Comments on the Buckeyes, Indians, Bengals, Browns, Cavs and more (but nothing on Terrelle Pryor!)
Just a little more about This, That and the Other...
WARNING - there is NO Terrelle Pryor update anywhere on this page!
Buckeye basketball - I hope I'm wrong, but watching this current group play, even with their 6-2 record in the Big Ten, it's hard to envision them winning more than one game in either the Big Ten tournament or the NCAA tournament.
They lack the chemistry that any team needs an abundance of to advance very far in March, and their overall youth and inexperience will likely lead to a quick exit out of whatever tournament they make it to (and it's no guarantee that they'll even be in the Big Dance). And that's not even counting the lack of rebounding that hurts this team so much.
It's hard to deny the potential that exists with Koufos, Diebler, Lighty and Turner, but unless there's some sort of "team chemistry" fairy dust (perhaps "enhanced with extra rebounding power!") that Thad Matta can sprinkle in their shoes before practice soon, don't expect to see this team dancing beyond the first weekend of March Madness.
Indians - The Tribe probably gets to see Johan Santana leave the Central division for the National League East, but that's not necessarily a good thing if you want to see C.C. Sabathia stick around Cleveland beyond the 2008 season. C.C.'s career numbers are just as good and in some cases better than Santana's, and he's a year younger than the likely ex-Twin.
By being traded to the Mets and receiving a huge contract extension (not official as of this writing, but it'll still happen somewhere), Santana will receive a payday that will form the basis for what Sabathia will surely expect (don't count on much of a "home town discount", if any). C.C.'s an unrestricted free agent after 2008, and Cleveland is very unlikely to pay the $18-20 million for 5-6 years that C.C. and his agent will be asking for.
Given the depth of the Tribe's pitching staff, however, and a few of the great prospects still in the minor leagues, they're in a much better position than almost any other team to withstand such a loss to their starting rotation.
It's also possible that a very unusual situation could develop this summer. With Cleveland likely to be in the pennant race all year long, yet faced with losing C.C. for nothing if they don't trade him to another contender, we could see the Indians try to trade Sabathia to a National League team in return for some quality prospects and/or another starting pitcher, or a power hitting outfielder. Can you imagine if that happened and then Cleveland ended up facing C.C. in the World Series?
Buckeye Football - It's been fun the past few weeks watching and listening to all the SEC fans absolutely freak out over the prospect of Ohio State playing in another national championship game next year.
To some extent I don't blame them, but especially if the Buckeyes can get past USC in September, the chances of that happening are quite good. All the "experts" that are already making their 2008 pre-season predictions are listing Ohio State in the top 5, along with Georgia and Florida. If you think the Buckeyes had a national image problem after losing the BCS championship game this year, just wait to see what would happen if they make it three in a row!
In what other sport would it be considered by most fans a failure of monumental proportions to reach such a high level of success so regularly, even if a team didn't win that final game? Seems to me there's about 100 other college football programs that would love to switch places with the Buckeyes.
Even the Buffalo Bills, who lost 4 Super Bowls in a row, didn't face the disrespect and disgust that seems to come Ohio State's way (the basketball team losing in the championship game last year didn't help either), and surely will be directed at them at an all time level if they would happen to lose a third straight national championship game. Undoubtedly the fact that Ohio State is making it that far without the benefit of a true playoff, like all other sports have, and is seen as being "placed" in or "given" that position by an unfair system, is a deciding factor, plus a little jealousy thrown in just for good measure.
Blue Jackets - How disappointing the past two losses have been to the CBJ and their fans. I bet Ken Hitchcock and the suits in the front offices are banging their heads on the wall. Just when many fans were finally ready to jump on the bandwagon, the team comes out from the All Star break and loses two straight games to fall behind in contention for the final playoff spot. They'll need to get hot again soon and steal a road win or two to make up for it. If they don't turn it around pretty quick, nothing short of a miracle will get the fans back on their side this year.
Cavs - I'm starting to turn around my early season pessimism on this team, and now believe they can/should make it to at least the second round of the playoffs, as long as injuries don't turn into a key factor at the end of the season.
The renewed sense of (semi-)optimism is mostly based on the fact that Lebron James is somehow taking his game to an even higher level, and Anderson Varejao looked good and was putting up better numbers than last year before he injured his foot (out 4 weeks) last week in L.A.
As long as the team's other key role players play well when it counts, James may be able to once again carry the Cavs further than anyone expects. A big difference this year over last, however, is that the Eastern Conference is much tougher. Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Toronto are all teams that could easily take the Cavs out in the first or second round.
If Cleveland does exit in the first or even second round, the pressure on GM Danny Ferry and Cavs ownership to make a major move this off season will reach epic proportions, especially with the clock ticking down on whether James will remain in Cleveland beyond his current contract. They have to get another big offensive weapon to take some of the heat off Lebron or this team will never go beyond where it is now. Cleveland fans deserve at least a legitimate chance to watch their team win an NBA title by matching up Lebron with a second player of true star quality.
Bengals - Are we starting to see a return to the "old Bengals"? Chad Johnson's recent comments about wanting to get out of Cincinnati and the ruckus it's causing are once again stirring the pot of discontent in Bengal land. (hey, at least he didn't get arrested though, unlike a few of his teammates over the years)
After reaching the playoffs in 2005 and with a future that looked quite bright, Cincinnati has failed to make the playoffs since and is in danger of falling backward in the division rather than turning it around, especially if the team can't get rid of the malcontents that seem to thrive there.
I think getting rid of Johnson and his childish antics and "me first" attitude would be a step in the right direction, so Marvin Lewis should grant him his wish as quickly as possible. On the other hand, the Browns fan in me says go ahead and keep him. In fact, why not get rid of T.J. Houshmandzadeh instead and bring in Terrell Owens to line up opposite of Chad. Wouldn't that be fun to watch?
Browns - Speaking of the Browns, they've made a contract offer to Derek Anderson, but it's not known yet whether they'll be able to work out a deal before he officially becomes a restricted free agent (they have the right to match any offer, however). How this situation will play out in the months ahead is one of the most interesting side stories in the NFL.
With a promising but unproven Brady Quinn waiting in the wings (but for how long?), and with a one season wonder already in hand with Derek Anderson, how the Browns proceed from here and who the starting quarterback will be next season is a great story to follow. There were rumblings early last season that Brady didn't have the respect of some of his teammates, and although that doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, it could play into the Browns' decision as to who they'll eventually have to commit to.
I think it's likely that they'll sign Anderson soon and start next year with both him and Quinn still on the roster, but it will be almost impossible to keep both of them beyond next year. Assuming Anderson doesn't flop in training camp or preseason to allow Quinn to move ahead of him (admittedly not likely), or he doesn't suffer an injury that keeps him out for a long time, he'll remain the starter through the season. If that happens, look for the Browns to then pull the trigger on a trade for D.A. and move a much more prepared Brady Quinn into the starting job. One more caveat, however: if Anderson's season ends with the Browns deep in the playoffs, this scenario could be reversed. See, didn't I say this storyline would be fun to follow? Stay tuned...