Noogie.

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

After Anthony Johnson knocked down Carolina’s 4th down hoping for a winning TD pass, U of L simply had to run out the minute and a half or so left on the clock (1:44 to be exact). Instead of simply having Teddy B, or Will Stein, take a knee on three plays, which would have run out the clock, since the Tar Heels had used up all their timeouts, Louisville handed the ball off.

Then did it again.

I was incredulous. The scribes sitting around me were incredulous. Fans still in the stands have advised they were incredulous.

And today at lunch, a friend who watched the game on TV said the announcers were, well, you know. And dumbfounded to boot.

I’m not sure what Charlie Strong was thinking or what his explanation for the egregious strategy was, but whatever, it was inexcusable.

* * * * *

It’s midweek and still not a peep from the NFL powers that be about cutting a deal with the real zebras.

Not that there needs to be another voice added to the media din decrying how awful, and deteriorating, the performance of the scabs has been, but I’ll bellow along.

Somebody’s going to get really hurt. Outcomes are going to be affected. You know.

So, yoo hoo, Roger, come down off your throne and do a deal with the refs union. Before kickoff tomorrow night.

* * * * *

Speaking of cutting a deal, that’s what Lance Thomas did with the NY Jeweler to the Stars. It appears the civil lawsuit has settled.

I’m so sure that nobody involved is going to say a peep.

There’s no doubt smarm is involved. But this one’s gonna fade away faster than Linsanity.

We’re all listening. Problem is, nobody’s talkin’.

* * * * *

The latest example of the old saw that excellence on the athletic field way more often than not wins out is taking place at the moment in Barcelona. It’s the opening round of the UEFA Champions League. Barca, heavily favored, fell behind 1-2 to Spartak Moscow.

Then the favorites, lauded often as the best club team ever, just took over. Lionel Messi, the world’s best player, tallied twice in the final twenty minutes to close it out.

It was close to a carbon copy of rival Real Madrid’s 3-2 comeback against Manchester City yesterday in the same tourney.

Defending champ Chelsea wasn’t quite as stalwart. They tied at home with Juventus.

I remain stunned by what those fellows do with their feet.

* * * * *

Is it my imagination, or does U of L have three point guards joining the roster next season to replace — hopefully — Peyton Siva?

* * * * *

Joker Phillips remains football coach at UK.

– Seedy K

LeBron James, heralded as The Next Great Thing, at the tender age of what, 13, 14, now that his adopted Miami Heat beat Oklahoma City, has his first team championship trophy. Not only is LBJ an MVP, he’s a champion. Anointed at an early age, it took him 9 seasons to win his first title at the age of 27. (For comparison, Michael Jordan, the consensus best player ever, won his first title in his 7th season, when he was two years older than LeBron.)

So we, the sports public and naysaying media nabobs, are forced to confront our own expectations, projections and disgruntlement.

Have we been too harsh on James? Has our continuing disdain over his abdication from Cleveland, his vanity TV show, “The Decision,” and his declaration of 8 or more titles in the offing upon arriving in South Beach, been ill-advised, knee jerk, unfairly unrelenting or all of the above?

Well, I’ll say this, a sense of remorse has ravaged through the sports writing universe like a tornado across the Oklahoma plains. (It must feel to OKC like they didn’t make it to cover when the Heat blew in.)

Truth is we of the media are far more inclined to go Jim Rome on a jock more than we’d like to admit. We set ‘em up. We knock ‘em down. With relish. And, as we are/I am doing now with Tiger Woods, we/I are/am reluctant to let ‘em back up.

I’m as guilty as the next guy. I’ve been all over LeBron since The Blunder that was “The Decision.” It was so vain, he probably thinks this column is about him. It was Cult of Personality at its very worst. But, frankly, a logical development, given how David Stern’s league pushes the publicity of players over teams.

And — in retrospect, where we’re now finding compassion to help assuage our guilt — we should have recognized that LeBron’s a good guy. You don’t read about his entourage taking out guys in South Beach bars. You don’t see his photos in the gossip pages. He gets along with other players in the league. (For Comparison again, Michael Jordan, allegedly a beloved icon, is by all accounts is a 1st rate schmuck and compulsive gambler. His hubris compelled him to the delusion that he could make it to the bigs in baseball. His Hall of Fame acceptance speech was as arrogant and lacking in humility as any ever uttered.)

So, I’ve been waiting here in line, while many of my brethren before me have eaten crow. Now I’m stepping up for my serving.

James was The Deal in the playoffs. When he needed to score, he scored, When he needed to rebound, he rebounded. When he needed to pass, he passed. He willed Miami to the the title. Good for him.

Yes, I can pick nits and play what if?

He fouled Kevin Durant not once but twice on the same play at the end of Game 2. If the foul had been called and Durant made the FTs and OKC went on to win, it might — operative word: might — have made it a different series. Sweeping the middle three at home, Miami would still have had to win one in Oklahoma City.

I believe they would have done it. They didn’t have to. The zebras swallowed their whistles and the Heat flew home even.

So, again, good for LeBron. Those titles are never a given. Wilt, Elgin Baylor and The Logo never won a title and they constituted the biggest of any Big 3 ever.

How many more can/ will LeBron James win? Well, that’s why they play the games. So we can find out.

It’s going to be just as interesting to see what happens with OKC? Will Durant bulk up and toughen up? Will Westbrook become willing and develop the facility to make the right decisions every trip down court? Will James Harden not choke next time?

In other words, will the Thunder learn the lessons of their loss like LeBron did? Will they put their nose to the grindstone and hone their skills? Will they, next year or the one after or sometime in future, be able to sleep as well as LeBron James is these nights?

– Seedy K

Hopefully it will provide impetus for a rejuvenation. Detroit’s been falling in the standings as of late. Injuries.

I’d settle for a Cincy/ Detroit World Series.

* * * * *

My new favorite baseball team (Other than the Tigers): The Stony Brook Seawolves.

The upstart nine from the America East Conference bested long time collegiate baseball behemoth LSU in Baton Rouge to become only the second #4 seed ever to make it to Omaha for the College World Series.

Where is Stony Brook you might ask? In New York, I think I’m safe saying that. Exactly where in the Empire State, I’m not sure.

Anyway, the hot hitting Seawolves — They got 50 base knocks in 3 games to LSU’s 15 — will join many of usual suspects as 8 schools battle it out for the national crown at that new stadium that has supplanted iconic Rosenblatt in deepest, darkest Nebraska.

The Bayou Tiger players and fans looked shell-shocked.

* * * * *

There are heated rivalries. BoSox/ Yankees. Packers/ Bears. Cards/ Cats.

And then there are really really really heated rivalries, with histories that hearken back as far as the 11th century. You know, William the Conqueror, 1066, the Norman and French Conquest of England. I mean, it’s not Trinity vs. St. X, but France vs. England does run deep.

Anyway, in the world of futbol, they are contesting the EuroCup these days. Which, I think, is like the World Cup for Europe only. Thus the name. Anyway, each country fields a Dream Team of its best footballers.

Today is Group D’s opening day.

France vs. England.

You may not be paying attention, but two countries have stopped their business to tune in.

France just tied it 1-1 in the 38th minute.

* * * * *

U of L’s Silent L Harrell made some USA national team.

I can’t remember the last time a Cardinal made one of these squads.

It’s a good sign for Louisville. If not for Stephan Van Treese.

* * * * *

There are probably only three or four more of you who care about hockey than do about soccer.

But, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention tonight’s fascinating Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. LA’s Kings skated to a 3-0 lead, but the New Jersey Devils have won the last two, causing, I’m sure, trepidation in the hocky hotbed of Hollywood.

* * * * *

I think tennis analyst Mary Carillo is as good a commentator as there is for any sport.

In case you never watch tennis, that’s her sport. She and bad boy John McEnroe were a joy to listen to during the French Open.

* * * * *

Manny Pacquiao — He’s a boxer — was apparently jobbed big time by the official scorekeepers in his fight over the weekend with Timothy Bradley. He lost a split decision in a match that apparently every objective observer felt he won easily.

Which I mention simply to emphasize that boxing is one of two former major sports that have significantly lost their luster in the last half century.

The other that few care much about is . . .

* * * * *

. . . horse racing.

Generally sports fans around the land could care less for the “Sport of Kings,” except around here, where the Derby is the social event of the year. You don’t see Trish and Cyb having a big soiree the night before Selection Sunday, do you?

Which is to say, it’s really only mildly annoying that I’ll Have Another was scratched from the Belmont, and retired from racing. (At the height of his breeding value, I might observe.)

Given the shady rep of the horse’s trainer, one wag I heard wondered whether the thoroughbred needed to enter drug rehab, like some equine Lindsay Lohan.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/06/11/monday-musings-devils-on-the-diamond-in-group-d-mo/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/05/29/tuesday-titters-technicals-tires-ticked-off-top-trio/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/05/29/tuesday-titters-technicals-tires-ticked-off-top-trio/#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:28 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=7632 Revised 5/29 1:27 pm

The Celtics, who have experienced their last hurrah for this season, though they have three games left to play, were teed up 5 times last night?

Did it cost them the opener in their conference final against Miami?

Hardly. Boston is battered. From age. From a long season. From Miami, which is playing hungry.

The LeBrons, even without Chris Bosh, are playing with purpose. James and his South Beach runnin’ podner D Wade seem to have found symmetry on the court, knowing instinctively when one or the other needs to take charge. The Heat will be playing in the Finals.

I’m not sure if all those Beantown technicals indicate a team on the brink of falling apart? Or a trio of zebras with rabbit ears? Or both?

What I do know is that the Celts are not going to win a game in this series if Ray Allen only goes 3/7 from the line and 1/7 from the field. Period.

* * * * *

The inevitable demise of the Boston’s Big Three — forget Rajon Rondo for a moment — due to age and battle fatigue, got me to thinking. Which NBA team still eligible for this year’s title has the top trio?

I know it’s no longer Garnett, Pierce and Allen.

It could be James, Wade and anybody else on the Heat, even if Bosh doesn’t make it back. (Though my guess is he’ll suit up for the Finals.)

Durant, Westbrook and Perkins form a formidable triad for the Thunder.

But my vote goes to the also aging but still resonating Alamo Amigos: Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Rejuvenated after a couple of seasons in which the former champs weren’t legit contendas, the Spurs are back. Seems like they haven’t lost since George Gervin wore the black and silver. (Actually they’ve won ONLY 19 in a row. The Lakers beat them on April 11. Nobody’s outscored them since.)

The Western Finals are truly compelling. A cowboy, run and gun shootout. The young guns from Oklahoma. The grizzled and wily hot shots from Texas. I like both teams, but find myself cheering for San Antonio. They just play the game. Without ego. Without chest thumps. With style.

Okie City will win a title soon enough. Just not this year.

* * * * *

For the first time ever, I watched the Grand Prix of Monaco on Sunday morning. I’ve never been much fascinated with F1 racing, at least Monaco which is the only one I’ve ever paid even the slightest bit of attention to. Because it seems like the guy on the pole always wins, given how difficult it is to pass on Monte Carlo’s narrow streets.

What I concentrated on when watching this year was how difficult it is to master those corners and speed changes and braking distances. How physically demanding that driving must be for 78 laps. Pretty stunning actually. And, obviously, more difficult than driving in circles. (Though doing that at 200 mph takes plenty of talent.)

What I didn’t understand was how the F1 drivers can control those vehicles so adroitly with bald tires. Until my F1 support guy, George Jefferson (Not his real name but, yes, the fellow you’ve seen chicaning through Floyds Knobs at speeds way beyond the speed limit.), explained that it’s about getting the most rubber on the road for better traction. Any tread in the tire eliminates some contact.

While the new Indy Car setups this year made for much more passing, for the first time ever, I was a little bored with the driving in circles.

* * * * *

And, crossing my last T for this Tuesday, I would be remiss if I didn’t call out UK baseball coach Gary Henderson.

After the one time #1 Cats didn’t get a top 16 NCAA tourney seed and were sent off to Gary, Indiana for a regional, Henderson didn’t mince words. “We got screwed,” said coach.

Hmmm. Well, coach, let’s see if your nine can prove it on the field.

– Seedy K

Special mention first goes to  . . . Seedy K. That would be me.

I’m the guy, who in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby called I’ll Have Another just a run of the mill horse with a name not worthy of success. Uh, wrong, Mr. Know Nothing About Horse Racing Breath.

I’m the guy who went to bed soon after the 2d half commenced, sure there was no way OKC would catch the LA Kobes in their Game 4 matchup last night. Uh, wrong, Mr. I’m A Hoopaholic Who Used To Stay Up For The Late Ones.

So, this morning, having downed a liquid only breakfast, given my problems with swallowing from a constricted throat, I sit before you, chastened but unbowed. I was far from the worst choker of the day.

The Top Five Countdown:

5. Bodemeister. Yeah, okay, the horse ran his race, said trainer, the silver-coiffed Bob Baffert, we simply got beat. But, I don’t know, his horse is sure beginning to look like Alydar to I’ll Have Another’s Affirmed impersonation. Meaning the winner simply wanted it more. Twice in a row in both the Derby and Preakness.

That’s not the only eery similarity to 1978. Jockey Mario Gutierrez was young and unknown just a few weeks ago. Kind of like Steve Cauthen. You remember him, right?

That’s the bad news. If form holds, there’s some good for Bodemeister. Alydar was a much better sire than Affirmed, who kind of shot blanks after retirement. This was before Viagra, understand? So, if that situation develops, Bode will be The Meister in the Boudoir. So he’ll have that goin’ for him. Which is nice.

4. The Los Angeles Kobes. Jack Nicholson’s favorite team was up 9 at home, heading into the 4th quarter. Then were outscored by a dozen to lose by three.

Kevin Durant, who, mark my words, someday might make us forget Kobe and Michael and Oscar and Elgin, drained a trey with :13 on the clock. Then Bryant missed his attempted touché shot and the deal was sealed.

The Lakers are on the brink of defeat in the Western semis, and becoming yesterday’s email.

3. Bastian Schweinsteiger. I know you could care less about soccer. (One of my loyal readers, a former dear and personal friend, referred to a recent exposition on Man City’s triumph in the Premier League as palaver. Palaver? You kiddin’ me.) Anyway, I get the point. So, I’ll be brief.

The second biggest sporting event in the world — World Cup Final is #1 — took place yesterday, the UEFA Champions League Final. Chelsea upset Bayern in a shootout. By chance, the game wasn’t played on a neutral pitch, but at the home of the losers in Munich.

The teams were tied after 90 minutes of play, stoppage and an additional 30 minutes of action. Shootout time. Knotted after four players from each side had shot, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Schweinstieger addressed the ball for his shot. Hesitated. Slipped perhaps. Then harmlessly hit the pole. Didier Drogba hit his. Chelsea celebrated its improbable W, while Schweinsteiger lay on the turf in disgrace.

2. Steve McCrillis. He’s the blind umpire who missed the call at third base in the 8th inning of U of L’s softball L to Michigan yesterday in the NCAA tourney. It would have been the 3d out of the inning. Let me rephrase that. It was the 3d out of the inning. Katelyn Mann clearly tagged Blue’s Ashley Lane. It wasn’t even a bang bang play.

McCrillis, by all accounts, should have been rushed to University Hospital for a severely blocked throat. This guy will be eating through a tube for weeks.

1. Los Angeles Griffins. Bad day for the City of Angels hoopsters. The Clippers led by 22 after the first. The Clippers gave up 24 points in a row to the seriously mature San Antonio Spurs in the 3d. The Clippers lost by ten. Meaning they were outscored by 32 in the last three quarters, by 20 in the second half alone.

– Seedy K

I just turned on the telly and caught the last couple seconds of Notre Dame’s impressive road W at UConn, which started at noon today (Sunday). And whom did I see under the hoop, wearing the traditional zebra stripes?

Jim Burr, that’s whom.

In case you haven’t been keeping track, he also called Saturday night’s U of L/ Seton Hall game in Newark, which ended after 10:00 pm.

Now, I know that it isn’t that arduous to get from Newark to Connecticut . . . but still. Burr is not some twentysomething who can party all night and get up at the crack of dawn for work, slap on some after shave and be fresh for the tasks ahead. There is no way he could have all his faculties for a second game in a half day.

In fact, he made that inexplicable call Saturday night, aiding the Cardinals last night. What should have been a T against U of L for calling a timeout it didn’t have, Burr blew his whistle, stopped play, then gave the ball back to the Cards out of bounds, ignoring that an attempt was made right in front of him to call a timeout the team didn’t have.

Despite that obvious fatigue, he was back at it a half a day later calling an important Big East game.

Exhibit 2: The lead official in yesterday’s West Virginia vs. Syracuse encounter was Karl Hess. This is the game that fell in the Orange’s favor, when the zebras missed as obvious a goal tending call as I can ever recall. Had the correct call been made, the Mountaineers would have tied the game with seconds to play at the Carrier Dome. Instead, they lost.

It was Karl Hess’s 21st game in the last 26 days.

It’s not like he was getting up in the same bed every morning and taking the same route to sit at the same desk. Hotels. Airports. Cabs. Airport food. Fitful sleep. Lots of waiting.

The college game deserves better. Much better. Fatigued refs are changing the course of the season.

* * * * *

I’m now watching the final games of the replay of Novak Djokovic’s win in the Australian Open.

The level of tennis he and Rafa Nadal are playing in the fifth set after almost six hours of play is extraordinary. The World Wide Leader has already dubbed this an “Instant Classic.” It says so right in the corner of the screen.

Who am I to disagree?

At 5:53, it was the longest major final in the open era. By almost an hour. And for the winner, it came with a day’s less rest time than Nadal, after ND’s five set/ five hour semi W over Andy Murray.

I guess at some point, I’m going to have to watch the whole match. I’m sure ESPN will milk it for all its worth.

* * * * *

Tiger Woods was stared down by a never heard of named Robert Rock in the HSBC Championship.

Well, Abu Dhabi doo.

The Messiah finished in a tie for 3d, after being tied for the lead, heading into the last day of play.

All together now . . . Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/01/29/sunday-sniping-zebras-run-amok-tennis-transcendence-tiger-rocked/feed/ 5 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/09/26/mmqb-926-tide-tigers-ten-million-1-extra-point/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/09/26/mmqb-926-tide-tigers-ten-million-1-extra-point/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:22:26 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6896 One Wafer Thin Point. My guess is you’re figuring I’m about to tee off on the ever incompetent Big East officiating for screwing Toledo out of an extra point and W on Saturday against Syracuse.

Not so fast, my friends. There’s plenty of time for that.

The point I’m talking about is that scored by Richard Dunne in the Premier League. Dunne set an all-time record when he tallied an own goal for his squad’s opponent. It was the 9th time in his career he tallied one for the other squad. The goal cost his team a W. Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers ended up knotted at 1 apiece.

I wonder how many guys have had long, well-regarded careers in big time soccer and not scored 9 goals for their own teams?

An Extra Point. Okay it’s time to tee off on the ever incompetent Big East officiating for screwing Toledo out of a game-winning extra point Saturday against Syracuse.

The Orange clearly missed their last point after. The zebra said it was good. The replay official confirmed the obviously incorrect ruling.

The score should have been 29-27, not 30-27. Thus, when the Rockets hit a late game FG, they should have been winners 30-29. Instead they had to go to OT, where they lost.

The one good thing about the inevitable folding of the Big East is that schools won’t have to put up the absurdly bad refereeing anymore.

Senator Boren, Please Don’t Listen. As a U of L fan, loathe to piss off the obviously powerful, real and true Supreme Commander Sooner Nation David Boren — Sorry, Schnell — I must say this about Oklahoma’s really good football team.

It is not the best in the land.

Alabama is #1. They held Bobby Petrino’s offense to a smidge over 200 yards on Saturday.

LSU is #2. While beating West Virginia isn’t earth shattering. The Tigers did it so convincingly in Morgantown that they must be given their due.

After that duo comes a group with the Sooners, the Badgers and a few others on the contender/ pretender cusp.

Les Miles visits Sabanville on 11/05.

Big Orange Weekend. I spent much of it at the Idea Festival, with its orange color scheme. And I’ve mentioned how the Syracuse Orange stole one from Toledo.

But how about those big Ws by Clemson, at home over the Seminoles, and Okie State, on the road against the Texas Aggie 12? By the by, Clemson’s orange visits Virginia Tech Saturday. The Hokies were orange sometimes, don’t they?

Pop Quiz. Identify Bill Haas.

Okay, time’s up.

He’s not Rick Neuheisel’s replacement at UCLA. He’s not the new Big 12 commissioner. He did not set a rushing record for East Virginia State in a FCS game.

He can however now buy and sell you and me and most all of our close and personal friends. He won the Fed Ex Cup bonus yesterday. Which means he’ll be depositing $10 million in his bank account today.

My golfing guru, Smart Guy, tried to explain the Fed Ex Cup to me. It’s like the Breeder’s Cup of the PGA. And, given how few of us could ID Bill Haas, no more popular.

Heisman Watch. Yes, I know I’m a hater of this meaningless post-season award. Doesn’t mean I won’t use it to feed my blog though.

My favorite remains South Carolina DL Melvin Ingram. The guy scored his 3d TD of the season Saturday against Vandy. A defensive end. Three touchdowns. In four games.

I’ve also got my eye on another pigskinner under the radar. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III has thrown 13 TD tosses on the year. Really good, but not that extraordinary. Except when you consider he’s only thrown 12 incomplete passes.

QB Conundrums. Who do you think is having a worse time of it these days? Dayne Crist and Tommy Rees, who have to deal with petulant, irascible F-Bomb Kelly at Notre Dame? Or Connor Shaw and Stephen Garcia who must deal with tempestuous Ol’ Ball Coach at South Carolina?

Next for Big East. Why not Temple?

– Seedy K

That would be photographer Marcio Jose Sanchez, whose photo of Abby Wambach’s tying header in the 122d minute of yesterday’s incredible US over Brazil World Cup match, is arguably the greatest sports photo ever.

I’d cut and paste it here, but it belongs to the Associated Press, and there’s all this copyright stuff and fees involved, so I’ll just link you to it. It can be viewed here. You can also view it on page C7 of Monday morning’s Courier-Journal, and probably a lot of other places if you google it.

Not only does it capture the essence of this pivotal moment in one of the great soccer games of all time, but it is just about perfect aesthetically. Amazing composition.

Check it out. Give it a good look. It’s as stunning as the play itself.

* * * * *

Abby Wambach is getting her due for the amazing score that changed the game.

Just as important, arguably more, was Megan Rapinoe’s thirty yard, cross field, left-footed, right on the money assist. Advising she’d never made such a play before, she offered, “I took a touch and smoked it.”

No shit.

* * * * *

How sweet yesterday’s W must be for American goalie Hope Solo. (Is that a great name, or what?)

Four years ago, she had the audacity to call out the dumbass US coach, who pulled her from between the pipes before a match with Brazil. The South Americans won that one, 4 nil. It wasn’t that close.

That coach’s name is Greg Ryan. Fortunately he was nowhere to be seen on the sidelines yesterday.

But Solo was back. After being kicked off the team for her insolence, she was granted reinstatement. Smart move. Since her return, she’s 5-0 against Brazil, and only lost one game in goal for the US.

* * * * *

I am no expert on soccer, though my love for the game has grown in recent years.

I, frankly, have watched little women’s soccer, though I did attend that US vs. Brazil game at Papa John’s years ago.

One difference my untrained eyes would note is that it is less technical than the men’s game. By that I mean there are many more long passes down field, with teams looking for quick hits. Rather than a slower, more methodical, more gradual, short pass attack.

* * * * *

While I’m sure glad the US won, I do feel really sorry for Daiane, the Brazilian player who gave the US an own goal a mere minute into the match. Then her PK was stopped by Solo, giving the US the W.

Not a good day for her.

* * * * *

I’m not going to jump on the jingoistic dissing of the referee.

I’ve seen two athletic contests in my life where I believe the refs changed the outcome. They were both long ago, not yesterday.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/07/11/sanchez-solo-rapinoe-thoughts-on-the-states-stunner-over-brazil/feed/ 1 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/03/21/knowles-syndrome-zebras-in-the-spotlight-basketballmanac-1st-weekend-review/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/03/21/knowles-syndrome-zebras-in-the-spotlight-basketballmanac-1st-weekend-review/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:52:04 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6423 Preston Knowles sadly ended his career, injured, watching from the bench as his Cards folded against Morehead State. How were he and we to know his inopportune blunder from a few weeks prior would foretell the ending of the most cockamamie game in the tourney’s storied history?

Turn the dial just a smidge on the Not So Way Back Machine to 3/05/11. U of L kicks away the regular season finale in Morgantown. Knowles, playing with his usual aggressiveness, boneheadedly fouls Truck Bryant at the game’s end, who hits two FTs, allowing the Mountaineers to escape in regulation.

Which brings us to the stunner known as Butler beats Pitt.

What was Shelvin Mack thinking?

What was Nasir Robinson thinking?

Talk about that unbelievable finish all you want. But, when doing so, do not forget to consider the incredible winning play drawn up by Brad Stevens. Simple. Brilliant. Well Thought Out. Well Executed.

As a reader wrote to me, it was “Crumesque.”

* * * * *

I’ve got one word for you.

Brandon Knight.

* * * * *

As I mentioned in my NCAAs A-Z last week, Z is for Zebras.

And, looky there, Jim Burr as part of the no call that ended the Arizona/ Texas game. There sure coulda — shoulda? — been a foul on that follow shot at the buzzer. Which would have put the Longhorns at the line.

It’s the least Zebra Richard Cartmell could have done after that mighty, mighty quick 5 second call which gave Arizona the ball, resulting in the winning tally.

* * * * *

Have to admit that the added three teams have added some spice to the Dance.

Thank you, Virginia Commonwealth.

I made a note to complain about the disservice to Clemson, which had to play late Tuesday night in Dayton, then travel through the night for a noon Thursday date with West Virginia.

Then Ram-alama-ding-dong VCU proved that to be of little consequence. They battered Southern Cal, whose cheer squad was sorely missed the rest of the weekend, and shall continue to be so for the remainder of the tourney. Then pummeled a depleted Georgetown team two nights later. Then drew and quartered a totally out of sync Purdue squad.

Take that, Jay Bilas.

Guess I’ll have to check out the sports pages of the Richmond papers. Spiders survive. VCU survives. Heady times in Ol’ Virginny.

* * * * *

March Madness. Indeed.

An #8 seed is still alive. A #10 seed is still alive. Two #11 seeds are still alive. And a #12 seed.

Contemplate this, Joe Lunardi. Either Florida State or Virginia Commonwealth is going to make it to the Elite Eight.

* * * * *

One of the great benefits of the new tourney format is that we don’t have to watch as much studio stuff. It’s a really good thing.

I will admit that Sir Charles Barkley has been a disappointment.

I did see the moment last night when he was dissing the Big Least. It was obvious he really got under the skin of guest expert Rick Pitino. Who proceeded to guarantee a Notre Dame W over Florida State. Oops.

I love listening to Reggie Miller do a game. Great insight and perspective.

It’s time to move on from Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg as the #1 announcing crew. They’re far from the best of the lot.

* * * * *

The Big East’s lack of overwhelming success is not a surprise to me. The only stunners really are Louisville’s loss, and Notre Dame’s lame-O effort last night against the Seminoles.

* * * * *

Finally, have you read what larrybrownsports.com has reported about our old nemesis TWill and his reaction to the U of L loss:

After the loss Thursday, Williams tweeted “Hhahaha morehead st what is that? I remember when we played guys like that was scared to look at us on the court man times have changed.” After getting some criticism, he added “Why these half a** ville fans mad at me I didn’t loose the game all I said was we beat teams like that they didn’t have that same passion.”

For somebody who didn’t show up in his last game, the biggest one of his career, the loss to Michigan State, you’d think the guy would keep his yap shut.

– Seedy K