Week 4 in the books, and so is the Regular Season

Hello to all,

Once again, here we are, another week of football in the books, and the regular season over, but it seems as most of you could care less about baseball right now.  As all of your thoughts are on Brett Favre being a Viking, the Broncos being 4-0 and the Titans being 0-4.  I won't even get into the Titans situation, as I could spend all day on them, but we'll go with the Broncos.

It took a fluke Week 1, which they should have lost, and no matter what would have happened in week 1, and week 4, they were either going to be 4-0, or 2-2.  Playing Oakland and Cleveland, you are given W's, as Cleveland just cares about filing grievances against Eric Mangini for a $1,703 water bottle and giving up in the middle of a game.  Denver has the talent to be a very good team, but it's going to take more than 4-0 to make me believe that.  I honestly don't know who's going to win the AFC West.  LaDanian Tomlinson is no longer the elusive and explosive back he used to be, and Shawn Merriman is no longer the steroid raged Linebacker he was of the past few years.  That being said, San Diego can not survive solely on passing the ball all year.  You might be saying now, "But they have Darren Sproles, they can run the ball."  No they can't.  Darren Sproles is to small to be an every down back, and like Leon Washington from New York, when used too often, they become ineffective. 

Now, on to baseball.  For the second time in 2 years, the Twins are in a one game playoff with their postseason hopes hanging in the balance.  Hopefully the Vikings left some of that magic in the Metrodome, as the Twins are looking to bounce back from last years 1-0 one game playoff loss to the White Sox.  But I don't think that it's the Twins that need any help, I think it's the Tigers that are needing help.  The Twins are behind Scott Baker, tonights starter, as in the last 13 games he has pitched, they have won 10 of them, and since Justin Morneau went out, they are 16-4. 

The Tigers on the other hand, have a wife beater with a drinking problem, and Rick Porcello, who I believe is going to be a star in this league for years to come.  In 4 games this season, Porcello is 1-2, misleading, because his ERA in those games is 3.09 and the Twins are hitting him pretty good, with a batting average of .299.  It is also of note, that 2 of his last 3 games were against the Twins, in which he lost 3-0 and 3-2, with his total innings in those being 12.1, giving up 15 hits, 4 runs, 1 home run, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.  In Porcello they trust.  Looking for a happy ending to an odd relationship, the Twins and The Metrodome will surely be rocking tonight, as tonight could be the last baseball game played at the tarp dome in Minneapolis.

How about the Yankees?  Before Alex Rodriguez made his debut, the Yankees ended April 12-10, and were 13-15 when he made his debut on May 8 against the Orioles, belting a three-run home run on the first pitch of his first at-bat of the season.  Since that day, the Yankees are 103-59.  Best in baseball.  A-Rod makes this team better, as for the 12th straight year, and 13th year overall, he has hit at least 30 home runs and drove in 100 runs.  Of the 15 sports writers that I spoke with, all but 2 believe the Yankees will win the World Series.  But don't forget about the Curse of the Rings.  What?  You don't remember the Curse of the Rings?  What do you mean you've never heard of the Curse of the Rings?  It may not be big now, but it will be in a few years.  Do yourself a favor, go to Border's Bookstore, stroll over to the sports section, and grab yourself a copy of The Yankee Years by Joe Torre.  A great memoir along with great story telling by Joe Torre and one of my favorite sports writers, Tom Verducci.  In this book, you'll learn all about the Curse of the Rings. 

Following the 1999 World Series, the Scouts and Player Development group did not receive their '99 World Series rings until after the 2000 World Series, and when they did, they turned out to be fake.  Following their 2000 Subway Series win against the crosstown Mets, the scouts, about two dozen of them, were not receiving of rings.  Although, Billy Crystal and singer Ronan Tynan did each receive one.  Why?  Well, cheerleaders deserve a ring right?  Only 2 scouts received a '00 World Series ring, and the rest, consider every season since and future that they do not win the World Series as being from the result of the Curse of the Rings.  The Yankees, have not won a World Series since, and have not been in a World Series since 2003, when they were cooked made to order by Josh Beckett, AJ Burnett, and Dontrelle Willis.  Will the Curse be broken 9 years in?  Or will it end in 90 years when most of us are gone? 

Next up on the plattter, College Football.  Being the first big spot for College Football so far, I want to make this a good one and I'll do my best.  I love Florida State, they are my team along with the Cincinnati Bearcats, and this will hurt me to say it, but Bobby Bowden, I think it's time to move on.  Nothing personal pal, but it's time.  It's been a long, wonderful, heart-breaking, and heartfelt journey, that includes, but not limited to, The Choke at the Doak, five Wide Rights, one Wide Left, and a 2 National Championships.  Please Bobby, don't make this harder than it is.  You're still the all-time coach for the 'Noles and NCAA Football, but it's time.  The game has changed, but you haven't.  Don't let this turn into a Joe Paterno-Penn State situation.  JoePa died 15 years ago, he just hasn't fought out yet and Penn State won't let him ride off into the sunset and just pass already.  Time to let go Bobby.  I'll always remember those straw hats, and the memories, but it's time to go. 

Has anyone but me noticed that the past few years, the SEC Championship has destroyed the National Chamionship picture?  In 2003, the #5 Georgia Bulldogs went against the #3 LSU Tigers.  The Tigers won, and went on to win the National Championship...The Bulldogs, they beat Purdue in OT in the Capitol One Bowl.  In 2006, #4 Florida and #8 Arkansas and 2008, #2 Florida and #1 Alabama.  What I'm getting at, is that there are times when the 2 best teams in the nation that should play in the National Championship, are playing in the SEC Championship, to play in the Capitol One Bowl, the Peach Bowl(#3 LSU lost to the #13 ranked Georgia Bulldogs for the right to play in this one.) To stop this madness, the SEC needs to do what the ACC did in 2005, and split up the teams into divisions.  Then, there's a chance that Florida and Alabama could play in this years National Championship game against eachother, as #1 and #2. 

But, a huge but, if one loses, those in Cincinnati will be barking for the Bearcats to be thrown into the mix.  Let me put it for you this way.  If Florida loses 1 game, and Notre Dame wins out, and for some reason, the heavans rain down on Alabama, Ohio State, USC, and LSU, and Notre Dame is ranked high, which I don't see happening, and UC goes undefeated, you will see a National Championship game matchup of Notre Dame vs. Florida.  UC fans will riot before and after they defeat one of the teams above, and Notre Dame will get steam rolled by Florida. 

The Bandwagon will start dropping off fans down at Nippert Stadium, and ESPN will run a "UC Got Screwed" Special.  What's my point here?  The BCS is dying to throw Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, USC, LSU and Alabama into the title picture against Florida, because, let's face it, they're probably all on Urban Meyer's payroll.  They do not care about the BYUs, the Boise States the UCs and the rest of the teams that have begun they ascent to the top.  All they care about, is making their money, throwing in the #1 and #2 when the #1 and #2 might actually be the #8 UC vs #12 Iowa, #11 Miami(FL), #10 TCU or #5 Virginia Tech. 

Whoever is in the game, if UC wins out, it may not matter, because, of course, it's whoever Urban Meyer chooses, as those who have the power to decide are on the payroll, and it doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.   

This is where I'll end.  In about 2 hours and 30 minutes, Detroit and Minnesota will square off for the chance to fulfill a dream of playing in the playoffs and the World Series.  Until next time. 

The Easy