The two seem to be nearing another love connection, as the free agent outfielder has reportedly set his price, the Cardinals have made a  similar offer, and the chief remaining suitor for Holliday (unless the Yankees and Red Sox’ public denials are lies…..which is very possible), the Mets, just signed Jason Bay for a hefty sum.

If Holliday is worth 8 years and $140 million dollars not playing all his home games in Coors Field, then what will Albert Pujols be worth when his contract is set to expire in a few years…….10 years $250 million? Yikes.  If so, and Holliday and Pujols both sign with the Cardinals, that would tie up $42.5 million per year to two players for six years at a total of almost $255 million over those 6 years. Good grief.

Texas Tech intended to fire him, and that was why they suspended him prior to the team’s bowl game. 

They canned Leach today in the aftermath of recent accusation of player abuse.  The player in question is Adam James, the son of former SMU “Pony Expre$$” member and alleged stage Dad, Craig James.

I laughed out loud yesterday when I heard on the radio Craig James’ nickname amongst many of the Red Raiders–”Helicopter Pad”–because he hovers around the program and attends the majority of the practices.

The real unfortunate part of all of this is that we will not get to hear what Leach really thinks, and he won’t be having any more sound-bite filled pressers, at least not for awhile.

It may be the only NCAA investigation to last longer thanthe largely fruitless, Whitewateresque 1990s probe into Arkansas basketball (that, among other things has essentially led to the death of a once-proud program), but trouble is on the horizon for Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans.

An appellate court ruling yesterday in a lawsuit against former USC star Reggie Bush should pave the way for the depositions of Bush and Carroll. At that point, we might find out of Yahoo! Sports really did some of the best investigative sports journalism of the decade with its expose on USC a few years ago. 

Even with all of these endorsements, Reggie Bush may have taken a pay cut when he went to the NFL.

This is just the latest in a long recent stretch of negative headlines for the Trojans, who appear to be experiencing a lot of  internal strife. (both are columns by the L.A. Times’ Bill Plaschke, but provide good background)

I look for Carroll to pull a John Calipari and get out of town while the gettin’ is still relatively good, and just before his program is hamstrung with the NCAA’s dreaded “lack of institutional control” label.

"Guys, I am coming back and we are gonna roll it up in 2010".

may be pretty good next season. (scroll down to the last answer) If Arkansas can’t split the 3rd and 4th games of next season (@ GeorgiaSept. 18 then hosting Bama on September 25) then I think they will have a good chance at 10 wins (assuming Mallett returns).

is interesting because he broke it down into mainstream and indy films.  What do you people who don’t have 2-year old (or have family close by or a babysitter) and actually get to see movies think of the picks?  I am not suprised that “The Blind Side” missed the cut.  I haven’t seen it, but from what I have heard, it sounds like a movie critics would be above liking.

for the Alamo Bowl following a complaint from a player and his parents.  Somewhere, Mark Mangino is eating a 2/3 lb Hardee’s Monster Thick Burger, and smiling.

*gasp* a flip-flopper. 

It’s hard to argue with what he writes, regarding Tim Tebow’a most dearly beloved head coach, but considering the rip job he performed on Bobby Petrino when Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons to become the Razorbacks’ head coach, it’s hard to tell how much of this is valid opinion and how much of it is simply Forde’s modus operandi.  No word on whether the Gators have all changed their major to drama in honor of their former/current/probably future coach.

ALLEGEDLY for health reasons.  I am not buying it.

a little bit tighter tonight and be thankful, no matter who you are or what you do or don’t have.  Stories like this one are unfathomable.  I have met the Wises, and they seem to be very nice, giving people.  This is terribly, terribly sad.

that Washington’s NBA franchise is no longer named the Bullets.  Merry Christmas.

OK, this is a few days old, but I had to post this article about the latest of many recent controversies at USC-W.  It details the hubbub involving an SUV that was purchased by a Santa Monica businessman and is being driven by the girlfriend of  Trojan Running back Joe McKnight.  The last few paragraphs were just too priceless.

Documents in the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office show that in May 2008, Schenter registered two companies, “Brighter” and “USC Marketing.” Schenter said in his e-mail that USC stood for United States China Marketing.

Other records show Brighter later registered for the website domain 4joemcknight.com and Schenter was listed as the administrative contact for that site and several other domains, including ojaymayo.com and uscmarketing.com. None of those sites are currently active.

“I only purchased www.4joemcknight.com (didn’t renew) because I thought it was clever along with the many other ones I own/owned,” Schenter said. “Michelle Beltran knew nothing of this website.” Schenter said his other domains include uscromeo.com, uclalove.com, 24kobe.com and airkobe.com.

a Pitch Clock.  Booooooo.  This is baseball.  It’s bad enough we have to suffer aluminum bats (albeit somewhat muted ones) in college baseball……now this?  I don’t like it.

I can see the hits.  I know that a suprisingly decent number of people read the ramblings of 2 mad men on this site.  I also know that when we post college football related stuff, you guys eat it up like catfish.

Sooooooooooo.  Sign up for Bowl Mania.  We have to at least get 25-30 so that someone, theoretically, has a chance to beat me.  The winner gets an autographed picture of my eye brows.

BK and I have been in the basement for the last several days, but we’ll crank back up, soon.  I thought this was a good list.