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Shooting from the lip

By TOM JONES
Published November 6, 2006

What two NFL superstars have become pen pals? What sports star should be ashamed for sitting out this weekend? Which team should be more worried - Ohio State or Michigan? And which team's uniform can make you sick? Get the answers to those questions, and more, as Times staff writer Tom Jones shares his highlights and lowlights from a weekend of televised sports.

Best feature

NBC's feature on Lance Armstrong running in the New York City Marathon was a fascinating look at a phenomenal athlete in one sport learning how to just get through another sport. The only weird part was that the network used a song (Run, Baby, Run) by Sheryl Crow, Armstrong's ex, as the background music in the piece. Think it did that on purpose? Was it a joke? Or does someone over at NBC need to brush up on his or her pop culture?

Funniest comment

Lightning announcer Bobby "The Chief" Taylor, on Bruins 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara: "You've got to go into the third row just to get around him."

Strongest comment

Taylor, the Lightning TV color guy, lost his humorous side and didn't hold back when Chara scored a late goal that appeared to be knocked in with a high stick to allow the Bruins to tie the Lightning in the final minute. "Whaaat? You've got to be kidding me. That's ridiculous!" Taylor said. He was right. The Lightning got hosed.

BCS nightmares

Ohio State and Michigan almost sent the entire BCS system down the toilet (if it's not already there). Ohio State struggled with Illinois, and Michigan barely survived Ball State. My gut tells me Ohio State was looking ahead, but Michigan might be vulnerable. Don't know if anyone agrees, but Ball State's last pass into the Michigan end zone? Looked like pass interference to me.

More sleepless nights

You just know the BCS is praying that Rutgers loses. Soon. If the Scarlet Knights somehow upset Louisville and run the table, how could you deny them a spot in the BCS championship game, presumably against the Ohio State-Michigan winner?

Funny, but true

ESPN's Rece Davis did a commendable job filling in as host of College GameDay with Chris Fowler doing Saturday's Breeders' Cup. Davis' best line: "Look at these highlights. Watching Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan is like watching a video game." Davis is right. It's like a video game set on the "rookie" setting. Brennan has thrown 39 touchdowns with only six interceptions. But he lives in Hawaii, not South Bend, so forget the Heisman.

Missing in action

Shame on Tiger Woods. Yes, he's a grown man and can play whenever and wherever he chooses. But he owed it to the PGA Tour that has made him so rich and popular to play in the Tour Championship, particularly after skipping so many events during the season. Same goes for Phil Mickelson.

Best interview

ESPN's Kenny Mayne did a masterful live interview with jockey Javier Castellano less than an hour after Castellano was thrown by Pine Island, who dislocated her left ankle and had to be euthanized in the Breeders' Cup. Mayne was somber and showed the right amount of sympathy but still asked what had happened and managed the most insightful question of all: Could Castellano still be effective riding favored Bernardini in the $5-million Cup Classic race.

Best prediction

CBS's Gary Danielson, who is quietly becoming my favorite college football game analyst, said late in the fourth quarter of the LSU-Tennessee game that LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell was about to have his "signature moment" as a college quarterback. Russell made Danielson look great by leading the Tigers on an 80-yard drive for the winning score.

Best game

LSU-Tennessee? That was good stuff. Oklahoma-Texas A&M? Pretty close. But, nope, the vote goes to a hockey game. San Jose vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday night. It has Pittsburgh's young stars, San Jose's veterans. It was chippy, yet fast. Pretty, but dirty. I can't wait until they play again, which will be - thanks to the NHL schedule - maybe two years from now.

Ugliest uniforms

Who designed the University of Oregon uniforms, Mrs. Johnson's Kinder Care class? Green. Black. White. Stars. I think there's yellow in there, too, but I'm not sure. I looked away quickly because I got sick in my mouth a little bit. It's reason enough not to show the Ducks' games in high definition. Pretty good team, though. And they have a solid running back in Jeremiah Johnson. I always wondered if that guy would come down off that mountain.

Worst prediction

Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN's College GameDay predicted Virginia would upset Florida State in Tallahassee. He was only off by 33 points.

We didn't know that

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, during halftime of the Notre Dame-North Carolina game, revealed how close Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning are by reporting the two trade several e-mails a week. But because the two played Sunday night, they didn't write each other last week. By the way, King said it's his guess Byron Leftwich will not be the starting quarterback of the Jaguars next season.

We didn't know this, either

When the 37,000 racers of the New York City Marathon cross the Brooklyn Bridge, the old bridge actually shakes. NBC's coverage of the event was the best-directed sports show of the weekend, by the way.

Throwing it out there

Fox NFL analyst Jimmy Johnson, on whether Bill Cowher will return as coach of the Steelers next season: "I don't think Bill Cowher knows right now. At the end of the season, I think they'll talk him into staying at Pittsburgh." The popular rumor? If Cowher doesn't return to Pittsburgh, he'll eventually coach at North Carolina State.

Making us look good

In Sunday's paper, we called Toronto's Darcy Tucker the most hated, perhaps, player in the NHL. On Saturday night's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, announcer Harry Neale said, "Darcy Tucker is Public Enemy No. 1 in most NHL arenas."

Most inspiring moment

See the end of the Notre Dame game? Some walk-on from the practice squad actually got into the game and even sacked the quarterback on the last play. The crowd went nuts. Then his teammates carried him off the field. It was amazing! Oh, wait, never mind. Apparently, I was watching Rudy.

[Last modified November 6, 2006, 02:42:13]