Before I start, i ust wanted to say that This was one of the greatest things I have ever seen on TV. The build up was fantastic and the outcome hilarious. Needless to say, TV needs more stuff like this.
On with the show...
So this is how democracy dies.
Everyone looks one way and the next day everything they felt was sacred has been manipulated and changed without any regard whatsoever. The past three weeks I have raved about the importance of college sports in my life. Particularly, this has crystallized around the resurgence of the UConn men’s basketball team. However, in the past two weeks, two games the team has played with Big East opponents were unavailable to me on TV. Now Saturday’s thriller against USF was on ESPN. Smart for them, it was a good game. However, here I am spinning my radio dial to 1080 am to hear the rapid fire delivery of Joe D and Wayne for UConn vs. Depaul. As a person who didn’t miss a UConn men’s basketball game from 1991-2006 this has been a disturbing chain of events.
The culprit my friends…. is ESPN.
Yes, my beloved world wide leader (Whose headquarters is 20 minutes from my apartment) has decided to screw a lot of people and move what would typically be apart of ESPN’s regional programming to its burgeoning college sports network. Last week the men narrowly beat Notre Dame at Gampel in a great game. However, I had to listen to it on the radio. In a weird turn of events, despite being able to have greater access to sports in every way, I find myself being forced to resort to the most primitive measures to follow my favorite college sports program. Similar things happen with football this past fall.
I can follow the Manchester United Red Devils on MUTV every week and they play in England. That’s the UK people. However, I can’t watch a game taking place twenty minutes from my apartment (I live 20 minutes from everything awesome in CT, its fantastic). It is life under the totalitarian rule of EPSN. Local loyalties and conveniences are sacrificed for the bottom line of the “state”. Right now on ESPN southern powerhouse UNC Greenville is playing Davidson. Now, I am sure this is an epic meeting of mid-majors. But come on. How difficult would it be to get the local affiliate to simulcast the game? Your telling me they would loose revenue gained from re-runs of The King of Queens?
People rose up against the NFL network over the Pats vs. Giants in week 17. Congress got involved. That turned out great for everyone. Now this obviously isn’t going to be on the same level, but it is the same practice. I already pay Comcast 100 bucks a month. Arlen Spector and the boys down in the PA just don’t care.
Who is fighting for the common man’s ability to watch their favorite sports?
Are you Che or Winston Smith? It’s a tough one…
On to Slow Strikes
-Terry Francona needs an extension. He deserves it.
-Coco Crisp better be ready to sit the pine this season.
-The Schilling situation could only happen to the Red Sox. You don’t see Greg Maddox injury himself in November and not tell the team for 3 weeks.
-Shawn Marion is happy to have no chance of making the playoffs. I will never understand professional athletes…
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
The All Star Break Cometh
I cannot say that the NBA's All Star weekend has got me jazzed to watch it for over a decade, but if they can duplicate Barkley vs. Bavetta, the fans will come away with something interesting. Anything is better then watching Magic Johnson squeeze into his old uniform and hoist shots from mid court.
The C's are 41-9. They lead the division by 13.5 games and the Eastern Conference by 3 games. The only discussion left to be made is the best play of the first half. I going with a game winner by UConn's own Ray Allen. That was sick. I'm excited for the rest of the season.
The Nascar Super Bowl is this week. I'm going with the Beer Companies to came away with upset victory over Walmart, and hopefully see the Makers of Napalm place.
Did anyone see the Pedro Martinez Cock Fighting video? One reason to live in the DR. My birds name? Little Pedro Martinez....Tamale's!
There is a Huge fight on Saturday. I have seen Kelly Pavlik fight twice in person and he has only gotten more dominent over time. I see him KO'ing Taylor in the 9th.
Senator Arlen Spector sucks beyonds words. I hope they find out Bill Belichek is really a terrorist, it might justify recent time spent to investigate the NFL. To say nothing of Henry Waxman, who works a media circus better then P.T. Barnum. I guess they got too bored investigating covert paramilitary contractors....
Christopher Shays....For Shame...For Shame...
Bill Belichek got the same fine as Scotter Libby.
GBTUSA
Strengh and Honor
The C's are 41-9. They lead the division by 13.5 games and the Eastern Conference by 3 games. The only discussion left to be made is the best play of the first half. I going with a game winner by UConn's own Ray Allen. That was sick. I'm excited for the rest of the season.
The Nascar Super Bowl is this week. I'm going with the Beer Companies to came away with upset victory over Walmart, and hopefully see the Makers of Napalm place.
Did anyone see the Pedro Martinez Cock Fighting video? One reason to live in the DR. My birds name? Little Pedro Martinez....Tamale's!
There is a Huge fight on Saturday. I have seen Kelly Pavlik fight twice in person and he has only gotten more dominent over time. I see him KO'ing Taylor in the 9th.
Senator Arlen Spector sucks beyonds words. I hope they find out Bill Belichek is really a terrorist, it might justify recent time spent to investigate the NFL. To say nothing of Henry Waxman, who works a media circus better then P.T. Barnum. I guess they got too bored investigating covert paramilitary contractors....
Christopher Shays....For Shame...For Shame...
Bill Belichek got the same fine as Scotter Libby.
GBTUSA
Strengh and Honor
Monday, February 11, 2008
Welcome Home
There are moments in history that rock and those that are horrendous for mankind. Having seen the New England sports scene take a huge hit the past few weeks, and no I don’t just mean KG’s abdominals, I began to refocus my sights on an old friend, the UConn men’s basketball program. Throughout the years there have been more moments that rock then suck for Jim Calhoun and his lads. However, the past few years have been shaky at best.
This season the UConn men’s basketball team has already seen both tremendous defeats and tremendous victories. I must admit that after last season my expectations for the athletic program that has most shaped my life were very low. Calhoun's strategy of staying away from Junior college players, despite losing five players to the NBA Draft's first round in the past two seasons, forced him to recruit players at every position. I can understand his reluctance to scout the Juco ranks, with the Johnny Selvie years still lingering around Storrs like rotten mayonnaise. The program has hit some roads bumps in recent years. First with the stolen Laptop scandal a few years back, and this season's suspension of Doug Wiggins and Jerome Dyson. UConn is not Florida State, but the PR department has had to earn its paychecks lately. Not to mention the epic loss to George Mason that took the sails out of everyone and the inability to even make the NIT last season.
However, perhaps that is what has made the last two weeks refreshing. With the team facing trepidation on and off the court, the players found the depth and determination to play as a team. A desperate win against Marquette at home, and a huge victory at Indiana propelled the team to its first hot streak in two years. In many ways, the whole program seems to have turned a corner. With Jeff Adrian playing with confidence and A.J. Price showing everyone why Calhoun stuck with him, the team has found new life. Despite continued inconsistencies of players like Stanley Robertson (the most talented all around player on the team) and Cutis Kelly (Praying he can become Hilton Armstrong part Duex), UConn fans have found delight in the continued maturity of "The Monster" Hasheem Thebeet. Like the Chaldeans sacking Sumer,(Sorry, I taught ancient Sumer this week!) Thebeet has shown flashes of utter dominance. If this team continues to play team originated basketball, Calhoun could have one of his most exciting teams ever heading into tournament season.
The team has accomplished nothing and will continue to have to prove themselves at every turn, but I think this may just be a great 6 weeks for this program. If anything a good finish to this year will certainly re-establish UConn as a nationally ranked program to be reckoned with. It also sets up positive vibes for the future. Assuming none of these guys, particularly Thebeet, doesn’t jump to the NBA too soon, the team has a real chance to find a significant place in the program’s winning tradition.
I know I’ll be watching.
This season the UConn men’s basketball team has already seen both tremendous defeats and tremendous victories. I must admit that after last season my expectations for the athletic program that has most shaped my life were very low. Calhoun's strategy of staying away from Junior college players, despite losing five players to the NBA Draft's first round in the past two seasons, forced him to recruit players at every position. I can understand his reluctance to scout the Juco ranks, with the Johnny Selvie years still lingering around Storrs like rotten mayonnaise. The program has hit some roads bumps in recent years. First with the stolen Laptop scandal a few years back, and this season's suspension of Doug Wiggins and Jerome Dyson. UConn is not Florida State, but the PR department has had to earn its paychecks lately. Not to mention the epic loss to George Mason that took the sails out of everyone and the inability to even make the NIT last season.
However, perhaps that is what has made the last two weeks refreshing. With the team facing trepidation on and off the court, the players found the depth and determination to play as a team. A desperate win against Marquette at home, and a huge victory at Indiana propelled the team to its first hot streak in two years. In many ways, the whole program seems to have turned a corner. With Jeff Adrian playing with confidence and A.J. Price showing everyone why Calhoun stuck with him, the team has found new life. Despite continued inconsistencies of players like Stanley Robertson (the most talented all around player on the team) and Cutis Kelly (Praying he can become Hilton Armstrong part Duex), UConn fans have found delight in the continued maturity of "The Monster" Hasheem Thebeet. Like the Chaldeans sacking Sumer,(Sorry, I taught ancient Sumer this week!) Thebeet has shown flashes of utter dominance. If this team continues to play team originated basketball, Calhoun could have one of his most exciting teams ever heading into tournament season.
The team has accomplished nothing and will continue to have to prove themselves at every turn, but I think this may just be a great 6 weeks for this program. If anything a good finish to this year will certainly re-establish UConn as a nationally ranked program to be reckoned with. It also sets up positive vibes for the future. Assuming none of these guys, particularly Thebeet, doesn’t jump to the NBA too soon, the team has a real chance to find a significant place in the program’s winning tradition.
I know I’ll be watching.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
More on the Vent
After a few days of soul searching, I decided on a official song of the 2007/2008 New England Patriots. Only Trent Reznor could encapsulate such grief and despair.
P.S. The UConn Women lost tonight to Rutgers. Ugh......
P.S. The UConn Women lost tonight to Rutgers. Ugh......
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Vent
It was a bad time for Bill Belichek to turn into Grady Little
It was a bad time for Tom Brady to turn into Drew Bledsoe circa 1993
It was a bad time for Asante Samuel to forget how to catch a football
Also, why in the hell was former UConn Atheletic Director Lew Perkins sitting in the Manning familiy box?
Just an awful football game, in every way. Even if the Pats had pulled it out it would have gone down as one of the worst Super Bpwls ever. You cannot play 12 minutes of a 60 minute pro football games and expect to win.
At least we have the UConn womens basketball team to focus on.....Good Grief...
It is going to be a hellish spring. Do not be suprised if the apocalypse starts in May....
It was a bad time for Tom Brady to turn into Drew Bledsoe circa 1993
It was a bad time for Asante Samuel to forget how to catch a football
Also, why in the hell was former UConn Atheletic Director Lew Perkins sitting in the Manning familiy box?
Just an awful football game, in every way. Even if the Pats had pulled it out it would have gone down as one of the worst Super Bpwls ever. You cannot play 12 minutes of a 60 minute pro football games and expect to win.
At least we have the UConn womens basketball team to focus on.....Good Grief...
It is going to be a hellish spring. Do not be suprised if the apocalypse starts in May....
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