Hot off the Grill - CFB Championship Weekend Preview

We've finally arrived at the most anticipated weekend on the college football calendar...Championship Weekend! We know all about the national semifinal in the SEC, but what other BCS berths are at stake? More importantly, who's going to follow in Oregon's shoes and seize the moment? Find out at RSS!

Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - #1 Florida (12-0) vs. #2 Alabama (12-0)

- All season long this has been the game circled on every football fan's calendar. Two of the most dominant defenses in the country suggest this will be a low-scoring struggle for the ages. Similar to last year's game, this one will come down to who can make the most plays in the 4th quarter. However, there are two key differences from last year's SEC Championship. The first is the suspension this week of Florida's stud DE Carlos Dunlap. This situation deserves its own mini-analysis. First, Dunbar deserves to be on the list of dumbest athletes of the year. Can you imagine a starting PG getting arrested for DUI the week of the Final Four? Of course not. His selfish act takes Florida's defense down a notch. But also, don't give Florida HC Urban Meyer too much credit for suspending Dunlap. He really had no other options, or else risk looking like a total dirtbag. Sitting out Dunlap was the easiest decision of the week by far for Meyer.

Now, back to the game. The second difference from last year is which team has the explosive, big play threats. Last year, Florida had a bevy of playmakers who could break the game open, this year the impact players are on Alabama. The Tide's Javier Arenas, the man who now holds the record for most return TDs in SEC history or So WR Julio Jones will make something out of nothing at some point in this game to change the momentum. Regardless of the health of Mark Ingram, the play of Tim Tebow, this year, it's Alabama's turn. We've liked them more since the start of the season, no need to change now. PICK - Alabama

Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - #3 Texas (12-0) vs. #23 Nebraska (9-3)

Many around the country rooting for BCS chaos, especially those in Fort Worth, will be pulling hard for Nebraska to pull the upset. But, even in a conference championship with a history of upsets, we don't see one this year. Colt McCoy's virtuoso performance last week against Texas A&M was an eye-opener; he's ready to put this team on his back to go to his first National Championship as the Texas starting QB. Though Nebraska DT Ndmaukong Suh will be his usual disruptive self, one man can't win a game on defense. And, as we saw in Texas's last game, they're more vulnerable to an athletic dual-threat QB, not Nebraska's forte. Texas should run out comfortable winners.- PICK-Texas

Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - #5 Cincinnati (11-0) @ #14 Pitt (9-2)

-Our spicy friend travels to Pittsburgh for our upset of the week. Cincinnati is still undefeated, and has an outside chance at a national championship berth with a win and a lot of help. But, in recent weeks their stock has started to slip. While they're still undefeated, their defense seems to be regressing weekly, even giving up 36 to hapless Illinois last week. The worst part, they've yet to face a duo as talented as Pitt RB Dion Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin. Oh, and all of that speculation of UC Head Coach Brian Kelly going to Notre Dame can't help the Bearcats focus on the task at hand. It should be exciting and compelling, and it will be an upset. PICK-Pitt

Andouille's Under the Radar Game - #12 Georgia Tech (10-2) vs. #25 Clemson (8-4)

-Unfortunately all too often, the ACC Title Game turns into the game NOBODY watches. This year is no different with neither team a threat to crack the top BCS bowls. It's even worse this year as ESPN has scheduled this game to go head-to-head with the Big 12 Title Game. Yikes, I think the NHL might be getting a better tv deal than that...on second thought, maybe not. Nevertheless, this will be a good game for those who tune in to watch it. The triple option of Ga. Tech versus the one man gang, C.J. Spiller and Clemson. While Clemson played Tech tough the first time around, Ga. Tech just has too many weapons. PICK-Ga. Tech

Hot Dog Of The Week - Army and Navy

-Ok, so it's not this week exactly, but there aren't really any other college football games after tomorrow, so forgive us. When these two play, it's always about more than football, it's a reminder of the power of sport to bring people together and of the sacrifice made by the young men and women in our armed forces. Sure, these two teams aren't in the national spotlight the way they were in the early days, but the game is about more than records. It's a chance for all of us, as college football fans, to be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Especially during this time of war and uncertainty, take a few minutes to watch these two play next week. It's a guarantee there won't be a more emotional, harder played game in college football this season.

Extra Toppings -

-What an entertaining game last night between Oregon and Oregon St. We told you the difference would be the dual threat of Jeramiah Masoli, and his 4th down conversion with his legs sealed the deal late. You can bet Jim Tressel is already starting to lose sleep over stopping Masoli and freshman sensation LaMichael James.

-If Texas does lose, the question becomes who plays in the National Championship? Well, a Cincinnati loss would make matters moot, the choice is TCU by a mile. But even if UC stays undefeated, our bet is on TCU edging out the Bearcats by the slimmest of margins.

-Don't just take our word that this is the biggest college football weekend ever, visit our friends at Rumors & Rants for even more coverage.

-Also, a shameless plug, but you may have noticed our new Twitter feed at the top-right of the blog. If you're hip with social media (or at least pretending to be hip like we are), follow us. It's the best way to get our instant quick takes on the world of sports.

-So Notre Dame is going to decline their invite to a bowl game, I think I'll wet my pants. A normal program would take any bowl game invite, especially at 6-6. Apparently, Notre Dame feels as if it's too good for the GMAC or PapaJohns.com Bowl...or they just want to save the embarrassment of losing in one of those two bowls.

-Unfortunate to see Mark Mangino forced to resign at Kansas. It's amazing how quickly things can change over some key losses and accusations. Still, you wonder if Kansas will regret firing a man who brought them more success this decade than in the previous 100 years combined.

-How much you want to bet on Brent Musberger treating the Big 12 Championship like it's the national semifinal instead of the SEC game?

-Apparently there are other conferences which will hold title games as well this weekend, who knew? If things keep up, maybe someday the MAC and C-USA Championships will have as much impact as the SEC and Big 12, but don't hold your breath.

-USC hosts Arizona this week in a game people could care less about. Wait, a game in December with USC that isn't important? I shudder to think what Pete Carroll will come up with to draw attention to himself this week.

Randall's Got His Eye On You... Heisman Voters

-While the participants in the BCS National Championship will be decided this weekend, the underlying storyline is of course the Heisman Trophy. Toby Gerhart sits in the clubhouse waiting to see if Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, or God forbid Tim Tebow can steal the spotlight this weekend. So, the question is, how will the Heisman voters react to the performances of the three contenders playing this weekend? If voters have already made up their mind, Gerhart might stand an outside chance. But, from the way some prominent national voices are talking, the Tebow movement may be gaining late steam. How lazy will the Heisman voters be? Can these voters actually turn this once prestigious award in to a lifetime achievement award? Please Heisman voters, watch these games with an open mind. If McCoy or Ingram outdoes Tebow, then he deserves the award. Don't take the easy way out again.

That's it for our Hot off the Grill Preview. Stay tuned for our NFL Preview coming tomorrow and the continuation of our ever popular Decade Series, up next will be our Top 10 D'Oh Moments of the Decade, which you know will be fun. Until then, it's bye for now!

Quick Hits: The World Cup Draw

Now that the World Cup draw is finally in the books, let's share some quick hits about what we saw today, and what we'll see in June!

The Big Story: USA! USA! USA!

-The Americans could not have asked for a better draw. When Y2 asked me for an ideal draw I said Algeria and Slovenia from pots 3 and 4. So it shall be said, so it shall be done. Granted, those teams got through tough playoffs to get in, but the US will be heavily favored to advance from Group C along with England. And, as Grant Wahl astutely pointed out, the Top 4 in the FIFA world rankings are on the other side of the draw. A win over either England or Group D fav Germany could mean the best World Cup ever for the US.

The Big Matchup: England v USA

-You've got to figure this is what everyone at ESPN was rooting for, and quite frankly, the American soccer public. With a big English fanbase here in the states, and the English Premier League the league du jour here in the US, this is a dream matchup. Think of all the storylines: the 1950 US upset, Donovan v Beckham, the battle for respect, oh, and there was that whole Revolutionary War thing... it should be a mouth-watering wait until June.

Group of Death: Group D

-While all of the pundits draw their eyes towards Group G (Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal, N Korea), I look towards Group D because any 2 of 4 teams can make it out. This German team is not strong, Australia has performed very well on the world stage, Serbia easily dispatched of France in qualifying, and Ghana is the strongest African team. Everyone wants to give this one to Germany, but Group D is wide open.

Luckiest Team: France

-They are the lottery winners to get South Africa in Group A along with Mexico and Uruguay. After getting to South Africa in controversial fashion, they should skate through to the knockout rounds. Of course, with worst manager in the world Raymond Domenech in charge, nothing is certain.

Random Thoughts:

-Great opening act by ESPN. We criticize them quite a bit on this website, but they look to be off on a great foot with their World Cup coverage. The studio guys today were lively and informative, especially John Harkes (although picking Uruguay in the Semis is nuts). Also, Bob Ley is perfect to captain the squad (he's easily the most professional journalist at ESPN). But, having the voice of soccer, Martin Tyler, as the main attraction of ESPN's coverage is the leader's best move. Having him on the draw show today lifted the show greatly. It seems like the days of Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa are a looong time ago, thank God.

-On the negative side, the actual draw might have been the most awkward thing I've ever seen. How 'bout that opening kiss between the FIFA suit and Charlize Theron? Where was Adam Lambert at? The whole over production was just awful. Just pick the teams and move on...

-By the way, the whole "orchestration" of the draw, as Efan Ekoku called it, by FIFA is shameless. The regional separation is really unnecessary, and just the overall manipulation of the seeds makes the IOC look transparent.

-I think that this will be an especially strong tournament for the African teams. Not only playing the WC on the continent for the first time, but there are some very good African teams that will be ready for 2010.

Predictions: Here's how I think it'll play out from the quarters on, of course, these are subject to change in the next 6 months, but it's not like I'll actually be right or anything...

QF: England over Nigeria, Holland over Brazil, Ghana over Argentina, Spain over Italy

SF: England over Holland, Spain over Ghana

Final: Spain over England

I can not wait until June. Get juiced world!

Top 10 Games of the Decade: CFB-2006 Rose Bowl

We've saved the best game for last. In truth, we really could do an entire Top 10 Games countdown with the sport of college football. There have been so many all-time great games this decade (see our list at the bottom) that it's excruciatingly hard to pick one for the top of the list. However, there is one game that we can pick for its significance, drama, and absolute quality of football on display. We're all about taking stands here at RSS, and simply put, this is the single greatest game that I have ever seen. Texas. USC. The national title on the line in the Rose Bowl.

Who: USC Trojans vs Texas Longhorns

What: Rose Bowl (AKA BCS National Title Game)

Where: Pasadena, CA

When: January 4, 2006

How It All Unfolded: If you'll remember, this was the year that ESPN ran that series comparing this USC team to the greatest teams of all-time. USC was on a 34 game winning streak (4th longest ever). USC had just tore Oklahoma to pieces in the previous year's national title game 55-19, a year after winning the AP national title. Yes, we still had split national champions this decade... They brought back perhaps the best set of talent in NCAA history. They featured the last 2 Heisman winners in Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. USC was an unstoppable force. Leading up to the Rose Bowl, all of the focus was on this USC team that was on the Mount Rushmore of the all-time greatest college football teams.

Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns, led by Vince Young, were the unquestioned 2nd best team in college football. They had won 19 straight games including a dramatic win in the Rose Bowl the year before when VY ran for 4 TDs and had 372 total yards. Here's those highlights...

Young would need even more heroics to down the almighty Trojans. The first quarter featured both defenses standing tall, USC had the 7-0 lead off of a 4 yard Lendale White run. The second quarter was the story of two laterals: Reggie Bush's one that didn't work and created a turnover... and Vince Young's that did and led to a Selmon Young TD (even though VY's knee was down, replay didn't catch it). After another Texas TD it was 16-10 Longhorns going into the break. Lendale White had 2 more rushing TDs (including one on 4th down) sandwiched around a Vince Young score to give USC the lead 24-23 going into the 4th quarter in what was shaping up to be a classic.

But, it's the 4th quarter that makes this the greatest game I've ever seen. Yes, I just described the first 3 quarters in a paragraph, but there were so many great plays all over the field that it was hard to keep track. 18 players on the field were drafted the next year including 4 Top 10 picks. Unquestionably, this game featured the greatest collection of college football talent we've ever seen, and it was all on display in the final 15 minutes.

First, Reggie Bush took the spotlight (305 total yards) with an iconic dive into the endzone for his only TD to extend the USC lead to 8. A Leinart strike (folks forget he was 29/40 for 365 yards) to Dwayne Jarrett with 6:42 left gave the Trojans a 12 point lead. Now, it was up to VY to make another dramatic Rose Bowl comeback.

Young first led an 8 play, 69 yard drive that was capped off with a dramatic 17 yard run, then Texas' D had to shine. When they stopped White on 4th down at the Texas 45 with just over 2 minutes left, Young stepped on to the field to etch his name into the history books. Think back to that moment, when the Texas D ran jubilantly off the field to give VY the ball back, I dare you to tell me that you weren't as captivated as you have ever been watching a sporting event. You knew what would happen next...

I was getting goosebumps on Texas' final drive, and I'm no Texas fan, but the moment was so grand that you had to be on the edge of your couch, barstool, or whatever. VY drove Texas to the 8, and on 4th Down Young raced to the corner of the endzone to give Texas the national championship, complete the greatest single championship performance in history, and cap off perhaps the greatest game ever played. Here's the streamlined version from after the fact, but if you have extra time, you really should check out the extended 3 part highlights below because they feature the legendary Keith Jackson's commentary in his final game, Part 3 features the last 8 minutes and Young's comeback.

Keith Jackson's call and extended highlights...

Why We'll Remember It: There's not much else you can say except that it is the greatest game of the decade, and in all of college football history. Not only that it was a national championship game, but that it featured absolutely everything you can ask for in an all-time classic: great players, great plays, classic moments, and drama till the end.

In some aspect, the numbers tell the story: 79 combined points and 1130 total yards of offense, and not 1, but 2 Heisman winners being thwarted by Texas' #10. Vince Young, in the best title game performance in sports history, had these numbers:

30/40 267 yards passing, 19 carries 200 yards 3 TDs

Think about that, against the already coronated Trojans, Vince Young put up 467 yards of offense, and led Texas on 2 TD drives in the last 6:42. With Leinart on the bench in Arizona, Bush in a supporting role for the 11-0 Saints, and Young only now looking like a successful NFL QB, it's easy to forget just how great they were in college. These are all legends of the college game.

In this here and now society, the Twittering age, it's easy to get caught up in the latest Tiger Woods drama or this year's BCS and forget the unforgettable moments in sports. That's why RSS is celebrating these classic moments in our Decade Series, to remember what why we love sports so much. If you watched the game, you know the legendary status of what happened that night in Pasadena, whether you were on USC's side, Texas's side, or just a plain old fan. We wait for nights like the 2006 Rose Bowl, because each game has the ability to give us something that we'll remember throughout the generations.

We watch sports for nights like January 4, 2006.

Other Games Considered

-2003 Fiesta Bowl - #2 OSU 31 #1 Miami (FL) 24 F/2OT

-2005 Rose Bowl - #6 Texas 38 #13 Michigan 37

-2005 - USC 34 Notre Dame 31

-2006 - #1 Ohio State 42 #2 Michigan 39

-2007 Fiesta Bowl - #9 Boise State 43 #8 Oklahoma 42 F/OT

-2007 - Appalachain State 34 Michigan 32

-2007 - LSU 28 Florida 24

RSS Roundtable: Tiger's Saga and What It Really Means

No news in sports over the past few months has captured the attention of the nation like the Tiger Woods saga. It began as a car accident in his neighborhood, but has developed into so much more. For such a dynamic story, we've brought in Brother Yohey to help us in a RSS Roundtable event to answer the 4 Most Important Questions for the big picture of Tiger Woods and HydrantGate. How has Tiger and the media handled the situation? How does this affair affect Woods' image? And, what is the lasting impact?

1) How has Tiger handled the situation?

Mr. Yoder II: For a man who has built this immaculate image as a corporate icon, golfing god, and down-to-earth family man, Tiger has managed to ruin his perfect image by handling this situation terribly. From evading the police, to not confronting speculation soon enough (remember his original statement called the rumors about his affairs "irresponsible" but not untrue), to this cold, distant statement released Wednesday. Tiger is the most clutch athlete alive, but can't speak to his fans, sponsors, and media? Please.

Mr. Yoder I: Tiger has handled this situation very poorly. Y2 is right, it looks incredibly foolish to call the rumors irresponsible and 2 days later admit to "transgressions"! That is a triple bogey for Woods. Tiger is a victim though of his own image and reputation. In the grand scheme of things, people make mistakes, and we should all hope that there can be healing here. But, Tiger, being idolized like no other athlete in our history, has a long way to fall for us to realize that he's human.

Bro. Yohey: I wanted for this to not be true; I’ve liked Tiger since watching him run away from the field for his first Masters victory. However, I feel that you both are missing one big problem that has arisen in this culture; the idea of Tiger being human. Was it Tiger’s fault that he excelled in golf and was the hottest advertising commodity? I don't think there can be a judgment that he's handled it badly or not.

Mr. Yoder II: Honestly, I think the bubble shield that Tiger has built up the last 10 years has done more harm than good in this instance. Tiger's never been known as a great communicator...people marvel if he gives anything away in a post-round interview, let alone his personal life. He had to deliberate, and hide behind his PR team until they drafted this empty, defensive statement. In that sense he's failed to get in front of the story, such as Andy Pettite, A-Rod, and even David Letterman.

Bro Yohey: We build athletes up to this superficial standard, and when we find out that they aren’t flawless, then they are ripped apart. It is a terrible catch 22 which athletes find themselves in today. I just wish that athletes have something in common with us normal people; human nature. Tiger not appeasing the media with his statments is something I can not and will not fault him for. I wonder where it says that in order for you to excel at a sport and play at a high level, you must sacrifice your privacy. Why give the media anything to play with when they have showed countless times in the past that they can't be trusted with any information?

Mr. Yoder I: By only giving a sparsely detailed, defensive, and veiled statement regarding the accident, Woods only invited more speculation and conspiracy theories. That strategy blew up in his face. Once the voicemail came out it seems like the light finally went on for Tiger that he better come clean about the affair. Does Tiger regret his actions and everything he brought on his family, or does he regret that he got caught? Instead of just offering a mea culpa he again plays the privacy card and lectures us. Really? I don't expect to visibly see him for at least a few months, and then the questions will come once again.

2) How has the media handled the situation?

Mr. Yoder I: It's been good and bad. On one hand, the sensationalist tabloids like the Enquirer and TMZ were the ones to bring to light the affair accusations. Like communism in the movie Clue, Tiger's car accident was a red herring hiding the true story. Of course, the tabloids aren't real journalism, but we know the mainstream sports media would never dig up the true story. That mainstream sports media has too much interest in Woods. They ignored the real story until he finally released a statement. I'm sure ESPN and Tiger protectors will emphasize his humanity and sweep it under the rug.

Bro. Yohey: Ok, I can’t disagree more with your statement Y1 actually giving the media some credit. Oh Lord, ESPN actually covered the story, when they heard from Tiger! TMZ is garbage that posts stories dealing with speculation. So they got it right this time and I applaud the mainstream media for not going with this until they had the facts straight and got the statement from Tiger. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Mr. Yoder II: We all want to believe journalism is still well and alive in this country, but it's not. Journalism as we knew it is dead. However sleazy they might be, give credit to these "gossip" sites for breaking the news the mainstream is afraid to cover. If the mainstream wanted to show journalism wasn't dead, they'd be going after the truth in this story instead of trying to protect their cozy relationship with Tiger. I mean, there wasn't even a mention of the US Weekly allegations on ESPN's front page until Tiger's statement, that's pathetic.

Mr. Yoder I: Both sides of the media have a clear agenda, and it leaves the public uninformed and uneducated. There is a vacated middle ground that has to look at this from a grounded perspective. How does the scandal affect Tiger's marketability? Will his rep ever be the same? How does this relate to other cases? Neither end of the media is right, but both might have a shred of truth and accuracy in their coverage.

Bro. Yohey: The media has become a cancer in the world of sports. The notion of Tiger living in a world where privacy stops at his doorstep is ridiculous. I wonder how those in the media would like it if they had an incident like this happen, and people all over start making remarks regarding private matters when they don't even know the truth.

Mr. Yoder I: Bro. Yohey, in a perfect world Tiger could have his privacy. He could also give back that billion dollars and go work in a factory for $10 an hour in Duluth, MN. But, we need to be realistic. He's perhaps the 2nd most recognizable person on the planet behind Barack Obama, real privacy is a pipedream. It's the media's duty to cover him just like any other celeb and hold him accountable. I don't care if it's TMZ or ESPN. You don't think sponsors and the PGA Tour want to get to the bottom of this? It might be tough for Tiger, but it's the price he pays for being the world's first billion dollar athlete.

Mr. Yoder II: And I think that's the main point in the coverage of this story. It's not that Tiger doesn't deserve his privacy, everyone certainly does. In an ideal society, these tabloids wouldn't exist, athletes and celebrities could be just like the rest of us. But, when you become one of the world's most high-profile athletes, you have to play by a different set of rules than "normal people". Just because Tiger is usually in control of everything, doesn't mean he's exempt from the same scrutiny as all other public figures.

Mr. Yoder II: Look, nobody's asking Tiger and his family to go on Dr. Phil for a public counseling session. But, for a man that is the most recognizable figure in the world, he owes it to the millions of fans who pay to see him play and buy his merchandise to speak to them. Not to beg for forgiveness, but show his face to the public. By submitting this crafted statement, he's taking the easy way out and hoping the controversy goes away before he returns to golf in a couple months.

3) How does HydrantGate affect Tiger's aura of invincibility?

Mr. Yoder II: To the public and some of his peers, his image is affected greatly in the short-term. Look at Jesper Parnevik's comments yesterday (boy those Swedes sure know how to stick together, huh). The longer he's defensive about it, the harder it's going to be for the public to completely forgive him and move on. Look no further than Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire: legendary athletes who have never faced up to allegations that have dogged them for years. The public still holds them in a negative light because they haven't addressed their "sins" publicly to a camera. Woods admitted his guilt, but he needs to actually showremorse, and not just type it on a word doc.

Mr. Yoder I: Maybe not so much his invincibility, but his carefully manicured image. Think about what a bad end of 2009 it has been for Tiger Woods on and off the course. It started with blowing his first major to YE Yang at the PGA, and now this happens. I think Tiger's aura is definitely affected here. Part of the intrigue of this whole story is that it is Tiger Woods. It's not Rick Pitino or David Letterman that we're talking about here. Rick Pitino's affair didn't put Rick Reilly on Good Morning America, for better or worse.

Bro. Yohey: I get a kick out of this question. Tiger wishes to stay private and not let his life play out on the tabloid pages. For that, he is protrayed as being invincible; I say he is being smart. The media will do all they can to bring you down; if you are deemed "invincible" they will search to find chinks in the armor just to make you look bad and to sell publications. Y2, the McGwire, Clemens and Bonds analogy is illogical; their accusations dealt with cheating in the sport they played. Tiger’s situation has nothing to do with his golf game, and the only sense of invincibility he should have is on the golf course.

Mr. Yoder II: Of course Tiger's on-course persona takes no hit from this scandal. We've already seen Tiger is the most mentally strong athlete ever, so he'll be able to block this out with no problem. Unless Phil's caddy or Sergio start talking trash on the golf course, or women run out on the tee to give Tiger their phone number, he'll be unaffected. His competitors will draw more confidence from his failure in the 2009 PGA Championship than his rocky personal life. Let's not kid ourselves, Tiger can't be the only pro golfer who's putting his clubs in a different bag, if you know what I'm saying.

Mr. Yoder I: Really, we don't know these people at all. We idealize our athletes so much and Tiger is the perfect example. He's crafted such a perfect image of himself that when it takes even the slightest hit, it's a huge, huge deal. The affair and the decline of the idealized Tiger are the true story here. I think when a role model falters it's a tragic story no matter how you look at it. Whatever the actual number is, there will be many of people that will turn Tiger off, and not watch on TV, or have to answer tough questions from 10 year old kids that want to be the next Tiger Woods. That's the underlying sadness to this story.

4) Does this whole episode have any lasting impact?

Bro. Yohey: Ask me this in a year. Tiger giving the press and media nothing to work with is a good tactic, although they feel "entitled" to an explanation. They don't deserve a damn thing and it gets me annoyed.

Mr. Yoder II: In a word, no. Does anyone honestly believe Tiger won't go on to win another major just because he's having problems at home, of course not. Tiger will still go on to break Jack Nicklaus's record for most career major titles and go down as the best golfer in history. His sordid affairs will merely be a footnote, much like Babe Ruth, Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis, and countless others.

Mr. Yoder I: The PGA, sponsors, and countless others are invested in the Tiger Woods brand and need to know if they can trust this guy in the future or not. The direct impact is on Woods' legacy; much like Ruth, Bryant, Lewis, and any other athlete that has faced scandal it is a very small portion of their legacy, but a portion nonetheless.

BY: Now, after hearing there are leeches out talking about indecent Tiger texts and voice mails, this will grow larger and it is sad. People are only coming out with this due to the crash and it is sad. They are like sharks who pounce when they smell blood. Put them all on a spaceship and launch it to the sun. Fans need to be more realistic. The idea of having athletic role models always troubled me. I didn’t grow up idolizing Barry Larkin or Bernie Kosar or Larry Bird; I grew up idolizing my father. What is so wrong with society that no longer worships athletes as more than human?

Y1: Again though, I think that the lasting impact is larger than even Tiger Woods. Think about it, the one athlete that we thought was perfect in every way has fessed up that he's human. That's what is so compelling part about sports: that we can look up to these people as something more than they actually are to inspire us in our "normal" lives. The troubling thing for me moving forward is the question of whether or not there are any role models left today in sports? Today it's Tiger Woods, who will it be next? Do these athletes need to be more responsible and accountable to the millions that look up to them, or do fans need to have more realistic expectations of their heroes? I think that's a question that sadly nobody has the answer to.

What do you think? Let us know your opinions about the Tiger Woods saga and what it really means for Tiger's rep, his future, the game of golf, and what it says about society and sports.

Quick Hits: The Rise of A.I.

So it's official, Allen Iverson's career isn't over as he's signed a deal to return home to the Philadelphia 76ers. The move is clearly a low-risk, high-reward one for the 76ers. If they choose to guarantee the contract, they'll owe less than a million dollars for the season. And, at least until the return of G Louis Williams from a broken jaw, the move is an easy fit. Iverson can start at SG and provide a potent scoring punch, while having arguably the most talented supporting cast he's ever had in Philly with the other A.I., Elton Brand, and Thaddeus Young. At 5-13, the 76ers had nowhere else to turn with a dwindling record and a quickly dwindling fanbase.

The important point is, a team gave A.I. a chance, something I was skeptical of in my recent profile of the Answer. Still, questions abound. Will he accept a reduced role when Williams is healthy? Will he finally be comfortable in his own skin again? Will he defer to more talented teammates? Will the fans of Philly embrace him as they did before? And will Iverson show Eddie Jordan the same level of respect he did Larry Brown?

The answers will play out over the coming weeks. I for one am happy Iverson gets this chance to reboot the end of his career. A player of his stature and historical impact didn't deserve to leave the league with an unwanted whimper. If you live in an NBA city, or close to one, I urge you to go see Iverson play, you may never get another chance to see one of the most unique forces in league history. But, realistically, this reunion doesn't look like it will end well. The 76ers are still a borderline playoff team at best and it's doubtful Iverson will change his stubborn ways. This has the makings of a sappy made-for-tv reunion more than an honest second chance. Still, I hope it works out for A.I., and his legacy. I hope he sees the light and realizes he can still be a meaningful force and influence even if he isn't the scoring leader for the league or the 76ers. Until the next retirement, we just have to sit back and watch...while most won't, I'll continue to hope for the best.

That's it for today's quick hit. Join us later today for our ongoing Games of the Decade countdown. Oh yeah, apparently Tiger Woods's name is still in the news today. You can bet you'll get our uniquely Yoderized take on that tomorrow. Until then, it's bye for now!

Top 10 Games of the Decade: MLB-2003 ALCS Game 7

Our MLB Game of the Decade might have been the toughest choice of all the sports. What do you pick, a playoff series that happened in New York in the wake of 9/11, extra inning drama, World Series walkoffs, dramatic comebacks, pitcher's duels, or back and forth shootouts? There were so many games and series to choose from it was tough to pick just one. But, looking back at the 2000's, there was one singular game that stood out above the rest for its significance, controversy, and drama.

Who: Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

What: ALCS Game 7

Where: Yankee Stadium

When: October 16, 2003

How It All Unfolded: Let's go back to a different time. It's 2003. The Yankee Dynasty, though suffering defeat in 2001, is still firmly entrenched at the top of baseball. Furthermore, the Curse of the Bambino has never felt stronger. However, The Red Sox were getting closer and closer to finally breaking the hex. They had won 93 games in 2002 and made the playoffs in 2003 for the first time since the 1999 ALCS loss to the Yankees. Red Sox mainstays like Damon and Garciaparra were bolstered by the arrival of free agent signing David Ortiz, who added some pop to the middle of the lineup. The Yankees were in transition with new signings like Matsui and Giambi joining dynasty members like Williams, Jeter, and Posada.

The ALCS was set up for a classic. Could the Sox finally do it? Would the Yankee Dynasty reboot? These two teams didn't disappoint as the rivalry was taken up a couple notches in Game 3 after splitting the first two in New York. You may remember this...

As tensions rose, the teams traded wins. An epic Game 7 was set for Yankee Stadium. The two Game 3 protagonists, and future hall of famers, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez started. But, it was Clemens that was knocked out early by 4 quick Boston runs in three innings. The Sox led the Yanks 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. A nation held its breath, this was the time that the Curse would finally be broken. (Except we had just watch the Cubs blow a 3-2 NLCS lead thanks to Steve Bartman and a Game 7 loss the previous 2 days). But, this was a new age for the Red Sox, the same fate wouldn't befall them... right?

With 1 out, Jeter doubled and Williams brought him in. 5-3. A Matsui double to put the tying run in scoring position brought out Grady Little to get his ace and go to the bullpen. Wait a second, he left Pedro in??? To the surprise of the universe, Little let Pedro finish the job instead of going to a talented and rested bullpen. The next batter, Jorge Posada, doubled to tie the game at 5. It was controversial, it was puzzling, it was dramatic, it was thrilling.

The Sox bullpen got out of the jam and the game went to extras. That's where a hero was needed. And, in the Bottom of the 11th inning, that hero was Aaron Boone. Cue the clip!

Why We'll Remember It: We'll remember Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS as the end of an era. After this game, the Sox and Yanks would trade places for the next 5 years. It was the last time the Red Sox would have to end a season hearing about the Curse of the Bambino. Grady Little was canned for leaving Pedro in too long, and Terry Francona was brought in. Curt Schilling was also acquired to vanquish the Yankees like he did for Arizona. Although the 2004 ALCS looked like another Yankeeography in the making, the Sox did the impossible and came back from 3-0 down to win the series and the title. Boston won another this decade and have exercised the demons of the past. This game can be seen as the end of the Curse years, or the beginning of a golden era for Boston.

For the Yankees, they again went on to lose the World Series to the upstart Diamondbacks. Their 2nd WS defeat in 3 years. After players like O'Neill, Tino, and others left, George threw money at the team to keep the titles coming. But, there was lacking that special quality that was the true reason the Yankees won those titles. Aaron Boone brought the magic on that October night, but the Yankees would span almost the entire decade before winning again in 2009. Much like Boston, this game was a turning point. The Yankees would have to find themselves over the course of the next several years.

The 2004 ALCS was more significant, the 2001 World Series more dramatic, but for a single October night, this game had everything. The best rivalry in baseball, the looming curse, a dramatic comeback, and an unlikely hero hitting a walkoff home run in Yankee Stadium to send the Bronx Bombers to the World Series. It's easy to get nostalgic about this game, because so many factors have changed in baseball since then. It was 2 months before we knew what the clear and the cream were. Papi and Manny weren't on roids, Clemens was merely crazy and not a cheat, the Red Sox were still lovable losers instead of just another evil empire, and baseball was just baseball, without the Senate hearings, Mitchell Reports, confessions, denials, asterisks, and what ifs. Those were the days...

Other Games Considered

-2004 ALCS Game 5 - Boston 5 New York 4 F/14

-2001 World Series Games 4, 5, and 7

-2003 NLCS Game 6 - Bartman

-2007 NL Play-In Game - Rockies 9 Padres 8 F/13

Only one more game in the countdown and it'll be college football! Dont' forget to check out our NCAA basketball broadcast of D3 hoops tonight at 7:30 at stream.owu.edu. Ohio Wesleyan hosts #25 Wooster in what should be a good one. Yes, we're not only moonlight bloggers, but moonlight small college announcers too, bye for now!

Top 10 Games of the Decade: NFL-Super Bowl XLII

Our NFL Game of the Decade was a tough call. In the past ten years we've been blessed with countless Super Bowls that could be counted among the best ever. But, for the best of the decade we travel back to 2008 and Super Bowl XLII (and yes, I am contractually obligated to use Roman numerals for the entire article). The Patriots were looking to put the icing on the cake of their dynasty, while the Giants were supposed to just show up to the party. Instead, what unfolded was perhaps the greatest upset in Super Bowl History.

Who: New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

What: Super Bowl XLII

Where: Glendale, AZ

When: February 3, 2008

How It All Unfolded: Over the course of the decade, the New England Patriots had clearly established themselves as the team of the decade in the NFL. Once a franchise mired in mediocrity, the Patriots rose to the top of the league behind HC Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. Winning three Super Bowls already, the 2007 Patriots were looking to write an even greater chapter in the history of their dynasty by going undefeated for an entire season, 16-0. In 2007, the Patriots had assembled the most unstoppable force football had seen in years. Tom Brady threw for a record 50 TDs and won his first MVP trophy. Randy Moss (who also set a record with 23 TDs) and Wes Welker rounded out the highest scoring offense in league history while Belichick's defense was as effective and intimidating as ever. Nothing, not Mercury Morris and the '72 Dolphins performing voodoo curses, or the constant skepticism of the Spygate scandal could derail what many saw as the best team in NFL history.

Meanwhile, their Super Bowl opponents, the New York Giants, were the polar opposites of their powerful counterparts. Heading in to the 2007 season, nobody felt the Giants were Super Bowl contenders, especially losing their star RB Tiki Barber to the Today show. However, led by a stout defense and the improving, but still inconsistent play of Eli Manning, the Giants clinched the 5th seed in the playoffs going in to the final week of the season.

Ironically, these two teams would meet in the last regular season game. The Pats were playing for history, while the Giants had nothing to play for, risking injury by playing banged up starters in the season finale. But, Giants HC Tom Coughlin, recognizing the importance of the moment decided to go out and win the game. What ensued was the most dramatic regular season game seen in years, and the Patriots eeking out a 38-35 win. But, in losing, the Giants seemed to find their inspiration. In the NFC playoffs, the Giants would win 3 straight road games to make the Super Bowl to meet the still undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Of course, the Patriots were heavily favored to make history and go undefeated. But, through three quarters, the game was an epic defensive struggle. The Giants had set the tone early with a nearly 10-minute drive to kick a field goal for the game's first points. The Patriots answered with a TD drive of their own, and the teams held serve until the 4th quarter. Of course, I could keep going, but I think the dramatic 4th quarter highlights speak for themselves.

Somehow, some way, the Giants found a way to defeat the Patriots in arguably the biggest game in NFL history. And don't think for a second the Patriots gave this game away (although Asante Samuel will certainly be remembered for his missed interception on the Giants final drive). The Giants won this game behind...Eli Manning? Yes, Eli led the team on the game-winning drive. But even more, it was Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan, and Osi Umenyiora and the rest of the Giants defense who derailed the highest scoring offense in league history.

Why We'll Remember It: While the game may not have been a classic from start to finish, it was the iconic 4th quarter that sets this game apart. Don't tell me you didn't think it was over when Randy Moss put the Pats ahead in the 4th quarter. Don't tell me you thought Eli was going to lead a game-winning drive in the Super Bowl. Don't tell me you knew David Tyree would come up with the most harrowing catch in Super Bowl history.

But, the Giants overcame all of these obstacles and won the game. Super Bowl XLII reminded us of the most powerful motif in sports, the scrappy underdog who overcomes all odds and defeats mighty Goliath. In Super Bowl XLII, there was no mightier Goliath than the record-setting Patriots. But, the Giants showed the heart of a champion can overcome any and all statistics. The legacy of Eli Manning has forever been changed to a champion. Even though he may never equal his brother Peyton, Eli finally found his own place in NFL history, outside of his brother's shadow. HC Tom Coughlin, a man who had always been seen as the epitome of a crusty old coach, who was disliked by fans, media, players...heck, maybe even his own family became a hero for standing up to Darth Vader himself, Bill Belichick.

If these two teams played 100 times following the Super Bowl, the Patriots might win 99 times. But, that 1 in 100 chance is why the games are played, and why we love them. That night in Arizona reminded us why hope is never lost, and why the game is always worth watching.

Other Games Considered

-Super Bowl XLIII-Steelers beat Cards in another dramatic Super Bowl finish.

-2007 AFC Championship-Colts finally overcome Pats to make Super Bowl

-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff-The Tuck Rule Game, enough said

-Super Bowl XXXVI-Pats upset Rams to win their 1st Super Bowl

Only two more games to go in the countdown as we'll look at our MLB Game of the Decade next. Also tune in tomorrow as Brother Yohey joins us for a roundtable discussion of TigerGate. Also, shameless plug time as the Yoders will be at Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, OH for #25 Wooster @ Ohio Wesleyan. If you want to hear the men behind the madness, tipoff is Wednesday night at 7:30 at stream.owu.edu

Protecting The Shield - Week 12 Recap

What a great day to Protect the Shield. It's a beautiful late Fall day here in central Ohio, December has begun, Christmas is coming closer... and the NFL is getting into home stretch mode. Oh, and there was that game last night to talk about. We're one week closer to the playoffs, so let's check out the big stories from Week 12. Away we go...

Overrated Story of The Week: Ward, Roethlisberger, Concussions, and the Real Story

So, Hines Ward "called out" Ben Roethlisberger for sitting out Sunday night in the Steelers' OT loss to the Ravens. Dennis Dixon did very well in his first NFL start, but threw a crucial INT in overtime that led to the Baltimore GW FG. But, the biggest news was certainly Ward's interview with Bob Costas that aired during the broadcast. A lot of folks tried to make this into a controversy that Ward was questioning Big Ben's toughness, taking an in-house matter public, yada yada yada. Taking it in context, I don't think there is any controversy here. The Steelers are perhaps the most professional team in sports, Ward was just surprised that Roethlisberger would sit after practicing and let it show in an interview. End of story.

But, the quote from the Ward interview which is striking and needs to be payed attention to is this:

"And then to find out that he's still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to the doctors didn't feel that they were going to clear him or not – it's hard to say. Unless you're the person... I've lied to a couple of doctors saying I'm straight, I feel good when I know that I'm not really straight."

With all of the talk of concussions recently, this is an alarming quote. Fans aren't stupid, we know players and coaches either flat-out lie or tell half-truths to doctors to play hurt, or with head injuries. This is the culture of the NFL that needs changed. Players shouldn't be able to lie about something as serious as a concussion or head injury and play when severe damage can be done. These players see themselves as gladiators, they want to play hurt, their toughness should be admired... but the league has to take the steps to take the decision out of their hands. Make any concussion/head injury a mandatory week off and do something quickly before tragedy strikes.

Underrated Story Of The Week: The Best Regular Season Drive of All-Time?

-Your team is down by 4 points, you need a TD to win the game. You have 2:37 to win the game and you need to drive 99 yards. Sounds like an insurmountable task, right? Not for Vince Young 2.0. The stats of the drive: 18 plays, 99 yards, 3 4th down conversions. Young was 9/16 for 94 yards on the drive including a game-winning 10 yard TD pass as time expired. Of course, it'd be ludicrous to put this up there with THE Drive and other classics, this is a regular season game after all. But, if we look at it from a pure football standpoint, this could be the greatest drive of all-time. Think about it, 99 yards in 18 plays and only 2 and 1/2 minutes, needing a TD to win the game, converting 3 4th downs along the way including a last second win. That drive didn't just keep the Titans' miraculous playoff hopes alive, it was a legendary march down the field. Only more proof that VY could be leading a Titans comeback, and a miraculous comeback of his own. If you've got a single regular-season drive that's any better, come talk to me...

3 Stars:

3rd Star: Mike McKenzie (CB-Saints)

-3 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 INT for a man who was sitting at home watching football a week ago. McKenzie's comeback to the Saints after blowing out his knee twice and looking like an ex-NFL cornerback is one of the stories of the week. He played great all night long, and considering it was pressed into action against Randy Moss, his performance is all the more stunning.

2nd Star: Vince Young (QB-Titans)

- He has brought an 0-6 team to 5-6 and in the playoff hunt. But, more importantly, he may have finally established himself as an NFL starting QB. Vince threw for 387 yards on 27/43 passing and 1 TD. What's funny about the whole Young saga is that everyone seems to be rooting for the guy. We're hip and trendy here at RSS, and on Sunday I noticed VY was a Twitter trending topic. (That means a crapton of ppl were tweeting about him) The majority though weren't Titans fans, just people glad to see Vince Young turn his game and his life around.

1st Star: Drew Brees (QB-Saints)

-Just look at the facts from a Monday Night classic: 18/23 371 yards 5 TDs, the third perfect QB rating in the history of MNF. The 2nd man to throw for 350 yds, 5 TDs, and 75% completion in one game (Brady being the other). Team records 9.6 yards per play and 16.1 yards per pass attempt. The first man to throw 3 TDs in a quarter against a Bill Belichick D. Brees was unbelievable last night. Matt Millen said it right after the game, save the tape of last night as quarterbacking at its absolute finest.

Fab 5:

1. Indy

1. New Orleans

3. Minny

4. San Diego

5. Cincy

-A thought about our rankings: The tie at the top remains. Hopefully someone important was reading PTS last week, because Indy and NO are finally getting the respect they deserve. This is the first time that 2 teams have ever started 11-0 in the same season, and only now are folks taking notice to just how good these two teams actually are. The rest of the rankings remain the same after an otherwise unimpactful week.

11 Random Observations:

1) Vince Young's comeback is an amazing story... but Chris Johnson is just as fascinating. He is the first man to have 3 80+ yard TD runs in one year, and 2,000 yards is within striking distance. Can anyone say MVP? CJ also set the record for the most rushing yards ever in the month of November in one season. Someone stop me, I'm starting to sound like Jayson Stark, enough with these stats!

2) Completely lost in the ARZ/TEN game is the ballad of Matt Leinart. Overshadowed and outdueled by Young again, he'll go back to the bench when Kurt Warner is healthy. Young has shown he has what it takes to fight adversity, but does the former Heisman winner? The jury is definitely out on Leinart.

3) The Bears D is putred. The O-Line is putred. The WR's are putred. Their QB is doing all that he can to win games. But, Jay Cutler is not the type of QB that can succeed when his running game produces 43 yards and the D gives up 537. I feel like Cutler is going to run crying out of the stadium the next time he throws an INT.

4) Bigger love fest: Urban Meyer & Tim Tebow, or Buck/Aikman & Favre? It's very close. Meyer/Tebow by a nose. This is an actual quote from Aikman during the game, "I hate to give Brett Favre credit for everything, but..." I forget whether he was talking about utilizing AP in the passing game, or Favre's effort to bring world peace, stop global hunger, and end global warming.

5) By the way, who exactly has Minnesota beaten? The talk was that New Orleans had to prove themselves, but it's actually the Vikings. Take a look at their wins: Cle, Det, SF, GB, St. L, Bal, GB, Det, Sea, Chi... where is there statement win? Baltimore when they lucked out on a missed FG? Green Bay? Detroit? Cleveland? Help me out...

6) Did any intelligent NFL fan actually think the Texans would hold on and beat the Colts, even though they had a 17-0 lead? I didn't think so. Houston needs to blow it up, because that team will never be able to win an important game as it is currently composed. Maybe they should rename it Choke City instead of Clutch City.

7) We told you not to get worked up about the great Quinn & Stafford after their shootout last week. They responded by throwing a combined 35/77 for 313 yards and 4 picks in two ugly losses. If I can be right on one thing every week, that's not so bad!

8) Quietly, the Redskins are playing much, much better. Of course, Jim Zorn is still as good as gone at the end of the year.

9) The best win on Sunday? The Falcons being able to beat a divisional opponent without Matt Ryan at QB. That was a must-win game to stay in Wild Card contention.

10) The worst loss on Sunday? Jacksonville throwing 3 points on the board in a bad loss at SF. Another example of a team that might just be good enough to finish 8-8.

11) Frankly, I wouldn't shed a tear if Detroit and Dallas didn't host Thanksgiving games next year. Please commish, give us some games that are actually worth watching on Turkey Day. Not the crappy Lions, and the crappier Raiders. Get it done Don Goodell.

What Happened In Week 12 That Will Change The Season: The Saints' Statement Game

-You didn't think that I would miss this chance of a lifetime did you? Regular readers will know that I am a die-hard Saints fan and last night was amazing. As a 20 year Saints fan, this was the most important regular season game of my lifetime. I was pacing around the homestead before the game even started, but it was a great ride to watch such an awesome all-around performance in a huge game. Even though I get annoyed with pundits who say that a 10-0 team needed to "prove" something, the Saints played like they had a lot to show the NFL and the country last night.

And, it wasn't just that they won, but how they won. Heck, they made the Hoodie wave the white flag and send out Bryan Hoyer in the 4th Quarter! The makeshift secondary was outstanding, they pressured Brady, they were able to run the ball, and Brees outplayed Brady in every way. Also, Sean Payton called an outstanding game (minus another silly replay challenge). There was an urgency to their play that wasn't seen in the last month. This was the game that everyone in the Saints organization pointed to to make a resounding statement that they are now an elite NFL franchise. The only way to really do that though will be to go all the way this year and consistently contend in the future. But, the journey to greatness had to start somewhere, and it did last night.

Check back for the continuation of the Top 10 Games of the Decade Countdown! Bye for now!