FanView: 1/10/25

By Joe Torosian

“I’m the most wanted man on my island, but I’m not on my island—more’s the pity.”—Stephen

Kick it!

ESPN’s Molly McGrath has contacted me and wants to know how I feel about being the first half-breed Armenian/Pastor/Writer to have a sports column in the nation’s history.

I answered by quoting Marcus Freeman. 

***
Notre Dame-Penn State was a great game. I went into not caring who won, but as it played out—because of Marcus Freeman—I was openly rooting for the Irish.

For me, this is mass hysteria on par with dogs and cats living together…All that’s left now is for Gozer the Gozerian to show up. 

***
I’m hoping the Texas Longhorns catch the Ohio State Buckeyes bivouacked in their tents and ride all over them…But I think this game will be less San Jacinto and more Alamo for the Texicans.

Ohio State, 30-17.

***
Everyone is trying to gin up controversy from Dan Campbell telling Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell he’d see them in two weeks. If the Rams themselves aren’t mature enough to ignore it, then they aren’t going anywhere.

More important are the wonderful words of Seahawks HC Mike McDonald. He wants Geno Smith back. Geno’s a 44.5-Rock cap hit next year…and the Seahawks have already fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb…

I gotta believe Sean McVay is thinking, “Please, please, please bring Geno Smith back.”

***
Dodger Fans: Now that it’s concluded and he’s been traded, what are your thoughts about Gavin Lux? Indifferent, disappoint me?

***
Last Add Notre Dame: Jeremiyah Love’s touchdown run last night requires a jersey retirement, a statue, or both in honor of his fantastic fight for paydirt.

***
Deshaun Watson is done with a second Achilles tear, but he will still make 70+ in each of the next two years.

Today 5:PM, YouTube.

***
NFL Playoffs:
Off The Top
Saturday:
Chargers at Texans—Bolts, 28-24…Because I want the Chargers to return to San Diego, I’m rooting for Houston. But my faith in Jim Harbaugh right now is greater than my faith in C.J. Stroud. 

Steelers at Ravens—Baltimore, 24-23…Far be it from me to accuse national media of lifting content from the first halfbreed Armenian/Pastor/Writer with a column in the nation’s history…but wasn’t it here we said that the Steelers would be no duck walk for the Ravens?
I’m taking Baltimore, but Pittsburgh pulling the upset won’t be a surprise…especially with Ravens WR Zay Flowers being ruled out.

Sunday:
Broncos at Bills—Buffalo, 31-21…Think of the Rams Chuck Knox after The Mud Bowl in 1977…If Bills HC Sean McDermott loses this game…I do not know how he keeps his job.

Packers at Eagles—Philly, 27-16…I can see upsets in all these games. Green Bay has the ability. They’ve got the better HC…The Eagles are the better team, but can you trust them?

TaxSkins at Buccaneers—Tampa, 42-34…This game will be a shootout…and without an emotional tie…it will be a lot of fun. 

Monday:
Vikings at Rams—Rams, 41-27…It could be 12-7…But every time I’ve gone with my head in a game score prediction…it usually ends with the opposite… I’m not worried about the crowd, and I’m not concerned about playing in Phoenix.

Everything is right there for the Rams to take.

***
The San Francisco Giants have signed Justin Verlander. I like Verlander. He’s 41 with 262 career wins over 19 seasons. This will be season 20, and I’d love to see him stick around long enough to win 300.

Hall of Fame lock…with nine career shutouts. Fernando Valenzuela had eight shutouts in 1981. Bob Gibson had 56 in his career, 13 in 1968 alone.

Never tell me baseball people or the nerds understand pitching in 2025–because they don’t.

***
Along with Antonio Pierce, the Raiders have kicked GM Tom Telesco to the curb after one season. Wow, an Italian-American executive fired after one year…ESPN is going to be all over this.

***
The 49ers have designated DT Javon Hargrave, 31, as a Post-June 1 release…sounds like Fog City—which always pays the wrong people—is trying to get a handle on its salary cap.

How marvelous.

The Dude abides…

1,226
2 Corinthians 1:9
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
Follow Joe on X: @joet13b
Instagram: @joet13b
YouTube: “RamView” (MWF)

Leave a Reply