Quick HIts for the Week

Good morning everyone - I've been wanting to get a post out over the last couple of days, but have had some issues with the site, but all appears to be working now.

The exciting world of sports seems to be awakening from its summer slumber and so I just had to get off a few quick hits. NOTE: Later this week I will also post a back-and-forth debate I recently had with a good friend on the Tour de France and doping. Check back later this week to check it out - see if you can figure out which of us is an avid TdF fan and which is just a babbling jack ass...I think you'll be surprised.

756:
It's my hope this story will quietly begin to go away...until the grand jury reconvenes. Overall, what a surreal and weird thing - should be some huge following around this and I just get the sense that there wasn't. I'm not a big baseball guy and was even less so growing up, but I remember watching Cal Ripken break his consecutive game record and thinking it was really cool to see that.

I think in 6 years A-Rod blows by Bonds for this record.

Baseball:
And speaking of baseball - I only really route for the Astros and even then, I don't really follow them that closely (partly because they blow). But I love watching the Yankees slowly chip away at their deficit and I love watching BoSox fans sweat a little while saying the Yankees are dead. I hope they catch them...just for the entertainment value.

And I'm saying it here and now - Yankees win the world series. Write it down folks.

Tiger:
I DVRed last week's tournament where Tiger utterly humiliated Rory Sabatini and let me tell you it was beautiful. I love that this guy has been talking trash for a few weeks now and within 9 holes he went from 1 up to 6 back.

Rory really embarrassed himself with that one and I just hope that he'll shut up now...or maybe I don't. I usually don't like watching dynasties, but I love watching Tiger dominate in tournaments like that.

This is why Sabatini is a punk - when turning the ninth hole (after what I'm sure was another bogey), a spectator said to him, "I guess Tiger's not so beatable now is he?" (it was something like that). Rory had a security guard escort him off the course. What a complete chump.

I've got Tiger as the runaway favorite this weekend.

NFL:
Here are my quick thoughts on the coming season - I think I'm more looking forward to this season than most others I can recall.

• I'm never EVER in favor of rookies holding out - in fact I really loathe it, but I think Jamarcus Russell may be in the right here. He can be a true savior of this program and Al Davis is nickel and diming him. Russell knows what he's getting into and he knows he's got all the leverage. I don't think he is being unreasonable in what he's asking for. Of course, Al is also thinking I've got Culpepper, I don't need you - he'll learn that lesson the hard way at about the week 4 mark I'm guessing. On the other hand...
  
• Brady Quinn is an idiot. This kid had NO leverage going into the negotiations. He was trying to negotiate as he was a top 10 pick. 4-5 years from now, when we look back at the careers of Joey Harrington and Brady Quinn, they will be identical. I don't think this guy really pans out to anything. Look at his record against upper echelon opponents and then against lower/middle echelon opponents. Too bad in the NFL they are ALL upper echelon.
  
• I've seen this a couple of times mentioned lately and I think I completely agree - when the NFL and the Players Union begin negotiating the collective bargaining agreement in the next few years, rookie contracts will be one of the first topics discussed. NFL needs an NBA-like structure where each rookie knows exactly what he's going to be able to get when he signs.
  
• I just can't imagine that the Colts can win another super bowl with as much as they've lost to injury and free agency. I would be shocked.
  
• I think New Orleans is still competitive, but takes a step or two backwards from last season in terms of wins and consistency
• NFC has the two worst divisions in football - NFC East and NFC Central. Seriously, any of those teams can win their respective divisions...ANY of them. I'm going with Minnesota or Chicago for the central (toss up there) and Eagles for the east
• It will be VERY interesting to see if the Titans can continue their growth and progress. They sure lost A LOT of weapons to free agency. I think they were smart to get Eric Moulds, but he's getting up there in age. We'll see just how much Vince can will this team yet again this year.
  
• Speaking of Vince, LOVED seeing him protecting his teammate the other day. He, literally, owns that team...and in a very good way.
  

College Football:
Here are my biggest questions for the season...and a few predictions

• Will Texas' secondary do a complete 180 from last year - because I think they really have to for us to have a better year than last year
• Games that most scare me most as a Texas fan: TCU, at Okie State, at A&M
  
• Regardless of what Michigan does, I'm saying this is it for Lloyd Carr
• Interesting question I recently read in a Stewart Mandel article: How will the departure of West Virginia's offensive line coach, coupled with the loss of 3 starters on the O-line, affect this team? There are a few programs in the country capable of simply plugging players like that into a system like that and scarcely miss a beat...West Virginia is not one of those programs. Should be an interesting team in a very interesting conference this year
• If A&M has a .500 season or worse (probably won't happen, but they have a treacherous schedule this year), will they fire Franchione? I still think this school is capable of going and getting someone better suited for College Station and this program - I just think Fran is grossly overrated
• Can Mack Brown win another conference title? With as many 10-win seasons as he's had, it's hard to believe he's only got 1 conference title while only contending for one other
• Is USC really still that good?
  
• What in the world will last year's national title contenders look like this year?
  
• Nebraska may not win, but they will give SC a scare this coming year
• Colt Brennan will break another passing record of some sort...and no one will notice
• Can Colt McCoy go this entire season without injury?