I have been a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox since 1996. This was in the twilight of the days of Mo Vaughn and the rise of a young shortstop named Nomar Garciapparra. Needless to say there have been massive disappointments (2003, 2001 and 1999) and great joys. (2004 and 2007) One thing the Sox have never done of late is shied away from expectations.

That is until this season and it reeks of disappointment.

This off-season the Red Sox added offensive power in the form of All-Stars, outfielder Carl Crawford and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. With an upgraded bullpen, a vaunted pitching staff and these two acquisitions it was thought the Sox would immediately be the best team in the American League and coast to a world championship. Too bad that predictions don’t win games, players do.

Carl Crawford (left) and Adrian Gonzalez (right) were supposed to bolster the Red Sox offensive output. But just the opposite has happened leading the Sox to start the MLB season 0-4

The Sox currently sit at 0-4. That explosive offense has only scored 12 runs and five of those came in the first game. The vaunted pitching staff has been shellacked only averaging a paltry five innings an outing and allowing home runs at a record setting pace. The bullpen has done what it can, but in the first game dominant setup man Daniel Bard allowed four runs in one inning, something unheard of until that day.

This leads us to two prized acquisitions Crawford and Gonzalez. While Gonzalez has shined, Crawford has struggled only collecting three hits in the first four games and striking out a handful of times, often at pitches outside the zone.

So the question is not what is the problem, those are evident. The question is will this get righted and will the Sox play up to the potential they are capable of ? The answer is one would hope. A friend of mine who is a fan of the hatred rival New York Yankees said “They will get it figured out they are too talented not too.”

Talent can only take a team so far, then fundamentals and love of the game must take over. The fact is these Sox are crumbling under the expectations. What the Sox need to do is get back to playing baseball and not worrying about the expectations. Last year the Sox were ravaged by injuries, losing All-Stars Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youklis to season ending injuries. Not to mention three out of their starting five pitchers missed extended periods of time. For any other team they would have packed it in, but the Sox still managed to win 89 games.

This is the fight and intensity the Sox need to get out of this rut to start the season.

So, will it happen ?  That remains to be seen. Someone asked me where I was on the panic meter and I answered on a scale of 1-10, I was at a five. The truth is, a 162 game season is only four games old and the Sox still have time to get it figured out. So these cries by the Red Sox faithful for managers and coaches to lose their jobs, players to be traded and saying the off-season acquisitions were a mistake are a bit premature.

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey shortly after leaving a game against the Texas Rangers after allowing nine earned runs in five innings

The next few weeks will dictate what is to become of the Sox season. Whether it is to become one of massive disappointment or a grand story of resurgence is up to them and them alone.

Sadly, the only thing we as fans can do is watch and sometimes, that can be the most painful thing to do.

How many times growing up did your parents say these infamous words, “When will you learn?” These words often followed a boneheaded mistake or choice that led to one getting into trouble.

The reason why I ask that is because someone needs to say that to the NCAA infractions committee. Because it is painfully obvious they have learned nothing from past mistakes.

On December 1, 2010 Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was allowed by the NCAA to play in the upcoming SEC Championship game, a game which if Auburn wins would clinch a berth in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game. This is despite allegations that Newton was involved in a “pay for play” scheme where he would be paid if he were to go to a certain college and play football for that college. This payment would be on top of the full ride scholarship Newton would receive as well to play for Auburn rival Mississippi State.

Auburn Quarterback Cam Newton following his teams come from behind victory against in state rival Alabama. Newton, recently was the subject of an investigation by the NCAA regarding improper benefits.

This, by NCAA rules and regulations is illegal and voids a student athletes amateur status and thus would make Newton ineligible.

The NCAA stated they found no evidence to show that Newton was paid any amount to play at Auburn and the whole scheme was spearheaded by his father Cecil, while his son was being recruited after a stint at the junior college level.

Newton is also a finalist for many prestigious awards for his play. This includes the Heisman Trophy, which is the most prestigious of these awards. This is also my problem with the ruling the NCAA made.

Because it just proves they have learned nothing from past mistakes.

Reggie Bush was turning the college football world upside down in 2005. While playing for USC, his electrifying runs and hard-nosed running style powered USC to a national championship bearth. It also led to him winning the Heisman Trophy. Recently it was found Bush had received improper benefits while playing for USC thus making him ineligible. Bush, forfeited his Heisman Trophy (voiding the winner for the first time in the awards storied history) and USC was forced to vacate all wins during Bush’s time on the team and numerous other sanctions were levied on the school.

Reggie Bush after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. He later forfeited the award after an investigation found he received improper benefits while playing for USC

Now, when the NCAA handed down this ruling they stated “We do not have sufficient evidence at this time to prove Cam Newton received improper benefits.” To me this means they don’t have the evidence yet and are still looking into it.

My point is this, the NCAA has learned nothing since the Bush situation. Because if they had, this investigation should still be going, until they knew without a doubt Newton was clean and his father acted without his knowledge.

It will be sad day if it’s found Newton did have knowledge and thus was ineligible, because it would ruin a dream season for Auburn and more than likely another Heisman winner will be forced to forfeit the award.

Right when that happens I will initially be sad, because it will be another stain on college football. Then I will respond with a hearty “When will you learn?”

Because if not now, then the NCAA never will learn.

Following last years Orange Bowl victory over Georgia Tech, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes football team thought they had finally seen the Hawkeyes become one of the nationally elite teams. A team ranked right up there with Alabama, Oklahoma and many others.

Sadly Iowa fans, you are not there yet. And, if your current trend keeps up you never will be.

Last year Iowa took an undefeated record into a game with Northwestern. This game was played at Kinnick Stadium and appeared to be just a pit stop on the road to a epic showdown with Big Ten power Ohio State. Iowa thought they were in for a easy victory and Northwestern proved they were anything but that by defeating the Hawkeyes and ending their national championship hopes.

Now, flash forward to this year and the Hawkeyes faced Northwestern once again and once again had a showdown with Ohio State on the horizon. This time was the same as the last, the Hawkeyes lost and struck down any chances of a big bowl game in January.

Nothwestern, led by quarterback Dan Persa; led the Wildcats to an upset of the Iowa Hawkeyes for the second straight year. This loss gives Iowa very little hope at repeat BCS bowl appearance.

The problem with the Hawkeyes is this, THEY PLAY DOWN TO THEIR COMPETITION. Now, this something nationally elite teams do not do. Look at Alabama, they play teams that do not belong in the stadium as them and the final score shows that. Often depicting beat downs of 30-40 points. That is what nationally elite teams do, they prove they are the best by destroying anything less than them.

Case in point two weeks ago Iowa destroyed a top five, undefeated Michigan State team. This victory created a four-way tie at the top of the Big Ten and made me think Iowa had finally turned the corner. Then they barely beat an underwhelming Indiana team (that Big Ten leading Wisconsin beat 83-20) and lost to Northwestern. If this is not playing down to your competition than I do not know what is.

This is not indicative of a team that is a national power. Teams that are national powers love having the target on their back, Iowa tends to shy away from it. This is evident by the way they have played since dismantling Michigan State.

Now, I will give Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz credit, he has built a very good program from the ground up and made them perennial Big Ten contenders year in and out. Sadly, that does not translate to national championship contention. That is the expectation for any team that is a regional power, to become a national power and I just don’t see that killer instinct in Iowa.

Now, I will state that I’m not a fan of the Hawkeyes. But, it would be nice to see them live up to expectations. The expectations are now that they have become a regional power, they must become a national power. Playing down to the competition is not the way to get there. Playing to your level is and sadly Iowa has not done that. It is something they must do before their window of opportunity closes, if it has not already.

In 1960, Dallas was awarded a National Football League (NFL) franchise. Now 50 mostly successful years later America’s Team has been given a disastrous birthday gift, mediocrity and disappointment.

Currently, the Dallas Cowboys sit at 1-6 and are in line to gain the third pick in the NFL Draft in April. Now for many this is a shock, this was a team that was supposed to compete in a Super Bowl in their billion dollar home stadium and roll over the competition with 4 losses being the maximum.

Sadly, that fourth loss came two weeks ago.

Now, being a fan of the Cowboys I will admit I could have been biased by saying they were the best team in not just the NFC but the entire NFL as well. But, on paper there is no reason they could not have been successful.

They had the second most pro bowlers last season, all of which were returning; had a winning record in December and won a playoff game for the first time in 15 seasons. It looked as if the ‘Boys had turned the corner and became a prominent team once again.

Then the 2010 season began and mistakes have riddled the Cowboys. From a holding call that erased a game winning touchdown in the first game (a loss to hated rival Washington), to an excessive celebration penalty against Tennessee that led to the game winning touchdown the Cowboys have often shot themselves in the foot. But, then came the death blow for the season.

On Monday Night Football on Oct. 25 the Cowboys took on the hated Giants in a must win game. Pro-Bowl quarterback Tony Romo was in the game and had the Cowboys holding on to a 13-7 lead, then disaster struck.

On a pass play, Cowboys rookie fullback Chris Gronkowski missed an assignment on blitzing linebaker Micheal Boleyn and the result, Romo was drilled into the turf breaking his clavicle and thus ending his season.

All I could muster was the thought “How Fitting!”

How fitting it was to have a team that had the third ranked defense and fourth ranked offense lose their franchise player on a mistake. Because that was what has killed the Cowboys all this season… mistakes.

A team with such high rankings should be the best team in the league. But, in looking at the stats one can see the Cowboys missteps. The Cowboys have the fourth highest penalties per game average with 6.9 and the eighth highest penalty yards per game with 66 per game.

These are things that cannot happen if you wish to contend. These are things the worst teams in the league do, no ones that want to win championships.

Now, to me the problem is a lack of leadership. This is something that can be solved by starting over. Owner Jerry Jones needs to realize that this team deserves better coaching than what it has now. This team has lacked focus, intensity and discipline and last time I checked this can all be attributed to the coach.

So, Mr. Jones: do us Cowboys fans a favor and stop serving us mediocre birthday cakes year after year when we deserve more. Because if you don’t the Cowboys might not make it another prominent anniversary as a distinguished franchise

“Touchdown Jesus, his divine arms are no longer raised in celebration,

They are thrown up in disgust.

Frustration Jesus hear our prayer.

Somedays when the sun shines and the crowd roars it feels like the collapse never happened.

So much looks the same, the white of the collar, the green of the shirt and the gold of the helmet.

Spring still carries the clack of pads and the blooming promise of dominance.

Only, autumn no longer delivers, the echos have gone quiet.

Something has died here in South Bend.

Only relics remain, mosaics and statues

Awaiting stadium, a shining dome, like the gleaming sousaphones of the band

and the black flocked priests rubbing rosary’s on the sidelines.

These famous pieces cannot mask the slow fall.

But, a bit more every year they stand as something different,

not proclamations as to what is, but monuments as to what once was

Here lies a dynasty.

There is no more Rockne, there is no more Gipper, no more Hornung, no more Holtz

they are gone, ghosts.

Kept company by reminders of a time passed and a grotto that flickers with unanswered prayers.”

~Poem By Wright Thompson, Broadcast on ESPN College Gameday Sept.4^th , 2010

That introductory poem was broadcast on ESPN College Gameday on Sept. 4^th. With a somber, angelic tone this poem was read over video of Notre Dame’s historic campus. It was supposed to signal the end of Notre Dame has a college football power.

But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, “Rumors of Notre Dame’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.” As a matter of fact I would like to add that instead of a death, Touchdown Jesus might have been resurrected and the pride of the Fighting Irish is back.

That was no more apparent than this past weekend.

Taking on bitter rival the University of Michigan, Notre Dame found themselves down 21-7 at halftime. The Irish fought back to take a 24-21 lead after a magical 95 yard touchdown pass from Dayne Crist to Kyle Rudolph. For Irish fans it was the rebirth of Notre Dame magic, but it was short-lived. Michigan scored a touchdown with 27 seconds left to win the game 28-24 and leave the Irish faithful broken-hearted.

However, being a member of the Irish faithful, I was not broken-hearted, I was optimistic. Here is a young team that fought back from 14 points down in the second half to take the lead against a big time rival, using nothing more than pure heart, determination and will. This was a reason for optimism.

It was this lack of fight, heart and will that was not apparent over the last five years. These five years will be referred to as the dark ages in Notre Dame football lore. For this was the rule of Charlie Weis and the rule of mediocrity.

When Weis took over the Notre Dame program he had just won a Super Bowl as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. Following that he was billed as the savior, the

Brian Kelly being introduced as the new Head coach of Notre Dame football. Kelly, is tasked with revitalizng the once storied Fighting Irish football program

man who would save the Notre Dame legacy and take the program back to the glory days of old. Sadly, that did not happen.

In Weis’ first two-years Irish fans were treated to two-consecutive ten win seasons and invitations to Bowl Championship Series  bowl games, although they lost both games by a combined score of 75-34, the future looked bright.

Looks were deceiving. Notre Dame went 15-21 over the next three years. These years included losing to Navy for the first time in 43 years, epic beat-downs at the hands of hated rival USC and sub-par performances against sub-par teams and only managing one bowl win in three trips, led to the much celebrated end of the Weis reign in South Bend.

Now, the Irish are run by Brian Kelly. Unlike Weis press conference, Kelly held no illusions of what the team was. He knew they were bad and he knew things needed to change and that is what he did. Kelly began installing a new work ethic, realizing he might not have the most talented he made them be the hardest working and the Michigan game showed it is paying dividends.

For the first time in five years I have hope for the Fighting Irish. I hold no illusions of grandeur and national championships, at least this year. However, I have hope and that is something I did not have three-years ago. So Irish fans give Kelly time, in four-years we will be talking about much more than a little win over Michigan, we will be talking about a possible dynasty.

So, in closing ESPN save your poem for programs that need it, us Irish supporters have our faith and hope back and that is the first step towards resurrecting the Notre Dame legacy.