Fall Fiasco



Headley Lamar does not approve



       The leaves have changed, the temperature has dropped and the shorts and t-shirts are now hibernating.  Oh and college football fans are in full panic mode.  Every year in August people start to throw a tantrum about pre-season polls and how they are unfair and a waste of time.  Every year I tell them to chill out.  Look at it this way if there were no pre-season polls and you had to rank teams for the first time today how much of a difference would there be?  That's what I thought.  NONE.   Two weeks ago the initial BCS poll made its debut and the Panic Posse was up to their usual tricks.  There are 13 unbeaten teams!  What happens if they all continue to win?   What are we going to do?  Who's going to play in the national title game?  HRUMPH, HRUMPH, HRUMPH.... 



College Football Fans are the
Modern Day 'Chicken Little'

     Heading into the last weekend in October and the first week of November those 13 unbeaten teams have now become seven.  Even if everyone of them wins this weekend that number will fall to six next week when #9 Utah hosts #4 T.C.U.   #1 Auburn still has to go to #7 Alabama, # 2 Oregon travels to #23 USC and has to play #15 Arizona, #3 Boise St. is the exception.  They won't lose.   #5 Michigan St. has #19 Iowa left and #6 Mizzou has #14 Nebraska and another likely meeting with #11 Oklahoma in the BIG 12 Title Game.   So it's time to do what I do.  ENJOY THE SEASON.  I know we live in a NOW world but good grief.   This is why the BCS makes this sport crazy and constantly entertaining.   Could you imagine any other sport that has fans that panic about its championship two full months before it takes place?



The most watched player
in NFL History

       Brett Favre is having a bad season.   Brett Favre is dealing with scandal and two fractures in his right ankle.   Brett Favre has never been more interesting and more polarizing.  I had someone tell me a little while back that I was "DEAD WRONG" in my assessment that Brett Favre was the most popular player to ever put on a helmet.  Some people let their dislike for an athlete or team cloud their overall judgement.  I was right and still am right.   This past weekend's game between the now 2-4 Vikings and 4-3 Packers was the highest rated Sunday Night Game in the history of the NFL.  So just for he record in the last 14 months Brett Favre has played in the most watched game in the history of cable TV (Packers @ Vikes).  The highest rated Non-Super Bowl Playoff Game ever (Vikes @ Saints) and now the most watched Sunday Night game of all time.  I guess my definition of popular must be different than everyone else's. 






The face of the NBA

     Speaking of someone that everybody says they are sick of and tired of hearing about....Lebron James and the "Big Three" made their debut on Tuesday Night.   By the way this game set a cable television record for most watched NBA game.....ever.  Look, back in the early 90's I wasn't a big fan of the Cowboys.  But I watched them.   In the late 90's I didn't particularly like the Yankees.  But I watched them.   In the 80's I didn't like Mike Tyson and in the 00's I didn't like USC...I think you see the trend we have going here.  There is one thing for certain about being the villain or the "bad guy".  People will not cheer for you but they sure will be captivated by your mere presence.   It is much better in the entertainment world to be disliked while being watched than to be liked and often forgotten. 



Where have you gone
 Obannion? Our nation turns its
lonely eyes to you
     Woo, Hoo, Hoo......

The San Francisco Giants have scored 20 runs the first two games of the World Series.   They scored a grand total of 21 runs in all six games of the NLCS against the Phillies.   The Giants are just clicking at the right time. This World Series was the first Fall Classic I can remember that there wasn't a clear cut favorite.  The Rangers took out the Big Bad Wolf (Yankees) and the Giants disposed of the Three Headed Beast (Phillies-Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels).  Both feats were impressive in and of themselves.   Now there will be a mass exodus from the Rangers train and an influx of patrons on the Giants Bus.  In the year of the pitcher the first two games of the World Series has been anything but with the notable exception of Matt Cain.   The Rangers will bounce back.  They hit far to well not to.  I can't think of a year that baseball has needed a Game 7 more than this.  Viewership is down and interest is waning.  We need a storyline.  I suggest Ben Affleck get his paddle and wait for Lincecum behind the first base dugout for Game 5 (if necessary) in Arlington.    

As we embark on Halloween here are my five biggest NIGHTMARES that we could face in the next week. 

5) Giants Sweep the Rangers.  The division series and LCS were very good.  What a shame if the World Series lasted less than 5 days. 

4) Auburn loses to Ole Miss.   The SEC would have no undefeated teams left.   This conference could have a three loss champion and they would feel they deserve a slot in the BCS Title Game over an unbeaten Oregon and unbeaten Mizzou.  

3)   The Cowboys win, at home, against Jacksonville.  With their next two games after the Jags @ Green Bay and @ The Giants.  What would 1-8 look and feel like in "BIG D"?   

2)  Brett Favre's consecutive game streak comes to an end.   Everyone that hates Brett Favre will cheer and celebrate.  Then they will proceed to talk about Tavaris Jackson finally getting his shot.  Then those same people will forget the Vikings play the Patriots this weekend and not watch the game. 

1) I see someone I respect dress up on Halloween.  Certain things come to an end when you become a teenager:  Wearing your glove at a baseball game, having a birthday party and wearing a Halloween Costume/Trick or Treating.   It's Grown Up Time!  Nothing is more manly than a 40 year old man dressed up as "The Joker". 

Awesome...and by Awesome I mean
Embarrassing