Big Expansion

A lot to talk about this week, earlier this week the Big Ten supposedly asked 4 schools to join the conference, the Big Ten denies these rumors. It won't stop me from talking about who they asked to join, allegedly, and how it's gonna affect the conference power. First things first, why only 4, are they only expecting 3 to accept. Currently the Big Ten has 11 schools and the goal is to add 3 or 5, to make it 14 or 16. So, I guess in asking 4 when one school says no, they'll have 14, at least I think that's where their going, a 15 school conference doesn't make sense. Uneven divisions don't make sense. Onto who was "asked" to join.

Notre Dame, current conference, football: none, all other sports: Big East. Notre Dame is the biggest fish in this conference choosing pond, if the Big Ten whose been courting ND for 60 years can convince them to join all schools will stand to make a chunk of money, just from revenue of playing ND at home every other year, and in the case of the west division schools, more on that in a minute, every 4 years. As of now, ND plays Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State almost yearly, but imagine the first ND vs Ohio State game in Columbus, that would be huge. If, ND joins they can still play USC in football, problem is they'll prolly lose Army and Navy. This is why ND doesn't like a conference they have rivalries with a bunch of schools so turning their backs on them sort of bothers them. To me this is a no-brainer, your in the middle of the Big Ten, you have a historic rivalry with Michigan, and you'd have an easier path to BCS if you join. Staying independent you get to keep your pathetic rivalries with lower level schools, and get to keep your deal with NBC, who I got a feeling would get into showing the Big Ten if ND joined. I like asking ND to join and hope they accept.

Rutgers, current conference all sports: Big East. I hate asking Rutgers, the Big Ten is mostly the midwest and asking an east coast school to me is ridiculous. I've heard the argument is to get New York involved with the Big Ten, Rutgers is in New Jersey, and most people from New York cheer for Notre Dame before Rutgers, so screw that. I don't like the move for other reasons, until recently Rutgers was horrible at football and the basketball team is not good either, basically your bringing them in to get whooped by real competition and hope maybe they can get a rivalry with ND. I've also heard that Penn State would like someone closer to them in the conference, well then go ask Pittsburgh to join then. I like Pitt, good tradition, good in all sports. They fit the conference mold, smash mouth and physical. Only problem is they have that rivalry with West Virginia, but as I said with ND, if they want they can still play it at a regular non-conference game. Enough about Pitt, I'm supposed to be talking about Rutgers. Rutgers also, bugs me because it's in the New York City outlying area, so for someone from Wisconsin to go to a basketball game on a Tuesday they would have to deal a place their not ready to deal with. I don't want Rutgers even though I've heard their very interested, I don't want 'em.

Nebraska, current conference all sports: Big 12. I love this idea, Nebraska borders Iowa automatic rival. Good tradition out in Cornhusker Nation, solid school, solid program. I would be genius for Nebraska to join, and get out of the Big 12, who only cares about Texas and Oklahoma. They proved that when they decided the OU-Nebraska game wasn't that important and decided playing it every year wasn't a big deal, instead opting for UT-OU every year as their marquee game. I've commented on this before, OU-Nebraska used to be bigger than Michigan-OSU. So, Nebraska comes to the Big Ten, rule the western division, and actually be cared about, maybe. I know Chris would love this so he wouldn't have to drive 8 hours to see the Huskers play, instead driving an hour and watching them in Madison. I like Nebraska and want them in a conference that respects them and hell Nebraska fits the geography.

Missouri current conference all sports: Big 12. We're raiding the Big 12, taking everyone who feels shorted by them. Rumors are Missouri is very interested in coming east instead of going south. Missouri is no powerhouse, but they compete every year, and sometimes they sneak up and win. It would also help Nebraska's transition if one of their current rivals comes over. Not much else to say about Missouri, accept of course I want them and the new rivalry with Illinois would be awesome.

So how would the new Big Ten look, if it's still called that. Maybe something like the Big 14 which sounds dumb, or maybe the Great Lakes Conference, sounds good to me. Of course the conference would be sliced into divisions, which like all the others would be geographically. Whether it's 8 and 8 or 7 and 7, it'll most likely be east and west divisions. Michigan and Ohio State have to stay together that's why I say it'll be east/west. In the east it'll be Penn St. Ohio St. Michigan, Michigan St. Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame-they'd only join if they got to play Michigan and Ohio St. yearly, and if Rutgers joins that's where they go. In the west you get, Northwestern, who could go either way, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska if they join. If only Rutgers joins and not ND expect Indiana to join the west. If this all happens of course the east will be stronger, but not so dominant as the south has become in the Big 12, where whoever wins the north is an after thought as probably the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference. Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin can be tough places to play and the west would be just as entertaining as the east, where Ohio State will prolly dominate. I want this for the Big Ten and hope ND, Mizzou, and Nebraska all decide to join, giving us the second best conference in the country, and probably the most watched. Stay tuned this could get interesting.

Roids and Rookies

Gonna get this off my chest quick, a report comes out NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Brian Cushing tested positive for PED's in September. Somehow some way he got his appeal to last all season, played every week, and won the award. I for one blame the NFL for letting this take so damn long and not suspending him right away or at least part way through the year. Instead his suspension won't be until the first four weeks next season, how in the F does that work, couldn't figure it out in the 17 weeks of the season? Well that's beside the point, or least my point.

After the suspension came down and the timing of the failed test came out, the AP decided to revoke the award from Cushing and have a re-vote, Cushing not disqualified. So, their gonna re-vote and if you want you can still vote for Cushing. I have a problem with this two ways. One, if your gonna take away his award make him ineligable to win the damn thing. Two, why are you doing this? To prove a point, your dumb. My stance on roids has already been published and I feel there is nothing wrong with it, nor should people be punished for taking them. Now I've heard some people say no big deal and others have been mad, but I haven't seen one guy be outraged at this positive test, if it was a baseball player who won an award he would be getting filleted on ESPN, Mark Farnuwada or whatever would be at the teams offices asking questions, Bob Ley would be hosting round table discussions every half hour. But, since it's a football player nobody cares, you can't get Wendi Nix off the Tiger Beat and Rachel Nichols is prolly camped out in Mississippi hoping Brett Favre needs attention. Baseball player leads Sportscenter, football player an "update" comes 3 commercials in. As I said I'm not against Cushing, nor his positive test, but all you hypocrites need to cover this story with the same intensetity and vigor as you would a baseball player. I don't read a lot of columns but if you voted for Cushing a second time I better not hear a word about Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens ruing the sanctity of the game.

Spoiler Alert

It's been 6 races since NASCAR Sprint Cup did away with the rear wing, that was helping cars fly, instead opting for a rear spoiler, which gives the cars more downforce. Since the change an alarming thing has happened, a new team is dominating the circuit. Thing is it used to be Hendrick, with Jimmie Johnson ruling the COT with the wing. Now, Joe Gibbs racing is running the big boy series. Before the spoiler this season for Gibbs 5 races 0 wins, for Hendrick 5 races 3 wins, now since the spoiler change, for Gibbs 6 races 4 wins, for Hendrick 6 races 0 wins, unless you count Ryan Newman's win at Phoenix. Something has to give, what happened that all the sudden Denny Hamlin is the hottest driver in the sport going from 18th to 6th in points, including 3 wins, since the spoiler change. Kyle Busch, got a win and is now 3rd in points. Hamlin said after his victory on Saturday night that for the most part this season they've run mostly last years cars, and weren't really planning on winning races until after Indy, mid-summer. I think though JGR has this spoiler figured out, much the way Chad Knaus and the rest of Hendrick had the wing figured out. I'm not saying count Hendrick out, Jeff Gordon has been a long with Denny one of the most consistent racers since the change. Plus, they have plenty of time before the chase to figure out the spoiler. The only question is will Denny and Kyle win so many races between now and then that the lead going into the chase is gonna be unclimable. I had Denny to win this thing after last season, I'm sticking with it and these last 6 races are only helping me prove my point.

Wonderings April Edition

I know I promised lots of posts, but of course been busy, and haven't had much time to reflect. After the draft, baseball, and a couple of races I'll just go to the wonderings and get all the thoughts out in one swoop, here we go again I wonder........

why Mel Kiper Jr. has a job, all he does at ESPN is rate players and project where they will go in the draft. He had Jimmy Clausen 4th, are you kidding me 4th, apparently this guy doesn't know jack, he was off by a round and half. Yet, we're supposed to listen when he writes an article about grades, you have got to be kidding me.

how big a difference it is between Trent Williams and Russell Okung, I missed when we picked at 4, but I'm guessing everyone was going nuts. Why, because in your warped mind Okung was so much better. I don't question Mike Shannahan when it comes to lineman, if he felt Williams is better than so be it.

what the Bronco's were thinking Tim Tebow, really? If you wanted him wait until Clausen was gone then go get him.

if the Browns got the biggest gift in the draft, I love Colt McCoy.

why Todd McShay has a job, he said the Browns were gonna have to trade into the first round to get Colt, instead he makes it to the 3rd, cheese and rice are draft "experts" annoying.

who is the guy San Diego traded up to get, I don't remember his name, or ever heard of him.

if anyone is better than Tim Lincecum, nough said.

if this knee surgery is making Denny Hamlin better, since surgery, he's won at Texas and 4th at Dega. This weekend he's at home at Richmond, he could win again. Before surgery 15th in points, now 9th not to mention the terrible finish at Phoenix. This could be the year and with him not worried about his knee he's racing better.

if Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson feud is for real. If it is I can't wait for episode 3. In case you missed it they had word at Texas and Dega. So far I'm with Jeff, his comments have been classic. On the radio in Texas, "4-Time seems a little upset." That was awesome.

if I'm really going to two games next year, the Skins play at St. Louis and Chicago, I want to go to both.

what channel is VS?

what happened to the Caps, up 3-1 and then lose the series, as Pens fan I love it.

if Dana White is for real, he said if Anderson Silva acts a fool again he's out of the UFC, believe when I see it.

if the Brewers think they can get through this season with this pitching staff? I wanna cheer for the Crew, but why have all these offensive weapons but not have anyone who can shut down the other team.

if the Giants can keep this up, all 5 starters are pitching well, the bullpen is doing ok, the offense has been streaky, the offense needs to be more consistent to make a real run.

when Buster Posey is gonna get the call, it better be soon this kid a legit hitter and is above average defensively as a catcher, the Giants need him get him up.

are the NBA playoffs still on? Why do I hate basketball so much.

why ESPN is in love with Roy Halladay, he pitches well they talk all day about him, where my boy Timmy does the exact same stuff yet still no talk. That's bull who has 2 trophy's? Timmy that's right.

how long Ryan Howard will be the second highest paid player in baseball, Albert Pujols is about to get a new deal and he better be making more than A-Rod and Howard.

if anyone realizes baseball is a long season, give Jason Heyward a break he'll break out of this slump.

Tunes?

Sitting around wondering to write about. Brandon Marshall, no. The NBA, hell no. NHL playoffs, don't watch enough to have an educated opinion, on that note, let's go Pens. I figured it's been a while why not just let everyone know what's getting heavy rotation threw my ears these days. Here's a top ten of sorts.

1. Then entire Breaking Benjamin album Dear Agony. I love this album been listening to it in my car constantly.
2. Liar by Rains, never heard of this band. Pretty awesome song heard it on Octane on satellite radio. Comes in with just the singer, pretty low key song, but still rocks.
3. Dragonfly by Shaman's Harvest, I think everyone is in love with song currently, it's awesome and can't wait to hear more from this band from Missouri.
   
4. Miracle by Nonpoint, I've been with these guys from the beginning have their first album, love all their songs. They've changed their sound as the years have gone on, but they still rock.
5. Fire it Up by Thousand Foot Krutch haven't always been a huge fan but this song just gets me pumped. If only I still played sports between this song and Your going down by Sick Puppies I don't think we'd ever lost at anything. Ok that was a lie but you get how awesome the song is.
6. Spaceship by Puddle of Mudd, can't figure these guys out. I've liked them from the start, but then they disappear for a while then come back. Spaceship is an awesome song, and the video has the Nitro Circus guys in it so it's pretty cool.
7. Why Don't we just Dance by Josh Turner, gotta have at least one country song on the list. I like it, good song, and fun video.
8. Seems like I always have and old song on heavy rotation and this song is way old, Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh. That's right Joe Walsh from the Eagles, this song is so awesome and I still get excited to hear it.
9. Wars by Hurt, I've always liked Hurt, their dark like Staind only a little bit harder. Would like to see them live in a club sometime think up close and personal would be better than at a huge venue.
10. Scream With Me by Mudvayne, awesome song, awesome band nothing else to say.
    
11. F*** The Po-Po by Corey Smith, if you haven't check this guy from Georgia out, you should. He's bluesy and has a really good tunes, F the Po-Po is just my favorite. His live album Outtakes from the Georgia Theatre is really good.

So there you have it my current top 10 or so, if you haven't heard all the tunes give them a listen and let me know what you think. A little feedback never hurt anyone.

Week in review April 5th-11th

A whole bunch of news in one week, I was busy working so I didn't really watch any of it. Instead of writing 4 different things, I'll just give my thoughts on the happening.

• Good job Butler, if only you could make a shot you'd be national champs.
• What is up with Coach K? He's a Bobby Knight guy, I would think he'd be more of hothead, but he seems like everyones best friend. That apple rolled about a mile from that tree.
• Opening Day was cool to watch.
• Who is better than Albert Pujols? I watched opening day and listened to the Sunday nighter on the radio. He's amazing, and I wonder who the hell is pitching to this guy?
• Jason Heyward is a man, the guy hit 2 out the opposite way against the Giants this weekend, and the one he hit on opening day still hasn't landed. Rookie of the year, hands down.
• Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay for NL Cy Young is already heating up, I watched Timmy on opening day, he was amazing and his "new" curve ball makes his fastball and changeup even more effective. Then last night 10 K's against the Braves, I got him winning his third, but of course I'm a bit biased.
• I called Tiger getting a top 15, should've said top 5, but still a good showing for not playing any tourney's in 5 months.
• Get off Tiger's ass, if he wants to cuss while playing so be it, you hit a ball in the woods and try not to swear or hit your club on the ground.
• Didn't get to watch much of the Master's but I checked the highlights every night, Phil played really well, obviously he won, but to play like that with his wife being there was pretty cool. You can say what you want, but having your wife and mom both recovering from Cancer the fact he can hit a ball straight is impressive enough, let alone win one of the toughest tourney's of the year.
• All the golfers owe Tiger a big thank you, because of him, they didn't get any attention this weekend, and just got to play golf.
• Sounds like the UFC fight Saturday was a bit of a dud, my pal Dunne was very disappointed, he called to tell me how frustrated he was, and coming into the night we were both more excited for this fight than before christmas.
• Sprint Cup at Phoenix was ok, I'm getting a little sick of seeing late race cautions, I know Denny got helped at Martinsville, but still if your dominating and with 4 laps left some nobody cuts a tire, and strategy wins the race, than why waste the first 370 laps and just run the last 5.
• Hats off to Denny, 11 days after ACL surgery on his left knee, he got in the car and stayed in, even after going 2 laps down with battery problems. I know people are saying he's doing it for attention, I don't think so, why on earth would you punish yourself like that. Not only was the knee in pain, the first half of the race he thought he didn't have enough power, so he turned off his fresh air to his helmet, and it was 115 degrees in Phoenix.
  
• One more hats off to the Wisconsin men's hockey team, getting to the championship game of the frozen four and coming up short against Boston College. 2nd is nothing to be ashamed of.
  
• Final thought, Brewer fans you need to get rid of Trevor Hoffman, he stinks and is 42, time to retire.
  

Tiger Beat

It's the night before the Masters, the night before "A Tradition Unlike Anything Else" the night before Tiger comes back. A lot of questions are coming out about how Tiger will perform. Personally I feel he's gonna do just fine. I'm not predicting a win, but I'll call at least a top 15 finish. He hasn't played any competitive golf in half a year, or so, but he owns Augusta and knows that place like Derek Jeter knows the hole at Yankee Stadium. How are the crowds gonna react? I think they'll be fine, it's the Masters, nobody acts up and if someone does security will happily escort them off the course and ban them for life, and if they scalped the ticket I'm sure the person who sold it to them will be banned for life. It won't be Happy Gilmore out there with a guy yelling "Jackass" during Tiger's backswing. I also expect Steve Williams, Tiger's caddy, to help with the crowd he has a bit of a reputation of taking on people who mess with great one. So, in summary Tiger will be fine, the reception will be great, and the golf world will be back to normal.

One more note, to all you hooches who knowingly slept with a married man, and thought you were special. Tiger doesn't owe you shit, you dirty dirty skanks need to move on and stop talking to the media. We get he did stuff with you his wife wouldn't do, he's a creep, whatever get over yourselves, your not famous, nor will you ever be.

Donovan

Wow a what a present, here I am just watching Opening Night, Yanks-Sox, look down on the ticker, and it reads: BREAKING NEWS Eagles agree to trade QB Donovan McNabb to Redskins. I about jumped out of my seat. We did WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT. I'm going, how in the hell did we convince Philly to give us their QB, I mean division rivals, really? Brett Favre had to waste a year in New York before he went to Minnesota because Green Bay didn't want to see him twice a year. So, the Walrus with a headset, decides seeing DMC twice a year isn't all that bad. Not only that we got him for virtually nothing, a second this year and a 3rd or 4th next year, a whoopity doo. I like the move for a few reasons, number we now have a QB so any talk of Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford is done, we can focus and take Russell Okung at 4. It also means, Jason Campbell is not gonna start, which maybe DMC can teach him a few things. Donovan is a winner, can make all the throws and instantly makes us a better team, which sorry to say that second round pick, most likely to be used on a QB or O-lineman wouldn't have helped as much as him. The cons of the move are this, he's old, owed a lot of money, and a free agent after next year, but Dan Snyder will take care of that.

So, at the start of free agency, everyone applauded the Redskins front office for patience, and not spending like crazy. Since then Larry Johnson, Willie Parker and now DMC. Not much patience being shown anymore. I like the direction the team is going, and hopefully Shannahan can turn this into success on the field.

The Best?

Holy crap I'm getting bad, a whole month between posts. In my defense March sucks, unless your a huge basketball head, which I am not, my basketball interest gets peaked for 3 weeks, the last 2 of March, and the first week of April. Wait did someone say April, the GREATEST Sports Month of the Year? That's right the best month of the year is April. It starts with my birthday and ends with the NFL Draft, could a month be any better, sprinkle in the Final Four, Masters, MLB Opening Day, and the NHL Playoffs all starting in a four week span. Plus, this year you got a huge UFC card Saturday, the 10th, not to mention the Sprint Cup going to Texas in the middle of the month and Talladega at the end of the month.

As someone who wants to write about all this your gonna get a lot of posts this month. Hell, starting tomorrow, Monday the 5th, the week will be enough alone to make the month great, during the day Monday the rest of MLB teams start their seasons, that night the NCAA championship game Duke vs. Butler, and Tiger is gonna have a press conference at the Masters. Then on Thursday, the Masters starts, and Tiger officially makes his comeback. Pretty sure I'm gonna have some coverage of that. Not to mention Saturday night, Matt Hughes is back in the Octagon, BJ Penn is putting up his Lightweight championship and probably the best fighter in the whole sport, Anderson "Spider" Silva puts his Middleweight belt up. That's a hell of a lot for just a week. Plus, the Sprint Cup goes under the lights for the first time of the season at Phoenix on Saturday night as well.

If you can get through the first week, life gets easier, The NFL Draft and Talladega are the same weekend, but this year the NFL is spreading the draft out for us, hopefully I'll be able to watch and do a running diary again. Dega on the other hand can be a bit of a bore, but it can also be the most exciting race of the year, if you can handle watching it just waiting for the "big one" to happen. However, is you click back and forth between the 6th round and Dega, you'll be fine. Well, that's all for now, I expect to be a little busier this month so please come back soon.

Hockey Fix

Been a while, Chris is focused on free agency, and I haven't watched anything sports related since the Daytona 500, so yeah not much to report on. Had to work during the gold medal game of the Olympic hockey tournament last Sunday. Heard it was the most watched Olympic hockey game ever. So, now all the talking heads are wondering how the NHL can turn those viewers into NHL viewers. They all have their points, but I'm gonna give some good ideas on how to fix the NHL.

Contract the league, it has 30 teams right now, contract that to 24. If you don't know this is how hockey works, the "offense" has 4 lines of the 3 players and the "defense" has 3 lines of 2 players, plus each team carries at least 2 goalies. Not to mention guys on the bench or injured. I looked up how many players the NHL has and the number is around 950. If you eliminate 6 teams, the league will lose 190 or so, not as good players. If you can get the cream of the crop on the ice, and teams can be deeper, then the product will be better.

Make the NHL, U.S. vs. Canada, the league should have two divisions, a US division, consisisting of New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Philly Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and either Phoenix or New Jersey for the 12th team. Try to stay out of the warm cities, kids can't play hockey in warm cities. Canada has 6 current team, Ottawa, Toronto, Monteal, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. A few teams have left Canada in recent years so give those teams back, Qubec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets. That's 8 only need 4 more, not sure where they would come from but I have one idea for a team, give Alaska a team and have them play in the Canada division. I'm sure they could carry an NHL team. Anyway if you make two twelve team divisions, have 6 teams from each make the playoffs and do it up NFL, style, top 2 seeds get first round bye, play a best of 5 in the first round, best of 7 the other two rounds. Then for the Stanledy Cup, U.S. vs. Canada, even though the players will be from any country, the fan bases however will be able to root for and against their country.

Market the super stars, this is behind everyone's arguements. Who is Sidney Crosby? Who is Alex Ovechkin? Martin Brodeur or Patrick Kane? Sid the Kid is my favorite current player, plays for my team Pittsburgh, helped win the Stanley Cup last year, and scored the game winner for Canada. I heard lots of talk why wasn't Crosby doing TV after the game, I'll tell you why, because he's Canadian, what ratings would you get if you got the guy who beat America on TV? If we would've won and Kane scored it, you bet that kid would be all over TV. If the US wins that game, it would've been better for the NHL. But, to the point, we need to get these guys on TV, sign them a deal, get 'em commercials. I like Ovi, but I couldn't pick that guy out of a line up and I'm a fan of the game. I don't have the answer on how to make these guys huge, but I can see more of NHL guys face than a football players, but yet guys in the NFL are regonizable.

Get people to games, I will profess for ever and ever. Hockey is the best sport live, I've been to NFL, NBA, and MLB games, hockey games are better than all of those. I'd rather go watch the Junior team from Dubuque, than any NBA game. I'd rather watch live hockey all day, however it doesn't translate to TV. I love hockey have a hard time watching it, when I can find it, Saturday's on NBC, or is it Sunday, not sure, also what channel is VS, on TV. It just doesn't translate to the screen well. Rather it's because you can't see the puck, or what, it just doesn't make it.