Tuesday Blog

One of the ugliest kicks in football history beats the Red Raiders in a Cotton Bowl that was forgettable for much of the day, but ended with flair…

Ohio State pounds Notre Dame , Irish drop 8th straight bowl game…

Cowboys wait on Parcells for a few days …

Varying Internet reports either have Parcells contemplating retirement or considering a contract offer from Jones. Parcells, 64, has scoffed at reports that he's considering retirement, but said Sunday he wants to take a few days to make sure he wants to coach again.

At Parcells' age and with his history of health ailments, that's not unusual. At the conclusion of every season, Parcells takes time off to make sure he has the vigor and enthusiasm to do the job properly.

And there was also this detail about the price-tag for another year with Laroi Glover:

While Greg Ellis said he does not expect to be back with the Cowboys next season, fellow defensive lineman La'Roi Glover has not had such thoughts about his future.
"None at all," Glover said.

But like Ellis, Glover is not a true fit for the 3-4 nose tackle spot at 290 pounds. He is also scheduled to count $7.2 million against the cap next year and is due a $1.5 million roster bonus in March.

Every hockey season, there are several wins that stay with you, and several losses that do the same. Last night’s overtime loss to the Kings was one of those losses that will stick with you. I don’t even know how this happened, but somehow, the Los Angeles Kings, a team that not so long ago was absolutely owned by the Stars, has turned the tables. The Stars can’t seem to deal with them. Even on a night when most of their key players don’t even play. The Stars just couldn’t kill a key penalty last night as they gave up 3 power play goals. That was a frustrating loss for the Stars.

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Hopefully, given that this blog is named “Bob’s blog”, you can find it in your heart to allow a reflection on a topic revolving the icons of my youth.

You see, Monday, January 2, 2006, is a day I will never forget. That is because both football teams that I have followed for my 33 years changed football coaches on the very same day.

Very different circumstances, as Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez shocked me with his team’s performance in their domination of an Auburn team I was convinced had significantly more talent, and got the big win capping off his wonderful 16 years in style. He now moves up to Athletic Director of the University of Wisconsin.

It was a fitting farewell for Alvarez, who led Wisconsin to eight bowl wins in 16 seasons and will now focus on his duties as athletic director. The Badgers were 1-5 all-time in the postseason before his arrival and sent him off with his fourth 10-win season.

Wisconsin amassed 311 yards and a 17-0 lead in the first half, leaving little doubt that Alvarez would get to celebrate another big win.

The architect of numerous firsts for Wisconsin, Alvarez became the first Badgers coach to win his finale since Milt Bruhn in 1966. Defensive coordinator Bret Bielema takes over as coach.

8 bowl wins with Alvarez in 16 years. 1 bowl win the rest of the million years of football for the Badgers. He will be missed.

Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the Packers drop the sword on the neck of Mike Sherman. All Sherman did was win 59 games in 6 years, and then was sacked after his first losing season. Of course, in my opinion, he was not fired for his coaching job, but rather the poor job of GM that he did for 4 seasons that put his team in the horrible personnel situation that they find themselves in.

What does this mean for Brett Favre? One of two things. Either A) they are trying to get a complete clean break from the old regime and in a way are forcing Brett out without being too obvious or B) they are preparing to hire Favre-buddy Steve Mariucci . While that may make my football pants go crazy in the short term, it might absolutely be the worst move for the big picture. Mariucci is hardly looking like that great a coach with the way things ended in SF and then the debacle in Detroit, and should this team make decisions to appease a player who could retire at any moment? I certainly love Brett, but he eventually will retire, and when he does, the Packers will still field a team the following year. It seems the obligation is to the organization, not the Quarterback. If he is interested in their plans, fine, but no player lasts forever and that is why you cannot make decisions around the feelings of a player, no matter how great that player may be.

Anyway, yesterday, both of “my teams” changed out coaches, and both usher in new eras. For better or worse? 2006 will tell us plenty.

Darth Cowboy pictures at bag of nothing.com …

Liverpool 2, Bolton 2 , and the amazing run of form halts at 10 wins in a row…And Chelsea gains even more ground…



This is interesting, I suppose: Kenny Rogers enjoys a companion …

7 days from the Shield’s last season? …

Two more days of 3-7, and then we return Thursday to 12-3 on the radio.