Out With 2009, In With 2010

As I haven’t written anything in awhile and the new decade stars in approximately 5.5 hours, I thought I might share some of my wishes for sports in oh-ten (I would do a retrospective of the year, but let’s face it, that takes much longer and there is revelry to take part in).  I apologize in advance for demonstrating my proclivity to include my favorite teams and to repeat some topics I may have already discussed, but hey, it’s my blog and my wishes.  Here we go:

1. A revision, almost any revision, of the BCS system

2. The Big Ten regaining some dignity and actually winning some bowl games (unlikely I know)

3. Rich Rod finally getting things sorted out over at Michigan and producing a team that goes to a bowl game (see wish 2)

4. Someone, anyone, other than the Lakers winning the NBA Finals (aside from the Celtics of course)

5. The new Chicago Cubs ownership maintaining the tradition associated with the team and the stadium and overhauling pretty much everything else.  100+ years is way too long

6. The US having a respectable showing in the World Cup.

7. The Bears making it to the playoffs (next season) by whatever means necessary.

8. The Yankees putting together another championship caliber team with all the changes and trades (I’m still nervous about letting go of home-grown guys like Melky.  You know Cano is secretly crying himself to sleep)

9. Professional athletes managing to keep their philandering out of the news.  We all know some pro athletes cheat, they’re no different than the rest of us and probably experience more temptation than the average Joe/Jane.  I just don’t want it to dominate my sports coverage for weeks on end (ahem Tiger).

10. A job as a sportscaster (highly unlikely, but arguably more likely than some of the other items on my list)

Happy New Years everybody!  Thanks for a great 2009 and hear is to an even better 2010!

This Pretty Much Says it All

Doug Buffone, former Bears player and current co-host of “Chicago NFL Live” on “The Score,” tells us how he really feels following the loss to the Cardinals (clip courtesy of WGN).  I wonder what he had to say after Cutler threw 5 picks last week?

What the Heck is Going on with the NFL?!?

Well, baseball season is officially over (go Yankees, Cubs I’m still hoping for next year). I’m hoping to get back to a semblance of a normal life, which hopefully equals more posts!  So with baseball put to rest for a bit, let’s talk football shall we?

What the heck is going on with the NFL right now?  13 teams are below 500.  Thirteen!  It is only a little past half way in the regular season, but still!  In 2008, 11 teams finished below 500 for the entire regular season.  In 2007, things were worse, but this is still astounding.  Cleveland, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Detroit (still a better year for them than 2008) and Kansas City have failed to win more than a single game.  Oakland, Washington and Tennessee have just two W’s under their belt.

It would take a long time to break down exactly why each team has failed to rack up more wins (cough Jamarcus Russell, Oakland).  One thing is for certain, this isn’t making for very exciting football.  Aside from an occasional surprise like Tampa Bay’s win over Green Bay, the NFL has been nearly predictable.  The sports books in Las Vegas are probably ready to throw in the towel at this point.  Unless you’re playing fantasy football, where, depending on you league it could be anyone’s game, this is just ridiculous.

Saints/Vikings v. Colts, see you in the Super Bowl (yes, that’s my mid-season projection, sort of anyways).  The rest of the league, get your shit together.  In the mean time I am going to be watching college football.  Hello Northwestern/Iowa upset!

Favre’s Homecoming

The Green Bay/Minnesota game was touted by FOX as the biggest game of the season.  While I’m fairly certain that the Super Bowl is the biggest game of the season, but yes FOX, it was an important one.  The Vikings had their perfect season on the line, two NFC powerhouses were going to meet and Favre was returning to Lambeau Field for the first time to play against his former team of 16 years.  So yes, a big game.

In the beginning it looked like the Vikings, with Favre at the helm, were going to march all over the Packers.  As the game progressed into the third Green Bay woke up and demonstrated that they weren’t about let Brett and his boys come into their house and run up the score unanswered.  Fans showed their support and others expressed their disdain for their former qb.  I will admit that I’m closer to column B, but one thing is for sure: Favre has proven to the world that he’s still got it.

His ability to walk into such charged environment and play one of the better teams in the league right now is impressive.  Favre finished the day 17 for 28 complete and managed to rack up 244 years, four TDs and allowed no interceptions.  Peterson was a big contributor as well (no surprises there), but this was Favre’s show.   In the past I have seriously doubted Favre’s abilities following his weak performance with the Jets and his constant is he/isn’t he retirement issues.

With performances like his today, getting in first licks and leading his team through to the end when the Packers attempted to rally, Brett’s made a believer out of me.  It’s clear he’s still got the stuff.  Sports Media: Now that he’s proven it can we please talk about anything else?  Conversation starter idea: Aaron Rodgers, new king of Green Bay? 26 for 41, 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, against the Vikings.  I’m a believer.

In My Happy Place

It is rare that my real-life gig in beauty pr interacts with my fantasy gig of sports commentator, but this week oh how the stars aligned! Through my work on Vaseline I was able to go to the set where we were filming the one and only Michael Strahan. Talk about making this girl’s day!

Michael was as nice, personable and funny as he is on TV, a job that aside from football, he was probably made to do.  Only regret: Not asking whether I should start Romo or Eli this week in fantasy.  He probably would have said Manning!