Crash Into Me

Collapse Part Deux: The Heartbreak

You can look back to October, '04 on my archives for the first "Collapse" article.

It was not a good weekend for yours truly. In fact, it sucked. Notre Dame lost one of the most heartbreaking games I've ever witnessed, and the Cardinals are on the brink of elimination. Let's recap.

It all started Saturday, around 7 PM. The Cards had just lost game 3 to the Astros, because of pathetic hitting (again!). But the worst part came in South Bend, Indiana. And I've got some things to say. I know, I said I'd be happy with a close game. And that is exactly what I got. But we really shoulda won. We were literally one play away from winning for most of the second half. One missed tackle. One overthrow. One missed field goal. One batted ball. One unfortunate fumble. One spin. One push. Just ONE thing, and they would have dethroned the champs. But it didn't happen. Now, some say it's irony, or that USC made a great play, or this or that. Buncha crap. Let's run through it, so I can get this off my chest. First of all, the correct CALL was made on Leinart's fumble at the one yard line. But there are a couple things most people are missing. He did NOT fumble forward. The ball got knocked BACKWARDs by that helmet. It's simple physics, really. So, the clock should stop, and not restart until the next play starts on the snap. Hence, Leinart's "fake" motion to down the ball is null and void (buncha crap). Next, the ball should NOT have been at the one-foot-line. It should have been placed where the ball went out of bounds, BEHIND THAT. And most importantly, it is a five yard penalty to assist the ball-carrier by pushing them, which is exactly what Reggie Bush did (illegally), helping Leinart get past the goal line to win the game. Horse-you-know-what. And I know, I know, it's sour grapes and all that. So I should be happy that all things considered, ND is back. The Irish can no longer be overlooked. We are one of the top teams in the country, and that is never a bad thing.

Now oh, those Cardinals, and their bats. What is going on? Granted, the Astros pitching has been dynamite, but that didn't stop us during the regular season! I don't get why this has happened now 2 postseasons in a row! I can't even remember the last time the Cards lost 3 games in a row. And then to eject LaRussa AND Edmonds last night? Ridiculous. That was ball four to Edmonds, and it was clearly a bad call. Granted, the ump had been calling high strikes all night, but Marquis didn't get that call the previous inning. Buncha crap.

So for all my 3 readers, sorry if you have no idea what I'm talking about in this post. And if you do, feel sorry for me. Feel very sorry:(