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I am a self proclaimed coffee addict and Executive Director of a non profit missions agency working primarily in the Mexican cities of Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Ensenada. I've been married for over 30 years to Chelle, and we have one grown son, Joseph, a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama.

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Tuesday, December 07, 2010

A Little Sports Potpourri

1. I miss Dandy Don. Early Monday Night Football announcer Don Meredith passed away yesterday. For all you folks who like watching football, I am not sure I can explain the importance of Don Meredith and his two buddies, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford to the sport.

They came along when football was just another game, along side basketball, and right after the baseball season. But Monday Night Football changed that. It was an event. It was appointment viewing, either at home or in a bar. Monday Night Football made the NFL and sports television what it is today.

If you go to sports bars to watch games these days, thank Don, and Howard, and Frank.

Rest in peace Don Meredith... and say hello to Howard.

2. Auburn vs. Oregon in the BCS Championship. I admit, I am conflicted about this. I grew up rooting for the Pacific 8/10 and have been a fan all of my life. But my son went to Auburn and I have come to love that school.

I have many friends who have attended Oregon, and a nephew who is also an Auburn grad, so picking a winner is going to be tough. But here is where I am.

I am taking Auburn in a lower scoring game than most people think. I think Auburn coach Gene Chizik is a better defensive coach than Oregon coach Chip Kelly, and defense wins championships. Sorry Gordon.

3. Adrian Gonzalez signs with the Red Sox. With apologies to my blogging friend Shaw over at Progressive Eruptions, this is another nail in the baseball coffin.

Following a trend that started when Curt Flood challenged the reserve clause of baseball, Gonzalez is the latest star to leave the team that gave him his start for more money. Is it any wonder kids have no allegiance to a specific team.

Except for a few rare exceptions, gone are the days when players were identified primarily with one team. Think Mays and the Giants, Ripkin and the Orioles, Koufax and the Dodgers, and now Jeter and the Yankees.

While good for the Red Sox, this was bad for baseball.

4. With apologies to Peyton Manning, Tom Brady is the man in the NFL. A winner and champion to me is someone who can elevate those around him to another level. Think Magic Johnson here. He came to a team that had all the parts and made them champions.

If you take Tom Brady off the Patriots, they are not the same team. They'd still be good, but not the dynasty they are on the verge of becoming. If this team wins the AFC and the Super Bowl this year, Brady just might replace Joe Montana in the eyes of many as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

5. A judge has ruled in favor of Jamie McCourt in the Dodger Divorce Duel. This potentially means that to settle their divorce, the McCourt family will have to sell the Dodgers.

I could only hope that maybe Magic Johnson might be interested. We could do a lot worse.

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Comments on "A Little Sports Potpourri"

 

Blogger Shaw Kenawe said ... (5:52 PM) : 

Dave,

I've complained about player allegiance forever and players who change teams like women change the color of their nails, but have been told by sports cognoscenti that I'm hopelessly old fashioned--that this is what reality is and gone are the days when a sports star is associated with a team.

There will be no more Ted Williamses for the Red Sox ever again.

 

Blogger btc said ... (8:45 AM) : 

"Brady is the man" is an understatement. Showing that he can thrive just as well without a top-notch receiver makes him a first-year entrant to the Hall.

Dandy Don was once on a King of the Hill episode. Classic.

Allegiance isn't what it used to be anywhere. But hey, greed is good.

Unless it snows in Glendale, I struggle to agree that Auburn-Oregon will not be a slugfest. Mind you, it would be fun if the final was 13-10.

 

Blogger Dave Miller said ... (9:21 AM) : 

Brian, I am a firm believer that at least one of those teams will figure out a way to stop the other defensively.

Let's remember Oregon was pretty well contained by Cal, a team Reno crushed.

AUburn also had a few low scoring affairs.
Chizik is, IMHO, a pretty good defensive mind.

We'll see.

Gordon of course disagrees, but I suspect he is blinded by homer partisanship.

 

Blogger Dave Miller said ... (9:22 AM) : 

Shaw, sadly, I suspect you are correct, although Luis Pujols of the St Louis Cardinals may prove us wrong...

 

Blogger BB-Idaho said ... (2:36 PM) : 

If having the worst uniforms in football is an indicator, Oregon are
dead 'Ducks'. :)

 

Blogger Dave Miller said ... (3:55 PM) : 

the beauty BB is that Oregon has about 5,236,000 different combinations of those uniforms...

 

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