General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #37

Sterno's Talkin' smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. Welcome to the Wednesday morning shakedown.

Today's discussion includes former Baylor Basketball coach Dave Bliss, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Wildcard races in Major League Baseball.

Smack This: Dave Bliss -- The entire situation with the Baylor basketball program is sickening. A kid has been killed by his own teammate. It took forever for the incompetent police force to figure it out, and now the coach is an unemployed crook. Oh, how things are bleak at Baylor.

The latest on former head coach Dave Bliss, who "resigned," last week, is as follows. Baylor is close to wrapping up an investigation that led to the firing (resignation, cough)of Bliss as head basketball coach, and the self punishment of a two year probation.

By the way, to me that wasn't even a punishment because there was no hope of Baylor getting to the NCAA Tournament regardless of whether or not they were allowed. Do you think that anyone, other than a die hard Baylor alum, even watches them play? I think not.

Anyways, Baylor is prepared to say that Dave Bliss single handedly set up tuition payments for two non-scholarship players last season, one of whom was indeed Patrick Dennehy.

Man, the only thing left to make this any more of a made for television movie, would be if Bliss had Dennehy killed. According the information that is coming out, the two players, Dennehy and seldom used Corey Herring weren't even aware that any of this was going on. Dennehy's family claims to have no idea how he was paying his tuition.

Yeah, folks! Well, maybe that's part of the problem here. You had no idea what the heck was going on in your son's life, or how he was going to college. If you did, he may still be alive.

On a side note, I was amused to find out that Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane was part of the committee who helped put Bliss in at Baylor. Yeah, he's on target. Between Bliss, and the decision to put the name Enron on his new stadium, he's batting a triple zero. Maybe he should be left out of future decisions at Baylor, eh?

Just a thought of course.

Baylor University -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Jacksonville Jaguars -- I thought the "bad water," was in Mexico. Apparently, some of it has moved its way into Jacksonville, specifically at Jaguars training camp. First, the players are dropping like flies there. Seriously, there have been three guys that have passed out from the heat already. I think maybe it's time for new coach Jack Del Rio to stop with the whooping stick.

It can't be any more humid that it is here in New York and I don't see any Jets or Giants falling on their faces. In addition, now the Jaguars have failed to get their stud draft pick, quarterback Byron Leftwich, in camp to get acclimated. Here is a guy who many thought would fight for the job by year's end (especially if Mark Brunell goes down with his usual injury or two), and he hasn't spend one day in camp, learning the offense.

These hold out situations are so ridiculous and let me tell you something. It is without a doubt, not all on the Jags here. Leftwich should shut his mouth, or his agents for that matter, and get in camp. The Jaguars on the other side, should stop being cheap, and realize that this could be the cornerstone of the next decade of Jaguars football.

Maybe they need a mediator? Whatever the case, time is ticking.

"We continue to talk," Leftwich's agent, Tom Condon, said Monday. "I'm sure we'll talk again this week. Other than that, I don't know how to characterize it."

I do. Leftwich had us all believing that he was a fighter, and a winner, with his limping hero routine during the tail end of his last season at Marshall. Now, I see him as just another money hungry guy looking for a lifetime of cash. Okay, so I can't totally blame him on the wanting cash thing. I just wish that he and Jacksonville would see the bigger picture, and sign the dotted line.

Jaguars -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Wildcard Races -- Thank god for the Wildcard. Some people were violently opposed to it, when it first came into Major League Baseball, but without it, the last month of the season would be boring for the most part. It seems like every year, the wildcard races in both leagues go down to the wire. Sometimes, it has even come down to the last weekend, or even an extra game, like we saw with the Reds and Mets a few years ago.

This year, they are just as close. In the American League there are a couple of teams going at it, while over in the National League, there are at least four. Let's take a closer look and see if I can give you the low down on the Wildcard races as I see them.

First, let's look the American League. It is a two team race here. Either the Oakland A's or the Boston Red Sox will be the Wildcard, or so you would think. (Oakland could beat out Seattle and make them the wildcard hopeful) The way I see it, the Red Sox will pull it off.

Yes, the A's have a great pitching staff. With the addition of the kid Harden in there, they are stacked. Who needs a bullpen when Mark Mulder is throwing all of those complete games? Besides, Keith Foulke has been great in the closer's role for them.

However, this year, the Sox have what it takes. I know they will choke. They always do. This time though, I think they will wait until the series against the Yankees, in the postseason. Their staff is headed by the scariest pitcher in the AL when he is going, and their bullpen is much improved. I know that newly acquired Scott Williamson and Co., have had some troubles over the past couple of weeks, but they have too many special arms back there, to screw it up over the long haul.

As far as the lineups are concerned, there is no comparison. The Red Sox boast the most potent lineup in the AL this season. No, not because they have nine power hitters. No, they are patterned after the late 90's Yankees. They can all take a walk. They can all hit it the other way. They can all hit it out. That is a scary proposition for opposing pitchers, especially considering the fact that Boston also has some good speed at the top of the order in Johnny Damon. Yes, runs are a plenty in Boston.

In my mind, the Sox will be too much for Oakland. Don't worry, this is no love affair, and no I am not crazy. I know about the curse. It'll come, folks.

Over in the National League, there is a wide open horse race to the finish line. At the front of the line, are the National League Eastern rival Phillies and Marlins. The Philadelphia Phillies are an interesting team. Considering the fact that they have a bullpen with a closer by committee (simply because Jose Mesa is horrendous), and a guy in Pat Burrell whom they expected to be in the heart of the order, and has been nothing more than a heart attack waiting to happen.

Larry Bowa has been patient with both Mesa and Burrell, but patience won't win the wildcard, and neither will the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins has been disappointing, Kevin Milwood has tailed off, and they just don't have enough, So, what about Florida? Yes, there are actually fans going to Marlins games.

Can you believe it? I can. This team is very exciting. Dontrelle Willis may be the front man, considering his season to this point, but the back up singers, are pretty good too. From Mike Lowell who has torn the cover off the ball all year, to the speed of Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo, to the emergence of Braden Looper as a quality stopper, there is plenty of talent for one hundred year old manager Jack McKeon to shuffle around. Too bad, his shuffling shoes won't be enough for the men in teal. They will fall just short.

So, what then? The Cardinals have no pitching, the Dodgers can't hit, and the Cubs don't have enough cork. Well, aren't we forgetting someone. You know the team that has come out of nowhere? The team hit by injuries more than anyone? Any guesses. That's right. The Arizona Diamondbacks will win the wildcard. I guarantee it.

Why? Very simply, because if a team can gain that much ground without all of their big time horses, and then they finally get back to full health, they are in good shape. Come on, folks. Randy Johnson and Curt Shilling can go on a tear like no other tandem. With those two, the emergence of Brandon Webb, and the always consistent Miguel Batista, this staff is the best in the National League. Yes, top to bottom, they are better than Prior and Co., in my opinion.

I think that, had this team stayed healthy, they would have beat out San Francisco. Manager Bob Brenly deserves a ton of credit for what they've done out there.

Wildcard Races -- Smacked!!!

One for the Road: The sport of hockey lost a class act in the passing of Herb Brooks. Brooks, who is most known for leading the greatest upset in the history of sports, was well respected throughout the NHL as well as international circles. We here at Sterno Talkin' Smack, wish his family the best.

Hit me up with feedback at eSports (click the Write the Editor link) or on my homepage at http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/theycallmethecloser. Come on and click that link already! You can't possibly agree with everything I say!

I'll see you all on Thursday. Til' then, DON'T be the one who's smacked!.