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Carolina on My Mind The Carolina Panthers are red-hot. The team picked up its fourth consecutive win by dumping the Atlanta Falcons in the Queen City. The four-game win streak has been relatively easy....the club is playing well and beating up on a bunch of trailer-trash. The four teams the Panthers have disposed of during the streak (Minnesota, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Atlanta) have a combined record of 6-27....that's not a typo....those four teams have won a grand total of 6 games so far this season. It's not Carolina's fault that those teams suck....good teams are supposed to beat bad teams, and the Panthers have demonstrated that to perfection. To make matters more enjoyable for Panther Nation, the New Orleans Saints lost to the NY Jets on Sunday and the Who Dat's NFC South lead is down to a single game. For the Panthers, the next two weeks will be a good barometer of where they stand in the big picture. This upcoming weekend, the team flies out to play the equally hot San Francisco 49ers. The boys from the Bay have won 5 straight games and are coming off a bye week and a trip to London. After the match-up with San Francisco, the Panthers host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Needless to say, business is about to pick up in the Queen City....and it's good to see some meaningful games being played by the home team. This is a huge week in college football. On Thursday night, the country gets a glimpse of four of the Top 10 teams playing each other in a wonderful doubleheader. In Waco TX, the high-flying Baylor Bears get to showcase their offensive weapons against Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners. It is a big game in the Big XII and it also has national championship implications for the undefeated Bears. A few hours after kick-off in Texas, the PAC-12 gets to profile their top two teams....Stanford and Oregon. This game is a monster.....a contrast of styles and philosophies.....and when two Top 6 teams play this late into the season, you know it's going to be a big deal. Last year, Stanford upset Oregon at Autzen Stadium and eliminated the Ducks' conference and national championship dreams. I interviewed both coaches, David Shaw and Mark Helfrich, this year at the PAC-12 Media Day in Los Angeles. Instead of interviewing the coaches individually, I wanted to do them together....and they obliged. I mentioned the November 7th showdown game way back in that July interview....they both laughed and they both acknowledged that it was going to be important. I can't wait to watch both games.....and as if that wasn't good enough.....this weekend, LSU travels to Alabama. Life is good. In the meantime, both Florida State and Ohio State will kick back and destroy the next conference opponent that happens to get in the way. This is a great time of the year in college football. There are two races left in the seemingly endless NASCAR season. I know you will be shocked to hear that Jimmie Johnson has the lead. The guy is so good and so understated, that I feel like it's my obligation to remind you that JJ is on the verge of his 6th Cup Championship. I know that every NASCAR fans knows that Petty and Earnhardt captured 7 Cup titles....and most of those fans don't want to acknowledge that the driver of the 48 car is in their class.....but he is. Johnson's win in Texas on Sunday now gives him 24 "Chase for the Cup" race wins in his career.....just let that number sink-in for a few minutes. I've said it over and over....I think Jimmie Johnson is the most underrated champion in all of sports. Nobody goes crazy over his accomplishments.....can you imagine if Dale, Jr. or Danica won as often as this guy? Those two are over-hyped and over-exposed and can't win a race much less a championship.....all Jimmie Johnson does is win and stay out of the limelight. What a concept.....apparently one that doesn't work in NASCAR, because the suits have yet to figure out what a great commodity they have in Johnson. The Charlotte Bobcats' season is underway.... I thought it was my civic duty to remind everybody that the NBA season has started. The college hoop season gets underway this week, too. What a waste. I've been beating a drum for the past few years that the college hoop junkies are missing the boat by starting the season in early November. The sports world is different these days. Football rules.....and college hoops doesn't seem to mind or admit that their game has taken a distant backseat to pigskin. Since we now admit 69 teams to the Dance, the regular season has been reduced to a handful of great games from around the country. Don't get me wrong; there are basketball meccas from Tobacco Road to Syracuse; the great state of Kentucky; Bloomington, Indiana; East Lansing; Lawrence, Kansas; Tucson and Pauley Pavilion that live and die on every dribble.....but most of the country doesn't get energized until March Madness. Any meaningful college hoops games get swallowed whole between now and the BCS title game.....it's just the way the world thinks, these days. Starting college basketball in early November is a mistake....and I say that as a resident of North Carolina, and a person who grew up in a college basketball family. I'll still watch and enjoy the game, but right now....the rest of the country is settling in for the stretch drive of a great college football season. |
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