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By Ben Maller

This week Ben Maller gives you his opinion on Yao Ming the Houston Rockets number one pick from China. Big Ben also gives his 2002-03 NBA predictions and breaks down the big NFL and college games this weekend to give you the insider stats and stories you need to know.

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Monday, October 21, 2002

Monday Morning Quarterback

By Ben Maller

The Chargers beating the Raiders in Oakland was the most surprising outcome of week seven in the NFL. I thought the Boltz would keep the game close but the Raiders had no answer for LaDainian Tomlinson who ran for 153 yards on 39 carries.

Al Davis must hate Marty Schottenheimer who has been a "Raider Killer" Schottenheimer who can't win the big game in the playoffs is 20-5 in his career against the Silver & Black.

Emmitt Smith of the Cowboys gained a season-high 82 yards on 22 carries in the loss to the Cardinals. Smith is 92 yards shy of Walter Payton's NFL career rushing mark. I'm guessing as soon as he sets the record he'll become a bench warmer for Jerry Jones.

Dallas' Quincy Carter is the worst starting quarterback in the National Football League. Carter threw four interceptions against a Cardinals defense that ranked 24th against the pass coming in.

The Chiefs defense has done it again. The Broncos Shannon Sharpe had 12 catches for a franchise-record 214 yards against Kansas City, breaking Jackie Smith's league mark for receiving yards for tight ends.

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren has to be thinking about a career in broadcasting. This coaching thing is not going real well. The Seahawks (1-5) are off to their worst start since 1992, when they began the season 1-10 and finished 2-14. I think Holmgren is a good coach but he's a horrible GM. The Seahawks have no depth and other than Shaun Alexander what has Holmgren done to improve the Hawks?

When Dennis Green was fired last season most NFL experts guessed the Vikings would suck for years. Well, so far the smart guys are right. Minnesota has lost 13 straight road games after falling to the pathetic Jets.

The Chicago Bears are on the clock. The magic of 2001 is long gone as Ernie Harwell would say. Da Bears have lost four straight, more games than they lost the entire regular season last year.

Green Bay's season depends on Brett Favre's sprained left knee. The only hope the Packers have is that the NFC North is so crappie they can get by without Favre for a couple of weeks.

Ray Lucas of the Dolphins just helped Nate Clements get a big pay raise. Clements, tied a team record with three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.

I took alot of heat when I said the Bills would make the playoffs during the NFL draft when they picked up Drew Bledsoe. Buffalo is now 4-3 and ahead of the Super Bowl Champion Patriots in the AFC East.

Is Aaron Brooks a good enough quarterback to win a super bowl? I'm not sure but he looked good Sunday leading the Saints to 22 fourth quarter points in a come from behind win against the Niners.

New Orleans has to be taken for real this year. They have beaten Tampa Bay, Green Bay and San Francisco.

The Lions are 2-2 since Joey Harrington became the starter. Matt Millen's "Devout Cowards" look like they actually are heading in the right direction. Keep in mind the Bears are a joke right now.

Donovan McNabb and the Eagles own the Buccaneers. Philly has won four straight against the Bucs. Until Tampa Bay gets a big time running back or quarterback they will never reach a super bowl. Michael Pittman is a 3rd down back who they are trying to make a feature back. Brad Johnson is a backup QB who they think can lead a team to the promised land.

I guarantee that Chris Chandler has the best NFL memorabilia collection of anyone in football. Chandler started for the Bears Sunday extending his own NFL record by starting for his seventh team. Chandler, who started 14 games for Atlanta last season, has also started for Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, the Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams and the Phoenix (now Arizona) Cardinals.

The Bengals didn't play but commissioner Paul Tagliabue said they are so bad he gave them a loss for the official NFL standing.

College Football

Arizona State's Andrew Walter looks to be the next star quarterback in the Pac-10. Walter passed for a school-record 536 yards and four touchdowns as Arizona State upset No. 6 Oregon 45-42.

The Pac-10 can forget about sending a team to the BCS championship game now that the Ducks have lost. Every Pac-10 team has been defeated.

USC's Mike Williams is going to be the Pac-10's next great receiver. Williams had three touchdown catches and 159 yards receiving in his first start for the Trojans. He's a mini keyshawn.

Cory Paus' career at UCLA is over after he broke his right ankle against Cal. Paus had a very forgettable stop in Westwood. He was a crappie quarterback and had a problem driving while drunk.

Oklahoma made a huge statement by crushing Iowa State 49-3. The Sooners are going to have to play great defense everyweek. Their is no margin for error for OU because Miami, Virginia Tech or Georgia will be able to shutdown the Sooners offense.

Notre Dame took advantage of their 60 pound size advantage on the offensive line to beatup Air Force. The Irish will not have that advantage against Florida State and the Seminoles will go down.

Big Ben's three college coaches who should be fired:

1.) Bobby Williams, Michigan State: The Spartans are 3-4 with the nation's best receiver in Charles Rogers.

2.) Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse: The Orangemen are 1-6, their streak of 15 straight winning regular season's has been snapped. Syracuse must win their last five games to remain bowl eligible.

3.) Bob Toledo, UCLA: The Bruins are 4-3. I was a huge supporter of Toledo a few years back. Ever since Cade McNown went to the NFL the program has gone to hell. The players keep getting in trouble off the field and the team falls apart on the field late in every season.

North Carolina State is the worst 8-0 team ever. The Wolfpack beat Duke 24-22. What would happen if Oklahoma, Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Notre Dame or Ohio State played the Blue Devils?

Expect to hear alot about Avon Cobourne this week. Cobourne is a running back at West Virginia. He's the Big East's all-time leading rusher. The Mountaineers play Miami this week. permalink