1a. Yankee Stadium Held its Final Game. Historic Yankee Stadium hosted its final MLB game Sunday night (barring a historic Red Sox collapse) as the Yanks defeated the Orioles, 7-3. Future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera fittingly recorded the last out and the night was one of nostalgia for most Yankees fans as the likes of Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson were on hand for the closing ceremonies. You could fill this stadium with Yankee haters, but even the most staunch Sox fan still must be sad to see one of the most historic stadiums in history being swallowed up by high commerce spending at the expense of the average fan. A shame indeed.

1b. The Red Sox clinched at least a tie for the Wild Card. The BoSox can do no worse than a play-in game to reach the playoffs. Even if they were to lose the rest of their games, either the Twins, White Sox, Yankees, or Blue Jays would need to go undefeated just to tie them – not likely. The Red Sox will get in, and we will all have to deal with obnoxious Boston fans who suddenly remember they have a baseball team now that the Pats are human again, after being beaten soundly against the Dolphins this weekend. Sweet. Go Sox!

2. The United States won back the Ryder Cup. Against all odds, the rag-tag underdog American team defeated a heavily favored Europe in Louisville this weekend by a score of 16.5 to 11.5 (they use an aggregate scoring system combining different matches). Even without Tiger Woods, the Americans brought back the cup for the first time since 1999- the one when Justin Leonard sunk a 70-something foot putt and the squad celebrated like a pit crew at a NASCAR race on the green. Hats off to Captain Paul Azinger who got the group together comprised of unknowns like Boo Weekley, who actually did the Happy Gilmore “Riding the Bull” dance at one point. While the crowd went crazy (and was a factor all week), somewhere Shooter McGavin could be heard telling the masses to “go back to their Shanties.”

3. Michael Turner and Ronnie Brown. Your fantasy studs of the weekend. Turner had his second monster game in three tries this year, as the Atlanta running back torched the lowly Chiefs (who are about as bad to watch as any team in recent memory) for 104 yards and three touchdowns. He was outdone, however, by Dolphins back Ronnie Brown. Who saw this coming against the Pats? Brown had 113 yards and four scores, and also threw a 19 yard TD to my fantasy sleeper of the year Tight End Anthony Fasano. He was responsible for five TD’s in one game- somebody get the kid a Happy Meal.

4a. The Bills and Titans remained undefeated. I would venture a bet to say that nobody believed both of these teams would be 3-0 to start the season. If you thought this, you are either a liar or insane. The Bills look legit with RB Marshawn Lynch continuing to be a force as they remained perfect in a comeback win against Oakland. The Titans, led by a sober Kerry Collins, have been equally as impressive, going 3-0 for the first time since 1999. Yes, that’s the last time they went to the Super Bowl.

4b. Giants go 3-0. The other team that went to the Super Bowl the last time they started 3-0? The football Giants. The defending champs look solid to start the year. Thug life.

5. Raiders expected to fire head Coach Lane Kiffin. After a less than stellar start, the Raiders are expected to let Lane Kiffin go this week. Really Al Davis? You try coaching that team any better. It is not the coaches’ fault the squad is brutal- at least not after 3 games. But hey, you are the one who is grossly overpaid for a known team cancer in D’Angelo Hall. Light another stogie, take another Quaalude (or six) and watch your team crumble.

6. Notre Dame came back to Earth. After a 2-0 start had me and all ND fans drinking the “we are going to the BCS” Kool-Aid, the Irish regained their vile 2007 form in a discouraging 23-7 loss at Michigan State. To be fair, Spartans Running Back Javon Ringer is a stud, and he rumbled over the Irish defense (who actually played pretty well) for 201 yards and 2 TDs. Still, you’d think at ND of all places you would be able to rush for more than 17 yards for the game. Not to mention their Field Goal unit looks like a group of drunken monkeys trying to put one through the uprights. Anyone with a glass of poison is encouraged to contact me immediately.

7. Mets Bullpen struggled. Again. I alluded to the loss of Billy Wagner a couple of weeks back as being potentially devastating for the boys from Flushing. Lo and behold, the Mets are struggling. Doing their best impression of their historic collapse last year, the Mets bullpen blew its 29th game of the season in a loss to the Braves. They still lead in the Wild Card race by 2.5 games over the Brew-Crew, but they have already let the division slip away and are threatening to do it to the Wild Card as well. Could they really fall from the top faster than Vanilla Ice again? Stay tuned.

8. Terrell Pryor took over as the Ohio St. QB. Touted blue chip recruit and true freshman Terrell Pryor officially took over the starting job last week in Columbus as Ohio St. bounced back from their spanking a week earlier by defeating Troy. Pryor was impressive, throwing for four TD’s in the victory. Look out for Pryor in the coming years, a legitimate stud who will win the Heisman at least once. Think Vince Young but actually able to throw accurately. Scary.

9. NHL Preseason kicked off. How many of you were up Saturday morning buying your Rangers tickets the moment they went on sale? How many of you remember that the NHL existed? Just me? Well, hockey is back, with the regular season opening up in a few short weeks. The Red Wings-surprise surprise- are the early favorites, but look out for Pittsburg and Dallas. Sleeper team of the year? Buffalo. Everyone is counting them out, but I have a hunch they may just start to regain their old form. Bonus points if you knew Buffalo’s team was called the Sabres.

10. Florida State was embarrassed. Remember the days when Bobby Bowden was a coaching legend and Florida St. was a perennial favorite for the National Championship? Not so much anymore. Since these glory days, Florida St. has had no identity and even worse, has had no talented QB since ’Nam or Chris Wienke, bonus points if you know which came first. At a school where you can pretty easily recruit (i.e. your class load will include Basket Weaving and Deep Sea Diving), this is inexcusable. They lost this week to Wake Forest, 12-3. Three points in the biggest conference game of the year wins you the “kid who got a word he can’t spell in the National Spelling Bee and is melting down” look from us here in Connecticut. Mr. Bowden, I think your time has come.