A lot happened over the past three days, starting Friday night.
Friday:
*Derek Jeter passes Gehrig for #1 on the all-time Yankee hit list with a single down the right field line.
Saturday:
*Rafa Nadal closes out Fernando Gonzalez in their suspended match by winning the second set tiebreaker and then taking the third 6-0. He advances to the semis to face Juan Martin Del Potro.
*Notre Dame and Michigan engage in intense offensive battle, exchanging touchdowns and the lead before freshman QB Tate Forcier leads the Wolverines to a game-winning score with 11 seconds left.
*UConn, my new favorite team, takes a 10-0 advantage over #19 North Carolina into the fourth quarter. They end up relinquishing the lead with less than two minutes left, and then commit a holding violation on their last possession. Unfortunately, this penalty happened in their endzone, costing them a safety, and UNC wins 12-10.
*USC beats Ohio State, as I predicted, but the feat is not easy. A rowdy Columbus crowd and staunch D keep the Buckeyes ahead until the very last drive, when freshman QB Barkley marches the Trojans from the shadow of their own goal line to the promised endzone. 18-15, and Pete Carroll is still undefeated against the Big 10.
Sunday:
*Rafa Nadal, also as I predicted, falls to Del Potro. Not a close match; 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Beaten down by injury and an irregular schedule, he has virtually no chance against the talented Argentine.
*The New York Football Giants start off the right way, holding on for a 23-17 win against their divisional rival, the Redskins. Eli looks sharp-ish, the receivers look competent-ish, and the D is excellent.
So, what's the meaning of all this? Damned if I know. It may be too much information to process at the moment; we're in a time of sporting overload. The US Open concludes today, with Federer (who was his usual brilliant self in a straight set win over Djokovic, an opponent he seems to own both physically and psychologically) against Del Potro. That will reduce the sphere somewhat, but for the next six weeks football and baseball co-exist, and it will be a sensuous, chaotic, overwhelming epoch. Focus becomes difficult, but also necessary. I may wear blinders, or induce tunnel vision, or take a vow of silence. I don't know yet. But we should all buckle up; the ride's about to get bumpy.
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