Following LeBron may cost you the shirt off your back

There are a lot of pissed off Cleveland Cavaliers fans out there. And all that animosity is directed toward reigning NBA MVP LeBron James.

No, it’s not the LeBron-to-Los Angeles rumors or the red carpet awaiting him in New York. It’s the fact that Cavs fans might have to shell out another $50-plus for a James jersey next year – depending on if the All-Star sticks around.

The Chosen One told TNT Thursday that he is switching his jersey number from 23 to 6 at the end of this year in honor of Michael Jordan and all the Hall of Famer has done for the game of basketball.

"He can't get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

According to ESPN, there are currently 12 other players sporting 23 on their backs this season. Some notables included Marcus Camby, Jason Richardson and Kevin Martin.

We’ve seen players make the jersey jump in recent years including Kobe Bryant, who went from No. 8 to No. 24, which was his high school jersey number.

Even MJ did the switch when he came out of retirement the first time, wearing No. 45 instead so that his father, who was murdered the following offseason would have seen his son’s last game in the No. 23 Bulls jersey. Jordan eventual... [More]

Cowboys are contenders

There's always a lot of chatter surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. You can add Super Bowl talk to that roaring chorus.

The Cowboys just walked into the Philadelphia and took control of the NFC East with a hard-fought 20-16 win over the Eagles. Dallas has now won four straight games and has done so with what many considered to be its biggest weaknesses.

The questionable secondary has been anything but in recent weeks. The Cowboys pass rush is helping keep things breezy for the defensive backfield, which picked off Donovan McNabb twice in Sunday night's victory.

The other so-called weakness was the Dallas' pass attack, which hung over 300 yards on the Eagles ninth-ranked pass defense. Tony Romo is playing the best football of his short career and should be considered among MVP candidates this season.

Not only does the win over Philadelphia put them on top of the division, it is also a building block. The Cowboys do have ho-hum wins over teams like Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Seattle. But taking a win from the Eagles – in Lincoln Financial is no easy task for even the elite NFL clubs.

The big, prime-time victory on the road is something that has eluded Dallas squads of the past. The Cowboys are always considered among the best teams “on paper” just about every season. Now, with this W in their win column, they are among the best teams on the field.

Dallas has another tough test on the road next week, heading to Lambeau Field. Then has ... [More]

Figuring Fedor's future

Where do we go from here?

Fedor Emelianenko, like Vegas odds predicted, scored a victory over Brett Rogers at Strikeforce's prime-time event on CBS Saturday night.

Early in the second round, he landed a thunderous right hand that floored the bigger Rogers and finished him off with strikes on the ground, forcing referee John McCarthy to stop the fight. But up until that split-second shot, a lot of MMA experts would have scored the first round to Rogers.

The American began the fight with a snap jab which broke Emelianenko's nose and then took the fight to the ground, landing punches on the bloodied Russian. Rogers also showed some solid defense, using his brute strength to slip out of would-be arm bars and kimuras.

The rematch talk was thrown around during the post-fight interviews, but is that what mixed martial arts fans really want to see?

Emelianenko still has two fights left on his contract with Strikeforce and, pending a rematch with Rogers, will be fed a couple more tomato cans.

He's 33 years old and appears to be on the decline. He looked soft and fatter Saturday than I have ever seen. He's never been the model physic but it looks like he was hitting the buffet more than the gym.

And how motivated can you be to train for guys who were changing tires at Sam's Club a year before stepping into the cage with you?

Eventually, one of two things will happen:

Fedor's slumming eventually catches up with him. W... [More]

UFC screw job

UFC 104 was a night of surprises for me.

For one, I actually did well with my picks going 4-for-5 after feeling like a Madden curse for MMA fighters the last couple events.

Second, Maurico Rua surprised me with the way he controlled the pace of the bout and had Lyoto Machida on the defense all night.

But the biggest surprise came when ring announcer Bruce Buffer announced Machida was the winner by unanimous decision after taking a beating for five rounds. Sure, I'm happy I cashed my ticket and that my column on Machida winning the light heavyweight title fight wasn't thrown in my face.

But Shogun Rua was screwed.

I know it. You know it. Rua knows it. Even Machida knows it.

Joe Rogan nearly bit through his tongue he was holding it so hard in the post-fight interviews. The judges did such a bad job of scoring the fight – if they really did score it – they make Golden Boy Promotions panel look good. Fight fans haven't seen a screw job this raw since Vince McMahon pulled the plug on Brett Hart back in '97. The fight was fake but the outcome was very, very real.

It makes you think that maybe Dana White and his big-money buddies had some heavy action on "The Dragon" at -500. The claws of Las Vegas can stretch as far as Los Angeles.

But whether Saturday night's decision was an honest mistake or call made from up on top, this controversial finish would hopefully spawn a rematch. However, with the UFC's recent push for... [More]

KU killing its title hopes

Heading into the 2009-10 NCAA basketball schedule, the only team that will stand in the way of the Kansas Jayhawks and another national title are – the Kansas Jayhawks.

And that's just what KU is doing.

On top of their recent spats with the football team, the latest news coming out of Lawrence is that Jayhawks junior guard Brady Morningstar was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning.

Now, the tiffs with the football players were frowned upon by every college hoops expert. But as a college hoops betting expert, I love the fact that the ballers are the big men on campus. That's the swagger a championship team should carry into the season. But when does it become too much?

This latest black eye for the program comes on the heels of news that police are investigating the turf war between the basketball and football teams. Whether or not the school takes action or suspends players will remain to be seen.

However, this turbulent offseason is already putting Rock Chalk behind in a season that hasn't started yet. A season that the program should have a major head start in with a roster full of returning talent.

Head coach Bill Self won Coach of the Year last season with a handful of experience and a lot of young players. But if Self coaches (and bails out) this group of troublemakers to the Final Four, he should pick up a second straight COY nod.

... [More]

Over/Under on Fitzgerald's health?

Hopefully Larry Fitzgerald has invested in some of that Nike Pro Combat gear Adrian Peterson is hawking.

After watching Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, his Madden 10 cover partner, go down with a sprained MCL (could miss 3-6 weeks) Thursday, Fitzgerald has to be questioning the validity of the supposed “Madden Curse”.

Polamalu is the latest player to get bit by the video game hex, joining such bad-luck charms as Michael Vick, Shaun Alexander and Vince Young.

But curse or no curse, Polamalu was due for an injury.

When you play as reckless as he does – which is also why he’s a great player – you are bound to get hurt. And if you watched the start of Thursday’s game, Polamalu was out of control. On top of an interception, he also had six solo tackles and two penalties in just under one half of football.

Fitzgerald should see an equal amount of face time against a ho-hum pass defense when the Arizona Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers this weekend. Betjamaica.com has the defending NFC champs as 6-point home favorites.

What’s the over/under on games Fitzgerald gets in before the curse claims another cover boy?

Does the punishment fit the crime?

Not since Kermit Washington broke Rudy Tomjanovich's face has a punch made such waves in the sports world (besides boxing, MMA and Woody Hayes).

Oregon senior running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the season after giving Boise State DE Byron Hout "a rap on the Jack Johnson" following the Ducks' opening loss to the Broncos Thursday night.

In Blount's defense, the bad blood has been boiling between these teams since last year and Hout's postgame trash talk deserved to be checked.

That said, did Blount's punishment fit the crime?

It was a cheap shot – no doubt – but the entire year?

A player can beat up a girl at a campus party, get arrested by the police and still make practice the next day. These crimes, which outweigh smacking some doucher upside the head, go unpunished most of the time because they happen off the field and outside of the public eye.

But when Blount landed a snap right hand square on the Hout's glass jaw (he went down like a sack of potatoes), it was in front of a national audience – not to mention Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott, who was in attendance Thursday. Besides giving Hout's jaw that annoying clicking sound, the punch was a black eye on the NCAA's recent push on sportsmanship.

My favorite scene from the postgame melee was the when Blount was leaving the field in front of a crowd of BSU faithful.

There is an older gentleman in a white polo who channels the spirit of 2PAC, poi... [More]

He's here. He's old. Get used to it!

I’m not sure who I’m more tired of: Brett Favre or the people who hate Brett Favre?

With the news of Minnesota’s signing of the veteran quarterback, came a wave of hate-fueled posts and reader comments. Most of them along the lines of “F*ck Favre” or “Eat $hit Brett”.

What did Brett Favre ever do to you?

Did he sneak into your house and switch your $200 designer jeans with Wranglers? Did he dull your razors with his steely scruff? Did he mess up your pre-set NFL Fantasy draft order?

Unless you’re Sage Rosenfels’ agent – shut up.

All is fair in love and war, and the NFL is a weekly Gettysburg. But what harm does Favre do by donning the purple horns each Sunday? Are these comments coming from scared NFC North rivals or maybe scorned Packers fans?

And for those few Minnesota fans who are crying into their No. 7 Tarvaris Jackson jerseys, c’mon really? Really?

The Vikings (now +150 to win their division and +500 to win the NFC at BetJamaica.com) are a better team with No. 4 under center. My brother, a long-time Purple People Eater, was practically doing Lambeau leaps in his living room when I called him with the news of Minnesota’s move.

The truth is, no matter how old and grizzled Favre is, he is good for the sport. In a league that covets quarterbacks like baseball loves left... [More]

Madden 10 is the best of both worlds

By a show of hands – who called in sick from work yesterday?

I’m guessing there were more than a few sports nuts/gamers working on their fake cough Friday just so they could dedicate a whole day to taking EA Sports’ new Madden 10 football for a spin.

Myself, I picked up the game Friday afternoon during my lunch break but didn’t get to play it until late in the evening. And, from the handful of exhibition matchups I did play, I am impressed.

I’ve never been a big fan of the Madden franchise and nearly cried when EA scored the exclusive NFL rights a couple years back. I was, and am, a 2K Sports guy. Their basketball games are amazing and their last NFL contribution, NFL 2K5, was as good a football sim as you will ever find.

Until last year, I was so against Madden I would spend weeks every season updating and creating new rosters for 2K5. It was just that good.

My biggest beef with the Madden franchise was the lack of presentation. Sure, it was packed with more plays and options, but the players looked stiff and nothing like their actual self and game play just seemed so bare bones with no flair or excitement.

Enter Madden 10.

This game combines the best of both the EA and the extinct 2K series. It has the game-play options and playbook that diehard Madden heads adore and the presentation and player animations that 2K fans could never let go of. Even some of the cut scenes look to be ripped straight from NFL 2K5.

EA Sport... [More]

Banned cram on LeBron Blair Witched us!

Remember the summer of 1999 - when the Blair Witch Project took all the fun out of camping?

I was heading into my freshman year of university and working at a local sporting goods store peddling $200 Air Jordans to white kids with identity crisis. Even before the movie’s trailers and radio ads started scaring the bejesus out of me, I had heard about the film in magazines and newspapers.

It was this documentary gone wrong (and not in the good Spinal Tap way) that captured the torment and eventual disappearance of three film students making a movie on an urban legend in Maryland.

I recall walking into the theatre with my heart in my throat in anticipation of the supposed scariest film ever. But when it was over, the fear in my stomach had turned to motion sickness. What was billed as the next step in horror was a snooze fest punctuated by moments of sheer panic and poor focus.

My grandmother’s old home movies provoked more fear than the low-budget flick. The Blair Witch Project had fallen far short of all the hype.

[More]

Affliction mess should convince Fedor on UFC

If Fedor Emelianenko needed any more reason to come to the UFC, news broke yesterday that his opponent for the August 1 Affliction pay-per-view, Josh Barnett, tested positive for steroids and has been pulled from the card.

Emelianenko, known as the top heavyweight MMA fighter in the world, has been in the spotlight recently. Since UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar destroyed Frank Mir at UFC 100 July 11, the push has started to get the two monsters in the cage.

This current mess should help Fedor see the light of day when it comes to the UFC. Affliction as well as other MMA promotions, seem like fly-by-night operations when compared to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The UFC has had its share of steroid scandals. But with top-tier talents on the roster, and not past-their-prime fighters cheating their way into one more payday, the UFC has a sense of stability and professionalism that lacks in these others leagues.

Taking Barnett’s place is Vitor Belfort (18-8), another MMA fighter who tested positive for steroid use back in 2006. The Brazilian is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and has scored back-to-back impressive knockout victories over Terry Martin and Matt Lindland in the past two Affliction cards.

Emelianenko will toss Belfort aside, regardless of the short notice, and hopefully will start taking steps towards signing with MMA’s most reliable source.

Which draft pick will be the biggest star?

The NBA and NHL Drafts went down this week, reloading each league with a flood of young talent.

Oklahoma Sooners stud Blake Griffin was first overall in the NBA Draft, finding a new home with the Los Angeles Clippers after sweeping the Player of the Year honors in the NCAA.

In the NHL, London Knights star John Taveras was selected as the top dog by the New York Islanders after leading the OHL in scoring and setting the league’s all-time goal record with 213 career goals.

Both athletes are phenomenal talents headed to franchises in need of total overhauls. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but it can also spell doom for a top prospect. The weight of a waning team can be too much to handle in the first few years.

So with that in mind, which No. 1 pick will have the biggest impact on their teams’ future?

Jennings hurting stock with trash talk?

As a college basketball head, I honestly haven’t seen much of Brandon Jennings and Ricky Rubio outside of high school play and the Olympics. With both players staring overseas, there are some questions to how they will perform at the pro level.

I was sniffing through ESPN this morning and read Jennings comments on his fellow point guard prospect. The Lottomatica Roma PG hyped himself to reporters during the NBA pre-draft camps like he was promoting a heavyweight title fight and bashed the baby-faced Rubio.

“I think the dude is just all hype. I can't even front. I'm just going to be real with you guys,” Jennings told reporters.

Jennings followed up keeping it real with another gem, stating that Rubio couldn’t hang with him or the rest of the top point guard prospects in this year’s draft. Jennings used Rubio’s stats against him in their head-to-head meeting last year as evidence - very thin evidence.

Someone get this kid a breath mint. I haven't seen this much crap come out of someone's mouth since my buddy ambushed me with Two Girls, One Cup.

Bashing another player just weeks from the draft is a total douche move and it could completely backfire on Jennings. Obviously, he’s a little jealous that Rubio is projected to go as high as second to the Memphis Grizzlies, and somehow believes berating the Spanish wonder kid will improve his draft stock.

Jennings stock was already on the decline before his statements. After shocking the college... [More]

Is the Iceman done in MMA?

While burning the candle at both ends Saturday, I took in UFC 97 and witnessed what is becoming a common scene for former light heavyweight champ Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.

Liddell was once again left staring at the lights, getting knocked out this time by Mauricio Rua in the first round of Saturday’s bout.

The defeat was the fourth loss in Liddell’s past five fights and the third time he’s been knocked out in that span. The lone win was against another past-his-prime fighter in Wanderlei Silva, who has also been KO’d in three of his last five fights.

Liddell is still the biggest active name in MMA based on his history as a knockout artist. It’s kind of like Mike Tyson in the twilight of his career - bad fighter, big draw.

Bettors even follow suit, with sportsbooks taking more action on Liddell’s bouts than any other MMA fighter. He was a -230 favorite Saturday at Betjamaica.

But despite his popularity and profitability, should Liddell hang up the gloves? Or, after having his bell rung as frequently as a house on Halloween, should the UFC force the “Iceman” to spit out his mouth guard?

Liddell already has his life after the octagon rolling. His popularity has landed him television spots, music video cameos and movie rolls. I’m sure Dana White would even pull up a chair for Chuck alongside J... [More]

Betting tragedy: Right or wrong?

Two years ago, I wrote an article following the death of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Josh Hancock. I asked some industry types about how they treat tragedy when it comes to setting and betting lines.

While sports betting can sometimes be a cut-throat business, the impact of these tragic situations hit home with even the most objective oddsmakers.

Thursday’s news that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident will be treated in a similar fashion.

“It is a touchy situation. We can't change prices because (St. Louis) lost a relief pitcher,” said one Las Vegas linesmaker, who asked to remain anonymous, at the time of Hancock’s death. “We would be more concerned if it was a lineup player. I’m sure emotionally it is affecting them, but there is no history of this to base numbers on. This is a tragedy and it makes our job even harder.”

Bookies have to set lines for a team’s games following circumstances like this – it’s their job.

But how do bettors treat tragedy? Better yet, should they bet tragedy?

It’s a moral dilemma with no right or wrong answer.

I’m sure when the news of Adenhart’s death broke, there were plenty of baseball bettors rushing to play or fade the Angels for Thursday’s series finale with the Oakland Athletics.

If you were one of those bettors, it doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you an insensitive prick, but not a bad person

Of course, all those wagers have b... [More]

Busted Bracket Blues

Like most years, my father is preparing a steak dinner in early April. While the meal is not a classic tradition, our annual NCAA tournament bracket battle is.

The terms of the competition are simple: Who ever loses the bracket pool has to fix the winner a steak dinner with all the fixings. We’re talking BBQ steak, baked potatoes, mushrooms and onions, Caesar salad and a couple of brown sodas to wash it all down.

My poor father, bless his heart, is a sucker for an upset. So needless to say, he’s served up the steak the past two years. However, this season’s mano-a-mano tournament challenge turned into a triple-threat match.

After explaining the rules to my girlfriend, she was adamant about not only joining in on the friendly wager but destroying our brackets in the process. Since getting involved with me, she’s watched more college basketball than Dick Vitale. She’s even stood among 30,000 screaming fans for a few games this season.

I saw no harm in letting a third party get in on the tasty steak action. What’s the worst that could happen?

While filling out her bracket, she did need some help. She knew most of the field of 65 but had never heard of many of the mid-major programs.  I gave her a bit of info on each team and she made her picks accordingly.

Well, it’s Final Four weekend and both my father and I no longer have a shot at claiming the bracket title belt. The wager was close for the first two rounds, however, it was t... [More]

Kentucky Wildcats - 2009-10 NCAA champs?

As reported Tuesday evening, Memphis Tigers coach John Calipari is headed for Lexington after signing a huge deal with the Kentucky Wildcats.

CBS is speculating Calipari, who was bringing the top-rated recruiting class to Memphis next season, could take some of those players to Kentucky with him.

Bluechippers DeMarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry are rumored to be on their way to UK along with unsigned stud John Wall. Sources close to the team also said freshman Wesley Witherspoon would be transferring to the Wildcats program, leaving him unavailable for next season.

If junior Jodie Meeks and sophomore Patrick Patterson return, Kentucky is automatically thrust into national title contention. Role-playing forwards Ramon Harris and Perry Stevenson will be back for their final year. The remaining UK talent will likely stay put after many of them did not get along with Gillispie.

Kentucky has plenty of talent coming in, including center Daniel Orton. The 6-foot-10 bruiser is a perfect complement to Patterson’s athleticism around the paint.

The only real negative thing I see about this move and all its parts is how the UK faithful will react to the one-and-done talent Calipari gladly welcomes to his programs. It’s not what Kentucky basketball is all about.

The Wildcats have the most vocal and sometimes delusional backers on the planet. They called for Gillispie’s head after last season’s loss to Gardner-Webb in the second game of the sch... [More]

What’s wrong with Duke?

After watching the Blue Devils get run out of the gym by the Villanova Wildcats Thursday, it got my gears working.

Duke is a far cry from its legendary teams of the early 90’s or the 2001 national champion squad. They’ve been consistently good over the past few seasons but can’t seem to compete with the elite programs when it comes to a deep tournament run.

What’s the biggest issue holding back Blue Devils basketball?

I’m pointing to the school’s academic standards. Duke is a prestigious school when compared to some of the surrounding postsecondary institutions. Players committing to Duke know they have to attend class as well as practice, which isn’t appealing to a lot of top-tier, one-and-done talent that is using college as a springboard to the pros.

The Blue Devils have lacked that special individual for a while. Gerald Henderson is a good player – not great – and took three years to play to his potential. Mike Krzyzewski may have the patience to wait for these players to blossom but the rest of country’s best programs are passing him by while he does.

Duke doesn’t bring in game breakers. The Blue Devils load up on Mr. Basketball winners that may suit a particular role in Coach K’s schemes but don’t have that ability to take over when the team needs a bucket.

Duke’s top recruit coming in next season is the versatile 6-foot-9 Ryan Kelly out of Raleigh.  Last time I checked, the Blue Devils had one of those. According to Rival... [More]

NIT: Who you got?

The NIT isn't the spectacle that the national tournament has become, but it's college hoops none the less.

So, now that the field of 65 is set, who's the best of the rest?

I like the way Baylor ripped through the Big 12 tournament and waited the entire season to live up to the hype. Its 2-3 zone was effective with twin seven-footers Josh Lomers and Mamadou Diene clogging up the paint.

The Bears have a deep and experienced backcourt led by senior Curtis Jerrells and sophomore LaceDarius Dunn. Senior forward Kevin Rogers was stepped up in recent games, giving BU punch in the frontcourt.

Baylor is a No. 3 seed and opens against another underachieving program, the Georgetown Hoyas, Wednesday at home.

So, while we wait for the Madness to kick off Thursday, the NIT will hold us over.

Who you got?

Who are the No. 1 seeds?

There's been so much parity in college basketball this season that even the No. 1 seeds aren't solid on the morning of Selection Sunday.

Louisville's Big East titles sure up its spot. And North Carolina, agree or disagree, is still the frontrunner to win the national title.

But the final two No. 1 seeds are still to be decided.

One will go to UConn and/or Pitt out of the Big East. For me, I think Pitt should get the nod over UConn. The Panthers beat the Huskies twice this season. The only thing going against Pitt's bid for a top seed is a ho-hum non-conference schedule.

The Panthers have wins over Texas Tech, Duquesne, Florida State and Washington State which won't turn heads with the selection committee. The Noles are the only tournament-bound program out of those wins.

Connecticut does have twin blemishes to the Panthers but boasts a win over the Cardinals in conference play. The Huskies have notable non-con wins over Gonzaga, Miami, Michigan and Wisconsin. All those teams have a shot at the field of 65 with the Canes probably the odd man out.

As for the last No. 1 seed, a lot of analyst have slid the Memphis Tigers into this spot. Just like every year, the biggest argument against the Tigers is the cupcake C-USA schedule. Memphis made good on the selection committee's faith last year and took a No. 1 seed all the way to the national title game.

Coach John Calipari is well aware of the discount the conference schedule... [More]

Slam Dunk is anything but

If there was ever an argument for getting rid of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, this year's field is it.

I'm a huge fan of the slam dunk. And while I'm a college hoops guy and the pro game sits with me about as well as a plate of expired ham, I live for the NBA All-Star Weekend. And it's all because of the dunk contest.

But when I saw the list of contestants for this weekend's dunk off, I felt a part of me die.

This year's dunk contest will feature defending champ Dwight Howard, former champ Nate Robinson, Portland's Rudy Fernandez and Denver's J.R. Smith, who is filling in for an injured Rudy Gay.

This field of high risers doesn't stir the same excitement that's compelled me to recorded every dunk contest since the early 90's. I have stacks and stacks of VHS tapes that contain some of the greatest dunk contest showings.

There's Dee Brown and his Reebok Pumps, LJ vs. Kemp, Harold Miner, a blindfolded Cedric Ceballos, Isiah Rider's “East Bay Funk”, 12-year-old Kobe, Brent Barry giving hope to vertically-challenged white guys everywhere, that dumb-ass wheel,  Vince Carter's arm inside the rim and the greatest dunker of all-time – Jason Richardson.

Hell, I even have 2-Ball on tape when it replaced the dunk contest in 1998.

Last year's edition was great. Howard put on the best showing from a big man since Larry Nance dunked two balls at once. Even Gerald Green blowing out the candle was terrific. The more props the merrier if ... [More]

My Dog's Super Bowl Pick

Media sources have historically turned to the animal kingdom when making picks on sporting events.

Whether it's a monkey selecting winners in the NHL playoffs or a horse making plays on the Kentucky Derby, our furry friends have taken over the handicapping when all the stats and studying have failed.

So with Super Bowl XLIII kicking off in Tampa Sunday, I'm turning to that age-old tradition with the help of my dog Fritz.

Fritz is a two-year-old, 86-pound English Bulldog, who is probably the most unfortunately named dog in history. It's like we lost the war or something? (I didn't name him. I adopted him from a family)

He eats lightning and craps thunder...and poop. He snores like an outboard and burps like Tony Siragusa. But he's sat through more football and basketball games than you and can bark the start to the Monday Night Football theme.

He also loves to eat (again, like Tony Siragusa), so with that in mind we've designated his favorite dog treats as this year's Super Bowl competitors.

The Arizona Cardinals at +7 will take the form of a Purina Chew-rific Bacon & Cheese treat. The Pittsburgh Steelers at -7 will be represented by the Pedigree Breath Buster Biscuit.

I've laid both treats on the floor and whistled to my unsuspecting dog to come into the kitchen. Let's see how this plays out...

Fritz bounces into the kitchen and immediately looks up at me then down at the two treats laid out about an inch a... [More]

Worst bet in the world

Each week Covers.com's Jason Logan will be bucking the trends and going against the public perception with the Worst Bet In The World.

These aren't just joke plays either. He'll actually put his money where his mouth is and wager his hard-earned cash at Betjamaica.com.

Check in each week to see how fast he goes into debt.

Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys (+2.5)

Worst bet in the world: OSU +2.5

Why it's the worst bet in the world: Blake Griffin and the Sooners are fresh of a beating of Baylor Saturday. Griffin posted another 20-and-15 effort, scoring 20 points and pulling in 17 boards, and did it on one foot.

The future first-overall pick will be playing against a wee Cowboys frontcourt that doesn't boast a player over 6-foot-8 in their regular rotation.

Oklahoma State did score a solid win over an underrated Nebraska program Saturday but also dropped two contests previous to the weekend.

Why I'm playing OSU: I'm hedging my bet with a hefty wager on Griffin for Player of the Year.

 Current record: 1-1









... [More]

Worst bet in the world

Each week Covers.com's Jason Logan will be bucking the trends and going against the public perception with the Worst Bet In The World.

These aren't just joke plays either. He'll actually put his money where his mouth is and wager his hard-earned cash at Betjamaica.com.

Check in each week to see how fast he goes into debt.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6, 34)

Worst bet in the world: Over 34 points

Why it's the worst bet in the world: This game will be as action packed as a staring contest. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are one-two when comes to defense and allow around two touchdowns per game. Plus, these teams just don't like each other. And I'll always put pure hate ahead of any stat.

The Ravens didn't make a liar out of me when they stymied the Tennessee Titans last weekend, budging for just 10 points. Thanks to last week's Worst Bet In The World, I've already eaten Mac 'n' Cheese twice in the past three days. What's on the menu tonight? Lemme guess...

Pittsburgh's divisional game with San Diego did go over the 37.5-point total but that contest also featured a butt-load of passing yards and three touchdowns fr... [More]

Worst bet in the world

Each week Covers.com's Jason Logan will be bucking the trends and going against the public perception with the Worst Bet In The World.

These aren't just joke plays either. He'll actually put his money where his mouth is and wager his hard-earned cash at Betjamaica.com.

Check in each week to see how fast he goes into debt.

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans (-3, 34)

Worst bet in the world: Over

Why is it the worst bet in the world: The Titans and Ravens don't like to give out candy on Halloween, let alone points in the playoffs. They are among the few elite defensive units still left in the NFL and both score just over 24 points per game.

Baltimore's best offensive threat is a safety while the Titans' field general used to walk to school barefoot, uphill, in the snow when movies only cost a nickle!

The last time Tennessee and Baltimore met, the Titans edged the Ravens 13-10 Week 5. There was just 316 combined passing yards and 179 combined yards on the ground in that game. Both teams have steady arms behind center but chew up the clock with their run-first offenses.
<... [More]