The Bigger They Are...

...The harder they fall?
As a result of my leaving work early last friday in order to handle some business, I was unable to post my usual upset alert on my friday morning blog. However, I will state now, that all of last week I talked amongst my co-workers about how Ohio State did not have a favorable match-up this week against the new Juice. No, no, no, not that Juice, but Juice Williams who is named after Buffalo's beloved OJ. With Michigan, who also lost but who I wouldn't have put on upset alert, coming up the next week it is hard to not expect OSU to be looking ahead. Also, Ron Zook deserves an insane amount of credit. What he is doing at Illinios, a "basketball" school is incredible. Ron Zook is one of the greatest recruiters in the nation. Urban Meyer owes Ron Zook all the credit for the talent he won his national championship with and now Zook is using his Florida ties and formula to recruit speed up in Champagne. Illinios is quickly becoming a team that is going to have the speed of an SEC team in a conference who's perennial winners always struggles against speed. Let's just hope Zook can pull it together without all the pressure he had a Florida and pull together a 11-1, 10-2 season.

College Hoops
So it's about that time of year. The tip-off tournaments have started, high ranked teams are taking on their usual powder puffs to tune up for the long season ahead and Garner-Webb beat Kansas. The first victim of the regular season has fallen to a no name school that is usually bad. This is just the start to my second favorite sports season of all (behind football season). Look for an upcoming college basketball preview sometime mid-week, full of bias talk about Duke Basketball.

WWMJD (What Would Michael Jordan Do)
So, big story of the week was MJ's oldest son Jeffrey, giving up a scholarship at Valpo to walk on at Illinois. Nice to see that he is following in his fathers footsteps while still maintaining his own identity. I'm sure he could go to UNC and walk-on, but based on what I've read he is a well rounded individual raised on solid values by the Greatest basketball player ever. Although his dad is the most famous UNC alum, I don't think solid values and walk-on fit into the program at UNC these days. Unless you plan on a one and done or a two and shoo, then you don't fit in at Roy Williams program. Gone are the days of players gritting it out for a spot and then earning a starting role their senior years. That is unless you are a mid-major school or a program that stresses academics and team (Illinois, Florida, Duke, Notre Dame, UCLA, Georgetown). I'm sick of the one year rule. Make it 2 or 3 or don't make it a rule at all. But back to Jordan. For those of you who know the MJ story know he wasn't highly recruited and had to work to get where he was at UNC. It'll be interesting to follow JJ and see if the same holds true for him. Although, it is well documented that MJ did not stress or push basketball on his sons. Possibly knowing they could never live up to what he was, considering no one will ever live up to MJ.

If he catches it in the End Zone, it's a touchdown?
Good to see the Bills pull one out ugly against an 0-9 team. Watching that game it seams that when you are 0-9 everything that can go wrong does. The hold on the Ginn TD, the 4th and inches and the Beast Mode of Marshawn. At 5-4 the Bills are way better than expected after the first 2 weeks and all the injuries and should lead to hopefully an interesting game on Sunday Night. Either that or a blow out. Then with Wash, Jax and Miami the Bills could be 8-5 down the stretch. That is if they stick with JP. Speaking of 0-8, nice to see the Rams get off the schneid. Watch them run off 8 in a row to finish .500 and win the WEAK NFC West.

Thoughts and Letters
If only Nick Folk pulled a Vinateiri a month ago, there would have been two games this season won by an inferior team without a hint of offense.

With Peyton Manning channeling baby brother Eli last night, the Chargers have yet to be proven wrong in passing on both Mannings.
And boy oh boy, do he and Reggie Wayne REALLY miss Marvin Harrison?

Is anyone really gonna pay A-Rod $300mil over 1o years?
And if they do, does he automatically become a Fortune 500 company?

Dear Bellicheck,
If you run the score up on Sunday Night on national TV. You better be looking over your shoulder all the way to the Airport. With a police escort. Cause if a player doesn't take a shot at Brady in the Fourth. You better beleive yours truly will be leading a riot squad to do so after the game. Either that or physcially harm you.

Sincerely,
DG1 (And every other fan of the other 31 teams).