In favor of Michigan-OSU II

November 21st, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

If there’s one thing the BCS is good for - in fact, perhaps the only thing it’s good for, since it ain’t so good at distinguishing the best two college football teams every year - is open-ended conversation. It’s like you can’t be wrong:

Dude 1: Hey, I think Florida should go to the National Championship.

Dude 2: WHAT!? USC is by far the better team, nimrod. USC should go!

Dude 1: Well, um, I have no real understanding of the system, so I guess I can’t argue with you there. I respect your point of view, sir.

Dude 2: And I respect yours.

Dude 1: Wow…OK.

Dude 2: Yeah. So. This got awkward.

Dude 1: A bit.

Dude 2: Yeah.

Dude 1: FUCK THE BCS!!!

Dude 2: Yeah, fuck it!!!

Dude 1: We’re friends now!!!

And…scene. You see? There are no really wrong answers, except to say that you like the BCS. And I think Skip Bayless usually does that once right around this time of year…

But here’s the point I want to get around to making. And Bomani Jones, a very likable, level-headed Page 2 contributor (who even - gasp! - has his own blog), made halfway for me yesterday.

Why shouldn’t Michigan play again for the BCS title? What would possibly be bad about this? Well, two quick things: USC, who has a much tougher schedule than Michigan, would lose out; and Florida (or Arkansas) would get screwed. Once again, the SEC - the country’s best conference, by far - would be left out of the National Championship.

But in examining those three teams, do you see either Florida, Arkansas, or USC as summarily better than Michigan? Do you think any of those teams could have realistically taken Ohio State to the wire in Columbus? I say no. Michigan’s the second best team in the country, hands down, and they should be afforded the opportunity any second-best team should ever get - the chance to compete for first-best. (Not a word.)

In fact, this year might be easier than BCS years past. We’ve already seen the best two teams play each other in the regular season. There’s no need to calculate anything, really. Just send ‘em back out there again. And rest assured that no matter what happens, a tournament has to, and soon. Or silly little blogs like ours will spend a bit too much time writing about the BCS, and that’s not good for anybody.

UPDATE: MJD has a good take on this - as well as some thoughtful commenters rounding out the discussion.

Case of the Mondays: Bears, Bears, Bears

November 13th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

Bears…phew

How about the Cardiac Bears? The Chi-town Stroke-Inducers? The team that either dominates or barely wins after a sustained period of seeming collapse?

None too catchy, I suppose.

We need to start brainstorming a name. Granted, last night’s 38-20 win wasn’t necessarily heart attack-worthy, but it did cause yours truly - and surely, a legion of Bears fans - to wonder why every year so much potential was squandered with relative mediocrity.

But, alas, the Bears pulled out a win, thanks to Devin Hester’s trickery and a resurgent second half offense. And do the Bears have a name for the 108 yard kickoff return play? Because, like us for them, they need a name for it.

NBA:

The Rockets - thanks to Yao’s surge (finally) - took down the Heat. Essential carbon copies of each other, perhaps the Rockets are the new blood. The Heat certainly look sluggish … old even.

Awkward. That’s the best way to describe Vince Carter’s overtime-forcing three that just sort of, um, fell in to the hoop last night. His quote, on whether the old ball would have gone in:

“If it would’ve hit like that? Heck no. No way.”

Well, that settles that. Thanks David Stern!

College Football

Check out that dateline. Stewart was in town this week! Anyway, he witnessed a Michigan beatdown that effectively set up Saturday’s OSU-UMICH Footballgasm. Until then, we can talk about the BCS, a strange beast if ever there was one.

Say peace to: Texas, California, Auburn, and any chance Tennessee had, which wasn’t much of a chance at all. Will it be Rutgers, or Arkansas, or someone else taking that Big Ten title game winner? Only time will tell.