Halladay, Moss, Ingram, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

---Today was a day of seismic shift in Major League Baseball, as Roy Halladay appears headed to Philadelphia in a three-team deal that would send Cliff Lee to Seattle. The deal is not yet finalized, but if it does go through, it would make the Mariners instant contenders in the American League.



---Don't get me wrong: I love Doc Halladay, one of the best pitchers in the game. But this move won't really have a big impact on the Phillies. The Phillies traded an ace (Lee) for an ace (Halladay), so the deal is a wash from their standpoint. Charlie Manuel's team remains the team to beat in the National League. The Mariners, on the other hand, have just made drastic strides of improvement, assuming the trade does indeed occur. Cliff Lee is every bit as good as Halladay, a dominant lefty who will shift the balance of power in the AL West if he goes to Seattle. With the acquisitions of Cliff Lee and speedy third baseman Chone Figgins, I give the Mariners the edge over the Angels in the AL West.



---As if the Cliff Lee news wasn't bad enough for the Angels, they have just lost ace John Lackey, who signed an 5-year, $85 million contract with the Red Sox. Huge pickup for the Sox, more depression for the Halos.



---That sound you hear, that's the sound of the Dallas Cowboys drowning.



---As the Cowboys continue to suffer their December curse, they NFC playoff picture has become fascinating. There are now three teams vying for two spots: the Cowboys, Packers, and Giants. Forget Dallas---they are toast. Green Bay and New York will be playing football in January.

---Is there a more electrifying player in the NFL than Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson? In yesterday's big win over the Giants, the Eagles wide receiver looked like Jerry Rice. In addition to being a prolific wide receiver, Jackson is one of the most dangerous special teams threats in the league. He is a joy to watch.

---The Patriots picked up a much-needed victory Sunday against the Panthers, but the team is now hounded with questions over the suspicious behavior of Randy Moss. Moss, an elite wide receiver with a moody past, appeared to have quit on a handful of plays on Sunday. Moss has been on his best behavior throughout his tenure in New England. Let's hope his recent antics don't foreshadow a return to his petulant ways.

---It is only a matter of time before Bears QB Jay Cutler winds up working at the local 7-Eleven. Cutler has been so bad in Chicago, that Bears fans are actually pining for the glory days of Rex Grossman.

---Just when we're about to declare the Utah Jazz a contender, they come up with an inexplicable loss. Jerry Sloan's team followed impressive wins over the Magic and Lakers with a home defeat to the terrible Minnesota Timberwolves. The inconsistency of the Jazz will be their ultimate downfall in the Western Conference, and sadly, Carlos Boozer will likely depart at season's end.

---As the Dallas Mavericks continue to play winning basketball, it is worth noting the superb play of Jose Barea. Barea gets overshadowed by Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, and Josh Howard, but he is a vital part of the Mavs' success.

---As Brook Lopez continues to blossom into an elite NBA center with the Nets, his twin brother Robin seems to be having an emotional breakdown in Phoenix. Robin Lopez has been a disappointment in the pros, and he apparently has a serious temper problem, a problem that was recently addressed by Suns coach Alvin Gentry. Forgive me for going all Dr. Phil for a moment, but being suffocated in the shadow of your twin brother's greatness has to be difficult for Robin. Sadly, I don't see any potential for him in the NBA.

---I can't wait for Christmas Day, the best day of the year for basketball fans everywhere. After unwrapping the presents in the morning, families can gather around the television sets to watch the Celtics and Magic, followed by Lebron's Cavs taking on Kobe's Lakers. It is going to be awesome!

---Congratulations to your 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram. The Alabama running back, who barely edged out Stanford RB Toby Gerhart, is a deserving winner, and his acceptance speech was genuinely heartfelt and profoundly moving.

---As great as Ingram is, however, the Heisman candidate with the most promising NFL career is Nebraska's defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, a dominant defensive force who will be a star in the NFL.

---Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is headed to Notre Dame. Kelly is a fantastic coach, and I don't blame him one bit for accepting the prestigious Notre Dame job. However, he should have handled the situation better. Kelly continually preached the importance of maintaining focus on his Bearcats when his name was brought up in Notre Dame rumors. But Kelly ended up fleeing Cincinnati without proper notification of his players, who are preparing to take on Florida in a major bowl game. After guiding Cincinnati to their best season ever, Kelly won't even be able to coach his team in the Sugar Bowl. Kelly seems like a class act, but he left Cincinnati in classless fashion.

---And finally, the college basketball season is off to a spectacular start, thanks in large part to the extraordinary play of Kentucky's John Wall, the surefire number one pick in next year's NBA Draft. Wall is one of the most exciting college players in recent memory, and he will lead the undefeated Wildcats to a Final Four appearance.