THE BOTTOM LINE

NCAA Tournament 2011: Fun Facts and Useless Trivia

2011-03-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of all the teams in this year's tournament followed by a short blurb or two about their school history and other fun facts you can use to impress....er....bore your friends and family with:

AKRON -Zips (Akron, OH) #15

---Located in Akron, OH, which was at one time home to all four major tire makers ( Goodrich, Goodyear, Firestone, General Tire) and was nicknamed "Tire City."ARIZONA -Wildcats (Tucson, AZ) #5

---From the pretty cool/really weird and gross department: the school's museum (the Arizona State Museum) houses a box of sloth dung that is 10,000 years old.

BELMONT -Bruins (Nashville, TN) #13

---In the mid-1990s, Belmont adopted the mascot "Bruins," replacing the earlier mascot of Rebels due to the latter's association with the Confederacy.

BOSTON -Terriers (Boston, MA) #16

---Though historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Boston University currently claims to be a nonsectarian private institution.

BUCKNELL -Bison (Lewisburg, PA) #14

---CBS Television (home of the NCAA Tournament and Final Four) has a special tie to Bucknell: Leslie (Les) Moonves. He graduated from Bucknell in 1971. He is currently the President and CEO of CBS Television.

BUTLER -Bulldogs (Indianapolis, IN) #8

---The famed high school basketball film Hoosiers was filmed partly at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the crown jewel of Butler University....well, that and a certain Utah Jazz player named Gordon Hayward....

BYU -Cougars (Provo, UT) #3

---The BYU men's basketball team is ranked among the top 25 NCAA programs for all-time total victories.

CINCINNATI -Bearcats (Cincinnati, OH) #6

---Sandy Koufax (baseball), Oscar Robertson (basketball), and Miller Huggins (baseball) are among the famous athlete alums who have been enshrined in their respective sport's halls of fame.

CLEMSON -Tigers (Clemson, SC) #12

---Clemson University's campus is also home to the the 295-acre South Carolina Botanical Garden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Botanical_Garden

DUKE -Blue Devils (Durham, NC) #1

---Originally founded in 1841 as a Quaker school in Wake Forest, NC, under the name Union Institute Academy. In 1892, it moved to Durham, NC. At that time, it changed its name to Trinity College and changed its affiliation to Methodist. The move and name change were because Washington Duke gave them a large donation.

FLORIDA -Gators (Gainesville , FL) #2

---Yes, the rumor is true. "Gatorade" was indeed invented at the University of Florida. It was first developed in 1965 by researchers as a means of replenishing the fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes that are lost from the body during physical exertion.

FLORIDA STATE -Seminoles (Tallahassee, FL) #10

---FSU owns the only student-run three-ring circus on a U.S. campus. The Flying High Circus started in 1947 and performs for groups all across the southeast and occasionally in the Bahamas. The circus members consist of FSU students with no previous circus experience.

GEORGETOWN -Hoyas (Washington D.C.) #6

---The school's colors of blue and gray were implemented in 1876 as a symbol of the unity of the North and South after the Civil War. More than 100 Georgetown students and alumni lost their lives during the war.

GEORGIA -Bulldogs (Athens, GA) #10

---As a member of the SEC, the Bulldogs have won thirty-seven national championships and 130 conference championships.

GEORGE MASON -Patriots (Fairfax County, VA) #8

---George Mason was first created as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became an independent institution in 1972

GONZAGA -Bulldogs (Spokane, WA) #11

---In its first year of existence, Gonzaga enrolled just 18 boys and young men. The school now enrolls more than 4,500 students.

---Alma Mater of the greatest point guard in NBA history (author's opinion), John Stockton.

HAMPTON -Pirates (Hampton, VA) #16

---Hampton was founded by black and white leaders of the "American Missionary Association" after the Civil War to provide education to freed slaves and other men.

ILLINOIS -Illini (Champaign-Urbana, IL) #9

---The true full name of this school is a mouthful: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign....I wonder if Deron Williams knows that???

INDIANA STATE -Sycamores (Terre Haute, IN) #14

---The Sycamores' first season was in 1896, thus making them the oldest basketball team in the NCAA (along with Bucknell, Minnesota, and Washington).

---Remember Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson? It's beyond a long shot, but worth noting that it is mathematically possible for Indiana State and Michigan State to meet up in the Final Four once again....don't start planning any parade routes just yet though, Spartans and Sycamores fans.

KANSAS -Jayhawks (Lawrence, KS) #1

---The famous "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" chant originated in 1886 as "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk"—the cheer of the school's Science Club.

KANSAS STATE -Wildcats (Manhattan, KS) #5

---Kansas State is making its 25th appearance in the tournament

---Located in Manhattan, KS, which is called "The Little Apple," playing off New York City's nickname of "The Big Apple."

KENTUCKY -Wildcats (Lexington, KY) #4

---The Wildcats are a storied college basketball program, evidenced by the fact that this is their record making 51st appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

LONG ISLAND -Blackbirds (Brooklyn, NY) #15

---Larry Doby was the first African American to play in the American League, and second only behind Jackie Robinson to play in the Major Leagues overall. Doby attened LIU for one semester before he joined the Navy.

LOUISVILLE -Cardinals (Louisville, KY) #4

---Among many prestigious and historical alumni, Darrell Griffith (aka Dr. Dunkenstein) and his fellow Doctors of Dunk must never be forgotten.

MARQUETTE -Golden Eagles (Milwaukee, WI) #11

---Original nickname was the Hilltoppers, and then later changed to the Warriors. However, some called the Warriors nickname politically incorrect in reference to Native American tribes, and so the school became known as the Golden Eagles.

---There are seven residence halls on the campus, three of which were built originally as hotels. In fact, The Beatles once stayed in Mashuda Hall when it was still a hotel.

MEMPHIS -Tigers (Memphis, TN) #12

---Picky, picky...Memphis has changed names 5 official times: 1912 as West Tennessee State Normal School, 1925 as West Tennessee State Teachers College, 1941-57 asMemphis State College, 1957 to 1994 as Memphis State University, and 1994-present as the University of Memphis.

MICHIGAN -Wolverines (Ann Arbor, MI) #8

---20 years ago 5 freshmen filled the starting lineup for the Michigan Wolverines and forever changed the game of basketball, from clothing to above-the-rim action, on the court swagger to off the court attitude. If you haven't seen the documentary "The Fab Five," you are missing out dearly.

MICHIGAN STATE -Spartans (East Lansing, MI) #10

---Was known as Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science until Jan. 1, 1964.

MISSOURI -Tigers (Columbia, MO) #11
---The Tigers' campus is also home to the "University Of Missouri Research Reactor Center," which is the world's most powerful research nuclear reactor.

MOREHEAD STATE -Eagles (Morehead, KY)

---Morehead State was the first university in Kentucky to offer an online MBA program.

---Utah Jazz head trainer, Gary Briggs, finished his graduate work as an assistant athletic trainer at Morehead State.

NORTHERN COLORADO -Bears (Greeley, CO)

---Before the school adopted the bear as their mascot, athletes used the nickname the Teachers...and you thought St. Peter's chose poorly? The bear was said to be inspired by a bear on top of an Alaskan totem pole donated by an 1897 alum in 1914. The totem pole was kept in the University Center, but under the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, the pole was reclaimed by the Tlingit Indians in 2003.

---Ed Werder, that one NFL guy from ESPN, graduated from NoCol

NOTRE DAME -Irish (South Bend, IN)

---Official name of Notre Dame: Notre Dame du Lac, which means Our Lady of the Lake....oooookaaaayyyyy.......

OAKLAND -Golden Grizzlies (Auburn Hills, MI) #13

---If you're thinking "the Bay Area," think again. Wrong Oakland. This Oakland started as an affiliate of Michigan State University before claiming its independence in 1970.

OHIO STATE -Buckeyes (Columbus, OH) #1

--- Ohio State is one of only two universities to appear in the national championship games in both football and men's basketball in the same calendar year (vs. Florida in both contests in 2007).

OLD DOMINION -Monarchs (Norfolk, VA)

---Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion,"given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War. The nickname serves as a reminder of ODU's royal roots.

PENN STATE -Nittany Lions (University Park, PA) #10

---You were wondering just like I was, I'm sure of it: What is a Nittany Lion? "Mountain lions had roamed on nearby Mount Nittany until the 1880s. The origin of the name "Mount Nittany" is obscure, the most commonly accepted explanation being that it is derived of Native American words (loosely pronounced as "neet-a-nee") named after the cougars that roamed the [area]." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nittany_Lion

PITTSBURGH -Panthers (Pittsburgh, PA) #1

---The Cathedral of Learning, a 42-story Gothic tower in the heart of the campus, is the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere and second-tallest university building in the world. The tower houses many classrooms and departments.

PRINCETON -Tigers (Princeton, NJ) #13

---Part of the prestigious Ivy League, these nerds have proven they know how to ball in tourneys past. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, NJ as the College of New Jersey, the university moved to Newark in 1747, then to Princeton in 1756 and was renamed Princeton University in 1896

PURDUE -Boilermakers (West Lafayette, IN) #3

---Campus is made up of 6 different locations. Purdue is the flagship location in what is called the Purdue University System. Revered as a top performing engineering school in the country.

RICHMOND -Spiders (Richmond, VA) #12

---Used to be the Colts. That all changed when a pitcher on the baseball team began being called The Spider by an announcer due to his lanky arms and long legs. The name became adopted by the school as a whole, and to this day Richmond is the only university that can claim the Spiders as its official nickname and mascot.

SAN DIEGO STATE -Aztecs (San Diego, CA) #2

---The university's first major sport was rowing, followed shortly by tennis, basketball, golf, croquet, and baseball.

---SDSU has never won a game in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

ST. JOHN'S -Red Storm (Queens, NY) #6

---Until 1994, the St. John's mascot was the Redmen, which referenced the red uniforms worn by the university in competition. However, the name began to be interpreted as a Native American reference in the 1960s, and was changed to the Red Storm after mounting pressure on colleges and universities to adopt names more sensitive to Native American cultures.

---St. John's also has campuses in Rome, Italy and Paris, France, as well as Staten Island, Manhattan, and Oakdale New York.

ST. PETER'S -Peacocks (Jersey City, NJ) #14

---St. Peter's currently sits on land once owned by a man named Michael Pauw, whose last name means peacock in Dutch. Pretty sure I would have gone with something else....anything else!

SYRACUSE -Orange (Syracuse, NY) #3

---The Syracuse Orange is the nickname used by Syracuse University, while teams were previously known (until 2004) as the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen".

TENNESSEE -Volunteers (Knoxville, TN) #9

---Buildings on campus served as hospitals for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and were taken over by Union troops near the war's end.

TEXAS -Longhorns (Austin, TX) #4

---Texas boasts seven museums and seventeen libraries, and operates various auxiliary research facilities, such as the JJ Pickle Research Campus and the McDonald Observatory.

---Harley Clark (head cheerleader elected by student body) introduced the Hook 'em Horns sign in 1955

TEXAS A&M -Aggies (College Station, TX) #7

---A&M was the first public institution of higher learning in Texas, opening in 1876 under the name of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.

UCLA -Bruins (Los Angeles, CA) #7

---It's possible no other school in the nation has given the college basketball fan more than UCLA. From John Wooden (the greatest college basketball coach of all time) to the high flying, sharp shooting teams in the 90's (anyone remember Ed O'Bannon?), UCLA is synonymous with the NCAA Tournament and college basketball as a whole. As a kid, I first fell in love with this tournament because of the a fore mentioned O'Bannon-esque teams.

UCONN -Huskies (Storrs, Mansfield, CT) #3

---Originally the Aggies, UCONN became the Huskies as the school evolved and moved away from its agricultural focuses. Every Huskie is named Jonathan after the famed Jonathan Trumbull, and can often be seen greeting fans and students at sporting events while chowing down on a doggie biscuit or two.

UCSB -Gauchos (Santa Barbara, CA) #15

---In the wake of anti-Vietnam unrest at the school, then Gov. Ronald Reagan set a campus curfew that was enforced by National Guard troops during the 1971–72 school year.

UNC -Tar Heels (Chapel Hill, NC) #2

---Another mascot name mystery being solved for you: The university's teams are nicknamed the "Tar Heels" in reference to North Carolina's (the state) 18th century prominence as a tar and pitch producer.

---We all owe UNC and Dean Smith for finding and giving us The Greatest to Ever Play the Game, His Airness, Air Jordan, Mike, Michael Jordan....just wish he was a better person, and that he would've let my Utah Jazz have just one of those NBA titles....forever bitter about the push off.

UNC ASHEVILLE -Bulldogs (Asheville, NC) #16

--- UNCA is the only designated liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina systems. Approximately 3,600 enrolled students.

UNLV -Rebels (Las Vegas, NV) #8

---UNLV became a school in 1957 under the name Southern Division of the University of Nevada. The school adopted its basketball program in 1958.

UTAH STATE -Aggies (Logan, UT) #12

---Founded in 1888 as Utah's agricultural college, the university now offers 176 bachelor's degrees, 97 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees. It is organized into eight colleges at its Logan campus and other satellite campuses throughout the state.

UTSA -Road Runners (San Antonio, TX) #16

---Fiesta UTSA, an annual event held in April, began in 1978. It includes music, a jalapeño eating contest, a watermelon spitting contest, a dunk tank, and other activities. Fiesta UTSA features dozens of booths set up under the Sombrilla in a carnival atmosphere.

VANDERBILT -Commodores (Nashville, TN) #5

---Vanderbilt's campus is designated as a national arboretum, with more than 300 tree and shrub varieties.

VCU -Rams (Richmond, VA) #11

---Interesting that the city of Richmond, VA is represented twice in the NCAA Tourney this year. VCU and Richmond both made it into the final field of 64, though VCU had to beat USC in the play in game as part of the inaugural First Four mini-tournament.

---Enrollment is over 32,000 students.

VILLANOVA -Wildcats (Philadelphia, PA) #9

---Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_of_Villanova), the school is the oldest Catholic university in the State of Pennsylvania.

WASHINGTON -Huskies (Seattle, WA) #7

---Receives more federal research funding than any other public university in America and the second most among all universities and colleges.

WEST VIRGINIA -Mountaineers (Morgantown, WV) #5

--- The mascot is played by a student chosen during the final two home games of the men’s basketball season. The student receives a scholarship, a tailor-made buckskin suit with coonskin hat, and a period rifle and powder horn, which is usually fired at sporting events.

---Coincidentally, the Mountaineers are coached by former WV player Bob Huggins, who was also born in Morgantown.

WISCONSIN -Badgers (Madison, WI) #4

---Actual full name is University of Wisconsin-Madison. Campus also houses 3 national landmarks: http://www.wisc.edu/about/history/landmarks.php

WOFFORD -Terriers (Spartanburg, SC) #14

---Wofford College students and professors take the month of January off every year for what they call an “Interim Period.” During the month long hiatus from the school, students and employees are encouraged to travel, work, or volunteer in areas reflecting their choice of study or expertise. (http://www.wofford.edu/interim/)

XAVIER -Musketeers (Cincinnati, OH) #6

---Xavier actually has two recognized mascots: Traditional: D'Artagnan, the Musketeer, is the university's official mascot and is the origin of the school's nickname. Comedic: the Blue Blob, a furry creature who roams the sidelines and student sections, is the more modern and entertaining representative. http://www.blackburnreview.com/storage/xavier-blue-blob.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1295052762786

NBA Tonight: 20 Words or Less

2011-02-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

Here is tonight's NBA schedule; each game has a quick "what to watch for" note in 20 words or less, followed by MY predicted spread/winner. Enjoy!
*all times Mountain Standard Time*

Detroit @ Cleveland 5:00 PM: Cavs haven't won since 1981, and Detroit cannot score (26th in NBA). Sadly, neither can Cleveland (27th in NBA)
Cleveland +3

Charlotte @ Indiana 5:oo PM: Indiana trying for 5th win in 6 games since firing head coach Jim O'Brien.
Indiana +9

New Orleans @ New Jersey 5:00 PM: Hornets on 3 game losing streak, but New Jersey is a free falling mess.
New Orleans +12

Orlando @ Philadelphia 5:00 PM: The two games played earlier in the year were split, with an average scoring difference of only 0.5 points.
Orlando +2

Milwaukee @ Washington 5:00 PM: The Bucks will likely limp to the playoffs just above .500, while the Wizards are lottery bound.
Milwaukee +4

San Antonio @ Toronto 7:00 PM: Spurs are 3rd in NBA in FG%. Raptors are last in NBA in opponents' FG%.
San Antonio +18

LA Clippers @ New York 7:30 PM: Interesting that both teams are in the top ten of NBA for technical fouls this season.
New York +5

Chicago @ Utah 7:00 PM: Boozer returns to Utah for the first time, which distracts from Bulls' great record. Utah in trouble tonight.
Chicago +6

Dallas @ Sacramento 8:00 PM: Dallas going for 10th straight win; had 12 straight earlier in year.
Dallas +11

Denver @ Golden State 8:30 PM: Nuggets last four games: Win, Loss, Win, Loss. Warriors last four: 3-1
Golden State +6

POY: Probably Owning You

2011-01-29T20:16:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been lost at sea or working in outerspace during the last couple of weeks, you may not know about the season NCAA men's basketball player Jimmer Fredette (BYU) is having. Spoiler Alert: He's a leading candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which is given to the NCAA's outstanding player of the year (or POY).

A lot can be and has been said about Mr. Fredette. Like how Jimmer isn't his real name (duh!), how he's leading the NCAA in scoring (27.4 ppg), how he's able to shoot from anywhere on the court (no really, LITERALLY anywhere), or how his dad is Mormon and his mom is Catholic. Or, my personal favorite, his brother TJ is an aspiring rap artist who frequently writes lyrics about Jimmer.

(here's one such track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsMauWl02vI)

All this is fine and good, but there are some other things being said about the point guard from Glens Falls, NY, that are really starting to make me wonder about the intelligence level of some so called "experts".

Specifically, how he's in a "3 man race" for POY. The other two candidates? Kemba Walker, G, UCONN, and Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio St.

Now, Kemba Walker is a bona fide NBA prospect, as probably is Sullinger because of his size and strength. But to say either of them is having a better year than Fredette is absurd!

In fact, many ESPN, FoxSports, and SportsIllustrated reporters believe Sullinger holds the slight edge over Fredette as the favorite to win the award. I could try and explain to you in words why I believe this to be absurd, but I can do better than that.

I'll let the numbers do my talking for me.

I sat down and compared Jimmer Fredette's offensive statistics to those of both Walker and Sullinger. The leader in each category is listed first, with the margin of difference between the two players given in +/- form.

The results:

Fredette vs. Walker

Games Played: Fredette +2
Fredette: 21
Walker: 19

Minutes Per Game: Walker +1.9
Fredette: 34.1
Walker: 36.0

Points Per Game: Fredette +3
Fredette: 27.4
Walker: 24.4

Field Goal%: Fredette +.038
Fredette: .482
Walker: .444

3 point%: Fredette +.072
Fredette: .421
Walker: .349

Free Throw%: Fredette +.070
Fredette: .901
Walker: .831

_________________________________________________

Fredette vs. Sullinger

Games Played: n/a
Fredette: 21
Sullinger: 21

Minutes Per Game: Fredette +3.8
Fredette: 34.1
Sullinger: 30.3

Points Per Game: Fredette +9.6
Fredette: 27.4
Sullinger: 17.8

Field Goal%: Sullinger +.094
Fredette: .482
Sullinger: .576*

3 point %: Fredette +.199
Fredette: .421
Sullinger: .222*

Free Throw%: Fredette +.171
Fredette: .901
Walker: .730

*Sullinger plays Forward, so he shoots closer to basket (better FG%, poor 3P%)

Moral of the story: If it truly is a 3-way race between these players, Jimmer Fredette is clearly the obvious choice to win the Wooden Award, judging by the numbers.

You know what they say: Numbers never lie.

NBA Tonight: 20 Words or Less

2011-01-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here is tonight's NBA schedule; each game has a quick "what to watch for" note in 20 words or less. Enjoy!
*all times Mountain Standard Time*

New Jersey at Indiana 5:00 PM: New Jersey looking for 3^rd win in a row/ Indiana trying to avoid 7^th straight loss

Memphis at Philadelphia 5:00 PM: Philly looking for 4^th win in a row

Milwaukee at Toronto 5:00 PM: Toronto trying to avoid 10^th straight loss

New York at Atlanta 5:30 PM : New York 12-12 on the road

Denver at Cleveland 530 PM : Cleveland has lost 18 in a row; Denver has 7-13 road record

Detroit at Miami 5:30 PM: Miami is a less than stellar 5-5 in last 10 games

Orlando at Chicago 6:00 PM: Chicago looking for 4^th win in a row

Washington at Oklahoma City 6:00 PM: Wizards have not won a road game yet this year

Minnesota at Utah 7:00 PM: Utah will look to avoid losing 7^th straight game/ Deron Williams sitting out with injured shooting wrist.

Charlotte at Golden State 8:30 PM: Charlotte trying for 3^rd straight road win and 5^th win in last 6 games

Sacramento at LA Lakers 8:30 PM: Lakers averaging 7.5 more points than opponent this season; 3^rd behind Boston (7.8) and Miami (7.6)

Boston at Phoenix 8:30 PM: Rondo (12.7pg) and Nash (11 pg) lead NBA in assists

BYU 71 SDSU 58: Jimmered

2011-01-26T23:54:00.000-08:00

I went to the BYU vs SDSU game tonight for the radio station. It was the biggest game in the nation, pitting #4 SDSU against #9 BYU. Jimmer Fredette was phenomenal offensively, as has become custom. ESPN carried his post game comments live, which I found out later meant that my questions were on the air waves of the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Pretty cool moment for me personally.

Anyway, since I don't have the opportunity to blog the game live, I just take notes throughout and then post them here. Pretty interesting to go back over them afterward and "relive" the game that way. (The thoughts I shared on Twitter are underlined, in case you are wondering what that means)

Here you go:

No question who the crowd came to see…and it’s not Cosmo

SDSU wins tip from Davies

Shot clock violation on opening possession for SDSU

Jimmer coast to coast layup goes begging hard off glass

Davies fouls SDSU on 3 attempt, makes 2 of 3 foul shots

Lots of break ups for BYU D

Jimmer first bucket of game with layup off Davies block SDSU dunk attempt

After looking very rattled the first few possessions, SDSU calms down and seems to be thriving off environment

First timeout: BYU trails 8-6. Davies strong showing to start the game. SDSU adjusting well to raucous environment of MCenter. Jimmer 2 pts.

Jimmer hits pull up 3 from 2 ft behind arc: Crowd causes seismic reaction in earth’s platonic system

Davies hits pull up 20 , BYU up 13to 12, first lead of night

-Cougars’ shot selection seems to be selfish: all want to light up the crowd

SDSU answers with 3 ptr, quiets crowd after two BYU misses

Timeout SD: 10:14 left in 1st, tied @15.Jimmer hits pull up 3 from 2 ft behind arc:Crowd causes seismic reaction in earth’s platonic system

Jimmer another layup, tied at 17

Jimmer Fredette creates and scores a baseline jumper: Smooth

TIMEOUT 7:21 left in 1^st tied at 19: Fredette splits defenders from right elbow and drives to hoop, met at rim by SDSU center, goes back with right hand and flips it up: rims out twice; very acrobatic/athletic creation

Both teams go ice cold: No one scores until 5:14 mark – free throws from #15 Leonard of SDSU (21-19 Aztecs)

Jimmer gets 12^th point on 3 from right elbow: being covered very tightly by SDSU

TIMEOUT: 3:34 left in 1^st 24-22 SDSU / up tempo pace working in SDSU’s favor, mostly because BYU is missing shots

Jimmer Fredette killer crossover sends SD defender into 3^rd row; Jimmer hits step back 3 from right elbow

2 minutes left in 1^st half, crowd rises and wills SDSU into turnover: Fredette goes C2C and is fouled at the hoop

All I can do is shake my head as Jimmer splits defense to the hoop and lays up over two giants with right hand: really a talented player

Kawhi Leonard made Three Point Jumper.

31-30 SDSU at half

Fredette with first points of 2^nd half

Emery shows serious “ups” getting block on breaking SDSU ‘s Leonard: but alas, goal tending

Davies’ free throw bounces 100 times on rim and falls….BYU’s omen?

Jimmer hits 3 from right elbow: started way left, willed in by other source….living right on and off???

Fredette being doubled

Biggest lead of night 42-38 BYU off Fredette fake pass in lane, up and in at hoop. Timeout SDSU

Fredette fakes pass in key and makes resulting open flip in. SDSU calls timeout down 42-38. Crowd ready to go to war for this Cougar team.

Jimmer works to hoop, kicks to left corner for Emery: Feeds Hartsock on left block, wrap around pass to open Davies for right handed stuff.

Davies blocks SD shot, Jimmer other way for 10 ft jumper

Jimmer sees shot clock at 7, pulls up for left elbow 3 from about 3 feet behind the arc. Dude is in the NBA with THAT shot alone

Jimmer sees shot clock at 7, dribbles left and hits left elbow 3 from about 3 feet behind the arc with D all over him. Dude is in the NBA.

Not sure what was said at halftime in respective locker rooms, but BYU sure heard it and responded whole heartedly. Aztecs look like they’re running in mud.

7:58 left in game: BYU up 7, 56-49. Jimmer Fredette trying to stretch that lead further. Has played like POY, as every sign in place agrees.

Big 3 from SDSU James Rahon to cut lead to 4, 56-52. Leonard and White (starters) back in for ‘Tecs.

Charles Abouo blocks SDSU dunk attempt, Hartsock down with board, fouled. Abouo races to other end of court and gives warrior yell to crowd.

Worst missed call I’ve seen in a long time as Fredette runs fast break to basket, puts it up off the glass for a layup but SDSU man blocks it after it hits glass (VERY obvious goal tend). No goal tending called. Replay confirms missed infraction.

SDSU with one timeout left: 5:35 to go in the game. BYU up 56-52

Jackson Emery gets loose ball, drives to basket and fouled on layup attempt. Wanted to dunk, not enough room to try. Makes both free throws.

BYU wins 71-58 as SDSU panics down stretch, missing 3 after 3 and free throw after free throw. Crowd rushes court. Jimmer refuses to let fans lift him up on their shoulders. Wise decision.

Kevin Durant calls Fredette greatest scorer of all time via Facebook. Fredette disagrees; says that Durant may be that guy.

___________________________________________________________________

Pretty cool night! Should have become friends with Jimmer when I had the chance as a student there. Oh well, you live and learn.

O'Neill Chambers: The Legend Continues

2011-01-18T22:14:00.001-08:00

Tonight I was representing the radio station at the BYU-TCU basketball game in Provo, UT. My full attention should have been on the game: BYU went into the game ranked 9th in the national polls and is currently a projected 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament according to several online "bracketology" musings.

And my attention was on the game, honest! I sat right behind the TCU coaches and could hear most of their conversations; I could feel the adrenaline rising from the court just a few feet in front of me. I had my laptop open, notebook and pen at the ready, and the game notes fully embedded in my brain....everything was fine and how it should have been.

And then it was halftime.

Expecting BYU to blow TCU out of the building, I decided that if I were going to make it through what would undoubtedly be a rough 2nd half of basketball I was going to need some dinner. So I ventured into the tunnels in search of some victuals. However, when I reached the luncheon room, the line was out the door and down the hallway, and I am not the waiting type. So I continued down the hallway and rounded a corner.

Then, I got lucky.

O'Neill Chambers, the wide receiver who had been kicked off BYU's football team mid-season in 2010, was standing next to me.

I should mention that I was fortunate enough to help cover BYU football for the radio station last season, and that I had tried on many occasions to get Chambers to talk to me about the whole situation and what happened, on record. He always either declined or was very closed and vague in his responses. I always suspected he feared retribution from his coaches or the school if he said how he felt, no holds barred, on record.

But now, here he was. A regular student. Someone who is free to talk to who they want, when they want, and about what they want without it being cleared by the sports information office first.

I couldn't resist.

I introduced myself and reminded him of who I was and what I do for a living. Once I was sure he remembered (or at the very least realized my intentions), I began asking him about his current situation. He was very open, warm and friendly, not to mention cordial, always responding with "Yes sir," or "No sir." Even asked me how my holidays went for me and my family. I'm starting to believe I had Mr. Chambers pegged all wrong.....

Here is a rough transcript (from memory) of our conversation after exchanging pleasantries:

Me: "So do you know what your plans are regarding football and where you might transfer to?"
Chambers: "I'm staying here. I've been working out with the team in the mornings. I gotta get better."
Me: "Oh really? Are you back on the team?"
Chambers: "I will be. I'll be back this year."
Me: "So everything's good and ok with that whole situation then?"
Chambers: "Yes sir, it's all fine."
Me: "You're serious? Are you willing to go on record with that?"
Chambers: "Sure, no problem."

At this point I had a billion and one questions running through my mind and I was without my mp3 recorder. We agreed to meet at that same spot following the basketball game's conclusion. I told him I'd be there with my recorder and we'd have a legitimate, professional interview. But after the game I couldn't find Chambers anywhere, so that will have to wait for another time and place.

Chambers was at the game with Ross Apo, another WR on the football team who missed most of last year with a hand injury. Apo could not comment to me about anything regarding the football team without prior consent from the sports information directors at BYU, as he is still on the current roster.

Since I wasn't able to speak with Chambers again after the game, I tracked down Brett Pyne, BYU's Associate Director for Athletic Communications. He wasn't able to confirm or deny anything Chambers reported to me, but did provide a little insight:

1-Chambers is most likely participating in a class offered to students who wish to tryout or walk onto the football team; this is held in the mornings as a weight lifting and strengthening class.

2-Chambers is still enrolled at BYU and is therefore not barred from trying to rejoin the team, at the coaches' allowance.

3-Chambers still has a redshirt year available to him, so that may factor in somewhere along the way.

Pyne then said he would try and get a comment from a coach or two in the next little while, but mentioned it might be hard as most of them are gone on recruiting trips at the present time.

When I got home tonight I did send O'Neill a message over Facebook inquiring whether or not he would agree to sit down for a formal interview. He replied in a matter of minutes that he would indeed be willing to do so.

Whether or not it will happen, that's a different story. When I told another BYU beat writer about all this, he chuckled and exclaimed, "You trusted O'Neill Chambers?!?!?"

I guess I do. It's either that or just continue to assume and speculate my way through life. And we all know what happens when we a$$-u-me things.......

So, that's it. That's the whole story as of right now. More to report in the near future, hopefully.

Oh, by the way, BYU won 83-67...I paid just enough attention to the game to give you that at least!

Welcome to the NBA, Rookie

2011-01-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Except for the sensational Blake Griffin and John Wall, there really isn't any other rookie who is truly jumping off the stat pages this season. Granted they are rookies, and usually don't get a lot of playing time. However, this season there are more rookies playing more meaningful minutes than any recent years in my mind. Maybe this is why most of the Association is having a rough time getting the W's.

All that said, here is my 1st and 2nd All Rookie Teams to this point in the season:

Western Conference:

1st Team:
G Eric Bledsoe, LAC (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 7.3/MPG: 26.4/GS: 22/FG%pg: .427/APG: 4.4 /RPG: 3.2/SPG: 1.0
G Wesley Johnson, MIN (Syracuse)
-----PPG: 9.5 /MPG: 28.4/GS: 30/ FG%pg: .453/ APG: 2.1 / RPG: 3.1
F Blake Griffin, LAC (Oklahoma)
-----PPG: 21.5 /MPG:36.9/GS:33/ FG%pg: .524 / APG: 3.2 / RPG: 12.4
F Gary Forbes, DEN (Massachusetts)
-----PPG: 5.8 /MPG: 13.0 /GS: 4/ FG%pg: .478 / APG:4.4/RPG: 3.2/SPG: 1.0
C DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 11.6 /MPG: 25.2 /GS: 15/ FG%pg: .416 / APG: 1.5 / RPG: 7.7

2nd Team:
G James Anderson, SAS (Oklahoma State)
-----PPG: 7.0 /MPG: 17.7 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .418 / APG: 1.5 /3%pg: .500
G Gary Neal, SAS (Towson)
-----PPG: 8.4 /MPG: 18.1 /GS: 0 / FG%pg: .418 / FT%pg: .865 / 3%pg: .400
F Al-Farouq Aminu, LAC (Wake Forest)
-----PPG: 6.9 /MPG: 17.9 /GS: 14/ FG%pg: .440 / 3%pg: .464 / RPG: 3.6
F Gordon Hayward, UTA (Butler)
-----PPG: 3.4 /MPG: 11.8 /GS: 6/ FG%pg: .430 / 3%pg: .370 / RPG: 1.8
C Nikola Pekovic, MIN (Montenegro)
-----PPG: 5.0 /MPG: 13.3 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .460 / FT%pg: .772 / RPG: 3.2

Eastern Conference:

1st Team:
G John Wall, WAS (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 15.8 /MPG: 36.3/GS: 15/ FG%pg: .408/ APG: 8.5 / SPG: 2.0
G Landry Fields, NYK (Stanford)
-----PPG: 10.0 /MPG: 32.0/GS: 32/ FG%pg: .508/ APG: 1.7 / SPG: 1.0
F Derrick Favors, NJN (Georgia Tech)
-----PPG: 6.4 /MPG:18.7/GS:0/ FG%pg: .564 / BPG: 0.5 / RPG: 5.1
F Ed Davis, TOR (North Carolina)
-----PPG: 5.7 /MPG: 24.0 /GS: 2/ FG%pg: .493 / APG:4.4/RPG: 5.9/BPG: 1.0
C Greg Monore, DET (Georgetown)
-----PPG: 4.9 /MPG: 19.3 /GS: 3/ FG%pg: .440 / APG: 0.8 / RPG: 5.0

2nd Team:
G James Anderson, SAS (Oklahoma State)
-----PPG: 7.0 /MPG: 17.7 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .418 / APG: 1.5 /3%pg: .500
G Gary Neal, SAS (Towson)
-----PPG: 8.4 /MPG: 18.1 /GS: 0 / FG%pg: .418 / FT%pg: .865 / 3%pg: .400
F Paul George, IND (Fresno State)
-----PPG: 5.2 /MPG: 15.3 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .388/FTpg: .875 / RPG: 2.7/SPG:1.0
F Trevor Booker, WAS (Clemson)
-----PPG: 3.9 /MPG: 12.7 /GS: 2/ FG%pg: .512 / FTpg: .733 / RPG: 2.4
C Larry Sanders, MIL (VCU)
-----PPG: 3.9 /MPG: 14.3 /GS: 8/ FG%pg: .382 / BPG: 1.3 / RPG: 3.0

That was a LOT of work for something NOT that exciting, but at least now it's all here in one place for future reference. Moral of the story is: Rookies are usually terrible, keep your expectations low.

That's the bottom line.

Best and Worst of the NBA

2010-12-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Who's hot, who's not in the NBA:

-(December 12th-20th)-

HIGH 5

1-Boston (last ten: 10-0, 13 straight wins)

I am beginning to think I've underestimated the Boston Celtics, though I'm not sure how that is possible. I've thought they were a phenomenal force all season, all offseason, and even before that. Yet still, as I write this, I find it hard to wrap my mind around just what they've been able to do this year. We just passed the quarter-of-the-way mark of the season, and Boston has 4 losses (last loss was Sunday Nov 21st). Four! 'Nuff said.

2-Miami (last ten: 10-0, 12 straight wins)

The Heat continue to embarrass fools night in and out. They haven't lost since November 27th, and are on a collision course for an Eastern Conference Finals showdown next Spring with the Celtics. When they threw their Championship Celebration last June with James, Wade, and Bosh accompanied by fireworks and hip-hop, I rolled my eyes and didn't buy in. I still might be right, but I think only injuries can stop them now. (that, and the Celtics)

3-San Antonio (last ten: 9-1, 8 straight wins)

All the Spurs do is go to work and collect wins. If there were a word better than consistent to describe this team, I would use it here. They have stars and depth on their roster, and can wreak havoc on any team in the league. The only question with San Antonio this year: Are they TOO quiet?

4-Lakers (last ten: 8-2, 5 straight wins)

The defending champs are back to their old selves. Either you love 'em or you hate 'em, and if you hate 'em you could be in for another long year. They are the team to beat in the West, even if they have had their bumps this season. It is also curious that they are a better team statistically when Kobe Bryant takes 20 shots or less from the field....

5-Dallas (last ten: 9-1)

The Mavericks are a powerful team, no doubt about it. They win at home, they win on the road. They win in a house, or with a mouse; in a box, or with a fox; they win, that's what they do. My only hesitance with the Mavs comes with their propensity in the past to perfect the art of the choke.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Houston (last ten: 7-3, 2 straight)

LOW 5

1-Cleveland (last ten: 0-10, 1-10 in last eleven)

If you're a fan of a professional sports team in Cleveland, you have all my apologies and sympathies I can muster. The Cavaliers are a terrible basketball team, and they are proving just how important LeBron was to their past successes. When your best features are the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Drew Carey, and a movie called "Major League," (not necessarily in that order, either) you don't have much to offer. And the Cavaliers are not helping.

2-Washington (last ten: 1-9, 7 straight losses)

The Wizards recently completed a trade with the Magic, sending Gilbert Arenas to Orlando and receiving Rashard Lewis in his place. Too bad it won't change anything for Washington. Beyond John Wall, this franchise has nothing going for it. Even the President gave them the cold shoulder, choosing to attend a Georgtown Hoyas game over a Wizards'. These days I think DC stands for: Don't Compete.

3-Sacramento (last ten: 1-9, 5 straight losses)

The only thing royal about the Kings these days in the pain they cause their fans to feel in their backsides. And the owners (the Madoofs, er, Maloofs) don't seem to care. Sacramento is already a city of has-beens: Schwarzenegger, Kevin Johnson, and the Kings. Weird that two of the three have ties to basketball...

4-Minnesota (last ten: 2-8, 5 straight losses)

There are 3 things the T'Wolves have going for them right now: Kevin Love, Kevin Love, and the fact that they are NOT Cleveland or Washington. Though they aren't far off. Minnesota is an awful team, in an awful basketball-city, with awful upper-management. I fear that in the near future we will see the Wolves go the "way" of the Seattle Sonics: Away.

5-Golden State (last ten: 2-8)

The Warriors are just another of the terrible organizations in the NBA, and their loss record shows it. They're 9-17 on the year, and have only won 2 of their last ten games. Those two wins, mind you, came against the previously mentioned unfathomably-bad Minnesota Timberwolves. Beyond one Monta Ellis and one Steph Curry, Golden State is a roster of unathletic, non-hustling players who can't even make their free throws (Andris Biedrins is 52% for his career, and a putrid 25% this season from the charity stripe). Head Coach Keith Smart is a good coach, and would be a great fit and hire for any team out there. It's just too bad he's stuck with the Warriors.

HONORABLE MENTION:
New Jersey (last ten: 2-8, 5-15 overall...oy vay)

Best and Worst of the NBA

2010-12-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

Who's hot, who's not in the NBA:

HIGH 5

1-Dallas (last ten: 10-0, 11 straight wins)

If the NBA Finals were held today, the Mavericks would certainly be the favorite to represent the Western Conference. No one is hotter right now, as they have won 11 straight games, including 5 road games. They haven't lost since November 19th, and are currently enjoying a 6 game homestand.

2-Boston (last ten: 9-1, 9 straight wins)

The Celtics lost 20 days ago in Toronto, by one point. Since that game Boston has rattled off 9 straight, including a last second victory over the 76ers. Good teams win games they're supposed to, but GREAT teams find a way to win the ones they should probably have lost. Anyone who saw the Celtics beat the 76ers the other night would agree that Boston should probably have lost that game, but found a way to pull it off. That's what makes them great.

3-New York (last ten: 9-1, 7 straight wins)

The Knicks (yes, the Knicks) are winning games like it's the year 2000. That was the last time the Knicks had a winning streak of 8 games, a stretch they've now eclipsed (the streak may be tested this week, however, as NY hosts Denver, Boston, and Miami). They've won 12 of their last 13 games, and have the most road wins in the entire league with 10. Amare Stoudemire has had 7-straight 30 point games for New York, and is in the early talks for MVP. Remember, I said EARLY talks.

4-Miami (last ten: 8-2, 7 straight wins)

Miami Thrice. The 3 Alarm Fire. Third Degree Burners. Whatever you want to call them, they have finally started to gel together. After a disappointing start to the year, the Miami Heat have won 7 straight, including 4 on the road, and aren't looking to stop anytime soon. Their next ten opponents have as many combined losses as victories, 100 wins to 100 losses. Only question is what happens when Wade goes out with his annual injuries?

5-San Antonio (last ten: 8-2, 4 straight wins)

Don't forget about the Spurs. They are boring, plain, and classic. They don't have high flying dunks and flashy, boisterous personalities. What they do have is something every team wants: WINS, and lots of them. They also have ol' Poppy. So long as Duncan is able to play and Popovich is coaching, the Spurs will be a force to reckon with in the West. And who wouldn't want Parker and Ginobili as their starting backcourt? And oh yeah, San Antonio only has 3 road games left in the month, not that it matters. The Spurs are 8-1 on the road this season...

HONORABLE MENTION:

-Utah Jazz (last ten: 8-2)

Deron Williams continues his MVP-like season, and everyone around him continues to fill up the stat sheet as well. Still not sure EXACTLY what type of team they are, but the Jazz are 12-1 when they score 100 points and boast one of the best defenses statistically in the NBA this season. 7 of their remaining 9 games for the month are on the road, which should reveal a little more about who the Utah Jazz are: Contenders, or Pretenders.

LOW 5

1-Golden State (last ten: 1-9, six straight losses)

Having lost six straight games, the Warriors are easily the worst team currently in the league. They're giving up an average of 107 points per game, third worst in that category, and their second leading scorer, Steph Curry, is out with a sprained right ankle. The silver lining is that they have played a flurry of elite teams as of late, including losses to the Spurs (2), Heat, Mavs, and Thunder.

2-New Jersey (last ten: 2-8, six straight losses)

Remember when LeBron James was rumored to be signing with the Nets? Well, that was the highlight so far this year for New Jersey fans; something that didn't even happen. But hey, it's better than last year at least. They have six wins, which didn't occur until February 27th last season. (but that's like being happy that the deck chairs survived the Titanic sinking)

3-Cleveland (last ten: 2-8, six straight losses)

When you first think of the Cavaliers and their losing ways, you try and justify it by reminding yourself that King James took his talents and left. But when you look at who they've played (and lost to), you realize their losing ways are worse than you originally thought. Those six straight losses included games against Minnesota, Detroit, and Philadelphia. All for one, and one for...oh forget it.

4-Washington (last ten: 2-8, four straight losses)

Depressed yet? Hopefully you're not a Wizards fan, because this paragraph won't help. Washington ranks in the bottom ten of the league in Points (20th), Rebounds (29th), Assists (22nd), and Points Allowed (27th) per game. Of their 9 games left in December, the Wizards play 7 teams who are above .500, including the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, and Spurs. They are also 0-10 on the road. Merry Christmas, John Wall!

5-Detroit (last ten: 2-8, 3 straight losses)

All 7 of their wins have come against teams below .500. They are 2-12 on the road, 5-5 at home. They are last in their division, which is the worst division in the Eastern Conference with a combined winning percentage of .432 (43%). Look for the Pistons in the lottery next June!

HONORABLE MENTION:

-Minnesota (last ten: 2-8)

The only reason Minnesota is an honorable mention and not in the Low 5 is Kevin Love. The man-cub-beast is phenomenal. Because of him, the Timberwolves lead the league in rebounds per game at 46. He can pass, shoot from distance, rebound like a machine, and post up if given the opportunity. Other than Love, I don't know why anyone attends Minnesota's games. Unless they go to see the visiting team.

The Rivalry Game: 50/50 Chance of Having a Crappy Day

2010-11-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

Whether you go for red or cheer on the blue; no matter if you rise and shout, or exclaim what kind of man you are; it doesn't even make any difference if you're a real big football fan or not; tomorrow brings the greatest day in the college football schedule for fans in the state of Utah.

The Holy War.

A name which has taken on a higher dose of irony in recent years (remember Max Hall? Stay Classy, My Friends).

This is the last time the Cougars and Utes will meet up as conference foes, as both head for different destinations next season. Utah, the Pac12. BYU, Indepenence. While it's true the schools could someday end up in the same conference again, it's not likely.

What IS likely: There's a 50/50 chance that you'll have a crappy day, depending on which team wins.

So make some nachoes, plop down on the couch, and enjoy the game! If your team loses, skip church on Sunday. If they win, call your neighbor who roots for the other side and offer them a ride TO church.

Whatever the result, whatever you do, however you react, just remember this: Pouring beer on somebody's family doesn't make you cool. It makes you a Utah fan.

And living in 1984 doesn't make you classic. It makes you a BYU fan.

But tomorrow, either of those might also make you a winner.

_____________________________________________________________________
Here are my annual predictions for the game:

BYU:

Rushing-175 yards, 2 TDs

Passing-115 yards, 1 TD

Field Goals-1 of 2

Turnover margin- -2

UTAH:

Rushing- 200 yards, 3 TDs

Passing- 110 yards, 1 TD

Field Goals- 1 of 1

Turnover margin- +2

BOTH:
Total Personal Fouls in the game: 3

Total number of plays that are reviewed or challenged: 4

Number of times Robert Anae calls for a run on 3rd down: 4

Number of trick plays Whittingham's team tries: 2

Final Score:

Utah: 31 BYU: 24

BYU Football: A Drama Even Shakespeare Couldn't Have Written

2010-10-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

This season for the BYU football team has more closely followed a mid-day soap opera script rather than one written for a soon-to-be-Independent football program. There’s been controversy at quarterback; drama at wide receiver; players suspended and one kicked off the team.

Losses. BIG losses.

Then there was the firing of Jaime Hill, the team’s defensive coordinator.

This Cougar football squad has had enough drama to last an 8th grade girl through.......well, at least through lunch time.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more “Daniel Day-Lewis”, in rolls the Wyoming Cowboys with a quarterback whose name even sounds like a soap opera actor: Austyn Carta-Samuels.

Yes, TV Guide was on hand in the press box, and the E! channel had a studio set up in the parking lot. I think I even saw Ryan Seacrest complaining at the concession stand about the lack of Apple Martinis on the menu.

And if it hadn’t have been for two key first half turnovers, the Cougars may have escaped LaVell Edwards Stadium without any of the as-advertised theatrics (how many times do you write/read about BYU having to “escape” from their home stadium?).

Alas, this is the Year of the Dramatic in Provo, and October 23rd 2010 proved to be no different.

From my seat in the richly upholstered, plush press box high above the field and out of the cold rain I watched as BYU time and again had an opportunity to put the Cowboys out for good, only to let it slip away from them.

In the first half, the Cougars came out running, and HOW!

The opening play of the game was a deep pass to Cody Hoffman from Jake Heaps which Hoffman got his left hand on but wasn't able to reel it in. After that, I honestly don't remember another pass on the drive. I know there probably was one, but it wasn't pertinent. The Cougars marched down the field with Kariya, Quezada, and Di Luigi taking hand offs, finally sending Di Luigi around the left end and diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

The pass I do remember from the first half was the pick six that Heaps gifted to the Cowboys. BYU had the ball at their own 45 yard line or so, and they ran a bubble screen to their back. And that back probably would have gained a huge amount of yards had the ball made it to him. Heaps rolled left, eyed the open receiver, and promptly threw it right to the linebacker who had gotten between him and the receiver. Had he simply DUMPED the ball OVER the linebacker, it might have gone for a BYU touchdown. Instead, the frozen rope went straight into the white jersey of the defender, who then took it back to the house for a touchdown.

(The one bright spot in the passing game was a beautiful little number tossed into the corner of the end zone for senior WR Luke Ashworth, who corralled the ball for a touchdown, his first of the year)

Luckily for BYU, the Wyoming punting game was embarrassing. The Cowboys opted for a scrum/rigby style punting scheme, which backfired twice. Once for 15 yards, once for 8 yards. The second one actually hit the long snapper in the back of the helmet. Had Wyoming not wet the bed field-position wise, the Cougars might not be celebrating a victory today.

Just like any good play, movie, or soap opera, Saturday's episode had a happy ending for the Cougars. Wyoming drove the ball all the way down the field with only seconds remaining in the game. On 3rd and 10 inside the red zone and BYU leading by 25-20, Wyoming's Carta-Samuels threw a perfect pass to his wide receiver around the 5 yard line. I was standing on the sideline on that part of the field at the time, and had a wonderful view and angle of the play. Cornerback Brandon Bradley promptly reached around the receiver and knocked the ball to the ground. The crowd roared, Bradley celebrated, and Wyoming was livid. Bradley had in fact gotten away with "football murder." Pass interference. Bradley's right arm was wrapped around the Wyoming receiver's waist as he reached in front with his left hand. In fact, his arm wasn't just wrapped around him...Bradley got down right cozy with the guy! He cuddled with him in mid air! How he got away with it is beyond me. But on the very next play, 4th and 10, Carta-Samuels' pass was tipped up in the air and caught by an O-lineman, who tried to lateral it backwards as he was tackled to the ground, but it was no use.

The game was over, and the Cougars had pulled off a harrowing victory by a mere 5 points.

At home.

Against Wyoming.

Yes, THAT Wyoming.....

In all, it was a fun game to watch and study, and it made a rainy Saturday afternoon a lot of fun. BYU showed glimmers of promise and strength for the future, though there is still a lot of problems that need to be worked out.

"The Ghost of Drama Past" has not left their presence just yet. If you don't believe me, let me leave you with this one anecdote from today's game. The Cougars were called for a penalty in the 2nd quarter, the type of which I can't recall. That's not important. What is important was the number of the player who committed the foul. Or, rather, the number that the referee ANNOUNCED as the offender.

It was number 4. O'Neill Chambers. Mr Drama himself. Even though he's been kicked off the team, he still found a way to inject a little of his own drama into the game.

Coincidence? Omen? Either way, the bottom line is that it is evident that this team is still struggling to stay above water. Had they not pulled out that big stop at the end, giving Wyoming the victory....well, then we DEFINITELY would have received our Academy-Awards-level of drama to last us the rest of our lifetimes.

And that's the bottom line.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Aggies Defeat Cougars; Pigs Learn to Fly

2010-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

The BYU football team lost to the Utah State Aggies this past Friday night for the first time since 1993. 17 years. I was 8 years old in 1993. In fact this was only the 2nd time Utah State has defeated the Cougars while I've been alive. It hasn't even been close. From 1985 to 2009, BYU outscored Utah State 402-261. The idea of BYU losing to Utah State in football seemed as likely to me as the Pittsburgh Pirates winning a World Series. But not only did the Aggies beat BYU, they creamed them.

Start planning the parade route, Pittsburgh! It's your turn.

The loss in Logan dropped BYU's record to 1-4. While many in Cougar Nation are displeased with the offense's inability to score points like the fans are used to seeing, the team's defense has also been less than stellar. In fact, going into Friday night's match-up, the Cougars ranked 94th (out of 119)in rushing defense, and 87th in points allowed. True, the offense's ranking is just as bad, but they lost 3 starters at key positions from last year to the NFL, including their QB. They were expected to struggle. The defense was supposed to be better than this.

Following yet another dismal performance on the defensive side of the ball at Utah State, BYU announced Saturday that defensive coordinator Jaime Hill would be relieved of his duties for the remainder of this season, and would not return to the staff next year. For anyone that isn't following, that's a nice way of saying, "You're fired, now get out and don't ever come back."

After hearing of the announcement, I first felt bad for Hill. Having witnessed him with the players on the roster at practice and during training camp earlier this Fall, I know the team really likes him, and that he works really hard at what he does. I was also among those who believed that the offensive play calling may have been more to blame than the defense's shortcomings. So I decided to go back through the Utah State game and try to see what made Bronco Mendenhall come to the decision to fire Hill. Here is what I found.

I decided to break down the 3rd down attempts on both sides of the ball for BYU. Offense: did they convert or not, and what plays were called. Defense: did they stop Utah State or not, and what plays were called against them.

(full break down posted at bottom of text)

-OFFENSE:

Out of 19 3rd downs, BYU was successful on only 8 tries. They chose to rush the ball 4 times, passing it the remaining 15 times. It was my personal belief that BYU was running the ball on 3rd down when they should have been throwing it, and that THAT was the reason for the low success rate. However, this was not the case Friday night. In fact, BYU ran the ball only once on 3rd down when they had 4 or more yards to go. The other 3 rushing attempts were with 3 or 2 yards to go, respectively. What really killed the success rate was incomplete passes. The Cougars were 7 for 15 passing on 3rd down. Out of these 15 passing attempts, the play ended on an incompletion 6 times (Heaps was sacked once, and JJ Di Luigi ran a route 1 yard short of the first). If those 6 passes would have been caught, BYU's 3rd down success rate would have jumped from 42% to 74%.

So I blame the players on this one. The play calls seem to be the right choice in the situation provided. One disclaimer, though, is that BYU should probably be avoiding 3rd downs on offense more often if they want to turn this thing around. That is to say, the play calls on 2nd down might need some tweaking.

-DEFENSE:

Out of Utah State's offense's 18 3rd downs, they were successful 11 times. That is to say, BYU's defense only had 7 3rd down stops in the whole game, an embarrassing 39% success rate. I wanted to see what was giving the Cougars more trouble: the passing or the running game. The Aggies only passed 4 times on 3rd down, running it the other 14 times. While BYU only stopped the pass once on 3rd down, they gave up first downs on the ground an amazing 8 times on 3rd down (you can see how many yards the Aggies had to go to get the first down on each of the tries). While the players are responsible for executing the plays that are called, the coach is in charge of choosing the best play to set his guys up for success. Out of the 14 times Utah State ran it on 3rd down, they had less than 4 yards to go 9 times. To me, that means the Cougars should have expected the run at LEAST 9 times on 3rd down. Yet they still gave up a first down 8 times out of 14. This lies specifically with Coach Hill's play calling.

While Hill did well to get the Cougars to hold Utah State through 1st and 2nd downs, the ones that count most are 3rd downs. And here is where he failed miserably.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

I don't feel that the Cougars' defensive problems are over, and I wouldn't even expect very much from their YOUNG offense for the rest of the season, either. But I do know that while Bronco Mendenhall was acting as defensive coordinator, the BYU defense was a powerhouse. And since the time Hill took that responsibility over to the present day, the BYU defense has slipped to the point that they are now ranked among the worst defenses in the country. Was firing Hill the right move? I believe it was ONE of the right moves. The only question that remains: What move will BYU make next?

I'm glad I'm just a reporter, not a coach. I like having a job that depends SOLELY on MY actions, and not others'.

And that's the bottom line.

Here's the break down text:

3rd down tries, Offense: 42%, 8/19
4 times rushing:1/4
-Yards to go: 3, 3, 5, 2
15 times passing, 7/15
-sacks: 1
-incompletions: 6
-would've been 13/19 if completed

3rd down stops, Defense: 39%, 7/18
-14 times rushing, 6/14 stops
Yards to go: 1, 3, 6, 1, 1, 3, 13, 1, 1, 2, 5, 14, 9, 2
-4 times passing, 1/4 stops
Yards to go: 6, 7, 7, 8
-stop came on the 6 to go play
-incomplete pass

Game Chart: 3rd Down Plays
KEY:
-rushing plays are in italics
-passing plays are in normal font
-offensive successful results are bolded

1st QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 38 JJ Di Luigi rush for no gain to the UthSt 38.

3rd and 4 at BYU 12 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 8 at BYU 24 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 8 yards to the BYU 32 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 47 Jake Heaps pass intercepted by Chris Randle at the UthSt 43, returned for 4 yards to the UthSt 47.

1/4 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 1 at USU 12 Diondre Borel rush for 39 yards to the BYU 49 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 6 at BYU 45 Diondre Borel pass incomplete to Kellen Bartlett.

3rd and 3 at BYU 46 Travis Reynolds rush for 6 yards to the BYU 40 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 7 at BYU 37 Diondre Borel pass complete to Derrvin Speight for 19 yards to the BYU 18 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 6 at BYU 14 Kerwynn Williams rush for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 17.

2/5 3rd down stops

2nd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at BYU 33 Joshua Quezada rush for 6 yards to the BYU 39 for a 1ST down

3rd and 5 at BYU 44 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 10 yards to the UthSt 46 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 41 JJ Di Luigi rush for 4 yards to the UthSt 37.

3rd and 8 at USU 20 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 9 yards to the UthSt 11 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 6 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Marcus Mathews, broken up by Walter McClenton.

3rd and 1 at BYU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.

3/6 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 14 yards to the BYU 46 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 1 at BYU 37 Derrvin Speight rush for 3 yards to the BYU 34 for a 1ST down.

3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Diondre Borel rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.

3rd and 3 at BYU 6 Joey DeMartino rush for 4 yards to the BYU 2 for a 1ST down.

0/4 3rd down stops

3rd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 36 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 5 yards to the UthSt 31 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 10 at USU 31 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.

3rd and Goal at USU 2 JJ Di Luigi rush for a loss of 2 yards to the UthSt 4.

3rd and 7 at BYU 47 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 10 yards to the UthSt 43 for a 1ST down.

2/4 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 13 at USU 7 Diondre Borel rush for 6 yards to the UthSt 13.

3rd and 8 at USU 33 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 12 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 1 at BYU 46 Kerwynn Williams rush for 16 yards to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down.

3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Derrvin Speight rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.

3rd and 2 at USU 33 Kerwynn Williams rush for 1 yard to the UthSt 34.

2/5 3rd down stops

4th QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 22 at BYU 45 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Luke Ashworth, UTAH ST penalty 15 yard Personal Foul on Rajric Coleman accepted.

3rd and 7 at USU 40 Jake Heaps pass incomplete.

3rd and 10 at BYU 18 Jake Heaps sacked by Devin Johnson for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 15.

3rd and 4 at BYU 31 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 16 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 20 at USU 36 BYU penalty 5 yard Delay of Game accepted.

3rd and 25 at USU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Cody Hoffman.

3rd and 4 at BYU 40 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 15 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.

2/5 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 5 at BYU 39 Robert Marshall rush for 2 yards to the BYU 37..

3rd and 14 at BYU 35 Joey DeMartino rush for 10 yards to the BYU 25.

3rd and 9 at USU 42 Diondre Borel rush for 11 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 2 at BYU 39 Diondre Borel rush for 5 yards, fumbled at the BYU 34.

3/4 3rd down stops

THE BOTTOM LINE: BYU to MWC- "It's Not You, It's M...Actually, no...It's YOU!"

2010-09-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

"Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong, but maybe it’s the only way...Talk about your 'Revolution'. It’s Independence Day!" -Martina McBride

If you haven't heard the news, then you are probably the type of person who doesn't care about sports at all, and therefore wouldn't even be reading this blog entry in the first place. On Wednesday September 1st, 2010 BYU officially announced their plans to ditch the Mountain West Conference following the 2010-11 season, declare Independence in football, and join the West Coast Conference in all but three of their other sports.

Let Freedom Ring!

According to BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and President Cecil Samuelson, BYU has been exploring the Independent option for a significant amount of time now. The fact that the choice was made NOW, only after the University of Utah had recently been invited into the Pacific 10 conference, leaves room for some skepticism as to how much BYU would have preferred to be in another conference rather than go Independent, but no one came calling to the Cougars, and so here we stand.

And personally, I love it!

I'll go ahead and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all and tell you why, in the long run, I believe BYU will be much better off as a result of this move:

-Have No Fear, ESPN Is Here

Corvette Stingrays (feel free to substitute your dream car in place of mine) are beautiful, sexy, appealing and desirable vehicles. But without a working engine, all you can do is watch the car sit and gather dust. You can't take it around the block and show it off, causing the gutters to fill with your neighbors' drool. All you can do is hope that they will stop by your place for a visit, and then try and coax them into the garage for a peek at your baby.

But if you put the biggest, greatest, most reliable engine under the hood...well, that changes everything. All you have to do is rev it ever so slightly and watch necks break as they snap all of their attention in your direction.

That engine in this whole ordeal is ESPN.

The #1 perk of going Independent, and really, what made it even possible, is the contract agreement ESPN and BYU signed with each other. Here are the particulars:

-Over the next eight years, at least 3 BYU home football games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, etc.)

-BYUtv can choose to broadcast any games ESPN does not, and will also have the rights to rebroadcast any game (originally on ESPN or not) immediately following the end of said game.

-ALL of BYU's football games will now be available on national television.

Why is ESPN the saving grace? Holmoe admitted in Wednesday's press conference that once the WAC deal (original plan was for BYU to join the WAC in all other sports before the Mountain West invited Fresno State and Nevada to join THAT conference) fell through, "we thought maybe we should wait a year or two and decide [on Independence] later." And then David Brown, ESPN Vice President of Programming, came calling, and persuaded BYU not to stand pat but to move forward, convincing Holmoe and Company that scheduling teams to play would not be a problem with ESPN's influence on board.

And so ESPN became BYU's wing man. You know, that buddy of yours that talks you into asking the cute girl at the party for her phone number rather than just staring at her all night and going home empty handed, wishing you were one of the "cool" guys (read: Utah and their Pac10 invite)who actually had the guts to talk to her.

-Bread and Water

At least for the next couple of years, BYU will indeed experience some growing pains as this decision begins to take root. The WCC is a very good fit for most of the school's other sports, particularly men's basketball as they will face St. Mary's and Gonzaga every year. But there are still three sports that will be lost if they cannot find homes elsewhere: Softball, Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving. While none of these are a cash cow by any means to BYU, they are sports that have storied success in their histories, and LDS athletes who would enroll at BYU to participate in them will now likely choose a different school to attend.

Another hitch in the new plan is the fact that in the 2011-12, 2012-13 football seasons, BYU has made deals with 5 WAC schools to help fill the Cougars' schedule those years. This means that, at least for now, BYU is trading laughable opponents such as Wyoming and New Mexico for the less than stellar likes of Louisana Tech, New Mexico State and Idaho to name a few. There will be trips to sunny Hawai'i to play the Warriors, but other than that there is no draw for Alma Mater's to travel and see the football team play on the road, nor will the turnstiles at LaVell Edwards Stadium be in need of replacing every year due to overuse.

However, while none of that is very attractive, BYU does have the end result of this project to look forward to, and that's when it will get REALLY good.

-Milk and Honey

The decision to go Independent, while not as good as, say, an invite to the Big12 would have been, is the best option currently available for BYU.

-ESPN and ESPN2 are available in 99.5 million homes, while ESPNU is available in 73 million homes nationwide itself. Add BYUtv's 55 million homes in JUST the United States, and that's A LOT of exposure you weren't getting with The Mountain TV channel. BYU has just gone from the "Roadshow" to "THE Show".

Also, BYU's biggest goal has always been to use their sports as a way to get the LDS church into homes that may have otherwise rejected their message. Obviously, when you add ESPN's audiences to the mix, you are opening yourself up to opportunities that would have otherwise not been available. Not to mention the major deals you'll see happen with Notre Dame, Texas, Clemson, Texas Tech, etc. When BYU rolls into town regularly against those teams, people will take note and become curious about BYU, thus becoming more familiar with the school and consequently the LDS church.

-The West Coast Conference offers a wonderful spot for BYU to place their other sports, especially men's basketball. With the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary's and San Diego, Dave Rose's team should be able to gain as much, if not more, respect and competition as they've had in the MWC.

The WCC also offers 8 other private institutions who are backed by Christian churches, just like BYU. The schedules will be redone so that BYU won't have to play on Sunday, and they will be able to accomplish the school's mission of being a missionary tool in the LDS church's hands in both exposure and recruitment. (Not to mention, Holmoe noted that 58% of BYU's alumni lives in the West Coast Conference's cities) And as far as traveling to road games is concerned, who doesn't want to go to the west coast during the dead of winter in Provo? I am thinking these two factors will lead to a lot of blue and white being in the crowds at ALL games BYU plays in, both home AND away.

-And finally, with greater risk comes the chance of greater reward. While Holmoe denied that this decision had much to do with monetary gain, logic begs to differ. By jumping the MWC ship and getting their own broadcasting system in place, partnered with juggernaut ESPN, BYU undoubtedly is in control of their own destiny money-wise. The risk: Football Independence could fail, and leave BYU worse off than they were with the MWC. The reward (and most likely outcome): More money, more exposure, more missionary opportunities.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

As you enter the gates at BYU, there is a large sign that reads: "The World Is Our Campus."

Ironic (or convenient), then, that ESPN's motto is: "The World Wide Leader In Sports."

World domination seems to be a common goal for both entities; and as long as this blue marble in the sky has enough room for both of them, I believe "Independence Day" will be a much celebrated day in Cougar Nation for years and years yet to come.

And that's the bottom line.

BOTTOM LINE: BYU Camp - 5 Topics That Need to be Addressed This Week

2010-08-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

For my sports radio job, I've been attending every BYU practice since the beginning of training camp eight days ago. Based on what I've seen during this time,I've narrowed the immediate challenges facing this team so far down to 5 topics:

1-The Quarterback Race

The "four man race" has clearly been whittled down to a two man competition (though Coach Mendenhall is trying his best to sell James Lark as still having a shot at the starting role). The true freshman phenom Jake Heaps, and the seasoned leader Riley Nelson. They both have their pros and cons, but I personally feel that Heaps is the guy. His pin point precision on the long ball, the natural ability to check through his progressions efficiently, and his confidence in the offense tell me that BYU would be best served having him be their starter NOW. Nelson is a great athlete, don't get me wrong. And he's no slouch as a quarterback, either. But his talents and abilities do not outweigh Heaps', and so I don't see why BYU would keep Heaps from progressing early this year, with Nelson ready to come in when needed.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Heaps needs to be named the starter, and soon, so that the team can get used to him being their leader on the field.

2. Wide Receivers Dropping Passes

The receiving corps at BYU this year are an incredible sight to behold. Tall, athletic, physical and FAST are attributes that could be used to describe each and every one of them. From veterans O'Neill Chambers and McKay Jacobson (not to mention back ups Spencer Hafoka, Luke Ashworth, BJ Peterson and Matt Marshall) to young up-and-comers Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman, whoever ends up being QB will not lack open targets on every play. HOWEVER, there have been WAY too many dropped passes in practice. It's not something that can't be fixed, but it needs to be fixed immediately. If you have a young QB like Heaps making great throws on the numbers to guys 60+ yards down the field, but the ball is being dropped time and again, that ruins a passer's mentality and poisons his confidence.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If this issue can be addressed and nipped quickly, look for a big year from the wideouts this season.

3. Place Kicking

The Cougars have two kickers on the squad this season: Mitch Payne (place kicker), and Riley Stephenson (punter). However, Payne went down with a sprained ankle late last week, and his prognosis is not yet known (originally thought to be a 7-10 days deal, but Mendenhall has said he can't be too sure as of yet). Even before he was injured, Payne missed a PAT and two semi-long field goal tries. Stephenson, coming off a somewhat roller coaster freshman year last season, has now been thrown into the place kicking position, and has not been able to produce a consistency you need from your field goal kicker. Actually, field goals between 35-40 yards don't seem to be as big a problem for him as PAT's. He missed all but one PAT's during today's practice, and afterward Mendenhall said he will probably open the issue up to the rest of the team to see if anyone kicked in high school and can step in to the place kicking role until Payne heals.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Every game is vital in college football, and place kicking is the LAST position you want to have to worry about. Close games are always dependent on field position, and a missed field goal attempt can leave your defense in tough spots with the odds stacked against them. Plus, PAT's should be automatic. If they're not, you might as well go for two everytime. Losing by one is still losing....

4. Running Backs

Each running back on this team has his own talents and abilities that make him unique from the other backs around him. Brian Kariya is more of a power back who will run through a defender. JJ DiLuigi is the fast, shifty, finesse runner who can leave defenders in the dust. Then there's freshman Josh Quezada (Juice, as the team calls him), Mike Hague, Zed Mendenhall, and David Foote. Quezada will need some time to learn and flourish, but his future is bright. Hague is powerful, but short and slow. Mendenhall is a fullback playing tailback, and Foote, while always hustling and giving max effort, would not be successful on a different team with less experienced offensive linemen in front of him.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Harvey Unga had it ALL. Speed, power, finesse, and swagger. While you cannot replace a special player like Unga, it is important to make the transition period as smooth as possible. Running back by committee may be the answer for now, but eventually you're going to want that every-down-back you can rely on to move the ball down field and open up the passing game for your offense. Combined: These backs=Harvey Unga. Individually: they have chinks in their armor.

5. "Blue Zone" Defense

This year's secondary and defensive backs are stacked with experience and talent, and I expect a big season from them. Cornerback Corby Eason told me last week that the DB's are the cornerstone of the Cougar defense, and judging by their game between the twenties, I like what I see. However, once the offense gets inside the twenty (red zone, or "blue" zone at BYU), the needed stops don't seem to happen as often for the defense. It's not a HUGE issue, just a little something that could use some tweaking.

THE BOTTOM LINE: For the most part the defense is able to hold their own against the offense, but their confidence seems to be shaky inside the Blue Zone. While it's great that the Cougars are able to keep teams at bay in the middle of the field, they need to find a way to spread that success from the twenties and in, when big stops are most critically needed.

*Stay tuned for an update on these topics following this week of practices*

BOTTOM LINE: BYU Training Camp Days 1 and 2

2010-08-09T18:48:00.001-07:00

I recently was given the opportunity through my sports radio job to attend BYU practices and gather notes/interviews for use at the station and on the website. After attending two days (Saturday Aug 7, Monday Aug 9) of training camp, I just wanted to share a few observations I've made:

Day#1 (Aug 7th)

The biggest question in camp this year is Who will be the starting QB? Here's my depth chart after day 1:

1a.Jake Heaps
Shared seemingly equal amount of snaps on first team offense with Riley Nelson. Seemed to be very confident with the offense and was able to make a few pin point perfect passes for big yards, including the last play of practice - an on the money, down the sideline 60+ yard pass to double-covered McKay Jacobson.

1b.Riley Nelson
Has strong ability to scramble and create on the run when the pocket disappears. Not as accurate as Heaps, but has a stronger line drive throw across the middle. Very familiar with offense plays and schemes, and has the division 1 experience Heaps lacks.

3. James Lark
Doesn't possess the natural talents that Heaps or Nelson do, but has the work ethic to be a terrific back up plan if needed. I wouldn't want him starting, but I'd feel fairly comfortable having him under center should the other two QB's get injured.

4. Jason Munns
His size is unreal, but he doesn't seem to be very comfortable at the QB spot. Makes mistakes, has little accuracy, and isn't able to read where a player is going to end up. We'll see what happens later on, but right now I don't see him being a big part of this race.

Other notes:

-Offense:
-Loaded at running back, with Kariya and DiLuigi splitting time. Hague, Foote, and Quezada all will see playing time.
-Tight end is full of possibility, though the spot may be filled by committee for the first part of the season until someone emerges as the better player.
-Receivers are looking very good this year. Young, strong and extremely athletic. If the QB can get the ball to them, look for the receiving corp to have a big season, led by McKay Jacobson and O'Neill Chambers.

-Defense:
-The defense, as a whole, was dominant today. Very enthusiastic, hyped up, and ready to hit somebody. They had all the momentum in the team segment.
-CB Carter Mees and DL Thomas Bryson both had exceptional practices. Bryson had two sacks and Mees 3 breakups.

Day #2 (Aug 9th)

QB Depth Chart:

1.Jake Heaps
It wasn't clear until team segment (scrimmage), but Heaps should definitely be the #1 QB on this team. He is confident, accurate, and powerful, and to watch him connect with Jacobson down the field is a thing of beauty. He has his flaws, such as his mechanical looking play fake, but he is head and shoulders above the other 3 QB's vying for the starting spot.

2.Riley Nelson
Has everything Jake Heaps doesn't, but they're attributes that don't really matter ALL that much. Ability to scramble, amazing magician-like skills on the play action fake, and division 1 experience. However, he isn't as tall/athletic/powerful as Heaps, and therefore will make a perfect back up for when Heaps makes his freshman mistakes.

3.James Lark
Nothing different from Saturday's practice.

4.Jason Munns
Reminds me of Brett Engemann. Tall and stocky, could take a hit and get back up, but really isn't a quarterback. Would have been better served to play linebacker or even tight end.

Other notes:

-Offense:
McKay Jacobson remains the favorite target, and is unbelievable at shaking off the defender on his first move. O'Neill Chambers had an off day, running wrong routes and dropping two money ball passes. Spencer Hafoka and Luke Ashworth are always reliable second looks, and newcomer Cody Hoffman is 6'4", 205 lbs. and runs like a gazelle. He will be THE guy for the next 3 years at the Y.

-Defense:
Thomas Bryson once again shined at defensive end. He had 3 hurries, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the scrimmage. The defensive backs really shut down the passing game, and the linebackers were able to contain the running game (other than two scampers by Riley Nelson for double digit gains).

THE BOTTOM LINE, it's only been 2 days of Fall practice, so not a lot can be determined yet. Jordan Pendleton, the star studded linebacker, hasn't participated in team segment scrimmage as of yet because of hampering injuries, and there are still a few players who haven't been cleared by the NCAA. Besides that, only time will uncover all the flaws/talents that haven't been shown as of yet. But it IS exciting that college football is back!!! Here we go.....

***Curtis Brown, Jan Jorgensen, and Nate Meickle were among the former BYU players I spotted at practice Tuesday. Brown sells pharmaceuticals in the Utah Valley area, Jorgensen was there as a representative of his new employer 1280 THE ZONE, and Meickle (formerly employed on KSL's broadcasts of the games as a sideline reporter) was there as a spectator. Rumors were he's going to Stanford Law School in the near future***

THE BOTTOM LINE: Something's Missing....

2010-07-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” -Tom Stoppard

What do you miss from sports these days? Here are the things I find myself yearning for:

Ken Griffey, Jr. and his backwards hat. His smoother-than-an-insurance-salesman swing. His willingness to sacrifice life itself to run down ANY ball hit in his direction. And that trademarked self-admiring stare as he strutted towards first, watching his latest jack sail over the fence.

John Stockton setting and taking picks on/from power forwards. His ability to see a play happen in his mind before it actually took place. The bounce pass down into the post. The speed of hands both on defense and offense. Seeing him take the ball coast to coast for a layup before the defense could even turn around. His signature quirky over-the-shoulder shot.

Payne Stewart. His clothes, yes. But not JUST his clothes. His game, his smile, his fist pumps, his rugged swing and follow through, and his celebration after winning the US Open.

Cal Ripken, Jr. and Steve Young.

Fast, lean, tall, quick and athletic offensive/defensive linemen.

Golden Goals

Larry H. Miller: one of the best people to ever walk this earth. He was a role model, and not just because of the good things he did. When he made mistakes, he fessed up to them, apologized, made it right, and became a better person because of it all.

Patrick Ewing dripping reservoir-sized drops of sweat in the key, thus employing a TEAM of towel-boys/towel-girls underneath each basket, charged with being the fastest acting human wet-vacs imaginable before he returned the next time down the floor.

Old school uniforms: such as high socks in baseball, Kareem/Rambis-like goggles in basketball, and Dan Mariono-esque face masks in football.

Lil Penney commercials.

For that matter, Penney Hardaway's swagger, Tim Hardaway's no-rotation shot, and Muggsy Bogues.

Monday Night Football without Mike Tirico, or Tony Kornheiser, or Jon Gruden. Never should've lost Al Michaels.

Two-hand touch at recess. Tackle when the "duty" wasn't lurking...

Homerun derbys in the backyard with a t-ball stand, foam bat, and plastic wiffle balls.

Raspberries from sliding into home ahead of the tag.

Hot Rod Hundley. Ernie Harwell. Jack Buck.

Roller/street hockey after school.

Karl Malone turn-arounds. Karl Malone defense. Karl Malone power. Karl Malone taking thirty days to shoot a free throw.

The Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics-Jazz rivalry circa Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton.

The CALIFORNIA Angels. None of this Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim via Denver near Boise sans New York neighboring Mars business....

Marathon games of "hot-box", or "pickle," in the backyard with my brothers, dad, cousins, uncles, friends, etc.

Long summer days spent in my basement, in my pajamas, usually til about 3 or 4 PM, playing game after game, making trade after trade, hitting homerun after homerun, and WINNING game after game on N64's "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr."

And finally, THE BOTTOM LINE of what I'm missing most from sports these days: Every single Saturday having either a soccer game, a basketball game, or a baseball game to play in. Sometimes a combination of those. *Sigh*.....Mine was a blessed childhood, indeed.

“The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day” -John Milton

THE BOTTOM LINE: The Free Agents You (and everyone else) Forgot About

2010-07-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

“We [used to have]the advantages of the underdog. Now we have the disadvantages of the overdog.”
-Abba Eban, former Israeli Foreign Minister

The "Summer of LeBron" is nearly over (insert sound of joyous cheers from ESPN audiences everywhere, exhausted from the never ending praise and attention that has been pumping from said sports station for the "King" during the past month) and I can't help but feel a sense of detachment from the moment. I'm sure most of you would agree that this whole free agency ordeal has become pretty comical and tabloid-esque. Every "expert" in the land has given their predictions as to where James, Wade, Bosh, etc. might end up playing, each claiming to have THE inside information/sources with all the final answers (magically ALL differing from the others' guesses). And to them all I say this: Go get a job at the E! channel or TMZ.com and leave my sports channels alone!!!

At any rate, you can probably tell I'm just a little over the LeBron-a-palooza all around me. And I think I've come up with the biggest reason WHY: I believe it is the lesser-known players who actually end up making a team ultimately good or bad. The sixth mans, the role players, the back-ups...the SUPPORTING role surrounding the All-Stars are who keep the team together when Kobe hits a cold streak, or LeBron goes down with an injury, or Duncan shoots 67% from the free throw line (his ACTUAL career average, by the way). And in the middle of all the public lauding and loving for the BIG names in this year's free agent market, it's the "underdog" free agents who are being neglected. So, as a general rooter of all underdogs everywhere, I give you my list of "The Free Agents No One Is Thinking About Who Will Still Make an Impact in the NBA Next Season":

(Player/ Former Team/ Best 2009-2010 Stat)

Derek Fisher/ LAKERS/ 2.5 APG
-Fisher has won 5 NBA Championships with the Lakers. Yes, he did this with one of the best players ever in Kobe, but that is NOT a slight AGAINST him, but a perk to being able to sign him to your team. Just look at what he was able to do for the future of a young Deron Williams during his short stay with the Utah Jazz....'nuff said.

Nate Robinson/ BOSTON/ 10.1 Points Per Game
-Backup point guard who provides fast-paced, effective offense and in your face defense. Forces opponents to respect both his shooting and slashing abilities.

Jermaine O'Neal/ MIAMI/ 13.6 PPG
-O'Neal's stats from last season make the argument for him: 13.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and a respectable 1.4 blocks per game (19th over all last season). Not to mention he shoots roughly 50% from the field... AS A CENTER.

Brad Miller/ CHICAGO/ 4.9 RPG
-Statistics don't truly show the things Miller does for a team when on the court. A veteran who provides quiet leadership, at 7 feet 261 lbs., Miller can bang with the best of the Bigs and keep them in check on the blocks.

Raymond Felton/ CHARLOTTE/ 12.1 PPG
-Physical point guard who not only averages double digit scoring, but also 1.5 steals per game, proving his ability to shut down usually smaller, thinner guards he's up against.

Kyle Korver/ UTAH/ .536 3P%
-I could say a lot about Korver (such as how he has the best, purest shot in the league, or is an underrated passer, or can take a charge better than most shooters in the history of the league, or how anywhere he goes he becomes marketable gold due to his next-door demeanor and Kutcher-esque appearance), but I'll simply point to his record setting three point percentage last season of 54% and leave it at that.....

Matt Barnes/ MAGIC/ 5.5 RPG
-As a back-up small forward, Barnes leaves everything on the floor night after night. While he may not provide the flashy scoring most wings possess in today's NBA, he is a hard-nosed pest who will defend the big names with linebacker-type grit, causing more than one All-Star to have a season low sometime during the course of the year.

Mike Miller/ WIZARDS/ 10.9 PPG
-Miller is a tall and lanky shooting guard who averages double digits in scoring and a respectable 4.3 defensive rebounds per game. While his temperament can be a little on the teenage-drama-queen side of things, he's a ten year veteran who will excite fans with his ability to both entertain and get under the skin of his opponents.

Honorable Mentions:

Shannon Brown/ LAKERS/ 8.1 PPG
Josh Howard/ DALLAS, WIZARDS/ 12.7 PPG
Richard Jefferson/ SPURS/ 12.3 PPG

While none of these guys make you ask "LeBron who?", I can guarantee each of them brings something to the table that opposing teams DO NOT want to overlook, and that's the Bottom Line on the underdogs of this year's free agency market.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Ten Sports Pet Peeves That Must Stop NOW!

2010-06-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

Attention: All athletes, coaches, fans, spectators, commentators, and anyone else who may be considered a guilty party. The following is a list of things that must be stopped IMMEDIATELY in the sports world:

10. Deny today, confirm tomorrow.

This is when an athlete, coach, general manager, etc. denies a report that has been made, only to turn around the next day (oftentimes sooner) and do or say something to CONFIRM the report anyway. If it’s a true, legitimate report, confirm it and move on. Enough of the Rich Rodriguez-syndrome. If you need to, use the old cop-out “No comment,” until you can confirm the report.
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9. Boo-boos

I’m so sick of athletes today making paper cuts into hemorrhages. I’m not talking about legitimate injuries that require rest or surgery. I'm referring to the stubbed toes keeping players on the bench for 3 weeks type of "injuries" (or my personal favorite:the "strained" muscle). Listen: Unless you’re needing surgery or a tourniquet, get back to work. I won’t bring up the money thing….ok yes I will. They make WAY too much money to be allowed to sit out 7-10 days every time they stub their toes. Someone put an end to this circus. (FIFA, you are officially on notice….start calling dives or get rid of the rule.)
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8. “Touchdown!.....er, I mean, No touchdown!....er, I mean, uh, Fumble!....er, actually He’s Safe…uh, Out! Oh forget it, can I go eat my hot wings now?”

Missed calls. Now, in no way am I one of those people who blame the officials for everything. I’m also not a purist who believes human error is “good for the game.” Yes, it is PART of the game, but it shouldn’t RULE the game like it does. There needs to be a system in place (in EVERY sport) that protects the officials, players, coaches, organizations, and fans from games being RUINED by human error. The technology is there, so why not use it?
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7. 15 Minute Replay Reviews

I know, this contradicts #8, but not really. There is a happy medium that needs to be reached between the use of the replay technology, and the length of time it takes to complete a review. If while sitting on my couch watching the TV (non-HD, I might add) can determine after only a couple of replays that the runner was down, or the shooter had his foot on the line, or Bob Bobson wasn’t actually in the crease, then a professional AT THE GAME, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AT HIS FINGER TIPS, BEING PAID TO MAKE THE DECISIONS can certainly do the same! If you have to cut to more than one sixty second commercial break because a review is taking too long, just call the game and start over tomorrow.
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6. Conspiracy Theories

The idea that a referee or a group of referees would actually join together in efforts AGAINST any one team is the most insane notion I’ve ever heard of. There are no conspiracies. Your team will lose an important game now and then. It doesn’t mean that the commissioner has summoned his armies of officials and commanded them to destroy your blessed empire. It just means that in sports someone has to win and someone has to lose. Yes, TV ratings do in fact matter for revenue purposes. But not enough to throw outcomes and lengthen playoff series, risking the demise of the entire sport itself if found out. Take the tin foil off your head and enjoy the game. Speaking of someone having to win, and someone having to lose…….
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5. Ties

There is no room in sports for a tie. Period. The reason sports were ever invented in the first place was to provide a way for differences to be settled (have you never seen a John Wayne film?) The Olympics, perhaps the first ever known organized sporting event, were created so that different cities could prove their worth and strength to their rivals. Someone had to win, and someone had to lose, otherwise nothing would ever get accomplished. The reason we have sports is so that we can learn the joy of victory, as well as the agony of defeat. If after 90 minutes of playing no one has lost and no one has won, then we’ve wasted 90 minutes of our lives and might as well have had a compliment session where everyone goes around the room saying nice things about everyone else, and ending it with a big group hug and tearful smiles. People: it’s sports, not religion. Meaning, it’s not personal. If you are beaten by someone who was better than you that day, then you have learned a valuable life lesson or two and will be better for it. And that’s the whole point of sports anyway.
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4. Cliches

“It is what it is.” “We need to step up and make plays.” “He gives 110%.”

Stop it. Just stop it already. If you are not intelligent enough to give a thoughtful, well phrased response to a question, then don’t answer it at all. I’d rather hear you say “No comment,” your entire career than hear another “A win’s a win, and that’s all that matters.” I’m not expecting Socrates or Plato like response. I don’t even care if it makes sense. Just as long as YOU are construing YOUR thoughts, and YOUR feelings about the issue at hand, and not regurgitating age-old responses in order to get it over with quicker.
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3. Stupid Celebrations

The dog-pile on the mound. The Gatorade baths. The burning of cars following a championship. The jumping up onto the scorer’s table and screaming primeval grunts. It’s all got to go (by the way, all of these actions took place in professional, televised sporting events within the last six days). I would really prefer that when you score/win/make a good play that you act like you’ve done it before. But if you must celebrate, do so with class. And if you can’t muster a classy, professional display of happiness, then at least be creative and original. Chad Ochocinco-nueve-dix-carpe diem-Johnson (or whatever he’s calling himself these days) may be a clown, but at least he is imaginative. If you can’t celebrate maturely, then celebrate originally. That’s all I’m asking. (This includes “The Wave.” No other action could be made to show just how bored you actually are. So, if you’re bored enough at a sporting event to do “The Wave,” get up and go do something that interests you.)
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2. Vuvuzelas / Corny, Cliché Arena Music

The awful noise that never ends at those infernal soccer matches (you know the ones I speak of-they sound like a herd of tone deaf mammoths are being skinned alive and sautéed in Tabasco) ought to be against the Laws of the Geneva Convention. No one should have to endure the refuse that comes as result of blowing into one of those things.
Secondly, the music that is played at sporting events has been, well, played. Get a new gig, or get out and let someone else take over. “We Will Rock You,” and “Y.M.C.A,” and the like were cute for the first little while. But now it’s time to be innovative and find something new.
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And finally, the number one thing in sports that has got to be stopped IMMEDIATELY….

1.The Lakers Winning the NBA Championship

I don’t care if the Jazz win it every year, so don’t give me the "You're just a homer" baloney. I just get sick of seeing that Satanic purple and gold year after year after year, amidst the devilish purple and gold ticker tape rain, all accompanied by that smug, crooked, spoiled smile of Kobe Bryant as he pretends to feel the joy he will chase his whole life (I speak of TRUE joy, here, in case you didn’t catch on. You know, TRUE love, TRUE spirit, TRUE happiness. Not the kind that comes from winning basketball trophies). So please…PLEEEEAAAASSSEEEEE! Someone else step up next year and knock the Los Angeles Fakers off their high horse.

And that’s THE BOTTOM LINE.

THE BOTTOM LINE

2010-06-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

THE BOTTOM LINE

-University of Utah Moving to the Pac-(TBD) Conference:
There’s been a lot of discussion and rumors regarding whether or not the Utes will be leaving the Mountain West Conference and joining the (currently named) Pac-10 Conference. There is a plethora of information to go through and analyze regarding this subject, but I’m just going to focus on the local implications such a move would have.

1. Recruiting: Right now, Utah is doing very well recruiting out of the Mountain West Conference. They currently only have two teams with whom they squabble over the top recruits coming to the conference-BYU and TCU. However, if they were to move to the Pacific Conference, they would have to recruit players away from the likes of USC, UCLA (both schools have a LOT more than great football to offer….like, say, beaches. Girls. Weather. The glitz and glammer of Hollywood.), Arizona State (notorious party school), and Oregon. Undoubtedly, by being a member of the Pacific Conference, the Utes would draw bigger talent than they currently do in the Mountain West, but they’d be taking only the players the “fun” schools (read: NOT in Salt Lake City) wouldn’t want. They’d be to the Pacific Conference what Colorado State currently is to the Mountain West.

2. While they’ll be able to “compete” in the Pac., they won’t necessary be a “winning” program. Certainly not the way they have been in the MWC. Meaning, the Utes will be trading games against Wyoming, New Mexico, SDSU, and UNLV for games against USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, and Stanford. While I don’t perceive the Utes as being terrible in the Pacific Conf., I certainly don’t see them consistently winning the 9 or 10 games they have been producing in the MWC.

THE BOTTOM LINE: In the Pacific Conference, the University of Utah will be able to compete, but they won’t be King of the Hill anymore. Expect 8-4, 9-3 seasons consistently. They will be the Utah Jazz of the Pac. Conf.-competitive, but not elite.
_________________________________________________________________
-How U of U Move to the Pacific Conference Would Effect BYU:
If in fact the Utes left the MWC (and BYU stayed), it would have drastic effects on the Cougars and their program. Here are the pros and cons for BYU if such a move were to occur:
PROS:
1.With Utah gone, BYU would only have one other school who could legitimately contend with them recruiting-wise: TCU. And let’s face it, while TCU is a good team coming off a great year, how long can they really expect to ride the BCS wave they enjoyed recently? BYU has the history and facilities needed to draw in the big recruits. TCU does not. The Cougars will benefit talent-wise from a Utah defection.
2.BYU would be the “BIG TICKET” in the MWC, much like Boise State is in the WAC. It will be the “BYU and Others” Conference. Boise State has been the nation’s darling for a long time, mostly because they play well in a mediocre conference, and show up when ESPN and ABC are watching. With no Utah to worry about, BYU would OWN the MWC.
3.Without Utah to go against, the MWC Title will be BYU’s every year for a long time to come. Sure, TCU will be a force to reckon with for another year, maybe two, but after that I really don’t see the Horned Frogs consistently winning double digit games. What’s a MWC Title worth, you might ask? Well, with the likes of who will be left in the conference, I’m assuming an MWC Title will also mean an undefeated season, which equals BCS attention.
CONS:
1. BYU will still be stuck in a conference full of crappy competition. This will not only mean less respect/value for victories, it will also mean loss of big time money as no one wants to pay to see San Diego State (change out for any other school in MWC) lose by 50 in Provo, Utah on a cold October Saturday.

2. BYU will still be stuck with crappy Mtn televison coverage. Trust me, in this day and age, TV coverage is EVERYTHING in college football. Don’t believe me? Look at the SEC, or the Pac10, or the Big East, even. They ALL have contracts with big time TV stations: ESPN, ABC, Fox, etc. What does the MWC have to offer? A road-show-esque production, run by nobodies, featuring irrelevant has-beens for talent, and broadcast with old USSR equipment. Sure, it’s on national reaching frequencies, but no one is tuning into The Mtn to see New Mexico take on Wyoming when they can see USC vs. Notre Dame on NBC.

3. Finally, BYU will still need to go undefeated in order to get some BCS love, while Utah will be in an automatic BCS conference. While the Cougars will likely be favored in every matchup they have in the MWC, an off week leading to a surprise/fluke loss to a cellar-dweller will shut down the season, whereas Utah could lose to BYU every year and still have a chance to show up in a BCS bowl because of their conference’s automatic bid.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Utah leaving BYU behind in the MWC would be less than an ideal situation for the Cougars. While they will indeed be the top dog in the conference, BYU will have ZERO competition to deal with. The rivalry may still be active, maybe even with a more bitter edge to it (what BYU fan wouldn’t relish a victory over a Utah team that would take away a potential Pacific Conference top-seeding?), it won’t have the Conference Title implications it seems to have year in and year out. BYU needs Utah to thrive, and without them I feel Provo will be even less of an “exciting” place to visit in the Fall.
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-Carlos Boozer: At Least He’s Not Terrell Owens
We all remember the circus that was Carlos Boozer last offseason. The tongue baths he gave every city/team whose radio monkeys would put him on the air was far less than appealing. He really made it easy to hate him. However, I just wanted to take a quick second and compare his mannerisms of last year to those he is portraying this year.
While last offseason Mr. Boozer could not even spell the word LOYALTY, this year is quite the opposite. In every interview he does he is quick to reference his desire to rejoin the Jazz, and calls them “his team” and uses grouping words such as “we, us, ours” when referring to both himself and the Jazz. AND THEY AREN’T EVEN HIS TEAM ANY MORE!!! He is politically correct, mature, and even loyal this time around when discussing his free agency plans. Everything a Jazz fan wanted from Carlos Boozer in the past, he is displaying currently.
Now, you may question whether or not he is being sincere or honest. That is more than fair, in my opinion. He’s never had the George Washington “I cannot tell a lie” persona. But let me say this: Remember how he left Cleveland high and dry to come to Utah? Well, so does Carlos Boozer. And so does his agent. They’re not idiots. They know that this offseason is the Year of the Prodigy, and Boozer is second-tier. So, he may be blowing smoke, but smoke is better than fire. Meaning, teams are more likely to sign him if he’s lovable. If their fan base can get behind him and fall in love with him, Carlos Boozer will provide his new team with profits.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Even if it’s cliché and cheesy, Boozer has in fact matured. He DOES know loyalty, and I may dare say he learned that when the Jazz refused to trade him last season. They remained LOYAL to the commitment they had made to Boozer. Also, last offseason Boozer was going through A LOT personally. His marriage was falling apart, and divorce looked imminent. But his personal life is now in order, and his marriage is “in a good place,”according to Carlos. While his actions and words may drip with insincerity, the way he is conducting himself THIS offseason is sure making it hard to have a case to still hate him.

Major League Baseball Projections 2010

2010-04-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

Here are my predictions for the final standings in Major League Baseball this season:

American League

-WEST
1.Angels
2.Mariners
3.Rangers
4.A's

-CENTRAL
1.Twins
2.White Sox
3.Tigers
4.Royals
5.Indians

-EAST
1.Yankees
2.Red Sox***
3.Rays
4.Orioles
5.Blue Jays
(***wild card)

National League

-WEST
1.Rockies
2.Dodgers***
3.Giants
4.Diamondbacks
5.Padres
(***wild card)

-CENTRAL
1.Cardinals
2.Cubs
3.Astros
4.Brewers
5.Pirates
6.Reds

-EAST
1.Phillies
2.Mets
3.Braves
4.Marlins
5.Nationals

PLAYOFFS:
-ALDS
Yankees defeat Red Sox***/6 games
Angels defeat Twins /6 games
-ALCS
Yankees defeat Angels /5 games

-NLDS
Phillies defeat Dodgers***/5 games
Cardinals defeat Rockies /6 games
-NLCS
Phillies defeat CArdinals/6 games

WORLD SERIES:
Yankees defeat Phillies /7 games

NCAA Tournament: The Mascot Bracket

2010-03-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

March Madness is finally here again!!! That special time of year when both adults and kids play hookie from school/work and glue their eyeballs to college basketball tournament games, hoping to see every "shining moment" that the win-or-go-back-to-your-final-exams format of a college playoff provides.

While we all love to see a George Mason run to the Final Four, or a Bucknell defeating Kansas in the second round, or even the awkward Jimmy V search-for-someone-to-hug celebration lap after an unlikely victory in the championship game.....it really doesn't help our social status at work/school/church/social media sites. If you're at all like me, you put a lot of thought and energy into preparing your "Brackets" every year, hoping to pull off that miracle of correctly selecting every winner in the tournament and receiving heaps of praise and respect from your peers for doing so. It's one reason I only circle the winners, and never cross out the losers. Nothing hurts me more than looking down at my work-of-art bracket and seeing giant red x's over my incorrect selections.....

So, in lieu of feeding you numbers AND analogies AND offensive efficiency vs defensive efficiency statistics AND why Cornell is this year's George Mason AND why Kentucky is better than Kansas AND whether or not BYU will finally get out of the first round (every year I promise myself I won't choose them....every year I forget that promise and stupidly pencil them in as winners....) AND how Syracuse is peaking at the right time AND so on AND so on AND so on.....I'm going to give you a completely different approach of how to fill in your brackets and win the office pool. An approach of innocent, juvenile, even childish proportions. One which Charles Darwin would have a hard time arguing with. My friends, I give you, The Mascot Bracket: The Food Chain Never Fails.

The rules are very simple. Make your picks based on which team's mascot would win a real life fight against the other. Throw out all knowledge of basketball and numbers you may have. Forget the fact that a 16th seed has never defeated a 1st seed. It doesn't matter. All you need to have is a general knowledge of the Animal Kingdom and how it works. Here's what I mean...

In the opening round Maryland takes on Houston. The Terapins (a turtle) against the Cougars. Obviously, a turtle has no shot against a Cougar. Hence, you would select Houston to win that game....etc. Get it?

After I went through and filled out my bracket this way, I have predicted the National Champion this season to be the St. Mary's Gaels. After all, who controls the elements? God. And no one can defeat God.

I did have a couple situations where Tigers met Tigers, Cougars met Cougars, or Aggies vs Aggies. In this case, I chose to eliminate both teams, assuming they would both kill each other in a fight. You may choose any other method you'd like, such as rock-paper-scissors, coin flipping, whose team colors are better, or even witch craft. It's up to you.

So, in conclusion, it doesn't matter who has the most potential NBA players on their team, or the best coach, or the most talent....all you need ask yourself is whether or not a Demon Deacon can beat up a Longhorn. Or if a Golden Eagle can hold its own when cornered by a Huskie. Or if a Buckeye plant could poison a Guacho.

Just remember, if anyone asks why you're picking Vermont to upset Syracuse in the first round, remind them that an Orange has no arms, legs, or even a brain, and therefore could not properly defend itself against the viscious Catamount of Vermont (Wildcat).

Go Gaels!!!

John Stockton vs Steve Nash

2010-02-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

Ignore all the references. This was a paper I wrote for school as well, so I had to document. Thanks!

The one holds the record for most steals and assists in a career. The other has won two MVP trophies.
One played with arguably the greatest power forward to ever bounce a basketball. The other has been teammates of Shaquille O’Neal, Amare Stoudemire, and Dirk Nowitzki, a few of the greatest players at their respective positions.
He made basketball relevant in an irrelevant state, while he turned a nation’s attention from hockey to hoops.
The older one has two Olympic Gold medals, while the younger recently lit the Olympic cauldron for the Vancouver Winter games.
The one has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. The other? Someday soon.
Neither of them have won an NBA championship. One of them still has a chance.

The comparisons between point guards John Stockton and Steve Nash have been well documented and reiterated time and again, and that will probably never change. Ever. They are both very similar to one another, from their playing technique right down to their physical attributes and nice-guy demeanor. Many a sports columnist has tried to separate the two and convince the masses that one is better than the other. At first glance, this seems to be an insurmountable task. How can you choose between the two best point guards of all-time and list one above the other?
It’s easy, actually. The numbers don’t lie…….
John Stockton was born in Spokane, WA. His father owned a local sports bar and raised him with a blue-collar work ethic and tough-as-nails, never-say-die attitude. This didn’t only apply on the basketball court, but in the classroom and at home as well. He attended Gonzaga Prep High School, and later played college ball at Gonzaga University. In 1984, Stockton was selected 16th overall in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.

What first comes to mind about John Stockton are three unlikely attributes you usually don’t find in an NBA legend. His height (or lack thereof): He was listed as 6’1”-though he was more likely just over six feet-and played in a league stacked with giants. (the average height of an NBA player is 6’7”) (NBA.com, 2006-07 Player Survey) After this you’ll notice he didn’t really include fancy or flashy technique in his game play. Sam Smith of EPSN.com put it this way: “He doesn't dribble behind his back or through his legs. He doesn't crossover. His highlight reel features primarily bounce passes and layups. Despite evidence to the contrary these days, that's basketball.”(NBA.com, Encyclopedia) Finally, unlike most basketball stars, John Stockton never dunked the ball. He preferred the fundamental, ordinary lay up shot off the glass to the high flying rim rockers one would see multiple times in a game today.

Despite these shortcomings, John Stockton was able to amass enough assists (15,806) and steals (315) over his career to hold the NBA record for both statistics. He led the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals championship runs (1997 and 1998), where they lost, both times, to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Stockton helped both teammate Karl Malone and coach Jerry Sloan further their careers and reach Hall of Fame honors (Sloan last summer; Malone this coming June). He made everyone around him better, by sharing the ball and picking apart defenses.

On the world stage, Stockton joined the USA Olympic Basketball team and earned two Gold Medals: 1992 and 1996. These teams came to be widely known as the “Dream Team,” because there were eleven of the Top 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time on the team, including Stockton and Malone. (Hoopedia.com, NBA 50 Greatest Players) This team beat every opponent they played by an average of 44 points, just to give you an idea of how good they really were.
Stockton was also named to ten All-Star games, and won the All-Star MVP award in 1993 (co-MVP with teammate Karl Malone). (Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

As mentioned earlier, even if you were not privileged to have witnessed John Stockton play the game of basketball in your lifetime, all you need to do is look at his career statistics, and you’ll have a firm grasp of what kind of player he was. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Stockton made 52% of his field goals, 83% of his free throws, had 15,806 assists (#1 all time leader), and 315 steals (#1 all time leader) over his 19 year career. These are astonishing numbers, and have vaulted him into the argument that he is the best point guard to ever play the game.

Then there’s Steve Nash. A player who can give Stockton some competition for this grand title…..

Nash was born in South Africa, and later moved to and became a citizen of Canada, where he grew up in Vancouver, B.C. (Steve recently was chosen to light the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver). His father was a professional soccer player, and gave Steve his natural athletic ability and hard-nosed toughness.

While most kids coming from Canada play hockey and soccer, Steve found he had a true joy for basketball (though he is also well known as a very skilled soccer player), and played for Santa Clara college. He was drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He has spent his career with both the Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.

Something that often goes unnoticed when comparing Steve Nash and John Stockton is that they both played college basketball in the West Coast Conference, where each of them became two of only four players in history to lead the conference in scoring and assists in the same season. (NBA.com, Player Files/Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

In two different seasons (2004-05, 2005-06) Nash was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA. In those years he made, on average, 51% of his field goals, 90% of his free throws, had 1,687 assists, and amassed 137 steals. Nash has been named to seven All-Star games.
He was, at one time or another, teammates of NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, and Amare Stoudemire. Also, in each of the last five years, Nash has been one of the top three assists leaders in the NBA. (ESPN.com, NBA Statistics)

Finally, while he hasn’t been to the NBA Finals yet, every year his team is considered to be contenders to win the Western Conference title and change that statistic.

As you can see, both Nash and Stockton are very well fit and skilled as point guards in the NBA. They are about the same height and weight. They have both played with great teammates who have helped elevate their own personal games. Neither player has won a championship, nor do they ever dunk the basketball. At this moment, things may seem too evenly matched to make a decision between the two. However, there are a few key arguments that need to be made here, and they are in favor of John Stockton.

First of all, while Nash may have a better career free throw percentage and has won two MVP awards, neither of these statistics compare with the record setting performance Stockton displayed in his career in regards to assists and steals.

As a point guard, your job is to get the team to work together in the offensive game-plan, smoothly and collectively. Your goal is not to score a lot of points yourself, but to make smart and timely passes to teammates who can then have a higher probability of scoring, as they will most likely be closer to the basket. That is to say, the point guard will usually stay farther away from the basket, and thus his chances of making a shot are drastically lower than that of his teammates’ who usually are closer in proximity to the hoop. That being said, the assist statistic is the one area that defines the duty of a point guard. Get the ball to the best player, at the right time, who will give your team the best opportunity to score. Having done this 15,806 times in his career, Stockton has clearly left no room for comparison in regards to assists (the next closest player behind Stockton on the career assists chart is Jason Kidd with 10,742. Nash is 8th all time with 8,167.) (Basketball-Reference.com, Leaders)

The second point that needs to be made in arguing Stockton as the better of the two point guards is that he statistically made everyone around him better than they had been previous to being his teammate. One of many examples of this would be Bryon Russell.

Bryon Russell was a fine basketball player at California State University, Long Beach. After being drafted by the Jazz, he enjoyed nine full seasons in Utah with John Stockton as his point guard. While on the team, Russell averaged 497 shots per season, and made an average of 47% of those shots. After leaving Utah and playing for three other teams, Russell averaged only 267 shots per season, and was successful on only 37% of them. With Stockton as his point guard, Russell was taking more shots per season, which shows that Stockton was able to create more open shots for him. This is backed by the shooting percentage statistic which shows Russell made 47% of his shots while in Utah; a direct result of his being wide open because of Stockton’s ability to draw defenders in close to him, and then pass it to the unguarded Russell. The statistics show that once Russell left Utah and had point guard other than Stockton passing him the ball and running his team’s offense, Russell was no longer shooting the ball as well, or as often. This was undoubtedly due to the fact that the guards he was then playing with were unable to create as many open shots for him as Stockton had earlier in Bryon’s career. (Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

As stated earlier, the numbers do not lie. Yes, Steve Nash is a fantastic point guard in his own right. He does even have very similar game techniques and statistics comparable to those of John Stockton. However, the assists record Stockton holds, and the statistics which show Stockton actually made other players around him better, prove that John Stockton was indeed the better point guard between the two. He is a legend, and will forever be etched in the history books as one of the greatest players to ever enter the NBA. While Nash will surely retire with grand accolades of his own and a spot in the Hall of Fame, he will never be able to statistically conquer the great John Stockton.

ESPN.com's Mock NBA Lottery Draft 2010

2010-02-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

ESPN.com (Chad Ford) has a page where you can simulate the lottery picks for the upcoming NBA draft. I ran it ten times, and here are the results the Utah Jazz came out with:

PICK #
#6: 70%
#7: 20%
#3: 10%

PLAYER
Wes Johnson (Syracuse, SF): 50%
Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest, SF): 40%
DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky, PF): 10%

Wes Johnson's career stats:
http://stats.syracuse.com/cbk/players.asp?id=60093&team=553
Al-Farouq Aminu's career stats:
http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wake/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/career-stats0809
DeMarcus Cousin's career stats:
http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Cousins_DeMarcus.html

-By the looks of this system, the Jazz are thought to be looking for a small forward; this thought process is most likely driven by the recent departure of Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko's contract expires in 2012, and past AK on the depth chart there really isn't another TRUE small forward on the roster.
-Stating the Obvious: Don't get your hopes up about Cousins; he'll be gone LONG before the Jazz make it to the podium
-Previous to this season, I would have thought the Jazz would be looing for a shooting guard this draft, with Korver going elsewhere, CJ Miles is not working out, and there was no such thing as a Wesley Mathews. However, Korver has certainly proven he's vital to the team's success (I think the Jazz will resign him), and Mathews came out of nowhere and made a name for himself as well. And then there's Miles, who for whatever reason, seems to be a favorite of Jerry Sloan, so.....
-Whatever happens, it's still a long way off in the future. But still kind of fun to play around with......

INTERESTING NOTES:
-In all ten mock drafts, the New Jersey Nets had the #1 pick, and all ten times selected PG John Wall of Kentucky.

-In all ten mock drafts, PG Evan Turner of Ohio State was selected #2 overall, and DeMarcus Cousins (see above) #3 overall.

Hot Rod Hundley: The Pro, The Man, The Friend We All Love

2010-01-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

SALT LAKE CITY, UT-
"Hot" Rod Hundley has been one of the biggest inspirations to me and my career choice of play by play announcer. While I'm just starting out, I have an absolute knowledge that his techniques and catch-phrases gave me my love for sports announcing, and they will follow me throughout both my professional and personal life. There are many things that could be said about him, but to me, these are the reasons why I hold him in such reverence:

When I think of Hundley, I think of one of the greatest friends I've ever had. He was in my life from the day I was born (as I'm sure my dad had the game on the radio or TV). Every night I'd fall asleep listening to his velvet, gravelly tones paint a beautiful picture of an amazing sport, straining to stay awake so I could hear his every word. When I was playing basketball in the driveway, I was John Stockton, and provided my every move with poorly mimicked "Hot" Rod announcing.

He was always there for me, during both the good and the bad times. Anytime I did something right or accomplished a goal, he was there that night to "congratulate" me with his West Virginian drawl. He was there (in one way or another) when I drove a car by myself for the first time; on my first date; my first kiss; my first heartbreak; every illness I ever had; the night my grandmother died, he helped make everything a little better; when I just had a plain, bad day, "Hots" was there to remind me life was good.

Point is, Larry H. Miller, John Stockton, Karl Malone, (even Jeff Hornacek), they all helped provide me with an excellent NBA team to love and cheer for. But "Hot" Rod Hundley made sure that I was able to KNOW about that team. To be a PART of that team, and every game that team played for 35 YEARS!! (23 of those during my lifetime)For that, he IS the Utah Jazz to me. And he will always be the broadcaster I try to emulate (though not replicate, as you cannot replicate a legend) through my career. If I'm ever blessed enough to be even HALF the broadcaster Hundley was, I will count it as a full life. And I'll owe it to the man whose words, voice and pure love for the game have been right there with me, through it all. "Hot" Rod... I love ya baby!
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"You're lookin' live on a ____ night, coming to you from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Jazz match up with the _________. NBA basketball is coming up next, and YOU GOTTA LOVE IT BABY!"

"With a gentle push, and a mild arc, the ol' cowhide globe hits home.”

“Stock, yo-yos, top of the key...”

“Leapin’ leaner”

“Hippity-hop”

“Good if it goes!”

“Frozen rope”

“Belt-high dribble”

“It’s in the ol’ refrigerator.”

“Looking down the barrel”

"Unbelievable."

"I cannot believe he just did that."

"Stockton to Malone."

"Russell to Stockton, Stock for 3! Stock, got it! Unbelievable!!! JOHN STOCKTON!It's over! The Jazz win it! Utah goes to Chicago! Stockton hits the 3, it's over! The Jazz are coming to Chicago! They've won the West!!!"

Grizzlies Dethrone the Reign

2009-12-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

West Valley, UT- “We don’t see things the way they are. We see things the way WE are.”- The Talmund

Although the Grizzlies were 13-6 coming into their Friday night matchup with the Ontario Reign, you would think they were 0-19 judging by the gloom that has seemed to be hanging over the team as of late. Granted, Utah did give up six goals last time out, escaping with a narrow 7-6 win over the Reign. And head coach Kevin Colley hasn't exactly been silent about his feelings that some members of the team have been playing "soft and scared." But shouldn't they be encouraged by the overall record to this point?

Perhaps a big home win could prove to be enough to allow Utah to shake their current Eeyore-like demeanor. But just 19 seconds into the first period, those rain clouds looked as though they would grow into a monsoon.

Ontario took the opening faceoff quickly down the ice, and before the Utah defense could even get back in the zone, James McEwan scored his first goal of the season, slapping the first shot of the game past Grizzlies goalie Mitch O'Keefe, giving the Reign a very early 1-0 lead. O'Keefe got the start between the pipes, despite giving up the afore mentioned six goals on Wednesday night to the same Ontario team.

Luckily, Utah did not panic.

The Grizzlies responded well, outshooting the Reign 6-3 over the next six minutes. And at 6:31, the offensive push paid off. Wingman Jadran Beljo scored his 8th goal of the season off passes from May and Kotsopoulos, tying the game at 1-1.

Kinasewich then added to his 17 shots in his first two games back with Utah by continuously pounding slap shots on goal throughout the first period. Fellow forward Vlady Nikiforov also refused to let Ontario get comfortable, putting two big shots on goal and keeping the Reign's defense on their heels. A direct result of challenging the defense usually is the creation of power plays, and that's exactly what the Grizzlies were able to do for the rest of the first period.

With 3:13 left in the frame, Ontario was called for a tripping minor, giving the ECHL's power play scoring leader Grizzlies a chance to display their strengths. And while it took the Reign just 19 seconds off the opening drop to score their first goal of the game, it took Utah a mere 17 seconds into their first power play to get goal number two of the night, as RW Shea Guthrie scored off passes from Dustin Friesen and May, giving May his second assist of the game. And at the first intermission, the Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead into the locker room.

Going into the second period, Utah picked up right where they left off when Tom May added a goal to his two assists just 2:31 into the period. And the Grizzlies weren't about to stop there. Not after seeing the Reign score 3 goals in 1:41 Wednesday night.

Sticking with their game plan, Utah forced Ontario to committ a hooking minor at 5:43, givng the Grizzlies another five-on four advantage. Moving quickly down the ice, darting in and out of defenders, Shea Guthrie took the puck coast to coast and buried it in the back of the net for an unassisted second goal of the game. Now leading 4-1, Utah fans in the E-Center were still hesitant to feel satisfied, no doubt remembering the previously noted six goals the Reign put on the board Wednesday night.

With a few minutes left in the period, Ontario proved that uneasy feeling to be well merited, as they were able to add another pelt to their collection of goals in West Valley, closing the gap to 4-2, and closing out the second period with the momentum now in their favor.

But if the Reign thought they were going to mount another stunning comeback against the Grizzlies, they would soon have those plans dashed to pieces, as the third period proved to be all-Grizzlies. Capped off with a goal by Nikiforov (his 20th of the year) and another assist for May (giving him a four point night). Forward A.J. Perry was also able to add an empty-netter, and Utah poured the rain out on the Reign, finding the morale-boosting victory they had been looking for.

Though he wasn't whistling Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah in his post game interview, Grizzlies head coach Kevin Colley certainly was in better spirits than he had been in recent days. "This is definitely a better feeling than we've had for the last while.
Anytime guys had an opportunity they made the most of it, and that's all you can ask out of them."

Utah will next welcome Idaho, their neighbors to the north, into the E-Center Saturday night. The Steelheads lost 6-1 to the Alaska Aces on Friday, and after a quick trip down I-15 are not likely to be in the cheeriest of moods. If you like physical, hard-hitting, short tempered hockey, this will be the game to watch.

Notice to the Steelheads: Grizzlies enjoy the taste of fish.

Austin Horton
1230 KFAN-2 (KJQS)

Aces Run Wild Over Grizzlies

2009-11-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

WEST VALLEY, UT- The puck had barely been dropped to the ice when the Alaska Aces scored the first goal of the night, taking the opening faceoff into the Grizzlies’ zone and driving a slap shot past goalie Parker Van Buskirk. This was not exactly the “rebound start” Utah’s coaching staff had been hoping to see from the Grizzlies after a disappointing loss the night prior to the same Aces team.

Utah did welcome back forward Ryan Kinasewich after he spent the majority of his two weeks in the AHL on the Hamilton Bulldogs’ bench. Kinasewich reassumed his position as team captain, and brought with him a ray of hope to a Utah scoring campaign that had decreased significantly since his departure. Kinasewich leads the ECHL in both goals and game-winning goals, and while most around the team are puzzled as to why Hamilton would have called Kinasewich up only to have him ride the pine, they are certainly happy to have him and his hot stick back in West Valley and in a Grizzlies’ uniform.

However, Friday night’s game proved to be an ugly homecoming.

Following the early strike by the Aces, Kinasewich wasted no time firing the puck back at Alaska’s net, as he had five of Utah’s eleven shots on goal in the first period. Problem was, none of the Grizzlies’ shots landed home, and Alaska (who came into West Valley as a below .500 team) added another goal. After the quick first period, the Aces led 2-0.

And things didn’t start off any better in the second period than they did in the first, as Alaska put a third goal past Van Buskirk less than one minute after play had resumed. That forced Utah coach Kevin Colley to replace Van Buskirk with Mitch O’Keefe, who had an eight game win streak snapped by the Aces in the loss the night prior.

Not even two minutes after the change, Alaska was called for a slashing minor, and Utah went on the 5-4 man advantage. The ensuing face off was won by the Grizzlies, and Tom May followed a rebound shot for Utah’s first goal of the game, cutting the Aces lead to two. But the sparkling momentum proved to be merely fools’ gold, as the Grizzlies would fail to score another goal until late in the third period.

Behind the outstanding play of goalie Scott Reed (who entered the game having stopped 82 of Utah’s last 86 shots on goal in their previous three meetings, and ended the night with 42 saves) the Aces began to run wild. They even managed to pour in a five-on-three short handed goal as part of their three goal second period. As the horn ending the frame sounded, Alaska headed to the locker room leading 6-1, and most of the spectators at the E-Center headed to the parking lot, perhaps finding refuge in a big Jazz win over the visiting Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City.

With both teams having seemingly decided this particular hockey game had ended in the second period with the Aces’ sixth goal of the contest, the third period panned out to be a relatively quite one. Aside from a few scuffles and a meaningless second feel-good goal by the Grizzlies, the game ended without any momentum swings or pushing drives for Utah, and the Aces left the state for the last time in ’09 with a 6-2 victory.

The Grizzlies will now have to find a way to bounce back quickly from such an ugly loss, as they head into a December schedule that has Utah playing feared Idaho Steelheads three times (once on the road), a team that is far and beyond the favorite to win the ECHL championship. Also, coach Kevin Colley mentioned in his post game interview that changes would need to be made to the team, as he didn’t see “more than a few players who were willing to stick up for their teammates.” Whether he meant line adjustments or flat out trades, either way this Utah team has their work cut out for them, and not knowing who will be playing and when may prove to be a major road bump in their season.

But then again, if they can pick it back up quickly, this stretch may be less grisly for the Grizzlies than Friday night’s outcome.

Austin Horton
860 AM/1230 KFAN-2/1320 KFAN

Giants-Broncos, Thanksgiving night 2009

2009-11-26T23:28:00.000-08:00

DENVER, CO-As far as tryptophan is concerned, there was not an adequate dosage available for New York Giants fans on Thanksgiving night, as their team lossed badly to the surprisingly competitive Denver Broncos, 26-6.

Both squads came into the final game of the holiday with 6-4 records (the Broncos having lost 4 in a row). While that many wins was more than any of Denver's followers might have expected even by the end of the season, no one figured the Giants, just one season removed from becoming Super Bowl champs, would be struggling this badly on both sides of the ball. Especially with Eli Manning (whom they gave an astoundingly large amount of money in a new contract extension last summer) at the helm. But when you score more field goals than touchdowns-or when you fail to score even ONE touchdown- in a game, history says you'll most likely lose.

Behind Kyle Orton's arm (yes, THAT Kyle Orton) and a strong defensive outing, the Broncos looked as though they had made a deal with the devil and switched lives with New York. Denver flat out dominated the Giants in every statistical area of the game, both offensively and defensively. And halfway through the fourth quarter, after Denver went up by twenty, it was evident that on this Thanksgiving night, the G in G-men stood for Garbage.

Elvis Dumervil, Denver's fourth year defensive end, wrapped up the evening addressing the story that the team had held a players-only meeting previously in the week by offering a huge grin to the reporter and stating, "...I'm just grateful for everything tonight; especially a win over the Giants." Clearly, whatever was ailing the Broncos, Mr. Dumervil believes it has gone the way of Thanksgivings past.
For those Giants fans who were listening to the game over the radio waves, some escape from the torture was provided when the broadcast was momentarily knocked off the air shortly following Eli Manning's game-icing interception. However, for those fans who were unfortunate enough to have been viewing the game on television, perhaps a healthy helping of leftover turkey, coupled with a glass of warm milk, would have been the route to take.
All in all, the Broncos kept their playoff hopes alive (at least for this week), while helping themselves to a Giant(s) holiday feast.

Austin Horton
1230 KFAN-2

NFL Thursday on Fox Radio: Carolina vs Miami, 11-19-09

2009-11-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

I decided to start blogging some of the games that I get to produce for the radio station I've been moonlighting at. It's a sports station in Salt Lake called KFAN. It's actually the highest rated station in the state, and the flagship station for the Utah Jazz (this really is quite a big deal; I'm very lucky to start my career off at such a great launching pad). Anyway, here's the first entry: The Thursday night game in the NFL between the Dolphins and Panthers, which I produced on the air (1230 AM KFAN-2)

CHARLOTTE, NC- The Miami Dolphins swam into North Carolina Thursday night weathering the tidal wave that was caused by the news that star running back Ronnie Brown would require season ending surgery to repair an injured ankle. Not only that, but they also have been going at it with a rookie at quarterback and a kick returner as their main receiver. The Panthers, who have been bogged down by the less than stellar play of quarterback Jake Delhomme, were all but salivating in anticipation of what could have been a strong, rallying win for their team. However, the Dolphins' once-retired RB Ricky Williams had other plans in mind....

The starting kickoff resulted in great field position for the Panthers after the Dolphins' Dan Carpenter slipped as he connected with the ball. Carolina then drove far enough for a John Kasay field goal, and the score at the end of the first quarter was 3-0 Panthers.
But that was about all the good that occurred for Carolina in the entire first half of play (they did knock in a second field goal). Ricky Williams took a handoff and a pass from Chad Henne all the way for scores, and the Dolphin defense sacked Delhomme twice in the first and once more in the second quarter. The Dolphins went into the locker room leading 14-3.

In the second half Carolina seemed to wake up a bit, no doubt spurned by their home crowd fans' boos and criticisms in reaction to the poor effort the Panthers had displayed to that point. After holding Miami to a field goal on their first posession in the third, the Panthers took control of the momentum. DeAngelo Williams took a delayed handoff up the middle for 39 yards. Two plays later, Delhomme connected with Smith in the end zone for six. With the score now 17-12, head coach John Fox kept his offense on the field, opting to go for two rather than kick the extra point. It proved to be the right decision, as Williams dove across the goal line to convert the try. The crowd was alive, the players were walking with swagger, and Carolina seemed to have turned the corner on the way to a home victory. But, as mentioned before, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas knew just how to spoil the party.

The Panthers defense forced Miami into an almost must-convert third down with six minutes left in the game. Chad Henne dropped back in the pocket, avoided one tackler and threw a laser to the tight end Hartline for a gain of 13 and the first down conversion. As Miami ran to the line, Henne went to the sidelines, leaving Williams in the slot for the snap. Out of that Wildcat formation, Williams took the ball and scampered 46 yards for his third touchdown of the game, and completely deflated the hopes of a comeback win for Carolina.

Although the Panthers tried to make it a game late in the fourth, making another field goal and closing the gap to a score, they were unable to come up with the onside kick. Not that the game was over then by any stretch. Miami failed to convert a first down, and Carolina took the ball back with 54 seconds left. After Delhomme connected with Smith over the middle to the Miami 45, Carolina spiked the ball and set up for one last end zone heave. Delhomme's desperation throw had the distance it needed, but Miami's defense knocked it down, and time expired. The Dolphins escaped Carolina with a 24-17 win.

Following the game, Miami linebacker Joey Porter mused over the affects Ricky Williams' performance had on the outcome of the game. With a chuckle in his voice, Porter said, "Ricky ran the ball like he was 25 again."

-Austin Horton
1230 AM
KFAN 2

****Let me know if you like it, please. Thanks*****

I love Rick Reilly essays!

2009-07-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

Rick Reilly used to write a weekly column in Sports Illustrated. He is the best writer I've ever read, and he doesn't just write about sports. It's all related to life, and this is the best one he's written.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
In 25 years I've been to at least 1,000 press conferences. World Series, Super Bowls, prizefights -- huge rooms full of tough guys. But the most gripping press conference, the most unforgettable one, was last Thursday in a little room in Grand Junction, Colo., starring a guy as skinny as a two-iron.

That was when 27-year-old adventurer Aron Ralston described for the world how he had saved his life by cutting off his lower right arm with a dull pocketknife.

For five days Ralston's arm was pinned by an 800-pound boulder -- after he'd lowered himself off it, the boulder had shifted onto his arm -- in a forbidding three-foot-wide crevice in the remote Bluejohn Canyon in southeastern Utah. He tried everything to move the boulder, throwing his body at it, chipping away at it. The thing didn't budge.

On the third day, out of food and water and ideas, he stared at his cheap multiuse tool, the kind you get free with a $15 flashlight, and realized what he had to do. He used a pair of cycling shorts for a tourniquet, picked up the knife, took a deep breath and began sawing into his own skin.

The blade was too dull to even do that. "Wouldn't even cut my arm hairs," he said.

Still, for two more days, he kept at it -- through skin, muscle and agony. As he spoke, his parents, Donna and Larry, sitting on either side of him, wept quietly. Donna held Aron's left hand under the table. Hardened members of the media, people who'd covered wars, were crying, but Aron didn't cry. He told his story like a man describing how he had fixed his lawnmower.

But imagine it. How do you keep slicing into yourself against unthinkable pain, when you know it's you inflicting that pain? "I felt pain," he said with a half smile. "I coped. I moved on." Then he stopped cutting. He had to. He couldn't get through the bone.

Now, even for a Carnegie Mellon honors grad, a former mechanical engineer for Intel, a man who has climbed solo 45 peaks of at least 14,000 feet, all in winter, often after midnight, usually without oxygen canisters, GPS or radio, this seemed a problem he couldn't solve. "I needed a bone saw."

Alternating between depression and visions of family members, friends and dreams of "tall, tasty margaritas," getting a "kind of peace" from the idea of death and yet willing himself on, a revelation suddenly came to him: "It occurred to me that if I could break my bones up at the wrist, where they were trapped, I could be freed."

It occurred to you? It occurred to you that if you snapped the bones of your own arm, this would be a solution?

Sorry, but if it's me, I'm dead. Bring on the wolves and the vultures. Let the winds spread my remains over the sandstone. In fact I'm pretty sure I don't even saw into my arm. I weep when removing a Garfield Band-Aid.

But not Aron Ralston. He found a way to live. "All the desires, joys and euphorias of a future life came rushing into me," he said. "Maybe this is how I handled the pain. I was so happy to be taking action."

It took him most of the morning, but -- and how often do you get to write this sentence? -- he was finally able to break the wrist bones in half. Yes, he did. Using torque and the strength he had left, the man purposely broke two bones in his already flayed arm. As he described that, everyone in the room forgot to blink, scribble, breathe.

Though he declined to describe what he had to do next, there is only one thing Ralston could've done -- and a hospital official later explained this: He would've had to stretch his body away from that trapped hand to separate the broken ends of those bones. That would be the only way to make a path for the pocketknife to pass through.

Who's hungry?

That done, "it took about an hour," he said, to finish the amputation. Amazing. The man sawed off a body part and timed himself.

Finally free, the mountain-shop worker from Aspen crawled through that narrow, winding stretch of canyon, rappelled 60 feet down a cliff and hiked about six miles, all with one arm and one profusely bleeding stump, until he met what had to be two horrified Dutch hikers.

Ralston may never play concert piano again (he minored in performance piano composition at Carnegie Mellon), but he vows to keep exploring every inch of the West, as did the great John Wesley Powell, for whom Lake Powell is named -- the great one-armed explorer, John Wesley Powell.

They call Ralston an extreme athlete, but the courage and will he displayed over those five days is not extreme, it's legendary. Don't care who you meet, you'll never find anybody tougher than this guy. After the press conference, back in his hospital room, he said, "I wish I could've been funnier."

Yeah, Aron. Next time, can you do something to liven it up?

Issue date: May 19, 2003

Rick Reilly, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, has been voted National Sportswriter of the Year eight times. His latest book, Who's Your Caddy?, his misadventures caddying for tour pros like Jack Nicklaus and David Duval, hit bookstores in May. He is also the author of the best-selling compliation The Life of Reilly, and the cult classic golf novel, Missing Links, as well as five other books.

Most Exciting Moment In Sports

2009-06-06T17:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, so most anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sports freak. I don't care what sport it is (though I do have my favorites), if it's on TV I'm probably watching it.

That said, I've seen a lot of exciting plays and moments in sports. There have been buzzer beating shots in basketball, returned kickoffs and fumbles where you'd swear the ball was covered in dish soap in football, shootouts in soccer, fights in hockey, TKO's in boxing, a phenomenally long rally in tennis, and many more.

However, today I've realized the MOST exciting moment in sports is in fact the walk-off homerun in baseball.

(Walk-off homerun: a batter hits the ball over the fence to take the lead in the bottom of the last inning in a game.)

Today, the Dodgers and Phillies were playing on Fox13. I turned the TV on just as LA was coming to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 2-1. Rafael Furcal hit a pinch-hit homerun into right field, JUST out of the long reach of Phillies right-fielder Jayson Werth and tied the game 2-2. Then, in the bottom of the 12th inning, Andre Ethier, the Dodgers' right-fielder took a fast ball to the deepest point in the park and won the game. The sheer joy and excitement of moments like this never change. They are all equally satisfying and/or excruciating, depending on which team you're cheering for, but they are always exciting! The players make this even more evident as they act like they've just won the World Series every time this happens, even if it's a middle of the week day game against the Nationals. It's just plain fun!

Anyway, if you don't agree with me, you should at least check out this link to a video of the greatest walk off homer ever!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=42851829

Background: With a stomach virus and injuries to both legs sustained during the League Championship Series, Gibson was not expected to play at all. In Game 1, on October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers trailing by a score of 4–3, Mike Davis on first, and two out in the ninth inning, manager Tommy Lasorda inserted Gibson as a pinch hitter.

Gibson hobbled up to the plate to face Oakland's future Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley. The rest is history.....

Jazz vs Rockets Mar 24

2009-03-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

So tonight I didn't have anything to do, so I sat down to watch the Jazz and Rockets basketball game. (OK, even if I had had something to do, I STILL would have sat down and watched the Jazz game) During the second quarter, I kind of started to notice that Houston seemed to be passing the ball a lot less than the Jazz were. This surprised me, because ever since the Rockets' star player Tracy McGrady went down with an injury, all everyone has said is how much better of a team the Rockets are now without him because they pass the ball more and play "team" basketball. (Insinuating that McGrady is a ball hog and tries to do it all by himself)

So, at halftime, I decided to grab a pen and some paper and keep track of some stats for the second half. I kept track of the following stats:

-How many passes the team made before shooting the ball
-How much time was left on the 24 second shot clock when they shot the ball
-Fouls, and how many points each team gave up because of them
-Made/missed shots
-Turnovers

Well, if you're still reading this, you must be interested enough for me to finish; at the end of the game I added up all the stats and decided upon 4 main arguments as to why the Jazz were able to win the game:

A) The Jazz shot 63% in the 2nd half of the game, while the Rockets only shot 40%.
-Of the 26 shots the Jazz made, 21 of them came off assists (passes)
-Of the 18 shots the Rockets made, 12 of them came off assists (passes)
B)While the Jazz turned the ball over 8 times, they remained calm and didn't panic. Meaning, they continued to stick to their game plan, work the shot clock down around 11 seconds left and make the pass needed to score more easily. In contrast, the Rockets turned the ball over 7 times, but decided to panic and go away from their game plan. They started playing a lot more one-on-one, isolation, try to drive it to the hoop every time basketball. As a result, they missed a lot of shots, had a lot of shots blocked, and ended up with a poor shooting percentage.
C)This one was BIG: Yao Ming, the humongous center for the Houston Rockets, is a very tall, muscular presence who can score with ease, and cause lots of pain on defense with tons of blocks. However, I noticed that the Jazz only committed 4 shooting fouls in the second half. This is phenomenal when you consider how good Yao Ming is around the basket. He only went to the free throw line twice in the second half!!! The Jazz did a great job defending him, as well as the perimeter.
D) Finally, the shot clock game: Utah shot 79% with the shot clock between 11 and 15 seconds left (this is the time frame in which Utah took the bulk of their shots; it also proves statistically to be the best time frame in which to score in a basketball game). The Rockets only shot 42% in that same time frame. Also, the Rockets took most of their shots early in the shot clock (16 seconds or more left on the shot clock) and only made 8 out of 19 (42%) of those shots. That they shot most often that early in the shot clock means they were rushing their shots, usually shooting after only 1 or 0 passes per possession. (passing spreads the defense, and allows guys to get open-thus creating better and more scoring opportunities)

OK, well, I'm done. Bottom line: The Jazz did what they've done all season at home, but haven't been able to do on the road. That is, remain calm and stick to the game plan (passing, working the clock, defense) even when things don't go perfectly (turnovers, fouls). The Rockets were the perfect example of how the Jazz have played on the road this season. When things started to go wrong, they started to panic and moved into an individual game, which rarely works in the NBA.

Now, if anyone read all that, WOW!!! And if anyone who is studying statistics or is a mathematician comes across this, please realize I'm only a wannabe. :) See ya!!!