Sporting World Potpourri

Reggie Bush Wins The Heisman

The voting wasn't even close. He won the thing by the largest margin in the history of the award. In fact I think Reggie got more first place votes than fellow Bush George W. got in the blue states combined. I mean how bad must Vince Young have felt afterward? It's too bad for him cuz he's led the Longhorns to the National Championship game against Bush and his Trojans. The problem was he had his best year during the same season Reggie Bush blew up. He would have won it any other year. Back to Bush though. I stay up late and watched USC games just so I could watch him run. It is sick. I was at a bar during the USC/Fresno State game where he racked up over 500 all purpose yards. Hot scantily clad chick after hot scantily clad chick walked by and I couldn't take my eyes off of Reggie Bush. A lot of people are comparing what he does to Gale Sayers, but I've never seen Sayers except in film. I have to compare him more to a Barry Sanders type, but bigger and faster. Honestly though I don't think we can compare Bush to anybody except Reggie Bush. He is not either of those two, and before it's all over he may just be the greatest running back we have ever seen. I know it's not official yet, but Bush will declare for the NFL this year. He has already won a National Championship (and should get another in January) and will be the #1 pick in the Draft. What possible reason could he have to stay in school? The only thing that would keep him at USC is the thought of playing for the Houston Texans.

The Rose Bowl: #1 USC vs. #2 Texas

I don't think this game is going to be as good as a lot of people think. I'm more of the opinion that USC is going to roll over the Longhorns. Remember the majority of the country thought USC and Oklahoma would be a great game too, and the Trojans whipped their ass. That Oklahoma team won the Big 12 when it was still a good conference too. This year's Big 12 is weak. The Longhorns destroyed their competition, but there wasn't much competition. Yes Ohio State was a big win, but playing Ohio State in September, and the Trojans in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship is a completely different story. Also let's not forget Texas Head Coach Mack Brown's tendency to lose big games. I think Reggie Bush runs for 135, receives for 50 more, and scores 2 TD's. USC's defense isn't as strong as in the past, and I think Texas moves the ball against them, but not enough. My prediction is USC 34 Texas 17. The only reason I think it's even that close is USC starts celebrating around the 4th quarter, and Texas gets a late pointless TD.

Reggie Bush Sweepstakes

Anyone who saw Kris Brown miss that game tying field goal for the Houston Texans last weekend against the Titans all thought the same thing. There is NO WAY any professional place kicker can miss a field goal from 30 yards as bad as Kris Brown did. Robbie Goulds field goal try for the Bears with the 45 MPH cross wind didn't blow as far off course as Brown's attempt. It's obvious the Texans aren't trying to win right now and possibly jeopardize the entire franchise's future. I bet Texan fans riot if the Texans win a game again this year. I just wish Kris Brown wouldn't lie about it. He denied he missed it on purpose. We're not idiots Mr. Brown. Just tell us. The only person in all of Houston upset by the whole thing (Dom Capers doesn't count cuz he's not coming back next season anyway.) is current Texan Running Back Domanick Davis. I hear he slashed Brown's tires, and had sex with his wife after the game Sunday. When asked if this was a response to the missed FG all Davis had to say was this, "I didn't slash nobody's tires, and I've been having sex with Kris' wife for years. I mean c'mon, how can any woman respect a man who spells his name like that?"

Indianapolis Colts:Perfection or Trophy?

Why not both!? The Colts are 13-0 and have clinched homefield in the AFC. Coach Tony Dungy has already said publicly that he would sit his key players in meaningless games, and therefore jeopardize their chances of going undefeated. The good news is that the Colts have only one real tough game left and it's this week against San Diego in Indy. Dungy said his starters will play this game as long as it's close, cuz he doesn't want to give them an entire month off before their first playoff game. So if the Colts win Sunday, and then play the starters preseason style in the last two games (for a few series at the start of the game.) they may still go undefeated! I do have to agree with Dungy though. Winning the Super Bowl is a lot more important than going undefeated while doing it. This isn't college, you can lose. Somewhere though you know Don Shula, Nick Buonicotti, and Bob Griese are ramming pins and needles into a Peyton Manning voodoo doll. In many ways I see the 72 Dolphins clinging to their undefeated season as a real life equivalent of Al Bundy telling everybody he once scored 4 TD's in a single game. It was over 30 years ago!! Besides that 72 Dolphins team goes 3-13 in today's NFL.

The NFC

Ok, since it's pretty clear that the Colts will win the AFC and destroy whoever they play in the Super Bowl the only question left is who will those lucky losers be? I'm gonna go ahead and say the Seahawks. Yes, I know the Seahawks have a somewhat suspect postseason history (as does all of Seattle really), but I do believe this year is finally it for them. Holmgren finally has been able to concentrate on doing what he does well, and that's coach. He never should have tried to be GM, Head Coaching in the NFL these days is hard enough as it is. Don't put more on your plate, although looking at the walking walrus that is Mike Holmgren I can see why he had that "The more on my plate the better" philosophy. Yes I think the Seahawks defense isn't as good as a lot of people think. This is despite the fact that they have won their last two games by a combined score of 83-3. (No that's not a typo. 42-0 over Eagles, 41-3 over Niners.) The two teams they beat though aren't exactly the class of the NFL though. I remember the Seahawks actually struggling with the Niners in San Fran earlier this year. Plus if you look around the rest of the NFC the conference leaders are all struggling right now. The Bears just got torn a new one by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and need to bounce back Sunday Night against the Falcons. The Falcons are going to be playing in sub 20 degree weather, in Chicago on grass, with a banged up Michael Vick. Oh and if they lose they can basically kiss the postseason goodbye. I have to say I think the Bears bounce back in this one. The Falcons have a bad run defense, and the Bears will get back to running more this week (They only ran the ball 18 times against the Steelers.) Plus look at Brian Urlacher and the Bears track record against Vick. In 2 career games I think Urlacher has 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and a fumble recovery returned 95 yards for a touchdown against them, and that was on turf. The Bears are a lot like the Buccaneers in the fact that their defense matches up very well against Michael Vick cuz they are so fast. The problem for the Bears in the playoffs will be if they get to the NFC Championship game against Seattle they won't be able to stay on pace. Yes the defense is amazing (excluding last week) but look at the last 2 games. Samkon Gado and Jerome Bettis both had huge days against them. Last year Gado was a 3rd string RB at Liberty, and Jerome Bettis is like 59 years old. What do you think Shaun "I already have like 46 TD's this season, but no contract" Alexander is going to do against them? The Giants and Eli Manning are struggling, the Panthers aren't a good road team, and the Bucs aren't complete enough. The hottest team in the NFC right now are the Vikings and they wouldn't be in the playoffs if they started tomorrow. Besides, they're the Vikings so in Week 17 against the Bears with their season on the line we all know they will do something incredibly stupid and miss the playoffs like they always do. The other team in the NFC, the Cowboys, are just too inconsistent. One quarter they are great, the next they look like a Division 1-AA College team. The Seahawks will win the visit to Detroit, and the ass whoopin that comes with it.

Pat Riley Returns......Again

Riley returns to coaching more often than 50 Cent gets shot. The Miami Heat players are in for a lovely wake up call though. I wanted to be there for that first practice so bad. I don't care what Shaq says, you know he helped orchestrate this move behind the scenes. I just want to see Shaq's face when Riley comes into practice, and starts verbally emasculating him in front of the team for being fat and lazy, and then makes him run 50 laps. I mean if he can tell Kareem and Magic they were slacking in practice, you think Shaq will be treated differently? Plus what happens when Riley informs Shaq that defense is actually an important part of basketball? Riley isn't going to stand for Shaq's "The playoffs are all that counts" attitude. Should be fun to watch all this develop. Plus you know mens hair gel companies all across the country are excited about this development. All the airtime Rileys perfectly coiffed hair will get the rest of the season is bound to boost sales.

Random Thoughts

• When the Blue Jays signed AJ Burnett to that $55 million deal was I the only one who immediately thought Darren Driefort?
• Does White Sox GM Kenny Williams just sit around his office during the day and make trades out of boredom? I'm not questioning his deals, cuz his previous instincts have shown to be pretty damn good. It's just his team won a World Series and he's done more than any other MLB GM (Save for maybe Mets GM Omar Minaya) to improve his team this offseason. Meanwhile the Yankees mull over Nomar, to complete their shortstop trifecta of Jeter, A-Rod, and No-maaaaaaaaaaah.
• How perfect would it be if the Pacers trade Ron Artest to the Portland JailBlazers?
• Did you know that if I saw Stuart Scott on the street I would punch him in the face and yell "Booyah bitch!" afterwards?

Finally a quick thanks to the San Diego Chargers for losing at home to the mighty Miami Dolphins last weekend. Way to be fellas. You owe me the $250 I would have won had you not blown it. Ya I still finished up $20 on the weekend, but it had the hopes of being so much more.