Whitey & The Professor

What's New?

2008-02-26T20:00:00.002-05:00

Every once in a while life hangs a curve ball and you get to drive it over the fence. The Professor got a good swing, and planted it in the bleachers. Now it is Whitey's turn to get some chalk on his spikes.

I have two nieces and four nephews. One of my nephews became deaf at the age of two. He had a cochlea implant and has done very well. He is going to have the second implant put in in a month or so, and I have moved to Tobacco Road for the time being. Yes, I'm down here in ACC territory.

I started the process of moving thinking mostly of my sister and nephew however, the best was yet to come. Just a stones throw from the house is the TEAM USA training facility, N.C. State is a driver and a wedge from the house, and the Tar Heels are playing at the USA facility this season. There is baseball everywhere.

The best story I've heard about my nephew was from my sister. Micah went to his first baseball game two summers ago. Being from Norfolk, just down the road from the Durham Bulls, my sister loves baseball. That said, the game they attended was a pitcher's duel - not much action. After the 7th inning my sister said it was time to go. Micah asked if the game was over, to which she replied no. He wanted to watch every pitch, every play. There was no way he was getting up from this - through the 9th and into the 12th inning.

By this time my sister was assured that he would be ready to go. Not so fast my friend. And as if it was just a made up story....it had a classic ending with a walk-off home run by the Bulls, complete with fireworks. After the game on the ride home my sister asked Micah how he liked the game, and his response could bring you to tears. He said it was the first time he could understand a game. All because the umpire called balls, strikes, and outs. He didn't need to hear - he watched.

He loves baseball so I'm sure we'll see more than a few games. UNC is actually hosting Gardner -Webb this season, so the whole family will be at that game. With the second implant, Micah will be able to triangulate sound and background noise will be minimized. It's quite interesting. If you would like to read more on Micah, please check out my brother in law 's live journal the Noetic Toe. I look forward to seeing alot of baseball...and I'll have a couple of nephews in tow. I can't wait.

Reality TV?

2008-02-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

I was sitting in history class on the morning of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The teacher had cut on the TV and we were witnesses to history. It was unbelievable then, but thinking of the physics of the whole thing it's not out of the question. Space travel is very dangerous and I applaud the men and women that put their lives on the line who know all too well the danger.

The crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia knew the risk and paid the ultimate price. I watched that on the television also. I watched Discovery's night launch yesterday evening from my dock in Florida. It was like there was a small sun lighting the entire night sky, light reflecting off the water that was smooth as glass. I remember thinking how neat it was when John Glenn became the oldest person at 77 to space travel in 1998. This wasn't the first time he had gone into space, he was the first - 1962, sorry I missed that one. I hadn't been born, but I've seen it on film.

Growing up near NASA, space has always been something interesting to me. It was an annual school trip through the tunnel to Langley for the tour. I'm by no means an authority on the reasons for strapping yourself into a seat attached to a rocket. Go up and down, and risk your life with full knowledge that you could explode at anytime. Glenn returned to earth with a parachute and landed in the ocean. That's staring death in the face and grinning.

Today there is a good chance that the Rocket named Roger will explode, right on the screen, in front of all of us. The U. S. Senate is having hearings today surrounding the Mitchell Report. The reality TV is here and now. Roger Clemens has attorneys advising him, and I know that he is aware of the danger he faces. Will he invoke the Fifth? If he doesn't, he will either be telling the truth or lying. If he stays with his story, he may be in for a Federal investigation for perjury. He knows the stakes, his chips are on the table, insert your own cliche here.

Most people love a train wreck, and if your one of them, tune in today and watch one. I for one am not a rubber-necker, but for this, even I have to watch.

Pedro and The Cocks

2008-02-10T20:08:00.000-05:00

If only we had camera phones in Babe Ruth's day...

Pedro Martinez was caught on tape last week at a cock fight in the Dominican Republic which, according to Pedro, he was invited to by Juan Marichal. There appears to have been a video circulating of the two at some event (Pedro claims the video shows an evening of fun from two years ago), but the video has been removed from every site I have visited. Oh well.

Regardless, the question seems to concern the amount of ire Pedro should draw from this episode. I believe he had a legitimate reason for attending, but have no sympathy for him concerning the wrath he has brought upon himself.

The interesting aspect of this story involves the parallels drawn in certain circles between cock fighting and dog fighting - and thus the Michael Vick fiasco. Here's a quick rundown of some pertinent points:

It's part of the culture. This argument is a good one, except for the fact that cock fighting is legal in the Dominican. Thus, the Dominican Republic can be viewed as giving cock fighting a stamp of legitimacy, something dog fighting most definitely does not have here in the U.S. Notice I did not say that cock fighting is right, or morally sound, or any other term of approval. I would harbor a guess that Pedro would not attend a cock fight in say, Long Island. Michael Vick knew what he was doing was illegal. And from what I have gathered Juan Marichal is treated like a minor deity in the D.R. To refuse an invite of one of your idols to attend an event that has been approved by the country in which you were born and raised may be a bit, I don't know, strange.
Quote from Pedro: "I was invited by my idol Juan Marichal to attend the event as a spectator, not as a participant." Well, this statement has a good side and a bad side. Michael Vick wasn't technically "a participant." Or was he? He trained the dogs, bet on the dogs, funded a battle-ground for the dogs, and (purportedly) actively participated in killing more than a few dogs. I'd assume Pedro shows up at these cock fights in the off season on a lark. I doubt he returns home to breed pugilistic fowl.
What do you eat? Curiously (or sadly) this will probably save Pedro any serious backlash over this issue, although I'll bet you he sees chickens in every ballpark from now on. Here in the U.S. dogs have a status afforded no other animal save cats, and maybe horses to some degree. We eat chickens. We eat alot of chickens. We have entire restaurant chains dedicated to serving chicken. The fact that some other country allows the common folk to engage roosters in mortal combat is not going to compel us to close the Embassy. (Side note: The Chinese government has told restaurants in Beijing to stop serving or advertising dog in any way during the upcoming Olympic games.) I'd venture a guess that the cocks fighting in the Dominican are better cared for than 95% of their counterparts in the U.S. At least they are given a fighting chance...{Don't believe me? Read this.}

The argument to culture is an important one - and a dicey one. Should we impose our cultural norms upon others? Barbie dolls are illegal in Saudi Arabia. Ridiculous? Maybe. Cock fighting is a part of Dominican culture. And legal. Dog fighting is not legal in the U.S. Claiming an argument to cultural norms requires one to examine the norm. If an illegal activity can be considered the norm, such as drinking might have been during prohibition, then a society's laws more often than not change to reflect public sentiment. Often such laws are ignored and slowly no one continues to enforce them. Otherwise these actions are considered subversive and abnormal - and illegal.

Should Pedro have attended a cock fight? Probably not. Is it going to ruin his public image? Doubtful. He's Dominican. Dominicans approve of that stuff. Michael Vick is an American, and he has had to deal with American culture. Name an endorsement Pedro stands to lose. Will you refuse to go to games in which he pitches?

If you want to get really mad, check THIS OUT. This magazine, Grit and Steel, is published out of South Carolina by someone insane. The website mentions "The Pit Master," which is reassuring. It also has a reference to a Bible verse, John 13:34-35, which, of course, I looked up:

34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

I had to cross check that one twice. I'm speechless.

Whitey and Reggie Sanders

2008-02-09T13:35:00.000-05:00

Whitey's comments in a previous post concerning Reggie Sanders and his Hall of Fame credentials deserve more than the parting shot I gave them in the article. Most Reds fans remember Reggie best in a pose similar to the one on the left - on the bench.

While Sanders has some nice stats (Whitey mentioned his 300/300 HR/SB), I remember his memorable performance in the 1995 playoffs: 29 at-bats, 19 strikeouts. He eventually put up some decent post-season numbers for Arizona, San Francisco, and St. Louis - playing in the World Series for all those teams - but his overall post-season stats are less than impressive. In 14 post-season series, Reggie batted a stellar .195 in 221 at-bats. He managed 43 hits, striking out 79 times.

"Ah, but what about the regular season?" you say. Sanders' lifetime batting average is .267. He has 1666 lifetime hits - and 1614 strikeouts. His strikeout total is good enough to rank him 21st on the all-time list. #1? Reggie Jackson, with 2597 K's which is 13 more than his total hits. But which Reggie would you rather have standing at the plate in October...

Pigeons

2008-02-09T11:56:00.002-05:00

The FedEx ad featuring pigeons (which aired during the Super Bowl and can be seen HERE) piqued my interest in, well, pigeons. Growing up in Cincinnati, I had the opportunity to visit the Cincinnati Zoo on many occasions. One of the most striking exhibits is actually a memorial to the last known passenger pigeon, Martha.

Now, the ad explicitly states that the enterprising young office worker has employed carrier pigeons not passenger pigeons. Unbeknownst to me they are two different pigeons:

Passenger Pigeons are native, wild North American Pigeons while Carrier Pigeons (more appropriately known as Homing Pigeons) are domestic pigeons that were trained and used in WWII to carry messages. They are totally different birds! Homing Pigeons are still popular used today in the sport of Racing Pigeons and seldom used to carry messages today. [SOURCE]

Learn something new everyday. And in an effort to learn y'all something as well, I present the demise of two birds (from a list of eight in the book), from The New Book of Lists:

4. Passenger Pigeon, September 1, 1914
These brownish grey pigeons were once so numerous that a passing flock could darken the sky for days. As recently as 1810, an estimated 2,230,272,000 pigeons were sighted in one flock. But massive hunting by settlers and a century of forest destruction eliminated the passenger and its native forest habitat. In 1869, 7,500,000 pigeons were captured in a single nesting raid. In 1909, a $1,500 reward was offered for a live nesting pair, but none could be found. Martha, the last of the passenger pigeons, died of old age, September 1, 1914, in the Cincinnati Zoo.

5. Carolina Parakeet, February 21, 1918
The striking green and yellow Carolina parakeet was once common in the forests of the eastern and southern United States, but because of the widespread crop destruction it caused, farmers hunted the bird to extinction. The last Carolina parakeet, an old male, named Incas, died in the Cincinnati Zoo February 21, 1918. The zoo's general manager believed it died of grief over the loss of Lady Jane, its mate of 30 years, the previous summer.

This isn't meant to be an ad for the conservation efforts of the Cincinnati Zoo, but if you're ever in Cincinnati I highly advise you check the place out. My favorite is the Insect House. And since this post is apparently meandering out of my control, it ends here.

Professor's Note?

2008-02-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

I agree with the Professor on the Hall. You ARE or ARE NOT a Hall of Famer. Nobody gets a stat after retirement, so what is it that changes the voters' minds?

I do so enjoy tweaking the Professor with statements that are idiotic. I attempt to get under his skin every once in a while, just to get a rant.

You should see the looks he gives me - priceless!

Bonds Decline?

2008-02-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Spring Training is not too far off and there are a few FREE AGENTS still on the market. One flying under the radar is Barry Bonds. He is ranked as the 4th best free agent of 2008. There are only 10 free agents in the Top 50 left unsigned. Six of the unsigned are pitchers, four position players.

Ranked 24th is Shannon Stewart (33), who played left field for the A's last season for a one year, 1 million dollar contract. He played in 142 games, but after a shoulder injury he is considered a defensive liability. In 12 years of play he has 114 Home Runs, so I don't see him as a good DH.

At 25th, we have Kenny Lofton (40 years young). This guy just gets it done. 17 years, 11 teams, three times in Cleveland and still hitting at a .300 clip. You may see him in the playoffs - maybe even the League Championship.

Last, but not 50th, coming in at 46th is Reggie Sanders (40 years old). He missed the 2007 season after surgery. He is one of six guys in the 300 - 300 Club - 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, with the likes of Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Bobby Bonds, Steve Finley, and the guy at #4. We will have to see what camp he shows up in, but there is a good chance Reggie is done. Great career, and should get into Hall of Fame, but not on the first ballot.

[Professor's Note] This ridiculous claim by Whitey - that Reggie Sanders should be in The Hall - cannot go unnoted. I feel that not only is it absurd to mention Sanders and the Hall in the same sentence, it is asinine to claim he should get in "...but not on the first ballot." This rationale has existed, in much higher circles than here, for quite some time. The argument goes pretty much how Whitey put it, that some players aren't 'First Ballot' Hall of Famers.

I believe either you are a Hall of Famer or you are not. None of this first ballot bull. Again, this crap has been floated out there for years by the writers who vote. If a player is a Hall of Famer, then he's a f%$^&in' Hall of Famer. Don't wait for the year when no one automatic is up for election and you have to "vote for someone..." Screw that. Don't belittle our great game by electing mediocre players in off years. Back to Whitey...

Barry Bonds (43 years?) is the All Time Home Run King and can't get a gig. He is a liability in the field, and the clubhouse, but in the box he is as good as it gets. Chances are he is going to jail for perjury. If so the price of Bonds will drop - like a stone!

Rocket's Red Glare?

2008-02-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

After the Mitchell Report came out, I told the Professor that I was not going to comment on it until it came to a conclusion. Well, the court of public opinion has already found Roger Clemens guilty of some type of performance enhancing use. On the drive to the lunch meeting we were going to, I asked the Professor to indulge my musing on this theory.

I started by saying that I thought Brian McNamee was a weasel; the kind of guy that hangs out at the local gym pumping iron with his crew of muscle heads. In the years that McNamee worked with the Rocket I'm sure that he injected something into Roger. He has admitted to being injected. This is where it gets shady.

There are reports that seven years after the alleged action, McNamee has turned over vials, syringes, and gauze pads with steroids, HGH, and blood on them. I'm sure that they were kept in evidentiary condition.

Imagine working out and being approached by a personal trainer. He seems to have your best interests at heart, and you have the means to hire him. After working out a lot of athletes inject B-12 and lidocaine [the same thing you get at the dentist] into their system in order to speed the absorption, just like a physician would inject an antibiotic or give you an oral treatment. The injection is faster and easier on the body.

After working out with your trainer he gives you a pill that he says is a supplement, and a safe one at that. Shortly thereafter you are recovering at a good rate and working harder in your sessions. Like most people in the world who take daily pills, I would get a shot once a month instead of having to worry about my liver and kidneys working overtime. Your trainer gives you this as an option - and you bite.

The supplement pill works, but the injections work faster and you get into better shape. Getting into shape is the reason you have the trainer in the first place. Your feeling like you're on top of the world and do your job with energy to spare. I don't think you are changing anything in you regiment, and know you're referring all your friends to your trainer. His business is booming and he is getting paid.

Since most of us don't have the cash flow that Roger Clemens has, one must think in grander scale. With his endorsement of the trainer, Brian McNamee was hired by the New York Yankees. Now he has 25 highly paid athletes looking for his services. As we have found out, some of them bit also. Andy Pettite has admitted to using HGH, supplied by McNamee. Most of the names in the Mitchell Report were Yankees.

McNamee has since been busted for steroid distribution. In a plea bargain with Federal Prosecutors, McNamee agreed to cooperate. He was deposed by Senator Mitchell for the Report in which he gave names of numerous MLB players, one of whom was Roger Clemens, the guy who was his ticket to the "Bigs." The biggest chum line in the boat, that would certainly help in leniency from the judge.

Roger Clemens lawyered up and mounted a defense. Now it's Roger v. McNamee. That's a fancy way of saying, "It's on!" The media asks if you're innocent. Sue? Well, Roger has now filed a civil suit against McNamee and only after Roger Clemens goes under oath, in Congress, does this 'evidence' show up. What kind of a person keeps something like used syringes and vials? How was it stored? Where was it stored? And for the sake of audience, I'll stop with this question: If you kept it, why only Roger Clemens junkie kit and not Andy Pettite, or anyone else?

McNamee goes under oath today at Congress. He releases this material the day before his testimony. He has to stick to his story, or he goes to jail for a long time. Where was this evidence when he talked to Senator Mitchell? Jack Ford of True TV, formerly known as COURT TV, was interviewed by Mike & MIKE in the Morning. His opinion was that it was in no way admissable in court, but that means real court. Public opinion is a whole 'nother animal. Nevertheless, it is out there now.

Roger Clemens has asked to come back to Congress and rebut the testimony of Brian McNamee. That sounds like a showdown in front of the Congress and the world. The Senators will give their scripted baseball stories and their opinions, pro and con...basically grandstanding like they don't have anything better to do, but that is another story.

Is it possible McNamee has manufactured evidence to make his story sound better in public, and keep himself out of jail? What it all comes down to is Roger Clemens v. Brian McNamee. Mano y Mano. Roger dotted his own kid in batting practice after hitting a pitch over the wall. Brian McNamee is now in the box, lookin' out at the Rocket's Red Glare, and the only thing he can hope for is that the gauze is more historical than the "Shroud of Turin!"

Don't forget history?

2008-02-06T20:03:00.000-05:00

There will be people, primarily in the New York area, that will hail this Giants team as the team that pulled off the biggest upset in the history of sports. That can't be farther from the truth. The Giants won that game. The Patriots didn't choke, they got beat.

If you follow that logic the first time these teams was played an epic, in the 17th and final week of the season. The score differential was 3 points in favor of the Patriots. Both teams had nothing to play for. They were both in the playoffs and couldn't lose their seed. Neither of the teams pulled starters in the second half, which is common in the final week.

These teams met for a rematch in the Super Bowl five weeks later. The score differential was the same, but this time in the favor of the Giants. So in the scheme of things, they split. Yes, the Giants won the important game, and with a stellar defensive exhibition that beat Tom Brady senseless. I guess I'll continue to follow the old adage that "Defense Wins Championships." Seems to ring true.

What isn't true is that it was the greatest upset in sports. New York just wants to forget having to swallow that series that went from up 3-0 against the Red Sox, to making tee times early for the "Boys in Pinstripes." Boston went on to exorcise the "Curse of the Bambino," and now seems to own the Bronx Bombers.

I'm as happy as I can be for Eli, who six weeks ago was a bust to the majority of the media and the fans that praise him today. I'm glad Micheal Strahan got his ring, and Jeff Feely, who is now the oldest player to win, or play, in a Super Bowl. Tom Coughlin changed his coaching style and leaned on his veterans to guild the player - coach dynamic. Worked out well.

I'm not thrilled that I'll have to hear Mercury Morris for the next 20 years. He must sit around all day to write the catch phrase for the next time he is relevant: "Serenity Now!" Somehow he forgets to inform people that he led the team with 8 fumbles in 1972, and he spent time in the can for cocaine trafficking in the late 80's. His stat spikes during '72, and '73 are Bonds-like.

All the media that lift the dust covered note pad in the corner every time a team gets to 13-0 to find Mercury's phone number seem to forget to ask about his entire history. Maybe Congress could investigate whether or not the 1972 Dolphins team was jacked out of their minds. The NFL had no drug policy then, but when has that stopped Congress?

Finally, I'll just say: Buster Douglas.

Fear the Monkey

2008-02-05T22:24:00.000-05:00

I have this little item on my desktop homepage which refers to itself as, "How to of the Day." Fine. Usually it offers banal instructions on how to do things that no one really needs to do, like cutting radishes to look like roses.

Today, however, it has swerved disturbingly off course - step-by-step instructions on how to create this monstrosity:

That, my good friends, is what's known to at least one person as a "Towel Monkey." Whitey thinks it looks like "Towel Predator" and I tend to agree with him.

Should you want to turn your bath towels into the stuff your kids' nightmares are made of, go HERE. If you ever see one these things, I advise you wet it down and whip whoever made it. Be sure to scream like a gibbon in the process so they don't think you're completely unappreciative of their effort.

Super Bowl Fun

2008-02-03T19:59:00.000-05:00

For once the game far out-shined the commercials. A couple highlights but really average overall. The Declaration of Independence opening was new for me...I guess they've done this for a couple years now. Obviously I've missed it. I'm not sure what the impetus was (9/11?), but it was a nice little civics lesson before my sporting event.

Enough! The commercials...

Ford. Attach chains to front tow-hooks. Swing truck in giant centrifuge. Prove strength of tow-hooks. Fantastic. Next time I need to use a pick-up in the hammer throw I'll know where to turn.
Chase. I'm rock climbing..."Whoa, is that my phone?" Why, yes it is. "Well, I'm obviously gonna have to answer that NOW, 300 feet in the air...Hey, it's someone from my bank telling me I'm almost out of money so I better transfer..." Next time your bank calls you, hell, ANYONE calls you while you're scaling a sheer mountain face remember you have an extremely valid excuse not to answer.
Under Armour. Under Armour likes ridiculously melodramatic commercials in which athletes appear positioned to change the course of humankind. The Matrix-like scenario in this one continues the trend. I have to hand it to them though, they make money hand over fist with this stuff.
Life Water. Lizards. Drinking Life Water. Then they dance with...is that someone famous? That is Thriller. What is the product again? And what's up with the lizards? I swear I thought this was going to be an ad for Geico.
Sales Genie. Whoo boy, someone's gonna be fired over this. GardenBurger shot their ad budget and then some during the Super Bowl a few years back and it paid off. I'm sure Sales Genie is hoping to catch the same lighting in a bottle. Good luck with that. Wow, the panda ad is even worse.
Budweiser. It's a horse! It's Rocky! It's going on waaaaay toooo looooooong.....Some people will like this. I am not one of them.
Garmin. Napoleon needs directions. Imagine the marketing folks discussing this..."So, it's Napoleon, in some European car you see, and he's using Garmin for directions to the front you see...and then when he gets there he hides his Garmin contraption see, and then, get this, they bring him a pony!" Hilarious.
GMC. Cartoon dude pushing a rock uphill. The theme is, "Never say never." I thought this ad was going the way of an investment company and turns out it's for the Yukon. Waaaay over the top. It's an SUV, not the cure for cancer.
Bud Light. Lots of Bud Light commercials. The cheese and wine dinner was ok. The rest were ho-hum, although I did like the bottle opener in the caveman one. And Will Farrell was good.
Bridgestone. The screaming animal commercial was interesting, but the one with Alice Cooper and Richard Simmons was pretty good. Don't know whether I'll go shopping for new tires based on that though.
Go Daddy. Danica Patrick! Undressing! Go check it out! I believe Go Daddy has done this before, I guess they think these stunts work. And no, I didn't go check it out.
Audi. The Godfather commercial was one one of my favorites. That car looked pretty good. Too bad everyone I know who has owned an Audi has had nothing but problems with them. For the rest of you, feel free to shop unencumbered.
Dell. Dell had an ad for some computer in which I was more interested in whether or not that was a new Stones song they were playing than the actual computer.
ETrade. No more talking babies. Please.
NFL. Probably the best ad I saw was for the NFL itself. Chester Pitts goes from playing the oboe to playing in the NFL. True? I guess so, but who cares?
Coke. I liked the Charlie Brown balloon, although I thought it just a bit shy of great. The Carville/Frist ad was ok.

There were others. The Pepsi Justin Timberlake fiasco. Shaq playing a jockey for....I don't remember. Vitamin Water? The T-Mobile (?) Barkley/D-Wade ad was ok. Overall they were all just that - ok. Maybe next year. Like I said, at least the game was memorable.

This just in.

2008-02-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

Yes Virginia, there is baseball goin' on right now. The Caribbean World Series started yesterday with the Dominican Republic - who is fielding two freakin' teams - proving why it gets two teams by rolling in the opening games. There are four teams in the CWS this year: the two D.R. teams, Mexico, and Venezuela. From what I can gather there are (at least) four separate leagues south of the border: the Mexican League, the Dominican League, Venezuelan League and the Puerto Rican League. I assume there is a Cuban League, but it appears they either haven't been good enough to make it or have been banned since around 1960 (there was no CWS held between 1961-1969). I'd bet on latter. There may be a Panama League too.

I believe the Series operates as a Round Robin tournament, with each team playing six games. The one with the best record brings home the hardware. Thus, it is possible for the final games of the Series to actually mean nothing as the champion has already been decided.

Someone may know how these teams qualify for this, but that someone is not me. Again, I'd assume the teams have to win their respective leagues but that doesn't explain how the Dominicans got two invites. It appears the U.S. was involved in this thing at some point (and may still be...) as the finals were held in Miami in 1990 and 1991.

If you're lucky enough to have ESPN Deportes beamed into your home, I highly recommend you check some of these games out. The list of players who have, and currently are, participating in the CWS reads like a hallway in Cooperstown: Frank Robinson, Rod Carew, Satchel Paige, Roberto Clemente and current players like Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero, and David Ortiz. Even if some of the names are unfamiliar chances are they won't be for long.

I'm not sure why ESPN doesn't broadcast the CWS on one of their mainstream channels. I know I'd watch. The schedule is below:

Saturday, Feb. 2:
Dominican Republic (2) 6 Venezuela 4
Mexico 6 Dominican Republic (1) 13
Sunday, Feb. 3:
Dominican Republic 2 @ Mexico 3:00 PM EST
Dominican Republic 1 @ Venezuela 7:00 PM EST
Monday, Feb. 4:
Venezuela @ Mexico 3:00 PM EST
Dom. Rep. 1 @ Dom. Rep. 2 7:00 PM EST
Tuesday, Feb. 5:
Venezuela @ Dominican Republic 2 3:00 PM EST
Dominican Republic 1 @ Mexico 7:00 PM EST
Wednesday, Feb. 6:
Mexico @ Dominican Republic 2 3:00 PM EST
Venezuela @ Dominican Republic 1 7:00 PM EST
Thursday, Feb. 7:
Mexico @ Venezuela 3:00 PM EST
Dom. Rep. 2 @ Dom. Rep. 1 7:00 PM EST

At last...

2008-02-02T22:10:00.001-05:00

Fear not faithful readers, Whitey & The Professor have not disappeared, merely relocated. Less than two weeks until our beloved game begins a new season...

I have been slacking on the political commentary which I promise to correct. Alas, my Republican preview never materialized but I promise fearless, scathing insight into the potpourri of wannabe Presidents we have before us.

And some Super Bowl commentary, probably on the best part - the commercials.

The Professor returns....

Happy New Year?

2008-01-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

Well; not until the the clock runs down...........

Merry Christmas...

2007-12-19T05:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks Coach.

2007-12-18T04:45:00.000-05:00

NCAA football is one shifty, big business. Yet again this year we have no playoff in place (for the BCS), and yet again head coaches seem to treat jobs like they're junior-high relationships. Here's a run-down of some the recent changes we have seen:

Rich Rodriguez. Leaves West Virginia for Michigan. Good choice for him. Look for West Virginia players like Pat White and Steve Slaton to take a much more serious look at the NFL now. One rumor on a West Virginia website ponders current Alabama head coach Nick Saban as a possible replacement for Rodriguez. Shocked? Not really. Should Saban seriously consider the offer, it would be his fourth team in the past four years (LSU, Miami Dolphins, Alabama).

Bobby Petrino. Leaves the Atlanta Falcons for Arkansas. Petrino was hired after the Arkansas faithful ran Houston Nutt out of town (now at Mississippi). This one has gotten much play in the press, mostly for the ridiculous way in which it was handled by Petrino. Petrino left Louisville after last season to coach the Falcons for 13 games this year before bolting to Fayetteville. That's three teams, two years. Don't unpack Bobby.

Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida. This means Ron Zook, who was canned at Florida after having the unenviable job of replacing Steve Spurrier, moved to Illinois. The Ole Ball Coach, by the way, left Florida for the Washington Redskins where he had his head handed to him and promptly returned to the SEC in South Carolina. Weeee!

Mark Dantonio leaves Cincinnati for Michigan State (in one of those "Right before the bowl game" moves last year, ala Rodriguez this year), prompting Brian Kelly to leave Central Michigan for Cincinnati. This scenario plays itself out every year in what I like to call Food Chain Coaching - Big Guy eats Mid-Major Guy's coach who in turn eats Even Smaller Guy's coach.

You get the idea. There are a couple of interesting points that appear when one looks at patterns in head coaching at the college ranks. Of course, I will discus those here...

Contract? What contract? Maybe you heard this from your favorite head coach recently, "I have no intentions of leaving. I am committed to bringing a winner to (insert school)." Or, "I have not been contacted by (insert higher Food Chain school)." Do not believe a word of it. Did your favorite school's head coach just sign a long-term deal? For lots o' cash? Be worried, as that acts as blood in the water for the Big Guys circling the head coach feeding pool.
The Players? Ha! How coaches like Saban and Petrino expect to recruit after strapping everyone in for a carnival ride I have no idea. What I find most disturbing about football coaches flipping teams like this is how the players are expected, no compelled, to ride it out. Not only has Mr. Changing-My-Mind-Tomorrow recruited these kids to play at their university with some obviously specious arguments, the players were, and are, expected to live up to their commitment to play at said university unless they would like to accept some rather extreme penalties. The message? Graduate, get a job, and feel free to blatantly lie to any and everyone to get what you want.
The NFL? Don't do it. Unless you're going to Dallas. Like NCAA basketball and the NBA (Rick Pitino anyone?), NCAA football is not a breeding ground for future NFL coaches. Don't believe me? Ask Lou Holtz. Or Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Rich Brooks, Pete Carroll...and mentioning Pete Carroll...
It's the program, not the coach. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. Success breeds more success in NCAA football and, as recent history would suggest, just being Notre Dame does not give you the right to actually win football games. I heard Beano Cook this morning on ESPN radio running down the top college football programs and was struck by how wrong I think he is. It's the coach, not the program, which seems to bring success. Should Florida trade Urban Meyer for Dave Shula, I doubt they are in for many winning seasons. Anyone think if Pete Carroll leaves USC for, let's say, Texas, he wouldn't take all USC's success with him? If you still think some schools have a god-given right to victory, remember that as of the third weekend in November this year we had Missouri and Kansas playing a game with National Championship implications. Where were they ranked in the preseason? Ha! Instead of ranking the top programs in college football, we should rank the top coaches.

Enjoy your coach while you have him folks, he may be on the next train to, well, somewhere else.

7 for 07?

2007-12-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

Michael Vick - Vick received a 23 month sentence after pleading guilty to two felonies stemming from housing a dog fighting kennel in his backyard. Literally. Vick and his homeys got time in the can after the cousin of Vick, who lived Vick's Surry County Virginia house, got busted for Hippie Lettuce. After serving the warrant at the house, the authorities discovered the aptly named operation "Bad Newz Kennels". Without funding from Vick, the entire operation would not have existed. After all his boys dropped the dime on him, he entered his plea. See him around October 2009.
Steroids - Of course, the Mitchell Report is fresh in our collective conscience, and while most people haven't read more than three paragraphs the popular sentiment is "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!" Wait. Everyone just keep your powder dry. Jose Canseco went 10 for 10 in his book "Juiced". However, he is still trying to get his next book published, so there is an agenda with anything he says at this point. He stated in an interview on the FOX Business Network that the Mitchell Report was incomplete, and that he never saw Roger Clemens in the steroid crowd. That's funny. In 1998, when Clemens was with Boston, Canseco was traded to Boston and subsequently was part of the Toronto Blue Jays the next season. The Rocket and Canseco in Toronto together...and the Rocket is reborn. Sounds a little ironic that Roger is in the Mitchell Report and the Juice King didn't see him in that light. What bombshell will he be peddling now? Can you say A-Rod? I digress from that story to say that other sports have problems with Performance Enhancing Drugs, but baseball is the face of the story.
New England Patriots - Wow! What can you say but wow? After a first round draft pick and some 750,000 dollars in fines were taken from the Patriots for "Spygate," Belichick and the boys have run every team off the field, including a lingering effect that has their opponents with just one win after playing the Patriots the week before. Hopefully the New England Patriots will go 19 - 0, a feat that will forever cork the 1972 Dolphins' egos and never again will they gleefully pop the champagne. Tom Brady and company have scored early and often against what could be considered the best shot from every team they have played. We could be watching history in the making; that is, if you have the NFL Network. The beauty is that they get the 49ers' first round pick this year. Ironic? Lose a draft pick, win the Super Bowl, and still get one of the first picks in the coming draft. WOW!
Tim Tebow - The first underclassmen to win the Heisman Award. After backing up Chris Leak in the Florida Gators National Championship season his Freshman year, Tebow guided the Gators to a three loss record, with over 20 passing and running touchdowns accounting for 49 end zone trips. The SEC, known for their bruising schedule, has never had a 20 touchdown rusher. This in itself is a huge feat, seeeing that he is the quarterback. Percy Harvin (WR) is salivating at this point. He will be the front runner for the Heisman, considering Tebow has set the bar very high for the position of QB and the Gator's having the top incoming recruiting class in the country. Throw in Emmanuel Moody the RB transfer from USC and Urban could have a squad in '08.
Appalachian State - Doing the Maize and Blue in the Big House. The Mountaineers went 11-2 winning their third National Championship in a row. Somehow they had the time for a playoff. Seeded fifth, they beat Delaware for the title after dispatching James Madison University, the University of Richmond, and Eastern Washington University. A 16 team playoff at the collegiate level = Novel Idea.
O.J. Simpson - After being acquitted for the double murder of his former wife and a guy in the wrong place, O.J. and his cronies got all twisted up in a sting to retrieve "his" belongings. I thought all that was supposed to be property of the Goldman family, to ah.......settle that Civil Judgement. Some one needs to be printing t-shirts that say, "O.J. Stays in Vegas". There's a good chance you'd make a buck or two. His Keystone cop escapades in Sin City may ironically be snake eyes for the Juice.
Gambling - NBA Official Tim Donahey was caught fixing games for his buddies who - surprise! - happened to be small time bookies. There is no way of knowing whether or not this could be happening unless you watched him. People heard "whispers" but wouldn't dare accuse someone of such an act. You're looking at a quick trip to court for libel at that very second. You better have proof. The Feds did...and caught Tim in a pinch.

Mitchell Me This

2007-12-13T17:43:00.000-05:00

How about my game back you weasels?

Joe Nuxhall

2007-11-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

This past summer I was lucky enough to attend the Reds' game which included a pre-game ceremony honoring three of Cincinnati's great broadcasters: Marty Brennaman, Waite Hoyt, and Joe Nuxhall. There were speeches, hugs, and much applause, but the thing that got me was the replaying of some of their famous calls of Reds' moments. Baseball has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, and Marty and Joe were the ones to send the Reds action (or lack thereof) through my radio. Marty was, and still is, the professional announcer while Joe was the old left-hander (and the youngest any hander ever in the big leagues), your unabashed homer in the Reds' radio booth...

In the days before 24 hour sports coverage on dozens of cable channels, if we weren't actually at the ballgame Marty and Joe were our connection to the Reds. In fact, many people chose to bring their radios to the ballpark to listen while watching the action live...

Joe Nuxhall passed away Thursday evening, and while we may never hear the old left-hander "Rounding third and heading for home" again, we will always remember the summer days and nights when he brought home all the joys and frustrations of Reds baseball. From all of us in Reds country, good night Joe.

To read more about how Joe touched us all, go here.

I'll Take That...and a bag of chips!

2007-11-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

The famous auction house Christie's had a little sale last night which, it appears, was attended by none of my closest friends for some reason (I'm looking at you Whitey). Having spammed everyone I know with a short wish list of reasonably priced artwork, I figured I could check the web this morning and see what my good pals had decided to bestow upon me this holiday season.

Imagine my dismay. My only hope is Whitey may be "anonymous telephone bidder," but knowing his flair for publicity I highly doubt it. But on to the paintings! Being the Renaissance Man I am, I feel highly qualified to critique some of the offerings from last night. While you may say, "My kid could do that...," you would be wrong. Or your kid needs better PR.

Andy Warhol: "Liz" This beautiful thing was owned by Hugh Grant, and supposedly it is a "heavy-handed" version. Regardless, it sold for $21 million which netted Mr. Grant a nice return on his investment - he bought it in 2001 for $3.5 million. Rumor is her eyes follow you. Creepy. Or endearing. Goes well with white walls or Miami Vice decor. I was going to put her in the bathroom for reasons I need not divulge here. Alas.

Lucian Freud: “Ib and Her Husband” Freud is still alive (this was painted in 1992) and probably looking on in dismay as I doubt he let this go for more than $100. It was sold by a woman in Seattle for $19.3 million. That's Freud's daughter (Isobel) and, one would hope, her husband in the painting. I like the radiator in the background. Charming.

Ed Ruscha: "Burning Gas Station" Ed is also still alive and presumably not hurting for cash. This painting was sold by a guy in San Francisco for $6.9 million. I like it, but I tend to go for the apocalyptic more than most. Good for the kids' room if your kids happen to be named Pugsley and Wednesday.

Mark Rothko: Untitled I like the name, or lack thereof. More than many other artists, except maybe Pollock, Rothko often generates the, "My kid could do that" comment. While that may be true, your kid didn't do it and isn't buying you a new fleet of Maseratis anytime soon with the $34.2 million they would have made. This was the big boy at the auction, fetching the highest price tag. Good for the geometry teacher on your Christmas list or convincing people you have a blue flat-screen TV. Worth more than the GNP of many African countries.

Richard Prince: "Piney Woods Nurse" $6 million. Go figure. This is one in a series of 'Nurse' paintings by Prince, most of which I like better than this one. If you see one in a doctor's office near you it will serve as a gentle reminder as to why medical school is so #$%damn expensive...and why your insurance rates are so high.

Gerhard Richter: "Düsenjäger" Jet planes! For the low, low price of $11.2 million! I think it would look better on velvet with Tom Cruise peering out of the cockpit. Probably be worth more too!

Jeff Koons: "Blue Diamond" Aptly named, this monstrosity is seven feet wide and almost eight feet tall. The only reason one should spend $11.8 million on this is if you: A) have a joint bank account with the artist; B) are the artist's representative (which the buyer was) or; C) receive some documentation that it is indeed a real diamond. If you have someone present "C" to you, I have a bridge in Brooklyn in which you might be interested...

Basquiat: "Sugar Ray Robinson" I'm not sure this is the actual painting which was sold last night, but it was the only representation of the same name I could find. The New York Times describes it as, "...a brightly colored hulking figure in shorts and gloves..." which this painting most definitely is not. Nevertheless, something titled "Sugar Ray Robinson" by Basquiat sold for $6.5 million last night. And yes, your kid probably could have knocked this painting out.

Most of my information came from this article in the New York Times. I would assume most of our loyal readers accidentally discarded the postcard reminder sent to them by Christie's concerning this sale. Fear not! Tonight you have a second chance to buy me some stuff to adorn my presently blank apartment walls! Without further ado, a preview of tonight's auction across town at Sotheby's...

Jeff Koons: "Jim Beam - Caboose" No, it's not a painting, but it's a caboose! When Koons wasn't chopping out hideously over-sized blue diamonds he was working on the choo-choo's! A steal at $1-1.5 million. I'd like it more if it was an actual scale representation, but beggars can't be choosers.

Mark Rothko: Untitled We may have missed out on a Rothko last night, but we're in luck...another is on the block tonight. I like to call this one "A View From the Moon." Goes with any decor (especially mine). Hope you saved your pennies as the starting bid is $12 million.

Zeng Fanzhi: Mask Series 99-A-2 Easily the creepiest thing for sale. This is what you get that pesky in-law just to force them to have to put the thing on the wall every time you come over. In fact, I'm making this our banner just to creep y'all out. Should you want to give this to someone, bids start at $900,000. I think it's worth the look on your Mother-in-Law's face Christmas morning: "An original Fanzhi...you shouldn't have!"

Mike Kelley: "Written in the Wind" This one is a bit difficult to grasp through the picture. There are a couple of these 'installation pieces' for sale, and this one is my favorite. It includes: a cardboard box, 10 found stuffed animals, coat rack with jacket and shirt, and ten wall texts. The dimensions are variable, as you could presumably heap it all a corner, graffiti the walls yourself, and then deal with your wife's sour looks for the duration. Little does she know you dropped $1.2 mil on this over-sized diorama. Trust me, the subtlety will be lost on her. Feel free to explain.

Damien Hirst: "Adam and Eve (Banished From the Garden)" If the previous work didn't getcha, I offer this beauty. It includes: Painted steel and glass vitrine with 2 metal gurneys, 2 cloth dummies, 2 metal buckets, various medical instruments, 1 spool of twine, 2 needles, 2 rubber gloves, 2 rubber plugs, chicken bones, one plate and sandwich, 3 fish hooks and chain, and cloth. I like the chicken bones, three fish hooks, and sandwich. If you buy this, make sure you find those items quickly as they will probably be your only source of nourishment after whomever you live with finds out you spent $3 million on this wonderful item. Enjoy.

Ellsworth Kelly: "Dark Grey Curve" Looks more like a dark black curve to me. Once you spend $1-1.5 million on this, go ahead and name it whatever you want. Whitey likes "Slice of Licorice." My personal favorite is "Bad Cheese."

Andy Warhol: "Campbell's Soup Can (Pepper Pot)" We've all seen these before. You can buy a reprint of this Warhol masterpiece (in practically any flavor) for probably around $20. Or you can buy the original for $9 million. Your choice, but remember: you always get what you pay for.

Francis Bacon: "Second Version of Study for Bullfight No. 1" Last but not least, this is my favorite. It looks like a miniature bull is chasing its tail in the corner of your dining room floor. Sotheby's doesn't even put a price on this on their website ("Estimate Upon Request"), but the early word on the street is it will go for at least $35 million. Don't be shy, I'm worth every penny.

Check out Sotheby's for more information and a complete list of items for sale. You have to register, but it's quick, painless and, most importantly, free. Coming Soon! Whitey & The Professors' First Annual If I Get One Toy For Christmas, It Better Be One of These Christmas List. No need to shop for the kids 'til then.

Take the bump?

2007-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

C.C. Sabathia has been named the American League Cy Young Award winner for the 2007 season. When we last saw C.C. he was getting shelled by the Red Sox. His teammates didn't help much, giving him little run support against Josh Beckett. Beckett was lights out in his two meetings with C.C. in the American League Championship Series. He came in second with 11 fewer first place votes. He did, however, win the World Series this past October.

If it is any consolation, I'll just tip this to you. By winning the Cy Young, C.C. has become only the second Cleveland Indian to win the award. He also becomes the first African-American to win the award in the American League since 1971, when Vida Blue won (trivia: who was last African-American winner in the National League?). Sabathia topped the bigs in innings pitched with 241. He went at least 6 innings in every game during the season, had a record of 19-7 in 34 starts, a 3.21 ERA, and received a $2.25 million bump in pay by winning the Cy Young. He gets a $250,000 bonus and will earn $11 million in 2008 instead of $9 million.

An even bigger pay bump could soon be coming: Sabathia can become a free agent after the 2008 season. At 27 years of age and a dominate south-paw, teams will be salivating at the chance to sign him ("Teams" probably means the Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees). And just for good measure there is another guy out there who might get traded this hot stove season and make a bigger payday: Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins are a small market team, and will probably move Santana before the start of next season to get the maximum value for him. That should set the bar quiet high. Greg Maddux, at 41, just inked a $10 million, one year deal to stay with the San Diego Padres. You do the math!

The Free Agent poll...updated with others who ain't free agents but you'd like anyway!

In a perfect world?

2007-11-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Don Shula stirred up a little controversy this past week with his comments, or non-comments, on the season the New England Patriots are putting together. Should the Patriots be burdened with an asterisk next to their name if they succeed in going 16-0?

First and foremost, I think the asterisk is one of the most misused symbols in the English language. A little history: the asterisk originates from feudal times where it was used as a symbol to indicate date of birth. It originally had six arms, like teardrops falling from the center (see the picture above). It can bring attention to a footnote and is also used in mathematics, human genetics, economics, and cricket. You know...things that really matter. However, now it is being thrown around like a Frisbee at Woodstock!

In 1961, when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season record, he did it in a 162 games schedule while Ruth played a 154 game schedule. So Ford Frick, the baseball commissioner at the time, placed an asterisk in the record book. He wanted to have an explanation (or retelling) for the accomplishment that Maris had achieved. The stigma of the asterisk stayed with Maris for many years.

Today, the concept of a real or figurative asterisk denoting less-than-official records has become widely used in sports and other competitive endeavors. It became almost a sport to say the word when Barry Bonds hit 72, and after 756 it hit a fevered pitch. Marc Echo, who bought the ball for a large sum of money, had an on-line poll concerning what to do with the ball: send it into space, donate it to the Hall of Fame, or burn an asterisk into the ball. Sure, like the next guy, I'd love to see anything shot into space, but it is historical. He owns the ball so he can do what he wants with it. As for me, I think it's spineless to use Joe Q. Public to stand between you and Bonds at the next ESPY's when you're the guy who allowed a piece of history to wear the Scarlet letter.

Shula, on the other hand, is the coach of the only NFL team to go undefeated in a season: 16-0 in 1972. the player and coaches from that team get together to celebrate the last undefeated team's first loss every season. At tad pompous if you want my opinion. They only beat two teams with a winning record in a 16 game schedule. The Patriots will have to play 19 to go undefeated for a season. Do you think that an asterisk on the 16 game schedule would be fitting? Maybe it is more that the Pats are looking so good that we won't have to watch those guys pop open the Dom and toast to their record being intact.

Yes, the Patriots were caught doing what most, if not all, people do. Trying to get ahead by any means necessary. "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'," is the phrase that became popular while sitting in the bullpen filling your fingernail to a sharp point. It's a pitcher's friend and allows one to score a ball easily in an attempt to get more bite on breaking pitches. I don't really care if the Patriots go 19-0, I would just like to not have to hear they may get the asterisk. If I were to get a 19-0 Patriots team, and a winless Dolphin team, in the 2007 season, it would be a perfect world.

Come One, Come All! The Bengals are in town!

2007-11-12T08:43:00.000-05:00

This commentary on the carnival ride that is the Cincinnati Bengals has been brewing for some time. Their record now stands at 3-6, a disappointing start to say the least.

But if there is one thing the Bengals are good at it is playing themselves right out contention and then sailing to a .500 record. They tend to either start the season well and then tank, or tank from the get-go and then finish strong. Either situation leads to a scenario where hopes are high with "What-If's" at the end of the season and no significant changes are made.

Last season the Bengals started 3-0 and were 8-5 at one point before losing the final three games of the year to end at 8-8. In 2005, they were 11-3 before losing their final three games of the year, including the first-round playoff game in which Carson Palmer had his knee bent sideways. In 2004, they started 2-5 but rallied to go 6-3 the rest of the way to finish out 8-8. In 2003, Marvin Lewis' first year as head coach, they started 1-4 but righted the ship enough to go 7-4 in the remaining games to finish, you guessed it, 8-8. Let's not forget that Lewis took over a team that had finished 2-14 the year before.

Before this season started, I asked the question of local commentators here in Cincinnati why we should believe the Bengals team this year should be any different than the 8-8 team last year. Crickets...and, "Carson is healthy." The defense is, well, the same bad defense. The amazing thing to me is how close the Bengals are to being a 1-8, or even 0-9, team.

Game #1 against Baltimore saw the Ravens turn the ball over 6 freakin' times and the Bengals won by seven (final score 27-20). If not for a deflected, shoe-string interception on the goal line in the final minute of the game the Bengals may well have lost...with a turnover margin of +4. In the game yesterday, the Ravens again turned the ball over six times (proving there actually is a more inept 11 than the Bengals defense) which resulted in a team record seven field goals. In two games, Baltimore had 12 turnovers and the Bengals scored a grand total of 48 points including two, count them, two offensive touchdowns. Remind me again why Carson and Co. are considered a "prolific" offense.

The only other win the Bengals have is against the Jets (38-31) who, let's face it, are a bad football team. The Bengals haven't beaten a team with a winning record since week 10 of last season (New Orleans). If history holds true, Cincinnati should get 4 more wins (Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Miami) which would give them a 7-9 record. I say the Bengals will be 7-8 going into the final game of the year against a winless Miami Dolphins team...who will get their first win. Who-Dey!

See you on the A-train?

2007-11-08T15:31:00.000-05:00

My sister found a small college in North Carolina that she loved from the first time she saw it. She went there, and I followed a few years later. I can remember sitting with my roommate in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center watching the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb College. I was a baseball player living in a dorm with mostly football players and a stones throw from the aforementioned center. So basketball was a must see, and we sat in the rafter seats. I'll admit it - we were lazy. No stairs!

As we sat watching the first game of my freshman year, I remember looking at the banners of retired jerseys. There were just a couple, but one jumped off the page, so to speak. #53 GILMORE was one of them. Artis Gilmore went to Gardner-Webb Junior College from 1967 to 1969 and from there he went to Jacksonville University. In 1970, he led the Dolphins to the NCAA Championship game. In 1971, he went as the first draft pick to the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA. In 1988 (my freshman fall semester), he returned to the Chicago Bulls playing with a young upstart named Micheal Jeffery Jordan. Needless to say it was a big thing for our small Division II school.

Fast forward to 2007 and the Gardner-Webb University Runnin' Bulldogs have gone to University of Kentucky and beat the number 22 ranked team in the land. The greatest thing in sporting history at Gardner-Webb. Nothing compares to this. Coming from a Junior College to a University in less than 35 years is pretty special. I got a call this morning from a buddy when he saw it on the headlines. Gardner-Webb upsets Kentucky! Wow, I never thought I would be able to say those words, and to a friend that is a Kentucky nut and booster!

Back to Gilmore. Why is he not in the Basketball Hall of Fame? From 1972 - 1976 he played in the defunct ABA. He was drafted by the Bulls in the dispersal draft where he played with various teams until retiring in 1989. Despite an ABA career in which he averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game and NBA career averages of 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, Gilmore has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He is one of several former ABA MVP's who have not received the honor. In addition to being pro basketball's all-time most successful field goal percentage shooter, Gilmore ranks among the top 25 all-time point scorers, as well as in the top ten in rebounds, blocked shots, games and minutes played. No other players with comparable statistical accomplishments have been omitted from the Hall of Fame.

Gilmore is currently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration until 2012. For the past three years he failed to receive a single vote of support from a panel of nine basketball experts (! or ??) serving on the North American screening committee. This committee is anonymous. I for one, as a Runnin' Bulldog, would like to see this changed. Hopefully this media blitz will bring a little attention to Artis and his dominance that gave him the nickname "A -Train".

See you in Madison Square Garden for the Coaches vs. Cancer 2K Tourney. The few Bulldogs that were in Kentucky for the game bought alot of tickets from the Wildcat faithful who had purchased them before the game tipped off. Here is a little tidbit for the office trivia: Artis Gilmore holds what NCAA record? His career average of 22.7 rebounds per game is still the highest in NCAA Division I history.

Who's on third?

2007-11-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

I was looking in on the Hot Stove news which, for you casual fans, is the off season in baseball - The time when teams sit around the warm fire at the Winter Meetings and trade and/or sign free agents for the coming year. Each year all of baseball gathers together for something to do. Mainly talk baseball. It is almost heaven. Last year the Red Sox were by far the most active team and it made them the World Series Champions. This year the big fish is A-Rod. So if you look for news, you will get mostly A-Rod related stories. Who, where, how? All these questions will be addressed by someone in the media.

Some of our favorites are Hall of Famer, Peter Gammons, Jason Stark, Buster Olney, and "Little Timmy" Kurkjian. The Professor and I will be attending the Winter Baseball Meetings this December 2 - 6, so we will be in the thick of things...stay tuned.

The 2007-2008 Free Agents and Teams.

Once again I have used a source that I'm not thrilled with. Wikipedia is a good source but not all that reliable. It can be edited by Joe Public, so don't believe every thing you read on it. That said, for some things it is a great resource. This is a great page that you can link to in order to see what your team is doing the off season. I stumbled on to it, and I hope it helps you.

POLL QUESTION:

If your team had a chance to sign A-Rod would you?