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   Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Gnter Grass still thinks reunification was a bad idea.
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 The best recent memoir from republican Washington is a hoax. That should tell you something.
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December 2, 2006
By: OPEN FOOTBALL THREAD....For those with a moneymaking bent, I note that the point spread on the USC-UCLA game seems to have been narrowing over the past few days, with at least a couple of sites now quoting a spread of only 11 points. Sadly, I'm not a betting man, because that seems like a steal to me. Take USC and the points and you should be a few dollars richer this evening. HALFTIME UPDATE: Hmmm. Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a betting man. But I think I'll still take the points. FINAL UPDATE: It's really a good thing I'm not a betting man. That sucked. But all props to UCLA's defense, which was terrific. —Kevin Drum 3:45 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (85)Comments
You still seem to be under the impression that USC is good. I'm not sure why. Posted by: Justin on December 2, 2006 at 3:47 PM | PERMALINKAlthough, UCLA is no Oregon State, or Washington State, or Washington, or Arizona State.... :) Posted by: Justin on December 2, 2006 at 3:48 PM | PERMALINKOK. While I'm at it, I'll take Ohio State to crush USC by more than 11 pts. next month as well. Posted by: Satchel on December 2, 2006 at 4:05 PM | PERMALINKI have learned not to bet against Kevin's predictions...he nailed the last U.S. Open Tennis championship, and a couple of others. For a wonky guy, he knows his betting lines... Posted by: Charles on December 2, 2006 at 4:12 PM | PERMALINKSatchel, Of course, no one in their right mind is going to let you take USC and the points. To take USC, you have to give the points. Posted by: J. Michael Neal on December 2, 2006 at 4:22 PM | PERMALINKU! (3 claps) U-C-L-A! Fight! Fight! Fight!' When UCLA played USC, the fans on the side of good used to raise the keys to our "Porsche" in time with the dreaded USC fight song. It's been 20 years, but I'm doing it virtually. ;) Posted by: Auster on December 2, 2006 at 4:29 PM | PERMALINKYour "moneymaking" is my illegal gambling. Sometimes you can be such a repug, Kevin. Posted by: youroldpal on December 2, 2006 at 4:43 PM | PERMALINKMy understanding that this blog is available in locations where gambling is legal, like Las Vegas. Posted by: Martin on December 2, 2006 at 4:48 PM | PERMALINKWho bets on Dad's Club football teams?
Let's see...USC is just 19 unanswered points from covering that spread. Posted by: dj moonbat on December 2, 2006 at 5:23 PM | PERMALINKCharles, you think that because Kevin picked Federer to win the U.S. Open, that means he knows his betting lines? Picking the best player in the world to win on his (argualbly) best surface hardly constitutes out-of-the-box thinking. But yeah, he tends to know his stuff. Posted by: collin on December 2, 2006 at 5:39 PM | PERMALINKUSC is being sloppy far - no looking at all like a legit #2. Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 5:42 PM | PERMALINKIf you are not a "betting man", don't give betting advice. Posted by: buck turgidson on December 2, 2006 at 6:00 PM | PERMALINKYes, indeedy, favorites Give - dogs take. When Kevin starts setting the morning lines at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar, I will start paying attention to his betting "skills". Posted by: thethirdPaul on December 2, 2006 at 6:01 PM | PERMALINKAll I have to say: so far it has been a very boring game. Stanford and Cal are playing more interesting football. Posted by: Mazurka on December 2, 2006 at 6:06 PM | PERMALINKI do believe if you always take the underdog in traditional rivalry games, you will beat the spread more often than not. Like today with UCLA and Stanford. Posted by: Fel on December 2, 2006 at 6:16 PM | PERMALINKSo a team that has trouble proving its not the 2nd best team in LA is the 2nd best team in the nation? This just in, the PAC-10 is again overrated due to West Coast bias. Posted by: Rob on December 2, 2006 at 6:57 PM | PERMALINKKevin, stop it! You don't TAKE the points, you GIVE them when your team is favored. Posted by: Fel on December 2, 2006 at 7:06 PM | PERMALINKI don't want to put a jinx on it, but it's UCLA up 13 to 9 with 8 minutes to go in the game...... Posted by: Jeff F on December 2, 2006 at 7:23 PM | PERMALINKAll I have to say: so far it has been a very boring game. Stanford and Cal are playing more interesting football. I disagree: USC-UCLA is interesting, but in a defensive way. I'm really intrigued by the UCLA defense in particular; they're looking mighty, mighty fine. Posted by: Anarch on December 2, 2006 at 7:29 PM | PERMALINKAt the time I wrote that it was boring. It improved after half time. Posted by: Mazurka on December 2, 2006 at 7:31 PM | PERMALINKSometimes the law of averages wins out. USC had beaten UCLA five years in a row. UCLA was due. They played a great game. Posted by: Mazurka on December 2, 2006 at 7:51 PM | PERMALINKAs Kevin clutches his rosary beads . . . USC may get a shot after a punt, but this one looks like it is over. Posted by: James E. Powell on December 2, 2006 at 7:52 PM | PERMALINKIt soon might be party time in Ann Arbor. Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 7:53 PM | PERMALINKFair to say, USC will NOT beat the spread. They might still beat the Bruins (:57 left...), but the spread is far out of reach. Posted by: dj moonbat on December 2, 2006 at 7:55 PM | PERMALINKMe thinks Kevin is just gonna have to 'grin and bear it'. Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 8:00 PM | PERMALINKAh, let's give it up for the public schools! Posted by: dj moonbat on December 2, 2006 at 8:01 PM | PERMALINKWell, that didn't work out very well for ya did it? Posted by: BroD on December 2, 2006 at 8:03 PM | PERMALINKoh for cryin out loud, usc...it would been so fun watching osu kick yer ass. now kevin will still moan how usc didn't get respect... Posted by: jdw on December 2, 2006 at 8:04 PM | PERMALINKFuck U$C. Fuck their convict laden roster. Fuck their cheerleader of a coach. Bruins, bitches!!! Posted by: Vladi G on December 2, 2006 at 8:09 PM | PERMALINKThe result only "sucks" if you're a fan of the "University of Second Choice." I'm not! Luckily, I don't hold Kevin's football allegiance against him (and I still like good Chuck Heston films as well). - UCLA, class of 1982 and 1991 (grad school). Posted by: fugitive on December 2, 2006 at 8:10 PM | PERMALINKIt's not that hard to pick Federer for the U.S. open. Let's see if Kevin can pick the winner of next year's french open? If he picks someone other than Nadal and gets it right then maybe he knows his stuff... Posted by: ppk on December 2, 2006 at 8:10 PM | PERMALINKKevin handled his loss with class. Now, can the rest of you handle your win with class? Posted by: thethirdPaul on December 2, 2006 at 8:14 PM | PERMALINKVladi! Sup! I'm starting an anti-USC party over at our place! Posted by: Brad R. on December 2, 2006 at 8:20 PM | PERMALINKOkay, I am going to be sent to hell for what I am about to type, but... Please, please, please remove the female sideline "reporters" from covering football games. They ask the most mind numbingly stupid quesions (which is really hard to do, considering the context). They are embarrasingly inane. Send them to figure skating, okay? Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 8:20 PM | PERMALINKNow, can the rest of you handle your win with class? Absolutely not! Fuck U$C. Fuck everything those fuckers stand for. Eat it, bitches. Posted by: Vladi G on December 2, 2006 at 8:29 PM | PERMALINKYee ha. I don't think I quite saw a Trojan cheerleader crying at the end, but in the couple of shots I saw, they definitely seemed to be misting up. I'll take it. John Callender The loss means that USC gets to return to the Rose Bowl. The question now becomes - does Michigan get another shot at OSU or will Michigan also be going to the Rose Bowl. The SEC championship may have something to say about that. Go Gators. And if Michigan does come out to Pasadena, here's hoping USC plays better there the 2nd time. Posted by: pgl on December 2, 2006 at 8:39 PM | PERMALINKKeith G, Excellent point - and we'll bring Dick Buttons to football. Posted by: stupid git on December 2, 2006 at 8:41 PM | PERMALINKI remember a month ago thinking Lou Holtz was batsh*t insane because he was hollering up and down that the national championship was going to be between Ohio State and Michigan....
No, SG, we need to leave Mr. Buttons right where he is interviewing Michelle Kwan and Rudy Galindo. Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 8:59 PM | PERMALINK"helping to make Lou Holtz look like a genius." Now hold on! I carry no brief fo USC but this is the lowest, low-down nasty jibe I have ever run across on a progressive blog. There's no way to filter this stuff? Thank God. I was getting sick of USC in the title game. Posted by: Trojan hatah on December 2, 2006 at 9:20 PM | PERMALINKDon't feel too bad; UCLA cleaned UVA's clock in soccer earlier in the day. Posted by: Hedley Lamarr on December 2, 2006 at 9:29 PM | PERMALINKCant believe how the announcers are blatantly trying to sway voters to go for FLA in the championship game. The color man has been an FLA spokesman all season. Michigan has to be REALLY pissed about this. Posted by: Michael7843853 G-O in 08! on December 2, 2006 at 9:55 PM | PERMALINKSo, will the Gators or the Wolverines face our Buckeyes? Something to ponder as I heat up the eggnog, add some Crown and kick back and watch some BBC comedy. A good night, indeed. Posted by: Keith G on December 2, 2006 at 9:59 PM | PERMALINKPoor poor kevin... all i have to say is: Gooooooooo GATORS!!! Posted by: Tom on December 2, 2006 at 10:00 PM | PERMALINKoh, and to the guy who says the color commentary has been for florida all season is obviously rip van winkle awakened and is confusing this season with '96, i mean jeezus, did you watch ANY of their SEC games? Posted by: Tom on December 2, 2006 at 10:02 PM | PERMALINKI really wanted to see USC against Ohio STate, but UCLA played tremendous defense. I wasn't in love with Carrol's play calling and that 3rd and 15 really killed them...I'm a big UCLA basketball fan, but not in football... I do believe if you always take the underdog in traditional rivalry games, you will beat the spread more often than not Like last week with UT Longhorns and the A&M Aggies. Posted by: luci on December 2, 2006 at 10:49 PM | PERMALINKTom Football season's not over yet. The game between #24 Hawaii (10-2) and Oregon State (8-4) is on ESPN at 9:00pm PST, and 12:00mid (EST) for you night owls on the east coast. But then again, people on the east coast never stay up late for games out west, which is why they can so easily dismiss anything west of the Rocky Mountains. But if you are a football die-hard and do stay up late, in all likelihood you'll be in for a real treat. Hawaii QB Colt Brennan has compiled a 72% completion rate this season, has thrown for 4,589 yards and 48 touchdowns this season, is looking to shatter the NCAA record of 51 TDs (set by Houston's Dave Klingler in 1990), and is deservedly in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy. And the Hawaii receiving corps is probably the best in the nation at this point. I look for it to be a tough game all around. Oregon State beat USC, and has a wicked pass rush that has registered 38 sacks this season. The Beavers will need to get to Brennan before he gets a chance to light them up. I'm making no predictions, and just keeping my fingers crossed. Posted by: Donald from Hawaii on December 2, 2006 at 11:33 PM | PERMALINKStart practicing your Gator Chomp, kids! Posted by: Tilli (Mojave Desert) on December 2, 2006 at 11:42 PM | PERMALINKYes, Kudos to June Jones. And, yes, dogs are a good play in rivalries. Eleven and even eleven and a half are really poor spreads to give in such games. Once lost a 6 college teamer. Won 5, but lost a rivalry game - Gave 11 for North Carolina to beat NC State - As I played it on a card and not over the counter in Nevada, I lost because the game ended NC 21 and NC State 10 and on cards, ties are a loser. In Nevada OTC, they are a push. As I sat in the Coliseum watching John Elway of Stanford lose to USC with Marcus Allen, the score kept rattling around in my feeble brain. Gotta be a half time score, gotta be, gotta be. Posted by: thethirdPaul on December 2, 2006 at 11:53 PM | PERMALINKthink about it, it's gott a be the gators... Posted by: travy on December 3, 2006 at 12:27 AM | PERMALINKListen, Gary Danielson, the color guy being slammed for his views on the Florida or Michigan question, was a Big Ten quarterback (Purdue) who played eight years with the Detroit Lions. It's doubtful he has any animus toward the Big Ten or Michigan. It's likely that he has an opinion and stated it. Why should that be a problem? Were you incensed at Lou Holtz's cheerleading for an OSU-Michigan rematch? Danielson, like Holtz and other former coaches and players, is paid to give his opinions. He made his case with a comparison of the teams' respective schedules. If you didn't find it to be persuasive, that's fine, but it isn't a good reason to slam him. What is it that makes Michigan such a clearly better choice than Florida? Didn't Michigan already have a chance to get into the Big Game? Posted by: James E. Powell on December 3, 2006 at 12:29 AM | PERMALINKMichigan lost to number 1. Nobody else has lost only to number 1. Give Michigan their due at a rematch. florida sucks. Posted by: tomeck on December 3, 2006 at 12:39 AM | PERMALINKArkansas coach Houston Nutt threw his support to the Gators. "This is the toughest conference in America," Nutt said." Except for the Big Ten, with the Number 1 and Number 2 teams in the nation. Posted by: tomeck on December 3, 2006 at 12:44 AM | PERMALINKCongrats to Wake Forest for winning the ACC football title (gee, what a strange thing to write!). Enjoy the taste of oranges, Deacons. And I wouldn't necessarily assume a Michigan-Southern Cal Rose Bowl if Florida vaults into the BCS title game. You can be sure that both ABC (which has the Rose rights) and Fox (in its first year of having the BCS package) will want to have Notre Dame, still probably the only college that can be assured of drawing good ratings in markets like New York and Chicago, where there's no real hometown college football interest (apologies to Northwestern and Illini fans in the latter case). I'm sure ABC is putting pressure on Rose officials to somehow select the Irish over Southern Cal. Also, I understand Louisiana State fans have bought tens of thousands of Rose Bowl tickets online...if the Tigers aren't invited to Pasadena, there'll be hell to pay. Posted by: Vincent on December 3, 2006 at 12:47 AM | PERMALINKVincent, I think that if Michigan goes to the BCS Big Game, Wisconsin goes to the Rose Bowl. I could be wrong, but I think that's how it goes. Posted by: James E. Powell on December 3, 2006 at 12:56 AM | PERMALINKYou are wrong, Mr. Powell. No more than two teams from a conference can participate in the five BS games (including the title contest). Wisconsin is stuck in its bowl. Posted by: Vincent on December 3, 2006 at 1:05 AM | PERMALINKthink about it, it's gotta be the gators... I've thought about it, and I've decided that Michigan deserves to go. They lost by three on the road to the number one team in the nation. Home field is worth at least three points. I think they could take Ohio State on a neutral field. But if you'd rather see a national championship game where Florida gets the living shit beat out of them, oh well. Posted by: Vladi G on December 3, 2006 at 1:09 AM | PERMALINKI'm a Gator & my best friend in the world (also a Gator) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September. We have been watching the Gator Games as an escape from the horrible diagnosis. Forward to Yesterday. He got a great update (tumor has shrunk significantly post chemo & pre radiation) and tonight we watched together as UF won the SEC Championship. Did I mention that I wrote to Coach Urban Meyer in October to tell him that my friend & I were watching the games as a sort of therapy and he wrote my friend a lovely encouraging note? He did. Allow me to say Go Gators, and please let no one destroy that moment. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. And today changed nothing, other than it was a great day of football. Thank you UCLA Bruins, and more importantly, thank you Dr. Fine at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. Posted by: swarty on December 3, 2006 at 1:16 AM | PERMALINKI think I'd rather see a national championship game than a big 10 mulligan game. I also don't recall the "home field advantage" of OSU affecting UM at all. Posted by: miker on December 3, 2006 at 1:24 AM | PERMALINKHome field is worth at least three points. according to who? is it worth sending a team that couldn't even win its conference championship? the gators are sloppy but create matchup problems all over the field which is why they keep winning and why they'll beat ohio state too... Posted by: travy on December 3, 2006 at 1:32 AM | PERMALINKLove ya Kevin, but hip hip for UCLA. Now it's time for Ben Howland and his men to take care of BIZ in B-ball. Posted by: Lou Delgado on December 3, 2006 at 1:41 AM | PERMALINKVincent, You are correct, sir! According to espn, if Michigan goes to the Big Game, LSU goes to the Rose Bowl. I am one Buckeye fan who does not care whether it is Florida or Michigan, though I think Florida provides the more interesting challenge. Were it not for OSU's unforced errors to start the second half, Michigan would not have been in the game. Florida appears to have had a much tougher schedule than Michigan, or Ohio State for that matter. Doesn't that count more than which team each one lost to? Posted by: James E. Powell on December 3, 2006 at 2:07 AM | PERMALINKF*CK SUC! NOW TIME FOR THE NCAA INVESTIGATION INTO BUSHGATE TO NEGATE THE SCUMSTER'S SEASON LAST YEAR!!! Posted by: GastonGreen on December 3, 2006 at 2:49 AM | PERMALINK"I'm sure ABC is putting pressure on Rose officials to somehow select the Irish over Southern Cal." The Pac-10 Champion is guaranteed a spot in the Rose Bowl unless: Neither a) nor b) is the case, thus $c is guaranteed a slot in the Rose Bowl, whether ABC likes it or not. That said, I'm ecstatic that UCLA crused the hated ones, and am still buzzin' over it. Patrick Meighan I am so embarrassed. Our governor takes upon herself, presumably at the urging of Mr. LA Governor (a football coach) to call up officials at the BCS and lobby for the LSU Tigers. Booster in Chief? I know the LA Constitution is a solid freakin' special interests mess but really when did that one sneak into her title? Arrrghhh! I mean it's not like there are any pressing issues of any kind here that she might more usefully concern herself with...getting us more swell Persian Gulf oil refineries and coal gasification plants to add to the woes of Cancer Alley... Anyway. Sorry. Posted by: CFShep on December 3, 2006 at 9:13 AM | PERMALINKSo University of Spoiled Children V Michigan in the Rose Bowl. OSU goes on to drub Florida for the mythical national championship. Posted by: klyde on December 3, 2006 at 12:14 PM | PERMALINKKevin, now if we could just get refs, replay officials and the NCAA to overturn some highway robbery, we might be able to boost OU past Michigan to play Ohio State. Posted by: Socratic Gadfly on December 3, 2006 at 12:19 PM | PERMALINKDonald from Hawaii, Tough loss, but the hybrid run and shoot of June Jones surely makes for fun football to watch. Two tough letdowns by your defense, one on the kickoff and the other on that 80 hitch and go made it tough to overcome. Plus, a touch of strange happenings inside the five didn't help. But, a 296 lb running back? - Whew, what a load to bring down. Hey, I'll take your band over that of Troy's anyday. Of course Troy plays "Louie, Louie" a little better. As to the retired instant replay official from the OU-UO game, he still lives in agony over that - Decent man - lives in Portland - said that he knew something was wrong the minute it became official. But, kudos to the Sooners at Arrowhead last evening. Posted by: thethirdPaul on December 3, 2006 at 12:31 PM | PERMALINKWoo hoo, Go Bears! Thanks to UCLA, Cal is the co-champion of the Pac-10 for the first time since 1975, my sophomore year. Still no Rose Bowl, but Old Blues know they need to take what they can get. Posted by: Nonplussed on December 3, 2006 at 1:54 PM | PERMALINK"You still seem to be under the impression that USC is good. I'm not sure why." Here are some facts to consider about USC prior to the UCLA game. Most, if not all, of the teams in the Div I Top 20 are good, especially those in the top 10. Any good? Pl-eaze. Posted by: Jeff on December 3, 2006 at 5:22 PM | PERMALINKWoo hoo, Go Bears! Thanks to UCLA, Cal is the co-champion of the Pac-10 for the first time since 1975, my sophomore year. Still no Rose Bowl, but Old Blues know they need to take what they can get. - Posted by: Nonplussed Well, you get to watch as they demolish 6-6 FSU. That ought to be a pathetic spectacle. Meanwhile Jeff Bowden gets a lovely little sendoff: $543k for sending one the country's best teams into a death spiral. Heck of a job, Jeff. I don't wish to get into the BCS debate (beyond the quote from a column from today's LATimes below) but truly 6-6 teams don't belong in any bowl anywhere. They need to raise the standard and if that means pruning out some of these excess minor bowls - so be it. J.A. Adande: 'Just to be clear, neither of these teams can blame their situation on the system. USC recused itself from the championship discussion with its second loss of the season on Saturday against UCLA. And Michigan has no right to step to the front of the contenders line because it didn't satisfy what ought to be Requirement No. 1: Win your conference. So they both got what they deserved, if not what they wanted.' Posted by: CFShep - the real one on December 4, 2006 at 9:14 AM | PERMALINKWhich university to root for: the private school of California weatlhy elitism or a land grant public university? Go Bruins! Posted by: Hostile on December 4, 2006 at 11:06 AM | PERMALINKNot to rub it in, but I did call it last weekend. "Time for Ohio St. to beat another Florida team for the National Championship." I do believe I said that. Yesssss. 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