No Need for March Madness

On a week where there is no football on TV, I turned my attention to college basketball. I watched No.6 UNC vs. No. 9 Clemson and I think I found my pick in this year's tournament.

The game was fairly close through the first half with the Tar Heels going into halftime 45-40. I was expecting a great game that came down to the wire, but the Tar Heels showed why they are the best in the nation. Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson shined in the 2nd half by combining for several game changing plays in route to a 94-70 blowout.

This starting five maybe the best college basketball has seen since the 2005 UNC team that took home the title. They have playmakers, depth and experience. Come tournament time, this team will shine and show why they are the best in college basketball.

My Prediction: UNC beats OU 77-68 for their 5th national title.

A Love/Hate Relationship

I hate the Philadelphia Eagles. I can't ever remember rooting for them to win. Never. Part of this is because I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan but more than that, I just hate the way they play the game.

I am currently in Washington D.C. for President Barack Obama's Inauguration tomorrow afternoon at the U.S. Capitol Building. So over the last 24 hours my travels have taken me through Dallas, Atlanta, Philly and now Washington D.C.

I was a little disappointed because I knew that I would have to miss both the AFC and NFC Championship games yesterday because it was going to be a 15 hour travel day due to the enormous number of people traveling here for 56th Presidential Inauguration.

As I landed in Philly, the game was entering the 2nd quarter. I knew that I would be able to tell exactly how the game was going before I even saw a television because of the remarks from the Eagles' fans in the terminal. Sure enough, just as I exited the plane ramp I heard "What is Reid thinking?!!?" and "McNabb is the worst quarterback I've ever seen!" There were many other R-rated comments but I'm trying to keep it clean.

As I looked up and fixed my eyes on the television, I saw that the Cardinals had just taken a 24-6 lead in halftime I blurted out "Yes! I love it!" Silence around me. Just as quickly as I had expressed my excitement, I was surround by boos and curse words telling me to watch my mouth,etc.

As boarded the subway to take me into downtown Philly, I saw that the Eagles had just scored two quick TD's to cut the Cardinals lead to 24-19 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The Eagles have been the hottest team in the NFL over the last month, so I knew that they wouldn't just lay down.

When I got off the subway, I knew everyone would be watching the game. I got lucky because less than a block from the station was a bar filled with Eagles fans. As I got closer the crowd grew louder and louder... bad news for me. Just as I peeked my head in the door, the bar the place erupted.

Donavan McNabb just threw a 62 yard bomb to Desean Jackson who bobbled it about ten times and came down with it as he walked in the endzone to put the Eagles up 25-24.

I was so mad. I couldn't stay and watch. So I started heading to the GreyHound station about 4 blocks away. But as was about halfway, I realized that when else was I going to get the opportunity to be in the heart of "The City of Brotherly Love" watching an NFC Championship game? So I began to run. It was really cool because it had begun to snow just as I reached the station.

As I got to the sliding doors of the Greyhound station I saw a mob of every class of people you could imagine propped in front of a 30 inch TV. I joined about 50 Eagles' fans made up of security guards, pregnant women, stockbrokers, janitors and a few homeless guys. Just as I put my luggage down, Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald for 12 yards and a big first down with under 3 minutes left in the game.

I was loving this because I knew that the Cardinals had the upper hand here. I had learned from my verbal beating two hours earlier in the airport and acted disappointed when Warner threw a 8 yard touchdown pass to Tim Hightower to take the lead 32-25.

During the the 2 minute warning, the mob discussed the Eagles' chances of winning. Surprisingly, everyone was optimistic about their team. I sat and watched McNabb take the Eagles down inside Cardinals' territory with under a minute left. High- fives and cheers were everywhere as the Eagles called a timeout.

One guy next to me claimed that McNabb was the greatest QB he had ever seen and that if they won this game he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame that night. Please, I thought. The rest of the crowd made similar remarks concerning their head coach and Brian Westbrook.

As the Eagles came out of the timeout, they quickly had three short yardage plays and the mood of the fans around me began to sour. I knew the end was near and so did they. The Eagles were forced to punt. As the Eagles' last ditch effort was intercepted, time expired and the Cardinals celebrated. The Eagles' fans around me immediately began to blast their beloved team.

Not only were they upset at their performance in the last five minutes, they were calling for the jobs of everyone involved. The same guy that had crowned McNabb as the "greatest QB he had ever seen" just 15 minutes before was screaming at the TV saying " He's done! Trade McNabb! I'll never root for him again!" Wow.

Some people say Philly fans are the best in sports. Give me a break.

Simply the Best

Tonight, for the second time in three years, the Sears Trophy was awarded to the Florida Gators . If you watched this game I think you would agree with me when I say that the game was not as close as the score indicated. The Urban Meyer led Gators won this game early in the first half.

I came into the game rooting for OU but as the game went on, I couldn't help but cheer for "Mr. College Football", Tim Tebow. The Heisman Trophy award winner from 2007 was clearly the best player on the field from the time he ran out of the locker room until he held up the crystal football as his teammates celebrated in front of him.

Tebow is the definition of a leader on and off the field because of his passion and intensity. You don't find many athletes these days that can "talk the talk and walk the walk," but that's exactly what Tebow has done ever since he became a Gator.

Here is my bold statement for the day: Tim Tebow will go down as the greatest college football player EVER.

I know that is bold but look at his resume:

96 Total Td's

6,390 passing yards

2,722 rushing yards

2007-Heisman Trophy Winner

2008- Heisman Trophy Finalist

2 National Championships- 2006 and 2008

With those credentials and a whole season in front of him...wow.

My prediction: Florida beats USC 31-24 in the BCS National Championship game and Tebow wins his 2nd Heisman Trophy and 3rd national title in four years.

GO BLUE?

Today is New Year's Day 2009 and I'm already looking forward New Year's Day 2010. Why you ask? The answer is because I am sitting here watching The Rose Bowl featuring USC vs. Penn State and my beloved Michigan Wolverines are sitting at home for the first time in 34 years during bowl season. Not only am I mad that Michigan was a no-show this year but this game is a joke - USC 31-7 in 3rd Quarter.  

USC and Florida are the best two teams in the nation. Period. Sorry OU.

I have loved the Wolverines ever since I was five years old. I lived in Flint, Michigan for five years during the era of "The Fab Five" and Desmond Howard's pose in the endzone. Michigan is a basketball state but they live and die with their football team on Saturdays. 

Anyways, as I sit here I wonder what the next 12 months will bring Rich Rodriguez and the "Champions of the West." 

My Prediction: 7-4.