[QUOTE="Boston_Boyy"]it's about official 161 million dollars for 7 years that's 23 mill a year no cash deferred. This is the way the evil empire operates they can't win with the young so they use there millions on players.Master_Live

Because the Sox never sign anybody in free agency, oh wait!, they do. The Sox won the WS with the help of Manny(signing) and Shilling(signing) among other. Plus the Sox are trying to sign Mark Teixeira(sp). too, so shut up.

Indeed, the Red Sox spend the 4th most money on salaries, according to the 2008 report on CBSports.com. Yes they have spent money on the likes of Manny, Schilling, J.D. Drew, Dice-K etc. However, who have been the key to the Red Sox success of the new millenium? The utility players. Players no one knew about until it came to the crunch time of playoffs. In 2007, it came with the legs of "Tacoby Bellsbury" and the bat of Dustin Pedroia. Ortiz wasn't doing that well in Minnesota before coming to Boston. Who had heard of Kevin Millar and Bill Mueller before 2004? Youk and Lester have been solid up and comers from the minors. The point is, yes even the Sox buy players, but seem to know a thing or two about SMART buying of useful players or using a farm team, rather than buy those who win popularity contests or are the flashiest, or trade away their farm players: the Yankee style. Who can think of any support players for the Yankees that have helped them win? I can't. Look where it's got them of late.

I do realize the BCS system, its flaws, and would rather see someone, like USC, take on Florida rather than Oklahoma. I'm a Georgia Tech fan (student) and I believe we can blow the doors off of LSU at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and get some more attention. Sadly, the win against Georgia seems to have been played off as a Georgia loss rather than a Tech win and hopefully the bowl win can show otherwise.

As for USC, one theory I've read on many articles is that this year's USC team may be the best of the past few years. Even though they don't have the stars like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, they are still the #14 Total Offense in the country, coupled with their #1 Defense, making them far from mediocre. Yes, USC lost to Oregon State. The halftime score of that game was 21-0, Oregon State, while the end game score was 33-31. If USC had capped off this great comeback with another field goal, we would have a different situtation on our hands. I feel sorry that one bad half of football away from home is enough for an upsetting end. Writers have said that USC is being punished this year for how overrated they have been the past few years, whereas they are finally an amazing team, but can't get any credit from anybody.

Overall, the Rose Bowl is an amazing honor and I hope to watch an amazing game between the Nittany Lions and the Trojans.