Since leftovers are all the rage this time of year, I figured this week I would share a few sports leftovers with you.
1. “The Game” – Michigan versus Ohio State was billed as the most gigantic clash of the titans football game in the history of collegiate athletics. So, did it live up to the hype? For this guy, the answer is no. I realize I am in the minority here because it did end in a second overtime period, shrouded a bit in controversy by a 4th down 1st down that might not have been. That said, I was not dazzled by either team, and I was even less impressed by their coaches. Billed as two of the greats of the industry, neither Jim Harbaugh nor Urban Meyer had their fastball Saturday in Columbus. Harbaugh not only destroyed his headsets in a fit of rage, he cost his team yardage at an inopportune time by drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for “excessive grousing.” His post-game performance, in which he railed against the officiating, was not only predictable, it was tedious. Not to be outdone, Meyer foolishly tried a fake punt inside his own 30 yard line, and he and his quarterback were clearly not on the same page in the last minutes of regulation as they drove for what would have been a winning touchdown. JT Barrett kept angrily motioning to the sidelines for the next play to call as the play clock wound down to :01 on numerous occasions at the most crucial time of the game. Let’s just say that Saturday’s heavyweight fight will not be used as a resume reel for either of the coaches.
2. The Giants – fresh off their second bye of the year, I mean their game against the Cleveland Browns, Big Blue’s season truly begins. Sunday they will be in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, then come home to play the all-world Cowboys. The G-Men finish the year with the Lions at MetLife Stadium, followed by road trips to play the Eagles and Redskins. For too much of this season, Ben McAdoo’s team has played up, or in most cases, down to the level of their competition. For them to continue their winning ways down the stretch, this has to stop. It would be nice if the they could put together a 60-minute complete team effort, one in which all phases (offense, defense, special teams) play well simultaneously. Be honest Giants’ fans, for far too long last week, the hapless Browns were very much in the game, and that is troubling.
3. He’s back…or at least we hope so…for now that is. I’m talking about Tiger Woods, of course. Yes, he plans on teeing it up Thursday at the Hero World Challenge, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. This will mark his first tournament appearance since August 2015 when he tied for 10th at the Wyndham Championship. Two back procedures in the meantime have robbed the former undisputed #1 player in the world the chance to compete. So, does Tiger have anything left in the tank? Who knows, but it will sure be fun to watch him play again, right?
4. Don’t look now, but the Providence College men’s soccer team is into the elite 8 round of the NCAA soccer tournament for the second time in school history (2014 the other time). Not bad for the little school in the littlest state in the union (RI). On Friday night, they will play the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels in contrast, will be playing in their seventh elite 8 quarterfinals in the last nine years and 11th in their program’s history. Let’s go Friars!
And that is My 2 Sense for this week.
