4:43 Update: We love it when we're WRONG!

Oklahoma landed the coveted second spot in the BCS Rankings, behind Alabama and ahead of Texas. The Sooners will play Missouri next Saturday night in the Big 12 Championship. If When OU wins, it will play the winner of the SEC Championship between Alabama and Florida.

IN STOOPS WE TRUST...

3:29 PM Update: Hope we're wrong but...

After poking around the 'net for the past hour, we get the feeling the texASS Bonghorns are going to actually squeak by Oklahoma and get into the Big 12 Championship Game. Much of this feeling is based on the fact that in the coaches poll (which actually has NO BEARING on the BCS rankings), the Sooners switched spots with Lack Crown's team. OU was ranked third last week, but has flip-flopped with texASS and is now fourth. Guess those coaches were more impressed with texASS beating a four win (four!) Texas A&M team at home than by the Sooners winning on the road by 20 points against 12th ranked Oklahoma State.

Nice, Plax! Very nice!

A few years ago, Plaxico Burress left the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent. One of the teams he visited was the Philadelphia Eagles. The story goes that upon meeting Plax, the Eagles first thought was something like, "Oh my gosh, this guy and Allen Iverson in the same city will be nothing but trouble." Plax left Philly without a contract offer.

First snow of the season!

Nothing major -- in fact it only lasted about 15 minutes.

Still, there's no such thing as bad snow.

Will Tommy Bradford cartwheel OU into Big 12 Championship Game?!?

You all know where we stand. We always have OU's back. So it's no surprise that we feel the Sooners deserve the nod in the three-way tie in the Big 12 South. The facts are known by all: In order, Texas beat Oklahoma by 10, Texas Tech beat Texas by 6 and then Oklahoma violated Tech by 44 (44!). Based on those facts, you can't use any of them to decide which team gets to advance to the Big 12 Championship against Missouri. Texas says it beat OU and should go. But Tech beat Texas, so doesn't it deserve to go? OU whipped Tech but lost to Texas. It all evens out. (Despite what those Idiot Texas Fans think.)

So one must move on and look at which team has had the better season. This is where Oklahoma has a distinct edge. The Sooners have two hugely impressive non-conference wins. They beat a top 25 team in TCU, as well as the Big East champs in Cincinnati. Tech's non conference wins? Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and UMass (UMass!?!). So that eliminates Tech. As for Texas, the Longhorns topped Florida Atlantic (wow!), UTEP, Rice and Arkansas -- none of whom spent one second (one!) in the top 25.

Want more evidence? All three teams played Oklahoma State. Texas played them at home and won by...wait for it...FOUR POINTS! Texas Tech also played them at home and whipped them by 36 points. OU, on the other hand, went into OSU's stadium, where they became the first team (first!) this season to leave with a win. Oh yeah, and they did it by 20 points.

Seriously, the only thing confusing is why so many people are wondering which team will get the tie breaker. The facts clearly point to Our Oklahoma Sooners.

In Stoops We Trust.

No SI Cover Jinx...OU rolls, 61-41

1. We had our Brent Venables Sux post ready. (OS-Who had 452 total yards). Thankfully, Oklahoma's defense made just enough stops to give the ball back to Sam Bradford's offense.

2. Speaking of that offense, seriously, has there ever (ever!) been a better collegiate offense?!? Um, we think not.

3. Tight end Jermaine Gresham displayed his first round talent tonight with 9 catches for 158 yards and 2 scores.

4. How pathetic was it to hear texASS coach Lack Crown phone in during the middle of the telecast and plead the Shorthorns' BCS case to Our Guy Brent?!? This after he said all week he would not publicly campaign for texASS.

4. OK...it's now well past midnight. Time to watch ESPN's College Football Final and then head off for five hours of zzz.

These co-eds will be cheering for OU today

Saturday Morning Odds & Ends

Just wondering...

1. What if Alabama loses to Auburn today and, gulp, OS-Who beats Oklahoma (shut up!) tonight, and then 'Bama beats Florida next week?!? We guess that would leave us with Texas and USC to fight it out. But would Texas get the nod over Texas Tech, to whom it lost three weeks ago? And what if Texas lost in the Big 12 Championship (to Mizzou)? Then you have Tech playing USC for the trophy -- despite the fact that neither team won its league. Wow. Wow times four.

2. Now that Andy Reid appears safe (stories are now being planted in the Philly papers detailing how this season's mediocrity is the fault of the O-line and receivers, not Fat Andy), the heat will surely be turned up on 76ers coach Mo Cheeks. Fair or not, Elton Brand and his max contract bring expectations with it. And floundering below .500 is not one of them. Ironically, Kyle Korver is the player who can put the 76ers in the upper echelon of the East. But he was jettisoned to make cap room for EB#42. It says here that the 76ers would move over-paid and out of positioned Andre Iguodala straight up for Korver in a milli-second. Of course, cap rules prevent such a move. And since you can't cut stiffs like Igudola and Samuel Dalembert, Cheeks may take the fall.

3. With most assuming Charlie Weis is history, we found an internet rumor about Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden and the Golden Domers. Chuckie would do three things in South Bend: 1. He would run a hellacious off-season camp that would get one third of the kids to quit (thus freeing up tons of 'ships). 2. He would recruit like a Mo-Fo; and we mean real recruits -- not soft-suburban-white- collar-kids. 3. In four years, ND would be playing for the title.

What the hell is the matter w/people?!?

This is horrific, pathetic and sad!

Thanksgiving, 6.0 -- The Finished Product

Cooked carrots

Stuffing

Sliced turkey

Gravy

Mashed potatoes

Homemade macaroni

The chef's plate

Gingerbread

Apple crisp

Thanksgiving, 5.0 -- 11:45 AM Update

We seared the bird at 500 degrees for 30 minutes.

Now, he is tented with foil at 350 degrees.

There he will stay until he hits the

magical temp of 161 degrees (three-plus hours).

Thanksgiving, 4.0 - The First Thanksgiving

Painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (1863-1930)

Thanksgiving, 3.0 - Into the oven

Shhh...in addition to brining, the secret to a moist bird is butter under the skin on the breast.

Thanksgiving, 2.0 - Brining

Last night, the turkey went into the brine and then into the fridge overnight.

This morning...20 hours later.


Out of the brine and patted dry.

Back into the fridge to air-dry for two hours.

Thanksgiving, 1.0

We started off our Thanksgiving with breakfast fit for a hungry Pilgrim.

Tom Brady (TODAY!) says, "Thanksgiving's a great holiday!"

Wow! Jason Whitlock will not be having Thanksgiving turkey with Chris Fowler!

Yikes. Whitlock busted, like, seven caps into Fowler's soul!

Thanksgiving Odds & Ends...

1. Fire has been lit in fireplace.

2. Getting ready to mix the turkey brine (1 cup kosher salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 bay leaves, 1 cup peppercorns) for 20 hour turkey soaking.

3. Three Pat Forde columns to read by the fire.

4. The Playmaker is finishing up name cards for tomorrow's seating plan.

5. Dinner for tonight is a slab of ribs, chicken thighs and rice pilaf.

6. Tomorrow, for the second year in a row, we will have real time photos of Thanksgiving food preparation.

Three wins on Sunday!

1. The New England Patriots blew open a close game late and ended up rolling up on the Dolphins, 48-20, to get a Big W. (All the bigger with the Jets knocking off Tennessee.) Matt Cassell has turned into a passing machine. Is there anyone out there who will ever (ever!) doubt Coach Bill's personnel decisions again?!? If only Cassell were still under contract next season, they could barter him off on some poor team for a King's Ransom. (As in first and third round picks.) No such luck, though, as he will take a walk down Free Agency Lane. Looking down the road for the 7-4 Pats, we see them legitimately running the table the final five weeks and ending up 12-4. Only the final two games of the season (at home against Arizona and on the road against Buffalo) are question marks. Those two have the ability to exploit Coach Bill's less-than-stellar defense. (Scott Pioli has undoubtedly already begun dossiers on college defenders.)

2. And Our Philadelphia Eagles had not one, but two HUGE wins last Sunday. First, Fat Andy pulled Donovan McNabb in the middle of a three point game and inserted Kevin Kolb. Yes, the same Kevin Kolb Reid drafted in the second round two years ago. Kolb came in and promptly did the unthinkable. He actually played worse (worse!) than McNabb. By playing Kolb, Reid guaranteed that the Eagles would lose -- thus improving their draft position. (They have two number ones next April, but it is a Mortal Lock that stingy owner Jeff "My mom bought the team for me" Laurie will trade one of them. Why pay two first round picks when you can pay one?) And now that the team is a complete downward spiral, the chances increase with each loss that Laurie will part ways with Reid.

More Thoughts on OU's HUGE win Saturday Night...

1. Classic Brent when he was reading a promo for ABC's American Music Awards. He was reading a list of stars and when he came to Beyonce, he pronounced her name "Bee-on-ce"...

2. ABC showed some priceless footage of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach during his time as Bob Stoops' offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. They showed Leach walking into a film session -- and he was actually skinny. As in 50 pounds ago. Secondly, they showed him watching film with then Sooner QB Josh Heupel. However, astute viewers surely noticed a freshman by the name of Jason White sitting in the back of the room. White, of course, four years later would go on to win the Heisman.

3. The Sooner Win is good for the economy. We have spent the last few days picking out on-line gear for Santa to bring. Big Sooner Wins = we spend $$$.

To honor a fallen soldier and small town that is mourning, there is no blog today.

Oh, what a night!

Wow! Double Wow! Big Game Bob is back! Last night's game was the Biggest Win for OU in recent memory! They took on the second ranked team in the country and kicked the Living Sheeeeet out of them! This was the same Texas Tech team that defeated texASS. OU went out and beat 'em by 44 points! So, puh-lease, spare us the Bonghorn crap about Lack Crown's team being better than OU, about them deserving to be ranked ahead of the Sooners. Tech coach Mike Leach said he will be voting OU ahead of the Shorthorns. OU Messiah Bob Stoops said it best after the game, "If you can't move us in front of Texas because they beat us, then you have to keep Texas Tech in front of Texas." That's logic so basic, even the dumbest of texASS fans can comprehend it. As for Florida getting a free pass for its one loss (while Oklahoma and Texas have play the Public Relations Game), Big Game Bob was, once again, right on target: "If you're going to forgive a team [Florida] for losing at home to an unranked team [Ole Miss] because they're playing well now -- well, we're playing pretty well now, too. If it's logical for someone else, it's logical for us."

It's logical, Coach. Totally logical.

In Stoops We Trust!

Saturday Night Special

1. Wow. With Notre Dame losing 24-23 to a 2-8 Syracuse team, you have to wonder if the walls are closing in on Charlie Weis. We still think he gets another year, but if he loses something like 50-10 at USC next week, he may well get the boot. And a classy move by Orangemen (outgoing) coach Greg Robinson, who stopped his on-field interview and made his kids shut up while the Irish sang their school song.

2. Houston Nutt can flat out coach. Think Arkansas wouldn't take him back in a second? His Ole Miss Rebels put a beat down on Lester's LSU Tigers, 31-13. Lester's D had no idea how to stop Nutt's wide open attack.

3. We have always had total respect for the Boston College football program. (It's Loser Al Skinner's hoop program we openly mock.) Playing on the road at Wake Forest without senior QB Chris Crane, backup Dominique Davis scored with just over one minute to play to give the Eagles a 24-21 W.

4. OU and Texas Tech will get busy in just over 20 minutes from now. We are surprised at how many national peeps are picking OU. We know this: OU's defense (led by over-matched defensive coordinator Brent Venables) has given up some nasty numbers this year. How will they ever be able to shut down Tech's offense?!? Final score: Texas Tech 48 Oklahoma 35.

Staying warm on a Friday night...

The temp outside right now is, like, 25 degrees. This picture of Erin Andrews will keep us warm. Well, that plus the fact we are enjoying a Bonus Friday Night Fire in the fireplace. Happy Friday Night. Enjoy.

Friday Links (remember those?!?)...

Bill Conlin on Chase Utley's hip!

Peter Vecsey: Al Harrington to Knicks?!?

Mitch Lawrence's NBA Power Rankings (Psst...Boston's not on top!)!

Bob Ryan with a book recommendation!

TV commercials make kids fat?!?

More proof Joey Porter is an idiot!

Brent: Got the Big Man...

1978: Miracle in the Meadowlands...

It happened 30 years ago today.

Today, the miracle needs to be Andy Reid resigning and Donovan McNabb learning the rules retiring.

On Billy Owens and being married

In keeping with yesterday's theme of "We often think of stupid things..." here's another one. We frequently discuss with our wife what the two of us would be doing if we weren't married. We contend that our wife would still be living at home with her parents if she hadn't been rescued by us wasn't hitched to us. She contends that we would be living with old friends from high school and probably have a drinking problem. (Not sure where that last one came from!)

Anyway, we are completely sure of one thing: If we weren't married by this point, we would have no interest in changing that. Instead, we are positive we would be content with leading the single life. Instead of female companionship, we would have the companionship of the grill, HD television and the internet. Sounds pretty good, no?!? Who needs the bar scene when you can hang on the couch and watch TV for six, seven, dare we say eight consecutive hours. Who needs speed dating when you can do on-line gambling? Why waste 100 bucks on dinner for two when you can grill steak for one?

All of which brings us to ESPN and college hoops. Starting at midnight yesterday (today?!?) with UMass and Memphis, The World Wide Leader is showing 24 hours of college hoops. Now, seriously, how great is that?!? How frigging great is that?!? If we weren't walking around with a ball and chain married, we would have phoned in sick and spent the entire day today watching college hoops. 10:00 AM Penn at Drexel? No clue who plays for Penn, but it would be fun to watch them beat Loser, errrr, Bruiser Flint. 2:00 PM Liberty at UNC-Asheville? We'll take UNC-A plus the points. 4:00 PM Centenary at Baylor? Didn't The Chief play for Centenary? (There was one?!?) 6:00 PM Richmond at Syracuse? Hey, we remember the Spiders upsetting the 'Cuse (and Billy Owens) during March Madness in 1991. What's that have to do in 2008? Nothing, of course. But we would still watch the game while eating dinner on the floor in front of the TV. After those games, there would be four more we would enjoy watching.

Of course, we're not complaining about being tied down married. But to put things in perspective, here's the math: Games watched in 24 hours (not married) -- NINE. Games watched in 24 hours (not married) -- we'll guess and say parts of...wait for it...TWO.

Ain't being married GREAT?!?

TV Free Sunday* (*at least until 6:30 PM)

We often think of random things -- many of them quite stupid. One of our favorites is, if we could only keep one of the following, which would it be: the grill, the computer (including internet) or the television. Almost always, the grill is the first to go, followed by the internet. Pathetic as it sounds, the television brings us pure joy -- and a lot of it.

But with the Patriots having played last Thursday and our interest in the pathetic Eagles waning by the second, yesterday we did the unthinkable. We went the entire day without even turning on the TV. (It was finally awakened around 6:30 PM, when the family watched the fourth quarter of the Steelers-Chargers game).

Having stayed up until 1:30 AM (watching UCLA and Washington, following BC/Florida State) yesterday morning , we slept in "late" -- a relative term as that means 7:15 AM. We went to Dunkin' Donuts with The Playmaker while The Mrs. took our daughter (gotta get a catchy name for her...) to CCD and then did the grocery shopping. After breakfast and the sports page, we supervised The Playmaker finishing his birthday thank you cards before heading off to Whole Foods. We wanted to have dry run on the upcoming Thanksgiving Meal -- and last year's turkey came from Whole Foods and was exquisite.

(Two quickies on Whole Foods. In the last year we have been there three times -- once yesterday and twice last November for Thanksgiving reasons. Two observations: We have yet to see a woman there who wears make-up. Second, it seems like only over-grown hippies from the '60s shop there. And for a bonus observation, the prices there are a tad, ahem, S-T-E-E-P.)

Anywho...we blew through $40 on a turkey that was: A. Young B. Fresh C. Wild. (We took all of this to mean it would taste great...less filling) Once back at home, we plunked the $40 bird in the fridge, grabbed some lunch (grilled cheeses for the kids, turkey pitas for the non-kids) and then started a fire in the fireplace.
For the next four hours, we just lounged in front of the fireplace. We looked at the finances. We read the latest issue of Wired (love that magazine!). We played with the puppy. We played Top It with The Playmaker and then UNO with our daughter (The Brain? The Chosen One? The Future Lawyer? Feel free to send us obnoxious/ego maniacal nicknames.) We took some notes on what Santa will be bringing (as the goal is to have shopping wrapped up before December 1). Around 2:45 we took the $40 bird, slathered some sage butter under its skin, and put him in the oven. At 5:00, the thermometer said he was done (160 degrees) and we deftly carved him while our daughter (The Princess of Multiplication Facts?!?) set the table and The Mrs. finished up the peas and mashed potatoes.

Unfortunately, the turkey was dry. Dry as in arid dry. Hmm...unlike Thanksgiving 2007, we did not brine it for 24 hours. And our digital thermometer was not working, so we had to go with an old fashioned one. We can only hope that those two easily-correctable things were the problem. style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">

Still, the day was an utter success. We feel mentally healthier having survived our TV Detox. It was surely good for the soul.

(Plus, there's always tonight to get reacquainted with our beloved Old Friend.)