How ticked off are Cub fans right now?

Somehow, it continues. Ridiculous as the notion seems even now, the Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series. Florida's two MLB teams have still never lost a postseason series, and could potentially have three titles in eleven years. Tampa Bay has always been a great sports area, and next year we will get to see at last if it's possible for an MLB team with credibility to get conistent support there. I believe the Rays will ride this momentum into finally becoming the major part of the state's sports scene they have never been before.

It's remarkable Tampa Bay will get the chance to break Philadelphia's heart again. First it was the Bucs beating the Eagles in January 2003 to go the Super Bowl in the final game ever played at the Vet. Covering that was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Philly people were completely certain they were going to crush the Bucs - afterwards they were too shell shocked to even boo the trophy presentation. That September, even with Stallone doing his best Rocky imitiation to pump up the crowd, the Bucs beat the Eagles again on Monday Night Football in their first game at the Linc. In 2004 it was the Lightning over the Flyers in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals on their way to the Stanley Cup. Listening to rants from Flyer fans about how Philadelphia "deserved" to win a title and Tampa didn't were hilarious - I can only imagine the psychological trauma a Rays World Series title would cause up there. If the Phillies can't get it done, they'll have to count on the Sixers since I'm pretty sure the Magic aren't moving.

I don't know which thing I'm happier about - that Tampa Bay beat Boston or that the games won't be on TBS anymore. That means no more Chip Caray. In the seventh inning, he actually said, "You give the Red Sox life, and they take your life away from you!" It was a BASE HIT, Chip. Not even an RBI. Settle down, Beavis. Later, TBS puts up a graphic pointing out the biggest ninth inning comeback in a postseason game seven was two runs, by the Braves against the Pirates in 1992. Chip Caray somehow turned that into, "and the Pirates were up two games to none and the Braves came back to win the final three". Was it that big a stumper for Chip to remember his dad's most famous call ever? Seriously, TBS, please find someone else by next year.

The first BCS standings are out. Worrying about them is a colossal waste of time, but that never stops people from doing it. Biggest potential nightmare scenario for the BCS right now? Oklahoma (currently number four) doesn't win its division, stays a one loss team by winning out, and the computers serve them up a rematch with an undefeated Texas rather than giving a one loss USC or SEC champ a shot.

I keep wondering when people will figure out that comparisons of everyday things to Hitler are never going to work out well. The latest to learn the hard way: Lou Holtz. Holtz was trying to be clever and made a comment about Hitler being a "great leader" during a discussion about Rich Rodriguez and his struggles at Michigan. He's apologized. If the subject you're discussing isn't genocide, it's probably best to leave the Hitler references alone.