Back In The Saddle...

Hi everybody.

I'm back.

Been away for a few days.

I've been in mourning (not pictured) since my Yankees were eliminated ignominiously from the playoffs.

As such, we have some catching up to do.
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FINALLY SOME FUN


Let's start with the Canes game this weekend.

There aren't TOO many X's and O's to take away from it.

The simple fact is this: The Canes had FUN for probably the first time all year. That's what it looked like to me.

The opening of the season has been a little joyless for me.

The opening game was meaningless. Ohio State was frustrating. Pittsburgh was pressure packed. Clemson was a struggle. FSU was an embarrassment. Duke was sloppy.

Finally, the Canes went out and had a good time.

The iconic moment from the game was Sean Spence literally SPANKING Brandon Harris following an interception. Doing the bulldance, feeling the flow, working it, working it.

I have a friend who has the AUDACITY to say that it wasn't worth 15 yards.

OF COURSE it was.

15 yards I'd HAPPILY accept (I know coach Shannon would not agree with me).

But it gets better for Miami.

There were players YELLING at each other on the sidelines (Vaughn Telemaque is quickly becoming a leader)... The guys were jumping up and down dancing to a song.

EMOTION, PASSION, dare I say it? A bit of swagger.

Congrats to Randy and the Canes.

They really needed that.
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TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE REPLAY

May I submit to you Sunday's Dolphins game.

Everyone always argues, "IF you have replay, it takes the human element out of the game."

Well, there was replay.

Many humans looked at a piece of video for the key play in that game.

They ALL got it wrong.

Replay isn't fool-proof and it certainly isn't idiot-proof.

Big Ben seems to get away with EVERYTHING doesn't he?

Still, the Miami Dolphins need to look in the mirror.

You don't beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by kicking field goals.

That's a great opponent with a bad-ass defense.

Valiant effort, not good enough.

Dol-fans should be pissed.

Dolphins players need to get better.
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BRONX BUMMERS

Thanks to Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and CC Sabathia for making this Yankees season enjoyable for me.

They were the only three players who consistently performed and acted like they were ready to win another championship.

What a moment to epitomize a season.

The Yankees go down as AROD stands lonely at the dish, haplessly watching the 3rd strike go by.

It was a weak title defense.

They didn't even win the division.

Joe Girardi pushed just about EVERY wrong button he could throughout the series.

But even so, Texas was the better team.

The hardest part for me to take has been waching the decline of Derek Jeter.

Let's hope it was just a bad year.

I suspect it could be worse.
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COWBOY DOWN

Can't wait for Monday Night Football.

The Giants have the Cowboys in a position to END their season.

It's a MONSTER division game.

And I couldn't be more concerned!

The Cowboys have nothing and so, they have nothing to lose.

This game can begin their turnaround.

They are a team that's made a living shooting themselves in the foot (save me the Plaxico jokes).

But there's no question that they have talented players.

On the other hand, The Giants have a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

However, I don't trust Tony Romo.

And yet, as much as I love watching him play, Eli Manning scares me sometimes in big games.

So yeah, I have no idea what's going to happen.
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GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT

As for the OTHER Giants, the San Francisco Giants, how can you not root for them? (other than being a Dodger fan)...

If anyone has a "team of destiny" look to them, it's the Giants.

They have AMAZING pitching, they are riding the hot bat of Marlins cast-off Cody Ross, and they have a bullpen that looks like a soup kitchen.

I swear, when they run out, I'm not sure if I want to cheer for them, or give them a sandwich.
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GONE IN A FLASH

There's something else happening this week.

What the hell is it?

Thinking, thinking...

Oh yes, the Heat open Tuesday night in Boston.

CANNOT wait.

Dwyane Wade said on twitter he will no longer be going by Flash.

I've been inspired.

Can you please stop calling me wonder woman?

Thanks,
The Management

OWNED

It was a tough night for Miami fans (not pictured) and a great one for Florida State fans (still not pictured--- you come up with a new one when your team just got their asses kicked 45-17 at home).

There's not much to analyze.

Miami was ABSOLUTELY OWNED by FSU on Saturday.

Florida State was better prepared, better coached, had better players, did a better job.
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For Miami, it's back to the drawing boards.

You aren't as good as you thought you were.

I'm not going to single anyone out, because frankly, everyone sucked.

The offense was awful and lost.

They were uninspired.

The playcalling was terrible.

Jacory's always hurt one way or another.
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The defense was no better.

The d-line was abused.

In a bad sign, the pictures of the entire linebacking core was on the back of the milk carton I just drank from. (incidentally, milk was a bad choice)
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Special teams? What special teams?

Bosher missed (wide left).

Florida State started EVERY possession in Miami territory (Reid is the truth and Miami's coverage blows).
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So instead of providing "analysis" when there's nothing to analyze.

I'll pull out a George Carlin quote.

I don't know if I'm QUITE as this point, but I can use a good laugh.

"I've decided it's not necessary to suffer and feel crappy just because my teams suck. What I do now is cut 'em loose for awhile. I simply let them go about losing, as I go about living my life. Then, when they've improved, and are doing well once again, I get back on board and enjoy their success. Yeah, I know, I can hear it: diehard, ***hole loyal sports fans screaming "Front-runner!" Goddamn right! Don't be so ***in juvenile. Teams are supposed to provide pleasure and entertainment, not depression and disappointment. "

RIP George Carlin.

RIP Canes' season.

Why I hate Boise State (and you should too)

Football is a game of passion and emotion.

Sometimes you watch because you LOVE a team, and other times you watch because you HATE them.

I must admit, I was glued to tonight's Va Tech-Boise State matchup for one simple reason: I hate Boise State (not pictured).
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Allow me to make an early important distinction.

Boise State is obviously really good.

They have one of the top teams in the country.

One of the top 2?

I don't think so.

And yet, you can pretty much pencil them in for the BCS title game.

They won their annual 'one tough regular season game' and can now coast to Arizona.
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Here are Miami's next four games: @Ohio State, @Pittsburgh, @Clemson, vs. FSU.

That is a gauntlet.

The Canes would be incredible if they could escape that run 3-1.

Here are Boise State's next 11 games: @Wyoming, vs 24 Oregon State, @New Mexico State, vs Toledo, @San Jose State, vs. Louisiana Tech, vs Hawaii, @Idaho, vs Fresno State, @Nevada, vs. Utah State.

The only hard game they have ALL year is Virginia Tech.

And it wasn't even in Blacksburg!
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I use Miami as an example because I'm a fan.

But there are plenty of other teams out there that play REAL schedules and yet, have no shot at a title because of Boise State.

I'm not blaming Chris Peterson.

He's obviously a fantastic coach.

The point is, Boise State, more than any team in college football, takes advantage of the lack of a playoff system.

With a 16 team or 8 team or 4 team playoff, they would be exposed.

When you only have to get fired up for ONE game a year, it's pretty easy to be focused on that game.
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The reason we love the NFL so much is that expression 'any given Sunday.'

There's an unpredictability to the pros.

Any matchup can go to the underdog.

It's not really the case in college.

Sure, there are upsets.

But when you have a major power masquerading as a small conference team, they're going to dominate.
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You can label me a hater, I have no objections to that.

I'm not a fan.

They're not upstarts.

They're Seniors sneaking onto the Junior Varsity team.

Congratulations Boise State.

Go beat up the WAC conference for the next months.

I'll be cheering for whoever you play in the title game (assuming it's not Notre Dame, Ohio State, or Terry Porter).

Frankly, I think your whole program is WAC.

Pryor Notice...

I just attended the University of Miami's annual preseason lunch.

It's a chance to meet with Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt and fellow members of the media (and get a free lunch).

As I ate my burger, all I could think about was Terrelle Pryor (not pictured).
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One month and two days.

That's how long we have to wait for Miami at Ohio State.

Normally, you would say, one game on the schedule, whatever.

And yes, Miami can have a great season without beating the Buckeyes.

Many fans are judging this season based on winning an ACC title or at least getting to the Conference Championship game.

That's all well and good.

I'm focused on Ohio State and Terrelle Pryor.
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Life isn't fair.

Sports can be.

That's one of the reasons I think so many of us gravitate towards watching other people exercise.

There are rules.

There's right and wrong.

What happened to Miami in the 2002 National Championship game was just wrong.

In my history of watching sports (ie my lifetime), it may be the most unfair moment I've ever seen.

You can't take away a national title with a late call that's specious at best and HORRIFIC in all actuality.

But that's what Terry Porter did.

I have friends who are Canes fans who have said things about Terry Porter that would make Louis CK blush.

And I can't say I disagree.

It's not an accident that his initials are TP.
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Which leads me back to the other TP.

If you only watched the Rose Bowl last year, you'd think the Canes are in for a long, long afternoon at the horseshoe.

There is the small matter of the rest of Terrelle's career, that has me feeling hopeful.
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For me, I'm really sick of hearing how great these Canes players are going to be.

Between Sean Spence, Marcus Forston, Aldarius Johnson, and Jacory--- I'm sick of hearing about the promise of the Canes.

And those are only some of the kids from Northwestern High School.

This is the season where they DELIVER.

This is the season where the preseason ranking at 13 is low.

This is the season where that "Jacory for Heisman" facebook thread, isn't just a good natured joke by Canes lovers.

This has to be.

The NCAA is investigating Miami for a text message scandal.

I took that as a good sign.

They don't investigate the Canes, unless they're good.
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But all of that starts with messing Terrelle Pryor up.

They have to brutalize him.

I remember a few years ago, the Canes acquitted themselves pretty well against Tim Tebow at the Swamp (before, ironically enough, the game turned on a horse**it call).

But those Canes weren't ready for the stage, and Tebow was at a level well above Miami.

I hope the shoes is on the other foot this time.

I think Pryor isn't ready for what he's going to face.
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TP isn't the first big-name quarterback the Canes have faced.

During the height of the program, the U LONGED to face these much ballyhooed QB's.

The more the hype, the better to obliterate.

It's time to get back to that.

This isn't just about 2010 Canes.

This is about the 2002 Canes.

This is about what's right and just in this universe.

This is about truth, justice, and the American way.

God help me if the game is decided by a bad call!

Cut And Run Carroll

I'll begin this blog with a simple question:

What the ***K has happened to college sports?

There were TWO major stories on Thursday and I believe they're related.

The first is that USC was sanctioned for what happened on the watch of Pete Carroll (not pictured--- look closely at the bottle to get this one).

The second is that schools are moving and shaking to different conferences.
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I'll begin with the West Coast's answer to Nick Saban, Pete Carroll.

There's no doubt he sold himself as "cool."

USC was the school that let Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell hang out at practice.

Pete twittered.

He recruited the best players.

They hung out in the California sun (playing nobody) and built a dynasty.
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One problem: the program was dirty.

Yes, this all stems from Reggie Bush.

But it's like a guy who gets a DUI, was that REALLY the first time you've ever had too much to drink and gotten into the car?

Please.

Pete Carroll KNEW.

That's why the wimp cut and run.

He RAN to the NFL right before the hammer dropped down on his program.

I'll ask the Ronald Reagan question: Is your program better now than it was 4 years ago?

Nope.

Pete Carroll screwed USC and didn't even bother to use a Trojan.

He makes BP look accountable.
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That's fine though.

The guy who took over for Carroll is an equally unlikable character.

Lane Kiffin keeps failing up.

He sucked in Oakland.

He was average in Tennessee.

And now his dream job is a pile of poo.

I'm glad.

He's shady.

Enjoy those 6-6 seasons.
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As for realignment, I have NO freaking idea what's going on.

I mean, I get the big picture.

College sports is stacking these SUPERCONFERENCES.

Why?

The same reason anything else happens in this world: money.

Everyone is rushing for cash.

Forget traditional matchups, forget loyalty to conference.

It's musical chairs and if you're not well-alligned when the music stops, you are S-O-L.
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Which brings me back to USC's scandal.

There are some who say that college football should pay players.

If they do, perhaps Reggie Bush was ahead of the game.

But, what I find funny is the hypocracy.

On the one hand, you're saying TISK, TISK USC, you shouldn't allow players to have ANY money.

On the other, academic institutions are EACH running with their hands out to split the millions that sports generate.
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I'm glad USC's empire fell.

Unlike Miami's success in the 80's and 90's, Southern Cal's dynasty proved to be a Trojan horse.

Kirby's Choice

Randy Shannon's contract extension puts Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt (not pictured) on the line.

He's saying: Randy's our guy.

I'm not saying it's a bad decision. I'm just saying what *IS* pictured is how I feel about it.
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To be fair to Randy Shannon, there are signs that the program is trending in the right direction.

Three straight years Miami has improved by two wins. That's a fact.

The Canes are performing well in the classroom. That's a fact.

The Canes are staying off the police blotter. That's a fact.

However, excuse me if I don't do cartwheels over a guy whose record at UM is 21-17 and who has exactly zero bowl wins or BCS appearances.

Not exactly a record that Jimmy Johnson or Howard Schnellenberger would envy.
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This is the year for Randy Shannon to prove that he's laying not just a solid foundation at the U, but an elite one.

As I wrote in my previous blog "There's No U In Mediocre," I was looking forward to Shannon having a contract year.

I liked Randy going into this season without a contract.

It showed his belief in his program.

From the school's perspective, either they would have an elite coach, or they would have the freedom to go find one.

Now all that's out the window.
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As a Canes fan, I will say this: Now it's on you Kirby.

You hitched your wagon on Randy Shannon.

In 3 years or so, if Miami's still meandering around 9 wins, you'll be the one who everyone turns to for answers.

Hope you're happy with your selection.