Matt Barkley, second-year starter at USC, picked apart Hawaii’s defense for five touchdowns yesterday in leading the Trojans to a 49-36 victory.

Meaningless in the fact USC is banned from any postseason play? Yes. But in terms of numbers, Lane Kiffin is 1-0 and Barkley’s game was quite legendary. In fact, since 2000, his 243.86 passer rating for the game is the third highest by any USC quarterback…

USC, Highest Passer Rating in Game, Since 2000
1.) Mark Sanchez: 263.76 (10/18/08 vs. Washington State)
2.) Matt Leinart: 263.35 (9/17/05 vs. Arkansas)
3.) Matt Barkley: 243.86 (9/2/10 vs. Hawaii)

Ever consider how people would react if Barkley ended up winning the Heisman? Or is the notion even a possibility?

Last night, in his second appearance in the major leagues, Aroldis Chapman reached 105 mph on the gun. Gulp.

Though unofficial, Chapman’s stinger is now the fastest pitch all time, right ahead of Joel “Guitar Hero” Zumaya’s 104.8 mph pitch in 2006.

Steroid Fact of the Day: of the 47 members in the 100 mph club, just eight accomplished the feat before 2000, and just two did it before 1990.

If you thought rapper’s grills were expensive, check out the tag on Troy Polamalu’s hair.

The long, flowing black hair that tumbles out of Polamalu’s helmet and down his back – it’s nearly three feet long – has been insured for $1 million by Head and Shoulders, the shampoo brand that is endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers safety.

The insurance was obtained through Lloyd’s of London, which did not reveal what must be done to Polamalu’s hair for anyone to collect on the policy (Fox Sports).

Hey, if he’s ever out of cash in a basement poker game, all he needs is a pair of scissors.

Just 12 starts into his big league career, Stephen Strasburg has gone the way of many young pitchers these days – probable Tommy John surgery.

Why is this such a new era epidemic? What happened to rubber arms like Cy Young, Nolan Ryan and even recent retirees Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux?

For Strasburg, there seems to be two options: he could come back completely healthy and throwing even harder. But on the other hand, he’s only 21-years-old and already requiring the ligament switch. Tommy John was 31-years-old and 12 seasons in to his career before requiring the surgery.

First, here are some big league pitchers who’s careers turned out just fine despite having the surgery before turning 30:
• A.J. Burnett (post surgery: 79-65, 4.00 ERA)
• Josh Johnson (post surgery: 33-11, 2.98 ERA, including 2.28 ERA in 2010)
• Joakim Soria (post surgery: 125 saves, 2.02 ERA in just four big league seasons)
• Randy Wolf (post surgery: 46-35, 4.25 ERA since 2006)
• Matt Morris (post surgery: 102-78, 4.21 ERA)
• Billy Koch (post surgery: four straight seasons, 1999-2002 of 30+ saves)
• Shaun Marcum (post surgery: 11-7 with 3.61 ERA in 2010)

But to me, it always comes back to Kerry Wood, who was never close to his 1998 form after requiring Tommy John surgery before the next season. My opinion: the Bleacher Report nails it in dubbing Strasburg a “Kerry Wood Clone.” Strasburg may recover fine and have a successful career, but I doubt we’ll ever see the same mind-boggling kid who blew everyone away in 2010.

It starts with the classic last name, which could very well be shared with former Seattle great, Shawn Kemp.

But Kevin Kemp, a.k.a. “The Golden Child,” is an up-and-coming dunking legend, along with being the self-proclaimed “highest jumper on the TFB.”

From viral reports, he’s just over six feet tall and 20 years old. Mad skills.