The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly II

The last few weeks have produced some wild and wacky events in our wonderful world of sports. We've seen college football changing it's structure before our very eyes, big league baseball have 2 perfect games and 1 other robbed by a blown call, a new Stanley Cup champion crowned, and FIFA World Cup soccer commencing.

I will render my thoughts on three recent events that has given us reason to give a thumbs up, a thumbs down, and something that may make you go “Hmmm”.

So here we go with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly II

The Good: Daniel Nava – Boston Red Sox

Nava was called up to the Red Sox for Saturday's game versus the Philadelphia Phillies due to the numerous injuries in the Boston outfield. Prior to the game, the 27 year-old rookie was speaking with long-time Boston radio voice Joe Castiglione. Towards the end of that conversation, Castiglione told Nava to swing at the first pitch he sees because he'll never have another first pitch to swing at.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning with the bases loaded, the left-handed hitting Nava was facing Philadelphia starter Joe Blanton. Blanton throws a pitch that was in any lefty's wheelhouse. Nava, taking the cue from Castiglione, takes a perfect swing and deposits Blanton's delivery into the Boston bullpen for a grand slam homer! As the Fenway faithful erupted, a stunned Joe Castiglione said, “I didn't know he (Nava) was listening!” Truly a great beginning to a major league career.

The Bad: The Apparent Restructuring of Major College Football

It appears that major college football is undergoing earth shattering changes, and I'm not sure it's for the betterment of the game. What we do know is that The Big 12 is now down to 10 teams with Colorado bolting for the PAC 10 and Nebraska heads to the Big Ten for the 2011 season. Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech will stay with the Big 12 for the time being, with the Longhorns being involved in a television deal to prevent them from leaving.

It also seems that there will be four “super conferences” which may lead to the playoff system many are clamoring for. But what about non-BCS schools such as Boise State? Sounds like the courts may be involved and the U.S. Congress will stick it's nose in this thing. Stay tuned for the next year or so as this event I termed as bad may become very, very ugly.

The Ugly: University of Southern California Football

The USC football program has been dominant forever it seems, especially under Pete Carroll's reign. However, under Carroll's control, the program was found to have given improper benefits to star running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. With that finding by the NCAA, the USC football program will lose 30 scholarships over the next three years,vacate 14 wins in which Bush played from December 2004 through the entire 2005 season, Reggie's Heisman year, a ban from bowl games for two years, and a four year probation. One of those victories to be vacated is the BCS title game on January 4, 2005 when the Trojans beat Oklahoma in which the NCAA will probably strip USC of that National Championship, as I understand it.

The question here is how long after the sanctions will USC be able to rise to the top of college football. I believe we are looking at a time frame of five to seven years before the Trojans will be vying for a major bowl bid. I'll bet current head coach Lane Kiffin isn't sleeping very well.

Those are my thoughts...yours are?

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

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