremely confident of at least one trophy and a great season battle with Real Madrid.
