A New Number One

After the rout of Virgina this past Saturday, USC has jumped up two spots in the AP top 25 to claim the number one spot. With Georgia and Ohio State playing sub-par competition week one, it's only fair that SC gets the billing of the nations best team.

Clemson, who was in the pre-season top 10 dropped out of the top 25 all together after their loss to Alabama. Tennessee also fell out of the top 25 after a heartbreaking loss to UCLA.

First to 20

Cliff Lee's story book season added another chapter Monday night as the Indian's ace became MLB's first twenty game winner this season. Lee went the distance for Cleveland allowing no runs on five hits while recording four strikeouts in the Indians 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The win makes Lee the first Cleveland pitcher to accomplish the feat since Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry did it 1974, some thirty-four years ago.

Lee's record now stands at 20-2 with a major league best 2.32 ERA this season. Those are all numbers that no one was expecting coming into the season. Lee, who spent parts of last season in AAA trying to work mechanics, was slated to be the team's fourth or fifth starter going into the season. After going 5-0 in April Lee quickly shot up the depth charts even out performing proven ace CC Sabathia prior to Sabathia's trade to Milwaukee.

Lee is certainly this season's feel good story and is the odds on favorite to win the 2008 American League CY Young award, an award given to the league's top pitcher for the year.

Ravens Go With Rookie

It may not have been their plan going into camp, but the Baltimore Ravens named 2008 first round draft pick Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback on Tuesday. Flacco will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens were left with little choice but to go with the Delaware University graduate following pre-season injuries to other starting candidates Alex Smith (tonsils) and Kyle Boller (shoulder).

Rookie quarterbacks typically sit on the sidelines for part to a a full season learning the NFL game before being brought into the mix. The Ravens have no choice now but to throw Flacco into the fire right from the start.

This move makes Flacco the second rookie quarterback to be named a starter this season. Last week the Atlanta Falcons named first round pick Matt Ryan as their week one starter. Ryan and Flacco were the first two quarterback selected in the 2008 NFL draft.