Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Final Four: A Tourist Trap That's Fun
My Final Four experience started innocenly enough. I was on a flight back to Houston out of Charlotte. I asked the tall gentleman sitting next to me if he was going to the Final Four and he said he was. I asked him if he was a coach and he said he worked for ESPN. How was I to recognize Jay Bilas when he wasn't in a coat and tie? I tried not to bother him too much. Jay is a world class tweeter and I had some things to take care of as well. During the landing portion of the flight we had a conversation about the quality of play in college basketball the past two years. The consensus was that play has gone down in quality and hopefully will not continue in the downward spiral. The big issue that cannot help but improve college basketball is having the NBA force a rule that would keep players in school 3 years. Right now there is sloppy play in college and too many teams in the pros. Something has to give pretty soon as many NBA teams are hemmoraging red ink. RELIANT STADIUM SATURDAY Until Saturday I have not attended a game at Reliant Stadium in about 6 years. When I pulled into the Metro Park and Ride I noticed I was periously close to the parking spot 666. I avoided this spot like the plague but was determined to notice if anyone would park in this spot later, as I was very early. I left Kentucky UCONN with about 5 minutes to go. After all we get the frontrunner teams jammed down our throats all year long. I am happy to note that spot 666 was vacant upon my return to the parking lot. I documented this on my photo page. This crowd was not nearly as innebriated as the typical Texan NFL group. In fact, I noticed a very civilized group of people. Remember the guy who says "I play ball all the time. I have played with ____________(Insert Name of Famous Player) regularly and he said I really was great" I have met that guy hundreds of times and he was out in force during the pre game festivities. There were quite a few makeshift courts outside where one could go show his "stuff". I spent a good 15 minutes watching airballs and some really bad shooting form by the guys mentioned above. It was great theatre. The scalpers could not get any kind of price for their tickets. In fact, a few just gave their away. The next trend I noticed was the many people dressed in the various colors of the school they were following. Kentucky had by far the biggest group of fans. This is a concept with which I have always had a hard time. I played for Miami, but truthfully, I haven't really known very many people that have played for Miami since I have left. What do I really have in common with Miami players except a fleeting bond with the brick and mortar buildings in Coral Gables we may have shared during different time periods. That being said, the passion runs deep in the Blue Nation. I talked to many of the fans. Many of them never went to Kentucky but root for them because their parents raised them that way. I'll bet that's the way it goes with most peoples allegiances' to their teams. ONE LAST HURRAH Once upon a time, when the Final Four wasn't very well publicized, there was a coach who had a vision of gigantic crowds attending basketball games. In fact, he had the first game of this magnitude in the Houston Astrodome in 1967 when UCLA came into town to play the Houston Cougars. That man was coach Guy Lewis of the Houston Cougars. He took 5 teams to the Final Four. He integrated college basketball in Houston in the early and mid 60's with Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney which at that time was a daunting task. Other than UTEP, which was at the other end of the state 850 miles away and in another time zone, most Texas college teams had no African American student athletes. Guy Lewis is now well into his 80's and in a wheelchair. He was honored with the Phi Slamma Jamma crew during this weekend. Why he is not in the basketball Hall can be explained in 3 easy words...East Coast Bias. When a Lou Carnesecca from St. Johns is in the Hall of Fame with zero Final Four appearances, that says it all. Still, the man who had the vision that started all this March Madness in big football stadiums is forgotten. Really a sad affair. Yes children there was a time when being recruited by the University of Houston was really big time. MISC THOUGHTS Enough has been written about the games. Charles Barkley was exceptionally funny, especially when he talked about the "Itty bitty East". His back and forth with Coach Pitino was priceless. Pitino's face was redder than his teams road jersies. I was able to meet Coach Calhoun in 01 through my sons AAU coach. He comes on like a really humble ordinary guy. I know they are saying alot of things about his recruiting, but I like the guy. It cannot be denied he is a great coach. Shooting in a big stadium has to be a dicey proposition. There is a distorted background that would have to make it difficult in the sight perception field of a basketball player. The Astrodome is dwarfed by Reliant Stadium. It sits there empty like an old ghost from the past. A ghost that is full of memories. It's not the 7th wonder of the wold any longer. Every time I go to Reliant Stadium I wish I could recruit the entire marketing department for the Houston Texans. They have to be the greatest marketing division in all sports franchises. Every year they convince all of Houston, the Houston press and many prominent national media members that the Texans will be really great. These guys have an open invitation for employment if I have any say. Ten Years of sellouts with a less than desireable product speak for itself. Yes the final four was a blast, but my son told me he watched it from a sports bar with Matt Figger and Head Coach Frank Martin from Kansas State. Now that would have really been fun.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Superbowl Halftime Revised and the Greatest Dies
One thing is for sure...if Gary Moore did the halftime show at last weeks Superbowl, he would have had enough material to do 10 hours worth of songs without breaking a sweat. He wouldn't have had to bring Slash in to do a tired dead song. Usher wouldn't have had to come down by a rope. Gary wouldn't have had to wear a costume to look like George Jetson.
Gary Moore is the greatest guitarish most people have never heard of. But the heavyweights of guitar all knew him and lined up to play with him. In England and all of Europe, the bands that headline here were the warm up bands for Gary Moore. It is almost criminal that this guy never had more of a name.
He spent about a total of 6 months with Thin Lizzy and his fellow Irishman Phil Lynott. He held a concert for Lynott in Dublin when they unveiled Lynott's statue. Twenty one thousand were there. Whenever I lend the video, people are in awe...he is that awesome. People you think are great guitarists crumble in Moore's presence. Check out Stormy Monday...the guitar solo's keep on coming and it is just so strong. Check out the Texas Blues on his Still Got the Blues CD. ZZ Top wishes they could sound this good. BB King, Clapton...name a decent guitarist and they all wanted to play with Gary Moore. And they all made it a point to play and record with him.
Which leads me to the Super Bowl halftime show. I am sure Slash sold out for a good amount of money to play a song that was old and tired 10 years ago...Sweet Child of Mine. Really sorry. And how much money did the guy who designed the Jetson outfits for the Black Eyed Peas extort from the NFL? These would be some better lyrics considering the attire the group wore:
Hubba hubba,Pa Docket Pa Docket,
Gotta get to work at Spacely Sprockets
Now with those lyrics at least you would know they were trying to at least be funny.
Here is what they could do next year in keeping with the halftime tradition:
And now Ladies and gentlemen Its Michael Buble!
Sweet home Alabama, Scooby Dooby Doo
Where the Skys Are Blue, Yahten dotten wop wop
But, since we are in the techno revolution, let's bring back a virtual digital Sammy Davis Junior! I could hear him singing now.
I'm as free as a bird now, daddyo,
And this bird you cannot tame, yabby gobby wop wah do
I said I'm a Free free bird sister and brother and Frankie and Dino baby
Or better yet, since we are talking tired overplayed songs, then Sammy and a virtual Frank Sinatra duet:
Is that a woman or a man
Yeah Daddyo Turn the Page
I said that long long hair and that tired cliche
My long hairs a statement and you better
Turn the Page Baby, I said turn that page,
Or Frankie, he's gonna get the Boys from Jersey after you
If you don't turn the Page ya ya scooby wah bop wah!!!
You get the picture. Any of the above would beat what we see at the normal halftime. Unfortunately, the boys on Wall Street make the trends and we have to follow. Or maybe not.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Why the SEC Rules the BCS Interview with Coach Gator
Coach James "Gator" Bamgardner has sent more than 40 players to various SEC schools. He has also sent various other schools to the other power conferences as well. Coach Gator, as he prefers being called has coached 4 state high school championship teams along with two National Junior College Championship teams. We feel privileged to have coach Gator here on our humble blog. His nickname of Gator does not reflect any affinity for the Florida Gators, rather a fact that he wrestled an alligator somewhere in the swamps between Orange, Texas and Lafayette Louisiana.
BD: Coach Gator, what was your opinion of the recent Auburn-Oregon Tostitos national Championship game.
Coach: Well mah friend, I for one am getting sick and tired of all these little midgets who write sports and have never played the game saying how it was such a dominating victory for Auburn. I mean, the game went down to the last play.
BD: True enough, but were they mentioning the interior line play, where Auburn seemed to have it won hands down.
Coach: That may well be and Auburn had a distinct advantage to that part of the game. To me Oregon had a mediocre line with an outstanding system. Auburn had a good system with some outstanding size and strength. But there is one secret all SEC teams have and this cannot be duplicated by many other teams around the country.
BD: What is that?
Coach: I will tell you at the end of the interview.
BD:You don't seem like an SEC homer. What was your opinion of Oregon.
Coach: Well, I am objective and I would like to think I am a student of the game. Oregon may well have beat Auburn if they don't wait for over a month to play the game. Oregon has a ton of speed. This is why I think the PAC-10 matches up better with the SEC than the Big-10, because of the speed out there on the coast that them plowboys in the midwest cannot duplicate as much. Oregon has a very out of the box system and with over a month, Auburns size and speed was able to somewhat shut it down. Remember, I'm not such a homer to think that Southern Cal was only good for one national championship when Pete Carrol was there. There were as good or better than the 2 loss LSU team and had Texas dead in the water until Bush laterals and Pete Carrol goes on 4th down without Reggie Bush. They let a team that was down and out with the best player in college football back in the hunt. So the PAC -10 is a good conference.
BD: Why can't the Pac-10 seem to play defense that well in alot of cases, especially in pass coverage?
Coach: Well, USC has had some teams that have but overall I just don't know. It seems odd to me because they have some of the best quarterbacks and passing games in the country every year and you would think practicing every day against these boys they would surely be better in coverage. I think it's the pass rush as much as anything, and that's part of the secret I will tell you at the end of the interview.
BD: What could Oregon have done to win the game?
Coach: Well hell Boy, if they would have just kicked a field goal instead of trying to run it over that big ole Farley kid that was stuffin up the middle all day, they might be still playing. That game was really about as close as a game can be.
BD: What's your opinion on recruiting?
Coach: The most and best players consistently come out of 3 states...Florida, Texas and California. It's a numbers game and those states have the people and the players. Now, there are other state around those that have players in unusual amounts for small states. Two that come to mind are Louisianna and Mississippi. They probably have the greatest athletes per capita of any states. And then there is Georgia which is a rat race unto itself. It helps support Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Tennessee plus various other schools. When Auburn gets the best players out of Georgia, Tennessee and Georgia suffer and vice versa. Then there is Ohio which is owned by Ohio State. Their pro player production has increased by 3 players per year since Jimmy Tressell has become the captain of that ship. They are sort of like an SEC team playing in the big ten. And remember, in Southern Cal's back yard they have a school, Long Beach Poly high school, that has put more players in the NFL than any other school.
BD: Any other thoughts?
Coach: There are a few dream jobs like Florida, Florida State, Texas, Texas A and M, Miami, Southern Cal where if they just recruit the best in their back yard, they are in the top ten every year. The problem is their back yard is getting invaded...invaded heavily mah friend.
BD: Are there any sleeping giants sort of asleep at the wheel that could be great programs?
Coach: A few come to mind. One is UCLA. That is a great campus with the best weather in the country. Their degree is second to none and it has everything a kid wants, good lookin uniforms and lots to do off campus. Same for Arizona State. Best facilities anywhere, the countries biggest school, but they have to be successful recruiting in other states. Hell son, if ya tole me Oregon would be great a few years back I woulda laughed. But Ole Phil Knight of Nike threw so much money at the school that they became good. Maybe at UCLA's expense. I was gonna mention Texas A and M, but Coach Sherman seems to have turned that around. What a crazy bunch of fans they have.
BD: Wrapping it up coach, what is the secret you have been talking about that the SEC teams have the unfair advantage?
Coach: Think about it son...it's real simple. It's right there on your forehead....it's the humidity. These kids up north and on the west coast would crumble like daisies in a sauna bath if they had to put up with our humidity and heat. It's our secret and it's what makes our kids the toughest of the tough. Have ya ever wondered why Miami and Houston are the two top cities for puttin pros in the NFL? And Dallas ain't far behind son. It's the damn humidity....when they come out of these swamps they know they can beat anyone.
BD: Coach, thanks for your time, it has been my pleasure.
Coach: Anytime son.
*************************************************************
Two miscellaneous thoughts I have had for a long time. The Texas A and M fight song sounds exactly like the intro to the Yogi Bear Cartoon theme song that Hanna and Barbera produced. The University of Texas fight song is exactly the same tune as "I've Been Working on the Railroad".
BD: Coach Gator, what was your opinion of the recent Auburn-Oregon Tostitos national Championship game.
Coach: Well mah friend, I for one am getting sick and tired of all these little midgets who write sports and have never played the game saying how it was such a dominating victory for Auburn. I mean, the game went down to the last play.
BD: True enough, but were they mentioning the interior line play, where Auburn seemed to have it won hands down.
Coach: That may well be and Auburn had a distinct advantage to that part of the game. To me Oregon had a mediocre line with an outstanding system. Auburn had a good system with some outstanding size and strength. But there is one secret all SEC teams have and this cannot be duplicated by many other teams around the country.
BD: What is that?
Coach: I will tell you at the end of the interview.
BD:You don't seem like an SEC homer. What was your opinion of Oregon.
Coach: Well, I am objective and I would like to think I am a student of the game. Oregon may well have beat Auburn if they don't wait for over a month to play the game. Oregon has a ton of speed. This is why I think the PAC-10 matches up better with the SEC than the Big-10, because of the speed out there on the coast that them plowboys in the midwest cannot duplicate as much. Oregon has a very out of the box system and with over a month, Auburns size and speed was able to somewhat shut it down. Remember, I'm not such a homer to think that Southern Cal was only good for one national championship when Pete Carrol was there. There were as good or better than the 2 loss LSU team and had Texas dead in the water until Bush laterals and Pete Carrol goes on 4th down without Reggie Bush. They let a team that was down and out with the best player in college football back in the hunt. So the PAC -10 is a good conference.
BD: Why can't the Pac-10 seem to play defense that well in alot of cases, especially in pass coverage?
Coach: Well, USC has had some teams that have but overall I just don't know. It seems odd to me because they have some of the best quarterbacks and passing games in the country every year and you would think practicing every day against these boys they would surely be better in coverage. I think it's the pass rush as much as anything, and that's part of the secret I will tell you at the end of the interview.
BD: What could Oregon have done to win the game?
Coach: Well hell Boy, if they would have just kicked a field goal instead of trying to run it over that big ole Farley kid that was stuffin up the middle all day, they might be still playing. That game was really about as close as a game can be.
BD: What's your opinion on recruiting?
Coach: The most and best players consistently come out of 3 states...Florida, Texas and California. It's a numbers game and those states have the people and the players. Now, there are other state around those that have players in unusual amounts for small states. Two that come to mind are Louisianna and Mississippi. They probably have the greatest athletes per capita of any states. And then there is Georgia which is a rat race unto itself. It helps support Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Tennessee plus various other schools. When Auburn gets the best players out of Georgia, Tennessee and Georgia suffer and vice versa. Then there is Ohio which is owned by Ohio State. Their pro player production has increased by 3 players per year since Jimmy Tressell has become the captain of that ship. They are sort of like an SEC team playing in the big ten. And remember, in Southern Cal's back yard they have a school, Long Beach Poly high school, that has put more players in the NFL than any other school.
BD: Any other thoughts?
Coach: There are a few dream jobs like Florida, Florida State, Texas, Texas A and M, Miami, Southern Cal where if they just recruit the best in their back yard, they are in the top ten every year. The problem is their back yard is getting invaded...invaded heavily mah friend.
BD: Are there any sleeping giants sort of asleep at the wheel that could be great programs?
Coach: A few come to mind. One is UCLA. That is a great campus with the best weather in the country. Their degree is second to none and it has everything a kid wants, good lookin uniforms and lots to do off campus. Same for Arizona State. Best facilities anywhere, the countries biggest school, but they have to be successful recruiting in other states. Hell son, if ya tole me Oregon would be great a few years back I woulda laughed. But Ole Phil Knight of Nike threw so much money at the school that they became good. Maybe at UCLA's expense. I was gonna mention Texas A and M, but Coach Sherman seems to have turned that around. What a crazy bunch of fans they have.
BD: Wrapping it up coach, what is the secret you have been talking about that the SEC teams have the unfair advantage?
Coach: Think about it son...it's real simple. It's right there on your forehead....it's the humidity. These kids up north and on the west coast would crumble like daisies in a sauna bath if they had to put up with our humidity and heat. It's our secret and it's what makes our kids the toughest of the tough. Have ya ever wondered why Miami and Houston are the two top cities for puttin pros in the NFL? And Dallas ain't far behind son. It's the damn humidity....when they come out of these swamps they know they can beat anyone.
BD: Coach, thanks for your time, it has been my pleasure.
Coach: Anytime son.
*************************************************************
Two miscellaneous thoughts I have had for a long time. The Texas A and M fight song sounds exactly like the intro to the Yogi Bear Cartoon theme song that Hanna and Barbera produced. The University of Texas fight song is exactly the same tune as "I've Been Working on the Railroad".
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Bowl Thoughts and Trying to Ruin Great Songs
It was with mixed emotions that I watched Arkansas play Ohio State. I'm not a big fan of the Big-10 and used to watch their annual trek for the last 40 years to Pasadena. They would come in with great ratings and press clippings and usually leave with an ass whuppin.
Plus Ohio State got a gift from an official when it beat Miami years ago....but believe me that was a very good Ohio State team nonetheless. They have over the top fans...fans that get in your face like Notre Dame fans. When they get in someones face the only reply you can give em is sort of like Larry Bird did when people told him their hometown team beat the Celts and he would ask"how many points did you score champ?"
If you were to believe them, about a ten thousand people have suited up for Ohio State and scored the game winning touchdown in the last 25 years.
Then there is the SEC fan. The SEC is down this year from last year. The SEC East is mediocre. The SEC West is a dog fight, but I don't think they have a team at the top as good as last years Bama squad. The SEC fans are very obnoxious as well. Maybe for good reason, but this year, possibly not.
After a Big 10 disaster on New Years Day, Ohio State pulled it out against the hill billies from Arkansas. Both teams tried to gift wrap the game to the other team. Arkansas had so many big plays dropped.
I will say this about Ohio State. In a dirty business, their man at the top, the Sweater Vest, Jim Tressell, is pure class. He is a gentleman and the people I know who know and have dealt with him say his is for real. Bobby Petrino, I am not so sure.
Also, even though Kirk Herbstreit cannot help his Ohio State bias come through, he is a total class act as well. His insights on the "tattoo 5" and Tyrell Pryor held back no punches and were a pleasure to listen to. He emphasized team...I bet he was a great team mate back in the day.
*************************************************************
I thought it was cool for the little guys that TCU beat Wisconsin. That was a very good Badger team. TCU had a little too much speed. Again, Wisconsin had 3 really good running backs and a great ground attack. Hats off to the Horny Toads. Also, HAHA on Ohio State's president for saying they didn't belong. Just another pompous snow blind buffoon.
Also of note was Stanfords' thrashing of Va. Tech. They do not let everyone into Stanford. That made the win all the more impressive.
****************************************************************
During one of the commercials, I heard the opening bass line from the song "Get Ready" by the Temptations. It is a timeless line that rocks and it almost grabs you and says let's dance. It written by the incomporable Mo-Town master and bass session master James Jamerson. (At that time in our history, musicians and artists actually read music. In fact most of the Mo-Town Artists were proficient on a musical instrument.)
Unfortunately what followed was some sorry rap/hip-hop self promoting lame lyrics. They were performed by an attractive lady...could have been lip synched for all I know...and really ruined and disrespected a great song. Again, if you cannot cover a classic, have enough creativity to make your own. Heck, make it funny or a parody, but the self promoting egotistical, lame posturing lyrics are just sorry.
When I was driving with my son, I heard some really sorry rap...the worst of the worst...and I asked who was it...some guy named Gucci. Again, people are buying this garbage.
Lastly, I caught Keri Hilson on David Letterman. This seemed to be a band that had some talent and some power...back up vocalists, good choreography, a horn section. I found the song they performed very lame lyrically, but overall I could see this artist developing into a strong performer. The good part is the music had a nice groove and swing to it. The group came on a little like the Supremes. She is surrounding herself with good talent and showmanship. Keri Hilson, break this curse of crappy music out there and step it up. Let your generation see it! To see a full blown neo-Soul movement would be just awesome. It was so nice to see a singer with a talented band sing on key and on time with a nice bit of showmanship added to top it off. Step your game up Keri Hilson, the music world needs to get back to music.
Plus Ohio State got a gift from an official when it beat Miami years ago....but believe me that was a very good Ohio State team nonetheless. They have over the top fans...fans that get in your face like Notre Dame fans. When they get in someones face the only reply you can give em is sort of like Larry Bird did when people told him their hometown team beat the Celts and he would ask"how many points did you score champ?"
If you were to believe them, about a ten thousand people have suited up for Ohio State and scored the game winning touchdown in the last 25 years.
Then there is the SEC fan. The SEC is down this year from last year. The SEC East is mediocre. The SEC West is a dog fight, but I don't think they have a team at the top as good as last years Bama squad. The SEC fans are very obnoxious as well. Maybe for good reason, but this year, possibly not.
After a Big 10 disaster on New Years Day, Ohio State pulled it out against the hill billies from Arkansas. Both teams tried to gift wrap the game to the other team. Arkansas had so many big plays dropped.
I will say this about Ohio State. In a dirty business, their man at the top, the Sweater Vest, Jim Tressell, is pure class. He is a gentleman and the people I know who know and have dealt with him say his is for real. Bobby Petrino, I am not so sure.
Also, even though Kirk Herbstreit cannot help his Ohio State bias come through, he is a total class act as well. His insights on the "tattoo 5" and Tyrell Pryor held back no punches and were a pleasure to listen to. He emphasized team...I bet he was a great team mate back in the day.
*************************************************************
I thought it was cool for the little guys that TCU beat Wisconsin. That was a very good Badger team. TCU had a little too much speed. Again, Wisconsin had 3 really good running backs and a great ground attack. Hats off to the Horny Toads. Also, HAHA on Ohio State's president for saying they didn't belong. Just another pompous snow blind buffoon.
Also of note was Stanfords' thrashing of Va. Tech. They do not let everyone into Stanford. That made the win all the more impressive.
****************************************************************
During one of the commercials, I heard the opening bass line from the song "Get Ready" by the Temptations. It is a timeless line that rocks and it almost grabs you and says let's dance. It written by the incomporable Mo-Town master and bass session master James Jamerson. (At that time in our history, musicians and artists actually read music. In fact most of the Mo-Town Artists were proficient on a musical instrument.)
Unfortunately what followed was some sorry rap/hip-hop self promoting lame lyrics. They were performed by an attractive lady...could have been lip synched for all I know...and really ruined and disrespected a great song. Again, if you cannot cover a classic, have enough creativity to make your own. Heck, make it funny or a parody, but the self promoting egotistical, lame posturing lyrics are just sorry.
When I was driving with my son, I heard some really sorry rap...the worst of the worst...and I asked who was it...some guy named Gucci. Again, people are buying this garbage.
Lastly, I caught Keri Hilson on David Letterman. This seemed to be a band that had some talent and some power...back up vocalists, good choreography, a horn section. I found the song they performed very lame lyrically, but overall I could see this artist developing into a strong performer. The good part is the music had a nice groove and swing to it. The group came on a little like the Supremes. She is surrounding herself with good talent and showmanship. Keri Hilson, break this curse of crappy music out there and step it up. Let your generation see it! To see a full blown neo-Soul movement would be just awesome. It was so nice to see a singer with a talented band sing on key and on time with a nice bit of showmanship added to top it off. Step your game up Keri Hilson, the music world needs to get back to music.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
The Bowl Announcing Super Team
This woke me up about a week ago and I feel compelled to share this strange saga.
Announcer: And now folks, live from Las Vegas, Nevada it's the Las Vegas Bowl with our A team of announcers Brent Mussberger, Lou Holtz and Dickie V! And now heres Brent.
Brent: A warm Holiday greeting from the Entertainment Capital of America Las Vegas.
Lou: Yes Bwent, gweetings to awl our friends.
Dickie V: Brent A roonie, It's great really super duper P-T-P time great to be here. I'm talkin Prime Time Players Bay-BEEE!!
Brent: Well Todays matchup presents Utah vs. Boise State. Utah looks awfully big. But Boise State is the prohibitive favorite.
Lou: Speaking of Big, you don't get any bigger dan the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. If da point spread was based on character, Notre Dame would be three touchdown favorites in every game.
Brent: You know Las Vegas is sure the place where people have alot of fun. Now it's a family destination. And now, a favorite of our pre game, Professor Lou's pep talk to the Underdog Utah Utes.
Lou: Now Boyz, look heh, your gonna go out on the field today, and nobody past the Wahsatch Mountain range is gonna give you a snowballs chance in hell. But when you put on dose golden helmets...oh wait your colors are red...when you put on dose red helmets and jerseys think of Ara Parseghian and Knute Wockne. Dats what I tole all the boys and it seemed to work... come to tink of it, thats what I told em at South Carolina after I left Notre Dame.
The I-Wish are playing tonight Wight??
Brent: Thanks professor, you hit it right on the head as usual. Las Vegas is a fun place to go on a holiday. And now here's a special feature, Dickie V in a pre game pep talk in the Boise Locker Room.
Dickie V: You know daddyo, I was at the Paris playin the tables the other day when who walks in but the man himself. I'm talkin baby about Robert Montgomery Knight the Legend baby the legend. And he gave me some good advice that I'm gonna give you tonight and you take it with you win lose or draw. This is advice I've heard from the friggin General himself. He said "Dickie V, you chrome domed son of a gun, if you have to be that close to the side line my teams gonna play in sunglasses so they don't lose sight of the ball coming off that damn chrome dome cue ball of yours". And the general himself, the greatest coach every since my ole friend Jimmy Naismith, told his team to wear sunglasses and that game baby will go down in history as a game changer. So Boise, wear your shades under those helmets. I wont be on the sideline tonight but if some bald guy is, you will have a great advantage. Plus you win style points Bay Bee, and style over substance is always what it's about. Now go out there and play...and good luck against those Dookies BABY, coach K will have them ready. He's got the PTP ers baby...Prime Time Players Daddyo-A Rooni. Vegas Bay Bee, where I used to hang out Frankie and Dino and my favorite little point guard of all time, Sammy Davis Jr. BABY...You talk about PTP.
Brent: Dickie, thanks but they are playing the Utah Utes. But nevertheless good advice. Las Vegas is a place where thousands of people get married each year.
Lou: Bwent, Boise is weally having a big speed advantage today. And Notre Dame will have the size.
Brent: That's Utah coach. Look at that Show Girl. They have show girls in Vegas.
Dickie: Look at those Unies BABY. Boise has the orange and blue. Just like my buddy's old uni's TRT...I'm talkin Timothy Richard Tebow. The greatest college player in the history of the sport Daddy -O...the original PTP er. I was talkin with Florida Head basketball coach Billy Donovan just the other day baby and he is good now, but his incoming class is LOADED baby with a capital L. And Tebow will soon be the MVP in the NFL baby. Mile High City watch out baby...Can you say Super Bowl City with multiple rings coming BABY. TRT in the house.
Brent: Las Vegas is the fun capital of the World....WAIT watch out, the Generals in the booth with a folding chair.
Dickie- Robert Montgomery Knight BABY.
Knight: (Hitting Dickie V over the head with a folding chair and grabbing the microphone from Brent. The General is in a red sweater with a big white I on it.) "Now look you punks, I was sent here as a representative of people everywhere to pull the plug on this team. Dickie, everyone is sick of your hype and your myopic favoritism to Duke basketball. They are great and don't need you as a mouthpiece. You're in the Basketball Hall of Fame?? There are great coaches out there that have toiled and deserve to be put in instead a hyped up gas bag like you. Plus Tebow's a great kid, but how about a little love for other players who are tons better like Sam Bradford. Professor, you are retired. Nobody cares about every team being compared to Notre Dame. Mark May is a smart man, but you've made him look like a genius one time too many. And Brent, you are being banished to being the announcer for Olympic Curling and the annual paint drying compitition in Pittsville Alabama. These will be the only times you will be allowed on TV. These venues will serve your sacchirine broadcasting style well. An oyster in a closed shell could bring more excitement to these games than you. You're saving grace was you were good for a nap...as in you put the whole audience to sleep. I'm taking over this booth and all the big games. I'll be the color man, and now here's the new voice of all sports on every network, my new partner and lead man on the network, Howard Stern".
And then I woke up in a cold sweat yet somehow happy with the new world of sports broadcasting.
Announcer: And now folks, live from Las Vegas, Nevada it's the Las Vegas Bowl with our A team of announcers Brent Mussberger, Lou Holtz and Dickie V! And now heres Brent.
Brent: A warm Holiday greeting from the Entertainment Capital of America Las Vegas.
Lou: Yes Bwent, gweetings to awl our friends.
Dickie V: Brent A roonie, It's great really super duper P-T-P time great to be here. I'm talkin Prime Time Players Bay-BEEE!!
Brent: Well Todays matchup presents Utah vs. Boise State. Utah looks awfully big. But Boise State is the prohibitive favorite.
Lou: Speaking of Big, you don't get any bigger dan the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. If da point spread was based on character, Notre Dame would be three touchdown favorites in every game.
Brent: You know Las Vegas is sure the place where people have alot of fun. Now it's a family destination. And now, a favorite of our pre game, Professor Lou's pep talk to the Underdog Utah Utes.
Lou: Now Boyz, look heh, your gonna go out on the field today, and nobody past the Wahsatch Mountain range is gonna give you a snowballs chance in hell. But when you put on dose golden helmets...oh wait your colors are red...when you put on dose red helmets and jerseys think of Ara Parseghian and Knute Wockne. Dats what I tole all the boys and it seemed to work... come to tink of it, thats what I told em at South Carolina after I left Notre Dame.
The I-Wish are playing tonight Wight??
Brent: Thanks professor, you hit it right on the head as usual. Las Vegas is a fun place to go on a holiday. And now here's a special feature, Dickie V in a pre game pep talk in the Boise Locker Room.
Dickie V: You know daddyo, I was at the Paris playin the tables the other day when who walks in but the man himself. I'm talkin baby about Robert Montgomery Knight the Legend baby the legend. And he gave me some good advice that I'm gonna give you tonight and you take it with you win lose or draw. This is advice I've heard from the friggin General himself. He said "Dickie V, you chrome domed son of a gun, if you have to be that close to the side line my teams gonna play in sunglasses so they don't lose sight of the ball coming off that damn chrome dome cue ball of yours". And the general himself, the greatest coach every since my ole friend Jimmy Naismith, told his team to wear sunglasses and that game baby will go down in history as a game changer. So Boise, wear your shades under those helmets. I wont be on the sideline tonight but if some bald guy is, you will have a great advantage. Plus you win style points Bay Bee, and style over substance is always what it's about. Now go out there and play...and good luck against those Dookies BABY, coach K will have them ready. He's got the PTP ers baby...Prime Time Players Daddyo-A Rooni. Vegas Bay Bee, where I used to hang out Frankie and Dino and my favorite little point guard of all time, Sammy Davis Jr. BABY...You talk about PTP.
Brent: Dickie, thanks but they are playing the Utah Utes. But nevertheless good advice. Las Vegas is a place where thousands of people get married each year.
Lou: Bwent, Boise is weally having a big speed advantage today. And Notre Dame will have the size.
Brent: That's Utah coach. Look at that Show Girl. They have show girls in Vegas.
Dickie: Look at those Unies BABY. Boise has the orange and blue. Just like my buddy's old uni's TRT...I'm talkin Timothy Richard Tebow. The greatest college player in the history of the sport Daddy -O...the original PTP er. I was talkin with Florida Head basketball coach Billy Donovan just the other day baby and he is good now, but his incoming class is LOADED baby with a capital L. And Tebow will soon be the MVP in the NFL baby. Mile High City watch out baby...Can you say Super Bowl City with multiple rings coming BABY. TRT in the house.
Brent: Las Vegas is the fun capital of the World....WAIT watch out, the Generals in the booth with a folding chair.
Dickie- Robert Montgomery Knight BABY.
Knight: (Hitting Dickie V over the head with a folding chair and grabbing the microphone from Brent. The General is in a red sweater with a big white I on it.) "Now look you punks, I was sent here as a representative of people everywhere to pull the plug on this team. Dickie, everyone is sick of your hype and your myopic favoritism to Duke basketball. They are great and don't need you as a mouthpiece. You're in the Basketball Hall of Fame?? There are great coaches out there that have toiled and deserve to be put in instead a hyped up gas bag like you. Plus Tebow's a great kid, but how about a little love for other players who are tons better like Sam Bradford. Professor, you are retired. Nobody cares about every team being compared to Notre Dame. Mark May is a smart man, but you've made him look like a genius one time too many. And Brent, you are being banished to being the announcer for Olympic Curling and the annual paint drying compitition in Pittsville Alabama. These will be the only times you will be allowed on TV. These venues will serve your sacchirine broadcasting style well. An oyster in a closed shell could bring more excitement to these games than you. You're saving grace was you were good for a nap...as in you put the whole audience to sleep. I'm taking over this booth and all the big games. I'll be the color man, and now here's the new voice of all sports on every network, my new partner and lead man on the network, Howard Stern".
And then I woke up in a cold sweat yet somehow happy with the new world of sports broadcasting.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
What the NCAA and Cam Newton Affair Taught Me
It was at an AAU tournament called the Mac Irvin in Chicago years ago that an AAU coach told me "these kids from Chicago ain't stupid. They know what they're worth." The late great Art Tolis once told me "if you think basketball recruiting is a rat race, it's nothing compared to football."
With that in mind, I'm pretty sure Cam Newton isn't stupid and he probably has an idea of what he is worth. The NCAA is a business and they did not want any possibility of TCU or Boise State in a potential BCS championship game. So it's one day you're ineligible, no wait you're eligible. You didn't know what was happening it was all your daddy.
Now, I will never know what actually happened, if anything really did in fact happen. There sure was a ton of smoke. BUT, if something did happen, how was this much different from Reggie Bush. His parents got the money and Cam Newtons' parents allegedly got the money. Reggie Bushes mistake was not paying the agent back the borrowed money. It has cost USC dearly...ramrodded by a Nebraska AD who had an agenda.
Speaking of Nebraska, I was at the first ever Cornhusker basketball Tourney a way back when with Ron Godfreys fabulous Miami Hurricanes. My first thoughts were why would anyone want to play at this ice box tundra. Why don't players want to come to Miami and warm weather schools where winters are nice. It looks like kids have finally gotten smart.
I know big name schools have been penalized in the past. The over-riding theme seems to be if you are an up and comer and start beating the big boys too often watch out. A couple points in fact are Jacksonville University. They got squaushed like a bug because it just ain't right beating the Seminoles and Gators. Check out Pony Excess on 30 by 30 on ESPN. SMU got the death penalty in sports for doing what Auburn and Southern Cal are getting caught doing. In fact, they were doing what every University in Texas was doing...they were probably just a little more flamboyant about it. SMU had the nerve to beat Texas. Houston used to have the nerve to beat Texas and they got exiled to Conference USA to play Army and tons of other teams that are a total disconnect from the days of playing Texas and A and M every year. Now Texas doesn't have to worry about SMU getting all the good players from Dallas and Houston getting all the good players from Houston and getting pounded iby those teams. Texas can conveniently avoid playing those schools every year because they have been effectively squashed. In the movie Pony Excess it is quite amusing with all the people who say "I hate Texas." America is a land of bandwagoning front runners and in Texas everyone is generally for Texas (except the Aggies) because Texas is the 800 pound gorilla that generally wins and dominates. It doesn't seem that long ago, but it was, when Houston pounded Texas in Austin 66-15. With a little help from their friends, Texas doesn't have to worry about that happening any longer. The NCAA can solve the Boise State problem really easy. Trump up some charges and put them on probation. That way they won't get the chance to beat an Oklahoma and destroy the BCS hoedown.
With that in mind, I'm pretty sure Cam Newton isn't stupid and he probably has an idea of what he is worth. The NCAA is a business and they did not want any possibility of TCU or Boise State in a potential BCS championship game. So it's one day you're ineligible, no wait you're eligible. You didn't know what was happening it was all your daddy.
Now, I will never know what actually happened, if anything really did in fact happen. There sure was a ton of smoke. BUT, if something did happen, how was this much different from Reggie Bush. His parents got the money and Cam Newtons' parents allegedly got the money. Reggie Bushes mistake was not paying the agent back the borrowed money. It has cost USC dearly...ramrodded by a Nebraska AD who had an agenda.
Speaking of Nebraska, I was at the first ever Cornhusker basketball Tourney a way back when with Ron Godfreys fabulous Miami Hurricanes. My first thoughts were why would anyone want to play at this ice box tundra. Why don't players want to come to Miami and warm weather schools where winters are nice. It looks like kids have finally gotten smart.
I know big name schools have been penalized in the past. The over-riding theme seems to be if you are an up and comer and start beating the big boys too often watch out. A couple points in fact are Jacksonville University. They got squaushed like a bug because it just ain't right beating the Seminoles and Gators. Check out Pony Excess on 30 by 30 on ESPN. SMU got the death penalty in sports for doing what Auburn and Southern Cal are getting caught doing. In fact, they were doing what every University in Texas was doing...they were probably just a little more flamboyant about it. SMU had the nerve to beat Texas. Houston used to have the nerve to beat Texas and they got exiled to Conference USA to play Army and tons of other teams that are a total disconnect from the days of playing Texas and A and M every year. Now Texas doesn't have to worry about SMU getting all the good players from Dallas and Houston getting all the good players from Houston and getting pounded iby those teams. Texas can conveniently avoid playing those schools every year because they have been effectively squashed. In the movie Pony Excess it is quite amusing with all the people who say "I hate Texas." America is a land of bandwagoning front runners and in Texas everyone is generally for Texas (except the Aggies) because Texas is the 800 pound gorilla that generally wins and dominates. It doesn't seem that long ago, but it was, when Houston pounded Texas in Austin 66-15. With a little help from their friends, Texas doesn't have to worry about that happening any longer. The NCAA can solve the Boise State problem really easy. Trump up some charges and put them on probation. That way they won't get the chance to beat an Oklahoma and destroy the BCS hoedown.
Friday, December 17, 2010
What's In A Number?
What's in a number. If you ever go to Jeff Sagarin on a search engine such as google, you would be surprised.
I was watching UCLA play Villanova the a few weeks back and again I was blown away. Unfortunately it wasn't because they were the awesome team UCLA fans expect. They just looked way below average to be wearing the blue and gold. Their number is 141. Yes, UCLA is calculated at the 141st best basketball team in America. That sort of has me puzzled. How a good player from anywhere could walk away from that campus and not be awestruck is beyond comprehension. It is a gorgeous school with everything a young man could desire including incredible weather. Now when you look at all the players in the pros from Ben Howlands first UCLA teams, you almost have to wonder why they didn't win it all. I used to look at those teams and wonder why he pulled the reigns so hard on the race horses that played for him.
While we're talking about the Bruins here is another number...61. That's where the football Bruins rank. Oregon out recruits the Bruins by leaps and bounds. I guess the Nike money talks. One last crazy football number...24. Arizona State is ranked as the 24th best football team in the country. They went 6-6 and are not eligible for a bowl because one of the wins was against a Division IAA. Okay, one final thought...the number one....The Pac 10 Conference is number one by a hair over the SEC, followed closely by the Big 12. Then there is a dropoff to the Big 10. These numbers are subject to change after the bowl games. Who'd of thunk it?
On the basketball side here's another crazy number most people won't recognize...the number 2 as in BYU. BYU is the number 2 power rated team in the country behind Duke. And on the West Coast, Steve Fisher has San Diego State at number 7. Would you have guessed those numbers? BYU's long range number is 6, as in 6th best in the whole nation. I'm betting outside of Utah that's a pretty well kept secret.
***********************************************************
Some teams have it and some teams don't. I've been watching the Boston Celtics and the NBA for over 50 years. The Knicks Celtics game a couple nights ago was typical. The Celtics hit one at the buzzer to win it. They have mostly been hitting that same shot for the last 50 years. Some franchises seem blessed.
Speaking of the Knicks, they are a great team to watch. Raymond Felton has been reborn when the Bobcats traded him. What were they thinking replacing him with DJ Augustin? Larry Brown has this throng of admirerers. I would never say he is not a great coach. I believe there are a number of them better in the NBA. Jackson, Pop, Riley when he coaches, McMillan, Addleman, Karl,Rivers and maybe even D'Antoni to name a few. A point guard has to be just right for coach Brown or he will nag him to death. Also, he couldn't deal with youth on the one Olympic team he coached and it was not a pretty result, even with a younger Tim Duncan. In fact, that team prompted the advent of the Olympic basketball team as we now know it....organized and winners.
I was watching UCLA play Villanova the a few weeks back and again I was blown away. Unfortunately it wasn't because they were the awesome team UCLA fans expect. They just looked way below average to be wearing the blue and gold. Their number is 141. Yes, UCLA is calculated at the 141st best basketball team in America. That sort of has me puzzled. How a good player from anywhere could walk away from that campus and not be awestruck is beyond comprehension. It is a gorgeous school with everything a young man could desire including incredible weather. Now when you look at all the players in the pros from Ben Howlands first UCLA teams, you almost have to wonder why they didn't win it all. I used to look at those teams and wonder why he pulled the reigns so hard on the race horses that played for him.
While we're talking about the Bruins here is another number...61. That's where the football Bruins rank. Oregon out recruits the Bruins by leaps and bounds. I guess the Nike money talks. One last crazy football number...24. Arizona State is ranked as the 24th best football team in the country. They went 6-6 and are not eligible for a bowl because one of the wins was against a Division IAA. Okay, one final thought...the number one....The Pac 10 Conference is number one by a hair over the SEC, followed closely by the Big 12. Then there is a dropoff to the Big 10. These numbers are subject to change after the bowl games. Who'd of thunk it?
On the basketball side here's another crazy number most people won't recognize...the number 2 as in BYU. BYU is the number 2 power rated team in the country behind Duke. And on the West Coast, Steve Fisher has San Diego State at number 7. Would you have guessed those numbers? BYU's long range number is 6, as in 6th best in the whole nation. I'm betting outside of Utah that's a pretty well kept secret.
***********************************************************
Some teams have it and some teams don't. I've been watching the Boston Celtics and the NBA for over 50 years. The Knicks Celtics game a couple nights ago was typical. The Celtics hit one at the buzzer to win it. They have mostly been hitting that same shot for the last 50 years. Some franchises seem blessed.
Speaking of the Knicks, they are a great team to watch. Raymond Felton has been reborn when the Bobcats traded him. What were they thinking replacing him with DJ Augustin? Larry Brown has this throng of admirerers. I would never say he is not a great coach. I believe there are a number of them better in the NBA. Jackson, Pop, Riley when he coaches, McMillan, Addleman, Karl,Rivers and maybe even D'Antoni to name a few. A point guard has to be just right for coach Brown or he will nag him to death. Also, he couldn't deal with youth on the one Olympic team he coached and it was not a pretty result, even with a younger Tim Duncan. In fact, that team prompted the advent of the Olympic basketball team as we now know it....organized and winners.
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