The "Nothing Special To Post" Post

No more college football. No more NFL playoffs. Yea, it's a downer in this "week before the super bowl", but not to fear, we've got plenty of other stories to create and speculations to make. Sometimes when football is over you just have to dig in...

NFL Notes:

• I must hit on this situation with the Raiders first. I hope to everything Holy that this story is NOT true, if only for Al Davis' sake. For those of you who haven't seen this it is being reported that Al Davis has/is asking Lane Kiffin to resign - even going so far as to draft a resignation letter and have it delivered to Kiffin to be signed. The little wrinkle of course is that Davis still owes Kiffin $4 million as stipulated by the contract and he's attempting to get Kiffin to opt out of it so he can go and hire, allegedly, Dennis Green without having to buy out Kiffin. Obviously Kiffin is going to tell him to go make sweet love to himself - I'm sure he'd more than happy to step down once Davis' check for $4 million clears. Is there a larger cluster you-know-what of an organization than the Raiders? This team will NEVER be good while Al Davis is still running things - the super bowl a few years back (with Callahan at the helm) was an aberration.
  
• Sidenote: Wouldn't it be awesome if we could somehow create a Steel Cage Match between the Knicks' management and the Raiders' management? It would of course be a fight to the death with everyone secretly hoping that they would kill off each other. I mean, who would one route for? I think it would be the one time in "sports" history where the fans in the respective cities would actually be routing for the opponent.
  
• Sidenote II: I may be weird for saying this, but does anyone else feel like you could really see Al Davis and Dick Cheney being good buds? For some reason I can see them getting together once or twice a year, eating Ho-Hos, Cheetos and raw meat playing Risk all night. I wonder what music they would be listening to????
• And by the way big Al, you brought on this young coach and did him no favors by waffling on the signing of Russell, you let Moss go with NOTHING in return and you want to get rid of him after he doubled your wins from last year? I swear, I don't think it would be too hard to get this guy legally committed.
  
• What in the world is Dan Snyder doing with the Redskins? This team is really on the cusp of being a real contender in the NFC (you know they're thinking if the Giants can go all the way to the Super Bowl why can't we?) and they need a solid sense of stability and they need it pretty quick. And to boot, Snyder fired both coordinators today. This will be a very interesting season for the Skins.
  
• Imagine this: you land the head coaching job for America's team (Cowboys); you've got a star quarterback, a super-star receiver, a very solid pair of running backs, the best statistical tight end in the history of the team and a very solid defense; you go 13-3 your first year....and you're on the hot seat? I will say this, and this has been written in numerous articles, old Wade Phillips did look like a deer in headlights in the last 5 minutes of their loss to the Giants. But, to suggest (which Jerry Jones has essentially done) that Phillips is on the hot seat is absurd. He's just dying to put Garrett in that head coaching spot and I can't understand why. I know Phillips' record in the playoffs is horrible (I think he maybe winless if I'm not mistaken), but he's got a good team and they pretty much dominated the NFC - they just need to learn to finish a season. And, in his defense, they did the exact same thing under Parcells the previous year - started great and faded at the end of the year. By the way, the team that barely beat you happens to be playing in the super bowl, so it's not like you lost to the Bucs or something.
  Take a deep breath Jerry and be patient - you'll have just as many, if not more opportunities for a super bowl with Phillips than with Garrett.
  
• Does anyone believe that Brady won't play in the super bowl? And won't play well?
  
• Early Super Bowl Pick (sort of): I'm still leaning quite a bit towards the Patriots, but I'm starting to think about it...the Giants have a chance here, I'm just not sure how much they've got - they have to play perfect....but they know they can play with these guys. As the weak goes on I'm sure I'll start to lean more towards my Giants.
  
• NFL Draft Notes - Still a couple of months away, but time to start thinking about the draft, especially for a select few teams:
  
• Look for the first two picks to go (in any order) Glenn Dorsey of LSU and Chris Long of Virginia - both defensive linemen. I know a lot of teams don't like picking interior linemen so early so I'll bet on Long to go first to....
• Which brings me to the Dolphins. I know Parcells is a brilliant football guy so don't be surprised to see him look to trade this pick - I strongly believe the equity it could bring in terms of veteran talent is far more valuable than what he could get in this year's draft. I do think both Long and Dorsey will be great NFL players, they need more than a single. VERY LARGE contract that this pick will bring.
  
• A lot of mock drafts have McFadden going pretty high, but more interesting is the alleged interest that Jones has in McFadden (I know he's got Arkansas ties, but so what?). He's got 2 pretty good RBs right now with proven experience at the pro level - I'd look to get a younger receiver or another linebacker. Chill out Jerry - stay the course.
  
• And speaking of a younger receiver, Don Banks has Texas' own Limas Sweed going 21 to the Redskins (if he slips, Cowboys get 22 and 28). Weird that a guy who played about 10 minutes this season may go in the first round of the draft. He's got good potential and he's a carbon-copy of Roy Williams (though not as good I don't think) - that may be what teams are seeing in him.
  
• It's absolutely absurd that the Patriots have to forfeit their 32 pick (last in the first round), but STILL have the seventh pick in a trade from San Francisco - you think the Pats were routing against the Niners all year? They'll be able to plug and play if Samuel leaves for free agency - these guys are going to be good for a long time.
  
• Teams needing a QB have to be bummed out about the weak pool of QBs this year - Matt Ryan is probably the top pick with everyone else up in the air - Brohm from Louisville and Woodson from Kentucky and then....

College Basketball Notes:

• As always, Horns first: Great win last night against Tech, although I think it's obvious by now that Tech is way down in terms of talent this year. Before that though, I can't say I was overly confident to see the guys pull off victories over Colorado at home and Okie State on the road...by 2 points. The Cowboys are way down this year compared with past years, and Colorado is literally a one-man team. The main thing about last night's win was that we saw the rebirth of AJ Abrams - let's hope he's back to stay (he was 7 of 32 shooting over the previous 3 games - that's not good).
  
• Speaking of Abrams back for good - they'll need him over the next few games: at the aggies on Wednesday, Baylor at home, travel to OU, Iowa State and then Kansas comes to town on Feb 11. Also, mark your calendars for February 25 when the Horns travel to Manhattan to take on Kansas State - the horns never win in Manhattan so we'll see if they can't reverse that ugly trend.
  
• Boy oh boy the Jayhawks look damn good.
  
• Have you seen Michael Beasley play yet? Wow. I don't want to say he's better than Durant, but he's averaging the same points and one more rebound than Durant was at this time....with lesser talent around him. He's a freak and write it down - he'll be the number 1 pick in this year's NBA draft (Miami should start to tank so they can get him.....oh wait, they already are). Check him out - if you enjoy good basketball talent you'll love watching this kid.
  
• Did anyone notice that Stephen F. Austin upset OU in Norman this year? Chop 'em Jacks.
• What a game that 5 OT Baylor/Aggie game was. Huge win for the Bears - it's amazing to think where they were just a few short years ago. Coach Drew is doing wonders and has them in the top 25 for the first time in forever. Unfortunately they weren't able to escape Norman without a win last night, but it was tight game and they played well.
  
• I guess the Aggies' weak non-conference schedule is catching up with them. They were able to narrowly defeat Okie State last night, but they're still a game under .500 in conference play and they get the Longhorns on Wednesday night. Could be a tough year for the Aggies in tough Big 12 this year.
• Big upset last night as UCONN knocked off Indiana on the road. Villanova also seems to be fading with 2 consecutive losses - they may fall out of top 25 (will be a fight for that spot between Nova and Aggies).
  
• If brackets were due tomorrow I think I would put Memphis winning it all. I know it may be a no-brainer, but they've always given you reasons to NOT pick them come March. And they're making up for their conference schedule with some tough games out of conference: OU, at UCONN, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Tennessee, etc.
  

NBA Notes:

• Ugh, Lakers are really hurting without Bynum - they've played tough, but they just don't have enough. I think this was evident, but they are hurting in depth. They've played fantastic team ball this year and it's showing in their contention half way through the season. But let's not forget, they were in this same position last year, but I also think it's clear Bynum is a vastly improved player this year. Unfortunately Kwame Freaking Brown is his backup.
  
• Speaking of, I challenge you to tell me a larger bust in the last 20 years than Kwame Brown. Bryant Reeves? Darko? Maybe, but the continuous investment by teams into Kwame Brown is astonishing - especially considering he's not had a good season since he's been in the league.
  
• Did you see Garnett get that steal off of Telfair to win the game the other night? That dude has to be the MVP right now. Over the long haul, I think the Pistons may ultimately take the East, but lookout for the Celtics over the next 2 years - they remind me of the Lakers when they had Shaq and Kobe and won their second title - they steamrolled through the playoffs and finals losing only 1 game which was game 1 of the Finals. Next year I can see the Celtics blowing through the season and playoffs...but not this year.
  
• I don't think there's a close second to Durant for Rookie of the Year - Horford is playing well on a surprising Hawks team (actually contending for playoff spot???), but nothing like Durant.
  
• I don't understand this, but I know it's a fact - if they had a "If We Lost This Player We Would Fall Apart" Award Manu Ginobili would win it every single year. When he's not playing or not playing well, they are iffy at best - when he's his usual, consistent self, they're very tough to beat.
  
• The re-emergence of Marcus Camby is quite astonishing - he's averaging 14.5 rebounds and 4 blocks per game...and he's 34. Not bad at all.
• One of the better stories has to be the Trailblazers - they essentially wrote this year off when Oden went out, but if they keep this up they'll forget they ever drafted him. I still contend and will stick with this - they shouldn't have drafted a player they don't need just because the media says he's the second coming of Bill Russell. The good news is he'll have lots of talent around him, but still are you going to take minutes away from Aldridge to develop Oden? We'll see how it plays out. If they had drafted Durant and kept that core of players around they'd be blowing through the Western Conference within 2 years.
  
• Looking at the All-Star rosters I think the East has the better starting 5 (Garnett, Lebron, Kidd, Howard and Wad) but the "depth" of the West is far superior. Not that it matters - trying to predict how the NBA All Star game will play out is like predicting what Brittany Spears will do next.
  
• It would appear Jason Kidd is asking, again, for a trade. I can see either Lakers or Mavs - Lakers can offer Farmar (youth), Kwame Brown (expiring contract) and a first-round draft pick - all will help the Nets prepare for the future. The Mavs have a whole slew to offer. I say the Lakers have a really good chance - by the way it would also help to make 2 of the biggest stars in the game happy...and we wouldn't have to hear annual tirades and threats by them anymore (although Kidd has been a bit more dignified about it).
  

Other Random Notes From the Sports World:

• I'm sorry, but when the NCAA threatens sanctions/discipline because OJ Mayo was given 2 tickets to a Nuggets game by Melo (who he's known for years) then I think it's fair to say they're not really keeping their eye on the right ball. Go back through the rules like this one and apply a "common sense" meter to it. Then come back and let's see what you got.
  
• Huge pickup by the Bruins to get Norm Chow as their Offensive Coordinator - between him and Slick Rick, this offense should be quite exciting. Whether they ever bring it up or not, USC had to take notice to that.
  
• I think there's an NHL All Star game today, but I'm not positive.
  
• It's golf season again and Tiger Woods is already dominating - going into the final round of the Buick, he's got an 8-shot lead. Yea, that sounds about right.
  
• Weird story about the 2 Aggie football players mugging a drug dealer - huh? I guess if you're going to mug someone, do society a favor and get drug dealer. Does that fly? Either way, Horns' fans can't talk trash - I think we remember our off-field woes over the last couple of years.
• Signing Day coming up a week from Wednesday - it's silly, but interesting to see how the "experts" rank everyone.
  

That's what I got sports fans. I'll have a post up before the big game next weekend. Big game for Running Horns this week (and Lakers vs. Cavs later today). Have a good week.