11:35 PMCal upsets Stanford @ The Farm on Saturday night 34-28. Cardinal QB Andrew Luck goes 11-29 passing, including a late INT deep in Cal territory. Coach Jim Harbaugh with a questionable 4th down, Belichickian call that caused Stanford to need a late TD to win.
10:09 PM ESPN BCS guru Brad Edwards reports today on ESPN Radio that Penn State will be selected over Iowa for Fiesta Bowl. Iowa is likely to land in the Capital One Bowl, in a game against Ole Miss. Edwards cited TV ratings, fueled by Joe Paterno's presence, as reason PSU gets BCS over Iowa.
10:08 PMDrew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press reports on ESPN News Saturday night that UM AD Bill Martin has confirmed Rich Rodriguez will be back next season as Michigan Coach.
It hasn’t been the greatest year for country singer Mindy McCready. Things started out poorly enough when it was revealed that she’d had an affair with Roger Clemens for ten years, and that the relationship started out when she was 15 years old. Even though Clemens has denied the story ever since, Mindy’s mother said there was a relationship but it was strictly platonic. That story was quickly followed by a former roommate of Mindy’s saying that she was 17 years old before sleeping with Roger. It’s at this point that I’d just like to point out that I’ve never had sex with Roger Clemens, at any age.
Of course, all that is just the tip of the iceberg for McCready this year. Glancing over the DUI she was found not guilty of back in 2007, there was also the events of last week that saw Mindy charged with identity theft and other crimes in Arizona. Oh, and there was that apparent suicide attempt on a drug overdose back in the summer that caused her to spend some time in a rehab facility in Texas. Well, you know the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again?” Mindy takes that to heart.
While Sunday night’s game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys was a very important victory for the Cowboys and their playoff chances, I’m pretty sure the only thing any of us really cared about was the relationship between Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Terrell Owens. It was as though the psyche of the American public was soothed when we found out after their win that the trio were just fine, and that any drama amongst them was nothing more than the evil Ed Werder spreading his lies.
Of course the perfect occasion for Romo, Witten, and Owens along with the rest of their teammates to put all of this ugliness behind them was on Monday night. While T.O.’s former team the Eagles were beating the Browns to keep their playoff hopes alive, Owens and his teammates were gathering together to celebrate Terrell’s birthday. Everybody was there, from celebrities to all of Owens’ teammates and even his coach Wade Phillips. Still, there were two no-shows whose absence did not go unnoticed.
In case you missed it, the Cowboys took a huge step toward a playoff return by beating the defending-champion Giants, 20-8, last night. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone wants to talk about the game. In fact, all anyone seems to be interested in is the growing Terrell Owens-Jason Wittenbattle for Tony Romo’s affections.
Never mind that the Cowboys now lead the NFL in sacks and that Damarcus Ware is making a serious run at Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record; he has 19 already, after all. No, this game was all about T.O.! And that’s just as he likes it, of course. No matter what happens next, can someone please tell Owens and Romo to stop wearing those horrendous Gatsby hats? They’re making us embarrassed for being members of their sex.
That’s more than enough analysis of America’s Team and it’s constant spotlight. Here’s the full video of the team’s jihad on all things Werder, if you’re so inclined.
Of course, the Cowboys weren’t the only team stirring up plenty of controversy on Sunday; the team they just beat a week before stoked about as much controversy as you can while still winning by capping off it’s second fourth quarter comeback in as many weeks with a touchdown that, on further review, really doesn’t look like a touchdown. Here’s how everything went down: Pittsburgh trailed by three in the final two minutes, and got off another impressive, length-of-the field drive that appeared destined for a heart-attack inducing Ben Roethlisberger escape. Well, that’s what the Steelers got when wide receiver Santonio Holmes had a catch ruled a touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.
The only problem is that the catch was originally ruled down outside the end zone, and there’s almost no way you can see enough video proof in the replay below to overturn that call, can you? We sure can’t. YAHOO! also has a pretty condemning screen shot right here. Judge for yourself, all the while considering that this is the second time this year where an official’s call on a play at the end of a Steelers game has been cast in spurious light by gamblers across the globe. We’re not incriminating anyone here, we’re just pointing out the facts.
Oh, and the Packers are officially not going back to the playoffs. How’s that Brett Favre trade looking, Mike McCarthy? You think you’d be eliminated from playoff contention with two weeks to go if No. 4 is still in a green and gold uni? You sure about that? We’re not.
Don’t ghasp, this really might be true: Is Michael Turner the NFL MVP? At least one YAHOO! writer thinks he’s on track. It’s hard to argue that he hasn’t been the best free agent signing, and that’s remarkable in itself.
According to FANHOUSE, Ball State’s head coach is cashing in on his team’s BCS-less undefeated regular season, reportedly agreeing to become the head coach at San Diego State. Sure, the weather is a huge upgrade over Indiana, but Brady Hoke couldn’t have landed an OC gig at USC or something like that? We hear they’re about to be in the market for one.
Forget about the Titans losing to the Texans on Sunday. The real loss was Albert Haynesworth. If that knee doesn’t come around, this could be a shockingly early end for Tennessee in about a month.
Annika Sorenstam was not about to officially end her pro career by missing a cut, and she was going to go as far as she had to just to get another chance. How far did she go? Dubai.
That sound you hear is every Big 12 school not located in Norman, Okla. begging new Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford not to listen to THE SPORTING NEWS’s Derek Sampson.
According to KICKETTE, the wife of Chelsea star Ashley Cole is being depicted as the Angel of the North in a new exhibit by an artist who happens to be a Liverpool fan. That’s the painting above. It makes even less sense when you dig deeper, trust us.
Things have gone from dysfunctional to mutinous in Dallas. The feud started when Jason Witten’s mistakes doomed Dallas’ late lead in Pittsburgh, then escalated when ESPN gleefully publicized a private meeting between wide receivers Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. At issue: concern that Tony Romo was targeting Witten too often, and even drawing up secret plays to throw to Witten.
Now, it appears it has come to blows between players; the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Owens and Witten, who can probably forget about trading friendship bracelets, had to be restrained in a fight Friday.
