(1) Tim Tebow was impressive yesterday.
I’ve long maintained–and still do–that Tim Tebow is not a good passer. He’s a hard worker, a great competitor, and has a great attitude. There is plenty of room for him in the NFL in the long run, but his longevity as a QB is probably going to be short-lived. He’d make an excellent running back, tight end, linebacker, or free safety.
But if he keeps playing like he did yesterday, my outlook may change.
When he came back against the Dolphins, the critics said, “Well yeah, but that was the Dolphins. They suck.” When the Detroit Lions destroyed him, the critics were validated.
But since then, he has managed to come back against the Raiders. He came back against the Chiefs. He came back against the Jets. He came back against the Chargers. Yesterday, he passed for 202 yards–without throwing an interception–in a comeback victory against the Minnesota Vikings.
Granted, none of these teams are lighting up the world this year, but they aren’t pushovers either. And, in his last two games, Tebow’s passing numbers have been respectable. He makes few mistakes, and–when he does (such as yesterday’s fumble before halftime), the penalty has been minimal. He has only thrown one interception, whereas his counterpart on the Vikings threw two costly interceptions, including a Pick 6.
He may very well have a future as a QB. I still think he should switch positions, though.
(2) Tiger Woods may be back.
Critics will point out that Tiger’s victory yesterday was at a small event that didn’t feature the game’s top players. While that is true, Tiger’s biggest problems are psychological right now. He needs to regain the feel for what it is like to win a close tournament. He needs to regain the feel for what it is like to play four solid rounds of golf. Yesterday was a step in the right direction for him. Tiger’s competition was light, but he won nonetheless.
He may not be back to being the top competitor on the PGA Tour, but–if he gets that confidence back–he’ll be back in the top 5 pretty soon.
Once Tiger gets his game and confidence back, he still has to face Father Time. Tiger’s body is breaking down on him; he has been remarkable in the fitness department, but the aging process is still doing its number. His competition is younger, fitter, and does not fear him like they once would have. His time window for challenging Nicklaus is closing. The last 2 years has cost him dearly, and–at this point–it’s not about money.
Still, don’t count out Tiger just yet.
(3) Penn State’s football program is going to get the death penalty.
And it should. The “lack of institutional control”–which brings down devastating sanctions from the NCAA–has extended well into the worst aspects of the criminal realm. While I feel badly for the student-athletes who are getting hurt in this, Sandusky’s victims are the real sufferers here. If the pimping allegations are true, the impact may extend well beyond the athletic departments at PSU.
The university–as we know it now–may well cease to exist. This may seem unthinkable, as Penn State has a very large campus that has some very reputable departments. Their engineering schools are top-notch.
But the impact of Sanduskygate will tarnish every department of the university.
(4) Good riddance to Herman Cain.
When I first saw the picture of Ginger Adams–the most recent accuser–MrsLarijani and I looked at each other ans said, “No way!” If I was single, and Ginger Adams was the only woman left on earth, I’d take a vow of celibacy. If the only two women on earth were Ginger Adams and a crack whore with AIDS–and God commanded that I choose one of them–I would take my chances on a cure for AIDS. Ergo, I had serious doubts about Ginger Adams’ story.
But when Cain’s attorney–Lin Wood–attempted a coy dismissal of the story, rather than a hard denial of the allegations, I about choked on my coffee. That Cain did not fire his attorney immediately spoke volumes. Al Mohler–with whom I have a share of differences–had about the same reaction I did.
Whether or not Adams was telling the truth, Herman Cain was in a tough position: if he had ever cheated on his wife, he was done.
Whether he is innocent or not, that he would quit now–even as the top two candidates in the polls are very weak–does not seem to be the action of an innocent man.
Oh, and don’t buy the line that he is merely “suspending” his campaign. He’s done.
(5) The GOP field is now as wide open as it ever has been. Newt Gingrich is the new Flavor of the Month for Republicans. While many are going goo-goo over his intellectual abilities, in fact Newt is the John Kerry of the GOP: he is better at talking about issues than he is about doing much about them. You name the issue–Medicare, Social Security, our role in the world, illegal immigration, taxes, spending, the role of government in our lives–and Newt is lacking in substance.
Whereas Rick Perry is a complete dunce who cannot name three agencies he’d eliminate, Newt is the bloviating policy wonk who will give us Big Government fascism, even as he talks a conservative game.
Ron Paul is definitely short of the glory on foreign policy, although, as jobs become increasingly scarce, Americans are going to be less enthusiastic about our forays into 100+ countries. If Paul can frame the issue in economic terms, he might be the next one standing after Newt and Mitt kill each other.
My prediction: Jon Huntsman–not Ron Paul–is going to be the next GOP flavor. Once he fizzles, the GOP will be in total disarray. Things will get mighty interesting when that happens.
1. slow and steady usually wins the race. solid and minimally-error-free = winner
2. momentum and confidence = power
3. yep … and read something that he’s bragging he still has keys to the locker room?!!!
4. interesting, indeed. may God have mercy on our nation; we certainly do not deserve it as a whole.
What’s your take on Huntsman, Mormonism aside?
Huntsman is just a Mitt-flavored Mitt alternative. Why bother when you can have real Mitt?
@tannen
PH beat me to the punch. Basically, Huntsman is Romney without (a) the charisma and (b) without RomneyCare.
Huntsman will be the next “Flavor of the Month” for Republicans, but he will go down in proverbial flames about as fast as Newt, perhaps faster.
Personally, I see renewed efforts to get Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) into the race, as well as others, such as Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).
Christie probably will hold off. But I could see either DeMint or Coburn jumping in. Either one would be an instant frontrunner.
The GOP establishment is worried sick that Ron Paul could end up being the only game in town.