Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Thanks to Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, the Redeem Team, Dara Torres, Shawn Johnson, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, and Nastia Liukin, the Beijing games were by far the most memorable Olympics of my lifetime.

---Keep your fingers crossed for me. There is a chance that I will be going to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That would be a surreal experience, and a dream come true.

---New reports say Michael Strahan is open to the idea of coming out of retirement. While Strahan would surely be a big help to New York in the absence of Osi Umenyiora, I'd like him to avoid pulling a Favre and stay retired. I'm just turned off by athletes who retire, only to un-retire months later. Strahan sailed into the sunset in sweet fashion last year following the Giants' win over the Pats in the Super Bowl. No matter what happens, Strahan cannot top that moment.

---J.T. O'Sullivan is the starting quarterback for your San Francisco 49ers. An excellent choice by Mike Nolan. O'Sullivan has looked extremely sharp in the preseason, and he is a big improvement over Alex Smith. Hopefully O'Sullivan can lead my Niners to great success this season.

---This is the best time of year for a baseball fan. This year features some truly exciting pennant races. White Sox or Twins? Rays or Red Sox? Mets or Phillies? These questions will have an answer by season's end.

---This one is for my fellow members of SF Giants Nation: Pablo Sandoval for MVP!!!

--- I do not think the Florida Marlins have enough firepower to make the postseason, but Fredi Gonzalez's club deserves a lot of credit for being in the race. With no superstars, little fan support, and an embarrassingly tiny payroll, the Fish have still found a way to win games. And with promising, enormously talented young stars Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, and Josh Willingham, this team can be good for a long time.

---Series of the Week: Mets at Phillies. Oh, baby, what a series.

---Speaking of the Mets, there is a chance that starting pitcher John Maine could be done for the year. This is not that huge of a blow. The pitching success of this team firmly depends on the performance of Johan Santana.

---The College Football season begins this Thursday night with North Carolina State and South Carolina. Will this be the year that Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks finally make some noise in the SEC?

---Rich Rodriguez should be an improvement over Lloyd Carr at Michigan, but Wolverine fans won't be fully satisfied unless Michigan plays in a BCS bowl game. And frankly, I don't see that happening.

---Some say Ryan Seacrest is the busiest man in America. I say it's Cris Collinsworth. "Football Night in America", "Inside the NFL", NFL Network, "Madden 09", Beijing OIympics. This guy is everywhere.

---Many are doubting Tiger Woods, claiming that there is no chance Mr. Woods will ever be the same after his knee injury. What?!?! If there is one thing we have all learned, it is to never ever doubt Tiger. He is the most dominant athlete in the world. I expect him to stun us all again and continue being his dominant self, easily surpassing Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors.

---The US Open is underway in Queens. I think Rafael Nadal wins, and I hope he faces Roger Federer in the final.

---I love ESPN Radio. I love Mike & Mike, Tirico & Van Pelt, The Pulse, Gamenight, SportsNation, and many others. The one host I can't stand? Colin Cowherd. If you were to combine the ego of Terrell Owens, the whiny nature of Manny Ramirez, and the loudness of Gilbert Gottfried, the result would be something like Cowherd. Unfortunately, his show is now on television, airing daily on ESPNU.

---Speaking of noisy sports radio hosts, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo is headed to Sirius Satellite Radio, ending his long, acclaimed partnership with Mike Francesca on WFAN in New York. Unlike Cowherd, however, I like Russo. He is very knowledgeable and entertaining, and his appearances on Letterman are always a hoot. I wish him the best of luck at Sirius.

---And finally, the Celtics have signed Darius Miles. What is the over/under on Miles' combined playing time next season under Doc Rivers? 3 minutes? All kidding aside, this is a throwaway signing for the Green Machine.