Sports Bytes

The Giants showed their holiday spirit on Thanksgiving night by generously surrendering their own season to help the Broncos recover theirs:

• The Maginot Line, otherwise known as the Giants defense, gave up 26 points and allowed 373 yds of offense. They also let the Broncos control the ball for 35:30.
  
• The Giants offense, and I use that term loosely, compiled only 38 yds in the first half and ended the game with only six points. The offensive line pass protected poorly and run-blocked even worse. Manning's passes had the accuracy of grenades. And Kevin Gilbride's mystifying play calling can only be explained as an adverse reaction to Denver's thin, mile-high air quality.
• Speaking of the thin air, Giants radio sideline reporter Howard Cross announced that Big Blue's defensive unit was sucking down oxygen when it returned to the sideline. The former NY Giants tight end said this midway through the first quarter. I don't care if you are playing on Mt. Kilimanjaro. If you are a professional athlete you should not need oxygen just 10 or 11 minutes into a game. Who is the Giants conditioning coach, David Wells?
• Former NY Giants linebacker Carl Banks serves as the color analyst for the Giants radio broadcasts. Several times during the game he frustratingly asked why the Giants continually drop into a shotgun on 2nd down instead of keeping Manning under the center and capitalizing on play-action fake opportunities. Good question, Carl. We'd all like to hear the answer to that one.

I've always been a supporter of the Thanksgiving Day tradition of watching the Lions and the Cowboys, but after this year's pitiful doubleheader I can no longer deny that it's time to add other teams. The combined score of the two network-televised games was 58-19 . . .

It wasn't enjoyable to watch unless you are a Dallas fan, but kudos to the Cowboys for their rout of the Raiders. For a team who had only scored seven points in each of its last two games, the 34 pts and nearly-500 yds of offense was an explosion much needed. Sure the Raiders were hammered by the Giants and the Jets, but they also upset the Eagles and the Bengals . . .

I have decided that I will root for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup this year. 2009 has been a disastrous year for the city of Detroit. Yesterday the Lions were throttled by the Packers to fall to 2-9. In September the Tigers blew a seven-game AL Central lead and then lost a do-or-die, one-game playoff to the Twins. The Pistons clearly aren't the answer having started their NBA season with a dismal 5-10 record. Add to that the devastation caused by the virtual collapse of the U.S. auto industry and the accompanying 22% unemployment rate, and you have a city in dire need of a celebration . . .

Nice job by CBS color analyst Phil Simms during the second quarter of the Cowboys-Raiders game. Cowboys receiver Miles Austin caught a pass from Tony Romo, was seemingly tackled, but then jumped up and ran into the end zone. Although Austin's knee never touched the ground, Simms recognized immediately that Austin's lower leg had, which is considered down by contact . . .

During the Cowboys-Raiders game several women held banners asking Miles Austin to marry them. Seeing the banners reminded of the old days when the NY Mets would celebrate "Banner Day" at Shea Stadium. Between doubleheader games fans could march across the outfield carrying their banners. My favorite: "I Still Hate Broccoli" . . .