Friday Morning Frenzy

From the New to the Old
Big news yesterday in the LA market. The most recent ex-Yankee manager is packing his bags and moving out West. Yesterday the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the hiring of Joe Torre as manager for the next three years. As a result Torre is leaving the Bronx for warmer temps just like the old Dodgers before him. Hard to say that this is a suprise. Torre loves the sport of baseball and I couldn't have pictured him not coaching right away. The prospect of him being on the market with all the teams that need help was just too enticing. Let me say it now, the Dodgers WILL make the playoffs next year. They are a very talented bunch of players and with one of, if not the, best coaches in baseball history at the helm, they should be able to keep it together for a whole 162 game schedule.

LA-Rod of Anaheim
To Steal a little bit of DG2's thunder, this is my number one player in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Of all the top ten lists I've seen over the past few years this is the only place that has a good argument. The Cubs won't want his salary to dump on a potential new owner and most other teams with the exception of the Tigers won't need him. I feel this is going to be a 2 team race between the Tigers and the Angels with the Angels winning out. I feel A-Rod is soft, i've always felt he was soft when it comes to dealing with scrutiny. Although he made a huge step forward this season, I feel the prospect of playing on the west coast will entice him. The later time zone allows for less National Exposure, although the increased paparazzi presence may be a little much. But as long as he avoids late night encounters with Paris or Unfitney, he'll be fine.

Moving Forward
I wouldn't count out the Yankees in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Although negotiating a deal could kill the reputations of the new regime of the Empire with agents in the future, the loss of a player of A-Rods caliber should not be easy to stomach. However, the hiring of Joe Girardi opens the door for a interesting thought of mine that I want to share with you. As we all know Joe Girardi won manager of the year in Florida two seasons ago for taking a team with virtually no payroll that was full of young players and keeping them in contention. One of the best players in that organization is Miguel Cabrera, a young, great third basemen. Girardi and Cabrera have ties and a good relationship, not to mention the Marlins try and shop Cabrera and Willis every season at the trade deadline in order to avoid arbitration. As much as I like what the Yankees are doing with the farm, it wouldn't hurt to throw in some young prospects and a wilson betimit to take a Miguel Cabrera or/and the D-Train off the Marlins hands, considering both are under 26. I'd like to see how this plays out considering I don't forsee the Yankees moving forward with Wilson Betimit past this offseason as their every day 3B.

Weekly Upset Bug
Kansas (8) @ Nebraska - Kansas is having a quiet Cinderella (ella, ella, eh, eh) season. But Nebraska has been underperforming all season with a massive playbook and lack luster attitude of Bill Callahan.
LSU (3) @ Alabama (17) - Simply because it's the SEC and this season is crazy
ASU (6) @ Oregon (4) - Not necessarily and upset in rankings, but ASU is unbeaten with USC, UCLA coming up. The Ducks have this part of the schedule complete and could be looking at a BCS Title game. Quack Quack
BC (2) v. FSU - I've been saying all year BC will lose 2 games. Number 1 will come this week. Even though it's home, if they don't lose, my prediction is wrong. Therefore they will.

Powder My Nose
I don't understand the whole drug testing thing with the Olympics and other World Sports. I understand drugs are bad and all. But honestly, destroying an individuals life due to cocaine or weed (especially weed) is rediculous. I refer to the Robin Williams on Broadway stand-up. THEY ARE NOT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS. THEY ARE PERFORMANCE HINDERING DRUGS!!! It's not like the snowboarder was juicing or using vasoline on his board. And I'm not saying Hingis does blow. But cut us some slack. Neither has had any run ins with the law nor been a negative aspect to their sport. Keep the tests behind closed doors and really recosider your actions before you take something away from someone that they earned, w/o the help of anyone or thing. Then sit back and think about what the US is going through in the major 4 with violence, steroids, and bastard children and be grateful that your gold medal snowboarder took a hit from the pipe, I mean if you look back, I'm sure that who ever invented the sport was stoned when he did so.

Thoughts to Chew On
If Indy is winning, does Dungy pull a Belicheck and run it up on the Pats...?
...And if so, I wonder how humble pie tastes?

Reggie Bush,
Apparently a couple 100k is too much to salvage everything you did in college. I wonder how you'll be welcomed at the reunion if this effects the USC teams you were a part of. If so, I'm sure Chris Webber and Jalen Rose are for-hire mentors.

Toodles,
DG1