Dear Mr Oden,

When you hear your dad say, "Why wait when there's a chance of getting hurt?" know that it's his paternal duty to support you. He also thinks you're getting your degree in your off-season (haha). But then I read your ex-coach's comments:

"He's averaging like nine shots a game, and he's shooting 60 percent or better. It's frustrating for him," Jimmy Smith, Oden's first coach and one of his closest friends, said prior to the Final Four.

"They want him to play all this defense, then they want to go down and shoot the 3," Smith said. "By talking to him, I know it's frustrating to him that he doesn't get the ball as much as he should."

So you're frustrated about not getting more shots per game? What makes you think you'll get more shots in Memphis? or Boston? For as mature as you look, you surely aren't showing any wisdom. Nobody believes what your dad said, except maybe you.

W.T.F is going to make your draft status drop???

You & your best friend create the best 1-2 combo in the nation. Where is your competitive desire to win? You lost (maybe) ten games in 5 years and you're tossing aside W's for ½ the salary you'd be making if you waited til after you graduate. Thad's elite classes will continually provide title aspirations... while Paul Pierce and Damon Stoudamire will keep your wins at a minimum. I didn't know if you noticed, but being on national TV a couple dozen times per year aint bad. But hey, at least now you're rich!

With the 32nd pick, the XLi Champs select...

The defense lost two solid veterans in Cato June and Nick Harper, but I doubt we'll be looking for a CB with a core secondary of Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea, Jason David, Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden. I've heard reports that Ron Meeks and Mike Murphy are ready to push Freddie Keiaho to start at LB alongside Rob Morris and Gary Brackett. This is obviously the ONLY HOLE in the Colts starting 25 (22 + Hunter Smith, Adam Vinatieri, Terrence Wilkins). The run-defense stepped up in the playoffs, but you cannot expect Booger and Brock to plug the gaps every down.

The next position we need to look at is RB. With the absence of Rhodes, Peyton will need a similar compliment to handle some of the rushing/blocking when Addai rests. The type of player Gene Huey wants here will be someone that's available on Day #2 or even in Free Agency.

When Brandon Stokely only played a handful of games, we saw replacement-wannabes continually drop passes from Peyton's laser-rocket arm. Morehead is still too raw, and Dallas Clark was only a temporary slot-receiver. There is an abundance of talented WRs in this year's draft, but I doubt Polian will flinch at the studs that'll be available.

Here's a look at some possible candidates for the 32nd pick in the 2007 draft:

• Brandon Siler (LB) UF
• Jon Beason (LB) Miami
• Justin Harrell (DT) Tennessee
• Anthony Spencer (DE/LB) Purdue
• Dwayne Jarret (WR) USC
• Steve Smith (WR) USC
• Brian Leonard (RB) Rutgers

Polian's previous 10 1st round picks:
Joe Addai, Marlin Jackson, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Rob Morris, Edge, Peyton Manning, Tarik Glenn, Marvin Harrison

☺

This is what I know

► Arkansas should not have been invited and USC is very overrated as a 5-seed. The more I look at this bracket, the more I realize these are not random matchups. They gave Texas the easiest path to a Sweet 16 birth because their record deserved a 4-seed - but we know this team is really a 1-seed when Durant, AJ and DJ are in their groove.

► Here's how Winthrop's non-conf schedule went: @ Iona, @ UNC, @ MissSt, @ Maryland, @ N.Ill, @ Wisc, @ E.Carolina, @ Old Dominion, @ Texas A&M. This team ran their conference and finished the season with only 4 losses. Notre Dame is tough, but the Eagles will no doubt repeat last year's performance where they almost upset 2-seed Tennessee. I'm looking forward to a Winthrop/Wisconsin rematch (Badgers won by 3 in OT @ Madison in December) for an Elite 8 birth.

► We see Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Indiana and UCLA in the West bracket almost every year because the committee wants good, late-night ratings. OK, so maybe KU and UCLA are actually out west, but we're looking at 5 of the 6 elite programs (UNC) in a single bracket - their fans simply travel better than any other.

► I have yet to figure out why Florida is #1 in the Midwest and O$U is #1 in the South. My best guess is they want O$U-Wisc IV in ATL instead of St. Louis. Consider this: every year since '98 the Final Four features 2 teams from the same conference.

► BYU vs Xavier, Nevada vs Creighton, Marquette vs MSU, and Texas A&M vs Penn are so unattractive I don't even want to pick a winner.

I'm pitching underhand to you..

[conf champ]

► Top Seeds: O$U, UCLA, Kansas, UNC

► 2's: UF, Wisc, G'town, Memphis

► 3's: A&M, Pitt, WSU, SIU

►4-5's: Texas, Maryland, Nevada, L'ville, Virginia, Tenn, UNLV, ND

►6-7's: VaTech, Marquette, Duke, BYU, BC, Oregon, Winthrop, IU

►8-9's: Creighton, AF, UK, Arizona, MSU, Vandy, Xavier, Butler

►10-11's: G.Tech, USC, VCC, Nova, T.Tech, Davidson, Gonzaga, Wright St

► Last 6 in: Illinois, 'Cuse, Purdue, Arkansas, FSU, Old Dominion

►13-16's: Weber St, Albany, Deleware St, Holy Cross, Oral Roberts, Penn, Belmont, Toldeo, E.Ky, MVSU, Niagra, Long Beach, CConnSt, North Texas, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical of Corpus Cristi "Islanders"

$ = cheat to win

the paparazzi mader doit!

I still think this is the best she's looked in years...

Indianapolis is king of football

And we're CHAMPIONS 4-lyfe!

Chicago spy infiltration from Colts' staff...

click above for full Facebook albumseriously, I saw spies
Cheese & wine, beer, champagne, etc.

yes, that is a FUBU jersey

---

Bears fans seen exiting at halftime...

"They were who we thought they were!"

Indy wins + Chargers win = undefeated team (at home) faces another undefeated team at home. But because the Colts relaxed since Dallas, we'll have to fly --> whale's vagina; following a dance on their face and then subsequently bedding their latino women to face NFC foe in XLi.

Indy wins + Patroits win = world is over.


Here's a recent comment from fellow '00 classmate Anttaj Hawthorne:

"Dr Fantasy Champ,
You nailed it this year on the NFL Power Rankings... your top 26 teams' rankings - even the comments were money! You gotta work on getting all 31 though. I'm a Packers fan residing in Santa Clara (via New England) and you hated on all 4 of my teams!"

Hey, Anttaj - you were only a Packers fan for 4 years. Stick w/ 1 team!
At least you'll have ""The Golden Boy"" to ""Save"" your ""Franchise"":




Walker, Quinn, McKnight, Abiamiri, Ndukwe should all go early and just maybe my Gold jersey (#23 Trey Anastasio) will represent in the 2007 draft in April.

Time for an update?

Xmas provided the r&r for the J-O-B. Now it's a short week and a long weekend in Chi-town til Monday, 1/1/07. Tuesday is Sampson's Hoosiers vs Oden's Buckeyes. Wednesday
DJ earns his first annual I-came-out-of-the-womb celebration, same evening as Irish/LSU... I'll just DVR it.
This is one of those weeks and yet I still find time to squeeze in a 'double' date w/ 2 IU Alpha Phis. Double for me - and for them.
HI FIVE!

"I coached Indiana 10 years - I HATE PURDUE!"

Like many Saturdays recently, there are pieces missing from the puzzle. Luckily, I have a kickass mobile flicker to save the moments I don't remember.

It's a Jeep thing...

SchrockStar's NFL Power Rankings

1. Colts - let's be honest: I'm a homer, they're #1 until they lose a game. I know their Run D sucks, but they'll fix it by January
2. Bears - everyone knows how scary their D is, but Grossman has quickly matured into a stable QB
3. Eagles - Winning with so few superstars demonstrates Reid's coaching staff is The Elite of the league
4. Chargers - This team can't get much better at any position - except the most important one, QB
5. Seahawks - They don't lose at home, and you can't stop their 4 WR+Alexander attack - sans Lions, Ravens and Bears. Oh my!

Watching from home?

6. Broncos - Brutal schedule may prevent them from making playoffs, but they can beat any team on any day
7. Bengals - winning @ PITT was negated by losing at home to N.E. - will the real CIN please stand up?
8. Ravens - Their D can win them games as long as McNair doesn't lose them
9. Jaguars - blanking SBXL champs means they can no longer fly under the radar; need to improve coaching

Playoff probables

10. Cowboys - top10 offense and defense should get them in the playoffs, but not to Miami
11. Falcons - I'm willing to bet there was a secret deal with Goodell to tank @ N.O.
12. Steelers - Roethlisberger needs to get his act together or this team will miss the playoffs
13. Saints - New aquisitions have team and city dreaming of a postseason, and I believe it
14. Giants - This is the best team with a losing record I've ever seen
15. Patriots - The running game will keep their playoff streak alive; win @ CIN was closer than final outcome

Wild Card contenders

16. Rams - With each game being decided by TD or less, only thing certain is their games are fun to watch
17. Panthers - Defense looking not as potent as '05 squad, and they still have Jake Delhomme
18. Chiefs - loss of IU grad Trent Green not looking as bad after shutout/blowout over S.F.
19. Jets - A near upset over IND shows Mangini and Pennington are better than everyone expected

Wishing upon a Star

20. Redskins - this is a team that should finish 11-5 on paper, but tough(est?) schedule will net 5-11
21. Vikings - All 4 games' final score for both teams: between 12 and 19. Teens and Sexboats don't match
22. Bills - this team can compete with their division, although it's the weakest in the NFL
23. Browns - the only bright spot is a solid Pass D, but they have a looooooong way to go
24. Cardinals - Great skill-position players on offenese means big-play capabilities, but that's it
25. Dolphins - they could be a VERY good team if they had an O-Line
26. Bucs - Many thought this team could contend for title, but they're lucky to finish .500

who wants Brady Quinn?

27. 49ers - shockingly, they're still better than everyone projected
28. Lions - I'm befuddled how they held SEA to just 3 FGs... does anyone have gametape?
29. Packers - Aaron Brooks would throw for 400 yards and 3 TDs on their D
30. Titans - the only wins they'll get this season are vs Houston
31. Texans - Mario Williams is a start
32. Radiers - {this space intentionally left blank}