Welcome back, faithful readers. I realize it’s been a long time since my namesake has appeared on this left-hand side of the paper, in column form. In the nearly two months since my last venture, a lot has happened in the sporting world, both near and far.

Here, in no specific order, are some random observations from the last few days, weeks, or months:

Warren Sapp is a jackass. Like Michael Strahan said, “He needs to do something in the playoffs before he talks,” which is absolutely correct. Sapp, who jawed with Green Bay coach Mike Sherman after Sunday’s game about a vicious cheap shot Sapp put on Packers’ lineman Chad Clifton (which sent Clifton off the field immobilized on a stretcher), has not accomplished anything in the National Football League. His team has not gone to the Super Bowl and he is surrounded by 10 other great players on the Buccaneers defense. Yet he still thinks he is the best player in the league. And he lets everyone know it. I just can’t wait until everyone knows how bad he really is when Green Bay puts him in his place in the playoffs.

Simply, Ohio State wins football games. And if they play anyone but Miami in the championship game, they could be looking at their first national championship since 1968. No, wins over Purdue, Illinois and most recently a very game Michigan team at the Horseshoe were not spectacular, nor were they pretty. But, they did what they were supposed to do — win.

No wonder Dakich is excited. You would be too if you had the most athletic team you’ve fielded since you’ve been here. Germain Fitch can flat out produce, whether it’s by rebounding, creating shots for his teammates or getting to the rim. Freshman Ronald Lewis showed last weekend against Shawnee State why he was recruited: he can score, from anywhere. Lewis showed that a nice touch from the outside combined with the ability to jump and rebound the basketball are lethal for opponents. They took a tough loss at Detroit over the weekend, but Detroit is a very good team. It could be a very interesting year in Anderson.

Collegiate athletes need to be paid. And any other athletes who are used to making millions upon millions of dollars need to be paid, also. The Lebron James saga is getting to be a bit much for me. His school is contracted with a pay-per-view company to broadcast their games via satellite. James will play at Gund Arena, the JAR Arena at Akron and numerous other big-name facilities. That’s all well and good. Make your money, do what you have to do. But give James his share. The same goes for Maurice Clarett (who went to my high school for a year, for those of you who didn’t know). If the National Football League will not change its rules, then Clarett needs to receive some of the profit from selling out the Horseshoe every weekend.

You’ve heard it here: Urban Meyer will be back next year. No, I don’t know that for sure. After the Northern Illinois game, I thought to myself, ‘He doesn’t need this. He’s gone.’ Now, after the team’s second loss, I get the feeling that now he has something to prove. He’s pissed. And who can blame him? The Falcons have had a phenomenal year, and these two losses don’t diminish that in the least. But now, he still has something left to prove.

Mark it down: a Big 10 player will win the Heisman. Whether it’s Larry Johnson or Brad Banks, the conference has fielded two of the best individual players it has had, ever. My money’s on Johnson, after two standout performances in the last two weeks.

And finally, in the “I’ll do it again if I had the chance” category: Detroit Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg will be fired at the end of the season, after he gave Chicago the ball in sudden-death overtime Sunday afternoon. Mornhinweg cited the wind as a factor for not wanting to take the ball. Hopefully, that wind doesn’t push him too far on his way out of town.