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11/13/2006: "Here Comes The Sports Rant ..."

Football ramps up, basketball warms up, and didn't there used to be hockey?

- What does it say about a team's defense when your QB throws for 400 yards and 3 TDs and you still lose? The Cinncinnati Bengals have had their share of problems this season, and for a while yesterday it looked like they'd straightened them out - at least on one side of the ball. Unfortunately for Carson Palmer and Co., their defense was shredded by Philip Rivers and LaDanian Tomlinson, with LT going for 4 scores. Looks like the Bolts are for real, and the Bengals are in real trouble ...

- Shortstop Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins has won the NL Rookie of the Year award, it was announced today. Personally, I'd have rather seen it go to Dan Uggla, who earlier won the ROY award given by his fellow players, but votes taken from Ramirez would have given the award to Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals, so I'll just shut up and be happy. Worth noting is that 6 of the 12 rookies receiving votes for the award were on the Marlins. I think that says something bad and good, all at the same time ...

- When Tiger Woods skipped the PGA's season-ending Tour Championship folks grumbled, but most gave him a pass. After all, it had been a tough season for Eldrick, what with the streak and the loss of his father and all. He'd earned a rest. Then we see him teeing it up in Japan only a week later, with plans to head to Dubai next. WTF??? I know Woods is bigger than any golfer in the world, and takes pride in competing anywhere on the globe. But you don't skip your home tour's championship then run around the world collecting appearance checks! When the US got its ass kicked in the recent Ryder Cup matches, it was said that American golfers aren't hungry, just greedy. This does nothing to dispel that thought ...

- I don't know what god Pete Carroll prays to, but that is one benevolent deity! Wasn't it just a few weeks back that USC ended a lackluster first half of the season with a loss to Oregon State that drove a stake through the heart of any chance to once again play for the crystal football? Surprise! After dominating wins over Stanford and Oregon and shocking losses to half the teams in the Top 10, USC finds itself in the driver's seat for the BCS at #3. With #1 Ohio State set to play #2 Michigan next weekend, all SC has to do is run the table to practically guarantee a third consecutive trip to the championship game. Not bad for a team that is supposed to be rebuilding. Just ask Bobby Bowden about what that's like ...

- By far, my favorite sport has always been Unlimited Hydroplane racing. Think F-16's at ground level, or Indy Cars on water. A sport with nearly a century of tradition, unlimiteds fell on hard times in the '90s as the sponsorship money dried up. The death of Bernie Little, owner of the legendary Miss Budweiser hydro, nearly sealed the sport's fate. But I'm happy to report that new ownership and a new sanctioning body has breathed life into the old girl. A few weeks back, the season ended with the traditional final race on the saltwater course in Mission Bay, and the thrill is back! The ABRA will be running a full series again next year, and if you get a chance to watch these monsters roar, I highly encourage it!