19 October 2008
That's a Nice Mess in Arizona
10/24/08 20:41 Filed in: College
Basketball
Lute Olson
Kevin O'Neill
Lute Olson
Mike Dunlap
Russ Pennell
3 weeks before their first game of 2008-9, and for the second time in a year, Lute Olson has left the Arizona Wildcats holding an empty bag. After 24 years actually coaching, and after a few downs and a whole lot of ups, including one NCAA title, Olson left the team in the lurch for a second time. The first time, he left the team in the capable hands of assistant Coach Kevin O'Neill. When Olson returned after the season, he chose, for whatever sinister reasons, to fire O'Neill and asistant Miles Simon, and form a new staff, featuring Mike Dunlap, Reggie Geary, and Russ Pennell.
In true Olson style, and characteristic of the way he has treated his career and the University in recent times, Olson apparently told recruits and media sources he was quitting, and Arizona AD Jim Livengood had to find out from news reports. Add to this Olson leaving a questionable staff, including Dunlap, who was offered the interim head coaching job and who turned it down, and the totally inexperienced (and long-time rival Arizona State Sun Devil assistant) Pennell, who is now head Coach. At least for now.
This brings back memories of when Lorenzo Romar, Brad Holland, and Tony Fuller all left UCLA, leaving Steve Lavin as the number one assistant, and in line to be the only possible replacement for the fired Jim Harrick, back in 1996.
As stated in a comment to another post, besides the rats leaving the sinking ship, the recruits are leaving, and hopefully UCLA will benefit, not only by the mess left in Arizona, but with talented recruits seeking nice, new basketball homes.
theHoundDawg
Kevin O'Neill
Lute Olson
Mike Dunlap
Russ Pennell
3 weeks before their first game of 2008-9, and for the second time in a year, Lute Olson has left the Arizona Wildcats holding an empty bag. After 24 years actually coaching, and after a few downs and a whole lot of ups, including one NCAA title, Olson left the team in the lurch for a second time. The first time, he left the team in the capable hands of assistant Coach Kevin O'Neill. When Olson returned after the season, he chose, for whatever sinister reasons, to fire O'Neill and asistant Miles Simon, and form a new staff, featuring Mike Dunlap, Reggie Geary, and Russ Pennell.
In true Olson style, and characteristic of the way he has treated his career and the University in recent times, Olson apparently told recruits and media sources he was quitting, and Arizona AD Jim Livengood had to find out from news reports. Add to this Olson leaving a questionable staff, including Dunlap, who was offered the interim head coaching job and who turned it down, and the totally inexperienced (and long-time rival Arizona State Sun Devil assistant) Pennell, who is now head Coach. At least for now.
This brings back memories of when Lorenzo Romar, Brad Holland, and Tony Fuller all left UCLA, leaving Steve Lavin as the number one assistant, and in line to be the only possible replacement for the fired Jim Harrick, back in 1996.
As stated in a comment to another post, besides the rats leaving the sinking ship, the recruits are leaving, and hopefully UCLA will benefit, not only by the mess left in Arizona, but with talented recruits seeking nice, new basketball homes.
theHoundDawg
|
Tomorrow's Picks
10/24/08 18:44 Filed in: College
Football
| Ohio
State (+2-1/2) over Penn State Penn
State doesn't impress me as a top-5 team,
and the return to health of Beanie Wells
and the amazing, week-by-week development
of Terrelle Pryor since playing USC has
made Ohio State once again an elite team,
with a lot to prove and a massive job to
jump back into the BCS jumble. OSU will win
this one.
UCLA (+17) over California Cal is coming off a loss to Arizona and now appears to have a full-blown quarterback controversy. This is a talented team, but until Tedford installs Kevin Riley as the QB, they will underachieve. UCLA's noticeable improvement has been sporadic, with one step back for every two steps forward, compounded now by several injuries on defense, especially to the D-line. Still, UCLA should keep the game close, and cover. Arizona (+16) over USC Another game that seems like it could be close, though the brain surgeons have a knack for running away with these games. Nevertheless, this looks to me like it could be another Oregon State-type game, close to the end, with either team having a shot. Take the points. Also remember that Arizona, tied for the Pac-10 lead, is still the only conference member never to play in the Rose Bowl game, and if they are to have a chance to change that, this is the game they need. theHoundDawg |
UCLA Bruins Black Varsity Pleathed Jacket $74.95 
Arizona Wildcats Hoody Sweatshirt $59.95 |
South Carolina Mismatch - Plays 11 vs. 12
10/20/08 12:56 Filed in: College
Football
Bad Day for LA Football
10/19/08 23:23 Filed in: NFL
It hasn't happened too many times lately, given their
overall ineptitude and generally miserable on-field
performances in recent years, but it is painful to
see the Raiders and Rams both win on the same day, as
happened today.
A good way to relieve the anger is to buy one of these throwback jerseys and set it on fire:
theHoundDawg
A good way to relieve the anger is to buy one of these throwback jerseys and set it on fire:
Raiders Bo Jackson Jersey |
Rams Jack Youngblood Jersey |
theHoundDawg
Is It a League of Pansies?
10/19/08 17:41 Filed in: NFL
The Steelers' Troy Polamalu used the term this past
week to describe the modern NFL, after Hines Ward's
fine total reached $15,000 for separate incidents of
"excessive roughness".
Polamalu is further quoted as having stated that "... the Ronnie Lotts, Jack Tatums. These guys really went after people. They were that way because the game was physical. Now, they couldn't survive in this type of game. They wouldn't have enough money. They'd be paying fines all the time, and then they'd be suspended for the year after they do it two games in a row. It's kind of ridiculous." (heraldstandard.com, 10/18/08).
I heard a discussion on this topic this afternoon on ESPN radio between host Freddie Coleman, and commentator and former player Eric Allen, who wholeheartedly agreed that league attempts to protect player safety were misplaced, and indeed were turning the NFL into a "pansy" league.
A few years ago, the league wised up, and began implementing a measure of protection for players all too frequently injured seriously due in great part to the mentality of NFL players, and to the fact of today's bigger, faster, stronger athletes, and modern equipment providing players the aura and misplaced belief of invincibility. Does that measure of protection - fines and other discipline for "excessive roughness" - actually work?
Well, in today's Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game, during the opening drive, Mr. Ward put a legal block on Bengal rookie Keith Rivers, and broke Rivers' jaw, ending his season. Will Ward be fined again? Who knows, but what difference does it make? The league can impose fines and suspend players, but it will change neither the attitude of players, nor their actions. Maybe that's not a bad situation. NFL players go into professional football realizing full well the risk of injury, and gladly exchange that risk for large sums of money.
The American public actually owes a debt of gratitude to the NFL. If the league did not exist, and the core of NFL players who currently exercise their innate propensity for violence and mayhem would no longer have a legal outlet for such aggression, the incidence of violent crime throughout the US would increase immeasurably. Players like Pacman Jones, Rae Carruth, O.J. Simpson, Michael Vick, and untold others have engaged in violent activities, dangerous to innocent, law-abiding citizens who may get in the way, for decades. How many more Simpsons and Carruths would be in the news headlines instead of the sports headlines, were it not for the violent outlet of NFL football?
A league of pansies? I think not.
theHoundDawg
Polamalu is further quoted as having stated that "... the Ronnie Lotts, Jack Tatums. These guys really went after people. They were that way because the game was physical. Now, they couldn't survive in this type of game. They wouldn't have enough money. They'd be paying fines all the time, and then they'd be suspended for the year after they do it two games in a row. It's kind of ridiculous." (heraldstandard.com, 10/18/08).
I heard a discussion on this topic this afternoon on ESPN radio between host Freddie Coleman, and commentator and former player Eric Allen, who wholeheartedly agreed that league attempts to protect player safety were misplaced, and indeed were turning the NFL into a "pansy" league.
A few years ago, the league wised up, and began implementing a measure of protection for players all too frequently injured seriously due in great part to the mentality of NFL players, and to the fact of today's bigger, faster, stronger athletes, and modern equipment providing players the aura and misplaced belief of invincibility. Does that measure of protection - fines and other discipline for "excessive roughness" - actually work?
Well, in today's Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game, during the opening drive, Mr. Ward put a legal block on Bengal rookie Keith Rivers, and broke Rivers' jaw, ending his season. Will Ward be fined again? Who knows, but what difference does it make? The league can impose fines and suspend players, but it will change neither the attitude of players, nor their actions. Maybe that's not a bad situation. NFL players go into professional football realizing full well the risk of injury, and gladly exchange that risk for large sums of money.
The American public actually owes a debt of gratitude to the NFL. If the league did not exist, and the core of NFL players who currently exercise their innate propensity for violence and mayhem would no longer have a legal outlet for such aggression, the incidence of violent crime throughout the US would increase immeasurably. Players like Pacman Jones, Rae Carruth, O.J. Simpson, Michael Vick, and untold others have engaged in violent activities, dangerous to innocent, law-abiding citizens who may get in the way, for decades. How many more Simpsons and Carruths would be in the news headlines instead of the sports headlines, were it not for the violent outlet of NFL football?
A league of pansies? I think not.
theHoundDawg