Catching up...

After taking six weeks to dissect every team in baseball, it’s time to backtrack a bit on major events in the sports world that have occurred during that time.

THE FINAL FOUR turned out to be a disaster on a personal level. My favorite team—UCLA—failed to win it all for the third straight year. While it’s great that being part of the final weekend is becoming an annual event, the only thing that matters at UCLA is championships. I only hope John Wooden will still be alive to see the Bruins win another one!

Then, my least favorite team—Kansas—winds up winning the whole thing. When Jim Nantz uttered, “It’s a Rock Chalk Championship!” as the final seconds ticked off the clock, I literally became violently ill. It was as though I had just consumed live cockroaches while standing in a pile of cow droppings (think Fear Factor).

I vividly remember my tour of the university back in 2001. They sit prospective Jayhawks in a room with their families where a slideshow begins with a history lesson on the basketball program. Not their academic prowess (because they have none) or their beautiful campus and student living facilities (because it’s ugly and their old)—but their basketball program. I’m sure many parents leave feeling comfortable about sending their kids into the middle of nowhere. But hey, at least for the first time in 20 years, their the best at something.

I noticed a disturbing trend during the tournament that has left no doubt in my mind that basketball has a major racial divide. North Carolina center Tyler Hansbrough is smart, ultra-aggressive and has a great motor. Meanwhile UCLA center Kevin Love is big, fundamental and well polished down low. Despite being highly regarded recruits and “potential” NBA lottery picks they apparently are NOT athletic, strong or physically gifted.

So, I can only wonder… if the color of their skin was different would they draw comparisons to Tim Duncan and Elton Brand? Greg Oden was a consensus No. 1 overall pick—and while he is a legitimate seven-footer—what did he prove in his half-season at Ohio State that Hansbrough and Love haven’t?

Early rounds of the tournament were infinitely better than in 2007, late rounds not so much. What’s the fun in seeing all No. 1 seeds advance? Better get used to it if the new NBA collective bargaining agreement goes through—and all indications are that it will. NBA commissioner David Stern has proposed a minimum of two years before players can declare for the NBA draft. While I love the idea, it means that powerhouse programs will continue to get the elite high school players and keep them for a longer amount of time. This means not only does their superior skill get to shine but they can also grow with their teammates.

Just imagine Kevin Durant on the 2008 Texas Longhorns…undefeated National Champions. Just sayin’.


STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS are underway! Unfortunately, it still doesn’t appear that anyone cares.

Despite losing game 1 of their series with the Calgary Flames, the San Jose Sharks are a well-oiled machine and my pick to hoist the cup. After a nice comeback season, it would be great to see Jeremy Roenick win it all.

While the best teams reside in the western conference, the best talent is out east. I highly recommend watching the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rare hockey viewer. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa score more often than Kim Kardashian.

In addition, you can play a little drinking game with Washington Capitals’ 65-goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. The best player in the world takes 8-10 shots per game and each has a chance of finding the back of the net. Every time he shoots and there’s a save, take a shot of vodka (he’s Russian). Every time he scores, chug a beer.

It should make hockey much more entertaining for those that don’t currently appreciate it. In worst-case scenario, you’ll still find it boring but you’re drunk and ready to go out and have a good time.


THE WESTERN CONFERENCE race is the best thing to happen to the NBA since Michael Jordan. One night a team is in third place with home court advantage and the next night they’re in sixth and only one game from sitting at home during the playoffs.

Every team except the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs plays an entertaining brand of basketball, featuring a high-scoring offense and zero defense; which is exactly why the Spurs will win the conference yet again.

If the Dallas Mavericks fail to make the playoffs after acquiring Jason Kidd, does Avery Johnson get fired? Seeing the look on Mark Cuban’s face as he sits courtside and watches his franchise implode is priceless. It’s much how I’d imagine a man’s face would look if he was tied up and forced to watch his wife have an affair.


BRETT FAVRE says goodbye and I cried a bit when he began to breakdown during the press conference. That means I officially ran the gamut of emotions with Favre.

When he first began, I was pissed that he spelled his last name nothing like it was pronounced and commend Ben Stiller for addressing the issue in “There’s something about Mary.”

I hated Favre for torturing the Bears for my entire childhood. Seriously, there were Sunday’s where he picked the defense apart so bad that they may as well have not dressed for the game.

Then, Favre was a part of my first ever experience as a member of the media when I covered Bears vs. Packers on a Sunday night in 2000. Afterwards--in the Packers locker room—I kindly asked Favre if I could ask him a question (not realizing I unintentionally had already done so). Between bites of a sandwich he looked up and said, “sorry son, but if it was that important you could have asked me in the media session (after the game).” Good point and a lesson learned.

On the same night, Favre broke one of Dan Marino’s records: something about throwing for at least 3,000 yards for 10 straight seasons. It was then that I was ready to admit the he was pretty good and started to respect his greatness.

Later in his career, when he was clearly past his prime, I was thrilled that the Bears could finally sack him once a game. An event that never seemed to take place early in his career.

Then, when he retired, I realized that the greatest quarterback I’d ever seen was gone and a great part of the historic rivalry would no longer be a part of it.

Just for the record, I leave you with the list of Bears’ QB’s since Favre began his career with the Packers:

Since Brett Favre joined the Packers in 1992, the Bears have tried 21 different quarterbacks. While with the Bears, those 21 QBs have totaled 11,343 passing yards fewer than Favre's NFL-best mark of 61,405. A look at the 21, in order:

QUARTERBACK YARDS
Jim Harbaugh 3,818
Peter Tom Willis 1,261
Will Furrer 89
Steve Walsh 2,078
Erik Kramer 10,582
Dave Krieg 2,278
Shane Matthews 3,461
Steve Stenstrom 1,359
Rick Mirer 420
Moses Moreno 166
Cade McNown 3,111
Jim Miller 5,867
Chris Chandler 2,073
Henry Burris 207
Kordell Stewart 1,418
Rex Grossman 5,907
Chad Hutchinson 903
Craig Krenzel 718
Jonathan Quinn 413
Kyle Orton 2,053
Brian Griese 2,023
TOTAL: 50,062
Sources: nfl.com, profootball-reference.com