From the Bleachers

New York Post and New York Daily News mocks Patriots, Belichick and Gronk ahead of Thanksgiving game

Every now and then you think the sporting media in New York cannot go any lower, and then something comes along that recalibrates your expectations lower still. Today, the New York rags were working in overdrive, The New York Posts’ cover featured New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick Photoshopped onto a turkey, and the New York Daily News also made Belichick its back cover with the headline "Brain Freeze."

Both rags were making clumsy, over dramatized and boneheaded references to Belichick keeping Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in for the final extra point of Sunday's blowout win over the Colts. Gronkowski broke his arm on the play and had surgery Monday.

Barkley injury opens the door for The Fighting Irish

With another dominant win, this time blasting past over-matched Wake Forest, Notre Dame marched a little closer towards its first National title since 1988. With some dramatic news following USC’s capitulation to UCLA, that march became a full on charge. Word has come out that USC Quarterback Matt Barkley will not be able to face The Fighting Irish after injuring his shoulder against UCLA. The injury is being reported as a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder and is serious enough that Trojans coach Lane Kiffin has already ruled him out of the game against Notre Dame.

Kiffin has also confirmed that the immortal Max Wittek will take Barkley’s place. Wittek has never started a collegiate game.

What this means is that all that stands in the way of Notre Dame finishing the regular season unbeaten and advancing to the National title game is a downtrodden team fresh off a 28-38 beat-down and led by a QB who has completed 8-of-9 passes thus far in his entire college ‘career’. USC have been a relative flop this season (once holding the number one spot in the BCS standings), and basically have nothing to play for next weekend. Notre Dame on the other hand, will be taking the field knowing their destiny is in their hands. One more win and they go to the big dance.

The New York Jets end of season implosion starts prior to NFL week 12

The New York Jets annual implosion is happening a little early this season. The New York Daily News and ESPN are both reporting major commentary coming out from both named and anonymous Jets players, all basically coming down on the side of the incumbent in the Jets’ QB controversy. The comments are pretty shocking in their openly derisive slant towards Tim Tebow in particular, although they also verbally assault the Jets’ receivers.

The fact of the matter is though, this is all just noise.  Why is the New York Daily News writing a hatchet piece about Tim Tebow? Why is ESPN gleefully getting in on the act? Is it a clumsy attempt at distracting the public from the ugly truth, that it doesn’t matter what people think about the backup QB, the New York Jets are absolutely awful

They are 3-6 and fading faster than Rex Ryan’s waistline. Mark Sanchez is playing absolutely horrible football, with a league-low 52% completion rate and league-high four red-zone interceptions. What’s the point in focusing on the backup QB?

Sports in the United States now a major part of US Military propaganda: A few thoughts

Last night I stumbled upon what I first assumed was a History Channel documentary on the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazi Germany, one of those ones they do in that gaudy Technicolor finish. There were loud, boisterous, fanatical and nationalist crowds chanting mantras and combining to execute perfect rhythmic gestures. There was loud, nationalistic music, and fly-overs by military airplanes. Soldiers marched  pre-game, and were deified like heroes of Ancient Greece. Even the crowd and side-lines were top-heavy with men and women in military uniform. The commentary was unified with one, mantra like message; ‘Support the troops!’

I was, of course, wrong, and I was actually watching coverage of the NFL last night. A sport, a pastime and an entertainment, completely and utterly hijacked by all branches of the military.

Hold on now, steady your hand for one second, before you go barging into the comments section, virtually waving your arms and shouting blue-murder.

Celtic pull of magnificent upset of mighty Barcelona

They are already calling it one of the greatest results in the storied history of Celtic football club. Last night Celtic beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League group stages, finding a way to beat what some people think may be the greatest club football team of all time.

Interestingly, Celtic tapped into the template that both Inter Milan and Chelsea have used in recent years to find a way past normally unbeatable Barce. Namely, 'park the bus', as in keep all eleven men behind the ball, chase and harass the opposition all night and try and catch them napping at set pieces and on the break. 

Many teams have tried those tactics, however perhaps Celtic were more physically suited to succeed. They are a massive team physically, and had just the right parts that worked on the night. Barcelona wasted far too many crossed from out wide into the box, and the big Celtic defenders handled them with ease.

The Superstars are out and voting but who's for Barack Obama and who's for Mitt Romney?

Republican candidate Paul Ryan, a Packers fan, waves the Terrible Towel

Cavaliers Kyrie Irving unveils Uncle Drew, Chapter 2

This is brilliant. I would go as far as uplifting (and there are plenty of us out there that need a lift right now, New York, I am looking at you!). The Cavs young star Kyrie Irving and a soda drink have teamed up to create this joyfully funny character 'Uncle Drew', basically Irving in heavy make up as an old street-baller.

He turns up at random street courts and wows the locals with his surprisingly awesome play. Let's get one subject out of the way straight away, this video is so good, it doesn't matter that it is basically an advertisement for a soft drink. Let's move on. There is a part one to what appears to be building to a series, however we are skipping straight to number two because basically this one is better than part one. This is 'The Empire Strikes Back' to part one's 'Star Wars', if you will.

For Part Two, Irving gets together with Kevin Love, and they play Uncle Drew and his old buddy 'Wes'. They take to a street court and take on 'The Young Bloods'. Check out the expression on the courtside fans and players as the two old guys show up.