Crying Notre Dame Fans, My Lost Love For Rachel Ray

Why do you hate Notre Dame? Is it because they lack thugs? Peter, South Bend

If any reasonable person listens to me daily, they can’t possibly think I hate Notre Dame. I’ve said three times in two weeks, “They will win 10 games this year.” The problem with Irish fans, they are so used to a slobbering media, a little tweaking is consider hate to them. Beat more top ten programs, than you’ll get some affection. Beating Stanford and Navy doesn’t make you legit.

Baseball is in a world of hurt right now. If you were the commish of MLB, what would be the first three things you would do for the sport? Mike, Philadelphia

Actually promote it. How many memorable ad campaigns has the sport had in twenty years? Maybe one, “Chicks dig the long ball.” It’s like baseball is allergic to clever advertising. It’s somehow beneath them. Once they figure that out, they don’t need much more. The sport is fine, just poorly promoted.
Me and my girlfriend are thinking about moving to Portland. We currently live in Los Angeles (I was born and raised here, she’s originally from Michigan). My question is, what’s your take on Portland? Aaron, Los Angeles

I really enjoyed my time there but it’s very wet and overcast, which seems to bother women more than men. Winters are long and damp. Summers are short but perfect. It’s scenic, but it can be very ‘crunchy’. The homeless problem downtown can be chaotic at worst, tedious at best. But Portland will defend its oppressed to the very end, so you’ll have to deal with it. By the way, traffic is bad EVERYWHERE. Portland is no exception.

Colin, Does Illinois have a shot at getting to the Rose Bowl this year? Can Ron Zook’s recruiting turn Illinois into a perennial Big Ten contender despite his marginal coaching? Lee, Illinois

They have some nice weapons on offense. Juice Williams will keep them in almost every game atQB. Don’t love their chances to win the Big Ten, but I can see them finishing third after the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
I took your advice and got Phil Steele’s college football preview and it is awesome. Phil ranked his Top 60 QBs for 2009 but I noticed that Terrell Pryor of Ohio State was not among the TOP 60. Thought he was a number 1 rated recruit a few years ago, what are your thoughts on that? John, Columbus

I’m not sure how good he really is. Explosive, no doubt, but can he manage a game? I’m taking a very wait and see approach to Pryor. In the big 10, it seems to me, he will be an overwhelming athletic presence, and ad lib his way to first downs and touchdowns. I think he’s clearly a game changer. To me, that puts you in the top 20 in the nation.

What happened to your dislike of Rachel Ray? You used to always bash on her and now it seems you don’t anymore. Did you come around to enjoy her microwave hot dog and chicken nuggets recipes? Tim, Austin

Now that’s funny Tim. Frankly, I was just amazed America was that impressed with someone whose claim to fame was pedestrian chicken dishes. Her food was clearly aiming for the simplest and cheapest in the food demographic. Not much of a schtick if you ask me. And sorry guys, she’s not hot. Raise the standards fellas!