It’s actually not Friday anymore (not here, at least), but I’m getting this out a little later than I’d planned to since Friday was a busy day.
Because there’s not enough time for me to always go through every headline and interesting story I come across in short order, I thought it’d be a good idea to save up a few that I don’t get to for a little end-of-week recap. So, without wasting much more of your time on an introduction, here are a few of the more interesting stories from the week, along with a few topics that have caught my eye over the last several days, and look forward to seeing this every Friday (and a little more on time).
Oregon State Upsets USC
Let the race begin! There’s been plenty of wildness so far this season, and if it plays out anything like last year did, the #1 ranking is going to change hands quite a few more times before the end of the season. Right now, it’d seem like #2 Oklahoma would move up to #1 if they take care of business against TCU, but if #3 Georgia beats #8 Alabama, and the Sooners have a tough time with the the Horned Frogs, the preseason #1 could be back in the top spot next week.
If Oregon St.’s win helps anyone, it’s Penn State, whose 45-14 rout of the Beavers three weeks ago suddenly looks a lot sexier.
On a related note, Jacquizz Rodgers is running his way to all sorts of freshman All-American honors. A lot of other freshmen came into the season with loads of hype, but it hasn’t taken long for Rodgers to not only emerge as Oregon St.’s starting RB, but jump into the national spotlight, as I had a good feeling he could (I covered Houston-area HS football last season, so I got a regular taste of him putting up huge numbers for Lamar Consolidated).
And on another note, are we headed for a USC-Ohio State rematch in the Rose Bowl? If neither team gets back in the national title picture, the chances are high.
Matt Millen Finally Fired as Detroit Lions’ President/GM
The fact that it took the Lions’ management so long to can Millen isn’t that surprising, considering that they hired him in the first place when they shouldn’t have and promptly paid him buckets of money to become a laughingstock (and to do the same thing for the franchise), but what amazes me is that there are players who are actually surprised by him getting fired.
Plaxico Burress Suspended By Giants
If you’re not going to show up to work, it’s nice to let your employer know. And if they come a-calling, you should answer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with Giants receiver Plaxico Burress on Monday, and as a result, he’s going to be sitting when the Giants play Seattle in Week 5 after their bye this week.
Burress just got a fat contract just before the season started, and he’s already throwing away a sizable chunk of change by being suspended. Apparently he was tending to some important family matters, but either way, Eli Manning’s going to be missing his go-to guy against the Seahawks.
Papa Bowden Wearing Out His Welcome?
Saturday’s turnover-filled 12-3 home loss to Wake Forest was the latest low point in a string of low points for Florida State’s football program over the last several years (a few of which I’ve seen in person, sadly).
Losses like Saturday’s don’t inspire much confidence in the ‘Noles to be anything more than a middle of the road team again, but apparently, being a middle of the road team doesn’t faze Bobby Bowden.
Now, unless you were there, you can’t really say one way or another what context Bowden was speaking in, but the way it comes off is certainly not the way it needs to given all that has gone on in the last several years.
And with all of those things in mind, FSUncensored from Tomahawk Nation unleashed the rant of all rants, and it’s safe to say that he isn’t the only one who shares those sentiments. You do have to wonder though, if someone is actually going to act on those sentiments and try to convince him to hang it up after this season, or if it’s still going to be a case of him deciding to quit sometime over the next couple of seasons before handing things over to Jimbo Fisher.
Big Catch for Baskett?
I’ll finish on a lighter note with something more suited for E! than a sports blog. Philadelphia Eagles receiver Hank Baskett has been linked with Playboy Playmate octogenarian lover/amateur rapper Kendra Wilkinson, who came out on her Myspace blog, of all things, this week saying that she and the former New Mexico star and part-time playmaker are not engaged as reports have said. There are many, many jokes that I could make in reference to their potential relationship, but I’ll leave that to your imagination.
However, Kendra might be better off with someone else who might be a little better of a match. That is, if she wouldn’t mind him showing her his ‘Beast Mode…’
And on that note, I’m out.
