And who might that someone be?  Well, let’s face it – there’s only one person on staff at the newly “World Renowned SpartyAndFriends.com” large enough to fill the massive void left behind when Sparty goes on vacation, and that is me.  Big D here hosting the fifth installment of the Spartacast along with GatorTrey and JPManahan.

This week, when Sparty decided to abandon us in favor of his “family”, he put the Spartacast in my somewhat capable hands.  I hope I didn’t disappoint.  We open the discussion with a reminder that although this is a sports-centric website, there are plenty of real world events that affect our daily lives as well.  Once we return to the sports discussion, it’s a whole bunch of – what else? – baseball, college football and the big boys.

Quick note – we record the Spartacast on Tuesday nights, so some of our information changes with the 24-hour news cycle.  For example, when we recorded this Spartacast the Twins were trying to sweep a doubleheader and get tied for the AL Central lead.  By the time the post went live they were three games back in the division.  Also, you won’t hear any mention of our Outside the Lines… E:60… 15- 11-second appearance on ESPN’s Sportsnation broadcast late Wednesday afternoon because, well because we all found out about it at about 10am that day, twelve hours after this podcast was recorded.  Just a quick FYI for everyone out there.  Let it rock…

Intro - JP updates us on the situation in the Phillipines and the relief efforts after a devastating typhoon struck the country last week.
03:30 - We attempt to leave the real world behind and start talking about sports, beginning with a discussion on playoff predictions and surprises in Major League Baseball.
10:14 – Yup, that’s a rooster in the background.  It’s a long story.  Do not adjust your speakers.
13:40 - After narrowly averting a disastrous tangent about the benefits of contraction in baseball, Trey and I reminisce about the Braves’ glory days while discussing their (now very slim) chances to win the NL Wild Card.
15:48 - We actually get pretty in depth with what I had expected to be a “throw-away” question: Who are the managers of the year this year?
19:49 - Let’s talk College Football!  Somebody go find Miz in whatever treestand he’s currently occupying and tell him it’s safe to come back now…  Trey discusses what it’s like as a fan to have your entire season flash before your eyes on a single play.  Patriots fans can relate…
29:05 - Alright, let’s get down to business – which teams are still National Title Contenders, and which teams cannot recover from their losses?  And yes, at the 29:30 mark the power of editing makes an appearance for the second straight week…
33:00 - Even after the loss to VA Tech, are Miami fans “satisfied” with the teams’ 2-1 start to the season?
35:35 - What would it take for Boise State to be a true contender for a spot in the National Championship game?  Trey breaks it down…
37:15 - Apparently, it would take a lot less for Trey to put Cincinatti into the NCG this year.
38:56 - You know, I was never all that great at advanced math.  I can do the easy stuff, and things like odds and probabilities have always come pretty naturally to me… but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out the college football ranking system.  Somebody needs to explain this to me.
40:59 - EXPOSED!  The real reason Sparty is ducking out of this Spartacast!
42:47 - We’ve finally exhausted our supply of college football topics for the week, so you know what that means… time for the professionals to step in and bring the Spartacast home.
43:35 - A quick preview of the major games this week, and I even admit that the Patriots might not go undefeated this season… (/science’d)
47:45 - Trey goes all Wink Martindale on us as the three of us play a little game called “Panic or Parade” with a handful of NFL teams.  Unfortunately, Trey’s dog isn’t a big fan of Wink – he’s more of a Chuck Woolery pup…  Our teams of choice?  Denver, Cincy, Pittsburgh, Miami, Arizona, San Fran, Carolina, and Detroit.
51:32 - You want some real insight, the kind you can’t get anywhere else?  Here’s my take about the Steelers, and specifically on Troy Polamolu: “You know, if he’s on the sideline, he’s useless to them…”  Forget Collinsworth, just give me Madden’s old seat on the bus!
55:02 - Has anybody registered “CutJakeDelhomme.com” yet?  I should get on that…
1:04:35 - Not sure how I missed it while we were recording, but JPManahan makes the boldest prediction we’ve ever had during a Spartacast: “With the weapons they have right now… they (The DETROIT LIONS) might be in the race two years from now…”
1:05:15 - Somehow we get into a discussion about lagging attendance numbers in the NFL and I present my grand theory of the problem: HDTV.  Think about it – who in their right mind, in a down economy, is going to spend $500 for a family of four to goto one football game when they can sit at home every week in front of their big screen HDTV and get nearly an equal experience?  Seriously, it’s not hard to figure out.
1:08:00 - Trey gives us our “Deep Thought” for this Spartacast as we wrap up the final few minutes for the week.  Thanks again everybody and we’ll see you all in seven days.

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