Mets Didn't Give Milledge a Chance

Earlier today, the New York Mets dealt former stud prospect Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider. Schneider will replace Estrada as the top catcher on the depth chart just days after Estrada was acquired from Milwaukee. Church will most likely platoon in right with Endy Chavez. From being planned as another star to go along with Wright and Reyes, Milledge has become another Alex Escobar.

Had the likes of Johan Santana, Dan Haren, and Erik Bedard been on the block a year or two ago, Milledge would have been one of the top players requested from the Mets in a trade for one of those three. Unfortunately, Milledge dealt with injuries earlier this season, and when he did return the Mets apparently couldn't take his "attitude" problems. His stock has hit rock bottom to only garner a journeyman catcher, and a backup/platoon outfielder.

Personally, I think this is an awful trade for the Mets. I don't know if Milledge is going to become anything more than a so-so outfielder, but for Church and Schneider? Milledge's upside greatly trumps those two, as he could definitely become a big time player. Schneider won't be much better than Estrada would have been, and yes, Church had 43 doubles last year, but he has done very little in his career at the age of 29. I'm not saying don't trade Milledge, but don't give him away like they did. If you cannot get something valuable in return, give the man a chance to grow up and become a good, everyday player. Milledge and Estrada is a better combination than Schneider and Church. Or how about Paul LoDuca and Milledge? That's another story.

Milledge was given up on way too soon, and the reason is because of his questionable attitude. I find it ironic that the Mets wanted Milledge to be a saint, and ironically traded him for a player named Church. I am here to defend what have been his biggest follies in the eyes of Willie Randolph, Omar Minaya, and company. Last June, Milledge was pumped after hitting his first career homerun to send the game to extra innings that he gave high fives to a few fans down the right field line on his way out to the field. I didn't think that was a big deal at ALL. Randolph is old school and believes that shows up the other team. Come on Willie! Giving a couple high fives is nothing compared to a pitcher shouting after a strikeout or a batter posing while hitting a homerun. The kid was excited, give him a break! He did continue excited celebrations in his year and a half, but if you've watched a Mets game you usually would see Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes dancing in the dugout. It's the times we live in, Willie couldn't handle that. I don't see the difference between his celebrating and Reyes's this past year. It is just that one named Jose Reyes gets to stay.

The worst thing Milledge did was appear in a rap video in which the rapper used derogatory lyrics. Bad judgment! But what 23 year old doesn't make mistakes? And he wasn't the one using the lyrics, he just appeared in it because the artist was a childhood friend. However, the Mets did not see it that way, and just wanted rid of someone who I thought was not as bad as the media, team, etc. made him out to be. With a full season of at bats, I think Milledge could be a 25-30 homerun, 80-90 RBI, .280 type hitter. That will trump Ryan Church/Endy Chavez's output with the Mets. Terrible trade! The Mets don't have many chips anyway, so trading someone whose value could rise over the next year or so does not make sense. Anyone with a brain knows you don't sell low!

Pat Morgan

Duke Much Improved, and Singler is the Real Deal

The 2006-07 Duke Blue Devils lost 8 of their final 12 games, including being upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Virginia Commonwealth. Then, they lost probably their best player, Josh McRoberts, to the NBA Draft. I heard about the incoming class led by Kyle Singler, but I wasn't convinced that this team would be much better this year. As great as Mike Krzyzewski is, I wondered how much of his attention is divided between Duke and the USA team. Why couldn't have Roy Williams take that job?

After watching a few games, I am convinced Duke will go from an overrated #6 seed last year to no worse than a solid #3 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils probably won't be a threat to win the National Championship, as I can see games where they come up dry from beyond the arch and get slapped around by a big boy down low. They will also have to play UNC 2,3 times this season, who I think is the best team in the country.

The Blue Devils are on the way back though, and hopefully this team will have 2,3 years together. Junior point guard, Greg Paulus has continued to show significant improvement he started to build upon late last year (if there was a bright spot last year it was Paulus's improvement late in the season). Senior, DeMarcus Nelson is playing better after a rotten junior season. Gerald Henderson is becoming a star, and won't just be known for breaking Tyler Hansbrough's nose. Jon Scheyer, who might have been Duke's best player last year, now comes off the bench giving Duke much more depth than they have had in years. Most importantly though, Duke has the game changing star they lacked last year.

Kyle Singler will be the real deal for Duke, and is already paying significant dividends. Singler was the MVP of the Maui Invitational, including a whale of a performance in Duke's toughest win of the early season vs. Marquette. Singler had 25 points and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the charity stripe. That isn't a early freshman year performance right there. Singler is also a bruiser, reminding me a bit of Shane Battier. Remember all the intangibles Battier added to a game, that wouldn't show in the box score, won Duke the 2001 National Championship. While Singler probably won't come close to the defensive guru Battier was, he could be a better offensive player. He can shoot the three, and can back in down low and score some too. Singler should become the leader that Duke has lacked since the likes of Battier, which could equate to title #4 in the Coach K era.

Pat Morgan

Yankees Interested in Santana

The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins are in preliminary discussions about Johan Santana possibly headed to the Bronx. To get the two-time Cy Young winner, the Yankees will have to give up one of their big three young pitchers, centerfielder Milky Cabrera, and a prospect or two. With the uncertainity of Andy Pettitte's return this would be a big time acquisition for the Yankees, but very bad for baseball.

The owner of the Twins, Carl Pohlad, is worth almost $3 billion, which ranks him 107th on the list of richest Americans. They will also be getting nearly $400 million in city subsidies for their new stadium in Minneapolis. Remember the Yankees are paying for their stadium out of pocket. Therefore, they really have no excuse not to sign Johan Santana, who is the franchise! They already let Torii Hunter go, so that's another $12 million off the books. The Twins clearly are not the Yankees, who use hundreds as toliet paper, but they are hardly strapped for cash.

However, if they want to trade Santana now is the time. They cannot bring him back next year, and risk being in contention at the trade deadline. If they are in contention, how can they sell trading Santana to their fans. They would have to keep him, and then lose him for nothing but a draft pick when he leaves via free agency. They cannot allow that to happen as Santana is too valuable. What they should do though is try as hard as possible to re-sign him, and go into the new building (which the tax payers are paying a chunk of) with Santana as the face of the franchise. Pay up, Pohlad! You are 92 years old! Are you planning a $4 billion, 100th birthday party in Vegas?

Unfortunately, this is a problem that will continue forever in Major League Baseball. Unless they do the right thing and agree to a salary cap and floor, which the MLB Players' Union will never allow, this problem will continue growing and growing. It is too bad that another one of baseball's big free agents (or soon to be in Santana's case) is going to the Yankees. Hopefully, the Twins involve the Red Sox as best they can to jack up the price as high as possible before unloading him to New York.

Pat Morgan

Halos Sign Torii Hunter

Late last night, it was announced the Los Angeles Angels signed free agent, Torii Hunter. Hunter agreed to 5-year, $80 million contract to play centerfield. The Angels hope to improve a lineup that has been dismal in the playoffs the last three times they have made it.

If the Angels think Hunter is the big bopper they need behind Vladimir Guerrero, then they will surely be disappointed. Hunter had stereotypical walk year numbers last year. He had the best year of his career by far at the age of 32. GMs continue to sign based on the previous year more than anything else, and not put much stock in the entire body of work. In a sense, they are paying their centerfielders $26 million a year, with Gary Matthews Jr. set to ride the pine. Hunter is a nice player, but he is not a clean up hitter. So, I hope the Angels don't think that and continue to pursue Cabrera.

The question now is will the Angels continue to pursue Miguel Cabrera. Should they get Cabrera, Hunter will fit perfectly as a 5, 6 hitter, being a good complement to the big two. If I were general manager of the Angels, I would go very hard after Miguel Cabrera. I would give up Jared Weaver, Howie Kendrick, and prospects if that is what it takes. I normally don't agree with trading good pitching for offense, but in this case I absolutely do. First, the Angels have lacked a big offense since the 2002 championship year. Their bats have frozen up way too many times in big spot. Since that championship, the Angels are 4-12 in the postseason. Second, Miguel Cabrera is most likely a future hall of famer and is only 24 years old! He is about as sure as a sure thing gets. Weaver is a nice arm, but is not on Cabrera's level. They should give up some good prospects too to make this happen. Finally, the free agent pool remaining stinks. The fact Hunter got $16 million a year tells you all you need to know. They won't fix their offense unless they get Cabrera to bat behind the big Vladdy Daddy!

Happy Thanksgiving every one! (Jets 33, Cowboys 29)

Pat Morgan

Eagles 23.5 Point Underdog to Patriots

The New England Patriots were installed as 23.5 point favorites today for their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

This is the second largest line in NFL history, and could end up being the highest should the line move past 24 in the next few days. Coupling the fact the Patriots are scoring at will even when the games are blowouts with Donovan McNabb's uncertain status for Sunday it calls for a giant line.

I'm not a gambling man, but how could you bet against the Pats in this situation. They have covered the spread every week except for the game in Indianapolis. I never thought I would see a spread this high. The largest I can remember is San Francisco being 17 point favorites over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX.

As large as this spead is, just wait for Week 15 vs. the New York Jets. That spread may reach the low 30s.

Pat Morgan

Baseball Hot Stove Simmering Down

Usually baseball's top free agents wait until mid-December to early-January to sign. However, this year things have moved very quickly, and with the exception of a couple of big names left the hot stove seems to be cooling down before Thanksgiving. Here are my thoughts on the major signings and trades this offseason except for A-Rod. For those thoughts see this older post.

Mariano Rivera 3-years, $45 million
After a few days of Rivera trying to hold out for a fourth year, he has finally agreed to re-sign with the Yankees. They had to get him back with Joba Chamberlian moving to the rotation next year. $15 million a year is a lot for a 38-year old reliever, but he is still the best in the game and deserves a big check for all he has done for the organization.

Jorge Posada 4-years, $52 million
Posada was the best catcher by far in the free agent market. He has been getting better and better with age, so he may be able to live up to at least three years of this deal. Plus, he is really the unofficial captain behind Derek Jeter. Like Rivera, Posada is being overpaid, but he deserves a few extra pennies for his championship contributions.

Mike Lowell 3-years, $37.5 million
The Red Sox got a great deal for Lowell. It seemed for awhile it may have taken a 4-year, $60 million contract for someone to get Lowell, but he ended up taking the hometown discount. Behind Beckett, Lowell was really the MVP of the Red Sox this whole year with Manny having a down year and Ortiz battling knee problems. He fits Fenway Park perfectly.

Luis Castillo 4-years, $25 million
It's hard to believe that Castillo will be making $6.25 million a year, but that is where baseball free agency has headed. Castillo gives the Mets a great glove at second, and a good bat in the #2 hole. He's nothing special, but gives good experience having been a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins championship team.

Curt Schilling 1-year, $8 million
At first, I thought the Red Sox should let him go, but after surveying the free agent market where else were the Sox going to get a better #2/#3 starter. He is probably only good for 20-25 starts, but will battle in every start especially in the postseason. His experience is unmatched so bringing in someone else probably wouldn't be as good. His one year will also allow the Sox more time before throwing Clay Buchhotz and Jon Lester further into the fire.

Tom Glavine 1-year, $8 million (Braves)
It was clear Glavine couldn't go back to the Mets after his September meltdown, so where better than back home to the Braves. He returns to the team he spent the first 16 years of his career with while compiling 242 of his 303 career wins. Good move for the Braves who need a #3 starter behind Tim Hudson and John Smoltz. They also cannot rely on Mike Hampton being healthy, so Glavine gives them good depth.

Jon Garland (Angels) for Orlando Cabrera (White Sox)
Good trade for the Angels considering they have Brandon Wood not far away from taking over at shortstop. It would also free up the position should they want to trade for Miguel Tejada if they don't acquire Miguel Cabrera for third base. I don't like the trade from the White Sox perspective. Cabrera is an upgrade at short over Juan Uribe, but they leave themselves a hole in the rotation. After Mark Buehrle, it gets hazy with Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras.

Brad Lidge (Phillies) for 3 players (Astros)
The Phillies didn't give up much, so I think it is worth a gamble to bring Lidge in. It also allows them to put Brett Myers back in the rotation where he belongs. Cole Hamels and Brett Myers is about as good a 1,2 punch in the NL. I would be surprised if Lidge does well in Philadelphia as he got traded to maybe the only stadium that is more homerun friendly than Houston. However, he still is an upgrade over Gordon, Alfonseca, Mesa, or any of the other bums in that Phillies pen. Good move by Houston too, because Lidge needed a change of venue.

Edgar Renteria (Tigers) for 2 players (Braves)
I think this is a terrific move for Detroit. They did give up a pretty good prospect in Jair Jurrjens, but they upgrade an already terrific lineup. The Tigers will move Carlos Guillen to first, and be able to bat Renteria 1,2 when Granderson sits against lefties. They might move Granderson to the bottom of the order all together with solid on base percentages from Placido Polanco and Renteria. Atlanta can now start Yunel Escobar at short fulltime.

Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter remain.

Pat Morgan

Carr Forced to Retire?

On Monday, University of Michigan head coach, Lloyd Carr will announce his retirement after a roller coaster career at Michigan. Carr compiled a 121-40 record, which included five Big Ten championships. The most important moment of Carr's tenure was when he led the Michigan Wolverines to a share of the 1997 National Championship with Nebraska.

While seasonal records were somewhat consistent during his tenure, the latter years did not please Wolverines fans like Carr's first few years. Carr started 5-1 in his first six matchups vs. archrival Ohio State, but in the last seven he was 1-6. Carr also won four straight bowl games from 1998-2001, but has only won the 2003 Outback Bowl since. What have you done for me lately is what is boils down to here for Carr.

The question is though was Carr forced to retire? All the talk before last year's 2006 11-2 season was that Carr was going to need a miracle to survive. Well, the Wolverines started 11-0, and it appeared all the firing talk would be over. However, he would lose to Ohio State, and be embarrassed by USC in the Rose Bowl. In my opinion, those two losses ruined any chance of Carr being given an extension or just a vote of confidence from his superiors. Obviously they could not fire Carr after an 11-2 season, but he needed to have a special season this year to survive. The losses to Appalachian State and Oregon eliminated any chance at a National Championship this year, and all but sealed Carr's fate.

There were eight weeks between those losses and when stories of his retirement began to leak. I believe that the Michigan athletic department got together with Lloyd Carr and gave him the opportunity to retire on his own. I'm sure he got some sort of sexy buyout to agree, but it saved Michigan the bad public relations move of firing a coach who won them so many big games in the 1990s. Expect Les Miles, of LSU, to become the next Michigan coach.

Pat Morgan

Feds Indict Bonds for Perjury

In what already may have been the most story filled off the field week in sports, the biggest story came out today (apologies to Yorvit Torrealba). Federal officials have indicted Barry Bonds for four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice, stemming back from his grand jury testimony back in 2003.

Should Bonds be found guilty, it will finally slience those idiots who defend Bonds by saying it has not been actually proven that he has taken steroids. However, you might already be able to say that. A failed steroid test of Barry's, seized from the BALCO lab, apparently is a key piece of evidence the feds dug up. His trainer, Greg Anderson, was also released from prison today after a year of refusing to testify. Could he have ratted Barry out? Maybe not, but it is odd that he was released today. The feds must have a lot of dirt on Barry otherwise I can't imagine why they would indict him. Why would they bother four years after the fact if they didn't?

A guilty verdict will also pretty much eliminate his chances for the Hall of Fame. Without this, I think he would have trouble making it on the first ballot, but would probably eventually get in. Now, we will just have to wait and see. I am looking forward to a Barry trial, and I wonder what defense superstar team he will hire. Dig up Johnny Cochran?

I am not going to get into my Barry Bonds thoughts, as it has been done to death. However, I wonder if Barry will give A-Rod a video tribute when he breaks his homerun record like Aaron gave him. Coming to you live from Cellblock D!

Pat Morgan

A-Rod Close to a Return to the Bronx

Despite opting out of the final three years of his contract two weeks ago, it appears Alex Rodriguez will be returning to the New York Yankees after all (I don't like to take self praise that often, but props to me for calling this). It appears A-Rod will get a 10-year, $275 million contract that should be finalized before Thanksgiving next week.

Early Wednesday morning, reports were leaked that A-Rod has been discussing a new contract for the past few days. Apparently, he deeply regrets opting out before giving the Yankee brass a chance to meet with him face to face. It took numerous phone calls from third parties to get the Steinbrenners to finally take his phone calls. A-Rod has even put his agent, Scott Boras, in the backseat. He is negotiating with the Yankees by himself, which was a Yankees demand before they would return to the table.

I think this is a good move for both parties. A-Rod is the biggest superstar in the game, and there is no better stage for him to attack the all-time homerun record. With the 10-year deal, it would be enormously surprising if he does not get the championship that has eluded him so far. With the Yankees' payroll and resources, you would think they would win it at least once the next ten years. It is a good move for the Yankees, because they would have had a huge hole in their lineup had they not resigned A-Rod. They also did not have to give up one of their big three young pitchers for Miguel Cabrera. And of course, he will also sell out the ballpark for the next ten years. Yankees fans should also forgive him for opting out. He made a mistake if he truly wanted to be a Yankee, but he seemingly made things right without having them jack the price up further.

Pat Morgan

Marbury Walks Out on Knicks

After Isiah Thomas informed Stephon Marbury he would not be starting for the New York Knicks tonight vs. Phoenix, he threw a hissy fit and hopped a plane back to New York leaving his team behind. Marbury was not following team orders, and was thus stripped of his starting role. He could not handle that and spilt. Add this to the long list of selfishness from Starbury. Apparently the player who could not handle being Kevin Garnett's sidekick in Minnesota hasn't grown up at all the last ten years.

No one is doubting his talent and the sick numbers he has put up throughout the years. Until recently, Marbury was the only player besides Oscar Robertson to average 20 points and eight assists per game during the course of a career. Marbury has also done a few good things off the court as well. To make things more affordable for poor intercity athletes, his line of Starbury sneakers sell much, much cheaper than the likes of Nike. However, the negative things greatly outweigh his numbers and community outreach. Marbury is a cancer on whichever team he plays for.

His inability to handle being Kevin Garnett's number two man cost the Minnesota Timberwolves a potentially great thing. That combination may have competed for championships, but Marbury's ego could not handle being second best for the first time in his career. He was the man growing up in Brooklyn and then his one year at Georgia Tech. Being the man in the spotlight was more important than winning, which seems to be the situation today in New York. While Thomas was on trial this offseason, Marbury should have been bringing his team together, but instead he was out allegedly harassing interns and showing up all disoriented for live interviews. (If anyone can find Marbury's Mike'd Up interview, please send it to me!)

Marbury is also proof that numbers do not tell the hole story. You would think his numbers would put him on equal footing with Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. Well, he doesn't come close. Kidd replaced Marbury in New Jersey, and took a team Marbury couldn't get into the playoffs to the NBA Finals twice. Nash took over for Marbury in Phoenix, and took a team Marbury couldn't get past the first round to two 60+ win seasons and a Western Conference Finals appearance. For those who put too much stock in numbers, STOP! Marbury is GARBAGE! Well, he is actually a model citizen compared to his cousin, Sebastian Telfair.

Pat Morgan

Place Your Deposit for an Orange Bowl Urinal NOW!

The Orange Bowl's football life (well other than a Dec. 1st FIU/North Texas game, whoo!) came to a close tonight in dramatic fashion, as the Miami Hurricanes said goodbye to the old gal by being beat down by Virginia 48-0. On Thursday, it was announced the historic building would be demolished come January. All fixtures, including urinals will sold at an auction shortly after the demolition. Cause nothing says aniversary gift like a wall urinal that thousands of drunk Hurricanes and Dolphins fans have signed for you throughout the years.

It is actually sad how the Orange Bowl has slowly faded away throughout the last 20 years. It is kind of symbolic of how the Miami football program has hit the fan the last couple of years. Before 1987, the Orange Bowl may have been football's biggest venue, and not to mention the home of the Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes. It hosted more Super Bowls than any other venue until Dolphin Stadium started taking the Super Bowls placed in Miami. The most important football game of all-time was played there in 1969, when the AFL's New York Jets beat the NFL's Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III to start the push toward an AFL-NFL merger that would take place after Super Bowl IV. It also hosted the Orange Bowl from 1938-1995, and once more in 1999, hence why the building was renamed Orange Bowl in 1960. Doug Flutie's famous hail mary for Boston College was probably the most crushing moment for one its home teams at the Orange Bowl.

Since 1987, the building has really been outshined by the more state of the art Dolphin Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Dolphin Stadium took the Super Bowls, Orange Bowls, and now both tenants, while the Orange Bowl has begun to look more and more like the old lady in the shower. Well, I say farewell to perhaps the most famous football venue of all-time. To me, the Orange Bowl is to football what Yankee Stadium is to baseball or the Boston Garden was to basketball, and this is coming from a Jets fan. Maybe I'll bid on those urinals after all, I can't think of anything better to spend a $1,000 on. Well, maybe a few. And perhaps we can get the Miami Hurricanes to be in attendance when Florida International plays the final game at the Orange Bowl. No, not to play, but for one more awesome brawl for old time sake.

Pat Morgan

Maybe Notre Dame Basketball Will Give Fans Something to Cheer About

The Notre Dame men's basketball team tips off its season Monday night at home against the Long Island Blackbirds. With the football season being a disaster, I would have to say that many Notre Dame faithful are already switching gears and looking forward to watching some games on the hardcourt. Like a lot of the Big East teams, Notre Dame plays a very light schedule for the first month and a half of the season. The Irish do not even play a Big East opponent until Jan. 3 when West Virginia comes to town.

Notre Dame ended last year's promising season with a disappointing first round loss to Winthrop in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Mike Brey returns for his eighth season as the head coach of the Irish after signing a two-year extension in the offseason to remain with the team through the 2012-2013 season. He was also named the Big East coach of the year last season after leading Notre Dame to a 24-8 record.

One of the bigger stories for Notre Dame coming into the season is the return of guard Kyle McArlarney, who was arrested last January for possession of marijuana. The university suspended him from the team indefinitely and shortly thereafter was dismissed from the team. Hopefully he can make a big impact this season as the Irish will be up against some stiff competition in the talented Big East Conference.

Shawn Marosek

2007-08 NCAA Men's Hoops Predictions

ACC: North Carolina
Big 12: Kansas
Big East: Georgetown
Big Ten: Michigan State
Pac-10: UCLA
SEC: Tennessee
#1 Overall Seed: Memphis (Could go unbeaten in regular season in CUSA)
Heavy Sleepers: North Carolina State, Kansas State, Arkansas
Final Four: Tennessee, UCLA, Kansas, UNC
Final Two: Tennessee, Kansas
National Champion: Kansas
Most Outstanding Player: Mario Chalmers
Freshman of the Year: Kyle Singler (got to be a homer somewhere)
Wooden Award: Tyler Hansbrough
Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl

Pat Morgan

You May Just Call Me Ray!

It's official! The Tampa Bay Rays have dropped the Devil from their nickname, and unveiled a new logo and uniforms. It was a glorious day in St. Petersburg today, as 7,000 fans (who knew there was that many Rays fans) came to the name changing party headlined by Kevin Costner and his band. Nothing screams party more than Kevin Costner! I might just watch Waterworld after writing this.

The 2008 Rays may finish in last like their Devil Rays predecessors, but hey, they will finish in last looking good in those sexy new uniforms. It has never been better to be a Devi-- oops just Rays fan! I must say I am jealous. Even former Rays greats, Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff were in town to strut the cat walk with the new uniforms!

*Puts down the bong*

Back in the real world it is unfortunate Tampa's owners did not unveil a whole new team. If they think a name change is going to raise fan moral than they must be dumber than Mike Tyson on Celebrity Jeopardy. This is the same franchise that celebrated 70 wins back when Lou Piniella was the manager. They can have parties like this every week, but this team with NEVER make the postseason. I'm sure the owners could get away with changing the team name to the Tampa Bay Douche Bags if it meant a winning team in Tampa. However, the new jerseys probably mean the Rays won't be able to afford Scott Kazmir next year.

Can you imaging what went on at the Rays promotions department meeting when coming up with possible new nicknames? The best they could come up with was Rays? Tells you all you need to know about the morons running that organization. Wait, sunshine rays in Florida! Now I get it! Ugh. By the way, I didn't think there was anything worse than Kevin Costner's acting skills. I guess there is, Kevin Costner's singing skills! William Shatner and his band must have backed out at the last minute.

Pat Morgan

NFL First Half Grades

Here's the midseason report card for each of the 32 NFL teams. Took me a few days to compile, so enjoy!

A+: New England (9-0) - The Patriots are setting all kinds of records, and have blown out everyone except for the Colts. Even more impressive was the 10-point fourth quarter comeback in the champ's building. They have a great shot at going undefeated. They are well deserving of a rare A+, videotape or not.

A: Indianapolis (7-1) - Had the Colts held on against the Pats they would have gotten an A+. This team is better than last year's Super Bowl champion, as their defense has clearly carried over the momentum they had from last year's playoffs. They are the only team that could realistically deny the Pats their fourth title in seven years.

Dallas (7-1) - Like the Colts, their only loss is against New England, and the only other game that was really in doubt was their win in Buffalo on Monday Night. I wasn't a believer in Wade Phillips, but he's done a much better job than Bill Parcells ever did in Big D. Will cakewalk to NFC East crown should they beat the Giants in Jersey on Sunday.

Green Bay (7-1) - Only a poor second half against the Bears keeps the Packers from being 8-0, as they played that game not to lose. However, the Packers are still a total surprise this year. They have had some games they could have lost (Philadelphia, Washington), but their grade rose from a B+ to an A the last two weeks with gutty wins out West against Denver and Kansas City.

A-: Pittsburgh (6-2) - Ben Roethlisberger is back to his to 2005 form, and proving that 2006 was just an aberration due to a multitude of injuries. A couple puzzling losses to Arizona and Denver keep the Steelers from being graded higher, but to their defense they were road games. Right now, the Steelers are the best team after the big two, and have the best chance of any to spoil a Pats/Colts AFC Championship Game.

Tennessee (6-2) - The Titans define the term "ugly win" to a tee, as they barely survived games against Houston, Atlanta, and Oakland. However, their two losses are by a combined five points, so with a little luck they could be 8-0. Kerry Collins held down the fort while Vince Young was out, and with a relatively easy second half, this team could win 11-12 games. A great rebuilding job by Jeff Fisher, who may be the best coach in the NFL not named Belichick.

B+: Cleveland (5-3) - The Browns are the surprise of the first half. No one gave this team a chance to win more than 4,5 games this season. Derek Anderson has come in and done a terrific job at quarterback putting the Brady Quinn watch on hold. It will be interesting to see if this team can continue their good play and make a run at a wildcard berth. Unless they win in Pittsburgh next week, I don't see them winning the AFC North though.

NY Giants (6-2) - After the horrific 0-2 start, when they allowed 80 points, the Giants are rolling with six straight victories. The Giants have a tremendous defensive line headlined by Osi Umenyiora who is an absolute stud. Plexico Burress has become one of the top wide receivers in the league, and has solid numbers so far. Should they beat the Cowboys on Sunday, they will have an excellent chance at winning the NFC East and perhaps earning homefield in the NFC.

Detroit (6-2) - It's been a long time since Lions fans have had much to cheer about, but this team is starting to play complete football. After giving up a ton of points in their first five games, the Lions have only allowed 30 points in the last three games. Jon Kitna has done a nice job, and Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams could eventually be the top 1,2 WR combination in the league. I'm looking forward to seeing a meaningful game Lions game vs. Green Bay on Thanksgiving.

B: Jacksonville (5-3) - The injury of David Garrard has kept the Jaguars from having a better first half. They did not allow over 20 points in their first five games, but have hit a roadblock recently with games against the Colts and the suddenly hot Saints. If the Jags can survive their next four games (@ Ten, SD, Buf, @ Indy) they should return to the postseason after missing it last season.

B-: Washington (5-3) - The Redskins might the worst 5-3 team ever. However, I did not expect them to have a winning record, so they get a B-. Joe Gibbs clearly isn't the same coach he used to be, and resembles Herm Edwards when it comes to clock management. The Skins second half schedule is much tougher in the second half, so I don't see a playoff berth out of this team.

Tampa Bay (5-4) - Jeff Garcia has had a fantastic season so far, even though the Buccaneers have not scored a ton of points. With the exception of a potentially pivotal game at New Orleans, the Bucs might have the easiest schedule left in the NFL. They play Atlanta twice, Houston, Carolina, San Francisco, and Washington, so they have a legit shot to make the playoffs.

New Orleans (4-4) - After five weeks and an 0-4 record, the Saints would have received a failing grade, but they have saved their season by winning their last four. Drew Brees has turned it back on, and proven once again he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Even though the Bucs have an easy schedule, the Saints do as well, so that Week 13 against Tampa could decide the NFC South and who makes the playoffs. This division won't get two teams.

C+: Kansas City (4-4) - Herm Edwards continues to surprise and win regular season games. After an 0-2 start the Chiefs have surprisingly won four of six games. The Chiefs offense has not impressed, but they have one of the best defenses in the league. I would be surprised to see them make the playoffs, but if they beat San Diego for a second time in Week 13, anything can happen.

Buffalo (4-4) - Like the Chiefs, the Bills are pretty much all about defense. Three weeks ago they looked like a team that would be picking in the top five of the 2008 NFL draft, but since then they have reeled off three straight wins and are in the playoff discussion. Trent Edwards gave the team a spark, and when he went down, J.P. Losman has stepped back in nicely. However, outside of two games with Miami, they do have a tough second half, and most likely won't continue their run.

Minnesota (3-5) - If this Vikings team had a quarterback, they might be the best team in the NFC. They almost have the complete package with a very good defense and of course the already superstar running back, Adrian Peterson. Peterson leads the league in rushing by far, and oh yeah, he already set the single-game rushing record last week. Did I mention he is only a rookie? Probably won't make much noice this year, but they could be an NFC elite soon.

C: Houston (4-5) - You would figure a 4-5 Texans team would be given a little higher grade than a C, but they started 2-0 and have gone 2-5 since. Plus, those two wins were against Miami and Oakland. This team desperately needs Andre Johnson back, but unfortunately are stuck in the cellar in the best division in football. The Texans are better, but won't come close to a playoff berth with a second half schedule that does not feature any breaks.

Carolina (4-4) - The Panthers sustained perhaps the most devastating season ending injury in the NFL in Jake Delhomme. They started 4-2, and with New Orleans's slow start it appeared the Panthers may be headed toward the NFC South championship. However, the injury to Delhomme has caught up with them. With Civil War veteran, Vinny Testaverde and former Texan, David Carr running the show, this team will slowly fade away from playoff discussion.

Seattle (4-4) - Fortunately for the Seahawks they play in the worst division in the NFL. It is possible a 7-9 record could win the NFC West. I thought they would be better than they have been, but clearly they are not the same team that went to the Super Bowl two years ago. Again, they do play in a weak division and have fair second half schedule, so they should be in the playoffs for a fifth straight year. Five straight playoff appearances for the Seahawks? Weird.

Arizona (3-5) - Like Carolina, Arizona has been ravaged by injuries to the QB position. The Cardinals really clicked when they rotated Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner, but now they are without Leinart and Warner is banged up. They had a real good shot to make some noice in the second half before the injuries, but I think they are too banged up. However, they could still surprise with a relatively easy second half schedule.

C-: Baltimore (4-4) - The blowout loss to Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football dropped the Ravens from a B- to a C-. They have been very disappointing this year, and have a very tough second half schedule. The offense is usually bad, but even the defense is getting old. This is Brian Billick's worst job as head coach of the Ravens, and is far from the offensive guru he was billed to be when he was the offensive coordinator in Minnesota.

Oakland (2-6) - The Raiders looked good early in the season, but reality has set in the last few weeks. With the schedule they have in the second half they are looking at another top 5 draft pick. Will be interesting to see when the Raiders elect to give LaMarcus Russell some playing time and finally bench the Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper revolving door quarterback.

Chicago (3-5) - The Bears have been one of the most bi-polar teams in the NFL thus far. They gave the Packers their only loss of the season, and they also won in Philadelphia. However, intertwined between those wins were home losses to Detroit and Minnesota. The defending NFC Champions are going to have to do something special the rest of the way if they want to make it back to the playoffs.

Philadelphia (3-5) - I picked the Eagles to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and my have I been wrong. While they have shown a few flashes of their oldselves against Detroit and Minnesota, they have not been able to get on track. They have awful divisional losses to the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins which pretty much bury them from making a late run at a playoff bid.

D+: Denver (3-5) - Apparently Jay Cutler is behind schedule, and now he is hurt. The Broncos were widely picked to make the postseason this year, but he played some real awful football. All three of their wins have come via game-winning field goals, which includes the Shanahan timeout game vs. Oakland. Really this Broncos team shoould be 1-7 or 0-8. The funny thing is though they are only a game out of first place, and could catch Kansas City with a win this weekend.

San Diego (4-4) - Had I graded teams a week ago, the Chargers might have been given a C+/B-, but the stunning meltdown against Minnesota really kills their grade. The Chargers are the biggest disappointment of the season to this point, coming of a 14-2 season with perhaps the best talent in the NFL. Scary thing is though is that this team does not have to do much to win a very weak AFC West. That would put them one home playoff win away from going to New England or Indianapolis in the Divisional Round. Could they pull an upset? Probably not, but they have a better chance than anyone else.

D: Atlanta (2-6) - The season the Falcons are having was to be expected with all of the Michael Vick distraction this offseason. They will be certainly looking for a quarterback in the draft or in free agency. It is not impossible for this team to be good next year considering the division they play in, but probably not.

D-: San Francisco (2-6) - Another huge bust this season. The 49ers really should be an F, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for losing Alex Smith for a few weeks this season. They might have the worst offense in the league now, and who else is pumped up for this week's Monday Night matchup between them and the Seahawks! OH BABY!

F: Cincinnati (2-6) - The Bengals were my pick to win the AFC North, even though I knew the defense would be bad. I just did not think it would be this bad. The 51-45 loss to Cleveland in Week 2 really set a bad tone for this season. Plus, their offense has not been as explosive as feared it would be this season. Heads are going to roll in Cincy this offseason for their second consecutive disappointing season in a row. See ya Marvin!

NY Jets (1-8) - After a feel good 2006 season, the Jets have done a complete 180 this year. Their defense has been terrible all year long, and allows the worst of running backs to have 100+ yard days. All that is left this season is to evaluate Kellen Clemens and find out if he can be the quarterback of the future for the J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS! Next year will be a critical year for Eric Mangini and company to reclaim the praise they got last year.

Miami (0-8) - Don't tell the kids, Flipper has been put down. Man, did Nick Saban leave the Dolphins in really bad shape. It is hard to imagine this team being good anytime soon. They lost to the Jets for heaven's sake. The question the rest of this season is when rookie John Beck plays. You would think Cam Cameron would have to give him a shot to see if they need to draft a quarterback.

St. Louis (0-8) - How does a team with Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, and Steven Jackson only have 99 points through eight games? It is really unbelievable how bad this team has been. Expect the entire front office and coaching staff to be fired at the end of the year. Maybe they should rehire Mike Martz! This is the type of terrible Rams team that we remember when we were growing up in the 1990s.

Revised Super Bowl Pick: I'll keep New England as the winner, but they will beat the Giants.

Pat Morgan

Baseball Could Be Making a Mistake With Instant Replay

The general managers of Major League Baseball have voted in favor of instant replay 25-5. In recent years, the NFL, NBA and NHL have used instant replay to improve their sport, and now baseball wants to follow in their footsteps. Instant replay would be limited, used only to see if balls are foul or fair, if balls clear the fence, or if a fan interferes with the ball.

In my opinion, I would not have voted in favor of this change. Baseball has been played longer than any of the major sports and always been known for the human element. This is one of the reasons why the game is so great. The game should not be determined by a videotape.

Plus, games take forever as it is. Major League Baseball should be trying to figure out a way to make these games move along at a faster rate. Instant replay certainly wouldn't help matters and who knows how many "challenges" managers will get in a game. If they are going to implement this, then a manager should only get one challenge per game. Anything more than that would be too much. No one really wants these games to be over 3 hours long, let alone 4 hours. And if you're a Yankee fan, how many times do you feel like hearing Michael Kay say that the game was an "unmanageable" 4 hours and 21 minutes?

Shawn Marosek

Mystery of Brian Billick

In 1998, Brian Billick was the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, who scored more points in a season than anyother team in NFL history. The high flying Vikes had Randall Cunningham throwing bombs all over the place to Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and some rookie named Randy Moss. Billick was heralded as an offensive genious, and was quickly hired as the Baltimore Ravens' head coach that offseason. Despite winning a Super Bowl in his second year, Billick has never brought his offensive prowess to Baltimore. Even that Super Bowl team had a stretch of five games in which they were unable to score a touchdown. That team won because it had one of the best defenses of all-time.

Last night's performance vs. Pittsburgh was symbolic of how the Ravens' offense has been under Billick. They cannot move the ball a lick in the big spot, and have become a turnover factory. The defense has clearly taken a step backward, and cannot overcome big offensive mistakes. Clearly Steve McNair is aged, and not the MVP type quarterback he was all those years in Tennessee. You can blame his injuries if you want, but got hurt a lot during his best years. The quarterback position has been a big problem for Baltimore. Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer, Elvis Grbac, Jeff Blake, and Kyle Boller are the other starters Billick has had during his tenure. McNair is the best quarterback Baltimore has had under Billick, and even he could only muster up 6 points in the AFC Divisional Game vs. Indianapolis last year.

But is it really the quarterback position? Billick's Vikings scored 556 points in 1998, but over his eight years in Baltimore none of his teams have been able to reach 400 (average 25pts a game). That includes the 2003 season when Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards (2nd alltime). So fans can blame the quarterback all they want, but Billick's offensive mind has been exposed for what it really is in Baltimore. He clearly got lucky in Minnesota having a strong armed Cunningham who could carve up defenses hurling ropes to Moss and co. In my opinion, Billick will be on the hot seat if this team doesn't turn it around. After a 13-3 season, they have been a huge disappointment this season. He has had great defenses to cover up his inept offenses, but this year, Billick is being exposed for what he really is.

By the way, is there any coach in football with a bigger ego? The man clearly loves himself too much.

Pat Morgan

Pats Rally to Defeat Colts; Let Undefeated Talk Begin

It seemed midway through the fourth quarter that all the postgame talk would be all about how the Indianapolis Colts defense shut down Tom Brady and company, and thus ended New England's chance at having an unbeaten season. They were absolutely superb for three and a half quarters, but you can only hold the potent New England Patriots offense down for so long.

Brady's 55-yard pass to Randy Moss with about nine minutes left was what changed the whole game. The Colts had not allowed a big play like that the entire game. Brady then found Wes Welker to bring the Pats within a field goal, and then four minutes later he found Kevin Faulk for the go ahead TD. All of a sudden, Brady had his 3 TD passes and another sexy stat line. The Colts had another chance, but Peyton Manning fumbled to give the ball back to the Pats. Wes Welker sealed the deal with a 3rd down reception. Welker has been the unsung hero on this Pats team. Remember last year Troy Brown dropped the same type 3rd down pass that would have sealed the AFC title for New England. Bill Belichick should send Nick Saban a championship ring for giving him tips to get Welker as he departed Miami last year.

This is a demoralizing loss for Indianapolis. They played smash mouth football for 50 minutes, and had the Pats making mistakes left and right. Brady was rattled by throwing two picks, they committed a team record number of penalties, and Joseph Addai was running all over them (ended up with 226 total yards). With a win today, they would have slienced the entire sports media who have been praising the Pats all year and seemingly ignoring the Colts. Most importantly, this loss probably means that the AFC Championship Game will be in Foxboro. For that game to be at the RCA Dome, the Colts would have to go unbeaten the rest of the way, and hope the Patriots lose two of their final seven games. I don't think they will win a playoff game in Foxboro, but they should have Marvin Harrison in a rematch. Could they win? Yes.

The question now is can the Patriots go undefeated? They have their toughest game by far out of the way, and face an upcoming schedule where the toughest games might be at Baltimore and when they host Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks in early December. Their bye also comes at a great time, because had they had to play next week after a tough game like this they might have suffered a let down. The Pats probably have a better than 50/50 chance to go unbeaten, and I think they will. They played a terrible football game for 50 minutes today against the Super Bowl champions and still won. Unlike the Colts of years past, this Patriots team will embrace going undefeated. Even if they clinch the AFC by mid-December, they host the Jets and Dolphins in Weeks 15 & 16. Stiff competition right there! They travel to the Meadowlands to play the Giants in Week 17, but if they make it into that game at 15-0 you think they will play very hard to get that victory and make history.

By the way, the NFL is going to be in a great situation when the Patriots visit the Giants in Week 17 that will be seen exclusively on the NFL Network!

Pat Morgan

Navy Sink Notre Dame to New Low

For the first time since Roger Staubach was the quarterback, the Navy Midshipmen have defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Midshipmen prevailed in triple overtime, 46-44. They stopped the Irish's two point conversion attempt, as they attempted to tie the game and head to a fourth overtime. The Naval Academy will be rocking in Annapolis tonight!

Things in South Bend have been bad this year, but this may be the lowest point this program has ever been. Charlie Weis probably figured this would be a rebuilding year after losing Brady Quinn and others, but it has gone beyond that as the team sits at a horrendous 1-8. Good thing for Weis that the Irish athletic director bought into his early success, and gave him a contract extension through 2015.

I would have to say that Weis's early success was overrated anyway. Granted he took the team to two straight BCS Bowls, but Notre Dame was rocked in both appearances. They also went to these bowls with one of the best college quarterbacks at the time. Plus, any Notre Dame team with just two losses is most likely going to be given a BCS bid simply because they are Notre Dame. If strength of schedule decided whether they would get a BCS bid or not, I would think they would be making reservations for the Continental Tire Bowl rather than the Sugar Bowl. Weis's best win was at Michigan in 2005, and that Wolverines' team finished a resounding 7-5.

I'm not saying I don't think Weis is a smart man. What he did as an offensive coordinator for the Jets and Patriots was excellent, but we are going to learn a lot about his head coaching abilities as he attempts to pull this Notre Dame team out of an embarrassing season. How will this recruiting class play in year 2 and 3? Will they be able to make it back to a BCS Bowl? Lots of questions of how this Notre Dame team will respond the next couple of years.

Pat Morgan

What? No Way! MSU Loses to *cough* Grand Valley State

The state of Michigan may come to an agreement to not allow their big D-I colleges play Division II teams anymore. In September, the Michigan football team lost to Appalachian State. And just last night, the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team was upset by the Grand Valley State Lakers (At least one Lakers team had a good night). This is the most exciting thing to happen to Grand Valley since Tony Danza took his short lived talk show on location to the Grand Rapids campus in 2005.

Unlike UM football, Michigan State's season is far from ruined, as rankings mean garbage in college hoops. However, it is embarassing to lose to a school that sounds like a community college. Yes, this is the biggest game on the Grand Valley schedule, and they also have to hear about this MSU juggernaut everyday being just an hour away from Lansing in Grand Rapids. Plus, they almost beat them last year, but even if the Spartans were not awake for this exhibition, you figure they may have woken up in the first or second overtime. Jason Jamerson (does he major in adult films?), led Grand Valley with 19 points.

I said a week or so ago when the Coaches Poll was released that MSU seemed to be ranked too high at number 8. This game verifies my feel, but Tom Izzo will get his Spartans together. The Big Ten will be down with Ohio State and Wisconsin depleted, and fortunately, unlike college football, a loss like this does not kill or let alone even hurt your chances to win a National Championship. While very embarrassing, it does not nearly equate to the loss the Michigan football team experienced to Appalachian State.

Pat Morgan

Bonds to Forego Hall if Asterisk Ball Goes on Display

Barry Bonds continued his postseason whimpering yesterday, when he stated he would boycott the Hall of Fame if they display his record-breaking homerun baseball that is set to be branded with an asterisk.

Fashion designer, Marc Ecko bought the ball this summer, and put the fate of the ball up to a vote. The three choices were either send the ball to Cooperstown as is, send the ball to Cooperstown with an asterisk, or to shoot the ball into orbit. Well, the fans voted for it (myself included) to be branded with an asterisk. This pretty much puts to rest that, in the court of public opinion, Bonds is guilty of steroid use.

To me, Bonds just seems bitter about how quietly his career is ending. He is obviously upset that the San Francisco Giants don't want him back, and that another team signing him is unlikely. It seems like a last ditch effort to get people to feel badly for him. He knows people view him as a cheat, he knows he has been caught, but as most guilty people do, he has fallen into a full defensive mode.

I think the Hall of Fame should display the ball. Be fair, and explain in the exhibit description why it is branded, and be done with it. If Barry has a problem with that, and does not want to be a member of the Hall of Fame (should he be elected) let him decide that. I don't think the Hall of Fame voters are going to clammer for things to be sugar coded for Barry. He will always have a cloud around him, and that is the way it is. Get used to it Barry, no one is going to ignore the steroids. Just because you said the record is legit, after the 756th homerun, does not mean it is. Believe that inside should it make you feel better. The fans clearly believe it is a tainted record, as the asterisk option won by an overwhelming amount.

Maybe Barry is already making excuses not to show at his future Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He must know in five years when the roids have worn off, he will be much smaller by then. Might just raise a flag.

Pat Morgan

Wright Would Love to Have A-Rod Join Mets

New York Mets third baseman David Wright is expected to meet with general manager Omar Minaya to discuss the possibility of giving up his position for Alex Rodriguez. Wright mentioned earlier in the year that he would welcome A-Rod and wouldn't mind letting him play at the hot corner. Rodriguez, who opted out of his contract Sunday night, is now a free agent and is looking for at least 30 million dollars a year. As a diehard Mets fan, I love this idea. Rodriguez will go down as one of the best players ever to play the game. His numbers are out of this world and he probably will break Barry Bonds' homerun record, barring any horrible injury. I know he has had his postseason struggles, but I'm not worried about that right now. I want the Mets to make the playoffs first, unlike this past season.

As for Wright, it just shows how unselfish this young stud really is. This is the position he has always played and he is willing to learn a new one to help the team. I think Wright should either move to first base or left field, but it will be hard to get anybody to take worthless Carlos Delgado's money. I haven't been impressed with Wright's arm these past couple seasons and I don't expect it to get any better. He has a strong arm, which could help him as an outfielder. The Mets have resigned Moises Alou to play left field, so if Wright were to move, I would have to say it is going to be to first base. On the other hand, Alou is bound to be hurt for a good portion of the season, so don't be suprised to see Wright patrolling left field next season if they can land Rodriguez.

The Mets were Rodriguez's first choice the last time he was a free agent. Maybe it will work out the second time around. As a Mets fan, I can only hope for the best. This past season's collapse was tough to swallow. If the Mets sign A-Rod, it might give Mets fans out there something to be happy about this offseason.

Shawn Marosek

The Great Trade That Could Have Been

A trade that would have sent Kobe Bryant to the Chicago Bulls in a three team deal fell through earlier today. The Bulls would have only had to give up Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, and PJ Brown. Gordon would have gone to Sacramento with PJ Brown, while Ben Wallace and Ron Artest would have gone to the Los Angeles Lakers.

That trade would have been an absolute steal for Chicago, considering many thought the Bulls would have to part ways with Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and/or Joakim Noah. Yes, Ben Gordon has been Mr. Clutch for the Bulls in the 4th quarter, but with Kobe, Gordon's time to shine would have decreased drastically. Ben Wallace has not lived up to expectations, and PJ Brown would have just been re-signed then traded so contracts would match up.

The Bulls will be a contender to win the Eastern Conference, but adding Kobe in that deal would have made them the heavy favorites. It would have also given them a legitimate chance to win the NBA Finals. Other than a lack of an offensive inside game, the Bulls biggest flaw is they do not have a consistently big scoring threat. Kobe would have given them just that. The Bulls go cold from the field quite often, so the addition of Kobe would have fixed that problem. Talks are continuing between the Lakers and Bulls, but the question is what the Bulls will have to give up? Deng? Thomas? I almost drove into a tree when I heard that deal fell through. Would have been highway robbery!

Pat Morgan