Hole Punch Sports

I realize I'm a little late on this, but I wanted a little time to think about it. At this point, I have heard way too many people blame the Denver Broncos' loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday on Denver's decision to kick to Devin Hester. I have some problems with this. The first is how much I hate it when games are blamed completely on individual plays or players. Yes, it's possible for a guy to play so poorly that he negates the efforts of everyone else, but it's very rare. Can a player win a game single-handedly? I guess, theoretically, but I've never seen it. More to the point, why shouldn't the Broncos kick to Devin Hester? Don't get me wrong. Hester is an incredible punt returner, and perhaps the most effective weapon in Chicago's arsenal. He's a threat to change the course of a game every time he touches the ball. Hester's so fast, his speed rating in this year's Madden is the first time in the game's history where a play...

Colorado dominated Nebraska with its running game Friday. Hmmm, when have I seen that before? With a final score (65-51) that resembled an NBA Eastern Conference playoff game more than a Big XII rivalry showdown, the Buffs-Cornhuskers game was a thrilling conclusion to Colorado's regular season. Go ahead and credit the now on-again efficiency of quarterback Cody Hawkins, but never forget the Buffs' star tailback. Right now that's Hugh Charles (169 yards), who managed just three touchdowns Friday. (Yes, that was sarcasm.) The game was troublesome in the first half, with Nebraska taking a 35-24 lead into the break. But almost as soon as Colorado's troubles started, they were a distant memory. Interception return for a touchdown. Then Charles scored to take the lead, and did it again to widen the gap. The game was 44-35, but the Buffs weren't finished. Hawkins chucked a touchdown pass to the corner, and then Charles completed his second-half hat trick. Nebraska scor...

I've said several times that Barry Bonds didn't cheat at baseball, since he, you know, didn't break any of the rules of baseball. A common comeback to me is, but Mike, he took steroids, and that's against the law. One imaginative fellow even asked me a few months back if I would have considered it okay for Bonds to have killed several opposing players, in order to give himself a competitive edge. Technically, that's not cheating. I am okay saying that this hypothetical is way worse. (I'm so grateful I was raised with morals that extend beyond the limits of the rules of professional sports.) Anyway, if a player cheats at baseball, you can suspend him, you can ban him, you can even put asterisks next to his performances if you're into punctuative vengeance. But if he breaks the law? You go ahead and indict him . Barry Bonds, baseball's home run king, was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice Thursday and could go to prison instead of the Hall of ...

I didn't write any kind of NBA preview before the season started. Now that the season is .06% out of the way, it feels like cheating to say anything now. Nevertheless, here are some thoughts I have on the Nuggets. Last year the Nuggets were just 45-37, which was a disappointment any way you slice it. Yes, Carmelo Anthony missed 15 games to a suspension following the "fight" in Madison Square Garden. But the team went 7-8 without him, which really isn't bad, and acquired a future Hall of Famer in Allen Iverson. So they should have surged when Carmelo came back. For whatever reason, they didn't. So what makes this year any different? Well, Iverson and Carmelo will benefit from their experience last year. But more importantly, I think they'll benefit from spending an off-season knowing they'd be on this team together. It's not so much that they didn't play well together last year-despite everyone predicting they were too selfish to mix, both players h...

I'm watching the New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts game right now, wondering if there will be any point to the rest of the season. Both teams are undefeated, and most feel that today's winner (whoever that is) will go on to win the Super Bowl. I don't disagree. Since the Patriots are on the road, I think they become pretty clear Super Bowl favorites if they win today. (Perhaps they already should be, considering their college football-like margins of victory). If Indianapolis wins by, say, 10, I think you'd have to consider them the overwhelming championship favorites. I believe some other teams have a shot this year, but I still don't know which teams those are. I'd be happy for Brett Favre if Green Bay can keep up its miracle season. It'd be good to see the Cowboys make the Super Bowl, if only to see their fans emerge from the woodwork, and then disappear just as quickly after the inevitable title game defeat. (At least, that's how every Cowbo...