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:

---The NFL Playoffs are set, and wild card action begins on Saturday. Best matchup? Colts-Chargers.

---What a game that will be, a clash between two streaking teams with loads of momentum. Indy and San Diego were once left for dead, but with outstanding play from quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, both squads appear to be unstoppable.

---The second best game is Ravens-Dolphins. Miami is the feel-good story of the year in the NFL, catapulting from one win in 2007 to eleven in 2008. Bill Parcells did an unbelievable job building a winning team. Say what you want about the Tuna, but you can't deny his success. And Tony Sporano, no disrespect to Mike Smith or John Harbaugh, should be the unanimous pick for Coach of the year honors.

---However, Baltimore is a serious threat to send the Fish home early, with that suffocating defense, led by Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, and a solid offense, led by rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. The Dolphins have little room for error if they plan on advancing to the next round of the playoffs.

---Speaking of the Dolphins, kudos to Chad Pennington for a fantastic season. It had to be sweet for Pennington to clinch the AFC East title on his old stomping grounds, seeking revenge against a Jets organization that passed on him in favor of Brett Favre.

---The collapses of the Broncos and Bucs were more embarrassing, but Favre and the Jets still turned in one hell of a choke job, leading to today's dismissal of coach Eric Mangini. Now it is time for Brett Favre to hang it up after a remarkable career. Please, Brett, please, do not put us through another summer guessing game.

---The Cowboys were the trendy Super Bowl pick back in August and September, as they are every year, for some inexplicable reason. I don't like to brag, but indulge me for a moment, as I was one of the few who never thought Dallas would make the playoffs. Now, I didn't expect them to fold like a pop warner team on ice skates against the Eagles, but I am not the slightest bit surprised by their absence in January.

---Jerry Jones has said repeatedly that Wade Philips will not be fired. Sure, Jerry, that's about as believable as Pete Rose saying he didn't bet on baseball. Something tells me that Mr. Philips will receive the pink slip.

---A quick thought: It looks like Ben Roethlisberger will be ready for the playoffs, but what in the world was Mike Tomlin thinking playing Big Ben in a meaningless game against the Browns.

--You can't help but feel for Rod Marinelli. After Detroit finished their historically awful year at 0-16, the Lions fired Marinelli this morning. I am not going to say that the firing was unwarranted, because it was obviously warranted, but I will say that Marinelli is a classy guy who should get another shot in the NFL in some coaching capacity.

---Falcons-Cardinals, Eagles-Vikings round out wild card weekend. I'll post a full preview of every game later this week.

---Congratulations Mike Singletary! You are absolutely deserving of the head coach position. Also, keep up the good work on Letterman!

---Okay, okay, Laker fans, I'll begrudgingly admit that I was impressed by your victory over the Celtics on Christmas Day, followed by a rout against my Warriors last night. But let's get one thing straight: Phil Jackson's team has no shot at beating Boston in a seven game series, if the two teams should meet in the Finals again. Let the angry emails flow!

---Poor Sacramento. You couldn't ask for a more unfortunate piece of scheduling than last night's game against the Celtics. Boston destroyed the Kings, 108-63. After losing back to back games at Los Angeles and at Golden State (yeah!), there was no way the Green Machine was going to drop three straight.


---I was skeptical about the Houston Rockets at season's start, but I am beginning to see why so many experts, including Jeff Van Gundy, are picking the Rockets to win the West. I won't go that far, not yet at least, but with the dynamic trio of Yao Ming, Ron Artest, and Tracy McGrady, one thing I'm fairly certain about: Houston will make it out of the first round of the playoffs, taking that huge monkey off T-Mac's back.

---Watching Roger Mason nail a three-pointer at the buzzer in a wildly entertaining Christmas Day showdown at Phoenix, I began to wonder: Can the Suns ever beat the Spurs?

---My pick for the final slot in the Slam Dunk Contest: Rudy Fernandez. The first year sensation from Spain is having an excellent year with Portland, and I want to see what he can do above the rim.

---So far, the contest is scheduled to feature Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, and Nate Robinson. I'd say the favorite remains Dwight Howard, who wowed us with his Superman dunk last year in New Orleans. But I'm pulling for former champion Nate Robinson. He's only five-foot-nine, but I was at Madison Square Garden a couple of years ago when Robinson rejected a Yao Ming dunk attempt. This guy can jump with the likes of Dikembe Mutombo.

---This past weekend saw some great bowl action. It was great to see Pat White shine in his final game with West Virginia, and Cal running back Jahvid Best put on a magnificent show in Cal's victory at the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. But overall, it is hard to get excited about these meaningless, non-BCS bowl games. Wait a second, aren't all bowl games meaningless? Rimshot, please.

---In all seriousness, the BCS games this year are worthy of all sports fans' attention, beginning with Thursday's Rose Bowl with Penn State and USC. I think Mark Sanchez and the Trojans will roll in what is essentially a home game in Pasadena, but I would love to see the Nittany Lions pull off the shocker. You can't help but love Joe Paterno's youthful enthusiasm and love for the game of college football. What a story it would be if Joe Pa wins the Rose Bowl over the mighty USC Trojans.

---I wouldn't want to be the Rutgers college basketball team right now. Yesterday, they lost to top-ranked North Carolina. This week, they play the second and third ranked teams in the nation, Pittsburgh and UConn. Unless Tim Donaghy is officiating, the Scarlet Knights are doomed.

---I'll leave you with my thoughts on Randy Johnson signing with my beloved San Francisco Giants. For only eight million dollars over one year, it is a relatively low-risk move. Hopefully, Johnson still has some juice left in that fastball. If he does, the Big Unit will be a key asset in a strong rotation alongside Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez, and the Giants will win the NL West.

Previewing Christmas Day Action in the NBA

Santa was good to NBA fans this year, as he has blessed us with five games on Christmas Day. Here are my previews of tomorrow's matchups:

• New Orleans Hornets @ Orlando Magic

The day tips off with this stellar game featuring two of the best young talents the NBA has ever seen: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. Paul has eclipsed Steve Nash as the best point guard in the league, and he looks to keep his remarkable streak of consecutive games with a steal alive (the streak now stands at 108). Dwight Howard is the best center in the league, an incredibly intimidating specimen and a freakish athlete who is also one of the most charismatic players in the NBA. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard both make for exciting must-see viewing, but they are going to need the help of their teammates if they want to walk away with a Christmas victory.

At point guard for Orlando, Jameer Nelson does not need a Chris Paul-like performance, but he needs to have a productive game if the Magic are to win. Byron Scott's Hornets are likely to pour the vast majority of their defensive attention to Howard, so it's up to Nelson to feed guys like Hedo Turkoglu, J.J. Reddick, and Mickael Pietrus. If the three is falling for Turkoglu and Reddick, Stan Van Gundy's Magic have the upper hand. For New Orleans, it's key for David West and Tyson Chandler to have big games, especially if Chris Paul is constantly being double-teamed. The x-factor off the bench is James Posey. He is that rare bench player who has the ability to take over a game.

Both New Orleans and Orlando have championship aspirations. The Magic have looked like true contenders this season, while the Hornets have not yet reached their full potential. Both teams will be eager to prove something tomorrow. The Hornets want to prove that they belong in the title conversation. With the Celtics playing later in the afternoon, the Magic want to send a message that they should be considered a serious threat in dethroning the defending champs. It should be a fun one at Amway Arena.

• San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns

This is the best rivalry in the NBA. These two teams hate each other, and that hate has produced phenomenal playoff series in recent years. Whether it be Robert Horry body-checking Steve Nash into the scorers table, Nash getting his nose bloodied in a collision with Tony Parker, or Amare Stoudamire talking trash, there is always something to talk about when these two meet, and the games are almost always hotly contested. However, the Spurs have experienced the most success. Walking into this game, Tim Duncan and the Spurs have the psychological advantage. It is important for Phoenix to get a win on its home court to provide them with much-needed swagger.

The 2008 Spurs are just like the championship Spurs of the past-----going about their business and winning, all while being completely overlooked. They have battled through injuries (Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli), but San Antonio sits comfortably with a record of 18-10. This is a testament to the brilliance of Gregg Popovich, the best coach in the NBA. No other team in the league is better prepared. Another reason why the Spurs remain one of the NBA's great teams is the strong play of Matt "the red rocket" Bonner and Roger Mason. Their productivity was hugely important when Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli were injured. And of course, there is always Tim Duncan, who is a double-double waiting to happen every time he steps onto the court.

The Suns have hit some bumps in the road this season under new coach Terry Porter, and at times they still look like they are having an identity crisis. But Phoenix has played well of late, and newly acquired Jason Richardson has bolstered the team with increased energy. When Richardson came aboard, the Suns started to play with great spirit, and they now look more like the high-octane Suns teams under Mike D'Antoni. Steve Nash may have declined slightly, but he is still a terrific point guard who effectively involves his teammates with effortless ease. And Amare Stoudamire, one of the best big men in the league, is having a superb season. When all is said and done, Phoenix will have a shot at another playoff run.

• Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers

This is the main event, one of the most highly anticipated regular season games ever. When David Stern scheduled this Finals rematch for Christmas Day, he knew that this was going to be a fantastic game, but even the commissioner couldn't have seen things working out this beautifully. Kobe and company, much to my dismay as a Laker hater, are 21-5, are clearly playing better than any other Western conference team. Their defense, though, has been inconsistent, and this game is an opportunity for Phil Jackson's team to prove to their skeptics that they have what it takes to win a championship. A win against the Celtics would be extremely impressive.

But it will not happen. The defending champion Celtics (27-2) are playing at an unprecedented level, and they will secure their 20th consecutive win at the Staples Center. The Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce continue to perform marvelously, but the supporting cast has been the most delightfully surprising part of Boston's success. When James Posey departed for New Orleans, many believed that the Celtics' supporting cast would take a step back. Yet Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, and Glen Davis have exceeded all expectations. If the Celtics repeat as champs, Doc Rivers' team will be in the discussion for greatest single-season team of all time.

I cannot wait to tune in to what should be a wildly entertaining affair.

• Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Here we have two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum. It has been a season to forget for the lowly Wizards. Without Gilbert Arenas, Washington has looked lifeless, leading to the firing of coach Eddie Jordan. Interim head coach Ed Tapscott initially injected Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and company with some life, but that was short-lived. They will be a lottery flop.

Cleveland, on the other hand, has been playing sensational basketball, second only to the Celtics in the East. LeBron James finally has a great team around him, and offseason acquisition Mo Williams has been a perfect fit in Mike Brown's system. The Cavs have even shown resiliency, as when they continued to win during the distractions caused by the LeBron to the Knicks rumors. Like Orlando, the Cavs are determined to send a message to the league that they have every intention of challenging the Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.

So on paper, this game looks like a blowout, but don't be shocked if the Wizards keep it tight. Like the Suns and Spurs, these two teams have a heated history in the playoffs. That bad blood could provide for a dramatic, down-to-the-wire nail biter. But it will be extremely difficult for the Wizards to walk out of Quicken Loans Arena with a W.

• Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers

The final game of the night is an intriguing clash between a group of veterans and a group of youngsters. Rick Carlisle's Mavs have missed Devin Harris this season, but Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki are still hoping to play deep into May. Portland has been the surprise of the year, with Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernandez catapulting Nate McMillan's Blazers to the top of the Western conference standings.

But the jury is still out on both teams. Will the Mavericks make a move in the West, or will they be fighting for their playoff lives in April? Will Greg Oden consistently look like a number one draft pick, or will Oden be the second coming of Derrick Coleman? Can Jason Kidd play like the Jason Kidd of old? Can the Blazers sustain their winning pace? It will take some time before the answers to these questions are revealed, but tomorrow night will provide us with a glimpse of what to expect.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Enjoy the basketball that tomorrow has to offer!

Thoughts on the Yankees signing Mark Teixeira

---I absolutely love New York City-------it's my second favorite place in the world, second to my hometown of San Francisco-------but I can't stand the Yankees. They spend money like Paris Hilton goes through boyfriends.

---It is great for sports when New York teams thrive, but the Bronx Bombers have such a criminally unfair advantage when it comes to their gargantuan payroll.

---161 million dollars for CC Sabathia, 82.5 million for A.J. Burnett, and now 180 million for Teixeira. People say that one of the main causes of America's economic decline has been the loss of jobs overseas, but I think it is because the Yankees have all the money.

---In all seriousness, the way in which Brian Cashman is spending is completely disrespectful to the millions of struggling families in this current economic climate.

---The most egregious thing is that New York still has incredible amounts of dough left over. Who knows, maybe they'll throw twenty trillion at Manny Ramirez next.

---I have the highest respect for the PTI duo of Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser----they are two of the smartest, most entertaining sports minds around. But I respectfully disagree with their belief that fans shouldn't be outraged by the Yankees big money antics. Spending as much as the Pinstripes do is totally unnecessary. Couldn't they have spent 150 million for Sabathia instead of 161 million, 70 million for Burnett instead of 82.5 million, 170 million for Teixeira instead of 180 million? Surely, that would have been more than enough to lure the three prized acquisitions to the Bronx.

---Ultimately, the Yankees bloated payroll is detrimental to Major League Baseball.

---Okay, enough negativity. The Yankees may have overspent, but their acquisitions of Sabathia and Teixeira (Burnett won't have much of an impact) make New York instant title contenders.

---Just as long as the players don't become too distracted by Madonna, I think the Yankees will win the AL East.

---But I would not be the slightest bit surprised if the Rays or Red Sox win the division. Tampa's pitching can overpower even the most intimidating offense, while Boston remains a perennial championship contender.

---It's understandable why many Red Sox fans are upset. It is never fun to see a great player slip out of your grasp and land with your rival. But Boston will be fine. Contrary to popular belief, David Ortiz and Mike Lowell are not done. They will revert back into clutch form.

---SportsCenter's Jay Harris made a great point today. Don't worry angry Red Sox fans, you still have the Celtics.

---I hope to catch a game at the new Yankee Stadium next summer. I just hope they don't charge me 200 bucks for a seat in the nosebleed section.

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:

---Brett Favre says that he might retire. Whatever you say, Brett.

---Looks like we're in store for yet another summer of will he or won't he nausea.

---Favre will have a lot of time to ponder his future, because it does not look like the Jets will be playing in January.

---The AFC East is now essentially a two team race between the Dolphins and Patriots. As great as Matt Cassel and the Pats have been playing, I think Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins will be division champs.

---What a turnaround season in Miami, from one win to potentially eleven. Bill Parcells deserves praise for his work in the front office, but the head coach receives the most credit. Tony Sporano undoubtedly deserves Coach of the Year honors.

---Meanwhile, the never ending saga in Dallas continues. Their playoff hopes are in doubt following Saturday's loss to the Ravens in the final game at Texas Stadium.

---The Cowboys still have a shot at the playoffs, but does anyone seriously consider Dallas a legitimate threat?

---The AFC West comes down to the final week of play, with the winner of the Broncos-Chargers game taking the prize. Denver may have already lost the game. They look like one defeated team right now.

---After Sunday's NFL action, one thing is clear: The four teams to beat are the Giants, Panthers, Titans, and Steelers.

---I don't think I've ever seen a team limp into the playoffs quite as noticeably as the Arizona Cardinals. I know they've already clinched, but their last two efforts against Minnesota and New England were embarrassing. Ken Whisenhunt better get his team in line.

---Sapp'o'Claus handed out gifts during the NFL Network pregame show Sunday morning. Warren Sapp's greatest gift? A gun holster for Plaxico Burress.

---The Detroit Lions. Oh, my. They are headed for the history books, one loss from record awfulness. I wonder if Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow will deliberately throw five interceptions in the national championship game, just to ensure that they don't go number one in the NFL Draft to the Lions.

---I like Rob Parker, but the Detroit News columnist went a little too far in his hard line of questioning to Lions coach Rod Marinelli regarding Detroit's defensive coordinator, Marinelli's son-in-law.

---The Lions are the annual punching bag in the NFL, but Marinelli is a good guy, and it was almost painful to see his reaction to Parker's comments. He was clearly hurt.

---A great comeback win for the Niners yesterday. Granted, it was against the Rams, but Mike Singletary's team displayed impressive grit and resiliency in the fourth quarter. As a Niner fan, I think that Shaun Hill has earned the starting job next season.

---Congratulations to 49er wide receiver Isaac Bruce. Bruce reached a couple of career milestones against his former team on Sunday. He is now second on the all time receiving yards list, and fifth on the all time receptions list.

---I cannot wait until Christmas Day. The very special holiday is heaven for NBA fans everywhere. Celtics-Lakers is obviously the must-see attraction, but there are four other games that are also worth your attention. I'll preview all five Christmas Day games on Wednesday.

---Boston's eighteen game winning streak and 26-2 record has sparked some debate: Is this Celtics team going to win 70 games? I say yes. Doc Rivers' team shows no sign of slowing down, and the Big 3 are being aided by the superb play of Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, and Glen Davis. This Celtics team is remarkably deep, conjuring memories of the Bulls teams of the nineties.

---With Michael Jordan and a phenomenal supporting cast of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, and many others, the Chicago teams of the nineties were unstoppable, with the '95-'96 Bulls winning seventy-two games.

---With all due respect to the Celtics, there are two teams that could very well pose a serious threat to Boston in the playoffs: Cleveland and Orlando. LeBron James, for the first time in his career, is playing with an outstanding team around him, featuring the likes of Mo Williams, Sasha Pavlovic, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and a steadily improving Delonte West at the point guard position. The Magic could also make a run for Boston's money. They have the best center in basketball (Dwight Howard), a solid point guard (Jameer Nelson), and two of the best pure shooters in the league (Hedo Turkoglu and J.J. Reddick).

---Also, overlook the Atlanta Hawks at your own peril. They are for real.

---Mike Woodson's team may have lost to the Celtics two times this season, but in both losses they proved that they are completely removed from the futility of the past decade.

---I love Don Nelson, but as a Warriors fan, I was disheartened by what I read in the San Francisco Chronicle regarding tension between Nellie and rookie Anthony Randolph. Randolph has star potential, but he needs the confidence of his coach if he is to reach that potential.

---I don't blame the Angels for withdrawing their eight year offer to free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. Teixeira is a magnificent player who would shore up problems at the plate and in the field for any team. But eight years is way too big of a commitment.

---It's good to see the Orioles and Nationals in the bidding war for Teixeira. Whether they land Teixeira or not, it is clear that both teams desperately want to win, and that should be enough to rekindle fan interest.

---My Giants are looking to sign Randy Johnson. Not sure how I feel about that. Johnson was an incredibly intimidating flamethrower in his prime, but he is well removed from his prime. If Brian Sabean does sign Johnson, I hope we get the Big Unit who dominated in Arizona, not the Big Unit who languished with the Yankees.

---What an exciting weekend of college basketball. I was especially impressed by three teams: UConn, Duke, and Michigan State. The Huskies win against Gonzaga in Seattle proved that Jim Calhoun's team can win in a hostile environment against a high-caliber opponent. Duke's convincing defeat of Purdue served notice that they have every intention of challenging North Carolina for the ACC crown. And Michigan State's win at Texas was a resounding wake-up call to all of college basketball that the Spartans are a force to be reckoned with, despite their recent struggles.

---Stephen Curry may have had a tough weekend, but he is only human. He remains the best player in college hoops, and he plays on a Davidson team that could very well make another deep NCAA tourney run. He is going to be a star in the NBA.

---I don't give the NHL much love, but the outdoor game at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day should be fun to watch. I will be tuning in.

---Last year's outdoor game in Buffalo was fun. Commissioner Gary Bettman is very smart for scheduling games outdoors. It's an effective way of building interest for the NHL, which has never recovered from that devastating strike a few years ago.

---I'll leave with a new award, which will make recurring appearances in the confines of TJB's Sports Universe. The award is analyst of the week, and the winner goes to...................Trent Dilfer. The former NFL quarterback is doing a thorough job of breaking down the action on ESPN.

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:




---So the Yankees spend 161 million for Sabathia, 82 million for A.J. Burnett, and they still have loads of money left over, all in a time of recession. Absolutely ridiculous.



---But I've already vented enough anger on the situation. Read my most recent entry if you want to read more of my frustration.



---Your 2008 Heisman Trophy winner will be.................Tim Tebow. Tough competition from Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, but Tebow deserves to be in the company of Archie Manning as the only two athletes to twice win the Heisman.



---By the way, Graham Harrell, you got screwed. Don't get too upset, though. College Football screws people year in and year out.



---For those of you who think my constant attacks on the BCS reflect a dislike toward the sport of college football, think again. I love college football, which is precisely why I would like to see it improve.



---The Bears stayed alive in the playoff picture, sticking a dagger into the postseason hopes of the Saints with their 27-24 overtime win last night in Chicago. I still don't think Brian Urlacher and Da Bears have enough firepower to make the playoffs, but I hear that Governor Blagojevich is trying to buy a playoff spot.



---Here are my Week 15 winners: 49ers, Giants, Falcons, Vikings, Patriots, Ravens, Titans, Redskins, Jaguars, Seahawks, Jets, Chargers, Colts, Panthers, Eagles.


---Game of the week: Steelers-Ravens. Talk about a clash between two dominant defenses. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis vs. Troy Polamalu and James Harrison------what a battle.



---Memo to T.O.: Just shut up. Your act has been tired for a long time. Tony Romo and Jason Witten having secret meetings? Sure, T.O. Keep drinking.



---My Niners are playing great, and Mike Singletary deserves to have the permanent coaching job. Also, I love the hilarious impersonations of the intense coach on Letterman.



---To the NBA now, where the Suns made a brilliant deal for Jason Richardson.



---As a Warriors fan, I hold J-Rich in very high regard. Sure, the Suns are losing two talented players in Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, but Richardson adds a much needed spark to the sluggish Phoenix offense. With J-Rich, look for Terry Porter's team to look more like the run-and-gun Suns of Mike D'Antoni.



---Christmas Day will feature a classic clash between the Celtics and Lakers. If L.A. wins, then I'll be willing to put up with their obnoxious fans bragging about how a Lakers championship is a forgone conclusion. But the Lakers won't win. Forgone conclusion that they'll win the West? I think Tim Duncan and the Spurs, Chris Paul and the Hornets, and Deron Williams and the Jazz might have something to say about that.



---Yes, I still consider Utah a legitimate threat in the West. They have been underachieving due to key injuries to Williams and Carlos Boozer. If Boozer comes back healthy, look out.



---This looks to be a rebuilding year for my Warriors. However, our future is very bright. Anthony Randolph, Anthony Morrow, and Brandan Wright all have star potential.


---There are no excuses----our 7-16 record reflects a young team that has played poorly----but another reason for Golden State's struggles has been the countless injuries. When we get Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, and Ronny Turiaf back healthy, we will probably not be a playoff team in the loaded West, but we will be much better.



---Cuttino Mobley is going to retire, sadly, because of heart problems. Mobley had a terrific career. He was not a superstar, but he was enormously productive throughout his eleven-year career, with his best years coming alongside Steve Francis in Houston.


---Tonight, during the Warriors-Rockets broadcast, the always entertaining Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson counted down their respective lists for the league's five best centers. My list is as follows, in order of preference. And to be as unbiased as possible, I do not have Andris Biedrins on the list, even though he is one of the most criminally underrated players in the NBA. Here's the list (mostly in agreement with Jackson): 1) Dwight Howard. 2) Yao Ming. 3) Zydrunas Ilgauskas. 4) Kendrick Perkins. 5) Shaq



---Last night on "Inside the NBA", Sir Charles and company joked about Barkley's ghastly golf swing. In all fairness, however, with the help of Tiger Woods' personal coach Hank Haney, Barkley's swing looks much smoother.


---Speaking of Barkley, there was a fascinating debate between he and Kenny Smith during halftime of last night's Jazz-Blazers game. Smith argued that the NBA has gotten better in terms of talent. Barkley countered by saying that there are an increasing number of bad teams, citing such teams as the Thunder, T'Wolves, and Wizards as support for his argument.


---I completely agree with Kenny the Jet Smith. The NBA is in a spectacular place right now, with a tremendous array of young superstars, players high on talent as well as character.


---Kudos to LeBron James. Last week I criticized him for his talk about a possible move to the Knicks, but King James has appeared to have toned down the rhetoric, and his Cavs are tugging at Boston's cape in the East.


---This is the best Gonzaga team Mark Few has ever had, even better than the teams that featured Adam Morrison. The Bulldogs have elevated themselves themselves from perennial bracket-buster to legitimate Final Four threat.


---Seth Davis offered a great suggestion in the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated, saying that the ACC-Big Ten Challenge should be replaced by the return of the ACC-Big East Challenge. I like the idea, because watching teams like North Carolina and Duke continually pummel the likes of Michigan and Purdue is like watching Manny Pacquiao fight Oscar De La Hoya. In other words, it's a mismatch of epic proportions.


---So Manny Ramirez says that he'll ponder retirement if an "acceptable offer" doesn't come his way soon. I have no joke. Sometimes, Manny serves as his own punchline.

CC in the Bronx: Sabathia may be worth it, but do the Yankees have any tact?

What recession? Apparently the Yankees are blissfully unaware of the economic crisis that has hit this country with devastating force. Because to the Bronx Bombers, 160 million dollars is chump change. I can just picture Brian Cashman going into a Waffle House and tipping the waitress a thousand bucks for a ten dollar meal of pancakes and hash browns. Heck, when you have that much dough, why not just flaunt it?



The Fighting Pinstripes netted the most coveted free agent in baseball, signing ace CC Sabathia to a seven-year, 161 million dollar deal, tearing the lid off what was an oddly uneventful Hot Stove season. This marks the largest contract ever given to a pitcher. Yes, even larger than the 7-year, 127 million my beloved Giants stupidly threw at Barry Zito two years ago. Sabathia had been actively engaged with many teams, including the Giants, and he repeatedly expressed his desire to return to his California roots. Money talked, however, and the man who led Milwaukee to last year's postseason is headed to the Big Apple in what will be the first year at the new Yankee Stadium.



Even if an athlete had the combined talents of Michael Jordan, Willie Mays, and Jerry Rice, I still wouldn't spend 161 million on him. That's just way too much cash for anybody. With that being said, there's no denying the fact that Sabathia is worth big money. The Yankees will be in a three-way tussle for the AL East division crown next season along with the defending American League champion Rays and the archrival Red Sox, who still hope to sign Mark Teixiera. But with the addition of Sabathia, Joe Girardi's club has separated themselves, albeit slightly, from the division pack. Much has been made of CC's recent October struggles with the Indians and Brewers, but as ESPN's Jayson Stark astutely pointed out today on "ESPN First Take", the Yankees have to get to October first. And no one can deny the fact that CC Sabathia has been stunning in the regular season. As far as character is concerned, the Yankees are getting a classy individual. New York City is a magnificent place, but the tough media can agitate even the most saintly human being. But my guess is that CC will maintain his poise, stay calm, cool, and collected under the scrutiny of the press. Judging by all of the above, it is clear that Sabathia deserved a huge contract.



But 161 million dollars, to one player.....................seriously??? Was 155 million not enough? The "Evil Empire" has never been particularly neighborly, as the Steinbrenners make Ebenezer Scrooge look like an angel. Never, though, have they slapped America in the face this hard. Couldn't they have shown a little restraint, some recognition of America's fiscal struggles? Even a statement reading, "We have money. You don't. Take that America", would be better than nothing. Certainly, ridiculous contracts are very common in professional sports, and if any other team had Yankee money, they'd surely spend it in an occasionally egregious fashion. Yet am I the only one who is a little turned off by Brian Cashman's latest display of riches? Call me naive, old fashioned, jealous (partially true, as my Giants were one of the bidders for CC, only to see a top free agent slip through our fingers----again)-----call me whatever you like. I just do not find it acceptable to spend so freely during a time of significant economic turmoil. Also, something must be done to level the playing field in Major League Baseball. I love MLB, but more so than any other pro sport, it features an unacceptable discrepancy in payroll. Parity is a good thing. There is a reason why the Royals always stink and the Yankees and Red Sox always contend, and a big part of that reason is payroll.

Commissioner Selig, please act. One of your teams has enough money to start another government bailout, and this is not good for your sport.

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:

---Huge sports weekend, especially for college football. Pardon me for being redundant, but it can never be said enough: The BCS stinks!!!!!!!!!

---Let me try and follow the logic of the BCS. Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns beat Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma Sooners with relative ease in the annual Red River Shootout earlier this year. Yet it's Oklahoma who gets the nod over Texas to play in the Big 12 Championship Game. So tell me, what exactly is the criteria under which these geniuses make decisions?

---Oh yeah, I forgot: There is none! As Erik Kuselias said on ESPN Radio this week, no criteria exists.

---With this being said, there will be some phenomenal games tomorrow with national championship implications.

---Alabama-Florida will be the game of the day. Nick Saban's Crimson Tide will upend Tim Tebow and the Gators in a thriller. The status of Percy Harvin will be key for Florida. As for Oklahoma-Missouri, I'll take the Sooners, but Chase Daniel and the Tigers will keep it close.

---And then on Sunday, the BCS selections are announced, and sports fans across the land will be screaming at their television sets.

---College football's regular season is filled with awesome excitement, and it's about time for college football to give us a decent conclusion.

---On to the NFL, where the Chargers beat up on the Raiders last night 37-7. Uhhhh, San Diego, where has that offense been all season long?

---On second thought, the Raiders defense can make anybody look good.

---I've had enough of the Plaxico Burress saga, so I won't spend too much time on this tired story. All I'll say is that it is sad to see a guy with so much talent fall so far so fast.

---The Burress drama would be a distraction for most teams, but not for the New York Giants. The Giants are the best team in football, and they will just brush this off their shoulders and continue to dominate.

---Best game of Week 14: Steelers-Cowboys. Pittsburgh. Big.

---Here are the rest of my Week 14 winners: Bears, Niners, Vikings, Colts, Giants, Titans, Falcons, Texans, Dolphins, Patriots, Broncos, Cardinals, Ravens, Bucs.

---That's right, I picked the Niners. What a shocker.

---Usually I would have talked some NBA already, but I'm stalling because I'm reluctant to discuss my Warriors.

---Eight straight losses for my beloved W's. Ouch. I take one loss like a stab to the stomach, so imagine what eight in a row feels like. I know a lot of people expected us to struggle until the return of Monta Ellis, but I don't think anybody expected it to be this bad. We stink right now.

---Two weeks ago, I was beaming with joy over the Al Harrington-Jamal Crawford trade. I still think we got the better end of the deal, and I'm thrilled to have Crawford on my team, but it's hard to be optimistic about anything with Golden State right now. It has gotten so bad, even Nellie has openly admitted that he does not think we are a playoff team.

---However, I am keeping the faith. But in order for us to turn it around, we need a collective effort on behalf of everyone. GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!

---Okay, LeBron. You are the best player in the game and a great guy, but I am siding with Charles Barkley. Stop speculating about your possible future with the Knicks. Like Barkley said, it is completely disrespectful to Danny Ferry, Mike Brown, your teammates, and everybody in the organization.

---And by the way, calling Barkley stupid just made you look like a whiny toddler. Like Kobe. Hey-ohhhhhhhhhh!

---Sam Mitchell did a fantastic job with the Toronto Raptors, and he did not deserve to be fired. The Raptors are definitely underachieving, especially when they have the likes of Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon. But the blame should not have fallen on the lap of Mitchell.

---In fact, the Raptors aren't even the most disappointing team in the league. That would be the Philadelphia 76ers. With Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, and Samuel Dalembert, I thought Mo Cheeks' team would be much better.

---In fact, none of the firings in the NBA so far this season have made much sense. No offense to Scott Brooks, Ed Tapscott, and Jay Triano, but P.J. Carlisimo, Eddie Jordan, and Sam Mitchell should all still have their jobs with the Thunder, Wizards, and Raptors.

---Speaking of the Thunder, I think North Carolina would beat Oklahoma City by thirty.

---UNC is destroying everyone right now, including Tom Izzo's very talented Michigan State Spartans. They are the clear-cut favorite to cut down the nets at season's end.

---Don't panic yet, UCLA faithful, but Ben Howland's Bruins are 4-2. Granted, one of those losses came to an excellent Texas team, but the record is nonetheless unimpressive.

---Blake Griffin is going to be a star in the NBA. No doubt about it.

---The Hot Stove is heating up in Major League Baseball, as the league still awaits the destination of stars Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixiera, and CC Sabathia.

---I'm happy with Brian Sabean's moves so far. Bob Howry and Jeremy Affeldt will be of significant help to the Giants' bullpen, and though we slightly overpaid for him, I still like the Edgar Renteria signing. Here's hoping the veteran shortstop plays like the St. Louis Renteria, not the Detroit Renteria.

---And finally, O.J. Simpson was sentenced to a maximum of thirty-three years in prison today. Does anybody feel sorry for him? I didn't think so.