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2011-06-08

Random Thoughts: The Just Shut Up Edition

By Rob Havener

I have been unnerved of late with people and their stupid...um...stuff , so here now are the things that I will not be giving a damn about due to the amount of annoyance they have caused me.

Do not wake me up running smack about your college alma mater in 2 non-revenue
sports, I don't care.

If you come to my house with 2013 recruiting news, I won't care until 2013 and even then I'll have better things to do.

I don't need to know about every hot girl you pass on the street. I don't care about girls at the gym either.

The University of North Carolina will never, ever care about the recruiting efforts of the University of Virginia. You beat the Heels for Ralph and STILL got ZERO RINGS. You have a 4-star recruit coming in 2 years; Carolina will have 4 McDonalds All Americans in two years.

The Baltimore Orioles will never be the Yankees.

I'm not interested in watching AAU game film, even if I'm on the coaching staff.

Stop wearing offensive t-shirts. You're a grown ass man, not some frat douche.

If you get a coaching job, I will not be breaking down film, ever.

If you're married and shopping in my store, stop flirting with me. I will lay you down and give you the business and make your husband watch. That applies to boyfriends too Diane.

I still don't give a damn about FLOTUS' wardrobe or the existence of a FLOTUS doll.

If you are a professional sports franchise with one postseason appearance in franchise history, and you passed on future all stars to draft Zherdev, Leclaire (Pascal, not John) and Picard (Alexandre, not Jean-Luc), they should have fired you ass a LONG time ago.

The following is a list of things that can in perpetuity kiss my man sized ass:
Terrelle Pryor
Gordon Gee
Jim Delaney
The Big Giant Head (the recently retired talk show host)
The BCS
Jay Cutler
Defenders of Jay Cutler
Colin Cowherd
Cleveland fans (stop bitching and shut up already)
Lockouts: Get a deal done...
The 2011 Outdoor furniture collection at work: No we're not getting any more
Adirondack Chairs.
Happy Smurf
Nebraska fans
The Longhorn Network
The Pacific Twelve Conference
Any pay per view main event that isn't Mayweather vs. Manny
Jim Buss: stop screwing with my Lakers punk.
The Lance Armstrong Witch Hunt: just go away
The College World Series (men's and women's)
People that are complaining about where the Bears are in some random NFL preview
magazine. Just shut up...I'm begging you, and maybe a shower.
Any unemployed relative that is lucky to have food to eat making comments about my culinary wizardry. Bitch, you can feel free to starve AND get out.

So, that's the current list. If you should happen to fall somewhere on it my advice is simple. Shut the hell up, get a job and leave me alone.

2011-04-13

Everything has changed

By Rob Havener

I was toiling away at my soul crushing retail job the other day when I heard something that shocked me to my soul. One of the supervisors and I were chatting and he said that other than his beloved Blackhawks he had stopped watching sports ... in like 1998. His ex wasn't a sports fan so he chose to keep one team, watch only their games and bid the rest of the sports world adieu. I couldn't do it, that's too big of a red flag. A brother needs to watch a game and unwind you know? In an effort to bring my pal up to speed, I will highlight what he missed to catch him up on the major happenings across the sports landscape.

Baseball: Let's start with the winning. The Red Sox ended 86 years of frustration by winning in 2004. They reclaimed the crown in 2007. Of course, both of those titles are tainted because Manny and Big Papi were juicing.

Records: The single season and career home run records have each been stained as well. Mark McGuire admitted to steroid use last year and Barry Bonds, who "holds" both records, is currently on trail for perjury for lying to a federal grand jury. For record-keeping purposes, I've decided to stick with Maris and 61, and Hank and 755.

It hasn't all been gloom and doom, we still have Albert Pujols, with 5, all records are possible.

NFL: The time you missed sure was good to the league, current labor unrest notwithstanding. Let's see, Elway went back to back and retired, The Rams, Saints, Colts, Buccaneers and Ravens won titles. Oh, and the freaking Patriots won 3 in four seasons. Houston got a team back, LA is still waiting. The Steelers now have 6 rings and Brett Favre retired as a Viking. Hell, the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl. The Browns and Bengals still suck, and Detroit went a perfect 0-16, winless in a league that is set up for everybody to be competitive.

NBA: Jordan retired, came back and played for Washington, retired for good and bought the Bobcats. The Celtics reversed the "Pitino screwed us" mojo to win their 17th banner. The Lakers have won 5 more since you’ve been away to get to 16. The Spurs have won four of the last 13. And ... Cleveland still sucks. Miami won a title, the Pacers and Pistons fought with the fans, Isaiah, rand the CBA AND the Knicks into the ground and a Russian billionaire playboy bought the nets and they are moving to Brooklyn.

College Football: The best part of fall that doesn't involve chasing freshman tail on campus continues to confound. The Bowl Coalition, was replaced by the Bowl Championship Screw job, I mean Series. The BCS is a sham and it must be stopped. Division I football remains THE ONLY NCAA SPORT WITHOUT A PLAYOFF!!! Anyway, Ohio State won a title in 2002 and played for two more. Notre Dame has had more coaches (5) than bowl wins (1). Michigan, er, TSUN had the worst 3 seasons in school history.

The Big 12 only has ten teams now, the Big Ten has 12 and the worst division names ever (leaders and legends). The Pac 10 is the Pac 12, and TCU is joining the Big East. Oh yeah, everybody is getting caught cheating now.

College Basketball: The one constant in your absence has been college hoops. The Tournament is still the best sporting event of the year. Unlike football, the little guys get a shot. George Mason, Butler and VCU have been to the Final Four in the last 6 years. Butler became the first team since the Fab Five to lose consecutive title games. On the court, UConn has won the most titles since you left (3), with Carolina, Florida and Duke with 2 each. Syracuse finally got Boeheim a ring, Roy came home to UNC and Bill Self, er, Weak at the six, had Memphis gift wrap Kansas a ring.

So there you go my man. Any questions, just listen to the show.

2010-04-14

Soccer report: Crew 101

By Mark Vuchenich, Senior contributor

Or more fittingly, 1-0-1. This piece could have come out a few days prior, but reflecting on the first two games of the season for the Columbus Crew needed some setting in of emotion.

I'll start by saying (or confessing) that I am a little behind in my behind-the-scenes knowledge of all things 2010 Crew. Forgive me, I'm a Manchester United supporter (EPL is a hot race right now... f*cking Chelsea!) and there is a World Cup in less than two months! At any rate, I'll see what I can squeeze out of my brother, who works on the world class grounds team at Crew Stadium for future insight.

Ok, so the first match. A bright and sunny Columbus day, unseasonably warm and perfect for a Trilium Cup showdown against Columbus' league-mandated, manufactured, fake rivalry against Toronto FC.

Now I don't know how Columbus and Toronto were picked to hate each other (History would point to Chicago Fire or, going way back, DC United) but no one bothered to look at it this way from the dedicated (albeit moronic) fans of Toronto. So by default (as in Toronto hating us and trying to destroy our stadium every time they flash a passport) we hate those plaid adorned, bacon fat eating Canucks right back.

Game time. The weather is great. I went to this game by myself which managed to get me a hard to aquire solo ticket in Nordecke section. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, google it. Or go back to reading about Tiger/Tebow/Santonio. Ok, I will be a little less condescending and a little more insightful: the North East end of the stadium is the supporters section. It is where all three of the major Crew fan clubs (Crew Union (middle aged fat guys), Turbino Amarillo (Latinos), and Hudson Street Hooligans (indie rock kids)) have been coexisting since the stadium added that terrible stage to showcase the worst music ever made and tear up the grass. It's like being at a European game, not for children, totally drunken, and its what I imagine what you get when you bottle Cleveland's Dawg Pound, Oakland Raiders' GWAR concert lookin section thing, and all of Heinz Field into probably around 200 seats.

I managed to polish off 4 Yeunglings in the gravel outside the stadium. I was so ready for this. A packed section singing and chanting the whole game. There were signs. There was swearing. The environment was a throwback to 2008, our MLS Cup Championship year. All felt right. And by right, I mean loud, jovial, and pretty drunk. Here's some insight.

First half. The Crew goes to a possession style mentality, feeling out where holes are to be found in the Toronto midfield and defense. Nothing fancy, mostly conservative. A couple of ambitious balls let Steven Lenhart show off what is sure to be his key asset in the future: playing a dynamic, theatric form of target forward in the mold of a Francesco Totti (google him). The media are sort of branding Lenhart as being his own person and a loose personality with his lanky yet speedy physical play, arms a flailin' and drawing fouls on his way down. No, he's just like Totti (see also: Luca Toni). A classical Italian-style golden boy forward. Dude's even got the hair. I swear the MLS press doesn't bother to watch any other league.

Anyway, so we finally finish on a beautiful free kick delivered by Argentine legend and Nordecke favorite Guillermo Barros Schelotto to the head of up and coming Andy Iro, who broke free from his man (or went unguarded, I couldn't see) and pounded home the finish with his head. The place went nuts.

The rest of the game followed a similar tone, Columbus trying to win the possession game and send a few long through balls to Lenhart, while TFC managed to get about two decent chances on net that were dutifully handles by goalie William Hesmer. Other than that it was a pretty even (and physical) game. Toronto looked a little dirty at times and Nordeck sure let them know it.

Then came the flare. Some asshole in the Toronto fan section thought it would be cool to throw a lit road flare on the cloth awnings at the south end of the stadium. You know, just to show they had once watched a European game on satellite. CPD was all over that bullshit and really all it did was make the entire north end of the stadium want to follow them back to their shitty charter bus with clenched fists. Oh, we also had a few good chants going after this that I will not be repeating.

Columbus got a late goal off of a collision between Danny O'Rourke and the Toronto keeper (who was wayyyy the hell out of his box, WTF?!) which sent the ball to Schelotto around 30 yards out. Guillermo lofted in a daft chip which technically was an easy goal, but to see it live gave me assurance that this man was a world class goal scorer. If not now, at least in his heyday for Boca Juniors back home.

Final: 2-nil, the Yellow Soccer Team.

DALLAS DEBACLE

I wish I could be as enthusiastic about game two. I didn't actually get to see game two because it was away in Dallas, I was working, and it was only televised on ONN, which like nobody carries.

From what I gather, Columbus went down early on a penalty kick converted by former Crew forward Jeff Cunningham. Apparently we spent the first half playing unthoughtful, sloppy and unmotivated soccer.

The second half we seemingly woke up early as Adam Moffat found the net in the 52nd minute with a strike from just outside the box. One would think that when Schelotto lined up to take a penalty kick (a late fateful gift for a dominating Crew performance?) in the 82nd he would be automatic. He ended up having to score on a rebound as the keeper managed to block the chance. Crew up 2-1 with less than ten to play, but things quickly went downhill.

Now I didn't see this. I have seen still shots, replays, and read so many reports, gripes, and tweets that one would think Thierry Henry wearing a Diego Maradona jersey came on in the 75th minute to score the equalizer in the 93rd. It was Eric Avery, but it's almost that blatant a handball. Either way, Columbus was forced to leave Dallas with a one point draw and a 2-2 final.

Looking forward, it seems Columbus still has the 2008 and early 2009 Crew in them. They are capable of playing dominant, controlled yet attacking, and intimidating soccer. They are able to beat every team in the league, convincingly and consistently. Coach Warzycha will have to prevent the nasty memories of late 2009 from resurfacing by making sure the team has the winning mindset for a full 90 minutes, every single game.

They'll be just fine this year.

2010-04-04

Tiger needs Tour...to win

By Terry Brown, Senior contributor

A quote from a NY Times article entitled 'Tiger Bubble':

"...But Finchem also knows that the tour needs Woods more than Woods needs the tour..."

Really...you think so?

Some would argue that is true...others that it was true until last November...but I'm not sure it was ever true. Tiger needs to win. Not simply to be the best, but to beat the rest of "the best"...every time...and on the grandest of stages. Every time! The best team, or individual does not always win, the best winners win. Even the best of all time, and of course Tiger is the best of all time...no probably or different era arguments accepted...he is the best...but even the best have their off days. But he still finds a way because he knows he's the best winner, and so does everyone else.

So what is that makes Tiger different? Some say his skill and strength, but those are simply by-products of the focus and drive created by the need to win. I think in one way or another we all either want to win, hope to win, or try to win, but at some point have wound up complaining that there was no way to win. But Tiger does not want or hope or try to win...he needs to win. His entire life has been about winning. What started a childhood goal became in some ways an obsession, and overtook the very framework of his personality. Therein lies the very sharp double-edge -- the need to win which has allowed him time and again to get past the obstacles that hinder others, creates a perpetual void.

I'm not a Buddhist, so I really do not know what solace he will find in his renewed search. But I believe he will be the best Buddhist possible and will single handedly drive more converts to temples than one can imagine. Hopefully it will bring balance the narcissistic patterns he has displayed, but it will not fill the void created by the need to win. Not yet anyway.

So good, bad, or indifferent...winning on the biggest stage is what drives him...is the only thing that can fill that void...and he most certainly needs the tour to do that.

2010-03-21

Madness: Day 4 thoughts

By Rob Havener

Purdue: Robbie Who?
Cal: ok you do suck ass
Cornell: Ivy League Strong
MSU: I told you so...
Syracuse: again I was right
OSU: Play like this and Indy is in your future
Xavier: 513 Strong
WV: still lurking...

And finally,
I love the sweet 16 good luck to all but dook

2010-03-20

Madness: Day 3 thoughts

By Rob Havener

And you thought Georgetown getting bounced Thursday set some brackets on fire...
Rock Chalk Go Home, at least the drive from Oklahoma City to Lawrence is a short one...

Northern Iowa Welcome to the big stage
Hey ‘Nova, it's a 40 minute game...
St. Mary’s Welcome to the Sweet 16
Great, at least one more week of having to hear Rocky Top...
Butler keeps doing it...
Is K-State the best team from the Sunflower state?
Hey, Alford, Did you borrow that red blazer AND shitty game plan from Sydney Lowe?
UK looked AWESOME. Mercy does not exist in the Cats game plan
Scott Drew has BAYLOR (!!!) in the Sweet 16
The PAC 10 is STILL undefeated...

And finally...
Seriously, Kansas is done? REALLY??

Good Luck Sunday to everybody but Dook.

2010-03-19

Madness: Day 2 thoughts

By Rob Havener

Jon Diebler is a one dimensional player. If you leave him open his one dimension is very strong.
Purdue sacked up to win. I was hoping for the Siena special, with double onions.
Has Tubby coached his last game for Minnesota?
Georgia Tech is really playing well on defense, where was this all season?
It's March, so you KNOW the Lights are ready. Izzo is a man.
Maryland looked well, Izzo vs. Gary in round 2? Best Coaching match up of the tournament will be in Spokane on Sunday.
Gonzaga, Nice win
Pitt demolished Oakland, impressive
Syracuse exacts revenge on Vermont...ouch
Xavier played REALLY well in the second half
Dook won, who cares?
The PAC 10 is...Undefeated???
Hey Pitino, you realize that you're allowed, nay ENCOURAGED to bring some GAME to the dance right? That performance was in a word shameful.
Wofford, almost sent the Badgers home
Cornell, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
WVU is for real
Is Clemson EVER going to get out of the first round?
And finally...
All future Mid-major, 25-plus win schools that get left out of future tournaments can thank the 2010 Utah State Aggies. A 27-7 record against weak competition, and no conference tourney title, nice use of the bid you f-ing bums.

Enjoy Day 3

2010-03-18

Let the 2010 madness begin: Day 1

By Rob Havener

Hey Georgetown, enjoy the flight home you scrubs
Party on Court Street, Athens, Ohio strong
Overtime on Thursday is a beautiful thing
UK looked like a 1 seed
Baylor: Nice win
Hey 'Nova: the game started at 12:20 WAKE UP BOYS
ND: go home and Fuck off
The Butler did it to UTEP
Maybe the Big East was over valued
The Pac ten still sucks
How much do you love ODU?
Gus Johnson is on tap tomorrow, earplugs sold separately

I love Holy Basketball Thursday!

Enjoy day 2

2010-03-09

Madness preview: Day 4

By Jeremy Lynch

Welcome to the dance North Texas, Oakland and Butler. And the bubble teams breath another sigh of relief as the Bulldogs won the Horizon league as expected. Although, one of the bubble teams, albeit a small bubble that had been drifting away for the last week or so, UConn got crushed by St. Johns in the first round of the Big East tourney. Buh-bye Huskies.

Seton Hall won their first-round game in the Big East against Providence to set-up what could be a play-in game against the Tarnished Dome. That should make for good television. But when is the Big East tourney not good TV?

So Tuesday was good. But Wednesday will be better. 26 games in one day. And if you can believe it, Thursday will have 28 games! Among those conference tourneys getting underway Wednesday -- C-USA, Little XII, Mountain West and the Miserable 10, er, Pac 10.

There may be as many as 20 teams playing for approximately 9 spots in the Big Dance. Several of those bubbles will burst over the next two days and the NCAA tournament picture will become that much clearer.

More to come...

2010-03-08

Madness preview: Day 3

By Jeremy Lynch

Four more tickets were punched tonight and the bubble teams amazingly dodged a couple of bullets.

Congrats to Siena (MAAC), Old Dominion (CAA), St. Mary's (WCC) and Wofford (Southern) for earning their way into the NCAA tournament. Those teams were all considered the presumptive automatic qualifier from their conference, or in the case of St. Mary's, they were thought to be an at-large qualifier.

According to ESPN's bracketology, the last four teams in right now are Memphis, Arizona State, San Diego State and Illinois. The first four outside looking in are Washington, Seton Hall, Rhode Island and Ole Miss.

With the exception of Memphis and SDSU, those bubble teams are all from Big Six conferences. And why is that the bubble teams are always underachieving teams from the Big 6 looking to catch lightning in a bottle? But I digress.

The first of the Big Boy tourneys gets under way Tuesday with the Big East tipping at noon with South Florida playing DePaul. Let the madness begin!

More to come...

2010-03-08

March Madness? We don't know the half of it

By Rob Havener

With one week until Selection Sunday here's what we know:

Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse (allegedly) are the three best teams.
The next tier of teams: Kansas State, OSU, Louisville, MSU et al is at least 15 deep.
That this is the worst crop of at large teams EVER, by a WIDE margin.
That we will not have a repeat champion (yes it hurts me...BAD).
That a 96 team field would suck donkey ass!

Here's where it gets interesting. What if some underachieving power school like Connecticut or UCLA wakes up and gets deep into their conference tournament? I'd hate to be in the committee room this year. Are there even 65 teams that deserve a bid? How hard will filling out brackets be this year? I thought last year was hard (save picking my boys to win).

We know this, at roughly 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010 the NCAA tournament will begin and at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday April 5, somebody is cutting down the nets at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.

In the next week we'll find out these things:

The fourth number one seed: Duke, OSU or...who the hell knows?
The teams that get left out did it to themselves with the bad loss, weak non-conference schedule 100 plus RPI cocktail.
That until they get a new TV contract, the NCAA will continue with this nonsense about 96 teams, STOP IT, STOP IT RIGHT F****NG NOW!

This is the best time of year to be a sports fan. Championship week rolls into Selection Sunday. The Opening Round game is two days later in Dayton and the Big Show starts Thursday. The NCAA rolls into the Masters (and Tiger's return?) AND opening day of the 2010 Baseball season...sweet.

So relax take a deep breath and we'll all enjoy the ride.

2010-03-07

Madness preview: Day 2

By Jeremy Lynch

Not really Day 2 because I had some honey-do list things to attend to yesterday, but we'll call it day 2 just for accounting purposes. So here's my take:

Congrats are in order. Murray State (OVC), Winthrop (Big South), East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun) all punched their tickets to the Big Dance Saturday. The Racers and Buccaneers weren't unexpected, but Winthrop upset Coastal Carolina on the road to earn their 9th trip to March Madness in the last 12 years. I can't say I was surprised by the Eagles win, but I was kind of rooting for CCU if only to see a school with a nickname like Chanticleers get into the tournament.

Last No. 1 seed still up for grabs. Puke routed a terrible North Carolina team. K-State lost to Iowa State....AT HOME! And Huggy Bear and the boys from Morgantown beat Villanova in OT. Ohio State was idle. If Puke wins the ACC tourney, they should be the last No. 1. If the Thad's win the Big Ten, they may sneak in to that last spot, but I think OSU's weak RPI rating will prevent that from happening. For my money, WVU deserves this spot. They play in the best conference in America. They are hot at the end of the year, and they have a head-to-head win over the Buckeyes.

Bubble teams breathing sigh of relief. Northern Iowa punched their ticket by winning the Missouri Valley Tournament title with a win over Wichita State. That win coupled with Old Dominion's OT win over Virginia Commonwealth kept several bubble teams (San Diego State and Rhode Island we're looking at you) hopes alive. Said bubble teams will be cheering for Butler against Wright State in the Horizon final, as well as ODU against the winner of Northeastern and William & Mary in the Colonial final. Stay tuned.

More to come...

2010-03-05

Madness preview: Day 1

By Jeremy Lynch

As this year's Big Dance quickly approaches I'm going to try to have daily previews of all things March Madness. With Cornell punching this year's first ticket to the big dance, I thought I'd take this opportunity to get a few things off my chest.

Ohio State is not deserving of a No. 1 seed. I'm stunned by Thad Matta's ability to shorten his bench and still get Ws down the stretch, but don't forget that the Big Ten is only the fifth-best conference according to the RPI. The Big Ten tournament will stop all the talk about the Buckeyes being on the one line for March Madness. Unlike the Big Dance, conference tournaments are played over consecutive nights and that will hurt Matta's team because of the aforementioned lack of depth.

But even if they win the Big Ten tourney, a one seed? Really? OSU's best out of conference win was against Florida State. They lost to Butler (without Evan Turner), West Virginia and to North Carolina (a bad loss considering how the season has gone for the Tar Heels). The rest of their non-conference slate was a bunch of You and Me State's. Schedules aside, the Buckeyes don't pass the eyeball test when stacked up against other potential Number 1s. Puke, Nova, West By God, K-State, they all would beat OSU (or have in the case of the Mountaineers).

Not receiving a No. 1 seed wouldn't be a bad thing. The Buckeyes would certainly have the dubious honor of being the first No. 1 knocked out of the tourney. At least as a No. 2 or No. 3 (ESPN's Joe Lunardi has them as a three in his current bracketology) they can have their first-weekend upset fly somewhat under the radar. And memo to Evan Turner: We know you're not coming back, but thanks for the great show.

Syracuse is the best team going into the tournament. The Orange have impressed all year long. They are clearly the best team in the best conference (Big East). And the way they recently throttled Nova by nearly 20 points told me all I need to know about Jim Boeheim's bunch. They're my lock to get to the Final Four. The other No. 1s are good, but have holes. 'Cuse can shoot it from distance, are deep at the bigs and their zone is as good as I've seen it.

Watch out for Wofford. Who? Wofford. The presumable Southern Conference champs will not be intimidated as a high seed in the dance. The Terriers nearly beat Pitt (L, 63-60), won at Georgia, beat South Carolina and played Michigan State tough on the road before losing by 12. They also lost to Kent State at home, and to Illinois on the road. More experience against potential NCAA tournament teams that will serve them well as they break in their dancing shoes in the SoCon tourney.

More to come...

2010-03-02

Trying to put the Woods saga in perspective

By Terry Brown, Senior Contributor

I apologize for the hiatus. I've been transferred back to sunny Arizona, and its taken me some time to get settled.

So let's talk Tiger Woods. What else is there to say that has not been reported, written, created, rumored, or embellished. There were plenty of stories, and and accounts from "sources close to," but all the while the silence was deafening from the one man who knows the entire story. Then that silence was broken, supplying every self righteous reporter who was not invited, with enough fodder for another few months of Tiger bashing. I will say that I thought Tiger's presentation was a bit robotic, but then again, Tiger is always a bit robotic.

First, I agree that the personal issues are no one's business but his own. That said, I also agree that the public persona, the mega-persona that is Tiger Woods ™, must make some effort at appeasement. The thing is, that public will always be filled with critics proclaiming whatever level of contrition is shown, is lacking in someway. The man can never live up to the "role model," and that role model can never live up the public's expectation. So it is what is.

The question that I have. Who is worse? Tiger Woods or John Daly?

Whoa...how can you compare the two? Well...I'll tell you. The each contain their fair share of alcohol, drugs, infidelity, rude and lewd behavior, sponsorship issues, public image issues, and a noticeable absence from the one place they find salvation.

One might offer that the difference is, John Daly has always been public with his struggles, while Tiger remains private. That Daly has never hidden from the consequences, and Tiger tries to silence his with money. Daly is seen as the every-man, constantly, and publicly battling back against his demons, even though everyone believes it is a fight that he will ultimately lose. In essence maintaining a tragic image, whereas Tiger faces demons that many view as simply self-indulgent, and self-inflicted. Therefore he maintains a selfish image. Tragic behavior we can and have forgiven. Selfish behavior remains much more difficult to forgive.

Regardless, the sad part is, we all will choose one or the other, as if there is a lesser of two evils.

I attended the Accenture Match Play here in Tucson, and Tiger's absence was noticeable, as it must be at all the Tour stops he has already missed, and those still to come. The big question that remains is when and where the return comes. People say the Masters, but I wonder if the powers that be at Augusta National will welcome that negative publicity. Gary McCord used the phrase "bikini wax," and was permanently removed from the broadcast. Now put that phrase in context with what we know of Tiger's escapades, and ask yourself the following:

If there is one place in the golfing world that that could, and would say "thanks but no thanks," is Augusta National that place?

Then again, he is rested, and probably will win all four so he can emphatically SLAM the door shut on his critics once and for all.

2010-02-26

Flashback: March Madness 2009 - Day 1

By Rob Havener

After the first day of wall to wall NCAA Mens Tournament action here's what we know:
The 16 seeds are still winless against the 1s.
Mob is partying like a rock star in Vegas.
No Jim Calhoun, no problem for UConn.
That Villanova loses in any other city yesterday. I have to give big props to the Wachovia Center crowd. Outstanding, you came up HUGE.
Tyler Hansbrough passed Jerk off Jackass Redick for the ACC all time leading scoring record. I think we should stop the Hansbrough for ACC God stuff. Al McGuire said it best; never mistake statistical achievement for greatness.
Clemson is, in fact who we thought they were, STINK.
Western Kentucky is this best team in the bluegrass state, not named Louisville.
I guess UCLA can D up when it counts, Collins STONING Eric Maynard at the end of the VCU game was So Cal STRONG.
Eric you should've passed, Damn it!!!!
Memphis, maybe play hard for, oh I don't know, 40 MINUTES, this is the Dance, not punk ass C-USA.

Now a couple questions:
How many people who have Oklahoma going all the way straight shit themselves when Blake Griffin got slammed?
Anthony Grant knows he can't take that time out back to VCU right?
Hey Time Warner, we already don't have the NFL Network, now no multicasting for the first round? I speak for all hoop junkies when I say F*** YOU.

Enjoy day 2.

2010-02-03

44 Random Super Bowl Thoughts

By Rob Havener

The big game is Sunday, so here’s a few things to get you game ready.

2009-12-04

Week 13 NFL Notes

Thurs: NYJ 19, Buffalo 13: Bills now lead series 52-45

Philadelphia at Atlanta: Eagles lead 13-10-1, won 4 of last 5

Tampa Bay at Carolina: Cats lead 10-7, 6 of last 8

St Louis at Chicago: Bears lead 49-34-3, Rams have won 4 of last 6

Detroit at Cincinnati: Jungle Cats lead 6-3, won 6 of last 7

Tennessee at Indy: Blue Horseshoes lead 17-12, won 3 of last 5

Houston at Jacksonville: Texans lead 8-7, MJD won 2 of last 3

Denver at KC: Whitlocks lead 53-44, Los Sietes have won 4 of last 6

Oakland at Pittsburgh: Raiders lead 9-8, Sixes have won 5 of 7

New Orleans at Washington: DC leads 15-7, won 4 of 6

San Diego at Cleveland: 619 leads 13-7-1, won 6 of 7

Dallas at NYG: Dallas leads 55-37-2, won 5 of 7

SF at Seattle: Microsoft leads 11-10, won 3 of 5

NE at Miami: Tuna Melts lead 48-37, Brady Bunch has won 4 of last 5

Minnesota at Arizona: Purple leads 10-9, won 5 of last 6

Baltimore at Green Bay: Cheese leads 2-1

2009-11-24

Week 12 NFL Notes

Green Bay at Detroit: Cheese leads 87-64-7, won last 8 in series

Oakland at Dallas: Oakland leads 6-3; Raiders have won 3 of last 4

NYG at Denver: Eli leads 5-4, teams have split last 4 meetings; all time scoring NYG 165-161.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta: Tampa leads 18-13 and won 3 of last 4

Miami at Buffalo: Tuna melts lead 52-34-1, won last 3

Cleveland at Cincinnati: Palmers lead 37-35, won last 2

Indy at Houston: Blue Horseshoes lead 14-1, won last 5

Chicago at Minnesota: Purple Fours lead 51-42-2, won 3 of last 4

Carolina at NYJ: Tied at 2, all time scoring Cats 89-79

Washington at Philadelphia: Skins lead 77-66-5, teams split last 4

Seattle at St. Louis: Microsoft leads 13-9, won last 9

Arizona at Tennessee: Desert Birds lead 5-3, won 2 of last 3

KC at San Diego: Whitlock's lead 50-47-1, 619 won last 4

Jacksonville at SF: Jags lead 2-0, scoring: Jags 51-12

Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Sixes lead 16-10, won 3 of last 4

NE at NO: Brady Bunch leads 8-3, won last 3

2009-11-23

Making sense of a senseless disease

By Terry Brown, Senior contributor

Several weeks ago, everywhere I looked, the color pink stood out, including on the field and uniforms of the NFL because October had arrived and as everyone should know that is Breast Cancer awareness month. That first week everyone was talking about it, wearing ribbons and pink clothing, and God bless them for doing so. The attention the NFL players and coaches can provide by wearing those colors is priceless and I commend them for their efforts. But as happens every year, as the weeks passed, the pink began to fade as fewer players wore the approved items, and the PSA's from the announcers ebbed. By month's end, the novelty had all but faded completely away.

The reality is that regardless of the color of your shirt, or the month of the year, the disease remains, and when it wins, it does so with a vengeance. We were all sadly reminded of that reality on Thursday November 19 as Stephanie Spielman lost her long battle with this disease. Chris Spielman is someone we have come to know as a tenacious competitor who let nothing stand in his way. Yet in the end, the one fight he wanted, needed to win, was not his to fight. There is no novelty in that, it is simply humbling.

We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of those passed-on in our own way. However, if someone from one of Chris's former NFL teams, Detroit, Buffalo, or Cleveland, (or any other NFL team for that matter) chooses to wear the pink in support of Chris and Stephanie, then expect a fine. Because October has passed, and the NFL does not allow one to show individual support, regardless of the circumstance. Just ask Jake Plummer.

On to some other thoughts...

Chad Johnson: The dollar bill stunt should have cost him $100K plus a game. Enough already of the T.O. wanna-be stunts...if for no other reason than no one wants to be T.O.

Brian Kelly: Do you really think he wants the Notre Dame job? Do you think it is coincidence that the last three ND coaches all have the same winning percentage (.583)?

Jim Harbaugh: Hail to the Victor's Valiant!!! Do you really think he does not want the Michigan job? Does Al Davis really think he wants the Oakland job?

Rich Rodriguez: Do you really think he can keep the Michigan job? Seriously....LAST IN THE BIG TEN!!! (Although technically I think they hold the tie-breaker over Indiana) I'll quote Capt. James T. for my thoughts on Rich: (Kirk in Wrath of Kahn): "Tell me again of your superior intellect..." Remember when Rob asked me in September about the Wolverines prospective record and I believe I said "...I think they can lose them all..." Though they tried to fulfill that prophecy, they somehow managed to reign supreme in a battle of Titans on Sept. 26th in the Big House. A day that will live on on Michigan Lore as the mighty Wolverines snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Indiana Hoosier's, and thus secured the tie-breaker for escaping last in the Big Ten (11). How low can this bar be dropped? It should also be mentioned that they managed to beat juggernauts Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan (Indiana beat them as well...probably a good thing they didn't have to play the CMU Chippewa's), Delaware State (seriously...did I just say Delaware State), and Notre Dame (whom I said would be more of a train wreck than UM...and that's a pick-em.)

JaMarcus Russell: Did Oakland trade him to the Buckeyes? I'm sorry but if OSU is a Top Ten team then college football is in trouble...but the BCS loves them because....THEY TRAVEL WELL!!!

Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre: I said it early last season and it is still holding true that Rodgers is a poser, not a winner. But there are those who still say "...Rodgers was the right choice..." Seriously...as Parcells says "...you are what your record says you are..." So despite the injury last season, and without injury this season, and not to mention the two head to head meetings, SCOREBOARD!!!

Joe Girardi: Do you really think they won because of him, or rather in spite of him?

Shaq: Do you really think he makes Cleveland the 4th or 5th best team in the East? Lets see...home loss already to Boston (twice if you count the last preseason game in C-bus)...then there is Atlanta, Orlando...maybe Miami...or Chicago...oops another home loss already? How many losses at home last year?

Lane Kiffin: Three recruits on the Tennessee Most Wanted List.

Ricky Williams: The Dolphins have lit a fire under him, but he needs Ronnie Brown to be the focus or it is simply a matter of time before he lights the torch.

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