No one can really debate that the NBA’s popularity has been very low since they returned from the 1999 lockout. Many speculate as to why, but one reason stands out above all others to me, and somehow is rarely mentioned in these discussions.
The NBA has absolutely NO parity.
The Flyers have done it. They have liberated themselves from the bottom of the power rankings. A slight tweak to the formula finally puts Ottawa where they belong. While the top of the standings see no change. Where did you team end up this week?
*Note: Power Rankings Formula is ((Points Earned/Points Possible) * Goal Differential per game + wins)
On Monday in Orlando, baseball’s high rollers will begin the four days of rabid negotiations that largely decide rosters. Free agents will be signed, and some major trades could go down, possibly not the ones you are expecting. Here is a preview of the excitement.
It must be that time of the year again. Hall-of-Fame ballots are out, and he gets brought up again. You know him, he wrote a book about his controversy, sold baseballs on E-Bay, and did just about everything but publicly apologize about betting on baseball. Of course I’m talking about Pete Rose. Every year, about this time, the debate begins.
By David J. Cohen
It’s the last week of the regular season in big time college football. This means the BCS controversy is approaching full tilt. This year the controversy is over who plays Ohio State for the national championship. Michigan is waiting in the wings if USC collapses against arch-rival UCLA. Then there’s Florida, the team on top of arguably the toughest conference in the country and the team every analyst outside of CBS wants out of the picture. Then there’s the issue over whether Notre Dame will get a bid despite being outside of the top eight in the BCS standings because they are Notre Dame, will generate an audience, and would be paid less by the BCS then a representative from a BCS conference. The Irish would receive $4.5 million. When the winner of a conference makes a BCS game this year, the conference gets between $14 million and $17 million to split among the teams. The other rotten apple this year, which is being overlooked, is the fact that an ACC team will get a bid despite the mediocrity of the conference this year. The highest ranked team is 14th ranked Virginia Tech, who isn’t in the conference championship game.
In a era when computers decide who gets the right to play for the national championship and coaches or the press do not have a say, it might be time to avoid the commontion and controversy and switch to an easier system, one that would ensure that the national champion was truly the best team in all of college football.
We had a pretty good week last week here at Sportscolumn. Vegas Vinny and RJ Warner went 12-4 while Trevor and BostonMac went 10-6. The national average was 10 wins so we were above average. Again. Al from Ask the Commish has jumped out in front with 116 wins overall but Vegas Vinny is only 1 behind at 115. If you want to see how we stack up against all the experts, check out a very nifty expert picks compilation spreadsheet by our buddy Tokar.
The featured games this week are Chargers @ Bills, Niners @ Saints, Cowboys @ Giants, and Seahawks @ Broncos. You can download the podcast directly (running time 37 mins) or subscribe to the feed.
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The NBA is in the final stages of warming up for the proving ground stages of the season. Some teams are out to prove they are for real, while other upstarts will fade back into mediocrity.
Oh my Gosh! College Football as we know it over! Ohio State AND Michigan aren’t playing! What shall we do?
Well readers, Week 13 of the college football season it’s not all about Notre Dame-USC. It’s about interstate rivalries, where schools battle it out for every trophy under the sun for a year of bragging rights.
So here’s what we learned….
Two major coaching moves in the central division highlight the week. Ken Hitchock has gone from the disaster known as the Flyers to the disaster known as the Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, in the east, the aforementioned Flyers are threatening to climb out of the cellar, but for right now, it’s going to be a long winter in Philly. Oh, and that smell, it’s coming from Sunrise, Florida. The Bertuzzi-less Panthers look horrible. Where did your team end up?