All hail Fabio

I have to say, he won my vote, too. And I'm not even a European journalist! In all seriousness, though, Cannavaro has for some time been the best defender in the world. His spectular play for deserved champion Italy during the World Cup alone (leading a defense that conceded two goals in the entire tournament, one of which was an own goal) is reason enough to give him player of the year. Pity (or perhaps not) for Juventus that they are not able to share this win. Being relegated to Serie B seemed a soft punishment for their part in the sickening match-fixing scandal. Seems only fitting that one of their former players take his glory elsewhere.

I'm still beaming over the World Cup, by the way. Italy raising the trophy has to rank as one of the greatest moments in my life as a sports fan.

Memo to Vincent Jackson: Karma's a bitch

Vincent Jackson is not a quarterback. Vincent Jackson did not attempt a pass after a crucial 4th down conversion for San Diego that put them on the Oakland 27, trailing by seven late in the fourth. Vincent Jackson is not a smart man. Vincent Jackson is a tool and he did make a deal with the devil. In exchange for the ref's inexplicable insistance on interpreting the NFL rule book literally, to the letter (Could you imagine if the bible was interpreted literally? We'd all be dead!) -- an insipid, terrible call that singlehandedly swung the game to San Diego -- Jackson sold his soul. For one regular season win, his life is in for some dark times ahead. CBS flashing the "first career pass attempt" under Jackson's miserable face after the fiasco was just salt in the wound. Thankfully (I suppose), Randy Cross and Dick Enberg both saw the stupidity in the ref's decision. I understand the rule about illegal forward passes. THAT was not a forward pass! No one could ever interpret it as such. EVER! And there's Randy Cross on the broadcast, reminding everyone of the time Plaxico Burress did the EXACT SAME THING -- throw down the football after receiving it, before he had been tackled (thus making it a live ball) -- and how it was correctly ruled a fumble. I saw that Burress play and it's no different than this Vincent Jackson crap. Not at all. "Illegal forward pass" may not have the same lasting bitterness and pain as "tuck rule," but Raiders fans -- actually, ALL NFL fans can agree that this is yet another instance of the cluttered rule book ruining the game. Before you attack that statement, think about it. The NFL, like no other sport, has 1,200 rules for every possible scenario. There isn't a single sport on the planet that is so convoluted. I'm still not sure how people can accept that it takes four hours to play a one hour game. Yes, I blame Oakland's loss yesterday entirely on this blown call. 100% And it's not like San Diego deserved a victory, yesterday, either. They looked a picture of mediocrity and had a lot of trouble figuring out the Raider defense. This is your contender? The same can be said of so many "good" teams in this league. Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, Michael Vick, there's so much not to like about the quality of football this season. I said it back in September rather casually, but I'll say it again, now: I hate this season. No one stands out. In week one, the Chargers were light years better than the Raiders. Now, they're only a terrible call better. The Bears are supposedly the best team in the league, yet you'd be hard-pressed to find a person with any sense that believes in Rex Grossman. I'm saying it. This year, the NFL sucks. Screw you, Vincent Jackson. You're on my list. What goes around, comes around. Don't be surprised if you tear an ACL over the next week or two, jerk.

Thankfully, there are other sports happening in the world. Phew. Though I didn't catch a whole lot of it, this weekend. College football is going just as expected, yet it's actually news that USC jumped MIchigan in the poll. Why? We all saw this coming. And Arkansas is going to beat Florida on Saturday, anyway, so why fight it? Arizona losing to Arizona State is a gut punch and a definite surprise considering the polar opposite directions each had been headed in over the past month. At least the win couldn't save Dirk Koetter's job. Even ASU, worthless institution that it is, could figure that one out.

Sadly, I didn't get to see all the college hoops I wanted, but I did have the occassion to twice see Jared Jordan from Marist, courtesy of the new "Old Spice Classic" in Orlando. Both games, Jordan led Marist to victory (over Minnesota and Western Michigan). They're calling this guy the next Steve Nash and, let me tell you, it's not just because he's white. The senior point guard can flat out play. Playing in such a prestigious conference as the MAAC, a conference that is more of a "minor" than a "mid-major" (I hate that term), it wouldn't be any stretch to see Jordan in the NCAAs come March. Remember the name. He could be a pro next year. There's a strong chance of it happening. Steve Nash didn't exactly go to a national powerhouse either (Santa Clara) and I seem to recall John Stockton graduating from this tiny little school called Gonzaga a good 15 years before they made an elite eight run and became "Gonzaga." Jared Jordan: He's really good.

Speaking of the Zags, I missed their loss to Butler on Friday night (How about those Butler Bulldogs? Give 'em a ranking!), but GU is officially a big boy school. Every year since '99, they lose a special player or two and every year, they come back strong. They're reloading, people. Matt Santangelo, Casey Calvary, Dan Dickau, Ronny Turiaf, Blake Stepp, Adam Morrison, and I'm sure the list will continue. Gonzaga has survived the departures of all of them. They're here to stay, as North Carolina can attest.

An amazing college baller from last year is becoming a pretty good pro, so far, this year. Marcus Williams shined for the short while that he saw action last night during the Lakers' victory over the Nets. 14 points in 11 first half minutes. The night before, he went off for 27 against Phoenix. I said it back in June and I'll say it again, New Jersey was a big winner on draft day. Jason Kidd still looks every bit like a HOFer, too. Williams is going to be top flight in a year or two.