Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together

Allstate BCS Championship Game. Yawn. Ho Hum. Who cares? Go Tigers. Sorry Buckeyes. The field goal kicking contest at halftime was the most entertaining part of the broadcast. And the truth is, I don't really care much about college football after New Years Day...but if the fans/gamblers really feel there has to be a National Champion, I say lets go back to the old system of issuing Bowl invitations, and then go ahead and have a eight-team January playoff based on the outcomes of the top eight-ranked traditional bowl games. You know, just a little something extra to extend the season and compete with the NFL. You win, John Feinstein. And God knows we need SOMETHING to watch on TV during the dead week before the Super Bowl.

Haven't blogged much about basketball here, simply because I haven't had much time to watch (and even less to play). But I did have a chance to see the Trailblazers beat the Bulls, and the Celtics beat the Pistons...both times with the winners playing on the road. Everyone wants to talk about how great the Celtics are playing, and about their big three stars of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen; but Saturday night it was #11 Glenn "Big Baby" Davis who was getting it done in crunch time. What I really liked was his strong left hand around the basket. And the way he hit the boards.

But it was my old hometown Trailblazers who really showed me something. Gotta love that Brandon Roy -- who'd a thunk that a WASHINGTON Huskey could have so much game? Nate MacMillian has the kids playing like veterans, just like Doc Rivers has his veterans playing like kids. Now I can hardly wait for a week from tomorrow, when these two teams meet in the Garden. Hope it turns out to be a barnburner....