Clean Sweepin'

Karma.

That is the only plausible explanation that could come out of last weekend's college football games.

It was a weekend that I had seen blow up in my face all too often the past couple years. Michigan is playing a big rival in Notre Dame, Ohio State has a huge game in the national spotlight, and Michigan State has an easy MAC opponent. Inevitably, Michigan would fall to Notre Dame in some pitiful fashion, Ohio State would squeak by its opponent by some miracle of Tressel Ball, and Michigan State would give it's fan base false hope once again.

So at roughly 11:30 p.m. when that last Terrelle Pryor pass fluttered to the turf, I had to take a moment and pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The clean sweep had happened; Michigan wins, and its three big rivals (OSU, ND, MSU) all fall in epic fashion. The last time this happened you had to go all the way back to October 2nd, 2004; Braylon Edwards was still playing for Michigan. That same day, Mike Nugent proved he was human, missing a game winning FG as time expired. OSU would lose to Northwestern 33-27 in OT. Michigan State got throttled by Drew Tate and the Iowa Hawkeyes, 38-16. Notre Dame lost a squeeker to the Wilford Brimley-led Purdue Boilermakers, 41-16. So what state of mind does this epic occurence leave me in nearly four days later?

I am frightened like a Pizza Hut lunch buffet when Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel walk in.

Somehow, the tempered expectations for Michigan just went from "7-5 is a good year" to "OMG National CHAMPS!!!" The baseline for our freshman quarterback duo went from "manage the game" to "be Tim Tebow." To say the national media has blown up Tate Forcier and Matt Barkley's performances on Saturday would be like saying Antonio Henton likes prostitutes, Charles Haley missed his calling as a porn star, or Marques Slocum has some weird pets. All of these factors have me terrified for the first time Forcier acts like a freshman. Terrified when someone finally takes advantage of an undersized Michigan defense for a full 60 minutes (Thank you, Charlie for out thinking yourself yet again). Terrified for when a hyped up Ohio State defense led by future NFL first rounder Brian Rolle rolls into the Big House to take on the Wolverines.

But I would not have it any other way. There is an excitement back in Michigan football for the first time since Appalachian State came in and exposed Lloyd Carr's team as a lazy, over-confident, and slow bunch of individuals. Now, fans of Michigan have a team that is united behind a previously-under-fire coach, a freshman quarterback that probably just learned how to unhook a bra, and a legion of fans that are thirsting for more. This is what we had in mind when we hired Rich Rodriguez; an exciting brand of football that will make us forget about the 20-17 snoozefests of the Lloyd Carr/Mike DeBord era. Michigan may not be "all the way" back yet, but they took a big step forward last Saturday.

Your time is running out, Big Ten. You better get your shots in while this team is still young. There will be no more 42-7 beat downs at The 'Shoe on a Nick Sheridan led Michigan team. Optimism is again in the air at The Big House, and I can't help but still be......terrified.

As always, Never Run The Toss Sweep.

Coach Deuce

Prediction Time

It's Friday, which only means one thing around these parts. One more day until Christmas. We are about 30 hours away from kicking off one of the greatest rivalries in the Midwest, and I could not be any more excited. Fat Charlie will lead his much ballyhooed troops into The Big House to take on Coach Rod's Michigan Wolverines, in which the winner should gain some much needed confidence going through the rest of the regular season. Before I get to far into this one, there is one other game I want to talk about..

USC vs. Ohio State

Some would say this is the "main event" of the evening, but I think it will be more like 1991 WWF wrestling. More people wanted to watch Mr. Perfect and Bret Hart fight it out for the Intercontinental Title than watch Hulk Hogan take on "Iraqi Turncoat" Sgt. Slaughter. Two huge superpowers in the sport, but somehow you thought that the guys fighting before them were going to be the future of the sport. In this case, Notre Dame would clearly be Mr. Perfect, not fulfilling its potential and dying prematurely. Anyways, back to the game; there a couple key match ups that I believe will dictate the outcome of this one.

• OSU D-Line vs. USC O-Line - The OSU defensive line is what I perceive to be the strength of their team. With Cam Heyward leading the way, they have a couple serious NFL prospects. That being said, USC also is loaded with talent up front. OSU needs to consistently get pressure on true frosh QB Matt Barkley so that he becomes rattled and makes some freshman mistakes. If Barkley is allowed to sit back there and get comfortable, his natural talent will take over and it will be an uphill battle for the OSU defense.
• Terrelle Pryor vs. USC Secondary - Pryor needs to be better in the passing game. USC will eat "Boom" Herron and the running game alive if they are allowed to stack 8 in the box. Pryor did not show me that he could complete the timing routes against Navy, instead showing the 2008 Pryor who relied on scrambling ability and wide open receivers to gain yardage through the air. That will not work against USC. They will track TP down much faster than any Midshipman could. MLB Chris Galippo is a legit future NFL starter, and his spy game with Pryor will be another key match up to watch. If TP cannot loosen up the USC defense than it will be a long night in Columbus.

So who wins? Fight on, Trojans. All the nonsense about wanting the Big Ten to win goes right out the window in this one. I root for four teams: 1) Michigan 2) OSU's opponent 3) ND's opponent 4) MSU's opponent.

USC 38, Ohio State 20

Now to the game that matters most to me. There a couple key match ups that I will be watching in this one..

• ND's Passing Attack vs. UM Front and Secondary - This is probably the biggest match up in the game. Last year, Notre Dame relied on a lot of max protection to afford Jimmy Clausen some time to throw the ball against Michigan's terrible secondary. I look for them to do much of the same this year, only Michigan is much, much improved on defense. If Brandon Graham and company can still get some pressure on JC Superstar, than the Michigan defense will be successful. If they cannot get pressure, than it will be a long day for them. Michael Floyd, Golden Tate, and Kyle Rudolph are too talented to be shut down. The big plays scare me in this one, so if Michigan limits them they will have an advantage.
• UM Rushing Attack vs. ND Front Eight - I say front 8 because I believe ND will stack the box, especially with Junior Hemingway being listed as questionable. If Michigan does not have a deep threat, there is no reason for the Irish safeties to be playing 12-15 yards off the ball. Michigan must be able to run the football and break some big plays off the running game. Brandon Minor is listed as probable, but he is still a bit gimpy so I think we see more of Carlos Brown and Michael Shaw. They both proved they could fill in nicely, but they are still not Brandon Minor. The wild card (or wild cat?) in this situation is Denard Robinson. If Shoelace can break a couple long ones that will relieve a lot of pressure on Tate and the passing game.

So who wins? Who do you think wins?! I like Michigan in this one, if for no other reason than I cannot pick against them. I'll admit, I'm not overly confident about this one, as the Irish have a ton more experience on offense. Somehow though, I think Michigan pulls this one off. I think the main reason I expect that is because of the huge chip on their shoulder. They have a big "Eff You" attitude going right now, and with Charlie "To Hell With Michigan" Weis coming into town, they will be sky high. The crowd carries them through to a victory - Go Blue!

Michigan 27, Notre Dame 21

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

Growing Pains

For those interested, I've joined on with the guys over at The Inside Handshake to try to bring some NRTTS perspective into their mostly Buckeye world. My debut post is up there right now. Updates will still be frequent and most important over here at NRTTS, so do not fear (for the two or three people that actually still read this damn thing).

Coach Deuce

All's Quiet on the Western Front

I was there. Its a standard unlike anyother. It doesn't make you better, but it gives you a different perspective. We all love to tell people "I was there"; Even if you weren't. I was there when Woodson ran the punt back. I was there for App State. I was there for Western Michigan.

Why would anyone care if I was there for WMU? Because this was the start of a new era. 3-9 is a thing of the past. Today we spring with eternal optimism for the first time in 3 years. Its week 2 and we're still in the hunt. No, I'm not calling this a National Title year. Yesterday was a huge step forward for the Michigan football program. The pictures and sounds do not do this event justice.

The renovations are incredible. You don't realize how big they are til you're standing right there in awe of the Even Bigger House. The boxes haven't opened and the construction workers are the only ones to sit in the new club seats. But the environment in Michigan Stadium has changed 180 degrees in 9 months. Even without the glass reflecting sound back there was an energy within those stadium walls that hadn't been felt in 10 years. Chants of Rich Rod-riguez showed that the man was where he belonged. We were ready for this.

Watching Tate Forcier direct traffic and lob a perfect pass to the Junior Hemmingway was a play this fanbase has been waiting for. When Shoelace Robinson bobbled a snap, moved right, cutback left and put it in a gear unknown to Michigan Stadium we thought "Finally". We were on the right side of playmaking. And now we've got two playmakers behind center. The bomb to Junior that hit him perfectly in stride was another play not seen in years. And at every one of these intersections the fans cheered.

And the offense wasnt the only thing to cheer about. The defense played an aggressive style not seen in these parts since the days of Woodson and Steele. There weren't a ton of blitzes from but the front four did their part to put pressure in the backfield and force Western to think more than twice each play. But the real story of the day for the defense was TACKLING. With the loss of Morgan Trent we now have to corners on the edge who can play man to man and make a tackle on an island. The defense always seemed in control of themselves and knowing where they were going.

One of the best moments of the day was after the game was already decided. With Western pinned deep in their own endzone the defense starts urging for the stadium to get loud, a feat usually met with a few yells and a huge letdown, and the stadium responded. You could see the players were feeding off the energy of the crowd...then the officials couldn't figure out how to run a clock and after 3 solid minutes of uproar the crowd finally dwindled down enough for WMU to get out of their own end. While not effective at that juncture it makes you feel positive about a similar situation in October and November with the outcome still in doubt.

Another point that needs addressed. At the final second there were more people in the stadium than I've seen aside from the 1997 OSU game. While I think part of it was the strong desire to see an ass whipping most of the credit has to go to the new use of multimedia. A fairly boring second half was kept entertaining by choruses of "Don't Stop Believing" and "Sweet Caroline" sung mostly by the fans. The All In For Michigan Video and soundtrack kept the stadium electrified and focused on the field.

You are supposed to get better through the course of the year. And if this team follows that mold the Buckeyes had better look out. Yup, I'm looking ahead. But watching this team was like night and day. As the team came over to chants of BEAT THE IRISH, BEAT THE IRISH order felt restored and a new day had dawned on our beloved Wolverines. We have our confidence back, and we've got a team with swagger back.

Its only been one game but this feels like the kind of team that if you get it rolling you better get the hell out of the way. These two QBs seem oblivious to the pressure that sits on their shoulders and the Defense has its swagger back. This could be the year we look back and say, "We should've seen it coming during the Western game" I'll be able to say "I was there

Let the Gate Swing Freely and remember, BEAT THE IRISH!!!

Note- The thought of Navy going in for the tie against the Buckeyes started the day out strong. All of section 35 was hoping for the PA announcement "Final Score from Columbus...." It never came. The only let down of the day.

I almost forgot....THERE'S NO WALL....This renovation made one mistake...and that's getting rid of this wall...my Grandfather peed on that wall...I someday hoped my boys would pee on that wall...and they took it out...a sad day indeed.

Musings on Week One

Wake up, Junior!

So week one of the college football season is all but in the books, with only another "terrible offenses masked by the notion that people think we still have elite defenses" Miami vs. Florida State game. Here are my thoughts from around the college football world...

First the Michigan game:

• The first thing that jumped out at me was how much more speed this team has than last year's team. Denard Robinson adds something as a change of pace quarterback, which should be his role on this team for the rest of the season. Troy Woolfolk and Michael Williams brought speed to the safety positions. However, the biggest impact came with guys that were not even on the team last year. Kelvin Grady impressed the hell out of me at the slot receiver position, showing he has some play making potential. Craig Roh also brought great energy and speed from the Spinner position. Loved what I saw from the "speedsters" in week one.
• Junior Hemingway had a helluva first game, showing that he has real potential to be a #1 receiver. Something UM lacked last year was a guy that could stretch the field, which really allowed teams to focus on bubble screens and bring pressure. With Hemingway providing a deep threat, safeties will not be able to crowd the line of scrimmage, opening up running lanes and bubble screens.
• The third cornerback is still a bit of a mystery. This needs to be worked out ASAP with Notre Dame's outstanding receiving trio of Michael Floyd, Golden Tate, and Kyle Rudolph coming to town. Floyd was an absolute mismatch for the Irish last year, so here's to hoping that a healthy Donovan Warren can help limit him. JT Floyd may have just opened up the door for freshman Justin Turner to grab the #3 corner spot and never look back.
• Great to hear the enthusiasm at the Big House! That was the loudest I had heard the Big House in a long time, and I hope that continues. The "Rich Rod-rig-uez" chant was awesome, and just shows that all the fans that "count" are ALL-IN for UM Football!

The Ohio State game:

• There shouldn't be too much panic about the Buckeye's struggling against Navy's option attack. It is such a unique system, and it is run with near perfect execution, so I think that even the best defenses would struggle with it. What I would be concerned about is the big plays given up in the secondary. Navy does not have big play receivers, yet they were able to get behind the Ohio State secondary for huge plays that almost cost the Buckeyes the game. They need to shore that up, or Matt Barkley will carve up the secondary.
• I didn't see much progress in Terrelle Pryor's throwing game. This is a huge concern if I am a Buckeye fan. While his stats were still impressive, I did not see much of a "pocket passing" game. Where Pryor excelled was when he improvised and guys were wide open. Against better teams, they will have to be able to complete the timing routes to keep the pressure off the running game.
• Brian Rolle is going to be a helluva player. The guy flies from sideline to sideline and makes plays. James Laurinaitis will not be missed very much with Rolle patrolling the middle.

From other games:

• How poor did Oklahoma look without Sam Bradford? Give credit to BYU, but Oklahoma was supposed to have so many offensive weapons that it shouldn't have mattered if Bradford was out. I saw an offensive line that was rattled after BYU refused to give in. Once Bradford went down, there was no leadership out there on the field. Sorry, Big Game Bob, you will have to wait another year for your next national title appearance.
• I really do not like Nick Saban coached teams. Alabama played with a swagger that was way more of a cockiness than a confidence. Rolando McClain made some huge mental errors that led to a Virginia Tech touchdown, and that will not fly against the big boys in the SEC.
• Tyrod Taylor did not impress me one bit. Taylor tried to prove that he had improved his passing game, but in doing that he got away from what made him such a threat in the first place. He is still a poor passer, and if he is not using his legs than he is really of no use to anyone. A lot of unfulfilled hype in the season debut for Tyrod. How much of that is chalked up to an elite Alabama defense we will find out.
• The rule allowing for Northern Iowa to get off two last second field goals in their game against Iowa needs to be changed. There should be no circumstance that should allow a team to get two chances, unless it is a Leon Lett-style bonehead play.

Overall, it was a pretty good first week for college football. By definition, any weekend with college football is amazing; this just proved to be a bit above the "good" amazing. Next week is going to be huge, with the Big Ten having the chance to prove it's detractors wrong. Except Ohio State, they can die.

Go Blue and NRTTS

Coach Deuce

Goody Rosenburg's Hunt

Arthur Miller would be proud.

The author of the classic novel/play The Crucible, Miller brought to light the indecency and unfairness of the 17^th century Salem Witch Trials.

Someday fifty years from now, an aspiring author will have a brand new witch hunt to make their name off of. Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenburg is trying to do that very thing with his recent string of articles attempting to string Rich Rodriguez up on the corner of Stadium and Main. It started with the Mr. Plow fiasco; with Rosenburg (along with Boren) being out in front decreeing that the program had lost its “family values.” This led to the atrocity that was the 2008 Michigan Football Season. Nobody is blaming Michael Rosenburg for that; this one is on Rich Rod, coaching staff, and players. However, it was very disconcerting to read negative article after negative article about the future of the program, all that rehashed the problems that Rodriguez had faced since coming to UM. After the season, Rosenburg tried to break his “academic scandal,” in which he claimed that *gasp* most football players only come to Michigan to play football! Huge shocker here. This story blew away faster than “The Professor” John Clayton inside Erin Andrews. This summer, there were more departures, which of course must mean that people still do not like Rich Rodriguez. Never mind the fact that transfers happen all across the college football landscape. That would be using logic and not having an agenda. With nothing to write about for a while, Rosenburg exploded at the chance to write about a “Win At All Costs” (ßthe actual headline) Rodriguez allowing part time cocaine dealer Justin Feagin on the team. Never mind the fact that Rodriguez booted him off the team and university once he found out about his indiscretions. Also, never mind the fact that right up the road in East Lansing, Mark Dantonio and Michigan State University let a kid back in school and on the team that had spent the summer IN JAIL!

Of course, this led to Rosenburg’s latest hurrah, the “practice time scandal.” Let me first preface this by saying I hold the integrity of the University of Michigan football program in the highest regard. I would in no way want them to break serious amounts of rules in order to gain a competitive advantage. That being said..

Find me an elite college football team that doesn’t have “voluntary” workouts, practice times, 7 on 7s, and film sessions that exceed the normal amount allotted by the NCAA and I will show you a college football team that is mediocre and is not serious about competition. To use Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins words (slightly modified to fit the situation), “IT’S BIG TEN FOOTBALL BROTHER! YOU DON’T LIKE IT, GO PLAY INTRAMURALS!”

The most disheartening part about this article is the way in which Rosenburg got his quotes. Freshman JaRon Stokes and Brandon Hawthorne are quoted in the article saying how tough the workouts were and how much time they spent on football. Of course, Rosenburg ignored the fact that both kids were completely happy with spending that amount of time on football and took their quotes about as far out of context as he could to stretch his agenda. Rosenburg picked on two true freshmen who have no idea about practice time rules and completely used them. Then there is the dreaded “anonymous source,” which is supposedly one player that is expected to start and a couple who are no longer with the program *coughTONEYCLEMONScough*. What kind of man are you if you are so bitter about something that you would do anything in your power to take down the university that gave you an opportunity, the integrity of a man and his family, and the opportunities for your fellow players who busted their ass right next to you, only failed to complain about it like a little bitch. Mark my words, there will be hell to pay for any names that come out as having spoken against the team and coaching staff. For the three or four disgruntled ex-players, there are hundreds more that will come out and ostracize those people from the Michigan Family. Player like Chad Henne, Rick Leach, Michael Taylor, and even *gasp* The Human Holding Machine Carson Butler have come to the defense of Rich Rodriguez and Mike Barwis. This is not to mention the current players who are defending Rich Rod to the media. Leaders like Mark Ortmann, Stevie Brown, and Obi Ezeh are public in their views that Michigan has done nothing wrong and that the players support Rodriguez and Barwis with all of their will and love for the University.

The notion is out there that Rodriguez and Barwis do not care about their players. Watch Monday’s press conference and tell me that Rich Rodriguez does not care for everyone that suits up in the maize and blue. That is genuine passion for a group of players that has worked harder and overcome more adversity in an offseason than any team in America.

The bottom line is that this story will be blown over once the games on the field start being played. I will go on the record in saying that no sanctions or limits will be imposed on Michigan, because like I said earlier, there is really no wrongdoing. Every elite program in America runs in this fashion. The reality is that major college football has become a business. These are no longer student-athletes. Sure, there are some players that defy expectations and excel in an elite academic field. Those players are few and far between, however. There is just too much time and money invested in football for it to be any other way.

Word on the street was that Monday’s practice was the most emotionally charged practice that has ever taken place on a Michigan practice field. The team can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The day when they will not have to worry about some scumbag like Michael Rosenburg trying to make a name for himself off of their successes and failures. The day when the only thing that matters is the final score. Make no mistake; there will be ups and downs for this young Michigan team. One thing is for sure, though. This will be a team that is united like no other. The nightmare of 7-5 and 3-9 will be erased. The new era of Michigan football will take its next step to a national championship. And The Victors will play…

Never Run The Toss Sweep

Coach Deuce

Week 1

What a great start...

I don't know where to go with this...There are so many angles to look at this mess from. Outside the Lines is playing with the Block M in the background of a field reporter...This isn't the "Michigan Difference."

The Detroit Free Press has had a chubby for Rich Rodriguez since his plane landed in Ann Arbor. The Freep has always leaned pro MSU because of their readership and since Rich came to town they love to add to the "A Michigan Man should have gotten the job" fire to gain some more subscriptions. This agenda is really pops out to me here. Its a rare occasion that you hit the U-M link on the Freep page and there's a descent article written about our Wolverines. Why the hell do we take the word of "Anonymous" sources so seriously?

I've always hated the line "Everybody does it" but this isn't like Mo C's Escalade or No show construction jobs that tOSU went through a few years ago. But seriously 99% of players and fans know what voluntary means in the College and Professional ranks: "You can voluntarily show up at this or I'll voluntarily put your ass on the bench."

Who are these guys who have shit in the direction of Ann Arbor the last 18 months?

Justin Boren:

Your typical Lloyd Carr Offensive Lineman: Fat and Lazy. Worst of all these guys think they're the shit because they play in the BigTen; a conference known for top tier Offensive Lineman and the shitty ones who manage to keep offenses mediocre. Boren falls into the latter type of lineman. Boren made the statement about "Family Values" had deteriorated in the new regime. So since Rich doesn't tell you to pound an XL Meatlovers before practice he doesn't have the "family values" of Lloyd.

Tony Clemons:

Really?? Tony Clemons? One word comes to mind...Underwhelming. This guy was supposed to come in and be a go to receiver for the Wolverines. He sucked. He transferred. And now he's bitching that he had to practice on Sunday after playing like dogshit on Saturday. Its absolutely ridiculous.

These guys who wanna bitch and moan need to realize that every minute they get to wear that helmet and crack the pads is something you should live for. I'd sleep in my pads and helmet. These guys are pathetic. This is the type of player Lloyd recruited at the end, he looked at the stars not the men. They complained when Bo told them to shave, they complained when Bo yelled at them, they complained. AND THOSE WHO STAYED WERE CHAMPIONS!

If you don't wanna sack up and play some football get the fuck out and give somebody the pads that gives this program the respect it deserves. Nick Sheridan can't play worth a damn, but I think he'd practice 100 hours a week if he could, and I respect that. Donovan Warren, Brandon Graham, and Brandon Minor need to find these "Anonymous" sources...and make sure they're weeded out. If they're not "All In" then I don't want them touching my banner.

The jury is still out on this coaching staff. Some days it seems like they're up against more than they can handle and others it seems like its turning the corner. These distractions don't help anything and just make the program look ignorant. The good news is the chance to fix it all starts Saturday. Wins. Wins make this all go away. The Freep will still pick at the Wolverines, but the malcontents will shut up and deal with it. Winning makes everything feel better.

This was more of a rant than news, but watching OTL and College Football Live pissed me off. Michigan fans, players, and everyone around the program need to get their heads out of their ass and look at how stupid we look right now.

As Always
Go Blue & Remember to Let the Gate Swing Freely.

Week in Review

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Nothing much happened in the week that was (well, between the last post). That said, it is important to establish a routine here at NRTTS, so I am back with another week in review thread. A quick caveat about the schedule of posting; the posting will be much more regular when actual football season starts. This means games that mean something in college and the NFL. I wouldn't expect daily posts, but there will definitely be some sort of review of the college football day (Sunday), a preview of the week that comes (Wednesday or so..), and some general observations sometime in between.

The lead story that piqued my interest, as evidenced by the picture above, was the Rick Pitino Abortion Rally. News came out that the extortion attempt that became public last year during the NCAA basketball season actually involved a woman that Pitino had an affair with (which, like, duh), then forced to get an abortion (allegedly). The kicker in all of this is the woman ended up marrying another assistant coach. There are sloppy seconds, and then there are "take this crazy girl off my hands who's abortion I just paid for." At that point, I think I would be looking for another job.

It's not that I had that much respect for Pitino in the first place. I always thought that he was a slimy character, one of many in the world of college sports. And this is where my real issue is. There are two prime examples of coaches that have the respect of everyone in the sport, yet would sell their first-born for a prized recruit. Pitino and John Calipari.

They both rose to prominence around the same time. Pitino with his loaded Kentucky squads in the mid 90's, and Calipari with his Marcus Camby-led UMass squad with their "Refuse to Lose" moniker. While Pitino had a hiccup with the Celtics, he was quickly ushered back into college basketball by a school desperate to get back to relevance. Louisville forced long time coach and well-respected do-gooder Denny Crum out so that Pitino could come in and use his name to lure recruits to the school. Almost overnight, Louisville rose back to prominence and the boosters were patting Pitino on the back like he was the second coming of Christ. Even with these latest allegations, Louisville is standing by it's man. After all, there is nothing more important than filling up the arena and keeping the Athletic Department coffers lined with money.

Calipari followed pretty much the same path as Pitino. Once the well went dry at UMass, he bolted for the big money gig with the New Jersey Nets. When he failed there, he came back to the "coaching worship haven" that is college sports. This time, it was the Memphis Tigers who were looking to make the big splash, and again almost instantly, they became a national powerhouse. However, when he felt he had exhausted his resources at Memphis, the latest desperate school came calling. This time, it is the University of Kentucky. There is only one problem with Calipari. He really has never won anything. The UMass squad's record that brought him to fame has been wiped off the record books due to illegal benefits given to Marcus Camby. The Memphis squad that set the NCAA record for victories is no longer on the books, as the SAT scores for star recruit Derrick Rose were found to be illegitimate. Along with this, improper benefits were given to families of the players who were allowed to fly on the team plane. Of course, Calipari "knew nothing" of this and denied any wrong doing. How convenient for him that he left right before the house of cards came crashing down. This is the most irritating thing to me. Calipari sets all these acts in motion, and then the new coach gets punished while Coach Cal builds Kentucky into a national powerhouse again. It is a hypocrisy that needs to be addressed by the NCAA. They had it right when they banned Kelvin Sampson for repeatedly breaking the rules. If they can't see the writing on the wall for Calipari, than they are blinder than John Navarre to an oncoming rush.

As a Michigan college basketball fan, I could not be happier with our choice for a coach when Tommy Amaker was fired. John Beilein has proven to be a class act who wins with players that work hard and develop, rather than players who are looking for a quick stopover between high school and the NBA. Until the NBA changes it's rules to either force 2-3 years in college, or abolish the present rule that mandates at least one year, than guys like Calipari and Pitino will continue to exploit the system while their pockets are lined and backs are patted by boosters who have no interest other than winning.

Other happenings in the week of sports

• Heads exploded and eyes rolled when U of M's Rich Rodriguez announced that 3 quarterbacks will play in the September 5th opener against Western Michigan. To the panickers I say this; it will not last. Rodriguez preaches "open competition" at all spots, and what better way to keep the kids competing than to announce that all three will play in the opener. We all know what Nick Sheridan can do on the field (not much), but his experience in the system will prove to be valuable as these two true freshman make their march through the Big Ten.
• The Plaxico Burress sentencing has caused a ton of uproar. The whole "Stallworth killed somebody and got 24 days" argument is definitely valid, but the bottom line is that Plax is still an idiot. The law is the law and if he broke it than he should be punished accordingly. Quit whining, Plax. I just suggest to him that he stay away from any re-runs of Oz or he may resort to shooting himself somewhere other than the leg. I really have no sympathy for him, but maybe that is just the angry fan in me after he ruined the G-Men's Super Bowl aspirations last year.
• Is there any more obvious "Overrated Team Destined To Fail", or as it should be known the "Michigan Football 2007 Award," than Ole' Miss in 2009? Sure, they beat Florida last year, but in the SEC it is bound to happen that a team will be overlooked. They will be on everyone's radar and there is no way that they will escape the SEC will less than 3 losses. The talk of national championship is just outrageous. After all, this is Ole Miss, and their coach is still Houston Nutt, who hasn't won anything since "Most Likely To Become A Porn Star" in his high school yearbook.
• Speaking of one game being overrated, are experts really pointing to Notre Dame's bowl win over Hawaii as a reason they will be better in 09'? Talk about reaaaaaaaaaaaching so that Notre Dame can be put on their "greatest program ever" pedestal. And that leads me to Lou Holtz. It is time for you to go away. For good. Seriously, never ever talk again. What brings about these feelings? Only Lou's prediction for Notre Dame's upcoming 09' football campaign. National championship and Notre Dame should not even be in the same paragraph, let alone sentence, when talking about Notre Dame. If Lou was just trying to generate a buzz about the upcoming season, than I guess I can see where he is coming from. If he is making a legitimate case for Notre Dame to be in the BCS National Title game than he needs to take his old, senile ass off of my television. On second thought, that really needs to happen no matter what.

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

The Week In Review

It was actually a very eventful week in the sporting world, most notable is the start of college football practice. We here at NRTTS make no bones about our where our affiliations lie. This is not to say we will not give fair coverage to the opposition. So here is your coverage...

• OSU LB Tyler Moeller is likely to miss the entire year after sustaining an injury. Moeller was a likely starter at LB, where OSU will have to replace Marcus Freeman and Road Warrior James. While Moeller's loss will hurt, but OSU has recruited very well at LB, and should be able to replace Moeller. This may force super LB recruit Dorian Bell onto the field a little earlier than they would have liked, however.
• MSU RB and Thug Glenn Winston was re-instated to the football team and university after a 3 month stint in jail. Winston was jailed for assaulting fellow students and hockey players at a campus residence last year. Winston, allegedly, sucker punched a hockey player in the side of the head and proceeded to beat him like Michigan beat on Bobby Williams and John L. Smith. Was there much fuss about this? Nah, not so much. More on this later.

So there you have your unbiased coverage of the enemy. Nothing of note out of Fat Charlie's Camp, other than their usual Return To Glory...Again.

Now onto the Leaders and Best (minus 2008)

• The quarterback derby is going about as expected. Each QB (Forcier, Robinson, Sheridan), is taking their snaps with each unit. There is no starter named yet, but there is an implicit wink wink, nudge nudge that the job will go to Forcier. Early reports are much the same as the spring. He shows good accuracy both in the pocket and on the run. Along with this, he has great moxie that leads him to use his scrambling and play making abilities at opportune times. The time he spent over the summer working with the receivers has really paid off, as his timing is ahead of Denard's. His time with Strength Guru Mike Barwis has also really paid off as now he looks like a Senior in high school going to prom, rather than a freshman in high school that gets asked to the prom by some desperate senior girl.
• Former Wolverine PG Kelvin Grady has impressed early with his performance at slot receiver. While he took two years off of football, he was still in a college strength and conditioning program, so he is ahead of most in that regard. He can be a dark horse to contribute not only this year, but in the years ahead.
• The offensive line is still in competition, as that will likely not be settled until the pads are strapped on for a couple of days and the hitting really starts. Schilling is penned in at LG, Ortmann penned in at LT, and Molk is probably penciled in at C. Moosman is the returning RG, but he will be battled by RS-F Ricky Barnum. Patrick Omameh (YoMama, to me), and Mark Huyge will battle it out at RT, and I wouldn't be surprised if Barnum gets a look there. Bottom line, this has to be a strength of the team and all signs point to it being exactly that.
• The defensive line is an area of concern past the first unit. With Brandon Graham, Mike Martin, and Ryan Van Bergen returning, that gives Michigan a solid nucleus to build on. Unfortunately, there is just not much depth there. DT Will Campbell will probably be forced into a greater role than needed as a freshman. The same goes for DE Craig Roh, who could definitely use a year to get his weight up to D-1 playing level.
• Freshman Teric Jones has made the move to CB from RB, where he has received some positive reviews in his initial practices. Given the depth at CB and the logjam at RB, the move is definitely a smart one. No sense in wasting a redshirt year in a position that he will never play.
• The other freshman more likely to make an impact is JT Turner, who had a brief scare with admissions. Turner was held out of the first few days of practice after there was some issues with his transcript. Alas, it all cleared up and he saw the field, albeit a few days late. At 6'2, Turner has ideal height to go along with great hips and attitude to be a shut down corner. He will definitely see the field this year, and could be the next great corner since Morgan Trent has left...
• Four words: Dont't mess with Zoltan.

So, as practice continues to get hotter and more physical, I will have more reports for you. Kickoff is getting closer day-by-day, hour-by-hour, second-by-second, and all it takes is an hour of Big Ten Network Michigan programming to get the blood boiling and adrenaline flowing for the season to start.

The other issue that arose this past week regarding the Michigan football team was the dismissal of Sophmore WR Justin Feagin. Feagin was dismissed after he brokered a cocaine deal sometime in the past year. Once the staff learned of this, he was immediately dismissed from not only the team, but the school. Kick him to the curb' and move on, right? Wrong! The greater Ann Arbor-area media has taken this opportunity to once again bash on the new regime and Rich Rodriguez' alleged lack of family values. Never mind the fact that Lloyd Carr had just as many transgressors as Rich Rod has had in his first full year on the sidelines. Names like Carson Butler, Johnny Sears, Kelly Baraka, Eugene Germany, and Mario Manningham all were black eyes on the program off the field, and with the exception of Manningham, on the field. This list is just off the top of my head, as I'm sure there are many more that I am forgetting. Needless to say, every college football program is going to get its fair share of knuckleheads. The difference is in the media market. Nowhere else in college football will you find a home market that is so hell bent on destroying a program like you will find in Ann Arbor and Rich Rodriguez. Hell, in Columbus they can do ANYTHING and the media will spin it so that Jimmy Two Timer comes out like Saint Tressel. All that it took was for Michigan to go outside of the "Michigan Men" to hire their latest coach, and then for a Fat Traitorous Lineman Without A Name to transfer to OSU, and suddenly Rich Rodriguez is the head of Hezbollah. There is one simple solution that will change the sentiment around Ann Arbor and Detroit. Win. Just win. Win and all of these negative stories will be erased. Win and the Rich Rod-era will crawl out of the shadows of the ancient and elitist "Michigan Men". There are still Michigan Men in this world, but they are not the ones that are submarining this program from the inside out. They are the ones that support every Saturday, every time a rival fan calls us out, every time someone questions whether or not we are an elite program. Michigan Men, we will have our day. It is drawing nearer.

Other sports news from the week

• Mike Vick has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The jury will be out on this one until we can see Vick on an actual football field and not in a new remake of The Longest Yard. As a Giant fan, the threat of Vick in the same division is a little bit scary. At the same time, the thought of PETA protestors going trying to get Philly fans behind them is pretty amusing. These are the same fans that booed Santa Claus, cheered when Michael Irvin broke his neck, and have a jail in the basement of their old stadium. They could really go either way. If the Vick experiment works out, their could be some battered animal lovers outside of the stadium. Actually, I hope it works out just so we can see that first PETA Protester vs. Eagle Fan fight video on YouTube.
• The Cavs signed Leon Powe. I yawned. Powe will likely be out until at least February, and he is not all that great when he is healthy. For $3 million a year, its a good fill of a roster spot, but I would not expect this to be something that puts Cleveland over the top.
• Early reviews for Madden 10' are in, and the reviews sound fantastic. I have heard that it eclipses the legendary NFL 2K5 in both game play and presentation. This could lead to a trade in of NCAA 10' for the superior Madden franchise. Potential online dynasty members can chime in their opinions.

More Than

I was going to just add another team preview; but realized that's just not what we're about...I don't care about IU, Purdue, and Wisconsin until they're on the schedule for Saturday...So we'll preview them when we get to them. I was also thinking about the same thing as Coach...then got on the blackberry and found he beat me too it...but the hell with it. Playing on Youtube for Michigan stuff, listening to UFER, and buying my new "All in For Michigan" Shirt has me jacked up. I threw in a lot of links to some of the best Michigan content on the Tube so make sure you get a look to get your fix. If you didn't click the Ufer tag go back and do it...if Dan Patrick ran a "Greatest Homer Call of All-Time" this would've won.

Unlike the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, college football is more than just One Shining Moment. It's a long drawn out series of events that will lead us back to the same spot next year, waiting for more. And for 130 years they've been doing it in Ann Arbor. They say Michigan Football is a relic...and it is, it should be sought after by all who love our game. We've been through a shitty nights sleep but a new day is dawning on Michigan Football, changes are all around and the old stadium millions fell in love with is a different girl these days. One thing will never change: A college football saturday at the Big House is unparralleled, I remember my first trip, a homecoming loss to Wisconsin, as a 9 year old and still get the same goosebumps every week.

Until dad finally decides to win the MegaMillions and park at Crisler there's always the first moment you see the scoreboard on the walk up to the game. That moment when you get your first glimpse of the Big House. I can still remember looking for it, "Where the hell is this place?" then I saw the back of the old scoreboards (the first electronic scoreboards in the country). "No Jumbo-tron?" I remember thinking. Just reading "Michigan" on the back let me know it was really happening. And if I could've told myself to cherish that first moment any more I would. Nothing was more simple than that first season I started to recognize what Michigan Football is to me. After the renovation you'll see the stadium from all directions, and that moment of just seeing those big scoreboards will be a distant memory of simpler days.

Walking in you see the expanse that is the 3rd largest city in Michigan on a football Saturday Rudy's Dad said it best "This is the most beautiful site these eyes have ever seen." Then from the Press Box like the voice of God comes "Band take the field!" and out of the Eastern tunnel pours The Real Best Damn Band In The Land. But one moment you can never prepare yourself for comes after the band, and before the game. When you see those helmets moving around by the tunnel. I remember standing on the bleacher asking my Uncle, "Where do they come out?" as they were raising the banner. He pointed, "There." and that was it. As the Wolverines run out and touch the MCLUB banner the rush of emotion is incredible. Tears well up in your eyes and you don't care...its time.

Its time for the moments that matter. The moments 18-23 year old boys will base the rest of their lives on. Deuce is correct. We're jealous. And every moment that that young man is not honored to wear the uniform is a moment wasted. John Navarre nearly did tear the Kardos household down, Andy and I still disagree on the summary of Braylon Edwards career. The Cleveland Brown fans around here are now getting a tast of that mess....But thats what its all about. Its about these young men making the moments that we remember them by. I remember Tyrone Wheatley streaking down the left side of the field for a go ahead score in that first game. He got caught. And Fumbled. And the Badgers Recovered. And we lost. That's it, that's what mattered about that gray BigTen day. I hate those memories and some players are just destined to make them for us. We can only hope that we have more Charles Woodson interceptions and Mario Catches than we have Tyler Ecker not pizzying the bizzy for a skizzy or Stewart to Westbrook.

But all of them are the moments we wait 8 months for. I know I'll barely sleep two nights this year, Sept. 4 and Nov. 20, because i'll lie there thinking about all these moments or on YouTube reliving them. These moments are coming and I can't wait. I'll let it go with this speech. Its always a good arguing point at the Kardos household. But it rings true today and every season after. We root for THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM, but its the moments by individuals that will make THE TEAM.

R.L. Stine

Goosebumps.

Say that word to any 10 year old boy in the late 90's, and they would rattle off a series of books by "acclaimed" children's horror novelist R.L. Stine. Don't Go To Sleep, It Came From Beneath The Sink, Say Cheese and Die, and of course who could forget the greatest sequel ever...Say Cheese and Die, Again. So what is my point? My point is that if you play the "word association" game with goosebumps, you will get different answer after different answer as you go from person to person. Ask a 35 year old mother, and they will tell you how they feel when their kids make them proud. Ask a 24 year old comic book nerd, and they will tell you about the new trailer for the next great Marvel or DC movie. Ask a 72 year old man, and he will tell you about the early bird special at the Moose Lodge.....or the 3AM Girls Gone Wild Infomercial Marathon on Comedy Central.

Ask me? Only one thing comes to mind. College football.

The thrill and anticipation of opening week is unparalleled. On Monday, there are visions of winged helmets emerging from the Big House tunnel to touch the banner while the greatest fight song in all of college football is played. By Thursday, I hear Temptation playing after every big third down stop (Sidenote: I really did get goosebumps watching that video. Am I weird? Yes, yes I am). By the time Saturday rolls around, I have worked myself into a near frenzy as I await the opening kickoff to the shortest 3 months of the year. Every week brings new opponents, fresh challenges, and opportunities for players to make their names or redeem themselves. Every year has it's scapegoats. For Michigan fans, the Todd Howard's, Steven Threet/Nick Sheridan's, and Pat Massey's of the world will live in our minds as forever being a thorn in the side of the Wolverines. Hell, John Navarre nearly single handedly brought down the Kardos household. This year, Stevie Brown gets a chance to erase all the bad memories he has caused over his 4 year playing career.

The fantastic thing about college football is that each team has it's own Todd Howard. The Bucks will always have Stanley Jackson. Notre Dame will always have Carlisle Holliday (who is STILL featured on NCAA 10'). Michigan State will always have Jeff Smoker. Every year, we get 20-25 new faces that have the potential to be either the next campus legend or the next campus pariah. The roller coaster that is recruiting is like a bad crack habit. You are better off just staying away from it all together. Once you start to peek into the world, a weird fascination starts with 18 year old's deciding for or against attending the school of your choice. With every commitment, there are visions of game winning touchdowns and bone crushing hits. The bottom line is that we are all jealous of these people that are gifted with the chance to put on that uniform, that helmet, those colors, and to run out on that field. There is nothing like the pageantry of the band playing, the crowd doing it's signature chants, and the traditions that every team possess. Combine it all, and you get the image that pops into my head when someone mentions goosebumps.

The time is near, and with every day the anticipation grows greater. This fan cannot wait to wash the taste of hooker spit and taint sweat that was last year out of his mouth. Michigan may have gone 3-9, but it still returns the same traditions, same values, and same expectations that come with every year. And when two teams get ready to square off on the cold third Saturday in November, the adrenaline will be pumping at an all time high...and there will be goosebumps.

As always, NRTTS.

Coach Deuce

Return of the Mack

I knew this day would come. Actually, there have been a couple of those "days" lately. The day when I got tired of letting this blog go to waste. The day when I returned to giving my views on the goings-on in sports to the five readers of this site. The day when I would return to the virtual world of college football in NCAA 10' and lead Michigan to it's rightful place atop the college football world. (Sidenote: In my first dynasty year, I went undefeated. However, it was not enough to get me in the BCS Title game, as Texas and Florida also go undefeated. Talk about a kick in the nuts. It was like the Missouri/Nebraska Kick Play TD all over again) The day when the Indians would truly become a AAA team. The day Phil Hughes finally turned himself into a legitimate MLB pitcher. The day when The Gate would get married, only to have it on a FOOTBALL SATURDAY!@#!@! Make no mistake about it, I am shocked and a bit disappointed that such a "die-hard" Michigan fan would choose a date in which our beloved Maize and Blue are on the gridiron. Granted, it is against Eastern Michigan; but if 2008 taught us anything it is that horrible MAC schools are ripe for upsetting Michigan if our quarterback acts like he is playing with two broken arms and legs.

So all of these things have happened since I have lasted posted on this here blog. I really did not have a good excuse to stop posting. I have been working a fair amount and my Texas Rangers franchise on MLB 09' The Show is in full swing. It really boils down to the fact that there is nothing interesting enough to write about on a daily basis in July. Sure, I follow baseball day to day to keep up with the Yankees and my fantasy team, but nobody wants to read about how Chien Ming Wang imploded my ERA and WHIP categories with his first half performance.

So we are finally to August 1st, and this is when the real sports season begins. Football training camps are starting up, college football is nearing the start of fall camp, high school football is beginning practice, and the MLB is finally relevant after the trade deadline. It is finally time to start really paying attention to your team.

Uhh...unless you are an Indians fan. In that case, just go watch the Toledo Mud Hens or Columbus Clippers and you will save yourself $15 a piece on tickets and still get the same product. To see Garko, Lee, Martinez, Francisco, and Derosa go to different teams for the return they got has me disappointed for Cleveland fans. And if you follow this blog, you know how much I dislike Cleveland fans.

To analyze this, let's focus on the big three; Derosa, Lee, and Martinez. In Derosa's case, many have already forgotten this trade since it took place so far before the deadline. The Tribe weren't going to get the Cards top prospect for DeRosa, but they settled for RP Chris Perez, who has not looked anything like a future closer. The Lee trade came next, and this is where the wheels really fell off. Consider that the guys Toronto wanted for Roy Halladay were Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor. And then consider that Cleveland got NONE of them for the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner who is locked up at a reasonable rate for 2010. The deal may work out if the 4 prospects they did receive pan out, but when you trade a Cy Young winner you need to get one of the organizations top prospects. They got none. With Lee gone, Victor Martinez had to go. Teams knew this, and used that leverage to bend the Tribe over like Tobias Beecher in the first season of Oz. The Red Sox came calling, and they possess a number of top tier prospects. Lars Anderson, Clay Bucholz, and Daniel Bard are probably considered the top three in their organization. Once again, the Indians settle for less by taking Justin Masterson, who has looked shaky in relief this year, and two more prospects. Masterson is still young, but will he ever be anything more than a solid set-up guy? For now, the Indians get an Incomplete grade. But the perception from these trades matters almost as much as the value they got in return. The perception out there right now is that other teams took the Indians out back and took their lunch money. Fans need to be disappointed, and GM Mark Shapiro (and manager Eric Wedge, for that matter) need to go.

Feels good to be back, and NRTTS, even in NCAA 10'.

Coach Deuce

Epic Returns...

Not since The Rock returned to Raw has there ever been a return this big.

Coach Deuce returns tomorrow to fill all your sports blogging needs.

Dusting it off...

The Gate must resume swinging

I know there's one person still out there watching and waiting for an update to this thing, I hear it every time I call my mother. In the background I hear "If they're not going to update the fucking thing they outta just have Google take it down!!". And the old man is right, but what the hell are a couple of mid 20 amateur sportswriters to write about in late June and July? How the MLB All-Star Game is stupid as hell, Lance Armstrong is a giant douche, or Brett Farve. Personally the last month I haven't even watched much PTI or SportsCenter; there's no point its the same old shit that they wouldn't cover if they weren't paid to report it to us drones. So here goes shot number 3 at NRTTS, and the calendar is going to start playing nice for the Coach and the Gate...

Its been a cool July, no where near the scorching hotness that makes it feel like fall Saturdays are never coming back. The BigTen Network is pulling out the tapes from last years epically bad football season. But its the last week of July and hope springs eternal here in Big Ten Country. The Media Days are over and the clash of pads will be heard around campuses in the coming weeks, and inevitably a key player will go down for the season (God, if there is a God, please don't let it be Tate or Denard....Take Nick Sheridan....Please??). While there's only one team we really give a shit about at NRTTS we have to take a look around the BigTen and the country to get a feel for this great season that's fast approaching. I get bored of reading numbers and pointless dribble that Phil Steele and Lindy's puts out every year so I'm gonna make my arguments based upon my knowledge and ESPN.com team pages. We'll start out slow and see if its worth my time before I unload 11 teams worth of analysis to no readers. Maybe we could get a little "Punt CounterPunt" going on like the days of free programs at the Big House.


Indiana Hoosiers
2008 Final Record: (1-7. 3-9)

First Thoughts Based Upon Schedule and Past Performance

Ah, the Hoosiers, the only team with a worse conference record than our beloved last season. If I had to console a Hoosier today and tell them its going to get better it'd be the biggest lie since "John Navarre is the best option we have." The schedule starts easy enough with Western Kentucky and Western Michigan, but road trips to Michigan and Virginia plus a home matchup with the Buckeyes probably leaves the Hoosiers, at best, 3-3 at the half. With Illinois, Wisconsin and Purdue left on the home schedule Indiana will have to defend Memorial Stadium and win one on the road at Northwestern, Iowa, or Penn State to make a bowl game. Looks like another Holiday at home.

A Look at The Rosters

Usually I can pull something out but for the life of me I couldn't remember a damn name from the 2008 Indiana Hoosiers so I looked up their roster on the NCAA site and it yielded very little help jogging the memory but had one interesting stat. Last year the Hoosiers had 3 QBs play in 10+ games. That's bad. Kellen Lewis was the head of the class leading the team in passing yards with 1100 and rushed for 500 yards, good enough for second on the team. Not quite Steven Threet bad but still not good. According to ESPN and Scouts, Inc. the top signee for the Hoosiers this year is a Kicker...yeah, a Kicker. Edward Wright-Baker will make a little noise in the Indiana backfield as an underrated dual-threat QB who was also courted by the Spartans and Boilermakers.

Final Thoughts

They tell me you can't get much worse than the 3-9 that our Wolverines put up last year. But it can, it can be the 3-9 the Hoosiers put up last year. It can be an offseason where your future rests on the legs of a kicker and an "Underrated" freshman QB. At first glance of the year Indiana has ahead of them I said they're screwed, after thinking about it and looking at their commitments...I say "Basketball season comes next...shit...look out for that too."

Fearless Prediction

I don't think the Hoosiers get out of the bottom of the BigTen this year. They don't have enough in the tank to compete on a higher level that gives some respectability to the conference from top to bottom. After thinking long and hard to remember Kellen Lewis I think the Hoosiers come out hot 3-0 in the non-conference but fall of the face of the map until Nov. 7 when they beat a ranked Wisconsin squad. Finishing 4-8 is better than 3-9 but still, the Hoosiers finish 1-7 in the conference.


There it is...the first post in almost 2 months now if you read it, attack the comments section and we'll get back to writing quality posts about relevant teams in relevant sports with the occasional quirky story. Otherwise the last post you will keep reading on NRTTS is a preview of Indiana Football...Do you really wanna go out like that??

It's Open Week

Its June 17 and 6 out of 10 sports fans have forgotten who won both the NBA finals and the Stanley Cup. I keep telling myself, only 79 days until Western Michigan makes the trip to Ann Arbor. This week there's a few stories running around sports media in every way I meet it, Internet, TV, and Radio...enough to make quite the summary post heading into the weekend. So lets get to some headlines.

Support Your Local Laker Troop #593

After winning the NBA Championship against Superman (who has the low post game of Graham Brown) the city of L.A. told the Lakers to hit the streets. So like you're local Girl Scout Troop the Lakers had to look to fundraising to get their own parade funded in the city of Angels. But without the deadly weapon that is Somoas the Lakers ended up paying for half the bill. The total cost of the parade was estimated at $2 Million....what the hell are they paying rent a cops in California??

Slammin Sammy Sosa

When I got in the car this morning Mike and Mike were talking about a majority of their show being dedicated to the Sammy Sosa fiasco. Why? Was anyone really surprised at this one? The only there's five guys to hit 60 HRs in a season in the last century and a half, and this guy did it 3 times in a row. I mean really, the guy forgot how to speak English in front of Congress.

Big Daddy Diesel of Cleveland

You know you want to see it. We all do. Everybody loves the REAL Superman. We all want to see Kobe, LeBron, and Shaq all on the court at the Q. Like Kobe haters, LeBron haters have to recognize that the guy is just plain great. Can the King resurrect Superman to the dominant post player he needs to win the title? While Big Z is a feel good story for sticking with the Cavs, you have to wonder if he's a starter anywhere else in the league. And the novelty of Anderson Verajao has quickly worn away. Bring the Diesel to the shores of Lake Erie and we'll be reading about a Parade Fund in Cleveland next year.

The Only Person Not Rooting For Phil?

This is the one that got me fired up to write. For as long as I can remember I've been one of the few to despise Phil Mickelson. I think he's a pompous narcissistic whiner. I love to see him lose his mind on Sunday. With the recent news of his wife's breast cancer battle everyone has hurried over to Phil's side even more than normal. But I hate him even more. He has somehow me this tragedy about him. YOU PLAY GOLF FOR A LIVING!!! I don't care if you're taking time off to be with your wife, its great that you're talents afford you the ability to do something like that. Well in true "Don't forget about me" fashion Phil has nursed himself back to be able to play in the U.S. Open this weekend at Bethpage. The journalists are having a field day with this; winning the Open would be the greatest thing in sports history. Bullshit. The man who gets up to work the night shift at the steel mill only to get home to take his wife to her cancer treatments is the greatest thing a man could do. We all wish Amy Mickelson a full recovery as with all Cancer patients. But Phil is not doing anything special here, he's just playing golf.

Stanley Cup Recap

In a previous comment section I contended that the Stanley Cup is the best trophy in sports today. There's nothing like having your name etched into time itself, as the winner can see his name on the same piece with the likes of Gretzky, Howe, and Yzerman. Even if you feel otherwise about the trophy you still have to get a bit of a chill when the commish says "______ Come Get The Cup"

I'm not saying that the Red Wings didn't royally piss on this game, but Bill McCreary and his team of hacks made sure their names will be remembered in Joe Louis as much as Stevie Y and Nicklas Lidstrom. Clearly I don't follow hockey nearly as much as the fans in attendance tonight, so I'll say that after taking out the homer in them, they would be right on half the calls that were missed. Watching Crosby climb up a Red Wings back only to injure his vagina was the most blatant. So the argument will continue, should officials hold their whistles more in Game 7s? As you can probably tell I feel like its a crock of shit, I got jobbed, this wasn't a proffesional hockey game it was street hockey in the back of the church with Tom Watson and Trey Wismond*.

This game ultimately falls on the Red Wings, it appeared that they were ready to go from the start but overall seemed like they were going through the motions. The timing to their finesse style seemed a bit off. And when Gordon Bombay, I mean Niklas Kronwall, clanked the tying slapshot off the crossbar with 2 minutes to go, the city of Detroit became just that much more deflated.

Ultimately the guy to blame for this entire situation is Gary Bettman. This guy just looks like a weasel, he has no idea what he's doing and he's making a killing even after destroying a competitive product. When Bettman altered the phrase to "Sidney Crosby, you will be the youngest captain to hoist the cup...." he slipped again. This is what Bettman wants, he wants Crosby jersey's to sell out, Zetterberg and Datsyuk just don't fly off the shelves anywhere but Hockeytown. Crosby is the prize bull, and this makes him all the more noticeable. I hate the conspiracy theorists that live on the NBA playoffs, but I've gotta play devils advocate here in the NHL where they'd kill for the problems the NBA has. Why were the whistles so quiet tonight? While I know "Sid The Kid" is the Lebron James of hockey, this writer thinks that like Lebron the kid should have had to wait another year of puppet commercials out.

*Only a select group of readers will get this reference but they'll remember the days of rollerblades, taping the goals up, and chasing pucks.



Let the Gate resume Swinging

Prospectin'

Every year, the end of May/beginning of June is a pretty special time in baseball.  Contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders; batting averages rise and fall to level out with career numbers; the Indians resign themselves to another year of rebuilding.  

One thing that sticks out in my mind about this time of year is the call up of many of the top minor league prospects to their major league clubs.  In the past, guys like Ryan Braun, Andruw Jones, and Robinson Cano have come out of the minors in May to have enormous years in the big leagues.  

This year's crop of talent is truly something special.  For starters, LHP David Price of the Tampa Rays has dazzled in his early starts, striking out hitters like Danny Almonte in the Little League World Series.  3B/1B Matt Gamel of Milwaukee has shown flashes of the power that has many scouts thinking Prince Fielder may be expendable.  SP Tommy Hanson (pictured above) has over 90 strikeouts in 67 innings in AAA ball this year, and he will get his first start on Sunday.  C Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles has many people thinking Joe Mauer with more power.  The list of these prospects can go on and on, spanning from White Sox SS Gordan Beckham to Mets OF Fernando Martinez.

The point is that if you are looking for a reason to get interested in baseball, it is to watch the next generation of young stars take a step toward greatness (or futility, if your name is Andy Marte).  

The arrival of these stars-of-the-future has given me a little idea for one of those famous "lists".  In the sports world, we are always looking for that next great player, and we like to scout them out and know who they are before they even reach the big leagues.  Scouting has gotten so complex that some people are reaching in the middle schools to find the next great athlete.  With this in mind, I give you ...

The Top Five Prospects in Sports Movie History

5. Darnell Jefferson - RB - ESU Timberwolves - The Program

Darnell was Reggie Bush before Reggie had ever even thought of taking illegal benefits at USC.  He could catch the ball out of the backfield, ran with toughness between the tackles, and had breakaway speed that would make Devin Hester blush.  His upside on the field is hindered a bit by his checkered past off the field.  However,  if he can prove that his 3.0 GPA to end the Fall semester at ESU was no fluke, than he could climb up this prospect list and cement himself as one of the elite talents in all of football.  Sidenote: How did his grade card stay dry in his helmet?  Wouldn't it be all sweaty and wrinkled after one game?  

4. Ricky Vaughn - SP/CP - Cleveland Indians - Major League

Just 18 years old, "Wild Thing" Ricky Vaughn has the arm to be one of the all-time best pitchers ever to straddle the mound.  Vaughn's fastball can reach upwards of 102 mph, and word is that he is developing a nice curveball to go with his fastball.  With his intimidating demeanor, Vaughn may be best suited for a closer's role, as he previewed in the Divisional Tie-Breaker against the Yankees.  Like Jefferson, the real concern with Vaughn is his off-the-diamond problems.  He is known to have been in trouble with the law as a juvenile, may not get along well with teammates, and may have problems adjusting to life on his own.  His diet is said to consist of chili dogs and Pepsi, so he may need to consult with a nutritionist if he wants his body in peak physical condition to withstand the 162 game grinder that is the MLB season.

3. Lance Harbor - QB - West Canaan High School - Varsity Blues

The kid that has got it all, many are calling Lance Harbor the next Tom Brady.  He has the hot girlfriend that everybody wants (Gisele/Ali Larter), he has the offense that relies on him to direct everything, and he has the respect of everybody in the huddle.  His teammates respect him so much that they don't care that he has the big sign in his yard for the "most important player".  If Harbor can stay healthy (a big if), than he will without a doubt win a few rings and set a few records along his path.

2. Spike Hammersmith - RB/LB - Little Cowboys - Little Giants

Spike is a freak of nature.  He runs the 40 in 5.6 seconds, bench presses twice his own weight, and was doing push-ups out of the womb.  He prefers to run in the Power I, but demands that his lead blocker be without a vagina.  Spike runs with great power that would make Christian Okoye blush.  On defense, he is a sideline to sideline defender that is looking to rip someones head off.  The only downfall with Spike may be the suspected use of performance enhancing drugs.  Many point to Spike's father as the likely target of an FBI investigation into alleged steroid use.  If Spike can overcome these allegations and let his work on the field do the talking, than he could redefine football as a two-way player.  

1. Benny Rodriguez - CF - Sandlot Team - The Sandlot

There has never been a prospect like Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez.  At best, scouts are thinking Willy Mays with more speed.  At worst, he is Juan Pierre with more power.  The ease with which he runs the bases has never been seen before in baseball history.  Legend has it that he has never been thrown out trying to steal.  Rodriguez is seemingly without faults; he is a great teammate, plays the game the right way, has outstanding character off the field, and is not injury prone.  Growing up a Dodger fan, Rodriguez would prefer to play with his hometown team.  One thing is for certain, there has never been a more complete prospect than Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez.  He is a true 5-tool player.

So there ya' have it.  If you have your own prospects that deserve their place on this list, spit em' out.  

NRTTS

Coach Deuce