College Football: Three Burning Questions

All of my focus and attention is still on baseball (Gooooooo Giants!!!), but as college football commences this Saturday, here are three burning questions of intrigue and interest:

1. Will Alabama repeat?

With the constantly changing landscape of college athletics, it is immensely difficult for a team to win consecutive championships. But this year, it is certainly a possibility for Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. Last year's Heisman winner Mark Ingram is back, and even though he will miss the season opener against San Jose State with a minor knee injury. he is poised to have another stellar season. 'Bama enters the season as the definite favorite, but they will have to persevere through an incredibly challenging schedule if they are to make it back to the title game. Alabama will face stern tests at home against fourth-ranked Florida, nineteenth-ranked Penn State, and twenty-second-ranked Auburn, and on the road at seventeenth-ranked Arkansas, and twenty-first-ranked LSU. So if Alabama does indeed repeat, it will be a feat of almost unfathomable achievement.

2. Will Brian Kelly bring success and glory back to Notre Dame football?

I was somewhat disgusted by the manner in which Brian Kelly left Cincinnati last year, deserting the Bearcats after their great season and refusing to coach them in the Sugar Bowl. It was a display of stunning selfishness from a man who had heretofore been a classy figure. However, while I still haven't forgiven Kelly for his actions quite yet, I do realize that he is a terrific coach, and I think Notre Dame made a fantastic hire. But just because Kelly is an excellent coach does not mean that he will experience success under the glaring pressure that comes with his current job. Notre Dame hasn't experienced much happiness in quite some time. The Charlie Weis era was an enormous disappointment, and now that Jimmy Clausen has followed in Brady Quinn's footsteps to the NFL, the Fighting Irish are left with untested Dayne Crist at quarterback. Very few positions in sports are as pressure-packed as that of Notre Dame head football coach, and it will be fascinating to see how Kelly fares. For my money, I say he will be successful. His boisterous spirit and energy will lead the Irish to a much-improved season.

3. Will Boise State and TCU finally get the respect they so richly deserve?

The answer, sadly, is likely to be no. The BCS is the most egregious, disgraceful, criminally unfair system in all of sports, and come January, I'm sure we will have another batch of controversy. Here's hoping Boise State and TCU, and all of the non-BCS teams, have outstanding seasons, so we can hopefully convince those in power to change to a much-needed playoff system. Boise State has a huge challenge in their season opener at Virginia Tech. Nothing against Frank Beamer and his Hokies, but I desperately hope Boise State gets the victory. I'm sick and tired of the BCS, and the more the Davids beat the Goliaths, the more likely it is that we will one day see a playoff system in college football.

So there you have it. And just for good measure: Go Cal!!!!! I know Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears are projected to have a rough season, but I stay loyal to my teams, and I remain optimistic. Championship or bust.

Damon to the Sox, Again? I hope so.

Even after his heroic World Series performance with the Yankees last season, Johnny Damon's name was beginning to fade from relevance this season. Damon was having a decent year at the plate, batting a respectable .272, but he was stuck on the Detroit Tigers, a team that is months removed from any sort of serious contention. Many, including myself, were saddened by Damon's fall from grace in Detroit. Here was a guy with lots of productivity left in the tank, who was perhaps bound to end his career with a whimper on a mediocre team. All of this changed yesterday, when the Boston Red Sox claimed Johnny Damon on waivers. Damon, who spent the glory years of his accomplished career as a much-celebrated member of the Sox, left Boston to join the arch-rival Yankees in 2007. When he left, there was acrimony in the streets of Boston. Damon quickly went from hero to villain. The Red Sox did win another World Series in 2007, without Damon. But Damon had the last laugh, playing an integral role on last season's World Series-champion New York Yankees. All of this juicy backstory lends a sense of compelling uncertainty to this current development: Will Johnny Damon say yes to Boston and reunite with his old team?

Here's hoping the answer is yes. Damon, while still a viable threat at the plate, is indeed aging, and he is unlikely to bolster the Red Sox past the Rays in the AL Wild Card standings. However, I hope Damon decides to waive his no-trade clause to Boston simply because it would make for awesome sports drama. Damon, back at Fenway, the place where some of the most cherished memories of his career lie. It would be only fitting for him to end his career in Beantown. So I'm asking Johnny Damon to do the most compelling thing, and say yes to re-joining the Boston Red Sox.

*(Shortly after the completion of this blog post, Johnny Damon said no to Boston and announced that he will be staying in Detroit. Great timing, Tommy, great timing.)

Johnson, Lincecum, Revis, and 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:

---After Dustin Johnson's humiliating mental gaffe on the eighteenth hole "bunker" at Whistling Straits, a gaffe that cost him a chance to win the PGA Championship, he has solidified his name in golf infamy.

---It's not as if Johnson's mistake was inexplicable. Quite the opposite, in fact. That "bunker" on the eighteenth hole didn't really look like anything resembling an actual bunker, so it is understandable to see why Johnson made that mistake. However, the rules were posted clearly and recited clearly to all the golfers at Whistling Straits. As a pro, Johnson should have known better.

---2010 has been a disastrous year for Johnson. First, he crumbled under the pressure at Pebble Beach with an epic collapse at the U.S. Open. Then, he was burned by a mental error on the Whistling Straits 18th that will be remembered forever.

---But, Johnson should be applauded for his classiness. It has been an undeniably rough year for him, but he speaks with an admirable sense of humility and maturity. Here's hoping he makes a full comeback and wins a Major in the near future.

---The guy who has to be feeling lost in the shuffle right now is the guy who actually won the PGA Championship, Martin Kaymer. Unfortunately for Martin, he is about the fifth-most compelling story of the weekend.

---As for Tiger, he showed major strides of improvement over the weekend in Wisconsin. If I'm Cory Pavin, I am definitely selecting Tiger for the Ryder Cup. Without hesitation.

---Overall, a tremendous weekend of golf at Whistling Straits. By far the most exciting PGA major of the year, and one of the most thrilling sports events of the year.

---On to baseball now, where the struggles of Tim Lincecum has me somewhat depressed.

---Number 55 still shows flashes of brilliance on occasion, but his second-straight flop of a start, against the first-place Padres in a huge game, suggest that he has lost a step. I still love Timmy, and I desperately hope that he returns to form down the stretch to help lead my beloved Giants to the playoffs. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about The Freak.

---Meanwhile, the freakin' Padres continue to annoy the hell out of me. I keep waiting for Bud Black's team to fade, but they just keep on winning. Damn you, Adrian Gonzalez, Miguel Tejada, and Matt Latos! Have a slump, please!!!

---This is the time of year that reminds us why baseball is so awesome. Very few things in sports match the excitement of a tense pennant race, a fact that was evident in last week's Reds-Cardinals brawl. In the wake of the violent, bench-clearing kerfuffle, many people were OUTRAGED! This isn't the type of example we want to be sending to our children!!! Well, sorry folks, but I loved every moment of it.

---Look, do we want to teach our kids to use physical force against the opposition? Of course not. But it was downright exhilarating and refreshing to see Brandon Phillips, Yadier Molina, Dusty Baker, Tony LaRussa, and the gang mix it up. This is pennant-race baseball at its finest.

---Football is fast approaching, and one NFL team with championship aspirations is holding it's collective breath as one of their stars remains unsigned. If the Jets want to contend for a Super Bowl, they must sign Darrelle Revis, A.S.A.P.

---Revis is one of the premier defensive stars in the league, and he is crucial to the success of Rex Ryan's team. Thus, Jets management must swallow their pride and give Revis his money.

---Shameless personal plug: Look for my football preview, college and pro, coming to a computer near you in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

---I'll end this edition of Random Observations with a brand new segment, called "Hero of the Week". This recurring segment will honor a figure in sports whom I feel deserves to be recognized and applauded. This week, the hero is the great Charles Barkley. Kudos to Sir Charles for being outspoken in his criticism of LeBron James. Following LeBron's stupid tweet in which he attempted to intimidate his critics, Sir Charles gave James a much-deserved verbal smackdown. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There is nobody better than the great Charles Barkley.

Burrell, A-Rod, Favre, and 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:

---I'm back from an amazing weekend in San Francisco, where I attended 2 of the 3 Giants-Dodgers games. My beloved Giants swept away the hated blue in electric, enthralling fashion.

---I don't know if a sporting event can get any louder than the crowds at AT&T Park over the weekend. The Orange and Black faithful screamed their hearts out for the Giants. After chanting "BEAT L.A.!", "LETS GO GIANTS", and "SWEEP!" at the top of my lungs, I returned home with a hoarse voice and a smile on my face.

---There were several notable storylines over the weekend for San Francisco. There was Tim Lincecum, Aubrey Huff, Edgar Renteria, Buster Posey, Brian Wilson, Chris Ray, Javier Lopez, Juan Uribe, Barry Zito, and Guillermo Mota all delivering in clutch fashion against the hated rivals from down South. There was Matt Cain pitching a masterful game on Sunday Night Baseball to garner his first career win against the Dodgers. But the biggest hero of the weekend was Pat Burrell.

---In the long history of the storied Giants-Dodgers rivalry, Pat the Bat's go-ahead, two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against Jonathan Broxton deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the famous home runs by Brian Johnson and Joe Morgan, home runs that drove a stake through the heart of the Dodgers. A classic moment.

---In other baseball news, Alex Rodriguez is still stuck at 599 career home runs. Trying desperately to bolster A-Rod out of his current slump, Brain Cashman announced today that the Yankees have re-signed Kate Hudson.

---As the Yankees and Rays continue to play exemplary baseball, the Red Sox keep falling behind the pack. With no move at the trade deadline, Boston is D.O.A.

---Just a thought: The Braves are fantastic, and the surging Phillies just acquired Roy Oswalt. But is it too crazy to think that the Marlins could make a run at the playoffs in the NL East? With Cy Young candidate Josh Johnson, and powerful offensive threats Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramirez, and rookie Mike Stanton, this Florida team is very dangerous.

---On to the NFL now, where Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco are now teammates in Cincinnati. Ummmmmm, don't see how this can possibly work. Can somebody say Clash of the Egos?

---Meanwhile, Brett Favre says that he is going to retire. In other convincing news, Rod Blagojevich says that he is innocent. Believe it when I see it, Brett.

---That's all for today's edition of Random Observations. And remember...............Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!