Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports.

Ladies and gentleman, get your popcorn ready. In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Two games are in the books in the 2008 World Series, and the scene now shifts to the City of Brotherly Love with the series tied at one game a piece. Can Philly get a hit with RISP?

---After the first two games at Tropicana Field, it looks like this series could go the full seven games. That is what America should be hoping for. Any sports fan not watching the Series is missing out. This is one of the most evenly matched and exciting series we've seen this decade.

---Cole Hamels was brilliant once again in Game 1, as the Phillies stole a legitimate home field advantage away from the Rays. Game 2 was a different story, as James Shields worked his way through jam after jam to get Tampa the win.

---Charlie Manuel's team is 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position. Ouch. Even a last place Little League squad can hit better than that.

---First it was Ryan Howard, now it's Jimmy Rollins. Philly always seems to have at least one key player mired in a major slump.

---Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley had a rough game last night. He humiliated himself on the Akinori Iwamura check swing appeal play. And in the ninth, he missed an obvious hit-by-pitch with Rollins at the plate.

---You gotta love Jonny Gomes. He never sees any playing time, but he is the charismatic leader in the clubhouse, sporting a mohawk and rooting hard for his Rays.

---But, in all honesty, that mohawk thing they've got going in Tampa is really kinda creepy.

---Jamie Moyer starts Game 3 for Philadelphia. He has to pitch a whole lot better than he did against the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS.

---Kudos to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. They are a fun, entertaining, and most of all, knowledgeable duo behind the microphone.

---Another magnificent sports weekend lies ahead, and there are some huge NFL games in Week 8. Games of the week: Giants-Steelers, Chargers-Saints in London, and Colts-Titans on Monday night. I'll take New York, San Diego, and Tennessee.

---But the game that means the most to me, of course, is Seahawks-Niners. Hey, stop laughing!

---This is a big game for us. It is important that we get Mike Singletary a win in his head coaching debut.

---Speaking of Mike Singletary, I am very happy with the hiring. He has the interim tag right now, but if he can turn this season around, he deserves to be the permanent coach. As for Mike Nolan, great guy and spectacular dresser, but it was time to make a change.

---Here are the rest of my Week 8 NFL winners: 49ers, Eagles, Patriots, Lions, Bucs, Bills, Jets, Panthers, Ravens, Texans, Jaguars.

---Monster showdown in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday. Penn State and Ohio State. This is a must win for both teams if they want to keep dreams of a national championship alive. My pick: I like the Nittany Lions.

---The NBA season tips off on Tuesday, and I can't wait. My NBA preview comes to a computer near you this Sunday.

---Congratulations on a marvelous career, Lute Olson. One of the classiest coaches college basketball has ever had, Olson will forever be the face of Arizona basketball. He is more than deserving of a happy retirement.