Micah Owings

Word out of the Arizona Republic is that Micah Owings is the one of the Players to Be Named Later in the Adam Dunn trade. Anyone know anything about him?? He's only 25 and had a decent start this year, but completely fell apart the last couple months. Is he any good?? I've never seen the guy pitch, but I guess there's a place for him as a #4-5 starter next year with the Reds.

In other news, Adam Dunn is apparently seeking $100-120 million in a free agent deal.

"It was inevitable," Arroyo said of the deal. "They weren't going to give him $100 million. He said he was looking for $120 million. They're not willing to go out on a limb that far."

Seriously?? $120 million for Adam Dunn? Who is going to pay him that much money?? I can't see him getting that on the open market. Dunn would be an awful fit with the Yankees and they probably have better targets to go after (Teixeira, CC, etc), so I don't see him getting a 9 figure deal anywhere.

Finally, Chad Johnson is trying to legally change his name to "Chad Ocho Cinco." Ugh. Is there a lamer athlete in sports today than Chad Johnson?? Does anyone actually find his antics funny anymore?? The guy is so desperate for attention that he's now resorting to these weak gimmicks. Chad was an entertaining novelty act for a couple years, but he's clearly lost his fastball. His whole fake contract holdout this past offseason was borderline laughable in retrospect since no one gave a crap about it. I think he was expecting T.O./Favre type coverage, but he seems to forget that he's not even close to their level of fame. He tried to take on this "edgy" Chad persona in the offseason, but everyone was bored with it almost immediately. The move couldn't have possibly backfired anymore than it did because now he has a reputation as a team cancer and no other NFL team wants anything to do with him. Even people from Cincinnati were like "whatever, if Chad wants out, here's the door." Now he's sort of a man without a home and Bengal fans are leery of him and just waiting to pounce on him. Never a good idea to piss off your base of support, especially when your base wasn't that crazy about you to begin with.

Lady Luck Frowns on US Mens Soccer

Today in Beijing, the Men's Olympic National Team failed to qualify for the quarterfinals after looking like it had won the group in about the 92nd minute of the match against the Netherlands on Sunday. While the team was not widely expected to advance given the difficulty of the group (Netherlands and Nigeria generally being regarded as superior squads), the loss is still gut-wrenching at this point given how it all played out.

If the U.S. had come out in the first match against Japan and laid an egg, most people would have probably stopped watching and it would have been a relatively painless 3 and out. However, the team claimed a 1-0 victory and three points. That combined with a draw in the Nigeria - Netherlands match set the U.S. up for potential success in the group stage. However, the 1-0 final score belies the actual play of the match. The U.S. were lucky to escape with a victory as Japan had significantly more opportunities than the U.S. but failed to capitalize. Unfortunately, the squad's luck would slowly turn around over the next couple matches.


In the second match against a Dutch team that just finished repeating as the U-23 UEFA champions, widely regarded as one of the favorites for the tournament, the U.S. appeared outclassed at first. However, after settling in around the 30th minute, the U.S played some exceptional soccer. The back four finally seemed to gel and Freddy Adu was driving the ball forward with the exceptional skill that he has always flashed but consistently delivered. The decision to sub Altidore in for an under-performing Rogers was also an excellent decision that the U.S. capitalized on to take a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, this is where their luck changed. In the 93rd minute, after an unfortunate foul just outside the box, the Dutch's Sibon brilliantly sent the free kick under the wall and into the goal to tie the match 2-2. It is truly unfortunate, because the U.S. outplayed one of the best U-23 squads in the world for about 60 minutes of the match. To make matters worse, with the match appearing to be in hand, both Adu and Michael Bradley picked up their 2nd yellow card in as many games and therefore would have to sit for the 3rd match. Things would only get worse from here, however.

That brings us to this morning in the U.S., bright and early. Up at 4 a.m. to watch the third match against a Nigerian squad, which was also without 2 players due to yellow. You can imagine my ire with less than 4 minutes into the match Michael Orozco picks up a red card and we're stuck playing 10 v. 11 for 90 minutes! Many people will complain that so early in a match, a weak elbow like that was not deserving of a red card, particularly given that the 2 players were somewhat tangled. However, I don't think this is that great of an argument. Was it a weak red? Probably. However, Orozco has got to know that you cannot throw an intentional elbow (which it clearly was) directly in front of the ref and expect to get away with it. Things like that are one of the focus points of FIFA to try and "clean up" the game. Throw in the fact that the U.S. historically does not get much benefit of the doubt on the international level and you just can't do that. The rest of the squad played valiantly, but it is extremely tough to play down a man for a full match. When Parkhurst made one of his relatively few defensive errors in 39th, Nigeria capitalized with a beautiful goal to take a 1-0 lead.

At that point it looked like the U.S. was done in their match. However, a draw in the Japan Argentina match would still send the U.S. on to the next round. Unfortunately, Argentina went up 1-0 on Japan and the U.S. were forced to go into all out attack. Nigeria, however, was able to mount a successful counter and make it 2-0 in the 80th. The U.S. finally got on the board with a PK after one of the dumbest goalie decisions I've ever seen when the Nigerian goalie came way out of goal and made a cleats up tackle inside the box. However, it was too little too late even though the U.S. did have a late header off the post that would have tied the match.

It was clear throughout the match that the U.S. missed Adu and Bradley in the midfield as Kljestan and Szetela (and later Feilhaber) never seemed to get it together. Even a man down, the lazy passes and several turnovers left the U.S. with even fewer opportunities than they should have. I'm also not sure I agree with with the substitution of Feilhaber for Altidore. We either needed additional help on the defensive line (Rogers was stuck playing woefully out of position) or additional ability to counter. Pulling out our best offensive threat for another midfielder didnt' seem to make much sense.

What's this mean for U.S. Soccer? To be honest, I'm not sure how much we can take away from the Olympics that we didn't already know. The U.S. continues to show flashes of having the ability to compete on a global level. However, they still seem unable to sustain the performance for long periods of time (multiple matches - or even full matches at times). Some of the drives by Adu in the match against the Dutch were pure beauty. However, against Japan, he constantly seemed frustrated and spent more time complaining than succesfully driving at goal. Altidore showed some real promise as a substitute (especially against the Dutch), but also seemed like he committed some needless fouls that slowed us down against Japan. It is hard to say much about him against the Dutch as the red card forced him to play out of position. If Adu, Bradley, and Altidore can continue to develop in Europe (where all 3 play professionally), then maybe the Men's National Team can really start to develop and compete internationally. However, I don't see much potential for anything better than making the round of 16 (and only that if we get a good draw) in 2010 unless the tream really starts to play more consistently.

Dunn and Done

Let me be the first to say that I have no problem with the Adam Dunn trade, but I have to ask. Why wasn't this trade done years ago?? The Reds have had a decade to evaluate Adam Dunn. If he wasn't going to be a part of the long-term solution, shouldn't they have known this several years ago?? Why wait to trade the guy in the last year of his deal when he has virtually no trade value?? The Reds received a single A pitcher for Dunn and had to pay half his salary. Heck, they probably would have been better off just letting him walk in free agency and picking up the two first round picks as compensation.

The Dunn trade symbolizes exactly what has ailed the Reds for a decade. They have no plan to win. Unlike teams like the Twins and Rays and A's that are proactive in making trades and retooling their organizations, the Reds cling to players and trade them when they are at their lowest value. It would be like buying into the stock market at an all-time high and then selling at a low. Teams like the A's and Twins have been selling off their players at peak value and getting quality players in return to use for rebuilding purposes. The Reds have never understood this concept. They talk every year about wanting to rebuild but don't seem to want to pull the trigger on a full rebuild project. They tend to fall in love with their own players a little too much even though they haven't won with these players. What we are left with is a half-rebuild/half-compete plan that gets them nowhere year after year after year.

I don't have a problem with trading Dunn, but the same reasons that made it obvious that he wasn't going to be the primary catalyst for a winning team were readily apparent four or five years ago. Dunn has never been a good fielder, he's never been a consistent hitter, he strikes out way too much, he can't be a reliable #3-4 hitter, he was never good in the clutch (.224 BA with RISP) and he doesn't have the leadership skills to drive his teammates to be better. We knew these things about Dunn long ago. Dunn was a very productive player with two elite skills (power and walks), but every other aspect of his game was below average. Don't get me wrong, Dunn was the best offensive player on the Reds for the last eight years, and I think the Reds offense will be among the very worst in the major leagues without him. He was a guy who would get unbeliveably hot for about 3 two-week stretches a year but would be equally cold immediately after. He's a perfect complementary player--maybe a DH on a good AL team who can hit #5-6 in a lineup and hit bombs and draw walks. I think that Jocketty wants to rebuild the Reds in a different way, and Dunn was not a part of that plan. I'm perfectly fine with that.

Dunn was never the kind of guy who you could plug in as your #3 hitter for 162 games and build around him. Small market teams need guys like that. The Twins have built around Morneau and Mauer. The Rays have built around guys like Longoria, Crawford, and Upton. Dunn never really could be that guy, and he was a major defensive liability. The Reds watched Dunn for eight years and knew what he did and didn't bring to the table, and yet it took them until the very last year of his contract to make a decision on him and move him for a low minors prospect.

Walt Jocketty gets a pass since he just came to this organization this year, and I do like that he is going to start fresh with this team and build it with his own vision. Jay Bruce will be playing right field and hitting 3rd for the next five years, and that's literally all I know about this team going forward. I think Brandon Phillips could be moved to shortstop, but that's far from certain. As much as I like Brandon Phillips, I would probably consider dealing him for the right return as well. Joey Votto is going to play somewhere, but I would not be surprised to see him end up in left field next year with Encarnacion moving to first base until first round draft pick Yadier Alonso is ready to come up to the bigs. Cueto and Volquez will be in the rotation, but I wouldn't be opposed to shopping Arroyo and Harang (assuming that Harang can straighten himself out and get his trade value back). Every other spot on the roster is up for grabs if you ask me.

Another decision that will have to be made by Walt Jocketty is whether to even bother with bringing back Dusty Baker for the remainder of his contract. Dusty Baker has predictably been an absolute DISASTER with the Reds this year (even worse than anyone could have imagined), and he is already starting to make excuses and complain about some of the roster moves.

I literally broke out in a cold sweat when I read this quote this morning from Dusty Baker on what he'll need to do with this roster of young players:

"I'll probably have to teach more - how to be a big leaguer, how to perform like a big leaguer and how to carry yourself like a big leaguer," Baker said. "That's part of the job."

Dear god, that is terrifying. I want absolutely no part of Dusty teaching anyone how to "perform like a big leaguer" if that means bad fundamentals, not giving a darn, and swinging at the first pitch every time you come up because "you can't walk around the bases" as Dusty likes to say. Reds owner Bob Castellini was the person who wanted Dusty, so hopefully he will realize the error of his ways and come to his senses on Dusty Baker as manager of this club going forward. The Reds have basically quit on Dusty in the last month, and it is only going to get worse. Dusty has proven that he has no idea how to construct a lineup properly or when to employ any type of baseball strategies. He's like the anti-Piniella (the best strategic manager in the game if you ask me). He needs to be purged from this franchise before he does any additional long term damage. Dusty is the closest sports figure to Ty Willingham I have observed in my lifetime -- lazy, stubborn, loves speaking in cliches, blames everyone else when things go wrong (even if self-inflicted), clings to doing things "his way" even in the face of overwhelming evidence that he is wrong. He's everything you don't want in a manager, and yet he's the face of the franchise. When you consider that he's being paid $3+ million a year as the "big name manager" that Castellini wanted, it makes it even worse to swallow. That money would be much better spent on scouts and the farm system.

Either way, the 2008 offseason will be a big opportunity for Jocketty to put his stamp on the franchise, so I expect to see some deals and some roster turnover. I am more than willing to be patient if a plan to be real contenders (not "we hope to finish .500") appears to be in place. I don't expect this club to contend for several years, and I think the franchise should be acting with a three year plan instead of this "we think we can compete next year" farce that they have been throwing out there for the last decade.

Who Dey (I guess)

Well, tonight kicks off another exciting season of Bengals football with the preseason debut live on ESPN from Lambeau Field against the Packers. While most of America will be watching intently to see how Aaron Rodgers looks under center, Bengal Nation will be looking for some signs of life out of the orange and black stripes.

It would be easy for me to proclaim that the 2008 season (there will certainly not be an -09 element to that 2008 for this team) is probably the least excited I've been about a Bengals season in my lifetime (and that would include the depths of the Jeff Blake-Carl Pickens-Darnay Scott eras when 5 wins was a gift), but screw it. I'm taking on a new attitude this year with the Bengals. I don't care if we go 4-12 this year. I'm just going to enjoy this year, watch the Bengals do Bengal-like things all year, and just enjoy watching the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. I might buy the Mel Kiper Jr. Draft Guide in the next couple weeks so that I'll have the whole college football season to scout players for the upcoming top 8 pick that I expect to see out of the Bengals this year. Looking forward to it.

Totally new attitude for me this year. Just happy to have an NFL franchise in Cincinnati. That is what ownership wants out of me as a fan anyway. I should be thankful that we just have a team, and asking for wins is being "greedy." I don't care if we give up 30 points a game with no pass rush, don't care if our o-line has no push again this year, don't care if Chad flakes out on every pass over the middle or runs the wrong route and then curses out Carson Palmer, don't care if Marvin has four awful challenges by the end of week two (I dare anyone to find a worse challenge coach in the NFL than Marvin), don't care if we come out every second half with ZERO adjustments, don't care if we run the most predictable offense in the NFL, don't care if Marvin has the frumpy "I have no idea how to fix the problem but I'm going to frown like I'm really disappointed in my team" look going after another defensive meltdown, don't care if the Bengal players are openly questioning their coach in a mic-ed up segment, and I don't care that the Bengals have the smallest scouting department in the NFL and no GM.

Just give me 16 games of lousy football, and that's all I can ask for.

For what it's worth, I'm not even remotely embarrassed to admit that I sort of embraced the Browns last year and found myself flipping over to watch them quite a bit (even when the Bengals were playing). They are a fun team to watch, and I got a little caught up in the excitement of their games. When the Bengals neglect their fanbase for 18 years (and counting), I'm not going to apologize for flirting with some other teams.

The Browns opened their preseason last week against the Jets, and they looked really impressive before the rain delay. Mark it down right now. The biggest steal of the offseason (assuming that he stays healthy) might be Donte Stallworth. I kind of forgot that the Browns signed him, and he looked spectacular for them. He's a perfect fit for what they are trying to do. Get him the ball underneath and open up things out on the perimeter and down the field for Braylon Edwards. And that's before you start talking about The Soldier (who is the best tight end in the NFL if you ask me). The Browns have a really good offensive line with Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach, and they suddenly have a load of weapons.

As far as the quarterback position is concerned, I think I might have been wrong on Derek Anderson. My assumption all offseason (which I have been saying to every Browns fan I know) was that the book would get written on Derek Anderson during offseason film study, and that he would revert back to a stiff and a turnover machine this year. I figured that Brady Quinn would be taking this team over by about week 6. After watching Anderson in the preseason game (and reading a little more about the preseason reports), I'm suddenly not so sure about that prediction. Anderson looked really good against the Jets, and he appears to have a little more feel for the short passing game than he did last year. I have to say that I was really impressed with him. He looked like he just took the reins of the QB job and isn't looking back.

As for Brady Quinn, I hate to say it since I love Brady Quinn and hope the best for him, but I'm not sure anymore that he is a better player than Anderson. I thought Brady looked really good last year in the preseason, but he doesn't look he's that much better this year (whereas Anderson appears to have gotten better). Brady is a great athlete and very intelligent, but he still doesn't have great touch down the field, and he had a really shaky interception where he tried to gun a ball at a receiver coming over the middle. Brady recovered from the pick and didn't look bad the rest of the way, but Anderson actually looked better. It probably helps that Anderson is playing with all those star skill players, so it would be interesting to see Brady get a quarter with the #1 guys. Guess we'll just have to see how the QB race plays out over the rest of the preseason and heading into the regular season, but I think that Anderson looks like the better player at this point. Brady has three more games to make a statement, so hopefully he plays well.

Should be an interesting race in the AFC North this year. The Steelers are still the favorite, and I would be crazy to pick anyone else in the division until someone unseats them. I do think that the Browns have closed the gap though. Their offensive line is really really good, and they appear to have all the skill position pieces in place. It will come down to how the Browns perform defensively. The NFL is all about line play these days. If you can't dominate up front one the offensive and defensive lines, you aren't going to be a great team. The Steelers have been dominating the other AFC North teams up front for almost 20 years now, so the Browns are going to have to get much more production out of their new d-line pickups. If they can find a way to beat the Steelers in the head to head matchups, the division is there for the taking.

I actually think this is an important year for the Steelers and especially Mike Tomlin. They looked like a typical Steelers team last year, but maybe not quite as nasty as they looked during the Cowher era. The Steelers still have the mystique, so I don't expect anything to come easy against them this year. I will be curious to see what their offensive line looks like without Alan Faneca.

Don't really know what the Ravens have looked like this offseason, but I don't see them making any noise in the AFC North until they have their QB situation straightened out.

Should be another entertaining year in the AFC North. With the brutal schedules that all the AFC North teams have to play (AFC South and NFC East for their divisional draws), I expect the division winner to be around 9-7 at best.

The next Tom Watson??

Now that Paddy Harrington has won his 3rd major in the last two years, it might be time to start discussing his legacy. Is he headed toward a Tom Watson type career?? It seems entirely possible. I don't think he is finished winning majors by any stretch.

Great stuff at Oakland Hills yesterday. Those two shots on 17 by Sergio and Paddy were remarkable, and you just knew Harrington was going to drain that putt. Once he locks in on a tournament, he never seems to miss a putt. I don't care what the rankings say. At this point, there is no doubt that Paddy Harrington is the #2 player in the world. He's a classy and good-natured champion in every way. Sort of the Roger Federer of the PGA Tour.

Is there any point in playing the Ryder Cup this year?? Shouldn't Paul Azinger just start waving the white flag now?? Virtually every one of the top players in this event will be on the European side, and the best American player (Phil Mickelson) could care less about the Ryder Cup. This thing could be mathematically in the bag by the end of the day on Saturday. If there are any Euros who don't qualify for the Ryder Cup like Villegas or Stenson or someone like that, maybe we can borrow a few??

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods must be chomping at the bit to get out there and take on the rising Irish star. While everyone is going to be excited about a "Tiger vs. Paddy" showdown at Augusta, the British Open at Turnberry could be great stuff if those two are both in it. Paddy is cementing his reputation as the best "cold weather" golfer in the world, so it could be interesting to see that battle next year.

As Jim Nantz said yesterday, we're only eight months away from Augusta where we'll do it all over again. I'm already fired up!

Just to get you in the mood for April, a little Dave Loggins for you. Don't even try to tell me you don't get the goosebumps going! I might just play this on the site every day during the week leading up to the Masters.

"Augusta, your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Augusta, it's you that I love
And it's you that I miss when I'm gone."

Cuse is in the House??

Looks like a 10 year home and "home" (home being the Meadowlands for the Cuse) series with Syracuse is on the verge of happening.

What do you think Irish fans?? Is this the marquee November matchup you've all been dying for?? Are you as excited as I am that we never picked up the phone to return Miami or Alabama's call for a series and instead lined up a ten year series with a team that went 2-10 last year??

I don't have any problem with this series, but not at the expense of other quality games. Syracuse will turn their program around eventually with a new coach, but I hope that this series doesn't prevent us from lining up other quality home and home matchups.

In case you are curious, here is our projected 2010 football schedule (Jimmy Clausen and Robert Hughes' senior years):

9-4 Purdue

9-11 Michigan

9-18 @ Michigan State

9-25 Stanford

10-2 @ Boston College

10-9 Pittsburgh

10-16 Army @ Chicago

10-23 Navy @Baltimore, MD

11-7 Connecticut

11-13 Utah

11-20 Syracuse

11-27 @ Southern California

Is anyone as excited as I am about those back to back November home games against Utah and Syracuse?? Can't wait to put in my lottery requests for those huge matchups. Well, I guess we will have as good a chance as ever to go undefeated that year.

Checking in on an opponent, USC QB Mark Sanchez dislocated his knee cap yesterday in practice. Sounds like he will be out for the opener and possibly longer. Could be something to keep an eye on. Maybe Mitch Mustain will have his day in the sun after all.

Favre and the Gang Green

As the resident Jets fan of We Is ND, I suppose it falls on me to comment on the recent goings-on regarding the former King of the Cheeseheads. First and foremost, thank the Lord that our long national nightmare is over - no more breathless reports about Brett and his family, no more crap about the ongoing soap opera between Favre and the front office in Green Bay, and no more awkward interviews with Aaron Rodgers about the future of the Pack. Speaking as someone who considers himself only moderately interested in the NFL, the coverage this story had been getting was bordering on the ridiculous. The Jets should receive some sort of compensatory draft pick for putting us all out of our collective misery.

As far as the trade itself goes, the most important issue (as a Jets fan) is whether the draft has a positive effect on the Gang Green, both in the short term and the long term.

THE LONG TERM

1. As was widely reported, the draft pick going back to Green Bay is conditional, and based on Favre's performance, along with the team's final standing. ESPN showed a graphic today listing the Jets' 4th round picks in the last 5 years. I was surprised to see that almost every player represented on that list could be considered a serious contributor - Kerry Rhodes is a Pro Bowler and the team's best defensive player, Jerricho Cotchery is on the verge of taking over the #1 WR role, and Leon Washington is one of the best special teams players in the league and a great 3rd down/change of pace back. Even if the Jets miss the playoffs, and that pick remains in the 4th round, that's quite a price to pay down the road. The Jets do have several picks in the 4th round based upon this season's offseason moves which lessens the sting a bit.

2. The Jets have widely reported that Kellen Clemens is the QB of the future and the face of the franchise going forward. While I have a built-in wariness of Oregon QB's in general (here's looking at you Akili and Joey), the move to get Favre certainly does nothing to help Clemens' development or confidence. Of course he'll probably say all the right things about learning from a Hall of Famer, but up until about 2 weeks ago, he was a lock to be competing for the starting job out of camp, and would likely be playing, and playing quite a bit, this year. What does it say about Clemens that the front office is so willing to kick him aside? And perhaps more importantly, what does it say about the front office that they're so quick to jerk him around without a second thought?

THE SHORT TERM

1. Obviously the main motivating factor behind this move is the desire to win now. While the Jets did make a bevy of moves this offseason to address some of their largest deficiencies, the bottom line is that they can't win the division. Nobody is beating New England in the AFC East, and even Buffalo is starting to show some signs of friskiness. Already, off the bat, their best opportunity to get into the playoffs is through the Wild Card. Barring a smattering of injuries, one has to think that both Indy and Jacksonville will be playoff teams again, with one of those teams taking the 1st Wild Card. That leaves exactly one playoff slot open for the rest of the AFC. While no one else in the AFC looks particularly frightening, teams like Denver, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland and others look just as good, if not better, on paper than the Jets. Can't say I like those odds too much.

2. Perhaps more importantly, the talking heads seem to be forgetting that Favre is only one year removed from a run of very poor seasons. Until last year, he was on a very clear decline, both in his athletic skills and his decision-making. Plus, now he's forced to learn a whole new offense, with all new personnel, and sit through the tedious meetings and film sessions he seems to hate so much. Is he really going to put forth the effort required to get up to speed? Does he really have that much left in the tank? Color me extremely skeptical.

In the end, I just don't see how the move gets the Jets into the playoffs. Perhaps it gives them a better shot this year, but is it worth it in the long run? I don't think so.

But I must admit - I'll be tuning in to watch Fireman Ed and the boys cheer on the Gang Green a little more often than I did last year. I guess that counts for something.

Rumblings and Grumblings

Since there's a lot going on in the sports world lately, let's run through a list of things of my mind. With apologies in advance to Jayson Stark, here we go.

- Has anyone at ESPN ever considered the possibility that the Packers genuinely think that Aaron Rodgers is better than Brett Favre?? Why does no one bring up that possibility?? Everyone talks about grudges and all this other stuff, but no one mentions football. Every analyst I've heard starts their discussion on Brett Favre by assuming that the Packers have a better chance to win with Favre at the helm than with Aaron Rodgers.

Do we know that to be true?? Isn't this the same Brett Favre who completely stunk for about 3-4 years prior to last year?? Isn't it entirely possible that the Packers think last year was a fluke and don't want to trot him out there again with their Super Bowl-caliber team?? Favre was AWFUL in the NFC Championship game, and it's not like he's getting any younger. In 2006, he had the lowest completion percentage of his career and threw 18 picks. In 2005, Favre threw 29 picks. 29!!

People are acting like the Packers are trying to trade Brett Favre in his prime or something. The guy is 38 years old and looked like he was mentally done after that NFC Championship game.

Look, I don't discount the fact that the Packers were tired of Favre's retirement/unretirement act and wanted to move on from all that, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they just think Rodgers has a better chance to lead this team back to the playoffs. They've watched Rodgers in practice for the last few years, and maybe they think he's ready to be the man.

Anyway, sorry to bring up Favre right out of the chute because I am as tired of hearing about it as anyone, but I felt like no one has addressed the possibility that the Packers made this move from a competitive standpoint.

- This article about Lebron James possibly leaving for Europe to play for $50 million a year really doesn't reflect all that well on LBJ if you ask me. If he actually left the NBA to play in some garbage Euro league just so he could market himself better and promote his image as a "global icon," then he officially would cease to be a relevant figure in American sport. He would be the David Beckham of basketball. In other words, a complete sham.

Europe?? Seriously, Lebron?? You're actually listening to Russian league offers just to promote your "brand"?? Are you a basketball player or a billboard?? I hope to god that he is not actually considering the idea of playing in Europe.

I get that Lebron wants to make money (everyone does), but I am surprised that he would value the dollars over things like....ummm...perhaps winning an NBA Championship?? An MVP award?? Becoming an all-time great?? If Lebron wants to truly be a "global icon," he could start by winning an NBA championship. He can make plenty of money in the NBA.

As far as Lebron's future with the Cavs, could the Cavs possibly have done less this offseason?? They've literally done nothing other than resigning Daniel Gibson. Ouch. Danny Ferry, ladies and gentlemen. I don't know what that guy has to do to lose his job. If Lebron wasn't on that team, they'd be one of the 2-3 worst teams in the NBA.

- Put me down as someone who likes the NFL's new policy on stadium conduct. Maybe I sound like a prude, but the fan behavior in NFL stadiums has really taken a bad turn in the last 5-10 years. I went to just about every Bengal home game in the 90s (yes, it was depressing), and it was generally pretty family friendly and a nice Sunday afternoon type of crowd. In many ways, it was similar to what you would see at most college stadiums today (families, professional people, very little fighting or trash talk other than maybe for a Steelers game). There was usually some light tailgating around the stadium, but it was fairly low key and mostly friendly. Even if you went down to the game with some buddies, you were really going for the game itself. Maybe you have a couple beers, but nothing too crazy on a Sunday.

Fast forward to my recent trips to Bengal games, and it is like a whole different experience. Constant fights breaking out, all kinds of trash talking and obscene language, people who are passed out at the games and getting hauled off to a drunk tank, and even crazy drunken women getting into it. NFL games have turned into a white trash family reunion. I've only seen it in Cincinnati, but it's been happening at stadiums around the country. The NFL has morphed into a very "adult" league when you see it live almost to the point where it would be really uncomfortable to bring your family to a game. NFL fans have gotten out of hand, and I think it was hurting the live experience at NFL games.

Again, we're talking about a Sunday afternoon. A Sunday! Nothing wrong with going out and partying it up on a Friday or a Saturday, but is it really necessary to get completely bombed out of your mind at 10 am on a Sunday, get into a fight with some opposing fan you don't even know, and get arrested?? Do these people have jobs?? How do they function on Monday morning at work when they are being hauled off to a drunk tank on Sunday evening??

I like Goodell's new policy, and I think it was needed. Goodell is a very bold commish, but he really seems to have a good feel for changes that are needed. I like what he did with the draft to cut down on pick times (although I'd rather go back to a noon start), and I like the player conduct rules. He must have been getting reports from around the league about bad fan behavior, and decided it was time to take a corrective action. I think it's a great move.

- Moving on to the Olympics, it is very cool to see that former "Lost Boy of Sudan" Lopez Lomong is going to be carrying the US flag at the Opening Ceremonies. If you haven't heard his story and subscribe to HBO, I would recommend the Real Sports segment that was done on him. It is great stuff, and he is an easy person to root for.

- As far as the Olympic hoops are concerned, (taking off my American flag lapel pin for a minute), here is the team I'd love to see in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

PG - Ty Lawson
SG - Wayne Ellington
SF - Jerel McNeal
PF - Tyler Hansborough
C - Hasheem Thabeet

Bench - Sam Young, Sherron Collins, Darren Collison, Scottie Reynolds,
Gerald Henderson, Luke Harangody, Earl Clark, AJ Abrams, Tyler Smith

Give me the amateurs, and I would happily cheer them on to a bronze medal. Never been a fan of the "pros in the Olympics" thing. They talk the talk about being excited, but it has always felt contrived to me. The college guys would be legitimately fired up and play their hearts out for the name on the front of the jersey. And if you wanted to add some spice to it, then include the draft eligible guys and insert Rose, Beasley, Mayo, etc in there.

Until then, my support for US basketball is pretty tepid at best, and I'm not going to lie that I will probably hop on the bandwagon of some random Euro or South American team. I think the US team is focused this year and likely to dominate with their renewed commitment to Olympic basketball under Coach K, but it still feels like an excuse to market NBA players in a corporate setting if you ask me. And the same thing applies for me when it comes to that half-baked golf match they put on every other September (if I have to root for someone, I'm pulling for Lee Westwood to carry "us" to another title at Valhalla).

- Just go ahead and put some no-name down on the Wannamaker Trophy right now for this week's PGA Champion. This tournament has a Rich Beem/Shaun Micheel type winner written all over it. Either that or a Euro who plays this course like it's Carnoustie. It sounds like "The Monster" at Oakland Hills is going to be impossible with the 238 yard par 3 17th hole and 498 yard par 4 18th hole to finish things up. Considering that the last major championship winner at Oakland Hills was Steve Jones at the 1996 US Open, I don't have my hopes up for a great champion coming out of this tournament. Anthony Kim fans, there's always next year.

- Finally, let's end with a great article from Monday's Indianpolis Star about the rise of high school football in the state of Indiana. Very interesting stuff about how popular high school football has become in this hoops crazy state in the post-Peyton Manning era. I hope it's true because it would be good for ND, IU, and Purdue football (I suppose we need Purdue to be good so that our schedules look better in future years).

What do you think Indiana natives?? Is the Hoosier State becoming a football state?? It would seem hard to believe.

Maui Invitational Bracket

For you college hoops fans out there, the Maui Invitational bracket has been released. Notre Dame and Indiana are squaring off in the first round. I have to say that I am pretty excited for that one, and it will be a great start to Thanksgiving week. It makes me a little nervous to see that Indiana name, but they are going to really struggle next year. Who is left in that program?? Crean will build them up in the next few years, but it should be an easy win for the Irish this year.

It looks like we will have to go through Indiana, Texas, and North Carolina to win the tournament, so it could be a daunting task. If we make the final, that 10 pm championship game on the night before Thanksgiving on ESPN could be a doozie between Notre Dame and North Carolina.

Maui is going to set the tone for ND this year. If we perform well in this tournament, it could set up a great season. At the very least, a great performance by the Irish in Maui could take some of the sting out of a potentially bad performance a few days later at the LA Colisseum against the USC Trojans.

Here is further information on the Maui Invitational:

Dates: Nov. 24-26
Site: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawaii
Official Bracket (last season's record; home team listed second):
Monday, Nov. 24:
Quarterfinal #1: Saint Joe's* (21-13) vs. Texas* (31-7), 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Quarterfinal #2: Indiana* (25-8) vs. Notre Dame* (25-8), 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Quarterfinal #3: North Carolina* (36-3) vs. Chaminade% (21-8), 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Quarterfinal #4: Oregon* (18-14) vs. Alabama (17-16), 11:59 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Tuesday, Nov. 25:
Consolation #1: 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Consolation #2: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Semifinal #1: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Semifinal #2: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Wednesday, Nov. 26:
Fifth-place game: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Third-place game: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Seventh-place game: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Championship: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

In other ND news, here's a good blog update from Andy Katz on ND hoops and our upcoming trip to Ireland.

Finally, there's also a good blog update from Katz on Travis Ford's first few months at Oklahoma State. Mark it down, Travis Ford is going to do big things at Oklahoma State. They are a major sleeper in the Big 12 this year. He's a Pitino disciple and loves to get up and down the floor, so look out for the Cowboys.

Braves Win!

Sad day for America's Team and the baseball world with the passing of Skip Caray. As someone who grew up in Philadelphia as a Braves fan, I spent many a summer night with Skip, Pete, Don and Joe. And of course, I will watch baseball for the rest of my life and won't see a more spine-tingling play than Sid's Slide to send the Braves to the 1992 World Series. There isn't a greater visual in the sports world then the sheer look of unrestrained joy on Sid Bream's face.

Here is a link to a short video which includes Skip's legendary call of the play. I still get goose bumps listening to it. Well worth taking the two minutes (unless you happen to reside in the western part of Pennsylvania. Move along please for your own sanity.) Braves fans everywhere will miss you Skip.

A lotta room in right-center, if he hits one there we can dance in the streets. The 2-1. Swung, line drive left field! One run is in! Here comes Bream! Here’s the throw to the plate! He is…safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!…Braves win! They may have to hospitalize Sid Bream; he’s down at the bottom of a huge pile at the plate. They help him to his feet. Frank Cabrera got the game winner! The Atlanta Braves are National League champions again! This crowd is going berserk, listen!

Those Pesky Piranhas

Guess who's nipping at another AL Central title? With an impressive homestand vs. the ChiSox, the Twins closed the gap to a minuscule 1/2 game deficit. Winning games in their customary small-ball fashion, Minnesota's tried and true recipe mixes a quart of clutch hitting, a dash of defense, a pinch of quality starting pitching and a bevy of bullpen beef. Even the most optimistic Twins fans didn't fully believe that 2008 could end with a playoff run after losing their staff ace (Johan Santana) and their clubhouse leader (Torii Hunter), not to mention trading away their best young pitcher (Matt Garza). The lineup is patchwork at best relying heavily on journeymen Mike Lamb & Adam Everett, hitting conundrums Jason Kubel & Delmon Young, spare parts Craig Monroe, Nick Punto, Brendan Harris & Mike Redmond, and rookies Carlos Gomez, Alexei Casilla, Denard Span and Brian Buscher. The infusion of this new life from the exciting youngsters portends greatness in the coming years.

Read all of those names again. How exactly has this assemblage of talent remained in a heated race with the White Sox and Tigers? Two players mean more to this lineup than any other two players on any team: the M&M twins, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. A win doesn't go by that one, if not both of them play a pivotal role in putting runs on the board. Both sit squarely in the top 10 of AL hitters. Morneau has donned the magician's cape for most of the season, proving his MVP season in 2006 was no fluke. Besides knocking in an AL second-best 87 RBIs, he's pulled rabbit after rabbit out of his hat, hitting .347 with men on and two outs, and an even more impressive .376 with runners in scoring position. His counterpart, on top of managing one of the most inexperienced staffs in the game to surprising results, has proven to be one of the game's most reliable hitters. Though his power numbers don't match that of this year's HR Derby champ, he still gets style points for delivering when needed, raking pitchers at a .386 clip with 2 out, RISP. The hometown hero means the world to the team and the city, or rather, Twin Cities.

Obviously there's more to it than just these two All-Stars. The Twins break the norm on offensive expectations. Despite tying for the Majors' 2nd to last team HR total (76), they rank 7th in the Majors in runs scored. They lead the Majors in bunt singles, doubling the next closest team. They strike out the 4th least of any team in the Majors while boasting the 3rd best batting average (.278). And perhaps the most stunning team stat, the Twins hit a sparkling .317 with runners in scoring position, 30 points higher than the next team. Call it what you will - luck, skill, Puckett providence, but they're certainly playing with a level of confidence that competitive Twins squads in the past lacked.

Lest I forget, I haven't even mentioned the most dynamic piece of the playoff puzzle, the piece just found lying in the box, the piece that fits right in the middle that connects everything else - a true ace. With Santana's absence, the team placed unfair expectations on Francisco Liriano, fresh off Tommy John surgery, to pick up the mantle and dazzle like he did pre-injury. It came as no surprise, unfortunately, that he couldn't get on track right away and lost confidence. Relegated to Triple AAA to find his groove, lo and behold, it happened. Though a little peeved at management's foot dragging calling him back to the big show, he channeled his frustration into dominant pitching, going 10-0 (2.67 ERA) in his last 11 starts. Sunday, he takes the mound again, a new pitcher with a new task, leading this late assault on the Central standings.

The Twins will grow by leaps and bounds over the next two months. A third month, October baseball, is in their grasp. It's going to be riveting watching it unfold.

Stock Report

Like the stock market, college football wagering is all about value. In order to beat the system, the sports bettor must obviously locate teams whose true worth is incongruent with the perception of the gambling community at large. Fortunately, early season games are fertile ground for the savvy gambler, as the various teams have not developed a sufficient body of work from which strong conclusions can be drawn. As such, I have assembled my preliminary report of college football teams that seem to be undervalued or overvalued. This analysis, of course, is for informational purposes only and is not meant to condone gambling of any sort. With that disclaimer, here goes…

Undervalued

Virginia Tech- According to Stassen’s preseason consensus, which represents a simple average of the major annual publications (e.g., Phil Steele, USA Today, Athlon, etc.), Virginia Tech is rated at 20th nationally. This represents Tech’s lowest preseason ranking in five years and a departure from its top-ten preseason and postseason ranking last year. Based upon a superficial look at Tech’s roster, the reasons for this decrease are manifest. After all, (1) the Hokies are coming off a bowl loss to Kansas, (2) they lost all of their top running backs and receivers, (3) standout defensive players Brandon Flowers and Chris Ellis are now in the NFL and (4) a possible quarterback controversy looms between veteran Sean Glennon and sophomore and former hotshot recruit Tyrod Taylor.

Notwithstanding these factors, I believe that Tech will run roughshod through the ACC Coastal Division again, en route to another BCS bowl and top-10 finish. Why? For starters, Coach Frank Beamer has built this program into a national power with defense and special teams, as opposed to an explosive offense. While Tech has certainly seen its share of explosive skill position players come through Blacksburg, such as Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones (a/k/a “The Untouchables”), it has also proven that it can win without such players, as in 2005 and 2007. More importantly, defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s track record is astounding. From 2004-07, Foster’s vaunted “Lunch Pail Defense” has finished 4th, 1st, 1st and 4th in the nation- not just the ACC- in total defense. With outstanding defensive players such as Victor “Macho” Harris (great nickname, by the way) and Beamer’s customary special teams magic, the Hokies should be able to stifle the rest of the ACC without requiring an extraordinary offensive effort.

Nebraska- As indicated by Stassen, the general consensus (except for noted contrarian Phil Steele) is that Nebraska will finish either fourth or fifth in the Big 12 North. Under new coach Bo Pelini, however, I expect Herbie Husker to awaken from his slumber and challenge nouveau riche programs Missouri and Kansas for the division crown. In 2007, Nebraska brought shame to its proud Blackshirt tradition by surrendering 37.9 points per game, including 40 at home against Ball State, 65 against Colorado and a staggering 76 at Kansas. Despite the horrific performance of the defense, former head coach Bill Callahan’s West Coast offense actually performed admirably and several key performers return, most notably of which is tailback Marlon Lucky.

Although he proved to be a failure at coach, Callahan’s recruiting success at Nebraska was well documented. Nebraska’s roster is stocked with many promising recruits and, from a pure talent standpoint, there is no reason to believe that any team in the Big 12 North will be more skilled than the Huskers. In addition, during Pelini’s only year as defensive coordinator in Lincoln (2003), the Blackshirts finished second nationally in total defense at 14.46 points per game, compared to 45th in 2002 and 71st in 2004. Thus, it is reasonable to expect immediate and substantial improvement from the defense with Pelini at the helm. Given Nebraska’s overall raw talent vis-à-vis the rest of the league and the expected coaching upgrade, a New Years Day bowl appears to be an appropriate goal for Nebraska.

Iowa- It appears that the bloom is off the rose for Kirk Ferentz. After three consecutive top-ten finishes in 2002-2004, Iowa has regressed to the middle of the pack in the Big Ten over the past few years. In addition, Ferentz has presided over a recent spate of arrests and suspensions, including ongoing allegations that the Athletic Department attempted to cover up a rape by several players. Amid this firestorm of controversy off the field and Iowa’s recent struggles on the field, it is unsurprising that Iowa is a consensus 8th place pick in the Big Ten, per Stassen.

While the trend line is obviously negative for Iowa, I think that the Hawkeyes are primed for a bounce back year in 2008 for several reasons. The primary reason is the remaining talent level. Ferentz has continued to recruit well as the program has slipped from its 2002-04 level, especially along the offensive line. In many ways, Iowa’s offensive line resembled Notre Dame’s offensive line last year, as highly touted, but inexperienced, players struggled to develop cohesiveness. I expect the talented Hawkeye offensive line, as well as second year quarterback Jake Christiansen, to improve significantly this year. In light of the soft early schedule (Maine, FIU and the annual “Cy-Hawk” rivalry at Iowa State), the team should be able establish early momentum and gain some much needed momentum heading into the Big Ten season. The Hawkeyes aren’t going to unseat Ohio State as the conference champion, but count on them to rally behind the embattled Ferentz and put together a strong 8 or 9 win season.

Overvalued

Texas Tech- This year’s trendy pick seems to be that Texas Tech will overtake Texas and/or Oklahoma in the Big 12 South. According to many pundits, the Red Raiders have upgraded their defensive talent to a competitive level which, combined with their explosive offense led by Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, will enable them to reach double digits wins.

Although I do not doubt that Tech will score points in bunches under head coach and buccaneer aficionado Mike Leach, I have not seen any probative evidence to suggest that their defense will improve. A cursory review of the Scout or Rivals recruiting rankings shows that Tech remains well behind their traditional South division superiors in terms of talent. Furthermore, while the Raiders will play their usual slate of out of conference tomato cans, they must visit Oklahoma and Kansas, along with tough home games against Texas and Nebraska. Until proven otherwise, therefore, I cannot take this team seriously as a contender in the Big 12.

West Virginia- Per Stassen again, every preseason magazine predicts West Virginia to finish first in the Big East. The Mountaineers will be led again by standout quarterback Pat White, who returns for his 12th year in Morgantown, and sophomore sensation Noel Devine at running back. Additionally, with three children at age 20, the precocious Devine is on pace to challenge such breeding legends as Shawn Kemp and Calvin Murphy. Despite this offensive star power, however, I believe that West Virginia’s preseason hype, like Devine’s offspring, is illegitimate.

Following Rich Rodriguez’s well publicized jump to Michigan in the offseason, West Virginia turned to assistant Bill Stewart as head coach. While Stewart has some prior experience and he will benefit from a soft schedule in 2008, the balance of power in the Big East appears to have already shifted. The offense loses star running back Steve Slaton, folk hero Owen Schmitt and dynamic receiver Darius Reynaud, while the defense loses multiple contributors on the line and secondary. Moreover, even though West Virginia has shown a willingness offer a scholarship to anyone with a pulse, including, inter alia, Devine, Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and convicted armed robber/current backup linebacker Pat Lazear, former coach Rodriguez has left somewhat of an empty cupboard beyond the starting unit. Given White’s propensity for injury, a suspect defense, an increased workload on the diminutive Devine and the aforementioned coaching change, it should be a relaxed autumn for the couch arson investigation team of the Morgantown Police Department.

The End of an Era

Fans are the best. It never fails. I log onto the Cincinnati Enquirer website after the big Griffey trade was announced, and the exact same fans who have been killing Griffey for years and bemoaning his lazy attitude and lack of hustle are now practically grieving on the Cincinnati Enquirer website about him being traded today to the White Sox. Why would anyone be upset about Griffey getting traded?? The only real tragedy here is that he wasn't traded years ago.

I don't want to be too hard on Griffey because he's a Cincy guy, and I am an admitted Griffey fan. I hope he rediscovers his swing and does well in Chicago. For all the hand-wringing about this trade from disgruntled Sox fans, I really don't think it's an awful trade for them if you use Griffey in the right situations. I would use him as a super sub or in some sort of platoon where he hits righties and maybe pinch hits in late innings. Griffey was never a great clutch hitter with the Reds, but you never knew when he might take one out. If Griffey gives the White Sox a little more lefthanded power and some quality ABs off the bench, he could be valuable for them down the stretch or in the playoffs.

Griffey had some nice moments with the Reds, but the problem with Griffey on the Reds for the last decade was that he was making $12 million a year. Many years, he represented almost 1/4 of the team's payroll, but his production level was nowhere near his salary. In other words, the Reds paid Griffey superstar money for a decade but never received anything closely resembling superstar performance. When you are building around a guy who is either too injured or too old to be a marquee player, you aren't going to win very many games. Griffey has been relatively healthy the last few years, but he's no longer a #3 hitter (even though he still hits there-thanks Dusty) and has become a serious liability in the outfield. When you are paying a guy $12 million to hit .240 and play lousy defense with a lazy attitude and no leadership, you aren't getting much for your dollar. Whether it is fair or not (and obviously Griffey wasn't responsible for all of the Reds problems), Griffey was the symbol of one of the worst eras of Reds baseball in team history.

Today should be a great day for Reds fans. It was a foregone conclusion that Griffey would not be a part of this team next year, but it's still a good feeling to turn the page on the Griffey era. The Reds have been poorly run for a decade, and the jury is still out on what type of leadership Walt Jocketty is going to provide. If this deal accomplishes anything, it gives the Reds a chance to get rid of the dead wood and start fresh with the young core and a new attitude. I've heard that the only guy who really took all the losing personally was Brandon Phillips and that there were too many guys in the clubhouse who didn't care enough about winning. Leadership matters, and Griffey was not the type of guy who would give you great leadership and hold other guys accountable. When Griffey was out there loafing on balls and not running hard, it set a bad example for the Jay Bruces and Joey Vottos of the world. I hope that this team gets turned over to Brandon Phillips now that Griffey is gone.

The priority for the offseason now turns to finding a leadoff hitter who can play shortstop or centerfield and hopefully a new catcher. Griffey frees up $12 million, and I would love to see the Reds dangle Homer Bailey and others to get a dynamic young centerfielder who can hit at the top of the lineup. A decision on Adam Dunn will also have to be made. Stay tuned.

- As far as the Manny Ramirez trade is concerned, what exactly was accomplished in this whole mess?? Did the Red Sox get any better by trading Manny?? Bay is having a great year, but who would you rather have on your roster in the playoffs - Manny Ramirez or Jason Bay??? Manny is the best right handed hitter of his generation, and he always rose to the occasion under the brightest lights. The Red Sox lineup is a little less scary without Manny in there. Yankees fans must be happy to see him out of a Red Sox uniform. Bay is younger and maybe has more long term potential, but Manny in the cleanup spot is much scarier than Jason Bay if you ask me. Then again, Theo Epstein is very smart, and maybe they think Manny is on the verge of a major decline. I'm inclined to think that Bay won't make up for the loss of Manny, but I wouldn't put it past the Red Sox to be ahead of the curve on this one and make everyone look foolish. I'm headed to Boston for a wedding this weekend, so the weekend just got more interesting already. Looking forward to talking some Sawx with the locals.

I would be really curious to hear thoughts on this trade from a Dodgers perspective. I think it would depend on what their plans are for Manny. If they are planning to keep him this year and sign him to an extension for a few years, I think this trade is perfectly justifiable. It's one thing to give away a top prospect for a stiff, but I don't think there's anything wrong with giving away Andy LaRoche for a stud like Manny Ramirez. Manny can be an anchor for the Dodgers lineup for a few years, and they have plenty of money to pay him. For all the fuss about all the Dodgers young players, none of them has really blossomed into a legit stud bat in the middle of their order. Manny is that type of player, and he will make everyone around him better. He is exactly what the Dodgers have been missing for years.

Let's face it, the Dodgers have been turning down deals for their prospects for years, but it has turned out that a lot of their prospects were just plain overrated. When you have an opportunity to cash in for a guy like Manny, I have no problem with that move. Even if Andy Laroche pans out, it will be several years before he really make a major impact. By that time, the Pirates will probably be ready to trade him away to a team like the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have too many guys in their outfield, so I wouldn't be surprised to see another trade coming this offseason involving one of those outfielders. I would love to see Matt Kemp or Ethier go on the trade market because the Reds could probably go for either one.

As far as this season goes, couldn't the Dodgers conceivably be dangerous in a playoff scenario with Manny Ramirez and Chad Billingsley?? They are certainly more potent with Manny Ramirez hitting 4th than with Jeff Kent hitting there.

Pirates fans have to be at least somewhat pleased with their deadline performance considering what the downside possibilities were (getting a bunch of junk prospects). They have brought in an assortment of young talent, and it appears LaRoche and Tabata have major upside down the road. The problem is that the Pirates have been in this never-ending cycle of trading their best players for prospects for about 15 years. I mean, Jason Bay was the Andy LaRoche or Jose Tabata of five years ago. He was the big prospect acquisition in the Brian Giles trade who was going to be one of the cornerstones of a great rebuilding project. Now here they are five years later trading him while he's in his prime. At some point, the Pirates need to change the game. They've been doing the same thing for over a decade, and they are no closer to contending now than they've ever been. The only way they can dig themselves out of this rut is to have a series of great drafts and mix those guys in with the LaRoches and Tabatas that they get through trades. You can win as a small market franchise, but you need to continually bring in great young talent through the draft and other smart acquisitions. The Pirates haven't been able to do that. They seem to find one really good player about every five years, do nothing to build around him, and then move the guy for another young player who will be in the same crappy situation. The new GM has done a nice job so far, and I get that he is in a hole created by the prior regime. I guess we won't know how their latest rebuilding project turns out for another 3-4 years. I'd be willing to guess that it will turn out a lot like the last few rebuilding projects.

Over/Unders: The Big East

Big East overview - Because these teams are only playing 7 conference games, they have to find 5 nonconference opponents. Since most of these teams are playing multiple MAC teams and other cupcakes, they usually are able to pad their records with 3-4 nonconference wins at least. I like a lot of the overs in the Big East because it only takes some of these teams a couple conference wins to reach their over.

As is the case with the Pac 10, the teams in the Big East play an odd number of conference games. Adjust your picks accordingly and give a little bump to the teams with 4 home games in the league.

One other interesting Big East note from the last week or so. Apparently, the Big East is discussing the idea of bringing Navy and Army in as conference members. If this plan goes down, I would be thrilled as an ND fan. If we could open up the possibility of using one of our Big East commitments for Navy every year, it would give us a little leg room to get some other interesting games on the schedule. Stay tuned. Army would really struggle in the Big East, but Navy could be competitive in that league.

Cincinnati - 7 wins - OVER - I was reading the Cincinnati Enquirer the other day and saw that the preseason Big East media poll had come out with Cincinnati picked 5th in the Big East for the second straight year. Hmmm. Are we really headed for a second straight year where everyone underestimates Brian Kelly and UC football?? It appears to be so.

Whether people want to admit it or not, UC football is going to be a factor nationally and in the Big East as long as Brian Kelly is pacing the sidelines of Nippert Stadium. If you don't know much about Brian Kelly, it's time to start learning more about him. He won 2 Division I-AA championships at Grand Valley State University and then took over an awful Central Michigan program and won the MAC three years later. He ends up taking the Cincinnati job in 2007 and goes 9-3 with a top 25 ranking for the first time that I can ever remember for UC football. Kelly is an unbelievably charismatic guy and has a very innovative offensive scheme. If he stays at UC, he is going to win a Big East title at some point in the near future. Mark that down.

Anyway, I don't know how long UC is going to be able to keep him, but Bearcat fans should enjoy the ride while it lasts . Kelly insists that he plans to stay at UC for the long haul, but I'm not holding my breath. At some point, a Big 10 or Big 12 or ACC type program is going to come calling for him, and he won't be able to pass it up.

As for 2008, take the over on the Bearcats and laugh all the way to the bank. They have to find a replacement for Ben Mauk, but a lot of their other top players on offense and defense are back. I get the impression that Kelly "made" Mauk, so I think the new QB will be fine in the "Cat Attack" offense. Kelly has upgraded the overall talent at UC, and the schedule is not that bad. There are 8-9 wins on this schedule, and I won't be stunned to see UC make a serious run at the conference title.

Game to watch on the schedule. Cincinnati at Oklahoma on September 6. Could be an interesting early season game, and it will be the game of the year for the Bearcats. I have no idea if UC can actually hang with Oklahoma, but I'm impressed that they lined up this game. Can't wait for that return game at Paul Brown Stadium in 2010.

One last note for the ND fans out there. It sounds like Demetrius Jones is not on the radar for the starting QB job. He's still recovering from shoulder surgery, and I don't get the impression that he is going to see the field this year. Might want to keep an eye on the UC quarterback situation this year. Jones was not a good fit in the Weis offense, and I can't see him being missed at ND with Clausen and Crist on board.

Pittsburgh - 6.5 wins - OVER - Am I the only one who thinks everyone is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too high on Pitt this year?? They are becoming the Clemson of the Big East. Everyone was talking about them as a breakout candidate LAST YEAR, and yet they end up going 5-7 with a loss at home to Navy (I know, I know, we lost to Navy too) and several bad blowout losses.

Now after one big win against a West Virginia team that choked its guts out, they are suddenly ranked in the preseason and being talked about as the team to beat in the Big East. It seems like every ND prediction I've seen out of the major publications has predicted a loss against Pitt AT HOME. Wow, I just can't see it.

Lasean McCoy is the real deal and might be as good a running back as anyone in the nation, and they are going to ride him for as many carries as possible this year. But can you really win the Big East on the back of one player?? If so, what does that say about the Big East?? Let's not forget that Dave Wannstedt is still prominently involved with this program. I'm not saying that they won't be better, but let's not get crazy here.

The quarterback position is still unresolved, and it sounds like Pitt is hoping that sophomore QB Pat Bostick can step up and win the job. They should have a pretty solid defense, so the pieces are in place for them to be a factor if they are up to the challenge. Guess we'll see what happens.

On that note, their over/under is only 6.5?? Seems like Free Money to me if you look at their nonconference schedule. Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Iowa all at home and road games against Navy and Notre Dame. If they go 4-1 in those games, all they need to do is go 3-4 in conference to get to seven wins. If they are even remotely close to as good as they are being talked about, they should be able to get 7-8 wins this year.

Connecticut - 6.5 wins - OVER - UConn has taken a lot of heat from me on this blog as somehow being unworthy of playing Notre Dame, but I really don't have a problem with UConn football. I actually have a lot of respect for what they hvae been able to accomplish in their limited time at the Division I level.

It seems like that state is rallying around UConn football, and that they are developing a nice little niche in the Northeast. There will probably be some rough patches as they build up depth in the program, but they are on the rise. When you look at the amount of money UConn has invested in football in the last ten years, I wouldn't be surrpised to see them emerge as the premier program in the Northeast someday. With Syracuse floundering and BC focusing on the ACC, maybe UConn can take some portion of that market.

Just looking at their schedule this year, their nonconference opponents are not all that scary. Hofstra, Temple, Virginia, Baylor and at North Carolina. If they go 4-1 against that group, I gotta think UConn can find three more wins. UConn was pretty solid at home last year, and I would almost say I like them more than Pitt this year.

While we're here, am I missing something with some of the polls listing UConn hoops as a top 5 team next year, even as high as #1?? I think UConn will be good, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. UConn was incredibly inconsistent last year, and AJ Price is coming off the ACL tear. They seem like an early candidate for being an overrated team. For all the fuss about Hasheem Thabeet (and I'll admit that he is a shotblocking freak), he hasn't really put it together in terms of being a consistent offensive force.

Louisville- 6.5 wins - UNDER - Louisville is going to be another program that we find out a lot more about this year. It really comes down to one question with them. Is Steve Kragthorpe a little shaky or was Bobby Petrino just that good?? I gotta be honest that I'm leaning toward the latter. Louisville probably peaked 2-3 years ago, and now they are finding their historic level again. I respect what Louisville has done for their football programs, but let's not forget that it's Louisville. They are the second biggest program in a state that doesn't have a whole lot of elite high school talent. The best athletes in Kentucky are either going to UK, Tennessee, Notre Dame, or one of the major SEC schools.

Louisville's schedule is ridiculously easy this year, but I'm not convinced a winning season is ahead for the Cards. With Brohm gone and most of their weapons out and another year away from the Petrino system, it just makes me a little nervous to think that they are going to bounce back right away.

Syracuse - 2.5 wins - UNDER - (see Mike's excellent preview below)

Rutgers - 7.5 wins - OVER - It's going to be an interesting year on the banks of the old Raritan. I was all set to start questioning Rutgers and to start throwing out the Kirk Ferentz comparisons for Greg Schiano as coaches who built up their reputations by building up bad programs but have had trouble keeping their teams near the top. Part of me thinks that Rutgers has already peaked as a program and that they might be falling back to the pack.

I still think that's a strong possibility, but now I'm wavering after hearing Chris Spielman on his local radio show raving about Rutgers and Schiano and QB Mike Teel. Spielman thinks Teel is the most underrated QB in the country, and he's really high on their wide receivers. Schiano loves to run the ball, so they should be ok in the running game even without Ray Rice.

I wasn't real high on Rutgers, but I'm coming around on them a little bit. Schiano's teams really impressed me a couple years ago, so I'm hoping they can get their mojo back. Their nonconference schedule is sort of intriguing with home games against Fresno State and North Carolina and an early road game at Navy. As far as the conference stretch goes, Rutgers has 3 very winnable home games and four pretty tough road games. If they are going to get back into the conversation among the elite of the Big East, they are going to have to do some serious damage on the road against West Virginia and South Florida. I don't see it happening, but 8 wins seems like a good possibility with a veteran team.

South Florida - 9 wins - OVER - Every time South Florida seems to be on the verge of doing something big, they seem to backpedal just a bit. After last year's great start with wins over Auburn and West Virginia that moved them all the way up to #2 in the polls last year, they finished out the season with three losses in their last six games and then got hammered 56-21 in the Sun Bowl against Oregon.

It seems like they are still going through some growing pains, but they are still a program on the rise and could be on the verge of establishing themselves as the premier football program in the Big East. With the talent down in South Florida at their disposal, things are looking good for the fighting Leavitts.

As far as the team goes, their defense will probably be strong as it is every year. That George Selvie dude is a stud, and should be one of the best players in the conference. Matt Grothe is back at QB, so it might be time to induct him into the Jess Settles "Players who seem like they have been around for 10 years" Hall of Fame. He's not even that great, but seems to find ways to get it done and probably leads all quarterbacks in broken noses and bloody jerseys.

Just peeking at their schedule, they have Kansas and a road game at NC State on the schedule and only three road games in the Big East. It appears to be a very favorable schedule, and I wouldn't be surprised if that December 6 game in Morgantown against West Virginia was for the conference championship.

Honestly, I think South Florida could be a real sleeper for the national title game.

Quick story about South Florida basketball while we're here. We here at weisnd.blogspot.com had the privilege to attend a Notre Dame-South Florida basketball last March down in Tampa. Anyway, following the game (which was probably 50% Irish fans), the PA guy announces that South Florida had set a single game attendance record for the game. No joke, the stadium was half full at best!! Good times. Not a whole lot of fan support for Bulls basketball down in Tampa I guess. Stan Heath, you have some work ahead of you as the steward of that program. Can we just make them play in the Sun Belt for basketball and keep them in the Big East for football??

West Virginia - 10.5 wins - UNDER - Look I bear no ill will towards Bill Martin and hope he has a nice career at West Virginia, but I have to say I would be a little nervous if I was a West Virginia fan. It's always a little scary when you hire a guy based on a performance in one game. The only reason Bill Martin even got hired was because of their win in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. He wasn't even on the athletic director's initial list of replacements for Rich Rodriguez.

It just has a little too much of a Larry Coker feel for me to feel comfortable with that hire. Martin is a first time head coach at age 55, so I just wonder if he is qualified for this type of job. He'll probably be fine for a year or two, but I have my doubts as to whether he can keep West Virginia at the Rich Rodriguez level of performance.

Again, he could prove me totally wrong and keep West Virginia rolling along, but we've seen too many examples of interim coaches who start off well and then get in over their heads. The good news is that Bill Martin is a disciple of the same offensive philosophy that Rich Rodriguez preached, so there won't be any major adjustments this year. With Pat White back and Noel Devine at running back taking over for Steve Slaton, they are going to have tons of weapons. Apparently, Noel Devine is a superstar in the making, so they should have a potent offense.

Game to watch: The Thursday October 23 showdown in Morgantown against the Auburn Tigers. WOW. Color me fired up for that one already. If WVU is undefeated going into that game, the hype is going to be huge.

Another interesting nonconference game could be that game at Colorado on September 18. Colorado seems to be on the rise, so that could be an early test for Bill Martin.

I think WVU will be very good against this year, but I see some losses on that schedule. The Auburn game will be tough, the Colorado and Pitt games will be tough, and they will have some tricky games against Louisville and South Florida.

By the way, good to see West Virginia playing some tough nonconference games this year. I have been a strong critic of WVU in recent years and didn't think they belonged in the national title discussion with the schedules they've played, but they've definitely stepped it up with the Auburn and Colorado games. If WVU runs the table and goes undefeated, they absolutely belong in the national title game (assuming there aren't more than 2 undefeated teams). Wins over Auburn, Colorado, USF, Louisville, Pitt, Cincy, and UConn will earn my respect.

Diamond Notes

Deadline moves are starting to make an impact on the pennant races, so let's take a peek at the relevant parties.

- First, I love what the Angels did in acquiring Teixeira even if they don't resign him to a long term deal at the end of the year. At some point, the Angels needed to make a decision to push their chips into the middle and make a run at another World Series. They've been plugging along at 90+ wins a year, but they haven't really been a factor in the playoffs in quite some time. The Angels would get to the playoffs and their bats would go just completely silent. Vlad Guerrero would hit about .450 in the series and the rest of the team would have about 5 hits combined. Pitching and defense are needed to win a title, but you gotta have a few game-changing bats in your lineup who can drive in runs and get you big hits in pressure situations. The Angels have been picking around the margins with signings like Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews, but haven't found that frontline bat who can make their lineup more potent in the playoffs.

Teixeira gives them a career .909 OPS hitter who can be plugged right into the middle of their order behind Vlad Guerrero. Their lineup looks significantly better with him in there.

I hate to sound like Herm Edwards here, but the reason you are fielding a team is to try to win a championship. At some point, don't you have to try to make the move to win it all?? The Angels have been standing pat for years, but it was probably time for them to make a serious push to win a title. They weren't going to the World Series by standing pat yet again this year. They have the pitching, a world class manager, and great defensive team, so the move to bolster their lineup could pay off. The Red Sox are not quite as good as they were last year, and the rest of the AL is wide open.

I understand that Teixeira might leave after this year, but would it be worth it if they make the World Series?? I think so. The Angels have plenty of resources, and they can find another Casey Kotchman out there somewhere. Kotchman is a nice player, but he's not a game-changer. Teixeira is.

- I'm sure the Braves fans who populate this blog will want to weigh in on the trade, but I have mixed reviews. I don't have a problem with the return that they got, but here's my question. Why were they looking at trading Teixeira in the first place?? Why weren't they in a position to sign Teixeira to a long term deal?? Did I miss the memo that the Braves are now a small market team?? When did they suddenly become unable to sign guys to a big deal?? Who else are they paying besides Chipper, Smoltz, and Hudson?? Isn't Teixeira the type of middle of the order bat that you want to build around for the next 6-7 years??

I think they did a good job to get Casey Kotchman out of this deal, but who would you rather have on your roster over the next 6 years?? Kotchman or Teixeira?? Kotchman is a very solid young player, but he's more like the type of guy who is going to hit around .280 with 20 HR and 80 RBI and around a .800 OPS (at best). In other words, he's about 100 OPS points less potent than Teixeira. Essentially, they just traded for Adam Laroche again. If you're a Braves fan and loved the Adam Laroche era, then you'll probably love the Casey Kotchman era. I know Kotchman is going to make much much less money than Teixeira, but does he really make the Braves any more likely to reverse their fortunes in the NL East sometime in the next few years?? Even if they inch their way back to relevance, aren't they going to be in the exact same position in a few years of needing a middle of the order stud power bat like Teixeira??

I just feel like the Braves pulled a bit of a Pittsburgh Pirates move here. They traded off one of their best players for a lesser cheaper player and tried to justify the move as some sort of move towards a more competitive future. How is that any different than every Pirates deadline deal of the last 15 years??

- Speaking of the Pirates, I don't have any knowledge of these young prospects they acquired, but wouldn't their ceiling likely be to be the next Xavier Nady or the next Damaso Marte?? Again, that's a BEST case scenario for those guys. Why not build around a Xavier Nady?? He's in the prime of his career, and it's not like the Pirates are paying anyone else. I gotta think that Nady is at least somewhat of an affordable player. How much could he possibly command on the free agent market?? Sign the guy to a 5 year deal, build around him, McLouth, and Bay, and then go about trying to draft and trade for young pitching. Wouldn't that lead to a more competitive future than these giveaway deals for prospects that very rarely seem to pan out??

- Moving on to the Indians, I kind of like what they've been doing the last month or so. The Indians are in a little different position than the Pirates because they already have big money tied up (somewhat foolishly I would add) to Victor, Hafner, Westbrook, and Sizemore, so they pretty much had to move CC. There was no way they were going to be able to resign CC, so they made a move on him quickly and got a better return. It sounds like Laporta is going to be a very nice bat for them, and maybe he'll be ready to contribute as early as next year. I also like that Anthony Reyes deal for the Tribe. I don't know what happened to Reyes in St. Louis, but it seems like he just completely unraveled after a promising start to his career. If the Tribe can get him to rebound and maybe re-emerge as an end of the rotation guy, that would be an absolute steal. He has talent, so maybe he will rediscover himself in Cleveland and fit into a pretty solid rotation with Carmona, Cliff Lee, and possibly a rejuvenated Jeremy Sowers (who has been really good his last few starts).

- Finally, we'll end with the Reds. I would be more upset at Walt Jocketty if I was sure that he's actually aware that he is the current general manager of the Reds. Are we sure that Walt Jocketty has gotten the memo that he is the current GM?? I'm not sure he has made a move yet as GM of the Reds. Perhaps he was never properly informed. Case in point, he's still living in St. Louis and doesn't even come out to Cincinnati to watch games. Huh?? The current version of the Reds are not exactly a team that you can run on auto pilot. They are a very incomplete team with major needs and major pieces to evaluate. Jocketty has basically sat on his hands in this ill-fated push for .500. Again, what major league franchise pushes for .500?? When did that become the goal?? If you are only hoping to get to .500, then you are not really all that close to being a contender.

I don't know if Jocketty is treating this Reds post as some sort of glorified figurehead retirement position, but it would be nice to hear this guy lay out his vision for Reds baseball over the next five years. As of right now, he's done virtually nothing to indicate that he has a plan for this organization. Say what you want about Wayne Krivsky, but at least the guy was hands-on and had a plan to make this team better. He brought in some valuable pieces in Volquez, Arroyo, Phillips, Keppinger, Bray, Cordero, etc, and I get the impression that he was only in the beginning stages of his plan to remake the Reds organization. If the Reds essentially stand pat at the deadline (which is what they are indicating they plan to do), I will be very concerned about their long term future.

Specifically, what is the plan for Adam Dunn?? Is he going to be a part of this team's future?? If not, are you satisfied with a middle of the order involving Jay Bruce-Brandon Phillips-Joey Votto?? Bruce doesn't appear to be anywhere near ready to be a #3 type hitter and has really tailed off since his incredible debut. Joey Votto is emerging as the National League version of Casey Kotchman, and I'm not sure what his ceiling is at this point. Phillips is a talented all-around player, but you can't hit a guy cleanup who doesn't hit righties at all. Adam Dunn is far and away the most productive bat on the Reds, and it would be a significant loss to let him go. If you are going to let him walk at the end of the year, what is the plan to replace his productivity?? I don't have a problem with letting Adam Dunn go and using your young trading pieces to go after a big time right handed bat, but I have no idea if the Reds are even running these scenarios through their mind.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop at this point. I felt pretty good about the Reds going into the 2008 season and felt like it would be a building block towards a nice future in 2009-2011, but now I'm not so sure. Jocketty's laissez-faire management style isn't doing anything to make me feel at ease, and I can't help but wonder if this organization blew it by letting go of a valuable asset (Wayne Krivsky).