I was gonna post the Yankees Orioles brawl from 1996. But apparently it’s already been pulled due to infringement rights.
Bummer.
But it is opening day.. at least for us Yankee fans!! Let’s go for 28!!
Sooners Roll Bama on Senior Night
The #5 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide Gymnastics rolled into Norman undefeated and they weren’t looking to go home any other way as Defending National Champions. They were also coming back to “right the wrongs” of the last visit to Norman, when the then #1 Bama lost to the Sooners. The Sooners were coming off a season high score at home and on an emotional Senior Night, it was always going to be a fight to the final rotation where one mistake could be the difference.
Sooner Gymnastics looking good!
Bounties? Part Of The Game?
I am very torn on this subject. As it was revealed this week that the New Orleans Saints are guilty of having a bounty system to knock opposing players out of the game. Most notoriously apparently targeting Brett Favre and Kurt Warner during their 2010 Super Bowl run. The master mind? Defensive Co-ordinator Gregg Williams, who is now the DC of the St Louis Rams. Is this really surprising to anyone? Not to me. It’s been part of the game for as long as the league has existed probably. But now it has come to the surface. And in a big way.
Then New Orleans DC Gregg Williams
Gregg Williams has already issued an apology with this statement. “I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the ‘pay for performance’ program while I was with the Saints,” Williams said in a statement released by the Rams. ”It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.” I guess that is an admission of guilt. But why are we singling out the Saints, when everyone is taking part in this. And I have read a couple of articles where the players are getting a pass, and Williams and the Saints organization as a whole are the only villains here. But contrary to what Mike Judge wrote about here, the players have to be culpable, they were the ones laying the hits.
But then, I have to play devil’s advocate. It IS a violent game. It is dangerous. You are out to inflict a hurt on the opposition. Especially the QB. If they needed incentive to go out there and try to give their team the best chance to win, what is wrong with that, especially in the scope that is the NFL. They know the dangers, they know the risk, and are compensated handsomely. Now, I would never support the practice of late hits, hits on unsuspecting, defenseless players. Never. But is this what it is about? On second thought, that is exactly what this is about. Players are constantly complaining about the commissioners office being hypocrites about player safety, especially in regards to concussions. But who is really the hypocrite as this comes to light? Squarely on the players I think. As Mike Freeman of CBS Sports writes here, and I agree with him. The players should know better, and should be in a position to protect their fellow combatants who have families to support, who are making a living at this violent sport. Aren’t they all part of the same union? Then bounties have to go, and hopefully this is the first step to make it not part of the game.
Durant For MVP?
Why not? Why is he not getting more play? After winning MVP of the All-Star game I really thought this talk would heat up. Kevin Durant is arguably the best scorer in the Association right now. Who else, besides maybe Kobe, would you want to have the ball in the final minutes. He has what Skip Bayless calls clutch gene. Look at last night. The Thunder looked lethargic, slow, just going through the motions for three quarters. Then the final quarter arrives, the Thunder down 11 to start and before you know it Durant single handily brought his team back scoring 18 points for a 105-102 win on the road. How can you argue with that? He repeatedly does that game in game out. The Thunder also have the best record in the league, although by a slim margin.
All-Star MVP Kevin Durant
I don’t see how they don’t cruise through the Western Conference in a head on collision with either the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls in the finals. And my money would be on the Heat not the Bulls With the Heat imploding to the young Thunder again. And KD should be the front runner for MVP. You can argue for Lebron James, but he is surrounded by another super star in Dwayne Wade. Although Russell Westbrook is no bum. But he is not a top five player like Wade is. We will see how it plays out, but I think Durant will push people to talk about him more and more in the second half of this shortened season.
It’s A Play-In, Not A Playoff
Major League Baseball is set to agree today to expand it’s playoffs starting as early as 2012. They are going to add 2 teams, one from each league giving each league 5 teams. But they aren’t going to add a playoff series, but instead a one game playoff game. Is this what we want? I think so. How many times have there been one game to decide who gets in? How exciting have those games been? I always tune in. There is something about a one or done situation to get the competitive juices flowing. As a baseball fan I can’t wait for this. I love those end of the season games when they do happen, and now we are guaranteed of this situation every single year! Who wouldn’t like that?
Yankees celebrate their 2010 World Series
Now I know there are purist out there, and I have read some of them today, that claim this is just leading to more dismantling of the tradition of baseball. And I understand their complaint to some degree. Baseball is the most tradition rich sport in existence. They claim that changes like interleague play, the AL DH, to name a couple are ruining baseball. I am still not sold on interleague, but I do think it is somewhat good for the fans.. well some match ups. It’s always great to see Yanks – Mets in the regular season, or Red Sox- Reds, national rivalries. Or even regional ones like say Royals- Cardinals. But other match ups, and there has to be others, you can’t just play the big name series’ with the most to gain, like Mariners- Marlins. Who cares to see that? So you have to take the bad with the good. Like with everything in sports and life.
But I don’t see how you can lose with a winner take all one game playoff. The excitement will be off the chart every year. And with that, I am IN.
The Tale Of Two Number Ones
How many drafts in recent memory have had two legitimate number one franchise quarterbacks? None that I can recall. Maybe back when Peyton Manning came out and was up against Ryan Leaf. And we all know how that played out. Manning is still (arguably) in the midst of a Hall of Fame career, Leaf is somewhere between selling insurance and drug convictions.
So how will this class pan out? Is it Andrew Luck, or Robert Griffin III? Which would you choose? I have an opinion. And it probably isn’t the status quo. What would you do if you were the Colts, who happen to hold the rights to the number one pick in the 2012 upcoming draft. They also have that guy I mentioned earlier, you know that Manning kid. The guy who is a sure fire Hall of Famer right now. But there in lies the rub. Manning’s health is questionable at best. After having 4 neck surgeries in the past year, which caused him to miss the entire 2011 season is Manning ready to resume his all-star career? The debate is still in. So I ask again, what should the Colts do? There are numerous suitors if the Colts decide to part ways and go with youth, which most talking heads believe is the course they will take. And I agree. In this league, you go with youth, especially if you have two arguably can’t miss franchise QB’s ready to step in.
Robert Griffin III with the 2012 Heisman
So then the argument changes. Which one. Luck or RG3? Both have ability, that was proven on the national stage in the college game. But both have slightly different games. Although, I will argue not that different. Not that different at all. Some will say that Luck is the best pure pocket passer to come out of college since.. well since Manning. I would probably not disagree. He has tremendous presence in the pocket. Can read a defense like a veteran NFL QB right now. He is the most ready to play right away QB I might have ever seen. A definite can’t miss prospect. But RG3 is no slouch either. The difference is RG3 can break defensive backs ankles when he decides to take off from the pocket. Luck can not do that. Edge to RG3. So the kid can run. That means he probably can’t stand in the pocket and pick apart those same DB’s. Wrong. Go watch some of the film. Repeatedly his Senior year he stood tall in the pocket and threw deep, medium, all over the yard. Checking off defenders, finding the open man. Throwing a beautiful ball. And what pushed me over the edge was hearing him at the combine, being interviewed. The kid is smart, insightful, well spoken. He will be a great addition to any team and especially to any city. So I guess if I were the Colts, I would be picking RG3. But we all know, they are already going with the safe pick. Some it’s safe, I don’t. Well all I say is.. Good Luck.
What’s On Your Menu For The Super Bowl?
I think I am going to try my hand at these along with my wings.
I have always wanted to make these, but have been chicken. But everyone I talked to last night seems game so I think I will use this recipe, with some added sausage. Plus she is from Oklahoma!! What could go wrong?!!
I’ll post a Super Bowl rap on Monday or Tuesday!! Enjoy the game!!
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Steven Pledger Big 12 Player Of The Week
Have you seen OU basketball this year? The kids are doing something special. Looks like the Lon Kruger hire was genius!
They are arguably the 3rd best team in the Big 12 this year, one year after being a bottom feeder of the league. And Steven Pledger is proving to be a special player. Named Big 12 player of the week after scoring 3o against Purple Kansas. It’s going to be interesting seeing how the rest of the season plays out and how we measure with top ten Kansas this week. But it’s nice to be proud of the basketball team once again.
Penn State
Let’s think about Sandusky in a normal world .
If it came to light to your boss, CEO, Owner of your company, that you were spotted having anal sex with a little boy in any part of the company property, what would happen? You would be fired and exiled on the spot, even if it wasn’t accurate. Just the rumor would get you canned. Or they would find a way to can you if their wasn’t evidence. Correct?
But what if it was a long time “friend”, a kid you brought into the company, you taught and mentored. And then it happens. I still say, forget that, you end ties immediately. Unless beyond a doubt that person DIDN’T do it. Just the rumor in your company(program) is not good. ESPECIALLY, when there are multiple reports. MULTIPLE. Think about that, multiple reports. Which JoePa HAD to know about. And the guy was still allowed on campus? With free reign to move about within the offices and facilities as he pleases?? You have to know if, IF?, No not IF you have to know IT WILL go bad at some point, you have to shun him. You have to distance yourself, from even just the allegations, which are many!
That is what I don’t understand. Why would JoePa, of such moral fortitude, supposedly, wouldn’t just ask the guy to stay away? Now that is not the correct thing either. I know he is being vilified for not doing more to turn in Sandusky, and rightfully so. But even if you stop there, and you are in the camp that he did what he was supposed to do, he moved it up the chain. Which is what by.. law, not sure if it is really law though, but he did what “he was supposed to do”, at a minimum. But he didn’t do enough. Just ask all those kids from 2002 and later.
New Band I Discovered Tonight
Not sure if it is 80′s.. ish.. or what I like about it. But different.
Good OU-Texas Replay
Soo It’s Hate Week
Better known around here as OU-Texas week. Always the biggest game of the year.. so far that is. There always should be bigger games. Those at the end of the year come to mind as being traditionally bigger, for both OU and the Longhorns from down south. So that brings a question to ponder. Why does this game matter more than say the Big 12 title game, or heaven forbid, the BCS National Championship game? Because it comes first. Naturally. Have to win this one to get to the next one. Correct? Not necessarily.
OU has lost this game twice in the past 10 years and still played for the conference title game. Not so much for the BCS game. Although it technically is not out of the realm of possibility. LSU played us earlier this decade after incurring 2 losses in their season. So a loss to our bitter arch rival in early October does not necessarily knock us out of title contention. Especially when both are ranked in the top ten. At least it used to not. This year might be different. OU has been winning at a pretty good pace this year, knocking around their last opponent 62-6. But has still dropped in the polls. OU started pre-season number one. Now sits at number three. After going on the road in week two and beating a top ten team in Florida State and then following that up by beating another top twenty team, Missouri at home. That’s two top twenties in three weeks, and gearing up to face another top ten in this Saturday’s Red River Rivalry. Let’s do the math, that would be three top twenty teams in the first 5 games, including two top tens opponents. Throw in a quality win against a very good Tulsa team to open the season and that’s a pretty decent resume. Why are we being leap frogged in the polls? Cause we aren’t in the vaunted SEC? That’s what the pundits would have you believe by having both Alabama and LSU jump over us. And I would be willing to buy some of that argument. LSU opened the season beating Oregon, a top five team at the time at a neutral site to open the season. I wouldn’t have wanted to open the season with a top five team, but it sure would been damn fun to do so!! Bama just beat Florida in the swamp, always a quality win. So they do have some argument. It will all play out in the end, that is my promise to OU fans. Plus, if we survive Texas, Bama and LSU play each other the first of November, so they will probably knock one of themselves out. But wait.. they are still SEC, so we still might get a raw deal. So why don’t we want to just join that conference?
But i digress.
This was supposed to be about why this weekend matters more than others. Why is this game bigger? Well.. it’s Texas.. duh!
College Football Is Upon Us
Things kicked off last night, if only in mediocre fashion. Several games were on the Thursday night slate, non compelling as most were big blowouts except for the dismal Kentucky-Western Kentucky match-up which was just plain ugly. This is typical of the first weekend in college football. Most teams start out slow, scheduling patsies to open their season at home. Safe games, scrimmages really. Now there have been some epic openers, Miami – Florida State comes to mind. They have played a couple of times to begin the season. But most teams choose not to play tough out of conference opponents. Not this year. One game in particular has most college football fans frothing at the mouth. LSU-Oregon. This is a bowl game the first weekend of September. This a match up of two top five teams the first weekend of the season. Who could ask for anything more?
OU coach Bob Stoops
Not me! As a huge fan, college football couldn’t get here quick enough. Having a match-up like that the opening weekend is something to celebrate. Except for one thing. I won’t get to watch it. Live anyway. It airs at the same time as my beloved Oklahoma Sooners opener. I will be watching that, cheering like mad, screaming at the TV, calling for Heupels head at some point. (Although I doubt that really happens. ) We open up with in state school Tulsa. No slouch themselves, but not up to challenge of the pre-season number one ranked Sooners. So I have a decision to make. Do I try to just DVR the LSU-Oregon game and watch it later? It won’t be as compelling, I will undoubtedly know the score before viewing. It will be posted on the screen of my game continually all night. So what would be the point? This is one dilemma that I welcome with the return of football season. Great games all around. Just impossible to catch them all. ESPN better show some great hi-lights, that’s all I have to say!
Til Death Do Us Part
Miami, Miami, Miami. Wow. And I thought the improprieties that rocked the SMU program were bad. That debacle pales in comparison. It’s like that was the minor leagues of cheating. Welcome to the big leagues. Miami should have resided in the SEC with the amount of cheating they are accused of.
All from a 5’5″ white convicted felon. But this guy was special. He hoodwinked many a people. Supposedly bright, well educated coaches and educators in a 930 million dollar ponzi scheme which landed Nevin Shapiro in federal prison. This guy apparently was running wild among the movers and shakers of Miami University, the self proclaimed “U”. Who were these movers and shakers? Well apparently then head basketball coach Frank Haith and University President Donna Shalala to name two. Pretty heady company. I am not even sure famed Miami thug errr rapper turned Hurricane booster Luther Campbell got into those circles.
Devin Shapiro with Frank Haith and Donna Shalala
This guy was openly shelling out cash and benefits at a record pace. benefits that included cash payouts, prostitutes, trips, cars, shoot even bounties for big hits and big plays. Dang, the cat was even on the field and had access to the press box. How did this go on? Was selling their soul for winning worth it? And man, they didn’t even win. One title in the past decade? None in Basketball, they didn’t sniff the Final Four. So what happens now?
Nevin Shapiro on playing field
SMU got the death penalty back in the 80′s for the crimes they committed. Shouldn’t this be the same sentence? The crimes fit the punishment. But there are more things to consider. What about the economy? What about the conference? Schedules would have to be altered. Other programs would be affected. Some games with out of conference opponents are set many many years in advance. What about those programs? It’s all about money isn’t it? I honestly think they should be allowed to continue to play. Take away a bunch of scholarships, no TV, no bowl games. But they must play their schedules out. If they go 0-11, so be it. Either way it takes them a decade at least to come back. That to me fits the crime and does not effect anyone else. To me that’s the fairest route to take.
A&M Withdraws From The Big 12
“Uh Oh” was just heard coming out of Dan Beebe’s office today. Was that muttered because he doesn’t have a plan? If he doesn’t the Big 12 is in trouble. Is the Big 12 planning on expansion or closing up shop? These are questions that have been swirling since last summer. Here it is 7 days til the 2011 season kicks off and realighnment is rearing it’s ugly head once again. 
Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe
So where exactly does this leave the Big 12? Are it’s big name Universities firmly in the cross hairs of the SEC, Pac-12 and Big 10? And how many question marks can I use in one column? There in lies the issue. There are way more questions than possible answers.
Last summer we were minutes away from having four schools from the Big 12, Texas, OU, OSU and Texas Tech joining the Pac-10 with Colorado(who was already moving there) and Utah. As an OU fan this is the scenario I was rooting for. I thought this would be a perfect fit for my Sooners. I thought we would make a great South division with USC, UCLA, UofA, ASU, Tech, Texas, OSU and OU. There would already be a semi national level rivalry with USC. And this scenario would also lead to us playing in the L.A. market every single year playing either USC or UCLA. We had already made huge strides the past decade recruiting California. i.e Roy Williams, the current Cali Trio (Kenny Stills, Tony Jefferson, Brennan Clay). That without a major game to bring potential recruits to on a yearly basis. And not mention playing at Cal in some sort of rotating schedule. How good would recruiting be if we had more exposure? We would be losing nothing. We would still have exposure in Texas. Shoot, how well did we recruit Texas in the old Big 8 days when we only played UT on a yearly basis. This scenario would only be a win-win for OU.
Now I was a fan of the Big 12. I am sorta old school. I liked having the old rivalries(if you can call them that) with the Big 8 schools. But we had already lost our yearly rivalry with Nebraska, we made it through that trial. I say it’s time to move on, and I vote we push for joing the Pac-12. Maybe that’s why Beebe said “Uh Oh” either way he is out.
So Humbled. (via From the King’s Pen)
I wrote about what they would do to honor Austin Box a while back. I voted for a simple decal on the helmet. This is more than we should have expected. A very simple but impactful rememberance on the helmet, designed by one of our own. OUKingpen. Here is a reposting of his blog.
Cab Driver Charged In Death Of Alabama FB Player
Wow, this is interesting. They are charging the cab driver who delivered drugs to Alabama Football Player Aaron Douglas. It is unclear to me whether he already knew the driver or just randomly purchased drugs from him. I guess pretty good detective work to track this whole situation down.
Laptop Is Possessed!
So I haven’t posted anything for a couple of weeks, ever since my laptop died again.
Has refused to power 0n. Today, just for kicks, I hit the power button. Completely powered on, no problems. So if all goes well I will put out some content this week. It IS only 12 days til FOOTBALL STARTS!
Ryan and Landry On ESPN
Thought I would try to get all the links in one spot for everyone. VERY VERY impressed with our kids. They represented our state and University very very well.
Here’s the two on Sportscenter then on College Football Live.
Not video but audio of them on the Van Pelt show but with guest host Doug Gottleib. They talk about pay for play, which I found very interesting, plus I wrote about it here.
Ivan Maisel on an ESPN Podcast with the boys. Again talking about pay for play, I really like the ideas they present.
Chat wrap up from their stay.
They were supposedly on Sportsnation also, but for the life of me I can not find that on ESPN. So if anyone can help out add the link to a comment. Thanks!
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Rick Reilly This Past Week
Everyone knows I love Rick Reilly so here is the past three Reilly columns. Pretty entertaining stuff.
The first day after the lockout was over was pretty wild, here Rick follows an agent as he shakes and bakes some deals.
And then is Favre really done? Rick hangs out as good ‘ole Brett waits for the suitors to arrive.. or not.
And last, should Tiger change his ways?
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