Weekend was what sports dreams are made of

This weekend was truly an example of why sports holds such a special place in my heart. The World Series, The Arkansas/Ole Miss Game and the North Augusta/Lexington High School game each produced scripts that Hollywood would toss aside for lack of believability.

Only sporting events can provide such a riveting back drop as bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, best closer in baseball on the mound and the greatest World Series in history in the balance. Of course, Luis Gonzalez singled home Jay Bell as Arizona knocked off three-time champion New York Yankees.

I'm so glad Curt Schilling pitched well in games four and seven. Now, all of those so-called baseball experts can shove all of their Bob Brenly bashing up their Tim McCarver. The Yankees scored 14 runs in 65 innings. Not to mention the fact that Byun Hyun Kim yielded five in his 3 1/2 innings of work. That means the other nine pitchers who saw action gave up nine runs in 61 2/3 innings. I'd say Brenly did just fine.

In Oxford, Miss., the Arkansas Razorbacks out-dueled Ole Miss in the longest game in college football history. This game can be summed up easily. At the end of regulation play the score was tied 17-17, and it ended with Arkansas thwarting a Rebel two-point conversion attempt to seal a 58-56 seven-overtime victory.

At North Augusta High School on Friday night, I witnessed one of the most thrilling games ever. It was a matchup of South Carolina's top senior running back, North Augusta's Reggie Merriweather, and its top junior running back, Lexington's Demetrius Summers. The two backs didn't disappoint, combining for more than 700 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Summers carried the ball 18 times for 303 yards and four touchdowns, including five carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

However, it was Merriweather's night. The senior had 406 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries, including a game-winning 80-yard score to win the game with less than two minutes to go. Merriweather scored on his final three carries, helping the Jackets rally from a 35-14 third quarter deficit.

These are just three examples from this weekend. It seems sports provides us with this type of magical moment more frequently than we deserve. That's why no matter how much athletes are paid or how easily owners can uproot a team, I for one will never be able to turn away.

Other ramblings

BYU, quit your whining.

I'm so sick of hearing BYU complain about what they perceive to be a lack of respect by the BCS. Last week the Cougars gave up 440 yards rushing and 34 points to Colorado State. That's the same Colorado State team that was held scoreless by Louisville and scored only seven vs. San Diego State. They act as if suddenly the rules were changed. That is not the case. BYU knows that because of its poorly rated conference it must schedule solid out of conference foes.

If you want to be ranked among the big boys, you've got to play them year in and year out. Can we really take seriously a team that allows 27 points per game in the Mountain West?

2001 might be the worst season since Gino Torretta in terms of Heisman Trophy candidates. So I figured I would weigh in on the subject. None of the big names really blow me away.

Rex Grossman: Great numbers but Steve Spurrier could put up big numbers in that offense ... just ask him.

David Carr: great numbers as well but all of a sudden his team forgot how to win.

Woody Danzler: Underrated nationally if you ask me, but his last few games did him.

Ken Dorsey: If his team keeps winning he'll be the odds on favorite.

I have a new name to toss in the ring: Luke Staley. I know I beat up on BYU earlier, but that was about its weak defense and easy schedule. It's hard to argue with Staley's numbers. His team is 9-0. He has 1,092 and 19 on just 120 carries. That's 9.1 yards per carry. All that in just eight games. He has caught 22 passes for 256 yards and three more touchdowns. That's nearly 10 yards per touch and three touchdowns per game. His 132 points leads the nation. If he played in the SEC they wouldn't need to wait - they'd give it to him now.

High School picks

Harlem-13, Westside-20

Greenbrier-28, Josey-12

Thomson-31, Lakeside-17

Ashley Brown's radio program can be heard from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on News-Talk Sports 1630 AM. His e-mail address is AB@WRDWAM.com.