Less Frequent These Days...

So if it's your time, speak your mind
That's what regimes are for
But I'm not here anymore
I'm Not Here Anymore, The Badlees

It's a bummer to me that my writing has been reduced to this once-a-week, half-hearted effort, and for that, I apologize. I'll try to take advantage of the limited writing time my job permits and make this a good one.
NFL thoughts from the weekend:
So I guess the Steelers are for real. They absolutely dominated Philly from start to finish, both sides of the ball. The Bus ran it down their throats (and Aaron Haynes, when necessary), Big Ben made the throws he needed to make and didn't turn it over. The defense was all over McNabb, sacking him, forcing bad throws, and keeping him out of the end zone. Joey Porter, James Farrior, big-time linebackers. It seemed strange that they extended Cowher's contract this past off-season after a shaky 2003 season, but he's done a tremendous job bringing them back to the top of the conference (and maybe the whole league). His reign in Pittsburgh has been remarkable: just three losing campaigns in his 13 seasons (7-9 once, 6-10 twice), a Super Bowl (loss to the Cowboys--thanks, Neil O'Donnell), multiple AFC championship games, and now another season headed in that same direction. He's gone through O'Donnell, Mike Tomczak, Kordell, Tommy Maddox and now Big Ben, and he keeps on winning. Not enough respect for that guy, I don't think.
Another coach to whom I gave no respect was Marty Schottenheimer, because of the downward spiral that was the Charger franchise. Somehow, and besides Drew Brees' rising from the ashes, I don't know how, he's got the Bolts in a tie for first place in the AFC West. They're leading the league in scoring (?!?!?), behind the amazingly accurate arm of Brees, his favorite target Antonio Gates (the second-best tight end in football behind Tony G), a new No. 1 receiver in Keenan McCardell, and the balanced running game provided by hobbled Ladanian Tomlinson and Jesse Chatman. The defense has been great too, with some young dudes stepping it up, big-time. Rookie Igor Olshansky and second-year guy Jacques Cesaire have been solid on the line, and DB's Quentin Jammer, Terrence Kiel and Sammy Davis have been good (despite Jammer's quota of pass interference penalties each week) in the secondary. I love this team. I figured we'd be good for another 4-12 season, if that. Nobody picked them to end up with more than three or four wins, and I even saw one pre-season article that said they'd go winless. Seriously. Instead, they've played themselves into the playoff picture, and Brees has played himself into the MVP race. I'm still not sure I believe it.
Bill Belichick is the Tony LaRussa of the NFL, mixing up strategies and using offensive and defensive players in various roles, a trait which was never more evident than Sunday's win over the Rams. Receiver Troy Brown played cornerback (and almost had an interception), linebacker Mike Vrabel played tight end (and made an outstanding catch in the corner of the end zone), and kicker Adam Vinatieri threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal (to the aforementioned Brown). Crazy stuff, but the Pats also did the normal, fundamental things to win the game, and those have been a Belichick trademark as well. They've got a better running game than in years past, thanks to the arrival of Corey Dillon, who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown. Tom Brady threw for 234 and two scores, and despite injury absences, the defense played well. I know they lost to the Steelers last week, but I'm not ready to knock these guys off their pedestal just yet. If they do get healthy, they'll be just fine, and this defense against a rookie quarterback in January will be a much different story.
The NFC sucks. Period.
Hoops: The Clippers, almost. First of all, props to the Clips for taking the defending world champs to double overtime. Bummer they ended up losing the game, but Corey Maggette (25 and 19 boards) and the boys made a great showing. It speaks to the Pistons and their unattractive brand of basketball that even with two overtimes, neither team was able to score 100 points. That's so sad. I hate that the NBA has been reduced to this, an over-coached, over-muscled, defensive struggle every night. I wish Phoenix and Dallas could play every night, and every other team could learn from the entertaining style they each bring to the court. These Lakers might get there too, with a little more time together. Kobe, Lamar and Caron are three elements to what could be a great fast-breaking team. Tierre Brown needs to play more for that to take full effect--he's the up-tempo point guard they need, but he's too inexperienced for now. P.S. Andrei Kirilenko is the best player in basketball. I can't get enough of watching this guy play, all over the court. He blocks shots like he's eight feet tall, gets in the passing lanes for steals, finishes on the break and in the halfcourt, and can even step out and hit the three. SportsCenter had a great highlight last night (watched on the re-run this morning at work) where he started a run with a trey, blocked two shots, picked up a steal and an assist, and then finished off the run with a jumper--all in a minute of play. Amazing.
I'm hoping to have time for college football later in the week, because a playoff system is the topic of discussion again after Utah fell out of the top six in the BCS. I'll get to it. Work now.