Stay with me for a minute here.

Anyone who watched the game last night saw Roy Williams with a Kansas sweater on smiling like his son just hit the winning jumper. Quite strange in my book considering he is now the head coach of another school that was just knocked off by said Jayhawks, but I’ll let that go, for now. I can believe he still has a soft spot in his heart for Kansas.

(Photo thanks to Yahoo Sports.)

Now please consider this: Roy Williams coached at Kansas for 15 years. During his tenure as head coach, Kansas was in the AP Top 25 in 242 of 268 weekly polls. They reached the No. 1 ranking in the country in six different seasons and were ranked at least No. 2 in the nation in 11 of the 15 seasons. Yet he never won the National Championship, getting to the Final Four 3 times and the Championship Game once. He simply couldn’t get Kansas the Championship he / they so coveted.

5 Years later, two years removed from his National Title with North Carolina he’s back, coaching arguably, the Number 1 team in the country; only to be sidetracked, beaten by his alma mater in the Final Four.

North Carolina was a great team this year. Take out the games Ty Lawson missed and they were nearly untouchable. Hansbrough (Jr.), Lawson (So.), and Ellington (So.) are all expected to dip their toes in the NBA Draft. UNC's incoming recruits: John Henson, Dexter Strickland and David and Travis Wear are not going to contribute immediately. None of them is a Derrick Rose, Kevin Love or Michael Beasley. They all need seasoning and none of them plays guard. Bobby Frasor is a nice player but is not nearly as explosive as Ellington or Lawson.

Back to last night. Williams is wearing a Jayhawk sweater. Is Roy’s heart that big? Is he that cunning? Would he lose on purpose?

Kansas gets their much coveted National Championship. Regardless of whether he is at the helm, we have all seen Williams’ tears. Kansas means a lot to the man. He already has his championship and sees that he stands in the way of Kansas folk getting theirs. If NC loses, KU is that much closer.

In losing, perhaps he gets Lawson to stay in school and work on his jump shot. He gets Ellington to stay in school and work on his ball handling and dribble drive. He gets Hansbrough to stay in school and bring his skill level up to his level of intensity. He persuades all three to come back and win the Championship that "Got Away". Williams would get all three back while losing nothing. NC goes on to win the National Championship in 2009. He is entrenched in the pantheon of great coaches, now having taken six teams to the Final Four and two to the pinnacle of College Basketball.

Nothing from nothing, just sayin’. We all know Abraham Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy and John F. Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln. Perhaps a loss is not just a loss. But a win is a win – just ask the guy in the Jayhawk sweater.

Howdy Folks. Hope all is well with all of you. Holidays, in-laws, extended family, snow for some of us, sleet and freezing rain for others… it’s just a brilliant time of year. My wife and subsist on Eggnog loaded with brandy and Vodka tonics as far as the eye can see. My 3 and 5 year old daughters like water with lemon so they can sit on the floor, watch “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” for the 94th time and look exasperated just like Mum and Dad. It’s family bonding time

My 3 year old actually said when I stated I was going out to shovel: “Where the hell do you think you’re going? The movie is not over – so that means your time on the floor with us is not over.” So, after getting permission from her to load up the Vodka, I sat back down, drowning myself in Whoville.

As I sat there I thought about me. I know selfish right? Being a dad, a husband, a brother and a son takes a toll. I have two sisters, mother, a wife and two daughters. I don’t think I have to tell you just how much estrogen fogs my vision, controls my life and creates issues out of statements. No offense ladies, but we men do believe in simplicity while most women believe in complexity. If something is easy there’s a reason for that… and women are hell bent to find that reason. Find out where the difficulty lies and exploit it, talk it to death, go over it… while men would just as soon relish the ease, wallow in all that is complete, void of questions.

Okay, I am tangent ridden here – sorry about that.

So I was thinking about myself; thinking about my days a soccer star in college and high school. I use “star” loosely, but this is my blog and my memories and in both, I am the Crispin Glover of the Indy Movie set.

As a man I have a “hero” complex. Most men do from conversation I have had with mates. Being the guy to do a tracheotomy with a pen in restaurant; being the guy who disarms the bank robber; the one who just happens to be at the right place at the right time and catches the baby being thrown out of the window to escape a fire. Try as I might, it’s hard to be second all the time. It’s hard knowing you’re a hero to your wife and kids, but never hearing it. I know my daughters think I’m the strongest man ever. I know my wife thinks… I better not finish this, because I have no idea what my wife thinks. I thought I knew that she loved the color blue. That turned out to be wrong. I thought she loved when I kissed her ear – that came crashing down in a “Ya know that thing you do – yeah, I hate that” conversation. Fun stuff.

There are certain movies that evoke this emotion the – I wanna be a hero, a tough guy with a heart of gold, a protector. Not so much hero, but men I would like to be or rather find themselves in a situation, a moment where I would like the opportunity to be. The beginning fight scene on the “island” in No Escape with Ray Liotta is one. The end of The Professional with Jean Reno is another. I want to be THAT guy.

It’s the same way with sports. Imagine being Joe Carter – game winning homerun to win the 1993 World Series. Michael Jordan, 1998 – over or rather around Bryon Russell – hand extended in a shooters finish to win the NBA Championship. Tiger Woods – Augusta 2005 16th hole.

I want to be that guy.

I would never trade the spot from where I write this. I do not bemoan my lot in life. I do however occasionally daydream. My kids are wonderful, never fight, will some day grace the covers of both Vogue and Time. So will yours. My wife is beautiful and smart and a Tomcat in the sack. So is yours. Daydreaming – see what I mean?

Who do you want to be if only for a moment; to be in that situation, do what they did?

On the ice in Lake Placid, 1980?

Aussie Annette Kellerman, 1907 attracting National attention as the first underwater ballerina in the New York Hippodrome?

Perhaps Dave Chen, member of the 2007 Chinese Softball League of Chicago Champion, Goodfellas and League MVP.

I’m out like Isiah, I mean Marbury, I mean Jalen...

 
In an interview on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" to be broadcast Tuesday, McNabb said black quarterbacks "have to do a little bit extra" because there are relatively few of them, adding "people didn't want us to play this position." (New York AP)

First of all, why is Bryant Gumbel still on television?  And more importantly, why is anyone talking to him?

Okay, I digress….

Donovan’s soapbox is a “Woe is me” diatribe, nothing more.  Donovan is a great quarterback.  I am a fan.  The guy plays hurt, the guy plays with his heart.  With that said, this latest rant is misplaced.  I could easily go on the Bryant Gumbel show – I believe you need a pulse and 6 bucks to get on, and speak about the plight of the white wide receiver.  They definitely have to “do a little bit extra”.  The “white wideout” is rarity and all of them are know for the good hands.  Go ahead, name the white wideouts who are in the Top 10 in the NFL… here, I’ll help you with the Top 20.

              Name                         #          Yards  

1Chad Johnson WR, CIN      16        304     

2Randy Moss WR, NEW       17        288     

3Steve Smith WR, CAR         15        271     

4Andre Johnson WR, HOU   14        262     

5J. Cotchery WR, NYJ                        13        222     

6Javon Walker WR, DEN      17        220     

7Joey Galloway WR, TAM    9          207     

8A. Randle El WR, WAS       9          206     

9C. Chambers WR, MIA       15        201     

10B. Edwards WR, CLE        11        195     

11Reggie Wayne WR, IND    12        185     

12Terrell Owens WR, DAL   8          184     

12 Antonio Gates TE, SDG    16        184     

14K. Winslow TE, CLE          10        183     

15P. Burress WR, NYG          10        176     

16M. Harrison WR, IND       10        170     

17Isaac Bruce WR, STL         11        165     

18S. McDonald WR, DET      13        161     

19Wes Welker WR, NEW      14        152     

20B. Berrian WR, CHI                       10        148     

Wes Welker!  That’s it!  If you want to go back to a full season, last year Mike Furrey sat at number 14 as the lone “white wideout”.

McNabb’s issue should be pointed in a more singular direction: sorry Philly fans, but you are the toughest fans to please in all of sports.  You throw batteries on the field…as Mike Schmidt so aptly noted – a white man for those of you not in the know… “"Philadelphia is the only city, where you can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day."

Why Philly fans are so hard on their teams and the players is beyond me.  I’m from Chicago.  I have much more of a right, we as Chicagoans have much more of right to #### and complain, spew hatred, batteries, hoagies, what have you.

The ire of the Philly fan is rough.  I know Donovan knows this.  Rather than directing this at the actual culprits, he broadened his meaning to include all.  That ain’t right.

In 2003, even Rush Limbaugh said: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL… "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

If Limbaugh, a notorious blowhard is saying that the media is looking for a “Black quarterback” to do well, that pretty much contradicts Donovan’s "people didn't want us to play this position" comment.  I’m not Limbaugh is right, I don’t know or care.  I want my team to play well.

 
With that said, Donovan has 3 options:

• Go to his wideouts and tell them, with a finger in their face that they bite.  They sincerely are the worst core in the NFL.

• Go to the GM and ask for a trade – get out of Philly and see what life is like for a “black quarterback” in another city.  I’m guessing Michael Vick doesn’t have much bad to say about Atlanta or Warren Moon about Houston or Kordell Stewart about Pittsburgh.

• Hold a press conference and let everyone get their gripes off their chest.  Are the fans still pissed about the SB?  Did you really vomit in the huddle or did you pack it in like TO insinuated? 

 
Whichever way Donovan chooses to run, he better get moving.  His life in Philly ain’t gonna get better if he plays the way he has been and continues to lose to the likes of Washington.  And it ain’t gonna get better when he has to throw the ball to Hank “needs a “ Baskett and the fans will never tolerate a losing a team.

 It ain’t a black thing for Donovan McNabb.  He’s been a Pro Bowler.  He’s been the quarterback in the Super Bowl.  He’s received fan letters from across the world accolades from his peers, the media and the fans themselves.  He was  handed the starting job back when Garcia – a white man – came in and played balls out and got the Eagles into the playoffs.  He needs to play better and the Philly fans need to shut the #### up and stop embarrassing themselves. 

 I’m out like class in Philly.

Yankees, Angels, Sawx and Cubs - these are all potential destinations for A-Rod. By all looks of it, A-Rod is going to opt out... move on. And why not? Who would want to play for the Yankees anymore? They have the highest payroll, yet they are 10 games out of first. (To put this in perspective, they would be 6 game out of first in the NL Central... arugably the most woeful division in baseball.)

A-Rod is a sensitive guy. The NY media gets to him - he's admitted that. That fans jumping on his back gets to him - he's admitted this too. Whether A-Rod is a winner is yet to be determined. His .102 batting average in the playoffs the last two years is certainly not playing in his favor. (Oh to be hovering around the Mendoza line!) He's stand up guy who's name you never see in the blotter.

A-Rod needs to play for the Cubs: for the sake of his sanity, the sake of his career.

You see, we Cub fans are different: futility, thy name is Cubs. To be a Cub fan means to suck it, eat it, bite it, slurp it, dunk it in water to make it go down easier... we are used to disappointment. A-Rod is a great regular season player. We LOVE the regular season - until Labor Day that is, when CUBS officially becomes: Completely Useless By September.

All of the pressure of success will be but a memory. All of those fans who expect a Championship will be in the other league. The owner who stalks his players, forbids facial hair - hell, we don't even have an owner. The constant comparisons to Jeter - with the Cubs, he'll play the same position as Jeter - A-Rod would get to be a SS again!

A-Rod would be a God in Chicago. I think he knows this. We all know this. Boras knows this. Boras has more clients in Chicago than he could shake a stick at - and I've seen him shake a stick at a lot of people.

It just makes sense. A-Rod is a gamer but he gets too wound up, too nervous, to bothered. We expect it! Losing in the first round of playoffs? That's success round these parts. Mathematically eliminated by May 8th? We gave it a go, can't win 'em all - next year is our year! A couple two, tree errors? Ummm have you met us?

Lastly, when our ballplayers go out on the town with mysterious blonds, they stay that way, mysterious. Vegas has nothing on the fraternity that is Chicago. What happens in Vegas stay in Vegas? What happens in Chicago - never happened. You hear me? It NEVER happened.

Admittedly I have been gone for a while. But, I think I left the blogoshere in very talented, capable hands. From… (I was going to start naming but knew I would forget so many of you that I thought it better to simply state the obvious: There are so many talented bloggers, it is actually difficult to read them all. Unless you are a high school kid who obviously has tons of free time to pontificate from their soapbox – in which case, you should have noticed the unbelievable creativity, thought and insight that has gone into so many posts. Okay, you know what? Screw it. I am Cansecoing this blogoshpere: I’m naming names.

Tophatal - The African American Experience As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Brit !

EdClinchSaintHardiman - Clinch's History with the Super Bowl: An American Institution/Benchmark

Socal – The Legacy of Michelle Wie

Christopher Ross - Better Blogs? It's Like, Come On.

Norcalfella - Knockout round marches on without United States

Nooch - Northern California Dreaming

1steelerfan1 - "I'm Johnnie McGrath" - A Fictional Story

jgrace_12 - What Today is Really All About

UltraMegaOK1988 - Online Poker is Rigged, and I Have Evidence

Dudski - Sports Town Moves to Mayberry

I have missed so many – to those Bloggers, I apologize. I will, when time permits add to this list. I think a running total oughta do the trick in disproving, rather than proving, that the theory that good blogs and posts are hard to come by. Each of us bloggers has an archive. Rick Reilly ain’t great all the time, either is Jason Whitlock, Tony Kornheiser or anyone else.

The notion that one blogger is so skilled with the ability to throw down mandates, so above reproach is ridiculous.

I understand high school gym class bravado.

I understand that reading Red Badge of Courage and then completing your shadow box can give one a huge sense of accomplishment.

I know how cool it is to write for the high school newspaper, reporting on the fat content of Wednesday’s pizza and how that is ground-breaking if not small town Watergate.

I understand the misguided words of youth. Step back, work on your craft and unless you plan on working for the E! network, leave the bashing to Canseco and McGwire circa 1988.

I’m out like Briggs.