No College Basketball? Ahhhhhh....

Oh, I want to talk about Coach two-feet-out-the-door's comments during his weekly teleconference (made coincidentally right after yesterday's post...hmmm) so bad! Not to mention, Arizona's reinstatement of Chris Rogers, UConn's loss to 'Nova, and (won't mention their name out of love and respect for the Simon family)'s win over Eddie Suttonless Oklahoma State but I promised. Today Random Thoughts will be a college basketball free society.

Now everyone knows that the Bears are desparate for a playmaker and that finding one is their #1 option in free agency. The name that is most often mentioned and that seems to have sports talk radio hosts and most Bears fans buzzing is Antwaan Randle El. Look, I like Antwaan. He seems like a really nice guy and is an IU alum. Further, there is no doubt that he is an athletic freak and comes complete with a wonderful array of skills. But is he really the guy that we want to see the Bears throw sackloads of money at?

Quick, somebody tell me what the following three players have in common...Brian Finneran, Kevin Curtis and Randle El's teammate Cedrick Wilson. And what do the following three players have in common...Shaun McDonald, Jabar Gaffney, and Scott Vines? Finally, how about the following three...D.J. Hackett, Devery Henderson and, yes, Justin Gage.

The answers? The first group had more receiving yards last year than Antwaan's 558. The second had more catches than Antwaan's 35. And the third had more TDs than Randle El's one (cue Harry Doyle..."That's all he had is one goddamn touchdown!")

Look sign Antwaan Randle El as a fine third receiver and terrific punt returner if you would like, but sign him as your playmaker and it may be another long season for the passing offense...

Of course as long as the Bears' QB options remain Rex the Wonder Dog and Kyle the Bearded Lady, it likely does not matter whether it is Steve Smith, Antwaan Randle El or Cornelius McNary catching passes.

Anyone see that the 'Bows lost on the road at Fresno St last night effectively ending their at large hop....dang it!!! Stupid promise!

Hey, not sure if you know that but there seems to be some kind of an international sports competition going on in Italy these days. Turns out that NBC is televising it and everything (boy, are the folks at the Peacock going to take a bath on this one). For some reason the Olympics seem to be getting criticized left and right. Well, I'll come out and say it...I love the Olympics and always have ever since I received a Misha Bear as a gift (major, major props to anyone who understands this reference without looking it up). A few observations from Torino...

* Apolo Anton Oh No!!!!!

* We have all heard of the Sports Illustrated Curse, we recognize how Cat Fancy derailed Warrick Dunn's career for a couple of months, and there is a growing belief in the "Dan's Random Thoughts Why-oh-Why Did He Have to Mention My Favorite Team Curse," (Next up...the Kansaw Jayhacks, the Kanzaz Jaehax, the Cansass Jayhowkz...I can't do it to poor Emily!), but is it possible that there is a "Curse of the McDonald's Cup?" Sunday night my large Sprite featured the following athletes on the cup...Ohno, skier Lindsay Kildow and luge star Samantha Retrosi. My what an Olympics they have had...

* Any chance we can get Albert Pujols on a McDonald's cup? A season-ending shoulder injury sounds about right.

* Anyone else get the feeling that Michelle Kwan just wanted a free trip to Italy?

* Isn't it time that the Olympics just give in and officially amend the motto to read "Higher, Faster, Stronger, More Marketable."

* You have got to feel bad for the U.S. skeleton rider who has been banned from the Olympics for testing positive for a steroid masking agent. Zach Lund admits that he has ingested the substance as it is an active ingredient in the hair restoration product Propecia but claims that he was unware that the substance had been banned. Doesn't this seem to run counter to the goal and purpose of the drug testing policies? Weren't they put in place to prevent Olga, Berlin's finest, from throwing a shot put 730 yards? The International Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that Lund was not a cheat and believed his testimony that he did not know that the drug had been banned, but rules are rules, and they suspended him anyway. In Lund's case the Olympic motto should have been "Higher, Faster, Stronger, Balder."

* I love the fact that the U.S. has lobbied for inclusion of all the new freestyle skiing and snowboarding events. Apparently, the USOC finally realized that we suck at the traditional winter sports. But, oh man, do we shred when performing a fakie, canadia, swithc alley-oop backside rodeo on the Halfpipe. Let's face it, such sports only exist to increase the U.S. medal total and I say good. The good ol' USA pays for 99% of the games, we might as well get a little in return.

* My wife and I (her name is Patty for those of you in cyberspace who have stumbled upon my brillant and insightful writing) always joke during the summer games that all of the track and field stars actually train and are educated in the U.S. (and in lane 5 from the Ivory Coast is Mukbak Mutah-Havati. He runs for the Longhorns of Texas!). Now comes word that the Russian Pair Figure Skating duo trains, no, not in Moscow, Kiev or St. Petersburg, but rather at the Edge in Bensenville.

* Finally, I caught word that the International Olympic Committee has officially cancelled Baseball and Softball. Perhaps they need to make room for Billiards, lawn darts and midget throwing. And why isn't competitive eating in the Olympics? Think about it. It would be great for our economy. "Next up in the hot wings eating competition is Jens Swensen of Norway who trains at the Hooters in Lombard." Eliminating baseball is a mistake. What in the hell else are Roger Clemens and Tommy LaSorda going to do with their time? Whatever you do, don't get rid of beach volleyball. Misty May and that 6'10 chick. Now that's entertainment!

Enjoy the games!