We know the Bowl Championship Series cannot determine a national championship. The system sacrificed Ohio State for the past two years and at least for one of the years, we knew it would happen.

This year, we at least get to see a new failure. We get to watch the system mess up a division in a conference. And I say this before we know whether Texas, Texas Tech or Oklahoma will represent the Big 12 South Division.

With three teams tied with one loss, the the highest-ranked team in the BCS will be the South champion. Texas beat Oklahoma, Texas Tech beat Texas and Oklahoma beat Texas Tech. All three won their games Saturday. If you can make an argument for any of the teams, Oklahoma has the toughest non-conference schedule - which includes a win over Big East champion Cincinnati. The Sooners - and as a Nebraska fan I can’t believe I am arguing this - also had the only convincing win in the games between the three schools, a blowout against Texas Tech. That win somehow - and I don’t agree with it - took Texas Tech completely out of the equation even though Tech had championship aspirations eight days ago. These reasons put the nation behind the Sooners.

Texas beat Oklahoma, right? (Dallas is not a neutral field)

No matter what the BCS decides, it will not be fair. We are ignoring the one fact that is relevant: Settling it on the field. Each team will say it defeated one of the other. Like the BCS title game, we will never know who the best team is because it is very possible that team will be watching the conference championship.

How do we settle it? Yep, a playoff. Either that or an old-fashioned coin toss (I’d take that over the BCS).

With three Big 12 teams in the top 10, mark this down. The BCS has messed up the national title picture before one conference championship game is played.

Every year we have the BCS, we learn of a way the system can mess up. Last year, a Big 10 sacrificial lamb for an overhyped SEC. Even in 2001, when Nebraska made the title game without playing in the conference championship game. You know something is wrong when your favorite team is in the national title game and you do not necessarily agree with it.

This year: A conference championship. Never has the playoff cheer been louder.

- Russo

LeBron James needs to shut the hell up. You play for Cleveland, Bronnie.

James has handled himself in an almost alien fashion (cool and collected beyond his years) during his journey from high school kid to “global icon” but LeBron’s version of I Love New York is only slightly more palatable than the ridiculous VH1 show of the same name — and that’s saying something.

Have some respect for your home state, LeBron. You can go all flattered, flirty teenager on us in the summer of 2010.

- Padraic

It didn’t take Lane Kiffin long to land on his feat.

The former Oakland head coach will be named the new head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers early next week. Kiffin, 33, replaces Phillip Fulmer, who was forced out after 17 seasons as Vols coach. Fulmer won a national championship in 1998 but had two losing seasons in the last five years, including a 4-7 mark this year.

Kiffin is no stranger to sinking programs.

Kiffin was the youngest coach in the NFL’s modern history when hired to lead the Raiders in January 2007 at age 31.
The son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had a rocky relationship with Oakland owner Al Davis, who fired him Sept. 30 for what he said was insubordination. Kiffin had a 5-15 record with the Raiders.
He’s since filed a grievance with the NFL to claim salary he maintains he’s owed by the team.

Kiffin had the Raiders moving in the right direction before Davis’ senility kicked in, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the college game.

Andrew

Man, something sure made me sleepy this Thanksgiving and it wasn’t the turkey. It was the lame NFL games the league offered up again this holiday. Another Lions meltdown in Detroit. The Seahawks crashed and burned on the turf of Texas Stadium. I’d mention the late game, but since it is on the league’s own NFL Network, I, along with most of America, couldn’t watch it.

What a disappointing Thanksgiving for NFL football. Hopefully the league will strongly consider serving a new course for future Thanksgiving Day games. This turkey has run its course.

Andrew

Talk about what have you done for me lately.

The national media has begun floating the idea of having the Patriots trading Tom Brady and hanging on to Matt Cassell. Never mind that Brady was coming off a TD record-setting season, MVP season, a perfect regular season and one win away from another Super Bowl.

Cassell has been playing well but honestly don’t you think a majority of quarterbacks would look good throwing the ball to Randy Moss or Wes Welker.

It is just another example that the NFL business is a brutal one. So I guess Tom Terrific is not so much.

 Jeff

Who dat throwin da ball in the Super Dome?
Why it’s Drew Brees.
With the exception of Brett “I Love New York” Favre, who would you vote as the MVP?

Brees with no running game to speak of, has been able to avoid being sacked, has really been putting up some mind boggling numbers. (I drafted him as my Journal Fantasy QB).

With five games left to play, it looks like Dan Marino’s 1984 5,000 plus passing yards are toast.

Any thoughts out there NFL fans? Or are you just getting ready to watch some lousy NFL games on Turkey Day. Wow what stinkers…
Any way, I hope your bird is good, remember those less fortunate and give thanks to all our armed service members who make this country rock!
Happy Thanksgiving!

-Lenn

ESPN is reporting that General Motors has decided to end  its nine-year endorsement deal with golf superstar Tiger Woods as the automaker continues to cut expenses and hoard cash while trying to survive the worst sales downturn in a quarter-century.The cash-strapped company said in a statement that it is looking to reduce costs, and that the world’s No. 1 golfer also wants more personal time as he expects his second child.

I suppose in today’s economic climate this was inevitable to some extent. I wonder though, will we see NASCAR’s sponsorships begin to dry up. I guess only time will tell.

Andrew

When I saw a story this past week about an Ohio high school and its swanky new digs, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Massillon High School recently opened its 80,000-square-foot Paul L. David Athletic Training Center, an indoor practice facility, financed privately by the Paul & Carol David Foundation, as part of its “DREAM project.” The building, which is 20,000 square feet larger than the Cleveland Browns’ indoor facility, doesn’t simply benefit the football team.

Most other prep sports at Massillon – whether it’s the golf team or baseball team hitting into the intricate net system, the softball squad staying warm in the middle of winter, the band fine-tuning its performance or the participants in the youth flag football league playing – take advantage of the enormous building.

The price tag for the building? A cool $3 million.

The entire $6 million DREAM project, the next phase includes an 18,000-square-foot sports medicine building, is privately funded and  the Paul & Carol David Foundation also awarded 80 scholarships valued at $5,500 each to Massillon students in need last year.

All of it is pretty impressive for a high school. Does it signal a new direction high schools across the country are going to take to be competitive? Probably not. But for the students who attend Massillon it probably helps make competing at the highest level that much easier.

Andrew

Sam Bradford for the Heisman 2008.

-Lenn

And yes I approved this message.

OK so it’s a really big stretch, but wouldn’t it be great to see Starbury getting the buisness end from a HOF’er like Singletary.
The Knicks are bad, maybe the worst run professional franchise in sports.
Who am I kidding they are the worst run period.
They brought in a new coach Mike D’Antoni whose trying to change the way the Knicks play with the likes of Marbury, who told his coach that he didn’t want to go into the game on Friday night.
Granted Marbury has not been on hardwood once this year, but with the Knicks clearing salary, like ants at a sugar convention, for the LaBron sweepstakes next year you’d think the superstar would want to play.
My take is so long Stephon, take your attitude and your cheap sneakers and good luck trying to hook on with somebody who will put up with your crap.
Good bye and see ya later.
How will you like life in Fargo superstar?
There will be no tears shed by this Knick backer.
Like Mike says, “Give me ten guys that WANT to play anyday.”

-Lenn