It's that time of week again. The time of week that you, the Joe Six-Pack Fan, get a chance to vent your ire at a team, individual, coach, league, or anything else related to sports by throwing them Under The Bus. Without further adieu, here goes.

NFL

The Brett Favre Saga: is there anyone else besides me that is tired of all the drama? There is enough blame to go around there. Ted Thompson made a HUGE mistake in basically telling a legend he's not wanted in Green Bay. Thompson should have told him to take his time and if you feel like coming back, you're our starter. Ted Thompson gets thrown under the Bus, the media get thrown under the Bus, and Favre gets thrown under the Bus for flip-flopping.

"Pundits and Fans" that dismiss the Carolina Panthers: I would NOT sleep on the Panthers this year. Jake Delhomme looks like the Delhomme of old, the Cats had an excellent draft, and they picked up some key free agents. Jonathan Stewart is going to be a beast and he'll fit perfectly into the Panthers' power running game. The defense will be much improved. The "pundits and fans" get thrown under the Bus.

MLB

Oakland A's: they were still in contention when they traded Joe Blanton to Philadelphia for three minor leaguers. They have effectively waved the white flag. They have become the France of the MLB. In the last year, they have traded Dan Haren, Rich Harden, and Blanton. That’s three-fifths of an outstanding pitching staff. A LOT of teams would kill to have those kinds of pitchers and that staff. Now comes word that the A’s are considering trading stud closer Huston Street. WTF? The ownership should be ashamed of themselves. Charles Finley would NEVER have waved the white flag. He’d have never traded Blanton and Rich Harden; instead, he’d have found what he needed and filled those needs. I hereby throw the A’s small-minded ownership under the Bus. If I'm an A's fan, I'd be ROYALLY PISSED.

Alex Rodriguez: he left the All-Star Game early and didn’t support his teammates as the game dragged on and on and on. Derek Jeter stayed and supported his AL teammates. So did Mariano Rivera. I find it kind of funny the game lasted 15 innings and very few, if any, people showed up to Rodriguez’ party he was hosting after the game. Would Willie Mays or Bob Gibson have left an All-Star Game early? I don’t think so. A-Rod goes under the Bus.

NBA

Alonzo Mourning: he gave a benefit for charity that only raised 30 cents on the dollar due to the influx of celebrities and their perks. Sounds to me it was an excuse to party. Non profits that donate 70 cents on the dollar is considered efficient as per the IRS. But 30 cents? Hmmm, something fishy here. While I won’t throw him under the bus for wanting to raise money for charity, I will throw him under the bus for the inefficiency of his charity.

AUTO RACING

Danica Patrick: her act is getting old and tired. She was involved in yet ANOTHER confrontation, this time with Milka Duno. A cat fight. The IRL should seriously consider parking her and her team for a race. She can get away with this #### because NO ONE in the IRL has the BALLS to stop her. Someone should sit her down and tell her, "Next time this happens princess, you're getting parked for a race." Duno should have ####-slapped Patrick and IRL look the other way. Her #### is ####-slapped under the Bus.

GOLF

Michelle Wie: just when I was starting to buy stock in you again, you pull some boneheaded #### like forgetting to sign the scorecard and getting DQ'd while you were in contention for your first win. A good finish would have comfortably put you in the top 80, meaning an automatic LPGA Tour card and not having to rely on sponsor's exemptions. There is NO excuse for forgetting to sign your scorecard. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? At the very least, you learned a painful and expensive lesson. Maybe being introduced to the tire tracks of the Bus you're to be thrown under will serve as a reminder NOT to forget TO SIGN YOUR SCORECARD!!!   

Sports fans, it's that time again to call out those idiots, miscreants, and all around dumbasses that so #### you off. I KNOW you have several that you want to throw under the Bus! Call them out for their idiocy. This is your forum to throw these idiots under the Bus. Remember, you can call out a player, coach, team, owner, a team's fans, or any sports personality and throw them under the Bus. I know I have my share!

NFL

Brett Favre: ENOUGH about coming back already! You made your decision to retire, stick with it!! Brett, I loved watching you play, you were one of my all-time favorite players, but when you made the decision to retire, it was time to move on. Aaron Rodgers is ready to helm the Packers' ship. Just by HINTING at a comeback, you threw Rodgers under the bus. Now it's Rodgers' turn to throw YOU under the Bus.

Reagan Mauia: this will most likely be the only time in the history of the world that Mauia and Favre will show up on the same blog. For those who don't know who Mauia is, he is the Miami Dolphins' starting FB. This bozo punched a man in the face without provocation and fled the scene. A witness took a picture of Mauia's license plate with his phone. Mauia was tracked down and arrested. I don't have to wait for more information to throw Mauia under the Bus.

NBA

Detroit Pistons: losing to the New York Knicks is bad enough, but at HOME? You lost to the Knicks when you ABSOLUTELY had to WIN in order to stay alive for home court advantage? AND on a night where the all-time greats of the Pistons franchise was honored? For all that, you get thrown under the Bus not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times! Hopefully we won't hear the worst chant in the history of the world, "Detroit Basketball!" in the Finals when the Celtics work you. 

New York Knicks: they have begun the annual Save Isiah campaign. Donations are accepted. They are playing their BEST basketball of the season in order to Save Isiah. I imagine there are buildings all over New York that say, "Save Isiah." (Much like in the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, there were signs painted all over Chicago that said, "Save Ferris.") The Knicks get thrown under the Bus.

Miami Heat: just quit already. D-Wade has. Oh wait, he's out for the year with injuries. Pat Riley has. He spent the NCAA Tournament scouting Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. He hearts D-Rose. He hearts him MUCH more than coaching the band of misfits known as the Heat. Mercifully, the season will end this week for the Heat. Until then, the Heat get thrown under the Bus yet again.

MLB

Tampa Bay Rays: for all the hype that went into the Rays this year, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Rays are looking up at the FREAKING Orioles this year. For that matter, they're looking up at everyone else in the division. This was supposed to be their breakout year. It also doesn't help when a veteran pitcher like Al Reyes gets into a fight in a bar. On his birthday, no less. Some veteran leadership there, Al. He not only got into a fight, he got his #### kicked. Then he got Tasered TWICE. Reyes gets his #### kicked, gets Tasered, AND gets thrown Under The Bus all in the same week. The Rays get thrown under for letting us down. 

Fox Sports: for treating the NASCAR fans of this nation to a slap in the face. Yes, it wasn't your fault that the Yankees-Red Sox was delayed by rain. But you could have switched the game to FX and kept the NASCAR fans and the baseball fans somewhat happy. But NOOOOOOOOO, you had to milk the Yankees-Red Sox for every moment AND you had the game SIMULCAST on FX!! AND you pre-empted the NASCAR pre-race show! Because it was Yankees-Red Sox, you cut into the ACTUAL RACE. Ryan Newman was going into Turn 3 of the first lap of the race when Fox switched from the game to the race. For poor planning and for pissing a LOT of race fans off, Fox Sports goes under the Bus. 

Yankees-Red Sox rivalry: yes, I get that it's a historically bitter rivalry. Yes I get that both teams are good. But they're not the only two teams in baseball!! It's an endless and breathless hype machine! For my money, the NL West rivalry is just as good, if not better, than Yankees-Red Sox. Yankees-Sox rivalry goes under the Bus.

NCAA

#### Vitale haters: been drinking the anti-Dickie V grape-flavored Haterade again? There was one guy (Fox Sports' own Mark Kriegel) that got drunk on it. Love or hate #### Vitale, his contributions to college basketball as a commentator and ambassador to the game cannot be denied. I admire Vitale's enthusiasm and passion for the game of college basketball (even though he's too much of a Duke homer). All the Dickie V haters (Kriegel included) are to be thrown under the Bus of Dickie V's choice. 

Jeff Ehrhardt, QB, Murray State: this genius was charged with second-degree robbery for "a prank gone bad." So now that's what we call pushing and assaulting a campus police officer and taking his book away, a "prank gone bad"? If it were up to me, dude would be in the clink for a MINIMUM of five years. He won a $20 bet for the "prank gone bad". Sure hope that $20 was worth it, E. My bet is that he skates like Dorothy Hamill. He'll probably be suspended for the first play of the season. For such a #### prank, Ehrhardt gets thrown under the Bus.      

Here we go again! Here is the forum for you, the Joe Six-Pack Fan, to call out those sports personalities that so #### you off. I'm sure you have personalities that you so badly want to throw Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp) you can smell the burnt rubber and brake dust! I know I have a few!

NFL:

Cincinnati Bengals: for being WAY too permissive in drafting players with shady pasts (A.J. Nickerson, Chris Henry (more on him later), Odell Thurman, etc.). They have become the NFL's halfway house for shady characters. At one point last year, they were averaging one arrest a month. Now it's come back to bite them in the ####. Marvin Lewis had the reputation for being a disciplinarian, but where's the discipline? The Bengals and their bad seeds get thrown Under The Bus (as if they haven't got run over by Jerome Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers many a time over the years!).

Chris Henry: this thug just doesn't get it. He's had chance after chance after chance; now he's pissed it all away. His latest crime he's accused of? Punching an 18-year-old boy in the face and breaking his window with a beer bottle. Nice move there, ####. The judge in the case called Henry, "a one-man crime wave." Harsh, but true. After he gets out of prison, Henry gets thrown Under The Bus by his accuser.

Chad Johnson: in the SAME WEEK, he chirps again about not wanting to be in Cincy. The Bengals have said time and again that Ocho Cinco won't be traded. Do I detect a pattern here? It was a BAD week for the Bengals. Chad, let your game do the talking. You're one of the best WRs on the planet. When you score TDs and the Bengals are winning again, then you can do the River Dance. Until then, you go under the Bus.

NBA

Enver Nuggets: there is a good reason for this. There is no "D" in Denver. They blew a 22-point lead to Phoenix and lost. Hence, the "Enver". If they miss the playoffs, they can look to that game. For no "D" in the game at Phoenix, the Enver Nuggets go under the Bus.

New York Knicks: they brought in Donnie Walsh, supposedly to clean the mess that Isiah Thomas left. Now Walsh wants to EVALUATE Thomas before making a decision? Doesn't he know that the Knicks always catch fire at the end of the season and save Isiah's job? For not whacking Thomas, the Knicks and Donnie Walsh are to be thrown under the Bus.

Miami Heat: they're playing for the Derrick Rose Sweepstakes. (Rose is an UBER-stud who will be a great NBA player for the next decade and a half.) They've mailed it in. Just forfeit your regular games and let Pat Riley take his extended vacation. Until then, you go Under The Bus.

FORMULA ONE

Max Mosley: it's rare that F1 is mentioned on my blog. But I must mention it. Mosley has been accused of an orgy with five skanks, errrrrr, hookers in which #### role playing was part of the orgy. If Mosley wants to roll with hookers, that's his choice. The #### role playing went WAAAAAAAAY TOO FAR. Let him roll with hookers on his own time and NOT while he's running F1. Mosley gets thrown under the Bus for his indiscretion.

MLB

ESPN: they get thrown under the Bus for two reasons.

1. They glorified that patently absurd position known as the Designated Hitter. I call it the Disabled Hitter. Today marked the 35th anniversary of this "momentous" occasion. (Ron Blomberg was the first DH in MLB history on April 6, 1973) I've long been an advocate of eliminating the DH and replacing that slot with an extra player. For glorifying the absurd, ESPN goes under the Bus, along with the man who thought of the DH.
2. For endlessly hyping the first Yankees-Red Sox series of the season. It's only been in recent years both teams have been good at the same time. When the Yankees have sucked, the Sox have been good, and vice versa. Yes, it's a bitter rivalry, I get that. But don't act like they're the only two teams in MLB that matter. For that, and for perpetuating the hype machine that is the Yankees-Red Sox, ESPN goes under the Bus.

NCAA Football

Florida State Seminoles: for firing its college football color analyst Peter Tom Willis for no apparent reason. Why? Because he stepped on some toes with his brutal honesty regarding the Seminoles' program? Was it because Emperor, errrrrrrrr, Coach Bobby Bowden wanted him run because he DARED to criticize Jeff Bowden's handling of the offense? For more reasons, go to Lisa H's blog on this. She did a tremendous job on this! Florida State goes under the Bus.

Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come on in with yours! If you have someone in sports you want to throw under the Bus, feel free to do so here!

This particular blog took last week off due to Easter. It returns this week with a vengeance. I'm sure you, Joe Six Pack sports fan, have two weeks' of wrath stored up to throw that player, coach, team, owner/executive, league, fans, and even fellow bloggers that has so pissed you off Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp). I know I have a few. Let's get started!

NASCAR

Matt Kenseth: today was when I yearned for Carl Edwards to teach Kenseth a lesson. Doing the punt and run on David Gilliland was reprehensible and bush league. If NASCAR really wanted to teach Kenseth a lesson, they would have parked him for the remainder of the race for rough driving. David Gilliland will drive the bus that Kenseth is to be thrown under (by Carl Edwards).

Michele Rahal: last week I was sick and couldn't sleep, so I happened to go online to hear Race Day On Fox. His anti-Kevin Harvick rant made me even more sick. Harvick WASN'T EVEN THE SUBJECT OF THE CONVERSATION. Yet Rahal went out of his way to bash Harvick. Rob D'Amico (his co-host) did his best to steer Rahal away, but Rahal would have none of it. For Rahal's anti-Harvick negative rant, I'LL throw Rahal under the Bus that Harvick will drive.

NBA

Shaquille O'Neal: the Big Mediocre lashed out at his former Heat teammates and Heat head coach Pat Riley. What Shaq did was reprehensible. Under The Bus YOU go, Shaq. Your ex-teammates will throw you under that Bus driven by Riley. Shaq, enjoy your one and done in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers: I am as big a Lakers honk as you'll find. This is why it pains me to do this. Losing to Memphis and Charlotte, two of the NBA's bottom feeders, will get you thrown Under The Bus every single time.

MLB

MLB: they get thrown under the bus for three reasons.

1. For selling out their souls for mo money mo money mo money. They now are offering apparel in GANG colors and styles. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, here comes Mr. Milquetoast aka Bud Selig gives a wink and a nod to gang activity. MAY YOU ROT IN HELL BUD SELIG!!!!!!
2. For opening the season in Japan. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY MLB?? WAS IT TAKEN OVER BY ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE??? Why doesn't the season open the first Monday in April in Cincinnati at 12 noon EDT?
3. The schedule makers. Why are there not doubleheaders scheduled? Why do the schedule makers in their infinite wisdom ALWAYS schedule home games for Cleveland in the first week of the season, when they KNOW it snows in Cleveland until late April? Remember the Seattle Mariners-Cleveland Indians series last April? The ENTIRE series was SNOWED OUT, forcing both teams to scramble for the remainder of the season. The Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills was played in better weather than the Indians-Mariners series. For these reasons, MLB gets thrown under the Bus.

NFL

The League: they want to ban players from wearing long hair. Why? Put your emphasis on cracking down on the bad seeds of the league, e.g. Michael Vick, Pacman Jones. This proposed rule serves NO purpose. To put it bluntly, IT SUCKS. This rule and the guy behind it gets thrown under the bus.

This blogger: I throw myself under the bus for picking Georgetown to go to the Final Four. Georgetown was the biggest fraud of the NCAA Tournament.

Those are my nominees for these two weeks. Come on in with your nominees!! All are welcome! 

Throughout the world of sports, there have been enough headlines this past week that just totally tick off you, the Joe Six-Pack sports fan. I know I've seen my share. Here's your opportunity to call out the miscreants, idiots, and general buffoons of sports by throwing them under the Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp).

MLB

Kyle Farnsworth: this guy had the NERVE to call out Joe Torre and blame him for his misfortunes in Yankee pinstripes. Granted, pitching in Yankee Stadium is tough. But it's also an opportunity a LOT of pitchers would give their throwing arms to pitch for the Yankees. Kyle, the reason that Torre lost faith in you is because YOU SUCKED! Rather than blaming Torre, you should be THANKING him for rescuing your floundering career by not pitching you as often when you weren't going well. For blaming Torre and calling him out, you get thrown Under The Bus.

Tony LaRussa: perhaps we should start calling him The Ostrich. Because like an ostrich, he buries his head in the ground when it comes to steroids and PED's. As Kevin Hench states in one of his columns, he (LaRussa) has become a steroid apologist. De Nial is not just the name of a river in Egypt. We'll pull his head out of the sand long enough to throw LaRussa Under The Bus.

GOLF

Tripp Isenhour: this #### killed a bird listed in the protected species, a red-shouldered hawk. The bird was chirping from 300 yards away, yet it was loud enough to disrupt production. According to witnesses, he was intent on killing the bird by golf ball. Rather than alerting the golf course superintendent about the bird and asking him to shoo it off, he took matters into his own hands by firing shot after shot until he hit the bird, killing him. He issued a weak apology. (Sounds to me he's sorry for getting caught in a lie) I'd have a lot more respect for him if he admitted yeah, I had it in for the bird and I intended on killing him. For his idiocy, Isenhour goes under the prison Bus.

NBA

New York Knicks: for allowing 50 points to LeBron James. Granted, James is a great player, and he'll get his points. But the Knicks just gave up, particularly Quentin "I am SOOOOOO overrated" Richardson. It would be one thing if the Knicks played hard and LeBron's 50 carried the Cavs to a close win. You could round up 15 players from New York's playgrounds, suit them up in Knicks gear, and they would be better than the current Knicks. For a lack of professionalism and self-pride, the Knicks get thrown Under The Bus.

Miami Heat: like the Knicks, this team has given up, but for a different reason. Pat Riley took a brief sabbatical to "scout" the Big 12, supposedly for Michael Beasley. It would be so Miami Heat if Beasley decided to return to K-State for his sophomore season. The Heat get thrown Under The Bus for QUITTING.

San Antonio Spurs: for not playing with a sense of urgency, particularly when the Lake Show is hosting Sacramento, one of the league's bottom feeders. The Spurs and Lakers are locked in a race for the best record in the brutally tough Western Conference. Securing home court advantage will be HUGE. Granted, as a Lakers fan, I welcome any chance the Lake Show has to gain ground on the Spurs. But for not putting away the Suns when they had the chance, the Spurs get thrown Under The Bus.

NFL

Asante Samuel: this genius proclaimed the reason for leaving the Patriots to sign with the Eagles is to get back to the Super Bowl. Excuse me? Let me remind you where both the Pats and Eagles finished and where they stand in the future.

• New England: perfect regular season record, lost 17-14 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl 42. Great chance to return to the Super Bowl with Brady, Moss, and company.  
• Philadelphia: 8-8, missed playoffs. Plays in the brutally tough NFC East. Chances to make the playoffs: 50-50 at best. D-Mac is getting older, as is Brian Westbrook. Brian Dawkins may have a couple of good years left before he begins his inevitable decline.

Admit it, when you signed with the Eagles, it was all about getting paid. I'd have a lot more respect if you just came out and admitted that it was all about getting paid. (And called the Patriots cheapskates in the process) For lying to the NFL public (and yourself), Asante Samuel, you get thrown Under The Bus.

NASCAR

Elliott Sadler: he looked like a lost rookie rather than a seasoned Cup veteran that he is. He just couldn't stay away from the wall! TWICE he gave Jimmie Johnson the Lucky Dog. THREE times he WAS the caution; the third time finished him off for the day. Sorry, E-Sad, you're one of my favorite personalities in ALL of sports, not just NASCAR, but I have to throw you under the Bus.

Those are my nominees for the week ending March 9, 2008. Come in with yours!

I'm putting this out a day late in honor of the Sprint Cup race at California Motor Speedway (or whatever name it is today). Even though it's a day late, there's still no shortage of sports figures that you want to throw under the bus. I have a few sports figures that I want to throw under the Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp).

NASCAR

NASCAR brass: for not postponing the Auto Club 500 at Fontana IMMEDIATELY after the rains came 85 laps into the race. The brass kept the drivers and the fans on pins and needles for SEVERAL hours before FINALLY deciding to postpone the race until 1 PM Eastern today. (A race that Carl Edwards finally won under sunny skies) C'mon NASCAR brass, MAKE UP YOUR FREAKING MINDS ALREADY! For hemming and hawing, the Brass gets thrown under the Bus.

NBA

Phoenix Suns: granted, normally losing to a team like the Pistons is nothing to be ashamed of. Unless you lose by 30 points. At home. With a team like the Pistons on the Suns' schedule, one would think that there would be a sense of urgency on the Suns. They played like there wasn't that sense of urgency.

New York Knicks: enough said.

Miami Heat: see New York Knicks.

GOLF

Sergio Garcia: granted, he's still bent at Boo Weekley for Weekley's signing an incorrect scorecard that DQ'd Garcia last year. Honest mistake, it happens. But reverting to childish tactics like distracting Weekley as he is putting is reprehensible. Weekley's a better man than I, because if I were in his shoes, Garcia's wearing that putter around his pencil neck, and I'd take my penalty like a man. Then I'm kicking his #### in the locker room. I'm giving Weekley and his boys the keys to the entire fleet of Buses that Garcia is to be thrown under.

Those are my nominees. Come on in with yours! 

This is the worst weekend of the year. No football. No NASCAR. Just wall-to-wall hoops (although there were some EXCELLENT games today), some golf, and the NHL All-Star Game. Just because there is no football or NASCAR doesn't mean that fans can't vent and throw the objects of their ire Under The Bus this week! I have a few teams that I'd like to throw under the Bus.

NBA

Indiana Pacers: why, oh why, did you have to go out and LOSE to the hapless Miami Heat? The Heat had lost umpteen games in a row prior to facing the Pacers. Yet the Pacers allowed the Heat to play like the 2006 version of the Heat. For that, not only do you get thrown under the Bus, you should be demoted to the D-league.

Phoenix Suns: once again, they fatten up on the bottom feeders of the league by beating the Bulls. I will stop throwing them under the Bus once they face some QUALITY competition. I was happy to see that they had lost to the T-wolves earlier in the week. I'm not worried--they won't win the NBA championship because of the lack of a true big man. Amare Stoudemire is a 4 playing at the 5. He'll be worn down come playoff time. On a related note, I throw the NBA schedulers under the Bus as well.

The roof inspectors at the Staples Center: these geniuses proceeded to cause a 12 minute delay in the first quarter of the Lakers-Cavaliers game because of some rain-soaked clothing they had left on a catwalk above the north basket. Naturally, the water dripped through the slats to the floor behind the basket. That 12 minute delay allowed LeBron James a critical rest period, as he was playing with his usual high energy. He didn't come out at all in the second half. Whatever happened to going to floor level to change clothes in the bathroom? For this act of intelligence, the roof inspectors get thrown under the Bus.

NFL

Oakland Raiders: if the ESPN report is true, and the Raiders are preparing to replace Lane Kiffin with Dennis Green, the Raiders brass should be thrown under the Bus, then the Bus backs up and runs them over again, then moves forward to run them over again, then repeat the process until the Bus runs out of gas. WHY the #### would you do something like that? Especially when the Raiders were being praised league-wide for going in the RIGHT direction? I thought the head coach had the right to hire and fire his own people? As head coach, Kiffin SHOULD have the right to fire Rob Ryan; it's his prerogative.

San Francisco 49ers: for hiring Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Yes, it's a few weeks late to be doing this, but better late than never. It's a BAD fit. They have a stud TE in Vernon Davis. Martz is DEATHLY ALLERGIC to tight ends. Cam Cameron would have been a better fit in San Francisco. At least his offense goes to the TE at least once a game! The Niners' brass gets thrown under the Bus for hiring Martz.

The League: for scheduling the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints to play in London in late October. Scheduling a regular-season game overseas is a BAD idea. Schedule a preseason game in Week 3 of the preseason in London instead. Week 3 is the week of the preseason that closely mirrors Week 1 of the regular season. NFL, I love ya, you're my favorite sport, but a bad idea deserves to be called out and thrown under the Bus.

Ben Roethlisberger: Big Ben gets thrown under the bus for implying that the Steelers' WR corps isn't good enough. No wonder Hines Ward is pissed. I'd be pissed, too. You just threw your All-World stud WR and stud human being under the bus. Big Ben said, "I'd like a taller WR." Instead of meeting with the Steelers' brass behind closed doors to make his request, he opted to air it out through the media. Big Ben, when you won Super Bowl XL as a member of the Steelers, who were your receivers? Was Plaxico Burress among your WRs that season? Yes, it doesn't suck for a QB to have a 6'5" WR that makes plays in the Red Zone. Yet Hines Ward made HUGE plays in the Red Zone game after game that season, including some in said Super Bowl. Hines Ward is closer to 5'10" than 6'5". I'll let Hines Ward drive the Bus that Big Ben is to be thrown under. 

MLB

The Media: more specifically, the media that think there are only two teams--the Yankees and Red Sox. Yes, the two teams have a long and bitter rivalry. Yes, they're both very good teams. But it hasn't always been this way. For a long time, the Red Sox sucked while the Yankees ruled baseball. When the Yankees sucked, the Sox were good. There are OTHER teams besides the Yankees and Red Sox. The Myopic Media gets thrown under the Bus. 

NCAA

Alabama Crimson Tide: actually, I don't have the heart to throw the Tide under the bus because they're coming hard after Fresno State OC Jim McElwain. And I have a soft spot in my heart for the Tide. Naturally as a Bulldogs fan I want McElwain to stay at Fresno State, but if he does decide to go to Alabama, I wish him the best. The Tide will be getting one of the nation's best college OC's. Tide fan, be very thankful that Nick Saban has a close friendship with Fresno State coach Pat Hill from their Cleveland Browns days under Bill Belichick. 

Those are my nominees for this week. Your comments and nominees are welcome.         

The NFL is nearing its end for another season. Pitchers and catchers are less than a month away from reporting. Speedweeks will start in a couple of weeks, leading to the Daytona 500. There are many nominees in the world of sports that so draw the ire of fans that you want to throw them Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp). I have a few nominees.

MLB

Houston Astros: all they had to do is wait ONE MORE DAY and then they wouldn't have given away the farm to acquire Miguel Tejada. The Astros made the trade with the Baltimore Orioles the day before the Mitchell Report came out. Good luck trying to stay out of the NL Central cellar. Bet you would LOVE to have that one back! For being so feckless, the Astros' "brain" trust gets thrown Under The Bus.

MLB Owners: for extending Bud Selig's contract another three years.

NBA

Laker haters: ALL of you Laker haters that were salivating with glee that the Lakers were going down when Andrew Bynum got injured are to be thrown Under The Bus. And FREAKING Andrew Bynum is the FREAKING DRIVER. I don't mind that you hate on the Lakers; just don't be gleeful when one of their best players is injured and out for a couple of months. As a Lakers fan, would I be gleeful if KG, Ray Allen, or Paul Pierce missed significant playoff time? No. I'd say it'll be tougher for the Celtics. Just you FREAKING wait when Bynum comes back!! You'll get yours when the Lakers are hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy as NBA Champions. That goes for you too, Suns fans! QUIT crowing that you're one of the elite NBA teams, because YOU'RE NOT. You have a small center, an aging point guard, and too many players that do the same role. When you feed on bottom feeders for most of the season, you're NOT an elite team.

Miami Heat: enjoy that championship you won in 2006. That'll be the last you'll win for a VERY long time. Your losing streak is at 13 and counting. Who knows, I lost track after 5 in a row. That's how dull your team is, Heat fan. The Heat, and Shaq the Myopian are to be thrown under the Bus (with Andrew Bynum as the driver of said bus).

Anyway, those are my nominations. Come in with yours.

ABOVE: Henry Winkler as Fonzie on "Happy Days" jumps over a shark while water skiing.

Every fall, TV show commentators comment on which new shows will break out and become great, which shows won't last, and of the returning shows, which shows will stay strong and which shows have "jumped the shark." I'm going to add a sports twist to this.

In the sports twist, the term, "jump the shark" means that a team has reached its peak and is beginning its downhill slide. Or it can refer to an individual athlete whose performance begins to decline, eventually leading to his retirement.

Here are some of my teams that I think have "jumped the shark":

NFL

Seattle Seahawks: while this team is still formidable, they clearly are not the powerhouse team of a few years ago. They lost twice to the San Francisco 49ers last season and tomorrow face a better Niners team than a year ago. Shaun Alexander is approaching the wrong side of 30, which is OLD for a RB.

Carolina Panthers: this is still a decent team, but its door to win a Super Bowl is slamming shut. The defense is getting old, John Kasay's not getting any younger, and Jake Delhomme is injured.

Cincinnati Bengals: had they focused on building a quality defense a few years ago, I wouldn't include them in this blog.

Baltimore Ravens:  the window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl is shutting rapidly. Steve McNair will probably retire after this season due to all the injuries he has accumulated. Had the Ravens had the McNair of eight years ago, they would be one of the favorites for a Super Bowl title. Ray Lewis, the heart and soul of that stout defense, is slowing down. See you in Canton, Ray. You'll take your place among the all-time greats at LB.

MLB

St. Louis Cardinals: this team is one year removed from winning the World Series. Usually a team that wins the World Series one season automatically jumps the shark the next season.

New York Yankees: they have had vast success from 1996 to the present, winning four World Series in a five year span, including three straight from 1998-2000. Since 1995, they have made the playoffs EVERY SEASON. In an era where a three to five year run is considered excellent, it is a 13 year run and counting. However, their window of opportunity is closing. Their young studs at the beginning of the run are older, aging veterans now.

Chicago White Sox: went from world champs to world chumps in two seasons.

Houston Astros: see above.

NBA

Miami Heat: Shaq is getting old, the cast of characters are constantly changing, with the exception of D-Wade.

Dallas Mavericks: with the emergence of younger, hungrier teams, the window is closing FAST. They may have one, maybe two, years left.

These are a few examples of teams from each league that I think have "jumped the shark." For further references to this term, go to www.jumptheshark.com.

Which teams do you think have "jumped the shark?"