Matt Millen hatred...eye-witness account

While watching the very entertaining Colts-Chargers game last night at a local watering hole, I ran into something I have not yet witnessed firsthand. That's right, a living, breathing Detroit Lions fan.

The gentlemen I was seated next to, a friend-of-a-friend, practically levitated when he saw the visage of former Lions GM Matt Millen on the screen during halftime doing "analysis" for NBC. A profanity-laden tirade ensued and it became clear quickly that this guy was no fan of Matt Millen.

He has a point though doesn't he?

From Wikipedia:

His tenure as head of the franchise led to the worst eight-year record in the NFL (31-97) since World War II, and resulted in his termination on September 24, 2008.

It is well documented how bad the Lions have been but I'd say that stat sums it up pretty well. When you're setting the wrong kind of records that have been around for more then half-a-century, you're setting the bar pretty low.

Here's another tidbit that I wasn't aware of, again from Wikipedia:

Prior to running the Detroit Lions, Millen was a professional football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins of the NFL. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams.

You effing believe that shit? Matt Millen has FOUR Superbowl rings!!

Seriously? Four rings? That has to make him one of the most successful NFL players in the history of the league.

And yet no one is even remotely aware of those accolades because he was such an immense failure as a GM. Wow.

Here's another question. I'm a casual viewer. I'm sitting at home watching the game. I don't need a beer or a piss break so I watch the halftime show. I'm then subjected to the opinions of Matt Millen? REALLY? What possible evidence exists out there that indicates he knows the first thing about how to run a football team? There aren't many HIGH SCHOOLS in America that would hire Matt Millen right now.

Back to my friend the Lions fan though. Imagine the frustration. Matt Millen symbolizes in a nutshell the complete and utter futility of the franchise. Finally, in the wake of the aforementioned, historic failure he is let go. At this point, as a Lions fan, you are hoping that as punishment Millen will never be heard from again. He will be exiled to some figurative island outside the realm of the NFL.

Nope.

Here Matt Millen and all his bullshit comes again, explaining to you at the halftime of a playoff game what the Indianapolis Colts need to do to win this game. Seriously, how ludicrous is that? Matt Millen giving advice to the Colts is like O.J. Simpson providing marital advice.

Great country isn't it?

The Crawl is killing us all very, very slowly...

What's the crawl?

It's kind of like wind. Sometimes you don't notice it, but it's always there. And it can be damned annoying at times.

In the vernacular of broadcast TV, "the crawl" is the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen that provides up-to-the-minute information. On CNBC the crawl features current stock prices. The Weather Channel might have current temps from around the country.

As usual, the 800 lb. sports gorilla, ESPN, has taken a relatively tame television concept and turned it into something so outrageous and annoying that it cries out to be ridiculed. The crawl is such a massive distraction that it is getting hard to watch live sports events on any of the ESPN channels. No one does overkill like the folks up in Bristol, CT.

The crawl on ESPN originated as a fairly inocuous yet meaningful aspect of the network. Current scores from various leagues were (and still are) scrolled at the bottom of the screen. The score of a sports contest takes about half-a-second for the human brain to digest.

...MLB: ATL 4, LAD 2, Top of the 3rd...

See? That's not so bad is it?

Apparently that isn't sufficient anymore. In addition to scores now we also get stats.

...NFL: PHI 17, SF 3, 3:16 4th Qtr...McNabb 13/22 178 yds, 2 TD's...Westbrook 11 carries for 119 yds...

All that is probably more then I really need to know. I mean think about it, if you missed the first 30 minutes of a game and walk into a room where it is on, what's the first thing you ask?

"What's up fellas!? Hey, the team that's winning, how many yards does the starting running back have?"

No, that's probably not how it goes down.

"What's the score?" That's all you generally want to know.

I would say the evolution of ESPN's crawl really came into its own in the midst of last summer's epic Brett Favre saga. Unfortunately I will never be able to forget the ten mins. I spent watching the following:

"BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season...BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season...BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season...BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season...BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season...BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre announces he intends to play this season."

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!! I GET IT!! BRETT FAVRE WANTS TO PLAY!!

Do the the suits at ESPN think that someone is going to see some snippet of major Brett Favre news, then walk out of the room and completely forget what they just saw? Do they run this horsehit across the screen on a loop in hopes that all of these feeble-minded viewers will wander back to the TV and be reminded two minutes later?

At this point the crawl on ESPN has gotten completely out of control. While watching bowl games on New Years Day I was subjected to all manner of various BS scrolling across the bottom of the screen, most of which pertained to the Jets and you-know-who, Capt. INT, Brett Favre.

It's not scores or stats anymore, it's out-in-out gossip. I have never seen more meaningless drivel concentrated in one place in my entire life.

...Jet RB Thomas Jones tells NYC radio station Hot 97 that Brett Favre throws too many picks...

...Anonymous Jets player tells Newsday that Brett Favre doesn't like to eat out with teammates...

...Manny Ramirez considers haircut...

...Ohio State RB Chris Wells has made no decision regarding NFL Draft...

...Ohio State RB Chris Wells has made no decision regarding lunch...

...Jet RB Thomas Jones tells ESPN, "Yeah, you know, what I just said about Brett, you know, I was just vibing, you know?"...

I'd say that pretty well sums it up.

Oh, and by the way, Hot 97? Are you fucking kidding me? That's one of the major hip-hop radio stations in New York City. It's not an ESPN affiliate. It's not a sports station.

If I want to hear where P. Diddy's latest release party is going to be, I listen to Hot 97. If I want to know why T.I.'s crew got shot up in Cincinnati, I listen to Hot 97. If I want to stay current with east coast-west coast beefs, I listen to Hot 97. If I want pertinent information regarding the Jets, I go elsewhere.

It's one thing to quote the Associated Press. Their entire purpose is to provide credible news to the masses. It's another thing to quote an interview that was conducted on some hip-hop music radio station and broadcast it across national airwaves as if it is remotely relevant.

I'll give another example that hits closer to home. I'm watching ESPN roughly a week ago and all of a sudden I see the following:

...Ohio State may use Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman at the same time on some plays in the Fiesta Bowl Columbus Dispatch reports...

OK, so let me get this straight. A possible offensive wrinkle in a bowl game that has no bearing on anything is news that needs to be shared with the entire country immediately? Who outside of Texas or Ohio gives a rats' ass how many QB's Ohio State might put on the field at once in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl? This is pretty much the essence of the crawl on ESPN these days.

[SIDEBAR] - Aren't the practices supposed to be closed? Don't these coaches go through some considerable hoops to make sure other teams don't know what they're up to? Don't you think that a Boeckman-Pryor backfield might be slightly more effective (if at all) when the other team has no inkling this is a possibility? How come every time an OSU player sneezes I have to see it reported by ESPN and everyone else? Last year it was widely reported that OSU players were given some motivational DVD before the title game. This year it's Pryor/Boeckman BS. Not that any of this ultimately matters at all, but for once it would be nice to find this stuff out during the game, not weeks before.

Sometimes it seems like the crawl is even contradicting itself. Another sample:

...Boston Herald reports Cleveland Browns decision regarding Asst. GM Scott Pioli must come by end of day today...

...Bill Cowher interested in Cleveland Browns head coach position...

...Bill Cowher does not want to coach during 2009 season...

...Cleveland Plain Dealer refutes Boston Herald report that Pioli decision must come by sunset...

...Bill Cowher interested in Jets head coaching position...

...Bill Cowher not interested in Jets head coaching position...

...Bill Cowher not interested in football in general stating, "I'm just going through the motions for CBS"...

...Bill Cowher, "I'm interested in football, just not pro or college football"...

You get the idea.

The relative importance of of the garbage ESPN throws up on the crawl is comical. Fourteen-year-old girls think the ESPN crawl gossips too much. It seems like maybe ESPN should just hook some RSS feeds up to the crawl from professional athletes' Facebook pages. That way, every single time one of these idiots comments on something we can immediately see it on our TV screen.

I'm going to go ahead and say we've got about a year before Facebook TV is a reality.

I think I'm going to cry.

I'm crying right now.

Really, I am.

OK, I'm done.

I used to disparage my significant other for watching celebrity "news" on any number of shows produced by the E! network. Now I know better. In fact, I'm actually starting to wonder if watching E! isn't a better use of your time.

Let's compare, shall we? On ESPN we get sweaty ogres that barely got through college constantly saying and doing dumb things. On E! we get attractive actors and actresses that barely got through college constantly saying and doing dumb things.

Hmmm...toss up.

Here's my other question for ESPN regarding the crawl. If every single minor piece of insignificant bullshit is immediately going to be pushed across my screen, what in the fuck do I need Sportscenter for? Why does ESPNews still exist? Why do I need espn.com available 24 hours a day?

While attempting to watch a bowl game, I get all manner of shallow, Brett Favre "news". So after the game I'm supposed to sit through Sportscenter and watch while they rehash the exact same shit I've been watching for three hours?

There are many sports fans out there that say, "I only watch ESPN for live sporting events." I couldn't agree more, although I do confess a soft spot for Pardon the Interruption.

Sadly, ESPN is doing everything that it can to shoe-horn all of its other bullshit into live sporting events too. It's getting damn near impossible to watch a football game because I'm constantly reading about Brett Favre or the Yankees or the Cowboys or whoever. It's as if actual sporting events are now secondary to ESPN.

Anyone catch those ridiculous "Interactive Tuesday" productions? I'm supposed to watch a football game I'm not overly interested in while you scroll the randomly-selected comments of some teenager in Boise, ID across the screen in the middle of plays? Are you fucking kidding me? I'd rather punch myself in the junk and call it a night.

Thank you ESPN for the crawl. Quite an inovation. That's real progress. You colossal assholes.

University of Georgia President Fails to Mouth Off

Did I miss something?

The University of Georgia won their bowl game didn't? Put in a pretty good performance too? Well, except for the first half where they practically had more penalties then first downs.

So where is University of Georgia president Michael F. Adams? Cat got your tongue Mike?

You all remember Prez Adams don't you? He was last seen pissing and moaning about a college football playoff after the Bulldogs thumped vastly overmatched Hawai'i in the Sugar Bowl a year ago.

From an espn.com posted last January:

Michael Adams, chairman of the NCAA executive committee, has opposed a playoff for 20 years but said Tuesday the current BCS system is "undercutting the sportsmanship and integrity of the game."

Did you catch that? He's been opposed to a playoff for two decades but when he feels his school is getting screwed he quickly switches direction.

Then again, he's not known as Mr. Integrity, not even in his own backyard. He couldn't step aside for ten seconds to let Les Miles and LSU enjoy their national title last year. Way to show your athletic conference a little respect pal.

President Adams is so popular that private citizens once submitted a petition with over 60,000 signatures to the state of Georgia calling for his ouster. Nice work Mike!

So again, I'm wondering where is Mr. Adams this weekend? I mean, his university's football team finished the season with an impressive one-game win streak. Hell, they started the season ranked number one. Who cares if they were a massive disappointment to their fans this season?

You want to bitch about the BCS? Fine. It's a popular pastime especially this time of year. Personally I'd say it's one of the bigger wastes of time out there besides say, exercising. People have been bitching about the BCS since its inception and all that screaming and yelling has produced approximately SQUAT. The exact same system has essentially be in place for ten years now and isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Coaches and administators that want to whine about notions of "fair" and "right" (as if there was anything fair or right on this planet) do themselves an incredible disservice by only voicing their opinion when they feel slighted. You want to wake some people up? How about the winner of Thursdays national title game stand up and say, "We are happened to be national champs, but we feel this system is flawed."

Bob Stoops is on record shilling for a playoff. Think he'll complain if he's handed the crystal football? Nah. If asked he'll tell you that we have an imperfect but effective means of crowning a champ.

I'm sure you could get Pete Carroll to lobby for a playoff this year. He didn't seem to have any problem with it when USC was playing in the BCS national title game.

Same goes for Mack Brown and Texas fans. They have decided that the BCS has screwed them out of a shot at the national title. First off, not true. It was the Big XII's inability to effectively crown a divisional winner that put the 'Horns in the Fiesta Bowl instead of the national title game. Secondly, this same group had no issue with the system when they won it all a few years back.

You want to be down on the BCS? At least be consistent. Otherwise your whining doesn't hold water.

Brian Hoyer thinks Stephen Garcia had a decent game

The one positive Michigan State fans will take away from the 2009 Capitol One Bowl is that it was Brian Hoyer's last game. Talk about deja vu, it was almost exactly one year ago that we saw Brian Hoyer pretty much single-handedly losing a bowl game for the Spartans.

I'm not sure I would go as far as to say that Hoyer's play at QB cost Michigan State the game. It definitely didn't help.

Let's put it this way, once it became obvious that neither UGA RB Knowshon Moreno or MSU RB Javon Ringer were going to get loose, it came down to Brian Hoyer vs. UGA QB Matt Stafford. End of story.

Fittingly, Hoyer's last pass of the game was picked off. Reminds me of another "great" collegiate QB who wrapped it up with an INT. Yep, the great Steve Bellisari. So we'll think of Brian Hoyer as "Steve-Bellisari-Lite", except without all the...success.

Once I saw Matt Stafford standing tall in the pocket with nary a green jersey anywhere near him, I knew this game was pretty much over. Conversely, the Georgia defensive line was having a tailgate party in the MSU backfield all afternoon.

You see, football is not rocket science. Not even close. You protect your QB, you're going to score points. You put pressure on the other QB, you're going to hold them down. It's that simple.

By the way, much thanks to Matt Stafford's mom for not acting like an idiot in the stands. Yet again, the ESPN cameras zoomed in on the QB's family during the game. I thought it was going to be the Chase Daniel Family Alamo Bowl all over again.

I have no fucking idea what the directors at these sporting events are thinking. Let's see, we've got a nice tight game here, let's keeping throwing it to the stands for some family reaction after every play.

This is certainly not unique to ESPN. We've been seeing this garbage at sporting events for years. No one does overkill like the World Wide Leader though.

Anyone notice that Chase Daniel didn't have a particularly good game for Missouri? Anyone else notice that there were about 35 other guys playing for Mizzou? Anyone else notice that this is the freaking Alamo Bowl, not the Superbowl for crying out loud?

Well, ESPN certainly didn't. Subsequently we were treated to Chase Daniel's family, primarily his mother and sister, jumping around like hyenas and acting like the outcome of the Alamo Bowl was determining the fate of the free world.

Hawkeyes blow it.

Thanks for nothing Iowa.

The Big Ten had a real good shot at pulling a 'Detroit Lions' and losing all of their bowl games this year. I thought maybe with that kind of collapse that the Big Ten might be in line for some TARP money or something. No dice.

Iowa beat the crap out of S. Carolina yesterday, 31-7. It's a nice win for Iowa which doesn't seem to have nearly as much trouble beating SEC teams as say...Ohio State.

There is a rumor floating around out there that Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz will be leaving for the NFL, possibly the Browns' opening. Pete Fiutak from collegefootballnews.com sums up nicely...

Kirk Ferentz is gone. Watch for Ferentz to be among the top candidates for the Cleveland Browns opening, especially if Scott Paoli from New England becomes the general manager. Ferentz was a hot name for several NFL openings around five years ago, cooled off, and now he’s not going to let the ship sail twice. If Ferentz wants to take a step up and be in the NFL, now he has to do it on the heels of this great Outback Bowl win, and with a wee bit of a rebuilding job to be done losing Shonn Greene to the NFL and with some other key pieces also gone.

I'm not 100% sure I agree with this assessment. Sure, I'll bet Ferentz would take an NFL gig. Winning in Iowa on a consistent basis isn't easy. Just ask...Kirk Ferentz.

There was a nice little off-the-field mess in Iowa City last year too. I'm sure Ferentz would love to leave all that pesky disciplining to the NFL front office.

I'm not sure I'm willing to buy Ferentz as the next Cleveland Browns coach though. When was the last time we saw a collegiate coach jump to the NFL and succeed? I'm not sure the Cleveland faithful will buy another 'maybe he can do this' pick for the top spot.

And speaking of collegiate coaches and the NFL, what in the hell has happened to Steve Spurrier? It's been ten years since he was relevant.

He stunk it up with the Redskins. Now he's plodding his way through an extremely mediocre stint at South Carolina. Through four complete seasons he's been to three bowl games and won one.

What's most bizarre is that Spurrier has yet to put a QB on the field that's worth a shit. The latest hot-shot QB to waltz into Columbia and have a visor thrown at him is Stephen Garcia. He flat-out sucked against Iowa yesterday accounting for four turnovers in the first half before getting yanked.

Do you realize that Steve Spurrier won the SEC six times during his 12-year stint at Florida? Now he can't win the Outback Bowl.

To be fair, the SEC of the 1990's was not nearly as stout as the current group. The SEC has an All-Star cast of head coaches, correct? That's what I was told before this season anyway. How'd that turn out?

Fulmer is gone. Tuberville is gone. Croom is gone. Petrino is a scumbag.

Did I miss anyone?

My guess is you'll get one more season out of Spurrier regardless of how his team does next year. As is the case with Iowa's Ferentz, hard to win consistently when you're always second fiddle in your own conference.

I would advise Spurrier's caddy to enjoy your time off now. You're going to be busy after next season.

Goodbye 2008

To quote the completely nude Matt Bucher that was standing in the open doorway of a first floor motel room on a snowy New Years Day ten years ago, “MEDDIE NEW YEAR!”


The rest of that story will have to be told another time unfortunately.

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009. Good-fucking-riddance I say. That was a rough one.

Onward and upward...

New Years Eve, or as I like to call it, Amateur Night, has got to be one of the most annoying events on the calendar. My general plan for the time being is that about once out of every five years I'll try to go all out. Maybe a nice vacation or something. The rest of the time? You'll find me avoiding the masses.

And speaking of masses, I am still trying to figure out what in God's name is remotely appealing about cramming yourself into Times Square to see the ball drop? Does ANYTHING about that look fun to you?

You have to get there hours ahead of time to get shoe-horned into a "good" spot. There is nowhere to go to the bathroom. Think about that for minute.

Do I need to explain to you where people end up relieving themselves?

Secondly, I'm not 100% clear on this, but I'm not even sure there's anywhere to get booze. When was the last time you saw someone knocking down the suds in Times Square on New Years Eve?

Perhaps given the aforementioned bathroom situation the lack of alcohol is better for everyone involved.

Here's another plus, it's freezing-ass-cold. I believe with the wind chill the temperature around midnight was roughly zero. Sure, with all those people packed in there the conditions are somewhere in the ballpark of 'slightly more tolerable then a prostate exam'. Then again, people are also pissing all over themselves.

They have all those great live musical acts though!

I'd say that's probably doing the term 'great' a disservice. Maybe I've gotten to be an old man rather quickly but I'd say the number of live acts worth seeing in those conditions is about the same as Plaxico Burress' IQ. That's right, two.

The first would be my personal fave, Pearl Jam. I'm not totally committed to seeing Eddie and the boys in those conditions though. I would need some set list assurances before I was all-in.

The only other live act I would show up for would have to be the Lord, Jesus Christ, descending from Heaven to do some of his favorite parlor tricks. Maybe a little water-into-wine. Heal a few lepers. You know, the usual.

Outside of that? You got me.

Plus, anyone else notice how often these network New Years Eve shows are "throwing it somewhere else" for a musical number? You get Elton John from Las Vegas or Sheryl Crow from London. Some of the musical groups were doing their thing right down the street at Rockefeller Center. I even saw some act the other night that was performing live in Dayton, OH.

Dayton?

Really?

Yeah, so when they're beaming in one of these remote numbers, you're basically just watching it on a big TV if you're unlucky enough to be standing in Times Square, correct? Aren't the rest of us at home watching it on TV too? And seeing the same thing? Except not freezing our ass off in a pool of human waste?

Sounds like a great time. Now imagine coming to this realization.

I'm in Times Square. I'm freezing. I'm sober. I just pissed myself. For the third time. And now I'm watching some shitty musical act in Dayton, OH. Man, the people in Dayton look warm. I wish I was in Dayton. Kill me now God, please.

Anyone else notice that about five minutes after midnight that Times Square had COMPLETELY cleared out? I wonder how long the line was for the nearest bathroom?

I have come to realize that the reason everyone in Times Square on New Years Eve is from somewhere other then New York City is because the New Yorkers have long since figured out how miserable it is to be there. Too bad they couldn't let all these other poor saps know what they were in for ahead of time.

Here's a tip. If you want to see the ball drop on Times Square, shell out and get yourself a hotel room overlooking that mess. You'll stay warm, you'll have access to plenty of booze and most importantly, you won't have to change your shorts immediately following the proceedings.

One other bonus of watching the Times Square festivities anywhere other then Times Square is you'll get to clearly hear every word America's favorite stroke victim Dick Clark has to say. [SHUDDER]

What the hell is up with that anyway? A friend recently described that scene as 'heart-wrenching'. And everyone knows, heart-wrenching and good times go hand-in-hand like peanut-butter and jelly.

Who is running ABC these days? What network executive is sitting at home on New Years Eve applauding Dick Clark as he struggles to count down from ten to zero? You're supposed to be selling merriment, not speech therapy.

Don't get me wrong, I am not disparaging Dick Clark in the least. Or any stroke victim. My own grandfather, God rest his soul, eventually succumbed to the effects of a stroke. You'll notice he wasn't on national TV trying to count backwards at any point.

There was a time when Dick Clark was an institution in this country, but that train has sailed. Trust me, anyone old enough to remember Dick Clark on American Bandstand hasn't stayed up until midnight for at least a decade.

Thank you ABC for turning what is supposed to be one of the biggest parties of the year into an uncomfortable trip to a retirement home. See you again next year!

O-H-I-O

Grand ironies are the spice of life...

Entering the 2008 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns had the momentum. The team was coming off a 10-6 season and barely missed the playoffs. There was talent all over the offensive side of the ball and the Browns managed to snag massive DT Sean Rogers away from the Detroit Lions while the Cincinnati Bengals were attempting to do the same.

All this resulted in the Browns being slated for more prime time appearances then any other NFL team. It also resulted in great expectations amongst the infinitely gullible Cleveland Browns fans.

The Bengals on the other hand, are a disgrace. One winning season in the last 18 years. Wow, that is pathetic.

However, following today's 14-0 Bengals victory in Cleveland Browns Stadium, you have to wonder if the momentum hasn't jumped from northern Ohio to southern Ohio. And trust me, the game was not as close as the score indicates. It was however as pathetic as the score indicates.

The Bengals now have three wins on the season. The Browns have...four. There is a very strong possibility that both Ohio NFL teams could end up with the same record.

I guess all that Cleveland Browns optimism was a bit premature wasn't it?

The Browns will start next season with a new head coach more then likely. Perhaps a new GM as well. The QB situation is still messy up there with both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn injured. The third-stringer, Ken Dorsey is dismal. He was benched today for former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Bruce Gradkowski, who promptely tossed up the fourth Cleveland INT of the day.

The Bengals on the other hand will get Carson Palmer back, will have a young established running back (Cedric Benson) and might even jetison mediocre malcontent Chad Johnson. When the Bengals have the stars aligned like this lookout. I am predicting eight wins for 2009.

R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl, feel it!!

Awesome start for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles! Brett Favre's alma mater is putting on quite a display of ineptitude.

They pulled a "USC" and decided to wear their home uniforms instead of "the whites". Consequently Southern Miss was docked a timeout after the first play of the game. The Eagles followed that up with a false start.

On play number three, the USM QB had his option pitched batted down by a Troy defender who then took the bounce to the house. Perfect!

On the ensuing kickoff an impressive return to midfield was negated by yet another penalty against Southern Miss.

Elapsed time, one minute.

So if you're scoring at home, that's three penalties and a fumble returned for a score in the first minute for the Eagles.

Well done.

Stop blaming the BCS

"Check out this sweet brown paper bag!"

"I'd also like to announce that I don't understand the nuances of the BCS."

Thanks Troy. 'Preciate it.

I'm watching the Cowboys-Steelers game. A real barn-burner. I know the weather sucks but 3-3 at halftime? Sweet.

To advertise the BCS Bowl game announcements later tonight, they have Joe Buck read a quick promo. After praising Florida, Alabama and Oklahoma, Troy then states, "I'm not sure about this BCS stuff. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say it should be decided on the field." He then states that Texas is getting screwed in so many words.

First off, it should be pointed out that Troy Aikman almost certainly spends much of his time in Dallas if he doesn't live there full-time. That means he is likely hearing from the very pro-Longhorns fans much of the time. That's just a sidenote that speaks to potential bias, not that we aren't all biased in some way or another.

More importantly here, STOP blaming the BCS for the Big XII South debacle. The blame for that situation falls at the feet of the Big XII, not the BCS.

The BCS was not created to determine divisional tie-breakers. It was created to try and put the #1 and #2 teams in a title game at the end of the season. Well, that and make a whole bunch of money for the affiliated bowl games.

I still think there are a whole lot more sports fans out there that understand what the BCS is and that a playoff is a virtual impossibility. It is amazing to me how many people spend so much time pining for a playoff every year. What has all that bitching gotten them? Absolutely nothing. They might as well complain about the color of the sky.

You stay classy SC!

Brian Cushing, New Jersey native and Southern Cal certified, douchebag following the riveting defeat of Notre Dame:

"They weren't going anywhere, and they knew it. It was just a matter of time before they were deflated."

Do you think Mr. Cushing is aware that Notre Dame is practically a high school team at this point?

Shut your mouth you classless lout.

By the way, great photo. It's Garden State white trash at its finest.

BTW

At the halfway point here in November, Wisconsin Head Coach Bret Bielma is still the leader in the clubhouse as far as 'Moron of the Month' is concerned.

How many weeks of vacation do you get anyway?

So...been 15 days.

Having some technical issues again. The central nerve center of this high tech operation, A.K.A. "Deep Blue", which is actually a 10-year-old eMachine and total piece of crap, has been on the fritz.

Microcenter and Michigan week seem to have us back in the saddle though. I hope.

Moron of the Month

It's only November 2nd, but I'm confident that no one is going to top one of the worst coaching decisions I've ever seen any time soon.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is the Moron of the Month until further notice. He might be Moron of the Millennium if he keeps this up.

Bielema's team has gone from a Top Ten ranking earlier this season to the bottom of the Big Ten in roughly one month. Wow.

Another ridiculous loss yesterday at Michigan State.

First, Bielema gave the Spartans a short field that resulted in a quick score after he decided to mouth off to an official before a kick-off. Nice example you're setting for your team douchebag. It's really surprising that they would be penalized roughly 800 times for 121 yards yesterday. That particular moment of lunacy was nothing compared to the complete and total ineptitude that was displayed at the end of the game.

Michigan State needed a field goal to win the game and got the ball back with little time left on the clock. The Spartans managed to drive down the field and get themselves in position to attempt a 44-yard field goal.

With no timeouts, MSU was rushing their field goal kicking unit onto the field to try and get the kick off before the game ended. There were approximately 15 seconds left on the clock.

So of course, Bret Bielema calls timeout. That's right, Wisconsin's head coach bailed out Michigan State by stopping the clock while they were desperately attempting to get the field goal off.

Then, he called timeout again.

Genius.

So now you have insured that you have given the opposing kicker not only plenty of time to get the kick lined up, but also time to check the wind speed and his horoscope. MORON!

Of course, Michigan State drained the field goal and Wisconsin lost the game.

It's the beginning of the end for Bielema. His team is incredibly disappointing this year and he no longer has Barry Alvarez' players on his roster.

I think he's probably gone after next year.

Back in the heart of Buckeye Nation...

It's been an eventful couple of weeks.

Myself and my entourage (two cats and one fiancee) have setup shop a stone's throw from The Ohio State University. Who says you can't go home again?

Our journey was rewarded today. The Great Pumpkin delivered a Halloween "Holy Shit!" as the Bengals got their first win of the season against Jacksonville. The perfect season is ruined.

However, this didn't stop the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty from excoriating one of the worst sports franchise owners on the planet, Mike Brown.