Why we love sports

This is it. Thursday night. The Pack and The 'Boys. The Star vs. Brett Favre. America's Team vs. America's Quarterback.

And it's the game of the year that will never live up to its billing on the Neilson ratings because ESPN won't push it like they push Tom Brady and the Colts. Or Yanks-Sox, "sports greatest rivalry" - kinda like how they've named Vince Young number 10 on the 25 greatest college football players of all time. Absolutely ludicrous. Vince Young even cracking the top-25 is a stretch - you're telling me that one great game gets someone on an all-time list? - but making number 10? That's about as crazy as us getting the Yanks-Sox shoved down our throats annually as the greatest rivalry since Sparta-Athens back in Ancient Greece. But now I've gone in a circle...

But Thursday night's got it all. And I mean all.

Dallas and Green Bay. Two of the NFL's most storied franchises. The history of Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi. The tradition of Lambeau Field - with the Lambeau Leap, the aura of the Frozen Tundra, and the best fans in the game - and Texas-sized Texas Stadium, with it's hole "so that God could watch His favorite team," or at least that's what D.D. Lewis would have us believe. (And side note - this will be the last time these teams match up in Irving - Dallas opens the New Texas Stadium after next season.)

And then there's redemption.

Tony Romo's turned the lasting image of his botched snap costing Dallas a deep playoff run into a distant memory, playing out of his league this year and giving Dallas their first legitimate QB since Troy Aikman lined up under center. He's on the verge of breaking the Cowboy's single-season passing TD record (his next endzone connection will do it) and for the season he's sitting with a 105.3 passer rating,3,043 passing yards and 29 TD's.

Brett Favre's redemption is one of a different sort of lore. He's like an old-west hero who never says quit, the proverbial gunslinger who hasn't realized his time has passed. And that's what we all thought after the last two seasons - that the old gunslinger's time had passed. Facing (loud) calls to hang it up, Favre never backed off the same grit and determination to win that's made him the NFL's most prolific passer of all time. After throwing for 38 TD's with 47 INT's over the last two years, he's put up Favrian-type numbers this year, returning to his MVP form with over 3300 passing yards, 22 TD's and just 8 interceptions and seemingly willing his team to win week in and week out.

And those are just the side stories. History. Tradition. Redemption. That's why we love sports. And we'll see it all played out tomorrow night on the field, in a game that actually matters.

The NFC's top two teams (both at 10-1) will match up just as well on the turf as they do on paper. Great QB's. Adequate running games. Solid defense. And both of these teams have the intangibles.

Brett Favre won't quit. Tony Romo won't lose. Greg Jennings is underratted. Terrell Owens is unbelieveable. And both have coaches - seasoned or green - looking to prove that they're legit.

As in, Big-Game legit. As in, living up to their history legit.

But here's the problem. Charles Woodson and Bubba Franks are questionable and Donald Driver's listed as probable for Thursday's game.

What does that add up to? More pressure on Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant. More catches for Terrell Owens across the middle. And more pressure on Brett Favre to carry this team on his back.

But that's what the old gunslingers do. They don't back down. They take the load, they want the load, and they win the game. And that's what Brett Favre is going to do for the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Tony Romo's going to hook up with Owens for two or more scores. That's a given. But Brett Favre will not be denied.

Brett Favre may be old (I gotta throw that in there whenever I can), but he's the best QB the NFL's ever seen. Watch tomorrow night and you'll be reminded why. Everybody's on board the Tom Brady train right now - "this guy won't lose!" - but they forget Brett Favre designed, built and perfected that train.

Green Bay will meet New England in the Super Bowl. Yesterday's hero will meet today's fad.

But for now it's the Pack and the Boys, and the cream of the NFC will rise to the top. Tomorrow night Favre will lock up homefield for the playoffs. Tomorrow night Favre writes another page in his legacy.

Green Bay 31, Dallas 27.

I find this Offensive.

aThe draft is months away. And in the fast-paced, up-and-down world of the National Football League there is no predicting what will happen between now and then. Trades, free agency, injuries and a plethora of off-the-field issues could change everything that the experts at ESPN foresee right now. But, in the media-driven sports world, the teams are already on the clock - some more than others - especially 3-8 teams whose last decent QB is now sitting in the pen.

Thanks to Mr. Vick, this draft is the most important draft for the Atlanta Falcons in years. But don't blame it all on Ron Mexico, there's plenty of blame to go around Flowery Branch these days. The team is in obvious shambles. And the buck doesn't stop with just under-prepared Bobby Petrino. Keep looking up the corporate ladder to Rich McKay and all the way to Arthur Blank himself.

The Falcons' are now roosting in the nest McKay built. And this one is about as weak as they come. There are better offensive lines in the FCS (NCAA, D-II, for those not keeping score) than in Flowery Branch. The veterans (and team "leaders") are ready to start a mutiny against in-over-his-head coach Bobby Petrino. And the team hasn't had a good, non-dog-fighting quarterback since, well, ever. (Chris "Chandelier" Chandler's 1998 season notwithstanding.)

To be fair to The Coach, Bobby Petrino hasn't had a fair shake at the NFL. His franchise player is in the slammer, he's had injury after injury plague his O-Line, and his team was built with a bunch of thugs by his GM, McKay, who hasn't been seen around Atlanta since sometime before the last failed draft.

But that's life as an NFL coach. You go with what you've got. And Petrino ain't got much.

Which brings me to what I find offensive (offensive, as in, terribly repulsive, kind of like how I feel by watching the Falcons offense). I cannot believe the all-but-certain conclusion going around that the Falcons must draft a franchise quarterback with their early first round pick.

ESPN's Todd McShay looks into his crystal ball and sees Brian Brohm leading the birds in 2008: "It almost makes too much sense. The Falcons, in desperate need of a franchise quarterback in the wake of the Michael Vick mess, use their first-round selection on a signal caller who head (sic) played for current Atlanta head coach Bobby Petrino at Louisville from 2004-06."

Hello! McFly! Are you actually employed by a major news media outlet? And because it's put out there by ESPN, everyone under the sun believes it must be true.

What has been the Falcons' biggest problem this year? Not the play of the quarterback - which has been terrible - but amazingly that QB slot has taken the glory away from the team's Offensive Line for being the worst starting unit in the NFL. These guys are terrible. It doesn't matter who Petrino lines up under center, the poor guy's gonna end up on the ground more than a fat man in a sack race. (I'm guessing D.J. Shockley's pretty pleased right about now to be sitting this one out.)

The Birds have three decent QB's - two with experience, one without - under contract for next year: Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Shockley.

And they've got a terribly undersized and untalented offensive line in front of them.

What's the bigger need? Not another QB to get pounded, but a talented and BIG o-lineman who can anchor this front for years to come. The game is won in the trenches, and the Falcons need to use their first pick on the line if they are serious about improving.

Look, in recent memory we've seen Ryan Leaf get taken number two overall and be one of the biggest busts in history, and we've seen Tom Brady go in round six and turn into one of the biggest winners in history. Spending an early pick on a QB can be a crapshoot. Even if you get a "good" one, he may still end up going to prison for dogfighting before its said and done.

The Falcons need to draft an Offensive Lineman early. They won't do it because their PR is reeling and the team needs/wants a flashy pick to boost ticket sales. But if Rich McKay is serious about winning, he needs to get serious about his strategy. Draft some great O-Linemen, start Shockley next year, and put 2007 behind you as you begin to build for the future.

Quick Picks

No point in intro's, let's just dive right in...

Arkansas at LSU: (Friday, 2:30)
Ar-Kan-Saw or Ar-Kan-Sas? Poe-Tay-Toe or Poe-Tah-Toe? Forgive Les Miles' apparent speech impediment, or simple ignorance of his northerly neighbor's proper pronunciation. He's been Blue this week, or thinking Blue at least. This is great. We've got two coaches in their last SEC regular season games. But even though this is Les' last game at Baton Rouge, don't count out an upset. Darren McFadden tries to get back in the Heisman hunt with a strong showing, but it won't be enough. Bayou Bengals 20, Little Piggies 17.

Virginia Tech at Virginia:
It's funny to me that the winner of this game gets to go to Jacksonville and play a championship game that means less annually than the Other Jacksonville game - Georgia/Florida. But don't tell Frank Beamer that. Beamer-ball wins easily. The Cavaliers can't get over the hump. Free Mike Vick 24, Cavaliers 10.

Miami (Florida) at Boston College:
Shouldn't we start doing this now? Call the Redhawks simply 'Miami' and the needs-to-return-to-the-Big-East team 'Miami of Florida'? This game is a joke. Miami of Florida needs Doug Flutie to win this one. Matt Ryan 41, Tropical Depressions 9.

Tennessee at Kentucky:
I'm wearing Kentucky Blue on Saturday, so I'm biased. (Don't worry, I'll still wear Red too...) Very few college students were alive the last time UK knocked off the Vols. But no one can win 23 times in a row, can they? Okay, the old Notre Dame owned Navy for decades, but seriously, in the SEC, 23 straight? The Great Pumpkin loses his first to my boys in blue. But it's close. Up-And-Comers 23, Tennessee Hunting Club 20.

Clemson at South Carolina:
Here's another chance at two coaches' last games at their current schools. But that's a long shot. I love Tommy Bowden, and I'd love to see Steve Spurrier and his visor ride off into the sunset. Spurrier said (more or less) that his Gamecocks' recent practices reminded him of his Duke days, and Clemson is the most up-and-down team in college football. This one's only worth watching if you live in the Palmetto State. But catch the end, it's always good to see the Visor thrown in disgust. Kittie Kats 17, The Fighting Chickens 13.

Florida State at Florida:
Speaking of Bowden's and riding off into the sunset, anybody think Bobby can stand Spurrier enough to hop on that train with him? Time to retire, Mr. Bowden. It's been a nice run. Tim Tebow is the best running back in Florida, and on his way to getting snubbed in New York. But the Gators win. Denim Shorts 31, Criminoles 17.

Alabama at Auburn:
Nick Saban is the greatest coach since Bear Bryant, the greatest man to walk the earth since Winston Churchill and recently gave the greatest speech since Mark Antony's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen..." in Julius Ceasar. If you look at this through the eyes of St. Nick, Alabama at Auburn is on the same scale at the Allies vs. the Axis in WWII. I hope the Tide turned Crimson after hearing their beloved coach's recent comments, and they'll certainly see red after their 4-million-dollar man drops another one. Tommy Tuberville's on his way to Texas A&M, but the Tigers give him a great farewell tour. War Tigers 20, Forrest Gump 9.

Georgia at Georgia Tech:
The Dogs are playing their best football under Mark Richt. And the Jackets are playing for their coach's career. Bobby Dodd will be 25% Red and Black on Saturday, but a it's still a rivalry and a road game, and neither are ever gimmes. This one could be close. The Dogs have a not-so-secret weapon: Tech, meet Knowshon; Knowshon, meet Tech Endzone. And Tech counters with their only offensive Choice: Tashard just might eat up the Georgia D. So it comes down to the pass. Stafford's got the play-action working and Billy Bennett is not nearly the upgrade over Reggie-throw-away-the-Ball that Tech fans hoped he'd be. Georgia pulls out of town with their sixth in a row. Tech fires Chan Gailey immediately after (See Below). SEC East Champs 27, ACC Chumps 20.

Chuck Norris Doesn't Endorse

I'll put up a weekend prediction later today. But for now I just wanted to give some props to my boy from Arkansas, Gov. Mike Huckabee.

All you need to know is this: Chuck likes Huck.



Mike's stand on the Fair Tax/IRS:



And finally, "Congress spends money like John Edwards at a beauty shop."

Not Enough ... Yet

Cudos to Frank Wren. The Braves' new GM immediately went to work after taking over for long-tenured, highly-respected and Atlanta demi-god John Schuerholz.

Remember the pressure Ron Zook had after taking over for Spurrier at Florida? That's what Wren will face if the Braves don't return to the playoffs after a two-year layoff. The Braves finished third (5 games back) in an average division last season, and fourth (5.5 back) in the NL Wild-Card race. Wren's Braves have some ground to make up.

But the Braves' first new GM since 1990 has quickly made trades (getting promising rookie speedster Josh Anderson from Houston) and signed blast-from-the-past free agent Tom Glavine for a measley five million less than he would have made with the division rival Mets. Anytime you take a starter from another team within your division, you've made a good deal. When it's a player like Glav who can contribute and help mentor your younger pitchers, you've made a great one.

But as of today, November 21, the Braves are still a wild-card team at best, and probably not even that. This team hasn't done enough yet to get over the hump.

But they will.

I write this a couple weeks before the December GM meetings and months before pitchers and catchers report, Frank Wren's got plenty of time. And he'll make the necessary moves to put the peices together for a legitimate World Series run. We're not talking Wild Card. We're not talking division. And we're definitely talking more than a first-round exit from the playoffs.

Most of the puzzle pieces are there. Chipper Jones (if healthy), Mark Texiera, Jeff Francouer (MVP year in 2008?), Brain McCann and the continued rise of Yunel Escobar compose a promising lineup. Hudson, Smoltz, and Glavine are the beginnings of a good rotation.

But there are still too many "if's" to rest where we are.

We've got to face the facts with Glavine. The man will be 42 when the season starts. He completely tanked in his last three outings. We can't expect more than 12 or 13 wins and a near-4.00 ERA from the 303 game winner. And we can't be surprised if he drops off the planet come September, right in the thick of what should be a tight divsion race.

Smoltz is probably the toughest pitcher in the League today, but even he's beginning to break down. Could we see one trip to the DL for John in 2008? Probably. Two? Not out of the question.

And if Frank Wren is counting on a healthy Mike Hampton to fill out the fourth spot, then he's already behind the eight ball. What's the phrase that George W. jacked up a few years ago? "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Well, we've already been fooled twice. Shame on us. But if it happens again? We'll deserve the third place finish we land in.

Deals still need to be made. The Braves must get a proven starter of at least number three quality. The lineup looks great, but the team still needs a proven center fielder. Jordan Schafer most likely won't be ready, Josh Anderson should be a fourth fielder at most for now, and an outfield of Francouer at center, Willie Harris at right and Matt Diaz at left would playout about as bad as it sounds.

Do I expect it to happen? Certainly. Mark it down. Frank Wren's going to get it done. The Braves are two players away from a World Series team. And zero players away from another third place finish.

Just a Wreck

This is not what you think. I'm not just an ole Georgia boy starting off his sports blog by bashing Georgia Tech. It's just been over four years since I've had a place to talk about sports in print, and it's been six since I've had a place where I was able to post actual opinions (we'll call them Convictions) instead of simple coverage.

And so the truth (what I'm most concerned with here) is that the Ramblin' Wreck has fully derailed. I'm not trying to just dismiss Tech four days before the Big Game, but the Wreck no longer Rambles, it just patters about like a man born in 1930, not the fully restored 1930 Model-A dream it once was.

And Chan Gailey's got to take the fall.

Look, as a UGA fan, I'd love for Chan to stick around and let us keep chalking up the wins over the North Avenue Trade School. All Georgia fans are cheering for Chan to stick around. And Chan's a great guy, by all appearances. He's a good man with good morals and a good outlook at building the right kind of men through the program. That's very commendable. But right now as a coach he's looking more and more like the star of a new "Weekend at Bernie's", being held up and passed off as a coach with a pulse by John Tenuta, when in reality he deflated after being canned by Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys back in the last millenium.

Seriously. Take a look at the team's numbers: Since hiring Gailey as head coach in before the 2002 season, the Jackets have gone 7-6, 7-6, 7-5, 7-5, 9-5, and right now sit at 6-4 with a 3-4 mark in the weak ACC. Gailey's best shot - last year's ACC runner-up team - finished with just one ACC loss, but lost the Championship game in a weak showing against Wake Forest and responded by dropping the Gator Bowl to West Virginia. They look to be heading to their second trip to the Emerald Bowl, where they were shellacked by Utah in 2005. And the worst stat: Gailey is still winless against UGA, allowing last year's contest to slip away against a rebuilding Georgia squad.

To put this in perspective, let's compare Gailey to two of his contemporaries: his predecessor, George O'Leary, and in-state counterpart, Mark Richt.

Quickly, Richt's stats in his first five years at UGA: 8-4, 13-1, 11-3, 10-2, & 10-3 with two SEC championships and no losses to GT. Everyone's Counter Argument: Different school, different conference. The Truth: Richt has much higher expectations in a much tougher conference and is recruiting from the same kids to get the same job done. He's got a tougher job, but is getting it done with the same crop of high school students available to Chan Gailey.

But, if you can't get past the Big "G" as a great recruiting tool and you're still crying Unfair, then take a look at GT's own Lying O'Leary's numbers.

Starting with 1995, O'Leary's Jackets went 6-5, 5-6, 7-5, 10-2, 8-4, 9-3, and 7-5. He tied for a share of the ACC title in 1998 behind snubbed Heisman candidate Joe Hamilton (different discussion), and went 3-2 in bowl games over his last five years at the helm.

Over a five-year stretch from 1997-2001, O'Leary's boys were 41-19, 27-13. Gailey's five full years at GT immediately afterward: 37-27, 24-16.

The point is this: GT's program has at best remained stagnant and at worst has taken one or two steps backward during Gailey's tenure. This is an established program sitting in a hotbed for high school football recruits. This is a semi-recent National Champion playing in an increasingly weak ACC. There is no reason for GT to continue to sit as a second-tier program in a third-rate conference. Gailey's gotta go.

Think about it. The dominos are about to fall. In the next four months, we'll see job openings at Michigan, Texas A&M and Nebraska certainly. Most likely there will be vacancies at Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, UCLA, Boise State, Wake Forest and even potentially South Carolina, Tennessee and Clemson as the coaching carousel goes full round like we've never seen before. What does this mean? Some say it's a bad time for Tech to enter the market, but the fact is that there will be more coaches out there changing jobs than ever before. Why not toss the Gold and Blue hat out there to land someone who can take this team to the next level? Even if the unthinkable were to happen and Gailey should manage to beat Georgia and follow that up with a solid bowl victory, Tech still needs to Can Chan. More coaches will be available this offseason than ever before. Georgia Tech must Right the Wreck now.