T A I L G A T E R

Paul Bunyan didn't use steroids, but Jack Cust does.

Make that seven current or former Athletics named in the Mitchell Report.

Labels: Jack Cust, Larry Bigbie, Steroids

ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, Mitchell Report in tow, quickly perused the documents and briefly named the recently traded Astros' shortstop Miguel Tejada as a steroid user.

Labels: Miguel Tejada, Steroids

Once likely Hall of Famer Roger Clemens and his scripture-spouting rotation-mate, Andy Pettitte will be named in the Mitchell Report.

Clemens' inclusion in the soon-to-be infamous report on steroids in Major League Baseball comes as no surprise to readers of Tailgater.

His alleged steroid use has been mentioned as far back as 2006 and specifically in this post from Feb. 6, 2007 which posed the question of whether Clemens' annual ritual of ditching spring training was due to March testing of the drugs.

Labels: Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Steroids

'ROID RAGER GUILLEN AND SOFT-SPOKEN WILLIAMS NAMED IN DRUG MESS

Steroid crusaders finally have someone of consequence to stomp on thanks to the journalistic superheroes at the San Francisco Chronicle and their ubiquitous unnamed sources.

C'mon, Neifi Perez is not going to satiate us.

Jose Guillen, Matt Williams and Ismael Valdez, now join Cleveland's Paul Byrd in a Federal sting of a Florida anti-aging clinic.

Despite unnamed sources, Guillen's surprise release by the Seattle Mariners should have alerted many that something was in the air. In September, the Mariners seemed happy with his production and aimed to bring him back for 2008. After hitting .290 with 22 homers and 99 RBIs, there would be little reason not to resign Guillen, unless the team was alerted of his impending steroid charge.

In hindsight, Guillen seemed to exhibit many characteristics of a player using performance-enhancing drugs. While with Pittsburgh, he was a hot shot prospect with a rocket for a right arm. His star quickly faded and he moved on to Tampa Bay, Arizona and Cincinnati.

According to the Chronicle report, he began using performance-enhancing drugs in 2002, incidentally, that was also his breakout season when he batted .311/31/86.

Guillen has always been known for his explosive temper. His hot head has led to defections from Oakland and Anaheim where he argued with manager Mike Scioscia in the Angels dugout. Might this have been a symptom of 'Roid Rage?

Matt Williams' inclusion in this list is quite saddening. Retired since 2003 and now a Arizona Diamondbacks announcer, the bald pate and quite determination of Williams were hallmarks of those Giants teams that featured Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell and, later, Barry Bonds.

Williams, according to the article, he was forthcoming about his use in 2002, saying it was recommended to heal a badly injured ankle.

In the coming weeks and months, this sort of answer might be common place for players with enough integrity to admit their errors in judgement because the use of steroids and performance-enhancers is really a quick way of healing the body during a long, arduous season.

Others like Barry Bonds and numerous athletes in track & field, cycling and other Olympic sports will use the tried and true, "my supplements were tainted" mantra, but even that line is nearing critical mass.

San Diego Padres outfielder, Mike Cameron, already used it last week, but added the caveat that whatever he used it wasn't steroids, but some other illegal drug.

If players like Matt Williams begin to surface as steroid offenders, stories far more shocking than Alex Rodriguez signing $350 million contracts will dominate the off season.

The question that could arise is if the majority of steroid offender revealed in the Mitchell report turn out to be retireed players, will the game really be able to resort to the Draconian measure that are truly needed to clean up the game?

Anything short of a big name star crashing to earth like a Ken Griffey, Jr. or Roger Clemens Major League Baseball will surely portray this scandal as a thing of the past and revert to business as usual.

Baseball players juicing up for inflated multi-million dollar contract would love that, but the public won't.

Labels: Jose Guillen, Matt Williams, San Francisco Chronicle, Steroids

I like the fact that Colorado's Kaz Matsui has found some redemption in these playoffs. Isn't this the same guy who was trashed in New York for not being the other Matsui in the Big Apple? He was faulted for not hitting enough with the Mets and his range at second was suspect. I don't think the Phillies think he isn't clutch.

I like Josh Beckett (who doesn't?). Take a look at the 1988 World Series when the Dodgers upset the A's. That was the year of Orel Hershider 59 straight shutout innings. Hershiser won two games against the series, including the clincher, but his presence seemed to spook the A's in the other three games and allowed bit players like Mickey Hatcher to beat them.

I like the home teams in this series. As an A's fan, I know that Fenway Park can be a very intimidating setting. Things go horribly wrong at times and the rabid Red Sox Nation will let you know about it. Coors Field reveals disadvantages in the Red Sox defense at left and first. There's a lot of acreage out there for Manny Ramirez to flub a flyball and, because of the DH, David Ortiz will play first until it becomes necessity to put Kevin Youkilis back there. The necessity being the Sox trailing three games to two.

I like Matt Holliday being one of the guys who could get the Rockies off to a good start in Game 1. He's 6-for-14 against Beckett, including 2-for-3 with a homer this year. The best player should be the guy to lead and he's quietly hit four homers in this year's postseason.

I like the Rockies showing no ill-effects from their nine day layoff. They're are white-hot right now, but haven't really stolen a win, except for the one-game playoff. Colorado has played consistent baseball throughout the past month. You don't forget how to play excellent baseball in over a week.

I like Boston getting into the Colorado bullpen. The Rockies should not what befell Rafael Betancourt in Game 7 of the ALCS. He, like the red-hot Rockies bullpen, was untouchable until he allowed the clincher to get out of hand.

I like that Red Sox are becoming the new Yankees. They were always the Yankees. They played up the underdog storyline despite spending just about as much as the "evil empire".

I like the Red Sox winning their second World Series in four years only because they play four games at Fenway.

I like Jonathan Papelbon saving four games and winning the MVP.

Labels: Red Sox, Rockies, World Series

COLORADO ORGANIZATION ESPOUSES THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

The Red Sox slayed the personification of evil, the New York Yankees, on the way to their first title in 86 years. Now, according to the New York Times, they will need to defeat Jesus Christ to do it again.

The role of religion within the Rockies’ organization first entered the public sphere in May 2006, when an article published in USA Today described the organization as adhering to a 'Christian-based code of conduct' and the clubhouse as a place where Bibles were read and men’s magazines, like Maxim or Playboy, were banned

General Manager Dan O'Dowd, a benefactor himself of the Rockies kindness by not firing him after an abysmal record, tries to sidestep the question of the Rockies religious bent, but not with much effort.

'Do we like players with character? There is absolutely no doubt about that,' O’Dowd said during a recent interview in his Coors Field office. 'If people want to interpret character as a religious-based issue because it appears many times in the Bible, that’s their decision. I believe that character is an innate part of developing an organization, and to me, it is nothing more than doing the right thing at the right time when nobody’s looking. Nothing more complicated than that'

It's interesting to read the small factoids the media reports when an unknown, western-based team with very little history to speak of becomes a national story.

Labels: Dan O'Dowd, Jesus Christ, Red Sox, Rockies

ROSENTHAL QUESTIONS MITCHELL'S TIES TO RED SOX

Fox's Ken Rosenthal does a lot of presupposition in his article today questioning the impartiality of former Sen. George Mitchell and his impending steroid report.

Rosenthal is not a former player, but a highly respected sports journalist who wrote the baseball beat for The Sporting News for many years.

But, by blasting the messengers, whether it's the San Francisco Chronicle's Lance Williams and Mark Fainara-Wada or Mitchell, it begs the question of who really is impartial--the journalist entrusted with reported the facts, but questions the timing of the report or the former Senate majority leader who sits on the board of the Boston Red Sox?

If Mitchell had no prior knowledge of these allegations, then you have to wonder just how well his investigation is going. But the perception of bias might be an even bigger problem.

Why is Rosenthal leading the nascent charge to protect the players? Every former major leaguer, now talking head on ESPN already plays that role. A baseball player could be harboring Osama bin Laden in his locker and John Kruk would still make excuses for him.

Should the early race to discredit the Mitchell Report, which is due sometime after the World Series, be a harbinger to a highly explosive document? Mitchell and his surrogates were unequivocal last week when they should big names would be exposed, apparently far glitzier than the mundane Paul Byrd.

How exactly do you throw 80 mph using human growth hormone? Did he throw in the high 60s before?

Instead of being a shill for the player's association, Rosenthal should wait until the report is released before he create scenarios involving Red Sox players given preferential treatment over other teams.

Let's work on one conspiracy at time, shall we?

Labels: George Mitchell, Ken Rosenthal, Paul Byrd, Steroids

T A I L G A T E R PREDICTS CLEVELAND/COLORADO WORLD SERIES

I like hometown boy C.C Sabathia in this series. It seems like he's been around forever, but he's only 27 and it's time for the national spotlight to shine on the large lefty.

I like Josh Beckett, too. After three straight shutouts in the playoffs, you have to begin to look at him through a historical lens. Dominant pitching in the playoffs is rarefied air, but doing continuing it four seasons after winning the World Series with Florida equals big-time consistency.

I like Cleveland in Game 1, though. I sense the marquee pitching matchups won't make the final storyline. To win, the Tribe will need to make a statement. Usually, this comes from an unlikely source. How about Asdrubal Cabrera? The Cleveland rookie secondbaseman hit just .176 against New York in the Division Series, but hit .283 during the regular season.

I like the Indians stopping Kevin Youkilis. The Sox have Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, but Youkilis is indispensible offensively and, notably, defensively at first base. Crush his exhuberance and Boston's hopes will rest on powerful, one-dimensional superstars whose performance could go either way in short seven game series.

I like this series going seven games because of Cleveland's closer, Joe Borowski. Despite converting a sterling 45 of 53 save opportunities, he retired the side in order just 16 times and a robust 5.07 ERA. He got away withit in the regular season, but in the playoffs when tensions are higher and the opponent's tenacity is sky high problems are likely. The Indians probably won't score enough against Boston's pitching to moot this point and suffer a game or two because of it. INDIANS IN SEVEN.

I don't like the idea of a Cleveland/Colorado World Series, but that's what we will have and believe me, FOX won't like it, either.

Labels: ALCS, Indians, Red Sox

ROX PITCHING, NOT HITTING TAKE NLCS IN FIVE

That fast moving locomotive from Denver blew past me last week. In truth, I had no intention of ever jumping on that bandwagon, but now, it's a different story.

Move over! Here comes the latest bandwagon-jumper to the Colorado Rockies. Incorrectly predicting that the Phillies would sweep the Rockies instead of the other way around has proven to be one of my greatest misreads ever. I mean, I had the series called except the wrong team. I'm not going to make that same mistake twice, even if continuing a 17-1 streak seems like a tall order.

I'm reserving my World Series pick for later, but the American League champ best book a hotel in Denver in 13 days time.

It's not that Rockies have a leg up at every position except maybe the manager and the big ace Brandon Webb, but because during the wildcard playoff era a certain thing called momentum has proven more potent than three excellent starting pitchers and the best collection of hitters. Every World Series champion from 2001 on has been the benefactor of that certain mysterious substance called "mojo".

It could be many factors including parity or more succinctly because the dreaded Yankees have stumbled every year during this period. Whatever the reason, the Rockies have it starting Game 1 of the NLCS against Arizona.

I agree with everyone who says the key for the Diamondbacks is to get Webb to shutdown the Rockies tonight and in Game 4 and Game 7 on short rest if needed. Isn't this the same logic that many had for the Phillies to beat Colorado? Two Herculean efforts by Cole Hamels and the Phils advance? It didn't work out that way and assumptions like that rarely happen in baseball where anything can happen anytime.

Ironically, the most impressive part of the Rockies late-season run hasn't been their potent offense, but the excellent delineation of pitching roles. Starter Jeff Francis was impressive for six inning in the Division Series, but that wasn't a surprise he won 17 during the season. Having rookie Ubaldo Jimenez shine was, but you don't have to superstars in the rotation in a short series because there's precedent.

The 1987 Minnesota Twins, an unheralded postseason squad like Colorado, won the World Series ostensibly with one great pitcher (Frank Viola), an over-the-hill curveballer (Bert Blyleven) and a guy nobody heard from before or after the those playoffs (Les Straker). That team got the game to the late innings and brought in three excellent relievers--Joe Klink as the lefty, and Juan Berenguer setting up the closer, Jeff Reardon.

The Rockies are doing the same thing 20 years later with Matt Herges in the seventh, followed by Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas as the closer. None of them are household name but they were the key to kicking the air out of the Phillies' balloon.

Even though the Diamondbacks have Bob Melvin, who has been pushing all the right buttons all year for this young team, I still believe as I did in the Cubs series that this team could be prone to breakdown during the pressure of the NLCS. They're too young and a team led by the often times kooky Eric Byrnes is a bit disconcerting.
ROCKIES IN FIVE.

Labels: Diamondbacks, NLCS, Rockies

ULTIMATUM OR NOT THE YANKEES NEED A NEW DIRECTION

A man who has won four World Series, six pennants, and 12 division titles in 13 years doesn't deserve a win or see you later ultimatum.

But, that's what George Steinbrenner did to Yanks manager Joe Torre after the Bombers lost the first two games of the AL Division Series to Cleveland. The Yankees saved Torre's job Sunday by beating the Tribe 8-4, but that isn't the point and the psychological ploy "The Boss" unleashed on the team's clubhouse barely showed a ripple.

Most know Steinbrenner as Pattonian purely in his own eyes. He fancies himself as the maverick general using every motivational tool to keep the troops moving forward. It's an act New York hasn't seen in a couple years because of his failing health and if successful Steinbrenner will take ownership of more than the team but of the success. The only thing is that Yankees are not going to comeback and beat the Indians not because of the ploy, the coach or the opponent, but because the Yankees are in a transition period that is not in line with winning and making money in the Big Apple.

The truth is Torre should go, but not in such a thankless and rude manner. To his credit he knows what working for Steinbrenner is like by saying, "But the fact of the matter is, it’s what goes with the territory. It’s really not a lot of difference than in the past. If I get caught up in that, I’m really going to have a tough time doing my job, and I don’t think that’s right."

The Yankees have not won the World Series since 2000 not because of Torre's managerial skills, but of a reliance and loyalty to older (expensive) players who were either in their prime during the title years or free-agent signing meant to cover deficiencies in the farm system.

Resigning Roger Clemens this year is not the way doing business if you want to win over the long haul. Pitchers like Mike Mussina make too much and retain too high a presence in the rotation when their value is rated by the past and not the present. Doubling up on star players who play the same position as was the case last year when Gary Sheffield was brought aboard when they already had Bobby Abreu waste money and cause animosity in the clubhouse.

The future is not bleak for the Yankees, but it's not rooted in the Yankees of old. General Manager Brian Cashman while paying unwise contracts to underperforming stars has also pumped life into the farm system and the logical next step for most team's is to begin rebuilding with that new crop of pinstrippers starting with a new manager.

In the past two seasons, they have developed Melky Cabrera, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes with other prime prospects poised to make it to Gotham. Whether they stay with it or revert to picking up the Sheffield's of the baseball world is another story.

Many forecast Don Mattingly becoming Torre's successor, but winning in the future lies surer in the hands of former Florida manager Joe Girardi. Most of the conjecture around Mattingly's ascent is attributed to Steinbrenner's hand in bringing in the popular first-sacker from the 1980s, but it's unclear if Steinbrenner's clout still rules over the ownership group. Girardi has already proven very successful with winning with young talent in Florida. Then again, he also lost his job after winning Manager of the Year when he clashed with the owner. If you can't get along with Jeffrey Loria how can you live with Steinbrenner?

Nonetheless, Girardi is a former Yankee catcher and protege of Torre far more proven than the sweet-swinging Mattingly whose coaching resume consists of leading a Yankee offense that's tops in the league in hitting. But, really, how hard is that to do when you have Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and, well, I could name the entire lineup.

Either way, today could be the last game for Joe Torre in New York. If you're a Yankee-hater you should root against the hiring of Girardi or risk ruining the next four or five October's watching them in the World Series.

Labels: Don Mattingly, George Steinbrenner, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Yankees

CLEVELAND VS N.Y. YANKEES (starts Thurs.)
--------------
If there is a team in this year's playoffs that resembles the unlikely champions of the past six seasons--Arizona in 2001, Anaheim in 2002, Florida in 2003 and the White Sox in 2005--it's the Indians.

Much like double-headed monster of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling at the top of the rotation that Arizona used to upset the Yanks, the Indians have Vallejo's C.C. Sabathia and the wiry Fausto Carmona.

The key to this series will be the bullpens. Even though Cleveland has their two aces pitching four of the possible five games, of the two the experience of Carmona could come into play against a high-scoring, veteran Yankees offense.

New York's strength, conversely, is not their starting pitching. Chien Ming Wang is solid and should take well to the pressures of pitching games one and four, but the rotation of Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens or whoever else has a decidedly retro feel and that is not something that inspires hope in a short playoff series.

Cleveland has become a popular boutique pick to win it all and rightly so. They have power and good situational hitting all wrapped up with a blanket of superb, gritty young stars. Ryan Garko, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and so on and so on, but Cleveland's bullpen will be the icing on the cake.

In the playoffs, history shows that a strong bullpen can shore up many deficiencies. Cleveland has Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt and possibly someone like Jake Westbrook leftover from the shortened rotation. Closer Joe Borowski could be a question mark that will make a trip to the World Series incumbent on limiting the amount of close games he'll have to finish up. INDIANS IN FOUR.

Labels: ALDS, Indians, Yankees

CHICAGO VS. ARIZONA (starts Wed.)
----------------
The Arizona Diamondbacks remind me of the Oakland Athletics circa 2001. Those A's were built with a specific blueprint of patient power hitting, strong pitching and defense played by a largely inexperienced club. Those clubs, probably the peak of the Billy Beane era in Oakland were perennial winners who flopped in the Division Series.

There was a flaw in Oakland's blueprint, they could breeze through the regular season despite playing dreadfully in April and May, but could not win that crucial elimination game. Why? Because their dogma of high on-base percentage hitting and an inability to play any other type of game in October tied their hands. It was also the prevalence of youth, but moreso, inexperience that was the A's downfall.

Whether it was Terrence Long losing a flyball in the twinight sky, a Miguel Tejada baserunning blunder or Eric Byrnes forgetting to step on home plate. Something strange bit this team every October. Arizona is the same type of club. Note, that their leader is the same Eric Byrnes and concerns about beating the Cubs should be raised.

By all accounts, the rebuidling D'Backs are about a year or two ahead of schedule, but they are placing much of the pressure of advancing on budding young stars like Chris Young, Stephen Drew and Jeff Salazar.

After Brandon Webb and Jose Valverde in the bullpen there's not much in between. The Cubs, on the other hand, have veterans throughout the lineup. I like players like Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Derek Lee in a series like this where the possibility of error is lower than Arizona.

I know that many have attributed Arizona's manager Bob Melvin with much of the team's success despite scoring fewer runs they gave up, but I like a savvy old vet like Lou Piniella in the Cubs dugout outmaneuvering the former Giants catcher. CUBS IN FIVE

Labels: Cubs, Diamondbacks, NLDS

L.A. ANGELS VS BOSTON (starts Wed.)
--------------

This series is destined to come down to the ninth inning of the the deciding fifth game. The Angels might not win Game 1 at Fenway Park against Josh Beckett, but the rest of the series points to the Halos advancing.

We hear so much about Boston's pitching, but think about it would you rather have John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jared Weaver or Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Curt Schilling?

The Angels top three can be dominant and consistent while the Red Sox will rely on a proven post season starter, a proven international player and a proven champion on his last legs.

I think the suprise of this series is that Matsuzaka will be the lone bright spot for Boston. He's use to pitching with a lot a rest and has actually thrived. Beckett can be unstable and I wouldn't be surprised if Lackey uses tenacious style of gamesmanship to play some chin music on the Red Sox hitters.

The Angels are scrappy, speeding and consistent. They are tailored made to Mike Scioscia's NL style of baseball. They're going to do little things like hit and running and bunting to put pressure on the Red Sox defense and that's a game plan that will work more times than not in the postseason.

Even though, the Red Sox finally beat out the Yankees for AL East, I don't think this team is as good as past postseason entrants. David Ortiz can be handled nowadays as can Manny Ramirez. Rookie secondbaseman Dustin Pedroia could shine in this series. He's the rightful heir at second to Jerry Remy, Marty Barrett and Jody Reed. ANGELS IN FIVE

Labels: ALDS, Angels, Red Sox

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA. 80 degrees, cloudy

COLORADO STARTING LINEUP
1. K. Matsui 2B, 2. T. Tulowitzki SS, 3. M. Holliday LF, 4. T. Helton 1B, 5. G. Atkins 3B, 6. B. Hawpe RF, 7. R. Spilborghs CF, 8. Y. Torrealbo C, 9. J. Francis P.

PHILADELPHIA STARTING LINEUP
1. J. Rollins SS, 2. S. Victorino RF, 3. C. Utley 2B, 4. R. Howard 1B, 5. A. Rowand CF, 6. P. Burrell LF, 7. W. Helms 3B, 8. C. Ruiz C, 9. C. Hamels P.

////1ST INNING////
COL: The Rockies went down easy in the first, but you get the sense that they were loose and still confident from their long winning streak. In the playoffs, you have to keep an eye on young pitchers. Philly's Cole Hamels looked satisfactory. He's going to have to get that sinker going, though.

PHI: We should be reminded that Colorado's Jeff Francis is also a fine young pitcher who won 17 games this year. I mention it because you can't start your postseason career any better than striking out the side in the first.

////2ND INNING////
COL: Somehow, the wheels fell off Hamels. In hindsight, he seemed to be nibbling in the first....You've got to be careful with veterans like Todd Helton who have been shutout of the postseason for their entire career. It's not surprising that his leadoff triple cracked Hamels concentration. ROCKIES 3, PHILLIES 0.

PHI: Francis struckout Ryan Howard for his fourth straight K. What a message to send to Philly. He struckout the Rollins, Utley and Howard, the main cogs to the Phillies engine.

////3RD INNING////
COL: It was important for Hamels to bounce back with a quiet third. It's possible that he's settled in and the pressure is going to be on Colorado to make due with three or four runs in this one.

PHI: The Phils finally got a hit against Francis, but Rollins--the leader of this team--bounced into a rally-ending double play. Rollins is going to have to shake this team in next few innings.

////4TH INNING////
COL: The Rox went down in order in the fourth. After Hamels walked in a run in the second, he's retired seven straight. If Philly can get something going offensively, that walk to Tulowitzki oddly could be the turning point.

PHI: TBS' Joe Simpson noted that the Phillies have behind in the count 0-2 six times through four innings. Sometimes that could portend for something good offensively because it means the pitcher is around the strike zone, but generally today, Francis is not getting the Phillies to bite on pitches outside the zone. A great debut for Francis.

////5TH INNING////
COL: That's ten straight retired since the walk in the second. A nice play by Phils 3B Wes Helms. On a play like that it's also nice to have a huge target in Howard at first.

PHI: The Phillies have awaken and the crowd is back into this one. Back-to back homers by Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell have the Rockies on the mat. Both homers had the hallmarks of Citizens Bank Park, short blasts that landing in the first row. Nowhere else other than Wrigley Field would those be out...Keep an eye on Rollins. Look at his facial expression--he's pressing already. ROCKIES 3, PHILLIES 2.

////6TH INNING////
COL: Fourteen straight down. Hamels's pitch count is getting up there. The seventh should be his last and the Rockies could take their chances with Philly's bullpen.

PHI: Rollins, Utley and Howard are 0 for 8 with six strikeouts. The rest of the lineup can't make up for their lack of production and have a chance in this series.

////7TH INNING////
COL: The Rox finally ran Hamels out of the game. After a shaky start Hamels stats look very, well, Hamel-like: 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 7 K. Philly reliever Tom Gordon did a nice job to strand Spilborghs at second. Gordon still has that signature 12-to-6 curveball.

PHI: Francis leaves the game. His stats: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Former Giant LaTroy Hawkins enters the game. Nice nine-pitch walk for Greg Dobbs, especially while pinch-hitting. Unfortunately, Ruiz grounded into an inning-ending double play.

////8TH INNING////
COL: The Rox strike first in this battle of bullpens. Matt Holliday hits a homer to left center. J.C. Romero enters the game. His slider is very crisp today as it was evident on Helton's pop up to short. Nice play by Rollins at short. It's amazing how he got off such an accurate throw on that play. ROCKIES 4, PHILLIES 2.

PHI: Set up man Brian Fuentes enters the game for Colorado. After walking the leadoff man and going 3-2 to Rollins, Fuentes retires the side and will give way to Manuel Corpas in the ninth. How can a guy like Utley who hit .332 during the regular season strikeout four times? Nerves? A burgeoning storyline in this series seems to be the pressing of Rollins, Utley and possibly Howard.

////9TH INNING////
COL: Brett Myers enters the game. Is this why Myers is such an enigma? After repeatedly flipping crisp breaking balls for strikes to the first two hitters, he suddenly stopped after giving up an infield single to Torrealba and a single to Cory Sullivan. Now he's missing badly to Matsui.

PHI: Manuel Corpas looked sharp in the ninth, but he did get three pivotal strikes from umpire Dale Scott, two way low and a called strike three clearly inside to Howard. The Rockies win to take a 1-0 lead in this series. Their 15th win in the their last 16.

----------------------
COL 030 000 010 - 4 6 0
PHI 000 020 000 - 2 4 0
----------------------
WP-Francis 1-0
LP-Hamels 0-1
SV-Corpas 1
HR-Rowand, Burrell, Holliday.

Labels: NLDS, Phillies, Rockies

PHILADELPHIA VS COLORADO (start Wed.)
------------
Something's gotta give in this series. The Phillies just exorcized the ghost's of their infamous 1964 collapse by passing it on to the Mets and the red-hot Rockies enter postseason play winners of 14 of 15.

Both have prodigious power and launching pads for ballparks and pitching with a steep decline past their number one starters. This series is screaming for one team to seriously falter and that team may be Colorado.

What gives?

In Monday's tiebreaker game against San Diego, the Rockies won despite shocking breakdowns on defense. They may be one of the National League's better defensive clubs, but the lack of range and aggresiveness by Matt Holliday and Garret Atkins in that game--the biggest of the year and maybe the franchise--was a concern. Even the impressive rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki flubbed a gimme groundball late in that same game.

Colorado has one of the most attractive lineups one to nine left in the playoffs, but Philly nearly equals it if not for quantity but quality. The threesome of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley are a triumvirate that could lead the Phils to the World Series. To do that, Rollins is going to have to continue to personally will this team to victory. He could do that and, in fact, already put his money where's his mouth is by predicting the NL East title back in spring training.

Lack of pitching depth won't be a problem for Philly at least not in this round, but Cole Hamels is the type of pitcher who could dominate a short series. I would almost guarantee two wins from him in each series. Is that enough for Kyle Lohse or Jamie Moyer to pick up the slack? Yes. Many are predicting a Home Run Derby for every game in this series. I think not. PHILLIES IN THREE.

////LIVE BLOGGING OF GAME 1
[\\\\OF THIS SERIES BEGINS WED., 12PM PT

Labels: NLDS, Phillies, Rockies

BILLS UPSET DENVER; JETS SET TONE AGAINST PATS

It's time for kickoff. Many at the NFL's corporate office in New York City are happy to have game highlights flushing away a very trying summer. I, on the other hand, rather enjoyed seeing a league scurry in the face of wife beaters, drunk drivers and dog killers. Here's how the opening week shakes down:

The Raiders were tops against the pass last season, but they didn't face a receiving corp like Detroit's. Take the Lions and weep over Calvin Johnson....What an opportunity for the new-look Texans to reveal how far Kansas City has fallen....Openers have a way of making season-long success stories. Buffalo will upset Denver's opener but America meet Bills RB Marshawn Lynch....The Browns shock the Steelers with a three-point shocker ruining Mike Tomlin's steeler debut.

Jacksonville's head coach Jack Del Rio's gutsy pick of QB David Garrard works well enough. The Jags are too strong right now defensively to allow Tennessee much success even with the great Vince Young....St. Louis shouldn't have much trouble with Carolina in the dome....Green Bay has made Lambeau Field a home field advantage for their opponents recently. Donavan McNabb's first opportunity to test his knee will be successful. A few inexplicable INT's from Brett Favre help, too.

How will the Vick-less Falcons open the Bobby Petrino era? Pretty well and it helps to be opening with a feckless Vikes squad...Joe Gibbs' Redskins may not be as good the original, but you can expect them to defend FedEx Field on opening day against a fragile Miami QB....The Jets play a statement game and ruin the unveiling of Tom Brady's newest receiving weapons....How will new Tampa QB Jeff Garcia communicate with his new mates in the cauldron of sound that is Seattle. The "Hawks win the battle of 1976 expansion teams.

You might imagine the Chargers-Bears game in San Diego to be some clash of styles. It won't the Chargers rout the Bears and remind us that Super Bowl loser never look the same....The Giants should play the Cowboys tough but lose. Fans of Gotham might remember this game as being the best the Gints look all season....

HERE'S THE SKINNY ON THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Dallas' Demarcus Ware leads a big play defense without weakness

|||||||NFC WEST
1. ST. LOUIS Wins division with 9 wins. Stephen Jackson is the best player in NFC
2. **ARIZONA Everything is nearly set. Whisenhunt will get Leinart to put it together
3. SAN FRANCISCO Alex Smith is not the franchise. Not there yet Niner fans.
4. SEATLLE Watch the natural progression of a good team getting old.

|||||||NFC EAST
1. DALLAS No weanesses on defense. Bum's son get the 'Boys to Super Bowl.
2. **PHILADELPHIA Solid top to botton. McNabb's last chance to stay healthy.
3. WASHINGTON The last year of Coach Gibbs II. Jason Campbell is not a starter
4. N.Y. GIANTS Still fighting even in off-season. Coughlin gone by week 12.

||||||NFC NORTH
1. CHICAGO Nobody else worthy. Sexy Rexy gets ripped again, but wins 10.
2. DETROIT Even Kitna can't go wrong with Calvin Johnson and co. 7 wins.
3. GREEN BAY More Favre retirement talk. WR James Jones as good as Johnson.
4. MINNESOTA Fans can't even name their starting QB. No direction in Minny.

||||||NFC SOUTH
1. NEW ORLEANS If you thought Reggie Bush was good last year, watch out.
2. ATLANTA Didn't win with Vick. Will be fine with present cast and new coach.
3. CAROLINA David Carr won't be on bench long. Still great D, RBs and S.Smith.
4. TAMPA BAY Jeff Garcia won't duplicate '06. Gruden is out before week 17.

HERE'S THE SKINNY ON THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Indy's Joseph Addai hopes for a return to the Super Bowl.

||||||AFC West
1. SAN DIEGO Loaded. The Curse of Norval will bite them. Thomlinson: MVP.
2. DENVER Can Travis Henry make TDs like he does babies? Cutler: so-so.
3. KANSAS CITY Cupboard is bare. This is the last year of a dominant LJ.
4. OAKLAND Be patient. The kid coach will struggle, but he has the chops.

||||||AFC EAST
1. NEW ENGLAND Brady being Brady. Wes Welker is the key, not Moss.
2. **N.Y. JETS Mangenius! Clemens is a good one; Pennington still has it.
3. BUFFALO Marshawn Lynch: ROY. Nate Clements will be sorely missed.
4. MIAMI Cam can't. Defense looses a step; Offense looses many games.

||||||AFC NORTH
1. BALTIMORE Opponents will not score, period. Kyle Boller will save them.
2. **CINCINNATI Can't stop scoring. Palmer finally healthy; 12 wins possible
3. PITTSBURGH New coach will clash badly with the Steelers way.
4. CLEVELAND Jamal Lewis is wasted space. Brady Quinn love affair begins.

||||||AFC SOUTH
1. INDIANAPOLIS Return to S.B. will foregone conclusion. Defense steps up.
2. HOUSTON NFL's surprise team. Nine wins and a good defense.
3. TENNESSEE Vince Young is about to explode. Titans in 2008 will be real.
4. JACKSONVILLE Del Rio made the right pick, but the locker room is tense.

SUPER BOWL REMATCH Colts kicker Jim O'Brien beat Dallas in SB V.

||||||POSTSEASON FORECAST
---------------------------------------------------------------
||||||AFC WILDCARD: CIN over BAL, NYJ over SD
||||||NFC WILDCARD: CHI over ARZ, NO over PHI

||||||AFC DIVISIONAL: IND over CIN, NYJ over NE
||||||NFC DIVISIONAL: DAL over CHI, NO over STL

||||||AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: IND over NYJ
||||||NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: DAL over NO

||||||SUPER BOWL XLI: IND over DAL

CLEMENS' RETURN TO GLORY FOLLOWS THE SAME PATH AS BONDS'S.
HOW COME NOBODY MENTIONS THE ROCKET & 'ROIDS?

My entire life has happily revolved around the coming of spring--spring training--that is, when the weather begins to change, the land begins to thaw and pitchers and catcher trickle in to camp for a new baseball season.

This is one of the most beautiful aspect of the game, then why does Roger Clemens seek to ruin it every year for the past three seasons?

Whom outside of New York, Houston or Boston cares about Clemens hemming and hawwing about whether he'll play in the upcoming year?

Who cares? And why should we celebrate a pitcher who purposely works part-time? He's a Hall of Famer, sure, but there comes a time when this guy needs to quit the third way and decide whether he's a full-time Major Leaguer or not.

After three straight seasons of this, the Players Union should get involved. Just because Clemens cannot handle dealing with a normal life with this wife and kids shouldn't have any bearing on whether he's taking another Major Leaguers spot on the roster.

The Yankees are bending over backwards, something Derek Jeter does very well, for Clemens' services this season. The two years before, the Houston Astros did the same and you can also sprinkle in the Boston Red Sox in all those years.

Man, talk about an ego. When has there ever been an athlete in any sport that has been enabled to be held hostage by Clemens? The media doesn't pose this question because their in awe of his persona. They've also failed to ask Clemens whether the last half of his career might be an abberation in the era of steriods.

If Barry Bonds and others are queried for miraculous comebacks late in the careers when others have historically begun the physically breakdown why hasn't Clemens be fingered? After faltering for three years in Boston his career seemed done when he was traded to Toronto in 1997. Suddenly, he was fit and throwing as hard as ever. He won the Cy Young that year and has been the same type of pitcher well into his 40s. Clemens' return the top of baseball follows the same steep trajectory as Bonds's. Which leads to this:

Is Clemens sitting out spring training and half the season because he's hiding something? Major League Baseball tests for steriods in the spring. You do the math.

Labels: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Yankees

You never know what's going to happen in a big game. Look at Florida throttling Ohio State in the BCS Championship last month. Sure, the Colts beat the Bears to the surprise of just about no one except this blog. The most stunning aspect of Super Bowl XLI was the shocking role-reversal of the two participants.

The Colts thoroughly bullied the badass Bears all game long. They ran the ball like a championship team should--forced game-breaking turnovers--and most amazingly won the game with their big-name superstar quarterback shunning the glory by cooly handing the ball off to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Peyton Manning literally lulled the Bears to a long post-season hibernation with the most prolific time of possession difference in Super Bowl history.

The Colts didn't need Marvin Harrison. Used Reggie Wayne for one important touchdown strike and beat the Bears to the point that their big game kicker, Adam Vinatieri, wasn't needed to pull his team into the win column with three seconds left as he did three times for New England.

In the lead up to the game, one important statistics was overlooked, at least by me, that this was the fourth Super Bowl that a former underling faced his mentor. In the previous three occasions the assistant failed to win. Dungy's win over former lieutenant Lovie Smith was nearly as comprehensive as Tampa's Jon Gruden's thrashing of the Raiders and Bill Callahan in Super Bowl XXXVII.

The Colts are Super Bowl champions for the first time in Indianapolis and the first time for the franchise in 36 years. Can we stopped talking about Manning's ringless fingers in relation to the unnaturally tanned Dan Marino and move onto the next deserving guy. Whomever he is?

Labels: Bears, Colts, Peyton Manning, Super Bowl XLI

EVERYBODY IS PICKING INDY DESPITE EVEN S.B. MATCHUP

If you want to talk about disrespect, point to the fact that Indy was quickly a seven point favorite over the NFC Champion Bears. The rather large spread between two fifteen win teams is mostly due to Las Vegas ’ reliance on the quarterback factor and Peyton Manning is far more known and talented than Chicago ’s Rex Grossman. The Colts are not seven points better than the Bears on any scale and the public is being blindsided.

First off, Grossman is not the worst quarterback in Super Bowl history going into the game or coming out of it. The worst is without a doubt the late QB of the Miami Dolphins David Woodley. With that out of the way, Grossman has put up some numbers that are more than pedestrian by the standards of 2006. The man has won 15 games this year while throwing 23 touchdown passes and over 3,000 yards passing.

He is not the Trent Dilfer of 2000 who quarterbacked the Baltimore Ravens to the World Championship, but the defense on that team should be instructive to what the Bears may do on Super Sunday.

The Bears may not be better from top-to-bottom than the Colts, but look for a combination of take aways and points from those turnovers plus the running game of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson putting Indy away. They have done it every one of their 15 victories.

Weather may also be also be a factor in this Super Bowl, which would be historic. A non-dome Super Bowl has never had inclement weather before. If either team can settle in with their running game, they should win. Peyton Manning's receiving corps will be muted by the rain, but it's imperative that the Bears keep handing the ball off because of the two QB's he's the least experience and might be more proned to mishandling the pressure of the game itself, in addition, to the slick ball.

This should be an entertaining Super Bowl with two old-school franchises. The Bears will win this one. Take the touchdown being offered by Vegas.
BEARS 30, COLTS 24.

Labels: Bears, Colts, Peyton Manning, Ravens, Rex Grossman, Trent Dilfer

WHY NOT HAVE EVERY BAY AREA TEAM PLAY IN STADIUM?

Sure, the logistics and cost-effectiveness of building one massive football stadium in the Bay Area instead of two sounds the most practical to most, except to one man.

Al Davis, a notorious 49er-hater would never enter into such a deal even if, as Matier & Ross note, the NFL could heavily fund such an endeavor like they have with the New York Giants and Jets in New Jersey.

The reality is Davis would rather install the wishbone offense for his beloved Raiders than make nice with John York's Niners and his legal nemesis--the National Football League.

This notion is so set in stone and impervious to any rationality around the NFL and the Bay Area it begs the question why did Matier & Ross even bring it up? Because York off-handily mentioned it to a Raiders executive? I'm sure the caterers for Candlestick Park mentioned selling quiche at the Coliseum, but, of course, the Raider Nation would never eat quiche. Period.

Which now leads to the Chronicle's editorial today. Not only did they latch upon the story, but add this non-sensical proposal--including the University of California into the equation. The Cal athletic department is having difficulty remodeling Memorial Stadium, trouble meaning' left wing tree-huggers--literally, wackos sitting in oak trees at the proposed site of a new training center.

This 3-for-1 proposal only foments within a certain liberal constituency in the Bay Area that is openly hostile to professional sports and the expenditure of building venues with public money.

Why not include every single Bay Area team in the equation, then? Have Stanford play there too. Put a tent over the field and have the Sharks and Warriors play there and for good measure build the new stadium without a scoreboard so nobody ever loses.

This cheapo way of building a stadium in the Bay Area almost makes me wonder whether we deserve any professional franchises in this part of the world.

Labels: 49ers, Al Davis, California, NFL, Raiders, San Francisco Chronicle

FAMOUSLY SAID, 'MY FACE IS MY MASK'

Hall of Fame goaltender Gump Worsley died Saturday night at age 77. Worsley played 21 years for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars.

He was one of the few left from an era when goalie used their face as a mask and played at all cost.

During the decisive seventh game of the 1965 Stanley Cup Worsley could barely stand on an injured knee. He puts his health on the line by experimenting with a horse serum never used on humans.

Whether it was the injection or the pure will to win Worsley and his Canandiens blanked the offensive-minded Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup.

They don't make selfless athletes like Worsley anymore. They barely make men like that anywhere, in general.

Labels: Canadiens, Gump Worsley, N.Y. Rangers, Stanley Cup

BUT COLUMNIST'S PORTRAYAL OF BIG AL'S RAIDERS IS RIGHT ON

Paul Attner's piece in the current issue of The Sporting News puts the spotlight on nearly everything wrong with the Raiders organization. Read it here.

Aside from the truth that Attner's cover story conveys, the cover is unbelievably demeaning to Al Davis. The headline is a bit confrontational for The Sporting News, too.

Second, they chose the worst possible photo of Davis to splatter on the cover. The Sporting News should remember that the renegade owner of the Oakland Raiders is also an elderly man struggling along with the aid of a walker for his two ailing legs.

Davis' decisions in the past decade need to be viewed in a critical manner but not by attack journalism from a second-tier sports publication.

Labels: Al Davis, Raiders, Sporting News

YOUTHFUL, GOATEED COACH IS THE BEST AMONGST FEW CHOICES

This entire flitation Al Davis has had with Southern Cal coaching staff continues to sound like one school yard soap opera. First, Steve Sarkisian shuns Big Al and basically dumps him and then consoles him by saying there's other fish in the sea.

Now, with the hiring of USC'S Lane Kiffin it's a case of the Trojan taking sloppy seconds.

By most accounts, Sarkisian turned down the Raiders offer. It's not known how Kiffin, who was reportedly interviewed for the offensive coordinator position suddenly became the favorite other than the fact few in America wanted the job.

In the end, by just perusing the Kiffin's resume the Raiders got the better prospect. Not only has he been more actively involved with USC's pro-style offense than Sarkisian and seen a large quantity of high quality future NFL stars pass through the program, but he also has a very esteemed coaching pedigree.

Being Tampa Bay's highly-respected defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's son, the new Raider coach's youth probably wasn't much of a concern to Big Al.

All in all, the hiring of Kiffin seems like the very best the Raiders can do considering the state of the team and its reputation around the league. They get an offensive mind who may not be noted as a offensive genius just yet, but at least, he's been in the midst of a high-powered offense living in the present rather than circa 1976.

Oh, and he also looks young and tough. Somehow, this is something that seems very important to the Raider Nation.

Labels: Al Davis, Lane Kiffin, Monte Kiffin, Raiders, Steve Sarkisian

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NEW ENGLAND @ INDIANAPOLIS (-3)

New England's Tom Brady has all the statistics on his side. He's 10-0 in domes. 10-1 in the playoffs and has been masterful against Indianapolis' Peyton Manning in the playoffs. But, this time around Manning's team is playing better all-around football than any team left in the playoffs.

Bill Belichick seems to always have a new wrinkle to throw at Manning, but exactly what can he draw up that Manning hasn't already seen? An eight man front dressed in clown costumes? This is not to say Manning, with all his pent up frustration, will carve up the Patriots, either.

The story of the Colts two playoff wins against Kansas City and Baltimore has been its defense. They've been nimble, quick and as formidable as the Bears vaunted defense. The rather pedestrian-named Bob Sanders has been a key for this defense with his tackling and high-paced play. He's been the difference between a Colts defense that was allowing an unprecedented amount of rushing yards to one one game short of the Super Bowl.

Brady continues to be a latter-day Joe Montana without the weapons #16 had in San Francisco. New England's brain drain and turnover in personnel has made this the Patriots least talented team, yet with one of the weakest receiving corps in football they continue to excel.

This would be Belichick's greatest accomplishment if he could get the Pats to Miami, but the resurgence of the Colts defense, the whimsy of Manning and a raucous RCA Dome, it's the Colts who will return to the championship game for the first time since Super Bowl V.
COLTS 31, PATRIOTS 21.

Labels: Bill Belichick, Colts, Joe Montana, Patriots, Tom Brady

William "Refrigerator" Perry looks undersized compared to defensive lineman today.

Labels: Bears, Super Bowl Shuffle, William Perry

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NEW ORLEANS @ CHICAGO (-2 1/2)

This should be a memorable NFC Championship Game. Before the reports of poor weather in Chicago I would have given the overall edge to New Orleans. Besides, the fact that no dome-dwelling team has ever won a conference championship on the road and especially in the chilly confines of Chicago, as Saints coach Sean Payton said, the footing may be iffy.

That doesn't bode well for a Saints team banking on the quick cutbacks and breakaway speed of Reggie Bush and I believe he's the key to this offense. Without his versatility the Saints are still a potent offense but the "x" factor for defenses is how to keep the rest of the offense tamp down while keeping Bush's magnificent ability to make big something's out of little or nothing to the bare minimum.

Football lore says the Monster of the Midway were created for a game like this. Brian Urlacher has a lot more responsibility than usual with a few injury on defense, but he's going to have be the stopper, as always, for the Bears. I like their special teams with Devin Hester--a weapon that can be a gamebreaker in high-pressure games. This game will be tight and surely on the foot of Bears kicker Robbie Gould.

We should be spared from the unbelievably obvious Super Bowl storyline involving New Orleans rise(?) from Katrina to the Super Bowl because the Bears will pull this one out in the last seconds. Unfortunately, instead, we'll have to read about how bad Bears QB Rex Grossman has played despite winning 15 games this year.
BEARS 20, SAINTS 17.

||||||||IN-GAME BLOG||||||1st QUARTER
Turnovers have been big in this game, but the Bears have only three points and maybe more. Interestingly enough it hasn't been the chilly conditions that have caused the two Saints fumbles, but hard tackling and stripping of the ball by the Bears....Rex Grossman's attempt to call a second consecutive timeout near the goal line should be a bit disconcerning. The QB position is personified as the leader of the team and Grossman looked anything but a field general when his tight end Desmond Clark motioned him back under center....Fox announcer Joe Buck described the turf at Soldier Field as "soupy"--great imagery.

||||||||IN-GAME BLOG||||||2nd QUARTER
The first half was a microcosm of the Bears season. Rex Grossman: 3-for-12, 37 yards, zero touchdowns and the Bears dominanting 16-7......The last minute touchdown drive showed there's a lot of fight still in the Saints. After a few drops and poor passes from Drew Brees everything started to click culminating in a pinpoint pass to Marques Colston. It will be interesting to see if the Bears can squelch their newfound hope......Reggie Bush has 15 total yards.....Surprisingly, bullrunning running back Deuce McAllister has been silent, maybe by design. McAllister's freshness might be important if this game is tight in the fourth quarter

||||||||IN-GAME BLOG||||||3rd QUARTER
The Saints came out of the half with momentum and held onto it. Sean Payton is a great coach and he proved it with his playcalling on Bush's 88-yard scamper. He must has noticed that the Bears secondary was suceptible to an over-the-top pass.....The Bears safety on Brees' penalty in the endzone could be big. It took a one field goal game and made it two. Brees did everything he could. Two points is better than a back breaking touchdown.....As freezing rain and snow flurries began to fall, the warm weather Saints played better. Go figure. It's down to the fourth quarter for these two great teams.

||||||||IN-GAME BLOG||||||4th QUARTER
After a tough afternoon, the Bears effectively ended the game with Cedric Benson's touchdown at 11:37.....The safety by the Bears, in hindsight, effectively halted any momentum the Saints had from end of the 1st half to the middle of the 3rd quarter. In the end, the weather may have gotten to the Saints or they were plainly demoralized by the Bears ferocious d-line......I've felt this jubilation before. At some time during the fourth quarter it became obvious that, indeed, their team is going to the Super Bowl. Standing in the Coliseum in Oakland during the 2003 AFC Championship against Tennessee it was Rich Gannon's rushing touchdown that made our dreams a reality. It think Benson's TD to make it 32-14 brought that same euphoria to Chicagoland.

----------------------
Saints 0 7 7 0 - 14
Bears 3 13 2 21 - 39
----------------------

Labels: Bears, Brian Urlacher, Reggie Bush, Saints

Let me get this right. Hall of Fame Giants pitcher Juan Marichal thinks that Mark McGwire deserves induction into Cooperstown because he hit so many home runs.

Of course, he failed to examine whether the hulking steriod monster hit a good many of those dingers juiced.

I suppose his own induction was clouded since he nearly killed a man on the diamond in 1965.

Marichal, while batting against Sandy Koufax, felt that Dodgers catcher John Roseboro's return throws were coming a bit to close to his head. Words were exchanged and the deranged Dominican struck Roseboro's unprotected head with his bat.

Maybe when the intersection between major league accomplishment and integrity occur Juan Marichal might not be the best example.

COULD A HIGH SCHOOL COACH BE NEXT?

It's happening all over again. Just like last year when the Raiders settled for Art Shell--the only human willing to coach the Raiders--the bottom of barrel looks like Raider territory.

Two days after it seemed like USC coordinator, Steve Sarkisian, was set to be the next coach in Oakland, the Jimmy Kimmel-looking assistant told the Raiders, "no thanks".
No thanks?

What has Sarkisian done to tell a NFL team "no thanks"? What's worse is the mocking tone of his statement Friday.

I strongly believe that the Raiders' job is a great opportunity for whomever their next head coach is going to be."

Translation: You're not attractive enough to me, but don't be so down on yourself, there's other fish in the sea.

It's come to this in RaiderNation we can't even attract a coach who wasn't even the offense coordinator at USC, but the co-coordinator. He didn't even make the offensive calls, but signaled them to the quarterback from the sideline.

Does anybody want this job?

Labels: Raiders, Steve Sarkisian

2ND INTERVIEW FOR USC COACH HEIGHTENS RUMORS IN OAKLAND

Despite James Lofton's believe that terms were discussed regarding the Raiders perpetual search for a head coach, it looks like former BYU QB Steve Sarkisian might be Big Al's guy.

Why not? I guess.

The San Jose Mercury's Tim Kawakami agreed in his column this morning and did a fine job of sorting out the Raiders self-imposed dilemma with regards to the dearth of desirable coaching candidates. Basically, we're looking at the bottom of the barrel, but that doesn't mean Sarkisian can't revive the Raiders.

Kawakami is correct that the Raiders cannot attract a sane man willing to wear a silly headset while roaming the sidelines of McAfee Coliseum. It's the worst job in the NFL for many reasons luborious detailed in this blog. The meddling of Davis, the rundown and neglicated state of the organization and a relentless zeal to keep the calendars stuck at 1967 is a large part of the demise of this club. The "greatness of da Raidahs" and "commitment to excellence" clearly refer to a place much more ballyhooed in Davis' memory. It's called the past.

Despite the limited credentials of the Raiders coaching candidates and the inexperience of Sarkisian, we are once again left to believe in Big Al's golden touch. There is no doubt that he's an NFL visionary who is noted for his ability to salvage once-promising careers. He's led the way in hiring black coaches and hired the first female executive in the NFL. Most importantly, when Big Al chooses a young coach to just win baby, his credentials are nearly flawless.

John Madden, Tom Flores, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden. All with Super Bowl rings (although all not with the Raiders and one against). Davis nearly hired the surefire coach of the year Sean Payton and was turned down by Atlanta's Bobby Petrino.

It's a matter of faith with Big Al. His eye for young coaching is still intact and if Sarkisian is his man success will follow if history is our guide.

Labels: Al Davis, Raiders, Steve Sarkisian

McGWIRE'S HoF SNUB SHOULD BE AN OMINOUS SIGN FOR S.F.

Caveat emptor, or, let the buyer beware; is definitely a bit of Latin the San Francisco Giants' brass should have learned. As they resumed adding the fine print to Barry Bonds's shiny and completely undeserving $16 million dollar contract, the specter of his pass indiscretion again pop up.

According to the New York Post today, Bonds failed a drug test for amphetamines last year and promptly blamed the team's clubhouse favorite, outfielder Mark Sweeney.

This has to be a stark reminder and warning to Owner Peter Magowan that any further dealings with the steroid slugger is fraught with embarrassment for the franchise. Quick, drop the contract in the shredder and nobody gets hurt!

The Giants' insistence of ignorance over Bonds' 2006 drug test is likely to be true. According to the New York Times, the collective bargaining agreement states that individual clubs are left in the dark when a player fails an initial drug test for "greenies", or amphetamines that have populated Major League clubhouses since the 1960s when former Yankee Jim Bouton detailed them in his book, "Ball Four".

Other than being a veracious cheater, drug user and total curmudgeon, if Bonds failed to be forthcoming with the Giants during negotiations for his one-year contract, his actions would be completely in bad faith and cause for the Giants to rip up the contract.

At that point, Hank Aaron's home run record would be safe. Nobody would dare sign Bonds with the steroid scandal hanging over him and the perception of another form of drug abuse linked to him.

It should have been ominous week for Bonds and Giants when the equally tarnished Mark McGwire fell well short of induction into the Hall of Fame despite his 583 homers. Having #25 in leftfield is not a good idea for the Giants or baseball. It's not too late to back off.

Labels: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, San Francisco Giants, Steroids

BECKS UPS THE ANTE FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER IN THE U.S.

The biggest news day in Major League Soccer history was today. Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham along with his wife, Posh Spice, are heading to Hollywood.

The signing of Becks is huge for so many levels other than someone of his stature venturing to play in the 11-year-old league. The league and its founder have finally let go of the stigma of the North American Soccer League's demise in 1983.

If you remember the NASL at all, you'll know that the great Pele once played for the New York Cosmos. An infinitely small number of Americans would be able to name another player and a handful of those could name another team in that league. Pele's signing and the subsequently three seasons detailed in last year's insigthful documentary, "Once in a Lifetime" (watch the trailer here), were the pinnacle of American soccer in this country. When Pele retired the league went kaput overnight.

The lessons of Pele's signing and the mad rush to match the publicity effectively swamped the NASL and this phenomenon has clouded the men who run and finance MLS from day one. The lessons were learned and safeguards like the single-entity model were implemented effectively making the league office in New York City the focal point for every franchise, namely the rigid and stingy salary cap that was subsequently challenged in court by the players union.

These safeguards may have coddled MLS in its vulnerable and nascent years when the biggest thing going was the golden afroed Carlos Valderrama and cool uniforms, but as time went on their terrified reluctance to open up their product to meaningful growth became almost clinical.

With the implementation of the so-called "Beckham Rule" and the signing of the Beckham, MLS commissioner Don Garber is taking the role of a proud father walking his lovely daughter down the aisle. From this day, MLS no longer needs to be coddled. It's grown up and the founding fathers must believe in the slow and consistently care its given the entity. There's no going back now. Chelsea midfielder Edgar Davids is rumored to be talking to FC Dallas and, of course, one of the New York Red Bulls two Beckham Rule roster spots is rumored to be the great Ronaldo.

MLS in 2007 is much different than any season in the history of NASL. One of the problems of the former league was the extreme dearth of American talent or any perceptible breeding ground for domestic talent. MLS, of course, has a deep well of yankee talent universally believed to have kick started the U.S. National Team's meteoric rise in the eyes of the soccer-playing world.

The owners of MLS are littered with millionaires and billionaires in Los Angeles, New York, D.C. and Denver as opposed to sole deep-pocketed owner in the old NASL, Warner Communications executive Steve Ross of the Cosmos, who not only signed Pele to amulti-million dollar contract, but Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Caniglia, Johan Cruyff and Carlos Alberto which furthered the financial gap between teams but also the competitive gap. It's the primary reason that the New York Cosmos seems like the only team in the NASL to our collective memory.

Aside from this day, the second most important announcement in this league's short history was the opening of Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH.

By far, the impetus to open up the purse strings lies in the realizations among soccer media, fans and advertisers is that the league is not going away, not with soccer-specific venues opening, planned or under construction all over MLS. The NASL never had the luxury of building their own soccer parks like every team in MLS except for New England and Houston.

In the short term, every soccer-playing 12-year-old will be donning the bright gold jersey of the L.A. Galaxy and the media attention for his first game will be a spectacle and Beckham and Landon Donovan might lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup championship, but unlike Pele's arrival in the 1970s, this rise of MLS will continue on much the steady curve it has for the first 11 seasons, except now, more Americans will know about it and most of the world's dynamic players will eventually desire a move to America.

Labels: David Beckham, L.A. Galaxy, MLS, NASL, Pele, Real Madrid, Ronaldo

Well, cross Bobby Petrino off the Raiders' coaching wishlist. The successful Louisville coach who spurned the Silver and Black last year has taken the Atlanta Falcons job before the ugly step-sister of the NFL came-a-courtin'.

There's a myriad of reasons beyond X's and O's that illustrate why the Raiders are the NFL's worst and Petrino's swift hire by the Falcons is one of them.

Is Al Davis going to pigeon-hole himself again by waiting until every single viable coaching candidate has been hired and then wait out until every "hot" coordinator has been hired, too?

The Falcons, by contrast, quickly interviewed Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and San Francisco assistant head coach Mike Singletary.

All some of the cream of the crop of next generation coaching prospects. Will the Raiders interview any of them or, more likely, will any of them want to talk to Big Al?

Whisenhunt for one cancelled his interview at the last moment and Petrino said no thanks to just the interview.

If Davis sits on his decision again the Raiders will likely end up with the leftovers and that turkey looks like it will be former Giants head man, Jim Fassel.

He's a former Raider assistant, unwanted by most teams; therefore desperate for a job, and offensive-minded.

The RaiderNation could live with someone like Fassel and return the "glory years" of Norv Turner, who share eerily similar resumes, but new blood is sorely needed to turnaround this pirate ship. Coaches like Petrino are slipping through the Raiders hand too often.

Remember, what happened the last time Al took a chance on a young and dynamic coaching prospect (he passed him over for Joe Bugel before hiring him)? His name was Jon Gruden and we were all proud to be Raider fans.

Labels: Al Davis, Bobby Petrino, Falcons, Jim Fassel, Jon Gruden, Raiders

COLTS, COWBOYS, JETS, GIANTS WILL ADVANCE

KANSAS CITY @ INDIANAPOLIS
Everyone seems to think K.C.'s Larry Johnson is going to run and run and run the Colts out of the playoffs. Indy's league-worst rush defense is a red herring because it's too much to ask of Johnson, with his league record rushing attempts, to be a chief among Chiefs. The poor guy is just overworked. Aren't we all?

More importantly, remember that only those dubious Oakland Raiders had a better pass defense than the Colts and with a tiring rusher and few passing options the Chiefs are at the mercy of the NFL's premier quarterback Peyton Manning and his passing mates Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

The Chiefs are very lucky to be in this position and I don't like the presence of Herman Edwards on their sideline. The Colts will quickly jump all over K.C. and advance.
Colts 35, Chiefs 19.

DALLAS @ SEATTLE
The stars come out for the primetime matchup Saturday night. There's T.O., Tony Romo, The Tuna, and the NFL's reigning MVP, but this game will be determined by the little guys.

With Seattle's secondary decimated by injury, the job of stopping Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Whitten, comes down to the leadership of Jordan Babineaux. He could do it but, of course, he won't.

Sure, Seattle has the vaunted 12th man in the Pacific Northwest, but it won't be enough to stop a Dallas team that thrives away fromBig D. Coach

Bill Parcells has quite a job to do this playoff season. If he can get the notoriously inconsistent Cowboys to perform the next three weeks, a surprise invitation to Miami is more than possible. Nevertheless, this game will come down to the last minute. Cowboys 21, Seahawks 17.

>>>Sunday
N.Y. JETS @ NEW ENGLAND
Of the four games this wildcard weekend the game in Foxborough is the hardest to predict because of one man--Jets coach and former Bill Bellichick lieutenant, Eric Mangini.

The surprising Jets are playing efficient football for the past month which is why a few prerequisite turnovers New York's way and the apprentice may upend the master. If New York can ride a mediocre but flawless performance from QB Chad Pennington and few bombs to Lavernues Coles it will happen.

The end of the Patriots playoff dominance has to end sometime, right. The slide has been steady, but protracted as not to be sensed by the casual fan, but Tom Brady has had to assert himself on the sideline more than usual and it's not because he's grown as a leader, but the personnel around him is not what it once was.

It's hard to prognosticate the intangibles but it's everything that the Jets have become under Mangini and there's nothing wrong with that. Some call it luck, I call it solid coaching. This will be the highlight matchup of the weekend. Jets 34, Patriots 31 (OT).

N.Y. GIANTS @ PHILADELPHIA
Three words: Sports Illustrated jinx. Put it this way, it's not Tiki Barber on the cover, but Jeff Garcia and the Cinderella Philly Iggles. For the sake of allotted column space, I'll continue.

A rerun of New York's final regular season against Washington will have to occur for them to pass another division rival.

It sort of sadden me to think that it took until the possibility of Barber's last pro game to appreciate his greatness. What agility! What desire! What a nice guy!

Barber single-handily picked up the moping G-men off the gridiron and carried them last week. The still fragile psyche of the Giants is still evident, but Tiki can and will empty his tank for the chance of another week.

Garcia has been a great story himself as has their veteran defense led by the excitable Brian Dawkins, aside from the jinx, the NFL's 26th ranked defense against the run is problematic.

A big, early lead or a couple of Joe Pisarchick (Miracle of the Meadowlands) moments will have to go down for Prozac-laden Giants to fall. Giants 27, Eagles 24.

Labels: Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, Chiefs, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Eric Mangini, Jeff Garcia, Jets, Larry Johnson, N.Y. Giants, Patriots, Peyton Manning, Seahawks, Terrell Owens, Tiki Barber

TAKES BAMA JOB AFTER DECEIVING SOUTH FLORIDA

Has Nick Saban no shame? Why would an esteemed university like Alabama give $30 million to a man with such a dearth of character and allow him to teach impressionable collegians?

After hemming and hawing whether he would even entertain an offer from Alabama, the double-crossing Saban finally did what many envisioned, but never realize he would actually do.

He's free to do what he wants and he's free to conjure up lame excuses such as his wife didn't particularly enjoy Florida and his $7 million home just didn't have that roomy feel. It's common knowledge that sports figures solely use the "family decision" as a smokescreen and it's exactly what Saban did.

Sure, dollar signs flashed before his beady eyes and I presume the realization that the Miami Dolphins were unlike any college football team in that the buck did not stop at Coach's desk, criticism from the locker room was prevalent and perky sorority girls became gruff lesbians hellbent on getting tanked in the parking lot of Dolphins Stadium.

It's not that he couldn't excel in the NFL. Saban ended his Dolphins career with a losing record, but the team was anything but horrible and aside from consecutive poor starts would have been playoff-bound. A dependable QB would have helped, too.

What rankles South Florida is that he was unbelievably dishonest with them. Talk of a turnaround in Miami emanated like a fountain of mojitos from Saban's mouth and now this. Like a wife unwilling to believe her husband had been cheating on her despite a load of evidence, the realization that the Dolphins Nation has just wasted two years on a low-down, dirty rotten carpetbagger on his way to the most un-Miami place in America--Tuscaloosa--has caused an uproar quite unifying and uncommon in American sports.

The ghost of Bear Bryant is angry tonight.

Labels: Alabama, Miami Dolphins, Nick Saban

FIESTA BOWL PLAY-CALLING WAS REFRESHING IN TIMES OF APPREHENSIVE COACHING

Undoubtedly sports and balls go hand and hand, but some have bigger ones than others. Just like Boise State's first-year coach, Chris Petersen.

After a thrilling Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma last night, no other coach in America has a bigger pair than the guy in Boise. You could count the number of coaches on a fingerless hand that would have taken even one of the succession of risky, but well thought out play calls that Petersen used to beat shock the blue blooded Sooners.

The game-winning modified Statue of Liberty play has received more press, but to me, the hook and ladder play with seven seconds left in regulation was straight out of Coach Klein's playbook from the movie, Waterboy. In fact, it was one of the most surreal plays I've ever seen. Something out of a hokey film like, well, the Waterboy!

If this game goes far towards bringing College Football's its much-deserved playoff system, the landmark status of the game coupled with it thrilling ending, could become one of the greatest and most important games ever played.

FOX ANNOUNCER HAS A DOG FETISH
How many times did Fox's lead announcer, Thom Brennaman, refer to the match up as the "Big dog versus the little dog"? Just about eight times with some variation.

To the uninitiated, this metaphor may have seemed confusing given that the "Little dog" was undefeated and ranked two spots higher than the supposed "Big Dog">.

Labels: Boise State, Chris Petersen, Fiesta Bowl, Thom Brennaman

Right now, the Raiders (+13 1/2) look like the best/worst team in the NFL. Does that make any sense? I guess it does when the Raiders look like the best value on the board for the last four weeks and until they start winning consistently they will continue. The big stats of the week is that Oakland has lost 12 consecutive division games. They are not getting blown out, though. San Diego is a scoring machine and LaDainian Tomlinson eats up the Raiders. The Raider defense won't win a game by itself, but they will keep the score low and close.

New England (-3 1/2) is a juggernaut. When Brady's Pats are the featured game of the week they usually deliver. Brady is cool under pressure and Chicago's Rex Grossman....isn't so much. The names may change on Belichick's defense but the results never do. The Monsters of the Midway will meet their match, at least, on this Sunday.

The Giants are reeling but I'm still sticking with them for a date in Miami. A road game in Nashville, might be confluence of bad omens starting with the rise of the Titans' (+3) Vince Young. It seems like he's getting the hang of competiting at this level and with a home crowd behind him taking three points seems like a safe bet especially if they can keep the score low and hope for N.Y.'s Eli Manning to make mistakes.

The Record: 26-14-2.
Last Week: (Thanksgiving) 2-1.
The Wager: $20 Pick 3
The Winnings: $420.00

Of course, this posting goes without saying. In no uncertain terms should Barry Bonds ever don the green-and-gold, unless he decides to use his chemically-enhanced muscles to play linebacker for the Green Bay Packers.

Sending out feelers to gauge the public’s stance towards Bonds playing in Oakland is despicable enough, but the quick backlash says more about the people of the East Bay than anything else.

Having principles like integrity is something just about every fan of every Major League club seems to possess except for the fans of the San Francisco Giants. The shrill opposition found in numerous public chat rooms, including the den of A’s thought, Athletics Nation, and numerous letters to the editor will probably be duplicated in the next city that voices some interest in signing the discredited slugger. The uproar in Arlington , San Diego or New York , though, will never be as intense or to the point as it was in Oakland because we’ve been his roommate for so long.

The armpit of the Bay Area that is Oakland (some parts) has gained a whiff of the stench from AT&T Park in concentrated doses. Being a baseball fan in the Bay Area it takes quite a bit to be inoculated from discussing the hypocrisy of Bonds and the Giants.

To know the destruction of moral values pertaining to sports in the Bay Area is to watch the broadcast of a Giants game last year while reading the excellent work the San Francisco Chronicle’s Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada. Overlay the two opposite storylines of the Giants announcers praising the enduring greatness of Bonds at the same time the Chronicle details the dirty methods that got him within a half-season’s worth of homers from Henry Aaron’s 755 and feel your blood pressure rise.

For pure audacity, isn’t it exactly like President Bush repeatedly saying the war in Iraq is going swimmingly while the New York Times reports Iraq is dangerously teetering on Civil War. Both scenarios defy logic and imagine supporters of the two as ostriches with their heads in the sand.

Call San Francisco a red city in a sea of blue when it comes to Bonds. Giants’ fans, when it comes to their tainted slugger, just don’t get it. When a Padres fan threw a syringe at Bonds on opening day in San Diego it was like the S.F. fandom could not fathom why someone would perpetrate such an act, not because it was dirty or dangerous, but it was as if they could not recognize the symbolism of a syringe and Bonds any more than a piece of cheesecake and Bonds. The fact is they need each other and this symbiotic relationship is the root of the problem.

Nobody wants to deal with Baroid’s antics or poor public relations except for possibility of financial reward. The Giants, more than any other ball club, need a huge draw like Bonds. Being the only privately-financed park in the last 40 years, the Giants need to keep the stands full or risk defaulted on their $30 million mortgage note. This is the downside to keeping the Giants in San Francisco and a unique problem. One the A’s and every team don’t have to deal with. Flirting with Bonds for others is about winning and whether you and your fan base can stomach the three-ring circus that is Bonds.

The assertion that A’s general manager and guru to those enamored with the numbers game, Billy Beane, made probably stokes the fires of the A’s nation when he casually spoke of Bonds’s outrageously high on-base percentage; a certain statistics that Mr. Beane’s finds particularly alluring. The problem was that the every statistics linked to Bonds is tainted. When new A’s manager Bob Geren seemed intrigued by a reporters question about the possibility of coaching Bonds next season, he acted liked a five-year-old boy who was just offered a million pieces of candy.

Spouting Bonds’s recent performance as fact without mentioning the means that he attained to garner such lofty praise does a disservice to any team that thinks about signing him. If Beane spoke of Bonds in the context of an aging superstar looking for one last hurrah like a Rickey Henderson, for example, who is judge on his accolades of fifteen years ago rather than Bonds who is lauded for his recent crooked body of work rather than his early 90s resume, the hypocrisy would be significantly lower. It’s as if Beane wouldn’t mind to sample a bit of Bonds’s black heart if it can get him what he wants: a ring.

The problem with fans of Bonds and apologists of him is that you must accept he is fraud and his work too is tainted beyond recognition. From 2000 to today, the supreme aura of greatness that Bonds attained is not to accept as part of his already stellar career. When Beane and Geren gush about his recent exploits it only gives the impression that the A’s hierarchy is no better than the Giants or anybody else. They view him as mercenary who can get them what they want: a World Series title. It’s precisely this sort of logic that pushed Barry Bonds, Tim Montgomery, Rafael Palmeiro, Marion Jones and every offensive linemen in the NFL to take steroids in the first place; to win at all costs even if it risks losing your soul.

This is one of those "feel" games which is different than going with your "gut". A "feel" game is a step below a "gut" in certainty and far less worrisome than going against your "gut". Washington (+7) has burned me a few times this year with their inconsitency. A home game with the tide turning for the 'Skins was should cancelled out anything Philadelphia has going for it.

The 49ers (+6) are even more maddening than the Redskins, but there's a method to theirs. The Niners with six points at home versus Detroit would have been a no-brainer for a young team that play comfortably at the former Candestick Park, but giving those points at Detroit is worrisome. Even after a big win last week for the Lions, this sort of team that gives away chances often seems ripe for San Fran to pick up an unlikely road win.

Like the Niners, the Raiders (+9 1/2), that is, the Raiders' defense plays with far more purpose at the Coliseum than they do in enemy territory. This will be a low scoring game not because Denver and Oakland have two of the best defenses in the NFL, but solely because Andrew Walter can't garner anything close to a 100 yards of offense. This fact and the other that Art Shell handles Denver well, although not earlier in the season, but a second look should help the Raiders.

The Record: 23-11-2.
Last Week: 4-0.
The Wager: $20 Pick 5
The Winnings: $480.00

WIN OVER PITTSBURGH OVERSHADOWS THE WORST OFFENSE EVER

It's hard to decide which team to trash. A Super Bowl champion losing to the worst team in the NFL or the winner of the game displaying the lowest depths of ineptitude on offense ever.

The Raiders season cannot hit any lower or peculiar after Sunday's upset of the Steelers. Does that sound right? A 1-5 team beats the defending champs and there's still no reason for optimism? Leave it to the quarterback with two first names and the offense he leads garnering a meager 98 yards.

The Raiders may have had the fortune of playing against a post-concussed Ben Roethlisberger yesterday, but how many times will this defense be able to win a game incredibly and entirely on its own merits?

If yesterday's game were a video game, you would have sweared the Raiders offense was played either by a four-year-old limited to 2 hours of television a week by his hippy parents or a 65-year-old hand amputee with zero knowledge of what a video game is.

Four and out. Four and out. Four and out.

You can't get more predictable than that. Ironically, one of the best Raiders quarterbacks of all-time, former MVP, Rich Gannon was calling the game for CBS Sports. It was Gannon's pathetic five interception performance in the Super Bowl that seemingly jinxed the position for the next three years. He even called the offense run by Tom Walsh as "vanilla". Gannon's taste buds must have been muted by some salty fries and a pack of cigarettes, because to the rest of us it tasted like shit.

Performances like these, show in great detail that the Raiders braintrust severely mistook what they had in Andrew Walter as a young, up-and-coming QB, when the future belongs with the Matt Leinart, whom they passed over in last years draft.

Remember, when Al Davis drafted Marc Wilson number one out of Brigham Young in the early 80s and continually trotted him out there to the dismay of fans for four years. Wilson was an early round pick and should have been discarded as a mistake. Instead, the Raiders languished in mediocrity until the early 90s when Jay Schroeder and Jeff Hostetler brought the silver and black back to the playoffs.

Will Davis pass over Brady Quinn next year because he again mistakens Walter for a first-string quarterback or will he cut his losses unlike Wilson. Probably not, but we can hope.

The Niners across the Bay may get blown out with alarming frequency, but, at least the perception is that they're working out the kinks of a young team. These Raiders, on the other hand, are a mishmash of pieces new and old without any discernible direction but down.

We'll keep rolling with the Bengals (-3 1/2) despite the liklihood of another tight game against a good team and with the spread this week against the rejuvenated Falcons. With the assumption that Cincy is going to represent the AFC, you have to take them even though the Falcons come to Paul Brown Stadium high off a rousing win over the Super Bowl champs. Cincy isn't the Steelers in disarray nor is Michael Vick at home at the cozy Georgia Dome. This may come down to a field goal again for the Bengals meaning the extra half point will be a blessing.

The Pack is not back, but Favre and Green Bay (-4) is good enough to threaten mediocrity, at best. This is an intriguing matchup Vegas-wise. Are the Cardinals done? They will be if they lose a seventh game. The Packers are far from a lock, Arizona seems on the verge of a major coaching shake-up and that will be hastened when the follow-up a blown opportunity after last week's loss to the then-winless Raiders.

Whenever the opportunity, go against the Browns. This will be the fifth week doing so and it's like stealing candy from an unsuspecting trick-or-treater. Uncertainly with the Jets (+2) makes this pick a bit of a risk, but whether its in Cleveland or any other city, the Browns have been figured out by the spread and can't beat anybody except the Raiders. Plus, any free points to the underdog is an added blessing.

How can you resist giving the Colts (+3) a three-point advantage before the game even starts. The Colts are not the nearly undefeated juggernaut of last season, but neither is Denver as good as advertised. Denver's defense is vastly overrated and these things have a way of evening out statistically. Peyton Manning is going to show that the AFC West is truly up for grabs, except for one team that has been mentioned three times without even being prognosticated upon.

A great, but under-appreciated game awaits Monday Night. Both New England and Minnesota (+2) are likely playoff participants, but this game comes down to a pick 'em game. It's this simple the Vikes are at home with two points. I so bad wanted to take the Chiefs/Seahawks game, but chickened out.

The Record: 17-8-2.
Last Week: 4-0-1.
The Wager: $20 Pick 5
The Winnings: $260.00

THIS IS THE BEST MLB HAS TO OFFER?

After two straight World Series sweeps who could not be happy with a
series somewhat up for grabs as this Fall Classic presumably is?

Little solace, though, can be taken when despite a 3-1 series lead by
the Cardinals; this series has not shown the best baseball has to offer
by a long shot.

How can one pitching staff commit four errors in one series-anytime of
the year? Are the Tigers tight? Tight like a tiger? You bet.

What happened to the rampaging locomotive that was the Detroit Tigers?
They performed phenomenally through two playoff series that scared the
pants off the mighty Yankees and rendered the swingin' A's a
manager-less mess.

What are the Cardinals eating? Were they just messing with all of
baseball by limping to the regular season's finish line like the
tortoise to the Houston Astros hare?

The problem is this World Series has been devoid of stars and riveting
performances. A Fall Classic doesn't need brand name stars to be
exciting, just clutch performances will create stars on its own. Did
anybody know much about Josh Beckett outside of Dade County before his
fastball tore into the Yankees leading Florida to a six game victory in
2003? Where's a 20-year-old Bret Saberhagen or a Billy Hatcher wrecking
opponents single-handedly?

The point is what has happened to baseball's mighty champions? The 1986
Mets were baseball's best. I personally knew the 1989 A's were going to
win the Series and many others concurred. The Yankees, despite the
hatred they produce in many, were undoubtedly powerful and deserving
champs.

Detroit may have fit the bill if they had continued to run roughshod
over the postseason. Instead, they've become paper tigers to a Cardinals
team pitching just well enough and hitting quite pedestrian next to
Detroit's hitless wonders of Ivan Rodriguez and Placido Polanco.

The Cardinals as 2006 World Champions might be akin to the 83-win squad
that won the National League Central-pathetic and undeserving.

Is this the product of some sort of Pete Rozelle-esque parity in Major
League Baseball or a wildcard playoff system that is predisposed to
giving second-tier clubs the chance to get hot at the right time?

Conjecture that wildcard teams gain an edge by "fighting it out" to the
very end of the season as opposed to division winners who "coast" to the
end of the season is ridiculous. The Tigers, Cardinals, A's and Mets
show this is faulty logic. All four were relatively unscathed by game
162. The Tigers lost out on the division on the final day of the season
to the Twins, but both the American League Central and the wildcard
trophies had nameplates ready to be affixed to either team.

The culprit is a best-of-five Division Series that can produce an upset
by an inferior team with a two starting pitchers mixed with some clutch
hitting. Whether the wildcard winner has two home games or one as
Commissioner Bud Selig has suggested for next season, the possibility of
dethroning a division champion is way too high price for a squad that
wins the regular season battle of 162 games.

Commissioner Bud continues to state that he doesn't want a Series game
spilling into November, which may or may not happen with a Best-of-seven
Division Series and shortening the season to 154 games is heretical.
Then, why did Selig agree to begin the World Series on a Tuesday rather
than its traditional Saturday opening to appease the Fox Network's new
TV deal starting in 2007?

Is low rating in a time of overall tiny Nielsen's on network TV the
reason for dubious World Series matchups or is this just another example
of Selig trading the hallowed game of baseball for another notch on his
so-called "legacy".

This, of course, would all be moot if Pujols would smack a couple of
homers in Game 5 or Justin Verlander mowed down 18 Cardinal hitters in
tonight. When your team isn't playing in the big game, the series is
about entertaining and good baseball not four game sweeps and
seven-pitch innings

HALL OF FAMER: IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE

In today's New York Times, legendary spitballer Gaylord Perry says he has no doubt the browm smudge on Kenny Rogers' hand was the mark of a deceiving southpaw.

Perry is to nefarious pitching what Snoop Dogg is to weed. If anyone would be an expert to what the mysterious substance on Rogers' hand it's the portly portsider.

He told the Times' Jack Curry that he has no doubt that the brown smudge was pine tar and noted its effectiveness in cold weather which has been prevalent in Rogers' three postseason starts.

What's troubling about the article is the mocking tone of the Southerners comments. At times he sounds like a deranged old man. In one instance he seems to be encouraging every American youth with a wispy fastball and a mitt to join the dark side of cheating.

“I’m proud of him, man,” Perry said. “He did it to them. Good for him. Now you’ll have a thousand high school kids using pine tar, too.”

There's one important point that Perry makes, though.

The effectiveness of pine tar and rosin on a baseball is unknown. What made Perry's histrionics on the mound so effective was not throwing a doctored baseball, but when, or if.

Tony LaRussa took the bait Sunday night and now Rogers next start--a Game 6 in Detroit--could be the pivotal game of this series. Will he be throwing with pine tar or not? Cardinals are thinking about it now instead of playing this World Series.

ROGERS' BP CAP HAS BLACK FABRIC UNDER BILL

Paul Lukas of ESPN's Page 2 has an interesting take on the entire Kenny Rogers pine tar controversy.

According to his Uniwatch column, Lukas reports that Rogers wears a batting practice cap during gametime. So what?

The BP caps, which are made of polyester instead of the more rigid wool, contain an advantage that the regular New Era caps do not: The underside of the cap is black while the standard version is gray.

If a pitcher wanted to conceal pine tar under his cap a la Gaylord Perry or L.A.'s Jay Howell in the 1988 NLCS, he could have done it easily with the BP cap.

This seeminingly innoucous note is important when conforted by rabid Tiger fans who might point out that Rogers still pitched seven more shutout innings after Cardinals' skipper Tony LaRussa brought it to America's attention.

The dark smudge of an illegal foreign substance did not reside in Rogers left hand but under the bill of his cap.

What does Smudgegate mean to this World Series? It's how far we've fallen from the never-ending fatigue of steroids and the national pastime.

Barry Bonds is lampooned as the cheater who stalks Hank Aaron's homerun record without the slightest bit of embarrassment. Records today are not real and spurts of athletic brilliance are scoffed upon as another testimony of results from means other than hard work.

Whether Detroit's Kenny Rogers' scoreless inning streak is by way of a long simmering tenacity or the benefit of classless cheating, the most troubling question is that we all latch on the very possibility. Call it the loss of a sporting innocence or brazen cheating, the specter of Barry Bonds' dirty deeds will linger for generations.

Bonds and Rogers share many traits in common. Both are scoundrels to the press and carry tales of bratty and boorish behavior. We know Bonds is a selfish primadonna and the memory of Rogers pushing over a cameraman in Arlington lingers. More telling, both are defying the aging processes by posting statistics more suited and believable from more elastic and toned muscles of 22-year-olds.

This sort of behavior makes it easy to advance the logic that both are cheats. Their actions beg the question as to why good things could happen to bad people. The belief system of most Americans don't subscribe to this notion. If you work hard providence will take care of the rest. If crooks get away souls intact with dishonesty, the very fabric of the nation and our personal view of the world would come crashing.

You would have to be silly to believe Bonds did not knowingly breach his moral by using performance-enhancing drugs before our penetrating eyes. Did Kenny Rogers commit the same act with an pine tar-enhanced baseballs? Listen, to your common sense and know the answer.

Kansas City (+5) is beginning to take on the feel of its coach. Unfortunately, Herm Edwards' mark on a team isn't much, but with a San Diego team looking decidedly like a 10-6 football team. Giving away five points to the homestanding Chiefs looks too good to be true. San Diego is a playoff team, but 10-6 teams lose games on the road sometimes.

Again, when looking at the long-term the Bucanneers (+5 1/2)did not look like a 0-5 team on paper. After coming up big against Cincy last week, this team looks like it's ready for a little streak. Philadelphia is looking better also and may still beat Tampa, but this should be a close game.

Speaking of Cincinnati (-3), a home game against Carolina could go a long way in showing the NFL whether they can take the next step in the AFC. Throwout the spread, the Bengals will look to finally make a statement and finally put their vaunted offense of display.

If the Raiders (+3)are going to win a game this season, it's either this week against Arizona or in week 11 against Houston. It's shameful to have another weakling come to the Black Hole as favorites, but these are the times we live. As for the Cards, most teams would bounce back rousingly after their Monday Night debacle. Arizona, though, is a 1-5 team without a history of winning. They're going to hand this one to Oaktown.

Denver's (-4 1/2)defense may be overrated, but should we expect Cleveland to expose it holes? C'mon. Giving two touchdowns to the homestanding Brownies would make me feel comfortable.

The Record: 13-8-1.
Last Week: 1-3.
The Wager: $20 Pick 5
The Winnings: $260.00

When will the Lions' Rod Marinelli get his first win of the season? Detroit is Tigertown right now, so they won't notice another loss. Buffalo (-1) comes to town hobbled themselves, but their defense should be able to take advantage of a decimated Detroit O-line. WR Roy Williams is also missing so how will the Lions run the ball or have enough time for Jon Kitna?

Cincinnati (-5 1/2) is coming off a bye week and Tampa Bay is coming off its rookie QB's first start. The Bengals are not going to run roughshod over the Bucs on the offensive side. If they can stop Cadillac Williams return to Tampa covering the spread is merely a Chad Johnson romp to the end zone.

The Texans (+13) have begun to show some life, albeit, without adding to the win column, but their first-year coach might be changing the tide. In Dallas, the T.O. affair is helping the Marketing Department, but not necessarily the football operation. Dallas' Drew Bledsoe has been very shaky and T.O. has been non-existent. This game will have to be a low-scoring affair for the Texans to succeed. If they can limit Julius Jones, it will happen.

The Chargers (-10 1/2) must have watch the 49ers game film against the Raiders and said "here's three easy wins against these two teams." The Niners have shown themselves to be a Jekyl and Hyde kind of team, yet predicatable. They'll play an exciting sort of game against the lamest (Raiders)in the NFL and completely self-destruct against better teams (Chiefs 41-0 loss). San Diego's defensive production might be enough to cover the large spread.


The Record: 12-5-1.
Last Week: 2-2.
The Wager: $20 Pick 4
The Winnings: $280.00

PREGAME>>>Thinking about the A's making a heroic comeback is putting the cart before the horse. Just winning today will bring back an enormous amount of pride in this team. If want to talk about winning four straight, put it this way; momentum would have to swing violently to the A's quickly. Danny Haren hurling a no-hiter is just about the only way that happens.

>>>Keep an eye on Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman. His background is sort of like another Motown bad boy; the 8 Mile's Eminem.

TOP OF THE FIRST>>>Bonderman is lacking control early on. The weather might have more to do with that than nerves.

>>>Except for Frank Thomas, these A's look patient at the plate. Milton Bradley came up limp. If he can run at 2/3 speed, you've got to leave him in there. He's the only player with any life on this team.

>>>Kotsay Scores on Bradley's double to left. Bradley scores on Chavez's double down the rightfield line. ATHLETICS 2, TIGERS 0.

BOTTOM OF FIRST>>>Haren needs to shutdown the Tigers after being awarded a two run cushion. So far, he's keeping the ball down.

>>>Interesting how Lou Piniella put Fox's Thom Brennamen on the spot about Bonderman's GED. Brennamen said it meant that Bonderman was "smart" enough to get a high school diploma. Where I'm from getting a GED is hardly within the realm of scholarly lads.

>>>Haren retires the side with Granderson on second. ATHLETICS 2, TIGERS 0.

TOP OF SECOND>>>Maybe Kenny Rogers' chat with Bonderman in the dugout did wonders. The A's go down in order.

>>>Nick Swisher goes hitless, again. People have criticized D'Angelo Jimenez. His defense has been awful, but at least, he has two hits...two more than Thomas and The Swish put together.

BOTTOM OF SECOND>>>Let's see if Detroit can regain the momentum after Bonderman's quick inning.

>>>Haren continues to have a wicked slider working in the dirt. Brandon Inge looked silly swinging at it which is a good indication of its effectiveness. ATHLETICS 2, TIGERS 0.

TOP OF THIRD>>>Bradley with another hit. The limping Bradley should be inspiring the rest of the team. In the Billy Beane playoff era in Oakland, Bradley is playing the best ball out of all those teams.

>>>It's sad when the broadcasters are commenting on how Thomas' foul balls are good swings. ATHLETICS 2, TIGHERS 0.

BOTTOM OF THIRD>>>Haren continues to deal. He's a gamer and I don't buy that having him pitch Game 3 would have changed its outcome. Despite Rogers' newfound steely demeanor, I'll still take Haren going eye-to-eye with him spinning dueling goose eggs. ATHLETICS 2, TIGERS 0.

TOP OF FOURTH>>>Jay Payton homers to left. Hopefully, this is a good sign. He looked deflated in his first at-bat and bit incredulous while rounding second on his homer. One-by-one maybe they're starting to believe.

>>>Swish gets his first hit. A nice liner to right. He almost overhustled rounding second, if that's possible. Pete Rose would say, no. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 0.

BOTTOM OF FOURTH>>>Haren gets in a bit of trouble, but still has the splitter humming when he needs it.

>>>Good observation by the Fox guys. Carlos Guillen, Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez have done very little in getting the Tigers one game from the World Series. It only shows how much Placido Polanco has been for Detroit. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 0.

TOP OF FIFTH>>>The A's go down quickly in the fifth. Bonderman is settling in with only 71 pitches. This only going to put more pressure on the A's pitching and defense.

BOTTOM OF FIFTH>>>Chavez throws Brandon Inge's dribbler into the stands. If your throw ends up behind the runner at first then you probably shouldn't have thrown it. Chavez is just not looking very nimble at third. Did he age ten years in the postseason? He looks like Ron Cey playing out his days at third with the Cubbies.

>>>Granderson doubles Inge home for the Tigers first run. His baserunning is what winning in the postseason is about. Not only did he put his team on the board, but woke up his freezing fans with a hustling burst to second.

>>>Granderson scores on Craig Monroe's double to left..

>>>Tigers get two, but Polanco's lineout double play to Jimenez is, at least, something different to what the A's have seen when Detroit starts a rally. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 2.

TOP OF SIXTH>>>A's put a runner on, but meekly hit grounders to the right side of the diamond are not what you want without much speed out there. It makes you wonder what the A's hitters are thinking by trying to pull outside pitches they invariably end up being slow rollers to the firstbaseman.

>>>Momentum seems to be turning the Tigers way. Can Haren stop them? Can the defense get out of the sixth without making a crucial error.? ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 2.

BOTTOM OF SIXTH>>>First pitch of the sixth into the leftfield stands. Ordonez homers to left. Macha needs to get the pen going. The Tigers are figuring out Haren or the lighting conditions are evening out in Detroit.

>>>Joe Kennedy replaces Haren after Guillen singles to right. Guillen makes an aggressive run to third on Kennedy's wild pitch. Like Granderson in the fifth, the A's roster does not have the speed to put that kind of pressure on a catcher.

>>>Clutch K on Alexis Gomez by Kennedy. The infield can drop back now and hope for forceout to end the inning. Kennedy retires the light-hitting Ramon Santiago, but why did it take eight pitches? ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3.

TOP OF SEVENTH>>>Jason Kendall singles to right off of Bonderman's foot. Kendall is a contact hitter, but does he have to be protecting on every pitch of the at-bat. Taking Bonderman out of the game might have been premature for Jim Leyland. Maybe he saw something, but it seemed like Bonderman was heating up. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3.

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH>>>The Tigers are rallying again. Polanco's single to second advances the runner to second. Polanco is now officially on par with the Hatcher's in terms off tearing up the A's in the playoffs. Mickey Hatcher's clutch hitting in the 1988 World Series brought down the A's and Billy Hatcher's hitting prowess led to a sweep of the 1990 team. They are not relating in any way except in the ire of A's fans.

>>>Kiko Calero comes up for Kennedy for the most important few hitters of the entire season.

>>>Macha makes a shrewd move and brings in Huston Street with the bases loaded and one out. Macha shouldn't get too much credit for creativity there isn't anything else he can do now. A strikeout here is critical. Even a sac fly RBI will set the Tigers bullpen in motion.

>>>Street comes up huge with a double play from Chavez, 5-3. The normal flow of a baseball game would say the A's break through in the eighth. If not, we're talking extra frames. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3

TOP OF EIGHTH>>>Reliever Jason Grilli comes in for Detroit in Joel Zumaya's role. The 100 mph hurler is not ready to come back from his injury. This is Oakland's chance with the hot-hitting Bradley leading off.

>>>Much has been written about the radar guns being juiced. Here's more: Grilli is not hitting 98-99 mph on the gun as the Fox linescore says. If true, a couple of teams including the Giants were stupid for letting him go.

>>>Thomas hits into a weak double-play. It might be time to give up on the Big Hurt tonight and hopefully tomorrow.

>>>Has anyone ever seen a Major League pitcher throw 12 straight balls? Zumaya's injury is definitely hurting the Tigers. It goes to show what the inability of Thomas to come close to get a hit is doing to the A's in a inning where the leadoff hitter reached on a single and Grilli walked three straight, Oakland is down two out because of Thomas' poor swinging.

>>>Lefty Wilfredo Ledezma replaces Grilli.

>>>Scutaro fouls out and the entire series comes into focus. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3.

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH>>>Street handles the Tigers in order. Through 1 2/3 he's thrown relatively few pitches. He'll go the ninth. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3.

TOP OF NINTH>>>The A's put Kendall on but can't do anything else. ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 3.

BOTTOM OF NINTH>>>Monroe and Polanco single with two outs.

>>>Ordonez smacks a game-winning, series-winning, pennant-winning homerun. The Tigers sweep the A's, 4-0 and await the Mets or Cardinals. TIGERS 6, ATHLETICS 3.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME CHAVEZ HAS GIVEN UP IN THE MEDIA

The A's have folded, at least, that's what Eric Chavez is saying. The slick-fielding thirdbasemen added words to the shrugs and bowed heads in the Oakland clubhouse.

"We've run into a better team and there's really nothing you can do. They've been better than us in every aspect of the game. I don't have any problem saying that."

Chavez's inappropriate comments are nothing new. He's been saying the exact same thing every time the A's have been up against the wall.

Here's Chavez's quote last August just as the A's began a crucial series against the Los Angeles Angels [Read the post from August 9, 2005 in the LFR]:

I'll never say we have more talent than them," he said. "They're just so solid. Top to bottom, they've got more talent, hands down. They should win the division, if you ask me.

Chavez's candor in the midst of adversity was not welcomed last season when they fell short of beating the Angels and it's definitely unwarranted on the brink of the elimination in the ALCS.

It's a mystery containing many hard to quantify reasons why the A's choke during the playoffs, but if you want one glaring reason point to a strange willingness to capitulate in the newspapers.

Who knows, maybe Chavez has French blood flowing through his veins because surrendering to the enemy comes very easily to him.

VETS FROM DISMAL PLAYOFFS PAST SLAP THE WHAMMY ON THE A'S

Is it any surprise that the two players who made pivotal mistakes in the first two games of the ALCS for the A's are the two notable players from the struggling playoff of teams of the past six years.

This A's team is, indeed, different than those teams. They play better defense, have a better all-around pitching staff and far more depth, but Barry Zito tanked in Game 1 and despite hitting a mammoth homer in Game 2, Eric Chavez's second straight missplay of a grounder to his left have brought back whispers of those teams from earlier this decade.

MILTON BRADLEY IS NOT BLINKING
In the Division Series, Detroit intimidate the Yankees to no end. Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya and some extreme clutch hitting had the veteran Yanks unexpectedly shaken.

In this series, there isn't a sense that Oakland is intimidated by the heat of the Tigers and their style of play. Thirteen strikeouts in Game 2 might indicate otherwise, but there isn't fear because of one guy: Milton Bradley.

He set the tone in Game 1, with his shot to center off of Zumaya's 100 mph fastball. His double was hit so hard that it curved at such and angle away from Curtis Granderson that cold fusion was created at the impact of ball and bat.

Bradley followed it up tonight with two homers and nearly helped the A's pull off a historic comeback in the ninth.

UNLUCKY THIRTEEN?
The number thirteen is haunting the A's in this series. In Game 1, they were a playoff record-tying 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Tonight, Detroit pitchers struckout 13 A's hitters, including six in a row late in the game. Friday's Game 3 lands on Friday the 13th.

STICK WITH HAREN IN GAME 3
It goes without saying that Game 3, Friday in Motown, is a must win. Words is that Oakland will start Rich Harden which would be a huge gamble on Ken Macha's part. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s with the possibility of snow.

Is it wise to trot out a pitcher who really hasn't pitched a full start since July in a must win. Throw in the fact that Comerica Park will be rocking in their parkas and the prospect of Harden's confidence wavering becomes a huge risk against reversing the momentum of this series.

This is the sort of dubious decision-making regarding the playoff pitching rotation that hampered the A's in the past. Remember, journeyman Gil Heredia starting the decisive Game 5 of the 2000 ALDS against the Yankees?

If the A's can win with Harden on the mound in Game 3, do you weaken yourself by starting Game 4 starter, Dan Haren, on three days rest for a possible Game 7?

MASTER OF THE A'S UNIVERSE
Tonight's Fox telecast of the ALCS neglected to mention an emerging storyline in this series. With the Tigers up 2-0 and returning home they'll have the A's #1 nemesis on the mound Friday. Kenny Rogers is an unbelievable 21-7 against Oakland. As if the road to World Series wasn't long enough for the A's already.

IMMATURITY OF LOS TIGRES IS REMINISCENT OF PAST A'S TEAMS

By the look of the pandemonium on the field at Comerica Park Saturday, the Detroit Tigers just won the World Series.

Players who jubilantly spray champagne on the fans and 41-year-old lefties who douse uniformed cops on the dugout usually mark celebrations for world titles and not a 3-1 series victory in the Division Series against los yanquis.

Before the ridiculousness of the scene set in, the once-sadsack--Tigers three years removed from 119 loses--hopping jubilantly was quite charming until the importance of advancing to the ALCS pales in comparison to the unadulterated ecstasy of winning the whole thing which the Tigers did not do Saturday nor did any other Major League team, at least, not yet.

What will they do if they do win?

Tear down Tiger Stadium? Maybe join the lovely inhabitants of Flint in torching foreign-made luxury sedan. Maybe streak?

The maturity of the Tigers might come into play during this series with the Athletics. While the A's finished off the Minnesota Twins in three games without trailing at any point, the veteran of the team, Frank Thomas, fully participated in the celebration, but he tempered his antics unlike Detroit's Kenny Rogers. What he told the A's is that this is only the second of four celebrations for the team. Meaning: we don't have anything to really celebrate about--just yet.

Apparently, for Detroit beating the Yankees is satisfying enough. The A's used to be a team that was just happy to make the postseason, losing four straight opening series. The roles look to be reversed.

The San Francisco Chronicle's Nancy Gay made this statement in her column Monday:

"The Raiders, who are a Dec. 3 home game against Houston away from being the first team in NFL hisotry to go 0-16, are going nowhere but down."

The line is a bit shocking, if not for its directness, but its stark plausibility. The Raiders are the worst thing these parts have seen in any sport in a very long time, if not ever.

What makes these Raiders at 0-4 so different from the other three winless teams in the NFL is that perception that this franchise is run by an absent tyrant who has unmercifully slayed ever capable coach in the kingdom and must now turn to less than mediocre talent.

For every stupid, yet creative way the Raiders bumble their way through 60 minutes of football, they come back to the basic premise that the Raiders have moments when they look utterly lost on the gridiron. There are moments when the simple act of hiking the ball to the quarterback is bumbled, not once, but on successive plays.

On Sunday, running back Lamont Jordan, forgot about the basic lateral rule. Instead of pouncing on the borderline pass, he stood and stared at the orb like a pedestrian would stare at mangled roadkill.

It comes down to this revelation. When two well-coached teams play on television like tonight's Denver-Baltimore game, it makes me wonder how the Raiders are actually a professional football team.

The Redskins (+4) enter the Meadowlands with Mark Brunell drunk off the fountain of youth. The Giants defense is not as bad as it has been the first four weeks of the season and frankly giving the Skins four points seems too high. Take it even though any game in the parity-stricken NFC East is a toss up.

Any Packers game against a passable team like Rams (-3)is fraught with uncertainty. No matter what Brett Favre does; three touchdowns or four interception, he still God to the cheeseheads. Marc Bulger and the Rams should be able to exploit Green Bay's secondary for 30 points, which giving a field goal to the Pack seems highly profitable.

Carolina (-8 1/2) is ready to explode, while the lonely Browns are hot off a victory against the only team they can feel like studs while beating (Oakland). The Panthers d-line should be able to rouse Charlie Frye out of the pocket and they rustle him to the ground, unless, that is, he throws and errant pass. This should be a blowout for the home-standing Panthers.

This game should be a pick 'em game. The fact that Denver (-3 1/2) is playing Monday Night in front of the fans at Invesco is probably the difference. Baltimore's defense is very impressive, but for some reason I keep mixing up Miami's inept Daunte Culpepper with the Ravens' Steve McNair. It might be Freudian, but maybe it's saying Denver in a close game.

The Record: 10-3-1.
Last Week: 1-2.
The Wager: $20 Pick 4
The Winnings: $300.00

A'S ARE ONE GAME AWAY FROM THE ALCS, AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN

I have a tendency to scream out loud when a players makes a boneheaded play. It doesn't matter whether it's my team or not. When Torii Hunter squandered away Game 2 of the Division Series I yelled, "What are you doing!"

Hunter's misplay of Mark Kotsay's tailing flyball to center is one of the most egregious defensive mistakes you'll ever see; be it the regular series or a postseason pressure cooker.

Let me count the ways the Hunter may have blown the entire series for the Twins:

Aside from the outfield acrobatic, why did Hunter think taking such a risky move as diving for a difficult fly was justified with two outs? Basic baseball fundamentals rationalize it this way: if there's no out or even one, making such a leap might warrant the risk because Oakland had the means of a big inning. With two out, it's different. If Hunter pulls up, the runner scores or holds at third and there's the faith that Dennys Reyes gets the third out.

Hunter's route to the flyball was highly suspect. The angle he had on the ball was not even close to where the ball actually landed. Replays showed that Hunter's glove hand was extended outward towards the centerfield wall illustrating that the ball was way over his head well into his dive.

Worst of all, Hunter kicked the collective Twins Nation in the crotch. You could see it in his face and there were too many Twins players with their heads down to make much of difference when the series moves to Oakland Friday afternoon. They could still bounce back, but in light of the growing list of poorly executed baseball, it seems doubtful, even with a burgeoning A's postseason jinx lurking off 66th Avenue.

ROUND ONE GOES TO THE METS
What a game at Shea today. If Game 1 is any indication, we may be looking at one of the classic Division Series of all-time.

Despite an iffy performance from the Dodgers bullpen, these teams look like two prizefighters pummeling each other for 15 rounds.


TIGERS/YANKS RAINOUT GAME 2
Question: how did it go from 80 degrees in Queens to torrential rain showers in the Bronx within three hours? Might a heavenly oddsmaker be telling us something

Understandably, the national headline from today's game was Frank Thomas' two home runs. More telling to A's fans, though, is that their team actually played mistake-free while the Twins fumbled and squandered opportunities.

In the previous four trips to the postseason since 2000 the A's may have not played a more solid nine innings. Add that they did it in the lion's den of Hubert H. and against the best lefty in the business and you have the makings of a very good day at the park for the A's.

Oakland didn't build a rally against the likely Cy Young winner, Johan Santana, except for possibly the second, but used the long ball to great effect when they needed it and a recieved a solid, but inexciting effort from Barry Zito.

Could this be a harbinger of the things to come? Might the ghosts of series past be exorcized? Jeremy Giambi's non-slide and Eric Byrnes' non-touch of home plate still haunts Oakland's dreams. But, wait!

The ninth also brought shades of those same house of horrors. Milton Bradley lost the ball in the white sky and Huston Street looked hittable again.

Michael Cuddyer's fly to Bradley was fairly deep. Torii Hunter's grounder to second was a shot and Justin Morneau's liner was ripped. It's something to keep a close eye on because this series is going to be tight every game.

PUJOLS SETS THE TONE IN SAN DIEGO
Albert Pujols's homer against San Diego in September woke up the Cardinals just enough to stumble into this series. If they were still groggy before today, then Pujols's delivered the cold water with his blast in Game 1.

Again, Jake Peavy's exceptional movement on his fastball actually cost the Padres the opener, but possibly revived the Cards. You just cannot throw Pujols a twice strike fastball regardless of velocity or movement down the middle of the plate, but Peavy did and he absolutely cranked it out of Petco's expansive left-center alley. Suddenly, the ailing Cards with strong performances from Scott Rolen and Adam Wainwright seem like contenders for the NLCS again.

Hold on! Meet St. Louis' Game 2 and 3 starters. Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan might have a lot to do with San Diego still having life in this series.

YANKEES POWER OVER TIGERS, BUT MOTOWN DIDN'T GIVE UP
The Yanks did what most expected. They rolled over the upstart Tigers in Game 1, but something else happened in the Bronx. Everytime New York gave Detroit a shot to the head, the Tigers fought back.

After allowing five in the bottom of the third, the Tigers quickly scored three back in the top of the fifth and seventh. It might not mean much, but the inexperienced Tigers were not intimidated by the Yankees, as well as they shouldn't. Even with a three run lead, you got the feeling that the Yanks bullpen was apprehensive and ready to implode. It's something to watch in Game 2 and 3 when Randy Johnson tests his bad back at Comerica.

2006 DIVISION SERIES PREVIEW

A'S VS TWINS
The battle of the "low budget" bad boys is really a misnomer. All that talk of big market/small market was a baseball talking point magnified by a decade of shrewd moves by the Yankees. Everyone, at least, in this postseason has a fair shot at the prize.

The question is this: can the biggest chokers of the Division Series era finally grow up? After four straight exits under dubious circumstances, can Oakland finally put away an opponent? Nine straight elimination losses say no. What's to root for? A poor start? Maybe 0-2 going back to Oakland might do the trick?

Unfortunately for the A's, the recent fall of the Tigers landed the most well-equipped October squad in their laps. Minnesota has the ear-splitting dome, the best pitcher of this generation and some quality bats led by the A.L. batting champion, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter.

They key to Minnesota's long playoff run rests in the capable hands of a highly talented and maneuverable bullpen. As past World Series champs have shown; a methodical management of the bullpen along with a scrappy style of offense has bred success.>>>>>>>>>Twins in Five.

TIGERS VS YANKEES
People like to think that St. Louis is the team hobbling into the playoffs. The Cards have what Detroit doesn't: experience. While the White Sox's season a year ago seems similar to the late-season performance of the Tigers. Lightning won't strike twice in the Central. Jim Leyland may have coaxed enough out of this very talented pitching staff to get him to the Division Series, but mustering enough to throttle the Bronx Bombers will be too much.

Detroit, though, won't be a push over for the Yanks. They still have a very capable offense with Placido Polanco, Marcus Thames, Magglio Ordonez and Craig Monroe, all players few have paid much attention to this season.

The Yankees got the draw they most desired, because a possible matchup with the Twins would have been an iffy fit. While their offense looks like the greatest ever assembled, they're really have an upgrade over many good offenses with Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano and possibly Jason Giambi, the rest are either injured or just over-the-hill big names. Gary Sheffield playing first might cost the Yankees dearly at some point this postseason.

The Tigers won't win this series solely because they won't be strong enough to challenge New York's very shaky middle relief corps with the game on the line. It's not even clear how reliable the recent injured Mariano Rivera might be.>>>>>>>>>>Yankees in Four.

CARDINALS VS PADRES
What a difference a year makes in perception. Last postseason, all the talk was about the 82-win Padres not deserving a berth. A year later, the venue has changed and it's the Cardinals who literally backed into the playoffs, narrowly averting the greatest collapse in sports history.

The Cardinals are battered, injured and manager Tony LaRussa seems at his wits end. It should be noted the Cards began their slide around the time closer Jason Isringhausen was deemed too injured to play this post season. Substitute closer Adam Wainwright will have to be a hero for the Cards to advance. That, or, Albert Pujols and others will need a monster offensive performance to take the game out of their weak bullpen's hands.

San Diego has some gamers on offense with Dave Roberts, Brian Giles and Mike Cameron. Their pitching should be the difference in this series. Ace Jake Peavy might have the most wicked movement on his fastball in baseball, but sometimes it moves too much; like right down the middle of the plate. Like Minnesota, the Padres need their starters to deliver the lead to the seventh and let the a clearly delineated bullpen committee take it to Trevor Hoffman.>>>>>>>>>>>>Padres in Five.

DODGERS VS METS
This cross-country matchup might be the best of the postseason. Too bad they couldn't do it in the NLCS. Just about a month ago, life hadn't look this good in Flushing since 1986. Suddenly, the Mets looked mediocre in a very weak National League. The Mets demise in September, though, looks more reminiscent of the last year's Chisox than the Detroit Tigers. The problem is that Chicago drew a faltering Boston and L.A. Angels team and the Amazin's have drawn the red-hot Dodgers.

This is matchup that renders numbers moot. The Mets lefty-laden lineup might, according to the numbers, eat up L.A.'s righties, but the Dodgers are a the proverbial wildcard team that has been so successful this century. Florida, Boston and Anaheim have all caught fire in the last two weeks and parlayed that into overwhelming an unsuspecting favorite.

One glimpse of the Dodgers last Friday and Saturday in San Francisco saw, as the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Shulman wrote, a team playing "possessed". Clutch hitting and tenacious baserunning are what World Series Champions are made of.>>>>>>>>>Dodgers in Five.

>>>>>>ALCS
Minnesota over N.Y. Yankees.

>>>>>>NLCS
Los Angeles over San Diego

>>>>>>World Series
Los Angeles over Minnesota.

Nevermind that San Diego is undefeated and rested after a week three bye. Look for that early break to slowdown what was a sterling team effort in week’s one and two. Baltimore (+2½) is for real, at least, in the early going. The Ravens are also 3-0 against the spread. You can’t get a better value this week than putting 20 on the underdogs.

Miami’s (-3½) anemic offense will hopefully be rejuvenated this week and the porous Houston Texans defense is just the tonic Daunte Culpepper needs. Despite the new vibe in Miami , Nick Saban hasn’t been able to get show going as of yet. With the way that the AFC East is shaping up a strong push right about now might make the Dolphins the team to beat. Vegas doesn’t seem too high on the Dolphins this week making the road favorite a good pick.

Many of the lines make for some turbulent betting. The only way to formulate a Pick 3 would be to go out on a limb and gamble on the hometown Oakland Raiders (+3) over the winless Cleveland Browns. Over the past four years the Raiders are 13-37. In all of those years they have either come back to earth or risen to mediocrity by week four before having the whole season go to crap. They can’t be as bad as the ugliest 0-2 in football and last week’s bye will hopefully teach offensive coordinator Tom Walsh the basics of 21st century play-calling.

The Record: 9-1-1
Last Week: 2-1-1.
The Wager: $40 Pick 3.
The Winnings: $340.

RAIDERS INSIDER PAINTS A DIFFERENT PICTURE OF HIS LEADERSHIP

Former Raider wideout Tim Brown has the hapless 2006 Silver & Black figured out. There's a void in locker room leadership, he told the Los Angeles Times. The Fox Sports football analyst also blasted offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, while tip-toeing around any criticism over his former coach, Art Shell.

I was on some bad teams there, but we were never devoid of leadership. Be it me, be it Marcus Allen back in the day, be it Howie Long, be it whomever. We were never devoid of leadership. And I think right now the locker room is barren.

Brown might be rewriting history, though. It's a bit presumptuous for Brown loft himself to clubhouse king when players of more stature and gravitas such as Jerry Rice and Rich Gannon shared a locker room with the future Hall of Famer.

In fact, columnist Bob Padecky of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat wrote a column Sept. 17 about the void of Raider pride on this team and pinpointed its demise to the locker room culture Brown help create.

For years, wide receiver Tim Brown was the ultimate clubhouse lawyer, the irritation under Davis' saddle. To a large extent, Brown created the culture that still exists today, in which if you ain't griping, you ain't trying hard enough to be a Raider. Brown's on-field accomplishments are legendary, Hall-of-Fame worthy, and yet when he retired, Davis refused to attend the press conference.

Exceptional talent has been given plenty of room by Davis, and so over the years, either by word or deed, Brown, defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, defensive tackle Darrell Russell, defensive back James Trapp and cornerback Charles Woodson were allowed to march to their own contrary drummer. Enough teammates went with them that, as a result, the Raiders have been largely out of step since they returned to Oakland in 1994.

Padecky assessment of Brown's "leadership" skills in Oakland seems to be more plausible than the former Heisman trophy winner's.

The atmosphere were mediocre malcontents rule the roost still exist today. You could easily add Jerry Porter to the players with attitudes contrary to a cohesive team. His problems with Art Shell have already opened a divide between many on the team. The ultra-talkative Jarrod Cooper wondered aloud to the San Francisco Chronicle why the coach wasn't utilizing Porter while the offensive sputtered so badly two straight weeks.

The most ludicrous part of Brown's comments is that while he claims to be a Raider insider, his quotes give the impression that his grand assertions come from only a few players. The Raiders are leaderless according to Brown, but he goes on to say that he has no idea whether the presumptive leader, Warren Sapp, has any hold of the locker room.

I never played with Warren Sapp — and I'm not necessarily hearing bad things about Warren Sapp — but I'm not hearing, 'He's our guy,' or, 'He's our leader.' I'm not hearing that about anybody on the offensive line, I'm not hearing that about anyone whatsoever.

Overall, Brown is correct in saying the Raiders are devoid of leadership, but it's not in the locker room, but it's with the coach's clipboard and in the owner's box.

CHARGERS PUBLIC SUPPORT OF DRUNK DRIVING LINEBACKER IS IMMORAL

It may be honorable to stand by a friend or a teammate, but when that person looks to be a menace to society because of something they've done, then maybe its best to just lay low and not take a stand.

Some members of the San Diego Chargers apparently feel that their teammate Steve Foley, who is accused of drunk driving and currently sporting three bullet holes because of his inebriated actions is some kind of icon to honor on the field.

Numerous members of San Diego's defense and star running back LaDainian Tomlinson have all punctuated big plays and touchdowns with Foley's trademark bullrun. See a demonstration here on youtube.com.

On the morning of September 4th, Aaron Mansker, an off-duty police officer followed a swerving car driven by the Chargers linebacker to the player's home. Foley was shot three times after he continued to approach the officer, according to Mansker.

I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, he's still walking up.' Which made me very nervous. If someone is shooting, whether at you or in the area, you're probably going to leave, that should be your first reaction. That's not the case.

Foley's blood alcohol was later revealed to be 0.23, nearly three times the legal limit.

The Chargers had a bye last week, so changes in the player's homage to Foley might be in effect this week against Baltimore. But, why didn't the owner, head coach Marty Schottenheimer or any of his assistants mention honoring an alleged drunk driver might not be so good from a public relationship or a moral standpoint.

The Chargers front office felt uneasy enough about the situation that they quickly attempted to void Foley's contract for the season when news of the offense broke. Drawing attention to this story by continually kicking dirt after plays might conjure societal problems that lurk in race relations.

It's no secret why these offending Chargers players, whom are mostly black, are rushing to Foley's side despite the ponderous of guilt and the stigma of drunk driving, it's a deep seeded mistrust of the police that pervades most urban cities in America. It's no help that the most infamous tales of white cops abusing blacks resides just up the coast in Los Angeles.

The best thing would be for the Chargers players to quietly support Foley and avoid the kind of on-field histrionics that could draw attention to the criminal case and to the immorality of their positions.

For a team and fans that loathe the Raiders, they sure know how to act like the big, bad RaiderNation.

TAKE THE SKINS, BENGALS, VIKES & FALCONS IN WEEK 3

There's some value in the Washington (-4) game, if you can believe it? The Skins haven't played well of late, but the return of Clinton Portis and the spector of Coach Gibbs going 0-3 is enough to believe giving the hopeless Houston Texans some points is a safe bet.

Cincinnati (+1 1/2) has something to prove; the health of their QB, the viability of the team in the upper echelon and the worthiness of retaining those gaudy bengal-striped unis. Betting against Pittsburgh in the early season might become a cottage industry until Las Vegas loses the schoolgirl crush towards the defending champions. Cincy is going to win this pivotal AFC North battle.

Minnesota (+3) and Chicago shapes up as one of the early season's great match-ups. Which team is for real? The stifling defense of da Bears or the veteran know-how of Brad Johnson? This game will shake down as advertised. I'm not sure who will win, but it'll be close. Giving the Vikes a field goal at home looks safe.

Hurricane Vick touches down in New Orleans. Oh, what poor taste! Atlanta (-3 1/2) is looking real good right now. They've played steady as a team, but a solid running game wins in this league and nobody is doing it better, Hell, even their QB is running the ball more effectively than half of the NFL. New Orleans might come out of the tunnel pumped, but it won't be enough by the fourth quarter.
-----------------------------------------
The Record: 7-0-0.
The Wager: $20 Pick 4.
The Winnings: $360.00.
-----------------------------------------

Coincidence? The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that four were murdered in Oakland this weekend. "Bloody Weekend in Oakland" could have been a headline on page one of the Sporting Green.

Nobody is linking the killings to any discourse over the pathetic hometeam Raiders. In fact, all four deaths occurred before the Raiders' kickoff yesterday morning.

It does, though, make you wonder whether the increase in anger over da Raidahs as losses continue to mount might be commensurate with a rise in domestic abuse or lower sales of skull and crossbone-type costumes this Halloween.

G-MEN, NINERS AND JAGS LOOK STRONG

A 4-0 opening weekend is great. It's even better to brag out, not to mention the illicit gambling scrilla. Here's week two:

Who, outside of Manhattan, has the New York Giants (+3) winning the whole enchilada? Nobody, brohams! After a disappointing loss to Indy, the G-Men are certainly looking at a big game in Philadelphia. The betting line doesn't seem to have a feel on the T.O.-less Eagles just yet. Take Eli and the G-Men.

Don't get too excited Whiner fans, San Francisco (+3), with a field goal and a Rams team without an offensive identity seems ripe for an upset that could set the bar eventually too high for the young Niners.

Monday night always seems like a comfortable pick. I don't have any solid reasons to take Jacksonville (+1 1/2) others than they're a playoff team from year ago playing at home in front of a national audience. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is a Super Bowl champion and unless they have the feel of a NFL dynasty, a fall from the top spot seems plausible.

The Record: 4-0.
The Wager: $20.00
The Winnings: $160.00

A'S MUST MAINTAIN ROTATION'S SEASON-LONG CONSISTENCY

Minnesota's fireballing Francisco Liriano blew out his elbow Wednesday against the A's. Should this be a cautionary tale for the A's to look closely with their own youthful flamethrower?

A's manager Ken Macha said yesterday that Rich Harden threw 30 pitches with no pain in his sprained elbow. His slider looked so sharp that he's slated to throw 60 pitches in a simulated game at the Coliseum Saturday. He added that Harden may be back by next week and only as a starter.

So, what happens if the precarious elbow of Harden pans out until the end of the regular season with say, minimum to good results? Do the A's include him in their post-season rotation? He is, when healthy, by far their most dominant pitcher, but it might not be a good idea to go with a four-man rotation in a best-of-five series and tinker with a rotation strong enough to actually win the division with Harden for most of the season.

What wrong with Barry Zito, Joe Blanton, Dan Haren and the recently smoking-hot Esteban Loaiza?

Why not bolster the bullpen with the hard-throwing Harden for an inning at a time or shelve him for the rest of the season. He's that valuable and unique to the A's organization to be that cautious even with the playoffs looming.

At least, it's better to be someone like Harden, who is working hard to return, than to be Bobby Crosby whose curiously sore back has rendered all baseball activity useless in addition to his season.

After the worst game in recent Raiders history another lesson was learned. Never pay any attention to pre-season rhetoric about everything being different. Similarly, turn the page when the Raiders talk about how embarrassed they were last Monday.

When DE Derrick Burgess told Sports Illustrated that the coaching technique of new coach Art Shell was refreshing, what exactly was he talking about?

"If we're doing a drill incorrectly, Art will stop the drill and point out exactly what everybody should be doing. That never happened last season. The coaches would see a problem and say they'd deal with it later, but it would never get fixed." Burgess then added preposterously, "Art handles things immediately."

Has there ever been such a disconnect from reality in Raiderland?

The local papers have been loaded this week with quotes from the Raiders locker room about how mad they are or how mad they should be. Few, though, seem completely sure that anyone is actually upset about the opening night shutout, except for safety Jarrod Cooper. He's sure about being mad, although we're not sure if it's about the loss or the lingering embarrassment of buying feminine products for his wife at Safeway.

"I hope everybody in this locker room is mad. I hope these coaches are mad. I mean, I'm still mad. I can't go to the grocery store. I'm embarrassed," said Cooper to the Oakland Tribune.

What were we to expect? A Disneyesque feel-good story? I don't think Disney would even pick up such a sappy tale of a former player from the glory days returning to Oakland to bring back the magic that ironically he could not a dozen years past. Add an offensive coordinator who hasn't held a coaching job since 1994 for the same said heroic coach, tack on the implausible fact that he ran a tidy, small town bed and breakfast in South Dakota just last year and you'll find out that fiction is far from reality.

Their performance on Monday night begs the question, "Were the Raiders actually practicing up in Napa the last two months?

Offensive coordinator Tom Walsh continued to call the same plays even when it became painfully clear the revamped O-line couldn't block any pass rushers. When he got Randy Moss in the play. He found a quick pass for five yards so effective that he followed it up with the exact play.

Nobody is in control of this team because those in the football world who could control the Silver and Black would never dare take such a job. It's not because Al Davis's presence is so stark and disruptive, but because the organization is run like it's living in Roman Gabriel's generation.

Simply, if NFL teams are newspapers, the Raiders would be using typewriters, when the rest of the league uses computers.

The myth that Davis runs this team under an authoritarian microscope is false. Monday night shows that Raiders have been neglected to such a point that nobody wants to work for them, announcers publicly ridicule them over the air and their losing causes nothing but delight to most of America foreign the nation of Raider fans.

It just goes to show that just about anything can made into a commercial, but this is priceless. We can only hope that somewhere along the line the advertising agency for Coors feature Dick Vermeil's propensity for shedding crocodile tears during his press conferences.

HERE'S THE SKINNY ON THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


Giants' Osi Umenyiora leads a slew of stellar, yet unpronounceable defenders.

|||||||NFC WEST
1. SEATTLE {Solid coach. Alexander begins decline. Wideout steal the show.}
2. ST. LOUIS {Linehan works wonders again. The defense will sell out Rams.}
3. ARIZONA {Still not ready for the big-time. Edge makes no diff. Key is WR.}
4. SAN FRANCISCO {A new legacy in SF: 3rd straight last place finish. Yikes!}

|||||||NFC EAST
1. N.Y. GIANTS {Explosiveness on both sides of the ball. Is Eli up to it? Yes.}
2. PHILADELPHIA {McNabb won w/o stars, he'll do it again, but not as well.}
3. DALLAS {Without counseling, T.O. will wreck another NFC East club.}
4. WASHINGTON {The best last place team in NFL. QB situation is frightful.}

||||||NFC NORTH
1. MINNESOTA {Childress is Bud Grant-esque. This is NFL's surprise team.}
2. **DETROIT {Much improved. How far can they go with Kitna, though?}
3. CHICAGO {Defense continues to dominate. Who needs offense, anways.}
4. GREEN BAY {Favre. Retire already. Will challenge Raiders for #1 pick.}

||||||NFC SOUTH
1. ATLANTA {Will Vick finally live up to promise? Abraham is NFL Def. MVP}
2. **CAROLINA {Keyshawn was a good pick up. DeAngelo Williams: ROY}
3. TAMPA BAY {QB situation is debatable. Carnell is T.B.'s key to winning}
4. NEW ORLEANS {Wait for Bush. How will Deuce feel perceived as #2, #1?}

HERE'S THE SKINNY ON THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


Bengals QB Carson Palmer has a rebuilt knee. His medical miracle will lead Cincy to SB XLI.

||||||AFC West
1. SAN DIEGO {Philip RIvers watched well. S.D. will surprise with NFL's best D}
2. DENVER {AFC Final ruined Plummer's season. Shanny nurses him back}
3. KANSAS CITY {Without Priest, Larry Johnson might not look as good in KC}
4. OAKLAND {Nobody wants to work in Oaktown. Crime? No. NFL 1963-style}

||||||AFC EAST
1. NEW ENGLAND {No WRs, who needs them. Brady throws TDs to himself}
2. **MIAMI {Ronnie Brown makes everyone, including Ricky Williams, forget}
3. BUFFALO {The Miami of next off-season. Losman is going to be good}
4. N.Y. JETS {Edwards got out in time. Fans flock to '07 NFL Draft to look-see}

||||||AFC NORTH
1. CINCINNATI {Cincy is what the Raiders use to be; tough, quirky and good.}
2. **PITTSBURGH {Champs look no diff. except for a few scratches on the QB}
3. BALTIMORE {McNair McSnair. Ravens still lack wideouts, healthy RBs}
4. CLEVELAND {Browns improve when Frye starts QBing instead of running.}

||||||AFC SOUTH
1. INDIANAPOLIS {Without Edge,Colts still have plenty.Peyton:Marino curse?}
2. JACKSONVILLE {One step back before becoming one of NFL's elite teams.}
3. TENNESSEE {Please fight the urge to throw V. Young into a game, coach}
4. HOUSTON {Kubiak spent life as a #2, can he handle the hotseat in Hou.?}

||||||PLAYOFF PICKS
---------------------------------------------------------------
||||||AFC WILDCARD: MIA over NE, SD over PIT
||||||NFC WILDCARD: CAR over MIN, SEA over STL

||||||AFC DIVISIONAL: CIN over MIA, SD over IND
||||||NFC DIVISIONAL: NYG over CAR, ATL over SEA

||||||AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: CIN over SD
||||||NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: NYG over ATL

||||||SUPER BOWL XLI: NYG over CIN

Take Buffalo(+9) over the Patriots in Foxboro. Why? Who knows? Anything could happen in week one. This much is known: Brady's Patriots should win, but how can they win by more than nine without anyone to throw to. Doug Gabriel? C'mon.

Here's a smart move. If you're going to pick the Bengals (+2) to go to the Super Bowl, then you're belief should be ballsy enough to think giving them two points to the Chiefs is a good strategic move.

How 'bout a Monday Night Twofer? Minnesota (+5)is going to surprise some teams out there and it won't be scandalous boat trips with tassle-waving boobies and we're not talking about Daunte Culpepper's pre-game rituals. Washington won't even win the game. They won't get rolling until later in the season when it's too late.

Later that night, just hope the first three games went well and kick back. San Diego (-3) will cover within the drunken RaiderNation's first bathroom run...to the bushes behind the old Home Base warehouse on Hegenberger. This will surely be the Raiders smallest line of the season, at least, against team not residing within the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Wager: $20 Pick 4
The Record: (0-0-0)
The Winnings: $0

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. Aug. 27, 2006. The long national nightmare that has been the Suzao Cup for Team Portugal finally ended Sunday with a 19-11 win against the perennially strong Mexicans at Palomares Hills Park.

The Portuguese All-Stars added a new nickname along with a few big boppers and a new attitude to end their three-game losing streak to Michelle "Beaner" Garcia's pesky Mexicans.

It's been typical throughout this series to have close game, at least early in the game, and this year's game was no different. After adding blue-chip talent like Roy Santos, Mike Padfield (a long-lost cousin from Georgia) and the infamous Monterey Boys, coach Steve Tavares seemed to have an advantage in personnel for the first time.

"Those Beans play well every year. I think Beaner puts Mexican jumping beans in their jock straps. I think somehow we got too cocky before the game, which is funny because we've never sniffed victory in three years," said Portuguese coach Steve Tavares.

Said Portuguese catcher and veteran of all four games, Julian Tavares: "The Mexicans always bring the heat, but they didn't the bring the thunder like the Portugees did, today."

After numerous lead changes in the first four innings, Portugal headed into the pivotal bottom of the fifth with a 6-5 lead, then the long awaited power surge finally occurred. After retiring the leadoff hitter, Portugal responded with six consecutive hits that was punctuated with the first Portuguese homer in series history. Newly-acquired John Andrade's three run blast to dead center gave the squad an 11-5 lead and blew the game wide-open.

"That whole scene, I think, pumped up the whole team and intimidated the Mexicans. They never really recovered from that homer," said Coach Tavares.

The presence of the new power to the lineup cannot be overlooked but their tenacity quite possibly stemmed from a sort of national call to arms after Portugal's triumphant World Cup run this summer, which coincidentally also involved a rousing 2-1 victory over Mexico in the group stages.

"The new player's drive was important. For some this game is for fun and it is, but some of us care about winning and it was good that they played serious."

Now, the displeasure of a losing resides in the Mexican dugout and their frustration was apparent.

"[Those] guys are big cheaters. We played by the rules. Next year youire going down!," said Mexican coach Michelle Garcia. She also felt disappointment over her team's overall play and singled out first basemen Seth "Seto Magneto" Miranda.

"I fired him. I demoted him from first to leftfield and that bit me in the ass, too. He overran the ball. I've never been so mad at him in my life," said Garcia.

An admittedly overmatched Mexican team took solace in giving Team Portugal a battle and offered their annual message of overachieving.

"Even by them cheating, we still almost beat you with a couple of girls and a bunch of kids," said Beaner.

"They're full of s-h-i-t-t-t-t-t!," said first-year third basemen Mike Padfield, "We offered to give them some players. They probably should have brought the dog in to play first base."

"They could bring their pumped-up kids, rub The Cream all over them and we'll still beat them next year," said Julian Tavares.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese players felt a load off their shoulders after the indignity of being beaten handily for three straight years in a game designed to honor the memory of one of their own.

"It's a feeling like you don't know if you're dreaming. I kept pinching my leg to see if it was real. There was disbelief, then belief or, in Portuguese; disbeliefsshh, then beliefssh," said Julian.

"I must admit that I got a little choked up in the middle of that celebration on the mound. I was very proud of the way everybody played. We played as a team. We made some mistake out there. I know I made a few, but everybody picked each other up and made big plays every time we need it," said Coach Steve, "This win is dedicated to all those who played hard for this team when we failed which makes this win so much more sweeter."

One of the players who have played through the lean years was this year's MVP Eddie Tavares. E.T. earned his first win after two losses by allowing 11 runs on a whopping 33 hits. He also was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. Others may have had better statistics on Sunday, but it was Tavares' tenacious slide into second base that may become the signature moment of Portugal's victory.

On a single to left in the third inning, Eddie attempted to take another base after the Mexican leftfielder fumbled the ball. In his gritty run to second, he stumbled half way and slide face-first into the dirt. He then, quickly crawled on his bare legs to the base while bloodying his knees.

"I would like to thank Uncle Eddie for digging deep, not just physically deep, but deep into his soul on that slide into second base," said Julian.

Despite the rivalry and the trash-talking Coach Garcia still took a moment to remember why we were all there on that diamond Sunday afternoon.

"The only thing that made me happy was to see Carlos get to walk around proud with his Portuguese flag on. That probably made Suzie happy."

TEAM PHOTO Team Mexico and the Portuguese All-Stars pose for the traditional post-game photo. Thanks to Marianne Tavares for the photos and Tia Tina Tavares for keeping score.

MVP, MVP, MVP! Portugal's Eddie Tavares was awarded the game's MVP and the winning pitcher for the first time in three tries.

Suzao Cup IV, Aug. 27, 2006
PORTUGAL 19, MEXICO 11

Mexico........ab r h rbi
Max, cf........5 0 2 1
Heka, ss.......5 2 4 3
Dan Garcia, lf.5 3 3 0
Miranda, 1b ...5 0 1 0
Luiz, rf.......5 1 5 3
Beaner, p......5 0 3 0
Suzie G.,2b....5 1 4 1
Pacheco, c.....5 0 3 1
Rivas, 3b......5 2 4 0
Kenny, r.......5 2 4 0
TOTALS.....50 11 33 11

Pitching ip r h bb so
Beaner
(LP, 3-1).8 19 35 0 0


Portugal......ab r h rbi
Santos, cf.....4 2 4 1
Steve A.T. ss..4 1 2 1
Key, 2b........4 2 4 1
Lada, 3b.......4 1 3 2
B.DaCosta, ss..3 1 2 2
M.Padfield 3b..3 1 2 1
S.Tavares r....3 0 1 1
Jacome, lf.....3 0 1 0
K.Tavares, rf..3 1 2 0
E.Tavares p....3 3 3 1
M.Tavares, rf..3 2 2 3
Gouveia, c.....3 2 2 1
Andrade, r.....3 2 3 4
J.Tavares, c...3 1 1 0
M.Costa, 1b....3 0 1 1
M.Costa Jr.,lf.3 0 2 0
TOTALS.....51 19 35 19

Pitching ip r h bb so
E.Tavares,
(WP, 1-2).9 11 33 0 1

--------------------------
MEX....102 204 101-11
POR....013 264 21x-19
--------------------------

RECORD BOOK

-Mexico leads the series, 3-1.
Game 1, Mexico 15, Portugal 6.
Game 2, Mexico 23, Portugal 21.
Game 3, Mexico 9, Portugal 4.
Game 4, Portugal 19, Mexico 11.

-Homeruns in Suzao Cup History
Game 1, Dan Garcia, Nomar Garciaparra 2 (MEX).
Game 2, Bobby DaCosta (MEX).
Game 3, None.
Game 4, John Andrade, Mike Tavares (POR).

-Most Valuable Players
Game 1, Nomar Garciaparra (MEX)
Game 2, Bobby DaCosta (MEX)
Game 3, Michelle Garcia (MEX)
Game 4, Eddie Tavares (POR)


IN THE END SPORTSMANSHIP Team Mexico and the Portuguese All-Stars congratulate each other. They meet again in August 2007 for the fifth anniversary of Suzie's passing

THE MANAGERS MEET. Manager of the Portuguese All-Stars, Steve Tavares and his counterpart Mexican manager, Michelle "Beaner" Garcia.


TEAM PORTUGAL MEASURES UP THE COMPETITION (Left to right) Mike Tavares, Eddie Tavares, Kevin Tavares, Bruno Gouveia and Mike Padfield.


TEAM MEXICO AWAITS A GUY SELLING MANGOES FROM A PUSHCART (Left to right) Dan Garcia, Suzie Garcia, Michelle Garcia and Monica Pacheco.


THE FANS ENJOY AN AFTERNOON OF SOFTBALL This years Suzao Cup enjoyed the largest attendance in its four year history: 19.


TEAM PORTUGAL BATS WAKE UP Newly-acquired lead-off hitter Roy Santos, from the Madeira Islands, sparked the Portuguese All-Stars by going 4-for-4.


TEAM PORTUGAL'S MASCOT TAKES A CHIPS BREAK The Portuguese All-Stars mascot, Pedro the Portugee AKA Carlos Tavares, enjoys a bag of potato chips.


JOAO'S BLAST KEYS FIFTH INNING RALLY John Andrade, pictured far right, celebrates at home plate after hitting the first Portuguese homerun in Suzao Cup history. The three-run blast to dead-centerfield sparked a six-run fifth inning and a lead they would never relinquish.

NFLPA'S UPSHAW IS THE WORST UNION LEADER IN SPORTS

Bryant Gumbel is being pilloried because he's honest even in the face of the his new employer, the NFL Network, soon to be the sports equivalent of the Fox News Channel.

Gumbel's remarks were assuredly ill-timed and peculiarly old news. The NFLPA's leader, Gene Upshaw, has been generally regarded as the worst union head of any of the four major sports unions since he allowed his players, namely Joe Montana, cross the picket lines during the strike of 1987. (Montana's hostility to labor unions is another blog for another time).

While Upshaw did win a larger share of the NFL's purse strings and had the salary cap rise to nearly $100 million per team, his Ineptitude is cancelled by the fact that the most successful sports league on Earth does not guarantee the contracts of its employees.

Unlike other sports, football players deserve more financial protections because of the inherent physical risks of the game. The average player can expect to last three years in pads. Many casual sports observers may not realize this inequity apart from others sports where someone like the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez can sign a $250 million contract and readily expect to receive every penny over the life of the contract. This is not so in the NFL. When the Raiders resigned an aging Rich Gannon to a $40 million contract over six years, both the Raiders and Gannon knew that he would not physically last six more years and the contract could be voided after two years. Of course, Gannon nearly had his neck broken and retired to the television booth.

Gumbel's name-calling may have been lowdown, but he is a former newsman with NBC's Today show and may have seen the coziness between the union chief and the NFL commissioner as an allegory for the fall of labor unions in this country and the rich becoming moreso as a result.

It's to the root of what Gumbel is saying. If you want to reap a bountiful crop of cold cash and do it efficiently, just cut out the needs of the workers. If the NFL had to pay its players guaranteed salaries and be at the mercy of a pure market it would be called Major League Baseball. Of course, few Americans would sympathize with the cranky millionaires in any sport, but the same dynamic occurs throughout this country, the rich get richer and labor continues to crumble into a million disjointed pieces.

IS A UKRAINIAN RESURGENCE IN ORDER? ITALY HOPES NOT

World Cup fever has subsided briefly the past two days in preparation for a flurry of exciting football. After Saturday afternoon the final four will be set. Here's how things may shape up:

GERMANY 2-1 ARGENTINA
The Germans are playing the best football, or, at least, the most attractive football of any team in this tournament. Phillip Lahm has been a revelation for Germany. I'm not impressed with Germany's tandem up front of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, but they have been exceptionally opportunistic and that's all that really counts. The question is: Who have they played thus far? Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador and Sweden. Argentina seems like a huge leap in quality for the Germans. Throw out Argentina's game against Serbia-Montenegro and the meaningless defensive-minded match against the Netherlands and what you have is a solid game against the Ivory Coast and a problematic overtime win against Mexico. Midfielder Juan Riquelme may be playing the best football in the tournament, but the German's homefield advantage and frenetic pace will be too much for the Argentine's this time around.

UKRAINE 1-0 ITALY
What a story this would be! After a 4-nil drubbing in the opening game, could a spot in the semifinals be in Ukraine's future? I must admit to the allure of such a great storyline, in addition, to the World Cup premise that at least one side in the semis be a surprise and Ukraine will certainly fit the bill. People talk about England and to some extent Brazil being off kilter despite reaching the quarterfinals. In some respect, the Italians have been even more disheveled and disorganized than anybody else. They've looked ragged in every match including their 2-0 opening win against Ghana. At times, Italy seems like a squad full of guys who've just met each other. This could be the day that everything meshes for Italy, but it also could be the beginning of the end with a foreshadowing of bad things to come from their fortunate win against Australia in the round of 16. Ukraine, on the other hand, has been on a huge upswing since being blown away in their first match against Spain. It may have simply been the case of a World Cup debutante playing too nervously on the world's stage. The offense has begun to come around even as world-class striker Andriy Shevchenko has yet to fully warm his engines and the Ukrainians went toe-to-toe with the best defense in this tournament--Switzerland-- in the round of 16. One shot is going to be all Ukraine needs and it should come from the rejuvenated Shevchenko.

PORTUGAL 1-0 ENGLAND
Deco is missing. Costinha is missing. Christiano Ronaldo says he 79.6 percent sure he'll play Saturday (that's rounded to 80 percent) and the English think FIFA should have suspended Luis Figo. This game, probably because of the elite American soccer groupie's predilection to the British media for news, has become a lesson in broadly painted absolutes. England, with only three strikers (one previously out with a broken foot and one whom the manager has never seen play) is said to have little chance of netting a goal unless David Beckham miraculously and famously bends one in and Portugal will somehow be discombobulated without Deco in the middle of the field. What gives? A nil-nil match decided by penalty kicks? Through the many storylines, including Portugal's supposed thuggery, this game will come down to heart. Portugal comes into this game with the intangibles. Despite missing two starters to red card suspensions, they may be the most veteran side in the tournament outside of Brazil. They are definitely the most physically feared and most of all, they have England's number after eliminating them from the past two European championships. Add to that, if this match heads to penalties, a whole different set of mind games begins to emerge in an English psyche that abhors the pressure of deciding a game in this matter. Maniche could be the man to put England out of its misery. The Boston Red Sox of the world soccer add another torturous chapter.

BRAZIL 3-0 FRANCE
France's come-from-behind win against Spain in the round of 16 was a delightful surprise. Frank Ribery has to have earned a spot in the tournament's Best XI. The freakish looking 22-year-old plays with the pace of a guy loaded off a speed ball. The French looked wonderfully rejuvenated with Zinedine Zidane back in the lineup. For France's sake, Thierry Henry looks like he's ready to explode. If not for a handful of close off-side calls in the Spain match, he may of already taken off. France is going to need a perfect game to upset the world champs. An early goal from either Henry or Ribery is a must along with a long stretch of good defense. When the Brazilians were down briefly against Japan in the group stages an odd cloud of concern blanketed the team. It didn't last long because they quickly equalized and eventually won, 3-1. An extended time behind might rattle the Brazilians. The problem for France, is that Brazil was totally controlled by Ghana and still won handily, 3-0. No team looked so bad, yet made their case for winning the World Cup so precisely. As proven in that game, zero tolerance for errors in transition for France is a certainty against this squad. Sadly, this will probably be the great Zizou's final game.

The "MLS or Europe" question has dogged Landon Donovan since he inexplicably left the German Bundesliga for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer a year ago.

He didn't leave the German powerhouse, Bayer Leverkusen, because he was playing poorly or didn't fit with the manager's plans. He did allude to the fact that he wanted to be back in California with his family.

This is why Landon came back home to Southern California.

Can you blame him now? Regardless of possible career advancement, would you toil in rainy Germany playing soccer in the middle of winter against a bunch of Krauts or spend time strolling through the malls of SoCal with your hot girlfriend?

Seriously, let's be honest and see things through Landon's eyes. He's a genius. Now, is soccer really that important? Maybe not.

Good job, Landon. You're the Man of the Match.

WORLD CUP REFS READY TO MAKE THEMSELVES INFAMOUS

The mere fact that anyone would care about the allocation of referees for the quarterfinals should you tell you everything about the overindulgence of this World Cup's arbiters. Here's Friday and Saturday's assignments:

GER-ARG: Lubos Michel
ITA-UKR: Frank De Bleeckere
ENG-POR: Horacio Elizondo
BRA-FRA: Luis Medina Cantalejo

You might note that the referee that greased Italy's skids into the quarterfinals, Luis Medina Cantalejo, is available to do the same for "angelic" Brazilians against France.

Portugal might have an advantage against England Saturday. Referee Horacio Elizondo is of Argentine descent. Hopefully, he vividly remembers the ill-fated Falkland Island war against the Brits in the 1980s.

What an undeserved end to Australia and Switzerland's World Cup hopes.

How can a referee choose to decide a knockout match in the World Cup and how is it possible to exit a World Cup in the knockout stages without ever yielding a goal? Yet both happened today.

Many are debating Australian defender Lucas Neill's defensive decision-making in the box, but it's unconscionable that a penalty kick should be called on such an iffy play and then immediately end the game after it was successfully scored by Francesco Totti. (Click here for the highlights)

How will the faithful in Melbourne and Sydney deal with this heartbreak for the next four years?

It was sad to see the upstart Swiss play so valiantly in this World Cup. Despite bowing out in the round of 16, having the stingiest defense in this tournament is something to build upon when they host Euro 2008.

Much has been written about the impeccable Swiss organization in the back and defender Ludovic Magnin. How many times in today's game was Magnin involved in the flow of play. A place in the tournament's Best XI should be saved for Magnin and the Swiss.

Unfortunately, their lack of fitness after 120 grueling minutes against Ukraine was clearly evident in the penalty shootout. When your legs go out you're pretty much screwed, unless you choose to arrogantly chip important penalty kicks like Ukraine's Artem Milivskiy successfully attempted.

TARGETING OF RONALDO AND UNSPORTSMANSHIP TESTS PORTUGAL'S NERVES

Those dastardly Dutch. Where did their dishonorable performance come from? The Netherlands have always been associated with elegant and innovative football, but played more like a band of thugs Sunday. Granted, this game could be a lesson in perception, many Dutchmen would say it was the Portuguese who played dirty and to some extent they were, but more likely willing participants in this hard fought match. (Click game highlights here)

A second viewing of the game would suggest that Luis Figo's head butt of Khalid Boulahrouz in the 58th minute began the carnage that occurred in the yellow card-filled last two-thirds of the match. That begat Figo taking an elbow to the face, dangerous tackles from both sides, various episodes of pushing and shoving and an unprecedented flurry of red and yellow cards by the Russian referee, Valentin Ivanov.

Instead, there was a subtext to this match that had the postgame feeling of a Las Vegas prize fight and that was a pair a highly unsportsmanlike antics from the Dutch.

The Dutch played this match from the beginning with an American football mindset. It seemed the Dutch had a premeditated plan to take out Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo from the beginning. In the sixth minute, he was severely spiked by Boulahrouz and like a predator sensing its prey injured continually went after Ronaldo's thigh until he was substituted before the end of the first half.

When the Netherlands' John Heitinga advanced the ball after a Portuguese player was injured it violated one of football's most cherished unwritten acts of sportsmanship. It was galling exhibit of a Dutch team hellbent on winning this game at any cost even if it severely tarnished its well-deserved place in world soccer.

If anything, it illustrated a perennial flaw in Portugal's football style; an inability to control their emotions. The lack of control was pervasive from their manager to every player and substitute on the field. At the same time, the world now knows that Portugal will not back down from schoolyard bullies.

WATCH THE VIDEO


Here's the real highlights. Simao Sabrosa with the game-winning penalty kick featuring the call in Portuguese.

EAST BAY MEXICANS SILENT AFTER PORTU-BEATING

>>>Bro, we beat you with five starters on the bench. We didn't even need them to dress. That's how confident we were

>>>You've just had a Portu-beating.

>>>Did you get your Mexican flag? I heard they're going for five for a quarter.

>>>Linguica is still made with top quality meats and spices.

>>>Sorry, you still can't come to America.

>>>Portugees might lose three straight softball games to Mexicans, but we win when it counts, sucka!

>>>Ever heard of that movie, "A Day Without Mexicans"? Today, I couldn't find a Mexican in sight. Must've of been Portu-beaten.

>>>I heard if Mexico wins the World Cup they're going to meltdown the trophy and give everyone a gold tooth. Portu-smack!

ADD YOUR OWN PORTU-SMACK BY LEAVING A COMMENT

IS PEAKING TOO EARLY A BAD THING?; GROUP OF DEATH DIES

GROUP A>>>The Germany-Poland match for sheer tempo and nationalism may have been this World Cup's best. Decades of angst were in full effect and it showed with tough sliding tackles and a frenetic pace throughout the game. That the Germans won in the 90th minute was not worthy of a tough and evenly played contest...Ecuador continues to play an attractive, almost carefree style led by Carlos Tenorio. They are quite possibly, the only team that has played two effective matches. There is a very real possibility that Ecuador could win this group forcing Germany to play England in the round of 16.

GROUP B>>>Despite the cacophony of dread coming from the U.K., England has played just well enough to win two games. The Brits haven't strained themselves and have been able to slowly move Wayne Rooney back into the lineup. There is something to be said about blowing your load too early in this competition and England definitely hasn't...Sweden has somehow put themselves in a good position by fortune of a surprisingly weak group. Paraguay just didn't show up and T&T is a squad that shouldn't even be in this tournament despite practically playing all ten men back. Delightful.

GROUP C>>>>Sorry about the crude sexual phrase above, but talk of peaking too early starts with Argentina. It's kind of silly to fault the most dominating performance of the World Cup as being a job too well done, but who did they beat? A team with a country that won't exist by the time qualifying begins for the 2010 Cup...Holland's Ruud Van Nistelroy is heating up. The Man U. striker could pose huge problems for both of Group D's entrants, either Portugal or Mexico in the knockout stages...The "Group of Death" seems to be mislabeled. Argentina and the Netherlands have clearly been the class of the group, while in hindsight, its seems odd that pundits thought much of the Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro. It was as if everybody figured one team from Africa would shock the world and the Serbians must have been good because they didn't allow a goal in qualification. It hasn't turned out that way.

GROUP D>>>Portugal continues a path similar to England. Their match against Iran was similar to their first. Ricardo wasn't tested in goal. Their defense continued to play decisively led by Miguel, who also has shown some offensive flair and Luis Figo continues to drink from the Fountain of Youth. Portugal's tendency to play as 11 players instead of one, may exhaust them farther into the tournament. Christiano Ronaldo could pass the ball more often instead of performing magic tricks with his feet...Mexico looks lost with Jared Borgetti. He won't be available for their important match Wednesday against Portugal. Still, without the Bolton reserve, Mexico should advance. Iran hasn't played very well in their own box, but that doesn't mean it hasn't stifled both Mexico and Portugal in the midfield.

GROUP E>>>Meet the new "Group of Death". When the group resumes play on Thursday which one will show up? All four teams have been afflicted with schizophrenia, none more than the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Did their opening match really happen? Lost in the fact that the Americans must win against Ghana is the fact that Italy must win with a very vocal Italian press and fans screaming at them...Eddie Pope's red card was probably warranted Saturday, but it could also help the Americans because Pope has not played well in two games...The Tailgater told you! The Czechs are old, overrated and untested at this level. Two of three things everybody said about the U.S...If things had turned out differently, Freddy Adu could have been lining up for his native Ghana against the U.S. Thursday instead of languishing at D.C. United.

GROUP F>>>Brazil has done what it was supposed to do; beat Croatia and Australia and most likely romp against Japan, but the aftertaste of those lackluster wins is lingering around the World Cup. Is this tournament wide open again? If Brazil fails to win its sixth title it will be because their manager Carlos Perreira didn't have the guts to sit the three-time World Player of the Year, Ronaldo. He's a drain on this team. I'm not sure his replacement, Robinho, could stand up to the beating of 90 minutes, but Ronaldo is just sitting in the box eating donuts and coffee...Australia played very well against Brazil. It was the brief moments that they didn't that cost them. All in all, a do-or-die match against Croatia is what they had hoped for. Striker Harry Kewell has to get better shots off and stay onside.

GROUP G>>>France has to be thanking their lucking stars for two reasons: they're playing a Togo team that seems to love creating distractions off the pitch and Zinedine Zidane won't be playing because of yellow card accumulation. If Thierry Henry doesn't get going without the past-his-prime legend that most claim he cannot co-exist then France may be dropped again in the first round...Shame on me for counting out the Koreans. In two games, they have duplicated their tremendous work rate from 2002 and if they win this group, should be mentioned on the short list of emerging soccer powers. Same could be said for Switzerland, who have shown amazing poise for such a young team. Kudos to the Swiss federation for taking such a promising, but inexperience team to the World Cup in preparation for hosting the 2008 European Championship. I'm amazed at how organized their defense plays together. They have yet to be put in a bad defensive posture as evident by two clean sheets.

GROUP H>>>The Spaniards are truly playing with their country's minds. The early Tunisian goal must have sent fear of another Spanish collapse through the Iberian peninsula, but they regrouped and looked every bit as dominant as their first game against Ukraine. How are we to trust this squad? The key to this team is their bench. No team in the world can bring a striker like Raul off the bench...No way can you equate Ukraine's resurgence with America's. Just look at the opponent. After giving up an embarrassing eight goals to Germany in 2002, the Saudi were ripped for four today...Does anybody want to finish second in Group H? Three relatively weak offensive teams get the chance to possibly meet Switzerland in the round of 16.

SKETCHY REF AND STENCH OF CHEATING FROM ITALY TAINTS U.S. DRAW

Jorge Larrionda will rue the day he botched the Americans chance at beating Italy. Most are in agreement, the red card given to Pablo Mastroeni was warranted and possibly colored by a chance to even the man advantage the U.S. enjoyed. Eddie Pope's red card five minutes later seemed a bit contrived for most.

What is one to think when such dubious officiating occurs in a match with Italy? The top league in Italy, Serie A, is presently enmeshed in a scandal so explosive that rumors are Juventus may be relegated to the second division. Italy's top goalie was questioned by authorities a week before the World for his involvement in betting on soccer matches. The coach, Marcello Lippi and his son; a sports agent has been questioned and the president of Juventus and other top teams in Italy have been accused of match-fixing in cahoots with referees. Here's what the New York Times reported about Larrionda:

Larrionda was barred for six months in 2002 by his country's soccer federation for unspecified "irregularities." Two days before the suspension, he had been chosen to officiate at the 2002 World Cup, which he was then forced to miss.

"irregularities" could mean anything, but sound ominous. One of the things we must learn from the steroid scandal unfurling in baseball is that when peculiar things start happening on the field, it's not because the ball is "juiced" or the ref just had one of those days, but serious attention must be paid to the obvious. Larrionda had an ulterior motive and did not make decisions based on the play on the pitch.

THE UNDERDOG STORY--MCBRIDE'S BLOODY FACE; KELLER'S LEAPING SAVES; TWO RED CARDS--THE U.S. IS STILL ALIVE

Hollywood, were you watching soccer this weekend? The U.S. played one of the most impressive and heroic matches in history and did it with a literary story arc.

It couldn't have been any worse for the Americans against the Czech Republic and it could have only been better if Brian McBride would have stayed onside against Italy.

Saturday's 1-1 draw against Italy may one day become one of this country's greatest games in any sport. Playing the mighty Italians for a result in the World Cup is big within the context of American soccer by itself. But, when you add the formidable obstacles and the gritty scenes from the game it begins to gain a certain mythic quality.

I've never witnessed a match played 10-on-9 ever. As Bruce Arena pointed out afterwards, a team would never imagine training for such an occurrence. Theoretically, subtracting three players from the pitch should open up large chunk of ground, which should favor a more attacking, skillful side like Italy's. Instead, it was the Americans who had the noticeable fitness.

In addition, most teams will move to a defensive position down just one man. Arena had the guts (HUGE cojones!) to send everyone forward for most of the second half. Defender Steve Cherundolo made numerous quick runs down the right side of the field during this stretch as did Landon Donovan and substitute DeMarcus Beasley.

Was the picture of the bloody-faced McBride just screaming for an American jingoistic statement such as, "American Grit" as the New York Times called it Sunday.

It was clear that on the pitch at Kaiserslautern that the fortitude of the Americans was shown in full glory. Why it wasn't shown against the Czechs is another perplexing story. Maybe they weren't ready or maybe the scouting done by exclusively by Arena on the Italians rather than assistant Glenn Myernick's report on the Czechs was the key.

The story is yet to be finished. Ghana still must be beaten and the Italians must follow. Will the Americans be fit after such a difficult match? Will Eddie Johnson come off the bench to score the Americans first goal? Will Johnny O'Brien be fit to come in for Pablo Mastroeni?After that, comes the Brazilians. First things first.

GERMANS DAZZLE; ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL SAVE THEMSELVES; AUSSIES EXCITE

GROUP A>>>California Boy Juergen Klinsmann is suddenly a tactical genius. Germany may have played the most attractive style of any team through the first round of games, but unless that style can be switch for a more defensive stance later, we may see the Germans bowing out early in their own tournament. Is Ecuador for real? I don't think so. Their win over Poland may have been due more to an appalling effort by the Poles.

GROUP B>>>The English and Swedes are up in arms, but for different reasons. The Brits looked solid, if not, unexciting but got the three points. What's the problem? I'm tired of hearing about the English players wilting in the heat of Korea in 2002 and Sunday afternoon in Germany. The Swedes looked like an All-Star team playing as individuals. Henrik Larsson had some blistering shots on goal, but otherwise, the rest of the offense looked disorganized. It looks like Sweden's poor pre-cup results were a warning for bad things to come. T&T's goalie, Shaka Hislop may have played the most inspired football of anyone thus far. Can he do it again against England? Probably not. Their adrenaline should come back to CONCACAF levels by the weekend.

GROUP C>>>So much for the Ivory Coast. Argentina and the Netherlands look like the class of this group. Argentina played very well, but the Ivory Coast was overrated

GROUP D>>>Portugal's performance was similar to England's. They played just well enough to win, but neither Paraguay or Angola deserved a result. They simply saved their energy against a minnow. After Pauleta scored in the fourth minute, that was enough and Angola never put any fear into the Portuguese. Luis Figo looked like he shaved five years off his age. If Figo plays with such vigor and pace later in the tournament it will bode well for a successful cup. Mexico had a few problems early against a sturdy Iran team, but eventually chiseled away for a strong win. These are clearly the class of this group and their final match against each other may not mean much.

GROUP E>>>It's back to 1998 for Americans. Disorganized and pointing fingers. It was their worst Cup loss since losing 5-1 to Czechoslovakia in 1990. I thought our football had grown since those days? Czech manager, Karel Bruckner, faked out Arena and the media with his insistence that a bunch of their stars were nursing injuries. Striker Jan Koller looks like the only true injured Czech. How many times do the Italian strikers have to, after missing a scoring opportunity, raise their eyes to sky and pray in anguish as if they just shredded a $50 million lottery ticket? It gets a little over dramatic after the 30th minute.

GROUP F>>>The Australia/Japan was the most exciting match thus far. The Aussies rallied late in dramatic fashion, but it was the electric atmosphere at the stadium that caught my attention. These guys are for real and will advance more on guile and fortitude than talent, but that's alright. Croatia's tight defense may well be the blueprint for defending against Brazil. Everyone is gunning for the champs and a crack was revealed. This group is a joke for the Brazilians but a possible knockout round opponent like the Czech Republic or Switzerland might be risky.

GROUP G>>>My only dead-on prediction came to fruition in this group. France's scoreless draw against Switzerland is an ominous sign. France hasn't scored since winning the thing in '98 and the Swiss played, by far, the most organized and taut defense in this World Cup. Togo's early goal against Korea looked like a marvelous storyline in the making. An AWOL coach, grumbling players and a first-time and undeserving Cup participant, but the Koreans came on strong in the second half and actually showed signs of the 2002 semifinalists that many look back and scoff at.

GROUP H>>>Were those really the underachieving Spaniards who thrashed Ukraine or some cruel hoax? Of all the teams through one game of group play it was Spain who had the look of brilliance and fun on the pitch, not the Brazilians. What the win showed, most of all, was that Spain has a wide-array of capable strikers that could cause others fits.

ABOVE EXPECTATIONS
Germany
Ecuador
Trinidad & Tobago
Croatia
Switzerland
Togo
Spain

RIGHT ABOUT THERE
Costa Rica
Poland
England
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Netherlands
Paraguay
Portugal
Mexico
Italy

BELOW EXPECTATIONS
Sweden
USA
Ukraine

It couldn't have been any worse. A 3-0 drubbing that more closely resembled a 5-0 thrashing than an honorable defeat. Everything that could go wrong went disastrously wrong. Giving up a goal in the first five minutes to the guy who the U.S. supposedly had the only remedy for--Uguchi Onyewu. Landon Donovan was nowhere to be found. Bruce "Almighty" Arena uncharacteristically butchered his tactical decisions and trashed Landon and Beasley. Just about the only revelation was the guy who many questioned the most, Eddie Johnson.

Is Onyewu for real or were we all snookered by believing in this 6-4 linebacker posing as a central defender would actually be a factor? He letdown the U.S. only all three Czech goals, although the third tally could be chalked up as a team effort. Onyewu may actually be more effective against Italy's Luca Toni, but even that advantage will be negligible if he's caught napping or flat-footed.

The enormous enigma that is Landon Donovan continues to grow. Where was he? Save for one brief attack shortly after Jan Koller's goal he wasn't a factor at all, Landycakes could have been more effective posing for glossy outdoors magazines with his shirt off. His astonishingly pre-pubescent body would have caused more of a distraction to the Czech attack than having him picking daisy's on the pitch.

What was even more amazing was that Arena chose to throw Donovan and Beasley under the bus during his post-match press conference. Is he cleverly pressing their buttons or is this first glimpse of serious internal problem with the national team? If there is any inkling of such a rift and a possible three-and-out Arena will unfortunately be out and coaching D.C. United before you can say "Freddy Adu".

Surprisingly, it was a little too late for Eddie Johnson. Granted, the game was effectively over at 2-0 when he came on, but Johnson was a revelation. Arena has to start Johnson up front with McBride against Italy. He simply has no other choice.

>>>ROUND 0F 16
GERMANY 2-0 PARAGUAY
MEXICO 3-3 ARGENTINA (MEX wins on PK)

AUSTRALIA 1-0 ITALY
FRANCE 1-1 UKRAINE (FRA wins on PK)

ENGLAND 2-0 COSTA RICA
PORTUGAL 4-4 NETHERLAND (POR wins on PK)

BRAZIL 3-1 UNITED STATES
SWITZERLAND 2-1 SPAIN

>>>QUARTERFINALS
GERMANY 3-0 MEXICO
FRANCE 1-0 AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND 2-0 PORTUGAL
BRAZIL 3-2 SWITZERLAND

>>>SEMIFINALS
GERMANY 2-0 FRANCE
ENGLAND 2-2 BRAZIL (ENG wins on PK)

>>>WORLD CUP FINAL
ENGLAND VS. GERMANY

Top Scorer: Peter Crouch (ENG), Pauleta (POR)
Phenoms: Clint Dempsey (USA), Fernando Torres
Goats: Petr Cech (CZE), Ronaldinho (BRA) missing PK in semis, Christian Ronaldo (POR) red card.
Surprise Team: Australia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Tunisia
Disappointment: Czech Republic, Italy, Argentina, All African teams.

1>>>SPAIN 7 points. As long as the Spaniards rely on Raul to score goals in a big tournament, the same result will follow. If fellow forwards, Fernando Torres, or more likely David Villa can come through, winning this group will be far more easier. This just may be Spain's year to advance deep into the tournament, but if they do, their psychological fitness may come into question. Fifty years of ineptitude despite quality players is lot to shake in one month.

2>>>UKRAINE 5 pts. They were Europe's first qualifier and seem to be assuming the character of their famous coach, Oleg Blokhin. Whatever question there may be on the backline or in the net are more than made up for with one of the planet's best scorers, Andriy Shevchenko.

3>>>Tunisia 4 pts. Fielding competitive World Cup teams has not been Tunisia's forte. With French coach, Roger Lemerre, this squad could surprise Spain and Ukraine in this group. Tunisian football has become more sophisticated with Lemerre's tactics and imagination. Any two of these three teams could easily advance.

4>>>Saudi Arabia 0 pts. For one, it's hard to distinguish the players on the Saudi Arabian roster. It looks like the same 23 names down the list. There's not much here. This is their fourth straight Cup and very little is still expected from them.

Pivotal Match: Jun 19. ESP 3-1 TUN. In what will be the tournament's most underrated group in terms of parity, the Spanish will set themselves apart from Ukraine and the Tunisia.

1>>>FRANCE 7 points*. The good old days of French football are getting grayer. A huge amount of ego may hamper this team. Whether its a generational differences in the locker room, politics with the manager or the coexistence of Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane. The injury of Djibril Cisse this week may be an omen of bad things to come

2>>>SWITZERLAND 7 points. Swiss football is on the rise. This team may be one of the more exciting teams in the tourney if their youngster don't freak out in the limelight. Striker Alexander Frei will open some eyes in Europe and should be paid handsomely for some overpaying big European club.

3>>>South Korea 3 points. Basically this is the same Korean team that use to lose every game in the World Cup until they were recipients of "good luck" hosting the last tournament four years ago.

4>>>Togo 0 points. The party in Togo had barely ended by the time their time played horifically in the African Nations' Cup, losing three straight in a convincing manner. Their star striker, Emmanuel Adebayor didn't play in that tournament, but his inexperience and slim supporting cast will make Togo the worst team in the Cup
*French win the group on goal differential.

Pivotal match: Jun 13. FRA 0-0 SUI. The opener will set the tone for a group where every game will have a clean sheet. Both the Swiss and French will emerge from Group G by not allowing a goal.

1>>>BRAZIL 9 points. Predicting Brazil's fate is about as easy as forecasting when the sun will come up. More of the same in this weak group. Question do emerge, though. The age of the Brazilian backline is worrisome. Cafu and Roberto Carlos may not have the pace to defend against some of the more talented winger in the next rounds. How Adriano and Ronaldo coexist?

2>>>AUSTRALIA 6 pts. 95,000 fans sent off the Socceroos last week with a victory over Greece. The Aussies are ready to explode with football fever. After tanking two successive playoffs in qualifying, this deserving team sprinkled with veterans with European experiece should be one of the feel-good stories of the tournament. They also possess a coach, Guus Hiddink, with a very successful World Cup pedigree

3>>>Croatia 3 pts. This is team that screamed when the coach named his 22-year-old son to the squad and then became its star player. Croatia will suffer more from an Austrailian team that should bring back memories of their own surprise run in 1998 through heart and grit than by any problem on the pitch.

4>>>Japan 0 pts. Like Sweden, the Japanese are in caos. Their stars are questioning the manager's tactics and teammates just days before the opener. They struggled in a weak Asian qualifying group and have should very little since.

Pivotal Match: Jun 22. AUS 2-0 CRO. The Socceroos do more than score their first goal, they advance with a two-nil shutout in their final match.

1>>>ITALY 7 points. Despite a likely first round winner, Italian calcio is in hot water right now. The gambling and match-fixing scandal is reaching the very top, including Juventus and quite possibly the Italy manager Marcelo Lippi. The man in goal, Gianluigi Buffon has spoken to authorities just this week. The house of card may be falling making this predication the most iffy of the tournament.

2>>>UNITED STATES 5 pts. The world is about to give the U.S. an increasing amount of respect with another trip to the knockout stage. Make no bones about it, many in Europe already respect Bruce Arena and the squad and find their ability to hide discretly in the huge American sports scene.

3>>>Czech Republic 3 pts. In the World Cup, the host usually tank in the opener, the host always advances and the dark horse contender always tanks. Portugal was the consensus last time around; the Czechs are this tournament's recipient of the whammy.

4>>>Ghana 2 pts. The Ghanaians have speed that will cause some fits for the Italians and, definitely, the Americans. They will be Africa's best entry in this World Cup.

Pivotal Match: Jun 12th. USA 3-2 CZE. The U.S. exploits the injured Czechs and minimize the 6-8 giant Jan Koller with a linebacker posing as a central defender, Uguchi Onyewu.

1>>>PORTUGAL 9 points. Serious demons will need to be exorcised during the first round. There's no question that the Portuguese have as much firepower as any team in the tournament. Their defense is strong, too. The goaltending of Ricardo is the big question mark. Even in advancing to the finals of Euro 2004, he looked shaky. If their famously volatile tempers are controlled, a long run in this tournament is likely.

2>>>MEXICO 6 pts. The Mexicans are an enigma and possibly shaky with some questionable roster moves and two pre-World Cup warm ups of dubious distinction. The tall Jared Borgetti should be no match for the Iranians and the Angolans in what will be a straight-forward group.

3>>>Iran 3 pts. The Iranians are a rugged bunch. Hopefully for this Cup's focus they don't advance and risk the arrival of their president, which would pose an unfortunate distraction from sport. Iran's time, if it ever had one, passed between 1998 and the present. Too much reliance on older players in skilled positions like Ali Daei and Ali Karimi will bring this team down.

4>>>Angola 0 pts. It will be interesting to see the energy level of the Angolans in their first World Cup game, in addition, to playing their former colonial masters. Senegal did well against France in 2002 and the Portuguese are prone to playing down to lesser teams. Because of the familiarity of their roster with the Portuguese league, any possible points will come against their Iberian rivals.

Pivotal Match: Jun 11th. POR 4-1 ANG. Known for their maddening slow starts and habit of playing down to weaker opponents finally ends.

Group MVP: Pauleta (POR)

1>>>ARGENTINA 7 Points. They've had the same roster chock full of superstars and come to every World Cup as favorites, yet they've tanked every time out since Maradona's 1986 champions. Unfortunately, 2006 will be more of the same. Argentina can point to this tournament as a turning point with the obvious emergence of striker Lionel Messi. As always, the flow of action and victory will have to come from the feet of midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.

2>>>NETHERLANDS 6 pts. The Dutch come to the World Cup with the same sort of pedigree as Argentina without sprinklings of titles along the way. They also come to Germany with some nagging injuries in the back. That shouldn't stop the dangerous Ruud Van Nistelroy from depositing a few loose balls into goals in this overrated "Group of Death".

3>>>Ivory Coast 3 pts. Not buying everyone's preoccupation with the Ivory Coast or any other African squad. The group of newbies from Africa wasn't the case of upstarts but of a continent-wide depression in qualifying that left out the traditional powers. Chelsea's Didier Drogba might cause a team like the Netherlands problem because of the Dutch rash of injuries in the backfield. It won't be enough.

4>>>Serbia & Montenegro 1 pt. Sadly, by the time they kickoff on Sunday, their united country may be no more. After Montenegro announced their intention to split from Serbia, this defensive-minded team may be thinking of country over sports. Playing in the weakest European qualifying group, their impressive 10 clean sheets out of 11 games was a mirage.

Pivotal Match: Jun 21st: ARG 3-2 NED. You could argue that the Argentines beating the dark horse favorites Ivory Coast in the first game of the group sorted out the so-called "Group of Death", but the battle between these traditional rivals will crown first in the group.

Group MVP: Juan Roman Riquelme (ARG)

1>>>ENGLAND 9 points. Even without Wayne Rooney, the Brits look impressive, although, any bit they can get from Man U. striker will build a huge amount of momentum for the next round. Not having a completely healthy Rooney may actually force the English to better utilize the dorkish Peter Crouch with long balls and in the air.

2>>>PARAGUAY 4 points*. These guys are survivors who will prosper because of the chip on their shoulders being the South American team nobody pays attention to. The Paraguayans will make their third straight trip to the round of 16.

3>>>Sweden 4 points. To Paraguay's delight, their good fortune is that the talented Swedes are coming into the tournament at a crawl by going winless in six straight. They have the names: Ljundberg, Ibrahimovich and Larsson, but such a winless streak doesn't seem like a smokescreen, but portends to some confusion in the manager's box.

4>>>Trinidad & Tobago 0 pts. What can you say? Does the weak CONCACAF region deserve a fourth spot in the Cup if T&T is the best they can do? They may not be the worst team, but you can be assured to see some highly disorganized caos on the pitch.

*Paraguayans advance on goal differential.

Pivotal Match: Jun 20th. ENG 3-0 SWE. The Brits finally beat the Swedes. It's enough to just stop playing!
Group MVPs: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard (ENG)

1>>>GERMANY 9 points. The first round draw for the hosts easily greases the skids to the 2nd round. We probably won't see the real Michael Ballack save for a possibly tough match against Poland. The press is reporting today that Ballack has an injured thigh and may miss the opener Friday. Remember, if Germany succeeds it's because of Ballack. The Germans have serious problems none of which carrying the traditional fine showing that the host country usually attains.

2>>>COSTA RICA 4 pts*. Being in the weakest group of these finals suits this team that narrowly missed advancing in 2002. They should learn a lesson this time around with a nice blend of experience and youth. Watch out for wing-back Christian Bolanos, along with Pablo Wanchope upfront, the two may put some balls in the net.

3>>>Poland 4 pts. The Poles are young gunslingers who have yet to rise up against strong competition. They've never beaten their German neighbors and will fall to a similar Costa Rican team that is more experienced. Their defense will ultimately cost them an early exit.

4>>>Ecuador 0 pts. This is probably the only team that can thank the glaciers that built up its capital to 3,000 feet over the last million years for getting them to the World Cup. In the altitude of Quito, the Ecuadoreans are dynamic, at sea level, they're anemic.

*Costa Ricans win on goal differential

Pivotal Match: Jun 20th. CRC 3-2 POL
Group MVP: Christian Bolanos (CRC)

One of the great pleasures in sports writing is the occasional use of soccer-specific terms. The field is not just a playing surface, but a pitch.

A team is a side, as in Brazil could field two or three strong sides. A uniform is a kit or a strip and a stadium is commonly called a grounds.

Then there's my favorite, calling the team's top playmaker a talisman. The notion that the team's best player somehow possesses supernatural powers that allows him great vision and creativeness to magical put the ball in the net makes for some poetic prose.

Aside from the terms, soccer writing is unabashed in providing corny, yet creative sports reporting. The game's ancestral background in England probably is the main function of this type of literature that finds it easy to describe the ferocious kicking of a ball into the net from a set piece as "elegant", "brilliant" or "a bit of genius".

C'mon, can you imagine a baseball writer in this country calling Roger Clemens the talisman for the Astros hopeful rise in the standings? The image most would conjure is that of the shaiman in the movie, Major League , who calls out for "Jobu" to help him with his power stroke.

LAVOLPE IS PUSHING PANIC BUTTON EARLY

It was mentioned earlier that the U.S. has finally detached itself from the quick-fix solution regarding bringing naturalized citizen on the team. A kind of high-profile ringer that usually points to a lack of depth and confidence.

If the U.S. has grown past that sort of managerial fumbling, then the Mexicans have devolved to that level.

The Mexican manager, Ricardo Lavolpe, himself an Argentine, has caused a simmering uproar south of the border by tabbing two foreign nationals from Brazil and Argentina.

According to an Orange County Register article, this have driven a stake into the Mexican footballing psyche along with a bit of hypocrisy in regards to the immigration issue that is enraging in this country.

The addition of the Brazilian Antonio Naelson and the Argentine Guillermo Franco doesn't illustrate a lack of quality in Mexico, although, the article points out that 80 percent of the goals this year in the Mexican League were scored by foreigners, it does show an immensely scared manager.

The pressure is on for Lavolpe as every it is for every Mexican manager, but few resort to bringing foreigners to the national team in a country that values 100 percent Mexican heritage. Not only is El Tri expected to reflect the country's nationalism, it's most famous team, Chivas, is reknown for only fielding a squad of Mexicans. If U.S. labor laws forbid such an exclusionary policy, the MLS version of Chivas in Los Angeles would have been the same.

If you harken back to the dismal Steve Sampson era during World Cup '98, the U.S. talked the talk but felt the need to scour the world for any defender with any kind of relation to the U.S. He found David Regis, a Frenchmen married to an American and the rest was history. Three losses and a lone Brian McBride goal.

It's not that it was Regis fault. He played well enough, but the panicky move to add someone outside of U.S. Soccer's sphere was a precursor to Sampson's true beliefs--that the team wasn't good enough.

Naelson and Franco may be an insight into Lavolpe's true estimation of the Mexican national team and if the O.C. Register's article is correct, Lavolpe would have added another foreigner if the public's outrage wasn't so high.

Even with the suspect managerial moves, the Mexicans stand a good chance of advance to the round of 16. With a surprising Iran, newbie in Angola and a somewhat temperamental Portuguese side, five or six points should be good enough to advance. After that