[2003-11-10]

NFL: Warren Sapp's moronic ranting to the media isn't distracting the Bucs into mediocrity. Sapp's performances are handling that. The best defensive lineman? Far from it. Not for at least two seasons. Caught him against Carolina on Sunday again playing poorly -- choosing and shooting gaps, dive-bombing for the backfield, clearing running lanes instead of closing them.

Playing the D-Line, you see, isn't for celebrities. Stats must be forgotten. The best tackles and guards spend their whole afternoon pushing blimpy lineman back where they came from, fighting to hold ground instead of going around and lunging for tackles or sacks. That's why there's so few famous interior defenders -- if they do their jobs correctly, the linebackers and safeties make all the tackles. Which is why, when pressed early in the season by a Sapp-fanatic, I couldn't immediately think of a better down defender than Warren. Now I've seen half a season. Now I can name four no problem: La'Roi Glover, Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker and Sapp's own teammate, Booger MacFarland. The Bucs know this as well, which is why Booger has a new four-year contract and Sapp's facing free agency.

And as for Sapp's "the enslaving NFL won't allow me to market myself," well, I caught you on three commercials this weekend. You are overexposed, not under. I can only imagine what Michael Jordan's thinking every time Nike airs its ad featuring MJ morphing into Sapp. Yikes. Either that campaign dies quickly, or heads will roll. MJ still wields power.

CFB: Saw Virginia Tech for the second straight week, this time vs. Pitt. Now, Marcus Vick, Mike's kid brother, may have the same tools in his shed, but he's nowhere near ready to run a team like his brother did at 19. Not as tall or as built yet, either. So why's VT running him in there instead of Bryan Randle, a junior with the same abilities -- running, short passing -- when Vick's just not ready?

Also, Tech RB Kevin Jones and Pitt WR Larry Fitzgerald would be significant upgrades for several NFL offenses right now. Jones has the moves, the burst and the finishing speed of a number one pick. Fitzgerald has veteran hands and the acceleration of an Aston Martin. Jacksonville, Detroit and Atlanta will be waiting for these underclassmen's decisions, but if Jones goes, the 2-7 Raiders will be on him like a lawsuit.

NHL: Coach Mike Keenan and his staff were fired this weekend after a short stay in Carolina. So Christmas comes early for the Panthers players, who shed the most overbearing and egomaniacal coach in pro sports. We'll file this away along with other startling news such as winter is coming, spring to follow.

NBA: Am I enjoying the LeBron Era? Certainly I am. With Ilgauskas, Boozer, Davis, Wagner, Bremmer, and Boozer, the Cavs are glowing that Clippers 2000-2002 vibe. Young talent at every position. Tons of energy. Actual ball movement. And better than all that combined, Cleveland plays in the Eastern Conference, so they don't have to wait five years for Shaq, the Kings and the Spurs to decline. The best thing about LeBron? Well, his composure's unworldly -- games, interviews, commercials, all of it -- but I just can't get over what well soon be his signature move: get to the lane, go up, way up, wait for everyone else to come down, than survey the entire halfcourt and zip a pass to whoever's stumbled wide open. Watch for it. Happens twice or thrice or game. Believe in him.

MLB: Yes, the actual competitive portion of the year is around the corner. Other than Vlad Guerrero, this off-season's all about shortstops and starting pitchers. Where will Maddux end his career? Will Millwood stay in Philadelphia? Can the Red Sox keep Colon out of New York? And who gets left out -- the Dodgers, Angels and Mariners all want Miguel Tejada or Kaz Matsui for their SS.

It says here that the Marlins mess up another champion, Millwood stays east and Maddux goes west; Bud keeps Vlad with the traveling 'Spos, Colon gets less than expected, and the Dodgers will have a big hitter by January, thanks to their new owners.

That's all for now, enough sports for the weekend. I need to go to work, do some reading, catch some air. Monday Night Football arrives in just twelve hours.

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