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:

---College Football is underway, and the first weekend of action was revealing for many teams. If the first week is any indication, Rich Rodriguez is in for a rough year at Michigan. Alabama, USC, Georgia, LSU, and Florida all look to be unstoppable. East Carolina could be this year's Cinderella. And Cal's Jahvid Best deserves to be in the Heisman discussion along with the likes of Tebow, Daniel, Wells, and Moreno.

---But remember---it's only the first week.

---CC Sabathia got robbed! Milwaukee's ace pitched a one hitter yesterday at Pittsburgh in what should have been ruled a no hitter. The lone hit by Andy LaRoche clearly should have been ruled an error on Sabathia.

---The Yankees are no longer on life support. They are officially dead. Not exactly what Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, and company had in mind for the final year at Yankee Stadium. It is time for the Bronx Bombers to start thinking about next year.

---And how about that Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod must be spending way too much time daydreaming about Madonna, because he is worthless in the clutch.

---Why is it a such a sure thing that Brandon Webb will win the NL Cy Young? Tim Lincecum should be in the running.

---As a big Warrior fan, I'm discouraged by the Monta Ellis injury. I think I speak for all Warriors fans when I wish Monta a speedy recovery.

---Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh lost yesterday to fellow Americans Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, ending a remarkable winning streak of 112 matches, a streak that dates back more than a year. Wow, so they really are human.

---I don't know who the most popular person in the world is, but it sure as hell is not Jay Mariotti.

---Mariotti is an excellent writer, but it is easy to see why so many of his colleagues strongly dislike him. He always seems to come across as pompous and rude, and he left the Chicago Sun-Times in classless fashion.

---Goodbye Chad Johnson. Hello Chad Ocho Cinco. Ick. What in the world is Chad thinking? I actually like the Bengals pro-bowl wide receiver, but this is taking it a little too far. Everyone knows that Chad is a prankster, so I hope that this name change is all a joke. I mean, he can't be serious, can he?

---Poor Matt Leinart. I wonder what it feels like when you come out of USC thinking you're a star, only to consistently lose the starting job to an aging Kurt Warner.

---What are the chances of a sequel to Wimbledon at the US Open? It would be wildly entertaining and good for tennis if Nadal and Federer and Venus and Serena meet in the men's and women's final in Queens. If one of these four looks vulnerable, it's Federer. Yes, he keeps winning, but every opponent he faces nowadays seems to put up a good fight.

---Manu Ginobli is hurt, and the Spurs are not happy. They are upset that Ginobli injured himself in the Olympics instead of the NBA. Relax, San Antonio. With Duncan, Parker, Oberto, and Bowen, you remain one of the top teams in the West.

---The Patriots have inked two-time pro bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal. Is this a sign of panic after the Pats' winless preseason?