PSoTD

October 1st is the 104th anniversary of the very first World Series game, between the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pretty damn amazing.

On the other hand, if they, at this point, still don't make the playoffs, it would be the cruelest collapse in a history laden with such.

This one's for PSoTD. I'll let Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune do the dishonors.

It's almost impossible to see how the Bears can reach their goal of a Super Bowl victory this season, not after what we saw Sunday night in a 34-10 loss to Dallas.

After the game, there was only one thing on the mind of clear-thinking people: For the love of all that is good, don't say it, Lovie Smith. Bite your lip. Resist the temptation.

Don't.

Say.

It.

"Rex Grossman is our quarterback," Smith said.

I was afraid he was going to say that.

Last night was no surprise to me. My investment in the Cowboys was handsomely rewarded.

Rex Grossman is the Anthony Morelli of the NFL.

I hope, I hope, I hope that the Reds do not bring La Russa into their organization. I don't care about his record of winning, I think the record of his players being seen as "enhancers" with steroids and other supplements isn't something that Cincinnati needs to stigmatize their franchise with - and yes, I think both Oakland and St. Louis players under La Russa's management periods will end up having a bit of skeptical stigma to their performances. As will La Russa.

Plus, I really don't think he's that great of a manager, it's just that there's a lot of pretty dumb managers that have been clogging up major league baseball for years.

I wonder if the blackouts are going to give it a big black eye this year. I heard a DJ complaining about the Penn State game not being on just a few minutes ago, won't be surprised if we hear that more often this year.

Sure seems like a nice opportunity for other football conferences to get some deserved exposure on national television, however.

I really suspect that we'll see more of this in 2007.

It was one of the strangest looking plays you’ll see all year — the one where Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris launches himself into the San Diego backfield to the surprise of quarterback Philip Rivers for sure.

It came on second-and-goal from the 1 on the Chargers’ first series of the third quarter. Rivers never got control of the snap and Mike Brown recovered for Chicago to maintain a 3-0 lead.

With LaDainian Tomlinson potentially having three more cracks to get one yard, Harris started thinking.

“You’re on the goal-line. What are you going to do?” he said. “Throw a flag and we’ll do it again.

“I had to make something happen. I just went when I saw movement.”

Still, you’ve got to like Harris’ thought process. If he gets whistled, the ball moves about one length closer to the end zone. If he can disrupt the snap, as he did, a potentially game-turning turnover could result.

Now look for Harris — and no doubt other teams — to employ the strategy in key situations.

There was a lot, as a fan of the Chicago Bears, to be impressed with yesterday. I thought that the defensive scheme, for the most part, was perfect. I think I'll like the new defensive coordinator. Grossman may have been pedestrian, but he wasn't the reason they lost - his interception was really Berrian's fault, running one of the most half-assed routes I've ever seen in the NFL.

But there's a lot to be unhappy about. Number one: Mike Brown's injury. Does this really have to happen every season to the guy? We'll see how good a DC we have now, I guess.

Number two:

2.2 average per rush for Cedric Benson, for 42 yards.

I know it's early, and San Diego is one of the best defenses in the league, but Benson has to do better than this. Much, much better. Add to this that he's a pass dropper, and I'm really concerned that the Thomas Jones trade for not nearly enough is going to bite the Bears on the ass all season long.

Related thoughts: The Family Blog, Ivy Chat, Non Compete, Blitzedoffmypass.com

Here's a guy that belongs to the "Blame Rex For Everything" club. What a Maroon.

but it sure seems like Tony LaRussa has been around a lot of players that are suspected to have taken something artificial for muscle growth.

You might be able to find a couple here but they aren't staying posted long. No scalpers allowed.

If you don't have any luck, scads of University of Buffalo tickets are available for next week!

PS: Take the Irish and the points.

Make NFL predictions. Here's mine:

AFC Divisional Champions

AFC East - New England Patriots
AFC North - Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South - Indianapolis Colts
AFC West - San Diego Chargers

Wild Cards - Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans

NFC Divisional Champions

NFC East - Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North - Chicago Bears
NFC South - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West - Arizona Cardinals

Wild Cards - New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers

Really. Give Rex a break, Bears fans.