Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Royals Broadcast Team Thinks They Are Interviewing Guy Fieri (They Weren't)
This is hilarious! The Kansas City Royals broadcast team are up Guy Fieri's butt. Fieri is the host of various Food Network shows.
Oh. Wait. That isn't Guy Fieri at all! That is just some fat slob who dyed his hair blonde and put on sunglasses at night. You can tell by just looking at him, hearing his voice or listening to his canned answers about food. My favorite part is him blowing off the interviewer to attending to his cell phone.
It's Official: Brett Favre Has Gotten On My Nerves
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I used to like Brett Favre. I wasn't a Packers fan, nor a fan of Favre, but I respected him. He was unconventional but always had his team in the hunt. I've always thought of Favre like this: he wasn't the greatest quarterback ever, but there were games where you thought he was.
In the last few years ... and especially over the past year ... I've grown tired of Favre's crap. He spent offseasons staying firmly on the fence about retiring. When he finally did, he was shocked that the Packers moved on. He then tried to play the media game to get out of Green Bay (or get his starting gig back). The New York Jets took a chance on him; missed the playoffs; and gave Favre the release he wanted.
Now ... after retiring yet again ... there are rumors that he may go to the Minnesota Vikings.
What is this? First off, why Favre is mad at the Packers is a mystery to me. Green Bay gave Favre anything he wanted while he was there. They sat there with his replacement ready as Favre jerked the team around every offseason. When he said he was done, the Packers moved on like they were supposed to do. Just because you un-retire doesn't mean that things go back the way they were.
He then stunk up the joint in New York over the last month of the season. He abruptly retired after the season, leaving many to assume that this was really it.
So the current revelation that Favre asked for his unconditional release from the Jets (he asked not once, but twice) and now he is rumored to be talking to the Vikings about a job just kills me.
I get the fact that he wants to play. But why do you keep retiring? I'm sure that every NFL player feels like retiring after the completion of a season, but most just need to recharge their batteries and they are fine.
Now, in what seems like a desperate cry for attention, he wants to come to Minnesota ... presumably to play against the Packers. I mean, why not keep playing for the Jets if you still have the yearning to play? Why did you retire last year if you were going to play another two seasons?
Favre has turned from a beloved icon to a sideshow in less than one year.
In the last few years ... and especially over the past year ... I've grown tired of Favre's crap. He spent offseasons staying firmly on the fence about retiring. When he finally did, he was shocked that the Packers moved on. He then tried to play the media game to get out of Green Bay (or get his starting gig back). The New York Jets took a chance on him; missed the playoffs; and gave Favre the release he wanted.
Now ... after retiring yet again ... there are rumors that he may go to the Minnesota Vikings.
What is this? First off, why Favre is mad at the Packers is a mystery to me. Green Bay gave Favre anything he wanted while he was there. They sat there with his replacement ready as Favre jerked the team around every offseason. When he said he was done, the Packers moved on like they were supposed to do. Just because you un-retire doesn't mean that things go back the way they were.
He then stunk up the joint in New York over the last month of the season. He abruptly retired after the season, leaving many to assume that this was really it.
So the current revelation that Favre asked for his unconditional release from the Jets (he asked not once, but twice) and now he is rumored to be talking to the Vikings about a job just kills me.
I get the fact that he wants to play. But why do you keep retiring? I'm sure that every NFL player feels like retiring after the completion of a season, but most just need to recharge their batteries and they are fine.
Now, in what seems like a desperate cry for attention, he wants to come to Minnesota ... presumably to play against the Packers. I mean, why not keep playing for the Jets if you still have the yearning to play? Why did you retire last year if you were going to play another two seasons?
Favre has turned from a beloved icon to a sideshow in less than one year.
Monday, May 4, 2009
John Wall Does Cut His List Down ... By Getting Caught On Breaking and Entering Charge
If you are a college basketball fan, you have been hitting the blogs and message boards trying to figure out where John Wall may be leaning. Wall was supposed to have his list shaved down to three or four schools this weekend. After weeks of speculation, we may know the schools which WON'T be going after him anymore.
That's because Wall got caught up in a breaking and entering charge. Wall was tapped with a misdemeanor charge after a break-in to an unoccupied home in Raleigh last week.
So, that means that Duke could get out of the Wall sweepstakes. North Carolina, which never officially threw their name in, is probably done with him. It will be interesting to see if Kentucky will deal with this. I don't think it would turn off John Calipari, but this is Kentucky ... not Memphis or UMass. They don't like that crap, either.
Now, Miami or NC State look like legit possibilities. So does the NBA. With his fifth-year high school status, he may explore looking at if he can get into the NBA Draft now.
Or this could all blow over. Unless something comes out of this that piles on, this could be easily overlooked.
That's because Wall got caught up in a breaking and entering charge. Wall was tapped with a misdemeanor charge after a break-in to an unoccupied home in Raleigh last week.
So, that means that Duke could get out of the Wall sweepstakes. North Carolina, which never officially threw their name in, is probably done with him. It will be interesting to see if Kentucky will deal with this. I don't think it would turn off John Calipari, but this is Kentucky ... not Memphis or UMass. They don't like that crap, either.
Now, Miami or NC State look like legit possibilities. So does the NBA. With his fifth-year high school status, he may explore looking at if he can get into the NBA Draft now.
Or this could all blow over. Unless something comes out of this that piles on, this could be easily overlooked.
Cincinnati Sports Radio Shaves Down Local Shows
I have always been a critic of the Cincinnati sports radio scene. When I first moved here a decade ago, I was amazed at the lack of national sports talk at then 1360Homer. Aside from the Jim Rome Show, everything else was local personalities talking about local teams.
That's fine and dandy but there is just so much about the Bengals, Reds and the local colleges that you can discuss. It makes for stale radio and a lot of reaching for stories.
So I was pleased to see when Homer (which moved to 1530) added ESPN Radio to the 1360 channel. It gave everyone here a chance at hearing about some NBA, NHL and events that happen outside of this area.
That being said, I'm sad to see that Clear Channel (which owns both 1530 and 1360) is all but scrapping the local talent. In yet another lineup change, the only local show to make it on the rundown is Lance McAlister from 3pm to 6pm. The Dan Patrick Show replaces the local Mo Egger (which is a shame) and go-to guy C. Trent Rosencrans has been let go.
Again, I like having the national beat on, but that's what the ESPN Radio and Rome was for. I feel sad for Cincinnati fans who get just a small window to make their gripes about which Red they need to run out of town and which Bengal is next on the police blotter.
Also, this makes Cincinnati look bad. Would other big cities have limited local sports talk on the air? I also think this is a bad move for an area that is so insulated that they don't really like anything outside the 275 loop.
That's fine and dandy but there is just so much about the Bengals, Reds and the local colleges that you can discuss. It makes for stale radio and a lot of reaching for stories.
So I was pleased to see when Homer (which moved to 1530) added ESPN Radio to the 1360 channel. It gave everyone here a chance at hearing about some NBA, NHL and events that happen outside of this area.
That being said, I'm sad to see that Clear Channel (which owns both 1530 and 1360) is all but scrapping the local talent. In yet another lineup change, the only local show to make it on the rundown is Lance McAlister from 3pm to 6pm. The Dan Patrick Show replaces the local Mo Egger (which is a shame) and go-to guy C. Trent Rosencrans has been let go.
Again, I like having the national beat on, but that's what the ESPN Radio and Rome was for. I feel sad for Cincinnati fans who get just a small window to make their gripes about which Red they need to run out of town and which Bengal is next on the police blotter.
Also, this makes Cincinnati look bad. Would other big cities have limited local sports talk on the air? I also think this is a bad move for an area that is so insulated that they don't really like anything outside the 275 loop.
LeBron James is Your NBA MVP
In a surprise to no one, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James will be named the NBA's MVP. He is the first Cavalier to win the award and becomes the second youngest player (Wes Unseld) ever.
The announcement will be made at his old high school, St Vincent-St. Mary's in Akron. He will then be officially given the trophy prior to Game 1 of the Cavs' series with the Atlanta Hawks.
The announcement will be made at his old high school, St Vincent-St. Mary's in Akron. He will then be officially given the trophy prior to Game 1 of the Cavs' series with the Atlanta Hawks.
Who's Up and Who's Down in the NBA?
Obviously, the eight teams that remain in the NBA playoffs are all up. No question about that. But let's look at the teams that aren't playing anymore. Of the 22 teams watching the playoffs, which ones are closer to being a factor and which ones are trending downward.
DOWN: SAN ANTONIO SPURS. The Spurs just looked so old in their first round loss to the Mavericks. Tim Duncan's knees are creaky from so many years going deep into the playoffs. Manu Ginobili will be 32 and is coming off a season where he was never healthy. Tony Parker emerged as an elite player, but he isn't the kind of player that can do it all himself. The Spurs staples of great defense and a solid bench just wasn't there this year. The one thing about the Spurs is that they have never burdened their payroll so they can make changes easier than others can.
UP: CHICAGO BULLS. The Baby Bulls put on quite a show against Boston. Is this the start to something great? Maybe. One key is if they can bring Ben Gordon back. That could be hard since Kirk Hinrich still has three years left on his deal and John Salmons emerged in the postseason. Still, Gordon was the go-to guy and that's hard to replace. Oh, and remember that Chicago didn't have Luol Deng in the playoffs.
DOWN: TORONTO RAPTORS. The one blessing for the Raptors is that they are shedding a ton of salary off the books. No more Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker or Jorge Garbajosa eating up cap space. But the big issue is Chris Bosh. Bosh went from a man on the rise to disgruntled pretty quick. He's one of those big free agent names in 2010 and you know that Toronto is going to look at unloading him at some point before then. This team just doesn't seem to match correctly and may be heading to the bottom.
UP: CHARLOTTE BOBCATS. Charlotte started and ended up badly, but this was a playoff team during the middle third of the year. The trade that brough Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to the Queen City gave the team an identity of tough, physical play. The key for Charlotte is finding some offense. They were one of the lowest scoring teams and still haven't found a go-to scorer. Not to mention, do they have anyone that can score in the paint?
DOWN: UTAH JAZZ. I very rarely count the Jazz out. But this team didn't look like a typical Jazz team down the stretch. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver may all bolt via free agency. Deron Williams' monster deal kicks in next year. AK-47 and Matt Harpring will be in the last year of their deals. Not to mention that there have been some rumblings that Jerry Sloan could retire.
UP: MIAMI HEAT. The Heat had one of the best turnarounds in NBA history. And they did it by adding relatively nothing but a healthy Dwyane Wade. Next year will be big for Miami, pretty much everyone will be in their contract season ... including Wade ... and there could be some urgency.
DOWN: PHOENIX SUNS. The roster is just old. Shaq and Steve Nash will be in the final years of their monster contracts. Amare Stoudamire can opt out after the season. One or all three could be gone before the trading deadline. Grant Hill is a free agent now. After that, this team has slim pickings.
UP: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS. Duh, but this team is so talented. They have young, athletic cats all over the roster. All they need is some experience. That six-game soiree with the Rockets gave them some. Now the key is the development of Greg Oden and Jerryd Bayless. Oden just hasn't given them No. 1 pick numbers and Bayless could fill a sort-of need at the point guard slot.
DOWN: SAN ANTONIO SPURS. The Spurs just looked so old in their first round loss to the Mavericks. Tim Duncan's knees are creaky from so many years going deep into the playoffs. Manu Ginobili will be 32 and is coming off a season where he was never healthy. Tony Parker emerged as an elite player, but he isn't the kind of player that can do it all himself. The Spurs staples of great defense and a solid bench just wasn't there this year. The one thing about the Spurs is that they have never burdened their payroll so they can make changes easier than others can.
UP: CHICAGO BULLS. The Baby Bulls put on quite a show against Boston. Is this the start to something great? Maybe. One key is if they can bring Ben Gordon back. That could be hard since Kirk Hinrich still has three years left on his deal and John Salmons emerged in the postseason. Still, Gordon was the go-to guy and that's hard to replace. Oh, and remember that Chicago didn't have Luol Deng in the playoffs.
DOWN: TORONTO RAPTORS. The one blessing for the Raptors is that they are shedding a ton of salary off the books. No more Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker or Jorge Garbajosa eating up cap space. But the big issue is Chris Bosh. Bosh went from a man on the rise to disgruntled pretty quick. He's one of those big free agent names in 2010 and you know that Toronto is going to look at unloading him at some point before then. This team just doesn't seem to match correctly and may be heading to the bottom.
UP: CHARLOTTE BOBCATS. Charlotte started and ended up badly, but this was a playoff team during the middle third of the year. The trade that brough Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to the Queen City gave the team an identity of tough, physical play. The key for Charlotte is finding some offense. They were one of the lowest scoring teams and still haven't found a go-to scorer. Not to mention, do they have anyone that can score in the paint?
DOWN: UTAH JAZZ. I very rarely count the Jazz out. But this team didn't look like a typical Jazz team down the stretch. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver may all bolt via free agency. Deron Williams' monster deal kicks in next year. AK-47 and Matt Harpring will be in the last year of their deals. Not to mention that there have been some rumblings that Jerry Sloan could retire.
UP: MIAMI HEAT. The Heat had one of the best turnarounds in NBA history. And they did it by adding relatively nothing but a healthy Dwyane Wade. Next year will be big for Miami, pretty much everyone will be in their contract season ... including Wade ... and there could be some urgency.
DOWN: PHOENIX SUNS. The roster is just old. Shaq and Steve Nash will be in the final years of their monster contracts. Amare Stoudamire can opt out after the season. One or all three could be gone before the trading deadline. Grant Hill is a free agent now. After that, this team has slim pickings.
UP: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS. Duh, but this team is so talented. They have young, athletic cats all over the roster. All they need is some experience. That six-game soiree with the Rockets gave them some. Now the key is the development of Greg Oden and Jerryd Bayless. Oden just hasn't given them No. 1 pick numbers and Bayless could fill a sort-of need at the point guard slot.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Dolphin Stadium Is Now Land Shark Stadium
Well, you knew that it was only a matter of time. What was once Joe Robbie Stadium, then Pro Player Stadium and then Dolphin Stadium will now be Land Shark Stadium.
Land Shark Lager ... a meeting of Anheuser-Busch and Jimmy Buffett ... have all but secured a naming rights deal for the stadium. The Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins call the place home.
We all know why stuff like this happens. Stadium owners love getting that extra money of selling off the naming rights while it is big-time advertising for the sponsor. It works ... sometimes. We found out what Enron, Ericsson and Xcel was. Who cares that it makes the name of your stadium sound stupid. I mean, we have U.S. Cellular Field, Gillette Stadium, FedEx Field, Energy Solutions Arena and whatever the name of the Boston Celtics garden is this week.
Naming rights have been around for a long time and, obviously, won't be going anywhere. But what was once places like Wrigley Field, Carrier Dome and Busch Stadium have turned into names that just sound bad off the tongue. I'm cool with stadiums/arenas that sell the name and keep it (like the United Center, Toyota Center, Target Center and Citizens Bank Park). I can get with all of that.
However, I hate when the name keeps changing. It pissed me off when Riverfront Stadium turned into Cinergy Field. Or Comisky Park turned into U.S. Cellular Field. Or when Candlestick Park turned into 3Com Park, Monster Park and now back to Candlestick.
17 of the 32 NFL Stadiums will be named after corporations (amazingly low, to me). 20 of the 30 MLB stadiums are named after companies (10 baseball stadiums have changed their names). 25 of the 30 NBA teams play in sponsored arenas. The Rose Garden, Bradley Center, New Orleans Arena, Madison Square Garden and the Palace at Auburn Hills are the lone wolves.
Just to let you know, your NBA and NHL playoff games will be held in the Staples Center, Toyota Center, Pepsi Center, American Airlines Center, TD Banknorth Garden, Amway Arena, Quicken Loans Arena, Philips Arena, Mellon Arena, Verizon Center, RBC Center, Honda Center, General Motors Place, United Center and ... Joe Louis Arena.
Sportz' NBA Second Round Playoff Picks
My first round picks were so-so. I picked the Lakers and Cavs dead-on. I picked the Nuggets, Magic and Celtics too. I did miss on the Blazers and Spurs ... but that happens.
So, here are my fool-proof second round picks.
CAVALIERS OVER HEAT/HAWKS (5 games): I don't care who wins Game 7 between Atlanta and Miami tonight. Cleveland will bowl through either one of them. They'll get one win against the Cavs, but that will be the lone success.
CELTICS OVER MAGIC (7 games): I'm subscribing to the "I've seen this before" method. Boston went the distance in the first round against an upstart team (Hawks in '08, Bulls in '09). Now they get to face off against a team that could be on the cusp of greatness (Cavs in '08, Magic in '09). When the playoffs began, I said the Magic would win this series. They still might, but I have to throw my weight over to Boston.
LAKERS OVER ROCKETS (5 games): I love Houston as a team, but this isn't the best matchup for them. Los Angeles just crushed Houston in their four meetings during the regular season. I also think that Houston feels a bit satisfied now that they've knocked that first round monkey off their backs.
NUGGETS OVER MAVERICKS (6 games): And finally, a series that makes me think back to the 1980s. The Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, Brad Davis, Rolando Blackmon Mavs against the Fat Lever, Michael Adams, Alex English Nuggets. I'm just rambling, but I have the Nuggets squeaking by in this one.
So, here are my fool-proof second round picks.
CAVALIERS OVER HEAT/HAWKS (5 games): I don't care who wins Game 7 between Atlanta and Miami tonight. Cleveland will bowl through either one of them. They'll get one win against the Cavs, but that will be the lone success.CELTICS OVER MAGIC (7 games): I'm subscribing to the "I've seen this before" method. Boston went the distance in the first round against an upstart team (Hawks in '08, Bulls in '09). Now they get to face off against a team that could be on the cusp of greatness (Cavs in '08, Magic in '09). When the playoffs began, I said the Magic would win this series. They still might, but I have to throw my weight over to Boston.
LAKERS OVER ROCKETS (5 games): I love Houston as a team, but this isn't the best matchup for them. Los Angeles just crushed Houston in their four meetings during the regular season. I also think that Houston feels a bit satisfied now that they've knocked that first round monkey off their backs.NUGGETS OVER MAVERICKS (6 games): And finally, a series that makes me think back to the 1980s. The Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, Brad Davis, Rolando Blackmon Mavs against the Fat Lever, Michael Adams, Alex English Nuggets. I'm just rambling, but I have the Nuggets squeaking by in this one.
Great Sports Saturday Had Its Ups and Downs
Everyone was talking about how Saturday was going to be a great day in sports. It certainly had the schedule to be one. However, it lacked the pizazz that we all thought would be present.
The top four events weren't as tight as we thought they'd be.
The Boston Celtics didn't demolish the Chicago Bulls in their Game 7, but they led for most of the game and ended up winning by 10 points. Quite a downer to cap a great series with a quite average game.
Next up is the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. I bought into the fight (even though I didn't buy the fight) and thought it could be a classic. Instead, it was a dud. Hatton was pummelled and didn't make it out of the second round. No offense, boxing guys, but this is the reason that I stopped buying fights on PPV and just waiting for them to come on HBO or Showtime next week.
Over in Quail Hollow, Tiger Woods was climbing up the leader board until he got on the bogey train.
The Kentucky Derby did have Mine That Bird winning the thing at a 50-1 bid. But the horse won by nearly seven lengths and becoming champion well before the finish line.
The one thing that had no disappointment was the Capitals-Penguins Game 1. Both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin scored a goal. The game was close throughout and should be the start of a beautiful series.
The top four events weren't as tight as we thought they'd be.
The Boston Celtics didn't demolish the Chicago Bulls in their Game 7, but they led for most of the game and ended up winning by 10 points. Quite a downer to cap a great series with a quite average game.
Next up is the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. I bought into the fight (even though I didn't buy the fight) and thought it could be a classic. Instead, it was a dud. Hatton was pummelled and didn't make it out of the second round. No offense, boxing guys, but this is the reason that I stopped buying fights on PPV and just waiting for them to come on HBO or Showtime next week.
Over in Quail Hollow, Tiger Woods was climbing up the leader board until he got on the bogey train.
The Kentucky Derby did have Mine That Bird winning the thing at a 50-1 bid. But the horse won by nearly seven lengths and becoming champion well before the finish line.
The one thing that had no disappointment was the Capitals-Penguins Game 1. Both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin scored a goal. The game was close throughout and should be the start of a beautiful series.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
If I Could Only Watch One Sporting Event Today ...
Today is one of the better days in the sports calendar. There are so many things happening today that you could schedule yourself where you don't have to get up from your couch.
But if you told me that I was allowed to watch just one of these events, that would be a tough decision. But, I'm gonna have to make it.
1-Bulls vs Celtics: It is the Game 7 of one of the best first round playoff series I have ever seen. You have the defending champs on the ropes against the upstart Baby Bulls. If Game 7 is anything like the first six games, we are in for a treat. My prediction is Boston.
2-Pacquaio vs Hatton: It is very rare for me to get up for a fight nowadays. I used to live for the big fights but have grown tired of the crap surrounding it. But this fight has me very excited. Both are great fighters who have something huge at stake. Pac-man can cement his place among the greats with a win. Hatton can get his name mentioned in there if he can come away with the victory. Should be a great night. My prediction is Pacquaio.
3-Kentucky Derby: It is the most exciting two minutes in sports. Now that I live in Kentucky, it is like a holiday. This is one of the few sports that I can know nothing heading into the week, but enter Saturday knowing every horse's story and at least sound like I know what I'm talking about. My prediction is Regal Ransom.
4-Capitals vs Penguins: This game excites me. I've have been drawn to the Dark Side of Alex Ovechkin fandom. He's just a different cat in a sport that needs a standout star. On the other side is Sidney Crosby who is no slouch himself. They don't like each other and should get into it a bit during this series. Prediction? The Caps.
5-Quail Hollow: Big tournament with some big names lurking near the top. Not to mention the tournament is at my hometown of Charlotte. I have to go with Tiger Woods, y'all.
6-Baseball: It is still just the beginning of May, so no game seems as important as anything else going on today. But we do get treated to the Phillies and Mets today and Rays-Red Sox tonight.
But if you told me that I was allowed to watch just one of these events, that would be a tough decision. But, I'm gonna have to make it.
1-Bulls vs Celtics: It is the Game 7 of one of the best first round playoff series I have ever seen. You have the defending champs on the ropes against the upstart Baby Bulls. If Game 7 is anything like the first six games, we are in for a treat. My prediction is Boston.
2-Pacquaio vs Hatton: It is very rare for me to get up for a fight nowadays. I used to live for the big fights but have grown tired of the crap surrounding it. But this fight has me very excited. Both are great fighters who have something huge at stake. Pac-man can cement his place among the greats with a win. Hatton can get his name mentioned in there if he can come away with the victory. Should be a great night. My prediction is Pacquaio.
3-Kentucky Derby: It is the most exciting two minutes in sports. Now that I live in Kentucky, it is like a holiday. This is one of the few sports that I can know nothing heading into the week, but enter Saturday knowing every horse's story and at least sound like I know what I'm talking about. My prediction is Regal Ransom.
4-Capitals vs Penguins: This game excites me. I've have been drawn to the Dark Side of Alex Ovechkin fandom. He's just a different cat in a sport that needs a standout star. On the other side is Sidney Crosby who is no slouch himself. They don't like each other and should get into it a bit during this series. Prediction? The Caps.
5-Quail Hollow: Big tournament with some big names lurking near the top. Not to mention the tournament is at my hometown of Charlotte. I have to go with Tiger Woods, y'all.
6-Baseball: It is still just the beginning of May, so no game seems as important as anything else going on today. But we do get treated to the Phillies and Mets today and Rays-Red Sox tonight.
Congress vs BCS
So Congress is in their next foray into the sports world by marching up people to complain and defend the BCS.
My point has been clear. Have a 12-team playoff that doesn't use the bowls. Case closed. You know there will be other tournaments that spring up (like the three extra tournaments in college basketball). Yeah, it needs to be hammered out a little more but it is something a lot of people would like to see.
Jim Swofford, former UNC alum and athletic director and current commish of the ACC, was the guy that had to sit in front of Congress to explain why we need the BCS.
You can give me any kind of excuse you want but we all know it is about the money. If this was the NFL, NBA or any pro sports league ... I can sympathise with your point a little bit easier than if you are the governing body of amateurs. You aren't getting your athletes more money. You are getting YOU more money.
I disagree with Swofford, but I respect his ability to try to not make this about money. His main defense was that a playoff would destroy the bowl system. Maybe so, maybe not. But with the economy the way it is, I'm sure that there will be a few bowls that won't make it to the next decade.
The NCAA has loved dancing with these high-paying sponsors that they've completely sold out. We don't have a Peach Bowl anymore. It's the Chick-fil-A Bowl. No more Citrus Bowl. It's the Capital One Bowl. 27 of the bowls have a sponsor in the name. Ten of the bowls are named after sponsors. And that money just feels so good to these schools.
That's all fine and dandy, but you had the AD for Boise State testifying against the BCS. His point is that schools in conferences like his don't have access to the big, big money. They do, but they have to have an uncommonly impressive season just to get a sniff ... and that sniff isn't a championship.
His gripe is that you can win the ACC or Big East with a non-championship calibar record and you can get to a BCS game. But a team out of the WAC, MAC, Mountain West, Conference USA or Sun Belt have to go undefeated and rely on their computer numbers to get them in. And even if they go undefeated, they aren't getting access to the BCS title game.
I don't think Congress can break up the BCS. But I can see Congress making the BCS more available to teams from the non-BCS conferences. I can see them adding another bowl or two and allowing the MWC and WAC champion into the BCS automatically. It's the only way the other commissioners can keep that BCS money while shutting up the little guys.
My point has been clear. Have a 12-team playoff that doesn't use the bowls. Case closed. You know there will be other tournaments that spring up (like the three extra tournaments in college basketball). Yeah, it needs to be hammered out a little more but it is something a lot of people would like to see.
Jim Swofford, former UNC alum and athletic director and current commish of the ACC, was the guy that had to sit in front of Congress to explain why we need the BCS.
You can give me any kind of excuse you want but we all know it is about the money. If this was the NFL, NBA or any pro sports league ... I can sympathise with your point a little bit easier than if you are the governing body of amateurs. You aren't getting your athletes more money. You are getting YOU more money.
I disagree with Swofford, but I respect his ability to try to not make this about money. His main defense was that a playoff would destroy the bowl system. Maybe so, maybe not. But with the economy the way it is, I'm sure that there will be a few bowls that won't make it to the next decade.
The NCAA has loved dancing with these high-paying sponsors that they've completely sold out. We don't have a Peach Bowl anymore. It's the Chick-fil-A Bowl. No more Citrus Bowl. It's the Capital One Bowl. 27 of the bowls have a sponsor in the name. Ten of the bowls are named after sponsors. And that money just feels so good to these schools.
That's all fine and dandy, but you had the AD for Boise State testifying against the BCS. His point is that schools in conferences like his don't have access to the big, big money. They do, but they have to have an uncommonly impressive season just to get a sniff ... and that sniff isn't a championship.
His gripe is that you can win the ACC or Big East with a non-championship calibar record and you can get to a BCS game. But a team out of the WAC, MAC, Mountain West, Conference USA or Sun Belt have to go undefeated and rely on their computer numbers to get them in. And even if they go undefeated, they aren't getting access to the BCS title game.
I don't think Congress can break up the BCS. But I can see Congress making the BCS more available to teams from the non-BCS conferences. I can see them adding another bowl or two and allowing the MWC and WAC champion into the BCS automatically. It's the only way the other commissioners can keep that BCS money while shutting up the little guys.
John Wall Visits NC Central to Show Us That We Know Nothing
Of course, I'm giving you a John Wall update. The highly recruited guard just paid a visit too ... wait for it ... wait for it ... North Carolina Central University.
Yes, NCCU hosted Wall on Thursday. New head coach LaVelle Morton has worked with Wall for years. The Durham school is a Historically Black College and University where Hall of Famer Sam Jones once attended.
Still, it is an odd twist to an already wild recruiting battle. Wall has Kentucky and Duke courting him as well as Miami, Baylor, NC State and Memphis. If you go to any of those schools' fan-based message boards, then you will see everyone believing he is headed their way.
The truth is that nobody knows anything. Wall doesn't know, but I do applaud him about his choice to search high and low for the right place to play basketball. I just hope it is all genuine and not just some eccentric hoops player who needs his ego stroked.
But what this does show you is that it is foolish to read anything into what Wall is doing. He rooms with John Henson at the Jordan Classic, the Tar Heel fans think he's coming to Chapel Hill. He rooms with Miles Plumlee in New York and Duke fans are smiling. He practices with DeMarcus Cousins in Portland and Kentucky fans read something into that.
Let's all just ride this out. He's gonna play somewhere for, probably, just one season. All the schools' fans all are hoping it is with their team, but let's let the young man decide.
Yes, NCCU hosted Wall on Thursday. New head coach LaVelle Morton has worked with Wall for years. The Durham school is a Historically Black College and University where Hall of Famer Sam Jones once attended.
Still, it is an odd twist to an already wild recruiting battle. Wall has Kentucky and Duke courting him as well as Miami, Baylor, NC State and Memphis. If you go to any of those schools' fan-based message boards, then you will see everyone believing he is headed their way.
The truth is that nobody knows anything. Wall doesn't know, but I do applaud him about his choice to search high and low for the right place to play basketball. I just hope it is all genuine and not just some eccentric hoops player who needs his ego stroked.
But what this does show you is that it is foolish to read anything into what Wall is doing. He rooms with John Henson at the Jordan Classic, the Tar Heel fans think he's coming to Chapel Hill. He rooms with Miles Plumlee in New York and Duke fans are smiling. He practices with DeMarcus Cousins in Portland and Kentucky fans read something into that.
Let's all just ride this out. He's gonna play somewhere for, probably, just one season. All the schools' fans all are hoping it is with their team, but let's let the young man decide.
JoPa Wants 12th Team in Big Ten
Penn State icon Joe Paterno said that the Big Ten should add a 12th member, get a conference championship game and join the other elite conferences.
His point is that the Big Ten finishes up their season so early that their bowl teams sit for nearly two months before playing again. Having a conference championship game will help prepare their champion for teams from the Big XII and SEC.
I agree. I'm one of those people that think every conference should have to play a title game. It isn't fair that the Big XII, SEC, ACC, Conference USA and MAC have to play an extra game against, usually, another big time team.
It isn't like the Big Ten hasn't tried to court a 12th member. They've previously had discussions with Notre Dame that ended up getting shot down by the Irish.
But there are some ideal schools to join. Pittsburgh seems like a natural fit. They are midwestern, they could have a natural rivalry with Penn State, they play in an NFL stadium and it isn't like the Big East is really doing much for them, football-wise.
If not Pitt, then maybe Syracuse? The Cuse would bring the conference some of that East Coast swing. Where the program is now, it would be an easy win for whomever they play. When the ACC was looking at expanding, Syracuse was willing to take the plunge.
Maybe Louisville? Maybe Cincinnati? Maybe not.
Still, it's interesting when the ol' man has to be the one to kick start the league.
His point is that the Big Ten finishes up their season so early that their bowl teams sit for nearly two months before playing again. Having a conference championship game will help prepare their champion for teams from the Big XII and SEC.
I agree. I'm one of those people that think every conference should have to play a title game. It isn't fair that the Big XII, SEC, ACC, Conference USA and MAC have to play an extra game against, usually, another big time team.
It isn't like the Big Ten hasn't tried to court a 12th member. They've previously had discussions with Notre Dame that ended up getting shot down by the Irish.
But there are some ideal schools to join. Pittsburgh seems like a natural fit. They are midwestern, they could have a natural rivalry with Penn State, they play in an NFL stadium and it isn't like the Big East is really doing much for them, football-wise.
If not Pitt, then maybe Syracuse? The Cuse would bring the conference some of that East Coast swing. Where the program is now, it would be an easy win for whomever they play. When the ACC was looking at expanding, Syracuse was willing to take the plunge.
Maybe Louisville? Maybe Cincinnati? Maybe not.
Still, it's interesting when the ol' man has to be the one to kick start the league.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Two NBA Game 7 Series Couldn't Be More Different
We get treated to two Game 7s in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Tonight, the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics will settle their amazing series. Tomorrow, the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks fight for a spot in the second round.
Other than the fact that (a) both these series are going to distance and (b) both are in the Eastern Conference, there is nothing else similar in these series.
The Bulls-Celtics series has been unbelievable. Five of the six games have gone down to the last possession. Four of the six games have gone to overtime. They've had a total of seven overtime periods in this series. That is more than any other team has had during the entire playoffs in NBA history.
The Hawks-Heat series has lacked any drama. Here are the winning margins of the six games: 26, 15, 29, 10, 15 and 26. There have been some highlight worthy moments in this series, but the lasting image is Josh Smith's botched dunk attempt towards the end of Game 5. Yes, the series itself has been tight, none of the games have been.
Still, all you need is one great Game 7 to make people believe that the series was memorable. If the Hawks and Heat can provide that on Sunday, then it will all be worth it.
As for the Celtics and Bulls, they have given us enough thrills over the last two weeks that we will all remember this series for a very long time. Even if Game 7 is a dud, that won't knock any of the shine off of the first six games.
Other than the fact that (a) both these series are going to distance and (b) both are in the Eastern Conference, there is nothing else similar in these series.
The Bulls-Celtics series has been unbelievable. Five of the six games have gone down to the last possession. Four of the six games have gone to overtime. They've had a total of seven overtime periods in this series. That is more than any other team has had during the entire playoffs in NBA history.
The Hawks-Heat series has lacked any drama. Here are the winning margins of the six games: 26, 15, 29, 10, 15 and 26. There have been some highlight worthy moments in this series, but the lasting image is Josh Smith's botched dunk attempt towards the end of Game 5. Yes, the series itself has been tight, none of the games have been.
Still, all you need is one great Game 7 to make people believe that the series was memorable. If the Hawks and Heat can provide that on Sunday, then it will all be worth it.
As for the Celtics and Bulls, they have given us enough thrills over the last two weeks that we will all remember this series for a very long time. Even if Game 7 is a dud, that won't knock any of the shine off of the first six games.
Loving the Bulls-Celtics Series
EJ, Kenny and Charles all discussed if the Bulls-Celtics series was one of the best playoff series ever. Only Ernie Johnson put it up there.
I agree with Kenny and Charles that it is hard to say a first round series is among the best postseason series of all time. It lacks the levity of the first Lakers-Pistons Finals or those great Celtics-Pistons and Bulls-Knicks series.
Still, from a basketball standpoint, this is one of the best series I have ever seen. It is the first NBA playoff series to have four overtime games. They've had seven OTs already (two single overtimes, a double overtime and now a triple overtime). Now we get treated to a Game 7 back in Boston.
This has been great theatre. There have been huge shots, huge defensive plays and all but Game 3 coming down to the wire. Since I have no dog in the fight, it makes what has been going on all the more enjoyable to witness.
I agree with Kenny and Charles that it is hard to say a first round series is among the best postseason series of all time. It lacks the levity of the first Lakers-Pistons Finals or those great Celtics-Pistons and Bulls-Knicks series.
Still, from a basketball standpoint, this is one of the best series I have ever seen. It is the first NBA playoff series to have four overtime games. They've had seven OTs already (two single overtimes, a double overtime and now a triple overtime). Now we get treated to a Game 7 back in Boston.
This has been great theatre. There have been huge shots, huge defensive plays and all but Game 3 coming down to the wire. Since I have no dog in the fight, it makes what has been going on all the more enjoyable to witness.
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