AFC and NFC Champions. Bears Down, Pittsburgh's Bound

Hello friends,

Sorry for the post-lunch edition. Let's get right to what you can chat about:

> First the NFC Championship, Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers. This was a story of two halves, 3 Bears quarterbacks and Green Bay's ability to persevere.

> Green Bay beat the Bears on their home turf.

> They came out and QB Aaron Rodgers stunned the crowd by having the Packers in the end zone within the first 6 minutes.

> On the other side of the ball, Bear's QB Jay Cutler was hurt and pulled from the game. Back up Todd Collins was ineffective but, surprise! Caleb Hanie, the Bear's 3rd string QB, came in in the 3rd quarter nearly pulled off an upset! His interception in the 4th quarter ended the comeback though.

> The question that's floating around today is whether Jay Cutler was hurt badly enough and couldn't re-enter the game. Throw that out topic out and you'll have plenty to talk about besides Hanie, Rodgers and rest.

Now to the AFC with Pittsburgh taking on the hot NY Jets.

> Pittsburgh beat the Jets last night in the 'burgh but this too was a game of halves. The Steelers scored all of their points in the first half, holding the Jets to just 3. The Jets really started to move the ball and score in the 2nd half.

> NY had a chance to pull off the win but it's tough when a veteran QB like Ben Roethlisberger is in the game.

> Roethlisberger has been in these "win or go home games before" and in waning minutes of the 4th quarter, knew he needed 1 final first down. It wasn't easy, but he got it and it showed how clutch = money = reliable he is in the big games.

Get ready for the Super Bowl in 2 weeks. We'll have lots to chat about before hand. It should be a great game.

Talk. It. Up! And enjoy!

NFL Playoffs

Whew! Could you believe the games this past weekend? If you happened to miss them, I'm here to catch you up.

> The heavily favored NE Patriots, seen as an unstoppable team, were soundly beaten by the NY Jets. Yes, the Jets who have driven their fans crazy through the years by not being able to win the big ones. Guess what? This time they did it and it was legit. Gang Green (NY Jets defense) stepped up and so did 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez. They take on the Pittsburgh Steelers next. More on that later.

> The Chicago Bears took the Seattle Seahawks to the woodshed. Jay Cutler was the QB Chicago hoped he'd be: calm in the pocket, nailing his receivers with short and long strikes and even running the ball into the end zone. Seattle was scrappy under Coach Pete Carroll, the most upbeat NFL coach in my opinion. Still, their late scores weren't enough to topple the Bears. Next up for the Bears are the Packers, their arch-rival. You can bet there's more to say on that match-up!

Chat. It. Up. And enjoy!

Auburn finishes #1

Good day,

Auburn won last night's game with Oregon, making Auburn the BCS National College Football Champion. Here's what you can chat up.

> For two prolific offenses, the score was relatively modest: 22 - 19.

> It was a fun game to watch. Oregon unleashed so many trick plays -- some that worked, some that didn't -- that there was never a dull moment.

> Auburn provided a counter to the creative Ducks, utilizing a no-huddle offense at times like Oregon has done throughout the season.

> For me, the difference was the offensive and defensive lines. Auburn's lines were so much bigger that it was clear that they dominated the game.

> And Oregon missed a major opportunity. Auburn stopped them on a goal line stand at 4th and 1, which came back to haunt the Ducks.

Chat it up and enjoy!

National Title Game Tonight

Hello,

Tonight's last college football game of the season is tonight and it's for all the marbles. Here's what to chat up:

> It's the University of Auburn vs. the University of Oregon.

> Both are undefeated.

> Both had finalists in the Heisman Trophy race, quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn (who won) and running back LaMichael James of Oregon.

> Oregon runs a fast-paced offense that rarely huddles after a play, which means they're in tremendous shape.

> Auburn relies on Newton who can run and throw and has engineered some amazing comebacks during this season.

> To me, this could be a toss-up. I think the key to the game is defense. Which team can literally shut down these two stars.

Chat. It. Up. and Enjoy!

Homeless Man Turns Cavs Broadcaster?

Is there a more heartwarming story than this?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5991313

Want to see his "audition"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk&feature=topvideos

Talk it up. You don't need any suggested questions from me to join conversation. It's all right here.

Enjoy!

Raiders Don't Renew Cable's Contract

Another NFL Coach is not coming back. This time it's Tom Cable from the Oakland Raiders. He had 1 year left on his deal but the Raiders opted to not pick it up.

Keep watching the BBQ. More to come!

More Coaching News

Well, you can't say you weren't warned. There's been more turnover in the coaching ranks.

First, you can chat up what's happening in the college ranks.

+ Rich Rodriguez at the University of Michigan has been fired. The former WV University head coach just couldn't right the ship in Ann Arbor and big time programs like Michigan aren't patient.

+ What were the things that heavily weighed against him? He was there three years and never beat U of M's nemesis Ohio State.

+ He also never beat interstate rival, Michigan State.

+ Getting blown out in the Gator Bowl also didn't help.

Second, in the pro's, 1 coach who seemed to be on the bubble is coming back.

+ Marvin Lewis, the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, is getting an extension after a horrible season.

+ The Bengals won just 4 games and lost 12.

+ Here's the kicker to the story: Lewis negotiated with the Bengals front office and owner Mike Brown to make changes in how the front office runs (source: ESPN).

+ So Lewis may get more input on football operations and facilities. I say, "Go Marvin!" Growing up in Ohio, the Bengals became known as the "Bungles" over the years. This once proud franchise started by Paul Brown, a football legend, deserves some breaks.

Chat it up and enjoy!

No More Favre, NFL Coach Canning

Good Morning,

Time to throw some hot tips on the bbq.

Item #1:

+ Brett Favre says he's retiring. Yes, we've heard this before -- several times in fact over the past 5 years. So, do you think he will? Will he cave again in August and try to latch on with a team? Does he know how to live without the game of football? I think that's one of the biggest issues. When you've played nearly your entire life, it's tough to leave the game behind as well all the comes with it: the camaraderie, the locker room hijinks, the travel and being The Man. This year's been different though: injuries to teammates, a texting scandal, $50K fine and finally injuries that kept him out of the last games of the season. He was football's iron man, 297 consecutive starts. My money is on him retiring.

Item #2

+ In the next day of so, you'll start to see some NFL coaches get fired. Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns has already been let go. Also, pay attention to what happens to interim coaches like Leslie Frazier of the Vikings and Jason Garrett of the Cowboys.

Chat it up and enjoy!

TCU Finishes Unbeaten. What Now?

Happy New Year!

Well, it's happened again.

Today, the #3 ranked college football team won the Rose Bowl. The Horned Frogs from Texas Christian University beat the Wisconsin Badgers to finish the season

13 - 0. Unbeaten. Unbelievable. But they're not in the National Championship Game. That's on January 10th between undefeated Auburn and undefeated Oregon.

Here's what you can chat up:

+ Is the Bowl Championship Series the right way to determine a college football champion?

You could argue both ways but I think it's not Just like in college basketball, there's a tournament with 64 teams and there's only 1 winner. (Clearly, there don't need to be 64 teams in a college football playoff but it's an example that you can use.)

+ In a perfect world (if there is one) should TCU get a shot at the winner of the Oregon/Auburn game? In a perfect world, yes.

+ Here's what I literally dream of: As long as the BCS system is in place and there are more than 2 undefeated teams, play the championship off the radar. Think "Friday Night Lights". Pick a field, strap on the chin guards and play. At the end, there's 1 team standing that's a true national champ and can say, "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!"

Sure. Right. Never. Will. Happen. But a gal can dream, can't she?

Wishing you a joyous and Happy New Year and dreaming that you'll Chat. It. Up!

Ron Santo - Tough, Brave and Honest. RIP

Folks,

This is a tough one to write about. Ron Santo, the voice of the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team, has died. He was just 70 years old and had suffered from diabetes for years.

Here's what you can chat up:

+ He was a Cub though and through. A 3rd baseman considered one of the best during his prime, he had a lifetime batting average of .277, 342 home runs and 1331 runs batted in.

+ Regrettably, he never made it into the Hall of Fame, though he came close and probably should have been inducted.

+ He became an announcer with the club and was a admitted "homer" = openly rooting for his team. Listening to him on the radio made you feel like he lived and died with each pitch, hit, run and error. There were times you didn't know what was going on because Ronnie was so over the top because he was caught up in the moment. He just couldn't find the words to tell you what he was seeing!

+ That's passion. That's love. That's who the Cubs and the fans will miss this season. And the next. And the next.

Summer nights spent listening to Ron on the radio often elicited stories from friends of the kind things he did. It also provoked sadness, like in 1998 when it appeared the Cubs were headed to the World Series and the "Bartman Incident" occurred. I remember his near-wail like voice, "no, no, no, no." Another dream, like the Hall of Fame, denied.

For the love of Ron, post some of your favorite memories of him. Let's send him out knowing he was a beloved baseball man.

Wade Phillips Out in Dallas. Reading Between the Lines.

Friends, this is a lesson about sports, business and reading between the lines.

Here's what you have to chat up:

> Today, the Dallas Cowboys fired its head coach, Wade Phillips. The Cowboys are 1 - 7. That's unacceptable for "America's Team".

> His dismissal comes about a week after the owner of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, said that Phillips would have the job for the remainder of the year. (You really can't say publicly, "Well, if Wade loses the next game, he's gone!"

> Then came the Cowboys' horrific loss to the Green Bay Packers yesterday, 45 - 7. Jones had had enough.

> Ask why Jones would express support for Phillips and then change his mind?

> What factors contributed to Phillips being shown the door? (Here's the answer: injuries to their starting QB Tony Romo, a ridiculous number of penalties, a porous defense and an inability to get the 'boys out of a terrible rut.)

> BTW, some thought the Cowboys could contend for the Super Bowl since they won their division last year. Adding insult to injury, the Super Bowl is being held in Dallas this year, which would be an owner's dream to have his team play that game in their own stadium.

Dream deferred.

Talk it up and enjoy!

Joe Pa Wins No. 400

Take note. Joe Paterno, the head football coach at Penn State, has just won his 400th game. He's the first coach in major college football history to do that. What that means is Division 1 football.

Here's what you can chat up:

> His team had to come from behind to win. They were down 21 - 0 in the first half.

> He's 83 years old.

> He's been head coach for 44 seasons.

> He's donated millions to the University.

> He's passed the big names: Bear Bryant of Alabama, Bobby Bowden of Florida State.

> Talk about how he HASN'T passed Eddie Robinson of Grambling. (He is, however, only 9 wins away.)

> He's affectionately known as Joe Pa, which is correctly pronounced Joe-puh, as in Puh-terno.

> Most folks think he IS Penn State.

> Most years, when he loses more than 2 games, people start calling for his head. But not today. Today, Joe Paterno is the Lion King.

Chat it up and hail the Lion King.

Sparky Anderson - the Spark of the Big Red Machine

Friends,

You can talk up the world series (which the SF Giants won), you can talk up football or you could mention the name Sparky Anderson around the water cooler.

Who? Ah, here's what you can talk about.

> George "Sparky" Anderson was a Hall of Fame major league manager who died today at the age of 76.

> He lead the Cincinnati Reds aka "The Big Red Machine" to World Series wins in 1975 and 1976. As you know, that was no easy task. He had a roster of superstars -- Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Ken Griffey, George Foster, Tony Perez, etc., etc. -- and managed to keep everyone happy.

> The Reds let him go a few years later after two 2nd place finishes.

> What'd Sparky do? Headed to the American League and won ANOTHER championship with the Detroit Tigers.

> He is still among the most highly regarded managers in baseball and one of winningest.

God Bless you, Sparky. I loved watching you work.

Chat it up, for Sparky's sake!

Randy Moss Is Released - Again

Gather 'round friends and lemme tell you what you should be chatting about this afternoon.

Randy Moss, the wide receiver who was released by the NE Patriots several weeks ago and picked up by the Minnesota Vikings has now been released by the Vikings.

+ First thing to say is, "Wow! How did that happen?"

+ Then say, "Well, it's probably because he appeared to bad-mouth both of his head coaches directly to the media."

+ Top it off with, "Isn't it ironic that the Vikings and the Patriots played last night?" BTW, the Patriots won.

Here's what you can also add:

+ Moss is a 7-time pro bowl selection.

+ He's a uniquely talented player.

+ He feels misunderstood. He probably is.

Questions to ask:

+ Will another team claim him off waivers?

+ Are there teams that can take that risk like Dallas, which is 1 - 6 and has lost their starting quarterback?

Wow. Chat it up and enjoy.

Monday Morning Watercooler - NFL

Hello friends,

Here's what you can chat up tomorrow morning around the office coffee pot:

> Ben Roethlisberger returned to play for the Steelers and had a good game, beating the Cleveland Browns. Ask if you think he showed any signs of rust, nervousness, etc. Do you think he's earning back the respect of his teammates?

> The Dallas Cowboys, often known as America's Team, are now 1-5 losing to the lowly Minnesota Vikings, who are 2-4. Something that you can have people mull over: whether Cowboy Coach Wade Phillips will last the remainder of the season.

> It took overtime (OT) for the NE Patriots to beat the Baltimore Ravens. Are the Ravens that good to push NE to OT or are the Patriots really living up to their 4 -1 record? Reminder: this was the Patriots first game without wide-receiver Randy Moss. They did, however, re-acquire Deion Branch, who spent 4 years with the Seattle Seahawks before returning to NE and he MORE than held his own today.

That's it! Chat it up and Enjoy!