PSoTD

Damn, that's an addicting game for anyone who would like to be a pro football general manager.

Fix the defense.

Time to find replacement for Urlacher at middle linebacker and Brown at safety. That doesn't mean get rid of either player, particularly Urlacher who should move to the side. Defensive line needs help, so do the corners.

Any team that had some balance to their offense was a problem for the Bears. Houston was a prime example, they can pass and they can run. The Bears spent all season trying to stop one or the other - but not both - in a game. You can't win that way.

In other thoughts about the NFL, it looks to me like two teams that didn't make the playoffs in the AFC - the same Houston Texans, and surprisingly, the Oakland Raiders - are climbing towards playoff caliber. Don't believe me about the Raiders? 5-11, and sadly the second best defense in their division. The last three weeks, the offense seemed to figure out how to score - that's what ought to scare the Chargers.

In the NFC, the 49ers are the common candidate for improvement to playoff status next year, and Singletary should prove to be a tough coach and move them forward. I think the most interesting offseason could be the St. Louis Rams - the right head coach could make a big difference.

So which team choked most when they most needed a win?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
New York Jets?
Denver Broncos?
Philadelphia Eagles?
Minnesota Vikings?

The Chicago Bears could add themselves to the list tonight, but I hope not. Special recognition to the Arizona Cardinals, who are getting into the playoffs but showing no reason for why they should be allowed to...

I want to play hoops at the White House. I have to figure out a way to be invited.

Obama gives Everyman’s game a shot in the arm, writes Matt Dickinson.

It was a victory celebrated across the world, but nowhere more so than in a Fifth Avenue office in New York. At the headquarters of the National Basketball Association (NBA), they did not just welcome Barack Obama as president-elect of the US, but as an exciting new star in the world of slam dunk.

We wait to discover how Obama will resolve the world’s financial crisis, when he will withdraw troops from Iraq and whether he can bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

But we already know he is intent on installing a basketball court at the White House so that he can wind down the way he loves best — by shooting a few hoop.

I'd probably think, like I do now, that this is a pretty dipshitty expense of money during tough financial times...

The final price tag for firing Chuck Long and hiring Brady Hoke to San Diego State could be around $1.8 million, including only the costs associated with the transition of one football coach to another.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the QB at Ball State bolt for the NFL after this...

Stan Parrish, Ball State's offensive coordinator the past three seasons, signed a four-year contract on Thursday and promised a smooth transition as the new coach of the 23rd-ranked Cardinals.

He replaces Brady Hoke, who resigned this week to become the coach at San Diego State, and his first game will be on Jan. 6, when the Cardinals play Tulsa (10-3) in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

"Brady's footprints, fortunately, will stay on the program," Parrish said at a news conference announcing the coaching change. "It makes the transition for me very, very easy. There will be a lot of continuity in this program, because I had a lot of say in what we did before. That's a wonderful situation."

Hoke was 34-38 in six years as coach, including 12-1 this season.

Why couldn't Hoke stick with the team through the bowl game? Their success this year is the ONLY reason anyone is offering him a job for next year.

The Cincinnati Reds strengthened their bullpen Friday by agreeing to a $4 million, two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes.

One word as a fan: Ugh.

But losing to Buffalo last night pretty much insured I'm not buying this for our nephew for Christmas.

Sounds like a pretty interesting game if it happens:

There has been serious discussion between bowl representatives, school officials, conference commissioners and ESPN about pairing Ball State and Boise State in a bowl game—if the Cardinals win the MAC title to improve their record to 13-0.

So many choices, it could be Kyle Orton's interception extravaganza, or the fact that Devin Hester can't seem to keep his feet under himself anymore, or that the receivers couldn't get ready to catch the catchable balls that Orton passed.

Or it could be that horribly crappy Bears defense, unable to stop the run even with most of their players at the line.

Or it could be Lovey Smith's "look of the lost" during much of the game when the cameras panned to him.

So many choices. I'll go with the toothless defense, I guess.

Well, it's something to consider for anyone hooked on playing BeTheCoachBasketball.com.

Barring any critical injuries to starting quarterbacks or running backs, it's going to be the Chicago Bears. Prediction of final record:

9-7 Chicago Bears
8-8 Green Bay Packers
8-8 Minnesota Vikings

I see the Vikings taking a one game lead this week by beating the Bears, but it's bad news for them after that, because after playing Detroit, they have Arizona, Atlanta and the New York Giants. If, in that final game, the Giants are NOT playing for home field advantage, then the Vikes might actually luck out and win this division, but the Giants have a rough 5 games left and I see a loss or two coming.

The winner of the division will be the winner of the 12/22 game of Green Bay at Chicago, and I'm betting on it being Chicago. On the other hand, I'm also expecting Carolina to beat Green Bay this weekend, and Carolina has been quite Jeckyl and Hyde lately, so if that doesn't happen, I'll have to recalibrate.

Escaping with a victory at Central Michigan didn't add much to Ball State's resume. However, there are a few chances that higher seeds may lose today.

As much as I'd like to see it, I don't see Ohio State falling today. Michigan stinks. Maybe they can make their season today with an upset, but I won't believe it until the final horn sounds and they're ahead.

On the other hand, I think Penn State is going down today, at the hands of Michigan State. I'm not sure this will help Ball State, and it may hurt them. Penn State may not fall below Ball State, and Michigan State might get a road win benefit that would boost them past BSU.

My secret hope is that Nevada plays the game of their season and beats Boise State. It could also help if Brigham Young plays their best road game of the season and beats Utah. Of course, BYU is ranked 16th and could jump up with an impressive road win, too.

I wonder what kind of an increase Ball State has seen in the sale of their clothing swag.

How "rotisserie league" got its name:

1979 - On a flight to Austin, Texas, Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what would become Rotisserie League Baseball. Had the friends he was seeing not ignored these rules, the Rotisserie League would have been called Pit League, after the Austin barbecue joint where Okrent first unveiled them. Two weeks later in New York, he pitches the idea to a more receptive group with whom Okrent lunched monthly at La Rotisserie Francaise.

Ball State won their game on Tuesday, but it sure seems like slim pickings for them to move up any this week in the NCAA rankings. I guess Illinois has a shot of beating Ohio State, who is ranked 10th and might drop below Ball State if the loss was strong enough.

Any other loss by a "Top 13" team would be a pretty big upset. If I were to spot one that might happen, I guess it would be that Utah gets sloppy playing in San Diego on a Saturday night.

I'm looking to buy one of those portable basketball goals for the kids, preferably one that comes on wheels and has a very secure grounding system to keep it from tipping. Unfortunately, our driveway is on a slope, but I was thinking I could put this in the backyard. It would be only for shooting, I wouldn't put a playing surface down for games, but I wouldn't sweat the dead grass, either.

I have no intention of buying a new one, as they cost considerably more than I want to pay AND I've seen too many of these for sale in garage sales and from time to time on Craigslist to commit a lot of money to it. Anyone have any experience with portable basketball goals? Any suggestions on what to look for or to avoid?

I admit, until a few days ago I had never looked at the BCS bowl stipulations for selections, but since Ball State is on the outskirts of such a game, I took a look. There are some pretty ridiculous rules protecting conferences and leagues regarding automatic berths, but this, by far, is the most ridiculous:

4. Notre Dame will have an automatic berth if it is in the top eight of the final BCS Standings.

It's not ridiculous that a team in the top eight gets an automatic berth. It IS ridiculous that a school specifically be listed. Why not Navy, or Western Kentucky? Why not just any independent?

If there were a time where Notre Dame, Army and Navy were in the top eight of the final BCS Standings, only Notre Dame would be guaranteed to go to a BCS bowl game. That's just not right.

If you've played, you've seen them all...

Why is he still coaching the Texans? Man, that was a horribly called game against the Ravens.

So where will they be in the NCAA Football national rankings today? I'm guessing they slip by TCU and LSU and just maybe OK State, either 13th or 14th. Georgia should drop under them instead of LSU, but probably won't.

BTW, here's the record of the Mid-American Conference (which Ball State belongs) against other conferences in 2008:

Big Ten 4-8
Big East 2-4
Big Twelve 0-3
Conference USA 1-0
Western Athletic 1-1
Mountain West 1-1
SEC 0-3
ACC 0-1
Pac 10 0-1

And that is what is really hurting Ball State's chances of getting to a BCS game.

When will the Sacramento Kings win their first game? Maybe when Minnesota comes to town in a few days?

Obviously, I don't know diddly about baseball. Congratulations for a great managing job.

Yes, yes, and yes. Tim McCarver has reached Joe Garagiola territory - once a little bit of his chummy broadcasting felt like a good thing, but now it is old and stale and reminds me of the Christmas fruitcake in February - will anyone ever just do the right thing and take it out to the trash?

Hey, if Fox wants the new chummy, go get John Kruk.

Whoda thunk...

It’s nearly time to consider Kyle Orton a must own fantasy QB. He did it again Sunday, completing 21-of-32 for 283 yards with two TDs and no interceptions as the Bears won a slugfest over the Vikes. Give Orton three straight solid performances.

Especially those who have Brett Favre and Carson Palmer as their quarterbacks...

Ranked in the Top 25!

Ugh. Maybe this does explain the weird management of Dusty Baker.

But nothing explains the free agent pickup by the Bengals of one Cedric Benson. I guess they don't have enough problems already.

Well, can you, punk?

Both kids are now registered in the Cumberland Valley Youth Basketball Association. Evaluations are in late October, practices start pretty soon after that. Basketball season around our house is a very busy time, but a fun time - I really enjoy it.

Now that we have two kids in this league, I've had to make a decision, and this year I'll coach our oldest and assistant coach the youngest. Games and practices will conflict and the head coach really should be there unless of an emergency - that's the commitment you make to the kids on the team, and their parents.

The sad part of that is that this is likely to be my last year of head coaching hoops for the oldest. She and I have already discussed it, and the three of us (including the youngest) are in agreement - next year she'll need a different coach, hopefully someone who can bring coaching and kid talents to the table that I don't, and I'll head coach his team as well.

The NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This is about the closest thing to a handy guide for information on ordering tickets for the Final Four.

I watched a little bit of them in exhibition against the 49ers last night, and I have to say, if this is as lifeless as the Bears defense is going to be, then Lovey Smith should get fired by the end of the season, because that was listless.

Is Rashied Davis the only BEAR that is PUMPED Up? I don’t see many players motivated to win. You cannot turn the switch on/off in a blink of an eye. No enthusiasm and intensity, especially on defense. Where is the sense of urgency? Are the Chicago Bears in game mode? Indianapolis awaits - when will the Bears come out of hibernation?

Hey Bears fans - let's not get too excited.

I'll run a freebie on Yahoo for anyone that wants to play along, just email me or post a comment and I'll put you in.

I'm not watching the Olympics except for when it's on at the YMCA while I'm working out, and the one thing that has stood out to me during whatever competitions are on (this morning was women's volleyball) - there's a hell of a lot of empty seats.

Apparently events are sold out but people just aren't going? I saw this happen at the NCAA Men's Basketball first round in Anaheim this year as well, and I think it's truly screwed up. The idea that people can afford expensive tickets - and particularly the good seats that you can see on a televised angle for a sport are good tickets - and don't bother to show up should be unacceptable to amateur sports. I suspect that if you lowered the price of the tickets to something that the average person could easily afford, you wouldn't have this problem.