Pyle of List

Where are all the Christmas movies on TV?  I’ve yet to see “A Charlie Brown Christmas” or “It’s a Wonderful Life” and we’re half way through the December push.  If I have to resort to pulling out my Christmas movie collection on VHS I’m going to be upset.

Well, I’ve already thrown Charlie Brown in the ole VCR…but that’s it.

Anyways, this weeks Hot and Cold…..

Hot

CC and the Yanks

Sounds like a crappy British band.  But alas, Sabathia and the Yankees have committed to each other in a private ceremony attended by friend and family at the Steinbrenner estate.  I realize that the cash on the table is hard to dismiss, but…why do players keep taking the huge check to become another Yankee guy instead of taking slightly less money and becoming a God in LA or Chicago?  Of course, I can judge now but as soon as SI.com is ready to hand over a huge check to me to be another SI blogger, I’m gone.

Steve Slaton

You may be aware that your friend here at PoL have been covering the NFL games live for SI.com.  I’ve had the “opportunity” to cover the Texans over the past two weeks starting with a beatdown of the Jaguars two Monday nights ago and then a last second win over the Packers on Sunday.  Two things have become increasingly clear to me.  One: neither Sage Rosenfels or Matt Schaub are starting QB’s in this league.  I think they are both exceptional  backups but there’s a gap between great backups and good starters and both these guys fall right in that gap.  Two: NFL General Managers should be crunching the numbers already to figure out what they can throw at Steve Slaton when he hits free agency in 2012.  This rookie is for real. And if he’s smart he will ride out the contract in Houston and jet for a team that has some sort of offensive line and gives him a chance to become a superstar, something that can’t be done on the Texans….ask Andre Johnson.

The Bowl Games

We might hate the system and we can punch holes it in all day long but…don’t tell me you didn’t watch the BCS Selection show on Fox Sunday night.  And now the rest of the bowls have given out their invitations and I know I’ve been planning family events around the games I want to see at the and of the month and the beginning of the new year.  I’m also proposing a UT/OU exhibition game on the weekend between the NFC/AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl.  Anyone with boatloads of cash want to step up and make that happen for me?

Cold

That Zorn/Portis Relationship

It’s no secret that I’m a Cowboy fan so I’m loving the rookie Head Coach and the star RB of my least favorite team taking pot shots at each other.  But when I step back and look at this…what are both these guys thinking?  Jim Zorn has gotten to 8-5 in his first year due largely and possibly wholly thanks to Portis.  Is this guy studying at the feet of Jerry Jones circa 1993’s feud with Jimmy Johnson when it comes to killing the golden goose.  And then there’s Portis.  Clinton Portis has been hurting and missing practice for weeks now.  It’s pretty difficult for me to side with the player who isn’t practicing with the rest of the team and wants to be the focal point of the team.  My mom used to keep me from going out on nights I played hooky to get out of school because, “If your too sick to go to school, your not well enough to go out.”  Similarly, if your to injured to practice with your team, your not well enough to take on guys who won’t pull up when they hit you.

P.S. Jerry Jones and Marion Barber pay attention.

The NFL Business Model

The Arena Football League (a subsidiary of the NFL) might have to close up shop soon, they will not be playing football in 09.  The NFL has announced layoffs of 150 people who work on the league level and canceled the plans for a preseason game in China due to the current economic climate.  Add those little issues to the looming collective bargaining agreement and possible work stoppage within a couple of years and trust me owners are sweating.  Now, if the NFL is having trouble with money how much hope do any of us have.  The NFL makes a ton of cash year round and they are still cutting back…I iz scared.

Distractions

Zorn/Portis, Jerry Jones/MB3, Plax, Donavan Mcnabb…All 4 NFC East teams have gotten face time on the four letter within the past 2 weeks with the same question…”Will the situation with ________ be a distraction to this team?”  As a fan of the NFL, it better not be.  Off field issues are off the field.  If the New York Football Giants allowed the sweat pants wearing WR interfere with their planning for the Eagles they are not the championship team everyone thinks they are.  I realize ESPN needs to fill 3 different 24 hour channels, but surely they can jump back on the Roger Clemens fiasco or something.  Distractions do not happen on good teams and we, the fans, don’t care to here about the teams vying for that top draft pick…so find something else to talk about First Take.