COLLEGE FOOTBALL: South Carolina at Mississippi State

It's fitting that on the day my dad and I must submit a final roster for our fantasy baseball entry, the Tennis Titans, the 2006 college football season begins. Just as baseball was my big sports passion during my youth, college football has become my top interest over the past 10 years. Living in the South certainly helps. It's a way of life down here, just like baseball in St. Louis and New York, hockey in Montreal and Minnesota, or basketball in Indiana and Kentucky.

Today's one to watch is the matchup of South Carolina & Mississippi State. Though road games are rarely easy in the tough Southeastern Conference, I don't expect this game to be very competitive. 2nd year MSU coach Sylvester Croom still has a long way to go before rebuilding that school's dreadful program.

On the other hand, many expect big things from the Gamecocks this year. Why? Although USC may have a similarly shallow tradition of winning football, the Cocks also now have the cockiest (and best) college football coach I've ever seen - the Ole Ballcoach, Steve Spurrier.

Though his visor is no longer blue and orange, I still root for Coach Spurrier. As a Gator fan I continue to admire his accomplishments at Florida from 1990-2002. Hell, this guy even won an ACC football championship in 1989 with miserable Duke and ex-NY Giants bust Dave Brown at QB! Yes, I drink the Kool-Aid. I even pulled for the Redskins during the years when Spurrier tried to bring his "Fun and Gun" offense to the pros. It may not have worked in the NFL. But there's no reason it can't work again in the SEC. So once a year, and with mixed emotions, I shall root for South Carolina to lose only when they play Florida. Otherwise, Spurrier's still the man. And I think USC can win 9 games this year while making some noise in the SEC East.

Look for junior QB Blake Mitchell to make great progress in his 2nd year in Spurrier's system. Last year Mitchell threw for a respectable 17 TD's. In 2006 that number will increase or he'll experience the coach's short fuse. And though I haven't learned their names yet, I'm sure Spurrier has been recruiting top athletes at WR, just as he always did in Gainesville. Though these players won't get the glory of a Heisman QB like Danny Wuerfell or the spotlight of a #1 WR at someplace like Florida State or Southern California, Spurrier's "Fun and Gun" depends on multiple athletic wideouts getting open for quick passes. Former UF greats like Jacquez Green, Ike Hilliard, Taylor Jacobs, and Travis McGriff come to mind. Here's to the good old days and to hoping new coach Urban Meyer can bring some more!

My pick: South Carolina.

Don't you just love college football? Go Cocks!

BASKETBALL: USA vs. Germany

I haven't yet followed FIBA's Basketball World Championships beyond the nightly highlights on SportsCenter. Don't get me wrong. I like what I see so far. The USA is undefeated and has basically cruised into the quarterfinals. I like Coach K leading the team. I like the youth of the squad and how it was built around decent guys like Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. And I also like the positive attitude of players about representing America in international competition.

You see, although I oppose the War in Iraq - and contrary to what some of my friends think of me - I actually love this country too. And I like to see us look good on the international stage. So I'm grateful for all of this good stuff from USA Basketball being in stark contrast to the disappointing performance (on and off the court) of our team in the 2004 Olympics.

Today's game is on at 6:30 in the morning. By the time you are reading this, it will likely be over. But I'm still making it TOTW because I'm ready to start rooting for this team to win Gold. I'm ready for these guys to re-establish America as the home of the world's best basketball. So I'm counting on the US squad winning this game and not putting egg all over my face. That's been done enough lately!

Germany should be competitive as they are led by Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. But they are not an elite team like the USA, Spain, or Argentina. Our boys should win this game and I think Coack K will push them to use their athletism to their advantage over the perimeter game of the sharp-shooting Germans.

My pick: USA. All the way.

In honor of basketball, here's ageless supermodel Naomi Campbell showing her million dollar ass-ets.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL (And my Memory Lane too)

Now I'm really ready for college football after watching a replay yesterday of another classic game. Sun Sports aired the 1994 meeting of Florida and Florida State. This was a heartbreaking tie for my Gators. With Florida holding a 31-3 lead in the 4th quarter, FSU QB Danny Kanell and RB Warrick Dunn led the Seminoles to 4 unanswered TDs to earn a historic 31-31 tie. There was no overtime back then, but make no mistake about it - this game was one of the low points of the Spurrier era.

I actually remember watching this game the first time around. Of all places, I watched the critical 2nd half on the televisions in the basement of the 86th Street HMV in New York City with my good friend TSL. The game was played over Thanksgiving weekend and my buddy was back in town from college so we met up in the City. Though I don't remember for sure, we likely began the day with lunch at Uno's and a few games at Bowlmor Lanes. We then finished the afternoon visit by heading uptown to our favorite music store. Once there, I quickly lost interest in music. And while my college-football-hating friend wandered the aisles looking for selections from Don Henley, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Silverchair, I watched my Gators led by QB Danny Wuerffel and RB Fred Taylor self-destruct.

I wonder if TSL remembers this day? Afterall, his memory usually outshines my own. I'll always remember this game not only for the bitter outcome, but for the countless excuses I devised to keep my friend shopping just a few minutes longer so I could see the amazing conclusion. Eventually he got pretty ticked and almost left me behind. But ever the loyal friend, Ted stuck it out. He didn't watch much of the game, but probably did go home with a new Eagles CD that he still owns to this day!

Now that I've spent so much TOTW time on Memory Lane, and since nothing else intrigues me, I offer my picks for the 2006 college season as the one to watch.

SEC -- Louisiana State. I like the way the Bayou Bengals finished 2005 with a 40-3 thrashing of Miami in the Peach Bowl. QB JaMarcus Russell is back and should finally emerge as a star. Justin Vincent should do fine at RB and LSU always fields a strong D. Coach Les Miles is a great hire and will put his mark on this team in his 2nd year. If they can emerge from the dominant SEC including tough games with Florida and Auburn, LSU can win it all.

ACC -- Florida State. Old coach Bobby Bowden is amazing. I've joked about Free Sneakers University over the years, but you have to respect the guy's continual ability to macro-manage this juggernaut. Sophomore QB Drew Weatherford could be a Heisman Trophy winner in the mold of Chris Weinke by the time he's done. RB Lorenzo Booker is back and look for big WR Greg Carr to emerge as a Heisman candidate. As long as coach Mickey Andrews can replace defensive losses to the NFL draft, I expect FSU to be a force in the competitive ACC. And they always do.

Big 10 - Ohio State. OSU is the class of the conference along with Iowa and Michigan. But I think the Buckeyes will be better battle-tested after their 2005 Fiesta Bowl rout of Notre Dame and their forthcoming early classic with Texas. And it may be OSU's QB Troy Smith who emerges as the next Vince Young this time. They also still have key weapons in RB Antonio Pittman and WR Ted Ginn Jr. The defense lost 9 starters including AJ Hawk. That's enough to keep me from picking OSU to win it all, but I think they win the Big 10.

Big 12 - Oklahoma. I don't follow this conference as closely. I would have definitely picked the Sooners before they kicked QB Rhett Bomar off the team. But I'm confident head coach (and ex-Gator) Bob Stoops will find someone to step up at QB. And I think Texas needs a year to retool after losing their own field general Young. RB Adrian Peterson should carry the bulk of the load for Oklahoma. He's really good and will be a star on Sunday for years to come.

Pac 10 - Southern California. I do expect them to stumble somewhere along the way. UCLA and Cal should both be good. I also read where Washington State could be a sleeper pick out west. Can QB John Booty follow in the legacy of Leinart and Palmer or will he look more like his brother Josh? Maybe the latter. However, their biggest losses will prove to be at RB. I don't respect the Pac 10 very much. But I'll still take USC to win this overrated conference.

Big East - Louisville. Everyone expects West Virginia to win the weak Big East after they shocked Georgia in last year's Sugar Bowl. Not me. I think Louisville has more talent and they also play the same easy conference schedule. Coach Bobby Petrino is an offensive guru. Look for QB Brian Brohm and RB Michael Bush to put up monster numbers and become Heisman contenders.

National Champion -- LSU
Heisman Trophy -- Kenny Irons, Auburn

Let's throw it back to 1994 for just another moment. Here's everyone's favorite diva, Mariah Carey.

FOOTBALL: Green Bay at Cincinnati

This game marks the end of week 3 of the exhibition season. Only one more round of games to go and then your favorite football team takes the field for real beginning on September 7th.

I'm interested in this one mostly because it's on ESPN, the new home of Monday Night Football. I like what I've heard from the new broadcast team. Mike Tirico is a pro and I've always enjoyed his work on Thursday night college football. He's got a deep clear voice and generally remains focused on the play-by-play with only the occasional tangent. Joe Theisman, on the other hand, can get on my nerves. But that seems to be an accepted part of the job of the ex-jock analyst. Guys like Paul McGuire and John Madden can't help but act like they know-it-all because with the benefit of instant replay, you do! So take it for what it's worth. Finally, I expect Tony Kornheiser to become the star of this show. I'm one of the few who actually liked Dennis Miller in the booth. Tony is in that same sarcastic mode, but he brings many years as a respected sportswriter to add credibility to his football commentary.

Concerning the actual game, look no further than the QBs if you need a reason to watch this one. Brett Favre is coming off the worst season of his career. I was really surprised to see him return. Favre still moves ok and has that cannon arm. It was actually his decision-making that betrayed him more than anything else in 2005. Let's see if he can finish his career on a high note or if returning to a bad Packers team will prove to be a big mistake.

This game will mark the preseason debut of Carson Palmer following offseason knee surgery. This was one of those injuries that would have ended someone's career just 10-20 years ago. In fact, I recently saw an interview with the Bengals QB where he revealed that doctors actually repaired his knee with a tendon from an organ donor who had been killed by a drunk driver. That's freaky! Let's see if Palmer can put the injury behind him and display the all-pro form he showed in 2005.

My pick: Green Bay. Palmer's comeback is a nice story, but the Bengals are the new "bad boys" that I'll be rooting against in 2006. They had several players arrested or suspended for drug use in the off-season. Here's one person hoping for a return of the Cincinnati Bungles.

In honor of Bengals loudmouth WR Chad Johnson, here's another of the best known asses in the world, Jennifer Lopez. And I'd much rather see J-Lo do a victory dance in the end zone anyday!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

This will be the final weekend of 2006 without college or pro football to sustain our sporting interest. And apart from the critical Minnesota-Chicago series, there's not much catching my attention in baseball. I briefly thought about the Little League World Series, but it never really keeps my attention for long. I'll just have to wait a few more years to get interested in Little League when my kids are playing. So, at the risk of my readers clicking that back button right now, I'm going with auto racing for my ones to watch this weekend. But on the bright side, check out the scoreboard to the right - after 2 months soccer is no longer the 2nd most popular sport here at TOTW!

Saturday, August 26
NASCAR: Sharpie 500

Night racing at the 1/2 mile Bristol Speedway is always one of the biggest thrills of the NASCAR season. The track called "Thunder Valley" sits in the mountains of East Tennessee and actually feels more like a stadium. Tickets to this race are the hardest to get in all of the 36 race Nextel Cup schedule. Winning 5 of the past 9 races, Kurt Busch has dominated racing at Bristol recently and he starts from the pole tonight. Veterans Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin are both short track specialists who I expect to be near the front. Look for a lot of bumping and wrecking in this one. It's actually an art in short track racing. Even the winning car is likely to endure considerable damage during a race at Bristol. My pick: Matt Kennseth. The 2003 Winston Cup champ can win on all types of tracks. He won the Busch race on Friday and is a strong contender to win the title again.

Sunday, August 27
INDY CAR: Grand Prix of Sonoma

Without a Nextel Cup race or a football game to watch on Sunday, perhaps some of the new NASCAR fans will give the next-to-last IRL race of the year a chance. Nextel Cup itself visits scenic Infineon Raceway in the Napa Valley of Northern California every June. The harsh 2 mile track features a total of 12 left AND right turns. It's a good test for drivers as the track emphasizes the physical element of racing. Drivers must fight the wheel to keep their light cars steady while taking rapid turns at mind-boggling speeds. Danica Patrick struggled in this race last year and took out several other drivers in a bad wreck. Hopefully that won't happen to her pretty self this time, but don't expect to see Danica up front in this one. My pick: Dario Franchitti. Andretti-Green Racing will have a good chance to win its 2nd race of the year since pure speed is less important here than precise driving. The Scottsman Franchitti is a CART veteran with plenty of road racing experience.

We'll get back to some TOTW diversity next week. But with thoughts of IRL driver Dario Franchitti's lovely wife Ashley Judd in mind, how could I offer my readers anything less than Kentucky's finest export since Jim Beam?

FOOTBALL: NY Giants vs. NY Jets

Here's one for my New York readers. Because few others living outisde a 50 mile range of the Meadowlands likely care about a preseason matchup between two medicore teams. This game is always fun because not only do these teams share a fanbase, they actually share a stadium. And in 2006 I think they'll share a tendency to frustrate NY football fans.

After winning the NFC East, the Giants ended their season last year by getting thoroughly destroyed at home by the Carolina Panthers. Eli Manning should continue to develop into a good QB, but many other signs point to troubles for Big Blue. No player is more critical to their success than RB Tiki Barber . Tiki's a star, but now a decade into his career, I expect he'll start to slow down. One injury to Tiki and they're done for sure. Eli does have a good weapon in TE Jeremy Shockey, but his wideouts are less than impressive. I expect WR Plaxico Burress to begin to look more like the guy who fizzled out in Pittsburgh. However, look no further than their competition in the NFC East for the biggest reason why I have the Giants only winning 8 games this year. Coming off winning seasons, Dallas and Washington both made several big off-season additions. And Philadelphia should rebound from a down 2005 with the release of Terrell Owens and return of Donovan McNabb.

On the other hand, the Jets suffer from nothing more than a general lack of talent. Surprisingly they then choose to use their prime draft picks to stock up on the offensive line. If the Jets already had talent at positions like QB, RB, and WR, this would have been a fine strategy. But they don't. And I think Jet fans will long regret that Gang Green passed on landing both Matt Leinart and LenDale White. Chad Penningon, Patrick Ramsey, Kevin Barlow, Lavernius Coles, Curtis Martin?? You're not going to find any stars on the offensive side of this team! As a result, new coach Eric Mangini should concentrate on building up the defense since that was his forte with the Patriots anyway. Too bad they gave up DE Jonathan Abraham in the offseason. The Jets must rebuild completely and I don't expect more than 6 wins in 2006.

My pick: Giants. It's a shame these teams are separated by a conference and the NFL's methodic rotating schedule. They only play for real every 3 years and, as a result, there isn't much of a rivalry. The biggest competition between the NY football teams is which team will leave the unsightly Meadowlands first!

Inspired by the news that the new Survivor will group tribes according to race, TOTW will strive for diversity for the next few days. Here's Halle Berry, beautiful by the standard for any color.

BASEBALL: NY Yankees at Seattle Mariners

TOTW is today a tribute to nepotism. My brother Russ is on vacation in the Pacific Northwest to follow his beloved Yankees on their roadtrip to Seattle. He left Austin early yesterday morning and hopefully made it in time to witness the Yankees thoroughly destroy the M's 9-2.

Firstly, a few observations on yesterday's game. Yanks picther Chien Ming Wang looks like the real deal. With the win he's now 15-5 with a respectable 3.81 ERA. Wang may now be the Yankees #1 pitcher, given Mike Mussina's recent placement on the DL. Secondly, 2B Robinson Cano is going to be a star for a long time. He hasn't developed top power or speed yet - but I bet he will. And he can already flat-out hit with a .328 average. It's great to see the Yankees farm system that produced Williams, Jeter, Posada, Pettite, and Rivera in the 1990s again churning out talent for the big club like Cano, Wang, and LF Melky Cabrera.

Russ also hopes to be there for tonight's game which will see former Seattle legend Randy Johnson face Jarrod Washburn. Washburn is a serviceable veteran and deserves better than his 6-12 record considering his ERA is 4.42, a 1/2 run lower than Johnson's. But the Mariners are a bad team and have now dropped 12 of 13 games. They're already playing for next year, while the Yanks would like to get Johnson ready for his forthcoming playoff starts. The Big Unit has begun to show his age, but he still has 14 wins thanks to a lot of run support. I expect those powerful NY bats on display again tonight.

My pick: New York. Russ was one of 41,000+ last night at Safeco Field. I'm anxious to hear if the park is as pretty as it looks on tv. The Yankees always draw fans, even if 3000 miles away from the Bronx, so I'm sure my brother won't be alone in rooting for the Evil Empire.

Today we move our photo tributes away from the sports world and begin a look at entertainment and celebrity. Here's new star Lindsay Lohan. I don't know much about her. Probably wouldn't enjoy her movies or music anyway. But I still can think of a couple things of hers that I might...

BASEBALL: St Louis Cardinals at NY Mets

The Mets earned a dramatic 8-7 victory last night in the first game of this series matching NL division leaders. Albert Pujols single-handedly led the charge for the Cardinals with 2 HR and 7 RBI. But it wasn't enough as Mets slugger Carlos Beltran hit a walk-off game-winning 2 run HR off Cards' closer Jason Isringhausen for the win. A certain Mets fan in Queens surely smiled as thoughts of his infamous "Generation K" poster didn't sting as much anymore.

I'm making tonight's rematch the one to watch. While the Cards need the win to fend off the surging Reds, what matters most about this game is the initial appearance of two players critical to playoff success. For the Mets, I'm interested in seeing new RF Shawn Green. The Mets acquired the former All-Star from the D-Backs yesterday in exchange for a minor league prospect. This appears to be a good deal as one of the Mets few weaknesses has been their corner outfielders. Green is no longer a star but can be a good role player for a winning team.

For the Cards, I'm interested in seeing how former stud pitcher Mark Mulder looks in his return from the disabled list. Mulder has been sidelined since June 21 with an injured left shoulder. Before the injury, however, the lefty had struggled all season with a 6-5 record and an awful 6.09 ERA. Since the Cardinals starting pitching is weak after ace Chris Carpenter, they need Mulder to re-establish himself as the stopper he was in Oakland.

My pick: St. Louis. I still don't think the Reds have enough to catch the Cards. I look for them to bend but not break. Master motivator Tony LaRussa will find a way to win another division. Whether the Cards can make noise in the playoffs with shaky pitching is another question.

Today we go back across the state of Florida to the Gulf Coast and give a cheer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

BASEBALL: Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers

It feels like I've picked games involving these teams as TOTW about 50 times already. It's with good reason since the Tigers have enjoyed the best record in MLB all year and the White Sox remain very competitive defending champs. Detroit won the series opener 7-1 last night to increase its lead in the AL Central to 6 1/2 games. The race isn't over yet, but if the Sox lose again tonight, they must then focus exclusively on Wildcard hopes, just like their hosiery brothers from Boston.

Going for Detroit is craft lefty Kenny Rogers. Age hasn't affected the Gambler because he never overpowered anyway. He's a smart pitcher and brings a nose-to-toes hook that even Blyleven and Zito admire. Besides being an asshole and anything but clutch, Rogers will surpringly be remembered as one of the most consistent pitchers of his era. Save his perfect game pitched for the Rangers way back in 1994, he's never dominant, but always pretty good. And in a time of steroids and small ballparks, that isn't too shabby. It won't earn the Gambler a place to Cooperstown, but it has assured his retirement years will be very comfortable.

The White Sox send former ace Mark Buehrle to the hill. I don't think anyone saw Buehrle's troubles coming. Afterall, following several good seasons, he was great in 2005 and led a strong Chicago staff to a world championship. But 2006 has been a different story. Though Buehrle has picked up some wins, his ERA is well north of the 5.00 mendoza line.

Both the Tigers and White Sox need their veteran hurlers to be good #3 options as future playoff adventures approach. Let's see if either accepts that challenege.

My pick: Chicago. The Sox win in a slugfest. I may have devoted much of this post to pitching, but don't be mislead. While Detroit can win by playing small ball, Chicago's only chance to repeat is by outslugging opponents with big bats like Jim Thome, Joe Crede, and Paul Konerko.

I may be watching baseball but I've still got football on the brain these days. They have cheerleaders, afterall. More Miami Dolphins today.

FANTASY FOOTBALL (AND THE YANKEES KICKING THAT ASS TOO)

Complete domination. Whether by way of total ass kickings or dramatic 9th inning comebacks, the Yanks appear to have buried the Red Sox. I'm really starting to like this gutsy Yankees team and see them now as World Series favorites. So much for 2006 being the year of the Mets; they're back to being 2nd fiddle even in New York! And don't say 2 Braves fans didn't warn about the risks of putting so much hope in a couple of 35 and 40 year old arms with a lot of miles! ;)

Anyway, enough baseball. Today I'm doing something a little different and putting TOTW spotlight on my recently drafted 2006 Fantasy Football team, the Ali Gators.

QB: Donovan McNabb, PHI
RB: LaDanian Tomlinson, SD & Willis McGahee, BUF
WR: Torry Holt, StL & Javon Walker, DEN
TE: Randy McMichael, MIA
D: Miami Dolphins
K: Jeff Reed, PIT

BENCH: Brett Favre, GB; Aaron Brooks, OAK; Warrick Dunn, ATL; Fred Taylor, JAX; Joey Galloway, TB; Reggie Brown, PHI; Jeremy Stevens, SEA; Atlanta Falcons.

I'm reasonably pleased with the squad. My sole disappointment is I didn't get to draft more Florida based pro or college players. Indeed my sole Gator is aging Fred Taylor. However, landing LT does take some of the sting of missing out on Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams. Plus I did get FSU alum Warrick Dunn, one of the nicest guys in the NFL and a Florida/Henry County Fords veteran.

I think I'm stacked at RB and WR. The price I paid for this is being weak at QB. My entire season depends on McNabb staying healthy and bouncing back from a turbulent 2005 season. At the TE, D, and K positions I admit I am mediocre at best. But I have learned from experience that these postions don't make or break a fantasy football team. In the end they usually prove to be a wash. So I'll take my chances on McNabb and Tomlinson picking up about 25 TDs each and deal with it from there.

Go Bucs!



Go Dolphins!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

Saturday, August 19
FOOTBALL: Miami at Tampa Bay

I'm sure the Yanks will be fired up to take a firm grip on the AL East with a 3rd consecutive win in Boston. However, I can't resist the chance to put the spotlight on some Florida football as today's one to watch. In their annual pre-season meeting, the Miami Dolphins visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I get to see both of these teams each Sunday on my local NFL broadcasts. And I really can't pick a favorite these days either. There's not much or a rivalry here and my rooting interest tends to favor the team with the better chance of bringing a title to Florida. In tonight's game, I'll be curious to see how Dolphins new QB Daunte Culpepper looks coming off major knee surgery. I'm also interested to see which Auburn RB looks better entering their sophomore pro campaigns. In 2005 the edge went to Bucs powerback RB Carnell Williams. While I look for the Cadillac to put together another solid season, I think speedy Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown will emerge as the league's top young back this year.

My pick: Tampa. Both coach Jon Gruden of the Bucs and Nick Saban of the Fins have egos the size of Mars and can never resist the chance to bark endlessly at players even during meaningless preseason ball. Hopefully, nobody will be injured trying to impress and both teams look like contenders in 2006.

Sunday, August 20,
GOLF: The PGA Championship

The last day of the last major of the year is usually fun. Hopefully today will be no exception. This means hopefully Tiger Woods won't run away with the PGA. Though I respect Tiger's game immensely, I usually root against him because I like seeing different players win. And nobody would be more unusual that current co-leader Billy Andrade atop the big board 8 under. Andrade indeed had only manged to qualify as the 7th alternate for this tournament and is lucky to be playing. I like him because he's an Atlanta guy, but I don't give the Cinderella much chance with several top dogs close behind. US Open champ Geoff Ogilve has impressed through 36 holes. He's 1 off the lead and a definite favorite to make Sunday's final pair. David Toms is 2 shots back and is an always dangerous player in majors. Tiger himself also looks strong at one back of the lead, while rival Phil Mickelson has played somewhat poorly but is only a mere 4 strokes back of Andrade.

My pick: Phil Mickelson. I'm going to stick with Mick. Nobody is more streaky than Lefty. I look for him to get hot today and move to the top. Then the only question is whether he can hang after again collapsing at the US Open. A win here would be sweet redemption.

Since I didn't pick any auto racing this weekend, let's end on that note anyway. Sarah Fisher marked her return to the IRL after a 2 year absense last weekend with a decent 12th place finish. She may not have the eye-catching good looks of Danica, but she's every bit as good of a driver. And I still say she's a hottie too!

BASEBALL: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

What a weekend for baseball! One of the best rivalries in sports gives its fans a rare 5 game series. But these games will go beyond the usual rabid Northeastern audience with 3 airing on ESPN and another on FOX. So I'm making Friday's day/night doubleheader between the Yanks and Sawk today's two to watch.

None of these games figures to be a low-scoring gem. New York and Boston are both pitching poor and look to win with their powerful lineups. But the day game appears to be the better pitching matchup at first glance. NY's old Randy Johnson faces the younger Josh Beckett for Boston. Both pitchers have racked up some wins with their new teams. However, they've also got ERA's over 5.00. I guess there really is something to it that a good team usually hits better when a good pitcher is on the mound. On paper, both Johnson and Beckett have produced numbers resembling the stats found in a Royals or Pirates boxscore. Yet even if they surrender a lot of runs, both are still capable of getting the big out when they need it.

The night game features Ching Minh Wang against Jason Johnson. The Taiwanese Wang has been a pleasant surprise this year at 13-5 and a 3.84 ERA. Meanwhile, Boston acquired Johnson and he has put up 3-11 record with a pathetic 6.26 ERA. This is really a poor reflection on Boston GM Theo Epstein that a scrub like Johnson would be pitching in a critical August game with their playoff hopes at stake. Definite edge to the Yankees.

My pick: New York. I think the Yanks steal momentum early by taking both games today. I still like Boston to win a couple of the weekend. They're not ready to surrender yet, but the pitching matchups today favor NY big time.

It may be a great weekend for baseball, but I'm still pining for football. Go Gators go!



N.B. - Starting today I'm taking TSL's advice and adding a word verification to the comments section. I hate these as my eyes are starting to slip and sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries for me to get it correct. But the spam from the Anonymous bots is getting too bothersome in my inbox. I don't stir up a lot of discussion here anyway, so I'm sure we'll all survive just fine. F-you spammers!

GOLF: The PGA Championship

Here's to a happy 2 month anniversary to The One To Watch. I really enjoy scribing these posts that enable me to act like the amateur sportswriter I never got to be. I confess, the commitment to a daily post does get a little tiresome. Yet the hardest part is actually having to blog via a dial-up connection that tends to turn 10 minutes of work into 30. But I'm still kicking. And I remain motivated by the forthcoming start of football season, as well as the long-awaited baseball playoffs. After that, who knows? Perhaps a face life will be in order for TOTW, especially with a newborn on the way.

Today's one to watch is the 1st round of the PGA Championship from Medina, Illinois. It's another long course. Experts predict scores lower than the brutal US Open but the greens will play tougher than the recent scoring-friendly British Open. Despite TNT choosing not to televise live morning play, I'm looking forward to the all-star threesome putting together the winners of the 2006 majors for the first 36 holes of play: Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilve, and Phil Mickelson.

As fun as the rivalry between Tiger and Phil has become, these guys rarely play together in major tournaments. Fate hasn't given us that kind of drama yet. Wouldn't it be something if these two posted the top scores after both days 2 and 3 and could play together all weekend long? TV ratings would only be exceeded by the size of the galleries following the duo. Otherwise, I also expect veteran Ernie Els to play well after his 3rd place finish in the British Open. And American Jim Furyk has had an awesome year that deserves to see the fan favorite win a major.

My pick: Phil Mickelson. Phil will be motivated to make good after collapsing on the 72nd hole of the US Open. If Tiger is at the top of his game, everyone will have trouble keeping pace. However, Woods has had an up-and-down year so far and perhaps he's again due for a down.

Speaking of which, if Tiger does disappoint, I'm sure hottie Sweedish wife Elin Nordegren will find a way to lift his spirits.

BASEBALL: New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies

Today's one to watch features my good friend TSL's NY Mets. With a 13 game lead in the NL East, I'm sure the outcome of this one won't be enough to distract him from the hotties poolside or action at his Atlantic City blackjack table. However, although I adore my wonderful and growing family, I don't have such distractions here in this 2 bedroom duplex we call home. So I'm gonna make this TOTW.

The Mets had been hot and even had the 2nd best record in all of baseball until losing the first 2 games of this series in Philadelphia. While the Phillies cannot catch NY for the division, they surprisingly have upped their record to 58-60. With manager Charlie Manuel fighting for his job, the Phils stand only 2 1/2 games back in the wild-open NL Wildcard race. Just 2 weeks ago GM Pat Gillick asked fans for patience as he dumped the contracts of Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle with an eye towards next year. But now don't be surprised to see Gillick make a move via a waiver deal to bolster their pitching if the Phillies can reach the .500 mark.

The Mets start 39 year old Tom Glavine tonight. Away from the friendly confines of Turner Field and Leo Mazzone's guidance, the lefty has floundered for much of his 4 years in New York. But Glavine has put together his best season as a Met so far with a 12-5 record and a decent 3.92 ERA this year. On the other hand, veteran Jon Lieber takes the hill for the Phillies. Lieber looked solid in a hard-luck loss to the Mets 10 days ago, but has otherwise been unimpressive. He hopes to improve on his 4-9 record and woeful 5.51 ERA.

My pick: Philly. The Phils made a great 2nd half charge last year and came up just short of catching Atlanta for the division. They won't catch NY this time, but look for Philly to emerge as a wildcard favorite.

Sticking the TOTW favorite of tennis, here's this past weekend's JP Morgan Chase Open runnerup Jelena Jankovic of Serbia - who now lives in nearby Bradenton. I like her racquet. Very impressive.

BASEBALL: Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox

Just when I thought the Red Sox were back in the AL East race and the Tigers were in total freefall, Detroit defeated Boston in Fenway Park last night. The Tigers really needed that win to stop the bleeding after being swept by Chicago over the weekend. And they need another one tonight, so I'm making this TOTW.

Detroit sends Jeremy Bonderman to the hill tonight. Bonderman is symbolic of Detroit's turnaround over the past few years. During their dreadful 119 loss 2003 season, Bonderman lost 19 games himself as a rookie. Now just 3 years later, he sports an impressive 11-5 record along with a very good 3.76 ERA.

On the other hand, Boston pitches their veteran ace, Curt Schilling. Schill has enjoyed a nice comeback season this year, even if not as dominant as he was in his prime with Arizona and Philly. Schilling is 14-5 with a 3.89 ERA . Boston has a critical 5 game series with the Yankees this weekend. They better not look past tonight's game, however. Schilling comes off his previous start where he allowed a record 10 doubles. Look for him to bounce back tonight.

My pick: Boston. Big Papi David Ortiz provides some more magic this time off Tigers shakey closer Todd Jones for another walk-off win.

Here's the winner of the 2006 JP Morgan Chase Classic this past weekend looking very good, Russian tennis ace Elena Dementieva.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FSU at Miami from 2000

Doing something different for today's one to watch. Firstly, this is late because once again I had unforeseen competition for the computer. Secondly, today's TOTW looks back, and not ahead, because I'm not very excited about anything going on tonight.

This morning I watched a "College Football Classic" to get ready for the forthcoming season on the Sun Sports here in Florida. They showed the Miami Hurricanes defeating the Florida State Seminoles 27-24 in an all-time classic matchup from 2000. Heisman winner QB Chris Weinke threw for over 450 yards from Florida State, but it was TE Jeremy Shockey's first career Miami TD that sealed the win. The game also came down to a last second FG which FSU PK Matt Munyon naturally missed.

What was most impressive from looking back at this game is the amount of players from both squads who ended up playing on Sundays. And many of them have become stars. I know I'm forgetting several, but off the top of my head I saw QBs Ken Dorsey and Chris Weinke, RBs Travis Minor, Clinton Portis, and Najeh Davenport, TE Jeremy Shockey, WRs Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Anquan Boldin, and Javon Walker, as well as CB Philip Buchanan, S Ed Reed, and LB Dan Morgan. Wow, you could form a winning fantasy football team from those selections alone. Florida pride, baby!

My pick: Miami. Duh, they did already win the game. And it began an impressive 3 year run from 2000-2002 that saw the "U" winning the 2001 National Championship. I expect for both programs to field top 10 teams this year and meet in the ACC Championship Game for a shot at the BCS. This rivalry is amongst the best in all of sports, no less in college football. As a Gator fan, I'm jealous that Florida has chosen not to be involved. But they do have their fair share of rivalries. Anyway, now I'm definitely looking forward to the 2006 college football season!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

Saturday, August 12, FOOTBALL: New Orleans at Tennessee

This game marks the pro debuts of Saints RB Reggie Bush and Titans QB Vince Young. Bush won the 2005 Heisman beating out 2nd place Vince Young. Young won the 2005 National Championship by beating Reggie Bush's USC. Bush was drafted #2 overall. Young went #3. It seems the fate of these two stars may remain intertwined. It's too bad the Saints and Titans don't play more often. Maybe they can have a rematch in the 2010 Super Bowl or something. I'm not as high on Young as most pro scouts. He has to convince me that he can also win games as a pocket passer. However, I am very high on Bush and expect him to emerge as a Marshall Faulk type offensive force. My pick: New Orleans. I actually think the Saints will have a decent year led by new QB Drew Brees and Coach Sean Payton.

Sunday, August 13, NASCAR: AMD at the Glen

This weekend NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series races its 2nd anf final road course of the 2006 season. I'm not a typical Nascar fan in that I actually prefer that form of racing that involves both left AND right turns. Road courses are always fun because you must slowly move through the field. It's not like Daytona or Talladega where you can go from 30th to 1st place in a few laps. Instead, you must work for track position by careful breaking, keeping a steady line on the track, and looking for opportunities to pass. I remember my favorite driver Mark Martin dominating this race in the mid-to-late 1990s. I'd love to see him win one more for the road. My pick: Robbie Gordon. The former CART competitor is one of Nascar's road racing specialists. It would be great to see an owner-operator celebrate a win on Victory Lane once again.

There are many things that I miss with NASCAR no longer sponsored by Winston cigarettes. Topping that list is the annual awarding of "Miss Winston" and also the presence of the "Winston Girls" around the track. Here's my all-time favorite, 2002 Miss Winston Cielo Garcia.

BASEBALL: Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

A little later than usual today. I guess I got caught up in the cable news last night with all the terrorism stuff on tv. Next thing I knew, I was out like a light and so were the kids! Anyway, today's one to watch is a matchup of AL Central powers with the Tigers visiting the White Sox.

This is the Tigers' first selection as a TOTW. I'm still a doubting Thomas on this team. Manager Jim Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski have done an incredible job turning around this franchise that lost 119 games as recently as 2003. Free agents OF Magglio Ordonez and C Pudge Rodriguez lead a decent offense. But it is the Tigers pitching that is most responsible for their breakout season. Nobody has been better (perhaps in all of baseball) than tonight's rookie hurler Justin Verlander who sports an impressive 14-4 record with a 2.79 ERA.

What more can I say about the White Sox? I've now selected them 3 times this week. And I still say that it's a mistake to count out these playoff tested World Champs before someone actually dethrones them in October. Ace Jose Contreras with his 10-4 record and 3.75 ERA pitches tonight. The White Sox need a sweep in this series if they are to have any chance of catching the Tigers for the division.

My pick: Chicago. I don't know if the White Sox have enough time to catch Detroit. But they will make it close.

Today's athletes are the infamous "Spice Girls" of tennis, Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis. Their reign as doubles champs was brief but impressive nonetheless.

FOOTBALL: Indianapolis at St. Louis

Nothing beats meaningless pre-season football played in a dome no less, right? I was tempted to go with the Yanks-White Sox game on ESPN yet again. So far the series has not disappointed the lofty standards of TOTW. But since tonight's game begins the preseason's first weekend of football, I'm making the Colts-Rams game on FOX the one to watch.

In spite of a combined total of only 1 Super Bowl win, these teams have consistently displayed the NFL's best offenses for a decade. However, they now occupy very different places in the 2006 forecasts. Indy QB Peyton Manning is once again expected to win now. After a near perfect season in 2005 and a record setting season in 2004, the Colts will earn the label of "underachievers" (aka chokers) if they don't reach the Super Bowl this year. It remains to be seen in Indy can overcome the loss of RB Edgerrin James to free agency. Weapons like WR Marvin Harrison and WR Reggie Wayne are still there and Coach Tony Dungy has actually assembled a very good defense. Seemingly only the reputation for being unable to win the big game stands between the Colts and a championship.

On the other hand, not much is expected from the Rams anymore. While WR Torry Holt and RB Steven Jackson are in their prime, aging WR Isaac Bruce and injured RB Marshall Faulk are not. Rams' QB Marc Bulger has shown flashes of brilliance but has also been brittle. He's yet to prove he can lead the Rams to the same heights of their glory years. In the offseason, pass happy Mike Martz was fired as coach and replaced by Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. This seems a questionable move since they need help on D mostly. However, former New Orleans coach Jim Haslett was also hired by the Rams as defense coordinator. I wouldn't be surprised if the firey Haslett succeeds here and uses this opportunity to land another head coaching gig.

My pick: St. Louis. Indy won't play Peyton Manning much. Afterall, no single player means more to his team than does the former MVP. The Rams signed headbutter and journeymanGus Frerotte as their backup QB. Look for Gus to do well in ample playing time against 2nd and 3rd string defenses.

Whether it's high school on Friday, college on Saturday, or the pros on Sunday, football means cheerleaders. Here's Lacey, the Rams' 2005 "Pro Bowl Cheerleader" - it's true, you can look it up!

BASEBALL: NY Yankees at Chicago White Sox

In a TOTW first, I'm repeating yesterday's choice to serve as today's one to watch. Last night's game did not disappoint. The White Sox prevailed 6-5 in 11 innings with Jermaine Dye driving home the winning run. The crushing blow, however, came in the 9th as Paul Konerko hit a HR off all-time great closer Mariano Rivera to tie the game at 5 and send it to extra innings.

The Yankees can take a couple of positives from the loss into today's game. Robinson Cano emerged from the DL and went 3/5 in his first appearance in 6 weeks. Cano's average is up to .333 and he appears to be a fixture at 2B for years to come. The game also marked a possible return of $25 Million Dollar Man, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has slumped for most of the summer. But out of the hearing range of Yankee Stadium boo birds, A-Rod went 3/3 with a HR and 2 RBIs. Randy Johnson pitches for NY tonight and brings his sad 5.11 ERA to the hill. Losing several mph of speed of his heater, Johnson is no longer the feared ace of years past, despite his $17 million annual salary. However, if he can consistenly give the Yanks 7 good innings from the #2 or #3 hole, that may be enough for playoff success. This will be a good test against a great lineup in a spot where NY needs a win.

The White Sox remain in front of the AL wildcard race with their dramatic win. Losing the division should not discourage the World Champs as Detroit has enjoyed a stunning and historic season. However, the Tigers are not playoff tested and it would surprise nobody to see a wildcard team again win the championship. In addition to their known commodities like Konerko and Dye, Joe Crede has built on last year's breakthrough and emerged as a star at 3B. He comes into the game hitting .304 with 24 HRs and 75 RBIs. And while the White Sox middle relief has been shaky, closer Bobby Jenks pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings last night to seal the win and remind everyone of a younger Rivera in his prime.

My pick: New York. I expect another close game since these teams are very evenly matched - both in talent and in intangibles. Perhaps only a comparison of managers would serve as the greatest contrast. I look for Randy Johnson to put together a decent start tonight and earn some of that mega money.

In another TOTW first, 2 athletes share the spotlight today. The only thing better than good sportsmanship is good sportswomanship. This kiss between Russian tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Anastasia Myskina sure beats that one between George Bush and Joe Lieberman!

BASEBALL: NY Yankees at Chicago White Sox

Reports of the Yankees' demise have once again proven premature. Like usual, New York today sits in 1st place in the AL East, 2 games ahead of America's new chic team, the Boston Red Sox. In fact, despite the enthusiasim for the crosstown Mets, the Yanks remain the best team in NY. They'll have to prove it tonight, however, in a tough road game in Chicago that could be a playoff preview. So I'm making it today's one to watch.

Despite a rash of mid-season injuries, the Yankees have rebounded nicely through the steady play of stars Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi and the deep pockets of owner George Steinbrenner. At long last there is again new homegrown talent in the lineup such as 2B Robinson Cano, LF Melki Cabrera, RP Scott Proctor, and tonight's SP Ching Ming Wang. Wang is an impressive 13-4 with a 3.58 ERA. TSL recently took a shot at the Taiwanese import, but Wang's numbers this year compare favorably to Pedro Martinez and Wang is doing it in the AL. Yes, the Yankees appear to have weathered the storm. If Randy Johnson can serve as a decent #3 option (not asking too much), NY will make noise in the playoffs. I just may have to hop back on that Yankee bandwagon since my other 3 teams are likely playoff no-shows this year.

I keep thinking Chicago will overtake Detroit for the AL Central title. But it will take a comeback of historic proportion for the White Sox to overcome the current 10 game deficit. The World Series champion Sox still have a great lineup led by Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. However, their starting pitching has betrayed them this year. Freddy Garcia has 10 wins, but also has 7 losses and a less-than-stellar 4.87 ERA. And he's looked especially poor during the past 6 weeks as the Sox slid further behind the Tigers. The White Sox need a strong finish from Garcia and Mark Buehrle if they are to keep pace with the other contenders in the top-heavy AL.

My pick: Chicago. I'm going to take TSL's word on Wang's "straight as an arrow" fastball. I haven't really seen him pitch. But the White Sox lineup is not one that will let a pitcher get away with many such mistakes.

Today's athlete is a baseball fan herself. It's former soccer star, Mia Hamm, perhaps the reason brittle husband Nomar Garciaparra seems ever anxious to go home to nurse his many injuries.

BASEBALL: St. Louis at Cincinnati

I was hoping for a preseason football game tonight. But after being teased last night with the Eagles-Raiders game, we have to wait a few more days before getting another fix of meaningless football. So it's back to baseball. The ESPN game between the Angels and White Sox should be good. However, more is at stake when the 1st place Cardinals visit the 2nd place Reds to kickoff a critical 4 game series. So despite ESPN passing on it, I'm making this game TOTW.

The pitching matchup leaves much to be desired. Jeff Weaver tries to salvage his miserable season once again tonight. Apparently living in the shadow of his rookie younger brother wasn't the problem, afterall. He's now 4-12 with a putrid 6.71 ERA. Another Scott Boras client laughing all the way to the bank. Even Chan Ho Park is embarassed by those numbers! In contrast, the Reds start rookie Elizardo Ramirez. He has done a little better with a mere 4-7 mark and decent 4.47 ERA. Nothing special, but at least he's not making $8 million to pitch like Jose Canseco.

The Reds are atop the NL wildcard race and also only 3 games back of the slumping Cardinals in the NL Central. They catch the Cards if they can sweep this series. The Great American Ballpark is a hitter's paradise and leads all ballparks in HRs this year. And it makes Reds slugger Adam Dunn look like a reincarnation of Dave Kingman or Rob Deer - 40 HRs/year along with a .220 average!

My pick: St. Louis. The Cards are a better team and will hold their own in this series. I don't expect much from Weaver. But I see the Cardinals winning a 10-8 type game. Closer Jason Isringhausen gets the last out with the bases loaded and Ken Griffey on deck.

Today's female athlete is one of the LPGA's many young, talented, and good looking players, 18 year-old Morgan Pressel from Tampa. She placed 56th this weekend in the Women's British Open, but she's still top 5 for me!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

We've been talking a lot of baseball this week with 4 out of the 5 ones to watch. There are some great pennant and wildcard races this year so it does make sense. But in the interest of balance, I'm staying away from our former national pastime this weekend to keep TOTW your diversified sports leader.

Saturday, August 5 - PRO FOOTBALL: Hall of Fame Class of 2006

The ceremonies in Canton always seem to glorify football greats from generations before my own. Not this time. The class of 2006 is led by QBs Troy Aikman and Warren Moon. Aikman was a winner. With 3 Super Bowl wins, his strong stats could have been even better if they needed to be. But Aikman's Cowboys were so good during the 1990s that the game was usually over by halftime. Moon was nearly as dominant as Dan Marino for a decade, but he had a longer road to greatness, which only adds to his illustrious career. The late DE Reggie White will be enshrined posthumously. White was a great football player, but seemingly an even better man. I can't believe loudmouth analyst John Madden wasn't already in the HOF. The youngest coach in NFL history racked up 103 wins in 10 years and won a Super Bowl along the way. Since then he's basically replaced that deep-voiced guy from NFL Films as the voice of football in America. Finally, LB Harry Carson and T Rayfield Wright will also be honored. These are the questionable selections that give Canton the knock of sometimes serving as the Hall of Very Good. Carson was a nice player but is best remembered for inventing the Gatorade dunk!

Sunday, August 6 - NASCAR: The Brickyard 400

This race has become a modern classic. Though I wasn't raised as a gearhead, I've followed auto racing longer than many of the Johnny-Come-Lately's who have made NASCAR America's fastest growing sport. I can remember watching the very first Brickyard 400 in the mid 1990's and it has since become the best race of the summer. While the 2.5 mile race allows fast cars to flourish, unlike other NASCAR superspeedways, the Brickyard wasn't designed for heavy stock cars. It's not a traditional high banked oval like Talladega or Atlanta. Instead, the Brickyard rewards a car that handles well in the turns where drivers must come off the gas before accelerating their 750 horsepower engines down the long straightaways. My pick: Jimmy Johnson. This appears to be JJ's year. A win in Indy would follow-up on the magic of his Daytona 500 win.

Finally, I too am enshrining Troy Aikman in the TOTW Hall of Fame for scoring many a touchdown with country music's sexy vixxen, Lorrie Morgan.

BASEBALL: Houston at Arizona

Thanks to Paul (and I suppose to Mike too!) for a great one to watch. Paul was correct in that the matchup of Dontrelle Willis and Pedro Martinez was tremendous. We visited with my dad yesterday evening and after a late dip in the pool around 8:30pm, we tuned in to the game on the Sunshine Network. I was amazed to see the contest was already the 6th inning. After Pedro was pulled, the Marlins rallied against the Mets bullpen and won the game and the series. Perhaps there is something to the John Donodeo style TOTW curse? I mean, the guy was a true P.E. genius, right? No one ever taught a better sex ed class. And now look at him...he's a world-reknowned mountain climber!

But I digress. This still isn't completely a closed Regis forum, right? No, this is a blog where fans flock to get their daily dish of sports excellence. So let's get to it and make the Astros-Diamondbacks game today's one to watch.

I'm picking this for 1 reason: I want to see how Roy Oswalt looks after nearly being traded earlier in the week. The Astros apparently tried to swing a 3 team deal that would have sent Oswalt to the Mets and the O's Miguel Tejada to Houston. Financial considerations aside, this would have been a bad deal for Hosuton. Oddly enough, in this modern world of baseball, a consistent 16-20 win pitcher is more rare than a power hitting shortstop. Imagine saying that back in 1985? No way. But it's true now, and a team would be foolish to give up on Oswalt.

While the Astro hurler has a mere 8-7 record, he does have a pretty good 3.23 ERA. And shell-shocked closer Brad Lidge surrender several potential Oswalt wins by himself. The D-Backs will start Miguel Batista, who has pitched well this year by his journeyman standards. Both teams still cling to playoff aspirations despite having less-than-impressive seasons. However, the performance of Roy Oswalt is what I'll be monitoring most closely. Would it surprise anyone if I revealed Oswalt's on my fantasy baseball team? Didn't think so.

My pick: Houston. I need the win, Roy Oswalt needs the win, and so do the Astros.

Returning to our photo tribute, ESPN reported yesterday that Anna Kournikova was contemplating a comeback to the ATP tour. On one hand that might take away from her modeling career and lead to fewer spreads in Maxim and FHM magazinez. But at the same time, it would also mean more of those skimpy tennis outfits!

BASEBALL: NY Mets at Florida Marlins

Today's entry is submitted by the winner of our 1000th visitor contest, Paul from The Cranky Conservative.

I had no intention of writing about a Mets game. With a tremendous lead in the East, they pretty much will not have a meaningful game until October. But tonight's game features a great pitching matchup: Pedro Martinez vs. Dontrelle Willis in the rubber match of a tense three game series, and that's certainly one to watch.

Pedro came off the disabled list last Friday against the Braves, and after a shaky first inning, he settled down and shut down the Braves over the next five innings. His velocity was a little down, but Petey eased Met fans' worries about his health, at least temporarily. Pedro has had another fine year, though his ERA is slightly high at 3.59, though his WHIP is an outstanding 1.02, and he is striking out over nine per nine innings. He should probably have about four or five more wins, but as was the case last year, the bullpen and a lack of offensive support have cost him a few games.

As for the Marlins, they have been something of a surprise, though not to this author. They have some great young talent, and I thought they might be able to stick around and remain competetive, and indeed they have a legitimate - though perhaps long - shot at the Wild Card. In fact the Marlins have one of the best records in the league since the first week of May. They have a great young staff, led by rookies Josh Johnson (a nice fantasy wire pick for me), Scott Olsen, Anibel Sanchez, and Ricky Nolasco.

But their ace is Dontrelle, who the Marlins wisely decided to keep. Willis has actually had something of a down year. His ERA is a pedestrian 4.27, and his WHIP is 1.47, and he's K'd less than 6 per nine innings - a career low. He's been up and down - good in April and June, poor in May and July. This could be a big start for Dontrelle, who has struggled recently. He has a history of poor performances in the second half, and the Marlins need him to regain his 2005 form if they are going to have any shot at the playoffs.

My pick: Pedro and the Mets win it and take the series, but only after Billy Wagner makes us sweat again in the ninth inning.

Thanks to Jeff for allowing me the space to write here, and I guess thanks to TSL for pointing out that I was indeed the 1,000th visitor. And I guess thanks to Mike for gracing us with his impetuosity.

So will you watch this classic pitching duel, or will you flip to Showtime and catch the odd flick Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, which features the lovely lips of Angelina Jolie?



Editor's Note: Mike from Francase Place believed that he was the 1000th visitor. Indeed, I originally made the same mistake too. But apparently Mike still clings to this belief despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary provided by TSL because he submitted an entry too. Coincidentally, he also choose today's Mets-Marlins game. Since Mike was runner-up and my 1001st visitor, I'm going to humor him. So click here for Mike's take on today's TOTW.

BASEBALL: Texas at Minnesota

I was all set to break down this matchup of playoff contenders when I heard on SportsCenter that Francisco Liriano had been scratched from his scheduled start today. But since the health of Liriano's arm now determines the fate of his team, the wildcard race, and a lot of post-season hardware, I'm making this game the one to watch anyway.

Last place Texas still has a good shot at winning the wide-open AL West. Their lineup has been bolseted by the trade for Carlos Lee. Although their pitching is never impressive playing in a bandbox in Arlington, today's starter Vincente Padilla has been their most consistent hurler with a 10-7 record and a 4.36 ERA on the season.

Frankie Liriano will miss the start due to a "stiff arm." Those words are often used as a precursor to a stint on the DL, if not a dreaded visit to Dr. James Andrews. I sincerely hope that is not Liriano's fate. He's been amazing so far and comprises half of baseball's best 1-2 punch along with Johan Santana. Liriano even began the year in the Twins bullpen and has still amassed a 12-2 record with a sick 1.96 ERA. If he stays healthy, Liriano could become the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award but, at the same time, fail to win the Rookie of the Year, since Boston closer Jon Papelbon has also impressed - and Liriano (unlike Papelbon) had a cup of coffee with the big club last September.

My pick: Minnesota. I haven't seen who the Twins will start in Liriano's place, but their young guns like Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe Mauer should more than carry the load after a loss last night.

Here's basketball star and 2006 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Katie Douglas shooting and later accepting her award as TOTW's Athlete of the Day.

NFL FOOTBALL: Miami Dolphins Training Camp

I've been waiting 2 months to use that word here - football. While I do prefer the college game to the action on Sundays, I treasure them both. And it's during this slow time of summer when I especially pine for the gridiron. So I'm using a small story in the Florida news as an excuse to make NFL football today's one to watch.

After several down years, the Dolphins are expected to be good in 2006. They should have another solid defense led by veterans Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, but now they also have real weapons on offense like new QB Daunte Culpepper, 2nd year RB Ronnie Brown, and all-pro WR Chris Chambers. But it is this story why I'm so interested in the Dolphins today.

DAVIE, Fla. - When the White House extended an invitation to dine with President Bush, Dan Marino accepted but Dolphins coach Nick Saban said no. Saban said his obligations at training camp took priority over the chance to spend an evening with the president. Politics weren't a factor, he said.

"It was really a tough decision," Saban said Monday. "I feel like my first responsibility is our team. That in no way disrespects the importance of the opportunity I would have loved to have had to spend dinner with the president."

The dinner took place at Joe's Stone Crabs, a landmark Miami Beach restaurant. Among those joining Bush were ex-Dolphins Marino, Nick Buoniconti, and Jim Mandich. Their wives were also present. Other guests included actor Andy Garcia and Univision host Don Francisco.

How did Saban's wife react to his decision to decline?

"I'd rather this not become a public issue, because I don't think I even told her, to be honest with you," he said. "Now that you mention it, maybe I should wear a helmet home tonight."

Agreed. And don't expect any sex for awhile, ok Coach? Or does this guy go without that too so as to really focus on the importance of training camp? As some of my readers know, I'm no fan of George Bush. In fact, I feel incredibly guilty about voting for him in 2004 (I voted for Pat Buchanan in 2000 and should have known better). But even I would not turn down the offer to dine with President Bush. He is still the president. That should be an HONOR you don't turn down, but for the most worthy of excuses - such as illness, death, or a conflicting date with Anna Kournikova.

However, I suppose Coach Saban is just too busy with training camp to leave it for all of 2 hours in the evening to grab some dinner with the leader of the free world. I mean, does he stay late to do the laundry himself? You can't let just anybody hired off-the-street do it and put too much detergent in the water, afterall. So if this really isn't a political statement, the Fish better be damn good this year. And I mean 14-2 kind-of good. Saban is certainly is in the mold of his mentors Bill Belichek and Bill Parcells and might even have them beat in terms of size of ego.

Let's put our photo-tribute on hold for a day to see the best thing going for President Bush thse days, first daughter Jenna Bush. Sometimes you just got to put politics aside and admire those genes. Chelsea, eat your heart out!!!