Slow times in horse racing and I’m due for a rant.  Here goes…

What a Superbowl!  Good to see another Ole Miss grad do well!  Go Eli!  Hopefully he won’t start making commercials.

Pro Football… Tony Romo didn’t start losing because he was distracted by Jessica Simpson.  He lost because he’s not a very good quarterback.  Terrell Owens could make anybody look like a good quarterback.  I think if my Dad were quarterback they could make the playoffs as long as T.O. was healthy.  He’s just that good.  So when T.O. went out with an injury, Romo’s true colors showed. 

College Basketball… Drake?  Butler?  I said it last year and I’ll say it again… why do these teams make the top 25 every year?  Just because a team has only one loss, or two, does not make them one of the best 25 teams in the country.  If Drake were playing any team in the ACC on Drake’s home court they would be a 15 point underdog.  I’m not saying they are not a good team.  I’m just saying they don’t belong in the top 25.  Someday maybe I’ll be a sports writer and I’ll get a vote.  Memphis is overrated too.  UNC is the best team in the land.  Playing in the ACC all season long should make playing in the NCAA tournament look pretty easy.

ESPN says it is Rivalry week! 

• Duke vs UNC this coming Wednesday.  I’ll take UNC, even with Lawson injured. 
• Florida vs Tennessee.  I’ll take Tennessee.  But is this really a rivalry?
• Butler at Wisc GB.  I’ll take Wisc GB. 

Memphis should not lose a game this year, but they are not the best team in the country.  I’m not sure they are in the top five.  I’ll be picking them to exit the tourney early this year. 

It’s tough being a Kentucky fan this year.  Their chances at an NCAA tourney bid are slim.  Billie Gillespie may not survive the year if he doesn’t turn it around.  They are not even listed as a bubble team.  Yeesh.  Humility is a bitter pill for UK fans. 

Bobby Knight resigns - love him or hate him, he was good for the game.  I wouldn’t exactly call him a classy guy, but he added color to the sport and he knew how to coach.  Believe it or not, here’s a Kentucky Wildcat fan saying I hate to see him go. 

Horseracing….

Curlin Horse of the Year - I was a big Street Sense fan, and called for him to win the Derby and break the so-called Juvenile curse.  To me, the Derby proved he was the best horse in the land and still head and shoulders above his peers.  And to me, the Derby proved that Curlin was not the freak that many said he was.  I was wrong.  Street Sense was already second best to Curlin when the gates opened on the first Saturday in May.  But Street Sense got the ride and Curlin got a miserable trip.  Just like Afleet Alex was the best three year old when he ran his Derby - also finishing third, due to a poorly timed bid by his jockey.  Just goes to show - it isn’t just the horse.  It’s the horse and the trip.  That’s why winning the Triple Crown is so hard.  The Breeders Cup left no doubt that Curlin is truly a special horse.

I still won’t bet lightly raced horses in the Derby.  Hasn’t hurt me yet.

Cheating - Good to see the Bloodhorse start to speak out on the topic of meds cheating in horse racing.  In a recent editorial it was even suggested that owners would have their horses suspended if the trainer is caught cheating (something I suggested in this blog many months ago, but I’m not saying he got it from me).  Maybe if enough light is shed on the rampant problem we might see some change soon.  The Bloodhorse is a well respected publication and to my knowledge this is the first time I’ve seen them take a strong stand.  It’s time.