The most memorable popup ever?

            The longer version will come later, and my God, I've never been more exhausted from a popup.

            Yes, the Braves got screwed by a call. It happens. Every game, every day, everywhere.

            No, that in no way cost them the game. It only made it tougher for them to dig out of the hole they completely dug for themselves by themselves. They still had the shovel. And, after that play, still had runners on base that they didn't advance them.

            Again.

            Fans were typically idiotic by throwing crap on the field, none able to explain why an adult who should be taken seriously does that kind of thing, anywhere and under any circumstances. It unfortunately wasn't all that surprising, and it was depressing.

            Just a bad night all around. I wear no colors, but I really wanted Chipper to bomb it when he, well, first-pitch grounded to second in the seventh. Actually, I was thinking double to the gap.

            It was a night of confusion on rules, to be sure, with the addition of general ignorance, like this imbecilic Facebook post on a friend's page:

            "The infield fly rule has only been used in three games in the past 4 seasons." Uh huh.

            It was, yes, a brutal call, but one that does have a hint of rule behind it. Somewhere. Of course, there's also quality interpreting that umps and refs do and sometimes they misinterpret.

            But as the few lucid know: it never, ever should have come to that. Botched defense, ineffective and clutch-free offense. Braves had chances before and after the play to do something and didn't.

            Memo to Chipper: you really liked that first pitch in the seventh with the bases loaded?. Oh, Larry. It was obvious before the pitch reached halfway that it wasn't the one to mess with.

            Still, again, overall, you make three errors - only one run was earned - and one routine plays, and  leave 12 on and go 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, you can't blame a botched call in the eighth after you've given away so much.

            I understand. It was a rally situation, and as long as the game is going, there's a chance. But take it out of others hands by taking care of the simple stuff, and you're still playing.

            And Chipper's still swinging.

            Yes, that was the short version. Scary indeed.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE REVIEW

            Baylor getting 11.5 at West Virginia: It was the most discussed game of the week, from overwhelming offense to underwhelming defense.

            As great as both offenses were, the defenses digressed fundamentally back to fifth grade. More blown assignments than frat boy.

            All we needed was one stop - out of 40 chances - and WVU would have covered. Alas, it was a 7-point game, so 0-1.

            Penn State getting 1 at Illinois: Finally, the easy pick turned into an easy game.

            The should-be undefeated Nittany Lions cruised to a 35-7 win, showing that my pick that they'll get out of the four-year screwing by the NCAA with a winning record. A game like that is huge.

            Record: 1-1.

            LaMonroe giving 19 to Tulane: The question was, "How bad is Tulane? Good grief."

            The Wave is bad. Horrible. Punishable.

            ULM rolled to a 63-10 win in the Superdome. Tulane is located in a better recruiting area and has been (allegedly) playing I-A ball for several more decades than ULM. Ouch, but 2-1.

            Tennessee getting 14.5 at Georgia: See, dealing with Georgia and a line is a mistake.

            UT got the quality effort it needed, thanks in part to Al Groh apparently calling Georgia's defense in the second half.

            Again, needed but one stop to cover, and Georgia couldn't do it. But it sure was a fun game to watch, even if falling to 2-2.

            Clemson giving 7 at Boston College: BC is an afterthought, and played a little better than an afterthought.

            Clemson was a little hung over from the FSU loss, but took care of business in a 45-31 win, making me 3-2 for the week.

            And that's 9-11 for the season. Yup, a marathon, not a sprint.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE THIS WEEK

            Auburn giving 9.5 to Arkansas: I keep waiting for Arkansas and Auburn to not suck. Auburn has sucked less, didn't suck much in losing 12-10 to LSU.

            Arkansas ain't not sucked yet.

            Take the War Eagles at home (probably by about 17-21).

            Virginia Tech getting 6.5 at North Carolina: This is football, and UNC is favorite over a non-North Carolina school?

            Wow.

            It's ugly in both places, but still, one trusts Virginia Tech more as the leaves change.

            Tech covers by a half point. ... That's why it's called gamblin'.

            Houston giving 12 to North Texas: Something must give.

            UNT is 6-2 against the line vs. a team with a losing record. Houston is 13-3.

            But the Cougars are at home and just are better.

            Take Houston in a game that might get away from North Texas late.

            Clemson giving 11 to Georgia Tech: Last week's meltdown to Middle Tennessee State was pretty shocking.

            And while this is a superb and crazy rivalry where it's a blowout when they're even and a nailbiter when somebody has a legitimately better team, not this week.

            Tech comes in off two losses, but two devastating losses. Scored 36 straight at home to take control, gave it up to Miami. Then never had any control against MTSU, and the Blue Raiders were running away at the end.

            Clemson's defense will bow up a little more, and if the Tigers get any early control, it could get ugly. The Jackets are only human.

            Take Clemson and the 11, with a few points to spare.

            Oregon giving 24 to Washington: Purely gambling info pick. Washington is 0-7-1 against the line in the last eight meetings, and the favorite it 10-1-1.

            Good enough for me to pick the Ducks and 24.

            Don't touch: Texas giving 7 to WVU (don't worry the line, just enjoy the game); USCE giving 1 to Georgia (again, you know the rule with Georgia and lines; and again, just enjoy the game); Florida giving a couple to LSU (Les has a schizo team, so LSU wins by 21 or loses by 3).

 

LOUGHDMOUTHINGS

 

            Baltimore and the Yanks in the playoffs?

            Remember, Yanks rhymes with Skanks. ...

            More later on the refs, the umps and other stuff. ...

            Losing Michael Bennett hurts UGA, but that really opens things up a little because Aaron Murray will have to force himself - not that it's been a problem - to look elsewhere, with a deep and playing-well receiving group.

            Watch out for tight end Arthur Lynch, and maybe more passing to the backs. Just get 'em the ball. ...

            I really have no idea what to expect from LSU-Florida, either. I picked Florida, but have this nagging feeling that LSU wakes up and rolls. *Sigh*. ...

            A quality "oh my" from Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel:

            "When I asked Glen "Big Baby" Davis earlier this week what the Magic will most miss about Dwight Howard, he replied, um, "His farting ability. That's all we'll miss." Guess you'd have to say, Davis is not happy with the way Dwight left town, leaving nothing but broken hearts and broken wind in his wake."