Poll #1 - Best Team in NFL History?

I stumbled upon the above YouTube clip of Joe Theismann and John Riggins' discussion of the current Redskins about three weeks ago.  Theismann stating that the 1983 Redskins were the best team in NFL history (even though they didn't win the SuperBowl that year) got me thinking about some of the greatest teams in NFL history.  Most of the great teams were SuperBowl winners, but is it possible for a team to be considered the best ever if they were not even the best team during one particular year?  I guess the quick counter would be that the best team does not always win the SuperBowl in a given year. 

I've devised a simple formula that uses basic NFL game statistics to calculate which team should be considered the best ever...and I'll share it in my next post.

But before I share my simple methodology (remember: advanced methods are a waste of time), I'd like to know which team is the best ever in your mind...

My guess for the best team in NFL history before looking at historical NFL statistics was the 2007 Patriots.

In your opinion, which team was the best ever?

Social Gripe #3: Egocentrics - Part C: In Public

In Public - in such a way as to be visible to the scrutiny of the people, such as malls, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc...

Any human-being that has disturbed, inconvenienced, or bothered you in any manner while in a public setting would be considered Egocentric.  Egocentrics are highly visible to the common bystander and tend to make themselves visible even during your dullest state of mind (day-dreaming for instance).  I want to share with you some Egocentrics types that I have had past experiences with In Public:

1.  Space Hogs:  These people will always be in your way when you are walking through malls/stores/places with limited walking space.  I'm not sure what their problem is, but they insist upon taking up as much room as possible and they will always make you move drastically to avoid bumping into their sprawling body.   
Future Goal:  Ram into a Space Hog intentionally in an attempt to bruise their body and their precious ego.

2.  Cellular-Beings:  These are people who love their cell phone more than actual human beings.  There seems to be one of these people in every group, but you probably don't realize they exist.  You want to know why?  Their constant talking, texting, sexting, pexting means you never get to interact with them even though they are physically next to you (they just don't exist mentally around you).  
Future Goal:  Take a Cellular-Beings cell phone extra appendage and smash it into a million pieces.

3.  Parchment and Quill Users:  At one time or another, you have probably had to deal with these people in a store - they are ones that waste your time by continuing to use the outdated method of CHECKS.  The extreme Parchment and Quill Users have the nerve to write CHECKS in the Express Lanes.  These people must have never been told that Debit Cards do the same thing as CHECKS, but in a lot less time.   
Future Goal:  As a Parchment and Quill User is wasting my time in a store line, I will pry the checkbook from their stupid, inconsiderate hands and light it on FIRE!!

4.  Loud-Toothers:  These people think they are so important and cool because of their cell phone blue-tooth earpiece.  Their coolness means that everybody else around them needs to hear their whole cell phone conversation.  It is very confusing and awkward at first when you see a person talking to themselves in a public place because you can't tell whether they are talking to you or just plain crazy.  Moments later, however, you look at their ear and realize they are a Loud-Toother - instant relief (this situation is unfair to the rest of us that aren't as cool douchey as you).   
Future Goal:  Stare a complete Loud-Toother stranger straight in the face and ask them multiple questions as they are talking on their blue-tooth.

5.  Indecent Exhibitionists:  Public Displays of Affection or PDA are allowable to a certain extent - eating-face or groping would be considered a Indecent Exhibitionist act in my book.  The Indecent Exhibitionists usually find the most central and public location for their extreme PDA.  The most distributing part is that the worst and highest occurring cases of PDA are usually being performed by abnormal characters - examples include the creepy, damaged, and unstable types (use your own imagination if you dare).   
Future Goal:  Block a set of Indecent Exhibitionists from the public view by placing a big cardboard box over them.

Road Rage #6: Arrogant, Stupid, or Selfish?

Stick-Family Sticker Users

I don't care about your family, and I would venture to say that most of the people driving around you don't either.  Please remove these stickers from the back of your car.  In all likelihood, they represent more of how fake your family is on a daily basis, rather than how perfect or "nuclear" your family is in your warpped mind.

Simple Message: Lose the Douche-Bag Stickers!!

The Morning Sprinters of Silver Hill Road

Many residents of Suitland, MD use the metro as their primary method of transportation - all well and good.  But the problem is that these metro users insist upon walking to the Suitland Metro Station in the morning by crossing Silver Hill Road without using crosswalks or lighted intersections.  There have been numerous occasions when I was very close to hitting one of these pedestrians sprinters (morning darkness makes it very difficult to see them) - nobody needs/wants hitting a pedestrian on their conscience.   

What makes the situation worse is that I when I went to look for a picture of this stupidity in action, it was on clear display in Google-Map's street-view picture (see below) of Silver Hill Road at the Suitland Metro.  You don't even want to get me started on the fact that CHILDREN (as seen below) are usually accompanying them during this illegal activity!!

Simple Message:  Use the Crosswalks!! 
***Crosswalks appear every 200 yards on Silver Hill Road.

What's your opinion of the Stick-Family Stickers and The Morning Sprinters?

Project #2: Part B - Super Bowl Contenders

In an effort to conclude this project quickly with a usable outcome, I compiled the data for four of the major NFL team statistics from 1999-2008.  Trends discovered from the compiled data were used to eliminate teams from SuperBowl contention in 2009.  See below for a results breakdown:

Team Predictor - Results (see Part A - Turnover Difference)

Eliminated Teams: Panthers, Browns, Cowboys, Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Raiders, Jaguars, Rams, Titans, Redskins, Cardinals, and Steelers

Defense Predictor - Results

If a team's defense allows less than 110 rushing yards per game, they are considered better than average.  An average defensive team gives up between 110 and 125 rushing yards per game.  90% of SuperBowl teams had at least an average rushing defense from 1999-2008.  Teams that have allowed over 125 rushing yards per game in 2009 thus far were eliminated from SuperBowl contention.

Eliminated Teams:  Bills, Chiefs, Chargers, Bucs

Offense #1 Predictor - Results

If a team's offense gains more than 125 rushing yards per game, they are considered better than average.  An average offensive team gains between 110 and 125 rushing yards per game.  90% of SuperBowl teams had at least an average rushing offense from 1999-2008.  Teams that have averaged less than 110 rushing yards gained per game in 2009 thus far were eliminated from SuperBowl contention.

Eliminated Teams:  Texans, Colts, Seahawks

Offense #2 Predictor - Results

If a team converts over 45% of their 3rd down attempts on offense, they are considered better than average.  An average offensive team converts between 40 and 45 percent of their 3rd down attempts on offense.  70% of SuperBowl teams had at least an average 3rd down success on offense from 1999-2008.  Teams that have converted less than 40% of their 3rd down attempts on offense in 2009 thus far were eliminated from SuperBowl contention.

Eliminated Teams:  Broncos, Jets, Eagles

3nd Tier SuperBowl Contenders:  

(medium probability to make playoffs, low probability to make SuperBowl)
Falcons, Cowboys, and Giants

2nd Tier SuperBowl Contenders:  

(high probability to make playoffs, medium probability to make SuperBowl)
Packers, Patriots, Ravens, and Bengals

1st Tier SuperBowl Contenders:

(guaranteed playoffs, high probability to make SuperBowl)
Vikings and Saints*

*I realize they are both in the same conference, but they are currently the two most dominant teams in the NFL.  There is a very high probability that one of these teams will be in the SuperBowl. 

Next Gripe Project...Best Team in NFL History - 1983 Redskins?!?!...

General Gripe #3: Financial Responsibility

The recent economic crisis in the United States came about due to many different factors from various people around the country.  The fiscal irresponsibility of many American families is one of those factors, and it strikes me as the one that could have been easily avoided if people had been given better advice on how to run their finances.  A lot of this bad advice has come from financial institutions in the form of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages and inflated egos, but a lot of the recent heartache probably could have been avoided if people had been taught some simple daily-living finance rules.  I feel as though Laura and I have done quite well at managing our finances over the past five years thanks to some simple daily-living finance rules.  I would like to share some of the rules that have helped us save money since graduating from college and survive the past two years of an unstable American economy:

Guido's Gripes Simple Guide to Finances

The Green Rule:  Don't Buy Stuff You Can't Afford!!

Exception to The Green Rule:  If you can't afford something, don't charge it unless you need it!!

Understand the difference between Wants and Needs:

• Wants:  something desired 
• all types of toys (big, small, electronic, paper-based...)
  
• excessive amounts of clothes (major labels)
  
• candy, snacks
  
• restaurant meals (over $25)
  
• entertainment (movies, concerts, happy hours)  
• travel (vacations)
  

• Needs:  must have/requirement
• food (grocery food)
  
• water (the drinking type)
  
• shelter (mortgage/rent)...box on street if you don't listen)
  
• heat, water, electricity (bills)
  
• transportation - excludes luxury brands (ie -BMW, Lexus, Range Rover...)

The Red Rule:  Build a reserve fund that would maintain a baseline quality of life for at least 3 months* if worse case scenario occurred.
*According to Suze, you should have at least 8 months of savings...three months is a good starting point in my opinion.

How to Build Reserve Fund

Step #1:  Set-up an account (fund) with an online savings bank (higher savings yields than traditional banks).
Step #2:  Transfer an initial deposit of at least $250 to fund, more if possible.
Step #3:  Slowly build online savings fund by putting a set amount (at least $50 and above) in each month.
Step #4:  Never Withdraw Money from this fund, unless a crisis occurs - such as job loss, act of god, accident, personal stupidity...

Road Rage #5: Two Commuting Hazards

Fakepoolers 

- individual who acquires a carpool tag and parks in a carpool spot with no passengers - 

You people can go to hell.  You are taking spots away from the true carpoolers (2 or more people = carpool).  Two days ago, I actually witnessed an individual walk from her office to her car in her so-called "carpool" spot and drive off.  What makes it worse is that I was able to prove without a reasonable doubt that she was a fakepooler because I inadvertently followed her through the garage and out of the complex, and nobody else ever got in the car!!  No Excuses - you fakepoolers are arrogant, lying, phonies!!

Ford Aerostar Mini-Van Owners 

- usually found abandoned on the side of the road or broken down in the middle lane of traffic with their 4-way flashers on -

How are these things still on the road?  They were discontinued in 1997.  Words of Advice for Ford Aerostar Mini-Vans Owners: Regular maintenance is required for a vehicle to remain operational, even more so for you because your car is a old POS from Ford.  If you take my advice, maybe your crappy mini-van will stop breaking down in the middle of the road, thus eliminating the numerous traffic nightmares you create on a daily basis.

Sports Gripe #3: LeTravel

The first Wizards-Cavs game of the 2009-2010 season is tonight in the lame city of Cleveland, and there is not one player in the NBA that I despise more than the Cav's LeBron James aka "The King", "Cry Baby", "LeTravel".  My hatred for LeBron started three years ago when he used four steps to score the game-winning basket at the end of a crucial playoff game, but was not called for a travel by the referees:


He took 4 Steps!! 3 Steps = Travel

Eventually, the refs caught onto "The King's" LeBron's illegal moves and grew enough balls to make this call in last year's Wiz-Cavs game:


First "Crab Dribble" Sighting

The "Cry Baby" still contends that the "crab dribble" is legal, despite the fact that it violates every NBA rule for legal dribbling.  The following video proves why the "crab dribble" is illegal:


The Birth of LeTravel

Go Wizards!!  

(added bonus: I'm attending the Wizards game tomorrow night against the Heat)

Social Gripe #2: Halloween Abusers

The Grossly Uncostumed 

- appears as a plain-clothed child (typically older), but with a pillowcase in hand

Black sweats, plain hats, ratty jeans, white t-shirts, etc. are not considered a costume - you are just being lazy!!  You want candy from me, you are going to need to put a little more effort into your costume rags.

The "Candy-Eating" Toddler
- as seen in the arms of their parent (since they can't walk!!)

So your 6-month old baby eats solid candy?  I don't think so...stop carrying the baby from house-to-house in an attempt to get candy for the baby yourself.  NO CANDY FOR YOU!!

The Savage High-Schooler

- can be heard coming from miles away and is found in groups of similar kind

You are too old for trick-or-treating.  Let the little kids enjoy the candy and experience without your gracious loud presence.  I know you wouldn't be able to notice those children since you are being distracted by your obnoxious group of followers that makes a point to scream and howl down each driveway/road.