This and That
Each week I'll talk about the world of sports…
Each week I'll talk about the world of sports&
• The NFL season starts this week and it should be very exciting. Will the Giants and Eli Manning make a run at a repeat? Can the Patriots roll again? Will the Cowboys bounce back and make a run to the Super Bowl? How will Brett Favre fare with the Jets? It looks like Peyton Manning will be ready for the season opener, and that is good news for the Colts. It should be a great season.
• As we start September, it is amazing to see the Tampa Bay Rays in first place and looking like the franchise's first playoff berth is imminent. This is a team that never enjoyed a winning season before the 2008 campaign. Wow, it is excitement galore down here in Florida and the fans picked it up this weekend with a good showing during a sweep of the Orioles.
• I've always felt Skip Holtz deserved to coach at a highly-visible program. That is not meant as a knock to East Carolina. Holtz led his team to an upset over Virginia Tech in the season opener and now the Pirates meet West Virginia. Holtz does a phenomenal job and he recently received a contract extension.
• Rich Rodriguez's debut at Michigan ended in defeat. Utah is a talented team that is capable of contending in the Mountain West. Remember this, the Wolverines have just three offensive starters back and there is a new offensive system. The fans in Ann Arbor have to be patient as there are going to be growing pains. Ultimately, Rodriguez will get the last laugh and build a big-time winner at Michigan.
• Most of the power teams in college football dominated in Week one. Georgia, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State, Florida, LSU, South Florida all enjoyed pretty easy wins. The Tigers showed Appalachian State that last year's stunning opening win over Michigan wouldn't be repeated this season. The SEC looks like it is the strongest conference, though Arkansas escaped in Bobby Petrino's debut, scoring late to beat Western Illinois. Look at what Alabama did to a Top 10 team, Clemson! Kentucky blew out Louisville in a rivalry game.
• The Yankees look like they are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993. The loss on Saturday may have been the last straw as New York had a 6-2 lead but lost, 7-6. It has been an injury-plagued season in the Bronx, but other teams have been hampered as well. One bit of good news for the Yankees has been the return of Carl Pavano, who is 2-0 for the team. Who would have believed Pavano would come through?
• The loser between the Twins and White Sox in the AL Central can still be the wild card team, taking a shot at the Rays or Red Sox. Both Minnesota and Chicago have a lot of pieces of the puzzle to make noise in September. Boston got some good news when Josh Beckett found out his injury is not serious and he could be back at the end of this week.
• There were some interesting names cut as NFL teams got to their roster limit. Tampa Bay let Chris Simms go, and I believe he has the potential to make it somewhere else. In the right situation he will succeed; he is young enough at age 27 to make it. The Bengals cut Rudi Johnson, and someone will take a chance on him. Ashley Lelie did not make the Niners roster and could land elsewhere too.
• For those who wanted to write off Roger Federer, he is alive in week two of the U. S. Open. He could make a run for his fifth straight title. Also playing well is Andy Roddick, who made the round of 16 with a straight-set victory. Roddick needs to be more aggressive if he is to make a run for the title.
