inseidman

This is going to be a very interesting NLDS series because of two players: the Phillies’ slugger Ryan Howard and Milwaukee ace CC Sabathia. Both are arguably the hottest players at their positions right now over the last month, with Howard has 11 home runs, 32 RBI’s and a ridiculous .851 slugging percentage for the month of september, and Sabathia is 11-2 for the Brewers with a slick 1.61 ERA. It is unlikely that Sabathia will be used in game 1 because he would be pitching on two days rest, but game 2 is almost a given because the Brewers plan is to run him in game 5 if it goes that far.

Last weekend I lambasted the NCAA penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct when Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies were penalized 15 yards on the extra point (which they missed) for Locker tossing the ball behind his head to celebrate with his teammates on the potentially game-tying touchdown. In that case, the official’s interpretation of the rule was suspect to say the least, but the NCAA was more at fault for not only backing their official and the rule, but having a rule based on judgement calls established in the first place.

By now many of you have likely heard or watched or even witnessed live (as I myself did) the controversial finish to Saturday’s game between BYU and Washington in Seattle, where the referees called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on quarterback Jake Locker after he scored a touchdown with 2 seconds left and threw the ball behind his head to celebrate with his teammates. This forced the Washington kicker to attempt a 35-yard PAT to tie the game, which was blocked by BYU.

With the first week of games completed and teams (supposedly) having worked out the kinks, here are some things to pay attention to as the college football season goes forward (Saturdays just got a whole lot more interesting):

As you no doubt have heard, Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers has chosen to forgo surgery on his left knee in order to play football this season. He has two torn ligaments: the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments, and four separate doctors have advised him to pack it in for the season and have surgery, otherwise he risks career-ending damage to the knee. Merriman says his decision comes from a pact he made, a goal to compete at the highest level and help the Chargers win the Superbowl this season.

The Beijing Olympics, also known as the XXIV Olympiad, has already produced a collection of memorable moments. Some of these are unimaginable to us in the United States because we are unaware of a nation’s history. But we also have great achievements to be proud of as Americans. Here is a sampling from the first few days of competition that I feel typify the spirit of global participation, friendly competition, and national pride the Olympics are supposed to represent:
—Michael Phelps’s quest for 8 (and those other US swimmers)