Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday 10/30 Quickie: Booing Favre,
Burnett, Texas, Oregon, Melo, Kansas

It seems entirely appropriate that on Halloween weekend, the operative word is "Boo!" in Green Bay, where only the most repressed people in town won't want to boo Brett Favre's return.

That's the argument I make in today's SN column: Booing Favre isn't bad sportsmanship -- it's cathartic. It's an exorcism -- OK, that's my last Halloween-related metaphor -- for the demons (ugh) represented by Favre's betrayal.

Boo him vociferously this weekend, then finally let it go. (It would help immensely if the Packers beat the Vikings, too.)

Yankees even it up: But I'm not sold that the momentum is back in New York's favor. Winning Game 2 was a MUST, not a luxury -- they still gave up home-field advantage; they need to split this weekend to flip the script. If they exit the weekend down 3-1 -- with another game to play in Philly -- the series is over.

(By the way: Kudos to AJ Burnett. It was the biggest start of his career -- by far -- and he killed it.)

College Football Weekend: Two huge games -- Texas at OK St and USC at Oregon. Here's my question: Why are both on at 8 p.m.? I don't want to have to choose. (Isn't it conflicting enough that the Florida-Georgia game is at the same time I'm taking my kids trick-or-treating?) Picks coming later.

NFL Week 8 Storylines: Personally, I love the Rams-Lions dynamic, but I appreciate that Sunday may be the single most interesting day in recent Philly sports history. Oh, and Alex Smith: How can you not be intrigued?

(And I don't just say that because Smith is Urban Meyer's 2nd-favorite player ever behind Tim Tebow. But Meyer is right: His QBs success in the pros is entirely dependent on being in the right system -- the 49ers open it up, playing from behind, and all of a sudden Smith looks like a world-beater. If they go back to the old traditional grind, he won't do well. What does SF have to lose by opening it up? They ain't making the playoffs in the I-formation.)

NBA Last Night: It's only been one game, but I would count that as a signature win for the Bulls over a contender like the Spurs. (Always have to discount teams playing on back-to-back nights.) Also: The Cavs REALLY need Stephen Jackson.

CBB Top 25: Kansas is No. 1. It's hard to disagree, although you all know are well aware that I think Kentucky will win the national title this year. I'm also high on Villanova, but that might just be because I'm a sucker for Final Four experience.

Lots more where that came from, including a tribute to Walter Payton and some advice for your weekend that doesn't have to do with Halloween. (Remember the old Quickie "Big 5" each Halloween about the Top 5 Halloween candy? Still have to go with mini-Twix as the gold standard.)

Complete column here. More later.

-- D.S.

3 comments:

Jenn said...

The World Series is in Philly for three games. The Yankees can't go back to NY down 3-1.

Steve Sprague said...

Mini twix is by far the gold standard for Halloween candy! Rounding out my top five are Reese's Peanut Butter cups (the single cup, regular size, no mini's), mini Snickers, Kit Kats, mini Hershey's dark.

Michael W said...

Why are both games at 8pm? Simple. They tried to push back the Oregon/USC game, but there was a huge backlash from the Eugene community, and ESPN figured they'd be better off caving on the issue.