Carson Palmer speaks his mind, the truth

That’s it. Game over. Carson Palmer is my favorite NFL quarterback.

Not because he won me a fantasy football championship (he didn’t), plays for my favorite team (he doesn’t) or is even the best at his position in the league (he’s not.) It only took one long quote, one radio interview, one beautifully phrased piece of truth to turn me into a Carson Palmer fan.

I don't watch what I say. I cannot stand the Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team, it drives me absolutely nuts. We got Keith Rivers out there and we got Frostee Rucker, we finally got a couple other 'SC guys. It's amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and (Ohio State coach Jim) Tressel and all the crap I gotta put up with being back there. I just can't wait for two years from now when 'SC comes to the 'Shoe and I get to, hopefully we'll have a home game that weekend and I can go up there and watch us, pound on them in their own turf and kind of put all the talk to rest. Because I'm really getting sick of it and I just can't wait for this game to get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin' and go back to the Big Ten . . . I can't wait.

Have I converted you, too? No? You must be an Ohio State fan.

Let’s put aside the cojones it takes to say these words while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in Buckeye country. Especially because the fans that pack your stadium and buy your jersey care 10 times more about OSU than they ever will about the Bengals.

The fact of the matter is Palmer did two things I love and respect: (1) He spoke the truth without regard for backlash and (2) He still has pride and loyalty to his school and conference.

To a lot of NFL players, college football is a stepping stone to the pros. But there are always those select few that bleed (in this case) cardinal and gold through-and-through, even when their playing career is over. It is even better when those players are solid pros as opposed to your fourth-stringers that hardly see the field.

Aside from having pride in his former accomplishments, Palmer points out a painstakingly obvious fact: the Big Ten is a joke. It has been a joke, and it will continue to be a joke until one more team is added and there is a conference championship game. As if their last two BCS Championship games are not proof enough, they have missed the boat on how the game is played these days while the powerhouse SEC schools like LSU, Florida and Georgia and major programs like the Pac-10’s USC and Big 12’s Texas have it easily figured out.

Yet fans of the Big Ten and, more importantly, Ohio State, continue to carry on like their stool don’t stink while they slowly become the Buffalo Bills of college football—always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Favre Speaks, (Billy) Packer Fired, Donaghy Co-Horts

I figured Monday is a good time to tie up some loose ends from the weekend and, without computer access all day, I honestly didn't feel like going too in-depth on one story.

Favre Speaks: Retired Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre spoke publicly for the first time since deciding to return to the NFL with none other than Packers fan and shareholder and FOX News talking head Greta Van Susteren. Conflict of interest?! Among other asinine comments, Favre said he wants to return but no longer feels welcome in Green Bay. Read the rest...

(Billy) Packer Fired: After 27 years as the lead college basketball analyst for CBS, Billy Packer was fired over the weekend. Packer covered 34 consecutive years of March Madness tournaments (starting at NBC) and is now being replaced by studio analyst Clark Kellogg. While I enjoyed Packer during broadcasts, especially the two Florida Gators runs in 2006 and 2007, it was time for him to leave. All the best, Billy. Read the CBS story...

Donaghy Co-Horts: Also big news stepping from the weekend is former NBA referee Tim Donaghy's private phone records. According to reports FOX, Donaghy made 134 phone calls during the 2006-07 season (most before or after games he worked) to fellow official Scott Foster. Perhaps this scandal is not based on "one rogue official" as Commissioner David Stern claims?

Fresno State Sets Records, Wins College World Series, Not at Midnight

Talk about a Cinderella story.

The Fresno State Bulldogs became the lowest seeded team in history to win a NCAA National Championship on Wednesday evening. Not just in baseball or in men's sports but the lowest seed ever in any sport for any gender.

Starting their season 8-12, the Bulldogs barely earned a Regionals birth. (They only got a chance to contend in the College World Series after suprisingly winning the Western Athletic Conference.) They were then given a No. 4 seed (the lowest possible) in the Regionals. This is the equivalent of a 13 or 14 seed in March Madness. To put it in perspective, imagine if George Mason won the whole thing in 2006.

I'll spare you the details of the journey to the ultimate dogpile and rather point out some amazing circumstances surrounding their win on Wednesday.

• Fresno State had never won a men's national championship before tonight.
• Tonight was only Fresno State's second national championship in school history.
  
• OF Steve Detwiler went 4-4 in the final game, hitting two home runs and driving in all six team runs. He also hit a double and a single and, by the way, only has use of one thumb from a torn ligament.
• Fresno State is the first team in five years to come back from one game down to win the CWS.
• P John Wilson pitched eight innings strong with 9 Ks, only allowing one run late in the game.
• Fresno State scored 62 runs to tie for most in a CWS.
• The Bulldogs' 31 losses were the most ever for a CWS champion.
  

At first everyone was chocking the Bulldogs' run up to luck. Right time, right place. But to beat this many ranked teams, in order, with very few losses or let-downs...is there really any question? Congrats to the Bulldogs (never thought I'd say that) on the win and amazing story.

Misses of the Week

Every week the sports media reacts to certain stories that they should leave alone and makes poor decisions that aren't spotlighted enough. From time to time I will provide some "Misses of the Week" that I either failed to cover previously or did not necessarily constitute a full column. This week...

Barkley back to gambling: After being embarrassed during the NBA Playoffs when a casino made it public that Charles Barkley owed them $40,000, he swore he would quit gambling for at least "a year or two." While that is laughable in itself (imagine an alcoholic saying he'd quit drinking for two years), what is even more crazy is how the media is jumping all over him for accepting an invitation to play in a charity poker game. Sure, it is not the best way to stay away from a casino, but gambling implies risking your own money; Chuck is playing for charity. Give the man a little slack.

NBC, Notre Dame sign new deal: Five more years?! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE watching football and all sports on NBC. I also hate that they've lost MLB and NBA coverage over the past decade to crappy FOX and ABC respectivley. The reason this deal bothers me is two fold. First, signing Notre Dame to their own television deal keeps them independent from a conference. We all know it is time for them to join the Big 10 and allow them to be a REAL conference with a championship game. Second, well let's be honest, Notre Dame sucks.

NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said the network doesn't look at year-to-year results when it comes to Notre Dame, calling the football program a premier brand that defines the network as much as the Olympics, the NFL and the U.S. Open golf championship. Really?! Maybe he should. Notre Dame is NOT what it once was and does not deserve this type of treatment, even if Tony Kornheiser continues to call them the "university of football in America."

Saturday News & Notes

Rose Won't Wither - Continuing the trend from two stories below, Pete Rose still can't keep his mouth shut. This time he claims he would have amassed 5,000 hits if he would have been on steroids. Pete, I thought we just went over this--stop.

Kimbo Slice Debuts - There is no more waiting as backyard brawler-turned-MMA superstar Kimbo Slice will fight in an EliteXC card tonight live on CBS. This is the first time MMA is being broadcast on network television and EliteXC is using Slice (real name Ferguson) as their poster boy for potential success. While his peers still question Slice's ability, there is no questioning his star power and potential to brutally dominate the sport.

I Thought Seau was Retired? - New England Patriots LB Junior Seau retired from football (and his Miami Dolphins contract) in 2006 by signing a one-day deal with the San Diego Chargers. Four days later, he signed with the Patriots and is now considering a third year with the team. What a stand-up guy, huh?

Dukies Hire Notre Dame AD - While Duke (outside of lacrosse and basketball) leaves little to be desired as far as a collegiate athletic program, hiring the AD that hasn't done much at all with Notre Dame makes you wonder if they are even serious about improving their programs?

More U.S. Friendlies with Euro Clubs - F.C. Barcelona has signed to play two friendlies in the United States by scheduling games in Chicago and New York against Mexican club Chivas Guadalajara at Soldier Field and the MLS's Red Bulls at Giants Stadium respectivley. This will be the club's third trip to the U.S. in the last five years.

Daily News Update

Outside of my individual posts, I thought it would be a good idea to provide a "Daily News Update" with other interesting stories to which I'm not necessarily going to devote a full post.

* Update: Noah's punishment? Six months probation and a $200 fine.

* SI.com's Tom Verducci realizes he's a week behind on the MLB instant replay argument.

* China has stopped airing NBA playoff games because they are too entertaining. Obviously they didn't watch the Pistons/Magic series.

* Our own Brian McBride returns home from Fulham after five years in the EPL. He cited the desire to play against better competition as his reasoning.

* Former Memphis forward Joey Dorsey "knows" the Chicago Bulls are NOT picking Derrick Rose.

* Former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing is upset new GM Donnie Walsh did not interview him for the open head coaching position.

Noah Ticketed in Gainesville, Again

A day after receiving an order to appear in Gainesville, FL court for possession of under 20 grams of marijuana and an open container violation, Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah had a second run-in with police officers.

This time, Noah was traveling 32 mph through the University of Florida campus in his Hummer with a posted speed limit 20 mph. The UF Police issued two tickets to Noah--the first for not wearing a seatbelt and the second for unknowingly driving with a suspended license. To knowingly drive with a suspended license is a criminal offense, something which Noah was not charged.

None of these four violations are really that much of a big deal in the long run, and I have to agree with his father Yannick who doesn't understand "all that fuss" about the situation.

I certainly disagree with Noah being detained for an open container violation in the first place that is disregarded in the town on a daily basis. As far as being pulled over on campus, I suppose that is fair as he was going 50% over the speed limit (which is ridiculously low to begin with) and was not wearing a seatbelt. Having your license suspended and not knowing about it is even more ridiculous.

Say what you will about the rest, but Jo, put your seatbelt on.

Jarvis Returns to College Coaching

Former St. John's University head basketball coach Mike Jarvis has taken his first head coaching job since being fired by the Red Storm over five years ago with the Florida Atlantic Owls.

FAU, most recently known for winning the New Orleans Bowl (their first bowl appearance) in football, has been growing as a university and athletic program over the past decade.

The basketball program made the NCAA March Madness tournament in 2002 under the reigns of then-coach Sidney Green (father of Denver Nuggets guard Taurean Green) and has sought to stay relevant by hiring Matt Doherty and Rex Walters to head the program. With Walters leaving to coach San Francisco, a new head coach was needed.

Jarvis, a resident of Boca Raton, Fla., where FAU is located, signed a four-year contract that will be approved Wednesday.

Noah Faces Charges in Gainesville

Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and an open container violation early Sunday morning in Gainesville, FL.

Noah, the 2006 Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and part of the Florida Gators back-to-back national championship teams in 2006 and 2007, was found carrying an amber-colored liquid in a cup with ice while walking in the city's downtown area. After being brought to the police annex to be charged and served a notice to appear in court, the Gainesville Police Department also found a marijuana cigarette in his pocket.

It is tough to argue the marijuana charge, but the original stop for the open container violation is quite ridiculous. As a former University of Florida student, I have seen dozens (if not hundreds) of students stopped for open container violations both downtown and on campus. When those stops occurred, as long as the student cooperated, the usual punishment was for the drink to be discarded and to expect a stern warning from the officer.

I'm not suggesting Noah receive any special treatment, simply fair treatment that a normal student (Noah is in town taking classes toward his degree) would receive. But, let's be honest, this happened in Gainesville. Give the guy a free pass and move on. He was on foot, by himself, not causing any problems. Then again, it is the end of the month and there are few students in town...perhaps it was a quota situation?