The Sommer Frieze

It wasn’t fun seeing my alma mater go down to a loss, and worse yet, knowing that the game was over before halftime as USC built a 31-7 halftime lead on way to a 38-24 victory over Penn St. in the Rose Bowl.

Worse yet for the Big 10, were it not for Iowa’s bowl victory, the Big 10 would be 0 for the bowls. Oh yeah, it could get worse. Ohio State is an underdog to Texas yet. Ouch.

Looks like that lack of respect the Big 10 has been getting lately will continue. Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Minnesota and Northwestern (OT) all lost. Wisconsin by 29. Minnesota by 21. PSU by 14 but down by 24 at the half. Michigan St. by 12. Ugly, and as noted, it could get worse. It may be time for the Big 10 (11) to step back and reassess—administrators, coaches, presidents, etc. The last few years haven’t been pretty.

What hurt watching it was seeing Sanchez light up PSU for 413 yards passing. Second-most in Rose Bowl history, then in seeing the top passing games in Rose Bowl history realizing that not only did PSU give up the 2nd most (Sanchez yesterday in the 38-24 loss) that they also gave up the most. When PSU beat Oregon 38-20 fourteen years ago to cap an undefeated season, Oregon QB Danny O’Neil was 41 for 61 for 456 yards. Ugh. Sanchez was 28 for 35.

But then, I remember PSU winning over BC in 1982 52-17 despite a sophomore QB for BC throwing for 520 yards…guy named Doug Flutie.

Tighten up that pass defense, guys. Bend but don’t break? I’d prefer not bending at all. In any case, there was a lot broken yesterday.

BTW, I actually do remember when the Cotton Bowl was considered a major bowl. Times have changed.

In baseball, Scott Proctor signed with Florida on a one-year deal. Proctor had a terrible 2008, missing part of the year with arm trouble. He was 2-0, 6.05 (ERA+ 70) in 41 games in 2008, after pitching in 83 for the Yanks in 2006 and 83 more for the Yanks/Dodgers in 2007.

Barry Bonds has a trial coming up in March, is 44 (45 in July) and just had hip surgery with the intention of playing again. Sheesh. He’s already had knee surgery. Let’s rule out playing the OF again (ruling out the NL). What AL team would take him, his injuries, age and baggage? You tell me. Who at all would want that? But then, with the Manny rumors, SF would go from one slugger with a lot of baggage to another. If true, it’s a case of the more things change, the more they remain the same…

I’m not much of a hockey fan. In fact, almost not at all. Seeing some NHL played at Wrigley Field just confirmed to me that I hope it doesn’t come to Yankee Stadium. It just didn’t seem right to me.