John_Hygh's Blog

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of all the back and forth with the Brett Favre situation.  I can accept that he made a mistake and retired before he was really ready.  But now he  wants to come back and play for the Packers, which has turned into a big mess.   If he wants to play, then say that and get reinstated.  If not, stay retired and move on.  I really don't want to hear how the Packers have changed their offense for Aaron Rogers, and that if Favre comes back he'll be a backup.  C'mon, REALLY?  Here's my take.  How much offense could you really change.  I'm sure there's a few things you'll do differently with Rogers, but seriously, how hard is it to go back to the offense Favre ran.  As for Favre coming back to backup Rogers..."that ain't happenin."  Not a chance.  I'm not even a Packers fan, but I hate to see that after all Favre has done for that organization, this is how he's being treated.  Don't get me wrong, Favre is to blame for this ugly situation as well, but in my opinion, if he wants to come back, he should.  Just not as a backup, or on another team.  Let me know how you feel about this situation.

I drove a 1995 Honda Civic for 12 and a half years.  I loved it, gas was never really a major issue, but I've always wanted a truck.  So last year I decided to buy one.  Wrong move, especially looking back on it now.  We all know gas prices are ridiculous, but my new truck also takes E85 (Ethanol).  I live close to a gas station that has E85 and it's usually .30 cents cheaper than unleaded.  In the beginning I thought that was pretty cool and I was saving money.  But after I did a little homework, I found out E85 isn't all it's cracked up to be.  The problem with E85 vs. unleaded is you don't get the same output.  Sure you're "saving the environment" by using E85, but these days I'm more concerned with saving money or at least getting the most bang for my buck and you just don't with E85.  While you pay more for unleaded it has more energy and other crap that E85 doesn't.  The only way to get the same output from E85 as you get with unleaded, is if the price of E85 is about half of what unleaded is.  So while many say we need to start using E85 and other fuels, I'm going to stick with unleaded until I get the same "bang for my buck" as I get with unleaded.  Let me know what you think.

This is a tough pick for me. I know everything there is to know about the UT men's basketball team. Can't really say the same about Memphis. Both teams are playing extremely well right now, but someone's going down today. UT has gone farther than most people expected, especially after losing Mr. Everything Kevin Durant. This team has really come together and their chemistry is great. In my bracket I picked Texas to lose in this round because I thought with all the minutes their starters play, they'd be out of gas by this time. After watching their first three NCAA tournament games, I'm back tracking. These guys aren't out of gas, as a matter of fact I think A.J. Abrams is still running full speed right now. That guy is in great shape. Have you seen him on the court. He's running non-stop. But as far as who will win today. I'm really not sure. As I said earlier, Texas is playing great, but will that be enough. Memphis is 36-1, they've won 102 games in three years, their freshman point guard Derrick Rose is money, this is the Tigers third straight trip to the Elite 8, I could go on and on. The bottom line is they're a No. 1 seed for a reason. But Texas is talented as well, was just one win away from being a 1-seed. So I don't know who'll win this game, but it would be nice if the 'Horns pulled it out and made it back to the Final Four. Let me know what you think. See ya.

The Texas men's basketball team is playing extremely well right now.  Everybody stepped up their game in the 'Horns 20 point win over Stanford in the Regional Semifinal to advance to the NCAA's Elite 8.  This was not the Texas team I'm used to seeing.  Don't get me wrong, they've been playing some really good ball, but last night this team was more "jacked up."  They were showing emotion on the court, yelling and getting excited after doing something big.  They normally don't do it to that extreme.  I liked it.  I like when players show emotion and get hyped up after a big play.  We'll see if they can carry that emotion and their great play into Sunday's Elite 8 matchup against Memphis.  Let me know how you think the 'Horns will do on Sunday.  Do you think they'll advance to the Final Four or is this it.  Regardless, it's been a fun ride.  See ya.

After two extremely busy days, I'm about to head into Reliant Stadium for the UT men's basketball game against Stanford.  We've been talking about it all week.  Now it's time for the 'Horns to walk the walk.  Even though Texas is the smaller team I think they should take care of business against Stanford and advance to the Elite 8.  UT's guards A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin are two of the best in the country.  If they come out hittin Stanford watch out.  I think the Cardinal will try to slow the game down a lot and work it into their two huge 7'0 twins Brook and Robin Lopez.  It'll be interesting to see how UT's post players handle the twins.  We'll soon find out.  I'm out, have to get inside Reliant Stadium before tip-off.  I have 10 minutes.  See you later.  P.S. I hope the 'Horns go on to win, or this will be a very short trip.

After two extremely busy days, I'm about to head into Reliant Stadium for the UT men's basketball game against Stanford.  We've been talking about it all week.  Now it's time for the 'Horns to walk the walk.  Even though Texas is the smaller team I think they should take care of business against Stanford and advance to the Elite 8.  UT's guards A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin are two of the best in the country.  If they come out hittin Stanford watch out.  I think the Cardinal will try to slow the game down a lot and work it into their two huge 7'0 twins Brook and Robin Lopez.  It'll be interesting to see how UT's post players handle the twins.  We'll soon find out.  I'm out, have to get inside Reliant Stadium before tip-off.  I have 10 minutes.  See you later.  P.S. I hope the 'Horns go on to win, or this will be a very short trip.

All I can say is the UT men's basketball team will have their hands full against Stanford.  Hearing about someone being 7'0 and actually seeing them in person is two different things.  Stanford's 7'0 twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez are huge.  Granted I'm only 5'9 (5'10 in tennis shoes), but the Lopez twins are BIG.  Many are calling this matchup UT's smalls against Stanford's bigs.  Texas is not a tall team, in fact their two tallest players are Connor Atchley and Dexter Pittman, who are both 6'10, but the 'Horns make up for it with speed and one of the top offenses in the country.  Point guard D.J. Augustin is arguably one of the best in the country, and A.J. Abrams, who by the way is averaging 26 points in the NCAA tournament, has one of the quickest releases I've ever seen, and lately he's been on fire.  The 'Horns will have to try to make the Cardinal players run and not stand around and slow the game up.  A slower paced game is what Stanford wants...Texas wants and needs the opposite. 

Surprisingly, even though most of the Longhorns players have never been to the Sweet 16, they seemed pretty calm during interviews the day before the game.  They say they're going to treat this game just like any other game.  I don't know how you do that, because you're not going against two players who stand 7'0 all the time.  If the 'Horns continue to play like they've been playing (with the exception of the final minutes of the Miami game) they should be fine and advance to the Elite 8.  However, if they can't contain the Lopez twins or can't stay out of foul trouble, it could be a very long day for the 'Horns.  Let me know what you think the 'Horns chances are.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

 

I usually do well when participating in NCAA men's basketball tournament brackets.  This year is no different.  I take that back, it is different.  I'm doing really awesome.  I have 12 of 16 teams left in the Sweet 16.  The only problem is I forgot to turn my bracket in to my buddies office pool (for bragging rights of course).  I've never ever forgot to turn in my bracket.  I'm just sick to my stomach.  Especially since I'm doing so well.  Oh well I'll say what we always here from athletes, "there's always next year".  Hope ya'll are doing well with your brackets and I really hope you had sense enough to turn them in.  Let me know how your doing in your bracket so I can compare it with mine, which doesn't really count.

As we gear up for the Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, all I have to say is "go Pats go".  Since my Dallas Cowboys aren't playing, which is who I thought would be playing against the Patriots in the big game, I'm rooting for New England.  I'll be honest as a Cowboys fan I was hoping the Patriots would go 18-1 on the year, losing to the Cowboys of course in the Super Bowl.   But ever since my 'Boys got knocked out of the playoffs I now want to see history.  I want to see the Patriots go undefeated and win it all.  I want to see something that's never been done, and I'm almost 100% sure I will.  So if I haven't already said it, oh I did, but anyways, "GO PATS GO".

I still can't believe Texas lost to Texas A&M...again, for the second straight year.  There's no way anyone, including Aggies coach, my bad, former Aggies coach Dennis Franchione, could've really believed Texas A&M would beat Texas.  For the past three or four games UT's offense had looked great.  Texas A&M on the other hand, had lost three straight and four of their last five.  I know A&M fans will say they lost to top 10 teams though.  I understand that, but going into the Texas game the Aggies weren't looking all that hot.  Texas blew a chance to get an at-large bid into a BCS game and the chance to play for the Big 12 Championship.  Although Oklahoma made sure that wouldn't happen by whooping up on Oklahoma State. 

After covering Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee in high school and college, I've always known he could throw the ball.  He still holds several Texas high school state records.  But while at Texas A&M he's used his legs more than his arm...until Friday against the Longhorns.  The Aggies knew how bad the Texas secondary was, and they took advantage of it.  As a matter of fact, I think McGee just completed another pass against UT.  The bottom line is Texas A&M came ready to play and Texas didn't, even though they were the better team going in, and that's sad.  All I can say is I still can't believe they lost, especially with how they'd been playing, and also with everything that was at stake.

  However, even with the big win over Texas, it wasn't enough to stop Coach Franchione from getting fired, I mean stepping down as the Aggies head coach.  But at least he went out with two straight wins over the 'Horns biggest rival.

I have to say I've always been a Terrell Owens fan.  Even when he was a receiver for the 49ers and Eagles.  I know as a Cowboys fan I should never say I like someone on rival teams, but I have to say, I've always liked players that could talk a good game and back it up.  And that's T.O.  Many will say he's not a team player, I don't agree with that.  Owens is just an athlete who likes to win.  Now I will agree it's not cool to blow up on your teammates like he has in the past.  But he has changed.  I truly believe that.  We've all known that he's always been one of, if not the best receiver in the league.  It's just nowadays, he's not brining all the "drama" in Dallas.  Since joining the Cowboys, he's shined.  And he's really shined in their last three games.  He has 472 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during that stretch.  Four of those touchdowns coming in their latest win over Washington.  As long as the Cowboys keep winning and T.O. keeps contributing he's going to be happy, and so will I as a Dallas fan.

With the first round of high school football playoffs being played this weekend, all I can say is I hope the kids really enjoy it.  Making the playoffs is something all teams strive for, but only a few ever make it.  Making the playoffs gets you a step closer to the ultimate goal (a state championship).  And only one team can win it all.  So with that said I hope these players leave it all on the field.  Play your hearts out, because as I said earlier, not everyone knows what it will ever feel like to make the playoffs.

As a former high school and college football player, the one thing that always bugs me is, I was never on a team that made the playoffs.  We were close, but back when I played in high school only the top two teams made the postseason.  We were always third in district.  Of course, nowadays three teams from each district make it.  Guess I played a few years to early, but I'm not bitter or upset.  OK maybe a little upset, but there's not really much I can do about it now.  That's why I hope the players that are in the playoffs really enjoy it, because once again, not everyone will experience what the playoffs are all about...I know first hand. 

 

I started playing fantasy football about 10 years ago.  In my first two years I was horrible because I think I drafted about five or six Dallas Cowboys.  Since then I've become a fantasy football genius...at least in my eyes.  I've won a couple of championships and always make the playoffs. 

I used to think fantasy was for nerds, but now I know that's not the case.  If it is, then just call me a nerd because I love it.  I look forward to Sundays more than ever.  With that said though, it's also very stressful.  I'm on an emotional roller coaster week in and week out.  When your team goes off, it's awesome.  When they struggle, your miserable.  Today, I'm miserable because my team is playing below average.  Guess I'll get ready to get back on the roller coaster next week.

 

A lot of people think the Texas football team will lose or barely win against Oklahoma State on Saturday.  I think Texas will be fine.  Yes they struggled and had to have a monster rally to beat a bad Nebraska team, but the bottom line is they did it.  Oklahoma State always gives Texas fits early on, but then when it's all said and done, Texas blows them away.  Now I'm not saying Texas will blow them out of the water Saturday, especially since the Cowboys are coming off a bye week and have had two weeks to prepare for a team that's beaten them nine straight times.  Check that 10 straight after Saturday.  Let me know how you think the 'Horns will do against the Cowboys on Saturday.

I have to admit I thought the 17th-ranked Texas football team would run all over Nebraska and win by 17.  Texas only won by three 28-25, but UT Jr. running back Jamaal Charles did run all over and around Nebraska.  The only problem I have is, why did it take Texas three quarters to figure things out.  Nebraska led most of the game and held UT's running game in check for three quarters.  OK so what's the problem?  The problem is, Nebraska came into this game ranked 115th out of 119 Division I-A schools at stopping the run...that's not good.  So you would've thought that Texas, who has been inconsistent this year at running the ball, would light it up against the Cornhuskers all game.  It didn't happen until the fourth quarter, which is when Charles ran for 216 of his career-high 290 yards.

I'm happy Jamaal had a career day and scored three touchdowns, but I'm disappointed that they didn't dominate for four quarters against a team they should have.  Oh, did I mention that Nebraska had lost their previous three games by an average of 29 points, and Texas only won by three, and with the way things have gone this season in college football, the Horns will take that win and move on.