The Blue Workhorse

The college football season officially starts tonight. North Carolina State will be taking on The Old Ball Coach Steve Spurrier and his South Carolina Gamecocks; Oregon State opens with Pac-10 conference for Stanford; and the first ranked team, Wake Forest, will play as well.

But before the season gets under way, we give you the official Top 25 from The Blue Workhorse, and later, we will give you our predictions for conference champions, the Heisman trophy winner, and maybe even a surprise team or two that may be flying under the radar now only to be clearly on the BCS scene at the end of the season.

Just as the ESPN or USA Today polls are compiled, we’ve polled our 4 top college football writers and given each vote a point value (#1 ranking = 25 points, #2 ranking = 24 points ….. #24 ranking = 2 points, #25 ranking = 1 point). We then tallied all of the points and tabulated the top 25 teams.

We’ve got the national powerhouses, the contenders, the possible BCS spoilers, and 25 teams that each want to hoist the glass football at the end of the season, so welcome to the first edition of The Blue Workhorse’s weekly NCAA football rankings:

(Thanks go out to James from NE Patriots Draft for assistance with the graphic and to Button Generator for the great buttons.)

#1	USC	1	2	3	2	96
#2	Florida	5	3	1	3	92
#3	Oklahoma	4	5	2	4	89
#4	Ohio State	2	6	4	5	87
#5	Georgia	3	9	5	1	86
#6	LSU	9	1	6	11	77
#7	Missouri	6	10	9	7	72
#8	Auburn	8	4	12	14	66
#9	Texas	14	7	8	10	65
#9	Clemson	10	12	11	6	65
#11	West Virginia	7	-	7	8	56
#12	Wisconsin	15	11	10	18	50
#13	Tennessee	19	8	18	12	47
#14	Texas Tech	12	20	20	9	43
#15	Arizona State	18	18	13	15	40
#16	BYU	13	21	19	17	34
#17	Virginia Tech	17	14	14	-	33
#18	South Florida	20	-	15	13	30
#19	Kansas	11	23	21	22	27
#20	Illinois	16	16	-	24	22
#21	Wake Forest	23	25	17	-	13
#21	Oregon	21	-	24	20	13
#21	Oregon State	16	-	-	23	13
#21	Rutgers	-	13	-	-	13
#25	Pittsburgh	25	-	-	16	11

Others receiving votes: Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Penn State, Fresno State, Tulsa, Navy, Michigan, Kentucky, Boise State, South Carolina

What? You don’t agree? Let your voice be heard. Tell us who you think should be ranked #1 or who we are ranking incorrectly!

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Shotgun Spratling

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Imagine if our future president does his job well. What if by 2010 he eliminated poverty, the economy boomed, and every nation in the world decided to be nice…and because of all that, the President was impeached. Told he could no longer be the President because he did his job too well.

If that ever happened, President McCain or Obama could find solace in calling up Jericho Scott, who would then be 11 years old.

Scott, after all, is facing the same dilemma right now. No, Scott is not the President, but the 9-year-old has been removed from his “job” because he does it too well.

“Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.” (AP - John Cristoffersen)

In New Haven, Connecticut, Scott is a member of a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness in the Youth Baseball League of New Haven. The league for 8-10 year olds has said Scott can no longer pitch because he throws too hard!

Oh no! God forbid! A pitcher that throws hard? The outrage. The horror. Why’d they ever let him play in the first place? Why…he…he might…he might strikeout the other kids! NNNNoooooooooo. Anything but that.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

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It came as a surprise to me how much I enjoyed watching the Olympics over the last two weeks. I didn’t have much excitement going in, but there is something about watching the best athletes in the world compete against each other that captures my attention.

As a former athlete, I was always driven by the thought of competing against the best opponents. The idea of testing my skills and abilities against the best around pushed me to train and prepare. That is the beauty of the Olympics, it is the absolute best competing against each other with the whole world watching.

I’m not much on gymnastics, but I was able to catch some of the women’s competition from Beijing. It was apparent the Chinese and the American teams were the class of the female field. On the day of the competition, the Chinese women performed best and were the deserving recipients of the team All-Around gold.

A few days after the completion of the meet, rumors began spreading about the ages of some of the Chinese gymnasts, claiming some may be too young to be eligible to compete in the Olympics. This concept made absolutely no sense to me, because I always believed the Olympics are designed to determine who the best athletes in the World are. If a 14-year-old girl can put together a better floor routine than anyone else in the world, she deserves to be the gold medalist.

I will never be convinced that putting a 14-year-old athlete in an event open to the best athletes of any age in the world is giving someone an unfair advantage.

If I were a member of the American team, I wouldn’t want to be awarded the gold medal because my competitors were not old enough to participate, that’s ridiculous!! If you can’t beat a 14-year-old, you don’t deserve a gold medal.

Sure, there are some advantages a 14-year-old may have, such as flexibility and less wear and tear on their bodies, but gymnastics is a sport that requires a lot of power and explosive ability, which should give older gymnasts the edge.

In a sport that is so physically demanding, setting a 16-year-old age minimum makes no sense to me. It seems that gymnasts are generally washed up when they reach their early 20’s, which means most gymnasts will only have one opportunity to compete in the Olympics.

On the two nights every four years when I watch gymnastics, I want to see the best gymnasts in the world. If that means I have to watch 12-year-olds flying around on the uneven bars, then damn it that’s what I want to see.

Too young to compete in the Olympics, give me a break!

Rosenblogger

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It’s official.

I’ve gotten caught up in football fever.

I usually don’t get too excited about football until late October or November. Sure, I actively watch the beginning of the college and pro seasons Saturdays and Sundays, but I’m usually engulfed in the baseball pennant races and playoffs.

I always get a little bit excited about the college football season when the newest edition of the NCAA Football series is released for all of the gaming systems. I typically pick up a copy for my system (formerly PS2 but now XBox360 after I won one from Mountain Dew) in the first or second week, if not the first or second day, of the game’s release. This year I had to wait due to financial restrictions, and the eagerness to procure the game probably is also contributing to my growing football fever.

But usually the game’s release creates just a blip on my sports radar due to baseball. This year, however, the beginning of the football seasons are taking precedence, at least for now.

The change of heart likely comes from a myriad of different factors:

• The Atlanta Braves’ abysmal play
• Not having gone to a Braves’ game since May
• Not currently playing baseball more than once a week
• The Georgia Bulldogs’ preseason hype
• The Atlanta Falcons starting afresh with a new posterboy (even though I wanted them to draft Glenn Dorsey)
• And the trip to Yankee Stadium was pretty much the pinnacle of the baseball season short of going to the World Series.

Regardless of the reasoning, I’ve gotten caught up in the football fever as we impatiently wait for the first official week of blindside blitzes, one-handed grabs, last second field goals, and upsets galore. I will stay up-to-date on the baseball pennant races, mainly just because my American League team, the Tampa Bay (no longer Devil) Rays, is battling to overthrow the two evil empires of the AL East, but I can’t wait until I’m able to watch 5 or 6 games on a Saturday and a couple more the next day.

Shotgun Spratling

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In the Sunday Sports Selection series, we showcase a sports-related product (gadget, book, film, equipment, etc.) that we have enjoyed and think you may find of interest as well.

I anxiously await its arrival every year. Once I start seeing the advertisements pop up, the my anticipations begin to mount. I’m, of course, referring to the newest version of the NCAA Football gaming franchise produced by EA Sports.

In my opinion, EA Sports is the premier producer of sports-related video games. From the Madden NFL franchise to NBA Live to NASCAR to boxing to FIFA, Electronic Arts is the leader in the video gaming world, and as far as college football, they own the monopoly being the company with exclusive licenses with the NCAA.

But how does EA do so well? They constantly are making their games better, and NCAA Football 09 is no different. It is simply the best edition yet of the series.

With new features (mini-games, online dynasty play, Quarterback Quiz, the ability to ice the kicker, bluff play art, custom stadium sounds), over 70 new features according to the official web site, and revamped old features (Campus Legend Mode, new Home Field Advantage, enhanced recruiting), NCAA Football 09 has outdone itself, once again.

Even though my dynasty isn’t exactly producing national champions as of yet, I’ve love the gameplay. Of course, national championships aren’t expected in the first few seasons for me because I always pick one of the game’s worst teams (Florida International University this season) and try to build the program from the ground up. After battling to a 3-9 record my first season (and I was lucky to get to 3 wins), I got one or two key recruits and some matured veterans helped lead me to a 9-3 record, the Sun Belt conference championship, and a win in the Motor City Bowl.

Something, I’m really interested in is the online dynasty play. I’ve always enjoyed the Dynasty Mode, and it is even more fun when you are actually battling against other human players. In college, we would get together some friends and all play in the same conference, which made every game important and recruiting very interesting. So once I can get the wireless working in my home again, this is something I’m definitely going to have to try out.

I’m also intrigued about the new Campus Legend Mode. They added this mode last year, and it had its early appeal, but it wore off quickly. I never even made it through a full four years with a player. This year, however, they have revamped the gameplay for this mode.

Instead of playing just like a regular game, you now will be only your player. Therefore, if you are a wide receiver, you have have to run your routes or block on every play that you are on the field; if you are a lineman, you will be trying to throw that killer block to spring your running back.

One last feature I will mention that I’m absolutely in love with is the Super Sim. During Campus Legend Mode, if you are an offensive player, you can easily simulate when your team is on defense. That way you aren’t sitting around watching the tv instead of actually playing the video game.

But Super Sim is not limited to Campus Legend Mode. If you are playing a game in your dynasty and you only have 30 minutes or so before class, well you can sim through the first quarter or only play on offense and sim when your team is on defense, so that you can finish the game and still have time for class.

Overall, NCAA Football 09 is a must have for any fan of sports video games, and particularly for any college football fan. I highly recommend this game not only because I play this game every year, but also because I think they’ve done a remarkable job on the game this year.

You can pick up the game for your system ($40 for PS2 & PSP, $50 for Wii, $60 for XBox 360 & PS3) in any retail store or you can go to a store like GameStop and get one used (where someone decided they didn’t like the game) for a couple of dollars cheaper. You can also try eBay (it’s always worth a look to see if you can find a deal).

But it appears, like is often the case, you can get the game cheapest on Amazon. You can get the game for as much as $15 cheaper for a “used” version on Amazon. As always, check out all of your options before making a decision.

Shotgun Spratling

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For a professional women’s softball player to become nationally known, the typical criteria is:

A. Be a dominant pitcher
OR
B. Be attractive

It really helps if both of the criteria can be met (ala Jennie Finch or Cat Osterman). However, one player is breaking the mold.

Crystl Bustos isn’t your typical thin, lean, smiling Team USA softball player, and she is unapologetic about it. Instead of shopping sprees, manicures, and nice cars, Bustos would rather drive around in her truck or play with all-terrain vehicles, and she deplores shopping stating she’d be in heaven if she had a personal shopper to pick up food and clothes.

Instead of sappy love movies, Bustos lists her favorites as Scarface, Young Guns, and The Godfather. While many have stated judgmental, negative opinions about Bustos, she is nothing more than a tomboy that used to get in a lot of fights before she found softball and matured into a woman who is starting a non-profit organization to help inner city children and their families be able to afford to play sports.

And as for that other criterion: she definitely isn’t a pitcher. No, Bustos instead puts fear into pitchers as she is probably the most feared hitter in the history of women’s softball.

Just a glimpse of her prolific power in a batting practice:

But, Bustos isn’t Pedro Cerrano just putting on a show in batting practice until facing any pitch not straight. In 2004, she hit .346 with 5 home runs and 10 RBIs for gold medalist Team USA in the Athens Olympics.

And this summer’s Olympics?

Bustos only hit .500 with 6 home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .607 on base percentage after being walked six times. Unfortunately, Bustos and Team USA (8-1) fell one game short of another Olympic gold when they were upended earlier this week 3-1 by Japan (7-2).

Team USA’s lone run in the gold medal game? Fittingly, a Bustos’ solo home run. After the game, Bustos and four other teammates left their spikes at home plate as they each are retiring from USA Softball.

While USA Softball may find a prettier face or a slimmer body that is more marketable, they’ll never find a replacement for the most feared hitter in the game.

Shotgun Spratling

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Becky Hammon, have you no shame?

I came across the story of this WNBA star turned Russian Olympic athlete several weeks ago, but with recent developments regarding Russia and its military, I feel the issue of Hammon’s loyalties needs further analysis.

Ms. Hammon competes for the San Antonio Silver Stars, during the WNBA season. However, in the off-season Ms. Hammon travels to Russia where she earns a pay check of six times of what she earns stateside playing in the Russian leagues. I have no bone to pick with Ms. Hammon for earning an income by way of her basketball talents overseas, much like several NBA players have opted to do this season.

I see it no different than McDonald’s or Coca-Cola peddling their wares in Russia and China. The problem I have with Ms. Hammon is her decision to represent Russia after her talents were deemed inadequate by the USA basketball officials.

It is understood that Ms. Hammon is not the only athlete competing for a country for which the athlete has little or no connection to. Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers is playing for the Germans, for example. There are several others, as well. However, Ms. Hammon’s actions deserve closer scrutiny due to the recent developments concerning the Russian army’s invasion of Georgia.

The Russian army invaded the sovereign Eastern European nation as a means to flaunt its newfound strength due to large oil profits being made by the ever more centralized (communist) economy. It is bad enough one communist regime, China, was graced with the ability to host the 2008 Olympics.

Now, in another direct slap in the face to democracy around the globe, a citizen of the nation that shines as a beacon of freedom and liberty to that world is playing for a country that strives to take away the freedoms of their own peoples and the peoples of neighboring nations.

The selfishness of Ms. Hammon is both appalling and worrisome. As I stated earlier in my explanation of my boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics, have we become so self-absorbed that a game holds greater importance than the pursuit of greater human freedoms and liberties? Maybe I could accept the fact that Ms. Hammons had an initial brain freeze when agreeing to play on the Russian Olympic squad, but after hearing of the acts of aggression by the Russian government, there is no excuse for her continued participation on the team.

I hate to break it to you, Becky; you could not cut it on the US team. Stay at home, cheer on wonderboy Phelps and your fellow American athletes while preparing for the upcoming WNBA season. In four years, you can try again. Please do not disgrace yourself or your country by showing your acceptance of brutal regimes whose interests lie in the demise of your native country.

Heisman

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In sports, there is occasionally a feel good story about the person that just finishes the race, but more traditionally…sports are about winning. Athletes are bred to want to win…and now you should want to win as well:

Our good friend, Kellex, over at The Sports Dollar is holding The Contest of Sports Sexiness where you can win a ton of prizes. (Unfortunately, Natalie Gulbis is not one of them.)

This is such a great contest that even we had to get in on it by sponsoring a prize. Here’s the list of participating blogs and all the prizes you can win:

• The Sports Dollar - RSS - $50 Gift Card + 5,000 Entrecard Credits
• NE Patriots Draft - RSS - 10,001 Entrecard Credits
• Fantasy Baseball - RSS - 5,000 Entrecard Credits
• My Sports Rumors - RSS - 5,000 Entrecard Credits + 125×125 Ad
• Blue Workhorse - RSS - 2,222 Entrecard Credits
• Michael Aulia - RSS - 1,000 Entrecard Credits
• Juiced Sports Blog - RSS - 125×125 Ad + Sticky Forum Topic of Choice
• NESW Sports - RSS - 2 Guest Posts with up to 10 Links
• Cuzoogle - RSS - 125×125 Ad
• You Been Blinded - RSS - 125×125 Ad
• The Red Zone Report - RSS - 125×125 Ad
• Steady Burn - RSS - Guest Post with Links
• Movie Reviews - RSS - 500 Entrecard Credits
• NBAtipoff - RSS - 2 Guest Posts with up to 13 Links
• Women Like Sports - RSS - Guest Post with Links
• Designer’s Depot - RSS - 2,000 Entrecard Credits
• IndoContest - RSS - 1,500 Entrecard Credits
• SimplyWP - RSS - 1,000 Entrecard Credits
• My Tramping View - RSS - 1,500 Entrecard Credits
• Contest Live - RSS - 1,000 Entrecard Credits

Here’s how you enter into the contest so you can JUST WIN BABY!

Contest Rules:

• (5 Tickets) - Write up a quick post about the contest linking back to this post!
• (5 Tickets) - Subscribe the Sports Dollar’s RSS Feed
• (1 Ticket) - You will receive 1 Ticket to each blog in the contest that you link to in your contest post. A chance to have an extra 20 Tickets here!
• (1 Ticket) - You will receive 1 Ticket for each RSS Feed of a participating blog that you subscribe to. Another chance to rack up 20 more Tickets!
• (Bonus Tickets) - If you complete each step to the contest, you will receive a bonus of 10 Tickets!

What do you do when you’ve finished those steps? Well, leave a comment on the original contest post to let Kellex know just how many of those non-Willy Wonka golden tickets you are entitled.

The contest is running now. It is set to end September 4th, so go ahead and get started because if you don’t enter, you can’t win. And don’t give me that, “But…but…I never win anything.”

I said that in the past as well, but with the assistance of some helpful blogs, such as Earn on the Side and their information about radio contests, I have been fortunate enough to win a couple of prizes recently including this one from Big Jason’s Big Marketing Blog. So head over to The Sports Dollar and get entered. You never know what prize you could win.

Shotgun Spratling

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