What does NCAA stand for?

Now the strange story of Dez Bryant. Bryant is the Oklahoma State wide receiver who was suspended because he lied to the NCAA about a meeting he had with Deion Sanders. The NCAA upheld their decision to suspend Bryant yesterday. This most likely brings the juniors collegiate career to and end. Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while also scoring twice on punt returns. This season, Bryant led the team with 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns through OSU’s first three games.

He played in the first three games of the season while an investigation took place.
E-mail exchanges between an Oklahoma State compliance official and the NCAA indicate that there was concern that Bryant’s meeting with Sanders was a way to connect him to an agent, something Sanders has denied. Bryant claimed in a letter of apology to the NCAA that he jogged briefly with Sanders at a Texas athletics center without breaking a sweat and then went to Sanders’ house for dinner, but did not eat.

So what do we take from this. First, and foremost, this further confirms the belief that the NCAA is the most corrupt and least reputable organizations in the country. Really, they make the Russian Mafia look good. Although Bryant was indeed wrong to have lied during the investigation, ending his career is way, way too severe a punishment. They gave little choice but to lie. If he told the truth, he certainly would have been suspended so he lied which got him suspended. There is a win, win for you. And by the way, did not Reggie Bush get like a sack of money and a condo on the beach and as far as we know the first shot at Kim Kardashian while he was at USC? No suspension there. Of course, Bush had already left USC when this came to light, but the school received no punishment at all. Why? Well, USC is a CASH COW for the NCAA while Oklahoma State, while very nice, is pretty much the sacrificial lamb. I suppose there is justice in there somewhere.

surfer

It's show Time!

The NBA opens tonight. That is sacred ground for me. I love the association. Have forever. There are plenty of intriguing stories to follow as the season kicks off. Some of them:

Kobe v. LeBron - Who is better? Probably neither. They do what they do at the highest level. For my money, I take Kobe, but remember I am a huge Laker's fan.

Blake Griffin - It was going to be fun watching Griffin open his career tonight v. the Lakers. Of course WAS is the operative word here. With the news that Griffin will be lost to the Clips for 6 weeks with a broken knee cap, the story becomes. will the jinks that is on the Clippers ever be over?
The Ron Artest experiment - This worries me. Artest is a bomb waiting to go off. I know Phil Jackson has succeeded where others have failed with guys like Artest (remember Dennis Rodman?) but still I wonder.

Shaq and LeBron - It is going to be fun watching Shaq and the king play together.

Orlando is my team most likely to take it to the next level. Vince Carter motivated to do well is a powerful tool and we all know how great Dwight Howard is.

The team in the west most likely to overtake the Lakers is San Antonio. The addition of Richard Jefferson, rookie Dujan BLair and a healthy Manu Ginobli makes them very, very good.

My picks. Orlando gets their first title over San Antonio, Sorry Lakers, it hurts to say that.

Weekend Hangovers

Random thoughts about the weekend

What the heck is going on with Steve Phillips. The former Met GM and now former ESPN baseball analyst is on the outside looking in after an affair with a 22 year old co-worker. ESPN released this statement:

"Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN," network spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement. "His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways."

To top it off, Have you seen this girl, Brooke Hundley?

C'mon Steve!

The NBA starts tomorrow and to say the least I am excited. The Lakers have always been my favorite sports franchise and I can not wait to watch them defend. Shaq and Lebron as well as the Celtics and Heat will be other really good stories as the Association opens the season. The young phenom Blake Griffin is poised to lead the Clippers out of the bottom feeder zone. We will see.

The Angels could never overcome the Yankees multi phased attack. Last nights loss sends the Yanks against the Phils in what should be a very good (and very cold) World Series. I love the Angels but it is obvious to me that the best two teams are still playing.

I think we are reaching a point in the NFL season where the bad teams, and there are a bunch, are going to start mailing it in. I know it is early but look at some of the scores this weekend. Time for a bunch of rebuilding to start around the league. So much for parity.

And so it goes!

Week 7 NFL Picks

This is a pretty interesting week. Here we go. For entertainment purposes only of course!

Pittsburgh Steelers
Minnesota Vikings +4 1/2

Big Ben is putting up big numbers. I like the Steelers to win. The Steeler defense can't close so watch for the Vikes to cover.


San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs +5 1/2

San Diego never seems to out perform bad teams. In this case they cover.

New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +15 1/2

This is being played in London so I guess that affects things a bit. Still, didn't the Pats just destroy a lesser opponent last week. Take the points.


Indianapolis Colts
St. Louis Rams +14

The Colts come off a bye week AND get Bob Sanders back. Again, lots of points but the Rams are really bad. The Colts in a romp.

San Francisco 49ers +3
Houston Texans

An intriguing game here. Houston can go hot and cold. I like the the Texans and the points.

Green Bay Packers
Cleveland Browns + 7

The Packers laying 7 to the terrible Browns. The Packers have O-Line issues, big time. Green Bay wins, Cleveland covers.

New York Jets -7
Oakland Raiders

Now that the Raiders Head Coach is not going to jail, maybe they can concentrate on football. Not that it matters all that much. They are not good. However, the Jets have firmly landed at the airport and look very ordinary. Jets win, but do not cover.


Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers off board

The Bills are bad. TO looks done and Carolina has a bit of a heart beat. Panthers win.


Chicago Bears +1
Cincinnati Bengals

The Bears get a point but I think they win outright.


New Orleans Saints
Miami Dolphins +7

The Saints win but the Dolphins will cover. This is going to be a good game.


Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Cowboys +4

The Cowboys getting 4 at home is intriguing. Atlanta is on the verge of being very good. I can't say that about Dallas. I go with the Falcons.


Arizona Cardinals +7
New York Giants

Another good match up. I think the Cardinals cover easily and could upset. Most likely Giants win by 3 or 4.


Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins +7

Is any team having a more miserable fall from grace than the Redskins? They will have a new guy calling plays this week. Still the Giants cover.

Yanks and Phils?

I watched the Phillies wrap up the National League Pennant last night. Not a big surprise. The Dodgers were no a great team in the second half of the season. The lacked the spark they had last season when Manny was being Manny. This year, Manny spent his after suspension time with L.A. being just plain ordinary. The Dodgers have a young core of talent and will doubtless will be back contending again next year. You have to feel pretty bad for a guy like Jim Thome, who will probably not get another chance at the World Series appearance. The Angels are looking pretty much dead in the water. Their offense, so potent during the regular season, has been shut down by the Yankees pitching staff. Most notable CC Sabathia. It would be no great surprise if the Yanks finish of the Halos tonight.

Jayson Werth proved his metal this post season

The Balloon Boy

God I love this stuff. We now have created a brand new type of human condition. The "I just can't live my life without being a star" guy. Little Falcon, who will go down in history as the little balloon guy who tossed on national TV, twice, while the world watched is the victim of his parents pathological desire to be famous. By the way, that kid is going to be on You Tube till he is 90. His unctuous parents will no doubt be charged with a number of things all related to being stupid. One would think, somebody goes to jail over all this and in a few short days, their time in the spotlight will be over. A few weeks from now another star seeker, Khardasian, Kate plus 8 wanna be will step in to fill the void that we have created for ourselves and on it will go. I can't wait.

surfer

NL MVP

<<<<<<----------------- Take the poll over der!!!!!