THE SATURDAY MORNING SPORTS ALL-BREAKOUT TEAM

In the spirit of John Hollinger, it is time for the Saturday Morning Sports All-Breakout team. These are five players who may not be household names, but are primed for big years this season.

PG: Marcus Williams- Golden State Warriors
Williams' move from the Nets to the Warriors will benefit him greatly. A chance to play "Nellie Ball" in Golden State's wide open offense and the possibility of a starting job now that Monta Ellis is out for a long while mean the former UConn star will see more minutes, and more opportunities for points and assists this season.

SG: Nick Young- Washington Wizards
The second year guard from USC will see more playing time this year in the nation's capitol. Young scored 10 points in 18 minutes in the Wizards' season opening loss to the Nets on Wednesday. With Gilbert Arenas on the shelf for a while, Young will almost certainly see more minutes than Washington's listed backup point guard, Juan Dixon. He's a strong combo guard who will continue to develop in '09.

SF: Thaddeus Young- Philadelphia 76'ers
Young will most assuredly benefit from the team's signing of power forward Elton Brand. A better offense in Philly will mean more touches for the explosive 20-year old. While he only scored eight points in his season debut, he fell into early foul trouble in that game and never truly recovered. He usually does a good job of staying out of foul problems though, and should recover just fine in his second year in the league.

PF: Hakim Warrick- Memphis Grizzlies
Warrick, entering his fourth year with the Grizzlies, is on a team that benefits his style of play. He is big, strong, and super athletic, just like teammates Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo. Warrick's tremendous wingspan will continue to help him match up with players slightly taller than his 6'9 frame. At 26, he is amazingly one of the older players on this roster. He's played nearly 25 minutes a game each of the past two seasons, and should be getting at least that many minutes for the Grizz this year.

C: Carl Landry- Houston Rockets
Landry, who's really only a center for purposes of this discussion played extremely well for Houston last year. With Yao Ming's inability to stay healthy, and rookie Joey Dorsey being the only other center on the roster, Landry may see increased time in the middle for the Rockets. He averaged eight points and five rebounds in nearly 17 minutes a game last year. With Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest taking the majority of the shots (not to mention shoot first point guard Rafer Alston), Landry should put up solid rebounding numbers while he's out on the floor for Rick Adelman's club.

Other players to look for include Andray Blatche (Wizards), Amir Johnson (Pistons), and Ronnie Brewer (Jazz).

ODEN: THE NEXT BILL WALTON?

Greg Oden looks like an old man. While yes, it is true that his facial appearance does contribute to the fact that he looks like he's 50, its really his body that seems to be getting a bit long in the tooth. In his one year at Ohio State, Oden missed significant time after having surgery to repair ligament damage to his right wrist. After he became the first overall pick of the Blazers in the 2007 NBA Draft, Oden had to have microfracture surgery on his right knee, keeping him out for the entire 2007 season. He finally made his long awaited NBA debut this week, when the Blazers played the defending Western Conference champion Lakers in the team's season opener. And, lo and behold, the Portland center went down once again. Oden played just 13 minutes, didn't score, and left when he appeared to twist his ankle after accidentally stepping on Derek Fisher's foot. Now, ESPN is reporting that Oden will miss the next 2-4 weeks with a sprained foot.

Portland fans have certainly seen this before. Sam Bowie, who the team drafted second overall in 1984, was injury riddled throughout his career. After playing in 76 games his rookie year, Bowie only played in 63 in the next four seasons. Bowie's injury problems were further magnified by his comparison to the player the Bulls took with the third overall pick in '84: Michael Jordan.

Another Blazer who just couldn't stay on the court was Bill Walton. The big redhead, like Oden, was drafted first overall by Portland, but just couldn't stay healthy. In his first two years alone, Walton broke his nose, foot, wrist, and leg. Debilitating foot injuries slowed Walton throughout his playing days, and derailed an extremely promising career.

Of course, Walton did go on to win some NBA titles, including one in Portland. And Oden's brief time in professional basketball can't yet be compared to other frail big men, simply for the fact that at this point he's only 20. So Blazers fans, relax. Greg Oden's playing days are just getting started. Hopefully, for the sanity of the people in the pacific northwest, he'll be able to put his past behind him. But if not he's certainly on the appropriate team.

FOR SOME NHL TEAMS IT IS TIME TO GO

In a recent issue of Forbes Magazine, writer Tom Van Riper lists the Top 10 Sports Franchises Most Likely To Move. I can't help but think he is way off base in putting some of these teams on the list. For one, I don't think the people of Buffalo will allow their beloved Bills to call any other city home. I also don't think the San Francisco 49'ers will go anywhere either, not with the history that they have. The Raiders are the Bay Area franchise most likely to go, if one of them is to pack up.

Three NHL teams do crack the list, and here is where I do agree with Van Riper. The Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and New York Islanders are all listed, and I think at least one of them will pack up soon enough. The Coyotes, who moved to the southwest from Winnipeg in 1996, have struggled to draw fans and win games, despite having Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time, as it's coach. It is a team with no rich tradition, and no true fan base, in need of a fresh start.

The Nashville Predators have been a joke since they were added as an expansion team in 1998. The franchise is valued at $143 million, dead last in the NHL. In the past three years, they have drawn an average of under 15,000 fans per game, and are in the nation's 39th largest market. The Preds have no reason to stay in Tennessee. In it's 10 years in the league, Nashville has made the playoffs a respectable four times, but have never really come close to winning a series. Putting this team in a better market will only help the sport.

And finally, we come to the New York Islanders, the only really big market team on this list. The problem is the Isles share a market with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, two far more popular teams than them. They play in an outdated arena-the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972- and won't be getting a new rink any time soon. The franchise's value has dropped from 12th in the NHL three years ago ($160 million) to 25th this season ($149 million). Despite playing in the league's largest market, the Islanders rank dead last in per-game attendance in 2008. A move would benefit them just as much as anyone else.

But where would these teams go you ask? There is only one logical answer: Canada. Canada is the true home of hockey, and its a disgrace that the NHL only has six teams north of the border. There is absolutely no reason why cities in the southern United States, where hockey doesn't mean a thing, have teams but places like Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Quebec do not. The people there would watch and even go to the games (unbelievable!), yet the NHL continually ignores them because there are fewer people that live there than a big American city with no roots to the game. The NHL truly is the laughing stock of professional sports in the United States. The only way it will be able to turn its fortunes around is a move back into the great white north.

NBA PREDICTIONS FOR 2008-09

Since just about every writer out there is making some predictions for the upcoming NBA season, I think it's time I made mine. If you listened to the show this past week, I made some picks for who would make the playoffs in each conference. I did make a few tweaks to the original predictions, but the conference finals and NBA finals teams are the same. So without further ado, here are my predictions for the 2008-09 NBA season:

Eastern Conference (*= division winner)
1. Boston Celtics*
2. Cleveland Cavaliers*
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Orlando Magic*
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76'ers
7. Miami Heat
8. Chicago Bulls

First Round:
1. Boston OVER 8. Chicago
2. Cleveland OVER 7. Miami
3. Detroit OVER 6. Philadelphia
5. Toronto OVER 4. Orlando

Second Round:
1. Boston OVER 5. Toronto
2. Cleveland OVER 3. Detroit

Eastern Conference Finals:
1. Boston Celtics OVER 2. Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference (* = division winner)
1. Los Angeles Lakers*
2. New Orleans Hornets*
3. Houston Rockets
4. Utah Jazz*
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Portland Trailblazers

First Round:
1. Los Angeles OVER 8. Portland
2. New Orleans OVER 7. Dallas
3. Houston OVER 6. Phoenix
4. Utah OVER 5. San Antonio

Second Round:
4. Utah OVER 1. Los Angeles
2. New Orleans OVER 3. Houston

Western Conference Finals:
New Orleans Hornets over Utah Jazz


NBA Finals:
New Orleans Hornets OVER Boston Celtics
Finals MVP: Chris Paul

AWARDS:
MVP: LeBron James, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
ROY: Michael Beasley, F, Miami Heat
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76'ers
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Garnett, F, Boston Celtics
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Rodney Stuckey, G, Detroit Pistons
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz

SEASON PREVIEW: THE DEFENDING CHAMPS

The 2007-08 NBA champion Boston Celtics take the floor tomorrow night against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of the 2008-09 campaign. It was an incredibly short summer for the C's, who played more playoff games than any other team in history last season. Atlanta took Boston to seven hard fought games before succumbing to the number one seed. As did the Cavs, who nearly stole game seven at the TD Banknorth Garden. But that was last year, and now every team is once again 0-0. So what do the Celtics have to do to repeat last season's success? Here are five things the C's must do to raise banner number 18 next June.

1. Save the Big 3
Paul Pierce is 31. Kevin Garnett is 32. And Ray Allen is 33. These guys aren't exactly young, and playing playing big minutes, especially in unnecessary situations, will wear them out. Allen and Pierce each played 35.9 minutes per game last year, with Garnett right behind them at 32.8. All three are going to have to see a small (each one right around 30 mpg?) drop in minutes to save them for the post season. The Celtics are one of the two or three best teams in the east, no questions asked. So why throw your superstars out there in during blowouts? Save them for April, when a little more energy can be a season saver.

2. Get some help from Gabe Pruitt
Everybody knows that Rajon Rondo is the point guard of the present and the future for this team. He is going to get the bulk of the minutes on any given night, but he won't play 48 minutes a game. Sam Cassell is ancient, and the Eddie House/Tony Allen combo struggled to bring the ball up against presses last season. That leaves Gabe Pruitt as the backup point guard. The former second round pick out of USC was in the D-League for much of last season and rarely saw any action in Boston. Pruitt did impress in the preseason, however. He started twice, averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 assists in 23.4 minutes a game, and put up 11 points and 12 rebounds with 7 assists in an October 19th exhibition win against the Nets. The Celtics lack of a true backup point guard nearly hurt them last season. Now Gabe Pruitt seems poised to take on that role in '08.

3. More Improvement from Rondo and Perkins
Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics other two starters made great strides last season. Perk was a beast inside for most of the year, and Rondo was great in distributing the ball. If the Celtics are going to repeat, these two are going to have to continue getting better on both sides of the ball. Perkins shot blocking skills were superb last year, but he tended to pick up stupid fouls, which forced him to sit. KG would have to move to the 5, which he prefers not to do, and the Glen Davis/Leon Powe/PJ Brown trifecta would play significantly more minutes, a huge dropoff in terms of inside production. Perk needs to stay on the floor, and stay healthy this season. As for Rondo, he needs to just continue to play smart basketball. Sometimes he tried to do too much last year, and ended up making a boneheaded play, like throwing an alley-oop to a covered player, or going too fast and dribbling the ball off his foot. The improvement of these two will be huge for this team.

4. Get Tony Allen's head in the game
Allen was tremendously athletic before tearing his ACL two years ago. It was apparent last year that the injury still effects him, if not physically than mentally. He sometimes appeared unsure when cutting, and passed the ball instead of taking it to the rim. Allen has been known primarily as a defensive stopper, save for one terrible play against Detroit, jumping on Chauncey Billups' up fake with 0.1 seconds left in a tie game. With James Posey gone, Allen is the new stopper. If he can get some of that athleticism back, and keep his head in the game, Allen can help this team a ton.

5. Get Lucky
Every team needs a little luck in winning a championship. A bad bounce or a blown call, even a mistake by the other team, anything can help get a team going. Hopefully the C's can get a little more luck of the Irish in 2008.

If the Celtics can get these five things, and if, for the most part, they are able to stay healthy, there is no reason why they shouldn't be right there at the end of the year, going for back to back titles. Only Detroit and Cleveland are really with the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference, so it should be another great season in Boston.

100% CHEESE FREE

As Mark and I discussed on the show today, here is the man known as 100% Cheese Free, a die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan who had his long awaited reunion with Randy Moss during the Pats' 41-7 win over the Broncos last Monday night.

TOP 5 COACHING RANTS OF ALL TIME

Having just watched some of Bob Knight's greatest hits, I decided to check out some other great coaching rants from YouTube. Of course, there are some lists of the best coaching meltdowns of all time, and I think, as Jim Mora would say, they don't know diddley poo.

So without further ado, let's see Saturday Morning Sports' Top 5 Coaching Rants of All-Time.

5. Herman Edwards reminds us why we play the game.


4. Dennis Green's Cardinals let the Bears off the hook.

3. Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy loses his mind.

2. Jim Mora is a little bit upset.


1. Michigan women's basketball coach Kevin Borseth.


Any explosions I forgot? Maybe Dan Hawkins at Colorado? Jim Boeheim's Gerry McNamara explosion? Let us know! E-mail us at wntnsports@gmail.com, and make sure to tune in to Saturday Morning Sports, Saturdays from noon to one on 1550am WNTN, or WNTN.com.

NFL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS BY MARK

I can't let Evan outdo me on the horrible picks this year. I definitely have as poor a judgment at picking NFL games as he does - in high school I had a short stint gambling against spreads, and I was so bad at it that I started picking the opposite of my instincts (George Costanza style) and it actually worked most of the time.

I was with Evan all the way on the Raiders 0-16, and have been meaning to bring up the possibility of it happening for either the Bengals or the Lions as well (you're welcome Bengals/Lions fans). I also famously predicted the Packers to go to the Super Bowl after week 2, and briefly thought of bringing up on the show whether or not the Cowboys would go 16-0.

With that being said, here are my predictions for the 2008 NFL playoffs. I decided to go Moneyball style and will include point differentials in addition to record.

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS (CURRENT RECORD/PT. DIFFERENTIAL)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1 / +52) AFC North Champions
2. Tennessee Titans (6-0 / +83) AFC South Champions
3. Buffalo Bills (5-1 / +31) AFC East Champions
4. San Diego Chargers (3-4 / +30) AFC West Champions
5. Denver Broncos (4-3 / -30) Wild Card
6. New England Patriots (4-2 / +13) Wild Card

The matchups and predicted winners:
Bills 20 Patriots 9
Chargers 38 Broncos 21

Steelers 17 Chargers 13
Titans 22 Bills 6

Steelers 13 Titans 10

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS (CURRENT RECORD/PT. DIFFERENTIAL)
1. New York Giants (5-1 / +69) NFC East Champions
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2 / +54) NFC South Champions
3. Green Bay Packers (4-3 / +35 ) NFC North Champions
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-2 / +33) NFC West Champions
5. Chicago Bears (4-3 / +46) Wild Card
6. Carolina Panthers (5-2 / +43) Wild Card

The matchups and predicted winners:
Packers 29 Panthers 17
Bears 27 Cardinals 17

Giants 16 Bears 3
Packers 24 Buccaneers 10

Packers 17 Giants 14

SUPER BOWL XLIII

Green Bay Packers 27
Pittsburgh Steelers 21

Sorry, Packers fans! I'm still picking your team to win the Super Bowl. What struck me most was how ridiculously hard it was to pick playoff teams in the NFC. Did you notice the Giants were the only team I picked from the East? Experts think all four of those teams are playoff contenders! I think the most likely scenario is the Redskins/Eagles/Cowboys beating each other up while the Bears and Panthers sneak into the wild card spots. Can't wait to see how these picks turn out, Evan! May the worst predictions win.

BRADY HAS MORE KNEE COMPLICATIONS

This story was first reported by Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. She writes:

"Doctors are so concerned about containing the infection in Tom Brady's left knee they have performed three procedures in an attempt to eradicate it, according to a source familiar with the Patriots quarterback's travails on the West Coast."

It had already been announced by Brady via his website last Wednesday that he underwent a second surgery on his left knee to "clean and to test the wound". This was necessary because of an infection in the knee.

So with today's Herald report, that brings the Brady knee surgery count to FOUR. I'm not a doctor - nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - but from what I gather this knee injury has turned into a bonafide disaster. Brady is now on IV antibiotics and will remain on them for six weeks. Here are the two scenarios that could play out:

1) The follow-up surgeries are a success, the infection is eliminated, and Brady rehabs his knee as normal - with a possible slight delay from all the extra work done. Should be ready to play by, let's say, May-June.

2) The infection lingers and compromises the new ACL grafted to Brady's knee. The original ACL surgery will have to be redone - but not until after the entire infection is eliminated. It's possible that this would delay the surgery until January, in which case it would put Brady's 2009 season in jeopardy.

The hope right now is for #1. It's possible that these follow-up surgeries are more precautionary than anything, and are merely to fight the infection in the most effective way possible. Regardless, this surgery has not gone as planned - the Patriots have begun to voice their dissatisfaction with Brady's choice to go with his own doctor instead of one suggested by the team - and all we can do at this point is worry until our hair falls out... and hope for the best. Or else we might see Bob Lobel and his panic button return to Sports Final in the near future.

NFL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS BY EVAN

Former Indianapolis head coach Jim Mora has apparently been coaching me on making my picks.
Here are a few quick predictions about the rest of the NFL season. Keep in mind, pretty much everything that I predict is completely and utterly wrong. On an earlier episode of Saturday Morning Sports, Mark and I wondered aloud if the Raiders had the chance to go 0-16. They rocked Kansas City 23-8 the very next day.

I picked the Jets to beat the Pats (wrong), the Pats to beat the Dolphins (nope), the Pats over the Chargers (oops), and the Broncos winning in New England (wow). So keep my history, and poor coach Mora, in mind when I am wrong on every one of these picks.

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS (current record)
1. Tennessee Titans (6-0) AFC South Champions
2. Buffalo Bills (5-1) AFC East Champions
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) AFC North Champions
4. San Diego Chargers (3-4) AFC West Champions
5. Indianapolis Colts (3-3) Wild Card
6. New England Patriots (4-2) Wild Card

The matchups, and predicted winners:
Steelers 20 Patriots 13
Colts 27 Chargers 17

Titans 24 Colts 21
Bills 27 Steelers 14

Titans 27 Bills 24

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS (current record)
1. Giants (5-1) NFC East Champions
2. Tampa Bay (5-2) NFC South Champions
3. Green Bay Packers (4-3) NFC North Champions
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-2) NFC West Champions *A Pop Warner team could win this division easily
5. Dallas Cowboys (4-3) Wild Card
6. Washington Redskins (5-2) Wild Card

The matchups and predicted winners:
Packers 24 Redskins 17
Cowboys 31 Cardinals 27

Giants 24 Cowboys 13
Buccaneers 31 Packers 24

Buccaneers 24 Giants 21

SUPER BOWL XLIII

Tampa Bay Bucaneers 27 Tennessee Titans 16

Honestly, I would have picked the Titans if not for the fact that the Super Bowl is being played in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. I think it'll be hilarious how wrong some of these predictions are, but for now we'll just have to wait and see.

BRUINS START GIVES REASON FOR OPTIMISM

The 2007-08 season ended just how we all expected it to: with a loss in the playoffs to Montreal. But there was reason for hope as the Bruins skated off the ice dejectedly, after losing 5-0 to their arch-rivals in the seventh and deciding game of the first round last April 21. Claude Julien's team had actually exceeded expectation just by reaching the post season, without nearly staging a dramatic upset against the best team in the Eastern Conference.

So there was reason for cautious optimism as the black and gold laced 'em up for the first time in the 2008-09 season last week. Through their first five games, Boston is a solid 2-1-2 with six points heading into action against the Sabres tonight in western New York. The Bruins have already won in two places they usually struggle, Ottawa and Colorado, and have at least one point in four of their five games despite playing all but one away from TD Banknorth Garden.

The biggest bright spot in the early going has to be the play of young winger Phil Kessel. Drafted 5th overall by Boston in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Kessel had a disappointing '07 campaign, which culminated with Julien benching him for games two, three, and four against the Canadiens. Kessel has scored five goals in the B's five games thus far, including two in Ottawa last Saturday night. Kessel, who has been flying high to start the year, seems less hesitant to dig in the corners, and has back checked masterfully thus far. If the Bruins are going to make the playoffs for a second straight year, Kessel is going to have to continue his tremendous offensive work.

Patrice Bergeron's return is another significant storyline for the Bruins in '08. Bergeron, who missed 72 games a year ago with post-concussion syndrome after a vicious cheap shot from Flyers defenseman Randy Jones, is one of the team's best scoring threats, an area the B's struggled mightily in last season. Bergeron, who netted 31 goals in 2005 and another 22 in 2006, is one of the Bruins top offensive weapons to go along with Kessel, Marco Sturm, and center Marc Savard, who's five goals this season put him tied for fourth in the NHL (along with Kessel).

The Bruins face Buffalo tonight, then come home for Toronto and Atlanta before embarking on a road trip to western Canada next week. If the black and gold can keep putting the puck in the net, there is no reason to think they won't be playing into April and beyond once again.

PHILADELPHIA VS. TAMPA BAY: A TALE OF TWO CITIES

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Red Sox 3-1 last night, taking the seventh and deciding game in the 2008 ALCS. The Rays now move on to face the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, starting Wednesday night.

Tampa certainly deserved to win this series. They hit much better than the Sox, and their pitching came up big. BJ Upton, Carlos Pena, and Evan Longoria, the 2-3-4 hitters in the Rays lineup were unstoppable, while the Red Sox biggest bat, David Ortiz, struggled against Tampa Bay's talented rotation. Matt Garza threw the game of his life on Sunday night, and propelled the young Rays into the Fall Classic.

What really strikes me heading into the World Series is the differences between the fans of Philadelphia and those in Tampa Bay. The City of Brotherly Love is championship starved. The Eagles seem to come close only to fail each year, highlighted by their three straight trips to the NFC Championship game and just the one Super Bowl appearance, a loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Sixers have reached the NBA Finals only once since the 1982-83 season, in 2001, when they were crushed by a much better Lakers team in five games. The Flyers were always very talented throughout the 90's, but only reached one Stanley Cup and were swept by Detroit in 1996-97. And of course, the Phillies haven't won a World Series in nearly 30 years. Philadelphia deserves a championship for their fans, who have seen all of their teams (OK, not all) come up short for nearly three decades. Citizens Bank Park is packed night in and night out hoping to see Philadelphia recapture some glory.

Which brings us to St. Petersburg. In game 7 of the ALCS, by far the biggest game in franchise history, Rays fans didn't even show up. Despite ESPN's claim of Tampa having 40,473 fans on hand (115.5% full in case you were wondering), it was obvious to those who watched that there were in fact rows of empty seats in the outfield, and random open seats throughout the game. Maybe taking the tarp off some of those seats wasn't such a good idea after all.

I'm happy for the Tampa Bay Rays, they deserve this trip to baseball's biggest stage. If only they played in a place that actually supported them.

So when the World Series starts on Wednesday, I know who I'll be rooting for. The team who's fans want them to recapture some glory for their city, who would love nothing more than a World Series title for their beloved team. Hopefully, the City of Brotherly Love will prevail.

WHY I HATE THE TROP

Last night, the Red Sox took the critical game six, forcing a seventh and deciding game in the ALCS. Games six and seven are taking place at Tropicana Field, the home of the Rays since their inaugural season in 1998. It is, without a doubt, the worst stadium in all of Major League Baseball, and really all of professional sports.

For one thing, the damned catwalks get in the way of pop flies. There are four catwalks at the Trop, A and B, which are in play, and C and D, which are out of play. If a ball hits either of the first two, it remains in play. So it is possible to bank a pop up off a catwalk for a hit. Should that really be a possibility in the playoffs? If a ball hits the C or D catwalks, it is a home run (as long as it's fair, of course). Another problem with the catwalks is that sometimes balls don't come down. You can hit a fly ball that just never lands. This has happened numerous times during Rays games, but until now it never really mattered.

Another problem I have with Tropicana Field is the bullpens. They are not fenced off in any way, like they are at most ballparks (Wrigley is like this too). Not only that, but they are far too close to fair territory. Coaches have to stand behind bullpen catchers so that they don't get drilled by foul line drives. If a pitcher is warming up and throws one by the catcher, it flies onto the field of play. In a September game, a Red Sox pitcher had a strike taken away after reliever Hideki Okajima, who was warming in the bullpen, missed his target and the ball rolled onto the field.

Fortunately, there haven't been any problems in the playoffs thus far. BJ Upton's first inning homer last night did hit a catwalk, but it was clearly gone. Jason Varitek also hit a foul pop that never came down, but it would have been out of play none the less. I guess we'll just have to hope that this inane ballpark design doesn't effect any games. At least until the Rays move into their new sailboat.

BRADY UNDERGOES SECOND KNEE SURGERY

New England Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady had a second surgery on his left knee on Wednesday to clear out an infection. Brady, who tore his ACL and MCL when he was hit by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard in the first quarter of week one, had the first procedure done on October 6.

Hopefully, this won't hold Brady out for any additional time. While he is already on Injured Reserve, and thus done for the season, any further problems with the knee could delay his return into next season. That would be disastrous as the Pats, a team that scored an NFL record 589 points one season ago are really struggling to move the ball with backup Matt Cassel under center. New England is averaging only 17.8 points per game, down over 50% from last year's prolific offense that scored nearly 37 points per contest.

Despite the second surgery, Brady is expected to be ready for training camp for the 2009 NFL season. Hopefully we'll see the old Tom Brady next September.

DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN LAST NIGHT?

Or was I dreaming?

Last night's Red Sox-Rays game, despite being a relatively "average" f0ur hours (how ridiculous is that?), felt like it covered about four weeks. Drinking will do that to you.

But the real shock of the whole thing was that for seven innings I had come to grips with the fact that the Red Sox season was over, only to have them yet again pull out the most improbable of victories - pretty amazing for a team that has been known for legendary wins in the recent past. And when are you EVER going to see a more emotional picture of J. D. Drew? I love that boring son of a bitch.

That's the wonderful thing about baseball - and all of sports. As cliche as it is you really can't say it's over until the very last pitch is thrown or the clock strikes 0:00. Bob Ryan said it best in his column this morning: "The season ain't over 'til it's over, and the Red Sox are still the champs until somebody beats them four times."

TROY BROWN: A CLASS ACT ALL THE WAY

On September 25, former Patriots wide receiver/defensive back Troy Brown officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Brown, who hadn't been a full-time player since 2006, played wide receiver for the Pats from 1994-2007, and came through late in his career as a nickel back when the New England defense was hurting. With the Red Sox pushing for another World Series, and the Patriots trying to stay afloat without Tom Brady, we never got a chance on the show to talk about Brown's farewell.

Troy Brown was one of the Patriots all-time greats. An eighth round pick from Marshall University in 1993 (198th overall), Brown caught 557 passes in his career, for 6,366 yards and 31 receiving touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2001, played in four Super Bowls (winning three of them), and was one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL for quite some time.

Brown's versatility made him a rare commodity in today's National Football League. He was naturally a wide receiver and return man, but played admirably on defense when injuries forced him into the situation. He picked off three passes in 2004, putting him second on the team behind only safety Eugene Wilson, who picked off four. He was even listed as the fourth string quarterback in 2006. When asked why he had put Brown as the fourth signal caller on the roster, coach Bill Belichick said "to develop his legend." Mission accomplished.

I will have two lasting memories of Troy Brown. The first was in the 2001 season (2002 playoffs), when Brown dashed straight up the middle in Pittsburgh, returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring, nine minutes into the first quarter of the AFC Championship game. The Pats went on to win that game by seven points and advance to Super Bowl XXXVI, where they stunned the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams 20-17.

The other was his amazing strip of Chargers defensive back Marlon McCree in a 2006 playoff game in San Diego. With New England trailing 21-13 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots drove to the Chargers 41 yard line. On fourth down, Tom Brady was picked off by McCree, who was stripped by Brown while trying to return the pick. Reche Caldwell recovered the fumble, and the Patriots went on to score the touchdown and game tying two-point conversion, and eventually won the game on Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal with just 1:10 remaining.

Troy Brown retired as the Patriots all-time leader in punt returns (252) and punt return yards (2,625). He his first in team history in receptions (557), and is second to only Stanley Morgan in receiving yards (Brown had 6,336, Morgan had 10, 352).

Brown never got into trouble off the field, and was always a consummate professional on it. Troy Brown was a class act for his entire career. He was both the ultimate team player and a game-changer, one that could turn the momentum of any game with a long punt return or touchdown grab. Troy Brown was a huge part of the Patriots success, and there will never be another quite like him.

FORMER LIONS WR WILLIAMS DEALT TO DALLAS

You're welcome Cowboys fans. After last week's Saturday Morning Sports Week 6 Trade Deadline Spectacular, Detroit shipped wide out Roy Williams to the Cowboys in exchange for a first round pick, a third round pick, and a sixth round selection in the 2009 draft.

Williams was unhappy in Detroit, and became expendable with the emergence of last year's first round pick, wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Johnson has caught 23 passes so far this season for 377 yards and three touchdowns for the 0-5 Lions.

The deal bolsters Dallas' receiving corps, already a strength of the defending NFC East champs. With Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, and tight end Jason Witten already getting the majority of Tony Romo's throws, it could be difficult find enough passes for Williams, especially considering TO's willingness to complain about not receiving enough touches at the drop of a hat.

Of course, Cowboys fans will have to wait to see what kind of chemistry Romo and Williams will have. Dallas' starting quarterback is out up to four weeks with a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand, suffered in Sunday's overtime loss in Arizona.

In the only other trade deadline move, Buffalo sent defensive tackle John McCargo to Indianapolis in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick. McCargo, who the Bills used a 2006 first round pick on (26th overall) , struggled to move up the depth chart in Buffalo. The Bills are leading the AFC East with a 4-1 record.

MADDON SHUFFLES ROTATION FOR GAMES 5 AND 6

It was announced today that Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon decided to swap his scheduled starting pitchers for games 5 and 6 of the American League Championship series - going with Scott Kazmir in game 5 and moving James Shields back to game 6 (if necessary).

The logic behind the move is that Shields is "very good" at home. Revealed later was that the switch also prevents Kazmir from pitching with umpire Daryl Cousins behind the plate. Kazmir and Cousins exchanged angry quotes about one another following a game on June 11, when Kazmir was extremely dissatisfied with the strike zone Cousins was calling.

To me, this move is very puzzling. Kazmir has been terrible so far in the playoffs (and at the end of the regular season). Here are his two playoff starts:

10/3 (CWS, W) 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 98 pitches
10/11 (BOS, ND) 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 HR, 2 K, 3 BB, 98 pitches, (1-13 ground ball to fly ball ratio!)

In his past two starts against the Red Sox, Kazmir has allowed 14 earned runs and seven home runs. Clearly, he is the weak link on what has been a dominating Rays staff. So why move him up a game when you have a chance to end the series? Even if Maddon thinks that moving Shields back home to face Beckett all but ensures a game six victory, why even throw the Red Sox a bone when they are desperately grasping for one? The Sox are in need of any glimmer of hope or momentum they can get at this point, so why give it to them?

Maddon is right about one thing: Shields' home numbers are significantly better than his road stats. But the Rays are about as hot as a team can possibly be at this point, why shake things up?

Of course, this will all be moot unless Dice-K gives us another spectacular performance in game 5.

IS ANOTHER COMEBACK IN THE CARDS?

The Tampa Bay Rays routed the Red Sox 13-4 last night in game four to take a commanding three games to one lead in their best-of-seven American League Championship Series. Red Sox fans all remember that in years past, the Sox have been able to make magic happen with their backs up against the wall. In 2004, Boston stormed back from down 3-0 to win four straight against the rival New York Yankees. And then in '07, they won three straight after falling behind 3-1 to defeat Cleveland and advance to the World Series.

If the Red Sox are going to claw back into the '08 ALCS, it is going to take an incredible effort. They are going to have to improve in nearly every area. The team's hitting has been anemic since returning to Boston with the series even at a game apiece. Tampa has outscored Boston 22-5 in the two games at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox were 56-25 in the regular season. Home hasn't been so sweet in the post season, however, where the Sox are just 1-3 (they are 3-1 on the road). They scratched across two runs in game one of the series, a shutout victory, then pounded out 8 runs in game two. Since then, the Sox haven't been able to do a thing with Rays pitching.

Pitching is another problem Boston is facing. Josh Beckett has had a dismal post season, and the seemingly invincible Jon Lester was pounded by Tampa in game three. Wakefield was tattooed in game four, further taxing an already overworked bullpen.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will face Scott Kazmir in game five on Thursday night. If the Sox are going to have any chance at repeating history and making a comeback for the ages, they will have to improve in every phase of the game.

IS FRANCONA THE BEST RED SOX MANAGER EVER?

Terry Francona has been the manager of the Red Sox since 2004. He took over for Grady Little after Little's crucial error cost the team their first trip to the World Series since 1986 and a shot at their first title since 1918. In his brief stint at the helm, Francona has already "reversed the curse", winning it all in 2004, and again in 2007. The Red Sox are taking on Tampa Bay in the American League Championship Series as I write this, and Francona has a shot at three World Series titles in six seasons. So is he the best manager the Boston Red Sox organization has ever had?

Francona has gone 470 and 340 in the regular season in his time in Boston, good for a winning percentage of .580. The team's best season was his first, 2004, when they went 98-64. His winning percentage trails only Jack Barry (.592), Joe McCarthy (.606), Steve O'Neill (.602), Eddie Popowski (.600), and Jake Stahl (.621) in team history, and Francona has been with the Sox for longer than those five.

The only way to truly find the best manager the team has ever had is to look at success in the post season. After all, if you are great in the regular season and then lose in the playoffs, the season means nothing, just ask the Chicago Cubs. Francona is 24-9 in playoff games, including a perfect 8-0 in the the Fall Classic. He did what past Sox managers like Joe Cronin (1935-47), Dick Williams (1967-69), and John McNamara (1985-88) couldn't, win a World Series championship. Francona has done that twice.

While it is true it was much harder to make the playoffs prior to the invention of the wild card in 1995 (The Red Sox have won the AL Wild Card 3 times in Francona's 5 seasons), it is also true that there is much more scrutiny on managers nowadays, with Sports Center playing round the clock and the internet allowing anybody to voice their opinions. There is a lot more balance in baseball today as well, where a team like the Rays, who had never finished higher than fourth in the American League East, could go from worst to first and win the division in any given year.

The bottom line is this: If I needed one Red Sox manager to help me win a pivotal post season series, there is no one I would rather have than Terry Francona.

CASSEL STRUGGLES AGAIN: ARE THERE BETTER OPTIONS?

Coming off a well played 30-21 victory in San Francisco last week, Matt Cassel and the Patriots headed to San Diego on Sunday night to take on the Chargers. In only his fourth start since high school, Cassel's inexperience was evident early and often.

Cassel's numbers in the 30-10 beat down by the Chargers were not all that bad. He was 22 for 38, threw for 203 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. But mediocre numbers aside, Cassel looked way more lost in this one than he had in any of his other starts (save for maybe the drubbing at the hands of Miami). He appeared to lock on to a receiver, and if that first option wasn't there, tuck the ball down and try and get a yard or two. Most times he ended up on his back, behind the line of scrimmage. On fourth and goal from the Chargers' one yard line, Cassel had tight end Benjamin Watson open in the end zone. When his first option was well covered, Cassel tried to scramble out, but the San Diego rush prevented him from getting the score. If the Patriots hope to even make the playoffs this year, either Cassel will need to step up, or they will have to explore other options.

Chris Simms was available at the outset of the season, but he has since signed with the Tennessee Titans. Tim Rattay is available, with a career passer rating of 81.9. As is former Jaguars backup Quinn Gray. Another option for the Pats is third round pick Kevin O'Connell. O'Connell is backing up Cassel now, and if the starter's struggles continue, it wouldn't surprise me to see Belichick turn to the rookie. Either way, it would be a good way to get him some experience so he can serve as a capable backup to Tom Brady in the coming years.

Whatever the Patriots decide to do, they should do it soon. If Matt Cassel continues to lead the team the way he did this week, it is going to be a long season in Foxborough.