I actually believed, just like Jesus did many years earlier, Tiger had risen from the dead.  He had begun his round seven shots off the lead, as did Mickelson.  Despite Phil owning the front nine, legends are made coming down the stretch at Augusta on Sunday.  And Tiger nearly created a new one.  Even though Mickelson was right there with him, just one shot behind, no one considered him a threat.  The throng that followed the pair was awaiting another Tiger miracle.

What wonderful odds you could have gotten in Vegas as Tiger teed off on 17!  Would he finish birdie birdie or birdie par?  No one even considered bogey bogey.  I certainly didn’t.  As is the case with Tiger far too often at Augusta, his driver was his nemesis.  An errant tee shot off 17 and an even worse drive on 18 finished the dream comeback.  But I ask you this.  Wherever you were watching, was everyone glued to the screen when Tiger was within one?  You bet they were.  And I’ll bet no one even knew who he was trailing.  They just knew Tiger was one from the lead and another green jacket.

That he didn’t pull it off was almost secondary.  CBS had their ratings and Kenny Perry choked in the playoff.  But this tournament ended at about 5 pm local time.  That’s when Tiger Woods finished his round and everyone enjoyed their Easter dinner.  As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, the talk of Augusta will be how Tiger nearly did it, not how Angel Cabrera won in a playoff.  

No, folks, Tiger really does own Augusta, even when he chokes.  There’s a special relationship between him and the ten-deep that were thrilled by his every shot.  And, especially at Augusta where tradition rules, it will always be that way.  Maybe it was his winning in so dominant a fashion as a young buck.  Maybe it was the miraculous chip that made Nike a fortune as the logo on the ball sat still for the cameras before dropping in the cup to win his last green jacket.  Maybe it’s just the ghosts of champions past that walk the fairways and greens of this most hallowed venue. Does it really matter?  The dude owns the place.  Sorry Phil.

No disrespect to Jim, but how can this be? If he’s not a HOFer because he hasn’t played enough, how in the world can he gain admission by simply winning one more game? Doesn’t make any sense. That’s where I come in.

Warner has been a starter of 10 games or more in seven seasons. In that time span he has much better numbers than Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath and host of other HOFers. His quarterback rating is better than Joe Montana’s. He’s won two MVP awards and was robbed of a third this season. He’s won a Super Bowl and was named the game’s MVP. He’s led the moribund Cardinal franchise into the NFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history. That alone should qualify him for HOF status.

This debate is absurd. It’s my fervent opinion that if Kurt Warner kept his faith a secret you wouldn’t hear these disparaging things said about his career. Even now, his success with the Cardinals is downgraded because, after all, he has Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to throw to. I didn’t see Boldin on the field against Carolina but I did see Warner cooly guide this team to a startling upset, throwing two TD passes along the way. He’s had no running game and no defense until the playoff run.

By the way, I never heard anyone downgrade Montana or Steve Young because they were throwing to Jerry Rice and John Taylor. Or Peyton Manning for throwing to Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokely. Or Bradshaw to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Give it a rest.

Face it. When the time comes for Kurt Warner to retire, he’ll go into the HOF the first year of his eligibility. If he doesn’t, close the shrine in Canton and I’d be in favor of executing the writers that didn’t vote for him. And when he gives his acceptance speech he’ll praise his savior, Jesus Christ, and give glory to God, just as he’s always done. And because you don’t measure up to Warner as a man, don’t be jealous. Ask yourself how you could live your life better, as he has.

First a little background. Did you know that the BCS consists of ELEVEN conferences? Didn’t think so. Neither did I until I researched the history of this foolhardy exercise. But all 11 aren’t treated as equal partners. This is where the antitrust violation, I believe, comes into play. The Big Six (Pac 10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Big East) receive $18.5 million per conference per team selected. By contrast the Little Five get about $9 million for one team’s selection and about $4 million for a second school. This money is split evenly among the conference members of the school selected.

In addition, we all know a team from the Little Five will never qualify for the BCS Championship game because they won’t be able to accumulate enough points in the system per strength of schedule. Why? The Big Six won’t schedule them in the regular season unless it’s a home game for the Big Six school. And even then it’s done so rarely it would cure cancer. This is what’s known as unfair competition.

I’m amazed at the power the Bowls carry. Any moron can figure out a way to stage an 8-team playoff using the bowls as game sites and avoid interrupting semester exams. The BCS and bowl people want you to think this is an insurmountable hurdle. The real hurdle is they would have to split any revenues from a playoff evenly. This they won’t do unless it’s at gunpoint. And that’s it in a nutshell.

Therefore, by virtue of the power invested in me by right thinking people, I hereby declare Utah the true National Champion. They took on all comers, pounded the regular season BCS Number One and didn’t lose a single game. They’re the only team in the country that doesn’t have to explain away a loss. They beat six bowl teams, including Oregon State, (which beat So. Cal.). Florida thus becomes champions of only the BCS (and who cares about that).

Until the BCS schools grow a spine and schedule the Boise States and Utahs in a fair home and home series, the BCS is truly meaningless. It’s just another fantasy creation jammed down our throats by money grubbing bureaucrats. We just don’t have to swallow it.

These geniuses conveniently forget that Texas Tech is also involved in this tie breaker and they beat Texas. And Oklahoma beat Texas Tech. Where do you go from there?

The geniuses can’t come up with an answer so they try to keep the discussion centered on Texas and Oklahoma. Wrong!!!! With Texas Tech also tied, the three teams played sort of a round robin tournament in which they all beat each other. The next logical steps are easy. But you have to actually look for them.

1.) Strength of non-conference schedule and 2.) Who’s playing the best right now. Oklahoma wins handily in both areas. They beat the Big East Champion Cincinnati by scoring 52 points against them. They also beat a very good TCU team by 25 points. Neither Texas Tech nor Texas has anyone on their non-conference schedules that comes close to either Cincinnati or TCU. In addition, Oklahoma just beat Tech by better than 40 points and has AVERAGED better than 60 points their last five games. Neither Tech nor Texas can claim such a hot streak as we close the season.

When you consider all three teams in the tie breaker, as you must, it’s an easy choice. But when the national “experts” only look at Texas and Oklahoma, they wuss out on the facts. They want Texas so they’ll tailor their arguments thusly. And most fans listen to them.

My advice to the fans is to think for yourselves. These dopes don’t know any more than you do. Take a look at the three way tie logically. You’ll have your answer. And I’m confident it will be Oklahoma. If not, I’d like to hear your reasoning.