A disturbing story from the suburban Buffalo, New York area from last night. There was an apparent fight late Sunday morning between basketball players from Jamestown Community College (Olean Campus) and some players from St. Bonaventure University. In the fracas (a journalism word), 2 Jamestown players were stabbed. Both players were treated and released from the hospital.
The incident, which is still be investigated leads to a bunch of questions, none which have been answered to this point: Why would this happen? What were the St. Bonnie players doing at the Community College? Why a stabbing?
Here is some video of the St. Bonaventure Basketball team in action against the University of Massachusetts. Thanks You Tube:
Deena Deardurff Schmidt won a medal in the Munich games back in 1972.
What no one knew until recently was that she claims to have been molested by her swim coach from the ages of 11 to 15.
Schmidt is now throwing her support behind a lawsuit filed by a minor claiming there is a "culture" of abuse that is ignored by governing bodies- local and national- where swimming is concerned...
"US Swimming created a culture that fostered molestation by coaches against young female swimmers," the minor's attorney, Robert Allard, said.
"Yet despite the chronic and pervasive problem, we believe that not enough has been done by US Swimming."
Allard said he was filing suit to force USA Swimming to put policies in place to prevent future abuses of young swimmers.
He represents the minor who was molested by Andrew King- a local swim coach now serving a 40-year-term after he was convicted of sexually abusing girls he coached.
Louis Dale scored 26 points, Ryan Wittman added 24 and 12th seeded Cornell upset fourth-seeded Wisconsin 87-69 on Sunday, becoming the first team from the Ivy League since 1979 to advance to the round of 16.
The answer to the trivia question is Penn- when they made it to the Final Four.
The Big Red (29-4) will play top-seeded Kentucky in the East Regional semifinal Thursday in Syracuse, N.Y., about an hour from Cornell's campus. It could be a tough ticket, though, since Kentucky's basketball-crazed fans got a head start when the Wildcats advanced Saturday.
It should be interesting, shouldn't it...??? Just ask Ashley Judd...
Here's the post-game presser, thanks to our friends at WSYR-TV in Syracuse... ((HT: NCAA Productions))
The Calgary Flames lost Daymond Langkow, their third-leading scorer, when he was hit in the back of the neck with a puck in the second period of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Wild. Langkow left the ice on a stretcher, but the team later reported he had feeling in all his extremities.
Langkow was checked from behind by Minnesota defenseman Greg Zanon. He hit Wild defenseman Marek Zidlicky as he lost his balance and fell forward. With Langkow's head down as he fell, Calgary defenceman Ian White fired toward the net and hit his teammate in the back of the head with the puck.
Langkow was not moving as he was removed from the ice on a stretcher. He remained on the ice for nearly 10 minutes.
"We were definitely a little bit rattled," Calgary defenseman Steve Staios said. "After that, you've got to get yourself back focused on the game, but there's definitely a time when you're afraid for him, and it becomes a difficult situation to deal with."
Here's the play in question... ((HT: Rogers Sportsnet/NHL))
Ali Farokhmanesh, Northern Iowa's first-round hero with his 3 against UNLV, had the biggest play of all- knocking down a 3-pointer in transition with the shot clock and game clock still in the 30s that sends the Panthers to the round of 16 for the first time.
UNI will face the Michigan State-Maryland winner in St. Louis.
Kansas (33-3) fell behind early, came close late with their pressing defense, but couldn't close. Cole Aldrich had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Morris added 16 points.
Farokhmanesh, who finished with 16, jumped into a huddle of teammates chanting "U-N-I!" while Marcus Morris and redshirt Kansas senior Mario Little found it hard to get up- even for the post-game handshakes.
Here's the reaction inside UNI Hangout "Beck's" as the game wound down... ((HT: Youtube/cfteditor))
And here's KSHB-TV/NBC41's coverage from Oklahoma City... Lance Veeser got to do the wrap-up...
San Diego high school phenom Jeremy Tyler thought that going pro before his senior high school year was a good idea, so he could enter the NBA draft- much like Brandon Jennings the year before.
Only Maccabi Haifa rarely played Tyler and his 2 point-2 rebound-per game numbers weren't getting Tyler all hyped up about his time overseas.
So, he left...
Two months before the end of the regular season...
"Due to personal matters, Jeremy chose to leave the team on his own will on March 18 and return home to San Diego," Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. "We wish Jeremy all the best."
Tyler was making a reported $140,000 for Haifa, but had not seen a uniform in the last few games and had walked out of a game at halftime because of a frustration coming form a lack of playing time...
Adviser Sonny Vaccaro says that it's disappointing, but not a failure when talking about Tyler's time overseas...
Here's a story from San Diego's CW6 on the decision at the time to go pro...
For any of you who enjoy your college hoops, you've certainly heard CBS's Gus Johnson call a game. Perhaps nobody in Sports Announcing is more over the top...and more entertaining than Mr. Johnson calling a buzzer beater. Unfortunately, he's been relegated to the 4th team games in this years NCAA Tournament.
So...in honor of Gus...we give you GusJohnsonCalls Website RIGHT HERE.
((Play by play god//Courtesy: CBSSports))
Go ahead...try the link...press on one of the calls. Endless fun while watching the middle part of a tournament game...laughs for everyone.
Enjoy one of the many Gus Johnson call mixes from the You Tube:
Along with the NCAA Tournament, apparently the College Basketball Coaching Carousel is beginning to spin a little bit faster today.
The OSG reported earlier about a report from Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com stating that Auburn is seriously considering hiring one Tubby Smith, currently coach at Minnesota and formerly coach at Kentucky and Georgia. We've been doing some homework on this story and while we think Auburn is seriously interested, it is still to be determined if Tubby is.
Check out this story in the Columbus Star-Ledger RIGHT HERE.
According to CBS/Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis on Twitter "Per source close to Tubby...Auburn believed to be interested but there have been no substantive conversations, even indirectly"
((Tubby Smith//Courtesy:Chicagonow.com))
We may be wrong, but it sounds an awful lot like Minnesota AD Joel Maturi expects someone to make an offer to Tubby that he won't be able to refuse and Maturi won't be able to match. The OSG also knows that Smith's name has been dropped in regards to the Oregon job, but we think that his heart will keep him from heading to the great Northwest. We also take Davis' comment to mean that Auburn has talked about it internally, but maybe not externally...yet. Now that Minnesota has lost their NCAA game...all bets are off.
OSG sources say that the Auburn Board of Trustees would have to sign off on any coach, but they are fully aware that in order to get a "Big Name" to help open up their new arena, it is going to cost them some money. Smith, who is being paid $3 million a year at Minnesota, will not be able to get a raise due to a state pay freeze. Auburn, who paid Jeff Lebo $750,000 a year is looking at any and all options to increase their visibility in hoops. While the $3 million a year figure would make Tubby one of the highest paid coaches in the SEC, if you consider his track record it may be worth it for the War Eagles/Tigers.
As for the other Carousel tidbits. We reported yesterday on Bobby Gonzalez and earlier today on Norm Roberts being fired. There is a lot of speculation there as well. We mentioned that Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, barring a deep NCAA run, will at least check out his options in light of the heat he is getting in Atlanta. We also have read that former St.John's Point Guard and current NBA Analyst Mark Jackson has expressed some interest. Stay tuned.
And finally, Oregon after jettisoning Ernie Kent, the joke/rumors are that they will pursue a big name coach already sponsored by supporter/program runner Nike. That doesn't narrow things a lot, but makes for a good punchline.
For those who get the Carousel references...it has to do with a cheesy movie from the 1970's...Logan's Run. It would take too long to set up, so here is a clip. Thanks You Tube:
Whew! It just really hasn't been the best of weeks for Big East Basketball now has it? First Seton Hall fires Coach Bobby Gonzalez, then the 1st day of the NCAA Tourney sees Notre Dame, Marquette and Georgetown all lose in their 1st game and now this.
As we had told you last week, St. John's made it official today and parted ways with Head Coach Norm Roberts. The Red Storm did make it to the NIT Tournament, but lost their 1st game at the buzzer to Memphis.
More on the firing from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE
((Norm Roberts//Courtesy: Cataffo/NYDaily News))
Roberts does leave the Red Storm in better shape then when he got there. However he was unable to get them to the NCAA Tourney, with this years NIT bid being their 1st Tournament action during his tenure. He had an overall record of 81-101.
There will be lots of speculation on who will take over the job since the cupboard is not bare. With a good young squad led by Anthony Mason Jr. (yes, the son of the former NBA guy), the talent level isn't bad. We had speculated last week that Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt might be the guy, however, Hewitt's contract just rolled over at Tech and it would be an expensive proposition for him to leave Atlanta.
Here again is Lloyd Bridges from the Movie Airplane talking about a bad week: Thanks You Tube....
We came across an interesting tidbit while scanning the Internets for news this morning. Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com is reporting that Auburn is "Close to hiring" current Minnesota Basketball Coach Tubby Smith. This should be interesting as Smith prepares his Gophers to play in the NCAA Tournament.
If this is true, it would be "Interesting". The Tigers, who fired coach Jeff Lebo after their season ended may be looking to make a splash to open up their new arena. Smith, who has plenty of history in the SEC at Georgia and Kentucky would probably be a good fit in an SEC that ain't what it used to be in Basketball.
Normally, we try to avoid rumors but this one is pretty intriguing. The OSG will be canvassing our sources down on the Plains to see if there really is something to this and let yet know when we do.
Here is some video of Tubby at the beginning of his current job in Minnesota. Thanks mndailyonline/You Tube:
Spring practice has started on the Tennessee campus... but without one of the most over-hyped signings in the history of the world...
Bryce Brown...
The former Number one recruit in the country was a no-show as the Vols took the field under Derek Dooley for the first time on Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday, the coach indicated Brown hadn't approached him about possibly leaving...
"As of now he's not a part of the team," Dooley said.
Let's relive history as Brown now heads to USC... ((Who said that...???)
Well, the carnage continues. There was another viscious, injury causing hit last night in the NHL and it didn't take long for the league to act. Last night in the Chicago/Anaheim game, Brent Seabrook of the Blackhawks was knocked silly by former teammate and current Duck James Wisniewski. Seabrook, according to reports briefly lost consciousness and was helped from the ice. Two Blackhawk teammates went after Wisniewski later in the game.
The original story from the Chicago Sun-Times is RIGHT HERE
((Brent Seabrook's head hurts//Courtesy: chicagonow.com))
Wisniewski, who had been suspended in November for a hit, was disciplined today by the NHL. He will be sitting for the next 8 games.
The play, which had Wisniewski skating some 40-plus feet to find Seabrook and then level him is another indication that the NHL needs to do something...and soon. Yes, they've discussed running at players and hits to the head, but they aren't going to be able to wait until the season ends to address it. Well...let me restate that, they shouldn't, the heat gets turned up each time this happens. However, the league has turned a deaf ear or been very slow to react whether the players or fans call for something or not. Whether this is the play that turns the tide remains to be seen, but if you are in Vegas...don't put any money on it.
For those who haven't seen it, here is the play in question. Thanks HockeyWebCast/You Tube:
Education Secretary Arne Duncan is deciding to take on college basketball just in time for the post-season tournaments... as always, it's about opportunity and timing. And never let it be said politicians don't know or recognize either.
Duncan is proposing that any school that has less than a 40-percent graduation rate not be allowed into the NCAA post-season extravanganza.
The Education Secretary isn't focusing on inner-city or rural participation in the education process ((like, oh, the HQ thinks actually showing up and graduating high school might be important FIRST)), but on the television event that is the tourney.
If Duncan, who played at Harvard, had his way Maryland (8 percent), California (20 percent), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (29 percent), Washington (29 percent), Tennessee (30 percent), Kentucky (31 percent), Baylor (36 percent), Missouri (36 percent), New Mexico State (36 percent), Clemson (37 percent), Georgia Tech (38 percent) and Louisville (38 percent) wouldn't be around.
"Over time, we should set a higher bar," Duncan said. "But it's a minimum, a bright line, which every program should meet to vie for postseason honors."
As a reminder of what Mister Secretary thinks he's chasing, here's a "before" picture... from the movie "Blue Chips..." ((HT: Paramount Pictures))
The "after" would include the Western Dolphins roster of Neon Boudeaux, Butch McRae, and Ricky Roe... but Coach Pete Bell would never confess...
The HQ would still recommend Secretary Duncan, while his idea is a noble goal, work on other stuff first...
You wouldn't necessarily figure hockey would be the answer here, but it is after all the KHL...
Ufa and Avtomobilist from Sunday... and an Avto fan just took a stick to the Ufa back-up goalie's head... or something... after he got away with a rabbit punch to start the whole thing...
Hey, look at it this way... if you're a player over there, it's tax free. But you'll need the money to take care of all the independent hospital bills you pick up along the way...
After a lot of chin-rubbing, the HQ has decided not to post anything related to the whole "Joslyn James Press Opportunity Directly Related To Her Alleged Association With Tiger Woods..."
In the grand scheme of things, it's grandstanding and positioning...
Take this one for what it is worth. Though we claim to be highly knowledgeable in everything related to Sport, we don't normally do very well with our NCAA Tournament Picks.
But since we are about to enjoy a the next several weekends watching one of the all-time great Sporting Events (as long as they don't jump to 96 teams). We'll offer up our 2-cents or less worth of advice and predictions.
East Region:
1st Round Winners: Kentucky, Texas, Temple, Wisconsin, Washington, New Mexico, Clemson and West Virginia.
2nd Round Winners: Kentucky, Temple, Washington, West Virginia
2nd Round Winners: Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Xavier, Kansas State
Regional Semi's: Syracuse, Kansas State
Regional Final: Kansas State
So...that would mean your Final Four will be: Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Kansas State.
National Semi-Final Winners: Kentucky, Kansas
Your National Champion: Kansas
No, I can't say that I like this pick, but it makes the most sense. No, I haven't picked this way on the 2 other Bracket Challenges that I'm participating in, but this is a little more public than that. As much as I like to think that I'm really smart, I know better...I'm not. If you can do better...great...let us know what your picks are...see if you can do better.
For your enjoyment, listen to the Replacements pay tribute to the now recently deceased Alex Chilton...not much in the way of video, but the song is a classic. Thanks You Tube:
