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This and that
Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
It has really been a wacky college football season, and just when you thought you had it figured out, Darren McFadden and Arkansas win at No. 1 LSU. Wow, that performance put McFadden back into the wild Heisman race. Look at the number of candidates: McFadden, Tim Tebow of Florida, Chase Daniel of Missouri, Colt Brennan of Hawaii, Matt Ryan of Boston College, Pat White of West Virginia, and the hits keep on coming. With that said, I still feel Florida's Tebow will not be denied. McFadden rushed for 206 yards against the Tigers, but Tebow solidified his chances with a great game in a rout over Florida State.
The BCS is a mess and as I have said before, college basketball is light years ahead of college football in determining a true champion. Look at the number of teams with one loss in college football. There is a need for a playoff system in the sport to determine a real champion. Unfortunately that will not happen in the next few years. Meanwhile, I will go out and say the national title game will feature West Virginia and Ohio State. Sorry Missouri fans, after the emotional win over Kansas, the Tigers will lose again to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. The Sooners won an earlier meeting this season, 41-31.
Torii Hunter's signing with the Angels surprised some people. There were a lot of teams interested in the former Twins outfielder, and he will patrol center field while Gary Matthews Jr. will see some time as DH. Mike Scioscia will probably give Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero some relief as DH as well.
Brett Favre and Peyton Manning really showed something on Thanksgiving Day, leading their respective teams to big wins. How do you figure out the Raiders winning in Kansas City, or the Giants being blown out at home by the Vikings. Minnesota was aided by three interception returns for touchdowns. The Rams looked ready to upset the Seahawks until Gus Frerotte fumbled late in the contest. It has been that kind of season for the Rams. Cleveland continues to impress after a win over Houston. The Browns are clearly one of the big surprises in football this season.
Injuries have been a factor in college basketball already this season, but Ben Howland of UCLA has to wonder what is going on. His star guard, Darren Collison, an All-Solid Gold performer, has missed several games. Michael Roll, an outstanding shooter, as well as James Keefe, have also been sidelined. Kevin Love rolled his ankle in a recent game but should be ok. Then came word that forward Alfred Aboya suffered a fractured orbital bone in his right eye, an injury which may sideline him for a while if he needs surgery. Stay tuned my friends, though Howland has depth and his team showed it can gut things out with their win over Michigan State in the CBE event in Kansas City.
North Carolina guard Ty Lawson, the engine that makes the Tar Heels offense run, suffered an ankle injury against BYU. Lawson played just two minutes in North Carolina's victory over BYU at the Las Vegas Invitational. Injuries can wreak havoc to a team and we have to see about the severity of the injury. The Tar Heels have a tough week with games against Ohio State and Kentucky.
Speaking of the Cougars, BYU spoiled the party in Las Vegas. The Cougars ruined the potential North Carolina-Louisville match-up, and then Dave Rose's squad gave the Tar Heels all they could handle in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational. I was so impressed with BYU big man Trent Plaisted, who can really run the floor, shoot, rebound. A lot of people across America may not have heard of him, arguably the top player in the Mountain West. They should know about him now, my friends. He is a legit PTP'er.
How about a salute to Texas hoops. After losing Kevin Durant to the NBA, some may have felt Rick Barnes' team would take a step down this season. That is obviously not the case when you see the way the Longhorns handled Tennessee and Chris Lofton. Texas has one of the best backcourts in America in D. J. Augustin and A. J. Abrams.
Talk about a pressure performance, what about Stephen Ames sinking a putt worth $650,000 on the 18th hole of the Skins Game Sunday. Wow, that is impressive.
It looks like the boxing career of Fernando Vargas is over, baby! Ricardo Mayorga scored a 12-round decision over Vargas, who said this was his last fight. He enjoyed an illustrious career, but it is time to hang up the gloves. He had a number of high-profile fights in his career, including battles with Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Winky Wright.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
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