The first frame sounds different than the last
Crowds wave signs, cheer loud and have a blast
Armed with noises, they roar and rant
Quietness and stillness are scant
The man on deck clatters confident and brash
The runner‘s stomp swishes like a puddle splash
There’s a frail silence in the final frame
They’re deaf to it in the beginning of the game
Each player listens carefully to the ump’s undulating call
During the ninth, the decisions come with a hyphenating stall
The hitter straddles the plate like a boater who’s rowing
A plopping bunt slap gets him to where he is going
The bleachers beat and children chide
The opposing pitcher to shake his pride
The wooden weapon whacks, a cracking shatter
Delivering the dashing and darting batter
A clunking collision in the early inning
Turns into a breathless gasp that hinges on winning
Plushy grass slows the ball to a whimper
Only in the end does it show its simper
The outfield plays tricks with the fielder’s glove
Taking the leather mitt and giving a shove
He slips as his feet give way to the ground
All that’s left is a simultaneous stunned sound
Their once emotional, energetic chimes
Are now carbon copies of muted mimes
Frozen faces look down as they walk away
Helmets hobble at the end of play
“You win some, you lose some,” says the coach with concern
Adjacent in the dugout, painful sobs of those who yearn
The unheard heartbreaking throbs are all they remember
It carries with them through and beyond December
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Coach Court Collision Costly in Comeback
The Dallas Mavericks kept their sixth game winning streak alive with a 111-103 overtime win in Atlanta Friday night. It was a battle of southwest versus southeast down at Philips Arena. Dirk Nowitzki had 37 points and hit a free throw on a technical foul to draw the Mavericks within one point before the end of regulation. Hawks’ coach, Mike Woodson, was called for the technical with just over one minute remaining. The refs called Woodson on the foul for being on the floor during play. Jason Kidd bumped the opposing coach. Without the foul, the Mavs may not have forced the overtime. Dallas needed to overcome a 14 point deficit in the fourth quarter. The technical assistance was facilitated their comeback charge. Kidd, the 36 year old Maverick guard, rolled up his 104th triple-double in the victory to help Dallas to their longest winning streak in two years. Kidd sits behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson at third most in NBA history in triple-doubles.
Atlanta controlled the game until the final seven minutes. Woodson’s team simply came apart and fell flat. The Mavs dusted off their rust and started playing smart ball down the stretch. Kidd keyed Dallas with 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds. He knocked down 9 shots, collected 4 rebounds, 3 assists and one steal in the game’s final five minutes. Kidd deposited three fourth quarter treys to fuel the Mavericks. Dallas trailed 86-71 going into the final quarter. Jamal Crawford, Atlanta’s sixth man, secured a pair of free throws with less than nine minutes left. Crawford and Josh Smith had 18 points each for the losing team. Smith had a career high seven steals. Kidd’s 11 points helped stage an improbable Dallas comeback and send the game into an extra session. Atlanta’s Mike Bibby asserted himself by stamping out a trey before the Hawks were charged with the infamous technical. Kidd notched a 3-pointer to put the Mavs on top 99-97 in the waning minute of the fourth quarter. Smith’s put-back tied the game at 99 to force overtime.
Dallas collected the first seven points of the overtime. The Hawks didn’t score until the final minute of the extra quarter, by which time Dallas all but won the contest. Joe Johnson netted 27 points and added 10 assists to lead the Hawks. Crawford, Bibby, Al Horford and Marvin Williams combined to finish 17-of-54 from the field. Nowitzki stockpiled 15-of-26 shots. Dirk’s Dallas teammates, Jason Terry chipped in 16 and Shawn Marrion amassed 14. Dallas won their Western conference best 19th road game, while the hometown hosts dropped their seventh in Atlanta.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Fight For Your Right (To Party)- Beastie Boys
Have you ever sung a song so many times in your head and never known the title or artist? I finally discovered the owner of one of those for me: “Kings and Queens” by 30 seconds to Mars
In other Texas hoops- The Rockets pulled out a 109-140 victory over San Antonio.
Atlanta controlled the game until the final seven minutes. Woodson’s team simply came apart and fell flat. The Mavs dusted off their rust and started playing smart ball down the stretch. Kidd keyed Dallas with 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds. He knocked down 9 shots, collected 4 rebounds, 3 assists and one steal in the game’s final five minutes. Kidd deposited three fourth quarter treys to fuel the Mavericks. Dallas trailed 86-71 going into the final quarter. Jamal Crawford, Atlanta’s sixth man, secured a pair of free throws with less than nine minutes left. Crawford and Josh Smith had 18 points each for the losing team. Smith had a career high seven steals. Kidd’s 11 points helped stage an improbable Dallas comeback and send the game into an extra session. Atlanta’s Mike Bibby asserted himself by stamping out a trey before the Hawks were charged with the infamous technical. Kidd notched a 3-pointer to put the Mavs on top 99-97 in the waning minute of the fourth quarter. Smith’s put-back tied the game at 99 to force overtime.
Dallas collected the first seven points of the overtime. The Hawks didn’t score until the final minute of the extra quarter, by which time Dallas all but won the contest. Joe Johnson netted 27 points and added 10 assists to lead the Hawks. Crawford, Bibby, Al Horford and Marvin Williams combined to finish 17-of-54 from the field. Nowitzki stockpiled 15-of-26 shots. Dirk’s Dallas teammates, Jason Terry chipped in 16 and Shawn Marrion amassed 14. Dallas won their Western conference best 19th road game, while the hometown hosts dropped their seventh in Atlanta.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Fight For Your Right (To Party)- Beastie Boys
Have you ever sung a song so many times in your head and never known the title or artist? I finally discovered the owner of one of those for me: “Kings and Queens” by 30 seconds to Mars
In other Texas hoops- The Rockets pulled out a 109-140 victory over San Antonio.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Cavs Curtail Celts
Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers captured the spotlight in the Eastern conference rivalry with the Boston Celtics. James scored 36 points in the Cavs’ creaming of the Celtics at TD Garden. Cleveland’s 108-88 victory ties them with Boston for the best road record in the NBA. The Cavs improved to 20-10 away from Ohio despite defensive depression in the first half. The Cavs assembled one of the finest second halves of the season to overcome the malaise. Cleveland held Boston to 22% shooting after halftime and outscored them by 28 points without Shaquille O’Neal. The Cavs limited the Celts to 3-of-21 shooting in the final quarter to snap a nine game losing streak in Boston.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday Take-Twos (Hockey Happenings)
Team USA skated past a fundamentally-sound Swiss team to remain undefeated at the Vancouver games. The Americans outshot Switzerland 44-19 on route to a 2-0 win. Twenty-five year old New Jersey Devil, Zach Parise, scored both goals to help the USA advance to the semifinals. The top seeded Americans are 4-0 at the 2010 Olympics and two victories away from a gold medal. Team USA plays Finland on Friday.
Swiss backstop, Jonas Hiller, denied the USA with 42 saves. The left-handed Anaheim goalie allowed a goal in the third period off a Parise power play wrist shot to break the scoreless tie. The top-line forward sealed the game with his second goal, an empty-netter with eleven seconds remaining in regulation. The taut quarterfinal battle was a nerve-wracking and frustrating one for the Americans. Hiller smothered all U.S. attempts in the first two periods. Hiller dealt with shots, blasts and rebounds as the youthful US was unable to crack through with a goal. A team USA goal was disallowed because it came .1 second after the second period whistle. Parise finally solved Hiller’s brilliance by catching the talented netminder off balance. Ryan Miller, the American goalie from the Buffalo Sabres, was equally impressive. Miller made 19 saves in the stirring contest. Miller recorded the first American shutout in the Olympics since 2002.
Canada’s convincing and commanding 7-3 romping of rival Russia advances the host country to the semifinal round in men’s hockey. The world champion superpower Russians were dominated from start to finish in their quarterfinal contest with Canada. Ryan Getzlaf scored with two and a half minutes into the game to lift the Canadians to a 1-0 lead. The Russians notched their first goal off Roberto Luongo after Canada built a 3-0 advantage in the first. Canada’s Dan Boyle scored a goal and had two assists against his Anaheim teammate, goalie Evgeni Nabokov. Dimitri Kalinin sliced the Canadian lead to 3-1 with Russia’s first goal. Luongo replaced New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur after Canada fell to the Americans.
The Russians didn’t get many chances to fire shots because of the tight Canadian defense. The focused Canucks took advantage of Nabokov’s terrible goaltending. They increased their edge to 4-1 before the second period began before staging a four-goal win. Canada’s Brandon Morrow attacked the San Jose goalie for a soft goal to end the second period. Ilya Bryzgalov replaced Nabokov after Corey Perry and Shea Weber accounted for two more Canadian goals, for a 6-1 lead. Maxim Afinogenov responded with a Russian goal to pull his team within four of tying the score. Canada reestablished the five goal benefit on Perry’s second goal of the game. Sergei Gonchar slapped a shot past Luongo from the point to make it a 7-3 final. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were merely non-factors for their teams in the quarterfinal contest. Neither player had a point during the 10 goal affair. Luongo recorded 25 goals as the Canadians bounced back from a dismal defeat. The Russians were eliminated with the loss, and Canada goes on to face Slovakia. If both the USA and Canada advance on Friday, a rematch will be in order.
Parting Points: How does Pitt lose to Notre Dame without Luke Harangody?
Evan Turner rescues Ohio State by saving their bacon against Penn State. Gotta love #21.
Swiss backstop, Jonas Hiller, denied the USA with 42 saves. The left-handed Anaheim goalie allowed a goal in the third period off a Parise power play wrist shot to break the scoreless tie. The top-line forward sealed the game with his second goal, an empty-netter with eleven seconds remaining in regulation. The taut quarterfinal battle was a nerve-wracking and frustrating one for the Americans. Hiller smothered all U.S. attempts in the first two periods. Hiller dealt with shots, blasts and rebounds as the youthful US was unable to crack through with a goal. A team USA goal was disallowed because it came .1 second after the second period whistle. Parise finally solved Hiller’s brilliance by catching the talented netminder off balance. Ryan Miller, the American goalie from the Buffalo Sabres, was equally impressive. Miller made 19 saves in the stirring contest. Miller recorded the first American shutout in the Olympics since 2002.
Canada’s convincing and commanding 7-3 romping of rival Russia advances the host country to the semifinal round in men’s hockey. The world champion superpower Russians were dominated from start to finish in their quarterfinal contest with Canada. Ryan Getzlaf scored with two and a half minutes into the game to lift the Canadians to a 1-0 lead. The Russians notched their first goal off Roberto Luongo after Canada built a 3-0 advantage in the first. Canada’s Dan Boyle scored a goal and had two assists against his Anaheim teammate, goalie Evgeni Nabokov. Dimitri Kalinin sliced the Canadian lead to 3-1 with Russia’s first goal. Luongo replaced New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur after Canada fell to the Americans.
The Russians didn’t get many chances to fire shots because of the tight Canadian defense. The focused Canucks took advantage of Nabokov’s terrible goaltending. They increased their edge to 4-1 before the second period began before staging a four-goal win. Canada’s Brandon Morrow attacked the San Jose goalie for a soft goal to end the second period. Ilya Bryzgalov replaced Nabokov after Corey Perry and Shea Weber accounted for two more Canadian goals, for a 6-1 lead. Maxim Afinogenov responded with a Russian goal to pull his team within four of tying the score. Canada reestablished the five goal benefit on Perry’s second goal of the game. Sergei Gonchar slapped a shot past Luongo from the point to make it a 7-3 final. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were merely non-factors for their teams in the quarterfinal contest. Neither player had a point during the 10 goal affair. Luongo recorded 25 goals as the Canadians bounced back from a dismal defeat. The Russians were eliminated with the loss, and Canada goes on to face Slovakia. If both the USA and Canada advance on Friday, a rematch will be in order.
Parting Points: How does Pitt lose to Notre Dame without Luke Harangody?
Evan Turner rescues Ohio State by saving their bacon against Penn State. Gotta love #21.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Perfect in Providence
Scintillating Syracuse is a fun team to follow. The fourth ranked Orange remained perfect on the road this season after defeating Providence 99-85. Syracuse improved to 26-2 and 13-2 in the Big East with a win over the Friars Tuesday night in Rhode Island’s Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Rick Jackson and Andy Rautins scored 28 points each to steer Syracuse to a shootout success.
Providence’s 85 points were the most by any Syracuse opponent this season. The Friars fired ten first half 3-pointers, and finished the game with a fervent fourteen. Providence tallied 13 points in the opening period to take the lead after the Orange built a 34-25 edge in the game’s first six minutes. Rautins rolled a 3-pointer just before the half, and has been hitting 57% from downtown through the last three games. The Orange found themselves down by five at the half. Providence shot 59% in the stirring first half. It was just the second time this season the Orange trailed at the break. The home team took a 55-47 advantage on Jamine Peterson’s trey to open the second half. Peterson and Marshon Brooks both scored 23 points for Providence. The Orange were forced to get defensive after halftime. Jim Boeheim’s Orange held Providence to one basket over a nine minute span in the third period. The Friars, losers of six straight games, went 4-for-14 from the arc in the second half.
Syracuse slashed the Friars’ lead with fourteen unanswered points to start the second half. Brandon Triche followed his steal with a fastbreak layup and Wes Johnson notched a jumper to complete the 14-0 run for Syracuse. The Orange decimated a 55-47 deficit into a crushing 73-57 advantage. Syracuse pushed the lead for good in the game’s last fifteen minutes. Providence lacked any inside punch as the Orange’s perimeter defense adjusted from protecting the high post to stuffing the outside shot. The Friars hardly responded to the change in coverage. Providence pounded 16 points in the paint during the second half after scoring 18 in the first. The Friars were outscored 52-33 in the second half. They also committed 16 turnovers, including 11 after the half. Feisty Orange forward, Arinze Onuaku collected 12 points and nine rebounds in nineteen minutes. Johnson had 10 points, five steals and three blocks in the win. The victory gives Syracuse a first round double bye in the conference tournament and a number one seed in the NCAAs. Tuesday’s triumph in Providence host Villanova at the Carrier Dome on Saturday. An Orange win coupled with any Pittsburgh loss would give Syracuse at least a share of the Big East title. Boeheim’s club has yet to lose a conference game this season.
Parting Points:
Hump day hit- Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You”
Happy Birthday, Mom-
“You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.” -Robert Louis Stevenson
Providence’s 85 points were the most by any Syracuse opponent this season. The Friars fired ten first half 3-pointers, and finished the game with a fervent fourteen. Providence tallied 13 points in the opening period to take the lead after the Orange built a 34-25 edge in the game’s first six minutes. Rautins rolled a 3-pointer just before the half, and has been hitting 57% from downtown through the last three games. The Orange found themselves down by five at the half. Providence shot 59% in the stirring first half. It was just the second time this season the Orange trailed at the break. The home team took a 55-47 advantage on Jamine Peterson’s trey to open the second half. Peterson and Marshon Brooks both scored 23 points for Providence. The Orange were forced to get defensive after halftime. Jim Boeheim’s Orange held Providence to one basket over a nine minute span in the third period. The Friars, losers of six straight games, went 4-for-14 from the arc in the second half.
Syracuse slashed the Friars’ lead with fourteen unanswered points to start the second half. Brandon Triche followed his steal with a fastbreak layup and Wes Johnson notched a jumper to complete the 14-0 run for Syracuse. The Orange decimated a 55-47 deficit into a crushing 73-57 advantage. Syracuse pushed the lead for good in the game’s last fifteen minutes. Providence lacked any inside punch as the Orange’s perimeter defense adjusted from protecting the high post to stuffing the outside shot. The Friars hardly responded to the change in coverage. Providence pounded 16 points in the paint during the second half after scoring 18 in the first. The Friars were outscored 52-33 in the second half. They also committed 16 turnovers, including 11 after the half. Feisty Orange forward, Arinze Onuaku collected 12 points and nine rebounds in nineteen minutes. Johnson had 10 points, five steals and three blocks in the win. The victory gives Syracuse a first round double bye in the conference tournament and a number one seed in the NCAAs. Tuesday’s triumph in Providence host Villanova at the Carrier Dome on Saturday. An Orange win coupled with any Pittsburgh loss would give Syracuse at least a share of the Big East title. Boeheim’s club has yet to lose a conference game this season.
Parting Points:
Hump day hit- Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You”
Happy Birthday, Mom-
“You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.” -Robert Louis Stevenson
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Fine February Frost
The weather outside isn't pleasant today. A mix of snow and rain make for a gloomy February Tuesday. Here's a poem to brighten the mood.
He warmed his hands with his mouth
The same one that touched my cheek last night
The February frost hid the sunlight
But forgot to tell us to head south
It goes without saying
He’s a breathless work of art
He’s weightless when he’s playing
Save for the pounding of his heart
He navigated the indoor court
Like a compass, he guided the ball
An anchoring captain leading an escort
His magical maneuvers made me fall
As he ran around my backhand return
The lights from the roof placed a glow on his feet
Reverse momentum caused them to churn
A beautifully fluid and balanced retreat
He wasn’t a blessing in disguise
Because I could clearly distinguish
Only for him, these points I relinquish
Just to feel his smiling eyes
He warmed his hands with his mouth
The same one that touched my cheek last night
The February frost hid the sunlight
But forgot to tell us to head south
It goes without saying
He’s a breathless work of art
He’s weightless when he’s playing
Save for the pounding of his heart
He navigated the indoor court
Like a compass, he guided the ball
An anchoring captain leading an escort
His magical maneuvers made me fall
As he ran around my backhand return
The lights from the roof placed a glow on his feet
Reverse momentum caused them to churn
A beautifully fluid and balanced retreat
He wasn’t a blessing in disguise
Because I could clearly distinguish
Only for him, these points I relinquish
Just to feel his smiling eyes
Monday, February 22, 2010
Battle at Breslin
Ohio State rose to the occasion with the Big 10 title on the line in East Lansing Sunday. The ninth-ranked Buckeyes defeated the Spartans to move into a tie for second place in the conference. The 74-67 loss to Ohio State at home was crushing for the team that made it to the national championship game last season. But Michigan State, ranked eleventh in the nation, is still in contention to win the Big 10. The Spartans botched defensive assignments and gave away too many plays with poor shots Sunday. Evan Turner, OSU’s leading scorer, collected 20 points despite playing through flulike symptoms. Turner also finished with 10 rebounds and six assists to help tighten the conference race . Michigan State was led by junior guard, Durrell Summer’s 16 points.
The Buckeyes had a 13 point advantage at the break. Turner secured just four first half points on nine looks. Yet, the Bucks led 39-26 backed by William Buford’s nine points in the game’s first twelve minutes. The crowd was quieted by three dunks by OSU’s Dallas Lauderdale. The Spartan shining star, Kalin Lucas, went 0 for 5 from the floor and hit just one bucket in the first half. The home crowd watched in agony as their team made just 9 of 27 shots before the break. In the second half, the green and white clad Spartans delighted the fans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Michigan State wiped out the OSU edge with four minutes remaining. Summers scored seven straight to lift the sluggish Spartans to a 62-61 lead. MSU’s depth and experience was retained, but not long enough to prevail over the skillfully crafty Buckeyes. The Bucks went on a bold run, banging in seven points. Ohio State rebounded to take a three point lead on Turner’s downtown dish. Jon Diebler drilled a 3-pointer with less than two minutes to pad the lead to six for the Bucks. David Lighty and Turner made six of eight free throws to seal the deal for 21-7 Ohio State.
Michigan State was outrebounded 41-38. The Spartans fought back but couldn’t forge the strong finish needed to make the comeback complete. MSU managed 33% from the rainbow and only 55% from the charity stripe. Lucas finished with nine points, eight assists and two rebounds. Spartan senior, Raymar Morgan, notched a gnarly 14 of the team’s 32 rebounds. OSU head coach, Thad Matta, played just six of his men the entire game. Kyle Madsen, the 6’9” center, was the only player to come in off the pine for 16 minutes. Four of the five starters clocked the maximum forty minutes, and all of them finished with double digits in points. MSU should have been able to compete and beat the worn out Buckeye starters. The Spartans outscored Ohio State 41-35 in the second half. It was OSU that held on to top of Spartans on their home floor and pick up their third win in five tries. Purdue still carries the Big 10 torch, leading by half a game. OSU has the morale to win the conference. The Buckeyes know how to dictate the pace of play and mark their territory on the road. The won, despite Turner being irrelevant and shut out in the first half. OSU can top Purdue if they succeed in taking away their opponent’s offensive opportunities. They lost by three points to the Boilermakers last Wednesday. Yesterday they handed the Spartans their second loss in fifteen games at the Breslin Center.
Parting Points: Go team USA! Way to chip Canada. Ryan Miller is brilliant.
Number 19 Pitt takes down third ranked Villanova in a Big East thriller.
Monday tune- “Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins
The Buckeyes had a 13 point advantage at the break. Turner secured just four first half points on nine looks. Yet, the Bucks led 39-26 backed by William Buford’s nine points in the game’s first twelve minutes. The crowd was quieted by three dunks by OSU’s Dallas Lauderdale. The Spartan shining star, Kalin Lucas, went 0 for 5 from the floor and hit just one bucket in the first half. The home crowd watched in agony as their team made just 9 of 27 shots before the break. In the second half, the green and white clad Spartans delighted the fans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Michigan State wiped out the OSU edge with four minutes remaining. Summers scored seven straight to lift the sluggish Spartans to a 62-61 lead. MSU’s depth and experience was retained, but not long enough to prevail over the skillfully crafty Buckeyes. The Bucks went on a bold run, banging in seven points. Ohio State rebounded to take a three point lead on Turner’s downtown dish. Jon Diebler drilled a 3-pointer with less than two minutes to pad the lead to six for the Bucks. David Lighty and Turner made six of eight free throws to seal the deal for 21-7 Ohio State.
Michigan State was outrebounded 41-38. The Spartans fought back but couldn’t forge the strong finish needed to make the comeback complete. MSU managed 33% from the rainbow and only 55% from the charity stripe. Lucas finished with nine points, eight assists and two rebounds. Spartan senior, Raymar Morgan, notched a gnarly 14 of the team’s 32 rebounds. OSU head coach, Thad Matta, played just six of his men the entire game. Kyle Madsen, the 6’9” center, was the only player to come in off the pine for 16 minutes. Four of the five starters clocked the maximum forty minutes, and all of them finished with double digits in points. MSU should have been able to compete and beat the worn out Buckeye starters. The Spartans outscored Ohio State 41-35 in the second half. It was OSU that held on to top of Spartans on their home floor and pick up their third win in five tries. Purdue still carries the Big 10 torch, leading by half a game. OSU has the morale to win the conference. The Buckeyes know how to dictate the pace of play and mark their territory on the road. The won, despite Turner being irrelevant and shut out in the first half. OSU can top Purdue if they succeed in taking away their opponent’s offensive opportunities. They lost by three points to the Boilermakers last Wednesday. Yesterday they handed the Spartans their second loss in fifteen games at the Breslin Center.
Parting Points: Go team USA! Way to chip Canada. Ryan Miller is brilliant.
Number 19 Pitt takes down third ranked Villanova in a Big East thriller.
Monday tune- “Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thunder Take T-Mac's Thunder
Kevin Durant drained a clutch three pointer at the end of regulation and notched a pull up jumper in overtime to give Oklahoma City a 121-118 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Nothing rattles Durant. The Thunder won for the eighth consecutive time, a season best streak for Oklahoma City. The overtime defeat came in Tracy McGrady’s dazzling New York debut. T-Mac collected 26 points in 32 minutes, his highest total in over a year. The All-star’s effort wasn’t enough to prevent durable Durant from hanging 36 points. Upstart Oklahoma City improved to 32-21, while the Knicks dropped their record to 19-35.
David Lee scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Knicks’ sixth straight loss. Newly acquired Eddie House, added a season-high 24 points for the home team. McGrady banked 10 shots in a strong first quarter to match a season high for the former Houston Rocket. T-Mac made a long jumper and a three-pointer at the end of the half for a 57-52 New York advantage. He finished with 19 first half points to match his output with Houston through six games. The electrifying McGrady ran out of steam at the end of the fourth quarter for Mike D’Antoni’s club. He missed some vital free throws as he took his fatigued body to the hardwood. New York blew a six point lead late in regulation. The Thunder outscored the Knicks 8-2 in the game’s final sixty seconds. A Jeff Green three-pointer was followed by a Russell Westbrook’s layup to cut the Thunder deficit to one point with less than thirty seconds remaining. Westbrook finished with 31 points and 10 assists. The second year guard out of UCLA got the Thunder going in the second half. He helped stage an early lead for the visitors with 10 second half points. Green made 16 points and 11 boards. House bucketed a pair of free throws to give the Knicks a three point lead in the final seconds before Durant knotted the game at 105 by netting a trey.
McGrady, sporting a number 3 jersey, didn’t start the overtime session and the Knicks earned a four point edge on Lee’s tap-in with 1:35 left. Rugged backup forward, Nick Collison, tapped in Durant’s misfire with 32 seconds left and Green fired from downtown to pull the Thunder back within one. T-Mac was summoned from the bench and set up the go-ahead jumper to House with the clock reading 30.7 seconds. Durant answered the Knicks’ challenge by drilling a 3-point shot. The All-star forward curled hard and received an inbounds pass from Westbrook to tie the game. The Thunder secured the victory and completed the rally. Durant nicked his 27th consecutive game with at least 25 points. Collison took charge by setting several screens and finished with double digit points. Former Arizona State rookie, James Harden, had 14 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder sit third in the Northwest division but own the league’s current longest winning streak. Durant has proven he belongs in the upper echelon of the NBA elite.
Parting Points: Two Tiger notes-
(1)Johnny Damon is reportedly set to sign a $8 million deal with Detroit.
(2)Tiger Woods-could you have given a better effort? What does steroids have to do with cheating on your wife?
David Lee scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Knicks’ sixth straight loss. Newly acquired Eddie House, added a season-high 24 points for the home team. McGrady banked 10 shots in a strong first quarter to match a season high for the former Houston Rocket. T-Mac made a long jumper and a three-pointer at the end of the half for a 57-52 New York advantage. He finished with 19 first half points to match his output with Houston through six games. The electrifying McGrady ran out of steam at the end of the fourth quarter for Mike D’Antoni’s club. He missed some vital free throws as he took his fatigued body to the hardwood. New York blew a six point lead late in regulation. The Thunder outscored the Knicks 8-2 in the game’s final sixty seconds. A Jeff Green three-pointer was followed by a Russell Westbrook’s layup to cut the Thunder deficit to one point with less than thirty seconds remaining. Westbrook finished with 31 points and 10 assists. The second year guard out of UCLA got the Thunder going in the second half. He helped stage an early lead for the visitors with 10 second half points. Green made 16 points and 11 boards. House bucketed a pair of free throws to give the Knicks a three point lead in the final seconds before Durant knotted the game at 105 by netting a trey.
McGrady, sporting a number 3 jersey, didn’t start the overtime session and the Knicks earned a four point edge on Lee’s tap-in with 1:35 left. Rugged backup forward, Nick Collison, tapped in Durant’s misfire with 32 seconds left and Green fired from downtown to pull the Thunder back within one. T-Mac was summoned from the bench and set up the go-ahead jumper to House with the clock reading 30.7 seconds. Durant answered the Knicks’ challenge by drilling a 3-point shot. The All-star forward curled hard and received an inbounds pass from Westbrook to tie the game. The Thunder secured the victory and completed the rally. Durant nicked his 27th consecutive game with at least 25 points. Collison took charge by setting several screens and finished with double digit points. Former Arizona State rookie, James Harden, had 14 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder sit third in the Northwest division but own the league’s current longest winning streak. Durant has proven he belongs in the upper echelon of the NBA elite.
Parting Points: Two Tiger notes-
(1)Johnny Damon is reportedly set to sign a $8 million deal with Detroit.
(2)Tiger Woods-could you have given a better effort? What does steroids have to do with cheating on your wife?
Friday, February 19, 2010
Syracuse Survives Scare
Syracuse scraped together a 75-71 win in Washington after blowing most of a 23 point halftime lead against Georgetown. The fifth ranked Orange were harassed by the Hoyas in the second half, but held on to improve their road record to 7-0 this season. Andy Rautins scored a season high 26 points against the tenth ranked Big East opponent. Rautins connected from beyond the arc with less than eight minutes in the game before Georgetown staged a 10-0 run to comeback and close within a basket of tying the game. The Hoyas had a chance to take the lead at 71-70 with a minute remaining, but Jason Clark’s shot trickled off the rim. Syracuse maintained their status of never trailing during the contest and staved off a furious rally on the road to win their 25th game. The Orange also clinched a first round bye in the upcoming Big East tournament.
Both teams were coming off surprising Sunday losses to unranked opponents. The Orange were stunned by Louisville and the Hoyas fell to an upstart Rutgers team in the unpredictable Big East. Last night was a chance at redemption for the storied schools. The home team has won the last eight times in the SU-Georgetown rivalry. History was not on the Orange side, and Georgetown certainly was out to prove that late in the game. The Orange built a luxurious lead early, successful on five of their first six buckets. They led by eleven before the game was even four minutes in old. Syracuse picked apart the potent Hoyas, draining three-pointers and grabbing rebounds. Rautins accounted for five three-pointers for Jim Boeheim’s Orange. Wesley Johnson poured in 16 points and eight boards and Rick Jackson donated 12. Johnson was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Syracuse sophomore, forward Kris Joseph, matched up against the Hoyas’ 6’10” center Greg Monroe, and netted 11 points. Monroe was the only Hoyas to deliver a free throw in the first 19 minutes of the game. The Hoyas went 9-of-29 from the field during the first half. Rautins didn’t make a field goal in the game’s final eight minutes.
The shining star for Syracuse was worn down while logging 36 minutes. Jackson and Arinze Onuaku were fouled out to add to the Orange challenges in the second half. The Hoyas scored 30 points in the paint during the second half. They only made four before the intermission. Junior guard, Austin Freeman, amassed 21 points to go along with six rebounds for Georgetown. Chris Wright fetched five steals and fired 20 points. Monroe matched Wright in points. The Orange were unable to defend all three Hoyas in the paint during the game’s final half. Boeheim was severely suffering from a lack of bench depth. Joseph pushed the Orange lead back up to seven with a pair of free throws with fewer than four minutes, but turned the ball over soon after. Freeman’s fastbreak picked pass went straight to the rim for a crowd-pleasing slam dunk and two point Georgetown deficit. Freeman started attacking the hoop in Washington’s second half. He hit 7-of-8 two point field goals in front of the D.C. faithful. Monroe continued to score at will down the stretch, but Thursday was the Orange’s night. Syracuse stifled and edged out their feisty opponent, shooting a nifty ninety percent from the charity stripe and holding the NCAA’s third best field goal shooting team to fewer than forty percent. Joseph drove past Monroe for the deciding bucket with nine seconds to go. Georgetown is mired in its first losing streak of the season. The Hoyas are 11-3 at home, and all three losses have come in their recent skid. Syracuse has yet to lose on the road and rebounded off their six point setback Sunday. The vivacious Orange own a 46-37 all-time advantage against the Hoyas.
Parting Points: Tiger Woods breaks the silence, USA wins a gold in men’s figure skating and the Nuggets hand the Cavs another loss. Nice way to finish the week in sports.
Both teams were coming off surprising Sunday losses to unranked opponents. The Orange were stunned by Louisville and the Hoyas fell to an upstart Rutgers team in the unpredictable Big East. Last night was a chance at redemption for the storied schools. The home team has won the last eight times in the SU-Georgetown rivalry. History was not on the Orange side, and Georgetown certainly was out to prove that late in the game. The Orange built a luxurious lead early, successful on five of their first six buckets. They led by eleven before the game was even four minutes in old. Syracuse picked apart the potent Hoyas, draining three-pointers and grabbing rebounds. Rautins accounted for five three-pointers for Jim Boeheim’s Orange. Wesley Johnson poured in 16 points and eight boards and Rick Jackson donated 12. Johnson was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Syracuse sophomore, forward Kris Joseph, matched up against the Hoyas’ 6’10” center Greg Monroe, and netted 11 points. Monroe was the only Hoyas to deliver a free throw in the first 19 minutes of the game. The Hoyas went 9-of-29 from the field during the first half. Rautins didn’t make a field goal in the game’s final eight minutes.
The shining star for Syracuse was worn down while logging 36 minutes. Jackson and Arinze Onuaku were fouled out to add to the Orange challenges in the second half. The Hoyas scored 30 points in the paint during the second half. They only made four before the intermission. Junior guard, Austin Freeman, amassed 21 points to go along with six rebounds for Georgetown. Chris Wright fetched five steals and fired 20 points. Monroe matched Wright in points. The Orange were unable to defend all three Hoyas in the paint during the game’s final half. Boeheim was severely suffering from a lack of bench depth. Joseph pushed the Orange lead back up to seven with a pair of free throws with fewer than four minutes, but turned the ball over soon after. Freeman’s fastbreak picked pass went straight to the rim for a crowd-pleasing slam dunk and two point Georgetown deficit. Freeman started attacking the hoop in Washington’s second half. He hit 7-of-8 two point field goals in front of the D.C. faithful. Monroe continued to score at will down the stretch, but Thursday was the Orange’s night. Syracuse stifled and edged out their feisty opponent, shooting a nifty ninety percent from the charity stripe and holding the NCAA’s third best field goal shooting team to fewer than forty percent. Joseph drove past Monroe for the deciding bucket with nine seconds to go. Georgetown is mired in its first losing streak of the season. The Hoyas are 11-3 at home, and all three losses have come in their recent skid. Syracuse has yet to lose on the road and rebounded off their six point setback Sunday. The vivacious Orange own a 46-37 all-time advantage against the Hoyas.
Parting Points: Tiger Woods breaks the silence, USA wins a gold in men’s figure skating and the Nuggets hand the Cavs another loss. Nice way to finish the week in sports.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Columbus Clippers
Pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training camps yesterday. The Purdue Boilermakers did their best Columbus Clippers impression Wednesday night at Value City Arena. Fourth-ranked Purdue clipped Ohio State 60-57 on the hardwood in Columbus. It was the first home loss this season for the 20-7 Buckeyes, who were knocked a game behind Michigan State in the Big Ten. Ohio State lost for the first time in 16 homes games and snapped their nine game Big Ten winning streak. The Boilermakers never trailed during the contest and fended off a three point attempt by OSU’s Jon Diebler as time expired. Purdue was previously 0-6 in Value City Arena.
Evan Turner led the Buckeyes with 29 points and 7 rebounds in the beastly Big Ten battle. JaJuan Johnson scored 24 points in 39 minutes for Purdue. The aggressive Johnson had 15 first half points as the visitors built a 36-23 halftime lead over the sloppy Bucks. Matt Painter’s Purdue team basketed the first seven points of the game. The game was similar to the first meeting between the two Midwest rivals. Earlier in the season, Robbie Hummel carried the Boilermakers with 29 points in the first half. Hummel didn’t record a tally in the first half Wednesday in Columbus. The junior forward finished with just four points and no assists, but his team still got their revenge from that earlier loss. The Boilermakers cranked up t he intensity in Columbus. Purdue staved off a comeback by getting consecutive baskets from Hummel and Johnson. The Buckeyes struggled offensively in the first half. They didn’t reach double digits until Turner’s layup with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Turner managed 11 of Ohio State’s first 16 points of the second half. William Buford helped rally the Buckeyes after enduring a poor first half. The sophomore’s short revival trimmed the Purdue lead to two points with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation. The conference’s best shooting team, Ohio State, hit just 37% in the first half. Purdue picked apart the Buckeye’s zone defense on their way to a 60% first half shooting. The Buckeyes were horrid from the arc. Thad Matta switched to a man-to-man defense in the second half, to no avail. The Boilermakers were too strong on defense. Chris Kramer blocked Buford’s layup and ran down the shot clock. OSU never pulled even, coming up short on many missed chances to notch the game. E’Twaun Moore sank two free throws after drawing contact to put the Boilermakers up 60-53 with just over one minute left. The Buckeyes made their shots down the stretch but consistent Purdue had an answer for every bucket. The Boilermakers sunk baskets with astoundingly solid play.
Ohio State had more turnovers than a bake shop in last night’s three point loss. The Buckeyes committed ten turnovers on the night as the Boilermakers locked up their fourth win against top ten teams this season. The ninth ranked Bucks returned to the cream of the college crop this week for the first time since finishing number one in 2007. The efficient Buckeyes toppled Iowa by 19 points Sunday in one of their best 40 minute showings this season. Johnson was unstoppable, swishing shots and pushing the lead for Purdue. Ohio State couldn’t defend against him, even with the thrilling Turner staging a huge second half for the home team. The Buckeyes’ defense did keep them in the game but not enough to keep torrid shooting Purdue down for long. Purdue shut down Turner in the assist column and forced the Buckeyes to adjust their own playing style. Mighty Moore added 15 points and six boards and Keaton Grant poured in 13 as the Boilermakers ran their winning streak to six games. We may be on the heels of baseball season, but Big Ten hoops and hopes are still springing eternal in Columbus.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring
“You make sense of madness when my sanity hangs by a thread”- Richard Marx
I am so bummed the Rockets traded McGrady to New York.
Evan Turner led the Buckeyes with 29 points and 7 rebounds in the beastly Big Ten battle. JaJuan Johnson scored 24 points in 39 minutes for Purdue. The aggressive Johnson had 15 first half points as the visitors built a 36-23 halftime lead over the sloppy Bucks. Matt Painter’s Purdue team basketed the first seven points of the game. The game was similar to the first meeting between the two Midwest rivals. Earlier in the season, Robbie Hummel carried the Boilermakers with 29 points in the first half. Hummel didn’t record a tally in the first half Wednesday in Columbus. The junior forward finished with just four points and no assists, but his team still got their revenge from that earlier loss. The Boilermakers cranked up t he intensity in Columbus. Purdue staved off a comeback by getting consecutive baskets from Hummel and Johnson. The Buckeyes struggled offensively in the first half. They didn’t reach double digits until Turner’s layup with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Turner managed 11 of Ohio State’s first 16 points of the second half. William Buford helped rally the Buckeyes after enduring a poor first half. The sophomore’s short revival trimmed the Purdue lead to two points with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation. The conference’s best shooting team, Ohio State, hit just 37% in the first half. Purdue picked apart the Buckeye’s zone defense on their way to a 60% first half shooting. The Buckeyes were horrid from the arc. Thad Matta switched to a man-to-man defense in the second half, to no avail. The Boilermakers were too strong on defense. Chris Kramer blocked Buford’s layup and ran down the shot clock. OSU never pulled even, coming up short on many missed chances to notch the game. E’Twaun Moore sank two free throws after drawing contact to put the Boilermakers up 60-53 with just over one minute left. The Buckeyes made their shots down the stretch but consistent Purdue had an answer for every bucket. The Boilermakers sunk baskets with astoundingly solid play.
Ohio State had more turnovers than a bake shop in last night’s three point loss. The Buckeyes committed ten turnovers on the night as the Boilermakers locked up their fourth win against top ten teams this season. The ninth ranked Bucks returned to the cream of the college crop this week for the first time since finishing number one in 2007. The efficient Buckeyes toppled Iowa by 19 points Sunday in one of their best 40 minute showings this season. Johnson was unstoppable, swishing shots and pushing the lead for Purdue. Ohio State couldn’t defend against him, even with the thrilling Turner staging a huge second half for the home team. The Buckeyes’ defense did keep them in the game but not enough to keep torrid shooting Purdue down for long. Purdue shut down Turner in the assist column and forced the Buckeyes to adjust their own playing style. Mighty Moore added 15 points and six boards and Keaton Grant poured in 13 as the Boilermakers ran their winning streak to six games. We may be on the heels of baseball season, but Big Ten hoops and hopes are still springing eternal in Columbus.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring
“You make sense of madness when my sanity hangs by a thread”- Richard Marx
I am so bummed the Rockets traded McGrady to New York.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Vancouver Victory
Ryan Miller made 14 saves in the USA men’s hockey opener against Switzerland Tuesday night. The goalie helped the young USA team top a solid Swiss squad 3-1 in Vancouver. Team USA got goals from Bobby Ryan, David Backes and Ryan Malone in the opulent win. Miller’s only blemish occurred with 10 minutes remaining. Roman Wick struck the goalie’s stick and the puck trickled into the net on a Swiss power play. The criticized and undersized Americans managed, coached by Toronto’s Ron Wilson, played with confidence against a more physical team. Miller made the quality saves and turned aside hard-hitting attempts on goal to maintain the USA lead.
St. Louis Blues forward Backes took a stick to the face during the opener for team USA. The bloody Backes beat Swiss netminder, Jonas Hiller, in the second period with a backhand-to-forehand goal. Ryan Malone secured his first Olympic goal by banging the puck through Hiller’s legs for a second middle stanza goal. The 30 year old Tampa Bay skater pounced on a rebound off an attempt from Phil Kessel and flipped it past Hiller’s pads. Bobby Ryan slipped a shot past his Anaheim teammate, Hiller, with a minute left in the first to pace the USA. The 1-0 lead was threatened by a few missed opportunities on the Swiss end. Switzerland up some early resistance, but couldn’t sustain it. The Swiss team had just two NHL regulars on the roster in Hiller and Mark Streit. Hiller made 21 stops in the loss. Ryan shook off an earlier hit by defensemen Streit to dig out a loose puck and dart down the ice for the score. The 22 year old had a breakout game on both ends of the ice. USA captain and NJ Devil, Jamie Langenbrunner, hit Streit twice during the game’s first shift. Malone’s goal came on a power play, where team USA went 1-of-3. The 2010 Olympic hockey opening game was a blazing finish for team USA. Miller faced nine shots during the first forty minutes. The Americans will face Norway next and then team Canada on Sunday. Wilson’s team will need to tighten up its overall game if they hope to compete with the consistent Canadians. The 2010 Olympic game hosts throttled Norway in their opener. After a scoreless opening period, Canada went on to thump Norway, banging home five third period goals to close out an 8-0 victory.
Parting Points: The USA men’s curling team isn’t doing so well. Bummer.
Tomorrow is the NBA trade deadline. Will the Suns deal Amare? Where will McGrady land?
Band of the day- The Wallflowers
St. Louis Blues forward Backes took a stick to the face during the opener for team USA. The bloody Backes beat Swiss netminder, Jonas Hiller, in the second period with a backhand-to-forehand goal. Ryan Malone secured his first Olympic goal by banging the puck through Hiller’s legs for a second middle stanza goal. The 30 year old Tampa Bay skater pounced on a rebound off an attempt from Phil Kessel and flipped it past Hiller’s pads. Bobby Ryan slipped a shot past his Anaheim teammate, Hiller, with a minute left in the first to pace the USA. The 1-0 lead was threatened by a few missed opportunities on the Swiss end. Switzerland up some early resistance, but couldn’t sustain it. The Swiss team had just two NHL regulars on the roster in Hiller and Mark Streit. Hiller made 21 stops in the loss. Ryan shook off an earlier hit by defensemen Streit to dig out a loose puck and dart down the ice for the score. The 22 year old had a breakout game on both ends of the ice. USA captain and NJ Devil, Jamie Langenbrunner, hit Streit twice during the game’s first shift. Malone’s goal came on a power play, where team USA went 1-of-3. The 2010 Olympic hockey opening game was a blazing finish for team USA. Miller faced nine shots during the first forty minutes. The Americans will face Norway next and then team Canada on Sunday. Wilson’s team will need to tighten up its overall game if they hope to compete with the consistent Canadians. The 2010 Olympic game hosts throttled Norway in their opener. After a scoreless opening period, Canada went on to thump Norway, banging home five third period goals to close out an 8-0 victory.
Parting Points: The USA men’s curling team isn’t doing so well. Bummer.
Tomorrow is the NBA trade deadline. Will the Suns deal Amare? Where will McGrady land?
Band of the day- The Wallflowers
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Notable Nail-biter
Notable Nail-biter
The errors agonized her ego
The court crushed her confidence
Each winner walloped her willpower
Each overhead obliterated her optimism
The forehands that flattened her faith
And the backhands that bruised her beliefs
Were soon suddenly swallowed with sound strategy
An injection of inner emotion shifted sides
Elbow extensions on serve and split steps at net
Couldn’t begin to capture the compelling courage
Of one down two sets and roaring back
The tantalizing tiebreaker took her to task
Until she could no longer live with losing
The final shot sequence a steady show
A nail-biting nip at the net her last hurrah
The errors agonized her ego
The court crushed her confidence
Each winner walloped her willpower
Each overhead obliterated her optimism
The forehands that flattened her faith
And the backhands that bruised her beliefs
Were soon suddenly swallowed with sound strategy
An injection of inner emotion shifted sides
Elbow extensions on serve and split steps at net
Couldn’t begin to capture the compelling courage
Of one down two sets and roaring back
The tantalizing tiebreaker took her to task
Until she could no longer live with losing
The final shot sequence a steady show
A nail-biting nip at the net her last hurrah
Monday, February 15, 2010
Buckeye Blowout
It looked like Valentine’s Day in Champaign, Illinois Sunday afternoon as the Fighting Illini hosted 13th ranked Ohio State. Both teams were clad in red and white. The Big Ten teams showed little love for each other, however. It was Ohio State popping the campaign in Champaign, sticking a dagger in the Illini like cupid with an arrow. The Buckeyes blew out the home team 72-53. It was the worst lost suffered at Assembly Hall in 34 years. Ohio State held on the first place and showed they mean business in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes dominated Illinois from the get-go. They went on to rout their 17-9 opponents to pull into a first place tie with Michigan State. It was the ninth straight win for the smug and superior Buckeyes.
The scarlet and gray shooting was hot and consistent throughout the game. The Illini were coming off back-to-back victories over top 15 teams but never mounted a rally against Ohio State. OSU trailed by one point in the first period before going on an 18-6 run. The Buckeyes never looked back. Illinois trailed by 20 points at the half. OSU’s Jon Diebler led the way with 18 points. David Lighty dropped in 17 and Evan Turner finished with 16. Turner snagged 11 defensive rebounds and 8 assists in the win. The Buckeyes shot 53% for the game and frustrated Illinois with a stingy zone defense. The Buckeyes were 11-for-22 from 3-point range. Diebler accounted for six of his team’s long shots. The Illini managed just 16% from the arc.
Thad Matta’s Ohio State offense was clicking on all cylinders and looked very much in form. Illinois got as close as 13 points in the early minutes of the second half, but Turner and Diebler kept up their penetration and shooting prowess to rebuild the lead to 17 over a four minute span. The 6’7” Turner logged six turnovers at point guard. The befuddled home team couldn’t get anything going offensively and never even made a game of it Sunday. The Illini lost for the first time in six tries. Demetri McCamey scored a ghastly nine points in the loss, nearly seven short of his season average. The Illinois guard came into Sunday with the title of Big Ten co-player of the week (along with OSU’s Turner) You can guarantee he won’t be sharing anything close to that title this week. McCamey’s two rebounds and nine assists were only slightly better than his 0-for-4 from downtown. Forward, Mike Davis, was one of three Illini juniors to tally eight points. Bill Cole and Mike Tisdale also contributed eight as their team fell to 20-6 OSU. Cole and Tisdale put up zeros in the assist column. The Illini came into the contest with the conference’s best field goal percentage defense. They sure didn’t appear to be the best in anything Sunday afternoon. Illinois was unable to keep pace with OSU predominately in the zone. The Illini guards were 0-for-14 from the field until freshman, D.J. Richardson’s layup in the final period. The Buckeyes’ pugnacious accuracy provided the lopsided win over Bruce Weber’s Illini. Illinois has some impressive wins at Assembly Hall this season, but Sunday was just a Valentine’s Day massacre they would like to soon forget.
Parting Points: Big Sunday in sports- NBA All-Star game, Daytona 500 and the Olympics heating up. But the headlines are still dominated by college basketball on the heels of March Madness. Number two Syracuse was crushed by Louisville again and Rutgers stunned Georgetown.
The scarlet and gray shooting was hot and consistent throughout the game. The Illini were coming off back-to-back victories over top 15 teams but never mounted a rally against Ohio State. OSU trailed by one point in the first period before going on an 18-6 run. The Buckeyes never looked back. Illinois trailed by 20 points at the half. OSU’s Jon Diebler led the way with 18 points. David Lighty dropped in 17 and Evan Turner finished with 16. Turner snagged 11 defensive rebounds and 8 assists in the win. The Buckeyes shot 53% for the game and frustrated Illinois with a stingy zone defense. The Buckeyes were 11-for-22 from 3-point range. Diebler accounted for six of his team’s long shots. The Illini managed just 16% from the arc.
Thad Matta’s Ohio State offense was clicking on all cylinders and looked very much in form. Illinois got as close as 13 points in the early minutes of the second half, but Turner and Diebler kept up their penetration and shooting prowess to rebuild the lead to 17 over a four minute span. The 6’7” Turner logged six turnovers at point guard. The befuddled home team couldn’t get anything going offensively and never even made a game of it Sunday. The Illini lost for the first time in six tries. Demetri McCamey scored a ghastly nine points in the loss, nearly seven short of his season average. The Illinois guard came into Sunday with the title of Big Ten co-player of the week (along with OSU’s Turner) You can guarantee he won’t be sharing anything close to that title this week. McCamey’s two rebounds and nine assists were only slightly better than his 0-for-4 from downtown. Forward, Mike Davis, was one of three Illini juniors to tally eight points. Bill Cole and Mike Tisdale also contributed eight as their team fell to 20-6 OSU. Cole and Tisdale put up zeros in the assist column. The Illini came into the contest with the conference’s best field goal percentage defense. They sure didn’t appear to be the best in anything Sunday afternoon. Illinois was unable to keep pace with OSU predominately in the zone. The Illini guards were 0-for-14 from the field until freshman, D.J. Richardson’s layup in the final period. The Buckeyes’ pugnacious accuracy provided the lopsided win over Bruce Weber’s Illini. Illinois has some impressive wins at Assembly Hall this season, but Sunday was just a Valentine’s Day massacre they would like to soon forget.
Parting Points: Big Sunday in sports- NBA All-Star game, Daytona 500 and the Olympics heating up. But the headlines are still dominated by college basketball on the heels of March Madness. Number two Syracuse was crushed by Louisville again and Rutgers stunned Georgetown.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sporting Sweetheart
In the tradition of Valentine's Day, a love poem with a sports twist:
Love is shedding a piece of yourself everyday
It’s a perfect game, a spiral pass
Love wakes the dispirited, as if to say
“Play ball” on a bed of feathery grass
Love lasts long enough to see one through
It’s the rhythmic pace of a tennis match
Love evolves carefully with each caress and cue
The fade away jump shot or deciding bucket to hatch
Love reaches beyond the boundaries of the heart
It’s the captivating hole-in-one that evokes emotion
Love knows no remorse, an honorable art
A picturesque sunrise behind a surfer’s ocean
Love is belonging to a higher power
It’s squaring to bunt for a sacrifice
Love requires a frank face and soft scour
A boxer’s poise or a backhand slice
Love is an unlimited feeling of hope
It’s skating on the wing to find the goal
Love lingers deep and stretches far in scope
The swirling soccer ball and track star curving over a pole
Love is your hand in mine
It’s walking or jogging, dancing to Spring’s song
Love means believing in forever’s time
The grand slam finish after driving long
Love is shedding a piece of yourself everyday
It’s a perfect game, a spiral pass
Love wakes the dispirited, as if to say
“Play ball” on a bed of feathery grass
Love lasts long enough to see one through
It’s the rhythmic pace of a tennis match
Love evolves carefully with each caress and cue
The fade away jump shot or deciding bucket to hatch
Love reaches beyond the boundaries of the heart
It’s the captivating hole-in-one that evokes emotion
Love knows no remorse, an honorable art
A picturesque sunrise behind a surfer’s ocean
Love is belonging to a higher power
It’s squaring to bunt for a sacrifice
Love requires a frank face and soft scour
A boxer’s poise or a backhand slice
Love is an unlimited feeling of hope
It’s skating on the wing to find the goal
Love lingers deep and stretches far in scope
The swirling soccer ball and track star curving over a pole
Love is your hand in mine
It’s walking or jogging, dancing to Spring’s song
Love means believing in forever’s time
The grand slam finish after driving long
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Three Tallies after Three Times
Pittsburgh pulled off a miraculous comeback in triple overtime Friday night at Petersen Events Center. The 25th ranked Panther upset the nation’s number five, West Virginia, in the second installment of this season’s backyard brawl. The Big East game was completed in three overtimes. Pittsburgh erased a seven point deficit in the final 45 seconds of regulation to send the game into the first extra session, and eventually outlasted the Mountaineers 98-95. The low scoring contest ended with Gilbert Brown snagging two free throws. The Panthers’ junior hit the winning buckets with 28 seconds left in overtime number three to hand West Virginia their fifth loss of the year. Pittsburgh improved to 19-6 overall and 8-4 in the Big East. The triumph ties the Panthers with West Virginia and Georgetown for third place in the conference.
Da’Sean Butler lead all players with 32 for the Mountaineers. Butler added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Darryl Bryant sunk a satisfying 20 points for the visitors and sophomore, Devin Ebanks had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Panthers were paced by their two gritty guards, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs. Both finished with 24 points. The Panthers improved to 6-0 at home against top five opponents, but it was a back-and-forth battle all night. The game was tied 12 times and had 12 lead changes. The Mountaineers took a 37-32 advantage over their rivals into halftime. Pitt surged back to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. Gibbs drilled the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner on an inbounds pass from Wanamaker with 22 seconds left in the fourth. Gibbs was 6-of-13 from the arc Friday night. West Virginia was error-prone in the second half. They held a seven point lead after dominating the Panthers for 39 minutes, but let it slip through their fingers. Pittsburgh responded to WVU’s missed opportunities and turnovers at the end of regulation. The Mountaineers allowed Tavon Woodall (12 points, 7 rebounds) an open look down the lane before he drove it home to pull Pitt within three points. They failed to make easy layups. Bob Huggins’ squad fumbled the basketball and couldn’t make their shots even when they virtually had the Backyard Brawl won.
The Panthers looked like they had the game won in the first overtime. Gibbs muffed a second foul shot with seven ticks and Bryant drilled one from downtown to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Jamie Dixon’s Panthers led by three points with 20 seconds left in overtime number two when Butler was fouled. The 6’7” WVU senior pocketed three free throws to force the third extra session. In the final overtime, Butler cruised past the Panthers to put West Virginia ahead by one point with 40 seconds left. Brown dropped two foul shots in the basket to recapture the Panther edge, 96-95. Ebanks, 7-of-14 from the field, missed a shot on the next Mountaineer possession. Gary McGhee grabbed the last of his 12 rebounds and swung the ball out to Gibbs, who was fouled. Gibbs made a pair of charity stripe points with 11.8 seconds remaining for the game’s concluding three point margin. The Panthers took out the Mountaineers in triple overtime by posting clutch free throws and smartly using the clock to their advantage. It was a fitting and fantastic finale.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see Wayne Gretzky involved in the opening ceremonies.
Song for Saturday- Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”
Da’Sean Butler lead all players with 32 for the Mountaineers. Butler added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Darryl Bryant sunk a satisfying 20 points for the visitors and sophomore, Devin Ebanks had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Panthers were paced by their two gritty guards, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs. Both finished with 24 points. The Panthers improved to 6-0 at home against top five opponents, but it was a back-and-forth battle all night. The game was tied 12 times and had 12 lead changes. The Mountaineers took a 37-32 advantage over their rivals into halftime. Pitt surged back to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. Gibbs drilled the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner on an inbounds pass from Wanamaker with 22 seconds left in the fourth. Gibbs was 6-of-13 from the arc Friday night. West Virginia was error-prone in the second half. They held a seven point lead after dominating the Panthers for 39 minutes, but let it slip through their fingers. Pittsburgh responded to WVU’s missed opportunities and turnovers at the end of regulation. The Mountaineers allowed Tavon Woodall (12 points, 7 rebounds) an open look down the lane before he drove it home to pull Pitt within three points. They failed to make easy layups. Bob Huggins’ squad fumbled the basketball and couldn’t make their shots even when they virtually had the Backyard Brawl won.
The Panthers looked like they had the game won in the first overtime. Gibbs muffed a second foul shot with seven ticks and Bryant drilled one from downtown to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Jamie Dixon’s Panthers led by three points with 20 seconds left in overtime number two when Butler was fouled. The 6’7” WVU senior pocketed three free throws to force the third extra session. In the final overtime, Butler cruised past the Panthers to put West Virginia ahead by one point with 40 seconds left. Brown dropped two foul shots in the basket to recapture the Panther edge, 96-95. Ebanks, 7-of-14 from the field, missed a shot on the next Mountaineer possession. Gary McGhee grabbed the last of his 12 rebounds and swung the ball out to Gibbs, who was fouled. Gibbs made a pair of charity stripe points with 11.8 seconds remaining for the game’s concluding three point margin. The Panthers took out the Mountaineers in triple overtime by posting clutch free throws and smartly using the clock to their advantage. It was a fitting and fantastic finale.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see Wayne Gretzky involved in the opening ceremonies.
Song for Saturday- Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”
Friday, February 12, 2010
Crowns Clipped in Comeback Classic
The Edmonton Oilers skated into a sellout Staples Center Thursday night and owned a 2-0 lead after fifty minutes against league-leading L.A. The Kings rallied late in the third period to erase the deficit and send the tie game into overtime. Five minutes of sudden death failed to declare a winner and the contest went to the shootout. Former King and current Oilers defenseman, Lubomir Visnovsky, snapped Edmonton’s 11 game road skid with a tenth round game winning shootout goal. The marathon shootout ended on Visnovsky’s breakaway snot past Erik Ersberg to upend the Kings 3-2. Ersberg was starting Terry Murray for just the sixth time this season. The Kings usual goaltender, Jonathan Quick, did not play because of flulike symptoms. Ersberg made 21 stops in net. The Kings could have used Quick and his 12-4 shootout record Thursday night. It took the league’s worst club, Edmonton, to put an end to L.A.’s nine consecutive victories in games decided by shootouts. It was the Oilers first road win in two months.
The Kings have dropped two in a row after rolling off nine wins. Rich Clune made his NHL debut for L.A. The Kings took 43 shots on goal to the Oilers’ 23. L.A. was down by a pair of goals last night as the Oilers kept pace on the ice. Edmonton was impressive in penalty killing and limiting the Kings on the power play. Oilers goalie, Jeff Deslauriers made 41 saves in a tremendous road effort. L.A. attempted more shots on goal than Edmonton, but the Oilers secured the first one that counted in the second period. Denis Grebeshkov capitalized on a deflection off Matt Greene’s stick near the crease to tap in the first Edmonton goal. It was Grebeshkov’s sixth goal of the season and provided the Oilers a 1-0 edge. Dustin Penner fooled Ersberg in the opening of the third period to put the Oilers on top by two goals. Penner increased Edmonton’s edge with a sharp angle shot at 7:47 of the third, scoring on a power play wrister. It was Penner’s team leading 24th goal of the season. Four minutes later, the home team wiped away the gap altogether. L.A.’s comeback began with Dustin Brown’s desperation goal with 8:55 remaining in regulation. Brown got the Kings back within one by backhanding the puck through the posts and beyond Deslauriers’ reach. Ryan Smyth tied the score with an open net flick with under five minutes left. A scuffle broke out in the dying minutes of regulation, resulting in a four-on-four for two the final two minutes.
Overtime in L.A. almost didn’t occur. Patrick O’Sullivan was the sudden death star for Edmonton but Ersberg robbed the former King of a slick game winning shot. The Kings took the hapless Oilers to a franchise-record ten round shootout. Ersberg and Deslauriers frustrated the first shooters but pucks soon found the back of the net. Shawn Horcoff, Penner and Gilbert Brule scored in the shootout for Edmonton. Kings’ forward Anze Kopitar, Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handuz found the net and beat Deslauriers in the shootout. Simmonds nearly missed a goal in the first period off a Brad Richardson feed. The Kings outshot Edmonton 36-16 after the first period, but it was Deslauriers’ play that disrupted their demanding offense. Visnovsky drained the dramatic goal to seal the tenth round, and made Pat Quinn’s Oilers road victors for the first time since December 11th. The Kings were undeservedly booed by the home crowd.
Parting Points: Note to TMac: Please do not sign with the Knicks.
The Kings have dropped two in a row after rolling off nine wins. Rich Clune made his NHL debut for L.A. The Kings took 43 shots on goal to the Oilers’ 23. L.A. was down by a pair of goals last night as the Oilers kept pace on the ice. Edmonton was impressive in penalty killing and limiting the Kings on the power play. Oilers goalie, Jeff Deslauriers made 41 saves in a tremendous road effort. L.A. attempted more shots on goal than Edmonton, but the Oilers secured the first one that counted in the second period. Denis Grebeshkov capitalized on a deflection off Matt Greene’s stick near the crease to tap in the first Edmonton goal. It was Grebeshkov’s sixth goal of the season and provided the Oilers a 1-0 edge. Dustin Penner fooled Ersberg in the opening of the third period to put the Oilers on top by two goals. Penner increased Edmonton’s edge with a sharp angle shot at 7:47 of the third, scoring on a power play wrister. It was Penner’s team leading 24th goal of the season. Four minutes later, the home team wiped away the gap altogether. L.A.’s comeback began with Dustin Brown’s desperation goal with 8:55 remaining in regulation. Brown got the Kings back within one by backhanding the puck through the posts and beyond Deslauriers’ reach. Ryan Smyth tied the score with an open net flick with under five minutes left. A scuffle broke out in the dying minutes of regulation, resulting in a four-on-four for two the final two minutes.
Overtime in L.A. almost didn’t occur. Patrick O’Sullivan was the sudden death star for Edmonton but Ersberg robbed the former King of a slick game winning shot. The Kings took the hapless Oilers to a franchise-record ten round shootout. Ersberg and Deslauriers frustrated the first shooters but pucks soon found the back of the net. Shawn Horcoff, Penner and Gilbert Brule scored in the shootout for Edmonton. Kings’ forward Anze Kopitar, Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handuz found the net and beat Deslauriers in the shootout. Simmonds nearly missed a goal in the first period off a Brad Richardson feed. The Kings outshot Edmonton 36-16 after the first period, but it was Deslauriers’ play that disrupted their demanding offense. Visnovsky drained the dramatic goal to seal the tenth round, and made Pat Quinn’s Oilers road victors for the first time since December 11th. The Kings were undeservedly booed by the home crowd.
Parting Points: Note to TMac: Please do not sign with the Knicks.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Connecticut Comeback Crushed
Syracuse squandered a 48-34 lead with 14 minutes left to play, but held on to defeat Connecticut 72-67 in men’s college basketball. The second ranked Orange held a 16 point lead in the second half before the Huskies pulled within three points. UConn staged a furious rally to tie the score, but couldn’t get over the hump. Wednesday was the first time since the epic six overtime affair between the Big East rivals. Syracuse hung on to top Connecticut and snag their 11th straight victory. The Orange improved to 24-1 overall. For the Huskies, the game marked their sixth road loss of the season. UConn is 0-6 on the road and 1-5 against ranked opponents. Syracuse is on a ten game winning streak for the second time this season.
Rick Jackson led the Orange with 15 points but it was the Huskies’ Jerome Dyson leading all scorers with 19 points and five assists. Dyson notched the tying basket with 2:33 to play. The Connecticut senior guard paced the Huskies and was 7-of-21 from the field with 8 rebounds. The game tying shot was followed by a critical and controversial timeout call. The Huskies didn’t wilt, even after being down by seven at the intermission and trailing by as many as 10 in the first half. Even without Jim Calhoun on the sidelines, Connecticut ripped through the Carrier Dome hard enough to scare the Orange. Stanley Robinson added 16 points for the visiting team, but only made two second half points. Kemba Walker accounted for 14 and Gavin Edwards 12 for UConn. Syracuse junior, Scoop Jardine, clocked 21 minutes and scored 7 points. Wes Johnson finished with a baker’s dozen points and matched teammate, Arinze Onuaku, with a game high nine rebounds.
Dyson missed a chance to give the Huskies the lead with over a minute left when jumper bounced off the rim. Andy Rautins, the Orange’s indispensible senior guard, scored eight points but was summoned to the bench after being whistled for his fourth foul at 50-34 ‘Cuse. The offense wobbled and the defense allowed the Huskies back in the game without Rautins. The Huskies went on a 14-2 run and were within one point (61-60) after a Dyson trey with just over four minutes. Connecticut outrebounded the Orange in the second half 26-14. They dominated the glass but were unable to control the game. Syracuse managed to survive the contest on a pair of Johnson free throws with 33 second remaining. The Orange lead would not be threatened again. Dyson missed a three-pointer with 13.5 seconds and Kris Joseph hit two more from the charity stripe to give the Orange a four point edge. This matchup wasn’t heading into overtime. It ended in regulation with the Orange coming out winners.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow
Happy Birthday Sheryl!
Rick Jackson led the Orange with 15 points but it was the Huskies’ Jerome Dyson leading all scorers with 19 points and five assists. Dyson notched the tying basket with 2:33 to play. The Connecticut senior guard paced the Huskies and was 7-of-21 from the field with 8 rebounds. The game tying shot was followed by a critical and controversial timeout call. The Huskies didn’t wilt, even after being down by seven at the intermission and trailing by as many as 10 in the first half. Even without Jim Calhoun on the sidelines, Connecticut ripped through the Carrier Dome hard enough to scare the Orange. Stanley Robinson added 16 points for the visiting team, but only made two second half points. Kemba Walker accounted for 14 and Gavin Edwards 12 for UConn. Syracuse junior, Scoop Jardine, clocked 21 minutes and scored 7 points. Wes Johnson finished with a baker’s dozen points and matched teammate, Arinze Onuaku, with a game high nine rebounds.
Dyson missed a chance to give the Huskies the lead with over a minute left when jumper bounced off the rim. Andy Rautins, the Orange’s indispensible senior guard, scored eight points but was summoned to the bench after being whistled for his fourth foul at 50-34 ‘Cuse. The offense wobbled and the defense allowed the Huskies back in the game without Rautins. The Huskies went on a 14-2 run and were within one point (61-60) after a Dyson trey with just over four minutes. Connecticut outrebounded the Orange in the second half 26-14. They dominated the glass but were unable to control the game. Syracuse managed to survive the contest on a pair of Johnson free throws with 33 second remaining. The Orange lead would not be threatened again. Dyson missed a three-pointer with 13.5 seconds and Kris Joseph hit two more from the charity stripe to give the Orange a four point edge. This matchup wasn’t heading into overtime. It ended in regulation with the Orange coming out winners.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow
Happy Birthday Sheryl!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Two Ten (Dos Diez)
It’s strange what you remember. An unexpected answer. A frivolous object. An affectionate hug. Symbols and numbers take on meaningful significance when they are associated with feelings and emotions. I hustled off the heavy yellow school bus in my honey colored sweatshirt. I always sat near the front. The sidewalk was cracked but I triumphantly skipped over the cement chinks in my size six Converse sneakers. My legs followed the narrow path past the main office to the gym. I rushed to the girls’ side of the spacious gymnasium, oblivious to the endless banners hanging quietly above. I stood in front of the equipment closet, where carefully posted was the list that would determine my mood for the day. There wasn’t a doubt in my young mind that I was included on the final cut list. I crept closer to the closet and craftily looked around to make sure I was alone.
As I held my breath, I read each name. My heart raced faster with each one that wasn’t my own. Finally, the list was finished. I wasn’t on it. I walked in a trance to the locker room door and read the word “Girls”. I stood, staring at the door, fighting off tears I knew were coming. Suddenly, I raced out the gym. My violent feet took me to the library corridor. There were four empty picnic tables outside in the courtyard. I leaned up against the windows and held the wide wood railing. I had a quarter in my pocket. My sweaty hand fumbled with the coin as the first teardrop trickled and touched my cheek. All I worked for during the past seven years was out the window like the soft leaves of the pretty courtyard trees. Inside, I was an empty picnic table. Nothing prepared me for this moment. I was a withered flower seeking nourishment. I stumbled to the nearest phone and dialed home with the only twenty five cents I possessed. I was looking for a sign of life.
I remember my mother’s words and emotions that followed. I remember trying hard to keep my mind off the fateful list. I passed through the sixth grade hallway on my way to my homeroom. My former teacher greeted me from Room 210 and asked me about softball. I told him the news. There was no sense in hiding out. I needed his encouragement, maybe more than I needed it from my mother. Someone outside my family believed in me. He knew how hard I worked and how talented a player I was. I acknowledged him and thanked him. He told me not to give up. I wanted to cut my losses. My locker was a putrid pink. It was so slim I was sure I could barely fit my bookbag inside. The size was deceiving. I shamefully tucked away my softball equipment by stuffing it in the locker too. People are good at fitting more than they can into small compartments. All the sadness I felt was more than my overfilled heart could handle.
There’s a reason for everything. Why is the bright side always hardest to see? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? My heart was broken, but it wouldn’t be the first time. I learned a valuable life lesson that day. Nothing is life is guaranteed. You could work hard and believe in yourself but have little to show for it. I ended playing JV softball. The coaches retracted the cut, admitting he made a mistake. Life is mysteriously good if you sit back and watch it unfold. Sometimes you don’t have to make a stink about being cheated. The good times roll around if you keep your cool. I pitched the best game of my life off the bench. It was the first game of the season and I was summoned to the mound. I’ll never forget the look on everyone’s face after that win. My teammates, the fans, my opponents, and the coaches owed me nothing. But somehow, their faces seemed to owe me everything. I’ve learned to carry some pretty heavy loads on my shoulders. Perhaps it stemmed from the milestone moment in junior high when I overcame rejection. The softball bag in my locker came out. I stored it in Room 210 for the remainder of the season. In eighth grade, I got my own locker in the gym. We were taught Spanish that year. There’s a verb in Spanish: “llevar”. It means to bear something with patience. Patience often pays off. Life is series of graduations and adjustments punctuated with joy and sorrow. For me, it starts with hard work and ends with patience.
Parting Points: Song of the day- The Killers’ “When We Were Young”
As I held my breath, I read each name. My heart raced faster with each one that wasn’t my own. Finally, the list was finished. I wasn’t on it. I walked in a trance to the locker room door and read the word “Girls”. I stood, staring at the door, fighting off tears I knew were coming. Suddenly, I raced out the gym. My violent feet took me to the library corridor. There were four empty picnic tables outside in the courtyard. I leaned up against the windows and held the wide wood railing. I had a quarter in my pocket. My sweaty hand fumbled with the coin as the first teardrop trickled and touched my cheek. All I worked for during the past seven years was out the window like the soft leaves of the pretty courtyard trees. Inside, I was an empty picnic table. Nothing prepared me for this moment. I was a withered flower seeking nourishment. I stumbled to the nearest phone and dialed home with the only twenty five cents I possessed. I was looking for a sign of life.
I remember my mother’s words and emotions that followed. I remember trying hard to keep my mind off the fateful list. I passed through the sixth grade hallway on my way to my homeroom. My former teacher greeted me from Room 210 and asked me about softball. I told him the news. There was no sense in hiding out. I needed his encouragement, maybe more than I needed it from my mother. Someone outside my family believed in me. He knew how hard I worked and how talented a player I was. I acknowledged him and thanked him. He told me not to give up. I wanted to cut my losses. My locker was a putrid pink. It was so slim I was sure I could barely fit my bookbag inside. The size was deceiving. I shamefully tucked away my softball equipment by stuffing it in the locker too. People are good at fitting more than they can into small compartments. All the sadness I felt was more than my overfilled heart could handle.
There’s a reason for everything. Why is the bright side always hardest to see? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? My heart was broken, but it wouldn’t be the first time. I learned a valuable life lesson that day. Nothing is life is guaranteed. You could work hard and believe in yourself but have little to show for it. I ended playing JV softball. The coaches retracted the cut, admitting he made a mistake. Life is mysteriously good if you sit back and watch it unfold. Sometimes you don’t have to make a stink about being cheated. The good times roll around if you keep your cool. I pitched the best game of my life off the bench. It was the first game of the season and I was summoned to the mound. I’ll never forget the look on everyone’s face after that win. My teammates, the fans, my opponents, and the coaches owed me nothing. But somehow, their faces seemed to owe me everything. I’ve learned to carry some pretty heavy loads on my shoulders. Perhaps it stemmed from the milestone moment in junior high when I overcame rejection. The softball bag in my locker came out. I stored it in Room 210 for the remainder of the season. In eighth grade, I got my own locker in the gym. We were taught Spanish that year. There’s a verb in Spanish: “llevar”. It means to bear something with patience. Patience often pays off. Life is series of graduations and adjustments punctuated with joy and sorrow. For me, it starts with hard work and ends with patience.
Parting Points: Song of the day- The Killers’ “When We Were Young”
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Silent Sighs
She wiped the top of her head and tips of her hair with her sleeve
Her competitive heart taught her it was too soon to leave
Inside the black webbed glove, a ball rested at peace
The batter in front of the backstop waited for her release
Squatting behind was a catcher with a target to strike
She swiped the sand surrounding the rubber with her spike
Her repetitive motion was readily acquired somewhere in time
The hit from the swing rattled the ring of a clanging chime
Walking away were the evaporating sounds of nine silent sighs
Her competitive heart taught her it was too soon to leave
Inside the black webbed glove, a ball rested at peace
The batter in front of the backstop waited for her release
Squatting behind was a catcher with a target to strike
She swiped the sand surrounding the rubber with her spike
Her repetitive motion was readily acquired somewhere in time
The hit from the swing rattled the ring of a clanging chime
Walking away were the evaporating sounds of nine silent sighs
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Saints' Sunday Stunner
Who 'dat? The NFL season culminated in a fantastic finale. The conclusion wasn’t one the Colts would like to savor. Miami’s Sun Life Stadium played host to Superbowl XLIV where 16-3 Indianapolis was dramatically defeated by 16-3 New Orleans. The Saints sailed away with their first championship in franchise history after a 31-17 capping of the Colts. Indianapolis was stunned in the end, despite running and protecting the football well enough throughout the contest. New Orleans quarterback, Drew Brees, tied a Superbowl record with 32 completions. He was saintly in the final three quarters, missing only three attempts. The Colts had a chance to tie the score late in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning , the league MVP and magnificent Colts signal caller, mistakenly threw in game-altering interception on third down. Saints second year cornerback, Tracy Porter, returned the ball 74 yards the other way to shock the shaken Colts.
Indianapolis kicked off the ball the begin their quest for another Superbowl behind Manning. The Colts put up the game’s first ten points, and only tallies of the first quarter. Matt Stover legged a 38 yard field goal to complete a 53 yard, 11 play Indianapolis drive seven and a half minutes into the first quarter. The blue and white lead was increased to 10-0 following Manning’s 19 yard haul into the end zone to wideout, Pierre Garcon. Garcon was being defended by a safety in the corner slot and Manning took advantage of the matchup. The 96 yard drive was the longest in Superbowl history. Indianapolis’ injured defensive standout, Dwight Freeney, started and played most of the contest. Freeney was a disruptive force in the first half. The Pro Bowl defensive end pressured and pulled down Brees with a one-handed grab midway through the second quarter. The result was a Garrett Hartley 46 yard field goal. The Saints settled for three again before time expired in the half. Hartley knocked home his second field goal, a 44-yard straightaway boot that trimmed the New Orleans deficit to four points. Although the Colts led at the break, they held the ball for less than three minutes and went three-and-out on both possessions of the second quarter. The tide was starting to turn the New Orleans’ way.
The Who plodded together a nostalgic, but arguably awful-sounding halftime show before the most surprising and dramatic play of the Superbowl. Saints’ head coach, Sean Payton, called for an onside kick to begin the second half. New Orleans recovered the gamble when wide receiver, Hank Baskett, let the ball squirt through his hands. The risk paid off immediately for Payton and the Saints. Running back, Pierre Thomas, finished with double digit touches, and caught the first loft from Brees during the second half’s opening drive. Brees proceeded downfield, frustrating the Colts’ defense. The Saints’ cool quarterback found an open Devery Henderson for nine and five yard receptions, and hit Marques Colston on first down for a nine yard gain. Thomas scrambled up the middle for seven, and another Saints first down at the Indy 16 yard line. The stark back gave New Orleans their first lead of the game by pulling down a 16 yard touchdown pass from Brees.
Joseph Addai ignited the running game for the Colts. Indy’s ground game would eclipse that of the Saints’ 51. Addai finished with 13 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown. The seven pointer came on a divine four yard twisting rush with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter. The 10 play, 76 yard drive placed the Colts back on top by three points, but would be the last points for Indy of the night. Lance Moore made a dazzling two-point conversion catch with just under six minutes left in the game to follow up a Jeremy Shockey touchdown grab. The former Giants tight end heaved in a two yard pass from Brees and the two-point conversation provided the Saints a seven point advantage. Colston led all Saints with 83 receiving yards. He shook off a rough first quarter to come up with big gains. Reggie Bush, the former USC tailback, was also a key factor in the win for New Orleans. Neither Bush nor Colston scored, but they kept the chains moving down the stretch. Indy’s defense failed to tackle and make plays throughout the second half. Brees’ arm was on fire and most deservedly the game’s MVP. The man behind center for the Saints completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Manning went 31 of 45 for 33 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Manning was poised to set up a tying touchdown with under five minutes in the game. He completed to Garcon for 17 yards and twice found Reggie Wayne to give the Colts a chance at the New Orleans’ 36 yard line. Coverage ace and unsung hero, Porter, snagged the pick that eventually sent the Saints to their 31-17 victory. Manning again led the charge as the Colts tried to manufacture a late touchdown. Wayne dropped a fourth down pass at the goal line to seal the loss for Indianapolis. Wayne had five catches for 46 yards, and Dallas Clark finished in with a team high 86 yards on 7 receptions. The finely-tuned aerial passing attack just didn’t work for Manning last night. The Saints were the better team, coming up big in big situations. Brees’ quick release and route reads were nearly impeccable Sunday night. Both quarterbacks were the central part of the outcome. The impenitent Indy team that won 14 straight games under Jim Caldwell was stopped by a more determined and efficient football club from New Orleans.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “When the Saints go Marching in”
Indianapolis kicked off the ball the begin their quest for another Superbowl behind Manning. The Colts put up the game’s first ten points, and only tallies of the first quarter. Matt Stover legged a 38 yard field goal to complete a 53 yard, 11 play Indianapolis drive seven and a half minutes into the first quarter. The blue and white lead was increased to 10-0 following Manning’s 19 yard haul into the end zone to wideout, Pierre Garcon. Garcon was being defended by a safety in the corner slot and Manning took advantage of the matchup. The 96 yard drive was the longest in Superbowl history. Indianapolis’ injured defensive standout, Dwight Freeney, started and played most of the contest. Freeney was a disruptive force in the first half. The Pro Bowl defensive end pressured and pulled down Brees with a one-handed grab midway through the second quarter. The result was a Garrett Hartley 46 yard field goal. The Saints settled for three again before time expired in the half. Hartley knocked home his second field goal, a 44-yard straightaway boot that trimmed the New Orleans deficit to four points. Although the Colts led at the break, they held the ball for less than three minutes and went three-and-out on both possessions of the second quarter. The tide was starting to turn the New Orleans’ way.
The Who plodded together a nostalgic, but arguably awful-sounding halftime show before the most surprising and dramatic play of the Superbowl. Saints’ head coach, Sean Payton, called for an onside kick to begin the second half. New Orleans recovered the gamble when wide receiver, Hank Baskett, let the ball squirt through his hands. The risk paid off immediately for Payton and the Saints. Running back, Pierre Thomas, finished with double digit touches, and caught the first loft from Brees during the second half’s opening drive. Brees proceeded downfield, frustrating the Colts’ defense. The Saints’ cool quarterback found an open Devery Henderson for nine and five yard receptions, and hit Marques Colston on first down for a nine yard gain. Thomas scrambled up the middle for seven, and another Saints first down at the Indy 16 yard line. The stark back gave New Orleans their first lead of the game by pulling down a 16 yard touchdown pass from Brees.
Joseph Addai ignited the running game for the Colts. Indy’s ground game would eclipse that of the Saints’ 51. Addai finished with 13 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown. The seven pointer came on a divine four yard twisting rush with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter. The 10 play, 76 yard drive placed the Colts back on top by three points, but would be the last points for Indy of the night. Lance Moore made a dazzling two-point conversion catch with just under six minutes left in the game to follow up a Jeremy Shockey touchdown grab. The former Giants tight end heaved in a two yard pass from Brees and the two-point conversation provided the Saints a seven point advantage. Colston led all Saints with 83 receiving yards. He shook off a rough first quarter to come up with big gains. Reggie Bush, the former USC tailback, was also a key factor in the win for New Orleans. Neither Bush nor Colston scored, but they kept the chains moving down the stretch. Indy’s defense failed to tackle and make plays throughout the second half. Brees’ arm was on fire and most deservedly the game’s MVP. The man behind center for the Saints completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Manning went 31 of 45 for 33 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Manning was poised to set up a tying touchdown with under five minutes in the game. He completed to Garcon for 17 yards and twice found Reggie Wayne to give the Colts a chance at the New Orleans’ 36 yard line. Coverage ace and unsung hero, Porter, snagged the pick that eventually sent the Saints to their 31-17 victory. Manning again led the charge as the Colts tried to manufacture a late touchdown. Wayne dropped a fourth down pass at the goal line to seal the loss for Indianapolis. Wayne had five catches for 46 yards, and Dallas Clark finished in with a team high 86 yards on 7 receptions. The finely-tuned aerial passing attack just didn’t work for Manning last night. The Saints were the better team, coming up big in big situations. Brees’ quick release and route reads were nearly impeccable Sunday night. Both quarterbacks were the central part of the outcome. The impenitent Indy team that won 14 straight games under Jim Caldwell was stopped by a more determined and efficient football club from New Orleans.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “When the Saints go Marching in”
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Talented Twenty-Two Takes The Turf
Emmitt Smith was among seven former NFL players elected to the Football Hall of Fame Saturday. The Dallas Cowboys running back deserves inclusion in Canton because he was a record-setting, explosive player his entire career. Here’s a short tribute to the great number 22 and his illustrious career.
Twenty-two torches the turf
He takes the handoff and glides
Sailing through defenders like on surf
Whistling and spinning, he slides
The feet move fast to open holes
Slipping by without a trace
Down the sidelines he goes
To the endzone and the open space
Sturdy and strong he grips the ball
Plows his way with awe-inspiring aura
Tucking it in to protect a fall
His flair prettier than blooming flora
Blue and silver stars flash, overcoming yard by yard
The pylon waits to greet his brimming charm
His terrific talent and skills are not marred
What he does to the scores of foes his only harm
Parting Points: Superbowl Sunday Song- “Beautiful As You” by All-4-One (sorry Who fans)
The Hoyas take down ‘Nova in a Big East Saturday game. It marks the first conference loss for the Wildcats. I can’t wait for the Big East tournament this year. Sometimes, it’s more exciting than the NCAA tourney.
Twenty-two torches the turf
He takes the handoff and glides
Sailing through defenders like on surf
Whistling and spinning, he slides
The feet move fast to open holes
Slipping by without a trace
Down the sidelines he goes
To the endzone and the open space
Sturdy and strong he grips the ball
Plows his way with awe-inspiring aura
Tucking it in to protect a fall
His flair prettier than blooming flora
Blue and silver stars flash, overcoming yard by yard
The pylon waits to greet his brimming charm
His terrific talent and skills are not marred
What he does to the scores of foes his only harm
Parting Points: Superbowl Sunday Song- “Beautiful As You” by All-4-One (sorry Who fans)
The Hoyas take down ‘Nova in a Big East Saturday game. It marks the first conference loss for the Wildcats. I can’t wait for the Big East tournament this year. Sometimes, it’s more exciting than the NCAA tourney.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Deep Denver Depresses Defense
The Los Angeles Lakers underwent an ugly loss and gave up a season high in points last night against the Denver Nuggets. Chauncey Billups dropped a career high 39 points in Denver’s 126-113 victory at the Staples Center. The Friday stunner from the Nuggets occurred without the top scorer in the league, Carmelo Anthony. Billups buoyed the Nugget and more than made up for the absence of Melo with nine three pointers. The Nuggets bested LA for the second time this season and snapped their eight game home winning streak.
Denver delivered a demoralizing win by blowing the Lakers out of the Staples Center. Los Angeles was pitiful on defense and allowed the Nuggets to shoot 68% from the arc. The uncanny road performance from George Karl’s team puts Denver 3 ½ games behind LA in the standings. Anthony missed his seventh consecutive game because of a sprained ankle. The Nuggets need their scoring stud to compete in the Western conference. Friday proved they can still bring an effective effort to the hardwood. Billups manhandled LA with 21 points in the third quarter alone. Those buckets were enough to fall second to Wilt Chamberlain’s record 23 against LA in 1966. Billups also fell one three point shot shy of Peja Stojakovic’s 10 hits from downtown against the 2007 Lakers. LA’s MVP, Kobe Bryant, scored 33 points in the loss but it wasn’t enough to prevent six Nugget players from reaching double digits. Bryant was 8-of-11 in the first half, with 23 tallies. He hit the 15 point mark just seven minutes into the contest. The Nuggets trailed 64-59 at the break. Bryant slowed down after halftime, making three of ten shots and failing to record an assist. J.R. Smith propelled Denver with 27 points. Seven year veteran, Chris Andersen, grabbed 15 rebounds in the win, and reserve, Ty Lawson posted 13 points in 19 minutes.
Pau Gasol was a rebounding machine for the Lakers. LA’s big man finished with a game-leading 17 rebounds and 17 points to match. He dumped in the final bucket of the first half to account for LA’s five point benefit. The NBA champions were buried and beaten by Billups in the second half. The nine points Lakers edge was erased early in the half on four straight from downtown. Billups turned it into a two points Nuggets lead. Lawson stepped up at the end of the third quarter as the Nuggets gripped a 94-89 advantage. He came through early in the final quarter with a pair of free throws to make it a 102-91 Nuggets’ nudge. Lawson and Smith combined for 12 points during the game’s final 12 minutes. Denver secured a season high 15 three-pointers by night’s end, as Aaron Affalo got into the act with two. The Nuggets have the upper hand in this regular season rivalry. Bryan’t ankle is a problem for the Lakers. An ineffective and inept Bryant makes it increasingly difficult for LA to beat teams with Denver’s talent in the playoffs. Ron Artest, Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum are a nice supporting cast, but Bryant remains the star. Artest was perfect from the line (4-of-4) but shot 30% from the field. Odom and Bynum had 10 points and 5 rebounds each on Friday night. Neither managed an assist. The Lakers did not have much on defense against chic Denver in their arena last night.
Parting Points: Weekend poem- Robert Frost’s “Dust of Snow”
Denver delivered a demoralizing win by blowing the Lakers out of the Staples Center. Los Angeles was pitiful on defense and allowed the Nuggets to shoot 68% from the arc. The uncanny road performance from George Karl’s team puts Denver 3 ½ games behind LA in the standings. Anthony missed his seventh consecutive game because of a sprained ankle. The Nuggets need their scoring stud to compete in the Western conference. Friday proved they can still bring an effective effort to the hardwood. Billups manhandled LA with 21 points in the third quarter alone. Those buckets were enough to fall second to Wilt Chamberlain’s record 23 against LA in 1966. Billups also fell one three point shot shy of Peja Stojakovic’s 10 hits from downtown against the 2007 Lakers. LA’s MVP, Kobe Bryant, scored 33 points in the loss but it wasn’t enough to prevent six Nugget players from reaching double digits. Bryant was 8-of-11 in the first half, with 23 tallies. He hit the 15 point mark just seven minutes into the contest. The Nuggets trailed 64-59 at the break. Bryant slowed down after halftime, making three of ten shots and failing to record an assist. J.R. Smith propelled Denver with 27 points. Seven year veteran, Chris Andersen, grabbed 15 rebounds in the win, and reserve, Ty Lawson posted 13 points in 19 minutes.
Pau Gasol was a rebounding machine for the Lakers. LA’s big man finished with a game-leading 17 rebounds and 17 points to match. He dumped in the final bucket of the first half to account for LA’s five point benefit. The NBA champions were buried and beaten by Billups in the second half. The nine points Lakers edge was erased early in the half on four straight from downtown. Billups turned it into a two points Nuggets lead. Lawson stepped up at the end of the third quarter as the Nuggets gripped a 94-89 advantage. He came through early in the final quarter with a pair of free throws to make it a 102-91 Nuggets’ nudge. Lawson and Smith combined for 12 points during the game’s final 12 minutes. Denver secured a season high 15 three-pointers by night’s end, as Aaron Affalo got into the act with two. The Nuggets have the upper hand in this regular season rivalry. Bryan’t ankle is a problem for the Lakers. An ineffective and inept Bryant makes it increasingly difficult for LA to beat teams with Denver’s talent in the playoffs. Ron Artest, Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum are a nice supporting cast, but Bryant remains the star. Artest was perfect from the line (4-of-4) but shot 30% from the field. Odom and Bynum had 10 points and 5 rebounds each on Friday night. Neither managed an assist. The Lakers did not have much on defense against chic Denver in their arena last night.
Parting Points: Weekend poem- Robert Frost’s “Dust of Snow”
Friday, February 5, 2010
Devil Dealin’ & Dishin’
Ilya Kovalchuk was one of the players included in a blockbuster NHL trade Thursday. The defensive-minded Devils traded for the marquee left wing in a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. New Jersey acquired the high scoring, three-time All-Star and Anssi Salmela for four of their own yesterday. Defenseman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick were part of the blockbuster swap. Kovalchuk arrives just in time to bolster an ailing and injured New Jersey roster. The 26 year old Russian had 31 goals this season for Atlanta, and has posted 50 goal seasons twice in his young career. General manager, Lou Lamoriello, believes Kovalchuk will add his unsullied hockey sense at the power forward position on the Devils’ ice. The new skater in black and red is expected to play Friday as the Devils host Toronto. He should be an assest to a team that has struggled to score goals as of late. Kovalchuk was drafted in 2001 by the Thrashers. Since his NHL debut, he has continued to lead the NHL. The Olympian has 328 goals and will become a free agent at season’s end.
Oduya, the 28 year old Swedish skater, was having a disappointing season in New Jersey. Oduya and Bergfors are both serviceable players but the Devils got the better end of this bargain deal. New Jersey, second in the conference, immediately upgrades their credibility at both ends of the puck. Oduya has four points all season for the Devils. Bergfors has 13 goals on the season with 27 points, landing him at fifth place among league rookies. Still, it’s hard to decipher whether Bergfors’ future production will equal what Kovalchuk brings to the ice. The Atlantic Division-leading Devils drafted the rookie in 2005 at 23rd overall, but Bergfors is not the better player in the trade. Thrashers GM, Don Waddell, attempted to sign Kovalchuk to an extension. Kovalchuk turned him down what would have been the biggest contract over 12 years. The Russian declined all the offers from Atlanta, a major blow to the suffering franchise. Salmela is a mobile 25 year old defenseman, but his output this season has been mediocre at best. He managed just four assists in 29 games for the Thrashers this year. Salmela was drafted by the Devils in 2008 before being dealt in the Niclas Havelid deal with Atlanta. New Jersey also waved adieu to Cormier, their temperamental 19 year old. Cormier will impact the Thrashers down the road. He captained the Canadian team to a 2010 World Junior Championship but endured a season-ending suspension after hitting an opposing player.
In other Devils news, the Duke Blue Devils showed their horns last night in Durham. The ACC leaders toppled Georgia Tech 86-67 behind Kyle Singler’s 30 point barrage. Jon Scheyer added 21 points for 10th ranked Duke. Nolan Smith contributed 14 for the 18-4 Blue Devils, who hit nearly 67% of their 3-pointers. The Yellowjackets, fourth best in the nation in field-goal percentage defense, couldn’t stop Duke from finishing 45% from the field. Singler stymied Tech from the rainbow and was given the freedom to have open looks all night. The junior forward was 8-of-10 from the arc on this career night. The Devils dominated the second half and it all added up to Mike Krzyzewski’s 15th consecutive Cameron Indoor Stadium victory. Singler, Scheyer and Smith are the most productive scoring trio in college basketball. The three average 53 points per game. It was apparent they were too much for the young Yellowjackets. Twenty-first ranked Tech was led by senior Zachery Peacock’s 11 tallies.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see the LA Kings off to their best start since the ’80 season . At 35-19-3, this Kings fan cannot complain.
“There’s a freedom in your arms that carries me through”- Lee Ann Rimes
Oduya, the 28 year old Swedish skater, was having a disappointing season in New Jersey. Oduya and Bergfors are both serviceable players but the Devils got the better end of this bargain deal. New Jersey, second in the conference, immediately upgrades their credibility at both ends of the puck. Oduya has four points all season for the Devils. Bergfors has 13 goals on the season with 27 points, landing him at fifth place among league rookies. Still, it’s hard to decipher whether Bergfors’ future production will equal what Kovalchuk brings to the ice. The Atlantic Division-leading Devils drafted the rookie in 2005 at 23rd overall, but Bergfors is not the better player in the trade. Thrashers GM, Don Waddell, attempted to sign Kovalchuk to an extension. Kovalchuk turned him down what would have been the biggest contract over 12 years. The Russian declined all the offers from Atlanta, a major blow to the suffering franchise. Salmela is a mobile 25 year old defenseman, but his output this season has been mediocre at best. He managed just four assists in 29 games for the Thrashers this year. Salmela was drafted by the Devils in 2008 before being dealt in the Niclas Havelid deal with Atlanta. New Jersey also waved adieu to Cormier, their temperamental 19 year old. Cormier will impact the Thrashers down the road. He captained the Canadian team to a 2010 World Junior Championship but endured a season-ending suspension after hitting an opposing player.
In other Devils news, the Duke Blue Devils showed their horns last night in Durham. The ACC leaders toppled Georgia Tech 86-67 behind Kyle Singler’s 30 point barrage. Jon Scheyer added 21 points for 10th ranked Duke. Nolan Smith contributed 14 for the 18-4 Blue Devils, who hit nearly 67% of their 3-pointers. The Yellowjackets, fourth best in the nation in field-goal percentage defense, couldn’t stop Duke from finishing 45% from the field. Singler stymied Tech from the rainbow and was given the freedom to have open looks all night. The junior forward was 8-of-10 from the arc on this career night. The Devils dominated the second half and it all added up to Mike Krzyzewski’s 15th consecutive Cameron Indoor Stadium victory. Singler, Scheyer and Smith are the most productive scoring trio in college basketball. The three average 53 points per game. It was apparent they were too much for the young Yellowjackets. Twenty-first ranked Tech was led by senior Zachery Peacock’s 11 tallies.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see the LA Kings off to their best start since the ’80 season . At 35-19-3, this Kings fan cannot complain.
“There’s a freedom in your arms that carries me through”- Lee Ann Rimes
Thursday, February 4, 2010
WVU's Wacky Whipping
An assemblage of fans in Morgantown witnessed something that hasn’t happened in nine years to the Pittsburgh Panthers. They were out in force and at times, too excessive in the stands. The hometown Mountaineers pasted Pittsburgh 70-51 at the WVU Coliseum Wednesday night. The loss marked the Panthers’ fourth straight in five games. Sixth-ranked West Virginia held the usually tenacious 22nd ranked Panthers to 30% shooting from the field. Pittsburgh coasted through their first five Big East games unscathed, but has now lost four against conference opponents. The Panthers are 6-4 in the Big East, while the Mountaineers hang tough at 7-2. West Virginia fans gave a new meaning to the coin flip. During the contest, Pitt assistant coach, Tom Herrion, was pelted in the face by a coin. West Virginia was charged with a technical foul after one of their fans foolishly flicked the object. Wild and wacky West Virginia backers also threw bottles and T-shirts on the court. The unruliness prompted Coach Bob Huggins to address the crowd. The 18-3 Mountaineers have plenty to cheer about this season. The disruptive student section in the Coliseum is not one of them. Play even got physical in the second half. Pitt’s Gary McGhee and two WVU players got into a scuffle under the basket. The referee broke up the fight and charged the players with fouls. It’s too bad the rowdiness didn’t ignite the Panthers’ offense. It’s also a shame the home crowd can’t be as classy as the coach.
Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were outrebounded and outworked by Huggins’ team Wednesday in Morgantown. Da’Sean Butler scored 18 points to lead West Virginia. Butler had a trio of treys in the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl. Kevin Jones added 16. Turkey native, Deniz Kilicli, had nine points in seven minutes for WVU. The freshman was a factor in the first half, going three of three from the field. The Panthers trailed by six at halftime and trimmed the lead to two following the break. J.J. Richardson, the little-used first year Pitt shooter, tallied five points in the span of one minute. Jermaine Dixon, playing injured, led the Panthers with 13 points, and Ashton Gibbs finished another sluggish night with 11. The visitors gained momentum during the second half but each highlight was halted by West Virginia. The Mountaineers resumed control of the game to take a ten point lead again. The Panthers did not record a field goal in the game’s final four minutes and missed on ten consecutive shots. Pitt wouldn’t get any closer than 43-41 and failed to pick up a rebound in the final 12 minutes. West Virginia went on a 15-4 run after the coin throwing incident to pull ahead 56-43 with six minutes on the clock. The Mountaineers were steady from long range and fed off the energetic home crowd to hand Pitt their sixth loss of the season. WVU was near 74% from the free throw line and had 11 takeaways. The Panthers were outrebounded 45-31. Devin Ebanks had 16 rebounds for West Virginia, more than half the total of the entire visiting team. Stunningly, Pitt’s second leading scorer, Brad Wanamaker, was held without a basket.
Parting Points: Can Kansas please not do this to be anymore? KU squeaks by 11-11 Colorado in overtime and Jayhawks fans are supposed to rejoice?
Thursday’s tune- Foo Fighters’ “Big Me”
Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were outrebounded and outworked by Huggins’ team Wednesday in Morgantown. Da’Sean Butler scored 18 points to lead West Virginia. Butler had a trio of treys in the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl. Kevin Jones added 16. Turkey native, Deniz Kilicli, had nine points in seven minutes for WVU. The freshman was a factor in the first half, going three of three from the field. The Panthers trailed by six at halftime and trimmed the lead to two following the break. J.J. Richardson, the little-used first year Pitt shooter, tallied five points in the span of one minute. Jermaine Dixon, playing injured, led the Panthers with 13 points, and Ashton Gibbs finished another sluggish night with 11. The visitors gained momentum during the second half but each highlight was halted by West Virginia. The Mountaineers resumed control of the game to take a ten point lead again. The Panthers did not record a field goal in the game’s final four minutes and missed on ten consecutive shots. Pitt wouldn’t get any closer than 43-41 and failed to pick up a rebound in the final 12 minutes. West Virginia went on a 15-4 run after the coin throwing incident to pull ahead 56-43 with six minutes on the clock. The Mountaineers were steady from long range and fed off the energetic home crowd to hand Pitt their sixth loss of the season. WVU was near 74% from the free throw line and had 11 takeaways. The Panthers were outrebounded 45-31. Devin Ebanks had 16 rebounds for West Virginia, more than half the total of the entire visiting team. Stunningly, Pitt’s second leading scorer, Brad Wanamaker, was held without a basket.
Parting Points: Can Kansas please not do this to be anymore? KU squeaks by 11-11 Colorado in overtime and Jayhawks fans are supposed to rejoice?
Thursday’s tune- Foo Fighters’ “Big Me”
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
'Cuse Climbing in Conference
The Syracuse Orange came up on the winning end of a basketball game, something they’ve been doing plenty of this season. It was the 22nd time and ninth straight win for the program. The Orange cruised to their best start in school history and are currently ranked third in the nation. Sophomore Syracuse reserve, Kris Joseph, poured in a career high 23 points in his team’s Tuesday topping of Providence. Center, Arinze Onuaku piled on a season-high 20 in the 85-68 frying of the Friars at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse improved to 14-1 this season after blowing most of a ten point first half lead. The Orange pounded the ball inside during an 11-0 run early in the contest. The hosts took an 18-8 lead with just over seven minutes into regulation. Syracuse shot 57.6% from the field but held just a three point advantage heading into halftime. Vincent Council logged 16 points and nine assists for Providence. The Friars’ freshman scored the final eight buckets of the first half as Providence closed in on the Orange lead. Jamine Peterson added 25 points for the visitors who have lost four of their last five games. Peterson was 3-of-8 from the arc and knocked down 11 rebounds in the loss. Marshon Brooks snagged 14 points for visiting Providence.
Onuaku was owner of half the Orange’s eight blocks Tuesday night. The senior charged the court in the second half, beginning with a resounding two-hand dunk. He fronted the 22-5 push to begin the second half and scored eight points in the paint in a seven minute stretch. Rick Jackson paired with Onuaku down low to contribute a career-high seven assists. The Friars came into the contest ranked fifth nationally in scoring. They managed just over 40% from the field and barely escaped a season low in points with 65. Providence did find gaps in the Orange zone and converted backdoor layups to stay within reach. But the Friars only had four second-chance points in the opening half. The Orange defense was too aggressive and succeeded in derailing the staggering Friars down the stretch. Wes Johnson, the Orange’s leading scorer, played only three minutes in the second half after crashing hard to the court during the first half. Johnson drained three pointers to punish Providence early on before being replaced in the second half. Syracuse humbled Keno Davis’ Friars with their deep bench. Joseph boosted the Orange off the pine with consistent play. Syracuse went out in front 64-41 with 11:24 remaining. The commanding surge was aided by Providence turnovers and Joseph’s four steals. Brandon Triche keyed the first half scoring to finish with 15 points for the Orange. Triche also went without a turnover in recording four assists at the Carrier Dome showdown. Villanova stands in the way of an Orange first place Big East standing. The second ranked Wildcats are 20-1 overall and undefeated in the conference. They’ve ripped off 11 straight victories. Syracuse’s only Big East loss came on the first game of 2010, a ten point plummeting against Pittsburgh. Villanova raids the Carrier Dome February 27th to close out the month with the most anticipated Big East game of the season. Conference bragging rights could very well be on the line.
Parting Points: Happy National Singing Day!
Sad note- Dick McGuire passed away today.
Syracuse improved to 14-1 this season after blowing most of a ten point first half lead. The Orange pounded the ball inside during an 11-0 run early in the contest. The hosts took an 18-8 lead with just over seven minutes into regulation. Syracuse shot 57.6% from the field but held just a three point advantage heading into halftime. Vincent Council logged 16 points and nine assists for Providence. The Friars’ freshman scored the final eight buckets of the first half as Providence closed in on the Orange lead. Jamine Peterson added 25 points for the visitors who have lost four of their last five games. Peterson was 3-of-8 from the arc and knocked down 11 rebounds in the loss. Marshon Brooks snagged 14 points for visiting Providence.
Onuaku was owner of half the Orange’s eight blocks Tuesday night. The senior charged the court in the second half, beginning with a resounding two-hand dunk. He fronted the 22-5 push to begin the second half and scored eight points in the paint in a seven minute stretch. Rick Jackson paired with Onuaku down low to contribute a career-high seven assists. The Friars came into the contest ranked fifth nationally in scoring. They managed just over 40% from the field and barely escaped a season low in points with 65. Providence did find gaps in the Orange zone and converted backdoor layups to stay within reach. But the Friars only had four second-chance points in the opening half. The Orange defense was too aggressive and succeeded in derailing the staggering Friars down the stretch. Wes Johnson, the Orange’s leading scorer, played only three minutes in the second half after crashing hard to the court during the first half. Johnson drained three pointers to punish Providence early on before being replaced in the second half. Syracuse humbled Keno Davis’ Friars with their deep bench. Joseph boosted the Orange off the pine with consistent play. Syracuse went out in front 64-41 with 11:24 remaining. The commanding surge was aided by Providence turnovers and Joseph’s four steals. Brandon Triche keyed the first half scoring to finish with 15 points for the Orange. Triche also went without a turnover in recording four assists at the Carrier Dome showdown. Villanova stands in the way of an Orange first place Big East standing. The second ranked Wildcats are 20-1 overall and undefeated in the conference. They’ve ripped off 11 straight victories. Syracuse’s only Big East loss came on the first game of 2010, a ten point plummeting against Pittsburgh. Villanova raids the Carrier Dome February 27th to close out the month with the most anticipated Big East game of the season. Conference bragging rights could very well be on the line.
Parting Points: Happy National Singing Day!
Sad note- Dick McGuire passed away today.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Finishing First
Do you ever wish you could go back in time to a certain day? If you could go back and change a few things or relive one special day, which would you choose? Today is Groundhog Day. Bill Murray’s classic film of the same name is about re-doing the same day over and over until you get it right. All of us probably have a handful of days we wish we could finish differently. Since this is a sports-themed blog, I’ll talk about the one day I wish I could get back as an athlete. I am pretty sure this day left a shadow on my tennis game forever.
It was August of my senior year in high school and the first time I was ever slated at first singles. The season had yet to begin. Our first preseason exhibition match was scheduled before school even started. Every year since I could remember, I dreamed of playing number one. This was my first crack at it, and I was anything but nervous. After all, I had prepared for this my entire high school career. I placed a brand new blue grip on my Wilson Pro Staff 98. My mom ironed my shirt and washed and pressed my shorts the night before the match. I remember stepping out onto the top court and thinking this is exactly where I belong. It’s where I want to be. I had played on this court so many times you could probably see my sneaker marks. I knew how the ball bounced at specific spots. I knew where the hidden cracks unexpectedly kicked up the ball when irritated. Court one was used in practice as the ball machine court. I practiced and perfected my groundstrokes for hours on court one. At times, I felt more at home on that court than if I were in my own bedroom.
My over exuberant coach announced the lineup as we snacked on apples and bagels on the bleachers. She proudly named be at number one and encouraged me to lead the team in our ritual pre-match prayer. If I could go back to that moment, I would have tried harder to encourage my teammates. I would have tried to make them believe in themselves as players. Too often, I think the role of leader gets lost on top players. They do not think about the bottom of the ladder. I know what it’s like to work your way up on a team. I could have at least cheered them on and rallied them with more enthusiasm. Coach informed me I was playing against a freshman. Piece of cake, I figured. I was four years older and obviously had more high school experience than some fresh-faced student who hadn’t stepped foot in high school yet. You know where this is going. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My opponent barely greeted me as I opened a new can of tennis balls. In fact, she didn’t even introduce herself. If she smiled the entire match it was only because the sun was in her eyes and caused a squinting grin. The zero personality freshman’s parents were the most obnoxious creatures within a 30 mile radius of court one. They set up shop directly behind me and literally kept giving me dirty looks. After our warm-ups, we started to play. I served first, and won the first game with relative ease. If I could go back to that day, perhaps I would have looked those two nasty parents directly in the eye and just smiled. Nah that really is not my style. My opponent soon took over the match, controlling me with her smooth serves and wicked winners down the line. I was gasping for air by the fourth game and down on myself after letting her break me. I won just one game the first set. My opponent was quick to turn the scorecard in her favor after each game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl move so rapidly to a number than her that day. It was like she was on the clock, trying to dust me off in record time.
It turns out, she came pretty close to sweeping me off my home court in efficient fashion. I lost the second set 6-0. Just like that, my first shot at first singles was over. I felt like it barely started. She didn’t break a sweat, but her parents sure did after I took a 1-0 lead. I listened to my opponent cough up some excuse as to why she dropped the first game. From that point on, every time I hit the ball into the net, her parents cheered wildly. It was like a game to them. I learned a lot about myself that day. You can’t win them all, sure. But I already knew that. I learned that there are always going to be people players than you, even if they aren’t better human beings. Here I was in my senior year with so many memorable and great wins under my belt. I was ready for the next level. It was just my luck, that initial chance at the next level came against the player who would go on to win more than one division crown and make the state championship look like a cakewalk. After the match, I was consoled by my parents. They thought the world of me despite my dismal performance. Maybe that was the most valuable lesson from the day. No matter what happens, your parents still seem to find a way to make it better. They still love you even if you lose to a grouchy, pouty freshman. If I could go back, I would. I would relive the most humiliating match of my life. I would tell her my opponent she was the better player. I would tell her she was so talented and had so much potential. Years from now, people would be talking about her tennis I might add.
It is years later. I know for a fact my opponent that August day never went on to play at the next level. She got involved with the wrong people and ran into quite some trouble throughout the rest of her high school years. It’s a shame really. I doubt anything I could have said to her that day would have altered her path and the choices she made down the road. But who’s to say it wouldn’t have? Who’s to say that even in defeat, you can change someone’s life or even just make them think twice? I remember crushing other girls 6-0, 6-0 and then being told how awesome I was. It drove me harder and meant everything, even if they were not as skillful as me. I wonder if the girls I clobbered felt as miserably horrible as I did that day. It’s funny to think how many different ways different people remember you.
It’s incredible how I actually gave myself a chance in that preseason scrimmage. I now know she was the best player in the area. I know she could have beaten me on my best day. She knew that too. I wonder if her parents affected how she acted. I wonder if they hadn’t been at that match, would she have at least smiled? If her parents weren’t so involved in her tennis, would she still be swinging a racquet today? Here I am and this game still takes my breath away. I play because it’s what I do and what I love. She didn’t seem like she loved the game. I still sit around on August days and toss a tennis ball around my yard just for fun. Pleasant signals dance around in my head when I open a new can of tennis balls. I still go back to my high school. I only go because there are six tennis courts there that can fill a void nothing else in this world can fill. I’m thankful my parents are the way they are. I’m thankful I have had the opportunity to share the game I love with the people I love. Most of all, I am glad I got my first chance at the top. I didn’t finish the way I would have liked to, but I’m not sure I would change the ending after all. Finishing first isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Many times it’s not how you finish but how you got there that means the most.
Parting Points: “There is no way that this winter is ever going to end as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don't see any other way out. He's got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.”- Groundhog Day
It was August of my senior year in high school and the first time I was ever slated at first singles. The season had yet to begin. Our first preseason exhibition match was scheduled before school even started. Every year since I could remember, I dreamed of playing number one. This was my first crack at it, and I was anything but nervous. After all, I had prepared for this my entire high school career. I placed a brand new blue grip on my Wilson Pro Staff 98. My mom ironed my shirt and washed and pressed my shorts the night before the match. I remember stepping out onto the top court and thinking this is exactly where I belong. It’s where I want to be. I had played on this court so many times you could probably see my sneaker marks. I knew how the ball bounced at specific spots. I knew where the hidden cracks unexpectedly kicked up the ball when irritated. Court one was used in practice as the ball machine court. I practiced and perfected my groundstrokes for hours on court one. At times, I felt more at home on that court than if I were in my own bedroom.
My over exuberant coach announced the lineup as we snacked on apples and bagels on the bleachers. She proudly named be at number one and encouraged me to lead the team in our ritual pre-match prayer. If I could go back to that moment, I would have tried harder to encourage my teammates. I would have tried to make them believe in themselves as players. Too often, I think the role of leader gets lost on top players. They do not think about the bottom of the ladder. I know what it’s like to work your way up on a team. I could have at least cheered them on and rallied them with more enthusiasm. Coach informed me I was playing against a freshman. Piece of cake, I figured. I was four years older and obviously had more high school experience than some fresh-faced student who hadn’t stepped foot in high school yet. You know where this is going. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My opponent barely greeted me as I opened a new can of tennis balls. In fact, she didn’t even introduce herself. If she smiled the entire match it was only because the sun was in her eyes and caused a squinting grin. The zero personality freshman’s parents were the most obnoxious creatures within a 30 mile radius of court one. They set up shop directly behind me and literally kept giving me dirty looks. After our warm-ups, we started to play. I served first, and won the first game with relative ease. If I could go back to that day, perhaps I would have looked those two nasty parents directly in the eye and just smiled. Nah that really is not my style. My opponent soon took over the match, controlling me with her smooth serves and wicked winners down the line. I was gasping for air by the fourth game and down on myself after letting her break me. I won just one game the first set. My opponent was quick to turn the scorecard in her favor after each game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl move so rapidly to a number than her that day. It was like she was on the clock, trying to dust me off in record time.
It turns out, she came pretty close to sweeping me off my home court in efficient fashion. I lost the second set 6-0. Just like that, my first shot at first singles was over. I felt like it barely started. She didn’t break a sweat, but her parents sure did after I took a 1-0 lead. I listened to my opponent cough up some excuse as to why she dropped the first game. From that point on, every time I hit the ball into the net, her parents cheered wildly. It was like a game to them. I learned a lot about myself that day. You can’t win them all, sure. But I already knew that. I learned that there are always going to be people players than you, even if they aren’t better human beings. Here I was in my senior year with so many memorable and great wins under my belt. I was ready for the next level. It was just my luck, that initial chance at the next level came against the player who would go on to win more than one division crown and make the state championship look like a cakewalk. After the match, I was consoled by my parents. They thought the world of me despite my dismal performance. Maybe that was the most valuable lesson from the day. No matter what happens, your parents still seem to find a way to make it better. They still love you even if you lose to a grouchy, pouty freshman. If I could go back, I would. I would relive the most humiliating match of my life. I would tell her my opponent she was the better player. I would tell her she was so talented and had so much potential. Years from now, people would be talking about her tennis I might add.
It is years later. I know for a fact my opponent that August day never went on to play at the next level. She got involved with the wrong people and ran into quite some trouble throughout the rest of her high school years. It’s a shame really. I doubt anything I could have said to her that day would have altered her path and the choices she made down the road. But who’s to say it wouldn’t have? Who’s to say that even in defeat, you can change someone’s life or even just make them think twice? I remember crushing other girls 6-0, 6-0 and then being told how awesome I was. It drove me harder and meant everything, even if they were not as skillful as me. I wonder if the girls I clobbered felt as miserably horrible as I did that day. It’s funny to think how many different ways different people remember you.
It’s incredible how I actually gave myself a chance in that preseason scrimmage. I now know she was the best player in the area. I know she could have beaten me on my best day. She knew that too. I wonder if her parents affected how she acted. I wonder if they hadn’t been at that match, would she have at least smiled? If her parents weren’t so involved in her tennis, would she still be swinging a racquet today? Here I am and this game still takes my breath away. I play because it’s what I do and what I love. She didn’t seem like she loved the game. I still sit around on August days and toss a tennis ball around my yard just for fun. Pleasant signals dance around in my head when I open a new can of tennis balls. I still go back to my high school. I only go because there are six tennis courts there that can fill a void nothing else in this world can fill. I’m thankful my parents are the way they are. I’m thankful I have had the opportunity to share the game I love with the people I love. Most of all, I am glad I got my first chance at the top. I didn’t finish the way I would have liked to, but I’m not sure I would change the ending after all. Finishing first isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Many times it’s not how you finish but how you got there that means the most.
Parting Points: “There is no way that this winter is ever going to end as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don't see any other way out. He's got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.”- Groundhog Day
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