Dateline NBC invades Edmonton...

If Tuesday saw a few of the European powerhouses struggle in Champions League play, another batch of powerhouses used that as a wake-up call yesterday. Chelsea hammered MSK Zilina 4-1, Arsenal pounded Braga 6-0, Real Madrid downed one-time power Ajax Amsterdam 2-0 in a game that was nowhere near that close, and wow does Mesut Ozil look good for Real. Bayern Munich dominated AS Roma in their 2-0 win. Another batch of games is up next week.

Toronto FC opened the Nick Dasovic era with a CONCACAF Champions League game at fellow MLS squad Real Salt Lake. TFC didn't waste much time getting on the scoresheet, as Maicon Santos scored nine minutes in to give the Reds a surprise lead against RSL, who haven't lost at home since May of last year.  But, the rest of the way showed TFC have much work to do as they lost 4-1 though the final score was a bit unfair to the Reds.

Frequent contributor to colourful discussion on the "comment" side of this operation Bukakke showed up to my house in July, bearing a gift for my little boy.  An Edmonton Eskimos shirt.  "Cool", I thought, given my numerous visits to that fine town and having been to a handful of games at Commonwealth.  Now, with the hiring of accused sex offender GM Eric Tillman, the graphic on the front takes on a whole new meaning: "Start them young...raise them right."

Not sure if you've been let in on the secret, but the Manning boys are facing each other this weekend in Indianapolis. Keep it to yourselves. Read that Eli Manning's jersey is the top selling jersey in Canada.  Seems really, really unlikely, no?

New York Jet Darrelle Revis was discussing holding out in 2012 with Peter King, just days after signing a nice contract after a holdout: "If I continue to play ball like I usually do, we'll probably be back at that same position we were this year."  Classy.

Florida coach Urban Meyer has had 30 players arrested while on the job with the Gators. He's pretty much praised universally.  And then there is former USC running back Reggie Bush, who has never been arrested that we know of, and he's getting killed for taking some money to help his parents out and had to return the Heisman Trophy.  What a freaking world.

The Tampa Bay Rays won 4-3 over the Yankees to take their series 2-1 and take a half game lead in the AL East.  All three games were tight to the finish, all one run games.  Fantastic action in Tampa.  If you didn't see Yankee right fielder Greg Golson's cannon to throw out the speedy Carl Crawford to close Tuesday's game, check it out here.  Incredible. Oh, and Tampa and the Yanks best look close behind them as the Minnesota Twins are making a charge, just a half game behind the Yanks, one behind the Rays, for the best record in the AL.  That said, I suspect the Rays and Yankees are more than happy to play either Texas or Minnesota in the opening round.

Have a great Thursday.