The Bandwagon is Officially Full
Posted by: Michael Urban | 1:45pm

It was pure pandemonium last Saturday night in Arrowhead Stadium. The game clock finally ticked to :00, the scoreboard read Tigers 36 Jayhawks 28, and everyone in Black and Gold realized they just witnessed the biggest victory in Tiger football history. Chants of “we’re number 1!” rang out through the concourses in the stadium. On the field, Tiger players hoisted the victory trophies over their heads and thanked the tens of thousands of Tiger fans who made the trip to Kansas City. It was truly a win for the ages; the Tigers secured the Big XII North title, ruined the Jayhawks perfect season and on Sunday, realized they were #1 in the BCS and #1 in the AP Poll for the first time since 1960. What a night. The Missouri Tigers are one win away from playing for the national title.

Before the Tigers can punch their tickets to New Orleans, however, they must avenge their only loss of the season to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big XII Championship game this Saturday in San Antonio. That’s Mizzou’s reward for beating previously 2nd ranked Kansas and improving to 11-1 on the season. This is like getting a monster tax return only to realize that the funds must go to pay off court fees for ill-advised behavior during college. No doubt, this is a bit of a stomach punch to Tiger Nation. To make matters more convoluted, consider this -- if Mizzou fails to beat Oklahoma the Tigers will most likely face Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl while Kansas, and perhaps Illinois, receive BCS bowl bids. Yep, never mind the fact that Mizzou beat the Jayhawks and the Illini and are ranked #1 during the season’s final week. [Insert BCS-related rant here.] I’m not saying the Tigers will lose, but it’s possible Mizzou could end the season 11-2 as Big XII North Champs and hear the following words, “congratulations, you’re off to the Cotton Bowl!”

So how do the Tigers win on Saturday and avoid getting jobbed by the BCS? It’s simple (at least in theory) – get pressure on OU quarterback Sam Bradford. The sensational freshman QB has led the Sooners to a 10-2 record and his performance is clearly the common denominator to their success. He’s like the Ben Bernanke of the Sooner offense. In OU’s two losses, Bradford didn’t play for three quarters at Texas Tech due to a concussion, and he threw for only 112 yards on 8 completions in a loss at Colorado in late September. Conversely, in Oklahoma’s ten wins Bradford averaged 255 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. All of this is to say that if the Tigers stop Bradford Mizzou will win. The same may be said for Mizzou – if Chase Daniel isn’t able to get the ball to his playmakers or is forced to make mistakes, the Tigers lose. So the big question for Saturday’s game is which defense will be more successful getting to the quarterback?

Earlier in the week I didn’t feel good about the Tiger’s chances in San Antonio. My gut was telling me OU would win and end yet another Tiger championship run (see NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2002). Now I’m not so sure. I think Mizzou beats the Sooners because the Tiger pass rush will be more effective than Oklahoma’s pressure (this wasn’t the case in October), and most importantly, because Chase Daniel is playing out of his mind and will simply not let the Tigers lose. Remember all the talk last week of the Kansas defense and how it was going to disrupt Daniel’s timing? All Chase did at Arrowhead was complete 40 passes on 49 attempts for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. The guy has ice in his veins and flourishes under the intense pressure of Mizzou’s first title run.

I’ll leave you with two stats that should give Tiger fans every reason to believe they can continue their chants of “we’re number 1!” in New Orleans next month:

1. In the month of November, when the Tigers couldn’t afford to lose, Daniel went 121 for 169 (72%) with 1,418 yards, 15 touchdowns and 1 interception. That’s a very good season for many college quarterbacks. Again, Daniel has done this in four games.

2. In the fourth quarter this season, Daniel is 46 for 55 for 508 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

The dude is in the zone.

Mizzou 41 Oklahoma 38

Armageddon at Arrowhead
Posted by: Michael Urban | 4:05pm

With all due respect to the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Rams, the Pulse will not pick their contests this weekend because, quite frankly, they're not worthy and it would be an insult to the 10-1 Missouri Tigers. That's right, Saturday's Armageddon at Arrowhead showdown between Mizzou and the Kansas Jayhawks trumps every sporting event that's ever happened in the state of Missouri and nothing else even comes close. This weekend's clash is bigger than Game 5 of last year's World Series, even bigger than Game 6 or 7 of the 1985 World Series and bigger than any Monday Night Football game involving the Chiefs' Joe Montana. From St. Louis to Kansas City, St. Joseph to Cape Girardeau, this weekend's game has the interest of the entire state and the stakes go beyond just the final score. Seriously, I cannot overstate this enough; the winner of Saturday's game will have bragging rights for the next 50 years...at least. It won't matter if the Kansas basketball team wins the next 20 meetings vs. Mizzou. It won't matter if the Tigers win the next 10 battles on the gridiron. What matters is Saturday, and to the winner goes the superiority of not just a football program, but the superiority of a way of life. For those of you who are not familiar with this rivalry, just trust me on this and hope that you don't have to spend the Holidays with an MU or KU fan.

So now that the table's set, let's get to the actual game and see who's going to come out on top at Arrowhead.

Schedules: Kansas' biggest win of the season thus far is arguably Oklahoma State -- the same Oklahoma State team that Troy destroyed several weeks ago. To say that KU hasn't been tested is like saying Kansas Head Coach Mark Mangino likes cheese curls. On the other hand, Mizzou defeated a tough (and perhaps BCS Bowl-bound) Illinois team, demolished the high-powered offense of Texas Tech and played Oklahoma on the road in Norman. The Tigers have been tested and certainly will not be strangers to the pressure of a big game.
Advantage: Missouri

Offense: Mizzou has arguably the nation's best offense. They scored a season low 31 points in a loss at Oklahoma due mostly to four turnovers. No other team in the country can say they've scored more than 30 points per game this year. Hey KU, good luck stopping Daniel, Temple, Maclin, Fanklin, Rucker, Coffman, Alexander and Perry. The Jayhawks run the same spread offense as Mizzou and they have several weapons as well. But let's get serious...Mizzou's offense runs like a Ferrari and KU's runs more like a Honda Civic Hybrid.
Advantage: Missouri

Defense: Despite what the pundits may think, the Kansas defense isn't the '85 Bears. Sure, they're stout up front, have nice size at the linebacker position and have a decent secondary, but the Tigers will have little trouble scoring 40 points on this unit (i.e. Nebraska). Junior cornerback Aqib Talib gets much praise for his coverage skills, but he's never seen the likes of MU's receivers and, by the way, Talib was burned in last year's meeting in Columbia. The Tigers' defense is a hard hitting bunch but they're known to give up big plays. The defense is at its best when they blitz and I suspect KU quarterback Todd Ressing will see many blitz packages on Saturday. Oh yeah, the last time the Tigers faced a spread offense like KU? The D held Texas Tech to 10 points.
Advantage: Push

Intangibles: Mizzou QB Chase Daniel is a Heisman contender and is better prepared to handle a game of this magnitude than KU QB Todd Ressing. Remember, Ressing has only started 13 games in his career. The coaching staffs are reasonably similar, although the edge has to go to KU coach Mark Mangino due to his 3-2 record vs. the Tigers. The crowd at Arrowhead will most likely favor Kansas (this is their home game, after all) but there will also be plenty of Black and Gold in the seats. On a related note, let's just hope no one gets killed Saturday night...seriously. Finally, special teams remain a concern for the Tigers and if the game is close in the 4th quarter, shoddy special teams play could become a factor.
Advantage: Push

The Verdict: Mizzou is a battle-hardened team. I've never seen a more confident MU football team and they've got every reason to think they'll win Saturday night. Because of MU's weapons and their opportunistic defense I think the Tigers will win big. This will be a close game heading into the 4th quarter, but Mizzou will pull away late in the game to secure a Border War and Big XII North championship.

Missouri 44 Kansas 24

The Pulse Picks
Posted by: Michael Urban | 10:00am

Thanks Arizona, Missouri owes you one. In taking down the #2 ranked Oregon Ducks on Thursday night, the Arizona Wildcats made the equation for a Mizzou national championship real simple – win the next three games and the Tigers clinch a spot in the national title game. Forget West Virginia, Arizona State and Ohio State – they’re all title pretenders. Make no mistake; a Big XII team (Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas) will represent one half of the title game picture and Mizzou is unequivocally in the hunt.

Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves. To realize all those heady national title dreams, the Tigers must start on Saturday by beating an unpredictable and dangerous Kansas State team in Manhattan, a place where Mizzou hasn’t won in 18 years. Let’s be honest, for Tiger fans, Saturday’s game against the Wildcats is as scary as a confrontation over a signed Buffalo Bills jersey involving O.J. Simpson. If there ever was a trap game for the Tigers this is it, and I’m more worried than John Edwards at a Great Clips. Here’s why:

• Kansas State is coming off two embarrassing losses to Iowa State and Nebraska – the Wildcats will be fired up to get back on track AND become bowl eligible. (Remember, this is the same team that rolled Texas in Austin, nearly beat Kansas and destroyed Colorado).

• It’s Senior Day in Manhattan – that’s never good for the visitor. (See Ducks, Oregon vs. Arizona)

• Despite what they say, the Tigers have to be looking forward to next week’s battle vs. KU. Seriously, next Saturday’s game could be the biggest football game ever played in Missouri. And you wouldn’t look forward to that??

Needless to say, the stakes are extremely high in Manhattan on Saturday. The Tigers are up to the challenge, right?!?!

Mizzou vs. Kansas State (+7)

Let’s put it this way – I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers win or lose on Saturday. For me, the forecast for this game is about as cloudy as Senator Ted Kennedy’s memory of the Chappaquiddick incident.

Mizzou 38 Kansas State 31

Kansas City vs. Indianapolis (-15)

Wow – the Colts are over two touchdown favorites vs. the Chiefs. This is the craziest line I’ve seen since Martina Hingis drew one at Wimbledon last June. Granted, the Chiefs are without Larry Johnson and untested QB Brodie Croyle gets the start, but I think they’re a little more competitive in Indy on Sunday than most seem to think.

Let’s not forget the Colts have a few issues of their own. Franchise defensive end Dwight Freeney injured his foot last Sunday and is out for the season, and All-Pro wide receiver Marvin Harrison probably won’t play due to a hobbled knee. Having said that, Peyton Manning is in “ultra payback mode” after his six interception performance in San Diego last week so, yeah, Chiefs fans, that’s probably not going to be good for business.

Indianapolis 31 Kansas City 21

St. Louis vs. San Francisco (+3)

So the 1-8 Rams are a favorite on the road in Frisco this week. That sounds about right. After rolling up 34 points in three quarters against the Saints last Sunday, the Rams are officially in the running for the NFL’s “Howard Hughes Team of the Year” award. No one knows what to expect from this squad anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams went 8-0 to finish the season. And I also wouldn’t be surprised if they went 1-7. Anyway, Rams fans find themselves in quite a predicament. Do they A) root for their team to win every game, or B) hope the Rams lose the rest of the way to improve their draft position next spring? I think it’s a little too early to tank, but if the Rams are 3-10 by Week 15, by all means, let the tanking begin!!

St. Louis 24 San Francisco 6

The Pulse Picks
Posted by: Michael Urban | 10:00am

A few weeks ago I wrote that at long last, the Missouri Tigers finally broke the “Pinkel Ceiling” and are heading toward a tipping point that could supplant the Tigers among the pantheon of National Championship-contending programs for years to come. With last week’s 55-10 blowout of the Colorado Buffaloes (on the road, no less) Mizzou took another small, yet significant step toward righting all the wrongs of Tiger football past. We’re not quite there, but the bandwagon is restlessly humming toward a place where no Mizzou football team has ever been – the National Championship game. Now before you lose your collective Tiger minds, take a look at the scenario below and start thinking about booking your hotel reservations in New Orleans in early January…

At #6 in the BCS, the Tigers have positioned themselves as the best one loss team in the country. If Mizzou beats #4 and undefeated Kansas for the Big XII North title on November 24 AND beats #5 Oklahoma for the Big XII title, then there is little excuse for the Tigers not to be in the National Championship game even if LSU and Oregon win out. Here’s why:

• LSU’s one loss came at the hands of then #17 Kentucky…the Wildcats are now ranked #25. Many so called “experts” will say LSU deserves a shot at the title because they play in the tough SEC. One small problem…the Bayou Tigers’ strength of schedule isn’t any tougher than Mizzou’s IF the Tigers take care of business against KU and OU.

• Although Oregon is playing well, they lost to now unranked Cal on Oregon’s home field. There isn’t a PAC-10 title game to help the Ducks’ strength of schedule, so their goose is cooked…or in this case, their duck is cooked.

The Tigers control their own National Championship destiny and the calendar says it’s November 9th. That’s the first time anyone has ever written that sentence. It’s OK to look ahead this year because this Tiger team IS different. Outside of Ohio State, who, exactly, is playing better than the Tigers? Now, here are this week’s picks. (Home teams in BOLD):

Mizzou (-18.5) vs. Texas ATM

Texas ATM Head Coach Dennis Franchione is on the chopping block, it’s Senior Day at Faurot, and the Tigers are much better than the Aggies. It’s a perfect storm for a thunderous blowout in Columbia.

Mizzou 41 Texas ATM 14

New Orleans (-11.5) vs. St. Louis

The St. Louis Rams are back in action this Sunday as they take on the Saints in New Orleans. Running back Steven Jackson had this to say about starting the second half of the season, “we’ve got a chance to equal our record from last year (8-8) so we’re going to go out and see what we can do.” Is any commentary even necessary here? I say no -- let’s just move on…

New Orleans 38 St. Louis 17

Kansas City (-3) vs. Denver

It’s a blast from the past for the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend as running back Priest Holmes assumes his once familiar spot as KC’s feature back. Larry Johnson is out with a severe foot sprain and may be on the shelf for a few weeks or longer. Luckily for the Chiefs, the Denver Broncos visit Arrowhead on Sunday and they’re just as bruised and battered. Despite their setback against the Packers last week, I still like the Chiefs to finish first in the AFC West, with or without Johnson. By the way, since when did the AFC West turn into the NFC West?

Kansas City 17 Denver 13

The Pulse Picks
Posted by: Michael Urban | 4:40pm

After watching the Boston Red Sox win the World Series last weekend I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that the baseball season was finally over. Forget baseball, it’s now time to fully concentrate on football and whether or not the St. Louis Rams could win the St. Louis University intramural flag football league – any takers? Thankfully, the Rams are in the midst of their “bye” week which immediately conjures up the question, will any players return to Rams Park next week to participate in the second half of the season? That question will be answered shortly, but in the meantime we’ve got a great weekend of football ahead of us so let’s get to this week’s picks. (Home teams in BOLD):

Kansas City (-2) vs. Green Bay

The Packers are 2007’s version of the “Really?” team. Tell anyone that the Pack is 6-1 and that’s exactly the response you’ll get – really? Despite the fact that Green Bay is last in the league in rushing, the ageless QB Brett Favre has his team in the driver’s seat in the NFC North. Outside of Favre, there isn’t anything that impresses me about this team. In fact, they’re the most misleading one loss team in the league, and if not for a few lucky breaks (see the Redskins game) the Packers would be 4-3 or worse.

Speaking of 4-3, the Kansas City Chiefs officially qualify for “sleeper” status. Heading into week 9, and coming off their bye week, the Chiefs are playing more like a playoff contender than the basement dweller most expected at the start of the season. Unfortunately for Kansas City fans, the Chiefs play in the AFC and there’s simply no shot of playoff success in ’07. Wait, I forgot, unfortunately for Chiefs fans the president of the organization is Carl Peterson and there’s no shot for playoff success…ever.

Kansas City 20 Green Bay 17

Indianapolis (+5.5) vs. New England

It’s the game of the year – Manning vs. Brady, Belichick vs. Dungy, good vs. evil. Truth be told, I’m not sure the Colts are close in this one – the Pats are that good. On a related note, has a single city, in this case Boston, ever seen so much sports success in such a short period of time? It’s disgusting…

New England 38 Indianapolis 24

Colorado (+4) vs. Mizzou

At 7-1 and No. 9 in the BCS, the Tigers have the college football world at their feet heading into a critical match up in Boulder this weekend. Here are the stakes – lose and the Tigers realistically forfeit their chance at the Big XII North title and a BCS bowl game; win and the Tigers keep pressure on hated rival KU for first in the North and continue hurtling to a winner-take-all Armageddon clash with the Jayhawks in three weeks in Kansas City. So the Tigers better not lose.

This game has all the makings of a trap for the Tigers. You’ve got the mile high air of Boulder, the fact that Mizzou hasn’t won on Colorado’s turf in a decade, and let’s not forget the Buffalos are 5-3 and knocked off Oklahoma earlier this season. Furthermore, the Buffs have a smash mouth running back in Hugh Charles and a bullish, hard-hitting defense (think Texas ATM last year); a combination that ALWAYS gives the Tigers fits. I’m already getting nervous. I do think the Tigers get out of Boulder with a “W” on Saturday, but the traps remain…check out my April prediction of where the Tigers may fall flat on their faces.

Mizzou 34 Colorado 28

The Pulse Picks
Posted by: Michael Urban | 11:00am

In last week’s picks column I reasoned that the Rams would beat Seattle for their 1st win of the season. Upon further review, it’s now clear that my pick ranks right up there with other dubious choices I’ve made in my life including buying multiple shares of Enron stock and eating a Chipotle burrito before a job interview. As if the point wasn’t already hammered home before week 6, it’s now hideously apparent that at least on the offensive side of the ball, the Rams have downshifted into “sabotage the head coach mode”. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, that’s not going to be good for business. Quarterback Marc Bulger couldn’t have looked less interested playing football than he did last Sunday, and in a moment of frustration, he gave Head Coach Scott Linehan an indifferent eye roll on the sideline after being lectured about taking a sack deep in the opponent’s zone. I guess this is the time that I should remind everyone that Bulger is the guy who just signed a $65 million deal to lead the organization for the next six seasons.

Running back Steven Jackson returns this week against the Browns but you know it’s an awful season when my first reaction is to wonder if Vegas has a proposition bet on when Jackson will get injured. These are the times that try fans’ souls and on October 26, I’m already looking forward to the 2008 NFL Draft. While we’re at it, can I be the first to suggest the title for the Rams’ DVD montage? Taking a page from the Bill Clinton Chronicles circa 1998, let’s call it “The 2007 St. Louis Rams – Let’s Just Pretend this Never Happened.”

Here are this week’s picks:

Cleveland vs. ST. LOUIS (+3)

As noted above, Steven Jackson returns to the lineup this Sunday but will likely be a non-factor due to the Rams’ defunct offensive line. So let’s see, that leaves the Rams to go with the passing game that’s been so effective the last few weeks and has kept Marc Bulger healthy and happy. Yep, that should work.
Cleveland 38 St. Louis 16

Rams Head Coach Scott Linehan Being Fired Going into the Bye Week (PICK)

As of Friday afternoon, I’ve got to give the edge to Linehan remaining with the team heading into week 9. Rams President John Shaw said as much last week, but if the home team gets skunked by the Browns in front of less than 60,000 bodies at the Dome, well, then, you never know…

Iowa St. vs. (13) MIZZOU (-28.5)

Can anyone remember the last time the Missouri Football Tigers were nearly 30 point favorites?? There’s no question ’07 is shaping up to be a special season in Columbia and this week’s line is one of many indicators. To me, the most surprising development this season is the maturation of Head Coach Gary Pinkel. Once known as a militant coach who stuck to his guns no matter what the situation, Pinkel last week recognized the porous Tech run defense and let tailback Jimmy Jackson and Co. lead the Tigers to a 41-10 romp in Columbia. Ladies and gentleman, the Pinkel ceiling has officially shattered and now the sky’s the limit for this program. Make no mistake, we’re closing in on the tipping point for Mizzou football and the scales will slide even further this weekend in Columbia.
Mizzou 34 Iowa St. 17

The Pulse Picks
Posted by: Michael Urban | 1:00pm

We’re getting into the meat of the football season which means two things: 1. Keith Olbermann will soon alienate every last viewer of NBC’s Football Night in America, and 2. my fiancée has little hope of getting my attention until after the Super Bowl. With a full slate of college and pro action on the table this weekend, let’s get to the Sports Beat’s Week 7 Picks.

(24) Texas Tech vs. (16) MISSOURI (-3.5)
The Red Raiders of Texas Tech bring the nation’s most potent offense to Columbia this weekend to face off against… you guessed it, one of the nation’s most potent offenses in the Missouri Tigers. Make no mistake, this is a HUGE game for the Tigers and a must win if they expect to break the proverbial “Pinkel Ceiling” and compete for a Big XII title. A loss Saturday would send Tiger Nation reeling and rev up the seasonal self-loathing sessions that have been commonplace in Columbia since the early ‘80s.

In order to avoid the defeatist banter, the Tigers must take their high-flying offense to a new level and light up Faurot Field’s scoreboard like never before. A steady diet of the running game featuring Jimmy Jackson and Derrick Washington (starting RB Tony Temple is out) should be enough to allow Chase Daniel and Co. to rack up the yards and points en route to a close (and very nervous) victory. The Red Raiders’ QB Graham Harrell and their freakish freshman wide-out Michael Crabtree will get their yards and points, but it won’t be enough in Columbia this weekend.

Mizzou 54 Texas Tech 48

Kansas City vs. OAKLAND (-2.5)
Amazingly enough, the Kansas City Chiefs look like contenders in the putrid AFC West after disposing of the hapless Bengals last Sunday at Arrowhead. You gotta give head coach Herm Edwards credit for taking what looked to be the NFL’s doormat at the beginning of the season and turning them into a legitimate force on defense and managing a steady (albeit dull) offense. The Chiefs have already taken down the Chargers in San Diego and look to extend their early lead in the division with a win on Sunday. Plus, even though the Raiders have improved from ’06, they’re still getting over the Art Schell Era which will undoubtedly take at least another two seasons and many hours of therapy.

Chiefs 24 Oakland 13

St. Louis vs. SEATTLE (-9)
OK, we all know the Rams have become the NFL’s version of Bud Bundy, but I sense the team’s first W will come this weekend at Qwest Field in Seattle. And believe me, I’m quite confident you heard it hear first… Hear are four reasons why I think the Rams will pull one out this weekend:
1. Quarterback Marc Bulger returns this Sunday due in part to give Rams fans confidence that their signal caller won’t be killed on the turf as was nearly the case last week in Baltimore. Surely Marc will be a tad more accurate than Gus Frerotte, right?
2. Head Coach Scott Linehan went ballistic in practice on Thursday and seemed to at least hammer home the point to many of the players that, “hey, Scott Linehan isn’t in a coma and he’s actually our head coach!!” Note: A recipe for any sports team’s first win after a long losing streak must involve the head coach going “Dennis Green” on his team – it’s a necessary component and rarely fails to inspire a win.
3. The Seahawks are a pretty bad football team. Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander look confused and washed-up, and Mike Holmgren looks like he’d rather retire and do color commentary for the Professional Bowlers Association on ESPN. At 3-3, we’re slowly seeing Holmgren develop the “Art Shell Stare” and that’s never a good thing...
4. I’m a homer for the Rams.

Watch out St. Louis, your 2007 Rams will be 1-6 after week 7!!

St. Louis 21 Seattle 20

Showdown in Norman
Posted by: Michael Urban | 10:15am

The Sports Beat returns this week just in time to offer a few words on the titanic Big 12 showdown between 11th ranked Mizzou and the 6th ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday in Norman, OK. --- Hold on, what is this, 1966? Is Dan Devine coaching the Tigers? A Tiger vs. Sooner matchup with national title implications in 2007?? Let’s be honest, if anyone would’ve told you before the season began that Oklahoma vs. Missouri would be the biggest game in the nation on October 13th your response would’ve shattered the “Al Hrabosky Nonsensical Meter”. Sure, everyone knew Oklahoma would assume their annual perch in the catbird’s seat of the conference and contend for a national title. It’s fair to say, however, that the jury was still out on the prospects of a Missouri team finally breaking the Pinkle Ceiling and jumping to the head of the class in the Big 12. Well here we are. Big 12 and national supremacy are on the line Saturday in Norman.

After watching the Tigers devastate Nebraska on national television last week, two thoughts came to mind: 1.) Mizzou has the best offense in the country, period, and 2.) Could Mizzou beat the Rams? Clearly, it’s the first thought that will keep the Tigers in the game Saturday and will give them a chance to win it if it stays close. Here’s a closer look at the personnel on the Tiger offense to give you a better idea of what OU must contend with on Saturday:

QB – Chase Daniel – A legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate who makes the MU offense click. This much is certain – no one in the country runs the spread offense better than Daniel.
TE – Martin Rucker – The best tight end in America, Rucker figures to be a 1st round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. The guy is simply unstoppable versus college-level defenders.
TE – Chase Coffman – Chase is among the top 5 tight ends in the country and he’s only a sophomore. He’s got a chance to be even better than Rucker when all is said and done.
WR – Will Franklin – The former Vashon High School star is, in my opinion, the most underrated wide-receiver in the country. The guy is blazingly fast, has good size and his nickname is the “helicopter”. What more do you want??
WR – Jeremy Maclin – Maclin leads the nation in all-purpose yards from scrimmage, and he’s in his first year of eligibility at MU. It’s hard to find anyone faster and more dynamic in college football.
WR – Tommy Saunders – Saunders is the Brandon Stokley of Mizzou’s offense. He’s the possession guy who is liable to break one every three or four catches.
WR – Danario Alexander – At 6-5 and 210 pounds, Alexander is a horse that runs like a thoroughbred…and he’s the Tigers 4th option!!

So how do you defend all of that? Well, you don’t, as Bill Callahan, Ron Zook and a host of other coaches have already found out. The key for OU on Saturday is to score early and often on Mizzou’s defense and hope to get a stop or two to win in a shootout. Unfortunately, since this game is in Oklahoma, that’s exactly what the Sooners will do – final score, OU 42 MU 36.

Monday Morning Quarterback
Posted by: Michael Urban | 9:30am

It’s football season and that means it’s time for Missouri Pulse’s Monday Morning Quarterback. Here’s a rundown of the week one action from Kansas City and St. Louis.

Rams 13 Panthers 27

How does a team with a Pro Bowl quarterback, two Hall of Fame wideouts and arguably the best running back in the league score only 13 points? I have no clue, but what transpired at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Sunday was an indication that little has changed for the Rams a year removed from an 8-8 season. Entering the game with high hopes, the Rams’ offensive attack was as creative as a gallon of white paint, and the defense, although better than last year’s version, did little to stop wide-receiver Steve Smith and the hard-charging Panthers.

The good news you ask? The Rams special teams were solid and helped spurn an 81 yard kick-off return by newcomer Dante Hall. The coverage units also stepped up and delivered a strong performance, but unfortunately, that’s the beginning and end of the “things we did well” list for the Rams.

And now for the bad news…after the electrifying return by Hall, the Rams’ offense did nothing to take advantage of great field position, choosing to throw laterally rather than taking a shot at the end zone. Essentially, that’s the story for the offense all day – no plays downfield and few attempts to confuse the Carolina defense. It’s almost as if Rich Brooks returned to the sideline and Tony Banks was back under center. To make matters worse, Orlando Pace, the pro-bowl left tackle, injured his right shoulder and appears to be out for several weeks. After Pace left the game, the offense imploded and Marc Bulger looked more confused than Miss Teen South Carolina answering a civics question. The defense didn’t play particularly well either, but yesterday’s loss rests squarely on the shoulders of the offense (and Steve Jackson’s two fumbles).

The 49ers visit St. Louis next week for a divisional showdown and although it’s only the second game of the season, the date with San Fran will set the tone for the rest of the season – win and the Rams have hope for ’08; lose and they’re done.

Chiefs 3 Texans 20

Speaking of being done, the Chiefs cemented their fate in 2007 by stepping on the field in Houston and losing by more than two touchdowns to the…gulp…Texans. Is anyone surprised by this result? The Chiefs aging defense was burned on many occasions, and the offense, led by all-world backup Damon Huard, looked as fluid as a tractor trailer slamming into a nitroglycerin factory. If things don’t get drastically better in KC this season (and they very well may not) Chiefs fans will look forward to next April when they hear Commissioner Roger Goodell say, “with the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select…”

To be honest, I didn’t watch much of this game due to the fact that A. the two starting quarterbacks were Damon Huard and Matt Schaub, and B. I watched enough college-level football talent on Saturday. If there’s a sliver lining for Chiefs fans in ’07 it’s got to be the fact that an atrocious season may serve as a flashpoint for the Hunt family to re-think Carl Peterson’s “Super Bowl plan”. It’s time for regime change in KC.

The Chiefs have a date next week with the Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. A note of caution to Chiefs fans: do yourself a favor and tune into alternative programming on Sunday; maybe something less brutal like the Tour of Missouri or the Royals vs. the Cleveland Indians.

One final note: This wasn’t a particularly good weekend for Missouri sports. Including he Missouri Tigers’ win over Ole Miss on Saturday, Missouri baseball and football teams went a combined 1-9 over the weekend. If you’re wondering, that’s probably why your cup of coffee doesn’t taste as rich this morning.

Sunday Morning Quarterback
Posted by: Michael Urban | 3:30pm

As crazy as it may seem, the summer sports season is all but over which means two things: 1. the Chicago Cubs will find a way to choke and miss the playoffs and 2. it’s time to start looking forward to football season. Somehow ignored in the commotion of the late-season surge by the Cardinals is the reality that Mizzou, the Rams and Chiefs all begin their respective seasons in a matter of days. Now, there are many predictions floating around about Missouri’s football future in ’07, but look no further than Missouri Pulse for analysis you are sure to find nowhere else.

Here are 6 things to expect this season in Missouri football:

• Mizzou will finally get to 10 wins this season, as rationalized in an earlier post, but in keeping with true Black and Gold tradition, the Tigers will reach the Big XII title game and lose to the Oklahoma Sooners on a last-second statue of liberty play that goes for 90 yards. (There’s amazing symmetry to this situation all the way around.)

• Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Herm Edwards will be in rare form after the fourth game of the season when he preaches at a press conference, “we play to win the game!!” After this statement a Kansas City reporter will reply, “but sir, your quarterback is a guy by the name of Brodie Croyle.”

• Look for the ‘07 St. Louis Rams to be a game or two better than the ’06 version. But the defense will again be a liability. Taking a page right out of the Cardinals’ playbook, expect the Rams to sign a scrap heap caliber defender along the lines of say, Chris Claiborne.

• After signing a six-year, $19 million guaranteed contract with the Chiefs, 28-year-old running back Larry Johnson will carry the ball more than 400 times again in 2007. After the season, however, Johnson will take the guaranteed money, leave Kansas City and enter the “Jamal Anderson Rehab Center for Clueless Running Backs”.

• The Tigers will kick off the season by renewing their rivalry with Illinois on September 1st in St. Louis. Promoters have dubbed the match-up the “Arch Rivalry”, but I think a new phrase captures the meaning of the event even better; we should call it the “Arch Annuity” due to the fact that each school is ripping off its fans and laughing all the way to the bank just because the game is played in St. Louis. As an MU fan, I’m all about playing Illinois every year, but let’s go ahead and do it in Columbia and Champaign, ok?

• Rams newcomers Dante’ Hall, Randy McMichael and Drew Bennett will add a lot of punch to an already potent Rams offense. In addition, these guys will help lengthen the storied list of Rams nicknames that already includes “The Deacon”, “The Reverend” and “Big Game”, to name a few. With Hall you now have “The X-Factor”, McMichael offers “Butter Hands” (yikes) and interestingly enough, Bennett’s moniker is “The Great White Hope”.

After a summer of sports discontent, it’s oddly refreshing to know football is right around the corner. Aside from the Cubs choking in September, there are very few guarantees in sports, but it’s worth saying that football in Missouri should be exciting in 2007. It’s a good thing it all starts next week.

Redbird Resurrection
Posted by: Michael Urban | 5:05pm

Trying to figure out the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals is like trying to handicap a political race over a year away from Election Day – it’s useless trying to make predictions. After sweeping the hapless Brewers in three efficient games, the Cardinals sat just 2½ games behind the division-squandering leaders on Friday morning. Now it’s on to Wrigley Field in Chicago as the Cards begin a crucial four game set with the hated Cubs that could ultimately catapult either team into first place in the NL Central. For the Cardinals, the realization that they are within striking distance of first place is as surprising as Chris Koster – (D, no wait, make that an R, no…let’s stick with the D-Harrisonville) making a decision without first calculating the political consequences. For the Cubs, knowing they are close to first just means they will quickly begin their descent back to loserdom and complain about a silly curse. So to sum it up, yeah, I like the Cards’ chances this weekend with the help of a Billy Goat, a black cat, a Bartman or a combination of the three.

Who would’ve given the Cardinals a chance two weeks ago? The short answer to that is absolutely no one. The final nail was slammed into the proverbial 2007 Cardinal Coffin on Sunday, August 6th after the Redbirds ended a 1-5 road trip against the…gulp…Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. It was clearly time to put the ’07 season to bed and look forward to ’08 and quite possibly the beginning of a new era. But a funny thing happened on the way to the cellar. The San Diego Padres visited town last week and the Cardinal’s starting pitching suddenly went from the Scrap-Heap All-Stars to the Biodegradable Compost Pile All-Stars. Cardinal fans even saw Kip Wells give up his customary three first-inning runs to the Brewers on Tuesday night only to return to pitch five shutout frames. (After Kip surrendered his second home run of the inning, Cardinal broadcaster Al Hrabosky deadpanned, “well, at least he’s making them hit it to center field.” He couldn’t have been more serious. This comment immediately went to the top of the “Hrabosky Said What? Top 10 List” and probably will never be topped.) Fortunately, the world didn’t end after Kip’s final pitch…

The resurgence, if you can call it that, (maybe emergence is a better word) of the starting rotation isn’t the only factor contributing to the Redbirds’ recent run. Any discussion of Cardinal contention must include the fact that the National League Central Division is the most pathetic conglomeration of regular season teams in any professional sport. It is the red-headed step child of sports divisions. Luckily, the Cardinals are members of the Comedy Central, and that means that no matter what happens during the season, NL Central fans always have hope. You hear that Cincinnati?

Also chiming in to get the Cards to two games below .500 and within arms reach of first place, ahem, are a crop of young guns led by Rick Ankiel. It looked as if Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick and Brendan Ryan would audition for starting roles on the ’08 club in August and September; instead, they’ve injected energy and optimism into the Cardinals’ clubhouse and will be relied upon to make a major impact down the stretch. That’s just how odd of a season it’s been – young players who were afterthoughts earlier this year are now front and center in the race for the playoffs. Go figure.

Two weeks ago I was ready to close the book on the defending World Champs. The season was over after that dismal road trip and it was time to move on to ’08. But against all odds, the 2007 Cardinals are suddenly on the verge of staking their claim in the NL Central. No one could’ve predicted that guys like Joel Pineiro, Kip Wells and Braden Looper would reinstate positive connotation to the phrase “gross stuff”. And who would’ve thought Rick Ankiel would carry the team to two victories over the Padres and Dodgers? Obviously, no one saw this coming and that’s exactly why you have to love sports, and if you’re a fan, love the Cards’ chances in the Central.

Barry Bonds, Meet Mr. Rick Ankiel
Posted by: Michael Urban | 11:19 PM

Barry Bonds and Rick Ankiel. Kind of makes you think of Bret Packard and Roy Hobbs, or hormone-enhanced spinach and homemade vanilla ice cream doesn’t it? The two have absolutely nothing in common, as evidenced by their respective stories in Major League Baseball. As everyone knows by now, Bonds broke* Hank Aaron’s career home run record last week and sent a nation of pure baseball fans into denial. As Bonds hit 756 he stopped to admire his accomplishment*, clenched his fists and raised his arms high in the air. He continued to round the bases and stepped on home plate as his teammates reluctantly moved out of the dugout to meet him on the field. It was awkward and bizarre. The only thing that was missing was Bud Selig making his “755 face” – you know, the one where he looks around in bewilderment, shrugs his shoulders and thinks to himself, “how much for that bratwurst over there?” As for Ankiel, he is the author of perhaps the most remarkable story in sports. He is the anti-Bonds. “Young Musial” made his return to the Cardinals as an outfielder last week and mashed a three-run homer in his final at bat in his first game as the Cards right fielder. After the homer, I think I even heard Busch Stadium organist Ernie Hays break out the theme from The Natural.

Think about this for a moment…Rick Ankiel was perhaps the most highly touted pitching prospect in baseball during his rookie year in 2000. Cardinal fans were giddy over the thought of Ankiel morphing into a Steve Carlton-esque pitcher who would surely lead the club to multiple championships – yeah, he was that good. Sadly, Ankiel’s golden left arm and bright future were derailed in Game 1 of the 2000 NLDS when he threw more pitches to the backstop than Lindsay Lohan has DUIs. He was never the same after this game, and Cardinal fans knew number 66 may never return to the mound.

Left-handed pitchers who throw 95 mph fastballs and sweeping curveballs aren’t supposed to lose their “stuff”, battle serious injury, walk away from the game and return as power hitters. But that’s just what Ankiel has done. And that’s what makes his story truly remarkable. Someone in Hollywood should be writing the Ankiel Chronicles as we speak because this story is pure fantasy, and we’re not even through the opening act. Let me think, the last time a left-handed pitcher switched positions and became a power hitter in the Majors was 1918 and the guy’s name was George Herman Ruth. Now, it’ irresponsible for anyone to think Ankiel will be the second coming of the Great Bambino or even resemble the sweet-swinging lefty in Musial. But as improbable as it may be, you have to believe that Ankiel will find a way to make an impact in the Majors and with the Cardinals for a long, long time.

I think it’s fitting that Bonds hit 756 the same week Rick Ankiel returned to Busch Stadium. The week began with baseball’s villain passing baseball’s statesman to claim* the new home run record. It ended with a once-troubled, but intensely determined baseball player returning to the Major Leagues and living a fantasy that you’d have a hard time selling to Ron Howard. It’s been a rough summer in sports, but finally, last Thursday night, baseball fans could dream like kids again.

Who knows, maybe the next time Ankiel strolls to the plate in a tight game under the stars at Busch he’ll connect with a pitch and send it into the lights in right field. Just like the movie.

After all, these things only happen in Baseball Heaven, right?

Shades of 1929
Posted by: Michael Urban | 2:15pm

Thankfully, the month of July is almost over, and the end couldn’t come a moment too soon. Traditionally the weakest sports month on the calendar, July 2007 may go down as the worst sports month…ever. Here’s a quick recap of the month, and yes, all of the following actually happened: 1) Albert Pujols is snubbed by his own manager at the All-Star game and the NL looses 5-4; 2) Barry Bonds’ tainted pursuit of Hank Aaron’s home run record reaches 753; 3) Tim Donaghy, an NBA official for 13 years, is alleged to have participated in a gambling ring that would make Pete Rose shudder; 4) Star quarterback Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons is indicted on federal dog fighting charges – he faces perhaps as many as 6 years in prison; 5) Tour de France race leader Michael Rasmussen was ousted from the event under the suspicion of using steroids. What is going on here? You can’t possibly add any more ludicrous scenarios to this list. Could July, 2007 be the sports world’s equivalent of the stock market crash of October, 1929? Say it ‘ain’t so!

Eerily enough, the parallels of the 1929 stock market crash and the ‘’07 Sports Crash” couldn’t be any clearer. Both were preceded by dynamic decades that gave everyone a false hope that nothing could go wrong. For sports fans, the 1990s gave us Michael Jordan’s prime, the Dream Team, Cal Ripken Jr., Wayne Gretzky, John Stockton’s shorts, and the explosion of corporate America into professional sports – everything in sports was great and it was great to be a fan in the ‘90s. Likewise, the 1920s ushered in sweeping societal and economic changes in the United States that propelled the economy to hum at pace similar to Michael Jordan’s performance in the 1993 NBA Finals – everything in America was roaring and many thought nothing could go wrong. Unfortunately, like most things in life, the good times reach the end of their cycle and give way to an uncertain future. The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, and I’m afraid the sports world crashed in July of 2007.

Images are already starting to pop into my head of sports fans waiting in line for the bratwurst instead of the polish sausage because it’s just too expensive after team management jacked up the prices to make up for lost ticket sales. I can’t help but think of the shantytowns filled with sports fans outside of arenas and stadiums across the country, like Krzyzewskiville at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC and that nasty pit beyond the left field wall at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Who knows, we may soon see NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell get on the tube and conduct a “fireside chat” to reassure NFL fans that most players don’t raise pit bulls to fight each other. Yes, sports fans, these are hard times and will require great faith to withstand more federal indictments of sports stars, steroid use and incompetent commissioners. All of this can mean only one thing...

Ladies and gentleman, it’s time for a New Deal in sports. To get sports fans back on their feet, franchise owners across the four major professional sports leagues need to slash ticket and concession prices and quit selling sports to the highest bidder. Fans can no longer take $60 tickets and storied arenas like Boston Garden, Chicago Stadium, and The Arena rebuilt and renamed TD Banknorth Garden, United Center and Scottrade Center, respectively. We’ll call this price slashing initiative “The Stern-Selig Act of 2007”. Much more must be done, but hopefully the Stern-Selig Act will jump-start interest in professional sports again and help fans forget about the mess that was July, 2007.

Take it to the Limit
Posted by: Michael Urban | 5:55pm

The big news in the world of Missouri politics this week is undoubtedly the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate campaign contribution limits. The semantics of the ruling are still a little unclear, but this much is certain -- candidates who have largely funded their campaign war chests with monster checks are as nervous as Michael Vick at a PETA convention. Missouri Pulse will keep a close eye on the ramifications of this decision as the Court deliberates the merits of checks already received under the former “no limit” law. In the meantime, this case prompted the Sports Beat to think of ways in which the world of sports should be limited in some form or another. Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to limit the number of hours ESPN discusses the Yankees and Red Sox, or if there’s a way to limit former athletes from making their way into the broadcast booth? Maybe I’m the only one who has wondered such things, but nonetheless, in honor of the Missouri Supreme Court’s recent decision, here are several more limits to consider in the world of sports.

A limit should be imposed on the number of appearances for Cardinals starter Kip Wells.
I don’t know what went wrong last week in Florida when Kip threw eight shutout innings, but that’s just not the Kip that I know and love. Typically, when Wells is on the mound you can put an “L” in the box score. And as much amusement as I get from seeing the players’ body language when Kip starts (Juan Encarnacion actually walks to second base when stealing!!), we need to put a limit on his appearances before he reaches 20 losses. Let’s face it; it’s time to “Limit the Kip.”

Julio Franco should be limited on the number of years he can play baseball.
The New York Mets recently released Franco, their 73-year-old utility man, but he was quickly picked up by the Atlanta Braves. Is this some kind of joke? Check out Julio’s stats this year: AVG .208 HR 1 RBI 10 SLG .264 PCD (prunes consumed daily) 36. If Franco continues to play much longer this could turn ugly. Before the Braves have to put a player on the DL due to “bowel control issues” let’s just slap an age limit on Mr. Franco and thank him for his many years of MLB service.

We must limit or abolish the text messages on the Busch Stadium scoreboard.
Any pure baseball fan will tell you they become frustrated when they look at the Busch Stadium scoreboard and read “Tina, will U marry me? :-)” instead of the box score. Text messages on the scoreboard not only insult baseball fans who are merely trying to find the pitch count, but it’s also a disgraceful attempt by the Cardinals organization to make a few more nickels. You know what, let’s not limit the text messages, let’s just get rid of them all together. The last thing Cardinal fans want to see is Dave Duncan whip out his cell phone and text, “Anyone want to pitch? :-(”.

It’s time to place a limit on sideline reporters at sporting events.
When you flip on the TV and settle in for the big game, the last thing you want to hear is a sideline reporter tell you, “It’s raining tonight and both coaches told me they expect the weather to be a factor in this game.” The sideline reporter may be the most annoying thing in sports. It’s journalism at its worst. Apparently sports networks have yet to take a clue, as it seems they continue to add more useless reporters on the court and field. Is there anything more ridiculous than two reporters on each sideline at a basketball game? I didn’t think so. It’s time to throw down a limit.

Thank you, Missouri Supreme Court Justices. Your ruling to reinstate campaign contribution limits provided the motivation for a hard-to-find sports topic in the middle of July. I was a little skeptical of your ruling before I wrote this post, (you know, the whole thing about changing the rules in the middle of the game and all) but it’s looking better and better by the minute.

Tony’s Blunder by the Bay
Posted by: Michael Urban | 6:05pm

Let me begin this post by stating that I like Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. He’s done a masterful job guiding the Cardinals to seven division titles, two National League pennants and a World Championship in his 11 years on the job. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer who will likely go down as one of the greatest managers in baseball history. Having said that, what in the Jerry Narron was he thinking on Tuesday night in San Francisco at the All-Star game? In the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded, two outs and the National League trailing by one run, LaRussa decided to leave Albert Pujols on the bench and let Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand bat in an attempt to tie or win the game. I can’t believe I actually wrote that sentence. To put this in perspective, let me put it this way; leaving Pujols on the bench in a one run game with the bases juiced in the bottom of the ninth in favor of Aaron Rowand is like a guy turning down a date with Jessica Alba to take out Helen Hunt. It was a historically atrocious move by the skipper. After Rowand flied out to Alex Rios to end the game, baseball fans across the country let out a collective “did that really just happen?” groan and Tony LaRussa became Cardinal Nation’s public enemy #1.

LaRussa did his best Bill Belichick impression after the game and explained to reporters that his strategy was to save Albert in case the game extended into extra innings. At first glance this tactic makes a little sense, but LaRussa’s reasoning is utterly indefensible for two reasons:

1. Tony was managing an All-Star game, a competition organized for and by baseball fans, and the situation couldn’t have been scripted better for a Pujols at bat.

2. Albert Pujols, one of the game’s greatest players and the only representative from the defending World Series champs, was the last NL player left sitting on the bench.

So here’s a running list of people LaRussa has offended so far…1) Albert Pujols 2) Baseball fans across the country 3) Cardinal fans who are already unsettled with a 40-45 1st half record and 4) The Dominican Republic. That’s not a good day at the office.

Tensions between the manager and player have since cooled, but Cardinal fans are left with the sobering thought of their manager leaving a Cardinal Hero hanging in a made-for-Pujols moment. If LaRussa’s mishap is any indication of what the second half of the season holds for the Redbirds, well, this very well could be Tony’s last year in St. Louis. I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end, but the Cardinals storylines continue to become more bizarre as the season progresses. At this rate, the ’07 campaign will end with Scott Spiezio coming out of the bullpen, Chris Duncan playing second base and Al Hrabosky somehow making sense. For the sake of the game of baseball and unintentional comedy, let’s all hope none of this happens.

The one memory baseball fans will take from the 2007 All-Star game will be Tony LaRussa’s decision to leave the best overall hitter in the National League on the bench in favor of Aaron Rowand, a guy who could also double as your friendly Schwan’s frozen foods salesman. The NL is now winless in their last 11 attempts in the Midsummer Classic. We can only hope Albert will get his chance next year to finally end the streak.

Missouri Pulse Summer Sports Hodgepodge
Posted by: Michael Urban | 9:15pm

Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants visit St. Louis this weekend as Bonds sits just 4 home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron’s career home run mark. It’s doubtful that Bonds will tie or break the record in St. Louis, but Busch Stadium does have a way with muscle-bound freaks breaking legitimate home run records so you never know. This could be the last time Bonds visits St. Louis, so let’s all hope “Baseball’s Best Fans” will give him a send off he will not soon forget.

Here’s something all Missouri sports fans can be proud of -- University of Missouri wrestler and two-time national champion Ben Askren is in the running for an ESPY award as the nation’s best male college athlete. Ben is up against Heisman Trophy winner and Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, Ohio State phenom center Greg Oden, and Kevin Durant, the best college basketball player since Magic Johnson. So, yeah, if Ben actually wins the ESPY it will be the biggest upset since Rocky beat Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. You can help Ben by clicking on this link and voting for him as many times as you wish. (You have until 10:59 PM CT on Saturday to cast your vote(s)). So go ahead and take a page from the democrats’ playbook and vote early and often. After all, Ben is the most deserving athlete for the award.

Tiger Woods recently became a father, and this week he’s hosting his very own golf tournament featuring the world’s best players. Has a 31-year-old ever accomplished as much as Tiger Woods? Let’s see:

1. Become the world’s best golfer by age 22...Check.
2. Become a global icon and the world’s richest athlete…Check.
3. Be on pace to smash Jack Nicklaus’ career major championship titles record (18)…Check.
4. Marry a Swedish supermodel…Check.
5. Become a father…Check.
6. Host your own golf tournament at the ripe age of 31…Check.

At this pace Woods is set to be elected President of the United States in 10 years, rename planet Earth in 20 years and conquer galaxies far, far away in 30 years. And you think I’m kidding...

It appears as though contract negotiations have stalled between the St. Louis Rams and quarterback Marc Bulger. Here’s a simple message to Rams management -- sign Bulger to a long term contract (6 years) before training camp opens at the end of the month and give him as much as it takes (6 years at $60 million shouldn’t be out of the question). Done and done.

Finally, the St. Louis Blues signed forward Paul Kariya to a three-year deal last week and injected a high dose of optimism into the Blues faithful for the 2007-08 season. You have to admire what the Blues organ-EYE-zation is trying to do in transforming a boring hockey club into a legitimate Cup contender. If Dave Checketts, John Davidson and Co. continue their business savvy ways I may attend (as well as other starved hockey fans) a few Blues games next year and consider bringing the franchise back into my sports team portfolio. Nonetheless, the Blues front office gets the Missouri Pulse Sports Beat award for best team management in 2007. And I’m sure they couldn’t be more thrilled, eh?

NBA Draft Antics
Posted by: Michael Urban | 3:35pm

The 2007 NBA Draft was held on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York and, well, when you have David Stern, Stephen A. Smith and Joakim Noah all in the same room it’s time to record some observations. A few friends came over Thursday night and here’s what we thought of the night’s festivities:

Commissioner David Stern kicks things off by saying, “…the 2007-2008 season will undoubtedly be one of the best in NBA history.” Stern’s conviction and confidence in that statement clearly scores 10 out of 10 on the “Iraqi Information Minister Comment” scale. A tip of the hat goes out to the ESPN sound crew for cutting the bellows of laughter that followed Stern’s comment.

The Portland Trailblazers have the first pick and select Greg Oden, the 7’0’’ phenom center out of Ohio State. Oden begins his career as a Trailblazer asking David Stern, “Um, sir…, where in the heck is Portland?”

With the easiest pick in NBA Draft history, the Seattle, err Las Vegas SuperSonics select Kevin Durant with the 2nd pick. The Durant era is officially underway. I couldn’t be more excited. In fact, I’m adopting the Sonics as my favorite NBA team even though they are owned by an Oklahoma City billionaire, play in an awful arena and currently don’t have a head coach. Wait a second; can I make a motion to ship the St. Louis Blues and some Edward Jones stock to Seattle in exchange for the Sonics? I think this is a fair trade. Can we get Dave Checketts on this?

The first trade of the night is made when the Boston Celtics shipped the #5 pick (Jeff Green), Delonte West and Wally Sczerbiak to Seattle for Ray Allen and the right’s to the Sonics’ #35th (Glen Davis) pick. Getting Glen Davis early in the second round helps make this deal appear less gross for the Celts, but c’mon Mr. Ainge, season ticket holders are smarter than you think. You’ve now got a guy in Allen who’s coming off of surgery on both of his ankles and is aging faster than Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail. The Celtics are now set to finish in the middle of the pack in the woeful Eastern Conference for the next 3-5 years.

Uh-oh, we have our first truly awkward moment of the night. With the 6th pick the Milwaukee Bucks select center Yi Jianlian from China. Judging from Yi’s reaction, I think it’s safe to say Milwaukee wasn’t at the top of his list of NBA city destinations. In fact, the Chinese government prohibited the Bucks from speaking with Yi at the pre-draft workouts. This has international incident written all over it. I hear Yi’s gift pack from the Bucks organization included a cheddar cheese wheel, a case of Miller Lite and coupons to the only Chinese restaurant in town. Welcome to Milwaukee, Yi!

Rounding out the first 10 picks, the Sacramento Kings select 7’0” center Spencer Hawes from the University of Washington. Hmmm…there’s not much to get excited about here. ESPN’s Stuart Scott sat down with Spencer immediately after he was drafted, questioned his athleticism and added that “Spencer ought to be a great teammate in the Kings’ locker room. He loves political debates.” I’m sure Spencer is looking forward to debating Ron Artest on the merits of a two-party system in contemporary electoral politics. If the debate ever takes place, it may be the most fascinating thing that happens to the Kings all year.

After a break from the draft and a few hands of $.05/$.10 Texas Hold ‘Em (yep, we’re that cheap) with my friends, we return in time to see the Miami Heat choose Stanko Barac with the 39th overall pick. Can a guy with the name Stanko succeed in the NBA? I hope he does because I want to hear Marv Albert make the following statements:

After hitting a clutch three point shot: “What a shot by the Stank!”
When Stanko is on a roll: “Wow, that Stank is rank!”
When a play is specifically designed for Stanko: “The court is cleared for the Stank.”

You get the idea. And on that note, it’s probably best if I conclude my 2007 NBA Draft observations. Really, as David Stern alluded to in his introductory speech, the NBA couldn’t be in better shape. The best center prospect to enter the league since Shaquille O’Ne