Monday, April 4, 2011

Who Wants The UNLV Gig?

[HT: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com/sports/hunt-to-replace-kruger-heats-up-119163399.html]

That's a good question. UNLV hasn't been it's glitziest self since Jerry Tarkanian was forced to leave the strip.


Rollie Massimino, Bill Bayno, Charlie Spoonhour and Lon Kruger couldn't make the Runnin' Rebels the best show in town like Tark did however, a trio of former players for Tark would like to give it a shot.


Reggie Theus wants the job. Theus had a successful yet brief tenure at New Mexico State leading the Aggies to an NCAA tournament appearance.


Dave Rice, who was on UNLV's Final Four teams in 1990, which won the national championship, and 1991 appears to be the leading candidate. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood has already met with Rice, who's an associate head coach at BYU.


The third former Runnin' Rebel to throw his hat in the ring is 1990 National player of the year Larry Johnson. That interview is coming soon I'm sure.


It appears that Bob Knight has expressed interest in the UNLV position. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is citing a source saying Knight is interested. Part of me would like to see Knight coaching in Las Vegas. You would have a most wins in NCAA history death match between Knight, who has 902 career wins and Mike Krzyzewski, who has 900 wins.


Kind of similar to Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden.


The OSG HQ wants to know if any Elvis impersonator have dropped off a resume.

Mr. Rodman goes to the Hall, will it ever be the same?

Dennis Rodman
((ht: nba.com))

Really? Dennis Rodman? To the Basketball Hall of Fame? Yeah, we know, he was a pretty good basketball player in his time. But he was mostly a rebounder and defender. Yes, we know he won a couple of titles with the Detroit Pistons.

But the man is a loon.

Now in the interest of equal time, we should mention that there were several others elected to Hall and announced to an astonished gathered media in Houston this morning.

Among those going in in Rodman's class: Chris Mullin, Tex Winter, Ron Magee, Artis Gilmore, Teresa Edwards, Arvydas Sabonis, former Globetrotter Goose Tatum and Satch Sanders.

But none of the aforementioned make you say "Huh?", like Mr. Rodman. All were good solid ballplayers and/or coaches who achieved varying levels of greatness and hopefully are well known to basketball fans and aficionados.

We won't even touch on his post-basketball accomplishments...or attempts at them. From Grade Z Movie Actor to the poster boy for celebrity death pools. We await the betting pool that forms asking the question

Dennis Rodman, member of the "Bad Boys" and human tatoo and piercing subject and now Basketball Hall of Famer. It just has a really odd sound to it.

All we can really say to this is "Can't wait for the induction ceremony"....

In the interim, Rodman actually got his number retired last week by the Detroit Pistons, here's some video of that ceremony:

Rooney Charged For Swearing, Could Sit For 2

Yes, we all know that Man U striker Wayne Rooney can be, shall we say, a little intense when he's playing on the pitch...

He did it again when he scored a hat trick over the weekend against West Ham
((HT: EPL/Youtube))


His corporate bosses were less than pleased...

He is facing a two-match ban...

"The FA has today charged Manchester United's Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language," the governing body said in a statement.

There was no comment from United, but defender Rio Ferdinand asked on his Twitter account: "So, just for clarification is swearing banned on the pitch totally??"

Rooney has until Tuesday to appeal. If he accepts the suspension/ban, he will miss the Premier League match against Fulham and the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City on April 16.

Sherrie Daly Is "Teed Off"

We all have books in us...

Whether written, thought out, or otherwise...

The HQ has written one (which, we'd like for you to buy), and apparently, John Daly's fourth wife has one out tomorrow detailing her life on the PGA Tour.

Here's Golf Digest catching up with Sherrie at her cover shoot...


There are a lot of stories about her time with John with some stories about what "really goes on inside the ropes." But, remember, in 2005 she served a five-month jail sentence on federal charges for an alleged drug and gambling ring.

Take her stories as you wish...

DEVELOPING: Shaka Staying At VCU

For now, anyway...

According to Gregg Doyel at CBS Sports, it looks like Rams AD Norwood Teague gets to keep his head coach for another year or so...

More when we know more...
Go hyah in the interim...

Your NFL Strike Update: Catching up on the stupidity (Rich vs. Rich--Day 23)

Hunter Hillenmeyer/Courtesy: chicago bears.com/getty images
When we left the dramatic soap opera that the parties represented prefer to call a lockout, there was not much going on.

That hasn't changed...much.

We did learn a few things, some of which have us scratching our collective heads. We suspect once you hear about them, you'll have a similar reaction.

On the heels of the NFL Owners claiming they'd be "Open to resuming negotiations"...comes this tidbit courtesy of ESPN's John Clayton. Though for some unexplained reason, it is buried at the end of his usually interesting column.

According to Mr. Clayton, the players had planned a meeting with the owners, set for March 28th to try and spend the week fixing things. Essentially, they sent a document to the judge hearing the April 6th lawsuit to say the NFLPA's (not a union) executive board would serve as the players advisors, the league said "No".

You can read Professor Clayton's column, but scroll to the end...it's RIGHT HERE

Meanwhile, back at Stately Wayne Manor, we found a story on Friday night, that again made us shake our collective heads.

Pro Football Talk relayed a story/column that former Chicago Bear Hunter Hillenmeyer posted on the NBC Chicago website.

In said story, Mr. Hillenmeyer said the NFLPA (Not a Union!) said "No" when the owners offered to release some, but not all of their financial information.

According to Mr. Hillenmeyer, the players said "No", not because they were afraid that if they were willing to even look at it, then the perception would be the players got what they wanted. Essentially, it was, as we've said from the beginning...all about the P.R.

Ooops, forgot to post a link to Hillenmeyer's full commentary, it's RIGHT HERE

It is amazing to us that with the rants and the obvious perception by most not involved with either side directly, that they are willing to openly admit and do the things they are doing. Are they stupid? Oh...wait, both sides think WE'RE stupid.

Sorry, this is idiotic. Why should anyone empathize with either side in this moronic argument. The players keep trying to play the "Shit-upon" card and quite honestly, nobody buys it. With the exception of the guys on the practice squad, the rest of you make more money than any of us ever will. If you ever showed even the slightest interest in investing, saving and spending your money wisely, you might have us....but you don't.

As for the owners. There is not a single rich person, and all owners are rich, alive on the planet that we will ever empathize with. It pains us to no end that in the NFL, much like in American business, its not enough to make a profit. You have to continue making more profit, eventually getting to the point of having to shit on everyone else to make sure that profit growth continues. Sorry, that's just fundamentally wrong. We fully realize that it is the economic system the country is founded on. But maybe, just maybe, that's the reason we are all in the mess we're now in.

Just sayin'.

We just want to remind everyone that you may end up with Replacements...so enjoy a clip from the aforementioned title/movie:

Frank Haith to go from UM to MU

Frank Haith/Courtesy: msn.foxsports.com
Interesting. Not the pick that we would've expected. Reports started trickling out late Sunday that Missouri is set to hire the University of Miami's Frank Haith to be their next basketball coach.

Haith has had some success in Coral Gables with an NCAA and NIT Tourney bids under his belt. He's a somewhat middling 126-94 at Miami, a lower tier ACC School.

You can read the report from the Kansas City Star RIGHT HERE

The Miami Herald reports a shorter version of the same story RIGHT HERE

Haith, for his part is a fairly well respected guy who has stabilized things in Miami, a program with barely a pulse before his arrival. They aren't a dominant team, and Haith never really came across as a rising coaching star.

It also speaks a bit to baskeball in the ACC if an ACC coach is willing to bolt for the greener(?) pastures of the Big 12/10.

After being spurned by now former coach Mike Anderson and used by Matt Painter to enhance his situation at Purdue, the options for Missouri were minimal. All-in-all, they probably did the best they were able to, knowing that a Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens would not be in their futures.

According to the KC Star newspaper, the only stumbling block is logistical. Any new contract with Haith must be signed off on by the Missouri Board of Curators. The Board called an emergency meeting for Monday night. It’s expected they will approve Haith becoming the next head coach.

Now, it's Miami's turn. Early returns have them chasing after K-State's Frank Martin.

1600 UPDATE: The University of Miami has released the following statements from important personnel

Tony Hernandez, Acting Director of Athletics
“Frank Haith has been a steady leader and made a positive impact on the University of Miami men’s basketball program. We want to wish him well at Missouri and will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.”

Donna E. Shalala, University of Miami President
“Coach Haith has been an outstanding member of our community. His integrity, leadership ability and commitment to young adults are exceptional. I will personally miss him and wish the entire Haith family the best in the years to come.”

TUESDAY UPDATE: Here's two more pieces of video work on the Haith hire...
((HT: NBCActionNews.com))


And, then, NBC41's Jack Harry is none too positive on the new guy...


The Curators guaranteed five years and $7.5-million plus $100,000 in deferred annual compensation, with a one-year automatic extension that would kick in on May 1, 2012.

Not popular at all...

Sunday, April 3, 2011

BREAKING: Okay, How Many Of You Had Texas A&M and UConn

First, Texas A&M knocks off Stanford in a frantic last thirty seconds in one semifinal for the NCAA women's title, and then Notre Dame follows that up with a 72-63 upset of UConn in the other semi-final.

It's the Irish and the Aggies in Indy...

Three-time Wade Trophy winner Maya Moore ((That's the Heisman for women's hoops)) bows out with her fourth career collegiate loss...

South Bend, Indiana native Skylar Diggins had a season-high 28, and Natalie Novosel had 22 to pace the winners.

"I thought they did a smart thing and drove it at us really hard, and they forced the officials to make a call one way or another. All the credit to them, and they made some incredible jumpshots. They've been a great team all year. It's their turn," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma admitted after the game.

Here's Notre Dame coverage from our friends at WSBT-TV in South Bend
 

More when we know more...
Here's early, quick coverage from our friends at KBTX-TV in Waco...

Yale's Mandi Schwartz Passes At 23

((HT: WTNH-TV New Haven))

Mandi Schwartz, the Yale women's hockey player who was the subject of a continent-wide search for a bone-marrow/cord blood donor, died Sunday after her battle with acute myeloid leukemia for almost two years. She was 23.

Schwartz, a Saskatchewan native, had a string of 73 consecutive games played at one point during her collegiate career. She found out in April of 2010 that the cancer, which had been in remission for a year previous, had returned.

Yale said marrow drives on behalf of Schwartz had added over four thousand people to donor registries in the U.S. and in Canada.

Here was an early piece on the fight and the marrow drive... with an in-depth interview...

Yale athlete needs bone marrow to live: wtnh.com



And here was an appearance on "Good Morning CT" also from WTNH...
((HT: Yale Athletics))

Indians Turn Triple Play, Avoid ChiSox Sweep

((HT: 3Sports/MLB/youtube))

The Indians scored seven runs on the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings and avoided a three-game White Sox sweep by beating Chicago 7-1...

Justin Masterson gave up 7 hits in seven innings pitched and got some help below. It was Cleveland's first triple play since Asdrubal Cabrera's unassisted one against Toronto on May 12, 2008.

Chicago had not hit into a triple play since April 22, 1978 at ((ironically)) Toronto.

Here's three the easy way with Carlos Santana playing first base...

Martin Truex, Junior's Hard Lick

((HT: NASCAR on FOX/nascar.com/youtube))

You know it's a bad day when...

You hit the SAFR barrier so hard, it has to be repaired...
Truex and Kasey Kahne collected themselves and the Martinsville racing stripes galore...


Looks like something just blew on the 56 and took the 4 with it...

Rod Phillips Hangs Up His Mic

After 37 years of calling the good and bad of the Edmonton Oilers ((More of the good early, and more of the bad late)), Rod Phillips hangs up his headset as the voice of the Oil this weekend.

We all have the soundtracks of our youth, and Phillips will be missed by a lot of hockey fans- not just the locals...

Here's his last TV interview from the Edmonton-LA Kings game a few days ago...
((HT: FSWest/NHL/youtube))


And the preview piece from the Oilers their ownselves...

UConn can...beat Kentucky that is, to go to the NCAA Finals

It wasn't pretty, but as they say "A Win is a Win". Particularly if it is in the national semi-finals and propels you into the NCAA Championship game.

And the Connecticut Huskies can say that's exactly what they did. They won, 56-55 over a Kentucky team that apparently couldn't hit the broad side of a barn...if they were standing next to it on Saturday night. The Wildcats shot a heart warming 9-32 in the 1st half, before getting a little better in half 2. Kemba Walker, as usual, led UConn with 18.

Your highlights from SI.com:




This sets up an interesting finals with UConn, a team that has had some issues this year and some issues with the NCAA. Issues that have yet to be fully addressed.

They'll play everyone's favorite Cinderella, Butler, who you really should probably stop calling "Cinderella", cause folks, they may not be the "Big Name" school, but those guys can play some hoops.

Tip off Monday is just after 9pm, for those looking to stay up late.

Butler beats VCU--They're back in the Finals, again

Well, somebody's dream run had to end. And last night, it was VCU's. Butler took advantage of a cold shooting night by VCU and came away with a 70-62 win.

It's a repeat performance for the Bulldogs, who as you all probably know, lost to Duke in one of the NCAA tournaments best Finals games in years.

So, rather than blather on with endless hyperbole about Butler and this and that, if you haven't seen them, just watch the highlights:

Thanks SI.com:



Here's some postgame from Butler's Ronald Nored, or "Norad" as he's referred to by some national types...
((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis))
 

And, apparently, Richmond cops had to release tear gas on an unruly crowd after the loss last night...
((HT: WTVR-TV Richmond))
 

Friday, April 1, 2011

Shyatt To Wyoming... Again...

((HT: KWGN-TV Cheyenne))

Larry Shyatt wasn't all that in his first run in Laramie, he went 19-9 and went to NIT of all things back in 1997-98. He then went to Clemson and was worse...

Now, Shyatt has returned for a five-year deal that will gets him a base salary of $190,000 per year, up $30,000 from former coach Heath Schroyer's annual base salary.

With incentives the deal could be worth $645,000 per year.

Those incentives must be huge...

Here's Cheyenne's report on the presser that won't happen until April 6

BREAKING: Oklahoma Set To Hire Lon Kruger As Head Coach

[HT: The Daily Oklahoman]

FOSG
Barry Tramel of the Daily Oklahoman cites multiple sources that UNLV head coach Lon Kruger is expected to be named head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.

After Buzz Williams turned down OU's offer earlier this week and decided to remain at Marquette it appears Kruger was Plan B. Kruger is expected to make between $2.2 million and $2.3 million per year.

He will return to the Big 12/10 conference where he was an outstanding player at Kansas State and then went on the coach the Wildcats. Those of us at the OSG HQ wonder what kind of direction is the OU program going? Hiring a 58 year old coach whose career has been mediocre at best doesn't make sense. Sure Kruger coached Florida to the 1994 Final Four but that's about the only success he's had. Those of us in the ATL have already forgotten Kruger's brief tenure as the Atlanta Hawks head coach.

So many good young coaches out there (Shaka Smart, Brad Stevens, etc.) and Oklahoma settles on a retread.

Good Luck.

Newsok's Dave Morris tracks down Tramel


Photo Courtesy: AP

Bonds Week 2: Case Crumbling...?

((HT: KGO-TV San Francisco))

Two witnesses went on the stand at the end of the second week of the Barry Bonds perjury trial- and, as like most of the case, the results were 50-50...

Bonds' former personal shopper and estranged friend, Kathy Hoskins, was something of a hostile witness. She told the jury that while at Bonds' house helping him pack for a 2002 road trip, she once saw Greg Anderson inject him with something in the belly button area. She said Bonds told her, "That's a little something something when I go on the road. Can't detect it. Can't catch it."

But then Dr. Arthur Ting returned to the stand and contradicted the testimony of Kathy's brother, Steve, who testified last week. Ting testified that conversations between him and Steve never happened to the depth and detail Steve testified to last week. He admitted to only one conversation, over the phone, where Steve asked for information about the side effects of anabolic steroids.

Here's Heather Ishimaru with your recap...


Yep, this is done...

Basketball Fight!: Mavericks vs. Lakers

We are guessing that they'll be some suspensions handed out after last nights Mavericks vs. Lakers game, a game that got, well, a bit chippy.

To set things up, Lakers guard Steve Blake drives to the hoop and gets the ball knocked away, its followed by a pretty blatant looking shove by Dallas guard Jason Terry, Blake gets up, expresses his rage and a few other teammates get into the debate...and, well, chaos ensues.

Here's your video:

Your NFL Strike Update: Mainstream media validation (Rich vs. Rich--Day 21?)

The Jolly Roger/Courtesy: davepear.com
Is it a bad thing that we are losing track of days? But the lockout/strike continues and we are continuing our 5 day a week look at mocking the stupidity that is accompanying this story.

In today's adventure, we talk about validation. Not in the traditional sense mind you, just that there are some out there who are starting to talk about the things that we've been talking about all along.

We give you today's example, a story from philly.com talking about how the "Mainstream", big-time reporting outlets are getting played like a drum from both sides of this argument. It's a good read.

Check out Paul Domowitch's story RIGHT HERE

The example Mr. Domowitch cites is a good one, but there has been far, far more "Using" of the media. The prime example(s) would be the "High-Profile" guys like Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen, Peter King and others.

The reason I bring them up, is more focused on comments made by King in his fantastic column "Monday Morning Quarterback" hinting that an agreement was a lot closer and could be done a lot sooner than all us "Outsiders" think.

Well, that really didn't happen. And apparently never was going to. For their part, the ESPN guys have moved on to the story they really care about, the draft. King, brought the agreement issue up once or twice when the lockout was getting close, and hasn't mentioned it since.

We know full well the deadline and scoop pressure that these guys are under and are willing to cut them some slack here. However, aside from small blogs such as ours, you really don't hear what the common folk, the people who really drive the game, the season ticket holders/fans have to say or think about this.

In fact, aside from the court case and my 5-day a week rants, there isn't much discussed about this at all. Why? Why has nobody called out both sides of this issue for what they are? We don't have a problem doing it. But then again, we don't have anyone to answer to other than ourselves.

Think about it. Have you really heard anyone talk about the greed of the owners. How they don't seem to be happy making money, they want more. And how they claim they want and need more to help pay off stadiums, stadiums mostly paid for on the backs of whom? You, the taxpayer, the ticket buyer who lives near your given team.

As for the players...do you hear anyone say "They never had any intention of coming to an agreement?". No. Do you hear anyone ask "Why do you need to be provided with a bigger portion of the split?" "Is not the average salary of well over $1.5 million a year not enough to provide for yourself?"

No, we maintain that everyone is protecting their best interest, as they should. The part that pisses us...and others not as vocal off, is that both sides say they are on our side. They aren't.

Baseball just kicked off, and while they aren't so perfect either, it doesn't cost a weeks pay to go see a baseball game. It does to go see the NFL. We honestly don't think the NFL or the Owners care about this. We think they'd much prefer corporate high-rollers be there and buy luxury suites. But, that, while a portion of their business, isn't what sustains them. No, it's the person buying the $100 upper deck end zone seat who pays $10 for their beer and $8 for their hot dog. It doesn't work without that. If only someone other than us would admit it....

With that in mind, enjoy Aerosmith--Eat the Rich!

The Madness Of March: Wichita State Wins NIT, Un-Officially #69 In College Basketball


This is a big deal in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers return home champions of the NIT. Yes they are Un-officially number 69 in college basketball but for a program that has a decent tradition in college basketball with a very passionate fan base this is a big deal.

For the Shockers they can call themselves a champion.

“I’m never going to forget it,” WSU senior C/F J.T. Durley told the Wichita Eagle. “I’m a champion. We’re tough, and we pulled it out.”

Durley and NIT Most Outstanding Player Graham Hatch led the way for the Shockers with 12 points as Wichita State defeated Alabama 66-57

“Their depth, size and physicality was just too much for us,” Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. “We had success going inside and attacking them at the rim. They took those things away from us.”


After the game the Shockers cut down the nets and spoke to the media. (Thanks WSUAthletcs/Youtube.com)



More of the Shocker celebration on the floor of MSG. (Thanks KWCH-TV Wichita, KS)

 

Here's KWCH-TV's Rebecca Gannon hanging out with the Shocker fans back home watching the game. (Thanks KWCH-TV)

 

By the way, do you think Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshal might be on his way to Raleigh, North Carolina? There might be mutual interest in the NC State job.

Photo Courtesy: Mary Altaffer/AP