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It was a long day for JaMarcus Russell -- and Raiders fans.

AP

It's only one game, but the Raiders were no better under new coach Tom Cable than his predecessor, Lane Kiffin. Did anyone expect them to be this bad in Cable's first game as head coach?

The final score – Saints 34, Raiders 3 – suggests things will get worse before they get better for Oakland.

The Raiders trailed 10-3 at halftime. Whatever Cable, the former offensive line coach, told his team in the locker room didn't resonate with the players as the Saints scored 24 unanswered points in the second half.

Whatever Kiffin said to Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell earlier in the week also was counterproductive. Raiders owner Al Davis, who fired Kiffin on Sept. 30 after their public feud, could not have happy that Kiffin called Russell and offered advice about the Saints to the second-year quarterback.

Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial opening puck at the Flyers-Rangers game in Philadelphia. It was a risky move considering Philly fans' well-documented hostility towards, well, everything. Palin's reception was -- as one might expect -- mixed.

Terry Francona and John Farrell vent to ump Sam Holbrook.

Elsa/Getty Images

Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s Game 2 postgame news conference was brief. Only three questions were asked, and there was no mention of plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejecting Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell in the bottom of the 11th.

In the top of inning, the Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out when Holbrook called a pitch from Rays reliever David Price that was clearly off the plate a strike, punching out Mark Kotsay. The PitchTrax box showed what my naked, weary eyes could see: the ball wasn’t even close to being in the strike zone.

It was a huge call and looked even costlier to the Red Sox when Coco Crisp, the next batter, grounded out to end the threat and keep the score tied at 8.

Then in the bottom of the inning, Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin was squeezed by Holbrook. There was a pitch to Dioner Navarro, leading off the inning, that was called a ball even though it was in virtually the  same identical location as the pitch that Price struck out Kotsay. PitchTrax showed that pitch was clearly outside, but Timlin didn’t get the makeup call. Navarro wound up walking.

Texas QB Colt McCoy avenged last season's loss to OU.

AP

Some telling numbers in No. 5 Texas’ thrilling 45-35 victory over top-ranked Oklahoma Saturday in the Cotton Bowl:

48 -- Rushing yards by Oklahoma. The Sooners were unable to establish the run, averaging a mere 1.8 yards for their 26 carries.

161 -– Rushing yards by Texas. Chris Ogbonnaya was responsible for 127 of them, including a 62-yard scamper that set up the touchdown to make it a 10-point game late in the fourth quarter.

.800 -– Completion percentage by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who connected on 28 of his 35 passes.

20 –- Combined receptions by Texas wide receivers Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley. The two amassed 234 yards in receiving and 401 total yards, including a 96-yard kick return by Shipley for a touchdown.

37:10 -– Time of possession by Texas.

Charlie Manuel and Terry Francona have survived Manny.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

This just occurred to me. If the Red Sox and Dodgers meet in the World Series, Manny Ramirez can’t lose. Regardless of the outcome, he figures to receive a bonus because he played for both teams this season. He might even come away with another ring, which would be his third.
 
Now that I think about it, a Phillies-Red Sox matchup in the Fall Classic also would be intriguing because it would pit the old school vs. the new school. On one side you have Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and GM Pat Gillick. On the other side is Red Sox manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein. Sabertooth tigers vs. Sabermetricians.

The managers have a few things in common.