Every Down Back?

Going in to his third year in the NFL, Ryan Matthews’ expectations are simple, “to be better than last year.”  Splitting time last season with Mike Tolbert, it is safe to assume Matthews’ gets more touches this year.

While his ball security and durability has been an issue over the past two seasons, critics can’t deny his productivity is improving, even being voted to his first Pro-Bowl as a back up for his sophomore season.  “It was overwhelming at first [Being at the Pro-Bowl] but it helped boost my confidence.”

This year will be different. The bowling ball back, Tolbert, is no longer in the line up, and Matthews’ is ready to take on every down. His explosiveness is what the Chargers are looking for to balance out the offense.  They will be looking to Matthews to make big plays, as well as being the go-to back in third down situations.

The Chargers are looking like a quicker, faster team. Matthews’ is looking to turn over a new leaf this season and being a key contributor to the team’s success. What’s different about this upcoming season? “Actually getting to work out with the team (and stuff). Actually being with the team, being able to be here with the coaches at the facility,” says Matthew’s after the team’s first OTA.

With experience under his belt, Matthews’ looks to be on the verge of a break out season. Staying healthy is an obvious importance for Matthews, but with all things considered, look to see Matthews taking over the scoring celebrations in the end zone.

Lombardi or Bust

 There is no point predicting the Charger’s record this year. It is a win or go home situation for head coach Norv Turner.

The San Diego Chargers have fallen short of all expectations under Norv Turner. Given another chance by Dean Spanos, (owner of the Chargers) Turner hangs on to his head coaching position by the skin of his teeth.

Norv Turner’s Chargers have a talented squad remaining. Pro-Bowl quarterback Phillip Rivers, future Hall-of-Fame tight end Antonio Gates, an extensive wide receiver core including Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Brown, and the emergence of running back Ryan Matthews, there are can be no more excuses for not being one of the power houses in the NFL. The expectations are no longer just to make it to the playoffs--- it’s to get to the Super Bowl.

Although players like Nick Hardwick and Philip Rivers have publicly endorsed their support for Norv Turner, the sentiment is not reciprocated by the San Diego faithful. Having missed the playoffs two years in a row (having won four division titles prior to this) the critics argue Turner should have been fired seasons ago. 

But Turner’s popularity with the players and organization is what is keeping him here.

“He’s a good coach, man," said former guard Kris Dielman," I don’t think you (media) guys perceive him the right way with what he does for us. We’ve got good fans, I’m sure, but they look at it too black and white. There’s a lot that Norv does that’s amazing. This guy’s a genius at football. I just think he came upon some bad luck with injuries and whatnot.” 

Hopefully with healthy players returning and rookies getting acquainted early (unlike last season due to the lock out) Turner can expect different results from his team. A further push in the playoffs, division title, and no early exits. For his sake and for his job. 

Addicted or Devoted

Sportscenter plays in my background every night. I go over the highlights of the day, box scores, and the occasional controversy. This is the part of the year I dread the most, the summer. Sure, summers are great! I take my vacations in July, the sun is out, the beach is beautiful, and it even makes day drinking a tad more acceptable. But, what about my sports?! Fine, the NBA playoffs are going a little longer into June this year because of the lock out, but even then my team (Los Angeles Lakers) didn’t make it past the second round. I read the newspapers, watch local TV news, scour the internet for anything football once the NBA season is over (especially if the Lakers have an early exit). All I come up with is small free agent signings, the occasional OTA reports, and whatever small anecdote comes up about the rookies. But I read/watch/see it all because these teams and sports are my drug.

I’m an addict. I don’t even go on vacation unless I know there aren’t any important games I could potentially miss (unless it’s a trip to New York and the Lakers are playing there, then I’m definitely going so I can catch a game at MSG). A couple of years ago, my birthday ended up being on Game 6 of the NBA finals, Lakers vs. Celtics (win or go home situation, the Celtics were up in the series 3-2). My boyfriend at the time (not a Laker or basketball fan… I should have known better) planned a dinner party for me. I could barely get ready for the dinner, my eyes glued to every TV in my place, let alone pay attention to where we were going (I had the radio blaring with my ESPN play by play on my phone). Needless to say, it was a birthday to remember BECAUSE the Lakers won, not because my then-boyfriend tried to get everyone to sing “happy birthday” to me during a crucial 3rd quarter! Do I even have to mention that we’re not together anymore?

Perhaps you can call it devoted. Border-line insane. But when the summer comes and the endless play of baseball is all I see on Sportcenter, I am feigning for some football. I’ll watch hours of team drills, just so I can see some effort from my Chargers. All the seasons of Hard Knocks are still saved in my DVR, and I go over them, every summer, just itching to see my favorite players take the field. Darn you summer and your scintillating weather, makes everyone think they should take a break. I can’t handle my life without a little bit of football and basketball.

Hi, my names Nicole, and I’m a sports addict.

San Diego Faithful?

Sun, surf, tan, repeat. Southern California has it all. I can’t even pretend the weather around here isn’t picturesque, because as we speak it is a clear 74o with no clouds in the sky. San Diego is the prime example of So-Cal living. It is the perfect place to be, unless you’re a San Diego sports fan.

San Diego sports fans are plagued by the jokingly, but too-true phrase, “San Diego, where we build champions, and send them away.” I’ve been a sports fan all my life, and I can remember the hey-day of the Padres and the insane run of the Chargers to the Superbowl. Falling short of any of those championships, there hasn’t been that same spark in over 15 years. Sure the Chargers came close with LT, and their campaign over his era, the glory years of 2006-8, but even that blew up in smoke.

Every city talks about their plunders of being a true fan faithful. Yes, there’s the curse of the Great Bambino, Seattle losing its Sonic, even the tortured Cleveland fans I feel for, but being a San Diego “die-hard” just hurts. Drew Brees (Former Chargers QB), wins a Superbowl with the New Orleans Saints. Adrian Gonzales (Former Padres 1B), raised in south San Diego, played for the Padres, takes lucrative contract with the great Boston Red Sox. Junior Seau, may he rest in peace, Mr. San Diego himself, Pro-Bowl Charger linebacker, says he’ll be a Charger for life goes to Miami and finishes his career in New England. Even Ladainian Tomlinson, LT, figured he couldn’t get his championship here and jetted off to, you guessed it… the New York Jets.

Maybe even the worst part of it all? San Diego doesn’t have horrible teams, (Except maybe, more recently now, the Padres. But even just two years ago they came so close to making a play-off push with a lack luster squad) ESPN and NFL analysts nearly always have the San Diego Chargers around the top of the pack, and each year they fall to an even more dismal record.

It might be the lack of fanfare our sports teams get. After all, there is just too much to enjoy around San Diego. The gorgeous beaches, sunny days, and beautiful people don’t exactly scream tortured sports souls, though. You ask people coasting on their beach cruisers to name five Padres players, they’ll still ask if Tony Gwynn is on the team. Come autumn, with football season still being a balmy 74o at Qualcomm stadium, San Diego fans will still be cynical at best.

So I’ll take being a San Diego die-hard, after all it’s what I know best. Just pass me the margarita next to my sun-tan lotion. And add another shot of tequila, the Padres are playing the Cubs.

Things I Know Now - That I Wish I Knew Sooner Pt. 1

(Title kind of gives it away right?) Tips for past me, future me, anyone who needs a little reminding of simple things we all mess up but wish we didn't.

• Never break up with someone in a public place. ESPECIALLY if its somewhere that you frequent often! If it's a bad split, you don't want to be a babbling idiot inside Starbucks crying over the bad memory of heartache over morning coffee. Go somewhere that has NO significant meaning to you. 
• Run away from party drinks. Jaeger, Four Loko, Vanilla Vodka, cheap Tequila. Nothing good comes from drinking these. Not even the buzz you get (you'll be either a loud, obnoxious drunk, or an emotional wrecking ball, or if you take all those drinks together-- a mixture of both) You'll thank me in the morning. 
• The older you get, the more weight your decisions will hold. That extra large California burrito you use to love after every binger? Well everyone can see it in your love handles come summer time. Procrastinating at work? Yeah getting written up at work isn't the same as getting detention at school. You have bills to pay and rent to make! Think a little, or in most cases ALOT! 
• Don't be a text offender. Yeah I said it (because we're all guilty of it) Nothing annoys people more by sending way too many texts to get your point across. Especially potential dates. Keep it to a 2 text maximum for replies. And stay away from :) ;) LOL LMFAO or other weird things of that nature UNLESS you are actually doing them. LOL is not a way to end a sentence. 
• For girls: Steer clear of guys who don't know how to order a drink. It will NOT always cut it if he asks to see a drink menu to every bar you go to. Sure, its cool to try a new cocktail every now and then. But if he doesn't have a go-to drink by now, you need to hop, skip, or run to the nearest MAN who can order his own whiskey and coke. 
• When dating someone, refrain from bring up information about them that they DIDN'T TELL YOU! In this day and age the internet has way too much access to our lives. Even before your first date you can find out what high school they went to, their favorite color, the name of their first pet, the picture of his senior prom, the time he fell of his motorcycle and the x-rays to prove it. Don't be that creepy person who looks up that stuff. And IF you are, don't bring it up them and casually mention that you saw it on their facebook page. Nothing screams stalker more than knowing how his first hamster died. 

Always something else.

It's really easy to let all my feelings bubble up so close to the surface. Hardly ever do I just feel one emotion at a time. If it's not JUST stress from work and school, or the saddness I feel for my family, or the anxiety I have about certain people in my life, its ALL jumbled into one lost emotion. Is there a word for when you feel like you're going through every emotion possible?

Recently one of my "uncles" passed away. I'm not going to try and take away from how every one is feeling and say that I'm deeply saddened by his passing. Yes I'm sad he's gone. He was a good man. He had three great kids who I love as cousins, Amy, Gemma, & Jun. He has grand kids who all love him very much. I wasn't very close to him, but I know how much he cared about his family and his relatives.

So there's this feeling of lost saddness that I'm feeling...

And now one of my own cousins who has been diagnosed with Leukemia, has been given just a week left to live. His body betrayed him, even after all the tests and different chemotherapy treatments he went through to get over his bone cancer, he had to deal with also getting leukemia. Lawrence is my brother's age, and I still can't even put into words how it makes me feel. All I know is that there is this heavy weight that I'm carrying around. I don't know what to say to anyone. I try to look at this with a different perspective: What would I say to my own friend who is going through what I am? I know its terrible what you're going through, but the best thing you could do is be there for them, offer them whatever you can and pray.

I'm not even sure I can take my own advice.

Starting off small.

Welcome to 2012.

An interesting thing, being twenty two and not sure where to begin. Most people have a place to call the beginning, where they finally decide to turn over a new leaf. I think my journey starts, yesterday. Or even the months before that. I can't pin point the one time when I thought, "This is it, this is where I start over, start fresh."

So why not begin where I thought I last left off? It seemed about the right time to get over the past, and move forward.
Well, here's to a fresh start in 2012.