A Pay-Day Blog

Must Read Comedy: The Sports Guy Goes moment by moment during the Rose Bowl …

8:58 -- All right, is there a dumber sports rule than "If your knee hits the ground, the play is over ... even if if you weren't touched" in college football? That's right up there with "You can't just intentionally walk someone, you have to throw four balls," "You don't get an extra foul for overtime," "You can call a timeout while you're in midair" and "You aren't allowed to punch A-Rod in the face during a game" in the pantheon of Dumb Rules That Only Make Sports Less Fun.

9:03 -- One more question: Has there ever been a national championship up for grabs between two schools that had hotter female fan bases? ABC could pan anywhere in the crowd right now and hit the proverbial jackpot. I need to start watching more college football. Seriously. Remind me next year.

9:04 -- Reggie Bush just makes me happy. I think I have a man-crush on him.

Dude is a genius…

Vince Young’s future in the NY Times …



Sometimes, you need to blog sooner than later. Case in point, Marty Turco and the incredibly complicated question the Stars had before them, and whether he deserved the big money that free agency would bring this summer. I had an essay all planned out that explained both sides of retaining a goalie that has lost many of his biggest games, including each of the two trips through the playoffs where he was outplayed by Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003, and David Aebischer in 2004. Hardly Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek, so there was great concern about whether Marty was the guy to carry the Stars in the playoffs, and at least be part of the solution, not part of the problem, when it comes to the part of the year that matters.

That is why Ed Belfour was always well compensated here, but Marty has managed to make big dollars without playing well in the spring time.

But here was the rub: Rumors were beginning to swirl already that if the Stars did not want to commit big dollars to him, there were certainly plenty of teams (Read: Detroit) that would be more than willing to bid come July 1. Evidently, Doug Armstrong is willing to roll the dice. Sign him on Thursday, for nearly $6 million a year over 4 years, and take the stress out of the summer. Of course, if Turco and the Stars get spanked in the early rounds of the playoffs again, Doug will be heavily second guessed. But, if Turco plays great hockey in both the Olympics (he may not even play) and the Playoffs, then $5.7 million will be a bargain over what he might have cost had they had to participate in an auction for his future.

Turco signs sweet extension …

Turco, who could have been become an unrestricted free agent this summer, received a four-year, $22.8 million extension that will keep him a Star through the 2009-10 season.

Armstrong admittedly bet his reputation that Turco will be able to duplicate his strong regular-season performances in the playoffs. Turco has won one playoff series in a two postseason appearances as a starter.

"My belief was that I had to put my stake in the ground and build the team around one player," Armstrong said. "It's not that one player can win or lose for us, but if you have to put a statement. And Marty is my statement player."

Turco, 20-11-2 with a 2.44 goals-against average and three shutouts, was aware of the show of faith.

"Army and the organization went out on a limb," Turco said. "Even though we haven't accomplished our goals in recent years, it's a great feeling about the confidence and belief they have in me."

I think you likely know how much I like Marty Turco. But, Army is really showing some guts to do this. For the sake of the franchise, I hope it is the right call. I cannot say I would have done the same thing. I would have wanted to see how this season ends. But, if that is the case, you have to enter the question, “if Turco is not the goalie, who is?” Take a look at how many teams don’t have a #1 goalie.

In battle of the sexes, US Olympic Women’s Hockey team loses to Minnesota High School team …and, if you thought that was impressive, keep in mind, the boys had to play “no-checking”, too.

Vikings hire Childress …You know, I am sure this is a great hire and all, due to the fact that everyone wanted to hire him, but why? Were the Eagles ever an offensive juggernaut? Didn’t Andy Reid call all of their plays? Good luck, Minnesota. I am sure Green Bay will hire someone worse….

Now Manny thinks he is staying in Boston …

Keith’s Rose Bowl Journal …

Then there is this email:

Hey Bob:

I love your show, especially your hockey insight, but you're killing me with the Ninja Turtles "dude" expression all the time. Come on Bob, you're a professional and you obviously have a vocabulary, quit doing yourself and your college a disservice and drop the street punk "dude" expression from your verbal library - it's nauseating. Otherwise, keep up the great work and congratulations on filling-in very well for the Hardline...MF

He is likely right, but as Popeye once said, “I am who I am”, or something like that…

I just won’t understand this no matter how many of you try to explain how bitter rivals pull for eachother:



Finally, I sincerely apologize for horrible NFL Wildcard coverage this week. This Rose Bowl thing totally blocked it for me. I will give you my quick picks, and then get in normal playoff mode on Monday.

Saturday, January 7
4:30 p.m. on ABC -- Washington (10-6) at Tampa Bay (11-5)
8:00 p.m. on ABC -- Jacksonville (12-4) at New England (10-6)


Sunday, January 8
1:00 p.m. on FOX -- Carolina (11-5) at N.Y. Giants (11-5)
4:30 p.m. on CBS -- Pittsburgh (11-5) at Cincinnati (11-5)

I like Tampa Bay to win a defensive struggle (not the 36-35 score the first time around), and New England to play well at home and advance to Indy.

Sunday, give me Carolina (I think), and for some reason, I like Cincinnati to stand up to those bullies from Pittsburgh.

And I might go 0-4.