This and That
Each week I'll talk about the world of sports&
•This weekend, the Oklahoma-Texas showdown will help determine the best team in the Big 12 and also go a long way in the national championship picture. Both of these teams are coming off impressive road wins; the Sooners won easily at Baylor while the Longhorns won in convincing fashion at Colorado. This should be a great battle as both quarterbacks Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy of Texas have put up impressive numbers this season. Speaking of the Big 12, what a group of quarterbacks! Besides Bradford and McCoy, Missouri's Chase Daniel and Texas Tech's Graham Harrell have put up Heisman-type numbers. There is a lot of football still to be played but the conference has been super, scintillating and sensational!
•What a difference a year makes for Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. He has displayed great touch throwing the football. He utilizes his receivers speed and throws deep with more confidence this season. Simply put, Clausen is a different kid this season as he shows why he was so heralded coming out of high school. Let me tell you, the Irish have a real superstar in receiver Michael Floyd. You can see the way he positions himself going for the football, beating the defender often. Charlie Weis has reason to smile these days, though North Carolina is a tough opponent this week. Butch Davis has taken the Tar Heels to a higher level in a short time. Given the location of the school, the positive education provided, and the new approach, the Tar Heels are going to be very tough in the ACC for many years under Davis.
•Give Illinois some credit for bouncing back from a loss to Penn State. Ron Zook's Illini beat a Michigan squad that had plenty of momentum after rallying from a 19-0 deficit to beat Wisconsin. It is never easy to figure out college football. One week Mississippi wins at Florida, and then last week the Rebels fall at home to South Carolina and Steve Spurrier.
•How about a salute for the Vanderbilt Commodores! Bobby Johnson has done a terrific coaching job and the school is 5-0 for the first time since 1943. Come on, before the season started, who would have thought Vandy would be atop the SEC East, ahead of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee! Wow, plus the Commodores beat Auburn with a backup quarterback keying the W!
•Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig recently said that baseball owners should not get too greedy with their ticket prices. Well, it is pretty crazy to hear what is going on with the Yankees in their new stadium. How can a team charge $800 a ticket for a regular-season game. A family of four will spend more to just get through the turnstiles than they would for a short vacation. That doesn't even the dollars spent once you are in the park. It is outrageous and given the current state of the economy, some teams may pay the price by charging too much. Eventually people will say it is not worth it, or that they cannot afford it.
•I also have to wonder out loud why the playoffs aren't best-of-seven in the first round too. I know it would extend the postseason even more, but wouldn't that provide a fair shot for everyone? It would also mean more dollars for the owners and players, which is something they would like!
•Congratulations to the Dodgers and Phillies for winning their NLDS. Los Angeles shut down the Cubs, allowing just six runs in three games. The Phillies dominated the Brewers, setting up an interesting NLCS. Ryan Howard was my pick for the NL MVP; can he carry his team again? Joe Torre is back in contention for another trip to the World Series as he leads his team with steady guidance and a calm demeanor. What about the spirit and power Manny Ramirez has provided? Imagine if the Dodgers and Red Sox met in the World Series.
•Whenever you think Peyton Manning is down and out, he usually comes back and rallies the Colts. Sure enough, the Texans found that out. The Indianapolis defense has been vulnerable at times this season.
•Jeff Fisher and the Titans deserve a lot of credit also. The Redskins got a big W in Philadelphia, coming back from a 14-0 deficit. It seems like there are several surprise teams in the NFL this season.
•The Giants didn't really miss Plaxico Burress in a rout of the Seahawks. Is that a message to the wide receiver, who was suspended for missing practice. It seems to me that the Giants have their deepest receiving corps in years.
•Jim Zorn deserves a lot of respect as the Redskins are 4-1. The last two weeks said a lot ... wins at Dallas and Philadelphia. The defense has come up with big plays and the tandem of Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis came up big against the Eagles.
