Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas played football for N.C. State and Smithfield-Selma High School before playing in the NFL. He is the co-host of The Insiders.
By Mark Thomas
Nov 4, 2009
There a lot of things in sports that need to go. A large majority of them wouldn't change the sports world at all. Some would, but only for the better. So I give you......
The Nine things in Sports I wouldn't miss if they disappeared tomorrow.
9 – Boston College in the ACC- The ACC could go with eleven teams and forfeits.
8 – Troy Polamalu's Head – n – Shoulders commercials- These are embarrassing.
7 – Goalies in the NHL - “CANES WIN – 52-43!” Looks about right.
6 – 3 words – Poker on Television -
5 – A tie – Dan Snyder + Al Davis
4 – Baseball Managers wearing FULL uniforms – What’s the point.
3 – Milwaukee Bucks – The next Bucks fan I meet will be the First Bucks fan I meet.
2 – NFL Pro Bowl – This game isn’t “played” anymore. Just ask the guys who are in it.
1 – The BCS – Ok maybe I would notice this one the next day. That day would be called the PERFECT DAY!
Honorable Mention:
MLS
WNBA
November Baseball
Spring Training Baseball
By Mark Thomas
Oct 16, 2009
Mike Maniscalco and I caught up with Tom O’Brien as he prepares for this Saturday’s game against his old team Boston College.
The Pack coach was in a much better mood than any Wolfpack fan you will talk to. However, there are changes that HAVE to take place. And Coach O’Brien wasn't denying that.
Mike opened with a question about BC player Mark Herzlich, who is out this year while recovering from cancer treatment. O’Brien recruited him and talks with him often. N.C. State players have contributed their per diem from the road trip to Wake Forest to Uplifting Athletes, which is Herzlich’s cause.
O’Brien was very pleased with practice this week. He said that the defensive pass coverage is “communicating better.” That, along with a “renewed sense of urgency,” will hopefully help get better pass coverage. And let's be honest – that has to be the case since, well, it can’t get any worse. If anyone was unaware of the problems against Duke, none were bigger than State’s inability to get off the field on third down.
The Pack are going with
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By Mark Thomas
Oct 7, 2009
I seem to be a bit confused about the “State Championship” that is up for grabs in North Carolina. After NC State beat North Carolina last season 41-10, Coach Tom O’Brien announced that his team had won the State Championship. Is it possible for his team to win it this season as well? That couldn’t be the case since losing to Wake Forest in Winston Salem this past Saturday, right? But what if Wake Forest loses to Duke in their season finale? The Deacons would be 2-1 (that includes Elon) against in-state teams. If NC State was to win this weekend against Duke, and in their season finale against UNC, would the Wolfpack’s 3-1 record (that includes Gardner-Webb) trump the Deacons’ record? We may need some clarification before the t-shirts are printed.
Think about this as well: we would have a major problem if UNC beats Duke and they finish the season with a 3-1 record (that includes the ECU win). Should the BCS get involved? The only solution on the table right now is for the Tarheels to beat Duke and NC State. Then there’s another problem. Do the Tarheels win it with a 4-0 record or does Wake Forest get a piece of the title with their 3-0 record?
I think Coach O’Brien made this difficult for all of us. No solutions, just questions.
By Mark Thomas
Sep 27, 2009
N.C. State beats Pittsburgh to go to 3-1 on the season. I went back and looked at the game tape and here are some thoughts from the game;
The difference in the game: It has to be Russell Wilson takes another step towards being the guy Wolfpack fans thought he would be this year. He throws for 322 yards and four touchdowns. More importantly, he runs for 91 yards. Wilson is starting to knock off the rust when it comes to running the football. The O-line is still struggling to pick up blitzes. They only gave up one sack, but it's not by way of great blocking. If Wilson continues to stay healthy, get used to defenses bringing less blitzes and try to contain Wilson.
What this win means; N.C. State has its first win against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. It means the Wolfpack have some extra confidence heading into conference play. It also comes on the same weekend that the other members of the ACC Atlantic Division are 1-4.
The impact player of the game: No question Wilson gets first dibs on this award. However, N.C. State doesn't win without the ability to run the football. RB Toney Baker seems to get better each and every week. He has 18 carries for 81 yards as well as 3 catches for 71 yards. He scores 2 touchdowns in a game that could have gotten ugly early. Here's a story that can't be told
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By Mark Thomas
Sep 17, 2009
It was a real treat getting to see the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan play basketball. He was the best no question. So why would someone that good think it proper to give the biggest "I told you so" speech of all time. Well Jordan did, calling out Byron Russell and the owner of the Bulls that gave him an opportunity to play. Maybe it would have gone better if he had more time to prepare the speech. Oh wait, he found out in APRIL he was being inducted, not to mention it shouldn't of come as any type of shock when he was told. So for all HOFer's in the future, here's some things you should leave out of the HOF speech.
9 - I’d like to thank myself for being great.
8 - I want to thank my wife for signing the prenup.
7 - I know this is a team sport, but I did this all by myself.
6 - I’m sorry, there must be some misunderstanding, but I didn’t receive my check for being here tonight.
5 - Once again, I’d like to thank myself for being great.
4 - It was a pleasure breaking ALL of Wilt Chamberlain’s records!
3 - Anybody here seen the guy who gave me the opportunity to play and signed my paychecks, if you do tell him he’s an idiot.
2 - It must suck to be my kids, they can NEVER live up to me, for I AM TRULY GREAT.
1
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By Mark Thomas
Sep 9, 2009
Football is here. The NFL gets it right when it comes to the start of the season. The NHL and the NBA should stand up and take note. Here’s some reasons why:
9 – Preseason football games are OVER!
8 – All the games are played in America.
7 – You get to sit on your couch and veg all day without anyone saying anything.
6 – Monday Night Football make Mondays enjoyable again.
5 – The Detroit Lions aren’t in last place.
4 – Baseball pennant races are usually over by this time in September.
3 – The Cheerleaders: That is all.
2 – It’s the beginning of the greatest sport ever invented.
1 – Fantasy Football begins!
By Mark Thomas
Sep 4, 2009
After the game I was hit with a million questions about the game. I wanted to answer them as quickly as possible. But in order to really get a good handle on what unfolded in the 7-3 loss by NC State to South Carolina, I wanted to wake up the morning after and watch the game film before I reacted. Or overreacted. So here are the 5 main questions from the game:
NC State’s offense just didn’t seem to click, was it the South Carolina defense or the NC State offense?
When you have two schools from major conferences (SEC and ACC), chances are both teams have plenty of good players on both sides of the ball. So generally the answer to this question is BOTH. The Gamecocks defense played with speed and intensity. They were able to hem QB Russell Wilson in and record 6 sacks. But after going back and looking at the game film, I saw only one real player on that defense, Eric Norwood. South Carolina was down 3 defensive lineman, but they are by no means a top defensive unit. Next week at Georgia, expect the Bulldogs to put up 30 plus.
NC State’s o-line performed very poorly. It would be difficult for me to single out any one player because at some point during the game EVERY guy up front allowed a South Carolina player to run free. It is virtually impossible for ALL 11 guys on an offensive unit to do their job perfect on a play. Football is a game of mistakes. Usually some of the best plays by GREAT players happen
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By Mark Thomas
Aug 26, 2009
I saw Forbes List of The Most Disliked People in Sports. It was good, but mine is better! Besides there are a few in this area, that didn't make my list, but could be put on there by sports fans for whatever reason. Just so you know, if the coaches named Mike Krzyzewski or Dean Smith, come to mind, it's probably because of their SUCCESS. Like it or not, that disdain may have some RESPECT in it.
THESE PEOPLE I DO NOT RESPECT:
9 – The Steinbrenner’s: Learning some of his best moves from his father, Hank has managed to insult a lot of people in a short amount of time.
8 – Bud Selig: Aside from ignoring the steroid problem. He has had a hand in killing a World Series, a finish to an All-Star Game, and even The Montreal Expos.
7 – Gary Betteman: As the only commissioner to ever kill an entire season, the NHL's boss is pretty much universally disliked among hockey fans.
6 – Nick Saban: Saban left LSU to head to the NFL, and then after leading the Dolphins into the tank with a 1-15 record, he quickly jumped back into the SEC to take over Alabama's program - announcing it by just leaving a note in his former players' lockers.
5 – Donte Stallworth: He drove drunk and killed someone. But it was
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By Mark Thomas
Aug 5, 2009
I am the first person to stand up and say that football players need to be making more money. The NFL is a BILLION dollar industry! But when I heard Eli Manning was going to get a contract that makes him the highest paid player in the league, I lost it.
So here's the list of folks he now hangs with...
9 – Jason Peters, OT, Philadelphia – $12.7 million. As a left tackle for Buffalo last year he gave up 11.5 sacks. That was tops in the league.
8 – Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina - $8.6 million. He is close to being worth this. But what a bad playoff game to remember him by.
7 – Vince Young, QB, Tennessee – $4.6 million. Wow this number made sense when he was with the Texas Longhorns.
6 – Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina – $16.7 million One million dollars a game. If he has a GREAT year and gets 16 sacks, that's a mil per sack.
5 – Daniel Graham, TE, Denver – $6.6 million. 20th best tight end in league last year.
4 – Matt Cassell QB KC – $15.2 million. One good year. That includes college.
3 – All Defensive Ends in Buffalo – $14.1 million for Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay. Who was the Bills' first-round draft pick this year? DE Aaron Maybin out of Penn State.
2 – Eli Manning,
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By Mark Thomas
Jul 27, 2009
As a player I used to LOVE this time of the year! Still do.
Now is the time that every team in America is UNDEFEATED. Everyone has large expectations about what’s going to happen in the upcoming season. Here at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, I am getting the same reaction from every player representing an ACC team: "We are going to have a great season this year."
How do you really know what your record is going to look like this year? How do you know your going to be successful this year?
Players have a ritual to figure that out. You pick up the media guide and look at the team breakdowns that you going to play this upcoming season. (That’s not exactly true; the first thing you do is look at how many times your name appears in the media guide and what your action photos look like. ) Then you look at the schedule and separate the games you KNOW you’re going to win from the games you THINK YOU CAN WIN. There are also those OTHER games - the MAYBE games. The games if everything goes right, you can win. But ALL of them are winnable!!
So let’s do it.
North Carolina:
Games you KNOW you’re going to win:
Citadel
@ UCONN
Virginia
Georgia Southern
Duke
@ Boston College
Games you THINK you can win:
East Carolina
Miami
@ N.C. State
The MAYBE games:
@ Georgia Tech
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