College Football Needs Clarity Please

The college football season ended this past Sunday and the “right” thing happened as Oklahoma the BCS number one ranked team lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl and USC, the coaches and AP number one handled Michigan proving the BCS is a sham and that we need a playoff system.

The Sooners defended their right to be in the BCS by saying they had a tougher strength of schedule and also if it were in the language that they had to win their conference then it would be different. I think all can agree that both are truths but in essence this loss was the way it was supposed to be. You shouldn’t be able to play for the national title if you didn’t even win your conference, because in the end what was playing all those great teams for if you can’t beat, in this case, Kansas State, a team notorious for playing a cheesecake non-conference schedule.

The fact is Oklahoma took K-State for granted because of their recent dominance of the team and the fact that K-State head coach Bill Snyder never won a game versus a top 10 team and was embarrassed and exposed. Especially on offense, where K-State’s defense laid a blueprint for a even quicker more determined LSU squad with already too much incentive to win. Nick Saban, avoided distractions of him moving to the NFL coaching ranks and thought of the bigger picture: his team and the fact he could get paid one dollar more than the highest paid coach in the country who happened to be the opposing coach Bob Stoops at a whopping 2.5 million dollars per season.

For the future, to be in a national title game being a conference should be a must and also if you have a split champion lets play it out with one last game in late January. Really who loses? You know both teams want to play, the schools and television will make lots of cash and I know they don’t really care that much about student athletes. Throw in some corporate sponsorship and it’s a wrap. If you aren’t going to do the best solution which is implement a playoff system using the current bowls to lead up to an eventual championship game at a rotating location this would be the next best thing.

Early NFL Playoff Predictions

The NFL Divisional Playoffs are this week and all four matchups have the best going against the best with all division leaders except AFC North winning Baltimore making it through the wildcard round. So which division was the most competitive? We are sure to find out this week as in AFC the number one seed New England hosts five seed Tennessee, and number two seed Kansas City hosts three seed Indianapolis. In the NFC (1) Philadelphia hosts (4) Green Bay and (2) St. Louis hosts (3) Carolina.

Injury riddled New England should feel refreshed after a week bye and with recently Coach Of The Year recipient Bill Belichick will have the edge. He’s going to take one aspect of your offense away so you have to be able to be diverse in your game plan. Tennessee fresh a defeat of the Baltimore Ravens should be confident that most teams going into Gillette Stadium as they played there early this year losing – to – in October. Titans quarterback Steve McNair was named co-MVP but struggled throwing three interceptions last Saturday versus Ray Lewis and company. Eddie George carried the ball for over 100 yards last game and carried the team throughout the game despite suffering a separated shoulder during the second quarter. I look for this game to be about which team can get the most pressure on the quarterback and force untimely turnovers. Neither team will run the ball with grand success I see a 28-19 Patriots win.

Kansas City started 9-0 and finish with a 12-4 record good in a weak AFC West but good enough to beat a Payton Manning led team fresh of a shellacking of the Denver Broncos - Manning’s and Head Coach Tony Dungy’s first in the playoffs. Manning through for 5 touchdowns one short of tying the playoff record (6 held by Daryle Lamonica) and the defense held Denver’s potent offense to a paltry – yards on offense highlighted by Portis only having – yards. This was sweet revenge for a loss to the Broncos three weeks ago. Kansas City has struggled against the run late in the season and still looks like a team that needs to score to win. The Chiefs have a advantage, playing at home in Arrowhead where they have played much better defense and have one of the leagues best home crowds. (8-0) I think this game will be about which defense will make the opposing quarterback make the big mistake. Both offenses will establish the run to keep the other team off the field. I see this game being a close, high scoring 30-27 Colts upset. Manning will be big in this contest, no major gambles, no forces and Indy advances.

The Eagles needed the bye week to lick their wounds and adjust to the loss of key players Carlos Emmons and Brian Westbrook. Both arguably were the MVP’s on their respective sides of the ball and will be missed. Coupled with the fact that they are playing a team with revenge on their mind in the Packers who lost to the Eagles 17-10 in November on Monday night and Ahman Green hasn’t fumbled since that Eagles games (fumbling is usually his Achilles heel) and a focused Brett Favre playing inspired by the unfortunate death of his father and this is built up to be quite a matchup. This is where ball control, Donovan McNabb and coaching will prevail. It won’t be pretty but I can’t see Mike Sherman outwitting Andy Reid. Reid and offensive coordinator Brad Childress will design some packages to run the ball and spread the field exposing the Packers secondary. The great thing about Reid and the Eagles is no matter who they played this week they would be familiar with them, whether it was division rival Dallas or west coast offense cohorts Seattle and Green Bay so they know what the Packers like to do. That preparation and the fact that Green Bay played to overtime last Sunday will add fuel to the Eagles fire and McNabb will make another statement as why he should have been a MVP candidate. Eagles win 31-20.

St Louis comes into the Playoffs losing to the Detroit Lions and thereby forfeiting home field advantage. Carolina comes into the game defeating Dallas 29-3 at home and boasts a ball control offense and aggressive defense. St. Louis line has been shaky late in the season and while they have been excellent at home going undefeated this season (8-0) they haven’t seen a D-Line like this with names like Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, and Branson Buckner on it. The pressure of that defensive line will be the biggest factor of the game because if they make St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger turnover the ball (which he does often) it will be curtains. The only way St. Louis hope could avoid this would be to run Marshall Faulk to death, which isn’t Mike Martz cup of tea. Both teams will try multiple receiver sets to stretch out the opposing secondary. The Panthers will run the ball to keep the Rams off the field and will use their speed at wide receiver on turf to their advantage. Expect Ricky Proehl to make a big difference against his old team, I look for this to be a close game with Carolina pulling off the upset 28-26.

The NBA Skinny

The San Antonio Spurs have shut up the early season haters with a 13 game winning streak (a streak that was broken by the Sixers) and look to repeat in the Midwest Division. Tony Parker’s play at point guard has improved and Ron Mercer with rumors of trade swirling around his head has contributed well off the bench. After starting off slow Rasho Nesterovic is looking like a decent tag team partner to Tim” Double-Double” Duncan The Utah Jazz could be the best team in the league using the keyword: team! Jerry Sloan has them competing with the best teams in the league with hustle and those same fundamentals that made Jerry Sloan on of the league’s best dirty workers. The T-Wolves look great and KG is looking like a sure MVP candidate but their inside strength is being tested by the injury prone Michael Olowokandi. Guards Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell have been brilliant on both sides of the ball with Cassell in particular showing more defensive effort.

In the Western Division, the Lakers are playing well despite recent injuries to Karl Malone and Shaquille O’Neal. Gary Payton has had the bigger impact as his defense, scoring ability and awareness has helped the Lakers win despite Kobe’s problems and chemistry problems. The best part about Payton for the Lakers is he moves Derek Fisher, a quality NBA starter to the bench so when he comes off now he can look more to score. The Lakers are neck and neck with the Sacramento Kings sans Chris Webber who led the division and continues to get tremendous attitude and game from off season acquisition Brad Miller. Miller, Stokojavic and the improved play of high flying Gerald Wallace has the Kings on a roll.

In the Central Division the Raptors improved greatly with the acquisition of Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. They jumped to a 5 or 6 seed in my eyes with that move. Detroit has struggled to score but makes sure the other team doesn’t either and they are staying close to central division leader, The division leading Indiana Pacers are getting excellent bench play especially by Al Harrington, steady point play by Kenny Anderson and Ron Artest is having his best overall season. This and the fact that Jermaine O’Neal is playing like a beast makes them my pick for the NBA Finals.

The Atlantic Division is pathetic with the every team having a losing record but if I had to pick one team I think could win the division it would be the Philadelphia Sixers. They have been losing while (3-7) Allen Iverson has been out and are below .500 (15-19) right now but have been giving valuable experience to the younger players which is invaluable. Kyle Korver (34-72 and 47.2 % from 3 point land), Samuel Dalembert (54 blocks, 5.7 points per), and John Salmons (34 steals in 34 games 38% from 3 point land) in particular have been excellent and worthy of much more future minutes. Korver has shown the deep stroke he was praised for in college hitting some clutch shots and Salmons has continues his progress from the off-season, hitting that corner three pointer, slashing to the basket, handling the ball well, and playing great defense. The biggest surprise has been Dalembert. Dalembert was drafted and most knew at best he was going to be a shot blocker cause of his athleticism and long arms but he is also showing an ability to finish around the basket, a soft 10-foot jumper. Remember people before college at Seton Hall (he played at the school for only 2 seasons) he played ball for less than 3 years. I’m not saying he is going to be Hakeem Olaujwon but at least he won’t be Manute Bol. If the Sixers could get the key players on the court at once they could run the Atlantic and give Detroit and Indiana a run for their money in the conference.

The Changing of The Guards

Isiah Thomas was named president of the New York Knicks less than a month ago and has already made a deal that will endear himself to New York fans and players alike for years by acquiring Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, and Cezary Trybanski for Antonio McDyess, Maciej Lampe, two first round picks, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward and the draft rights Milos Vujanic. Marbury from Brooklyn and Penny Hardaway once on of the NBA brightest stars before a rash of injuries with join the high priced Allen Houston to form one of the leagues best backcourts.

Thomas replaced former Knick’s General Manager Scott Layden after years of suspect moves and failures to bring top-level talent to the world’s largest city. Thomas was the Toronto Raptors’ first team president and last coached the Indiana Pacers, building a young squad with plenty of promise before being booted by new team president, and fellow Hall of Famer Larry Bird in favor of his former assistant Rick Carlisle.

Thomas is going to build a team in his own image with defense and toughness taking the top of the most important list. By getting Marbury he brings scoring, passing and the game breaking ability that he had with the Pistons in the late 80’s early nineties. Now Marbury has to show the mental smarts and continue to get everyone involved like he was learning to in Phoenix. He will benefit from having a passive two guard in Houston on the perimeter. Hardaway will bring NBA Finals experience and the ability to score 20 on any given night. Steph driving and kicking to Houston, one of the leagues best shooters will be key and this trade makes the Knicks a team that will contend for the future. Especially when you can throw in Mike Sweetney and Kurt Thomas in the mix.

Although he lost McDyess, he wasn’t playing anyway and was scheduled to be a free agent after the season and would be asking for a big payday based on prior successes.

I’m happy for Zeke Thomas, my favorite little guard of all-time. Getting back in the league and making an immediate impact makes a statement and the Knicks are on he fast track back to respectability. Oh, I don’t think he’s done yet! Maybe Van Horn for Ron Artest is next (just speculating)! The deal would be a crazy move and could benefit both teams.

I can’t root for the Knicks but Zeke has my full support as a fan.