Jazz go 0-1

Well, THAT wasn't what I expected after an 8-0 preseason. Yes, preseason isn't supposed to mean much, but the Jazz looked like it was the first time they'd ever played together.

Plenty of missed lay-ups, bricked jumpers, turnovers, and fouls. Deron Williams looked like he wanted to scream at his teammates. Al Jefferson couldn't seem to pass out of the double-teams. Andrei Kirilenko and CJ Miles were whistled for fouls as soon as they stepped on the floor.

Let's put it this way. AK and Miles shot 0-8.

Bright spots? Rookies Gordon Hayward and Jeremy Evans combined for 20 points. And a George Karl-coached Nuggets teams is supposed to be one of the best in the league.

Time to wash their hands of last night's abomination and focus on playing a real game.

Jazz 7-0 in preseason

The last 11 teams to go undefeated or only lose 1 game in preseason have made the playoffs. So now that the Jazz have clinched the playoffs, I'm ready for the regular season to start.

Jazz 3-0 in preseason

I know preseason's meaningless, but I've been dying for the NBA season to start, and it's pretty cool to have them doing so well.

So, BYU loses again...

I was at the Nevada game where BYU lost 27-13. If receivers could just catch passes, Jake heaps might have been able to get them back into that game. But what's stunning about BYU losing to Utah State is that BYU has made Air Force, Florida State, Nevada and Utah State all look like the same team. They've lost those four games in about the same fashion, similar scores, similar stats.

Bronco Mendenhall knew he was losing some talent when Max Hall, Harvey Unga and Dennis Pitta all left, but I don't think he imagined the dropoff would be this steep. He's now presiding over BYU's worst season since the Crowton era. Salvaging this season to a .500 record now seems out of the question. They still have TCU and Utah to play, and the way they're going, not a single game left is a gimme. San Diego State has a legitimate shot at beating this team. So does Wyoming. So does UNLV. I have a hard time fathoming losses to CSU and New Mexico, but then, last week I couldn't fathom them losing to Utah State.

Bronco is to blame. Hopefully he'll elarn from this. He's been too good a coach up til now no to. Not deciding on a quarterback cost the practice reps Jake Heaps needed, and more importantly, Jake Heaps's receivers needed. Jacobsen, Ashworth, Hoffman, DiLuigi... if the ball hits your hands, it's your fault if you miss it.

BYU blows it

BYU made headlines when they announced they were going independent. But getting blown out by Air Force 35-14 is not the way to impress the Powers That Be.

- The two-quarterback system clearly doesn't work. Bronco Mendenhall needs to own that. With each QB getting half the reps in practice, the receivers getting different passes half the time, it's just not working. None of the receivers looked good Saturday, but I at least believe McKay Jacobsen could catch a pass.

- The defense got embarrassed by the option. Air Force ran it all day and BYU couldn't stop them. If you consider yourself the better team, you do not allow the other team to get 400+ yards rushing on you.

BYU's in trouble already. They're 1-1 and still have Florida State, Nevada, TCU and Utah on the schedule.

You Watching, Big 12?

Boise St. def. Virginia Tech 33-30.
BYU def. Washington 23-17.

Wouldn't they fit in nicely in the Big 12 North with Nebraska and Colorado going away?

TJ Houshmandzadeh joins Ravens

So just a couple days after we hold our fantasy football draft, my third wide receiver taken gets cut by the Seahawks and picked up by Baltimore. I hope that somehow he can fit right in. I've always liked Housh. And part of it might be I like watching Chris Berman recap what Housh does in games.

The Burying of Jay Mariotti

Tough reporters don't make many friends, and Mariotti apparently is no exception. but you can't really call him a tough reporter at this point. He's a tough columnist/talking-head who makes harsh judgments on every sports story of the week. Not since Peter Vecsey has there been such a celebration among athletes and colleagues over a sports writer's comeuppance.

Personally, if he's guilty, I think he's getting what he deserves. Ye are judged by the measures which ye mete out. If you're going to rip on athletes for hitting women, don't hit women yourself. Actually, ignore everything before that comma in the previous sentence and leave it at that.

Carmelo Anthony Wants Out

By not signing the extension, or at least by continuing to put it off, Melo's made it clear where his head's at. It's on Cloud Uncertain, and just because he signs it doesn't mean he instantly wants a trade.

He can see how bad the Nuggets chemistry is without Coach George Karl. Chauncey Billups is getting older. Melo sees the SuperFriends in Miami and knows if he'd done his contract different, he could've set up his own Justice League elsewhere. Hey, Chicago would've had the room, and he could be a Bull with Rose, Deng, Boozer and Noah right now. He could be in New York right now with Amare Stoudamire wondering if they're going to get Tony Parker or Chris Paul to join them next year.