Day 56: Joe Mauer, Vince Young, Greg Oden and more

HEADLINES

1) Twins' catcher Joe Mauer was nearly unanimously chosen as the AL MVP, making him just the second catcher in 33 years to win the award. Did you agree with Mauer winning the MVP?

Ben: Yes. He was a fantastic all-around player, and even when the Twins were hit with some injuries, Mauer stepped up his game and kept them in the playoff race. It was unfair to think he could hit .400 or play 150 games at catcher, but I do think he was easily the best player in the American League and was the most crucial player to lead a team to the playoffs. He is definitely deserving of the award.

Boz: I'm perfectly fine with the fact that Mauer was named AL MVP. He always has the high batting average and this year he added the home runs and the RBIs to his resume. Not to mention that he is nearly perfect behind the dish. Teixiera and Jeter would have been nice choices but Mauer really deserved the award. Mauer led the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, making him the first to do so since George Brett in 1980. It's easy to see why he won the award.

What I think is funny is that Mauer earned a $100,000 bonus from the Twins for winning the award, while Miguel Cabrera earned $200,000 from the Tigers for finishing fourth.

2) Vince Young remained undefeated this season and helped the Titans win their fourth in a row after losing their first six games. The Titans are now 4-6. Do they have a shot at making the playoffs with Vince Young under center?

Ben: They probably don't have a shot at the playoffs, needing to win out -- but I do think they are a much more competitive and difficult team to play with Vince taking snaps. I realize he doesn't have the most diverse playbook from a passing standpoint, but the Titans can do so much more with him outside the pocket, like the option, and he makes teams accountable for a variety of plays as opposed to just dropping back and passing, like Kerry Collins.

I don't think they'll make the playoffs, but they are better with VY then with Kerry Collins.

Boz: It would be a fantastic story if they did. I just think that they dug themselves too big of a hole when Kerry Collins was starting at QB for the team. Vince Young can certainly win football games and will help the Titans get back to .500 and possible slightly above. I think with all of the tough teams in the AFC, they would have to win out in order to clinch a wild card spot. Their schedule is nice, but they still have to play the Colts and the Chargers. It's a great story to even finish at .500, but the playoffs are out of reach.

3) Greg Oden scored 24 points and pulled down 12 boards as the Portland Trail Blazers blew out the Chicago Bulls, 122-98. Is Oden finally playing up to his potential?

Ben: No. Not even close. He was pegged at the next great center. When I think of that I think of Hakeem the Dream. I don't think of a player struggling to reach 20 points in his 3rd season. I wouldn't call Oden a bust, but Kevin Durant is a much better scorer and go-to guy for the Thunder, and that's what you need in the NBA these days.

Boz: Not quite yet. It's one thing to have a good game every once in a while. It's another thing to consistently put up those numbers on a regular basis. If Greg Oden wants to show the Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA world why the Blazers took him with the first pick in the draft, he needs to put up these numbers night in and night out and become one of the dominant big men in the league. Dwight Howard has done so and Greg Oden should follow suit. If he stays healthy, with the right coaching such as Howard as received, Oden could eventually become one of those dominant big men.

4) Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was reportedly sucker-punched outside of a South Bend bar early Sunday morning by a fan where he had apparently just finished eating dinner with a female acquaintance and his family. However, a South Bend police spokesman said that no police reports were filed concerning Clausen. What do you make of the situation?

Ben: I think South Bend is just as stupid as the rest of the country. Notre Dame wants to hold itself to a higher standard and consider itself better morally then the rest of the college football world, but yet they have the same crazed fans and psycho's supporting their team. Not something they can always control, but let's call a spade a spade -- South Bend is a loony bin, just like every other major college football town.

Boz: It doesn't really surprise me much. There are too many hardcore fans out there that were easing the pain of a loss to Connecticut with a Saturday night of drinking. That is a bad combination for a fan that comes across one of the players that people can pin the blame on for the loss. It's pathetic that fans can wrap themselves into the game that much and can't handle the loss with more maturity. I feel bad for Clausen and his family that they had to go through this and I'm sure it doesn't feel the best for Clausen that he has a big shiner this week while preparing for Stanford.

ODDS

1) What are the odds that Matthew Stafford will miss the Lions' annual Thanksgiving game on Thursday against the Packers?

Ben: 50%. It's his non-throwing shoulder and I imagine they'll try to get him out there to get the crowd juiced up for the rest of the game and season. He is their hero, and they'll try to get him out there for a  hero's welcome.

Boz: 80%. The guy seperated is shoulder against the Browns and has only three days to heal before his next game. It's too bad because people are getting tired of watching the Lions on Thanksgiving and Stafford would have given some glammer to the Lions on Turkey Day for the first time since Barry Sanders.

2) What are the odds that Urban Meyer is telling the truth when he says he won't leave Florida for the soon-to-be vacant coaching position at Notre Dame?

Ben: 0%. He might stay at Florida, but he's not telling the truth now. He's only saying this now so that Notre Dame offers him tons of money, and then Florida has to come back with even more money. It's a ploy, coaches always do it.

Boz: 100%. Why would he leave the best football program in the nation for a struggling football program at Notre Dame. He's right to say that he wants to stay at Gainesville for as long as they'll have him.

3) What are the odds that the New Jersey Nets will lose 20 games in a row before picking up their first win of the season?

Ben: 12%. I just can't believe an NBA team has gone this long without running into a team on a back-to-back and tired legs. I can't see it continuing, but I can see them with a new coach by January.

Boz: 38%. I have them losing 19 straight games before a December 6th matchup against the Knicks in the Garden. However, it could end earlier the game before with a home game against the Bobcats.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 37th Birthday Jamal Mashburn. Jamal used to be a force to be reckoned with and was definitely one of the top 8 players in the NBA back in his heyday -- but injuries have forced him into the booth, where I think he does  a pretty good job.

Boz: Happy 71st Birthday to Oscar Robertson. The Big-O was the 1961 Rookie of the Year with the Cincinnati Royals after averaging 30.5 points per game in his first season and won the MVP in 1964. He won his only NBA Championship of his career in 1971 with the Bucks and finished his career with 26,710 points.