SPORTS
KANSAN
2, 2008
7B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008
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FANTASY FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner leads his team to a 29-24 victory against San Francisco on Monday night. In tune with "West Side Story," the Cardinals were feeling pretty after posting crazy statistics against one of the worst defenses in the league
Teams show off talent This week's games led to key changes in the division
In tribute to the showing of "Sweeney Todd" at the Lied Center tonight, let's take a look at this weekend's NFL action as a culmination of theatrical productions, with a lot of scores and some key changes in divisions.
THE PRODUCERS
The Jets' first half rated on the ridiculous scale, right next to someone in the real world actually producing "Springtime for Hitler." The Jets scored 40 points in the first half against St. Louis, capping it off with a 55-yard field goal before halftime. Quarterback Brett Favre kept the offense on cruise control by handing off the ball to running back Thomas Jones who rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Favre threw only 19 passes in the game, but completed six of them to rookie tight end Dustin Keller for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Five St. Louis turnovers also helped the Jets earn their largest margin of victory in club history. The team is now tied with New England for the division lead in the AFC West and should continue to factor in the divisional battle after winning five of its last six games.
WEST SIDE STORY
The Arizona Cardinals are running away with the NFC West division and inched closer to the divisional crown with a victory against San Francisco last night, in one of the most watchable Monday night games so far this season. The Cardinals probably feel confident right now, if not pretty, and witty, and gay, because they are sitting in the driver's seat halfway through the season. The ageless wonder, quarterback Kurt Warner, continued to post insane numbers
with 328 passing yards and three touchdowns. The receiving corps continues to prove it is one of the best in the NFL. Steve Breaston led the team with seven catches for 121 yards. The defense proved it is for real as well, ending the game with a goal line stop.
Any Cardinal will be a boost to your fantasy roster because they know how to win, and score a lot of points against some of the worst defenses in the NFL.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
If the Falcons win the South division, you can lock up that rookie of the year trophy for Ryan. One thing is for sure, Ryan is a reliable fantasy quarterback and worthy of a start for a slumping team.
The Falcons are anything but caged, as they broke out for a big divisional victory against the Saints on Sunday. Atlanta must feel like this is "The Best of Times" after the traumatic Michael Vick incident last season and after head coach Bobby Petrino left them after one season. Now they are tied for second in the NFC South division, and quarterback Matt Ryan is looking like a strong candidate for rookie of the year.
Don't cry for Pittsburgh quarterback B Roethlisberger, Steeler fans. The truth is he never left you. Pittsburgh fans shouldn't give up on Roethlisberger just yet either.
EVITA
Yes, Roethlisberger threw three interceptions in the game, but he shouldered the blame for the loss, possibly literally. Roethlisberger had a slight shoulder injury entering the game and coaches made a game-time decision to play him.
He's bound to have an off-game, but he is one of the best quarter-backs under pressure in the NFI, so he'll rebound from the loss.
The biggest factor for the Steelers could be running back Willie Parker's return, because he provides some balance to that offense. Pittsburgh's main competition in the division is Baltimore, so if it gets that balanced offensive attack back, it may wind up "Rainbow High" and in the playoffs.
AVENUE O
Don't worry Kansas City fans, the Chiefs are only terrible "For Now." Kansas City lost another heartbreaker this weekend to San Diego on a failed two-point conversion attempt. Don't fault coach Herm Edwards though. A 1-7 team has no choice but to go for two and the win. The Chiefs failed to complete a two-point conversion early in the game as well, which would have put them up by eight points.
The offensive line continues to have trouble blocking as rookie running back Jamaal Charles left the game early with an injury and may be wishing he were still in college. Fellow rookie Dantrell Savage filled in with only 44 rushing yards against a weak San Diego run defense. Although it may suck to be a Chiefs fan right now, they showed signs of life on Sunday that may amount to a few more victories.
Edited by Brenna Hawley
COMMENTARY
Jayhawk football stores away its glass slippers
Many in the college football speculation business heard the prover
ness heard the proverbial clock strike midnight. They said Kansas' story was, like all of sports' Cinderella tales, destined to end with a sobering return to normalcy.
Maybe we didn't hear the clock signal that inevitable return to the middle of the Big 12 pack. Perhaps we were too busy crowding Massachusetts Street, celebrating an Orange Bowl victory that would seem the stuff of fairy tales if we hadn't experienced it ourselves.
Whatever the reason, we didn't believe last year was an aberration. We believed the team could once again overcome the odds and silence the critics. We believed because we were fans, and that's what fans do.
But fans or not, it's time to objectively evaluate this situation. It's time to acknowledge that it's well past midnight and the glass slippers are long gone.
Not that the Jayhawks haven't had opportunities to knock off quality foes. The first real test of the season, a road tilt against the then-ranked South Florida Bulls, was a game Kansas probably should have won. If any of several things had gone the Jayhawks' way, this season would likely have a much more positive spin on it. Unfortunately, success in sports
Kansas is 6-4. None of the Jayhawks' six victories were against a ranked opponent, nor were any of them on the road. Furthermore, every one of Kansas' victims has a losing record.
is measured in wins and losses not ifs and buts.
Kansas' three other losses were more understandable. Norman, Okla., is not a place the Jayhawks are supposed to win, and they didn't. But there were positives to be derived from that loss — more ifs and buts to take comfort in.
The week after, Texas Tech never so much as provided the illusion that the game would be competitive. For the first time in several years, the Jayhawks were clearly outmatched, outclassed and outgunned. The final margin of victory was 42 points but honestly, it could have been worse.
At this point, reality should have hit home. Kansas wasn't going to a BCS bowl game this season. But still, a sliver of hope persisted. A victory against Nebraska could've kept Kansas alive in the Big 12 North title chase. A victory on that front, paired with an upset against rival Missouri, could have sent the Jayhawks to Arrowhead Stadium for a second time this season.
There they would have a chance to surprise whichever team survived the Big 12 South gauntlet. Several miracles later, Kansas could once again shock the college football world and advance to a BCS bowl game.
But Kansas didn't beat
Nebraska.
And really, there's no objective reason Kansas should be predicted to win either of its next two games.
Leading up to Saturday's clash with the Longhorns, we shouldn't so much as humor the possibility that the impossible might happen. Texas is Texas. Kansas is Kansas. We know how this story goes.
But come Saturday, that sort of rational thought will be abandoned. Texas will take to Kivisto Field greeted with a shower of boos. Kansas will follow — on Senior Day, no less — and receive a hero's welcome.
And then we'll do what fans do. We'll begin to believe. We'll begin to hope that Kansas will once again don the glass slippers and write a happy ending to this season.
No one knows what will happen next.
Oh sure, there's a script for how games like this are supposed to play out: Kansas, motivated by a desire both to win one for the seniors and to regain some national prominence, plays a superb first quarter of football. But Texas weathers the emotional storm and takes a slim lead going into halftime. The talent differential manifests itself early and consistently in the second half, and the Longhorns win comfortably.
That's the story as it's supposed to go. But then, the truth borne out by college football is often much stranger than the fiction generated by conventional wisdom.
Edited by Andy Greenhaw
MLB
KC writers give awards to three Royals stars
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Relief
Right-hander Zack Greinke
received the Joe Burke special achievement award.
NFL
pitcher Joakim Soria and shortstop Mike Aviles were named pitcher and player of the year for the Kansas City Royals,
The Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America chose the winners.
Expect some new Chiefs to fill holes in roster
Head coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that some new Chiefs could be on the horizon.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The injury-raved Kansas City Chiefs again are scouring the landscape for usable football players.
Linebackers Derrick Johnson and Pat Thomas, guard Adrian Jones and defensive end Brian Johnston are all out for this week's game against the Saints.
Associated Press
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