1
Reason No. 3,478,919 the NFL rules the sports landscape: Take a look at the NFC standings.
Every team has played at least four games — that’s a quarter of the season — and five of the top six teams did not make the playoffs last year.
Of course it does not mean that all of those teams will make the playoffs, but it does means that their fans have reason to believe it’s possible. For all those who make predictions, this league is kind of unpredictable.
Atlanta in first place in the NFC South is not a complete shock, but only a half-game out of first sits Tampa Bay. Now that’s a shock. Oh, and the Super Bowl champs are in third place.
And in the better-to-be-lucky-than-good department, the Washington Redskins sit atop the NFC East with a 3-2 mark with two wins in their division.
The NFL is fun for its fans because, usually, there is hope every couple of years, even for the bad teams. Again, usually. Can’t say the same for all the teams in the NBA or MLB.
2
So the baseball world is saying goodbye to Mr. September, Bobby Cox — the best regular-season manager in modern history.
Oh, we know, that’s just mean. The guy did win one World Series as Atlanta’s manager. Of course, one could argue if you are among the final four or eight teams (depending on the playoff structure) 16 times, you should get at least one World Series title. After all, a broken clock is correct twice a day.
So, no, Cox will not be remembered as one of October’s all-time greats. But at least he has the record for most ejections by a manager.
In fact, after calling him Mr. September, we wouldn’t be surprised if he were running out of the dugout right now, trying to find his way to Vancouver, and kick our butts.
3
We’re asking for leniency for the two Washington State football players who were arrested on drug charges Sunday morning.
Turns out, there were 38 marijuana plants growing in the basement of a house they are renting with two other men.
But your honor, these are the Cougars. This is not a case of growing weed with the intent to sell. It is a clear case of medical marijuana use. They get destroyed, every Saturday, on TV. It’s painful to watch, so you know it must be painful to endure.
