Again, Kentucky Loses At Home To An Inferior Opponent

Full disclosure: I am a huge Kentucky Wildcat fan. With family from Kentucky, you can't grow up without being a big Kentucky basketball fan. It's just something that you do. Living out here in the Northwest I have never been to a game at Rupp Arena, although I know a ticket is hard to come by. This year I ordered the ESPN FullCourt package which allows me to watch 24 of their 31 games. Tonight was my first opportunity to see the 2008-09 version and, damn it, I wasn't happy.

25 turnovers.

14 3-pointers made by the Keydets.

No extending of the defense when VMI was knocking down jumper-after-jumper.

The result: A 111-103 loss to the Virginia Military Institute.

Tuesday the 'Cats travel to North Carolina to take on the unanimous #1 team in the nation. If they play like they did tonight a 35-point loss is undoubtedly waiting.

Although the Keydets lead the nation in scoring the last two years, giving up a 111-points in ridiculous. During one sequence of the second half, VMI scored 4 points on two layups where there wasn't a Kentucky defender within 15 feet of the player.

They looked confused and disorganized. Maybe even a bit cocky when the game started. Now Billy Gillispie will have to answer questions two seasons in row after a home defeat that just five short years ago would have been unimaginable.

Mariners Trim It Down To Seven Finalists

I don't know what's the bigger surprise: The fact that the Mariners released the names of their seven finalists or that said finalists have managed exactly ZERO major league games.

Thoughts on the list:

-No problem with the lack of experience. Every great manager had no experience at one point. Plus, I'm tired of the retread hires.

-The sentimental favorite among Mariner fans has to be Joey Cora. Not here. Look, 1995 was great but it's over. If he's the best fit for the job, fine. Don't hire him because of his appearance in "My Oh My."

-Brad Mills is an interesting candidate. He has spent a lot of time with Terry Francona, the two-time World Series Champion manager of the Boston Red Sox. As much as I hate Boston, stealing one of their coaches doesn't bother me if it means Seattle success.

-I don't think Randy Ready is ready for a major league manager's role. Let's get somebody who has been part of a big league ball club the last few years.

-There is no doubt Tony LaRussa is a Hall of Fame manager. Jose Oquendo has worked with him for the last nine years. Has he soaked up enough knowledge to lead this team to a championship?

-Whoever Jackie-Z decides to hire, they must be prepared and suited to rebuild. This team is not going to be competitive in the near feature. He needs be able to manage and develop young talent, then once they are ready, lead them deep into October.

The Passion Isn't There

The MNF game tonight: San Fransisco at Arizona. That sucks. Yes, they are both division rivals of the Seahawks but, like all other Seattle sports in 2008, the Seahawks are finished. Therefore, I decided to watch the Portland - Orlando game.

It kept me interested, the Trail Blazers won 106-99 but my passion for NBA basketball was missing. Growing up a Sonics fan, I have absolutely zero connections with Portland. Hence, the disconnect. In fact, I grew up disliking the Trail Blazers and loved it when Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace were too busy smoking pot to be competitive.

With the Sonics gone, I decided to choose a team to somewhat follow closely this season. Not be a fan of, I don't believe you can simply "switch" allegiances, but watch so I have a foot in the NBA.

Let me tell you, there is a definite change in viewpoint when you aren't a fan of either team and don't have any team to follow. I knew this was going to happen once the Sonics left, but it's different when it actually happens.

I loved living in a city that had all three major American sports. Losing one of them makes me feel belittled, second-class. I truly hope the NBA returns to Seattle soon. I know that passion can return, I will feel emotionally invested again. Until then, I'll follow Portland with Seattle natives Brandon Roy and Martell Webster and former Sonics player and coach Nate McMillian.

I know exactly when the passion will return: The day the Oklahoma City Thunder come to Seattle.

Ryan Leaf's Career Still Causing Him Pain

Even six years after retiring from the NFL, Ryan Leaf still suffers from his four disastrous years in pro football. He has taken a leave from his position as Quarterbacks Coach at West Texas A&M because he asked a player for a pain pill. Allegedly, he needed the pill for pain in his wrist caused while playing football.

I'm not sure of the exact pill he asked for but if it was Viacaden, Percocet, or Oxycotton those are the same pills I took while painfully watching his NFL career. In fact, with the amount of Leaf jokes told by UW fans you practically need pain pills at the mere mention of his name.

Leaf is also the men's golf coach at West Texas. I can already picture practice: Take a couple pills, down three beers, then play golf all afternoon under the warm Texas sun. And to think he gets paid for that.

What Do You Do With Raul Ibanez?

The Mariners had three players file for free agency: Miguel Cario, Willie Bloomquist, and Raul Ibanez. I know, I know, the thought of losing both Cario and Bloomquist might be too much for Mariner Nation to handle. (Yes, Mariner Nation. If the Red Sox can call themselves a nation, then so can every other MLB team.)

Coming off a 101-loss season, with a new general manager and probable field manager, this team is in no place to even think about contention in 2009. So, what do you do with your best offensive weapon from a team who's offense stinks? He is going to want a multi-year deal, worth more than a team rebuilding should spend on a 36 year old leftfielder. Add in the fact that you don't have a major-league ready prospect waiting in the wings.

The other part to this question is whether or not Ibanez even wants to resign with Seattle. He has never played on a playoff team and the desire to win a ring and go out on a winning team has to pull him toward leaving the Mariners. Losing 23 home runs and 110 RBI off a team that was offensively anemic in 2008 is not a desirable thing for M fans, but it does then give you an opportunity to plan for the future out in left.

So, I ask you: What do you do with Raul Ibanez?

Is Jake Locker Going To Play Baseball?

Apparently there's a controversy brewing over at Montlake started by the voice of the Huskies' Bob Rondeau. According to USC play-by-play man Pete Arbogast, Rondeau told him that Jake Locker "may not be back" next year, instead choosing to play baseball professionally.

This is the same Locker who is currently out with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. For him to switch over to baseball at this time seems unlikely, if not ridiculous. The guy had an opportunity to sign a baseball contract right out of high school. Instead, he chose to go to Washington and play for a struggling football program.

The kid is all-world classy, always saying and doing the right thing. It is not in his character to turn his back on his teammates and commitment to UW for his own monetary gain. Don't expect Jake Locker to running around a baseball diamond this summer, unless of course, its for the Bellingham Bells once again.

Laying the Points in So Cal, Taking the Points in the Bay Area

USC is a 46-point favorite over the University of Washington today. Stanford is a 30-point favorite over the Washington State Cougars. A combined spread of +76 has to be, or damn close to, the biggest combined point spread against the State of Washington teams. Ever.

I'm laying 46 to USC and taking the Cougars plus 30. While USC will hold the score down and the Huskies will put some points on the board, Carroll knows that the computers and voters are looking for style points. With Penn State winning last Saturday, more than likely one of the two National Championship slots is filled.

No matter what Texas and Alabama do, as long as Penn State goes undefeated they will be in the National Championship game. Now, I'm not saying that if Texas and Alabama both go undefeated Penn State would jump over them. What I am saying is that one of the slots is already filled because even if both Texas and Alabama lose, Penn State will fill that position. That means that USC needs to win out, and win out big, to have even a chance at the NC game. Oklahoma has the "better" one loss but they might not even play in their conference's championship game, therefore eliminating them from contention in most voters' eyes.

I expect USC to win big today, something like 66-10.

On the other hand, Stanford cannot throw the ball. Tavita Pritchard ranks 8th in the conference in passer rating and has thrown more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (7). Stanford is going to pound the ball with Toby Gerhart. This lends well to the Cougars covering for two reasons: One, running the ball will eat the clock, and two, the Cougars are sure to have 8 guys, maybe even 9 on first down in the box. Stanford is going to have to work hard to earn those yards on the ground.

Do I think the Cougars are going to win? No, but a score like 31-17 is what I expect to see.