Major League Baseball: Live and In Steroid-io

mitchell report was released today...

a lot of names...

shocker...

wake me up when there is some news, like how the f#$k the Rockies won the pennant!

Fly Like A Falcon?!

So Bobby Petrino leaves his Atlanta contract to go back to college...

sound familiar?

Nick Saban did it to the Miami Dolphins and Billy Donovan did it to the Magic (and that's just in the last year)

but what makes this story different

well, for one 

Nick Saban left a powerhouse at LSU to go to the Miami Dolphins and when it was clear things weren't working out he headed right back to the greener pastures of college football. Yes it was clear that Saban worked the system for a BUTTLOAD of money, but even worse the team he left behind is one of the NFL's most storied franchises and now is desperately trying to avoid the inevitable karma of constantly rubbing 17-0 in everyone's faces. Now are the winless Dolphins Saban's fault? probably not but it still can't be overlooked.

Donovan pretty much gets an exemption because he was the head coach of Orlando for all of a weekend...

but Petrino is different. Petrino was hired when he (and everyone else in the world) believed that the most exciting player in football would be on the field for him. While what has happend to Mike Vick is not the Falcon's fault it nevertheless changes the face of the team and I believe that Petrino should've been able to leave then.  When a school fires a coach it's recruits can opt out of their letters of intent. The same is the same with certain players, Mike Vick isn't just some quarterback he is arguably the greatest Athlete in the game, take him out of the equation and Petrino never leaves Louisville.

oh and what do Saban, Donovan and Petrino have in common?

the Selfish Egotistical Coaches...one of the marquee collegiate conferences

They Are Who We Thought They Were!

so it took me a few hours to digest tonight's MNF game...this was for a number of reasons

1) I wanted to hold on to this game for as long as possible because next week's Saints/Falcons match-up is not what I would call must see tv

2) There were so many different angles to the game on which I could write that I wanted to try and find a good one

and finally

3) I couldn't get the image of Brian Billick and Rodney Harrison making out, out of my head

so after all of that I came up with some observations...

Why is it that when a team wins a game like this they are "doing what champions do", it would seem to me that it makes more sense for champions to simply win... I'm not saying that The Patriots aren't by lightyears the best team in the NFL, but what I am saying is they had no business winning tonight's game. 

Ex 1- In the final Patriot drive, it was 2 bonehead plays by the Ravens (the first 4th down time out and the 2nd 4th down holding call) and 1 by the Patriots (Faulk running out of the bounds a yard short of the first) that kept the game alive. For all intent an purposes the game was over and the 72 Dolphins could pop that champagne.

Ex 2- The ravens were fired up, Ed Reed/Ray Lewis/Willis McGahee all wanted this win for Sean Taylor and the three of them did everything they could to win this game unfortunately Kyle Boller, 3 yards and perhaps destiny stood in their way

so basically if the Patriots can survive next week's test against the Steelers then it should be smooth sailing til week 17 when they play the Giants to end the season...

destiny can be a real bitch

The Final Countdown

It seems that UCLA may finally make that big break in the Pac-10

sources indicate that some time this week Karl Dorrell will be fired.

Admittedly I am not a UCLA fan, but I think that makes how bad Karl is even more obvious. The win that kept his job (13-9 over USC last year) can be directly credited to his Defensive Coordinator. Throughout his tenure he has shown game in and game out that he is not up to coaching a program that wants to be counted among the best of one of the nation's elite conferences. 

Reportedly the candidates for the position are Boise State coach Chris Petersen, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, and Former 49ers/Cal coach Steve Mariucci

Chris Petersen- Petersen would bring the Boise State underdog with something to prove mentality that is a staple of Boise State. In addition Petersen is what Dorrell wants to be, Dorrell takes risks without understanding the whole situation, Petersen understands the situation and takes the risk anyway (ex, 2007 Fiesta Bowl)

Mike Leach- UCLA's offense would certainly get a boost from the gun slinger. The staple of Leach's Texas Tech teams have been high powered offenses. Offenses like that don't normally succeed in the defensively minded Big-12, but in the Pac-10 Leach could thrive. Leach also isn't afraid of the media and that is big for a coach in L.A.

Steve Mariucci- Mariucci is no stranger to the Pac-10 serving as a coordinator and coach for Cal. He also is no stranger to California from his years as head coach of the 49ers. Mariucci is a big name choice to head this program, he also has big time pro experience, but that doesn't always mean success because the two levels of play are so different. I think that his name might push him as the leader for the position even though he might not be the most deserving.

personally I think all three of these guys would be good choices for UCLA. For the benefit of Boise State and of the eventual demise of the BCS and the rise of the WAC I think Petersen needs to stay at Boise State. Mariucci is a great commentator and doesn't need the stress of coaching and be compared to the juggernaut across town. Leach would be the best decision and would be a very good head coach, especially if UCLA can keep defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker

BCS Bowl Selection Show

so let's see how the BCS shapes out for this year...

quick question...biggest shock of the year?

any ideas?...

really I think you have to go with Appalachian State because after that nothing seemed impossible...beating perennial powerhouse Michigan (even in a down year) at The Big House is still impressive

alright here we go your 2008 BCS Bowl Matchups

Suger Bowl (Jan 1)

#10 Hawaii vs # 4 Georgia

this is a great chance for Hawaii and unlike last year with Boise State, people believe that Hawaii has a legitimate shot at winning, so instead of shocking the world they will prove that they deserve the recognition of any of the regular powerhouses

Rose Bowl (Jan 1)

#7 USC vs #13 Illinois

very good classic Big Ten-Pac 10 match-up, it'll be nice to see what Juice Williams can do against a very very good USC defense, and what the running backs of USC do against the staunch defense of Illinois that was able to shut down then and now #1 Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl (Jan 2)

#4 Oklahoma vs #9 West Virginia

this game features 2 of the best qbs in the nation. Sam Bradford is young and gutsy and has a cannon, Pat White is older, more mature and has wheels for legs. The two defenses better be ready for what their gonna be facing on the other sideline

Orange Bowl (Jan 3)

#3 Virginia Tech vs #8 Kansas

How will the spread offense of Kansas fair against the tough defense of Virginia Tech, emotionally a VT win would be great, but Kansas has been a great story all season. This will be a must see game.

National Championship (Jan 7)

#1 Ohio State vs #2 LSU

call me crazy, but I just can't get excited about this game... neither Ohio State or LSU impressed me much this year, so the game should be a good proving ground for both teams.

so here's my question... Kansas and Georgia both finished 3rd in their conferences so i don't think its fair to let them play in front of teams like Arizona State and Missouri who finished 2nd in their conferences (Missouri actually BEAT Kansas)

Johan Santana

Does it make sense for the team with best 3 man rotation in baseball (Beckett, Schiling, Dice-K) to trade a great young productive player for ANOTHER pitcher?

i mean you can't go wrong with great pitching, but really its just seems to me to be much more logical to keep your young talent at other positions rather than risking that talent on a trade for a veteran pitcher...

and here's another question, with Johan what's the Sox rotation?

Beckett, Johan, Schilling, Dice-K, Wakefield/Timlin/Buchholz?

in my opinion Dice-K is better than Schilling, but would Schilling's ego let him be a 4th starter?

(13) Arizona State vs Arizona

Arizona scores...

20-17 ASU with :47 to play...

Arizona is lined up for the onside kick...

ASU RECOVERS!!!! THAT'S THE GAME

oh and screw ESPN for not showing the kick and showing a commercial

10-2!!!! Great Season

be back tomorrow for the bowl selection show