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Weekend winners
Shohei and the Dodgers. Yes, the Dodgers win the weekend too, even giving a unicorn $700 million over the next decade. The Dodgers have flexibility to continue to add players if needed. The Dodgers also now have arguably the greatest 1-2-3 combo in MLB history — and all three have MVPs — with Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. That’s three dudes on track to Cooperstown leading off every game for the next four-plus years at least.
Army-Navy. I love everything about that game. Truly I do, and Saturday was no exception.
Jayden Daniels. Why all the Jayden Daniels angst on social media? Dude deserved to win the Heisman. Moreover, the Daniels’ cash at plus-600 (or higher depending on when you got on the JD train) helped buoy a very entertaining weekend for Jay’s Plays, which went 3-1-1 and landed the Heisman winners before Thanksgiving.
Dallas and Dak. Dak Prescott, MVP? Yep, that’s looking more and more likely. Dallas and San Fran have passed Philadelphia in the power rankings of the NFC super teams.
LeBron James. Dude won the first In-Season Tournament because line-item details like that matter to James. And that’s cool. Moreover, LeBron’s oldest son Bronny was back on the floor with his USC teammates, which was a great thing to see after his offseason cardiac arrest.
Weekend losers
Patty Mahomes. Dude looked like a spoiled crybaby for the first time in his highly likable and enjoyable run as QB1 of the Chiefs. Man, how crazy is the stat that Patrick Mahomes has made 11 non-Super Bowl playoff starts and all 11 of them are in Arrowhead. And above all, uh, Pat, the call was correct.
Arthur Smith. Arthur Smith is about to find his way into the NASCAR part of the “weekend losers,” and we’re just going to assume he lost the weekend. Yikes.
Philly. Man, does anyone else think Jalen Hurts looks, well, hurt?
The PGA. Gang, y’all better figure this out. Jon Rahm left last week. Now comes chatter that Tony Finau is LIV-listening, too. The LIV-merger talks have stalled and even have moved into other private investors, and if that’s the direction the PGA heads while losing star-power by the week, look out.
The Angels. Man, you are going to have six years of Trout-Shohei and win as many playoff games as Spy’s slow-pitch softball team? Simply unacceptable.
Bowling, gang
Ladies and gentleman, the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) official entry form.
Couple of house cleaning items. No purchase necessary. Your friends, family and anyone foolish enough not to be a regular is also welcome to play. These listed spreads are final. Yes, half of Georgia’s team may opt out, but the line listed below is what we are dealing with for these happenings.
Also, don’t highlight your picks. It makes it more difficult in the tabulating process. Some of you are spread-sheeters. And that’s fine. If you want to circle your picks, fine. If you want to cut and paste the entire list below, then leave your pick so the entire column would look like this.
Rose Bowl — Alabama
Sugar Bowl — Texas (-3.5)
Cool?
Also A-OK. But the highlighting does not show on a print out. Fire away. Need these by the end of business on Friday, Dec. 15. Deal? Deal.
1-point games
Myrtle Beach Bowl — Georgia Southern vs. Ohio (-2.5)
New Orleans Bowl — Louisiana vs. Jacksonville State (-2.5)
Cure Bowl — Miami (Ohio) vs. App State (-3.5)
New Mexico Bowl — Fresno State vs. New Mexico State (-2.5)
Arizona Bowl — Wyoming vs Toledo (-1.5)
Toastery Bowl — Old Dominion vs. Western Kentucky (pick ’em)
68 Ventures Bowl — Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama (-16.5)
2-point games
Independence Bowl — Cal vs. Texas Tech (-3.5)
Frisco Bowl — Marshall vs. UTSA (-8.5)
Boca Raton Bowl — South Florida vs. Syracuse (-5.5)
Birmingham Bowl — Duke vs. Troy (-5.5)
Camellia Bowl — Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State (-1.5)
Armed Forces Bowl — Air Force vs. James Madison (-4.5)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl — Utah State vs. Georgia State (-3.5)
3-point games
L.A. Bowl — Boise State vs. UCLA (-2.5)
Las Vegas Bowl — Northwestern vs. Utah (-7.5)
Hawai’i Bowl — Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (-7.5)
Quick Lane Bowl — Bowling Green vs. Minnesota (-5.5)
First Responder Bowl — Rice vs. Texas State (-6.5)
Guaranteed Rate Bowl — UNLV vs. Kansas (-11.5)
Military Bowl — Tulane vs. Virginia Tech (-5.5)
Liberty Bowl — Memphis vs. Iowa State (-6.5)
4-point games
Gasparilla Bowl — Georgia Tech vs. UCF (-6.5)
Duke’s Mayo Bowl — UNC vs. West Virginia (-3.5)
Holiday Bowl — USC vs. Louisville (-6.5)
Fenway Bowl — Boston College vs. SMU (-10.5)
Pinstripe Bowl — Rutgers vs. Miami (-4.5)
Pop-Tarts Bowl — NC State vs. Kansas State (-4.5)
Alamo Bowl — Oklahoma vs. Arizona (-3)
Sun Bowl — Oregon State vs. Notre Dame (-10.5)
5-point games
Texas Bowl — Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M (-4.5)
Gator Bowl — Kentucky vs. Clemson (-6.5)
Cotton Bowl — Missouri vs. THE Ohio State (-3.5)
Peach Bowl — Ole Miss vs. Penn State (-4.5)
Music City Bowl — Maryland vs. Auburn (-2.5)
Orange Bowl — FSU vs. Georgia (-13.5)
ReliaQuest Bowl — Wisconsin vs. LSU (-10.5)
Citrus Bowl — Iowa vs. Tennessee (-7.5)
Fiesta Bowl — Liberty vs. Oregon (-3.5)
7-point game
Rose Bowl — Alabama vs. Michigan (-1.5)
Sugar Bowl — Washington vs. Texas (-3.5)
10-point bonus
National champion (just the winner, no spread)
This and that
— Rest easy Frank Wycheck. Did anyone else know the famed Titans TE who was an integral part of the Music City Miracle lived here in the Scenic City?
— Here are the Golden Globe nominations, which were released Monday morning.
— Man, the whole crew of leaders of Penn, Harvard and MIT are getting the heat they deserve.
Today’s questions
Weekend winners and losers. Go.
Did Shohei get too much or not enough?
As for today, Dec. 11, let’s review.
On this day in 1620, the Mayflower touched down in Plymouth Bay and the Pilgrims set foot in out new world.
On this day in 1951, Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement from MLB
Hailee Steinfield is 27 today. She is dating Josh Allen, and that power couple had a much better day than Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on Sunday.
Ann Rice died on this day in 2021. Does the author of those vampire books make the the Rushmore of Rice?
Go.