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(09/01/09 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the movie “Hoosiers,” actor Gene Hackman summed up the importance of basketball in the state of Indiana with one of the most memorable lines in sports cinema.Hackman, playing the role of Hickory High School coach Norman Dale, muttered the words “Welcome to Indiana basketball” to himself prior to entering the raucous, filled-to-capacity gym raging in the background.The line from the movie reflects a lore and craze for the sporting industry that has always been present throughout the state. Whether it’s your die-hard, ever-optimistic Notre Dame football fan or the lifelong Hoosier hardwood supporter, sports have always had a unique home in Indiana.Just up State Road 37 lies what is often referred to as the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World.” Indianapolis is home to the NCAA Headquarters, the Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium – a $700-million super stadium – and arguably the world’s most recognized racing facility, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.The statewide reputation extends to high school basketball. NBA legend Oscar Robertson and his Crispus Attucks High School teammates went 179-20 in seven seasons and recorded the first Indiana state title for an all-black school, bringing Indianapolis its first championship.When it comes to hoops in particular, Indiana is in a world of its own. The movie “Hoosiers” was based on the small-town Milan High School 1954 basketball team, which defeated then-Goliath Muncie Central in the state championship. The film was recently voted the No. 1 sports movie of all time by ESPN. The “Milan Miracle” and others have contributed to the slogan “In 49 states it’s just basketball ... but this is Indiana,” which is streamed across the scoreboard at Conseco Fieldhouse prior to each Pacers home game.Indiana has a sports moment for everyone. Maybe it’s French Lick native and NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores reaching the 1979 national title game against Magic Johnson and mighty Michigan State. It may be former Hoosier Keith Smart’s legendary shot with five seconds remaining in the 1987 national title game. Smart’s shot secured a 74-73 win against Syracuse and former NBA star Derrick Coleman. The win brought Bob Knight his third and final national title at IU and the program’s fifth overall.For many in my generation it’s the Indianapolis Colts’ two-minute drill that lifted them past the decade-long foe New England Patriots in the 2006 AFC Championship. The win propelled the Colts to Super Bowl XLI, where Indianapolis won its first world championship against the Chicago Bears.Winning is done the right way in Indiana. With the exception of former IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson’s 2007 impermissible phone calls, college squads around the state have always been known for their squeaky-clean programs and high graduation rates. The Colts also are synonymous with scouting for character just as much as talent. Indiana is a sports fan’s dreamland – even without the buzzer-beating shots, goal line stands and championships won.Sports’ relevance to society in the state is also shown through things like the Indiana Sports Corporation. The nonprofit’s work has made Indy the host city for this year’s Final Four, the 2008 through 2012 Big Ten Basketball Tournaments and this other game called the Super Bowl in 2012.With all of these events around the corner, it is clear that the end of the academic off season also is here. Welcome to B-town. And welcome to Indiana, where sport is king.
(08/25/09 12:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although 13 years have passed since Kentucky coach John Calipari’s last incident, there’s been a common occurrence at the end of his two most successful seasons.Final Four appearances at both the University of Memphis and the University of Massachusetts have had their records erased and banners yanked from the rafters. The most recent at Memphis came down only five days ago. Here’s my question to the NCAA: Why has more not been done to look into Calipari’s most recent incident at Memphis? Given his track record, you would think the NCAA would have more concern. The Memphis basketball program was hit earlier this summer with allegations that Derrick Rose, a freshman from the 2007-08 team, had a stand-in take the SAT for him. Rose had failed the test twice before passing on his third try and becoming eligible to play at Memphis.The NCAA forced Memphis to vacate its 38 wins tallied in 2007-08 on Aug. 20, and removed the Final Four banner.Rose went on to play point guard for the Chicago Bulls, and he led them to the playoffs last season. Meanwhile, his coach at Memphis, Calipari, went on to 33 wins and Sweet 16 appearance in the 2008-09 season. He was rewarded with an eight-year $31.65 million coaching job to revive the historic Kentucky basketball program. According to a statement released by Kentucky, the coach is in no danger of consequences stemming from the situation, and current Memphis coach Josh Pastner said the Memphis program isn’t in hot water, either. Calipari’s coaching job before Memphis ended with a very similar situation.The 1995-96 UMass Minutemen, coached by Calipari, had their Final Four banner taken down from the stadium rafters. The punishment came after it was found that NBA star and former UMass center Marcus Camby became involved with an agent and accepted $28,000 while in school.While it was decided UMass officials had no way of knowing what was going on behind the scenes in ’96, this is the second offense at a second program to have a situation like this occur under his watch.Lesser violations have been looked into further.For instance, the violations by Kelvin Sampson at IU were much more heavily investigated by the NCAA than Memphis’ violation of academic standards thus far. Isn’t the allowance of a student-athlete to evade educational standards a little worse than impermissible phone calls?Everyone saw what Sampson’s example of cutting the recruiting corners can do to both the future of a coach and a program. A minimal investigation such as the one seen in the Rose situation does nothing to steer coaches and players away from the temptation of putting hoops before a high school diploma. At the very least, a sort of probation needs to be the consequence on Calipari’s end. And, if evidence proves fault, a heavier sanction for Memphis may also be consequential. ESPN’s Erik Kuselias summed it up best last week while on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd.” Kuselias stated the NCAA’s essential blind eye to the situation thus far is a reflection of a problem all too common in society: “If there’s production, there’s no wrong.” While money and business are at stake in professional sports, collegiate athletics have an added classroom aspect. The current Calipari situation’s educational ties make it a perfect time for the NCAA to emphasize its grades-before-glory purpose.
(08/09/09 11:39pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the better part of the offseason, IU men’s basketball coach Tom Crean has often brought up the program’s need to pick up its pace on the 2010 recruiting class. In modern times, one recruit committing can be one of the biggest factors in landing another.On Aug. 3, the Hoosiers got that big, in-state pickup in Hamilton Heights High School junior-to-be Austin Etherington. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard had an impressive tournament last month in Las Vegas and has never looked back. His performance this summer landed him a scholarship offer from Crean in late June.Consider the benefits of this early commit: AAU players constantly mingle these days due to the plethora of tournaments requiring teams to travel the country. Etherington still has another year of AAU ball, and his word of mouth is something that Crean and his staff can use to their advantage.When Crean travels around the state next summer and hits the trail to sell IU to players calling the state of Indiana home, he has a name to throw out. Jeremiah Davis, rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and currently sought after by IU, is a teammate of Etherington. Think there won’t be some sales time on Etherington’s part?Despite the slow start on the class of 2010, Hoosier nation should feel good about its jump on 2011, especially if Crean does land blue-chip point guard Marquis Teague. The talent pool a year from now could be enormous. Even with the departure of Devan Dumes at season’s end, the roster will still be rather similar to the Hoosiers of both the past and this upcoming season. Spots will still be filled with promising, young talent ready to fill the void that March (or April) of 2011 will bring.What Etherington brings to that talent pool is awareness. One knack, which probably made coaches turn their heads, was his ability to be the first person down the floor in transition. His deep range made it easy for taking advantage of an open 3-pointer, or hitting a trailer coming down the lane for a layup.Etherington also moves without the ball as well as anyone I’ve seen lately. Couple this with his high basketball IQ, and someone of his size and range can be deadly. There are some quickness issues that Crean and strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson will need to work on, but once that happens, look out.Landing a guy like Kyrie Irving could make a combo for the ages. With two players of exceptional size for the respective positions up top, mismatches in the post could be created much easier.
(08/02/09 11:17pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some say life is too short to do all of the things we humanly desire. While that might be true, it is much more plausible for a sports fan to complete his or her to-do list. We are only given so much time on this Earth, and sporting events not only boost a city’s economy and provide entertainment for the common person, but also in many cases they provide for unforgettable experiences.Some are more memorable than others because of the magnitude of what is at stake or the environment in which they take place. For that reason, let’s take a look at five of the must-see events for a die-hard sports fan.5. Final Four – Ask CBS Sports’ Greg Gumbel what the Final Four is, and he’d tell you it’s where dreams come true. From the open-to-the-public practices during the week to the crowning of a champion with the playing of “One Shining Moment,” the Final Four is one of the most anticipated weekends in American sports. Whether it’s a No. 1 versus No. 2 in the national championship or a Cinderella team trying knock off another premiere program, the Final Four is where sweat, blood and tears pay off.4. Notre Dame football game – Notre Dame has forever solidified its position as the face of college football as we know it. Bob Costas once said that “when you play the Irish at home, you also play against their past.” Despite the current state of the program, the Irish continually sell out each home game, which, by the way, are all nationally televised. Game day in South Bend is a weeklong festivity. From mid-week when campus becomes populated with fans and alumni to the spirited pre-game tailgating, it’s all about the pride and tradition of the nation’s most storied collegiate football program.3. Super Bowl – The idea of football surpassing baseball as America’s pastime (although true) is an argument for a different date. The 43-year-old game crowns the champion of America’s most popular sporting league and is one of the most-watched sporting events around the entire world. The do-or-die atmosphere of the game separates it from things like the NBA playoffs (By the way, have those ended yet?) and the World Series.2. Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park – Due to the original Yankee Stadium being replaced with Major League Baseball’s new home run derby site, I’m going with the contest in one of baseball’s oldest and most storied venues. Most teams have respect for their opponents and even rivals, but every rule also has its exception. The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is one of the oldest in American sports and is almost without question the most heated between everyone from the general managers to fans and stadium employees. Thirty-four championships between the two, bench-clearing brawls and a former player of each team by the name of Babe Ruth says it all. Nothing spells “rivalry” like the East Coasters versus the Pinstripers. 1. The Masters – Where do I begin? I could talk about the aesthetics of Augusta National Golf Club, Tiger’s first win at a major coming at the 1997 tournament, the family spirited Par 3 Tournament on Wednesday, Magnolia Lane or a snapshot of Amen Corner on Sunday evening. It simply doesn’t get any better from a spiritual and sporting standpoint than seeing golf’s greatest compete with so much emotion in one of the most beautiful and original sports venues in the country.
(07/29/09 10:55pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>CARMEL, Ind. – This week, Crooked Stick Golf Club plays host to the 30th U.S. Senior Open Championship. Each year this event, consisting mainly of players from the Champions Tour, showcases some of the greatest to ever play the game along with some undiscovered talent from across the country.Big names present this week include British Open runner-up Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite and Indiana native Fuzzy Zoeller.All week, I’ve been greenside on the 18th hole working the ropes and have had the opportunity to watch one of the most underrated sporting events to attend.This being my first PGA event I’ve seen in person, I didn’t know what to expect. There was no question I would enjoy the experience due to the fact I’ve grown up playing and watching the game, but I didn’t know what it would present in terms of the actual environment.On Tuesday evening, it hit me. As the gallery on the 18th green grew to easily more than 1,000 heads, I looked beside me and saw Greg Norman being escorted by two Indiana State Troopers. The officers rushed him from the green, where he finished his practice round, to Crooked Stick’s castle-like clubhouse. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is what witnessing professional golf is like.”Attending a golf tournament is about so much more than watching a tour pro hit his shot and witnessing his amazing abilities. It’s about the aesthetics and the surroundings accompanying competition. Just walking along the rough in between a player’s shot provides the opportunity for someone to look up and catch a view of the water, trees and tournament scenery.Golf has always had a reputation for special stories and heart-touching moments. Take Phil Mickelson’s first major win at the Masters on Easter Sunday in 2004 or the companionship of Tom Watson and his late caddie Bruce Edwards, who fell victim to Lou Gehrig’s disease.Even Crooked Stick, which was host to the 1991 PGA Championship, contains its own place in golf’s storybook.John Daly, often more known for his power-first mentality and off-course antics, was the victor in that inaugural PGA event for the club.Daly, listed as the alternate for the championship, was notified that Nick Price would not play in the tournament due to the expected birth of his child the night before the first round. He drove through the night and arrived in Carmel just in time to begin his title run. He took the lead on Friday morning and never looked back.Aside from the on-course action, there’s plenty to do for everyone at an event. Just yesterday, my friend and I competed in the Lexus Performance Drive, testing one’s ability to stick a 160-shot as close to the pin as possible using an indoor simulator. Let’s just say that it is easier than it looks.If that doesn’t catch your eye, look no further than the plethora of food stands and eateries ready to serve catered cheeseburgers or casserole.So if you’re out and about in Indianapolis this week, head to Carmel and for just $40, experience golf at the state’s finest club and everything that goes along with the game.
(07/22/09 11:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Throughout the recent years, the talk of a new game facility for the IU basketball program has been a hot topic. While construction is already underway on the program’s new practice facility near the south end of Assembly Hall, anyone hoping IU basketball doesn’t take another blow needs to wish the practice arena is the extent of construction.The topic was recently brought up on “The Dan Dakich Show” on ESPN Radio Indianapolis. A caller who brought the idea of a new arena to Dakich’s attention claimed it would help recruiting and bring the storied program up to date.Dakich, who respectfully interrupted the caller with his disagreement, said the arena would actually hurt recruiting, in addition to the tradition and lore of the program.“It’s iconic,” Dakich said. “You will never convince me Indiana needs a new basketball arena.”With due respect to the caller for bringing up such a bold thought, I would really like to know where his head was. Take a look around the country at other solidified programs like Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.Does anyone think the Dukies are feeling pressure to replace Cameron Indoor Stadium and its second-to-none, raucous environment for a new, state-of-the-art building? That’s what practice facilities are for – the glitz and glamour.If I were Tom Crean, Roy Williams, Ben Howland or John Calipari, I wouldn’t want a player who is too caught up in playing in the most up-to-date edifice that offers 50 hot dog toppings and video games on the back of seats. Bring me a kid with desire to be a part of history, while making history.New York has Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium. Chicago has Soldier Field and Wrigley Field. Indiana has Notre Dame Stadium and Assembly Hall.Sporting venues eventually need to be replaced. Heck, there are even said to be concrete chunks falling out of Wrigley Field. But why cut them short, especially the more prestigious ones, when they still have life in them?How would your die-hard, bleacher-bum Cubs fan react to Wrigley Field replaced for something that might as well be called an amusement park?Assembly Hall, in and of itself, attracts too many people. In a season like last year’s, it’s the building that can bring a few thousand to a game when the team isn’t as big a draw.Forget the rumors of Mark Cuban’s offer to fund the building if beer vendors were allowed; is alcohol bigger than the game and what put Hoosier Hysteria on the map? It’s a question that trustees and the athletics department need to contemplate.
(07/19/09 11:02pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While Julius Boros, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and winner of 18 PGA Tour events, is seen as one of the great golfers of his era, a record he set in 1968 was in jeopardy by another standout in the golf community during the British Open.After 59-year-old Tom Watson finished second at the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, Boros still stands as the oldest player in tour history to win a major. The Boros won at the age of 48. In just one week, the U.S. Senior Open comes to Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. “The Stick” has been host to events like the 2005 Solheim Cup and the 1991 PGA Championship, the event in which John Daly won his first major after being the final player included in the field.In these troubling economic times, major sporting events have been looked especially highly upon due to the sales and revenue brought in to not only the sport, but also to the city in which it’s played.Indianapolis is no exception. This month’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships, formerly the RCA Championships, was anticipated to bring a nice profit into the city’s finances. Though the event will still be of extreme benefit to Indianapolis, the situation took a blow Friday when Andy Roddick withdrew from the competition due to injury.Needless to say, this event isn’t the Super Bowl. It’s not the Final Four, the Masters or the Bowl Championship Series National Championship either. Not having a star of Roddick’s magnitude will hit the event hard and keep a number of people from making the trip downtown later this month.However, a nice recovery should be seen due to Watson’s play this weekend in Scotland. Watson, who joins household golf names like Gary Player, Greg Norman, Fuzzy Zoeller and Fred Couples, will give golf fans around the state and region an extra incentive to head to Carmel. After all, he just finished second at one of the top three events of the season.The “extra incentive” is like Michigan State making it to the Final Four this past year in its own backyard. With the economy struggling, cities will take it any way they can get it.In a time in which many families are thinking “save” instead of “spend,” now they are also thinking how often they will get to see the runner-up at the British Open play next week. Not to mention, the guy is 59 years old.
(07/15/09 11:32pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During the past few weeks, I’ve done my best to provide our readers with a thorough preview of the upcoming college football season. Everything from big games to the coaching situation in South Bend to the Bowl Championship Series has been covered.Closer to training camp and when news regarding lineups starts to circulate, we’ll look at rankings among college programs.Now it’s time for some fun. College football season is, in my opinion, the greatest segment of the sporting calendar. The fall outdoors, coupled with the electric atmosphere, some of the most raucous masses of humanity, great rivalries and exceptional levels of both talent and coaching set this part of the year away from any other.Here are 20 reasons to love the coming months, from many different angles:1. The return of a two-time national champion and Heisman winner (Tim Tebow)2. Tailgating3. The end of an eight-monthlong anticipation4. The leaves changing color5. Not-so-blistering warmth6. ESPN’s College Gameday7. Watching a biased analyst in Lou Holtz and a narrow-minded one in Mark May perform the verbal version of Ultimate Fighting Championship8. Marching bands9. Bowl Championship Series talk10. “Rocky Top”11. Florida vs. Georgia, the former “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”12. The end of baseball highlights13. Helmet stickers, as given by ESPN College Football anchors each Saturday night14. A game for America in Army vs. Navy15. Watching the Brett Favre drama almost be over (well, hopefully)16. Seeing Joe Paterno still wander the Penn State sideline17. A silenced Lane Kiffin18. Lee Corso19. The revelation of Florida State’s newest attempt at bypassing academic codes20. Finding out which lower-echelon Pacific-10 team causes Pete Carroll to lament about not qualifying for the BCS National Championship this time
(07/12/09 11:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In previous columns, I’ve alluded to the two ideas crossing the minds of general managers and those in player personnel departments when it comes to the NFL draft: choosing the best player available and selecting an athlete who would best fill a team’s void.After watching film on new Colts running back Donald Brown, I’m convinced team General Manager Bill Polian accomplished both to a certain extent.Was Donald Brown the best player available when the Colts were on the clock with the 27th pick in the draft? I’m not so sure. Hakeem Nicks, who possesses blazing speed and great hands, may have been the best in the minds of some. To many and to myself, it was former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga.But was Donald Brown the best running back available? I’m buying it as long as Brown’s film wasn’t manipulated by the Connecticut video staff.Did the Colts fill a needed void? Absolutely.When Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Indianapolis’ selection, many second-guessed it just as they had done in 1998 and 1999 when it came to Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James, respectively.While the jury is always out until a newly drafted player hits the field, it looks as if Polian may have worked his magic once again.Part of the reason many glitzy, hyped-up college running backs never live up to NFL-constructed standards is because those players are one-dimensional.To this point, the golden example is 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. Proclaimed as the next Gayle Sayers, Bush has yet to become the franchise player many expected him to be. Bush had the wheels, moves and vertical to elude most second-level college linebackers and safeties.In the NFL, it doesn’t work like that. Everyone is fast, everyone can change direction at world-class speed and everyone knows how to pursue someone of Bush’s caliber.While Brown doesn’t possess nearly the speed of Bush, the NFL style of play fits him rather well.He is a hard runner who can “get skinny” – that is, run through holes in the line even when there isn’t much space to work with. This is something the Colts have had trouble with ever since the career-threatening knee injury to Edgerrin James.Brown’s ability to reach full-speed close to the line of scrimmage is something that will make defensive coordinators pull their hair out. After all, what’s a middle linebacker to do when there is not time to shed a block before the opposing ball carrier is already gone?The one detriment to Brown’s game may be the speed factor. Running a 4.51 at the NFL Combine last February at Lucas Oil Stadium wasn’t an eye-opener. But when you look at the Colts’ system, it’s a great fit. The offense is built on zone-blocking, often leading to power running.With the added depth in the backfield, look for a nice position battle later this summer in Terre Haute.
(07/08/09 11:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Back in January 1999, when Tennessee and Florida State prepared to face off in the inaugural national championship game under the Bowl Championship Series settings, no one would have thought the controversy over the flawed system would have gone this far.Finally, it has. On Tuesday, the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights had hearings on college football’s method of crowning a national champion.Whether it’s judging a team’s schedule, quality losses or quality wins, this system simply does not work. Is it better than The Associated Press naming a national champion after the bowl games are said and done? I’m not so sure. At least then there wasn’t an annual argument on who was playing in the game labeled “National Championship.” When you sit down and look at the BCS piece by piece, it becomes clear the flaws are subtle but numerous.Last year, Oklahoma, who fell to Texas in the regular season, had the better computer average, which pitted it against Florida for the glass football. I’m not here to say the BCS Selection Committee was wrong or right in choosing the Sooners over Texas for the title game.Therein lies the problem: We don’t know.There are just too many questions after the fact for the college football nation, aside from the national champion, to be happy.Another problem with the BCS? It’s too predictable. Each year, it’s almost guaranteed each of the two teams qualifying for the BCS National Championship will have either zero or one loss (with the exception of LSU in 2007, which had two).Take another 2007 squad in Michigan. The Wolverines, coming off a two-loss season in 2006, were ranked third in the country in the coaches’ poll and were considered a legitimate contender for the national championship. In week one, possibly the greatest upset in college football history took place when Football Championship Subdivision team Appalachian State came into the Big House and knocked off the Wolverines in the game’s final seconds.While Michigan’s Big Ten Championship hopes weren’t killed, its national title hopes were. With the way the computer scores a team’s season, there was no way Michigan could bring Lloyd Carr his second championship in 10 years.And there were still 11 games to be played.It’s branded into collegiate football players that every game matters and there is always something to play for. With the plethora of bowl games and conference titles at stake, that’s true.However, there is no doubt that from the first Saturday until the Capital One Bowl against Florida in January, Michigan felt a void. They were supposed to be title contenders. After all, it did have the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in tackle Jake Long, “Super Mario” Manningham at receiver and two four-year starters in quarterback Chad Henne and running back Mike Hart.The system’s ability to crush a team’s dreams before Thanksgiving simply isn’t right.Hopefully, the Senate can work with the NCAA and the BCS Committee to form alterations. While no system may be perfect due to the length of the season and multitude of teams, there is a better way.Maybe use the BCS rankings to rank opponents for an eight- or 16-team playoff?
(07/05/09 11:04pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>We are fewer than 70 days from when one of the most anticipated college football seasons kicks off. With all the noise this offseason, thanks largely to new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, and coaching situations across the country, there are a multitude of games that will gain the spotlight.Without further ado, let’s take a look at some can’t-miss contests of the 2009 season.Sept. 12 University of Southern California at Ohio State:Nothing spells primetime like this matchup under the lights, taking place in a state where football is valued almost as much as life itself. The Buckeyes have plenty to avenge after the 35-3 rout they experienced last year in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. For the better part of the last half-decade, all Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel have heard is how the Buckeyes can’t compete with the Southeastern Conference and teams such as USC. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will have a year of experience under his belt and a raucous crowd on his side, hoping to finally get the quality out-of-conference win for the Buckeyes.Sept. 19 Tennessee at Florida:“I can’t wait to sing ‘Rocky Top’ all night long after we beat Florida next year.” These are the words of first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who takes over for Phillip Fulmer. Kiffin, not football, is what has made news this offseason in Knoxville, Tenn. While the NCAA is looking into five possible violations committed within the Volunteer program since Kiffin took over, the Rocky-Toppers are excited as ever. Though no Southeastern Conference schedule can ever be considered easy, the Vols have home games against Georgia, Auburn and UCLA. If Kiffin & Co. can find a way to pull out these wins and back up the coach’s statement about the defending national champs, Tennessee could be playing at the Georgia Dome for a shot at the SEC Championship.Oct. 10 Michigan at Iowa:The Wolverines’ Rich Rodriguez, who is coming off a 3-9 record in his inaugural season in Ann Arbor, Mich., will have to face a deadly ground attack and the notorious 70,000-plus at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes, who upset then-No. 2 Penn State last year, have a solid running back, sophomore Jewel Hampton from Indianapolis. Hampton rushed for more than 450 yards while backing up All-Big Ten running back Shonn Greene. This game will be a true test for the Wolverines and could signal Rodriguez’s status for the long term.Oct. 17 University of Southern California at Notre Dame:Notre Dame will come into this game having lost to USC by more than 20 points six of the last seven seasons, and more than 30 points five of the last seven. If the Domers have any hopes of beating the Trojans during the dynasty coach Pete Carroll has formed throughout the last decade, this is the year to do it. The Irish have home field and return 10 starters on their high-powered offense. The Trojans lose Heisman finalist Mark Sanchez but still possess a ball-hawking safety in Taylor Mays and punishing running back Stefan Johnson. If the Irish drop one or two games leading up to the Oct. 17 bout, this game could be a deciding factor in the future of Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis’ future in South Bend.
(07/01/09 10:25pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After Kelvin Sampson saw the turmoil, embarrassment and essential destruction he caused the Hoosier basketball program, one might think he would come to his senses and admit his wrongdoings. Obviously not.Maybe, and hopefully, he would come clean after he saw the hole he dug for Tom Crean and his staff, as well as portions of the Indiana athletics department.No such hope.On Tuesday, the NCAA denied Sampson’s appeal to his five-year banishment from collegiate basketball, saying “it found no basis on which to conclude that the findings of violations were contrary to the evidence.”Forget the NCAA even denying Sampson’s outrageous attempt at finagling his way into another basketball program and putting it at risk. In many people’s eyes, including my own, the fact that Sampson tried to appeal his bar only reinforces his guilt. This timeline of events is eerily similar to that of the Roger Clemens saga. Recall how Clemens won 300-plus games, was then accused of cheating and continually denied it in spite of teammate Andy Pettitte and former trainer Bryan McNamee recalling times when they and the Rocket discussed performance enhancing drugs.Now that of Sampson: He leads his Oklahoma Sooners to the Final Four in 2002, commits violations in both Norman and Bloomington and is accused by former prospects of participating in three-way phone calls with them.Just like Astros and Yankees fans, Hoosiers fans have moved on and begun to look to the promising future of IU basketball, but they are still being persuaded by their respective villain to be considered a martyr.Months ago, when Sampson said he was truly sorry for what happened to “their university,” was the time to come clean – the time to come forward with details, regrets and apologies.Now an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sampson seems to still not have the ability to face himself and his former employer. The only thing elongating this series of events does is dig him into an even deeper hole with basketball authorities.Sampson said the NCAA was “wrong in every way,” and if he didn’t believe they were wrong, he wouldn’t present a case.How does the NCAA not have a case when the phone records show more than 100 impermissible phone calls were made to recruits? The fact that Sampson was reprimanded once at Oklahoma for the same violations makes the NCAA’s case even more plausible.The most logical reason for Sampson lamenting on his mistreatment is he has no other cards to play. To borrow Crean’s coined phrase, “it’s Indiana.” In other words, Bloomington was one of the last places Sampson could cut corners for his reputation’s sake. At an institution and in a state where basketball is a way of life, forgiveness won’t be shown to whoever tears the tradition apart. How would the people traveling Tobacco Road treat a coach who committed violations at Duke or North Carolina? We literally saw Kentucky media run their coach, Billy Gillispie, out of his own facility’s parking lot in April just before his firing.Sampson had, and has, no hope of regaining respectability on the big scale unless he is proven to be innocent. As we have seen, his last shot at redemption seems to have fallen short.
(06/28/09 10:17pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The front page of the sports section in Thursday’s Indianapolis Star donned the hoops mug shots of the Pacers’ four main targets, according to team President Larry Bird. They were Indianapolis’ own Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, Gerald Henderson Jr. of Duke, Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and DeJuan Blair of Pittsburgh.At first glance, to me at least, there was no question the Pacers should select Pike High School native Teague.For the better part of four seasons the Pacers have possessed many detriments, ranging from stagnant guard play to gun fights to an empty Conseco Fieldhouse.Teague would have been the only player to immediately effect all three of these problems.This was a freshman who had an immediate impact in the ACC, averaging almost 14 points in one of the two toughest conferences in college basketball. This past season as a sophomore, he upped his points-per-game average to 18.9 and dropped more than 25 points eight times.What the Pacers need is passion, coupled with a positive image in a community where guns and homicide have become more of a problem over the last couple of years.Teague doesn’t have an image problem. I talked to him numerous times over the month of May and early part of June, and each time he conversed in a polite, respectful manner.The passion part? When one person asked him how much he liked basketball last month in Indianapolis, he politely treated the question as a joke. To back that up, remember this past year’s contest where Teague scored 13 to lead his Demon Deacons past top-ranked Duke?Finally, the fan base. How many Indianapolis residents do you think would have come out next season to watch their former hometown hero? It would be like Greg Oden or Eric Gordon’s return to Indianapolis, only on a consistent basis.When all was said and done, Hansbrough was the choice of Bird & Co. Before I join the naysayers who chanted “overrated” Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, I’m buying into it until the minority group I am now part of is proven wrong.On that note, this guy scored more points than guys like Michael Jordan, Bobby Hurley, Tim Duncan and Juan Dixon, to name a few. The mouthy gallery at the Garden must have been watching a different Tar Heel than the rest of us.The Pacers’ front office obviously feels that Jarrett Jack and T.J. Ford have the amount of potential to complement above-average post play, something Bird feels the organization has lacked since the days of Jermaine O’Neal.I by no means see Hansbrough claiming Rookie of the Year next season and would bet against him cementing an All-Star spot for the duration of his career. While he’s got the size and fundamentals of an NBA “big,” he lacks the point-A-to-point-B quickness required to defend the type of player who can play inside and out. With that type of 3/4 offensive hybrid becoming increasingly common, I see that as his main weakness.With an aging Jeff Foster, a solid role player is exactly what the Pacers need to back up the rising Roy Hibbert, who Bird feels can be a franchise player in time.Perhaps the biggest plus to this addition is the image factor. Hansbrough always placed team before self, exemplified by his four-year stay at in Chapel Hill for nothing more than winning a championship.When asked by ESPN what the Pacers are getting, Hansbrough replied, “(They’re) getting a hard worker who knows how to win.”Exactly what the Pacers need.
(06/26/09 1:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The front page of the sports section in Thursday's Indianapolis Star donned the hoops mug shots of the Pacers' four main targets, according to team President Larry Bird. They were Indianapolis' own Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, Gerald Henderson Jr. of Duke, Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and DeJuan Blair of Pittsburgh.At first glance, to me at least, there was no question the Pacers should select the Pike High School native in Teague.For the better part of four seasons the Pacers have possessed many detriments, ranging from stagnant guard play to gun fights to an empty Conseco Fieldhouse.In my opinion, Teague would have been the only player to immediately affect all three of these problemsThis was a freshman who had an immediate impact in the ACC, averaging almost 14 points in one of the two toughest conferences in college basketball. This past season as a sophomore, he upped his points per game average to 18.9 and dropped 25+ eight times.What the Pacers need is passion, coupled with a positive image in a community where guns and homicide have become more of a problem over the last couple of years.Teague doesn't have an image problem. I talked to him numerous times over the month of May and early part of June, and each time he conversed in a polite, respectful manner.The passion part? When one person asked him how much he liked basketball last month in Indianapolis, he politely treated the question as a joke. To back that up, remember this past year's contest where Teague scored 13 to lead his Demon Deacons past top-ranked Duke?Finally, the fan base. How many Indianapolis residents do you think would have come out next season to watch their former hometown hero? It would be like Greg Oden or Eric Gordon's return to Indianapolis, only on a consistent basis.When all was said and done, Hansbrough was the choice of Bird & Co. Before I join the naysayers who chanted "overrated" at Madison Square Garden Thursday night, I'm buying into it until the minority group I am now part of is proven wrong.On that note, this guy scored more points than guys like Michael Jordan, Bobby Hurley, Tim Duncan and Juan Dixon, to name a few. The mouthy gallery at the Garden must have been watching a different Tar Heel than the rest of us.The Pacers' front office obviously feels that Jarret Jack and T.J. Ford have the amount of potential to complement above average post play, something Bird feels the organization has lacked since the days of Jermaine O'Neal.I by no means see Hansbrough claiming Rookie of the Year next season, and would bet against him cementing an All-Star spot for the duration of his career. While he's got the size and fundamentals of an NBA "big," he lacks the point A-to-point B quickness required to defend the type of player who can play inside and out. With that type of 3/4 offensive hybrid becoming increasingly common, I see that as his main weakness.With an aging Jeff Foster, a solid role player is exactly what the Pacers need to back up the rising Roy Hibbert, who Bird feels can be a franchise player in time.Perhaps the biggest plus to this addition is the image factor. Hansbrough always placed team before self, exemplified by his four year stay at in Chapel Hill for nothing more than winning a championship.When asked by ESPN what the Pacers are getting, Hansbrough replied, "(They're) getting a hard worker who knows how to win."Exactly what the Pacers need.
(06/25/09 1:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the court of public opinion, the 109th U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park was Tiger Woods’ to win. Woods, who won one for the ages last year at Torrey Pines, was playing in his second major with a healthy knee.Don’t forget the year’s previous tournaments, in which he posted seven top-10 finishes in eight events and garnered two wins.Don’t forget that this was Bethpage Black, the course that hosted the 2002 U.S. Open and posed problems for players from the tee to the green.This was the course where a plethora of players couldn’t even reach the fairway due to the 250-270 carry required to reach the short stuff. If Tiger was keeping it straight and sinking putts, forget it.However, it was about more than winning a major for some, including the previously No. 882-ranked player in the world in David Duval and Phil Mickelson.Duval, who at one time was the top player in the world, fell off the map with a historic slump. Missed cuts became as common as playing in the final group on Sundays for the former U.S. Open champ.For Mickelson, golf was just something else this weekend and will be for weeks to come. His wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this month and will begin her treatments this week. While we saw Mickelson this weekend, he stated he’ll skip next month’s Open Championship at Turnberry.When the rain stopped coming down and the tournament came down to the final few holes on Monday afternoon, the championship went from one of the most boring of all time to one of the greatest.All week, the story had been how the course was winning. The greens were tough to read, the doglegs were demanding, the bunker lies were suicidal and players couldn’t even get in a full round without halting because of the weather. Even Tiger himself was over par for the better part of the national championship.But then the gallery’s two favorite stories began to take shape and surged toward the front Sunday evening.Both Duval and Mickelson began to sink birdie putts, and Lefty holed one for eagle. Duval birdied three times on his final back nine and was tied for second with just a few to go. Mickelson even tied eventual champ Lucas Glover for the lead at -3.And we thought Tiger and Rocco’s bout last year was a storybook ending.But then reality unfortunately set in, as Duval took an unplayable lie from a bunker and Mickelson missed a costly, downhill 4-footer for par. These inauspicious events and the poise of first-time champ Glover were enough to etch his name on the trophy.In the words of former Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards, it’s why you play the game – to see there are more important things than a four- or five-day golf tournament.Who could have written a better ending to this story? Sure, we would have liked to see Mickelson win one for Amy. After coming off 18, Lefty himself said it correctly.“Oh well,” he said. “I’ve got more important things in my life now.”Thanks for a classic ending, Mickelson, and we hope to see you soon.
(06/21/09 11:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a normal year, preseason talk regarding Notre Dame football relates to whether the Fighting Irish can contend for a Bowl Championship Series bid, whether they can remain competitive with the beef of their schedule and whether they can talk about one of the most scrutinized jobs in collegiate sports – Notre Dame football coach.Politics are normal during football season for the Golden Domers, especially now, as yet another Irish coach is on the hot seat.But this year it’s about more than just the future of a coach. It’s about the future of the program and whether Notre Dame can ever reclaim the football prominence it was once so accustomed to.Charlie Weis, who will begin his fifth season as Notre Dame’s head man, faces a do-or-die situation. After Ty Willingham’s firing in the winter 2004, critics made the argument he never had time to establish his West Coast, pocket-passing system with the appropriate players.That’s not true with Weis.With his first recruiting class academic seniors this year, results are the only thing that can save the current regime in South Bend.And why not? When Weis came in, he was the self-proclaimed king of the offensive play sheet. He inherited Willingham’s players and had immediate success, leading the Irish to upset wins at both Pittsburgh and Michigan. Don’t forget the controversial nail-biter with eventual runner-up University of Southern California and the Fiesta Bowl bid.Now it’s time for Weis to talk the talk and show he does belong in the college game after two sub-eight win seasons. If 10 wins aren’t tallied this year, barring egregious circumstances, I don’t see why Notre Dame would financially compete with the NFL to keep a coach who belongs in the pros.If Weis is in fact axed at season’s end, who of the many qualified candidates would want to take on such a task? Urban Meyer called Notre Dame his dream job right before turning them down. That’s not a double standard. Sure, it’s many coaches’ aspiration to assume the coaching position at Notre Dame. Is it any coach’s dream to be watched over their shoulder by people who determine their future and want results in three years? These days, the war that is recruiting and national exposure for teams across the country makes drastic turnarounds a four-to-five-year job.I don’t blame Meyer a single bit for turning down the Irish. How does the job seem appealing after seeing how Willingham, who won his first eight games at Notre Dame and had a better start than Knute Rockne, was fired after just three years?Because of the magnitude of the job, why would an established coach such as Meyer leave a powerhouse school to rebuild a has-been program that doesn’t carry the same lore it once did? That leaves young coaches, or aspiring assistants, to be put in the same pressure-cooker situation.Maybe the best thing that can happen to Notre Dame is elevating the program to an annual 8–9 winner each year for the time being, and making the job seem more appealing. As said in the movie “Field of Dreams,” “If you build it, they will come.”
(06/14/09 10:16pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I want to throw a thought out to our college football followers, as talk of preseason rankings and contenders begins to once again heat up. Though I will understandably be called crazy, out of my mind and insane by many for this idea, it is very true from a unbiased standpoint. Here’s the question I pose to you:Has Bob Stoops been put on the hot seat at Oklahoma?All programs have certain standards that their coaches must meet, and they differ from school to school. At Oklahoma, it should be clear as crystal.Win the Red River Rivalry with Texas. Win the Big 12 regular season and championship game. Win national championships.Stoops has accomplished each of these program goals, though he hasn’t done each in the same season since 2000. He’s lost his last five of six Bowl Championship Series games, with the last win coming in 2003 in Pasadena. Since then, the Sooners have dropped four straight BCS bowl games, including losses to Boise State and West Virginia.Stoops won his first and only title in his second season after his Sooners downed Bobby Bowden and Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Since, he’s struggled in the spotlight. The Sooners dropped two consecutive championship games in the 2003 and 2004 seasons by an average of 21.5 points to LSU and USC, respectively.Aside from the BCS drought for the better part of the decade and essentially his entire career in Norman, Okla., Stoops has dropped three of the past four to coaching rival Mack Brown and his Texas Longhorns. The average margin of defeat in those losses?20.3 points.This past season, Oklahoma was given a shot at redemption after losing the Red River game when the BCS Selection Committee chose them instead of Texas to face Florida for the glass football. Although it was just a 10-point margin when the clock hit zero, there was no doubt Brandon Spikes and Co. were too fast, too strong and too prepared for the Sooners. Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Sam Bradford was picked off twice, and the Sooner defense surrendered 480 yards to the Gators.Say all you want about the plethora of speed, athleticism and competition in the Southeastern Conference and how Oklahoma was outmatched. A contender from the Big 12, whose players competed in two BCS games in a row and scored 60-plus points five straight times to close out the season, should put up a better performance.There is no question Stoops is a quality coach and motivator, but the “it” often referred to in sports has seemed absent in recent years. We saw it with Lloyd Carr at Michigan as his career came to an end. His Wolverines went 0-3 in the Rose Bowl the 2003, 2004 and 2006 seasons. Two of those losses were double-digit blowouts to USC.The loss to mid-major Boise State at the conclusion of the 2006 season wasn’t enough to put Stoops on the hot seat. Sometimes, it just happens teams have an off-game at the worst time. But two more BCS losses, with one coming in the title game? Time to wonder.
(06/11/09 12:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sunday night’s dramatic ending in game two of the NBA Finals could have been enough to make the Orlando Magic disappear and place a fourth ring on Kobe Bryant’s hand.However, it was also enough to stir up the question of whether the outcome should be placed on the shoulders of Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee.Lee, an Indianapolis native and former Pike High School standout, was on the receiving end of a brilliant play drawn up by Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. The play consisted of All-Star Dwight Howard setting a screen for Lee, who rolled to the basket and received a picture-perfect pass for an alley-oop layup.The only problem? It didn’t go in.That basket would have put the Magic up by two with just seconds left, making a split series in Los Angeles extremely palpable.The next morning, after an ending like the country witnessed Sunday, the debate of where blame should fall was inevitable. The reality is that blame should never fall on someone in the position Lee was Sunday night.Sure, layups should be made 99 percent of the time, especially at the professional level. But they’re not. If one layup near the end of a contest is enough to stir up the controversy to the extent of Sunday night’s, why don’t all blown freebies?A shot like Lee’s at the end of the game sticks in minds of fans and the media. In the light of a nail-biting contest, no one is going to remember a layup that was missed back in the opening minutes of the first or second quarters.The same goes for blaming officials for a blown call.A prime example of the widespread syndrome was the early season game between the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos this past season, when referee Ed Hochuli blew a call in the San Diego red zone. As then-Denver quarterback Jay Cutler dropped back to pass, he lost the ball in an attempt to throw. Hochuli’s whistle prematurely blew before the ball landed in the hands of Chargers linebacker Tim Dobbins. The Broncos went on to score and win 39-38.Something like this, as was true with Lee’s miss, is what everyone sees.Everyone doesn’t see something like a missed seal on an inside linebacker, preventing a breakaway touchdown run. They also might not see a wideout make a false step on a deep route, throwing off the timing between the quarterback and receiver which could lead to a shift in momentum.The concept is true for all levels of competition, whether it’s pee-wee T-ball or the NBA. When a team plays a flawless game in its respective sport, the topic could be open for legitimate discussion.Until that happens, one play or one figure doesn’t deserve to be the scapegoat for any outcome, good or bad.
(06/07/09 11:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Dan Dakich assumed the role of director of basketball operations at IU two seasons ago, neither he nor anyone else could have predicted the mountains and valleys to come within the next few months.He jumped from his position at IU to assistant coach, to head coach, to radio show host in a span of less than two years. It was quite a change.“I was unsure if I wanted to go back to Indiana after talking to (Kelvin) Sampson because I had been born and raised in the state,” Dakich said. “But in terms of the University, the program and after talking it over as a family, it was a no-brainer.”Dakich’s rich history with the IU basketball began in fall 1981, when the program was coming off of its second national title in just six years. Dakich led Andrean High School to the state championship game a year prior.Although the Fighting 59ers lost in heartbreaking fashion at the free-throw line, Dakich treasures this hardwood experience the most, placing it above things such as helping coach the 1992 IU team to the Final Four as an assistant and beating North Carolina in the 1984 NCAA tournament as a player.The North Carolina game is what he might be remembered for most by Hoosiers fans. Limiting future NBA great Michael Jordan to just 13 points, Dakich said the fan hype regarding that game didn’t come into fruition until years later when Jordan solidified his name as possibly the greatest player of all time.“It was a great win, but we weren’t celebrating like it was an upset because we expected to beat them,” Dakich said. “Michael Jordan wasn’t Michael Jordan yet, and we were Indiana.”Dakich’s four years under coach Bob Knight were full of those types of moments both on and off of the court.“If you talk to most people who played under him, you’ll find that we were already good kids with good parents, but I think there isn’t anyone better at preparing you for the situations you’ll face later in life,” Dakich said.When Knight offered to let Dakich remain on the staff as a graduate assistant, he immediately accepted, remaining with the Hoosiers until 1997. That year, Dakich assumed the coaching job at Bowling Green, leading the Falcons to their highest win total in more than 50 years.The ups and downs began in winter 2007, after Dakich returned to IU as director of basketball operations and assumed the interim head coaching spot after Sampson’s firing. After a first-round loss to Arkansas in the 2008 NCAA tournament, Tom Crean replaced Dakich.Now host of “The Dan Dakich Show” on ESPN Radio 1070 in Indianapolis, the former IU player and coach couldn’t be happier.“It’s great,” he said. “A friend of mine from college was the program director at 1070, and we had talked about the possibility before.”Despite the turmoil he faced on the Indiana sidelines just more than a year ago, Dakich’s radio career has provided another way for him to remain active in sports.
(06/03/09 11:32pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, small businesses faced the problem of competing with monopolies. The plethora of monopolies led Roosevelt to go “trust busting,” once again promoting the foundations of a free market and competition among firms.Throughout the 100-plus years since Roosevelt made the term “monopoly” solely relative to a board game, sports have figured out the scam, too.Just take the Steinbrenner family, for example.Last year, American League champions the Tampa Bay Rays had one-ninth the payroll of the New York Yankees. While it’s no secret to the sports world that the Steinbrenner duo and Yanks general manager Brian Cashman have ultimately no financial restriction, the Yankees are many experts’ favorite to win the American League year in and year out.Basketball and football have figured out how to limit the reign of certain franchises via the salary cap, which forces teams to have a certain amount of money they are allowed to shell out for players’ earnings.Baseball? No such thing – yet – but there should be.While the topic has been discussed, free agency and the half-yearlong schedule are the only things that limit an organization’s dominance over an extended period of time. With no limit on the green, free agency – in the form of a team luring an ace or slugger away for a more lucrative contract – is all too common. Aside from chasing money, periodic injury – especially to pitchers – can haunt a club.Contrarily, take the Dallas Cowboys, who have one of the highest payrolls in all of football. The only thing keeping owner Jerry Jones from going after multiple big-name free agents is the limit on his wallet, not what’s in his wallet. For the Cowboys, the cash that could be used as bait for a desperately needed linebacker has to be used to keep stars on the helmets of guys like Marion Barber III and Tony Romo.There are, of course, your outliers to the law. Take Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian. This past season, Polian and the Colts accomplished an almost unheard-of feat, when they won 12 games for the fifth consecutive year. Free agency and the cap in the NFL make that almost impossible due to the constant come-and-go of players. While the salary cap sounds golden from a fan’s perspective, it’s also enough to make personnel directors and general managers want to pull their hair out.Take another hometown hero, or villain for that matter, Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley. In addition to being nothing but a poor sport and bad influence off the court, teams not able to afford a player of Tinsley’s caliber keep him on the trading block. In turn, Pacers President Larry Bird is left with paying out Tinsley’s contract while he sits at home on game night.The salary cap could have the answer to some of baseball’s big spending problems.