Let the Games Begin

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Ninth–ranked South Carolina and Vanderbilt bring
Top 25 football back to your living room tonight.

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I grew up in the South so it probably goes without saying that I am a football fan.

By the same token, I suppose it would also go without saying that I am a NASCAR fan — except I am not. I also don't care for iced tea or chicken–fried steak.

So I don't fit the Southern stereotype precisely — although I do like watermelon, biscuits and gravy, grits, cornbread, turnip greens and fried catfish. Not to mention peach cobbler.

And I do enjoy watching football games — especially college football games.

And Top 25 college football returns tonight. Some are renewals of rivalries. Most appear to be first–time meetings. Most of the time, Top 25 teams roll over their early foes, and I expect that to happen a lot this weekend.

But there are a few nuggets scattered about for the discerning football viewer.

Whatever. Football is back. Let the games begin.

Idle: #20 TCU

Today

• #9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These teams have faced each other 21 times, and South Carolina has won 17. As members of the SEC East, they have been meeting every year since South Carolina joined the conference in 1992.
  The Gamecocks have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the schools and own a three–game winning streak. I have to go with South Carolina.

Friday

• #24 Boise State at #13 Michigan State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This is the first–ever meeting between these schools, and it is the first meeting of the season between two ranked teams. There's another one coming up on Saturday night between Michigan and Alabama.
  Boise State has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, but Michigan State plays in a more high–profile conference. And the Spartans are at home besides. I expect Michigan State to win by 10.
• San Jose State at #21 Stanford, 9 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: These two West Coast teams are familiar foes, having played each other 58 times since 1950.
  Stanford has dominated the series, 43–14–1, with most of the games having been played at Stanford. In fact, San Jose State hasn't won at Stanford since Sept. 9, 2000.
  I don't think that will change. Give me Stanford.

Saturday

• Hawaii at #1 USC, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on FOX: I'm not sure how I feel about USC.
  I honestly think the Trojans are overrated, but I really think they should beat Hawaii. USC has played Hawaii five times before and won each time by double–digit margins.
  Absent any reason to do otherwise, I pick USC to win this game, but things will get tougher for the Trojans as the season wears on.
• #8 Michigan at #2 Alabama, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These schools have faced each other three times in the postseason (with Alabama winning each time), but they have never played during the regular season.
  I think it will be close — with a final margin of three or four points — but I'll take the defending national champion, Alabama.
• North Texas at #3 LSU, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: LSU is 4–0 all time against North Texas, and each victory was lopsided (LSU's win in their last meeting — in 2008 — was the closest, and LSU won that game by nearly 40 points).
  The Tigers are sure to be thinking about being in the national championship game this year — and may not be as focused on North Texas as they should. It might be a prime opportunity for an upset, but I'm not sure North Texas has the horses to pull it off.
  I'll go with LSU.
• #4 Oklahoma at UTEP, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on FSN: Oklahoma buried UTEP in the teams' other two encounters, but both of those games were played at OU.
  Will the change of scenery make a difference? I doubt it. I take Oklahoma.
• Arkansas State at #5 Oregon, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This will be the first meeting between these schools.
  As I have written here many times, I grew up in Arkansas. And ASU was never really much in football.
  Oh, occasionally, ASU would enjoy flashes of success, but I have heard nothing that suggests the Ducks will have any problem in this game. I pick Oregon to win.
• Buffalo at #6 Georgia, 11:21 a.m. (Central) on SEC Network: These schools are meeting for the first time.
  Many observers believe Georgia will have a great season, and perhaps the Bulldogs will. Beating Buffalo will mean little — except that Georgia is taking care of business as expected.
  And I believe Georgia will take care of business.
• Murray State at #7 Florida State, 5 p.m. (Cental) on ESPN3: I don't think these schools have ever played a football game against each other.
  But, honestly, it hardly matters. The Seminoles are in the Top 10. They're playing at home.
  I fully expect Florida State to win the game.
• Jacksonville State at #10 Arkansas, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3: I believe this is the first meeting between Jacksonville State and Arkansas.
  To be honest, I always feel a little uneasy about picking an Arkansas game because I think I will come across as biased if I pick the Hogs — being a graduate of the school and all.
  But, frankly, I can't see Jacksonville State winning this one. The Razorbacks might very well lose to Alabama or LSU — or anyone else in the SEC on any given Saturday — but I can't see any circumstances that would permit Jacksonville State to win.
  I pick Arkansas.
• Marshall at #11 West Virginia, 11 a.m. (Central) on FX: You'd think these schools would natural rivals, wouldn't you?
  The campuses, after all, are only about 160 miles apart.
  But the teams have only met seven times. West Virginia has won them all, usually by wide margins although the game at Marshall two years ago was won by a field goal.
  I expect West Virginia to improve to 8–0 against Marshall.
• Northern Iowa at #12 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: This is another one of those matchups that looks, on paper, like a natural neighborhood rivalry — the schools are about 160 miles apart, but they have never played each other before.
  And I just can't see Northern Iowa winning this one. I pick Wisconsin.
• Auburn at #14 Clemson, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This series goes back more than a century.
  The teams met for the first time in 1902, and they have played 46 times since.
  The advantage in the series belongs to Auburn, nearly three to one. And, until Clemson beat Auburn last season, Auburn had won 14 straight times (including two bowl games).
  But it is Clemson that enters the game this year ranked in the Top 25, thanks in large part to the ACC title Clemson won last year. Sports Illustrated reports the Clemson coach wants to build on that achievement, the Tigers' second ACC crown in three years.
  To borrow a word that is probably more often associated with basketball, Auburn is a bubble team in college football in 2012.
  The Tigers are generally well regarded, but they need some quality wins — and the Clemson game gives them an early opportunity — before they can crack the Top 25.
  If Cam Newton was still wearing an Auburn uniform, I might be inclined to pick Auburn. But I'm going to go with Clemson.
• Wyoming at #15 Texas: This will be the fifth time these teams have played.
  Texas won all four of the previous games, three of which were played in Austin.
  The teams are back in Austin this weekend, and I expect Texas to prevail.
  I'm certainly no devotee of the Longhorns, and I have my doubts about whether they deserve to be ranked where they are, but I am pretty sure they can handle Wyoming.
• Southern Miss at #17 Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Nebraska won the first two games between these schools, and Southern Miss won the third and most recent game.
  But none of the players on either roster has any experience playing the other school. Their last meeting was in 2004.
  I really don't know much about either team yet, but, going strictly on reputation, I'll take Nebraska.
• Miami (Ohio) at #18 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: This will be the third meeting between these schools — but the first since 2005.
  Ohio State is 2–0 in the series. And I have heard nothing that suggests that Miami (Ohio) could pull off a road upset.
  I'll go with Ohio State.
• Savannah State at #19 Oklahoma State: Troy Hambrick and Shannon Sharpe are Savannah State exes who went on to have careers in the NFL. But, otherwise, Savannah State hasn't been very noteworthy in athletics.
  In fact, the only time I can recall that the school made sports news was back in 2005 when its basketball team became the first Division I team to lose all its games. That isn't much of a legacy.
  Oklahoma State, on the other hand, has been one of the nation's top programs for several years. If not for a late–season loss to Iowa State, OSU might have played for the national title.
  Even so, the Cowboys beat Baylor, Oklahoma and Stanford last year. I see no reason why Oklahoma State should not prevail over Savannah State.
• Missouri State at #22 Kansas State: Missouri State was Southwest Missouri State for many years.
  The name was changed to Missouri State in 2005, and these two schools have played each other twice since then (with KSU rolling to victory both times). I don't know if they played each other when the school was still known as SMSU.
  But that doesn't really matter. I expect Kansas State to win the game.
• Bowling Green at #23 Florida, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These teams are meeting for the first time ever.
  Over the years, Bowling Green has had its moments, but Florida plays in the SEC. The Gators' returning players are always conditioned by their conference experience; by definition, that makes them better prepared for the start of a new season.
  And Florida is at home. Need I say more? I'll take Florida.

Sunday

• Kentucky at #25 Louisville, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This will be the 22nd meeting of these rivals, and it's been about as close as it could be. Kentucky holds a narrow 11–10 advantage in the series.
  It's a lot more intriguing as a basketball rivalry, but it's still a rivalry — and it is a game I expect Louisville to win.

Monday

• Georgia Tech at #16 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These schools first met in 1990, and they've been playing annually since 2004 — a total of nine games, and Virginia Tech has won two–thirds of them.
  An interesting pattern has emerged, however. Georgia Tech won the first game, then lost the next two meetings. In 2006, Georgia Tech won for the second time — and then lost the next two games.
  Once again, in 2009, Georgia Tech snapped its two–game losing streak to Virginia Tech — and Virginia Tech went on two win the next two after that.
  Consequently, it is Georgia Tech's turn — so I'm going to take Georgia Tech in an upset special.
  Most people — certainly the preseason polls — regard Virginia Tech as the better team, but, you see, this pattern doesn't respect records.
  The last time that Georgia Tech beat Virginia Tech, the Hokies went 10–4, and the only time that Georgia Tech won at Virginia Tech, the Hokies went 10–3.

Murder in Munich

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When the Summer Olympic Games opened in Munich 40 years ago today, its motto was "the Happy Games."

Germany — which was divided into East and West in 1972 — was hosting its first Olympics since Nazi Germany hosted the 1936 Games in Berlin. West Germany was eager to provide a contrasting image to the world, reassuring all who watched that the Germany of 1972 was not the Germany of 1936. It was a place where people of all races and religions could come and compete peacefully.

More than 7,000 athletes from 121 nations participated in those Summer Games, and there were, as always, memorable moments.

• American swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals, setting a standard that stood for more than 35 years.

• Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut captured the hearts of viewers around the world — as well as a few medals.

• America's basketball team lost the gold medal to the Soviets in a controversial finish. The Americans refused to accept the silver medal, which is still in Switzerland.

But the 1972 Olympic Games are not really remembered for any of those things. They are remembered mostly for acts of unbelievable barbarism and cruelty.

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The image that emerged from the 1972 Games was not one of joy and optimism. It was more accurately summed up in a photograph by Kurt Strumpf of the Associated Press showing an Arab terrorist — a member of a group calling itself "Black September" — wearing a ski mask at the living quarters of the Israeli athletes.

The members of Black September broke into the Olympic Village on Sept. 5, 1972, and took 11 Israeli hostages. Two resisted and were killed on the spot; the rest were executed later.

A West German police officer and five terrorists were killed as well.

Initially, Olympic events were suspended, but then the International Olympic Committee's president declared, "The Games must go on!"

And so they did.

But the atmosphere was different. There was no longer a joyful feeling of brotherhood. Back here in the United States, it seemed that people were watching with their collective breath held and their fingers crossed, just hoping to finish the Games without anyone else being hurt or killed.

And it was with a sense of relief — and a collective release of held breath — that the world witnessed the comparatively peaceful conclusion of the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Fortunately, the Olympics have not been disrupted by violence — just politics — in the four decades since.

But, sadly, the threat has not diminished.

I don't know what the answer is.

We can continue to pretend that nothing like that can possibly happen again — until it does.

Or greater steps can be taken to truly promote the concepts of brotherhood and friendly competition.

That may be nearly impossible to achieve, given the vast differences and ancient animosities between some cultures. The Hatfields and McCoys had nothing some of these disputes.

But it may be the only plausible goal. Terrorism in the 20th century was bad enough with automatic weapons, but terrorism in the 21st century might involve nuclear weapons — the so–called "dirty bombs".

Still largely theoretical, these bombs wouldn't be as efficient as conventional nuclear weapons, but they could be capable of contaminating everything within a certain range of ground zero with high doses of radioactive material.

The detonation of such a bomb certainly would get the world's attention — and that is what terrorists crave.

They can also achieve attention through an invitation to negotiate, which may not be preferable, but it usually involves a lot less violence.

The time may be coming when the officials of the Olympics have to decide how they will continue to pursue their own goals while co–existing with those who wish to do them harm.

Augusta's Glass Ceiling

The decision by Augusta Golf Club to admit two women to its membership may be "better late than never," as the Boston Globe sneers.

And, with all the politically motivated accusations of a "war on women" being bandied about, I guess it really isn't surprising that Augusta may have felt a certain amount of pressure to end its long–standing prohibition against female members.

Fact is, though, that the PGA bears a certain amount of responsibility for this. More than 20 years ago, as Martha Burk writes for CNN, Augusta had to open its doors to blacks when an Alabama country club's restricted membership came under fire.

The PGA insisted that clubs that discriminated on the basis of race or gender would not be allowed to host a tournament, and some clubs, including the one in Alabama, complied in full. Others did not.

"But there was one exception — Augusta National," writes Burk. "It did open to black men 'after being pistol–whipped behind closed doors,' according to one major golf writer who was around at the time. But it drew the line on the girls."

As even a casual golf observer like myself can tell you, Augusta's policy has not kept the Masters from being one of the four major tournaments on the PGA's schedule every year. Burk is absolutely right when she says the PGA has been "officially ignoring its own policies and looking the other way."

So the PGA has been enabling Augusta's ban on women members.

Now, I'm not a golfer, and I have never been a member of a country club. Over the years, I have visited the country club in Dallas on the Fourth of July to watch fireworks displays, and, once or twice, I have joined my parents and their friends (who were our hosts) for dinner there. But that has been all.

A country club's membership policies really don't concern me — nor, for that matter, do the membership policies of any club. I figure, if a club doesn't want me to be a member for one reason or another (my age or where I grew up or where I went to school or anything else), that is the club's business.

(I'm tempted, at this point, to quote — or at least paraphrase — Groucho Marx's assertion that he wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have someone like him for a member.)

I might feel differently — probably would feel differently — if I was a member of a group that had felt the sting of discrimination, but I'm not. I'm white and male, two groups that have been regarded, historically, as privileged in this country (although many members of both groups haven't felt particularly privileged in the last few years).

And I do understand why many women feel that shattering Augusta's glass ceiling is important. It is symbolic — if nothing else — not unlike Sandra Day O'Connors' appointment to the Supreme Court or Sally Ride's historic trip to space or the vice presidential nominations of Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin.

Or the rumors that have been floating periodically this year about Hillary Clinton replacing the vice president on the national ticket this fall.

I don't mean to suggest that those events were only significant in a symbolic sense. They represented breakthroughs for women. Other women have followed O'Connor to the Supreme Court and Ride into space.

And someday, a woman will be elected president or vice president.

It's empowering to be allowed where you've never been before. I get that.

But I also get that there are millions of people who are without work or have only part–time jobs, millions who have lost their savings and most of the value of their homes, millions who will never be able to retire and who will have to work until, literally, they drop.

It seems to me there are more important things to be concerned about right now than the membership policies of a country club, even one that hosts a PGA major event.

The Olympic Spirit

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Like most Americans, I guess, I have been watching the Summer Olympics these last two weeks, rooting for the USA and all that.

And, as we near the conclusion of the 2012 Games, we have had some memorable moments but not necessarily iconic ones.

Well, I'll make a couple of exceptions on that one.

Although I already knew the outcome, last night I watched the women's beach volleyball gold–medal game — and applauded Kerri Walsh and Misty May on winning their third consecutive gold in the event.

After all, everyone knew it would be their final match together. It was a special moment.

I would say that watching them in that match, knowing it was the last one, was comparable to watching Michael Jordan play his final game of basketball or Babe Ruth play in his final game of baseball.

Except that, with only two athletes per team, it probably had more in common with tennis. So watching them play was probably like watching the final championship match between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

They are legends of their sport — even if their sport, like so many Olympic sports, grabs our attention for a few days every four years.

Between now and 2016, if I watch beach volleyball at all, it probably will be accidental, a case of stumbling onto a broadcast while looking for something else to watch.

And I may stop and watch it for a few minutes — until I remember that there are other channels to check and, after making a mental note to return to the broadcast if I don't find something else to watch (which I probably will not do, settling instead for something that is vastly inferior), I will move on.

The Olympics make us temporary fans of sports we seldom watch at any other time.

I've seen nothing on the field to compare with the final seconds of the U.S.–U.S.S.R. hockey game of 1980 or the American gold rush at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Or Kerri Strug's one–foot landing to secure the all–around gold medal for the U.S. gymnastics team in 1996.

Fortunately, though, we've had nothing similar to the killings of the Israeli athletes by terrorists at the 1972 Games in Munich — an event that has been rarely mentioned, at least in the TV coverage I have seen.

Maybe I have missed it, but I was sure that someone would say something about it since 2012 is the 40th anniversary of that indisputably dark chapter in Olympic history.

But it has been all but ignored at these Games.

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Well, others may have overlooked the anniversary — either intentionally or unintentionally — but Aly Raisman did not.

Raisman, an 18–year–old American gymnast and "official Jewish heroine of the 2012 Olympic Games," in the words of Haaretz Israeli News' Allison Kaplan Sommer, saluted the "Munich 11" on the occasion of what must be considered her greatest personal triumph to date — her gold medal–winning performance in the floor exercise.

Leonard Greene of the New York Post put it this way:

"The martyrs were remembered this week during a London ceremony filled with sadness and reflection," Greene wrote. "But not a peep about them has been said publicly in the one place where it counts — at the Summer Games on Olympic soil."

Until Raisman.