Bumgarner, Rose, McNabb, 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:

---Thank you Madison Bumgarner. The young Bumgarner delivered a masterful World Series performance for the ages in Game 4, dominating the Rangers over the course of eight shutout innings. It is remarkable to see a pitcher as youthful as Bumgarner display such incredible poise on the mound.

---Bumgarner's mastery has the Giants one win away from a World Series Championship. Just typing that gives me the chills. Yesssssssssssssssssss!

---So, are there still haters out there who say the Giants don't have an offense? With the exception of Game 3, the Giants have pounded Rangers pitching. I love Nolan Ryan, but every time the FOX cameras cut to an angry, morose Ryan, my heart fills with joy.

---One more win. That is all the Giants need to give the city of San Francisco one of the greatest moments in city history. Goooooooooooooo Giants!!!!!

---We now return to our regularly unbiased programming.

---On to the best league in sports now, the National Basketball Association. The big story of the weekend was the thoroughly convincing shellacking dealt to the Orlando Magic on Friday night, courtesy of the Miami Heat.

---After a listless opening-night performance at Boston, the Heat seemed to restore order in their home opener. D-Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh, and company destroyed the Magic by 26-points, a terrible omen for Stan Van Gundy's team. Still, cool down Miami bandwagoners. It was just one game.

---While I still believe the Heat have depth issues, Erik Spoelstra has to be encouraged by the superb play of Eddie House. House has always been a reliable force off the bench, and he is a lights-out shooter. House will be a major factor for Miami this season.

---As for the Magic, it was a tale of two halves for Dwight Howard. I was delightfully startled by the overpowering offensive assertiveness of Howard in the first half against Miami. But just as soon as I was starting to get convinced that Howard had finally matured on the offensive end, Dwight reverted to his old, offensively inefficient ways in the second half.

---The Bulls' comeback win on Saturday night against the Pistons served as proof that Derrick Rose is blossoming into one of the game's best point guards. Rose was stellar down the stretch for Chicago, the key catalyst in a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback that left Detroit stunned and helpless.

---Saturday night's win for the Bulls was also a showcase for James Johnson. Johnson was all over the court, grabbing loose ball after loose ball and rebound after rebound. Very impressive play by the second-year forward out of Wake Forest.

---Huge win by the Utah Jazz on Sunday night at Oklahoma City. Just when I was starting to wonder if the Jazz were fiercely overrated after two terrible performances to start the season, Deron Williams and company crushed an outstanding Thunder team in a hostile environment on Sunday night. Sanity has been restored in Salt Lake City.

---On to the NFL now, where Mike Shanahan has some explaining to do. The Redskins coach inexplicably benched Donovan McNabb late in the fourth quarter of a 37-25 loss to the Lions. I have long been a Shanahan admirer, but I am baffled by the McNabb benching. Ummmmm, Coach, do you honestly believe that Rex Grossman is a better option at quarterback than Donovan McNabb?!

---Another person with explaining to do: Mark Sanchez. The Jets QB threw two interceptions in a sloppy performance that resulted in a 9-0 home loss to the Packers. I am still a Sanchez believer, but he needs to be a more productive leader on the field if the Jets are to be true Super Bowl contenders.

---Don't look now, but here come the Oakland Raiders. Tom Cable's team improved to 4-4 on Sunday with a win over the Seahawks, fresh off last week's 59-14 thrashing of the Denver Broncos. Call me crazy, but I think the Raiders will overtake the Chiefs to win the AFC West. Jason Campbell is a terrific quarterback, and Darren McFadden finally seems to be coming into his own in the NFL.

---Once again, the college football regularl season is thrilling and compelling. Once again, we are going to have more BCS outrage and controversy. Oregon, Boise State, Auburn, and TCU are all undefeated, and they all have a valid argument that they belong in the title game. So rather than deciding the champion on the field with a playoff system, college football will once again let computers run the show and rob at least two deserving teams of a chance to play for a championship. The BCS: Big Crappy System.