Written By: Bill Campbell

The World Series, featuring two teams from Texas and California, will not stimulate too many fans east of Chicago. But the Rangers and the Giants do produce much food for thought.

Bruce Bochy, the Giants manager, is a dedicated baseball guy. He got to the World Series as the San Diego manager in 1998 only to be swept by the Yankees. Just last week, in the deciding game of the Phillies series, he made three double-player switches, evidence of a guy who doesn't scare in close, low-scoring games. He has made those kinds of decisions all season.

As for the Rangers, they seem to be a team that delivers with men in scoring position. They have an interesting lead-off man in their shortstop, Elvis Andrus who hit over 300 in the six-game Yankee series. He hit safely in all of the Rangers post-season games, and in three of the six-game Yankees series scored the game's first run. He scored it in the first inning and also stole seven bases.

Maybe it's not a glamour World Series but it's nice to see some new faces in it for a change.

This was indeed a big sports week. The Eagles blew that game in Tennessee and, with their bye coming up, will have much time to think about it. And it appears that Andy Reid is returning to Michael Vick. If you tuned in late last Sunday, you would be inclined to think that Titans quarterback, Kerry Collins, and receiver, Kenny Britt -- a former Rutgers player incidentally -- were playing catch. Britt caught seven for 205 yards, one for 80. The Birds cover-two had to be embarrassed.

This only added to the misery of the weekend as we recall that strike three call on Ryan Howard the night before when he should have been swinging, if for no other reason than it was too close to take. Howard's lame excuse was that the umpire hesitated when making the call.

That wasn't the only sports drama of the week. There was a pro golf tournament in Las Vegas – the Timberlake Shriners Children's Hospital event – which ended in a three-way tie. Darkness was coming on and there was a play-off among three players. They decided to play one more hole, the 17th, a par 3, 204 yards. It was terminated with one swing by Jonathan Byrd – a hole in one, on the fourth extra hole. You have to wonder how many golf tournaments in the history of the game have ever been decided by a hole in one.

And finally, the 76ers will begin playing for real – a season opener against the NBA's hottest team, at least on paper, that collection of stars called the Miami Heat featuring LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The Sixers newest coach, Doug Collins, is back, apparently recovered from a possible concussion. There is much speculation about the Sixers' Evan Turner, their Number Two overall draft pick. Is he a point guard or a shooting guard? Even Rod Thorne, the Sixers new president, isn't sure. He called him a possible one, two or three.

It's been a busy sports week. And there will be many more to follow.