Monday's Shortstops

1. Boo, boo, boo to the NBA players and owners. When it came right down to it, TV executives must have pointed out the obvious, either get a deal done so games could be broadcast on Christmas Day or find some other "pot of gold". Billions to divide wins every time, right NFL?
2. LSU vs Alabama...again? Looks like the current BCS standings will give me an excuse to be anywhere but in front of my TV when the "big game" gets played. I probably won't waste time on those other worthless Bowl games too. I want a playoff, NOW.
3. How did Andrew Luck all of sudden go to being the underdog for the Heisman? He's the best player in college football and likely the first player drafted in the upcoming NFL draft. I'm so tired of SEC schools (Alabama) running up stats against poor quality opponents. In fact I'm sick of the SEC period.
4. Notre Dame Football stinks. And so does their coach. Nothing like a foul-mouthed coach screaming at players while patrolling the sidelines for the preeminent Catholic University in the World. He needs a confessional with a priest with a baseball bat waiting for him.
   
5. Tebow could be the mightiest running back in the NFL. Just look how defensive backs get out of his way. It's a whole other discussion about his passing accuracy though.
   
6. Urban Meyer + Ohio State = National Championships
7. March Madness gets an early start as both #1 North Carolina and UConn both lose. I can't wait until March. Now you know why I hate the NBA. Give me college hoops anyday.
   
8. Lastly, 18 holes, taking in a college B-Ball game, a dog and a beer. What's another working day for the President of the United States?
   

Random Monday Rants

1. Manny Ramirez - two failed drug tests and it's adios for Manny ever hearing his name called for Cooperstown. The ever growing steroid wing now has one of the greatest but flawed right handed hitters of all-time. Manny was only cared about the money he could earn and who can blame him, given what owners were willing to shell out to a guy they knew had no character. Oh, he was a character and in the end it was his downfall. So if you happen to be a Red Sox, Dodger or Rays fan, the ultimate memory of Manny is cheater and quitter.
2. The Masters and Augusta National - I know I'll take some heat on this but I don't buy into all the hype about the Masters and Augusta. What I believe it has turned into is a Par Five and Putting contest. It rewards those ultra long hitters who can tame their short 5-pars and those who can putt bikini waxed greens.
3. Yankees/Red Sox - I'm a Yankee fan, so I hate the Red Sox. But what I am really getting tired of is that every time these teams meet and it's 18 games per season it's the most meaningful game of the year. It's time to treat these early season games as just one of 162 and move on. Besides, MLB is running a huge risk of overexposure and even more so of understating the rest of MBL. I don't mind seeing Albert Pujols. Anyone watch the 60 Minutes segment last night? I want more Albert.
   
4. Obama Man - Now and only now that he's lost his grip on budgetary matters, he's willing to put in a few man hours and come up with what he says are new proposals. Like increasing taxes on the wealth is his new mantra.
5. NFL Draft - please raise your hand if this isn't the most tiring sports story year after year. Get on with it already. And please no season next year.
6. Lakers lose 5th straight - there is a God.

See you next week

March Madness?????

The only "Madness" in March Madness is the lack of talent, game after game. I can't believe the sum of money CBS and its partners are shelling out for such an inferior product. I love college basketball but remember I was raised in the time of John Wooden and UCLA. Back in the day teams like North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas scrubs could mop the floor with what's playing today. Oh, the games can be entertaining and thrilling, laced with buzzer beaters and upset galore but just look at who's doing it. Your local high schools can provide the same thrills at a fraction of the cost.

The college game is being literally destroyed by the one and done player. There is no continuity for teams who are forced to reload on a yearly basis. At programs like Kentucky, you need a program from game to game to figure out who's playing. And the money. My god the money is out of control. Coaches are now the highest paid state employees in states that can't come close to balancing thier fiscal budgets. And the NBA can't wait to take in these basketball skill lacking players and throw millions at them.

I say the only thing left for March Madness is the braket itself. Filling it out with the bravado that you actually know something no one else does and throwing a few bucks in the office pool. That's all what we care about anymore. I hope though someday, the games reclaim their importance and players like Robertson, West, Kareem, Walton, Ewing and Jordan create madness memories that will never be forgotten.