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Back in Biz: Sporting Scene with a Gangsta Lean

c d kaplan — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:40:43 +0000

I have no idea what my title means.

Hope it got your attention, and you now realize after almost two weeks away that I’m baaaaaaaaaaack. Open for business.

One more caveat. I’m not totally on my game yet. And, apparently, Golden State didn’t have quite enough last night in San Antonio. I figured it was quite a game — and confirmed it this morning when I watched the highlights — when I was trying to sleep and my friend David kept texting me.

Which texts I ignored. I had an early wake up call this Tuesday morning — it’s movie review day — and was trying to get to sleep. Actually I think he was showing off, proving he could stay up late. Truth, probably, is that he fell asleep at 7:30 or so and woke up in time to relish the second half of the Western Division semi-final.

Nor did I see the OT of my Red Wings comeback against the Mighty Ducks in Game #4 of that first round Stanley Cup series. Same reason applies.

Buuuuuuut, I did watch the Bulls gutty W in Miami. And the Wings 3d period anschluss in Hockeytown to send that game into extra innings.

So, here comes some of the usual pithy blather from a pundit still in spring training mode.

* * * * *

For me, there’s no sporting “event” quite as inconsequential as the NFL draft. It all seems yet another World Wide Leader made for TV, made for Mel Kiper commercial op.

So, I was kind of dumbfounded when, last night, my first, relaxing with sports on the telly in almost two weeks, I kept clicking back to the 30 on 30 flick about the “famous” NFL draft with Elway & Marino & Kelly, etc. The back room machinations caught my attention, and proved interesting. Way more so than hour after hour after hour of bombast from Chris Berman and the aforementioned draft guru, Kiper.

Then again, maybe I’m just so off my feed, so in need of a sports fix, that my sense of what’s interesting and what’s not has been skewed and is in need of alignment.

I might have mentioned in my last blog how much I love that comedian’s pre-draft day impersonation of Kiper on coffee. Dead on. Hilarious.

* * * * *

The other moment that struck me recently was Magic Johnson’s reaction to LeBron’s MVP award.

He didn’t talk about the quality of his balling. Or his place the pantheon of previous winners.

Magic talked about how few TV endorsements James has. How he deserves more.

Huh?

Guess James hasn’t quite figured out how to take his talents to Toyota.

Bottom line is “King” LeBron’s misguided TV announcement of his move to Miami is still haunting him. Because the guy is as amazing a physical baller as has ever been. He’s a good and generous teammate. He’s articulate. He isn’t spotted with his homies on South Beach at 4:30 in the morning. He’s a champion.

Q Score doesn’t easily forget.

* * * * *

No Kirk Hinrich.

No Derrick Rose.

No Luol Deng, who it is said, had a spinal tap. (The mention of which allows me to play this video which has only the slightest connection to the subject matter of the previous sentence.)

No problem. Because the Bulls played like banshees and they did play well. Stealing, as we have come to say it, the first game of the Eastern semis in Miami in front of a stunned crowd, most wearing white because somebody told them to.

Joakim Noah is simply relentless. Nate Robinson had one of those games, you know the kind where a guy grabs the tilt by the short and curlies, makes it his, despite a lip gash requiring ten halftime stitches. And Jimmy Butler . . . uh . . . Jimmy Who? Oh yeah, the 2d year kid out of Butler.

Was Miami “rusty?” Whatever that means? Maybe. I dunno. Who knows? What I do know is the Heat are down a game, making Game Deux a must win.

* * * * *

I’d love to break down San Antonio’s comeback from way down at home against Golden State.

But, I didn’t see it, and my sense of propriety disallows me from opinionating about something of which I haven’t any first hand knowledge.

* * * * *

I know you could care less about hockey. So I’ll refrain there also.

Other than to say the Red Wings attacked the whole 3d period — and I assume in the OT which I didn’t see. Detroit deserved the W, tying the series at 2-2.

* * * * *

Perfunctory Kentucky Derby mention.

Orb won.

Just as my cohort Bill Doolittle said he would. (It’s his second correct Derby prediction in a row.)

* * * * *

Did you think I’d get outtahere without mentioning that little Monday Night W by the Louisville Cardinals a month ago?

Silly you.

At one point last week when I was at the Lagniappe Stage in New Orleans at JazzFest, waiting for what proved to be a searing set by Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste Jr., I was struck as if from nowhere with this thought: “My Louisville Cardinals won the national championship.”

A month after the fact, this one is still sinking in.

The first sports I watched upon my return to town from that 10 day holiday was . . . a replay of the hard fought semi-final W over feisty Wichita State. Twas a gutty victory.

The Cards were steely in their worst played game of the tourney. Luke Hancock’s three to put the Cards up 5 late was a stunner. No rebounding help. It’s the kind of shot that in the old days would have been extremely ill-advised. Frankly, it was ill advised against the Shockers.

But the Final Four MOP drained it, didn’t he?

Yes, he did.

– Seedy K

Monday Morning QB: Brotherhood Day

c d kaplan — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:16:24 +0000

Let me be the first to make a year end prediction. Yes, I’m looking ahead 11 and 1/2 months.

Hey, I got the blog. I got the keyboard. I’ll do what I wanna.

My prognostication: If Indiana wins the NCAA basketball tournament, mentored by the brother-in-law of you know who and you know who, the Harbaugh Clan will be Sports Illustrated’s “Sports(man/men/persons/family) of the Year.”

Their whining and aggressive demeanor nothwithstanding, the success of Jim and John and Tom at the same moment is darn astonishing. The influence of former WKU football coach Jack Harbaugh and his bride is considerable and praise worthy. I’m not sure I can remember a similar situation.

* * * * *

Speaking of brotherhood, that version of the national anthem before the U of L game Saturday still resonates.

The Brotherhood Singers from Northern Kentucky are the deal.

So to honor them, brothers and sisters everywhere, and this truly special day in the history of our republic, a musical interlude.

* * * * *

Yesterday’s NFL games were certainly interesting.

The 49ers W in Atlanta was more exciting. The Ravens W in New England more stunning and exacting.

San Francisco has come back from considerable deficits two weeks in a row. It took a last moment Hail Mary for Baltimore to survive in Denver.

Unlike the BCS “Championship” Game, these teams earned their way to battle for the title.

* * * * *

Speaking of Indiana basketball, did you watch the Butler/ Gonzaga game.

A proverbial barn burner.

In case you haven’t seen the clip, or seen it enough, here’s Roosevelt Jones’ amazing play to win the game for the Hinkles.

Jones says he was eavesdropping on Mark Few’s instructions, and knew where the inbound pass was coming. So he stole it, took a couple of dribbles and floated in the winner.

College hoops. Love it.

* * * * *

One guy’s opinion: This could be the best NCAA tournament in years.

No school has started to separate itself from the pack like last year’s Wildcats. Though Rock Chalk Jayhawk is looking pretty steely.

The difference between #1 seeds, #2 seeds and #3 seeds will be miniscule. The luck of the draw is going to mean as much as it ever has. Matchups shall be very important, as we saw when Louisville couldn’t quite cope Saturday against Syracuse with its big guards.

So you got the Cards. And the Hoosiers. And the Jayhawks. And the Orange. And the Gators. And the Blue Devils. And the Wolverines. And the Wildcats (Arizona, though UK’s could spoil somebody’s dance.). And the Bulldogs (Take your choice.). And the Golden Gophers.

Plus the Spartans. And the Buckeyes. And the Runnin’ Rebels. And the Wolfpack. And the Badgers. And the Quack.

Oh, and those Shaka Smarts. And the Rams. And the Bearcats . . .

* * * * *

Lance Armstrong is still an asshole.

* * * * *

Did you see the very late extra time goal by Tottenham’s Clint Dempsey at White Hart Lane, which knotted Man U? Didn’t think so. Dempsey, a legit star in the EPL, is an American you know.

* * * * *

If you have trouble keeping your abode warm during this cold spell, tune into the Australian Open. There’s plenty of Celsius down Melbourne way.

* * * * *

As hard as I try — okay, truth, I’m not trying at all — I can’t feel sorry for the travails of the LA LA Lakers.

Nor those of that Manti doofus. Hope Katie Couric does to him what she did to Sarah Palin.

– Seedy K

Sunday Sound Off: The Full Manti & Much More

c d kaplan — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:52:25 +0000

Here’s some perspective, Louisville Cardinal faithful, on yesterday’s home L to Syracuse.

Fourteen teams in the Top 25 lost last week. And that doesn’t include not-in-Top-25 Wisconsin, who gave a Top 10 performance in Bloomington before going Bottom 150 in a loss to Iowa.

It’s conference play time. So much fun it is.

* * * * *

Loyal reader CookieMan called me on the carpet this morning for not mentioning in my blog on U of L/ Syracuse that the Cardinal football team — at least about 1/3 of it — was introduced. To the expected, raucous Standing O. The intro came during the fist media timeout of the 2d half. When, sigh, the Cards were up 48-40.

Five time MLB All-Star Fred McGriff was also in the house yesterday.

* * * * *

Manti Te’o spoke yesterday. Or, so it is said. To Jeremy Schap in a non-videoed conversation.

Apparently he said he “embellished” his romance, but was still the victim there.

Okay, Manti, whatever you say.

Truth, even I have had enough of this “scandal.”

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t use the bully pulpit the refresh your memories about a real tragedy in which Notre Dame football is involved. Not so valiantly either.

I’m talking about the suicide of Lizzy Seeberg, a young woman who really existed. And who is now really dead. She took her own life after allegedly being intimidated by Fighting Irish pigskinners after reporting a sexual assault by one of their teammates.

You can read more details here.

Dave Zirin, the Thomas Friedman of sports columinsts (usually astute, but always arrogant and self righteous) weighed in even more heavily here.

So, tell me Athletic Director Swarbick, does Lizzy’s tale bring you to tears like that of your hallowed linebacker?

* * * * *

Charles Barkley was in full form last night during the UK/ Auburn game.

He called pro agents, “scumbags.”

* * * * *

Now falling near the top of the list of Teams That Will Probably Make The NCAA Tournament That You Don’t Want Your Contender To Face: Colorado State Rams.

Larry Eustachy’s team is 15-3 after last night’s W over Vegas.

Eustachy could always coach. Now that he’s been clean and sober for awhile, he can really coach.

Also perched to prey in that category: Dana Altman’s Oregon Quack.

* * * * *

Atlanta and the 49ers are getting read to kick off.

I sure hope today’s games are exciting. Because I could care less who wins.

* * * * *

In case you haven’t noticed, and I’m sure you haven’t, the NHL opened play this weekend.

* * * * *

In case you haven’t noticed, and I’m sure you haven’t, Part Deux. FC Barcelona lost yesterday in La Liga. They blew a 2-0 lead to lose 2-3 at Real Sociedad.

They now stand 18-1-1 on the season.

* * * * *

Lance Armstrong is still an asshole.

* * * * *

Earl Weaver was such the grouch, he never got quite as much respect as a manager as he deserved.

The same fate came upon his passing.

He bought the farm on the same day as all-time all-star, all time Hall of Famer, all-time good guy, Stan Musial. How cool was the former St. Louis Cardinal who had one of the most unique batting stances ever? He alway carried a harmonica in his sportcoat pocket.

May you both rest in peace.

– Seedy K

Seedy K Sounds Off On Sports Tuesday

c d kaplan — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:53:15 +0000

I’m not sure we learned much about the current state of college football from the most boring bowl season in memory. Other than Clemson’s single digit W in the battle of the Death Valleys, the Hook Em Horns late comeback against the Beavers, The Potato Eaters Vegas W over UDub and Arizona’s nailbiter over Nevada, the season was a snoozefest. Lots of blowouts.

Sure Virginia Tech had to go to OT to best Rutgers in the rain. But that was the most boring college football game since a Bernie Scruggs led UK team traveled to IU in the 70s for a “battle” that caused an epidemic of insomnia-induced comas. Only post game therapy at Nick’s with pizza and way more than the minimum daily requirement of pitchers allowed most who attended to revive and survive.

Let’s see what we might have learned this bowl year? (And I don’t mean that Georgia Tech deserved a bid with its losing record.)

Alabama is the best team in the land.

Johnny Football is the most exciting player in the land.

Nick Saban is arguably the best college football coach ever.

Southern Cal sucked.

And Lane Kiffin might be the worst football coach ever to get two such high profile coaching positions.

* * * * *

A playoff system can’t come soon enough.

Let me repeat, once again, four is way too few to make the post season interesting. By a fourth. The only really fair system would be a 16 team playoff. Which eventually will come, but is at least a decade away.

* * * * *

The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend was also mighty lame.

* * * * *

Periodically during that walkover of a “title” game last night I surfed over the CBS Sports, where they were replaying that 75th anniversary Final Four show that ran prior to UK/ U of L.

Lots of interesting coach interviews.

I was surprised how many said their memories and love went back to the iconic ’79 match up between Michigan State and Indiana State. I’m not that much older than these guys. But my memory goes back to listening on the radio to Bill Russell-led San Francisco beating Iowa for the national crown in the mid 50s. And UK’s win at Freedom Hall a couple years later.

Young whippersnappers.

* * * * *

I realize how important the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs are to the identity and financial well being of this community.

But Churchill’s arrogant, heavy-handed position that it must be the corporate entity that deserves and must be granted any casino franchise, should the legislature approve same, is . . . to be frank . . . bullshit.

How about a casino downtown that might — and I mean might — really rejuvenate that area. Unlike CordishLand, which is about to undergo its 38th extreme makeover?

* * * * *

Cincy’s Bearcats looked to be legit this season, for the first time in a long while.

Last night, they lost their third in a row at home.

* * * * *

Note to football coaches at every level. When a player, especially your QB limps off the field like Walter Huston in “The Treasure of Sierra Madre,” take him out of the game and put in a replacement.

Even if the player says, “No, no, I’m good to go.”

* * * * *

I’m somewhat stunned at the criticism Brent Musburger is getting for his slobbering mention of AJ McCarron’s girlfriend, when the cameras showed her in the stands.

She’s a babe. And, if any of you guys out there weren’t saying the same thing to yourselves when she was on the screen, your nose is growing.

* * * * *

Pucks is back.

Americans are learning who Lionel Messi is?

Conference games have commenced.

And at least of couple of readers I am so sure will remind me that pitchers and catchers report in XX days.

– Seedy K

New Year’s Day Noogies (And a little Nougat too)

c d kaplan — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:27:00 +0000

Noogie. To the Courier-Journal sports page editors. Perhaps I shouldn’t be quite so unrelenting while continually pointing out the foibles and follies of the C-J’s sports page, which has become an almost daily example of bad editing. After all, I make a lot of editing mistakes myself, not to mention errors of grammar and spelling. I even get my facts wrong from time to time, sometimes because of shear stupidity, other times because of sloppy research.

Then again, I don’t have the storied tradition of excellence that was the C-J and its sports section for decades. Which is not an excuse, but reality. I resolve to do better in ’13.

But I feel compelled to start the New Year by pointing out today’s inexcusable C-J gaffe.

At the top of PAGE THREE, right above a column in which the sports editor fails yet again to be as funny as he would like, there’s this stat: “50 years since the Arizona Cardinals (and the Chicago, St. Louis and Phoenix versions of the Cardinals before them) have won an NFL football game.”

Which statistic would be of mild interest . . . perhaps . . . if it wasn’t so totally wrong.

The Cardinals beat Green Bay, 51-45, in a 2010 playoff game. After winning three playoff battles the year before against Atlanta, Carolina and Philly to make it the Super Bowl. Oh yes, they beat the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in ’98.

The once great newswpaper compounded the felony on the next page when reporting correctly that Arizona’s coach, Ken Whisenhunt, fired yesterday, had led the team to a Super Bowl.

I know I’m being a crank, but I still read the C-J every morning as I’ve done since my age was a single digit. More and more I find myself looking for the errors, which are manifest on a daily basis now, more than insight into the world of sports.

Nougat. To Bill Walton. It was great to hear his voice again. He did color commentary the other night during UCLA’s resurgent W over Missouri.

There’s something about his exuberance and willingness to call it as he sees it that I find refreshing.

I also have a soft spot for Walton. In ’90, I was hit by a car while jogging and my left leg was held together for a year and a half by an Iliazarov Fixator. He was in town covering a U of L game. When the former Bruin superstar saw me hobbling down the steps toward my seat, he, who has dealt with serious leg and foot problems throughout his career, stopped, chatted me up and offered words of encouragement.

Hope to hear his voice more during the coming hoops season.

Nougat. To James Franklin’s Vanderbilt Commodores, who finished their season 9-4, after bashing NC State by two TDs yesterday in the Music City Bowl.

Vandy. 9-4, including SEC games. One of them Milt Wagner academic schools that doesn’t even have a separate athletic department.

That, football fans, is a piece of work.

Noogie & Nougat. To two of Louisville’s future ACC compatriots.

Speaking of academic schools, Duke had a win just about secured over Cincy the other day in the Something or Another Bowl, driving into the Red Zone with the game knotted for a sure score with only a couple minutes to play.

They fumbled, giving up the ball to the Bearcats, who soon enough tallied on a long pass play. Then scored again before the gun sounded for a two TD triumph.

But another future U of L conference mate came through last night in the clutch. Clemson fought back from 11 down late to beat LSU in the Cows Want You To Eat Chicken Bowl. Hit a field goal. Held the Tigers to a 3 and out. Scored a TD, but missed the try for 2.

Held the Tigers to another 3 and out. (Though LSU’s three straight incomplete passes when they could have probably run out the clock on the ground was a monumental strategic miscalculation. Wonder if that Bayou Bengal QB coach, a fellow named Kragthorpe, was making those ill advised calls?)

Then Clemson drove for a winning FG as the clock expired.

Noogie. To those who are trying to make a big deal out of that free throw situation in the UK/ U of L game, when Alex Poythress replaced Nerlens Noel at the line, when Noel was probably the Cat fouled.

So what? Only Sean Hannity or Keith Olbermann could find controversy there. Okay, Ann Coulter too.

Nougat. To Boise State for staying in the Mountain West, where it belongs. And to that league for making it happen.

Noogie. To the Big East . . . whatever it may actually be. It’s hard to conceive what next year’s U of L football schedule is going to look like.

Perhaps the Cards can schedule a home and home with Trinity HS. The opener at Papa J’s. The season ender at Marshall Stadium in beautiful downtown Saint Matthews to decide which school has the best team in town.

Nougat. To the Colts and Bengal, Louisville’s “home” NFL teams, for making the playoffs.

Well, my New Year’s resolve to write only positive stuff in 2013 lasted a solid 9 hours and 26.5 minutes on the game clock.

Hope this annum is a peaceful and serene and productive one for you and yours. (And that includes you editors at the C-J.)

– Seedy K

Humpday Huzzahs & Harrumphs: Holiday Edition

c d kaplan — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:29:56 +0000

A recurring theme here during basketball season has been my continuing appreciation for the quality of Hoosier high school coaching. Just seems to me that most kids who have played prep hoops in Indiana and make it on to play in college know what they’re doing.

I was reminded of this at the end of Indiana State’s OT W over Miami (Fla) the other night in Hawaii.

The Sycamores’ leading scorer, Jake Odum, held the ball for the last shot, used a pick at the top of the key, juked right, went left skipping under the defenders’ outstretched arms, put up a running eight footer from straight away, which he purposely banked. It went in for the win.

What a heady play, I thought. The kid’s got to be from Indiana, right? Checking online, I discovered that Odum played his high school ball in Terre Haute, a hoops hotbed if ever there was one.

* * * * *

I watched a little of the NBA’s Christmas Day marathon. The end of the Lakers win over the Knicks, and a bit more of the LeBron vs. Durant show.

What I liked. Kevin Durant is simply a marvel. A guy that tall who can handle the ball so well. And who shoots the ball with such acumen I am dumbstruck when it doesn’t go in the basket.

What I disliked. Those league coordinated uniforms.

* * * * *

It certainly could simply be my ennui alone, but the NFL simply hasn’t grabbed my attention this season.

Hopefully it will get better now that the playoffs are upon us.

There are some fascinating story lines. Peyton Manning’s resurgence. The stellar QB play of rookies Oliver Luck, RGIII and Russel Wilson. The Tebow/ Jets soap opera. The late season surge by the Seahawks. Adrian Peterson’s big year after knee surgery.

But still . . . I just don’t know how to explain it. And it’s more than yet another awful season long performance by my underwhelming Detroit Lions.

In microcosm, I passively watched some of the Seahawks dismembering of the 49ers, realizing that one of them was coached by a Harbaugh, the other by Pete Carroll, neither of whom I care for because of past actions. Thus I couldn’t root for one or the other.

I am happy that both the Colts and Bengals have made the playoffs.

* * * * *

The big question of the week in these parts is whether Gorgui Dieng will play against UK on Saturday?

Even if he does, it’s hard to believe he’ll be much of a factor.

Of course, today I’m more worried about the players traveling back from their little holiday vacations. Will Wayne Blackshear make it back through the blizzard from Chitown?

* * * * *

Go Toppers. Scalp the Chippewas.

Which I know is a politically incorrect way of expressing my support for Western Ky, but I saw “Django Unchained” yesterday, and I’m still in Tarantino mode.

Let’s hope Central Michigan’s D is silent.

* * * * *

One great thing about becoming a johnny come lately soccer fan is that I can watch classic games on Fox Soccer, from even just three or four years ago, without having a clue who won.

– Seedy K

Sunday Morning QB: Strong Rumors Rampant +

c d kaplan — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:26:13 +0000

Frankly I found it odd that U of L’s football team and Coach Charlie Strong weren’t paraded onto the court at one of the many timeouts yesterday at the Yum! during the Illinois State basketball game.

Actually, disconcerting is a more apt descriptor.

The rumor du jour is that Strong interviewed for the Tennessee job. Again, as with the Auburn situation, Strong has told a member of the media, this time a reporter for Fox Sports, that the Rocky Top rumors are false. Or, so says the reporter.

So, here we go . . . again.

I’m on record as opinionating my take on Strong is that he feels a sense of loyalty to Tom Jurich and U of L above and beyond the norm for his ladder climbing profession. Louisville, with Teddy B and a defense totally returning, is sure to be pre-season Top 10, or better, next campaign.

I would be flummoxed if Strong jumped ship now.

That said, the rumors are that Tennessee is offering Strong more money per year than Alabama pays Nick Saban. And he’s won three BCS crowns, with another in the offing come January. $5 mill per year, the figure floating about, is, as they say, mucho dinero.

That’s enough to turn anybody’s head, even the most loyal person.

Hell, for that I’d go on Fox News every night and let Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly beat me up.

I’m sure Tom Jurich will sweeten Charlie’s pot. It’s the nature of the game, most recently played by Les Miles.

Deep Pockets Owsley Frazier is no longer with us. Steve Trager, come on down.

* * * * *

One last thought on yesterday’s Cardinal hoops W.

Illinois State played that tough without its starting point guard, Kaza Keane.

I’m impressed. They’ll be my team come Arch Madness.

* * * * *

There have been better athletic days in the history of Nicholls State than yesterday.

The Southland Conference school was nudged on the hardwood by Michigan State, 39-84.

On the gridiron, the Colonels were tripped up by Oregon State, 3-77.

Composite score: Nicholls State 42, Opponents 161.

* * * * *

James Quick played for Trinity in its title romp over PRP.

He played with two broken ribs.

Impressive.

You ever had a broken rib? I have. It hurt a lot. For a long time. I had to sleep in chair for 6 weeks.

* * * * *

I’m sure my fellow Kentuckians are as proud as I am of a new record recently set in the commonwealth.

During hunting season, a record 92.737 whitetail deer were, what’s the proper term? Harvested? Slain? Killed?

* * * * *

UK and U of L women’s hoops this evening at 6:00.

Both teams are in the top ten, adding zest to the rivalry.

I’ll be in the house. You?

* * * * *

While I watched nary a play of Florida State’s slog over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, I did surf through the pre-game, when Brent Musburger and Herbie were setting up the game against a backdrop of empty seats.

The announced attendance in Charlotte was 62,000+. Didn’t know they’d hired the UK stat crew for the game.

Truth is the only leagues that can fill a neutral site for this type of affair are the SEC and Big Ten.

The ACC needs to adopt the PAC-12 way of doing things. Play it on one of the participant’s fields. Figure out a fair formula to determine the most deserving school, and it becomes host.

* * * * *

I know the show must go on and all that razzmatazz.

It’s still hard to believe they’ll be playing pro football in Kansas City today.

– Seedy K

Monday Morning QB: A Lot of This, A Little of That

c d kaplan — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:38:05 +0000

So, yesterday I couldn’t help but think of the somewhat famous Tennessee Williams’ quip:

“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

Tuesday Sports Update: A Little of This & Some of That

c d kaplan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:04:32 +0000

Anybody out there watching Celtic take on Barcelona in a Champions League match at Camp Nou?

Didn’t think so.

Surprisingly, Celtic is up early, 1 nil. But you really really don’t care, right?

I’ll move on.

* * * * *

Despite all the negative tests, Lance Armstrong did take performance enhancing drugs, it seems.

Imagine my surprise.

Those 7 Tour de France titles. Forgettaboutem.

As I’ve mentioned before, cyclists taking drugs doesn’t bother me that much. They all did it. Perhaps still do. So that evens things up. Besides, that event is far and away the most arduous sporting contest in the world, so all the more power to them if they need some juice to pump 12 miles up a 12% grade after cycling 100 miles.

Armstrong though is another matter. He’s been so aggressively arrogant about the whole thing.

Bottom line, the guy’s a real schmuck. He’s helped raise tens of millions to fight cancer. Good for him. He’s still a putz.

Disgrace suits him.

* * * * *

As a Tigers fan, I was kind of hoping St. Louis would take the NLCS.

Not that I like the Cardinals. I don’t. They still have the stench of retired Tony LaRussa about them.

But Detroit and St. Louis have a rather testy World Series history. ’34. ’68. ’06. Kind of a rivalry there. A renewal of tensions would have been an interesting dynamic.

But, San Francisco continued its resilient run. Three elimination game wins over the Cardinals. To match the three over the Reds. Six straight elimination game Ws. Got to admire that.

I don’t hate the Giants. But I’ll be sure to be rooting against them.

First pitch tomorrow night.

* * * * *

Iniesta just tied the match 1 apiece for Barca in the 45th minute, right before halftime.

* * * * *

Would somebody please explain the concept of defense to Dana Holgorsen?

The state of West Virginia would be most appreciative.

* * * * *

It’s that time of the year, kids.

When I start to rant about how there’s no college football playoff. And how even the new soon to be seen four team playoff isn’t enough.

Right now, Alabama, Florida, K State, my Quack and, sigh, Notre Dame would all deserve a shot. At the very least.

Eight teams is the absolute minimum number of title contestants that should be competing. Sixteen would be optimum. That way, every school with even a glimmer of a claim to contest for the championship would be included.

Four’s a start. It will expand in the years to come. Because . . . well . . . money talks. And ESPN shall wish it to be so.

* * * * *

No I don’t have any idea why Chane Behanan is in The Rick’s doghouse.

My guess is Pitino needed somebody on the team to rag on, so he pulled Chane’s name out of a hat.

* * * * *

Does the winner of the Ohio State/ Penn State game this weekend get time off its sentence for good performance?

* * * * *

Beaver fever. Oregon State is 6-0. The half dozen Ws is twice as many as it captured all last year. The school hasn’t been 6-0 since the oughts. The 19 oughts.

* * * * *

Why did Cincy go and lose at Toledo last Saturday?

* * * * *

The NHL and the player’s association are still at loggerheads. No pucks yet. Sigh.

Oh yeah, I forgot, you’d just as soon have an update on Messi. (Still 1-1 in the 65th minute.)

* * * * *

Since the real refs returned to the NFL, there hasn’t been much to talk about in the play for pain league.

* * * * *

Our local cable network now carries NBA TV. Haven’t watched for a nanosecond.

– Seedy K

Tuesday Tidbits: Tsouris On Tobacco Road +

c d kaplan — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:17:43 +0000

Okay for those of you not fluent in Yiddish, the definition:

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