Per ESPN

ESPN: Despite its preposterous youth and lack of experience, Carolina doesn't need to wait until next year, either. You slap a 36-14 run on Duke? Bludgeon the Blue Devils 45-26 on the glass? You can play. Against anyone, at any time.

The Lions Redeem Themselves...

I love Detroit sports. Enough to call myself a Lion's fan. I chuckled at a guy in a Cowboys hat about a month ago, and he shot back "Probably a Redskins fan, eh?"

"Actually, Lion's fan" I replied. He just laughed out loud as he walked off the elevator.

The Lions have been terrible over the last few years. They have underachieved, made bad management decisions, and flat out been the embarrassment of the NFL. But I've stuck with them.

But they almost lost me a couple days ago. They had a chance to sign one of the best offensive minds in the game as Offensive Coordinator, Mike Martz. He had agreed, in principle, to take the job. But the next day, the news was just that he turned down the job, because the money wasn't good.

What? I'm sorry Fords (the Ford family owns the Lions), but if you won't put up a couple $100k to land a coach who would actually give your team a chance to be competitive, you just don't seem to want to win.

It was clear from his remarks last week, however, that [Lion's new head coach] Marinelli wanted Martz on his staff and that, as a first-year coach, he had absolutely no reservations or insecurities about having a more experienced head coach on board.

"That man knows how to win and how to move the football," Marinelli said at the time. "I like him and I would love to have him."

In each of his full seasons in St. Louis, the Martz-designed offense ranked among the top 10 in the NFL and twice rated No. 1 overall.

But, yesterday, news came out that the Lions and Martz had come to terms afterall. And now, I'm back on the bandwagon (OK, I was never really off, and there's still plenty of room). The Lions, who admittedly play in a bad division, have a damn good chance to make the playoffs this upcoming season with Martz running the offense.

I'm hype.

ESPN with new Idea for March 4 UNC/dook game...

And, for the first time I'm thankful I don't have ESPNU.

http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2006/02/06/daily23.html

In other news (from the same article, ESPN announces Tony Kornheiser as the third Monday Night Football announcer starting next year. Great move. Kornheiser is one of my favorite sports personalities....