Random acts of senseless sporting - 8/29/10

I don't know whether to be optimistic or not concerning the Cleveland Browns this season. So what else is new? I hear a lot of talk about what their record is going to be, most of which seems to hover around the 7-9, 8-8 mark. Some real optimists and Browns fanatics will say 10-6 or 11-5. There's still serious work to be done on defense, and someone is going to have to convince me that quarterback Jake Delhomme has someone to throw to. If Delhomme stays healthy, I'll give them an honest shot at 9-7, and if everything aligns in their favor, they might, just might make the post-season. But that's going to require the defense to play like, well, not like the usual defense of the Browns. Just hone that one Thursday night game against the Steelers last year. Unfortunately games like those have been very few and far between, but I do feel very optimistic about the team's current management situation and think positive strides aren't far off.

The Cincinnati Reds finally look poised to not just make the playoffs, but to win the NL Central as well. The Reds are now 20 games over .500 and five ahead of second place St. Louis. The team hasn't been to the playoffs since 1995 and hasn't had a winning record since 2000. Kudos to manager Dusty Baker and the entire Reds organization for turning things around, finally. Sure, there's gonna be some big contracts to renew in the off-season, but right now let's worry about making some noise and let the business side of things play itself out after the season. This is the first year, knock on wood, that I think I will actually be interested in baseball well into September and hopefully October.

John Daly played in the Knoxville News something or other on the Nationwide Tour this week. He just made the cut and was one of the first groups off on Sunday where he drew crowds as big as those in the final pairings. Their reward? A free round of beers on the 16th hole courtesy of Long John himself. Just another reason why the often mundane sport of golf needs more players like Daly, and why he is such a fan-favorite.

Congratulations are in order for Michelle Wie who captured her second LPGA Tour victory — with many more to come. After being pushed so hard by her parents as a sideshow as a teenager, trying to make cuts on the PGA Tour, she's finally settled into her own skin and is doing what I think everyone knew she was capable of. It looks finally as if American golfers on the LPGA are going to give the foreigners a serious run for their money.

College football arrives this week, with Ohio State playing Marshall Thursday night — yawn. The game of the weekend, or I should say early next week for myself and many others is clearly Boise State vs. Virginia Tech. Everyone that gives Boise State flak is about to eat their words. The Broncos are a legitimate top 5 team in the country, both on offense and defense, and they will prove it next Monday night.

"Forget about the curveball Ricky, give 'em the heater."

... 'til next time.

E-mail B.J. Lisko@bjlisko@salemnews.net