Sports Views for November

Sports View
By Leigh Douglas

Baseball season is finally over. Would anyone really complain if they cut about 12 games off the season (is 150 not enough?). Now at least we wont have to hear about ‘the curse’, now we just have to take care of that goat and all will be well.

Is there really any doubt that Carlos Beltran is going to wind up a Yankee? He has gone from being one of the most underappreciated players in the game with the Royals, to having one of the greatest postseason performances. That one series against the Cardinals might have earned him the difference between a 10 to 12 mil a year to now a 16 to 18 mil a year.

It is about time to squash any and all talk of a ‘quarterback controversy’ in Cincinnati. The Bengals are not a contender, not yet at least. Why not let Carson Palmer play now, take his lumps now, so that in a year or two when the whole team is in a position to contend so will he. What good will playing Jon Kitna really do for the Bengals, at best he may be the difference between a 6-10 and an 8-8 season. Either way long term playing Palmer now is the best move for the Bengals, and I applaud Marvin Lewis for the foresight, and the courage to make such a move despite all the criticism.

Does anyone really miss the NHL?

If Jason White won the Hiesman last year, and now this year Adrian Peterson is the best player on the same team as White, how is Peterson not the favorite to win the Hiesman?

Over/Under for the upcoming NBA season:
1 week-Before Kobe is crying to the press, and finding a new scapegoat for the Lakers struggles
1 month-Before the breakup of the Blazers
1 game-Before Yao Ming starts to back off and lets McGrady take over the team
2 weeks-Before Isaiah Thomas makes his first trade
6 weeks-Before Baron Davis gets hurt
3 quarters-Before Ron Artest gets a technical foul
2 games -Before Antoine Walker attempts his 50th field goal
2 months -Before Shaq subtlety points out to the media that Miami is winning, and the Lakers aren’t

NFL Midseason Rankings:
1Eagles7-0As injuries pile up so go their chances at staying unbeaten
2Steelers6-1Can they keep this up? Is Ben setting the bar too high?
3Patriots6-1Come playoff time will still be team to beat
4Jets6-1Are playing over their heads, schedule has helped a lot
5Jaguars5-3Cardiac cats are beating some quality teams
6Giants5-2So much for a QB controversy
7Vikings5-2Return of Onterrio and Moss will help wake up offense
8Falcons6-2A 6-3 win over the cards shouldn’t count as a win
9Broncos5-3Are a playoff team, but just that, nothing more
10Chargers5-3How is Brees not most improved(comeback)player this year?
11Ravens4-3If they get healthy no one will want to play them come playoff time
12Colts4-3Still have to respect that offense, but its time to address the D
13Rams4-3Hasn’t Martz time ran out yet?
14Seahawks4-3Word best to describe the Seahawks : ‘underachievers’
15Texans4-3Can no longer be taken lightly
16Lions4-3Are well on their way to respectability
17Packers4-4Their defense(especially their secondary) is killing them
18Chiefs3-4Must be regretting not addressing the defense in the off season
19Titans3-5Annual roster defections are finally catching up
20Saints3-4Will Hasslett be first coach fired?
21Browns3-4Davis should be first coach fired?
22Cowboys3-4Will soon find out about Drew Hanson
23Bengals2-5They aren’t really looking to this year anyways
24Bills2-5Mistakes always seem to cost them
25Redskins2-6Can we still blame Spurrier?
26Cardinals2-5There may be a light at the end of the tunnel
27Buccaners2-5At this rate, Gruden’s head is likely to explode by week 14
28Panthers1-6Have injuries cost any other team more?
29Raiders2-6Are getting bad as fast as they are getting old
30Bears2-5Krentzel & Quinn, there has to be other options
3149ers1-6Already losing, and now without Julian Pederson
32Dolphins1-7Would Ricky have even made a difference ?