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Buckeyes - Everyone is commenting on how well prepared and confident Terrelle Pryor is for a true freshman, and that's certainly true, especially for one stepping in at the quarterback position. His real value to this team, however, besides the obvious physical skills, is that he is already emerging as a leader and motivator only 4 games into his first season.

Players and coaches both have commented on Pryor's willingness to speak his mind and get in another player's face (including the opponents), and that's a quality this team was sorely lacking. The fact that he is physically demonstrative also helps, and it's going to further increase his popularity with the fans who have longed for more visibly obvious emotion on the field and on the sidelines for at least the last few years.

Tressel seems to be ok with this and even somewhat encouraging it too. As long as the winning continues and the emotions don't cross the line into poor sportsmanship and personal foul penalties, it brings a welcome and needed component to an otherwise fairly boring Ohio State team.

Cubs - As a lifelong Cleveland fan, I can relate much more than I'd like to with what the Cubs fans are going through right now. Another great regular season is about to go for "NOT" as the Cubbies dropped the first two games of a five game series (at home nonetheless) and looked very bad in doing so. Say goodbye to another chance at the World Series and add one more year to their streak of futility.

Now Chicago heads west to Los Angeles where Manny will be Manny and the Cubs will be the Cubs and probably lose the very next game. Just as Indians, Browns and Cavs fans know deep in their gut, Cubs fans have the feeling that..., no, they KNOW that their team is somehow going to find a way to lose again, probably in some weird, historic fashion involving a bird or an earthquake and/or Jack Nicholson.

So Cubs fans take heart, you may have to suffer once again, but you've got some real soul mates close by. If you ever want to commiserate together, just give me a ring, and I'm not referring to the championship kind.

Bengals and Browns - We know the Browns won't lose this week (it's their bye week), but you can't say the same for the Bengals. Poor Marvin Lewis, he has to take his 0-4 team to Dallas, where the Cowboys are going to be looking to put a hurtin' on someone after losing at home to the arch rival Redskins. Last time I looked the Cowboys were 17 point favorites, an almost unheard of point spread in the pros unless you're the New England Patriots.

On top of that, 'ole 85 decided to open his mouth again and give the Cowboys even more reason to play hard and spank the Bungals. Saying he wanted to "kiss the star" in Dallas (and he wasn't referring to Jessica Simpson, but who would blame him if he was?), Chad "what's his number?" Johnson apparently thinks it's still 2005 and they're putting up 35 points a game.

Miracles do happen, but the best the Bengals can probably hope for on Sunday is that they get out of Big D without any serious injuries and that Chad "what's his number? Johnson gets to kiss somebody before the day is over. Maybe he and Terrell Owens can hook up in the tunnel at halftime.

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Tags: chad johnson, chicago cubs, cincinnati bengals, ohio state football, terrelle pryor