Sports Radio and NFL Picks
For the first 18 years of my life, I lived in Richmond, Ind. I loved everything about growing up in the Rose City along Interstate 70 in east central Indiana. That place is undeniably my hometown.
During those formative years, I developed an affection for sports on the radio that I don't think I even realized at the time. It wasn't until after I left Richmond in 1991 that I realized how much I enjoyed listening to Marty Brennaman announcing a Cincinnati Reds game, Don Fischer calling an Indiana Hoosiers game, or Don Lamey losing his mind during an Indianapolis Colts game. Something about hearing those familiar voices call the game for one of my favorite teams made me feel at home, no matter where I was.
Here are some highlight calls with video:
Here are two more highlight calls with video:
Before you read the NFL picks, do yourself the favor of watching Marty's radio farewell below. At 3:17 in the video, Brennaman's radio partner says a little something that is worth hearing. And C. Trent Rosecrans's compilation of thoughts on Brennaman by other broadcasters blew me away.
Let's do some picks!
NFL Week 6 Picks
Last week did not go well for me in NFL pick 'em. In my legacy pick 'em league I was alone in 12th out of 12 contestants. So it is time to double down and pay more attention to this endeavor.
New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1): New Orleans QB Teddy Bridgewater started to find a connection with all-world WR Michael Thomas last week. - SAINTS
Houston Texas at Kansas City Chiefs (-5): Come on, everyone was shocked by the Indianapolis Colts winning at Kansas City last week, right? I can't envision the Chiefs dropping two at home in successive weeks. - CHIEFS
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings (-3): The Eagles defense is the best in the NFL against and registered 10 sacks last weekend versus the New York Jets. - EAGLES
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-11.5): My good buddy Andy Cecil is a Bengals fan and he was pretty happy they only lost by three at home last week to a bad Arizona Cardinals team. - RAVENS
Seattle Seahawks (-1.5) at Cleveland Browns: Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield is the 31st best quarterback in Adjusted Quarterback Rating and 32nd best quarterback in rating Passer Rating. I have no idea what the algorithm is for either rating, but I am pretty sure it means Baker isn't the next Otto Graham. - SEAHAWKS
Washington Redskins (-3.5) at Miami Dolphins: A game between two awful teams. Should be competitive, but ugly. Don't watch this; do yard work instead. - REDSKINS
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5): The Falcons allowed the Texans to score 53 points last weekend. - CARDINALS
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-3): San Francisco is on a short week, and the Los Angeles is on a long week at home. - RAMS
Dallas Cowboys (-7) at New York Jets: The Cowboys are on a two-game losing streak. The Jets are going to cure what ails the Cowboys. - COWBOYS
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (-2): Denver's defense has underperformed this year until last week. Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota ALWAYS underperforms. - BRONCOS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers (-7): Do you know who Devlin Hodges is? Me neither until I started reading up on this game. I guess he is starting at quarterback for the Steelers on today. - CHARGERS
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-4.5): I keep thinking the Lions will eventually crater and finish no better than 0.500. - PACKERS
During those formative years, I developed an affection for sports on the radio that I don't think I even realized at the time. It wasn't until after I left Richmond in 1991 that I realized how much I enjoyed listening to Marty Brennaman announcing a Cincinnati Reds game, Don Fischer calling an Indiana Hoosiers game, or Don Lamey losing his mind during an Indianapolis Colts game. Something about hearing those familiar voices call the game for one of my favorite teams made me feel at home, no matter where I was.
Here are some highlight calls with video:
- Don Fischer: Indiana Beats Kentucky at the Buzzer
- Marty Brennaman: Reds Sweep 1990 World Series
- Don Lamey: Colts Beat Chiefs in 2014 Playoffs
Here are two more highlight calls with video:
- Charlie Slowes: Jayson Werth Walk-Off HR, Game 4 2012 NLDS
- John Walton: Capitals Close in on Stanley Cup
Before you read the NFL picks, do yourself the favor of watching Marty's radio farewell below. At 3:17 in the video, Brennaman's radio partner says a little something that is worth hearing. And C. Trent Rosecrans's compilation of thoughts on Brennaman by other broadcasters blew me away.
NFL Week 6 Picks
Last week did not go well for me in NFL pick 'em. In my legacy pick 'em league I was alone in 12th out of 12 contestants. So it is time to double down and pay more attention to this endeavor.
New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1): New Orleans QB Teddy Bridgewater started to find a connection with all-world WR Michael Thomas last week. - SAINTS
Houston Texas at Kansas City Chiefs (-5): Come on, everyone was shocked by the Indianapolis Colts winning at Kansas City last week, right? I can't envision the Chiefs dropping two at home in successive weeks. - CHIEFS
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings (-3): The Eagles defense is the best in the NFL against and registered 10 sacks last weekend versus the New York Jets. - EAGLES
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-11.5): My good buddy Andy Cecil is a Bengals fan and he was pretty happy they only lost by three at home last week to a bad Arizona Cardinals team. - RAVENS
Seattle Seahawks (-1.5) at Cleveland Browns: Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield is the 31st best quarterback in Adjusted Quarterback Rating and 32nd best quarterback in rating Passer Rating. I have no idea what the algorithm is for either rating, but I am pretty sure it means Baker isn't the next Otto Graham. - SEAHAWKS
Washington Redskins (-3.5) at Miami Dolphins: A game between two awful teams. Should be competitive, but ugly. Don't watch this; do yard work instead. - REDSKINS
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5): The Falcons allowed the Texans to score 53 points last weekend. - CARDINALS
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-3): San Francisco is on a short week, and the Los Angeles is on a long week at home. - RAMS
Dallas Cowboys (-7) at New York Jets: The Cowboys are on a two-game losing streak. The Jets are going to cure what ails the Cowboys. - COWBOYS
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (-2): Denver's defense has underperformed this year until last week. Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota ALWAYS underperforms. - BRONCOS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers (-7): Do you know who Devlin Hodges is? Me neither until I started reading up on this game. I guess he is starting at quarterback for the Steelers on today. - CHARGERS
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-4.5): I keep thinking the Lions will eventually crater and finish no better than 0.500. - PACKERS
Totally agree about the power of those voices. Frank Herzog's "Touchdown, Washington Redskins." Time capsule for most every Fall Sunday in 80s. Postgame was Ken Beatrice on Sports Call, "You're Next"! Those voices bring back memories of the games, but, more importantly, the people that we watched/listened with.
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