In case you were running a pool at the office about how many games would be played in Citi Field before a Phillies fan was thrown out of the park — and, really, why wouldn’t you be — I hope you chose zero. The first game in the Mets’ new digs was played this past Sunday between St. John’s and Georgetown, and before it even started, a Phillies fan had been asked to leave the stadium.

Reed Frazier is a 22-year old student at St. John’s who is a Television and Film Production major. He was at the game on Sunday to help broadcast the game over his university’s website, having a press pass and everything. Reed also had on a Phillies jacket because he’s a Phillies fan, and as it turns out, that’s unacceptable at Citi Field.

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We all know how this story is supposed to go. Texas blows Ohio State out of the water, Oklahoma scrapes by Florida and the Longhorns join the slew of teams through history that have a huge beef about how they deserved to win a national championship.

(Theo! Give this man a sweater vest already!)

Only it didn’t turn out that way. OK, the second half of that equation may still come true, but Texas did anything but blow Ohio State out of the water. Instead, it took a 26-yard touchdown pass from late-game maestro and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy to 26-year-old going on 35-year-old Quan Cosby with 0:16 left, giving the ‘Horns a miraculous come-from-behind, 24-21 win in the Fiesta Bowl.

This year, that still might be enough to earn Texas a small share of the national title, if not in trophy, at least in respect. Both Utah and USC own a claim on the crown, too, so an Oklahoma win on Thursday would officially make the title scenario a quartet-a-mess.

So what now for the BCS? The OU-Florida winner will officially hoist the crystal trophy that allegedly signifies the national champ on Thursday night, but that only guarantees the champion of the Harris and Coaches polls. The Associated Press, meanwhile, can name its own champ, so its plausible — if still extremely unlikely — that Texas, Utah or USC could steal some share of the crown.

And one thing was confirmed after last night’s game: This time Texas will get at least one vote for No. 1 in the Coaches’ poll. From Mack Brown (he confirmed it after the game). Guess he’s learning something from us here at SbB, no?

Of course, the Fiesta Bowl wasn’t the only thing going on; the Big East hosted the latest in what is sure to be a season-long string of all top-15 tussles, with Notre Dame taking control of a matchup with fellow Catholic crew Georgetown. Luke Harangody outdueled super freshman Greg Monroe, and probably took a strong early lead in the race for Big East player of the year in the process. It sent the Hoyas to a second loss against a Top-15 team, which just might have some in the nation’s capital worrying. Oh, wait, they’re preoccupied with some inauguration thing? Never mind.

Who knew that Jack Del Rio and Mike Tice were boys? Well, not only do the two coaches “hang”, they do so with copious amounts of alcohol … in very public places. This video comes via Boston site BARSTOOL SPORTS, documenting the pairs successful run and Tice’s rendition of God Bless America while he’s completely wasted. Weird, funny, quirky and a little disturbing, all rolled into one. Then again, should we really be surprised? After all, Tice is the man who practically invented the Super Bowl ticket scalping scandal. Still, if there was ever any chance for a second head coaching go-round for Tice, it seems hard to assume that’s still in play after that video.

And then there’s the Jeff Jagozinski scenario. Where to begin on that. Boston College — at least officially — is still claiming that “Jagz” is out of a job as soon as he goes for an interview with the Jets. The Jets say they plan to speak to him and Jagodzinski says he’ll go for the interview. So BC is about to look for a new coach, right? Well, maybe not. Eagles athletic director Gene DeFillipio softened his stance some today and seemed to leave the door slightly ajar for a Jagodzinski return, assuming that the two-year head coach with 20 wins at the ACC school doesn’t land the New York job. Still, it seems likely that Jagz will be out of a job if he did interview Monday night … or if he’s talking with Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum as you read this. The one thing that seems certain is that the entire situation has become completely surreal, especially for a mid-pedigree college football school like Boston College.

• Funny how the Philadelphia DA waited until after the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs to announce the results of a probe into the shooting at Marvin Harrison’s “establishment” in North Philadelphia with one of his own guns. Seems a bit too convenient, doesn’t it? What, they couldn’t bring him a Gatorade during the fourth quarter Saturday night? They were already up, weren’t they?
• Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has some interesting “things to watch for in 2009“. The highlights: NFL Network will merge with a media company, the NCAA Tournament will expand and both NBA and NHL TV will be on your regular cable lineup sooner rather than later. For the most part, we like it.
• Kurt Warner’s conception of God is so defined that he likes to draw him. But when he screws up, he can’t decide whether to brush it off as Jesus or someone else. Whatever. This video just proves that he can’t draw:

• Probably not what Scott Boras was hoping Andruw Jones would do next: He quit playing winter ball.
• So much for Andy Pettitte returning to the Yankees. Not for chump change (to him) at least.
• Still waiting on Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers are kicking the tires on Trevor Hoffman, too.
• It’s a good thing Chucky Atkins doesn’t take backhanded compliments personally. If he did, this live audio clip from 2004-05 would really have crushed him.
• Chelsea defender Ashley Cole famously cheated on British pop star wife Cheryl last year with a woman universally declared a trampy blonde while being so drunk that he eventually vomited all over her. Cheryl is finally responding a year later, and her take is … “I know the circumstances.” I.e., no big deal.
• Speaking of soccer, don’t hold your breath waiting for Italian interviews with David Beckham. A.C. Milan is reportedly asking for $750,000 for the first exclusive interviews. Good luck with that, Berlusconi.
• If the economy is rough here, keep looking elsewhere, right? That’s Michael Phelps‘ motto.
• Another day, another crushingly sad sports crime story: A former Portland State player was killed on New Year’s Eve for not paying for a plate of food at a party.
• Iowa State — and more specifically one of it’s biggest boosters — is still very much not over losing Gene Chizik.



• There’s a 14-year-old girl who can lift twice her body weight, and she’s British.
• So much for the bright future of Shaun Livingston. He’s been released by the Heat.
• Darren Sproles is a hero to more than just Chargers fans, he inspires stutterers, too.
• We’re just hoping Boston station WEEI doesn’t throw out all the hosts’ backs patting themselves on the back one of these days.

… Next up, someone sues Bill Belichick for pain and suffering over his offensive sideline ensembles.

• Amateur photos from SI swimsuit shoots uncover more evidence that the mag’s models are getting back to what readers really want.

• Kobe Bryant has decided to has decided to play through his pinkie pain.

• Can’t wait for the cross(dressing)-examinations: Oscar De La Hoya meets his pantyhose photographer in court.

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Dan Steinberg of DC SPORTS BOG has an audio-video sync’d up look at Georgetown radio announcer Rich Chvotkin as he straps on the pom-poms in a Hoya victory over Villanova.

Some of you may know that we were a longtime radio PBP guy for baseball, hockey and basketball, so seeing an announcer so blatantly cheer for the team he broadcasts pains us. But since virtually every play-by-play man in the business is now nothing more than a bought-off mouthpiece for the home team, we’re becoming more and more immune to the behavior.

Be aware that cheerleading is now a prerequisite if you plan to try to brave the industry’s climes.