DOJ Asks: Why No Playoffs in College Football? I'd Like An Answer Too!

Every so often the sports consciousness reverts back to the topic of a playoff system for college football. This time it was spurred by the United States Department of Justice, who has asked the NCAA to answer some questions about why it doesn't have a playoff system and to determine whether the BCS complies with Federal Antitrust Laws.

The old Bowl System was brutal. The BCS is better, but not great. A playoff system, pitting the top 16 teams in the country would be ideal in my mind. Don't give me that BS about the impact these games would have on the Student-Athlete. It comes down to money - and the BCS is making a lot of it. But since you and I don't have a financial stake in the BCS, we don't care how much they make or don't make - we care about who the National Champion is - and whether they won the title - or were given it by the BCS.


Read more on the US DOJ's questioning here ... 

PACERS KEEP HITTING HIM - ROSE DOESN'T WILT

HEIR APPARENT?

ATHLETICISM

Bulls: First off, it's been said a million times this season, but DAMN! Derrick Rose is a MAN among boys. The kid – and I say that with the most affection possible – has the killer instinct, the drive to come out on top and the fearlessness of a warrior. OK, I may be exaggerating on the warrior front – but c'mon! When asked after the game by Comcast SportsNet Chicago's sideline reporter if the hard fouls were getting to be too much, Rose responded matter-of-factly, "It's only gonna get worse!" He went on to say that he's prepared for this – and this kind of punishment in the paint is what drives him to keep his body strong and continue lifting weights.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, clearly frustrated after a Game 2 loss to the Bulls, had some lofty praise for #1, saying he has ...

"Allen Iverson's quickness, Jason Kidd's vision, Chauncey Billups' shooting touch and Micheal Jordan's athleticism." 

VISION

TOUCH

QUICKNESS

I don't know if Rose is up to any of those levels – but he's certainly climbing the latter pretty quickly. His humility, hard work, dedication, team-play and leadership are all great – but it's his killer instinct, the "eye of the tiger" if you will – or maybe it's tiger blood – that makes him so dangerous. He doesn't get frazzled. There's no worry on his face. Just that look of "I'm gonna get you, sucka!" And there's nothing anyone in the NBA has been able to do about it this year.

Blackhawks: How about that Corey Crawford! After getting shelled in the first 3 games versus Vancouver, the Hawks offense has provided 12 goals in 2 games, and Crawford has been stellar. Crawford stopped all 36 shots he faced in Game 5, and allowed only 2 lamp-lighters in Game 4, when he had 21 saves. The Hawks will try and even the series on Sunday at the United Center. Given up for dead just a couple of days ago, it's good to see the Hawks showing some life – and pride – as they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup Championship short-handed.

White Sox: Congratulations to fans of the White Sox, as the Southside Hitmen got off the schneid – snapping a 7-game losing streak with a 9-2 win over the Rays. As much as folks wanna talk about youth and how that's the ticket to winning. It wasn't last night for the Sox, as Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko had 2 RBI's apiece – an average age of 35 years old – with Omar on the high end at 43 and Quentin at 28. Doing it "old school."

Bears: The NFL draft is creeping upon us – maybe. What are your thoughts on the Bears draft? Should they go offensive line? Wide receiver? Defensive back? Take a peak at a recent post about the Bears 2011 Draft and what direction they might go - http://bit.ly/faXx6n

BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS – WE ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY! 

Four Horsemen are Rested - and Ready to Ride Again

The announcement that Notre Dame and Northwestern are renewing their football series has me feeling good today. It just might be the sign that I’ve been waiting for 10 years to see.

The end of the Lou Holtz era was creeping up, Notre Dame had 8 consecutive winning seasons and would go on to win 9 games in the 1995 campaign. But it didn’t start well, with a 17-15 loss to Northwestern – who at the time were, let’s just say … not highly regarded. Going into that game - Notre Dame and Northwestern had played 46 times – with the Irish doing the Victory March 37 times, versus only 7 losses and 2 ties.

Their fortunes would change as Gary Barnett took the Wildcats on some wild rides, including a trip to the Rose Bowl later that season - a new experience for the Cats. The NU squad was led by LB Pat Fitzgerald, currently the Head Coach in Evanston. (Ironically enough, the week after they beat the Irish, Northwestern played future Head Coach Randy Walker and his Miami of Ohio squad).

I was there – crying in my Irish Coffee – as the 28-point underdogs came into South Bend and shocked the world! Let’s just say – when I arrived at the Soldier Field Press Box the next day for the Bears season opener with the Vikings, there were more than a few NU grads happy to rub my face in it (SEE: Henry Henderson and Julie Sweica of WSCR). Even those who didn’t back either team felt fine with talking all kinds of smack – and I deserved it. To that point, my experiences with ND Football were pretty damn good.

Just one year prior, I watched as Ron Powlus made his Irish debut – throwing 4 TD’s against Northwestern in a 42-15 thrashing at Soldier Field. I was expecting much of the same in 1995. Instead, it was the beginning of the end of the Notre Dame team I grew up watching – and adoring. That seemed to be the slippery slope that Notre Dame Football is attempting to recover from – more than 10 years and 78 losses later. Perspective: Notre Dame’s football program has only 280 regular season losses in its history – spanning 123 years.

Perfect Timing

The Irish appeared ready to jump back into the National Championship picture on a yearly basis with the arrival of Ty Whillingham. Then again with Charlie Weis. Both of those were fool’s gold. But with Brian Kelly at the helm, ND closed out a season with victories – over USC and Miami even! Now comes the announcement that Northwestern is back on the schedule, which means redemption is in the air. Is this an omen for the return of the glory days in South Bend?

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

The internet is full of so much crap, that it's essential to point out when something just makes you laugh. My friend Otto posted this on his Facebook page yesterday - and I had to share. Props to Otto!

We walk around everyday and judge others based on how they appear to us. "People Watching" is actually pretty fun, but I'm guessing, not very accurate. The guy in this video will trip you out. If I were blind - and rich - I would hire this guy to narrate my life, like my personal GPS.


Mr. Williams will apparently get a makeover and a chance at some work ... http://aol.it/dZJRJH