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10/09/2006: "Ye Olde Sports Rant"

A weekend of memorable sports moments - some for the right reasons, some for the wrong ...

- Well, that didn't take very long. I knew when the National League West sent two teams to the Divisional Playoff Series, they wouldn't get very far. But even I thought they'd do better than win one game between the two of them. The Mets completed a sweep of the Dodgers, who turned in a truly pathetic performance. GM Ned Coletti got a late start last winter but managed to piece together a decent squad - expect him to do some serious remodeling this time. At least the Padres won a game against the Cardinals, and in the STL no less. But they were in over their heads from the start, and it showed. The bright side? Neither team looked as impotent as the now-departed Yankees ...

- Saturday was tough for USC football fans, as the Trojans once again waited to the last play of the game to put away a lesser foe. Sunday was pretty fine for a pair of former Trojan Heismann winners, though. Matt Leinart made his first start for the Arizona Cardinals a memorable one, tossing a pair of early TDs, including a 49-yrer on his second pass of the game. Only a shanked field goal with time running out left him a loser. His former backfield partner, Saints running back Reggie Bush, finally cashed his first big play late in his game when he broke a punt return for his first NFL score. The fact that it was the game winner made it all the more sweet. Both Trojans gave glimpses of what should make them special players in the league for a long time.

- Hey, whaddya know - hockey's back! Wouldn't have even noticed were it not for the Kings new rookie sensation, forward Anze Kopitar. The 19-yr old from Slovenia had a pair of goals in Friday's opening loss to the Ducks and followed that Saturday night with three assists against the Blues. Not a bad start - too bad he's the only good news for the Kings this season ...