tournament time

So Stephanie and I are having a little head-to-head bracket competition with this year's NCAA tourney and, thankfully, after a horrid day one, I've taken the lead.

It's tough to be a huge sports fan (heck, I majored in "Sport Studies" at UGA...no joke...) and be down to your wife in the bracket. But that's exactly where I stood when I went to sleep after the first day of the tourney.

I spent that evening hearing Steph with excitement proclaim "I voted for them!" each time one of her teams won.

Apparently the NCAA tournament is now a democracy. Who knew?

Somehow or another, though, the tide has turned and she's no longer happy when her team wins; now she's only happy if her team wins and my team loses. So it goes.

But, as I type at 7:32 on Saturday night (UNC 74, LSU 63), I'm 24-for-32 in the first round, with only one team out of the second round and Steph's 23-for-32 in the first with five teams out of the second.

Not trying to brag about beating my wife and all. Or maybe I am.

My ego needs all the help it can get.

----

For what it's worth...

My sweet 16: Louisville, Arizona, Kansas, Mich State, UConn, Purdue, Marquette, Memphis, Pitt, Xavier, Villanova, Duke, UNC, Illinois, Syracuse, Oklahoma.

My Elite Eight: L'ville, Mich State, UConn, Memphis, Pitt, 'Nova, UNC, Syracuse.

My Final Four: L'ville, Memphis, Pitt, 'Cuse.

My Championship Game: Pittsburgh over Memphis.

Football Free-For-All!

In response to the AJC's Mark Bradley, here are my football picks for the Falcons, Jackets and Dawgs (plus Clemson and USC) for 2008, "The Year of the Dawg."

Atlanta Falcons, 6-10:
vs. Detroit ...................... Win
at Tampa Bay ................ Lose
vs. Kansas City .............. Lose
at Carolina ...................... Lose
at Green Bay .................. Lose
vs. Chicago ...................... Win
at Philadelphia ............... Lose
at Oakland ..................... Win
vs. New Orleans ............ Lose
vs. Denver ...................... Lose
vs. Carolina .................... Win
at San Diego .................... Lose
at New Orleans .............. Lose
vs. Tampa Bay ............... Win
at Minnesota .................. Lose
vs. St. Louis .................... Win

Georgia Tech, 5-7:
vs. Jacksonville State ... Win
at Boston College .......... Lose
at Virginia Tech ............ Lose
vs. Mississippi State .... Lose
vs. Duke ......................... Win
vs. Gardner-Webb ....... Win
at Clemson ..................... Lose
vs. Virginia (HC) ........... Win
vs. Florida State ............ Lose
at North Carolina .......... Lose
vs. Miami ....................... Win
at Georgia ...................... Lose

Georgia, 11-1 (Reg Season):
vs. Georgia Southern .... Win
vs. Central Michigan ..... Win
at South Carolina ........... Win
at Arizona State ............. Win
vs. Alabama .................... Win
vs. Tennessee ................. Win
vs. Vanderbilt (HC) ....... Win
at LSU ............................. Win
at Florida (Jville) ........... Win
at Kentucky .................... Win
at Auburn ....................... Lose
vs. Georgia Tech ............ Win

vs. Auburn, SEC Championship Game .... Win
vs. Ohio State, National Championship ... Win

Clemson, 10-2:
vs. Alabama (Atlanta) .... Lose
vs. The Citadel ................ Win
vs. NC State .................... Win
vs. SC State ..................... Win
vs. Maryland ................... Win
at Wake Forest ............... Win
vs. Georgia Tech ............. Win
at Boston College ............ Win
at Florida State ............... Lose
vs. Duke ........................... Win
at Virginia ........................ Win
vs. South Carolina .......... Win

vs. Virginia Tech, ACC Championship Game .... Win

South Carolina, 7-5:
vs. NC State .................... Win
at Vanderbilt ................... Win
vs. Georgia ...................... Lose
vs. Wofford ...................... Win
vs. UAB ........................... Win
at Mississippi .................. Win
at Kentucky .................... Win
vs. LSU ............................ Lose
vs. Tennessee ................. Lose
vs. Arkansas ................... Win
at Florida ......................... Lose
at Clemson ....................... Lose

What to watch for:
Ga Tech vs. Duke: The Blue Devils, under new headcoach David Cutcliff, are better than advertised. The Techies pull out a win late in the 4th.

Georgia - Florida: A 1 vs. 2 matchup in Jacksonville, this one won't need the buildup and hype that the media machine will give it, replaying last year's endzone dance over and over in the week prior to the Cocktail Party. Florida puts up a tough first half, but Georgia wins by 12.

Georgia at Auburn: There's no way the Dogs are making it undefeated through this schedule, but they're going to surprise most by making it this far. Toomer's Corner is rolled like never before after the Dogs lose a tight one to the Tigers (But get sweet redemption a couple weeks later in Atlanta.)

Clemson - Alabama: The Georgia Dome (now clad in Red and Black ... sorry Tide and Tigers, the Dogs own the Dome) is packed for the first annual Redneck Bowl, and Saban's Tide puts a damper on Clemson's high hopes as Alabama wins by three.

Clemson at Florida State: The elder Bowden wins his last Bowden Bowl.

South Carolina at Clemson: Clemson wins, but Spurrier's still not on the hot seat. Seems as if USC will never get over the hump. Spurrier considers retirement after the Music City Bowl.

Thoughts on the Braves

The good news is that we (that is, Braves fans) may see something like this again one day:


That was, for the uneducated, catcher Greg Olson leaping into the receiving arms of John Smoltz in 1991 as the Braves clinched a tie for the NL West pennant (later that day winning outright when the Dodgers lost to the Giants). The Braves famously went on to play in the "Greatest Series Ever Played", losing to the Twins, but becoming the first team to have the worst record in baseball in one season (65-97 in 1990) and advancing to the World Series in the next.

The good news, the only good news, from this week is that we may get to see something like that again. But it ain't gonna happen this year.

But there's light in the Tex-for-Kotchman trade. We just landed a solid defensive firstbaseman who is 25. He seems to be a .280/15-20 HR/80 RBI guy, which isn't great, but is serviceable. (Sid Bream, the Braves 1B in that 1991 season, hit .253/11/45 and .261/10/61 in '92.) And we've got Kotchman under contract through 2011.

And then there's cap space. The Braves just cleared plenty of it. Tex is making $12,500,000 this season. Kotchman? He's taking home a paltry 1.5 million.

What does that mean?

One of two things have to happen now: Either the Braves go for broke next season or we move to a serious rebuilding mode.

Option A, my favorite, is attractive because realistically we have a small window in which we can make a serious run. Here's the skinny:

Hudson's out for the rest of this year with elbow surgery, but looking to next year he's coming back fresh in July 2009 for his final few months with the Braves. That's like adding a legitimate number-1 starter at the trade deadline, ready for a possible final push.

We know Chipper's always battling injuries, but we also know that when he's healthy, he's still a force to be reckoned with at the plate. The man's a gamer, and while his days as a full-time starter are numbered, he's still got a couple more years in him. I think.

Smoltzie's gone for this year, but he's a competitor, and he's going to want to go out on his terms. That means, not retiring because of shoulder surgery. This man has altered his pitching style so many times he's probably lost count. I'm betting he'll do what it takes to make one last go at a full season. A season as a closer, no less, which means our ninth-inning troubles should be shored up next year.

We've got Kelly & Yunel rounding out the infield and one of the game's great young catchers in McCann. We've got a young guy named Jordan Schafer coming up in the outfield. And I'm hoping, hoping that Frenchy figures out how to be "The Natural" again.

That said, we've got cap space and a ownership group who has verbally committed to increasing salary, and we need a legit number one starter (Ben Sheets?) and another mid-rotation guy to go along with Jair. And we need a corner outfielder.

The Kotchman trade cleared the way for all of that.

Or, we can take Option B: rebuild.

The good news: we've got the building blocks in place. We've got good, young talent in six of the eight everyday positions. But we'll need to build some pitching. And that takes time. And so, if we go that route, it won't be long before the Braves are finishing behind the Nationals (the Nationals!).

But then, maybe one day, one glorious day, we'll see a catcher leap for joy in the arms of a young pitcher as the Braves return to glory.

Hey Barry! You want some cheese with that whine?

Barry Bonds is back. Well, back in the news. Not in baseball. And that's what the news is all about. Earlier this week, the MLB Players Association filed "expressed concern" over the lack of any offers to certain free agents, specifically Barry Bonds, intimating their belief that the ownwers are acting in collusion, a big no-no.

Let's see, Barry Bonds is the only player named in a concern filed for several unsigned players. Does anybody think Barry himself isn't directly behind this?

But collusion? Seriously, Barry. You must be a moron. It doesn't take collusion to keep you off the field. It takes just a little thing we thinking humans like to call "reason".

Let's say I'm an owner.

Hmm. Barry Bonds is available. I've got a need for a DH. (Even though I hate the DH and wish I owned an National League team and we played real baseball. But I digress.) So I need a DH and Barry Bonds is available.

Barry. Home Run King. .480 OBP last season. Career .607 slugging pct. 762 career dingers. Over 1000 more walks than strikeouts in his career. Potent offensive threat, even at age 43.

But then there's Barry. Indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice. He's the King alright, the King of Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Most hated man in baseball. Fans hate him. The media's all over him. And he doesn't help the situation.

Let's see. I could hire a stop-gap DH who might get 75 rbi over the rest of the season, but who would also bring me the more negative publicity than if I killed a puppy on the pitcher's mound. I think I'll look elsewhere.

And so it goes. It's not collusion, Barry. It's just that you cheated, and got caught, and everybody knows it except you. You're not getting hired because the cons far outweigh the pros of your employment. So move to Florida, play bingo and get used to the retirement life.

Brave New World

"The Braves are younger than the Mets and Phillies, deeper in most respects than the Mets and Phillies and have a better farm system to mine for reinforcements than the Mets and Phillies."

-Jason Stark, ESPN, in his column predicting the Braves to win the World Series.

Click here for the full-text.

I'll give my rundown this week sometime... But here's a quickie:

NL - Braves (East), Cubs (Central), Dodgers (West), Phillies (Wildcard)
AL - Red Sox (East), Tigers (Central), Angels (West), Indians (Wildcard)

World Series - Braves over Tigers in six.

Sweet Goodness

So I'm losing to my wife in our brackets, but not by much. But here's my Sweet 16 picks:

Tar Heels over Washington State (in a close game by Tar Heel standards)
Louisville over Volun-tears (and the Vols still have never been to the Elite 8)

Kansas over 'Nova (though I'd love to see the upset here)
Wisconsin over Stephen Curry (Eventually somebody's gonna guard him)

Michigan State over Memphis (in my real bracket I've got Memphis winning, but I've got a feeling with this one)
Hook'em Horns over Stanford (Only because Stanford is cocky enough to name themselves The Cardinal... Who does that? What about the Cardinals? Are they The cardinal? Kinda like The Ohio State University... Makes me sick...)

UCLA over WKU (Haven't you seen the commercials? There are no cinderellas)
Xavier over West Virginia (Bob Huggins can only take the Mountaineers so far)

*Side Note: I only had 9 of the 16 teams correct in my bracket... I certainly didn't pick all these matchups correctly coming in. That's what happens when you've got teams like Davidson and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the mix. Or are they The Hilltopper?

Mock Bubbles

I'm hoping to keep this quick this week... But there's two things that are completely useless in the world of sports (Unless your name is Joe Lunardi or Todd McShay or Mel Kiper, Jr. - The ESPNians who make there living off of the following...):

Mock Drafts and The Bubble Watch.

The NFL Draft is April 26 and 27, and on April 28th Kiper will have his 2009 Mock Draft already posted on the web. And it'll get updated about once a week between then and April 27, 2009.

Is this guy really making a living off of guessing over and over and over again about who's going to draft whom? Are you serious?

And then there's Joe Lunardi's Bracketology and Bubble Watch. Like we're all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see who the 12th seed will be. Has a 12th seed ever done anything worth mentioning?

I don't understand how these guys get paid big bucks to "project" who really will be in the NCAA tourney or when Matt Stafford will get drafted and by what team next spring. With everything that can happen between now and then, what are the chances that Kiper ever gets it right? I'd like to see some stats on this, people.

I don't understand how there's a market for this.

And then I do. And I think of the third thing that's completely useless in the world of sports... People obsessed with Bracketology and Mock Drafts.

What I Hope...

Free Agency has hit in the NFL. The Hawks have made a move. The Thrashers have dumped an All-Star. And the Braves are "working" at Disney.

Good times are here again!

Because February really bites. Post-Super Bowl, what's the month good for? You've got the NHL All Star game (yawn) and the NBA's Ugly Uniform Show (er...All Star game) (yawn) and of course their festivities - slam dunk contest, etc.

Speaking of etc., those festivities were actually entertaining this year. Check out the highlights:



Sick nasty.

But that's not really sports. That's more of the "E" in ESPN.

Which brings me back to the "S". As in Sports and Spring. Those two words were designed for each other.

One promises hope. New life. The other promises a fight, a challenge, the unexpected.

So what do I hope for this Spring for Atlanta Sports?

-I hope that the Falcons take Derek Anderson in Free Agency, drop Joey Harrington, and give D.J. Shockley an actual chance to be the number two guy.

Derek Anderson, still technically of the Browns, just dropped a bombshell on Cleveland last night when he turned down their contract offer to test free agency. But, he's restricted, which means a team will have to give up a first and third round draft pick if they sign him.

Here's how it can work: The Falcons should trade the talented but disgruntled and destructive DeAngelo Hall to the Giants for a first round pick and (plenty of) cash or a player. They'd then have the Giants pick, Round 1, #31, that they could give to the Browns and still keep the number three overall pick, with which they would no longer feel compelled to draft an overrated QB like Matt Ryan and instead take one of the better players in the draft - Jake Long or Glenn Dorsey or Darren McFadden.

The QB pool in this draft isn't the best in recent years, but I'd much rather see them wait till round two or three and draft Chad Henne than waste a first-rounder on Ryan. They'd be wise to draft a lineman. Of course, I've said that before. And I'm not paid to make those decisions.

And I don't really feel the need to say why they should sign Anderson. I'll just share this: He's a tall dude - 6'6", 230 whose got a great vision of the field and a good arm. And that, my friend, produces numbers like these when he got a chance to be a starter (and star): 3787 passing yds and 29 TD's. Good stuff. Better than what we've got or anything else we can get. Go get him.

But I doubt Thomas Dimitroff reads this.

***It doesn't matter now. I just heard that Cleveland managed to re-sign Anderson today, just hours after he declared free agency. So goes that pipe-dream.

What's the next best option? Still a big fat NO to Matt Ryan.

If I'm Dimitroff, I have Redman and Shockley go for the number one spot, with Redman penciled in up top. I draft Chad Henne or John David Booty in the second or third round to be your number three and (potential) future guy. And I still draft a lineman (Long) with the number 3 pick.***

-I hope that the Hawks make the playoffs (because I gotta root for Atlanta teams) and they still fire Mike Woodson and Billy Knight and hire real, living basketball guys for coach and GM (because I gotta root for Atlanta teams).

Who should they hire? I don't care. Hire Bobby Knight. Hire Billy Donovan. Heck, hire Billy Madison.


Just do something. Anything's gotta be an improvement.

-I hope that the Thrasher's do the same with Don Waddell.

In June he'll celebrate his ten-year anniversary with the Thrashers. In June Thashers' fans will mourn for a decade of this:


Waddell's blank stares at how to run a hockey team.

-And finally, hope of all hopes, I hope the Braves return to the postseason and - gasp - win The Series.

Big hopes, you say? Big dreams?

Yeah, well, those were bigger hopes in 1991 when they still came one run shy of winning the greatest World Series of all time.



They were big hopes in 1995. The strike saved the Braves from falling to Montreal in 1994's division race and who knew if the same would happen in '95? But a Justice home run here, a Glavine masterpiece there and Mark Wholers save to cap it off and the Braves were celebrating in old Fulton County Stadium.





They've got a lineup that I believe rivals any in the East. (Yes, I really do believe that. Having your 3 and 4 hitters both being high-average, run-producing, homer-hitting and SWITCH-HITTING bashers is huge. Not too many teams (do any?) have back-to-back solid switch hitters in the most important spots in the lineup.) Johnson, Escobar, Chipper, Teixeira, Francouer, McCann, Kotsay, Diaz... Solid.



They've got stud pitching even if Hampton doesn't come back. And he will.

They've got the makeup of a team that can make a serious run at October. And I'm not just talking as a fan here.

So, hope of all hopes, I hope the Braves can stay healthy this year. And if they do, you'll see them in the Classic.

SB: Extra Large Two

There are three reasons I'm glad that Super Bowl XLII is just two days away. Reason number one is that I'm getting pretty tired of seeing the same clip of Bill Belichick running in his grey hoodie with the cut-off sleeves a-swayin' and the chin fat a-bouncin'. Reason number two is that I'm always ready for baseball. And Super Bowl time means that it's getting pretty close to time for pitchers and catchers to report to Florida. And reason number three is, I think, my favorite: I love the underdog, and the underdog is never more successful than in the Super Bowl.

Shall we go further?

Reason number one actually entails a lot more than just ESPN getting it's kicks off of Belichick's stern expression while he lightly jogs to the lockerroom in the halfway slow-motion clip that The Network keeps playing over and over again anytime his name is even uttered on-air. It's about air time in general. And my venting extends beyond the NFL into the college realm, and beyond sports into politics. And it stops there because that's about all I watch on TV, if I watch TV at all. (Except for my occassional laughs at "Everybody Loves Raymond.")

But seriously, how many times can they break down the Super Bowl in this two-week period? Is that why the NFL gives us a two-week break between Championship Sunday and the Super Bowl, so that we'll all go crazy watching ESPN try to fill the gap with programming? If you've watched Sportscenter just once over the past two weeks you've seen two-thirds of it's airtime given to this game. Which would be fine if that were true about today (Friday) through Sunday night only. But no. They're breaking down Plaxico Burress versus the Pats' Secondary today for the 1,000th time in the past ten days. True Story.

Wait, not true. Because ESPN can't get past the Fourth Coming of Tom Brady and The Hoodie. We can't get any news about anything else because it's all about how Tom Brady and Randy Moss are going to own the Giant's Defense, and how "If you give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare he can beat God himself."

I tired of hearing about Bill Belichick's gameplanabilities.

Just like I'm tired of hearing about USC, Ohio State, and the Republican and Democrat frontrunners in the election.

What is it about the news media and picking their favorite topic and keeping it in the spotlight, flexing their authority over the national conversation?

Does ESPN cover USC and OSU more than any other team because that's who the writers across the country really think are that good, or do the writers around the country really think they're that good because ESPN covers them more than anyone else? Their annual number one status affects the rest of the season's polls, but is it legit? Or the result of mass hype? We don't know. We'll never know. Because of ESPN's irresponsible coverage.

But that's just sports. That's not really a big deal. But what about politics? ("Sports and Convictions") Was John Edwards the third candidate because everyone really cared about Hillary and Obama and so CNN covered them more, including in the debates? Or did CNN give them more time in coverage and in the debates and so everyone flocked to them? Why is there a four-man GOP race right now (yes, Huck and Ron Paul are technically still in it) but if you watch CNN you'd think it's down to Romney and McCain?

Because networks have too much control over the national conversation.

And, in the case of Super Bowl week, their control backfires. Every third story is about the Patriots "Pursuit of Perfection," and I think about 98% of the country doesn't really care anymore.

Thanks, ESPN. We're so glad the game is finally here.

Reason number two is pretty cut-and-dry. Football might be America's Passion, but Baseball is America's Pasttime. And so the Super Bowl means we're just days away from Pitchers and Catchers reporting to Spring Training, which means we're just a couple weeks from Spring Training actually starting, which means we're only a couple of months away from the season, which means Spring is near, Summer is soon, and the grass really is greener on that side of the calendar.

When I hear "Pitchers and Catchers report," I start getting that feeling that Shoeless Joe Jackson gets in Field of Dreams. "Is this heaven?" "No, It's Iowa."

Or, "No, it's just spring."

Oh. Well, that's pretty close in my books.

And while I'm not ready to predict the season yet, I will say this: It really isn't the end of the season for the rest of the National League just because the Mets traded for Johan Santana. Does anybody out there in sportsland remember last year's big pitcher signing, Barry Zito? Seven years, 126 million dollars, and eleven wins for the Giants. Big splash. His numbers rivaled those of Chuck James.

Look, just because a guy does well in the American League doesn't assure his dominance of the National League. So before you give the NL crown to the Mets, consult your history books, or your recent sports pages for crying out loud.

Let me quote myself: "If the Mets don't get Johan Santana, and the Braves old starters don't break down, and the Braves bullpen holds up, and the Braves new center-fielder, Mark Kotsay, holds up, and Chipper holds up, then the Braves will win the East.

If the Mets do get Johan Santana, and the Braves old starters don't break down, and the Braves bullpen holds up, and the Braves new center-fielder, Mark Kotsay, holds up, and Chipper holds up, then the Braves will win the East.

If any of the latter doesn't happen, well, expect to see a repeat of the past two years."

Is there a list of things that must happen for the Braves to win the East? Yes. Is there a list of things that must happen for the Mets to win the East? Yes. Does Johan Santana make a difference. Yes, but it's been vastly overstated how big in recent days.

I've still got the Braves.

Reason number three is in the blood of every American. It's why we love Rocky, Rudy and the Rutgers football team. It's been in our blood since 1776. We love the underdog. Especially in the Super Bowl.

And because everybody's nodding their heads right now (and my post has already reached an ungodly length) I don't have to explain this one.

I'll just suffice it to say this: My gut is telling me that the Giants are going to win, but my brain is telling me otherwise. My gut is telling me that Eli's staying on his hot streak, Plaxico's too big and the Pats' linebackers are too old. My gut is telling me that Brady's gonna be sacked. A lot. My gut is telling me this one's gonna be like David and Goliath, and the big boy's going down.

The rational part of me wants to say take the Giants and the Points (12) but Pats win.

But a man goes with his gut. Even if its irrational. That's why we get lost all the time.

So, I'm saying Eli's going to Disneyworld. The underdogs win by four.

The 10 Spot

Ten Observations:

10. The Falcons hired this guy:



Who looks a lot like this guy:



Is it just me, or did we just hire J. Peterman from Seinfeld?


9. But seriously, Mike Smith - he's in the top picture - is your new Falcons coach. Can't get much more plain than that name. Or face. He's not a flashy guy.


8. Which is why I love it. From this end, I'm placing bets on it being a good hire. From what I hear and read, he seems legit: Sound fundamentals. Good background. Gets good reviews from around the league. The Birds need someone to come in, clean house, and win. Not flash and pop.


7. Which is where I must admit that I was wrong. I was placing my bets on Blank hiring Mike Singletary.


6. And the Falcons brought back this guy:



Brian VanGorder,
who also looks a lot like this guy:



Horror writer Stephen King.
Which makes me happy, because it makes this guy mad:



Side Note: South Carolina hired Brian VG, who was the Falcons linebackers coach, for the USC Defensive Coordinator Job back in December. He worked for Spurrier for about a month before leaving to come back to Atlanta. That's about a month too long for anyone to be around the Spur.


5. It's like a double treat for me. My NFL team gets a good defensive coach, who has ties to my alma mater. And at the same time somewhere in South Carolina Steve Spurrier is throwing his visor. What a great day!


4. And who cares if VanGorder has had six (6) jobs in the last four (4) years?

(Granted, we just got burned by the same thing by Bobby Petrino, vowed never to allow that to happen again-i.e., hiring a guy you can't trust to stay-and then we turned around and hired Brian VG.)

He's a good coach (who might bolt on us) but we get him and Steve Spurrier doesn't.


3. Count on VG to stick around for a while. I give him three years. And the Falcons in the top ten in total-D in the last two years of that.


2. If the Mets don't get Johan Santana, and the Braves old starters don't break down, and the Braves bullpen holds up, and the Braves new center-fielder, Mark Kotsay, holds up, and Chipper holds up, then the Braves will win the East.

If the Mets do get Johan Santana, and the Braves old starters don't break down, and the Braves bullpen holds up, and the Braves new center-fielder, Mark Kotsay, holds up, and Chipper holds up, then the Braves will win the East.

If any of the latter doesn't happen, well, expect to see a repeat of the past two years.


1. UGA should NOT be a preseason number one next year. Neither should USC or The Denim Shorts Club of Gainesville.

No one should be a preseason number one next year.

I can't wait till the day that we don't have preseason number anythings.

"Win One for the Limper"

Or, Philip Rivers' pregame speech to Billy Volek. Right before Volek meets Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas & Company and finds himself understanding personally why the Pats are undefeated.

The Chargers-Patriots contest might go down as the most one-sided conference championship in NFL history. It might go down as the most one-sided game this season.

These games are supposed to be close. They're supposed to be a dog-fight between the best two teams in their conference, clawing and scratching to see who'll come out on top.

Traditionally, that's been the case.

Since the Plan-A Free Agency went into effect with the 1993 season there have been 28Conference Championship Games played. The average margin of victory: just over 13 points. Competitive Balance has won out. The games have been somewhat close. A bounce here, a break there, and any team is in it.

Well, except for the 2000 Minnesota Vikings, who looked like a WNBA team against the NY Giants, putting up a goose-egg and losing the NFC title by 41 points.

Until Sunday, January 20, 2008, that will be the standard-bearer of beat downs.

That is, until Billy Volek leads the LT-hurtin & Philip Rivers-missin, undermanned & overmatched San Diego Chargers into Foxboro.

Look, you've got The Hoodie-Bill Belichick-who goes for it on fourth down when he's in field goal range with the game in the bag, a quarterback who just set a new TD record, a wideout who's trying to prove he really is just a good football player and not a thug, and a team who has gone from most-loved to most-hated faster than any team in history, and they're going against Billy Volek and the San Diego Chargers?

Well, all you can say is, "You stay classy, San Diego."

Pats win by 45.

(P.S. - My greatest New Years wish is for Brett Favre to demolish the Pats and then ride off into the sunset as the greatest QB in NFL history... And have that feat never, ever, ever passed by Tom Brady.)

Quick Picks

First, a quick thanks to Brett Farve for making me look like a moron. And a word of thanks to Tony Romo for seriously helping my fantasy team. Playoffs start next week, Tony. Keep it up.

Now, to Real Football...

Army at Navy:
Navy has won the last five years. Army can't stop the run. What else needs to be said?
Navy 41, Army 17

Virginia Tech at Boston College, ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville:
Is anybody even going to this game? What sense does it make for the ACC to hold this game in Jacksonville when the majority of their schools are in the Carolinas or north? Just another reason the ACC lags behind the SEC, not only in quality of play, but even in mere relevance.
But there is a game in Jacksonville today. The Hokies want to prove the the last 4 minutes of their first contest was a fluke, while BC is out to regain the form they had leading up to that game. The Eagles are a mediocre 2-2 since their miracle win at Virginia Tech, and expect that to drop to below .500 today. It's tough to beat a team twice in a season, especially when you lucked up the first time around. Matt Ryan's good, but he won't be able to carry BC on his own. The two-quarterback rotation at VaTech works today. Hokies win and head south to Miami.
VT 27, BC 17

UCLA at USC:
What can you say? This won't even be close. At USC? With the Trojans filling "disrespected"? No one likes to see the little guy get beat up. This one's gonna get ugly. And fast. USC is seeing Roses.
USC 52, UCLA 24

Oklahoma at Missouri, Big XII Championship Game in San Antonio:
Missouri wants to go to New Orleans. Oklahoma wants to forget what could have been. OU lost two games they clearly should have won this year, missing out on what should have been an undefeated, number 1 season. But they lose their third game this year today, and they've been favorites every time. Mizzou pulls off the dream, and starts trying to figure out the Mountaineers.
Mizzou 27, Oklahoma 24

Tennessee at LSU, SEC Championship Game in Atlanta:
My boy Andy Woznicki swears Phil Fulmer is Fred Thompson's illegitimate son. Does that mean he gets secret service protection? And, if so, can he reassign them to cover Erik Ainge? Dorsey owns Erik in Atlanta. But that won't seal the win...
You wanna talk about distractions? As I write this on Saturday morning, reports are the LSU's Les Miles will be named Michigan's coach this week, with Pelini heading to be Tom Osborne's puppet in Nebraska. The Tigers don't know where to turn. They're on the verge of a potential national title, and their two top coaches are bailing on them? But that's not all. LSU's got it's second-stringer playing under center. All that's got UT smelling upset.
But not me. LSU is too talented. Tigers win a close one, Phil Fulmer calls dad to cry.
LSU 17, UT 14

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.

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.

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.