Thursday Grab Bag: Football Power Poll

I've been a slacker this week and haven't blogged.

I've been working on our fall sports preview section, to be included in Friday's paper, and battling a bit of insomnia. But I'm back now and I'm brainstorming different features to include in the blog during the prep season.

If there's anything you want to see, let me know at csmith@daily-times.com.

Football Power Poll: Aztec's team is so far ahead of the others at this point that opposing coaches are all but admitting the Tigers will win District 1-4A.

They top the season's first power poll.

The game of the week features the Bloomfield Bobcats taking on nemesis St. Michael's, which knocked them out of the playoffs two years ago and won last year's season-opener by a point after stopping Bloomfield's two-point try a yard short.

Questions surround each team entering Friday's opening games.

Preseason Rankings

1. Aztec -- Can the Tigers win the 4A title?
2. Piedra Vista -- Can the Panthers' youth fulfill their potential fast enough?
3. Bloomfield -- Can the Bobcats' linemen be adequate enough to allow their skill players to succeed?
4. Kirtland Central -- Can the Broncos find an identity with no returning starters and Tom Adair taking over as coach?
5. Farmington -- Can the Scorpions' thin roster budge them from a wretched 2-8 season last year?
6. Shiprock -- Can the Chieftains propel themselves into Class 3A with another season of progression?
7. Navajo Prep -- Can the Eagles restore some pride to the sport of football?

*****

The Weird and Famous: Life in the big leagues is not all milk and cookies. You know that if you watched Stephon Marbury's 24-hour live stream, full of bizarre twists and the NBA player crying.

Add Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley to the list this year. Beasley, who got caught in a hotel room with marijuana and women during the NBA's rookie symposium last year, checked into a Houston rehab center this month.

Initial speculation indicated Beasley checked himself into the center on his on volition. It turns out the NBA mandated his clinical treatment as a part of the league's substance-abuse program.

According to the Houston Chronicle, "It remained unclear Tuesday how many drug tests Beasley might have failed in his rookie season."

The more sordid part of the story involved Beasley's Twitter posts which could be described as suicidal:

"Feelin like it's not worth livin!!!!!!! I'm done," he posted on Friday before deleting his account.

In Beasley's case, he's hurting himself more than anyone else. These breakdowns seem to be easier to sympathize with: Chris Anderson and Josh Hamilton come to mind. Still, it's another sad story.

Beasley has lots of supporters, including Dwayne Wade, so he's in a much better position to get support for his problems than the average person.

*****

Angry Milton: Milton Bradley is an angry man.

No, not the famous board game pioneer. The outfielder with a history. Like, tearing his ACL while trying to fight first base umpire Mike Winters. Or confronting Kansas City Royals announcer Ryan Lefebvre in the press box after a game.

The latest: Bradley says he faces adversity and hatred every day he plays for the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm talking about hatred, period. I'm talking about when I go to eat at a restaurant. I've got to listen to the waiters badmouthing me at another table, sitting in a restaurant. That's what I'm talking about. Everything," Bradley said when asked to clarify his comments.

That's one guy you don't want to look at the wrong way at the bar or on the sidewalk. Then again, if he comes after you, he might blow out his knee. But then he'd be really mad.

And can life really be that out to get you when you're making millions of dollars while everyone spends their time tiptoeing around you?

*****

Barkley USC's QB: Matt Barkley will be the first USC quarterback to start the season opener as a true freshman.

Coach Pete Carroll announced the decision unexpectedly. Carroll had named Aaron Corp the starter after spring practice. Some speculate a minor injury to Corp is worse than the public knows.

Others question the move by Carroll, who hesitates to name starters and promotes competition. He phrased the decision in such a way that it seems Barkley will keep the job no matter how he performs.

Then again, he could be trying to alleviate the pressure off his young QB, who faced criticism after throwing too many interceptions in practices and scrimmages.

*****

Football is back. Let the season begin!

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher