Ah... it's good to be back. I've missed all of you out there in the blogosphere. It seems like months since I've been able to post, but in reality it's been about a week. Yikes, does time really go that slow? Anyways, we're back with our semi-regular Monday feature: 7 Things We Missed This Weekend. Of course, we cover the biggest, the weirdest, the funniest, and the zaniest from around the non-football world of sports. Away we go...
1. The Agassi Interview
- We haven't given our thoughts on the Agassi admissions yet, but I'll sum it up in 3 letters: W. T. F. The cool dude with the long hair that I watched as a kindergartener was wearing a wig? One of the most popular American athletes used crystal meth? He hated tennis? They are all very stunning admissions, but I've got to think this is more about selling books. Sure, people might be skeptical about these things, but why expose your past misdeeds in such an intensely honest way? Why bear your entire bizarre history? This is more than books, this is a cleansing experience for an obviously troubled soul. Here's the interview, you decide...
2. Nascar Playoffs
-Wow, we actually have a race again! Get it, NASCAR... race... aha aha. Mark Martin cut Jimmie Johnson's lead in more than half. After naming the #48 crew in our Top 10 Teams list, you have to wonder if the RSS hex has hit NASCAR. Sorry Jimmie. A 73 point lead in 2 races is by no way insurmountable. Heck, Mark Martin picked up over 100 this week at Texas. However, you have to think that the #48 is going to do everything possible to ensure decent finishes the last 2 weeks. Two Top 10's will see them through, and while I'm rooting for Martin, Johnson's team is probably too good to have 2 bad finishes in 3 races. Then again, all it takes is for a guy like Sam Hornish to get in the way...
3. Soccer Stuff
-Yoder1 and I were at Crew Stadium to see RSL pull off the upset against the Shield champs. They'll face Chicago in the East Finals (see if that makes sense), while the Beckhams will play Houston in the West Finals. The MLS Playoff structure is such a crapshoot, so why bother predicting it. I will say that I think Houston has the best shot out of the remaining teams. But, MLS has got to do something to overhaul the system. Let's face it, teams aren't rewarded for their high finish in the regular season. There is zero homefield advantage in Round 1. If MLS wants average teams like RSL and New York from last year in their showcase event, then keep the system like it is. Here's the MLS website with highlights.
-Elsewhere, Chelsea downed Man U on the world stage 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. That win only furthers the gap between the two teams. United sure are missing Ronaldo this year, while Chelsea clearly has the most depth and talent of any team going in the EPL. Check back soon for our preview of the UEFA World Cup Playoffs and other soccer thoughts.
4. Soccer Stuff - Psycho Girl Edition
-This clip is pretty self-explanatory, and I'm sure you've seen it by now, but it needs a space at RSS. Maybe the Browns or Bears could look into signing this girl, at least she'll defend with some intensity. I think the ponytail trick might only work with Troy Polamalu though. (Insert "that time of the month" or other female jokes on your own, we're all abut gender inclusivity here). Jokes aside, this is just insane behavior and unsporting on any level, how could all of this equal 1 yellow card!?! And how did the entire BYU team not maul her?? (Insert own Mormon joke here as well...)
5. AI Goes MIA
-The biggest story of the NBA season so far (besides the hideous start by the Cavs) is the untimely marriage of Allen Iverson and the Memphis Grizzlies. It didn't exactly look like something that was going to work out from the beginning. It seems like there are storms brewing over AI whether it be frustration with riding the pine, a family issue, or whatever questions are swirling around the Answer's head. It's sad that a career of such a great player could end so unceremoniously (HINT: future article tease). Let's cheer up and relive some AI magic...
6. NBA Beginnings
-With the NBA season a couple weeks old, we are slowly learning a few things. The Celtics are better than we thought. And so are the Suns. New York/New Jersey basketball really sucks. And so does Minny and Memphis. Florida has 2 good teams with the Heat on fire to start. Don't panic if you're a Spurs or Cavs fan yet, you're built for the Summer, not the Fall. But, it's not a good sign if this is the best video from the Cavs season so far... and by best I mean most puzzling and hardest to explain...
7. If I Were Sammy Sosa, I Would Re-think This....
-This might be the single weirdest, spookiest picture I have ever seen. Gee, we did miss a lot this weekend. Either that, or I've woken up on another planet where Sammy Sosa has morphed into some sort of lagoon creature. Evidently this is the product of skin rejuvenation?? Are you sure it's not some sort of alien cream?
Just think about it, now Mark McGwire is now the normal guy out of that now infamous Summer of '98. Hey, I thought Michael Jackson was dead... oh, (rimshot). Now if he could only work on the nose a little bit...
Well, with the firing of George Kokinis, and an incredibly busy schedule from yours truly, we thought it would be great for a 2nd Browns fan testimony from RSS right hand man Brother Yohey. As a shameless self-promotion, if you have time tomorrow, check out our broadcasts of D3 sports here. Between you and me, the OWU/Earlham football game at 1 won't shape up as an all-time classic, but the North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Final between #1 in the nation Ohio Wesleyan and archrival Denison should be a classic. Speaking of classics... about those Browns...
Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'.
The Times They Are A Changin’, Bob Dylan
Eric Mangini better morph himself into Mark Spitz if he wishes to not get swept away in this tidal wave of destruction he has created. The blame is being put on Mangini, and most assuredly, there will be a new HC in Cleveland next season, AGAIN! However, I don’t think that it will all be solved by hiring a new head coach; to me, the greatest problem facing the Browns in the past and currently is a lack of focus and success in the hiring of their offensive and defensive coordinators. Allow me to run down the past Browns head coaches since 1999 and their coordinators:
Chris Palmer: Frank Conti, Bob Slowik, Romeo Crennel
Butch Davis: Bruce Arians, Foge Fazio, Terry Robiskie, Dave Campo
Romeo Crennel: Maurice Carthon, Jeff Davidson, Rob Chudzinski, Todd Grantham, Mel Tucker
Eric Mangini:Brian Daboll, Rob Ryan
Study that list for a second. The only reputable coordinators this team has had since returning to the league is the current defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan. Palmer, the offensive/QB genius, had little offensive success, as did his coordinators, although I didn’t think his firing after 2 seasons was justified, but I digress. Frank Conti and Bob Slowik were guys who had seen various offensive and defensive systems through their coaching careers and it was thought they would take the best parts and mold a system of success for Cleveland, at least that is what Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark believed. Two years later, both were out the door.
Bruce Arians didn’t seem to get his head out of his rear until he got to Pittsburgh to work with Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger. Foge Fazio played prevent defense too early against Pittsburgh in the Browns most recent playoff appearance and blew that game (still boils my blood). The Butch Davis long-time confidant was not able to come up with a good reason for the stale defensive performance in the final moments of that game and was similarily run out of town. Terry Robiskie was never up to the task of being a coordinator after being a career WR coach and Dave Campo had already been neutered after his dreadful tenure with the Cowboys.
Crennel probably had the absolute WORST choices for coordinators. Stevie Wonder could run a better offense than Maurice Carthon, who couldn’t translate his mediocre success as an NFL running back to offensive play-calling greatness. Jeff Davidson was seen as a needed spark of offensive “genius”, but he similarly proved clueless in what he was doing. Chudzinski was hired based on his “accomplishments” working with tight ends in San Diego and Cleveland by taking reigns of the Cleveland offense in 2007. Although the success in 2007 was more than I could have hoped for after the Pittsburgh debacle in Week 1, Chud’s honeymoon came down to earth by the end of the 2008 season, when he proved that he didn’t think defenses would adapt to his scheme, therefore the 4-12 record in 2008.
Todd Grantham was fiery and aggressive, but he butted heads with the locker room and never really showed much success with the defense. His resume in Houston before the Cleveland job was not shining with accomplishment. The 10-6 record in 2007 was more of a reflection to the offense rather than the defense (see Arizona game). Mel Tucker was not able to transition from coaching up the defensive backs in Cleveland to running the defense. He developed Leigh Bodden, but that ended up being the only good thing that developed out of his Cleveland residency.
Now for the present: Brian Daboll is probably the most unqualified offensive coordinator that I have ever seen. I won’t delve into great detail, but this stat by Josh Cribbs, 5.7 yards per carry when running the Flash [NOT WILDCAT] package, would incline one to think, “hmm.. maybe we need to run this more.” Not Daboll; I wish he was accompanying Kokinis out of Berea earlier this week, but it was not to be. Daboll was just another Jet that Mangini brought over with him to Cleveland to play a greater role in the offense. This time, instead of working with the QB’s, he would run the entire offense. Although Brett Favre had some success in New York last season under Daboli, it seems that Daboll had nothing to do with it, as Mangini may have thought. The only name in this putred pile I have no qualms about is Rob Ryan, so far.His flowing gray locks, mangy facial hair and prominent gut have melted my heart; along with his defensive calls. He gets after people, brings the hammer.
Last week his defense came close to turning Jay Cutler’s face into raw meat and bones. Too bad he can’t recharge the defense that is on the field for around 2/3 of every game. When he gets a good offense to match his defense, PLAYOFFS!! So when it comes to getting a new coach, I don’t feel there is any correct route to go, hot coordinator or experienced coach. McDaniels is successful in Denver because he calls his own plays and has Mike Nolan to run the defense, an experienced coordinator. John Harbaugh had Cam Cameron to run his offense and with Baltimore’s defense, I could coordinate them. So no matter who the Browns hire, an experienced head coach, or young coordinator, they need to hire legitimate NFL coordinators. Someone who has called plays before and knows how to adapt. If not, owner Randy Lerner better start to build an Ark, because the water level will rise once again in Berea, and the Cuyahoga may burn again.
Today we're issuing a very special combined Hot off the Grill for the upcoming football weekend. Y1 and myself will be busy the next couple of days preparing for our coverage of an OWU athletics doubleheader on Saturday, so enjoy this overstuffed preview while you can! Pass the mustard and come, follow me!
Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - #9 LSU (7-1) at #3 Alabama (8-0)
Our big game of the week focuses on the SEC West showdown between LSU and Alabama. If the SEC title game is a national semifinal, this game between the 'Tide and Tigers should be considered a national quarterfinal. For Alabama, LSU represents its stiffest test remaining on the schedule until the SEC title game. For LSU, winning this game at Alabama would give them the upper hand in the SEC West, and an SEC title game berth. If they could then upset Florida, could you argue they don't deserve a spot in the BCS title game?
As for the game itself, it should be no surprise if a mighty defensive struggle ensues between these two teams. The difference though will be Alabama's Heisman hopeful, RB Mark Ingram. Clearly, he is the most explosive player on either offense, and will be the focus of Alabama's attack. As for LSU, despite the improvement of QB Jordan Jefferson, the Tigers offense will struggle mightily to score TDs against the Tide's suffocating defense, led by Mt. Cody and LB Rolando McClain. In another low-scoring nailbiter, 'Bama will come out on top. PICK-Alabama
Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - Pittsburgh (5-2) @ Denver (6-1)
Meanwhile, the biggest pro game of the weekend will be on Monday night when the now imperfect Broncos host the Steelers. Why does it seem every time we picked against the Broncos, they beat the odds and won. But, when we finally believe in them, they get beat up by the Ravens. While they're defense still looked impressive at times, Kyle Orton finally seemed vulnerable under the pressure of the Ravens. Things will get no easier when Denver faces the Steelers and their zone blitz. Big Ben always seems to bring it on the road, and should be able to stay alive in the pocket long enough to make plays downfield. PICK-Pittsburgh
Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - #16 Ohio St. (7-2) at #11 Penn St. (8-1)
Everything seems to be against the Buckeyes this week as they travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn St. Both teams still hold out hopes for a conference title and a Rose Bowl berth. They're a 4-point underdog, they've lost their starting kicker for the season, and their star quarterback missed the 2nd half of their last game because he was "banged up". But, Terrelle Pryor has really seemed to bounce back after his atrocious performance against Purdue and the Buckeyes seem to finally have a running game with the emergence of Fr. Jordan Hall. Meanwhile, Penn St. is still lacking a real eye-popping win and has been feasting on the lower echelon of the Big Ten. The great OSU defense should shut down Darryl Clark and the Spread HD enough to squeak out a close win on the road with TP proving the doubters by making clutch plays. PICK-Ohio St.
Andouille's Under the Radar Game - Dallas (5-2) @ Philadelphia (5-2)
Aside from the Roy WIlliams circus (which we'll discuss below) this game has huge implications in the suddenly average NFC East. The downfall of the New York Giants the last few weeks has opened the doors for both Dallas and Philadelphia. Both are suspect coming in to this game with Dallas feasting on the poor of the NFL while Philadelphia still has that loss to Oakland to explain. Even though Tony Romo has been playing well (no INTs the last 3 games) he hasn't faced a hostile environment like Philly this season. Add to that the explosive playmaking of Desean Jackson (by the way, you should hear Y1's Merril Reese impersonation) and Philly is the wise pick at home. PICK-Philadelphia
Hot Dog Of The Week - Jonathan Dwyer -RB- Georgia Tech
Coming off of 186 yards and 3 TDs last week, this week's Hot Dog of the Week has to be Georgia Tech's powerhouse RB Jonathan Dwyer. At the beginning of the year, we at RSS had him as a dark horse Heisman candidate. And while he didn't do enough at the beginning of the season to throw his name in the ring, he's really come on as of late to help lead the Yellow Jackets to the brink of an ACC Division crown. This week, Dwyer and co. face Wake Forest, who ranks in the bottom half of run defenses in D1. Expect a big day for the triple option, and another big day for Dwyer.
Extra Toppings -
-For more in-depth analysis of this weekend's games, be sure to check out the picks from our friends over at Rumors & Rants
-First let's look at the college game. The ridiculousness that is Urban Meyer continued this week as he whined to anyone who would listen that poor little Tim Tebow was roughed up last week against Georgia. To hear this self-righteous jerk complain about one missed call on his precious QB while turning a blind eye (pun intended) to his own player's eye gouging is absurd. I wouldn't be surprised to find out Meyer considers himself on the same level as the Pope. Here's betting it will take a makeover of Touchdown Jesus to Touchdown Urban to ever see him coaching at Notre Dame.
-What makes Meyer look even more foolish was the response of Florida's All-American LB Brandon Spikes. Feeling remorseful for the distraction and wanting to put his team first, Spikes himself approached the coaching staff and extended his suspension against Vandy to the full game. Why in this situation did it take the player to be the mature one? Maybe his head coach could learn something from his selfless actions.
-One final college point that you'll only find here. The vaunted SEC now only has 3 teams in the Top 25. So while they might have 3 of the Top 10, don't listen to the usual "best conference in the world" hype.
-On the pro side, we may have a new contender for stupidest thing said this year thanks to Cowboys "#1 WR" Roy Williams. The loudmouth, who has a paltry 14 catches and 2 TDs this season was asked about the sudden emergence of Miles Austin who has 21 catches, 5 TDs his last 3 games! Williams said, "I'm the #1 receiver. But things are just going #2's way." He then complained about QB Tony Romo throwing him the ball incorrectly compared to Austin. Wow! And the Cowboys thought they got rid of all their whiny prima donna receivers when TO left. This type of me-first attitude, as well as completely living in la la land, won't do Roy Williams, or his team, any favors.
-We've said it before, we'll say it again. There's a multitude of crappy teams in the NFL. This week won't get any better for the types of the Lions, Bucs, Chiefs, and Redskins. At least the Rams and Raiders won't lose this week, although they might be the first to actually lose on a bye week.
-So Big Baby Davis of the Boston Celtics wants to play in the NFL. How about focusing on one sport at a time Glen, or just being able to take care of your own high-school teammate. I think I have a better chance of donning an NFL jersey any time soon than Big Baby.
-One way to fix the Redskins, John Riggins and owner Dan Snyder in a Steel Cage Texas Deathmatch for control of the 'Skins...my money's on Riggo.
Randall's Got His Eye On You... Eric Mangini-HC-Cleveland Browns
Even though the Browns have a bye, all eyes in Cleveland are on the Browns first year coach, the supposed "Mangenius". Ever since Mangini was hired, he's piloted an already shaky Browns franchise straight into a nosedive. His offense has been by far the most inept in the league with QB Derek Anderson trying hard not to break records for awfulness. I mean, the guy had a 10.5 QB rating last week against the Bears and still didn't get pulled for Brady Quinn until the last drive of the 4th quarter! The madness continued this week when Mangini's hand-picked GM was fired. Of course, everything is difficult with the Brownies, which might explain looking through George Kokinos's phone records to see if he broke his contract. Well, I guess they could just be cheap, too. This franchise is quickly become one of the most embarrassing in pro sports, and if Mangini survives through the season, I'll be surprised. Not survive his job...I mean physically survive the disgruntled Dawg Pound.
That's it for our combined football preview, but join us tomorrow as we give you our weekly EPL picks. Also look for the return of our Decade Series next week as we count down the Top 10 Games of the Decade! Don't forget for our BallHype friends that we need all the help we can get, so keep those votes coming...that way we can stop begging. Until next time, it's bye for now!
You know we here at Randall Simon's Sausages are proud to give our unique look at all the major sports, and college basketball is no exception! Our regular look at the college hardwood, Campus Countdown will be full with our opinions on all aspects of college basketball from the best teams in the country, to the players and games to watch to the coaches on the hot seat. So, let's get it started with our preview!
Elite 8
In our Elite 8, we'll rank the top 8 teams in the country. Why 8? Well, the elite 8 is always a measuring stick in the NCAA tourney if you're program is legit. It'd be too boring to rank just the top 5 teams and finally, we're too lazy to rank more than 8.
1) Kansas
As much as we hate going with the consensus at RSS, you can't deny the Jayhawks have the most returning talent in the country. In PG Sherron Collins and C Cole Aldrich, Kansas should have the most lethal inside-out combination in the country. The contribution of blue chip recruit Xavier Henry should also help matters quite nicely.
2) Michigan St.
The Spartans made a valiant run to Detroit in the tourney last year, and come back strong this year, only losing Goran Suton and Travis Walton. They will be led by returning Big Ten POY Kalin Lucas and as usual, should outwork the opposition into a high ranking all year.
3) Villanova
Speaking of magical Final Four runs, Villanova finally made it back for the first time since Rollie and 1985. They return their glut of guards, including hero Scottie Reynolds. But, this team will only succeed if they find a suitable replacement for Dante Cunningham in the post.
4) Texas
The only legit threat in the Big 12 to Kansas has to be the Longhorns. Damion James has long been an RSS fave with his all-around game and his return will be a big boost that may have the deepest backcourt in the country.
5) Kentucky
Full disclosure alert from Y2, I've been a lifelong Wildcat fan. That being said, everyone in Big Blue Nation couldn't be more psyched trading Coach Cal for Billy "one more round" Gillispie. Although they lose their leading scorer Jodie Meeks, the return of big man Patrick Patterson combined with the best freshmen class in the country should mean a return to glory in Lexington.
6) Purdue
HC Matt Painter has steadily brought Purdue back into the national basketball discussion, where they should remain this year. After a Sweet 16 berth last year, they return all five starters and have two candidates for Big Ten POY in Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore.
7) North Carolina
I'll admit this is a begrudging addition to the list. But, with a lack of other worthy candidates, we slot the defending champs at 7th even though they lost 4/5 of their starting lineup and what seems like 99% of their scoring. But, if anyone can reload quickly, it's Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.
8) Butler
You know we at RSS are always going to champion the little guy, and the best of the bunch this year in college basketball will be Butler. They easily could have won their 1st round game last year against LSU and advanced in the tourney. This year, they return all five starters, including impressive big man Matt Howard.
Starting 5
Our starting five will give you the 5 players to watch around the country, for good or bad reasons. In our preseason edition, here's an extremely loose projection of the year end All-RSS 1st team.
G-John Wall-Fr-Kentucky
G-Scottie Reynolds-Sr-Villanova
F-Damion James-Sr-Texas
F-Luke Harangody-Sr-Notre Dame
C-Cole Aldrich-Jr-Kansas
Two of these spots seem to be mortal locks. Aldrich (above) averaged 14 and 11 last season, but really blossomed in the tournament into a dominant big man. Haranagody seems like an 8th year senior in this age of one and done college stars, but once again he will be asked to carry Notre Dame on his broad shoulders. The rest of our predictions offer some typical RSS outside-the-box thinking. We told you we've always been a fan of Damion James's game, he's athletic enough to score on the inside and his perimeter game has consistently improved. In the backcourt, coming off his Final Four appearance, expect Scottie Reynolds to sustain his momentum and be the defining player in the Big East. And finally, recent history tells us at least one freshman will have a major impact on the college game, and no one is in a better position to do so than John Wall in Kentucky's new dribble drive offense.
4 Corners
In our 4 corners feature, we'll take you around the country and preview the biggest upcoming games that will shape the season. In our preseason edition, we'll highlight the four preseason tourneys you should keep an eye on.
1) Maui Invitational
Ah, usually my favorite of all the preseason tourneys, not just because of its history of competitive games, but it's nice to see a warm beach when you're stuck in Central Ohio with 5 months of winter ahead. This year's field is a little weaker than normal though, highlighted by Maryland and Gonzaga. There will be players to watch though, including Maryland's do-it-all PG Greivis Vasquez and Cincinnati's prized recruit Lance Stephenson.
2) O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
The most underrated field will be on display in San Juan. Dayton and Villanova will look to sustain their Big Dance success from last season while Georgia Tech also seems to be back on the rise. But, the most interesting participant will be Tom Crean's Indiana, still trying to recover from the Kelvin Sampson disaster. Of courses, any signs of life from the Hoosiers might be an improvement over last year's team which was 1-17 in Big Ten play.
3) 76 Classic in Anaheim
The deepest preseason tournament field will be in Anaheim, featuring a bevy of mouthwatering matchups between projected tourney teams West Virginia, Clemson, Butler, Minnesota, Texas A&M, and UCLA. While none of these teams may be in the very top echelon of the nation yet, emerging through this strong field could easily be a catapult to a really good year.
4) Coaches vs. Cancer
Usually when you think of tournament basketball and Madison Square Garden, you think of the NIT. But, the stronger MSG showcase in the early season this year will be the Coaches vs. Cancer classic. In one matchup California will matchup with Syracuse, two young teams looking to build their programs back to previous heights. On the other side, you have Ohio State and North Carolina. One team will look to show off how quickly they reload, while another will be able to play freely without the human albatross otherwise known as B.J. Mullens.
3 Point Play
Our 3 point play segment will give you 3 unique takes on anything and everything in college hoops. You can expect annoying figures like Dick Vitale to become RSS punching bags quickly.
1) Here's a prediction: by year's end Digger Phelps will call Luke Harangody one of college basketball's best all-time players...no coincidence that he plays at Notre Dame, of course.
2) If you want the most competitive conference this season, why not look at the Big Ten? While Michigan St. and Purdue are the only legit Final Four contenders, the rest of the conference is stacked with potential tourney teams (Ohio St., Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois). Don't just be force fed the same talking points that the Big Ten is boring ball or the only great conferences are the Big East/Big 12. For sheer depth, the Big Ten will be the toughest conference this year.
3) Here's another word of advice...don't expect us to follow in the steps of most in the college basketball world and continually heap praise on Coach K. Duke will continued to be overrated this season because of past achievements, not because of their actual level of talent.
2 Man Game
In our 2 Man Game feature, we'll spotlight two coaches who either deserve praise, or should be preparing for a walk across hot coals!
(1) John Calipari-HC-Kentucky
As we mentioned before, Coach Cal is being viewed as the Messiah for a state craving success...and not just getting back to the Final Four, but winning the national championship. While his honeymoon is still ongoing (just look at his number of followers on Twitter), he also brings a cloud of doubt around the program. Expect more stories similar to those questioning John Wall's eligibility to follow Coach Cal during his tenure. Of course, winning would do a lot to hide those blemishes.
(2) Rick Pitino-HC-Louisville
I have literally been waiting for months to blast Rick Pitino in this space for his escapades over the summer. After a blackmail attempt by a former lover, Pitino's public image has gone into a tailspin. From a tryst in an empty restaurant, to allegedly paying for the woman's abortion, to using Ted Kennedy's death to cover for his mistakes, it's been a bad time to be Rick Pitino. For any other coach, their job would be in serious jeopardy. For Pitino, it's just another notch on his hypocritical belt (and yes, expect the jokes and puns to keep flyin' throughout the year). If you watch this ridiculousness below, you'll get the same sense I did; in his own mind, this scandal is everyone's fault but Rick Pitino's.
And 1
And last but not least, we'll throw down our Campus Countdown with one extra thought on the madness that is college basketball.
Someone has some 'splainin' to do today, and its Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. His Syracuse Orange(men) lost last night to DII Le Moyne 82-79 at the Carrier Dome. Predictably after the game, Boeheim blasted his team's maturity level. Even though the exhibition loss is embarrassing, the Hall of Famer has always shown he can get his teams to improve over the course of a season. But, this loss and ones like it over recent years show the talent gap in basketball is shrinking. Not only are mid-majors like Butler, Gonzaga, and George Mason proving on a yearly basis that they can compete with the big boys, but the difference in talent between D-I and D-II and even some of the better D-III schools is continually shrinking. So, when teams like Syracuse or Kentucky (see: Gardiner-Webb) take a night off against a team they assume can be beat just by the name on the jersey, they will be in for a rude awakening.
That does it for our first edition of the Campus Countdown. Remember to check back throughout the year for our regular trip around the college basketball world. Also tune in the rest of this week for our combined football preview and our EPL Picks. Until then, it's bye for now!
Time for our look back at Week 8 in the NFL. Who was tricked and who was treated on Halloween weekend, and who starred on All Saints Day... hint, hint... and yes, I know Sunday was All Saints Day, not Monday, but that's all I've got to work with people!
Overrated Story of The Week: All Favre All The Time
-Is there another logical choice? Calling this the biggest regular season game of all-time gives hyperbole a bad name. But, of course, if #4 is involved, things tend to get ratcheted up a little bit on the hype machine. Favre's return to Green Bay was surprisingly subdued, but that doesn't mean it wasn't overrated. I will give credit to Fox though for keeping this game much more understated than the shamelessness that was the ESPN Monday Night Football production earlier this season. Besides Thom Brennaman's lecture at the end of the game that we can finally move on, it was well done.
However, that didn't stop various pundits from telling Green Bay fans what they should do. Saying that Brett Favre deserved a hero's welcome is pathetic. Does anyone not realize that Favre is in Minnesota for the sole purpose of sticking it to the Pack? Are fans just supposed to clap appreciatively? Seriously? Favre could care less about the Green Bay fans and what they think, so I was glad to see that they gave him the merciless booing he deserved. (On a side note, I had to explain to a fellow seminary student the facts today when he called Brett Favre a hero... Lord have mercy...). Oh, and Favre thinks that will be his last game in Lambeau, someone please make it stop. Thankfully, now that the Minny @ GB game is over, and the Earth hasn't been pelted with meteors, we can move on with the NFL and our lives, which leads us to....
Underrated Story Of The Week: The NFC Arms Race
OK, as regular readers know, we don't like Favre or his tactics, but we'll give credit to the old man where it's due. The Vikings are a darn good football team and #4 is a big reason why. Hey, we don't hold grudges here, we're nice people deep down. But, the real story behind Favreamania is the NFC Arms Race between New Orleans and Minnesota... more specifically, the race for homefield advantage. After seeing Minny be dominant for most of the game at Green Bay and watching Harvin, Favre, AP and the Williams Wall, I'm convinced that only the Saints are better right now.
And with New Orleans at 7-0 (more on them later) and Minny at 7-1, the race for homefield advantage starts now. Let's face it, both of these teams might be unbeatable at home, especially come January. The Super/Metro Domes are tough, tough places to win, and near impossible when the crowds are at fever pitch. Both of these teams could finish at least 14-2, and you can bet that they'll take every game seriously to make sure they play in their dome when it counts. Watch these two teams light it up in the next two months in anticipation of an epic showdown which might not only decide the NFC, but the Super Bowl Champion as well.
3 Stars:
3rd Star: Reggie Wayne (WR-Colts)
-We give a lot of love to Peyton Manning, but Reggie Wayne is the man. He led the Colts again in receiving this week catching a TD pass not from #18, but Joseph Addai. I've got a soft spot in my heart for Reg because we have the same childhood hero: all-time leading Saints WR Eric Martin. Me and Reggie Wayne have a lot more in common, except he puts up big days in real life, and I do it in Madden '08... yes, I went there.
2nd Star: Chris Johnson (RB-Titans)
-228 yards rushing for the best player in football that nobody thinks about. This guy is unbelievable in his ability to break it to the house, and finally it got Tennessee a win. As RSS fave Gus Johnson said, he's got "get away from the cops speed". Good for late night Comedy Central... not so much for a national network telecast.
1st Star: Teddy Ginn(WR-Dolphins)
-Teddy Ginn just gave a big finger wag to all the doubters setting NFL history on Sunday with 2 100+ yard TDs in the same game. The The Ohio State University grad (doesn't that look silly Buckeye fans?) had 2 100-yard plus kickoff return TDs in the 4th quarter to lead Miami to a win over the Jets, of course, all those criticisms of his stonehands remain...
Fab 5:
1. New Orleans
2. Minnesota
3. Indy
4. Denver
5. Cincinnati
-A thought about our rankings: The Saints stay at #1 with their interesting win over Atlanta, Denver drops to 4 after getting exposed in Baltimore. And, Minny jumps above Indy on the back of their big game win over Green Bay. Sure, Indy is still undefeated, but if they played today, who do you think would win? Minny would, so they slot in at #2. Cincy stays at #5 as the best of the 2 loss gang.
11 Random Observations:
1) The Saints won in spite of allowing a Michael Turner rebirth, a defensive TD, a sputtering 2nd half offense, and a series of unpredictable crazy events in the final 2 minutes. I'd say that's the mark of a good football team, wouldn't you?
2) Has Mike Tirico ever worked in sales? Good grief, I mean I was nervous enough as it was watching the Saints. I tend to go through violent mood swings and pace a lot, but I digress. Last night though, I was constantly annoyed with Tirico trying to sell me into thinking that the game was still competitive throughout the last 4 minutes. The guy was doing algorithms to find Atlanta a way back in the game. He might as well have said, "Please, please watch the rest of this game!!!"
3) 2nd MNF broadcast note. I'm a fan of Jon Gruden, but ease up a little with the nicknames. Drew Brees is now the surgeon, versatile tight ends are now jokers... and in the pregame Chuckie couldn't get out the words rehabilitate or recover to describe Drew Brees' shoulder and gave us resurgery. Brilliant!
4) I think I'm going to stop picking NFL games... or at least let Y2's adorable kittens Boo and Beaker pick them... they can't do any worse.
5) One of those picks was the Giants. D'oh! It seems like DeSean Jackson has a 50 yard TD every game these days, and that the Giants secondary gives up one every game. Two teams going in opposite directions. Maybe the Giants will keep falling after all.
6) Puppet GM George Kokomo was escorted out of the building in Cleveland as the walls start closing in on the Mangini Era. Maybe they should resign Charlie Frye to try and play QB? Bernie Kosar? The ghost of Otto Graham?? The Browns put me to sleep on Sunday, literally.
7) Congrats to St. Louis for beating Detroit! What a defining win for a franchise. Now may you both go the rest of the season winless.... Detroit has the experience, but St. Louis is still really bad. Oh the drama of the tank race for the #1 pick!
8) So, did Kurt Warner just feel bad for Jake Delhomme? Is there any other way to explain that 5 INT performance against the Panthers? Can we strip the automatic NFC West birth away this year?
9) I feel for the 49ers. They play two of the best games of the season at Minny and Indy and walk away with 2 losses. Maybe they're still one year away from really contending.
10) Slowly but surely, folks are getting back aboard the Cowboy bandwagon. Can't wait till they all jump off when Tony Romo starts throwing 3 INTs a game in December and January.
11) The allegations of Tom Cable's past abusive behavior towards women was troubling. While on one hand you have to question the timing of these accusations coming out years after, expect Roger "the Hammer" Goodell to have a chat with the Raiders coach in the near future. Hopefully this puts a spotlight on the domestic violence issues which have plagued the NFL, but hasn't gotten the same attention as dogfighting or shooting yourself in the leg.
What Happened In Week 8 That Will Change The Season: The Vince Young Era 2.0
Who was that man playing QB for the Titans on Sunday? After weeks of lobbying, Tennessee owner Bud Adams got his wish and saw VY back in the Titans lineup, and ya know what, he played pretty well. With Vince, the numbers are never going to be in the league of Manning, Brady, and Brees, but he can win games in other ways. For one week, Vince and the Titans could put behind them all of the turmoil and tumult that have surrounded this franchise. The curse of the terrible towel, the coach wearing a Colts jersey, and the psychological issues of the star QB could all be temporarily forgotten. Maybe this 0-6 start was the best thing for the player and the team. Vince can get a fresh start on a second chance and the team can build for next year with #10 at the helm. For a guy that's been through so much and been such an inspiring college player, I'm hoping the Vince Young Tennessee sequel has a happy ending.
Check back for our NCAA preview and the beginning of the Top 10 Games of the Decade Countdown! Oh yea, and we might say something about the World Series when all is said and done...
After a topsy turvy week in college football, we at the YCS are here to provide you with the true college football rankings. How far should Oregon climb up the rankings? Should the top 3 remain the same? How do we sort out the rest of the unbeatens? And in the Heisman Watch, did anyone finally claim #1? To find the answers, you're in the right place, because we're the only ones who tell it like it is!
YCS STANDINGS
1. Texas (8-0, last week W at #14 Oklahoma St. 41-14, up next Sat vs. UCF )
-Another important Big 12 game, another easy win for the 'Horns. Instead of riding the arm of Colt McCoy, the defense stepped up in a big way, picking Ok. St. QB Zac Robinson off four times, taking two back to the house. The D didn't leave McCoy much work to do, but when called upon his form is finally starting to resemble the deadly accuracy of last season. What's more, Texas has one of the easiest finishing schedules in the country...unless you think one of UCF, Baylor, Kansas, or Texas A&M can give them a scare. With that weak schedule though, it may be hard for Texas to stay at #1 in the YCS for long...
2. Florida (8-0, last week W vs. Georgia 41-17, up next Sat. vs. Vanderbilt)
-Ok, so yeah, Georgia wasn't a match for Florida like we thought they would be...but, there's something more important that needs discussed in this space, the disgusting actions of Florida HC Urban Meyer. LB Brandon Spikes did the wrong thing by trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player at the bottom of a pile on Saturday. On one hand it's a part of a violent game, but on the other hand, he got caught and should be punished. But, for Mr. Self-Righteous Urban Meyer to only suspend him for ONE HALF is atrocious. If you aren't going to send a message that that type of dirty play is wrong, then don't suspend him. If you condone those sorts of dirty tactics, don't bother with this empty gesture. How many times will Urban Meyer give the middle finger to the rest of college football before anyone gets offended?
3. Alabama (8-0, last week idle, up next Sat vs. #9 LSU)
-When things are this tight at the top of the YCS, you're going to lose ground if you don't play. Still, if Alabama can take care of business against the Bayou Bengals this Saturday, they should vault right back to the top of the YCS table. Although, if they're going to win against LSU, QB Greg McElroy is going to have to improve from his mid-season swoon...a one-dimensional team against LSU isn't a good idea.
4. Cincinnati (8-0, last week W at Syracuse 28-7, up next Sat. vs. UConn)
-The Bearcats must be getting dizzy after their roller coaster ride in the polls these past two weeks. They've gone from 5th to 8th to 5th in the last three weeks in the BCS, while we at the YCS have consistently given UC the credit they deserve. Backup QB Zach Collaros had another impressive outing in relief of Tony Pike, who could be back as soon as this Saturday night against UConn. A primetime showdown, or more specifically a primetime blowout, would be just what the doctor ordered for their faint national title hopes.
5. TCU (8-0, last game W vs. UNLV 41-0, up next Sat. at San Diego St.)
-You can't blame TCU if somehow the BCS leaves them with the short end of the stick. After dismantling a talented BYU team on the road, they were equally dominant in an impressive shutout of UNLV. The offense, led by QB Andy Dalton put up 578 yards of offense while only giving up 160 yards on defense. TCU will have one last chance to impress the voters and computers in two weeks against #14 Utah.
6. Boise St. (8-0, last week W vs. San Jose St. 45-7, up next Sat. at La. Tech)
-Boise continues to keep on trucking much like their BCS Buster counterparts TCU. The Blue Turf Boys are still playing at a high level, but without a ranked team left on their schedule, can they do enough to impress the polls to move ahead of TCU. Of course, as is usual in college football, the answer isn't in their hands...it's in the hands of our #7 team in the countdown.
7. Oregon (7-1, last game W vs. #5 USC 47-20, up next Sat. at Stanford)
-Oh my God! The Yoders picked a big game correctly! Don't worry, I'm just as surprised as you all are. We expected the dual threat ability of Jeremiah Masoli to cause problems for USC, but we didn't expect the consistently tough running of Fr RB LaMichael James (more on him later) that exposed the Trojans shockingly weak defense. Give all credit in the world to Oregon for how they've rebounded after that tough Week 1 loss to Boise St. For once, it's the Ducks with the inside track to Pasedena. One final thought, for those praying for a BCS meltdown, start hoping the Oregon/Boise St. rankings have some impact on the national title picture.
8. Iowa (8-0, last game W vs. Indiana 42-24, up next Sat. vs. Northwestern)
-Iowa plummets down the YCS once we finally tried giving them some credit. Please, don't let the final score of the game fool you...Iowa was this week's recipient of bogus officiating to favor a BCS contender. Let's set the scene, Indiana has outplayed Iowa the entire game and only by the grace of a miraculous pinball pick 6, Iowa is down 21-14. Ricky Stanzi is in the middle of throwing 4 INTs...in the 3rd quarter alone! WR Terrance Turner thinks he's caught a TD to give Indiana the momentum back and a 28-14 lead...just look at the replay below.
It's a TD, right? You can see the guy's foot hit the ground! From another angle, you can see the dirt kick up in the endzone! And yet, some bozo from the Big Ten overturned this play, Indiana missed the ensuing field goal, and Iowa went on to outscore the Hoosiers 28-3 the rest of the way. The sad thing is, this is the 2nd time this year Indiana has been screwed by Big Ten refs, the first being on the road at Michigan. If this had occured in a "major conference", which I guess only means the SEC, Big 12, or Pac-10, a congressional committee would be forming. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but there's no way Iowa's unbeaten status did not play a factor in SEVERAL officiating decisions on Saturday. As soon as this crock happened, I told Y1 the game was over, the fix was in and Iowa would storm back. Expect somebody in the Big 10 to eventually upset this lucky bunch of Hawkeyes, because they used up a lot of lives this past Saturday.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1, last game W at Vanderbilt 56-31, up next Sat. vs. Wake Forest)
-Georgia Tech continues to run right through their competition racking up another huge day on the ground against Vandy. While Jonathan Dwyer's Heisman buzz might have been a year too soon, he had a great day with over 180 yards rushing and 3 TDs. The Wreck has the inside track now to an ACC title game after the missteps by Va. Tech and Miami.
10. LSU (7-1, last game W vs. Tulane 42-0, up next Sat. at #3 Alabama)
-LSU makes their return to the tail end of the YCS after a beatdown of Tulane. After showing severe offensive ineptitude earlier this season, QB Jordan Jefferson has begun to pick up his game. Two early predictions for next week's showdown with the Tide, the 'Bama defense won't be as kind to Jefferson as the Green Wave, and the Saban Bowl should have both teams fired up.
Dropped from the YCS: USC
Just Missed Out: Penn St.
-USC drops out of the YCS after one of the worst losses of the Pete Carroll era. Of course, nobody in the national media (cough, ESPN, cough) will rush to criticize Pete Carroll and USC. Much to the chagrin of Colin Cowpattie, you can't just blame this loss on a freshman QB, it was a complete defensive breakdown that should have Trojan fans worried for the first time in a long time. Penn St. continues to be on the outside looking in, but can make a statement to the country in their showdown on Saturday with a rejuvenated Ohio State.
-I suppose it's harder than it looks to leave the #1 spot vacant on the RSS Heisman Watch. Once again, Tebow's performance didn't pass the eye test with flying colors, and his numbers (at least yardage-wise) were pedestrian. But, the man did have 4 TDs against a hated rival and passed Herschel Walker for career rushing TDs in the SEC, a heck of an accomplishment. When no one steps up to claim the Heisman for an entire season, achievements like that will do a lot to help Tebow's cause.
2. Mark Ingram-RB-Alabama (last week idle)
-Unfortunately for Ingram, he has to slide to 2nd alone this week for 'Bama's bye week. But, with a marquee matchup this week against LSU, Ingram can quickly ascend to the top of the RSS Watch. It will be a tough ask against a tough LSU defense, but a 100-yard, multiple TD day would cement him as the late season favorite.
-Golden Tate makes a meteoric rise from nowhere to #3 in the RSS Heisman Watch. Even without his counterpart Michael Floyd, Tate has been one of the most dangerous weapons in college football, as evidenced by this Catch of the Year nominee this past weekend against Wash. St. (Warning: clip may contain annoying music, but it's the best I can do)
-Colt McCoy's campaign has been stuck in neutral all season. Instead of the gunslinging numbers he needed on Saturday, McCoy was handed good field position all night with his team's stifling defense. And, with a cupcake schedule down the stretch, McCoy's campaign may be forgotten. His only hope is to pour it on heavy the last month and hope the argument of best player on best team helps his cause.
5. Jimmy Clausen-QB-Notre Dame (22/27, 268 yards, 2 TDs)
-Well, Jimmy Clausen finally didn't need a last-second drive to get the victory for Notre Dame. At least he was able to show off in front of the Notre Dame faithful...in San Antonio! That would be like Tyler Hansborough turning in another solid performance in Scranton, PA! Oh well, the Clausen to Tate connection should be good enough to get one of them an invite to NYC.
Dropping Out of the Race: Unfortunately for our mythical equipment manager, he had to bow out of the standings. It turns out he did some laundry for Lee Corso and mixed the whites with the colors. Therefore, due to his academic ineligibility, we had to drop him from the Watch...maybe next year, bud!
Keep an Eye On: LaMichael James-RB-Oregon
How could you not be impressed with the performance the freshman turned in against the vaunted Trojans on Saturday. 183 yards and a TD spoke volumes for the young man as he has quickly made people forget about suspended RB LeGarrette Blount. If he continues to push past 1000 yards rushing and pile up even more TDs, maybe James can make a very late push to be in the Heisman discussion.
That will wrap up this week's edition of the YCS and RSS Heisman Watch. It will be a busy week for the Yoders as we follow the record setting D3 men's soccer team of Ohio Wesleyan, but we'll be back tomorrow with our wrapup of the week that was in the NFL. Also, you can bet a unique preview of the NCAA basketball season is right around the corner. Until next time, it's bye for now!
They say that Game 4 is the swing game of any series: either you go to Game 5 tied at 2, up or down 3-1, or the series is over. In the case of this year's World Series, a Yankees win at The Bank (that's what my friend who spent a semester in Philly called it, I guess it's better than the Cit) would mean a 3-1 lead with two at Yankee Stadium and having to face Cliff Lee only once more. A Phillies win would regain momentum with your ace going in Game 5 and likely only needing to get one in the Bronx.
Game 4 was a big game.
Both managers took a gamble: the Phillies not starting Cliff Lee for 3 games and choosing to go with Joe Blanton, the Yankees starting CC Sabathia on only 3 days rest. In the end, the starting pitchers came out a wash. The Yankees did hold a 4-2 lead going into the late innings, but solo HR's from Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz made it 4-4 going into the 9th.
It was here that everything was on the line. Finally, the World Series felt like the World Series. It was time for someone to make a defining play in this year's Fall Classic.
That someone was Johnny Damon.
With 2 outs in the Top of the 9th, Damon came to the plate to face beleaguered Phillies closer Brad Lidge. Damon battled Lidge pitch after pitch, and finally singled to left field. Damon's at bat was a true Yankee classic. It brought back to memory Paul O'Neill's legendary 10 pitch at bat in the 2000 World Series against Armando Benitez (only time you'll see Armando Benitez and legendary in the same sentence, unless it's his fight against the entire Yankee team in 1998).
But, Damon's at bat was only the beginning. He then managed to steal second and then third when nobody was covering due to a shift on Mark Teixeira. It was a heads up play by Damon to take the extra base, and risky with 2 outs. But, the shock sent around the stadium from Damon's Double Steal no doubt threw Brad Lidge off his game (I told you he'd blow a game this series). He then plunked Teixeira and then allowed an RBI double to A-Rod and a 2 RBI single to Jorge Posada that won the game for the Yanks, 7-4. Here's the highlights that will soon be taken down...
While most of the plaudits and the attention will be laid at the feet of A-Rod, it's Johnny Damon that will go down in Yankee lore for Game 4 of the '09 Fall Classic. Yes, A-Rod will get most of the attention for getting the clutch RBI, ridding his choker reputation, bouncing back from the steroid admission, dating Kate Hudson and the rest... we at RSS won't just repeat national talking points though. Damon's heroics are the story of Game 4 because his performance was a Yankee classic.
Damon's at bat and double steal was the way the Yankees used to win championships. Think about it, before last night had any of the new spendaholic Yanks done anything to be remembered besides making a ton of money and not winning a title? A-Rod, CC, and Tex, Pavano, Giambi, Sheffield, and Matsui... how many of those guys had ever produced a gutsy, championship winning moment.
None, until Damon last night.
When the Yankees were winning the World Series in the dynasty era, there were moments that won games not built on money, but intangible plays that are the mark of a championship team.
Jeter's famous flick to home plate to beat Jeremy Giambi against Oakland or his dive into the stands. Key home runs from unsuspecting sources like Leyritz and Brosius. Clutch hits from guys like Chad Curtis and Jose Vizcaino. The steady play of Bernie Williams. The warrior mentality of Paul O'Neill. The pitching of anyone from David Cone to Jimmy Key to El Duque to David Wells to Andy Petitte.
These were plays that only the Yankees made and attributes that only the Yankees had. For the first time in a long time, the Yankee magic was back last night when Damon ran to an uncovered third base. In the years since Aaron Boone's HR beat the Red Sox in 2003, last night was the first moment when you really felt that the Yankees were back to being the Yankees again.
