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.

Pats Cut Lynch

Safety John Lynch was cut by the New England Patriots on Sunday. He signed with the Pats two weeks ago after he was released by the Denver Broncos early in the preseason. Though cut, Lynch showed signs of optimism of rejoining the AFC champs at a later date, saying "I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots". Patriots coach Bill Belichick said "As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road."

It looks like John Lynch isn't going to be that out of touch with the Patriots. Rumor has it that he was cut so he would not need to be offered a guaranteed contract. It seems to be that a reunion isn't that far in the future.

Sabathia Robbed of No-No

Milwaukee Brewers lefty CC Sabathia threw what would be considered by many to be the second no hitter of the 2008 season. Unfortunately for him, the official scorer did not share the same opinion.

Sabathia went the distance for the Brewers striking out eleven while giving up just one hit, an Adam LaRoche grounder back to Sabathia who dropped the ball after taking a few steps to his right. To many the play would have been ruled an error on Sabathia. Official scorer Bob Webb disagreed, ruling the play a hit.

''The way the ball came off the bat, it was spinning, and it went to the left of the mound with a left-handed pitcher going to get it. It's a difficult play. The definition requires standard effort, and that would have taken more than an ordinary effort. The runner was well down the line.''

Brewers manager Ned Yost strongly disagreed calling the ruling "a joke." He went on to say that the Brewers would be sending a DVD copy of the play to the league office for review.

After seeing the play several times myself, I am going to have to agree with Yost on this one. Sabathia clearly drops the ball. With his arm strength he would have had plenty of time to zip the ball over to first in time for the out. Its too bad that a little play like that cost CC a no-hitter. He has been nothing short of brilliant since his arrival in Milwaukee (9-0 1.43 ERA). The way he has been throwing lately, he has a very good chance of accomplishing the feat before the season is over. It is a shame that it couldn't have happened today.

Saturday's Big 3

Are you ready? It's the first Saturday of the college football season. Every week, I'll be taking a look at the 3 biggest games on the schedule and telling you who I like and why. So without further ado, Week 1's Big 3:

#3USC at Virgina

With the top two teams getting having cupcakes week one (Georgia v Georgia Southern, Ohio State v Youngstown State), USC has what seems to be the hardest game of the top three teams in the country. SC Quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had an injured knee, has been cleared to play in this game. Though the home fans will be charged up, and Sanchez and RB Joe McKnight will run over Virgina in this one.


#24Alabama at #9Clemson

Though this is a home game for Clemson, the game will be taking place in the Georgia dome. This will be a great SEC-ACC match up with two great head coaches going against each other. I'll be excited to see how Nick Sabin uses top wide out recruit Julio Jones, but Clemson has too much offensive firepower with a very underrated quarterback in Cullen Harper and two amazing running backs, James Davis and C.J. Spiller. I'll Take the Tigers over the Tide.


#20Illinois at #6Missouri

In what looks to be the most enticing game of Week One, Juice Williams and Illinois take on Heisman Hopefuls QB Chase Daniel and RB/WR/KR speedster Jeremy Maclin of Missouri. The Illini made a surprising run in to the BCS last year, getting beat by USC, and Missouri just missing out with a loss to Kansas. In a game that looks to be a barn-burner, I look to Missouri's defense to shut down Juice and Co. and get the win.

"Pac-man" Reinstated

The National Football League announced Thursday that Dallas Cowboys' speedy cornerback/kick returner Adam "Pac-man" Jones has been reinstated. Jones, who had been suspended for the past 17 months by the league following a series of arrests, will now be eligible to play in the Cowboys' first regular season game against the Cleveland Browns.

The Cowboys acquired Jones in an April trade from the Tennessee Titans for a fourth round draft pick. Assuming he can live up to all of the hype and stay out of trouble off the field this could be a real steal for Dallas. Jones, who was permitted to participate in training camp and pre-season games, has shown flashes of brilliance as a return man during training camp. His defense however has been suspect, but there is still time to improve before the season opener.

College Football Is Back!

August 28th and December 25th don't have anything in common. But for college football fans, today is very much like Christmas day, it is the beginning of the 2008-2009 college football season. Students, alumni, and fans of the game can brush their tailgating equipment off and get ready to enjoy another season.

There will be debates and hatred about the BCS and there is a Heisman Trophy that needs to be defended. There will be rivalries games that are really more then just a game, but give you the right to make fun of your rival school for an entire year. There is the option offense that's only seen in the college game, and so much more then the NFL can offer.

From the ACC to the SEC, the Big 10 to the Pac 10, the Big 12 to the MAC and everywhere else, we're all happy to see that first kickoff of the season. So no matter which side of the Florida v Miami, USC v UCLA or Michigan v Ohio State rivalries you're on, every college football fan can look at today as the day where national championship dreams start.

Kotsay Heading to Beantown

The Boston Red Sox have acquired outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves for minor leaguer Luis Sumoza.

The move adds depth to a position that desperately needs it for the Sox as they placed all star right fielder JD Drew on the disabled list Tuesday.

The 32 year old Kotsay is hitting .289 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in 88 games this season.

Replay To Start Thursday

Bud Selig and Major League Baseball have agreed to start the use instant replay for home run and fair and foul calls for series that start Thursday the 28th. If the umpire crew agrees that a call needs to be looked at again, they will leave the field and get the replay from the office of Major League Baseball Advanced Media in New York, and it's up to the crew chief to make the call.

From here on out, instant replay will become a new and somewhat controversial part of baseball history. There are the purists who will not like the use of replay and will make the game longer, and those who will say 'it's about time'. Where do you stand? Waybackemail@gmail.com