Ultimate timeout. The timeout has always been a sacred part of athletics competition. Timeouts aren???t only important at the end of games when Chris Webber tries to take them, but as strategic devices used by players and coaches in all sports. When a pitcher gives up three consecutive hits in the first inning, what does the catcher do? Calls a timeout to go chat at the mound. When a basketball team scores 12 unanswered points, what does the opposing coach signal? Timeout. When Zack Morris was having problems with Kelly Kapowski on Saved By The Bell? Timeout to speak with the television audience! Timeouts were seemingly taken to a new level in the Philippines yesterday, as an out-of-shape thief ran out of breath while trying to elude his pursuers and turned around to request a timeout. I don???t think he was granted his request, as he was hauled off to jail instead. Interesting use of a timeout. I hadn???t thought of that one.

It???s a personal thing. For five consecutive days this week, ESPN???s Ivan Maisel is introducing what he believes to be the top 100 moments in college football history. Neither of my favorite college football moments are likely to make the list, but that???s what makes it so fun. When I was in college, I trekked down to Virginia Tech to watch Dwight Freeney and the Orange upset the Hokies in Blacksburg. With the whole stadium in VT colors, I sought out the families of the Syracuse players and cheered with them for four quarters. At the end of the game, I had an invite to meet them in Miami in two weeks. My second favorite college football moment came a few years later when I worked at Boston College. I was on the field in South Bend with about a minute to go when Tony Gonzalez caught a touchdown right in front of my face to give the Eagles a win over nationally-ranked Notre Dame. The only noise in Northern Indiana was coming from our sideline. Maisel has released his top 40 moments with 60 more to come during the next few days. Are your favorite football moments on there?

Poll update. Apparently none of our readers put much stock in a verbal commitment from an eighth grader. Not one respondent believes a commitment from a 13-year-old is solid, while 26 percent think those types of conversations are just a waste of time.