Day 4: Bradford, Oudin, Merriman v. Tequila, and more

HEADLINE:

1) With Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford going down with a grade 3 strained right shoulder in the Sooners' 14-13 loss to BYU on Saturday, can the Sooners still be a championship contender?

Ben: Absolutely not. They might be able to hang on with a few victories while he is gone, but two things are working against them. Number one, they've already lost to a non-BCS school in BYU, wave buh-bye to that championship trophy already. Second, they are not going to win as impressively without Bradford behind center, and therefore, will not have as strong of creditentials as teams like Flordia, USC, or even Texas. Losing Bradford hurts their championship chances, but I still think they can possibly get to a BCS bowl game.

Boz: After this whole situation with not only Bradford being out, but also TE James Gresham being out, the Sooners couldn't have asked for a better time to get a bye week than in week 4. If they can get through this stretch and not lose a game, they can still run the table in the Big 12 and make it to the BCS Championship game. We've seen in almost every past season that the teams that lose early in the season benefit MUCH more than a team that goes the entire season undefeated but loses in the final week. However, I don't think they can lose another game. This is going to be a season where two one-loss teams will be playing for the national title in January.

The Sooners have the possibility to get through this Bradford-less time without a loss. They host Idaho State this Saturday, who I saw play last Saturday at Arizona State. Idaho State will be NO problem even if I was playing quarterback. They then host Tulsa, which gets a little tougher, but I still see the Sooners getting passed that. The true test comes Oct. 3 when Oklahoma takes the trip to No. 20 Miami, who looks as if they are returning to being very significant once again in college football. If Bradford doesn't play, I like Miami giving the Sooners their second loss.

2) 17-year old Melanie Oudin, from Georgia, pulled off her third straight upset (despite losing the first set in all three matches) by defeating No. 13 seed Nadia Petrova to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Is Oudin a fluke or is this 17-year old for real?

Ben: I think she is probably for real in the long run, but this current run is a fluke. She obviously has all the talent in the world to be able to make this type of run, but I think the US Open has offered her the perfect opportunity to burst on the scene  a little earlier then expected.

One of the reason is that she is facing players at the end of a long season, where many of them are mentally and physically drained and not at the top of their game. The US Open is not when players are typically at their best, and is not necessarily a major the holds extra history behind it (like Wimbledon and The French Open at Roland Garros).

The second reason is that in close matches the underdog always gets the benefit of the crowd, as well as playing in  her home country. I can almost promise you that those crowds and that familiarity has propelled her to a couple wins. That is a sign of a fluke run in my opinion.

Like I said, in the long run, she's definitely a contender. This tournament though is a fluke.

Boz: She is for real. She advanced to the round of 16 at Wimbledon before losing to the No. 12 seed Radwanska. She has topped herself by getting to the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows and I don't think she is done yet. Oudin plays the ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki in the quarters and if she wins there she will face the winner of Bondarenko and Wickmayer who are both undefeated. My projection: Melanie Oudin vs. Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final. Also, you'll be hearing a lot more from Melaine Oudin in the future.

3) Michael Jordan has selected North Carolina....State's David Thompson to introduce him at the Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday. What do you make of this selection and who would you have chosen for MJ?

Ben: Utter shock. Not necessarily that it was a member of the Wolfpack, but because Michael Jordan is remembered and placed with so many great players that he could have choosen anyone to introduce him and they would have been honored. I am a little surprised it wasn't a safe choice, like Dean Smith or Phil Jackson, but I'm sure MJ learned long ago, if he makes a decision, no one questions it.

Personally, if I were making this decision, I would have gone with Sam Bowie. I mean, c'mon, the guy is famous for only one thing anyway....let him get a moment in the sun with the man who made his career look pitiful.

Boz: Apparently David Thompson, despite being a Wolfpack and not a Tar Heel, inspired Jordan to play basketball at a high level after watching Thompson win a national championship in 1974. From the quote I read it seemed that Thompson was as shocked as all of we were when hearing Jordan selected him. If I were Michael Jordan, and believe me I wish I was everyday, I would have selected Scottie Pippen. They are still known as one of the greatest duos to ever play the game of basketball. Scottie was there for all 6 NBA Championships.

Perhaps weirder than Jordan picking David Thompson was Jerry Sloan selecting Charles Barkley to introduce him. Unless there is something that I am unaware of, what is the connection between Sloan and Barkley?

4) Shawne Merriman spent 2 1/2 hours in jail on Saturday night after being accused of battery and false imprisonment after MTV star Tila Tequila stated that Merriman choked her and threw her to the ground and wouldn't let her leave his house. Merriman said he was trying to prevent an intoxicated Tequila from driving home. Who do you got in this battle? Merriman or Tequila?

Ben: Sorry, I gotta go with Tequila. Although that name makes me a little suspicious. In the public perception, especially with football players, you are guilty until proven innocent when it comes to battery. I don't doubt that Merriman will be cleared of all charges, but I am a little suspicious of the situation. I just can't believe that if Merriman were truly looking out for her, he wouldn't have just given her a ride home. Something smells fishy here.

Boz: I'm taking Merriman. Tila was examined by paramedics and no injuries were reported. I have to believe that Merriman was trying to do the right thing and that Tila overreacted. The manager at the nightclub that the two were at earlier in the night reported that Tila seemed very intoxicated and that Merriman appeared to be only drinking water. Then there was this tweet from Tila following the event: "I am allergic to alcohol. It has been publicly known for years. That is how I got the name Tila "Tequila" cuz the irony. I cant drink." So it appears that she tried drinking and failed. I believe Merriman will be eventually cleared of all charges.

The real question for me in this situation is: When will Tila Tequila finally find love?

OVER/UNDER

1) The Detroit Lions have named Matthew Stafford their starting quarterback from the season opener. Over or under 4 wins for the Lions for the 2009 season?

Ben: I'm going to go with over, but just barely. I've got them with 5 wins, most of them coming in the second half of the season. Stafford gives them a boost, and I do think they have improved, but the first half of the season is brutal. They'll sneak up on a couple teams and get to 5 wins. BOOK IT.

Boz: UNDER! They did go 3-1 in the preseason, but they went 4-0 in the preseason last year and we all know how that season ended up, showing that the preseason means NOTHING. I got the Lions winning at least 1 game within the division but no more than 2. Then I think they'll beat the Rams at home since the Rams aren't any better. They'll go 2-14 or 3-13 and will draft WR Dez Bryant out of Oklahoma State with the second pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

2) Over or under 3 players finishing the season with 50 + home runs?

Ben: Under. Of the players that are close to the mark that have a legit shot, being Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder, are either playing for teams that are close to wrapping their division up (Howard) or playing for a team with no shot at the postseason (Fielder). I think that affects their numbers and both will fall short, because of rest for the playoffs or lack of good hitting around them.

Boz: UNDER. Pujols with 44 and Mark Reynolds with 41 will get to 50. After that its Carlos Pena with 39 but is now out for the rest of the season, Ryan Howard with 38, and Prince Fielder with 37. 12 and 13 home runs is tough to hit in one month. I don't think either Howard and Fielder will reach 50. With only two players getting there, does this prove that the new drug testing policy is working?

3) Illinois got whooped by Missouri while Iowa barely got by a FCS team in Northern Iowa on Saturday. Under or over 5 wins for both teams this season?

Ben: Under for both. How the mighty have fallen. 2 years ago Illinois was in a Rose Bowl (however undeserving) and 3 years ago Kirk Ferentz was one of the most sought after coaches in both the college ranks and some NFL circles. Neither team has developed much of an identity and they continue to run into trouble. I think Illinois is talented enough to win 7 or 8 games, but they just never put it together. Iowa on the other hand, probably should feel happy to get to 5.

Boz: OVER for Illinois. I think they win 6 games. They'll beat ISU this week. Other winnable games are at home against Michigan State and Northwestern and on the road at Indiana and Purdue. Then I think they'll get one upset on the season. Still an upsetting season for the Illini. OVER for Iowa. I got them winning 6 games as well. I got them beating Arkansas State, Michigan, Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota.

Two absurd things about the sechedules for these two teams: (1) they don't play each other this year and (2) Illinois' last two games of the season are BOTH non-conference against Cincinnatti and Fresno State, why aren't these games being played earlier in the season?

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: A sad "birthday" note today, the late Buck O'Neil would've turned 102 today. The great Negro League player, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame after his death in August of 2006. He was the first African American coach in Major League Baseball history, and was instrumental in establishing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.


Boz: Slow day for birthdays. But Happy 53rd Birthday to Maurice Cheeks. He played with 5 different NBA teams but primarily with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1978-89, winning an NBA championship in 1983. Cheeks is a four-time NBA all-star and has 12,195 career points and 7,392 career assists. He has also served as a head coach for eight season with the Trail Blazers and 76ers. His coaching highlight probably came when he helped a young girl finish the national anthem after she forgot the words.

Honorable mention Happy 39th Birthday to Clarence Weatherspoon...anyone remember him?