Meet David Villa

  The real Chosen One?

This is David Villa, star striker for Valencia Football Club in Spain.  Why is he in the news?  Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would like to have him in the Blues lineup come spring.  Why is this important?  Valencia president Juan Soler is asking any potential buyers to start the bidding at 100 million pounds.....that's $200 million!  That's four times as much as the Boston Red Sox paid Seibu just to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka. 

Yes, Villa is good.  He is spectacular.  He can score from anywhere and gave Spain a reason to look forward to the World Cup in 2010.  But $200 million?  Well, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich overpay's for everything.  He can afford it.

Manchester United and Chelsea battle to a 1-1 draw.

 Saha's goal was outstanding.

Ricardo Carvalho's second half header off Frank Lampard's corner gave Chelsea a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.  Manchester United's Louis Saha had given the Red Devils a 1-0 lead at halftime with his 29th minute goal.  Saha showed amazing skill in bending the ball around Carvalho and Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini with his left foot from the top of the 30 yard box. 

 Carvalho's goal aver Gabriel Heinze was special.

With the draw Chelsea was able to stay within three points of leaders United.  A win would have seen Man U move six points clear of Chelsea.  On Wednesday, Chelsea travel to Bolton as Manchester United host Everton.

Barclays Premiership : Table 26 November 2006       Home         Away               Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS 1 Man Utd 14 5 1 1 14 3 6 1 0 16 4 23 35 2 Chelsea 14 6 1 0 14 3 4 1 2 10 5 16 32 3 Bolton 14 4 1 2 8 6 3 2 2 7 7 2 24 4 Portsmouth 14 5 1 1 12 4 2 1 4 7 8 7 23 5 Aston Villa 14 4 3 0 11 4 1 5 1 5 6 6 23 6 Arsenal 13 3 4 0 13 4 3 0 3 8 6 11 22 7 Reading 14 4 1 2 10 9 3 0 4 6 9 -2 22 8 Everton 14 4 2 1 11 5 1 4 2 7 7 6 21 9 Liverpool 14 6 1 0 14 3 0 2 5 1 12 0 21 10 Tottenham 14 5 1 1 10 5 0 3 4 3 11 -3 19 11 Wigan 13 3 2 1 10 6 2 1 4 7 10 1 18 12 Fulham 14 3 1 3 5 6 1 4 2 9 14 -6 17 13 Middlesbrough 14 4 1 2 6 7 0 3 4 5 10 -6 16 14 Man City 14 4 3 0 7 1 0 1 6 3 15 -6 16 15 West Ham 14 4 1 2 8 6 0 1 6 2 10 -6 14 16 Blackburn 13 2 2 3 8 9 1 2 3 3 8 -6 13 17 Newcastle 14 2 2 3 6 7 1 2 4 3 8 -6 13 18 Sheff Utd 14 1 3 3 7 10 1 1 5 1 9 -11 10 19 Watford 13 1 4 1 7 6 0 2 5 3 13 -9 9 20 Charlton 14 2 2 3 5 7 0 1 6 5 14 -11 9

Battle of the Titans -- Man United vs Chelsea

                                                                                

Ever since Roman Abramovich, the Russian gazillionaire, took over at  Chelsea the Blue's have been at the top of the Premiership.  Mr Abramovich went to Porto and took away their fantastic coach, Jose Mourinho.  Mourinho then in turn dismantled a good Chelsea team and bought every good player he wanted.  John Terry and Frank Lampard, two fantastic English national players, are the only two left from the 'early years.' 

Brought over in the past four years are:  Andriy Schevchenko, AC Milan and Ukriane star, cost $60 million and was the best player in Italy the last five years; Didier Drogba, leads the Premiership with 8 goals this year; Michael Ballack, came over from Bayern Munich this summer, fantastic midfielder for Germany; Arjen Robben, led the Netherlands in the World Cup; Claude Makelele and Geremi, both left Real Madrid to join Chelsea; Michael Essien, midfielder helped Ghana walk over, around and through the USA in Germany; Ashley Cole, Arsenal's best defender for lord knows how long; Petr Cech, Czech national goalkeeper, widely known as the best GK in the world.  Some other's are Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, John Mikel, Ricardo Carvalho, etc.

This Sunday the Blues head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.  Before Chelsea's Russian oil tycoon started throwing around his money, the Red Devils were the class of England.  Yes, Arsenal may have one a title here and there but for the most part Man U dominated the Premiership.  In 1999, Man U won the treble which includes the FA Cup, the Premiership and the UEFA Champions.  That never happens.  Well, every 30 years or so. 

                                                             

This year Manchester United will take a three point lead into the game.  After 13 games last year Chelsea was up by seven points and rolled to a second straight Premiership title.  Tomorrow morning's game could go a long way in deciding this year's title.  Can Man U win and go 6 points up?  Will Chelsea win at Old Trafford to tighten this race up?  Who will control the midfield?  Man U's Ronaldo and Michael Carrick or will it be Michael Ballack and Framk Lampard of Chelsea?  Either way, 74,000 fans will get the game of a lifetime.

Read more about the Clash of the Giants here.

Quite simply the biggest game of the year.

** As I was writing this, Wayne Rooney has signed a new two-year deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012.  Read about it here.

 My favorite # 8 will be in Machester for a while.

Who Should Play Ohio State?

 Freshman running back Chris Wells helped the Buckeye's edge Michigan on Saturday.

On Saturday, Ohio State held off a solid Michigan team, 42-39, to secure a spot in the BCS National Title game in January.  There are a few teams that have a shot at playing the Buckeye's for the title.  Let's name each team and why they should be considered.  (By the way, they are not listed from best chance to worst chance, just a list)

1.  Michigan (# 2 in the BCS) -- I can see both sides of the fence here.  Before Michigan played Ohio State on Saturday I felt this was their one chance.  They shouldn't get another.  But watching on Saturday and listening to Craig James and Doug Flutie talk after the game it's hard not to let these two go at it again.  The Wolverines lost to the #1 team in the country on the road and only by 3 points. 

2.  USC (#3) -- The Pac-10 champion.  Other than a loss on the road to a good Oregon State, the Trojan's have completely throttled every team this year.  They dismantled a great California offense, surrendering only 9 points.  USC squashed Arkansas in the first game of the year at Arkansas.  Notre Dame and Arkansas, two good non-conference foes.

3.  Arkansas (#6) -- The best team in the SEC at the moment.  The Razorback's looked absolutely marvelous (as did Darren McFadden) in beating Tennessee last weekend.  Arkansas will have to take care of LSU this weekend at home for a chance to face Florida in the SEC title game.

4.  Florida (#4) -- Beat Auburn on the road, yet barely squeaked by South Carolina at home.  This is the last team I would want to see Ohio State.  Florida State this coming weekend or Arkansas in the SEC title game will make sure they have no shot at OSU.  But if they win the SEC title how do you turn them away?  I know how.  Have you seen their non-conference schedule?  Western Carolina.  That's a good win right there. 

5.  Notre Dame (#5) -- We shouldn't even be talking about the Fighting Irish, yet Lou Holtz seems to think they are the best team this world's ever seen.  Notre Dame was rocked by Michigan earlier this year.  The Golden Domer's should not play the Buckeyes.  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.  Okay, the Marines don't have a football team, but Notre Dame's schedule stinks.

 Pete Carroll celebrates with his team after beating Cal on Saturday night.

Personally, I would like to see USC play Ohio State.  I understand Michigan played Ohio State better than any other team this year, but I'd like to see somebody else get a chance.  USC, in my mind, is the only other team that might be able to stick with the Buckeye's.  Then again, in the next few weeks the answer will probably be made on the field.

Bo Schembechler

                                                               R.I.P Glenn "Bo" Schembechler

Friday morning in Ann Arbor, Michigan, former Michigan coach and Athletic Director Bo Schembechler collapsed and passed away at the age of 77.  Ironically on Thursday night, Schembechler cancelled an appointment with his doctor to speak to this year's Michigan team before they left for Columbus to play Ohio State on Saturday. 

 Bo and Woody Hayes before a game.

In his 27 years as coach of Michigan, his toughest rival was Ohio State.  Woody Hayes, Ohio State's fantastic coach in the 1960's and 1970's, had a hatred for Michigan that was unmatched.  Up 48-14 on the Wolverines in one matchup, the Buckeye's scored a touchdown and WENT FOR TWO!!!  Can you imagine that?  Up by 34 and went for two.  After the game Hayes was asked why he went for two, his response was 'Because I couldn't go for three!'  That's hatred right there.  Yet, Schembechler was the only coach in college football history to have a winning record vs Hayes and Ohio State.  His teams were 5-4-1 against the Buckeyes. 

"It's disappointing he's not going to be here for the game," said former Michigan offensive lineman Doug James, one of the captains on Schembechler's 1984 team, "but I guess he's going to have a better seat than all the rest of us." 

From a Wisconsin fan to an even bigger college football fan, I'd like to wish Michigan all the best of luck in the world tomorrow vs Ohio State.  I'll be cheering for the blue because Schembechler always did it the right way, he never cheated. 

Read more about Saturday's matchup from ESPN's Pat Fordeand his 'Tale of the Tape' here.

Commissioner of College Football

 Asst Commish has been fired, I am now Commissioner, President and CEO of College Football for the NCAA.

The NCAA has just informed me, Ryan Alexander Wilmot, and notified me Saturday night (while eating at Noodles & Company in Madison staring at the wall, wondering where life is going to take me...) that they needed a new Commissioner for College Football.  They asked me to start right now.  I obliged.  Finally!  I knew I should be given a great job like this.  College football is tremendous and with a person like me in charge, everything will be perfect. 

I'm making one big change starting right now.  Michigan at Ohio State next Saturday has been postponed and will be played January 8, 2007 as the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Arizona. 

Here is what we have found out this year:  No team is better than either Ohio State or Michigan.  No. 3 Florida looked absolutely horrendous last night vs South Carolina.  USC looked good at home vs Oregon but they have a loss to Oregon State.  Arkansas would probably be the next choice to play for the title.  They lost to USC in the first game of the year, but have looked spectacular ever since.  Notre Dame?  Good, but lost to Michigan.  Rutgers?  Come on.  Have you seen their strength of schedule?  Best in the Big East yes, but not national title contenders.  West Virginia?  They met Louisville a couple weeks ago.  LSU?  Two losses. 

What else has been thrown around and could possibly happen if it's a close game is Ohio State vs Michigan in a rematch in January.  You have got to be kidding.  You are telling me that if Michigan squeaks by the Buckeye's next Saturday on the road in Columbus they should have to play them AGAIN?  Would you give Ohio State the title for going 1-1 vs Michigan?  That can not happen.

As the new Commissioner of College Football, here are my BCS bowl projections:

BCS National Title, January 8 -- Ohio State vs Michigan -- #1 vs #2.  It's what we want to see.  These two Big Ten teams are head and shoulders better than every other team in the country. 

Sugar Bowl, January 3 -- USC vs Arkansas -- Darren McFadden gets my vote for the Heisman.  John David Booty and the Trojans will play for the national title next year.

Orange Bowl, January 2 -- Notre Dame vs Florida -- Both teams aren't nearly as good as they were supposed to be.  Might as well let them duke it out for biggest letdown of the 2006 season.

Fiesta Bowl, January 1 -- Rutgers vs Boise State -- Two undefeated teams (and the best in their respective conferences) who couldn't beat the # 3 teams in the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and the SEC.  Enjoy!

Rose Bowl, January 1 -- LSU vs West Virginia -- Other than the national title game, this would be my favorite game to watch.  West Virginia's offense is electric and LSU's front four is the best in the country. 

As a Wisconsin native, I must assure you Badger fans they will have an easy win in the Capital One bowl over a crap Florida team.  The small addition of an eight game playoff next year would also be a big help.  As commissioner I will look into that.

Who would've thought?

Who would've thought?  College football has turned upside-down this year.  Michigan is always good, as is Texas, Ohio State and Oklahoma.  Yet this year there has been some things I never would have expected to see. 

First is Rutgers.  Where did they come from?  Last year they were 7-5 (4-3 in the Big East).  This year, they were picked to finish 6th in the Big East, but with a couple years of solid recruits, the Scarlet Knights are 8-0 and ranked in the No. 15 in the country.  Never in a million years would I have expected this.  For the first time in school yesterday (137 years), a ranked Rutgers teams will face another ranked team No. 5 Louisville.

Rutgers running back Ray Rice, a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award.

Next is Wake Forest.  I can't name one football player on their team.  I can't tell you one football player who has ever played for them (I know Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress but they weren't football players).  Ranked # 22 in the country, Wake upset Boston College last night, 21-14, to move to 8-1.  The Demon Deacons were selected to finish 6th (last) in the Atlantic Division of the ACC.  Are pigs flying this year? 

 Ryan Skinner, Deacons QB, after last night's win over BC.

On the flip side, a couple traditional powers have slid out of the rankings.  I think many of us would have expected Miami to lose a couple games, but not to complete fall off the radar like they have.  Well, I guess they haven't completely fallen off the radar.  They did have a brawl vs South Florida everybody saw on SportsCenter.  That was a special timein Hurricane football.  What a bunch of idiots.

Florida State has also taken a complete nosedive into the gutter.  Picked to win the ACC and be ranked in the top 10 in the country, the Seminoles are 5-4, 4-3 in the ACC.  They have more high school All-Americans than any other school in the country.  Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee were both All-American QB's in the high school and have not panned out.  Lorenzo Booker.  Ah yes, I remember his press conference on SportsCenter saying he had selected FSU.  He's a senior and is no where near what he should have been.  I completely agree that Bobby Bowden should be able to leave on his own terms after what he has done in Tallahassee, but with another year like this the boosters in Tally won't be asking, they'll be yelling and screaming for Bowden to get out. 

College football is the greatest sport on earth.  Every weekend great games are all over the tube.  Every game matters and every team plays their heart out.  The next couple months will be spectacular and a couple teams, Rutgers and Wake Forest, will be aiming to play in bowl games only the upper echelon of college football normally play in, Florida State and Miami.

BORAT!!

Borat:  Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

 

Less than 24 hours people.  On Friday, Sacha Baron Cohen fantastic comedy, Borat, comes out in theaters.  The creater of the HBO comedy, Da Ali G show, was the hit of the Cannes Film Festival.  Robert Butler of the Kansas City Star says 'It's one of the funniest movies ever made.'   

 

Photo by Blake Little

Watch the trailer on youtube.com here.