Delayed Reaction: The UCONN women, Favre and Amare

I have some free time so let me go ahead and give you my take on a few things in the news this week.

UCONN Women's Basketball
First it was the streak, Geno Auriemma's rant and a wide range of opinions regarding the 90 game win streak's significance. Now the mighty have fallen, and my bet is that Geno Auriemma couldn't be happier, but why?

The truth is to say that women's college basketball stands in the shadow of the men's game is the understatement of a century. But if we've learned anything from the past decade, it's that hype sells and Auriemma could sell an HDTV to a blind man. Instead of basking in the glory of his streak, Auriemma dove head first into starting a controversy and it was brilliant. The following week was dominated by discussion of women's basketball, when was the last time that happened? And I mean women's basketball, not Don Imus.

Now that UCONN lost to Stanford last night, the same team that handed them their last loss back in 2008, perhaps the storm will settle, but as a testament to this streak's success for women's hoops, I can't deny that if come tournament time, if UCONN plays Stanford, I'll be watching.

The Penske File
Gary Williams, former co-host of sirius/xm and Mad Dog radio show Gary and Phillips in the Morning remarked several weeks ago that Roger Goodell's "investigation" into the Brett Favre/Jen Sterger alligations of sexual misconduct were equivalent to "The Penske File," and that couldn't be more true.

For those unfamiliar with "The Penske File," the reference is to an episode of "Seinfeld" in which George, unsure of whether he has or has not got a new job, decides to show up to work anyway. Countless hours are spent working on "The Penske File," however George is actually locked in his office, sleeping.

It comes as no surprise that Goodell's ruling is both inconclusive and conveniently timed. The NFL was afraid of the ramifications of suspending Brett Favre. The story itself would be shattering to the already tattered legacy of the NFL great. So after making examples of countless NFL players, some of which were not charged with or convicted of crimes, but were punished as such, Goodell has decided to throw Favre a bone, what a joke.

Consider that Isiah Thomas' behavior in a somewhat similar situation cost Madison Square Garden $11.6 million. Now doesn't Favre's fine of $50,000 seem like a slap on the wrist?

Here's Something That Grinds My Gears
The Knicks are remarkably improved from a year ago. Amare Stoudemire has given them an offensive force in the paint they have not had since the Ewing era and Ray Felton honestly could be the team's best point guard since Clyde. BUT it pains me to read a box score and find that Stoudemire who is listed as about 6' 10", was out-rebounded by Dwight Howard 18-4 in the Knicks' loss to the Magic last night. Look inside that number and you'll find Howard had 9 offensive rebounds, or more than double Stoudemire's total output for the game. That is just not a winning formula.

That's all for now. Wishing everyone a happy and safe New Year. Comment with your own take on these subjects or anything else!

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