My local daily newspaper ran a column this week comparing the Cleveland Indians’ seven-game loss to the Boston Red Sox to Ohio State’s loss to Florida in the football national championship.
The point was to try to impress upon non-Tribe fans what the loss felt like to supporters of the team, but the only real comparison is the fact both teams lost.
The Buckeyes were a decided favorite from Day 1, dominating the regular season, and beating Michigan in a shootout. There wasn’t any doubt OSU belonged in the title game. It was expected to be there.
Cleveland spent the first part of the season looking up at the Detroit Tigers in the standings and, after overtaking the Tigers in July, still struggled offensively deep into August, only keeping hold of the division at times because the teams below in the standings were worse.
The Buckeyes entered the game with Florida with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and an offense that had played great all year. The defense, having only been touched in the Michigan game, seemed to be great, too.
The Red Sox are more comparable to the Buckeyes in this equation, with the exception being that, in the end, they won the ALCS, whereas the Bucks failed to even compete in the title game.
The pain of losing in the postseason is obviously very real, and it’s something fans have trouble dealing with, but once the Tribe lost to Boston the common feeling wasn’t shock. I, and other Buckeye fans, spent much of the winter overcoming the Florida loss. A numbness overtook us about halfway through the first quarter of that game, and it was nothing like losing in seven games to the Red Sox.
NFL Results
Compliments of Jessica’s fashion sense and cooking aside, Brian followed up on his prediction and carried yet another week.
Brian 13-2
The CPA 11-3
Jessica 10-4
Big Game 10-4
Seth 9-5
Nick 10-4
Diesel 9-5
firedoor11 9-5
Overall standings
Brian 74-33
Jessica 71-32
The CPA 64-40
Big Game 63-40
Seth 60-45
Diesel 41-31
Nick 33-24
firedoor11 29-26
Will Will 7-7
Week Eight
Detroit (4-2) at Chicago (3-4)
Pittsburgh (4-2) at Cincinnati (2-4)
Oakland (2-4) at Tennessee (4-2)
Cleveland (3-3) at St. Louis (0-7)
NY Giants (5-2) at Miami (0-7)
Philadelphia (2-4) at Minnesota (2-4)
Indianapolis (6-0) at Carolina (4-2)
Buffalo (2-4) NY Jets (1-6)
Houston (3-4) at San Diego (3-3)
Jacksonville (4-2) at Tampa Bay (4-3)
Washington (4-2) at New England (7-0)
New Orleans (2-4) at San Francisco (2-4)
Monday
Green Bay (5-1) at Denver (3-3) Pts_____
Picks
The CPA
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Cleveland
NY Giants
Minnesota
Indianapolis
Buffalo
San Diego
Jacksonville
New England
New Orleans
Green Bay (45 pts)
Jessica
Detroit
Cincinnati
Tennessee
Cleveland
NY Giants
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
Buffalo
Houston
Tampa Bay
New England
New Orleans
Green Bay 35
Brian
Winner, winner, Nittany Lion dinner:
Bears
Steelers
Titans
Rams
Giants
Vikings
Colts
Jets
Chargers
Buccaneers
Patriots
Saints
Packers 50
Big Game
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
St. Louis
NY Giants
Minnesota
Indianapolis
NY Jets
San Diego
Tampa Bay
New England
New Orleans
Denver 43
Seth
Chicago
Cincinnati
Tennessee
St. Louis
NY Giants
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
NY Jets
San Diego
Tampa Bay
New England
New Orleans
Green Bay 34
Submit your own picks through the comment section or email thoughts about the site or anything by clicking ‘Contact’ at the top of the page.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Last time I bet against the bengals and they won, I will try that method again.
As far as the Bucks go, we will see come Saturday night. Of course it won’t matter, if they make the championship game they will get blown out again, at least that’s what everyone in Big Bad SEC country tells me here in Georgia.
Has anyone else other than me been wondering when are we going to recruit some talented players like Steve Bellisari, Ken-Yon Rambo, and Lydell Ross. This business of Boeckman, Robiskie, and Wells looks fine on paper and wins games but the absence of DUI’s, dime bags, and monopoly money at strip clubs has really made this season boring to watch.
“Antonio Henton Was Framed” t-shirts now being sold at College Traditions.
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Cleveland
NY Giants
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
Buffalo
San Diego
Tampa Bay
New England
San Francisco
Green Bay PTS: 30
October 25th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Without reading that column, the shock for most people is that Cleveland lost its grip on a 3-1 series advantage, not that it lost that it lost the series. I thought the BOTOX would win in 6, heading in.
Also, the Tribe tied for the best record in baseball… making them one of the most consistent teams in MLB this season. Their offense hit the skids for a while, but the rotation carried them… the Braves raked for a decade and a half with such play.
October 26th, 2007 at 6:45 am
I would like to point as we are well into this college football season an interesting fact I came across, well actually it popped into my head along with other random thoughts I won’t share at this moment. That thought is, the Big Ten really does have a unique make-up of mascots. I believe they are the most unique of any major conference. I can’t think of any other team that is:
Nittany Lion
Buckeye
Wolverine
Hawkeye
Golden Gopher
Fighting Illini
Spartan
Boilermaker
Hoosier
Badger
with the exception of the wildcats from Northwestern all other teams are unique to only that school. Rah-Rah Shish Kabob!!!
Please respond with I am incorrect regarding the 10 unique mascots.
October 28th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Da Bears
Cincinnati
Tennessee
Cleveland
NY Giants
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
Buffalo
Houston
Tampa Bay
New England
New Orleans
Green Bay 31
October 28th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Cleveland
NY Giants
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
NY Jets
San Diego
Jacksonville
New England
New Orleans
Monday
Denver