North: NFL playoffs finally come through with a winner
The first six games of the NFL playoffs were duds, but the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys finally delivered for the fans.
Aaron Rodgers got it done (34-31) and a tip of the cap to Mason Crosby who made two kicks, including the game winner.
They don't come any more clutch than that! Rod Marinelli could be in trouble as the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, not only because they collapsed at the end of the game, but the Cowboys were 14th in the league defensively this year.
Dallas is set on offense with their two rookies, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott, who both played well in Sunday's game. It's their defense who must improve.
NFL games too long
The argument of baseball games being too long falls on deaf ears for me after an NFL game has turned into a 3½ hour pigskin fest.
The average regular season football game takes three hours and 12 min, but even longer in the postseason (3 hours 45 minutes), while a regular season baseball game averages two hours and 52 minutes.
Now if the games are entertaining, it's not a problem, but there just aren't enough good games to offset the poor ones. Oh well …
Could Maddon have been fired?
After Cubs president Theo Epstein said at the Cubs convention that Joe Maddon stuck with his pregame plan in Game 7 of the World Series and didn't adjust, I'm convinced Maddon might have been close to being gone if they had lost.
But instead he won, despite Games 6 and 7 being two of the worst managed playoff games ever. Alls well that ends well though for the manager of the World Series 2016 champions!
A trip to the Big Apple
It was great going to New York and seeing the folks at WFAN. The man who is been running the FAN for 30 years, Mark Chernoff, has always been a friend, and it was fun to tap his brain along with Eric Spitz, Director of Programming for the CBS network.
It was also really good to see Mike Francesa who I've known for many years; congratulations to Mike who will be finishing his 30th year hosting there. Thanks guys for the hospitality. Two days in New York feels like a week, but Chicago is still King.
Carmelo wants to leave N.Y.
While I was in N.Y., the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 98-97. Since then Carmelo Anthony, the most overrated star to play in the league, has asked for a trade to Cleveland or the Clippers.
He is the Jay Cutler of hoops and speaking of Jay Cutler why is he still a Bear? Or is he?
Sox fever?
Raise your hands if you are excited about the White Sox upcoming season. Not many hands being raised, but you never know what could happen.
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