Coaching decisions off limits for Stern
Bohls
coordinator was back and Major Applewhite got promoted to offensive coordinator.
3. Got to side with Gregg Popovich on resting his main Spurs after playing four games in five days and skipping the Miami Heat game, but wish he’d chosen to bypass a game in the West rather than his club’s only trip to Miami. David Stern was off base for fining the franchise $250,000 for doing what’s best for its team. The NBA commish risks a dangerous precedent by wading into the area of coaching decisions based on health/fatigue. That’s not in his area of jurisdiction. The real issue is obscene scheduling.
4. The Sugar Bowl was chosen over the Cotton Bowl as the site of the Champions Bowl (aka Runner-up Bowl) between the winners — wink, wink — of the SEC and the Big 12, I’m told, partly because of the high price of tickets the Cotton Bowl was going to charge but mostly because Mike Slive runs college football. ( Just don’t tell Jim Delany.) The truth of the matter is the Cotton Bowl might be better off because it stands a better chance of hosting the first national championship game when the playoff is instituted in 2014 and being in the regular rotation of the title game and semifinals anyway. Oh, and I guess you noticed the SEC messed with the Aggies and railroaded them into a lesser bowl. A&M’s the new kid on the block but deserved better, with all due respect to the expertly run Cotton Bowl.
5. Thought Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez had a classy response to getting benched in the third quarter against the Cardinals. Went over and patted backup Greg McElroy — it’s Alabama’s world; we’re just living in it — on the helmet with a good-luck gesture.
6. The Kansas State game was yet another reminder that Texas has as many offensive weapons as any Top 25 team but still has trouble using them. No greater examples than burner D.J. Monroe, who had three touches Saturday for 56 yards, and speedster Daje Johnson, who had six plays for 99 yards. Monroe got one or no touches in seven games; Johnson touched the ball three or fewer times in four games. Unacceptable.
7. Tweet of the Week comes from Daniel Mizell ■ @vinnyshowdown: “David Stern is currently trying to fine the Nationals for sitting Strasburg after 180 innings last season.”
8. Wondering where former Longhorn safety Ricky Churchman is. He was as tough as they come.
9. Rented “Lawless” with high expectations that were not met. Strong cast but one of the silliest gunbattle scenes ever — almost comical. Plus, the movie redefines the phrase “It’s just a flesh wound.” Very disappointing ending, more suitable for Waltons than dangerous bootleggers. Gave it five ducks.
10. One crazy prediction: The SEC will win all nine of its bowl games.