Leather be!

Some NBA players are complaining about the new basketballs David Stern has unleashed upon them this year. And you know what? I - for perhaps the first time in my life - am going to side with the overpaid, whine-prone players.

When it comes to basketballs, you go leather or you go home. I say composite, smhcomposite.

This is the NBA. The top of the game (allegedly). Don't skimp on the round ball.

I can remember my days as a high school gym rat scrutinizing each basketball that my team had in its ball cage until I found that perfect, amazing ball that would grace my fingertips in ball handling drills.

Shaquille O'Neal said the new balls feel like indoor-outdoor balls, and any basketball purist can tell you, an indoor-outdoor ball should stay outdoors and never feel the bounce of a hardwood floor.

Steve Nash isn't pleased with the balls either. This from a guy who dribbled a tennis ball all throughout college to improve his skills. I'd say he knows what he's talking about.

So Mr. Stern. Ditch the new age of composite and stick to what a basketball should be: pure, unadulterated leather.

Colbert can't stop comeback and Irish eyes are smilin'

Colbert can't stop comeback
Faux-political talk show host Stephen Colbert was on hand for homecoming weekend at his old stomping grounds in Evanston, but couldn't prevent what turned out to be the largest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history.

Northwestern looked like they were going to have a convincing win over Michigan State and finally put a positive twist on a season of utter disappointment. The Wildcats had a 38-3 lead in the third quarter, but then.....the Spatans went on a scoring frenzy that ended with the Spartans kicking their way (literally - a field goal won it) to a 41-38 win.

This win could serve as a turning point for Michigan State who suffered a come-from-behind loss of their own against Notre Dame that deflated the team's sails.

But this loss has got to hurt for Northwestern. This season has been one struggle after the other and a loss like this is like pouring salt on a open wound. Ouch.

For a breakdown of the game, check out http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/games/2006-10-21-michstate-nwestern_x.htm.


Irish eyes are smilin'
It looked like everything was over. No BCS. No Heisman for Brady. A season with so much promise - done.

And then Jeff "The Shark" Samardzija gave Notre Dame another day to fight.

The Irish were on their way to a home loss against UCLA. With just 62 ticks on the clock, Notre Dame was down 17-13 and had to march 80 yards downfield for nothing short of a touchdown.

Enter Brady Quinn. He completes three straight passes - the final one being a 45-yard TD pass to Samardzija that let the Irish escape (in the truest sense of the word) with a win.

I know Troy Smith is getting all the hype for the Heisman. But don't forget Brady Quinn, y'all...

Bearing down

Hey Matt, welcome to the NFL...

The Chicago Bears might be summoning the shuffling success of the '85 Super Bowl champs this season. Their comeback in last night's game against Arizona was...ridiculous.

And lucky.

I hope everyone saw Cardinals coach Dennis Green blow up after the game. It was priceless.

The Bears have a bye this week, which means they'll remain unbeaten for at least another week. We'll see if the 49er's can do anything about Da Bears on Oct. 29.

Falling into place

It seems that everyone's settling into fall. We've got our college football on Saturday, NFL on Sunday and the dawning of a new Monday Night Football era. Not to mention the baseball playoffs are on the move.

So my advice is to take a moment of pause. And be thankful for some beautiful fall weather, some beautiful fall football and some baseball that finally means something.

Because fall only lasts so long. And winter's right around the corner.