General

Shanoff’s WUC: Bron, Bama, Buckeyes, ‘Boys

Nov 6, 2009, 1:14 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: LeBron vs. NYC, Yankees vs. Ticker-Tape, Alabama vs. LSU, Ohio State vs. Happy Valley, Cowboys vs. Eagles, Vince Young vs. Alex Smith, Brandon Jennings vs. Lance Stephenson, Tim Lincecum vs. Jeremy Hermida and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: LeBron may want to play in New York ... but can he keep up?â†µ

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â†µLeBron comes to town for his only appearance of the season at the Garden -- and the requisite heavy-breathing over the inevitability/impossibility that he signs with the Knicks next summer -- on the same day his Yankees get a ticker-tape parade to celebrate their first championship since 2000.â†µ

â†µâ†µYou can hate the Yankees. Hate that they spent their way to a title. Hate the convincing argument that their bookend titles make them baseball’s Team of the Decade. Hate being reminded how annoying you find their fan triumphalism. (Even LeBron is a Yankees fan.)â†µ

â†µâ†µBut say this for them: No team this decade -- in any sport -- was under as much pressure to win a championship as these Yankees. It was, emphatically: Title or Bust. (And if last year’s failures resulted in spending a quarter-billion dollars to make this year’s team the top contender, I can’t even imagine what “bust” this year would have resulted in.)â†µ

â†µâ†µThere is no greater pressure than being expected to win a championship. Win it all? You should have. Fall short? You’re worse than a loser -- you’re a choker.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd thus we come to LeBron’s future in NYC: The Cavs were expected to win the East a year ago; he led them to an early exit. They were expected to dominate the East this season; they are OK, but hardly look like a contender on par with Boston or Orlando.â†µ

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â†µNew Yorkers may like the idea of LeBron in a Knicks uniform, but as he catches the vibe of the city as it celebrates its Yankees, he better realize that New York doesn't tolerate losers.â†µâ†µ

â†µâ†µMy Top 5 NFL Week 9 Story Linesâ†µ

â†µâ†µ(1) GOTW: Cowboys at Eaglesâ†µ
â†µTop two teams in NFC East.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(2) Unbeatens: Colts, Saintsâ†µ
â†µWho’s better? I’ll agree: Saints.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(3) Eli Manning vs. Phil Riversâ†µ
â†µTied together for their careers.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(4) Next on Redskins futility tourâ†µ
â†µInevitable loss at Atlanta.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(5) Vince Young vs. Alex Smithâ†µ
â†µBattle of Disappointing QBs.â†µ

â†µâ†µWeek 9 NFL Picks: Falcons, Bears, Ravens, Colts, Pats, Packers, Jaguars, Saints, Seahawks, Titans, Giants, Eagles, Broncos. (Last week: 8-5, Year-to-date: 81-36)â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Story Linesâ†µ

â†µâ†µGOTW 1: LSU at Alabamaâ†µ
â†µTide’s toughest game of reg. season.â†µ

â†µâ†µGOTW 2: Ohio St. at Penn St.â†µ
â†µOSU’s B10 surge starts here.â†µ

â†µâ†µUpset Special: N’western over Iowaâ†µ
â†µN’western plays Hawkeyes tough.â†µ

â†µâ†µNon-BCS Jockeyingâ†µ
â†µAnother laugher for Boise.â†µ

â†µâ†µThursday Night Football: Temple!â†µ
â†µ7 straight Ws for Owls.â†µ

â†µâ†µDez Bryant Watch: Next stop, NFL. It’s hard to feel too badly for Bryant, given that he is a lock to be a Top 5 2010 draft pick. (However, you CAN feel bad for him at the thought that he is headed for, say, the Rams.)â†µ

â†µâ†µBCS Mess: The Coaches’ poll is a joke, but at least they will continue to be a quasi-transparent joke -- the AFCA will make the coaches’ final ballots (the ones that count toward the BCS) public. Now with MORE critic indignation!â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Must-Read: Shoals on the most polarizing player in the NBA this season -- Bucks rookie PG Brandon Jennings.â†µ

â†µâ†µLincecum busted: Fans have long-wondered how Tim Lincecum can contort his body over and over to keep throwing smoke... Smoke? Oh, so THAT’s his training secret.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Hot Stove: Jeremy Hermida to Boston. The underachieving former would-be can’t-miss star must feel like he won the Lottery -- predicting a career for him in that Red Sox lineup (fwiw, that’s not a particularly high bar). And speaking of next year’s lineups: Matt Holliday is one step closer to being in the 2010 Yankees’ lineup.â†µ

â†µâ†µSN CBB Countdown: No. 5 West Virginia. Huggins’ teams are always better when they are scrappy underdogs, not presumptive Final Four teams. This doesn’t bode well.â†µ

â†µâ†µEligibility: Welcome, Lance Stephenson!â†µ

â†µâ†µFlu Watch: The Raptors and Maple Leafs have no business getting swine flu shots before kids and pregnant women. Fellas: Wash your hands while you wait.â†µ

â†µâ†µYankee Triumphalism: Yanks hit Letterman (as they should).â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: Condolences to the Fort Hood community.â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. â†µ

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