I’m excited for this rest of the Bucs’ season. The defense is playing superbly. When Darrelle Revis and Jonathan Banks pick off Carson Palmer and Dashon Goldson delivers punishing blows, our defense can’t be beat. As for the offense? Let’s just say I’m excited to see what Mike Glennon can do when he has two weeks to prepare for an opponent. Despite two late interceptions that might have cost the Bucs their first victory, the kid played like a seasoned veteran. The touchdown pass to MIke Williams? Right on the money. Now onto the rest of the week in sports.
It was time for Lane Kiffin to get axed. The now former USC coach had run out of excuses going into this season and had to get the job done. A rocky 3-2 start that included an upset at home against Washington State and a blowout loss against Arizona State, combined with a horrid offensive performance to begin the season, sealed Kiffin’s fate. I don’t know if a team will take a chance on him next season, even for a coordinator position. The circus that seems to follow him might be too great.
Mariano Rivera will go out as one of the greatest ever to play the game of baseball. This I have no doubt. Even though I am a die hard Yankee fan, every baseball fan can agree on that fact. Rivera pitched in his last game on Thursday night in a loss to the Rays. When fellow Core Four teammates Andy Pettitte (who is also retiring after the season) and Derek Jeter pulled him with two outs in the ninth, the Bronx crowd roared as Mo gave his final curtain call. It was one of the best moments in Yankee history as well as in this year in sports. It will certainly be a different sight in the Bronx next season without the all time saves leader slamming doors in front of the Yankee fans.
A quarter of the way through the season, it certainly looks like the Seahawks and the Broncos will face off in Super Bowl XLVII in February. Seattle has the NFL’s best home field advantage and defense, not to mention a dynamic offense that will only get better once offseason acquisition Percy Harvin returns. Meanwhile, Denver has rode quarterback Peyton Manning’s career best start (1,470 yards and an NFL record 16 touchdown passes in the first month) en route to its own undefeated start. If these two teams met today, it would be fun to watch the NFL’s best quarterback go against its best defense.
Hockey returned last night, and the rest of the NHL’s opening games start tonight. I’m excited for this season to get underway. As a Lightning fan, I’m really hoping that Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis can lead the squad back to the playoffs. The Blackhawks look even better than last year’s Stanley Cup winning squad, but the Bruins don’t look as strong with troubled yet talented forward Tyler Seguin now in Dallas. It will definitely be an interesting season to watch.
It’s debatable if Tiger Woods deserved to win the PGA Player of the Year award. Even though the world’s top player won five times this year, including at the Players Championship, the PGA’s unofficial fifth major, he was in position to win a few more. Not winning any majors plus not capturing the FedEx Cup when he was in position to do so hurt his reputation as a finisher. The career major victories record of 18 held by Jack Nicklaus is now looking like it might be out of reach. But before I write him off entirely, I want to see what he can do next year.
The Bucs have a bye week coming up, and so do I. Assistant Sports Editor Griffin Guinta is going to be writing in the column next week, and he’s a far better writer than I am, so enjoy it. See everyone in a couple weeks.
Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com.