NOTHING BETTER THAN WATCHING PEYTON FAIL IN ANOTHER BIG GAME ... ALSO, LIVE CHAT THURSDAY

First, my quick rundown of the Saints 31-17 Super Bowl victory over the Colts. There is nothing better in my mind than seeing Peyton Manning fail in yet another big-time game. He is now 9-9 in playoff games, which is horrible for a quarterback of his stature. The Colts have always been regular-season wonders and postseason chokers, which continued this year. I'm just mad that they pulled off that Super Bowl win over the horrible Bears a few years ago, otherwise Manning would be known as the worst postseason quarterback of all time. A couple of things that stood out from the "smartest football player in the history of the universe." At the end of the third quarter, Manning had no idea how much time was on the clock and when the ref blew the whistle signaling the end of the period, Manning thought a penalty had been called. In the fourth quarter, Manning went to call an unnecessary timeout only to have second thoughts after making the motion ... it didn't work and the ref awarded it anyway. On third and goal, Manning actually called a running play that was eventually stuffed and ended any chance the Colts had at winning the game. And, of course, there was his brutal interception that effectively ended the game and gave the Super Bowl to the Saints. The lovefest for Manning by the national media is a complete joke and it blew up in everybody's face Sunday night. The Saints played the perfect game - the game the Jets wanted to play two weeks ago in the AFC Championship but couldn't. They controlled the ball on offense which ultimately let them run their defense the way they wanted to. On the Manning pick, the Saints blitzed Manning and he panicked. Also, something nobody will ever mention, but I think was a huge turning point in the game was when the Saints were stopped on fourth and goal late in the second quarter. That actually saved the game for the Saints. The Colts took over at their own two and ran three straight plays into the line of scrimmage. The Saints got the ball back and kicked a field goal with no time left. If the Saints kick the field goal on the original drive, Manning and the Colts would have gotten the ball back with plenty of time left and likely would have scored a touchdown (just like they did against the Ravens and Jets) that would have destroyed the Saints. But the Saints had a field goal to end the half, recovered the onside kick after the break, and scored a touchdown to take the momentum. You have to give a whole lot of credit to Saints kicker Garrett Hartley as well, who was perfect on three long field goals. The player of the game for the Colts was Joseph Addai, which doesn't bode well for UConn product Donald Brown next season. Hofstra alum Marques Colston also had a big game.

Second, we will be running a GAMEDAY LIVE CHAT this Thursday at 1 p.m. with Central Connecticut basketball beat writer Matt Straub and myself right here on this blog. So, make sure you show up for that and bring your questions and opinions with you. We want it all. If you want to get a jump on things, e-mail your questions early to bcarroll@centralctcommunications.com and they will go to the front of the list. See you there.

(AP photo)

FIFA AGAIN PROVES IT'S AS CROOKED AS THEY COME AS HENRY CHEAT REF GETS WORLD CUP NOD

You really have to wonder what exactly goes through the mind of the peons over at FIFA, the clueless governing body of soccer. We all know what the group did to Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers, basically screwing them over and finding every possible way to get the teams they wanted in the World Cup (including France and at the expense of Ireland). Then, in the second-leg of play between France and Ireland, France scored a game-tying (and aggregate-winning) goal on a play that had two players off-sides and had two handballs committed by the thief Thierry Henry. Of course, those calls were all missed by the referees on the field, the goal counted, and Ireland was ousted from the Cup in devastating fashion. The majority of the world came out against FIFA, saying among other things that the fix was in. And it is hard to dispute that. But the group took it one step further today and it really makes you wonder if FIFA really did cheat to get France into the Cup instead of the much-smaller country of Ireland. Clueless FIFA announced that Swedish ref Martin Hansson will be among 30 referees selected for the World Cup. Guess what? Hansson was the referee in that now infamous Ireland-France qualifier. Makes you wonder, no? The referee of a game that created world-wide outrage; that missed two France players off-sides; that missed not one but two handballs by the cheat Henry is now rewarded with the ultimate honor for a soccer official. Are you kidding me? FIFA, true scumbags of the world.

I GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH POKER PRO DAVID SINGER ... AND WIN! ... FOR ONE HAND ANYWAY

I recently started playing poker over at Full Tilt and the frustration that comes along with it is monumental. Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of success. I've won a handful of qualifying tournaments (which basically means you have to win there to advance to play in a big-money tourney). I even pulled out a championship victory in a 2,700-person tournament that I was able to pocket some real money in, obviously the highlight of my short poker-playing career. That title was won after only playing and learning the game for six days, something I am always quick to point out to anyone who dares listen to me.
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, it is. But the frustration you come across makes you wonder why one might play at all. There are a bunch of players who have no idea how to play the game and that obviously can ruin your game in a heartbeat and send you packing at any moment.
But late-night Wednesday, I got a big surprise that allowed the frustration of not getting a good hand since early on in a 180-person qualifier to dissipate rather quickly.
I was struggling to survive and knew I had to go all-in as soon as I got a hand that had any kind of potential. And I finally got it as I was dealt a King and a Nine. I know, not the best, but I had to make my move now or I was toast anyway. So I pushed all-in for my measly two grand worth of chips. I barely look up when I go all-in as I don't even want to see who is about to call me when my cards aren't the greatest.
But after hearing people fold around the table, one person did call me. And I was truly shocked and excited at the same time when I looked to see that my head's up opponent would be none other than poker pro David Singer, who was moved to my table right before the blinds were posted. Having a pro at your table is probably akin to winning the lottery ... in that the odds are astronomical.
Of course, this was my tournament. If I lose, no big deal, the pro and his huge 20 grand stack busted me and I get to tell people I got beat by Singer. But if I won, that would be one heck of a story to tell. I had a King and a Nine and he turned over an Ace and Queen. On the flop, two Kings hit and I was already tasting victory. Nothing comes easy, though, as an Ace came out and then a Queen, to which I was sweating bullets even though I know three of a kind beats two pair.
Finally, when the chips came to me, half of which were his, I could smile and waste no time in quickly making a call at the early hour of 2 a.m. to say I beat a pro head's up for this one moment.
The joy didn't last long, however, as I was eliminated in 16th place a few hands later by a guy who got a heart on the final card to complete his flush and beat my aces. (That's the frustration right there). So, I bowed out while Singer held the sixth position. He ended up placing seventh overall in the tournament, not good enough to qualify for the national head's up championship that both amateur and pro would like to compete in, which I got to see first hand.
Me, I get a cool story to tell about how I beat a poker pro head's up for one hand. It may be the only time I can say that, so I'm going to enjoy it.

VOTE NOW ON WHERE YOU THINK AARON HERNANDEZ WILL BE TAKEN IN THE NFL DRAFT

We're bringing back the First & Goal Poll Question of the Week in the pages of The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald, and it starts today by voting on where you believe Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez, of Bristol, will be taken in the NFL Draft this April. Early mock drafts have the former Bristol Central star going late in second round ... but we tend to believe our readers know more about the subject than any so-called expert. So, vote now in the poll on the right side of the page and we'll update the results daily in both newspapers and also by the second here on the blog. Get out and vote and spread the word.

(AP photo)

AND THE HOME OF THE JETS

CONAN O'BRIEN SAYS GOOD RIDDANCE TO STRUGGLING NBC, COULD BE HEADED TO FOX NEXT

If you haven't already heard, Conan O'Brien has told NBC that he will not be moving his Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. and therefore is leaving the network. I've always been a big Conan fan, with his Late Night show always being funnier than both Jay Leno and David Letterman combined. Conan appealed to a younger audience, which I'm still gripping to right now, and I was there in the beginning, loving every second of it. While his monologues was never the best, his skits, interviews and out-of-studio productions were almost always hilarious. When I worked at NBC years ago, me and my co-workers would always make sure to catch his Late Night show broadcast live on closed-circuit television. I've even been in the studio, and sat at the desk that I'll always remember for being chipped on the corners. I rode the elevator with Andy Ritcher and another time with one of the female writers who was worried that a skit that night wouldn't work. But she came out on television that night as Camel Toe Girl and the audience loved it. So, I'm definitely on Conan's side here.

When he moved his show to Los Angeles, it definitely lost something. Conan was best in New York and hopefully he can continue that on, most likely, FOX. Here's hoping Conan beats both Leno and Letterman in the ratings when he returns to late night and NBC is left struggling again to find an answer.

Here is Conan's full statement:

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

(AP photo)

A TRUE NFL TRAVESTY: WOODSON BEATS OUT REVIS FOR DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

A downright travesty occurred today in the NFL when Packers cornerback Charles Woodson was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. In short, the best defensive player in the NFL this year was Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Actually, it wasn't even close.
Woodson and Revis are completely different players, yes. Revis is the best shut-down corner in the NFL. We all know about Revis Island and him shutting down the best wide receivers in the game all season long. The list of WR's he's shut down is almost legendary - Andre Johnson (the best WR in the game), Randy Moss (twice), Terrell Owens (twice), Chad Ochocinco (twice), Carolina's Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston.
The problem with voters is that they only look at stats, and that is why the vote read Woodson 28, Revis 14, which is a complete joke. The misguided voters look at Woodson's four forced fumbles and two sacks to Revis' none. But guess what? That isn't Revis' job. Woodson gets a lot of credit for the Packers turnaround on defense this year. But the Jets are the No. 1 defense in the NFL and it's all because of Revis. When the No. 1 target of the offense is completely taken away by one person, that allows the Jets to do what they do best - blitz the quarterback like crazy. Revis allows the Jets to do that because they trust him, even when the best WR in the game is opposite him.
Plus, in the playoffs, with everything on the line, Revis again shut out Ochocinco and had a huge, momentum-shifting interception. Woodson, against the Cardinals, was exposed against Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner. Fitzgerald caught 6 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. On top of those numbers, Steve Breaston added 7 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown and even Early Doucett racked up 6 receptions for 77 yards and 2 scores. Are you kidding me? Sure, the Cardinals have one heck of a passing game, but is that what should be happening to the best defensive player in the NFL? Heck no.
Would that ever happen to Revis? History says no. And that's why Revis is the true Defensive Player of the Year.

By the way, follow Brad Carroll's GameDay on Facebook ... the link is on the right of the page.

(AP photo)

BREAKING NEWS: MARK McGWIRE FINALLY ... FINALLY! ... ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS

Mark McGwire finally talked about the past Monday, admitting to using steroids during his home run record-setting year in 1998. In a statement given to the Associated Press Monday, McGwire said: "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

During an interview with the AP, McGwire said he called commissioner Bud Selig and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa earlier Monday to apologize for the steroids use.

Here is McGwire's full statement:

"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.

I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season.

I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.

During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.

I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.

Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.

I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.

After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."

(AP photo)

FLORIDA TIGHT END AND FORMER BRISTOL CENTRAL STAR AARON HERNANDEZ ENTERS NFL DRAFT

Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez, the Bristol Central grad, has decided to enter the NFL Draft early, which comes as no surprise. Hernandez led the team with 68 catches for 850 yards and five touchdowns this season. He was the first SEC player to win the Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end. He finished his career with 111 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I am declaring myself eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft," Hernandez said. "It is really special for me to take this first step toward my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL on the fourth anniversary of my father's passing. I know he would be proud of not only me, but my whole family, who love and support are the only reasons I am where I am today.
"My three years at Florida provided me with the foundation I need to succeed as a player and a person. I am eternally grateful to Mr. Foley, coach Meyer and the entire Gators coaching staff for bringing me to Florida and serving as my family away from home. They were constantly pushing me to become a better player and, more importantly, a better person. I am so grateful for their guidance and support.
"I also want to thank my teammates for their help on the field and their friendships off the field. I was fortunate to have been part of three great Gator teams with many great players who I know I will see at the next level. Finally, I will never forget Gator Nation. You are the reason I wanted to come to Florida and I look forward to returning to Gainesville to cheer on future Florida teams with the best fans in the country."
Florida coach Urban Meyer had this to say about the Bristol native, "Aaron was one of the very best at his position that I have ever been around. He has been a key part of our success over the years, but he now had the opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream by playing in the NFL. He has all the tools to be successful at the next level and we wish him the best of luck."

(AP photos)

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: NO. 1 ALABAMA WILL TAKE HOME THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the BCS National Championship
Bowl Season: 12-12-1 (spread); 14-11 (overall); 2-2 (upset picks)
Craig's Bowl Season: 11-13-1 (spread)
This Season: 62-61-3 (spread); 93-33 (overall); 10-7 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 57-66-3 (spread)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Texas; 8 p.m.; ABC
BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Finally, after a very long bowl season, we get to crown a national champion tonight in the Rose Bowl. Of course, I’m sure there are a large contingent of you that believe Boise State should be given its due as a possible national champion as well, but we all know that is years away from happening. So, it’s either No. 1 Alabama or No. 2 Texas that will get to raise the glass football late tonight as champions of college football. After watching the two teams in their respective conference championship games, I made up my mind rather quickly that this was Alabama’s game to lose. The Crimson Tide, led by Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, rolled over Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators in the SEC title game. Texas, on the other hand, barely survived the upset bid of Nebraska, as quarterback Colt McCoy was saved from making one of the biggest boneheaded plays in college football history, and the Longhorns won on a field goal. McCoy, who lost the Heisman that night with his play, nonchalantly ran a play in the final seconds and tossed the ball out of bounds as the clock showed all zeroes. Luckily for him, instant replay was used and Texas had a second to kick the winning field goal. That play alone makes me question McCoy’s mental makeup in the biggest of moments — which isn’t good going into the
biggest moment of the season. With that said, I’m going with Alabama to take home the national championship. But I will put in this quote from Texas coach Mack Brown: “This is not about who had the best season. This isn’t even about the history. This isn’t even about who has the best team. It’s about whose going to play the best for 3 1/2 hours. That’s what I learned in 2005 (when Texas beat USC in the national championship game). The rest of it’s going to be chatter. It’s going to be who plays the best for 3 1/2 hours.”
Now, that won’t be true in the Battle for Carroll Supremacy, as yours truly easily clinched this year’s picks championship. With one game to play, I hold a five-game lead over brother Craig in the season-long battle. While my record isn’t anything to brag about, Craig had a terrible year. “This was one of the most unpredictable college football seasons ever,” Craig rationalized. But he stopped short of giving me props for winning the crown outright for the first time, saying “even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
Either way, I’ll gladly accept by title trophy.

BRAD'S PICK: ALABAMA (-4) WINS IT 33-23
CRAIG’S PICK: TEXAS (+4) WINS IT 24-21

(AP photo top and above photo of Joe Namath when he was at Alabama)