Sports World Crazy

It used to be that the world of sports had a predictable rhythm based on the seasons of the year. Concerns of the games themselves occupied our time in reliable time periods and generally out of season sports keep themselves to themselves. Not any more.

Furthermore, the news isn't just confined to the field of play. We have courtrooms and board rooms in the mix too.

So, what has happened? The two hottest stories right now are one, Missouri moving to the SEC. Two, the horrible sexual abuse case swirling around Penn State's football program and its legendary coach Joe Paterno.

West Virginia, pending legal action, is joining the Big 12.

Melky Cabrera was traded to the San Francisco Giants for two pitchers, one with a lot of possibilities.

The NBA is on strike and truly looks dead in the water at this point. Larger and larger chunks of the season are going away.

On the field of play, our Chiefs played a gutsy, heart filled and somewhat lucky game Monday night against San Diego, then laid a Sunday egg against winless Miami. The Giants and Jets are doing pretty well, with the Giants coming back against New England; with the NFC east playing the AFC east, Giants wins against Jets division foes count double!

Joe Pa is probably going to have to end his wonderful career with the distasteful stink of this scandal on it. He did what was legally required. Why he stopped there, and didn't go further to make sure that it was taken care of is any one's guess.

Missouri leaving has a bundle of implications for Kansas City, and for the wonderful ancient rivalry with Kansas. Mostly negative. KU does not want to play Mizzou and it is not likely that the Big 12 will play its tournament in a state that does not have a team in the conference.

College basketball is just starting, NASCAR is just ending and baseball winter meetings are just around the corner.

Those are the right things here.

Oh, and Tampa Bay lost to New Orleans. Josh has thrown more INTs half way into this season then all of last year. Pay attention, Josh!

A Lot Is Happening!

Really--Josh was on MNF--Chiefs won--Giants are doing OK--Jets in search of offense--Eagles crash and burn--Saints look ready to return to a Super Bowl--Vikings are terrible and Green Bay wonderful .

Only one series is over in the baseball post season and two are in game five tomorrow--the D-Backs are fighting to make it three game fives.

Missouri is likely leaving the Big 12, Nebraska got skunked by Wisconsin and Kansas State is in the top 25.

So see I am paying attention!

NFL Lock Out Over

Well, the lock out is over. Agreements and votes were taken and now the season can proceed. "Silly Season" will be condensed greatly, and perhaps a bit less silly. Drafted players need to get signed, get their playbooks and get learning. Free agents signed. Etc.

In this condensed time, we will find out some things...

We'll find out what players managed to stay in the best shape without the OTAs they were used to that helped keep them accountable for their conditioning.

We'll find out what teams have the best scouting for obscure free agents, undrafted college players, and late draft picks, because these players will not have much time to show themselves.

We'll find out which rookies are the quickest studies and able to pick up complex pro play books.

Teams with established quarterbacks and coaches will have an advantage over those who are searching or have just changed.

There are a few teams that should just figure on rebuilding and not winning much this year, and their fans will hate every moment of the 2011-12 season.

Chiefs shopping list: Another wide out (we did draft one, but should look at FAs), nose tackle, offensive line, running back.

Giants shopping list: New accuracy for Eli. Really. The team was OK, but all those turnovers--nightmares!

Jets shopping list: Offensive line, running back, receiver. I seem to remember struggling to score at times.

Fantasy players are thrilled.

Code writers for the video games are frantic...

NFL: Getting Close?

Well the owners liked their plan. The players? Not so much.

More meetings this weekend between owners and players. There is still space for slip ups. One game has been canceled--the Hall of Fame game. Some are optimistic, but I do think they could still strike. It would be a very bad idea. Just saying.

That Was a Short Pause...

With the Super Bowl so late, now going into February, it was just a short pause in sports action before things got lively again.

Pitchers and catchers reported to MLB Spring Training.

It's getting so we can tell who is going to win the regular season NCAA hoops conference championships.

High school divisionals are coming--though it's hard to tell exactly when as the weather has really mucked with the regular season.

The Daytona 500 is next weekend.

NFL Draft is coming up and silly season is getting started.

Just to put it in perspective, MLB opens last day of March here in KC--about when the finals will be determined in NCAA D-I men's hoops.

Let the Spring games begin!

Midseason Lull

I guess maybe...

World Cup soccer--over

NHL and NBA--over. Including LeBron

NASCAR, golf and tennis--primarily weekend events.

Football--not started yet.

Baseball--on midseason break.

Nuttin' goin' on here...

News Roundup: There's Baseball and There's Everything Else...

Tiger Woods has a neck injury, and is taking time off. After missing the cut in one tournament and throwing in the towel on a second, Woods says he has a bad disk in his neck. I suspect it was hard physically to restart after his months off and now he is finding out that we all are less elastic at 30+ then at 20+. His swing coach resigned. His swing coach says Tiger is a sex addict. He also said that Tiger played with pain in the past, so this must really hurt.

Tiger's not done with golf, but it is an uphill climb for him big time!

Cleveland Cavs upset by Boston. As a former New Yawker and Knicks fan, I can barely stomach the Celtics, and I was hoping that Cleveland could beat Boston. However, LeBron James has an arm injury, and may be struggling with the inexperience that comes from no college career (no experience in big games, winning big games and so forth), and the experienced and healthy Celtics beat them badly. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are peaking at the right time. Next: Orlando.

Lakers survive the Thunder...How often does this happen in the NBA? A top seeded team struggles in the first round with the lowest seed and then proceeds to beat the pants off of everyone else. So far, so scripted for LA, who were scared by the Oklahoma City team, and haven't turned a hair with any one else. Boston-LA finals anyone?

Washington Wizards win the NBA lottery...probably will take John Wall of Kentucky with pick. They are almost as badly managed and have as bad luck as the LA Clippers, so they'll probably still suck next year.

Big 12 Conference in peril...Missouri might go Big 10, along with Nebraska. Media money not good. It appears that the Big 12 will cease to exist, unless they aggressively court good midmajor teams to join up if Mizzou and NU leave, and get a better media deal. This could be bad for Kansas City, MO, and for Kansas and Kansas State. I hate also to see the history that the Big 12 represents fade into the sunset.

The NHL: Upset city in the Stanley Cup playoffs has the 8 and 9 seed left standing in the East, which means the Chicago Blackhawks will have no one to blame but themselves if they don't get to party all summer with Lord Stanley's Cup.

NFL's off season activities going along: The Kansas City Chiefs have everyone except unsigned Jarred Page in this weekend's workouts. Everyone singing in unison and optimism rules the land in all 32 NFL cities!

That's your sports round up, with a small dose of opinion for today!

The Pause Before the Storm

Percolating. That's how I would describe the sports scene right now. You've got baseball in spring training. You've got football combines, free agency, club releases and more coaching moves in the NFL, with the draft coming in April. You've got college basketball winding down regular season play, with the conference play offs and Selection Sunday coming. Every day there's a small bit of news about something. For example, two teams, San Diego and Philadelphia, cut ties with long time very productive running backs. Spring training has daily reports: from Zack Greinke's teeth to Mike Aviles' elbow to first Cactus League game next week. Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri are all perking along, with Missouri now making a strong case to get into the NCAA Tournament. Vermont hockey may miss the playoffs for the first time since Hockey East was organized, but Vermont hoopsters both male and female are in the thick of the America East races. So rest up now, because between now and April, more then the weather will be warming up!

And Now for the Bad News

Quick, two items of bad news, both of which are still developing...

The NFL announced that it is suspending Dwayne Bowe of the Chiefs for use of PEDs. He will be out four games.

Mark Mangino, Kansas University's head football coach, is in hot water for supposedly touching a player during a practice session. According to radio reports, several players went to Athletic Director Lew Perkins with complaints about Mangino's behavior.

Links from the Star:

NFL suspends Chiefs Bowe...

Confrontation with player prompted KU investigation...

And, oh yeah, in other news, LJ signed with the Bengals.