THIS and that to chew on over lunch: McGwire, Sosa are
deserving of run at historyI'll be the first to admit, I've probably been wrong since Opening Day.
It looks as though both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa will break Roger Maris' record for home runs in a season.
I didn't think today's players had it in them, but these two have shown they do.
All I can say is this: Good on them. Both players have respect for the game itself and that's too rare these days.
Here's wishing McGwire could enjoy this as Sosa has. Then again, the focus around the Cardinals has been solely on Big Mac. The team has been out of the pennant race since before the All-Star break.
At least Sosa has the postseason to strive for.
There must have been plenty of action on Hawaii at the casinos and anywhere else you could find a wager, because the point spread on tomorrow's game against Arizona is down to Hawaii +19.
It started out at +27, which, if I were a betting man, I would have taken in a minute. Arizona is good, but I'm not sure they're four touchdowns better than Hawaii here in the islands.
The Rainbow defense should be able to hang with Arizona's potent offense. But who knows what might happen when UH has the ball. Things haven't gone smoothly for new offensive coordinator Don Lindsey, but I have a hunch they're not as bad as he lets on.
Coaches are always dissatisfied. As vonAppen likes to point out, his job is not to be satisfied. His job is to make sure his team gets better every week.
That said, here's hoping none of us has to listen to the baloney about Hawaii's tough schedule.
Sure, the Rainbows play ranked teams to start and end the season, but look in the middle. Not a ranked team among the 10. And let's face it, eight of those 10 games are in the WAC. You think Michigan would sit around worrying about having to play Fresno State on the road? Or Texas-El Paso?
The only ranked team in the WAC right now is Colorado State, and the Rams are nowhere near Hawaii's schedule. Shoot, UH might never play Sonny Lubick's team again.
The schedule should be tough. Arizona's schedule is tougher than Hawaii's. So is Michigan's. It's time to quit thinking about how tough the schedule is and start thinking about how miserable the Rainbows can make life for other teams on Saturdays . . . or even Thursday nights.
As I told UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida the other night, it's time to start kicking butt and taking names.
If you don't expect excellence, you rarely get it.
Which brings us to the NFL.
There's change coming in the pro ranks.
Green Bay and the Niners are still going to be tough, but now that Denver has broken through for the AFC, the Lombardi Trophy could stay in that conference for awhile.
There are at least four teams in the AFC that could make it to the Super Bowl in January.
Denver has to be a favorite, but I'm not sure John Elway and Company are going to be healthy and hungry enough to do it again.
Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Jacksonville look ready, though.
Each of the three has a good, young quarterback. Kordell Stewart is just going to get better and better. Elvis Grbac has proven he can win games and Mark Brunell is the best young quarterback in the league.
I like Pittsburgh, though. Bill Cowher knows how to get the best from his guys and Levon Kirkland is the best defensive player in the AFC.
So who's going to win the whole thing in New Orleans?
The Steelers.
Over the Packers.
