Myron is a Rolle model

For the first time in a long time, the NCAA has taken their collective heads out of their butts and have allowed something truly special to take place.

Myron Rolle a defensive back from Florida State University, is a candidate for the Rhode's Scholarship at Oxford University in England this year. Why does this seem so special? Well you see, the interviews for this once in a lifetime opportunity are this Saturday, the same day that FSU has a game at Maryland.

The NCAA is allowing Mr. Rolle to go to the interview and fly on a charter flight afterwards so that he may play in the game in College Park Maryland. Usually the NCAA would not allow special treatment, but Myron's case is a special one.

Not only is Myron an outstanding defensive back for the Seminoles, but he has a 3.75 GPA and his major is pre-med.

When I heard about this, I felt compelled to write about Mr. Rolle's amazing accomplishments. He is hopeful that he will have a career in the NFL following which, he wants to practice medicine. That's right, a football star wants to be a Doctor. By the way, their are only 32 of the 80 spots for this scholarship that are given to American's each year.

I hope that the young fans of college football hear about this story and realize that no dream is impossible. Don't be afraid to dream and succeed. Our dreams are the only thing some people have in life, and if you give them up what's left?

Good luck Myron, forget about the game, I know you will do well with that. I mean in the interview. Not that I am wishing myself bad luck, but if I ever need a doctor, I hope that they have the same heart and intensity that you do.

Ahh.......the beauty of opening up and saying ahhhh

End of an error

Those are the last bad words I will say about one of the most controversial owners in MLB history.

Today the MLB owners agreed unanimously to allow the control of the New York Yankees to be taken over by George Steinbrenner's son Hal. What does this all mean? Time will tell. I am hopeful that Hal will look to build his franchise from within, and not spend a fortune on a yearly basis to win.

My biggest gripe with George was that his ability to spend would someday ruin the game of baseball. Baseball isn't about who can afford the best talent, it is about putting nine players on the field that can play as a team (please see the Tampa Rays). With too many egos running wild in the clubhouse, it is tough to play a 162 game season with any kind of consistency.

I know that George's health has been declining these past few years, and I hope he is alive the next time the Yankees win a championship, but I do hope they win it the correct way.

Here's a nugget for Yankee's fans. During George's tenure as owner which began in 1973, the Spankees won 6 of their 25 world championships. Not bad, not bad at all.

Take care George and thanks for the memories.

Ahhhh, the beauty of change.

NFL Confernece Power Rankings

Hello all. I wanted to write about the strength of schedules from all NFL conferences based on their opponents winning percentage from last year just to see how all of the current contenders are doing.

Here is a list as to the current power ratings by division:

AFC North: Toughest schedule based on last years opponents win loss record

Current leader: Steelers at 7-3

AFC South:

Current leader Titans at 10-0. Very impressive to say the least.

NFC North:

Current leader a tie between Da' Bears and the Packers each at 5-5

NFC East:

Current leader New York Football Giants at 9-1

NFC West:

Current leader Arizona Cardinals at 7-3

NFC South:

Current leader: Carolina Panthers at 8-2

AFC East:

Current leader New York Jets at 7-3

AFC West:

Current leader Denver Broncos at 6-4

What does this all mean? We shall see, but based on the numbers, the two teams in the Super Bowl should be......drum roll please.......

Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants

This would be a great game, but I am keeping an open mind for the Panthers and the Jets.

Ahhh....the beauty of the battles of the gridiron.

The BCS has one too many letters......

There is something that is so cathartic about watching a college football game. These young players are either playing to have a chance to make large money in the NFL or they are playing for the pure love of the game.

What could be the one thing that screws this perfect environment up? An imperfect system that determines which two schools play for the national championship.

I have a resolution to this mess that is fairly simple, as a matter of fact, I have two different submissions to my local newspaper (at the time) that states how we can put an end to the debacle that is the BCS.

Conference champions from the "Big 6" power conferences have an automatic bid to the playoffs. On top of that, the two best at large teams have the last two spots. What does that mean? The following conferences will be represented every year in the playoffs.

Big East, ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 10. There is a caveat with this scenario. The Pac 10 and the Big 10 have to grow up and have a conference championship game. The other two at large spots could be taken up by any other non BCS conference teams that are undefeated. At this point it would be Utah and Boise State that take these last two spots.

Rankings with regard to strength of schedule could factor into the seeding of the playoff teams. That is as far as a computer should come into the decision making process. The sites of the national championship game should change every year, as it currently does so that everyone around the country can have a chance to see a championship game.

If the playoffs were to start today, the teams in the tournament would be as follows:
Big 12 (Texas Tech/Missouri winner), Sec (Alabama/Florida winner), ACC (Wake Forest/Virginia Tech winner), Big East (Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner), Big 10 (Michigan St,/Penn St. winner), Pac 10 (Oregon State/USC winner), Boise State and Utah. Who gets left out? Ball State, currently ranked 14 in the country, but a really bad strength of schedule. Other potential obstacles? Notre Dame, Navy, Army and Western Kentucky do not currently have conference affiliations, they are independents. They too need to grow up and join a conference.

Please be advised that all of the games in parenthesis are conference championship games. They of course have to happen before final seedings would be determined.

If you have trouble following my suggestion, go ahead and go to http://www.rivlas.com/ and see what the current components are to the computer ranking system that accounts for 1/3 of the final BCS rankings. This will seem like a piece of cake.

Oh, just one last thing. The bowl system as it stands today would not be affected by this system. They can still have these games for the also-rans just like they do today.

Ahhh............ the beauty of all of the BCS computers hard drives crashing at the same time.

A time for change has come.

I know I know, this is a sports blog, but as I have stated earlier we can speak about whatever we want........so too bad.

I was impressed by the acceptance speech that President Elect Obama gave tonight. The coming days and months will determine whether we as a nation made the correct decision. This is not a question with regard to race, religion or any other pre-determined criteria, it is truly about the right person.

This country has may obstacles to face as one. I am hopeful that discretion will be the better part of valor, and that we can make it through these tough times and exalt in the good times when they are bestowed upon us.

We have been through so much crap recently, and I believe that as a whole we are a great country. The one and only thing I can ask for is that every time we may be hit in the mouth by some unforeseen foe that we smile in our opponents face and say is that all you've got?

God bless the United States of America and all of those that reside within it's borders.

NFL Mid Term Report Cards

When I was in college, I always hated getting my mid-term grades because I was either going to apply myself and get straight A's or say screw it and drink my face off. Considering I was an athlete in college, which one do you think I chose.


Luckily for me, all I had to do was remain eligible, unfortunately for some NFL players, the season/glass is only half empty.


1. Titans: Great defense, above average running game, and Kerry Collins is doing exactly what Roethlisberger did in his championship campaign, "Just don't cost us the game".


2: Giants: I can't see any let down from these guys at all. It looks as though Eli has figured out how to be a championship QB. The thorough beat down of the Cowboys is just the latest chapter in how the NFC was won.


3. Redskins: We have to see how they will perform over the second half of the season, but first year coach Jim Zorn has been pushing all the right buttons.


4. Panthers: I could have flipped the Panthers and the Redskins, there numbers are very similar. The one thing I know for sure is that Delhomme is back and looks good, and the defense likes to kick ass and take names. Oakland, Detroit and Atlanta are their next three games.... I wish I were a Panther.


5. Bucs: Between Garcia and the defense, the Bucs are in every game they play. What more could you ask from your guys?


6. Steelers: If this team had not been ravaged with injuries, they would be higher in the rankings for sure. To their credit, they are ranked this high. Next three games, Washington, Indy and San Diego. This could be the three games that sends them to the playoffs. Check that, one down two to go. If Roethlisberger's injury keeps him out, at least they have a competent back up. Unlike the hapless Cowboys.


7. Patriots: It won't be long before we can count these guys out of the playoff race. But as of right now, I have to rank them where I think they should be ranked. I wonder if the NFL will test for Geritol someday. The defense would all be suspended.


8. Cowboys: It almost hurt me to watch this game yesterday as much as it hurt the Cowjokes to play in it. They were manhandled, and then some, oh, and their starting QB was re-placed by a Jet QB has-been.


9. Bills: This is a very good team on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. They have run into a rough patch as of late. New England, Cleveland and Kansas City should make them healthy over the next three weeks.


10. Falcons: At 5-3, this team is overachieving thanks to a heady first year QB. Matt Ryan has been very good. The team's defense has been above average. New Orleans, Denver and Carolina are the next three games for them. If they can win two of them, they have a very outside shot at the playoffs. PLAYOFFS....DID I SAY PLAYOFFS?


11. Cardinals: They are in first place in the less than adequate NFC West, but 1st is still 1st. They are staring 10-6 right in the eyes. If they can get to that mark, they will win their division.


12. Jets: This team is 5-3, and I had previously mentioned that if in week 12 the Jets are 7-4 they will make the playoffs. I believe that to still be true.


13. Bears: The Bears survived a scare from the Lions today. It is my belief that if Rex Grossman is to be the QB for any extended amount of time, the team could be in trouble.


14. Ravens: I know the defense is getting up there in age, but they may just have one last playoff run in them.


15. Eagles: Will the real team please stand up? This team has potential. If the stay healthy, they can do damage for sure. I wish they had a little more depth at running back, but that is not a me problem.


16. Packers: A 4-4 record in the post Favre era. not bad, we will see how long this will last. I hope the Packers do not have to put a stop payment on Aaron Rodgers' new signing bonus check.


17. Broncos: What the heck is going on in the mile high city? 4-4 after eight weeks? Cleveland, Atlanta and Oakland over the next three weeks could keep them in the playoff hunt.


18. Colts: 4-4 record for one of the most prolific offenses ever known to man? Something smells fishy.


19. Vikings: If the Viking could play any kind of defense, they would have a chance to compete for the division title. Peterson is the real deal at RB.


20. Saints: I thought by this time, the Saints would be in a good position to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they have not been consistent enough on either side of the ball to make this a reality.



21. Dolphins: So far so good for the porcelain prince. He has stayed healthy, and the "wildcat" formation is working for them. Too bad the Super Bowl is not played on a sand lot.


22. Browns: Romeo.... Romeo, where for art thou Romeo. There may not be a team that is more poorly coached than the Browns.....oh wait....there is the Raiders.


23. Texans: With Schaub hurt for the next 2-4 weeks, I am not sure that the Texans can handle the upcoming schedule without needing to sign another QB. Oh, the games are Baltimore, Indy and Cleveland.


24. Jaguars: I am shocked at the Jags record thus far. I had them going to the Super Bowl. They do not seem to have that same swagger as they used to.


25. Chargers: The Chargers have just not been able to get on any kind of a roll since the early season bad calls by Ed Hochuli and other horrible refs.


26. Seahawks: What a shame for coach Holmgren. The guys over at Pike Place Fish Market are making more catches than his wide receivers.


27. Raiders: I thought about using much harsher words than the ones I am about to use, but I just said screw it. This team, ownership and organization just absolutely suck. If they were horses, they would be shot.


28. Rams: This team scares absolutely no one. Haslett seems pissed ever since his new contract has been nixed thanks to the Rooney rule. It is another year in last place for the Rams.


29. 49ers: See ya Mike Nolan. I told you to keep your suit pressed.


30. Chiefs: This team sucks, and I am not sure how much of it is due to Herm Edwards.


31. Bengals: Congrats to them on their first win. Philly, Pitt and Baltimore are their next three games. Please pay up your health insurance premiums.


32. Lions: I know that the Lions played well today. Many props to them but here are the next eight games. Jax, @Carolina, Bucs, Titans, Vikings, @Colts, Saints and Packers. Please tell me which one of these they are going to win.

We are at the half way mark of what has been a great season so far. The next update will be at the three quarter pole. We should have a better indication as to how the playoffs are going to shape up by then....or maybe not.

Has anyone seen my Bratwurst?????

Maple bats = major problems

I went to an Arizona Fall League game this past week, and I have to say that all of the talk of the dangers of the new maple bats that current and future major league players are using these days are a disaster waiting to happen.

I know that MLB is asking all bat manufacturing companies to have a quality assurance team look into ways to stop the bats from breaking so easily and if they do break, try to make the bats so that they do not become splintered wooden projectiles.

The last bat I counted that broke with some kind of problem to either a player or spectator was 11. That's correct 11 times a bat was shattered and either became a hazard to a player or a fan. This is completely unacceptable.

There was one instance where a player was jammed with an inside fastball that ate him up, he tried to swing anyway, and his bat was sawed in half, one part of the bat stayed in the players hand, the other half went into the stands. Thank goodness that on one was sitting in the chair that the bat struck. It made a resounding noise that was heard throughout the ball park. If a fan was sitting there, they could have been killed. That's right killed.

MLB has got to put a stop to this. They need to be proactive instead of reactive. It took the NHL a fatality of a young girl at a Columbus Blue Jacket's game to expand the screens around the ice in the "shot zone" for the problem to be corrected. There are many top round draft choices that play in this league, but as far as a parent is concerned, their child may be their only draft choice, and neither ignorance nor indifference is a plausible excuse for ignoring this major problem. To MLB....... fix the problem and fix it now!!!!

Ahhhhh.....the beauty of Oak