Observations and opinions of W-C-L family members (mostly), who enjoy all things sports (except maybe NASCAR and cricket).
Sunday, June 28, 2009
FAAAAIIIIILLLLLL!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
money, money, money!
Texas programs earned $120,288,370 in that period, including $72,952,397 from football. Georgia was second in football revenue, followed by Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Auburn, Michigan, Alabama, Penn State and LSU.
The total revenue top 10 had Ohio State second, followed by Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee and Oklahoma State.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Those Okie Bastards Strike Again
Ebony and Ivory
Ok, so this isn't sports related but both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, icons in their own ways, died today. Fawcett burst onto the scene with Charlie's Angels and the famous POSTER. Mildly talented and with a screwed up personal life, she nevertheless remained a recognizable public figure. And as for Michael Jackson, well I can't think of a sadder case. Ruined at a really young age by his whack-job father, he was an immensely talented but deeply troubled man. R.I.P., Farrah and Michael.
Shaq Traded to Cavs
Shaq traded to Cavs to try to get some help for LeBron. I like Le Bron and he needed some help.
I am not sure Shaq is fully up to it but it has a chance of working. Shaq should get about 50 dunks a game with LeBron dumping off to him.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Somewhere . . .
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout . . .
Because football season begins in 72 days:
9/5 - UT v. UL Monroe
9/5 - Tex. A&M v. New Mexico
Seminoles Get Chopped
The NCAA determined that a former learning specialist, academic adviser and tutor gave "improper assistance" to Florida State athletes who were taking online courses. According to the NCAA, the former learning specialist typed portions of papers for at least three athletes and also provided answers to an online psychology course quiz by instructing another athlete to complete the quiz on behalf of the athlete enrolled in the course. (By Heather Dinich, ESPN.com)
Probation, loss of scholarships, and forfeiture of games are included in the sanctions. Now, Bobby Bowden is suddenly way behind Penn State's Joe Paterno for most wins.
Does any of this come as much of a surprise? When I attended Harvard, I mean Texas A&M, I tutored football players. Let us just say that they needed plenty of tutoring. But I can say unequivocally that I was never asked to do anything improper...take a test, give answers, write papers, etc. Nonetheless, I wondered at the time how some of these fellows remained eligible. Oh, I almost forgot. It is BOOLEY, after all.
GOOOOAAAALLLLL!
And the Guy Lewis Award goes to...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
And how about this moron?
Former NFL Quarterback Ryan Leaf turns himself in to authorities for burglary and drug charges.
Question: Top 10 sports morons ? ( I will be formulating my own list but this guy is in it.)
Cowboys Will Not Make Playoffs
This is not a promising sign:
Three Cowboy offensive lineman sign Heavy Metal deal.All these clowns are busy being celebrities, Romo included. Even though they have done nothing but fail.
What a world, what a world . . .
UT - 6
- Horns melt down in the top of the 9th -- lose winnable game and waste 5 HR's.
Can not carry on (unless a miracle happens tonight).
Monday, June 22, 2009
Glover Wins Open!
(a clear case of operator error) if we had more readers I could claim it was a clever ruse to get viewers to my blog but, alas it was just a screw up.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Go David!
He was so great and then so bad all of a sudden. What I saw of him today was the same guy who used to rain iron shots on the flag, one putt and move on. Today he was hittinng them stiff. In the fourth round he just needs to do that again and nail those putts. He could easily have had 5 more birdies today. So could Tiger by the way but he too far back.Amateur career
Duval was born in Jacksonville, Florida. The son of former Champions Tour player Bob Duval, he graduated from the Episcopal High School of Jacksonville. He was the U.S. Junior Amateur champion in 1989. He continued his amateur career at Georgia Tech, where he was a four-time first-team All-American, two-time ACC Player of the Year, and 1993 National Player of the Year. After two years on the Nike Tour, he earned his PGA Tour card in 1995.
Professional rise and fall (and rise again?)
Success came quickly, as Duval posted seven second place finishes on the PGA Tour from 1995 to 1997, qualifying for the 1996 Presidents Cup and posting a 4-0-0 record for the victorious American team. But a PGA Tour victory eluded him until he won the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill in October, 1997, and winning his next two tournaments in the same month, including the 1997 Tour Championship. Altogether, from 1997 to 2001, he won 13 PGA Tour tournaments, including the 1997 Tour Championship, the 1999 Players Championship, and the 2001 Open Championship, as well as the 2001 Dunlop Phoenix and the 2000 World Cup (with Tiger Woods) internationally. He also tied for second in both the 1998 and 2001 Masters.
Duval's winning speech at the 2001 Open was welcomed by British commentators as "delightfully modest and heartfelt".[1]
Other career highlights include achieving the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings in April 1999 and shooting a 59 in the final round of the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on the Palmer Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California (doing so in dramatic fashion by making an eagle on the 18th hole). When he won the Players Championship he became the first player in history to win on the same day as his father, Bob Duval, who won a Champions Tour event that same day. Before 1999, only two other golfers in PGA Tour history, Al Geiberger and Chip Beck, had posted a 59 in competition and no one had ever done so in a final round. He also played on the victorious 1999 Ryder Cup team, as well as the 2002 team. (from Wikipedia)
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A perfect TV day
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Football Begins.
The 50th Anniversary Issue is out.
Let Football 2009 begin. . . .
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia same thing
In response to one of my comments on the Pittsburgh renaming I received this from lonek8, who not only fulfilled my request but made an "example" of me.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Longhorns Eke By USM, 7-6
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Longhorn Basketball
Texas junior forward Damion James has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return for his senior season. The 6-foot-7½ James averaged 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season.
With his return, Rick Barnes' club should be a legitimate Top 10 team nationally. Texas lost leading scorer A.J. Abrams and Connor Atchley, but the Longhorns bring back James, big man Dexter Pittman, forward Gary Johnson, wings Justin Mason and Varez Ward and point guard Dogus Balbay. Barnes will also have Florida transfer Jai Lucas, who will contend for the starting point guard spot, at the semester break.
Texas will also add wings Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams — all legitimate Top 100 players in the Class of 2009.
AGGIES WIN AGAIN
Aggies win Men's and Women's Track and Field Championship!
At least I think they did if I read the story right.
How 'Bout Them Cowboys
Sun, Sept 13
@ Tampa Bay (FOX)
Noon
Sun, Sept 20
NEW YORK GIANTS (NBC)
7:15 PM
Mon, Sept 28
CAROLINA (ESPN)
7:30 PM
Sun, Oct 4
@ Denver (FOX)
3:15 PM
Sun, Oct 11
@ Kansas City (FOX)
Noon
Sun, Oct 18
BYE
Sun, Oct 25
ATLANTA (FOX) 3:15 PM
Sun, Nov 1
SEATTLE (FOX)
NOON Sun, Nov 8
@ Philadelphia (NBC)
7:15 PM Sun, Nov 15
@ Green Bay (FOX)
3:15 PM W
Sun, Nov 22
WASHINGTON (FOX)
NOON
Thurs, Nov 26
OAKLAND (CBS)
3:15 PM
Sun, Dec 6
@ New York Giants (FOX)
3:15 PM
Sun, Dec 13
SAN DIEGO (CBS)
3:15 PM
Sat, Dec 19
@ New Orleans (NFLN)
7:15 PM
Sun, Dec 27
@ Washington (NBC)
7:15 PM
Sun, Jan 3
PHILADELPHIA (FOX)
NOON
Here's how I think it will go: wins over Tampa, Denver, Kansas City, Seattle, Green Bay, Oakland, and New Orleans; losses to Carolina, Atlanta, and San Diego. As for division play, split with New York, Philly, and Washington (wishful thinking much?) Surely we can beat the Giants in the home opener in the new JerryWorld Stadium. I believe that ends up at 10-6, which seems high. Oh well, hope springs eternal. Predictions, anyone?
P.S. I added my predictions after sbaskind posted his because I thought it cowardly not to have done so.
Penguins Take the Cup
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Tippett Point
Tippett, 47, was hired in 2002 as a first-time head coach. He was tied for the second-best winning percentage among active coaches at the end of the season (trailing only Detroit's Mike Babcock), and had the Stars in the playoffs for five of his six seasons. The Stars went 36-35-11 and finished with the eighth-worst record in the 30-team NHL.
But this wasn't good enough for Nieuwendyk.
For Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk, it became clear in less than two weeks on the job that a coaching change was necessary. The team needed a bench boss with a tougher edge after missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
Nieuwendyk turned to Marc Crawford, a coach he played for in the 1988 Olympics and someone similar to the coach he played under when the Stars won their only Stanley Cup 10 years ago. "What Marc will bring is a real command at the top," Nieuwendyk said. "The players will know who's in charge. They will be held accountable on a daily basis."
The comments around here are mostly negative. People seem to feel that Tippett got a raw deal but will get snapped up by another team. As for Crawford, it remains to be seen. He has not enjoyed any success since he won the cup with Colorado in 1996. His last job, from which he was fired after one year, was with the Kings. Oh goody. Another mediocre Dallas team.
Do You Care about the Lakers?
I have always loved the sports dynasty -- even regarding teams I might otherwise dislike. Therefore, I am today a big Lakers fan. I want Phil Jackson to win his 10th title and over take Red Auerbach (who has 9 titles). I want Kobe to win his 4th ring and first without Shaq. I want the Lakers to win another championship and improve on their league leading playoff record (with 56 play-off appearances.).
But mostly, I wanted an excuse to post on the so-called lsquared's blog a picture of the Laker Girls.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Mamas, Do Let Your Sons Grow Up To Be Cowboys
1. Tom Landry
2. Roger Staubach
3. Michael Irvin
4. Bob Lily
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Troy Aikman
7. Tony Dorsett
8. Randy White
9. Don Meredith
10. Drew Pearson
Well, well, well. Tom Landry will, rightly, be associated with the Cowboys forever and he was great. I can't even begin to name all of the innovations that he brought to the game. Nonetheless, when I think of the top ten Cowboys, I think of players. So, for me, Landry isn't on that list. I mean, if Landry is on the list, Tex Schramm should be on the list as well, and maybe even Clint Murchison, who knew enough to hire Landry and Schramm and then leave them alone. So, back to the players. I am glad that Meredith made the list. I remember him in the 60's, when Dallas had both the Cowboys and the Dallas Texans, which ultimately lost the popularity contest, moved to Kansas City and became the Kansas City Chiefs. Anyway, Meredith was the QB of this miserable, untalented expansion team. Much like Archie Manning in New Orleans, Meredith took an absolute beating, game after game. He was incredibly tough and grossly underappreciated. But I think also of Don Perkins, Jethro Pugh, Harvey Martin, Lee Roy Jordan, Chuck Howley, Bob Hayes, Jay Novacek, Charlie Waters, Cliff Harris, Danny White (also underappreciated), Bob Newhouse, Walt Garrison...the list goes on and on. I guess mine would be as follows:
1. Bob Lily
2. Roger Staubach
3. Emmitt Smith
4. Troy Aikman
5. Randy White
6. Drew Pearson
7. Darren Woodson
8. Mel Renfro
9. Don Meredith
10. Michael Irvin
Tomorrow's list could be different. I do love me some Cowboys.
Frogs Beat Horns
TCU beat Texas on Sunday to even the 3-game super regional series at 1-1. Deciding game today. All right-thinking people will request of the higher power of their choice to weaken the arms of all Frog pitchers.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
College Baseball
Aggie Football Predictions: It's never too early!
Sept. 5 NEW MEXICO Kyle Field
Sept. 19 UTAH STATE Kyle Field
Sept. 26 UAB Kyle Field
Oct. 3 vs. Arkansas (Cowboys Stadium) Arlington, TX
Oct. 10 OKLAHOMA STATE Kyle Field
Oct. 17 at Kansas State Manhattan, KS
Oct. 24 at Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
Oct. 31 IOWA STATE Kyle Field
Nov. 7 at Colorado Boulder, CO
Nov. 14 at Oklahoma Norman, OK
Nov. 21 BAYLOR Kyle Field
Nov. 26 TEXAS (ESPN) Kyle Field
Borel Gets The Bird
Auto Racing
This Blog has ignored auto racing as best I can tell. I have recently become interested in this fast-paced sport -- but can't really explain my new fascination with it. Are there other racing fans here?
Friday, June 5, 2009
More on Mine That Bird
"mountain" biking in Nebraska....whouda thunk it
Longest Baseball Game
In a game on May 31 that lasted an NCAA all-division-record 25 innings and went 7 hours and 3 minutes, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns toppled the Boston College Eagles 3-2 at the NCAA Austin Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday evening.
The evening was highlighted by the relief performance of Austin Wood. The Longhorns left-hander entered the game with one out and a runner on second base in the seventh inning and proceeded to pitch 12.1 innings before yielding a hit.
For the game, Wood pitched 13.0 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and four walks while striking out a career-high 14. He logged 169 pitches on the evening.
-----------------
Texas Longhorns. 020 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 - 3 20 3
BC Eagles........... 000 101 000 000 000 000 000 000 0 - 2 8 0
------------------------------------
E - Loy, B. 2(8); Keyes, K.(2). LOB - UT 24; BC 12. 2B - Clark, P. 3(13);
Keyes, K.(12); Anston, R(22). HR - Keyes, K.(5). HBP - Moldenhauer;
Lawrence, A. SH - Belt, B.(8); Loy, B. 2(23); Hernandez, D 2(6); Hamlet,
M(12). SF - Sanchez, T(3). SB - Tucker, T.(12); Belt, B. 2(14).
Texas Longhorns IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
Ruffin, Chance...... 6.1 5 2 2 1 2 21 24 73 2.95
Wood, Austin........ 13.0 2 0 0 4 14 41 46 169 2.03
Dicharry, Austin.... 5.2 1 0 0 1 4 18 19 65 2.40
A few days after history was made, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. made a phone call to Longhorns equipment manager, Vinny Alcazar, inquiring for some artifacts from the game. Austin Wood, who threw 169 pitches over 13.0 innings, will donate his size-7 gray cap with the orange bill he wore during the game.
Texas will play TCU in a 3-game series in the Super Regional in Austin beginning June 6.