Sunday, January 12, 2014

A LOT OF SAD NEWS TODAY

***A-ROD'S GONE FOR NOW***
...and maybe forever. His suspension was reduced from 211 games to 162, effectively eliminating his participation in the 2014 season. He'll be 391/2 when he's eligible again in 2015 but will have played for only two months since 2011. How effective could he be at that point? I'm glad that the system worked, but you have to feel somewhat sad for the demise of the career of as talented a baseball player as he was. The same way I feel bad for Daryle Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. Yes, they bring it on themselves, but not only did they deprive themselves, but also the baseball fan, the person who paid money he probably can't afford to watch these gifted athletes perform. It's been estimated that A-Rod has earned over $450 million in his career, including the $95+ million the Yankees will still have to pay him, but that's just money. Morally, he's broke.

***THE GOOD NEWS IN BASKETBALL***
It appears that Syracuse picked a good time to join the ACC. After beating N. Carolina handily yesterday, the Orange are 16-0 and 3-0 in the ACC. Perennially powerhouses, Duke, N Caro., N Caro State and Maryland  are a combined 4-8 in the conference and 43-21 overall. Right now, Syracuse looks like the big dog in the ACC. There's a long, long way to go, however. There are some holes in the Syracuse game and the ACC teams will eventually figure them out.

***THE BAD NEWS IN BASKETBALL**
I've often said that one of the things I most admired about Bobby Knight was that he ran a clean program. He insisted that his players attended classes, maintained their grades and acted like responsible citizens. Dean Smith operated the same way. Well, Dean and Bobby are gone and unfortunately, their legacy does not live on. We've seen the shameful acts perpetrated on the college sport scenes by Ohio State or coaches like John Calipari, but did you expect to see such situations like this to happen at North Carolina? Gird you loins and read this article by Phil Mushnick of the New York Post.
http://nypost.com/2014/01/11/unc-is-a-stark-example-of-colleges-warped-priorities/

***OH YEAH, A COUPLE MORE THINGS***
Johnny Manziel opted for the NFL draft. He's one of the most talked about players in the country, but how well will he perform in the pro game? He's certainly quick and has a good arm, but he's still a little guy. Before you try to tell me how wrong I am, I give you two words: Doug Flutie. Same kind of player, similar size and a great leader. He ended up a serviceable player, but certainly no cinch Hall of Famer.

It looks like the Yanks are about to throw another $120 million at a Japanese phenom, one Nasahiro Tanaka, plus another $20 million for the 'right' to give him that money. To quote Charlie Brown: "This better work."

Two more NFL playoff games today. I hope we don't have to listen to a lot of jibber-jabber from the announcers about the weather. Let's save it for the Super Bowl in February in New Jersey, where you can get good odds on a snowstorm, an ice storm or some very frigid weather.

By the way, am I the only one who's ears are bleeding after listening to two hours of screaming and blither from Dick Vitale...BABY?  At one point he named three different NC players in the space of 10 minutes, whose "...outstanding play was critical if Carolina was going to win."   I never knew that.I guess it was easier to say that than actually research the teams before the game. Retire, please, Mr Vitale. My ears are begging you.

***THEY SAID IT***
"The Chiefs, going for their first playoff win in 20 years, blew a 28-point, second-half lead. The low point occurred when Chiefs kicker Charlie Brown was about to kick a field goal and Chiefs holder Lucy pulled the ball away."  -- Brad Dickson
"Apparently women’s ski jumping hasn’t been in the Olympics until now because some (men) were afraid it could damage female fertility. Uh, except which sex has the more external, and thus at risk, fertility “parts”?"  -- Janice Hough
"Ronda Rousey (current MMA Champion) admits to a crush on retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, saying that she’d ‘have 57 of his babies’.If she wanted 57 babies with someone, wouldn’t she have better luck with a retired NBA legend?"  -- Bill Littlejohn
"The Colts fined punter Pat McAfee for tweeting a candid locker-room photo showing Andrew Luck’s naked backside. That’s what you call getting thrown for a loss on a naked bootleg."  -- Dwight Perry
"A minor league hockey fan in Norfolk, Va., caught a puck in one hand while he held a sleeping baby in the other. But the real trick was balancing that beer atop his head."  -- Brad Dickson
"According to a new study, fits of laughter can lead to fatal asthma attacks, heart ruptures and seizures. More bad news for Maple Leafs fans."  -- RJ Currie

CP-
 












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