MMBSD: Bowls, Playoffs, and Extremes

SEC is going for 3 in a row. Sigh

Another grand installment of Monday Morning Back Seat Driver in which our hero, Mighty Mike, attempts to figure out where the sports world is heading. However before actual analysis, I offer Frank Beamer (coach of V-tech) getting punched in the face.

College Football Bowl : Equality v. Equity
While the discussion of who "deserves" to go the bowl games has been beaten to death like a government mule (who evidently were beaten quite severely) I want one last shot given the whining going on in Austin. Was Texas hosed on grounds of equality (i.e. treated the same as other teams) ...absolutely. Does anyone doubt if Texas beat OU after OU beat Tech that the outcome would be the same? However no different than Texas has a gripe so does Utah, USC, Penn State, Tech and a host of other teams. Playing an easy schedule doesn't change how good the team is - it merely reduces our ability to discern their ability. However on grounds of equity (i.e. standard procedural rules for everyone) OU and Florida certianly "deserve" to go. They won the BCS rules sweepstakes by being the top 2 teams (no matter how absurd the rules are going in) as they won the most games with the toughest SOS.

At the end of the day its a silly debate as bowls are nothing more than wonderfully glorious exhbition games with lots of money but questionable reflections on teams' talents (how many times have we heard a playoff team had too long of layoff affecting their first game and yet somehow we're to believe a 4-6 week layoff doesn't affect some teams? To what extent is the homefield advantage of the certain teams (ahem USC) in their bowl games affect outcomes? To what extent does unhappines over being slighted at going to an "inferior" bowl affect things, etc.,etc.) Nonetheless I'm already circling my calendar for some very enjoyable games - Rose, Fiesta, Holiday (my random bowl game) and Mythical Championship and a host of others for the faux conference rivalry bragging rights ( Big 12 v. SEC, Big 10 v. SEC) that will beamed into my home while I am in various stages of hangover.


NFL Playoff Run
As we reach the 3/4 quarters mark the playoff picture in NFL land is becoming clear. In the AFC the Titans and Steelers are the juggernaughts with the Colts the hot team nobody wants to play. The AFC East has a semi-interesting dance of death between the wounded perenial power (Pats), upcomer (Miami) and the shooting star (Jets. does anyone believe the Jets with Favre at QB will get better than they are now?) On the NFC side, per usual, there's a bit more confusion with few teams standing heads and shoulders above the others. Tampa v. Carolina could clear up some of the rank ordering as will next week's Giants v. Cowbitches but generally the NFC makes me throw up my hands in confusion.

NBA Extreme Challenge
While for the past 2 years the NFL has been the sport of record winning/losing runs the NBA is starting to get on the action. The Lakers, Celtics, and Cavaliers are oddly enough all on pace to challenge the 1995/1996 Bulls record season of 72 wins. This is symmetrically happening with the OK City Thunder challenging the putrid 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers 73 loss season. I'm guessing the hype machine on wins/losses is mostly a function of ESPN needing story lines but its hard not to dismiss the possibility that the financial changes, strategic "rebuilding" policies or other factors could also be a causal mechanism in parallel pro tracks. If baseball picks up on the act then perhaps more systematic factors are at play.

It's unclear if she goes to the team that breaks the Bulls' record