Random Notes, 1/24/10

It’s been a wild 2010 for the sports world already, and we’re only in January. To give you perspective, I’ve been emailing myself topics for this, the first “Random Notes” segment, since the beginning of the month, and finally decided I needed to start on this before I forget… and it’s currently Friday, January 15th. So let’s take a quick look at an interesting sports landscape, shall we?

Oh, crap, our unofficial sponsor! We can’t have sports without a sponsor! Hmmm… let’s go with Dell. Dell – the computer I was typing on when I started this post and the maker of our plasma TV, which I am in love with. Yes, wife, you have competition. Okay, in no particular order, January in a very large nutshell.

- The wife and I flipped around to a couple of those “post New Year’s Day” bowls this year, including the Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. We shared the same thought… these games would have been a lot cooler on New Year’s Day. Hell, we were getting into Northwestern v. Auburn that day. For whatever reason, good matchups, like the Orange and Fiesta had, are just more fun on New Year’s. Why would you want to watch Iowa v. Georgia Tech AFTER Ohio St. v. Oregon? How does that make any sense? Like everything else, it’s about the money, but like we’ve alluded to in the past, the fans usually get screwed when it’s about the money. And until this BCS fiasco gets resolved, we are going to keep getting screwed.

- Speaking of sponsors and bowl games, the wife pointed out one of the best “blatantly shameless promotions” in quite awhile. During the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Fox put a camera on their camera guy who happened to be enjoying a snack of Tostitos chips and salsa during the commercial break. After seeing a bunch of different stats and halftime shows sponsored during that game, she also decided to make a game of “how many different things are sponsored” during the game. She started at halftime. She went to bed with about 5 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. Scoreboard: 4 different sponsors. For example, the first half stats were sponsored by Ford (go D, go!!!) We are kicking around making this a side game while watching major sporting events.

- The Mountain West Conference had quite the showing during the bowl season, going 4-1, with their only loss being TCU to Boise State. Rumors abound they may expand and make a push for an automatic BCS bid. The Big Ten may expand, too, though that’s a post for another day. Ummm, do you really think the big conferences are all of the sudden going to let them in on the cash cow that is the BCS? I still think the BCS needs a tournament to have a shot at respectability. A friend of mine argued the current system benefits the second tier conferences, and I couldn’t disagree more. His argument was that it gives them greater exposure as underdogs, and in a best case scenario, a one-time shot at a national title. He had a good point that they may win a one game playoff if they got into a BCS title game, and likely couldn’t beat 2-3 BCS conference teams in a row. But I think if there were a playoff, and they kept getting in, and kept winning against the big conference teams, which they have, then you can start recruiting better players under the guise of “you will play right away and we can win it all.” Many props to the Boise kids, by the way, who admitted they were not a top 2 team in the country. Good for them and their humility, but they still deserve a shot.

- Mike Leach at Texas Tech… wow. Had an interesting conversation with the wife’s uncle wondering if you could “plead out in exchange for testimony” in a civil suit, thinking the Texas Tech trainer would want to do something like that. Her cousin, who is in law school, informed us you can’t do that, but the trainer’s voluntarily offering the affidavit was probably his way of hoping the James’ family wouldn’t sue him, which she said they probably wouldn’t anyways cause he’s not worth it. I think it’s funny Leach beat them to the punch, suing the university for slander and libel, and most recently they have been ordered into mediation. Doesn’t it just seem like we’re going to be talking about this in a couple years, with the Bottom Line updates scrolling by on ESPN? And where is the suit from James and his family? With any luck, they are taking care of this out of Court, cause I’m sick of this story already. I really don’t have an opinion, other than I’m sick of players whining, sick of coaches thinking their gods, and I want this story to go away.

- Gilbert Arenas and the guns. Over the last couple weeks, he called it “a joke,” then said he was keeping them there to keep his kids safe (though apparently his children weren’t in danger until the third one was born), then Al Sharpton gets involved, and, and this is my favorite part, this is all apparently over a gambling debt. Ummm, Gilbert, you have a $100 million dollar plus contract! Just pay the guy, for God’s sake! Though someone made a good point on talk radio… getting paid 9 figures doesn’t make you any smarter. Well put. Looks like he’s gonna get some jail time, but between him and Plaxico, are these guys gonna learn to just hire a body guard and leave their guns at home? I’m all for the right to bear arms, mind you, but seriously, maybe we should be checking IQs along with background checks. This and the whole “athletes with DUIs” thing really gets me. Feel like you need a gun when you’re going out? Hire a body guard or three. Too drunk to drive? Call a limo. You guys have the cash, use it. Hell, if 90% of really drunk college kids can manage to find a cab, so can you.

- Time for a Logical Betting sports pop quiz. In yours truly’s humble opinion, the most unbreakable record in baseball, and for my money, in all of sports, is not the number 56, it’s the number 504. Most people think that DiMaggio’s 56 game hit streak won’t be touched, but I think someone will get there eventually. It’s at least theoretically attainable, whereas with the way baseball is played now, 504 is literally impossible. So my pop quiz question… what record is 504, and for a bonus point, who holds the record? Clue coming up, and answer at the end of the post.

- This has nothing to do with sports, but the Bachelor and the Bachelorette are THE WORST things on TV right now. Who in the hell thinks they are going to fall in love in a fantasy world, completely devoid from reality, in 6 weeks? And even if you were the one who got picked, how can you possibly be cool with your fiancée making out with another chick/guy 3 days before your proposal??? Gee, I have no idea why these relationships never work. The only one that made it is the one bachelorette who made it because she found a guy who literally would do anything she asked him. I can’t remember their names, and I absolutely refuse to Google that one. My advice: tell off a girl who is at the same formal event as you, but isn’t your date and you aren’t dating at all. She’ll come running. Trust me.

- Funny quote on Sportscenter after Lane Kiffin announced he was going to USC. The anchor, in a completely serious tone, goes “he probably shouldn’t set foot in the state of Tennessee again.” I would pay $20 to get USC to travel to Tennessee next year for a game, and I bet a lot of other fans would, too. Anyone want to set up that website, let’s make it happen!

- Pop Quiz clue: The person who holds the record has a major baseball award named after him. If you get the name, you’ll probably get the record, too.

- In “the Pope is Catholic” news, Mark McGwire announced he used steroids, though claimed it was for health reasons. I agree… his bank account was very healthy after he started using steroids. All these admissions are a joke, and barely get any attention since we all pretty much know who used at this point. By request of one of my best friend’s and his intriguing conversation about the topic the other day, we’re going to expand this into a full post in a few weeks. Similar to the Tiger Woods thing, he wondered who we would be shocked by if they admitted to steroids. My initial response was, “no one,” then we came up with Tim Lincecum, only cause he is so scrawny. Then again, Andy Pettite fessed to it, and he’s not that big. Remember, has to be a star power person to count as shocking for those who want to throw out suggestions. Much more on this to come, and hooah! to my buddy for the suggestion.

- In very sad news, the E Trade baby has been retired because “he has gotten too old.” That’s right, the boy who brought you “shank-a-potamus” will be hanging up the diapers. The ads are going to continue, but that kid was downright hysterical. Him and the Southwest bag commercials are the best ones out there. I’m really hoping Southwest is going to be doing Super Bowl ads. I love that one where the bags all leave, and all the workers are getting choked up. Classic. Speaking of Super Bowl ads, when are they gonna bring back the Bud Bowl? Haven’t seen that since Bud Light threw in the kitchen sink. That’s long overdue for a comeback. Speaking of the Super Bowl, I’m considering a live blog for that game, ala the running diaries of Bill Simmons on ESPN, pending the wife and my plans for the game. More details on that in the next week or two. Either way, we’ll have a Super Bowl breakdown next week for full analysis on why you should bet against my pick.

- In other “future post previews that no one really cares to know about, just get back to the sports” news, I’m also working on an inaugural podcast. Did a practice run after spending some time at the bar with our first “special guest,” during which I was accused of saying Philly fans want to be New York fans. Luckily, tape proved that, like typical Philly fans, the wife and my buddy heard something that didn’t exist and completely misinterpreted “Philly lives in the New York shadow because of the media.” Somehow, in their language that means, “Philly fans wish they were New York fans.” If you live in Philly, you’ll understand how they got there. If not, it’s another lesson for the rest of you in what it’s like to live in a very passionate and very unique sports town.

- Anyone notice the Olympics start up again in a few weeks? Me neither. The Winter Olympics never really did it for me, and don’t seem to for a lot of people. I think it’s the lack of marquee events and sports that regular people can complete in and/or used to play when they were younger, e.g., basketball, track and field. People put their kids in gymnastics, but not in figure skating. A lot of people ski, but no one really competes like they do in the Olympics. I really only watch the hockey and speed skating, which is kind of like a poor man’s version of track. I read somewhere NBC is going to lose something like 200M on the Winter Olympics. Not good for a struggling network, especially when just paid Conan 45M to leave.

- I went 4-4 on picks in the first two rounds of the NFL, but 1-7 against the spread. Really hope you gamblers out there took my advice and bet against me. The Jets are like that team that just won’t die. And is it me, or would the media realize that Mark Sanchez is not a good quarterback if he was anywhere but New York? I mean, when is 12-25 for 100 yards “leading your team to victory?” Give me a freaking break. They are winning despite him. Hell, I can turn and hand the ball off 40 times, then run playaction and throw to a wide open tight end. Anyways, I’m going back to what worked earlier this year and going with the favorites, so give me the Colts -7.5 and Saints -3.5. In other words, it’s gonna be a Jets/Vikings Super Bowl.

- Hope you all saw the video of Jose Offerman punching out an umpire in the Dominican Winter League, then getting an immediate lifetime ban. Here is the link to the video in case you missed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu4-p_OjzfY.

A lot of you are probably wondering who the hell Jose Offerman is, so to clear that up, he is a former major leaguer and All Star who was managing in the Dominican Republic until he decked an umpire in the face. I wish MLB would adopt that type of justice system. Video says guilty, peace out. Here, they would review the video for about 6 months, then have a meeting about his suspension, then suspend him, then he would appeal, then they would have meetings about that, then they would reduce the suspension and pay him while he was out. What would happen if MLB decided to go “swift justice” on steroids? You use, you’re out. Hmmmm… more for the future steroids post.

- And finally, Tiger Woods has checked himself into a sex rehab clinic. For those who know me, you likely know what I do for a living, and I can confirm that sex addiction is legit and not a bulls**t excuse for sleeping around. Whether Tiger actually has it and is not doing what every other celebrity does when they get in trouble and getting a sudden case of addiction to get out of the lime light… that, I have no idea. Either way, I hope he gets the help he needs and hope he’s back for the Masters. I’m sure many of the “patrons” (read: rich white people with money older than this country in their trust funds) can relate to Tiger’s “addiction” with some of their “administrative assistants.” Anyone have any more names for the “shocked if they cheated” athlete list? I’m still stuck at Jerome Bettis and anyone who fits into the Tim Tebow/Kurt Warner/Jesus category. Roger Clemens? He’s a steroid guy, but he seems like a pretty big family guy. Nahhh, I wouldn’t be shocked. That’s a tough list to make, man.

Pop Quiz answer: Cy Young’s 504 career wins are tops among all MLB pitchers. The next closest is Walter Johnson, who had 417. To put this in perspective, Cy Young pitched in 906 career games, with 815 starts and 749 complete games. Greg Maddux is the leader in the modern era with 355 career wins in 740 starts, or 9 FEWER STARTS than Cy Young’s total COMPLETE games. Wow. Nowadays, guys are lucky to get in 34 starts in a year, and a really good year is 15-18 wins. If you get an untouchable pitcher (Steven Strausberg?) on a winning dynasty who gets 18 wins a year, he would need to keep up that pace for approximately 28 straight seasons without injury. I’ll bet my life savings and take someone breaking 56 against yours and someone breaking 504 any day.

Thank you all again for the comments, feedback, and forwarding on the blog. Keep it coming and keep forwarding it on. For those who don’t know me, you can reach me at logicalbetting@hotmail.com for your comments, feedback, and suggestions for future posts. Enjoy the games today, check in with you all soon.