“There are but three cities in the United States. New Orleans, New York and San Francisco. All the rest is Cleveland.”

Thinking of New York because of the justified hullabaloo about Hurricane Sandy and all the mess going on in the northeast. Not to mention the Giants comeback over a comeback against those Cowboys.

Thinking of New Orleans because Sunday night is “Treme” night, no matter what else is going on. Last night, Davis actually went to Fats Domino’s house. Cool.

Thinking of San Francisco because The City’s magnificent Giants sliced and diced my Tigers to win the World Series in a four game sweep.

Actually thinking of Cleveland too because the Browns eked out a 7-6 W over woeful San Diego. (And aren’t we all on pins and needles until Thursday night’s boffo Chargers vs. Chiefs NFL-TV battle?)

* * * * *

Were Detroit’s conquerors anybody besides those irrepressible Giants, I would surely be much sadder than I am.

Don’t get me wrong. I still can’t figure out why the Tigers decided to mimic against SF what the Yankees had done in the ALCS? Which was to allow their bats to sleep to sleep through the games.

But Bochy’s crew got timely hitting and great pitching. And, by all accounts, it’s a fun gang of guys. I don’t know that I have ever seen as loose a dugout in the Bigs as the Giant’s.

Good for them.

* * * * *

The NBA starts play this week.

Which makes at least one reader of mine really happy. (Because all I get from him are emails, demanding more coverage of the play for pay boys.)

Here’s what struck me while previewing the rosters of the teams. I didn’t recognize very many of the players.

I’m a reasonably obsessed viewer of college hoops, tracking players around the country, not only those who play around here or on Big Monday. But the NBA rosters are filled with foreigners and one & doners. Which makes it hard for the casual fan to relate to those he’s seeing on the court.

Jonas Jerebko? Mirza Teletovic? Larry Sanders?

Then there are the guys of whom there are faint recollections. Kosta Koufos. Didn’t he flame out at Ohio State, but left after one season anyway? Steve Novak. Isn’t he that lanky guy who used to reign threes on the Cards? Sebastian Telfair. He’s the paradigm of former future U of L stars, right? Unless it’s Amir Johnson.

Terrance Williams? Name nowhere to be found.

* * * * *

Notre Dame, sad to say, apparently has a really good football team. Especially on the defensive side.

Even though it’s clear to me that Oregon has the second best team in the country and should get a crack at ‘Bama, make no mistake. If the Irish win out, they will play for the BCS. I’m pretty sure it’s in the Bible somewhere. Early on too, like in Genesis.

* * * * *

If Louisville wins the Big East and qualifies for the BCS, the Cards now seem destined for New Orleans’ Sugar Bowl.

Here’s why. After all the arrangements are taken care of, and schools have been slotted where the place cards put them, there will be two squads left. Louisville and future league mate Boise State, which will automatically qualify if it finishes in the top 16 of the standings. Fiesta gets first choice and, as things stand now, it’s going to match the two of the following trio that don’t get slotted with the Crimson Tide: K State, Notre Dame and Oregon. Sugar is next, and the general feeling is that the Cards are a more attractive opponent for the SEC team than Boise.

All that said, if U of L wins out, it will be, as they say, some kind of miracle. With Halloween coming up, it’s appropriate to note that Louisville has been playing Beat The Reaper all year. And winning . . . so far.

* * * * *

The NBA isn’t the only hardwood game tipping off this week.

U of L welcomes the Pikeville Elishas to the Yum! on Thursday.

Kentucky plays its first exhibition that same evening against something called Northwood, a school with campuses in Michigan, Texas, Switzerland and Florida. I believe the Cats are balling against the Seahawk team that resides in West Palm Beach. That would be in Florida.

IU also plays Thursday. Against Indiana Wesleyan. Which foe, when it comes to number of campuses, trumps those Northwood folks many times over. IW has 17 campuses. Including one out there off Blankenbaker Parkway near I-64. And a few in Ohio. ??????

* * * * *

Look who is back on top in NASCAR?

That Jimmie Johnson fella.

* * * * *

In the UK/ Mizzou “football game,” there were 7 fumbles in the battle’s first 20 minutes of action.

* * * * *

I think the Breeder’s Cup is this coming weekend.

Yawn.

* * * * *

Don’t be surprised if this is Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s last season.

Seems like a lot of his players have been more than one toke over the line through the years, but the coaching staff has looked the other way.

Frankly, that behavior, which seems very familiar personally, has never bothered me. College kids smoke pot. Basketball players are ostensibly college kids.

Apparently the NCAA frowns on schools that make rules then don’t follow them.

* * * * *

Around here all the gridiron talk is whether Charlie Strong will be gone after this season?

I have no information whatsoever. I haven’t even heard any innuendo.

But my observations of Strong tell me he wasn’t just woofing when he told Jim Rome he’s not cut like that. I’d be very surprised if Strong were coaching somewhere besides Louisville next season. Hopefully with a new assistant for special teams.

* * * * *

There is one benefit from the World Series being over so soon. Don’t have to listen to Tim McCarver anymore.

Stay classy, sports fans.

– Seedy K

Tsouris translates as trouble, distress, heartburn from the outcome of a stressful situation.  It’s a feeling to be avoided at all costs.

Well, it’s what those hallowed Tobacco Road superschools are feeling these days. At least that’s what right minded observers of the sports scene and any college hoops or pigskin fan who hates that duo of ACC powers is hoping for. There are times when schadenfreude is legit. This is one.

Duke and North Carolina, come on down. It’s your moment on the hot seat. Let’s pray the register is cranked to 11.

Before we get into the generalities of these rule-breaking situations, a musical interlude to set the scene. Cue the lip-syncing Nashville Teens.

Okay, where were we? Oh yes, breakin’ the rules in Durham and Chapel Hill. I know, it is hard hard hard to believe, but, as Lilly von Shtupp confirmed in “Blazing Saddles,” “It’s twu, it’s twu.”

Seems they made up courses at Carolina. Athletes got grades for classes they never had to attend. Classes that never actually existed. 54 of them. Etc, etc. Need I be more specific? Well, I could, but I won’t. Pretty egregious stuff. Somebody mentioned that the NCAA investigator was a Tar Heel grad. That one of the “advisors” in the school department where these fake classes existed was football star Julius Peppers’ agent.

Yes I know, pretty nasty stuff. Which means that North Carolina Asheville best be aware. Your tennis team is about to be gobsmacked for giving the players a couple extra bucks to eat at McD’s after an away match.

And now it seems that the Holiest of the Holy — Coach K’s always clean as a freshly scrubbed baby’s tush Duke Blue Devils — may not have washed behind the ears. (Where did that Maggette kid go?) Lance Thomas, a member of Duke’s last NCAA title team decided in advance that some baubles, bangles and beads would be appropriate to celebrate. So he put down $30 Large on a a hundred grand’s worth of bling.

Then, he couldn’t come up with the rest, so the jeweler to the stars sued Thomas for the balance on the loan, which might not have been available to normal students at the university. Which means the rest of us now know of his affection for black diamonds. And that he was surely getting some carry around cash from somewhere way in excess of the sanctioned meal and laundry moolah allowed.

So those of us taken to disliking Carolina and Duke because of their inherent sanctimonious ways, and how Dickie V slobbers over them like a new grand baby, are just pleased as punch to see those schools squirming.

Oh yes, a warning to North Carolina Central. The NCAA is going to be put in a box, forced to come down hard because of Duke’s transgressions. Be afraid, NCC. be very afraid.

I love how the article in Sporting News about the UNC situation refers to the man who went on national TV to come down with terrible swift sword on Penn State — NCAA prexy Mark Emmert — as Mr. Big Stick.

So, yeah, Mr. Big Stick, it seems like it’s time to start swingin’ that thang.

Did I mention there’s stuff goin’ down at NC State. Does the name Rodney Purvis sound familiar? Hmm, may be more carcinogens along Tobacco Road than even the Surgeon General suspected.

* * * * *

Tip o’ the ballcap to Andy Murray. He stayed the course despite adversity in the wind-riven US Open final and bested Novak Djokovic in 5 sets over 5 hours for his first Grand Slam W. The first for a tennis player from the British Isles since Fred Perry in ’36.

A month ago, he won the Olympic gold medal at centre court Wimbledon.

So, it seems fair to say he’s had the most wonderful summer of his life. Which phraseology allows me to link in one of my guilty favorite songs. Robin Ward, sing it girl.

* * * * *

The NFL is back. And we football fans love that, right?

But I gotta admit. I’m having a hard time watching these LBs and DBs launching themselves like missiles at guys carrying the ball and receivers who have just caught a pass and, most especially, receivers who didn’t just catch a pass. There was a lot of head to head contact this weekend.

Gratuitous on field violence doesn’t sit well with me.

Then again, these are rollerball gladiators who play with torn spleens.

* * * * *

Finally, kudos to my NASCAR fave, Jeff Gordon. He slipped into The Chase after a second place finish at Richmond.

– Seedy K

U of L finally released its men’s (and women’s) basketball schedules.

Last year’s Final Four team warmed up for the conference campaign with the most ambitious home schedule of the Pitino Era. Long Beach State, surprising Ohio, College of Charleston, Vanderbilt and Memphis all visited the Yum!. Cardinal fans actually had some real basketball games to savor for their money in November and December.

While this year’s non-conference home schedule isn’t quite as lackluster as the decade before last season, it isn’t nearly as scintillating as one might hope. Manhattan and Florida International will be in town so The Rick can teach his son and prodigy a lesson. Samford and Mizzou KC should have the bars in the corridors plenty busy by halftime. Those lackluster games more than offset the Western Ky visit, which is always fun, and the possibility that Illinois State might challenge. A tilt against Murray State would be spicy.

And, here comes some heresy:

I never really look forward to the annual tussle with UK. The only moment the cannon ball in my nervous stomach passes is the moment the final buzzer sounds and the game is over. Win or lose, it’s the only relief this fan gets. The joy of winning the rivalry encounter, and the disappointment of losing, simply aren’t worth the angst of the run up to tipoff.

I assume I’m in the minority here. (I’m so very sure I’ll hear from some Cats’ fans, accusing me of turning into a scaredy bird. Truth is it’s less onerous now that Coach Cal has turned UK into the behemoth of college hoops. It’s impossible to deny the force of what he’s doing in Lexington.)

Anyhow, most red and blue fans are counting the days until December 29. I’m looking forward to the normal blood pressure that will return only after that game has come and gone.

* * * * *

As I write this, I’m still waiting to hear back from either Rick Bozich or Eric Crawford. In their Football Notebook this week, they mention that U of L’s 3d Down Efficiency Rating ranked 104 in the land. Which is perilously close to the bottom of the heap. I went to the NCAA official stats site, but the numbers were only through 9/01, so Louisville isn’t listed. I trust Eric and Rick’s number is valid. After all, unlike yours truly, they’re real reporters. I was just curious how or where they got the figure?

Note: Of course, I heard from both these pros, after I’d posted this. Please, fellows, next time I’d appreciate you being a little more responsive. Bozich, of course, passed the buck to Crawford. Then he went Lou Holtz on me while mentioning the upcoming series between his ChiSox and my Tigers. Crawford referred me to cfbstats.com. Which now ranks the Cards 105 out of 118 in that category.

I was certainly aware during the Kentucky game that the Wildcats were converting on 3d down way more than U of L would like. But had no idea it was that bad.

Given that Charlie Strong is a defensive coach at heart, I’m sure he made his troops aware of their disappointing performance. Hopefully Missouri State will not be a test. So it might not be until Saturday a week when the Tar Heels come to town, when we can observe if the deficiency has been resolved.

* * * * *

Pittsburgh. Now there’s a really bad football team.

Yoo hoo, Bobby Petrino, you doing anything?

While I remain pissed that Pitt and Syracuse are jumping ship to the ACC, I can’t help but smile at the reality that they will help diminish the already fading image of Atlantic Coast Conference football.

* * * * *

Speaking of Syracuse, their opening game conqueror Northwestern is playing one of the more intriguing games of Week II. Vandy visits Evanston Saturday night for a match-up between two of them academic schools. But schools that are legitimately on the cusp of, well, legitimacy.

* * * * *

Despite a stunning -17 run differential on the season, Baltimore has tied the Yankees (+81) atop the AL East.

Beltway Series, anyone? Orioles vs. Nationals, which nine, by the by, sports the best record in baseball.

I still have hope for my Detroit Tigers. But they did it again this week. For the second time this season, they swept a series from division rival Chicago. For the second time this season, they failed to take advantage and immediately fell behind the White Sox again.

The teams hook up next week, but Detroit visits L A, before heading to Chitown on Monday for your classic “important” set of games.

* * * * *

Murray vs. Berdych. Ferrer vs. Djokovic.

I’m sure the tennis will be scintillating. But not a lot star power left in this year’s U S Open.

* * * * *

My guy in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon, has to win this week, and then he’s still not assured of a spot in sport’s late season sprint for the title, i.e. The Chase.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/09/07/fridays-snippets-many-sports-included/feed/ 6 http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/05/07/well-now-where-were-we/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/05/07/well-now-where-were-we/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 21:43:46 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=7610 Okay, I survived 11 days in New Orleans, including way too much talk about Bountrygate on the sports pages.

And you, if you’re reading this, survived Derby and have enough faculties left to remember how to surf over here to Score.

So, like, you know, what’s been happenin?

Well, Luke Hancock proved himself worthy of his designation as U of L team co-captain. He hurt his shoulder and required surgery, but won’t miss a beat come the start of practice in the autumn. Or, so sayeth The Rick.

The ever inept John Marinatto is out as Big East commish. Imagine our surprise? If given the opportunity, U of L’s exit from the Big East will happen with such speed it will make Art Modell’s getaway from Cleveland look like travel by wagon train.

Another run o’ the pasture horse with the speed and stamina to survive the Derby cavalry charge won the “classic.” Of course, as happens all too often lately, the thoroughbred has a name worthy of show money in a $3000 claiming race on Tuesday at Turfway.

Roger Clements is on trial.

Tiger Woods missed another cut.

The Bats are in last place.

The defending champion Mavs were swept in 4 games.

The Bulls spit out the bit when Derrick Rose went down. (And, to be fair, suffered a couple other injuries.)

In New Orleans, all sports fans are talking about is how the Saints got jobbed by the NFL. Yawn.

Coach Cal, now a with a title on his resume, proved he’s really not ready to play anybody, anywhere, anytime.

John L. Smith has ‘em laughing in the weight room in Fayetteville, if not at Weber State.

Babe Ruth’s home has a For Sale sign on the lawn.

The BCS has determined a 4 team playoff would be in the best interests of the student athletes at LSU, Alabama, Ohio State and one other school.

Hubert Davis jumped from the TV booth to the Carolina bench. Damn, I’m going to miss his laugh, which would burst forth with impunity whenever Digger said something stupid. Which was and shall continue to be — sadly — often. Maybe some school could hire Phelps? I’m in for a hundred toward his signing bonus.

Dale Jr. in 3d place has ‘em slobbering in the infields of NASCAR.

Texas Arlington didn’t get the bid from the Big East they were hoping for, so the school joined the Sun Belt.

But, like, other than that, wazzup?

– Seedy K

Item #2 updated again at 6:40 pm, 8/26.

Apparently Kevin Ware, U of L’s Next Great Point Guard, isn’t going to be academically eligible until, at the very least, the second semester.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

Looks like Jordan Jefferson, who was out hours after curfew at a bar in Baton Rouge, got involved in a fight during which he kicked a U.S. Marine who was on the ground, and who was neither charged nor arrested by the crack city PD, remains in good standing on the team and will start the opener for Les Miles against Oregon.

Imagine our surprise.

Update: Jordan Jefferson and teammate Joshua Johns are said to be turning themselves into the police after felony assault warrants were issued for their arrest. There is no information available as to what effect this will have on LSU’s Fulmer Cup standing, what the player’s bond might be, or whether Les Miles will suspend them at all pending resolution of the charges.

All together now: Imagine our surprise.

Update #2: Les Miles has, since my last post, suspended Jefferson and Johns for the opener against Oregon, at least, and possibly longer. Two other LSU Tiger pigskinners are people of interest in the matter, but have not been charged with any offenses yet.

* * * * *

Tiger Woods, who has been having trouble hitting it in the fairway, putting it into the hole, scoring consistently under par or acting like a decent human being, has been named to the President’s Cup team by captain Fred Couples.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

Texas A & M advised the Big 12(10) that it was going to explore other conference opportunities.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

Danica Patrick, who has had far more acclaim for her godaddy.com ads than on the IndyCar circuit, is jumping to NASCAR next season.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

Nary a whisper of news from the players or owners of the NBA about any labor talks in the works.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

While four teammates who were involved in a bar fight well after curfew remain in good standing on the squad, LSU WR Russell Shepard has been suspended for the team’s opener against Oregon for talking with a teammate about an NCAA inquiry.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

Texas A & M is still a member of the Big 12(10).

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

ESPN nationally televised one of Duke’s exhibition games from China, but did not, to my knowledge, televise any other school’s summer junket games.

Imagine our surprise.

* * * * *

My alma mater, the woeful J.M. Atherton Rebels, are a 4+ touchdown underdog to Country Day.

Imagine my surprise.

– Seedy K

Kyle Busch is this season’s NASCAR points leader, heading for the home stretch.

Kyle Busch’s driver’s license was suspended yesterday for a May incident, during which he was clocked at 128 mph on a North Carolina road close to a day care center. Assuming there is nationwide reciprocity, he won’t be able to drive on any street or highway in the U.S. for the next 45 days.

Since there has been no mention of it, I assume he’ll still be able to compete on NASCAR’s tracks.

Does the sanctioning organization that runs the stock car’s major league circuit not require its drivers to have a valid driver’s license in order to race?

* * * * *

In case you didn’t stay up –I’m sure Rick Bozich did — to follow the fortunes of the ChiSox at the California Los Angeles Angels Playing in Anaheim, the Windy City 9 lost.

Which means my Tigers, who held on for 2-1 W at Tampa Bay, now hold a 6 game AL Central lead over the Tribe, with another 1/2 game margin over the Pale Hose.

Which means, it’s looking more and more with each passing game, that I might have a legit rooting interest in the playoffs.

* * * * *

Now, for an aside.

I’m pumped about seeing and hearing one of my seriously guilty pleasures tonight at the State Fair.

The Turtles — That’s right, the irrepressible Flo & Eddie — will be taking the stage at rickety old Cardinal Stadium. The Film Babe (She’s my “pride and joy etcetera.”) and I will be in the house.

* * * * *

The news about Pat Summitt is obviously most sad.

It’s yet another reminder that there are forces at work far greater than even the most steely of personalities. When it comes to our health, or the weather, even our very existence, Mother Nature rules.

Yet another reminder to seize this day, let the people we care about know it and to heed the admonitions of philosopher hurler Sachel Paige: “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.”

– Seedy K