Category: BCS National Championship

In The Words Of Herm Edwards ……..” You Play The Game To Win” ..

In The Words of Herm Edwards …..”You Play The Game To Win ” …….

By tophatal ……..

Words to live by ……..” you play the game to win ” . At present those words may well be lost upon both the .LSU Tigers and Washington Wizards . In the case of the Tigers who played hosts to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the All State … BCS national championship game . All was on the line for the unbeaten LSU Tigers . And for coach Les Miles he was looking to win his second national title as the program’s coach. Instead what the fans in attendance at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana , were served up was a game that failed to live up to expectations .

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Having met earlier on during the collegiate season wherein the two teams met the fans were given an eyesore in terms of 9-6 game that may well have had many wondering were these really the two best collegiate football programs in the nation at the FBS level ? Though it was an event that pitted two teams that gave us a defensive show but in retrospect perhaps that may well have been a harbinger of things to come. So much was expected of Alabama and LSU last night that the showcased event fell so far short of expectations. Instead what we were all subjected was as annihilation of the Tigers 21-0 that had me wondering why all the fuss ? And this has to be something that the BCS and in particular the SEC wanted to avoid , a game that was simply an abomination to watch in terms of the lack of competitiveness shown by Les Miles’ team .

Nick Saban and his team comes away with the BCS national crown but some serious doubts as to who just might be the best team in the country . Let’s just say that Oklahoma State (Cowboys) after their thrilling defeat (41-38) of Stanford (Cardinals) might just have enough credence to challenge right of Alabama to be declared the national champions. To put it politely it’s this sort of idiocy within the BCS system that makes this whole charade such a damn joke ! The Associated Press (AP) may well now decide upon one of two things …….. either they will declare Oklahoma State their national champion or make the formal announcement that they designate Alabama and coach Mike Gundy’s …. team co-joint national champions . Is this what the BCS and collegiate football has come to ______ because a bunch of money hungry bastards simply don’t want to upset the ” gravy train” ?

From my own perspective the BCS system has cultivated an environment of wantoned corruption and greed , wherein the major conferences , university presidents and athletics’ directors are simply bereft of any sense of respectability , much less morals ! And don’t for one minute be fooled by the idiocy that the NCAA and its president Mark Emmert would like to see things drastically change . Not while the likes of CBS Sports , ABC/ESPN , NBC , Fox and various affiliates around the country literally pay out ” billions of dollars” each year for the privilege of serving up what now appears to be a rather pedantic product ! Emmert says all of the right things but he has moved at a snail’s pace to bring about any real solid changes . It has also been the same way in the NCAA’s handling of programs who have simply flouted their regulations . Dealing with collegiate athletics’ governing body is akin to dealing with the Neanderthal and archaic machinery that just happens to representative of the federal government and its agencies ! Too cumbersome to deal with and not an ounce of frigging intelligence to be found anywhere those domains !

It may well be that Alabama will be declared the national champions with the final collegiate rankings as such denoting that . But as of now the percolating controversy will continue unabated . So make of it what you will . My thought however is , if LSU wanted to parlay their season into something truly spectacular then last night’s showing simply sustained what everyone must now be possibly be thinking . The team was vastly over-rated and their victory over Alabama earlier in the season simply laid the groundwork for Crimson Tide to seek its ultimate revenge .

If Jared Sullinger is said to be the best player in college football then it’s becoming abundantly clear that the NBA’s …. Washington Wizards are intent in making a play for the Ohio State Buckeyes’ player . Win-less with an 0-8 record Flip Saunders’ …… team are doing their leveled best to make the Indianapolis Colts’ … season within the NFL seem like an afterthought . I know that the Colts were extremely bad in a number of facets of the game but within the NBA the Wizards just seem to be taking it to a whole new level . They are at the bottom or close to the bottom in so many statistical categories that it is becoming mind boggling to watch the team play .

I am so sure that no one within the Wizards’ front office expected such ineptitude to the start of their season . Ernie Grunfeld alongside team owner Ted Leonsis must now be wishing that the NBA lockout had not been laid to rest with a new collective bargaining agreement in tow. Instead the fans in attendance for the team’s home games have had to endure a brutal display of absolutely god damn awful basketball . John Wall the organization’s best player and the alleged face of the franchise has tried his best to lead the team by example but it is abundantly clear that things just aren’t working .

We have already witnessed the first coaching casualty of the season with Paul Westphal having been fired by the Sacramento Kings front office after that team’s poor start to their season and the rumblings of dissension and a failure of the coach to communicate with the players on the team , most notably with DeMarcus Cousins . The former Kentucky Wildcat has become the pariah for which if all else fails , you simply have to look no further than the player’s work ethic and demeanor . It certainly hasn’t helped that if anything , he was coddled and given so much latitude with regard to his behavior both on and off the court whilst attending Kentucky . But then again whoever said that coach John Calipari , other than himself has said that he has his players’ best interests at heart ? Wherever Calipari seems to have coached during his collegiate and NBA career there seems to have some form of controversy that has reared its ugly head .

If Geoff Petrie was so quick to pull the trigger on Westphal then it now looks as if Saunders’ days with the Washington Wizards could very well be numbered . Ernie Grunfeld has to be closely weighing up the situation before he makes a decision because there’s no way that he and the other front office executives much less the fans will continue tolerate such mediocre displays by the team . !

In the Washington Wizards’ most recent game ( 93-72 loss) they were summarily taken behind the woodshed to have their asses soundly beaten by Kevin Love and the high flying Minnesota Timberwolves . Strangely enough who knew that this season we would be talking about the Timberwolves as being one of the surprise teams of the season ? Although I hadn’t picked the team to struggle I did however believe that they would still be a work in progress ! Of the teams which I felt would be having a horrid time because of their apparent lack of moves I truly believed that the Houston Rockets would somehow be struggling . Indeed they have , but at the same time with the season a mere nine games into its truncated schedule it’s still early days yet !

Now inasmuch I would like to see the Washington Wizards get out of their rut given the performances I have witnessed from the team I don’t think that it would be remiss to suggest they might seriously be in with a chance of being bearing on down the Philadelphia 76ers’ record of 9-73 or quite possibly the New Jersey Nets’ 10-72 in recent years . Kind of makes you wish that would all come about merely so that they team can possibly make run at Jared Sullinger dependent upon the NBA Draft Lottery scenario . Your thoughts ?

Now inasmuch I would like to see the Washington Wizards get out of their rut , given the performances I have witnessed from the team I don’t think that it would be remiss to suggest they might seriously be in with a chance of being bearing on on the Philadelphia 7ers’ record of 9-73 a or quite possibly the New Jersey Nets’ 10-72 record from 2010. Kind of makes you wish that would all come about merely so that they team can possibly make run at Jared Sullinger dependent upon the NBA Draft Lottery scenario . Your thoughts ? Truncated season or not, the Washington Wizards seem to heading towards complete mediocrity as far as this season goes . Flip Saunders couldn’t bribe this team into obtaining a win if the prize was a night of unbridled sex with a group of high classed escorts .

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In light of what you may or may not have witnessed with regard to the BCS national championship game do you believe that Alabama should be rightfully anointed the national champion ? Or do you believe that perhaps Oklahoma State can be looked upon as a bona-fide alternate ? And how do you currently view the dilemma now said to be facing the Washington Wizards ? Do you believe that they are capable of winning more than 15 games this season ? Your thoughts on this and any other pertinent points you deem worthy as it relates to the subject matter .

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(1) NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 09: Dre Kirkpatrick (21) and Darius Hanks (15) of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate after defeating Louisiana State University Tigers in the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 9, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alabama won the game by a score of 21-0. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images ….

(2) AJ McCarron (10) of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after defeating Louisiana State University Tigers in the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 9, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alabama won the game by a score of 21-0. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images …

(3) LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson (9) is tackled by Alabama’s Mark Barron during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans. AP Photo/Dave Martin ….

(4) Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) and Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) chase the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Washington. Minnesota won 93-72 . AP Photo/Nick Wass ……

(5) Washington Wizards guard John Wall, right, JaVale McGee, center, and Trevor Booker, left, sit on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Washington. Washington lost their eighth game in a row as Minnesota won 93-72. AP Photo/Nick Wass … .

(6) Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders points during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Washington. Minnesota won 93-72. AP Photo/Nick Wass …..

(7) Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio , center, of Spain, drives to the basket between Washington Wizards shooting guard Jordan Crawford (15) and Jan Vesely, right, of the Czech Republic, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Washington. AP Photo/Nick Wass ….

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Bree Roxx-aka Bree Morgan/

Hot chic pic of the day . Bree Roxx … aka Bree Morgan . A hot lil’ piece of British a## for you all to enjoy.

I Don’t Drink The Kool Aid Simply Because I Don’t Like It !

I Don’t Drink The Kool Aid Simply Because I Don’t Like It !

I’ve never been one for hyperbole myself but it appears that the analysts of ESPN would rather come out with some of the most asinine statements imaginable simply to create that furor media frenzy needlessly . The Carolina Panthers’ — Cam Newton is off to a tremendous start as a rookie for the team throwing for over 850 yards in his first two games as a professional . Granted, the number one pick overall in this past NFL Draft has been lauded as the best player available of the talent to be had . Opinions being what they are , there is no denying the player is something special but it’s one thing to show that prowess in the college game , within the NFL it becomes a whole new ball-game altogether .

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Now as much as I respect the analysis provided by these individuals simply brought in to host these shows on ESPN but there comes a time when Chris Carter and Keyshawn Johnson make the statement that Newton should be seen as the “Chosen One “ amongst the players that were recently taken in this past draft . As talented as many believe Cam Newton to be , there is a growing belief that until he becomes more attuned to the NFL and his teammates then there’s no way in hell the Carolina Panthers will be viewed as a success in the NFL . Coach Ron Rivera and his coaching staff are in for an arduous season and though playing as well as can be expected the team has yet to register its first win in the NFL . At 0-2 there is a belief that once having notched that first victory the Carolina Panthers might just be able of acquitting themselves well in enough within their division (NFC South) and the league as a whole .

There’s no doubt that expectations were high for Cam Newton coming out of college given the success attained by the player while attending at Auburn . And now that player has to take his talents to the NFL he’s now being viewed as “The Messiah” and ” Prodigal Son” all rolled into one as the Carolina Panthers seek to become relevant in the NFL once again. Rivera and his staff sought to obtain the best possible talent available in the draft to complement an already experienced roster which has a mix of youth and seasoned veterans .

The Carolina Panthers will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in week three that is bound to be of real interest to the Panthers’ fans. Jacksonville at 1-1 look to be a staunch test with coach Jack Del Rio and his team facing the challenge of taking advantage of the problems that have beset the Indianapolis Colts and make an outright challenge to the now presumed favorites within the division to win the AFC South the Houston Texans (2-0). As to whether or not those teams within the division can actually take advantage of the woes of the Colts remains to be seen .

From my own perspective , I do believe that Cam Newton can be a success within this league but he’s still a work in progress , as too is his Tim Tebow whose current status with the Denver Broncos seems to come into question with each passing week in the league. It simply has become idiotic to witness the sheer ineptitude shown by the front office of the organization led by EVP John Elway . Team owner Pat Bowlem and newly installed coach John Fox have certainly got to address this issue before it gets completely out of hand and sinks this organization to even lower depths than could be imagined . It is bad enough that the team’s incumbent starting quarterback Kyle Orton has performed miserably for the Broncos during the first two games of their season schedule .

Certainly for Tim Tebow , he has done himself no favors with his alleged poor performances during team practices but it seems somewhat hard to be believed . Either that’s simply due to poor coaching by John Fox’s coaching staff and in particular from quarterback’s coach Adam Gase or quite possibly due to the fact Tebow was simply coddled as a player by his former college coach Urban Meyer while the player attended Florida . Now while the fans’ calls seem to be for Tebow to be on the field , one simply cannot be sure that the player is a sure fire guarantee to be the presumed savior of this organization . Draft choices asides and the organization’s history in that field , it has been troubling to see the Denver Broncos struggle to make their presence felt within the NFL .

The Denver Broncos for their part have had something of an inauspicious start to the season with a 1-1 record within the AFC West where they sit jointly atop of the division alongside the Oakland Raiders , San Diego Chargers with the winless Kansas City Chiefs seated as the cellar dweller in a hapless division. Kyle Orton and the Broncos next play a conference game against the Tennessee Titans in a match-up that should tell us a great deal about the temperament of this Broncos’ team under the leadership of John Fox and his coaching staff.

Perhaps it’s me but with the NCAA —- football season now up and running is now filled with more scandal than collegiate athletics would willingly care to admit . With Butch Davis having been fired the school ( UNC[ Tar Heels]) is now having to endure multiple sanctions for violating NCAA rules with regard to recruitment violations and several other transgressions that the school’s now former AD Dick Baddour has seen fit to address before stepping down in his role . I am not about to suggest that this will be the last time that we will hear or bear witness to such indiscretions across the collegiate sports landscape . Suffice to say …… where there’s smoke there is fire and there are several schools at present in college sports either fanning the flames or simply looking to put out those flames because of their incendiary nature . Think Ohio State , Miami Hurricanes , Oregon and Boise State and USC (Trojans) ? Let’s just say that until the landscape is cleaned up with any sense of urgency we will continue to see such malfeasance on the part of these schools . Never mind that we have the idiocy of college football conferences simply looking to become bigger by luring teams from one conference to another , simply through sheer financial greed . It has absolutely nothing to do with bringing about a competitive balance because as we all know the system is skewered to favor the teams within the major BCS conferences in terms of college football . Anyone who believes otherwise obviously is living in complete denial !

Now while the various polls are now out there ranking the teams within D1 football , I am of the opinion that until we are at the midpoint of the season we will not truly get a true glimpse of how things are about to pan out over the course of the year ! Certainly the rankings seem to bear out what we have longed felt about a number of teams . Oklahoma ( Sooners) , LSU , Alabama , Boise State and Stanford seem to be the standouts this early in the season . And that is with good reason as each of the teams remain unbeaten but as they get into the meat of their schedule I would preface this by saying that one or two of those very same programs are likely to slip up . Whether it this upcoming week or down the line it remains to be seen .

For myself the college football season only becomes really interesting down the stretch of the schedule when everyone seems to be aggrieved once the BCS rankings simply skewers what many of feel to be to be a brokens system and what is wrong with college football to begin with . We know that the minnows of the game will never truly be given the chance to go up against the big boys within college football . Oh , once in a while when the beat writers and fans alike show their resentment , we may well see the subterfuge take place with a proposed match-up of one of those teams on the outside looking in , as they’re given the privilege of playing in one of the lesser tiered Bowl games or BCS games . But God forbid ….. we will ever see the day of seeing the likes of Boise State perhaps taking on Auburn or perhaps Florida for the BCS national championship . What do you think would happen then amongst the likes of conference commissioners or even an idiot such as Ohio State universtity President Dr E Gordon Gee who still believes that a program outside any of the major bowl conferences is not entitled to play for the national title ? I feel that Gee should simply stick to cleaning up what we now know to be an utterly corrupt athletics program , with both he and AD Gene Smith then stepping down in shame ! I mean only these two assholes could still maintain that they were completely unaware as to the deceit , lies and subterfuge that was taking place that was being orchestrated by the program’s former football coach Jim Tressel ! Imagine that ….. ?

Amongst the presumed Heisman Trophy candidates this season the names of Andrew Luck , Landry Jones , Marcus Lattimore , Kellen Moore , Robert Griffin , Trent Richardson and Chris Rainey are being bandied about . And though there may well be justification for those names to be mentioned let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet . It’s still too early in the season to be making these type of prognostications , so give it a while and let things simply play themselves out as the season progresses .

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

I know that Kool Aid can be viewed as a great elixir but in reality it’s all down to one’s preference . Do you like it sweet and mixed in with something else or do you simply drink it , as is ? It’s the same with the opinions that tend to be proffered up by the analysts on tv , so simply make of it what you will ? For myself , I tend to like my drinks shaken (preferably with alcohol) and not stirred much as in the same way as that fictional character James Bond does ! Which are you in that context ? Chime in with a comment as you deem fit with regard to the subject matter and anything else you deem to be pertinent .

Alan aka tophatal ………. https://tophatal.wordpress.com

Picture and slide show details below .

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(1) Seen here from left to right are ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman joined by analysts Mike Ditka , Keyshawn Johnson , Cris Carter and Tom Jackson . courtesy of ESPN …..

(2) CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Cam Newton (1) of the Carolina Panthers takes the field for play against the Green Bay Packers September 18, 2011 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Packers would go on to defeat Carolina 30-23 . Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images ….

(3) Quarterback Cam Newton (1) of the Carolina Panthers runs for a gain against the Green Bay Packers September 18, 2011 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images …..

(4) Fans wear jerseys in support of Tim Tebow (15) of the Denver Broncos as the Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Bengals 24-22 . Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images ……

(5) Fans dispaly a sign in support of quarterback Kyle Orton (8) of the Denver Broncos as the Broncos defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-22 at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images ……..

(6) Something of an ambiguous sign by fans in support of Tim Tebow (15) of the Denver Broncos as the Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Bengals 24-22. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images ……

(7) DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach John Fox of the Denver Broncos watches a video replay during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images ……

(8) Quarterback Kyle Orton (8) of the Denver Broncos fumbles the ball and as he is sacked by Michael Johnson (93) of the Cincinnati Bengals in the third quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The fumble was recovered by Domata Peko (94) of the Cincinnati Bengals as the Broncos defeated the Bengals 24-22. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images …….

(9) Wide receiver Tim Tebow (15) of the Denver Broncos tries to avoid cornerback Leon Hall (29) of the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images ……

(10) Quarterback Andrew Luck (12) of the Stanford Cardinal scrambles to pass during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on September 17, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Wildcats 37-10 . Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images ………

(11) Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones (12) fires a first quarter pass during an NCAA college football game against the Florida State Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla. Oklahoma would go on to defeat FSU Seminoles 23-13 Getty Images / Ahmad Kilyan ……

(12) Running back Trent Richardson (3) of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks away from defensive back Ryan Downing (22) of the North Texas Mean Green and defensive back Royce Hill (21) of the North Texas Mean Green for a 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Alabama would defeat North Texas 41-0 . Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images …..

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Don’t Hate Appreciate ………… Have You Had Your Can Of Whup Ass Today ?

Don’t Hate Appreciate ………… Have You Had Your Can Of Whup Ass Today ?

I’ve said it repeatedly the tough teams know how to win when it matters most and case in point was proof positive of that as the Los Angeles Lakers simply gave up in their quest having succumbed to the Dallas Mavericks — 98-92 in a decisive game three played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas , Texas. Instead of being composed we saw a Lakers’ team pressed and playing rather in consistently throughout this series .

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If there was an unsung hero during this game for the Mavericks then it had to be jointly Jason Terry , Peja Stojakovic and that wily veteran Jason Kidd who belied their years in the league. Now pardon me for saying this but each time I hear TNT or ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy I simply want to throw up ! Is there no time wherein this guy can simply be observant report on what he observes rather than coming up with asinine comments and analysis. Now down 0-3 this series is now beyond the reach of the Lakers as no team in playoff history has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to come back and win that series .

This was simply a collective effort from this Mavericks’ team and it was a thoroughly convincing result and this series now seems to the Dallas Mavericks’ for the taking . If you’ve any doubt about that then simply look at the box-score and the stats for the Mavericks ? Game four of this series resumes on Sunday and we’re liable to see the Lakers be swept out of this series as the Dallas Mavericks make their way to the Western Conference Finals . Personally I can see the Lakers quite possibly taking game four but beyond that this team is liable to lose one if not two of the next three to be played at the Staples Center after the series’ departure from Dallas .

Anyone who was in any doubt why Derrick Rose became the youngest league MVP in NBA history then you simply had to witness his display against the Atlanta Hawks in game three played at the Philips Arena in Atlanta , Georgia . The Chicago Bulls simply laid the wood to the Hawks as they took them behind the woodshed and literally beat the shit out of this Hawks’ team . Forty four points simply sums up this player’s play and the fact that the Bulls’ bench took up some of the slack . Joakim Noah , Kyle Korver and Taj Gibson played with a great deal of aplomb as and when needed, as they harried the Hawks’ offense and made them look lethargic .

By midway through the fourth quarter this game was simply beyond the Atlanta Hawks’ reach and their two All Stars on this team in Joe Johnson and Al Horford simply couldn’t do anything to bring the Hawks back into this game. On this series resumption with game four we could well see the Chicago Bulls take a 3-1 lead in this series .

Can someone explain to me how it is that Cliff Lee can strike out 15 batters in a game and still come up with a loss (5-0 ) in a game played at Citizens Ballpark in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Phillies took on the Atlanta Braves ? Lee’s opposite number Derek Lowe also had the prospect obtaining a no hitter in this game in what was an exemplary display by both pitchers. In the end however this was more about the mistakes defensively made by the Phillies and solid resolute play by the Braves as they inched closer to the the Florida Marlins and Phillies within the NL East .

Andre Ethier’s amazing season continues as he embarks on rewriting the Los Angeles Dodgers’ record book. Ethier is on the cusp of becoming the Dodgers’ consecutive single season record in terms of a consecutive games hit streak . Now at thirty games and counting Ethier looks to surpass the Dodgers’ record of Willie Davis’ streak of 31 and hopes to top the mark of forty before he can think about even coming within range of Joe Di Maggio’s 56 game hit streak which is the all time record within MLB . It’s now becoming redundant to continue talking about the Dodgers’ off the field problems as nothing can now simply change that particular landscape as it now stands. The idiocy of it all is that the team’s owner Frank McCourt continues to wallow in the fact that he’s now become a victim in the aftermath of the league hierarchy taking over the day to day running of the organization. Suffice to say that the league , its team owners enabled McCourt and his executive subordinates to enact this madness . And for those opining that the Dodgers and their $3 billion tv contract signed with Fox and its parent company NewsCorp let’s just say if you’re unable to pay the staff salaries for your employees for the months of April and now May please don’t come up with the bullshit about this organization being in a viable financial position. Simply let it be , and get a dose of reality as to how business is conducted in the real world .

Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams effectively announced his retirement as coach of the Terrapins’ basketball team . Having assumed tenure of the Terrapins as its coach in 1989 while the team was under NCAA probation Williams single handedly resurrected this program and put it back on the map. In doing so he won the 2002 NCAA Basketball Tournament . That title has been Maryland’s sole NCAA Men’s title but it has been the programs consistency over the years that has made Gary Williams stand apart as a collegiate basketball coach . He leaves an indelible record having won over 630 games and a run of eleven straight NCAA appearances as well as the Sweet 16 on multiple occasions . Thirty three years as a coach of, which 22 were spent as the coach of Maryland and I’d like to think that makes Gary Williams something of a special talent within the world of collegiate basketball !

Well it appears now apart from Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff looking to challenge the BCS’ antitrust exemption status and its stand as a monopoly within collegiate football. It now seems that the US Justice Department and its antitrust division will now serve notice that they intend to send letters to NCAA President Mark Emmert and the BCS seeking their reasons as to why there isn’t a playoff format in place for the national championship at the D1 level. If that’s not enough to peak your interest assistant US attorney general Christine Varney within the antitrust division of the Justice Department says that she is quite prepared subpoena records from both the NCAA and BCS to seek out how they conduct their business practices as it relates collegiate football . Considering the NCAA is already facing a civil suit challenge by several former NCAA athletes as to the use of their likeness for business purposes within the Federal Court System this couldn’t have come at a worse time for both the NCAA and BCS.

If it hasn’t been enough that we’ve seen the idiocy of the NCAA and the belief that the BCS and its subordinates feel that they’re above reproach . We now have to see them having to defend themselves from what we already know to be a grossly corrupt system that is in place and that’s being defended by an idiot in Ohio State university President Dr E Gordon Gee . How in God’s name that buffoon believes that the system is above reproach tells you all you need to know when you simply survey the 2010-11 and 2011 schedule of the Buckeyes to see how they affix their schedules , wherein they’re literally playing a bunch of no name programs to pad out their stats. In the midst of this all, Gee has the temerity to suggest that mid major conferences ought not to be allowed to have the privilege of attaining a BCS Bowl game berth because they’re simply not good enough. If anything, Gee ought to be more concerned over the image of his school and the fact that its football coach Jim Tressel has no moral character or integrity and the very fact that he’s self consumed a liar and a cheat . Those ought to be Gee’s biggest concerns rather than his asinine notion that the BCS system is above reproach.

I’ve longed felt that were it not for Severiano Ballesteros the European Tour and the PGA Tour wouldn’t be what is today . Having won five grand slam majors and over 68 tournaments worldwide Ballesteros’ legacy has been well chronicled . Long before Tiger Woods held the world as a captive audience on the golf course it was the spectacle of seeing Ballesteros simply play with a fluidity not often seen on any major tour today. His shot making was uncanny and anyone who knows anything about the sport of golf will know how special Seve’ Ballasteros was . Unfortunately , the Spanish star and a successful Ryder Cup captain is suffering from cancer of the brain , having gone through repeated bouts of chemotherapy and undergone several neuro surgeries over the past eight years ever since it was discovered that he had malignant tumors on his brain. Having removed several of the tumors it was felt that Severiano Ballesteros’ would be able to make a slow and successful recovery from his illness .

Ballesteros died at age 54 in the early hours of Saturday morning, in the arms of his family, a national treasure within the country of Spain and a worldwide celebrity . A wealthy individual in his own right , from his professional earnings and as a businessman from his the off the field business ventures , he married Caroline Boutin , whose family founded one of Spain’s largest financial institutions Banco de Santander . He will be sorely missed by the golf word but it was his larger than life character , respect for and of the game as well as his fellow competitors that made Ballasteros stand apart. His dominance of the game goes without saying and for those who’ve never witnessed Ballesteros at his very best , simply imagine the shot playing of Tiger Woods at his best with the power of Jack Nicklaus and you can imagine how special Ballesteros was at the height of his game.. Thanks Seve’ for all the grace you brought to the game and in particular the world of sport , you’ll be sorely missed !

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What thoughts if any do you have on the points raised within this piece ? Simply chime in with a comment as to your thoughts and thanks as always for the continued support as it’s greatly appreciated !

Alan aka tophatal ………………….

https://tophatal.wordpress.com

Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) DALLAS, TX – MAY 6: Dirk Nowitzki (41) of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after hitting a three against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images …….

(2) The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant looks at his bench as Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki , left, Peja Stojakovic , center and Jason Kidd , right react during the final minutes of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball series, Friday, May 6, 2011, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 98-92. NBAE/Getty Images / Danny Bollinger ….

(3) Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol shoots over Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, left, and Peja Stojakovic during the first half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball series, Sunday, May 8, 2011, in Dallas. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez …….

(4) ATLANTA, GA – MAY 06: Derrick Rose (1) of the Chicago Bulls drives against Joe Johnson (2) and Al Horford (15) of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Phillips Arena on May 6, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images / Kevin C Cox …..

(5) Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Derek Lowe(notes) delivers to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, May 6, 2011, in Philadelphia. AP Photo / Barbara Johnston ….

(6) Atlanta Braves’ Jason Heyward (22) steals to second base as Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Michael Martinez (19) is late with the tag during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 6, 2011, in Philadelphia. The Braves won 5-0. AP Photo/Barbara Johnston ….

(7) Los Angeles Dodgers’ Jamey Carroll(14) greets teammate Andre Ethier (16) at the plate after Ethier’s seventh-inning two-run home run as New York Mets catcher Ronny Paulino , center, looks on during a baseball game at Citi Field in New York, Sunday, May 8, 2011. AP Photo/ Kathy Willens ……

(8) University of Maryland basketball coach Gary WIlliams (L) hugs his wife Dana WIlliams after announcing his retirement on May 6, 2011 at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images ……..

(9) University of Maryland basketball coach Gary WIlliams speaks while announcing his retirement on May 6, 2011 at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images ……..

(10) Seve Ballesteros (C) of Spain poses with Per Ericsson (R) and German Lopez of Volvo Event Management during the press conference of the Volvo World Match Play Championship 2009 presentation at Intercontinental Hotel on October 14, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. Ballesteros, who is recovering from cancer which has left him partially blind in his left eye, is hopeful that he’ll be able to take part in the upcoming Volvo World Match Play. October 13, 2009 – Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images Europe ……..

(11) Ballesteros seen here in receipt of the Green Jacket having won the 1983 Masters Tournament at Augusta National G&C Augusta , Georgia ,. Photo archives / Reuters/ Peter McKinnon ……

(12) Christine Varney (left) head of the Antitrust Divsion of the US Dept of Justice . Her department has been asked by the AG Eric Holder to look into possible grounds to see if the BCS can be considered a monopoly in terms of its business practices as it relates to D1 collegiate football . NY Times Susan Etheridge ……

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MLB News

MLB Scoreboard & schedule 7th May 2011

MLB results 6th May 2011

MLB Schedule 8th May 2011

MLB Standings

NBA News

NBA Playoffs 2011

NBA Results 6th May 2011

NBA Schedule 7th May 2011

NBA Schedule 8th May 2011

The BCS Stands For What ……….. ? ? ?

The BCS Stands For What ………… ? ? ?

It’s here, it’s now for all the marbles and I though I must say it I’ve not been overly enamored with what I’ve seen throughout the Bowl Series within collegiate football. Perhaps from a standpoint that I’m amongst a growing group I believe who would desire to see a playoff system within college football. Having the coaches , the press and a back room filled with computer geeks summarily in part make the decision as to who may end up playing in the national championship game does smack of idiocy to begin with. Never mind that the lesser games with their rather superfluous names make about as much sense as having the choice being made by a group of blind people simply using a pin and having the teams’ names being listed on a piece of paper. The whole BCS Championship series is simply nothing more than a money making exercise and that’s simply it. The six major conferences ( ACC , Big 10 , Big 12 , Big East , Pac 10 and SEC) that in essence oversees this rather corrupt system if anything ought to be thankful that they’re allowed to keep up this charade.

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Slide show .

While there’s been repeated criticism by members of Congress as to the way that teams are determined and the template put in motion is something of a joke. Any member of Congress wishing to address this situation given the fact that the BCS system has its supporters and detractors within that body smacks of idiocy to begin . Were you aware that the BCS Championship series has its own body of lobbyists up on Capitol Hill in Washington DC in order to safeguard its very existence ? The tax advantages to be attained by the NCAA as well as the BCS as a body and one can see why there’s billions of dollars to be made by both of these bodies who as such state that the interests of the student athletes at heart. Yeah I’ve heard it said also that’s the same belief held by the Medellin drug cartel in Colombia as they simply flood this country with their drugs. So what’s the difference between the BCS , NCAA and the drug cartels of Colombia ? Oh so it’s illegal to smuggle narcotics into this country for ill gotten gains while supplying that ever increasing band of drug users dependent on these narcotics. It’s not exactly stopped the big pharmaceutical companies in acting the way that they’ve been allowed even with the FDA as a conduit . Merely look at the billions made by these companies and the financial windfall it creates for the federal government by way of the taxes ? That’s simply the only difference between the two entities in question and the way that the government views their activities by way of its legality.

The championship game sponsored by Tostitos and to be played between the SEC’s —– Auburn (Tigers) led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and coached by Gene Chizik hope to convey why it is that they’re favored to win this matchup against the Oregon (Ducks). Both teams will have their slew of vociferous supporters up and down the country. And I’ve no doubt that there’ll be a certain East Coast – West Coast bias to this matchup and the feelings to be had between the fans and perhaps the nation at large. If anything these matchups are essentially driven by the appeal of the what the nation’s programmers’ wish to see , in order that they can attain the best returns possible by way of a televised audience.

Oregon for its part coached by Chip Kelly and led by Darron Thomas at quarterback with running back LaMichael James are sure to make this game a competitive one. We may well have been spoiled in recent years by the exploits of the Florida Gators , Texas Longhorns and that of USC but this game could very well match that classic of between the Trojans and Longhorns when they were led by Matt Leinart and Vince Young respectively . Both players in question were able to parlay those feats into careers within the NFL . Young for his part may not be long with the Tennessee Titans where his career has plummeted as fast as a meteorite falling from the sky. Leinart has yet to show his true guile for the NFL and if anything his being coddled while at USC may well have something to do with the fact that he’s yet to meet the expectations that many felt he was capable of.

This game will come down to one of two things how capable both defenses are at stopping the potent offensive threats that either side can display in terms of their respective pass and running attacks. If neither can actually stymie the other in that respect then we could end up with a high scoring game and one wherein yardage could be off the charts. Will it be what the fans want to see at the end of the day ………..who can say ? The national championship games haven’t always been entertaining but they seem to fill that void in airtime that the programmer has no other product at their disposal to display , so make of it what you will.

The Tigers’ Cam Newton despite his off the field issues will be looking to put an emphatic stamp on this season having led his team to the SEC championship game (56-17) and winning the Heisman Trophy with ease. It’d be indicative of the player at this juncture of the season to simply stamp his authority on it by showing why he’s the best college player in the game. Given the recent exploits of Stanford’s Andrew Luck there may well be a great deal more on the line with the perception that Newton could enter the NFL Draft for the untold riches that can be garnered there. Whether or Newton can and will be allowed exploit the weaknesses of the Oregon Ducks will be largely dependent upon the skill-set of that Ducks’ defense.

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Picture gallery for your perusal.

Oregon I’ve no doubt will come into this game being viewed as the underdogs by the press , public and no doubt the oddsmakers in Vegas. But I’d dare say that they’re keen to pull off the upset and show the nation what they’re truly capable of. Throughout much of the season Oregon has systematically played uptempo and they’ve literally destroyed some of their opponents almost at will. When tested at times they’ve risen to the occasion in more ways than one, showing their deftness in all phases of the game. This game will be a battle of wills and the coaching staff of both teams had better have their battle plans drawn and ready . If not, then one of these teams will find itself in the midst of an incessant onslaught and the ensuing battle could very well be viewed as being one sided and something of bore for the fans watching.

With the $17,500,000 at stake for the winner apart from the privilege of raising the the crystal trophy to signify that they’ve been crowned national champions. Along with it all comes the bragging rights and a great deal of prestige for the winning team and its program. Recruits will no doubt be watching with a great deal of interest and given the exposure that such a game brings they can’t help but feel that’s where they’re going to want to be ……….. on collegiate football’s grandest stage playing for a national title. The end goal being to showcase their talents for the watchful eyes for the NFL general managers and scouts also who are watching. It’s every young kids’ dream as well as that of the players who will be on display this upcoming Monday were the game is scheduled to be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium , Glendale , Arizona ,.

How have you viewed the games that have taken place during this Bowl season and what if anything to your mind has been the bright spot so far ? And are you as such entirely interested in the outcome of the national championship game ? Furthermore , what are your feelings on how the BCS system works and why they’re unwilling to adopt a playoff system ? Simply chime in with a comment as to your thoughts on the matter .

NB: Auburn Tigers’ roster

Head coach Gene Chizik

Tigers’ coaching staff

Oregon Ducks’ roster

Head coach Chip Kelly

Oregon Ducks’ coaching staff

BCS National rankings as of 12/05/10

Click here to get the latest college football news.

Alan aka tophatal …………………………………………

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Leonie Nicole

Eye candy for you all . Leoni Nicole and a small montage of this beauty.

Hello and good morning ! It’s a hell of a day don’t you think ?

Leonie Nicole 2

Naughty but simply nice !

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John Legend feat’g Common & The Roots ……..”Wake Up Everybody”

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The Sporting Weekend And All That It Entailed …………

The Sporting Weekend And All That It Entailed …………

Here’s a thought has the World Series been a complete a disappointment for you ? Are the teams within the NFC really that bad or as the NFL hierarchy would have us believe that parity is a good thing ? The NBA season has already began and all of the hyperbole concerning the Miami Heat has been tempered by the team’s loss to the Boston Celtics in their season opener .

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College Football is still trying to creat the intrigue and suspense by alluding to the fact that for the very first time we could end up with an apperance of a none BCS conference team playing in the national championship. I liken that particular premise to the fact that we’re no closer to finding the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden but US intelligence sources repeatedly tell us that we have Al Qaeda is on the run. The caveat here being that the words intelligence sources and US being used in the same sentence as it concerns an agency within the US government. Isn’t it bad enough that the nation at large has little or no faith in either political party much less the President and his Cabinet ? But these are the idiocies of the times we now live in , where we’re asked to follow like sheep and listen to the venerable diatribe of waste and see the incompetency of our elected officials. Come the November 2nd change may well be coming but not in the real shape or form that many might be seeking . It’ll be more of the same as usual , so simply be prepared to take more of the now prescribed medicine .

Week 8 in the NFL and we saw how bad namely the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings really are. And needless to say the two main focal points here are two individuals who simply don’t know how are willing to accept any responsibility for their actions. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones offered an apology to the team’s fans for their failures this season and when one bears in mind that this was one the teams favored to make it to the Superbowl . Then one might begin to ask isn’t this now all …… too little too late , now coming from the team owner ?

Vikings’ quarterback Brett Favre has seen his and the team’s season simply spiral out of control. Statistically Favre’s ratings are on the lower rungs of the league’s list of quarterbacks . And for those who held out hope that the addition of Randy Moss would bring about some change in the team’s fortunes well they might as well have been looking for some semblance of intelligent thinking being put forth by Paris Hilton or one of the elder Kardashian sisters. Now all one awaits are the statements to be made by team coach Brad Childress and that of Favre , himself and the latest reason’s behind the team’s dismal failure. The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings between them are a combined 3-11 within the NFC and it doesn’t augur well for their rest of either team’s season. Favre is now said to be suffering from his injury and it was there for all to see how much he labored in the Vikings’ loss 28-18 to the New England Patriots. And one could easily surmise by saying that the Vikings’ season has all but come to an an end. Any thought of them being in with a chance of the making the playoffs would be minute at best.

With the Texas Rangers now down 3-1 in the best of seven World Series I can’t help but wonder if this is what the MLB ___ hierarchy had in mind ? And one sincerely doubts this is what Fox Sports had in mind when they envisaged what they may well have felt what would be an evenly matched series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. In the four games played so far it now appears that the Rangers are bereft of the will to win and the series is about to become an unimitigated disaster for the broadcast network’s coverage. Ratings’ wise it has been none plus and the fact that Ron Washington’s _____ team’s showing has been none descript and must now have fans wondering why bother to carry on watching ? Giants’ know that with their team now having Rangers on the ropes all that is needed is the decisive knockout punch to make what would be the inevitable result a foregone conclusion .

So Oregon lives to fight another day and not a moment too soon as the number one ranked teams were falling off the top of the BCS rankings as if there’d been some sort of voodo ritual cast upon those teams. The Ducks’ annihilation of the USC Trojans ____ 53-32 was enough to justify to me that they are the best collegiate team in the nation bar none ! And I certainly don’t think that coach Chip Kelly is overly concerned what the rest of the nation thinks as he now knows that his team’s fate and destiny is theirs to decide. Win out and they will be playing for the national title …….’nough said !

For me the NBA season doesn’t truly start until after Christmas as by then most teams should be in a steady rhythm and finding their way. The NFL on the other hand will be close to winding down and there several teams will most certainly will know their immediate fates. But let’s all put our hands together and applaud the hapless Cowboys and Vikings for putting together such a hideous and mediocre season. All that allaged talent on the field and even less coaching talent off it. Zygi Wilf and Cowboys’ counterpart Jerry Jones might just be two of the biggest dickwads in professional franchise sports ownership today and that is with due with respect to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ___ ownership group. And any hopes that Wilf and the Vikings front office had in perhaps conning the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota in financing a new stadium has essentially gone up in smoke after this disastrous season . And Favre is still guaranteed $20 million for this season ? WTF ?

Whatever ails us doesn’t neccessarily cure us but I’d certainly like to think that all of the hyperbole will now die down and we can forget about the Miami Heat marauding through the Eastern Conference and then plundering the rest of the NBA like the Norsemen ___ Vikings. This team after all is human in spite of the idiocy of the claims being made for NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy . Now here’s someone whose lone claim to fame to my mind was his idiotic action in trying to fell Alonzo Mourning by grabbing the center by his ankles and trying to separate him from a Knicks’ player during a multiple player altercation and melee’ that took place at Madision Square Gardens somes years ago . It was comical enough to have me in stitches and I’m sure that people who witnessed it live or via television may well found the scene laughable as well ! Van Gundy for his part seems to have backtracked on his claim that the Heat would surpass the 95-96 Chicago Bulls’ 72-10 win tally of that historic season. Now I know why it is that famed character actor Vincent Schiavelli may have spawned Jeff through some genetic mutation …… stupid is as stupid looks !

The season is still in its infancy and we’re not about to see anything truly spectacular about to happen as of yet but I’m sure that the NBA hierarchy led by Commissioner David Stern will still want us all to buy into the feeding frenzy created by the offseason circus and travails of his of superstars and a number of teams . The league in its infinite wisdom has made its brand more about the ego and marketing of its players rather than the teams themselves and it’s now coming back to bite it in the proverbial ass in more ways than Stern himself would care to admit. So let’s hope for Stern’s sake that the season is a truly competitive and successful one for his sake because if as he’s alluded to they’re on their way to losing in excess of 450 million this year alone then someone has to put a smile on his and the owners’ faces. So why not the long suffering fans who’ll be asked to part with much of their discretionary income for a a brand that has become so out of touch with reality , the marketplace and even its very own fans ?

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Picture gallery for your perusal. By clicking on indvidual frame you can view that picture in its original formatted size .

What sporting event this past weekend has been or provided you with the most interest ? And as such with the San Francisco Giants being newly crowned as the 2010 World Series champions were you entirely happy with the outcome and baseball season as a whole ? Simply chime in with your comments as you see fit and thanks as always for the continued support !

NB: Click on the links below to view the latest news , scores and views .

MLB news

MLB scoreboard

MLB 2010 World Series

NBA scores

NBA news

NBA Conference Standings …… Divisional

NFL news

NFL Week 8 scores

NFL Standings ….Divisional

NFL Standings Conference

NFL Standings by League

NFL Week 9 schedule

BCS Football rankings

NCAA Football scoreboard

NCAA Football news

Alan aka tophatal ……………… 🙂

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Angel-Lola-Luv

Eye candy Angel ‘Lola’ Luv

What In The Wild World of Sports ?

What In The Wild World of Sports ?

It’s been such a misnomer to see the start of the college football season and the thinking in the first few games we’ll see the major programs that are part of the BCS simply come out and dominate. Considering that before they undertake their divisional schedules they’re essentially playing a number of powder puff teams merely to get of the curve in the rankings. Personally I find the whole college makeup a complete farce to begin with ! Essentially it comes down to the fact that the major BCS conferences and the criteria set by those who set the rules have made it nigh on impossible for none BCS schools to be considered for a shot of playing for the national championship.

And considering the asinine notion that this ultimately is the best step forward in determining a national champion is such a farce ! The only way to have a national champion, is to make the whole championship makeup all inclusive to BCS programs as well as none inclusive programs and the divisions thereof.

OK so the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres are having a meltdown that could end up being so cataclysmic that it could prove to be scary for their fans and for those who are now witnessing the fallout from this all. Both teams had sizable leads within their respective divisions. And it says a great deal that both Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are now making the divisional races within NL East and NL West so exciting. Who’d have thought that we would be now seeing the two teams who have in essence have been two of the biggest surprises of the baseball season ? Should both the Braves and Padres fall out of contention for a postseason berth then we can say that much of his came about from their own inconsistencies down the stretch runs of their respective seasons.

And for Bobby Cox of the Braves and Bud Black of the Padres they can rest assured that with this season having been filled with surprises.It has to be said that for the raves and Padres should their season fall apart the window of opportunity will most certainly haven’t left either organization. Both teams seem to be building for the future and that has to be a refreshing theme for both ballclubs.

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Before the NFL season has even began it’d appear that the silly season has started. Matt Leinart has been cut by the Arizona Cardinals. And for the former first round draft pick his fall from grace has been truly amazing. But then again for a player who’d set out to show his worth he’s been a failure in the NFL. Now Leinart having been cut he has signed a one year contract with the Houston Texans where he’ll be a backup to the incumbent number one quarterback Matt Schaub . And for Leinart this just might the last chance for the player to actually prove himself . And if you thought Leinart’s situation was bad well consider the situation concerning the Seattle Seahawks’ T J Houshmanzadeh ? The player having signed a five year $45 million contract contract with the team in 2008 Houshmanzadeh now finds himself without a team having been cut by Seattle’s coach Pete Carroll .

The Seahawks are now looking for a new direction as Carroll seeks to give this team an identity.And for a team that has seen its window of opportunity slowly close over the past few years from inconsistent play and the lack of a real coaching pedigree since the departure of Mike Holmgren from the organization. The departure of Houshmanzadeh from this team may not be the only thing that’s needed to resurrect its fortune as Carroll has certainly got to prove himself upon his return to the NFL where lack of success left him beaten and a lost soul within the NFL ranks. His sojourn within the collegiate ranks has proven to be cathartic and an unprecedented success with the USC Trojans . But now we’re finding out that the real truth as to what was taking place inside of the program and to an extent the part ultimately played in it all by Carroll. His departure from the program was akin to a thief fleeing in the night from the scene of his most recent crime. And for those Trojans’ fans still smarting out there and who’ve blinded by the successes , merely look at what has transpired under his regime and ask yourself has it all been worth it ? And one has to ask what was the part of the athletics department in all of this ? Surely a number of those there were aware as to what was going on ? Or are we to believe that this all was solely down to the behavior of the athletes involved in the subterfuge ? Somehow those within the athletics department and the faculty new about this but would rather turn a blind eye to it all essentially because of the money that there was to be made. And made money they did ……..millions if not tens of millions of dollars.

What to make of the constant whining within the NFL at present and the mere fact that both Commissioner Roger Goodell and his union representative counterpart DeMaurice Smith seem intent on wrecking any chance of coming to an agreement with regard to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement. Allegedly this has all become about who ought to have the biggest slice of the pie and how each side seems to be pleading poverty ? Nothing says bullshit than that of a bunch of multi-millionaire owners and players acting like a bunch of primadonas ! But to make things even appear all so much worse is the mere fact that neither side seems to be taking into account that goodwill that has now been lost with the fans. If both Goodell and Smith think that they can now win back the fans after all the idiocy that has been taking place between both parties. Then these two now make the partisanship between the Democrats and Republicans seem like the congregation of a church gathering where everyone seems to be enamored with everyone. In the case of both the NFL and NFLPA we’re seeing both parties act like the ongoing feuding between the Israelis and Palestinians. And as we now all know there’s been no love lost between the feuding groups over the decades. Similarly here, there has been little trust between the league (NFL) and the union(NFLPA). And while there has been no major labor unrest in over a decade this all could all very well change within the next few months should things not change and an impasse remain.

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

What if anything has you wondering about the situation within the NFL as well as that of the two races mention within the NL East and NL West as they now proceed down to the closing stretch of the season ? Chime on in with a comment as you deem fit and as always thanks for the continued support as it’s appreciated !

NB: Having been cut T J Houshmanzadeh signed a one year $850,000 contract to play in Baltimore this upcoming season with the Baltimore Ravens .

🙂

Alan aka tophatal ………………… 🙂

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UB 40 …… “Rat In My Kitchen “

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Kelly Brook

Lingerie model Kelly Brook

ESPN Acronym Entertainment Sports Programming Network …………………

ESPN Acronym Entertainment Sports Programming Network

The title says it all…ESPN. It’s no longer a sports broadcast network. It’s merely a network that happens just to broadcast sports. It’s main shtick is to get an assortment of former jocks coaches and journalists whose best days are behind them to give us their insight on a number of sports events.

Now to say that they actually provide us with any insight, is to say that you’d be able to understand any one of the numerous legislative documents that’s passed as a bill in the US Senate. As we all know there’s more legalese in those precise documents than anyone would care to acknowledge.

To listen to the likes of Chris Berman, Mark Schlereth,Desmond Howard, Lee Corso, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Mark May, Lou Holtz, Jesse Palmer and others within what is meant to be a professional programming establishment. Well, it’s reminiscent of listening to a bunch of drunken old farts talk about the days when they were actually very good jocks in high school. Of late, ESPN has become as controversial as some of the athletes that it covers. What of the reports of sexual harassment by certain analysts against female employees ? And one can well understand why it is that they’re saying that ESPN has become similar to that of a male oriented adult club. And the network itself, has been less than forthright when it has come to light when one of ‘their esteemed’ on air personalities gets caught in a plot of sexual intrigue. And now the idiocy of listening to Lou Holtz opine of the merits of Notre Dame as an esteemed football colossus. Well, it now borders on being asinine, given the fact that the Irish’s football program is about as relevant as a piece of dog excrement that’s stuck to the sole of your shoe.

Once again the asinine and incessant rants of Lou Holtz. And his justification in stating that Notre Dame is still a relevant collegiate football program.

My biggest gripe however, is listening to the paeans within ESPN try and legitimize the BCS system as being fair. One man, one vote is fair ! The BCS system most definitely , is not fair !And what does it say about the system wherein, it denies the right of lesser programs to be part of the national championship process ? But yet for certain members of the BCS conferences, a chance to play in a Bowl Game game if they meet the criteria of winning 7 games as a benchmark. To me, that’s preposterous and lessens what the BCS ought to be about. But considering that the six major conferences that essentially makes up the system is rife with graft. And the fact the only incentive for which the BCS stands -that’s essentially to make money for those conferences and it major partners. None more so than the networks that carry the games. They, if anything have more to gain, if the current system stays the way that it is and for the scenario to play itself out.The deck is stacked right from the start, as too is the veracity of what it is that ESPN purports to portray to us in terms of their coverage of college football and a wide variety of other sports that they broadcast.

What is now becoming even more telling, is that the network doesn’t try to be impartial as to the way it provides its analysis for the viewer to consume. One can appreciate that the viewer wants to hear the insights of the analysts. But they also want to be informed and be informed with insightful information. And not essentially anecdotes from their playing or coaching days. If that was what the fans desired, then they would be clamoring for it. That doesn’t appear to be the case at present for the viewer when ESPN’s analysts decide to regale us with their alleged insight and anecdotes.

Jesse Palmer discusses his career in the NFL , or lack of one as the case maybe

Thankfully, as the regular season of college football comes to a close. I for one just hope that the championship games that we’ll be privileged to see by way the respective conferences are a great deal better than that of the major Bowl games, themselves. God knows, more often than not, they‘ve either tended to be competitive or just downright abysmal, in terms of the quality of the play between the two teams.

Corso gives it to you straight from the horse’s ass – in other words, his mouth.

ESPN and the BCS system , two peas in a pod. Essentially flawed from the outset and it’ll continue be flawed until radical changes are made , in order for there to be some perception of fairness. It’d be a great deal better than what we’re being offered at present. But then again one doubts that either set about to be perfect or fair to begin with. It’s been essentially about the chance of making money and not much else beyond that. Both the BCS system and ESPN , whatever it all entails are merely there to entertain us, nothing more nothing less. What both ESPN and BCS conferences have been failing to realize , is that they’ve failed to deliver on both counts. And it’s not as if they were concerned to begin with. Had they done so , then perhaps there wouldn’t be the outrage we’re now seeing ?

Week 12 College Football Results

(6) Boise State 52-21 Utah State


Colorado 28-31 (12) Oklahoma State


(9) Ohio St 21-10 Michigan


(1) Florida 62-3 Florida Int’l


California 34-28 (14)Stanford


Too see the complete Week 11 College Football results in their entirety click here ………………

When Practicing Safe Sex It’s Always Best To Wear A Trojan

When Practicing Safe Sex It’s Always Best To Wear A Trojan

It’s said to be 99.444 % safe when wearing a prophylactic during sex but then there are times when it proves to be fruitless. Well on Saturday night the USC Trojans played the Oregon Ducks in a PAC-10 game. The result was a 47-20 shellacking that the USC Trojans (6-2[3-2]) took at the hands of the Oregon Ducks (7-1[5-0]) . At this time of the season every game is essentially a must win for a team , especially those with postseason ambitions as far as a BCS Bowl appearance is concerned. But for Pete Carroll and his Trojans , a Bowl appearance is but a half measure. Season in season out theirs is the ambition to be part of the BCS national championship landscape.

Trojans' coach Pete Carroll on the sidelines of the game against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday . The Trojans would go on to suffer their worst loss under Carroll in a rather lopsided and humiliating 47-20 defeat at the hands of Oregon . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark J Terrill ..............

Tojans’ coach Pete Carroll on the sidelines of the PAC-10 game against the University of Oregon. The USC Trojans would go on to suffer a humiliating and lopsided 47-20 loss to their conference rivals. It was the largest such defeat suffered by Carroll as a coach of the Trojans. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark J. Terrell ………

Well unfortunately, for Carroll and his Trojans their divisional match up against the Ducks prove to one of the experiences that were it one of sexual nature it would’ve proved to be one that the Trojans would want to forget. Let’s just say the condom burst for some inexplicable reason. In this case it stemmed from the fact that it wasn’t properly fitted to the appropriate appendage. How else can one explain USC’s largest game defeat under the tenure of the coach , Pete Carroll ? To say that they played badly would be to suggest that they had a bad day at the office. Here literally, they just didn’t turn up.

Carroll’s defense gave up over 600 yards of complete offense, against a team that in essence has played somewhat inconsistently throughout the season , thus far. And the humiliation of this defeat will certainly not be lost on the detractors who’ve suggested the Trojans are an overrated team. If anything, they’ve proved this season that this has been the case.They were completely outplayed in every facet of the game by Oregon . And as the game went on ,the more one could see that there was literally no way that USC could play their way back into this game . And even if they were able to play their way back in , then there was always the thought that they would still relinquish any advantage that they’d built up.

Courtesy of Los Angeles Times:

Trojans are knocked defenseless ……..

USC gives up 613 yards and suffers the worst loss in the Pete Carroll era.

By Gary Klein

Welcome to their nightmare.

USC’s hopes for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game are over.

So, almost certainly, are the Trojans’ chances of winning an eighth consecutive Pacific 10 Conference title.

Both ended Saturday night at Autzen Stadium when 10th-ranked Oregon handed fourth-ranked USC its worst loss of the Pete Carroll era, a 47-20 pounding before a delirious Halloween night crowd of 59,592.

On a cold night in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LaMichael James chilled the Trojans to the bone with outstanding performances for the Ducks, who are in complete control of the Pac-10 race with designs on a BCS bowl game bid.

“That was a real mess,” Carroll said outside the Trojans’ locker room after the Ducks manhandled a Trojans team that was fifth in the BCS standings.

USC players appeared stunned after the Ducks rolled up 613 yards, the second-most ever yielded by the Trojans.

“They hit us in the mouth and kept hitting us in the mouth,” senior safety Taylor Mays.

The Trojans, who fell to 6-2 and 3-2 in the Pac-10, had no answer against an Oregon team that is 7-1 and in the Pac-10 driver’s seat at 5-0.

After being exposed in the second half of victories over Notre Dame and Oregon State, USC’s defense went from bent to broken.

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The Trojans had absolutely no answer whatsoever against the Oregon Ducks at any time during the four quarters of play. They were not blindsided by this team but if anything, the Trojans were ill prepared for the demands placed on them by Oregon. They were ran ragged by a team that merely wanted the win more than USC could have wanted. And as to USC’s PAC-10 ambitions ? Well it’s gone in the wind, much like their national title ambitions. A two loss team is essentially a dead man walking. No one wants to be in their shoe ! And should USC make to a postseason bowl berth , what are they are going to say ? Oh we made it ! Well considering the USC program and the heights and achievements attained under Carroll. This loss equivocally makes a dent in their ambitions and recruiting wise ,it may well be make a potential recruit think twice . But that’s unlikely to happen as the USC program is still viewed as one of the better collegiate football programs out there.

Ducks' quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (8) evades the tackle attempt made by USC linebacker Malcolm Smith during the first quarter of their game on Saturday . picture appears courtesy of latimes.com/ Wally Skalij .................

Ducks’ quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (8) evades the tackle attempt made by USC linebacker Malcolm Smith during the first quarter of the game on Saturday played at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. picture appears courtesy of latimes.com/ Wally Skalij ……………

The reverberations of this loss will be felt right across the football landscape and it may well also taint the luster of the USC program . The loss was one thing but the margin of the loss ? Well that would to suggest that it was a mere slight and one could overlook it as nothing more than an aberration. But realistically, the nature of the loss was so embarrassing that I have to ask what direction is the Trojans’ program now heading in ? Is the talent there – that the Trojans are said to be recruiting ? Or better yet, is Carroll now merely thinking that Trojans’ name alone will be enough to get an athlete to peek inside the world that is the University of South California football program and be impressed what there is to see ? If that’s the case then he’s clearly misjudging the situation and quite possibly the magnitude of what this loss may well suggest.

Damien Williams of USC dives into the endzone for the score in between Ducks' players Talmadge Jackson III and John Boyett during the second quarter of the PAC-10 conference played between the two divisional rivals . picture appears courtesy of latimes.com / Wally Skalij .................

Damien Williams of USC makes it into the endzone diving between Oregon Ducks’ players Talmadge Jackson III and John Boyett during the second quarter of the PAC-10 conference game played between the two divisional rivals. picture appears courtesy of latimes.com/ Wally Skalij ………..

There’s also one thing that I’ve always thought about the PAC-10 and in particular the schedule that UCS affixes for itself . It’s littered with games that are absolutely meaningless when they’re playing the likes of ’The Little Sisters of The Poor And Downtrodden ’. Games such as this are tawdry and are of no benefit – when they’re essentially non competitive . They , in no way test the players of USC. And what’s even worse, is the fact that many of the Trojans ’ fans look upon those games as having some meaning. But perhaps the biggest faux pas might the fact that the analysts and the idiots of the BCS actually pay attention to these games and actually think that they’re of some benefit to a program. In essence however, the BCS and its polling system is nothing more than another money making aspect of collegiate football and its already flawed system. But that’s a topic for another day and time.

USC cornerback Kevin Thomas (15) lands awkwardly after breaking up a pass intended for the Oregon Ducks' wide receiver Jeff Maehl during the game between the two PAC-10 conference rivals played at Autzen Stadium , in Eugene , Oregon. picture appears courtesy of latimes.com/ Wally Skalij ..............

USC cornberback, Kevin Thomas lands awkwardly after breaking up a pass intended for Oregon Ducks’ wide receiver Jeff Maehl in a game played between the two PAC-10 conference rivals at Autzen Stadium , Eugene Oregon. picture appears courtesy of latimes.com/ Wally Skalij ………….

Bear this in mind ,what took place on Saturday would either suggest that the Trojans’ program is on the decline . Or it may well be,there’s a lesson to be learned for Pete Carroll and his team. I for one,think it may well lie in between the two scenarios mentioned . But that’s just merely speculation on my part, nothing else mind you ! As for your own thoughts by all means chime on in with a comment. I’ll most certainly look forward to reading them and responding in kind.

Poll rankings :

Bowl Subdivisions Polls

AP Top 25
1.Florida (30) 2.Alabama (23) 3.Texas (7) 4.USC 5.Cincinnati 6.Boise St. 7.Iowa 8.TCU 9.LSU 10.Oregon 11.Georgia Tech 12.Penn St. 13.Oklahoma St. 14.Virginia Tech 15.Houston 16.Pittsburgh 17.Ohio St. 18.Miami (FL) 19.Utah 20.West Virginia 21.South Carolina 22.Oklahoma 23.Arizona 24.Mississippi 25.Notre Dame

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USA Today Poll
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Florida (50) 8-0 1463
2 Texas (4) 8-0 1395
3 Alabama (5) 8-0 1390
4 TCU 8-0 1182
5 Boise State 8-0 1176
6 Iowa 9-0 1161
7 Cincinnati 8-0 1150
8 Oregon 7-1 1079
9 LSU 7-1 1062
10 Penn State 8-1 966
11 Georgia Tech 8-1 934
12 Ohio State 7-2 730
13 USC 6-2 729
14 Pittsburgh 7-1 694
15 Houston 7-1 672
16 Utah 7-1 567
17 Miami (FL) 6-2 549
18 Oklahoma State 6-2 371
19 Arizona 5-2 320
20 Oklahoma 5-3 313
21 Notre Dame 6-2 281
22 Wisconsin 6-2 204
23 California 6-2 197
24 Virginia Tech 5-3 193
25 Brigham Young 6-2 106

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The Guys With The Biggest Mouths In The Room Aren’t Always The Bravest Or The Brightest ……………… !

The Guys With The Biggest Mouths In The Room Aren’t Always The Bravest Or Brightest

Well it came down to nothing more than having your backside smacked because of your posturing . And when it was all said and done a number of teams were extremely lucky to escape a fate that could’ve been far worse than envisaged.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and team coach Charlie Weis discuss the options for the last play of the game against the USC (Trojans). Notre Dame would go on to lose the game 34-27 when Clausen's last ditch attempted pass was an incomplete into the endzone. The game was played in South Bend, Indiana,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Michael Conroy ..................
Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and team coach Charlie Weis discuss the options for the last play of the game against the USC (Trojans). Notre Dame would go on to lose the game 34-27 when Clausen's last ditch attempted pass was an incomplete into the endzone. The game was played in South Bend, Indiana,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Michael Conroy ..................

USC (Trojans) escaped by the skin of their teeth , by beating Notre Dame 34-27 . This was the game where the Fighting Irish would give the Trojans a fight. And in many ways they did . But can we now have Lou Holtz and NBC as apologists for the program stop with the belly aching as to the relevancy of the program ? A win they say would give Notre Dame coach, Charlie Weis, something of a respite for those who ate calling for his head to be placed on a pike.

Weis seen here discussing his landing the recruitment of Manti Te’o . One would think that the Notre Dame roster is replete with All Americans ? With the exception of Golden Tate , there isn’t much on this team to be get excited about !

And I’m given to believe that because this program is meandering aimlessly nowhere under Weis’ watch.That he’s made it better than it was , under his predecessor, Tyrone Willingham ? The only reason that Weis has lasted this long , is merely from the fact that he brings in the ‘big bucks’ via the boosters and from the Fightin’ Irish alumni across the country. And it certainly hasn’t hurt the program Head of NBC Sports , Dick Ebersol is a Notre Dame grad. How else can one explain the fact that they’ve seen fit to plow millions of dollars into covering Notre Dame , whilst getting little in return via a tangible onfield product ? But then again what they’re now serving up on NBC isn’t all that great to begin with. I mean, when 5 hours of primetime television is devoted to a revamped ‘The Jay Leno Show’ that has now become so stale that even the vultures no longer bother to circle the entrails. You know that there’s got to be something wrong with their programming to begin with ! And if anyone is of the opinion that because Notre Dame recently appeared in a non-descript ‘bowl game’ , such as the Hawaii Bowl (2008) , it adds to the program’s luster. Then think again because if anything , it only adds to their embarrassment to begin with. Especially given Weis’ track record since his arrival in South Bend. One could surmise that they’ve greatly underachieved with Weis at the helm ?

Gators' running back Jeffery Demps celebrates with teammate , wide receiver David Nelson, after scoring a 10- yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Arkansas played in Gainesville , Fl. The Gators would go on to defeat the Razorbacks 23-20 in a hard fought game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ John Raoux .....................
Gators' running back Jeffery Demps celebrates with teammate , wide receiver David Nelson, after scoring a 10- yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Arkansas played in Gainesville , Fl. The Gators would go on to defeat the Razorbacks 23-20 in a hard fought game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ John Raoux .....................

On the other hand the number one ranked Florida (Gators) defeated Arkansas (Razorbacks) 23-20, with a field goal against a 25 point underdog. And if you’re of the opinion that Florida still warrants being ranked # 1 after Saturday’s erratic display. Then you’re sadly mistaken. Florida barely escaped by the skin of their teeth and though as they say “ ……. a win is a win “ . At the end of the day it’s how you win that really does count – Florida won ugly ! Need I say anymore ?

Purdue wide receiever Adam Wolf (26) reacts after recovering a fumble by Buckeyes' wide receiver Ray Small (82) on a punt return during the second quarter of the game . It was one opf several turnovers committed during the game by the Buckeyes and it led to their unraveling ensuring the loss to the Boilermakers 28-16 in the game played in West Lafayette , Ind,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Darron Cummings .........................
Purdue wide receiever Adam Wolf (26) reacts after recovering a fumble by Buckeyes' wide receiver Ray Small (82) on a punt return during the second quarter of the game . It was one opf several turnovers committed during the game by the Buckeyes and it led to their unraveling ensuring the loss to the Boilermakers 28-16 in the game played in West Lafayette , Ind,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Darron Cummings .........................

Can someone explain to me why it is, year in , year out, there is a cry that the Ohio State (Buckeyes) are lauded as being a team that’s worth taking notice of ? Hardly a worthwhile endorsement when the program has become so passé. Having played the Purdue (Boilermakers) on Saturday the team and its quarterback , Terrell Pryor became unraveled against Purdue. Now the Buckeye fans can stop with the inane stupidity that they have athletes and with a great deal of athleticism on their team. There are geriatrics now residing in residential homes who show more poise than certain members of the Buckeyes’ roster. Purdue defeated Ohio State 28-16 and their national ambitions essentially, has gone up in flames. But then , it’s better to go up in flames now, rather than being embarrassed on the national stage in a national championship game.

Hokies' quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) lies on the field in disbelief after Virginia Tech misses a two point conversion in the latter part of the fourth quarter against the Georgia Tech (Yellowjackets). It was a game of missed opportunities for Virginia Tech. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ John Bazemore .......................
Hokies' quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) lies on the field in disbelief after Virginia Tech misses a two point conversion in the latter part of the fourth quarter against the Georgia Tech (Yellowjackets). It was a game of missed opportunities for Virginia Tech. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ John Bazemore .......................

Well if ever there wasn’t a time for the Virginia Tech (Hokies) to implode, then this wasn’t it ! As they lost to their Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rivals Georgia Tech (Yellow Jackets) 28-23 . That would suggest they’re out of contention for the ACC championship. Well for the # 4 ranked Hokies this makes their season somewhat irrelevant . But make of it what you will , as the college football season now embarks on its latter half. Of this we can be sure however , you can brag and strut all you want. But if you’re unable to back up that talk by walking the walk , then you might as well keep your mouth shut.

Alabama coach, Nick Saban is greeted by his opposite number Steve Spurrier of South Carolina after the game between their two teams. Alabama overwhelmed South Carolina 20-6 in a very lopsided game played at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa , Alabama ,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Dave Martin .........................
Alabama coach, Nick Saban is greeted by his opposite number Steve Spurrier of South Carolina after the game between their two teams. Alabama overwhelmed South Carolina 20-6 in a very lopsided game played at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa , Alabama ,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Dave Martin .........................

Now comes the rub , who now at this juncture has the real legitimacy as being the best team in college football ? Could it be Nick Saban’s #2 ranked Alabama (Crimson Tide) ? Who crushed his erstwhile counterpart , Steve Spurrier‘s , South Carolina (Gamecocks), 20-6 . Or quite possibly some other team that the pundits have overlooked ? Let’s just say the polls and the fact that a computer plays a part in the adjudication doesn’t give us all a great deal of joy to begin with. Computers are best used for working out complex algorithmic equations, blogging and for the deviants amongst us , looking at porn</strong. When it becomes part of the panacea of the makeup of the BCS polls . Then it becomes something of an annoyance.