Les Miles:  Miles is going to Michigan, Miles is staying at LSU, or Miles is acting like Saban?  The choice is easy;  Miles pulled a Saban.  Remember when Nick said he wasn't going to the Dolphins, then later on he said he wasn't going to Alabama.  Well he was just waiting for the best offer and Miles is doing the same thing.  LSU has reportedly renegotiated his contract so he could stay at LSU, but I will not be suprised if he still moves on to Big Blue because of more Green.  Money talks, and whichever team ponies up the most dollars will get Miles.   I for one think Miles would be an idiot to take the Michigan job and he will stay at LSU.  He walked into a program that was winning and had loads of talent.  If he leaves he is going to a Big 10 team that is in dire need of rebuilding and is the fourth or fifth best team in the conference behind Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin.  Miles can stay at LSU and keep on winning, or move on to the Big 10 and struggle.  Hmmm, he has LSU over a barrel, they will pay him a huge addition to his contract, and he keeps on winning.

Jason Whitlock:  I like Whitlock, and for the most part I agree with much of what he says.  The only problem I have with his article is the timing.  I understand why he wanted to get out in front of the arrests and blame it as black on black crime.  In fact, 3 of the 4 arrested were black, so it appears he was write on that count, but it is appearing more and more like a botched robbery attempt.  That does not change the message that Whitlock is espousing.  There is a black KKK, and drugs are definitely tied to violent crime.  Sean Taylor was hanging around a bad element.  At least one of the accused was at his house earlier that month for a party.  All of the accused have a rap sheet a mile long littered with drug charges and petty theft.  So in a very real sense Whitlock was right, but where he went wrong was in his timing.  There was no reason to write this story this week.  The message could have waited until Sean was buried and in the ground.  Whitlock could have waited until Taylor's grieving parents had a chance to bury their son.  Whitlock would have then had more evidence for his story and he would not have to recant any of it.  I still like Whitlock, but he falls into the same trap as many of us do in blogging, and that is trying to beat everyone to the next story.  If your story has merit, it can wait to do it right.

BCS:  I hate to see Ohio State slide into the national title game, but it appears that will happen.  Who gets to play them and probably beat them?  I hope LSU gets to go because I think the winner of the SEC title game should get some extra consideration, but I really don't think it matters.  I think Ohio State will be overmatched by either Georgia, LSU, or even Oklahoma.  Ohio State has not played a game in several weeks and they will be rusty.  For sure the old tune about a national play off is about to be sung by every college football analyst on ESPN and every other network.  Never mind that the BCS has gotten it right the last few years and in the end the eventual winner will have a solid case for their title, we want more football games.  We want to erase all doubt.  Can I just say that even with a college play off, there will be those who argue that someone was left out, a missed call cost the real winner a game, and that had teams been seeded differently we might have a different winner.  The only way to have a true champion is to go undefeated and then win in the BCS Championship game.   Wait, what about Hawaii?  I guess going undefeated doesn't mean much.

Socalsportsfan

Thanksgiving has to be one of my all-time favorite holidays.  Not just because I get to eat as much as I want without counting the calories, but because it is a truly American holiday.  While it is true that Congress made Thanksgiving an official holiday on the fourth Thursday of the month in 1941, its celebration can be traced all the way back to 1789 with George Washington proclaiming a day of thanksgiving.  Lincoln did so as well in 1863.  What a great idea to sit around and count our blessings.  Too often we forget just how fortunate we are, well everyone except the turkey.

There are so many things to be thankful for, and today is the day set aside to reflect on those things and thank God for them!  Yesterday I passed a homeless lady in the street, and it made me think about the many things we have as a family that she does not have.  We have a home, cars, food, and most of all each other.  Even the homeless in San Diego have something to be thankful for that other beggars do not.  In our city, thousands of pounds of food are donated to feed the homeless and shelters all around this county will be feeding the unfortunate.  As I have traveled all over this world, I have seen many beggars in other countries, and most of those people do not have the shelters, churches, and many other civic organizations which go out of their way to provide for the homeless like we do in America.  Homelessness is awful, but once again even the homeless in this country have something to be thankful for today.  

We as Americans have many things to be thankful for, and while our country is by no means perfect, it is the most tolerant in the entire world.  Often I hear people complaining about intolerance in our country, but the very ability to complain of intolerance proves what a great country America is.  In many other parts of the world the mere whisper of things that are anti-government are squelched decisively.  Don't believe me?  Go to Iran and try to practice religious freedom, or try China.  In Islamic countries it is fine to go and pray towards Mecca 5 times a day, or is it three, but try to openly worship another God and see what is allowed.  Things such as homosexuality, or same sex marriage, and living together are not only illegal, but in many cases punished severely.  Not so in America.  We not only tolerate all of these things, but we have sitcoms on television which openly celebrate them.  If you don't believe me, just try to get Will and Grace on the Al Jazirah network. 

My point is not to bash Iran or any other country.  That is the culture they have chosen.  The point is that in America, we are made up of individuals who came here to seek religious freedom.  America is not perfect, but in comparison to most other countries I have visited, we are a tolerant nation and it is one of the many things that make America great.  (Even Bush gets a pardon today for his many mistakes) So sit back today and enjoy your turkey and dressing while the Colts beat up on the Falcons.  Spend some time with your family and give thanks for the many blessings each of us has including the one true American Holiday, Thanksgiving.

Socalsportsfan