Top 5 Clever Topics for so Very Clever Guy's Girls: Week 8

As you know, this article is traditionally about the top five clever topics for so very clever guy’s girls heading into the college football weekend.  It’s designed to give women something to chat the boys up with so they can contribute to conversations that WILL come up while watching, dining, drinking or just hanging out with men.  

There is so much going on right now it’s hard for me to limit this to college football this week because the guys are going to be throwing a lot of topics on the table and you are going to need to be ready. 

So, do a little research beyond what I tell you and you can very quickly become the center of attention.  As always, I caution you against stats—33 percent of them are usually inaccurate. 

Get it? 

Further, men pride themselves on being walking encyclopedias of statistics and frankly, beyond Googling, there will just be a bunch of arguing.

"Kinsey" Is GUTSY

So, first up is Ian Kinsler’s gutsy stolen base in the ninth inning of the second game of the World Series.  This is new territory for the Rangers as it matches the furthest they’ve ever gotten in the postseason (World Series) and any new experience provides new challenges and emotions.  Last year they were the ALCS champs but this year they have a legitimate chance to go all the way.  

If the Rangers do win, I guarantee you Kinsler’s steal could go down in the history books as one of the most daring of World Series finals and certainly for Texas’ annals.  He’s a talented guy and not hard on the eyes—but if you must develop a crush to endure a game on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, try CJ Wilson—he’s a little eclectic but a female fan fave. 

St. Louis blew Game 2 as Texas has home field advantage for the next three games and the fans are rabid right now.  They WANT their first Championship.  It’s time and Nolan Ryan is just the man for the job (owner) along with Ron Washington (team manager).  Plan on seeing plenty of George W. Bush (former owner of the Texas Rangers) and his wife sitting next to Nolan and his wife.

NBA Talks Stalled? WEIRD

What is going on with the NBA?  Absolutely nothing.  They are well into a salary related lockout—weird.  I can’t imagine why talks have stalled—frankly, it’s a little tough for me to digest.  It’s almost as insulting as Adrian Peterson’s comment “The NFL is modern slavery.” 

I have three arguments against that. 

1) You elected to be a professional athlete, you were not forced and sold, kidnapped or held against your will at any time. 

2) You are paid—and handsomely. 

3) You get to PLAY a game for a living. 

I’m not sure what version of “modern slavery” he was speaking of—but I have a hard time believing there are professional athletes who DO NOT want to do what they are doing.  It does seem there is no shortage of professional athletes who don’t want to PLAY for what they are being compensated.  Sad. 

Even at league minimum each player in the big four (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) make more than nine of ten households in the US and more than 90 percent of households worldwide.  Hell, there are even households without houses.

There is always pharmaceutical sales, the drug companies show no slowdown in the manufacture, sale or marketing of lifestyle drugs.  If you want to see some people who are really being screwed—it’s senior citizens whose monthly cost of staying alive far exceeds the social security they’ve paid into for forty years and are having to go back to work. 

If only they weren’t crippled by age and could PLAY a game and make even $50,000 a year, instead they are greeters at Wal-Mart for eight-hour shifts making minimum wage after working their whole lives in real careers. 

This time it was HBO’s Bryant Gumble who pulled the slavery card comparing NBA Commissioner David Stern to a “plantation overseer.”  You can see why this would be offensive to the concept of slavery at large.  No one here is doing anything against their will and professional athletics do not speak to the unimaginable horror of slavery.

So Long Heisman Hopeful, You Are Now Dope-Full

Goodness, I’m on a tear now.  So, guess who has fallen out of the Heisman running? 

Unbelievable—not that I think he had a chance given it’s rare for cornerbacks to win (only once in Heisman history: Charles Woodson in 1997) and quarterbacks and running backs steal most of the limelight—but to be considered a Heisman candidate is a tremendous honor and LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu squandered it by testing positive for synthetic marijuana. 

I can’t imagine why we have synthetic marijuana—isn’t it rather plentiful in closets ‘round the nation?  

Honey Ganja, anyone?

Denard Don't Fail Me Now

It’s officially Heisman watch time.  Though my own candidate lost some steam with nine interceptions two weeks ago and a loss to rival Michigan State, Denard Robinson of the University of Michigan is still hanging on. 

Count on Russell Wilson from Wisconsin and Andrew Luck from Stanford to remain front-runners for a while.  I do still have a soft spot for Robert Griffin III and if Denard doesn’t win it—he’s my man. 

Love humility—it’s "So Very" rare not only in sports but life.  

Big Ten Shootout

The Big games for the weekend and my picks are:

Wisconsin over MSU will prove interesting as Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson battle it out. 

LSU over Auburn as it should be.  As we all know, the only redeeming quality Auburn has to me is Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner from 2009 is from my hometown and I am a fan of Les Miles whom I wish had taken Rich Rodriguez's (former University of Michigan head coach) job before Rich did.  LSU.  BIG.

Stanford over Washington

Notre Dame over USC

Oklahoma State over University of Missouri

Count on Texas Tech to get a six-pack of whoop ass opened up on them by Oklahoma.  It’s only right after the bath they gave University of Texas last week.  I foresee a decent fight out of Tech though—however, they have been struggling defensively and have to face a dynamic duo in Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles.  On top of this challenge, the Raiders have to truck it to Norman.  Yikes.

Count on Sammie Watkins, the explosive freshman for Clemson and “one man wrecking team” to have another huge day as Tigers take on North Carolina.

Some world class bloodletting can be anticipated as the 5-1 Nebraska Cornhuskers set out to beat up on Minnesota on their own turf.