Monday Is Burning

Hi all. Aaron here.

I'm going to try a little something new for Monday posts. Last week I wrote about the Sunday football games on Monday, but that totally left out the Monday night game. So this week look for a football games analysis entry on Tuesday.

So in place of football analysis, each Monday I'm going to post five burning sports questions for the week. So, without further ado, I give you the burn notice.

1) What is up with the AFC North division in the NFL? You never know which team is going to show up. Baltimore got smacked around by a less than excellent San Diego Chargers team, at the moment Pittsburgh is being beat 20-3 with little time left in the game, Cincinnati wins but only when they don't play division opponents, and the Browns, well, they're the Browns. This is problematic, but makes for an interesting week to see if the power teams are going to play like they should or fizzle.

2) Does anyone care about the NBA? Ang and I have said the worst present we will get this year for Christmas is the NBA resuming. I was really looking forward to no NBA this year. Apparently ESPN still thinks its important as every other commercial seems to be about the Christmas Day match-ups. WE GET IT, but I still don't care.

3) Is it me or does it seem like the MLB hot stove isn't that hot this year? Usually this is the time of year when baseball teams are wheeling and dealing and with big name free agents on the market, I was expecting a little bit more of a splash or crazy deal to go down. Sure, the Marlins started early and the Angels got two of the top free agents, but other than that it's been pretty quiet to me.

4) Let's talk hockey? No, really, let's not. I don't understand that with the absence of the NBA, the NFL season basically rolling into the playoffs and MLB being in the off season, where is the hockey coverage? The NHL is hurting itself right now as they are not heavily advertising at a weak sports time of year and the sports networks don't help either by neglecting the hardest-hitting exciting sport there is aside from football. For the love of God, I'd like to see just a bit more hockey. After all, it is winter and hockey is a winter sport.

5) Do we really need 35 bowl games? It's bowling season for NCAA football, but anymore it doesn't seem like playing after the season ends is anything special. From December 17 to January 9, there are 35 college post-season games to be played. Multiply 35 by two teams per game, that's 70 teams. Yes, 70 teams out of the 120 are playing in the post-season. More than half get to keep playing. At that rate, what significance do bowls hold (besides the all-mighty dollar)? Why not just add another game on to the season for everyone and let the cream of the crop get to play for a championship.

FINAL BURN: So this week I could have done a little more research as the questions aren't necessarily lighting the world on fire. But at any rate, let me know if you agree or disagree with my analysis of the five questions. If you raise a good point, you just might see your comment in next Monday's edition.