From the Sidelines

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 20, 2000

MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 20, 2000

Just sweeping out some old thoughts before the holidays begin…Want to pick out a surprise team in the NFL? Try the NFC West. When theSaints won the division this year, it meant all five teams have won the title since 1996. Three – Carolina in 1996, St. Louis last year and theSaints this year – did it after finishing last the year before. Two -Atlanta, 1998 and St. Louis, 1999 – went on to play in the Super Bowl. And remember when everybody was talking about the Rams going undefeated? Now there’s a very real chance they will not even make the playoffs.

You know it’s been a crazy NFL season when two long-standing records (Walter Payton’s rushing yards in a game, Tom Fears’ single-game receptions) fall in just a couple of weeks. San Francisco’s Terrell Owens’20 catches against Chicago Sunday was indeed a remarkable achievement.

But you have to wonder where the Bears’ pass defense was. Haven’t theyheard of a double-team? Owens’ performance was also a kind of tribute to the receiver on the other side, Jerry Rice. Rice was probably playing his final home game as a 49erand what better way to go out. The single-game record was about the onlyrecord that arguably the greatest receiver in the history of the game didn’t hold.

Kudos to Shaquille O’Neal for going back and getting his degree from LSU.

How many multi-millionaires go back and get a degree that is not hononary? Shaq’s example is one hopefully a number of young (and not so young) athletes will emulate. And kudos to East St. John’s very own AndyStroup, another former Tiger who also got his degree at LSU last week.

CBS blew a chance to show one of the best moments in sports at the conclusion of the Army-Navy game recently. At the end of the game, bothteams stand at attention in front of the midshipment and cadets while the alma maters of both schools are played. It’s a stirring moment and onethat shows all that is right with student-athletes.

So where was CBS when this was going on? Cutting to the Kentucky-North Carolina basketball game, one that turned out to be a Wildcat blowout.

Come on, what would a few more minutes have mattered? Colorado spent $172 million to sign Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. Nowif only they would spend some money to build a dome so those deals would work.

Speaking of Hot Stove League deals, Atlanta has been criticized for not being more aggressive than it was. But baseball folks should know by nownot to be too critical of the Braves front office which seems to come up with a gem every year. Getting Rico Brogna for first base could be animprovement over bringing back Andres Galarraga who struggled in the second half this season.

And with all the talk about Texas getting Alex Rodriguez and Boston grabbing Manny Ramirez, there is something that small market teams like the White Sox, Twins and Expos have that those teams wish they did – good young pitchers.

Now that the presidential mess is settled, do you think the Supreme Court can figure out this BCS thing?

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