Few remember the game at this point.

No one really remembers that Boise State held Oregon to just one measly scoring drive on the opening night of the NCAA season. Or that Boise more than doubled Oregon’s total offense. Or that they held the ball for 42 of the game’s 60 minutes.

No, they just remember the one thing the media deemed newsworthy: LeGarrette Blount’s punch-em-up after the final whistle had blown.

And truthfully, after the game had ended, that’s what fans were comfortable with the game’s legacy being. Yes, Oregon was ranked number 16, but if they lost to Boise, they couldn’t have really been all that great.

It was a cute little win for the Broncos, no doubt–just like their one the year before in Eugene–but that was it. No matter how much the Boise fans wanted the game to have an impact on the national title picture, most “knew” it was nothing more than a small moral victory for the Broncos.

And that’s exactly the way things have played out since. Boise’s gone un-vogue since their demolition of the Ducks. They almost lost to Tulsa for crying out loud! Not only have people stopped caring about Boise, they’ve really stopped caring about Boise, to the point where they continue to fall in the rankings despite doing nothing but winning.

But something troubling has happened as they’ve faded from national attention–Oregon has claimed it. Yes, it turns out the House of 10,000 uniforms was actually pretty good after all. After losing to Boise, they scuttled a few weeks more, barely beating Purdue before struggling against Utah at home. But then they started routing people.

Since their nonconference misadventures, they have rolled up four straight Pac 10 victories by a combined score of 161-38. That included a 42-3 demolition of then number six California, and a 43-19 victory at Washington–the same place USC lost in September.

Now they face USC later tonight in a de-facto Pac 10 championship game. They are at home and favored. If they win, they are going places. Only there’s one problem–Boise State.

Oregon is currently ranked tenth in the AP poll, Boise sixth and USC fourth. If Oregon wins, people’s first inclination is going to be to vault them. But how high can they really be vaulted in they can’t be moved ahead of Boise State?

And they can’t be moved ahead of Boise, right? True, their matchup was the first game of the season, and both are “different teams now,” but no matter when or where the game was played, how can voters acting in good faith put the Ducks in front of a team that so thoroughly dominated them and hasn’t lost all year? Would they really dare to put a BCS conference team ahead of an undefeated non-BCS team that not only beat them, but destroyed them?

Even for the consistently fraudulent and cumbersome BCS, this would be breaking new ground.

The questions will be many if Oregon wins.

The first being, if this Boise team–a team that smothered a top ten opponent that (potentially) won its BCS conference–can’t crack the national title game, which non-BCS team can? Will there ever be hope for the nations’ other conferences?

Second, is Oregon doomed? Assuming the pollsters do not want to look like the biggest hypocrites alive, it’s very possible that beating USC will be the Ducks’ peak this season if Boise remains undefeated.

Finally, is any of it fair? Oregon is a different team now. Boise State still is undefeated. So why does neither have a real shot at playing in the national title game, while few would bat an eye at a one loss Texas, Alabama or Florida team doing so?

The older the BCS era gets, it doesn’t age like a fine wine–it only reveals more cracks. Will this finally be the year it is damaged beyond repair? Boise State, Oregon and USC will have had a lot to say about it if it is.

–Patrick Daugherty, Red Editorial Staff

We all know who is showing up in Green Bay for a late game Sunday. But the Vikes would be happier if Antoine Winfield, Minnesota’s Pro Bowl CB, was coming with Brett Favre.

Winfield is out with an injured right foot and will use next week’s bye to be more fully healed for the stretch run. A three-cornerback rotation handled matters quite effectively against the Steelers (158 total passing yards for Big Ben and one measly-yard catch for Hines Ward). But, Earth to NFL, the Vikings still lost.

Winfield is the type of CB that other teams have to plan around, worry about the big turnover, throw to the other side. Aaron Rodgers will have an easier time of it because no doubt Minnesota showed everything on D last weekend, leaving plenty of digital video material for those football ops types in Green Bay to splice and dice.

Plus, apparently, Rodgers has a secret weapon. After the Pack trounced Cleveland last week, Rodgers said he thought the scout team ran Cleveland’s pass defense better than the Browns did during the game.

What will help Rodgers the most is if veteran OTs Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher can return for protection. Both practiced Friday and both would help give Rodgers the full opportunity to outduel Ol’ No. 4. The tackles playing in their place, rookie T.J. Lang and first-time starter Allen Barbre, are going to be solid pros. It just takes a while to completely acclimate to playing OT in the NFL, sort of like adjusting to the thin air at Pike’s Peak or walking through downtown Houston in July.

Those guys play, Packers win. Simple as that.

The RedHouse Rule of Picking Games: Offensive tackles and cornerbacks determine if you can get to the fourth quarter with a chance to win. The QBs take it from there. Minnesota is down a high-quality CB. Green Bay might get back a couple of above-average OTs. Rodgers and Favre are fourth-quarter QBs. Last guy with the ball wins.

Says here that Rodgers, who is respected by his teammates as The Man and no one in the Packers locker room is looking back at what coulda shoulda woulda with Favre. Says up on the TV screen right now that Chris Berman says it’s Vikes 28, Pack 27. It still says here Green Bay wins.

RedHouse cannot be swayed, unless of course you are talking a multi-year sponsorship deal, then have your webmaster call my webmaster. We’ll Skype.

Couple weeks ago, Giants at Eagles didn’t seem overly importante. Now, two losses later, the Giants need a ‘W’ and the Eagles are off the oxygen they had to be taking after losing to the Raiders. This one figures to be terrific first game of a NYC-Philly doubleheader. Take the New York teams to sweep, but only because Eagles RB Brian Westbrook and wideout DeSean Jackson are not completely healthy–something the Giants will accentuate with hard tackles and active elbows and knees in piles.

If you passed on Matt Schaub, you might be reaching for Alka-Seltzer right about now. Just sayin’.

Here’s how statistics work (or don’t work) in the NFL: Joe Flacco has six 4th-quarter touchdowns for the Ravens in six games. Sounds good, but then you realize Baltimore is 3-3 and staring at 6-0 Denver coming to town.

On the other hand, Falcons RB Michael Turner is averaging 1.6 yards less per carry this season compared to 2008. Doesn’t sound like a lot until you calculate that means every second-down play is about two yards longer for the first down and every third-down play is four  yards longer.

Atlanta needs to close the gap on Turner’s average to no more than 0.5 yards per carry year-over-year to make the playoffs, especially after losing at New Orleans come Sunday. The Saints can’t be stopped. At least not this week.

–Bob Condor, NFL RedHouse

–Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams wants Vince Young starting at quarterback beginning with Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, and he’s not being coy about it. Head coach Jeff Fisher has made the switch but didn’t want to at first, citing “competitive reasons.”  I had no idea losing 59-0 qualified as competitive.

–In the wake of Kansas City Chiefs RB Larry Johnson shooting his mouth off at head coach Todd Haley via Twitter and throwing around a few gay slurs (that rhyme with “bag”), the Chiefs have told Johnson to stay far away from the team . . . that should be the longest distance he’s travelled all season

–Disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy has had the release of his tell-all book cancelled, but portions of it have been leaked online. Donaghy clams that corruption is rife in the NBA and that betting is everywhere and refs give star players preferential treatment.  If you want to know how this whole thing will end, look at Jose Canseco. Donaghy will end up in a ring boxing Danny Bonaduce within a year . . . you can bet on it.

–It’s being reported that the NHL doesn’t think much of Wayne Gretzky anymore.  After his Phoenix Coyotes went bankrupt, a plan to sell the team to the NHL was announced.  Problem is, Gretzky is still owed 8.2 million in restitution and the NHL won’t give it to him.  Look, I know he’s not the greatest coach, but a deal is a deal.  Anyone want to tell commissioner Bettman that this is how coups start?  Nah . . . he’ll figure it out eventually . . .

–Speaking of raw deals, legendary college basketball Bob Knight has told Indiana University that he will not be attending his own induction into IU’s hall of fame next week.  Knight says the media interest in him would create an unfair distraction for the other six inductees, but I think it’s just because The General holds more grudges than wins in NCAA basketball, and he’s got 902 wins (the most of any Division I coach).

–It’s also being reported that when Oakland Raiders backup quarterback Charlie Frye got to work at 6:30 a.m. this week, Frye was shocked to see QB JaMarcus Russell was actually there!  This puts into perspective how sad football is in Oakland.  When their QB gets out of bed and goes to work in the morning, it’s considered news.

–Joey Alfino, Red Editorial Staff

It has been the reviled ingredient that ruins the breath of its consumer, often causing their love interest to cower away in disgust, nose pinched and eyes flooding with tears. It has been strung around many a supple neck to ward off vampires. It has been associated with Italian cooking for centuries, though Egyptians were often buried with it in their tombs long before Molto Mario was fondling the bulbs gently on The Food Network. It is bitter like Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann.

It mellows like Bob Marley when gently toasted or roasted. It goes with anything. It is garlic and this is its story.

It has had bit parts in Greek tragedies, fed to warring soldiers before battle for strength, been part of Egyptian burial urns found thousands of years later and of course, sliced and sautéed.

Heart disease, liver issues and performance issues all apparently get the “workover” by garlic’s curative powers. Blood is cleaned, lungs cleared, male “performance” issues solved. Garlic appears to do it all.

Shunned by America for most of the 17, 18 and 19th centuries, garlic finally gained a foothold in America as immigration increased. Polish, German and Italian immigrants brought Old World dishes that were useless without the bulb.  Sauces that once substituted onion, a distant allium relative, in place of garlic, were finally prepared the way they were done in the Old World as garlic was finally put back into place.

While America was now reveling in garlic and its flavors, old school Europe has made garlic a star for centuries. Bruschetta had garlic chopped into it, sauces had hints of garlic and Spain had garlic soup, a rich brew that incorporated garlic as the star.

And while cooked is the typical way garlic is used, other cooking uses of it in the raw are just as common. Left raw and pickled, the once pungent bulb is mellowed and softened with its ferocity of flavor gently blended with the pickling brine.  It is chopped raw and added to tomatoes for bruschetta. And some purists simply pop it into their mouths raw. That explains why they were dateless for prom.

The supermarket usually has one or two varieties of garlic for the home cook, but in the world there are over 600 cultivated sub-species.  A selected sampling follows:

–Purple Strip Garlic- hard neck species that have deep purple stripes. Rich in flavor but not overly pungent.

–Artichoke Garlic- soft neck variety most seen in supermarkets. More pungent.

–Silverskin Garlic- fragile skinned and used in garlic braids. Smaller than artichoke variety.

–Creole Garlic- rosy colored and very flavorful. Retain flavor well in cooking.

–Porcelain Garlic- rich white skin, large well-developed bulbs.  Rich flavor, blunted slightly by cooking. Does not store well.

Those are a few of the easier to find garlics in the US. They can be special ordered or found at boutique farmers markets. Each has it own distinct flavor and while some can be interchanged, loss of depth during cooking make some species better served raw.

Below is a riff on a Spanish style garlic soup. Traditions vary in Spain, some using stale bread as a thickener and others a lot more garlic. This has a nice balance and flavor. Optional garnishes are a small shot of extra virgin olive across the serving for a luster and bit more depth of flavor, croutons or parsley chopped and sprinkled on top.

Garlic Soup with Parmesan

30 garlic cloves (unpeeled), the artichoke or purple strip variety work fine
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups sliced onions
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
20 medium sized garlic cloves, peeled
3 cups chicken stock or canned chicken broth
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place unpeeled garlic cloves in small baking dish. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 35-45 minutes. Allow time to cool. Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves from the peels, transfer all to a small bowl.

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add roasted garlic and raw garlic cloves and cook 5 minutes. Add stock, cover and simmer until garlic is very tender, about 30 minutes. Using either a sauce baton or a Cuisinart, purée soup in blender until smooth. Return soup into saucepan; add cream and simmer for a few more minutes. Do not boil. Season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. Serve hot. Warm crusty bread should be served on the side.

Divide grated cheese and sprinkle evenly among bowls and ladle soup over. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve. A crisp white wine served with it is a great compliment.

–Tim Connors, Red Editorial Staff

–Another Carling Cup match was this week marred by the feral behaviour of some supporters. Fans of Man United and Barnsley were arrested amid violence, the robbing of a food kiosk and people jumping on a railway track. Intelligent bunch, clearly.

–Jermaine Pennant claims he’s the best right winger available to Fabio Capello, although he’s never won a full England cap. The Real Zaragoza man said: “I can beat players with pace, can offer creativity, skill on the ball and the quality of crosses.” He’s modest, too.

–Juande Ramos has been fired by CSKA Moscow after just seven weeks in charge, and a year after being axed by Tottenham. Strange to think that the Spaniard was one of the world’s most wanted coaches after guiding Sevilla to successive UEFA Cups.

–Blackburn were hammered 5-0 at Chelsea last weekend, at least three Rovers players have swine flu and their next league match is at Manchester United on Saturday. Boss Sam Allardyce must be wondering if he’s upset the football gods.

–Ambitious Steve Davies says he moved from Worcestershire to Surrey to improve his chances of replacing Matt Prior as England gloveman. At the Oval, his coaches will be former Test stars Alec Stewart (wicketkeeping) and Graham Thorpe (batting). You can see his point.

–Money was so tight when Jenson Button was growing up that his dad once borrowed £50 for petrol to get them home to Somerset after a kart race in Scotland. Now, as F1 world champion, he could get a reported £10 million windfall. Nice work.

–Amir Khan may make Los Angeles his permanent home because of the “bitterness and jealousy” he experiences in the UK. The WBA light-welterweight champion, 22, has been criticised by other British boxers and gets booed at fights. No wonder he fancies life abroad.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K.  Senior Sports Writer

As many of you might know, I spend a lot of time in these columns dropping a load on failing NHL hockey teams in southern climates.

Actually, I certainly haven’t pulled very many punches when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes: I attacked their former head coach, Wayne Gretzky, relentlessly (and in my opinion deservedly), and when it comes to moving the franchise out of Phoenix . . . let’s just say that my opinion differs from that of his Excellency, Emperor Bettman.

No, this article is not going to be me relieving my bowels on the howling pack.  In fact, I am here to say that I am slowly coming around on this team.  Ok, ok, maybe I even think they are amongst the most exciting teams to watch in the NHL right now.

I first became suspicious that there was something happening down in Phoenix when team captain, Shane Doan, won last year’s shootout competition in the All Star game.  It’s actually when I turned my focus onto this team.  I would wonder out loud, “How can a team with such a natural scorer be the laughing stock of the league?”  (I am pretty sure that the answer to that question had to do with coaching.)

Today, Shane has kept up with his incredible leadership, natural scoring ability and all round nice guy attitude.  Though, it does take more for a team to be a real threat and coincidentally, Phoenix, for the first time in franchise history is now a real threat in the west.

Here are the rest of the reasons why Phoenix is a real threat this year:

–A forward line with an average height of 6′1″ with likes of Robert Lang, Martin Hanzal, Matt Lombard and Scottie Upshall.

–A very deep defensive corps that can boast names like Ed Jovanowski, Zbynek Michalek, and Adrian Aucoin.

–Two goalies that are constantly competing for a #1 spot (Ilya Brzgalov and Jason Labarbera).

–Dave Tippett, what more can I say . . . ever since he has been around, this team’s playing has been, well . . . inspirational.  Yeah, I said it.  Just look at their last game in Columbus, he made some adjustments to the team and they took revenge for their home opener.

You see, it’s not because I always see the glass as half empty when I talk about the Coyotes.  It’s just that I think they deserve better for what they are about to become in the West: a top team with a load of draft picks and a really bright future.  The truth is that they need people to go out and support them.  It’s the only piece missing from a picture of a real championship team ( . . . that and a real owner).

–Ryan Matwiy, Red Editorial Staff

On Monday, October 8, 1956 the New York Yankees’ Don Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history in Game 5 against the cross-town rival, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

It is easily the best game ever pitched in post season history and arguably the most brilliant game ever thrown.

Wednesday night’s Game 1 performance from the Philles’ Cliff Lee wasn’t perfect, but it was among the finest games ever hurled in the Fall Classic.

On a cold, rainy night the 31-year-old lefty shut down the prolific Yankees offense, pitching the first complete game in the World Series since Josh Beckett’s 2003 nine-inning outing for the Marlins against, you guessed it, the Yankees.

Over his nine innings of work, Lee scattered six hits, allowed just one run and walked no one while striking out 10, becoming first pitcher in World Series history to fan 10 batters and allow no walks since Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe did it in 1949 and the third all-time.

In the fourth inning he set down the Yankees’ 3-4-5 hitters (Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada) on strikes.

But Lee also flashed the leather last night.

In the sixth inning Lee nonchalantly caught a Johnny Damon pop-up at the hip to record the second out, in the seventh he fielded a slow-roller down the first base line and tagged Posada for the second out and in the eighth made an incredible behind-the-back grab of a Robinson Cano one-hopper back to the mound for the first out.

Lee’s stunning Game 1 performance was just one more amazing outing this post season for the former Cy Young.

In his first career post season Lee has thrown two complete games, had two games with 10 strikeouts, has allowed just three walks and two earned runs, struck out 30 and has a microscopic 0.54 ERA in four starts. His ERA ranks seventh all-time in the post season but for pitchers with 30 or more post season innings it ranks at the top.

Lee wasn’t the only lefty setting World Series records last night though.

Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley became the second left-handed hitter ever to go yard twice in a World Series game off a lefty starter, one in the third and one in the sixth, both off C.C. Sabathia. The only other player to accomplish this: Babe Ruth in 1928 . . . nice company.

More important than all this though is the Game 1 victory.

All of the last six Game 1 winners went on to win the championship, as well as 18 of the last 21. The win also guarantees them of at least a split when the series moves to Philly and forces the Yankees to win at least one road game to take the series back to New York.

Tonight’s Game 2 isn’t a must-win situation for the Yankees per-se, but going into Philly with an 0-2 deficit would all-but nail the coffin shut, since lately the Yankees are known more for their October collapses than come-backs.

–Aaron Whitebread, Red Editorial Staff

So Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is planning to sell the naming rights to the club’s stadium.

After failing to attract a suitable bid for his majority shareholding, Ashley has decided to try and raise a few quid by attracting a sponsor for the ground.

That means that instead of St James’ Park, Newcastle fans could soon be watching their heroes in action at the Newcastle Brown Arena or the Metro Radio Stadium.

It doesn’t sound like a canny PR move, Mike.

Newcastle fans are proud of their heritage and St James’ Park is their place of worship.

Plans to re-name the ground will not go down well with them.

They are still smarting at the treatment Kevin Keegan received after returning to the club for a second stint as manager.

Keegan, remember, was undermined by the appointment of Dennis Wise as Director of Football and resigned amid much speculation regarding off-the-field matters.

Keegan was later successful in securing a £2million settlement.

The introduction of Alan Shearer as caretaker manager towards the end of the season was welcomed by the Toon faithful.

But Shearer was not offered the job on a full-time basis due to uncertainty over the ownership of the club.

Newcastle fans have every right to feel dismayed with the way things have turned out since Ashley pitched up 2007.

They have seen their club relegated to the Championship and lost not one but two legendary figures who occupied the manager’s hot-seat.

With Newcastle no longer on the market, the club is looking to “maximise its commercial revenues”, according to a statement.

Central to this plan is the naming rights offer.

Clubs always face a backlash when such an idea is mooted.

Remember the outrage when Leicester City announced plans to call their ground The Walkers Bowl?

That was a step too far and a compromise was reached when it was named The Walkers Stadium.

Bradford City cashed in on their Valley Parade ground, which became The Pulse Stadium and later The Bradford & Bingley Stadium.

And of course we have Bolton’s Reebok Stadium and Wigan’s DW Stadium, named after owner Dave Whelan. Nice bit of self-publicity, Dave.

None of the names sound quite right to me, but then again I don’t have to raise substantial sums to pay players wages.

–Nick Johnson Red U.K. Editorial Staff

A position-by-position look at the two teams vying for baseball’s title.

First base:
Easily the position with the most shared firepower between the two clubs, Ryan Howard led the National League in RBI this season, while Mark Teixeira led the American League. Both have glaring weaknesses in their approach–Tex has little power away from the cozy confines of New Yankee Stadium, and Howard can’t hit lefties. That being said, Howard has driven in 14 runs and batted .355 this postseason, while Tex has hit just .205 with five RBI. Tex’s sterling defense at first base could be quite beneficial against Philly’s lefty heavy lineup, but the bottom line is Howard is playing like he’s been here before, and Texeira isn’t.  Advantage Phillies.

Second base:
Simply put, Chase Utley is better at every facet of the game than Robinson Cano. He has more power, gets on base more often, is a better defender (despite two curiously awful errors in the NLCS) and doesn’t make nearly as many mistakes on the basepaths (read: none versus many). This postseason, Utley is hitting .303 with a .439 on-base percentage, while Cano is at just .229 and .341, respectively.   Advantage Phillies.

Third base:
A-Rod may be a hulking, slugging, hollowed out shell of the all-around player he once used to be, but he’s still been the most dangerous hitter this October this side of Ryan Howard. Pedro Feliz is . . . Pedro Feliz. Advantage Yankees.

Shortstop:
While you would think this one would be close to a Howard/Texeira like wash, Jeter out-produced Jimmy Rollins in almost every area in 2009. He hit more, got on base more, hit better on the road and had a better second half of the season. Meanwhile, he is hitting .297 this October, and getting on-base at a clip of .435. Rollins, after posting an abysmal .296 OBP during the regular season, has been even worse this October, getting on at a rate of just .279. Unacceptable. Jeter’s still the man, and he still owns October. Advantage Yankees.

Catcher:
Jorge Posada is clearly a better catcher than Carlos Ruiz. He has been a premier hitting backstop for nearly 15 seasons, while Ruiz is a career .246 hitter. This postseason, though, Ruiz is stinging the ball to a tune of .346, and Posada is batting just .258. Normally, this wouldn’t be enough to give the Phils the edge. However, Posada is primed to sit out two games of a potential seven game series when A.J. Burnett pitches. This means that Jose Molina and his .217 2009 average will be dragging down the lineup in games that very well could be shootouts. Advantage Phillies.

Outfield:
One of the only categories where one team blows the other away, Philadelphia has three All-Star outfielders while the Yankees have three place holders for future free agent signees. Despite a $200 million opening day payroll, the Yanks had an outfield, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher, that combined to hit “just” .269 with 66 home runs and 232 RBI. Admittedly not bad, but outpaced by Philadelphia’s .278/80/254.

Where the Yankees’ shoe-string outfield really comes into focus, however, is these playoffs. Their trio is hitting just .229 with 2 home runs and ten RBI. Philadelphia’s trifecta of All-Stars, meanwhile, is batting .293 with an amazing nine home runs and 26 RBI.  Advantage Phillies.

Starting pitching:
Team aces Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia are a virtual wash after equally breathtaking October pitching (Lee 0.74 ERA in 24.1 innings, Sabathia 1.19 ERA in 22.2).

The same is true for their struggling number twos, A.J. Burnett and Cole Hamels. Although, while Burnett has been wild, he’s limited the damage. His pedestrian 4.42 ERA looks Koufax-esque next to Hamels’ 6.75.

Meanwhile, the wily veterans that comprise the teams number threes are stunningly equal, as well. Andy Pettitte has a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings this postseason, while Pedro Martinez threw seven scoreless in his one start. Pedro has a 2.95 career ERA in New York, but Pettitte is the postseason’s all-time winningest pitcher.

If either team opts for a fourth starter, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ of the Phils are both vastly better options than Chad Gaudin. Still, Burnett’s edge over Hamels makes it . . . Advantage Yankees.

Bullpen:
Perhaps the Yankees’ biggest advantage, though a reformed Brad Lidge and Happ and Blanton in the ‘pen have narrowed the gap between the two teams from a canyon to a gulf. Brett Myers could be an interesting wildcard, as well. But, Mariano Rivera equals . . . Advantage Yankees.

Overall:
If the Phillies do not crumble once they stare across the field at those pinstripes, like Minnesota and Los Angeles did, this should be a relatively easy series for them. They are a better all-around club, and the defending world champions. With four of the potential seven games coming in New York’s little house of horrors, though, anything can happen.

Still, if things shake out the way they should on paper, the Phillies should be the first National League repeat champions since the Reds in 1975-76. After not dropping more than one game in any of their past five playoff series, it will happen here, but not to the tune of defeat.

Phillies in six.

–Patrick Daugherty, Red Editorial Staff

In much the same way that parents jazz up vegetables to make them more palatable to their children, Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz sneak hip music performed by the indie-rock group The Shins or songs by hip hop artists like Biz Markie into Yo Gabba Gabba!, their hit children’s show which is full of colorful characters including a yellow robot, a one eyed red Cyclops and a tall bespeckled man wearing a fuzzy orange hat and what looks like an orange leisure suit that should have been destroyed back in the 1970s.

It’s a perfect lure for parents whose brains have turned numb listening to the theme song of Barney way too many times.    And now Jacobs and Schultz are hitting the road with Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: There’s a Party in My City which premieres in Los Angeles on November 14th and then continues on to New York City and Chicago. 

Almost immediately after ticket sales started on October 14th, the shows sold out and new ones had to be added.  With all this hubbub going on, Yo Gabba Gabba! co-creator Christian Jacobs found time to chat with Red about his show, family and Japanese toys.

For fans of the Nick Jr. show, what can they expect from the live show?

We’re trying to basically turn up the volume and do everything in full glory.  We wanted to provide a rock show environment that is age appropriate for kids, that introduces kids to a giant rock show with guest musicians, lots of characters and lots of fun.  It’s more of a live show than a stage play and the essence of the show when we were creating if was to do something different, something we would like to have had when we were kids.

How hard was it to translate from the TV format to a live show?

It was actually very easy because the show at its core is a music show.

You spent some time living in Japan.  How did that influence some of the characters in Yo Gabba Gabba!?

From 1991 to 1993 I spent time living in Japan teaching English and doing missionary work.  The different culture rubbed off on me.  I’ve always been a cartoon fan and I got back to my roots watching Japanese cartoons.  I also spent a lot of time in toy shops in Japan and the cartoon characters and toy characters influenced the show. Characters like Brobee and Moono are actually existing characters, but they were mean bad guys so  we redesigned them to be a little more friendly. Scott (co-creator Scott Schultz) and I are very big kid show fans from all over the world and we watch all sorts of different shows.  The world is shrinking now and the Internet is letting us see so much of the world.  It’s not a U.S. world anymore, it’s international and so there are a lot of international influences in the show.  We try to keep it non-exclusive to English, we don’t do words or letters.

How is that working out?

We’re the number one show in Australia.  We’re in South America, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada.  We did our live show in Australia this spring.  We cut our teeth internationally.

When co-creator Scott Schultz wasn’t touring the world with his dad, a director of music variety shows, he spent time with his friend Christian Jacobs.  As they grew up, the two collaborated on projects, formed bands and then, after marrying and staring families of their own, created the type of kid’s show they’d like to watch.

What are some the kid TV shows you and Scott watched as kids?

A lot of the influences for the show come from our childhood and such shows as Sesame Street, Electric Company, Banana Splits and Pee Wee Herman.

How did you come up with the concept of the show?

We were watching shows with our kids and we wanted to connect to them, to create something we could watch with them.  The show is pure enthusiasm, we’re into music and what’s new and we wanted to push the boundaries without being too obvious.  We love music.  We are parents and we are making the show as parents for our kids.  We’re not just trying to sell lunchboxes. I have four kids, my oldest is 10 and my youngest just turned three months.  We take situations from home.  That’s why we can write a song like “Don’t Bite Your Friends.”  We’re paying attention to what our kids are doing.  Creating the shows is like a labor of love for our families.

You and Scott have known each other forever.  What’s it like to work together?

We’re like brothers.  We know what annoys us about each other but we’re very protective of each other.  And we know what the other is thinking.

Do you still live close by?

We live about 20 minutes from each other.  We get together socially on our birthdays, our kids get along together.

Your show started online and then it got picked up by Nick Jr. because people were sending links of your show to someone there.  Tell us about that?

The show springs out of DIY: Do it yourself, put it on the Internet and if it’s good, people will watch it and tell others about it.  Ten years ago, the show couldn’t have made it because there was no way we could have taken it to pitch meetings.  I hope that they’ll be an increase in quality and diverse programming because of the Internet and how it lets people get things out there.

You’ve had such guests on the show as Amy Sedaris, Jack Black, Jack McBrayer from 30 Rock and Elijah Wood.  How does that work?

The first season we were asking people.  Now, it’s more like they’re contacting us.  Jack Black’s wife emailed and said that their son loves the show and asked how to get Jack on the show.

Any thoughts on why Yo Gabba Gabba! is so popular?

I think it’s partly because I stopped developing mentally at 11 years old.

To order tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba! Live visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com

–Interview by Jane Ammeson, Red Editorial Staff