Sports this 'n' that

It will be interesting to see the final pairings for the College Football Playoff when they're announced later today.

Ohio State, the #1 team in the rankings, had to come from behind to claim the Big 10 title, beating Wisconsin, 34-21, on Saturday. Earlier, LSU defeated Georgia to win the SEC title, knocking the Bulldogs out of the title picture----we think.

On Friday, 5th ranked Utah lost to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, so the Utes were eliminated. Oklahoma had their rematch with Baylor for the Big 12 title, and won, so they're knocking on the door. #3 Clemson blew away Virginia to lock down the ACC title.

All well & good, but there's still a lot of squabbling about teams being snubbed because it's a 4-team playoff, not 8, as some would prefer. One online commentator suggested expanding it to 8, ensuring all 5 Power 5 conferences would get in, along with three "at-large" candidates.

Solving this conundrum is a lot easier than you think.

Some teams schedule non-conference "tomato cans", with the promise of a hefty payday for the "victim", and style points for the Power 5 teams. In order to make room to expand the playoff, you swap out one non-conference game in September or October, move the conference title games to Thanksgiving weekend, which would be one last sweeps stunt for the NCAA's network partners (ABC/ESPN, CBS, Fox), and start the playoff tournament a week before Christmas, with the final four meeting around New Year's, as is the case now.

It's so easy, but too complicated for bottom-line-obsessed college presidents. Go figure.
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The Mets welcomed back another former player earlier this week, with ex-pitcher Jeremy Hefner, who spent a couple of years in Flushing before injuries short-circuited his career, named pitching coach, working under Carlos Beltran. One of Beltran's ex-Houston mates, Jake Marisnick, comes over to Flushing in a trade for minor leaguers, this after the Mets sent defensive ace Juan Lagares packing, as he's now a free agent. Bet the farm that if no one is interested, Lagares will return in time for spring training. As of this writing, there's been no word that anyone's taken a flier on him.

Like Lagares, however, Marisnick, who returns to the NL East (started his career in Miami), is capable defensively, but light at the plate. Six of one, and half a dozen of another.
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Apparently, Josh Shaw had never heard of Pete Rose.

The Arizona Cardinals will be without Shaw for the rest of this season and all of 2020 after he was suspended for gambling on his own team in a recent game. Gambling ended Rose's managerial career 30 years ago in Cincinnati, when he was banned for life by then-Commissioner Fay Vincent

Someone send Shaw a copy of the writings of George Santayana, STAT.
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Giants rookie QB Daniel Jones will not play Monday at Philadelphia due to an ankle injury, so Eli Manning slides back into the starting role, likely for the last time. The Eagles still have something to play for, but Big Blue does not. In all probability, when the season ends in three weeks, Manning will be either asked to retire or be released, likely following coach Pat Shurmur and GM Dave Gettleman out the door, as Shurmur and/or Gettleman are most likely outta here at the end of business on the 29th.

Injuries, and an early season suspension to receiver Golden Tate before he set foot on the field in a Giant uniform, had a lot to do with the Giants' 2-10 record. Injuries are out of a coach's control, but management can't account for them, either. If Shurmur goes, he'd be the 3rd coach/manager let go in NYC this year.
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That's because the Knicks sent David Fizdale packing on Friday after a 4-18 start. As long as James Dolan continues to mismanage the Knicks, they're not going to get the marquee free agents, because a lot of players don't want to work for or communicate with a man-child who is sports' poster child for arrested development. He's narcissistic and spoiled, Dolan is. Now, who does that sound like?
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Rather than put this last item up over at Tri-City SportsBeat, I thought I'd share it here.

Saratoga resident Bobby Fish, part of NXT's leading heel faction, the Undisputed Era, pulled out the humanitarian card the other day in Orlando, helping a homeless family. Seems the father just lost his job and his house. Bobby, who's a parent himself, stepped in to help pay for clothes, groceries, etc.. Who says "bad guys" don't have a heart of gold? 518 Represent!!