The Checkdown

The New England Patriots aren't exactly known for doing things "by the book" (or even by the "letter of the law," while I'm spouting cliches).

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that, in an age where professional and collegiate sports teams are banning Twitter and developing strict social media policies, Belichick's Bunch is embracing the latest tech trend.....

Tim Kurkjian at ESPN has always been a number-cruncher. He could name all the MLB players to hit .300 in night games at Yankee Stadium from 1986-1994. He could also tell you how many foul balls were hit to the ridiculously nonathletic ball boys and girls near foul lines in 2007.

With Mr. Kurkjian as inspiration, here are some numbers to remember heading into the MLB postseason....

Remember the film Independence Day? When those huge, alien spaceships strategically position themselves over various U.S. and international cities?

That's the imagery that comes to mind when I saw ESPN's latest city/regional-centric website branch - ESPN Dallas.

All that's missing is Will Smith shouting, "ahhhh helllll naaaaawwww!"...

Monday Mourning Week Three: The Ted Kennedy 3 weeks sober...and counting Edition.

The biggest surprise after the first three weeks of the NFL season: The Kansas City Chiefs. They've played so poorly, I'm shocked they didn't find a way to go 0-5 in three weeks...

In this version of headliners, we'll write a headline you may see Monday morning for a handful of the NFL's Week 3 match-ups.

Along with the headline, I'll highlight some of the talking points to listen for from the probable commentators....

Allow me to generalize; Usually, sports movies fall into one of three categories: The inspirational, campy and horribly-predictable flicks; the "real life," gritty portrayals; or the over-the-top spoof or slapstick-comedy-type fare.

But 'Big Fan,' the directorial debut from Robert Siegel (who penned 2008's The Wrestler), doesn't quite fit into any sport movie stereotype....

Two words come to mind for this week's college football action: Jacory Harris.

Above average? You bet.

A commander on the field? Gosh, he looks like it. But this weekend will tell the true tale of who he is...

Really, Charles Rogers? You're the first guy in the history of the world to go to rehab for marijuana (cue Bob Saget's character from "Half Baked"), then, the week that you're talking comeback, you're found all "Frank Solich" - slumped over your steering wheel in a parked car and get a DUI.

Mike Tyson has had better comeback attempts...

You remember the days when fantasy owners could trot out guys like Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson every week, without question? Of course that was long before the two-back system became the bee's knees.

And for a few years, the use of "change-of-pace" RBs became the bane of fantasy owners. But a week into the 2009 season, it looks like there's a handful of guys poised to be productive fantasy back-ups in a timeshare situation...

For no apparent reason, here's six guys that peeve me.... and will peeve you, too, this football season...

Every year a team wins more games than expected, become a contender, then fans are outraged that their team has been "disrespected" all year and they deserve better coverage and recognition.

Maybe "disrespected" isn't the proper word; I would substitute "forgotten" and "under-appreciated" into that sentence...

Monday Mourning: Week 1: The "What
is John Madden Doing Right Now" Edition: Stopwatches, keggers, and high-top fades...

It's here. Summer is waning, which in certain parts of the country means it's still "punch you in the face" hot and in others, means that the mildest flavors of the fall have already arrived.

Just because I want Michael Vick on my fantasy team doesn't mean that I want to kill your dog. And six other things you need to know for the upcoming football season....

BOOM! It hit so fast that there nearly wasn't enough time to transfer thoughts from Blackberry to laptop...

Without further adieu, the day-late but never dollar-short, first edition of Monday Mourning, The Checkdown's football week in review: The Sean Merriman Domestic Dispute Edition....