Thursday Grab Bag: J-E-T-S

Let me tell you about my latest romance.

There aren't a lot of healthy places to eat on the go in Farmington. I frequent Subway a good deal.

I just met her two weeks ago, but I think I'm in love -- with the Feast.

One foot of roast beef, salami, pepperoni, turkey, ham and cheese on honey oat bread. It's delicious.

*****

Football Power Poll: A trio of teams try to get back to .500 for the season as Shiprock aims to stay unbeaten.

Week 4 Rankings

1. Aztec (1-2) -- The Tigers will try to shore up their defense this week. I know they prefer shootouts, but giving up 107 points in two weeks is too much for any state championship contender. (Previous: 1)
2. Kirtland Central (1-2) -- The Broncos win this week's war of attrition, claiming an important win over Bloomfield to get Tom Adair's staff off the board and leapfrog over three other Four Corners teams in the rankings. (Previous: 5)
3. Bloomfield (0-2) -- The Bobcats knocked out KC RB Easton Sherwood, but not before he helped the Broncos to an opening drive touchdown. The team's defense dominated but the offense couldn't take advantage of turnovers. (Previous: 2)
4. Piedra Vista (0-3) -- The Panthers, led by coach Jared Howell, admit they aren't good right now. They've gotten crushed by a combined 107-6 in their first three games, but the young roster should benefit from a difficult early schedule -- which continues this week with the Denver-area Littleton (Colo.). (Previous: 3)
5. Farmington (1-2) -- The Scorpions play their third consecutive close game, losing again by a touchdown, but now must play undefeated Volcano Vista. (Previous: 5)
6. Shiprock (3-0) -- The Chieftains are a true feel-good story, a surprising example of a team that does more than give lip service to academics first. The two games that provide true tests are still in front of them, but for now they need to continue building confidence running the triple option. (Previous: 6)
7. Navajo Prep (2-1) -- The Eagles must get through a game at Newcomb before the jewel of their season, the opener of their stadium next week. (Previous: 7)

*****

Bobcats show chops: I included the Bloomfield volleyball team in the group of sports that may suffer from a move to 4A. I'm starting to think that might not be the case.

They will likely fall back, as they've been ranked high in 3A early in the season. They lost to Shiprock 3-1, and likely would suffer the same defeat to Piedra Vista. But they made a strong case Tuesday that they would be the third-best team in District 1-4A this year, knocking off a tall Aztec team 3-0.

Kirtland Central may still be better -- I haven't seen either team play, but KC beat Bloomfield 3-2 -- but the Bobcats are young, and coach Eric Zamora is fired up about his team. By next year, BHS could progress enough to pass the Broncos.

*****

U.S. Open disgrace: First Serena Williams, then Roger Federer.

Williams' outburst might've been the most riveting, peeking-through-your-fingers, hard to watch sports blowup since Ron Artest and the melee with the fans in Detroit. Telling a diminutive line judge she's going to shove a tennis ball -- well, maybe it's best not to repeat it -- was a disgrace to tennis and a sad way to end a great match with Clijsters.

Williams, later heard to say "I didn't say I was going to kill her," got docked match point, caused the line judge to make an awkward, 'I'm scared for my life but I don't want to sprint' jog to the chair, is a tall, strong woman. She has muscles that most guys envy, and her profanity-laced outburst rivals anything Johnny McEnroe ever did.

The line judge, who happened to be Asian, had a right to feel threatened, judging by tone of voice, body language, words and the way she jabbed her iron grip tennis ball hand toward her.

She also smashed her racket earlier in the match.

The end result? She was fined $10,000. Now, she didn't punch anyone. She didn't get arrested. But she did embarrass the sport and set the worst example of all: showing up the fans, officials and her opponent and disrespecting the game of tennis in front of thousands of young players and fans. Afterwards, she didn't apologize, choosing a prideful 'I don't look back' stance that was an excuse not to admit fault.

If tennis lets her play without so much as a tournament suspension, they're crazy. The best punishment may be to bar her from next year's U.S. Open.

Federer, too, was fined for profanity. Part of the problem is advanced technology, allowing the media to pick up on what the players actually say. The other part? A more lax attitude in New York, than, say, at Roland Garros during the French Open.

New York is traditionally an open culture when it comes to expressing anger. It's seen as a normal, acceptable thing to do. You say how you feel and you get it out of the way and you stay friends.

It's a tough cultural difference to reconcile. Tennis is not golf, but it's supposed to be a gentleman -- and woman's -- sport.

*****

Jets impressive: Speaking of the Big Apple, how about those Jets and coach Rex Ryan?

New York fans woke up to a voice message from Ryan urging them to come out in force for the game with the Patriots this week.

"I just wanted to let you know how much we need you this week. You know, I've already admitted that, hey, the Patriots have a better head coach and they've got a better quarterback than us. But we're going to see who's got a better team," Ryan said.

If I were a Jets fan, that would fire me up.

I made the mistake of picking the Texans for my suicide pool Week 1 -- instead of picking against the Rams or Lions -- and the Jets made me pay.

Mark Sanchez already looks like the best QB of the 2009 draft. Thomas Jones still has some juice left in his batteries. But it was the Jets' defense that held Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson down.

The former Ravens defensive coordinator brought LB Bart Scott with him, and most scouts are calling Darrelle Revis a top 5 cornerback in the NFL. Revis is a physical, third-year player from Pittsburgh that's great at jamming receivers at the line.

Ryan has always been a talker. It runs in the family. Still, that kind of moxie may be what the Jets need to compete with a New England, and win the admiration of the tough Jets fans.

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher