Column as I see 'em:

* I wanted to believe that Albert Pujols was different. I had hoped that Pujols, a former Clemente award winner for "best exemplifying the game of baseball," would be true to his team instead of his ego and not simply go for the biggest pile of money.

Well, he let me down. Pujols, who claimed he wanted to be a Cardinal for life, signed with the Angels for 10 years and $254 million. So the game's best hitter won't finish his career in St. Louis, a civic hero to rival Stan Musial.

It's never a surprise when athletes go for the money (I'm sure he'll say it's not about the money). But while it's disappointing, it's understandable. Pujols, who turns 32 next month, can be a designated hitter in the AL, minimizing the physical toll and prolonging his career.

Critics question the lengthy deal. But it's great for LA. Pujols is No. 4 in career slugging behind Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. He'll be at least a .300, 30 homer, 100 RBI man for the next five years.

He'll be a salary drain at 40. That's small comfort to the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers. This move, plus the signing of starter C.J. Wilson, makes the Angels a force.

* This comes as no shock, but I'm disgusted with college football. An LSU-Alabama rematch for the national title is a joke. But the real joke is the rest of the BCS bowls. No Boise State. No Baylor. Virginia Tech, which didn't beat a single Top 25 team, goes to the Sugar Bowl. Hey, Hokies fans travel well.

Until there's a playoff system, the travesty will continue. In the year of the Penn State scandal, it's a further embarrassment for a corrupt enterprise.

* I'm not sure local hoop fans grasped the enormity of UB's 84-55 win at Dayton. It was UB's biggest road win since 1987. It was also the worst home loss for Dayton since January 1995. Dayton is 81-12 in the last five years at UD Arena, which seats 12,500 and was recently voted the best college hoop venue by ESPN.

Dayton has won 10 of its last 15 home games against ranked teams. The Flyers beat 15th-ranked Alabama, 74-62, at home Wednesday. Luckily, St. Bonaventure gets to play its Atlantic 10 game against Dayton in Olean on Jan. 11.

* Good to see the veterans committee put Ron Santo into the Hall of Fame. Some baseball writers are miffed because Santo never got half the vote when he was eligible. But I'm with Bill James, who considers Santo the sixth greatest third baseman ever. Santo had 342 homers and 1,331 RBIs. He played his career as a diabetic and retired early at 34. He won five gold gloves.

If you don't think Santo belongs, you should revisit Brooks Robinson. Santo was a better offensive player. He hit .277 in his career, with a .464 slugging percentage and .362 on-base average. Robinson's totals were .267-.401-.322.

* Has anyone missed Brad Boyes? Counting playoffs, he has three goals in his last 39 games. People were exulting at last year's deadline when Darcy Regier traded for a player who had a $4 million salary hit this season. Never would have happened under the former owner! It doesn't look so good now. No way Boyes should cut into Zack Kassian's playing time when he returns from injury.

* Wade Phillips is proving once again that his true calling was defensive coordinator. It's amazing what Phillips is doing with the Texans, despite the loss of Mario Williams. Opposing teams are completing 49.8 percent of their passes, a remarkable figure in today's NFL.

* It's chic to trash Alex Rodriguez, but he gave up the shortstop position to Derek Jeter without complaint when he came to the Yankees. You can't say the same about Hanley Ramirez in Miami.

* Shane Battier will give the Heat a solid outside shooter and defender. But Battier is 33 and not as adept at guarding the perimeter these days.

jsullivan@buffnews.comnull