How do I post a column involving the NBA? Easy! Post a picture of the towel they'll be giving out at the Ralph this evening. Otherwise, this entry is a journey around sports, with a prediction of Monday Night's contest to boot. Call it "No Immediacy" or "Delayed Reactions" or something.

Here we go... starting with Pro Football...

-- The web poll on our main site says "Who is under the gun tonight?" and, fair or unfair, the answer is Trent Edwards. He's played poorly for several weeks, has a Monday Night Football memory to erase, and struggled in poor weather during his rookie campaign. It will not be the world's prettiest criticism if the Bills lose to the Browns, especially if No. 5 has a rough night. I'm standing by last week's prediction of 17-14, Buffalo. If I'm wrong... it's going to be a cold walk to the car. A really cold walk to the car. A really cold, stupid walk to the car.

-- It helps that they were playing the Dolphins, but Jamarcus Russell is making life really hard on me. I'm pulling for him to succeed despite the fact that I don't like the Raiders very much, with the exception of Russell and UB's own Trevor Scott (16 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 10 games). If it helps, I'd rank him the fourth best Scott in the NFL, behind Bart Scott (LB, BAL), Scott Fujita (LB, NO) and Jake Scott (G, SD). He's a "smidge" ahead of Buffalo's Bryan Scott, due only to youth. Apologies to New Orleans' linebacker Scott Shanle and New England punter Scott Player. And former Bills wide-out, and current Chiefs receiver, Scott Mayle.

-- The Arizona Cardinals are on the verge of clinching the NFC West after dispatching the No. 2 seed San Francisco 49ers for the second time this year. At 7-3, they are a win and 49ers loss away from guaranteeing the most wins in the division. Terrible. Their non-division wins are over Buffalo, Miami and Dallas, so perhaps this isn't your normal NFC West cake walk.

College football...

-- Great weekend story on the UB Bulls. My wife was at a local supermarket picking up our weekly dinners, when she found herself behind a couple of Bulls' football players in an aisle. It took her 10 minutes to get down said aisle, because the players were stopped by three separate shoppers for congratulations on their D-I program record sixth win, by way of a thrilling 43-40 overtime road win over Akron. Note to ESPN or Time Warner, can someone PLEASE pick up coverage of Friday night's match-up at Bowling Green? A Bulls win would clinch the MAC East, a berth in MAC Championship Game in Detroit (roooooooooad trip) and, in all likelyhood, a Bowl game.

-- More thanks to Michigan head man Rich Rodriguez, who continues to make me throw up in my mouth. A program-record eighth loss in an average-at-best Big Ten assures me that this isn't a simple case of "tough rebuilding." The shady way he allegedly gave shredding West Virginia personnel files before last season's Fiesta Bowl got him off on the wrong foot with me, and his inability to manage a game hasn't helped me at all, either. I'm sure he'll right the ship, but just Googling "Rich Rodriguez allegations" is a blast. For the first time in years, it's hard for me to even joke "Go Blue, Go Ann Arbor" to Buckeye fans like Dan Hager and the Koziol boys leading up to the rivalry game.

Pro Hockey...

-- Ah, the Sabres. Immensely-talented, but sometimes too easy to rattle. A lot of people felt Buffalo was holding their weight against PIttsburgh before folding in a 5-2 loss, but the whole game I had this eerie feeling that a Penguins tying-goal would cripple the team's chances.

Being in Boston for last Saturday's Bruins/Sabres game helped me to realize two things. One, the Sabres need another big guy to be a top-tier, whether it be a more-offensively-productive Paul Gaustad or a new face. Two, the Bruins have an outstanding physical team, and I would trade most assets to get Milan Lucic. Boston's big man is a beast, and he scares me. Like Donte Whitner combined with a monster. Watch this fight (Every fight should look like this). Watch this hit (He leaves his feet and I don't much care). Watch him go to the net. And helpers, too.

Pro Hoops...

-- This goes out to the "Shaq stinks" people. Really? The Suns are 8-3 with that "washed-up bum" their second-leading scorer. Perhaps a less-ego driven coach than Mike D'Antoni (although the now-up-tempo Knicks are 6-4 under the man) who will use O'Neal as an asset was a good idea. Terry Porter is using a big-man first approach, with O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire averaging 32.3 points- and 16.9 rebounds-per-game.

On Sunday, the Suns beat the Pistons after O'Neal was kicked out of the game. He has scored 29 points in two road games, leading the team to wins at Milwaukee and Sacramento. He's also twice paced the team in assists. In a beat-up Pacific, Phoenix has a shot at a home-court first round.

--For those who don't know, I'm calling play-by-play for the area's new professional basketball team, the Buffalo Stampede of the Premier Basketball League. Syracuse Orange legend Roosevelt Bouie is the color analyst, and Dan Hager will be helping out as well. Greg Bauch and I have discussed dunk calls, and you're probably going to want to tune in to our sister staion, WWWS, Triple Gold Soul, for the games.

Soccer (or Nobody Cares, Vol. I)

-- A disappointing college note... UB fell to Northern Illinois, 1-0, in the Mid American Conference semi-finals. It's a shame, because they were talented enough to play in the NCAA tourney after a 12-4-4 campaign that included a seven-plus game shut-out streak for Tonawanda's Bobby Shuttleworth, who was named All-MAC. I called several of their games this year, and they had a chance to be nationally-ranked before falling to Akron, 2-0. The Zips are one of the nation's finest, and worth rooting for the MAC going forward.

-- My Newcastle United Magpies once again pulled a draw from the mouth of victory. After giving up a remarkable goal to lowly Wigan Athletic in the third minute of Saturday's contest, they got a lucky red card and scored two against 10 men before giving two points back with minutes left to play. I don't think NUFC will be relegated, but the soap opera hell of 2008 continues.

-- Do you have a club you follow? Please email me who to nick@wgr550.com. I'd like to get a list together so I can keep my eye out for listener notes. I know Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Fiorentina and Tottenham Hotspur have somewhat of a following in the area.

Hey, Kobe Bryant (Lionel Messi) and Brooks Orpik (Ronaldinho) have favorite players. Why can't you?

College hoops...

-- The UB men are 1-0 after a road win Saturday over Youngstown State. Dare to dream, Bulls fans. One week until the home opener, and the return of the "when will Reggie Witherspoon tear off his sport jacket in disgust?" game. It's one of the Big Four's best.

-- The Bonnies are 1-0 after topping Robert Morris, 72-62. Canisius 0-1 after falling to Akron, 52-42. Niagara topped Towson, 79-62, and is also 1-0.

Thanks for reading, and talk to you soon: nick@wgr550.com