Bowl Week Thoughts

Random thoughts...my alma mater laid another egg, this time in the Emerald Bowl. That second half must've been ugly. You'd think they'd planned on taking several types of cleats...to prevent slippage, you know. Reggie Ball...another 2 INTs. Talented and experienced enough that Chan Gailey has to play him, but he seems to lose as many games as he wins. Expect more of the same from GT next year. Seeing the outcome mades me glad I left at halftime to take the kids to see 'Dreamer' at the Picture Show.

I've yet to see the last play of last night's Nebraska win. Since Michigan didn't score, it won't overtake Cal's 'the Play'. They could call it 'the play that will live in infamy.'

Why does the media expect coaches and players to bow to their every whim? Jim Mora's job is to win games, and I think it's great that he doesn't cow-tow to the press. He does seem to enjoy the back & forth banter in the press conferences, but he's in control.

That said, Tony Dungy is a class act. Nice to see the Bucs and Seahawks fans show thier support. I'd like to see the Colts go all the way.

Hopefully Mike Vick will mature sooner than later. Someone wants him to be the Air Jordan of the NFL (the NFL? Nike? Fox?)...but Micheal never shaped his game to please the press. Vick ran less this year to prove he was a passer, and the Falcons missed the playoffs. Much is made of the fact that the Falcons have never had back-to-back winning seasons in their history, without mentioning that several times they did go .500 after a winning season.

Will Payton and Eli ever meet in the Super Bowl? It would have to be a harmonic convergence of both team's peaking. Quite possible, though.

Shaun Alexander has piled up the stats and TDs, but I still think LaDainian is more exciting. I saved everyone from an entire column extolling the virtues of the great Herschel Walker. Set the NCAA single season rushing records for a three-year career, which remains in the top-ten all-time...surrounded by nine runners with four-year totals. Had he not become the first ever collegian to leave early, his total would stand forever.

Never realized the shoulder injury Herschel suffered as a freshman in the Sugar Bowl stayed with him his entire career, changing his running style. It didn't prevent him from reaching second place in career all-purpose yards. Is he not the only player in NFL history to have an 80-plus yard rush, reception, kickoff return, and punt return? And what marque player continued to contribute years past their prime, as Herschel did? He enjoyed special teams play, usually being the first downfield on kickoffs.

And how many football players make Olympic teams? Don't give me Willie Gault. Walker narrowly missed making the Summer Games as a sprinter, and did make the bobsled team in the Winter Olympics. I equally enjoyed Bo's career, though it wasn't as long or productive as Herschel's. Now Herschel has taken up bicycle racing, though I doubt Lance's records are in jeopardy.

Following Johnny Damon's free agency, it wasn't a huge surprize to me when he signed with the Yankees. The 'leaving Boston' angle didn't phase me either. But when I heard the news, my first thought was...he'll have to cut his hair! Nice sideburns!

I managed to also neglect my Atlanta Braves in this blog. Sorry Mets fans, don't get your hopes up for a division title in 2006. Chipper and Smoltz will be healthy, the starters and bullpen are deeper than last year, all those rookies will only get better with experience, and Renteria's consistency will be an improvemant over Furcal's hot/cold (then injured) streaks.