Return of the Referees

We can all breathe a "Sigh" of relief. The NBA it looks like will have its refs back for if not the opening game then sometime shortly thereafter. According to multiple reports, there is a tentative agreement in place that will allow them to return to the game that...well...we all have at least an interest in.

The league has been playing there exhibition season with replacement refs. Guys who...well apparently have been somewhat less than successful in their jobs to this point. There have been multiple coaches ejected, players fined and others just generally angry over the job...or what they would say is the lack of a job that the "Replacements" have done.

The story from David Aldridge of NBA.COM HERE.

((Real Refs Photo//Courtesy: Garrett W. Elwood/NBA Entertainment/Getty))

The season starts its 10 month run beginning, I believe next week, so they better get this going here pretty soon. As we all know, they play such meaningful games in the NBA in November so that one team will be able to say that they won it all by the end of July. Whooops...sorry the sarcasm is flowing a bit stronger than normal this morning...but you know what I am talking about here.

Remeber our friends the "Replacement" refs with this...a clip from one of our favorite movies and to use the title from the legendary Shane Falco..."Pain Heels"...Courtesy: YouTube

Steve Phillips may be in Trouble

If you are ESPN Baseball analyst Steve Phillips, what would your next step be? Your wife probably doesn't want anything to do with you since you are apparently just getting over an affair with a "former" Production Assistant; who by the way was 22-years old. Said 22-year old, after you "Broke-Up" with her, decided to flip out and began "Harassing" the family according to published reports.

The story from the New York Post HERE.

((Steve Phillips Photo//Courtesy: New York Post))

Well, really, you don't want to be Mr. Phillips right now, for starters he was suspended for a week by his employers at the "4-Letter Word" who probably should not be surprised about this story since it was alleged that the reason Phillips was...shall we say..."asked" to leave the New York Mets in 2005 and was alleged to have had "multiple" dalliances with female staffers. This one apparently went off the deep end after the relationship ended. She was apparently calling Phillips' wife on the phone and threatening her and according to the story in the post, may have posed as a classmate of his 16-year old son and "Friended" him on Facebook...all in an attempt to get to the family. (We will try and find a clip from Fatal Attraction at the end of this)

Not that Phillips would be the first at the "Global Headquarters" in Bristol to have a...shall we say fling with a staffer. There is a bit of history there...including such luminaries as Harold Reynolds having issues with staffers of the opposite sex. One can hope that the folks there will be more dillagent and aware of such things, but we suspect not.

Well, we weren't able to post an actual video clip from the movie, so enjoy this clip from BravoTV's 100 Scaries Movie Moments show which talks about the movie, Courtesy: YouTube

SUNY Investigating Bearcats Hoops Program, Orders Records Protection

((HT: CBS Sports))

Binghamton Chancellor Nancy Zimpher issued the order this week as part of an investigation headed by former state Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who has been given wide latitude.

SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl Hayden said that because of Zimpher's immediate action, the NCAA and the America East conference have agreed not to start their own investigations at this time.

Hayden said there would be no "artificial time constraints" on Kaye's investigation, which is now focusing on developing a witness list.

"The investigation is going to proceed without there being any kind of restraints from us," Hayden said, referring to the SUNY Board of Trustees. "It will go where the evidence takes it. It will deal with the integrity of the basketball program, but the charge is sufficiently broad to permit Judge Kaye and her colleagues to look into anything which by implication flows from the facts that are found here."

Here's coverage from our friends at WBNG-TV
Candace Chapman got the pleasure of reading this VO-SOT...


The chain of events that triggered the probe began in February after a newspaper report raised questions about the character of players coach Kevin Broadus had recruited to the basketball program.

Also on Tuesday, the SUNY Board's Executive Committee unanimously supported the hiring of Monica Rimai as its new chief operating officer and senior vice chancellor.

She had been the interim president at the University at Cincinnati since Zimpher left earlier this year.

Those of us at OSG HQ would like for you to remember where Zimpher and Rimai came from before they were in Binghamton...

Cincinnati...and neither took any crap from Bob Huggins...

You think Broadus will have a job when all this is done...???

Former Bulldog Bierria Up On Murder Charge

((HT: nola.com/Adelson))

St. Tammany Parish deputies arrested former NFL player Terreal Bierria ((mugshot from St. Tammany Parish police is the picture)) for the murder of Soron Salter.

"We know that drugs was involved," St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said Tuesday. "We believe that the altercation began over the drugs. We think that was the first blow was from what we believe was a knife."

Bierria is charged with first-degree murder. He's being held in the St. Tammany Parish Jail without bond.

Bierria and Salter were childhood friends, investigators said, and played football together at Salmen High School. Bierria went from Salmen to the University of Georgia, then played two seasons as a defensive back with the Seattle Seahawks, in 2002 and 2004.

Bierria hasn't said word one to police...
Apparently, police uncovered a boatload of cocaine and a possible murder weapon in the house where Salter was found...

Those of us at OSG HQ now show another example of what can happen to athletes when they go home after a career goes bust...

Sad...

TV 101: The Cameras Are Always Rolling...

((HT: CSN Philadelphia))

This is what happens when you're sitting behind the adult table and you're waiting for the game to get over...

All in the name of a post-game wrap-up show in which you're waiting to talk about a Dodger win- unless it's a Dodger loss...

Michael Barkann, Ricky Bottalico, and Dutch are sitting from left to right...


You see Daulton's reaction...???
How cool it was...???

Actually, he knew it had already happened in one of his alternate dimensions...
That's why he was so nonchalant...

Questions About Kazemi Relationship With Gilliam Continue

((HT: Tennessean/Howard))
Armen Keteyian's piece on CBS News reported that Kazemi and Adrian Gilliam Jr., had not just known each other for a few weeks but we’re exchanging phone calls almost daily and hundreds of text messages in the weeks before she died.

"Gilliam has been interviewed more than once, and due to the pending criminal matter against Gilliam, law enforcement is not at liberty to discuss the statements,” Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said.

The US Attorney's Office, pretty much, said the same thing...

WTVF-TV/Newschannel5's Ben Hall got to travel around town to get varying degrees of insightful sound on the Keteyian piece...


Here's Part 2 of the Keteyian story from "The Early Show"

Those of us at OSG HQ are still waiting for all the answers...

Tuesday Update: Jasper Howard Homicide

Stepfather Henry Williams spoke to reporters Tuesday.

He expressed gratitude for outpouring of love and support the family has received from the Connecticut community since 20-year-old Jasper Howard was stabbed to death early Sunday morning outside a university-sponsored dance.

Williams says Howard loved UConn and considered the team his second family. He is asking UConn players to take a moment to grieve, and then play the rest of the season for his son.

Howard's mother, Joangila, did not speak, and had to leave the room during Williams' remarks when she was overcome with emotion.

From WTNH-TV:
Crystal Haynes was on campus earlier in the day for the UConn moment of silence...


Tina Detelj was on campus again today as the family came forward...

UC's Pike Has Surgery On Arm Again

University of Cincinnati Head Football Coach Brian Kelly confirmed Tuesday during his weekly news conference that starting quarterback Tony Pike had surgery earlier in the day to repair a broken left arm.

Kelly said the next 48 hours are crucial to whether or not Pike will be able to play Saturday against Louisville.

"It's going to depend on the next 48 hours," Kelly said. "He cannot go out there if he can't protect himself. We can't put him in a position where he can't feel comfortable in protecting himself. The last time (he had surgery), it took two weeks for us to feel he was ready to go. We're hoping that process is accelerated. That's why we're not going to rule him out for Saturday night now."

Here's coverage from WCPO-9 in Cincinnati


Pike's status is, officially, listed as day-to-day...
Aren't we all...

Congress Really Doesn't like the BCS

Though the 2 main political parties in our current system of Government can't seem to agree on very many things, there apparently is at least one thing that a group of Democrats and Republicans can agree that they don't like; it's the BCS, College Footballs Bowl Championship Series. According to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) Utah, Rep. Neil Abercrombie(D) Hawaii and Rep. Joe Barton (R) of Texas, the system is "Inherently flawed".

The story from CBSNews HERE

We have discussed this many times here on the OSG and our postition hasn't changed. While we agree that the BCS is "A Joke" and has about "A Million Flaws", it isn't going to get changed, whether the blowhards in Congress; who by the way all seem to represent teams who feel that they were wronged by the system. There is way TOO MUCH MONEY involved for it to ever change again. Much like the pro game, it is controlled now by the networks...or now more specifically the 4-Letter Word (ESPN), who paid a gazillion dollars for the right to do the games. Because of that, they have enough influence on EVERY level to push the teams that they want in the game and that it will be the game that gives THEM the best ratings.

Trust us when we say, it will be an issue again this season. Boise State and possibly Cincinnati and maybe even TCU are going to survive the season undefeated. Will they get to play in the Championship game...NO. It will be the SEC vs. either USC or Texas...watch...trust us, that is your BCS Championship game. Call us out if we are wrong.

It's a system that automatically rewards the teams from the so-called "Power" conferences, whether they've earned it or not. But there are other things that create these problems. Pre-Season polls, which often reward "NAME" schools before they ever play a game and make it tough for teams not in the Top 10 to get "IN".

Is there a better way to do all of this; sure there is. There have been plenty of ideas floated that will work better. Will they be adopted? Probably not. Will Congress step in? Maybe, though they have MUCH, MUCH more important things they should be dealing with.

The man in charge chimed in late last year: Courtesy: CBS News/You Tube


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Monday PM Update: Jasper Howard Homicide

((HT: Hartford Courant/Altimari, Owens, Dempsey))

Police have questioned -- but not arrested -- a Bloomfield man about his possible role in the stabbing death of a University of Connecticut football player over the weekend, a Hartford attorney said.

Deron Freeman said he represents a man who was questioned Sunday in connection with the killing of Jasper Howard. He declined to identify his client, but did say he is one of four men UConn police view as "main suspects."

UConn police arrived at the man's home Sunday and asked him to follow them back to Storrs for questioning, Freeman said Monday night. "He voluntarily submitted himself to questioning," the lawyer said.

The man's family contacted Freeman on Sunday because "police were questioning him for quite some time," Freeman said. He contacted police, told them he represented the man and told them to stop questioning him.

He said he believes that his client will be arrested. UConn police said they "had evidence connecting my client to the stabbing," Freeman said. "They said they had an eyewitness."

A hearing was held earlier Monday for 21-year-old Johnny Hood, who was arrested for breaching the peace at the same party, but his representation claims that Hood was simply at the "wrong place at the wrong time."

WTNH's Erin Cox reports that one of the UConn football players attending the party actually pointed Hood out as someone involved in the melee on campus.

Tina Detelj's piece starts team coverage for WTNH-TV


Followed by John Pierson's piece


UConn players will be available for the first time to address the death of Jasper Howard at their Tuesday media availability.

Lowder Profile: Warts And All

He was the booster behind Jetgate, the hiring and firing of Auburn coaches and administrators almost at will and snap of the fingers, and he's also in charge of the 6th largest failure of a bank in US history...

The third largest this year...

Fortune's Brian O'Keefe takes a big look at Bobby Lowder... it's a cool read...
We'll try to confirm or contest anything O'Keefe unearthed in the next few days...

Nothing like breaking down the loss of $164-million in paper as Colonial stock went in the toilet...

From O'Keefe:
Federal investigators are tightlipped, but they appear to be focusing on Colonial's warehouse-lending business. Warehouse lending involves extending short-term lines of credit to mortgage brokers so that they in turn can make individual loans, which are then sold, packaged, and securitized.

Over the past decade Colonial had become the biggest warehouse lender in the country. Warehouse lending allowed Colonial to rake in generous fees for keeping loans on its books for a short time. But it required immense amounts of paperwork to track the underlying loans. And that paper trail could be crucial evidence for investigators.

"What they're looking for is whether or not Colonial was way undercapitalized before they submitted the TARP application, and as a consequence was the balance sheet fraudulent," says Tony Plath, a banking professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an industry consultant. "That's one issue: Did they write down their loan book fast enough? And then No. 2, Did they take proper collateral with the loan positions they had outstanding to brokers? And I'm guessing they didn't."

Oops...
Here was the latest revelation in the whole Lowder-Colonial implosion...
Now, the former chairman is getting sued for $50-million that we're sure he doesn't have just laying around in small bills these days...
((HT: WNCF-TV/Montgomery))

Keteyian: Metro Case On McNair Has Holes

We're just going to let this go on its own merit and investigation for now...
It was on CBS' "The Early Show"

Here's Part One

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Metro police defend their position- naturally...

Spokesman Don Aaron told WKRN-TV that CBS must not have considered proceedings during Gilliam's guilty plea in Nashville Federal Court, when the suspect stipulated in a statement-of-fact that his gun was sold to Kazemi on July 3, the day before the murder-suicide.

Aaron said originally investigators believed the purchase was made on July 2 because of what they were told initially during interviews. He said the date was later updated during subsequent interviews.

He said the initial error of when Kazemi purchased the gun "does not make any difference" because both dates came after the DUI arrest, and remain consistent with police beliefs that she was despondent over her relationship endings with McNair.

Here's News2's story from Monday
Chris Bungaard got to stand outside LP Field in Nashville for his report...


Those of us at OSG HQ tend to back up Brad Hopkins on this one...
No, a lot of things don't make sense- still- four months later...
We still have questions on logistics and such, but Keteyian's Part Two better come with the hammer... or it's sound and fury signifying nothing...

Dead Man Walking: Zorn Surrenders Play-Calling

To the consultant hired only two weeks ago from his drive to the Bingo hall...

Washington Redskins coach Zorn announced Monday that the front office "strongly suggested" that he yield his play-calling duties to a consultant hired only two weeks ago. While he didn't say he was given an ultimatum, Zorn said he would comply with the request "because I want to stay here and win."

"Sometimes we have to do things that are uncomfortable," Zorn said.

Yeah, like coach under Daniel Snyder...

Zorn received the news in a meeting with front office chief Vinny Cerrato.

Receiver Antwaan Randle El called the move to Lewis "a little weird."

"Some guys weren't even kind of sure who he was," Randle El said. "But that's just because they didn't get around and try to talk to him. But again it just kind of goes back to shaking things up."

Here's the Zorn presser at the Park...
((HT: Myfoxdc/WTTG-TV))


Those of us at OSG HQ feel for the guy. We always enjoyed his work as a QB in Seattle, and his offensive play-calling worked as a coordinator.

But, then, you become coach after only two weeks as the OC and you now see how difficult it is to work for and with Snyder and Cerrato... It's only a matter of time before Zorn is let go- and he gets to reclaim his life and successes off the field.

Somewhere else...

Not A Shock: Detroit WNBA Franchise Heading To Tulsa

And Nolan Richardson will be the coach and the GM...

Those of us at OSG HQ figured he'd resurface somewhere, but not necessarily there...

An official with the Detroit Shock, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday its WNBA team is moving to Tulsa.

The Shock has been in Detroit since 1998 and has won three WNBA titles -- in 2003, 2006 and 2008. Last month, the team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals after rallying to earn a playoff spot.

A group of investors has been seeking to bring a WNBA team to Tulsa and just last week filed the official paperwork seeking a team.

A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning local time...

We'd just like to know if anyone has told current Shock coach Rick Mahorn about the sale and move...???

Just axin'...
((HT: KTUL-TV/Tulsa))

Monday Update: Jasper Howard Homicide

((HT: WTNH-TV))

The medical examiner says that a single stab wound to the abdomen killed Jasper Howard, a University of Connecticut football player. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made and police say they have no suspects in the case.

Howard's death has been ruled a homicide.

The star cornerback died Sunday following an altercation outside a homecoming party on the Storrs campus. He was 20-years old and was expecting his first child.

"I have two children of my own, but I got 105 other sons," UConn Head coach Randy Edsall said. "And one of my sons have been taken away."

19-year old Brian Parker, a red shirt freshman on the UConn football squad was also stabbed. Parker was treated and released from an area hospital.

Anyone with information on what happened is asked to call UConn police at 860-486-4800. The state police major crimes squad is assisting with the investigation.

Marc Robbins is live on the campus in Storrs...
((HT: WTNH-TV))


Brian Bennett from ESPN reports that Edsall said one player had held Howard in his arms after the stabbing while another tried to address the wound and became covered with blood. Those two players may not be mentally ready to play West Virginia Saturday.

Understandable... completely understandable.

West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart said that Howard will be honored in some way in Morgantown at the game Saturday afternoon.

Dante Wesley Auditions For NORAD

You'll see what we mean here in a second...

To say the penalty was "fair catch interference" is putting it lightly...

Those of us at OSG HQ know he'll be getting a phone call Monday from the league office. If Wesley had launched himself two or three inches higher, the Bucs Clifton Smith would have been more seriously injured than he was...

When was the last time someone was lucky just to have a concussion...
((HT: NFL on Fox))

Oy, Vey! Knicks Host Maccabi Tel Aviv

And the coach won't go...
A rabbi intervened and everything...

Seems like the head coach for Maccabi has about as much respect for the replacement officials as Larry Brown did the other night...

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at NBA TV...
FOSG Beau Estes has your voiceover...

TWTW: Gobblers Seeing Yellow After 28-23 Loss

((HT: AJC/Roberson))

No. 19 Georgia Tech made history at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday by defeating No. 4 Virginia Tech 28-23,the first time Tech defeated a top 5 team at home since it defeated No. 1 Alabama 7-6 in 1962.

"I told the team today that there were some things that mattered about the game and some things that didn't," Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson said. "Where they were ranked, and the 0-17, and who thought they were going to win, none of that mattered because you don't get any points for that. What mattered is who was going to block and tackle the best and who was going to take care of the ball and play the hardest."

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at ESPNU/ESPN2


Now all Georgia Tech has to do is beat division-leader Virginia at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville- a place they haven't won in since 1990...
Anyone remember Scott Sisson...???

Some guy named Nantz called play-by-play for that game...
((HT: CBS Sports/CFA))

UConn player killed in on-campus stabbing

STORRS -- Tragedy has struck the UConn Huskies, a day after defeating Louisville 38-25.

Junior cornerback Jasper Howard, who started all 13 games last year at cornerback as a true sophomore and also led the Big East in punt returns, was stabbed and killed in a fight that happened on campus after the game.

According to Scott Powers with the Hartford Courant, the 20-yr old Howard "was taken to St. Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Coach Randy Edsall spent the night at St. Francis."

An emergency alert posted on the University's website says that the person who stabbed Howard is still at large at this time.

Police are asking anyone with information related to the stabbing to contact the University police at 860-486-4800.

Here's the latest story, thanks to our friends at WTNH NewsChannel 8:

Hokies Stung By Yellow Jackets In The "Battle Of The Techs"

They will never admit it, but when Georgia Tech defeated Virginia Tech Saturday 28-23, the powers that be in ACC said a collective "DAMN". The ACC is desperate to be at the adult table in the BCS and Virginia Tech was at least giving the league a place with the big boys.

Saturday Georgia Tech ended Virginia Tech's national championship dreams and the ACC's chance for a trip to Pasadena.

Georgia Tech and Miami has one loss this year and should the Jackets and the Hurricanes win out, there's an outside shot, although extremely slim, that they could be in the BCS championship game picture. It would take 2 losses from Florida, Alabama and Texas for the ACC to get back to the big boy table and that's not going to happen.

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson could care less right now about his place at table.

"I'll let everyone else figure that out." Johnson said.

But the ACC does and Virginia Tech's loss Saturday is a major hit to the league's reputation.

Photo Courtesy: John Bazemore/AP