Because It's Indiana

Moving on to Bigger and Better Things

2009-07-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've enjoyed writing here at Because It's Indiana. I have to say that the idea to do this wasn't mine. It came from a professor I had during the fall semester at IU, a guy who's class (even though it was at 8 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays) I really enjoyed and learned alot from.

The internship at WGN has been great. I've met alot of cool people, and had the chance to cover both the Cubs and the White Sox, which has been cool.

My co-intern and I are beginning a new project after getting the idea (sure you can call me an idea stealer) from a former WGN intern. It's another blog, but this time spiced up a bit. We're both going to be writing on it, and we'll be doing podcasts as well, similar to how a radio show would be. I'm excited to get some back and forth going on the site and annother point of view.

I'll be sure to link the site when it's up

LeBron, Are You Serious?

2009-07-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

What happened this week at the LeBron James Skills Academy, we may never know, but LeBron James was allegedly dunked on. By a college kid.

Xavier sophomore (and former Hoosier) Jordan Crawford was playing in a pickup game after hours with LeBron, and apparently dunked on LeBron. Of course there's no way LeBron could ever be dunked on; he is the King after all; so LeBron had a Nike rep who was standing courtside confiscate the video tape of a freelance photographer who had caught the mythical dunk on camera.

Are you serious LeBron? You can't handle that? You think your image would be harmed that much by this video? Sure people are going to talk about it for awhile, but eventually it would be forgotten, and everyone moves on. Now, everyone will remember this for a long time because you made such a stink about it. You can't just congratulate the young man and move on?

Here's Jordan Crawford about what happened

According to Ryan Miller, the photographer who shot the event, he and every other photographer there had their tapes confiscated, with Nike citing a policy saying no after hours filming is allowed.

My question to Nike is, why didn't you stop him from the get-go then? If it were against the rules, it should be made clear before the after hours pick up game that videotaping isn't allowed.

It's the second time in the last month or so that LeBron has shown poor sportsmanship. Of course, he refused ton congratulate Dwight Howard and the Magic just after they knocked Cleveland out of the playoffs. For a man who is the face of the game and the role model for many young kids, he needs to show a better attidude. He's going to be rattled by fans from here on out. I, for one, will be sure to yell at him if I ever have the chance.

If anyone comes across this video, let me know because I would love to see it.

There's a Chill In The Air...

2009-07-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

It was a bit chilly outside this week, but that's not why I titled this post what I did.

Chicago's winter teams, the Bulls and Blackhawks were both in the news this week as free agency began in the NBA and the NHL.

The Hawks signed 3 free agents this week, and none of them were on the Hawks last year. It was believed that both sides wanted to bring Martin Havlat back, but they couldn't agree on terms. So the Hawks went out and got Marian Hossa to sign a 12 year deal, worth upwards of $62 million. Hossa scored 40 goals last year, but sort of disappeared in the playoffs. I think he's a similar player to Havlat, but Havlat is injury prone. I think the Hawks were lucky to have him on the ice as much as they did last year. The contract is also quite a bit frontloaded so they will have the option to move him later in the deal if he becomes unproductive.

They also signed Tomas Kopecky and John Madden, both centers. I think Madden will be a bit more productive. He's a seasoned vet and he knows what it takes to win a Cup, having won two with the Devils.

On the Bulls' front, it wasn't so much who they signed (in fact they haven't signed anyone), but who they let get away. GM Gar Forman had said that re-signing Ben Gordon was a priority, but he ended up signing with the Detroit Pistons on the first day of free agency. Gordon said yesterday that the Bulls didn't even make him an offer.

Interesting.

The Bulls now need a scorer. They do have John Salmons, which may be why they let Gordon go. But Gordon has been such a great closer during his time with the Bulls, I find it hard to believe that they didn't even give him a contract offer.

I also would have liked the Bulls to sign Charlie Villanueva, who also signed with Detroit. It's long been known that the Bulls need a big man who can score. Villanueva would have brought that to the table. He's listed at 6'11", scored 16.7 ppg and brought down about 7 rebounds. Great pure big men are becoming harder and harder to find, so they're going to have to find a guy like Villanueva.

It's Clear Which Chicago Team is Better

2009-06-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

The White Sox and Cubs have played 5 of their scheduled 6 games in 2009, and while the Cubs have a chance to earn a series split whenever the last game is made up, it's clear to me who the better team is.

Drumroll please........It's the White Sox.

The South Siders proved, especially yesterday, that they are the better resident in what has become a rather weak baseball city. While both teams are buried in the middle of their respective divisions, I see the Sox as having the better chance to climb their way out of the hole.

The Cubs have all sorts of problems. They can't hit, they can't pitch late in games, Carlos Marmol can't find the strike zone, Kevin Gregg can't see out of his rec-specs, Alfonso Soriano is a terrible defender, Milton Bradley and Carlos Zambrano are big babies, Kosuke Fukudome will drill a hole back to Japan with the way he swings and misses, and Mark DeRosa just got traded to the Cardinals.

The White Sox have their problems too, but they seem to be taking it all much more in stride. Carlos Quentin, who was arguably their MVP last year, is on the DL, but Scott Podsednik has made his return to the Cell and made his impact felt. He's hitting leadoff and making things happen on the bases. They haven't been hitting at home, but it's starting to come around. Their manager likes to make things happen on the field, which is refreshing to see.

That brings me to my next point. It seems the styles of play for the two teams is completely opposite of what it should be. The Cubs, of course, play in the National League, where "smallball" is much more prevalent than in the Sox' home league, the American League. The AL is supposed to be a league of offense. Lots of doubles, lots of home runs. I get the impression that Ozzie Guillen has the Sox playing some smallball, and Lou really isn't.

I wish Lou would make a few more things happen on the bases. The Cubs are having enough trouble scoring runs as it is, and Lou won't bunt, won't hit and run, and the Cubs don't steal many bases. Ozzie doesn't have a problem doing any of that, and we saw it all yesterday. He even put the squeeze on, and it ended up working out even though the batter couldn't get the bunt down.

The Cubs, on paper, have the best team in the NL Central, maybe even the whole NL. They aren't playing like it. They're getting in their own way. I'm sick of watching it as a fan, and I can only imagine how Lou Piniella feels.

The Cubs Have Lou's Replacement in the Booth

2009-06-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

Whenever Lou is finished in the dugout for the Cubs, whether it's during this year, after this, year, or whenever, the Cubs should realize they have Lou's replacement in their own broadcast booth.

His name is Bob Brenly.

Some people think Lou ought to be fired this year, and while I think Lou has made some mistakes, I don't think he's entirely to blame. His whole team, minus a few guys, is underperforming. Nobody, and I mean nobody predicted the Cubs to be this bad. There are some things that I can blame Lou for, and some that I can't.

Alfonso Soriano is not a leadoff man. Never has been, never will be. He's hitting .231 and has on on-base percentage of under .300. I know what he can do with the bat, but we're not seeing it. What we are seeing is a guy who can't lay off any sort of breaking ball, doesn't steal bases when he does get on base, and his glove is absolutely terrible. Whether or not there's someone above Lou saying that Soriano needs to lead off is beyond me, but he's not getting the job done regardless.

Soto, Bradley, and Fukudome need to start hitting, and the bullpen needs to start finding the plate.

Anyways, back to my original point. Brenly has been the Cubs' color analyst on TV for several years now, and in my opinion, does a really nice job along with Len Kaspar. He's had a chance to observe the team, and knows just as well as Lou what the team needs. He's won a World Series, with the Diamondbacks in 2001. He clearly wants to manage again, as he was in the running for the Brewers job last offseason, among others.

What would the Cubs have to lose? Obviously they want to hire the best candidate possible, but in my opinion, they've got one already at Wrigley everyday. They say catchers make the best managers, so why not give him a shot?

More Manny Talk

2009-06-24T16:24:00.001-07:00

I was watching SportsCenter this morning while I was working out, and while taling about Manny's "rehab" assignment, they brought up an interesting question.

Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games. His suspension is not yet over. He's beginning to play with the Dodgers' Triple A club. He's playing professional baseball.

Should he be allowed to do that under the terms of his suspension?

I'm assuming that he is, since Major League Baseball hasn't put the kabosh (sp?) on it. But for the sake of debate, let's say the language of his suspension stipulated that he was suspended from professional baseball for 50 games.

Rehab assignments are for guys who are injured. Manny isn't injured, save for his ego (although I don't think that was hurt at all). Manny was suspended for taking drugs. Whether they were steroids or not, we may never know the whole truth, but the fact remains.

I don't think Manny should be allowed to go on this "rehab assignment". He was suspended for violating the rules, and he shouldn't have the opportunity to go down and play so that when he does become eligible, he's ready to hit major league pitching. You don't see a guy suspended for 5 or 6 games going down to AAA while he's out just to play. Why should Manny have that advantage?

I don't agree with MLB's decision to let Manny do this, and I don't think it's fair to the other guys who get suspended.

Manny to Begin Rehab Stint

2009-06-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy is over on July 3rd, and he is expected to return to the lineup right away.

First, he's going to go on a "rehab" assignment beginning tomorrow in Albequerque. He's been working out on his own as well. It's not like he's been injured or anything. I would expect him to tear up Triple A while he's there and come back to the Dodgers ready to go.

The Dodgers already have the best record in baseball, and they're about to get Manny back. Whether he cheated or not, some call him the best right-handed hitter the game has ever seen. I expect a fresh Manny Ramirez, and for the Dodgers to open up their lead even further as they firmly establish themselves the favorites to come out of the National League

Starting to question Lou?

2009-06-17T12:14:00.001-07:00

We came across a situation today in the second inning of the Cubs game that bothered me a little bit.

Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto had both reached base to begin the inning, and Reed Johnson at the plate. So we had first and second, with nobody out. The Sox are already up 2-0 by this time, and the Cubs have had their troubles scoring runs.

Conventional baseball wisdom says "It's the second inning, you've got an above average hitter at the plate, and a chance for a big inning. Swing away." That must be what Lou went with.

Here's what I think Lou should have been thinking. First and second, nobody out, down two runs. We've had trouble scoring runs lately, and we can't let this game get out of reach too early. Johnson handles the bat well, and you have an above average contact hitter on deck in Mike Fontenot. BUNT BUNT BUNT BUNT BUNT!!!! Sacrificing the runners over takes away the double play, and a simple single by the next guy, Fontenot, would probably drive in both guys.

Well, Lou didn't bunt, Johnson went down 0-2, and eventually hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

It's these kinds of decisions that make me wonder if Lou is fit to manage in the National League. We all know that the NL is more of a small-ball, get on, get him over, get him in kind of league. It's hard to win when you rely on base hits all the time. Sometimes you have to take what you can get, and if that means playing small-ball, that's what you do.

I think at some point, Lou Piniella's job will come into question. Sure, he's won the division both years he's been here, but that doesn't matter in 2009.

I Had a Sneaking Suspicion

2009-06-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today marks the beginning of the Cubs-Sox series, and I was going to come here to blog about that, but for some reason I went to ESPN.com before that and I came across a very interesting headline.

Sammy Sosa Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003

I was talking with my boss last week about whether or not Sosa was a Hall of Famer. I said I don't think so, because I think he's probably on that same list that A-Rod was on.

Looks like I might be right. According to the New York Times, Sosa's name does indeed appear on the list of 103 players that tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

I'm not sure why people thought he was clean, other than they hadn't heard it straight from his mouth. It seems like he was the only one holding out. Canseco admitted it, McGwire admitted it, A-Rod came out and said he did it. There are others, of course, but Sosa was seemingly the only one who hadn't come out and admitted it.

Nor do I think he will. I think he'll take the Roger Clemens path and deny it until he goes six feet under.

His ego is so huge, it's unbelievable. I heard a story once, about his arrival in Baltimore. I heard, (again I am not sure if this is true, but based on his recent comments, I wouldn't be surprised if it was) that when he got off the plane in Baltimore, the Orioles came to pick him up in an SUV. Well apparently that wasn't good enough for Slammin' Sammy. He apparently demanded a limousine, and made the Orioles go back and get him one.

Whether or not that story is actually true, we may never know. But when he announced his retirement earlier this month, he had this to say:

"I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don't I have the numbers to be inducted?" Well, Sammy, you do have good numbers, there's no doubt about that. 60 homers in 3 different seasons, more than 600 career homers, 1667 RBI, and a career .273 hitter. He's credited, along with Mark McGwire, with saving the game of baseball. Just 4 years after the strike, they embarked on the most legendary of home run seasons, with McGwire breaking Roger Maris' record, ironically, against the Cubs.

This new revelation, however, will severely hamper his Hall chances. Not only is he egotistical, but he's also probably going to deny these allegations. Along with his corked bat incident will cement his reputation as a cheater.

Over the Weekend...

2009-06-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

I'll get this part out of the way first.

Congratulations to the Lakers.

There, I said it. Never have I been the biggest NBA fan, but I can usually get into the Finals at least. Not this year. It was clear to me who was going to win, and there was not a ton of excitement. Looking forward to the draft though, I'm interested to see what the Bulls will do with their two first-round picks. Obviously they need a big man, but there aren't a lot of legitimate big men in the draft. The speculation I've talked about with a couple of friends is that they'll try to trade the picks to move up. It will be Gar Forman's first draft as the Bulls' GM, so hopefully he starts his term out right.

*****************************************

In the 9th inning of Sunday's Cubs game, I saw something that I hadn't seen much of, if at all, this season. That something is fire and excitement. Not only did they come through in the clutch, but Derrek Lee took a chance moving from first to third on a base hit to left. He slid in safely and pumped his fist excitedly. That's the kind of killer instinct and fire that I think they need. The Cubs/Sox series is starting tomorrow and I'm hoping for just some decent games, because combined, they might make up the ugliest baseball city in the league.

*****************************************

I know this happened this morning, but I was probably still sleeping, so it counts as over the weekend. Plaxico Burress was back in court this morning, and his case was adjourned until late September. He technically cannot be disciplined by the NFL until his case is settled in court, so theoretically, he can play this season. He's a free agent, and the Bears have been rumored to be interested. Personally, I would have no problem picking him up. This gun issue is a one-time incident. To me, it sounds like he was just a little reckless. He didn't hurt anyone with his gun, and the fact it even went off was an accident. He would be ahuge upgrade for the Bears, and would give Jay Cutler a legitimate #1 receiver to throw to.

What Will Become of the Cubs?

2009-06-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

We all know who my favorite baseball team is, without a doubt.

Whether or not they are going to make the playoffs is a question I've gone back and forth with for a few days now. I know, I know, today is June 11th. There's still at TON of baseball to be played. I know they're just 2.5 games out, and I don't think Milwaukee will be there in the end.

But there are several problems with this Cubs team that are deeper than their win-loss record.

The first is the offense. Last year the Cubs had the best run differential in the majors at +1.1, led the NL in OBP, 2nd in the majors in runs per game, and there's others I could mention too. In 2009, the Cubs are 21st in runs scored, and have onlt a +.3 run differential. They haven't been able to come up in the clutch, hitting just .233 with runners in scoring position. The offensive problems are compounded by the fact that Geovany Soto and Milton Bradley aren't hitting, Aramis Ramirez is on the DL for another 3 weeks or so, and Alfonso Soriano must eat at White Castle alot, because he loves going after sliders. Unless these guys pick it up, the Cubs will be watching the playoffs on TV, not playing.

The next is the bullpen. Last night, the Cubs wasted an excellent start from Carlos Zambrano when Angel Guzman gave up a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to Geoff Blum and the Cubs lost 2-1. The bullpen ERA is 4.47, good for 21st in the bigs. In '08, it was 4.10, not a ton better, but still better. Last year, Carlos Marmol was lights out, and this year, he's all over the place. In 2008, the Cubs' bullpen walked 186 batters, among the best in the majors. The bullpen has already walked 101 hitters this year, and we're barely a third through the season. Walks kill.

The third has nothing to do with stats. The numbers don't lie, but there's just something about this team, or I should say rather that this team doesn't have something that the 2008 team did. No it's not Mark DeRosa or Kerry Wood (although those guys wouldn't hurt). It's the killer instinct. I really don't see a killer instinct. I've seen more guys take fastballs down the middle for strike three than I ever would have imagined. It's one thing to be fooled, it's another to continually take fastballs down the middle. Some guys look lost at the plate.

Unless the Cubs can improve in all three areas, I don't see them in the picture come October.

Ibanez Has Beef

2009-06-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

Raul Ibanez is 37 years old, and having the best year of his career. Unfortunately we live in an age, especially in baseball, where the validity of any above average performance is questioned.

One blogger has done a very in-depth analysis of Ibanez's season, and why he is having so much success. He didn't come to any definite conclusion, so he mentions the "S" word. I don't think the blogger is making an accusation, I think he's just saying that it has to remain a possibility. This situation is much like what Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander found himself in when he wrote a similar piece about Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot. Niether writer actually made an accusation, but I think the point they were trying to make was that it's a shame we can't rule out steroids.

Ibanez, on the other hand, didn't appreciate the sentiments. According to this ESPN article, Ibanez may go so far as to pursue legal action against the blogger. "I'll come after people who defame or slander me," he said. Personally, I don't think he has any business suing this guy, because he wasn't actually accused of anything. It is refreshing to me that Ibanez is more than willing to provide anything to testers to clear his name.

I reiterate, Ibanez is not being accused of anything.

Now, to defend the blogger.

As a blogger, I don't claim to have any sort of journalistic credentials, but I do claim my first amendment rights to free speech. There's a difference between accusing someone of using steroids, and saying that it's a shame that steroids can't be ruled out. I think this blogger should have clarified that he wasn't accusing Raul Ibanez of using steroids, rather he was merely pointing out that there might be speculation.

Summer Bird Wins Belmont

2009-06-07T08:29:00.001-07:00

Well, I did call him a sleeper, but I won't take credit for saying he's going to win. I should have gone to the track and boxed the Superfecta, because I had the right four horses up there, but just in the wrong order.

Jerry Bailey said after the race that Mine That Bird's move was way to early, and I totally agree. The pace was hot, and even though Dunkirk stayed on, the pace slowed down enough in the end to allow Summer Bird to catch them all. Calvin Borel had the horse to win the race, I think he just moved too soon. Regardless, MTB still had a spectacular Triple Crown run, and totally validated his Kentucky Derby romp. I'm excited to see what becomes of him, and since he's a gelding, he'll have a few more years ahead of him. I would imagine their ultimate goal for him would be the Breeder's Cup in November, possibly even the Breeder's Cup Marathon, which ran for the first time last year.

The Belmont Stakes Preview

2009-06-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'll go horse by horse to preview the third and final race in the Triple Crown. Of course, there won't be a horse to win it this year, but Calvin Borel has won both the Derby and the Preakness aboard Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, respectively.

The Belmont is a different animal. There's a reason they call it "The Test of Champions." A mile and a quarter is a reach for most 3-year-olds, and that's the first Crown race in the Kentucky Derby. The Belmont, for horses like Mine That Bird, will be the third long race in 5 weeks, a schedule that only the elite horses can endure. We saw last year what happened to Big Brown. Was he tired? Was it the lack of steroids? Was it the loose horseshoe? We'll never know. We do know that he finished last. The mile-and-a-half marathon is a grueling test of endurance, and usually, it's about strategy. None of these horses have gone more than a mile and a quarter, so it will be interesting to see who can last that final quarter mile.

1. Chocolate Candy - 10/1 - Garrett Gomez
Chocolate Candy is a horse who ran in the Derby, but skipped the Preakness. The Derby was also his first run on real dirt. He had been racing in California on synthetic surfaces, and racing well. He was second to Pioneerof the Nile in the Santa Anita Derby. 'Nile' was second to Mine That Bird in the Derby, but didn't show much in the Preakness. I think the break will help Chocolate Candy, and having Garrett Gomez aboard can't hurt either. His running style will help as well. Consider him a sleeper.

2. Dunkirk - 4/1 - John Velasquez
Here's a horse who was highly touted coming into the Derby, but ended up finishing up the track in 11th. He did stumble at the start, and he probably wasn't a fan of the wet track that day. I think the Derby is somewhat of a crapshoot, and if you get in behind a wall of horses, you're all but done. He finished second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby. Quality Road was among the Derby favorites before being pulled out with a foot injury. You can never count out Todd Pletcher, or Johnny V. for that matter. I wouldn't leave him out of your trifecta, especially since he starts from the 2 hole.

3. Mr. Hot Stuff - 15/1 - Edgar Prado
Here's another horse who had been racing exclusively in California before heading to Louisville for the Derby. It took him 5 races to break his maiden, and the connections immediately put him in a Grade 3 race. That move was probably met with skepticism, but he validated it by finishing 3rd in The Sham at Santa Anita. He followed that up with another 3rd, this time in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, right behind Belmont rival Chocolate Candy. This being his 3rd Gr. 1 race, he may be a bit more experienced, but I'd stay away.

4. Summer Bird - 12/1 - Kent Desormeaux
Another Derby contender who skipped the Preakness here. His breeding indicates he might be able to handle the distance, as he's the son of 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone. Ran 6th in the Derby at 43/1, and his running line said he had a good, 7-wide run. Any horse able to finish well going 7-wide has some ability. 3 of his 4 races have been routes, so we'll see what he does with the added distance. Because of his running style and bloodlines, call him a sleeper.

5. Luv Gov - 20/1 - Miguel Mena
Miguel Mena is a jockey that has spent some time in the Chicagoland area. He rode at Arlington and was OK, but not great. His horse tomorrow broke his maiden on Derby day with Mena aboard, and came back to run 8th in the Preakness. He didn't really show anything there, expect more of the same tomorrow.

6. Charitable Man - 3/1 - Alan Garcia
This Triple Crown-nominated colt will be making his first appearance in the Triple Crown. His last race was the Gr. 2 Peter Pan on May 9th at Belmont. He won that race in front-running fashion. He also won the Gr. 2 Futurity back in September, also at Belmont. His record at Belmont could be why Mike Watchmaker set him at lower odds than Dunkirk. In his only Gr. 1 race, he finished 7th. That was in the Bluegrass at Keeneland, which has a synthetic surface. That was his only race on the fake stuff, so we can probably throw that one out. He appears to be one of the only speed horses, so he may be able to steal this one if he shakes loose in front and slow the race down.

7. Mine That Bird -2/1 - Calvin Borel
Tom Durkin didn't even know who he was when he dominated the stretch at the Derby. Borel moved him right up the rail for a monstrous upset. Mine That Bird proved that it wasn't that big of an upset though, finishing a hard-charging second to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. I think he simply just ran out of room in that race. I think that's why he's the favorite in this race. He saves his best for last, and I think he may be the horse that has the best chance of finishing strong. Plus, Borel is going for his personal Triple Crown. He would be the first jockey ever to win the three races on two different horses. You can't leave him out, even if he's 1/2 on the odds board.

8. Flying Private - 12/1 - Julien Leparoux
Here's one of the few horses who has run both Crown races so far, so you can expect him to be a bit tired. He finished dead last in the Derby, but improved greatly in the Preakness, finishing 4th. He's just 1-for-12 in his career, and I don't expect that number to improve here. Looks like his good bloodlines (Fusaichi Pegasus is his sire and he's got Unbridled on his mother's side) haven't helped him yet. Maybe his best days are ahead of him.

9. Miner's Escape - 15/1 - Jose Lezcano
Here's another Crown-nominated horse that will be making his Triple Crown debut. This Nick Zito-trainee has won two in a row, but those two include his maiden-breaker and a minor stake. He hasn't gone longer than a mile and an eighth, so expect him to be very tired coming down the stretch. Jose Lezcano is 22-for-97 at Belmont this year, but that may be the only thing this horse has going for it.

10. Brave Victory - 15/1 - Rajiv Maragh
Yet another colt that was nominated, but it making his Triple Crown debut. Hasn't won since January, and hasn't been closer than 4 and 3/4 lengths in his three subsequent starts. Maragh lost the whip in his last start, but he still rallied in that race, the Gr. 2 Peter Pan. Also hasn't been farther than a mile and an eighth, so this will be a marathon to him.

My picks
Win: Mine That Bird
Place: Dunkirk
Show: Charitable Man
Fourth: Summer Bird

NBA Finals

2009-06-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Game 1 was a blowout. I still think the Magic will make the series somewhat interesting.

The Lakers are just the better team, no doubt about it. Kobe dropped 40 points last night, and the Lakers were able to hold Superman Dwight Howard to just 12 points. Howard said "the effort just wasn't there."

The effort is going to have to be there, and be there in a big way if the Magic are going to have a chance. They are going to have to shoot lights out the rest of the series, because that's what they're good at.

Ultimately, I think the Lakers win in 6, and that's consevative. It could be 5, and it wouldn't surprise me if it were a sweep.

The Derrick Rose Situation

2009-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is a hot button issue, especially in Chicago. Derrick Rose allegedly had someone take his SAT for him. Someone at Simeon High School allegedly changed his grades for the purposes of college transcripts.

Personally, I think you have to be a complete idiot to have to have someone take your SAT for you. I'm sure there's ways around the system, but your moral compass is way off if you have someone take the test for you. Whether or not Memphis knew about this may never be revealed. All I know is, I'm glad he didn't come to IU. What a nightmare that would be.

Last night on WGN, David Kaplan, the host of Sports Central, had Illinois State Representative Monique Davis on the show to talk about a resolution she passed, honoring Derrick for his basketball skills. Take a listen, because this lady is off her rocker.

Download Interview Here

Davis refused to admit that Derrick is to blame for having someone take his SAT. She wanted to blame the system. She wanted to place the blame on the adults for allowing this to happen. She wanted to honor Derrick for his basketball skills. Derrick deserves plenty of accolades for his basketball career, but that isn't the point. The point is, it is against the rules to have someone else take your SAT for you.

The ethics of the situation are what's in question here. The fact of the matter, if this is all true, Derrick Rose cheated on a standardized test. Any college credit should be taken away. Not that it matters to him, but it's principle.

She said that if Rose did cheat on his SAT, then other students would follow. I heartily disagree there. I was a 17 year old kid when I took the ACT. I could have had someone take it for me. Several of my buddies got higher scores than I did. But I did it myself. I don't think kids are that unethical.

Then, she played the race card, saying she was offended they are trying to hold down a young African-American male that has been successful. Why would anyone do that? She wanted to know why he would be denied college? Why? Because he didn't take the damn test. He didn't do the necessary things to get into college. Davis is seriously misguided in this issue, and the Illinois General Assembly must have been brainwashed, because they passed this resolution unanimously.

This lady was so concerned about race and defending young African-American men, it was ridiculous. Her inability to see that this wasn't a race issue was completely inexcusable. Her inability to realize that Derrick Rose made a conscious decision to have someone take his SAT for him is ridiculous. There is no way that Monique Davis should be in office.

Chicago Cubs Baseball is On the Air!

2009-05-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

From Wrigley Field in Chicago, it's the Chicago Cubs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I'm sitting in the press box at Wrigley Field, covering my first Cubs game. I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit nervous. I've covered stuff before, but it was just IU stuff. Now I feel like I'm in the big leagues. Laugh at me for the cliché, or laugh at me anyway. Hell, I know I shouldn't be nervous, but I am. Could it be that I hope to be up here every day someday? Not only has my WGN internship been going really well, the chance to cover the Cubs is a dream come true. I've been here for about 2 hours, and I was close to scoring an interview with Joe Morgan, and I've met Ron Santo and Pat Hughes. The latter is, in my humble opinion, one of the best announcers in baseball. That's not to take anything away from Ron, but if you've ever listened to a Cubs radio broadcast, you know what I mean.

I wanted to score an interview with Juan Pierre, but I guess he told one of our guys he wanted to lay low tonight.

I'm going to enjoy tonight, and I'll do an NBA Finals Preview later.

LeBron in Trouble

2009-05-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

After winning the first eight games of the playoffs easily, the Cavaliers are on the brink of elimination for the first time this postseason. The Magic won Game 4 in overtime last night to take a 3-1 series lead.

The Cavaliers have been a team that for the last few years, have been basically a one-man show. When that one man is LeBron James, though, it'll usually get them pretty far. They just can't seem to get over the hump.

Everyone had been gearing up for a Cavs-Lakers finals, and I think that would be a great series. If that were the case, my money would go on the Lakers. Why? They have a much more complete team than the Cavs.

I had my doubts about Cleveland, even though I did pick them to go to the Finals. When you have one superstar and some other servicable players, that makes it easy for the defense. Key on LeBron, and if the other guys jump up and bite you, you can live with it. It's not going to happen every night.

The series is heading back to Cleveland, so I think they'll win Game 5, but after that, it goes back to Orlando. The Magic have showed that they aren't afraid of LeBron and the Cavs, especially at home. I've been really impressed with the composure they've shown.

The playoffs as a whole have been really good this year. I said during a radio show before graduation, that even a non-NBA fan could watch these playoffs and be entertained. I definitely think I'll be watching more NBA in the future.

Being a Jockey is Nothing to Horse Around With

2009-05-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Rene Douglas was the leading rider at Arlington Park for the past several years. He's ridden in all of the Triple Crown Races, winning the Belmont in 1996. He's ridden in Breeder's Cup races.

And his career likely came to an end Saturday in a minor stakes race. Douglas was on Born to Be, and at the top of the stretch, the horse clipped heels with another horse and fell. The way the horse fell, Douglas ended up underneath the horse and was trapped until track personnel got him out. The long and short of it is, right now he's paralyzed in the lower legs and may never walk again, let alone ride horses.

Now everyone has seen Seabiscuit, and how Red Pollard came back from a devastating injury to ride again after doctors told him he wouldn't. But that was just a broken leg.

Douglas' prognosis won't be clear until some swelling clears, so it's possible that Douglas will be lucky enough to walk. I hope he does (even though he's cost me some money!) Just kidding of course. He was a very, very skilled rider. He wasn't on many longshots because he was such a good rider, and people knew it. When he was on a longer shot though, I was never surprised to see him bring home a winner.

He will be sorely missed among the Arlington jockey colony, and on the national scene as well.

These kind of injuries, though, really prove how dangerous horse racing is. Think about it. Horses weigh anywhere from 1000-1200 pounds, and jockeys weigh about 10% of that. These animals move at about 35 miles per hour in tight quarters. It's amazing there aren't alot more serious injuries that there are. For both horse and rider, it's a very dangerous game.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Rene and his family, and my wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cubs Update

2009-05-21T17:57:00.001-07:00

Right now, the Cubs are the most Jekyll and Hyde team in Major League Baseball. The injury bug bit them early and often, with Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez currently on the DL, and Derek Lee, Milton Bradley, Carlos Marmol, and Geovany Soto all missing games due to inujry. That being said, the Cubs remain in the top half of the NL Central, and above .500.

When they get healthy, and the bats get going, they could be scary. Soto, Lee, and Bradley all have sub-par batting averages, and they need to get going quickly. The offense looked for awhile like it was coming around. They were hitting with runners in scoring position, working the count, having good at-bats, etc.

Now I'm sitting here watching the game against the Cardinals, the third and final one of a series in which St. Louis have taken the first two. The Cubs have scored a grand total of one run in the two games, and have 7 hits. So far tonight, they have two hits and no runs. It seems like even a one run deficit is too high of a mountain to climb.

I know, it's not even Memorial Day yet, and Lou Piniella has to be somewhat pleased with where his team is despite all their injuries. But there's something about this team that concerns me. They don't have the swagger that they've had the last two years, in which they won the division. I went on record during the first week of the season and said that I thought the Cubs would win the division, but I didn't think it was going to be as easy as some thought. I thought the Cardinals would be their toughest challenger. I thought the Brewers would be a pretender because of the pitching they lost. The way it sits right now, The Brewers lead the Cubs by 2 games, and they lead the Cardinals by 3. I do think the Brewers will fall, especially since they just lost Rickie Weeks for the season due to a wrist injury.

The Cubs need to pick it up. I think they will, but right now I'm not too certain.

My First On-Air Appearance at WGN

2009-05-18T22:01:00.001-07:00

I got to open the Steve Cochran Show on Friday at WGN. Click here to listen.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

2009-05-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

That's what Rachel Alexandra said to 12 boys as she ran past them all yesterday in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird finished second, and if they had another 1/16th of a mile, probably would have gotten by Rachel as he was hard charging up the center of the track. Bird's performance was sort of surprising, and it validated his Derby showing. I wasn't sure that he would be able to duplicate that race. The Kentucky Derby is such a crapshoot, you have to get sort of lucky to win it. Rachel Alexandra certainly quiteded her doubters yesterday with that win. I didn't win my bet (Exacta Box with Rachel Alexandra, Big Drama, and Pioneerof the Nile), but I'm glad she won the race. Horse racing continues to get good storylines, but they need a Triple Crown winner.

That brings me to my next point.

The sport of kings hasn't seen a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Rachel Alexandra's victory yesterday assured that 2009 will be the 31st consecutive year in which no horse has won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes in the same year.

The industry has been slumping for some time now, and even though we've had several horses vie for a Triple Crown in recent years, the results haven't been great. In 2006, Barbaro was looked like he might be able to do it. He broke out of the gate early in the Preakness, and then after the race actually started, broke down before they even got to the first turn. Last year, Big Brown dominated both the Derby and the Preakness befor faltering big time in the Belmont. As in last place big time. There was steroid controversy as his trainer, Rick Dutrow, admitted that he gave Big Brown steroids. While it wasn't illegal at the time, any mention of steroids now throws up a red flag with fans, thanks to Major League Baseball. Dutrow then said he wouldn't give his horse any drugs before the Belmont. Whether it was that or the horseshoe that came loose by the first turn, the disappointment that came with the 2008 Belmont was huge.

The way the game is played these days, I don't think we'll see a Triple Crown winner in the near future. In the old days of horse racing, horses spent less time between races. For elite horses, a month between races is pretty average. There's two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness, and 3 weeks from the Preakness to the Belmont. The last race is also the longest, at a mile and a half (the Derby is 1 1/4 miles, and the Preakness is 1 and 3/16 miles). That's three long, grueling races in just 5 weeks. The way horses are handled these days, I don't think they can handle it.

I love horse racing, and not just the gambling aspect. There's alot that goes into preparing a horse for a race, and it's alot more than people realize. It would suck if the sport disappeared in America. The sport desperately needs a Triple Crown winner. Let's hope that when Jess Jackson breeds Rachel Alexandra to Curlin later this year, that "superhorse" is created.

More OJ Trouble with USC

2009-05-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

This time it's on the hardwood.

Former Southern Cal guard OJ Mayo isn't in trouble, but the recruiting of him is being called into question. USC Head Coach Tim Floyd reportedly paid $1,000 to Rodney Guillory. ESPN did an investigation awhile back on this Guillory guy and I thought it had all gone away, but I guess not.

I remember when Mayo committed to USC. If I remember correctly, he wasn't really being recruited by the Trojans. One day he called Floyd and said "I'm coming to USC". At the time, at least for me, it didn't really throw up a red flag, even though it was very unusual.

USC hasn't been out of the woods for sometime now, as speculation continues about the Reggie Bush era.

This would be a huge blow to the reputation of Tim Floyd. I'm not saying he's the only coach doing it, because I don't know for sure one way or the other, but he's the first to be caught in a while.

The college basketball world may not be perfect, but I wish coaches wouldn't do what they have to do to lure these bigtime recruits.

Blackhawks in to the Next Round!

2009-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Blackhawks are into the Western Conference Finals after beating the Vancouver Canucks 7-5 last night in Game 6, closing out the series 4 games to 2. Patrick Kane had a hat trick. The teams went into the dressing room at the end of 1 period tied at 1, so there were 10 goals scored in the last two periods.

It's great that the Hawks are having so much success. I think the city is really getting behind the team and the energy last night at the United Center looked insane. The Hawks put up 23 goals in 6 games against Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, who many thought would be the X factor in this series. That's a GAA of 3.83, wayyy above his average for the postseason coming into the series.

Now the Hawks await either the Ducks or the vaunted Red Wings. Detroit leads that series 3-2 and could end it tonight. If I'm a member of the Hawks, I'm praying for Anaheim to pull this one out, because I don't think the Hawks can beat the Wings in a 7-game series. Sure, they beat Detroit a couple of times at the end of the season, but was Detroit really trying in those games? Probably not 100%.

I just think the Wings are a different animal, and they would win that series in 6. If Anaheim is the opponent, I think the Hawks win in 7, because of the home ice they would enjoy that they wouldn't enjoy against Detroit.

Go Hawks!

Manny Being Manny?

2009-05-08T09:52:00.001-07:00

I wasn't aware that Manny being Manny included taking women's fertility drugs?

Of course, he was using those drugs to restart his natural testosterone production, possibly after at steroid cycle.

Now the Dodgers' left fielder has been suspended 50 games as of yesterday, and will be eligible to return July 3rd.

Here's what I don't get about this whole steroid issue. The game of baseball is such a game of skill, of hand-eye coordination, and yes, a bit of luck. Whether you hit the ball 500 feet, or just barely over the wall, it's going to count just the same. Sure you may get to be on SportsCenter, but does that really matter that much to you? Major League Baseball players should be able to hit home runs regardless of steroid use. Obviously, some are going to hit more than others, but even guys like Ryan Theriot can hit homers. I don't understand why these guys feel the need to juice up they way they do.

The other thing is, why can't Manny come out and admit it? He's on a drug that points to past steroid use, and just this past spring training, he was proven to have elevated testosterone levels, according to an ESPN report. Manny said he went to ta doctor and was prescribed something that he didn't know was on the banned substance list.

Was the list written in Swahili?

You don't see the doctor that Manny supposedly went to coming out and admitting his own mistake.

Man up Manny, please. For the sake of the game. You're already screwed out of the Hall of Fame most likely. The least you could do is man up to your faults. MLB has had enough steroids controversy with A-Rod already this year. I hope you serve your 50 games and come back humbled.

A-Rod is in a World of Trouble

2009-05-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

What's next? Are we going to learn that Alex Rodriguez was nursed on steroids?

The Yankee's troubled third baseman hasn't even stepped on the field in the majors this year and he's already got new steroid allegations out.

Selena Roberts, a Sports Illustrated reporter who is authoring a book about A-Rod, is reportedly accusing the slugger of using steroids in high school, and also while he has been with the Yankees. At this point, I don't know what to believe anymore. The story is just getting so ridiculous.

Whether he did or not, I want him to man up admit when he did, what he took, where he got it from, etc.

That probably will never happen, so I won't hold my breath.

Interview with Felisha Legette-Jack

2009-04-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Check out my interview with Indiana Women's Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack

Click here to download

College Football Musings

2009-04-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of news nuggets from the gridiron today...

Mike Leach isn't making any friends. The "offensive genius" at Texas Tech sounded off about this past weekend's NFL Draft, talking about his former star receiver and quarterback. WR Michael Crabtree was taken 10th by the San Francisco 49ers, and Leach thinks that was too low. Leach is blaming that on Eric Mangini, the Browns new coach. Apparently, the Browns didn't like Crabtree's attitude when they talked to him before the draft.

Graham Harrell, Tech's record setting quarterback, wasn't drafted at all. The kid threw for more than 5,000 yards and 45 TD's this year, but no NFL team deemed that draft-worthy. Harrell, ironically, will participate in Cleveland's rookie minicamp hoping to get a contract offer. Leach thinks this is even more of a travesty, even taking a shot at Texas A&M's QB Stephen McGee, who was taken in the 4th round by Dallas. "The Dallas Cowboys like him more than his coaches at A&M did," he said. McGee was benched during the season for what was speculated to be poor play, but A&M insists it was an injury.

"The truth of the matter is that the NFL drafts quarterbacks notoriously bad," said Leach, "That's indisputable. ..." It may be true that some quarterbacks haven't worked out (Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf just to name a couple). But think about how many guys at other positions don't work out. One that immediately comes to mind is Rashaan Salaam. He couldn't hold on to the football any better than a guy with no arms.

You can say what you want, Mike Leach, but be careful what you say. I'm thinking you just made a few more enemies.

*********************************

Kellen Lewis has been dismissed from the Indiana football team for violating undisclosed team rules. To me, this comes as no surprise.

The dynamic quarterback-turned-receiver was suspended for the entire spring of 2008, also for violating a team rule. While he did injure his ankle during the season, he was never himself during this past fall. He was having a really good spring this year, but it will all be for naught.

Now I'm not saying any of this is absolutely true, but I've heard rumors of pretty heavy marijuana use by the former Hoosier. I've heard people tell me they have actually smoked with Lewis before. My last poll asked if you care if pro athletes smoke marijuana, and most of you said no. I wonder what the answers would be like if I asked about college athletes.

It amazes me that some athletes--college or pro--think they can get away with anything. Lewis was by all accounts very lucky to get a second chance last year, and now has to face the consequences of his actions. Kudos to Head Coach Bill Lynch and AD Fred Glass for realizing that the image of the program is bigger than any one kid's talents on the field.

Lewis will be missed in the Indiana offense, but really, it's for the best.

Chicago Sports Update

2009-04-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well now that we have both MLB teams playing, and both Winter sports teams in playoffs, I figured I'd give an update on the Chicago teams.

1. Bulls (Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs Boston, BOS leads series 3-2)

The Baby Bulls have fared well in this first playoff series, though doing so without having to deal with Kevin Garnett. In game one, Derrick Rose (36 points) and Joakim Noah (17 points, 17 rebounds) led the Bulls to an overtime victory in Beantown. Game 2 was close as well, with the Celtics needing the heroics of Ray Allen to earn a split of the first two games, and send the series to Chicago for games 3 and 4. The Celtics dominated Game 3, winning 107-86. In Game 4, Ben Gordon strained his hamstring in the first half, but played the rest of the game and led Chicago to a double overtime win. Gordon was a game-time decision last night in Game 5 at Boston, but he ended up starting and scoring 26 points. Paul Pierce was the Bulls undoing this time as the game went into overtime again. Pierce hit three jumpers from the top of the key to put the game away.

2. Blackhawks (Western Conference Semifinals vs Vancouver)

The Hawks eliminated the Calgary Flames last night in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Nikolai Khabibulin was spectacular in net, allowing just one goal. This series was pretty simple for the Hawks; play good defense, get good goaltending, and score a few goals. When that happened, they won. Up next is a matchup with the Vancouver Canucks, with whom the Hawks split the season series 2-2.

3. White Sox (10-10, 2nd NL Central)

The South Siders have started the season 10-10, and they sit one game back of the division-leading Tigers. The Sox have had some injury problems, with Jim Thome, Carlos Quentin, Dewayne Wise and Chris Getz all missing time so far. Paul Konerko has gotten off to a really good start, hitting .328 with 3 HR's and 15 RBI. Quentin has 7 long balls, so the sooner he gets back, the better. On the mound, John Danks and Mark Buehrle are both pitching well, with 5 wins between the two of them, and both have ERA's of 3 or under.

4. Cubs (10-9, 3rd NL Central)

On the North Side, things are a bit shaky right now. The bullpen has been disgustingly bad, with the exception of Carlos Marmol. The injury bug has been all over the Cubs, biting Milton Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, and Derrek Lee all in the first month of the season. Bradley hasn't gotten off to the start he had hoped, with now just 3 hits in 28 at-bats. Even though he's been out, he still has an OBP of .324, and that will only go up as he improves. The bright spots have been Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome. Soriano has 3 leadoff homers this year and 7 overall, tied for the NL lead. Fukudome so far has rebounded off his terrible second half last year, batting .358 with 4 homers and 15 RBI. The best part of his line may be his .482 OBP. The Cubs sit 3 games behind the Cardinals, and a half game behind the surprise Pirates.

Even though the four teams are in different stages of their seasons, it's still a very exciting time in Chicago.

The World's Greatest College Weekend

2009-04-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been to Bloomington, Indiana, you've probably noticed a few of things. One, it's a basketball crazed place. Two, the girls are gorgeous. Three, there's a lot of bikers on the streets.

No, not Harleys, but road bikes, as in bicycles.

I just saw two pass by my window.

This weekend is labeled "The World's Greatest College Weekend" because of the Little 500. The Little 500 is a bike race around a 400 meter cinder track that is modeled after the Indianapolis 500. 33 bikes try to go 200 laps the fastest, and the winner gets bragging rights for a year. Most fraternities and sororities have teams (there is a women's race on Friday, the men's is on Saturday), and there are some independent teams.

If you've ever seen the movie Breaking Away, you kind of know what the race is like. Riders train year-round, hence the bikes around town, and they take it very seriously. It's not a varsity event, but it is technically an intramural event. Qualifications were held last month, and several events have taken place during the past few weekends.

The partying that goes on around the races is legendary as well. People descend on Bloomington for the weekend, classes generally come to a halt, smart teachers don't schedule tests during this week, and liquor stores stock up on Keystone Light. If you've ever experienced Little 5, you know what I mean.

People have tried to replicate it, and some schools claim that they have something better than Little 500. They're dead wrong. Unofficial at Illinois, Green Beer Day at Miami (OH), and Grand Prix at Purdue don't measure up, even if you combine them. Why? Concerts, parties, and great weather.

Back to the race, it's Saturday at 2 PM. Phi Delta Theta is on the pole. I'll be pulling for Achtung, starting 22nd. I know a couple of guys on the team and I'll be putting up an interview with one of the guys shortly.

You can watch the race on HDNet, or listen to the race on WIUX at wiux.org. I'll be on the broadcast team for WIUX. I'm really excited about it, since I have yet to attend a race. You'd think as an IU student for four years, I would have gone to at least one race. I've meant to every year, just haven't been able to get there.

Happy Little 5!

Podcast Archive

2009-04-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the new podcast archive.

It's on the right side of the page if you scroll down a bit. I'll be adding some more from past radio shows, etc.

Great Day in Chicago

2009-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

What a great time for Chicago sports.

The Bulls and Blackhawks are both in their respective playoffs, and neither team has lost yet. The Hawks are up 2-0 on Calgary, heading to Calgary now for games 3 and 4. Game 1 was an overtime thriller as Martin Havlat scored 12 seconds into the extra period to give the Hawks a 1-0 series lead. Yesterday, captain Jonathan Toews scored 2 goals in the second period as the Hawks came back from down 2-0 to win 3-2. The Bulls are the 7th seed in the East, so they get defending champion Boston, sans KG. Derrick Rose had a HUGE night in his playoff debut, as did Joakim Noah. Rose had 36 points and Noah pulled down 17 rebounds as the Bulls needed overtime to beat the Celtics 105-103 and take a 1-0 series lead.

The Cubs won in dramatic fashion as they played a back and forth game with the Cardinals yesterday. Aramis Ramirez hit a 2-run, walk-off homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th to beat the Cards for the second straight day. Chicago can take an outright lead in the division with a win tonight, Ted Lilly against Todd Wellemeyer.

Carlos Quentin and the White Sox beat up on the defending AL Champ Rays yesterday, 8-3. Quentin went 3-4 with a homer and 2 RBI. The Sox remain one game back of Kansas City, yes that's right, Kansas City, in the AL Central.

Even though the Bears aren't in season right now, everyone is excited about Jay Cutler, and he was at Wrigley yesterday to throw out the first pitch and sing the Seventh Inning Stretch.

What a time for Chicago Sports

Interview with Bryan Payton

2009-04-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

After practice on Thursday, I had a chance to interview Indiana senior RB Bryan Payton. Bryan is the nicest guy, and I think you'll be able to tell that no matter what he does after football, he'll be successful.

Click here to download the interview.

I also wrote an article for Hoosier Nation about Bryan. Read it here.

My first attempt at a podcast

2009-04-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to an NL Central Preview that was heard on April 11, 2009 on my radio show, The Seventh Inning Stretch

Click here to download

Odds and Ends

2009-04-17T08:57:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. Another crazy week with school and fraternity stuff.

Greg Paulus to Michigan? For Football?

The former Duke point guard is reportedly looking to play football at Michigan. Paulus played four years in the Blue Devil backcourt. NCAA eligibility rules state that athletes get 5 years of eligibility, no matter the sport. So Greg has one year left, and it sounds like he's going to use it. He would compete for the starting QB job at Michigan, the same position he played in high school. Greg was offered by Notre Dame to play quarterback but decided on basketball. I've never heard of a kid doing that, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

John Madden Retires

Love him or hate him, he's one of the most iconic men in football. Super Bowls, a legendary video game series, and an illustrious broadcasting career, Madden will certainly be missed. Although I don't know where I'm going to learn about football anymore. It was John Madden who taught me that the team that scores the most points, usually wins the game.

Podcasts

Not sure if these will be true podcasts, but I am in the process of trying to get audio clips from my radio show posted on the blog. First will be a preview of the NL Central, then I'll be getting an interview with Nick Kappas, a Little 500 rider. For those of you who don't know what the Little 500 is, it's a bike race here at IU that is modeled after the Indy 500. It's also the World's Greatest College Weekend.

NCAA Needs to Keep Its Nose Out of Certain Things

2009-04-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

I read an article yesterday on ESPN.com about a kid at North Carolina State--a regular kid like me--who started a Facebook group called "John Wall please come to NC State". What's the harm in that you ask? The NCAA apparently thinks there's plenty of harm to be done.

The ruling association sent NC State a letter, who then had to sternly warn this kid, about this Facebook group being a recruiting violation. Apparently the NCAA thinks that a Facebook group really would have an effect on a basketball player's college choice.

John Wall is the #1 rated high school point guard in the nation for the Class of 2009, according to multiple sources. He is currently unsigned. Go here to watch a highlight video. The kid can seemingly do it all. He can shoot, pass, finish around the rim in traffic, and he's got blazing speed.

Anyways, if you do a Facebook search of "John Wall" several groups like this one, from several different schools come up. Why did the NCAA single out NC State? Is it because they don't want him to go to NC State? Not that NC State is a bad school, but I'll bet the NCAA would much rather him go to Duke or North Carolina, because those schools get much more coverage, thus more publicity for the NCAA

Who cares if a student wants a recruit to come to a school? It's not like the kid is calling Wall everyday and begging him to come to NC State. It's not like this kid is being paid by the athletic department to woo Wall. And hopefully John Wall is smart enough to not pay attention to these groups.

"I think nationally the NCAA needs to address further Facebook and how these groups play a part in recruiting," said Michelle Lee, who is NC State's compliance director. I disagree Michelle. The NCAA is not the United States Government, nor are they in any position to be censoring Facebook.

The NCAA has much bigger fish to fry, like the UCONN scandal, and possible USC violations that they just said they would look into. Mr. Brand, I know you're going through some tough times right now, but keep your nose where it belongs.

Carolina Dominates to Win 5th National Title

2009-04-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

Not only does this post mark my 100th since starting this thing, it also sadly marks the end of the 2008-2009 NCAA Basketball season. It's been a great season, and I already can't wait until November. Wait, that means it'll be cold...

UNC absolutely had their way with Michigan State last night to win their 5th national championship. Inside, outside, in transition or in the halfcourt, the Tar Heels knocked MSU back on their heels to start the game and Sparty never recovered.

It was quite obvious who was the better team, and MSU coach Tom Izzo knew it would be a tough matchup, saying before the game that UNC would have to play poorly for his team to have a chance at winning. Of course, UNC didn't do that at all during the tournament, with no team coming closer than 12 points. That will go down as maybe one of the best NCAA Tournament performances of all time.

Michigan State just couldn't find a rhythm. They kept throwing up quick shots just because they were a little bit open. They got some OK looks, but nothing spectacular. Chris Allen was awful, he kept throwing up shots early in the shot clock before MSU even entered the ball into the three-point arc. You aren't going to win when you do that.

When they got the ball inside, they had a ton of success. They got layups, and they went to the free throw line. They didn't do that nearly enough, though, to win. The other thing that killed them was an uncharacteristic stat, and that was turnovers. They looked like Indiana last night with how man unforced turnovers they had. They finished with 21 turnovers and UNC scored 25 points off those turnovers. UNC only had 7 turnovers, and MSU scored just 6 points off the Tar Heel mishaps.

In the end, MSU just looked like they were trying too hard, trying to play too fast. Like I said, they had success when they got the ball inside, but they refused to consistently do that, jacking up 3's from all over the place.

Congratulations to the Tar Heels of North Carolina...but no more titles until IU wins one!

Start the countdown to Midnight Madness

And the Marathon Begins...

2009-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

162 games from now, the baseball playoffs will begin in October. What happens between now and then will determine who plays for the World Series. Here's how I think it will shake out:

NL West: Dodgers
NL Central: Cubs
NL East: Mets
Wild Card: Cardinals

AL West: Angels
AL Central: Twins
AL East: Yankees
Wild Card: Red Sox

Ultimately (and you can call me a homer as much as you want), I think the Cubs come out of the NL, and the Angels out of the AL. The Cubs will end their drought in 7 games. Hopefully the NL will win the All Star game so that Game 7 would be at Wrigley!

A lot can happen between now and the end of September...

The Jay Cutler Saga is Over...

2009-04-03T12:02:00.001-07:00

...or is it just beginning?

Jay Cutler finally got his wish yesterday, as the ugly break-up between him and the Denver Broncos ended with the Broncos trading him to the Chicago Bears for QB Kyle Orton and this year's 1st round pick, as well as next year's first round pick. Denver also picks up a 3rd round pick from the Bears this year.

While I'm happy that the Bears finally have a quarterback, I kind of wish it would be someone else. While Cutler may not be totally to blame for the transgressions in the Mile High City, he definitely showed he has some growing up to do.

It all stems back to when Josh McDaniels was hired to succeed Mike Shanahan. McDaniels wanted to acquire Matt Cassel to play quarterback, and Cutler took exception to that, as he should. Cutler threw for more than 4500 yards last season. While he did average more than one INT per game, most think he's an upgrade from Kyle Orton. I agree, to an extent. There was something I liked about Orton. Maybe it was the beard, I don't know, but he had something that the Bears hadn't had at the QB position for a long time. I can't put my finger on it, but I hope Cutler has "it" too.

ESPN has a poll up asking who got the better end of the deal, the Broncos or the Bears. I think the answer is clear that it's the Broncos that got the better end. They got an experienced NFL quarterback who wins, and they got two first round picks to boot. They can draft a quarterback if they'd like or they can go with Orton. I see them starting Orton. He's a good quarterback, like I said before. He may not have the arm strength that Cutler has, but now he's got receivers to throw to, and they are legitimate receivers.

The Bears have alot of holes to fill. Their offensive line is getting old. Chris Williams should be healthy this year so that will help, but trading away the draft picks severely hampers the Bears' ability to get a quality lineman through the draft. They did sign Orlando Pace to a 3-year deal, but he's over 30 years old, and we don't know how much he has left in the tank.

Then you go to the receiving corps, where Devin Hester is the number 1. Does that bother anyone else? Don't get me wrong, Hester has a ton of talent, but I really don't think he's a #1 receiver. He's better off in the slot where they can get him the ball over the middle in space, because that's where he's his best. You can play him outside occasionally, and get him a deep ball from time to time, but I think the Bears' best option with him is getting him the ball where he can run and make people miss. The Bears also lost a chance to pick up a receiver in the draft by trading away the picks.

Time will tell whether or not Cutler will work out in Chicago. I'm hopeful, but not overly excited about it. Hopefully he proves me wrong and the Bears will win the NFC North in 2009.

John Calipari to Kentucky

2009-03-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well, after days of speculation, we finally know who will be the next coach of Kentucky basketball. They say that coaching the Wildcats is one of the most pressure-filled spots in sports, and I tend to agree after seeing what Billie Gillispie went through down in Lexington.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. John Calipari leaves Memphis, who had become the New York Yankees of college basketball, loading up huge recruiting classes every year only to see the kids jet for the NBA after one year. Cal now comes to Kentucky, one of IU's archrivals. There is no doubt Calipari is an excellent recruiter, but there is some doubt as to his recruiting methods.

Calipari is known to have connections to World Wide Wes. I didn't know who this guy was until I did a little research on him (he even has a Wikipedia page!). Basically WWW gets in with basketball recruits and possibly steers them to specific programs, a la Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans to Memphis. WWW has so many connections in the pro game too, like MJ, AI, and LeBron. Shady? Yes, but the NCAA has never launched an investigation on the guy.

It will be interesting to see how Cal handles the UK job. He's a proven winner and a proven recruiter. He's certainly got the right personality for the job, and I think UK will give him a much longer leash than they did Gillispie.

I don't know if Calipari is doing anything illegal, but if he is, I hope he gets found out in a big way, and not just for the sake of the IU-UK rivalry. These coaches need to follow the rules. Let's hope that enough of an example was made of Sampson, and coaches start to clean up their acts.

Indiana Women's Season Ends

2009-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

When I came to Indiana, I never thought I would follow the women's team. It's nothing against women's basketball, but the men's team dominates here at IU. The women's team doesn't have a following like at UCONN or Tennessee.

I have a feeling, though, that more and more people will begin to follow this team. Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has been a shot in the arm for the program. She gets a ton out of her team night in and night out. Her and Coach Crean might make up the most intense, tireless coaching tandem in college basketball.

Their season ended with a loss to Illinois State in the quarterfinals of the WNIT on Sunday. While the team's goal wasn't accomplished, they turned alot of heads in the process. Alot of people felt they should have made the field of 64. Even though they didn't they still played hard. Their second round WNIT game produced probably the most exciting finish a basketball game I have ever seen. With the score tied, Indiana inbounded the ball from their own baseline with .6 seconds left. They got the ball to halfcourt, but a whistle stopped the clock with .2 seconds left. Apparently, the official misinterpreted the catch-and-shoot rule, thinking that a catch-and-shoot was impossible with .6 seconds left. The rule is with .3 or less, you have to tip. That being said, Indiana set up a play to get a tip at the basket. Kim Roberson lobbed the ball to Whitney Thomas, who tipped the ball up to the basket and in for the win!

I was lucky enough to have a chance to cover them this year, and will certainly be following them in the years to come.

Well, My Bracket is Done

2009-03-29T18:30:00.001-07:00

With Kansas and Pitt both losing in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, respectively, I can kiss any chance I have of winning my pool goodbye. Of course they were the two teams I ultimately picked to meet in the Championship game in Detroit next Monday.

So now we know the Final Four. UCONN, Michigan State, Villanova, and North Carolina.

Biggest Surprise in that group? I'd have to go with Michigan State. They sure earned it though, whooping Louisville today.

Who is playing the best right now? Gee I don't know. All four teams are playing at such a high level. If I had to pick, it would be UNC. The Tar Heels disposed of OU, frustrating Blake Griffin (even though he finished with 23 in the process. I think they'll be able to get by Villanova.

MSU-UCONN should be a really interesting game. Ultimately I think Thabeet causes problems for MSU and UCONN will move on to face UNC.

I think UNC will cut down the nets on April 6th. Tyler Hansbrough is just too tough, and he won't let a taller Hasheem Thabeet push him around. Even though Thabeet is about 6 inches taller than Psycho T, Hansbrough is quicker and he never quits.

As far as a rooting interest, I'll be cheering on the Spartans of MSU. It's nice to see a Big Ten team make it to the Final Four, especially when everyone dogs on the Big Ten. Last time I checked, they got 7 teams into the dance, and another 2 went to the NIT. The conference RPI was #2. Stop ripping on the Big Ten.

Plus Tom Izzo is one of the best coaches in the game, and a good friend of Tom Crean. Also, the Spartans have one of the best PG's in the country in Kalin Lucas. If this kid stays around, I think he could be a candidate for National Player of the Year someday.

You might as well take the pads off...

2009-03-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

...and put flags on.

The NFL passed 4 rule changes this week designed to make the game safer. Now I'm all for player safety, and I don't like seeing players get carted off the field with a possible neck/back injury. Those kinds of plays, though, happen when someone gets hit in the head or leads with their head, etc.

I really have to wonder about the first change, known as the Brady rule. As we all know, Tom Brady was knocked out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 1 when a Chiefs lineman "lunged" at his legs. Lineman can no longer do that, and will be penalized for it. What I have to wonder about, is what if it wasn't Tom Brady, the most popular guy in the league? What if it was Lion's quarterback Dan Orlovsky, the same guy who ran out of the back of the endzone while trying to scramble? Would we even be talking about this?

Like I said, I'm all for player safety, and nobody likes to see guys tear their ACL's. I can speak from personal experience when I say it's no fun. But the quarterbacks are basically in a bubble anyways already. I can speak from personal experience on this one too. I played QB in high school, and getting hit was part of the game. Sure, there's times to lay off a guy, but the quarterback is a football player, just like the obscure lineman is. Man up and play the game.

The other rule change I have to question is the new blind-side block rule. And it's not just because they're fun to watch. If you do it right, nobody should get hurt. Hines Ward threw a block that was totally legal, but it broke a guy's jaw.

Now I'm not saying I'm happy that the guy's jaw got broken, but what I am opposing is the NFL's tendency to fix what ain't broken here. Ward threw a legal block, and an unfortunate event occured. Is the NFL going to change a rule every time someone gets injured? Like I said in the title, you might as well switch to flag football. It's like when MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made up the home-field advantage in the World Series rule, as a reaction to what happened in the 2002 all-star game. Just because something strange happens, you don't have to have a quick reaction to it.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.

Curt Schilling Retires

2009-03-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

Bloody sock and all, Curt Schilling is done with baseball.

The he wore during the 2004 ALCS/World Series has actually been done for awhile, as it's in Cooperstown.

The 42 year-old pitcher announced today on his blog that he's retiring from baseball with "no regrets". I'd be pretty happy too if I had 3 World Series rings.

He finishes with a career record of 216-146 record, and a 3.46 ERA, with 3,116 K's. Hall of Famer? I think so. Three WS titles, a 6-time All-Star, and one of the most impressive postseason resumes of all time. He was 11-2 with a 2.33 ERA in the playoffs, which is good for the best postseason winning percentage ever.

Making the announcement on his blog, 38 Pitches, Schilling said "After being blessed to experience 23 years of playing professional baseball in front of the world’s best fans in so many different places, it is with zero regrets that I am making my retirement official."

He also subliminally stated his case for Cooperstown, implying he has better credentials than some guys already enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame.

His qualifications for enshrinement will be debated when his name comes up in 5 years, but I think his postseason record will get him in.

32 Games Down, 31 To Go

2009-03-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Well after one round, I'm not terribly off.

Only 2 of my Sweet Sixteen teams are out, and only one of them is a shocker. I had Wake going to they Sweet 16, as I'm sure alot of people did. So much for that, as Cleveland State pulled off the upset, 84-69.

The other team I'm missing out on is Utah State. They almost beat Marquette but couldn't quite get there.

It's been alot of fun to watch so far...we'll see what happens in Round 2

It's Done, Finally

2009-03-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here's my picks for the 2009 NCAA Tournament

Midwest Region

First Round Winners
Louisville
Ohio State
Arizona
Wake Forest
West Virginia
Kansas
Boston College
Michigan State

Second Round Winners
Louisville
Wake Forest
Kansas
Michigan State

Sweet Sixteen Winners
Louisville
Kansas

Midwest Region Winner
Kansas

West Region

First Round Winners
UCONN
Brigham Young
Purdue
Washington
Utah State
Missouri
Maryland
Memphis

Second Round Winners
UCONN
Purdue
Utah State
Memphis

Sweet Sixteen Winners
UCONN
Memphis

West Region Winner
UCONN

East Region

First Round Winners
Pittsburgh
Oklahoma State
Florida State
Xavier
UCLA
Villanova
Minnesota
Duke

Second Round Winners
Pittsburgh
Xavier
UCLA
Duke

Sweet Sixteen Winners
Pittsburgh
UCLA

East Region Winner
Pittsburgh

South Region

First Round Winners
North Carolina
LSU
Western Kentucky
Gonzaga
Arizona State
Syracuse
Michigan
Oklahoma

Second Round Winners
North Carolina
Gonzaga
Syracuse
Oklahoma

Sweet Sixteen Winners
North Carolina
Syracuse

South Region Winner
North Carolina

Final Four
Kansas over UCONN
Pittsburgh over North Carolina

National Championship Game
Pittsburgh over Kansas

So there you have it. The Pittsburgh Panthers will be cutting down the nets in Detroit on April 6th. The journey starts tomorrow, and I can't wait.

Happy Selection Sunday

2009-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Christmas for college basketball fans

The bracket for the NCAA Tournament comes out later today, and then the madness really begins as people frantically start filling out their brackets.

Everyone is saying that this will be one of the most wild and unpredictable tournaments yet, and I tend to agree with them. At the beginning of the year, everyone was talking about North Carolina and them possibly challenging Indiana's undefeated record. Then everyone was talking about Oklahoma and Blake Griffin. Then UCONN, then Wake Forest, then Pitt. All of those teams saw time at #1 this season, but nobody seemed to want to stay there, reminiscent of the 2008 College Football season.

I still like Pitt, but we'll have to see what their path looks like. There's no clear-cut favorite, but plenty of teams who could win it all. I don't think we'll see four #1 seeds in the Final Four like we did last year.

Everyone is talking about the Big Ten and how many bids they'll get. I think they'll get Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Minnesota in for sure. Northwestern probably won't get in. That makes 8, count 'em 8 bids for the Big Ten, which may be the most in the country. Whoever thought that would happen? The Big 10 can thank the SEC for that, as they are having a down year and will get 2, possibly 3 in if Mississippi State can win the SEC Tournament.

At any rate, I'm glad that I'm home on break for the start of this tournament, one of my favorite weekends of the year, that's for sure.

I'll be back tomorrow with my bracket, and you can tell me how much of an idiot I am.

The Longest Season Ever is Finally Over

2009-03-12T17:20:00.001-07:00

Well, the 2008-2009 season is finally, finally over for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Finally.

Have I said finally yet?

The campaign came to an end on Thursday, with a 66-51 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Verdell Jones led the way for the Hoosiers with 23 points, the second straight game he's dropped 23.

It's hard to win though, when your next highest scorer nets 5 points.

I think we all knew coming in that this was going to be a tough season. I don't think we knew just how tough though. 6 wins and 25 painful losses later, we got through it. I think most Hoosier fans were able to put up with all the losing, knowing the program's recent past and knowing what the future holds.

The incoming freshman, plus junior transfer Jeremiah Rivers, should give Indiana a HUGE boost next year. HUGE in the sense that the things that plagued the team this year will get alot better; turnovers, free throws, and depth. We won't have to see Daniel Moore and Brett Finklemeier on the floor at the same time. No offense to those guys, but let's be honest, they aren't the most talented basketball players.

Thank you to Kyle Taber, the team's lone senior. Also, he was the only scholarship player to return from the Kelvin Sampson fiasco. He played his heart out for his entire career for 4, count 'em 4 head coaches during his time here at IU.

Thanks to the whole team for never giving up. No matter how badly they got beat, they kept playing, and Tom Crean kept coaching. Even though it was the worst season in IU history since 1914-15 or something like that, they were fun to watch because of the fact they never gave up.

How many days 'til Hoosier Hysteria?

My Top 10 Sports Moments While at Indiana

2009-03-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

As my time here at IU is coming to an end, I thought I'd throw together a list of the top 10 Hoosier sports events that transpired during my time here at IU.

10. Mike Davis resigns as head basketball coach.

Davis took over the job after Bob Knight was fired in 2000. The highlight of his career here at Indiana was in 2002 when he led the Hoosiers to the National Championship game, and lost to Maryland. Davis resigned in the midst of the 2005-2006 season, my freshman year at Indiana. He was quoted as saying the Indiana program needs to be reunited again. DJ White, a sophomore at the time, said he wouldn't be coming back if Davis left, but thank God he did stay. He became one of the most beloved Hoosiers of all times.

9. Michigan State: 64, Indiana: 59 March 3rd, 2009

You may ask why an Indiana loss is in my Top 10. Well, think about the score and where the two teams were in 2008-2009. Michigan State is the best team in the Big Ten and a dark horse for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana was 6-22 at the time and playing with basically all freshman and walk-ons. IU also played most of this game without leading scorer Devan Dumes, who went down with a knee injury. This was one of the most fun games I ever witnessed at Assembly Hall, and it was a joy to call on the radio.

8. Playing/Officiating at Assembly Hall

One of the coolest things about Indiana is the intramural basketball program. They say it's one of the largest in the nation. The championship games at the end of the season are played in a Assembly Hall. While none of the teams I played on made it to a championship game, the last two years I've been officiating IM basketball. At the end of last year, we organized an officials game at Assembly Hall (I'm #8 in black). That was probably the most fun I've had on a basketball court. This year, I was selected to ref a championship game at Assembly Hall. I'm looking forward to it.

7. Terry Hoeppner Passes Away - June 19th, 2007

The Indiana Football Program was finally going in the right direction, thanks to Coach Hep. In just two years at IU, he started a lot of new traditions here at Indiana, like "The Walk", where the players walk from the tailgate fields to the stadium 2 hours before kickoff, and he put a big hunk of Indiana limestone in one end zone, and the players now touch it before every game. He had people excited about the program again. Unfortunately, he got brain cancer and was limited during the 2006 season, and passed away in 2007. He never got to see his dream of "Play 13" realized, but more on that later...

6. Indiana: 34, Illinois: 32, October 7th, 2006

During my sophomore year, I went to Champaign to visit my friend Steve and we went to the IU-Illinois football game. It was definitely a shootout. Two of the most prolific offenses in the Big Ten, a kickoff return for a touchdown by Marcus Thigpen, and more. But it all came down to the last play of the game, as Indiana sophomore kicker Austin Starr hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Illini. Needless to say, I gloated the rest of the day. One angry Illinois fan tried to start a fight with me on the walk back, but all I said was "scoreboard".

5. Duke: 75, Indiana 67, November 30th, 2005

Another loss in my Top 10, but this one was also fun. Considering the fact that I was a big JJ Reddick fan, I was ecstatic when I heard Duke was coming to play IU. Both teams were nationally ranked (Duke was #1) at the time, and it was a nationally televised game. To this day, it was probably the loudest I've ever heard Assembly Hall, even though we lost.

4. The Kelvin Sampson Saga

Soon after Davis resigned in 2006, IU hired Kelvin Sampson away from Oklahoma. I remember the day he was hired. I was at the HPER playing basketball and a local TV station was interviewing students. While I didn't get interviewed, all I knew about Sampson was that he always wore a blue shirt and red tie. I had no idea about the cloud hanging over his head. His first year at IU went off without a hitch. Then came midnight madness 2007. The Monday after MM, more allegations came out, and they hung over the program's head until February 23rd, 2008. That was the day Sampson resigned with a $750K buyout, and Dan Dakich took over. The season was doomed from then on, and a once promising season ended in an ugly first-round exit from the Tournament against Arkansas.

3. Eric Gordon Commits to Indiana

Ah yes, so this is the reason that the entire University of Illinois hates Indiana. The 6'4" guard from North Central High School was orignally verbally committed to play for Bruce Weber and the Illini, until Sampson came-a-callin'. Now whether Sampson illegally recruited Gordon or not, the top-rated recruit backed out of his verbal to Illinois and eventually committed to Sampson and the Hoosiers. He said that all along he wanted to play for Indiana, but not for Mike Davis. Now, Gordon is a Rookie of the Year candidate in the NBA. If he hadn't gone into a shooting slump last year, we might be talking about a Sweet 16 run last season, and not a first-round exit.

2. Indiana Hires Tom Crean

Would have been #1 if it wasn't for what happened in my #1. Crean was hired away from Marquette on April 2nd, 2008. What happened, after that though, set the stage for the dismal 2008-2009 season. While none of it was Crean's fault, he did fear for his safety once, having to call IUPD to his office when Eli Holman got upset. Crean kicked several players off the team and still more transferred in a cleansing of the program. That cleansing left him two players, and only one of them was on scholarship. Kyle Taber was the lone returner with anything close to significant experience. After assembling a team of mostly freshman and walk-ons, Crean set out and recruited a top-ten class for 2009. I think that Hoosier Nation as a whole is very excited about the future of Indiana basketball with Tom Crean at the helm.

1. Old Oaken Bucket Game, 2007

The last game of every football season is against the hated Purdue Boilermakers. In 2007, IU came into the game at 6-5. While they were already bowl-eligible, many of the so-called experts said IU needed to win to secure their first bowl berth in 14 years. Indiana jumped out to a 24-3 lead in the 3rd quarter before Purdue came storming back to tie. Then junior kicker Austin Starr took the field with 30 seconds to play and kicked a 49-yard field goal to win the game. The kick just made it over the crossbar, and may have had some help from late Coach Terry Hoeppner who died earlier that year (see #7). That kick propelled Indiana to the Insight Bowl, where they lost to Oklahoma State.

Well, that's it. Quite a list if I do say so myself.

My Top 10 College Fight Songs

2009-03-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about college sports are the fight songs.

Here's my top ten list

10. "Indiana, Our Indiana"- Indiana University
Listen

9. "Boomer Sooner"- Oklahoma University
Listen

8. "Falcone Fight"- Michigan State University
Listen

7. " Minnesota Rouser"- University of Minnesota
Listen

6. "Ramblin' Wreck"- Georgia Tech
Listen

5. "Rocky Top"- University of Tennessee
Listen

4. "Fight On"- University of Southern California
Listen

3. "Across the Field"- The Ohio State University
Listen

2. " The Victors"- University of Michigan
Listen

1. "Notre Dame Victory March"- University of Notre Dame
Listen

TO Era Over in Dallas

2009-03-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Cowboys have had enough.

The Boys released embattled WR Terrell Owens early Thursday morning, ending the three-year relationship that was filled with as many headlines as big plays.

Whether it was an "attempted suicide" or accusing QB Tony Romo and TE Jason Witten of collaborating against him, TO is definitely a handful.

It seems to me like it was a rift between him and Witten that ultimately led to Owens' release.

I can't say that I blame the Cowboys. Owens is undoubtedly a very talented receiver, but I guess Jerry Jones ultimately felt he wasn't worth the baggage.

Now that he's a free agent, Herm Edwards thinks he could fit in at Tennesee. Let's look at that possibility. The Titans just re-signed Kerry Collins, who led them to a 13-3 record and the AFC South title. They don't have a marquee receiver, and that may be their biggest weakness. We know they can run, we know Collins can throw, and their defense was among the league's best. I wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee made a run at him.

He'll end up somewhere, and someone will be able to pony up some cash and take the risk in order to get his production. I mean the guy is second ALL-TIME in TD catches. Ya, I think he'll find somewhere to play.

Refereeing

2009-03-03T14:22:00.001-08:00

So last year and this year, I had the opportunity to officiate the intramural basketball league here at IU.

I actually really like doing it. Sometimes the players can be hard on me, but eh, whatever. If they don't like a call I make, tough. I made it. And if they continue to mouth off, I'm not hesitant to T 'em up. That usually shuts them up pretty quickly.

I do hope that I get assigned to do a championship game. For one, they are played in Assembly Hall, and it's pretty damn cool to be on that court. I got to play there last year for a ref's game. Secondly, it would give me some experience with a 3-man crew. Hopefully I can get into reffing high school games after I graduate, and eventually do varsity games, which would mean 3-man crews.

Alot of people don't realize just how difficult it is to referee basketball. Especially when the game is as fast as it is with college kids. I only have two eyes, and I can only see so much. I think that's the problem with 2-man crews. Having that third set of eyes makes the game so much easier to call.

It also amazes me how many people don't know the rules. I'm not talking about specific rules, but basic rules that they've played with their entire lives.

Player: "There's an arc and you can't draw a foul in the arc"
Me: "Where? I don't see an arc. This isn't the NBA son."

Player: "You can't draw fouls in the lane"
Me: "Really? Because that's where like 80% of fouls come from

Player: "I didn't touch him!"
Me: "Really? Then why is he on the ground in pain?"

Me: "TWEET! Traveling, white ball"
Player who traveled: "But Allen Iverson does it!"

Radio Show Today

2009-02-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Seventh Inning Stretch will be making another appearance this afternoon on WIUX

The show is from 3-4 and topics include, Indiana Basketball, the AL Central, the AL East, Tiger Woods, NFL Free Agency, the NBA, and finally National College Basketball.

Listen on 99.1 FM if you're in Bloomington, or wiux.org if you aren't.

Email the show if you want to weigh in or ask us to address something on the air.

theseventhinningstretch@gmail.com

What's in a Name?

2009-02-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

The building here at IU that 95% of students refer to as the HPER (pronounced "hyper") is actually named the Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center. HPER is much easier to say.

Anyways, an issue was brought to the University's attention in 2006 when a writer for the Indiana Daily Student read Wildermuth's biography and discovered his segregationalist views, and published an article about them. Wildermuth was a University Trustee when he wrote a letter to then IU President Herman B. Wells expressing these views. That letter was written in 1945.

As a result, the current trustees have voted several times on the issue, and they recently approved adding Bill Garrett's name to the building. Garrett was the first black basketball player at Indiana, and also in the Big Ten. They said they had checked with the family and the family supported it. However, it recently came to light that they checked with the nephew of Garrett who said he could speak for the family. Garrett's widow then came out and said that she wouldn't allow this naming to happen. So now the University has a mess on their hands.

What would I do? Well, there's another athletic building on campus that isn't named after anyone in particular, and that building is called the Student Recreational Sports Center (SRSC). I would keep Wildermuth's name on the HPER, and name the SRSC after Garrett. Both men accomplished great things while at IU. Wildermuth shouldn't be punished for holding views that were normal at that time.

Combining the names would be silly I think, and would defeat the purpose of renaming.

A Tue Display of Class and Sportsmanship

2009-02-19T20:02:00.000-08:00

A high school team from DeKalb, Illinois showed a huge amount of class and sportsmanship earlier this month.

Johntell Franklin is a senior at Milwaukee Madison High School, where he is on the basketball team. Franklin's mother died of cancer on February 7th. His team had a game that night, a home game against DeKalb. The two teams were familiar with one another, as they had played each of the two years prior. When the DeKalb coach found out what had happened, he told MMHS that he was fine if they wanted to call off the game. Franklin wouldn't have that though. He wanted his teammates to go out and play. Franklin came late to the game, and eventually got the itch to play.

He suited up I believe during the second quarter. He wasn't in the scorebook because his coach wasn't expecting him to play. What happens next is what amazes me. By rule, if a player that's not in the scorebook enters the game, it's a technical foul charged to the team. DeKalb tried to deny the tech since they knew the situation, but the refs said they had no choice and they had to follow the rules. Personally if I were reffing, if both teams can agree that a tech does not need to be assessed, that would be fine with me. Reluctantly, DeKalb sent one of their players to the line. The player missed both free throws on purpose, and the whole gym stood and applauded the gesture.

Scenes like this are what's missing from sports these days. While it isn't my hope that people's relatives have to pass away for things like this to happen, it is my hope that people continue to remember that it's just a game.

I can understand, to a point, what Franklin felt. While I haven't been in his exact situation, I know that once I get on the court or on the field, that all I think about is the game. For those two hours or however long I'm playing, my problem is of no concern to me.

Kudos to Franklin for having the courage to get out there and play, and kudos to the DeKalb coach for realizing the bigger picture.

Obama and Sports

2009-02-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama is a sports fan, and I find that to be pretty cool, even if he is a Sox fan.

I also think it's pretty cool that Obama can take a weekend and return to Chicago to hang out with his friends. The New York Times reported on his weekend in the Second City, where he took some time to play some basketball with friends and staff, take Michelle out for a Valentine's Day dinner, and even Sasha and Malia (sp?) got to spend some time with their friends from Chicago.

One thing that I don't want to happen though, is for the President to become too involved in sports legislation. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's a smart enough guy not to do that. I think he should remain a fan. We've heard his desire for a playoff in college football, and now USC basketball coach Tim Floyd said something about Obama giving him free speech after being ejected from a game. I've only seen the quote in text, so I'm not sure whether or not he was being sarcastic.

The sports leagues have governing bodies for a reason.

Radio Show on WIUX

2009-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my radio show on WIUX at 3 Eastern. Listen on 99.1 FM if you're in Bloomington or here if you're not. The show is called The Seventh Inning Stretch

My regular partner went home for the weekend, so I'm having one of my buddies fill in. Alec will still call in from home though so we can talk baseball.

Topics include Brett Favre, the AL West, A-Rod, and John Decker will join us to talk Indiana men's and women's basketball. John moderates hoosiernation.com.

Since we can't take callers on the air, I've set up an email address for the show.

theseventhinningstretch@gmail.com. Email us if there is something you want us to address or want to chime in!

Stealing Signs...Legal?

2009-02-12T06:31:00.000-08:00

Now that baseball season is nearly upon us, it's time to revisit an old hobby of mine.

Stealing signs.

According to this article, the art, and yes it is an art, of stealing signs was conceived the day after using signs was. And it's totally legal! The only catch is, you can't steal signs using the scoreboard or anything electronic of that sort.

My sign stealing story goes like this. It was my sophomore year of high school, and I had just broken my jaw while sliding into second base. I was done for the year. One game, one of our coaches couldn't be there, so we needed a first base coach. I volunteered. During one of the innings, I noticed the catcher for the other team wasn't hiding his signs very well, and I could see them pretty clearly. So I let my teammates know that if I had my hands at my side, it was a fastball, and if they were crossed it was a breaking ball. I think the catcher realized what he was doing so he covered up, and our advantage was gone. At least they thought it was. I started watching their coach, and was able to pick up his signs. I think we won that game.

Fast forward to varsity ball. I didn't play much either year I was on the team, but I still wanted to help, so I watched the opposing coach who was giving pitch signs, and more often than not, I was able to pick up the signs. My teammates loved it. Even our coach acknowledged it.

I remember one game, we were playing Stevenson, a pretty good team. We were down by four when we loaded the bases and our best hitter was coming to the plate. I had a fairly good idea what the signs were, so I let him know, "Hey, I got the signs. Name is fastball, numbers is breaker." Sure enough, on the second or third pitch, I read fastball, let him know, and he sent it over the left field wall for a game-tying grand slam. When he got to home plate I made sure I was the first one there, and he gave me the biggest smile I'd ever seen out of him.

My favorite sign-stealing story however, comes from many games against our rival Prospect. At some point during summer ball between my sophomore and junior years, we played Prospect and their coach made their signs extremely easy to pick up. I had their signs every time we played them until my senior year during the playoffs, they finally figured out what I was doing. By the time they figured it out, though, it was the 5th inning and we had a comfortable lead. They first tried to move their pitching coach in front of their manager, but I could still see. They finally changed their signs, but it was too late.

Some will say that stealing signs is Bush League, but my thinking is if you aren't thinking enough to either change your signs or make them complex enough so they won't be stolen, you're asking for trouble. I know our pitching coach changed almost every inning what his signs were.

I may not have played much, but at least I had something to hang my hat on.

The Brett Favre Era is Over...Again

2009-02-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre has informed the New York Jets that he will retire.

Are ya sure this time Brett?

"I have family and friends who are like, 'All right, Brett. Is this the real deal?" Favre said during a conference call. "To me, it is. It is. Believe me. It's been a wonderful career, I couldn't ask for anything more. It was worth a shot for me to go to New York. I wish I could've played better down the stretch. I didn't. It's time to leave," he said in a teleconference.

Favre leaves the NFL after playing in 273 games, completing more than 5700 passes, more than 65,000 yards, 464 touchdowns, and 310 interceptions. He finished with a career passer rating of 85.4, which is good for 16th all time.

The for-sure Hall of Famer played for the Falcons (1991), the Packers (1992-2007), and the Jets (2008). He played in 2 Super Bowls, beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.

As a Bears fan, I hated Favre for a long time. As a football fan though, I can't help respect what he did in the league. He's easily the "Iron Man" of the NFL, playing every game for the Packers from 1992 through January 20th, 2008. Playing through injury and grief, he certainly shone on the brightest of stages.

Even though he sort of fizzled with the Jets, I don't think his legacy was tarnished at all.

A-Rod Interview

2009-02-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

For those of you who didn't see the interview with Alex Rodriguez last night on Sportscenter, here's the first part.

Some say that they will forgive A-Rod for coming clean, but I'm not one of them. That's not to say that I don't respect him for coming clean like he did, but I'm not going to forgive him. The fact that he took these substances for 2 or 3 years makes me severely question what he did during those years, which was average 52 homers.

His reputation will be forever tarnished, and time will tell what his legacy is. He thinks he's got time to prove that he's a great player without drugs, and I don't doubt that he'll do that. But these allegations, which he now admits are true, will always remain on the minds of voters when it comes time to vote on his Hall of Fame chances.

A-Rod: Cheater?

2009-02-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

According to Sports Illustrated, Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003.

Wow.

A-Rod was supposed to be THE guy. He's supposed to be the guy to break Barry Bonds' home run record. He's supposed to be one of the greatest ever.

He wasn't supposed to be testing positive for steroids. He wasn't supposed to be shone in a negative light. This wasn't supposed to happen.

According to this SI report, four different sources have confirmed the positive tests. It happened in 2003, when the baseball drug testing program was in its infancy stages. In fact, this test was part of a survey test to see if MLB should implement mandatory drug testing.

MLB has banned steroids since 1991, and in 2003 there were no penalties for positive tests. If the positive test were to happen today, though, a first offender would be suspended for 50 games. A third time offender receives a lifetime ban.

Even though A-Rod won't receive any suspensions, his reputation is tarnished forever. Even if he does go on to break Bonds' record, people will associate an asterisk with it. Maybe not as big an asterisk as Bonds has, but it will be there.

It's a shame. He's so talented. Other off-the-field issues aside, he's one of the greatest in the game today. Now, it appears, the media circus in New York will only grow because of this.

Super Bowl Hangover

2009-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a game last night!

I have to admit, I thought Larry Fitzgerald's second TD catch of the game was going to be the one to seal the deal for Arizona, but Ben Roethlisberger showed the Steelers don't just have a good defense. Big Ben hooked up with Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left to score the go-ahead touchdown. The catch rivaled David Tyree's catch in last year's game. I'm still not totally sure the right foot was down, but they reviewed it and it was upheld.

Arizona had all the momentum in the world, and the crowd was rockin'. But MVP Santonio Holmes quieted the Arizona supporters with a catch that will be replayed for a long time coming.

What I don't get, though, is why the booth didn't review that last play? Of course, with less than two minutes remaining in a half, any replay review is initiated by the replay official in the press box. If that rule were not in place though, Ken Whisenhunt surely would have challenged. After watching multiple replays, it is still unclear to me as to whether Kurt Warner's arm was going forward or not. I think you could make a case either way. But it's the Super Bowl. You have to review it just to be sure.

At any rate, the Steelers are the Super Bowl champs, and I know at least one person who is incredibly happy about that. I think he's actually the only person I know that's from Pennsylvania. The state now holds two of the major sports titles, and could very well add a third if the Flyers continue to do well, not to mention the Penguins who are only two points out of the playoff picture.

I might actually watch the Pro Bowl next weekend. I never really have before because it's so much of an afterthought, hence the NFL's reasoning for moving the game to before the Super Bowl. We'll see though.

The Greatest TV Timeout in All of College Basketball

2009-01-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

This has got to be one of my favorite things about Indiana University:

This is the under 8 minute media timeout at a home game in Assembly Hall. The crowd goes nuts when it happens. If something good for the Hoosiers happens right before this timeout, the Hall is really rocking. The song is William Tell Overture, followed by the IU Fight Song. The coolest part about it might be that the whole crowd sings the fight song together while the band stops playing for a bit.

Indiana, our Indiana, Indiana, we're all for you!
We will fight for the Cream and Crimson,
For the glory, of old IU, I-U!
Never daunted, we cannot faulter
In the battle
We're tried and true
Indiana, our Indiana, Indiana we're all for you!

New Afternoon Lineup on ESPN Radio 1000

2009-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

I discovered something rather unfortunate last night: WMVP-AM (ESPN 1000) in Chicago has broken up the top sports-talk show in the city. Mac Jurko and Harry are no more. The station has decided not to pick up the 5th year option on Dan McNeil's (Mac) contract, citing economic reasons.

I think this is a grave mistake on the station's part. They had the top rated show in the market, a show that had become m favorite and the favorite of many, many others here in town and around the country.

While the economy had something to do with this, you would think that ESPN as a corporation would have enough money to lock down the guy that's made them the top rated sports station. The new host Carmen DeFalco isn't new to ESPN 1000, but the show just isn't the same. No disrespect to Carmen is meant here, but the guys just don't have the same chemistry. Maybe they'll develop the chemistry over time, but I probably won't tune in as much now that Mac isn't there. He's the one who drove the ship and I'm very sad to see him go.

I wish Dan McNeil all the best, and I hope he finds a good job soon.

My apologies for the short hiatus...

2009-01-27T16:14:00.001-08:00

...but work is starting and I'm trying to work as many hours as I can now before we get towards midterms. And yes, refereeing intramural basketball is work (but fun work, nonetheless).

Former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson is appealing his penalties to the NCAA. His claims are based on two things:

1. That the NCAA misinterpreted assistant coach Rob Senderoff's testimony, which led the NCAA to rule that Sampson knowingly placed excessive phone calls to recruits.

2. That the NCAA committee that was investigating him was biased against him and assumed Sampson's guilt before all hearings and interviews were completed.

I'll address #1 first. Senderoff resigned from his duties shortly after the allegations against Sampson were first brought to light in October of 2007. He played a very large role in these allegations. According to an ESPN article, the University claims he made 35 impermissible calls on his own, as well as connecting recruits to Sampson on 3-way calls 10 times. 3-way calls are normally allowed by the NCAA, but Sampson's restrictions from his Oklahoma recruiting scandal prohibited him from being involved in 3-way calls.

Sampson says he didn't know that nine of the ten 3-way calls were actually 3-way calls. Whether he knew or not is irrelevant. Senderoff is a member of Sampson's staff, and Sampson needs to have control over his staff.

As for number 2, of course the NCAA was going to take everything Sampson said with a grain of salt, because of what happened at Oklahoma. If what happened at Indiana were the first time, I think Sampson might have gotten away with it entirely, although there were some potential violations unrelated to phone calls. He would have gotten a slap on the wrist. The Oklahoma deal was much more compunded. 577 impermissible calls were found at Oklahoma, and the sanctions that OU self-imposed were adopted by Indiana. Sampson again violated those.

The result of all this was a 5-year show-cause penalty on Sampson, which means that if any school wants to hire him within the next 5 years, it must convince the NCAA why it would be a good idea to hire Kelvin Sampson. I can't see the NCAA approving a hiring like that.

I think these are the actions of a desperate man who is looking for a way to save face. I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Ultimately I think he'll lose his appeal and will never be back in college basketball.

Watching the Inauguration...

2009-01-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

My teacher for the class I should be at right now cancelled class today so we could watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama. I think that's pretty cool. Of course, it's only every four years that there is an Inauguration, and obviously this one has significant historical meaning. I don't want to get into a political discussion, but I'm excited for Obama to take office. I think he'll bring a great deal of energy to the White House. And maybe, just maybe, he'll finally mandate a playoff in college football!

So last night the Indiana women's team defeated the hated Purdue Boilermakers 71-57. I had the opportunity to write the game story for Hoosiernation.com. I think people are starting to notice this team, and the crowd last night showed it. 4,112 was the attendance, which is 4x the average attendance. I've never understood why, in Indiana, the women's team has garnered so much less attention than the men's team. I know the men have won 5 titles while the women haven't won any, but it's basketball. Last night was the first women's game I've been to and I had such a good time...it won't be my last. Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has definitely made her mark on the Indiana program, and she will continue to move them in the right direction.

Up next is a game in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines, and then on Monday, we'll see if IU gets a national ranking. They've "also received votes" two weeks in a row now, so we'll see if last night's victory gets them up in the Top 25.

Well...

2009-01-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

So the Super Bowl matchup isn't what I thought it would be. In fact, I didn't pick either of the games correctly. That's ok. I'll save my Super Bowl pick for a later post.

Indiana is a basketball state, maybe THE basketball state. Indiana University has a great basketball history, especially on the men's side. The women's team, however, is quite possibly the best team in Bloomington. They are 12-3, with a 5-1 conference mark, which is good enough to be tied for first in the Big Ten.

All 5 starters average more than 10 PPG, and they have a viable All-American candidate in Whitney Thomas. Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has infused the program with a level of intensity comparable to what Terry Hoeppner did with IU football. While attendance hasn't been what they want, the marketing department here at IU is asking for a White Out tonight, and is selling cheap or even free tickets.

If you're in Bloomington, and have nothing to do tonight, go to the game. Maybe you'll see a product you like and will keep going. I'll be there, broadcasting the game for WIUX, so if you can't make it, go to wiux.org and listen live. Gametime is 7PM

NFL Conference Championship Game Previews

2009-01-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow, we will find out who will be playing for the Super Bowl. While these may not be the sexiest matchups in the world from a name standpoint, from a football standpoint, it couldn't be better.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 2-0 Playoffs) vs Arizona Cardinals (9-7, 2-0 Playoffs)

The Philadelphia Eagles have made a living getting to the NFC Championship game, and losing. From the 2001-2002 season through the 04-05 season, the Eagles were on the threshold of the Super Bowl each season, winning only once. They're back now and may be playing the best football in the NFL. Donovan McNabb is back on his game. Brian Westbrook tweaked his knee in practice this week, but is expected to play. The Eagles defense has also stepped up big.

The Cardinals at home are one of the best in the league, going 6-2 in Glendale during the regular season. WR Anquan Boldin is an injury concern, but he too is expected to play. They have one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, when healthy.

I think this will be a shootout, but Philly comes out on top 34-30

Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 2-0 Playoffs) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, 1-0 Playoffs)

During the regular season, the Steelers beat the Ravens twice, by scores of 23-20 and 13-9, with the first game going to overtime. That's a combined 7 points.

It's going to be extremely tough for the Steelers to win on Sunday. I don't mean that in a sense that the Ravens are that good, but to beat a team 3 times in a season is what's tough. I think the Ravens have the best defense in the NFL, but the Steelers' offense is one of the better offenses they've faced of late. Ben Roethilsberger is extremely hard to bring down and Willie Parker is no easy tackle either. Hines Ward is a big game player. The Steelers also have one of the best defenses in the league.

I think the Raven's chances took a hit when it was announced that cornerback Samari Rolle is doubtful, and LB Terrell Suggs is a game time decision. Two key defenders could be out, severely diminishing the Raven's chances. I do think though, that if they are out, they find a way to pick up the slack.

My head is telling me to go with the Steelers here, but I think the Ravens are on too much of an emotional high right now. They play spirited football, and we know they'll be up for the game.

Ravens find a way to get it done, 21-14

Cowboys Consider Releasing TO

2009-01-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Well, surprise surprise, Terrell Owens might be released from yet another team, because of relationship problems.

Get yo' popcorn ready.

ESPN's Ed Werder is reporting that the Cowboys have serious questions as to whether or not Terrell Owens is good for the Dallas locker room. While TO is, without a doubt, one of the most productive receivers of this era, if not all-time, the Cowboys might be thinking that team chemistry is more important than production.

It's a shame, it was going so well...

Owens just finished his third year in Dallas, and nothing major happened until this season. This year we started to see Terrell start to get really frustrated, especially when the Cowboys struggled, which was often especially late in the year. He started to yell on the sidelines, yell at coordinators, yell at Tony Romo, etc. Before, it was all about winning and the team's success. Now it's all about TO again.

Here's my favorite...TO accused Romo and TE Jason Witten of conspiring against him. TO said they would stay up late and draw up secret plays that only they knew to use in games. OK, maybe I'm embellishing a bit, but you get the idea. The notion of this is absurd. Witten and Romo were roommates on the road and also very close friends. Of course they're in their room together, late at night. Either watching film or hanging out with Jessica.

Terrell Owens, you don't have many years left playing this game. Going into Dallas, you had a reputation as a problem. I think that reputation sort of went away during the first two years, as people started to see...change? That's what you said it was. But obviously, your true personality shines through when things don't go your way. Grow up and be a professional. You get paid millions upon millions of dollars to play a game. A GAME!! If the Cowboys release you, good luck finding another job.

The Tony Dungy Era is Over

2009-01-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

Going to school in Indiana, I've been introduced to a new breed of football fan: the Colts fan. While growing up in Chicago has led me to stay completely loyal to the Bears, I do have respect for the Colts organization and their now former head coach, Tony Dungy. Dungy retired yesterday, after being a head coach in the NFL for 13 years, 7 with the Colts. Dungy also coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dungy was the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl, beating the Bears in 2007. He is also tied for second with John Madden for the all-time highest winning percentage with one team (.759 with the Colts). He was also probably the classiest act in professional football. Always said and did the right things, and treated everyone with respect.

Indianapolis and the state of Indiana are very proud of their football team, as they should be. Tony Dungy will be sorely missed by his players, the city of Indianapolis and the NFL.

When asked about a possible return to coaching someday, Dungy said not right now, but didn't rule out an eventual return. I think he's at peace with his decision. He's only 53, however, and I think he could do it.

Here's my prediction for this upcoming weekend: The Eagles will beat the Cardinals on the road, and the Ravens will beat the Steelers. I'll break the games down more as we get closer to the weekend, but there's my prediction at least.

NFL Divisional Playoffs, Round 2

2009-01-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

Well one out of two ain't bad, right?

I was close on my AFC pick and way off on my NFC pick. Oh well, congrats to the Ravens and the Cardinals for moving on the Conference Championship Games next weekend.

There are two more games today, so let's take a look

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 1-0 Playoffs) vs New York Giants (12-4, 0-0 Playoffs)

This is the game I've been looking forward to the most this weekend. I rode Eli to my fantasy football championship, and I love watching Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook work together.

When the Eagles play well, they play really well, and when they play bad, well they don't look like a playoff team. They backed into the playoffs when a bunch of teams lost in Week 17, but played like they belong last week, beating the Vikings. They've struggled at times this season but have put it together lately, their signature win being in Week 17, absolutely dismantling the Cowboys. I think this game is all on the offense. If Donovan plays well, and they use Westbrook like they always have, I think they come out on top.

The Giants have been struggling ever since Plaxico shot himself in the leg. Eli has been without a go-to receiver since, and multiple key players have been dinged up. Sounds like they're finally getting healthy, especially on defense where they have one of the best.

They're calling for snow at Giants Stadium, possibly quite a bit. Should be an interesting game. The teams split two regular season games, with the road team winning each time.

Prediction: Eagles 17, Giants 14

San Diego Chargers (8-8, 1-0 Playoffs) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, 0-0 Playoffs)

While the Chargers have been playing well as of late, I think two things work against them today. Weather and the Steelers D. Travelling from warm San Diego to cold, snowy Pittsburgh has to be discouraging for the Chargers, and if I were them, I'd want to go back home ASAP and get back on the golf course. Even though LaDanian Tomlinson probably isn't going to play, the Chargers have a good backup in Darren Sproles. He proved his worth last week, terrorizing the Colts for 105 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. The Steelers have a much better defense than the Colts do, though so I'm looking for Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin to make Phillip Rivers beat him through the air. Rivers isn't the best passer in the world, either.

The Heinz Field crowd will be fired up, waving their Terrible Towels and yelling their heads off. I think the Steelers come away with this one. They also won during the regular season, 11-10.

Prediction: Steelers 21, Chargers 10

NFL Divisional Playoffs

2009-01-10T10:48:00.001-08:00

Today and tomorrow there are 4 football games in the NFL playoffs. I'll breakdown today's games now and do tomorrow's, well, tomorrow.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 1-0 Playoffs) vs Tennessee Titans (13-3, 0-0 Playoffs)

The story of this game will be defense, defense, and more defense. It was a low scoring affair when they met in the regular season (13-10 in favor of Tennessee), and I expect another low scoring game tonight. Two of the leagues best defenses meet, but I think the Ravens' D is superior right now. The Titans aren't 100% healthy, and if Albert Haynesworth isn't full go, Tennessee might have a hard time stopping the Ravens running game, or getting pressure on rookie QB Joe Flacco.

The way the Ravens' D has been playing leads me to believe that the Titans won't be able to get much going.

Prediction: Ravens 17, Titans 10

Arizona Cardinals (9-7, 1-0 Playoffs) vs. Carolina Panthers (12-4, 0-0 Playoffs)

The Panthers have to be the best team that nobody is talking about. Jake Delhomme has his team quietly on a path to the Super Bowl.

Arizona has had trouble away from Glendale, and they haven't been playing well as of late.

Carolina in a romp, 30-10.

Tough game for Indiana

2009-01-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well, Indiana almost got Tom Crean his first Big Ten win, but Michigan prevailed in overtime, 72-66.

I did get to do the radio broadcast after some technical difficulties that had nothing to do with the radio, and for the first basketball game I've ever called, I don't think I could've picked a better game. IU jumped out to a big first half advantage, leading by as many as 20 early in the second half. But Michigan heated up from the field and soon enough, IU was in a battle. The better, more experienced team ended up on top, thanks to excellent shooting and some poor decisions by Devan Dumes. Sure, Dumes led the team in scoring last night with 17, but two bad decisions severely hampered IU's chances to win. At one point, when Michigan was in their 1-3-1 zone, Dumes got a wide open look from the corner. IU had a small lead. He missed, but the Hoosiers got the rebound. The ball came back to Dumes, and he let go another, contested, three with 30 seconds left on the shot clock. At another point, IU had a 2-on-1 break, and Dumes drove and missed a layup. He may have been fouled, but he should have pulled the ball out and run the clock down. IU's poor free throw shooting down the stretch also hurt them.

The team is on the brink of pulling off a Big Ten win, though, I can feel it. Tom Crean wants it so badly, and you can just hear the passion in his voice. If you had been in the press conference after the game you would know what I mean.

I'm sitting here watching the BCS Title game, and I have to go with Florida. I think Tim Tebow and all he brings to the table will be too much for the OU defense. The Sooners might have the best defense in the Big 12, but if you know much about the Big 12, that isn't saying much. We'll see what happens. The Florida d-line hasn't gotten much pressure yet, which is giving the Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford plenty of time to throw. Of course, as I type that, Florida sacks Bradford on a bootleg, and got pressure on the next play as well. We'll see how it plays out, I'm looking forward to a great game.

Fiesta Bowl Review, IU vs Michigan Preview

2009-01-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Well, what a game last night.

Texas beat Ohio State 24-21 on another Colt McCoy last minute drive. The Texas senior signal caller finished with 414 passing yards, completing 41 of 59 passes, two of those for touchdowns. The winning score came with just 16 seconds left on a simple slant route to Quan Cosby. The OSU defense was drawn up, hoping to hold Texas, but Cosby and McCoy both recognized the opening and took advantage.

Texas impressed me with their defense at times, really getting after Terrelle Pryor. OSU only completed ten passes all night, with Pryor completing 5 and Todd Boeckman completing 5, though one of those was a touchdown to Pryor. I think Ohio State's achilles heel was their tendency to be one dimensional on offense. Beanie Wells was very effective in the first half, but was absent for most of the second half due to an injury. Terrelle Pryor is a great athlete, but it seemed like Texas had a spy on him for most of the game. He only threw 14 times for not even a hundred yards, so Texas obviously was banking on keeping him from using his legs too much.

Tomorrow night, Indiana takes on Michigan in IU's second game of the Big Ten season. IU won the only matchup last year, but we won't even begin to compare last year's matchup to this year's, because, well, we all know why. Michigan has become sort of a giant killer this year, beating UCLA and Duke, both top 5 caliber teams. Coach John Beilein has his team looking competitive, and they have a very solid, well-rounded team. I think UM comes out on top in this one, by at least 15. The only way IU has a chance to win is if DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris really struggle, and I don't see that happening. Sims had 16 points last year, and Harris dropped 19, and that was against a much better IU team.

I'll be broadcasting the game, and it's my first basketball broadcast so I'm really looking forward to it. Also it will be my first IU game this year, hopefully I can get to see a few more this season.

IU vs Michigan

2009-01-05T10:15:00.003-08:00

I'll be doing the radio broadcast of the IU-UM game this Wednesday. You can catch it on WIUX 99.1 FM if you're in Bloomington, or wiux.org elsewhere.

Indiana Starts Big Ten Season

2009-01-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

The Indiana Hoosiers started the Big Ten portion of their schedule today, and with 18 minutes left in the second half, they trail Iowa 38-29.

IU comes into the new year at 5-7, and on a three game losing streak. While 2009 is a new year, I'm afraid it's going to be the same old story for Indiana.

As IU fans, as well as college bsketball fans, we knew this was going to be a rough year. We knew this team was going to struggle, and some analysts are picking IU to finish winless in the conference.

However, whether a team is ranked #1 or #339, improvement is the name of the game. While the Hoosiers are getting better, and Tom Crean is coaching constantly. But IU needs to improve on a few things: turnovers, free throw shooting, and transition offense. I just watched Malik Story miss a breakaway layup and they have missed at least three front ends of 1-and-1's. These things can't happen if they want to win a Big Ten game.

Perhaps the biggest thing that has plagued Indiana is turnovers. IU came into today's game averaging 19.5, which is nearly twice as many as the NCAA leaders. As the turnovers get better, so will IU.

It's a bad time for Indiana to have a bad year, too, because the Big Ten is on the upswing this season. The conference could put as many as six teams in the NCAA Tournament (Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin). The Big Ten has arguably one of the best coaching corps in the nation as well.

I think the reason people don't respect the Big Ten as much as they should is because it's slow, grind it out basketball. The games are ultra-competitive, and it's nearly impossible to win on the road.

I'm hoping that Indiana can improve over the course of the Big Ten season, because help is definitely on the way as far as talent is concerned.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

Here's to hoping 2009 is better than 2008.

The Cubs are starting to boil on the Hot Stove. Jim Hendry had a busy New Year's Eve, making a free agent signing and a trade.

The Cubs signed second baseman Aaron Miles to a two year, $4.9 million dollar contract. Miles played in St. Louis last year, hitting .317 in 134 games. He's a versatile defender who can play the infield or the outfield, even pitched one inning last year. He's going to be replacing Mark DeRosa, who was traded to the Indians for three minor league pitchers.

I hope Jim Hendry knows what he's doing, because DeRosa was the Cubs MVP in 2008. I've said it multiple times, but the versatility he brings to the plate is remarkable. He would play anywhere and set several offensive career highs in the process. While Miles' versatility matches DeRosa's, it's a serious downgrade at the plate.

Now the Cubs are rumored to be involved with Milton Bradley, Luis Vizcaino, and with Jake Peavy again, so I can't help but think Hendry isn't done. Whether he dumped salary to make room for Bradley or acquired young pitching to send to San Diego, I think he's got some tricks up his sleeve.

If that's not the case, then I think Jim started drinking a little bit early yesterday. It would be extremely uncharacteristic for Hendry to make a deal like that. We'll see how it pans out but I just hope Hendry knows what he's doing.

In other Chicago sports news, the NHL's Blackhawks are having a phenomenal year. They had a nine-game winning streak before losing consecutive games to the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings really showed how much better they are in the two games, scoring 10 goals in the contests while only allowing three, all today in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. During today's game, the Hawks got out to a 3-1 first period lead before Detroit flexed their muscles and reeled off 5 unanswered goals to win 6-3. Detroit was more aggressive and more confident, which led to their success. The Hawks are a good young team, and they are playing excellent hockey (as long as they don't play the Red Wings). It's refreshing to be talking about the Blackhawks again in Chicago. The NHL as a whole has been on a downswing since the strike, and part of that is the lack of a major TV deal. But being home for break, I've had a chance to watch the Hawks and they're a good team. Hopefully they'll make it to the playoffs.

Well that's all for now, check out the new poll.

Pro Bowl before Super Bowl???

2008-12-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

According to this ESPN article, the NFL will play the Pro Bowl one week before the Super Bowl, at the site of the Super Bowl.

This is ludicrous.

First of all, the two Super Bowl teams are bound to have multiple Pro Bowlers on their rosters, which means they probably wouldn't play for fear of injury. That hurts the league because marquee players don't play, which sort of de-values the game. Let's say the Colts and the Giants make it to the Super Bowl. That means both Mannings, Reggie Wayne, Justin Tuck, Jeff Feagles and John Carney, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis all probably don't play. That makes the game much less attractive. Even if they did play, they're going to have to practice with two teams, making preparations for the more important game much more difficult.

Secondly, Hawaii loses a long-standing tradition of hosting the game. It's Hawaii's lone exposure to professional football, and I'm sure they would hate to give it up.

I just think it's a terrible idea, and if they want to make a change, I think they should just move the game to the site of the Super Bowl, but keep it the week after the game.

Week 17

2008-12-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well it's Week 17 in the NFL, and there are several meaningful games this week, so let's take a look.

We'll start with the NFC in Houston, with the Bears (9-6) taking on the Texans (7-8). The Bears sit tied with the Vikings atop the NFC North standings, but the Vikings hold the tie-breaker, so the Bears need a win and a Vikings loss to win the North. Chicago can also get in as a wild card if they win, and both Tampa and Dallas lose.

Next we'll go to Minneapolis, where the Giants come to town. The Vikings control their own destiny, win and they're in. The same wild card scenario as the Bears applies to the Vikings. Now the Giants have already clinched everything they can, so it will be up to Tom Coughlin how much he wants to play his starters.

In Philadelphia, the Cowboys visit the Eagles, where both teams are fighting for a wild card spot. This should be a great game, as the loser's season is definitely over. If the Cowboys win, they're in. If the Eagles win, they need a loss by Tampa Bay, and a loss by EITHER Minnesota or Chicago. We know the kind of bad blood that exists between Terrell Owens and the city of Philadelphia, so I'm going to lean towards the Eagles here.

Tampa Bay needs to win at home against Oakland. Easier said than done, but I wouldn't bet against them. A win, and they're in.

As for the AFC, the Colts have locked up the 5th spot, the Titans have locked up the South, and the Steelers have locked up the North. That's all we know right now.

The Dolphins face the Jets in New York, where the winner needs a New England loss to clinch the division. The winner needs a Baltimore loss to clinch a wild card berth.

The Patriots visit Buffalo, who have floundered in the second half of the season. New England needs a win and a Miami loss to clinch the division. They need a win and a Baltimore loss to clinch a wild card berth.

Baltimore needs the least help to clinch the wild card berth. They win, they're in. If they lose, they need a Miami OR New England loss.

The Sunday night game is a winner-take-all game for the AFC West. the wrinkle here is that Denver gets in with a win OR a tie. While a tie is improbable, it's already happened once this season.

That's it. A full slate of meaningful games in Week 17. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. Go Bears!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-25T20:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Chicago!

Tonight, was the first rematch of last year's NBA Finals, Lakers and Celtics. I didn't get to watch much of the game because the family broke out Rock Band (definitely a fun game though)

The Lakers prevailed tonight at home, 92-83. Kevin Garnett led the way for the Celtics with 22 points, and Paul Pierce dropped 20. For the Lakers, the leading scorer was Kobe Bryant (who else) who had 27 points.

The two teams now have 8 losses between the two of them, and I believe the Celtics are on pace to at least tie the Bulls record for best season at 72-10. I remember watching the Bulls that year, and my they were good. Both the Celtics and the Lakers have the capabilites to do it, even though the Lakers have already lost 5. I remember the Bulls lost twice to the Raptors that year, and I think they were close games.

Anyways, Cleveland has an even better record than the Lakers, so there are three teams that could make a run at the Bulls' mark. Hopefully for the NBA this drums up some excitement and restores some fan fever.

Baseball Hot Stove Update

2008-12-23T12:44:00.001-08:00

So now that a few free agents have come off the market, I figured I'd give a rundown of where my Top Ten free agents are...remember that post?

1. CC Sabathia: Signed with NY Yankees, 8 years, $161 million with an opt-out clause after three years. We'll see how Sabathia does back in the AL, after dominating the NL.

2. Manny Ramirez: He's still on the market, and nobody has been able to negotiate effectively with him and Scott Boras. He's even threatened retirement if nobody offers what he wants. I think that retirement threat is bologna. He'll sign somewhere, and it will be for a ton of money.

3. Mark Teixeira: Agreed to terms yesterday with NY Yankees for 8 years, $180 million. The 1st baseman replaces Jason Giambi and had several teams bidding for him. The Nationals made a huge play here for Tex, but let's face it, Yankees or Nationals...who would you choose?

4. Jake Peavy (not a free agent, but I'll update his situation anyway): The Cubs were in talks with the Padres throughout the Winter Meetings a couple of weeks ago, but no deal got done. I think the price was just too high for the Cubs, and I'm glad Jim Hendry didn't pull the trigger. The breaking point for the deal, I think, was Mark DeRosa's name getting thrown around. Peavy will be on the Padres Opening Day roster, but expect talks to heat up again near the trade deadline.

5. Francisco Rodriguez: Signed with NY Mets for 3 years, $37 million. The Mets desperately needed bullpen help, especially in the closer's spot. K-Rod will definitely help there, coming offa record-setting year in 2008.

6. AJ Burnett: Signed with NY Yankees for 5 years, $82.5 million. Everyone knew the Yankees had a boatload of money to spend this offseason, and they didn't waste a dime. They picked up two of the premier pitchers and a premier bat, while committing half a billion dollars in contracts.

7. Orlando Hudson: Second baseman hasn't signed yet, but the latest rumor links him possibly to the Blue Jays. However, it sounds like GM JP Ricciardi wants to lay back and see who's left later on.

8. Derek Lowe: Here's a guy with plenty of rumors flying around. Hasn't signed yet, but has been rumored to be in talks with the Yankees, among others. I think that after the Yanks signed Burnett, and Teixeira, their wallet is a little thin. Latest rumor for Lowe involves the Mets. He was dominant in the last part of the regular season and postseason.

9. Ryan Dempster: Was one of the first free agents off the market. Signed with the Cubs for 4 years, $52 million. That's not as high as he wanted, but I think he was willing to take less money to stay in Chicago. I think Dempster is the main reason the Cubs ultimately didn't pull the trigger on the Peavy deal. Since they have Dempster back, Peavy would have been a bonus.

10. Bobby Abreu: Still hasn't signed with anyone. Not sure where he'll sign. I'm thinking his price tag is what's turning some teams off. There are rumors that he's talking to the Yankees again, but they already have a ton of outfielders.

Honorable Mentions
Kerry Wood: Signed with the Indians for 2 years, $20.5 million. While I wish the Cubs would have re-signed him, I'm glad Kerry is going to get a nice contract.

Raul Ibañez: Signed with Phillies, 3 years, $30 million.

The beginning of Spring Training is less than two months away, and I can't wait!

Deviant Culture in Sports

2008-12-19T17:11:00.000-08:00

It started...at least as far back as I can remember...with Michael Irvin getting caught with drugs. It's progressed to Michael Jordan's and Charles Barkley's gambling problems, Ricky Williams getting caught with marijuana multiple times, Michael Vick's situation, Pacman Jones and most recently, Plaxico Burress.

The athletes I mentioned, though, are and were professionals.

The deviant culture is starting to penetrate the college ranks as well now. Two recent incidents come to mind.

This post is kind of playing off of my last post, if you couldn't tell.

Syracuse junior guard Eric Devendorf has been suspended indefinitely for hitting a girl in the jaw during an altercation on campus. Indiana freshman cornerback Cortez Smith has been suspended indefinitely as well. He's been arrested for robbery. I won't get into the details, because that's not what I want to dwell on, but let's just say he's no Danny Ocean when it comes to stealing.

My point here is, I'm afraid that professionals who lead a deviant life are rubbing off on the kids who are about to enter the pros. While some college kids are mature enough to realize the difference between right and wrong, but some aren't. In Devendorf's case, I think he'll be ok. I don't know if alcohol was involved, but I think it's common knowledge that alcohol changes things. As for Smith, you have to be smarter than that. The basic synopsis of the crime is that he and a friend knocked on an apartment door, stole a few different things, walked out. They were caught by police in their apartment...in the same complex. What's more, they allowed the police to search their place, even though the police didn't have a warrant (the story didn't mention anything about a warrant).

My biggest concern with this whole thing is that kids see pros getting in trouble and sometimes getting off with a fine, or maybe a suspension, then it blows over. Then they think that they can get away with the same type of deal. Someone starts pushing the envelope, and eventually someone gets hurt.

My hope is that pro athletes clean up their act because they are role models and they're in the public light, whether they like it or not.

Eric Gordon Speaks Out

2008-12-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

Finals Week is almost over...During my distraction time...uhh I mean studying time, I came across this interview of current LA Clipper and former Indiana Hoosier Eric Gordon. He talks about how drug use is ultimately what ruined IU's season last year. Also, he said he spent a considerable amount of time with a family friend in Bloomington in order to remove himself from the situation.

While I'm sure he was encouraged to stay away, the fact that EJ did heed the advice of others is a good indication of his character. Here's a kid who became famous in high school because of possibly questionable recruiting tactics by one Kelvin Sampson, was heralded as the next great basketball player, and was expected to lead IU back to the national title. He came to college knowing he was leaving after his freshman season, and the Kelvin Sampson fiasco only further cemented that decision. He could have easily gotten caught up in the college atmosphere. To drink? To smoke? To stay up until all hours of the night partying? While I don't know whether or not he was at parties, or whether or not he drank during his time at IU, it tells me alot about his character that he was able to be mature enough to think about his future rather than have some illegal fun with some of his teammates. He didn't name names, but those of us who knew last year's team can guess.

I think Dan Dakich deserves more credit than he got for trying to clean up the program. Indiana had a great season up until he took over, and at the time, the popular opinion was that Dakich was a bad coach. Well, maybe the players just didn't want to play for him, because he was coming down hard on them for what they were doing off the court. Kudos to IU for going with Dakich instead of McCallum, because I think that was the first step to getting the program where it is now. Tom Crean will run a good, clean program, and I think everyone in the IU community enjoys watching our Hoosiers on the court. I've talked to a couple of this year's freshman, and they are very nice, polite guys, and they're trying their asses off on the basketball court, and getting better every night.

Heisman Trophy Awarded Tonight

2008-12-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

The most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman Trophy, will be awarded tonight in New York City. There have been 73 winners of the Heisman, with 72 different people awarded. The only man to repeat as Heisman winner is Archie Griffin, a running back out of Ohio State in 1974-75.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has a chance to do just that tonight, becoming just the second player to repeat. I think he's got a great chance to win. He doesn't have as many passing yards or passing touchdowns as Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy, but I think Tebow has the intangibles, and a couple of underlying stats that give him the edge. He's got 28 TD passes to only 2 interceptions. That's a ratio of 7 TD's to every interception, which is a better ratio than the other candidates, and his 12 rushing touchdowns tell me he's an all-around quarterback, especially in the offense that Florida runs.

While I do think Tebow will come away with the hardware tonight, I think it will be a close vote, and I think that whoever wins will be a good choice. You can make a case for any of the three candidates, as each guy has his strong points. I don't think there will be a voting snub this year, but I do think that Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell got a bit overlooked, as the nation's passing yards leader.

We'll see what happens tonight, I'll be watching at 8 ET on ESPN.

Finally Back Online

2008-12-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

Well, the week from hell is almost over, so I thought I'd take a break and give my opinions on a couple of matters.

The Winter Meetings are about wrapped up in Las Vegas, and there were some big names going to new places. One name who stayed put, however, was Jake Peavy. Ever since the end of the World Series, Padres GM Kevin Towers has been aggressively shopping the 2007 NL Cy Young winner. A number of teams have been involved, and the Cubs were one of the teams, and were there in the end. At this point, it appears that the Cubs have pulled out, and I think that was the right call by Jim Hendry (Cubs GM). The Padres were asking for alot (which is justifiable) for Peavy, and the Cubs didn't want to give up too much. There was going to be a third, even a fourth team possibly in the trade, and there were rumors swirling about the Cubs needing to trade Mark DeRosa.

ABSOLUTELY NOT are the words that come to mind when thinking about trading DeRo. Here's a guy who set career highs in several offensive categories, including R, HR, RBI, OBP, SLG, and OPS in 2008. He did all that while playing several different positions in the field. That kind of player is extremely valuable to a team.

I'm going to commend Jim Hendry for not pulling the trigger on this deal. Peavy would have been nice, but in the end, the hurdles were too high, and the Cubs have a pretty darn good rotation anyway: Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Marshall/Marquis.

Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens has begun whining again. Ya know, his Cowboys career was going too well, and it was bound to blow up eventually. This time, he's complaining that QB Tony Romo and TE Jason Witten (who are roommates on the road, and close friends) are "holding private meetings in which they create plays the two will use in upcoming games without including Owens in the conversations". TO are you serious? What grade are you in? It's like he's complaining about two other kids conspiring at lunch what plays to run during recess.

I guess the "new" Terrell Owens was too good to be true, and it just goes to show that winning cures all.

Update on HOF

2008-12-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Ron Santo did not receive enough votes to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The actual number he did receive has not been revealed, but I imagine it would be eventually.

I've made my case for Ron on this blog, and you can read that here. I think it's a shame that he's not in yet.

His next opportunity will come in 2010.

Tidbits

2008-12-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

This coming week is going to be the biggest and busiest week of my academic semester, so I may not be posting everyday this week.

So my BCS National Championship matchup prediction was correct, but it's not like I picked any dark horses or anything. Florida vs. Oklahoma.
To be a football fan in Texas these days must suck. Not only did the Cowboys lose a close game yesterday, the University of Texas Longhorns were left out of the National Championship game, even though they defeated Oklahoma earlier this season. Texas Tech was also left out of a BCS bowl. While including the Red Raiders would give the Big 12 3 BCS-Bowl teams, the Big 12 was the most competitive conference this year and has some of the best teams in the nation.
The Veterans Committee vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame is announced today at noon CDT on mlb.com. Candidates need 48 of the possible 64 votes to be enshrined. Candidates are Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills, and Ron Santo. Being a Cubs fan, I'm pulling hard for Santo. He fell five votes short of election two years ago, and that was even closer than the election before that. I'm hoping he gets in this time.
The Bears won yesterday, keeping their playoffs hopes alive. They sit one game behind the Vikings in the NFC North, and are in the Wild Card mix as well.
The MLB Winter Meetings commence today in Las Vegas, and will be where the aforementioned Veteran's Committee will announce their Hall of Fame balloting results. There haven't been many free agent signings yet, especially among the big names. Ryan Dempster signed with the Cubs, but that's it. Some have theorized that the state of the economy has slowed negotiations, but with everyone convening in Vegas, fireworks are sure to fly (maybe in more ways than one!)

That will be it for now...hopefully I can get a good amount of work done this week.

A bit off topic...

2008-12-06T04:44:00.000-08:00

Alpha Sigma Phi celebrates her 163rd birthday today, and I'm happy to say that my chapter, Gamma Chi, is initiating 8 great guys today at National Headquarters in Carmel, Indiana. I'll be there all day, in fact I'm running the show so I'm stressing out a little bit. But no worries, everything will be good.

That does mean though that I'll miss the SEC Championship game and part of the Big 12 Championship game. I'm picking Florida and Oklahoma to come out of these games, which would then most likely mean those two schools playing for the national title in January. That would be one hell of a football game, an offensive showcase. Don't know how it happened, but Florida crept its way back into the title picture, sort of flying under the radar (if you can believe Florida flying under the radar) of the Big 12 race and teams like Ball St. and USC. Oh yeah, I know how. They have this guy named Tim Tebow. You may have heard of him, I think he's pretty good. The Gators' quarterback is one of the most dynamic players I have ever seen. The guy can throw and run, and when he runs he's not afraid to lower his shoulder. Percy Harvin (while he may not play today) is one of the best RB's in the nation, and they have alot of depth at WR. Three guys have five or more touchdowns, and while nobody is over 1,000 yards receiving, they have 5 guys with 15 or more catches. That may not seem like a great stat, but it tells me that they spread the ball around, and more importantly, the defense doesn't have one specific receiver they can focus on (ala Michael Crabtree at Texas Tech).

While I've loved watching the Big 12 drama this year, and certainly whoever comes out of the Big 12 is going to be a really good team, I just think Florida's offense is too good. Urban Meyer is probably an offensive genius, and Tebow is awesome. He could be a favorite for the Heisman, which would be his second in a row...and he's only a junior. My pick for the national title game: Florida-35, Oklahoma-28.

Indiana Throttled by Wake Forest, 83-58

2008-12-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

My brother texted me last night saying "Wow Indiana sucks".

Well, he's right, but can you blame the Hoosiers? Tom Crean stepped into a very tough situation, with just two returning players, one of which barely played last season. This schedule was created long before the season started, and couldn't be changed, so everyone knew IU was going to take their lumps this year. I'm giving credit to Tom Crean and all of the Hoosiers for sticking this out and going through the learning process. They know help is on the way in the form of:

Christian Watford: 6'7", 215 lb SF, Birmingham, AL

Jordan Hulls: 6'0" 170 lb G, Bloomington, IN...has been mentioned as an early candidate for Mr. Basketball, which is quite a prestigious honor here in Indiana.

Bawa Muniru: 6'10" 250 lb C, Birmingham, AL

Bobby Capobianco: 6'8" 230 lb PF, Loveland, OH

Derek Elston: 6'8" 205 lb PF, Tipton, IN

Maurice Creek: 6'4" 185 lb SG, Chatham, VA...his prep school class has 4 or 5 DI players

This class give the Hoosiers something they lack alot of this season...size. It's great to see that 4 of the 6 incoming freshman are 6'7" or taller. Last night against Wake, IU fans got a sampling of what the Hoosiers might look like in years to come, since Wake has a very tall team.

I hope that Hoosier fans are willing to give this team a pass. I think that as long as the kids (that's what they are...just kids) come out and give 100% every night, I don't think anyone can fault them. We've seen them improve a ton already. Tom Pritchard is averaging a double-double, and I think he can make a run at Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Daniel Moore...a walk-on...has emerged as the team's leader on the floor. He won't blow you away with flashy moves or great scoring drives, but he passes well and is a ball of energy. Reminds me of Errek Suhr. I hope that the national media can realize where this program has come from in the last 7-8 months, and where it's going. Ya know, the headline on ESPN.com this morning read "Wake rips IU". Sure, IU will get "ripped" a few times this season, but come on, for what this program has gone through, these kids deserve a break. I love Crean's intensity and attitude, and it will rub off on the kids as they progress through the season. It's going to be a long season here in Bloomington, which is something we aren't used to. We've been spoiled with great coaches, five National Championship banners, and great candystripe pants. Indiana's time will come. This I am very confident of.

Plaxico...It Came Out of Nowhere

2008-12-03T13:52:00.001-08:00

Plaxico Burress' recent gun issues are puzzling to me.

When he broke into the league a few years ago with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a quiet receiver who was quickly becoming one of the best in the league. He wasn't flashy, he wasn't loud and brash, and he wasn't egotistical.

Then he went to the New York Football Giants in 2005 and especially this season has been fined numerous times for violating team rules. This season alone he's been fined over 100,000 dollars and suspended for a game. He's now done for the year (suspended for the last 4 games and put on the reserve non-football injury list), and could face jail time, as a result of the felony weapon's charges.

Numerous NFL players have publicly stated their feelings on carrying guns, and I must say, it's justified. We've seen several players get shot in the past few years. In fact, there have been, by my count, 11 since 1992. This list lists nine, but then I added Sean Taylor, and most recently, Plaxico. Giants WR Steve Smith was also robbed at gunpoint last Friday morning. 10 of the aforementioned 11 shootings have happened since 2000.

James Hasty (a former NFL WR) was on SportsCenter yesterday and he said he thought about carrying a gun while he played, and still thinks it may be a good idea. I'm thinking that if I were in the NFL, I would carry a gun too.

I don't blame Plax for carrying a gun. He's one of the best known players in the league, and with the recent outburst of violence against NFL players, why shouldn't he carry a gun for self protection? Now, the charge against Plax has nothing to do with shooting anyone (except for himself). He's charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a license. According to ESPN, Plax had a license in Florida, but that license expired in May. New York doesn't recognize out-of-state licenses anyway. Burress has been with the Giants for four seasons now, so he's had plenty of time to secure a New York license.

Do I think Plaxico Burress had the intention of shooting someone that night? Absolutely not. Do I blame Plaxico for carrying a gun? Absolutely not. Do I think that Plaxico should have done what he needed to do to be carrying legally? ABSOLUTELY. Players get lectured all the time about a multitude of off-field issues, and one of them is guns. Someone should have told Plaxico he needed a license, or maybe Plaxico should have taken it upon himself in this situation. Now, he faces a minimum of 3.5 years in prison if convicted. So do I feel sorry for Plaxico? No way.

Another Opportunity to Help Me Graduate!

2008-12-02T21:19:00.000-08:00

Help me out here!

The topic of the paper is Should IU fire or retain Bill Lynch, based on a number of factors. One of said factors is alumni donations to the athletic department and the university in general.

1. Do you think Bill Lynch should be fired or retained?

2. As an IU alum, would you be willing to donate more money, or start donating money to the university or athletic department if IU had a successful program?

3. If you already donate, how much does the success of the football program play into your decision on how much to donate?

Feel free to answer the same questions (rephrasing them to fit your alma mater's situation) if you went to another DI school. It would be interesting to see the differences between IU alums and alumni of schools with more successful football programs.

It Really is Becoming the No Fun League

2008-12-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

The National Fundraising (uhh I mean Football) League has launched an epidemic of fines and suspensions this season for seemingly trivial things. While some are justified, like those for fights or extremely late hits (like Adewale Ogunleye's hit last night on Gus Frerotte), most are absolutely ridiculous.

I heard Al Michaels last night say three or four times "Oh he's probably going to get fined for that". How ridiculous is that? Jim Haslett was recently fined for swearing at an official during a game. How often do you think that happens during an NFL game? Guys are being fined for roughing the quarterback. It's not like they're viciously hitting the quarterback (in most cases). What's a Defensive End to do when he's got a full head of steam...that's a lot of momentum to try and stop in a short amount of time.

This new one really bugs me. Steelers' safety Ryan Clark was fined $5k for wearing eyeblack with the number 21 etched in it, to honor Sean Taylor. Clark was a member of the Redskins in 2004 and 2005, and roomed with Taylor when they were teammates. The two remained close, and obviously Clark was hit hard by Taylor's murder. The NFL wants to fine him for honoring a close friend? First of all, how did anyone see that? Secondly, the NFL is coming off as a monster with that one. I know they have crazy uniform rules, but come on Roger...I mean Dictator Roger.

One guy who I feel really bad for is Jets' safety Eric Smith. Remember him? He was fined $50,000 and suspended for a game for a hit that wasn't his fault. He's the one who knocked Anquan Boldin unconcious, or at least the one who's getting blamed for it. If you watch the video you can clearly see that Boldin was hit from behind first. There was nothing Smith could do. The NFL said that Boldin was in a defenseless position, and called the hit a flagrant violation of player safety rules. Let me get this straight. Aren't wide receivers in a defenseless position all the time when they jump to catch passes? Isn't this TACKLE FOOTBALL???? It's an inherently dangerous game!!! If I were someone like Chad Ochocinco, I would go out for warmups in a jersey, shorts, and a flag belt, because that's what I feel like the league is becoming, and so does Troy Polamalu.

When Roger finally get off of his soap box and stops fining players unnecessarily, then I'll start respecting him again.

Charlie Weis' Fate Undecided at Notre Dame

2008-11-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

He's got Super Bowl rings, a great graduation rate, and an improving team GPA.

But he's also got a cocky but struggling, sophomore quarterback who leads an offense that didn't get a first down until the last play of the third quarter on Saturday vs USC, and a 6-6 record that will probably get them to a bowl just because they're Notre Dame.

When Charlie Weis meets with AD Jack Swarbrick on Thursday, I'm assuming they will talk about Weis' future. In the past, most of the time I've been an advocate of not firing a coach for players' failures on the field. In certain situations (a la Indiana's Bill Lynch), I've been in favor of firing the coach.

I've been sort of following the Irish this year, and I still think Jimmy Claussen has potential. He's just a sophomore. Clearly he has the arm, and I think with a bit more seasoning, he'll be alright. Irish fans were spoiled for 3-4 years with Brady Quinn. They need to be patient with Claussen. He's not as good as Quinn, but next year I think 8 wins, then 10 during his senior year.

Obviously something needs to be addressed in South Bend, but I don't think Weis should lose his job. The loss to Syracuse was most definitely embarrassing, and almost losing to Navy as well, but they're still bowl eligible. Weis should retain his job, in my opinion.

It's up to Swarbrick, and I'm sure it will be a tough decision, but if I were advising, I'd say keep Weis.

The Soap Opera That Is Stephon Marbury

2008-11-28T21:05:00.000-08:00

This just irks me.

Stephon Marbury has refused to play for coach Mike D'Antoni the other night, and the Knicks have suspended him for another game and fined him $400,000 for refusing to play. While that's chump change for "Starbury", come on man, put the jersey on and play.

He's making $20+ million this year. I'll play basketball on stilts with one arm tied behind my back for 20 million dollars. I don't know what his beef is with D'Antoni, but he should put it behind him and play basketball. He only played in 24 games last year, and hasn't played a minute this season. I can't remember what his deal was last year, whether it was injury related or not.

Also, what are the Knicks doing? They're paying him 20 million dollars to sit on the bench in street clothes. Now they're going to ban him from the locker room until at least Monday. Why aren't they cutting ties with him? He's a waste of money, time, and space. Let someone else have him and move on. His contract expires this year, and there's probably nobody who's going to take that contract, so their hands may be tied, but they shoud at least try.

Come on Stephon...put your differences aside and have a professional relationship. You can still put up numbers and help your team. Grow up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sorry I haven't updated for a couple says, I've been busy traveling and catching up with friends.

I must say, I'm disappointed with the NFL Thanksgiving schedule. Eagles and Cardinals is the best game? Come on. I mean I know the schedule is made up a year in advance or whatever, but these ratings will probably be down for Thanksgiving. Having two of the worst teams play two of the better teams in the league. The first game was laughable, and the Lions moved to 0-12. The Cowboys marched down the field and scored in their first possession...and they're not done.

Hopefully the college basketball schedule picks up this weekend. It's been a good season so far. Not so much for Indiana, but UNC looks unstoppable. Had a good time last night watching Notre Dame-UNC with friends...watching Kyle McAlarney fire away from anywhere on the court.

The Titans are progressively getting better on offense. Jeff Fisher is opening up the playbook a little bit and letting Kerry Collins play. Chris Johnson and LenDale White form a great "thunder and lightning" combination. Their defense has been great all year. They have to be the Super Bowl favorites by now.

Dinner is ready, going to eat my face off

Ron Santo for HOF!!

2008-11-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

If you live in Chicago, and are a Cubs fan, then I don't have to explain the impact Ron Santo has had on the team and on the city. For those of you who aren't familiar, I'll explain a bit.

Santo broke into the majors in June of 1960, playing third base for the Cubs. He manned the hot corner for the Cubs for the next 13 years, then was traded across town to the White Sox. He was a career .277 hitter, amassing over 2200 career hits. He was a nine time All-Star, and won 5 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1964-1968. He hit 342 home runs in his career. Before Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs hadn't found a good third basemen since Santo. He never played in the World Series, but he got close in 1969 before the Miracle Mets knocked the Cubs out. Santo still won't talk about that and won't go near Shea Stadium.

Not only did Santo have a great career, he did so while suffering from diabetes. He was diagnosed when he was just 18 years old, and given just 25 years to live. Obviously, as he's gotten older, the medical advancements have allowed him to live much longer. He's had both his legs amputated as a result of his disease, yet still continues to fight.

Today, Santo is the color guy on WGN Radio for Cubs games, alongside Pat Hughes. While Santo is possibly the biggest homer in broadcasting, it's nice to see him still care so deeply about the team and the success. I always tell people that if I turn on the radio in the middle of the game, within 5 minutes, and usually less than that, I can tell if the Cubs are winning or losing, based on how much Santo talks and his tone.

He's turned his experience with his diabetes into a positive, as he is the main spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, which raises money for diabetes research. Every fall, there are "Walks for the Cure" which raise tremendous amounts of money, and Santo tries his best to make it to each event.

The Cubs retired his number 10 in 2003, and on that day he proclaimed "This is my Hall of Fame". But this is a guy who deserves to be in Cooperstown not only for his playing career, but for his contributions to the community and the baseball world after his playing career. His next chance to get in comes this December when the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans will vote on 20 players. 75% of the votes must say YES to allow a player into the HOF. We find out for real on December 8th. Santo would get my vote, and I hope he gets in, because he deserves it.

IU Loses Bucket Game

2008-11-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

Indiana was embarrassed in West Lafayette today by a Purdue team that played with a ton of emotion.

IU was outplayed in all facets of the game, including the kickoffs, where Purdue was able to neutralize Marcus Thigpen in the return game, and IU was unable to adjust. I wrote a game story for Hoosiernation.com.

I'm glad this football season is over. I'm hoping a coaching change is made and made soon.

Radio Show

2008-11-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

I'll be on the radio tonight, filling in for a guy on my friend Justin's radio show Courtside.

Listen at 6 ET on 99.1 FM WIUX if you're in Bloomington, or wiux.org on the internet.

I'll blog more about the IU-Purdue game later, I'm finishing up my paper right now.

Adam "Pacman" Jones Reinstated by NFL

2008-11-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

Today, Roger Goodell again reinstated troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Jones had been suspended since October 14th, one week after his 12th off-field incident. Jones reportedly completed alcohol treatment before being reinstated.

Roger Goodell, what were you thinking?

As I mentioned before, this guy has been in 12 off-field incidents since he came into the league in 2005. Take away the 2007 season, which he was suspended for, that's three seasons in which he's accomplished this dubious feat. The guy can't stay out of trouble. I wonder what Jones had to say to get reinstated again. How long will it take for him to screw up again? When will Goodell realize that this guy is bad for the league? The NFL already has image issues, why would you want this guy in the league? It's seemingly only a matter of time before he kills someone. I hope that IF Jones screws up again, Goodell will finally see the light and boot him for good.

I'm not saying that I hope Jones messes up, because that's the LAST thing the NFL needs right now, but I'm saying that if he does, Goodell will deal with it.

Cubs Resign Dempster...

2008-11-18T20:24:00.001-08:00

...at 4 years, $52 million.

Thank God.

At this point, trade talks with the Padres about Jake Peavy have slowed, and the only other pitcher the Cubs were rumored to be looking at was 45 year old Randy Johnson.

Onto some college basketball. Billy Gillespie's seat might be starting to get warm. His Kentucky Wildcats have started 0-2. Granted one of those losses was tonight to #1 ranked North Carolina (UNC 77, UK 58), but the Tar Heels were playing without Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough. But their season-opening loss to VMI is a little concerning. I mean Kentucky is supposed to be a basketball powerhouse. I'll bet Tubby Smith is glad he now coaches way up North at Minnesota, but would these losses have even happened if Tubby were still in Lexington?

Stephen Curry is one of the most exciting players, if not the most exciting player in college basketball. He averaged 25 points last year and is averaging 31 this year before tonight's game with Oklahoma. Curry dropped 42 on the Sooners, but Blake Griffin proved superior, ending the game with a thunderous dunk. Griffin is definitely the best sophomore in the nation, and people are already labeling him the #1 pick overall in June of 2009. He's going to make a strong case for it standing at 6'10". Back to Curry and Davidson. They put up a good fight, but Curry needs a strong supporting cast, and preferably a tall supporting cast, to be able to knock off high majors like Oklahoma. I got the impression tonight that Curry is a one-man band. They're probably going to win their conference easily, but I don't see them going past the Sweet 16 come March.

Indiana won again, this time against IUPUI, putting the Hoosiers at 2-0 to start the young season. Next, however, comes a trip to Maui for the Maui Invitational. IU opens up with in-state rival and #9 ranked Notre Dame, with Luke Harangody. If IU were to win, they would face #8 Texas. The winner of that game would potentially get #1 North Carolina. Needless to say, it's a tough road for IU. After Maui, the Hoosiers take on two more ranked teams (#25 Wake Forest, and #11 Gonzaga just three days later).

This schedule, while extremely tough, will give Tom Crean an idea of what he needs to work on with his team before the conference season starts.