Notes from a jock

There are exciting times ahead...

I feel the need to express some thoughts on how the English Premier League has started, the coming NFL season, and the NCAA football season.

I must admit that even though we lost our first match of the season against Burnley, Manchester United still have started the season well. The win, deserved or not, against Arsenal was big and we need to keep winning matches like that if we are to get four in a row. Chelsea look strong and must be considered the most intimidating and biggest challenger. Liverpool are as always disappointing every fan wearing the wrong shade of red, but things might turn around for them as the season progresses. I do not believe that Tottenham and Manchester Shitty will be able to keep winning, but they might give Liverpool and Arsenal a run for the Champions League spots for next season.

Speaking of the Champions League I am not too happy about this years group stage draw. We have a poor history against Besiktas, it is always hard playing away in Russia against teams like CSKA and the german champs Wolfsburg have a fierce strikeforce. We should go through, but it might not let us rest players in 'easier' CL-matches...

On to the NFL. Am I exited? Oh, yes. From this paragraph I will only talk about football (the american style) so to all you Norwegians that are completely uninterested... go on to the Hawaii post.

So... Brett Farve in purple! Can the Vikings be a Superbowl contender? Most experts think the Green Bay Packers will challenge the Vikings in the NFC North, and most experts believe the Eagles will win the NFC Championship game. I believe that if Farve can stay healthy and not get the type of injury he had in New Jersey last year the Vikings have a great shot at not only going to the playoffs, but making it to the Superbowl.

Vikings have one of the best run defenses in the NFL, they have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, they have the best individual offensive player in Adrian Peterson (who will get more room this year since the Vikings will have a real QB), they have an intimidating defensive line with Williams, Williams, Windfield and Allen. I believe Favre will not have the same implosion against the Eagles that Jackson had last year...

There is no doubt that the NFC North is strong this year. Jay Cutler and Matt Forte in Chicago, Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and a young and exiting QB in Matt Stafford (first pick in last years draft) in Detroit. Hopefully the Vikings can win 12 games and get homefield in playoffs.

The AFC features a bunch of tough teams, but I believe that the Vikings (if they get there) will meet either the San Diego Chargers or New England Patriots in the SB. Both teams get great players back from injuries, Tomlinson in San Diego and Tom Brady in New England, and both have easy conferences that will give them lots of wins and homefield advantage through the AFC playoff.

On the the NCAA. For the followers of College Football that reads this, if any, it is a really exciting season this year. Most of the top ranked teams won pretty easily in their first game, except the Sooners heartbreaking loss against BYU, and both Florida, Texas, USC and Alabama are all looking strong.

I still want to make people aware of my new school, University of California - Berkeley. The Cal Bears are coming of a decent season last year and with their amazing tailback Jahved Best leading the team and being a Heisman candidate they might stir some things up in the PAC10. Are they going to be able to stop Tim Tebow and Florida... not likely... but they might get to the BCS game, or at least a BCS bowl game. It might come down to their homegame in Berkeley against USC later this fall.

A short last comment. I believe the Vikings should draft Tim Tebow next spring. If the Vikings do as good as I expect this season they will only have a late first round pick, but Tebow will not go early. I believe he could be the perfect QB to lead an Adrian Peterson based offense...