Guru's Gutsy Guesses Week 8

Trying this one more time. An abysmal 6-8 record last week puts the YTD (year-to-date) mark at 24-17 (just shy of the 60% mark).

Here's the latest picks:

1. Denver +2 v. San Francisco: Forget what you saw last Sunday, when Darren McFadden ran through the swiss cheese Denver defense to the tune of 4 scores. Denver's a mediocre team, but the Niners are just inept; too bad they can't carry over some of that SF Giants magic. I'll relish in getting the extra 2 points too.

2. Dallas -6.5 v. Jacksonville: have the Cowboys covered ONCE this season? And when was the last time Jon Kitna started an NFL game? But you gotta like the Cowboys in this one, and when the Jags lose, they lose BIG.

3. Washington +2.5 at Detroit: Redskins LOVE to be the underdog. I don't buy Matt Stafford throwing 3 TD's or being the second coming of the Savior in Detroit... I think he struggles in his first game back.

4. Green Bay +6 v. NY Jets: I like that if the Pack is down late, I got Aaron Rodgers for me to try to cover.

5. St. Louis -3 v. Carolina: How in the world should I know who to pick? I DO know that the Rams have firmly established a Ram's Lair home field advantage.

6. Miami +1.5 at Cincinatti: The unraveling of the Bengals season starts here.

7. Buffalo +7.5 at KC: I don't think people understand how good Ryan Fitzpatrick is. Man went to HARVARD, people!! He's smart? Doesn't hurt that he can get it quickly out to any of his WR's at a moment's notice. I LOVE that you get a TD cushion here.

8. Tennessee +3.5 at San Diego: I hesistate to say "this is the best best of the week" cuz I said that about SF-Carolina and Pittsburgh-Cleveland and lost both times, but I just can't fathom this line. It's a 5-2 team v. a 2-5 team, the 5-2 team looking like the obviously better team the first few weeks even against really good competition, and the 2-5 team is literally fumbling their season away, and has the worst special teams in NFL history probably (and possibly the worst head coach in history too). It's naught but pure stats (Chargers have #1-ranked offense and perceived awesome talent) that make the Chargers favorites, but at some point you gotta realize that it's not a fluke that they're losing all these games.

9. Tampa Bay +3 at Arizona: I changed my pick midway through this sentence. I thought it was classic case of Cardinals being world-killers at home, not looking like they've ever touched a football on the road. But Max Hall looked awful in Seattle, and Josh Freeman looked pretty good in leading his team back. When in doubt, pick the team w/ the better QB.

10. Seattle +2.5 at Oakland: Another not very good team v. not very good team matchup. Haven't really watched these teams at all this year, besides both gashing the Chargers. Seems like classic letdown game for the Raiders.

11. New England -6 v. Minnesota: I think the mistake that I've made consistenly so far this season is betting on struggling teams (think Dallas, San Diego, Minnesota) will come back strong because 1. they're talented 2. they made the playoffs last year, so they have to this year too, right? and 3. flashy, hyped up players on their teams lure me into it. Ultimately, though, a rotten egg is probably rotten for a reason, and I gotta give up on some of'em......until they prove me wrong.

12. Pittsburgh +1 at New Orleans: One last gasp for the defending champs on the national stage with everyone rooting for them. I again changed my pick midway through this post. Something is just wrong w/ the Saints; they've lost to bad teams and eked out wins over other bad teams. So what happens when they actually play a good team? I'll take the best team in the NFL right now AND a single point (which is what the Steelers won by last week to foil my bet).

13. Indianapolis -5.5 v. Houston: General rule of thumb: Don't bet against Peyton Manning at night. Only an idiot would do that.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Week 7 picks

After an amazing 10-3-1 record (the Indy-Washington game pushed cuz Indy won by exactly 3) last week picking games AGAINST THE SPREAD, Da Man is now a whopping 18-9-1 on the season picking games. That'll make you money anywhere you bet it, folks. That's why I'm starting to call my picks "Guru's Gutsy Guesses." Making it a tradition.

Gotta admit, it feels good to be winning your picks against the spread. No lie, at one point LATE in the noon games last week, I was right on ALL of my picks. There were NINE games going on, and I had them ALL correct, it was like 12:45PM Pacific time, 2 hours 45 minutes into the games. Then Pittsburgh scored easily on another exclamation-point touchdown, and New England tied Baltimore to go to overtime and eventually won it on a FG, so I lost those. But woooo, imagine that! A nine-game parlay pays out something ridiculous like $100,000 on a $100 bet, imagine if I woulda parlayed that! (In parlays, you need to win ALL your games to actually win......if any of your 9 bets, let's say, loses, you lose).

Regardless, You should be betting (not advocating that, but if you are, this is the site you should be following) with the Guru's Gutsy Guesses cuz the Guru's hot. Here's the picks this week:


1.) Pittsburgh -3 at Miami: Like I said last week about the Miami Defense, I doubt the iron gladiators of Pittsburgh care whether they're at home or away, so basically this game boils down to who's better. As great as Miami looked last week upsetting the Packers in Green Bay (and covering for the Guru), they're not as good as Pittsburgh, who's a title contender.
Pick: Pittsburgh

2.) Atlanta -3.5 v. Cincinatti: The problem with the Bengals is like a lot of fantasy teams: Lotsa big names, not necessarily the best team. As bad as Atlanta looked against Philly, they'll be hungry at home and the defense will be opportunistic against turnover-prone Cincy.
Pick: Atlanta.

3.) Kansas City -9.5 v. Jacksonville: I'm reluctant to take anybody while laying so many points, but KC is DEFINITELY a team that feeds off its home crowd's energy, they should get 5 points for home field, not just the usual 3. Who is Todd Baumann and how many times will he get sacked by the KC D? Jaguars seem like prime candidate to lose BIG.....they do it all the time.

4.) Tennessee -3 v. Philadelphia: Toughest game for me so far to handicap......Titans coming off Monda night game, lost Vince Young, facing a really pretty good Philly team.....basically a coin flip, these two teams about the same talent-wise, also have solid coaches leading them. This is where the "gutsy" part of "Guru's Gutsy Guesses" comes into play.

5.) Washington +3 at Bears: Washington. Is. Good. Bears. Are. Struggling. I hate to say it but it's true.

6.) Saints -13 v. Browns: Saints got one last shot from the Man last week, and they responded by a 20+ point drubbing on the road. Looks like it's all board the Saints Train for awhile now.

7.) Bills +13 at Baltimore: The Ravens have a bad habit of playing down to the competition, and that looks especially true after an emotionally draining loss last week. And I do like that Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, he looks smart enough not to throw (too many) picks (or pick-6's).

8.) 49ers -3 at Carolina: The "Copy Colin Cowherd" pick of the week....this was a lock for Colin, and I saw no one I was taking the Panthers......Carolina might be one of the most atrocious teams in NFL history, Niners a middle-of-the-pack team, record-aside. And Matt Moore at QB? Phew, good luck.

9.) Bucs -3 vs. Rams: For the Rams, another let-down liability for a young team coming off a huge win over the Chargers.......same situation as the @ Lions game 2 weeks ago. The Bucs are PISSED.

10.) Arizona +6.5 at Seattle: The Seahawks getting much love this week and are very trendy, I'm gonna go contrarian on this; something tells me this game comes down to a late-second field goal. Don't let the road win in Chicago fool you; do not put all your eggs in the Seahawks basket.

11.) San Diego -2.5 v. New England. I woulda thought this line woulda been around "pick'em" or even favoring NE, but I guess most people understand how talented the Chargers are. In a dire situation at home, the Chargers finally, FINALLY, start their turnaround.

12.) Oakland +8 at Denver: This line was 7 at the beginning of the week, swung to 8 probably cuz of uncertainty of Raiders QB situation. Monitor this one: I can't believe I'm saying this, but if Bruce Gradkowski plays, I'm sure of this pick. If not, I'd stay away.

13.) Minnesota +2.5 at Green Bay: Packers are in deep, deep trouble. This game may be the straw that broke the camels' back.

14.) Dallas -3 v. NY Giants: Does desperation breed success? Regardless, I believe it'll be a shootout in Dallas, and the Cowboys have just a few more weapons.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

The Anatomy of a Fantasy Basketball Draft

A few weeks ago I covered the advantages of the Fantasy Auction Draft; and for those who choose them, enjoy- they're still my draft of choice. But that's not to say a serpentine draft is not fun as well, and the majority of fantasy drafts are conducted this way. Having amassed an inordinate amount of fantasy teams in my last 7 years, my genius conclusion is that fantasy drafts are very, VERY important. Their significance varies between 30%-60% of any fantasy season, probably on the high end of that for fantasy football, on the lower end for baseball (cuz you can save yourself more with free agents, etc. over the course of a season, and there's so many positions to fill.)

Here's the essential things you need to do before jumping into any fantasy draft:

1. Schedule your draft for an ideal time. Varies by what profession you're in, what your league members' line of work is in; your eating habits, your sleeping habits. Advice: Do NOT schedule the draft during a weekday: you will spend the rest of the week at work staring at your fantasy team.

2. Research, research, research. Worthy of another post.

3. Compile a list of players you want. I did this for my last draft.....keeps you on track and prevents you from going ape during the draft. A personal "America's Top Wanted" list.

4. Compile a list of players you DON'T want. Didn't do this, but have a mental list, an "I hate these players and I will never be burned by them ever again" list. Trust me, over the years I've compiled quote a list of these guys.

5. On the morning of the draft, have yourself a hearty breakfast.

6. Make sure you know exactly where you're gonna be during the draft. Scout the area, see if there's wi-fi, make sure nothing can go wrong. Worst thing to do is to get ready to pick your first player and have your connection cut out. Say it with me, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

7. Have hard copy of your draft list ready.

8. Prepare some snacks/ drinks. You're gonna be sitting there anywhere from 2 to 4 hours; might as well settle in and make sure you're equipped.

9. If your league has already disclosed a draft order, FIND OUT THAT ORDER!!!! And then prepare for it. At least know, given a certain situation, who you would pick.

10. Compile a list of players you want to take in an ideal draft. List'em out. Here was mine:


Deron Williams
Dwight Howard
Pau Gasol
Brook Lopez
Rajon Rondo
Al Jefferson
Russell Westbrook
Andrewa Bargnani
Joakim Noah
Marc Gasol
Derrick Rose
John Wall
Manu Ginobili
Kevin Love
Paul Millsap
Eric Gordon
Blake Griffin
Lamar Odom
DeMarcus Cousins
Roy Hibbert
Tyrus Thomas
Carl Landry
JaVale McGee
Andris Biedrins
Robin Lopez
James Harden
J.R. Smith
George Hill
DeJuan Blair

Also take at bottom of draft: D.J. Augustin, Beno Udrih, Aaron Afflalo (great bets based on preseason play)

Here's how my pick went.........take it as an "expert example." You know, like how an expert would draft. I drafted #8 in a 14-team head-to-head league with some USC Law colleagues. Here were the proceedings:

First round.....I know I have the 8th pick coming in. Looking at Danny Granger, Deron Williams, whoever's left. The draft goes exactly according to order, with Durant, Chris Paul, and LeBron coming off early. Mistake, if you ask me. Who the heck is LeBron. But then, in a probably-not-that-odd-for-normal-peoplebut odd for nerdy fantasy nerds like me situation, Stephen Curry goes, Kobe goes, Deron Williams goes......leaving me with Dwayne Wade, if I want him. Totally unexpected, Wade has been a fantasy god for the last several years. But do I take him over Granger? I take the full 90 seconds and decide to stick w/ my research and go with Granger. (Which, as you probably read from the Headhunter letter, I did NOT advise doing. I've ah, had a change of heart). Mr. Granger, here's to your health.

2nd round......I have the 21st pick, and I love, just LOVE, players ranked 17-20........Kidd, Nash, Brook Lopez......I really want a top-tier point guard to not have to worry about it. Then there's Rondo at 24, and there's no Celtics fans in front. Looks good, pretty sure I'll get at least one of my targets. Kidd goes after the wrap-around, Nash goes, guy at #20 right in front of me takes the full 90 seconds......and takes RONDO!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!! There goes my early-PG strategy, I HATE Monta Ellis, and think Tyreke Evans will have sophomore slump, and think it's too high anyway. Finally I settle on Andre Iguodala, someone I had not researched AT ALL before the draft. A cross-your-fingers pick.......not happy at this point.

3rd round........I had Bargnani on my list, and everyone totally ignores him. I finally get an easy round. I click and move on.

4th round.....I'm thinking either Wall, Ginobili or Love here. The previous 2 go off. But I LLLLLLOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEEE love. Lots of jokes in there. I'm sure I'll disperse them over the course of this season....warm-hearted jokes if he does well, disparaging "curse-you" jokes if he sucks.

5th round.......what pick was this, #63? I took Nene here suspecting some kind of trick.....he wasn't supposed to fall this far, was he? Did he break both his legs? What happened. I decide to take and ask questions later.......If a guy goes about 30 or picks later and is still available, I say break the rules and just take him, if not for sheer value.

6th round....... still don't have a PG. Getting worried, but don't like the guys coming up like B-diddy, etc...... Don't have PG's late on my -re-arranged list..... might just wait til WAY late. I go a bit undisciplined, which I don't recommend.......take John Salmons, who hasn't played in the preseason. Might be the worst pick of my draft.


7th round......AK-47 still around. Can't resist the possible 1.6 steals and 1.6 blks.....premimum numbers. I'll be punting assists probably cuz of lack of a PG, don't want to punt steals too.

8th round.........Missed out on a bunch of the big men I had targeted.......either Robin Lopez or Andris Biedrins here. Took the Warrior, not sure if it's the right choice. Lopez a young stud who's unrivaled for big man minutes in Phoenix.

9th round...........finally snag my PG. D.J. Augustin, as planned. Don't laugh, this is well though out.....young player who is finally now a starter with plenty of opportunity.

DeJuan Blair.....is the starter in San Antonio. And he's a starter on my team. 13 and 9 is great for me. Let's go!!!!!

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

The Art of Trash Talking

I am a man who appreciates trash talking.

I confess, I LOVE trash talking. I like dishing it out; I like taking it, but the most important, I like backing up my trash talking with some walking.

But sometimes people don't know how to trash talk, or WHEN to trash talk, or WHOM to trash talk to.....for those who are new at this or need a refresher course, here's some rules of trash talking to live by:

1. Do NOT trash talk after you have lost. It just causes embarassment for yourself as you no longer have a leg to stand on.

2. Trash talk about things that are not THAT serious: fantasy football matchups, poker tournaments (that have less than a $50 buy-in is the general rule), informal co-ed volleyball matches, vicariously through your sports teams (like if the bears are playing the packers, for example)

3. Be confident in your trash talking. Make the best case for yourself (or your team) and just lay it out there. Bad name for a movie, but great name for trash talking: NEVER BACK DOWN. "I see your point" or "That may be true" are never acceptable; "You're just afraid of me" and "Let me know when you're ready to concede" are generally recognized ways to end trash talking.

4. Stop trash talking when people's feelings get hurt. Don't wanna be known as THAT guy. Unless it's your archnemesis who's had your number for years. Then talk until your tongue falls off.

5. Have thick skin when trash-talking. Nothing worse than letting your sensitivty get in the way of a good trash talking session. Your opponent's gonna throw everything he/she has at you to make you break. Your ability to stay stone-faced and immune to insults is what will allow you to retort back quickly with one of your own volleys, possibly neutralizing your opponent's attempt and putting him/her on the defensive.

6. Funny nicknames are icing on the top. If the other guy has Daniel Gibson on his team, it's your duty to lob a "Boobie" joke at him. Insinuate that Chad Ochocinco should change his name to Ochostinko.

7. However enjoyable trash talking is, DON'T overboard. No personal attacks. Enjoy responsibly.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Revised Fantasy Basketball Headhunter Letter

Dear Fantasy Owner,

Congratulations on deciding to re-invest in another fantasy basketball company, (Insert improved team name that's a bit wittier than last year's). We would like to apologize for last year's debacle, which was to say the least, a subpar performance for our company. Basically, everybody we told you to pick had a down or mediocre year, while everyone we told you to avoid either blew up or at least would have serviced you adequately. We have reviewed the mistakes we made in the previous year and believe we have corrected some fundamental errors in judgment. We of course value your patience and decision to stick with us despite missteps in the past and look forward to serve you this season.

Again, We here at FantasySportGuru Headhunter, Inc. have thoroughly researched the diverse applicant pool that was made avilable to us and and come to conclusions on several remarkable candidates. We would first like to point you in the direction of Mr. John Wall, a rookie out of Kentucky. Ready to become the leader of his organization, Mr. Wall has a year of semi-professional experience under his belt plus profoundly gifted abilities. Hire him before your compettitors and you will be pleased with the results.

Additionally, we would like to recommend one Joakim Noah. His name may sound peculiar, and he will probably never appear in any GQ magazines, but his work ethic is unquestioned, and he really holds a team together.

We would also be remiss not to mention Kevin Love. Working in a small organization in a relatively obscure part of the country, Kevin "Big Country" Love is big, young, solid, and reliable, and if you hire him he will surely be as loyal as a lumberjack. You will *love* him.

Finally, if you are looking for a leader of a proven winning team, Rajon Rondo is the man you seek. Well-known as a facilitator that makes others better, Mr. Rondo oozes ambition, stating recently that he "wants to be the best at his position." If that is not enough, he can also rollerskate, which comes in handy after work when you need to blow off some steam.


Unfortunately, as in other applicants there are some bad apples in the batch, and we feel obligated to warn you about them, so that you will not be suprrised when they do not meet your expectations.

Danny Granger is high on many companies' lists, but we have to warn you: he poses a significant health risk, and a worker's compensation suit may be in your future if you choose to go with Mr. Granger. We cannot advocate hiring an employee for a year if he has a significant chance of missing half of that year. Another red flag we value highly is decaying skills; Mr. Tim Duncan fits that category; his prowess and value was unquestioned during his prime, but in the new technological age with new talent in influx, unfortunately Mr. Duncan's skills are no longer as valuable. He admits also that he will have to work limited hours and garner frequent rest, not what you want to hear when committing to someone for the long term. Cross Mr. Duncan off your list of likely candidates. Finally we (still) believe Mr. Carmelo Anthony to be a ballhog, and that coupled with off-the-job issues, will not be an asset to your organization; we think Mr. Amare Stoudamire will have problems working with a new organization, so you shouldn't have to waste half a year easing him into your company culture; and Mr. Zach Randolph's explosive season last year was the product of a flash in the pan of previously-unfound motivation, the natural lift anyone gets from leaving the Clippers, a healthy stream of Memphis waffles, and working mostly in anonymity. Now that people actually know that he's good, Mr. Randolph will surely (pardon our informality) suck.

We know that you will have many questions and doubts throughout the season about your employees, invovling many trials and tribulations, and you will develop personal relationships with the employees that you do eventually hire. We recommend that you hire mostly with cold hard facts and our numbers, (partly because if you don't in real life there's bound to be employment litigation in your future), but also so that you can have fun with your employees; you will enjoy yourself if you do not enjoy the people around you. And that's really what it's all about.

Fantasize on,

Fantasysportguru Headhunter, Inc.,
Chairman, President, and Omincient Ruler,

Robert Yan

Week 6 NFL picks

Finished last week 8-6 against the spread, which is pretty respectable (57%), better than picking from a hat, and just short of that magical 60% number. Here's the Guru's picks this week:

1. St. Louis +8.5 v. San Diego: You should NOT take a team with a losing record (2-3) on the road favored by 8.5 points, EVER. Granted, this is the Chargers, who supposedly are poised to make their typical 2nd-half run, but this is the prototypical "Pick the home dog" game ( home dogs don't give up, have energy, used to their stadium, play with pride in front of home fans, etc.)

2. Kansas City +4.5 at Houston: Houston might have the most atrocious defense on this earth, nullifying their prodigious offense and one Andre Johnson. KC got some credit for hanging in with the Colts and almost covering, and they have THE best cornerback in the league right now, Brandon Flowers, to stunt AJ.

3. Baltimore +2.5 at New England: Baltimore's the better team, New England just lost its best WR, and the Ravens always play up to their competition: Am I missing something? Why is NE favored at all? Should be at least a pick'em.......so I'll take the points.

4. New Orleans -4.5 at Tampa Bay: If the Saints lose this game, they are truly, epically lost. I'm giving them one more chance to prove they're the defending champs......I may regret this later.

5. Philadelphia -2.5 v. Atlanta: Truly one of the tough games this week.......Both teams are for sure good, but does Atlanta have enough in them to pull off the road victory yet? I think it's possible, but not likely.

6. Detroit +10 at NY Giants: I'm sorry, I can't give up 10 points picking a team that got SMOKED by the Titans at home 2 weeks ago. 10 points is a LOT of points and you better be sure that team will win and cover. Don't think so.

7. Seattle +6 at Chicago: Da Bears still got more problems than Lindsay Lohan, among them the fact that their O-line couldn't keep out a feather with a chain-link fence.

8. Miami +3 at Green Bay: Seems to be the trendy but correct pick: Miami's tough defense doesn't care if it's at home or on the road.

9. Cleveland +14 at Pittsburgh: This line was moved from 13.5 earlier in the week, which makes me sure that this is the correct bet.

10. NY Jets -3.5 v. Denver: Finally gonna take a home favorite.........wow, why are the Jets only favored by 3.5? Cuz Darrell Revis is out? this seems deceptively easy......

11. Oakland +7 at San Francisco: How can you POSSIBLY take San Francisco this game? Seriously, you're giving up 7 points for a WINLESS team. You gotta be crazy!

12. Minnesota -1.5 v. Dallas: Seems like 2 teams that are equally inept; I'll take the home team in that case.

13. Indianapolis -3 at Washington: As Bill Simmons famously proclaims, DO NOT bet against Peyton Manning at night. Only an idiot would do that.

14. Tennessee -3 at Jacksonville. Better team, better defense, better coach, and because my fantasy team DESPERATELY needs the Tennessee D to hold down the kittens.

Again, these are just speculative picks, NOT evidence that I'm a compulsive gambler. In the case that you do, gamble responsibly.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Working Out and finding the motivation to do it

So far, like 6-6 in my NFL picks against the spread. Basically the same result if I had flipped a coin on all the games. Sigh. That's the nature of picking games. Here's some stuff I observed while holding my breath since 10AM this moring and getting a gambling fix without actually gambling:



The bet can be decided within the first 10 minutes. The Bears come out of the gate with a 14-0 lead thanks to two long runs by Matt Forte through giantic orifices in the Panthers D. Bet's over at 10:10AM; Bears go on to win big.



I know close to nothing about certain teams and shouldn't bet ANYTHING on them, like the Bills at home getting beat by a Jaguars squad. That's the definition of "blindly throwing a dart."



There's a lot of ups-and-downs on gambling, even if you're not betting money. It's a roller-coaster ride, especially since most games don't end up in a push; it's easier lose your whole bet or win your whole bet; a lot of times one play can decide it. Gotta have the stomach for it. Whatever the case, sports betting is NOT a good idea and has a negative expected rate of return. (Due to the juice). Stick with investing your money in stocks.

I've never been a big workout guy, and have only started really doing weights in 2010. So definitely no expert, not even someone who should be guiding others, but here's some things I've noticed:

1.) Do NOT work out on an empty stomach. You say "duh," but you gotta really time it: If you start getting really hungry during a workout, you lose all motivation and just wanna go fill your stomach.

2.) Do NOT work out on a really full stomach: Like right after lunch, for example. The ideal time, in my opinion, is between 2 hours- 4 hours after lunch. That's when your meals have really digested, and they've broken down into kinetic energy.

3.) Eat a banana before doing any exercise/ physical activity. I might have mentioned this before; perfect shot in the arm, I call it my "all-natural energy bar."

4.) Start slllooooooooowwwwww. No hernias, people.

5.) In order to keep yourself motivated for working out, reward yourself after each workout. Get a smoothie or something; your body subconsciously will want to do it the next day.....and the next day......and the next day.

6.) find a TV to work out in front of......catch up on Sportscenter, baseball playoffs, whatever, so you don't feel like you're "wasting" your time. Eh, maybe only I feel this way......I like to multi-task and get 2 jobs done at one time.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

NFL week 5 picks against the spread

An experiment that failed miserably last year: Da Man picks games against the spread for the NFL. One of the toughest thing to do, I hear.........I've been VERY right in the MLB playoffs......guessed Phillies, Yankees, Rangers, and Giants getting through and will probably be right on all of those.........I figure if I get 60% of the NFL picks, I'm really good (Last year I went something dope like 3-15 and gave up). People, do NOT try this at home.

Denver +7 at Baltimore ......Going with Denver, 7 points is too much in the NFL unless talent gap is huge...plus Orton can lead his team back through the air even if he doesn't win it.

Buffalo -1.5 v. Jacksonville.........In pretty much a coinflip, with both teams pretty even, I'm betting on Jacksonville having huge letdown on road after beating Indy last week.

Indianapolis -7 v. KC: Going with my rule, 7 points is fine if the talent gap is huge, and talent gap IS huge.....just think Peyton Manning v. Matt Cassell......yea. N


Detroit -3 v. St. Louis: Still too young, still too unseasoned, still got some work to do for Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams (and James Laurinitis, former THE Ohio State university star).

Atlanta -3 at Cleveland: Potential upset, but my rule has always been: Pick the better team( I mean, seriously, how can you BET for the worst team?) and worry about the points later....Here, -3 is tolerable.

Tampa Bay +6.5 at Cincinatti: Man, picking against the spread is NOT easy......The Bengals have trouble scoring in the red zone, so they could have problems putting away the Bucs despite being the better team. Ugh. This is harder than I expected.

Carolina -3 v. Chicago: Gotta pick the Panthers against Todd Collins: Collins and the O-line looked HORRIBLE last weekend, and Da Bears have never done well in Carolina.

Washington +2.5 v. Green Bay: To me this is the classic home team upsets a slightly better, more hyped-up team scenario, and it's at least 50-50 Redskins win this game outright. I'll take the extra 2.5 points.

Houston -3 v. NYG: Looks like an old-school Wild West shootout in Houston......a lot rests on Andre Johnson's health, who is a major playmaker in a game that will be decided by one or two big plays. Bet is off if AJ is out.


New Orleans -6.5 at Ariz: This looks like the lock of the week......Cardinals starting a rookie CB, team in disarray, the Saints much superior and very capable of blowing people out.


Oakland +6.5 v. San Diego: In contrast, Oakland has it more together and has a history of keeping it close against the Chargers.....Chargers not necessarily the best it can be.

Tennessee +7 at Dallas: Way too many points Dallas is laying, this should be more of a -3 or -4, very likely Tennessee could win this outright.

San Francisco -3 v. Philadelphia: Please, please, let this be the time for the Niners. Philly has troulbe historically out West.

NYJ -4 v. Minnesota: Vikings not nearly as good as last year.

Final note: sports is unpredictable, man. That's why they play the games!!!!!


I've taken up studying some Spanish recently. Some basic stuff, nothing too serious, just trying to get some bread-and-butter vocabulary, and I've noticed something: It's VERY similar to French. People told me in high school how all those romance languages have similar structures and same words, but it's true. I wish I had studied Spanish and French at the same time in high school, or college even; you learn one and you got a good handle on the other. I'll keep up with it and see where I am in a year or so.

Robert's random stock pick for the rest of the year: John Deere. I've been in this stock for 3 weeks and wish I was in it for 3 years. It consistently rises every period, and the recent news of the U.S. declaring a shortage in corn and wheat is just gonna make farmers plant more, spend more, and buy more machines made by...you guessed it, John Deere. I'm lovin' it.

Last year was a VERY VERY poor draft for me in the NBA. I was SO wrong about most of my picks. The worst? betting against Brook Lopez and betting FOR Shawn Marion. Wow that was fatal. This year, I have a new principle for NBA drafts ( applies in most other sports too): AVOID GUYS WHO JUST SWITCHED TEAMS IN THE OFFSEASON. Obviously this doesn't apply if you're comparing 2 players of different calibers like LeBron James and Aaron Brroks, let's say, but when you're choosing between 2 guys, choose the one that stayed put last season. There's a lot of factors here:

1. The player who moved in the offseason probably got more hype and is fresher in people's minds, prompting him to be overvalued

2. New system, new coaches, gotta establish the trust level.

3. most likely, player who moved just signed massive contract that makes him complacent, the opposite of the contract-year effect. (not the case every time, apply on case-by-case basis).


USC fans, we got a keeper in Matt Barkley. He's good.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Cutting Class

There's 2 "schools" of thought regarding class attendance in law school, and I'm sure these 2 philosophies are not just unique to law school:

1. Attend every class as if it's your last. Go to class if you're sick. Go to class if you haven't done the reading. Schedule interviews around class. Do whatever you can to get to class, barring family emergency or death ( a little extreme, but seriously).

And then the polar opposite:

2. Don't attend class. Learn the topic on your own. Only go if the professor gives points for attendance. Grab the syllabus on the first day ( or just get a copy from a classmate) and learn everything on your own. Show up on the day of the final exam, take the exam, be done with the class.

This is like politics in law school, like if #1 was the liberal thought and #2 was the conservative thought. Everyone has a philosophy on the spectrum, some are extreme non-attendees, some are extreme attendees. And there's not a huge correlation with grades.... I know people in #1 who are at the head of the class, and others who haven't done as well. Same thing w/ #2..... there's the famous legend at every school of the student who never shows up to class until the last daywith everyone wondering who that guy is, only to later find out that was the perons who aced the class. That legend has lived up to its hype in our particular law school class......we have a
few of those. And everybody else lies within those 2 extremes, with "moderates" and "attend-leaners."

What do I adhere to? Everything that I've been taught in my life guides me towards philosophy #1. Elementary school, middle school, high school, you're stuck in school. You have nowhere else to go. The teacher takes attendance. At home, my parents want me to be at school, go to every class, no excuses. Class is the holy trinity of learning: you go and you learn, period. So I'm very much a #1, go when I can, skip only if I have something else going on or really can't make it. (And even then I get the notes from somebody).

But is that school of thought outdated? I mean, I can see what people in #2 say: A lot of times, teachers go over topics that you've already learned from the reading for that day; the teacher sometimes goes off on tangents, there's a lot of material that won't be on the exam, and honestly won't be applicable in any situation you EVER encounter in life. Class time, non-attendees argue, can be used better by studying on your own... you learn at your own pace, you have no distractions, it's more efficient.

I can only speak for myself. For me, going to class FORCES me to learn. A lot of times, #2's will SAY they're gonna study during that time, but end up playing online poker instead. ( Who wouldn't?) For me, I have to be in that learning atmosphere, with the professor at the front as the scholarly demagogue and me taking down notes and trying to absorb everything. To me, the classroom setting is a necessary component of the learning process: You read something once, you absorb some of it; you hear it from a professor; that's another component of it; and you put all the information together in an outline; that's the last component to learning all the information. Class is important to know what the professor thinks is important; the stuff that he/she emphasizes, that is talked about in-depth. And sometimes, professors will even make you laugh a bit (it's law school humor, so it's at a lower standard, but still......... )

So even though I'm a third year law student, and grades don't really matter as much anymore, and my main focus should be on finding a job post-graduation, and it's probably the last year ever I will be in school full-time, I will still attend class.....because that's my philosophy. I gotta stick with it.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Week 4 NFL coverage + Is Fantasy Sports Bad

A law school friend of mine (who reads this blog periodically, we'll call him "Anton") has a beef with Fantasy Sports. This is what he sounds like

" Man, I don't like get why people like fantasy.....it dilutes the game so much, you become disloyal. Wahhhhhhhhh........"

Ok, so that last part was embellished. But does "Anton" have a valid point? Is fantasy

Let's address the criticisms of fantasy:

1.) It takes away from your fanhood of a real team: This is, for me, actually pretty true. I used to be a somewhat diehard Chicago sports fan, all Cubs all the time, all Bears all the time, etc. No longer. Fantasy has made me expand my horizons and care about other teams and their players, absorb more likes and dislikes, check the out-of-town scoreboard, go online. Honestly, sometimes after my fantasy players have been pulled, I don't even pay attention to the final score anymore.

Rebuttal: HOWEVER, What you can do with your fantasy team is draft a bunch of guys on your own team: That way, when your actual team wins, your fantasy team wins as well. That's very much a homer play, and it can really backfire in your face if the team loses, but it's one way to keep interest in both your teams. (I've never done this, but you def. can).

2.) The other argument against fantasy is: "Stats, per se, do not necessarily reflect the value of players.

Most of the time, the best players are pretty close to the top. NBA Top fantasy players: Kevin Durant, LeBron, CP3, Kobe, Dirk. Sounds pretty close, right?

NFL: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ray Rice.......still looking pretty good?

MLB: Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, Evan Longoria, Robinson Cano.................Yea, I'd say it's pretty close.

3.) Fantasy is too addicting, you have to spend too much time on it.
Response: Well, yea, that's why I play it. And it's more convenient: Don't have to go to the actual game, get a TV subscription, wear the fan gear, get autographs, etc. Fantasy? Free. And you can spend time at work or school checking your teams.......(I mean, theoretically.......)

I think I'll revisit that topic soon if "Anton" ever responds with new concerns.

NFL Week 4 Fantasy analysis:

1.) Michael "Craptree" Crabtree hyped as a buy-low sleeper all this week.....Went for 5 catches and 58 yards. Not buying it......it's still Alex "Normal-Sized hands" Smith throwing him the ball.......C'mon.

2.) Urg....... L.T., you're KILLING me, man......133 yards, 2 TD's adding to a renaissance season...... the first season in the last 4 I haven't owned him.

3.) Willis "What you talkin' about" McGahee got more touches than Ray "I'll be just as legendary as Jerry" Rice in Baltimore's 17-14 win over Steelers: I think it was just a case of resting Rice against a Steelers D that can eat proverbially eat you alive.

4.) No telling who on the Saints is Drew Brees's favorite receiver.......it's definitely not Marques "that's what you get when you draft someone from Hofstra" Colston, that's for sure.

5.) Kyle "I will make the Bears pay for trading me for Cutler" Orton goes for 341 yards and 2 TD's against a pretty good Titans D. He's not missing Brendan Marshall and is looking good as your QB for the rest of the year, fellas.

6.) Terrell "I'm Baaaaaack...."""" Owens for 10 Recs, 222 yards......uh, lol, ok I might have written you off a bit soon. But I still hate you. Bleh.

7.)Pick up Brandon "isn't he a character from the Harry Potter series?" Pettigrew from the Lions. 8 catches to day to add to totals of 6 and 7 the last 2 weeks. Shaun "Not the Washington Nationals pitcher" Hill not looking too bad, as Megatron owners can attest to (86 yards, 2 TD's today)

8.) Never understood people's fascination with Steven "I look even bigger in real life" Jackson, but I think the relationship's gotta be severed. Don't drag it out like the McCourts divorce, just make a clean break.......Never draft again. O, but the Rams beat the Seahawks 20-3. Will the Rams win the NFC West??????

9.) Jacksonville somehow containing Peyton Manning& Crew, limiting to 14 points........what's going on? Jags DO always play the Colts tough. Not good for Dallas "Clark (little kid whispering" Clark or my other go-to guy, Austin "No.1 receiver in all of fantasy after 3 weeks" Collie.

10.) Why in the world did I NOT draft Antonio "MY BOY" Gates this year? Inexplicable. He's scored a TD every game so far and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future........Ahhhhhhh.......

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

The Ten People You Meet on The Wire

Sitting at home watching one of the best sports weekends all year: College football, NFL, final week of the MLB regular season (with a tight NL wild-card/West race). and even Golf Ryder Cup. RIGHT now: flipping through the premiere matchups of the weekend: Stanford v. Oregon, Alabama v. Florida.......Can someone say "Playoffs in College Football." A lot to be decided. O, and undefeated USC at home v. Washington Huskies (couldn't get tickets to this game, there was so much anticipation).

First of all, for everyone 18 and under who happen to read this blog, DO NOT watch The Wire. There's so much cursing and on there to make a football head coach blush, not to mention the sex scenes, gang violence, and murders depicted on the show. The Saturday cartoon that you woke up to when you were a kid, The Wire is NOT.

Alright, disclaimer aside, I venture to say that The Wire is a LIFE-CHANGING show. Yes, I said it, LIFE-CHANGING. My life, and I'm sure others' lives, can be divided into the pre-Wire me and the post-Wire me. It's that good. I use it as a booster, downer, take-before-sleep-er, guilty pleasure, whatever. It is THAT unique in its originality and THAT realistic in its dialogue and other human elements. It's so good, there's characters on the show that people feel like they've met all their lives; they talk, act, and live just like real life counterparts. Here's some of them (trying my best to stay away from spoilers):

1.) Detective Bunk Moreland: The definition of career police, he's good at his job, especially in interrogation techniques and working a crime scene. Away from work, he's like that funny uncle who shows up to family reunions: A cigar in his mouth, deep voice, very avuncular personality, gets in nice with everyone, but does have a penchant for using profane language and dirty jokes....and is not afraid to boast about his accomplishments and lengthy "cigar."

Plus, I actually MET Bunk Moreland as part of a volunteer trip last year. REAL class act in person.

2.) Marlo Stanfield: A young man with extreme ambition; Quiet but dangerous, a man of few words but when he speaks, people follow. Natural leader, but has a dark side; this guy does NOT like to lose, especially in big-time gambling games. You admire his tenancity and leadership, but quietly you want to see him fail.

3.) "Bubbles"- a man who's been hard on his luck all his life, he's made some bad decisions in his life. Everyone has seen Bubbles or a form of him at some point: He's outside your local grocery store asking for money, maybe with a grocery cart in hand, and you dismiss him without any further thought. But behind the man along the side of the highway is a tragic tale of drugs, survival, and sorrow; we just don't pay attention long enough to find out about it.

4.) Rhonda Perlman: Probably more likely to see these types if you're in law school like me: Idealist who is interested in working for public interest, this girl has established a career working as a district attorney and is damn good at what she does. She's also a career woman who's just starting to settle down and make a long-term commitment..... What woman isn't?

5.) Proposition Joe: This guy has been in business all his life; from selling lemonade at the corner (precursor to a long-term adult career selling more lucrative items on street corners) to selling exam answers during high school; he lives by the motto, "Buy it for a dollar, sell it for two" and he as done damn well doing it all his life. True entrepeneur, didn't need business school or an MBA to learn the tricks of the trade; pure street smarts has propeeled him to where he is now.

6.) Namond Brice: The bully of your high school, the guy who lashes out all the time and acts like he's misunderstood. (personal opinion: don't like these kind of people, never did. These guys wreak havoc on other people during high school/ other social situations just because they can and have a built-in excuse like "they have mommy issues" or "they're misunderstood." Meanwhile, while they're dealing with their issues, other people get hurt, and Namond in particular actually finds a happy ending. Undeserved.
Namond also represents the spoiled kid who shows up at school with the best clothes and best "stuff"- you can see the silver spoon perpetually hanging from his mouth, his riches and legitimacy due only to his parents. Did I mention I didn't like Namond?

7.) Senator Clay Davis: Epitomizes the phrase, "We used to make stuff in this country. But now we just got our hands in the next guy's pocket." You may never have met Senator Davis in person, but you might as well have since you've read all about him in the paper: high-ranking offical in public office gets caught accepting bribes. Davis is everything that's wrong about what's wrong with politics today: "too much money involved, not enough substance."

8.) Detective Eliot Carver: When you last saw him in high school, he was a young punk, drinking with his buddies all the time and basically having no regard for human life. Ten years later, at the high school union, he's there in a suit and tie: there's much more maturity about him, and he stands for the right thing. Carver represents one of the more positive character changes in human life: the onset of maturity, the development of maturity and moral compass. Fight on, Detective Carver.

9.) Detective Jimmy McNulty: McNulty is an asshole. (Pardon my French). You admire his detective work, you admire his conviction, you admire his pursuit of something he values very highly in the face of opposition, but he takes it too far. He also is not a good friend (or husband/boyfriend) in that he is NOT loyal. He's like your friend who is really nice to you when you're alone and it seems like it's just you two, but once he goes into a crowd, he's gone and it's like you never existed. That's McNulty: he cannto keep commitments and he DOESN'T stay with you through thick and thin; he's more worried about his own agendas. And as for his passion to catch bad guys, yes they make great TV when he screws over other people to get his way, but that's not the kind of guy you want in your corner. He is the epitome of what you call "a loose cannon."
(This goes against the grain of people who LOVE mcnulty: Trust me, I loved him once too, but that's just his thing: He makes you love him, and then he tears your heart out. F*ck you, McNulty.)


10.) Saved Omar for last because he is the Star of a show that doesn't need a star for its cast, but I really think Omar's the exception: People actually haven't met Omar in real life. Omar belongs in another galaxy or another time, maybe in the future: He's existential, he fights for the ordinary human being and robs drug dealers. Are there really people like that? Maybe there are, and that's maybe what's so great about the Wire and Omar's character: we see Omar go against the grain and take on a society in which he's not valued, not needed, a thorn in everyone's side, in which he stands alone in a fight against the norm. We sympathize with Omar, and we all feel like we can be Omar, we can all develop our own personal moral code "Thou shall not injure innocents" and we hold that hope for ourselves. Thank you, Omar, for five seasons of excellent television. You will be missed.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan (enthusiastic "The Wire" viewer).