Mrs Sportz Assassin Has Her Survivor Blog Going Again

                            

Survivor: Guatemala - Bravenet Web Journal

written by MRS SPORTZ ASSASSIN

EPISODE ONE:

39 days 18 people 1 survivor
Teams:   Nakum (yellow)   and Yaxha (blue)

wait...is it just me
or did you see the old guy Jim and think
"wow he should just have a target on his head, he is so outta here?"
LMAO

The TWO big surprises 2 survivor favorites returning)
I swore it was gonna be those  [expletive deleted] Rob and Amber
I WAS SO FREAKING HAPPY to see BOBBY JON & STEPHENIE
TWO WORDS:  HELL YEAH!!

Those two SO deserved another chance, I am glad that was recognized!!

**sidenote to Meka** 
at least now we have something to look at!! lol

It's hard to get an idea of which team you end up rooting for from the first episode.
oh, by the way...my picks in the pool are Brian and Brooke.
Why do I always get SUCKY picks?!

my observations:

Brian...hmmm....is he gay?  is he straight? It's a toss up.

Rafe...OMG WTF?!  He kind of creeps me out

Brooke...reminds me of Julia Stiles

Gary...a big [expletive deleted] liar!! 

Blake...his teeth BLIND me (I can't imagine what you people with HD see lol)

Judd...in the mud (that rhymes) like a pig 

Brandon...cute in a weird sort of way had me rolling when he said Judd had premature evacuation

ok.....reward challenge
an 11 mile hike through the jungle to get the best campsite and flint
omg that's like pure torture
that was just horrific to watch

pretty boy Blake got stuck by a sticker branch..waa waa

they better be kissing Margaret's butt
they also better thank god that she got put on their team to take care of them!!

pretty boy Blake starts puking

despite all the problems...Yaxha wins
with Nakum just barely behind them

Nakum, must travel further to their camp.
Yaxha immediately breaks down.
dehydration sets in and takes all the men out
I was waiting for Bobby Jon's head to start spinning around like the exorcist,
his eyes were wicked looking!
I so don't care to see [expletive deleted] puke.
And puke they did...Judd, Blake, Jim, and Bobby Jon couldn't move.

Suck it up boys...immunity challenge is coming

Immunity:
row a boat, get a torch, pull your boat on shore the old school Mayan way
light your torch...win

By this time, I'm sort of pretty much leaning towards rooting for Steph's team Nakum.
I mean, I have Brooke on Yaxha, and Brian on Nakum, so wtf.
(by the way it isn't like either one of them is gonna win LoL)

Amazingly, Nakum wins.
Steph's first immunity challenge win EVER!!
I was so happy for her,  and yeah...I guess that's my team.
(It's really just about her though)

No one who has ever played this game...
I mean in the whole freaking history of Survivor
has EVER deserved to win a million dollars more than
Stephenie
Maybe this time, she can do it!!

Back at the Yaxha camp...
we learn Jim (the old guy) has injured his bicep pretty bad.
he looks to be in horrid pain.
he says the muscle snapped.  OUCH.

*like we didn't think he was first choice to go anyway!!

I was thinking they would be stupid to keep Jim or Blake for that matter.
Pretty boy Blake is pretty much out of commission anyway

Then Brooke, that little biotch is pretty much campaigning for Bobby Jon to go
saying "he was the most worst off"
EXCUSE ME?!  did you not see Blake?!!  Jim?!! WTF?
She's scared.  She knows they have to get him out or she has no way in hell of winning
she pissed me off, she needs to go to, EVEN IF SHE IS MY PICK!!

Tribal Council:

surprise, surprise..
the first 5 votes are for Jim
and that's enough to be voted out

3 days down....36 more to go

VOTED OUT THIS WEEK:
JIM

Why Did The Reds Suck?? Here's The Top Free Agent Signing's Stats!!!

from Jason Stark
ESPN.com

The 50-50 Club
Only one pitcher in history has ever served up 50 home runs in one season. That was Bert Blyleven, who did it nearly two decades ago (in 1986) -- and has never looked at gophers the same since.

But this year, our man Bert might be getting company. Heading into the final three weeks of the season, Reds pitcher Eric Milton had given up exactly as many homers (39) as Blyleven did at the same stage of his historic 50-bomb summer.

                                                

Granted, he since has fallen behind -- by allowing just one homer Tuesday, on the 19th anniversary of Blyleven's serving up a five-spot. But that doesn't mean Milton doesn't have all the credentials needed to reach the hallowed half-century mark, too.

He warmed up by allowing 43 gopher balls last year. And this year, he has cranked out one four-homer game, four three-homer games and more two-homer games (six) than no-homer games (five). So a few more like those, and 50 here he comes.

But wait. There's more.

Milton also has given up 53 doubles this year. Which means that if he can get to 50 homers, he'd be the first 50-50 man in pitching history.

And through his first 31 starts, he'd already allowed 98 extra-base hits. Which means he could easily blow by Jose Lima (108 in 2000) for the most extra-base hits doled out by any National League pitcher in the last quarter-century.

And now that he's arrived at 40 homers, he has joined Robin Roberts (three times), Blyleven (two) and Phil Niekro (two) as the only multi-season 40-bomb offenders of all time.

So we don't know if Doris Kearns Goodwin cares about this man's historic season. For that matter, we don't even know if Bert Blyleven cares. But the rest of us will be hanging on every pitch.

Ramsey Is Already Out

                              

JOE GIBBS REALLY DOESN"T LIKE PATRICK RAMSEY.  I guess getting clotheslined was the straw that broke Ramsey's, uh, neck.  It gave Joe Gibbs the opportunity to put "Scott" Brunell in the game and not look back.  Ramsey says he'll be fine to play next week....but apparantly Gibbs doesn't care as he has named Brunell the starter for Monday night's game in Dallas.  Ah, just what we need.  A QB controversy in WEEK TWO when we play our hated rivals [who we cannot beat] on Monday night.  And not just any Monday night....but the one that houses the Hurricane Katrina benefit. 

IF YOU ARE GONNA HOLD OUT...THEN HOLD OUT.  Javon Walker held out for more money.  In the NFL, the team can cut you at any time and you get nothing.  So I agree that a player could/should be able to hold out if it is warranted.  Walker was getting paid scraps...and he's one of the best WRs in the league.  However, when camp started, he arrived with a smile on his face and never bothered anyone about it since.  Oh, then he tears up his ACL in the first game of the season and is done for the year.  Maybe that's why these guys hold out, huh?  So when 2006 rolls around, remember this when someone making far under market value wants to redo his deal.

ROGER CLEMENS IS MY NL CY YOUNG WINNER.  I've fought over this in my head for a bit.  I wanna give it to Chris Carpenter, who's a 20-game winner on the NL's top team.  All his stats look great.  But Clemens has pitched better.  His ERA is the NL's lowest since Doc Gooden in 1985.  And that is pitching at Minute Maid Park.  He's allowed only 5 earned runs in 13 games pitched on the road.  The Astros have been shutout in EIGHT of his starts...including FIVE games that ended 1-0.  I wouldn't mind if Carpenter got it just because, hey, Clemens has enough of them.  But, with all things considered, The Rocket deserves the award.

OH, AND MY PICK FOR THE SERIES...  St. Louis Cardinals over Anaheim Angels

THE NFC STILL SUCKS.  Let's see.  Of the teams that made the NFC playoffs last year....only the Falcons won.  And they played the Eagles, another playoff team. 

SEE YA MIKE!  The five hottest seats in the coaching profession lie in Minnesota, Seattle, Green Bay, Denver and St. Louis.  All of those teams lost.  All of those teams were in the playoffs last year.  All of those coaches are named Mike.  And who beat these vaunted teams??  Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Detroit, Miami and San Francisco.  Who do those teams play next week??  Cincinnati, Atlanta, Cleveland, San Diego and Arizona.

MY PICK FOR NASCAR'S CHASE FOR THE CUP.  Tony Stewart.  I told DieCast Dude before the season began that I'm rooting for Stewart to win this thing [well, I drafted him in my fantasy league].  No Gordon....no Little E....and Jimmie Johnson slumping.  Go #20!!!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SKEDDIE LOOKS GOOD.  Man, what a NCAA pigskin lineup we've had!  After a sizzling FSU-Miami game on Labor day....and that Notre Dame-Michigan game plus the epic Texas-Ohio State battle....I can excuse the NCAA for a light schedule this week.  Ooops.  Tennessee heads to Florida.  Florida State heads up to Boston College.  Miami takes on Clemson.  Oklahoma heads out west to take on UCLA.  Oh...and the week after that??  Tennessee at LSU.  G-Tech at V-Tech.  Iowa at Ohio State.  Michigan at Wisconsin.  BC at Clemson.  And Notre Dame heads to Washington to face Ty Willingham. 

 

Week 1 In The Books

                

What a wild week of action in WEEK ONE.  We had the Saints emotional victory over Carolina......we had the Niners and Dolphins [the teams who picked #1 and #2 in the last draft] beating two playoff teams from a year ago [Rams, Broncos]....the Steelers, Pats and Colts all looked like the teams of 2004....and 5 home teams losing. 

So here is my breakdown of Week 1....as I saw it of 4 TV's and the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket in my Sportz Room [aka "Da Bassment"]. 

Oh, and in the Pickem...Jamie Mottram leads the way heading into Monday night.  Why does he ask us to call into SBL when it is obvious that he has all the answers????  lol

PICKEM STANDINGS
Jamie   (11-5)
Beth (10-6)
Monponsett   (10-6)
Pre-Jock (9-7)
Raisin   (9-7)
Sportz   (9-7)
Treesoup   (9-7)
Yannis   (9-7)
Kiser Blade   (8-8)
Lew   (8-8)
NYGFAN   (8-8)
George Coztanza (6-10)

PATRIOTS 30-RAIDERS 20:    The Pats didn't look that dominant...but still got the job done.  Corey Dillion scored 2 TDs [though he was stifled throught the game].  Note to Collins...there is more out there than Randy Moss.  And Norv, send some guys over the middle of the field....it is wiiiiiiiide open.  I picked the game 27-17....so aside from 3 pts on each side...I pretty much hit the mark!

REDSKINS 9-BEARS 7:  Wow.  What a game.  Ramsey gets knocked out....John Hall kicks 3 FGs....the two tough defenses smoked the two horrible offenses.  What a game. 

DOLPHINS 34-BRONCOS 10:  What??  Let me get this straight.  Gus Frerotte threw for 275yards and 2 TDs???  What happened to that Denver Defense??  It was also nice to see Marty Booker enter back into the league, huh?

BENGALS 27-BROWNS 13:  This is how it is supposed to be for Cincinnati.  Carson Palmer looked like a #1 overall pick....Rudi Johnson ran like a Mack truck...and Chad Johnson was catching passes all over the field.  Sad to say, but this is how it is supposed to be for Cleveland as well.  Look at the bright side, you get Matt Leinart or Vince Young next year!

BILLS 22-TEXANS 7:  The sad thing is that Buffalo should have really blown them out!  The Bills kicked FGs and Houston struggled to get anything going on offense.  And how about that Bills stingy defense and their FIVE takeaways!!!!  PS, don't wear those unis again.  It just makes us remember that OJ Simpsonwas your franchise's best player.

STEELERS 34-TITANS 7:  The most impressive thing about this game was that Big Ben looked like he did in the middle of last season.  Oh, and that Duce Staley may be out of a job and Jerome Bettis could be pushed into retirement.  Willie Parker is a stud!!!  Um, where did he go to school?? 

SAINTS 23-PANTHERS 20:  Too many dumb mistakes [well, aren't most mistakes dumb?] cost the Panthers this win.  Well, that and the Saints will to pull this game out.  Steve Smith, I think, caught 6 TD passes...but only 1 counted as penalties brought back the others.  Either way, that Panther pick for the Super Bowl doesn't seem to be as much of a lock right now.

BUCCANEERS 24-VIKINGS 13.  Maybe Culpepper does need Randy Moss.  Daunte was picked off 3 times....and their leading rusher gained 15 yards.  Yikes!!  Maybe the Bucs can spare Michael Pittman...because it sure looks as if the Cadillac is already in prime condition.  The Mike Tice clock is ticking.

JAGUARS 26-SEAHAWKS 14:  Shaun Alexander did nothing.  Hasslebeck was picked 3 times.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...is there a more underrated QB in the NFL than Byron Leftwich?  The dude wins games...and plays assmart as any QB out there.  I love this kid!!!

CHIEFS 27-JETS 7:  The Chiefs jumped right on the Jets and kept piling it on.  And it seems that Larry Johnson will get a ton of time in the offense that he could spell Holmes enough that Priest will be healthy for the long term.  Maybe that New York bias got our minds twisted up that the Jets were gonna be somebody this year. 

GIANTS 42-CARDINALS 19:  Speaking of overreacting...I guess that chic Cards pick has more to do with the lack of a NFC West than anything the Cards have to offer.  Sure, there were moments of Arizona greatness [he was wearing that #11 out there]...but it looked like theol' NFC East butt-whoopin that the Cards used to always get. 

NINERS 28-RAMS 25:  Um, yeah.  The NFC West sucks.  Congrats to NYGFan who had the stones to pick San Fran.

LIONS 17-PACKERS 3:  Neither QB looked very good...and that's not good news for the Packers.  Harrington is supposed to suck.  But Favre didn't do much [well, the game was in a dome].  It doesn't seem to get much better since Javon Walker will most likely be out for the season with a torn ACL.  PS...the Lions need to get rid of those black jerseys.

COWBOYS 28-CHARGERS 24:  I must have fallen into a way back machine...as I saw Drew Bledsoe completing 3 TD passes [2 to Keyshawn] as the Cowboys actually outgunned San Diego.  The best work was done on LaDalian Tomlinson...who was held in check after a nice opening drive.  If Philly wins tomorrow night...the NFC East would be 4-0!

COLTS 24-RAVENS 7:  The Ravens defense??  Manning looked mere mortal...but that would be a great game for most QBs.  The Ravens offense??  Kyle Boller got knocked out of the game and no onereally stepped it up in his absence. 

SPORTZ NFL TOP 10

1-Patriots.  Defending champs looked good, as usual, at home. 
2-Colts.  Hmmm.  They go into B-more, spank the Ravens with defense?
3-Eagles.  YET TO PLAY
4-Steelers.  I guess they're still a good regular season team.
5-Falcons.  YET TO PLAY
6-Chiefs.  Hey, if that defense thing catches on, KC could be in for a nice season!
7-Panthers.  The Carolina Karma worked against them against the Saints. 
8-Raiders.  Despite losing to the Pats, they have a ton of promis.
9-Bengals.  They did whip the Browns...but it was the Browns. 
10-Redskins.  Hey, they'll be gone for the team I was really gonna put here...the Cowboys...next week.

Sportz NCAA Top 12 - Week 3

   

1-USC.  Having a bye during a tough week for ranked teams
2-TEXAS.  I really didn't think they could do it.  But Mack Brown took his team into Ohio State and played composed.  Who woulda thunk?
3-VIRGINIA TECH.  Va Tech hung a 45-0 pasting on Duke.  Ho-hum.
4-LSU.  Much respect due to a emotional victory under such difficult circumstances.  A "home game" played several states away, the Tigers showed the heart of a champion. 
5-FLORIDA.  Gotta big one against Tennessee coming up. 
6-TENNESSEE.  Gotta big one against Florida coming up. 
7-OHIO STATE.  Losing at home sucks, but it really isn't that humiliating losing to the Horns.  They do need to figure out this QB situation though.
8-MICHIGAN.  The team is still very young, as evidenced by their meldown against the Irish.
9-MIAMI-FL.  I wonder if the offense got some work in on the Canes off week??
10-GEORGIA.  Still not sold on the Dawgs yet...but they did beat Spurrier's team. 
11-NOTRE DAME.  The Pitt win doesn't look as good anymore...but that win at Michigan sure does!
12-LOUISVILLE.  The Cards chill as everyone around them fights for their lives.

FELL OUT:  Florida State and Iowa.

*BAD DAY FOR BIG TEN:  Three of the top teams in the Big Ten...Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa...all lost during Tripleheader Saturday on ABC.  All three teams lost in their home state [Iowa lost at Iowa State, while the other two lost at home].  Mistakes were at the center of each game.  For Michigan...a interception and a fumble at [literally] the one-inch line kept the Wolves out of the endzone until a late desperation flurry.  For Ohio State, failures to score TDs in the red zone and a key fumble late in the game sealed the Buckeye's fate.  All 23 of Iowa State's points came off of Iowa Hawkeye turnovers.  None of these games were in the conference...so it will still be a battle for the Big Ten crown...but several National title hopes took a hit. 

*NOTRE DAME:  What is it about a new coach that gets things going??  When Ty Willingham stepped on the Irish sideline...they had a renassance season.  Now Charlie Weis has gone into Pitt and into Michigan and left with impressive victories.  The most impressive thing in the victory over the Wolverines was how well their defense played.  Last year, this D was horrible.  It still isn't great...but it is very, very much improved. 

*LSU'S EMOTIONAL VICTORY:  After a sad-looking first 3 quarters...the Tigers opened up for 28 points in the 4th period to eek out a win in Tempe.  The lead changed FIVE times during that final quarter.  Remember, this game was moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe since LSU is home to a chunk of the evacuation effort. 

*SMU BEATS RANKED TEAM:  SMU beat TCU [ya know, the same team that won at Oklahoma last week].  This was the first time SMU beat a ranked team since 1986...nearly 20 years.  After that 1986 season, the program was put on the "death penalty" and didn't field a team in 1987 or 1988.  Since then, it has been a tough ride for the Mustangs...going from the Southwest Conference to the WAC to Conference USA.

   

Where Should The Hornets Go???

                                 

So where should the New Orleans Hornets go??

I know where George Shinn should go. But that’s been said before by me.

Here is the list of 6 suitors:

#6-SAN DIEGO: Honestly, this doesn’t make much logistical sense to me. The NBA isn’t going to screw with the schedule, so the likelihood of the Hornets in SD is slim. Take the Celtics December schedule. They go to New York....then to Houston...then to New Orleans...before heading off to San Antonio and Dallas. Now, the NBA really won’t like for the C’s to take off all the way out to San Diego from Houston...then back to Texas for the Spurs and Mavs. And, to top it all off, the team would play in the ancient I-Pay-One Arena [formerly the SD Sports Arena] that first opened in 1966. ODDS: Slim to none

                          

#5-NASHVILLE. Nashville is becoming quite the sports town and NBA Action would diversify it even more. The problem is that Nashville wasn’t built on sports...and the name of the arena is the Gaylord Entertainment Arena. The team houses the NHL’s Predators, plus an array of concerts. Word is that the best Nashville can offer is 12 home dates....29 less than a normal NBA arena. With the Titans and Preds projected to have down seasons...no point in adding the horrible Hornets into the apathy. Add to the fact that the Memphis Grizzlies are already trying to build Tennessee roots. ODDS: They may finagle those 12 games...but probably will be left in the cold.

                          

#4-LOUISVILLE. I laugh when I see this. No offense to Louisville...but they were strong contenders to land the Hornets when Shinn was shopping them in 2001-2002. Their pitch was to hook the team up to the KFC franchise....even naming the new arena "The Bucket". Louisville is a pretty viable spot for the Hornets in the short term, however. They have an arena that can house them [Freedom Hall] and play in an area that would rally around a NBA franchise. The problem is that Louisville would, by far, be the smallest NBA city and the Hornets would be in direct competition with the Cardinals. And, hey, the Cards would beat them in that competition [and maybe one ON the court as well]. ODDS: I can see a few games at Freedom Hall if the NBA allows the Hornets to have several home courts. Other than that...doubtful.

                       

#3-BATON ROUGE. Playing in Baton Rouge would solve two problems. One, it would keep the franchise relatively close to their New Orleans home and perhaps be both a diversion and a fund raiser for the people of the state. It also allows the Hornets to move back into the NO Arena if it gets functional again. Two, it eliminates the sliminess of another city babysitting the Hornets with a possible eye on keeping them even when the city of New Orleans gets back to shape. They’d have to share the arena with LSU Tigers...but it could work. ODDS: They have the home court advantage, albeit a small one. The main problem is if Baton Rouge continues to be the center for evacuees...then they already have a logistical problem.

                        

#2-KANSAS CITY. KC was home to the Kings before they bolted to Sacramento. The City would be a nice place to house the Hornets...as they have an arena and NBA influence in the town. Lakers and Sixers ownership are big in the city. They also have an out. When Kemper Arenais booked for Hornets’ scheduled dates, they can move over to the smaller Municipal Arena instead. ODDS: Very strong. The Hornets were already struggling in New Orleans and Kansas City knew that. Construction on the new Sprint Center will be complete in 2007...and they were already eying at stealing the Hornets away. With New Orleans in financial straits...most of the economic packages the city promised to Shinn when he left Charlotte will most likely be taken away. The team may have their eyes on Kansas City as well.

                          

#1-OKLAHOMA CITY. Oklahoma City has the one thing that none of the other sites can offer - full reign of their facilities. Oklahoma City has an NBA caliber arena and nothing plugging up game dates. So, the Hornets could pretty much just slide into Oklahoma City and pick up where they left off. The NBA would most likely approve this move as it would like the attendance possibilities as well as the lack of a long-term threat from stealing the franchise away [though Stern may be forced to find another home anyway]. They’d also like the fact that the team would have just one site to call home...instead of several with the other options. The site also protects the integrity of the schedule so that visitors road trips wouldn’t be changed too much. ODDS: My favorite to land the Hornets.

               

The Czar Speaks Again

Eveyone has done this in their minds or in a bar somewhere.  Heck, I did it a year or so ago.  Listing things I would change about sports if I was the "Czar Of Sports". 

Last year, however, I did some radical thinking.  Things like making the basketball court wider...hockey rink bigger...stuff like that.  So what little changes would I make this go around???

                                  

*DH IN ALL STAR GAME.  The MLB All Star Game is an exhibition....so why have the pitcher's hit??  Well, they really don't since those hitters on the bench come up for them anyways.  So why not just have the DH mandatory at every All Star Game?  Czar says it shall be!

*MLB ALL STAR GAME MEANS NOTHING.  Oh, and while we are at it...the winner of the All Star Game doesn't get home field advantage.  That is the dumbest idea of all time.  Why should the least important game [the All Star game] decide the site of the most important game of the year [World Series game 7]??  And it hasn't helped ratings for the game at all...so what is the point??  The luster of the All Star game went out the window with interleague play. 

*GET RID OF THE NFL ALL PRO GAME.  Sorry that I'm on the All Star tip...but do we need this game to be played??  The game is held one week after the most important sporting day of the year....and no one really cares.  I'm a football NUT and I don't know when was the last time I watched this bore-fest.  Heck, the guys that are named to the team don't even play since they are busy getting work done on their aches and bruises.  Oh, and players from the 20 teams that didn't make the playoffs haven't played for 5-6 weeks!!!! 

*NFL, STOP THE CLOCK AFTER 1ST DOWNS.  Just in the final 5 minutes of each half.  Hey, they do it with the out-of-bounds now....so why not the 1st downs??  One of the cool things about college football is watching a team frantically move down the field in the closing minutes.  NFL games would be even more exciting!!! 

*GET RID OF THE TWO MINUTE WARNING.  Not the blog that I contribute to....but the NFL's 2 minute warning.  If my above proposition comes into effect....do we really need the TMW??  I mean, what is even the point of it?  Is it like a national pee break?  Does it allow the networks to get in all those advertisements that hadn't aired yet?  It is for.........dramatic pause??  Get it out of there!

                      

*LET NBA OFFICIALS WEAR SHORTS TOO.  Most of us have played rec sports...and most remember hoops officials wearing shorts.  In the NBA, players essentially dress in their underwear to play.  So why do the officials have to wear slacks?  Yep...I'm getting old because I just said "slacks".

*MAKE BOXING JUDGES SCORECARDS PUBLIC DURING THE FIGHT.  I don't know why they don't.  Well, except that most boxing secrets are dirty, anyways.  I mean, every other sport has a scoreboard...why not a fight?  And I'm sure you'd get much better action in those last few rounds if one of those guys figures he can't win without a knockout. 

*WHAT TO DO WITH NEW ORLEANS TEAMS.  SAINTS-let them play in San Antonio this year...then next season, have them play in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport.  Keep 'em there until something is figured out with the Superdome.  HORNETS-move 'em out.  The team didn't have a foot hold in the Crescent City anyways...so just let them find somewhere knew to play. 

*PUT BYU AND UTAH IN THE PAC-10.  Since it is heading to all these football conferences becoming mega conferences...might as well facilitate it now.  Both of these schools have solid basketball and football programs and would fit the Pac-10 lifestyle of twin teams [Stanford-Cal, UCLA-USC, Zona-Zona State, Wash-Wash St, Oregon-Oregon St].  Then take Boise State from the WAC and slide them in the Mountain West. 

*PUT NOTRE DAME IN BIG TEN.  Why not?  I know the Irish are bent on keeping their tradition alive....but that all changes.  Dude, you are in the same boat as Temple!!!!  The Irish routinely play Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue....why not take on Wisconsin and Illinois too??  With the 12-game schedule coming...they still could keep USC and Navy on their docket.

                            

*SPLIT UP THE BIG EAST.  I know, they haven't even played in the new 16 team format yet.  Well...don't.  It is a bad idea.  How will a 16-team league function??  Oh, yeah...ask the WAC.  Go ahead and create a football league [UConn, WV, Rutgers, Cincy, L'ville, Syracuse, Pitt, USF] and a basketball league [G'town, Nova, Seton Hall, St. John's, Providence, Marquette, DePaul].  If Notre Dame is still in the Big East...put them in the hoops conference.  If they bolt, like I said they should, then get Temple in the conference.  They really don't wanna be in the MAC, do they? 

*MAKE THE "PLAY IN GAME" FEATURE TWO BUBBLE TEAMS.  The NCAA has this "play in" game every year that essentially pits the two worst teams that made the NCAA field in Dayton...with the winner playing a #1 seed.  No fair!!  Those teams got automatic bids into the tournament...they shouldn't have to sit at the kids table!!!  Make those bubble teams we read about [and, errrr, some of us spend a ton of time writing about] have to play that game...with the winner playing a #5 seed in the tournament.  Maybe UAB and No. Iowa should have met in the play in game. 

*STOP THE NFL WEATHER REPORTS.  I know, I know....the betters love them.  But the NFL "hates" betters.  Yeah right.  Anyways, I don't need an update on the weather situation in every game.  I'm not sitting there with my phone in my hand and a credit card number ready to lay down a bet if it is sunny in Chicago. 

*MAKE THE NBA FIGURE OUT SOME NEW SONGS.  For all those who've attended NBA games...we all know the songs.  The "If your happy and you know it" ditty that plays while your team is bringing up the ball.  The stomping "defense" song.  And what NBA game is complete without the "Mexican hat" song.  Figure out something else!!!

*STOP CALLING YOUR HOME THE "PIT", THE "HOLE" OR THE "JUNGLE".  I just hate those names. 

                          

*STOP WITH THOSE POP UP ADS ON TV.  Look...I know that the Simpsons will be on after the Skins-Giants game.  I mean, the show has been on Fox for 18 years!!!!  I think everyone in America is aware that the Simpson are on at 8pm on Sunday!!!  And I can't wait to see the promo for the Simpson's Treehouse Of Horror XVIII being advertised for 10 weeks.  I mean, how many of us actually watched SPRING BREAK SHARK ATTACK after it popped up 4000 times during the NCAA Tournament??

*SPEAKING OF FOX, STOP PLANTING YOUR SHOW'S STARS IN THE CROWD!  Fox is known for that crap.  Here I am, watching the World Series...and I get a shot of the kids from The OC at the game.  Or...any new show they have coming up.  Do I watch a boxing bout on Showtime and the flash a picture of the gang from Queer As Folk near ringside???  No! 

*GET RID OF THE NBA SLAM DUNK CONTEST.  It has run it's course and it no longer is exciting.  Unless you place a $5M prize for it....no respectable dunker will even enter the thing.  Remember, this is the primadonna NBA where everyone thinks they are the best player in the league.  It meant something when I was a teenager, but now it is retreads of old dunks.  And since the new dunkers are more athletic...it even makes the old dunkers look lame.  I mean, we saw the white Brent Barry do the Michael Jordan and Dr. J "free throw line dunk". 

*MAKE THE ROAD TEAM JERSEYS HAVE THE CITY'S NAME ON IT.  I know, most do already.  But it should be law. 

*CHANGE THE BALTIMORE RAVENS LOGO.  Look....you guys got cool colors [black and purple], a cool gothic name and a cool team.  So why is there a magpie on your helmet??  Oh, because it was better that the B with wings you originally had.  Look, Ray Lewis doesn't need that thing on his helmet. 

                        

*MAKE MLB MANAGERS WEAR NORMAL CLOTHES.  Why on Earth do managers wear jerseys??  NBA coaches look like they are heading off to a business meeting.  NFL coaches look like, well, NFL coaches.  So why do baseball skippers have to goo into those tight pants and jersey??  Imagine Rick Majerus wearing a hoops uni on the sideline??  Or Mike Shanahan with a helmet and pads on.  It is stupid. 

*WHY DON'T WE HAVE A TOUR D'AMERICA?  Maybe because cycling doesn't play well here....but why not have a cycling tour here?  It can start in Boston and end in San Francisco or something.  I mean, in the Tour de France, all we get to see is "french countryside" which is like saying "corn fields" over here.  We could name it the "Cannonball Run"....and instead of a yellow jersey, they could be able to drink their water from a pimp cup. 

*BAN GARTH BROOKS AND KEVIN COSTNER FROM SPRING TRAINING.  We get it...you love baseball.  But stop taking coaches time from real baseball players by having your own fantasy camp.  Move on. 

What Happened To My NFC??!?!?!

                

The NFC used to be a contendah!

From 1985-1997...every Super Bowl played ended with the NFC team hauling off the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  Six different teams won those Super Bowls......the Niners [4], Cowboys [3], Redskins [2], Giants [2], Bears and Packers which ended with Green Bay's loss to the Broncos in 1998. 

In those 13 seasons of NFC dominance....the average Super Bowl score was 38-17.  The highest point total the AFC had in that time was San Diego's 26 pts scored in 1995.  Only TWICE in that span did the NFC fail to score at least that much.  The 1989 Niners and 1991 Giants scored 20 pts in two of the most memorable Super Bowls ever....one for the Bengals inability to stop a 92-yard drive and one for the Bills' Scott Norwood missing the winning FG as time expired. 

Since Brett Favre, Reggie White and Desmond Howard walked off the Superdome field with the Lombardi trophy....the NFC is 2-6 in title tilts. 

What happened?

Well...the formula for the NFC's success was bruising defense...power running and a well oiled passing attack.  The Bears, Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, Niners and Packers all have tough, tough, tough defenses.  Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Ronnie Lott, Richard Dent, Darrell Green, Deion Sanders, Charles Haley among others made their marks with those championship defenses. 

Now, the AFC teams do that.  The Patriots, Ravens and Broncos all won with tough defenses, power running and formidable passing attacks. 

During the NFC's 13-year run.....they faced the Bills four times, the Broncos three times, the Patriots twice....and the Chargers, Bengals, Steelers and Dolphins once.  The Bills did have a pretty darn good defense...but the others really didn't.  They all [well, not the '86 Pats] had gunslingers...but none could have stellar Super Bowls.  The NFC's recent entries into the Super Bowl have all been flashes in the pan.  Really, only the 1998 Packers, 2002 Rams and 2005 Eagles were considered great teamsheading into the Super Bowl.  The Giants, Buccaneers and Panthers really were cinderella stories. 

The reason I've been thinking of this...is my Washington Redskins are welcoming the Chicago Bears into town.  Two decades ago...this was a fantastic battle.  I still remember Darrell Green hurdling over Bears would-be tacklers in the 1988 playoffs.  Now, this game means nothing...except to us Skins fans and my friends in Chicago. 

Maybe it is just all cylical.  Twenty years ago....the Niners, Redskins, Dolphins and Bears were premiere teams.  Now those teams pick in the top 10 in the draft.  Twenty years ago...no one wanted to set foot in Green or Tampa Bay....and places like Pittsburgh and Dallas had sorry franchises.  Twenty years ago...the Bengals-Browns game would be one heck of a interesting game!!! 

Twenty years ago...there were no Panthers, Jaguars, Texans, Titans or Ravens.  The Rams and Raiders were in Los Angeles....the Cardinals were in St. Louis.

Of course...some things stay the same.  The Chiefs still can't win a playoff game.  The Falcons can't put back-to-back winning seasons together.  The Seahawks and Saints still are postseason duds. 

I just want my NFC to be relevant again.  We use to be dominate.  We used to matter!!

Sportz & Co.'s Week 1 Predictions

                                

RAIDERS AT PATRIOTS.  Oakland is ready to stroll out it's new offensive weapons:  Moss and Jordan.  The Patriots are ready to stroll out and try for a 3-peat.  The Pats did lose a bit on defense...but still are the most prepared team in the NFL.  Sure, the new guys will get theirs...but the Pats win 27-17
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, Monponsett, Lew:  Patriots
NYGFAN:  Raiders

BRONCOS AT DOLPHINS.  Miami heads into this game with Gus Frerrotte as the QB, Ricky Williams on drug leave and Ronnie Brown with limited training camp.  I say Broncos 21-10
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Monponsett, NYGFAN, Lew: Broncos
Treesoup:  Dolphins

BENGALS AT BROWNS.  Upset special.  There is nothing that makes me like Cleveland at all.  Cincy has so many offensive weapons..and their defense is improving.  Just a hunch...but I'm going with the Browns 30-27
Monponsett:  Browns
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, Treesoup, NYGFAN, Lew: Bengals

TEXANS AT BILLS.  Since Domanick Davis is on my fantasy team, I want him to do well.  But that Bills defense is just so good.  I think they can get to Carr and slow up Davis a bit.  Do that, and make sure Losman hands it to McGahee a ton...and you'll get the Bills 16-9
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, Monponsett, Lew:  Bills
KiserBlade, Treesoup, NYGFAN:  Texans

TITANS AT STEELERS.  The Steelers offense looked horrible in the preseason.  Good thing they are facing the Titans, who pretty much released their entire defense this past offseason.  Steelers 23-14.
George Coztanza,Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, Monponsett, NYGFAN, Lew: Steelers

              

BEARS AT REDSKINS.  Rookie QB going up against a stellar defense.  Ugh.  But the Skins come back with Ramsey against any defense.  I think Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts do some running on Chicago...wearing them down in the final quarter.  Skins 17-7
Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, Monponsett:  Redskins
George Coztanza, NYGFAN, Lew: Bears

SAINTS AT PANTHERS.  The Saints are essentially a barnstorming team right now.  But the Panthers are bringing back Stephen Davis, Steve Smith and DeShaun Foster...all of who were injured much of last year.  I think the Saints emotion and focus will pull this one out...just as they did in the final game last year.  Saints 34-31.
Raisin, Monponsett:  Saints
George Coztanza, Yannis, KiserBlade, Treesoup, NYGFAN, Lew: Panthers

BUCCANEERS AT VIKINGS.  I love the Vikes new defense.  The key will be keeping them fresh.  To do that, guys like Michael Bennett and Medwede Moore will have to play strong.  I think they will.  Vikes 30-14
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, NYGFAN, Lew: Vikings
Monponsett:  Buccaneers

SEAHAWKS AT JAGUARS.  I just can't pick Seattle.  Jags 19-10.
George Coztanza, KiserBlade, Treesoup, NYGFAN, Lew: Jags
Yannis, Raisin, Monponsett:  Seahawks

                          

JETS AT CHIEFS.  There will be some strong running in this gamefrom both teams.  Both teamsQBs are coming off of injuries.  Both teams have tinkered with their receiving corps.  But the Jets have the better defense.  Jets 28-24. 
George Coztanza, Yannis,Treesoup: Jets
Raisin, KiserBlade, Monponsett, NYGFAN, Lew:  Chiefs

CARDINALS AT GIANTS.  Perfect matchup...as Warner goes against Eli...the guy who took his job.  It will be interesting to see how the G-men's defense steps up and if Plaxico Burress makes an impact on offense.  I think the Giants pull it off.  NYG 24-17
Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade:  Giants
George Coztanza, Treesoup, Monponsett, NYGFAN, Lew: Cards

RAMS AT NINERS.  I'm one of the few schmucks that are picking the Rams to win the West.  It starts here.  Rams 40-13.
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, Monponsett, Lew: Rams
NYGFAN:  Niners

PACKERS AT LIONS.  I'm not a fan of Favre in domes.  Lions 27-24.
Treesoup, Monponsett, NYGFAN, Lew:  Lions
George Coztanza, Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade: Packers

COWBOYS AT CHARGERS.  I'm not a fan of Dallas.  Bolts 17-13.
Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, NYGFAN:  Chargers
George Coztanza, Yannis, Monponsett, Lew: Cowboys

                       

COLTS AT RAVENS.  Classic game.  Indy's offense hasn't looked too good in the preseason.  The Ravens defense is a perfect kind to screw with Manning's timing.  I think I'll go with B-more 20-17.
Yannis, Raisin, KiserBlade, Treesoup, Monponsett, NYGFAN:  Colts
George Coztanza, Lew: Ravens

EAGLES AT FALCONS.  I love Atlanta at home.  I think their defensive line plus rushing attack will be too much for the Eagles to behold.  The Falcons get a bit of revenge...A-T-L 31-24
Yannis, Treesoup, NYGFAN:  Falcons
George Coztanza, Raisin, KiserBlade, Monponsett, Lew: 

Sportz NCAA Top 12 - Week 2

1-USC.  Looked good at Hawaii.  This team continues it's dominance.

2-MICHIGAN.  Again, my upset pick for the Rose Bowl.  They get the suddenly confident Notre Dame next!

3-OHIO STATE.  Looked pretty good against Miami-OH.  I think they'll beat Texas on Saturday night.

4-TEXAS.  Looked very strong..but playing at the horseshoe is quite a different task.

5-VIRGINIA TECH.  Week 1 down, and they've already won a tough ACC road game.  And Vick performed quite well.

6-TENNESSEE.  Didn't look as good as I would have liked.  I mean, they got Florida, Georgia and LSU coming up.

7-LSU.  I have respect for LSU moving the site of this weekend's game to Arizona State.  This actually put the Tigers as underdogs.  Winning that game in Tempe will actually boost their BCS numbers.

8-FLORIDA.  Flying under the radar was how good Urban Meyer and Chris Leak performed last weekend.  Leak, like me, a former Independence High School Patriot!!

9-MIAMI.  Yep, I only dropped them down 2 spots because they had this game in hand.  They played much better than the Noles, but let mistakes ruin their night.  Get those corrected...and they can get to the ACC title game.

10-FLORIDA STATE.  Big win against Miami that could really set the table for an ACC run.  But that offense needs a ton of work.

11-LOUISVILLE.  The Cards let the Wildcats back into their game. I didn't like the way they played in that 2nd half at all.

12-IOWA.  Tough game at Iowa State coming up this weekend.

JUST MISSING OUT:  Georgia, Purdue, Notre Dame.

Go to SPORTZ PRESEASON NCAA TOP 12 POLL to see my original analysis.

Jerry Rice Was The Best Player In My Lifetime

                 

*Jerry Rice is the last NFL star from my childhood to fade away.  I'm not a big Rice fan...or Niner fan...or Raider fan.  In fact, I hated the Niners.  In the mid/late 1980s and early 1990s...my Redskins fought with the Niners for NFC supremecy quite a bit.  Rice was the best NFL player in my lifetime.  He is easily the best WR to ever play the game....and maybe the the best from any position.  He pretty much owns every receiving record comfortably.  He retired the same way he played:  with class.  Not with style....with class.  Thanks for the memories, Jerry...even if they hurt my team.

*Check out my Week 1 picks at SPORTZ ASSASSIN ON REDSKINS.  I do have the Colts, Chiefs, Bengals, Panthers and Eagles losing.

*NASCAR poster-boy Dale Earnhardt Jr has been eliminated from the Chase For The Nextel Cup.  Soon, Jeff Gordon may join him.  Again, I'm not a Nascar fan...but this has to be a blow to the Chase that the two biggest names and followings [especially by fringe fans] won't be "playoff-bound".

*I'm happy the Orioles sent Palmeiro home today.  It's one thing for the league to punish you...but it is quite another for a team to tell one of it's stars that they don't want that kind of crap around them.  "No one wants to buy your drugs here, Louie!"  I give props to the O's for pretty much repeating that statement made in TRADING PLACES.  Palmeiro made the Orioles look bad...and they are handling it correctly.

*I watched the Randy Moss interview on Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.  Let me say this.  He is dumb for publically stating he smoked the hippie lettuce.  However, can we give him some slack??  He didn't lie, I guess.  It is stupid to do drugs...but the man didn't duck the question.  And isn't one of the bad things about the whole Raffy incident is that he looked at our face, wagged his finger, and lied about his steroid misconduct??   I will admit, he came off arrogant and pompus in his interview....but I do give him props for not sugar coating his weed use just so no one will bother him about it. 

*Anyone catch that FSU-Miami game??  Whew...a 10-7 barnburner!  And FSU won because Miami's holder could handle the snap.  Talk about a pressure win!  I hope the Texas-Ohio State game turns up a bit better.

*Prayers go out to all who lost loved ones in Hurricane Katrina.  Auburn DT Alonzo Horton learned early last week an aunt died in the flooding after Katrina passed. Then Horton was told last Friday that two of his younger brothers had perished when the high school gymnasium in which they were seeking shelter was flooded.  How awful.  Many of the student-athletes across the south recently left the gulf area to attend their schools.  Now, nearly everything they left a month ago is pretty much gone.  Very tough for 18-23 year olds to have to deal with...especially from a distance. 

*I really do expect that the New Orleans Saints have played their final game in New Orleans.  I really do.  Sad to say...but I don't think they will ever come back.  Before all this happened, the Saints and the Louisiana State Legislature were already in a huge battle over funding for a new stadium.  That money is easily out the window...and their current stadium won't be operational for some time.  Not to mention their current city won't be operational for some time.  And when it does...it really won't be a viable NFL city for a long, long, time.  It is really bad timing for all of this now....but it does need to be addressed.  With the Saints in San Antonio for practices and may soon be playing games there...it really may be only a matter of time before owner Tom Benson goes ahead and make the move.

San Antonio Saints

                                 

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is leaning strongly toward moving the Saints permanently to San Antonio following the devastation to the city and the Superdome by Hurricane Katrina, a state senator who has spoken with a top team official said Saturday.

Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, said he spoke with Saints’ chief of administration Arnold Fielkow by phone Friday morning about Benson’s potential plans.

Team officials could not be reached Saturday. The team had previously announced it was looking for a new home for the current season, and San Antonio was one of the options.

Michot said he was told that Benson has not made a final decision, but the owner is serious about moving once and for all to San Antonio. “We may lose them permanently,” Michot said.

A possible move by the team is a “huge concern” among a few state officials who have become aware of it, but every significant political figure in the state is preoccupied with reacting to the storm aftermath.

State officials want to convince Benson to delay a decision so that the state can focus on the rescue and rehabilitation effort and later find a way to keep the Saints at home in New Orleans.

“This is like pouring salt into the wound,” Michot said.

Michot said decency dictates that Benson should postpone any decision on a permanent move until state officials have had a chance to talk with him.
“Give us time,” Michot said.
Another state official confirmed a similar conversation with Fielkow.

Michot is the vice-chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, a key committee for legislation related to state agreement with the Saints.
He said that in the long run the Saints might be better off staying in New Orleans because a revived city with national support could provide a better stadium.

Katrina's Impact; NCAA pigskin launches

*Talk about bad timing.  On page #151 of the new ESPN Magazine...there is an advertisement for HBO's new show "Rome".  The ad shows a drawing of Rome's Coliseum and says "the original Superdome". 

*The looting in New Orleans has spilled into college hoops.  Apparantly, some schools have been trying to nudge University of New Orleans basketball players to their schools.  UNO has announced that they are planning to play this winter...yet there are vultures hovering around the program.  Outside schools have tried to convince Bo McCallebb to leave UNO and head to their school....basically using the fact that the abnormality of the Privateers season [maybe 28 road games] could harm his development.  Savages.

*Also, cities are lining up to play host to the 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl...which is housed in New Orleans' Superdome.  By most accounts, the Superdome is a house of horrors right now....and getting it back into playing shape will be quite a job.  Not to mention that it is a job that falls waaaay down on the "to do" list.  San Antonio has already talked to Sugar Bowl officials about hosting the BCS bowl game.

*The New Orleans Hornets will make Colorado their training site....and could make Oklahoma City their home for the upcoming season.  Oklahoma City has an NBA-quality arena and no major tenant to have to push aside...so it would make it a pretty smooth transition.  The NBA schedule could stay in place and Oklahoma City would get a professional franchise, albeit for just a year [but these are the Hornets...anything could happen].

                  

*For some non-Katrina related news....kudos to the ACC!  Georgia Tech goes into Auburn and beats the Tigers.  Didsomeone say "tigers"??  The Clemson Tigers beat Texas A&M on a last second FG.   Boston College went out west and held BYU to 3 points in their win.  Maryland did struggle...but did beat a tough Navy squad.  Tomorrow night...the football world will be centered on Virginia Tech-NC State.  Then Monday night....the football world will be centered on Miami-Florida State.  Okay, sure....Duke and Wake were beaten [surprised?]...but the ACC is off to a nice start.

*The Big XII got off to a tough start.  Oklahoma was beaten, at home, by TCU.  Texas A&M lost to Clemson.  Sure....everyone else did win.  Oklahoma State beat Montana State 15-10.  Ugh.  Kansas and Kansas State struggled with Florida International and Florida Atlantic....pretty much the two worst teams in D-I.  It took Nebraska a while to pull away from Maine [they won 25-7].  Iowa State struggled with Illinois State [how does an 8-8 halftime score sound?].  Texas did put a major beatdown on Louisiana-Lafayette.  Not exactly Ohio State, whom the Horns face next week, or Iowa, whom Iowa State faces. 

*Jerry Rice is a man and can do what he wants.  If he wants to play, can play and a team will pay him to play.....then by all means he should play.  But, Jerry....stick or stay.  The Broncos didn't cut Rice, but made him the last man on the team.  Normally, that would mean that Rice would play on special teams....but is that what Rice wants to do?  Heck, will he do it?  The problem I have is if Denver has Rice just because he is Rice and may say a few things that will help out the other guys.  A reciever named Triandos Luke was one of the 19 final cuts made by the Broncos.  I'd be willing to believe he'd do whatever the team wanted to be that "last guy".  If Rice is taking up space for no real reason other than his name is Jerry Rice...then please, do retire and let someone else's dream come true.  I personally don't mind if your "love of the game" won't let you retire...but right now you are a special teams player...and that is part of the game, too.

10 Question NCAA Exam

       

1-AP PULLS OUT OF BCS. Two major shakeups in the way the BCS determines their national champion. First, the big one...the AP pulling it’s poll from the formula. Citing they never approved their poll to be used in the formula...the AP is tired of both the controversy around the BCS rankings and the downplaying of their own National Champion. As you know, the AP crowned USC the 2003 champion despite the BCS crowning LSU champion. The AP Poll will be replaced by a new Harris Interactive Poll. Harris Interactive is a global market research company and their poll is made up of 114 participants of former players, coaches and media members. Included are guys like Terry Bradshaw, Boomer Esiason, Lou Holtz, Rocket Ishmael, Steve Largent, Don Maynard, Anthony Munoz and LeRoy Selmon.

                  

2-CONFERENCES REALIGN. Last year, Miami and Virginia Tech joined the ACC and Connecticut joined the Big East. Outside of that...not much changed. Not this year. Boston College goes to the ACC. Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida go to the Big East. Temple and Army become Independent. Marshall, Central Florida, UTEP, Rice, SMU and Tulsa go to Conference USA. Idaho, Utah State and New Mexico State go to the WAC. Florida International and Florida Atlantic go to the Sun Belt. Got it?? Not since the Independents jumping ship to join conferences in the early 1990s [Miami, Florida State, South Carolina, Syracuse, etc] has this much change occurred.

3-ESPN PULLS OUT OF THE COACHES POLL. Citing the way the coaches votes are hidden from the public...ESPN decided to get out of the polling biz. In the coaches poll, the votes are secretive and not made public...which makes them unaccountable for favoritism. I mean, why wouldn’t a Big XII school vote it’s members higher in the rankings since it may help bring in more BCS money to the conference and ultimately themselves?? Since there is checks and balances on that....ESPN didn’t want their name associated with it. Now it is the USA TODAY Poll and should survive just fine. But ESPN pulling out and ABC bailing on the BCS, there is some marketing problems with this poll. Really, on USA Today will be using this poll...as every other media outlet uses the AP poll. When ESPN joined the coaches poll...that poll became of more use because of ESPN 24-hour sports might to keep it in fans heads. Now, there is no one of TV to do so. While I suspect that Fox Sports [who takes over the BCS package soon] may attach it’s name to the poll...it still loses flavor.

4-SOUTHERN CAL GOES FOR "THREE-PETE". USC is the #1 team in the nation and is trying to become the first school to win 3 straight NCAA football titles. They also have the subplot of Matt Leinart trying to become only the second player to win two Heismans.

                 

5-STEVE SPURRIER BACK IN THE SEC. What a storyline in the SEC!! Steve Spurrier goes to South Carolina...where he replaces Lou Holtz [who left the program amidst a little scandal]. He is in the same division as former employer Florida...who is breaking in new coach Urban Meyer. Tell me that November 12 game between Florida and South Carolina in Columbia won’t mean much.

6-TEXAS AT OHIO STATE. It is very rare to see a game like this early in the regular season. Schools just don’t set that up. But I like it! Sure, the loser of this game may have their national title hopes dashed by a loss to one of it’s contemporaries. However, it could be a study into the mind of the BCS. A loss in this game may be just as valuable as a win over New Mexico State. It will be intriguing to find out. Either way, I hope this does start a trend of non-rival non-conference battles that has made the basketball schedule such a delight. But if the loser of this game gets screwed down the road....this may just be a shooting star.

                        

7-HURRICANE KATRINA. As I write this...who knows what isgoing to happen with LSU, Tulane, Southern Miss and the other smaller schools in the area. The other schools may return to relative normalcy soon...but Tulane has issues. Does the football team go on with the school closed? Technically, the student-athletes are ineligible. Does the team play an exclusive road schedule? And, really, all this is the least of their worries.

8-HEISMAN LEGEND. Like Jason White last year, Matt Leinart will be trying to repeat as Heisman Trophy winner. Only Archie Griffin has made that feat. But there are a ton of guys ready to knock him off that perch, including teammate Reggie Bush.

9-CHARLIE WEIS AT NOTRE DAME. They may not want to admit it...but Weis better pull this off. As the years move on....the Irish are becoming increasingly irrelevant. If Weis can get them back on track, then NDU can keep it’s status as "above the conference landscape". If they keep in this murk...they may beg the Big Ten for inclusion.

10-BCS BUSTERS. Really my favorite. What if Louisville goes undefeated? They’ll be in the BCS, but will they be in the Rose Bowl? What about Boise State and their new tough schedule? What about teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Miami or Virginia Tech who may have to play an extra championship game while USC, Ohio State and Michigan get to skip it?

Katrina's Effects On The Sports World

                     

   

We always say it in times like these....but sports is secondary. Well, not secondary. Heck...they are waaaaay down the list. But there are times when sports and life crash into each other. 

The image of the roof of the Superdome peeled off will be one of the lasting images from Hurricane Katrina. It has been a sancuary for 30,000 people...and is currently a staging place for injured people rescued in the city. Families are living there now....if they were to leave, where are they to go? Toilets and garbage over overflowing and causing concern. With no power....the dome has become unbearably hot. New Orleans' chief of Homeland Security reported that a guy even lept from the top section to his death in the stadium.

The governor has ordered the Superdome to be evacuated [with possibly the entire city] as water is slowly rising and it would be a catastrophe if the dome started to flood with no escape plans in place. 

                      

*The Saints...tenants of the Superdome...are in California preparing for a preseason game against the Raiders this weekend. They've been practicing at San Jose State since, essentially, evacuating last weekend. After this weekend...who knows where they will be. They could just head to Charlotte...site of their season opener against the Panthers. Week 2 [September 18th] they are supposed to host the New York Giants. That game could either be cancelled...or moved if the Superdome isn't able to be ready by then.

*And what is to become of the Saints if New Orleans is, for lack of a better word, gone?  The team has spoken to officials in San Antonio about possibly setting up base there.  They could have a make-shift office space, practice facility and possibly play their home games at the Alamodome.  Saints owner, Tom Benson, has a history with the city and could find businesses willing to cooperate with the team.  The team may also look at Houston [which is closer to New Orleans. The problem with that is there is a fear that the Superdome may not be functional for quite some time.  There is the holes in the roof...possible structural damage....no power right now....and just the overall mood to hold a football game in the middle of such devastation.

                         

*Five college football games scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled.  Tulane-Southern Miss was postponed until Thanksgiving weekend as both schools' towns have been decimated by the hurricane.  North Texas-LSU may be cancelled as the schools have no openings to replay the game.  Nicholls State-Utah State, Southern-McNeese State and Jacksonville-Hammond have been postponed.  If you remember...a hurricane forced the movement of several college games during LAST year's opening weekend....most notably the Florida State-Miami game. 

*Tulane may have the biggest problem.  Located right in the mix of the flooding....Tulane University may be closed for quite a while.  That raises the question:  does the football team go on?  Can the team represent a school that may not be open for quite a long time???

                               

*Brett Favre's family still lives in his hometown Kiln, Mississippi. He spoke to his mother Tuesday who told their horror story of having to live in the attic as waters rose in their home. Today, the water receeded and his mother and grandmother left for Brett's brother's home nearby. Mama Favre's home is pretty much destroyed...and most likely have to be torn down to be rebuilt. Favre's mom was pregnant with him when Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf back in 1969.

*The NBA is already preparing it's teams for the Hornets possible relocation.  All 30 teams have been notified that the New Orleans Hornets will most likely not play in New Orleans next season...and that no site has been set yet.  The leading candidate as of now is nearby Baton Rouge where they could use LSU's facilities including their 14,000 seat arena.  That is smallish for an NBA team...but the Hornets were one of the poorest drawing teams and much of their fan base have bigger problems to deal with.  It will be interesting to see in the Hornets move to another city entirely.....say Nashville, Memphis or St. Louis.

*The NBA Players Association is quickly on the ball.  Union prez Antonio Davis has been on the horn with many players, trying to come up with the most efficient ways to lend support and assist FEMA.