Chiefs Eagles from Section 111 Row 6 by MP

So we begin another NFL season and yet another that I will continue to hope the Chiefs get better and head back to playing a respectable level of football.

I was very excited to head to Arrowhead to see the "New Body Same Soul" for the first time against the Philadelphia Eagles Friday night live and in person. Equally exciting was the renewal of our half season tickets where we are 6 rows from the field this year!

We arrived right as the gates opened and quickly found a new wrinkle from the Chiefs this year. First cars to the parking lot get to park furthest from the stadium!! Hey genius idea, think about that one. You go to an event and pay 22 beans to park and you get to get out of the way so those arriving later can park closer! Smooooooooth!!

I put that past me and headed into Arrowhead about an hour before kickoff to check out the new digs. They have a nice homage to former Chiefs in a museum type set up on the main concourse with Red lighting added for effect. Some new mural work on the walls were nice and much better from a line standpoint with concessions and also restrooms. I think they may have even thrown in a couple of extra porta-whizzers in the parking lot!!!I love my seats but couldn't help but notice that all of the renovation dollars could not been seen once you are looking at the field. No new seats, all the other stuff the same from a watching the game point of view.

Now we get to game time. First play from scrimmage and Jamaal Charles coughs it up and BANG....57 seconds in, Eagles up 7. The Chiefs offense in the first quarter was as bad as I have ever seen it. I think Cassel finished the game completing 14 or 15 passes for 85 yards! Yes, I said 85 yards!! Can you believe that? He simply cannot or they will not allow him to throw the ball down the field. They competed well all things considered, and in the second quarter ran something I think they need to run all the time, the No Huddle. While running that they marched the ball down the field and with a variety of short quick hitters from Charles, Dexter McCluster, and Thomas Jones they scored on a short pass from Cassel to Dwayne Bowe to tie it up at 7.

The defense was the best part of the deal. They got after Eagle QB Kevin Kolb all game long, collecting 5 sacks and numerous hurries. I never saw them with the exception of Tamba Hali a few times last year, get after any QB like they did Kolb. Most impressive was Andy Studebaker and DeMorrio Williams at LB and watching rookie Safety Eric Berry close on the ball. Berry will be a big-timer!! Most disappointing was fat, nose tackle playing DE, Glenn Dorsey. Tyson Jackson another top choice from LSU, like Dorsey was equally pathetic.

The defense played well and the offense was decent and it turned into a good, but ugly game. Rookies WR/RB McCluster and return specialist Javier Arenas were fun to watch and should prove to be very good draft picks. The Eagles got a fluky TD against a weak Chiefs prevent defense to win 20-17. Still the Chiefs lose again and bottom line, I do not care if pre-season or not, we need wins!!!

The long ride back I listened to 810 Sports and Todd Haley talk about the fact the Chiefs were going to play that way all year. More or less making excuses for the Chiefs already. Personally I think if Haley lays an egg against San Diego and maybe another early home loss, I would get him out of here and back to doing something he knows, Golfing! Matt Cassel must improve. He seems to lack vision of the field. He should not have the excuses of poor offensive line play like he did last year, they looked much better.

Overall it was still fun. Walking out of the Stadium I looked up and saw the "middle level" or where the yellow seats are, and from outside you can see the new enclosed area with new bar, new seating area, all posh stuff. It seems to me the renovations were made to placate the "blue bloods", not the true fans. I thought there were some nice touches and a few cool deals, but really to me it was the same as it has been. That is still fantastic, but maybe I was expecting too much. The parking thing chapped me quite a bit, but hopefully they will come to their senses on that.

I always look forward to going, but am becoming impatient with the Chiefs. "New Body Same Soul" is the season motto with the new Arrowhead....maybe the Chiefs motto should be "New Stadium Same Disappointment." If Todd Haley and Matt Cassel cannot figure it out soon, that is exactly what it will be.

VC looks at MIAA, KCAC football!

Kansas and Kansas State grab a lot of the football attention in the Sunflower State, but more and more headlines in the state's newspapers are being grabbed by teams that play in the MIAA and KCAC.

When you think successful MIAA teams, Pittsburg State immediately comes to mind. However, these aren't your Grandpa's Gorillas, though. Pittsburg State, 3-time national champs, is picked sixth in the 10-team MIAA in 2010. In fact, four of the top five picks are schools outside of Kansas. Northwest Missouri State is the unanimous pick. The media have Washburn second and the coaches slot Nebraska-Omaha in the runnerup position. The media's top five is rounded out by Mo. Western, UNO and Central Missouri State. The coaches tabbed Washburn third followed by Western and CMS.

Behind Pitt State are Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, Emporia State and Truman.

Northwest received nine first-place votes from the 10 coaches. Since he couldn't vote for his own team, Mel Tjeerdsma voted for Washburn, which still could only muster enough points for third in the coaches poll.

The Bearcats have won 37 straight conference games and won the national championship a year ago after losing in the title game four years in a row.

"We have 24 or 25 seniors, and their challenge is this year," Tjeerdsma said. "They've been a part of a lot of great things, but their identity is this year."

I hope the MIAA never changes its ways and keeps the annual Northwest-Pitt game at Arrowhead Stadium. This game has drawn close to 30,000 annually and is the perfect halfway point between Maryville and Pittsburg.

Washburn has 20 seniors returning from last year's 8-3 squad that finished in a four-way tie for second in the league. Encouraging for Ichabod faithful is the fact that 10 players with starting experience on offense return along with eight on defense along with the punter and kicker.

"We're pretty well set personnel-wise," Washburn coach Craig Schurig told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "The positions we do have to replace, we have guys who haven't started games but they do have some experience, and we expect them to make a huge impact."

Dane Simoneau, a second-team All-MIAA selection last year, will quarterback the Ichabods. He threw for a school-record 2,955 yards and 26 TDs. Simoneau also plays shortstop for the baseball Bods. I only know that because Brent Matile, a good friend of mine and a member of the Washburn baseball team, told me.

Pitt State no longer has Chuck Broyles roaming the sidelines. Now it's longtime assistant Tim Beck, who was an assistant for 22 years, the past 16 as offensive coordinator.

Emporia State was 2-9 last year. Fourth-year coach Garin Higgins is just 9-23 as the head Hornet. I hope for his sake some W's come his way this fall.

"From a standpoint of wins and losses, it doesn't look good," Higgins said. "But we feel good about where we're going. Our players are developing, and we have some good players coming back."

The Friends Falcons are the pick in the Kansas Conference and get this, their starting QB left the team before spring practice for personal reasons and their top defensive player was dismissed this past winter for a violation of team rules.

And yet they're picked to win their fourth conference championship in the last five years.

"We're unhappy because 8-2 is just not good enough," Friends coach Monty Lewis told The Wichita Eagle. "The expectation here is championships. Not to mention we've yet to ring that bell for a playoff win."

Sophomore Jayme Bristow will quarterback the Falcons and will likely be throwing to huge targets in 6-6 Doug Pierce and 6-5 Mike Hyde, a pair of all-KCAC selections.

The Ottawa Braves are the No. 2 pick and keep an eye on All-American wideout Clarence Anderson, whose 2,563 yards of total offense led the country in 2009.

"We're very talented, but we're inexperienced," OU coach Kent Kessinger noted. "How our guys step up is how we'll be."

Jake Johnson, Travis Toon and Bobby Adamson are in a three-way battle for the QB job which was manned by KCAC offensive player of the year Ethan Haller.

"This team has to be the hardest working team we've had," Kessinger told The Ottawa Herald. "We are not going to sneak up on anybody. We start off with a tough game (vs. Baker). It is going to be a challenge. We will get everybody's 'A' game."

Playing Baker is a great way to kick off the football season. Baker and Ottawa are separated by only a few miles. That game is Saturday, Aug. 28. Kudos to both schools for resuming this series. Nice!

Tabor was 0-10 last year so it re-hired Mike Gardner, who spent the last four years at Malone College. Before that, he coached Tabor to back-to-back KCAC titles in 2004 and '05.

"I have no regrets about leaving and I have no regrets about coming back," Gardner said. "It was a chance to come back to Kansas, which is home, and that's where I want to be."

Remember the name Jordan Mosier, whom I believe was recruited to play linebacker for the Bluejays. Jordan is in our student loan program I work for at the Kansas Masonic Foundation. So is Brent Matile, a name I noted earlier.

Ditto for Derek Bledsoe, who helped me write my blog last week on the AFC. Derek is a wide receiver at Kansas Wesleyan in Salina. Derek facebooked me Friday that he injured his back in practice but hoped to be back on the practice field Saturday.

I hope Derek sees some playing time this fall. The Coyotes, a running team in 2009, are going to the spread offense this fall.

"Their attitudes were tremendous," KWU coach Dave Dallas told The Salina Journal after their first fall workout. "It was just night and day from where we've been from last year at this time to where we are now."

KWU was 5-5 last year. The Coyotes don't open until Sept. 11 at Tabor.

One encouraging thing for Dallas' Coyotes was that 125 participated in the first workout. That included 70 who took part in spring practices.

One more thing I want to make note which is huge for teams in the KCAC. The KCAC Board of Presidents recently passed a Sports Regulation Initiative that will allow schools in all sports to add practice time, game competition and possibly financial aid to fall more closely in line with NAIA national guidelines.

Beginning in 2011, the 10 football teams will be able to have 15 spring practices with a full-contact intrasquad scrimmage and they can add a second nonconference game and play 11 games.

"It's about what's fair compared to the rest of the NAIA," KCAC commissioner Scott Crawford told The Topeka Capital-Journal.

KCAC teams this past spring were limited to 10 one-hour practices.

Next week, I go back to the bullpen and summon Jim Blaauw, a faithful Kansas Mason who helped me this summer with student loan interviews. During the school year he is a football official for small colleges and high schools. Jim will look at the rules changes that are in store for football this fall.

Finally my shout this week goes to someone who is very close to my heart. Me! Yea, you read correctly. I'm puffing out my chest today because I took the season series between Patterson and I 4 games to 1 thanks to Rory McIlroy's finish at the PGA Championship. Patterson and I each picked five guys to win. Neither had the winner but McIlroy had the highest finish of those selected. For those who haven't been following, yours truly correctly picked International players to win the U.S. and British Open and the purple-clad Lakers to win the NBA. Patterson won our golf tournament but only because we played the ball down. Play it up and I know things would have been different! So the VC/MP Trophy goes to the Elder Statesman. Can't wait to have the chance to repeat in 2011! Thanks for reading guys!

Ty From the Cheap Seats...Revised NFC Picks!

With all due respect to Matt and Gary here are my revised predictions for the NFC.

East-Eagles sneak past the Boys and an improved Skins team with Big Blue bringing up the rear (Coughlin may pop an eyeball!) South-Saints win it in a walk. Fugettabout Matty Ice and the overrated Falcons. I have Detroit as the wild card! Seriously, check out the Lion's schedule (NFC East teams that see a trip to Detroit as an R and R in Bangkok-if you were a Viet Nam vet, or stayed at a Holiday Inn last night!) The Lions are solid and improving on both sides of the ball in the second year of underrated coach Jim Schwartz's tenure. They will be tough to reckon with and no one including Da Bears, Vikes and the Pack, gets up to play the LAMBS! West-49ers will squeeze by Arizona. Seattle and the Rams play paper rock scissers for worst in the NFL!

There you have it. Green Bay replaces New Orleans as the class of the Division. The Boys disappoint Jerry again. But the biggest news by far will be Lions roaring back to respectability behind coaching, schedule (every game at 1pm on Sunday!) solid offense, blossoming QB, being taken lightly, and a rock on D named Suh!

That's how it looks from the cheap seats.

I AM TALKING NFC! by MP!!!

I am ready for some football! Are you??? You have to be....the MLB season could NOT last any longer. How many times can the Yankees or Red Sox be pronounced out of the pennant race? Let's talk yours and my language and here is my NFC preview for the upcoming 2010-11 NFL Season!

First Round Byes or (Division Winners) will be: New Orleans NFC South, Dallas NFC East, Chicago NFC North, and Seattle because someone has to win the NFC West.

My Wildcards are: The New York Giants from the East and Carolina Panthers from the South.

Here are my takes. I think Dallas wins another wild one in the East primarily due to their whole team minus Tony Romo. In spite of Romo they will do it. Felix Jones is a beast, Miles Austin is solid and watch out for Dez Bryant as a big-time play-maker as a rook. You still have old reliable in Jason Witten and Marion Barber is tough on the goal line. On D they are tough too. I think their secondary is weak, so they will give up some points, but still win a lot of shootouts. Lookout for Anthony Spencer who they liken Rickey Jackson and of course the always scary DeMarcus Ware. Their division competition will be the G Men who are gonna grind it out with the best of them. I like Shanahan and the 'Skins to win a few surprises, but they will duke it out with the E A G L E S at the bottom of the division, still 2 tough teams though! The 'Boys will win their division but still have Tony Romo and will not win the big game. They will either blow it in the 2nd Rd or Championship game.

The NFC West is weak. San Fran is better, but Seattle should win it. I am certainly not a Pete Carroll fan but that division is horrific. Arizona doesn't have a QB and now Fitzgerald is banged up, St. Louis is an embarrassment and will get Sam Bradford killed, and then you have SF. I like the fire from Mike Singletary and I really like Frank Gore and the 1 year add of Brian Westbrook. I also think that Michael Crabtree, Teddy Ginn and TE Vernon Davis are some good weapons. However, Alex Smith is going to be tough to overcome and will make too many key mistakes which is why I favor the Seahawks by a nose. If for some reason Seattle goes with Charlie Whitehurst as QB, all bets are off!!!!

The NFC North is tough. You have Chicago, Green Bay, and Minnesota who are all beasts. Detroit may be improved too, and yes of course Dad I listen to ya! I think with or without Favre, I rate Minnesota and Detroit behind Chicago and GB. The Pack have the best QB, but lack some other skill positions and are declining on defense. These are the main reasons I take Da Bears!! I think Mike Martz will have the offense humming with a much improved Jay Cutler at QB. I really like the young back Matt Forte, and they have some decent outside guys at WR. The D is improved with the pickup of Julius Peppers and the improved health of Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris.

The NFC South will still go marchin' through to New Orleans, but a much closer race. I think Carolina and Atlanta will make it interesting this year. Atlanta has the more and more comfortable connection with Matty "Ice" Ryan and Tony Gonzalez, to go with Michael Turner, some good WR's and a decent D. Carolina are my Wildcard choice because of the duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield. The defense is usually tough in Carolina and John Fox has to win to keep his job. They were decent with Jake Delhomme over the past few years so I am not worried about them being questionable at QB with either Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen. The Saints will be the class though, polishing the impressive offense that we all saw last year. Expect the Saints defense to be a little better this year too with another year under Coordinator Gregg Williams and DE Will Smith getting after the opposing QB's.

The whole deal will go through New Orleans! I predict the Saints coming out of the NFC after a bruising and tough battle in the Championship against Daaaaa Bears!!! The Saints will be primed for the Bowl, especially if they get the keys to the medicine cabinet from Sean Payton!

Around the Horn: Time to own up and pay up! VC I think did a tinge better in the PGA than I did. He had Rory McIlroy and Steve Stricker and The Big Easy, Ernie Els, who all did fairly well and better than my best. Great work VC! Hey how about a nod to my Dad who had Rory, Jim Furyk and a few others who made a nice run. I am still proud of Phil who went out in style shooting 67 in the final round, though we all know if he was in contention it would have been 77 in the final round!! Hey speaking of the PGA.....what in the heck was that? Sorry I didn't realize spectators could stand in a fairway bunker! I feel for Dustin Johnson. It may have been a rule, but still borderline. Since we are talkin' borderline....did Bubba really go over the water at the flagstick with the title on the line? I was expecting him to drop another and not leave 'til he hit it on!! Come on Bubba! This is running on or I would add more....thank you for reading and feel free to add any comments!!

VC Calls Upon KWU Player to Break Down AFC!

It's time to break down the 2010 NFL season. Today we look at the teams in the chase for the Lamar Hunt Trophy, or in other words the AFC. Patterson's NFC preview follows in the coming days.

Since I'm a good judge of talent, I've decided to call upon my football ace in the hole and good friend. He's a wide receiver for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes out of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. He knows something about championships, too, being a member of some outstanding Kansas Class 3A state titles at Silver Lake High.

Give it up for Derek Bledsoe. Derek breaks down each team and predicts his division champs. His AFC representative in the Super Bowl can be found at the end. Take it away, Derek!

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore hopes to have an explosive offense this year with their excellent receiving corps and Ray Rice and Willis McGahee to back it up. The Raven defense looks to be just as good as it has been.

Cincinnati Bengals - If the Bengals can figure out a way to make both Ochocinco and T.O. happy it will be a miracle.

Cleveland Browns - I hope Cleveland can figure out their QB situation soon to make up for their lack of defensive stopping power.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Pittsburgh's offensive success will likely depend on the success of Roethlisberger.

I like Cincinnati to win the North.

AFC East
Buffalo Bills - All of you Buffalo fans out there may want to just sit this year out because the Bills don't look like they will put up any points and will most likely give up all those points that they won't score.

Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins look to improve on last year's 7-9 struggle and still look to capitalize through Brandon Marshall. Their tough schedule, though, can play a factor if they don't win the games they should.

New England Patriots - The Patriots are still relying on their passing game with Tom Brady and Randy Moss in the cockpit as they look to find a consistent running game and a defense to back it up.

New York Jets - On the offensive side, the Jets look to bring back a solid running game and hope to add on to their passing game with Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. Defensively, they may still be a little shaky while Rex Ryan continues to figure things out, but I hope to see big things out of Darrelle Revis (that is if he works out a deal with the team).

I look forward to the Jets taking this division.

AFC South
Houston Texans - The Texans are still hoping to find the one year when they can succeed, but this year may not be the one. Their offense looks to be pretty good, but without a pass defense they might fall short again.

Indianapolis Colts - The Colts look to be just as good as they always are, but like the Pats, they rely heavily on their passing game.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville is hoping that they can win games with their ground attack and a mainly passing league. This effort may be worthless if they can't defend the pass, though.

Tennessee Titans - Being a Titans fan, I always hope that they can put the Colts in their place and this year I believe they have a solid chance if they can bring a consistent defensive power to every game. I expect big things out of the running duo of Vince Young and Chris Johnson.

Sadly enough, I think the Colts will win the South....again.

AFC West
Denver Broncos - The Broncos bring back a good O-line but the O-line doesn't have much to protect. On the bright side though, they are in the same division as the Chiefs and the Raiders so they should still end up alright.

Kansas City Chiefs - With no defense and not enough good WR's, the Chiefs' success will likely be determined by Jamaal Charles.

Oakland Raiders - Hopefully Jason Campbell can make something out of nothing. Not a good year for the Raiders.

San Diego Chargers - Unlike the other teams in the AFC West, I have high hopes for the Chargers. I look forward to another dominant offense and an above-average defense to win the division title.

Chargers win the West. Hands down.

So who's your pick to win the AFC Championship, DB?

"I'm gonna have to go with the Jets!"

Great! I've been waiting a long time to say this: The Jets...J-E-T-S-JETS!JETS!JETS!

Thanks, Derek, and good luck this fall in Salina!

Next week I'll be previewing the KCAC and MIAA, both of whom sport nationally ranked programs. I might even get some thoughts from Derek on this if he has time.

My shout this week goes to Bryce Brown, who finally saw the light and is coming home! The highly publicized recruit from Wichita left good ole Rocky Top Tennessee this week and will be enrolling at Kansas State, where he will be eligible to play in 2011. He's joining his brother Arthur, both of whom were standouts at Wichita East High.

VC picks Cheese Head to win PGA

It's the last Major on the golf calendar. They play for the Wanamaker Trophy and this year an old abandoned air field along two miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline near Sheboygan, Wis., is home to the 92nd PGA Championship, which begins Thursday.

Oh, and the champagne is on ice as well. Patterson and I have had this friendly wager all summer. I'm up three games to one in the best-of-seven series. His only 1-up came in our head-to-head golf outing in June. My three conquests came by correctly picking International players to win the U.S. and British opens as well as the Lakers over the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

If I can correctly pick the winner of the PGA, out comes the champagne and the K-State Fight Song will be played on the loudspeakers enough so that Patterson can hear them clear down in the Ozarks! If he somehow prevails, a Game 6 will be necessary which means the KSU-KU game (football) in Lawrence will be necessary to determine the outcome of our wager.

Anyway, back to golf. Celebration comes later!

Patterson, always thinking how he can stay one step ahead of the competition, has changed the rules. No International vs. the U.S. in this major. This time we each pick five men who we think will win the PGA Championship which is at Whistling Straits.

No need to bother reading Patterson's selections. Here are mine, baby!

Lee Westwood was going to be one of my final five, but he withdrew Friday due to a calf injury that could hurt the European chances in the Ryder Cup come October. A win at the Bridgestone Invitational this past weekend would have vaulted him from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world.

"I will be out for as long as it takes to get better," Westwood said. "I am just hoping that it will be in time for me to play in the Ryder Cup."

I like London's Justin Rose, who has notched three top three performances in 2010 and four top-10 outings. That included wins in the Memorial and AT&T National where he shot 18-under and 10-under, respectively. He also added a third-place finish in the Honda.

Ernie Els of South Africa is almost always in contention when it comes to a Major. That's why he's another of my final five selections.

Els has two titles this year, both in March, at the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational. He carded respective rounds of 18-under and 11-under in those outings. Four times he's finished in the top three and six times in the top 10.

I tried to get advice from Bren Fisher, my ace in the hole who's golfing at Pittsburg State during the school year. He's been too busy this summer playing in the Kansas Amateur and some tournaments in his hometown of Emporia, but I know Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has been a favorite of his. Any favorite of his is a favorite of mine, thank you very much!

McIlroy shot 15-under to win the Quail Hollow Championship in early May. He followed it up with a 10th-place showing in The Memorial and a third-place tie in the British Open in which he was the 18-hole leader.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is beaming with confidence after his win in June at the U.S. Open. That was played near the Pacific Ocean (Pebble Beach) so he knows something about winning near lots of water.

But my pick to win the PGA? The Cheese Heads will be partying all across Wisconsin starting Sunday when native son Steve Stricker hoists the Wanamaker Trophy.

The 43-year-old from Edgerton, Wis., has made 13 of 14 cuts this year on the PGA Tour. He has three top-three finishes, including firsts in the Northern Trust Open in February and John Deere Classic in July.

The No. 4-ranked player will be competing in his first PGA Championship on home state soil.

"We are thrilled to have a fellow Wisconsite join the world's best field and have a chance to make a run for the coveted Wanamaker Trophy," PGA Championship Director Barry Deach said. "Wisconsites love their golf events and I am certain that many will rally to support Steve as he takes on the unpredictable course that is the Straits."

Hey, Cheese Heads, you supply the cheese, I'll furnish the first case of champagne!

My shout this week goes to Sean Sewell and his dad Scott of Topeka. Sean, a member of the Kansas Masonic All-State High School Marching Band, had a couple photographs of the Kansas State Wildcat football team in the latest Sports Illustrated Big XII preview. This included a two-page spread on pages 104-105 of the Wildcat team running from the lockerroom to the field from a year ago. His dad also had a couple photos in the magazine. Sean texted me this past weekend he's had pictures used on SI.com before but never in the magazine. Scott does freelance work and has shot K-State sporting events as well as those for the Royals. Nice work, guys!

PGA Last Major of the Year and I Take......by MP

Phil Mickelson, Jeff Overton, Tim Clark, Kenny Perry, and Geoff Ogilvy are my Big 5 selections!!!! For what? They will finish highest or win the 92nd PGA Championship, held this year at Whistling Straits in Haven Wisconsin.

It should be exciting and VC and I are picking 5 each to see who can better choose the winners or higher finishers in the last big one of the year. I like my guys and will tell you why, here they are in no particular order.

Phil is the best in the world and should the world's best go without a major?? He is playing well and definitely a favorite. Yeah yeah I pick him every time, boring I know, but how can I leave my man out?

Next: this kid Jeff Overton. The Evansville Indiana product has 5 top 5's this year, and finished 11th at the British. Guess what folks, Whistling Straits is an Irish type, links style course. I like him and he is in the hunt this week at the Bridgestone. He hits it a ton and is nice around the greens. Keep an eye out for this youngster if not now, soon!

Tim Clark from South Africa won the Players Championship this year which many consider a major and maybe tougher to win than this tourney, the PGA Championship. He is always steady and can get as hot as anyone. He also has been knocking on the door of a major for a long time. Clark finished 12th at the US Open this year at Pebble.

Kenny Perry is my next pick. He is getting longer in the tooth and running out of time to win a big one. He choked a Masters away a few years ago, but I think the big man from Kentucky is a solid choice. Another guy who can get red hot with the short stick, Kenny Perry is playing awfully well right now and may just surprise some folk.

Last but not least is Aussie Geoff Ogilvy. We haven't heard from this former US Open Champ lately. He is playing well of late and on a sizz, and I believe he is too good a player to win one big one and go on hiatus. This guy has the whole game tee to green. He has the nerve to grind it out in the majors and is a fantastic iron player, which is a premium at this locale.

Keep an eye out for the "pinched nerve". It is the signature hole at the Pete Dye Whistling Straits course and is a 223 yard Par 3 with trouble everywhere!!!

Lookout VC, my stable of guys are tough. The Wanamaker trophy is on the line along with our running competition. The difference is I am not leaning on any golf ringers for help with my choices!!! I also get a kick out of you taking Stricker whom I have been talking up all year! Oh well, if Stricker wins he is due and it couldn't happen to a better guy and more deserving player. Good luck VC!!

Around the Horn: Fantasy football draft time is coming along soon and the Hall of Fame Game this weekend! Who thinks the T.O. pickup was good? Can he and 85 play together and make the Bungals contenders? I am likin the Chiefs in the division as the year approaches. I think SD is the favorite, but maybe a split with them with sweeps over Oakland and Denver. Wouldn't that be sweet?? I am getting worn down with the 500 game MLB season and excited for NFL and college football!!! Thanks everyone for reading....feel free to leave us comments, we would love to hear you give us static on our crazy picks or stories!