Is LSU overrated? That was a question posed to the ESPN talking heads prior to kickoff in last night’s game between the Bayou Bengals and the fighting Crooms of Mississippi State in Starkville. And after last night’s game, one would have to say that based solely on last night and nothing else, the answer to that question is yes. Forget the score. Everything you need to know about LSU and how good they may or may not be can be found in the first quarter and a half of that game. You know, the part where, despite Michael Henig’s two bonehead turnovers, the Tigers managed to muster only a field goal. I heard some talk in postgame that maybe offensive coordinator Gary Crowton was trying not to tip his hand, trying not to give Virginia Tech too much to look at leading up to the season’s best nonconference game next weekend in Baton Rouge. But come on. You mean to tell me in the first half, the Tigers barely managed to score 17 points off four Henig interceptions on purpose? No way. Defensively, LSU is an absolute nightmare. Glenn Dorsey is every bit as good as advertised and Tyson Jackson looks better because he plays with Dorsey, who is hands-down the best defensive lineman in America. Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson may be the best pair of corners in college football and Craig Steltz looked like a dominant safety last night but offensively, there are big question marks starting with the unit’s ability to sustain a drive and score in the red zone. You have to be concerned about that if you’re Les Miles given that this team has to find a way to score points against Virginia Tech next week and Virginia Tech’s defense is a lot tougher than Mississippi State’s. LSU really leaned on the defense for most of the first half but against a better opponent, they may not be able to lean that long. One thing became unmistakably clear last night: LSU isn’t ready for USC. They may not even be ready for Alabama.

This is Slyvester Croom’s last year in Starkville and last night solidified that. What I don’t understand about Mississippi State’s gameplan last night is why they abandoned the run. The most effective and sustained drives of last night’s game for MSU came when they handed sophomore Tony Dixon the ball and let him break tackles and make plays. Given two quick, stupid interceptions, why in the world would you trust Michael Henig to continue throwing the ball? Especially in the rain?!? It defies logic. You have to wonder if the Mississippi State coaching staff looked up at the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter, saw the score and panicked. But make no mistake, Henig is the reason Mississippi State lost that ballgame last night. You cannot throw four interceptions in the first half against any college football team, let alone the second best team in the country, and expect to win or even compete in games. It was always a bad situation in Starkville for Slyvester Croom but Michael Henig really sealed his coach’s fate last night. Getting shutout at home on national television is never good for job security.

So can we stop talking about Major League Soccer now? Is it officially alright to bury soccer’s hope for pop culture and mainstream sports acceptance once and for all? It looks like David Beckham won’t play this season for the Los Angeles Galaxy and somehow life goes on in American sports. The reality is that Beckham did more for soccer in America off the pitch than anything he did on it. Dancing with the Stars has a better chance of getting on Sportscenter than the MLS does during the NFL and college football seasons and with or without Beckham, I’m not sure the MLS ever really had a chance. Americans sports fans have figured out what they like and what they don’t like and professional soccer has made a home in that latter category.

American basketball is back. If you hadn’t heard the U.S. basketball team has been getting medieval on the competition at the FIBA Americas tournament in Las Vegas. The team is trying to secure its bid for the ‘08 summer games in Beijing and if last night’s game was any indication, they’re a lock. The Americans throttled defending gold medalists Argentina last night and has put the rest of the world on notice. With a starting five that consists of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Dwight Howard, you have to feel pretty good about your chances of a return to the glory days of The Dream Team. The truth is that this team hasn’t even been threatened in this tournament and you have to wonder if maybe Coach K wasn’t onto something when he made the players sign on for a multi-year commitment to the team and to U.S.A. basketball. The chemistry on the team is great and relatively ego-free (these are NBA players we’re talking about — let’s keep a little perspective) and you have to wonder if there’s a team in the world that can play with Team U.S.A. the way they’re playing now. We could see a return to gold in 2008.

A rare sight in these parts: a baseball post. It takes stones for a rookie in pinstripes to throw at a Red Sox (upon review, it wasn’t really all that ballsy, the game was at Yankee Stadium after all). But I think Joba Chamberlain’s missiles over the head of Kevin Youkilis really speak to a larger problem in baseball. Throwing at people and bean ball needs to become a thing of the past in the game before someone gets killed. I know there are codes of etiquette and unwritten rules and all of that but isn’t that why baseball is becoming an afterthought once football season starts? All the nonsense rules and strategy that make the game drag on for mind-numbing hours is lost on modern America. Me, I prefer for my rules to be written and all of the nonsense machismo of pitchers that never have to go to the plate putting one between someone’s shoulder blades is fit for the squared circle and not for the diamond. Chamberlain’s tough guy act in the Bronx yesterday didn’t threaten anyone, they didn’t come close to making contact with Youkilis’ skull but is that what it’s going to take for Major League Baseball to wake up and knock off the goonery? I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised. As a nation and as a culture, we are way more reactive than proactive and what’s going on at Virginia Tech is a perfect example of that. Maybe Major League Baseball could be ahead of the curve for once but given its track record for nipping problems in the Bud (pun intended), I wouldn’t bet on it.

I have officially joined the TiVo revolution. While it is an unbelievable technology, it will not official begin paying dividends in my life until football season where I’ll be able to TiVo games that I won’t be able to watch. An added bonus is that I get to watch shows that I used to watch in college that I am now too old to stay up for (i.e. Conan). So far, I’m very impressed.

__________

No, seriously… 

A chinese couple have tried to name their baby ‘@’.

A man in Muncie is my new hero.

__________

Fanhouse’s Big East preview.

• Impact freshmen.
  
• Top 5 players
• Coaches on the hot seat.
• Five biggest games
• Most underrated.

Georgia Tech QB punks defensive end in practice.

The Philadelphia Daily News’ Les Bowen says it may not be time to give up the Eagles defense — yet.

Eagles guard Shawn Andrews is having ankle problems and defensive end Jerome McDougle is out for the year — again, securing his place as one of the biggest first-round busts in franchise history.

The Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon on gambling in sports.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook thinks the Steelers must start 2nd year Santonio Holmes.

The Detroit Red Wings have unveiled their new sweaters — which look just like the old ones.

Chris Leak is strugg-a-ling to make the Bears roster.

Jon Gruden is tired of talking about Chris Simms.

SI writer Cory McCartney breaks down the nation’s top rushing tandems. 

More of ESPN’s breakdown of the top conferences in college football.

• Pac 10 vs. Big Ten
• SEC vs. Big 12

Pat Forde says SEC is king.

New York Red Bulls player blogs for the Times about meeting Beckham.

__________

Apparently there’s a fetus on facebook.

Slate’s Jack Shafer thinks newspaper need to admit more of their factual errors in print.

Edward Norton talks to the Los Angeles Times about his Incredible Hulk script.

Entertainment Weekly reviews the Seth Rogan-penned, Judd Apatow-produced Superbad.

       RESTAURANT WARS 

As the contestants stated, Restaurant Wars has become one of the most anticipated challenge and last night may have shed some very interesting light on how the judges are viewing the chefs this season. It appears as if they have adapted a “what have you done for me lately?” kind of attitude and are taking the chefs on a challenge-by-challenge basis. I think this is the wrong way to go and ultimately will leave us with another lackluster winner (sorry Ilan) at the end of the season. Judging by the previews, I think one of the heavy-hitters (see: Casey, C.J., Tre, Brian) could be leaving us next week.

This week (SPOILER ALERT) no one went home though there were some candidates for knife-packing. Howie, once again, continues to show that he knows everything and no one else knows anything. Like last week with his Cuban, Howie ran his mouth about how he knew how to cook risotto and has cooked it 100 times and proceeds, in true Howie fashion, to butcher it. It’s time to send Howie home and be done with his bullheaded stupidity once and for all.

Sara continues to ride the middle of the road and goes out of her way to fly under the radar. I don’t think she’s going home next week though she is clearly the least talented chef still in the competition at this point.

Dale’s choice of scented candles for his team’s restaurant almost cost him last night. But the chefs got a hold of themselves and remembered that this is Top Chef not Top Design and spared Dale. Likewise for Brian who ran the front of the house about as badly as you could have. The secret dinner guest/blogger took a shot at his sweatiness and on behalf of sweaty dudes everywhere, I feel ya Malarkey. Walk it off.

Tre burned and then inexplicably served potatoes that he knew were burned and it probably should have cost him last night. I think he’s one of the strongest chefs in the competition but has to be much smarter about what he’s putting on the plate.

Some other takes on this week’s episode:

• Anthony Bourdain
  
• Gail Simmons
• Ted Allen
• Huffington Post blogger Jane McGivney
• EW’s Gregory Kirschling

Finally saw The Bourne Ultimatum over the weekend and loved it. It was everything that The Bourne Supremacy should have been but wasn’t. Matt Damon proves, once again, that he’s one of the greatest actors of our generation and turns in another powerhouse performance. The supporting performances are great, Joan Allen manages not to ruin this film like she did in Supremacy, Julia Stiles is actually really terrific and you really can’t say enough about David Strathairn, the guy is liquid on screen. The action sequences were top-knotch and even had me smirking like a geek with their awesome-ness (a smirk which drew several wayward glances and eye-rolls from my girlfriend who enjoyed it but clearly not as much as I did). Behind Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ultimatum was my favorite movie of the summer.

I also saw Ron Howard’s The Paper with Michael Keaton, Glenn Close and Robert Duvall and really enjoyed it. I think it was very true to life at a newspaper and the actors were really convincing newspeople. I don’t think this film is as true to form as a picture like Shattered Glass but was every bit as enjoyable. The flick is perfect for a rainy day. Definitely worth a spot on your Netflix queue.

Currently blasting the speakers on my MacBook and in my car is Kanye West’s new single Stronger which features an amazing slowed-down sample of Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” The song is fantastic and really embodies everything that I unashamedly love about Kanye West. The guy is inventive and not at all afraid to take risks. Can’t wait to pick up Graduation when it comes out on Sept. 11.

Worth mentioning was the trailer for Peter Berg’s The Kingdom that I saw before The Bourne Ultimatum, which I am more excited about then I can even describe. Jamie Foxx, Hillary Swank, Jason Bateman and the imcomparable Chris Cooper in what looks like it could be one of the best films of the year.

__________

No, seriously…

British teen OD’s on espresso.

Some moron paid more than $1,500 for an oil smudge on a garage floor in Virginia. It doesn’t even look like Jesus. Frankly, it looks like a goat.

__________

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach lists college football’s biggest secrets in ‘07.

Lawrence Taylor tells Michael Strahan to hang it up.

Saints linebacker Scott Fujita sets the record straight on his water park foot injury.

Pair of pieces from ESPN’s Pat Forde on Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson and on Darren McFadden going pro after this season.

DC United player pissed about ESPN’s Beckham-centric MLS coverage.

Jon Gruden is still sifting through his pack of quarterbacks.

Not really news but I find it interesting that every week there is a letter from a reader in the Buffalo News about how awful Sabres management is. Every week, never fails.

Hoosiers hope to improve their pass rush. It really can’t get any worse.

The AJC’s Terence Moore wants Michael Vick’s staunchest supporters to wake up and smell the roses.

A nice piece in the Houston Chronicle on Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee.

Packers first-round pick Justin Harrell sees limited time in preseason opener. This might have been the worst first-round pick in last year’s draft.

In case you live in a cave: MADDEN COMES OUT TOMORROW!

Drew Henson fighting for his football life in Vikings camp.

Titans players defend their ownership of pit bulls.

The AJC’s Tony Barnhart on why the SEC is smiling and the things college football fans have learned a week into practice.

Oklahoma quarterback race still not decided.

__________

Three consumer groups have spoken out against the Whole Foods/Wild Oats merger.

Google to launch iTunes competitor, gBox.

Who owns what in today’s online media landscape.

Microsoft is hoping the release of the Halo 3 this winter can help the system rebound from hardware failures and slumping sales.

Christopher Nolan debuts some ‘Dark Knight’ footage at Chicago comic con. I can’t wait for this but it seems that the producers have gone 0-for-2 in my mind in the casting of Rachel Dawes’ character. First they casted Katie Holmes, who was the worst thing about Batman Begins and now they’ve gone out and gotten Maggie Gyllenhaal who is my least favorite actress on the planet. I have never seen a single film that she’s been in that I enjoyed. I hope she can change my mind.

Cinematical lists seven movie stars who are about to fall off the A-list.

Stereogum has the real cover of Kanye’s new record, Graduation.

Facebook makes the cover of Newsweek.

Newsweek’s 25 hottest universities.

As if you needed another reason to buy Kanye’s new record, 50 cent says that if West’s Graduation outsells his record, which comes out the same day, he’s going to stop making music. (Your lips to God’s ears, sir.)

Top Chef’s Sam Talbot on the now-infamous Rocco episode.

Had a pretty uneventful weekend. Consisted mostly of watching DVDs (Alpha Dog, Children of Men and Season 4 of Degrassi). Little to no sports consumption though I am LOVING the new NCAA Football 2008 for the 360, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend.

__________

No, seriously…

A man in New Orleans found a knife in his back more than 5 months after he was stabbed in a fight.

Zimbabwe authorities are pissed at a medium that led them on a hunt for diesel fuel the medium said was in the northwestern part of the country.

__________

Great Q&A on The Big Lead with The Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon.

The Falcons could face some serious consequences if Michael Vick practices, says SI’s Peter King.

Hawaii wants ESPN’s College Gameday to travel to the Big Island for the Warriors’ tilt against Boise State. Not gonna happen.

Brynn Cameron not about to put Matt Leinart up for Father of the Year. Unfortunately, this story isn’t that surprising.

A pair of stories on how Virginia Tech football players are preparing for the start of the ‘07 season. New York Times/Orlando Sentinel

Is Brady Quinn a jerk?

SI’s Grant Wahl on David Beckham’s debut Saturday night.

Keith Hernandez on his famous role on Seinfeld. The Zapruder-style footage of Hernandez spitting on Kramer and Newman is one of my favorite moments in television history.

__________

Well-rounded news…

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Best Buy’s Geek Squad taking stuff off your computer. Consumer rights blog The Consumerist led the way on this story. Good job, guys.

University of Kansas students will have their internet privileges taken away if they are caught file sharing.

The assistant managing editor at the Birmingham News is a genius!

An amazing map of Web 2.0.

Netflix has lowered their subscription fees in an effort to keep up with Blockbuster online. $1 guys! That’ll show ‘em!

Flying Gonzo!

Part one of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 50 Best Love Songs Ever.

Bottom Line fav Nada Surf to hit the road in the fall to preview new material from their upcoming, yet-to-be-named album.

David Chase addresses The Sopranos finale.. sort of.

The Sacramento Bee will begin posting video letters to the editor on its site.

What to do with that Joan Obsborne CD you can’t believe you own.

XM and Sirius execs continue to try to convince the FCC that its merger is good for consumers. No way.

Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters

After reading Grant Wahl’s SI cover story on the stateside arrival of English megalostar David Beckham, I had some more thoughs on Beckham’s arrival but more specifically on Major League Soccer and how it could be successful in the states.

The reality of the MLS is that it will never be able to compete for the world’s best talent with the European clubs. Financially, it just won’t work, there isn’t enough money in the league. That’d be like the Lansing Lugnuts getting into a bidding war over A-Rod with the Yankees. Where the MLS may be able to become successful is as a sort of farewell tour for Europe’s best players who may be entering the twilight of their career.

Imagine Major League Soccer with the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Zidane and German keeper extraordinaire Oliver Kahn. Interested? Maybe not but it will certainly attract the attention of the passive America soccer fan who is not currently watching MLS and that’s who the league needs to target. It needs to target the high school kid in Chicago who loves soccer but opts to watch the EPL or La Liga because the product in his own backyard isn’t any good. There will be very few complete MLS converts just because David Beckham is playing in LA. What this league needs is more star power. Beckham is a good start but the league has to continue to recruit and sign the world’s best talent if it is to survive in this country.