On Becks, Babes Basketball, and Baseball

Well, the Titans scrapped past the Pats in a surprising offensive showdown. Vince disappointed in his 07 debut, but there are many positives from this game.
Again, the defense wowed me. Yes, we gave up way too many points. But we played far better than I expected. Hearing the lineups announced, I cringed, and thought in particular our secondary was going to get carved up this season...and about that time, we got the first of two rapid takeaways, that first one getting housed for our opening score. Our D-line rolled the dice a few times, and we were on Tom Brady like a cheaply tailored version of one of his prettyboy suits.
Another likely weakness, our crop of no-name recievers...who played admirably. Kerry "Whoops, I Screwed Up Again" Collins actually fought us back into the game, as we scored 17 unanswered points to rally for the lead...and our defense held back the Patriots on a go-ahead 2 point conversion try.
All-told, good game. Vince will get better, and the "whole is better than the sum of its parts" 2007 Titans squad, if it holds to form, will be a competitive force this year.
Note: Dark pants with the white tops...our usual road set, but light blue pants are still better. Either way, one of the best-dressed road teams out there. Another solid road look? The Colts, one of the few teams to look sharp in monochrome.

Well, I was somewhat right on Becks. He started the SuperLiga game against DC United, and was pulled about when I said he'd appear. However, he was more than ready, as evinced by his gorgeous goal and assist. He then drew 66,000+ to Jersey for his first regular season, regular MLS game debut at the New York Red Bulls, playing the full 90 and setting up a trifecta of goals in a 5-4 loss.
Now GoldenBalls is off from NYC to London (England-Germany friendly) before jetting back to LAX to (maybe) take some part in the Honda SuperClassico, LA Galaxy/Chivas USA. As Yahoo! points out, the MLS schedule needs to be tweaked so it's not as hellish on internationals wanting to represent their countries as well as their clubs...but either way, the globetrotting phenom will draw attention to the biggest little league on the map right now. Go Becks. Go Gals. Yay rah.

The playoffs are set in the WNBA--NY/Detroit and Connecticut/Indy in the East, Seattle/Phoenix and Sacramento/San Antonio in the West. East top-seed Detroit backed into the playoffs on four straight losses, while 2-seed Indiana recovered from losing Tamika Catchings for much of the season to finish the year by dumping the Shock, after beating West 2-seed San Antonio. (Catch is listed day to day for the playoffs.)
The Silver Stars and Sacramento are way too streaky and inconsistent for my tastes, so I see that one going 3 games in a toss-up. Seattle/PHX should also be a wild one; the Storm has been unpredictable, but LJ has been a scoring machine for the Green-Gold-and-Red.
Any of these series has the chance of going 3 games, but the East may have the best shot at sweeps. Detroit lumbered into the playoffs by holding back its stars with homecourt guaranteed...but they will have to avoid getting too relaxed and used to losing, lest they find themselves quickly outed. However, I see them toppling NY pretty easily, as the Liberty has struggled to find an identity all season. The Sun always are a formidable, imposing foe, but the Fever are finally clicking with Sutton-Brown, Whitmore, White, Tully, and the bunch, and with Catch on the brink of rejoining them, I think the Fever could be due for a run.
My predictions? Detroit in 2, Indiana in 2; Phoenix in 3, and San Antonio in 3.

Good to see my girl Sid Spencer (I'm a fan, UT Lady Vol or not...Go Lady Dores!) leading all LA scorers with 25 points and 5 boards in a Sparks loss to Seattle on Saturday. Good work, Sid.
Also attaboys to Johan Santana for his 17-K performance, and to John Smoltz for overtaking Knucksie as the Braves' strikeout leader.

Bravos are 5.5 games out of first in the East, a game back of the Phils, as the Mets have won 3 straight; however, no one can really seem to get hot as everyone's hovering around 5-5 in the last 10.
And the Cubs have bumped the Brewers by a game in the Central. Chicago, winners of 3 straight as well, will be battling the Brew Crew for a while, as Milwaukee battles itself to prevent a nosedive. (Can't fault the talent...most of it is from the Sounds and Huntsville Stars.) Can anyone make ground in the NL Central? The Pirates are 52-70, last in the division, and just 11 out. The Cards have won 7 of their last 10...despite losing 2 straight...and they are 4 out. And the Great American Bandbox Redlegs are just 8 out. For comparison? Put the Central-leading Cubbies in ANY other division...they are currently no higher than 3rd place.
Please add a pair of teams, MLB, so we can balance this damned thing. Look at what it did to the NFL. +