Sports this 'n' that

It has just been announced that the World Series champion Washington Nationals have agreed to a new 7 year, $245 million dollar contract to retain World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg. That averages out to $35 million per year. While Strasburg's agent-leech, Scott "20 Mule Team" Boras, counts his money, he should be aware that he is one of the reasons fans have been turning away from the game, even though the stench of the steroid era has dissipated. Boras sets the bar for his myriad of clients, playing salary chicken with the usual patsies. In turn, teams are forced to raise concession & ticket prices in order to pay those exorbitant salaries.

How about giving something back to the game, Boras?
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In a season where the NFL officials have been even worse than the Keystone Kops in their legendary silent film exploits, the team that usually benefits from such nonsense became a victim themselves.

The New England Patriots have lost three of their last five, and two straight after the Kansas City Chiefs avenged a loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game 11 months ago with a 23-16 win on Sunday night.

Where the zebras failed the Patriots----at Gillette Stadium, of all places----was a blown call on what would've been a game-tying or winning touchdown pass from Tom Brady to rookie N'Keal Harry in the 4th quarter. Harry was ruled out of bounds at the KC 3 yard line, and after a review, the call was, surprisingly upheld, to the shock, dismay, & disgust of the Patriots and their fans. In an interview afterward with reporters, ref Jerome Bogner said that one of the officials was screened out by KC defenders on the play, and a second zebra assumed Harry stepped out of bounds. Problem was, Harry didn't go out of bounds, as his foot was clearly in bounds, and never touched the white line.

For once, the Patriots know what it feels like to be screwed.
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However, Buffalo couldn't take advantage, having lost to Baltimore earlier in the day, and so the Bills remain a game in arrears of the Patriots with three to play. Problem with that is, Buffalo goes to Pittsburgh next week, while New England will have cupcakes the next two, with the road finale at Cincinnati before coming home to play Miami & Buffalo.

As a result, Baltimore vaults into the #1 spot in the AFC, and the Patriots are at risk of being a #2 for the second straight season.

Maybe the worm has turned.