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(03/10/04 4:55am)
I wonder if Pampers is looking for a new spokesman?\nBecause I found one.\nSay hi to Terrell Owens, who, after eight years of crying in San Francisco, the big baby -- also known as T.O. -- finally cried loud enough that the 49ers gave him a new toy in a trade to Baltimore. But like a toddler opening up a gift and finding tube socks, Terrell is crying again. \nHe wants to be a Philadelphia Eagle. He wants a new toy.\nBut what he needs is a T.O. in Cohen's Corner. \nSo for the next few minutes, shut your yap, stop crying and listen up.\nI struggle to tolerate many things in sports. And added to the list of cheerleaders, NASCAR and sideline reporters, I cannot tolerate athletes crying due to their own stupidity. \nOwens, who failed to file the necessary paperwork on time for free-agent status, was traded from San Francisco -- where he was unhappy -- to Baltimore. \nWhere, again, he is unhappy. \nThe Ravens acquired Owens for a second-round draft pick after the 49ers declined the Eagles' offer of a fifth-round pick and wideout James Thrash.\nOwens is refusing to show up in Baltimore for the physical needed to complete the trade.\nOK. Daniel, deep breathe. Relax. Now, let it loose.\nT.O., what the hell is wrong with you?\nWhat is it? Why not Baltimore? Why are you madly in love with the Eagles?\nLet me try and take a stab at it. \nLet's see. It can't be location because Baltimore is just a short down I-90 from Philadelphia. It can't be about getting the ball because you'd be the No. 1 receiver in Baltimore. Granted, Donovan McNabb is a better quarterback then Kyle Boller, but with Boller, you'd get an up-and-coming quarterback throwing to you every time, while in Philly you're getting a quarterback running as much as he throws.\nIt can't be about going to a better team because both teams made the play offs. And although Philly made it to the conference championship game, well, they've been doing that for the last three years.\nIt can't be about a better offense because with your addition to Baltimore, the Ravens -- pending the courts decision (I've said that way too much this year) -- own the best running game in the NFL. \nSo what is it? Why Philly over Baltimore?\nCheesecake over crab cakes?\nAh. Wait a minute. I got it! \nHad you signed as a free agent with the Eagles, you would have received a $10 million signing bonus in addition to a new contract. But because your stupidity spoke louder then your hands, as you forgot to fill out the paper work, you had to be traded under your current contract.\nDamn I'm good!\nCurrently, you make a poor $17.7 million over the next three years. But in the NFL, only a signing bonus is guaranteed money. Oh, Poor T.O.\nNone of this would have happened if you got your homework done in time. Or, at least the person who does your homework -- I mean, your agent could have done it in time.\nSo stop crying. Crying will not excuse you from missing your deadline. Trust me, I've tried. \nAnd now you are upset 49ers' General Manager Terry Donahue did not trade you to Philly. Hmm. Let's see -- should we get a second-round pick or a fifth-round pick? Yea T.O., I'm sorry the general manager of the team is not looking out for your best interests before the teams.\nWhat was I thinking?\nYour time is up. Your timeout is over, get out of my corner.\nGoodbye Terrell.\nOh, P.S. T.O....\nShut up!
(03/04/04 5:17am)
Once invisible, Colorado is now the center of the sports world. \nTwelve years ago, a baseball and hockey team were non-existent, while the brightly-colored rainbow basketball jerseys were the only thing notable about the Nuggets. \nBut my, have times changed.\nA two-time Super Bowl Champion, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, a half-decent baseball team, not to mention the biggest rape trial since Mike Tyson's, the biggest recruiting scandal and oh yeah, the biggest surprise in the NBA are all happening in Colorado. \nIn spite of being a place where the total snow fall is usually the day's biggest news, the square state has been the bull's-eye in the circle of sports. \nUnfortunately, so much of the news in Colorado will be decided in court rooms and other off-field-venues that Court TV will have as much air-time as ESPN. \nKobe Bryant has turned a once quiet and reserved Eagle County into the largest circus in the country, while numerous sexual assault allegations have a prestigious Colorado football program on the brink of disaster. \nBut not all news has been bad. As of Wednesday night, the Avalanche own the second best record in the Western Conference, and the Nuggets are in serious playoff contention and have been all year. \nEvery win for the Rich N' Creamies sets a new franchise record -- not to mention it makes people forget about the days of Robert Pack, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Johnny Newman. \nEven though the Nuggets own the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, with the exception of Indiana, Detroit and New Jersey, I would not hesitate to take Denver over the rest of the Eastern Conference. \nAnd if acquitted outside of Denver, Kobe could wind up in Denver making the Nuggets a more serious contender. \nPlease, LeBron might steal the hype, but Carmelo Anthony runs the show. He wins a national championship in one year at college and then leads the usual laughingstock of the NBA to its finest season to date. \nKobe's rape trial and the Buffaloes' mess would tear up any other city that size, but thanks to the Avalanche and Nuggets, Denver is taking care of business not just in the court but on the court. \nAnd how 'bout the Rockies?\nWell, it's a nice ballpark. \nBut the thin air at Coors Field makes Rockies' games look more like 12-inch softball contests where double-digit scores are as common as peaks and cliffs. \nThe thin air and whoever-bats-last-will-win type of games won't produce a champion anytime soon, but, well, MVP Baseball home run derbies on the PlayStation 2 will always be fun at Coors. \nRegardless, the Avalanche continue to win, the Nuggets are beginning to win, the Broncos usually win, the Rockies are fun to watch and while Buffalo football is digging a grave, the hoops squad seems poised for an NCAA tournament appearance. \nSo while the Kobe trial and the Colorado football scandal will be decided by guilty or not, sports on the field in Colorado have already reached a verdict:\nWinners.
(03/02/04 4:17am)
Did you ever wonder how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grew so huge and muscular in such a short time?\nOf course not.\nWhy? Because they continually aired the episode of the green ooze leaking in the sewer and making gigantic life-size turtles out of them. They quickly proved any existing allegations wrong -- like perhaps steroids, all fans like myself could watch without wonder.\nBut similar inquiries continue to linger around the world of baseball. As home runs continue to fly, not just out of ball parks, but across the adjacent interstates and heads like Sosa's continue to morph deep into his shoulders, steroid questions and acquisitions will never go away.\nSo what can baseball do?\nTake lessons from our turtle friends and prove it!\nNo boys, there's no green ooze, but a cup followed by a drip-drip and voila, I'll watch these dingers fly out faster then Janet's right twin and yell, ooooh and ahhh without a bit of wonder. \nOh wait -- there's a problem. Before I jump on players for denying a steroid test, they're not the ones to blame. Baseball has random steroid testing but does not give away any specific names or even punish those testing positive. \nNot all players fear the dreaded clear cup. In fact, players such as Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi are actually calling for the wee-wee cup and for their results to be made public.\nBut someone, or some people, are refusing to allow players being accused of juice to clear their name. In a sports world where an athlete is guilty until proven innocent, the players' union won't allow for this to happen. \nCan the players' union even override such a thing?\nUnfortunately so. The Players Association would not allow A-Rod to take an unselfish pay cut from his contract so his trade to Boston could happen. They said they could not let this take place due to the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement and in fear of setting a bad precedent for further contract negotiations. \nAre you serious?\nThe highest-paid athlete in sports history wanted to decrease his contract so he could fit into another organization in attempt to win and this would have been a bad precedent?\nAnyway, Gene Orza, who oversees drug matters for the MLBPA, strongly believes in innocence until proven guilty, especially from serious prosecutors. \nWell Gene, there's a million serious prosecutors out there, and they're called fans who want players' names cleared so they don't wonder why certain players have lost their necks.\nOne of whom, well, his body has managed to maintain it's normal proportion, but Gary Sheffield, went on air last week accepting a drug test from SportsCenter's Dan Patrick so he could prove all allegations wrong. \nWith the BALCO Laboratories' case blowing up in front of a federal court, all Sheffield wants is his innocence back, but under this collective crapping agreement, he cannot prove his innocence and instead will continue to be bombarded with steroid questions.\nAnd I don't want to hear home run totals were down this year so that means steroids are not prevalent in baseball. \nAccording to the Union, 5 percent of baseball players tested positive for steroids but just 5 percent of all the 1,200 players would not warrant a policy change. \nMounds are shorter, players are more ripped then ever, but fans are more curious than they have ever been. \nSo no, a 5 percent tolerance is not enough. Baseball needs a zero-tolerance policy so when Bonds or Sosa hits one 500 feet, fans don't wonder if he is one of the sixty players on the juice. \nNow Gene, let any of the players who want to clear their name take a test and prove to his fans hard work goes a long way. \nAren't unions designed and created to benefit the players?\nA-Rod can't take a pay-cut to win, and Sheffield can't prove his innocence to the fans.\nI guess not.
(02/25/04 6:06am)
Sunday night, ESPN revealed its own version of "American Idol" in the form of a competition to be the next "SportsCenter" anchor. After advertising it for what seemed like every single commercial, the show "Dream Job" aired, as 12 hopeful contestants tried out for their life-long dream job.\nPersonally, reading highlights off a teleprompter and creating original yet obnoxoius phrases seems less then a dream job -- even for SportsCenter -- which got me thinking about some of my own dream jobs involving sports in some way.\nI'd like to first point out that my first and most obvious dream job would be an NBA player. But since my skills limit me to a solid intramural player, the high life of basketball, money and getting girls, or in some cases, having them come as room service, is just a bit out of my league.\nBut what about playing second base for this year's New York Yankees? Hitting a cool .150 and watching Jeter and A-Rod field the ball seems like a dream job to me. Heck, I'll even play the always-important softball position of short center field -- or in other words you suck at outfield and infield, so stand somewhere in-between. \nIf not that job, then, well, even with that job, I wonder if I could somehow get the body painting job for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. Now ladies, before you scream "pig," okay, scream "pig," but realize in fifth grade I won first place for staying in the lines while painting. And these lines are curved!\nAll I'm asking for is a dry run. \nBut, ladies before you stop screaming "pig," I got one more you'll love.\nAt halftime during the Super Bowl -- no, this has nothing to do with J.J. -- Pay-Per-View aired a lingerie bowl in which teams of four, five or however many models, competed in a tackle football game sporting nothin' but the obvious.\nYou think I'm nuts?\nA four-team league is actually forming beginning next year, and all I want to know is if the equipment manager spot is still available. Velcro, hook -- not a problem. \nAnd neither has it been a problem for football players at Colorado. If I were a high school recruit, I think I would at least pique interest in Colorado. If for nothing else than just for a visit. A campus tour and getting to know the dancers -- I mean staff -- would be an interesting experience. It sure would beat the calendar, map and newspaper I received on my visit here. \nBut at last, I saved my ultimate dream job for the end. As much as I don't believe NASCAR is a sport -- seriously, driving around in circles making continual left hand turns is not a sport. Anyway, I would still love to ride shotgun in a race. Think about it. Driving 190 miles an hour, avoiding crashes, sitting in on a pit stop, all while sipping on a Big Gulp with your feet on the dash board is my ultimate dream job. \n"Uh, Dale, can you unlock my window? It's a little toasty in here"
(02/19/04 5:21am)
Are the Yankees good for baseball? \nFamilies of four being able to attend a game, have a snack and read the program without losing half their life's earnings would be good for the game. \nLast year's bone-chilling playoffs, every-series-going-down-to-the-wire drama is good for baseball. \nWatching Barry Bonds and other slugging studs crush the ball half way to the next town and not wondering if that's a syringe in his back pocket is good for baseball.\nSeeing Marlins manager Jack McKeon, a 73-year-old, teach players a third of his age about discipline and the drive to win is good for baseball.\nNo-hitters, two-and-a-half-hour games, hustle triples, home plate collisions and small market underdog teams wining the World Series is good for baseball.\nBut you asked about the Yankees?\nAbsolutely. \nThe only way America's favorite underdog team can defy all odds and knock down the mighty Goliath is if there exists a Goliath. By the time I finish writing this, the Yankees will have signed three more All-Stars, just making it even sweeter when another Mighty Mouse comes quietly from behind and crushes the evil empire. \nThe larger the upset, the more memorable of a story.\nIt's why "the Russian is cut," and "do you believe in miracles?" are two famous sports movie lines. And that's why baseball and its fans need a team they love to hate. Thank you, New York. And thank you, Steinbrenner, for not moving over because the Red Sox thought it's now their turn. Thank you for not allowing a team which was four outs from the World Series to think it was the manager's fault. \nSo what if the Yankees are working with $200 million? They don't have the rally monkey or the ... \nAll right, fine, it helps to have money, but bling-bling don't mean a thing without the ring. And last time I looked, the 2003 Marlins, ($63 million) 20th in baseball, the 2002 Angels, ($61 million) 15th overall and the 2001 Diamondbacks, ($81 million) eighth overall, ignored the phrase "money buys everything." All were champions. \nFind a proven 1-2 punch, which the Yankees don't have, speed at the top, which again the Yankees don't have, and team chemistry. Find a manager who teaches and players who don't care about odds, and I'll find you the next World Series Champions.\nSo what that I said the Yankees have Boardwalk and Park Place? The remaining teams have the rest of the board. \nI can't wait for the Yanks to come to town so I can sit on the third baseline eyeing Mr. Glitz and Mr. Glamorous and just anticipating a ball to squeak through the hole, so I can stand, cheer and shout and be glad there's a team to hate.\nWherever they go, wherever they play, normally half-empty stadiums will fill with passionate fans who couldn't care less about the money they spent, the steroids used and the lengthy games because they only care about one thing:\nBeating those damn Yankees.
(02/17/04 5:43am)
Daniel Cohen's column regarding the New York Yankees in the February 17,\n2004 issue of the Indiana Daily Student was put to the press' before the\nreports surfaced that Greg Maddux will sign with the Yankees. Stay tuned\nto the Indiana Digital Student for more on Maddux and the Yankees.\nwww.idsnews.com/sports\nWhat's wrong with baseball?\nNot the Yankees. At least not entirely.\nIt's that the Texas Rangers will be paying Alex Rodriguez until the year 2016. This technically means they are paying a player on another team to beat them. \nThat is what's wrong with baseball. \nBut simmer down my fellow Yankee haters, relax, take a deep one and listen up.\nThe Bronx Dollars will not win the World Series. I promise. \nWith the acquisitions of Sheffield, Brown, Vazquez, A-Rod and others, the Yanks have the scariest roster since ... thinking ... exactly.\nOnly a few teams have an All-Star shortstop. The Yankees have two. \nThey have the most explosive talent-rich team I have ever seen on paper.\nBut for a team so rich in history, they're overlooking the structure of the past three World Series Champions. Talented? Of course they were, but the Marlins, Angels and Diamondbacks relied on chemistry, arms and the strategy of creeping up on teams. \nMoney will give them their best chance, but even the Yankees won their World Series when no Yankee finished among the top three for MVP voting. \nWhen all is said and done, the Red Sox addition of Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke will be more valuable then the addition of A-Rod. \nGive me a proven 20-game winner and a dominant closer, and you can have Rodriguez. \nI can just see it now. Maybe if some New Yorkers would straighten their hats, they could see it, too. The East Coast Empire will crack, crumble and then fall. \nIt all begins with an A-Rod April swoon adjusting to the real Second City and then a Giambi knee, a Brown shoulder and a few Steinbrenner faints later, the Red Sox will be cruising atop the now A.L 'B'East. \nOK, maybe not cruising. In fact, the Yankees may even win 120 and the Division, but even though Jeter and A-Rod on the left side is like owning Boardwalk and Park Place -- with hotels -- Schilling and Pedro in a four-game series is even more frightening. \nOh, so you just think I'm just digging deep for excuses and faulty reasoning to explain why the Yankees won't win it?\nIs it possible I am just bitter and pissed off the Yankees are so good? \nAll right, I can't do this anymore. \nThe gig is up, my cover has been blown. Unless my crack and crumble theory comes true, there is no reason why Steinbuyer should not win the crown. \nThe pin-stripers are stacked deep, but unlike Ray Skillman's automobiles, they don't come cheap.\nTheir projected 2004 payroll of over $200 million will be the largest payroll in sports history!\nThe luxury tax, paid by teams over the salary cap, can be renamed the Yankee cap since they are the only team to have paid it last year.\nTo generate some needed revenue, the Yankee P.A. announcer will have to address the Yankee's infield as Jeter, brought to you by Visa and Gatorade, Giambi sponsored by Arm and Hammer and Rodriguez of www.MLB.com.\nThe Yankee's infield of Giambi, irrelevant, Jeter and Rodriguez will be better then most people's fantasy infields. \nSo to make it fair, I propose this:\nThe Yankees play minus a second baseman. Who needs one, when you have arguably the best two infielders ever. \nTwo-time Gold Glove winner Rodriguez must play third base with the actual gold steel glove given to him. \nAlso, like in little league baseball, once the Yanks bat around, the inning is over.\nAll right, I think my bitterness has calmed and my jealousy has cooled -- even though the Yankees have as many All-Stars as the entire A.L Central Division. \nBut gosh darnn it Aaron Boone, what the hell were you thinking? Why can't you fish in the off-season?
(02/11/04 5:21am)
This Saturday is Valentine's Day. \nA day you find that special someone and profess your love.\nBut more importantly, it's a day your significant other opens that precious card with the poem you didn't write and the picture you didn't paint but that you John Hancock-ed with all your love. \nSpeak for yourself, but for me, nothing beats a heart-warmer from Hallmark.\nAnd nothing is more heart-lifting than an unexpected card. A rare event indeed, but one that can truly lift one's spirits from the gutters of love.\nUnfortunately, not all can even share in the suspense of receiving a V-Day card from that special someone. \nAnd here are a few that I can assure you will not wind up in the mailbox.
(02/05/04 5:40am)
Dear Harlan, \nI am 22 years old, single and very desperate. \nWell, I've only been looking since the Super Bowl, but I plan to continue to look for something exciting in sports until March Madness begins. See, from the conclusion of the Super Bowl until the madness, nothing exciting is taking place in sports. Every major sport is either in its dreadful middle-of-the-season stretch, or simply in the offseason. \nI apologize Harlan, but my boredom since the conclusion of the Super Bowl has me watching re-runs of "Full House" on Nick at Nite. \nOkay, I was watching those anyway, but the point is, from now until March Madness, I am going to need help finding stories -- and not just any stories. I need a hot story.\nI pledge to you, I've been searching everywhere. I sought out all the places hot stories would hang out, like any of the five major sports, and I found zilch. I don't want you to think I'm lazy and incapable of locating something hot, so here is a detailed report of my search. \nI started in the NBA and even though the All-Star game selections were announced, the hottest story lately has been Shaq's tirade of the officials after the Lakers' win in Toronto. Shaq was tearing apart the referees for taking over games and not allowing the stars to shine. Shaq, you're a 53 percent free-throw shooter, I wouldn't think you'd want the refs on your side.\nThen I saw Eddie Griffin is back in jail... Again. And again, I declined that story idea. But thanks for the effort, Eddie. \nBesides, the NBA's regular season seems to be a prolonged process of waiting for the Lakers to heal and win yet another league crown. \nThe other sport about to hit its mid-season pause is hockey -- whose playoffs I love, but its regular season ... Are you kidding? Win a third of your games, have your goalie get hot and enjoy the Stanley Cup. Or, if you're Detroit, try and 'Yankee' your way to the Cup.\nEither way, possibly the most thrilling playoff sport may have the most dull regular season. All right, fine. I'm bitter because my Blackhawks are quite possibly the most pathetic sports franchise. Regardless, I'll wait till the playoffs to get extremely excited about hockey.\nBaseball, even though it's in its off-season, can create rather large stories. But honestly, since the death of the A-Rod trade talks, the hot stove has been rather cool. The pitchers and catchers report in a few weeks, but unless David Wells has a new book coming out, it'll be quiet until spring training. \nAnd even so, you can't blame baseball for its dullness since this time is the offseason. So really, from now until spring training, we'll all wait to see who Georgie Boy will buy -- I mean find to replace -- injured (guard) Aaron Boone, who hurt himself playing pickup basketball. \nTruthfully, the only chance of sports excitement we have until March Madness is watching schools beat each other to a pulp trying to earn a spot for the most thrilling three weeks of sports of the entire year. \nUnless you fit the label of my favorite sports term, a bubble team, a loss here or there is truly insignificant when it comes to your Final Four run. I think we (IU nation) should know, if you get hot at the end, anything is possible. \nAt this point in the season, experts are beginning to pick their Final Four teams at a time when it's nearly impossible to predict next week's No. 1 team. So, from now until Selection Sunday, relax when your team loses and calm down when they win. It's a long road to the Final Four and we have yet to warm up the car.\nWIth UConn looking dominant, then not so, then dominant again all I've learned about the this year in college basketball is not to get between coach Knight and his water chestnuts. \nSo Harlan, it's evident that my struggle to find excitement in sports is not due to my lack of effort. Each year, from the Super Bowl until that special time in March, my boredom sees no bounds. \nFrom one Cohen to another, I beg for your help. \nBut please, don't think I'm a story slut, I just like to write around.
(01/28/04 5:32am)
Because the Eastern Conference is so wretched and inferior to the West, the NBA has decided to do something about it.\nMake it worse?\nI'm afraid so. The expansion Charlotte Bobcats will move into the Eastern Conference next season, while one of the Eastern Conference's only decent teams, the New Orleans Hornets, will move to the already dominating West.\nThe NBA's two-conference set up is currently so lopsided that not even Anna Nicole Smith could balance it out. \nBut seriously, as of Tuesday, the West had a mind-boggling 154-84 record against the East with only two teams, (Seattle and Phoenix) having losing records. \nBut no team is feeling the effect of the lopsidedness more then the Houston Rockets, who as of Tuesday, are two games under .500 against teams in their own conference but are 26-18 overall and are considered a factor in the West. \nBut critics label the Rockets as too inconsistent to contend. Excuse me? Maybe they just beat up on teams from the East and struggle against teams from the West. \nStill not convinced?\nAs of Tuesday, four of the five worst teams in the entire league reside in the Eastern Conference. \nSeven of the top nine teams in the NBA play in the West, leaving just Indiana and Detroit as the only two Eastern teams representing the NBA's top teams. \nHowever, I can choose six teams from the West that would beat the Pacers and Pistons in the NBA Finals.\nAnd I'm not counting the Rockets, who just left Conseco Fieldhouse with a victory. \nEven though the Pacers own the NBA's second best record, continual beat downs of Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, Cleveland, Orlando and Miami will certainly push that record up rather quickly. \nEven so, I'd rather watch the bad teams in the West than the Pacers, Pistons or soon-to-leave Hornets. \nWhether it's the half-court, wait-until-your-forward-is-directly-under-the-basket-to-pass-to-him offense or just boring basketball, Eastern Conference basketball just makes me sick to my stomach.\nFor instance, the Pistons/Pacers game last week was one of the most flat and uneventful basketball games I have ever witnessed.\nAnd these were the Eastern Conference's two best teams.\nAs a Bulls fan, I am in dire need of some victories, but I would much rather the Bulls play each of the Eastern Conference teams than have to go play the four worst teams out West. (Phoenix, Golden State, Portland and the 'other' team in LA)\nSo what happened? \nWhere have the days gone of the bad boys, the Bulls, the dominant Celtics and the tough Knicks?\nWell, I may not have the final answer, but I have seven pretty darn good ones.\nReason No. 1: In 1995, the Timberwolves gambled by selecting Kevin Garnett out of high school. So far, not a bad move, as the T-Wolves have built a solid team around the 'Kid' and are serious contenders for this year's crown.\nReason No. 2: The Spurs take Tim Duncan with the first pick in the '97 draft. Two rings later. Enough said.\nReason No. 3: Dallas trades away the three J's, (Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson) and although only one current Maverick (Michael Finley) was acquired in those deals, the trades freed up room for stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. \nReasons No. 4/5: In '96, the Lakers receive guard Kobe Bryant on draft day from Charlotte for Vlade Divac, who is now back in the West. Also, LA signs free agent Shaquille O'Neal, considered one of the most dominant big men ever.\nReason No. 6/7: In '98, the Kings trade for Chris Webber from the then Bullets, who are still looking for talent. \nTherefore, I may have an idea for commissioner David Stern to not so much strengthen the East, but instead make it more fair for the West. \nWhat if the NBA maintained its 16-team playoff format, however, it used the top sixteen teams from the entire league, not just eight from each conference. This way, it would give teams such as the deserving Nuggets a chance at a playoff run. Currently, the "Rich and Creamies" hold the eighth seed by just one and a half games.\nIf the season were to end right now, we would be forced to watch playoff series such as the Raptors/Nets and Celtics/Pistons. I'll get the coffee.\nBut while general managers of Western teams seem to be making all the right moves, GM's in the East haven't found the dance floor.\nHad the Pistons not passed over this year's most valuable rookie, ('Melo), they not only would be the East's best, but a serious contender for this year's title. Instead, they drafted Darko Milicic, who with one field goal in his next game will equal his points per game average for the entire season. \nMust be a long-term plan.\nIn 1999, the Bulls traded their No. 1 pick, Elton Brand, and in 200, the Wizards selected Kwame Brown with the No. 1 selection. \nSo, is LeBron James the East's only hope for revival? Well, there's good news and scary news ahead. The good news: If the standings hold true, four of the first five picks this year will belong to Eastern squads. \nThe scary news: four of the first five picks will belong to Eastern squads.
(01/21/04 5:15am)
Aikman, Irvin and Smith. \nRing a bell?\nOf course it does. These are recognizable names from the dominant Dallas Cowboys squad that earned the label of America's Team, but Brady, Bruski and Law?\nAre most people aware these are names representing the AFC in this year's Super Bowl?\nOr the 2002 Super Bowl? \nThere's no question they are part of a team making a strong case for the new calling of America's team. \nBy beating the Colts, the Patriots are heading to their second Super Bowl in three years and their third, in nine. But their stunning suffocation of what seemed to be the unstoppable Colt's offense had many Colts fans wondering not how, but who?\nTheir unflashy, business-like conduct might cost CBS some Super Bowl ratings -- and isn't that a shame? It's this team-oriented, frustrate-you-until-you-crack-and-crumble approach that continues to land the Patriots in the big one. \nThe 2002 team, but especially this year's Patriots, lack the respect and attention they deserve. They lost in week four, and haven't lost since! A 14-game winning streak -- the second longest in NFL history -- in a league full of parity still cannot convince their skeptics they are elite. \nThe Patriots got as much consideration at the beginning of the season as the Indians did in the movie Major League, like one fan in the movie said, "I've never heard of half these guys." \nBut just like the "Sons of Geronimo," the Pats now have people's attention, appearing in their fourth overall Super Bowl.\nWhile Bears fans are still talking about their crown by pummeling the Patriots in '86, the Patriots have since won one, and soon to possibly be two, but have been back to the Super Bowl three times. \nBrady, who was 14-2 this year, finished third in the MVP voting. His stats may have been a smidge below Manning and McNair, but the 'V' is for valuable, and you can't make a better case for value to his team than Brady. \nHe won at Michigan and continues to win since the day he took over for Bledsoe, but how much more will he need to win to quiet his critics? \nWhy do I like Brady? Because he really doesn't care.\nAnd neither does the entire team. Day-in, and day-out, they work hard, fight for every inch, but most of all, they play hard for the name on the front of their jerseys -- not the back. \nWhat other team would carry the title of America's team with more honor and pride then the New England Patriots?\nDue to the first Gulf War in 1991, America was looking for a team, an icon or an idea to grab onto to and call it theirs. With our freedom being fought for overseas, the Cowboys became the team for fans across America to call their own. \nPeople latched onto the symbol of the blue and silver star and now I wish people will let go and see America's new team forming in front of their eyes. And what better team for our country to love at uncertain times like these, than the Patriots. \nYet, a loss to the Panthers in the Super Bowl will destroy any hope of becoming America's new team. See, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls, but more importantly, they did not lose any. They were a perfect three-for-three in the big game. Just an appearance in the Super Bowl is not nearly enough. Ask Buffalo.\nBut even with one loss in Super Bowl XXXI to Favre and the Packers, the Patriots can still do it. It was far enough back, and few players still play on the team to incorporate that loss into the forming of this dynasty. \nBesides, Nate Newton, a member of the old America's team was arrested for two separate occasions for possession of 173 pounds and 213 pounds of marijuana. Is that past the point of intent to sell and now intent to roll a blunt for the entire National Football League -- and the Portland Trailblazers? \nEither way, it's not the ideal representation of America's team -- meaning, it's time for a change. \nUncle Sam needs a new team. The Yankees are too fun to hate and the Lakers are full of hall of famers. \nA victory in next week's Super Bowl should shut up even their darkest critics and disbelievers. \nWell, hopefully they'll be saying, "How 'bout them Patriots"
(01/15/04 5:45am)
The three weeks from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4 feature three holidays, fun in the sun for some, endless gifts and no school work, but is outdone, over-matched and only remembered by something most of you want to destroy. \nShame on you for wanting a playoff system to substitute for college football's entire bowl season. \nWhat is our society's fetish with ending a season with only one winner? Why can't 56 teams be rewarded for a great season, when a miniature playoff would virtually benefit the same eight teams each year? \nI admit, the BCS is not the final solution and seems more confusing then the Packers' defense on fourth and 26. \nBut you try and convince school athletic directors to turn down $14 to $17 million just for making a BCS bowl. Face it, a college football playoff is as much of a fantasy as my making a cameo in the next Paris Hilton video. \nSo, get over it.\nBesides, what else would North Texas fans (New Orleans Bowl) have to look forward to after thanksgiving dinner. \nHow great was it that Kansas fans (Tangerine Bowl) got to cheer for their team in December and even though they were pummeled, did not worry if the loss would hurt their March madness dreams. Or at least it bought us time having to listen to Jayhawk fans ramble about how this year will actually be their year. \nWhat other day except for New Years can you be so hung over on the couch, but be in total bliss knowing football will be on from breakfast to bedtime. \nWhat other day at home can your mom not bother you at 10:00 o'clock in the morning because a game is on and still not bother you at 11 that night for the same reason.\nWhy should we give eight teams the chance to win the crown when we know only two deserve it? O.k. I admit, a USC-LSU game would have been great. But, I'm sorry, USC (Rose Bowl) try beating California (Insight.com Bowl) before ripping apart the BCS. \nAnd for those of you screaming at my mug that a playoff allows for upsets and unthinkable champions -- ask Miami fans how much better they were then OSU last year. \nLet's face it -- playoff fans want a new system -- not a better system. Our country loves change, but you want to eliminate the only reason tourists would head to Detroit in the dead of winter (Motor City Bowl) -- or anytime at all. \nWhat other discussion of a Rose an Orange and Sugar could get people in a heated argument. \nAnd stop comparing college basketball's final four to a possible playoff system for football. After all, a trip to a bowl game is a minimal 4 weeks of gloating, while the excitement of the final four lasts as long as the other break for the bowl games does. \nAlthough, its relieving to walk past my Ohio State friends (Fiesta Bowl) saying, "We're going to smoke them in the bowl," and not fear the police appearing at my front door. \nInstead, the police were needed to break up a post game melee between Hawaii and Houston in the (Hawaii Bowl). The fight included Houston players using their helmets as spears. Don't you think the Hawaii Warriors would know how to defend such an attack? \nBeginning Dec. 30, a stretch of 18 bowls games had been played in five days concluding with the BCS National Championship game Jan. 4 in New Orleans. (Sugar Bowl) \nThis year's 28 bowl games showcased three of the nation's top three quarterbacks, ( Eli Manning -- Cotton Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger -- GMAC Bowl and Phillip Rivers Tangerine Bowl) top wide receiver, (Larry Fitzgerald- Tire Bowl) and one school Navy (Houston Bowl) which deserves everyone's respect regardless of their impressive 8-4 record. But none of these players or teams would have participated in any sort of compact playoff format. \nSo, while a playoff format would bring new excitement and a change from tradition, money will never let it happen. \nSo, stop the playoff banter and accept bowl-mania because it is here to stay. So now, can you please get your foot off my bowls?
(01/13/04 6:05am)
Junior forward Ned Grabavoy will forgo his senior season of eligibility at IU and enter the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 16 in Charlotte, N.C. The All-American has signed a contract with the MLS and is one of eight players signed as part of Major League Soccer's Nike Project-40 class that was recently unveiled by the league. \nIn 2003, Grabavoy carried the Hoosiers to their sixth national championship, leading the team with 33 points on 11 goals and 11 assists in 21 games. As co-captain, Grabavoy was one of 15 finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Herman Trophy handed out to the nation's top player. \n"My mind was kind of made up before this past season that it was time to move on," Grabavoy said. "It is what's best for me and the development of me as a player. Winning the championship really helps sending me out on a good note."\nGrabavoy missed four matches during the NCAA tournament while playing for the United States U-20 team in the World Youth Championships held in the United Arab Emirates but returned for the championship match and netted IU's first goal off a free kick. \nHe was named to the College Cup All-Tournament team. \n"Not winning the championship would not have changed my decision. I was very confident that I could come back and get the chance to play in the final four," Grabavoy said. "I think most of the guys kind of had an idea that I would be leaving. I will always maintain friendships with those guys." \nGrabavoy played in 54 games during his Hoosier career where he netted 57 points on 18 goals and 21 assists. He is the first IU player to turn pro early since Dema Kovalenko in 1998.\n"We're happy for Ned, for he has made great contributions to IU soccer for three years," coach Mike Freitag said. "We were happy to have him for three years since he was so highly touted out of high school, so we are glad he stuck around to get coach his final championship."\nSome of the players joining Grabavoy on the 2004 MLS Nike-Project Class are 14-year old forward phenom Freddy Adu, defender Ryan Cochrane and goalkeeper Steve Cronin both from semi-finalist Santa Clara. \nGrabavoy, undersized at just five foot seven, understands the physical challenge awaiting him in the MLS.\n"I know I'll have to get stronger, but I am used to physical play," Grabavoy said. "There are many things that I possess that you can't teach other players, but right now strength is the biggest thing for me, and I think I've continued to improve on that."\nWith junior forward Mike Ambersley returning to the club, Freitag is optimistic about next season, even without their top scorer. \n"You're going to miss a player of his magnitude whether it would be goals or assists, but the college game is different each year," Freitag said. "With Ambersley returning, we have an adequate replacement and is similar to Ned in quality but different in what they can do."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(01/13/04 5:21am)
Pete Rose is in a fight, the battle of his life, and I'm not talking about the Hall of Fame. \nBaseball's all-time hit king is facing his toughest pitch yet. He needs to get ahead, stay focused and believe he can cure himself.\nFor Charlie Hustle is stricken with the sickness of a gambling addiction -- a far more serious issue than votes for the Hall of Fame. \nAfter 14 years of denial and in-our-face lying, Rose came forward and admitted his gambling problem. \nWell, Pete, congratulations for completing step one of a 12-step, up-hill struggle against your addiction.\nOr maybe, the player who exemplified hard work and who constantly gave up his body for the sake of his team, cares so much about the Hall of Fame that he's overlooking his own treatment. \nPete Rose was and still may be sick. Not to the level of before, but his dream of the Hall of Fame is buried underneath the integrity he stole from baseball and its fans.\nA place in Cooperstown's museum of baseball greatness would solidify his beknown accomplishments on the field, but completely curing his gambling addiction would earn him respect off the field, a place he lost it nearly 15 years go.\nFour percent of our country suffers from a serious gambling addiction -- something baseball recognizes in a mere brochure for all the players.\nIt has become so prominent that today 120,000 Gamblers Anonymous chapters exist to guide addicts through treatment. \nThat's 240 chapters per state; here in Indiana, more than 10 meetings a week occur just in Indianapolis. \nBut in his recent book, "My Prison Without Bars," Rose is referring to his prison as baseball's lifetime ban set forth by the late former commissioner Bart Giamatti and former deputy commissioner Fay Vincent and not his serious addiction to gambling, which is the addiction that most often leads to suicide. \nA gambling addiction is as dangerous as alcoholism, drug use or obesity, but all anyone, including Rose, mentions is his fight for the Hall of Fame. \nRose telling ABC's Charlie Gibson during his Primetime interview that he is not an addict is hard to believe. After 15 years of lying, trust is not on his side. \nEven so, unconvinced by his denial of an addiction, I decided to ask the pros, the people who deal with the problem everyday -- Gamblers Anonymous. \nBased on the 20 questions GA offers for self-discovery of an addiction, a typical addict answers 'yes' to at least seven.\nBased on public information, Pete Rose would answer yes to three of the first four: using work time to gamble, reputation being affected and having remorse after admission. The remaining questions could only be answered by Rose himself. \nHe may have lied to us for 15 years, but Pete for your own good, stop cheating yourself. \nAlso, former teammate and current Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt told ABC the only way Rose would be fully forgiven by baseball is if he never gambled again. \nThat is, if Rose were to be reinstated, he could not be found at the horse track the next day.\nWell, that could be a problem considering he just bought a share of a horse track where he constantly puts bets on horses.\nGive it up Pete. \nYou will only be allowed into baseball with a clean slate and that includes up to the present day. No more betting. \nIt would be like allowing a convicted murderer to keep a gun in his house, but just for fun. Not going to happen.\nYou may only have a few more years of eligibility for entry into the Hall of Fame, but you have the rest of your life to clean and live in your and your fans' respect.\nBy doing so, you'd be a Hall-of-Famer in my book.
(12/15/03 6:37am)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was Sept. 18, and IU had just lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame in double overtime, 1-0. The players were dejected, and IU coach Jerry Yeagley said it was a game the Hoosiers should have won.\nThat was IU's last loss of the season.\nIn less then three months, Yeagley crafted a young team into an experienced team destined to send Yeagley out as a champion.\n"Anytime you win a National Championship, and this is our 23rd National Championship at IU, it is a moment of high achievement," said IU Athletic Director Terry Clapacs. "It is in part a bittersweet championship, because in a sense we take great joy in celebrating with Yeagley, but we also know this truly was his final game for IU. That makes it a little sad at the same time."\nWhen IU started the season 2-3-4, Yeagley told his team he wanted to have the best turnaround in the history of the program.\nYeagley, the winningest coach in Division I Soccer history, added another prolific chapter to the IU men soccer history books Sunday in the National Championship game, which IU won 2-1 over St. John's.\nYeagley claimed his sixth National Championship in his final game on the sidelines as a coach. \n"I'm not ready to (retire) yet. Just give me a few days," Yeagley said. "(ESPN) asked me that after the game on national television, and I was a bit numb and I still am. I've been trying not to think about me because it is about this team and these guys."\nOn Dec. 3, the NCAA announced that Yeagley was the all-time winningest coach in Division I soccer history. Sunday's win marked Yeagley's 544th career victory. \nIU assistant coach Mike Freitag will take over as head coach beginning next season. Freitag has been an assistant under Yeagley for the past 11 seasons. \nJust when you think Yeagley's teams can't do anything more remarkable, they do something more amazing and astounding. Sunday, they managed to save the best for last. They sent their coach -- whom they refer to as their father -- out as a winner. \n"The pride and the tradition of the uniform is a big 'X' factor that you can't quantify, but it was big part of the championship and will continue to be for IU soccer in the future," Yeagley said. "That's what I am most proud of -- that I've been there for that tradition and through the development of that tradition."\n-- Contact staff writers Daniel Cohen and Zack Eldridge at djcohen@indiana.edu and zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(12/15/03 6:29am)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the sixth time in school history, the Hoosiers captured the NCAA National Championship Sunday, capping IU coach Jerry Yeagley's 31-year career.\nIU beat St. John's 2-1 Sunday as a snow storm swirled at Crew Stadium. The win gives the Hoosiers their first title since 1999 and sixth in the 31-year history of the program. \n"This group just never felt they couldn't win, and that's part of the IU tradition. When you are in championships and the most important game is on the line, that's when we are at our best," Yeagley said. "I couldn't be any happier for our guys. I couldn't be any more proud."\nIU junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly fought off a heavy St. John's attack during a snowstorm that began with about 15 minutes remaining. The Red Storm outshot the Hoosiers 19-7 and 9-2 in the second half. Nolly's lone surrendered goal came with 12:04 left in the second half when freshman Ashley Kozicki snuck behind the IU defense and chipped in a goal.\n"It was tough because it kept blowing in my eyes, and when you're winning a game late, it's tough not to sit back and kind of just let them come at you," Nolly said. "I was getting a little nervous because everything started to get wet, and they started pumping shots into the box."\nNolly was able to withstand the attack and preserve the win for IU.\nAs snow swirled around the early morning hours in Columbus, so were rumors of the return of junior forward Ned Grabavoy and sophomore defender Drew Moor for the title game. Both U20 players were able to arrive in Columbus and start for the Hoosiers. Grabavoy arrived in Columbus Saturday night, but Moor, who suffered flight connection problems, caught a flight from New York and made it to Columbus two hours before kickoff.\nGrabavoy, who took the restart kicks for the U20 team, scored IU's first goal off a restart with 30:01 remaining in the first half. \nThe junior co-captain blasted a shot to the lower right hand corner of the net, beating a sprawling keeper for his 11th goal of the season. The goal was IU's first restart goal of the season, which according to Yeagley usually accounts for about 40 percent of the Hoosier's scoring. \n"Sometimes you just have the feeling that it is going in," Grabavoy said. "To get on the board first in the championship game was very huge for our team."\nThe Hoosiers' second goal and eventual game winner came with 25:46 remaining in the first half when freshman forward Jacob Peterson broke loose at midfield and drove to the box, where he fired a shot to the lower left corner of the net. \nThe goal was Peterson's seventh of the season and first of the tournament, where he was awarded Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Peterson has yet to turn 18 years old.\n"I did not think I deserved to be the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament. It is kind of a big honor for me," Peterson said. "Last year, I knew coming to IU we could play for the National Championship. It is just a great feeling. It's the biggest win I've had in my career."\nThe Hoosiers endured a scare in the first half with 24:45 left when Nolly deflected a shot from senior Simone Salinno that wound up at the foot of sophomore Jean Camere who whistled a shot into the arms of Nolly for the save.\nAt 2-3-4 on Oct. 2, Yeagley said he knew the Hoosiers would be a different team come the second half of the season. He didn't imagine they would be the best team. \n"I said this team will be different at mid-season than at the beginning, while others were discounting us since we were off to our worst start in team history," Yeagley said. "But the players knew that we had a good team, and we were paying well and just couldn't catch a break. You have to be good and have to catch some breaks to win a championship."\nThe Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the tournament was awarded to Nolly, who recorded 10 saves in the final match and 15 for the entire tournament.\nSeven Hoosiers were selected to the All-Tournament team including freshmen defender Jed Zayner and midfielder Josh Tudela, and seniors midfielders Danny O'Rourke and Drew Shinabarger. Peterson, Grabavoy and Nolly were selected, as well. \n"We've had others (teams) get a star, but no other group that has won a championship in our jersey has achieved more from the start of the season to the end in terms of development and growth," Yeagley said. "That's what's special about this championship. It was a total team effort with a group of guys who came together and played their hearts out and worked for each other."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(12/12/03 6:02am)
IU fans traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for this weekend's College Cup are advised to proceed with caution due to recent shootings off Interstate 270. \nA total of 15 cases, including one fatality, have been reported, and all are believed to be related, according to Columbus authorities. \nThe NCAA and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department are working together to ensure safety for the teams and their fans.\n"Basically, we had a conference call with all four teams where we had a person from the County Sheriff's Department to fill everybody in on what has been going on and to answer any questions the schools would have," said Mark Bedics, media coordinator for the Division I Soccer Championship. "All the shootings have been occurring around (Interstate) 270, and none of the schools or even the fans coming in will have to go anywhere near there."\nFans traveling from Bloomington can avoid I-270 and remain on Interstate 70 straight into Columbus en route to Columbus Crew Stadium. \nBut even on I-70, Columbus authorities caution drivers to proceed more cautiously than normal and to look out for any unusual occurrences along the highway.\n"We just want them (travelers) to kind of look around and keep their eyes open," said Charles McCoy of the Columbus Police Department. "I drive it twice a day, but I would just recommend people to be more alert."\nKickoff for IU's semifinal match against Santa Clara is set for 7:30 p.m. tonight. \nBrent LaLonde, spokesman for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, believes, since all the occurrences have been isolated to a five-mile stretch, no fans should be deterred from attending this weekend's College Cup. \n"If you travel in on I-70 from the west, you should not notice anything," LaLonde said. "We are just trying to do the best we can to let folks know of what's happening so they are aware, but as long as it's contained in one area, there is really nothing to be concerned of."\nEven fans flying into Port Columbus International Airport are not required to use the five mile stretch of I-270, an interstate compared by the Columbus Travel Center to Indiana's I-465 circling Indianapolis. \nAs of now, AAA has not issued any type of travel advisory into Columbus. \n"Right now, we are confident in telling people to come over here," LaLonde said. "It is good to be aware, as the more you know the more confident you would be. The shootings are a concern but are no means a reason to avoid coming to Columbus."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(12/12/03 5:54am)
In 1976, IU coach Jerry Yeagley led the Hoosiers to the College Cup for the first time in school history. Tonight, 27 seasons later, Yeagley will lead his Hoosiers to the College Cup for his 16th and final time as IU faces Santa Clara in Columbus, Ohio. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Columbus Crew Stadium. \nFresh off its quarterfinal knockout of No. 1 UCLA, IU enters the Cup undefeated since Sept. 18 -- a streak of 16 matches, including wins against Kentucky, Virginia Commonwealth and UCLA en route to Columbus. \n"We are always confident, but that win (UCLA) was a huge win on the road against a team as good as UCLA," senior Drew Shinabarger said. "We certainly will not let down because this is the Final Four, and everyone wants to close out their last two games with two victories."\nAs the Western Coast Conference champions, Santa Clara earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, rattling off wins against SMU, Loyola Marymount and Michigan to earn their fifth College Cup appearance in school history. \nThe Broncos finished the season with a 16-4-3 mark and are led by junior midfielder Will Weatherly's 17 points on seven goals and three assists. \n"They're a more direct team where we play more of a possession game," Yeagley said at Thursday's press conference. "It'll be tug-of-war tomorrow -- both will have their time, but hopefully we can do what we do best and make the most of it. Santa Clara is loose, and they were the only team that wasn't seeded so they're a dangerous team." \nTonight's semifinal marks the sixth meeting between the schools in which the Broncos own a 3-2 overall advantage over the Hoosiers, but IU defeated Santa Clara 1-0 in the 1999 NCAA championship game, claiming their fifth and most recent national title. \nLike IU, who lost junior Ned Grabavoy and sophomore Drew Moor, SCU also lost two players to the Under-20 National Team, (junior defender Ryan Cochrane and junior goalkeeper Steve Cronin) who face Argentina tomorrow in the quarterfinals. Both teams will be without their U-20 players for the duration of the College Cup. \n"Right now it seems like a dream season," sophomore Brian Plotkin said. "We have one more weekend to go, but right now our confidence is so high even with losing Drew and Ned to the U-20 and still progressing as far as we have right now."\nAfter the Oct. 2 tie with Butler, IU was 2-3-2 and off to their worst start in team history. But this weekend, IU seeks their sixth national title in the school's 31-year program. \n"Indiana is just a good solid team. They don't make mistakes," Santa Clara Head Coach Cameron Rast said at the press conference. "They are good passers, and they do a great job in keeping possession. I don't know if there's any one thing they do bad."\nThe other semifinal match, beginning at 5 p.m., features the St. John's Red Storm (16-5-3) and the Maryland Terrapins (20-2-1). St. John's is making their second College Cup trip in the previous three years while the Terrapins fell to UCLA in last year's semifinal. \nSaturday will be an off day for both semifinal winners, who then will square off in the NCAA title game at 2 p.m Sunday. \n"This experience never gets old, believe me. Some people say I've been here so many times, but for anyone who has ever won a championship knows, once you've won one you want another one," Yeagley said. "That's a driving force. I'm just trying not to think about what's going to happen next week and not think about the finality of it and focus on why we're here." \n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(12/08/03 6:32am)
Gathered in front of their computers and huddled around their radio dials, Hoosier fans across the country tuned in Saturday night to one of IU coach Jerry Yeagley's biggest victories in 31 years.\nIU defeated No. 1 UCLA 2-1 to advance to this weekend's College Cup in Columbus, Ohio.\nWith the Hoosiers playing more than 2,000 miles from home, many soccer loyalists were unable to make the trip to Los Angeles but now get the chance to watch IU play in its 16th College Cup, just 226 miles from Bloomington.\n"After we beat VCU, I never thought I'd be able to see IU play soccer again," senior Jordan Robinson said. "I'm so excited that Columbus is a short trip and I'll be able to watch IU."\nThe Hoosiers will travel nearly four hours to Columbus Crew Stadium, home of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, to battle Santa Clara Friday. \n"With the College Cup falling on a weekend in a city not too far, this is turning into a dream season for the players, but also the fans now," Robinson said. "I hope a ton of fans make the trip."\nIU's last College Cup in 2001 was also in Columbus, where Hoosier fans watched IU beat St. John's 2-1 in the semifinals only to lose 2-0 to North Carolina in the title game. \nHeading to UCLA, many of the Hoosier followers doubted seeing another IU game coached by Yeagley. In fact, many senior students attended last week's 5-0 pummeling of VCU to catch a glimpse of Hoosier soccer one last time. \n"I try to never doubt our ability to win a game, but going to UCLA without our two best players didn't have me planning any kind of trip to Columbus," senior David Lizzo said. "Going to watch your team play in the College Cup is an opportunity few students get."\nOn Sept. 18, IU fell to Notre Dame 1-0 in double overtime falling to 2-3-2 and making most IU fans wonder if the team would even make the tournament. But a 16-game unbeaten streak, including a Big Ten regular season and tournament championship, gives IU fans a chance to see one of college's hottest soccer teams finish a remarkable second half of the season. \nBarely able open his eyes junior Paul Markowitz sat on his desk chair nervously listening to the game on his 1989 General Electric radio. \nThrough the static, Markowitz constantly adjusted the radio, attempting to get a better signal. \n"Listening to the game with all my friends was amazing," Markowitz said. "Everyone sitting around my G.E radio, listening to IU pull off the comeback was an unbelievable experience."\nIU will battle a Santa Clara squad coming off a 3-1 victory over Michigan.\n"I think if we can go to California and beat the nation's best team, then we can beat anyone," Lizzo said. "I just hope the team gets a strong following in Columbus because the players and Yeagley have definitely earned it."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(12/05/03 6:21am)
Something must give Saturday night in Los Angeles when the No. 8 seed Hoosiers, unbeaten in their last 15 games, battle the No. 1-seed UCLA Bruins, winners of 19 in a row, at 10 p.m. in a quarterfinals match for a trip to the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. \nIU's road to the quarters featured a 2-1 double overtime win over Kentucky and a 5-0 second round dismantling of No. 9 Virginia Commonwealth, while UCLA has beaten Tulsa (3-2) and Florida International (2-0).\nThe Bruins (20-1-1) suffered their only defeat this season to No. 2 Maryland in College Park, Md., but are a perfect 12-0-0 at Drake Stadium. \n"It is a tall order going out there, and we know it, but if there's any team in the tournament that can beat them, it's us," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "They are the defending national champs and have been No. 1 all season. It's gonna take our best effort, but we will not change what we've been doing because of them."\nLike the Hoosiers, who lost junior Ned Grabavoy and sophomore Drew Moor to the U.S. U20 National Team, UCLA sophomore defender Jordan Harvey was also selected for the squad. The Bruins will also be without senior defender Dru Hoshimiya who tore the ACL in his left knee during the FIU match.\nRegardless, UCLA's depth still makes it IU's toughest test of the season. \n"We are ready to go. Every tourney you think about who you don't want to play, but we are the type of team that wants to play the best team, and if you are going to win the National Championship, you might as well beat the best team along the way," senior defender Drew Shinabarger said. "It could be my last game and Vijay's last game and only so many people can go out winning their last games, and we hope we can too."\nThe Hoosiers will be playing away from Bill Armstrong for the first time since Oct. 29 and only the second time in their last 10 games. \nSaturday's matchup features four of the last six national titles, while UCLA looks to defend last year's crown. \n"This is the biggest game I've ever faced. I am so excited, and the whole team feels we have the best chance to win the National Championship since we have all been here," junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly said. "We've been playing so well and can't wait to get out there. We are not scared of UCLA, and we look at ourselves as the best team in the nation. It should not matter who we play."\nSaturday's winner will face either Michigan or Santa Clara, who square off in Santa Clara at 7 p.m. Saturday. \nWith eight teams remaining in the tournament, the Big Ten is the only conference represented by more than one team -- Michigan and IU. \nFor the first time, Yeagley will take the field as the all-time winningest coach in Division I history. He passed San Francisco's Stephen Negoesco's 540 wins after an error was discovered in the NCAA's statistics department.\nBut an IU win Saturday would be one of Yeagley's biggest victories ever.\n"This is a great opportunity, and I think the guys have taken a lot of pride as this team has grown and developed," Yeagley said. "I'd be disappointed if we go out there and have anxiety legs. We have not been on the road in a long time, and we are going into a really tough situation so it will be interesting to see how our guys react."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
(12/02/03 5:44am)
Coach Jerry Yeagley called Sunday's 5-0 victory in his last home game something he would remember very fondly. \nYeagley was not being modest; actually, he had no idea. \nDue to a recently discovered records error, the NCAA has declared Yeagley the all-time winningest coach in Division I soccer history, making IU's 5-0 third round win over Virginia Commonwealth Sunday the record-breaking game. \nYeagley captured his 541st victory, passing former University of San Francisco coach Stephen Negoesco, who is now only credited with 540 wins down from 544.\nIn 1978, the NCAA discovered an ineligible player on the San Francisco squad, negating four tournament victories -- including the 2-0 national title victory over Yeagley's IU team. \nHowever, because of a human error, the NCAA statistics department never removed the victories from Negoesco's record allowing him to retire with 544. \nBut Indianapolis Star reporter David Woods recently contacted the NCAA statistics department that found, in error, San Francisco's four tournament victories in 1978 were being counted on his record. \n"All along the record has not been my motivation. It seems to be more important to the alums and friends of the program," Yeagley said. "It is an award and honor that I get, but one that really belongs to the program. I certainly feel honored and grateful for everyone's part in this achievement. It certainly does bring even more significance to that great win on Sunday which was my last home game."\nAccording to NCAA statistics policies, in the case of a school's official record being reversed, the wins and losses of the penalized team are dropped from its overall record and treated as if no games had been played. Except for any student-athletes declared ineligible, the individual's statistics and the opponent's record are not affected by the action.\nIn 31 years at the helm, Yeagley owns a 541-101-45 which makes him first for active Division I coaches in terms of winning percentage (.820).\nHis 541st victory passes Negoesco, who beat Yeagley in the 1978 championship game with the ineligible player. Even though the victory was forfeited, it is not counted on Yeagley's win record. \n"Stephen (Negoesco) and I were buddies. We played against each other so many times. He is a unique individual and someone who did a lot for college soccer," Yeagley said. "I think a lot of Stephen Negoesco and I am honored to be in the same category as one of the most winningest coaches. It does not change my feelings about him and I hope it doesn't change his feelings about me."\nAs of Monday night, Negoesco had not been informed of the record change, according to USF athletic director Bill Hogan. \nIU is headed to Los Angeles to battle No. 1 UCLA in a quarterfinal matchup for a trip to the College Cup -- college soccer's version of the Final Four. \n"Its been a fairy tale year," Yeagley said. "It's gotta end sometime but hopefully with a championship and this makes it even more special. But, I would trade (the record) in a heartbeat for another chance to win." \n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.
