Irish Trash

Trashing the Irish from Notre Dame is always fun. Nothing will ever approach the drama of five years ago where the battle between Michigan and the Domers was between a pair of unvictorious and untied teams. Ah, those were the good old days. Michigan is 2-1 and ND off to a surprising 3-0 start. Give the Irish credit, the just look faster this year than they long did, and they manhandled a pretty good team in Michigan State last week. The game is in South Bend, so hard not to see the Irish having their way with both Michigan schools. Marcy thinks the luck of the Irish comes from starting the season in Dublin. Hmmm, maybe.

The Arizona at Oregon game may be a sleeper. Folks down in Tucson are pretty ginned up over the Wildcats under Rich Rod. But Oregon is gonna pound them hard I think. Clemson should be a real test for Florida State, but the Seminoles should survive. Kansas State at the Sooners is the only other halfway interesting game this week.

In pro political polling, Aaron Rodgers leads Brett Favre, but Favre is making a comeback.

Not a lot of great matchups in the NFL this week, but the one between the Eagles and Arizona is kind of interesting. The Cards defense really has looked good so far, and they worked over the normally very good offense of the Pats, and did it in Foxboro. Philly has looked flaky so far, but they are 2-0, and that is what counts. John Skelton is still out with an ankle sprain, and Kevin Kolb’s wife is ready to pop; they may have to have Larry Fitzgerald play QB.

The Pats go to visit Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, you know that will be a slugfest. You have to think Brady will bounce back, but the game is in Baltimore. Houston goes to Mile High to visit the New Peytons. Everybody is picking Houston, and man they are solid on both sides of the ball. Arian Foster is quietly a pretty great running back and the line is giving Schaub protection so far. But I am going to take the upset. Manning had a horrid game against the Falcons, that isn’t going to happen again, and Mile High is just flat out a tough place to visit. The Bronco fans are going to be wild, and it is absolutely a beautiful time of year there.

Lastly, this weekend is the Singapore Grand Prix. I hate that course, honestly am not real fond of any of the Asian circuits save for, maybe Suzuka. But this week is Marina Bay, a tight and herky jerky cement lined street course. It is ugly and makes for ugly racing. Hamilton has pole, and that is huge as passing is at a premium. Alonso is back in P5 and will need to get a fast start if he is going to challenge for the win. Vettel starts in P3.

Well, since I got a late start, I am going to wrap this sucker up and hit the post button. There is some hardball that is getting mighty interesting down the stretch, maybe we can get some of that in comments. Go Orioles and Natinals!

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92 replies
  1. Jim White says:

    Gators have a 24-0 lead over Kentucky at the half, but they still haven’t looked as sharp as they played in the second halves at Texas A&M and Tennessee.

    Rays are somehow still alive even though they had a stretch where they lost something like 7 out of 8. They are a longshot, but at least not out of the playoffs yet.

    Will be very interesting tonight to see if all the hype over the Seminoles is real. Of course, Clemson is possibly hyped over the level they deserve, too, but it should still be interesting. Mizzou at South Carolina could well be interesting, too.

  2. JohnT says:

    Alabama v Fla Atlantic

    I see the Tide is scheduling juggernauts again. Sounds like an airport. Is that a baggage handlers union? What, the Mobile College of Hair Design had a scheduling conflict (had to wait in line for a new Twilight movie, or maybe a shoe sale at the mall)? /s

    Have they ever played a serious non conference game out of their own time zone?

    In other news, FSU v Clemson should be good. Arizona v Oregon sounds interesting, for a half at least, and Oregon State v UCLA is very intriguing.

    The Bruins are ascendant, (might actually end up with a better record than SC) on the other hand, Mike Riley is an incredibly good coach who’s had a long time to game plan for this game. Johnathon Franklin is a beast, but the Beavers held the Sconnies to 35 yards rushing in their upset in Madison. Plus, the Beavers have two really fast receivers

    In the pros, I’m looking at Texans v Broncos, and the Pack v the Seahawks. In Texans v Broncos, the storyline is who’s better? The team (Texans) or player (Peyton)? In the second game, it’s the Pack offense v the Seahawks defense. And how will Russell Wilson do on the big stage?

  3. JohnT says:

    @emptywheel:

    OK, you’re right, but it’s still the exception to the rule.

    Dallas is still in the South, and Michigan needs to resurrect a new Bo Schembeckler (sp?) to be relevant again. They want to play in Dallas, lets see them play the Whorns. Or better, let’s see them play at Autzen Stadium for once. Or the Coliseum.

    I totally respect Tennessee, because they’ve had home and home series against ranked opponents on the road. And I totally, absolutely, and completely respect Boise State because they’ve played anyone. anywhere. anytime. and pleaded with teams to play them

    Tide, schmide

  4. rosalind says:

    @JohnT: concur on the Oregon St./UCLA game. lots of long bomb catches so far.

    ok, most have been called back on penalties or caught out of bounds, but still fun to watch.

  5. Jim White says:

    @bmaz: Heh. Well they did mention that Kentucky fans grabbed up all 24,000 tix for their Midnight Madness unveiling of the new roundball “team” (in quotes because really, Kentucky just rents players from the NBA for a year and then lets them move on) last night. Maybe the football players were up late last night making sure their friends picked up tickets for them.

    That said, though, 38-0 was a much bigger spread than expected and the color commentator now believes Driskel is the best QB in the SEC.

  6. Jim White says:

    Wait. I was paying attention to Neil Barofsky’s book salon at FDL with Mizzou-South Carolina on my TV. Who let Oregon State get ahead of my UCLA team?

  7. Peterr says:

    @bmaz: A momentary lapse, as the final score indicates: 23-7. But Ohio State has to be licking their chops for next week after watching the Spartans today.

  8. Peterr says:

    @Jim White: What CNBC ought to do on Saturday afternoons is stop with the infomercials and run video of Tim Geithner meetings. This week, Neil Barofsky. Next week, Sheila Bair. The following week, Elizabeth Warren. The week after that, bmaz.

    Popcorn futures would go through the roof when the schedule is announced.

  9. rosalind says:

    wow, how talk about playing through pain:

    “Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o had a terrible week of tragedy and loss. The Chicago Tribune reports that Te’o’s grandmother passed away on Tuesday night. The next day Te’o’s girlfriend, identified by the Detroit Free Press as Lennay Kekua, lost a battle with leukemia. The Chicago Tribune said Te’o plans to play at Michigan State…”

    http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/manti-te-o-notre-dame-play-grief-deaths-144408886–ncaaf.html

  10. Peterr says:

    Trash talk, Canadian version . . .

    A lengthy hearing before the Alberta Labour Relations Board about the legality of the NHL lockout ended without a decision Friday night, a spokesperson for the ALRB told ESPNNewYork.com. No decision is expected until early next week.

    Both the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association presented their cases in front of a three-person panel in Edmonton on Friday. The union filed an application on behalf of 21 players from the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, asserting the league-imposed lockout that began last weekend is illegal under Alberta Labour code.

    [snip]

    NHLPA lawyer Bob Blair told the panel that Edmonton and Calgary are Alberta businesses, so provincial labor laws must be followed.

    “No one gets to choose what labor laws apply to them in this province,” Blair said. “The law is the law is the law.”

    He said players from the Oilers and Flames never agreed to forgo their rights under the Alberta Labour Code.

    “It applies to every employer and employee,” he said. “That is the starting point.”

    NHL lawyer Peter Gall pointed out that 23 of the 30 teams are in the United States and work under the same rules because labor laws there are federally regulated.

    “So all of the players on all of the teams have been included in one bargaining unit,” Gall said. “The NHLPA has never bargained with individual teams. It has only bargained with the NHL.”

    The arrogance of the NHL position is breathtaking. Does Gall realize that he’s arguing in front of a Canadian labour board? (The extra “u” on all the paperwork ought to have clued him in.) US federal law may trump US state laws, but that does not extend to Canadian provincial law.

  11. Petrocelli says:

    @Peterr: Gary Bettman has been the best Commissioner in NBA history !

    He allows rich owners to offer astronomical salaries, then complain that players are too greedy … maybe he’ll run as the privileged Repub nominee in ’16.

  12. Petrocelli says:

    @bmaz: We’re getting chilly nights in the Big Smoke … cold enough that I have to wear a Coat while BBQing … oh, the humanity !

  13. Petrocelli says:

    @bmaz: Come on up ! We’ve got Joe Satriani rocking da joint and the Cognac is open *before* dinner to ward off the chill …

  14. bmaz says:

    Wow, this game is GREAT.

    Clearly I am not referring to the Weenies and Domes.

    Talking about FSU and Clemson on ABC. It is great football.

  15. OrionATL says:

    @emptywheel:

    at least one of you all can get to a bottom line – of course, it’s the only reporter among you.

    but since she writes for the webblog world, she doesn’t give a score.

    hell, i’m goin’ back to my free copy of usatoday.

  16. Peterr says:

    @Petrocelli: Too cold for beers?

    And you call yourself a Canadian . . .

    (No offense intended to Alain Delon, mind you, just a reaction to the ‘too cold’ comment. As one who has grilled and smoked dinner at temps that have dropped below -10 F, I have little sympathy for the ‘too cold’ excuse.)

  17. CTuttle says:

    @Peterr: *heh* Being an Edmonton-born NHL fanatic, I find it highly ironic that Alberta, the most conservative Province in the Confederation, is the veritable thorn in the side of the NHL, over Labor laws…! ;-)

  18. Bob Schacht says:

    @Brindle: Robinson is what, in his third year as starting QB at Michigan? And he still has problems setting his feet before he throws? And he threw 4 interceptions in the first half against Our Dame? I mean, I get that he is super-competitive, and wants to make every play work, but isn’t it about time that he show some smarts?

    On the other hand, Michigan’s defense played well, given the number of times the offense gave the Dame’s red zone possessions.

    Bob in AZ

  19. chetnolian says:

    Singapore. All the disadvantages of Indy and none of the advantages.

    Only really exciting thing; is Schumi finally being caught up by age like the rest of us and are his reactions slowing, unlike his car?

    Other good point, Di Resta 4th. Go Scotland!

  20. bmaz says:

    @chetnolian: Agreed on Schumacher. His equipment may not be the most reliable in the field, but it is fast and competitive. He has not done much with it other that brief flashes of the old master. I think he is done.

    The US commentators were saying that Franchiti was probably doing backflips somewhere about his friend Di Resta’s finish. I bet that is right.

  21. Jim White says:

    Wow. At halftime of Bucs-Boys game, Fox just showed replay of scab ref throwing hat into the field of play in end zone, possibly costing Cowboys a TD. Boys receiver slipped on hat, could have been injured. This was at least five yards inside the boundary. Hat is supposed to thrown on sideline to mark point where a player went out of bounds, isn’t it? This was thrown right at the player’s feet.

    Dump the scabs, pay the real officials!

  22. phred says:

    @rosalind: Hmmm. I’m starting to take this personally. I got hammered in my football pool the last two weekends. This weekend I figured the Niners were a lock to beat the Vikes, Metrodome or no. I put 16 points on them. Evidently the football curse on my head has not lifted. My apologies to the Niners. If not for me, they might have been on track for a perfect season ; )

  23. emptywheel says:

    Made the mistake of taking a shower during the last 2 minutes of the Kitties game and … somehow they’re all tied up. (OK, I saw the onsides kick in replay).

  24. rosalind says:

    are you kidding?! NO/KC game is finally over but i don’t get the Raiders game i get the Jets/Miami overtime now? grrrr.

    i’d really like to see the silver & black in action before it’s 35-7 Steelers.

  25. phred says:

    @emptywheel: Or submitted any picks ; ) I lost all three of the overtime games, including the 15 points I put on your kitties, EW. Perhaps I should take up an interest in cricket…

  26. Peterr says:

    KC won? No way!

    (heading over to one of those sportsy sites for the details)

    Hmmm . . . The Chief’s sole touchdown came on a 91 yard run by Jamaal Charles. Other than that, it was all Ryan Succup and his right leg. Otherwise, it looks like the Chiefs were pretty much the Chiefs

    As for the Saints . . .

    Drew Brees passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns, but missed all six of his passes through the fourth quarter and overtime, when the Saints were unable to get a single first down.

    Upon further review, the ruling on the field is reversed: the Chiefs did not win; the Saints lost.

    To be fair, they had help from the Replacement Refs. The Saints defense picked up a fumble and ran it into the endzone, but the initial ruling was that the receiver was down and the ball was blown dead. That ruling was reversed, but because the whistle was blown, the TD was not allowed. All the Saints got out of it was the ball, not the points.

  27. rosalind says:

    damn. scary injury for a raider. best case he was knocked out. worst case…ack. surrounded by personnel, gurney on field.

    added: heyward-bey gives thumbs up from gurney.

  28. Bob Schacht says:

    I’m still rubbing my eyes. Came back half-way through the 4th quarter of the Cards vs. Iggles, and the Cards had it 24-6! Can this be true, or was I hallucinating? No trash about it here; is everyone too dumbfounded to speak? And I am still flummoxed by the Cards 3-0 start. We haven’t had a start like this since the Kurt Warner days– and Kolb is no Kurt Warner. Am I still hallucinating???

    Bob in AZ

  29. rosalind says:

    @rosalind: good news on Heyward-Bey:

    “Darrius Heyward-Bey, who took a nasty shot in the head against the Steelers, was released this morning from Eden Medical Center after spending the night under observation. The Raiders receiver is resting at home with a concussion and neck strain, and expected to make a full recovery.”

  30. quebecois says:

    Late to the trash. Watching that hellish mickey mouse GP right now. Just saw Schu brake into Vergne. In his haydays, Schu would have blamed Vergne, the Kaiser is over. And Button almost collecting Vettel right before the restart, exciting stuff. I really hate using the word hate, but, I agree, I hate that track. Kudos to the tv crew, using wide lens in the narrower section gives some pretty nice visuals.

  31. scribe says:

    Touchdown … touchback?

    There’s a difference?

    Footlocker called, guys, and they want you back in the stores n-o-w now.

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