COLLEGE FOOTBALL KICKOFF WEEKEND PREDICTIONS

My new book, "Illegal Procedure - A PK Frazier Novel" is now available on all E-Book outlets, including Smashwords, iBooks, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Now that football season is upon us, I've come out of blogger hibernation and will begin posting several times a week. The first weekend of the college season begins Thursday night, with a couple of compelling matchups on the slate. Last season, a number of so-called mid-major programs and conferences made some noise in big upsets of BCS conference teams.  I will be making weekly predictions, primarily of games involving top 25 teams and other important BCS conference matchups.

UNC 31 at (6) South Carolina 34: I'm really tempted to take UNC in this game, despite all of the hype and high expectations for the Gamecocks. Conventional wisdom dictates that if you're going to pull the upset, game one is the time to do it.  The Tar Heels could be improved offensively under second year coach Larry Fedora after scoring over 40 points a game last season, but I'm going to have to stay with South Carolina, mainly because they're at home and I think their defense can slow down the UNC.

(24) USC 31 at Hawaii  17: Despite the fact that Trojan coach Lane Kiffen has yet to name a starting quarterback to replace the departed Matt Barkley, I think they still have too much for the Rainbows. Coming from Southern California, Hawaii shouldn't be quite the distraction it might be for some other teams. Last year I wasn't alone in thinking USC had national championship potential. I think the Pac-12 might be a little strong at the top for them this year, but the Trojans still have a strong roster and could be in the top ten by season's end.

Ole Miss 28 at Vanderbilt 30: This is a very interesting early season matchup of two teams on the rise in the SEC. Under coach Hugh Freeze, the Rebels have been compiling top recruits and there is some reason for serious optimism in Oxford. But Vanderbilt was the victor by a point in this game last year and the Commodores have also improved, winning their final seven games of last season and looking to build on their best record since the Jay Cutler era. I like what James Franklin is doing in Nashville, so I'll go with Vandy in another tight game.

Massachusetts  6  at (23) Wisconsin 42: The Badgers have a new coach, but a lot of the roster that now-Arkansas coach Bret Bielema took to the Rose Bowl is still intact. No contest here, with UMass coming off a 1 - 11 season.

Buffalo 10 at (2) Ohio St 38.: Buffalo saw improvement through last season, but they really aren't any match for a team that many think, under coach Urban Meyer, can unseat Alabama.

Toledo 27 at (10) Florida 24: This is not a walkover for Florida. Toledo contended in the very strong Mid-American Conference last year and could give the Gators a fight in the Swamp. Of the top teams with mid-major opponents this weekend, this is probably the best upset possibility. Florida has a history of sluggish starts, but they better come to play Saturday afternoon. I'm not a big Gator fan, so I'm going with the huge upset.

Rice  21 at (7) Texas A&M 31: So now we know that Johnny Manziel will serve a huge, uh, well, maybe not so huge, uh, actually a kind of slap on the wrist. Really? Well, I guess the NCAA showed him. Or is it them? Despite the incredibly punitive action, I think A&M can still pull this one out. But all kidding aside, Rice can still be dangerous and a win would make their season. With all of the distractions, the Aggies better get focused.

Mississippi St. 34 at (13) Oklahoma St. 31: This is an interesting showdown between the SEC and the Big 12. The Bulldogs opened 2012 with seven consecutive wins before running into Alabama, then faltered down the stretch with only a win against the beaten down Arkansas Razorbacks in their last five games. The Cowboys are coming off an up and down season, where at times their defense was virtually non-existent. I believe we'll see the SEC defensive superiority exhibited in this game, as Mississippi State pulls the mild upset.

Temple  13 at (14) Notre Dame 31:  The Irish are coming off their disappointing performance against Alabama in the BCS championship game, and the Owls should provide a nice beginning to the 2013 season.

Central Michigan 13 at (17) Michigan 34: The Wolverines won this game easily last year, 41 - 7. Central Michigan struggled early in 2012, but won their last four games and five of their last six, including a bowl game. But I don't see them having enough to pull the upset in the Big House.

Eastern Washington  24 at (25) Oregon St. 30: The Beavers host the third-ranked FCS Eagles. In recent years, these have been dangerous games for FBS schools thinking they're cake walks. Eastern Washington gave Washington St. all they could handle last season, so Oregon St. better bring their A-game.

Louisiana-Monroe 27 at (16) Oklahoma 34: This is the same La.-Monroe team that went into Little Rock last season, knocked Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson out of the game and proceeded to derail the Razorbacks' season. The time has passed when BCS conference teams can overlook their Sun Belt Conference foes in these early season games. It's a rebuilding year in Norman, so don't be surprised if the Sooners get surprised in this one. However, I think they'll find a way to hold on.

Wyoming 10 at (18) Nebraska 38: This one shouldn't be any problem for the Cornhuskers. Wyoming is coming off a 4 - 8 season against less than stellar competition. I'm not sure what the rest of Nebraska's season will look like, but at least they'll begin 1 - 0.

New Mexico St. 7 at (15) Texas 42: Mack Brown is rumored to be on the hot seat in Austin. While this victory won't necessarily change that situation, he can at least go to next week remaining undefeated. The Aggies, not to be confused with the Longhorns' former Big 12 rivals, only managed one victory in 2012. Way to go Mack, coming out of the gate with a real challenge. Come on, now. Play someone credible and maybe I'll believe Texas deserves some notice this season.

(5) Georgia  38 at (8) Clemson 35: This is probably the game of the opening weekend with national championship implications. Georgia opens the season with back to back games with top ten teams, both from the state of South Carolina, as they also have to take on the Gamecocks next week. But they can't overlook a strong Clemson team, picked to win the ACC. Even though I'm basically an ACC guy, I like Georgia coach Mark Richt and think this might be his year with the Bulldogs. This pick won't please my nieces, but I think Georgia is just a little better.

(12) LSU 24 vs. (20) TCU 27: Although technically a neutral site game at Jerry's house in Arlington, TCU's campus is less than 20 miles down the road in Fort Worth. Of course, it's not a bad drive for LSU fans, either, so the atmosphere should be a good one. I think LSU is way over-ranked after having lost a lot of players to the and in another SEC - Big 12 matchup, I think TCU will pull the minor upset.

(19) Boise St. 27 at Washington 31: A lot of experts believe Washington has the potential to be very good this season. I tend to agree and think Boise State's stay in the top 25 will be short to start the season. This isn't the same Broncos team that contended for the national championship in years past. In an unusual bit of scheduling, these two teams played to end last season in the Las Vegas bowl with Boise coming out on top 28 - 26. This time, however, the game is in Seattle, where I believe the Huskies will prevail.

Nevada 17 at (21) UCLA 28: In his second season at UCLA, Jim Mora has reason for optimism to follow up his Pac 12 South title with continued success. I like the Bruins in this one.

(22) Northwestern  34 at California 13: Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald tries to continue the remarkable job he's done with the Wildcats, hoping to build on a ten-win season that culminated with a bowl victory over Mississippi State. Cal has a new coach and is probably not strong enough to give Northwestern much of a test.

Ohio 24 at (9) Louisville 30: Led by Heisman candidate Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville has high hopes for this season. However, this is the same Ohio team that beat Penn State to open the 2012 season. Ohio began last year strongly, struggling down the stretch in the tougher than expected Mid-American Conference. I think the Cardinals will prevail, but this game is worth checking out Sunday afternoon.

(11) Florida St. 27 at Pittsburgh 17: Welcome to the ACC, Pittsburgh. The good news is the Panthers move from the Big East, the bad news is they open with the team most expect to contend for the title with Clemson. Pittsburgh's Heinz field is a tough place to play and the Seminoles always seem to stub their tow at some point. However, I think they have too much on both sides of the ball and should have a solid start to the season.

Nicholls 6 at (3) Oregon 58: Not much to say about this one.

Louisiana-Lafayette 24 at Arkansas 28: The Razorbacks suffered two losses to teams from the state of Louisiana last season, one expected and the other a shocker, at least at the time. Bret Bielema makes his Arkansas coaching debut and hopes to avoid the fate of his interim predecessor against Louisiana-Monroe that signaled the demise of the Razorbacks' season. I'll be in the stadium for this one and feel like the Hogs will prevail in a close one.

Virginia Tech 17 vs. (1) Alabama 28: My Hokies are coming off their worst season in twenty years. It resulted in a new offensive coordinator, something Tech fans have been wanting for a while now. I guess we'll see if QB Logan Thomas can do to Alabama what Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel have done in recent seasons. It's a tall order, especially with the injuries that have plagued the Hokies in the preseason. While I certainly hope Tech can pull the upset, I just think they have too far to improve on both sides of the ball to contend in this one. And Alabama, well, they're still Alabama and Nick Saban is still Nick Saban. Sorry, fellow Hokies, but I just don't see this one going our way.

PGA CHAMPION CROWNED

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PGA Championship Recap: Having watched all of the televised coverage of the PGA Championship, this year's final major played at storied Oak Hills Country Club in Rochester, New York, I noticed a number of things worth noting.

• Oak Hill is a magnificent golf course. Not just because of its beauty or the fact that it's a Donald Ross design, but because of its ability to reward good golf shots and penalize bad ones appropriately. The point, especially of championship golf at its highest level, is to hit fairways and greens, then make your share of putts to contend. For the most part, that's what happened this week. Even if you're Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, you can't be hitting the ball twenty yards into the rough and expect to be on the leader board come Sunday afternoon. The drives that Jason Dufner and Jim Furyk were hitting during the final round were amazing. And when the greens dried up and became firmer, they were still accepting well hit shots and providing plenty of chances for birdies. 
• Tiger Woods is still human. Despite five wins in eight non-majors this year, Tiger still can't seem to put it together in the majors. Of course, I think it's now obvious that Oak Hill simply doesn't suit his game. There are a couple of reasons for that. First, it's a par 70. With the exception of Firestone Country Club's South Course, Tiger tends to dominate on par 72 layouts, such as Bay Hill, Muirfield Village, Torrey Pines, Doral and  Pebble Beach, where he can overwhelm the par 5's. Not so at Oak Hill, where even the two par fives were not reachable in two. Secondly, the course was set up with tight fairways and high rough, putting a premium on driving accuracy and length.  He's still having difficulty getting his driver in the fairway, so even on the holes that Tiger was able to hit the fairway, in many cases he did so with a three wood, five wood or iron, leaving him with lengthy second shots.
• Usually considered the weakest of the majors, I'm finding myself becoming more fond of the PGA Championship. I like the fact that birdies are not a bad thing, unlike at the U.S. Open or even the Masters, where they feel like the players need to be exposed to torture chamber-like conditions in order to become a major champion. Jason Dufner played incredible golf to win, so why is it so bad that a perfectly struck iron ends up two feet from the pin instead of bounding senselessly to the back of the green on rock hard surfaces?
• It makes me proud of the game and grateful to be a golfer and a fan when someone like Jason Dufner prevails. He takes his lumps, like two years ago when he squandered a five shot lead to lose to Keegan Bradley. Yet he's gracious enough in his post-round interview to say how privileged he feels to be able to play tournaments at that level. And then there was Keegan Bradley himself, waiting and cheering behind the 18th green, and then giving Dufner a congratulatory hug. There was a special spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by Bradley that truly touched me. 
• Jim Furyk is really pretty tough. Maybe it's because like Furyk, I have family roots in the Pittsburgh area and I value the blue collar work ethic he displays. Dufner really was pretty flawless on a tough golf course, yet Furyk seemed to keep willing himself into contention. Unlike the 2012 U.S. Open, when he clearly let the title slip away, Furyk didn't lose it, Dufner won it, but he knew he was in a fight.
• Finally, congratulations to Jason Dufner. His unflappable manner and perseverance should be applauded, as at age 36, he was able to win his first major championship. It's an incredible accomplishment, especially when you consider that Steve Stricker, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Dustin Johnson, Colin Montgomery and countless others have not managed to pull it off. 

ESPN and NBC OUT-FOXED BY USGA, MLB RACES AND RUNAWAYS

They Say It's Not About Money: So one of the two leading golf organizations in the world decides to go with a network that to my knowledge, has never produced one hole of televised golf, to broadcast its leading championship and says it's not "simply the financials." Really? So what IS it about? The quality of Fox's golf coverage? Oops, there isn't any. The commitment that Fox has exhibited to the game of golf through its regional sports channels? Oops again. I mean, come on now. NBC has not only broadcast the U.S. Open for the last 19 years, but their parent company also owns, are you ready for this, the GOLF Channel. Talk about a broadcast organization with a commitment to golf, I think you need to start with Comcast. How can the USGA on one hand ban the belly putter to maintain the integrity of the game, and on the other one give a television deal to a network that until recently was never even mentioned in the same paragraph, much less the same sentence, with golf. The USGA, in my opinion, has lost all credibility regarding any claims about integrity, loyalty, honor, etc. in the game of golf. Fox has bought their way into the NFL, NASCAR and now USGA events without, in my opinion again, increasing anything except their own hype. Remember, Fox was the network that decided the way to increase the value of the viewer experience for hockey was to put a blue dot on the puck. Don't get me wrong, I certainly understand the economics of big time sports broadcasting. But the last time I checked, the USGA is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to conduct championships at every level and along with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, to maintain the Rules of Golf. This clearly smells like a money grab by the USGA and a big investment by Fox as they launch their new Fox 1 network, clearly competing with ESPN and NBC Sports Network on the national stage. But unlike other sports, golf is not easily or cheaply produced. It's narrow demographics and expensive production because of having to cover so much real estate, especially during the U.S. Open, make it a challenging proposition that CBS and NBC have been able to fine tune over the years. Now Fox expects to jump in the deep end of the pool and we don't even know if they can swim.

Baseball Races and Baseball Runaways: First of all, I need to comment on how contested the wild card race will be in the American League this year. Their are four teams within 1.5 games of each other, and the top wild card team, Texas, is only 1/2 game out of first place in their division while Tampa Bay only trails the Red Sox by 1.5 games. If you think Kansas City and the Yankees are still in the hunt, then you can expand the race to eight teams competing for four spots, assuming Detroit's five game lead over Cleveland is safe. This should be pretty compelling and a rating's bonanza, with only the White Sox, Angels and Astros eliminated from the major markets. The team that has to be loving this is the Oakland A's. The Rangers lost Nelson Cruz to suspension and the Angels, despite the big payroll and high profile lineup, are out of the running. Love it, hate it or just plain don't get it, moneyball is alive and well in Oakland.

Now the senior circuit, otherwise known as the National League (because they were around first), isn't quite as competitive. My Atlanta Braves have totally taken the drama out of the East, what was considered by many a very competitive division at the beginning of the season. After a thirteen game winning streak and sweep of the Nationals in Washington, the Braves own a seemingly insurmountable and totally improbable 15.5 game lead on the Nationals. Really? That's almost insane.

The real story here is that the Washington Nationals, with a legitimate chance last year to win the World Series, rested its star pitcher Stephen Strasburg in the post-season. Perhaps the thought was that they were built for the long-term and would be back there again. It doesn't always work that way in sports, however. The Atlanta Braves were on top for over fifteen years and won a lone World Series. The Buffalo Bills were in four consecutive Super Bowls and came away empty. It took Phil Mickelson, the second best golfer of his generation, almost a decade to capture his first major championship. What made the Nationals, a franchise with virtually no history of success, think that they could afford not to seize the moment? I thought it was a huge mistake a the time, and I still do, for them to shut Strasburg down completely. It probably made sense in September when it was apparent they would be in the playoffs. But to rest him in October was just crazy.

In both leagues, the teams that have heated up with the weather are making news. The Dodgers were left for dead in May, with talk of manager Don Mattingly's job being in jeopardy. Not so much now as they've stretched their lead over the D'backs to five games after winning fifteen straight road games. And the feel good team from Pittsburgh is almost assured to not just break their sub-.500 season streak, but have real shot at winning the Central Division in the NL. Of course to do that, they need to avoid another late season fade like those that have haunted them that last couple of years. It's hard not root for the Pirates unless, of course, if you're a Cardinals or Reds fan.

And then there are the Detroit Tigers, winners of eleven consecutive games. That would be pretty big news except that the Braves are in the midst of a season-best thirteen game streak of their own. The Tigers are good and when their pitching staff is on, as it is right now, they are really tough to beat. All in all, this is shaping up as a terrific September and October in baseball.

Read "Illegal Procedure - A PK Frazier Novel": Available now for purchase at www.Amazon.com and www.Smashwords.com.

NCAA RULES ON ATHLETE COMPENSATION

Johnny Manziel Hits a Nerve: There appears to be a growing number in the media that disagree over whether Johnny Manziel was right or wrong by allegedly, and that's a pretty important word in this situation, accepting compensation for his autograph. But in my opinion, there are at least two issues at play here, and in some ways, they actually overlap. I'll address them in no particular order.

The big issue at play seems to be whether Johnny Manziel, or any college student athlete for that matter, retains the rights over his or her own intellectual property, in this case specifically referring to a signature on a piece of paper or various forms of memorabilia. It can also refer to his or her likeness for marketing purposes or video clips for promotional purposes. In other words, can the university or any other entity profit from the use of these items without directly compensating the student athlete? Many would argue that scholarship student athletes are already compensated in the form of an education, especially those that are provided full scholarships. Others would argue that the scholarship really only covers that athlete's participation in whatever sport they are involved in, and if they are special enough to be able to market their likeness, autograph, etc., then they ought to be able to do so for their own benefit.

But this can get complicated. If Johhny Manziel was just as talented as he is, but was playing for Toledo, would his likeness be as valuable? If Johhny Football doesn't make his coming out party at Alabama on national television, but against Ohio, isn't it reasonable to assume that most of us wouldn't have noticed, or at least not to the degree that we were made aware of it by the sports media? Therefore, doesn't Texas A&M and the SEC have a claim that they contributed to the value of his memorabilia, thus being able to benefit as well from it's sale or appeal? I want to be clear here that I haven't formulated a particular opinion. The issues and complexity in a case like this make it difficult to do so in the time frame that this been a national story.

But the second issue is probably more cut and dried. Whether one agrees with the rule or not, it's pretty clear that if, and once again the operative word is if, Johhny Manziel took payment while still eligible, he violated NCAA rules. These are rules all student athletes and for the most part, boosters and fans, are well aware of. How can anyone associated with college football not remember the Ohio State tattoo debacle of a couple of years ago? You can bet Jim Tressel (former Ohio State head football coach) remembers.

Manziel has put his own eligibility and that of his team for post season play and championship opportunities at risk. Last time I checked, it took at least 26 players (I'm counting the kickers here) to win a game. Johnny Football wouldn't get far without blockers or someone to throw the ball to. And  unless I missed something, I haven't seen him line up on defense, a required part of the game if you're going to somehow stop the other team from scoring.

Do I agree with the NCAA rules? In many cases I don't. Do I think the NCAA can be arbitrary and inconsistent in its enforcement of the rules? In many cases I do. But just because you disagree with a rule doesn't give you the right to break it without risking penalties. Just because you think that 35 mile per hour  speed limit is a little on the low side doesn't mean you can go 50 and expect to be let off the hook. If you feel strongly about the speed limit, show up at a city or county council meeting, write a letter to a councilman or otherwise utilize the process to change the speed limit. But if you choose to drive in that municipality, then you have to obey the laws or pay the price. For Johnny Manziel, that means playing by the rules if he's going to play NCAA football, especially at its highest levels.

The last complicating factor here is that unlike baseball, basketball, golf, tennis or soccer, Manziel has no other place to play except in the NCAA because the NFL won't accept players until they have been out of high school for three years. So until the rules are changed, he's just left to accept and abide by the current set of NCAA bylaws. Is it right? Is it fair? Could it be better? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but for now, it's what we have.

"Illegal Procedure - A PK Frazier Novel" by Kevin Krest now available in E-book formats at Smashwords.com and Amazon.com.

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PED's REVISITED, PGA PREVIEW and IT'S NFL AND NCAA FOOTBALL TIME

PED's Revisited: Today on ESPN's "The Herd", host Colin Cowherd made an interesting observation on the makeup of the list of 13 players suspended Monday for their ties to Biogenesis America. An overwhelming majority of the players are from the Dominican Republic. While making an excellent point about the players' motivation to do anything to escape that impoverished nation, Cowherd could have taken the conversation a bit farther. We have always had a fascination with how an island country with a population of just over 10 million could supply almost a fourth of all Major League Baseball players. Well, perhaps now we have at least a glimpse of why that is occurring. If PED's don't provide an unfair advantage, we wouldn't be so upset by the use of them by Barry Bonds, Roger Clements, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez, to name just a few who have obliterated the record books, seemingly with the assistance of banned substances. Therefore, doesn't it make sense to start to question the validity of these Dominican players' rise to the Major Leagues ahead of other athletes who have not been using PED's? Although we have no control over the PED laws in the Dominican Republic, we surely have jurisdiction over the unfair infiltration of Major League Baseball by juiced athletes that come from a system or a country where there is an obvious incentive to circumvent the rules. I'm not saying there are not a lot of worthy Dominican players, but if they're worthy, let them earn their roster spots without the use of PED's.

PGA Tournament Preview: It's no secret to readers of this blog that I am a big proponent of Tiger Woods. Given his performance last week on a major tournament-like venue with narrow fairways, long rough and fast greens, it makes sense to make him the favorite this week. Of course, his four other tournament victories and two top tens in majors contribute to that line of reasoning. But there are some other players who should be near the top of the favorite list, as well. We can start with Phil Mickelson, The Open Championship winner and runner-up at the U.S. Open. Oak Hill, the site of this week's tournament, is likely to play more like a U.S. Open venue, given that it's hosted multiple national championships. Players that can go long, but keep the ball in the fairway will have a big advantage this week. Tiger, with his three wood and long iron stingers fits that mold. But since taking his driver out of the bag, so does Phil. I don't make much of his 21st place finish last week at Firestone. After all, after Tiger's 61 on Friday, everyone else was playing for second place. However, Phil played pretty well on the weekend and could be in the mix come Sunday at Oak Hill. I also like Luke Donald, still looking for that elusive major. Countryman Justin Rose's U.S. Open triumph at Merion earlier this summer has to have Donald wondering when he'll be able to pull one off. The reason Donald comes to mind is because he can hit his driver straight. Why he hasn't contended in more majors is a mystery to me. Zach Johnson has also been playing well and he quietly snuck into fifth place at Firestone with a 68 - 67 on the weekend.  Among some other top players, Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley are worth mentioning. Both can hit the ball straight and long, and of course Bradley already has one PGA win under his belt. At the end of the day, I think it's Tiger's to lose. If he plays well, someone else will really have to have a special tournament to beat him. It's been five years since his last major, and I predict that drought will come to an end on Sunday, quieting the "Tiger's not back yet" talk.

It' Football Time: Whether it's college or pro, it's time for some football. I'm not big on preseason games and rarely watch one. So for me, we still have almost three weeks left until any real action. As a Virginia Tech Hokie, the season couldn't kick off in a more challenging fashion, having to watch to see if my team can stay with defending national champion and preseason number one Alabama. The Hokies aren't ranked, so apparently that challenge will be as daunting as any in recent years. I'll weigh in on this one in more detail as game day approaches. I'm currently working on my own Top 25 and I wouldn't be surprised if you don't see some big surprises.

As far as the NFL goes, my Redskins' fate is seemingly in the hands of those responsible for the recovery of Robert Griffin III's injured and repaired knee. I'm also working on my predictions for the season, which I'll release division by division over last couple of weeks in August. For now, though, we'll have to be satisfied with what might be and with who might not play.

Back to the Blog - A-Rod, Tiger and Johnny Football

Back to the Blog: I've taken some time off from the blog to complete and publish "Illegal Procedure - A PK Frazier Novel". It's about a sportscaster and covers over twenty years, from the highs of success to the lows of scandals. It's available at www.smashwords.com and www.amazon.com in E-book formats. Read and enjoy!

A-Rod, A-Rod, A-Rod: Although twelve other players were given suspensions for their involvement with the Biogenesis of America clinic in South Florida, the totality of their punishment is dwarfed by the media attention devoted to Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. And I guess given his outrageous contracts and ability to so far escape punishment for admitted PED use, it probably should. My big problem with it all is that as many alleged violations as he's committed, he still has a case to make that he's a first offender. I know that point of view will probably prompt criticism, but I didn't agree to the rules that baseball and the players' union established. My personal opinion is that all PED users should be banned for life, just like gamblers. But that wasn't the agreement. So you can't have it both ways. Bud Selig wants to say, "Well, this is really bad, so we'll throw the book at him." However, if you'd wanted to throw the book at someone, then you needed to put the book throwing into the collective bargaining agreement under section 23, paragraph 4, "PED's, book throwing at users", or something like that. Considering the way Major League Baseball mishandled this from the beginning, I think, unfortunately, that A-Rod has a point. I still maintain that through their tolerance of the issue until it became to big to ignore, MLB not only benefitted from PED use in the post-strike era, they actually encouraged it. Now we have what we have, an entire generation of otherwise gifted athletes like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa who just had to get better, even though great was probably good enough. Even those that were deserving of the Hall of Fame prior to their PED use will never get in, a circumstance for which MLB is partially responsible. I don't have a problem with A-Rod fighting this to the end. After all, it's his career and his income at stake. For me, it's just something to write about.

Johnny, Johhny, Johnny: Heisman Trophy winner Johhny Manziel is a runaway train, and Texas A&M coach better pull the air brakes or stop stoking the engine. The only way to get this kid's attention will be to sit his spoiled you know what on the bench until he gets with the program. Football is a team game, even in the NFL, the next stop for Johnny Football, if he's lucky. And right now, I don't see much of a team focus for the guy who should be the leader. Was I 20 and in college, partying when I could and hoping to make it through class? Sure. But I wasn't a scholarship athlete, a quarterback no less, on a top ten football team. The only person hurt when I had to show up for a test with too little sleep and the taste of beer from the night before in my mouth was myself. For Johnny Manziel, it's not that simple. In addition, if he doesn't come clean and ends up playing in games that he is later ruled ineligible for, he's depriving 84 other scholarship athletes of making it to bowl game, or even worse for years to come. So as far as I'm concerned, he's a selfish spoiled brat whose enabler is named Kevin Sumlin. Come on Kevin, teach the kid a lesson and see if he's capable of finally learning.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger: Okay, let's see what Tiger has done this year so far: 11 events, 5 wins, 2 other top tens, both in majors. Really? Do people not understand how remarkable that record is? Sure, no majors, but he did win the Players, by most considered the men's fifth major. His efficiency is remarkable, not to mention his golf. At the tender age of 37, he is only three wins away from matching Sam Snead's career win total of 82, most of which were against fields where there were no more than four or five players with a realistic chance to win. Nothing against Snead, a terrific golfer, but really now. The record that Tiger is about to set has almost no chance of ever being touched. He can realistically put up close to 100 wins before he's finished. To put it in perspective, Phil Mickelson, the second best golfer of the generation, has managed to capture 42 wins and 5 majors. That's an unbelievable career, and it's barely half Tiger's victories and a third of his majors. And get this, Tiger has done it in 304 events to Phil's 484. Tiger's winning percentage is an amazing .260. Heck, that's a decent major league lifetime batting average. Tiger is teeing it up against between 70 and 156 players every week, and manages to come out on top 26% of the time. And this year it's a staggering 45%. The player considered the best of all time, Jack Nicklaus, teed it up 594 times and won 73 times with 18 of those in major championships. His winning percentage? 12%. That's right. The greatest of all time with a winning percentage less than half that of Tiger Woods. Now to be fair, Jack probably had 50 or so ceremonial starts late in his career, so let's give him 540 competitive starts. Wow! We're up to a whopping 14%. You see where I'm going with this, don't you? Greatest of all time is Tiger Woods. Hands down. No comparison, except in the majors, and Jack didn't play against the world. There were very few international players outside of Gary Player and Tony Jacklin that could realistically compete for major championships. Jack's competitive landscape was a great deal narrower than Tiger's, and I know, because I've been watching it all since 1962.  Case closed. 

NBA PLAYOFF COMMENTS

Spurs Take Care of Business: The veteran leadership of the San Antonio Spurs proved to be too much for the upstart Memphis Grizzlies. Although the Spurs swept the series, 4 - 0, this was much closer than the final tally indicated. San Antonio needed two overtime wins to take command of the series and then just wore the Grizzlies down in the final game. Tim Duncan, who is rarely if ever mentioned in the same breath as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, continues to lead a very underrated Spurs squad that now has two series sweeps in these playoffs. With the NBA Finals not set to begin until June 6, the aging Spurs now get a much needed rest before taking on either the Miami Heat or the Indiana Pacers. Whether it's Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili or Tim Duncan stepping up each night, the winner of the Eastern Conference will be facing a tough, savvy, experienced and maybe most importantly, a rested Spurs squad. They certainly took care of business against the inspired Grizzlies. Now critics will point out, and rightfully so, that the Spurs were able to make it to the Finals without having to play any of the other top four seeds, defeating seeds seven, six and five on their way to the Western Conference championship. Would they have beaten the Clippers, a healthy Thunder, or even the Nuggets? We can only speculate, but the fact is they beat everyone they played, going 12 - 2 in the process. Now they get to wait, rest and practice to prepare for the next series. The unfortunate thing is that should the Heat win out, we'll have to wait a week between series, not a great thing for the NBA.

Heat Respond: As you would expect champions to do, the Miami Heat made key offensive adjustments and overwhelmed the Indiana Pacers in a game that could have solidified the underdogs' position as a contender in the series. Instead, LeBron James drove to the hoop at will and the Heat turned up the tempo to an uncomfortable level for the Pacers. I would expect to see more of the same tonight, but I also think Indians coach Frank Vogel will have some answers for the Heat. I think the most telling aspect of the Heat's turnaround is just underrated Miami coach Erik Spoeltra is. We tend to look at the talent on his roster and think all they need to do is roll the ball out on the floor and play ball. But Indiana plays defense at a very high level and Miami changed things up to regain home court advantage in the series. Can the Pacers stay in the series with a win tonight? That remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. They now have to win at least one more game in Miami to prevail, and with multiple options for LeBron in a more open offense, that looks like it may be a bit more difficult. I like the way Indiana plays and I hope they can give the Heat a better game tonight, but they're going to need to find more consistent scoring if the Heat decide to keep the tempo up. I thought before the series started that the Heat could take it in five games. Despite some doubt after game two, I don't see any reason to change that pick at this time.

PACERS GIVE HEAT A BATTLE IN GAME ONE AND ONE LAST SERGIO – TIGER COMMENT

Heat Escape with Win: It’s difficult to determine exactly what last night’s overtime win by Miami means for the rest of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat had been off for a week, generally a trap situation for a higher seeded team. If a lower seed is going to steal a game on the road, the first one is usually a good opportunity, as Chicago did to Miami in the last series. The fact that the Heat found a way to win can be viewed as a positive if you’re a fan of theirs. On the other hand, Indiana can take some satisfaction from going toe to toe with the defending champs for 53 minutes, before allowing LeBron James to beat them with a virtually uncontested layup as the clock expired in overtime.  Paul George’s desperation three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation was a thing of beauty.

I think the most compelling aspect of the win was the total transformation we've seen from LeBron James over the last couple of seasons. Two years ago he was almost universally criticized for all but disappearing down the stretch of playoff games. Now, he breaks free and scores the game winner on a picture perfect drive past a flat footed, out of position and unassisted Paul George. He’s now the guy who wants the ball in the crunch, and he usually delivers. I won’t get into a debate on the comparison of Michael, Kobe and LeBron. But I will say that I had put Jordan and Bryant ahead of James because of the way they put it upon themselves to take over a game in the latter stages. Now, I would have to put LeBron in that category as well. All great players, and if the Heat continue as they have and Dwayne Wade can stay somewhat healthy for another year or two, all will have led their teams to multiple championships.

Getting back to the series, I still like the Heat in five games. They’re just that much better than everyone else right now. If Miami has a bad game, perhaps the Pacers can grab two wins and make it a six game series, but I don’t see it going seven and I certainly don’t see Indiana winning it. Indiana reminds me of the Utah teams that lost to the Bulls in consecutive seasons back in the nineties. They have the misfortune of being a really good team that just happens to have to go through what may end up being considered a great team when all is said and done.

Grizzlies – Spurs Off Until Saturday?: I’m sure there’s a good reason, but I don’t understand why this series has a four day gap in the middle of it. Why not just start it a few days later? My guess is the Memphis arena just wasn't available for a Thursday night game.

Sergio on the Losing End: As much as I like Sergio Garcia for his outgoing nature and genuineness, he really stumbled this week in his verbal squabble with Tiger Woods. Tiger is clearly not a warm and fuzzy guy, one who has always shied away from the limelight, despite being a golfing superstar since he was 14 years old. I feel that Tiger could have done a lot more to present a warmer, more personable image to fans. But that’s just not his style and it’s obviously served him well on the course. For those of us old enough to remember, Jack Nicklaus was considered cold and aloof early in his rivalry with the older and more amiable Arnold Palmer. He eventually warmed up and today is one of the most gracious and entertaining figures in the sport. While Tiger could have done better, it’s unfair to compare him to a Phil Mickelson or Brandt Snedeker. Tiger’s single minded determination and drive on the course makes him less likable off of it. His comeback after personal and physical issues is nothing short of miraculous, especially at his age. We forget that he is 37 years old and back at the top of the world golf rankings and the FedEx Cup points race. In fact, he has enough FedEx Cup points to be ranked first AND tenth at the same time. And this after only seven PGA events. As far as Sergio goes, I feel badly for him. He can’t beat Tiger on the course, and it’s apparent that he can’t do it off of it either. Next time Sergio, you might want to pick on someone your own size, as we used to say.

MORE SERGIO AND TIGER DRAMA PLUS A LOOK AT THE NBA AND MLB

That’s about enough, Sergio: Sergio Garcia finally crossed the line in his ongoing feud with Tiger Woods. He said yesterday that he would serve fried chicken if he was to host Tiger at his house. I guess he failed to recall that a similar comment resulted in Fuzzy Zoeller basically falling off the face of the golf earth. Really Sergio? Despite Tiger’s difficulties with his personal life, it’s still tough to take him on in this manner. He’s won four of six stroke play events he’s entered this season and appears to be rounding into form. Those four wins are half of Sergio’s career PGA win total. There is no active golfer that can make any case to even approach Tiger in golfing excellence, although Rory McElroy’s two recent majors give him some standing in that area. My advice to Sergio Garcia is to shut up and play golf. There are two words that come to mind: No, and Comment. Preferably put together in a very short sentence.

Grizzlies Show Signs of Life:  With about eight minutes left in last night’s NBA Western Conference Final playoff game in San Antonio against the Spurs, it appeared that the Memphis Grizzlies were down for the count. I’m not talking just about the game, but the series as well. Even with Tim Duncan limited in minutes because of foul trouble, the Grizzlies just couldn’t seem to figure out a way to match the Spurs. But they suddenly came to life, getting a huge break from a flagrant foul call that allowed them to convert a four point play, tie the game and force overtime. The Spurs ended up prevailing, due in large part to Duncan’s inspired play. But as the series heads back to Memphis, it looks like the Grizzlies have life. If they can get back to San Antonio with the series tied at two games apiece, I think Memphis has an excellent chance to advance.

Heat and Pacers Begin Series: Miami has been off for a week, giving Dwayne Wade some time to nurse his bruised knee, which could be a key to the outcome in this series. That’s a big could, however. The Heat have won 45 of their last 48 games and the Pacers will be attempting to beat them four times in two weeks. I agree with Jeff Van Gundy, who during last night’s telecast took issue with the people who have indicated that they like Indiana’s chances in this series. Really? Did any of these guys actually watch the regular season? The Pacers are good, but come on. The Heat are great, better than last year’s championship squad, which by the way, took out the Pacers in six games on their way to the crown. Granted, the Pacers are improved a bit, but I just don’t see them pulling it off.

A Peak at the Major League Baseball Standings: I’m looking first at the bottom of the standings, not the top. Houston’s move to the American League doesn’t appear to be going well. The Astros are a dismal 13 – 33, tying them with the beleaguered Miami Marlins for the worst record in baseball. Their payroll is ridiculously low at less than $25 million. There’s just no way to compete when it’s that low. One year after opening a new ballpark with hype and a big payroll, the Marlins’ payroll is $15 million higher than the Astros, but still place them in next to last place in the majors. In fact, if you combined the pair, they would still fall short of 27^th place Pittsburgh. With all of the talk about the big spenders, we seem to forget about the travesty the penny pinchers are making of the competitive balance in baseball. Considering the have-nots of the league end up with something averaging close to $30 million from revenue sharing, it’s pretty ridiculous to have such low payrolls. But what about the Dodgers and their $200 million + payroll? Oops! And the Mets and Cubs, well, they’re the Mets and Cubs. What else can you say?

Now we can move to the top of the standings. One of the biggest surprises has to be the performance of the New York Yankees. You would expect, with the huge payroll and all of their star power that they would be competitive. But a lot of those stars are out of the lineup due to injury, and yet they are sitting atop the AL East. Go figure. The Texas Rangers, despite losing Josh Hamilton to the Angels, are a similar story in the AL West, while the Angels are struggling to win with their big money, high profile acquisitions. Of course, in the Central, the Indians are in their customary pre-All Star break position, first place. Talk to me about the Indians in September.

In the National League, the Cardinals and Giants keep on rolling, while the Braves are hoping to use a hot start to outlast the Nationals and the Phillies. The Reds and Pirates, two small market teams, continue to impress with .600 plus winning percentages. It would be nice to see the Pirates finally break through, but they haven’t been able to finish well in recent seasons.  They would certainly be a sentimental favorite come October.

KEN VENTURI FAREWELL and LOOKING AHEAD TO NBA ACTION

The Passing of a Golfing Gentlemen: I was barely six years old when Ken Venturi, who passed away yesterday at the age of 82, first entered my consciousness. My parents were at the 1964 US Open at Congressional Country Club for his historic victory while suffering heat stroke. His time as a player was cut short because of problems with his hands, but he went on to become, for my generation, the voice of golf. It’s ironic that one of his partners in the booth, Pat Summerall, passed away last month as well.

When he retired from broadcasting in May of 2002, every player paid tribute by acknowledging him as they left the 18^th green on Sunday. I watched that broadcast from a beach house while on vacationing on Florida’s Gulf Coast. With tears in my eyes, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone, we bid farewell to a style and delivery that will most likely never be duplicated.

The reason the players showed him such respect was because he gave them the same consideration for all of his 35 years in the booth. He didn’t see the need to criticize them, but instead reported the action with the utmost professionalism and dignity. When paired with the aforementioned Summerall, they succeeded in painting golf action like artists transforming a canvas.

Ken Venturi was in the golf booth as Palmer gave way to Nicklaus, as Nicklaus battled Watson, as Faldo and Norman rose in prominence and as Tiger Woods transformed the game. Throughout it all, he was the constant on those many Sunday afternoons spent watching the greatest players in the world battle their opponents, the course and themselves. Thank you Ken Venturi for those memories and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the many friends he had in and outside of the golf world.

Can the Spurs Get Some Love? It seems to me that most people have forgotten that the second seeded San Antonio Spurs are still very much alive in the NBA playoffs. It may be the last hurrah for Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, so I don’t expect to see these guys go out quietly. I admit the Memphis Grizzlies have been very impressive, but they’ve never been in this position before and the last time I checked, this isn’t exactly new territory for the Spurs.

On the other side of the bracket, the Miami Heat are just sitting back awaiting the end of the series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. If the Knicks can force a Game 7 with a victory tonight in Indiana, it could give the Heat’s Dewayne Wade another couple of days to rest his bruised knee. Wade’s health will be a major concern for the Heat as they try to get to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season. Without Wade, the Pacers or Knicks could make it competitive. With him, I simply don’t see anyone beating the Heat four times in two weeks.