PRO FOOTBALL: Jacksonville at Indianapolis

Who would have thought the Jaguars would be the focus of 2 TOTW's in less than a week? Even though I picked them to shock Indy and win the AFC South division, not even I saw them having a chance to take the NFL by storm so soon. After a convincing shutout of the Super Bowl champs in a defensive showdown last week, Jacksonville now needs to find some offense for this game against the high powered Colts.

As always, Indy is led by QB Peyton Manning and WR Marvin Harrison . However, missing is Edgerrin James after the veteran RB bolted in free agency. And though Coach Tony Dungy's defense is pretty good, it will always be the play of the offense that defines this team. On the other hand, Jacksonville has adopted the personality of their coach Jack Del Rio. He was a ferocious NFL linebacker for a decade and now his Jags play some tough defense too. But the offensive is still a big uncertainty. QB Byron Leftwich and RB Fred Taylor have lots of ability, but also an equal tendency for injury.

My pick: Jacksonville. I've been so hot with my TOTW picks of late that I'm calling out the upset right here. Take the points, but look for the Jags to win outright.

Today is the 102nd consecutive daily TOTW and it'll also be the last for awhile. With the expected birth this week of our son Joseph Thomas Briscoe, now is an appropriate time for me to put my love of sports and blogging on hold. I'm sure my late night hours will be better spent making bottles, burping, changing diapers, and trying everything to get the little guy to sleep.

Thanks to all my visitors and commenters during the past 3 1/2 months. It's been a great summer in the world of sports and I'm proud that I was able to capture a small part of it. Highlights for me include the exciting World Cup, the tainted Tour de France, baseball's pennant races, the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, and the start of the pro and college football seasons. Look for The One To Watch to return at this same url in November. And expect some major tweaking in an effort to stay relevant in this overly-crowded blogosphere.

Finally, let me not forget my favorite part of TOTW - the girls. I think I've delivered photos of an eclectic bunch of athletes, celebrities, and other fine looking women. Ranking my top 5 has been fun too. But it turns out that my #1 choice today remains the same as it was 3 months ago or 3 years ago. It's the ultimate vixxen of the sports world (and baseball fan) Anna Kournikova.

I wish Anna made a bigger mark in the world of women's tennis before injuries forced her retirement. And I really wish she wasn't dating a pussy like Enrique Iglesias. However, in spite of these failures, I think 97% of red-blooded American sports fans agree Kournikova is still a winner in our eyes....and the ones who don't are offset by all those Russian hockey players 20 years her senior who were lucky enough to get a piece along the way!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Wisconsin at Michigan

Unfortunately the 4th week of the college football season doesn't look very exciting. But it's a Saturday in September so I can't resist looking here for the one to watch anyway. And while it's impossible to compete with the excitement of last weekend's "Separation Saturday," this one does look unusually uncompetitive. I see plenty of duds like Georgia-Colorado, Florida State-Rice, Auburn-Buffalo, and Oklahoma-Middle Tennessee. So instead let's look at the ones that actually have potential.

The Big 10 provides the best opportunities for decent football with 3 games where the favorites will be looking to avenge losses in these same matchups from 2005. Ohio State-Penn State and Michigan State-Notre Dame both seem like fairly easy wins for the Buckeyes and Irish...on paper, at least! So I'm making the Wisconsin-Michigan game today's TOTW.

Michigan completely dominated Notre Dame last weekend and looks to keep moving up in the polls with a win over the rival Badgers. The Wolverine combination of QB Chad Henne to WR Mario Manningham has been electric. And RB Michael Hart is always steady. But Wisconsin is a stubborn team that knows how to win close games with good defense, conservative play calling, and a power running game. Coach Barry Alvarez may have retired but I predict their formula will still work.

My pick: Michigan. The Wolverines will find a way to win in order to stay alive for the BCS title. But I expect Wisconsin to make it very close.

The #2 babe in our The One To Watch countdown is sexy Indy Car driver Danica Patrick. I'm a big fan of open wheel racing so I realize I'm very biased here. And I think Danica is a winner on and off the track. She caught my attention by nearly winning at Indy in 2005, but it was in that red dress at the 2006 ESPY's where she really impressed me!

GOLF: The Ryder Cup

The last meaningful pro golf event of the year, the Ryder Cup is an exciting team competition that pits a squad of the best American players against one composed of the best from Europe. Played every other year, the Europeans have dominated the competition lately by winning 4 of the last 5 events. But this time US captain Tom Lehman has assembled a talented team with a good mix of veterans and young hungry players.

And yet we know the main focus of play tomorrow will be to see how Tiger Woods looks. For all of Tiger's mastery of traditional tournament play, he's never been a very good team golf player. In fact, the world's #1 player has a subpar 7-11 record with 2 ties in previous Ryder Cup play. I think the primary reason is that Tiger's game above all others depends mentally on him blocking out the rest of the field and merely taking on the golf course. But in Ryder Cup play, not only do you have teammates to support, but the format also mixes it up through different aspects like best ball and alternate shots.

The event starts tomorrow morning with 2 on 2 play. Tiger will be paired with Jim Furyk who always seems to impress in big spots. I'd also like to see Phil Mickelson finish his year with strong play in the Ryder Cup since 2006 will be remembered for Lefty as one filled with the highest of highs (The Masters) and then lowest of lows (72nd hold of the US Open, The British Open).

My pick: Europe. Hope I'm wrong. The 3 day weekend event will be played in Ireland. I'm sure the course is ancient, beautiful, and will probably be a little wet too.

The 3rd place girl of The One To Watch is tennis star Maria Sharapova. I was pleased to see Nike's "pretty girl" win the US Open because it meant additional opportunities to see her in this little black cocktail dress! To Maria's credit, she has managed to balance the endless marketing of her sexy image with also playing very good tennis. That's why she's certainly One to Watch.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Virginia at Georgia Tech

This should be a fun Thursday Night ESPN game out of the ACC. Georgia Tech looked pretty good in a 14-10 loss to Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago. After 2 easy wins against lesser opponents, they're now 2-1. QB Reggie Ball and WR Calvin Johnson have become a dynamic connection. And the Rambling Wreck's defense is always pretty good led by a solid secondary this year.

On the other hand, Virginia is off to a rough 1-2 start. After bad losses to Pittsburgh and Western Michigan (as well as a mere 13-12 victory over Wyoming!), Coach Al Groh's job could soon be in trouble. So far the Cavaliers have already given playing time to 3 different QB's and they obviously haven't found the right one.

My pick: Georgia Tech. One of the best parts of college football is conference games. These teams and coaches know each other well. Let's see who gets the best of this early conference matchup.

Our 4th place babe in the Girls of The One To Watch is beach volleyball star Misty May. I can't tell you how many times I sit through this semi-sport just to watch the long, tan, and athletic bodies of May and her colleagues filling out slim bikinis as they run around fake beaches. Afterall, I was a big Baywatch fan back in the day. No real differences here.

BASEBALL: Minnesota at Boston

It's a slow day in sports so our best bet is to turn to the baseball pennant races. So far, the Mets are the only team who has clinched their division. The Cardinals and A's do appear to have their respective divisions locked up. And the Yankees magic number is down to just 1 game. A Red Sox loss or Yankees win will give the Yanks their 9th consecutive AL East crown. Perhaps the NL West race is the most exciting since Los Angeles and San Diego are exactly tied with 12 games to go. But for today's TOTW, I'm picking the Boston-Minnesota game since it can both clinch the AL East for New York and also give the Twins the lead for the AL Central.

Detroit has indeed come back to the pack, as predicted right here on your The One To Watch blog. I think most people actually saw this coming. The bigger surprise in the AL Central is probably that the White Sox have fallen 5 games back. But I wouldn't count them out yet.

In tonight's game, Boston pitches their ace Curt Schilling. Schill has had an up-and-down year by his lofty standards with a 14-7 record and 4.14 ERA. But he's certainly bounced back nicely from an injury plagued 2005 season. On the other hand, making their run all the more incredible, Minnesota's pitching is in chaos. Liriano and Radke are hurt and they're starting some guy named "Boof" tonight. That's right, rookie Boof Bonser will be taking his respectable 5-5 record and 4.52 ERA to the mound for the Twins. And you know what? They'll probably win.

My pick: Minnesota. How can you go against a guy named Boof?

Since this Sunday will mark the 100th TOTW, today begins my countdown of the top 5 girls of The One To Watch. #5 is pro golfer Natalie Gulbis. She is single-handedly responsible for making the LPGA sexy, even if it's still boring. Gulbis even appears every month in FHM Magazine where she offers suggestions for taking strokes off your game. Hmmm.

QUITE FRANKLY

The football weekend is finally over. And it ended with a ho-hum game last night. But it was nice to see at least one Florida pro team emerge with a win since it was a tough weekend for both the college and pro teams around here. Except for those mighty Gators! Speaking of which, I realized I have a 6 day winning streak going with my TOTW picks. Not too shabby, although since I have no money to wager these days, it's only noted here for foolish pride! Therefore, I'm doing something different today and turning our attention to a tv show.

Today's TOTW is the ESPN 2 show Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith. I had thought the much-hyped program had been cancelled due to poor ratings. But with its recent return I heard that it was merely on a "month-long hiatus." Sounds like they're prolonging the inevitable. Regardless, as a former fan of the old ESPN 2 show Talk Two with Jim Rome, I'm glad to see more of this type of programing on ESPN. I like interview shows with more than soundbytes. And while I often disagree with Stephen A's takes, I also respect his willingness to stick out his neck and offer a real opinion. Too many sports hosts speak in generalities to avoid being wrong and somehow not looking like an expert anymore.

Speaking of generalities, there's nothing general about Pete Rose. The all-time baseball hit leader is Stephen A's guest tonight at 11:00pm EST. From the teaser seen on last night's SportsCenter, Rose will be discussing the baseballs currently selling on Ebay that he autographed with the inscription, "Sorry I bet on baseball." Classic Pete. I'm a big fan and wish there were more players and managers like him in MLB. And I think he's done his time and deserves to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. How tame does Pete's crime look in comparison to the steroid escapades that have made a joke out of the record book? Does anyone really think Pete Rose would bet against his own team? This from a guy who played the All-Star game like it was Game 7 of the World Series?

No way. Pete merged his gambling addiction with his pride for his own team. Yes, that was a mistake. But even the MLB Hall of Fame is filled with men who made mistakes. Bud Selig obviously has a personal vendetta against Pete Rose. And if you judge a man by his enemies, this speaks well of Pete Rose. Selig needs to get over it and welcome Rose back into baseball before it's too late.

No prediction for a day in which I discuss Pete Rose? IRONY!!

Here's someone whose likely Pete's type of woman. A femme fatale rumored to have been a lover of Bill Clinton and the star of dark movies like Casino and Basic Instinct....Sharon Stone.

PRO FOOTBALL: Pittsburgh at Jacksonville

Looks like the defending champs will be on national prime-time television a lot this year. The Steelers opened week 1 of the new season with a Thursday night NBC game in which they beat Miami. Now they play another Florida team on ESPN's new Monday Night Football to close week 2. This should be a good game because I'm very high on Jacksonville this year and the Jags actually beat the Steelers in 2005. In fairness, Tommy Maddux did play QB for Pittsburgh in that game. While Maddux is gone, QB Ben Roethlisberger's status is again questionanble after an apendectomy. Backup Charlie Batch looked solid in the opener, but I expect to see Big Ben make his debut tonight.

Coach Jack Del Rio has instilled a definite toughness to the Jaguars. Makes sense because he was exactly that kind of player himself and they'll need it since the Jags play in the same division as the high-powered Colts. I still have the Jaguars winning the AFC South if their wideouts can somehow fill the void left by longtime star Jimmy Smith's retirement. When healthy, I love what ex-Gator RB Fred Taylor can do for an offense. He's always been a big play guy. And I think former Marshall QB Byron Leftwich is ready to become an elite QB as well. His biggest issue has also been a tendency for injury in his 5 year career.

My pick: Jacksonville. When we lived in Valdosta, we were only about 90 minutes away from Jacksonville. We spent 2 or 3 fun weekends visiting the area....not only to go to beach, but also because Jax had the closest Babies-R-Us to where we lived. Ya gotta love the sticks! Anyway, Duval County is a beautiful area and, well, Pittsburgh is not. Go Jags!

From the Jaguars' website:

The ROAR is an integral part of the Jaguars entertainment package during all home games. These professional cheerleaders captivate Jaguars fans with their explosive, high-energy routines and cheerful personalities. When not on the playing field, members of The ROAR serve as goodwill ambassadors for the Jaguars by participating in various corporate, community and charitable events throughout Jacksonville and surrounding areas.



I too am captivated by that goodwill!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

As expected, a double dose of football this weekend.

Saturday, September 16 - COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Florida at Tennessee -- This week begins the heart of the SEC schedule as that conference proves once again why it's perennial home to the best football in the country. The big afternoon game pits the LSU Tigers against the Auburn Tigers. The winner of this contest is likely to later play for the SEC championship and a BCS spot. But as a Gators fan, it's the evening game that I'll be watching most closely. Coach Phil Fulmer appears to have gotten the Vols back on track after a disappointing 2005 season that witnessed a rare losing record. QB Erik Ainge is playing like the star who first emerged as a freshman back in 2004. On the other hand, Coach Urban Meyer's Gators are on a roll after routs of Southern Mississippi and Central Florida. 4 year starter senior QB Chris Leak is a star with a ton of pro potential. And he's again got great weapons this year with freshman stud WR Percy Harvin, senior WR Dallas Baker, and junior tailback DeShawn Winn.

My pick: Florida. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is never an easy place for the hated Gators to play. Expect 106,000 East Tennesseeans to be give them hell. But, in the end, the good guys have too much talent this year and Florida will be whistling Rocky Top all the way to a 10 point win.

Sunday, September 17 - PRO FOOTBALL: Washington at Dallas -- Much is expected in 2006 of both these teams that are led by Hall of Fame coaches. However, they each began the season with a tough loss in week 1 and now look to bounce back with a win in this bitter rivalry. Word is that Bill Parcells is ready to bench QB Drew Bledsoe if he struggles early. I think that would be a mistake. Bledsoe can still throw a good ball and deserves a few games to establish chemistry with new WR Terrell Owens. On the other hand, I think the Redskins are overrated following their playoff appearance in 2005. Washington won several close games last year by catching good breaks and playing spirited defense. Their shortcomings will be exposed in 2006 beginning with QB Mark Brunell. And if RB Clinton Portis doesn't play or only sees limited action, this game won't be close.

My pick: Dallas. Expect T.O. to shine in this primetime appearance on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Although for sheer entertainment value, I sure wouldn't mind seeing him instead get into a fist fight with the Tuna along the sidelines.

I like East Tennessee. It's where my wife is from. We got married there. Knoxville is a real Americana kind of place. And the nearby mountains are beautiful. On a lot of Saturdays, I actually root for the Vols. But I still prefer it down here in the Swamp!

BASEBALL: San Diego at Los Angeles

Today should be a fun day for baseball. And the best part is that I don't even care about the Yankees-Red Sox series. Who would have thought a mere 6 weeks ago that this mid-September series would be meaningless in everyway for both teams? In fairness, maybe Josh Beckett can pick up his 15th win while improving on his lackluster 5.09 ERA! Elsewhere, 5 pitchers having won a total of 15 Cy Young Awards go tonight including Greg Maddux, Roy Halliday, Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, and Roger Clemens. The Oakland-White Sox series this weekend should be interesting. I still expect Oakland to hold onto the AL West and a sweep here could leave the defending champs home come October. However, we move down the Southern California coast to sunny LA in order to find today's TOTW.

The Dodgers and Padres begin a critical 3 game series that will go a long way in crowning a division champ in the NL West. LA still sits in 1st place, but they are now only 1/2 game ahead of San Diego. The pitching matchup in this game should be fun. The ageless Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux faces the very-much-aged and beer-bellied David "Boomer" Wells. Not that long ago, these pitchers were both enduring sub-par seasons for bad teams well out of the playoff hunt. But a couple of late trades changed all that and now they surprisingly meet in SoCal with the NL West title on the line.

My pick: Los Angeles. The Dodgers are a better team and have a nice mix of youth and experience. I'm happy to see Maddux looking better again. I still think he provided the best decade of pure pitching that I've seen in my lifetime during the 1990s. Both Pedro and the Rocket may have better numbers, but they always had heat and nastier stuff to bully hitters with. Maddux just beat you with a stare, a quick delivery, and pinpoint control. There were few better nights of baseball in my life than sitting behind homeplate watching the Braves win 2-1 in 1:55 with Maddux throwing an 8 inning shutout and looking like a surgeon at work.

Here's starlet Lindsey Lohan before and after the drugs partying diet. She's still hot either way. But sometimes I wish these celebrities didn't think eating was an optional part of life. Ok, I admit I may be a little jealous!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Maryland at West Virginia

This game may provide an answer to the question of whether or not West Virginia is a legitimate top 5 team in 2006. Coach Rich Rodriguez has built a great offense since returning to his alma mater from Clemson. QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton are already stars and they're both just beginning their sophomore campaigns. In fact, Slaton is widely considered a real Heisman candidate. West Virginia beat Georgia in last year's Sugar Bowl after jumping out to a big lead. Though they barely hung on, that win provided a lot of credibility to this upstart team in my eyes. The problem remains that they play in the weak Big East Conference. That's why non-conference games like this one are so important to WVU. Not only must they win, they are expected to dominate at home.

On the other hand, Maryland is a declining program of late. Coach Ralph Friedgen has accomplished a lot since arriving from Georgia Tech, including winning the ACC in 2002. Unlike Rodriguez, however, the Fridge hasn't been able to generate much offense in recent years. And 1st round NFL draft pick TE Vernon Davis is now gone. Much of the blame has been due to poor play at QB. Let's see if QB Sam Hollenbach looks any better than his predecessors tonight.

My pick: West Virginia. On paper, this shouldn't be close. But in facing an ACC school, this could be one of the Mountaineers' best tests on their soft schedule. Let's see if the Terrapins are up to the challenge.

My man Tucker Carlson was the 1st contestant eliminated from the new Dancing With The Stars last night. I knew he should have worn the bow tie. So in his honor, here is past contestant Stacy Keibler looking much better and showing off those famous legs.

BASEBALL: Oakland at Minnesota

Going back-to-back here at TOTW in order to recommend the A's vs. Twins afternoon matchup. Last night's game was a thriller as the Twinkies won 7-5 by posting 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th led by MVP candidate Justin Morneau's 2 run double. Minnesota continues to sit only 1 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central race, while also incresing its own lead in the wildcard race to 2 1/2 games over the White Sox. At the same time, following Oakland's loss and Anaheim's 11 inning win over Chicago, the A's lead in the AL West has shrunk to 4 1/2 games. This race was considered over merely 10 days ago. During that span, Oakland has gone 4-6 while Anaheim is a blistering 8-2.

Beyond playoff implications, this game should be given extra attention since it marks the return of Twins uber-rookie Francisco Liriano. Remember when this kid was unhittable with a 1-something ERA and a season-long winning streak? After a month-long stint on the DL, Minnesota needs Liriano to return to the form he showed prior to coming down with a sore throwing arm. He still sports a mind-blowing 12-3 record with a miniscule 2.19 ERA. A few more wins down the stretch could give Liriano the edge in a tremendous battle for AL Rookie of the Year with Justin Verlander and Jonathon Papelbon.

Danny Haren takes the hill for the A's. He's 13-11 on the season with a respectable 3.95 ERA. Haren has become a reliable #2 starter in Oakland's rotation. He's already given the A's 200 innings and has finally made the trade of Mark Mulder for this prospect look like another solid move by GM Billy Beane.

My pick: Oakland. I'd hope Liriano makes a strong return and helps lead Minnesota into the playoffs. But Oakland was my World Series pick from spring training so I still expect big things from them too. Let's see if they respond to the heat being made by the ever-approaching Anaheim Angels.

I love this picture of a brunette Paris Hilton. Despite all her superficial flaws, I still like Paris. I'm just wondering why she puts on a disguise to buy a cell phone? Afterall, I thought she already proved that she wasn't camera shy?

BASEBALL: Oakland at Minnesota (My Hangover)

What a weekend. I have a football hangover. Why did I watch so much? It tasted so good going down. I know I need to get off this bar stool and go home. My head hurts. I need a day away from this to prove I can do without that firewater known as sports. I dunno. Maybe I'll just have one. A quick drink of something light before I leave. It might even help my hangover.

Maybe a wine cooler? That's not too strong. I barely even notice them these days. "Bartender, get me a Bartles and James -- baseball flavor please." I haven't had one of those around here in a long time. And make it that Oakland-Minnesota game. Don't worry about the pitchers. They have long names and it only makes my hangover worse to try to spell Saaaaaarlos. They're not named Zito or Santana so what does it matter? The A's and Twins have both been on fire since the All Star break. This could be a playoff preview. Ouch! This sports hangover is killing me. I said too much. I'm going home.

"Bartender, here's your tip: put your money on Oakland. That Frank Thomas is really hot." And so is my head. See ya'll tomorrow.

I better take something for this headache. Maybe a Jessica Alba. Yeah, that's good stuff. I feel better already.

PRO FOOTBALL: San Diego vs. Oakland

Today's one to watch is the rare backend of a Monday Night Football double-header. The Chargers and Raiders should display some decent offense, mostly because I don't think either team will play much defense. Let's see how San Diego QB Philip Rivers does in his 1st pro start and how Raider Coach Art Shell looks returning to the NFL a decade after his last coaching gig.

My pick: San Diego. I just hope LT saves the big points for next week when they might matter since I'm down by 37 to Francase in our fantasy league.

************************************************

Doing something different to remember 9/11/01 -- 5 years ago today. For me it seems even longer, only because my life has since gone through so many changes. But in other ways, the memories are fresh. I was in my 'Research, Writing and Analysis' class a mere month after entering law school at Georgia State. I hated that class and my initial reaction was one of glee when a custodian walked into the room mid-class and informed the professor classes had been cancelled for the morning. Naturally, my feelings soon changed. I walked over to the Irish Pub in Underground Atlanta and chased a shot of Jamison with a pint of Guinness while I watched the news.

5 years later I live in Charlotte County, Florida. It's 1200 miles from New York and a totally different world too. Yet even here I'm reminded how 9/11 touched all Americans. 3 of the highjackers actually spent their final months in this area learning how to fly planes. They lived in nearby Venice, the town where my wife works and one that hasn't seen a murder in 6 years. Ziad Jarrah, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Mohammed Atta each earned their wings at the Venice Municipal Airport and would then pilot 3 of the 4 doomed planes on 9/11. But in the summer of 2000, they came to Venice and blended right into our community. They lived in local rentals, attended flight school, and even drank in local bars. After class they went for beers almost every night at The Outlook Bar. According to bartender Lizsa Lehman, Atta was gruff and aloof and frequently expressed disapproval of the presence of women servers behind the bar. But al-Shehhi was apparently friendly and jovial and always eager to interact with bartenders and patrons.

Amazing. So with a vigilant eye towards the future and one of sorrow towards the past, let's reflect on the horrors the fallen of 9/11 went through, especially the heroes who died ascending those burning stairs. Let's also remember that for all our efforts in the Middle East, Osama Bin Laden remains free. Whether it be by this administration, the next, or even one 20 years from now, I pray that f*ucker gets justice G. Gordon Liddy style. And whether we're on the Right or the Left or somewhere in between, we can all agree on this, GOD BLESS THE USA!

THE HUGE SPORTS WEEKEND

I got my sports weekend off to a great start with some local football on Friday night. The Immokalee Indians from Collier County took on my hometown Charlotte Tarpons in nearby Punta Gorda. Immokalee is a powerhouse for football here in Florida. They were state champs in their class as recently as 2004 and are the alma mater of NFL star Edgerrin James. Not surprisingly, the Indians dominated the game by outgaining the Tarpons in total yardage 463 to 166 on the legs of stud running backs Brian Rolle and Carl Elie. Look for these guys playing D-1 college ball. The final score was 20-0 as turnovers prevented the game from becoming a laugher. But a good time was had by all, including my son Jimmy since it was his first ever football game!


A hearty cheer begins the game as the Tarpons kickoff.


The Indians pound one for a TD from the 1 yard line.


My first football game, 1 hamburger, 2 juice boxes, and some candy - not too bad for a 4 year old!

This will be a great weekend for sports. I'm very interested in the Saturday night NASCAR race from Richmond which will decide who makes the Chase for the Championship. The IRL wraps up its 2006 season with a race from Chicagoland Speedway that will crown 1 of the 4 remaining contenders as 2006 champ. The US Open concludes with its Mens and Ladies Finals, including an appearance by the "pretty" Maria Sharapova. The Manning Brothers inaugurate NBC's Sunday Night Football in a family affair that pits the Colts and Giants. And you know I'll be rooting for the Ole Ball Coach as the Georgia Bulldogs play the upstart Gamecocks in their SEC opener in South Carolina. However, as dramatic as all these sporting events may prove to be, they didn't make the One to Watch cut.

Saturday, September 9 - COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Ohio State at Texas - This rare early-season matchup of the 1st and 2nd ranked teams in the nation should be a heckuva game. Ohio State has the better offense. Texas has the better defense and is playing at home. The winner of this game will be a favorite to play for the National Championship, but the loser will certainly not be eliminated from consideration. I think OSU QB Troy Smith will be the difference. He reminds many of....Vince Young. My pick: Ohio State.

Sunday, September 10 - PRO FOOTBALL: Atlanta at Carolina - I'm going with this one because I think the NFC South may be the best division in football. I realize I'm nearly alone in this thought. But I'm bullish on the Panthers, Bucs, and Falcons. And while I don't expect as much from the Saints, it will be interesting to see the impact of RB Reggie Bush. As to this game, the Falcons traditionally play the Panthers tough, as its the closest thing each team has to a rivalry. Carolina WR Steve Smith is expected to miss the game due to injury and I'm reminded that the Panthers often start off slowly. My pick: Atlanta.

This one's for my brother Russ, an Austin resident who already started his tailgating on Friday night, and also for Francase and his wife Kim. Hook 'em Horns!

BASEBALL: Detroit at Minnesota

It looks like the AL Central will prove to be the best of the division and wildcard races as the MLB regular season comes down to the final 3 weeks. Can the Cinderella Tigers could hold off the Twins and White Sox, the 2 teams that have dominated this division for 5 years?

The Twins are once again a great story. They win with smoke and mirrors and arguably the best farm system in the game. Tonight they send rookie pitcher Matt Garza to the mound. Garza started the year on the roster of the local (to me) Fort Myers Mircale. And they're a Class A team comprised mostly of 18 and 19 year olds! Garza has struggled so far with a 1-4 record and a 5.88 ERA in his 5 starts. Francisco Liriano is set to come off the DL next week so the kid knows this might be his last chance to impress or its back to Denny's and Days Inns all over the state of Florida.

The Tigers will be spot starting lefty Wil Ledezma who is 2-2 with an impressive 2.38 ERA working mostly out of the bullpen. Detroit won game 1 of this series last night and gained a gain in their lead over both Chicago and Minnesota. Winning this 4 game series played in Minnesota would be a great way for the Tigers to stop the bleeding of the past month and encourage the Twins and Sox to instead battle for the wildcard.

My pick: Minnesota. I'd like to see the Twins win this division. While Detroit is a good story, the Tigers did land some big free agents and a big name manager in the past few years. Minnesota proves to MLB that there is a 3rd way to win - by building from within and keeping your own talent with a hometown discount.

More hot Alabama fans in those god-awful Bear Bryant fedoras. And somehow I just can't get enough of these folks. Roll Tide Roll!

PRO FOOTBALL: Miami at Pittsburgh

A couple of baseball thoughts on 2 of my favorite teams before I get to the no-brainer TOTW.

Firstly, how perversely cool is the 14 year history of the Florida Marlins? Last night rookie pitcher Anabel Sanchez ended MLB's 2 year no-hitter drought by mowing down the D-Backs. And this guy Sanchez is still only the 4th best ROOKIE starting pitcher in the Marlins rotation! The Red Sox traded Sanchez and stud SS Hanley Ramirez to Miami in a much-maligned firesale trade for one-time ace Josh Beckett. Have you seen Beckett this year? Who's laughing now, Red Sox fan? With a $15 million payroll, 6 of the top 12 contenders for the NL Rookie of Year are Marlins. And Sanchez is not one of them!

In 14 years the Marlins have won 2 world championships and have now enjoyed 4 no-hitters. No division titles, mind you, but 2 world series victories. And that's with 3 pathetic owners in Wayne Huizenga, John Henry, and now Jeff Loria. Each has been more anxious than last to build up the team and win, only to then stick it to the fans and start putting players on Ebay. But the Marlins are in Miami to stay. And they'll probably win another championship within a couple of years. With baseball's thriving Latino fanbase and player base, MLB needs that town. So fate favors the lowly Marlins, even if nobody else from their own fans to their owners to Miami-Dade County to Bud Selig will look kindly on them. Like a punching bag, each time you hit it, they just keep coming back at you harder.

Secondly, yesterday is the lowest point in already low year for the Atlanta Braves. For some time now I have been willing to overlook the end of the division winning streak in favor of finding positives in this season. After the disastrous month of June, I only asked for a .500 record and to see improvement in the club as the year went on. So many times that appears to be happening and then there's a moment like yesterday. Swept in a life-on-the-line doubleheader by the stinkin' Mets. 1 meager run in 18 innings against a series of journeymen like Dave Williams and Oliver Perez.

So I finally give up on the Braves in 2006. But I will remain an optimist. There have been good things this season from kids like Brian McCann, Adam LaRoche, Jeff Francoeur, and Chuck James. And veterans like Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Edgar Renteria, and John Smoltz have reminded us they can still play at a high level. Bigger concerns indeed lie with the future of guys like Tim Hudson, Marcus Giles, and Horacio Ramirez, as well as the entire dud of a bullpen. But I think Bobby Cox and John Schuerholtz have earned the right to a slip-up. Let's not forget that. They've also well-earned the right to take 1-2 years to turn things around. So I'm disappointed, but willing to be patient. In fact, Mets fans can well remind us that every year is not a 100 win season, right? You take the good with the bad.

Finally, on to TOTW. I'm naturally picking the 1st game of the 2006 NFL season. NBC's new Sunday Night Football kicks off with a Thursday game featuring the Dolphins and Steelers. I'll be rooting for Miami. And I expect Coach Nick Saban to make this team a playoff contender in year 2 behind QB Daunte Culpepper and RB Ronnie Brown. On the other hand, the Steelers were a great story for about 2 months of the 2005 season. Beyond that, they again look rather ordinary to me. But they are at home and there's sure to be a lot of emotion in the air as they begin the defense of their Super Bowl. However, QB Ben Roethlisberger will be watching from the sidelines after an appendectomy. As goes Big Ben, so go the Steelers.

My pick: Miami.

Here's a picture of two diehard Alabama fans watching their Crimson Tide beat Hawaii 25-17 this past weekend. These girls may be hot - I really don't know. I just can't get past the loudest dose of red I've ever seen, the laces of a football painted across their faces, bras that make Madonna jealous, and the Bear Bryant fedoras!! Yeah, That's How We Do It In Dixie, as Alabama-native Hank Williams, Jr. would say.

FOOTBALL: My 2006 NFL Picks

For the 2nd time in less than a week, my TOTW was cancelled by rain in New York City. While I'm still recommending today's make-up doubleheader between the Braves and Mets, it won't count in our daily scoreboard. Instead, today I'm using the forum to offer my NFL picks for the 2006 season. So far my blogging breathern have been quiet about their predictions. I get the ball rolling on a tradition that goes back to our college years.

AFC East: New England - Still the class of the division. However, they do need Deion Branch back. Losses on defense will hurt, but their experience on O and D still gives the Pats the edge over rapidly improving Miami.
AFC Central: Baltimore - Pittsburgh got hot last January but, without the Bus, they revert back to the team that barely made the playoffs in 2005. Cincy may be good, but I'm rooting against them for their offseason thuggery. So the default pick is Baltimore. Their offense should finally impove with stop-gap QB Steve McNair and depth at RB with Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson.
AFC South: Jacksonville - A much overlooked team. They don't have any big names, but are building a solid system with Coach Jack Del Rio emphasizing defense. QB Byron Leftwich finally has his breakout year. Indy is still good but everyone's older (including Marvin Harrison) and Edgerrin James is gone.
AFC West: Denver - This division will beat each other up. But Denver always finds a way to have a dominant running game and 1st round pick QB Jay Cutler will be the starter by week 9. He'll be remembered as the star of the 2006 class.
Wildcards: Indianapolis and Miami - Manning and co are too good to miss the playoffs. But I think they take a step back from last year's 14 win season. The Dolphins still have a good defense and have finally found a QB to replace Dan Marino. Culpepper should be fine and I expect Ronnie Brown to emerge as an all-pro.

NFC East: Philadelphia - Philly has a healthy McNabb and no TO. Otherwise, they still have many of the same pieces that made them the class of the NFC for several years. In this competitive division, 10 wins is all it may take.
NFC Central: Minnesota - QB Brad Johnson does just enough to win. He almost got the Vikes into the playoffs last year. While he is a dinosaur, if Johnson can stay healthy I think Minnesota is the class of this weak division. Chicago seems to always have one breakout year followed by 3 or 4 horrible ones. So now it's time for more losing.
NFC South: Tampa Bay - The best division in football. I'm biased being a fan of both the Bucs and Falcons, but few would disagree that the top 3 teams here are pretty good. The Bucs D is old, but Monte Kiffin always plugs new pieces into his system. They need QB Chris Simms to prove 2005 was no fluke.
NFC West: St. Louis - I think Seattle suffers the same fate that has plagued Super Bowl runner-ups for several years. Perhaps a Shaun Alexander injury is in the future? If St. Louis can keep QB Marc Bulger healthy, they can win a bunch of games against an easy schedule.
Wildcards: Carolina and Atlanta - The fear is that all these NFC South teams will beat each other up. But the same thing is likely to happen in the competitive NFC East anyway. And the other 2 divisions are really weak. So I like Carolina and Atlanta to each win 10 games and back into a wildcard where they could be dangerous.

AFC Champ - Indianapolis
NFC Champ - Philadelphia

Super Bowl winner - Philly I almost picked Tampa but didn't want to jinx them because my NFL picks are always wrong. But, hey, if I picked Indy vs. Philly this time last year I'd have been jumping on a popular bandwagon. So could things have really changed that much in 1 year? Perhaps. But I'm expecting a big year from my fantasy QB Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid's a solid coach and I think he'll right this ship now that TO is gone. Landing WR Donte Stallworth in training camp was a steal and I expect him to be a 1200 yard receiver. On the other hand, Indy clearly can't win the big game as the favorite. Maybe if they back into the playoffs, Peyton and Coach Dungy will feel the heat a little less - as long as someone emerges at RB and they avoid a trip to Foxboro!

BASEBALL: Atlanta Braves at NY Mets

It's been almost 2 weeks since baseball earned a TOTW. With the arrival of college and pro football, US Open tennis, and NASCAR's Chase for the Championship, there's a lot better on my sporting mind than late season baseball. But even if Atlanta sits 18 1/2 games behind the New York for 1st place in the NL East, I still enjoy seeing the Braves and Mets continue their long-standing rivalry. So I'm making tonight's game at Shea Stadium the one to watch.

The Mets have had an amazing year. You have to give GM Omar Minaya credit for assembling this veteran team mixed with some great young talent. The Mets will win 100 games and cruise to the playoffs. However, by the standards of a dominating team, there are some chinks in the armor. The starting pitching is brittle and thin. In 2006 both Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine have been great, when they have been healthy. Around the diamond, the lineup is dangerous. But despite the talent, the offense seems to live and die on the bats of sluggers Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. And each is known to be streaky - super hot when hot, and equally cold when cold. In fact, I think the true strength of the Mets is their bullpen. Led by closer Billy Wagner, this is where the Mets have an edge over most playoff teams.

On the other hand, the Braves have had a miserable year. Ever the optimist, I still haven't given up on them only because the NL is so weak. I think 85 wins is all it will take to capture the wildcard. That means the Braves would have to win 19 of their last 25 games. Not impossible, but not likely. Yet if they are to have a chance at doing the improbable, the Braves need quick improvement from their pitching. The arrival of closer Bob Wickman has helped settle the bullpen. If only they had landed him in the offseason as Francase and I bemoaned back in March - $5 million is all it would have taken. John Smoltz pitches tonight and looks to pick up his 13th win. He should be nearing 20 by now, but for the dang bullpen. One of the few pleasant happenings in 2006 has been the emergence of the hometown left-hander Chuck James who 1 hit the Mets last night.

My pick: Atlanta. The Braves desperately need the win and so does my fantasy team. I know my friend at the Cranky Conservative will again have mixed emotions and be rooting for a well-pitched 1-1 game that the Mets win in extra innings. However, with journeyman Dave Williams on the mound for the Mets, I wouldn't count on it.

I love baseball, but they just don't have cheerleaders...yet!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Florida State at Miami

Quick post for Labor Day. Hope everyone has a great holiday. Make the most of those outdoor family activities. Whether it's a cookout, day at the beach, some fishing, or getting together with friends, you never can have enough of these moments in life. But at the end of the day, I certainly won't be alone (especially here in Florida) in stopping to check out a great football game that matches two fun rivals.

Florida State and Miami are, as always, very evenly matched. And there are few better rivalries in college football than this one which pits the team of the 1990s against the team of the 1980s. Look for some good offense from FSU QB Drew Weatherford and his counterpart for the Hurricanes, Kyle Wright. Both enter their 2nd year as starters and look like future Heisman contenders. But you also know you'll get great defense from these schools that have produced defensive studs like Derrick Brooks, Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Warren Sapp over the years. The game could very well come down to special teams - including a feared Florida State field goal!

My pick: Florida State. Though I'm a Gators fan, I root for all the Florida teams. And the Noles are 2nd in the pecking order. So here's to seeing lots of Tomahawk Chops tonight in the Orange Bowl. But I expect a rematch of these two teams in December up in Jacksonville to crown an ACC champ.

Here are the Miami Hurricane cheerleaders, the Sunsations. As you would expect, these girls of South Florida are absolutely sun-sational!

THE BIG SPORTS WEEKEND

Saturday, September 2 - COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Notre Dame at Georgia Tech

I really respect college football programs that begin their season with a tough non-conference game. While it's tempting to grab an easy win against a cream puff, it's not a wise stratgey anymore in the ultra-competitve fight for a BCS spot. A game such as tonight's Notre Dame - Georgia Tech meeting gives those teams a good chance for national championship credibility. Also, this is the only game for which a team literally has unlimited preparation time. Why not use that advantage in facing a really good team rather than the traditional game against Southeastern Montana State?

Coach Charlie Weis turned around the fortunes of Notre Dame in 2005 by capitalizing on offensive talent like QB Brady Quinn, RB Darius Walker, and WR Jeff Samardzija. All three return this year and should be even better in this pro-style offense. The Fighting Irish hope to beat all-comers in 2006 by putting up a ton of points. On the other hand, coach Chan Gailey has disappointed Yellow Jacket fans since he arrived. Senior QB Reggie Ball is now a 4th year starter and seemingly always underachieves despite having talent. Look for Ball to try to connect with stud WR Calvin Johnson .

My pick: Georgia Tech. This is one of those upset in-the-making games. I think the experts might be overrating ND. And GT began its season last year by stunning reigning SEC champ Auburn.

Sunday, September 3 - AUTO RACING: Sony HD 500

This is the race that used to be called the Southern 500. It used to bear the sponsored name of the preferred drink of rednecks, Mountain Dew. It used to be run at the famous Darlington Speedway in South Carolina. It used to be an afternoon race held in the sweltering southern summer heat that tested the endurance of drivers and fans alike. But that was your daddy's NASCAR. Or at least my NASCAR of a mere 5 years ago. Now this race is held at the California Speedway in Fontana, just outside of Los Angeles. NBC has moved the race to an 8:00pm start time in the East. And it's sponsored by Sony - a Japanese television maker of all thing! At least the France family didn't rename the race the Southern California 500!

As to the actual race, Kurt Busch starts from the pole. The 2004 Nextel Cup champ has already been eliminated from contention for the Chase for the Championship. This is the next-to-last race in which drivers may scramble to finish in the top 10 to qualify for NASCAR's playoff system. Unfortunately, unlike last year, the top 10 is already nearly locked. The only driver on the outside with a decent chance of sneaking in is Kasey Kahne who sits in 11th place some 90 points behind Mark Martin.

My pick: Jimmy Johnson. This guy has won all the big races in 2006, including the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. I still think it's JJ's year. Look for the SoCal native to grab a win at his hometrack.

Here's an even better tribute to LaLa Land. The cheerleaders from the University of Southern California at work and at play.

TENNIS: 2006 U.S. OPEN

My purpose at TOTW is usually to look ahead. But today I must stray briefly for a few thoughts. After watching South Carolina open the 2006 college football season with a win over Mississippi State, I switched over to watch the conclusion of the Andre Agassi match. I had been checking in during commercials and it appeared the 36 year-old Agassi was gradually proceeding towards a relatively easy upset victory. Instead what followed were 2 of the most complelling hours of back-and-forth tennis that I've seen since....last year's US Open when 35 year-old Agassi made a dramatic unlikely run into the semifinals. Andre eventually overcame rising star Marcos Baghdatis in the 12th game of the 5th set over 3 hours and 40 minutes after they began playing. And guess which player was in worse physical shape as the epic finally concluded? Hint - it wasn't the old guy days from retirement.

I've been fortunate to have been an Andre fan since the beginning. I liked him just as much when he was the brash player who seemed to have the world on a string and often drew the crowd's ire. Why? I've always found it easy to root for Agassi because he's fun - on and off the court. Just as he rejected the dull "serve-volley-serve-volley" playing style of the 1990s, Andre also rejected traditional fashion, cliche-filled interviews, and even a boring love life. In the tradition of John McEnroe, he's always been well aware that the sport of tennis needs personalities in order to thrive. That's something peer Pete Sampras never possessed and it's why more people will remember Andre Agassi as the leading player of his time even though Pistol Pete seemingly accomplished more on the court.

On a personal note, I remember listening to Agassi win his first Grand Slam tournament back in 1992 at Wimbledon. I was vacationing on the British Caribbean island of Antigua and there the match was actually broadcasted on the local BBC radio. Tennis doesn't exactly lend itself to radio play-by-play. But somehow the 21 year-old Agassi - with his long hair, scandalously non-white outfits, and much older girlfriend Barbara Streisand cheering in the crowd - made it very compelling radio as I listened from the beach on my walkman. So today some 14+ years later, I salute Andre Agassi. Here's hoping there are a few more moments like yesterday's left in his racquet before retirement.

Moving along, since I'm determined to balance out baseball's dominance at TOTW, I'm recommending the featured men's match between 4th seed David Nalbandian of Argentina and 2000 US Open champion Marat Safin of Russia. Were it not for the dominance of Roger Federer during the past 4 years, Nalbandian would likely have a couple of Grand Slam titles. On the other hand, Safin (along with Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick) appeared ready to lead men's tennis into a new era just a few years ago. Once again, along came Roger Federer and like everyone else, Safin hasn't accomplished much in his wake.

My pick: David Nalbandian. High drama in Flushing Meadows take a day off to recover from last night.

Here's my pick for best outift of the US Open. While I admit the lovely Maria Sharapova remains capable of topping herself, I don't think she ever looked better than during her 1st round match on Wednesday.



N.B. Today's entry is dedicated to my dad, the one and only Tennis Titan, who surely stayed up way beyond his early bedtime to watch the Agassi match last night!