Ryder along
I am here for the Ryder Cup.
The emotion. The energy, especially when guys with eight- and nine-figure bank accounts who normally don't tee it up unless there are millions at stake are playing for nothing but pride and patriotism. The angst. The angles - yes, the betting market will sing on this one, friends. The GAWD awful outfits.
I'm here for all of it. (Side note: How great will this sports viewing weekend be? First, the weather is supposed to be excellent - hello porch TV. College football on Saturday. NFL on Sunday. The penultimate weekend of the baseball season with pennant races galore. And the Ryder Cup? This is an embarrassment of riches, not unlike going to the Western Sizzlin' and realizing it's all-you-can-eat shrimp night too. Giddy-up.)
The storylines from this Ryder Cup start on the American side with the Bryson-Brooks beef. Personally, I don't think Steve Stricker has a strong enough presence to quash this. Bryson says he wants to end it. But considering the pub Brooks has received in this - which remember is rewarded financially now on the PGA Tour in terms of buzz and Q-rating bonuses - and the way this has made him a fan favorite by being on the opposite end with the game's current villain, here's a hunch that he has no interest in ending it.
And Brooks knows he's mentally tough enough to play and play well regardless. I can't say the same about Bryson.
I will add this though: Man, I wish Patrick Reed was there. Truly.
First, he's the American version of Ian Poulter in that there are a lot of dudes who have their favorite majors and you can see it. Reed and Poulter love this event more than all the others.
Second, Reed and DeChambeau would have been a monster American dream team of dread. Wow, the emotion those two lightning rods would have created.
As for this week, well, the Europeans have a huge edge, and Poulter is right that the American rookies are in for some nerve-wracking highs and lows.
Even some of the non-rookies, because remember DeChambeau made his Ryder debut three years ago and went 0-3-0, and that was with foursome losses with a couple of cats named Mickelson and Woods.
If Bryson's losing streak continues early on this weekend, his feud with Brooks may be the least of his worries.
Manning-crush
You know I watched.
Heck, I'm betting you watched.
Peyton and Eli were again the best part of the Monday Night Football broadcast. Well, the second-best part. A ticked-off Aaron Rodgers was going to be special, and we all knew it - including the Detroit defense.
Well, none of it disappointed. In fact, the merger of those two made for near-perfect TV.
When Rodgers hit Robert Tonken on a perfectly thrown seam for a TD, I thought Peyton needed a cigarette afterward.
There were other highlights too: The all-star guests were all-star caliber. Gronk was Gronk, even saying when renowned film-watcher Peyton asked Gronk if he watched game tape and the future Hall of Fame tight end said, "Nah, I just run by people."
Pat McAfee showed his personality in the final segment, and the dude is fall-down funny. First, his go-to Manning story about Peyton in the casino is aces, even for those of us who have heard it a half-dozen times. Second, this one-liner - especially with the way Manning was bemoaning the home-crowd noise last week - was genius: "When Peyton put his hands up to quiet the crowd on offense, babies would stop crying in hospitals in Indianapolis." Gold, Jerry. Gold.
Brett Favre was a natural choice considering the Green Bay connection, but he and Peyton talked over each other too much. And here's betting that Peyton regretted asking Favre what Rodgers got from Brett considering the icy relationship between the two.
Eli was a great wingman again.
Adding two laugh-out-loud funny lines that included, "My friends have been texting me forehead jokes" in reference to making fun of Peyton's large melon last week, and when Peyton predicted a Lions play-action pass, Eli offered, "Nice call Romo."
I will be interested in the numbers, because last week, they were surprisingly low.
I expect them to be similar this week, but considering how much more of a dud this game was, I think the Manning Megacast makes up for a greater percentage this week.
And I'll offer one cautious caveat: Please, ESPN, do not over polish this product to make the Manning Megacast more like normal broadcast crews.
They are great because they are different. Making them more traditional will make them more like everyone else and in turn, make them more forgettable.
NFL power activate
OK, side question for those of us a certain age: Were the Wonder Twins under-used by the Super Friends. Sure Superman could solve any and all issues considering his skill set. And yes, Aquaman was the water go-to, and let's face it, the Green Lantern had extremely untapped potential. (Side note: Never really understood why the Green Lantern was counteracted by the Yellow Submarine or whatever his nemesis was but so it goes.)
But when we're lining up actual super powers, would you rather have the twins - one could turn into any animal and the other into any form of water, including something like an ice bridge - or the Native American who could grow to huge heights? Or, if we're being honest, Batman? Discuss.This brings us to the poll this week, and the top is filled with teams that have paired their wins in a variety of ways.
Like a NoCal fireman trying to protect the sequoias, let's get to the poll.
1. Tampa Bay. Did you expect anyone else? The defending Super Bowl Champs not only have a 44-year-old Tom Brady who is playing better than the 24-year-old Tom Brady and the Fountain of Youth version of Gronk (or would that be the fountain of adolescence?), they have a salty pass rush and play in easily the most top-heavy division in the league. Pencil them in as the 1 seed in the NFC, barring injury.
2. Los Angeles Rams. Speaking of Wonder Twins, is there a better defensive duo in the league right now than Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey? I say no. Now feels like a good time to wonder why they allowed Gleek to hang around? Any thoughts?
3. Las Vegas. Still kind of want to write Oakland there. It will be a while. Hey, which are the city changes that still catch you off guard? I know I have said San Diego Chargers in the last six-plus months. And I am not sure I've ever called them the Los Angeles Angels, because for the longest time it was California then it was Anaheim. As for the Raiders, well, 3 may be too low since who has two better wins to start the year? (The answer is no one, Spy.)
4. Denver. The Broncos are a star QB away from being the best roster not in Tampa in the league. This is the product of drafting well across all rounds and knowing what your identity is: This team is built around its front seven and getting to the QB. No, I do not expect them to be here long-term, but Denver's 2-0 start is better than you realize since both wins were on the road.
5. Arizona. Yes, the Chiefs are better long-term, and if Clyde Edwards Helaire holds on to the ball, the Chiefs beat Baltimore and are No. 2 in this poll and some of my buddies (allegedly) would have cashed multiple parlay cards on Sunday night that have K.C. on the money line. But I'm not upset about it. Not any more, anyway. (Side question: I thought CEH would have been much better in this offense, how about you Vader?) Want to know who has not disappointed? Kyler Murray, that's who.
Powerless
28. New York Jets. I'll ask, what would be the worst favorite team to have over the last quarter century? Yes, the Jets feel like a contender, but they had a run of AFC contention in Rex Ryan's heyday before Matt Sanchez had his mojo zapped from the butt fumble. (And editors, that's a real thing. Seriously.)
29. New York Giants. That conversation of the worst team of the last 25 years can't include the Giants, of course. They have won two Super Bowls in that time. But I saw a couple of great stats on the team since Odell Beckham and Dem Boys took that infamous photo from that ill-fated boat trip before the start of the 2016 NFL playoffs. The Giants have started every season since that photo 0-2, and twice have started 0-5. Plus, at 18-48, the Giants have the worst record in the NFL since that photo. Coincidence? Shape of a tidal wave.
30. Jacksonville. This could be a high-water mark for the Jags, who are as safe a bet to be in the powerless rankings all year as the Bucs are to be in the powerful.
31. Detroit. Side note: You are going to be all-time bad if you are the worst team in this NFC North. The league through two weeks is 2-6 with a combined negative-64 point differential. Good times. Shape of a waterfall.
32. Atlanta. OMG. Let's cue the city power worker outside of the Nakatomi Plaza for the future plans of these Falcons: "Take it down. Take it down now." Depending on if the cap scenarios work, make as many offers as anyone will listen. The new GM should have a goal of being blocked on the cell phones of half the AFC at this point. Call the Steelers and see if they want Matt Ryan for a second-rounder. Call the Raiders and see what they will give up for Cordarrelle Patterson. Hey, K.C., since you moved Chris Jones to the edge can we interest you in a Grady Jarrett. Other than Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts, everyone is on the board and should be considered tradable. Because if you ask yourself honestly Falcons fans, what's worse: 2-15 and a chance to find a franchise changer or 7-10 (at best) and talking yourself into the best cover corner on the board?
Activate that, wonder twins.
This and that
- Here's today's A2 offering on a chance to catch up with a real American hero.
- You know the rules. Here's Paschall on UT needing to address some offensive shortcomings before heading to Gainesville.
- Braves played. Braves won. Phillies played. Phillies lost. Braves' lead is now at 3.
- Tough break for the UTC golf team and the area golf community since the rain bagged a star-studded field that was coming to play the renowned grounds at The Honors. I have some great Honors stories. What an amazing facility. Here's more on the canceled tournament from Weeds.
- OK, a lot of social media is up in arms because Lori Laughlin's daughter is on Dancing with the Stars. OK, where to start on this one. First, if Dancing with the Stars has that big a role in your life, you need a new life and some serious redirection. Second, man, let it go. Lori Loughlin - Aunt Becky from Full House - and the rest of the folks in the college admissions scandal paid their debt. Move along folks.
- We're up and running for round two of the 5-at-10 Bracket Challenge. Who is the most popular player in Titans history? Play along here, and thanks.
Today's questions
True or false, it's Tuesday.
True or false, you are not surprised in the least that Disney has reconfigured Jessica Rabbit to downplay her 'looks.' (Side question: Are we to a place that we are worried about body-shaming other cartoons? Also of note, should we get Olive Oil some help because she clearly has an eating disorder.)
True or false, you'll watch as much Ryder Cup this weekend as college football.
True or false, the Jags in the bottom five of the Tuesday Power Poll is the best bet on the Power Poll futures board.
True or false, the Mannings Megacast is going to get scrubbed and mainstreamed to a point that we're going to miss the original version before Thanksgiving.
True or false, the Wonder Twins were a) underrated and b) were actually more effective than Batman and Robin in the cartoons.
True or false, the term hero is overused. True or false, the TV show the Greatest American Hero is underrated.
You know the drill, answer some T or Fs, ask some T or Fs.
As for today, Sept. 21, let's review.
Bill Murray is 71. Stephen King is 74. What a career. And we have done multiple Rushmores on both those dudes.
Faith Hill is 54 today.
Rushmore of all-time married musical power couples, because Faith and Tim have a shot.