Feb 8 - Rivalry Week

Is anything more transparent then ESPN's promotion of its "rivalry week"? Basically, it consists of one legitimate rivalry and a bunch of pseudo rivalries. On ESPN's website, they have the gaul of promoting Kansas- KSU as some kind of big game. Since when is this a big game? These two teams did meet once in an NCAA regional final (Manning over Mitch Richmond at the Silverdome), but that was back in 1988. The last time there was a meaningful intra-state fight within the borders of Kansas was in 1856-60 when the abolitionists and the confederates were killing each other over the issue of slavery expansion. ESPN is also pushing tonight's BC-Notre Dame game as some kind of rivalry. Say what? While there is some history between these two schools on the gridiron, there is absolutely no history on the basketball court. Tonights game could bring BC's winning streak to an end, but this isnt exactly the Hatfields and the McCoys. I can't recall a single meaningful game between these two schools. What else is on tap? How bout Memphis and Louisville. Since when is Memphis a rival of Louisville? They played some big games in the early 80's when Keith Lee, William Bedford and Andre Turner were going up against the likes of Rodney McCray, Milt Wagner and Pervis Ellison, but this hardly rises to the level of Louisville-Kentucky or Louisville-Indiana. ESPN has to calm down its marketing machine. Duke and UNC is a rivalry, but spare us the glamourization of these rather ordinary matchups.

So Rafael Palmeiro is vigorously defending his reputation from accusations that he abused steroids. Let me get this straight. One of the major side effects from anabolic steroid abuse is erectile dysfunction. Palmeiro just happens to be the pitchman for Pfizer's erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra. Hmmmmmmm. Palmeiro's record jsut smacks of suscpicion. In 1988, at the age of 25 and after playing for a few years at the major league level, Palmeiro slugged a grand total of 8 home runs in almost 600 at bats. The next year - 1989 - he was dealt to Texas and put up similar numbers. Over the next few years, we saw an increase in Raf's power numbers but then his numbers explode in 1993, which coincidently is when balls start flying out of MLB parks at an alarming rate. This guy has 550 home runs and he has an outside shot at 600. And with 80 hits this year, Palmeiro goes through 3000. What do the Hall of Fame selectors do with this guy? 600 is 600 and 3000 is 3000. They let Eddie Murray in with far less. Palmeiro has been a big producer but how much assistance was he getting. He's only been an all-star four times, he has one top-5 MVP vote and is a .244 post-season hitter. In my mind, Palmeiro has been a consistent offensive force in an offensive era. But he has compiled and not dominated. There was never a point in his career that Palmeiro was considered one of the ten best players in baseball let alone the best. If I had a vote, its a NO!

So Denny Neagle has now signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay. Boy, this guy has had a bad year. First he gets nabbed soliciitng a prostitute. As a result, the Colorado Rockies voided the balance of his contract. The club owes Neagle almost 20 million dollars and an arbitrator will decide in April whether Neagle is still owed this money. Now he ends up in baseball purgatory. John Kerry has had a better year then old Denny.

So Randy Moss is on the block. If I am Brian Billick, I make this happen. The Ravens have jsut about the worst receiving corps in the NFL with Travis Taylor and Randy Hymes and they need a major upgrade. Granted, wide receiver is probably the easiest spot on the field to fill, but Moss is a special player. Plus, Quarterback Kyle Boller has proven accuracy is not his strong suit and this is where Moss can help since he has shown an ability to go get "jump balls." If the cost is a first round pick and a solid defrensive starter, Baltimore should pull the trigger. Baltimore was last in the NFL in passing last year and not even Baltimore's stout defense can carry an offense that can't move the ball down the field. Raven GM Ozzie Newsome has thus far denied any conversations with the Vikings on this matter, but the Ravens better not sit of their ass - the skins have shown interest with Lavar Arrington and the Raiders are also rumoured to be interested and could offer up disgrunteled DB Phil Buchanon.

How bout Donovan McNabb's comments after the Super Bowl the other night? The grounded eagle stressed that Philly had had a wonderful year, especially since no one expected them to get to the Super Bowl. Say what? They were the odds on favorite to win the NFC from day one. McNabb took some hard hits in that game and perhaps his remarks can be explained by a concussion. Staying on McNAbb, local radio guys are taking him to task for his woeful performance, but the apologists at ESPN remain staunch defenders. Lets be honest, McNabb is no bum, but he took a step back.

UCONN got a big win last night at the Carrier Dome and they seem to have brushed off a sluggish January. They were helped last night by a horrible Gerry McNamara who missed everything in sight. It was a tough loss for the Orange who now find themselves two back off BC in the race for the conference crown. The Big East is shaping up as an interesting chase for NCAA bids. Clearly BC and Syracuse have spots and UCONN is now safe. That leaves about five teams competing for two or three spots. Nova will be helped by that big win over Kansas. Pitt has some real good wins, but that non-con schedule certainly won't win them any points. Tonight is huge for Notre Dame. They are 13-6 with 8 to go and could really use a win over a big team like BC. Given the stakes, I am picking the Irish at home tonight.

I lost a bet this morning when Zydrunas Ilgauskas was named to the all-star game. Since when does 16 and 8 merit an all-star appearance. I guess it does when you are a center in the center-challenged Eastern Conference. Brad Miller, who has been huge of late, seems to be one the bigger oversights this year. He has similar numbers as Ilgauskas, but it seems Amare got his spot. I can't believe Dan Dickau got left off the team again.