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:

---It's Arizona and Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII. Can the Cards shock the world once more?

---I'll post my official prediction later this week, but let me just say that I would not be surprised if Arizona prevails. They have proved me wrong for three straight games, and they have earned my respect.

---And they are underdogs once again. It makes sense that Big Ben and the Steelers are favored, but by a touchdown? That's just too big a spread.

---Dick LeBeau's Steeler defense will be expecting Kurt Warner and the Cardinals to pass-pass-pass, so it's important for Todd Haley's offense to keep the D honest by utilizing the running game with Edgerrin James.

---My top four Super Bowl MVP candidates for the Steelers are Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Willie Parker, and Santonio Holmes. For the Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Adrian Wilson.

---Ken Whisenhunt's heart is obviously with the Cardinals, but there has to be a part of him that wants to win so he can seek vengeance against Pittsburgh for hiring Mike Tomlin instead of him two years ago.

---The big game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Something tells me Jon Gruden will not be in attendance.

---Firing Jon Gruden was a risky move by the Bucs. Sure, it was warranted, but I wouldn't want to be the one to piss off Jon Gruden. They call him Chucky for a reason.

---Great article by "Late Show" writer Bill Scheft on the comic talent of Peyton Manning in the recent edition of Sports Illustrated. A breezy, entertaining read.

---So Scott Linehan turns down the offensive coordinator job for my Niners because he didn't want to move his kids from St. Louis. A week later, he takes the same job in Detroit. Huh???

---Oh, my Warriors, can you sink my heart any farther than it has already fallen? I was fortunate enough to see my W's blow away the inept Wizards in person on Monday. Our next two games, however, saw us lose to the Thunder and Cavs on heartbreaking buzzer-beaters by Jeff Green and LeBron James. Please lord please, can we have the luck for a change? Our three losses on this homestand have come in the final seconds.

---Both losses were excruciatingly painful, but as Stephen Jackson said after the Cleveland game, it's easier to swallow a game-winner from the game's best player in LeBron James. Jeff Green is another story. His bank shot felt like a stab in the stomach.

---The good news is the return of Monta Ellis. He looked fantastic in his debut, and once Golden State gets fully healthy, with a backcourt of Monta and Jamal Crawford, we can put some wins on the board. The playoffs are out of the picture, but even with a dismal record of 13-31, there is optimism to be had.

---The Orlando Magic turned in the most disappointing performance of any NBA team this past week. Following a win at the Staples Center a week earlier, Stan Van Gundy's team had a chance to make an even louder statement when they hosted the Celtics on Thursday night. But by looking flatter than an anorexic supermodel, the Magic simply added more fuel to their skeptics' fire.

---Speaking of the Magic, Dwight "Superman" Howard received the most All-Star votes in NBA history, earning over three million. Well deserved. Howard is the best center in the game, and he has a joyful, Shaq-like charisma that sets him apart from guys like Tim Duncan. I love Duncan-----he's a first ballot Hall of Famer-----but it's not as if people see his personality and say, "Wow, he's hilarious!!!!!"

---The Pistons have benched Rip Hamilton in favor of Allen Iverson. Bad move. I'm a fan of The Answer, but Detroit has foolishly toyed with their championship chemistry this season, and that does not bode well for them come playoff time.

---Best NBA game of the weekend: Spurs @ Lakers.

---One of the best debates in sports right now is the argument between the ACC and the Big East in college basketball. Who's better? Well, I agree with Jay Bilas' assessment. If you're judging by the conference as a whole, then the Big East is better. If you're judging by the teams at the top, then the ACC is better. No matter how you slice it, both leagues are tremendous. Heck, the elite eight may consist of North Carolina, UConn, Duke, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Louisville.

---Jeff Kent has called it a career. One of the best second basemen baseball has ever seen, Kent spent his finest seasons by the bay with my beloved Giants. However, when he left (going on to Houston and eventually to the hated Dodgers) he made some nasty, bitter remarks about San Francisco, disrespecting the franchise and the fans that were so good to him. Thus, he always received the loudest boos of any opponent when he came to AT&T Park. So I have mixed emotions. He was a spectacular Giant, and he will likely go to Cooperstown wearing the black and orange. But I think I speak for the majority of Giants fans when I say that I really can't stand the guy.

---Speaking of Cooperstown, I know I'm a little late on this, but congratulations to Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson!

---The word on the street is that Tiger is having some setbacks in his rehab, leading many to believe that he will lay a goose egg in majors this year. Think again, and mark my words: Tiger Woods will win more than one major this year.

---I'll end on a sad note. Kay Yow, legendary coach of NC State women's basketball, and one of the most successful coaches in sports history, lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 66. Her legacy will never be forgotten.