Cowboys-Steelers More Than A Game

By MoonDog | December 5, 2008

Two of the National Football League’s most storied franchises will meet this Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

To say Pittsburgh and Dallas have some history together is an understatement.

Easily the dominant teams of the 1970’s with six Super Bowl victories between them, the Steelers defeated the Cowboys in Super Bowls X and XIII, two of Pittsburgh’s four Super Bowl titles during that decade.

Tony Romo Will Be Seriously Tested Against The Steelers Defense

During the Cowboys’ run of three Super Bowl titles in the 90’s, Dallas earned a measure of revenge when they defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX.

Since 1970, the Steelers and Cowboys have combined for 14 Super Bowl appearances, 10 Super Bowl titles and 27 conference championship game appearances.

No other combination of NFL teams can boast such numbers.

Sunday’s contest is an important game for both teams, perhaps more important for the Cowboys.

Dallas needs a win to keep pace in the playoff discussion, currently one game behind Atlanta for the last wildcard spot in the NFC.

The Cowboys (8-4) defeated Seattle 34-9 on Thanksgiving day and have played much better since quarterback Tony Romo returned to the lineup after suffering an injury to his right pinkie.

Dallas head coach Wade Phillips announced on Monday that Romo was able to practice without the splint he’s worn over the past five weeks to protect the finger.

Since Romo returned to the lineup against the Redskins on November 16, he’s completed 64% of his passes for 870 yards and seven touchdowns while guiding the Dallas offense to an average of 388 yards per game.

The Steelers (9-3) are coming off what may be their best performance of the season, knocking off defending AFC champion New England 33-10 last Sunday.

Willie Parker Leads a Strong Steelers Rushing Attack

Pittsburgh completely dominated the Patriots in the second half and are beginning to look like the team to beat in the AFC.

The Steelers No. 1 ranked defense has held four of their last five opponents to 10 points or less and have a +5 turnover margin during that span.

The Dallas defense has improved as well since Phillips began to take an active role in calling the schemes.

The Cowboys are No. 2 in the NFL with 40 sacks, two behind the Steelers total of 42. Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware leads the NFL in sacks with 15 while the Steelers’ James Harrison is third with 14.

Pittsburgh appears to be healthy now that running back Willie Parker is back in the lineup full time.

Parker rushed for a game-high 87 yards on 16 carries against the Patriots Sunday while splitting time with backup Mewelde Moore.

Meanwhile the Cowboys’ Ware and Marion Barber got banged up against the Seahawks on Thursday, with Ware hyper-extending his left knee and Barber suffering a dislocated pinkie toe on his right foot.

Ware and Barber were at practice on Monday, but no definitive answer had been given regarding their availability on Sunday, although both are expected to play.

The Cowboys announced on Monday that left guard Kyle Kosier was placed on Injured Reserve and is done for the season. Kosier had been battling foot problems and only appeared in three games.

Jason Witten's Ribs are Healing and His Production is up

Dallas has also lost free safety Roy Williams, running back Felix Jones and punter Matt McBriar to season-ending injuries.

The Cowboys got some good news on Monday though as Jason Witten’s broken ribs are nearly 100% healed. Witten suffered the injury during the Cowboys’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 26.

The Pro Bowl tight end had his best game against the Seahawks since the injury, catching nine passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. In the Cowboys previous three games, Witten only had three receptions for 45 yards.

Cornerback Adam Jones returned to the Cowboys active roster this week after serving a six-game suspension. With backup corner Mike Jenkins nursing a strained hamstring, expect Jones to see significant playing time on Sunday.

It’s also possible Jones will handle punt returns for Dallas. Isiah Stanback will continue to handle kickoff returns with Miles Austin recovering from a strained left knee.

Expect the Steelers to do what they do best - run the football, control the clock, play great defense and force Dallas to throw. If the Cowboys can’t get positive yards on the ground from Barber or backup Tashard Choice, it’s going to be a long day for Dallas.

With both teams recent level of defensive play, it doesn’t appear this game will very high-scoring. Pittsburgh is favored to win by three points and the Steelers are 2-4 at home against the spread this season. Dallas is 3-3 against the spread in their six road games this year.

The over/under is currently 41.5 with both teams averaging over 20 points a game this season. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. and will be televised by Fox.

     

Topics: NFL | No Comments »

Olivia Wilde - Most Ravishing Eyes?

By MoonDog | December 5, 2008

Anyone that reads this blog with regularity knows I have the major hots for Olivia Wilde. This desirable creature with the sultry good looks and ravishing eyes currently plays the role of “13″ on Fox’ House.

I’ve featured Olivia on this site several times, the first gallery back in May and another gallery in September when I felt compelled to thank her for being so hot.

If Olivia never acts again, she won’t have any trouble earning a living as a model. Put her in any setting, wearing just about anything and she’s going to look stunning while doing it.

I’m of the opinion Olivia has the most incredible eyes of any woman on the planet. What do you think?

I’ll tell you what I think. Olivia is so brutally hot, I’d kill 13 people just to have the chance to say “Hi” to 13.

Let’s get the weekend off on the right track with yet another gallery of the ultra sexy Olivia Wilde - don’t do anything weird while you’re looking at the images.

[Show as slideshow]

     

Topics: Celebrities, Models | No Comments »

How Tarzan Got His Yell

By MoonDog | December 5, 2008

Not many people realize Johnny Weismuller, the actor who portrayed Tarzan, acquired his famous yell from rather unusual circumstances.

While filming Tarzan the Ape Man in 1934 on location in the Florida everglades, Weismuller was walking through the jungle one day and heard a ruckus.

As he inched his way through the thick brush towards the noise, he finally came upon the source. Staring in disbelief, Weismuller saw what was causing all the commotion.

Me Tarzan, You Jane and...CHEETAH??!!

Now you know how Tarzan really came up with that yell.

     

Topics: Celebrities, Entertainment, Films, humor | No Comments »

MoonDog’s Afternoon Link Fest

By MoonDog | December 4, 2008

Afternoon linkage from around the blogosphere I think you’ll enjoy.

Victoria's Secret Angels Love MoonDog's Links - See More of Them at Gunaxin

Highlight Link of the Day:

The 12 Hottest “Sloppy Second” WAGS (The World of Isaac)

A Tribute to the Boob Tattoo (Afrojacks)

Jessica Alba Campari Calendar (Banned in Hollywood)

Marisa Santos is Pretty HOT (Bright Black Internet)

Marisa Miller is Sexy & Leggy (Celebridiot)

I Want a Meat Eater (Epic Carnival)

Tucson, AZ: U of A Drinkin’ & Dinin’ (Fan Foodie)

Victoria’s Secret Angel’s Power Rankings (Gunaxin)

Dear Illuminati: Honest Advice to Average Idiots (Nine To Fried)

Hot Female Bartenders in Orlando (Observation Bubble)

Emily Scott & Marieka Van Den Bergh Together! (On 205th)

Jamie Peery Bahama Bikini Shoot (The Bachelor Guy)

Holy Shit! Ligers Are Real! (Yep Yep)

     

Topics: Celebrities, Chicks & Babes, Models | 2 Comments »

Kiffin’s Detractors Pointing To His Age

By MoonDog | December 4, 2008

To all of the so-called football geniuses among us who’ve blathered on recently about the University of Tennessee’s decision to hire 33-year old Lane Kiffin as its next football coach, pay attention if your fragile minds will allow you to do so.

Tennessee Vols Head Coach Lane Kiffin

The arguments I’m hearing from the likes of Mark May and Ivan Maisel of ESPN and Ron Higgins of The Commercial Appeal are focusing on Kiffin’s lack of college head coaching experience and his age.

If memory serves me correctly, the Oakland Raiders are a franchise in the National Football League.

Didn’t Kiffin coach the Raiders into this season before being fired by Al Davis under questionable circumstances?

Unless I’m misconstruing something here, the NFL is a tad better than the SEC.

Kiffin got the job in Oakland based on his performance at Southern California, not because of his age or previous head coaching experience.

If you really want to look at Kiffin’s situation realistically, his new position is a step down from his previous job.

Granted, the Raiders are a mess, but they’ve been a mess since Jon Gruden left to take over in Tampa Bay.

Most of the problems created in Oakland were the result of a bumbling front office led by Davis. Any head coaching experience in the NFL is far superior to some of the coaches May and Maisel have pointed out as apparently being “proven” or more qualified than Kiffin.

While Florida head coach Urban Meyer has become a proven commodity, some tend to forget the only head coaching experience of any significance he had prior to taking the Gators’ job was at Utah.

No offense to the Utes, but the Mountain West isn’t the SEC. It’s certainly not the NFL either. I can’t help but believe Meyer would have learned more about coaching in the NFL than he ever could while coaching at Utah or Florida.

When Mark Richt took over at Georgia, he didn’t have any head coaching experience. Since he’s been at the helm in Athens, the Bulldogs have enjoyed their most success since the days of Vince Dooley.

All of this emphasis placed on college coaching experience as a prerequisite for overseeing a major NCAA football program is absurd. Even more absurd is the focus on Kiffin’s youth as being a perceived lack of ability.

What the detractors arguments amount to is nothing less than veiled discrimination against Kiffin because of his age. If Kiffin were 43 years old and had two years of coaching experience in the NFL, we wouldn’t have heard a word from anyone.

When the Boston Red Sox hired Theo Epstein as their General Manager, he was 28 years old. All he’s done as the Red Sox GM is win two World Series titles.

Age is irrelevant, especially at the college level. College coaching is primarily about the ability to recruit talented prep prospects and to surround yourself with a competent staff.

Kiffin proved his recruiting ability while serving on Pete Carroll’s staff at USC and he’s already made several significant hires to work on his staff next season.

In the end, Kiffin’s performance will be based upon his ability to recruit talented players, getting the most out of them and winning championships. That’s what every college coach is graded on and it doesn’t have anything to do with age.

But if Kiffin fails to turn the Vols around, you can rest assured everyone claiming this was a bad hire will point to his youth and his lack of college head coaching experience, just so they can say, “I told you so.”

     

Topics: College Football, Hot Link of the Day, Men's College Basketball, NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football, NFL, Recruiting, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee Vols Football, University of Tennessee News | 2 Comments »

Jennifer Ellison Is Naturally Buoyant

By MoonDog | December 4, 2008

When I was in the U.S. Navy I sure wish I had Jennifer Ellison along for those long journeys across the oceans and seas of planet earth. Not for the reasons you might imagine, but for safety issues that arise aboard ship.

The greatest fear of any sailor is being swept over the side in high seas, especially at night. When you hit that water, it’s cold and deep. The only way you’re going to survive is if the fantail watch sees you in the water and tosses you a ring.

But if you had Jennifer along, all anyone would have to do is toss her in the water. Because of her large voluptuous breasts, she could serve the dual roles of navigational buoy and life preserver.

If you’re in the water and having trouble staying afloat, you could swim over to Jennifer and hang on because there’s no way she’s going to sink.

So if you’re planning a cruise I suggest you take Jennifer along with you. The “girls” could prove to be a lot more than just something to be amazed with, they could actually save your life.

[Show as slideshow]

     

Topics: Celebrities,