Stiles Points - "So let it be written, so let it be done"

Oregon vs. LSU - Preview

2011-09-01T07:12:00.004-04:00

Oregon vs. LSU
Saturday, September 3 - 8:00 p.m.
at Arlington, Texas
Oregon favored by 3.5

This was supposed to be a doozy of a match-up, and still will be, however, with the suspension of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, some of the luster is not there...senior Jarrett Lee will take over at QB...wide receiver Russell Sheppard is also out with a suspension...for a team that is expected to contend for the national title, its older players sure don't show any dedication and commitment...

Things aren't all glittery in Eugene, Oregon either...the Oregon football program is under investigation concerning possible illegal recruiting...anyway you look at it, this is match-up of two troubled programs...no matter, it will be exciting to see the Ducks' running back, LaMichael James (photo) in action...James is one of the leading contenders for the Heisman...

Other players of note:
Oregon - Cliff Harris, cb/kr; David Paulson, te; Josh Boyd, s
LSU - Morris Claiborne, cb; Rueben Randle, wr; Alex Hurst, ot

Oregon Notes
Head Coach - Chip Kelly, 3rd year (22-4 career mark)

Oregon Game Notes

Aaron Fentress of the Daily Oregonian writes how Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas feels the LSU game is bigger than last year's national title game... "The fuzzy math in that equation begged for a follow-up question as to why he felt that way. Thomas explained: “Because it’s our next upcoming game. It’s like the championship. If we lose this game, it’s a done season.” ...

Daily Oregonian

LSU Notes
Head Coach - Les Miles, 7th year (90-38 career mark)

LSU Game Notes

Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes how Les Miles and the Tigers are anxious to play football after all the off-the-field issues.... "Miles, addressing the media in the season’s first game-week press luncheon, said he felt “pent up,” and hopes his players feel the same . . ." ...

Baton Rouge Advocate

Jared Crick to lead Nebraska to BCS title game

2011-08-30T16:57:00.001-04:00

Oklahoma and Alabama are the consensus teams to be in the BCS title game....but for some reason I am not buying into that...to me, this season is going to be wide open - there is not a clear dominant team...

Watch out for Florida State...I like the way Jimbo Fisher is turning that program around....God Bless Bobby Bowden, but the Seminoles greatness was slowly eroding way...one of the best games this year will take place on September 17th when Oklahoma travel to Florida State....the Sooners layed a whoopin on the Noles last season....if Florida State can get by this game, don't be surprised to see them run the table....

Below are my predictions which are a little different than most...but what the heck, what fun is it to not stick your neck out on some things...

Rose Bowl - Wisconsin vs. Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl - South Carolina vs. Texas A&M
Orange Bowl - South Florida vs. Florida State

BCS Title Game - Alabama vs. Nebraska - the Huskers shock the Big 10 by winning the first ever conference title game before heading to New Orleans to take on Alabama for the national title....I like how the Huskers schedule breaks this season....sure, they have to play at Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan, but they will manage to win those games because of defense....Jared Crick (photo) is the best defensive player in the country...the Huskers have been pounding on the door the last few years, this time they break through...

In New Orleans, the Huskers will take on Alabama...the Tide will make it there on the back of Trent Richardson and his freshman running mate Demetrius Hart...new quarterback A.J. McCarron will manage the game...the defense returns 10 players including All-Americans Dont'a Hightower (lb) and Mark Barron (s)....the Tide will Roll when it heads to The Big Easy...

Heisman Trophy winner - 1) Trent Richardson, rb, Alabama - I love this cat...he is a mean, mean, running machine...2) Andrew Luck, qb, Stanford - Luck will get reunited with Jim Harbaugh next season in the NFL...3) Kellen Moore, qb, Boise State - the BCS hates the Broncos, but the Heisman voters will send Moore to NYC...

Fantasy football wrap-up

2011-08-29T12:50:00.000-04:00

Sunday night was our 16th annual fantasy football draft...wow, it is unbelievable that I have been doing this for 16 years, and for the most part, all with the same guys every year...

Like Ricky Ricardo would say, "let me splain"...our league is an 8 team league in which you are allowed to start two quarterbacks...with that being said, I had the 4th overall pick and did not hesitate to take Aaron Rodgers...I had him last year and he was gold...

The first pick in the draft went to James Hunter and he snatched Adrian Peterson...Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles went next...after I took Rodgers, the following players were taken to close out the first round: LeSean McCoy, Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson...

Here is how the second round played out:
Rick Ellis - Michael Turner
Jamie Persino - Andre Johnson
Salt Edmonds - Calvin Johnson
Jason Lehman - Roddy White
Rick George - Drew Brees
John Valentine - Michael Vick
T-Dawg - Maurice Jones-Drew
James Hunter - Matt Forte

Second round thoughts
I passed on a running back again because quarterbacks get more points...and again, I had Drew Brees last season...I would rather go with a Brees or Tom Brady instead of a second or third tier back at this point...

However, this strategy forced my hand in taking Peyton Hillis in round three....at this point, 12 running backs were off the board...I wanted Larry Fitzgerald, but by the time it would come back to me in the 4th round, I would have a 4th tiered running back...

The one player I wanted who I didn't get was Calvin Johnson...expect at least 15 TDs from this monster this year...I also wanted Mark Ingram because I think the Saints are going to use him inside the 20 which give him double digit TDs...

Here is my team with the round selected:
QBs - Aaron Rodgers (1), Drew Brees (2)
RB - Peyton Hillis (3), Shon Greene (5), James Starks (7), Marshawn Lynch (9), Mike Tolbert (10), Delone Carter (15), Danny Woodhead (18), Kendall Hunter (21)
WR - DeSean Jackson (4), Chad Ochocinco (6), Mario Manningham (8), Braylon Edwards (13), Hines Ward (14), Jordan Shipley (19), Stevie Breaston (20)
K- Sebastian Janikowski (11), Rob Bironas (16)
Def - Lions (12)
ST - Browns (17)

The U will never regain its swagger

2011-08-28T10:12:00.000-04:00

The U is done...

Ever since losing to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl back in 2003, The U has been on a steady decline...former head coach Larry Coker did not have the chutzpah as the lead man...sure they won the BCS title in 2002, but it was with Butch Davis' players...every season thereafter, The U regressed...Coker's lack of leadership as a head coach also spilled over off the field as many of his players were "allegedly" getting paid and hanging out with hookers among other illegal activities...

Coker's replacement, former player, Randy Shannon, always seemed lost on the sideline...he looked overwhelmed as a head coach...

This past offseason, The U went out and hired former Temple head coach Al Golden to try and lead the Hurricanes back to his glory days...Golden was the right hire because he stressed the fundamentals that The U lacked: fewer penalties, solid tackling, and running the ball...

Over the last week or so, it looks like Golden will not have the opportunity to try and resurrect this program after all the "alleged" allegations...after the NCAA gets through with its investigation, Miami (Fla) football will never recover...it will be living off its history of the 1980s and late 1990s...it will never again be the force it once was...

As for Golden, as soon as Joe Paterno leaves (or dies) at Penn State, the job will be his...Golden is a graduate of Penn State and did extremely well as the head coach at Temple...in the end, this situation at The U will not be held against Golden...

Gambian pouched rat caught in New York City

2011-08-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

Whether you like New York City or not, you have to admit they grow some impressive rats - like this three footer... "Animal experts who viewed the picture identified the animal as a Gambian pouched rat, which is a fairly common pet rat. They're nocturnal, can grow to three feet and four pounds or more, and live seven or eight years." ...

New York Daily News

Trent Richardson: the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner

2011-08-26T13:32:00.001-04:00

For anyone who hasn't guessed, I am a Michigan fan, therefore would be ecstatic if Denard Robinson won the Heisman Trophy....but my money is going on Alabama running back Trent Richardson...

Richardson is a 5'11", 220 lb power back for the Crimson Tide...incredibly, Alabama's only Heisman Trophy winner came two years ago when Richardson's running mate, Mark Ingram brought home the coveted award...

Clearly, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the favorite going into the starting gate, but there are often unforeseen issues that come about during the course of a season....

Being a junior, this will probably be Richardson's last year at Alabama as he will more than likely be toting the football in the NFL next season...when doing some research, I discovered that he has two daughters, age three and five...so, he will be looking for the payday next season...

Richardson must shine when Alabama plays Penn State on September 10th being most of the nation will be watching this game...this will set the tempo and show that he is a true contender...

An in-state rivalry worth paying attention to

2010-10-04T11:44:00.002-04:00

First Down - Alabama has come off two big wins: at Arkansas and a solid thumping of Florida...but this week the Tide goes into a beehive as they play at South Carolina...the Tide better be on upset alert...

Second Down - the next three weeks Michigan hosts Michigan State, Iowa, then travel to Penn State...realistically, I am expecting a loss when they play Iowa...but if they even want a chance to win against both State teams, the pass defense has to get better...that was one of the most pathetic pass defense performances in Michigan history...I understand the secondary is young, but this was unacceptable...

Third Down - Joe Paterno is 83-years-old but he has a good young team with a bright future...the Nittany Lions will get better over the next few years...freshman quarterback Robert Bolden has the tools to become a quality quarterback...JoePa is taking his lumps this season, but Penn State will be back in the Big 10 title hunt in the next year or two...

Fourth Down - this week New Mexico plays at New Mexico State...this may be the battle to determine the worst team in college football...both football programs are gosh awful...in their weekly power rankings, Point Wise has New Mexico as a 16 and New Mexico State as a 15...by comparison, Ohio State is 66, Michigan is 52, and Akron is 21...so make sure ya'll check out the score...

Another Big 10 team can't win out west

2010-09-20T06:47:00.002-04:00

First Down - A few weeks back I wrote the following about the Iowa "the schedule breaks favorably for Iowa as they only have four away games...Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and in-state rival Iowa State all come to Iowa City this year...the only major hurdle comes on September 18th when Iowa plays at Arizona....Wildcats head coach and Iowa graduate Mike Stoops could cost his alma mater a shot at the national title"...this was just smelled of an upset...I still believe Iowa will run the table and win the Big Ten...

Second Down - Michigan's 42-37 win over U.Mass seems more like a loss than a win...Denard Robinson had another solid game as the Wolverines offense rolled after a sluggish start...but it's the defense that is a cause for concern...allowing 37 points to a I-AA team does not bode well...

Third Down - Don't count out Mark Ingram for the Heisman just yet...with a couple of impressive performances in the SEC, Ingram can jump right back into the race...and it starts this week when they play at Arkansas...

Fourth Down - Got my first look at Auburn QB Cam Newton...Newton is 6'6" with a solid built...he was good, but I was not that impressed with him...Newton still needs a lot of seasoning before he can live up to his potential...

Wesley Brown: 103 year old federal judge

2010-09-19T10:13:00.000-04:00

A.G. Sulzberger of The New York Times writes about a 103-year-old federal judge... "Judge Brown is so old, in fact, that in less than a year, should he survive, he will become the oldest practicing federal judge in the history of the United States." ...

A.G. Sulzberger

Terry Bradshaw jealous of Big Ben?

2010-09-19T09:37:00.000-04:00

Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes how he thinks Terry Bradshaw is jealous of Big Ben... "But Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowls as the Steelers' quarterback in the 1970s and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, won't let the Roethlisberger thing go. His act is getting old, to the point it makes you -- OK, me -- wonder what his motive is." ...

Ron Cook

Pele and Bobby Moore photo

2010-09-14T18:44:00.000-04:00

Bob Hughes of The New York Times writes about the historic soccer photo taken of Pele and Bobby Moore after their World Cup match in 1970... "But can you see joy and despair? Or do you see in their touch, their smiles, their eyes something that means so much more than who won and who lost the game?" ...

Bob Hughes

Mark Viera of The New York Times writes an interesting article of how the workers at the New Meadowlands Stadium converted it from the Giants to the Jets in 24 hours... "Four computers hummed in the Oz-like control room, displaying all manner of information about New Meadowlands Stadium, including the temperatures inside the suites and surveillance video of the loading dock. " ...

Mark Viera

Alabama's Greg McElroy for Heisman?

2010-09-13T10:34:00.001-04:00

First Down - why aren't any of the media wonks mentioning Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy for the Heisman...Terrelle Pryor is everyone's favorite, but what has he really done so far this year?...and if anyone is going by past performances, McElroy has never lost a college game...in fact, he has not lost a game as a starting quarterback since the 8th grade...

Second Down - There are two bee-hive games this week...#10 Iowa is going to #18 Arizona...Mike Stoops, a graduate of Iowa, could derail his alma mater's shot at the national title...it seems that whenever a Big 10 team goes to play at a PAC-10 school on a Saturday night they come back home with an L...

The other bee-hive game is Nebraska at Washington...Washington's Jake Locker is being projected by Mel Kiper as the first overall pick in the next NFL Draft...the Huskies lost by seven at BYU two weeks ago...this one is just smelling like an upset...Washington can play with the big boys - remember the USC game last year...

Third Down - are the Big 3 Florida schools a tad down this year?...Ohio State and Oklahoma exposed The U and Florida State as two frauds...even though the Gators are 2-0, there is still an obvious hangover from the Tim Tebow era...Gator Nation goes to Knoxville this week to play Tennessee...just a few years back this used to be a classic battle, but the Vols program has been in flux with all the coaching changes...Florida will get tested when they head to Bama in early October...

Fourth Down - here is a name to remember - Marcus Lattimore...Lattimore is a freshman running back for South Carolina and he has the Ole Ball Coach switching from the Fun N Gun to the plain ole run...the 6'0", 220 lb Lattimore is muscular bowling ball who batters defenses...his numbers against Georgia were 37 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns...this might be the kid who gets Spurrier to his first ever SEC title game as head coach of the Gamecocks..

The U vs. Ohio State Preview

2010-09-10T04:52:00.000-04:00

Miami (Fla) at Ohio State
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Ohio Stadium - 3:30 p.m.
Ohio State - 7.5

The last time these two teams met on the field, The U was in domination mode and Ohio State was the upstart team without much of a chance at the Buckeyes were 14 point underdog in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl...

Move ahead seven years later the roles are reversed...Jim Tressel has turned the Buckeyes into a perennial powerhouse while The U had to rebuilt...the 2003 Fiesta Bowl began the downturn for Hurricane football which eventually cost head coach Larry Coker his job...

Some forget that Tressel was almost the head coach at The U in the mid-1990s but instead turned down the job to remain at Youngstown State University...The U eventually settled on Butch Davis who started a brief Hurricane Dynasty II before bolting for the Cleveland Browns...

Almost seven years after the 2003 game, most of the major stars of that game ended up with a bleak future:
Sean Taylor - drafted in the first round by the Redskins...was shot to death in his Miami home by an intruder..
Craig Krenzel - the genetics major never made it in the medical field...he currently is a spokesperson for John Deere power equipment and serves as an Ohio State broadcaster...
Maurice Clarett - that would be the last game he would ever play for Ohio State...Clarett later served 3 plus years in prison and is now playing for the UFL...
Ken Dorsey - bounced around the NFL as a journeyman quarterback...in 2010 he signed with the Toronto Argonauts to serve as a back-up to former Miami Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon...
Willis McGahee - sufferred horrific leg injury in the title game...he was still drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills and sat out his rookie year...he is currently still playing in the NFL but never had the impact that he did in college...
Kellen Winslow - was a top 10 draft pick by the Cleveland Browns, but a freak leg injury in his rookie season sidelined him for the year...he then tore up his knee in a motorcycle accident...he never lived up to his potential...
Mike Nugent - was the Buckeyes field goal kicker with nerves of steel...was a second round pick of the N.Y. Jets...never was a clutch kicker in the NFL...now with the Bengals...

2003 Fiesta Bowl game story

What the "experts" are sayin!!!

College Football News

Pointwise - Ohio State 31 The U 16
The Gold Sheet - Ohio State 27 The U 24

Hurricanes Summary

Miami Game Notes

Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald writes how the 2003 loss still hurts former players... "As the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes (1-0) and No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) prepare to meet in Columbus on Saturday for the first time since the controversial national championship game in the Jan. 3, 2003 Fiesta Bowl, the Hurricanes from that team -- and their families -- eagerly await." ...

Susan Miller Degnan

Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald writes how running back Graig Cooper worked hard to recovery from a knee injury... "The 6-foot, 205-pound senior, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Champs Sports Bowl eight months ago, made his debut as promised Thursday night against Florida A&M." ...

Manny Navarro

Navarro writes how The U wants to put a pass rush on OSU led by Olivier Vernon... "But it never hurts for a pass rusher to have a little style, too. Vernon just chooses to hide his under his helmet with a haircut that could best be described as a mohawk surrounded by zig-zagging patterns." ... Miller Degnan writes how The U's Jacory Harris has his focus on Ohio State... "Harris, in his cool, mellow way, insisted Wednesday that the only matchup Saturday in Ohio worth watching will be the one between No. 2 Ohio State (1-0) and No. 12 Miami (1-0) -- not the quarterbacks wearing No. 2 (Pryor) and No. 12 (Harris)." ...

Susan Miller Degnan

Buckeyes Summary

Ohio State Game Notes

Ken Gordon of the Columbus Dispatch writes how this week's game is a "home" game for some Buckeyes... "Brian Rolle hadn't been with the Buckeyes for long when he looked at Ohio State's upcoming schedules. His heart jumped. In his senior season, the linebacker from Immokalee, Fla., saw, he would get to face his hometown team." ...

Ken Gordon

Jack Park of the Columbus Dispatch writes how former coach John Cooper had an impact on the 2003 title game... "Ohio State's 31-24 victory over Miami in double-overtime in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the 2002 national title is a solid choice for the Buckeyes' greatest victory. John Cooper, who was in his second year of retirement in 2002, had three distinct connections with the game:" ...

Jack Park

Doug Lesmerises writes about the paths of Maurice Clarett and Sean Taylor... "The play lasted six, maybe seven seconds. Fifteen strides took Miami safety Sean Taylor from the end zone, where he had intercepted a Craig Krenzel pass, to the 29-yard line, where he suddenly found Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett ripping the football from his right arm." ...

Doug Lesmerises

Gordon writes how the Ohio State defense wants to put Jacory Harris on his back... "Larimore said they hope to deliver Tatum's message in person to the Hurricanes, and in particular to quarterback Jacory Harris." ...

Ken Gordon

NFC Preview

2010-09-09T07:40:00.001-04:00

NFC East
Eagles - Kevin Kolb will surprise many and the Iggles defense has improved...
Cowboys* - years ago, Jerry Jones would have whacked Wade by now, but J2 is showing patience...this may be the last year of that patience though...
Giants* - the defense was gosh awful last year...they need a fast start or this team may go south fast...whatever happened to Brandon Jacobs too?...
Redskins - Washington will show some spunk over the course of the year...

NFC South
Saints - the Champs will not be as dominant...their defense did give up a lot of points in their 2 home playoff wins...
Falcons - the Dirty Birds went in a funk when Ryan got hurt last season...look for Michael Turner to have a rebound year in the backfield...
Panthers - Matt Moore will hold off Jimmy Clausen as the starting QB...the key to this team is the health of DeAngelo Williams...a healthy DeAngelo to go with Jonathan Stewart make this a playoff team...
Buccaneers - Raheem Morris gets canned after the season...will make a push for Bill Cowher...

NFC North
Packers - Aaron Rodgers will win the league MVP...the defense needs to tighten up a bit more...they are vulnerable at corner...will Charles Woodson start to show his age?...
Vikings - Sorry Brett, but you will start to show your age this year...
Bears - Chicago will make a push to pass the Vikings...
Lions - this will be the Kings of the Jungle's last year in the cellar...

NFC West
49ers - this is everyone's sexy pick in the NFC...the door is wide open for the gold to be rushing in...
Seahawks - the seabirds pass the Cardinals just because of who is Arizona's QB...
Cardinals - Derek Anderson???...nuff said...
Rams - Wonder is Spags wishes he stayed as defensive coordinator of the Giants...

NFC Championship
Packers over Cowboys

SUPER BOWL
Packers over Patriots

AFC Preview

2010-09-07T05:36:00.001-04:00

AFC East
1. Patriots - Bill Belichick still has some magic in that old silk hat...Brady and Moss will connect for 17 TDs...
2. Dolphins* - I like the pick up of Karlos Dansby for the defense...Henne is ready to show this is his team...
3. Jets - the Jets are everyone's S-E-X-Y pick...Jets will have a winning mark but will stub their toe against some lesser opponents which will cost them in the end...
4. Bills - Buffalo needs to get a true quarterback if they are going to compete in this division...

AFC North
1. Steelers - the defense will get them through an ugly season...the big concern is the lack of depth behind Mendenhall...just when people think the Steelers are over-the-hill, they always rise to the occassion
2. Ravens - much like the Steelers, just when people think their better days are behind them, Ray Lewis and company seem to get better...
3. Bengals - I love rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham...he will get all the fruits from the double teams on TO and Chad...
4. Browns - Cleveland will make strides this year, but they are still a ways away...

AFC South
1. Colts - until someone in this division can stand up and punch this team in the mouth, I have to go with Peyton Manning...note to Jim Caldwell, if you make it to 13-0 this year, be a man and go for the perfect season...

2. Titans* - this is a mentally tough team because of their head coach...

3. Texans - Houston is on the brink of making the playoffs...Arian Foster is the name people will know by the end of the year...
4. Jaguars - Jack Del Rio will be the first coach canned...

AFC West

1. Chargers - I love the drafting of Ryan Matthews...now they have fresh young legs to go with Philip Rivers arm...

2. Raiders - don't laugh!!!...the Raiders will make noise this year - and in a positive way...Rolando McClain (photo) will be AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year...

3. Broncos - this is not a bad team, but this is not a good team...

4. Chiefs - Charlie Weiss and Romeo Crennel will not make a difference...

* Denotes wild card team

Thoughts on the AFC
First Down - last season the Dolphins took a step back after making the playoffs in 2008...however, Chad Henne is solidly in charge at quarterback...also, head coach Tony Sparano dropped some major weight...

Second Down - how much gas is left in the tank for Ray Lewis?...whether you love him or hate him, the guy is a freak of nature...somehow he keeps on performing at a high level...

Third Down - Matt Cassell is the new Scott Mitchell...back in the mid-1990s, Mitchell replaced Dan Marino after Marino suffered an Achilles injury...Mitchell performed very well then received a big contract from the Detroit Lions where he then tanked it...

Fourth Down - AFC Championship Game - Patriots over Chargers...this is New England's last hurrah...

It's decision time for Tate Forcier

2010-09-06T07:31:00.001-04:00

The Michigan Wolverines played a good game on Saturday in their 30-10 win over Connecticut...the star of the game was quarterback Denard Robinson who dazzled the crowd of 113,091 with his speed and good decision-making...

One of the biggest moments in the game came when Robinson got injured and was being attended to by the medical staff...all eyes moved to the Michigan sideline to see true freshman Devin Gardner warming up instead of last season's starter Tate Forcier...

As a true freshman, Forcier started all 12 games last season...he began like a buzzsaw but his production and development regressed as the season wore on with his last game, against Ohio State, being his worst game of the year...it was reported that during the off-season, Robinson and Gardner outworked Forcier which led to some teammates calling out their former leader...as time went by, Robinson was looked upon as the new leader of the team...

Forcier, who sat dejected on the sideline during Michigan's big win on Saturday must make a decision - should he stay in Ann Arbor and fight to get his job back or transfer now...

The one disadvantage to being a quarterback is that only 1 person can play that position on the field...therefore, Forcier must do what is best for himself...as a Michigan fan I still like Forcier...he played hard last season even though he made many freshman mistakes...

People have to remember that he is a 20-year-old kid who is still learning how to deal with tough situations...last season's early success could have went to his head and been a factor in his dismal finish...maybe he thought he was entitled to be the starter again this year?...I'm not sure what is going through his mind...

Whatever decision Forcier makes, the Michigan fans should support him unless he decides to pull a Justin Boren and transfer to hated rival Ohio State or even Michigan State...as long as he doesn't transfer to one of those two schools, I thank Forcier for selecting Michigan as his first school of choice and wish him nothing but the best in his future...

BCS Predictions

2010-09-02T05:16:00.001-04:00

Here are the predictions of who will play in the BCS games this year...my predictions are a little different than what most "experts" have called for...anyone can predict Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Texas for the national title...I decided to stick my neck on the line...in other words, like Bill Rafftery would say, "ONIONS!!"...

First off, Alabama will not make a BCS...they have only 2 players returning on defense...there is no way a team will win the title, let along make a BCS game with that young of a defense...I know I stated Alabama would go 12-1, but I want to change that to 10-2...

Florida is another team that will not win the BCS title...you don't replace Tim Tebow and players like Joe Haden and Brandon Spikes...same goes with Texas...they lose Jordan Shipley, Colt McCoy and Sergio Kindle...and Ohio State is banking on a quarterback who has played one fabulous game so far...Oregon will not flow with Jeremiah Masoli gone...

Well here is my call:
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs. Pitt - the Sooners and Panthers win their conferences

Rose Bowl - Stanford vs. Ohio State - Stanford takes the PAC-10 and Ohio State gets an at-large bid

Sugar Bowl - Auburn vs. Nebraska - Auburn shocks everyone and takes the SEC title...Nebraska gets the at-large bid

Orange Bowl - The U vs. Florida - The U wins the ACC and Florida gets an at-large bid

BCS Title Game - Boise State vs. Iowa - this is a game that BCS officials dread...they do not want either team close to this game, but at the end of the season, these two will be the only undefeated teams standing...when it is all done, Boise State shocks the world!!!...

Tennessee: Rocky Top reeling

2010-09-01T05:35:00.002-04:00

First Down - The Volunteers are the Michigan of the South...a once dominant program who stuck with their former coach one or two years too long...like Lloyd Carr, Phil Fulmer should have retired a year earlier than he did...Lane Kiffin would have turned this program around if he stayed, but his bolt to USC has left Rocky Top in disarray...Derek Dooley has the bloodlines (his pappy is Vince Dooley) but it will take him at least two years to bring the recruiting to where it once was...

Second Down - Bryce Brown was the USA Today high school player of the year just two years ago...but Brown did nothing in his first year at Tennessee and he is leaving to go play at Kansas State next year...I am just a bit puzzled why Dooley will not let him out of his scholarship...seems like Dooley is being a bit of a hardass with the kid...

Third Down - The Vols schedule is Murderer's Row...they get Oregon at home followed by Florida a week later...then in October, they start a four game stretch where they play at LSU, at Georgia, home to Alabama, and at South Carolina...

Fourth Down - to make matters worse, the Vols two top receivers got hurt in summer practice...

Hail Mary - Remember the days when Jamal Lewis, Peerless Price, and others dotted the Tennessee roster...

Prediction - 6-6...after getting shafted by Kiffin, the Vols players will play hard and win just enough games to make a bowl appearance, something that will not be happening in Los Angeles...

Notre Dame: Another rebuilding year

2010-08-31T07:28:00.001-04:00

First Down - The Irish start over again...look for Notre Dame to have an above average season under Brian Kelly, which is good...don't forget, the Irish had great starts during the first season under Ty Willingham and Charlie Weiss...but that was all puff pastry and did not last...Kelly will not have as good of a first season record as the other two coaches, but he will build a better foundation that will last...

Second Down - wide out Michael Floyd and tight end Kyle Rudolph are legitimate weapons...Armando Allen is a solid running back, but the Irish need sophomore running back Cierre Wood to live up to all his high school hype...

Third Down - Notre Dame's defense lacks speed...this was their downfall last season...it will take time to recruit players who can run down opponents...

Fourth Down - Unlike Rich Rodriguez when he took over at Michigan, the Irish quarterback cupboard is not bare...Dayne Crist is a very capable quarterback who can operate the team...

Hail Mary - Can Brian Kelly sing Danny Boy?...

Prediction - 7-5...the Irish will lose a game they shouldn't have and win a game they shouldn't have...Kelly builds his foundation this year...

Pitt: The sleeper team for the BCS?

2010-08-30T04:18:00.000-04:00

First Down - Dave Wannstedt has his offense loaded except at one position -- quarterback...Bill Stull has moved on so the reigns go to sophomore Tino Sunseri...Sunseri threw only 17 passes last year...also in the picture could be Pat Bostick or even freshman Mark Myers from Cleveland St. Ignatius...

Second Down - Whomever is the quarterback, they have a stud wide receiver to throw to in Jonathan Baldwin...the 6'5" junior wideout is flat out the best receiver in the nation...he is a playmaker who causes match-up problems for cornerbacks...

Third Down - the sleeper for this year's Heisman Trophy is running back Dion Lewis...sure, the knock on him is that he is only 5'8", but this kid is something special...and with defenses having to also focus on Baldwin, there should be plenty of holes for Lewis...Lewis is also aided by left tackle Jason Pinkston who has NFL potential...

Fourth Down - The defense has a sure fire first round pick in d-end Greg Romeus...the leader on the defense is safety Dom DeCicco...the Panthers allowed 20 points per game last year...

Hail Mary - Will Pitt ever go back to those classic uniforms and helmets from the Tony Dorsett era?...

Prediction - 10-2...Pitt has 2 tough non-conference games when they open at Utah, which could be a problem and at home against The U...the conference title will come down to the game on November 11th at Connecticut...Pitt has the talent but they seem to always stub their toe against a lesser opponent...in the end, they take the Big East...

Iowa: the Hawkeyes rise to the top

2010-08-26T05:20:00.001-04:00

First Down - Iowa was so close to a perfect season last year...but those hopes ended when quarterback Ricky Stanzi broke his leg in the 10th game of the season...with Stanzi healthy, the Hawkeyes can run the table...

Second Down - one of the most under-rated big time receivers is Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (photo, right) who hails from Campbell, Ohio...DJK and partner Marvin McNutt can stretch defenses...

Third Down - Iowa has two possible first team All-Americans on defense: safety Tyler Sash and defensive end Adrian Clayborn...Clayborn is a sure fire NFL first rounder next season...

Fourth Down - the schedule breaks favorably for Iowa as they only have four away games...Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and in-state rival Iowa State all come to Iowa City this year...the only major hurdle comes on September 18th when Iowa plays at Arizona....Wildcats head coach and Iowa graduate Mike Stoops could cost his alma mater a shot at the national title...

Hail Mary - How many offers from the NFL will Kirk Ferentz get after this season?...

Prediction - 12-0 - the Hawkeyes make it to Glendale to play for the title...if Butler can make it to the title game in basketball, why not Iowa in football?...

Alabama: Another solid year

2010-08-25T05:24:00.001-04:00

First Down - Let's get right to the point, Alabama will not win the BCS title this year...the Tide will be dang good, but there is no way they can replace three stud defensive players who have moved onto the NFL: Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain, and Javier Arenas...these three players were leaders on the field who made plays when the team needed it most...remember Cody's blocked field goal against Tennessee...the Tide does get Dont'a Hightower back at linebacker after suffering a season ending injury last year...

Second Down - Mark Ingram is a battering ram...he will have an All-American season, but will not win the Heisman...Heisman voters are critical of current winners who can possibly win the award twice...

Third Down - Bama get Florida at home on October 2nd...but the next week they have to travel to South Carolina...be very careful my friend -- this smells of a trap game...

Fourth Down - All the focus will be on Ingram, but the player who may shine brightly this year is sophomore running back Trent Richardson who would be an All-American on any other team...

Hail Mary - It's nice to see Penn State and Alabama playing again...where is former Bama linebacker Barry Krauss who made that memorable goal line stop against Penn State in the 1979 Sugar Bowl to preserve the Tide's 14-7 win and national title...

Prediction - 12-1...South Carolina picks off the Tide...

Ohio State: Will the real Terrelle Pryor please stand up

2010-08-24T05:27:00.000-04:00

First Down - Terrelle Pryor had a super game in Ohio State's victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl...was his Rose Bowl performance the type of play Ohio State fans will see for 13 straight games or will the Pryor from the USC and Purdue games slip in its ugly head?...

Second Down - the combination of Saine and Herron allow Ohio State to keep a fresh back in the game and pound away at defenses...this is the key to Tresselball...

Third Down - Interesting fact - former Wisky coach Barry Alvarez is the only Big Ten coach to beat Tressel in back-to-back years...it is highly doubtful that Purdue's Danny Hope will be joining Alvarez in that feat...

Fourth Down - the key to this season is keeping Pryor healthy...if Pryor gets hurt, Ohio State does not have a proven back-up who can step in...

Hail Mary - Did you ever wonder what color of underwear Tressel wears on game day?...

Prediction - 10-2...Buckeyes have another double digit win season...

Michigan - Rich Rod has to produce

2010-08-23T06:33:00.002-04:00

First Down - Rich Rodriguez's future in Ann Arbor is very simple - he has to go either 8-4 or 7-5 and beat Ohio State...time has run out for excuses and stating that he has to get "his type" of players to operate the spread offense...

Second Down - pundits may think Michigan has no chance at beating Ohio State...however, last year's score was 21-10 and Tate Forcier's five turnovers doomed Michigan...a porous defense all season long tightened up and held Terrelle Pryor to 67 yards passing...also, Ohio State is ripe to get picked off soon in the series...an underdog Michigan team has never spoiled an Ohio State season while Jim Tressel has been the coach in Columbus...complacency and arrogance may bite the Buckeyes soon in this series...

Third Down - if Michigan is going to have any success this season, the defense has to improve...often times last season, the Michigan offense would score a touchdown only to have the defense allow the opponent to match the score in a matter of minutes...the secondary is very young and that is Rodriguez's fault for recruiting marginal players academically who have since been dismissed from the team (Witty, Turner, Dorsey, Cissoko)...

Fourth Down - Michigan opens the season and their newly renovated stadium on September 4th against Connecticut...is it possible that one year from now U.Conn's Randy Edsall may be back in Ann Arbor, but this time as the new head coach of Michigan?...

Hail Mary - I always wondered, with the last name of Rodriguez, does Rich Rod speak fluent Spanish?...

Prediction - 7-5 - Michigan will win seven games, but one will be against I-AA U.Mass....so in actuality, it is only six I-A wins...can someone get me Randy Edsall's phone number?...

A new Labor Day tradition?

2010-08-21T18:19:00.002-04:00

Michigan vs. Ohio State in September???...accordining to Detroit Free Press columnist, that would make sense...

Drew Sharp

A new start

2010-08-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

It's been a few months, but Stiles Points is ready to start running again...we got some new tires and did some work under the hood...

Ideally, I would like to post everyday, but realistically that cannot happen because of my job...and, I don't plan on quitting my job anytime soon...so I would like to post at least 2-3 times a week and if time permits, maybe more...

With football season ready to open and the baseball playoff races heating up, this is the best time to put some gas in this machine and start rolling again...

Sit back and enjoy..

Second round steals

2010-04-22T23:18:00.000-04:00

With the first round of the NFL Draft over, here are some steals in the second round...these players were worthy of being first round selections:
- Taylor Mays, safety, USC (photo)
- Golden Tate, wide receiver, Notre Dame
- Briance Price, defensive tackle, UCLA
- Jimmy Clausen, quarterback, Notre Dame
- Greg Hardy, defensive end, Ole Miss
- Sergio Kindle, outside linebacker, Texas

I Wanna Be A Cowboy

2010-04-16T06:08:00.002-04:00

Who can ever forget one of the best songs from the 1980s - I Wanna Be A Cowboy - by Boy's Don't Cry...there are so many great lines in the song, but the best one is at the end when he says, "My name is Ted, and one day, I'll be dead"...

Here are the words, then kick back and enjoy the video:
Riding on the range,
I've got my hat - on,
I've got my boots - dusty.

I've got my saddle
On my horse.
He's called....T-t-t-t-t-trigger
Of course.

I wanna be a cowboy
and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy
and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy

Riding on the chuck wagon,
Following my man.
His name is Ted,
Can you believe that?
Camping on the prairie
Plays havoc with my hair.
Makes me feel quite dirty,
Though we all do sometimes

I wanna be a cowboy
and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy
and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy

Looking like a hero,
Six-gun at my side,
Chewing my tobacco.
Out on the horizon,
I see a puff of smoke.
Indians on the warpath,
White man speak-em
with forked tongue.
Or not.

I wanna be a cowboy
and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy

My name is Ted,
And one day I'll be dead yo yo.

George Selvie - the forgotten man

2010-04-15T05:14:00.001-04:00

George Selvie
Defensive End - South Florida
6'5", 252 lbs, 4.93 - 40
Two years ago, Selvie would have been a sure fire first round pick...he was coming off a national leading 31.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks...an ankle injury his junior led to a decline in stats...but in 2009, despite being healthy, Selvie's stats dropped to 9.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks...he is considered a tweener at LB or DE but will probably be a third-down rush DE...I have seen Selvie play over the last 3 years and believe he will be a late round steal...he is projected to go after round 5...NFLDraftScout has him rated the 17th best DE...

NFLDraftScout: "Can be a one-trick pony with the outside rush, so tackles easily push him around the pocket. Long arms and closing speed makes it difficult for ballcarriers to escape his grasp. Works had throughout the game no matter how often he's double-teamed."

The Sporting News: "Selvie is one of the fasted defensive ends but most of his production came early in his career. He is best suited to play as an undersized end in a 4-3 scheme."

Lonyae Miller - the other Fresno back

2010-04-14T05:13:00.001-04:00

Lonyae Miller
Running Back - Fresno State
6'0", 221 lbs, 4.43 - 40

While at Fresno, Miller was behind the nation's leading rusher Ryan Matthews...had only 354 yards last season...would have been a starter on many other teams...has the size and speed...rated 17th best running back by USA Today...NFLDraftScout has Miller listed as 11th best back...

NFLDraftScout: "Some upside here as he has a rate combincation of size and straight-line speed and has a great deal of tread left on his tires. Quality teammate who handled the demotion behind Ryan Matthews well. Patient runner who will allow the hole to open."

The Sporting News" Projected as 5th rounder..."While it is doubtful he'll ever start at the next level, he showed the talent to do so at the Senior Bowl."

Joique Bell: Division II's best

2010-04-13T05:15:00.001-04:00

Joique Bell
Running Back, Wayne State (Mich)
5'11", 220 lbs, 4.68 - 40
First name is pronouced "joyk"...Bell was the Division II Harlon Holl Award Trophy winner last season which is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy...he rushed for 2,094 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2009...he finished his career with 6,728 yards and 89 TDs...the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs have shown an interest...Bell is rated the 12th top running back by NFLDraftScout...

NFLDraftScout: "Lacks breakaway speed or second gear once in the open, but smaller defenders have a tough time tracking him down. Strong runner in trash who keeps legs churning until he's on the ground."

Bleacher Report: "Running back Joique Bell of Wayne State, a Division II school in Detroit, took a chance on a smaller school over bigger local schools like Michigan and Michigan State because they saw him as a safety, and Bell wanted to be a running back. In retrospect, Bell made the right positional choice -- factor in his return totals, and he's top ten in NCAA total yardage no matter the school.

Of course, that's the question: How do we look at Bell's NFL potential when all we have are his numbers against giants like Ferris State, Mercyhurst, Saginaw Valley and Findlay? No offense against those fine schools, or Wayne State itself, but it's generally tough to get a sense how a kid will do against the Baltimore Ravens if he's been facing players whose college careers will be the end of their football days.

That's where the Senior Bowl comes in. After he gained over 2,000 yards in each of his last two seasons, Bell got an invitation to Mobile, Ala., and immediately impressed the pro coaches, scouts and personnel people in attendance. After the third day of Senior Bowl practice, Ravens running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery told the Detroit Free Press that Bell had been, "as offensive skill guys [go], the most impressive guy."

"You see if a guy can make a guy miss when he's in the hole," Montgomery continued. "What I saw ... four times when he had the ball, he was able to front up a guy right in the hole and shake him and get out of there."

Montario Hardesty - a solid back in the NFL Draft

2010-04-12T05:15:00.002-04:00

The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away...over that span, Stiles Points will be looking at some of the "sleepers" to keep an eye on...these players will more than likely be drafted late or are overshadowed by others at their position...but it doesn't mean they will not make an NFL team...

Montario Hardesty
Tennessee, Running Back
6'0", 225 lbs, 4.49 - 40
NFLDraftScout has Hardesty rated the 6th best running back...I saw Hardesty play 3-4 times last year and really like how he operated in an NFL style offense under then head coach Lane Kiffin...

Hardesty has a history of injury problems, but when healthy he is a horse - a type of back that I love...he rushed for 1,345 yards last season...

NFLDraftScout has this about Hardesty: "Characterized as the consumate teammate. Twice voted team captain. Breaking tackles is one of his best attributes. Lacks elite staight-line speed, but can beat the linebacker to the edge and turn the corner.. Good receiver used on a variety of routes."

The Examiner: "Prior to the combine Hardesty was projected as a 3rd or 4th round draft pick. With this demonstration of athletic ability and proof that he is focused and willing to work and improve, he may very well have vaulted himself into the 2nd round of the NFL draft."

Favorite Quotes

2010-04-08T05:28:00.001-04:00

I am starting a new topic called "Favorite Quotes"...every so often I will discuss some of my favorite quotes and its meaning...today, there are two quotes that I always liked...

Quote 1
"Every dog has its day."
When I was a kid, I was watching Scarface and Tony Montana said this quote. But after doing a little research, I found out that it was first spoken in the Shakespeare play "Hamlet" (Act 5, Scene 1)

HAMLET:
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day."

In "Scarface,", Tony says, "Every dog has his day, huh, Mel? We fucked up. He got away"...

Basically, the most common interpretation is that any person's moment of glory is inevitable...

Quote 2
"I'm Tony Montana! You fuck wit me, you fuckin' wit da best!"
This is another "Scarface" quote...I love this quote because at this point in the movie, Tony's back is against the wall, but his confidence shines as he believes that he is going to take down all these federal agents...and these agents don't realize who they are actually dealing with...Tony Montana is not some run-of-the-mill thug...

Jimmy Chitwood: The Milan Miracle

2010-04-06T03:18:00.003-04:00

With Butler's run during the tournament and the Final Four being held in Indianapolis, there has been a lot of talk about the movie "Hoosiers"...Jerry Crowe of The Los Angeles Times writes a feature about the star player in that movie - Jimmy Chitwood . . . "Maris Valainis, 47 and now living in Southland, is still recognized from his portrayal of the player who made the winning jumper in the 1986 film, one of the most beloved sports movies of all time. The Indiana native's acting career was short-lived, but his cinematic basket is immortal." Jimmy Chitwood

The Summertime Blues

2010-04-05T05:41:00.003-04:00

Summer is fast approaching and we will soon be having days of sun, humidity, and things that annoy me...

We have had a few nice sunny days so far this year and already people are annoying me...the first telltale sign that the temperature is going up is when you have to hear someone else's car music...the earth rattling bass of some young punk who has their music blasting and car windows down...I don't want to hear your freakin music!!!!...

Another annoying part of warm weather is the dust!!!...when will the street cleaner come around and clean my street...I can't even open my windows because all the dirt and dust just flows through the air anytime a car goes past...

My final annoyance has not happened yet this year, but it is just a matter of time...guys who wear no shirts and guys who wear no shirts but long jeans...

As Ricky Ricardo would say, "let me splain,"....I don't want to see some dude with his bare chest...I could understand if some young muscular fella does not wear a shirt, but I hate when these old leather skinned or flabby disgusting men walk around with no shirt like they are some stud...PUT ON A FREAKIN SHIRT!!!!...

The topper is when you see men who do not wear a shirt because of the heat but they wear jeans...haven't you ever heard of something called "shorts"...if you are that hot, put on a pair of shorts and light t-shirt instead of walking with a stiff pair of jeans...

Yep, it is that time of the year...the time of dust, music, and leather skinned men...as I sit on my back porch and complain about it, there is one good thing that I can look forward to -- hot women in short shorts...the misery!!!!...

Khalid El-Amin: the dough boy who paid off

2010-04-01T05:34:00.000-04:00

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun won his first national title with a beefy, cocky sophomore point guard from Minnesota named Khalid El-Amin...El-Amin scored the last four points for the Huskies 77-74 upset of highly touted Duke in 1999...

During his career in the Big East, El-Amin was an easy target for opposing crowds to taunt him with the chant "fatboy" or "doughboy"...that did not detract him as he finished with career numbers of 15.3 PPG and 4.4 APG...

El-Amin was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls and played only 50 games in the NBA over two seasons...he found more success in the European Leagues...in 2006, he was named the MVP for the regular season and playoffs as he led Azovmash Mariupol of the Ukraine Superleague to the league championship...

For more about El-Amin, check out his website - Khalid El-Amin Website

Landon Turner: what could have been

2010-03-31T04:35:00.002-04:00

In the last game that he ever played, former Indiana star junior forward Landon Turner helped the Hoosiers beat North Carolina to win the national title...that happened in April 1981...four months later, Turner was paralyzed from the chest down after being involved in a one-car accident...

Turner was highly recruited out of Indianapolis and chose to play at Indiana because of head coach Bob Knight...during his freshman year, the Hoosiers won the NIT...two years later they took the national title...

But the championship year was a rocky road for Turner who often found himself in Knight's "doghouse"...late in the season, everything finally clicked for Turner as he began hustling and understanding what Knight demanded from the team...once inserted back into the starting lineup, the Hoosiers never lost another game that season...

Turner was named MVP in the semi-final win over LSU, in which he was the leading scorer and second in rebounds...he was named to the All-Tournament Team

Since his accident, Turner completed his degree at Indiana...Turner is now a motivational speaker...he does not let his confinement to a wheelchair deter him from anything...

In a 2006 article on ESPN.com, Turner is featured during hunting season in which he annually gets a gobbler...Landon Turner - The hunter

Monte Towe: Small but mighty

2010-03-30T05:52:00.001-04:00

In 1974, the N.C. State Wolfpack put a brief, yet small dent in the UCLA dynasty led by head coach John Wooden...the Wolfpack upset the defending champion Bruins 80-77 in the national semi-finals...two days later N.C. State won the National Title by beating Marquette 76-64...

N.C. State had superstar David Thompson, but the engine of the team was a 5'7" point guard from Converse, Indiana named Monte Towe...during his time at N.C. State (1972-74), Towe was named to the 1974 All-Tournament team and was also an All-ACC selection...

The Wolfpack posted a 79-7 overall record during Towe's three-year career, including a 57-1 stretch from 1972-73 (27-0) and 1973-74 (30-1)...the Wolfpack won two ACC titles (1973 and 1974), and Towe did not lose a conference game until his senior season...

Because dunking was illegal in that era, Towe and Thompson are credited with "inventing" the alley-oop...Towe would throw the ball to Thompson while he was in the air and Thompson would gently drop the ball in the basket...

Towe was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the third round of the 1975 ABA draft and by the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth round of the 1975 NBA Draft...he joined Thompson in Denver...

After his playing career, Towe got into coaching as he served as Norm Sloan's assistant at N.C. State (1979-80) and then at Florida (1981-89)...Towe later served as general manager and coach in the Global Basketball Association...

In 2000, Towe landed his first legitimate head basketball coaching job at the University of New Orleans....he compiled a 70-78 record over five seasons before leaving to become associate head coach at North Carolina State under current head coach Sidney Lowe (photo, above)...

All-Stiles Points Team

2010-03-29T05:34:00.002-04:00

In 1982, CBS Sports took over broadcasting the NCAA Tournament from NBC...over the last 28 years there have been some remarkable players who have been part of college basketball...below is my All-Stiles Points college basketball team since 1982...

If I was comprising a team, these are the players who I would want...to make it fair, I have excluded Michael Jordan because everyone would select him...this team is built to win games and not be a squad of former Players of the Year...it doesn't matter what these players did in the NBA, if they even made an NBA team...I want a team that has an emphasis on scoring from the three point line, but decent enough to have an inside presence in case the jumpers were not falling...the one prerequisite is that they had to play at least two years of college basketball...

Starting Five
Small forward - Lenny Bias, Maryland - Bias (photo above) was a Jordan-like player who could score from anywhere on the floor...

Power forward - Christian Laettner, Duke - he may have been the most hated college player during his playing days, but Laettner was like money in the bank...he was the best clutch player that I have seen in college basketball...

Center - Patrick Ewing, Georgetown - the face of the Big East Conference...Ewing was a defensive stopper who led the Hoyas to the championship game three times, winning once...Georgetown has never been back to the finals since Ewing left...

Point guard - Bobby Hurley, Duke - best pure point guard I have ever seen in college basketball - period!!!...a floor general and a leader...

Shooting guard - Chris Mullin, St. John's - (photo, right) the best pure shooter in the Big East Conference during its heydays of the 1980s...he led St. John's to the Final Four in 1985...

Bench
Shooting forward - Glen Rice, Michigan - I need a forward who is a deadly pure outside shooter and Rice fits that mold...his role would be to shoot, shoot, and shoot from the outside...

Power forward - Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina - Psycho would be my Kurt Rambis-like player who would do all the dirty work yet still be a scoring threat...

Center/Forward - Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma - Tisdale (photo, right) died last year of cancer...he was not a spectacular player in the NBA...but he was a great college player who could pull down rebounds and play either the 4 or 5 spot...

Point guard - Steve Alford, Indiana - if Hurley was to get injured, I would need another floor general...no one better than Mr. Alford...plus he may have been the best free throw shooter of his era...

Shooting guard - Stephen Curry, Davidson - his performance in the NCAA tournament two years was the most amazing I have seen in years...

Specialist

Three point specialist - Gerry McNamara, Syracuse - don't laugh at this selection...just ask Kansas how explosive G-Money can be from the three point arc...and who can forget his clutch shooting in Syracuse's memorable run to the Big East title in 2006...I could have went with J.J Redick, but G-Money is more my type of player because he has heart...

Defensive stopper - Gene Smith, Georgetown - another selection that will have people scratching their head...Smith was a guard for the Hoyas title teams during the Ewing-era...he was the best defensive guard ever...he would set up opponents and get them to commit a charge...he made it look so easy...I don't need any more scorers with this team...so that is why I went with defense...

Mateen Cleaves: his name is "magical" at MSU

2010-03-24T19:31:00.002-04:00

When asking who is the second greatest player to ever wear a Michigan State basketball uniform (with Magic Johnson being the greatest) most often you will get the name Mateen Cleaves...

Cleaves, a native of Flint, Michigan, led the Spartans to the 2000 national title over Florida - their second in school history - and was named the tournment's Most Outstanding Player...Cleaves will be remembered for spraining his ankle early in the second half and limping to the lockers...with Florida closing in to take the lead, Cleaves returned four minutes later to help Michigan State go on a 16-6 run to put the game away...

Cleaves was the Spartans only three-time All-American and was named Big Ten Player of the Year twice...he is the Big Ten's all-time leader in career assists with 816...in his final home game on senior night, Cleaves dished out 20 assists, breaking the Big Ten single-game and career assist marks...

But Cleaves' success never translated at the NBA level...he was drafted 14th overall by the hometown Detroit Pistons...he lasted just six years in the NBA - mainly as a bench warmer...he then played for the U.S. D-League and for teams in Europe before finally calling it career after the 2009 season...

On March 14, 2010, Cleaves joined Fox Sports Detroit as a Detroit Pistons studio analyst...he is also involved in the music industry as an owner of the record label All Varsity Entertainment, featuring Jon Connor...it was reported in today's newpaper (March 24th) that Cleaves was recently arrested for drunk driving...

Ron Mercer: a flash and he was gone

2010-03-24T07:34:00.002-04:00

When the Kentucky Wildcats hired Rick Pitino, his main objective was to bring Kentucky its first national title since 1978...in 1995, Pitino made good for the Big Blue faithful...one of the key players on that national title team was all-everything freshman Ron Mercer...

Pitino recruited Mercer from the state of Tennessee where he was a Parade and McDonald's All-American...during his freshman year, Mercer averaged 8 points per game but showed his talent during the Final Four as he was named to the All-Final Four team...

Mercer's stock rose during his sophomore season as he averaged 18.1 ppg...

Mercer left Kentucky after his sophomore year and was the 6th overall pick by the Boston Celtics...his growth on the court did not continue in the NBA as he played for seven different teams during his nine year career...his time in NBA ended after the New Jersey Nets cut him in August 2005...Mercer earned about $35 million during his time in the bigs...

Eric Montross: the Carolina giant

2010-03-23T05:33:00.001-04:00

When coming out of high school in Indianapolis, Eric Montross the prize in a recruiting battle between Michigan and North Carolina...he was a big prize as he was selected as a McDonald's All American in 1990 and USA Today All-USA first Team...

Montross had a solid career at North Carolina as he helped the Tar Heels beat Michigan for the 1993 national title...he was named an All-American as a junior and senior...Montross was drafted with the 9th overall pick by the Boston Celtics...he played for six different NBA teams...during his career, he averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds...

Montross is now an announcer for North Carolina basketball...interestingly, Montross was the alleged "bag man" who paid off John Edwards' mistress during the early stages of that extra marital affair...

Corliss Williamson: a Razorback star

2010-03-22T05:47:00.003-04:00

Corliss Williamson was the head hog for coach Nolan Richardson's 40 Minutes of Hell teams at Arkansas...

Williamson helped the Razorbacks get their only national title in 1994 as they beat Duke with newly elected and native Arkansasian President Bill Clinton in attendance...

Arkansas finished the year at 31-3 and Williamson was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament...Williamson almost led Arkansas to back-to-back titles but fell one game short by losing to UCLA in the 1995 title game...

In three seasons at Arkansas, Williamson was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 1993, and was 1st Team All-SEC from 1993 to 1995...he was also named the SEC Player of the Year for the 93-94 and 94-95 seasons

He spent 12 years in the NBA for four different teams...his career highlight came while he played for Detroit...in 2001-02 he was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year...in 2003-04 he helped the Pistons win the NBA Championship...

Williamson announced his retirement in September 2007 to become an assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College...on March 11, 2010, Williamson was announced the men's head basketball coach at the University of Central Arkansas...he is married and has three sons...

Dereck Whittenberg: N.C. State survives

2010-03-18T05:54:00.000-04:00

Many may say that Villanova's win over Georgetown in 1985 was the biggest upset in NCAA Championship game history...hogwash!!!...Villanova and Georgetown are both from the Big East and the Wildcats knew how to play the Hoyas as they already lost to them twice earlier in the season...

The greatest upset came in 1983 when the late Jim Valvano's N.C. State Wolfpack upset the dunking force of Houston...people often forget that N.C. State needed to win the ACC tournament to even secure a bid to The Big Dance...

The greatest upset is best remembered for Lorenzo Charles dunking home the winning points as the game clock expired...Charles' points would never have mattered if N.C. State guard Dereck Whittenberg was not off mark with his clock expiring heave...

Whittenberg, was the star of that Wolfpack team...he missed most of the conference games with a broken ankle which put the Pack on the outside of the bubble come ACC Tournament time...

He was drafted in the third round by Phoenix Suns (51st overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft...by 1985 he was back at N.C. State serving as an assistant coach...he also served as an assistant at George Mason, West Virginia, Colorado, Long Beach State, and Georgia Tech...

Finally in 1999 he got his first head coaching chance when the Wagner Seahawks hired him...after four seasons and a record of 66-50, Whittenberg moved on to coach the Fordham Rams...he coached six full season and five games into this season before being fired...he put up a 69-112 mark while at Fordham...

Tyus Edney: the miracle worker

2010-03-17T05:29:00.000-04:00

The dream season looked over...the UCLA Bruins were favored to win the tournament...and at the very least, they were a lock to at least make the Final Four...

But it was only the second round and they were 4.8 seconds away from being eliminated by 8th seeded Missouri...the Bruins chance at their first title since the days of John Wooden looked hopeless -- until Tyus Edney took the ball...

Edney took the inbounds pass and shot up the left sideline...as he crossed midcourt, with the Missouri players closing in on him, Edney went with a behind-the-back dribble...with another player closing in to block the shot, the 5'10" Edney adjusted and banked the shot in at the buzzer...UCLA won 75-74...

UCLA went on to win its 11th NCAA basketball championship, defeating the defending champion Arkansas Razorbacks 89-78...

Edney was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round with the of the 1995 NBA Draft...he played for the Kings, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers during his six year NBA career...

After his NBA was over, Edney played for several European teams including Benetton Treviso and Olympiacos fo the Greek League...

Miles Simon: Simon Says Championship

2010-03-16T04:49:00.002-04:00

Miles Simon and Mike Bibby comprised a backcourt that led the Arizona Wildcats to the national title in 1997 over a stacked Kentucky team...this brought head coach Lute Olsen his long overdue national title...

Simon walked away with the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament...he returned for his senior season and was named First Team All-Amerocan...the fame of that tournament did not translate into an NBA career as he played briefly for the Orland Magic and made almost $700,000 during his stay in the league...

Simon managed to carve a niche for himself in the CBA as he became the league's most decorated player in 2002...he led the Dakota Wizards to the title and earned Player of the Week four times, CBA Newcomer of the Year, the CBA MVP, and the Play-off MVP...he also holds the CBA record for most free throws made in a row at 60...

His time in the CBA lasted just three years...with his playing career over, Simon was named an assistant coach at his alma mater...Simon served as an assistant until 2008...

Simon is now a television analyst for Fox Sports Net...as a sidenote, Simon's brother-in-law is Darryl Strawberry...

Bobby Hurley: the toughest true point guard

2010-03-15T05:28:00.002-04:00

I'm 41-years-old and the best pure point guard that I have ever seen in college basketball was Duke's Bobby Hurley...Hurley was not flashy, but he was so consistent and determined...he is still the NCAA all-time leader in assists with 1,076...

Hurley was the engineer of Duke's back-to-back national titles in 1991 and 1992...in his four years at Duke, he led the Blue Devils to three NCAA Championship Games...Hurley was the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament in 1992 when Duke beat Michigan in the title game...his Duke jersey number 11 was retired in 1993...in 2002, Hurley was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team as one of the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history...

His NBA career was cut short after a near fatal car accident in 1993 during his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings...

Currently, Hurley is involved in the thoroughbred horse racing business...his stable, called Devil Eleven (named after his uniform number) had a horse, Songandaprayer, who won the 2001 Fountain of Youth Stakes...

In 2009, Hurley was interviewed by the Raleigh News Observer...he had this to say about his thoroughbred business, "It’s exciting. It gave me a way, when the basketball career ended, to still stay in sports competitively. With the races, I get into it when my horses are running, wherever they are. ... You get sort of those same feelings in the pit of your stomach for the races that you do for basketball. The down side is you have very little control over what’s going to happen in a race. It’s up to the jockey and the horse." ...

The worst team ever: 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers

2010-03-14T14:39:00.000-04:00

The New Jersey Nets may set the record as the worst NBA team, record-wise, in the history of the league...the record they may break belongs to the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers who posted a 9-73 mark...Fred Carter (photo) was named the team MVP...

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News has this interesting story about that 76ers team...1972-73 Philadelpia 76ers

Glen Rice: the leader of Michigan's miracle run

2010-03-11T05:38:00.001-05:00

Just before the 1989 NCAA Tournament was to start, Michigan Athletic Director Bo Schembechler fired head basketball coach Bill Frieder after Schembechler found out that Frieder already accepted the job to coach Arizona State the following season...Schembechler wanted a "Michigan Man" to coach a Michigan team, so assistant coach Steve Fisher stepped in...and amazingly, the Wolverines won 6 straight games to win the national title...

The Wolverines top player was Glen Rice...during the six game run, Rice scored 184 points, a record that still stands, which earned him the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament...

Rice finished his college career as Michigan's all-time leading scorer with 2,442 points...at the time, he also became the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer...

Rice played for 6 NBA teams but is best remembered for his days with the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Los Angeles Lakers...

Rice's son currently plays for Georgia Tech and wears number 41, the same number as his father...

In January 2008, Rice was arrested in Miami on suspicion of felony battery for allegedly assaulting a man that he found hiding in his estranged wife's closet...the charges were later dropped...

Michael Graham: Georgetown's enforcer

2010-03-10T06:03:00.003-05:00

There may never have been a player with so much talent who performed so big in such a short amount of time than former Georgetown Hoya Michael Graham...Graham set the tone for the Hoyas to capture the 1984 national title with his animalistic offense and elbow flying rebounds...he was the epitome of Hoya Paranoia...

The Georgetown Basketball History Project website best describes Graham's play during the late season in 1984:

Graham's college statistics were not the stuff of legend: in his first 11 Big East games, Graham averaged 2.9 points and just over one rebound per game. Graham scored 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench in the season finale against Syracuse, but scored only one basket in the next two games, both of which were in the early rounds of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The conference final, on March 9, 1984, began the Michael Graham legend.

He only played seven minutes in the game, failing to score a field goal. But down the stretch, with Patrick Ewing in foul trouble and Syracuse seeking to put the favored Hoyas away, Thompson saw how Graham had handled himself in the season finale with the Orangemen and placed him down low to protect Ewing from a fifth foul. Graham stepped it up defensively, bottling up Andre Hawkins and, in one memorable exchange, with the two tangled under the basket, Graham took a wild swing at him. Immediately ejected by one official, the referees conferred and issued a personal foul instead--other than the Manley finale, few plays still arouse such anger from Orange fans. Graham stayed in the game (ironically, it was his only foul of the game), but the Hoyas caught a second wind, got the game into overtime, and pulled away in a classic, 82-71.

The national spotlight fell squarely upon Graham, whose shaved head became a symbol of Georgetown's take-no-prisoners persona. By month's end, his 22 points and 11 rebounds in the NCAA Final Four won him All-Tournament honors. His 7 for 9 shooting against Houston helped the Hoyas while Patrick Ewing was in foul trouble, and Graham's late dunk sealed the game with just over two minutes remaining. The following week, it was Michael Graham, not Patrick Ewing or John Thompson, on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

With Patrick Ewing coming back for his senior season, the future looked endless for Graham to build on his post-season success...but the sudden fame went to his bald head as he missed taking final exam...eventually coach John Thompson got tired of Graham's act and threw him off the team for the 1985 season...Graham eventually transferred to the University of District of Columbia but never played a game there...he entered the NBA draft and was selected by Seattle in the 4th round...but Graham never played a minute in the NBA...he bounced around in European and South American leagues and eventually just faded away...

In 2005, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl found Graham...Graham had fond memories of that national championship season with Georgetown and still considered himself a Hoya - for life...but he wondered how many titles Georgetown could have won if he stayed on the team...would Villanova had beaten the Hoyas in that epic 1985 title game if Graham was on the team...

No one will ever know...but what is known, Graham played a major role in Georgetown securing its only national title during a four week run that started in the Big East tournament...

Jerry Tarkanian: the NCAA's least favorite coach

2010-03-09T02:11:00.002-05:00

Throughout the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, it was a common site during tournament time to see a balding coach with hush puppy dog eyes in a short sleeved shirt and loosened necktie chewing on a towel...it was the one and only Jerry Tarkanian of UNLV...

During his career, Tark took four teams to the Final Four and 13 teams to the Sweet 16 but his name was always surrounded by controversy and NCAA investigations...for some he was "what was wrong with college basketball"...for others, like me, I cheered for Tark...one of Tark's biggest supporters is former coach Bob Knight...

In 1990, Tark finally broke through with a most deserving national title...after 22 years as a head coach, Tarkanian was finally a national champ as his Rebels thrashed Duke 103-73 in the finals...the Rebels finished the season 35-5...

Even though they were sure fired NBA lottery picks, All-Americans Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon both returned for their senior season in a attempt to win back-to-back titles...with an impending NCAA probation facing the Rebels in 1991, in an uprecidented move, the NCAA agreed to a compromise which allowed UNLV to defend its title, but would see the Rebels banned from the 1992 tourney...

Johnson and Augmon's decision almost paid off as the Rebels went 34-0 before Duke got revenge on them from the previous year's shalacking...led by Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner, Duke burst Tark's bubble of a perfrect season by winning 79-77 in the semi-finals...that would be the last time Tark would be on center stage in The Big Dance...Tark would coach the Rebels to a 26-2 mark in 1992 but was forced to resign amid all the NCAA problems...

Years later, Tark sued the NCAA, claiming it had harassed him for over two decades...he stated the harassment started after he wrote a newspaper column alleging that the NCAA was more willing to punish less-prominent schools than big-name schools...the NCAA never admitted guilt but settled out of court by paying Tark $2.5 million...

Tarkanian is married to Las Vegas city councilwoman Lois Tarkanian...his son Danny, is currently seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by Majority leader Harry Reid...Tark's granddaughter Dannielle Diamant plays for the Northwestern women's basketball team...

Tark also started a basketball school in Las Vegas, named The Tarkanian Basketball Academy...its mission is to provide opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills, work ethic, commitment, honesty and integrity through sport...it works with kids from kindergarten to 12th grade...

Jimmy Black: The 5th man on Carolina's title team

2010-03-08T05:56:00.001-05:00

In 1982, North Carolina's Dean Smith finally won his first national title in a thrilling one-point win over Georgetown...the Tar Heels starting five was comprised of a freshman named Michael Jordan, two All-Americans in James Worthy and Sam Perkins, a blue-collor forward who later coached the Tar Heels in Matt Doherty...but most people forget the fifth member of this squad...the kid was point guard Jimmy Black (number 21 in above photo)...

People remember Jordan's game winning shot, but don't realize that Black was the player who got the assist on that play...

Black is now a financial advisor for Raymond James Financial Services...he also penned a book "Jimmy Black's Tales from the Tar Heels" along with Scott Fowler...

New York City to host NFL biggest game?

2010-03-07T07:50:00.000-05:00

The New York Daily News has a feature in Sunday's paper about the chance of New York City hosting a Super Bowl at the new football stadium...New York to host Super Bowl?

Greg Kelser: the forgotten All-American from Michigan State

2010-03-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

The 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship is most remembered for the match-up between Larry Bird of Indiana State and Earvin "Magic" Johnson of Michigan State...but the one player often overlooked in this game was Michigan State's Greg Kelser...

He was the first Big Ten player to ever score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career...he was an All-American both athletically and academically...

After college, Kelser was drafted 4th overall by the hometown Detroit Pistons who were coached by some guy named Dick Vitale...Kelser's stay in Detroit was short as he was traded two years later to the Seattle Supersonics for the Microwave - Vinnie Johnson...Kelser completed his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers...

Since leaving the NBA, Kelser has worked as a sports announcer and/or commentator on radio and television...he is the commentator for Detroit Pistons games on Fox Sports Detroit...

Butch Lee: The man who helped make McGuire cry

2010-03-04T02:53:00.000-05:00

Most remember the 1977 NCAA Championship for the moment of Al McGuire winning the national title over North Carolina in his last game as head coach...but many forget that a Puerto Rican kid named "Butch" Lee was the reason behind sending McGuire out as a champion...as the clock ticked away in the final seconds, McGuire broke down in tears...

In the title game, Lee scored 19 points and was named Most Outstanding Player as the Warriors beat Carolina 67-59...

Lee was drafted in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks...he became the first Puerto Rican-born player to play in the NBA...Lee's NBA career was cut short because of injuries...he lasted four years in the league, but managed to win a championship ring as part of the Los Angeles Lakers 1980 title run...

After his playing career, Lee returned to Puerto Rico and became a head basketball coach...as of 2004, he was still a coach in Puerto Rico's professional basketball league...

Purdue Pete: his days are numbered

2010-03-03T05:30:00.002-05:00

Dan McFeely of the Indianapolis Star reported last week that Purdue Pete - the mascot of the Purdue Boilermakers will soon be gone in order to make way for a more fan friendly looking mascot...

Purdue Director of Athletics Morgan Burke said that he gets numerous calls about Purdue Pete scaring young children...

The 70-year-old mascot last got a makeover about 30 years ago...many of the Purdue faithful are upset about the soon-to-be change of Pete...some are afraid that the new mascot will be "too cute" instead of fierce and rugged...

What should the Cleveland Browns do at quarterback?

2010-03-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

The Cleveland Browns have a new era again...new team president Mike Holmgren stated this past weekend that there will not be a quarterback competition in training camp this year and that Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson will be gone by the time July rolls around...

There has also been talk that Holmgren may make a trade for a veteran quarterback who can step in right away...the name bantered around is Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb...

So what should the Browns do?...who should be their starter next season -- Quinn or Anderson...or should the Browns give up a second round pick for McNabb...your thoughts???

Bruno Sammartino to be honored

2010-01-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

Robert Dvorchak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes how Pittsburgh is set to honor native son and former pro wrestling great Bruno Sammartino at 2010 Dapper Dan Banquet... "Bruno Sammartino attended his first Dapper Dan banquet in 1963, but even though his nickname is "Living Legend," he was recently thinking of giving up his seat on the dais." ...

Robert Dvorchak

Rocky Top is still an elite job

2010-01-18T06:36:00.000-05:00

When did the head football coaching position at the University of Tennessee become a second rate job?...if Lane Kiffin did not bolt, I believe the Volunteers would have been back in the elite of the SEC...the Tennessee football program has fallen on hard times of late, but the right coach can easily turn this program back into a Top 10 team year-in and year-out...before Urban Meyer came to Florida, the Gators were struggling under Ron Zook...

The one advantage Tennessee has is that the entire state supports the football program...the athletic department has no problem spending money to upgrade the football facilities...hopefully the Vols can get back to where they were a few years ago...and it would be really nice if the Tennessee could some how get matched up against USC in a bowl game real soon...

Serious question - what is the official mascot of Geico Insurance?...is it the gecko, the caveman, or that bundle of money with eyes?...

Over the last two weekends a total of 8 NFL playoffs games were held and only one game was still undecided when the fourth quarter began...

Overall this has not been an exciting NFL season...the last two weeks of the regular season saw the Colts purposely tank two games to end any chance at a 16-0 mark while other numerous playoff teams also sat their starters...week 17 saw the Cowboys and Jets shutout their opponents...and the playoffs have been just awful...

Will Al Davis make a decision and either fire or keep Tom Cable as head coach of the Oakland Raiders...Davis is starting to act like Brett Favre in not being able to make a decision...

Tim Griffin of ESPN.com ranked the top 10 college football coaching jobs...here was his list:
1. Texas: It’s got it all -- facilities, support, tradition and located within a rich recruiting base. Mack Brown has made this the nation’s best job. Muschamp would be crazy to skedaddle to Rocky Top and leave this behind.

2. Florida: Recruiting might be better than Texas and the location provides a beach lifestyle. The only trouble with this job, compared to Texas, is that Florida’s place in the SEC is a little more tenuous than Texas’ place in the Big 12.

3. Ohio State: Tradition, facilities and an unmatched place in the pecking order of the Big Ten. Some coaches would love the weather in Columbus, while snowbirds might see it lacking compared to places like those at the top..

4. USC: “Tailback U” has returned to the top thanks to Pete Carroll’s transformation. This is the football team for a southern California without an NFL franchise.

5. Alabama: Still wondering why Dennis Franchione left Alabama for Texas A&M. Another stadium expansion after this season’s national championship has made this a job that Nick Saban would willingly leave one of the NFL’s flagship franchises to return to. Considering his college allegiance, he’s a smart man.

6. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops might have the best setup in coaching considering he’s working for Joe Castiglione and David Boren. Recruiting will always be a matter of plucking Texas players and Stoops has done a marvelous job at that over the years.

7. Penn State: It will be interesting to see who follows Joe Paterno when he finally decides to hang up his whistle. This is one of the Big Ten’s best jobs with facilities and history to match. It might be daunting to follow Paterno, however.

8. Notre Dame: Still has the attention of NBC and the tradition of college football’s most storied program. Can they find the right coach to return Notre Dame to its place of dominance?

9. LSU: There’s a reason why Les Miles decided to stay here rather than pursue the Michigan job. Rabid talent base and SEC television money make this one special. And you can eat good crawfish any time you want.

10. Nebraska: The only drawback for this job is its lack of a fertile home recruiting area. But other than that, this job has got it all including one of the nation’s most knowledgeable fan bases. It’s the biggest unifier for the entire state as college football is clearly king here.

It is sad to see Michigan and Tennessee off the list...but if this list was done a few years back, it is doubtful that Nebraska and Alabama would have made the top 10...

Roxxxy the Robot - the world's first sex robot

2010-01-14T05:31:00.001-05:00

Hey fellas, it's time to throw out all the blow-up dolls...fake sex has gotten a bit more real with Roxxxy the Robot...below is the story that ran earlier this week:

LAS VEGAS – A New Jersey company says it has developed "the world's first sex robot," a life-size rubber doll that's designed to engage the owner with conversation rather than lifelike movement.

At a demonstration at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas on Saturday, the dark-haired, negligee-clad robot said "I love holding hands with you" when it sensed that its creator touched its hand.

Another action, this one unprintable, elicited a different vocal response from Roxxxy the robot. The level of sophistication demonstrated was not beyond that of a child's talking toy, but Roxxxy has a lot more brains than that — there's a laptop connected to cables coming out of its back. It has touch sensors at strategic locations and can sense when it's being moved. But it can't move on its own, not even to turn its head or move its lips. The sound comes out of an internal loudspeaker.

Douglas Hines, founder of Lincoln Park, N.J.-based True Companion LLC, said Roxxxy can carry on simple conversations. The real aim, he said, is to make the doll someone the owner can talk to and relate to.

"Sex only goes so far — then you want to be able to talk to the person," Hines said.

The phrases that were demonstrated were prerecorded, but the robot will also be able to synthesize phrases out of prerecorded words and sounds, Hines said. The laptop will receive updates over the Internet to expand the robot's capabilities and vocabulary. Since Hines is a soccer fan, it can already discuss Manchester United, he said. It snores, too.

Owners will also be able to select different personalities for Roxxxy, from "Wild Wendy" to "Frigid Farrah," Hines said. He's charging somewhere from $7,000 to $9,000 for the robot, including the laptop, and expects to start shipping in a few months.

A Japanese company, Honey Dolls, makes life-size sex dolls that can play recorded sounds, but Roxxxy's sensors and speech capabilities appear to be more sophisticated. Hines' goals are certainly more far-reaching.

An engineer, Hines said he was inspired to create the robot after a friend died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. That got him thinking about preserving his friend's personality, to give his children a chance to interact with him as they're growing up. Looking around for commercial applications for artificial personalities, he initially thought he might create a home health care aide for the elderly.

"But there was tremendous regulatory and bureaucratic paperwork to get through. We were stuck," Hines said. "So I looked at other markets."

The broader goal of the company is still to take artificial personalities into the mainstream, beyond sex toys, Hines said.

"The sex robot thing is marketing — it's really about making a companion," he said.

In a 2007 book, "Love and Sex with Robots," British chess player and artificial intelligence expert David Levy argues that robots will become significant sexual partners for humans, answering needs that other people are unable or unwilling to satisfy.

The pain of the NFL

2010-01-13T05:29:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN.com wrote an intersting story about how NFL players play with pain... "Birk pops one elbow, then the other, and fans his legs until his pelvic bone makes a cracking noise. He takes a couple of deep breaths, and his feet hit the floor. The first few steps are similar to tiptoeing through hot coals. But it'll get better; it always gets better once he makes it to the bottom of the staircase. It's Monday, and time to start another week in the NFL. ...

Elizabeth Merrill

Random Thoughts

2010-01-11T05:26:00.000-05:00

- After reading Bill Plaschke's column in the Los Angeles Times, it is not surprising that Pete Carroll is leaving USC...I never knew that athletic director Mike Garrett and Carroll did not get along...

- One name mentioned for the USC job that was very intriguing was Herm Edwards...Edwards did not make it in the NFL, but I could see him being a very good college coach with all his energy...

- Gilbert Arenas is a jerk...what as he thinking when he brought a handgun into the locker...that is his workplace -- that would be like me taking a gun to work...Arenas' jersey number, zero, matches his smarts...

- Did you know that Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics, is currently the longest tenured coach with one team...

- NBC should have hired Charles Barkley to be the color analyst for the Bengals-Jets game instead of Joe Thiesmann and Joe Gibbs...Barkley would have made it interesting, afterall, the game sucked...

- What a shocking poor start for Tom Brady on Sunday...I'm not saying the Patriots are getting rid of Brady, but I wonder if Bill Belichick will be looking for a young quarterback late in the draft this year...

- Whatever happened to Drew Bledsoe?...

- Did you see Wes Welker sitting in the owner's box drinking beer...

- I wonder what Joe Buck thought about Artie Lange trying to kill himself...Lange allegedly stabbed himself nine times in a suicide attempt...

Ndamukong Suh tops the NFL Draft list

2010-01-05T05:22:00.000-05:00

With only a few games left in the college football season, Mel Kiper has released his Top 25 Big Board for the NFL Draft...this was as of December 31:

1. Ndamukong Suh, dt, Nebraska
2. Gerald McCoy, dt, Oklahoma
3. Eric Berry, db, Tennessee
4. Jimmy Clausen, qb, Notre Dame
5. Sam Bradford, qb, Oklahoma

6. Russell Okung, ot, Oklahoma State
7. Joe Haden, cb, Florida
8. Derrick Morgan, de, Georgia Tech
9. Dez Bryant, wr, Oklahoma State
10. Brian Price, dt, UCLA

11. Rolando McClain, lb, Alabama
12. Jason Pierre-Paul, de, South Florida
13. Taylor Mays, s, Southern Cal
14. C.J. Spiller, rb, Clemson (photo)
15. Anthony Davis, ot, Rutgers

16. Everson Griffen, de, Southern Cal
17. Carlos Dunlap, de, Florida
18. Dan Williams, dt, Tennessee
19. Aaron Hernandez, te, Florida
20. Brandon Graham, de/lb, Michigan (photo)

21. Sergio Kindle, lb, Texas
22. Jermaine Gresham, te, Oklahoma
23. Jerry Hughes, de, TCU
24. Sean Witherspoon, lb, Missouri
25. Patrick Robinson, cb, Florida State

Theo Kojak - One badass!!!!

2010-01-04T05:39:00.001-05:00

During the Christmas break I brought out my DVD set of Kojak: Season 1...for all the young people, Kojak was the baddest ass out there in the 1970s...Telly Savalas starred as Theo Kojak...

"Kojak" was a one hour drama that ran from 1973-78...the storyline was set in New York City's 13th Precinct with Savalas playing the lead of Lt. Theo Kojak...Kojak was a tough, bald cop who ate lollipops and always said, "Who loves ya, baby?"...Savalas, who was Greek, often slipped in pieces of Greek heritage during the show...

Savalas' real-life brother George Savalas, who originally used the name Demosthenes, played the role of Detectives Stavros...also starring were Dan Frazer as Capt. Frank McNeil; Kevin Dobson as Det. Bobby Crocker, Mark Russell as Det. Saperstein; and Vince Conti as Det. Rizzo...

If you watched the shows closesly, there were always small bits of odd humor...I remember one show where Kojak was sitting at his desk reading a book about bugs...most people would not find humor in that, but I thought it was great...

Below is the 50 second clip of the opening theme...at the 21 second mark, I always loved how Kojak was running down the street and did this double look before pulling his gun...like I said earlier, Kojak was a bad ass!!!...

Dick "Zippy" Zunt: former Plain Dealer sports reporter dies

2010-01-03T15:12:00.004-05:00

Former (Cleveland) Plain Dealer sports reporter Dick Zunt died on Saturday of cancer at the age of 78...Zunt, who was known as Zippy, covered Cleveland area high school sports for years...below is a column by Terry Pluto about Zunt:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first time I met Dick Zunt, it was on the phone. I was 16, calling in a Benedictine High school football score to The Plain Dealer.

Yes, I met Dick on the phone, because he did more than take the facts of the game. He asked about me, about the Bengal football team of 1971, and then he made a big deal of thanking me for calling him.

Whenever I called in another game and got Dick on the phone, he acted as if we were old friends, peers in the newspaper business. As former Plain Dealer writer Dan Coughlin said, "Dick shook more hands and made more friends for the Plain Dealer than any other reporter."

Coughlin also said Zunt was known to add a few extra bucks to the $2 a game that high school correspondents received. I know that's true, because I got a little of that bonus money during the two years that I reported games to the paper.

Zunt died from cancer at age 78 early Saturday morning. His full-time career at The Plain Dealer spanned 1957-63 and 1964-2001. He called The Plain Dealer with news items beginning in the early 50's.

From beginning to end, it was always about high school sports for the man called "Zip" or "Zippy" by his friends.

"He had no desire to do anything else," said Coughlin, who joined the PD staff in 1964 with Zunt. They covered high school sports together, along with Ed Chay.

Some writers view covering high schools as the damp, dark dungeon of the sports department. To Zunt, it was the penthouse. Every day there was a high school story to cover was a great day for him.

"He had great respect for high school sports," said PD reporter Mike Peticca. "That rubbed off on all of us who worked with him."

This man went to events on his days off. Coughlin said Zunt attended 50 consecutive Mansfield Relays, as track was perhaps his favorite sport. He was a runner at St. Ignatius in the late 1940s.

Coughlin added, "And for the last 40 years, he took up the collection at the noon Mass at St. Patrick's." Or as St. Ignatius football coach Chuck Kyle recalled, "It seemed like there were two Dick Zunts, because he was everywhere."

"High schools were the ultimate job to him," said PD executive sports editor Roy Hewitt. "He never acted like he was having a bad day."

"For eight years, I was a high school writer at the [Cleveland] Press and competed with Dick," said Tim Rogers, now with the PD. "When I went to an event with Dick, he always tried to help me. He introduced me to all the right people. He didn't have to do that, but Dick couldn't help himself."

Zunt's greatest fear was letting others down. The one thing he hated about covering a high school game is that one team had to lose.

"He was so understanding when you got beat," said Strongsville's Joe Lynch, who has been a basketball coach at various area high schools since 1968. Lynch said Zunt "never" second-guessed coaches, and "always praised your effort when you lost."

Or as Bishop Roger Gries, who visited Zunt this week said, "His stories were never about him, they were about the coaches and kids."

Some write for attention and awards, Zunt wrote for scrapbooks. He knew that it was a big deal for a kid to have his name in the paper, so he made sure lots of names appeared in his stories.

"He just had a rosy outlook," said Peticca. "He was excited to be with people, and wanted everyone to feel special."

Coughlin said former Plain Dealer copy editor Chuck Murr told a story about how Zunt would call the office to dictate a story. As he began to say that Cleveland Heights beat a certain team, he was stopping every few sentences to say hello or talk to people who were walking by as he was on the phone.

"Hey, Jim, nice shot there ..." Zunt would say, then returning to Murr with his account of the game.

"He had the longest good-byes," recalled Wally Mieskoski, who worked with Zunt at the PD. "He just wanted to keep talking to you."

Rogers said it would take at least 20 minutes to walk out of a high school gym with Zunt after a game: "That's because he had to say goodbye to every coach, player, parent, usher and janitor that he saw."

For Dick Zunt, this is the final goodbye. But so many people will always remember the first time that he said hello – and for that, the family and friends of Dick Zunt are blessed.

The Leach Saga

2009-12-31T07:52:00.002-05:00

- The Mike Leach situation is one weird incident...I just can't grasp the reason why Leach would isolate this player by putting him in an equipment shed with the lights off and not allow him to sit down...I know Leach is an odd duck, but I don't get his thinking...

Leach should have just left Adam James alone instead of singling him out...it was report on College Football Talk that two current Texas Tech players are glad that Leach was fired...they said that Leach humiliated Adam James...

Leach should have known better than to single out a player especially after the downfall of Mark "Bear" Mangino at Kansas last month...

- People who are 30-years-old and younger have missed out on one of the greatest columnist ever - Mike Royko (photo)...Royko died in 1997...Royko's writing style was that of Magic Johnson handling a basketball...Royko was one of the best...

- ESPN.com had a great story on Ernie Harwell as he waits for death - Elizabeth Merrill

Dave Diles - former ABC sports broadcaster dies

2009-12-30T19:09:00.003-05:00

Former ABC sports broadcaster Dave Diles died on Saturday at his home in Athens, Ohio...growing up in the 1970s, I can still recall hearing Diles voice as he read the scores as the host of the "Prudential College Football Scoreboard Show"...back then, Diles would provide the scores of Colgate, Holy Cross and even Slippery Rock...Diles was 78-years-old...

Below is a 3:17 clip of Diles talking about leaving ABC Sports...

Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell are losers

2009-12-29T01:09:00.001-05:00

Just a few more thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts:

- Head coach Jim Caldwell said that he did not want his starters to get hurt, specifically Peyton Manning...if that is the case, why didn't Caldwell pull Manning during the course of the season when the Colts clearly had the victory secured...

For instance, on October 25, the Colts were hosting the St. Louis Rams...the Colts were winning 28-6 with less than five minutes remaining in the game when Manning threw a touchdown to Austin Collie...why was Manning still playing at that point in the game?...he could have easily gotten hurt...Caldwell is contradicting himself...

Back on September 27, the Colts were beating Arizona 31-10 in the fourth quarter...why didn't Caldwell protect Manning by pulling him during the fourth quarter?...

- Even when Caldwell pulled Manning on Sunday, there was still a chance Manning could have gotten hurt -- just ask Joe Paterno...a few years back, the legendary Penn State coach was run over while standing on the sidelines...JoePa suffered torn knee ligaments of some sort...so who is to say that Manning could have accidently been injured while his back was turned from the playing field...if Caldwell wanted to protect Manning and his other starters, he should have sent them into the locker room where he would have been totally safe from injury...

- Colts general manager Bill Polian also showed his arrogance, ignorance, and disdain for Colts fans during his weekly talk show on Monday night...Polian, who was peppered with questions by upset Colts fans, stated:

“16-0 to us was inconsequential. … It was not something that we felt we owed anyone, our fans included.”

“We could take a poll and ask Colts fans in August if they would be happy with 14-1, most would be happy with that.”

The first comment was a slap at all the Colts fans who have filled the stadium every week to support his team...the second comment showed his ignorance...

Sure, back in August a Colts fan would be happy if their team was 14-1 at this point in the season, however, if that one loss came earlier in the season...back in August, any Colts fan would have had the same feeling then as they do now -- go for the 16-0 mark...

- When next season rolls around, maybe the best thing Caldwell and Polian should do is purposely lose the first game of the year in order to end any chance of a 16-0 season...with Manning as the quarterback a 0-1 start would not hurt the Colts...so what is the difference between throwing a game in week 1 compared to week 14?...

Indianapolis Colts organization is a disgrace

2009-12-27T20:00:00.003-05:00

I found the one team that I hope does not win the Super Bowl -- the Indianapolis Colts...

What the Colts organization did today was unethical, unprofessional, and a negative blow to the sport of football...the Colts had an opportunity to go 16-0 and possibly even 19-0, but the organization ordered all the starters to be pulled from the game in order to avoid possible injury...

As Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and others sat on the sideline and watched helplessly as an inferior New York Jets team ended the Colts unbeaten streak at 14-0, a chance at history was thrown aside...

Head coach Jim Caldwell stated after the game that the team's goal and objective was not to go 16-0 but to win the Super Bowl...that is fine, but goals and objectives are changed accordingly...and when this organization had a chance to make history, it was unfair for general manager Bill Polian and Caldwell to take the opportunity away from these players, especially Manning...that would have been the crowning achievement on Manning's career -- a possible 19-0 mark...

Most people do not like the New England Patriots and especially head coach Bill Belichick...but both should be applauded for going all out to finish 16-0 during the 2007 season...Belichick did not rest his star players out of fear of injury...he played to win every game -- the way it should be...in the end, the Patriots did not win the Super Bowl, however, their accomplishment of going 16-0 had nothing to do with them losing...

Right now, the Indianapolis Colts organization is a disgrace to the NFL and sports for cheating their players and loyal fans an opportunity to go 19-0...every Colts player and fan have a right to be upset with Caldwell and Polian...

Manning may be one of the highest paid and most popular players in the NFL, but in the end, he is just a regular employee like the rest of us who had to obey the orders from management even though he disagreed with it...

NFL Thoughts

2009-12-21T00:04:00.001-05:00

- Will someone explain to me what in the world Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was thinking when he called for that onside kick?...in the end the Steelers won the game, but that was still a bonehead call to make...

- Why were the Green Bay Packers only rushing 3 defensive players on the last play of the game?...they should have put a pass rush on Ben Roethlisberger to force him to throw the ball early...

- I wish the St. Louis Rams would go back to their old yellow and blue uniforms (photo, right)...the blue and gold are nice, but their yellow and blue are classic...

- The last few weeks Brett Favre hasn't looked so MVP-like...

- Whatever happened to former Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer?...

- The Oakland Raiders took the scalps of 4 possible playoff teams this year: Eagles, Bengals, Steelers, and now Broncos...not bad for a team that is considered dysfunctional...

- The Giants must establish Brandon Jacobs early if they have any ideas of beating the Redskins on Monday night...

- Dallas played a great game on Saturday night to beat the perfect Saints...but one big win does not clean the slate for the organization and Tony Romo with their dismal December record...

- Who would have thought Jerome Harrison would have the third best rushing day ever in the NFL...I am not annointing Harrison as the next league star, but the Browns should use him a lot over the next two games to see if he is truly a number 1 runner...

- Now that Eric Mangini has given Brady Quinn a fair shot at quarterback, I have been able to evaluate his handling of the position...to me, Quinn has a lot of work to do...the Browns should unload Quinn and Derek Anderson and sign a veteran quarterback who can step in right away...

- With Tampa Bay's victory, it looks like the St. Louis Rams have the inside track for the number one pick in the NFL Draft...

Whatever happened to Bookman from Good Times?

2009-12-17T05:39:00.001-05:00

Whatever happened to Bookman from the 1970s television show Good Times...Nathan Bookman was played by Johnny Brown...interestingly Brown was considered to play the role of Lamont in Sanford and Son, but was unavailable to do so because of his prior commitment to Laugh-In..

On Good Times, Bookman was the building superintendent who, at first, hated the Evans family, but eventually became their friend...he was often called Boogerman or just plain Booger...below are some of the insults that Bookman took...

Bookman's showing new tennants around: Come on, let me show you the laundry room. The way I keep that place, it should be in a magazine!
J.J: Yeah! Better slums and garbage!

Bookman: Last night I didn't get any sleep. I tossed and turned all night!
Willona: Yeah. I know. The whole building was rumblin'.

Below is a 1:38 clip of Bookman doing his Christmas dance...

Quick hits

2009-12-16T05:33:00.001-05:00

- Took my H1N1 (swine flu) shot on Monday...I didn't cry...

- Tiger Woods should suck it up and get divorced...supposedly Elin bought a house on an island off Sweden...I cannot see Tiger retiring from golf and living on some island halfway across the world...

- The Yankees need to resign Johnny Damon...Curtis Granderson does not fit the mold as a leadoff hitter for the way the Yankees play...

- I am dressing as Santa this year for our afterschool programs...first time ever that I am donning the red coat...

- Whatever happened to Christian Okoye - the Nigerian Nightmare? (photo, right)...

- A couple more weeks and this fella turns 41-years-old...

- LeBron vs. Kobe on Christmas...then an NFL game that night...

- I love those ESPN 30 on 30 documentaries...The U was a great documentary...

- A few weeks ago Drew Brees was a lock for my MVP...now I am starting to look at Chris Johnson...hmmmm...

- I like the new format on NBC's Football Night in America...Dan Patrick does a solid job with Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison...but Keith Olbermann has to go...he is so freaking annoying with his attempts of trying to be funny when doing the highlights...

- Is it me or do all vending machines now sell pop in a plastic bottle?...give me a can of pop anytime...

- I am jacked up for the New Mexico Bowl pitting Wyoming vs. Fresno State...honestly though, this is wear you find those under the radar players come the NFL Draft...

- Speaking of, how many days until the NFL Draft?...

Saints, Colts need to go for 16-0 mark

2009-12-15T05:29:00.000-05:00

The NFL season is quickly coming to a close with only three more games to go...and annual controversy is in high gear -- should teams that have clinched a playoff spot rest their star players...the talk started a few weeks back but has kicked into high gear this past weekend as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts both stand at 13-0...

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher of the NFL Today on CBS stated quite emphatically that both head coaches, Jim Caldwell of the Colts and Sean Payton of the Saints should forgo trying to have a perfect season in order to rest and ensure their star players do not get injured before the playoffs...former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, of NBC's Football Night in America, also agreed with Cowher's assessment...

I'm sorry, but I cannot agree with either coach...I understand they are both Super Bowl winning coaches, but I don't believe in pulling or limiting the play of your best players with three games left...all professional athletes like a routine and playing it safe can hurt a player's rhythm...

Also, both teams have an opportunity to do something that only one other NFL team has accomplished: a perfect season...just two years ago the Patriots did not rest any of their stars as they completed a 16-0 regular season...this strategy by head coach Bill Belichick had nothing to do with their loss in the Super Bowl to the Giants...the Patriots were less than 1 minute from completing a 19-0 season...it took the Giants to play a solid all-around game and a miracle catch by David Tyree to ruin the Patriots chance at perfection...

As a fan of the NFL, I want to see both the Colts and Saints play for a perfect record...I will be rooting against either team if their head coach decides to tank a game because they did not want their star players to get hurt...only a few teams have ever made it to 13-0...these teams owe it to the fans to perform at its highest level to see if they can accomplish this rare and elusive feat of perfection...

Armanti Edwards - a great career over

2009-12-14T05:59:00.001-05:00

- I took a week off to recharge my batteries...I don't want to lose the edge...

- One of the best sports blogs shut it down last week after four years...The Big Picture pulled a Dick Vermeil and left the blogging world on account of burnout...The Big Picture will be missed as it had some of the funniest and thought provoking sports items...I am looking to steal his one shtick of "What Grinds My Gears"...but that is for another time...

- It was nice to see Alabama finally have a Heisman Trophy winner...it was clear that Mark Ingram was humbled by the honor...

- Colt McCoy lost the Heisman with his poor decision-making on the last play of the game against Nebraska...one play should not determine the Heisman except when that one play could have cost his team a perfect season...

- Alabama started out as a 3 point favorite over Texas...the line has jumped to Bama by 6.5...

- The great career of Armanti Edwards (photo, right), quarterback at Appalachian State, is over...and true to character, Edwards almost led the Mountaineers to a win over Montana...Appy State lost to Montana 24-17...

- Montana takes on Villanova this Friday to determine the I-AA champion...a true champion that is determined by a playoff...

- Does Tiger Woods complete the back 9 and finish with 18 different women?...

- The most disturbing part of the Tiger Woods incident is that he reportedly did not use a condom when having sex with these women...he was risking getting these women pregnant and acquiring some type of STD...Woods must be dumber than we think...

Florida vs. Alabama - round 2

2009-12-04T05:43:00.001-05:00

All season long these two teams have been watching each other - Florida and Alabama...at some point in the season they have shared the top spot...this game was destined to happen...

Last December 6th, these same two teams played for the same stakes -- the SEC title and a berth in the BCS title game...Alabama came into the game #1 while Florida was #2...Alabama went into the 4th quarter with a 20-17 lead...then Tim Tebow took over and willed his team to the 31-20 victory...

Florida goes into this game as a five point favorite...however, not often does a team get a second chance...this time the Tide rolls - Alabama 23-21

Florida Game Notes

Alabama Game Notes

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes about the big match-up... "Florida has played in four NC games, so the best argument one can make is that it's the fifth-biggest game in Florida football history. Bigger than 1996 Florida State? Both teams were unbeaten and ranked Nos. 1 and 2. But there was no conference championship on the line, so I would say yes." ...

Pat Dooley

Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com talked with 4 SEC coaches who stated that Tebow is the difference-maker... "They have one other thing in common, that is, with the fans and the media: They didn't stop talking about Gators senior quarterback Tim Tebow. But on that topic, the coaches' mileage did vary. There was the conventional stance of Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, who said, "If it wasn't for Tebow, it's easy. Alabama wins the game." ...

Ivan Maisel

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald expects the game to be decided in the fourth quarter... "Florida trailed Alabama 20-17 after the third quarter but the Gators dominated when it mattered most. Quarterback Tim Tebow made good on his promise and the Gators' defense bullied and embarrassed coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter." ...

Joseph Goodman

Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes how the Alabama defense must prepare to face Tebow... "So when the University of Alabama linebacker endorses the popular sentiment that Tebow carried the Gators to victory in last year's Southeastern Conference Championship Game, take it from him." ...

Chase Goodbread

Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes about the differences of each team... "So now we know: If Alabama wins Saturday, it will be because of better coaching; if Florida wins, it will be because of better players." ...

Ray Melick

Chase Goodbread writes about the differences from last year's teams... "Offensively, the experience edge clearly falls to the Gators. UF lost its top skill-position threat to the National Football League in Percy Harvin, but that won’t be any different for Alabama, which didn’t see Harvin last year due to an injury." ...

Chase Goodbread

George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel writes how 1 player is the difference... "Here's the only question that needs to be answered regarding Saturday night's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Tim Tebow or Greg McElroy?" ...

George Diaz

Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel writes about Mark Ingram's chances to be Alabama's first Heisman winner... "In all the storied years of Alabama football, not once has a player won the Heisman Trophy. No one has finished second, either. Its latest hope comes in the form of a 5-foot-10 bowling ball of a running back, a player who has put aside the hardship of an imprisoned father to post one of the best rushing seasons in school history." ...

Andrea Adelson

Note - the Tim Tebow photo was courtesy of Brennen Klingensmith who attended the Florda-South Carolina game this year

Mr. Heatmiser vs. Mr. Snowmiser

2009-12-03T18:09:00.002-05:00

Thoughts about Tiger

2009-12-03T05:30:00.002-05:00

Here are some of my thoughts about Tiger Woods and his "situation"...

- This affair has finally humanized Tiger...since he shot onto the scene as a young man, he has always tried to control how the public perceives him...this incident shows that he has flaws just like anyone else...

- Let's face reality, whenever a woman, such as Elin Nordgren, marries a superstar, such as Tiger, she should not be stunned to learn, over time, that her husband has cheated on her...superstars such as Tiger, Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, etc. are multi-millionaires who lose touch with reality...everything is given to them...they stay at the most exclusive hotels and eat the best food...they are told how great they are by the public...this creates an ego that they are untouchable...all this fame and power also brings the aura of invincibility...it also brings women..lots of women...lots of beautiful women who will give anything to have sex with these men...

Over the last few days I have heard these "moral" sports talk show hosts and listeners condemn Tiger for this affair...he has been called a "sleeze" and "scum" by these morally righteous people...it is so easy to rip Tiger but no one knows how any of us would have handled this if we were in his shoes...we don't understand the power of being a superstar...I would by lying if I stated that I would not have an affair if I was some superstar athlete...I don't know how I would react...

Wives of famous athletes should not be shocked to find out "their man" cheated...these wives should not be naive to think their husband are true to their wedding vows...

- I predict that Tiger will not break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 Grand Slam golf titles...Tiger has 14 titles but over the last year other professional golfers are not as intimidated by him as they were in the past...this incident is just another chink in the once-solid armor of Tiger Woods...

- Ultimately, Tiger did not commit any crime...if people are willing to give a dog killer like Michael Vick a second chance, then they should do the same for Tiger...

Elizabeth Bogush - the KGB Girl

2009-12-02T06:44:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder who the red-head hottie is in those KGB commercials...well, it's Elizabeth Bogush who is 32-years-old from New Jersey...she has a very small resume as evident by wikipedia: She has appeared in many TV shows, including Titans with Yasmine Bleeth in 2000 and Breadwinners, and she has guest-starred in many more, including Scrubs, Beverly Hills 90210, Felicity, Everybody Loves Raymond, October Road, How I Met Your Mother, and The Adventures of Pete and Pete (the latter being her first role). Most recently, Bogush has appeared in commercials for the text messaging service KGB.

She has gotten everyone talking with her latest KGB commercial when she strips down to her undergarments (see photo above and commercial below) ...personally, she kinds reminds me a bit of Lauren Holly...Bogush was married for the second time in 2005...

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year goes to . . . Tim Tebow?

2009-11-30T05:01:00.000-05:00

The annual Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year will be announced this week...unlike in some year's there are at least six worthy candidates for this high honor...last year Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was a hands-down unanimous choice for the honor -- well at least until he later got photographed smoking pot from a bong...

Anyway, here are my top five athletes who should be considered for the Sportsman of the Year....

5. Peyton Manning - over the last year Manning is the reigning NFL MVP and he has led his team to a perfect season so far...his career is deserving of an honor such as this...but I believe he will be passed over for now...eventually he will win this award...

4. Mariano Rivera - there is no way Mo will get this honor because he is someone who does not like the spotlight...but he has been the one constant for the New York Yankees from 1996 through 2009...without Rivera, the Yankees would not have won 5 World Series titles...and even at the age of 40, he showed once again this post-season why he is the most important player on the Yankees...

3. Jimmie Johnson - I know nothing about auto racing...but even I know it take someone special to win a title four times in a row...Johnson is probably the most deserving, but I don't see it happened just because he is with auto racing...

2. Roger Federer - this dude should have been the Sportsman of the Year already...he is the most dominant tennis player ever...this past year he finally won the French Open and once again reclaimed th Wimbledon title...he finished the year ranked number 1...his biggest drawback is that he is not American...if Federer was American, he would be more recognized for his greatness...

1. Tim Tebow - I think Tebow will be the 2009 Sportsman of the Year...I know that many people hate this kid...but the fact remains, he is a winner at the college football level...plus, he seems like the "real deal" off the field...sure it is easy to bash Tebow, but I would want his to be the QB on my college team...he epitomizes everything that is good with college sports...Tebow may be a flop in the NFL, but no one can take away his greatness at the college level...that piece of history is secure...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

2009-11-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Temple Owls: a quiet 9-2

2009-11-25T10:04:00.000-05:00

One of the least talked about stories in college football this season is the remarkable record of the Temple Owls...yes, those Temple Owls...the same football program that was tossed out of the Big East a few years back because they were dragging down the conference's reputation...

The Owls now stand at 9-2 and the leader in the Mid-American Conference...Temple started the season 0-2 - losing to I-AA Villanova and Penn State...since those losses, they have reeled off nine straight includings a 27-24 win over Navy...

The leader in this monumental turnaround is head coach Al Golden (photo, left)...Golden, who is rumored to be the leading candidate as the next coach at Virginia, is a graduate of Penn State...in four years at Temple, he has posted an 18-28 mark...

Golden was a three-year starter at tight end at Penn State...he spent one season withe the New England Patriots...he started his coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Red Bank (NJ) Catholic High...Golden has ties to Virginia as he served as a graduate assistant and assistant coach under George Welsh and Al Groh...while at Virginia, Golden coached the defense and eventually became the defensive coordinator...

Helping Golden with Temple's climb to the top is stud running back Bernard Pierce... a bruising type of running back, Pierce will miss this week's game against Ohio University after sustaining a shoulder injury in Saturday's game against Kent State...

Pierce is a 6'0", 220 lb freshman who racked up 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns before his injury...Pierce is a true workhorse as he carried the ball 40 times in a game twice this year...he also rushed for over 200 yards against Navy (267 yards) and Toledo (212 yards)...the most impressive stat - he has not fumbled this season...

Youngstown State will look at 2 Ohio State assistants for head coaching spot

2009-11-24T05:40:00.000-05:00

Youngstown State University is looking for a new head football coach after Jon Heacock resigned on Sunday night...Heacock was hand picked by former YSU head coach Jim Tressel after left YSU to take the head coaching position at Ohio State...

With the Penguins in full search for a new head coach, expect the next leader of YSU football to be someone from the Tressel tree...the local media has thrown out a few names...but the two who I think will be considered are currently on the Ohio State coaching staff: Luke Fickell and Nick Siciliano...

Fickell (photo, top) is a graduate of Ohio State and serves as the team's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach...Fickell has been on the Ohio State coaching staff since 2003...this past off-season, Fickell turned down an offer to serve on the coaching staff at Notre Dame...Fickell played his high school ball at Columbus DeSales...Fickell has been talked about as a future head coach at a BCS level program...the YSU job would give him the head coaching experience he needs...

Another candidate is Nick Siciliano (photo, bottom)...Siciliano has strong ties to the Youngstown area as he played his high school football at Austintown Fitch, the alma mater of current YSU athletic director Ron Strollo...Siciliano is a graduate of YSU...

He currently serves as the Buckeyes quarterback coach...prior to coming to Ohio State, he was an assistant coach at North Carolina A&T State...he also served as video coordinator for Bob Stoops as Oklahoma...Siciliano's biggest drawback is that he did not play college football and he has only been in the coaching business for a short time...

As far as Heacock goes, expect to see him with his brother serving as an assistant coach at Ohio State...

Michigan - another year, another losing season

2009-11-23T05:21:00.002-05:00

This weekend I attended the Michigan-Ohio State game in Ann Arbor...I went solo because my 78-year-old father had an inner ear infection and could not go...and once again I came home pissed and disappointed...here are my thoughts about the game...

- Before the game I met NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer and Michigan great Dan Dierdorf in the tailgate lot (photo, above)...Dierdorf's legs are shot - the dude is basically crippled...he uses a cane and can barely walk...his hands are as big and thick as a catcher's mitt...

- Got the see Ohio State get off the team buses...ever the "gentleman" that he is, Jim Tressel made sure his wife, Ellen, was the first person off the bus...

- During pre-game I got to yell some obscenities to former Michigan, now Ohio State offensive lineman Justin Boren...I hardly ever yell crap at opposing players, but I could not resist with this fat pig...I still cannot comprehend how he spent two years wearing the Michigan uniform then transferred to Ohio State...I could understand if this was professional sports because it is a business and money dictates where a player plays...but this prick could have transferred to any other school in the nation, but he chose Michigan's hated rival...to me, Justin Boren has no soul...

- Michigan had opportunities to win the game, but stupid decisions by quarterback Tate Forcier killed any hope...Forcier was trying his best to imitate Brett Favre with his knuckleheaded passes in which he was picked off four times...Forcier has regressed since the Iowa game, when Rich Rodriguez benched him late in the game...

- I hate when people keep defending Forcier by saying, "he's only a freshman"...I know that, but why do other freshman quarterbacks not make stupid decisions and lead their team to a winning record...Terrelle Pryor was a freshman and led Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl...Colt McCoy started as a freshman and led Texas to a winning season that first year...I'm sorry for being hard on Forcier, but he did not progress nor mature throughout the season...

- Michigan lacks a quality big running back who can run between the tackles and pick up chunks of yards...Brandon Minor was supposed to be that hammer of a back but he was injury prone all year and never lived up to his potential as a senior...

- Pryor is a good quarterback, but he is not the All-American, Heisman caliber quarterback that he was billed to be when coming out of high school...he is over-rated...

- The Michigan defense played well...it was probably their best game of the season...

- Saw ABC sideline reporter Holly Rowe...she is a bit chunky...

- I could have punched one Michigan fan when I was leaving the game...this sorry case of a person wearing Maize and Blue said to his friend, "at least Michigan played well and we didn't embarrass ourselves"...WHAT!!!...WE LOST!!!!...WE HAVE LOST SIX IN A ROW TO OHIO STATE!!!!...I don't care if we lost by 1 stinking point, the fact remains that Ohio State has beaten us six straight times --- that my friend is an embarrassment...people with that type of losing mentality should never even bother to attend a game of this magnitude...

- I was disappointed in many of the Michigan fans who sold their tickets to Ohio State fans...sure these are hard times economically, but if you own season tickets to Michigan football, you are more than likely not economically disadvantaged...there were Ohio State fans around me who ran their mouth and were arrogant - but not one Michigan fan said anything to them...this would never happen at Ohio Stadium...if a Michigan fan ran his/her mouth in Columbus, they would be stabbed...I am proud that I attended the game and cheered on Michigan...my loyalty to the Maize and Blue runs deep...even though I did not graduate from Michigan, I can say that I am a Michigan Man...

- Michigan will not fire Rodriguez this season...but rest assure, he better go 8-4 next year and beat Ohio State...2010 will be his third year as the head coach...his "system" should be in place...and the players he recruited will be juniors and sophomores...Michigan better show marked improvement and beat Ohio State...if not, Rodriguez should be fired immediately after the game in Columbus...

It's okay to hate your arch-rival

2009-11-19T05:41:00.001-05:00

What ever happened to hating your rival?...

At his initial press conference, new Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin basically called out the Florida Gators and said the Vols were going to beat them...Kiffin later got ripped by fans and media as being arrogant...what was Kiffin supposed to say - "I am going to bend over so Urban Meyer can drill us as he did Phil Fulmer the last so many years"?????...

During Lloyd Carr's tenure at Michigan I attended many Michigan-Ohio State games...my father and I would watch Carr and Jim Tressel stand on the field and talk during warm-ups...my dad would ask me, "what could those two be talking about" especially since Tressel was beating Carr on a regular basis...

I am not saying that coaches have to be unsportsmanlike, ala LeBron James walking off the court last season after the Cavaliers got beat by Orlando...but there seems to be too much nicey, nicey in college football...when playing your arch-rival, coaches should shake hands at midfield and wish each other and their opponent well and hope no one gets injured...that's all that needs to be said...

I could care less if the next coach at Michigan was an arrogant ass...look at some of the great football coaches - they were not Mr. Nice Guy - Bill Belichick, Vince Lombardi, and Bill Parcells to name a few...

I loved it when Jimmy Johnson was the head coach at The U and stuck it up Notre Dame's behind in Gerry Faust's last game...I also did not have a problem with Stanford's Jim Harbaugh going for two points against USC last week...Harbaugh was not going to bow down and kiss Pete Carroll's ring finger...instead Harbaugh basically flipped the middle finger at USC and made a statement that Stanford was not going to take it anymore...

Hopefully the next head coach at Michigan has some of the moxy and fire like Kiffin, Johnson, or Harbaugh because I am sick and tired of seeing Michigan coaches being all friendly with Tressel at midfield...Michigan should get the attitude of hating Ohio State - and it all starts with the head coach...

The State of Michigan Football

2009-11-18T05:23:00.001-05:00

The second season of the Rich Rodriguez era is coming to a close with another thud...

Even if by some miracle the Wolverines beat Ohio State on Saturday, the State of the Michigan Football Program is not positive...Patience, patience, patience is what Rich Rod preaches every week to the loyal fan base...but how much more patience can the fans show...the immediate future does not look good...

Two months ago it looked like the Wolverines found their quarterback to run the spread offense in Tate Forcier...but as the season wore on, Forcier regressed to the point that there are internet rumors of him transferring...backup Denard Robinson is a raw talent who defenses know will run the ball every time he enters the game...Michigan has dual threat QB Devin Gardner, from Inkster, Michigan, on campus next year...Gardner has gone on record stating that he plans to win the starting QB job...

The running game will be led by Vincent Smith next season...Smith shows flashes of talent, but he lacks the ability to pound out the yards ala Anthony Thomas...all of Rich Rod's running backs are small and slight of foot...

The receiving corps has a plethora of average to above average kids who do not strike fear in opposing defenses...Roundtree, Odoms, Stonum, Koger are all nice players, but they are not threats...Rich Rod has yet to deliver with a big time college receiver like a Braylon Edwards, David Terrell, or Mario Manningham...

The offensive line lacks depth...proof of this is when center David Molk went down with a foot injury this season...the Wolverines lacked another center ready to step in...instead the offensive line was juggled and Steve Moosmann was forced into duty as the center...we all recall that was a disaster...

On defense - for crying out loud - blow it up!!!!!...Brandon Graham will be in the NFL next year...he was a freakin beast this season and deserves to be a first team All-American...

Other than Graham, the only other bright spots were CB Donovan Warren and DE/OLB Craig Roh...otherwise, this was the worst Michigan defense ever!!!...this unit bled points like blood coming from roadkill on the side of a freeway...

Stud freshman DT William Campbell was non-existent whenever he did make it on the field...Obi Ezeh will be back next season, but he has feet of stone...the cornerbacks have been toast all season...I cannot find any positives with this defense...

Overall, the defense cost Michigan at least 3 games this year...but that does not take the criticism off the offense...Michigan fans have been awaiting this scoring outburst from the spread offense...so far, we have all been disappointed...the offense has been unimpressive...there are no players who are threats...on Lloyd Carr's last team, the Wolverines had Manningham, Mike Hart, Adrian Arrington, and Chad Henne...these guys forced defenses to respect the Michigan offense...these guys could strike from anywhere on the field...now the Michigan offense is scattered with a bunch of average players who cannot take over a game...

There is no doubt Rich Rod will be back for his third season...with Athletic Director Bill Martin retiring, he will not pull the plug on his choice to lead the Michigan football program...Rich Rod needs to make changes on his staff, starting with showing defense coordinator Greg Robinson the door...

It is unacceptable for the Michigan football program to not make a bowl for two straight years...let it happen next year and for sure Rich Rod will be shown the door quickly...

Stanford climbs into Top 16

2009-11-17T05:26:00.001-05:00

1. Florida (10-0) - it wasn't easy, but the Gators survived in Columbia...
2. Texas (10-0) - to me, Colt McCoy is the leader for the Heisman...
3. Alabama (10-0) - the Tide defense has been solid...
4. TCU (10-0) - the Horned Frogs made a clear statement with their whoopin of Utah...
5. Cincinnati (10-0) - Pike is ready to take over the helm for Cinncy...

6. Boise State (10-0) - it looks like Boise is going to be left out of the BCS for the second straight year...
7. Georgia Tech (10-1) - no one is talking about the Jackets and their impressive season...Paul Johnson is the most under-rated coach in the nation...
8. Pitt (9-1) - the Panthers put the final spike in the Charlie Weis era at ND...
9. Ohio State (9-2) - less than a week away from their 6th straight win over Michigan...
10. LSU (8-2) - it wasn't pretty, but LSU won...

11. Iowa (8-2) - the Hawkeyes had numerous chances against Ohio State...but it wasn't meant to be...
12. Stanford (7-3) - this team smoked Oregon and USC in back-to-back weeks...they may have the best running back in the nation in Toby Gerhart...
13. Oregon (8-2) - a nice bounceback after getting booted by Stanford the week before...
14. Penn State (9-2) - another 10 win season is on the horizon for JoePa...but no BCS bowl...
15. Clemson (7-3) - the Tigers have quietly been winning games...
16. Wisconsin (8-2) - the Badgers have been under the radar all year...

Eye Candy
Three of Alabama's best cheerleaders are stylin and profilin...

Marlana Aref - Tampa Bay Buccaneers A-1 cheerleader

2009-11-16T00:26:00.000-05:00

I was spending my usual Friday night sitting at home, watching football, and looking on the internet when I came across this photo on SI.com...her name is Marlana Aref and she is a 20-year-old biomedical science major at South Florida...

Jim Tressel - the man who destroyed Michigan football

2009-11-16T00:21:00.000-05:00

Jim Tressel was hired at Ohio State for one reason and one reason alone - to beat Michigan...he has achieved that with a 7-1 mark against the Wolverines...but Tressel has done even more than just defeat Michigan...he set the wheels in motion that helped destroy the once proud Michigan football program...

His beating of the Wolverines year-in and year-out led to the ouster of Lloyd Carr, a head coach who had a winning record over the Buckeyes until Tressel slithered into Columbus...Michigan's inability to beat Tressel led to Carr's demise and forced retirement...the football program went in a different direction by hiring Rich Rodriguez to implement the spread offense in Ann Arbor...the same spread offense that the Florida Gators ran when they pulverized Ohio State in the BCS title game a few years back...

Well, it hasn't happened in Michigan...not only has the offense been inconsistent, the defense has become putrid...Michigan is looking at two straight losing seasons for the first time since the early 1960s...

Tressel has also whooped Michigan on the recruiting front...the Wolverines have been unable to successfully recruit any of the top players from Ohio ever since Tressel became coach...every year Tressel locks up the top 3-5 football players from the state of Ohio...he also built a solid pipeline of talent from Cleveland Glenville...

Ohio State has been to three BCS title games...the Wolverines have yet to appear in one...Tressel has now taken Ohio State to six straight BCS games while Michigan is looking to extend its streak of non-bowl seasons with another losing season...

Ohio State gets the national spotlight with high profile regular season games against the likes of Texas, USC, and in the future Miami (Fla), Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee...the Wolverines only big non-conference game is against a lame Notre Dame football program which is also living off its once proud past...

When Tressel took over at Ohio State, Michigan was considered the best team in the Big Ten...and in less than 10 years, Tressel consistently smashed the once proud empire of the Maize and Blue and turned it into a pile of rubble...

Ohio State University got more than they expected from Tressel...under his reign they have a BCS championship, six Big Ten titles, and the crowning achievement of totally obliterating the Michigan football program...in Columbus, Tressel may never be considered as famous as Woody Hayes but he can claim to be the only one who destroyed Michigan football - something Woody could not achieve...

The only way Michigan can slow down this bleeding is by stepping up and making a statement on Saturday with a win...that would be their first positive step in a long time over Tressel...

Another disgraceful week for Michigan

2009-11-14T19:39:00.004-05:00

Ohio State wraps up another BCS bowl, Stanford drops 55 on USC, but Michigan does nothing for another week...another disgrace...

Andre Agassi and his past

2009-11-12T05:47:00.002-05:00

Over the last week or so, one of the hot topics in sports centers around Andre Agassi and his autobiography, Open, in which is admits his hate for the sport and his one year use of crystal meth...it seems like most sports fans don't condone Agassi's use of the illegal drug, but do respect his willingness to talk about his mistakes...

After listening to Agassi on yesterday's Dan Patrick Show, it seems like Agassi is not looking for sympathy nor forgiveness...he seems sincere in wanting to set the record straight about his past - something he did not have to do...

I will say, his wife Steffi Graf has aged well and has gotten better looking...in her prime, she came across as someone who not a feminine woman who was ice cold and mechanical...since she retired, she has become more human...

Thank You to all our Veterans

2009-11-11T07:48:00.001-05:00

Larry Johnson deserves another shot

2009-11-11T00:02:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was a guest on "The Dan Patrick Show"...Johnson talked about his issues in Kansas City...he came across as a person who has a desire to be on a winning team...I don't condone Johnson's behavior and at the age of 30-years-old, he has very little left in the tank for a running back...however, I believe Johnson deserves another opportunity and can help a team if in the right situation such as with the Steelers, Patriots, Colts, or Cowboys...listening to Johnson, I was reminded of Randy Moss and his discontent in Oakland...people, like myself, ripped Moss for his behavior on the west coast...but in the end, Moss was correct in his analysis of Oakland and has been a model citizen in New England...

Tonight will be the first big game for new Cleveland Cavalier Shaquille O'Neal...Shaq Diesel was acquired for one reason - to neutralize Dwight Howard...the Cavs take on the Magic...

The Steelers defense looks back in top form since the return of Troy Polamalu...

Is it just me or has the college football season been a bit of a disappointment this year...there seems to lack the excitement of past years...

Youngstown State University will more than likely be looking for a new head football coach after the team's lackluster performance once again with Jon Heacock as the man in charge...I'm calling it now, look for the next head coach to come from the current Ohio State staff...

I just got a feeling that South Carolina is going to give Florida a battle...

Look for Ohio State to thump Iowa especially since Stanzi is out with a foot injury...somehow, Ohio State wormed their way back into another BCS bowl...

There are only 2 individuals that I trust: 1) my dad and 2) my dog...

I watched the ending of ESPN's 30 on 30 segment about Jimmy the Greek...it was a sad ending for The Greek who had so much life in his prime...

Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik is going to wow the hometown crowd in December as he fights another "tomato can" in Youngstown...I believe Pavlik's better days are behind him...he seems to have lost focus...

Thearon "The Pimp" Collier gets 3 huge blocks as The U rolls Virginia

2009-11-10T00:25:00.001-05:00

The SEC gets what it wants - Florida vs. Alabama

2009-11-10T00:01:00.004-05:00

1. Florida (9-0) - the Gators and Tide will be going at it for the SEC title once again...
2. Texas (9-0) - Longhorns can only beat themselves...they are headed to Pasadena...
3. Alabama (9-0) - Tide survives with controversial call...
4. Cincinnati (9-0) - some teams don't have 1 good QB, the Bearcats have 2...
5. Boise State (9-0) - it got a little dicey, the Blue Carpet Boys beat La Tech

6. TCU (9-0) - TCU gets Utah at home this week...the same team that ruined their chance at the Sugar Bowl last year...
7. Georgia Tech (9-1) - Tech survives...no one is talking about them...
8. Pitt (8-1) - Panthers go prime time this week against Notre Dame...this is the type of game where Wannstedt screws up...
9. Southern Cal (7-2) - ugly, ugly win at Arizona State...
10. Ohio State (8-2) - a few weeks back it looked like this team was going to the Outback Bowl...on Saturday they make it official - Pasadena bound...

11. LSU (7-2) - LSU played well, but came up short against the Tide...
12. Oregon (7-2) - typical Ducks...they win a huge game then comeback and lay an egg...a huge disappointment...
13. Iowa (8-1) - when Stanzi went down, so did their dream season...
14. Utah (8-1) - the Utes can make their move if they can upset TCU down in Waco...
15. Arizona (6-2) - the Cats got 4 games to go with three of those games on the road: Cal, Oregon, and USC...
16. Houston (8-1) - I dissed them last week...what the heck, might as well give them #16 spot...

College Football Thoughts
- Penn State played 2 good teams this season - and lost them both - at Happy Valley to boot...
- Terrelle Pryor did not have an impressive stat line, but he made the plays when needed...
- Look for Ohio State to pummel Iowa...
- Is Jon Gruden the front runner for the Notre Dame job...
- It is time for Bobby Bowden to hang it up...

Video Replay
For those of you who missed it, below is the 32 second clip of Cal running back Jahvid Best's scary fall on Saturday...

Eye Candy
Some of the best pieces of ass that God put on this earth - the USC Song Girls...

Tampa Bay's creamsicle uniforms are sweet

2009-11-09T04:53:00.001-05:00

Say what you want, but I love Tampa Bay's old-school uniforms and helmets...

Another record falls at Michigan

2009-11-09T04:48:00.001-05:00

When Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan less than two years ago, the Michigan faithful expected to see records shattered with his Florida Gator-like offense...well, the records have been shattered...in less than two years, the following records have fallen:

- First time in 40 years the Wolverines have lost in consecutive years to Michigan State...

- First time in 50 years the Wolverines have lost in consecutive years to Illinois...

- First time in over 40 years the Wolverines lost to Purdue in Ann Arbor...

- First time in 30 years the Wolverines missed a bowl game...

- First losing season in 40 years...

- The Wolverines are on the brink of its second straight losing season - the first since 1962 and 1963...

- The next record that must fall: the last head coach to coach the Wolverines for only two seasons happened in 1927 & 28 under Elton Wieman...current athletic director Bill Martin must make sure that record is shattered...Rich Rod must go!!!!...

The World Series title is back where it belongs - in the Bronx!!!!

2009-11-05T00:40:00.004-05:00

27 Time World Series Champions
New York Yankees

Will tonight be the night?

2009-11-04T06:58:00.002-05:00

The buzz has already started - will the Yankees blow a 3-1 lead similar to what they did in the 2004 ALCS when they choked on a 3-0 series lead to Boston...

The doubters are out there...the past haunts them...but tonight, I say they will finish the World Series...

Rob Ryan needs to shut his mouth and do his job

2009-11-04T06:11:00.001-05:00

The Cleveland Browns are pathetic...the NFL should fine the Browns organization for not putting their best team on the field...because of financial reasons, the Browns are not playing Brady Quinn at quarterback, instead they are opting for Derek Anderson...

I am not saying Quinn is the next Tom Brady or even another Tony Romo, but he deserves another chance as the starter, especially since Anderson has been putrid in his role...on Sunday he got picked ?? times including one for a Chicago touchdown...a few weeks back he completed only 2 passes the entire game...two passes!!!!!...

These executive decisions and disgusting play on the field has finally gotten to some of the diehard Browns fans...two fans who have season tickets in the Dawg Pound are planning a protest before the Monday, November 16 home game against Baltimore...one of the fans, known as Dawg Pound Mike, is upset with the team...they are asking all fans to not enter the game until after kickoff...by no means are they telling fans to stay away...they just want to make a point to the Browns organization that they are not pleased with the team and management's effort...

Dawg Pound Mike said, ""We're tired of the losing ... tired of the booing"...

This planned protest has gotten under the skin of first year year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan...Ryan stated (about the planned protest), "It pisses me off. This is a town that's tough, that loves football. Nobody's happy. I hate me too, I already said it. So they hate me too, great. It doesn't mean you turn your back. Bottom line is, my gosh, a little adversity happens, you don't turn your back, you fight. You rub your hands together, you fight harder. That's what we're going to do on defense."...

First off, Ryan has no right to make that comment...sure he is employed by the Browns organization, but he does not understand that consistent losing and abysmal performance the Browns have been displaying to their loyal fans since they came back in the NFL in 1999...for 10 years these fans have watched rotten football...

Over these last 10 years, assistant coaches have come and gone through Cleveland like a revolving door...once these assistants leave, they show no loyalty to the Browns organization...next year at this time, Ryan could be coaching in Seattle, Dallas, or anywhere else in the league...

He is not a true Cleveland Brown...he does not bleed orange and brown...he is here for a short stay because he is receiving paycheck...Ryan has only been in Cleveland for less than a year...he does not understand the fan's frustration with this organization's inept decisions...also, at the rate his defense is performing this season, it looks like Ryan will not be in Cleveland long...

So Ryan should just shut his mouth and try and get his defense to play better for the fans who are shelling out hard working money to watch a team perform like crap...if Ryan is such a renegade, like his father Buddy, he should speak out publicly about how the organization is wrong for not playing Quinn just because they don't want to pay him a bonus...instead, Ryan spoke out at the fans...this is just another example of a Browns staff person who is a knucklehead...

Here is a bone for all the old-school Browns fans...a 1:17 clip of Bernie Kosar against Denver in a regular season game...the memories...those are the days when I rooted for the Browns...

Lou Filippo, referee in Balboa-Creed II bout, dies

2009-11-03T12:36:00.002-05:00

Lou Filippo, a California referee and judge for more than 30 years and member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 83.

Before becoming one of the top ring officials and refereeing and judging dozens of world championship bouts, Filippo boxed professionally as a lightweight from 1947 to 1957, exclusively in Southern California. The World War II veteran compiled a professional record of 23-9-3 with 8 KOs.

He finished his career with a pair of fights against Hall of Famer and former lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz, a nine-round no-decision followed by a seventh-round knockout loss.

Filippo's presence in the ring led to numerous television and film appearances, including parts as a referee in the second, third, fourth and fifth installments of the "Rocky" films.

Filippo began refereeing and judging in the mid-1970s, working primarily in Southern California. But he was also associated with the WBC, which held a moment of silence and a 10-bell count in Filippo's honor during its annual convention, taking place this week in Jeju, South Korea.

Perhaps Filippo's most famous judging assignment came in 1987, when he served on the panel for the controversial Sugar Ray Leonard-"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler middleweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

Boxing fans argue to this day about who deserved to win the fight, although Leonard was awarded a split-decision victory. It was Filippo who scored the fight for Hagler 115-113.