How about those Buckeyes? 2003 National Champions...who would have thunk it? If you didn't see OSU in the Fiesta Bowl, then you missed one hell of a game. Although I disagree with the bowl format and the BCS should be replaced by a playoff system, this game was outstanding. Double Overtime with Ohio State's renowned defense ultimately winning the game against Miami's strong offense. This was one for the ages!
With strong family ties to Ohio, I have followed OSU for as long as I remember, so I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. I'm sure that we all will think back one day and ask ourselves where we were when OSU won the 2003 National Championship.
"I think your employment situation has triggered something strange in the football universe" -Ed Barnes in an email to me earlier today.
Although I enjoy the winning ways of Ohio State and the Pittsburgh Steelers, I would probably trade those wins in if I didn't have to lose my job. Coincidences aside, Pittsburgh pulled off a great upset on Saturday (only to be one-upped by San Franciso over NY Giants in the late game). If you are looking for a team to pull for in the playoffs this year, might I suggest the hard working, blue collared guys from Steel city? Go Steelers!
Due to an untimely elbow injury, my friend Robbie Edwards was unable to play in his roller hockey league for a while. Since he was put on the injured reserved for a while, I was given the opportunity to play in his place. First off, I've played several different sports in my day, but I have NEVER been as tired as I was playing hockey. This was actually my second showing as Robbie's sub, and I enjoyed it immensely. Especially this time around since I SCORED A GOAL. Of course it wasn't a break away filled with dekes or a powerful one timer from the point, but it was a goal none the less. (How many hockey goals have you scored?) I'm quite proud of my sports accomplishment, and hope to do it again someday. Unfortunately, my journey to the Hockey Hall of Fame will have to be put on hold since Robbie is ready to return from his "bruise" injury. Now that I have caught the hockey bug, I intend to play in this league in the future!
At first glance, one would think that the title of this posting was reflective of me being apathetic towards the boys in Carolina Blue, especially since I split time this afternoon watching the Virginia game and reading a book, with most of my attention given to the written word. My apathy is in fact a symptom of a larger problem…the Carolina basketball team's apathy on the court. In the past couple of games, I have noticed a lack of passion, which is visualized with the players “going through the motions”. Although they have good reason to be down since freshman sensation Sean May is out for several weeks with a broken foot, it does not mean that their season is over. This UNC basketball team is full of talent, but until they get some desire, they will be forever perceived as sleep walking through basketball games. In today’s Virginia game, UNC’s talent and apathy were showcased with the Heels allowing multiple Virginia scoring runs, only to later “realize” that they could catch up. On a couple of UNC runs, they showed passion, but it took them too long to turn it on. Had the desire been present throughout the game, UNC would not be heading back to Chapel Hill with an L. So until I notice that the UNC players are fired up about playing basketball, I will remain less than enthusiastic.
I think that everyone believes NFL officials are either corrupt or incompetent after watching 2 straight weekends of embarrassing judgments. People find it difficult to believe that the NFL officials could trump last year’s infamous “Tuck Rule” call between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders during the 2002 AFC Championship game. Not only are they one-upping last year’s controversy, they are doing it each week instead of just once. Last week, we witnessed the NY Giants get an official apology from the NFL due to a blown ineligible receiver downfield call. This week we saw Pittsburgh Steelers lose to Tennessee Titans after a Pittsburgh defender touched Tennessee’s kicker on the game’s final play, which prompted a penalty and ended up with an extra chance for the Titans.
My belief is that the players should determine the game, and not the officials. Too often the officiating comes to the forefront of the game. I am not saying that the teams that were violated by the NFL officials deserved to win. On the contrary, the New York Giants deserved to lose last week because they could not prevent San Francisco from rallying back from their seemingly insurmountable deficit, NOT because of a blown pass interference call. The Pittsburgh Steelers (my boys) deserved to lose this week to the Tennessee Titans because they could not stop continuous 10-yard passes from Steve McNair to Frank Wycheck, NOT because Tennessee’s kicker put on a Shakespearean performance when touched by an incoming Steeler defender resulting in a roughing the kicker penalty and ultimately a re-kick of the game winning field goal. The Oakland Raiders deserved to lose last year’s AFC Championship because they failed to stop New England’s scoring drive, NOT because of the interpreted minutia of the Tuck Rule. These controversial calls by the NFL officials make it impossible to rule out whether an official’s judgment call affected the outcome of a football game. When players are left to determine the end of the game, the natural order of things will anoint the best team as the victor. Officials do not have to pull the strings to force the issue. Games will work themselves out, if allowed.
Last night Abby and I went to a friend's for dinner. These plans conflicted with the UNC-UConn game that was set to play around the same time. Since my Tarheels haven't been playing their best, and they were playing the #6 team in the nation, I didn't feel too bad about not seeing them play. However, the Heels decided to play well and upset the Huskies. Now, did my not watching have any influence on the outcome? Most would say no, but I disagree.
Another of my beloved North Carolina teams, the Carolina Hurricanes have had increased difficulty winning at home, and usually lose the games I attend. Others would argue that this has a direct correlation to buying a Canes hockey jersey earlier in the year. Either way, I seem to have a negative influence. I have a feeling that I inherited this.
As a high school basketball player, I had seen limited action throughout my high school career. My father, being very supportive, had a stellar record of attending my games. In one away game that he missed, I tallied career highs in scoring (8 pts) and rebounding (6 boards). So perhaps my genes have predetermined my influence in sporting events. The next time you see the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Ohio State Buckeyes or the UNC Tarheels lose, you can probably assume that I was watching and caused the loss. But if you see the Chicago Cubs or the Carolina Panthers lose, its just because they suck.
Although the NBA has lost me as a regular fan years ago, I still enjoy watching the All-Star Weekend festivities. This year they added a new wrinkle to the mix by having what they call the Skills Competition, while I call it "NBA Mouse Trap". The obstacle course required 4 point guards from around the league to test their shooting, dribbling, and passing accuracy in one zany combination. Despite sounding a little goofy, this game was actually an enjoyable addition to the usual stale offerings of the weekend.
In the past few years, the dunk contest, which was once a coveted and anticipated event, had diminished itself into a circus performance. Some forgettable attempts for the league to liven up the dunk contest involved dunking to music, while another year had a Wheel of Fortune where players spun a wheel to select what dunk they were to do. This year the NBA went back to basics. The field was reduced to 4 players, and the judges, all former Slam Dunk Champions, used whole numbers to rate the players instead of going to tenths of a point. Even though this year's dunk contest was not the best, it was at least something desirable to watch. Whenever someone tries to make a great idea/event better, they usually kill the essence, which made it great in the first place. Good to see the NBA bring back the old school feel of the dunk contest. Now if they could just substitute an NBA player 3-on-3 game for the Celebrity/NBA great/WNBA star/NBA scrub 3-on-3 game, they would have something special. I think the world would rather see the NBA players showcasing their basketball skills instead of Kelso and Malcom in the Middle!
USA Today is halfway through a 10 day series on the 10 Toughest Things to Do in Sports. So far, they have only listed 4 of the 10. They have listed downhill skiing, saving a penalty kick in soccer, Tour de France, and running a marathon. In anticipation of the top listed things on this list, I attempted to predict their outcome. Some of the sporting tasks that I have come up with are listed as followed:
-Hitting for the cycle in baseball. Getting 4 hits in a game is tough enough, but having 4 particular types of hits is incredible.
-Making a hole-in-one in golf. There are so many variables in this equation. This task is difficult based on its replication as much as its initial accomplishment.
-Bowling a perfect 300. I have a feeling that the last strike is a little more demanding than the first one.
-Staying on for 8 seconds in bull riding. Bull riding might not be a sport in the classical sense, but that doesn't make it any easier.
-Pitching the perfect game in baseball. Give up one base runner during an entire game and the task is a failure.
The USA Today article is flawed in my opinion. Does "tough" mean difficult for anyone to achieve because of complexity of circumstances, or difficult because of physical endurance? For instance, I think I could hit a hole-in-one if every variable went in my favor. I could also run a marathon (on USA Today's list, not mine). Hell, didn't Oprah run a marathon? However, I don't think I could ever complete a 15 round fight in boxing. I get winded after punching a bag for ONE minute, which is 1/3 of a round. And there are 15 rounds, while the target is punching you back. These things are tough for totally different reasons, but this article tries to compare them all. So, maybe the toughest thing in sports is to compare the toughest things in sports?
I encourage you to offer up your opinion in the matter. (Click on the Comment link)
My post about the 10 Toughest Things to Do in Sports sparked some good arguments. The term toughest was not clearly defined, but that did not prevent me or my friend Robbie from stirring up a heated discussion.
First off, we assumed that toughest reflected a certain accomplishment within a sport, not necessarily the sport itself. Based on that premise, we debated which was tougher to accomplish, a hole-in-one (HIO) in golf or bowling a perfect 300 game. We came to our first conclusion. The average golfer can get a HIO, while the average bowler most likely will not bowl a 300. Thus, taking all participants of the respective sports, bowling will get the nod.
If you take this a step further, and take each skill level to its highest forms, you start to see a different picture. Take for example, the best golfer and the best bowler and have each of them try to achieve these tasks. The bowler will probably get his/her 300 before the golfer gets the HIO. Now, if we take this even further we can see what will happen. If each sport had a device or machine that could replicate each sports action (the perfect golf swing, the perfect bowling throw) you could agree that the bowling machine could be calibrated to throw a strike every time. Therefore, the perfect game would not be difficult. Whereas, if a golf machine had the perfect golf swing, it would not mean that it could replicate a HIO due to too many outside influences. (Weather, impediments, etc)
This debate spanned almost an hour, and was restarted periodically throughout the day. We took opinions from engineers, sports fans, bowlers, and golfers. Although this conversation began as a friendly comparison, it evolved into quite an intellectual and scientific discussion.
After a lengthy lay off, the familiar Saturday morning pickup basketball games that occur at Cobb courts on UNC's campus have been revitalized. With much marketing by the default Social Director, Ed Barnes, the eXtreme Basketball League (XBL) is off to an encouraging start. Last year/season, we were mired in repeatedly drawing only 7 players to play. Since 8 people guarantee a 4-on-4 full court game, 7 will give you only a half court game, plus one person sitting out. With Barnes' organization, we plan on having an 8+ player turnout weekly. Today, we saw the Tip Off Classic get off to a great start. We enjoyed the warm weather, a decent turnout, and mediocre basketball. There was even a Harper sighting. The basketball skill level will improve in time, as soon as we scrape off a couple of inches of rust off of our games. We enjoyed a full court game, even without perennial players, John Sellers and Tom Hilder, who were sidelined for other reasons.
I'm working on some new slogans for the XBL:
-XBL. What else are you going to do on Saturday morning?
-XBL Action. It's......eh.....all right....I guess.
-XBL. The hottest game on black asphalt
-XBL. The longest 16 points you'll ever experience.
-XBL. America's pastime, if you went to UNC, know Ed Barnes, have played basketball at least once, and couldn't find an excuse not to play pickup basketball.
For the first time this season, I have witnessed a Carolina Hurricane victory while attending a game in person. This is quite a feat, since this is the 12th game I've attended this year. Although the Columbus Blue Jackets are not considered a powerhouse in the NHL, a win is a win. Nowadays getting a win out of the Canes has become rare. They are amidst one of their more lackluster seasons, which has been riddled with injury and uninspired play. Last night's game, highlighted by a 4 goal 1st period and the first 2 NHL goals by Brad DeFauw in his NHL debut.
You would think that would be enough to make the evening a success, but wait....there's more. I obtained a T-shirt from the mascot shooting them through an air gun. It didn't quite make it to me in my seat. It came up short, and landed on a veranda located about 6 feet below me. Since there was a concrete partition separating me and my prize, I hurdled the partition and vaulted to the area below. Too bad for me that the shirt was more of a marketing ploy by your good friends at Blue Cross Blue Shield rather than a kickass Hurricanes shirt. So, I gave it to Abby.
For those of you who know me, you know that I am a true basketball fan first and foremost. All other allegiances come in second. To that end, I witnessed ACC officials rape the good name of college basketball. Although my evidence was subjective, its difficult to ignore the travesty that occurred. What I'm I talking about? The last 6 minutes of the ACC Tournament finals, where the Duke Blue Devils were given a free pass to hack and foul the N.C. State Wolfpack with impunity. On no less than 3 occasions during the most critical part of the game, Duke was allowed extra contact while N.C. State was not given the same treatment. Some might say that this is simply a Tarheel fan with a grudge against Duke. Au contraire mes amis, like I stated earlier, I'm a basketball fan first.
Before becoming a student at UNC, I was the stereotypical anti-UNC fan. I liked both Duke and State, usually because of their rivalries with UNC. My allegiance turned towards UNC after providing me with a stellar education. Despite my switch, it did not turn into an immediate hatred for UNC rivals. I'm a purist, and want to see good basketball, whether the game is Duke vs. N.C. State or Boston University vs. Vermont. Now, when I see an obvious imbalance in officiating, I'm going to take it personally because that becomes a direct attack on the game I love.
Some fans might say that N.C. State rolled over and played dead at the end of the game. True, they had less enthusiasm than earlier in the game. I would chalk that up to playing a basketball game 8 versus 5 in favor of the Duke/Referee trio combo. Being out manned is one thing, being out numbered can overcome the strongest of competitors.
Shame on you, ACC officials! I hope your lack of foul calls against Duke was a coincidence, and not some plot to catapult the Blue Devils into the championship. However, your consistency against the Wolfpack during the pivotal time period of the championship game will beg basketball fans to question your integrity. Congratulations Blue Devils. (Said with the utmost sarcasm) I don't think that I could live with that type of assist.
Due to the popularity of my Billy Packer is an Idiot post, I've decided to ask the general public to add comments to this post with as many dumb Billy Packer quotes as you can find. Now that March Madness has officially started with last night's play-in opening round game, we will undoubtedly have a barage of instances of Billy Packer proving his idiot status.
***Editor's Note - You can read my observations here***
In the spirit of this event, I wanted to retell a story found at a N.C. State quotes site (found at the bottom of the page):
"Once, when N.C. State was being investigated for -- among other things -- sneaker violations, the (Cameron) Crazies covered the floor with cheap sneakers when Jim Valvano walked out. Another time, early-arriving Crazies started chanting, "Down with Valvano! Down with Valvano!" But Valvano won them over by squeezing between a couple of students and leading them in "Down with Packer! Down with Packer!" cheers when TV analyst Billy Packer walked out onto the floor."
Jimmy V. didn't like Billy Packer either. So please share your Billy Packer quotes with us, and we'll keep Jimmy V's dislike for Packer alive!
Ever since I turned into a hockey fan, I've wondered about a certain overtime strategy. Why don't teams pull their goalies in overtime? The reason this was a problem to me was that if you are guaranteed a point for just getting to overtime, then its worth risking taking the loss for a chance at the win. I asked Harper Gordek last night during the Carolina Hurricanes tie game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, Harper did not have the answer, but this morning while watching Sports Center the answer was serendipitously revealed to me. If a team pulls their goalie during overtime, the team risks not earning ANY points. So, if the team pulls their goalie and then gives up a goal, they do not earn any points for going into overtime. This was proven last night in the Columbus/Los Angeles game.
Now, I hate losing as much as the next UNC alum, but I think that the Heels acted a bit questionably yesterday in firing Coach Doherty accepting Coach Doherty's resignation. I think that the Heels were going in the right direction, but it wasn't happening as quickly as some would have liked. Doherty had to overcome a crappy recruiting class (thanks Bill Gutheridge), injury to their only valuable big man, and inexperience throughout the team, and still came out with 19 wins. I know that 19 wins involve beating a lot of cup cakes, but those are still a lot of W's.
The explanations that I have heard so far are that there were personality conflicts. Not once has there been concrete examples. I believe that Matt Doherty proved that he deserved another year to get things back on track. I guarantee you that winning more games would have been the ultimate salve to repair any of these wounds.
I hope that my worst fears do not come true. I hope that Doherty was not forced out so that UNC can get another crack at bring Roy Williams to Chapel Hill. (I want Roy to turn them down again, to apply more pressure on this situation) I hope that it was Doherty's decision and that he was not forced out. I hope that the student athletes aren't making the coaching decisions. And I truly hope that the search for a new coach is a national search, instead of the usual suspects that are in the family.
Last night marked the first game of my first full season playing roller hockey. Previously, I played in a substitute role for a couple of games, and even scored a goal once, but this time around I am a full-fledged member of the team. Currently, I've been tasked with defenseman duties, which will be little tougher than I originally thought. My skating and puck handling skills were suspect to begin with, now these skills are pushed to their limits. I'm sure that I'll get better with a few more games under my belt and find a rhythm, but for now I feel like a little out of place. We ended up losing 4-1. Most of our shortcomings stemmed from the fact we were 2 teams combined into one without any cohesion. Despite our loss, this season is going to be fun.
Although I don't like to post similar posts back-to-back, I had to mention my roller hockey team once again. Last night, with a roster of 8 players plus a goalie, the Titan/Fury (my team, which is a mix of 2 previous teams) skated victoriously to a 5-1 win. Usually we have 10 players plus a goalie, which gives us more time between shifts, so we were playing ironman hockey.
The best part was that I scored my first goal of the season last night. Since I play defense, my scoring opportunities are minimal. I snapped a quick pass from the point down in front of the goal to an awaiting teammate, but the pass found its way past the goalie for my precious score.
Our team found some chemistry last night, which was sorely lacking in our season opener. Hopefully, we will continue on this winning trend.
Current Portland Trailblazer Coach, Maurice Cheeks proved that not everyone in the NBA is cold-hearted, when he executed a perfect assist on the National Anthem over the weekend. Thirteen-year-old Natalie Gilbert got a sudden case of the nerves in front of 19,980 fans in attendance and millions of viewers at home, and forgot the words to the National Anthem. Cheeks stepped in and gave young Gilbert some much needed support when ironically, amidst all of those people, she must have felt incredibly alone. Cheeks placed his arm around her and helped her finish the Anthem to the delight of anyone that witnessed it. Cheeks is third (Now fourth, Gary Payton is 3rd) on the NBA's All-Time steals list, and he made one more steal that night when he stole the show with his uncanny act of humanity.
In my opinion, there are few in-game achievements in sports more difficult than batting for the cycle in baseball. Getting 4 hits is tough enough, but to get 4 specific hits is quite rare.
This is why Detroit Tiger, Dmitri Young should be praised. Last night, Young went 5-for-5, including 2 homers and 2 triples. That second triple needs a little more attention though. Triple number 2 was his last hit of the night, when he needed a double to complete the uncommon cycle. After his shot to left field, Young rounded first base and was safe at second base. Instead of being content with a two-bagger AND batting for the cycle, Young hustled down the base path to extend this hit into a triple.
Young should be praised for his hustle, and his disregard for his own statistics. I think stretching that double into a triple at the cost of hitting for the cycle is more notable than hitting for the cycle itself.
There's no doubt about it, I hate Michigan. I grew up an Ohio State fan, which starts you off to down the anti-Wolverine path. Then my Tarheels played against them for the National Championship in 1993 while I was a freshman at UNC. All that being said, I cannot believe the poor treatment that Michigan is getting from the NCAA based on the offenses of a booster, not even an employee, of Michigan. Ed Martin was known to give cash handouts to Michigan players while they were in both high school and college. These players are not currently enrolled at Michigan since this happened over 5 years ago. The players that took those cash gifts will never be penalized for their violations. Most of them enjoy lucrative careers in the NBA. Ed Martin passed away in February of this year, so he will not pay for his transgressions either. The current players on the University of Michigan basketball team will have to pay for Martin's misbehavior. After sitting themselves out of last season's tournament play, Michigan must sit out next year's post-season as well.
The punished should be allowed to learn not to make their mistakes again. However, in this situation, the offenders get off free while those that did nothing wrong are punished. I hope that Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, and Maurice Taylor can sleep at night while the current Michigan players have to sit at home in the post-season. They should be forced to repay their scholarships.
Unless you avoid all sports news or like spending extended periods of time under a rock, you know that Annika Sorenstam is playing in this week's PGA event at the Colonial golf tournament. This marks the first time in over 50 years that a female golfer is competing with men. There are several opinions on this hot topic, and I plan on addressing a few of them here in a game of Fact/Fiction:
-Annika is taking a spot away from a more deserving male PGA golfer Fiction. Annika received her spot from a sponsor exemption, which several other men golfers have previously received in other tournaments without qualifying for them.
-This is a marketing gimmick. Fact. It only makes sense to get more viewers of a PGA event. If that means that you invite a woman to play, then so be it.
-Women do not belong in the PGA since they have their own tour, the LPGA. Fiction. The LPGA has a rule in place that prevents men from playing. The PGA, however, has no such rule. This means that you cannot prevent a woman from playing.
-Women will start playing in the PGA more because of this week. Fact. Only a Neanderthal would be against this possibility. Having the best player in each tournament improves the level of competition, no matter what the gender of the participant is.
During this week's event, the guys in the PGA are treating Annika Sorenstam's score like golf's version of the Mendoza line. If the guys on the PGA tour are so worried about getting beat by a woman, then they should get better!
Perennial baseball good-guy, Sammy Sosa, was caught red-handed last night using a corked bat. Granted, using a lower density bat that replaces ash wood with cork, does not make sense in physics, but it is still breaking a rule in baseball. As a Cubs fan, I stand firmly behind Sosa, but as a disciplinarian, I believe he deserves whatever punishment is coming to him. That does not mean that I think Sosa is a cheater. I totally believe Sosa when he says that he used the corked bat by mistake. His actions support this claim, because cheaters who know they are caught usually act like cheaters. Cheaters attempt to hide evidence or themselves. Sosa did neither, and in fact acted like it was a routine play.
There still is the question of why there was a corked bat in the first place. He states that he uses a corked bat in batting practice to hit more home runs for the fans. True or not, you should keep illegal equipment as inaccessible as possible during a game.
What about all the other bats that Sammy has broken during his career? None of those had cork. To be safe, MLB has confiscated several of SS's bats for investigation.
If you think that Sosa's home run numbers are tarnished with this corking incident, I have to say he's innocent until proven guilty. Just because he hit his line drive against the Devil Rays with a corked bat, does not mean that he used a corked bat at every other at bat. Plus, if you think Sosa is cheating, you should start with testing his urine for foreign substances, not his bat.
Why would anyone want to be a coach of a major sport at a major university? You live in a fishbowl, and are constantly under the microscope. Alumni, students and fans constantly asking, "What have you done for me lately?" The NCAA is always investigating you for any, and I mean ANY, wrongdoings. Never mind the fact that some of these "violations" are so asinine, that you do your job with blinders on accessorized by a matching set of shackles. And this is simply the actual job, not actions off the playing surface.
Take the recent actions of some recently fired coaches, and see if you could keep your job with these outrageous standards.
1. Mike Price was fired as Alabama's head football coach for going to a strip club.
2. Former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy was fired for drinking beer at a college party and hitting on women.
3. Days ago, Rick Neuheisel was ousted as Univerisity of Washington's head football coach for betting on an NCAA basketball pool.
Now, if these universities had rules in place that explicitly restricted these types of behaviors, then I say they got what they deserved. However, each of these actions in of themselves in my opinion do not merit a job termination. In my day, I have been a patron of a strip club, have consumed several beers at college parties, have hit on women, and bet on NCAA basketball tournaments. Looks like I would not cut it as a college coach, and neither would more than half of America!
Last night while waiting excessively for a table at California Pizza Kitchen, Ed and I were discussing trading cards. Like many people during their adolescence, we both collected trading cards and had our own familiarity with the subject. In the course of the conversation, Ed prophetically mentions that card companies are putting pieces of jerseys in some of the trading cards to add more value, strike up interest, inflate demand, jack up prices, whatever. I did not think too much about it, except that it is just another stunt to sell cards. This morning on ESPN's Outside the Lines, their first story was about this very topic. To my chagrin, I found that my assumption about the card companies adding event-used paraphernalia in their cards to try to sell more cards was true, and it took an even worse turn than I could imagine. What these card companies would do is to bring in several players for the sole purpose of "using" sports equipment that would eventually get shredded up and added to individual trading cards. In the example that I saw on OTL, NFL rookies were brought in for a photo shoot. While the rookies were there they would take a football, toss it around for a minute or two, then the card company would stuff the football back in the box for it to be used in the "event-used" pile, then grab another football from the box and start the shortest game of catch again. I believe that they should rename this category from "event-used" to "touched by an actual player". This was such a scam. What was worse was that the NFL Players Association did not seem to mind at all, and the average card trader was going to buy them no matter what. In some cases, players were putting on jerseys of other players, which would get sliced up and distributed with their trading cards.
After watching this episode, I developed the theory that card companies are ruthless, money-grubbing scum. This was individually personified when they talked with Patrick Englert, a card collector that won $177,000 in a recent court case with a trading card company. In his case, Englert sued Topps for advertising that they made only 150 copies of a Jaromir Jagr card, when in fact, Englert had collected 157 himself. Its a sad day in America when you look at the trading card industry with contempt after it provided me, and several other collectors with much joy not that long ago.
Just move the Montreal Expos to San Juan already! After reading this article, it looks to me that baseball in Montreal will be no more. I never understood the international team sharing between Canada and Puerto Rico anyway. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that a team should play its home games at home. HELLO?!?
I was on Ticketmaster's web site last night looking for some tickets to see the Carolina Panthers. I could not believe my eyes when I saw this event. (Carolina Panthers vs. Florida Panthers) Two professional teams battling for the Panther name. Which professional organization has the best Panther team? The NFL or the NBA? This event will decide it once and for all.
You have to wonder which sport they will actually play. If they played either football or hockey, one of the two teams would have a distinct advantage. My solution to this problem is to have them play an arbitrarily neutral sport. How about Dodge Ball? This would be the best exhibition ever. Dodge Ball the way it was meant to be played; with professional athletes instead of a bunch of punk kids. They might be able to evolve this exhibition into a full-fledged professional dodge ball league. Hell, Slamball not only has a league, but they have a television contract. I don't remember playing Slamball in P.E. class, but sure as hell remember playing dodge ball, and a lot of it. I was not a bad dodge ball player in my day, but I am sure there are better players across the nation. And if we could bring those player together to form the eXtreme Dodge Ball League (XDBL), it would sweep the nation. There is obviously some interest in it. That would be the coolest sport ever.
However, I feel that this event could just be a typo. Sigh.
I scored the game winning goal last night in our roller hockey game. Although we won 5-1, we would not have gotten the lead without my goal breaking the tie and putting us ahead 2-1.
This time around my goal was a little more festive than my prior goals. I skated the puck from the point down to the slot, and cranked a snapshot just past the goalie on the lower left side. (Snapshots are halfway between a wrist shot and a slap shot) The great part was that the puck actually went where I was aiming.
Shortly thereafter, I had a second opportunity which was not as successful. I had a one-timer attempt that caromed off of the post. It would have easily been my best goal ever. I'm very pleased with last night's goal, which meets my quota of one per season. Remember kids, if you set your goals low enough, you can always achieve them.
My professional sporting team allegiances are fairly scattered, but whenever possible I will support the local team. The Carolina Panthers have become my favorite NFC team, but I will always be a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. The NFC/AFC differentiation is the only way that I can maintain these two teams as favorites in the NFL.
This past weekend, while my Steelers did their impression of a doormat for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Panthers did their impression of a roller coaster. While playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers provided several ups and downs especially on the emotional scale. In a battle of two of the supreme defenses of the NFL, the Panthers looked to have held off the defending champs to pull out a 9-3 win. Suddenly in the last 2 minutes, the Bucs decided to air it out and move down the field with the utmost proficiency. Finally scoring a touchdown from Brad Johnson to Keenan McCardell with under a minute left in the game. I was outraged. How could the Panthers play such good defense for the entire game only to turn to swiss cheese in the final minutes? I was so angry, that I could not face the tie-breaking extra point that would give Tampa the victory. So I turned it off....
Instead, I turned to EA Sports' College Football 2004 for a much needed distraction. In an act of masochism I returned to the Panther/Bucs game to see the Panthers' ultimate demise. To my surprise, I saw that overtime had just begun. How could this be? The Bucs were an extra point from winning. A later highlight showed a jail break bull rush that allowed the Panthers to block Martin Gramatica's extra point attempt. Carolina went on to win in overtime with a 40+ yard field goal.
With last week's last second heroics by Jake Delhomme to Ricky Prohl and this week's blocked extra point to an eventual win in overtime, the Panthers will have to ease up on the dramatics the rest of the season. I don't think I can handle 14 more games like these.
Another roller hockey has come to a close. Only this time it ends with a big thud (with the thud representing not doing as well as hoped). This season's team featured a crowd of players from a multitude of teams all combined into one. Due to a snag in the front office, we ended up with more players than we needed. However, this turned out to be a positive. Our team usually won due to sheer volume. Most other teams would tire out quickly, while we would throw an avalanche of fresh players at our opponents.
In tonight's playoff game, we were actually under-manned, instead of having our usual standing room only bench. Not being used to playing with normal numbers, we were outmatched by our opponents who went the opposite way and fielded more players than they usually do. We let the game slip away from us when we lost our own identity, and settled with a 6-5 loss.
We will do some rebuilding next season as we will have even more new faces, which will challenge our chemistry. Our off season will last a grand total of a week, so there will be little to no rest to recoup from this loss. Although most of you could not care less about hockey in any form, this is my weblog. And I get to decide the content. So there. Nyah.
Finally, the Eman has returned to Confessions of a Lethargic Mind! And, boy, do I have news for you! My beloved Chicago Cubs have won their first post season series since 1908, by knocking off perennial post season choke artists, the Atlanta Braves. The lovable losers from Chi-town are now actually winners. I'm not sure how the little bears from the Windy City will deal with their new found success, but as a Cub fan, I'm happy to see some post season winning. Expect some more good things from the Cubs...
Call this an omen, but I think that the winner of the Cubs and the Marlins series has been determined with a cinematic glimpse into the future. In Back to the Future II, Marty McFly tracks down Biff Tannen, his father's nemesis and local bully into the future, thanks to Doc Brown's supped up Delorian. Biff takes advantage of a sports almanac so that he can win sports bets in the future on his way to fortune. Along the way, we discover that the Cubs win the 2015 World Series against the Miami Somethingoranothers. Alright, its not exactly Nostradamus, but I'm telling you that the Cubs are destined to beat the Marlins and go to the World Series thanks to this movie tidbit.
I have neglected my weblog yet again. Like always, I have something to blame. I have not been my regular boisterous self lately due to the collapse of my Chicago Cubs. After being up 3-1 in the National League Championship Series, something (*cough* curse *cough*) caused the Cubbies to roll over and play dead despite having the cards stacked in their favor. They had two straight opportunities to win the NLCS and head to the World Series at home, with their 2 best starting pitchers, who had not lost back to back games since June of 2001. The lovable losers did what they did best, which was lose. Not only did they lose, they found new and exciting waysa to blow it. Honestly, did you really expect to see the Cubs in the World Series? After a successful run to the post season the Cubs have left me sad due to high expectations followed by an utter disaster at the hands of the Florida Marlins. How do I face a new day after a set back of this magnitude? At least I'm not this guy.
10/17/2003
***With the BoSox losing in an equally dramatic fashion to maintain the curse of the Bambino last night, it certainly softened the blow to this Cub fan. Misery loves company, right Sox fans?***
Recently, I signed up to coach in a youth basketball league. For years, I have wanted to coach but did not have a schedule that allowed me to do so. Now my time has come. I finally have a flexible schedule, which means I don't travel unexpectedly anymore, so now I can tackle coaching. Surprisingly, this league is a little more formal and complicated than I had expected. Honestly, I had assumed I would get a group of players assigned to me, a list of my practice times, and my game schedule, and that would be it. Not so fast. I have to attend two separate hour and a half clinics on how to coach, followed by 2 days of scouting sessions, with a draft that follows. I don't think I would mind so much if I had any previous coaching experience. Now I have to figure out my coaching philosophy, what I want my team to learn, and what the best method of managing this team will be. Luckily, I have enlisted the help of Robbie and Ed to assist me. Robbie will act as my assistant coach on the bench. Think of him as Shooter to my Coach Norman Dale from Hoosiers. Ed will act as my mentor. With several years of youth basketball coaching experience, I will have plenty to learn from this grizzled old vet.
I will do my best to update the progress of my coaching endeavor on this weblog, but I will filter out many details to protect the young and the innocent.
Usually, second place does not garner many accolades. This time, however, when number 1 is so far away, you are praised for being the best among the non-deities. Last night, Mark Messier surpassed Gordie Howe on the NHL's Career Points list by scoring 2 goals to up his tally to 1,851 points. This puts Mess behind only the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, on that list. I seriously doubt that Messier will catch Wayne though since Gretzky has a sizable 1,000 point cushion over his old Edmonton Oiler teammate. Wayne Gretzky is considered a god in hockey, so Messier should be proud to be Gretzky's second banana.
Let's analyze these numbers in a little more detail, shall we? Mark Messier took 25 seasons to reach second place in the NHL to the tune of around 75 points a season. That scoring average would put him in the Top 25 players every season, based on current numbers. Now consider that Gretzky has 1,000 points more than MM in 5 fewer seasons, and you will see that The Great One's average approaches 143 points per season, and you start to realize why Gretzky is the best hockey player ever. With that average, Gretzky would have won last season's points title by 37 points, the same amount of points that Carolina Hurricane Rod Brind'Amour scored last season. His lead on the all-time scoring list is so high, that you could remove his 894 goals, and he would still have the highest scoring numbers. Unreal.
To quote Dwight Barnes, "Wayne Gretzky is so good, that he should go to hell".
Last night during another roller hockey game, I was the recipient of a puck to the mouth! In case you were unsure about how it feels, let me assure you that there is plenty of pain involved. Luckily, I was wearing my mouth guard during this incident. Had I not worn the mouthpiece, I would have been carrying a few teeth home in a handy carrying case instead of in my mouth where they belong a la Danny Markov (bottom of the linked page). Its amazing how the initial $2 investment into that piece of plastic has paid for itself 1000 times over now. Ultimately, I busted my lip but it was not a spewing fountain of blood that I expected. The bleeding stopped quickly, and I was back in the game.
A little advice from your Uncle Steve:
If someone offers to hit you in the face with a hockey puck, just say NO!
While over at Ed's watching the Cleveland State/UNC basketball game, the courage of the Tar Heels came into question as the Vikings rained several three pointers in succession to change this game from a previously labeled "gimme" into a full fledged barn burner. Feeling a little saucy, I served up a proposition to make this game a little more interesting by placing some money on the game. Ed, being the fellow Tar Heel skeptic, refused to take the Heels since I was leaning toward taking the Vikings. Dan took the bait, and placed his wager on our alma mater. Ed, who is known to not leave this well enough alone, proceeded to up the ante (on a bet he didn't make), by saying the winner gets a dollar per point. Being the sheep that we are, Dan and I agreed. Lucky for our Tar Heels, they managed to pull out the victory over the pesky Vikes, but from a financial perspective, I was out six bucks. Oh well, sometimes you have to lose some money to get a victory.
How can the media have preseason polls in college sports? They have not seen any of the teams, except maybe in practice, yet they can quantify each team's skills enough to rank them all? What do they base this on? Last year's performance? If that is the case, the defending champion would always be ranked first, which is not the case. In college basketball, the wizards of sports media had Georgia Tech ranked seventh in the ACC, yet they whooped up on the number one ranked Connecticut Huskies in the preseason NIT. Actually, three of the preseason top four teams have already lost a game. I think they should postpone rankings until a few games have actually been played instead of ranking teams based on tradition or height.
In college football, preseason polls become the underlying source of everyone's complaints. Once you are ranked in the top ten, it takes a lot of losing to get you out of the polls. On the flip side, it takes a lot of wins to break into the polls if you were not already there. Just ask the Mid-American conference. Currently, a traditional power like Florida remains in the top 25 with 4 losses and ranked higher than new comers like Miami of Ohio, TCU, and Boise State, all of which have only 1 loss. Situations like this leave the BCS in shambles, and will continue to have the average college football fan begging and pleading for a playoff system. However, I doubt that a playoff system would work. If there was a playoff this season, most likely the Gators would be invited to the playoff, while the other teams I mentioned would be left at home.
I believe that the first poll of the season should not happen until the second week of December in college basketball and the third week of the season for college football. Preseason polls could still exist, but I would not want them to influence the current season.
I used to believe that not having a playoff system in college football increases the interest in the sport. The talks around the water cooler became heated each week with everyone discussing their opinion about who they thought was the best team in the NCAA. Those days are long gone.
With the recent debacle in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), I have jumped aboard the playoff bandwagon, and I am ready to drive. The BCS system, which was created to insure that the #1 and #2 teams in the nation play in a title game, failed to accomplish its only objective. The computer polls ranked Oklahoma as the top ranked team, while human polls listed USC as #1. USC has been ranked as #1 in both the AP and Coaches polls, but due to this BCS snafu has been left out of the national title game. At least they got #2 correct, by putting LSU in the title game.
If this does not raise enough controversy to get the playoff organized, I doubt anything else will. I realize that their are several obstacles that prevent a playoff system from getting implemented, such as television deals and bowl game advertisers, but leaving the college football national championship to a subjective poll has become outdated. Fans like me want the national title to be won on the playing field, not on a computer poll. The BCS has proven itself useless. Throw this archaic system away, and set up a playoff system.
When I signed on to be a youth basketball coach, I knew that I would have my work cut out for me. I would have to relate to the average 14 or 15 year old (which I hadn't done since I was 15), and get them to understand the complexities of basketball. Throwing an avalanche of knowledge that I have acquired over my years at them would probably bog them down, so I needed to find a balance. Getting them to transition between a hard nosed team defense and methodical execution of a motion offense while maintaining their focus was my nomination for toughest thing to do in coaching. Alas, I have learned that the difficulties are much more basic than my grandiose notions. The toughest thing about coaching these kids is getting them to show up.
In this age of technology, I have several ways to contact my players. I e-mail, call, leave messages, page them, smoke signals, whatever. It does not matter. Communication is not the key to the player attendance equation, fitting into their hectic schedules is. My players have so much going on in their lives, it amazes me that they (or their parents) can keep their sanity. The players have the several other activities which I will list in no particular order: bowling, studying for exams, tae kwon do, boy scouts, out of town visits, other basketball leagues (!), placement tests, musical recitals, church activities, crocheting, dry walling, automotive repair, paralegal services. Maybe this list is not as much what their other commitments are and more about the correspondence classes offered by Sally Struthers. However, it amazes me that parents can allow their children to get spread so thin across so many activities. I am all about giving children multiple opportunities to enhance their lives, but some parents take this to extremes. Focus on just a few select activities and allow your child to excel at them, instead of dabbling in every activity which does not allow for much success.
With last night's Super Bowl activities finally coming to a close, prefaced by 2 full weeks of every possible interview, statistic and analysis possible, the NFL season has finally come to a close. Watching the Carolina Panthers make it to the Super Bowl was more than I had expected, but losing on a last second field goal leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. I think I would have rather have seen the Panthers lose by 28 than to lose in the last minute. This year's Super Bowl story could have been written out like the first Rocky movie, with the underdog taking the champ the distance and finally earning some much needed respect. Unfortunately, the media did not think too highly of the Panthers and chose to spin the story into the Patriots being heroes in times of adversity. I really wished that the size of the media market did not influence the sports writers as much as it does. Even my boys on Pardon The Interruption admitted to not giving the Panthers much ink, as they brought it up every time the Panthers were (finally) mentioned. Its actions such as these that make me think that most major sports are against the smaller market teams.
For the very few NBA fans remaining in the world, this past weekend the NBA celebrated its 2004 All Star weekend. What used to be the most highly anticipated event of the weekend, the Slam Dunk Contest, has turned into a mockery of what used to make this weekend great. Remember when Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins used to push each other to their limits, pulling off previously unfathomable feats of dunking artistry? No more. Something changed over the years. The premier players do not want to injury their bodies or their pride, so they steer clear of the event. They leave this event for lesser known players. Couple the emergence of scrubs in the dunk contest with the audience's need for something new and exciting, and it would be a surprise if this contest was a success. Most of the dunks have been done, and we have all seen them.
This year's dunk contest ended in the worst possible way. The final two participants, Indiana Pacers' Fred Jones and Golden State's Jason Richardson missed their dunks in the final, leaving Jones the victor by default. They ended the contest with more missed dunks than if I had participated. Richardson did provide some creative excitement when he tossed the ball off the backboard to himself, and put it between his legs before slamming it through one-handed. Quite an impressive showcase, but that dunk merely propelled him to the final round where he missed the rest of his dunks.
There are still problems with this event. Although the judges have gone back to the whole number scoring system, the selection of judges needs to be reconsidered as well. This year due to the All Star festivities being in Los Angeles the panel was filled with former Lakers, most of whom rarely, if ever, dunked. (Except Big Game James, of course)Most notably was Magic Johnson, who I believed manipulated the outcome. Before the contest, Magic told the TNT commentators that his pick to win was Fred Jones. After one of Jones' more pedestrian efforts, Magic gave Jones a 10 (best score possible). I have reason to believe that Magic would have given Jones at 10 had he performed a finger roll layup.
The NBA needs to scrap the dunk contest or come up with a new way to present it (save the miserable "Wheel of Fortune" idea). Some ideas include a High Dunk Contest or H-O-R-S-E with dunks. They might even want to put a better incentive than cash. Most of these guys are millionaires anyway, what's a few extra thousand dollars? Let's have them play for Free Agency. Then you would see these money grubbers come out of the wood works pulling off the most spectacular dunks ever. Seriously, the NBA needs to pattern their All Star weekend more like the NHL's, and they will do just fine.
Like me, I'm sure you have diligently filled out your bracket in hopes the the Bracket Genie will award you this year's pot in the office pool. I hate to break it to you, but you are NOT going to win. You have too much logic in your bracket. There is always a sleeper team or two that screws it up. It happens every year, so you should be prepared for your disappointment.
You already know who will win your office pool too. That's right, Carolyn in Accounting is going to win. She picked the teams based on which team has the prettiest uniforms, or which schools she saw on her driving trip to Branson, Missouri last year to visit her cousin, Gertrude and watch that Pat Boone concert.
Next year, just skip the middle man and throw $5 in the trash instead of putting in your office pool. That will at least save you the aggravation of having optimism in your crappy picks, only to be upset by a colleges you did not even know existed until the selection show.
The Final Four is finally here, and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with the endings to most of the games so far. Except for the Oklahoma State / Saint Joseph's game, the endings to the games were met with a less that stellar conclusion. Instead of a star taking over the game and leading his team to victory, the usual ending had a team either barely getting a final shot to the rim or a turnover. In many cases, the losing team had a lead but collapsed in the final minutes. Snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. Just ask ACC brethren N.C. State, Maryland, and North Carolina about their 2004 tournament exits.
However, I would like to personally thank Oklahoma State's John Lucas and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson for a spectacular finish. That is how basketball is supposed to be. Icing on the cake was that both teams ran out of time outs, so the last few minutes were continuous instead of being littered by fouls and commercials. There was a great flow to the end of the game, and I think that the absence of commercials had everything to do with that.
An interesting metamorphosis occurred the other night during my roller hockey game. My game play was elevated. Not unlike leveling up in a real time strategy game like Diablo or Everquest. In those video games, after you accrue enough experience points you are rewarded with an additional skill set or heightened characteristics.
I should attribute this upgrade to the team that I was playing. They were arguably the best team in our league. Their play caused my entire team to play up to them, or else get blown out by a dozen goals. For me personally, the entire game slowed down. I even knocked down an opposing player's slapshot in mid-flight with my stick. I achieved total consciousness on the hockey floor. In other words, "I got it". Throw into the equation a hotly contested game where competition reached a fever pitch, and the end result was a landmark game for me. Ironically enough, the opposing team was named the Experience. And what a cool experience it was.
Although I do not expect to be able to play up to the next level any time soon, I no longer think that it is impossible. This zen-like experience has deepened my affection for roller hockey, and now I expect greater things from myself.
Found the following challenge on ESPN.com's Page 2 Daily Quickie Page: Name the handful of college teams whose nickname isn't an animal, doesn't reference a color, and doesn't end in "s."
I never found an official answer, so I did some research and found six. I think you should limit yourself to Division I schools, or else you might waste your life on this. Post a comment with your guesses.
The folks over at ESPN.com's Page 3 have been doing a series of articles about music and sports. Most notable of the articles is the extensive list of music each player in the majors has played when they step to the plate or get on the mound. The play lists are only as good as the team that provided that info. (Tampa Bay lists only 3 songs)
I recommend going through all 30 teams. You will learn several worthless bits of trivia along the way, not to mention some insight about each of the players. For example, Roger Clemens demands that the song get played exactly when he crosses the foul line as the Astros take the field and also demands that only 1:45 of the song be used. Angels Outfielder Garret Anderson wants silence when he walks to the plate. Not even clapping. What a bunch of prima donnas.
Some interesting or clever music that players have chosen.
Scott Rolen, St Louis Cardinals - Rollin' by Limp Bizkit
Hideki Matsui, NY Yankees - Theme from Godzilla
Jeff Weaver, LA Dodgers - Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
Bret Boone, Seattle Mariners - Here Comes The Boom by POD and Click Click Boom by Saliva
Raul Ibanez, Seattle Mariners - Werewolves in London by Warren Zevon
(The werewolf howl sounds like "Raul". I heard the last two in person)
My roller hockey team, The Fury, came within a goal of becoming the Bronze C League champions for the Summer Season last night at the Dream Sports Center in Apex. We were beaten 3-2 in the finals by the perenial champion, Experience, who have won three straight championships. This is the same team that took my hockey skills to another plateau back in the Spring season. This was the best season I have played in. We had a good record (7-3), a strong push in the playoffs, and we solidified as a team, thanks to our web site and message board.
Our evening did pick up during our post game dinner at the MacGregor Ale House. Sitting at an adjacent table were several out of work NHL hockey players. From what I remember the following Carolina Hurricanes were there: Jeff O'Neill, Ryan Baeta, Jesse Boulerice, Kevyn Adams, Erik Cole, and Eric Stahl. I didn't want to be a total toolbox and ask for autographs, but I'm sure I looked just as silly breaking my neck to see who was at their table.
What a horrible weekend for following sports if you are Steve (me). Every team that I follow lost this weekend, except for my Pittsburgh Steelers. However, this lone victory was not going to repair a weekend's worth of heart break. The college football arena begins the loser's weekend with my alma mater, UNC losing to Florida State. Absolutely no surprise there, but recalling how bad the Tar Heels are this year certainly is a downer. LSU, Abby's alma mater, which I have adopted since I did not have any SEC representation, looked like anything but the defending National Champions against Georgia. David Greene, mentioned here before, completed only 10 passes with half of them being touchdown passes. I capped off Saturday evening watching my childhood favorite, Ohio State go to the bitter end against unranked Northwestern, the doormat of the Big Ten. The game was on late AND went into overtime. My torment was short lived with OSU missing a field goal in overtime, which paved the way for a Wildcat victory. I hate staying up extra late only to experience a defeat.
Earlier in the day, I witnessed the Cubs eliminate themselves from the NL Wild Card race by finding a way to lose in the late innings of Saturday's matinee. A reoccurring theme as of late from the lovable losers. Ed was nice enough to beat me at College Football shortly after watching the Cubs crumble. Playing in the Big House is tough.
Although watching the Atlanta Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers yet again was saddening, it was not as bad as watching members of my Fantasy Football team refrain from scoring any touchdowns in the second week in a row. Touchdowns are an easy way to win in Fantasy Football, so without them you tend to struggle to score any significant points. Earlier injuries from Charles Rodgers and Kellen Winslow definitely hurt my chances of being competitive, but their inability to cross a goal line has turned my squad into losers.
Hope my latest misfortunes do not transcend into other aspects of my life
Seems like a lot of people got all riled up about the Monday Night Football intro vignette this week. ABC decided to do some cross promotion by using shy, wallflower Terrell Owens and Desperate Housewives bench warmer, Nicolette Sheridan in their skit. The public seems to have gotten upset about seeing (*gasp!*) Sheridan's bare back during what they consider a "family show".
First off, there are a couple of buttons on television sets that assist in avoiding any exposure to such atrocities. One could either change the channel, or heaven forbid, turn the damn thing off. For the sake of this discussion, we'll assume that America's television sets were locked into this program with no escape in sight. The complainers out there hate the idea of seeing a woman's bare back at 6pm on the West coast. I would argue that you see much MUCH worse during daytime soap operas, which would be shown before noon on the left coast. Never mind their misconception that Monday Night Football is a "family show". The entire premise of MNF is based on violence. Throw into the mix the slew of beer and erectile dysfunction advertisements, not to mention the athletes that have been convicted of domestic violence, drug trafficking, attempted murder or drug possession, and you come closer to the Jerry Springer show than any family-oriented show found on the likes of PAX or Disney.
If you are offended by the MNF skit, that is fine with me. You are entitled to your opinion of what you consider obscene. Everyone has their own tolerance level, especially in relation to what their family views on television. However, those offenses should not be limited to seeing an actress's bare back (which most likely veils the public's aversion to seeing a white woman embrace a black man, but I can't prove that one so I digress). I find it extremely short sighted and selectively naive' to pick out this MNF intro as the source of contention for the obscenity police.
...because we are the champions! Freddy Mercury could not have said it better himself. Last night, history was made
when your favorite roller hockey team, the Fury defeated Bad To The
Bone, in a commanding 4-0 victory. Our win entitled us to the
coveted Bronze League C 2004 Fall Season Roller Hockey Championship,
which had eluded from our grasp the prior season. Without our
"ringer" we had to get our offense from alternative sources,
specifically GoFury.com designer, Eric Forehand, who tallied an
impressive hat trick (that's 3 total goals, kids) in the most important
game of the season. In addition to Eric's offensive onslaught,
our defense stepped up to prevent BTTB any scoring opportunities, which
I can at least take 20% of the credit. There's something about
having both a hat trick and a shut out in the championship game.
That is quite the accomplishment.
We cannot rest on our laurels, since the Winter 2005 season begins
shortly after New Year's. I'll keep you updated on our successes,
since I know you are hungry for more information about roller
hockey. Go Fury!
On Sunday, I joined Ed and Kristin in watching UNC beat UConn in a hotly contested basketball game that saw our Tar Heels eventually waltz to a 7 point victory over the Huskies. Prior to the tip-off, I mentioned to Ed that UConn sophmore, Josh Boone was "soft" and that I would prefer to have fellow Huskie, Charlie Villanueva (not Villanova, as repeated referenced by Verne Lunquist).
Before this game, I had seen Charlie take over a couple of basketball
games, mostly on the interior. He would become an unstoppable
beast in the post, scoring at will and taking as many rebounds as he
saw fit. Josh Boone, in contrast was pleased to remain on the
perimeter and take 10 to 15 foot jump shots while Charlie V did the
grunt work on the inside. However, during their game with the
Heels, these roles were dramatically reversed. Josh Boone stepped
up to the challenge and played like a man inside, finishing with 16
points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Charlie could only muster up 2
points. Not only did Boone prove that "soft" did not belong in
any sentence describing him, but Charlie proved to be the softer of the
two teammates. To this end I offer up the following:
Dear Josh, I sincerely apologize for
questioning your desire and effectiveness in the paint. You have
proven to me that you are a true post player that demands attention
from the opposition. Your previously described "soft" play can
now be officially entitled "solid". Keep up the good work, and
please accept my apology. Steve
I coach basketball
for 14 and 15 year olds. Little did I know that I would learn so
much about their undecipherable teen-aged mind. Throughout our season, I
was repeatedly reminded about the limitations kids that age have.
I usually have lofty goals of showing them complex offensive plays, but
I inevitably have to water it down for their easy comprehension.
I always forget that I get these kids for only 1 hour of practice per week
(that is if they decide to show up) instead of the 2-3 hours per day I had back when I played in high
school. Despite this, I coach them up and try to prepare them for
any basketball situation. However, they are still kids and they
prove this to me every time they play for me. I can tell them
exactly what they need, but the unpredictability of their teen aged
minds throw a wrench in my entire operation every time. Their
short term memory is baffling. I can tell a player that he will
pass the ball to Player A, then run to a specific point on the floor,
all the while he's nodding with recognition. Upon returning to
the floor the player immediately forgets what he is supposed to do,
then "freelances". (These freelancing opportunities make me lose
even more of my hair)
Even worse than their short term memory lapses would be the bad habits
they pickup from environmental variables outside of my control.
They see the "And 1" Streetball videos and
unfortunately try to imitate it. For some reason, this complete
bastardization of basketball is appealing to them. Also, the 3
point line is the only location where they want to shoot. They
step onto the court, and without fail they chuck a three as their first
shot. The absolute worst evidence of their impressionability
occurred during our last game, when one of my players pantomimed
slashing his throat after making a shot in the late stages of the
game. Thanks to Wake Forest's Taron Downey and his actions, plus UNC's Rashad McCants repeat performance, my player imitated the worst aspects of the sport I love.
Teaching kids certainly is a constant struggle. My hat goes off to all the teachers of the world.
Not too long ago I signed on to play in an adult basketball league, as
previously mentioned. I signed on with fellow buddies, Robbie and
Ed, with the notion that this was our last hurrah in organized
basketball. After game one, we realized that we were on a
talented team after we won in a rout. Shortly thereafter, this
team of talented players was exposed as a non-defense playing,
chemistry challenged, group of malcontents. Adding the smallest
doses of misfortune and negativity transformed these players into
blaming, bickering, complainers. Basically, we have too many
Chiefs and not enough Indians. However, I have been relegated to
mere Indian status, through my lack of playing time. I play, but
not as much as I would like, and especially not as much as some of the
self-annointed superstars.
I have endured the ups and mostly the downs of this team, while Ed and
Robbie have been slightly removed from the mix. Unfortunately (or
fortunately depending on how you look at it) Ed has been sidelined with
a knee injury, while Robbie has been diagnosed with apathy. This
is not exactly how I invisioned my farewell tour.
With only a handfull of games to go, I can see the end of my basketball
playing days on the horizon. After playing with a bunch of
knuckleheads, I welcome my impending retirement
The 30 year old body is not designed to play multiple high intensity
sports in one evening. I proved this corollary last night when I
played both basketball and roller hockey within a 3 hour time
frame. I have mentioned my previous mutli-sport related evenings before, but last night tested my physical stamina, not my time management skills.
I played several minutes of the basketball game, which resulted in an overtime victory for the good guys.
However, in preparation for the subsequent sporting event, I toned down
my playing time, and removed myself from the overtime. (my lack
of basketball ability might have had more to do with my overtime
absence than my personal energy conservation) I had positive
contributions towards the victory though.
After basketball, I made a bee line to where we play roller hockey. Time was not an issue this time around. In one of our more dominating games, the Fury went
on to a 6-1 win. I had an awesome assist and several blocked shot
attempts. However, with 5 minutes left in the game, my body
decided it had enough. It was everything I could do to drag my
butt out on the floor for my final shift. Luckily, possessing a 5
goal margin does not lend itself to a fervid pace, so I coasted out the
remainder of the game.
Ultimately, I survived my two sport evening, even getting into the
scoring column of both victories. But, I don't want to attempt
this again any time soon. My body hates me right now.
As a roller hockey veteran, I have to maintain my equipment. In
my last hockey game, I noticed towards the end of the contest that I
was riding a little loose. Afterwards, I inspected my wheels
(which were fine) then noticed that the "trucks" which hold the wheels
in place, were attempting to detach themselves from the rest of the
boot. I could see that disaster was immenant.
The next night I sat down in front of my e-mail machine and shopped for some replacement skates. I found some 2005 Model Vector PF4 Roller Hockey Skates
by CCM at epuck.com
. The big question is whether or not these new skates will be in
my possession by the time the puck drops for our next game, scheduled
for 7:30pm this Thursday night. Thanks to our good friend,
technology and his college drinking buddy, the Internet, we are able
track my new purchase. Following this link
provided my UPS, we can all enjoy the excitement of following my UPS
package across the southeast. For some reason, although it
started in Lafayette, Louisiana, the package has taken a western route
through Houston, Texas. Someone should really tell them to go the
short way around the globe and head east.
Yesterday, I spent the day on Pinehurst No. 2 to kick off the first day
of the U.S. Open. So far it has been quite an experience. I thought I
could itemize a few of my observations from the day.
Technology, Bad. Ugh. - No cellphones, no cameras, and certainly no
camera phones are allowed at Pinehurst. Otherwise, I would have some
pictorial goodness to share.
Relentless Sun - While there are countless pine trees through the
course, shade becomes a rarity. Usually, to watch the action, you need
to be close to the fairways or greens. Any shady places are filled up
quickly, which leaves you in the sun feeling like an ant under a
sadistic kid's magnifying glass.
No Pine Cones - For all of the pine trees in the Sandhills of North
Carolina, I don't remember seeing a single pine cone on the ground.
They must have some overly ambitious grounds crew.
Gore hits it wicked far - Fairly early in the day, we parked ourselves
in the stands at hole number 8. While there, I saw the longest drive I
have ever seen. By our calculations, we calculated that Jason Gore drove
his ball close to 350 yards. Clearing the "second crosswalk" was only
accomplished by two players. The other player was Tiger Woods, but he
was still 25 yards shorter than Gore
Concession Economy - It was a seller's market. There were 18
concession stands evenly distributed among the course. Not one of them
had a line fewer than 15 people during lunchtime hours (11AM-2PM). Any
outside food was prohibited. The prices were high. Supply was limited
(They ran out of everything at any given moment) The only thing that
the concession stands had going for them was a captive audience.
Obviously, the strongest of economic forces.
People moving - We parked, from what I can tell, about 3 counties
away. However, the steady rotation of buses to get people to the
course was consistent. Once you got on the bus from the parking lots, you got to the course
in no time. Although there was car traffic on the way out, the
heaviest part was in Sanford, about 25-30 miles north of Pinehurst.
I will be returning again this weekend. We'll see if I notice anything else.
Warning: The following post talks about hockey....a LOT.
The NHL has returned from its unwanted hiatus now that the owners and players have agreed
on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), ending the lockout. I
will not get into the particulars. I will focus on being a
complete shill for the NHL. I have a total and complete bias
towards hockey, so critique all my hockey commentary accordingly.
With the new CBA, the players definitely got screwed since they
received a worse deal then if they had agreed to play last
season. Knowing that CBA analysis is about as entertaining as a
tax seminar, I will move on to more interesting hockey matters.
To gain back the throws of fans lost by the lockout and general
disinterest, the NHL will institute several new rules to the coolest game on ice. Allow me to explain and value each of the rule changes.
-Allowing the two-line pass (no red line) like international hockey
Off-sides confuses most of the new hockey spectators. Eliminating
the red line opens up the game instead of having to pass the puck
across this line before that line, but not over both lines.
See? Confusing. No red line means simpler rules, a game
that flows and increased scoring opportunities.
-Reduction in size of goalie equipment
Goalie pads have grown to the size of the net so that instead of
increasing your goalie skillz to reduce goals, you simply tie a Buick
to your legs. Another attempt to up the scoring.
-Using the AHL crease and limits on goaltender puck handling
I have no clue what the AHL crease looks like, but assume its a way to
stick it to the goalies. Goalies now have a much smaller area
where they are allowed to handle the puck, reducing the defense's
advantage behind their own goal.
-No tie games; using a penalty shootout after overtime; After a
five minute overtime, three players will be selected from each team for
the shootout. If still tied, it will then be a sudden death shootout
I think this is an attempt to connect with the black/white, cut/dry
mentality of Americans and their sports. I don't like it, because
I would hate a shooting exhibition to decide the outcome of a
game. How would you like a basketball game be decided on a
3-point shootout instead of having a 2nd overtime?
-No-touch icing
Instead of waiting for a player to skate the length of the ice, just to
touch the puck to get a call, officials can now make the call ahead of
time. An easy time saver.
-Bringing back tag-up offside Without getting into specifics, its a way to cut down on Offsides calls. I'm all for it. Keep the game moving.
-Move nets back two feet towards end boards
Not sure who this helps. I guess it means that since there is
less room behind the goal, that there is less of an incentive for the
puck to go back there. Puting the puck in front of the goal
more? Leading to more scoring opportunities.
-Reducing the size of the neutral zone
Thus increasing the size of the offensive zone, which would lead to more scoring opportunities (seeing the theme here yet?)
-A team that ices the puck cannot make a line change prior to the ensuing face-off
Icing is often used as a delay tactic. This would eliminate the
advantage of icing on purpose, which will speed up the game.
-Officials will have the discretion to wave off icing if it is deemed to be the result of an attempted pass
Another speed up the game rule
-A player that instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a
game will receive a game misconduct and automatic one-game suspension
A token attempt to address hockey fights. I could do without
fighting in hockey, although it certainly entertains me. This flimsy rule
acts like a ruling against fighting, but it only eliminates
fighting from 1/12th of the game.
-Zero tolerance on interference, hooking and holding/obstruction
I don't get this at all. Does this mean that "we're going to
start calling this stuff now"? If so, then why weren't you
enforcing your own rules before? Lame.
-Delay of game penalties for any players shooting the puck over the glass in his defensive zone.
An attempt to prevent delaying the game on purpose. This used to
only apply to goalies. Increases the speed/flow of the game.
As you can see, most of these new rules are to either speed up the game
or increase scoring. Two concepts that I can fully support.
Therefore, these new NHL rules get the Eman Seal of Approval. I
will continue to evangelize the virtues of hockey to my congregation
(both of you). Hockey is back and better than ever. According to Stompin' Tom Connors, the
good ol' hockey game, its the best game you can name!
(For the locals, you might find it interesting that the Carolina Hurricanes have the #3 pick in the 2005 entry draft)
I may or may not have mentioned that I follow two teams in the NFL.
While I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the emergence of a
franchise in the Carolinas, I have followed the Panthers as well. In
my own twisted rationalization, I have a team from the AFC and the NFC,
so this eliminates most conflicts of interest. Supporting two teams
comes at a price, like today for example. The same scenario befell
both of my favorites today. Down a touchdown with less than two
minutes remaining in regulation, the "good guys" rallied to tie things
up with a late touchdown with their respective high profile wide
receiver (Steve Smith and Hines Ward). However, their success was
fleeting, since the ensuing offensive drive by the opposition resulted
in a last-second, game-winning field goal.
Sigh
That situation can take the life out of you while viewing your favorite
team come so close to victory, yet so far away. Seeing it twice in one
day is downright devastating. So I return to my lair to lick my
wounds and fight again next week.
Speaking of next week, I will be on vacation the next seven days. Do
not be surprised if you there are no other posts this week.
My sophomore year of college was a turning point for me in regards to my
hockey appreciation. That was the year that Matt "Nino" Manino, who
lived across the hall from me on the third floor of Graham Dorm at UNC,
introduced me to EA Sports' NHL 94 on Sega Genesis. That year was
epic. About a dozen guys each adopted their own hockey team from that
game and played head-to-head against any one else from that group. I
originally used the Montreal Canadians, but later in the season
switched to the Vancouver Cannucks when our "league" evolved into a
high scoring blitzkrieg instead of focusing on hard-nosed defense.
This was the first time in my life that I followed hockey on any
level. It certainly helped that this was the best sports video game I
have ever played, but there was more than a gamer's appreciation of the
game. After that Sega influenced year, I kept tabs on the NHL there
after. Something that was completely foreign to me before that Sega
game had a grip on me.
Fast forward to January 2003, and I was on the floor actually playing
hockey. Although it wasn't ice hockey, roller hockey and I seemed to
be a natural fit. I liked playing so much, that in April 2003 I signed
up to play a full season. I have played every season since, starting
my 11th season this past Thursday night. I have come a long way from
my pigeon-toed skating when I started to becoming responsible for half
the scoring on Thursday (1 goal and 1 assist) and some solid defensive
play.
My hockey fascination has not been limited to playing roller hockey. I
am a season ticket holder for the Carolina Hurricanes. I even went to
the season opener last night, which could have been one of the most
exciting games I have seen since the Canes playoff run a couple of
years ago thanks to some key rule changes in the new fangled NHL. I
have even signed up for a fantasy hockey league.
I would have never guessed that hockey would play such a large part of my life, but I have fully embraced hockey.
Undefeated. The Duke Blue Devils
will be undefeated at the completion of the 2005-2006 college
basketball season. This is my 'official' prediction, and I have
good reason to think so. This team is absolutely stacked.
They have no reason to ever lose a game this year. They have two
All-Americans not to mention one of the best freshman classes in the
nation (if not the best). Tell me who could possibly beat this
juggernaught? No one comes to mind. I seriously doubt that
anyone will beat them. Number one, wire to wire. They
should hope that there are no distractions
My Tar Heels are amidst a rebuilding year.
We remain on the outside looking in, despite being the reigning
champion. The Blue Devils, however, have the unenviable task of
holding to their surrounding lofty expectations. After their
first loss this season, the horror of not having a perfect season will
stay resident in all the Duke fans' collective mouths. The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers
perfect record will mock all the Duke fans that see it. This will
be their best opportunity to stand next to that monumental Hoosier team
in the record books, but one simple loss will disgrace them
completely.
For the Heels, a loss will occur due to inexperience and losing their
top seven scorers from the previous season. There will be no
excuses for Duke. Win, or else. Makes for a much more
leisurely season when you compare it to the Blue Devils. Good
luck being successful, because ANY set back will mar your season.
What a glorious evening last night was! Your favorite Adult Bronze C
Roller Hockey team, the Fury, won in spectacular fashion. How did it
happen? I thought you would never ask....
The Fury was matched up against their old rivals, the Independents. A
long history exists between these two clubs stemming from the fact that
both teams have played in this league so long. Scoring got underway in
the first period as young phenom, Justin Drust found Stu White for a
quick one-timer. Captain Tommy Long followed the scoring shortly
thereafter with his patented curl move in the slot for a wrist shot
through traffic for the score.
In the second period, the Independents looked to their "go-to-guy", also known as their
"ringer" for the next two goals of the game. Not giving in to the
Independents comeback efforts, the Fury rallied behind some hard-nosed
hustle. The Drust/White line puts the Fury in the lead 3-2, when
White's shot sails wide of the net, only to be swept in by Drust.
With time winding down, the Independents looked again to their ringer,
who successfully slaloms through the Fury defense to tie the game at
3. With only a minute left in the game, overtime looked inevitable.
However, in the waning seconds Long takes a shot from inside the red
line as a last ditch effort. His shot finds the goalie, who is unable
to secure the rebound. Fan favorite, defenseman Steve Emanuelson (me)
crashes the net to put home the GAME WINNING GOAL! After the
remaining 15 seconds tick off the clock, the Fury emerge victorious
from a hard fought game with your's truly filling the role of hero.
Personal Note:
I have played all kinds of sports in my day: from little league
baseball, to countless basketball teams, leagues and camps, to obscure
Intramural sports. There have been some of those games that I have
been dominant or at least effective. I might have had some memorable plays here and there, but I do not recall anything
close to being the game winner. Last night's game winning goal could
be my most crowning sports achievement.
I treated myself to ESPN's GamePlan
during this year's college football season. Now that the college
football season is drawing to a close, I figured that I would laud this
game package for its ability to address my previous issues with network
broadcasts of college football. Before GamePlan entered my living
room, I was force fed one national football game and a regional
football game. ABC would usually tap the best game of the weekend as their nationally televised game (minus Notre Dame games which are televised on NBC, and SEC match-ups which are televised on CBS)
That leaves the rest of the conferences at the mercy of ABC's
scheduling. ABC's national game selection was not the source of
any of my ire. I saved that for the regional game. Living
in North Carolina means that I would see the ACC
game: No matter what. The second best game of the week was
limited to its region. Since North Carolina is not a hot bed of
college football, the second best game was rarely in my region.
This is where GamePlan comes in.
With GamePlan I would get to see no only the 2nd and 3rd best games of
the week, but I also got to see those garbage games that no one wants
to see. A small price to pay for a college football fan such as
myself. I caught myself watching WAC or Mountain West games, which I did not know existed, except for the fine print of the sports page.
I would not recommend GamePlan to everyone, unless you are willing to
commit yourself to hours of Saturday couch time, like I did. Once
the full spectrum of college football games becomes available, you run
the risk of diluting its potentcy. Lucky for me, traditional
powerhouses from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 10
littered my menu. Outside of the unavoidable blowouts, most games
were entertaining. GamePlan gave me increased exposure to teams
outside of the Eastern time zone and kept a heaping helping of college
football on my plate. GamePlan comes highly recommend and gets
the Eman Seal of Approval.
Nice win by the Longhorns over the USC Trojans for the 2006 College
Football National Championship. However, you would not have
thought that Texas was even involved if you watched the end of the
game. ABC was primed to interview all of the involved parties of
the USC Trojans, despite the fact that they were on the losing end of
the game. Not counting the trophy presentation, ABC completely
ignored the Texas Longhorns. At the conclusion of the game, ABC
made a bee line to Coach Pete Carrol for his take on the game,
completely avoiding the winning coach, Mack Brown. They took an
even worse step by shunning MVP, Texas' Vince Young for an interview
with USC quarterback Matt Leinart. The ABC/ESPN bias showed
through with flying colors. You would think that objectivity
would come in to play at least a little bit.
In response to the poor NFL officiating this past weekend, I will let
you decide for yourself whether to call it conspiracy or incompetence.
I know, I have covered this topic before, but its worth rementioning. (Take a quick look at this thread, and search for "officials" to get an idea of how bad it was)
This past weekend was the NFL Divisional Playoff weekend, where one
would assume that the better NFL officiating crews would be on hand,
just like the better NFL teams are playing. However, in the most crucial points
of this weekend's games, the officials announced their presence with
authority. Which is odd, since a telling sign of good officiating is
that you do not notice the officials at all.
A quick run down of the weekend's 'questionable' calls:
-Pass interference on New England's Asante Samuel, putting the Denver Broncos on the doorstep to a game changing touchdown.
-Chicago Bears' Thomas Jones gets credit for a touchdown, although he
neither had possession of the ball, nor did he come within two yards of
crossing the goal line. *Instant Replay saved this potential debacle
-Just prior to Chicago's Rex Grossman throwing a game clinching
interception, the play clock hit zero before the ball was snapped. The
play should have never happened, instead resulting in a delay of game
penalty.
-Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu's interception of Indianapolis' Peyton
Manning pass at a key comeback moment for the Colts was over turned,
resulting in an incompletion and an irate Steeler, Joey Porter
(claiming that officials wanted Peyton to win).
-Sorry Redskins. Can't blame the officials for your loss.
Not the best examples for a conspiracy theory, but you still have to
wonder how this many mistakes come in the most crucial games year after
year. Perhaps the NFL compiles several "all-star" officiating crews,
instead of rewarding a crew that has worked all season together. Or
maybe they get nervous during exciting plays, like any normal human
being would. Seems to me that the number of questionable calls
increase during the playoffs, but disappear during the Super Bowl.
This past Monday night was chock full of hockey for me. I began the evening by attending the Carolina Hurricanes game
versus the Montreal Canadians at the RBC Center. Thanks to a
relative offensive onslaught by the home team, I was able to leave the
game after the second period without reservation since the Canes were
up 5-1 (ending the game with a 7-3 victory).
No, I did not leave early because I wanted to beat the traffic, I had
my own game to attend. Your favorite roller hockey team, the Fury,
who recently moved up from the "bronze" level to the "silver" level
(arbitrary terms, just know that silver is tougher than bronze) had a
tough matchup with the "Blues" that night. This hotly
contested...uh...contest resulted in aggressive play and a little more
contact than typically found in our "no-checking" environment.
Fast forward to the end of the game, with less than 5 minutes
remaining. A scramble for the puck in front of our own net turned
into a bit of a scrum, with an opposing player getting knocked down to
the floor by his own teammate. Apparently confused and agitated
by being on the losing end of a 9-5 score,
the fallen opponent responded by grabbing one of my teammates by the
leg, trying to trip, injure or maim. Meanwhile, yours truly was
resting on the bench waiting for my next shift. Once I saw the
opponent trying to inflict harm on my teammate instincts took over, and
I jumped the wall and entered the fray. The distance between the
bench and the dog pile provided me with enough time to reflect on my
current actions. A quick internal mental audit told me that I
really should not have left the bench, much less travel towards
conflict. By the time I get to the action, cooler heads had
prevailed. However, I then realized that the rest of the Fury
bench followed me.
A quick scan of the roller hockey rule book
indicates that leaving the bench is a no-no. The officials confer
and decide that our bench will be cleared and sent back to the locker
room. Ejection! We each get misconduct penalties for
leaving the bench, resulting in 10 minute majors. Since the time
was more than the remainder of the game, we were asked to leave the
game.
Its that time of year again....March Madness.
Basketball fans everywhere are ready. The conference tournaments
are completed. The ink on our brackets is still fresh.
Sixty five teams have a chance at the NCAA Men's Basketball National
Championship. The only thing missing is the annual anti Billy
Packer post from yours truly. (This will mark the 7th
installment in 4 years. Search for "Billy Packer" from the main page to see the others.)
This year, thanks to the suggestion from Erin, I have decided to take a different route than my typical verbose description of everything that Billy Packer
does wrong. We all know that the modern game has passed him
by. We all know that he comes across as a pompous ass. We
all know that his own opinions come first and foremost, even despite
solid evidence to the contrary. We even know that there are
countless other color commentators that would do a better job if given
the opportunity. However, I want to give equal time to
everyone.
Now is your chance, Billy Packer fans (both of you). Stand up and
be recognized. For too long you have hidden in obscurity as the
minority. The Internet is the great equalizer. Let your
voice be heard! Post your reasons for keeping Billy Packer in the
most important broadcasting position as related to college
basketball. Place your comments right here. His tenure did
not come about without merit, did it?
Let me get the ball rolling on why Billy Packer does commentary for the
National Championship every year. Could it be his clever repartee
with fellow commentator, Jim Nance?
How about Packer's mastery of 1962 style basketball? Maybe its
his ability to harshly critique a player/coach/team and immediately
shift into showering praise when placed in their immediate
presence? It could be his staunch refusal to admit any
fault. Do not let his hatred for anyone that does not play
basketball "his way" get overlooked. You have several options
here, Billy Packer fans. Allow this weblog and specifically, this
post, to be your canvas to paint Billy Packer in the positive light in
which you have seen him.
My evening was set. I picked up a couple of Chicken Mole' Burritos from Qdoba in anticipation for Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals for me and my woman. With a happy tummy, I nestled into a comfortable position on my couch. The 1st period showcases a determined Carolina Hurricanes club that apparently had a fire lit under them. They skated hard and fast, ending the period with a 1-0 lead. Thanks to Ed, I was able to perfectly time the intermission (17 minutes). However, disaster struck just prior to the teams reconvening for the 2nd period. The cable started acting screwy. I can't recall the last time I had cable problems, but leave it to Murphy's Law that when there's something important to watch on cable, that problems will arise. So I do the "reboot" the cable box trick which typically works, but instead of returning to normal, we were cut off from cable bliss. After verifying on a secondary television, we had officially lost our cable, with no relief in sight. We had to act fast....the 2nd period was about to start. Abby gets on the phone with Time Warner Cable while I attempt to locate someone that can still see the game. I call Eric, but he's actually at the game. Meanwhile, Abby learns that we are "experiencing problems in your area" from the TWC recorded message. I track down Eric's wife, Lisa who allows us to self-invite us over to watch the game with her. Jokingly, she asks, "Oh, is there something on that you want to watch? I'm enjoying West Wing, so you guys are welcome to watch that with me." Funny...but this is no joking matter. The Canes future is at stake here, woman!
Lucky for Team Emanuelson, we were able to limit our downtime by watching the rest of the game with Lisa. Tragedy averted!
The Canes were victorious following some heroic play from Doug Weight, Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams. After a 4-2 Game 7 victory, the Canes are now set to face the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals!
Last night, I was in attendance to the best Carolina Hurricanes victory ever, marking the first "championship level" game I have attended in person. While I'm sure that other Canes games were just as exciting, I doubt that they were both as exciting and as important as Game 1 of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
However, the game started off as a dud. The Canes played some lackluster hockey, by turning the puck over, giving up several shots and generally not skating as well as they should. Poor play by the Canes led to golden opportunities for the Edmonton Oilers, including a questionable penalty resulting in the first converted penalty shot in a Stanley Cup Final by Oiler Chris Pronger. (Pronger is WAY good, by the way). In the second period, the Canes were faced with a 0-3 deficit. The outlook was bleak.
Then, with about 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, captain Rod Brind'Amour got the scoring started with his first goal of the night. By the beginning of the 3rd period, the once sulk-ridden fans on the bad end of 0-3 got their second wind. Being down 2 goals is something the Canes have come back from during these playoffs, so there was a glimmer of hope. Then the flood gates opened. Justin Williams capped off a 3 goal run in 10 minutes with his short handed breakaway goal, following 2 Ray Whitney goals. Canes were winning 4-3!
Although this comeback looked like a fairy tale, fans were brought back to reality after Ales Hemsky's sweet backhand goal. As time was waning in regulation, Canes fans were preparing for overtime. After being down 0-3, forcing an overtime seemed like a gift. Then with 35 seconds to go, the Canes received a much better gift: A turn over behind the goal, with no goalie in net! Rod Brind'Amour grabbed the mishandled puck, wrapping it around the front of the net for an easy score. The RBC Center erupted! Decibel levels were peaking near 130db, which is the equivalent to a jackhammer or an air raid. After Canes Goalie, Cam Ward withstood an "everything but the kitchen sink" style of offensive rush from Edmonton, the Canes held on for the victory.
Although I have seen exciting OR important games in the past, there was nothing that filled both of these characteristics like this game did. This was a historic game, and I was there!
Sorry about the influx of hockey entries, but the Stanley Cup finals doesn't happen to one's team every year. In case you were not aware, the Carolina Hurricanes are within one game of winning Lord Stanley's Cup. I was fortunate enough to attend Game 1, which I have already detailed. Last night I attended Game 5 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, in hopes of seeing the local boys hoist the cup in victory. Alas, it was not to be. The Canes lost a heartbreaker in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers, however I feel priviledged to be able to attend what could have potentially been the greatest sports moment I have ever seen in person. Not too much else to say about the loss, other than I had a great time anyway. I have pictures to prove it.
I can't seem to find the words that could capture this moment. I heard the word "surreal" about a dozen times during the post game interviews from Rod Brind'Amour and Glen Wesley. At the time, I thought it sounded cliche', but while I attempt to document this monumental event in blog form, surreal sounds appropriate.
Seems odd to see myself become so shocked and stunned by seeing my team become a champion. A few of my favorite sports teams are no strangers to championships. (see 1993, 2005 UNC Basketball. see also 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers) For some reason, this victory means a little bit more to me than the others. Although this makes absolutely no sense because I went to more UNC basketball games than Canes hockey games therefore there was less of an investment. Perhaps its because as a hockey fan in the South, I constantly have to defend or promote hockey to non-hockey fans.
What I enjoy the most is that with a championship like this, North Carolina...er...the Carolinas have defined themselves as a legitimate professional sports city. There are great sports cities other than New York, Philadelphia or Chicago and Raleigh is one of them. The Stanley Cup can be in North Carolina just as much as it can be in the Great Lakes area or Canada.
Just when you thought the hockey talk was over.....
I spent Tuesday afternoon with 30,000 of my closest friends to shower the 2006 Stanley Cup champions with adoration. The Canes organized a parade through the RBC Center parking lots to show off the Stanley Cup and get some face time with the fans. Another opportunity to tail gate and bask in the glory of being a Caniac.
Do you smell that? There's college football in the air. I realize that your sense of smell might not be as accute as mine when it comes to college athletics. However, this time of year gets me anxious for the football season to begin. In anticipation for the college football season, I have endulged in the ESPN GameTime package for the upcoming season. I bought this package last year and enjoyed it emensly. This year, I have a better television to watch it on, so it will be even better than before.
I can now predict where I will be on each Saturday through December. (my couch)
No one cares about International basketball here in the United States. Basketball fans only care about the NCAA tournament or the NBA Finals, probably in that order. With the FIBA World Championship underway on the other side of the world, broadcasted in the very early mornings, the American public is not exactly rallying around the existing US National Team. The expectations are so high that they are doomed by their own talent. They are in a no win situation. Anything shy of a gold medal in International competition is perceived as a failure.
Maintaining interest in International competition turned difficult with the lack of recent success. The US Team does not have the best track record. They tend to get beaten by more experienced, more traditional teams. In response to the US not winning Internationally since 1994, the US Basketball system was revamped with Jerry Colangelo heading up the system. Jerry attempted to get committments from the best young NBA talent. He did that. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony head up the talented roster, but they still do not have the experience. I bring this up because I believe that the NBA does not play basketball. I don't know what to call it, but "basketball" should not be used to describe it. FIBA rules cultivate a more traditional team basketball game as opposed to the individualism showcase that the NBA has become. The NBA has created a culture where their players believe that they are the best players in the world. They might be the best in the NBA, but we are quickly learning that the best players might not be in the US. As talented as the US Team is individually, their team ethic leaves a lot to be desired. Until Americans play a team game for a living in the NBA, they will continue to get beaten Internationally by teams with a stronger team concept. Throwing together these All-Star teams is not the answer.
This past weekend I attended both a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game and a Carolina Panthers football game. Hearing about me attending a Canes game is not all that news worthy since my average attendance per season is around 15 games. The Panthers game was a new experience for me. Not so much due to the sport or the location (I have seen a handful of Panther games in my day), but my mode of transportation was the notable portion of the weekend. I decided to make a day trip instead of my typical weekend trips to southern piedmont North Carolina by taking the train. Leaving home around 7am and returning at 8:30pm made for a long day, but I did not have to deal with traffic or parking. The actual train trip itself was relaxing. Someone else was doing the driving while I listened to music and read my magazine. Once in Charlotte, my boy Chuck picked me up and took me to a local Charlotte eatery. Afterwards he drove me to EricssonBank of America Stadium in time for the kickoff, where I met up with my parents who provided the extra ticket for me. The game itself was a little lacking in the offensive category. I believe that the Panthers did not convert a 3rd down for the entire game. However, I did get some quality time with the folks. Following the game, I was dropped off at the train station for a short wait for the train. All in all, taking the train was quite an enjoyable option. I was not as fatigued or stressed as I would have been had I drove.
Some things that I learned from my weekend: -The Cleveland Browns helmets are very shiny in person. -Few, if any, of the restaurants that I frequented in my Charlotte days still exist. -Trains going in opposite directions sometimes need to use the same stretch of track at the same time. (The train I was riding on my return trip had to stop on a parallel track so another train could pass) -Ted Washington is a man-mountain -Julius Peppers could be the best athlete I have ever seen in person -Braylon Edwards sleepwalks through the plays that do not involve him (I kept an eye on him because he is on my fantasty football team) -The teal Carolina Panther hats that were given away at the gate do not look bad when everyone else in the stadium is wearing them. However, wearing them at home is a different story.
As you well know, I play roller hockey. Last week I was on the receiving end of an opponent's wicked slapshot. The shot ricocheted off of the shaft of my hockey stick, causing a slight chip. Typically, a crack or chip can cause a complete break if not properly treated, so I went into repair mode. I came up with the clever idea of getting epoxy resin to fill the chip in my hockey stick shaft. Unfortunately, I was unable to repair the stick in a timely manner. I played another game with the chip in my stick without any problems. I then decided that repairs were needed, however I needed more time to allow the epoxy to dry than what was available to me. On to game 2 with a chipped stick. Thanks to Murphy's law (which somehow ignored the prior two games) and torquing the stick between the weight of an opponent and the boards, my stick broke in that next game. All my repair planning and epoxy solutions were all for naught. I continued the game with a teammate's stick, resulting in a game tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation! I'm thinking that the demise of that stick far outweighed the benefits of any resurrection of said stick, since I played better without it anyway.
I won my fantasy hockey league! Behind the stellar play of goalie Martin Brodeur, rookie phenom Evgeni Malkin and wingers Alexander Ovechkin and Teemu Selanne, my team (Furiously Lethargic) finished the season in first place. This marks the second season I have played fantasy hockey. Last season was riddled with trial and error, while this season was an efficient scoring machine in comparison.
I have played fantasy football for several years, but never got the enjoyment that fantasy hockey has returned. Winning certainly increases the happiness quotient. Fantasy hockey has a little more involvement than fantasy football, but less than fantasy baseball. I guess I could play fantasy basketball to match the same involvement, but who would want to follow the NBA? Yechh!
I have fully embraced hockey now. Prior to playing fantasy hockey, I had a remedial knowledge of non-Carolina Hurricane players and teams. Now I feel I have a thorough knowledge of the entire NHL. Hopefully Furiously Lethargic can use this victory to build a dynasty.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed something wrong with my inline skates. My usual smooth ride was gone and replaced with unwelcomed unevenness. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the chassis which houses the wheels was attempting to disconnect itself from the boot. The rivets that hold the chassis to the boot were loose and needed repair. Fairly common in the world of roller hockey due to the constant wear and tear. I took the skates in to get re-riveted, but learned that the problem went further than the common loosened rivet. The plastic sole of the boot which the rivet presses against to keep the chassis in place had broken, allowing the rivet to slide through the hole. The repairman did the best he could, but ultimately I still had the uneven ride. Time to take this up the food chain.
I called CCM directly and explained my plight. I mentioned how the skates were only 2 years old, outside of the manufacturer's warranty but still too soon for me to purchase replacements. The gentleman I spoke with gave me low expectations. He said that I could ship the skates to them and they would repair them if it was a design flaw. I had to pay to ship the skates to them, but they would pay for their return. Fair enough, so I shipped them out. I was willing to gamble the shipping costs ($15) for a decent repair.
Weeks go by and the skates faded from my attention. Then I get home from work yesterday and notice a box on my front step. To my surprise CCM had shipped me a brand new pair of inline skates, which were WAY better than my original skates. I have never seen such high customer service. I never expected brand new skates, but I sure am glad I got them. I guarantee that I will use CCM for all future inline skate purchases.
I guess you never know what you can get or are entitled to unless you ask.
The previously mentioned lost post has been resurrected from the dead...
After reading an article on ESPN's Page 2 written by Jim Caple entitled: 101 things all sports fans must experience before they die, I decided to see how I measured up. 9 out of 101 is NOT a good percentage. I got most of those from simply attending UNC. I decided to list my handful of accomplishments anyway. Leave a comment on how many you have experienced out of the 101 listed sports events. Now, for my list....
Experienced 19. Duke/North Carolina basketball game. Attending UNC for just over 4 years allowed me several opportunities to see this matchup, although I only attended the 1993 matchup. I did sell my 1994 tickets for $200. 20. The Stanley Cup Playoffs. You may recall severalblogentries documenting the Carolina Hurricanes quest for Lord Stanley's Cup last season. If not, I have pictures too. 22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers. In 2003, a rag tag bunch from North Carolina ventured to Chi-Town to watch the Cubs split 2 games with the Astros. I was even able to walk on the field. 27. Tailgating in the SEC. In 1998, Abby took me to see LSU upset the then ranked #1 Florida Gators at Tiger Stadium. Both the food and the football were top notch. 61. Midnight Madness. I have seen at least 4 Midnight Madnesses, if not more. Luckily, I have not been to one since ESPN bastardized it. 63. Camp out for tickets. It seemed like I camped out for tickets every weekend my freshman year at UNC. 87. "Monday Night Football". Watched the Carolina Panthers host the San Fransisco 49ers in 1997, back when the geographically challenged NFL had both teams in the same division. Could be the worst sporting event I have seen in person. 90. Little League game. Wasn't everyone forced to play at least one season of Little League as a child? Seems fairly common for a list like this. 99. A Harlem Globetrotters game. Saw the 'Trotters at the old Charlotte Colosseum as a tyke. I distinctly remember Twiggy Sanders stealing the show.
Close, but not quite 9. Wimbledon. I have been to Wimbledon, albeit in April not June or July. I did not get to see any tennis matches, although the Wimbledon museum was surprisingly entertaining. (1991) 41. An NBA game from courtside. Back in 1997 I attended a Charlotte Hornets game with about 1,000 other fans, which allowed me the luxury of sitting rather close to the action, but not quite courtside. (They didn't hustle all that much) 96. The All American Soap Box Derby. I once saw the hill they use for racing in Akron, but without seeing the pomp, circumstance and the people, it was just a hill. Not all that steep, if I remember correctly.
A Bit of a Stretch -I attended the 2005 U.S. Open (golf) at Pinehust #2. Following the odd logic in my mind, I consider that a combination of two items on the list: the British Open and the U.S. Open in tennis.
Unique -N.Y./N.J. Knights play the London Monarchs at Wembley Stadium for a World League of American Football game in 1991. It may have been London's home opener. -In 1993, I watched Ric Flair win the WCW/NWA Heavyweight Championship in Charlotte (also at the old Charlotte Colleseum) as part of Starrcade. According to Flair's Wikipedia entry, Flair's victory made Hulk Hogan cry. -Watched my high school compete in the North Carolina High School State Championships in both basketball (once, they lost) and football (3 times, they won once) -I have seen a game at the old Durham Athletic Park, made famous by the movie, Bull Durham. Watched a guy from the Frederick Keys blast a home run OVER the bull, then looking over his shoulder to show up me and my friends who had heckled him earlier.
I have never had any love for the New England Patriots. First off, fans in New England/Boston can be insufferable. Next, they achieved high levels of success by winning a few Super Bowls. Succeeding is a sure way to draw some ire of opposing fans. In winning, the Pats have become media darlings, especially from ESPN. ESPN falls over themselves touting quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick. Throw in a couple of battles with my Pittsburgh Steelers, and my hatred begins to burn brightly. Thanks to not winning a Super Bowl in the last few years, my hatred has been downgraded to "mild dislike". Still do not wish them well, but I no longer hope for the worst.
However, after hearing that the New England Patriots got caught cheating for video taping the opponent's defensive signals. My hatred is starting to rekindle. The report states that this is at least the second time they have been caught. Makes you wonder how much of their success has stemmed from underhanded methods. In my book, the Pats cheated at everything. They are not on the level and can never be trusted. I bet they are photocopying an opponents' playbook as you read this.
College football-wise, I reached something close to perfection this weekend. The handful of teams that I have bonded with all won, while the teams that hold some level of disdain towards all lost. All is right with the (college football) world, albeit for a week. Well, you take your victories when you get them. Let's go over the teams, shall we?
University of North Carolina: My alma mater upset the University of Miami. While my connection to UNC remains obvious, my dislike for the "U" comes from the obnoxious Vinny Testeverde, Michael Irvin teams of the mid-80s. Standing in the way of Ohio State's 2003 National Championship did not help their cause either.
THE Ohio State University: I grew up on a steady diet of the Buckeyes on the football field. It seems as if my entire extended family loves OSU. They are all in Ohio, so I believe that is a state law. OSU beat Purdue in a battle of Big Ten conference unbeatens.
Louisiana State University: My wife graduated from LSU, which means I have adopted the Tigers along the way. I would not have thought I could squeeze another team into my college football team favorites, but I've done it. They beat the Florida Gators, who represent all that is evil in college athletics. I recommend hating them with every fiber of your being, like I do.
Appalachian State University: Both my sister and brother-in-law are ASU grads. As a kid I went to several ASU football games. The Mountaineers beat Gardner-Webb this weekend.
University of Southern California: Believe it or not USC is on my list of favorite college football teams...to hate. Oh man, I love seeing an overrated team that is propped up by an inflated preseason AP ranking, lose to an extreme underdog. Go Stanford!
Had Ohio University (both of my parents graduated from there) won, it would have been a perfect sweep for me. But I will take this weekend and be happy.
For those that know me, you know my love for College Football knows no bounds. Not sure what exactly it is: the pageantry, the rivalries, the tradition, or the fact that its not the NFL. (I feel that the NFL is too homogeneous) But I do want College Football to thrive.
A huge eye sore for College Football is the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). I have been opposed to the BCS, specifically for the fact that it does not address the one problem it was designed to remedy: A National Champion. The only thing that the BCS has insured is that #1 plays #2 shortly after New Year's Day. What we have been seeing lately is that defining #1 and #2 has become much more problematic than originally thought. Each season there is something that throws a wrench in the works of this delicate system. The BCS ignores a deserving #3 team. The BCS also puts more weight on big conferences, especially those that have conference championship games (or have a Touchdown Jesus). Take this season for example which will mark the second year where the one undefeated team does not get the opportunity to play for a National Championship. Then, have a couple more seasons where the title game includes some not-so-recognizable teams like Missouri, Kansas or West Virginia and maybe enough people will be vocal enough to make a(nother) change.
The knee-jerk response is a call for a playoff system. While I would love to see a 16, 8 or even a 4 team playoff, the 800 pound gorilla that is college football tradition ain't going to budge on that one any time soon. I'm realistic about playoffs, rather I know not to get my hopes up for it. There is too much money in bowl games, so schools do not want to see less money. Not to mention the fact that half of the bowl teams end their seasons with a victory. Throw in a playoff and those two "pluses" are completely removed.
I love my college football, but there are plenty of things that need improvement. ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski spells a couple of them out pretty well, especially the aforementioned BCS issue.
After this weekend's conference championship game, I could not help but notice my general lack of interest. I did not care, at all, about the NFL games. My NFL interests waxes and wanes throughout each season, typically due to the success of either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Carolina Panthers. However, during this season my valleys outnumbered my peaks by a large margin. Most Sunday afternoons were spent doing something other than watching the NFL. Even on the occasions when the NFL games were on my television, my interest was fleeting at best.
I have always preferred the college game over the professional game, but I could never really pinpoint the exact reasons. Let me see if I can list a few candidates:
1. Homogeneity. The NFL is a league of copycats. Every formation looks the same from team to team. When one team has success, the next season every other team attempts the same system, no matter how mundane. Which brings me to.... 2. Innovation. When was the last time you saw something innovative in the NFL? The West Coast Offense? Zone Blitz Defense? Yawn. In college football, its not uncommon to implement an entirely new system because of a new player or coach. 3. Players over System. While some college dynasties could plug in a new player at each system every year and still have success, I would argue that success brings more talented players to your system. In the NFL, a team will pick players that fit the system instead of general athletes. Not being able to figure out how to use a player on an NFL team is a failure of the player not the coach or system, where the exact opposite is true in college football. 4. Every game means something. Last game of the season in the NFL means that the star players sit out to rest up for the playoffs. Last game of the season for a college team means you better beat your rival or the coach loses his job. 5. Success over least failures. College teams go out and win games, while NFL teams tend to be content to make fewer failures to win. In the NFL, teams settle with taking one fewer mistake than the other team and hold on for victory. Take some chances, throw the ball down field. While your team might win, it makes it boring to watch. 6. Players are too good in the NFL. When everyone is special.....no one is special. The room for error is way too small for me. NFL teams most be as meticulous as a surgeon to have success. Not my idea of excitement though.
My interest in professional football certainly waned quite a bit this season. I blame a lot of it on the emergence of the New England Patriots. There are other reasons. While I have no problem with any individual Patriot players (Belichick is a different story), I am sick and tired of them being shoved down my throat. Yeah, they are a good team. They put up big numbers and an undefeated regular season looks quite impressive. Although on their road to being crowned the "best team ever", the Patriots forgot to win the the last and most important game of the season, the Super Bowl. And I could not be happier.
I have no vested interest in the New York Giants, other than they stood in the way of the Patriots. However, I found myself getting excited and cheering for the Giants in the final minutes of the Super Bowl. For a game that only has a couple of seconds of action at a time, this game held my attention for most of the second half.
What I like most is that during those inevitable "best team ever" lists that sports writers will have, they will have to drop the Patriots a few spots simply because they did not win the Super Bowl. A prerequisite for any "best team ever" list.
My hatred for Billy Packer has been well documented. Just do a search on this site for Billy Packer and feast your eyes on the angst-ridden prose.
Now I feel validated thanks to an unofficial poll on Deadspin.
Recently Tyler Hansbrough has qualified to have his jersey retired into the rafter of the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill by being named Player of the Year in the Sporting News. That would prove to me that he was the best #50 ever to play at UNC...which got me thinking. Can I come up with a list of best players at every number that played for UNC? (0-55)
I open the floor to discussion and will update this as the suggestions start coming in.
I'll keep updating this based on feedback. Multiple listings at a number means there is not yet a definitive best player at that number. I'm willing to listen to convincing arguments though.
00 - Eric Montross, Brendan Haywood 1 - Melvin Scott, Marcus Ginyard 2 - Raymond Felton 3 - Shammond Williams, Reyshawn Terry 4 - Bobby Frasor 5 - Ed Cota 10 - Lenny Rosenbluth 11 - Larry Brown 12 - Phil Ford 13 - Ademola Okulaja, Hook Dillon 14 - Derrick Phelps 15 - Vince Carter 20 - George Glamack 21 - Donald Williams, Mitch Kupchak 22 - Wayne Ellington, George Karl, Bob Lewis, York Larese 23 - Michael Jordan 24 - Walter Davis 25 - Jason Capel 30 - Al Wood, Kenny Smith, Rasheed Wallace 31 - Mike O'Koren 32 - Billy Cunningham 33 - Antawn Jamison, Charlie Scott 34 - J.R. Reid, George Lynch, Bobby Jones 35 - Doug Moe, Bob McAdoo, Pete Brennan 40 - Hubert Davis, Joseph Forte, Tommy Kearns 41 - Sam Perkins 42 - Brad Daugherty, Jerry Stackhouse, Sean May 43 - Curtis Hunter 44 - Rick Fox, Larry Miller, Dennis Wuycik 45 - Serge Zwicker, Tommy LaGarde 50 - Tyler Hansbrough 51 - 52 - James Worthy 53 - 54 - Warren Martin 55 -
I will do my best to hold back my tears....of joy. But long time target of my hatred, Billy Packer, is reportedly on his way out at CBS. Please, oh please, USA Today, don't toy with my emotions like this. "Reportedly" will not cut it here. I have to know for certain. We can't treat this like a lackadaisical James Bond supervillian by assuming everything will go to plan and turn our back, allowing an escape to occur. For this extraction, I imagine we will need a young priest and an old priest.
Despite my elation for the fall of Packer, according to the article Packer will be replaced by Clark Kellogg. Not sure how I feel about this, especially since Kellogg has spent more time in the studio than on the sidelines. However, he does know his stuff, for the most part. He needs to keep playing up his best quality though....not being Billy Packer. If he can maintain that, he'll be fine.
