Front Row.com Blog

 I just took a look at the schedule for the Madonna concert tour. More to the point I ran across an article about Madonna on one of the search portals and there was a picture. She don’t look bad for an old broad. That thought took me back to her emergence in the early 80’s as an edgy, parent hate invoking, sext singer. In a not so quiet way Madonna has dominated the music scene for two decades now, selling 200 million albums and racking up too many awards to count. It doesn’t seem like that long ago I was listening to Material Girl and covering my kids ears when Like a Virgin came on the radio. Now I find her to be strangely appealing. I guess I’m getting older than I look.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 One thing you can say about the NFL is that change is the only constant. As you look around the league that becomes evident. And that’s a good thing. Just this week those winds of change are blowing hard.

 One of the biggest stories of the year is the move to the New York Jets by quarterback Brett Favre. Now I’d be the last guy to tell you that Favre makes the Jets a Super Bowl contender. But realistically he’s made them a better team. Evidence of that comes in his six touchdown performance this week against the Arizona Cardinals. Is he that great a quarterback in his waning years? Probably not but Favre still has more gas in the tank. More importantly, the jets believe in him. And belief can carry you a long way. 

 More change comes in the 4-0 record of the Buffalo Bills. It’s been a long time coming for Buffalo. Amazingly the Bills are leading the division after a quarter of the season. When was the last time the New England Patriots were second to anybody? And with Tom Brady out and the pats reeling from their stunning loss to the Miami Dolphins a Bills victory over New England no longer seems like such an incredible idea.

 The St. Louis Rams have called an official end to the Scott Linehan era. Linehan never took hold on this team. The Rams are 3-17 in their last 20 games. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, a former head coach with the New Orleans Saints, will take over on at least a temporary basis. Which brings us to the Oakland Raiders circus. Every day is a new day for Lane Kiffin to get fired. I honestly think the only reason Kiffin is still there is to collect his check. He’s been hamstrung, gutted, and left to rot by owner Al Davis. the only worse thing that could happen for the Raiders is for Al Davis to still be in charge when they pick a new coach.

After a couple pof down years the Chicago Bears look like they’ve regained some fire, upending a good Philadelphia Eagles team on Sunday. The Bears, armed with a good defense, a decent (at least consistent) quarterback, and a solid rookie running back in Matt Forte, should challenge again the NFC North.

 And how about the Washington Redskins? With every pundit in the land calling the Dallas Cowboys a sure fire Super Bowl team, the Skins went into Texas Stadium and handed Tony Romo and crew their heads. Better keep an eye on this team and the division in general.

 In the NFC South, no champion has repeated in almost a decade. It looks like the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints will battle it out in a close division race.

 And finally, the Kansas City Chiefs ended a 12 game losing streak by beating a previously hot Denver team. The Broncos have been pulling off some late game heroics but couldn’t get it done in Arrowhead.

Overall, an interesting week for the NFl, one that could set a tone for the rest of the season.  

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 In what looks like another college football season where it doesn’t pay to be ranked in the top 5, the Alabama Crimson Tide put a whipping on the #3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs Saturday. The Bulldogs, who did a lot of grumbling at the end of last year as being overlooked, are certainly hoping the BCS will overlook this performance. Alabama, on the other hand, has the look of a team that could be a contender, certainly in the SEC, and quite possible for the BCS National Championship game.

 The Crimson Tide ran up 31 unanswered points in the furst half, cruised to a 41-30 victory, and put an end to an 11 game Bulldogs winning streak. Nick Saban put off talk about being ranked #1, but it’s going to be hard for Alabama fans to stop talking about this one.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 Is there anything in the world like college football tickets. Last night was proof positive that for shock value the world of college football has no equal. It’s also another testament to the power of teamwork and positive thinking.

Unranked and unheralded Oregon State took on the USC Trojans, the best football team in the country, and put a 27-21 whooping on them. For the Trojans it’s a sad flashback to last seasons stunning upsets that cost them a shot at the BCS National Championship Game. The same thing probably happened again last night.

But don’t think Oregon State didn’t have a chance. The whipped the Trojans in 2006 when USC was ranked 3rd. Apparently, USC’s mystique is lost on the Oregon State Beavers. And that’s as it should be. It makes me wonder what’s going to happen next in the world of college football.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 After years of inept service and poor performance it’s finally caught up with Matt Millen. The Detroit Lions are expected to release him from duties sometime in the next few days. I find it incredible that this hasn’t happened years ago. Anyway, Millen is primed to move into government service where incompetence is the key factor in promotion. Now we can only hope that Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders will get mad and terminate his own contract.

Six former NFL athletes have volunteered to donate their brains to medical science to aid in the effort to understand the effects of concussion. Neither Pacman Jones nor Ocho Cinco was eligible. Speaking of which, did anybody explain to the guy that Ocho Cinco actually means eight five and not EIGHTY FIVE?

The quarterback carousel has begun. Trent Green will be starting for the St. Louis Rams, Damon Huard for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Brady Quinn might find himself under center if Anderson doesn’t shape up.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 In an unbelievable turn of events, NFL tickets have delivered again. This is the week where the lowly Miami Dolphins, 1-15 last season, blew away the mighty New England Patriots, owners of a 16-0 regular season record in 2008. Man, I wonder what 100 bucks down would have paid out?

 This is about as big an upset as you’ll ever see in the NFL. The Dolphins were given no chance in New England, despite the Patriots loss of Tom Brady. As for me, I’m mystified. How can Brady’s absence affect the defense, making it give up four touchdowns on a trick play? How can the Patriots running game suddenly look meek and mild. There’s some head games going on here folks.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 The MLB post season is beginning to shape up. That World Series smell is in the air. As I said months ago the Chicago Cubs could be the next long suffering loser to smell that rareified air. The Cubs have wrapped up the National League Central, the first team in the NL to clinch.

In the AL the Los Angeles Angels have clinched the AL West while the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are playoff bound but the Boston Red Sox could have a say about where they’re seeded. Anyway, I’m starting to smell the hot dogs and beer of a World Series. The only question is to where do I book my flight and does anybody know a good travel agent in Iraq?

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 OK, so there’s this big proton collider or something located somewhere in Europe and some scientists are concerned that this thing will create runaway black holes that will suck stuff into it. I think they’re right and the San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings have had their Super Bowl hopes sucked into another universe.

 While most of us are watching our neighbors and maybe even ourselves struggle with the downfall of the mortgage market, it was announced this week that the majority of NFL franchises are worth upwards of a BILLION dollars. Sell your Freddi Mac and Fannie Mae and buy NFL tickets, at least you’ll watch something worthwhile rather than your money go down the drain.

 Muhammed Ali visited the Ryder Cup on Thursday. Rumors that he punched out the entire European team are probably not true.  

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 Two weeks into the 2008 NFL season and the Minnesota Vikings are already looking at an uphill battle. They’ve lost to the Green Bay Packers and gave up a win to the Indianapolis Colts. So the answer to their problems is to put Gus Frerrote at quarterback? Pardon my thinking here, but I hardly see Tarvaris Jackson as the only problem, and even if he is I think time will take care of it. It’s a knee jerk reaction.

Meanwhile, in the NFC South the Carolina Panthers are now the team to beat. The Saints haven’t resolved their secondary woes and Matt Ryan hasn’t made the Falcons an instant contender. As for the Bucs, let’s wait and see shall we?

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »

 Backing up my contention that the SEC is the best college football conference in the country, the latest polls show that five SEC teams now rank in the Top Ten. This is true in the AP poll and the coaches poll. As it now stands the Georgia Bulldogs are ranked #3, the Florida Gators #4, LSU Tigers #6, Alabama #7, and Auburn #10.

 The rankings are a testament to the quality of football layed in the SEC. The SEC is also it’s own cross to bear. In an age where perfection is demanded of a national champion, how does a team get out of the SEC season without a loss. These teams spend all season beating up on each other. No other conference winner faces the same challenge as an SEC Champion. As much as is made of “strength of schedule” factors in rankings, nothing stands out like a goose egg in the loss column and nothing sells commercial time as well as an “undefeated” tag come bowl time.

Tags: sports by edrouant
No Comments »