I will never like Eli Manning.  Under any circumstances.  No.  Matter.  What.  He could set the NFL all-time passing records (unlikely) and I would begrudge him not a thing.  He could win ten superbowls, and still, I would not bedgrude him one ounce of respect.  Why you ask, do I harbor such a grudge for the man who just "Trent Dilfered" himself to a ring?  He will never be more to me than a bum.  Pure and simple.  If the Giants had Phillip Rivers they would have stormed the NFC two years ago. 

Yet Why, you may query again, do I hold such a grudge against one player?  The truth is, I hold many grudges: Texas (in all capacities), The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, New York in general, Steve Francis and last, but certainly not least, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.  But why, why do I dislike Eli above all else?  It is certainly not his hangdog expression on the field that makes you wonder if he is slow, and it is definitely not his grating, hickish southern accent.  Nor is it his theme music (certainly the dueling banjos from Delieverance).  No, not at all.  In fact, it all goes back to a man named Steve Francis and a city called Vancouver.

For my generation, the "I won't play there" game began with Eric Lindros, but for me the most vivid example remains Steve Francis.  Back when he was coming out of University, Vancouver was in the early stages of developing a fine nucleas of promising if as yet unspectacular, young players.  The Antonio Daniels debacle was over.  We needed an exciting point guard to push the ball to Big Country and Shareef Abdur-Rahim.  We certainly got the man we needed when we drafted Steve Francis aka "Stevie Franchise".  Then, he killed all the Grizzlies fans when he stated, "I will never play in Vancouver".  This guy, this guy, who had just been drafted into the league was making demands.  He should have been happy to play anywhere, the inmates do not run the asylum.  He said "no" to Vancouver.  What he did was completely devalue the entire franchise and make players who were out there giving their all, like Shareef, feel terrible.  Being Canadians we didn't do much, but had he said that in a US city?  He would have been punched repeatedly, and deserved every second of it.  When he failed to win in city after city, I cheered, always a little louder.  It is nice to see when guys like that get their comeuppance.  I mean, sure he's a multi-millionaire but he's never won anything more important than a scrabble match.  And that makes me smile.  His attitude makes me and I hope others, respect a guy like Chris Bosh even more.  He plays as hard as he can for the team that drafted him, and has been richly rewarded.  The team has seriously developed and got a star (TJ Ford) who actually wanted to go there!  Will wonders never cease? 

So, then, the reason I hate Eli Manning is because he did the same thing.  He said "no" to San Diego.  He traded on his name, as he has his entire career, and forced a draft day trade.  It is not right.  He was the first overall pick, and yet acted like it was the worst moment of his life.  What. A. Tool.  Worse still, San Diego went on to succeed while he failed, but this is a huge slap for them, and in the face of a very nice, and talented young star: Philip Rivers.  Athletes can be prima donnas, but what Eli, Eric Lindros and Steve did was absolutely, morally wrong.  Hold out for more money, leave after three seasons, take the money and play for some team wherever you want, but go where you are drafted and be damned happy about it.  Teams have to stop giving into the demands of unproven players, and the players have to learn to play where they belong.  That is what free agency is all about!  And now Eli's defence won him a Superbowl.  Oh well, has anyone seen Steve Francis anywhere? 

Viewers are dropping hockey faster than water through a sieve, something drastic has to be done to bring in new fans.  The NHL is trying, they really, really are.  New streamlined jersey's come out next year.  Sidney Crosby is almost 1/30th as overexposed as Peyton Manning (*note: That's still alot).  Gary Bettman needs a new approach.  It is getting drastic, as some sportswriters have predicted the potential folding of the NHL within the next 15 years.  So, without further ado: I have a suggestion that I strongly urge the NHL to take into consideration.  Add a 7th player to the ice for each team, and equip him with a eight-foot wooden lance.  Stick a hockey glove at the end of the lance and off we go!

Now, before you stop reading, hear me out.  A player gets a breakaway, he is skating down the ice without fear when...suddenly he is taken out from nowhere by an eight foot lance with a hockey glove stuck at the end ( for cushioning the blow).  The playing field has officially been levelled.  The days of the dominance of the Red Wings is over!  Having a lancer would be great because it would allow hockey to keep the lovable goons who are quickly becoming antiquated in the kinder, gentler, post-lockout NHL.  George Laraque could play for another ten years.  Tie Domi could make a comeback (watch out Rona Ambrose!).  Better yet, the game would become more unpredictable than Mike Tyson hanging out with Dennis Rodman.  Announcers would have to get used to the change, but saying "Federov gets lanced from behind!" would probably make up for it.  So please, NHL, do something.  Do something drastic!  We need the NHL because it is truly a joy to watch the hardest working athletes around (Try playing basketball with knives strapped to your feet).  So consider my plan NHL owners, coaches and fans.  The time for drastic is rapidly approaching.  If the lancers catch on we can go to part II of my plan to save the NHL...blindfolded lancers. 

Time and again, the expert prognosticators ignore the Canadian teams as a viable Stanley Cup option.  Edmonton was going out in the first round, then the second, then the third.  Calgary was the same.  These are teams that won or survived the toughest division in the NHL (hands down).  Now Vancouver is the latest getting little or no respect.  Although, that may change after a gutsy, 4 overtime victory over the "favored" Dallas Stars.  Don't get me wrong, Dallas is a great team, but the Canucks have been given no legitimate shot. 

NHL experts are much more willing to give a chance to the New Jersey Devils who have, for the most part, a team of defensive minded forwards backed by the greatest goalie in the NHL.  The Canucks, are a team of defensive minded forwards backed by one of the best goalies in the league.  Forget the fact Bobbie Lou shut down a Dallas attack in the second game of the night (man, do we need shootouts in the playoffs!).  Some argue the Canucks are "not balanced enough to win".  Hmmm, I guess we inflate the stat of 50 goals their defencemen scored this year, or the 23 goals Taylor Pyatt scored (who?).  Marcus Naslund (20+ goals) is not even on the first line, yet they lack balance?  Fact is all they need is two goals to win with their defensive abilities (the Sedin's take care of that). 

The Devils, keep in mind, are proven winners.  The Canucks are simply the best team in the league since January.  Kind of like Carolina last year...

The pick is probably going to blow up (given my Superbowl pick of the Chargers and Bears) but I stick with what I said in January: Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Thrashers (who win in 7 games).

I feel old today, at the ripe age of 23.  I feel old today for two reasons; sportswriting has changed and Jake Plummer retired. 

My father always told me that when players you remember from their university days retire, you will feel old.  I remember a young stud leading Arizona state, working his magic with reckless abandon.  His name; Jake Plummer and it seems like just a few years ago.  It seemed like he was still a young guy, but now he is a grizzled (have you seen that beard!) vet, out of the league at 32.  Wow.  I hope he unretires and plays for the Texans fast, so I do not have to go into a retirement home.

Secondly, sports writng has changed irreconcilably.  Now people from the new ADHD culture want lots of flashy boxes and pictures instead of, gosh, sportswriting!  Words, people, words is what "sports writing" is all about.  Please, do not let this art form die!  The days of Gary Smith and Frank Deford are past, and when they retire, Sports Illustrated will hire no one of similar caliber to replace them.  Pretty soon an entire article will be encapsulated in a small box and these words; "Carson Palmer is playing like his old self thanks to some help from his teammates and wife".  Then there will be a large picture.  I dread that day and you should too.  It needs to change now.  Right now.  Please write to Sports Illustrated and tell them you want more Gary Smith, more articles beyond the game, not just useless flash.  Although, not many people will still be reading at this point, do not let sportswriting die.  Let's all feel young again and have a few pages to look forward to.

The San Diego Chargers lost this weekend.  The Ohio State lost last week.  Florida won two NCAA titles without being the consensus number one in either sport all season.  New York has been defeated time and again.  So have the Detroit Red Wings.  Last season Indy lost to the Steelers.  The season before that the Steelers lost.  Where have you gone wire to wire champion? 

No team that wins a championship is the wire to wire champion anymore.  Take Ohio State, they had the consensus number one team in the national all year.  They beat Michigan, and had the runaway Heisman winner.  Then they lost.  Sound familiar?  It should.  The previous season USC did the exact same thing in their loss to Texas.  The Yankees and Tigers both lost last season in the baseball playoffs.  The Mets were the team to beat all year and they could not get through.  Come to think of it, when is the last time that the runaway team of the year actually won the championship? 

College basketball?  Not quite.  Florida, a team that was not even number one in its own conference, won.  In the NBA, the Pistons were the team to beat on one side, with the Suns and Spurs on the other.  Who won?  Miami. 

Even hockey is not safe anymore.  The days of the Detroit/Colorado dominance are done.  Teams keep sneaking through to knock off the best regular season teams.  Ottawa got a harsh comeuppance despite being the favorite last season.  In the NFL the Steelers were a wildcard entry and they beat just about everyone to take the title.  The intresting thing with them is the year before they were hands down the best team in the league.  They lost.  In the following year, they won.  If that pattern repeats you can just go ahead and crown Indy the champ.  It just does not appear to pay anymore to be the team at the top.  Teams are having a great deal more success sneaking into the playoffs and then upsetting all the perennial contenders.  Case and point, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.  The Florida Gators are national champions in two sports and the Steelers who won the Superbowl last season did not even make the playoffs this season with virtually the same team. 

Do not get me wrong, this is the single greatest thing to ever happen in the history of sports.  No one is safe.  When the Yankees, Red Sox, Red Wings, Colts, Buckeyes, Patriots, Pistons win it is boring.  We crave the upset.  Everyone wants the underdog to win, not hear another speech from Tom Brady about how his teammates inspired him to great heights.  No sir.  We want to see a hook and ladder, wide reciever pass and statue of liberty within five minutes of one football game.  We need to see some guy who has waited so long to win get his chance.  Or some young kid with his whole career ahead of him standing before us with a deer in the headlights look.  Most know they will probably not repeat this miracle again.  So keep it up gods of sports.  Keep shocking us by knocking off number ones.  Although I think you may have spoiled us just a little bit with that whole Boise State thing. 

Everyone has things that they would love to get off their chest.  Here a few letters I would love to mail off:

1) To: Mr. Terrell Owens:  Dear Mr. Owens,

Thank you for teaching my son to share.  He finished your book, and both he and I were captivated by your narrative preachings.  My seven year old just idolizes you sir.  Thank you for setting such a great example for him.  The other day in his youth league game, he scored and then taunted the other team by running to midfield.  It was beautiful!  Not many of the other parents got it, but those that did said they were sure glad that kid was not theres!  That's right, they were jealous of the transcendant talent of my kid.  Later in the game he spat in the face of the little red-haired kid covering him.  I tell you Mr. Owens, I have never been prouder.  The league will probably fine him or something but its alright, because you always get fined and you are okay.  Thank you for your teachings Mr. Owens, I will wait breathlessly for your next bestseller. Go Cowboys!

from, Joe "Terrell Owens #1 Fan!" Reidniack

2) To: The Man Who Decided That There Should Be No BCS Playoff

Sir, I hate to inform you that you are about to be swept up in a tide of bandwagon jumpers clamoring for a playoff in the wake of Boise State's shocking win against Oklahoma.  This was quite possibly the greatest finish in the history of College Football and now people are saying that Boise State should have gotten a shot at Ohio State and the National Title.  You, like me, probably agree that this is ludicris!  I want you to know that I stand firmly behind you sir, in your decision to exclude them from the national championship hunt.  Sure, they were undefeated, but they had a weak schedule.  Sure, a playoff would be intense and thrilling.  Who wouldn't want to see more circus trickery from Boise State?  And LSU and USC would be a most interesting clash, but that is beside the point.  Two undefeated teams should not meet.  Ohio State probably would have dominated Boise State.  Maybe.  Unless they pulled off the greatest upset in the history of college...um.  I know you are secure in your decision sir, and I stand behind you...sort of.  Regards, Alvin (AP) Percy

3) To: Mr. Nick Saban, Alabama

Dear Mr. Saban, I am writing to inform you of a potential coaching position that could open up at Southern Michgan (Texas) Baptist College.  We know that it will probably take a couple of years but when you are ready we can talk turkey.  Our program could really use a couple of good seasons before you discover that you heart is needed elsewhere.  Take care and we look forward to talking to you soon! 

University President J U Mupsaluot

About a month ago I made several NFL predictions, and I will now look back and see how well they have turned out:

1) Matt Leinart is good.  He has the potential to be even better.  He's certainly better than Jay Cutler at this point, but...and this pains me...right now Vince Young has a slight advantage on him.  The only reason being the whole beating up on the Manning's thing.  I still stand by the fact that Leinart will one day be better than any other Quarterback from the 2006 Class.

2) Apparently, Rex Grossman is human!  Apparently, so are the Chicago Bears.  They may still win the Superbowl but they most definitely are not going to storm undefeated.  Well, thats kind of 1-1on the picks. 

3) Roy Williams has a chance to be the NFL's Leading Reciever and he currently ranks 2nd, behind only Chad Johnson.  Who is only in first because of his monster last three weeks I would like to point out.  Oh, and Jon Kitna has passed for 3190 yards (thats more than Eli, Carson or Phil).

4) Bruce Gradowski is flaming out, even faster than Shaun King.  Ka-ching! 

5) Don't want to brag or anything, but the Giants suck.  So does Eli Manning.  Just because he had the world handed to him doesn't mean that he is going to be the best.  After the way he treated San Diego, it would be perfect poetic justice to see him fail.  At some point, athletes need to be put in their place and realize that transcendant talent counts for nothing if you're a ####.  Sigh, if only...

6) The Superbowl pick remains the same; but I think San Diego takes it on the strength of their all world RB.

-NHL observation: I am a Vancouver Canucks fan, but the whole Rory Fitzpatrick for All-Star thing is ridiculous.  The power should not be in the hands of the fans at this point.  If Fitzpatrick makes it, that means that someone else is left off the team.  That person is almost certainly more deserving than a fourth-line grinder who is not only borderline on ice time, but is borderline NHL.  Period.  This guy would be freezing his #### off in Manitoba if it wasn't for the huge money the Canucks had to tie up in multiple players.  It is terrible to think o####uy who has played his heart out and earned a shot at the All-Star game, missing out on his only chance to get there because of some ridiculous fan campaign.  That just does not sit right, and while fan voting can be a good way to make them feel involved, it leads to problems.  Players who are undeserving get into the All-Star Game year after disappointing year (See Carter, Vince) just because they were good seven years ago.  For the most part the NHL voting is pretty good, but if Fitzpatrick gets in, someone more deserving is out and that just is not fair any way you shake it.

 

It finally hit me; the BCS is inherently flawed.  Sure, it works when two top conference teams with strong schedules are 12-0.  Otherwise it collapses faster than the Texas defense.  This year for example a great mess is just waiting to be made.  Should Michigan be punished because it lost late in the year?  What if the score were reversed, and Michigan had won 42-39, would anyone in their right mind rank Ohio State lower than #2?  The sad answer is a resounding "no".  So how can everyone be so sure that there won't be a rematch between these two teams?  If USC beats Notre Dame then they could get in.  But, Michigan also beat Notre Dame.  And if Notre Dame beats USC, then they still lost to Michigan who lost only to Ohio State.  Confused yet?  It gets worse.  Florida and Arkansas are in the picture, and they have to play in the SEC championship game, and if Arkansas wins then some will clamour for them to be in the National Title picture...but hold on a second, they lost 50-14 to USC.  Now, we are confused.  However, this is not even the most irksome thing, some people have suggested that even if Michigan beats (yes beats) Ohio State for the National Title, becuase Ohio State beat them earlier they will share it.  Excuse me?  So if a team wins a "playoff" style game, they still share the title with the losers?  Oh. My. God.

What the BCS needs, and there have been no shortage of advocates for this, is a playoff system.  The NCAA basketball has it.  In the tournament your record for the year basically goes out the window.  The Champ is the champ, it doesn't matter if your record is equal to Duke or you lost previously to UCLA.  If the BCS system was to be imposed in college basketball, well Florida might as well share the title with all the teams that beat them.  Certainly all the final four could make a claim as well.  The great thing about the BCS is that it would be so perfect for a BCS system, and it would kill complainers who can say that even if a #1 team loses in the championship game they still deserve a share of the pie.  Take a hockey style playoffs for example, the top 8 teams in the country play, or even the top 10 if they all have 1 loss.  Seed them 1-8 and then have them play for the national title.  1 plays 8, 2 plays7 and so on.  It would be great football, plus no team can complain that they didn't get an equal shot.  The worst thing is the controversary over winners, because if the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in the season series, but Vancouver beats them in the playoffs, no one complains.  If you are going to have a system of split titles, why have playoffs at all?  If the Colts beat the Patriots during the regular season and lose in the playoffs to them, they don't demand a share of the Superbowl because that is the whole point of the playoffs!  There is no room for split titles in any sport. 

The BCS fights against having a playoff because they thrive on controversy.  It sells tickets, and makes them money.  It keeps fans coming back and debating all year long.  A playoff system is a win-win though.  Two teams, lets say Arkansas and Ohio State would play as the number 1 and number 8 teams.  Ohio State loses, and they are out.  They are not the national champion.  A huge upset, people dancing in the streets, glued to see what happens in the next set of games.  Then the remaining top seeded team plays the low seeded team in the second round.  Finally, the final.  It would be like March Madness, but with football!  The other bowls could still take place, but they would be more of a pride thing for the teams.  The real fun would be to be in the top 8, or 10, or 12.  Play in the season would determine your rank.  The NCAA would make money on televising the additional games, the players would learn to play in a real big game and best of all a real winner emerges for once. 

There is one man in the NFL who just cannot catch a break; Trent Green.  Actually, he can catch multiple breaks and that is precisely his problem.  Green gets knocked around more than a volleyball.  Everywhere the guy has gone he just cannot get any luck and those around him have become deeply troubled as well. 

Green was the undisputed started in Saint Louis, he even had one of the greatest preseasons in recent memory when he went 11 for 11.  He was ripping it up, and the Rams looked dangerous.  As soon as someone noticed how well he was playing he tore every ligment in his knee and hit the sideline.  In the first of a series of unfortunate events he watched as a former Arena League football player and part-time store sweeper Kurt Warner ran off with his job.  Warner did not just run away with the job, he bolted straight from nowhere to 2 time MVP and Super Bowl champion.  Warner threw a better ball than anyone in the league and led to a rash of signings of formerly marginal quarterbacks including Tommy Maddox.  Green watched for awhile in Saint Louis before bolting for a team that was undisputably his; Kansas City. 

The Trent Green "curse" however, was still in play.  Kurt Warner watched as he was pushed aside by a young man who had a game reminicent of: Kurt Warner.  Mark Bulger came in to lead the show in St. Louis and has yet to let go of the reins.  Warner has suffered injury problems and had trouble with his throwing hand.  He went to New York, where he was replaced by Eli Manning.  Then he went to Arizona where he was replaced by Josh Mccown, then started, got replaced by Mccown and finally benched in favor of upstart rookie Matt Leinart.  Warner now cannot catch a break.  Green also continues to struggle.

After a healthy season in KC, Green appeared to be back on track.  He had a solid running back in Larry Johnson, and a sure Hall of Famer in tight-end Tony Gonzalez.  Green was ready to play the efficent QB and possibly lead KC back to the playoffs.  Everything was perfect, too perfect.  Lightening struck hard.  Green got bulldozed and suffered a massive concussion.  His replacement, lifelong clipboard holder, Damon Huard came on and played like the second coming of Joe Montana.  The Chiefs have a win streak going on and a sudden reluctance to bench the man behind it.  Somewhere, Green has to be kicking himself.  Originally there was no controversy as Chiefs coach Herm Edwards stated emphatically that Green was the starting QB.  Now he is flop-flipping like George Bush caught in a web of deception.  Someday, maybe some coach will step up and say that no matter who comes up and plays well, Trent Green will be the starting QB.  In the shifting day to day of the NFL that is a tough thing to do.  A guy can have one marginal performance and suddenly the sky is falling, regardless of what he had previously done (see Plummer, Jake).  Or, he can be without a doubt the QB of the future one day only to see it burn out in a completely undeserved bright light of a shiny new not really a star (see: Simms, Chris). 

No one will ever step up and say that this is the guy who is going to be the QB for the next ten years because injuires happen and sometimes the way that one guy throws is perfect for one system and not the next.  Vince Young was supposed to sit and is not.  Aaron Brooks was supposed to play and has not.  Here's hoping that one day Green can turn his luck around but the desire to ride a hot hand is too good to ignore as the suddenly cool Kurt Warner has discovered.  The fact is, these guys can do the job but someone else has simply taken their place.  It is like going on vacation to discover that while you were out of the office some intern took your place and management has decided to stick with him.  While it may or may not be fair, it still sticks in your gut like a rusty cutlass.  Don't even start on Tommy Maddox.

Here are some observations from the NFL weekend and my crystal ball;

1) Matt Leinart is going to be very good.  Much better than Vince Young and Jay Cutler.  His poise is remarkable and he ended the question of arm strength with some of the bombs that he has thrown.  The Cardinals have their Tom Brady, he will lead them to championships as soon as they find an offensive line.  He played the team to a win last night if it were not for the unstoppable force that is the Chicago Bears which brings me to...

2) The Chicago Bears will win the Superbowl and they will go undefeated.  This is nearly undisputable.  They did everything they could to lose last night and they won.  No one can stop them even when all the odds are stacked against them.  This is looking more and more like a team destined to dethrone the Dolphins.

3 Roy Williams will be the NFL's leading reciever this year.  He is finally getting it done, guess one out of three isn't bad for Matt Millen.

4) Bruce Gradkowski will flame out.  One name for Bucs fans everywhere; Shaun King.

5) The Giants will regret dealing for Eli Manning.  Philip Rivers will have much more success than Peyton's little brother.  Manning made the wrong choice when he pulled a Steve Francis on draft day.  San Diego has the best recieving TE, a top five all-time back in Ladanian Tomlinson and a stable coach.  New York is falling apart piece by piece.  When Manning has choked for the tenth straight year and Rivers beats Arizona in the Superbowl, they will have second thoughts. 

6) The Superbowl Pick is....Bears vs. Chargers

The Yankees lost this weekend and hopes of another title in the Steinbrenner era are rapid dissipating.  If the Yanks want to get back to championship form they need to take a long and hard look in the mirror.  The pieces are all in place.  For the last five years they have been in place.  Year after year the team has achieved in the regular season while it has crashed and burned in the first or second round of the playoffs.  No one is really to blame, and Mr. Steinbrenner has done a good thing by not firing Joe Torre because he is not the problem.  Nor is the problem A-Rod who all Yankee fans and management should know is a notorious choke-artist.  He has yet to produce in the playoffs and tends to disappear late in the seaon.  His 1 for 14 swan song should surprise no one. 

Nor should the team cut Derek Jeter or Hideki Matsui or Jason Giambi.  They are good players who have been placed in and impossible situation; nothing except a championship is good enough.  Most teams state that as their goal but the Yanks live it.  George Steinbrenner lives it and so do the fans.  Some changes are needed however to bring the team together and back to the level at which they should be playing. 

1) Relax the rules on player facial hair and haircuts- The Yankees have one of the most strict policies out there and for a long time it worked.  It no longer does.  Let players like Giambi and Damon get back to their wildman days when they swung free and lived hard.  Randy Johnson has been half the player since he cut his mullet.  Derek Jeter may even let his hair down a little.  Steinbrenner and the Yanks could use some playoff beards and the luck they traditionally bring.

2) Stop the Spending- Most people will say that this is an impossibility, and if you lose then obviously you need to reload and bring in another batch of high payed players destined to underachieve.  This is untrue.  Sometimes a better team is the one that develops chemistry and does not have to have another prima donna every year to upset the delicate balance.  Some of the guys the Yanks brought in, Damon and Giambi are just now comfortable with the team and are playing like they can.  Others, like Carl Pavano look lost.  Give the team time to gel, do not go out and buy Barry Zito or Ivan Rodriguez.  The Yankees are notorious for wanting to win now, but a couple of down years could lead to big things later on.  If the Tigers win the series than this will never be more true.  Ditto for the A's who have maintained a good core through some lean years.  Or take the Twins who are maybe a year away from being the most dominant team in the league.

3) Stay away from the press- Shooting off your mouth when things are going bad is not good.  It creates dissension among the players and rifts between the coaches and management.  SI picked the Yanks to win it all again as the playoffs began.  Year after year they have disappointed and they will continue to do so if the papers have a field day with quotes that undermine team unity. 

4)Take a step back Steinbrenner- Let someone else run the team for once!  Let them bring in the guys they want, not the guys who have beaten you a few years before and that you have to bring in so they won't beat you again (see Damon, Giambi, Randy Johnson et al).  Bring in Billy Beane, have him bring some lower value and higher production players in.  It might take a couple of years but the boys will be back at the top of the heap.

The Yankees of course will not heed any of these suggestions but will again try to buy a World Series.  One year, soon enough some $200 million Yankee team will miss out on the playoffs entirely and everyone will get fired and the fans will cry.  That day is rapidly approaching as their goal becomes more and more unreachable.

 

Maurice Clarett was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison the other day, whether or not this was a good or bad thing for football has yet to be decided.  Most people will argue beyond a shadow of a doubt that this a black mark on football, a sad chapter that can draw to a close and be forgotten.  But one should not be so hasty to draw these conclusions; this can be a good thing for the sport. 

Clarett destroyed his own reputation, sullied the name of his alma mater and blew his one chance at a career with the Denver Broncos.  Yes, he #### up royally.  He can be regarded as little more than a thug.  A gangster who made his way onto a football team, carried them to the National Championship and then allowed his ego to take over.  His own narcassistic drive made him challenge a draft rule that was never going to hold up in court and try and take advantage of the stock he had built for himself.  He knew that he had no chance of making it through three years.  What if he got injured?  Or what if it all went away?  All the talent, the dazzling moves, the bullheaded determination to find paydirt.  Maybe these were some of the things that Maurice Clarett worried about when he tried to leave Ohio State.  Then the trouble began.  He was allowed into the draft, then he was not.  He hired an agent and thus was not allowed to return.  The mudslinging began, he said this, Ohio State said that.  It went nowhere.  Clarett #### over another promising young prospect, Mike Williams, who had to miss a year of school following his lead.  Fortunately, and maybe not, Williams got drafted in the top ten by the Detriot Lions.  Clarett, he tumbled all the way down to the third round where the one man who could have saved his career took a chance on him.  Mike Shanahan has made a career of turning sup-par running backs into thousand yard rushers.  Clarett was unimpressive in camp, he did not say the right things, he was gone.  Then he got arrested.  The worst part for him may come later.  Every screw up will be known and well publicized.  Every move he makes will make his story even sadder.

How could this possibly be a good thing?  How could the story of Maurice Clarett possibly be of any value to the league?  It serves as the perfect cautionary tale.  The time when the league payed more attention to the character of a player than to his physical potential.  They were right.  He could not drag himself up when give the oppurtunity, instead he fell harder.  Who knows what other players would fall if put in the same position as Clarett.  One thing is for sure, many will go out of their way to make sure that they never get that far.  Maybe, somewhere down the road a player will stop and think of Clarett.  No one will challenge the draft ruling now.  Everyone knows they have a few years to put in before they can dream of the millions of the NFL.  Clarett smelled the millions and his greed took over.  He lost everything.  His myth will join others in the NFL lexicon as what not to do.  In a way, he will get the fame that he so richly craves. 

Clarett has much to think about in the next few years.  Inevitably so  will many other young stars.  Somewhere down the road, maybe in 3 years or so he will attempt a comeback.  It could be successful, and maybe he will pull himself back up.  Disney could snap up the rights to the movie.  Perhaps not.  He could become a great running back for a prison team, or even get early release.  One thing is clear, his name will always be synonomous with what not to do.

 

Ohio State is without a doubt the consensus number 1 team in the nation, or are they?  Who, if anyone can dethrone the top team?  Texas maybe?  Not in the rest of this decade.  Notre Dame? Maybe, if Brady Quinn can make several more emphatic statements against the tough schedule he has to endure.  But maybe not since this same Ohio State team spanked the same Notre Dame team in the Fiesta Bowl.  So who has the best chance at taking down the Ohio State.  Two years ago, you would never have guessed this team, but it is without a doubt West Virginia.

West Virginia continues to fly somewhat under the nation radar as people were hesitant to rank them ahead of most anybody.  Rare was the expert or magazine who put West Virginia at number 1.  They are a strange team to have so high up.  They have a young team that many will doubtlessly argue is a year away.  They have one thing however that can match Ohio State #### for tat; speed.  Speed has been what sets Ohio State apart until this point.  When Ted Ginn ran past several defenders like they were traffic cones and caught the easy bomb from Troy Smith, his speed eminated from the TV screen.  The Mountaineers have that kind of speed, and they have it in bunches.  Their quarterback, Pat White, who came out of nowhere, never really has to throw more than fifteen passes a game.  His rating is always high because when he has to he completes a lot of throws.  Why only fifteen throws a game?  Probably because he rushes for around 85 a game.  And maybe because he has the fastest tailback in the college football, Steve Slaton behind him.  The kid is so fast he makes Vince Young look like Peyton Manning.  Slightly slower than a glacier.  Slaton is special.  He rushes for more yards per carry than anyone.  He had 105 in his second game...on 8 carries.  He's the second coming of Reggie Bush excpet that he doesn't even need to catch passes. 

The D is tough as well, and could match up with Ohio State fairly well.  The game would most definitely be an offensive showdown and a sight to behold.  Here'e hoping that both are undefeated in January so that the New Year can kick off with some fireworks.  Better watch the game in slo-mo, just to be on the safe side.

With the debate that is sure to come over Barry Bonds and his eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame, one has to wonder if some good, but not great players may be able to sneak in the radar of his tainted legacy.  Guys like Ken Griffey Jr., who was at one time considered the Greatest Living Ballplayer when Joe Dimaggio died could get in.  Some may argue that Griffey deserves to be in because of his fast start, while others may question if he gets in at all due to his sharp decline.  Injuries have been the major slowdown of his career and they stalled his Aaron chasing track.  Griffey will also have 500 "natural" home runs, whereas Bonds may have only 400.

Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves may be another guy who benefits from the Bonds scandal.  He has been the leader and star of the Braves dynasty.  He may make it in because he is an untainted guy who was a good player on the best team for over fourteen years.  Chipper is a solid player who has strung together many great seasons and will finish with a batting average somewhere around .300.  His caveat could be that he will probably not get 3,000 hits, although there is a remote possibility that he could join the 500 homer club.  The fact is, he has been MVP, he won a World Series and his team won 13 straight division titles.  Three players from the dynasty deserve to be in the hall of fame and Chipper is definitely one of them.  The others are John Smoltz and Greg Maddux.  All three should get in because they were on a spectacular team that was always competitive and won a lot of games.  Unlike Bonds they made their team better, sometimes winning games single handedly. 

Ichiro, a relatively new player to American baseball, could also find his way into the Hall of Fame.  He will have a high batting average, has won lots of batting titles, and was MVP.  His assault of the hits record has been nothing short of remarkable.  Even when he is hitting under .300 he still, somehow, manages to lead the league in hits.  If he puts in six or seven good years in the league, then his place in the hall should virtually be assured.  He has done everything with skill and that will count for lots in the coming time of up-in-the-airness.   

The Hall of Fame will be under a cloud of dust when Bonds retires.  Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?  Based on stats, of course he does.  Based on character and the fact that he cheated and lied his way to the top?  Of course he does not.  Let the debate begin, but watch who comes home cleanly.

 

Floyd Landis, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmaro, Mark Mcguire and anyone else caught red-handed using performance enhacers should do only one thing; tell the truth.  Be honest.  Be candid.  Reveal just how widespread the problem is.  Admit everything you did, why you did it, and then quietly fade into the background of your suspension.

Everyone that has lied about using steriods has been blacklisted, and hated by just about everyone.  One guy who never lied, Jason Giambi has worked hard to come back from his scandal and everyone who watches sports respects him all the more for it.  Honesty is the best medicine for the terrible asterik that the steriod era has become.  If you lie, no one believes you, and maintaining your innocence in the face of several positives is ridiculous.  Floyd Landis has already lost everything and by maintaining his innocence he is making it all the worse.  When he loses everything, people some people will still want to believe that his amazing comeback was not aided in any way.  The simple truth is that it was.  If he stands up right now, admits that he was wrong, did whatever he did to win and says that the entire sport is being trashed because of it, then he can have a life.  He could probably even become a role model for being man enough to admit what he did.  Public speaking events could be in his future.  If he maintains the lie, then all he has is the wild claim that he was #### over multiple times by a lab. 

Everyone who has done steriods should admit it.  The nation will breathe a sigh of relief.  Yes, it will shatter many of the illustrious images that have been so carefully cultivated by sports stars but a weight will be taken off everyones shoulders.  For the players the lying about how isolated a problem performance enhancing is will be gone, and for the fans and leagues it will finally be in the open.  There will still be a major problem, but the cards will at least all be on the table and everyone will be all in.  Even though it is probably too late for Barry Bonds coming clean will at least allow baseball some dignity in sweeping him aside.  Plus he will finally be able to look in the mirror without feeling sick at what he sees.

The truth will set everyone free; the athletes, the leagues and the fans.  The first person to step up next will definitely get some respect from me, because it will definitely be the hardest thing to do.  Fortunately, it is also the right thing to do.