Here's the text of commentaries heard regularly on ESPNRadio:
Fowler: The challenge
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris Fowler (morning): "What's the biggest challenge for a college football coach these days? I know there are a lot of them, but according to Chuck Amato of N.C. State, it's getting players to avoid the dreaded look-ahead to a bigger game -- just getting them to focus week to week. You see it -- upsets every week -- because players believe they can just 'chill out,' in the words of Amato, and coast on to bigger and better games. You know what? In the old days players only knew about opponents what their coaches told them. Nowadays, with so many games on TV, highlights everywhere, Internet, talk shows and newspapers, players know a lot more than they used to. It's hard to fool them into thinking each opponent is a strong one. Then again, with talent spread so thin, you'd better get used to this. Mental factors will decide more games than ever before. And all those teams that think they can just 'chill out' and wait for a bigger and better game, guess what? Those are the teams that are ripe for upsets."
Smith: Drama increases in Bryant case
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith from Eagle, Colo. (morning): "Kobe Bryant's first appearance in Colorado District Court was short and routine, but a significant message was delivered when the family of the woman accusing him of rape showed up and sat quietly in the front row of the courtroom, directly behind the district attorney. Their daughter and sister's reputation took a harsh beating a month ago at the hands of defense attorney Pamela Mackey, who finagled her way around the Colorado rape shield law by suggesting the woman's injuries could have been caused by sex with three different people on three straight days. She also was able to reveal that semen from someone other than Bryant was found on her panties. Admittedly, Bryant didn't hire Mackey to play fair, but when the alleged victim's father, mother, two brothers and a cousin walked into the courtroom, it was an emotional moment that signaled that they aren't afraid of Mackey's tactics or to confront the man they obviously believe is guilty."
Extra Point -- Chris Fowler (afternoon): "Un-American is how some senators have termed the BCS lately. Does that make outsider TCU America's team? Well, the timing could not be more ironic. There are the Horned Frogs at No. 6, just in the spot they have to be on Selection Sunday to guarantee an at-large bid. But, in championing the non-BCS cause this year, they might actually be hurting the non-BCS cause long term, and proving the point to the BCS big wigs who say, 'Yeah, sure our system is open to a non-BCS conference, as long as the team is good enough'. But here's the rub, I don't think TCU can stay at number six, meaning their spot would not be guaranteed, but would have to be at the discretion of one of the BCS bowls. You tell me TCU's more attractive than, say, Ohio State, Texas, or Washington State? Definitely not. One of those bowls might be have to asked to take one for the team, or, rather, for the big picture."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "First place in the Big 12 North is on the line tomorrow when Kansas State and Nebraska tee it up here at Memorial Stadium. History certainly favors the Huskers, who haven't lost a home game to K-State since the days of Lynn Dickey in 1968. But as long as Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles are on the field, the Wildcats will have a chance against the 'Black Shirts.' Tomorrow's winner will be guaranteed a share of the division title and, in all likelihood, a trip to Kansas City for the conference championship game on Dec. 6. That's the good news. The bad news is that, also in all likelihood, the Oklahoma Sooners will be awaiting them. They've been spared so far on this year's schedule and won't draw the Sooners without winning here tomorrow. Speaking of OU, how big a score will they name tomorrow against Baylor? Will they run it up? Did they run it up last week? Some thoughts in a minute.
"Oklahoma will be more than a 50-point favorite to beat Baylor tomorrow in Norman, and after last week's 77-0 victory over Texas A&M, you have to wonder if that's margin enough -- and will Mike Lupica be watching. You may have seen Lupica on ESPN's 'Sports Reporters' last Sunday, when he accused Bob Stoops of running up the score. I could not disagree with Lupica more. Stoops virtually took a knee every time he had the opportunity in the fourth quarter. Jason White sat the entire second half. The last touchdown was scored on defense. Folks need to get their finger off the 'run up the score' trigger and, instead, use it to point blame at the losers. Remember, Texas A&M is not some Division I-AA cupcake on the September schedule. This was a conference game in November being played by two teams who have all the tools to be where the Sooners are. Had Stoops kept the pedal to the metal, Oklahoma would have scored more than 100 points. That would have been running up the score."
Mariotti: Take my plan, please
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2003
Extra Point -- Jay Mariotti (morning): "Aside from speed traps and ingrown toenails, there's nothing I hate more than the BCS, and once again, it's getting in the way of the sport I love. Just when supporters of a goofy system could point to last season and say, 'Look, it works,'' we have yet another college football logjam that begs for a no-brainer. That would be an eight-team tournament sure to as big as the Super Bowl, if only the college presidents and networks would figure it out. Everywhere else in sports, championships are decided in multiple playoff rounds, the truest method. In college football, a computer spits out the final two teams and renders the other bowls irrelevant. The Mariotti Plan makes much more sense. Take the final eight BCS teams, use the four existing bowls, mix in vintage college sites and big-city stadiums, and do the American thing -- play off. Rather than fight over whether USC, Ohio State or LSU belong in the title game, let them settle it on the field. Rather than debate the merits of TCU, let the Horned Frogs prove it on the field. Sure beats the BCS, which is merely a lot of B.S."
Extra Point -- Linda Cohn (afternoon): "Have we seen the last of Rich Gannon? Wednesday word came that the Oakland Raiders have placed Gannon on injured reserve. He's out for the rest of the season to have surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Raiders coach Bill Callahan isn't calling it a career-ending injury, but let's face it. It could be. Sixteen years Gannon has been in the NFL, he's 37 years old, and he's had shoulder surgery before. The procedure took place following the 1993 season when he was with Washington. It caused Gannon to miss all of the 1994 season. The Redskins released him. Most around the league thought Gannon was done, but he climbed back into the ring and delivered the knockout punch last year, leading the high-powered Raiders all the way to the Super Bowl and winning the NFL MVP Award. A year later there won't be any Super Bowl. Heck, there won't be any playoffs for the 2-7 'Silver and Black.' That's not the way Rich Gannon wants his career to end. You can count on it."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "It's an opportunity for revenge tonight when Maryland visits Virginia. It wasn't even one year ago that the Terps had bounced back from a 1-2 start to win eight in a row, but visions of a BCS bowl game were shattered in a 35-point loss at Charlottesville. Now, thanks to Clemson's upset of Florida State last week, the Terps find themselves in position to play their way into a tie for the ACC championship. But they'll have to take the next step without their two best running backs. Bruce Perry and Sammy Maldonado are hurt, so either Josh Allen will have to be the workhorse, or Ralph Friedgen could be forced to go to a committee of running backs to establish a ground game tonight. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have their own stakes to play for, needing one more win to become bowl eligible. You can see the Terps and Cavs tonight at 7:30 Eastern on ESPN.
"For the moment, let's put aside Oklahoma. I mean, does anyone think Saturday's game with Baylor will alter the Sooners' road to New Orleans? Let's zero in on the three teams with one loss who are chasing the other Sugar Bowl bid. Second-ranked USC should have a layup when it visits Arizona. Yes, these are the same Wildcats who upset Washington last week, but you have to think USC's run defense will keep Mike Bell from running wild the way he did last week. That brings us to Ohio State, which is hosting the Big Ten's key game Saturday. The Buckeyes should remember their biggest scare en route to last year's national championship was a trip to West Lafayette. Even though they're home tomorrow, the Bucks cannot afford to look past this game to their date with Michigan. Speaking of scares, LSU probably won't get caught looking past tomorrow's visit to Alabama. Last year the Tigers were derailed in a 31-0 home loss to the Crimson Tide. Dennis Franchione may be gone, but the 'Bayou Bengals' will be out for revenge this weekend to set up their showdown next week against Ole Miss."
Wingo: Sound of cheering for Baker, not crickets
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "Patience, Grasshopper. Patience. It's paying off these days in Boston for the Celtic faithful and for forward Vin Baker. It was before last season that the Celts traded for Baker, hoping to get an inside presence on the floor. Instead, what they got was literally nothing. Baker's season really ended almost as soon as it got to Boston, buried under the burden of dealing with alcoholism and depression. how far had baker fallen? Remember, in 2000 this four-time All-Star was a Dream Teamer, winning gold at the Summer Games in Sydney. Now his battle with the disease is under control and, so far, so is his game on the court -- over 15 points and six boards a game. Baker says he's only playing at 45 percent of what he can be, but that's about 45 percent more than Boston got a season ago. Baker learned a saying while in rehab: 'Keep it in the day.' He doesn't worry about next week or next month, and so far this season there have been many good days for Vin Baker with the promise that, by keeping it in the day, there will be many more to come."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "The champagne remains on ice much longer than usual in South Florida. You know the story. Several members of the 17-0 Dolphins of 1972 always celebrate with the bubbly after the NFL's last unbeaten suffers its first loss of the season. So will those 32nd annual bottles pop on Sunday? This week the 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs go on the road for what some serious handicappers think could be a trap game at 4-5 Cincinnati. You'd better believe Marvin Lewis will come up with some defensive schemes that will bother Priest Holmes and Trent Green, and it doesn't seem to matter whether the pouting Corey Dillon or new phenom Rudi Johnson is doing the running. That offensive line clearly can get the job done. These are all reasons any opponent should pay attention to the Bengals, but we're talking about the Kansas City Chiefs, folks. They are clearly the best team in the National Football League. They've been relatively free of injuries, their turnover margin is a gaudy +18, and it's hard to make a solid case that this team is a letdown waiting to happen. They've found a variety of ways to win, including games at Green Bay and at Oakland. I have great respect for the Bengals and the job Lewis has done to turn around a team that was 2-14 a year ago, but it would take a monumental effort to pull off this upset.
"Call it 'The Coaching Geniuses Bowl.' A pair of 7-2 teams coached by a pair of Bills. Parcells and the Cowboys meet Belichick and the Patriots this Sunday night on ESPN. You've probably heard Parcells has yet to win a championship without Belichick at his side, while Belichick has won a Super Bowl ring without Parcells. So what does this mean? Probably nothing, but it was fun to point out. I give the edge here to the Patriots. Folks, any coach who's willing to give up a safety when he's already behind impresses me as the kind of thinker who can find a way to beat his old mentor."
Schaap: Well, there you go again
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2003
Extra Point -- Jeremy Schaap (morning): "During his 1984 re-election campaign, President Ronald Reagan, then 73 years old, was asked about the age issue. Referring to his opponent, Walter Mondale, Reagan said, 'I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.' Reagan's famous quip is echoing throughout pro sports these days. Seventy-two-year-old Jack McKeon just led the Marlins to the World Series title, 67-year-old Dick Vermeil is undefeated in Kansas City, and in Memphis, 70-year-old Hubie Brown has the Grizzlies playing competitive basketball. Somehow, all three are successfully communicating with athletes one-third their age, bridging enormous gaps. For instance, none of Brown's five starters had been born when he coached the Kentucky Colonels to the ABA title in 1975. Unlike Reagan, McKeon, Vermeil and Brown are exploiting their opponents' youth and inexperience."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "OK, I'll give you this right at the start: He is operating on a different plane, so cut me some slack when I offer up light criticism of Tiger Woods. Granted, he won a record fifth consecutive Vardon Trophy, and considering he only plays on the toughest courses, that makes him the best player, as usual. He also won five tournaments this year, but please, before you hand him Player of the Year honors, consider this: He failed to win a major, and in all probability, that was because he plays such a selective schedule. He played in only 18 events the whole season. Now times have changed since the day when Palmer, Hogan, Player, and Snead all showed up every single week. Tiger doesn't need to work every week. OK, here's my point: Does he even like playing golf? Is it strictly a job? Would he rather be at the beach? It sure is starting to look that way, and I have a hard time giving Player of the Year honors to a guy who really isn't supporting the Tour. There's a big difference between a hot temper and professional, competitive drive. Tiger presently has only one of those."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Is quarterback Michael Vick out to get coach Dan Reeves fired? Just asking, but here are some pertinent facts: Vick hasn't played this season because of a broken fibula he suffered in an Aug. 16 preseason game. The doctors say Vick is completely healed. Reeves says Vick needs to be on the field, but Vick says he feels twinges. He says he won't return any earlier than Nov. 30. So what's the deal? Folks, my experience with Vick has been that he's a tough kid who's always ready to go. Frankly, I'm surprised, and the only tea leaf I can read is he wants the coach bounced. Whether or not he wants Deion Sanders to replace him, I can't tell you that. As for aches and pains, you'll find dozens and dozens of guys playing with all kinds of injuries. It's part of the game, and Vick ought to know that's one of the reasons the Falcons are handing him $62 million for six years. If all this costs Dan Reeves his job, it's a shame, because he's a quality head coach who deserves a better fate in exchange for his 200 wins.
"They may be in rural Pennsylvania, but critics are almost impossible to ignore as they demand that Joe Paterno step aside now. Yet unlike the entire community of coaches, 'Joe Pa' is deserving of us backing off and giving him another season. Even if you think he's done a poor job the last few years, let alone these last six losses, he deserves a 'Get Off the Hot Seat' card. For one thing, he has a very young offensive line with which any coach would need to be patient while weathering one loss after another. This team is going to be better -- much better -- next year, and it says here Joe Paterno deserves a chance to see these Nittany Lions grow up and get the job done."
Le Batard: Bring on Coach Neon
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "Stop laughing. Stop with the ridicule. Flamboyant, fluorescent Deion Sanders could be an NFL head coach -- and a good one. We keep turning this stuff into something between brain surgery and rocket science, but just about any NFL player will tell you that the head coach is largely a figurehead, a politician, the most accessible voice and face for a team. Coordinators on offense and defense are vastly more relevant to Sunday success than the evangelist on the sideline, so Deion Sanders, even without experience, can delegate and motivate and stimulate. It's all about delegation at that level, letting people run things for you so you can stay busy getting the credit or blame. 'His Most Excellent Fluorescence' would make the NFL a lot more enjoyable than it presently is with the cardboard-cutout personalities of Dick Jauron. You think Brian Billick and Jon Gruden are entertaining? Wait until you get a load of Deion."
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "Is it time to start asking the question? Will this be the year that the '72 Miami Dolphins are joined by the 2003 Chiefs as the two unbeaten teams in NFL history? By moving to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history, Kansas City is making you think about the possibility. KC seems to do a little of everything right. Priest Holmes is always right around 100 yards, Trent Green may be the most underrated quarterback in football, and that defense may be just good enough to get them to 16-0. Sunday on ESPN Radio, defensive lineman Ryan Sims told me the Chiefs have thought about it, and quite frankly, that may be their undoing. There are lots of potential potholes along the way beginning next week in Cincinnati. They also have to play Denver in Denver and go to Minnesota, but you have to wonder if some karma that was supposed to be with Trent Green and Dick Vermeil in St. Louis has just gone west to Kansas City. Vermeil is a man of many emotions. Come Feb. 1 we may see another emotion: delayed gratification."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Have you noticed how the Minnesota Vikings have not just collapsed, they can't get up, and believe me, folks, the Green Bay Packers have noticed. Once faced with the prospect of falling four games behind the Vikings, the Packers can pull within a game of the lead in the NFC North tonight if they can beat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Go figure. Who'd have thought a team quarterbacked by a guy with a broken thumb on his throwing hand would be applying all this heat? Then again, we are talking about Brett Favre, one tough hombre who has one hand in tape and one foot in the Hall of Fame. The way he played last Sunday night at Minnesota, it doesn't look like that injury has taken anything off Favre's fastball. While Favre is set to make his 199th consecutive start tonight, the Eagles' Donovan McNabb continues to deal with his own challenges. Last year he won a game on a broken leg. This year he's bounced back from a poor start, a media firestorm and a sprained thumb to register impressive victories over the Jets and Falcons. If he can engineer an upset tonight, McNabb will have the Eagles within a game of first-place Dallas in the NFC East. You can see the Eagles and the Pack tonight at 9 Eastern on ABC.
"The biggest fallout from a Saturday of college football upsets is a fall-'in.' TCU suddenly has a chance to play for the big bucks. They're in rarefied air now that they could finish the season in the BCS top six. With that would be a guaranteed berth in one of the big-money bowl games. We're talking the Fiesta, Orange or Rose bowl for the Horned Frogs. How about an Ohio State-TCU matchup in the desert? By the way, where are the gentlemen senators from the states of Delaware and Utah now that the little guy is about to be rewarded? Funny how those guys have to find some other excuse to get attention. I've said it before: Give this system a chance, and you might be surprised how well it can work."
Davis: Universal standard is winning
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "November: when conference championships are won and jobs are lost in college football. Bowden Bowl V rumored to be the final family feud at Clemson for Tommy Bowden. The hot seat is downright toasty in places, but The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore couldn't get a definitive reading on the temperature in Happy Valley. Joe Paterno says he'll be back next year -- like it or not. This is Penn State, not Clemson. At Penn State it's not supposed to be just about wins and losses. Paterno's grand experiment was to prove football could succeed without compromising academics. But 'Joe Pa's' grand experiment never set out to prove winning didn't matter, only that it didn't matter the most. Paterno has earned the right to write his own exit ticket, but that privilege didn't come just because kids went to class. Winning matters at Penn State, just like Clemson and anywhere else. Ultimately, the ability to win will decide how long Joe stays on the sidelines -- like it or not."
Davis: For the love of the game
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "Now is the time for all clear-thinking, major-league owners and GMs to come to the aid of their sport. It's time for all of them to band together and refuse to allow the Yankees to snap up all the top ballplayers they want. There's not much they can do to stop free agents from soaking up Steinbrenner's millions, but no trading. The New York Post reports Steinbrenner has ordered his underlings to find out what the Diamondbacks would take for right-hander Curt Schilling. Forget Schilling's difficult rebound from surgery in 2003. He's a great battler and would be more than an adequate replacement for retiring right-hander Roger Clemens. But the Diamondbacks must avoid doing this for the good of baseball. In fact, all GMs should refuse to trade with the Yankees. Just don't say so in writing anyplace, and everything will be fine. Let Steinbrenner enrich whatever defectors he can scrape up, and let him sign every free agent out there. Just don't trade anything to him, because you know he'll get the best of you."
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (morning): "Don't believe the hype, especially when it comes from the Worldwide Leader in Sports. ESPN has done a fabulous job of trying to convince the world that the game Wednesday night between Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James was the dawning of a new era. Number 1 pick vs. No. 3 -- a rivalry for the ages. Please. What it was was two rookies struggling on two pretty bad teams. For all of LeBron's brilliance, the Cavs are winless on the season, and while the Nuggets are 3-2, it's not like they'll be coming out of the West in June. Look, this is not meant to be a slam against either 'Melo or LeBron. James has shown he's going to be great. Anybody that gets an endorsement from Larry Bird is OK by me. And Carmelo is going be good, too, but two great players don't a rivalry make. Two great players constantly battling each other in high-stakes battles? Bird and Magic. Russell and Chamberlain. Carmelo and LeBron could eventually get there, so why not just let them? They'll get there on their own time, no matter how often and loud we scream about it."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from Miami, Fla. (afternoon): "It's obvious to just about everyone in college football that Oklahoma is riding rapid transit to Bourbon Street. The Sooners' next step is a home game tomorrow afternoon against Texas A&M. OU is a 30-point favorite to avenge last year's four-point loss at College Station. After tomorrow, it's a home date with Baylor, a potential shootout in Lubbock against B.J. Symons and Texas Tech, then the Big 12 title game Dec. 6 in Kansas City. On a scale of 1-10, I rate the Sooners a '9½' to play for all the Nokias in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4. The odds-on favorite to join the Sooners is USC. The Trojans are idle tomorrow, then they travel to Tucson for a layup against troubled Arizona. After that come home games against UCLA and Oregon State. I give the Trojans an '8' to get to the Superdome. So who picks up the pieces if there's an upset? Some answers are next.
"The two schools with the best chance to take advantage of any slip by Oklahoma or USC slip are Miami and Ohio State. The 'Canes host Tennessee here at the Orange Bowl tomorrow, the first time Larry Coker and Brock Berlin have had to come right back from a loss and play the following week. After this weekend, Miami hosts Syracuse and Rutgers before traveling to Pittsburgh. Ohio State is home tomorrow for Michigan State. Then the Buckeyes have Purdue, then a visit to Michigan. The other three BCS teams with only one loss are Florida State, Virginia Tech and LSU, all of whom need help. Yes, Florida State is number three, but an impressive Miami victory should push the 'Canes as far as the coaches and the media polls are concerned, and that might be enough to push them right past Florida State. Remember, Miami defeated the Seminoles handily in Tallahassee."
McKendry: Remake would be tough
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris McKendry (morning): "Buy into it or not, but hopes are so high for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony that a storied rivalry has already been written. LeBron and Carmelo just have to play to the script. It's not an original screenplay; Magic and Bird played the title roles beginning Dec. 28, 1979, the day the Lakers beat the Celtics, and all the NBA was a winner. Revising these title roles will not be easy, and honestly, is it even possible? A 19-year-old has been cast as Larry Bird and an 18-year-old asked to imitate Magic. I wish LeBron and Carmelo luck. It's a good thing that they'll have each other, because critics never like the remake as much as the original. Reminds me of that other remake basketball has tried to create. -- the next Jordan. Let's ask Harold Miner, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter how that show went. I wonder who's going to be cast as the next Allen Iverson. Now he's an original star entertainer. Think that I might be more anxious to see a remake than the NBA?"
Extra Point -- Jeremy Schaap (afternoon): "Like any great partnership from Ruth and Gehrig to Lennon and McCartney, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant have had their ups and downs. Now entering their eighth season as teammates, their partnership has already lasted as long as Lennon and McCartney's and produced nearly as many hits. Ruth and Gehrig led the Yankees to three World Series victories in 10 full seasons as teammates. In seven full seasons O'Neal and Bryant have already matched the championships total of the legendary Yankees. Like those other great duos, though, Shaq and Kobe clearly have artistic differences. Last week they sniped at each other again -- publicly. By the end of the week they'd declared a truce, but few observers think it's genuine. Perhaps O'Neal put it best. 'He's the yin, and I'm the yang,' Shaq declared. 'In other words, we don't mix.'"
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "SEC football is in our peep sight right now, and no, not because of what South Carolina and Arkansas are playing for tonight on ESPN. It's what they could be voting for at the end of the month. Eight athletic directors could decide the winner of the SEC East and a spot in the conference title game Dec. 6. That's because Florida, Georgia and Tennessee look like they could win their remaining SEC games and finish in a three-way tie for first place. All the tiebreakers fail, so the eight athletic directors not involved in the deadlock or the title game would have to vote. Obviously, the conference is praying this embarrassing possibility does not come to pass. If you thought the chads were hanging in Florida three years ago, wait until you see how this one is resolved. I'm just wondering if the conference can turn this into a moneymaker by charging a broadcast fee to televise the vote. So what are the chances this vote actually will take place? We'll examine that in a minute.
"Florida, Georgia and Tennessee -- each with two conference losses and the prospect of finishing in a three-way tie for first in the SEC East. Before we all panic about the possibility of athletic directors voting someone into the SEC title game, let's check the schedules. Tennessee has a slight edge with the easiest, remaining schedule. The Vols have three games left against teams with a combined record of 7-19. Florida also has a pretty clear path with two conference games against teams who are a combined 6-12. Finally, there's Georgia, which has it toughest, having to deal with Auburn at home this week before getting Kentucky. Maybe Auburn can do the SEC's dirty work by beating Georgia to leave just a two-way tie. Then the Volunteers, who beat Florida 24-10, would claim the division title and the championship berth by simply winning out. If that doesn't happen, I have the perfect solution for a three-way tie: Let the BCS rankings decide. Then again, that would just create more controversy, wouldn't it?"
Smith: Crossing the line of personal decency
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2003
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith (morning): "A lot of people believe Shaq and Kobe cooked up their latest fight and took it to the media in order to take the focus off Kobe's legal woes. Well, huh, let's see. The fight has come and gone, and the trial still looms larger than ever. Next week Bryant makes his first appearance in Colorado District Court, where he is to be read the formal charge against him, including the possible penalty of life in prison if he's found guilty. Nobody's inner-squad squabble has taken any of the edge off of that. So all you conspiracy buffs, relax. Kobe and Shaq got their stuff hot, and it escalated to vicious, personal attacks that will be hard for either to forget. Magic Johnson told me over the weekend that he and Kareem used to go at it from time to time, but their words never made it to the media, and they always found a way to work through it. But he also said he never called Kareem fat and out of shape. Both Kobe and Shaq, Magic said, crossed the line of personal decency. What they have to do now is rebuild the respect. That will be hard to do - especially if a trial date is set next week, and it falls during the NBA season."
Extra Point -- Jay Mariotti (afternoon): "I suppose I'm part of the problem. If I'm in Cleveland tonight to watch the first meeting between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, then I'm feeding the very hype monster I'm about to decry. Still, the difference between me and some others is that I'm not hyperventilating. The other day I read a story comparing this clash to 'Russell vs. Chamberlain, Bird vs. Magic, Jordan vs. everyone.' Um, can we let LeBron and Carmelo get through their first pro month before we induct them into the Hall of Fame? My guess is they'll be two of the NBA's premier players for the next 12-14 years, but it's thoroughly ridiculous to declare we're watching all-time legends in the making when, in truth, anyone who says so is just guessing. Does James have a classic NBA body, great court awareness, impressive maturity and a splendid ability to make teammates better? Absolutely. Is Anthony a sweet scorer with a first name out of a marketing handbook? No doubt. But, please, let them grow, let them breathe, and let them start winning before we turn them into superheroes. We have no idea if we're watching the next Bird and Magic, but we do know we're watching the first LeBron and Carmelo. For now, that's good enough for me."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Call it the plight of the little guys. Every year you'll find politicos on the stump, speaking out on their behalf. Don't be shocked if the president of Tulane or senators from Delaware or Utah are wearing purple tonight. TCU represents the last, best chance for a non-BCS school to make a stand in front of a national audience. The Horned Frogs are at home, putting their 8-0 record up against Louisville. Folks, school presidents and senators can make all the noise they want about the BCS being exclusionary, but this is much ado about nothing. TCU's schedule is as light as its road uniforms. All you need to know is this team needed overtime to take down an Arizona team that was in full-blown turmoil. Schools like TCU just cannot compete every week with the likes of Oklahoma and USC. But that's not what this is about. It's a controversy that boils down to one thing: money. University presidents and U.S. senators would throw athletes from the MAC and Conference USA to the dogs if they could get a piece of the multimillion-dollar bowl pie. They don't care one bit whether these teams get an opportunity to compete with the big boys come January. They just want the checks. If you ask me, it's time for the major schools to form one super, football conference and get on with the business of a true national championship, whether the NCAA likes it or not. As for the likes of TCU, why not do what tonight's opponent did? Just yesterday Louisville announced it's leaving Conference USA for the Big East. You know what to do if you can't beat 'em, right? As for tonight, you can see Louisville and TCU at 7:30 Eastern, 6:30 Central, on ESPN2."
Cohn: Raiders a sick ship
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Extra Point -- Linda Cohn (morning): "Have you been following the mess that is the Oakland Raiders? A loss Sunday against the lowly Lions dropped last year's Super Bowl runner-up to a stunning record of 2-6. If they're not the NFL's biggest disappointment, I don't know who is. For days we've been hearing from Raiders four-time Pro Bowl defensive back Charles Woodson, who claims head coach Bill Callahan is too stubborn and has lost control of the team. Woodson says the Raiders have fallen apart because of Callahan, yet the coach takes the criticism from his star player. Remarkably, Callahan told reporters he hasn't talked with Woodson for a month and has no plans to. Are you kidding me? Talking in private to Woodson would be an obvious first step. Suspending Woodson for his public attack would be the second, but then again, that kind of action usually comes from a coach who is in control of his team and is a good communicator, attributes Callahan doesn't have, according to Woodson. 'The Silver and Black' is now a sickly green."
Extra Point -- John Anderson (afternoon): "Mark Twain once said, 'When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear.' Televised sports is becoming 'very angry.' Thanks to field microphones and close-up cameras, you'd swear players and coaches vocabularies consist of nothing but four-letter words. Give up a home run, and you don't need to be a lip-reading expert to figure out that curses in baseball aren't limited to the Cubs' goat. Tackle a running back within 15 yards of the bench, and you'll hear the seven words you can't say on TV, loud and clear. It's become as common as commercials during a game. Up close, personal and profane. Now I've certainly let loose with some blue language when putting a hammer to thumb or golf ball to water, but most of the time I swallow it -- and always when their are children within earshot. And even with 9 o'clock starting times, there are kids watching and learning to be real, pro athletes. It most cases you can tell when the cussing's coming, so turn down the volume, forget the foul-mouthed reaction, and heck, cut to the cheers."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Are you ready for some for more football? That's right. It's Tuesday night football. This is going to be a good one with Bowling Green visiting Miami of Ohio. With both teams holding undefeated records in their respective divisions, this could be a preview of the MAC title game Dec. 4, and even though Bowling Green is ranked 20th in the country, it's the homestanding RedHawks who are touchdown favorite. It's not just the home field at Yager Stadium. It's also quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The 6-5 junior has completed 69 percent of his passes for more than 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Roethlisberger is a name that pro scouts like as one of your future, fantasy-league draftees when he makes it to Sunday ball. You can see Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio tonight at 7:30 Eastern on ESPN2.
"A quarterback, two running backs and a wide receiver. That's the nucleus of the race for the Heisman Trophy. The quarterback, of course, is Jason White of Oklahoma. The most important numbers he can keep putting up are W's. Considering Oklahoma also has a past-Heisman pedigree, this certainly is White's trophy to lose. The running back battle was joined Saturday by both Michigan's Chris Perry and Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones. Perry piled up 219 yards in a win at Michigan State and Jones' 124 yards kept the clock running in favor of the Hokies in Saturday night's stunning blowout of the Miami Hurricanes. If Perry or Jones has a big finish, either one could challenge White for the trophy. So could the most interesting candidate, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald at Pittsburgh. He's caught touchdown passes in a record 14 straight games. The odds are against him, since no receiver has won the Heisman without returning kicks. The pros may be impressed with Fitzgerald, but it'll be hard for a sophomore wide-out to pick up the hardware."
Le Batard: Questioning Beamer push
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "I wanted to wait a little bit before addressing this, because I wanted to make sure that, implausibly, it would stay under the radar. And it did somehow. Congratulations to Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer for knocking off mighty Miami this weekend, but how in the name of Woody Hayes did Beamer get away with pushing one of his players on the sidelines in front of all those TV cameras during his team's loss to West Virginia? Can you imagine if one of Beamer's players had pushed him? How would that have gone over? Would that player have skated the way Beamer did with an apology? Somebody help me with this obvious double-standard. We can file this under 'emotion' or 'heat of the moment' as long as we'd give an angry player the same wiggle room. Doesn't the authority figure -- 'The Beamer' -- have a responsibility to behave more responsibly than the player? Just wondering."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "All of a sudden the Bowl Championship Series is a bit less controversial. It turns out to be one of those years in which the national championship game may actually turn out to involve the two most legitimate qualifiers. There are still games to be played, of course, but clearly, Oklahoma is on its way to New Orleans as the overwhelming choice to win it all this time around. They are heavily favored, because they may have both the best offense and the best defense in the country. Hard to beat that. And among the one-loss clubs, USC is in the drivers seat to earn the other spot in that championship game. The Trojans get two weeks to prep for a win at Arizona, then finish with difficult home games against UCLA and Oregon State. There is controversy bubbling just off the pace with Florida State looming stronger, much stronger in the standings than the Miami team which beat them. If USC wins out, legitimacy will rule in the BCS. Here's the question of the hour: If this holds up, will hopes for a national playoff then disappear? Yes, they will. Count on it."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Who would have thought tonight's Monday nighter would be a game of desperation for the home side? As they prepare to host the New England Patriots, you'll find the Denver Broncos sitting at 5-3 in the AFC West. Another loss, and it's game, set, division to the Kansas City Chiefs. It won't be easy without Jake Plummer, who remains out with a foot injury, and without Steve Beuerlein, who has a broken finger. For the second straight week the Broncos' hopes rest on Danny Kanell, who was coach high-school ball when this season began. Meanwhile, the Patriots look like they're rolling again. The defense has allowed a total of 22 points the last three games, and Tom Brady simply does not throw interceptions. All this despite one injury after another. Still, if they win tonight, the Patriots will be 1½ games clear of the rest of the AFC East. Talk about disappointment. Miami has lost twice at home to underdogs. The Bills started strong; now they're in turmoil. The Jets can't get their act together even with Chad Pennington back in the lineup. Meanwhile, the Patriots keep winning, and Bill Belichick continues to etch his name among the best coaches in the business. You can see the Pats and Broncos tonight at 9 Eastern on ABC.
"With Miami's loss at Virginia Tech, the Oklahoma Sooners are clear of everyone else en route to the BCS championship game, but the battle is on to see which of the half-dozen teams with one loss may join the Sooners in New Orleans on Jan. 4. USC, Florida State, LSU, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Miami each has a chance to win out, so finding a favorite is an impossible task. Conventional wisdom among the humans -- not the computers -- says USC is the best of the rest, as quarterback Matt Leinart's puts up numbers as good as Carson Palmer's were a year ago -- and you know what trophy Palmer carried home last December. Mind you, Leinart is not going to win the Heisman, but he could win a prize that's bigger and more important."
Davis: Great eight
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "'Survival Saturday.' Would-be survivors aren't necessarily voted off the national-championship island as much as they can be knocked off of it. As I look at this embarrassment of college football riches -- Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Miami-Virginia Tech, USC-Washington State, Michigan-Michigan State -- one thought comes to mind: Am I really sure that I want a college football playoff? Maybe we've already got one. No sport can offer up a regular-season day with as much drama, intrigue and meaning as what we'll see in college football on 'Survival Saturday.' If we had a postseason-tournament type format, I fear that Saturdays like these would be relegated to the dreaded 'potential playoff preview' status. I don't like the month-plus break we take under the current system before playing the all-important title game. I think I'd like to see an eight-team playoff, but if I knew it would rob one ounce of drama from Saturdays like today, I'll survive nicely without a playoff."
