Quick Hits

O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Avoid it at all costs. As my boy told me over text message yesterday: Rain & O'Hare - terrible combination. Flying with a nine-month old when your flight is three hours delayed is never advised. Not only did it cause way too much undue stress, but it forced me to miss the entire Browns/Cardinals game. However, the delay did allow me to see pretty much the entire Kansas/USC game. Quick hits this morning to start, then we will follow with Browns analysis and links in a few hours, along with KU/USC coverage and more.

Winslow got robbed. The one thing I did see last night was the final play of the game where Kellen Winslow appeared to make a spectacular game-winning catch that would have given the Browns a 28-27 victory. The NFL rule states that if a player is indeed forced out of bounds without the ability to land in the field of play, it is the referee's digression on whether he feels the player would have successfully landed in bounds had the player not been pushed out. The play is not reviewable. Winslow clearly would have landed in bounds had he not been forced out, but the refs missed this easy call. It could be karma as last year against the Jets, TE Chris Baker was forced out on a similar play at the end of the game by Brodney Pool and the refs blew that one as well, handing the Browns a victory. That one didn't really matter, this one did. Lets hope it doesn't cost the Browns a playoff spot.

Evidently, the bad DA returned during the first half. He threw two bad picks and fumbled a snap. Yet when the chips were down, once again he led a fourth quarter comeback which would have won the game if not for a major officiating snafu. That and he threw again for over 300 and two TD's.

So the BCS games are set. Nice of the BCS to screw Missouri and give the Orange Bowl to my beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Too bad we don't deserve it, but we will gladly take it. Missouri won their division, beat KU straight up, and it's only two losses were to Oklahoma, yet they are stuck in the Cotton Bowl? Hilarious. LSU and OSU in the title game. Sorry Buckeye fans, you backed in to this one. You will be exposed once again on the grand stage. I still say Oklahoma and LSU should be meeting to win it all.

Down goes UCLA. The #1 UCLA Bruins were knocked off at home by #8 Texas last night in the Big 12/PAC 10 Hardwood Series. This was a game that completely flew under the radar and if it was played in January would get top billing. Watch out for Texas. No Kevin Durant, and all of a sudden they are 7-0 with a win at UCLA.

Here's some Tribe info: Baseball insiders told the Boston Herald that talks between the Pirates and Indians regarding Jason Bay have heated up. Kelly Shoppach apparently would be involved in the deal, but his was the only name the Herald had. Other possibilities include outfielder Trevor Crowe, third baseman Andy Marte and top pitching prospects Adam Miller and Chuck Lofrgen. Perhaps the Pirates would also be interested in Josh Barfield if they thought Freddy Sanchez would bring in a top prospect or two. Don't believe anything about Miller of Lofgren being dealt. No way those two are given up unless Johan Santana is coming on the other side, and there's a better chance of me being 7 feet tall than that happening.

Speaking of Santana. Why can't any national league teams enter the fray on dealing for him? I bet you couldn't guess that it is the Yankees and Red Sox who are most aggressively pursuing the best pitcher in the game. Allegedly now the Red Sox have upped their ante by adding stud CF prospect Jacoby Ellsbury to the deal, why the Yankees sweetener is RHP Phil Hughes. I can feel myself throwing up in my mouth.

Cavs action without Lebron...it's fantastically bad. I wasn't kidding when I said this was an NBDL squad without the king. Yesterday they scored just 70 points in a loss to Boston. They haven't won since he hurt his finger and the offense looks about as organized as the top drawer in my office.

Nice Sport!

All of you college football junkies, I have one question for you. How are you feeling this morning? You sport is an absolute joke and is in a state of complete chaos. The BCS system has failed miserably yet again. Here we are the day after the regular season ends and nobody knows who's #1 or #2. This week's #1 Missouri was taken down by Oklahoma for a second time. West Virginia lost to a sad sack 4-7 Pittsburgh team on their home field setting off mass hysteria. Lets look at the players who are left with a case:

Ohio State (1 loss to Illinois at home) - The nightmare scenario for Michigan fans everywhere. In one day, Les Miles tells the world he isn't going to Ann Arbor and Ohio State will most likely vault to the national title game. Sorry Buckeye fans, you don't deserve to be there. Name me a quality win on your resume? Michigan? They showed no heart all year and lost to Appalachian State at home. Wisconsin? another Big Ten fraud. Penn State? Please. They are BCS deserving, but not in the title game. The worst part of all of this is having to listen to the insufferable Buckeye nation living in my city for the next five weeks, only to watch them get exposed in the title game by a faster team.

LSU (2 losses, both in triple OT to Arkansas and at Kentucky) - The team that was #1 more weeks than any in this wacky season. Can't argue with their schedule, which included the SEC gauntlet. They beat Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and ACC Champion Virginia Tech by 41. They won their conference title game while having to deal with the distraction of the entire free world telling them their coach had one foot out the door and starting their backup QB. The Tigers probably deserve a shot.

Oklahoma (2 losses, at Texas Tech without its starting QB, and at Colorado) - To MTAC, this is the best team in the country right now. It could be two flukes that cost the Sooners their shot. One was their loss at Colorado in early October. The other was the concussion of QB Sam Bradford in the first five minutes of the loss at Texas Tech, a game they flat out don't lost if Bradford, the nation's leader in pass efficiency, is healthy. They steamrolled Missouri twice and won the Big 12. Give Bob Stoops five weeks to prepare and he won't lose.

USC (2 losses, at Oregon, Stanford) - While the Trojans may be playing the best football of their season, I cannot put a team into the title game who loss to a pathetic Stanford team at home. Yes, the same Stanford team who lost to Notre Dame. The John David Booty midseason injury didn't help them either. Bet them in the Rose Bowl against whoever they play.

Georgia (2 losses, South Carolina, at Tennessee) - Like USC, maybe the hottest team in the country, but the blowout loss to Tennessee and the fact that they didn't win their conference division will cost them their shot. The South Carolina loss in week two stings them the most. That's why this sport is so weak. A loss in early September ended their season. They are streaking to an at large BCS bid.

Kansas (1 loss, Missouri) - Sorry to my beloved alma mater, but when your best wins are against unranked Texas A&M and Kansas State on the road, you don't have an argument. Hopefully, they find themselves in an at large BCS bowl, preferably the Fiesta so I can go.

MTAC's Verdict: It will be Ohio State and LSU, but the real title game should be Oklahoma and LSU. Ohio State's resume doesn't warrant a title shot.

Tony Larussa DUI Video

I know you want college football takes. They are coming soon. But I juts had to post this Tony Larussa DUI video from last March. It is a great piece of tape. Don't miss the alphabet.

REVERSAL: Miles to Stay

That took long. Before today's SEC Championship game, LSU coach Les Miles said there was no truth to rumors that he is going to Michigan: "I am the head coach at LSU. I will be the head coach at LSU," Miles said Saturday. "I have no interest in talking to anybody else."

"I've got a championship game to play, and I'm excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play," he said. "It's unfortunate that I had to address my team with that information this morning.

Miles Working on a New Deal to Stay at LSU - ESPN.com

DONE DEAL: Miles to Michigan

Miles to Michigan

In a shock to nobody, Les Miles is taking the Michigan job. ESPN.com now has it up.

McCoskey Loves Cleveland

Great stuff this morning from Detroit News Pistons beat reporter Chris McCoskey. The man who says he hates blogs and they are ruination of real reporting has a new target; the city of Cleveland and the Cavaliers. The title of this column is "Cavaliers are a Cheap Imitation." He does have some valid points:

They hired the same pyrotechnics company that The Palace used. They use all the same stupid human tricks and halftime shows. They hired a clone of John Mason to be their public address announcer, and that guy even had the nerve to try and steal some of Mason's trademark riffs.

"Cleve-land basket-ball." "Dee-troit turn-over." Give me a break.

They stole away the Pistons' TV play-by-play guy, Fred McLeod. And by taking him, they also robbed us of a state treasure -- Fred's wife, Beth, who just happens to be one of the most genuinely beautiful people (inside and out) on the planet.

Next, he turns his attention to the Cavalier fans. These next quotes are attributed to last year's playoff games.

But they took it way too far. If you wear a Pistons jersey to an opponent's building during a playoff game, you except to get taunted verbally. You do not expect physical confrontation. But that's what happened. Fans had their Pistons jerseys literally ripped off their backs by Cavaliers fans last year.

I heard that at least four people had that happen to them. The Tigers were playing a series with the Indians at the same time, and I heard people wearing Tigers jerseys also were threatened.

Good stuff for a boring Saturday morning Chris!

Cleveland a Cheap Imitation - Chris McCoskey, Detroit News

Coast to Coast...like Tyus Edney against Mizzou

First off, I must send out a big thank you to all of the extra contributors this week while we were down at the sales meetings. We couldn't have survived without you. In the meantime, we are in the city of C-H-I for the weekend doing some scouting. We've got a big weekend of sports on tap. Lots of BCS implications, the first big Saturday of college hoops with highlight games UNC/Kentucky, Gonzaga/UConn, Ohio State/Butler, and Indiana/Southern Illinois. Sunday the Clowns go to the desert to see if they can keep rolling against the Cardinals.

Washington State 67 Baylor 64 - In the Pac 10/Big 12 Hardwood Series, Wazzu came back from a 12 point deficit on the road to knock off an improved Baylor team. Derrick Low struggled all night long, but came strong in the end, burying back to back three pointers to tie the game, then give the Cougars the lead with under three minutes left. Robbie Cowgill led WSU with 18. Baylor will surprise people in the Big 12 this year with talented PG Aaron Bruce and rebound machine Kevin Rogers.

Tennessee 98 Louisiana-Lafayette 70 - The Vols got back on track with this blowout win against the Ragin Cajuns. Tyler Smith had 22, Jordan Howell 17, and Jajuan Smth 15 in a game that was never close. In the saga of the Vols ever turning rotation, Howell started, Ramar Smith came off the bench (with 14), and Wayne Chism was replaced by Duke Crews in the middle. All American Chris Lofton continued his strange start, scoring just seven points on five shots.

Marquette 100 UW-Milwaukee 65 - The Golden Eagles blew away the once mighty mid-major. Dominic James had a sick floor game, going 10-15 for 22 points in 29 minutes. Jerel McNeal and David Cubllian added 16 and 12 respectively.