"Saturday night wrap-up"

Gosh, I love this time of year. Crunch time in college football. Games getting bigger in the NFL. The NBA getting into full swing. Hockey season as well. Baseball free agency heating up.

And don't forget about college basketball. It's underway, baby! Ok, sorry for going Vitale on you, but I'm excited. There's nothing like a fresh college basketball season. With the huge influx of underclassmen to the NBA each year, you never know which teams will emerge the following season.

Florida, of course, is ranked No. 1 because - in an absolute shocker - all five of their starters are returning, including Joakim Noah, who would have been a lottery pick.

What a breath of fresh air this group is. But, stil, a repeat will be tough.

You know how most people say underclassmen leaving early hurts the college game? I disagree. Yes, the talent level might not be as high, but it brings about a certain uncertainty to each season that true basketball fans just have to love.

And, also, when was the last time you saw college kids not playing hard? You just don't see this. Everyone is playing for their neck in college bball. Something you won't find in the NBA.

Anyway, the games have begun. No surprises so far. Ohio State, playing without the injured Greg Oden, has cruised to a 2-0 mark. Ditto for other ranked teams. The first big game I'm looking forward to is No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 1 Florida two days after Thanksgiving.

We'll see if Kansas deserves the high ranking despite a poor finish to last season. And we'll see if Florida is as good as it looked in that impeccable NCAA tournament run.

Bigger college bball preview to come...

MLB
The Detroit Tigers, my hometown team, signed Gary Sheffield, the aging slugger, while I was in the mountains. I honestly don't know what to think of this move.

The Tigers signed him to a deal that's worth $14 million the first year and $15 the second and third season.

I think they're overpaying him, like they're doing with Magglio Ordonez.

He was injured for much of this past season, and he was awful against the Tigers in the playoffs.

Can he bounce back? I'm not sure. And I don't know if he'd put up better numbers than Marcus Thames, who, it seems, the Tigers are giving up on as an everyday player.

Thames hit 26 homers this season. Sheffield hit 34 two years ago, but that was two years ago. He’s getting old. He’s losing power.

This is not to say I totally disapprove of the move. Shef's a tough guy, a veteran who's played on a World Series champion before (the 1997 Marlins, GMd by, ironically enough, Dave Dombrowski). And he has hit over .300 in half of his 18 seasons.

I'm just not sure how much he's got left in him. He's already got a World Series title. He's secure financially. I'm not sure if there's going to be extra motivation for him to come back if he succumbs to injury.

On the other side of the trade, the Tigers gave away auspicious pitching prospects - particularly Humberto Sanchez. Obviously, this move was made for the now, but couldn't the Tigers have gotten a slugger similar to Sheffield without having to trade away prospects. There are a few sluggers on the market.

Barry Bonds. Carlos Lee. Aramis Ramirez (although he’d probably be too pricey).

I like the fact that Dombrowski’s being pro-active in trying to improve this team. And Sheffield, if healthy, will bring some pop to this lineup (just watch the dude’s swing!) that I haven’t seen from Magglio (except in that one ALCS at-bat).

I just don’t think Sheffield will be good enough at 38 to rationalize the dumping of three promising youngsters.

NBA wrap…

I know how much Pistons coach Flip Saunders loves offense, but if he wants his squad to start winning more games – they’re 3-4 after an embarrassing 111-79 drubbing at the hands of, yes, the Golden State Warriors – he should start preaching defense.

Just look at the numbers.

When the Pistons hold opponents under 100 points, they are 3-1. And the loss was a 99-86 defeat at the hands of Sacramento.

It looks like Amare Stoudemire might be slowly working his way back into form. After back-to-back 16-point performances in Phoenix losses, Stoudemire busted out for a season-high 25 points in 25 minutes as the Suns easily defeated Memphis 96-87 tonight.

Stoudemire also grabbed 14 boards in the contest, a great sign for a team that’s already receiving excellent rebounding from Shawn Marion. Between the two of them, they have the potential to dominate the boards.

And don’t forget about Boris Diaw either.

… I can’t help but gawk at LeBron James’ numbers. Tonight he posted 38 points, eight rebounds and seven assists against Boston.

Still, the Cavs had to outscore the Celtics 34-17 in the fourth quarter to defeat them at home. And that just ain’t right. Something’s not working in Cleveland, because the Cavs – with possibly the game’s best player – are only 4-2 and struggling to defeat lowly teams.

Right now the Central Division is up for grabs.

But as I’ll be saying until post-Christmas, IT’S EARLY!