Interesting goings on in the sports world …

- Somewhere, TrojanFan is breathing into a paper bag. For the second time in three weeks, the SC football program was dealt the worst loss in the Pete Carroll era, as Jim Harbaugh and his Stanford Cardinal rolled into the Coliseum and rolled over the Trojans, 55-21. For years, people have criticised Carroll and his team for not rolling big numbers against weak opponents – clearly, not a lesson lost on Harbaugh. SC is now 7-3, with games left against a wheezing UCLA and a decent Arizona. It’s not impossible that they’ll end up 8-4 – good for most programs, but enough to remind Trojan fans of the Paul Hackett era. We’ve said it before, but this was a rebuilding season for the Trojans. The losses shouldn’t really worry true fans who understand, but the performance of Matt Barkley should. After an early season when you understood he was a true freshman learning on the job, he’s starting to look suspiciously like a guy who’s tapped out on the potential. He was bad in the Oregon loss, but was overshadowed by the pathetic defensive effort. Against Stanford, there was nowhere for him to hide, and the Cardinal exploited his every misstep. I don’t know who else will be in spring practice for the Trojans, but I’d look for a QB competition – or another long season.

- For most of this decade, the New England Patriots have been the dominant team in the NFL. The combination of QB Tom Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick have been so successful that their late-game collapse last night was all the more shocking. Leading 34-27 with two minutes to play, Belichick opted to go for it on 4th-and-2 on their own 29. When Brady’s pass danced off the receiver’s hands, Colts QB Peyton Manning made them pay. His touchdown pass with seconds remaining handed the Pats a 35-34 defeat.

- Congratulations to Florida Marlin left fielder Chris Coghlan for his selection as the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year. An infielder who played a total of 1 game as an outfielder in the minors – without ever getting a fly ball – Coghlan was shifted to left field after his May call-up. His prowess in the field (he only had 5 errors for the season) added to an outstanding turn as the team’s leadoff hitter to net him the award. He’s the third Marlin to win the award in this decade, joining Dontrelle Willis in 2003 and Hanley Ramirez three years ago. Expect to see him in the Marlins’ lineup for quite some time.