Saturday night I was actually upset that Steve McNair underthrew Drew Bennett in Foxboro, and that Drew couldn?t properly adjust to make the grab deep in Patriots territory. At the time, I thought an improbable Titans? road victory, was exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs would need to advance to their first Superbowl in my lifetime. Of course, I forgot all about the concept and importance of defense. Which is why like ET Murray says, I should just stick to reality t.v. and college hoops.

There?ll be plenty of time for both topics in a moment, and for the duration of the next three months. Having watched every NFL playoff game this weekend, it?s hard not to envision a Carolina-Indy Superbowl, even though both teams would have to pull out a 2nd consecutive road victory. Sure, Carolina benefited from Rams? head coach, Mike Martz, outsmarting himself yet again, this time by kicking a game-tying field goal on first down with 15 seconds on the game clock, enough for at least two cracks at the end zone for ?The Greatest Show on Turf?, while Peyton Manning benefited from Chiefs? defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson’s, inability to even outsmart himself. If Greg hasn?t resigned, been fired, or tarred, feathered, drawn and quartered by the time this article is published, then he should consider himself a very lucky man.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Colts? punter, Hunter Smith, collected a game check without once having to take the field. With as nearly perfect as Peyton has been in that stretch, Robinson isn?t the only scapegoat. Both Johnnie Morton and Eddie Kennison had drops in the first half for Trent Green, who turned in a solid performance of his own. Morten Andersen missed an easy first half field goal, and Priest Holmes lost a fumble after a gain of 40+ yards. When your defense sucks as bad as Kansas City?s does, you simply can?t afford those kinds of mistakes, especially from your veterans. It should also be noted, that Kansas City?s defense was pretty bad last year as well. Yet Vermeil and Chiefs? General Manager, Carl Peterson, saw fit to not only bring back Robinson for another go, but also waste a first round draft pick on a Penn State running back (Larry Johnson), one that hit more girlfriends off the field then he did defensive holes on the field (1 TD in Week 16). Yet another 13-3 hope-lifting season that ends with a first round home playoff loss. The Colts now own as many playoff victories at Arrowhead over the last six years as the Chiefs do. Sigh. Damn you SI cover jinx!!!

And for the first time in a long time, Kansas Citians have reason to look forward to the start of baseball?s spring training in a few weeks. If the Royals can keep Juan Gonzalez healthy for at least 120 games, they should have little trouble beating out the White Sox for a division title and a long awaited playoff appearance of their own. Unlike Carl Peterson, Royals? G.M. Allard Baird actually had a pretty productive off season, also adding Matt Stairs, Benito Santiago, Scott Sullivan, and re-signing Joe Randa and Brian Anderson to keep most of last season?s over-achieving club together. And against all odds, Carlos Beltran is still somehow on the roster.

But enough about things ET doesn?t think I should be talking about. How ?bout some hoops? Since Thursday night, I have literally watched the entirety of seven college hoop games (Gonzaga/Pepperdine, Stanford/Arizona State, Michigan State/Wisconsin, Missouri/Texas A&M, Stanford/Arizona, Duke/Virginia, Georgia Tech/North Carolina) and enough of Uconnn/Oklahoma to not have a problem with the Huskies occupying the top spot. (Note: A feat that could only be attempted with the advent of Replay/Tivo, because watching this much television in a house with a 4-month old would probably be grounds for abandonment in most homes). Like 1999, this could be a year that the Huskies are joined by the Duke Blue Devils as the two teams that are just a tad better then everyone else. Connecticut?s sole loss was to Georgia Tech while Emeka Okafor was feeling less than average (back) and Duke?s only loss was pre-Thanksgiving to a physical, better than advertised Purdue squad.

You probably already know all about J.J. Redick?s inability to miss a free throw, but the trio of Shavlik Randolph, Shelden Williams, and frosh Luol Deng?s presence actually makes this year?s Duke team somewhat defensive-minded and frontcourt-oriented, for the first time since Elton Brand, Shane Battier and Corey Maggette were leaving their handprints on the backboard back in? 1999. Hmmm? It should also be noted that while I had soured on the Chris Duhon era last year, he has actually resurrected the defensive tenacity and floor leadership that made him such a critical component of the 2001 championship team, as a freshman. He no longer jacks the 30 foot three, and he has drastically reduced the turnovers that mired his junior year. In his last three games he?s averaged an 8 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, not to mention his setting the tone for the convincing defeat of the Texas Longhorns. In taking what the defense gives him, and utilizing his above average speed he?s routinely adding double digits in points. And the scary thing about this Duke team is that neither Daniel Ewing nor Shavlik Randolph have played with the consistency each is capable of. Aside from Ewing and Duhon, the core of the minutes is being played by sophomores, and Deng—and after weathering the toughest conference in the nation, they should be even more improved come March.

That?s right I said, it the ACC has reclaimed the top spot in all of basketball, no matter what your Midwest friends and relatives may tell you about the Big 12, or what you may have seen of the SEC thus far. Although Georgia Tech may have parlayed their early drubbing of Uconn in to an undeserved top 10 ranking, they still join Carolina, Wake, and Maryland as superbly coached teams with enough talent on the roster to justify a cakewalk to the Sweet 16. That leaves N.C. State and Florida State as bubble teams—and another year in which the conference gets six teams in the NCAAs. At the bottom of the league standings you?ve got Clemson and Virginia, both capable of defending their home court, and ensuring that no league game is a layup.

No other conference can make the same boast. The Big 12 has Baylor still reeling from their homicidal off-season, and K-State who couldn?t even take care of business against the 3rd best team from the Mid-Continent conference (UMKC) and even though Kentucky seemingly gets to play every meaningful game in Lexington, they?ve still got Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Georgia in rebuilding modes.

I don?t want to hear from Big 10 fans either. It?s barely January and the two top spots in the league are nearly wrapped up. I?d give the edge to Wisconsin, because they simply don?t lose at home, with Purdue and Illinois battling it out for 2nd and 3rd. Iowa?s Alford, and Indiana?s Davis are lucky to even still have their jobs, and the last time I checked Michigan State was once again down by 20, to whomever they?re playing.

I will however give a little love to the PAC-10. Even though Stanford is clearly clicking on all cylinders with Josh Childress back in the fold, and coming off two straight conference road victories (Arizona State, Arizona) they are tied atop the league standings, with?. Can this be right? UCLA. Coached by Ben?. Howland, it was widely anticipated there would be some adjustment to the Bruins learning how to play defense, let alone actually running a half court set. But, with Steve Lavin safely in the broadcast booth, the Bruins still have athletes, and now they have a coach that can, well?coach. Arizona is still the team to challenge Stanford, but keep an eye on Arizona State. They?re a disappointing 6-6 overall, and having already dropped their first three conference games, they?ve got their work cut out for them. But, Ike Diogu is one of the best players worth staying up past your bedtime to watch, and he?s joined by an athletic, gutty cast that will keep the rest of the conference on their toes, and if they can squeak in to the NCAAs as a #12 seed, you never know. Think of them as this year?s Auburn.

And you really can?t talk about disappointing season starts without talking about the Mizzou Tigers. They were fortunate to come away with a home victory over A&M, for just their 6th win on the season. Maybe it?s the hair? The Oregon-style shagginess is gone from Coach Quin?s head, and maybe the off-the-court distractions have taken their toll as he struggles to get the same production out of seniors Arthur Johnson and Ricky Paulding that they ended their junior years with, combining for 60+ in their thrilling overtime loss to Marquette in last year?s second round. Both guys are barely averaging 14 per game this year. Tonight the Tigers host Syracuse, and follow that up with a weekend roadtrip to Oklahoma, before hosting Texas next week. They could very easily lose all three. And assuming they get swept by K.U., who they?ve yet to play, they would have to turn in road wins at Colorado, Nebraska, Baylor, K-State, and Texas Tech, just to get to 17 wins and sniff bubble status. Pretty pathetic for a team in most everyone?s pre-season top 5.

This week, I?ll finally check out Cincinnati for the first time as they travel to Marquette on Wednesday, joining Wake Forest/Texas (Tue.) and Purdue/Wisconsin (Wed.), as the most notable mid-week games worth altering your television schedules around.

Speaking of television schedules, I was simply lucky last night to find Ron Jeremy on my television—a clothed, Ron Jeremy without any accompanying groovy music, which could mean only one thing—the season premier of the Surreal Life. If you missed last season, the concept remains the same—put a group of has-beens and barely B-listers in a house for a month and watch them annoy each other. Joining Ron is Tammy Faye Baker, (whom Ron seems to have developed an early crush on), Real World-Vegas? Trishelle, (who has appropriately roomed with Ron), Baywatch?s Tracy Bingham (complained about the size and raspberry color of the bathtub), Erik Estrada, and Rob—who we all know as Vanilla Ice. Vanilla is a borderline psychopath, and a brief glimpse of the season highlights reveals cameos by Vince Neil, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, and a visit to a nudist colony. But don?t worry, if you missed last night, there?s another episode tonight that you can fit in between Pitt/Notre Dame and MU/Syracuse.

Contrary to popular belief, I don?t watch every offering from the world of reality programming. I couldn?t get in to Average Joe, which means I won?t be watching Average Joe 2. I hated Meredith on the Bachelor, which means I won?t be watching the Bachelorette. I?m undecided if I?ll ever view last week?s episode of Celebrity Mole, which leaves (still a month away), My Big Fat Obnoxius Fiancee (oh yeah, I?ll totally be watching every minute of that premise where a girl has to convince her family she?s rushing to the altar with an overweight slimeball) and the Apprentice.

I didn?t take notes from last week, but I?m digging the Donald?s foray in to prime time. What I don?t like is that the group was divided in to boys versus girls. Of course the girls were going to sell more lemonade on the streets of New York than the guys. Why didn?t NBC and Mark Burnett simply save the grocery store runs on lemons and sugar and see who could turn more tricks. Then maybe the guys would have had a shot, because I?m pretty sure that ol? Sam has stood in both batter?s boxes is you know what I mean. Sam was lucky that David, the MBA/Doctor, was such a spazz during the mission. He?s on a short leash. As is the girl?s team member, Tina(?), that took a lunch break and complained about her feet hurting. Other than those two week links, I think there?s some bright people on both teams, and that the business-world application of Survivor will make for an entertaining weekly must-see. And if you can get past the unsightly combover, the Donald was actually kind of funny in the boardroom. But we?re going to need a lot more of his model trophy girlfriend, who might also be on a short leash once Donald hears that she told the girls, ?Don?t you think he?s lucky too?? The Donald?s not lucky, he?s filthy, stinking rich, and you can be back in Uruguay or whatever Miss-Universe participating country he discovered your talentless rack in.

Finally, I?d like to congratulate the University of Nebraska for identifying and landing their 5th choice, the recently unemployed Bill Callahan. Yes, the guy coached in the last Super Bowl. Though it could easily be argued, that he was simply finishing what Jon Gruden had started and put in place. And when matched head-to-head against Gruden, he was outclassed. As he was in all but 4 of his teams 16 games this NFL season. After attempting to put his own signature on the Raider offense that was ranked #1 the year prior, he quickly lost the respect and desire of his team. His motivation techniques included telling his team that he did not need to be their friends, calling them out as ?the dumbest team in America,? and calling his offensive line a bunch of overweight kitty-kats behind closed doors. Tim Brown also revealed that before he was a head coach, he?d walk off the field during poor performances in effect quitting on the team, only to have to come back and apologize for his actions days later.

I?m not saying he?ll do a worse job than Al Saunders, Houston Nutt, Mike Zimmer or Bo Pelini/Turner Gill will have done? but I?d say that Bill?s awfully lucky he got out of Oakland without a black eye, either from a battery thrown from Raider Nation, or a swing from one of those bi-polar, alcoholic O-linemen. And that calling him a Super Bowl coach, may be a tad misleading. Then again, Pete Carroll seems to have made the adjustment from over-his-head NFL head coach, to the cream of the collegiate ranks pretty quickly, so maybe he?s exactly where he needed to be all along.