Sunday Smorgasbord 11-19

• Breaking news according to the (Com)Post website, Alfonso Soriano signs with the Cubs. 8 years and $136 million is what it took. The Nats were reportedly offering $14-15 million a year. I have to say, I think even $14 million is too much for what is a rebuilding franchise. At least he didn't go and play for the B.O.'s or another NL East team. But the Chicago Cubs? So much for apparently wanting to win another World Series title...
• Well you knew it was going to come to an end as the Terps fell off the tightrope that they had been walking in yesterday's 38-16 loss at Boston College. When the Terps laid an egg in Morgantown, the offense didn't take the field until they were down 14-0. Yesterday the Terps defense didn't see the field until they were down 14-0. The Eagles got another defensive touchdown on an interception return in the third quarter. But I think it is safe to say now that Sam Hollenbach is the worst quarterback Ralph Friedgen has ever had run his offense. Now at 8-3 with one regular season game to go, the Terps will need help to get to Jacksonville for the ACC Championship game because Virginia Tech defeated Wake Forest last night. The game to watch on Thanksgiving is Boston College @ Miami. Should Boston College win, Maryland will be eliminated from the ACC Championship. If Miami wins, Boston College will be eliminated and the winner of Maryland vs. Wake Forest on Saturday night will go to Jacksonville. Therefore, GO CANES!
• Congratulations are in order to the Maryland Field Hockey team who successfully defended their National Title earlier today by defeating Wake Forest 1-0 in Winston-Salem, N.C. This is the fifth overall National Title for the Field Hockey program and the first NCAA Title for Maryland in this academic year. Last year the Maryland Athletics program grabbed three NCCA Titles. One of those National Champions from last year, the Men's Soccer team, lost to Notre Dame last night and will not make their fifth consecutive College Cup appearance. The third NCAA Champion from last year, the Women's Basketball team, continues to roll as they defeated George Washington today. The Terp women are now 5-0 and will hold onto their #1 ranking for another week.
• Congratulations also to the Maryland Men's Basketball team who won the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament on Friday night. The Terp men are also undefeated at 5-0 and should find their way into the rankings on Monday. The Terp men destroyed St. John's on Thursday night and escaped from Michigan State to wrap up the title on Friday. D.J. Strawberry was named Tournament MVP.
• The Jason Campbell era got off to its expected start today as the Redskins lost to Tampa today, 20-17. From what little I did see of the game, Campbell has decent mobility and a good arm, but working without Santana Moss and Clinton Portis, he doesn't have much of a chance. And as I have been saying all along, Campbell taking over will not make the defense any better. And from what I saw of the defense, that was certainly the case. Anyway, the Skins dropped to 3-7 and are now only playing for pride and a high draft pick in 2007 to some lucky team that it has already been traded to.
• Sorry, I can't resist, but did the Titans beat the Iggles today??? BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
• Ok, back on track here, this week the Caps have three days off before starting a three games in four nights run once again. The Caps host Atlanta in the annual Thanksgiving eve game at the Phone Booth. The day after Thanksgiving, the Caps host the Toronto Maple Leafs and then play on Long Island on Saturday night. The puck drops on all three games at 7:05 pm. The Maryland Men's Basketball team faces Winthrop tomorrow night at 8:05 pm and High Point on Friday at 1:35 pm, both games are at the Cable Box. The football team will play Wake Forest on Saturday night at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium on ESPN kicking off at 7:45 pm. That means the Terps get the insufferable Mike Patrick calling their game. At least Dookie Vitale won't be in the booth next to him and the Terps are playing Wake Forest and not UNC or Dook. The Redskins face the Carolina Panthers at home next Sunday kicking off at 1:00 pm.
• As always, please send comments, criticisms, corrections, suggestions, questions, and recipes for Thanksgiving dinner side dishes to "capsnut" over at gmail dot com. Once I stop procrastinating on my War College mid-term, I might get around to reading your e-mail and you could be this month's lucky winner of a response to your e-mail!