The Tank is still too angry at the Knicks to discuss them, especially after going down by 30 points in Monday night's game and losing in heart breaking fashion to the Celtics.  Therefore, I will discuss other teams' issues.

Allen Iverson has reportedly played his last game for the Philadelphia 76ers based on statements from their owner and their GM is desperately trying to deal him.  Furthermore, his locker has been cleaned out over this past weekend in the anticipation that will be traded.  Though he plays with lots of heart, A.I. doesn't like practicing, shows up late to games, and has had numerous run-ins with the law and other off court issues over the years. 

How does the Tank know that Allen Iverson Has more luggage than a Coach Store?  The Tank briefly temped as a word processor at Coach headquarters about a decade ago after moving to the City.  Though I don't still don't know anything about hand bags, purses, etc., my former Coach colleagues were nice people and their PowerPoint and other presentations were well done. 

Even excluding the luggage issues, how many more good years does A.I. have left?  Two or three tops because of the physical pounding A.I. has taken; he has as many injuries as the Tank.  Since he reportedly turned down a trade Tuesday to the Charlotte Bobcats, maybe he'll end up with K.G. in Minnesota (probably the best chance to contend for both ringless stars), the Celtics, Nuggets, or Pacers according to Bloomberg News.  We should know "The Answer" to A.I.'s future destination in the next day or two. 

Posted by the Tank in NY.

Wednesday night's Knicks defeat to the Wizards was a pathetic as they come.  The Wizards won 113-102 and it was their first road win of the season.  The final score was actually closer than the real results as the Knicks rallied late to make it somewhat respectable.

I received two separate reports on the pain of last night's loss.  My roommate, MTA Ray, said that the Knicks took an early 9-2 lead and quit after the Wizards took a timeout.  Basketball Brant took his niece to her first basketball game and the Knicks owe her and her Uncle Brant an apology.  I am afraid that she will be traumatized for life and hate her loving Uncle Brant.  Basketball Brant almost got out of his seat to show the Knicks how we used to play defense in college pick-up games.

Posted by an increasingly depressed and impatient Tank in NY.

Thanks to the Chokeaholic Giants and Chiefs (14 point lead late in the game), the Tank was 9-7 last week.  The Colts and Raiders upsets didn't help either.  Anyway, without further ado, please find my predicted winning picks in bold below:

Locks:

The Bengals should clobber the visiting Raiders.

The Broncos have a new quarterback but the Chargers are at home and on a roll.

Should Win:

The Steelers beat the visiting Browns.

The Falcons beat the Buccaneers at home.

The Ravens beat the Chiefs.

The Colts should bounce-back against the Jaguars.

The Vikings beat the hapless Lions.

The Patriots over the improving and host Dolphins.

The Packers woes should continue against the improving 49ers.

The Seahawks should get by the improving Cardinals.

As it pains me to write this, the Jets should roll over the Bills.

As bad Rex Grossman was with only 34 yards passing last week, they still found a way to win thanks to their defense.  Grossman's quarterback rating was 1.3, almost the lowest mathematically possible and the lowest I have ever seen and heard, as most quarterbacks average in the high double digits or low triple digits.  The Bears should beat the Rams.

Avoid Picking:

The Eagles are alive and kicking and should beat the struggling but talented Redskins.  If Hall of Fame Coach Bill Gibbs can't figure the Redskins out, how should the rest of us?  

The Titans are improving but at the Texans.

As much as I want the real America's Team to win, the Saints, they are at the Cowboys and without the Tank's brother from another mother Hollis Thomas. 

Protest:

I didn't even want to waste my time and yours condemning the Giants. Their issues are too numerous for me to write and you to read.  Bottom Line: The Giants should have drafted Phillip Rivers instead of Eli Manning and gave up way too much, i.e. a third round pick in 2004 and the first and fifth round pick in 2005.  Eli doesn't have his brother Peyton's arm to deal with the swirling winds of Giants Stadium nor his father's heart and drive.  Remember, Eli's Old Miss teams were not as good as Peyton's Tennessee teams and the same will hold true in the NFL.  Undisciplined clowns like Plaxico Burress getting untimely and illogical penalties don't help.  They are more stressed out than the Tank.  Coach Tom Coughlin deserves better and may get an injury pass but no extension going into the final year of his contract next season.  Best wishes to RB Tiki Barber and GM Ernie Accorsi in their announced retirements after the season.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

After #2 USC was upset by UCLA on Saturday, the chaos began.  Who would be the #2 seed to face #1 Ohio State in the national championship series?

Florida Coach Urban Meyer has been a frequent critic of the Broken Computer System, AKA the Bowl Championship Series.  However, after beating Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game, Coach Meyer's criticism diminished after his successful campaigning for the #2 ranking and seed.  I understand Coach Meyer's politicking though Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr thought his comments were "inappropriate".

When the computers stopped calculating, Florida was the #2 seed by about .0111 of a point so Florida has the honor of meeting Ohio State for the national championship.  To add fuel to the fire, Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel did not vote, he abstained.  He abstained because he probably felt he was between a rock and a hard place.  If he voted for Michigan as #2, he would have been accused as a Big Ten Apologist.  If he voted for Florida as #2, he would have been accused as sticking it to Michigan.  I can understand Coach Tressel's position because if he had to face Michigan and lost in the national championship game, he would have beaten them during the regular season, then lost to them for the BCS National Championship, and then been the #2 team.

As much as the Tank uses and loves computers, the Tank has long espoused a true playoff format.  Granted, football is too demanding for a Field of 65 or 64 basketball teams or even a Sweet 16 (though Division III Football can pull it off), but the major college football powers (MCFP) can handle a Final Four.  The Regular Season and Conference Championships finish in early December.  The #1 team plays the #4 team on the same day or weekend in mid to late December that the #2 team plays the #3 team.  A couple of weeks later in early January, the winners of #1 versus #4 game plays the winner of the #2 versus #3 game.  The winner of that game is the national champion.

How difficult is it?  It's a win for everyone because the Tank would have closure and be able to sleep better knowing that there is a true national champion.  Right now, there is $1.2 Billion in economic impact to the host cities this season alone and "[i]n the first eight years of the BCS system, more than $50 million was distributed to conferences that do not have an annual automatic berth in the system."  The MCFP would benefit because they could have more big MONEY games.  Imagine that!  More money for the MCFP, a real national championship, and closure for the Tank.  Everyone is happy.  I am not even questioning where the rest of the money goes nor possible conflicts of interest between Mr. Mike Slive being the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner and the BCS Coordinator.     

College football has the best regular season.  Why can't it have an awesome playoff system like college basketball?  Settle it on the field, NOT by computers and politicking alumni, boosters, and coaches.  Let's hope the MCFP come to their senses soon and institutes a real playoff system or they will alienate their fans like the Tank.  I just want a real playoff system with a real champion.

Posted by the Tank in NY yearning for real College Football National Championship Closure.