The Tuesday Morning Mix

I have a lot on my mind this morning, so here we go.

Issue #1: Congrats to Albert Pujols for winning the National League MVP award for the second time in his career. He certainly had the numbers to win the award. That being said, my vote would have gone to Ryan Howard of the World Series Champion Phillies. Howard had a huge September, and granted it was really the only great month he had, but he did carry the Phillies into the playoffs. He also led all of baseball in HR's and RBI's. Finally, Pujols' Cardinals finished a distant fourth in the NL Central.

Issue #2: Mark Cuban has been accused of insider trading by the SEC (no, not that SEC, the other SEC). They apparently are ticked off that advance knowledge led to saving about $750K in losses (did I mention Cuban was a BILLIONAIRE?). Bottom line is this accusation now gives MLB Commissioner Bud Selig what he needs in order to keep Cuban from buying the Cubs. An excuse. Because Selig's been against Cuban from the get go. He's afraid of Cuban's personality but ignores the fact that he's a winner. No one else but Cuban could've turned around the Mavs. Baseball would be better off with Cuban involved (isn't Hank Steinbrenner worse, anyway?).

Issue #3: George Karl says that coaching Allen Iverson sometimes frustrated him because he was a shoot first player. Nooooo, really? Iverson a selfish player?? Come on, I never knew that, Georgie!

Bottom line - Karl should've kept his mouth shut. The trade was made two weeks ago, so why go there? Also, Karl has a habit (and if you look back throughout his career you'll see it) of blaming others when things don't go well. He has a habit of getting into feuds with his own players. It happened in Seattle. It happened in Milwaukee (which was why Ray Allen was really traded). It happened in Denver with AI. George always needs someone to blame. Well, if the Nuggets don't get out of the first round this season, who is next on Karl's hit list? Carmelo Anthony?? Chauncey Billups??? Anthony's the face of the franchise, so that can't happen. Billups is the local boy who comes home to Denver cast as the savior. If it doesn't work this season, Karl's out.

Issue #4: Who says the big stars get the benefit of the doubt in the NBA? Celtics fans might have thought Kevin Garnett got off scott free for his mugging of Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut Saturday night (Bogut was ejected for his flagrant foul but nothing happened to KG), but the NBA reviewed the tape and slapped Garnett with a one game suspension. I bet you the most shocked guy in this whole deal was KG.

Issue #5: It's not official yet, but with FOX pulling out of the bidding for the BCS, ESPN looks like they will land College Football's National Championship (such as it is without a playoff). It was only a matter of time before ESPN wound up landing the right to broadcast a national championship (though I always thought it would wind up being the NHL or NBA - not on ABC).

Five years ago this would have been something to moan and groan about. Now, a different story. ESPN was once a little, tiny network run out of trailers in the middle of nowhere Connecticut. Believe me, I know. I worked in Bristol. I saw what the operation used to be as opposed to what it is now. These days, ESPN landing the rights to a national championship doesn't bother people as much. ESPN is in about 100 million homes. It's everywhere. It's not just a channel, it's a brand. When you think sports, you think ESPN. They are the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

The Final Word: Remember when I asked the Wisconsin media to move beyond the whole Brett Favre issue? Well, it seems like Dave Begel of OnMilwaukee.com hasn't. Check out his latest column here.

In all honesty, Dave and I have not seen eye to eye since he started ripping me about two years ago on a fairly consistent basis. But, he also took time out this past summer to praise me. So, I guess he came around (somewhat).

That being said, Dave, you can love Brett Favre all you want. I'm not telling you that you can't. I'm just saying he's not in Green Bay anymore. Get behind the guy that you have in Aaron Rodgers. He's playing well. If it doesn't work out in the end (and that would be a few years down the road because you can't expect Rodgers to carry the Packers to a Super Bowl in his first ear as a starter), then you can scream and yell for Ted Thompson's firing. And, I might be there with you at that point. But, the time for that is not now. The Packers just got their biggest win of the season, and look to be the favorite to win the NFC North.

So, Dave, stop longing for Brett (the unattainable) and realize what you have in front of your face. A competent quarterback, who is young, improving, and quite possibly, leading the Packers to a division title and playoff spot.

There you go. I've let it all out. And, I feel so much better now.