Sports Frog^2.0

Happy 2004 from the Friznog!

When I was a kid, the Rubiks Cube was a fad. What's the modern chic trend among today's youth? Bisexual chicks!

Stephanie Forman, a sophomore at Cypress Bay High in Weston, says the trend is sort of "disgusting," but she's used to seeing it.

"Guys are like, `Kiss, kiss, kiss!'" she said, adding that some behavior carries over onto campus. "Parents shouldn't freak out. It's just for fun."

Allen Barra, who used to write mediocre stuff for Salon, has turned up at Slate with his take on why running backs are tearing through defenses like I'm about to be tearing through 12-packs.

According to him, tailbacks trying to get the big bucks are putting their bodies on the line and racking up tons of carries in their youth to the detriment of their future. More interestingly, he points out how having one of these dominating backs doesn't make you a dominating a team.

The strange thing is, as the great backs post these ostentatious stats, they seem to have less and less impact on the game. Lewis' Ravens are in the playoffs, but no one expects them to go very far, largely because of a truly dismal passing game that has produced just 16 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. For all the talk of how running sets up the pass in pro football, Lewis' running seems to have had little positive effect on the Baltimore passing attack. The conference's top-seeded team, the New England Patriots, has a mediocre溶o, make that poor羊unning game, producing just 1,607 rushing yards, nearly 400 fewer than Lewis alone. Yet the Patriots are nearly everyone's pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC's top seed, don't have a top-30 rusher.

We were waffled by Wazzu last night to the tune of 21 noisemakers, dropping The Big Bet pool down to 357. It's up to me to ring out aught-3 with a winner.

Tonight's bet evokes memories of myself as a teenager, a loser's loser who never got an invite to a New Year's Eve party. I remember sitting alone forlornly on the livingroom couch dunking pretzel rods in onion dip as the old year ticked away. I'd watch the Astro Bluebonnet Bowl on a night where anybody with any semblance of a social life had better things to do than watch two also-ran college football teams play for no good reason other than to fill up airtime before Dick Clark came on live from Times Square. Happy New Year indeed.

Tonight, Boston College and Colorado State will kick off the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl at 10:30 p.m. Eastern so that this generation's passel of pubescent losers can drown their loneliness in Diet Coke, Cool Ranch Ruffles and chocolate covered Oreos without even noticing '03 has bled into '04. Thank God for TV.

The Big Bet: 16 pretzel rods on Boston College over Colorado State (pick 'em) in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl.

Trying to make up for the horrendous signing of Fernando Vina to play 2B ($6 million dollars over two years), the Tigers have signed ex-Oriole pitcher Jason Johnson to a two-year $7 million dollar contract.

This signing I like for a team like the Tigers. Johnson was 10-10 last year with a 4.18 era for the Orioles. He has good stuff, and can keep the ball down. He struggles sometimes with the mental part of pitching, but at 30, has a lot of years left to improve. The spacious dimensions of Comerica Park should also help address his propensity to get hurt with the long ball. The contract is reasonable and the Tigers get his services for two years. Both parties are happy, and the Tigers will be better with Johnson in their rotation.

Maybe they could take a note or two in Cincinnati. The Tigers get a better pitcher for a longer time for just a shade more money than the Reds spent on their Cory Lidle rental for one year. School's in session.

Glenn "Mooch" Myernick announced his 25-man roster yesterday for the U-23 team that will represent the US in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February. A squad dominated by MLS players the most high-profile team members of the bunch are Landon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley.

After a strong showing from the US in the U-21 World Championships, there appears to be an air of optimism surrounding the team that went 4-0-2 in international competition in 2003.

Don Banks weighs in with his take, noting that in the end Steve Spurrier was simply over his head in the NFL. He tried to run things like he did in college in terms of organization, and it simply didn't work. Banks also includes these observations:

"In some ways, watching Spurrier work these past two years has been like watching the man behind the green curtain be revealed in super-slow mo. Turns out there was no great and powerful Oz. Just a guy trying to work the levers as best he could and keep up appearances. Spurrier was lost as an NFL head coach, and on Tuesday he decided better to get lost than continue the charade.

'People around the league knew even last year, that when [former Redskins defensive coordinator] Marvin Lewis was there, it was Marvin who kept the team together,' said the Redskins observer, himself a veteran of the NFL game. 'Marvin was the glue. They won seven games last year because Marvin was there. They didn't have that this year.'

'Without Marvin there last year, there would have been nobody there to tell [Spurrier] how to script the practices and how to talk to the team and address the team. Marvin had to help Spurrier with all of that sort of thing, because he didn't know how to do it. Spurrier didn't even want anybody like Marvin around this year, because he knew that Marvin knew he was in over his head.'

When Spurrier's tenure with the Redskins is completely dissected, one of the main recurrent themes will also be his team's loose sense of discipline and lack of direction. Coming into the NFL, Spurrier didn't know that a head coach's primary job is not X's and O's, but rather big-picture CEO responsibilities like communicating with his players and the media, keeping everyone focused on the task at hand, and guiding the franchise through the inevitable ups and downs of the long NFL season. Setting a tone is what NFL head coaches spend most of their time and energy on, but Spurrier never wanted that part of the job and never took to it."

This might explain the comments now surfacing about players being late to meetings and those same meetings being interrupted by cell phone calls. What an amazing failure Spurrier's tenure in Washington was. No other way to sum it up. Wonder how pissed off Marvin Lewis was last year to have been walking Spurrier through the nuts and bolts of doing a job (NFL head coach) that he should have had before he finally landed in Cincinnati?

The Big Bet is on a little roll with Charlesworth's Husker win last night. The pot is back up to 378 after being close to the even point after suffering three losses in four days. There are a few NBA games and three Bowl Games to choose from. And while I've paying more attention to the NBA lately it's more entertaining to have a rooting interest in a college game...

Tuesday's Big Bet: 21 to win 20 on Texas -9.5/-105 vs Wash. St. The Longhorns have been on a run of late and have something to prove after missing out on the BCS bowl-a-rama. Plus the Swamp is really talking up Texas and I know they won't let us down. Hook em 'Horns.

Spurrier now confirms he has, in fact, quit. He blames any confusion on his agent. Yeah, damn agents.

Of course, if Spurrier approached his game plans with the same attention to detail he has shown in resigning, some the Redskins problems come into focus, don't they?

Now Steve Spurrier is saying that he did not resign. This will come as news to the Redskins, who are still saying he has.

Two quick thoughts: (1) Spurrier just realized how much money he walked away from and wants to negotiate a severance package. (2) Courtesy of JPops: "Snyder is a snake."

Either are possible, I would suppose. Stay tuned. One way or another, Spurrier is apparently done in DC.

Mike Tice, come on back! Vikings owner Red McCombs says you can have one more go at not fucking up a Vikings fans season. In fact, McCombs never entertained the idea of firing you. Huh.

That's fair, I guess. Hard to lose your job over one play at the end of a season. Course, maybe easier to lose your job when comparing the Vikings finish to their 6-0 start. At any rate, start prepping now to not screw up your first round draft selection at this years draft. Remember Vikings front office, the key is to make your selection before the clock runs out.

So apparently says Steve Spurrier. Chris Mortenson is reporting on espn's main page that Spurrier has resigned. Here are a few more details. He is also walking away from the remaining 15 million on his contract but will get moving expenses.

Fire up those Spurrier to (insert your favorite college opening here) rumors.

The Reds, one of what baltimaher correctly calls the Bud Selig junta, have finally joined the free agent fray. They have signed ex-A and now ex-Blue Jay Cory Lidle to a one-year $2.75 million dollar contract. Lidle was 12-15 last year for Toronto with a 5.75 era. He made $5.5 million dollars last year.

It is a decent acquistion for the Reds, but this signing provides a perfect lens for viewing what it is like to be a Reds fan nowadays. Reds GM Dan O'Brien called Lidle an immediate candidate for the Opening Day starters slot, in the mix with Jimmy Haynes and Paul Wilson. They get a "bargain" in Lidle, who was lit up for much of last year, in the hopes that he can regain his Oakland form. Lidle views the Reds as a nice one-year stop for the same reason, hoping, if he regains his form, to command big money after one year in Cincinnati.

So, your average Reds fan hopes that Lidle gets good again for next year all the while knowing that if he does, he will be out the door in 2005 for bigger money elsewhere. And baseball wonders why it is hemorrhaging young fans. Who wouldn't want to root like hell for a one-year rental who will move on if he is successful? Baseball fever. Catch it.

Interesting. The Bush Administration is going to ban herbal products containing ephedra.

The cynic in me says that the herbal products field must have lousy lobbyists if they could not convince this particular adminsitration to leave them alone. But maybe, just maybe, the greater good was the prevailing factor this time around for the folks in power in DC. Nah, I am going with the lousy lobbyist theory.

The first of the year is almost here, which means the start of the college basketball conference season in earnest. A thread is underway in the Swamp as people weigh in on the top ten teams they have seen this season so far. For a quick overview of one man's top 16, head here and peruse Stewart Mandel's list on si.com.

Striker Frederic Kanoute has made clear his intentions to play for Mali in the African Nations Cup in the New Year and miss as much as four weeks of the Premiership season. The problem is that his club, Tottenham Hotspurs, is on the verge of its worst start to a season in its history and is hovering dangerously close to the relegation line.

Kanoute is the team's leading scorer and perhaps more than anyone else, after playing for West Ham last year, is aware that four weeks could be the difference between Premiership soccer and the First Division.

It's hard to fault a player who wants to represent his country in a major tournament; clubs must acknowledge that risk when signing an international and are now fighting tooth and nail with FIFA to get some compensation for players it loses to national team schedules. Here's the wrinkle in the Kanoute case - he has never played for Mali.

Kanoute is a dual citizen of France (where he was born) and Mali (where his parents hail from). In fact, he has suited up for the French U-21 squad in the past. According to new FIFA regulations, since he only played in the junior ranks, he is still eligible to make the "switch" to Mali. If Kanoute follows through on his plans, he will certainly come under fire for seemingly abandoning the club at their worst hour for a team he has never played for.

That strikes me as a harsh accusation because it requires assumptions about identity and national allegiances that only Kanoute can answer. Still, if he's prepared to make this decision, he needs comparable strength to not expect to be welcomed back with open arms.

If you were one of the 37 Florida Marlins' fans in the world about how many times during the off-season would you click on various web sites' MLB Scoreboards?

Baltimaher was supposed to be up for the Big Bet tonight but he is apparently having to much fun in California to do is honorable Froggy duties (or he has been mudslidden). So I will take his spot today instead of JPops' (who took Tezen's, who originally took mine) tomorrow. Get it? It doesn't really matter.

The big bowl week starts out modestly tonight with the Alamo Bowl in San Antone. A Nebraska team that actually had a pretty decent year but still canned their coach (an interim fellow named Bo will man the sidelines today) vs. a Smoker-friendly Michigan St. team that comes in stumbling having lost three of four. Says here that the Spartans' recent woes and inability to draw any fans down South will leave them on the short end of a 34-19 score tonight. It really says that here. See, it says it about two lines above where you are reading right now.

Ten yollars on the Huskers giving four.

When I was a kid--back before Gore invented the Internet--I used to buy World Almanacs to get sports stats and other info. Good thing I don't buy them any more or I could end up on some sort of terrorist watch list.

The FBI is warning police nationwide to be alert for people carrying almanacs, cautioning that the popular reference books covering everything from abbreviations to weather trends could be used for terrorist planning.

In a bulletin sent Christmas Eve to about 18,000 police organizations, the FBI said terrorists may use almanacs "to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning."

Strange times we live in. Strange times.

Gregg Williams', Dick Jauron's, Dave McGinnis' former seats are now open for the bidding. On the clock perhaps are Mike Tice and Bill Callahan.

Roberto Baggio has announced that he is calling it quits at the end of this season, focusing the last few months of his professional career on reaching the 200-goal mark in Serie A with his club Brescia (he has 309 goals lifetime).

A legend in Italy and one of the greatest strikers to play the game, it's a shame that many stateside fans will likely remember Baggio best for shanking a critical penalty kick in the 1994 World Cup title game played in the US. As ridiculous as it may sound, some might say the Italian national team has never recovered from that heartbreak and it is an unfortunate footnote to an otherwise brilliant pro career that has spanned 20 years.

Why, it must have been Joe Dumars! Word out of Pacers camp is that players and Ron Artest in particular are growing frustrated with Rick Carlisle's controlling atmosphere.

"Artest was benched the entire second half against the Nets after an uninspired first half and a halftime argument with Carlisle.

Carlisle cited Artest for "conduct detrimental to winning." It was the first sign of dissent from Artest this season after he was suspended for 12 games and fined $155,000 last year.

Artest has been frustrated with Carlisle's structured offense, which calls for set plays on most trips down the floor."

Hey Ron, a little advice. Do your job and let the Coach do his. See where it goes.

Manchester United is breathing a little easier these days in anticipation of its matchup with Porto in the next stage of the Champions League. The reigning UEFA Cup champs will not have the services of the Portuguese league's leading goalscorer, Derlei Silva, thanks to a torn knee ligament.

While there have been quite a few reports that former AC Milan benchwarmer Rivaldo was headed back to Brazil to end his career, the latest on the rumor mill wire has him making the move to the Portuguese club this January. The promise of Champions League soccer and a regular starting gig should be big selling points to the Brazilian star. Hopefully he has learned from his past mistakes and will not allow his ego (and a ridiculous asking price) get in the way of ending his career on a high note.

Speaking of the January transfer window, jump in The Swamp and let us know who you think will be wearing a new uniform come February.

From September 4, 2003, SportsFrog Entry by my good friend Baltimaher:

"Sports Illustrated's Football Predictions

Disclaimer: I am a lifelong Washington fan and do not necessarily see clearly on issues involving this squad. I am completely biased and have no sense of perspective.

I take umbrage with this prediction: The Washington football team will be 5-11. They had the fifth-best defense in the league (and Marvin Lewis was an overrated part of that, as people are forgetting what a major distraction his open campaigning for coaching jobs during the season last year was). They have improved their special teams, which cost Washington at least two games last season. They have added two of the better guards in football to bolster the offensive line. They have added a big-play wide receiver in Laveranues Coles and drafted another highly-rated wideout in Taylor Jacos. And they do not have Danny Wuerffel or Shane Matthews on the roster. They were 7-9 last season. I think those positives outweigh losing Stephen Davis and Dan Wilkinson, don't they?

Yes, they're in trouble if they lose Patrick Ramsey. But aren't the Giants in trouble if they lose Kerry Collins? Aren't the Patriots in trouble if they lose Tom Brady? I'd actually argue that the difference between Patrick Ramsey and Rob Johnson isn't as big as other teams' drop-off if they lose their starter. 5-11?

Basically, Sports Illustrated is saying that, after one season of giving it a try, Steve Spurrier's offense will not work in the NFL. I'm no Spurrier-lover. But Dr. Z and Peter King will be wrong on this one. Mark it."

Mar, I'm sorry for your sub-par season, but you owe Dr. Z and Peter King a letter of apology. Then you should get a letter of apology from Spurrier and the rest of them for quitting on so many games throughout the season.

To see the rest of Dr. Z's picks and how they panned out. Clickety here.

Ivan Calderon was shot and killed over the weekend in his hometown of Loiza, PR.

"Witnesses said Calderon was in a store when two people entered and, without a word, shot the former outfielder multiple times in the back, said police Sgt. Maribel Arzuaga."

Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks sent a recent letter to season ticket holders trying to explain the conversations he was having with the Red Sox about Alex Rodriguez.

"When Alex signed to play for the Texas Rangers, we felt privileged to have the best player in baseball as a part of our team. We believed we could build a championship-caliber team around Alex. That sentiment has not changed, nor has the commitment."

I'm not a season ticket holder, but if I were I might write Mr. Hicks back and include observations such as: Ah. So that's why in the wake of the A-Rod non deal you've gone out and signed Brian Jordan and David Dellucci and continue to ignore your pitching needs. Getting a bunch of middle relievers and middling players will not solve your pitching needs (I'm looking at you Eric Young, Julian Tavarez, Dany Baez). You need number one and two starters to match up against your foes in the AL West.

The seemingly relegation-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly close to completing a three-month loan deal for LA Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz.

Despite the Galaxy's rollercoaster year, the Guatemalan native has been the league's leading goalscorer since he was picked up as a Discovery Player by LA in 2002. In what may amount to a bargain acquisition for their attacking corps, if the Wolves have any chance of wading above the relegation line they will have to direct those savings towards some defensive pick-ups. Scoring has not been the principal problem this season.

It's hard to imagine the Wolves sticking around the Premiership for another season regardless what Ruiz accomplishes, but a strong showing may elicit the interest of European clubs on a more permanent basis.

The Dolphins are going to stay put with Dave Wannstedt as their head coach. Seems like the right call from the outside, but I know some Dolphins fans who are going to be mightily pissed about this decision.

It is also being reported on espn that Dave McGinnis, Dick Jauron, Bill Callahan and Buffalo's Gregg Williams will have much time free by the middle of the week.

Crappy end to the season for Bengals fans (and the players I would guess), with one of Simmons' vaunted levels of losing being reached. On top of that, Corey Dillon left the room in his usual classy way. Dillon said he expects to be somewhere else next season.

"Bottom line, I'm going to get to a happy place where I feel comfortable, I don't have to worry about all this madness and just play football, get back to doing the thing I love," Dillon said.

Indeed Corey, get away from the madness of pro football's rebirth in Cincinnati, and the madness of your own crazed self-importance. Oh wait, you will carry that with you. Best of luck somewhere else crazy man.

The Rams? Nice coaching job Mike Martz. The Post-Dispatch gives you a "D" for yesterday's debacle in Detroit. I think they are being charitable. The full extent of that insanity won't be known until you are in Philly in three weeks. Enjoy.

The Vikings? Sweet god, how do you let that happen? One columnist in the far north is speculating that this loss may have cost Tice his job (as well as validated all of the scathing things written about Tice in the Swamp to start the year). One long-time employee put it as the second worst loss in Vikings history, behind the Hail Mary loss to the Cowboys in 1975. Ouch.

Perhaps the world's most notable face in officiating, Pierluigi Collina, has earned another perk of celebrity - the honorary degree.

"Dickerson was shown on television after the game holding up a hand-made sign that said: 19 years and counting."

I actually like guys who admit part of them (or all of them) would like their record not be broken, but athletes have a tough time finding a happy medium between absolute bullshit and Calvin Murphy.

Saturday
Tennessee at Baltimore (-2 1/2) O/U 41 1/2
Seattle at Green Bay (-7) O/U 43

Sunday
Dallas at Carolina (-2 1/2) O/U 33 1/2
Denver at Indianapolis (-3 1/2) O/U 48 1/2

Saturday
Tennessee at Baltimore (-3)
Seattle at Green Bay (-7)

Sunday
Dallas at Carolina (-4)
Denver at Indianapolis (-4 1/2)

For the second straight year, cyclist Lance Armstrong has won AP Male Athlete of the Year honors. He edged out Barry Bonds in what is becoming quite a rivalry between the two sportsmen. (They have finished as the top two each of the last three years.)

I'm not a big fan of awards like this, but maybe you are.

The only question I leave you with is how would Bonds do as a cyclist and how would Armstrong fare as a left fielder?

Good to see a Priest scoring and making positive headlines.

"Millen's return comes despite Detroit's ongoing NFL-record 24-game road losing streak and two high-profile verbal gaffes concerning a current or former Lion player."

Will Spurrier be back? No one is saying yes on that one.

What about Wannstedt? If I were him I'd get one final look at those South Beach thongs. He's staying. As a Dolphin fan I can only plead with him to at least shave the 'stache for next year.

My apologies for the tardy post on today's pick in the Premiership. After yesterday's umpteenth holiday party, it's a miracle I am up this early or that I found the clarity to get our bet in before crashing ...

Big Bet: After much debate, I put seven on Charlton (+12) over Tottenham. It won't be easy at White Hart Lane, but very little has broken the Spurs way all season long and the Addicks should have just enough to sneak away with three points.

"New York Yankees (news) owner George Steinbrenner fainted Saturday at a memorial service for football great Otto Graham but was alert by the time medics arrived, an emergency official said."

The Yanks are paying $48.8 million in revenue-sharing. The Yanks made $270 million in revenue. So, almost 20% of that goes back into baseball's pool for teams that don't make as much. This is in addition to the $11 million they'll pay for their payroll.

I can't wait to see what the small market teams will do with the money they get from the Yanks and other successful clubs. Most of the bottom-dwellers get over $10 million a year. Hey, maybe they'll sign one of the top-notch free agents still out on the market like Vladimir Guerrero, Pudge Rodriguez, or Greg Maddux. Wouldn't that be a great way to reward their fans? Or maybe they're in a rebuilding phase, so they'll lower ticket prices.

I just can't wait to see how they'll spend this money. The tension is just eating at me.

Chris Mortenson is reporting that Steve Spurrier is unhappy, and so is his wife. So it is not a certainty that he will be back with the Redskins circus next year. Nothing will probably be known for certain until Spurrier gets back from a two-week vacation following Saturday's finale agains the Eagles.

I'm pinch hitting for Tezen today as the Premiership holiday schedule moved the normal Saturday lineup to Boxing Day yesterday. You'll find the football Big Bet tomorrow possibly on both sides of the pond. The Big Bet took a pretty big hit last night as Bowling Green fell behind early and although they were able to come back for the win was unable to cover the touchdown spread. We're still ahead overall at 365 mistletoes. As far as today goes I didn't like the only Bowl game and the NBA lineup is pretty bleak so I'm going with...

Saturday's Big Bet: 10 on 49ers -3 vs. Seahawks... My initial feeling on this was to go with the points and the team fighting for their playoff lives but then I noticed that the Hawks were 1-6 on the road and even without TO, the revitalized Jeff Garcia and the emerging Kevan Barlow should take this one at home.

Internet gambling---is it legal or illegal?

I am guessing that the various perusers of the Frog are sports radio listeners of some fashion or another. And in the last year it has been damn near impossible to miss the change in most sports ads on sports radio stations, as the hosts themselves have taken to pitching, in a very proactive fashion, various internet sports books. My impression, in listening to the pitches, is that the feds must have decided at some point that the off-shore sports books and their customers were not worth pursuing. My impression was a bit faulty.

Basically, it is still technically illegal to place bets with sports books on-line, even if the books are off-shore. The reality is, though, that the authorities will likely not be spending resources tracking down Joe and Jane sportsbetter in order to test the jurisdictional questions. So, for now, with various bills under consideration in Congress, it is still basically all systems go for what is a pleasure filled pursuit for many adults.

Except when Bowling Green doesn't win by 8 costing you 25 "returnable items".

The good folks at the Major League Baseball Players Association are talking with players agents and contemplating a new collusion charge. This is apparently because they are unhappy salaries only rose 3.3% last year. Course, when your average player makes over a million dollars, one might ask if a salary ceiling is being reached naturally.

If there has been collusion among the powers that be in MLB over the last year, I hope that if a fine comes down the teams on the lower end are spared the fine. Because, I think, don't you have to be somewhat of a free agent player to collude in the free agent market? That would be you New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and others.

Other interesting tibits from last year, the eight highest clubs in terms of average paid per player on their roster were:

1. Yankees (like you had to ask)
2. Dodgers
3. Red Sox
4. Braves
5. Mariners
6. Mets
7. Giants
8. Cubs

Money is no guarantee of making the playoffs, of course, but scanning that list, I am again compelled to observe that it doesn't hurt either.

Dear Mr. Arrington,

I read today on ESPN's website that you are getting ready to sign a "MONSTER EXTENSION" with the Washington Redskins that will put you into a "VERY ELITE" paybracket. Since you were already scheduled to make over 10 million next season, I can only assume that you are restructuring to give you team a little more cap room in exchange for other kudos and more guaranteed money elsewhere.

I would like to congratulate you on this wonderful news and offer you several suggestions for how to spend your newfound coin:

1. Hire me as your bodyguard to help keep you out of trouble. You know how these things go. A player such as yourself is bound to go out into the community and become more well known, maybe a little too well known. The vultures will circle and the leeches will leech. Hire me and I'll keep all the bad people back from you while you're hanging out with your friends at a local volleyball match or taking that special someone to a romantic dinner.

2. Underwrite the SportsFrog. The truth is that, while we all have jobs, none of us really want to do them. Become a "Gold Level" sponsor and guarantee that we write only glowing things about you and the entire Redskins team for the life of your contract.

Okay, we'll still make fun of Snyder and Spurrier, but we're only human for Chrissakes.

Q: What's the difference between the Steve Spurrier Redskins and a dollar bill?

A: You can still get four quarters out of the dollar bill.

3. Just give me some money. Forget all that other stuff. I'm worthy, I'll put it to good use. I don't need much. Just a few grand and I'll go away. That's probably what you'll make on any given Tuesday over the rest of your life as we spread it out. Just donate it to me!

Thanks for taking these suggestions under consideration and congrats again on your achievement. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Sincerely,

Geep

Mike Freeman in today's NY Times writes about the prevalence of guns in today's NFL. In interviewing current and former players, lax security for teams has led to players carrying guns into stadium locker rooms.

Consider this:

"During the mid-1990's, a heated argument between Giants players that started in a meeting room ended with one player threatening to get a gun from his car to shoot his teammate, Strahan said. Other players prevented him from going to his car, Strahan said."

Look, I'll be the first to admit that I'm no advocate of gun ownership, but this seems like a bad situation that is ripe for disaster. Some guy has a bad day and a bad game and then takes it personally when a teammate calls out his poor performance. What happens when a player is dogged by a liqued up fan at a club? The NFL would be wise to consider tighter control.

If you're asked to type in password and ID for this site, may I recommend sportsfrog for both? That should work.

Is me reading the headline in the Boston Globe that the Pokey Reese signing is a good grab for the Sox. Yes the man is a gold glove quality 2B. No, the man can't hit his way out of a paper bag. Career OPS is .667. The Sox can't afford to take that kind of hit in their lineup. Not when they're going against the Yanks who have no such holes. His glove simply does not make up for his bat. Add to that the fact he's going to be facing new pitchers this year and this should make Sox fans livid by tax-filing day.

Marc Stein takes a look at an exciting NBA season at the end of the first trimester. Worth a look for his entire take, he makes this point about the Eastern Conference:

"Conference of the Trimester: East. The Leastern lads get our appreciation for a couple reasons. A) We're finally up to seven teams with records of .500 or better, which must be a season-high. B) It's gets old bashing them (but we stick with the fact there isn't an MVP)."

The Lakers lost their seventh of the year last night and the fans booed. That's right, this team of superstars has lost four of their last six and only seven on the year and they're getting booed.

Hey Laker fans! How spoiled are you right now?

Bowling Green takes on Northwestern in a showdown between the MAC and Big 10 tonight in Detroit. The Motor City Bowl will feature Bowling Green QB Josh Harris. This double threat threw for 24 TD's and over 3,000 yards this year while running for over 700 with 12 TD's.

This Bowling Green team beat Purdue this year and almost knocked off Ohio State in Columbus. I believe that this Bowling Green team is definitely a TD better than Northwestern and may likely take it much higher than that.

So today's Big Bet is on the MAC. Like Miami of Ohio before them, Bowling Green will continue to show the college football world that when you're playing the MAC, the MAC will come to play. Putting 25 returnable items on Bowling Green (-6 1/2) over Northwestern.

You will need more than three overtimes.

You make fun of the cell phone master, you pay the price.

John Clayton does his final weekly preview of the best the NFL has to offer in the upcoming weekend. Forget his top game, Denver at Green Bay, for the true Bengals fan (that would be me and one or two others) and the espn Sunday night football producers, the Bengals/Browns is the top game of the week. If the Bengals get by the Browns (rivalry game, not a gimme), then the Sunday night game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore has playoff implications. Beat the Steelers and the Ravens would be in, lose and their would be joy in football's Mudville (the 'Nati).

Latrell Spreewell celebrated his return to Madison Square Garden Tuesday night with a certain, shall we say, Spree rant of distinction.

During the T-Wolves/Knicks game Spree, "who was traded to Minnesota and scored 31 points in his return to New York, turned to Dolan and unleashed a stream of curses after his 3-pointer gave Minnesota a 94-89 lead with 1:14 left. Referee Dan Crawford came over and warned Sprewell to stop during the ensuing timeout, but Sprewell kept it up anyway and directed his next rant at the Knicks' bench. The tirade earned him a technical foul."

The NBA was not impressed and handed Spreewell a $25,000 fine for his pre-Christmas behavior.

Why the A's staff is better than ever, but the Phillies staff is overrated. And both teams will contend. One man's opinion (not mine).

In a blatant attempt to lure lovers of the female form in form-fitting cotton tops, miniskirts, and pom-poms, ESPN's degenerate Page 2 editors are having a Battle of the BCS Cheerleaders. Simply disgusting stuff.

P.S. It's gonna be tough to beat USC. Their college endowment is more bodacious than any other schools'.

Has the Boss been greasing the wheels of local elected officials to try and get some movement on a new Yankee Stadium? Might this possibly tarnish the image of St. Rudy? Probably not. The Yanks would be pretty stupid to break the rules, but hey, so was Bill Clinton.

"Subpoenas have been issued to George Steinbrenner and other top New York Yankees' executives by a state commission investigating the team's distribution of free tickets to public officials."

The article also notes that: "New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, police commissioner Raymond Kelly and city council speaker Gifford Miller were among the public officials who accepted free tickets to 2002 Yankee playoff games. Bloomberg told all city officials this fall not to accept free tickets to Yankees and Mets games except for Opening Day."

A-Rods's wife Cynthia, who has numerous relatives in the Boston area, told The Boston Globe: "Boston, I'm not sure about how much they wanted to do a deal in the end. They had a pretty good situation. Tom Hicks bent over backwards and Alex bent over backwards to get this done, but in the end Boston didn't make the call. What happened today, I don't know if anything better could have happened for the Red Sox than what happened today. Tom Hicks gave 80 percent, Alex gave 80 percent, we were looking for the Red Sox to give 10 percent."

What!?! I can't believe A-Rod's wife wouldn't know that the stock answer to what percentage Alex Rodriguez gives is always "110%." Alex never gives less than 110%, and certainly not the 80% number she quoted. For future reference, Cynthia, if anyone ever asks you how Alex plays, it's by "taking it one game at a time." And when people ask you how your husband is so good, you say "He thanks God for the opportunity to play baseball, he plays with a great bunch of guys, and it's a team effort."

The Sports Guy says he isn't sad the Sox didn't land A-Rod, just sad that he wasted three weeks of his life obsessing over it (Yes, that might be contradictory, but don't ask). Just read his top-notch Holiday Ramblings, that will make you spit egg nog out of your nose with gems like:

"When your name is Dwight Gooden Jr., do crack dealers just start cold-calling you?"

"I wish I were good friends with a Pistons fan, just so I could tease them mercilessly about this Darko-Carmelo thing. "Wow, you guys exploded for 77 tonight! And I heard Darko played the last 20 seconds and looked fantastic!! You must be feeling good!

"(Then again, I have to root for Ricky Davis every night. Nice pass, Ricky, right idea ... no, Ricky, don't punch him, he's your teammate! Ricky, no! No!!!!!!!!!!!!)"

In a nod to the need to hang with family on Christmas Day, I present the Christmas Big Bet a day early.

Three great NBA games Christmas day, but on December 25, I like to think of Hawaii. And Hawaii is hosting a bowl game on Christmas, with the Rainbows taking on the Cougars of Houston.

Some absolute ridiculous things about this throwaway game. The over/under for this game is 75. I mean, good lord, I don't know that I have seen an over/under up there before. The facts behind that line are that Houston and Hawaii both move the ball well and both have simply horrible defenses, further magnified by Hawaii being without their defensive conference player of the year. So I expect points, just not sure I can expect 76 points. But I also note that Hawaii is favored by 10 1/2 points, and that looks a little optimistic to me. So, on Christmas night, when you are ready to get away from the family, flip away from the NBA games and check out the offensive explosion coming from the 50th state in the union.

Christmas Big Bet: Ten candy canes on Houston +10 1/2. Hawaii favored by too many, Conference USA should cover this one.

WARNING: May reveal plot points to you about the movie Seabiscuit. If you don't want to know that the horse won a race in the end, then read no further.

I watched Seabiscuit on DVD last week and was impressed with this little horse that could movie. A bit too long, but that's usual with these things.

For those of you who have seen the movie, you know the ending centers on the Santa Anita $100,000 race. Today's Los Angeles Times has an article about Kayak II, a horse owned by the same guy who owned the biscuit that also ran in the race. Kayak II, according to relatives of the people involved was the superior horse at the time, but their owner demanded that Seabiscuit win and ordered Kayak II's jockey to hold the horse back.

"Laura Hillenbrand, who wrote "Seabiscuit: An American Legend," the book that was developed into the movie, "Seabiscuit," said she was aware of the post-race gossip, but chose to leave it out."

Think Ms. Hillenbrand knew about Hollywood endings when she wrote the book? What are the odds?