1. Which Texas defensive back will have a breakout season in 2017?
Alex: When I think about a breakout candidate, I think about Kris Boyd as he wasn’t even a true “starter” last season despite ending the season with more snaps than either Holton Hill or Davante Davis. Boyd has come into the spring period, alongside returning nickel starter PJ Locke, as being the vocal leader of the secondary, and I’m expecting a big year from Boyd with buy-in to Orlando’s system.
Anwar: When a head coach calls the parents of a player to thank them for creating such a great young man, that says a lot. When that head coach is Tom Herman, it speaks volumes. P.J. Locke seems to be a lock at that nickel position, which means plenty of playing time for him this season. Locke has impressed the coaching staff this offseason, and we saw flashes of his potential last year. I would not be surprised if Locke led the team in interceptions. Right now, he has my vote.
2. Who would win a tricycle race between y'all two?
Alex: I would win. Anwar has not exercised since the second Bush administration for one, and for two, he has much longer legs than me. He would have his knees knocking everywhere and not be able to navigate the trike as smoothly as I could with more stocky legs and a more dense body.
Anwar: I have exercised since the Bush administration. I walk to the mailbox to get that crappy flyer stuff, the H-E-B’s in Texas are huge, and I have an active 4-year-old. Alex is like Al Bundy living in his glory years. He is not as athletic as he once was, the hair is not luxurious, and I can easily perfect a compact pedal motion to dust the guy Drew Brees does not remember playing with.
3. What separated TX and USC in 2005?
Alex: Vince Young is the obvious answer, but VY was part of the Texas team, not something that separated the two teams. My answer is the four-to-five chain lengths that Lendale White fell short of gaining the first down with just over three minutes left to go in the game. Those few chain lengths are what separated Texas from USC by giving VY back the football.
Anwar: I know this is a team game, but the difference in that game was Vince Young outplayed Matt Leinart. Young finished with 467 total yards (267 passing, 200 rushing). He literally carried this team on his back when Texas trailed 38-26 late in that game. It was Young who rushed 17 yards for a touchdown and narrowed the deficit to 38-33 with around four minutes remaining. Sure, Pete Carroll made a huge mistake, but it was Young who made them pay. There is a reason why that touchdown run might be the greatest moment in national championship history. Young is one of the greatest quarterbacks in college history.
4. Is Kate Beckinsale hot?
Alex: 43 or not, this woman is one that anyone should consider hot (current age in photos)
Anwar: I’ve seen better on campus.
5. Nice guys finish last
Alex: Not true, dirt balls finish last more of the time than not. Being a nice person projects a beautiful state to the universe; being thankful and projecting gratitude and thankfulness into the universe, in turn, showers you with gifts and blessings. In the end, the nice guy finishes first as we grow older and realize what the point of our fleeting time on this earth really is/was.
Anwar: Hate to say it, but nice guys do finish last. When you were in high school, did anyone from the chess team date a cheerleader? Nice guys end in the friend zone because they are too scared to express their attraction to a woman. Nice guys lend people $1,000 and never see their money again. Nice guys do not mind having cats. The world needs nice guys. I am sure it is easy for them to sleep at night knowing they are doing the right thing. The only problem is they are probably sleeping alone.
6. Are wins or stats more important in choosing an MVP? In other words, Kawhi or Westbrook?
Alex: If Westbrook finishes the season (!!!) averaging a triple-double (!!!) (or really just stays on his current pace), he’s the MVP. It’s not his fault that you can’t attract suitable free agents and surrounding pieces to Oklahoma City. That’s where visiting NBA players get on tilt to even travel to because there isn’t even a suitable post-game dining option open late. I don’t have to explain to this crowd how badly Oklahoma sucks in general. Wins are always important to look at when choosing this stuff, but it needs to be looked at in context. If Westbrook can carry a god-awful team without him on his back to get enough wins to be pushing for an 8-seed in the west, that’s enough. Another player with far-less-impressive stats should not win over Westbrook just because his team has more wins. This is still technically a team sport.
Anwar: Westbrook is averaging 32 points and 10 assists per game on a team that could finish as low as the seventh seed. Cool, you can score a lot of points. That makes Westbrook a great scorer. It does not make him the MVP. If I had a vote, give me Kawhi Leonard. He is averaging 26 points, six rebounds on a team competing for the number one spot in the west. Leonard knows how to play in a system that makes everyone better, not a system that pads his own stats. Give me the best player on arguably the league’s best team for MVP this season.
7. Beyoncé in her prime or Halle Berry in her prime?
Alex: Easy, Halle Berry is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. When I met my wife and she asked me the Hollywood star who I thought was most beautiful, my first answer was Halle Berry. Has Anwar not seen Monster’s Ball?!
Anwar: Halle is attractive, but Beyonce is beautiful. The biggest difference between them comes down to preferences. I like a woman with curves who I can take to Whataburger and she orders and A.1. Thick and Hearty with onion rings and a strawberry shake. That’s Beyonce. Besides, has Alex ever watched Beyonce move her body on stage?
8. Rank top 3 playmakers on O for 17
Alex: Chris Warren, Collin Johnson and Jerrod Heard. I feel a little odd saying Jerrod Heard, but here are the reasons why I chose him over a few others: 1) he’s clearly in Herman’s “gold” group of champions. The Texas Football staff even uses images of him in social media posts, etc. I don’t think they’d do that for guys like Erick Fowler who might not have worked as hard during winter conditioning. 2) Heard is an elite and dynamic weapon with the ball in his hands and a special athlete that shouldn’t be forgotten about. 3) He’s lining up as the starter at the Z WR position to start camp opposite Johnson. If I am going to list the biggest potential offensive playmakers in the offense for next year, give me Warren (who we know Herman wants to feed), and the two guys projected (at least for now) to start at the WRs on the outside.
Anwar: Chris Warren, Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay. Obviously, Alex touched on Warren and Johnson, which basically means our only difference is Heard vs. Duvernay. Whenever I imagine an offensive coordinator making it a goal to get Duvernay the goal, I envision good things. The moment Herman notices Duvernay’s speed on the field, I think he will go crazy. Duvernay is too much of an asset not to have a breakout season with a new staff.
9. Stallone vs. Arnold.... Who do you have between the 90s badasses?
Alex: Remind of the time Stallone became the Governor of California. What is more bad ass than being Governor?
Anwar: He was a bad ass in how many Rocky films (I refuse to acknowledge Rocky V existed), followed by being more of a bad ass in those Rambo movies? Stallone is in the Boxing Hall of Fame because of his Rocky movies. Arnold needed sci-fi gimmicks in Terminator, and The Matrix made Keanu Reeves look like a tough guy. The Italian Stallion wins by knockout.
10. New Orleans or Vegas? Which would you rather visit for a week?
Alex: I’m like Anwar, a week in either place in too much but give me Vegas. Better nightlife and much more abundant and concentrated dining. Also less of a chance of getting shanked or winding up in a bathtub with all of your organs missing. The gambling is much better in Vegas, the vibe is more action-packed, there are better pools and things to hang out at during the day. You can also take trips to the Hoover Dam and stuff like that once you get bored of the Strip, see old downtown, visit where they film “Pawn Stars,” etc. Golf, spa treatments, you name it and you can find it in or around Vegas. The only reason I would choose NOLA in this scenario is if I was with a big group who liked to fish and then you’d clearly want to go there so you could take some trips offshore.
Anwar: A week is too long at either place. I think if you do more than a weekend at Las Vegas or New Orleans, you want to punch somebody. The good thing about New Orleans is you do not have to go out of your way to save money. You can stroll down to Cafe Du Monde and have a beignet while listening to jazz music. If you want upscale, there is dinner at the Commander’s Palace, but there are enough smaller restaurants to keep you occupied. There are great tours of the city - cemetery and haunted - you can hop on a riverboat, and there is a Harrah’s casino if you want to gamble. I cannot party for a week in Vegas. Give me a city where I can eventually sleep.
11. Who is this teams no holds barred badass? The one guy who you would want to have your back in a dark alley on the bad side of town.
Alex: If I’m in a dark alley and need help on the bad side of town, I’m going with the 330 pound Pacific Islander who does the haka dance.
Anwar: No matter what anybody says, DeShon Elliott was ready to fight against Baylor.
