It's Friday....

We have made it to Friday, a look at what's up....

- The Falcons got a solid hold on a playoff spot in the NFL with a dominating 41-14 win over the Jaguars Thursday night. One player that was invisible most of the season but has come alive in recent weeks is Roddy White. White had 10 catches and two touchdowns in the win as Atlanta improved to 9-5. I think that win clinched Atlanta's ticket to the playoffs. The Bears and Lions aren't going to catch them now.
- The Penn State story continues today as former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Schultz are in court to fight perjury charges. A sad state of affairs in Happy Valley. Let's just hope it all gets figured out sooner than later.
- There are reports this morning that the Blue Jays made a bid of over $40 million on Yu Darvish and that was probably enough to win the bidding for the Japanese star pitcher. That would be a tall task for any AL East team to face Darvish and the 6'5" pitcher wouldn't even have to move to the United States.
- An interesting storyline is developing in Indianapolis with the Colts and Peyton Manning. Indy is assured of the No. 1 pick in the 2012 Draft and there is no doubt they will take Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Where does that leave Manning though? Does he stay and mentor the new kid? Does he ask for a trade to clear the path for Luck? I'm thinking Manning wants nothing to do with having a possible star on the roster with him and will ask out.
- It's a light morning so let's discuss four high school students being suspended for doing Tim Tebow's famous pose at school. If the kids are trying to be like Tebow, let them. It could be a lot worse.
- Last, I would like to talk about the new NFL TV deals a bit...I think we are heading towards Thursday Night games each week of the season for one and wouldn't be surprised if a weekly Saturday game is added. Saturday games showed up a lot on schedules in recent years in the final weeks of the season when college football was done. Why not do it again? Also, I like the switches possible to make the best games to another network if blocked by another great game. More viewers is more money for the NFL. Finally, all three Thanksgiving games on where people can watch them. The NFL can now control the whole holiday, a win-win for everyone.

That's the story for now, trivia later and more sports thoughts tonight....

Thursday night ramblings

A busy Thursday in the world of sports, here's a look...

- I start tonight with the stupidity of Bears WR Sam Hurd. Hurd was arrested and remains in jail tonight after he allegedly attempted to buy over half a million dollars in cocaine and marijuana from a supplier in North Texas. Words can't even start to explain how dumb you would have to be to do that, if Hurd did. Any pro athlete who would pull something like that needs an one-way ticket out of the league.
- I move on now to the world of IndyCar where the accident that killed Dan Wheldon to end last season was a "perfect storm". Wheldon hit his head on a pole that held the fencing up around the track. A very sad story and a great example of why race car driving is always a dangerous thing to do.
- A concussion has once again ended a season early for a NHL player as Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger will sit out the rest of the season with post-concussion symptoms. Hockey is a violent sport in its nature and big-time hits are a part of the game but when a lot of your major names are sitting on the bench, it hurts the game. I've talked about Sidney Crosby in the past, don't know what to fix but something has to.
- A commentary on Los Angeles pro basketball and things that may be happening. Rumors are swirling now that Kobe Bryant is upset over recent events with the Lakers and may want out. The Clippers have got a lot better with Chris Paul but are still not a dominant team with just two stars. Will the battles at the Staples Center be better? Yes but I don't think Kobe has anything to worry about.
- With the recent warmer weather in the country, thoughts head toward baseball and that spring training is only 2 months away. It appears one team is trying real hard to get their fans back on board. The Cubs put in a claim on Yu Darvish and reports state they are about to go hard after Prince Fielder. If both happen, I don't see any reason why the North Siders don't win the NL Central.
- Last a reminder that college bowl season starts this Saturday with three games. I will have predictions the day of each game for you if you want to use them for your bowl pool in your office or wherever you are playing at.

That's it for tonight, more in the morning.....

Trivia: Wednesday, Dec. 14

Today's question is this......what former Cub hit 3 HRs on Opening Day 1994 against the Mets' Dwight Gooden?

Answer later....

Tuesday night thinking...

Another day has passed, here is what's going down....

- The Steelers' James Harrison was suspended for one game by the NFL for his hit on Browns QB Colt McCoy Thursday night. While I like the hard-nosed play that Harrison likes to show and the fact it is old-school football, sometimes he goes a bit over the line. He won't learn but don't change your game, big guy. You are one of the few left who actually doesn't tippy-toe around.
- More details of the new MLB labor deal have become public and some interesting things come out of it. The fact divisional teams can now play before the league championship series is great. Means Red Sox-Yankees won't always be for the AL Title. Also, the All-Star break will be extended to four days with the chance the game could be moved to Wednesday in some years with the Home Run Derby on Tuesday. Different I must say, I like the longer break but don't move the game. Just play Tuesday and start games again on Friday.
- NBA players are not happy and now at least one is speaking out. The Celtics' Kevin Garnett has called out Commish David Stern for a "rushed" training camp. There is no doubt Garnett has a point, just 16 days from the start of training camp to the beginning of the season. Not enough time you would figure but the NBA needed games on Christmas for them to have any chance of keeping fans for what will be a roller coaster 66-game season.
- I usually don't bring up golf but you have to give props to Luke Donald for not only winning the PGA money title but the European Tour money tour as well. That's impressive to say the least....
- A little more NFL for you and especially to you fantasy football types, go pick up Felix Jones and especially James Jones from the Packers. Just saying...
- I'm a media guy and when I heard Craig James had decided to run for a Senate seat in Texas, I couldn't be more happy. ESPN would be better off without him anyway. Go pollute something else with your ideas on Boise State and the fact you ranked them 24th in your last vote.

That's all for tonight, more in the morning.....

Monday Night Thoughts

Let's take a look at the happening of this Monday....

- It was a bad day to be a NFL coach as Miami's Tony Sparano and Kansas City's Todd Haley were shown the door. There are so many high-profile coaches sitting on the sidelines right now, both teams need to make some calls. However, Haley didn't deserve his fate since basically all of the good Chiefs players got hurt and ended up on injured reserve. He will turn up next I see as the new Bears offensive coordinator in 2012.
- This business with Chris Paul continues to drag on as a trade to the Clippers were knocked down today but reports tonight are saying that there is a new push to get a trade done with the Staples Center's other team. Get it done and over with already! In the meantime, the Clippers claimed Chauncey Billups off waivers. I guess that's the backup plan.
- Now, a classic example of pay attention to what your spouse is saying. Albert Pujols' wife Diedre went on St. Louis radio today to explain how Pujols would have stayed with the Cardinals for less money but the Cards only offered a five-year deal to begin negotiations. I don't know how much I believe of this but if it is true, that is definitely a key development. A 5-year deal in my opinion would be enough but Pujols I figure wanted one long deal to end his career and that is what he got with the Angels.
- Elsewhere in the NL Central, the Brewers have signed former Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez. This figures to fill the void offensively with Prince Fielder likely out of town and could be headed to Chicago. I think a lot of Cubs fans would trade a Fielder-for-Ramirez deal. In Milwaukee though, Ramirez will probably need to carry the load for the first 2 months with Ryan Braun on suspension more than likely. This is not one of the best qualities of Ramirez though, will be interesting to see what happens.
- With Ramirez now in the fold, the Brewers traded Casey McGehee to the Pirates. If McGehee can get back his 2010 form, Pittsburgh may get to the .500 mark in 2012. The talent level on that team with Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker is way up there and better than a lot of young groups. McGehee will probably play first base for the Pirates and spell Alvarez at third.

That's tonight's opinions, things are always breaking so more in the morning......

Saturday Night Fever

A lot of things have broke in the last hour or so, recapping...

- Congrats to Baylor QB Robert Griffin III on winning the Heisman Trophy. A lot of experts would have predicted Stanford's Andrew Luck would get the honor but Luck finished second. He won't finish second in the NFL draft but that's for another day. Griffin probably had the best season of all the finishers anyway so he deserved to win.
- ESPN is reporting Brewers OF Ryan Braun has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. If this is true and we will wait to see on that, it is a huge blow to the Brewers with the 50-game suspension along with the probable loss of Prince Fielder but also would be a huge black eye on MLB. The MVP being suspended is not good for business.
- A big day in college basketball was topped by Indiana upsetting No. 1 Kentucky in Bloomington. The doormats of the Big Ten in recent years, Tom Crean has done a great job of turning the program around and getting it back to the way it was for many, many years. The Hoosiers will be a major player in the conference this season the way they are going.
- Let's not forget No. 2 Ohio State losing at No. 13 Kansas so we will have a new No. 1 team next week. Probably Syracuse after their win Saturday.
- Hopefully you sat down for a few and watched the Army/Navy game today. You had everything you could want from a game like that, the President helped with the coin toss and seeing all of the soldiers in uniform in the stands was breathtaking. Only happens once a year, got to enjoy it.

NFL Week 14 Predictions coming in the morning.....

Saturday Evening Thoughts....

Thoughts on this Saturday night....

- So Houston didn't want that BCS bowl game after all I see. How can you lose at home in the biggest game of your school's history and the money you could have had if you win. Choke job supreme.
- The Houston loss gives TCU the opening they need to go back to a BCS game. Only team to beat Boise State this year and probably off to the Fiesta Bowl now. Well done Horned Frogs.
- It now looks 100% for that LSU-Alabama rematch for the national title after the Tigers win in the SEC Championship Game. LSU started slow but rolled Georgia in the second half. These are the top two teams by leaps and bounds, set the game up.
- Normally, early season college basketball isn't anything special but put Kentucky and North Carolina together and you got something. An amazing game that came down to the last second with these two long-time programs. I think we may be seeing them again together at the Final Four.
- Week 13 of the NFL season continues Sunday and after that awful performance from the Eagles Thursday, we should see some compelling things I figure. Saints may put up 50 on the Lions, same with the Patriots against the Colts.
- Baseball's winter meetings start Monday. Watch the fireworks with this, big trades will happen, big signings will occur but who to where? Only time will tell.

Enjoy the rest of your sports weekend.

Deep Thoughts with....

As we prepare for Thanksgiving during this my last post until Monday, I give you some things to think about...

- Lions will beat the Packers Thursday. It has happened before to a 10-0 Packer team in Detroit for the holiday. History repeats itself.
- LSU wins in OT over Arkansas. The Tigers finish the regular season strong on their march to New Orleans...not a long march but a march.
- Auburn beats Alabama. Begin the BCS mess, who will play LSU in this scenario? Who knows...
- I encourage you to use the ESPN Playoff Machine, pick every game the rest of the season to figure out what the playoff matchups will be. Fun times.
- We got a new labor agreement in MLB. Hope you took notes, NBA.

Now I go to eat and watch football.....great thoughts coming Monday.