Alright.  I have watched this video on several occasions since Sunday night.  I finally come to the conclusion that this is why T.O. has never gotten the ring he desperately wants.  Because the crying baby that you see before you in this video is the real T.O.  The rest of his Cowboy teammates were just as devastated as he was, but they took it like a man, not a crying baby.  If he is willing to go the tears route in a post-gamer presser, then these "soft" traits appear on the football field as well.  Maybe not where we the common fan can see them.  But I guarantee you opposing corners and safeties can see it in his eyes.

I give him credit for playing with a high ankle sprain that usually keeps most players out for weeks.  But this is utterly ridiculous.  He won't win a ring in his career.  Not because he doesnt' have the talent, he does.  He won't win one because he doesn't have the fire, the killer instinct, the fire-in-the-belly, that the great ones have to have to reach the pinnacle in their sport.

http://a-list.msn.com/

My break is over. After writing at least two articles per week for the last five or six months, I have not written a thing concerning sports since before Christmas. But there are only three football games left and pitchers and catchers report in a month, so it's time to talk about some baseball.

Fantasy 
The question of a GSI fantasy baseball league has already been raised in this blog. I see no reason why we should not have one again this year. A 'keeper' league is probably out of the question as we never really know who can participate year after year. However, I would look forward to an auction. I would be willing to help coordinate a league but would prefer to not be commissioner. I already manage two other baseball leagues. 

I certainly hope J-Fish is in the league so he can draft Josh Beckett in the first round. Seriously, that's a bit of a stretch. While I'm at it, I may as well apply my annual complaint concerning the drafting of relief pitchers. Last year in the GSI league, Mariano Rivera was the top closer chosen late in the fourth round. He finished with 30 saves and 3.15 ERA. Jose Valverde led the league with 47 saves and had an impressive 2.66 ERA. He went in the middle of the 14th round. The point is, don't waste early picks on closers!

What's Good for the Goose...
Congratulations to Goose Gossage for his induction into the Hall of Fame. While his numbers may not be as impressive as many modern day closers, he was a pioneer at the position and deserves the honor.

In recent interviews, Gossage was not very kind to the players that have allegedly used performance enhancing drugs. However, when asked what he would have done had they been available in his time, he basically stated he probably would have used them. It brings up the interesting point of what other players would have done in other generations. How much better would Mickey Mantle have been if he could have just rubbed some stuff on his knees? Or would have Sandy Koufax continued to pitch knowing he did not have to worry about his arm getting tired? Heck, imagine what Babe Ruth could have done if he just had a regular workout routine!

Say it ain't so Bobcats!
According to the Columbus Dispatch, three players from the Ohio University baseball team have been suspended for allegations regarding gambling. The investigation has revealed a group of eight people involved in the gambling case, five of which are OU students. However, it does not appear that any of the gambling involved the school's basebaal team or any college sports for that matter. According to an Athens lawyer, the charges deal with professional sports. And one of the students' father stated that the entire case is 'overblown' and primarily deals with small wagers and a fantasy football league.

In this election year it would be nice if just once someone asked a candidate why gambling is illegal. I doubt anyone would come up with a very good response.

Fun in the Sun
For those of you heading south for the winter, be sure to check out the Spring Training schedules on MLB.com. I'm hoping to catch the Pirates and Twins in Ft. Meyers on March 14. See you there!

So you say you enjoy more Phoenix Suns than New York Knicks?  You prefer skywalking to hardwood burns?  And you really love to see the scoreboard light up triple-digits?  Well son, you don't need to become a Kentucky basketball fan anytime soon.

The 'Cats big 79-73 2OT victory over previously undefeated Vanderbilt on Saturday ushered in a new era in Kentucky basketball.  As a proud alumnus of the University of Texas, I can honestly say that I was having flashbacks watching the UK/Vandy game on Saturday.  Flashbacks to Billy G's Texas A&M Aggies team playing the same style helter-skelter defense, while putting up enough bricks on offfense to build a house. 

The 'Cats hit only 5 three-pointers all game.  Even with 10 extra minutes, they couldn't break 80. 

But that is not the emphasis for Billy Gillispie coached teams.  It was what I saw on the defensive side of the ball that gave me shivers.  They outhustled Vandy for every loose ball.  They held one of Vanderbilt's two studs--Ogilvy-to only 16 pts. in 34 minutes.  They won the free throw numbers game--allowing the Commodores to the line only 25 times, compared to the 'Cats 36.  But most importantly, they dominated on the glass.  Kentucky doubled up Vandy on the boards, 42-21. 

You could also tell by the intensity the players played with that Billy G. had emphasized conference play.  These are all hallmarks of Billy G. coached squads where the players have bought the Kool-Aid.  Taking a quick look back at last year's Aggies team, the most successful under Gillispie, they scored 100 once, cracked 90 four times, and 80 five times in 16 conference games--and one of those was a double OT game against the Longhorns.

The talent that Billy G. will be able to recruit in the coming seasons will be far better than any he was able to recruit at A&M.  One of the perks of having the Kentucky basketball legacy on his side.  So the scoring will get better.  But if you are a 'Cats fan that is eventually looking to see scores in the 90's and 100's, like in the days of Mashburn, et. al., you will be sadly disappointed.  If you are a 'Cats fan that is looking to see UK back on the winning side of the board, well there's good news.

Those scrappy wrestling matches against my Longhorns I had flashbacks to?  The Aggies almost always won those.