Headlines for December, 2007

Fighting for Roses

Some people just refuse to learn from their own mistakes. For example, Ben Gordon still thinks he can drain 20-foot fade-away jumpers with a hand in his face, even though he's shooting under 40 percent this season. Ozzie Guillen continued to bring Mike MacDougal out of his bullpen (54 appearances in 2007) despite the right-hander's 6.80 ERA. And Rex Grossman [read more...]

Braggin’ Time

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois play their annual basketball game at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis. The states border each other, with Missouri's eastern border the same as Illinois' western: the Mississippi River. The schools are both very close to the Gateway Arch, each campus [read more...]

It’s Not All in the Numbers

There is an unhealthy contingent of putative mavens who view college basketball through the myopic, exclusive lens of numbers. Several of these number ruminants have even "invented" their own proprietary statistical models, which they claim to be the most accurate, the most predictive, the best reduction of the game and its teams and players to their essential value. Number of [read more...]

Job Jumpers

December 8, 2006: West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez turned down Alabama on Friday, telling his players that he'll be back for his sixth season with the Mountaineers. Rodriguez will receive a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season from West Virginia... While other details of the deal were not immediately released, a source with knowledge of the negotiation said that Rodriguez [read more...]

Now or Never for the Big Ten

Unfortunately, bowl season isn't all fun and games for everyone. For those of us who write about college football, it spells the end of columns dedicated to actual gridiron action. Until September of 2008, all we have to occupy ourselves is draft chatter and recruiting updates. Things could be worse, I suppose. For example, it would be far worse to [read more...]

The Unspoken Wrath of the King

All eyes were on Isiah Thomas, the ornery crowd attending the game, and the "Dump Isiah" protesters outside Madison Square Garden. After the tipoff all eyes shifted to the New York Knicks' performance (a 108-90 win). In the midst of the circus that is now the Knicks, a more important event took place. It was one that few noticed, and [read more...]

The Mitchell Report and the Media Blame Game

Former Cincinnati Reds and Florida Marlins trainer Larry Starr tried to warn owners about the burgeoning steroid abuse epidemic in Major League Baseball at the Winter Meetings. Bud Selig was there, but he did nothing. You would think the MLB commissioner might heed the words of a man intertwined with players' health. The only problem with Selig was that he [read more...]

Early Bird Catches the Winners

In the fall, an old horseplayer's fancy turns to thoughts of winning the Kentucky Derby in the spring. At least mine do.I've paid more attention to 2-year-olds during the 21st Century for several reasons. Let's face it - you can never do too much research on prospects for America's Race. If you have the time I do, it pays off in [read more...]

Another Set Of Standings

Amidst the giddy anticipation of preseason, as coaches and players moved from the Vegas-lite of Midnight Madness into official practice, from intrasquad runs to the blowouts and mock upsets (Grand Valley State, Findlay) of exhibition games, from rusty jumpers, mistimed cuts, and bad passes to some early semblance of a groove; as fans and commentators peered into their crystal balls, [read more...]

Sean Taylor: Morality and the Lesson of Hope

Where I live there is a dusting of snow on the ground, all the foliage, save for the firs, is bare. If you were foreign to this time of the year you might think most everything is dead.But this is only a time of rest. In a few months another season will be in bloom, color will return to all [read more...]

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