BOWL PREVIEW: New Years Day

With more games on the slate for New Years Day, I'll offer another abbreviated look at the games. Here they are. Outback Bowl; The Auburn Tigers and Northnwestern Wildcats kick off the big day in Tampa, Fla. On paper it never looks like the Wildcats belong, but this is one feisty bunch. Auburn will have to play four quarters to beat them. Tigers beware. Gator Bowl; Bobby Bowden would sure like to go out a winner in his last game, unfortunately I think his Florida St. defense let's him down like they have all year. Sorry, Bobby I think West Virginia sends you out on a sour note. Capital One Bowl; Good match up here of two solid defenses in Penn St.and LSU. It should be a knock down drag out affair that is not settled till the final gun. The Tigers have an edge in special teams with the dangerous Trindon Holliday. If the Nittany Lions win the special teams battle they win the game. Rose Bowl; Oregon's big play QB Masoli will face the toughest defense he has all year in The Ohio State Buckeyes. I think the solid Buckeyes defense keep the Duck offense fairly well contained. The question as usual for Ohio St., can the offense create enough big plays and put enough points on the board to help out their defense. Head Coach Jim Tressel gets the bowl monkey off his back, Bucks in a nail biter. Sugar Bowl; Wow, what can you say? One team had a coach quit on him, the other has a coach that may be forced to step down because of health reasons. I almost forgot there was actually a game to play here. Tough to tell how each of these teams react to the set of events thrust upon them. I guess this one comes down to the high powered Cincinnati Bearcat offense versus the staunch defense of The Florida Gators. As usual I think the defense wins in the end, but the Bearcats will claw and scratch and make enough big plays on offense to keep things close.
-Take N'Western +9, W.VA -2.5, Penn St.+1, Ohio St. +4.5, Cincy +13

SEC Wins Our Poll

The Southeast Conference wins our dominance poll with 83% of our blogger vote. The Big Ten was a distant second. When bowl season is complete we will review the results to see which conference had the upper hand this year. Thanks for voting.

Thursday Bowl Previews

Due to the amount of games on Thursday, I will give an abbreviated view of each game and of course, my selection. So here we go. Armed Force Bowl; Air Force may have what it takes to upset the high powered Houston Cougars with their run heavy ball control option offense. Sun Bowl; Its been a rough year for the Oklahoma Sooners and they face a tough task in stopping Stanford RB Toby Gerhart. The Cardinal will be without starting QB Andrew Luck and their defense can be a very shaky, but Stanford should be the more inspired squad here and should keep it close, maybe too close for the Sooners liking. Texas Bowl; I am not super impressed with Missouri this year despite their record. Navy's triple option is tough for anyone to defend, just ask Ohio State. I hate betting against our armed Forces, take the points. Insight Bowl; In the battle to "finish above .500 bowl" between Minnesota and Iowa St., I'll go with the Big Ten. Nothing more to add to this train wreck. Chick-fil-a Bowl; Lane Kiffin's Tennessee team enters tomorrows game amid controversy over recruiting violations, imagine that. This one looks simple to me as Virgina Tech is flat out the better team. They were set out for better things when the season started and had to settle for the #2 ACC bowl, but I think they will show up in full force.
-Take Air Force +5, Stanford +10, Navy +7, Minnesota -2, Virgina Tech -5.5

BOWL PREVIEW: Arizona/ Nebraska

In stark contrast to the prior game, we have a match up of higher interest. The Arizona Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers come in with the nations 9th ranked defense led by high profile DE and sure first round draft pick Ndamukong Suh. Offensively the Wildcats run a high flying spread offense led by QB Nick Foles. The attack has been a balance one yielding 160 yds on the ground and 240 yds thru the air. Meanwhile, Nebraska has struggled on offense behind a gritty but ineffective QB Zac Lee. I expect Nebraska's defense with slow down the Cats spread attack, but the Huskers struggles on offense may hurt them in the end. Arizona played the 7th ranked schedule in the nation, so they are no stranger to tough opponents. This one should be a good one and may not be settled till the final gun. Tough to lay any points in a game like this.
-Take Arizona +3

BOWL PREVIEW: BGSU/ Idaho

Bowling Green and Idaho face off in the Humanitarian Bowl in a game that may be inhumane to even watch let alone handicap, but as I have said before it is bowl season and if you must.....Points should not be hard to come by in this one as both teams have worn out light bulbs on scoreboards all year. BG comes in with the nations 8th ranked pass offense and college footballs best receiver you probably never heard of, Freddie Barnes. So far this season he has 138 receptions, five shy of an NCAA record set by Houston's Manny Hazard in 1989. Idaho has been no slouch in the passing game either ranking 11th nationally. They may have as slight advantge offensively because they run the ball much better than the Falcons at 160 yds. per game while the BG defense has been horrible allowing nearly 200 yds. per game on the ground. Conversely, Idaho pass defense has been awful and will have trouble stopping Barnes and company. This game will be a home game of sorts for the Vandals, it will be played on the smurf turf of Bronco Stadium in Boise. Flip a coin here, I will take what seems to be obvoius (which is usually dangerous) and take the total to go over.
-Take Over 68

BOWL PREVIEW: Miami / Wisconsin

Another Big Ten team heads south to take on the speedy southerners. Another loss for the Big Ten, right? Not so fast (no pun intended). Yes, Wisconsin was embarrassed by Florida St. in last years bowl game and the Hurricanes led by QB Jacory Harris can run around and light up the scoreboard. However, the Badgers love to pound the rock and Miami is only so-so versus the run. Add to that the 'Canes Harris may need off season surgery to fix a throwing hand that has been painful to play with and you have a recipe for a mild upset. I am putting my neck on the line and going with the Big Ten here, hopefully I won't live to regret it........again.
-Take Wisconsin +4

BOWL PREVIEW: UCLA/Temple

This years EagleBank Bowl features the UCLA Bruins(6-6) and the Temple Owls(9-3),who return to the bowl scene after a 30 year absence . Temple is led by true freshman RB Bernard Pierce who rushed for over 1300 yards in only eight games. UCLA will head to the east coast for a bowl game for the first time ever. Rick Nueheisel's offense is a work in progress with no major standouts. The Bruins have played a much more formidable schedule than the Owls, 40th in the nation as compared to 115th for Temple. I believe that will be the difference here. If the Bruins can contain Pierce, they effectively shut down the Owl offense as their passing game has been ineffective. If Pierce runs wild, things will get more interesting than the Bruins would like. I feel UCLA will be up to the task and eventually wear down the Owls.
Take UCLA -4.5

Advice On New Years Resolutions

The New Year approaches and as it does many of us will be inclined to make some sort of New Years resolution. Being the helpful soul that I am I thought I would offer some suggestions that may help the following people/teams/organizations improve their situations in 2010.


Tiger Woods..... to remain completely faithful to just 6 women. Hey, at least it's a step in the
right direction. I mean, we can't expect the guy to be perfect.


Michael Vick.... to no longer take part in the "wildcat" offense, the name of it is disrespectful to animals. Maybe it could be renamed the "jail break offense",unless that's considered disrespectful to inmates.



Jimmie Johnson.... not to win more than 10 straight N.A.S.C.A.R. championships so that his fans don't have to take off their shoes to count them all. Oh, wait , N.A.S.C.A.R.
fans don't wear shoes. Never mind Jimmie. (Just kidding,I love N.A.S.C.A.R.)


The B.C.S. .... to let the championship be decided on the field and not in some crazy polling system. Hey, instead of actually playing the championship game we could just take a giant poll of football fans and call it the " Zogby Bowl."


The Cleveland Browns... to hire a coach and keep him for ten years no matter what his record. At least that way we will know for sure who to blame if things are no better. A little stability, please.


John Daly.... to reconsider his latest wardrobe. I don't think it's appropriate for a grown man in his condition to be out in public wearing girl's pajamas.


Chad Ochocinco.... to change his name for crying out loud. C'mon, Chad Ochocinco? I mean ,the name Chad has got to go. I think "Numero" goes better with Ochocinco. Numero Ochocinco. Has a nice ring to it.


Urban Meyer, Allen Iverson,and Brett Favre... to actually retire when they say they are retiring. The game of 'Now I retire , now I don't" is getting tiresome. I used to think it was only boxers who did that . Maybe from now on athletes and coaches should only announce that they are going into semi- retirement.


Major League Baseball.... to clean up the steroid mess once and for all, and to restore some credibility to the game and the record books. In the last 2 seasons no player has hit over 50 homers in a season. Does this mean hitters are no longer taking 'roids, or just that the pitchers are taking more of them? It's all so complicated.

Mike Leach.... to find a better way to discipline his players. Hey Mike, I'm sure you were justified in disciplining Adam James, but what ever happened to making a kid run laps or maybe not dress for a game. Leach has made some good decisions at Texas Tech, but locking his receiver in a closet isn't one of them.

Here's hoping that sports fans everywhere make 2010 their best season ever.

BOWL PREVIEW: USC/Boston College

The Trojans will be heading a little further north for their bowl game than they thought when the season started. They will tangle with Boston College in this years Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. A lot of controversy and disappointment surround USC going into the bowl season. They will most likely be without RB Joe McKnight and much weight will be thrust upon freshman QB Matt Barkley. The Trojan defense got run over late in the year by Stanford and Oregon when they allowed over 300 yards rushing in each contest. As for the Eagles, they enter with a solid running game behind Montel Harris and his 1355 yards but not much else. 25 year old true freshman Dave Shinske has been shaky at best completing only 52% of his passes to go along with 14TD and 13INT. With everyone piling on USC and their troubles and expecting them not to show up, I am inclined to go the other way.
-Take USC-7

BOWL PREVIEW: N.Carolina/Pitt

Finally, we have a decent bowl match up. Both of these teams are fairly similar in that they really on a strong defense and the ability to run the ball to take the pressure of their very inconsistent QB's. Both teams also have experienced coaches in Dave Wannstedt and Butch Davis, in fact, each served assistant coaching rolls with Jimmie Johnson at Oklahoma St., Miami and the Dallas Cowboys. This one is a very tough call. I am looking at three small edges that should fall in the Tar Heels favor. One, Pitt had visions of Sugar and Orange before have to settle for the Meineke Bowl. Two, Dave Wannstedt has had trouble winning the big games in his tenure with Pitt. Three, this should play more like a home game for NC. If NC can keep Pitts front seven off QB TJ Yates, the Tar Heels may eke this one out.
-Take North Carolina +3

BOWL PREVIEW: Marshall/ Ohio

The Thundering Herd of Marshall (6-6) enters the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with two major questions. Can they overcome the late season departure of head coach Mark Snyder and will starting RB Darius Marshall be recovered from a late season ankle injury? Marshall who rushed for 1100 yards and 11 TD's is expected to suit up and interim head coach Rick Minter does have solid experience, as he led the Univ. of Cincinnati two four bowl appearances in his 10 years with the Bearcats. Meanwhile, Ohio (9-4) is led by head coach Frank Solich who turned around a Bobcat squad that finished 4-8 last year. The key here is an Ohio defense that leads the nation in take aways with 36. If inconsistent QB Theo Scott can take care of the ball for the Bobcats the defense should take care of the rest.
- Take Ohio -3

Christmas Wishes

Since it is Christmas, the season of giving and all that stuff, here is what I hope the following people find under their tree on Christmas morning.

Lebron James.... one good reason to stay with the Cavs.

Al Davis.... one first round pick that actually works out.

The N.C.A.A. ..... the realization that fans would rather see five or six play-off games than a string of meaningless bowl games.

Tiger Woods.... a little common sense, a lot of self control, and an ounce of sincerety. And the realization that you can't always fix life by throwing money at it.

The New York Yankees.... The realization that they can't always win the World Series just by throwing money at it. Oh, wait, maybe they can.

The Big Ten Conference.... a few wins in this madness we call Bowl Season.

U of Cincinnati.... a win against the Florida Gators, hopefully to inch us closer to the play-offs we desparately need in college football. It's a shame that T.C.U. and Boise St. are matched up against one another. It would have been more interesting to see them matched up against big conference teams rather than each other. Just another B.C.S. blunder in my book.

The New Jersey Nets.... a 2 game winning streak.

The Cleveland Browns.... that 1 of their 11 picks in the upcoming draft can actually be a starter.

The N.H.L. .... that someone would actually be interested. Can we get Gretzky out of retirement now that he's not coaching the Coyotes?

Major League Soccer..... that someone would actually be interested. Can we get Pele out of retirement?

And to everyone who bothers to take the time to log on to Mind Your Own Sports a great holiday season and a fantastic new year.

BOWL PREVIEW: SMU/ Nevada

SMU and Nevada will be spending Christmas Eve in Hawaii as they tangle in none other than- the Hawaii Bowl, didn't see that one coming did ya? Nevada enters with the nations leading rushing offense at over 360 yards per game. Don't remember SMU? That would be Southern Methodist University, still foggy? How about Graig James and Eric Dickerson. Thought that would ring a bell. It was back in the early 80's the Mustang program thrived under Coach Ron Meyer, then came the death penalty for recruiting violations. Twenty-five years later head coach June Jones is trying to turn the program around just as he did recently at Hawaii. So far so good. After a 1-11 campaign last year the Mustangs improved to 7-5. This one breaks down pretty simple, SMU will not be able to shut down the Nevada running game,few have, and Nevada will stuggle with the high powered air attack that Jones will impart on them as they have allowed six opponents to throw for more than 300 yards against them this year. So who wins? Probably Nevada, however a very inspired Mustang squad should put up enough resistance to make thing uncomfortable for the Wolf Pack.
-Take SMU +14

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We here at Mind Your Own Sports would like to take a minute and wish all of our follwers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year(yes, even "The Shoe") and to thank you for stopping by to check us out.

BOWL PREVIEW: Utah/ California

Well, bowl season is proving problematic for your handicapper so far. Last night in the Vegas Bowl we had to contend with an uninspired Oregon St. team and 45 mph. winds. Tonight we have another match-up that, if it were played during the regular season, I would not bother with but it is a bowl game so here we go. The Utes and Golden Bears head to So. Cal for the Poinsettia Bowl. Utah comes in with an eight game bowl winning streak and Cal enters with this years Jekyll and Hyde award. There is no way to figure what Cal team shows up on any given day, so I will keep this one simple. In a pick that our Mind Your Own Sports friend "Still a Yankee" would be proud of I'll take the more consistent team from the north to knock off the fair weather Bears.
-Take Utah +3

Favre Up To His Old Tricks

A heated discussion on the sidelines between Brett Favre and his head coach Brad Childress during Minnesota's 26-7 loss to Carolina has led to further revelations. According to recent reports Childress privately blasted Favre behind closed doors after the game, and has allegedly considered removing Favre from several games earlier this season. It seems that Farve has been disregarding the coaches instructions and disregarding the offensive game plan at times. This doesn't surprise me in the least. I have subscribed to the theory that it isn't Favre's aging body that would be the Viking's biggest problem, but his over inflated ego and sense of entitlement. The writing has been on the wall for a few years now about Favre's attitude. For the last few seasons Favre has left teams hanging in limbo during training camp while he decides whether or not he would like to come out and play, oblivious to the fact that teams are actually trying to put together N.F.L. offenses while he is at the fishing hole. Favre's constant pre-season stalling may have been a ploy to skip the majority of training camp, which I'm sure was not appreciated by his dozens of teammates laboring in the summer heat. The Vikings were willing to roll the dice on Favre and may have lost. It seems that Favre has spent too much time reading his own press clippings. Yes, Favre is a great player with a giant mountain of stats to prove it, but Favre's need to make himself bigger than the coach and the team over the last few seasons is more destructive than his arm is productive. Favre believes he is entitled to play by a different set of rules because of his past success. If he can't get his teammates and coaches to buy into that philosophy the Vikings will be in trouble down the stretch of the season. A true leader puts the team first and down plays distractions rather than creates them. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Brian Kelley Poll

Coach Kelley wins our "coach of the year award" for leaving his team on the brink of an undefeated season. Our followers voted 100% against Kelley leaving Cincy early for the ND job. If you have any more thoughts on this feel free to take your shot.

Time To Rethink Bowl Games

With 34 bowl games on this years N.C.A.A. schedule I think it's time to reexamine the qualifications of bowl teams. It's hard to believe looking at the seasons some of the "bowl worthy" schools have had that they're in a post season game at all. Getting into a bowl game is supposed to be an accomplishment, a reward for some level of achievement. It is supposed to be special, it's supposed to mean something. The ridiculous number of bowl games has cheapened the whole thing. Take for example U.C.L.A. They are playing in the EagleBank Bowl this year. They finished 8th in their own conference for God's sake. I would love to hear the bowl apologists defend that one. The Insight Bowl pits Minnesota vs. Iowa St. , neither team has a winning record. Real insight would suggest that this isn't even a compelling regular season game, let alone a "bowl game". So much for insight. That brings me to my first rule for bowl qualifications, no winning record no bowl game period. Inviting teams with .500 records is just rewarding mediocrity. The Humanitarian Bowl showcases Bowling Green and Idaho. It may be more humanitarian to just call the whole thing off. The Little Caesar's Bowl may as well be the "little interest bowl". Even the Liberty Bowl can't liberate me from the series of meaningless post season games. It just seems to me that there should be something at stake in a bowl game other than a payday for the universities. Sometimes less is more. Bring on the playoff system.

BOWL PREVIEW: BYU/Oregon St.

BYU is making its 5th straight Las Vegas Bowl appearance. Oregon St. will enter as a 3 point favorite and try to shake off the loss to rival Oregon which cost the Beavers a trip to the Rose Bowl. So far this bowl season, defense has been a rumor and this game looks to continue that trend. Both teams are averaging over 30 point per on offense while surrendering a shade over 20 on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Mike Riley's Oregon St. squad will look to notch its sixth straight bowl win against a Cougar team that lost last year in this same bowl to Arizona. The high power passing game of QB Max Hall in combination with RB Harvey Unga may provide problems for the Beavers, however, the potent trio of Oregon St. RB Jaquizz Rodgers
(1377 yds rushing), QB Sean Canfield (70 pct completion rate) and WR James Rodgers (2213 all purpose yds) may prove to too much in the end for BYU. I expect a highly competitive game and I'll give the nod to the PAC 10.
-Take Oregon St. -3

Even In Victory Browns Have Many Question Marks

Although it is nice to see the Browns win back to back games, many of the same question marks that I was hoping to be answered about this team still remain. Foremost is the question about head coach Eric Mangini's future. Mangini has been on the hot seat all season long for his team's poor play. Have 2 consecutive victories earned Mangini a stay of execution ? With the possibility of Mike Holmgren taking over football operations do the 2 wins even matter? It's possible that Mangini could win his remaining 2 games and still not be back next season if Holmgren or someone else is hired to reevaluate the organization. These questions about the front office and the coaching staff are critical ones right now. The Browns are facing what could be the most important draft in franchise history. They are a team in need of upgrading their talent level at many positions. With 11 picks in the upcoming draft it is critical that the team lands several players who can make an immediate impact. Randy Lerner needs to figure out quickly who will be in charge of the draft, and he needs to pick the right man this time around. Another mismanaged draft by the Browns could set the franchise back for years, especially with so many picks available. Adding to the Browns' riddle are Brady Quinn's inconsistent play at quarterback and a lack of identity on offense. Quinn has looked good in a few games but not consistently enough. Regardless of who plays Q.B. the Browns can't continue to run an offense with no identity and seemingly no idea how to attack opposing defenses. Will Jerome Harrison become a one hit wonder after yesterday's incredible performance or will he surface as the feature runner the Browns lack? Has the offensive game plan been handicapped by a lack of talent, or have the players on offense been held back by poor play calling?
While I certainly didn't expect the season to be filled with wins I did hope the Browns would use this rebuilding year to answer all the questions regarding this team. Too many question marks still linger for my satisfaction. One thing is certain, Randy Lerner and the Browns organization better have all the answers come next springs draft.

BOWL PREVIEW: So.Miss vs. MiddleTenn.St.

Southern Miss. and Middle Tenn. travel to New Orleans for what is essentially a home game for So.Miss. Both of these teams are capable of lighting up the scoreboard and are evenly matched in several offensive and defensive categories making this one of the tougher bowl season calls. So.Miss has had problems with the kicking game missing 10 extra points and converting only 12 of 18 field goal attempts and have had a total of seven kicks blocked. In a game that should be close and may come down to special teams play I prefer the Blue Raiders Here.
-Take Mid.Tenn.St. +4

BOWL PREVIEW: Wyoming vs. Fresno St.

The Wyoming Cowboys and Fresno St. Bulldogs head to Albuquerque to square off in the New Mexico Bowl. Coach Dave Christensen has done a great job in first year in Laramie. He fielded a much more competitive team than many thought while posting a
6-6 record. Meanwhile, Pat Hill's Bulldogs posted another solid season winning 7 of their last 8 games heading into this weekend. This game is tough to handicap, as I think Wyoming may be a little more competitive here than some think. However, in the end, the Cowboys may not be able to keep up the pace with the Bulldogs explosiveness. Fresno RB Ryan Matthews may have something to prove as he led the nation in rushing and was not invited to the Heisman ceremonies. After being upset here by Colorado St. last year behind Gattrell Johnson's 285 yard rushing performance, coach Hill should have his teams attention and avoid a repeat performance. The fear is a late score by Wyoming against a sub par Fresno defense may be enough to cover the double digit spread, however, we are not going to count on it.
-Take Fresno St. -10

BOWL PREVIEW: UCF/Rutgers

Both teams enter the game with 8-4 records. Rutgers will make their 5th consecutive bowl appearence while Central Florida looks for its first ever bowl victory. The Rutgers offense (99th in FBS) could have their hands full with a UCF defense that was fourth in the nation against the run (82.5 per)add to that the defensive end combo of Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers and Scarlets Knights freshman QB Tom Savage could be in for a long night. The duo has combined for 23 sacks, whats worse, the Rutgers offensive line has surrendered 39 sacks this season. Rutgers has a solid defense of its own (19th in FBS) but has given over 215 yds. rushing in 4 of its last 7 games. This should bode well for UCF RB Brynn Harvey whose has amassed nearly 1100 yards on the ground and 14 TD's this season. Elsewhere on offense for the Knights, Wake Forest transfer QB Brett Hodges has a 7-2 record as a starter and has turned around an a Knight team that ranked dead last in the nation offensively last year. Meanwhile, this is more or less a rebuilding year for Rutgers and I look for UCF to be the more inspired participant. The Big East team will present a tough task for coach O'Leary's squad, but I like UCF to land their first bowl win in St.Pete.
-Take UCF +3

Let's Go Bowlin'

This years Bowl Season kicks into gear Saturday with the first two matchups. Wyoming and Fresno State travel to Albuquerque for the New Mexico Bowl and Rutgers will face off with Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl. The Bowl games are always tough to handicap. Mind Your Own Sports will help you break down the games and give you our picks and insight, so stayed tuned and check back with us often for updates and commentary.

Strange That Lee Can't A Find Home

Ace left-hander Cliff Lee is going to his third team in the last six months. That fact is hard to believe when you stop to consider that he is perhaps baseballs most valuable commodity- a front of the rotation left hander with Cy Young credentials. Add in the fact that he is a relative bargain at around 9 million dollars due him this coming season and it gets even more confusing. I realize the Indians dumped Lee as a cost cutting measure and nothing else. They new they could not contend even with Lee at his best so they dumped his salary along with a few others. The story in Philadelphia is more complicated. Apparently they feared losing Lee in free agency at the end of the season, so they nipped that situation in the bud and traded him. I thought they could have gotten a little more for him than a few prospects. Let's face it, very few "prospects" ever make a significant contribution at the Major League level. Keeping Lee along with Halladay might have given the Phillies the 1-2 punch that they lacked in the last post season. After trotting out Lee at the front of the rotation they had to rely on inconsistent arms like Cole Hammels' and a past his prime Pedro Martinez. If Lee doesn't stay in Seattle after this season he will be on his way to his fourth team in less than 2 years. I know I'm not qualified to tell Major League G.M.'s how to spend their money or fill their rosters, but it does seem odd to me how much Lee has moved around considering his outstanding performance.

Woods Continues To Show Poor Judgement

It was just announced that Tiger Woods was named athlete of the decade by the Associated Press. As long as he's not named man of the year or husband of the decade I guess that's fair enough. Woods personal character is much debated these days, but if we judge him solely by what he's done between the ropes he is as deserving as the next guy. If it is proven that Woods used performance enhancers, which isn't likely, I wonder if they'll take the award back.
I doubt much will come of the current P.E.D. story. Even when athletes use these substances it is often hard to prove if and when they did so. If Woods comes out clean after the investigation of his doctor Anthony Galea he and his team at I.M.G. are guilty of something else- stupidity. Woods allegedly received a routine and legal treatment from Galea on his recovering knee. The question is why he would go to Galea for a treatment he could get from thousands of other doctors. Why would Woods and his agent needlessly open the door of suspicion . Woods showed more reckless decision making by allowing a doctor with a questionable background to come to his house and treat him on several occasions. Woods has shown a lot of poor decision making skills recently and this is just another one that makes me scratch my head and wonder. So we have only two possible scenarios here, Woods has been administered performance enhancing substances by Galea or he has simply left himself open to second guessing by using Galea's services. Either way it is just another headache for Woods damage control staff. With his personal credibility at an all time low his golf game is all he has right now. If it does come out that he has cheated on the course he won't even have that to fall back on. Woods wishes to be judged strictly on his golfing abilities and nothing else. He got his wish today from the A.P.

NBA's Artest: "Tiger the Perfect Role Model"

Ron Artest, of the Lakers, Tuesday pledged his support for Tiger Woods saying he was "the perfect role model for his sons..." Really? My question is a role model for who, aspiring porn stars. Artest has had his own personal problems in the past and my guess is, Woods makes him feel better about himself. The fact is, before any of us were ever aware of Woods off the course escapades, I never saw him as a role model. Not for my son. The truth is, Tiger never conducted himself on the course in a way I was comfortable with. Swearing, spitting, throwing clubs and dropping F-bombs. Not exactly reminiscent of loved golf personalities like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. I understand that Woods is not the only athlete to pervade these undesirable attributes I have mentioned. That is why the message sent to our kids should be to "play like Mike" not "be like Mike".

Will The Real Tiger Woods Please Stand Up

The path to recovery for Tiger Woods presents new obstacles almost daily. Just this morning a story was published that Woods is linked to a doctor who has allegedly supplied athletes with performance enhancing drugs that are illegal in the U.S. One of his many mistresses also came forward with an allegation that she was having sex with Woods in his Florida home the night Woods' father was dying in a nearby hospice. I also saw video clips of a very recent interview in which Woods said that his family was his top priority and the best thing that ever happened to him. Regardless of what is true and what is empty allegation some interesting questions have been raised.
Foremost among them is whether or not Woods is accountable to anyone for the activities of his personal life. I think we can all agree that he certainly is accountable to his immediate family. Woods and his apologists argue it should go no further. But what about the corporations who pay Woods big money to be a spokesman? Surely the image and bottom line of his business partners is put at risk by Woods' personal conduct. Corporations like Accenture have used Woods' persona to exemplify integrity and trustworthyness. That is a tough sell these days considering what we have learned about Woods.
And what about Woods' millions of fans? Woods has repeatedly said this is a private matter and everyone should mind their own business. He subscribes to the theory that who he sleeps with is his own business, and frankly I agree . But Woods can't expect us not to react once the story has been broken, can he? He is the most famous sports icon in the world and of course people will pay attention. He is partly to blame for portraying an image publicly that he couldn't live up to. I think that is the energy that really drives this controversy, that he is not who we thought he was. It is not Woods lifestyle that was his undoing, but that he was never forthright about who he really was. Let me explain what I mean. Former N.F.L. quarterback Joe Namath was one of the most popular athletes of his time. "Broadway Joe" was a loved sports figure who had an image as a single guy who liked to go out and meet the ladies, a playboy of sorts. It was not a news item for him to be seen out on the town with different ladies from time to time. That was just Joe being Joe. His lifestyle never hurt him as an athlete or endorser because it was true and genuine. Namath never reached Woods level of endorsement partly because endorsement deals weren't as lucrative in his day, and because he was never as good at his game as Woods is at his. But Namath was very popular in his day and fans loved him for what he was, a happy go lucky ladies man. My point here is that athletes don't need to be choir boys or dedicated family men to gain popularity , aquire a fan base, or land endorsement deals. I'm here to suggest that it isn't Woods' behavior that has continued to fuel this story, but that for so long he hid from everyone the true nature of his character. Woods may have been better off selling himself as the young, wealthy, world traveling bachelor rather than the integrous family man. If he had the long list of girlfriends would have been a non story.

A good definition of a persons character is how they behave when they think no one can see them. If fans are disappointed to learn of Woods double life than they have a right to be in my book. Professional golfer Jesper Parnevik, who originally introduced Elin Nordegren to Woods, summed up his disappointment by saying he thought Woods" was a better guy than what he was." I am not going to stand in judgement of his lifestyle , after all let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It is not up to me to judge how good a person Woods is. But I do think it's fair to say he is a vastly DIFFERENT person than many of us thought he was. After all these years it turns out that we hardly knew him. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Handicapping Follow Up CIN/MIN

Every once in a while they go exactly the way their scripted. The Bengals struggled again to score points against a stingy Viking defense and Farve and Company supplied enough firepower for the home team helping Minnesota clinch a playoff berth with a 30-10 victory. We are on the look out for our next pick. Stay tuned.

Gerhart wins our Heisman poll

Stanford's Toby Gerhart won our Heisman Trophy poll with 58% of the vote. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts when the final verdict is out later today. We would love to hear what's on your mind. Also, with bowl season around the corner, check out our new poll: Who is college footballs most dominant conference?

Coaches Should Finish What They Start

Brian Kelly's exit from the University of Cincinnati reveals as much about the flawed B.C.S. system as it does about the character of Kelly. What is revealed to me is that there are two sides to this coin. Kelly is leaving Cinci because the current system of determining a national champion gives schools like Cincinnati and others no real chance at winning it all. Kelly to his credit put together a great team and a great season. He must realize that if going undefeated didn't get him there this year it probably won't next year . And besides, undefeated seasons don't exactly grow on trees. Kelly like any other major college coach dreams of winning the big one, and why shouldn't he? Obviously he felt that leaving his current team behind was the only way to do that. But what about the team he has left behind? In my opinion they deserve better. What we have here is a group of young men who have worked hard all year long only to go into the biggest game of their lives with NO head coach. A few of the Bearcat players were open about their disappointment this past week and I can sympathize with them. This was Cincinnati's chance to show the country that the so called "non B.C.S. " schools could hang with the big boys. A victory over the Florida Gators would prove once and for all that schools like Cinci, T.C.U. , Boise St. and others should no longer be considered unfit to wear the national title. This was no longer just about the Bearcats playing the biggest game in school history, this was a chance to change the way we looked at college football altogether. Now they go into the game with too much distraction and not enough coaches.

Sports, we are told, helps prepare kids for life by teaching them valuable lessons along the way. Qualities like dedication, perserverance, unselfishness, loyalty, and commitment are instilled in our kids as they practice and play their sports. Brian Kelly's decision to leave shows none of those qualities. Kelly will tell you he is the victim of an unfair system and he is not entirely incorrect, but I am siding with the athletes on this one. The N.C.A.A. ought to mandate coaches to finish their schedules before jumping ship. After all that's their job isn't it - to protect the student-athlete. If Notre Dame wants Kelly badly enough they can wait a few more weeks to hire him. If the N.C.A.A. forced coaches to finish their seasons out N.D. would have no other choice. Even a regular Joe like me is required to give a two weeks notice before quitting a job. College coaches leaving in the blink of an eye doesn't seem right to me. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Brian Kelly Makes Another Case for NCAA Playoff

Well, he did it. University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly has left his undefeated Bearcats and just before his 4th ranked team will take on the 5th ranked Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl. I expect this will not be the last time a coach that has built up a "secondary" program leaves for a higher profile job. The reason is simple and no it is not money. Money will always be a factor to some extent, but I don't think it is the drivng force. I argue that Kelly would not have been so fast to jump ship (even for his beloved ND) if his team had a chance at a National Championship via a playoff. He could have stayed at Cincinnati for a long time and built his legacy there as a perenial championship contender. The same thing will eventually happen at programs such as TCU, Boise St. and others. For now we are left with the BCS structure and all of its fallout.

Handicapping Follow Up PITT/CLE

Well, the game analysis was right, the team that can win the running game battle will come out on top. There was only one minor problem, suprisingly, that team was the Cleveland Browns. The Browns out rushed the Steelers 171-75. Furthermore, the Browns sacked Ben Roethlisberger eight times, while Brady Quinn found himself on his back only once. The Steelers have now lost five straight. Teams included in those losses, Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland have a combined record of 9-28. Back to the drawing board for Mike Tomlin as well as your humbled handicapper. Stay tuned.

Refs Just Helping Stern, NBA Protect Assets

Let's turn the clock back to the 1970's. The NBA was suffering through some tough times. Although there was not a lack of talented players, the league had its hand full with widespread drug abuse among its players, so much so the league finally hammered out a landmark drug policy with the NBA players association that took effect in 1983. On the court, the league suffered from a decade of parity with Eight different teams winning championships. Then came the 80's, David Stern was named NBA executive Vice President and later became the NBA's fourth commissioner in 1984. More importantly the 1979 draft ushered in Larry Bird(Celtics) and Magic Johnson(Lakers). Shortly after, Isiah Thomas(Pistons) and Michael Jordan(Bulls) followed. The NBA was reborn. Superstars and dynasties ruled the day. In the 20 year span between 1980 and 2000 the NBA saw these new super teams win 16 of the 20 titles. Great rivalries were born, shoe deals were numerous, merchandise flew of the shelf, new television deals were struck and the League was expanding. The NBA was getting fat, all under the watch of Stern. Today, players such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant take the place of stars past and the money continues to pile up. The way I see it, referee's like Tim Donaghy have only been protecting that massive bubble that is the NBA and Mr. Stern is in the rafters pulling the strings. Unfortunately, we have all seen how ugly it can be when bubbles burst and this one may have taken all the air it can.

Donaghy Claims Refs Are Biased

I'm not 100 percent sure what to make of Tim Donaghy's story of N.B.A. referees manipulating games. During his recent 60 Minutes interview he seemed almost believable at times and contradicted himself at others. For example he maintains that the integrity of his officiating never waivered even when he had bet on the game he was calling, but then later said that he and other officials would not give calls to Allen Iverson in order to send Iverson a message about his treatment of refs during games. I find it hard to believe that Donaghy, or any official in any sport, could truly remain 100 percent impartial with their own money on the line. The good news for the N.B.A. is that Donaghy has not implicated any other refs in the betting part of the scandal. He does maintain that many of them were unable to call games evenly do to their like or dislike of the players playing in a given game. The league launched an "internal investigation" and concluded that Donaghy was acting alone, and that even Donaghy himself was not altering the outcome of games. I'm not surprised that the investigation turned up little new information. Besides, if they had uncovered a league wide conspiracy do you think they would have gone to the public with it? It's in the best interest of of the commissioners office to sweep this under the rug as quickly as possible.


Maybe it isn't so hard to believe Donaghy's implication that the officials treat some players differently than others. That does not go just for basketball. N.F.L. players have complained recently about Tom Brady, among others, getting extra protection from refs on hits in the pocket. We have all seen plays where a pass rusher makes very little or marginal contact with a passer and has been called for a personal foul. Although he is retired it was widely understood that the strike zone for pitching great Greg Maddux was a little wider than it was for most other pitchers. Players like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant probably have gotten the benefit of the doubt more often than other players. In basketball many of the calls occur in that gray area open to much interpretation from refs. Is it coincidence that more often than not the calls go in favor of a select group of players? Let's face it , we have all seen obviously bad calls or non calls in the past that can only be explained by very poor judgement on the part of the officials or personal bias. Either way it is not good for the game. While I don't subscribe to the idea that there is wide spread manipulation among officials and umpires, it is perhaps possible that personal bias does occasionally play a part as Donaghy suggests. After all the refs are human, and we all have personal biases and preferences.


While we may never get down to the bottom of who new what and who did what regarding the Donaghy story I think we can all agree that the better and more consistant the officiating in any sport the more enjoyable it is to watch. The integrity of the game depends heavily on refs and umpires making good calls on a regular basis. When it is said and done we want the players to determine the outcome of games not the officials. It is a message that I hope commissioners of all sports are hearing loud and clear. I think we can all agree on that. Correct me if I'm wrong.

O'Neal Adds Missing Dimension For Cavs

Shaq O'Neal has added a piece to the Cav's puzzle that has been missing for quite a while. For the first time in my memory they have a player who can play with his back to the basket and in fact command double teams from opposing defenses. Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been the Cavalier's primary center for many years. Although "Z" has made a valuable contribution over his career he clearly lacks low post scoring moves and is much more comfortable playing on the perimeter. Of course I realize Shaq isn't the player he was 5 or 10 years ago, however he still creates match-up problems because of his size and power. Few players in the league can match his strength down low. When the Cavs are on the defensive end of the floor opposing big men can no longer have their way in the paint as was apparent at times last year. It was difficult to watch Dwight Howard get so many uncontested dunks and lay-ups against the Cavs in last seasons play off series. O'Neal can't be pushed around like the finesse oriented Ilgauskas or under sized forwards like Anderson Varejao. At playoff time the game gets more physical and the officials tend to allow a little more bumping and banging. Hopefully that's when the addition off Shaq will pay dividends. I realize the addition of O'Neal is no guarantee of post season success but a healthy Shaq come spring time sure won't hurt.

Coach Brown's Snub of "Z" Perplexing

Last week Cavs center Zydrunas Ilguaskas became the franchise leader in games played with 724 appearances in Cavs gear surpassing the previous mark that was held by Danny Ferry. We were all prepared for Z to break the record at Quicken Loans Arena back on November 28th versus the Dallas Mavericks. There was only one problem, coach Mike Brown thought it would be appropriate to give the big man a DNP CD instead. For all that are not familiar with that basketball acronym that stands for "did not play coaches decision". Coach Brown later backed his action by saying he wanted to match up better with Dallas' smaller quicker line up. Good one coach, only problem is Shaq logged 25 minutes in the pivot that night, even with two chronically bad feet I would be tempted to put my money on Zydrunas in a speed and quickness competition against Shaq. Further more, I am sure that during Brown's tenure with the Cavs he came across many situations in which he needed to juggle his rotation to suit the same circumstances and I dare say that I am sure Z logged at least several minutes in those games. In the grand scheme of things this incident may not mean much, however,I think Ilgauskas deserved better. Note to Mike Brown- you have a good thing going here, a championship team with great chemistry that actually enjoy playing with each other, a terrific owner and a once in a generation superstar in LeBron James. The artistry of winning championships is a fragile affair, don't mess with the karma!

Gerhart Fighting Uphill Battle

The finalists for the 2009 Heisman Trophy have been chosen and will gather together in New York this weekend for the prestigious award ceremony. Among the invitees are Colt McCoy, TimTebow, Mark Ingram, Ndamukong Suh, and Toby Gerhart. The player that I find most intriguing of this bunch is Stanford's Gerhart. He represents a rare breed of player. In fact one thought by some to be extinct. He is a white running back. White athletes at the running back position have had little success not only in recent years but in recent decades. The last college running back to win a Heisman was John Cappalletti in 1973. Since then 18 running backs have won it. None were white. The lack of success is even more astonishing at the professional level. No white player has led the N.F.L. in rushing since Jim Taylor did it back in the early 60's. None has even been able to post a 1,000 yard season since 1985. It is hard to understand such a lack of production. I can offer no reasonable explanation, nor do I feel compelled to do so. But you must admit those are some mind boggling numbers. Make of it what you will , but 35 years without a Heisman, nearly half a century without an N.F.L. rushing champion, and 24 years without so much as a 1,000 yard season do not bode well for Gerhart. My gut feeling is that Ingram or McCoy will take home the Heisman. And as for Gerhart I wish him all the luck in the world during the Heisman voting and his future football career. If history is any indication he is going to need it.

Lerner Must Sell Browns

There is only one person to blame for the Cleveland Browns decade long futility, not surprisingly it is owner Randy Lerner himself. In 1999 the Lerners were awarded a fresh start with a "new organization", a long overdue new stadium, and one of the most passionate, loyal fan bases in all of sports. What more can owner ask for? Mr. Lerner seems like a nice enough guy and has surely been successful as a business man. However, his lack of an ability to recognize NFL talent is alarming as evidenced by the revolving door that is the Browns front office. In just ten years Lerner has amassed 117 losses, employed four head coaches and four GM's the last of which only lasted a half a season! You would be hard pressed to find a worse track record in such a short period of time. I would love to be fair enough to him to let him answer for his results but he refuses to talk to the media. The bottom line is that it is Lerner's money and his organization, so if he wishes to continue no one can stop him, but if he really cares about the legacy and viability of the Browns he will sell the team to someone that will keep them in Cleveland and sail off into the sunset.

Browns Fan Base In Jeopardy

The fan base of the Cleveland Browns has always been a loyal one, even through some very trying times. Since the glory days of the 50's and early 60's the Browns have given fans little to cheer about aside from a few playoff seasons in the 80's. Although there were far more bad years than good ones fans still packed the stadium and cheered wildly on Sundays. Several owners have relocated their teams over the years just as Art Modell did in the 90's, but Browns fans were the only ones to INSIST that the team name and colors stay behind. My parents generation remembers Jim Brown, Gene Hickerson, or maybe Leroy Kelly. They have the memories of championships gone by to tide them over during poor seasons. My generation has Kosar, Byner , Matthews, Newsome and others to link our loyalties to. Even though those teams of the 80's never quite hit pay dirt they were good competitive teams that formed a bond with the fans and played their guts out for us. The problem is that the young generation of today equate the Browns only with failure and futility. Any one under the age of 20 or maybe even 30 has no recollection of the Browns being a great football team. Maybe not even a good or competitive team. Unfortunately telling teenage kids about Jim Brown and company just sounds like a history lesson to them. Judging from the crowd at last Sundays game against San Diego it looks like the generations of die hards are starting to lose their patience. The younger crowd just seems uninterested, and who can blame them. The young kids of today are the season ticket holders of tomorrow. The Browns had better do something and do it fast before they lose their next generation of fans. After all us old "old dogs" won't be here forever. Correct me if i'm wrong.

The Death of the White Running Back

With Heisman Trophy voting season upon us, Stanford University's Toby Gerhart is getting considerable attention and why not? He has amassed over 1700 yards and 26 touchdowns and he is not done yet as the Cardinal have a date in the 2009 Sun Bowl versus the Oklahoma Sooners on Dec. 31st. This got me to thinking, who was the last white back to lead the NFL in rushing? Ready for this? It has been 47 years and counting, when the Green Bay Packers Jim Taylor accomplished the feat. Will Gerhart, if he indeed breaks camp with an NFL team next year, have the ability to break the drought or have the days of white running backs in the NFL long passed us by?

Tiger Dislikes Scrutiny

There is one thing in particular that strikes me as odd in the much talked about Tiger Woods scandal. That Woods cheated on his wife is not that incredible. He is just the latest in a long line of professional athletes to do so. The fact of the matter is that a fairly large percentage of men, professional athlete or not, have cheated on their wives. What disturbs me is how Woods and others have taken offense to the perceived intrusive coverage by the media.
It seems that Woods wants massive media coverage when it's convenient for him and for everyone to look the other way when it isn't. He seems to enjoy the masses watching him win a major or have a cute conversation with his talking headcover as long as we all agree to ignore him when he screws up. It's an interesting concept that a lot of fellow celebrities would love to see come to pass. Unfortunately for Woods and many others it is not reality. Woods fans are his fans all day every day, not just on Sunday between 2p.m. and 6p.m. when he is playing golf. Attention on and off the course is a part of the package whether he likes it or not. Fans want to know everything about their heroes and idols, not just their scores or stats. It is no different for other celebrities. Actors, athletes, musicians and even politicians are subject to the same scrutiny. We are kept up to date whenever a celeb is arrested , enters rehab, gets a D.U.I., or goes thru divorce proceedings. When John Daly trashes a hotel room or gets arrested for public intoxication where is the outrage for the media covering that. I'm sure Long John would appreciate that being considered a private matter between his family and himself . N.F.L. player Ray Lewis was once accused of taking part in a murder by some. Michael Jordan's gambling was once a news item. We were even updated when former N.B.A. star Shawn Kemp was behind on his child support. David Letterman's recent "transgressions" got plenty of attention . There was no shortage of speculation about what went on behind closed doors at Michael Jackson's Neverland estate. Want to find your favorite actor or singers mug shot on the internet just look it up. Even President Clinton wasn't above having to publicly address his involvement in a sex scandal.
Woods seems to think he is above it all, and perhaps that is what is bothering him the most right now. That he is no longer above the rest of us, but instead is now just one of us. Woods has been handled by the sports media with kid gloves thru out his career. It has always been understood that certain topics were off limits and rarely has he been asked difficult questions. When he has been asked those questions he has had little to say. Just ask the Florida State police about that. He complains about his lack of privacy while at the same time making himself the most exposed personality of all time. He has earned hundreds of millions of dollars by willingly thrusting his persona into the public eye at every opportunity, and yet wonders where his privacy has gone. No one has forced him to become the world's most visible or well paid pitch man. No one has forced him to be a professional golfer for that matter. It's naive to think exposure of his magnitude would come without it's price.
Some of you may feel it is unfair and maybe it is. It is also unfair that Woods and other superstars like him have been given more talent than the rest of us. I would love to be able to golf like Tiger or "be like Mike", but the reality is I can't. It is also reality that fame and fortune come with a price tag. For Woods or anyone else to suggest he is being treated differently than other high profile celebrities is irresponsible. To suggest this mess he's cleaning up is anyones fault other than his own is too. We all make poor choices now and then. Woods is paying for his now. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Tiger Woods

From to Tiger to Cheetah. The Tiger Woods saga has brought back the subject of privacy for the coddled athletes of our time. Our featured contributor, Jeff Agresta gives his view. Feel free to take your (chip) shot.