HAPPY BUT DUH! by ST

The word just came down that LeMichael James will return to play for the Ducks next season. Awesome news. Not even 1% surprising. That's right, I've harped for weeks that he's coming back because leaving to become a 3rd or 4th round NFL pick with their hovering labor issues is pretty much stupid and LMJ is obviously a wise young man. I'm as big a fan of #21 as the next guy, but being an NFL junkie he's not a lock to get a lot of playing time at the next level. He would be the lightest feature back by about 10 pounds. In order to become a viable pro threat I believe LeMike will have to put his pass catching talents on display and maybe show he can return punts or kicks. Pleased he'll be a part of the backfield seeking a Pac 10 three-peat but I truly never doubted it.
How about the Black Knights of the Hudson winning their first bowl in a quarter century taking down SMU 16-14. Army runs it, alot. Their quarterback Trent Steelman put it up 6 times with 1 completion the first 58 minutes and 12 seconds of the game. On 3rd and 4 he connected with David Brooks to ice the thing and end in victory formation. Gotta see some irony in one of the rare, true scholar/athlete football programs representing the U.S Military Academy beating the one program we've seen hit with the Death Penalty during this generation. Talk about a contrast! It's a beautiful thing, and more importantly, made my dad happy. He called me here at the station the minute the game ended.
We'll be talking Blazers on the program today at 5pm with Jason Quick of the Oregonian, plus your continued memories of Mac Court as well as our usual m/o.

MINIMALLY CLOTHED EMPEROR by ST

I really wish a politician or any public figure would just come out and say it. Once! Is the truth really that hard? Does it allow for that life altering moment when we peek behind the curtain and things just ain't the same from that point forward? The NCAA is claiming, via it's website, that no favoritism was played in allowing Cam Newton to play for Auburn as well as the merry pranksters at Ohio State. My kingdom for a polygraph machine and international TV audience. On Crunchtime/Sportstalk today we hook these clowns up and ask the questions. So if 5 Florida International players were discovered to have sold their gear in violation of NCAA rules they would have played against Toledo in the Little Caesar's Bowl? You can't tell, but I just fell out of my chair laughing and had to dust off the shirt and refill my doggies water bowl after that. Why can't someone in authority just say they think we're morons, will do and follow what ever they put in front of us and have zero respect for what fans prefer or think. It's the truth, like it or not.
Found myself in hysterics over the new lead story on ESPN's site(it's 11am). Brett Farve has been hit with a 50K fine for failure to cooperate in the texting investigation. This is completely surprising. He's usually so in tune with what other's want and not at all self absorbed. Same goofball who has to have coaches and players literally fly to where he is and pretty much physically take him from Mississippi each summer to football camp. Brett Farve is the reason legal eagles can issue subpoenas. You might not want to come to our hearing, but the law says you must. Curious to see how many of you think he's actually tainted his legacy. Guy has stones the size of Autzen, never misses a game, yet many view him as a diva or drama queen. How odd is that?
Want to thank the Vikings for last night's performance and victory over the Eagles. Minny interim coach Leslie Frazier and his defensive people concocted a sweet design to limit the Philly rush, keep the dog killer in the pocket and clamp down with incredible effectiveness. They held the Iggle offense to just one TD over the games final 3 1/2 quarters. Lot of corner blitzes, at times they went after #7 up the gut, but he was spied and contained most of the night. So if the Bears win at Lambeau on Sunday they grab that NFC #2 seed and bye. Beyond my obvious desire to see the idiot Jets make a Super Bowl run, my second choice is to NOT have Philadelphia have success. Not sure I can stomach that swine celebrating the ultimate accomplishment in pro football. I will declare myself a huge fan of the "other" 5 NFC playoff teams.

STANDING CORRECTED by ST

Don't you hate when someone puts their brain on hold and fires off some idea that turns out to be pretty idiotic at the core. I enter a guilty plea when it comes to this whole business about postponing the Sunday NFL game between the Vikings and Eagles at Philly. I felt the PA gov was dead on pointing out what a wussified decision it was over a mere snowstorm. Turns out the weather was beyond severe and with the airport canceling flights left and right the situation would have graduated into a logistical nightmare and flat out been unsafe for fellow citizens. With the dust and snow settled, now we have an NFL game on a Tuesday night which is pretty cool. Go Minny!
How about Seton Hall hooper Jeremy Hazell surviving getting shot Christmas Night? Was heading into where he lives when 4 muggers approached him and threatened to shoot him if he didn't sit down. He took off running, and of the 4 shots fired in his direction, one found the mark. Fortunately it was a through and through, he flagged down an ambulance and is okay. Might miss the rest of the season, but that seems insignificant now.
Following the disastrous ending at Golden State on Saturday night, the Blazers showed some nice resolve in winning at Salt Lake City, always a difficult facility for a road team to emerge victorious in. LeMarcus Aldridge continues to step up as THEE guy with Brandon Roy out. Had a tremendous 4th quarter on both ends of the floor. Another solid all around game for Andre Miller who in college helped Utah make it all the way to the NCAA title game falling to Kentucky. He scored 17 points, dished out 6 assists and added 3 steals. Portland avoided falling below the .500 mark and face another tough test at Denver this evening, a 6 o'clock tip off.
All week long on Crunchtime/Sportstalk we will continue to share memories of Mac Court as the games at the legendary Pit wind down to a precious few.

FOOTBALL = WEATHER by ST

As I got my Sunday rolling and flipped on the radio, one of the first things I heard was possibly postponing Vikings/Eagles because of snow. Really? Didn't see that possibility in the Northeast in late December? Knowing the Philly fans whose beloved "Iggles" are in the hunt, they'd hire Nanook of the North to make it to the Link for this game. Not to mention they have a terrific public transportation system(SEPTA-South East Pennsylvania Transit Authority) having used it quite frequently my 2 years there. Are you telling me the circumstances from a fan danger point of view wasn't more severe in Minnesota last week when the game switched from indoors to outdoors? Really odd.
Anyone else find the 5 Buckeye players getting suspended for about 40% of the season for making a few hundred dollars out of balance considering we're pretty much convinced Cam Newton & his family sold his services for 180 grand? I'm actually happy he's playing to avoid the immediate taint clouding the BCS title game, but at the same time I can't imagine this ends without Auburn having the 2010 season erased for using an ineligible player!
I'm with Chip Kelly, I don't buy into "messages", but the effort and result on Xmas day with the Heat torching the Lakers at LA was audible. I'm mentioned before my hope that Miami makes a legit NBA Championship run for all those goofballs who went so far overboard in their hatred of LeBron James. He certainly misfired on "the decision", but made one of the most pathetic, loser pro franchises relevant and was leaving because Cleveland is not a dream destination. Played out his contract and left as a free agent. Stop the presses.
The Oregon men hoopers begin Pac 10 play on Thursday and the visit from the Arizona schools represents the final 2 games in program history at Mac Court. Wow! Even seems odd seeing it written.

THAT'LL LEARN YA by ST

So the NCAA has suspended 5 Buckeyes including Terrelle Pryor and one of his top weapons, Devier Posey for the first five games of the 2011 season. Hmm. If only there was a way to dole out a severe, message sending punishment this season, like an upcoming major bowl game. The decision was handed down from the NCAA, not thee Ohio State University. My guess is coach Jim Tressell or AD Gene Smith could have insisted the goofballs sit for the Sugar Bowl, but decided against it. What a joke! How much cash you want to lay down Pryor & Posey simply enter the NFL draft and side step the entire issue. Pryor is on the hook for the $2500 or so he got from selling stuff like his 2008 Big 10 Championship ring. Also nabbed for receiving improper benefits, leading rusher Dan Herron, starting left tackle Mike Adams and a key D-Line rotation guy in Solomon Thomas. Think having them sit would impact the game against Arkansas on January 1st??
It was a sweat-out, but I gave you Boise State laying the 17 in last night's Vegas Bowl. The interesting aspect of betting these games is you view the scoreboard differently than the average fan. I'm thinking at 26-3 when Utah got the ball back on their own 44 with 8:49 left that BSU is going max prevent. That added up to a gimme, meaningless TD, what my buddies and I refer to as "the late cheapie" to make it 26-10 sticking it to us by a point. When Terrence Cain was stuffed on a 4th down play, jubilation rang out in the Tannen household. Amazing how happy you can get over 50-bucks!
No question we're going list crazy on today's programming. My favorite stories, people and moments of 2010. Have a Merry Christmas!

TOUGH NIGHTS AHEAD by ST

Tough loss at home for Oregon last night(Tue). It's important to remain optimistic with a new regime running the show but it was Idaho. I'd cite a loss to Portland during the Elite 8 run of 2002, but I don't think that's an accurate comparison. This is simply not a very good shooting team and obviously they lack the size inside to overcome that by hammering the rock down low for higher percentage shots. I'd say with the coaching, the effort and just as key, the apparent coachability of the current roster a complete disaster can be averted. That said, there will be some rough stretches as Pac 10 play begins after a break a week from Thursday at The Pit against Arizona. I figured the Ducks were a lock for last in league. Then I saw how much Oregon State has struggled. When USC lost to Rider early in the year I thought the Trojans were vulnerable but they've posted rock solid wins versus ranked teams(Texas & Tennessee) and nearly knocked off then #3 Kansas. Stanford isn't great but they tore apart the same Virginia team who dusted Oregon without their best player by 21. Plus the Cardinal can throw out a pretty big front line. The jury is out on Cal. They posted a nice win against #20 Temple in game 3 and we'll learn more about them tonight when they host Kansas. Washington is really strong, the Cougs buried Idaho, took out Gonzaga and have just one loss, by 5 to that excellent Kansas State team. Sean Miller has Arizona on the rise with a stud sophomore Derrick Williams and a 10 man rotation. ASU is tough to get a read on as they've beaten no one and have lost to each major conference team they've played like Baylor & St. Johns as well as a 9 & 1 New Mexico team plus a home loss to Richmond. I'm thinking the Ducks might scratch out an 8th place finish at best. That final game at Mac Court, Arizona State on New Year's Day could be a key in setting the tone for their Pac 10 season.
I know some of these pre-Christmas Bowl Games are hard to get pumped for but last night's Louisville win over Southern Miss was pretty entertaining with the Cardinals taking it 31-28. You've got to love the oddsmakers. Had UL a 2 1/2 point favorite with the over/under at 60! This is why they build all those nice places in Vegas. I think Boise State will ruin Utah tonight. I'm saying lay every one of those 17 points. I do not buy into the theory the Broncos are disappointed from missing out on a major after that heartbreaking loss to Nevada. If they were playing a lesser program, maybe, but the Utes are joining the Pac 10 and you just sense Chris Peterson views this as another proving ground. It's the final game for those 2 terrific senior wide outs Austin Pettis and Titus Young along with all purpose performer Jeremy Avery. Plus I think BSU's defense will do well against the talented but erratic Ute QB Jordan Wynn.

WANTED: LARGER MANTLE by ST

Chip Kelly had a really nice career designing offenses for New Hampshire. Now he's operating at a whole new level. He's going to need a bunch more space on that mantle in the den for all the hardware he's accumulating since the Civil War put the Ducks in the BCS title game. The latest trophy will read "AP Coach of the Year". Too many to mention, but that really cool looking crystal bowl would make a lovely addition to the Casanova case. Kelly won relatively convincingly in this latest vote garnering 24 of the 55 first place votes. His Auburn counterpart, Gene Chizik was second with 17. Well done!
In case you didn't think Brett Farve got more than his share of coverage, the Bears won the game, clinched the NFC North yet the headline on ESPN was also a share. Bears win division, knock out Farve.
Another NFL story had a goofy intro. "McNabb feels disrespected by benching". Duh! Was he supposed to read getting dropped behind Rex Grossman as a vote of confidence? I'm all for talking things through, but this deal with every guy going on radio and sharing their "feelings" is getting to be a bit of a turn off. Man up, you stunk and got benched. End of conversation!
Duck men get back to work tonight at the Pit versus Idaho. The Vandals have had some awful moments this season bottoming out with a 75-33 loss at Montana. They've already made one venture into Pac 10 country getting dusted 88-71 at Pullman. Like Oregon, they're not very deep. For historians, this is the final non-league men's basketball game at Mac Court. Wow!