The picks

Cleveland at Chicago CHI, Cutler officially becomes a bum if they lose.
Seattle at Dallas  DAL, I have given up on my hometown team.
Houston at Buffalo BUFF, going out on a limb. I think Buffalo irons out the wrinkles this week.
St. Louis at Detroit DET, As bad as Detroit was last year, St. Louis is worse.
San Francisco at Indianapolis IND, Okay, I bow down, Peyton is the best QB of all time.
Miami at NY Jets NY, Okay, if Miami wins, I won't be disappointed.
NY Giants at Philadelphia PHI, Uh, because they are the home team? Can't think of any other reason they will win.
Denver at Baltimore DEN, I know, I know, I have said all along Denver sucks, and they do, but that "us against the world" mentality should hold up for another week.
Oakland at San Diego SDG, Oakland isn't too far behind St. Louis.
Carolina at Arizona ARI
Jacksonville at Tennessee TENN, Wow, can't believe I am picking them, but they are the best 0fer team still left.
Minnesota at Green Bay GNB, I want Minnesota, I will be rooting for Minnesota, but if they don't start putting the ball in AP's hands, they are going to lose a lot more than one game.
Atlanta at New Orleans NOR, If NOR is going to lose a game, this would be it, just because of the frantic hangover they must have from last week, but I'm not counting on it.

Ducks vs USC

I said it wouldn't be close, I said Oregon was better than USC. NEED I SAY MORE?
611? That is the yardage Oregon racked up on that stellar USC defense.

The NBA has started

From about 1990 on, we quickly realized that the thoroughbreds of the sports world were basketball players. Tonight the NBA started and I have to say that the scale has tipped from college basketball, something I perennially loved, to pro basketball. To me there is a perfection line that is being raised every year in that sport. Although great, Boston's teams of the sixties would be lucky to make it to the playoffs against some of today's poorer teams. One great example is in the rebounding department. In the sixties, getting 30 rebounds wasn't unheard of, today, it's not possible because there are barely that many misses. Where teams shot 40% from the field, today they shoot 40% from THREE point range. I am ready and I have my big hand with the number one finger pointing upward as I cheer on my teams. GO SEASON!

PRO FOOTBALL: Wow, New Orlean Saints are for real! I am so happy. I can root for the downtrodden and feel good about their chances. However, the Vikings, as I suspected were not able to beat a quality team in Pittsburg. Still, Brett played a hell of a game. Dismally, Oakland proved that a once great dynasty is no more, as did KC. Dallas, on the other hand, I may have written off too soon. They have only lost two games and both of them are pretty good teams.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The rankings came out and nothing real surprising. Everything will rest on the end of season league championships, at that point two of the top three may fall away and we will get an answer to our prayers, a BOISE championship game.

PRO BASEBALLL: Did I miss a snub or what? Shouldn't the very androgenous Alex Rodriguez have won the ALCS most valuable award? Let's see, hit over 400, had three dingers, all of them either tying the score or putting his team ahead, walking a run in, intentionally walked a couple of times. Wow, they must really hate that diva attitude of his.

OKAY! My Take.

The best team out west isn't BOISE, isn't USC, it's Oregon. Think what you will, and I will admit when Oregon beats USC next week, they will creep up to just behind Cincy and BOISE, and that will be acceptable. They did, after all, lose to BOISE. USC's vaunted defense, isn't that vaunted. Had OSU been able to figure out that defense in the first half, the score would have leaned in their favor at the end of the game. Likewise, take Alabama down. Two weeks in a row they have proved that the SEC isn't that good. That is clearly the most overrated, overhyped group of teams in the nation. If the victory by UCLA over Tenn doesn't make you wonder. Think about it, UCLA is horrible and Tenn should have beaten Alabama three times yesterday. One of those teams might get to play for the national championship, and they better hope it is against BOISE, because folks, they AIN'T beatin' the Pac 10, and they certainly won't beat the Big 12.
You know what makes pro sports so great? The constant. Because players are around for the lifespan of a kids youth, kids drive the love of the professional circus we call pro sports. I am reminded when I walk downtown and see kids with jerseys on. They aren't wearing their parents' favorite college team, but rather they are wearing, one of the statistical greats in pro football, baseball, or basketball. Amen to that. I can recall my days back up in the Pacific Northwest, on blustery fall afternoons, or snowy winter nights, passing the ball to one of my cousins, sure that I was going to be Fran Tarkenton, or running as though I was Franco Harris. I certainly always wanted to be Brooks Robinson in baseball and Wilt Chamberlain in basketball. As I watch sports today, I see the fun of college sports and their unpredictability, but I see that the kids want to watch people they know, and for that I find myself going back and revisiting pro sports, falling in love with the game all over again.
Talk to you tonight after the Yankmees/Angels series.

The two most important games in the quest for a playoff system

This week, a seemingly insignificant game will be played up in the pacific northwest, followed by a game next week in Los Angeles that may go far in determining a real shot at a playoff system in college football.
When Oregon plays UW this week, they will be playing the team that has given USC its lone loss. If they pass that test, of which I believe they will do so rather convincingly, they then will be tested by that very USC team that lost to UW.
Why are those two games important? Why are they so crucial to the very foundation that the BCS championship series computer rankings sit on? Because the progression of strength of schedule is determined by a series of who beat who. By virtue of BOISE'S win over Oregon, every team Oregon beats is a lesser team to BOISE, or so the computer computes. BOISE'S only real out of conference quality win was the Ducks, and for BOISE to say, "SEE!" they need Oregon to run the rest of the table. If Oregon gets past Washington and then past USC, the granddaddy team in the west will be BOISE.

Feeling vindicated

Today the SEC suspended the officials from the Arkansas/Florida game, you remember the bunch that allowed Florida back in the game with suspect defensive penalty calls against Arkansas. This was the same crew that helped LSU beat Georgia on a horrible unsportsmanlike call that just HAPPENED to help LSU win that game.
The SEC is not only overrated, they have used collusion to get where they are.

So here is the vaunted Computer rankings for the bowl series. So if either Florida or Alabama get slammed in their league championship showdown, does that mean they fall below BOISE or Cincy? What if both lose before then, which is very possible.
Florida
Alabama
Texas
Boise St.
Cincinnati
Iowa
USC
TCU
LSU
Miami (FL)
Oregon
Georgia Tech
Penn St.
Virginia Tech
Oklahoma St.
BYU
Houston
Utah
Ohio St.
Pittsburgh
Wisconsin
Arizona
West Virginia
South Carolina
Kansas

Two days of predictability

Yesterday the Dodgers gave up two ninth innings runs against the defending world champs to go down 1-3 in the series. What was most disturbing about the night was that their million dollar baby wasn't there to see it unfold. Manny Ramirez might feel vindicated that his team made it to the second round, whereas his old team did not, but the Dodgers will be bounced out of this series because of a lack of chemistry highlighted by, I THINK I WILL TAKE A SHOWER DURING THE NINTH INNING teammate Manny Ramirez. He is a cancer if ever there was one.
On the other hand, as predicted, the Angels are just no match for the Yankmees. I would have yellowed my underwear if I had to face that lineup. Throw in two wonderful pitchers in Burnett and Sabathia, and I just don't see the Angels coming back from 1-3.
Finally, I picked the SD Chargers to beat the Broncos. I lost the pick but I am holding steadfast to my statement, The Broncos aren't that good.

Jay Brown invites you to one of my sites!

This is one of my websites that I would love to have you look over.

The week that was

From the beat down in college football by GT over VT, to the crushing beatdown by NE on Tennessee, there were a multitude of surprises. Just days before I was shocked that BOISE couldn't play a better game against Tulsa, however, never fear, the four teams in front of them didn't fare much better. Florida, straight up, should have lost. Some shady refereeing led to one touchdown, and a missed field goal opened the door for the Gators. Likewise, Texas can thank another injury to Bradford, or they don't win that game. Finally, outside of the last five minutes of play, South Carolina hangs with Alabama. Of the top ten, only USC, of which the game was not nearly as close as the score, Cincinnati, and Miami were the only real winners of the elite group. Two teams, Ohio State and VT will drop out of the top ten, both giving black eyes to their respective leagues.
Somebody stop Brett Favre! Another late fourth quarter drive leads to a go ahead field goal and eventual win. However, all you need to know about week 6 in the NFL is TOM BRADY. In a snow storm, Tom had the greatest quarter ever for a QB. Had he had four of them, they would have put up 140 points, as it was they put up 59, and got a goose egg on D-FENSE. Of the 13 games played in the day games, I only won 7 of them, bad day for me.
Hey, great idea, if you are going to fire Jim Zorn, hire Dave Kreig because we all remember what happen on that mid-season (actually mid game) replacement. Jim never got his job back and Dave went on a wonderful career run.
I said it before and I will say it again, THE YANKMEES are going to win it all. Yesterday they proved why they are the best. After kicking the ball around in the top of the 11th like a kick the can game, they gave up a tie game and were one run down going into the bottom of said inning. Alex Rodriguez, yes the same much maligned post season bum, tied the game with his third homer of the playoffs. He has had at least one hit in all five games, (seven so far this post season), and has been clutch. They eventually won it in the 13th off some more errors in the playoffs. This won't be remembered as the great fielding year. If this series goes beyond five games, I will be surprised.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

With the help of officiating, as well as, help from the Arkansas kicker, Florida will survive, but oh so undeservedly. That is the best team in the country? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

Oh the irony!

As I related yesterday when I said Riggins should shut his piehole, I am reminded that the heat is on Jim Zorn, even though a consistently bad coach like Wade Phillips keeps getting jobs. Like his father before him, Bum Phillips whom I really liked, neither can coach.
Jim Zorn can't get a vote of confidence, but Wade Phillips can?
The Washington Post reported this morning that three prominent Redskins players -- all of whom went unnamed -- wanted owner Dan Snyder to proclaim that head coach Jim Zorn is safe for the year. It's not necessarily that they're dying for Zorn to remain coach; it's just that they're tired of the uncertainty.
They just want to know, one way or the other. They'd like for Dan Snyder, as they say, to drink or get away from the water fountain.
Well, the day has passed, and they haven't gotten their wish.
Oddly, though, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jerry Jones, who has his own coach under fire, issued Wade Phillips a season-long vote of confidence out of the clear blue sky. From Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas:
"Under no circumstances would I make a change," Jones said. "We've got a chance to get a lot of things done and we've got a lot of football left to play and we've got some good people that not only can play it, but coach it."
Phillips is in the final year of a three-year contract, though there is an option that hasn't been picked up. Jones said Phillips will finish out the season as coach.
"Yes, he would be and without equivocation," Jones said.
Jones was just answering a question he was asked, but the timing of it makes it seem like he was maybe needling Danny Snyder a little bit. "Oh, you won't give your head coach a vote of confidence? I'll give my coach a vote of confidence, because we are clearly the superior organization."
Whether or not that's a good thing for the Cowboys, we'll let you decide. If you choose to see this as Jerry Jones saying, "Hey, I'll hold on to my bad head coach longer than you can hold on to yours!" There may be no argument.
It's understandable where the three unnamed Redskins are coming from, though. It's not a case of them really wanting Jim Zorn -- at least, that's really hard to imagine -- they just want to know who's going to be their boss tomorrow. That's a reasonable thing for anyone to want.

Here's a novel concept...

Okay so the difference between Oklahoma playing Tulsa and BOISE playing Tulsa was nine more points were scored in the BOISE/Tulsa series. That's putting a spin on things. OU won 42 to ZIP, BOISE won 28-21. Okay, so style points were thrown out the window. Still, the real marketing issue isn't going to be the spread of BOISE'S wins, but rather just winning and hoping that the teams above them stumble, perhaps more than once. However, there is another sleeper in the picture, and after my earlier remarks about Cinderella, I might have to eat crow. Turns out, from a fan's observation, this Cincinnati team is much better than I first credited them with, and they have just as easy a path to an undefeated season as BOISE. This is a team averaging 468 yards of offense per game, granted in the Big East. However, this team will play a schedule of opponents that currently includes two one loss teams, likewise, two of the teams they have beat have one loss courtesy of the Bearcats. Here's to toasting both Cincy and BOISE, may they both win out!

Why does the National league playoff look so much weaker than the American league? Could it be that pitching is tight in the American league and runs are a premium? I just watched LA/Philly play and there were over 20 hits in the game and four home runs. It bordered on a softball game.

I was flipping through the channels on the TV and came across SPIKE TV and they had on their very popular ultimate fighting series. I watched to light heavyweights go at it and was struck how hard the to competitors attempted to bloody each other up before one contestant was caught in a arm submission move and the fight was over. It was very anti-climatic. Sort of like hearing Duran scream "No Mas!"

I saw Serena on Tavis Smiley last night. She says she lives with her sister. I wonder if they share a bed? I didn't say that outloud did I? Nevermind, forget what I was thinking!

This weekend two games stand out. First, I don't know if a #20 playing a #3 has had so much interest before as it does with OU/Texas. I am sure it has much to do with the fine QBs the two teams have, and the fact that had Bradford not been hurt, this might have been a 2 vs 3 match up. The other game is the pro game of the Saints vs the Giants. I find I am really looking forward to a pro game.

Hey Riggins, shut your piehole. What a douchbag. Whatever respect I had for the former Redskin running back went out the door when I heard him slam Zorn. It wasn't that he said something, it was the words he chose. "Face it, your out of your league." (By the way, his high school was in a town with the same name as mine!)

Cincy over Houston, Greenbay over Detroit, (surprise) Ravens over Minnesota, (My heart pick) NO over Giants, Pitt over Cleve, (Yawn) Carolina over TB, Washington over KC, Jacksonville over Rams (duh!), SEATTLE!!! over Arizona, Philly over Raiders, NE over Tenn, NY over Buff, Atlanta over Chicago (this should be a good game), (UPSET PICK) SD over Denver.

College - Fl over Ark, Alabama over SC, but boy would I like to see an upset, Texas over OU, VT over GT, USC over ND, Ohio St over Purdue, Miami over UCF, Iowa over Wisconsin (although this is going to be a better game than people think), TCU over Colorado St., Penn St. over Minn, Neb over TT (This will be a good game too), (if mizzu was playing at home I would reverse this pick) OSU over Mizzu, Kan over Col, The Mormons over SDS, Hou over Tulane, Utes over UNLV.

Rush 'wind bag' Limbaugh

BOSTON -- Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy the St Louis Rams ran into opposition within the NFL on Tuesday. Colts owner Jim Irsay vowed to vote against him and commissioner Roger Goodell said the conservative commentator's "divisive" comments would not be tolerated from any NFL insider.


"I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him," Irsay said at the owners meetings. "When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it's something that we don't need."

Limbaugh has long been a hero of conservatives and villain to the left, thriving on his place in the political spectrum while establishing himself as one of the most successful broadcasters in history. But the NFL tries to avoid controversy, as Limbaugh learned in 2003 when he was forced to resign from ESPN after saying of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

"Divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about," Goodell said. "I would not want to see those kind of comments from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL."

Limbaugh also said, according to transcripts posted on his Web site: "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it." That comment, and others, resurfaced this month when he revealed he is teaming with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts to bid on the Rams.

Goodell said the Rams updated the league on the progress of their potential sale, but bidders were not discussed.

"They're not certain they are even sellers," New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said, adding that he expected a decision by the end of the season. "We can't speculate on potential owners because they have not brought up any names to put before ownership. It's out there, but without confirmation from the Rams or the Rosenbloom family, frankly, we don't know who the potential buyers are."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft referred questions about Limbaugh to the commissioner. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said anyone who meets the "normal criteria" is a candidate to own a team.

"But our vetting process is very thorough," he said.

Prominent blacks are already lining up against Limbaugh, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith, who is also black, urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid, and several have already said they would not play for his team.

But Irsay is the first owner who has stated unequivocally he would reject Limbaugh if it comes up for a vote. Prospective owners must be approved by 24 of the league's 32 teams.

Irsay said at first that he would consult with people he respected, such as defensive lineman Dwight Freeney, coach Jim Caldwell and former coach Tony Dungy, all of whom are black. But later, the owner said he did not need to get anyone else's input before rejecting someone who made a habit of "demonizing individuals."

"I met Rush only once. He seemed like a nice guy to me and all those kind of things," Irsay said. "It's bigger than the NFL. As a nation, and as a world, we've got to watch our words and our thoughts. They can do damage."

Here's my take, if Rush had been civil as a human being, he would have a lot more fans than wingnuts on the right. His behavior is deplorable at best, and extremely uninformed, ignorant, and borders incendiary. I am surprised the NFL took a stand, but hip hip hooray for them.

Late Night Edition

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I am a brain surgeon picking the Yankmees to win tonight, but the handwriting was on the wall. They are a stacked team, that have both pitching and hitting, more than anyone else. You add Teixeira to a playoff ready Rodriguez and WOW, that is a dangerous team.  Of course the photo is of ANOTHER blunderous play in this playoff, a pick off of a runner at third.

Well, I suppose it is becoming appropriate to assume that the torch of greatness has been handed to Peyton Manning. More than his numbers, his management of the field is truly remarkable. It is hard to give him all this praise, since we really want our QBs to look tough, and well, he doesn't. However, his dissection of opponent defenses is really remarkable.

Well, it is 4-4 in the Colorado/Phillies game. Still seems strange seeing baseball played in winter conditions.

PRO FOOTBALL and other less attractive events.

So what gives with the Buffalo Bills. Wasn't the acquisition of Terrell Owens supposed to take a team on the cusp of playoff potential over the top? Well, it hasn't and the only real interesting future of the Bills is waiting for TO to explode. That will be 'Must See TV' indeed.
The Shehawks? Is Matt really that good? After he went down in the beginning of the season, they sucked. I assumed it was coaching, and or, a lousy team, but today they surprised the hell out of me by goose-egging Jacksonville, and putting up an ungodly amount of points. They have to have the best spread of points for/against of any sub 500 team.

I know, I know, you are out there snickering of my burial of the Broncos. Laugh it up, because they aren't that good. After today, I have come to believe that neither are the Patriots. They didn't look good on defense or offense but still took the game to OT. The only real interest in an otherwise boring game was the brown pre-orange uniforms the Broncos once had MANY MANY years ago. How many years ago? I don't remember those uniforms. 
I picked Atlanta to beat the 49ers, but I didn't pick it to be so easy. Boy, there is still hope in the WEST. Go Hawks.
Brett won again, albeit against the worst team in football, the St. Lous Rams. Anyone disagree?
Cincinnati beat the Ravens. I didn't see that one coming. However, if the Patriots game had been played earlier, I might have.
A funny thing happen on the way to the Cleveland/Buffalo football game, a baseball game broke out. Score - 6-3, Cleveland hit a three run homer in the Top of the ninth.

The PRESIDENT'S CUP goes to USA. 19.5-14.5
Only the third time in President Cup history has a player earned five points. Tiger Woods became that third player. Along with Phil Mickelson's 4.5, and Stricker's 4, the top three players in the US carried the event. However, impressive showings by Vijay Singh, Tim Clark, and the youngest player ever in the event Ryo Ishikawa, gives hope to the future of the non US, non European players.

Footnote: USA beat Honduras 3-2 to make it to the ... what did they make it to? Oh yeah, the World Cup.
Hockey. When I learn something about hockey, like how many guys are even on the ice, I will get back to you.
Women's Beach Volleyball. I don't know much about it, but seeing Amazonian women with great bodies in bikinis is AWESOME!

Nascar - Strike up the banjo music and squeal like a pig.

BASEBALL!
Well, the monkey is off of the Angels' back. They put away the nation (Sox) in a sweep and now await the imperial force (I have already given the Yankmees the win over the Twinkees. Maybe not tonight, but before they leave Minnesota.)
Tennis: Serena Williams appears nude on the ESPN magazine, well sort of nude. She doesn't have a lick of clothing on, but she is in a pose ala Farrah Fawcett which covers all the vital parts. I once stood next Serena at a tournament in Manhattan Beach, CA. Unless you have had that privilege, you would be surprised at her physical size. Nearly six feet and extremely ripped. Mugging her would be a strait set loss for the mugger.

Boxing: Now that MMA has become popular, of which I can name NO ONE, it has stripped boxing of any worthwhile entertainment. While I admit to knowing no one in MMA, I now know no one in boxing either. I can't say my love of boxing was ever great, and that my interest was probably wasted energy, but it strikes me as culturally sad that I don't know of any great boxers.
How many knew that the Phoenix uh uh uh MERCURY won the WNBA? Who did they beat? That would be the Indiana uh uh uh FEVER. Some wonderfully attractive lesbian girls out there, if I do say so myself. Wait, that's unfair of me to say that. Fact is, I only remember the ones that say they are lesbian, which is quite a few.
Anyway, the game went five games, which is their best of, because quite honestly, we don't need to see a best of seven in women basketball. Somehow it strikes a chord of B league entertainment.

That would be Diana Taurasi of U Conn fame.

and hero for the Phoenix uh uh uh MERCURY.

There ya go!

Unimpressive afternoon!

After watching the LSU/UF game, I couldn't believe I was watching two of the top five teams in the country. Were they both so good that they could do NOTHING? Of the two, LSU was thoroughly horrible, and yet I found myself surprised that after playing the supposedly best team in the country, they had fallen to tenth in the latest poll. Alabama is, at this stage, the best team in the country. After a game against VTU, where it appeared to be less than spectacular, they rolled off several big wins, (one against a less notable Mean Green 53-7 - I mention that to motivate a cousin of mine to comment!), however, after further review, that 34-24 victory over Virginia Tech might be more impressive than first thought. VTU is much better than I thought they were. Texas, I bite my tongue leaning over a fence because I don't know if they are any good. They have played NO ONE! Okay, TTU would argue that they are someone, having a 4-2 record, however, those four wins aren't wins I would place on my mantle as memorable games against memorable teams. Texas will get a test over the next three weeks. If they are undefeated after that, I will give them another look. Virginia Tech has four quality games of their six, winning all but one of them. They give credibility to Alabama. We all know where I stand on BOISE!!! WIN OUT, PLEASE!!! Nowhere in the universe is there more justice about to be handed down to a playoff system than if BOISE wins out and is offered the opportunity to play for the national championship. #6 is USC. Funny, USC isn't even the best team in the Pac 10, in my opinion. I believe that belongs to Oregon. They have thoroughly impressed me on both sides of the line. (Mind you, their lone loss is to BOISE!!!) They had quality wins against the Utes and Cal, before dispatching UCLA, which was supposed to be a team to beat. I will most definitely be watching Oregon/USC with much interest. If Ohio State is better than Iowa, I will be surprised, but since neither is that good, who cares. (And their third wheel in that league, Penn St. hasn't played a quality team, other than Iowa, and they LOST.) Ho hum, another crappy big 10, er 11 (try to figure out why a league called big 10 has 11 teams, and that their logo big 10 has an 11 hidden in it.)
Sad that USC rides its rating on beating Ohio St.
Cincinnati, CINCINNATI? Well, they did beat Oregon State, and beating a Pac 10 team always gets you a star. Remain undefeated and you get to ride that wave. Yet, there can be only one. Only one Cinderella that is, and that is BOISE!!!
Finally, Miami gets the nod at 10. A team I spent my life disliking, has crept back into the national picture, albeit with a win against an FSU team that was overrated when they beat them, followed by a BYU team that was overrated when they beat them. Personally, the ACC might be more overrated than the overrated SEC. Yeah, you heard it here, the SEC is overrated. LSU, isn't that good. Take out South Carolina and LSU from the rankings and what do you have? You have twelve teams with only two teams worthy of ranking, albeit, number one and number two at this point in the season!
The big 12, now that is a division. You throw Missouri and Texas Tech into the fold and you have SEVEN quality teams, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, and of course Texas.
My Pac 10 has more than the two ranked teams that are quality teams. Toss in Cal and OSU, wait and see. As for Washington, not so much. They are overachievers this year, as is Stanford. Arizona, should have been a contender, but after that ridiculous loss to UW, I think they are going to be UNDERachievers this year.
By the way, were there any good games this weekend? Arizona/Washington, Iowa/Michigan, two 'who cares' games. Just wonderful.

Watched the Yankmees win

This year's playoffs have been memorable for blunders more than anything else. We ALL remember last night what happen to Holliday when, with two outs in the ninth and no one on, he let the ball hit him in the nuts and eventually let said runner come in to score, tie and then lose the game. Well, tonight, rookie Carlos Gomez of the Twins decided to run so fast that his legs came out from under him rounding second base. There were two outs, he was on first, Delman Young was on Second, and Matt Tolbert was at the plate. Tolbert hits a single to right field, and Young motors around third and heads for home. An easy run, right? Well, not exactly, turns out Gomez rounds second, slips and falls. Jeter, seeing this signals for the ball and applies the tag BEFORE Young reaches home. NO RUN SCORED! The blunder wasn't in falling down, it was just sitting there. Had he had a lick of sense, he would have gotten up and ran to third, got  in a run down, letting the run score before he was put out. That one run would have prevented the 3-3 tie in the ninth and subsequent extra innings. Man, this might be a playoff to remember.

A funny thing happen on the way to the dugout

Two outs, no one on, 2-1 lead, and you let a line drive COMPLETELY miss your glove and hit you right in the nuts. Man, I hope Holliday was wearing a cup, and I hope he was wearing earplugs so he didn't hear the collective, "Oh Shits" from his teammates and the "You the Man" from the Dodger fans. Somewhere out there someone is writing a thesis about how there really is a baseball God, because there are only two scenarios that seem fitting to the end of this season. The reality is, there is an immovable object this year, however, there is no irresistable force, so the Yankmees are going to be almost impossible to stop. Only A-Rod slapping an ump for making a pass at him, (Because he doesn't do anything without a payment involved), or a 1919 incident where they throw the series, are going to keep the Yankmees from winning it all. The two scenarios that pose any interest at all is a Phillies/Yankmee series, since that is the defending champion giving it their all to stop that machine, and the other one is Joe Torre vs the Yankmees. Of course that one will hold interest until the first pitch by the Dodgers to the Yankmees and the subsequent 1-0 lead that won't be relinquished. Of course, a Red Sox/Yankmees will be fun to watch, if for nothing else than the brawl.
Today, Shaq said that of all the teams he has ever played with, this Cavalier team is the best. You think he is trying to get under Kobe's skin. Hell ya! If nothing else, Shaq is great for print. He may be long in the tooth and pretty much a part time player, but when he speaks, I listen.
Can someone get me a moist towlette, college football this year is starting to be a dud. Remember last year when one team a week took the top spot. This year, it is turning into a yawner. The only salvation will be Boise State. May the football Gods PLEASE let them win out. What better way to prove computers are whacked when it comes to predicting who's who in football.
Pro Football, usually deplorably too long, looks like it will keep us busy since college football makes us want to tune in to PBS. With the Vikings and Saints as the premier teams in the National Conference, oh and the Giants, what a treat we get. Now, if one falters we can jump on the wagon of the other team. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in the American Conference. The best teams are still NE in the East, Pittsburg in the North (I know they aren't in first, but they will be), Indianapolis in the south, and no one in the west (don't worry Denver fans, you will win that division and then lose in the first round.) The only hope is that Cincinnati gets a playoff berth and wins their first game, outside of that, we are asking way too much. You can use this same scenario for the SF 49ers. They should bow out quickly in the playoffs.

Maybe I was a little rash about Brett

I always held Brett in as high esteem as I thought he deserved, that of a guy that played long enough to set records, both good and bad. However, five days shy of his 40th birthday, he proved that he is far better than I gave him credit for. With the exception of an ill advised pass with less than two minutes left, of which I would bet he audiblized, his control of his offense was stellar. I tip my hat to Brett.

Tonight the Tigers lost to the Twinkees. Now the Twinkees are about to play a juggernaut in the Yankmees. I don't see this being a good series. I think the Red Sox/Angels will be the best series of the four of them, although if there is a surprise series I think it will be the Rockies/Phillies. I don't see the Dodgers posting up much of a fight against the Cardinals.

The Hawks are bad

As I expected, the Colts destroyed the Hawks. As the season is shaping up, I will tell you what I think. At 4-0 and with great defensive stats, the Broncos AREN'T that good. At 4-0. the Saints and Colts ARE. I think NE and the Ravens are great teams as well at 3-1. I don't know what to think of the Giants, I'm not a big fan of Eli, but I might be blinded by that. Give me a few more games. Same goes for the Vikings. I can't wait to see the game against the Packers. Is it me, or is Tomlinson done? It is very odd how runningbacks peak and then fall so quickly. This is just a quick sound bite. I need to take a look at the standings so I can blast the pretenders (cough) Bengals! Talk to you later.

The Fuskies!

I just finished watching the exciting game between the Huskies and Notre Dame. What made it really exciting was the HORRIBLE officiating. Instead of having the Irish lose because they would be down by 11 with three minutes left, they decided to alter the outcome. Taking a look at the replay of the touchdown, it was a touchdown. Pretty irrefutable, however, they refuted it. I will give the Irish credit though, for SIX STRAIGHT plays they held the Huskies at bay from the ONE INCH line.
So, that gave the Irish a five point deficit, to which they promptly went down and scored a touchdown, UP BY ONE. So of course they had to go for two. What happen next defies good officiating. They run a power fullback PUSH up the middle. The back is stopped at the THREE yard line but thanks to some resourceful teammates who PULLED defenders off while other teammates, TUGGED at the running back, they RUGBIED him in. NO CALL, TWO POINTS!
Washington went down and scored a field goal to tie and then lost in OT. It was some horrible officiating that made it a game to remember! God bless the network media that has a stake in the Irish winning. We don't want to have bad television and with that contract they have for the next thousand years to show every insufferable minute of Irish football, we can't have ND being a bad team.

I read Dan Wetzel's article on Boise St. this morning...

and although I can empathize with Dan on Boise St. possibly playing for a national championship, I not only welcome it, I am praying for it. What better for the collapse of the current system than to have Boise play in the national championship ahead of the likes of LSU, USC, OU, etc.
What I hope doesn't happen is Boise goes undefeated while the rest don't, and they DON'T get that chance. I can see a backlash coming by the very creators of this system, actually dropping Boise through some sense of perverted justice that undermines their own system in an attempt to KEEP that very system intact.
If you, like me want to see Boise push through for a national championship, root for Oregon.

On to baseball - While the American league leaders are tighting up the screws for the playoff run, the national league leaders are doing their best to back their way into position. I am sure the Cardinals would love the fact that the Dodgers are going to have the best record, and thus be their opponent if it weren't for the fact that they themselves are currently on a losing streak. I'm not a fan of one minor rule of the current playoff system and that is two teams from the same division can't play each other in the first round. So what if you have the best record and the team in your division is the wild card. Simply stated, the best record should play the worst record, period. Besides, rivalries are something that thrive in baseball and two years ago when the Red Sox and Yankees should have played each other as best and worst in the playoffs is a great example. It never happened because the Yankees couldn't make it past the first round. Those Yankee/Red Sox series are compelling.

Pro Football - Brett plays the entire Green Bay Packers all by himself this week, or so it seems. I haven't even heard about anyone else on the Vikings, even though I am sure that AP will have something to say about the outcome before it is all over. If AP comes to play, chances are Brett won't have to do much. Besides, can Rodgers hold up against the Viking defense? I haven't been impressed with him as a winner. Not that I think he isn't an above average QB, but a winner?  Side note - WILL SOMEONE FIRE MORA PLEASE. I really thought my Shehawks had a chance, but after that debacle of a game last week, I am thinking they have a chance to dig deeper than the St. Louis Rams for the worst record.