Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: Vols, Tiger, D-Mac, More

By Dan Shanoff

Today's Calls: Tennessee vs. Memphis, Tiger vs. Arnie, Darren McFadden vs. Adrian Peterson, Glenn Dorsey vs. Warren Sapp, New Cavs vs. Old Cavs, Shaq vs. Kidd, Zach Thomas vs. Rex Grossman, Barry Bonds vs. Brad Lidge and More!

The Opening Pitch: Tennessee will win the national title. At least, they will if they can channel that effort from Saturday night.

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It was the biggest/best single win by any team this season: Going into rabid Memphis, against the unbeaten No. 1 team in the country -- a team that had loaded up the toughest non-conference schedule in the country -- and taking them out with a gritty effort (on national TV, no less).

Now, I still stand by my preseason pick that UCLA will win the national title. But I also made another prediction: That the Vols would join the Bruins in the Final Four. Saturday night's result made me more confident of that pick than ever.

(Meanwhile, I am more convinced than ever that Memphis will NOT be making the Final Four: They have the talent, the system and the spectacular point guard. But they don't have free-throw shooting, and that will ultimately doom them.)

More from this weekend: Kansas may have lost their shot at a No. 1 seed when they lost at Oklahoma State -- will Texas earn it instead?... Kevin Love had his most frustrating game of the season, and UCLA still held off Oregon... Turns out all Duke needed to get over last week's problems in ACC play was to import the St. John's Patsies... Bracket Busted: Drake reclaims its spot (from Butler) as America's Mid-Major.

Tiger conquers Match Play, crushing Stewart Cink in an unprecedented final beat-down: Woods has won his first 3 events this year, and he has won his last 4 PGA events. This 63rd career PGA Tour title also nudged him ahead of Arnold Palmer, all-time.

Just one more signal that this is going to be his best year ever, including a Grand Slam. But maybe there's more: How about the mythical perfect season? Tiger's response: "That's my intent." We are officially on the "Perfect Season Watch."

NFL Draft Combine: Darren McFadden runs a 4.27! Presumably, the same NFL scouts who are dissing McFadden are the same ones who recommended passing on Adrian Peterson.

McFadden is the best offensive skill-position player in the draft, and any team with a need that passes on him will regret it. (That unofficial 40 was adjusted to 4.33 -- still, pretty darn fast.)

What about Glenn Dorsey's knee? Dorsey is the best defensive-tackle prospect in this year's draft; he was also clobbered yesterday with huge questions about his knee, which he had previously avoided...

...Until the anonymous NFL team docs start whispering that there are "concerns," which couldn't be a sketchier take-down. Don't think a team drafting below where Dorsey is projected to go isn't beyond planting a story like that in the hopes that he drops to them.

("Fastest at the Combine" went to East Carolina RB Chris Johnson, who ran a 4.24, tying the all-time combine record; on the other end of the spectrum, Michigan WR Mario Manningham disappointed with a 4.6.)

SN's Combine update is here.

NBA Sunday: Big debut for the new Cavs in a win over the Grizz: Big Ben 12 and 10, West 6 ast and 3 steals as starters; Smith and Szczerbiak both in double figures off the bench... More trade-deadline impact: 17 assists for Kidd in a Mavs win over the T'wolves... Less trade-deadline impact: Shaq's team-high 11 rebounds were meaningless, as the Suns were throttled by the Pistons by 30 (in Phoenix!)... Kobe ejected, but the Lakers STILL win... Meanwhile, while no one is really paying attention to them, the sizzling Rockets win 12th straight.

NBA Saturday: The Spurs beating the Hornets was big on a lot of levels. It put the Spurs in a tie with the Hornets at the top of the Southwest Division; it put the Lakers on notice at the top of the West; and it confirmed that Manu Ginobili (30 points, 12 assists) is playing as well as anyone in the NBA right now.

Zach Thomas picks the Cowboys: I was all set to use this as evidence that the Pats aren't a premier free-agent destination after their Super debacle (and cheating scandal). Alas, Thomas is a Texas native, which probably accounts for his choice.

The Rex Grossman Era continues in Chicago: You can't say Rex doesn't make things exciting...

Stephen Ross buys half of the Dolphins: What should make Fins fans happiest is that Ross is an actual Dolphins fan.

In case you missed it: The Falcons won a coin flip and will pick 3rd overall in the Draft, ahead of the Raiders (4th) and Chiefs (5th). On the one hand, they get a better choice; on the other, they'll pay more.

Is Barry Bonds going to Japan? His agent alluded to some sort of "Slugger-in-Exile" scenario (are we even sure Japan would want him?) If I were an AL GM trying to win in that insanely competitive league, I would strongly consider signing him. (Heck, even the Pirates could use him -- and their fans are possibly the only ones in baseball who would embrace him.)

Terry Francona gets 3-year extension: But even with his two titles in the past four years, if he doesn't win another title in those three extended years, he shouldn't expect another three.

(Meanwhile, are the Sox signing 2005 AL Cy winner Bartolo Colon? He was injured last season, but if healthy, that's one more big arm.)

Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras? I smell a TV sit-com...

Brad Lidge injured, will avoid crushing Phillies fans' hopes and dreams with a blown save in the season opener: His return is TBD.

Clemens caught on camera at Canseco party? So what's the over-under on the number of days until this photo is leaked?

NASCAR: 163 laps to go today in the Auto Club 500 in Fontana, California, due to rain delay. Who likes some Monday morning (10 a.m. PT) racing?

Klitschko wins boxing's heavyweight "unification" title: The bout was boring enough that it did more to reveal why boxing's relevance is an anachronism than it did to reveal a single champion.

Terrelle Pryor takes his Ohio State visit: From all accounts, that's where he would like to be. No question, the Buckeyes fans would like to see him there. (Enough to bench incumbent senior starting QB Todd Boeckman, coming off leading OSU to a national-title game appearance?)

The Last Word: The Indiana players need to just get over themselves.

I'm sure they are bummed that their cheating coach was fired -- many were probably recruited with his cheating phone calls, so I can understand their attachment to him.

Wipe the "K.S." initials off their shoes and get them re-focused; they gave up 82 points to hapless Northwestern.

If they keep focusing on Sampson, he won't just cost the school its dignity -- he'll cost IU any shot at a memorable NCAA Tournament run.

Dan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com.

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