LOW BAR by ST

As a rule, when I think of parity, the NFL comes to mind. With the salary cap, draft, player movement, scheduling built to make it tougher based on record and other factors, we see teams make leaps as far as quality from year to year. College football seems to have drawn alongside it's professional partner. I don't see a great team this season. Last year you had Florida with a tremendous offense and a lightning quick defense. The "D" is pretty much the same but they lost a ton of firepower with Percy Harvin getting drafted by the Vikings and Louis Murphy the 2nd leading receiver on the Raiders. They're struggling to put up points against questionable defenses like Arkansas and Mississippi State. They only scored 13 versus LSU and Tennessee kept them in check. Alabama can't throw the ball downfield and must also lean on a really good defense. Texas has no running game and barely escaped the Red River Shootout despite the fact they knocked Oklahoma's QB, Sam Bradford from the game. Boise State, TCU and Cincinnati play in weak conferences though they've taken care of business and won all their games. Iowa remains unbeaten, but can't be considered scary because they needed a last play TD to beat Michigan State last Saturday. The Spartans already have 4 losses including to a MAC team, Central Michigan. I hate to kick a dead horse, but how unreal would an 8 team playoff to decide the National Champ be a couple of months down the road?
I can barely contain my enthusiasm for this World Series. As mentioned on SportsTalk yesterday, the match-up seems dead even with both teams nearly a mirror image of each other. No other National League team can put a lineup out there, top to bottom like Philly. With Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez plus some bench guys and switch hitters like Jimmy Rollins they can match New York's thump from that side of the plate. Each team has that #1 pitcher who is rolling as CC Sabathia & Cliff Lee get set to square off in game one tomorrow night. Lot of national pickle heads chiming for one side or the other. I watch as much baseball as the next guy. This is a dead even series. The major Yankee edge lies with the game on the line. Brad Lidge is a riddle wrapped in an enigma(mini JFK movie reference). Best in the game last year. Couldn't get a Kidsports lineup out at times this season, but he's been solid in the playoffs. New York's patience at the plate will put him to the supreme test. The NY closer Mariano Rivera gets key outs by throwing strikes. Lidge needs hitters to swing at balls. This is why I give the Yanks a slight edge and think they'll win this thing back at The Stadium in 6 or 7 games.
Okay, I have a brand new Oregon hat and a $25 certificate for some free eats at Jung's Mongolian Grill out on West 11th in Eugene. E-mail the correct answer to get in the drawing. Winner announced at 5:20 on today's show.
Name the years we last had an American League team win back to back World Series that lasted the full 7 games. Good luck. Send your answer to stevetannen@live.com