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ID Required Can anybody figure out the Carolina Panthers? They are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde wrapped into one.....there's no way you can explain how a team in the last three weeks can beat the Giants by 37, then follow it up by only scoring 6 points in a loss at Arizona....only to follow that game up with an impressive 35-10 beatdown on the road at Minnesota. The Panthers are biploar. The schedule sets up well the next couple of weeks with a ton of games against more garbage NFL teams, but there's no way to figure out which Carolina team shows up. I guess that's the beauty, or curse, of following the local NFL team. When the Panthers are good, they look like a playoff-caliber club. When they stink, they are a disaster. There's no way to figure them out. This is a big week for the ACC. On Wednesday, it's time again for the ACC Hoops Media Day in Charlotte. There will be your normal cast of superstar coaches like Krzyzewski and Roy, but this year the newbies are included. Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame are invited to attend and join in the fun. Here come Jim Boeheim, Jamie Dixon and Mike Brey....and when you combine their clubs with the forces already in place....well, you're going to have a beast of a hoops league. You can also thank the old Big East for rolling over and playing dead while the ACC picked them apart. In the end, college hoops will be alive and well in the ACC. I look forward to interviewing all the players and coaches on my SiriusXM show this week. But the ACC is also feeling good about its rise in college football, too. The league has more unbeaten teams remaining than any league (3)....and it also boasts three teams in this week's AP Top 10 with Miami, Florida State and Clemson. When you consider the Canes are going to be showcased on Thursday night in Chapel Hill and Clemson hosts FSU in the biggest game in the country this weekend....well, you can understand why John Swofford is smiling. I can't believe how many fans have sent me emails and tweets bitching about the latest college football rankings. This week, the SEC has 8 teams in the AP Top 25.....that means there are 17 spots for the rest of the country to share. Fans outside the Southern Fried Football™ footprint are smoking mad. I don't get it. Who cares what teams are ranked where in the AP & Coaches polls in mid-October? Next Sunday, the first BCS Poll will be released....it's the one that matters....at least for one more season. When that poll is released, now you can kick and scream. Plus, this week the new committee that will be in charge of selecting next season's playoff teams will be announced. There have already been plenty of leaks with the names, and the one that has created the most buzz is former Secretary of State, Condi Rice. David Pollack stepped in it last week and former Auburn coach Pat Dye had some choice words, too. Guys, listen up....I don't think picking the four best teams is that difficult. When you consider that of the 125 teams playing big boy college football, you can almost eliminate 110 of them before we start. Smart people.....football people...administrators.....they can get this right. Maybe I'm naive, but picking the four best teams with all the data known to man at your convenience should be easy for this committee. Will there be debates, and biased opinions? You bet.....but that's OK. There are quality people like Dr. Tom Osborne, Archie Manning and Barry Alvarez (and others) that will do a great job. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching Dodger aces Greinke and Kershaw lose over the weekend. Not to mention Puig going 0-for-10. Forget "Beat LA".....how about "Sweep LA"? I flipped over on the tube and caught some of the NASCAR race from Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is amazing to me to see how few people are showing up for the races.....there was nobody in the stands. I've been beating this drum for quite some time, but the sport is in dire need of scheduling changes. There is no buzz factor, as boring Matt Kenseth leads boring Jimmie Johnson by four points. Why promote Dale Jr's 500th race...who gives a damn? He's a factor to win a race about as often as.....you know who? I think Johnson is an incredible driver....and even better person....but the sport refuses to hype up one of the greatest drivers in its history. I'm curious to see the crowd this upcoming weekend in Talladega......I love the race, but will anybody watch it? Finally, a movie tip for everyone.... I took my bride to see "Captain Phillips", starring Tom Hanks. You gotta go....intense, terrific story, and obviously great acting. You can thank me later. |
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