Top of the Brain: Thursday

So, for my new readers (like almost everybody since this blog is only two weeks old), these Top of the Brain (TOTB) posts are basically a collection of odds and ends from the sporting world. Some are hot topics, some are just things I have opinions on and some are just interesting (well, maybe). Anyway, here goes.

Terrelle Pryor Suspension – It’s amazing to me what a stink this has caused in the sports media world today. Bottom line, I applaud what the NFL did and am glad Commissioner Roger Goodell took the stance he did. Pryor is eligible for the supplemental draft, but will have to sit out five games; the same length of time he would have had to sit in college. Somebody, somewhere, sometime has to draw the line for these rule-breaking prima donna college athletes. Roger isn’t afraid to be the heavy. Bravo!

Cardinals Swan Dive – The Brewers are making it very hard on the Redbirds. Milwaukee (before losing this afternoon) had won 18 of the last 20. As of this minute, the Cards trail them by 6.5 games. Regardless of what the Brewers do, the Cardinals have to find some consistency and get on a winning streak. This win-one lose-one win-one stumbling act they’ve been one isn’t going to cut it, and frankly it’s getting pretty old. The formula: solid starting pitching, consistent hitting and average defense. It’s not asking for much, but it may be more than they have to offer. 40 games to go … the window is rapidly closing.

Georgetown Brawls in China – Of all the teams to send East to play and represent the country, why in the world would you send the Hoyas. They are and basically always have been a group of thugs. I don’t know all the details surrounding the dust-up, but I’m not surprised it happened. America at its finest … brawling on the basketball court in China. Geez.

Miami Scandal – This puppy has everybody buzzing. Nevin Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi scheme architect, is sharing details of how he paid recruits to attend and play and the U of Miami for years. It’s bad. The guy is a liar, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he is lying. The dude is a scumbag, no doubt, but the NCAA can’t ignore the allegations. Of primary importance to Mizzou fans is the fact that newly minted basketball coach Frank Haith is implicated. Shapiro says he finalized a recruit with a $10,000 cash payment, and that Haith knew about it. So much for the honor and integrity sale that MU AD Mike Alden sold us. I hope it’s not true. And  even if it isn’t, rival coaches are going to use it to sway student-athletes away from good ole Mizzou. It’s going to be a tough road ahead. Keep the faith, Frank.

FOX Inks the UFC – The Ultimate Fighting Championship and FOX Sports Media Group announced a seven-year multi-media rights agreement today that will position mixed martial arts' leading organization on network television for the first time. This is great news. It means that MMA is headed to the mainstream sports market, and that boxing is in big trouble. I love the UFC, and this deal only means it is that much closer to joining the big boys. Heck, ESPN is even covering the live events now.

I guess that’s about all for today’s TOTB. Upcoming blog posts will include my Top 10 storylines heading into the NFL season, division-by-division predictions, and my very specific prognostications for the Chiefs and Rams.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and rants, on any and all of these topics, and anything else you’d like to spout off about. Join the conversation. That’s the fun part.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve