Buckeye Faithful Hangs on Pryor

You can’t be a Buckeyes fan without walking around with expectations as grand as that canyon in Arizona, even while they're staring at a mountain of evidence to the contrary. For what do people who shed Scarlet and Gray tears expect this season -- a National Championship?

That is, of course, what the faithful expect; it is always so at Ohio State.

They share the same inflated dreams as men and women who root for Florida, Southern Cal, Texas, LSU or any of the other college football powerhouses. It’s BSC title or bust, which explains why OSU fans -- and even sportscasters -- are so hard on Terrelle Pryor.

(Continue to Justice Is Served)

What Trap? Tide Will Roll Again

Alabama running back Mark Ingram

Even though No. 2 Alabama is at home Saturday night against No. 22 South Carolina, I have been wondering whether this a trap game for the Crimson Tide.

Coming off their 22-3 domination of Ole Miss last week and before Coach Lane Kiffin brings the hated Tennessee Vols to Tuscaloosa next week, the Gamecocks (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) could be catching the Tide (6-0, 3-0) at the right time.

On the other hand, Alabama appears to be a team on a mission and have too many marquee players who love playing football too much to have a letdown, such as quarterback Greg McElroy, running back Mark Ingram, linebacker Rolando McClain and cornerback Javier Arenas.

(Continue to Rue's Rant)

Fat Charlie's Last Chance?

Much has been made about Saturday's game being Charlie Weis' best chance to beat USC since the Bush Push Classic in 2005. The Irish, mired in a seven-year futility against the Trojans, might not get a better shot anytime soon if they don't somehow pull it off this year.

The game is at home - they can let the grass grow. The Trojans have a freshman quarterback and a sputtering offense. Jimmy Clausen is a true Heisman candidate and can't wait to finally pick apart the USC defense.

It all sounds nice and interesting. But it's all hype.

The Irish ain't gonna beat the Trojans. Not now. Not next year. Not anytime soon.

(Continue to BCS Guru)

KU Football, Hoops Battle Again

First it was fisticuffs, now it's The Phog.

They aren't actually fighting, but the Kansas football team is once again in direct competition with the basketball squad.

With the official start to the NCAA basketball season underway at midnight Saturday morning, the KU football team is now fighting for the spotlight with the basketball squad.

(Continue to Inside Jayhawk Nation)

Yankees Dump Irish Tenor

So this morning as I was shuffling about corralling the coffee pot, a few eggs and some sausage in hopes of putting together some sort of decent breakfast, I was mistreated to a small-minded talker on the radio drone on and on about the wrong that was administered to radio's biggest talker, Rush Limbaugh, and the poor man's failed attempt to gain ownership of the St. Louis Rams.

This little wizard of the airways implied that because there were NFL owners whose views allegedly bent farther to the right than Limbaugh's, what happened to poor Rush was simply some kind of awful double standard. In fairness, in recent days, I've either heard or read this misguided nonsense from other folks beside the little talker.

Ugh.

(Continue to The Grill Room)

Kopitar and Kings on the Rise

Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (photo left) and his teammates may not have been able to celebrate the last two nights following road losses to the Rangers and Red Wings, but there already has been---and will be---plenty to celebrate this season for one of the league's youngest and most exciting teams.

The Kings are 4-3-0 to start the season, but the somewhat-unexciting record should not overshadow the good things taking place with the Kings. They are a gifted offensive team, backstopped by an emerging young goaltender in Jonathan Quick, and with a strong defense featuring a nice blend of veterans---headed by 38 year-old Sean O'Donnell and Stanley Cup winner Rob Scuderi---and youngsters---including the talented threesome of Drew Doughty (19), Davis Drewiske (24), and Jack Johnson (22).

(Continue to Jim Cerny's Rink Rap)

What's Up with Albert Pujols?

Memo to Cardinal fans. Take a deep breath. It's going to be okay.

Albert Pujols apparently stirred some controversy this week when he said that he wasn't concerned about a contract extension with St. Louis. There are also questions about his troubled elbow.

St. Louis media are also upset that Albert wouldn't talk to them following the division playoffs.

For what it's worth, here's my take on Pujols' situation.

(Continue to Paul's Redbird Report)

UFC Coming Down Under in 2010

In continuation with its plans for taking the sport of Mixed-Martial Arts (MMA) global according to UFC president Dana White, recent reports indicate that the Ultimate Fighting Championship will indeed be going to the land down under in early 2010.

According to The Sydney Herald, a future event will be held at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia as soon as perhaps February 2010.

(Continue to Fighter's Corner)

It's CC's Time to Grab Glory

The Bronx in October, baseball under the lights tonight. The Yankees had been here countless times over the decades. It was on these nights, in this month and in this part of New York City where Yankee legends are made.

Think Jeter and Williams. Mantle and Maris. Or the Babe and Gehrig. Does anybody believe Reggie Jackson would be revered today as "Mr. October" if he had played for the Cubs?

No Major Leaguer puts on those white Yankee pinstripes without expecting to win championships somewhere along the way.

(Continue to Justice Is Served)

Bearcats, Thursdays Cruel to Bulls

Thursday, Thursday, can't trust that day....
Thursday, Thursday, sometimes it just turns out that way....

(with apologies to the Mamas and Papas)

It was all there for the South Florida Bulls Thursday night.

They had the home crowd of nearly 64,000 that they were hoping for.

They had a defense that appeared determined to put the clamps on Cincinnati's all-star quarterback, Tony Pike.

They got off to a great start.

Then it all went south, like it has on other October Thursdays.

(Continue to Running with the Bulls)

Coaching Suits Hoyas Great Williams

You think of Georgetown Hoya basketball and you think of the coach, John Thompson, and Ewing, Mourning, Iverson and Mutombo. And you think more, and there is Sleepy Floyd, Craig Shelton, Freddie Brown and Mike Sweetney.

Then stop and think even more and your thoughts settle on Reggie Williams. Call Reggie Williams the "forgettable" Hoya great.

As personalities, Patrick Ewing offered that ever-embracing smile, Alonzo Mourning the beat-down toughness, Allen Iverson the homeboy defiance and Dikembe Mutombo the earnest dignity. Williams was just a back-of-the-room quiet and unassuming kid from Baltimore who spoke loudest in big games on the court. Lest we forget, it was none other than Reggie Williams who sparked the Hoyas to their only NCAA basketball national title 25 years ago.

(Continue to DMA 7-22 Sports)

Young Avs NHL's Biggest Surprise

So what's the deal with this young bunch of Colorado Avalanche?

Who would have thought these guys would be 5-1-1 through the season's first seven games, with a 3-1-1 record in the first five games of what could have been a disastrous seven-game road trip?

Not me, and probably not anybody else, either.

The Avalanche was coming off a last-place finish in the Western Conference; team president Pierre Lacroix fired just about everybody in the front office and coaching staff; longtime captain Joe Sakic retired; and co-scoring leader Ryan Smyth was dispatched to Los Angeles.

So much for expectations.

(Continue to Through the 5 Hole)

Wang, Lighthouse Still On

Charles Wang has not made up his mind yet - as many expected would be the case after Nassau County abused the October 3 deadline he set for the Lighthouse Project.

He released a statement yesterday that explained his current situation with the project. The statement came as a result from an article that appeared in the less than glamorous Long Island Press about Wang's plan to abandon the project altogether.

“Yesterday’s report on the Lighthouse Project which appeared in the Long Island Press is untrue. There are no plans to abandon this project which is so vital to the future of Nassau County and Long Island as a whole," he said. "As far as the status of the Lighthouse project, we have submitted to The Town of Hempstead and Supervisor Kate Murray all the studies and required documents. A lease has been negotiated. Supervisor Murray and the Town Board need to make a decision on the zoning.

(Continue to Thin Ice)

Keenan Debuts on Rangers Radio

As you can well expect I am fired up to host the brand-new weekly podcast talk program, Rangers Radio, over at NewYorkRangers.com.

While I love serving as the beat writer for the team's official site, broadcasting is still very much in my bones. So the chance to chat Rangers hockey with my co-host Steven Gelbs, while also interviewing current and former members of the organization, and answering the fans e-mail questions, is going to be a lot of fun, plain and simple.

And we have a very special guest for the first show, former Rangers (and Flyers...and Blues...and Panthers...and Bruins...and Flames...and, well you get the idea) head coach Mike Keenan. Expect Keenan to look back at the magical 1993-94 season (it's already been 15 years...incredible!), while also analyzing the current state of the Rangers in his new role as guest hockey analyst for The MSG Network.

(Continue to Jim Cerny's Rink Rap)

Redskins Alums Missing Real Target

There was a time when the Washington Redskins actually went about their business on and off the field in a classy, dignified manner, and expected to compete for championships year in and year out. They were a model organization that did things the right way, even if they represented a city that has so often had it wrong.

I guess, then, it's mighty decent of these current Redskins to lower themselves several notches, so they no longer stand out in Washington's sea of dysfunction.

The new version of the Redskins wouldn't know class if they were handed the book. They are run by a maniacal little creep of an owner, Dan Snyder (pictured), whose wise-guy smirk has become the face of the organization.

(Continue to The Grill Room)