Weekend Sports Recap

Well, to recap an interesting weekend in sports.
1) A freshman from Texas A&M won the Heisman Trophy. In my opinion, while his stats were Heisman-worthy, I would have voted for a number of different candidates. First would have been Collin Klein, Quarterback of Kansas State for leading his team to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. I also would have voted for Manti Te'o of Notre Dame and even Kenjon Barner, Oregon's running back, over Johnny Manziel. Manziel won because of one big game, beating Alabama on the road.

2) Gonzaga lost to Illinois at home last night and my two LEAST favorite Pac-12 teams won, Arizona beat Clemson in Clemson and UCLA beat Texas in Houston at Reliant Stadium.
From the Illinois perspective, it was a big win for the new coach, John Groce. Illinois is 10-0 and worthy of a top ten ranking. Brandon Paul is a big-time player or as Dick Vitale calls it, a PTPer.
From the Gonzaga perspective, this game as well as the Saturday night game against Kansas State at Key Arena are two of the harder games or truer national tests. Gonzaga didn't fare well enough last night.
In order for Gonzaga to have a legitimate chance at the Final Four, they need to end up with 4-5 losses at most and 3-5 seed in the West, playing in San Jose or Salt Lake City and then in the Western Regional at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. I hope that can still happen.

3) Chicago Bears lost 21-14 to the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome and the Seattle Seahawks embarrassed the Arizona Cardinals 58-0. Seattle and Chicago are both 8-5. Given how they're playing, I think that the Seahawks stand a better chance of making the playoffs than the Bears. Maybe Detroit can do Chicago a favor and beat the Green Bay Packers tonight.

4) Chicago's NBA team beat the Knicks and Pistons over the weekend to reclaim first place in the Central Division, while the Pacers slipped to second. My hope is that Derrick Rose comes back in February or March and the team can get hot.

Civic Interest- Force Lincoln Out?

In my humble opinion, the stewardship of Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong as CEO and President of the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club has been pathetic. Since 2001, the Mariners haven't made the playoffs and in the last 9 years, they have had 2 winning seasons. No free agent worth his salt is going to come to Seattle. I doubt seriously that Josh Hamilton would want to come to Seattle. They haven't won and there are more "temptations" for him in Seattle than in Dallas, especially with all of the marijuana smokers who successfully pushed across the initiative to allow medical marijuana.

Who should replace these two individuals? Maybe Steve Ballmer or another Microsoft person. Perhaps Jeff Bezos of Amazon could do a better job than Howard Lincoln. One thing is for sure, the Mariners may be last on the sports plate in Seattle. I'd almost rather follow the Seattle Storm or Sounders than this pathetic franchise.

1) Seattle Seahawks
2) Washington Huskies Football
3) Washington Huskies Basketball
4) Seattle Mariners
Gaining rapidly are the Sounders and Storm. The Storm won two WNBA titles, in 2004 and 2010.

Honorable Mention: Gonzaga University Basketball.