Let the complaining and politicking begin! With just one week of game’s left to be played in the college basketball season, teams across the country are going to be groveling to the Selection Committee to try to make their case for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. We’re ranting all across the sports world here at Bankroll Sports, though, and here’s who we’re upset with this week.

Rap Sheet Picture of the Week

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who was accused of yet another assault charge this week.

We’re coming right out with the gloves off. Hey Connecticut Huskies, do you really want to go dancing or not? Instead of whining about how hard your schedule was this year, why don’t you turn around and beat somebody? Or better yet, how about trying to figure out how to win a conference road game? After losing at Notre Dame and South Florida this past week, UConn doesn’t even remotely deserve consideration for an at-large bid to the dance, but you and I both know full well that wins against St. John’s on Tuesday and Marquette on Wednesday will probably somehow sneak the Huskies in the field.

Can someone explain to me what the heck the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers are doing? I understand that the Bolts wanted to cut ties with RB LaDainian Tomlinson before his career totally fell off the map, but what gives with trading DB Antonio Cromartie to the Jets for a song and a dance? Don’t you remember that it was New York’s defense which gave you all of those hassles in the playoffs last year? Do you think that unit is getting worse by giving them your second best defensive player?

And Arizona, what are you doing, too? You had the NFC West already neatly packaged for you even if QB Matt Leinart proved to be a total stiff. But you let WR Anquan Boldin, S Antrel Rolle, LB Karlos Dansby, and a host of others get away from you. Now, you’re no better than a .500 team in a lousy division… which may still be good enough to win the NFC West… which is worth ranting about in itself when you consider how good the NFC East and AFC South are…

To the Cleveland Cavaliers: If you’re going to get trounced by the Bucks by a touchdown without F LeBron James in the lineup, what does that tell you about your future if you let “The King” skip town? If your name wasn’t F Antawn Jamison (30 points) or G Delonte West (27 points), you didn’t score more than seven points in Milwaukee. What’s up with that? Oh that’s right. It’s just another example of how lousy the Cavs really are without their pride and joy in the lineup, and is a harsh reminder that this team had to be the worst in the NBA just to earn the right to land LeBron in the draft in the first place.

Finally, we’ll take a swipe at HC Phil Jackson, who called his F Pau Gasol “weak and sickly.” Now Phil, we know you’re the Zen master and all of that, but if I’m not mistaken, Gasol has put together double-doubles in four of his L/5 games, and has scored a total of 41 points in his L/3. Maybe it’s not your big man that is “weak and sickly” after all. Maybe it’s just your whole team. You’ve dropped three straight overall and now have both the Mavs and Nuggets in your rear view mirror trying to stalk you for the top spot in the Western Conference.

In the midst of the Arizona Cardinals first ever trip to the Super Bowl and NFC Championship last Sunday, star wide receiver Anquan Boldin had a melt down on the sidelines with offensive coordinator Todd Haley. In case you haven’t heard or seen, Boldin is very unhappy with the way he has been used during the postseason for Arizona despite the Cardinals success. Call me crazy, but if my team was going to the Super Bowl I would not care near as much if I was not catching every touchdown on the field. I know Boldin has been a huge factor this season for the Cardinals and he is a tremendous player I just think these actions could have been avoided. When this argument ignited, the Eagles had the ball with a little under 6 minutes to play and the Cardinals were facing the idea of suffering defeat from a big come back from Philadelphia. Still Arizona would end up making a game winning drive and earning their first trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history.

Boldin’s actions come at a time that was not only surprising considering the magnitude of position of the game, but during a time that would have more likely hurt the time rather than helped. Anquan Boldin is a stellar wide receiver that has never been in any type of off the field issues. Boldin’s presence in the Arizona lineup means everything to the Cardinals success. Perhaps Boldin just is not happy that all the touchdowns and catches are going to the other playmaker on the other side of the field in teammate Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has been unstoppable during the playoffs with big play after big play. Fitzgerald broke a playoff record with 419 receiving yards over the last 3 games including the first ever player to score 3 touchdowns in the first half of the NFC Championship Game. Boldin and Fitzgerald were dynamic forces together on the field this season. Both star receivers had over 1,000 yards and combined for an outstanding 23 touchdowns for the year. The numbers were fairly split with Fitzgerald catching a few more yards, but with nearly identical touchdown numbers. However, since the playoffs Fitzgerald has stolen the spotlight.

Anquan Boldin only caught 4 passes for 34 yards in the Cardinals NFC Championship win last Sunday and by those numbers you might understand why the star player was upset. However, when your teammate is constantly breaking open and making big plays to put your team ahead I do not see where the conflict comes in. Boldin only has 119 yards during the playoff this season, but I believe with the actions of last Sunday he actually hurt his Super Bowl performance before the game takes place and here is why: The Steelers are going to have to lock down on Larry Fitzgerald possibly not only with a cornerback, but with a safety coming in for doubling support. You would have to think that would be priority number one. This would have likely played into Boldin’s advantage giving him the opportunity to make some big plays. Do not get me wrong there is no defense in the NFL that is going to forget Boldin’s amazing talent and simply not cover him. However, with the outburst on the sideline and the media frenzy the Steelers are much more likely to give even extra attention to the ball coming Boldin’s direction during the Super Bowl.

It is just hard to understand Boldin’s actions last Sunday. Sure I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he was caught up in the heat of the moment, but still if the Cardinals lose the game there would have been a lot more fingers pointing to Anquan for the sidelines controversy that was going on. These Terrell Owens type antics are not expected from a player as respected as much as Anquan Boldin is by teammates and friends. I would not go as far as to say Boldin is not happy for the success that Larry Fitzgerald has had in recent games, but I would not hold back from saying there is a bit of jealousy there as well. What makes the scenario even worse, is that after the game Boldin was no where to be found. Big deal many might think, but this was after his team had just won the NFC Championship and they were all celebrating together. All the hard work that goes into the off-season and the painful workouts are what makes those moments with teammates so special when everyone feels rewarded together. Except one of the biggest players that helped get them together was headed back to the locker rooms instead of celebrating on the field with his team. Hopefully and likely this will not affect the Cardinals chances of winning a Super Bowl, but still the actions and timing were a little bit out of line.