A Shootout and the Buzzer Beater that Wasn't

I'm not sure exactly how many people out there watched the Texas Tech-Washington game, but I did. With the Flyers on the lower TV and the basketball game on the top one, I was getting ready to flip over from ESPN2 to ESPN on the above television to take in the Oregon-Oregon State game. But with the Red Raiders keeping pace with No. 10 Washington in what seemed to be a one-point game almost the entire way, I couldn't turn it off until it was over. And boy am I glad I didn't, because then I would have missed this.



After Elston Turner missed both free throws and Mike Singletary grabbed the board, raced down the court and fired up a three that made its way in, I was going bonkers, but immediately, I asked, "Did he get that off?" Singletary almost double clutched to be able to get it off, and I thought on my first view that perhaps he hadn't released it in time. The announcers seemed to disagree, confidently stating that Singletary got it off. Either way, it was insanely close and a ridiculously awesome shot, so I sent out a text to a bunch of friends, "Tell me someone else saw that." None of my lame-ass friends did.

Because the shot was so close to the buzzer, the officials went to the monitors to review it, and I gotta say, despite my initial reaction, after watching the replay five or six times, I honestly thought he got it off. The more I see it, the more I think it was off his fingertips before time ran out. The officials disagreed and said the bucket was no good, the ball was still in Singletary's hands (fingertips) as time expired. The announcers, who had so very confidently stated that Singletary had gotten the shot off in time initially, didn't question it at all. In fact, just as I did, they changed their minds and said the officials got it right. I think they're crazy. Maybe I just have bad eyes.

It was a huge buzz kill to say the shot was no good and that the game was going to overtime. The Tech students had rushed the court and were celebrating a big victory over the 10th-ranked team. The shot was amazing and the ending perfect. Plus, I still think it was good. Now that Washington got a second life, I was deflated because I thought the Huskies would find their composure and end up winning in OT, which bummed me out a bit because I really think Tech earned a victory. Luckily, the Red Raiders didn't lower their heads and sulk after the victory they thought they had was wiped off the board. Instead, they went out and outscored Washington 19-12 in the overtime period to complete the upset, 99-92, and it was quite an exciting game for such an early-season, out-of-conference game. This is why I love college basketball.

That was a great appetizer to the heavyweight bout, the civil war between Oregon and Oregon State for all the marbles. PAC-10 title on the line, trip to the Rose Bowl on the line, state pride on the line. If you consider yourself a football fan and you didn't watch this game, you should be completely and utterly ashamed of yourself. I was dead tired, more than ready to go to sleep, but this game was so damn entertaining, so damn exciting, the quintessential shootout, that I couldn't possibly turn it off and head to bed. I mean, the entire game was one big Sportscenter highlight (back when they used to show highlights).



In the first quarter alone, there were three touchdowns and a field goal, making it abundantly clear that defense was not going to be a factor in this one. Before you could blink, bam, Jacquizz Rodgers was in the end zone. Then boom, LaMichael James answers. Oregon State gets a field goal, and bam, Jeremiah Masoli hits Jeff Maehl right in stride for a 73-yard touchdown strike. And damn, Maehl is fast for a white boy. He blew right by the Oregon State corner like he was standing still, and he had no prayer to catch him. Just 15 minutes in and we had a 14-13 game.

It was a classic rivalry game, everything such a heated matchup with the moniker the civil war should be. With a trip to the Rose Bowl to take on Ohio State on the line, both teams came out firing on all cylinders, especially the stars. Jacquizz Rodgers was held relatively in check with just 64 yards rushing, but he did find the end zone and added 7 catches for 73 yards. I'd say 137 yards from scrimmage is still pretty good. His brother James had an outstanding game, hauling in 10 catches for 139 yards and score, one an insane catch on which he was interfered with, dove and scooped the ball up before it hit the turf. And for good measure, he added 29 yards rushing. And LaMichael James was simply the most unstoppable force on the field. He had 166 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns, and late in the game, after watching the formerly suspended LeGarrette Blount get in there and get a touchdown in his first game back, James really exploded, putting the game away for good with a 52-yard blazing touchdown run.



That game was insanely fun to watch. Having said that, I think Ohio State will handily beat Oregon and would have handily beaten Oregon State in the Rose Bowl, because the Buckeyes have a ridiculously awesome defense, something these two schools haven't been accustomed to facing in an overall weak PAC-10 this season.

3 is Greater than 1

As in 3 Cy Youngs is greater than 1, evident by Pedro Martinez's performance last night, bringing back visions of his time as the game's best.



Man oh man, if you appreciate excellent pitching, you had to have loved last night's duel between the old goat and the young freak. For 7 incredible innings, Pedro Martinez flashed his former Cy Young brilliance, matching the reigning NL Cy Young winner pitch for pitch. Actually, he did him one better, giving up just one run to Lincecum's two. It was pitching at its finest.

After surrendering a leadoff home run to Otis Nixon look-alike Eugenio Velez, Pedro locked in and pitched as good as any pitcher, 37 years old or not, could pitch: 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts. He was electric. There was life on his fastball, he was throwing all four of his pitches for strikes, and he was mixing them in all over the place — inside, outside, high, low — everywhere. For one night, at least, he was vinatage Pedro. And it was awesome to watch.

Especially considering what his counterpart was doing. They don't call Tim Lincecum the Freak for nothing. This guy is scary good. Like a young Pedro, he mixes in a blazing heater with devastating off-speed stuff. His curve is filthy, his changeup unfair and his location damn near perfect.



Talk about a guy who has bad luck, though. Lincecum threw 7 awesome innings, surrendering just four hits and two runs while striking out 11. Thankfully, one of those four hits was this rocket off the bat of Jayson Werth that found its way to the second deck in left field — a place few balls land. Then in the 6th, Lincecum made his first real mistake, hitting Chase Utley with two outs and nobody on. Apparently Tim didn't get the memo that Ryan Howard eats pitchers for lunch in September, and sure enough, the big man delivered the game-winning RBI with a double to plate Utley.

Madson certainly looked good, and Lidge got the job done, even if it was a bit exciting. But the story was unquestionably Pedro.

After not looking all that impressive in his first few starts, then being forced to leave due to two rain delays, there were rumblings that maybe Pedro shouldn't be the one starting. Those rumblings got louder when Jamie Moyer pitched flawlessly in relief of Martinez in those two rain-delayed games. Pedro put those questions to rest last night. Facing the best pitcher in the National League, Martinez stepped up and recaptured the form that made him a 3-time Cy Young winner.

He wasn't just good. He was dominant, breezing through 7 innings on jut 87 pitches. Had Carlos Ruiz not gotten that two-out double in the 7th, rest assured that Pedro was coming out for the 8th. He was throwing that good. And that's why the Phils signed him. For moments like last night. Sure, Pedro isn't what he used to be, not even close. But now healthy for the first time in years, he's capable of showing flashes of his former self. And it couldn't have come at a better time.

And I couldn't have had a better time last night. Not only did the Phillies win to take the series from the Giants, but there was also college football and the final Eagles preseason game on. Thanks to our awesome two TV setup, not to mention having both Comcast and DirecTV, I was in sports viewing heaven.



Now, admittedly, I didn't watch a whole lot of the Eagles game. I was completely focused on the battle between old Cy Young pitcher vs. young Cy Young pitcher, so I can't make any real definitive statements about the game. However, I can say, with 100 percent conviction, that Michael Vick still looked fast as hell. That was encouraging to see. There's no question he can still run the football and make some electrifying plays, and his arm is still a cannon. Beyond that, I still don't think anyone knows what to expect once he takes the field in week 3.

Oh, and from what I saw, Macho Harris looked like a real player. I think I'm going to like that guy.

What I did watch intently was the end of the South Carolina-NC State game, and all of the Oregon-Boise State game. If you like defense, then these games were for you. The SC-NC St. battle was a slugfest (no pun intended), as neither team could do much of anything on offense.



The final score read South Carolina 7, NC State 3. Though it could have easily been 10-7 NC State. With less than 4 minutes left, NC State quarterback Russell Wilson lofted a pass to the end zone. When it was thrown, it looked like a jump ball destined to be picked off. But somehow, it got over both SC defenders and found its way right to receiver Jay Smith. Instead of making the catch and putting the Wolfpack ahead, the ball hit Smith right in the face mask and fell incomplete.

It was a pretty awesome game, but it was just an appetizer to the matchup between No. 16 Oregon and No. 14 Boise State. Leading up to the game, I kept hearing about the bad blood between Boise and Oregon, and it was no joke. These two teams battled for four quarters in a game that truly lacked any semblance of good offense, especially on Oregon's part.

The Broncos bested the Ducks 19-8 with tremendous defense and strong ball control. Virtually all night, Oregon was incompetent on offense, routinely going 3 and out. The Ducks' defense was on the field almost the entire game, and Boise State simply wore them down. Sure, their kicker sucked balls, but the team with the blue field was definitely superior last night.



But the real story came after the game, when LeGarrette Blount lost his damn mind.



Granted, you can't punch someone on the football field. That's a no-no. LeGarrette Blount was 100 percent in the wrong. However, upon seeing it live, I thought Byron Hout got off easy by the announcers and the ensuing media afterward. Watch the replay. Hout clearly slaps Blount on the shoulder and undoubtedly said something to provoke him, at least you'd have to think so. He wasn't exactly being a good sport either, yet there wasn't a word muttered about Hout's unsportsmanlike conduct.

Not that that excuses Blount. Because it doesn't. You can't throw punches. That's a given. And he deserves whatever punishment is cast upon him, especially after continuing to go bonkers all the way back to the locker room. Not a smart move on his part at all, and not good for Oregon or Blount's draft stock because you'd have to think he's facing some sort of suspension.

But it sure as hell was an exciting way to kick off the college football season. It's officially the most wonderful time of the year.

Thank You Oregon

Boy, I sure am glad the Ducks don't hold any grudges.



The best thing that could have happened for Penn State fans like myself was for Oregon to pull the upset against in-state rival Oregon State in the Civil War. Thankfully, the Ducks obliged, promptly plowing the Beavers (see what I did there?) 65-38. Oregon's offense just went ape-shit nuts on Oregon State. They racked up 694 yards—309 through the air and 385 on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had his coming out party, going 11 of 17 passing for 274 and three touchdowns, not to mention 53 more yards and another score on the ground.



The Ducks also had two running backs with over 100 yards on the night. Jeremiah Johnson ran for 219 yards and a touch while LeGarrette Blount added 112 and a score. It was total annihilation, and I loved every second of it.

You see, if Oregon State had won and locked up the Pac-10 title, the Nittany Lions would be taking on the Beavers again, this time in the Rose Bowl. And this would have been a lose-lose situation for Penn State. The Lions already stampeded the Beavers 45-14 in the second game of the season, and truthfully, the game wasn't even that close.



Surely, playing at home gave Penn State an edge, but no one wanted to see the Lions take on a team they demolished earlier in the year. After all, if Penn State won, so what? They were supposed to win. And if they lost, there would be more Big 10 bashing on the way. Basically, Penn State had nothing to gain by playing Oregon State, except, you know, a win in the Rose Bowl.

But that simply wouldn't have been enough. Everyone wants to see just where Penn State stacks up with the best of the best. After all, they were one slip-up away from the BCS title game. Now Penn State gets its chance against what is certain to be a heavily favored USC team playing in its own backyard.

Now's the time for Penn State to prove all those nay-sayers wrong, quiet all those haters that say the Big 10 is no longer an elite conference. On the first day of 2009, my alma mater has a chance to walk into Pasadena and take away a Rose Bowl title. All that stands in the way are those pesky Trojans … which reminds me, it's apparently World AIDS Day, so wrap it up people.



Something tells me Derrick Williams is in for a big day, and I don't mean an O.J.-style double homicide.



California, here we come.

Update: From meech, Matt Stairs, supporting the Nittany Lions: