What Did We Learn This Wildcard Weekend?

Wildcard weekend lived up to its name and we were treated to a great few days of sports!  What did we learn this week?

-Auburn and Oregon came into the National Championship game with two of the most prolific offenses in college football.  Everyone expected fireworks, and that’s exactly what we got.  Not the awesome grand finale fireworks that the whole family awed over when you were a kid… but the kind of fireworks that you can buy from the grocery store for six bucks.  If this was the best game that the BCS could put together, the BCS s broken and can’t be fixed.  Congrats to the Auburn Tigers for winning the national championship… though I’m sure they are secretly thrilled that they didn’t have to face Andy Dalton and TCU.

-Matt Cassel had been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league in the second half of this year, but the Baltimore Ravens defense smothered the sizzling Kansas City offense all afternoon.  Cassel was sacked three times and his team committed five turnovers in the 30-7 loss.  Joe Flacco looked locked in and ended the day a 115.4 QB rating.  Flacco continued his trend of winning road playoff games and though Flacco was on point most of the day, the Ravens defense was the difference.  Their emotional leader Ed Reed laid a hit on Dexter McCluster that rattled the jaws of everyone in Arrowhead Stadium.  Maybe next year, Todd Haley.

-Lebron James dropped 44 in an overtime win in Portland over the weekend.  After dropping a deep three pointer, James taunted the enraged crowd, embracing the overwhelming boos.  He almost welcomed them, truly enjoying his place as the most despised man in the sport.  It’s like watching Hogan drop the atomic leg on the Macho Man all over again… Can we PLEASE Keep Lebron Out? 

-Just like everyone thought, the Seattle Seahawks outscored the New Orleans Saints in a shootout at Qwest Field.  Just like everyone thought, Matt Hasselbeck threw four TD passes and had a higher QB rating than Drew Brees.  Just like everyone thought, running back Marshawn Lynch was the difference maker after scampering 67 yards in one of the most impressive touchdown runs I have seen in a long time.  Wildcard game indeed.

-Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Christian Eyenga got his first NBA start this weekend against the Phoenix Suns.  Eyenga is a raw talent from the Congo, and it is believed that this is the first time he has ever played organized basketball without safari animals watching.  Too bad Jimmy Dolan couldn’t get Saleh to come with him too.  The Cavs could use a big man.

-I love Peyton Manning Face, and it was on display Saturday night as the Jets squeaked by the Colts 17-16.  Jets kicker Nick Folk hit the game winner as time expired in a very underwhelming game.  On a side note, a buddy of mine was telling me about his parenting strategy for when his son misbehaves.  He is a huge Steeler fan and his wife is a big Colts fan. When the kid misbehaves, they make him sit in the corner looking at a picture of Bill Cowher Face and Peyton Manning Face.  The results have been magnificent.  Best. Parenting. Ever.

-Pittsburgh Penguin forward Sidney Crosby has been openly complaining about the lack of monitoring blind side hits in the NHL, after missing another day of practice due to symptoms of a concussion.  Somewhere in Pittsburgh, James Harrison is shaking his head.

-Michael Vick may have been the buzz topic this year for NFL quarterbacks, but Aaron Rodgers is a stud.  The Packers QB tossed three touchdowns in the 21-16 victory against the Eagles.  While many Philly fans blame the loss on two David Akers missed field goals, mistakes happen in football and sometimes routine plays don’t go the way that they should.  Right, James Jones? 

-Carmelo Anthony is one step closer to leaving Denver, as trade talks with the New Jersey Nets continue to gain steam.  With Detroit the likely third team involved, Melo and Rip Hamilton could be heading to The Garden State to join Brook Lopez.  So we’re clear… Carmelo WANTS to leave Denver, one of the most beautiful and pristine places to live on the planet with a team that is a consistent threat to win the Western Conference and move to New Jersey, the armpit of America to play with the worst team in the Eastern Conference.  I don’t understand things.