Stiles Points - "So let it be written, so let it be done"

It's okay to hate your arch-rival

2009-11-19T05:41:00.001-05:00

What ever happened to hating your rival?...

At his initial press conference, new Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin basically called out the Florida Gators and said the Vols were going to beat them...Kiffin later got ripped by fans and media as being arrogant...what was Kiffin supposed to say - "I am going to bend over so Urban Meyer can drill us as he did Phil Fulmer the last so many years"?????...

During Lloyd Carr's tenure at Michigan I attended many Michigan-Ohio State games...my father and I would watch Carr and Jim Tressel stand on the field and talk during warm-ups...my dad would ask me, "what could those two be talking about" especially since Tressel was beating Carr on a regular basis...

I am not saying that coaches have to be unsportsmanlike, ala LeBron James walking off the court last season after the Cavaliers got beat by Orlando...but there seems to be too much nicey, nicey in college football...when playing your arch-rival, coaches should shake hands at midfield and wish each other and their opponent well and hope no one gets injured...that's all that needs to be said...

I could care less if the next coach at Michigan was an arrogant ass...look at some of the great football coaches - they were not Mr. Nice Guy - Bill Belichick, Vince Lombardi, and Bill Parcells to name a few...

I loved it when Jimmy Johnson was the head coach at The U and stuck it up Notre Dame's behind in Gerry Faust's last game...I also did not have a problem with Stanford's Jim Harbaugh going for two points against USC last week...Harbaugh was not going to bow down and kiss Pete Carroll's ring finger...instead Harbaugh basically flipped the middle finger at USC and made a statement that Stanford was not going to take it anymore...

Hopefully the next head coach at Michigan has some of the moxy and fire like Kiffin, Johnson, or Harbaugh because I am sick and tired of seeing Michigan coaches being all friendly with Tressel at midfield...Michigan should get the attitude of hating Ohio State - and it all starts with the head coach...

The State of Michigan Football

2009-11-18T05:23:00.001-05:00

The second season of the Rich Rodriguez era is coming to a close with another thud...

Even if by some miracle the Wolverines beat Ohio State on Saturday, the State of the Michigan Football Program is not positive...Patience, patience, patience is what Rich Rod preaches every week to the loyal fan base...but how much more patience can the fans show...the immediate future does not look good...

Two months ago it looked like the Wolverines found their quarterback to run the spread offense in Tate Forcier...but as the season wore on, Forcier regressed to the point that there are internet rumors of him transferring...backup Denard Robinson is a raw talent who defenses know will run the ball every time he enters the game...Michigan has dual threat QB Devin Gardner, from Inkster, Michigan, on campus next year...Gardner has gone on record stating that he plans to win the starting QB job...

The running game will be led by Vincent Smith next season...Smith shows flashes of talent, but he lacks the ability to pound out the yards ala Anthony Thomas...all of Rich Rod's running backs are small and slight of foot...

The receiving corps has a plethora of average to above average kids who do not strike fear in opposing defenses...Roundtree, Odoms, Stonum, Koger are all nice players, but they are not threats...Rich Rod has yet to deliver with a big time college receiver like a Braylon Edwards, David Terrell, or Mario Manningham...

The offensive line lacks depth...proof of this is when center David Molk went down with a foot injury this season...the Wolverines lacked another center ready to step in...instead the offensive line was juggled and Steve Moosmann was forced into duty as the center...we all recall that was a disaster...

On defense - for crying out loud - blow it up!!!!!...Brandon Graham will be in the NFL next year...he was a freakin beast this season and deserves to be a first team All-American...

Other than Graham, the only other bright spots were CB Donovan Warren and DE/OLB Craig Roh...otherwise, this was the worst Michigan defense ever!!!...this unit bled points like blood coming from roadkill on the side of a freeway...

Stud freshman DT William Campbell was non-existent whenever he did make it on the field...Obi Ezeh will be back next season, but he has feet of stone...the cornerbacks have been toast all season...I cannot find any positives with this defense...

Overall, the defense cost Michigan at least 3 games this year...but that does not take the criticism off the offense...Michigan fans have been awaiting this scoring outburst from the spread offense...so far, we have all been disappointed...the offense has been unimpressive...there are no players who are threats...on Lloyd Carr's last team, the Wolverines had Manningham, Mike Hart, Adrian Arrington, and Chad Henne...these guys forced defenses to respect the Michigan offense...these guys could strike from anywhere on the field...now the Michigan offense is scattered with a bunch of average players who cannot take over a game...

There is no doubt Rich Rod will be back for his third season...with Athletic Director Bill Martin retiring, he will not pull the plug on his choice to lead the Michigan football program...Rich Rod needs to make changes on his staff, starting with showing defense coordinator Greg Robinson the door...

It is unacceptable for the Michigan football program to not make a bowl for two straight years...let it happen next year and for sure Rich Rod will be shown the door quickly...

Stanford climbs into Top 16

2009-11-17T05:26:00.001-05:00

1. Florida (10-0) - it wasn't easy, but the Gators survived in Columbia...
2. Texas (10-0) - to me, Colt McCoy is the leader for the Heisman...
3. Alabama (10-0) - the Tide defense has been solid...
4. TCU (10-0) - the Horned Frogs made a clear statement with their whoopin of Utah...
5. Cincinnati (10-0) - Pike is ready to take over the helm for Cinncy...

6. Boise State (10-0) - it looks like Boise is going to be left out of the BCS for the second straight year...
7. Georgia Tech (10-1) - no one is talking about the Jackets and their impressive season...Paul Johnson is the most under-rated coach in the nation...
8. Pitt (9-1) - the Panthers put the final spike in the Charlie Weis era at ND...
9. Ohio State (9-2) - less than a week away from their 6th straight win over Michigan...
10. LSU (8-2) - it wasn't pretty, but LSU won...

11. Iowa (8-2) - the Hawkeyes had numerous chances against Ohio State...but it wasn't meant to be...
12. Stanford (7-3) - this team smoked Oregon and USC in back-to-back weeks...they may have the best running back in the nation in Toby Gerhart...
13. Oregon (8-2) - a nice bounceback after getting booted by Stanford the week before...
14. Penn State (9-2) - another 10 win season is on the horizon for JoePa...but no BCS bowl...
15. Clemson (7-3) - the Tigers have quietly been winning games...
16. Wisconsin (8-2) - the Badgers have been under the radar all year...

Eye Candy
Three of Alabama's best cheerleaders are stylin and profilin...

Marlana Aref - Tampa Bay Buccaneers A-1 cheerleader

2009-11-16T00:26:00.000-05:00

I was spending my usual Friday night sitting at home, watching football, and looking on the internet when I came across this photo on SI.com...her name is Marlana Aref and she is a 20-year-old biomedical science major at South Florida...

Jim Tressel - the man who destroyed Michigan football

2009-11-16T00:21:00.000-05:00

Jim Tressel was hired at Ohio State for one reason and one reason alone - to beat Michigan...he has achieved that with a 7-1 mark against the Wolverines...but Tressel has done even more than just defeat Michigan...he set the wheels in motion that helped destroy the once proud Michigan football program...

His beating of the Wolverines year-in and year-out led to the ouster of Lloyd Carr, a head coach who had a winning record over the Buckeyes until Tressel slithered into Columbus...Michigan's inability to beat Tressel led to Carr's demise and forced retirement...the football program went in a different direction by hiring Rich Rodriguez to implement the spread offense in Ann Arbor...the same spread offense that the Florida Gators ran when they pulverized Ohio State in the BCS title game a few years back...

Well, it hasn't happened in Michigan...not only has the offense been inconsistent, the defense has become putrid...Michigan is looking at two straight losing seasons for the first time since the early 1960s...

Tressel has also whooped Michigan on the recruiting front...the Wolverines have been unable to successfully recruit any of the top players from Ohio ever since Tressel became coach...every year Tressel locks up the top 3-5 football players from the state of Ohio...he also built a solid pipeline of talent from Cleveland Glenville...

Ohio State has been to three BCS title games...the Wolverines have yet to appear in one...Tressel has now taken Ohio State to six straight BCS games while Michigan is looking to extend its streak of non-bowl seasons with another losing season...

Ohio State gets the national spotlight with high profile regular season games against the likes of Texas, USC, and in the future Miami (Fla), Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee...the Wolverines only big non-conference game is against a lame Notre Dame football program which is also living off its once proud past...

When Tressel took over at Ohio State, Michigan was considered the best team in the Big Ten...and in less than 10 years, Tressel consistently smashed the once proud empire of the Maize and Blue and turned it into a pile of rubble...

Ohio State University got more than they expected from Tressel...under his reign they have a BCS championship, six Big Ten titles, and the crowning achievement of totally obliterating the Michigan football program...in Columbus, Tressel may never be considered as famous as Woody Hayes but he can claim to be the only one who destroyed Michigan football - something Woody could not achieve...

The only way Michigan can slow down this bleeding is by stepping up and making a statement on Saturday with a win...that would be their first positive step in a long time over Tressel...

Another disgraceful week for Michigan

2009-11-14T19:39:00.004-05:00

Ohio State wraps up another BCS bowl, Stanford drops 55 on USC, but Michigan does nothing for another week...another disgrace...

Andre Agassi and his past

2009-11-12T05:47:00.002-05:00

Over the last week or so, one of the hot topics in sports centers around Andre Agassi and his autobiography, Open, in which is admits his hate for the sport and his one year use of crystal meth...it seems like most sports fans don't condone Agassi's use of the illegal drug, but do respect his willingness to talk about his mistakes...

After listening to Agassi on yesterday's Dan Patrick Show, it seems like Agassi is not looking for sympathy nor forgiveness...he seems sincere in wanting to set the record straight about his past - something he did not have to do...

I will say, his wife Steffi Graf has aged well and has gotten better looking...in her prime, she came across as someone who not a feminine woman who was ice cold and mechanical...since she retired, she has become more human...

Thank You to all our Veterans

2009-11-11T07:48:00.001-05:00

Larry Johnson deserves another shot

2009-11-11T00:02:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was a guest on "The Dan Patrick Show"...Johnson talked about his issues in Kansas City...he came across as a person who has a desire to be on a winning team...I don't condone Johnson's behavior and at the age of 30-years-old, he has very little left in the tank for a running back...however, I believe Johnson deserves another opportunity and can help a team if in the right situation such as with the Steelers, Patriots, Colts, or Cowboys...listening to Johnson, I was reminded of Randy Moss and his discontent in Oakland...people, like myself, ripped Moss for his behavior on the west coast...but in the end, Moss was correct in his analysis of Oakland and has been a model citizen in New England...

Tonight will be the first big game for new Cleveland Cavalier Shaquille O'Neal...Shaq Diesel was acquired for one reason - to neutralize Dwight Howard...the Cavs take on the Magic...

The Steelers defense looks back in top form since the return of Troy Polamalu...

Is it just me or has the college football season been a bit of a disappointment this year...there seems to lack the excitement of past years...

Youngstown State University will more than likely be looking for a new head football coach after the team's lackluster performance once again with Jon Heacock as the man in charge...I'm calling it now, look for the next head coach to come from the current Ohio State staff...

I just got a feeling that South Carolina is going to give Florida a battle...

Look for Ohio State to thump Iowa especially since Stanzi is out with a foot injury...somehow, Ohio State wormed their way back into another BCS bowl...

There are only 2 individuals that I trust: 1) my dad and 2) my dog...

I watched the ending of ESPN's 30 on 30 segment about Jimmy the Greek...it was a sad ending for The Greek who had so much life in his prime...

Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik is going to wow the hometown crowd in December as he fights another "tomato can" in Youngstown...I believe Pavlik's better days are behind him...he seems to have lost focus...

Thearon "The Pimp" Collier gets 3 huge blocks as The U rolls Virginia

2009-11-10T00:25:00.001-05:00

The SEC gets what it wants - Florida vs. Alabama

2009-11-10T00:01:00.004-05:00

1. Florida (9-0) - the Gators and Tide will be going at it for the SEC title once again...
2. Texas (9-0) - Longhorns can only beat themselves...they are headed to Pasadena...
3. Alabama (9-0) - Tide survives with controversial call...
4. Cincinnati (9-0) - some teams don't have 1 good QB, the Bearcats have 2...
5. Boise State (9-0) - it got a little dicey, the Blue Carpet Boys beat La Tech

6. TCU (9-0) - TCU gets Utah at home this week...the same team that ruined their chance at the Sugar Bowl last year...
7. Georgia Tech (9-1) - Tech survives...no one is talking about them...
8. Pitt (8-1) - Panthers go prime time this week against Notre Dame...this is the type of game where Wannstedt screws up...
9. Southern Cal (7-2) - ugly, ugly win at Arizona State...
10. Ohio State (8-2) - a few weeks back it looked like this team was going to the Outback Bowl...on Saturday they make it official - Pasadena bound...

11. LSU (7-2) - LSU played well, but came up short against the Tide...
12. Oregon (7-2) - typical Ducks...they win a huge game then comeback and lay an egg...a huge disappointment...
13. Iowa (8-1) - when Stanzi went down, so did their dream season...
14. Utah (8-1) - the Utes can make their move if they can upset TCU down in Waco...
15. Arizona (6-2) - the Cats got 4 games to go with three of those games on the road: Cal, Oregon, and USC...
16. Houston (8-1) - I dissed them last week...what the heck, might as well give them #16 spot...

College Football Thoughts
- Penn State played 2 good teams this season - and lost them both - at Happy Valley to boot...
- Terrelle Pryor did not have an impressive stat line, but he made the plays when needed...
- Look for Ohio State to pummel Iowa...
- Is Jon Gruden the front runner for the Notre Dame job...
- It is time for Bobby Bowden to hang it up...

Video Replay
For those of you who missed it, below is the 32 second clip of Cal running back Jahvid Best's scary fall on Saturday...

Eye Candy
Some of the best pieces of ass that God put on this earth - the USC Song Girls...

Tampa Bay's creamsicle uniforms are sweet

2009-11-09T04:53:00.001-05:00

Say what you want, but I love Tampa Bay's old-school uniforms and helmets...

Another record falls at Michigan

2009-11-09T04:48:00.001-05:00

When Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan less than two years ago, the Michigan faithful expected to see records shattered with his Florida Gator-like offense...well, the records have been shattered...in less than two years, the following records have fallen:

- First time in 40 years the Wolverines have lost in consecutive years to Michigan State...

- First time in 50 years the Wolverines have lost in consecutive years to Illinois...

- First time in over 40 years the Wolverines lost to Purdue in Ann Arbor...

- First time in 30 years the Wolverines missed a bowl game...

- First losing season in 40 years...

- The Wolverines are on the brink of its second straight losing season - the first since 1962 and 1963...

- The next record that must fall: the last head coach to coach the Wolverines for only two seasons happened in 1927 & 28 under Elton Wieman...current athletic director Bill Martin must make sure that record is shattered...Rich Rod must go!!!!...

The World Series title is back where it belongs - in the Bronx!!!!

2009-11-05T00:40:00.004-05:00

27 Time World Series Champions
New York Yankees

Will tonight be the night?

2009-11-04T06:58:00.002-05:00

The buzz has already started - will the Yankees blow a 3-1 lead similar to what they did in the 2004 ALCS when they choked on a 3-0 series lead to Boston...

The doubters are out there...the past haunts them...but tonight, I say they will finish the World Series...

Rob Ryan needs to shut his mouth and do his job

2009-11-04T06:11:00.001-05:00

The Cleveland Browns are pathetic...the NFL should fine the Browns organization for not putting their best team on the field...because of financial reasons, the Browns are not playing Brady Quinn at quarterback, instead they are opting for Derek Anderson...

I am not saying Quinn is the next Tom Brady or even another Tony Romo, but he deserves another chance as the starter, especially since Anderson has been putrid in his role...on Sunday he got picked ?? times including one for a Chicago touchdown...a few weeks back he completed only 2 passes the entire game...two passes!!!!!...

These executive decisions and disgusting play on the field has finally gotten to some of the diehard Browns fans...two fans who have season tickets in the Dawg Pound are planning a protest before the Monday, November 16 home game against Baltimore...one of the fans, known as Dawg Pound Mike, is upset with the team...they are asking all fans to not enter the game until after kickoff...by no means are they telling fans to stay away...they just want to make a point to the Browns organization that they are not pleased with the team and management's effort...

Dawg Pound Mike said, ""We're tired of the losing ... tired of the booing"...

This planned protest has gotten under the skin of first year year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan...Ryan stated (about the planned protest), "It pisses me off. This is a town that's tough, that loves football. Nobody's happy. I hate me too, I already said it. So they hate me too, great. It doesn't mean you turn your back. Bottom line is, my gosh, a little adversity happens, you don't turn your back, you fight. You rub your hands together, you fight harder. That's what we're going to do on defense."...

First off, Ryan has no right to make that comment...sure he is employed by the Browns organization, but he does not understand that consistent losing and abysmal performance the Browns have been displaying to their loyal fans since they came back in the NFL in 1999...for 10 years these fans have watched rotten football...

Over these last 10 years, assistant coaches have come and gone through Cleveland like a revolving door...once these assistants leave, they show no loyalty to the Browns organization...next year at this time, Ryan could be coaching in Seattle, Dallas, or anywhere else in the league...

He is not a true Cleveland Brown...he does not bleed orange and brown...he is here for a short stay because he is receiving paycheck...Ryan has only been in Cleveland for less than a year...he does not understand the fan's frustration with this organization's inept decisions...also, at the rate his defense is performing this season, it looks like Ryan will not be in Cleveland long...

So Ryan should just shut his mouth and try and get his defense to play better for the fans who are shelling out hard working money to watch a team perform like crap...if Ryan is such a renegade, like his father Buddy, he should speak out publicly about how the organization is wrong for not playing Quinn just because they don't want to pay him a bonus...instead, Ryan spoke out at the fans...this is just another example of a Browns staff person who is a knucklehead...

Here is a bone for all the old-school Browns fans...a 1:17 clip of Bernie Kosar against Denver in a regular season game...the memories...those are the days when I rooted for the Browns...

Lou Filippo, referee in Balboa-Creed II bout, dies

2009-11-03T12:36:00.002-05:00

Lou Filippo, a California referee and judge for more than 30 years and member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 83.

Before becoming one of the top ring officials and refereeing and judging dozens of world championship bouts, Filippo boxed professionally as a lightweight from 1947 to 1957, exclusively in Southern California. The World War II veteran compiled a professional record of 23-9-3 with 8 KOs.

He finished his career with a pair of fights against Hall of Famer and former lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz, a nine-round no-decision followed by a seventh-round knockout loss.

Filippo's presence in the ring led to numerous television and film appearances, including parts as a referee in the second, third, fourth and fifth installments of the "Rocky" films.

Filippo began refereeing and judging in the mid-1970s, working primarily in Southern California. But he was also associated with the WBC, which held a moment of silence and a 10-bell count in Filippo's honor during its annual convention, taking place this week in Jeju, South Korea.

Perhaps Filippo's most famous judging assignment came in 1987, when he served on the panel for the controversial Sugar Ray Leonard-"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler middleweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

Boxing fans argue to this day about who deserved to win the fight, although Leonard was awarded a split-decision victory. It was Filippo who scored the fight for Hagler 115-113.

How can Derek Anderson be a starting quarterback in the NFL?

2009-11-03T05:34:00.000-05:00

Will someone please tell me why Derek Anderson is still the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns...well, I guess we all know why - because the Browns organization does not want to pay Brady Quinn his bonus if he takes 70% of the snaps...so in order to save money, since Week 4, the Browns have rolled out Derek Anderson...here are his numbers:

Week 4 vs. Cincinnati
26/48 - 269 yards - 1 int - 1 td

Week 5 @ Buffalo
2/17 - 23 yards - 1 int - 0 td

Week 6 @ Pittsburgh
9/24 - 122 yards - 1 int - 1 td

Week 7 vs. Green Bay
12/29 - 99 yards - 1 int - 0 td

Week 8 @ Chicago
6/17 - 76 yards - 2 int - o td

Combined
55/135 - 589 yards - 6 int - 2 td

Average per game
11/27 - 117 yards

This is why the Browns are one of the worst franchises in professional sports...

Don't forget about TCU in the BCS title mix

2009-11-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

1. Florida (8-0) - the Gators took care of business against a once good Georgia ballclub...
2. Texas (8-0) - the Longhorns have been looking real good with wins over Oklahoma, Missouri, and Okie State...
3. Alabama (8-0) - the Tide are coming off a bye week as they host LSU...
4. Cincinnati (8-0) - the Bearcats have not missed a beat since Pike has been sidelined...
5. Boise State (8-0) - that win over Oregon is looking large in the grand scheme...

6. TCU (8-0) - it is time for the nation to recognize the Horned Frogs...Andy Dalton (photo) is their starting quarterback...
7. Oregonn (7-1) - the Ducks are the best 1 loss team after they crushed USC...Jeremiah Masoli made the SC defense look like Michigan's defense...
8. Iowa (8-0) - the Hawkeyes are still standing with a donut in the loss column...they go to Columbus in 2 weeks...
9. LSU (7-1) - a win this week in Tuscaloosa will put the Tigers back into the national title hunt...
10. Penn State (7-1) - the Nittany Lions can knock Ohio State out of the Rose Bowl this week...

11. Georgia Tech (8-1) - the offense put 56 on the board against Vandy...but the defense gave up 31...hmmmm...
12. Pitt (7-1) - the Panthers get their last easy game this week when Syracuse comes to town...then they get the big 3 to finish the season...
13. Southern Cal (6-2) - the Trojans were taken to the woodshed at Oregon...there are chinks in the armor...
14. Notre Dame (6-2) - the Irish cruise against Wazzou...
15. Ohio State (7-2) - the Buckeyes finish at Penn State, home with Wisky, and at Michigan...the Rose Bowl is in their hands...
16. Oklahoma (5-3) - Sooners keep on chugging...

Football Thoughts
- I am reluctant to put Houston in the Top 16 because of their putrid defense...
- Michigan is awful...
- This is the week that things will change with Penn State playing Ohio State and LSU playing Alabama...something will shakedown...
- I think Colt McCoy is starting to take a slight lead for the Heisman...
- Southern Cal's defense looked awful...over the last three games they have given up a ton of points...
- Did I mention that Michigan is awful...

Eye Candy

Damon's hustle brings Yankees to the brink of World Series #27

2009-11-02T00:03:00.000-05:00

Michigan football program is not improving

2009-10-31T18:10:00.013-04:00

About seven weeks ago I posted a blog that stated Michigan "was back"...I was wrong...I have no problem admitting when I am wrong and this is one of those times...

I am a loyal Michigan supporter, but the fact is, the Michigan football program has shown no improvement over last year's 3-9 debacle...I attended the Michigan-Penn State game and was totally disheartened by the poor defense and lack of offense...then after watching their performance against a 1-6 Illinois team who was 0-5 in the Big Ten, I am starting to wonder if Rich Rodriguez is the right man to lead the once proud and winning Michigan football program...

As of today, October 31, 2009, the Michigan football program is just an average program...Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and president Mary Sue Coleman need to monitor this situation closely...look at what happened to Nebraska...the Cornhusker administration stayed loyal to Bill Callahan and now the Huskers are just a 6-6 or 7-5 team - at that...through today, Michigan is not even at that level...

In this game against Illinois, Michigan's Ray Roundtree failed to score on a 70 plus yard reception as he got caught on the 1-yard-line...why was Roundtree caught?...for two years I have been drinking the Kool-Aid of Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis...Barwis talks about speed, speed, speed...then why did Roundtree get caught?...

Michigan then had it first and goal on the 1-yard line and could not score on four attempts...once again, where is Barwis and his strength program?...Barwis is nothing but a blowhard...he talks a good game, but since he has been in charge, I have seen nothing different in the players strength and speed than when Lloyd Carr was in charge...Barwis is nothing but a fast talking workout warrior who fooled the Michigan fans for the last 20 months...

As for Rodriguez, for two years I have heard about this potent spread offense...if the spread is a high scoring offense, why did Michigan score only 10 points last week and 13 this week against a 1 win team?...in Carr's last game, Michigan beat Florida who was led by Tim Tebow...since that game, the Michigan football program has plummeted faster than the economy did over that same time period...if Michigan played Florida today, the Wolverines would be crushed...

Michigan is sitting at 5 wins...and in reality, it is 4 wins because one of those victories came against a hapless I-AA Delaware State game...through 9 games, I don't see any improvement from this year's team than I did, through 9 games, of last year's team...I see a team that is struggling to score points and stop points...

Rodriguez has 3 games left - Purdue, at Wisconsin and Ohio State...if he does not beat Purdue next week, Michigan will not make a bowl game for the second straight year...after their performance over the last two weeks, there is no way Michigan is going to win at Madison...and there is no way they are going to beat Ohio State...so basically, Rodriguez's last shot to get in a bowl game will be next week...

The fact is, the Michigan football program is getting worse as the season wears on instead of getting better...that is why the Michigan administration needs to make a decision after the season...these next three weeks may determine Rodriguez's future in Ann Arbor...

Cavaliers "buying" a championship?

2009-10-29T05:34:00.000-04:00

I live in N.E. Ohio, and as a fan of the New York Yankees, I have always had to listen to the Cleveland fans cry and whine how the Yankees "bought" their championships even though they somehow had amnesia when the Indians "bought" Roberto Alomar, Chuck Finley, Juan Gonzalez, Orel Hershiser, Jack McDowell, etc...but that is for another day...

Anyway, what do the Cleveland fans have to say about their suddenly beloved Cavaliers...during the off-season the Cavaliers went out and acquired one of the biggest names to ever play in the NBA - Shaq - in order to try and win the NBA Championship...personally I do not have a problem with a team acquiring quality talent to try and win a championship...that is good for the fan base when an owner is committed to winning...

My only comment to the Cleveland sports fan - the next time you are ready to open your mouth and complain about the Yankees "buying" their titles, you better look at your own backyard because it looks like the Cavaliers are trying to "buy" a championship too...

The Boss will be in the house tonight

2009-10-28T05:20:00.001-04:00

From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK -- Once he was omnipresent at Yankee Stadium, micromanaging so much that World Series tickets could not be sent out until he revised the seating charts in his office. He raged at his players and celebrated them with equal gusto.

Now George Steinbrenner is 79 and frail. Still the owner but no longer the leader of his beloved Yankees, he saw just three regular-season games this season.

But he's coming back to New York just for the Series, and the Yankees can't wait.

"We're trying to do this for pops, Mr. Steinbrenner," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

George Steinbrenner was missing from the bubbly fueled celebration in the well-appointed clubhouse of the new Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, after the Yankees captured their first American League pennant in six years. He preferred to watch from home in Tampa, Fla.

But he was very much talked about.

His deeds were praised. Toasts were made in his honor.

"It means a tremendous amount to him," son Hank Steinbrenner said Monday. "And then winning the World Series would mean a tremendous amount to him."

Billions of dollars were spent to assemble baseball's priciest collection of talent, and they came from Steinbrenner's bank accounts. After erecting the fanciest ballpark ever seen, at a cost of $1.5 billion, it could even be said that he laid the very foundation for the franchise's latest restoration.

Yet he's been more an absence than a presence at the new stadium, visiting from Florida only for Opening Day, a 10-2 loss to Cleveland. The other games he saw were in Tampa.

He speaks haltingly in public and walks with difficultly following the second of two fainting spells that required hospitalization in December 2003 and October 2006. When he's seen, most often during spring training, he appears withdrawn.

His trademark attire used to be a turtleneck and navy blazer; now it's dark glasses. George Steinbrenner largely has been silenced, at least for Yankees fans.

He's said to easily get emotional in recent years, a wave of sentimentality he fought to suppress during his younger days. Hank Steinbrenner said his father has singled out Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez for special praise.

"This has taken him back 10 years, this team," Hank said. "It's very important to him. It's very special."

Heading a group that bought the team in 1973, Steinbrenner became famous on the back and front pages of New York's tabloids as "The Boss."

He fought with manager Billy Martin and lavished love and money on Reggie Jackson as the Yankees captured two World Series titles in the 1970s. His relationship with the 1990s teams was more tranquil, although losing streaks usually would bring back the old venom. He was a clubhouse presence into 2006, but by the time he attended the 2008 All-Star Game at old Yankee Stadium, he was in a golf cart to deliver the balls for the ceremonial first pitches.

He didn't even go to the final game at the old place, wasn't there to hear Derek Jeter implore fans to "take the memories from this stadium, add it to the new memories that come with the new Yankee Stadium, and continue to pass them on from generation to generation."

And he wasn't there for the most important initial memories from the new ballpark, missing all 15 walk-off wins during the regular season and skipping the playoffs against Minnesota and Los Angeles.

"We want to win this whole thing. We're one step away. We want to do it for my dad." said son Hal Steinbrenner, who was doused by Jeter in the clubhouse. "I know we all feel the same."

Hal Steinbrenner succeeded George as the controlling head last November, becoming the spokesman for the ownership group. Hal hasn't veered far from his father's feared standards, although he delivers them without the lava flood.

"We expect to win the championship. Every year," he said. "It's not going to change."

Steve Phillips: another horned dog from ESPN

2009-10-27T05:38:00.000-04:00

Another ESPN personality got the can...this time it was baseball analyst Steve Phillips...Phillips had a nice gig going as he was the third man in the booth with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday Night Baseball...

But he could not keep his pants up as he was banging a 22-year-old named Brooke Hundley in parking lots (photo above of them) ...the funny thing, back in June I was following her on Twitter...she usually had something interesting to say about ESPN...

Now that Phillips lost his job, he entered a "treatment facility"...what type of treatment facility???...is it an alcohol or drug facility?...the only other facility is a mental hospital...is there such thing as an over-sexed facility?...

Come on, tell us what facility!!!!..

Oh well, here is what was reported on ESPN.com:

Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN on Sunday night less than a week after the former Mets general manager admitted having an affair with a production assistant at the cable network.

A representative for Phillips also announced the former Mets general manager was entering a treatment facility "to address his personal issues."

Phillips acknowledged Wednesday he had a relationship with 22-year-old Brooke Hundley.

"Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN," network spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement. "His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways."

Phillips had taken a leave of absence after the affair became public. Krulewitz declined comment when asked Sunday night about Hundley's status with the company.

The Evil Empire is not dead - 40th A.L. Pennant

2009-10-26T05:25:00.002-04:00