1) Which side of the ball will be the superior unit next year for UT?
Anwar: If you look at what Todd Orlando did at Houston, then take a glance at this roster, it is easy to envision this defense taking the next step. Let us flashback to this press release: “UH has featured the nation’s fourth-ranked rush defense (100.2 ypg), in addition to the nation’s 13th-best defense in total yards allowed (319.6 ypg). Houston is third nationally with five defensive touchdowns and allowed just 23.5 points per game. The Cougars also have ranked as one of the nation’s best in bringing pressure, ranking 14th in both sacks and tackles for loss. In a win over No. 3 Louisville, Orlando’s defense contained eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson to 20-of-43 passing (46.5%) for 211 yards and a season-low 33 rushing yards, while sacking him 11 times, an AAC single-game record and second most in UH history.” Now, envision what Orlando can do with Malik Jefferson, Gary Johnson, Breckyn Hager, Erick Fowler, Chris Nelson, Poona Ford, Kris Boyd, Holton Hill, Davante Davis, Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott.
Alex: The Texas Longhorns offense in 2017 will be the far-superior unit to the defense. This should be clear and obvious. First, this is the Big 12 conference and if your defense is outperforming the guys who’re supposed put the points on the board, you’re toast. Second, Texas has hired an offensive savant to run the operation. If this is a 2017 defense poised to outperform what Herman is likely to put on the field offensively, then fans should get their popcorn ready for a Todd Orlando Nationwide Sensation Tour. He’ll be doing autograph signings, coaching clinics, book tours and everything in between by next March.
2. Best instrument in music?
Anwar: The drums are a necessary instrument, but some of the best composers are known for their ability to play the piano. Go back to Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Chopin and Horowitz. These guys didn’t need drums to be considered great. Think about what Ray Charles, Nat King Cole and Little Richard did on the piano. Billy Joel and Elton John never tour together without a piano. Axl Rose sat down with John to perform November Rain. Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars and John Legend are very good – not historic – behind the piano. There are more legendary piano players than drummers.
Alex: Drums are the best instrument in music because they are the heartbeat of the band. The vocals and the singer are the brain of the band -- and this role may serve the higher purpose -- but the brain has no blood without the heart pumping it through the musical body’s veins. The bass and the rhythm guitars are the central nervous system and spine respectively while instruments like piano, lead guitar, violin, etc. are tones and shades … Things used to differentiate the essential functions carried out by the core instruments listed prior. The bass guitar is the band’s spine while the piano is its sense of humor.
3. Hardest sport to make it to the highest level?
Anwar: If there is a person who has a set of clubs at home, they will tell you golf is absolutely the hardest sport. How many times did you have a good round of golf to turn around a week later and look like you never played the game? You have to qualify to be on the tour every year, and those who do not earn enough money are sent down to the minors. Heck, everyone thought Tiger Woods might be the greatest golfer of our generation, but he may not win another major tournament. Golf is the only sport where you can win a tournament one week, but miss the cut at another event a few days later.
Alex: Basketball is the hardest sport to ascend to the highest levels in. This is because it takes winning the genetic lottery to start. From there, you can work on your actual game. Anyone who has attended an NBA basketball game knows that NBA athletes (when considering god-given size MIXED with athleticism) are the most impressive on Earth. Not only that, there are only about 300 real jobs total that are available to the world’s population if you consider a basic team to be (around) five starters with five-or-so bench players as core units.
4. Who would win in a fight between @Suchomel and @Ketchum ?
Anwar: Do not let Jason fool you. I think @Suchomel has four kids, he chases down teenage athletes who can be annoying at times, and we have seen his anger on the boards. This is a guy who can snap at any time. Plus, Jason works out occasionally and is pretty strong. The safe money is on Jason.
Alex: @Ketchum would whoop Jason in a fight. He has a size advantage and I think that Jason is the type to possibly let Ketch win even if he didn’t deserve it in order to keep from ruffling too many feathers around the ol’ OB offices.
5. Brad Johnson or Rich Gannon.
Anwar: Brad Johnson has a Super Bowl ring. Sure, so does Trent Dilfer, but Johnson had 3,049 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions during that Super Bowl year. Gannon threw five interceptions against the Bucs during the Super Bowl, and three were returned for touchdowns. He melted down in the biggest game of his career. That alone is enough to give Johnson the nod.
Alex: Brad Johnson or Rich Gannon? Like ... NFL MVP Rich Gannon versus perennial journeyman JAG and dad-runner Brad Johnson? Might as well make it versus Trent Dilfer. Gannon is an NFL MVP, a three-time conference player of the year and NFL passing-yards leader (in a season of his career) as well as a two-time first team All-Pro. Johnson has achieved none of that. He has two (token) pro bowls to Gannon’s legitimate four. If you hand this to Johnson based on the fact that Johnson won a Super Bowl for a defensive monster-team as a bus-driver, then more power to you.
6. Who is the best villain (TV, movie, or book) of all time.
Anwar: Darth Vader. I will not go full Star Wars nerd today, but Vader is the ultimate villain. People still dress up as him today. Name another international villain with a household name like Vader.
Alex: King Joffrey from Game of Thrones is the best villain in my personal scope of cinema history; I can’t think of a single actor or character who has drawn such visceral emotions from consumers as King Joffrey did during his reign over the Iron Throne. I think that some people might even want to kick the ass of the actor who plays him if they saw him out in public. That’s how much he made you want to hate him.
7. If you could be a professional athlete in a sport that isn't football basketball, baseball, hockey or soccer which sport would it be and why?
Anwar: Boxing, by far. It is one of the ultimate individual sports. You can become a legend. Good fighters earn more than the best UFC fighters all the time. Boxing allows you to be yourself, and the more of a personality a fighter has, the more followers he obtains. Plus, you get to legally punch somebody in the face and get paid for it.
Alex: If you could be a professional in any sport not including basketball, football, hockey, soccer and baseball, the obvious, clear and only truly sane answer is to play golf. In fact, this is the correct answer even free of the exclusions and qualifications. Golf would be my first answer, period. a) big money; very little wear on the body 2) excellent travel; visit/engage with some of the most beautiful, serene places in the world as function of career 3) longevity of career is exceptional; can make a living on various tours through the seniors. Golf is the pinnacle of professional sports to play from a life-experience perspective.
8. What is the greatest job on the planet and what would you do to obtain such a job?
Anwar: Judge Judy reportedly earns $47 million a year. She works 52 days a year, which means she earns $900,000 a day. We talk about athletes making $1 million or $3 million a year, but Judge Judy can wipe her butt with that money. I am not sure what it would take for me to take her place, but Judge Judy is winning.
Alex: I have an awesome job, getting to watch football all day and talk about it. Monitoring football message boards, writing about the Longhorns and fantasy, covering the combine and all the big pro days. I’m not saying this to brag, but it’s really the only way I can tell you how “dream-job”-like I find my own current situation. This guy Daniel Vaughan, who is “BBQ editor” for Texas Monthly, has a job 100X cooler than mine. I’m serious. Follow his Twitter for two weeks and you’ll see what I mean.
9. What NFL rule would you like to see adopted by College Football?
Anwar: After the bad officiating I have witnessed in the Big 12, I wish coaches could have a challenge flag. I know officials review plays in the booth, but coaches should have the opportunity to demand a review for their own peace of mind.
Alex: If college were to take one rule from the NFL, give me the lack of stoppages to reset the line of scrimmage after first-downs. You can make a ton of changes to the game that would help college football by switching to certain NFL rules (down by contact, etc.), but none would better aid in re-shaping the product back to a pop-culture-consumable, three-hour-max affair than eliminating these stoppages.
10. Superman or Batman?
Anwar: Batman is a normal guy in a suit who does not have any powers. You have to give a guy like that props. Superman can do anything, but his weakness is kryptonite? Give me Batman.
Alex: The topic is vague; it’s not like … ‘who would you rather have with you on a desert island, Superman or Batman?’ or ‘who would you rather be, Superman or Batman?’ In the absence of any other context, I’m selecting the superhero character who actually has superpowers. The correct answer to ‘Superman or Batman?” is Superman.
11. Do the Cowboys surpass last year's success in the coming season?
Anwar: The reason I am going to say no is because Dallas did not obtain any major injuries last season. It is hard to repeat that good luck two years in a row. Do not get me wrong. I really like the team. However, if you are asking me if can Dallas improve from 13-3 to 14-2 and be in the conference championship game and not endure any major injuries for a second consecutive year, I think you are asking a lot.
Alex: To think the Cowboys will not sustain the success experienced in 2016 for at least the immediate future is lunacy when you look at all the returning pieces and the contracts they’re attached to. As for regular-season record, I view that as noise as long as a playoff berth is gained. At some point, a young team such as Dallas will have a breakthrough in the playoffs and get hot at the right time. The unbiased among us will realize that fundamental changes in Dallas’ personnel approach, not only from a roster-build perspective but also an evaluative-based one, has reaped rewards.
