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.