Oh, No!!

Back in September, I fearlessly predicted that the New Orleans Saints, with their explosive offense and improving defense would be Super Bowl winners this year. When I wandered into the library I saw with dismay this cover on the current Sports Illustrated. Cursed again!

But then I went to their online version and I saw this pic of Ryan Howard as the cover photo. I wish it was A-Rod or someone from the Yanks instead--drat, cursed again!
I don't know if this a regional variation--those of us outside NY and Philly got Reggie Bush flying through the air and they got Ryan Howard. Another variation is subscriber vs. new stand. Either way, we will have to watch for the impact of the infamous SI cover curse.

World Series Update

Cliff Lee was lights out for the Phillies as he held them Yankees to 6 hits and one unearned run in yesterday's Game 1. CC Sabathia had a Grienke experience, yielding just two runs over 7 innings and still losing. Anyone out of the Yankee's bullpen not named Rivera is someone that can be had. Final score Phils 6 Yanks 1.

Game 2 is in progress. Our Man Raul has a double, a run scored and a nice outfield catch. There was also some sort of hit-and-run hiccup with Ibanez at the plate, resulting in a pick-off and then Raul struck out. Also in the game Ryan Howard came up with 2 on and 2 out and struck out making Girardi look like a genius for the intentional walk he issued.

They're in the bottom of the 7th now, Yankees ahead 2-1. Both starters, Pedro Martinez and AJ Burnett still in at this time. Yankees runs are both homers, first by Teixeira, then by Matsui.

Game time temp: 52 degrees, no precipitation.

Forecast for Philadelphia: Friday--cloudy with highs in the 60s, overnight lows in the 50s. Saturday--50% chance of showers with highs in the 70s, overnight lows around 50 with a 70% chance of showers. Sunday--Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers with highs in the 60s. More sun but cooler on Monday.

Update to the update: Yankees won 3-1. Raul Ibanez had another double in the 9th but was left on base when Super Mariano Rivera struck out the next hitter. Super Mariano must be glad for another day off; he threw more than 30 pitches in a two inning save, his second in a row. Yankees do not trust their set up men at all! Andy Pettitte against Cole Hamels in game 3 in Philly on Saturday night.

Super Mariano Rivera (AP photo)

LJ Suspended

The Chiefs have suspended Larry Johnson for two weeks. He will miss one game, on November 8th. His agent is appealing.

Prelude to release?

I still like making him sit on the inactive list the rest of the season. He'll still make money but he won't play,and he won't be able to ride the coattails of a good team. Then, BAM, cut at the end of the season.

Josh Freeman to Start for Tampa Bay

Josh Freeman, Grandview High grad, and former Kansas State University QB will start for the Tampa Bay Bucs November 8th against the Green Bay Packers. I hope he does well. He was an awesome high school athlete, head and shoulders above everyone else on the field. Hopefully, the Bucs won't get too behind early, so he can do more than drop back, and then, run for his life, as he had to during the plays he got this past Sunday.

Your LJ Update

Larry Johnson has been suspended from team activities and told to stay away from the team. No sign yet that he has been cut. There is noise on the blogosphere that he will be cut. I would bet there are issues surrounding conduct and LJ's contract. Last year, the Chiefs got some relief from the league on LJ's contract costs due to his conduct. That may be what is holding up the inevitable.

Links:

KC Star: LJ's dad speaks on controversy.

KC Star releases tape of remark in locker room Monday

RealGMFootball thinks Larry's a goner.

As I said when I left a comment on TKC, who has blogged quite a bit on this story, his insubordination to Todd Haley is worse than his insensitive use of the word "faggot."

He has to go.

Forecast for Game 1 of the World Series

Tonight's weather forecast for the Bronx, NY, home of the American League champion New York Yankees:

Cloudy with a chance of drizzle. Light rain likely...mainly this evening. Breezy with lows in the upper 40s. North winds 15-20 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

At game time, about 8:00 EDT, it is forecast to be in the lower 50s. Perfect baseball weather!

Well, it's not sleeting or snowing or 30 degrees...right now, around 4:30 EDT, it's 55 degrees and drizzling in the Bronx.

Cliff Lee against CC Sabathia for tonight's pitching match-up. Should be a good one, if the weather allows.

The forecast for Thursday at this time is for partly cloudy skies with overnight lows in the upper 40s and a south breeze around 5 mph. A game time temp in the lower 50s is again forecast.

Really, that's not too bad.

World Series 2009: New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Nick Sloan wrote on his blog how this is the WS from Hell for true blue Royals fans: those damn Yankees verses the Phillies, who beat the Royals in 1980 for the championship. It isn't any picnic for New York Mets fans either, what with the Damn Yankees and the Phillies, with whom the Mets have fought for years. So, what's a fan to do? I couldn't ignore the World Series if my life depended on it. So, here's how we're handling it.

We're rooting for Raul Ibanez. Seriously, the former Royal is one of my favorite players. He is a classy guy, who never quit, and has made himself into a very good player. Ibanez is a Phillie now, and a guy easy to cheer on. I'll also tap my Phillies past, my four years in the Philadelphia metroplex, with some good memories of the Phillies there. Also, the Phillies are the underdog, and it's fun to root for the underdog.

One series certainty: At some point, the weather will suck. This is too late to be playing baseball in the northeast. There will be one game either postponed, or played in terrible weather. Bank on it.

Ibanez as a Royal. Kevin Seitzer helped him be a better hitter.

Ibanez started out blazing hot, then was injured and was not as hot at the bat after his return. According to Sports Illustrated, he has an issue with an abdominal muscle that needs surgery. He could play without the surgery, and he is playing. Post season has agreed with him however, as both average and power have improved from the latter half of the regular season. Go Raul!

And Here is The First Butt Kicking

Let's be real, folks. The Chiefs have to dump Larry Johnson, either by cutting him or exiling him to the inactive list for the rest of the season. Truly, it was only a matter of time with continued losing, and his continued poor statistics that he would blow up. (I understand that gambling types had pools on when LJ would lose it. Well whoever had October 25th, you're the winner!) Larry doesn't seem to get it that he is not an "every man" who can say and do what he wants. He is under that big microscope where every mutter is monitored. He seems to be a pretty self centered guy, who is all about Larry Johnson. Time for him to go.

Yes. Another Sports Blog

Sports was taking over. So it's time to exile sports to a second blog. I did not come to this decision lightly. First, would I have enough time to maintain two decent blogs? Second, would there be enough material? But truly sports is never lacking for story lines. My goodness, there's enough today for a bunch of entries. And as far as time is concerned? Sports is more opinion than fact based. I can do sports entries quick, like the quick hitter yesterday on the Chiefs. Besides, the photos are compelling. Didn't Todd Haley look like he was about to cry?

So here is the South Kansas City Observer Sports Division. Welcome!