From 4 to 2

Remember the hypothetical years ago that asked what would happen first; a Black President of the United States or the Cardinals in the Super Bowl?

I guess we may have to get a ruling on who wins based on technicalities, but wait no longer Cardinals fans. All 4,000 of you who were there when the team played at Sun Devil Stadium, and the no-doubt millions who have joined you since have great reason to celebrate. You have won the NFC.

Meanwhile, a perfect demonstration on home field advantage and the bye week being important were on display in Pittsburgh where the war of attrition finally took down the Ravens. The Steelers used both of those old playoff truths and combined them with “rookie QB’s cannot win in the playoffs” to finally take down Rookie Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens with a solid nightcap to Championship Sunday.

So, who are the two coaches who will meet in Super Bowl 43? Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt meet in 2 weeks after being hired at virtually the same time 24 months ago as largely anonymous hires when Bill Cowher stepped down and Dennis Green was fired. Whisenhunt was actually interviewed by the Steelers for their opening before they decided to hire Tomlin. Mike Tomlin gets the Steelers job after 1 year as a coordinator, and is the 3rd consecutive coach who is in his 30’s to get the job in Pittsburgh.

The biggest story of the weekend has to be the return of Kurt Warner to the Super Bowl. What is crazier than a guy coming out of absolutely nowhere to take his team to the Super Bowl? How about a guy doing it twice? He comes out of the grocery store and take the Rams to the top of the league – then disappears to the scrap heap, and somehow emerges again to take the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl at the age of 37? Really? Is this happening?

Regardless, 4 has become 2. A very unlikely pairing in Tampa. Here are some observations from the Championship Sunday:

NFC Championship Game – Philadelphia at Arizona:

• With 1 game yet to play, Larry Fitzgerald already holds the NFL Record for most receiving yards in one playoff run. His 420 yards beat out the 409 Jerry Rice had in 1988. Rice had his in 3 games, and Fitzgerald beat his mark in 3 games as well. Now, with that 4th game to come, Larry can put it out of reach. His performances the last two weeks – especially when Anquan Boldin has not been healthy – have been amazing. I certainly thought that Philadelphia, having seen what happened in Charlotte, would make someone other than #11 beat them. But, it was quite clear that is easier said than done. I know Pittsburgh will try to figure something out, but is he just too good to game-plan against? I am starting to wonder.

• What happened to David Akers yesterday? As far as money kickers go, he is right there at the top of my list. But, yesterday, nothing went right for the Eagles kicker, and perhaps they lost the game because of him. A missed FG, a missed X-pt, and a kick out of bounds was not very money in a really big spot. When you go 45-45 on extra points in the season, you should not be a candidate to shank one at a crucial spot.

• The final drive the Eagles had, down 7 and facing a 4th and 10, came down to one play. It looked like the throw was there to Kevin Curtis and it looked like the Receiver was ready to make the catch until Rod Hood ran up the back of his leg. I thought a pretty clear Pass Interference. You certainly hate to see a game decided on a call, but you also hate to see the game decided on a non-call. I think that was a pretty large non-call.

• I hope you enjoyed the flashback to the big Cardinals-Eagles rivalry from 1947 and 1948. It could just be me, but that sure doesn’t look like the same sport they are playing, does it?

• How do you judge Donovan McNabb’s day? He was very shaky early, then engineered a very impressive rally, and then with the game on the line again, had some very poor throws late in the game. In the playoffs, there are rare opportunities for home run passes, and McNabb missed quite a few chances for points during the game. It seems that the Eagles should have had more points than they did. The Eagles defense betrayed them on Sunday, but I think #5 has had better moments in big spots, too. Now, 1-4 in Championship Games and 0-1 in Super Bowls has Donovan with a pretty large burden on his back when it comes to his legacy and his ability to win the big games. Surely a tough fate for a guy who threw for 375, but I just thought plays were there all day for him.

• Lost plenty of respect for Anquan Boldin during the biggest drive in Cardinals history. His petulant fit with Todd Haley with 5:30 to go in the game instead of staying on point is another example of the new NFL. In this new league, if a player thinks he is right and the coach is wrong, he then feels compelled to show up the coach and rant and rave regardless of how it looks and how many millions see it. But of course, he is another WR diva starring in their own movie, who is also the pride of the Florida triangle (Miami, Florida, or Florida State) where respect for authority is an elective. Sorry behavior indeed. But, in the new NFL, there are plenty to excuse this petulance.

• I think the Cardinals got better when they did this .

• Have you ever seen a more beautiful play than the Arrington throw back to Warner who tossed a 62 yard strike to Larry Fitz? Absolute poetry in motion. Certainly had any student of Whisenhunt thinking back to Super Bowl 40 when Antwaan Randle El hit Hines Ward deep on the only WR TD Pass in Super Bowl history. Whisenhunt was the play caller that day, and it would seem he has a good feel for when to call the trick play, no?

AFC Championship Game – Baltimore at Pittsburgh:

• I think if these two teams played each-other every week, I would most likely be a regular viewer. It is rare to find defenses that are as good as they claim to be, but Baltimore and Pittsburgh are really that good. They hit, they run, they hit, they scheme, and then they hit. What physically punishing defenses! Love it.

• In the last two months, I think we all know that Santonio Holmes is a big play Wide Receiver. He hurt the Cowboys. He hurt the Ravens. He hurt the Chargers. And he hurt the Ravens again. I am not sure Ben Roethlisberger is a prolific passer when it comes to QB ratings and completion percentage, but he sure has a knack for a big play in a big spot. He also has the knack for winning playoff games, and with a 7-2 playoff record at this point of his career, it would seem that his critics have a lot of evidence working against them.

• I love the media getting carried away. And they are guilty of getting carried away with Joe Flacco. Is he a rookie? Yes. Was he the QB of a team that won in the playoffs? Yes. But, did he have much to do with the win? No. The stats don’t lie. 3 games, 33 completions on 75 passes. 437 yards in 3 games (145 yards per game) and 1 Touchdown. So, if playoff wins are the sole decider on which QB is better than the next, Joe Flacco has 2 playoff wins already. But, the Ravens passing game had almost nothing to do with it. And his pass to Polamalu ended the game. Promising kid, but let’s simmer down.

• Troy Polamalu may be my favorite player in the NFL. Watching Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Adrian Wilson, and Polamalu play safety is such a pleasure. The complete disregard for their bodies and the ability to fly around the field is just amazing. The big plays they make, the momentum that they can change with one moment, the leadership for their teams. And to think that just 3 years ago, I took the wild stand that Roy Williams is not in this class , despite what Sporting News claimed, and was opened up to ridicule from the Cowboys fans….

• Le’Ron McClain was clearly not healthy, and therefore Willis McGahee took center stage in his best “remember me?” Edgerrin James impression. Willis looked pretty salty for most of the night until the huge collision he sustained with Ryan Clark’s helmet. McGahee’s health is still a concern this morning for everyone but the music guy at Heinz Field who wants to roll another CCR tune.

• Limas Sweed needs to learn how to catch, it would appear. Downfield blocks,
however, do not seem to be an area of weakness.

• MVP of the AFC Championship game? Ravens Specialist Darren Stone. Former Cowboys special teams player who was actually with the Cowboys for about 9 days this October, committed an absolute killer of a personal foul when he threw Anthony Madison to the ground about 15 yards out of bounds on a punt return with under 7 minutes to go in the 4th Quarter and the Ravens down 16-14. If he did nothing, the Ravens get the ball at the 40 after the return. But, because of Stone’s stupidity, it cost the Ravens 26 yards, and they took over at their own 14. They never made it back to the 40, because Polamalu picked off the pass a few plays later and the game was over. Not saying the Ravens were going to win, but taking over at your 40 when all you need is a FG is not impossible.

• Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, and Bart Scott are all unrestricted free agents. Don’t think Suggs and Scott are going to be offered the moon?

======

Well, we are down to 2 teams, 13 days, and a trip to Tampa in our NFL Season. 2008, a year where many people learned why you don’t gamble. There is no predicting the NFL this year.

1/18 for DallasStars.com

OK, 5 out of 6 points on the homestand is good news for the good guys. Check the Sunday Morning Standings in the Western Conference playoff race and it is real clear that the Stars are making steady progress. They sit just 2 points out of 8th, and have 1 game in hand on those teams above them. Translation: they are essentially tied for the final playoff spot with 39 games to play – if we assume that they can win that extra game.

But, what a race this is shaping up to be in the Western Conference. Teams that they were chasing (Nashville) are now passed. On the other hand, teams that were sitting next to the Stars 45 days ago (Phoenix) have somehow shot up all the way to the #5 seed – past the Ducks!

This chase is fun, but it will also make you insane for the next 10 weeks.
Good news from the week, though, as the Stars were involved in 3 nail-biters, and pulled 5 points. 2 wins and an OT loss will make things feel a bit better after the one that got away is the Sabres debacle where the boys sacrificed a 3-0 lead.

I still feel optimistic, and I believe the team does, too. Slowly, but surely, they are coming around.

One of the nice things to see yesterday was the production from the Ribeiro line, which now includes Jere Lehtinen and Steve Ott. They all were productive yesterday with 63 getting a key tip-in goal, a sweet set up pass that sprung Lehtinen, and then a shoot-out winner where he held the mustard and just scored on a fairly conventional effort. Curious if the mustard was held because he wanted it held or if he was told something after Thursdays effort in the shootout, but he did not seem to indicate that after Saturday’s game.

Lehtinen was also big, as he scored a vintage Jere goal to tie the game at 1-1, as he split the defense of the Kings and beat Erik Ersberg. 26 is starting to look like the tenacious 26 again, and that can only be a good thing. Let’s hope he can stay healthy.

And then there is Ott. Who is trying to be Ott and Brenden Morrow all at the same time, with a bunch of metal in his hand. You can tell he is still making the opponent crazy with his actions and his words, and then they want to fight him (of course) and he cannot oblige for another several weeks. You can understand the opponent’s frustration, as they drop their gloves and then skate to the penalty box without the payoff. But, the combination of the 3 players is looking to help carry things offensively for a crew that now gets different nights of productivity from the 3 different lines.

But, here comes the key: Are they still productive on the road? 21 home games, the Stars have scored 69 goals. That is a number that will win a lot of hockey games; 3.29 goals per game. It is when the Stars have had to leave Dallas where the scoring has dried up. 51 goals in 22 road games for a stunningly low total of 2.32 goals per game. That is the difference between winning and losing. The defense, for all of its frustrating moments this season has been the exact same home and away. It is the ability to do the most important thing in hockey – put the puck in the net – that has betrayed the Stars when they have left the friendly confines of Dallas.

Well, with Tampa on Monday and then Florida later in the week, the Stars need to get some goals on the road and be sitting pretty as the All-Star break hits next weekend.

===

One other news item that I have not addressed in blog form yet, and that is the broadcast rights coming to the ticket that will combine two of my very favorite things in the world together: The Dallas Stars and Sportsradio 1310, The Ticket.
I am excited that the games will be on the Ticket with good ol Ralphie Boy and Razor bringing you the call on my home base.

What does it mean? Not sure. I hope that we will have plenty of surprises up our sleeve, but in the end, the key will remain the key – which is letting those boys do what they do best – call a great hockey game.

But, just so you are well aware, I am quite pleased to see this is going down. And look forward to continuing the Dallas Stars postgame show on the Ticket – something I have been doing since 1998, and has been hosted by Bob and Dan since the 1999-2000 season. We don’t see that changing too much, except that many of you will already have your dials on 1310 for the game itself.

Good times-

Friday Post

It has obviously been a very busy week around here, but I want to make sure I get something on the blog this morning to address three really important things that are on my mind.

First, plenty of talk about the 2 championship games this weekend.

I have not seen an NFL season go this goofy in several years, where everything you know is wrong, and every sound, tried and true piece of logic we have ever launched is rendered meaningless.

Bye Weeks?

Homefield advantage?

QB play?

None of it matters.

Well, since I am certainly not scared to be humiliated again, I thought I better continue my 3-5 playoffs with even more picks of these games. I just want to salvage the post season with really looking at the evidence and trying to predict the future of the most unpredictable playoffs we have ever seen.

If you don’t believe how goofy this post-season has been read this …

OK, so knowing how crazy goofy this season has been, let me jinx your team by predicting the final 2:

Philadelphia at Arizona, 2:00

A 4 seed is hosting an NFC playoff game? Are you kidding me? A 9-7 team is hosting it? And, the Eagles, who are only in the playoffs because Tampa Bay cannot beat Oakland at home? How goofy is this?

2 of the best 3 defensive outings of the Arizona Cardinals have happened in the last 2 weeks. They aren’t this good. They have been helped dramatically by the brain-dead plays of the opposing QB’s. They surely cannot expect the turnover safe McNabb to hand them the ball 6 times.

Meanwhile, can’t Jim Johnson’s blitz package rock Kurt Warner into some fumbles and picks? Can’t the Eagles make someone not named Larry Fitzgerald beat them, and not let Fitz run free in holes in the zone like Carolina?

I fear the home-field advantage of that new stadium, as Cardinals fans are actually loud in that new place, but I don’t trust the Cardinals defense. And I don’t trust Kurt Warner. And, I cannot get my arms around the idea of the Cardinals in the
Super Bowl.

So, sorry, Eagles fans, but I am squarely behind the Eagles in this one. I don’t
think they have come out of nowhere. I think they have been a good team all along that was underperforming and now is living up to their talents.

Eagles 27, Cardinals 20

Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 5:30

As you know, this one is next to impossible to pick. Both games between the two teams this season have been scary close, and could have swung the other way easily.
The Ravens are the hot team, and look quite a bit like the ’05 Steelers, who are riding a very young QB, a solid rushing attack, and a great defense through road games in the playoffs, and are gaining momentum by the week.

But, they made almost no plays last week in Tennessee, and were benefactors of the Titans giving the game away. A missed FG, turnovers in the red zone, and an injured Chris Johnson put the Ravens here much more than Joe Flacco did.

He is not taking sacks or throwing picks. But he is also not throwing Touchdowns or gaining yards. He is playing very safe.

Meanwhile, Willie Parker looks healthy and fast. The Steelers defense looks to be almost as good as the Ravens. And the home crowd should be amazing.

I don’t have a ton of confidence in this pick, and could surely see a Baltimore-Philadelphia Super Bowl which would give us great Harbaugh story lines as well as the two teams that once fought over getting Terrell Owens from the 49ers.

But, give me the home Steelers to ride a 2 seed into the Super Bowl, and a battle of Pennsylvania, as I have the Steelers 19, Ravens 17.

====

Meanwhile, Mike
Young has agreed to the move …so apparently the story is over.
His quotes are not overly convincing, but, the trade talk is dead, I do believe.

The five-time All-Star confirmed Thursday afternoon that he will move from
shortstop, where he earned a Gold Glove last season, to third base so that the Texas Rangers can begin grooming Elvis Andrus for the major leagues.

Only Sunday, Young had said that he wanted to be traded rather than switch positions. But with a slow trade market and the start of spring training only a month away, he decided to move forward.

However, he said he is doing so reluctantly.

"I am moving, but to sit there and say that I’m going to throw a party while I’m doing it is wrong," Young said.

"When I had this conversation with the team a month ago, I didn’t think it was my time then. I don’t think it’s my time now. I’m not going to sit here and change my mind overnight. I feel like I’m playing well at that position. But, having said that, it’s not my call."

Ultimately, Young acted the way the Rangers believed he would by putting the team first. But team president Nolan Ryan helped steer Young toward agreeing to the move.
It had been almost a month since Young had spoken with any Rangers officials. General manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington presented Young with the position swap just before the holidays, and he left angry enough to ask for a trade.
Young, though, said he leaned on multiple conversations with Ryan the past week, as well as those with teammates and agent Dan Lozano. Ryan said he attempted to present the Rangers’ philosophy moving forward while stressing to Young that they wanted him to be a big part of the process.

He has bought in, though not entirely.

"I really believe at the end of the day that the team wasn’t really pursuing a trade," Young said. "They were trying to get me to play third base. So, at that point, I didn’t see much of a point of letting this thing drag on."

Ryan and Washington received calls from Young on Thursday afternoon before he announced his decision.

"I think we have to commend Michael for making this decision because I think he realized there wasn’t going to be a lot accomplished by letting this linger," Ryan said. "I think what it says is he’s definitely a team player. He definitely wants to win."

And finally, but not least… The Stars are coming to the Ticket! …very interested in what this all means….

Dallas Stars games will be carried on radio by the KTCK The Ticket/1310 AM beginning next season in a five-year deal, it was announced this morning on the Dunham and Miller show.

WBAP/820 AM has been the hockey club's radio home for the last 15 years.

Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh will continue as the Stars radio announcers, The
Ticket's Craig Miller said in making the announcement on air.

The Ticket will broadcast all 82 Stars games and playoff games, Miller said.

According to the Stars release on signing the deal, the games will be broadcast on both the station’s primary AM frequency of 1310 and its main FM frequency of 104.1 (as well as 1700 AM and 99.5-2 HD). The Ticket will also broadcast a pregame show (for most games) and a postgame show (for all games) as part of the agreement.

“This is a logical next step to the strong promotional partnership we've enjoyed with the Stars over the years,” said The Ticket vice President and mrket manager Dan Bennett. “We felt the time was right to take it to the next level and become the play-by-play voice of the team.”

Patrick Crayton on ESPN



Brahmas Fight!

From the Way Back Machine

Charity Challenge 3 - Reunion Arena - in the year 2000

Bob vs Expo



After further review, it could be viewed as a sucker punch.

Break Up the Mavs.

Well, you may have to forgive me if I have not paid major attention on this blog to our Dallas Mavericks. The fact is, this team has not been terribly compelling in the last calendar year, and certainly when reality came crashing down on this team last April, there was a call for a major over-haul to change the mix, the environment, and really, just to hit some sort of “era reset” on a group that seemed tired and played out to me.

However, they spent all summer with Josh Howard news items, and the cosmetic change of bringing in Rick Carlisle to employ his Princeton offense and his new voice in the room. Also, we were sold on the idea that there was a large improvement around the corner because Jason Kidd was going to attend a full training camp.
Well, the malaise has set in.

The Mavericks have grown tired and stale. It actually happened about April of 2007, but it may have taken until January 2009 for everyone to recognize what had happened.

Of course, that delay of recognition from the Mavs brass (read: Mark Cuban) cost the Mavs the “spinning their wheels” trade of Devin Harris and 2008 #1 and 2010 #1 and Diop and stuff for Jason Kidd.

Then, amazingly, the Mavs signed Diop for 5 years and 31 million.

Then, even more amazingly, the Mavs have apparently no use whatsoever for Diop.

Did I mention they are spinning their wheels?

Now, in their last 10 games, they are 5-5; With wins over the Clippers, Timberwolves, 76ers, Clippers and Knicks. Including one of the most incredible wins ever against Minnesota – so, we got that going for us. Which is nice.

Add to that a 28 point loss in Phoenix, a 20 point loss in Memphis, and losses to Sacramento, Utah, and Denver (without Carmelo) and you can see things slipping further and further away.

Last night, the Mavericks may have been victim of a bad break as they wasted quite a night from Dirk. But, this is a far bigger issue going right now.

The Mavericks MUST be coming to grips with the current mix not working. The
evidence is on the court, and now the evidence is in the rumor mill.

When stuff like the links below start showing up, you assume there is some level of fire around all of that smoke. But, I guess the proof will be in the pudding.

Is it something small? Like this Bobcat trade? I think that changes very little as far as changing the same group “Dirk-Josh-Jet-Damp” that has always been here since the 2006 Finals.

Or, Will they trade Josh? Will they trade Jet? Will they even entertain trading Dirk?

I know that Kevin Garnett benefited big time from being traded. But did Minnesota get anything back that leads you to believe they made the best decision for themselves? I like Al Jefferson plenty, but did they win that trade? No chance.
Did Memphis get anything back for Pau Gasol?

Did New Jersey get anything back for Jason Kidd? Wait. Forget that one.
Here are some of the more recent items with regards to a much needed Mavs face lift –don’t worry about the names, just make note of how the Mavericks are TALKING TO EVERYONE.

Hoopsworld …

The Mavericks Are Talking: Calling the Dallas Mavericks this year's "Chatty Cathy" might be an understatement. More than a handful of league executives have labeled the Mavericks' attempts at making a deal almost peculiar. The Mavericks over the past month have been pinging teams in the trade market trying to find a third team to pull off a deal. Early last week a prominent Western Conference executive told HOOPSWORLD he was told by the Mavericks directly that they had a deal with Toronto; Toronto later in the day denied such a deal was on the table. A Report this weekend suggested the Mavericks had the framework of a three-team deal with Charlotte and the Oklahoma City Thunder in place, a deal which would move out DeSagana Diop and return Raymond Felton to the Mavericks while moving Oklahoma City's Earl Watson to the Bobcats. The problem here is Thunder GM Sam Presti all but denied the deal was in the works to reporters who probed him on the topic yesterday. The quirky part of the whole thing is the Mavericks abruptly sat Diop versus the Sacramento Kings.
League rules prohibit teams from playing players involved in an active trade discussion. After the game Mavs Coach Rick Carlisle called the decision a coaching move, although it seems to line up nicely with the speculation the Mavs are close to a move. One executive characterized the Mavericks as calling frequently and offering up complex three-team scenarios involving other team's players in an effort to gain support, saying his club heard from the Mavericks two or three times per week. It is clear the Mavericks are being "creative" and aggressive in finding a deal, the problem may be that whatever you're hearing regarding the Mavericks' intention to deal may not be the deal that gets done - they are truly flooding the waters these days.

Mark Stein …

The Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder put the pieces in place for a three-team trade late last week, but NBA front-office sources said Sunday that those talks have gone "dormant."

Sources told ESPN.com that the full deal, as originally constructed, would have sent Raymond Felton, Nazr Mohammed and Sean May from Charlotte to Dallas, landed Earl Watson and Dallas' DeSagana Diop with the Bobcats and shipped Jerry Stackhouse to the Thunder along with a future second-round pick.

The Boston Globe reported in its Sunday editions that a trade headlined by Felton and Watson was "in the works," but sources with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com on Friday and again Sunday that the discussions have gone quiet.

"Dormant is a good word," one source said.

It was unclear Sunday night if the trade can still be resurrected or revised, but sources say one impediment is an injury suffered in Tuesday's victory over Boston by Bobcats rookie guard D.J. Augustin, which could suddenly make Charlotte reluctant to part with Felton. Augustin is expected to miss at least 10 days after he aggravated the abdominal injury in Saturday's victory over Washington.

If the trade can be revived, Watson would be moving to Charlotte as a veteran backup to Augustin, whose emergence has led many executives around the league to presume that Felton would be moved before the league's Feb. 19 trading deadline. Felton is playing on an expiring contract that pays him $4.1 million this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

The Bobcats, furthermore, have been to trying to add Diop to their front line as a defensive specialist since he was a free agent last summer. As ESPN.com reported in July, Charlotte offered Diop the same five-year deal worth more than $32 million that the 7-foot center wound up signing with the Mavericks.

Dallas has been shopping Stackhouse, Diop and Brandon Bass for weeks in hopes of acquiring a player of Felton's caliber. But if he winds up going to Dallas, Felton would have to fit into a rotation of lead guards which already features Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and J.J. Barea.

If these three-way talks dissolve completely, Dallas is expected to continue to push hard for at least one trade before the February deadline, with Stackhouse's cap-friendly contract and possibly another former All-Star -- swingman Josh Howard -- in play.

"Dallas is talking to everyone," one rival executive said.

There is the key of all of this:

"Dallas is talking to everyone," one rival executive said.

Good. I doubt they do anything gigantic right now. A trade of Kidd, for instance, is not bloody likely. They want money for the summer of 2010 (Bosh is the main target, I believe), but they don’t want to lose Kidd now, and be really bad in 2009-10. Why? Because they don’t own their 2010 pick, and if that turned out to be a high lottery pick – it would make the original Kidd deal look even more ridiculous. Imagine him playing somewhere else, and New Jersey is making the 8th pick that year, and they have Devin Harris in the All-Star game again. Ouch.

So, expect Kidd to be offered a 1 year deal this summer. Not sure that keeps him, but I would be shocked to see a Dirk or a Kidd trade anytime soon.

We should, however, see something soon.

Links:

Another quality hockey site I have found …illegal curve.com

Nice story on the Wire …

Star Wars moments on the Simpsons …

Bob vs Expo



Mudbugs vs Icerays

Beating the Wings...Lovely

There may be things in sports that I enjoy more than beating Detroit, but this morning, that list seems pretty short. I love seeing the Stars win a game they looked sure to lose after 20 minutes. I love seeing the Stars beat the Red Wings under any circumstance. But, to see both on the same night was a rare treat.

So, what did they do that they haven’t been doing? Why are they 2-0 at home against Detroit this year?

What was said in the lockerroom of the Stars in the 1st intermission? Better yet, what was packed up by Detroit in that same 1st intermission?
Regardless, allow me to throw out a hockey theory: “There is absolutely, positively, nothing bad that can come out of consistently out shooting and out chancing your opponent”. Last night, the Stars out shot the Detroit Red Wings, 49-30; 40-16 after the 1st intermission. That is rare domination over the best team in hockey.

Further, this wasn’t a one night aberration. Mike Heika wrote about this Monday Morning …

FRISCO – There is a trend afoot with the Stars.

The team is starting to dominate the shots-on-goal differential. Over the last eight games, the Stars have out-shot the opposition by an average of 35.5 to 25.6 – a mark that would put them with the best NHL teams of the last decade.

And yet, the Stars are 4-3-1 in that span and have been outscored, 23-22. They are averaging 2.75 goals per game – not what you'd expect from a team that's dominating puck possession and scoring opportunities.

I know the results have not been what we all want, but allow me to repeat: There is nothing bad that can happen if you are going to get more shots on their goalie than they get on you.

Shot totals can deceive some nights. A shot is recorded from a dump in for a change that ends up on goal. It has virtually no chance of scoring, but it is a shot on goal by the definition of the rule. However, the best teams in the history of hockey always have outshot their opponents.

Now, the Stars have figured out how to do this in a stretch that his included the best teams in the league: Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim, New Jersey…. This, is a great trend.

Possible explanations that may not be positive? I have one. Have the Stars come to grips with their deficiencies in the defensive end and have figured out the only way to address it without a major trade is to encourage the less than defensive defensemen to push forward at every opportunity. If you cannot win a 3-2 game,
maybe 40 shots help you to win a 5-4 game. Just a theory I am working on.

Are the Stars good enough to make the playoffs, and continue their way up the ladder? Maybe. But they still have plenty of problems:

• Special teams are horrid. PP is 26th, PK is 27th.
• Faceoff percentage is bad. 24th in the league.
• Blue-line remains a work in progress.
• Goaltending comes and goes, and there appears to be no back-up.

But, let’s forget about much of that for a nice evening. The Stars got big night, I think partially because their manhood was challenged last Thursday. They were more effective at times in their own end, because everybody was helping. 6 Stars in their own end make for tough sledding for the opponent. But, they have a hard time maintaining their focus for 60 minutes most nights, and that is why they are digging out of a hole right now…or trying to. They have caught Nashville, but they sit 12th in the West.

How about beating the Red Wings without getting goals from any of the top scorers? If I told you that Ribs, Richards, Modano, Neal, Loui, would all be goal-less, and the Wings would get 2 from Datsyuk and 1 from Hossa, would you like your chances? Me, neither.

Nice win, boys.

Thoughts on MY

This Michael Young imbroglio is really on my mind. I have come to terms with the Rangers spending the last several years “regrouping” and “rebuilding” and doing the annual dance of:

1) Signing guys to 1 year deals who have little or no place in the big scheme of things, so that,

2) In July, we can trade those same guys for another Baseball America-ranked prospect, so that,

3) Sometime in the next 36 months, we can honestly and realistically compete for a Division Crown.

The problem, for me, has always been complicated. First, I don’t like how the 36 month window actually never begins. Trust me, I can find documentation that will prove that in 2004 this team was projecting to compete in 2007. And each subsequent year, the window moves. Therefore, in 2008, we were hearing of 2010. And you wait, in 2009….

Second, there has been very little reason to watch Rangers games once they run out of contention. I know some of you watch the perpetual Mark DeRosa, David Dellucci, Frank Catalanotto, Ramon Vazquez show. You may enjoy watching journeymen play out the string, but I need a little something more to sink my teeth into. I need hope. I need, in the words of the great Brett Michaels, something to believe in.

Enter, the men worthy of your belief. Now, it is Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, and Michael Young. Guys who we all know will be a part of the next winner in Texas, right? Well, back to 2005, weren't we told that the infield of Hank Blalock, Mark Teixeira, and Mike Young will be a big part of the next winner?

And, slowly, those players who are your nucleus disappear. Some, play their way out of their role (Blalock), whereas others play so well, for so long, that they become too expensive and play their way out of your payroll (Teixeira). The sad truth is, there seems to be no middle ground. No Dirk of the franchise, if you will.

And this is where the disconnect begins for many of the fans. Sure, Jamey Newberg is unwavering in his faith as the faces change at a rapid pace, and there are many others like him…I cannot cope with a franchise that sells the next guy and seldom tells me about the guys who are here now.

But, they did tell me about Michael Young. They sold me long ago. And now, it appears like a break-up may be around the corner. My favorite Ranger, one of my very few choices because they can’t keep anyone in a Rangers uniform for 4 years anymore, has said he wants out.

The Rangers renewed their vows to Young just 22 months ago, and it was one of those rare commitments from this team that seemed to say to the fans that it is ok to feel safe - that while names are going to change elsewhere - go ahead and buy your #10 jersey, because he is staying.

So, is this mess their fault? Isn’t it fair to ask him to move for the team? And, if asked, have we ever heard one word about Mike being unreasonable and selfish and sorry?

What the heck is going on here? Why does it look like the face of the franchise is now going the same way as A-Rod, Tex, Rogers, and others who on the way out the door, the public had been swayed against them?

Nolan: Fix this. It is clear that Jon Daniels and Tom Hicks do not have an easy way with words to articulate difficult messages properly. But, this team cannot afford to look silly again.

Michael Young needs to be a part of 2009 and beyond. 3B? Fine with me. SS? Maybe. DH? Why not. The position is the details that these rich men need to settle like men. Not through talk radio and message boards. Figure it out.
To me, another trade for another kid that we will all be assured will be awesome in 2012 is NOT an option.

JD tries to settle everyone down …

General manager Jon Daniels is quite aware of the situation but still believes it can be resolved and Michael Young will be with the Rangers in 2009.

"I still believe there is a likelihood that we can come together on this and put it
behind us," Daniels said Monday morning. "We want to have further discussions with Mike and talk to him about it. We're all preparing for Michael to be an integral part of our team going forward. That's how we're preparing and that's my expectations."

But Daniels is also clear about where he wants Young to play in 2009.
"We're preparing for him to play third base," Daniels said. "We'll have further discussions with Michael, but we feel this is in the best interests of the club."
Young, a five-time All-Star at shortstop, is adamantly opposed to the move and has asked the Rangers to trade him. Texas has had some discussions with other teams, but there is nothing imminent or close enough to lead them to believe a trade can be made.

The Rangers want to move Young to third because they believe Elvis Andrus is their shortstop of the future. Young is unhappy because he felt there was no choice in the matter.

"I know how it was presented to me and I felt I was never given the opportunity to keep my job," Young said. "Maybe we could work this out if it was a two-way street, but I haven't seen that yet."

Andrus is considered a premium defensive shortstop even though he has yet to play above Double-A and committed 32 errors in 118 games at Frisco. There are some within the organization who feel he could use more time at Triple-A Oklahoma, but there is no doubt he is considered to be the Rangers' shortstop of the future. Texas doesn't have a third baseman of the future.

Daniels said he didn't think the Rangers were being too forceful in presenting the situation to Young.

"Obviously, Michael took issue with the word choice that I used, but I also wanted to put it honestly," Daniels said. "Clearly this was the direction we felt we needed to go. Rather than sugarcoat it, I thought it was the best course of action to be honest and lay it out the way we wanted it to happen.

"I completely understand his sentiments, but I don't agree with the term that we're tearing his job away from him. If anything, we're asking him to take on a more prominent role. Not necessarily moving from short to third -- you can argue that either way. We're asking him not only to play third base but also help a 20-year-old shortstop who could benefit from his experience and knowledge of the game. That's a big reason why we think it will work."

Adam Morris says everything I am thinking better than I could say it …

Now...taking a step back, looking at this from an unemotional, purely left-brain standpoint, is dumping Young and his contract good for the Rangers, long-term? Particularly if he's going to refuse to switch positions?

Quite possibly.

But from the softer standpoint, in terms of p.r., in terms of fan goodwill, in terms
of the impact on the players in the locker room and selling the team to free agents that you are trying to get to come here for less than what they think is fair, is this a good thing?

No. It is a disaster. Try selling Ben Sheets on the notion that he should come and try to rehabilitate his marketability in Texas after you've just given away one of the most respected players in the game after an ugly public breakup.

And from Young's standpoint, I have to think that part of the frustration is that he doesn't understand why now, all of the sudden, after everything that's gone on historically with this franchise, he's the one they draw the line in the sand with.

I'm sure he remembers when he first was coming up, and had to move from shortstop to second base because of the Alex Rodriguez signing. He remembers when Mark Teixeira came up, and had to DH because Rafael Palmeiro was here and wanted to be the first baseman. He remembers how the Rangers wooed Carlos Delgado, promising that if he'd sign with Texas, the organization would make Teixeira go back to DHing again. He remembers how Alfonso Soriano threw a fit over moving to shortstop, and how he defused the Soriano situation by volunteering instead. And how the organization went ahead and simply traded Soriano two years later, rather than force the situation by making him change positions. And how the organization seemingly decided that, since Jarrod Saltalamacchia didn't like playing first base, they weren't going to make him play first base anymore, but would just let him catch.

I'm sure he looks at this past season, and sees Milton Bradley, who played when he felt like it, didn't play when he didn't feel physically up to it, but refused to go on the d.l. and forced the team to play short-handed, sees a guy who was here only one season that the manager catered to. I'm sure he looks at Vicente Padilla, and sees a guy who couldn't be counted on to go take the mound every fifth day, whose neck was hurting or who had a twinge or who otherwise couldn't be counted on, but who again was catered to and not put on the d.l.

I'm sure he sees this organization as historically, during the time he's been here, bending over backwards to cater to and coddle players, particularly (but not always) veterans. And I'm sure he's now wondering why it is that, all of the sudden, they decide to take a hard-line position with him, the guy who has sacrificed and done all the right things and played hurt and played hard and done everything the team wanted.

And I think he saw how the organization caved and moved Alex Rodriguez when he
caused a fuss, and caved and moved Mark Teixeira when he made it clear he didn't want to be here, and figured, it worked for them...no reason why it shouldn't work for me.

This is just one more chapter in the embarrassing history of this organization. And as I said at the beginning, there's no way for this to be resolved without besmirching everyone involved. The organization looks bad. Michael Young looks bad.

And really, management looks even more incompetent for handing out that huge contract extension before the 2007 season. It was widely criticized for being too much for a guy who simply wasn't that good, but was justified from a p.r./marketing/soft factor standpoint. But if you are going to give out a huge contract because you don't want to take the p.r. hit that would result from letting the guy go, if you are going to make him the Face of the Franchise and the center of what you are trying to do...

You can't do that and then, less than two years later, before the contract has even kicked in, decide you made a huge mistake and try to dump him on whomever will take him, even if it means picking up a good chunk of his contract. That is, quite simply, utter incompetence, and it makes you wonder what happened, what the thought process was, that went from thinking 5 years, $80 million being a good idea in early 2007, to thinking it is a totally unpalatable, unmitigated disaster that is going to require subsidizing to get off the books less than two years later, the baseball equivalent of mortgage backed securities.

I hope everyone involved in this thing is embarrassed. Because really, watching all this unfold, and really thinking about it, it makes it embarrassing to be a Ranger fan.

But then, that's a feeling I guess we are all used to by now.

Although I seldom agree with him, I always like Mike Hindman’s viewpoints including this one …

In the first year of his five-year, $80 million contract, Michael Young has been asked to move from shortstop to third base to help the Rangers move forward with their rebuilding plan. He won't be working on learning how to defend the new position. He's already punted the glove and talked himself into believing that the Rangers are paying him all of that money to fill out the lineup card.

But, it turns out that the $16 million AAV contract Young signed didn't include a guarantee that he would be allowed to pick his position or place in the batting order and it's unlikely that Nolan Ryan will cede such power to good player whose best days are probably behind him.

In spite of winning a Gold Glove last year, according to fielding bible creator John Dewan "Young claims last place in three-year plus/minus, three-year zone ratings, team hits allowed near the shortstop position...and he's second to last in Bill James' new relative range plus/minus. Not good."

At the plate, Young can no longer be considered -- by objective data -- to be an elite hitter at his position and his value seems to be rapidly diminishing. His OPS has slid from .898 in 2005, to .815 in 2006, .784 in 2007 and a woeful .741 last year (11th among 17 qualifying MLB shortstops).

With his bat and glove both in decline, it's pretty clear that if Michael Young is going to deliver anywhere near $16 million of annual value to the Rangers -- or anybody else -- a large part of it is going to have to be in terms of intangibles. Being around, taking in the kids and showing them the way a big leaguer handles things, standing as an example of supreme professionalism.

Young has, in most ways, been an exemplary player and person for several years around here, as I'm pretty sure young stars like Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton would attest. Last season, he sucked it up and played through a broken finger. Kudos for that. He's demonstrated virtually every admirable quality one could want in a representative of a franchise, but now even that element of Young's game seems to be in decline.

As I wrote last fall, Young's contract would eventually turn out to be an albatross for the Rangers franchise. I had assumed that it would turn out to be in the form of his failure to deliver anywhere near $16 million of value to the club over the course of his contract. Now, it seems, it will be in terms of making the unpleasant decision between holding on to a disgruntled, declining veteran or attempting to trade an untradable contract.

Durrett points out the contract is not as bad as it looks …

There's been talk about Michael Young's $80 million extension and that it's $16 million over the next five seasons. But that doesn't account for signing bonus money that Young already has or the deferred money he's owed starting in 2016.

Here's the breakdown of Young's salary:

He's owed $59 million in salary the next five seasons. That's $11 million in 2009 and 2010, $12 million in 2011 and 2012 and $13 million in 2013.

A total of $9.24 million is deferred. That's $870,000 in 2009 and 2010 and $2.5 million in 2011-2013.

So while this is still not a favorable contract by which to trade Young, it is possible the Rangers could trade him and agree to pay the deferred amount. So $59 million is a lot less than $80 million. Just a thought.

NFL Playoff Home Field Advantage

Even more data from this morning's entry. I went all the way back to the first year that 6 teams were admitted into the playoffs in each conference. Since then, you can see which seeds were in the NFC and AFC Championship games. The seed with the asterisk is the seed that went on to the Super Bowl.

Year	Home Record	AFC Seeds	NFC Seeds
1990	8-2	1* vs 2	1 vs 2*
1991	8-2	1* vs 2	1* vs 2
1992	5-5	2 vs 4*	1 vs 2*
1993	8-2	1* vs 3	1* vs 2
1994	8-2	1 vs 2*	1* vs 2
1995	7-3	2* vs 5	1* vs 3
1996	8-2	2* vs 5	1* vs 2
1997	6-4	2 vs 4*	1 vs 2*
1998	8-2	1* vs 2	1 vs 2*
1999	7-3	1 vs 4*	1* vs 2
2000	8-2	2 vs 4*	1* vs 2
2001	7-3	1 vs 2*	1* vs 3
2002	8-2	1* vs 2	1 vs 2*
2003	6-4	1* vs 3	1 vs 3*
2004	6-4	1 vs 2*	1* vs 2
2005	4-6	2 vs 6*	1* vs 5
2006	8-2	3* vs 4	1* vs 2
2007	5-5	1* vs 3	2 vs 5*
2008	3-5	2 vs 6	4 vs 6

Table Tutorial

Most compelling piece of information I found here? 13 of 19 years (68%), in the NFC, the championship game has been the #1 seed vs the #2 seed - proving the bye week and home field mean something.

In the AFC, it has happened only 7 times (37%). Not sure what that means other than the fact that maybe the NFC has had better top seeds that make it less likely to have upsets - like the Cowboys and 49ers. On the other hand, maybe the AFC has had many playoffs where top to bottom the margin is very close.

And, in 19 years, #1 NFC has played #1 AFC only twice. 1991 and 1993.

From 8 to 4 in the NFL

I really need to stop predicting games. In fact, I am amazed that I keep trying, and I am amazed that people still care who I pick.

I seriously take my predictions very seriously. I study. I watch. I consider. And then I pick.

And time after time, I fail.

My 2008 Super Bowl? Dallas vs Indianapolis.

My Weekend winners? Tennessee, Carolina, New York, Pittsburgh

What a waste of time.

However, of the 4 games, we see yet again what a role turnovers play. Take care of the football, and you win playoff games. Turnover winners are 6-1-1 in the playoffs this year (Colts won turnover battle against the Chargers – Eagles v Vikings were even) and that renders home field useless.

See Below, the turnover results:

Winner	Loser	Turnover +/-
Baltimore	Tennessee	+3
Pittsburgh	San Diego	+2
Arizona	Carolina	+5
Philadelphia	New York	+1

Table Tutorial

Let’s offer a paragraph or two on each of the 4 games this past weekend:

Baltimore At Tennessee

This game is going to make Titans fans crazy for years. They were home. They were healthy. They outgained the Ravens who were trying almost nothing on offense, 391-211. And yet, they lost. Early in the 3rd quarter, the announcers (who were not very good) pointed out that the Ravens were averaging less than 2 yards a play.

Joe Flacco is having a career run in his rookie year. He has taken no sacks, and
thrown no picks in the two playoff games. On Saturday, he won, but really made only a handful of throws. The deep touchdown to Mason, and the deep jump ball prayer to Mark Clayton. I am not saying he isn’t impressive, but I am saying how sometimes we over-rate who the QB is of a team that is a machine like this. Brad Johnson might have won both of these games, too. Understand, they are not asking him to do anything but not screw it up. But, he is the first rookie QB EVER to win two playoff games, so I will give him his due.

Meanwhile, for Tennessee, Chris Johnson was the great equalizer. He was awesome in so many ways in the 1st half – including consecutive plays where he avoided safeties after another amazing punt in the year of the punter. But, when he sprained his ankle, the Titans lost any advantage they had against the Ravens defense, and from there on were chasing the game. But, with Justin Gage’s career performance, they still had their chances. Lendale White and Alge Crumpler had fumbles, Kerry Collins had a bad Interception, and that was too much to overcome as a -3 at home. They were doomed, and the Ravens march on.

One last thought about Flacco perhaps stepping out of the back of the end zone. At the time, I thought he did. Then, I was amazed that Fisher did not challenge it. Then, I was amazed that CBS offered 0 replays. Then, I was amazed that Dierdorf didn’t even discuss it. So, while I don’t believe he actually did step out, you can tell I was amazed.

Arizona at Carolina

I was positive that Arizona was not going to be able to compete in this setting, but I surely did not see 6 Panthers turnovers of their own. Once up 7-0, the Panthers were down 27-7 at the half. Part was the generosity of Carolina, but let’s not forget the fact that they seemed to forget who #11 was for most of the night. I think Larry Fitzgerald is the real deal, but without Boldin, didn’t you figure that the Panthers could double down on Larry and make Breaston beat them? Instead, Fitz is running free in the secondary for much of the night, for 8 catches, 166 yards, a TD, and one of the greatest receiving performances I can remember in a playoff setting.

Once Delhomme went south, you could really tell that the guys on his sideline were losing faith in him quickly. I am curious what his future is, and am also curious how we could watch the NFL all year and here are the Arizona Cardinals hosting the NFC championship game??? I am also amazed that Kenny Albert is the best Fox can do.

Meanwhile, Kurt Warner is one win from becoming the 2nd QB to start a Super Bowl with 2 different teams, and could be the only one to win a Super Bowl with 2 different teams as a starting QB. Nice to see his revival.

Philadelphia at New York

Welcome back, Eli. We truly missed you. Actually, to be fair to Eli, I think yesterday, and for that matter all of December, we saw the Plaxico factor. It is so hard to win in this league without a lead receiver, and the Giants never had a chance. Eli was looking for Derrick Ward as his primary option on 3rd down, and the Eagles figured that out by the 2nd Quarter. Brandon Jacobs was awesome, but as that game went on, the Eagles put more and more pressure on Eli to make a play. The weather and the coverage made him lose faith in himself and his receivers, and the game was over.

Meanwhile, the idiocy of McNabb’s critics was apparent again. The guy has come up big in so many situations, and the only thing that keeps him from QB greatness is winning the Super Bowl. Well, he may have a chance real soon. In the 2nd half, McNabb converted a 3rd and 20 and a 3rd and 10 to help them get another Field Goal. He went back to Curtis after a big drop, and I thought demonstrated tremendous leadership. Sure, the stands by the Eagles defense won the game, but I find myself oddly drawn to the redemption story of Donovan McNabb. His phone issue was interesting and stupid, but I think overall he deserves a mulligan or two for all he has put up with his insane fan base. The dagger at the end by going for Desean Jackson for 47 yards was money.

San Diego at Pittburgh

Four outdoor games in January, and no snow until the final game? But, who doesn’t love flurries in an amped up Hines Field? And, finally a game I predicted correctly! This game was about the Pittsburgh offense running the football like they wished, with Willie Parker looking quite healthy with 146 yards on the ground. And yet, the game was all about the deep ball. Phil Rivers hit Vincent Jackson early, And the Steelers kept going deep all day. By the way, when will the opponents of the Steelers learn that Nate Washington has no other role on the Steelers except to run 50 yards down field and either catch a bomb or draw a pass interference? He seems like he does that 4 times a game.

The Chargers were in the game at the half, but a 3rd quarter that many of us will never forget put the game right in the Steelers win column. 3rd quarter plays? 24 to 1. Yardage? 122 to 0. Time of Possession? 14:43 to :17. And turnovers? 0 to 2? How did the Chargers run 1 play and turn the ball over twice? Special teams, bro. Special teams cost the Chargers more than anyone this weekend, as the Steelers returned a punt for a touchdown and also recovered a punt that bounced off Eric Weddle on a Chargers return (Tra Battle in Pittsburgh, anyone?). To me, there was something soothing about a Steelers win, as I was not eager to see a Chargers team that was 4-8 in the Super Bowl. Would things have been different if Ladanian Tomlinson was on the case? We will never know, since it seems he is never healthy in January. Ravens at Steelers on Sunday Night? Yes, please.

===
So, with all of the road teams winning, we are all left to question the meaning of home field advantage and the bye week. It used to be something you had to have.
Now, for the first time EVER, you have 2 #6 seeds in championship games. Only 1 other #6 seed has made it this far, the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers who won the Super Bowl.

Below, please find the 10 year trends of home field advantage and seeds remaining in the AFC and NFC title games. Teams with the asterisk are the teams that won and advanced to the Super Bowl.

Year	Home Record	AFC Seeds	NFC Seeds
1998	8-2	1* vs 2	1 vs 2*
1999	7-3	1 vs 4*	1* vs 2
2000	8-2	2 vs 4*	1* vs 2
2001	7-3	1 vs 2*	1* vs 3
2002	8-2	1* vs 2	1 vs 2*
2003	6-4	1* vs 3	1 vs 3*
2004	6-4	1 vs 2*	1* vs 2
2005	4-6	2 vs 6*	1* vs 5
2006	8-2	3* vs 4	1* vs 2
2007	5-5	1* vs 3	2 vs 5*
2008	3-5	2 vs 6	4 vs 6

Table Tutorial

From 1998-2007, the home team was 67-33. But, this year, the home teams are just 3-5. And as you can see, there has never been a year without either #1 seed in the title games…until now.

Good Stuff, Good Stuff.

BCS Title: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

I want to give a Cowboys-style review here on Bob’s Blog to the BCS Championship game since I have a notebook full of stuff, and really no place to put it, so here we go:

Oklahoma ran into a nice buzz-saw last night, that I think most people saw coming. To Oklahoma’s credit, they made the Florida Gators work for 4 full quarters to eventually pull away, but pull away they did. A dominant 4th Quarter is all they needed to drop the hammer and win yet another National Title. That makes 2 Football Titles and 2 Basketball Titles in the last 32 months which is somewhere between strong and quite strong.

To me, Oklahoma’s track record speaks for itself, and whether you want to look at the big picture of their historical totals or the small picture of the Bob Stoops era, you find a fairly impeccable record either way. But, as we discussed before the game, while the regional reputation of OU cannot be questioned with another Big 12 title (however debatable it was this year), on a national stage, Oklahoma’s name is not allowed anymore to join the USC, Florida, LSU “best-of-the-best” group while they falter on the biggest stage. In fact, if you rank the last 5 years (which is the life-span of the current college football group – 1 redshirt year and 4 years of eligibility) you could easily make the case that Texas belongs higher on the 5-year National Power Poll than the Sooners.

Only 2 teams have lost more than 3 BCS Bowl games since the inception of the series, which coincides with the Stoops and Mack Brown eras. Those two teams are Oklahoma (2-5) and Florida State (1-5) who both have 5 losses. On one hand they play there almost every year (or, Florida State used to), and on the other hand they haven’t won a BCS game since their Rose Bowl win over Cinderella Washington State on Jan 1, 2003.

Regardless, life will go on. I don’t think Stoops is going anywhere, and the mentality of comparing your school to your neighbor’s school shall surely continue. I think the better question might be how effective is the decision of Oklahoma and to an extent Texas to rely on the no-huddle spread offense that everyone in this conference seems to rely upon these days. Is tricking up football necessary for the powers that have the best players? I understand Texas Tech doing it – it has been their stroke of genius to even the playing field. But, the Sooners offense which was in another world for much of the season was good, but not unstoppable when they played a team of jackals. Florida can get pressure, they can cover, they fly around the ball, and they cause mistakes. Unless you can bully them – which Oklahoma did do on the one scoring drive in the 1st half with a quality run attack, then you will be left wanting in the 4th Quarter.

Some notes and observations for the night in Miami:

• The true bottom line on this game is the points Oklahoma left on the field. 2 Interceptions including one on the goal line. One missed Field Goal. And one very important goal-line stand. It perhaps should have and could have been 21-7 at the half. If it is, Oklahoma is your national champion, but I think we all know you cannot leave 17 points on the field when you are playing Florida. They truly deserved a better fate based on how they played between the 20 yard lines, but they did not cash in during their trips deep in Gator territory. Combine those missed chances with the demoralizing drive Florida put on the field to seal the game at 24-14, and there you have it – the winner of the game, and the winner of the title.

• 11 giveaways all year for Oklahoma, and a +24 turnover ratio. In fact, did you catch how the top two turnover ratio teams were playing last night? Florida was a +22. Those stats mean something in college, too.

• Jermaine Gresham is 20 years old. He is 6’6, 260, and is already a guaranteed 1st round pick –whether it is in 2009 or 2010. He is an absolute man-child on that Sooners offense. What a player, and what a demonstration of how the Tight End position has evolved over the years.

• I am already going to suggest that Tim Tebow will be a victim of the Brett Favre effect. This is a theory I have been working on over the years that basically is this: If the media loves a player so much, you will catch yourself taking shots at him and at times rooting for his failure to counter balance the over-love of the announcers. This is not the fault of the player, as he doesn’t ask for the adoration, but because he is adored, the media actually slowly but surely turn the populace against the guy. Tebow is awesome, but Thom Brennaman’s audible love affair with the man seemed a bit overdone, no?

• As for Tebow’s play, you wonder how it equates to the National Football League. On one hand, he looks like he is a flat out winner who can will his team to victory and improve the play of the entire team. On the other hand, we know we have seen a dozen QB’s who can do that at the college level and they are not a factor at the NFL for 2 seconds (Eric Crouch, anyone?). I also know that his arm seems to come and go as far as accuracy goes, and a team that runs for nearly 3,000 yards in a season is not counting on the aerial attack. But, when you need a 3rd and 10, and Tebow is in the shotgun, how does everyone everywhere know that he is going to go with the QB draw, and yet he still gets 12 yards? I love his style. I love his story (he enjoys a mission to an orphanage, too!) and I catch myself rooting for him. It is a little odd to see a guy with “John 3:16” on his face to be flagged for taunting, but I got past it. Anyway, one draft expert thought he was a 1st or 2nd rounder. I am curious what the future holds for him as he is under the microscope of the spring NFL pre-draft gauntlet.

• Ron Cherry was the ref last night. Not sure he called a very good game, but I also thought he seemed familiar. Here is why …loved it. And also love that Youtube can remind us his greatness for evermore…Or however long Youtube lasts…

• I think Dominque Franks would like to have that one back …

• Percy Harvin was awesome at times in this game. He has been awesome all season long for Florida, and appears to be another reason that Florida offense is very difficult to stop. Is it borderline amazing that he is not the fastest player on that team, but I guess when Jeffery Demps is breaking off a 10 flat 100, speed is not a real weakness on the Florida squad.

• It took about 1 play and 1 hit to pretty much take Manny Johnson out of the game. What a hit. It was so hard that it looked like Iglesias bailed out of a similar play later in the game because of it.

• Brennaman and Charles Davis really need to only look at their screen to see what down it is. That was not something they will put on their resume tapes. To not know what down it is for about 2 straight minutes, even though it is on the screen in 2 different places – 3 if you count the down markers – is flat inexcusable. It was excruciating to watch.

• Call me an old man, but I am tired of taunting in football. It is getting worse. And nobody seems interested in stopping it. Every stinking play there is some knucklehead telling the other team how awesome he is and how much they suck. Then there are two linemen with face masks touching as they tell each-other naughty words. And finally worst of all is the idiocy of the back-up substitutes going crazy on the sideline when a player from the other team gets anywhere near their sideline. I know it is in every game, but last night was sickening. I kind of wanted both teams to lose. But then I realized that if I only wanted classy football teams to win, I better just give football up. And I cannot do that.

• All in all, a heck of a fun night of football. The Big 12 was beaten, but not embarrassed. Florida is a worthy champion, I suppose, but I still wonder how a team that losses to Ole Miss at home can play for the National Title. USC, Utah, and Texas are likely feeling left out today, but it is what it is. Florida is a champion again, and the message boards are full of “Big Choke Bob” posts and the picture of the band chick who was crying. Ah, College Football – it is fantastic.