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  Bob Lutz  

Chiefs would do Gonzalez a favor by trading him

Imagine how strong the Big 12 South would be if Texas A&M didn't (insert your own negative word here):

• Tony Gonzalez is surely hanging by the phone, hoping it rings. Or buzzes. Or plays "Please Release Me." Or whatever his phone does to indicate an incoming call.

The Chiefs tight end must be ecstatic about his impending trade, which should happen today. Unless this is all a cruel joke and the Chiefs keep him on their journey to nowhere.

Gonzalez, who has been to nine Pro Bowls but never won a postseason game, doesn't have a lot of time left. So the Chiefs, who obviously aren't going anywhere this season, next season or the season after that, would be doing the 32-year-old a great big favor by dealing him to a contender, as has been rumored.

Personally, I'd like to see Gonzalez go to the New York Giants, who are badly in need of a tight end.

Gonzalez would help a lot of teams. And he's one of the good guys in the NFL. The Chiefs would be doing him a great big favor by sending him to a place where he'll have a chance to win a ring.

But what is enough to get in return?

I've read reports that the Chiefs are asking only for a third-round draft pick. I've read, too, that they're asking for a second- and a fifth-rounder.

It's a team in full rebuilding mode, and Gonzalez helps them more by going elsewhere.

• One of my good friends, Pete Goering, has retired after 35 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Goering, who grew up in tiny Lehigh, a town on K-15 I pass every time I drive to a Kansas State game, is battling lung cancer and decided to leave the newspaper business a few years early.

Goering has long been one of the finest journalists in Kansas and somewhat of a mentor to me, though from afar. I often read his stuff and tried to emulate his work.

On a personal level, it was always a joy to be around Pete, who for the past few years has been in management positions at the Capital-Journal after covering sports for more than two decades.

My best wishes to Goering and his family.

• While there are things to like about the Dallas Cowboys (Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Terence Newman), there are many things not to like (Adam Jones, Terrell Owens, Jerry Jones).

America's Team (really?) lost to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. I was elated.

The Cowboys have always been about bombast. Well, not always. Not in the days of Tom Landry. Then, the team won with class and style, even though it was a little on the boring side.

I didn't really like the Cowboys in those days, either. But they weren't as annoying as the current bunch, which will be without Romo, who has a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand, for four weeks.

• The first BCS standings come out Sunday, and I can't wait.

As you know, I'm a huge fan of the BCS. I think it does wonders for college football. Uh-huh, I sure do.

Anyway, I have been writing about my dream BCS scenario since the beginning of the season. It changes from week to week, of course, as do the viable contenders to play in the national championship game.

Here's what I'm hoping for now:

Alabama loses a game. Ohio State beats Penn State. The winner of the BYU-Utah game in a few weeks finishes the regular season unbeaten. So does Boise State. Ball State, too. What the heck.

In the amazing Big 12 South, which has four teams among the nation's top eight, here's my ideal recipe:

Missouri beats Texas on Saturday; Texas beats Oklahoma State on Oct. 25; Texas Tech beats Texas on Nov. 1; Oklahoma State beats Texas Tech on Nov. 8; Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma on Nov. 29.

What you would then have is a bunch of one-loss teams and some unbeaten teams from lesser conferences. I want to see how the BCS would sort out that mess.

Probably by having Ohio State and Southern California play for the championship. Ugh.

Eagle sports columnist Bob Lutz co-hosts "Sports Daily" from 9-11 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1240-AM and 98.7-FM. Reach him at 316-268-6597 or blutz@wichitaeagle.com.