PICKS OF THE WEEK
by Tee Kane
January 17, 2008
First I want to thank everyone for all the feedback. We’re working really hard to give you the best analysis of college basketball and sports in a sleek, online format. Of course, since I live in Bethesda, the most common request I get is for Tee’s Weekly to not write about sports at all (it should be noted that the requestor’s favorite television show is “The Biggest Loser” and she doesn’t order a Netflix film unless it’s a documentary of a dyslexic child soldier trying to survive in the Alaskan winter or a Bangladeshi boy and his amputee puppy). Let’s move on before I’m forced to look for other housing.
It was a down week for the second edition of Picks of the Week (one push and one loss). In retrospect I was a little hesitant on both picks, but they were the two biggest matches of the weekend and I wanted the column to be relevant, which is sort of like the rationale for Bill Richardson’s candidacy. In other words, it was going to end with a bit of disappointment. From now on I’m not going to wait for the betting line to come out; instead I’m going to profile a game and predict the final score. You enterprising readers can search out the world wide internet or your local bookie for the spread and act accordingly.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas (Mon Jan 21): The Longhorns stumbled in their conference opener against a good Missouri team, but they should be up for their second big test in Stillwater. It’s going to be a fascinating match-up between the best team at forcing turnovers in the country (Oklahoma State) and the stingiest team in the country when it comes to giving up the ball (Texas). In the end Texas should dominate the boards and get enough second chances to pull out a victory.
Final Prediction: Oklahoma St. 64, Texas 70
Mitt Romney vs. John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson: It's pretty rare in a crowded primary field that everyone hates the same candidate. Romney seems like the kid in your intro to political science class that wears a suit and tie and makes sure he's always publicly seen with a copy of the Wall Street Journal. The rest of the candidates treat him like Dwight on “The Office.” In one debate in the near future, Romney's going to find that his microphone is encased in Jell-O.
Also, don't be surprised if McCain freaks out at some point like Andy Bernard and puts a hole through his podium in frustration. Just to match up the other candidates, I think Rudy would have to be Creed – slightly paranoid, always off-topic, and having connections to some really shady friends. Huckabee's got to be Jim – a little too eager for affection, likable, and always looking for the camera (if only Jim Halpert didn't believe in evolution). Fred Thompson is Stanley, a man of few words: good for at least one good line a night and definitely looking like he would prefer retirement.