In Ellenberg we trust.

At season's end, Oklahoma will bid farewell to senior guard Danielle Robinson; a player who's had as big an impact as any to have come through the program.  Robinson has been a great leader for the team; especially in the last couple of seasons, following the the departures of the Paris twins (Courtney and Ashley).  Anyone who's followed Robinson's career will appreciate what she's meant to Oklahoma.  In my opinion, she can be a starter for ANY team in the country, right now.

In Aaryn Ellenberg, the future is here.  The OU vs Baylor game was the first time I really got to watch her play.  I'll admit it, I haven't watched a lot of women's basketball this season.  However when I watched that game on Sunday afternoon, I saw a player that was poised and fearless.  She may be a freshman, but she sure didn't play like one.


Ellenberg and Robinson; the present and the future



Whenever Oklahoma needed a spark from anyone beside Danielle Robinson, Ellenberg stepped up to the plate.  She made key baskets that kept Oklahoma in the game whenever Baylor seemed to run away with it.  Ellenberg and Robinson finished with 25 points each (tied for the team lead), and the Sooners might have won the game had Robinson's lay up at the buzzer fallen through the hoop.  She and Robinson were also the only OU players that were on the court for the entire game.

Ellenberg, who was highly rated out of high school, chose Oklahoma over Baylor, Arizona State, California and Connecticut.  Not a bad group, especially when you consider that Connecticut was in the mix (and everyone knows that UConn don't just recruit anybody).  After watching her play, I can now see why her talents were in such high demand.

There is no doubt that we'll miss Danielle Robinson dearly.  Ellenberg certainly offers hope for tomorrow as Oklahoma continues its quest for a national championship.  I'm very confident that she will be for this team tomorrow, what Robinson is today.  And hopefully when her time in Norman is up, she will have led this team to that increasingly elusive next level.





A measure of revenge.

Last weekend when Nebraska held on to upset Texas 70-67, not only did they ruin the Longhorns chance at reclaiming the #1 ranking, but it also brought another thought to my mind; REVENGE!!! 

Husker fans couldn't bear another loss to Texas

After all that Nebraska has been in the least year (plus a few months give or take), they were finally able to come up with a win against Texas.  Maybe I'm the only who saw it, but I'm sure Husker fans were kind of feeling it too. 

Let's face it, Nebraska isn't exactly known for their basketball prowess; they're a football school.  So to deal a defeat to Texas (and a darn good Texas team too) on the hardwood wasn't really expected by anyone outside of Lincoln, NE.  Nebraska fans, please don't take it personal if nobody thought that you'd win.  For what it's worth, Nebraska has played well down the stretch, and that form really counts for something.

(R-L) Hunter Lawrence nails the game winning fg in the 2009 Big 12
title game, while Garrett Gilbert led Texas to an upset win in Lincoln.

One can only wonder what Kinnie is thinking

Nebraska fans can still remember the 1 second that was added back to the clock at the end of the 2009 Big 12 Title Game; enabling Texas to kick the game winning field goal and advance to the National Championship game.  Then to rub salt onto the wounds, Texas (who were on a 2 game losing streak) beat #5 Nebraska in Lincoln.  What's crazy is that Texas (who are 9-1 against Nebraska in the Big 12 era) only won one more game after that; against Florida Atlantic (from the vaunted Sun Belt Conference).

As if that wasn't enough, there was that game against A&M in College Station, where all the calls just seemed to go against Nebraska.  Big Red couldn't even get any love in the last ever Big 12 Title game; fans preferring the other Big Red (more like crimson, but you get the point).  

Nebraska wanted to leave the Big 12 with a bang!!  Win the last ever title game, then stick it to Texas and Dan Beebe a.k.a the Commish.  That didn't happen.  Their reward for losing?  A second consecutive trip to the Holiday Bowl to play against Washington; a team that Nebraska had torn to shreds earlier in the season.  They couldn't even get Boise State in there??  It didn't matter because when Nebraska lost, they all of a sudden became the punchline to any and every joke.  They just could not catch a break.

So when Nebraska beat Texas in the most unlikeliest of venues, I'm guessing all this stuff must have been running through the minds of the Husker faithful as they stormed the court.  I just got this feeling, that they weren't just celebrating an upset of a highly ranked opponent; it was a lot more than that.  It was for the 1 additional second that cost them a conference championship.  It was making up for failing to exact revenge in their next meeting.  It was for the mistreatment they felt they've received, getting kicked to the curb because Texas wields the power.

This was just more than your ordinary upset; it was a measure of revenge.

Moving to Green-er pastures.

The last image of Jeff Green as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, will unfortunately be his desperation three point attempt falling short as the Thunder lost to San Antonio last Wednesday.

With OKC trailing 108-105 and inbounding from half-court, the plan as always was to get the ball to Kevin Durant.  The play looked okay, but the execution was another matter altogether.  Green took the inbounds pass, and while Durant was still trying to break from his defender, Green fired the shot, even though there were still a few more seconds to spare.  Whether he panicked or something else, we'll never know.  What we do know is that his next three point attempt will be as a member of the Boston Celtics, the team that drafted him originally (before sending him to Seattle in a trade).

The enduring image of Nenad Krstic will be slightly different however.  During a match against Greece last autumn, he got involved in a scuffle in which he tossed a chair at his opponent.  For his effort, he spent the night in jail and was released the day after.  Just about everyone I know, couldn't believe it when they saw that clip.  We all wondered the same thing, "How come he never shows that kind of aggression when playing for the Thunder??"

Nenad Krstic channeling his inner Bobby Knight

It was learned on Thursday afternoon that both Green and Krstic had been dealt to Boston in exchange for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.  As a fan of Jeff Green, I was rather stunned.  He was a key player that could not only cover both the 3 & 4 spots, but also provide that occasional scoring boost when the team needed it.

From a financial point of view, I can understand why Green was traded.  He'll be a restricted free agent after next season, so it is possible that OKC could lose him, getting nothing in return (he already declined a contract extension offer).  They just signed Kevin Durant to a max contract, and it is expected that the next max offer will be to Russell Westbrook.  Should the same offer be presented to Green, it would mean that OKC would end up losing players like Thabo Sefolosha and maybe even James Harden, just because there might not be enough cap room to give them the contracts they would like.

Robinson will be a spark off the bench, while Perkins... just look at those eyes!!

With Perkins in the team, the Thunder have a proven post player that they desperately need.  He's already won a championship, and he might have had another ring had he not been injured early in game 6 of the NBA Finals.  If he can get healthy real soon, OKC's chances of moving beyond the first round of the playoffs greatly increase.

When he's not dunking or doing anything else to defy gravity, Nate Robinson is actually a big spark; whether he's starting or coming off the bench.  He's been able to keep the Celtics competitive when playing in relief of Rajon Rondo, and can chip in on the points to help cover Green's workload.  Let's be honest though, a 3-time Slam Dunk champion, fans will be begging for him to throw down a dunk on every chance he gets.

While OKC is celebrating, the Celtics (a team many picked to win the championship) might have just become a little vulnerable.  Jermaine O'Neal is out until April as he recovers from knee surgery. Shaquille O'Neal is oft injured and unless you're asking Krstic to hurl chairs at people (sorry, but this never gets old), you're not getting much from him by way of defense.  In the event that either O'Neal gets injured (and you know they will), they don't have any cover as of yet.

As a Celtic fan, you can only hope that Danny Ainge knows what he's doing (though the responses on twitter tell a much different story).  As a Thunder fan, do you really care what the Celtics are doing?

From Jazzy to Jersey.

As it turns out, New Jersey had another trick up its sleeve after all.  A day after failing to land Carmelo Anthony, it was announced that the Nets had acquired Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams in exchange for Devin Harris, Derek Favors, two first-round draft picks and cash.



Seriously, what's with the pose?

When it comes to NBA trades and all that good stuff, you kind of learn to expect the unexpected.  Carmelo to the Knicks was no secret.  While LeBron held us "captive" during his 1 hour special, the word had spread that he would indeed be "taking his talents" to South Beach.  By the time he announced his "decision", it was mere formality.

However, dealing Deron Williams to the Nets?  I did not see that coming.  Like I said, I "expect the unexpected", but I had no clue it would be going down, at least not like this.  It seems that there's someone out there who knows something that we don't.  How often do you hear of a team, in the midst of a playoff race, trade it's cornerstone player?  From what I understand, Williams' contract expires after this season, so you'd understand why the Jazz would not part ways with him and get nothing in return.

Trading him to the Nets though?  Even despite Carlos Boozer's departure in the off-season, Utah still remain a playoff contender with Williams on the team.  Without him on the team?  I'm not sure that I can explain it in twenty words or less.  Here goes.  Without Williams on the team, Utah will most likely go back to what they were before the "Stockton to Malone" era.  Okay, I'll admit it, so Utah had a decent run when Adrian Dantley was around, but they weren't turning heads like they did with Stockton and Malone.  I'll give Dantley his due, he helped put the franchise on the map following its relocation to Utah from New Orleans. 

Stockton-to-Malone; can't mention one without the other

Little was known about John Stockton when the Jazz drafted him out of Gonzaga in 1984.  Karl Malone who was drafted out of Louisiana Tech the following year, admitted on his own that he initially didn't even want to play for Utah (he was hoping to be drafted by Dallas) when they acquired him.  Together, they became one of the best "one-two" tandems the league has ever seen.  The lack of an NBA title does not diminish the impact they had on the league; blame that on Michael Jordan.

Following both Stockton and Malone's departure in 2003, Utah went through a rebuilding phase and it would be another three seasons before they would make the playoffs.  When Boozer and Williams teamed up (along with other key players, but that's not the point) and led the Jazz to the 2007 Conference finals, it felt like the reincarnation of Stockton and Malone; Boozer was emerging as a dominant post player, and Williams was beginning to earn a reputation as one of the better point guards (this in just his second season).  Together, they would lead Utah to the playoffs for 4 straight seasons, before Boozer joined the Bulls last July.

"Stockton-to-Malone" Part II, never really came to fruition

If you were to say that Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA, there might be little disagreement, if any at all.  Of course, you'll have your Rajon Rondo fans, Tony Parker fans and your Chris Paul fans; but all will agree that Williams is an elite point guard.  And like I said earlier, as long as he was around, Utah were a playoff contender.

However, trading him to the Nets still has me scratching my head a little (probably because it hurts less).  The Nets who had enjoyed some of their best seasons with Jason Kidd running show, fell on hard times after trading him to Dallas in 2008.  New Jersey went from "perennial playoff contender" to "cellar dwellers" following the transaction.

Having Williams on board, along with a move to Brooklyn should help the Nets attract potential free agents.  We already know that they won't be making the playoffs this season, so all eyes will be shifted toward the off-season.  They key to any success however, depends on whether they'll be able to sign Williams to a longterm contract.

Utah currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but this move coupled with Jerry Sloan's resignation a few weeks ago, signals that they are in rebuilding mode.  I don't see them making the playoffs, at least this season; but then again, what do I know.  I remember the Houston Rockets going on a 22 game win streak in 2008, after losing Yao Ming for the remainder of the season.  I also remember the same Rockets (sans McGrady, Mutombo and Yao Ming) pushing the L.A. Lakers to 7 games in 2009.

While I'm predicting that there may be some lean years ahead for Utah, I don't know exactly how better off New Jersey are with this trade.  We'll check back in a few years and see how things turned out.

Get Shocked!!

The New Orleans Saints parted ways with tight-end Jeremy Shockey, ending a 3 year stint that included a trip to the Super Bowl.  Shockey had career lows in receptions (41) and yards (408) last season.  Jimmy Graham, also from The U, came on strong toward the end of last season and the Saints will move forward with him instead.

Shockey was part the 2001 National Championship team.

In a span of 10 seasons (including his final year at Miami), Shockey has won it all; a national championship and two Super Bowls (even though he was sidelined during Super Bowl XLII).  Not really bad from guy from Ada, OK had to go through the Juco route (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M located in Miami, which is pronounced Miama, and don't ask me why) before landing in South Beach (quite a long ways to travel if you ask me).

He was part of arguably one of the greatest college football teams in modern history.  There's no denying that the 2001 Miami squad would give a lot of these college championship teams a run for their money.  They brought back the swag, something that hadn't been seen around South Beach since the late 1980's through early 90's.

Shockey was a 4 time pro bowler as a Giant

Shockey spent his first 6 years with the New York Giants, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2002 draft.  In his first NFL appearance, a Hall of Fame Game that also doubled as the pre-season opener, he caught a pass, then proceeded to run over Houston Texans' defender Kevin Williams like he didn't exist.  Suddenly, comparisons to former Giant great Mark Bavaro began flowing in.

He would run over a few more defenders in a rookie season that was combination of flash (his size, speed and toughness) and brash (could you really expect any less from a player from The U?).  Sometimes he could be clutch; making a crucial touchdown catch against Philadelphia in the regular season finale, a game the Giants had to win if they wanted to make the playoffs.

At other times, well, you just didn't know what expect.  Case in point; during the wildcard game against San Francisco, with the Giants were moving the ball at will, Shockey dropped a touchdown pass that would have surely won the game.  They settled for a field goal instead, and the next thing you know, the 49ers rallied to win in what was one of the biggest comebacks in recent NFL Playoff history.

He remained an important part of the Giants offense, but the injuries eventually started to take their toll.  When Kevin Boss not only replaced him, but played well enough in the Giants run to the Super Bowl, it was widely accepted that the team could do without him after all.  He was traded to the Saints before the start of the 2008 season.

For all I know, he was a model citizen in New Orleans.  Despite his injuries, he still played a big role during the Saints Super Bowl winning season.  He is still one of the better tight ends around and will be a key addition to a playoff contender in search of a proven player at his position.  There's no doubting that the man can play ball, but can he stay healthy?

If the answer is "yes", then good times definitely lay ahead, but if the answer is "no", then it seems that at least for now, the party is over.

Muito Obrigado, Ronaldo!! (Thank you very much)

It's been more than a week since Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football, but I'm just getting around to writing about it.

There's a lot you can say about Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima; there are many words to describe him, his mind blowing talent, but none captures him best as his nickname, o fenômeno (translated in Portuguese as The Phenomenon).  That sums it all up.

From the time he hit the scene back in 1994, up until his retirement, never has the world seen a player like him;  a combination of size, speed and accuracy so deadly deadly, it would make a spitting cobra blush. 
 

Ronaldo came full circle; from a rather forgettable game in
1998, to winning the World Cup 4 years later.

 
Ronaldo played at the highest level and won it all; well at least every trophy that was available to him.  The only missing items in his trophy case were a Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League winner's medal (he never played in a final) and an Olympic Gold Medal (which he might have won had it not been for a Kanu-inspired Nigeria in Atlanta '96).  In all fairness, you really can't win them all.

The closest he came to a Champions League final was in 2003 when Madrid (who were the defending champions) made the semis, but lost to Juventus despite taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg in Turin.  Madrid were eliminated in the quarter-final stage the following season, and have yet to advance past the second round since then.

One legend to another

In 2007, he joined AC Milan who went on to win the title; but Ronaldo was cup-tied, having played for Madrid before his transfer, therefore rendering him ineligible for the remainder of the competition.  A left knee injury suffered in 2008 would cut his time short with Milan, subsequently ending his time in Europe as well.

What makes Ronaldo even more remarkable, is that despite missing roughly 2 years (and a few months, give or take) due to his knee injuries and months of rehabilitation, he had not lost his killer instinct when he was back and fully recovered.  Such was his ability, that Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari included him in the national team for the 2002 World Cup.  Ronaldo justified his selection by scoring 8 goals (7, if you really want to be petty), helping Brazil with their 5^th World Cup.  He clearly was the difference, for without him, Brazil might have still done well, but not enough to win the World Cup.

My favourite Ronaldo memory is the return leg of the 2003 Champions League quarterfinal match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.  In a venue dubbed the Theatre of Dreams, Ronaldo played the only way Ronaldo could.  After a dazzling performance that included scoring a hat-trick, Manchester United fans gave him gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted for Santiago Solari.  I don't ever remember a visiting player getting a standing ovation from the crowd.  Everyone was in awe of what they had just seen.

We might never see another player like him in our lifetime; he is simply "poetry in motion".  In a world full of contenders and pretenders, there can only be one RONALDO.

Feeling a little 'Melo.

FINALLY, the "Carmelo Anthony Sweepstakes" are over!!  No more soap-opera style twists in the plot; one minute, he's going to the Lakers, next minute, he's going to the Nets.  No more of that, IT'S OVER!!

As a New York Knick fan myself (I also root for the OKC Thunder, so don't get any ideas), I'm glad that we got him after missing out BIG on the LeBron Sweepstakes of last summer.  Along with Melo, we got Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter and Shelden Williams (even though a lot of people would prefer that they had got Candace Parker instead). 

In return the Knicks gave up Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, a 2014 First Round draft pick, 30 chickens, 4 bulls, a combine harvester, some baseball cards, a Willis Reed throwback jersey........ basically, what I'm saying is that the Knicks went all in to pull off this deal.

Melo led Syracuse to the 2003 national title

Do I feel like the Knicks gave up a lot?  Yes.  I really wish that they could have kept Raymond Felton or at least tried to pull in Ty Lawson (in case you're following, I also root for North Carolina too).  However, with talks about trying to lure Chris Paul to the Big Apple, I'll just have to be glad with what we've got.  Chauncey Billups will be pulling the strings, and I know that he's not the same guy who tore up the Lakers during the 2004 NBA Finals, but there's a reason why he's called "Mr. Big Shot".

While I feel more confident about the Knicks chances of securing a playoff berth, I'm not going to get ahead of myself.  While in Denver, Melo went to the playoffs just about every year, but only once did he make it past the 1st round.  Even then, I'm still scratching my head wondering how come Denver wasn't able to beat the Lakers in Western Conference Finals, because they would have certainly won the NBA title that season.

This might be considered a home coming of sorts.  Even though Carmelo grew up in Baltimore, he was born in Brooklyn, his wife (La La Vasquez) is from Brooklyn.  He played college ball at Syracuse, so he's not going to get lost in New York anytime soon.  With all his past Brooklyn ties, part owner Jay Z (any guess where he's from?) and the Nets (wanna guess where they'll be moving to?) made a pitch for him; one so good that Denver was reported to have accepted. 

However, the Nets are not the Knicks (and vice versa).  I'm not trying to diss the Nets by any means, but I'm just calling it what it is.  For Carmelo, only the bright lights and stage of Madison Square Garden would do.  Broadway has a new star!!  Start spreading the news, he's leaving today; he wants to be a part of it, New York, New York!!

Now that it's over, let's move on already.  And as much as I hope that maybe Stephen A. Smith will finally SHUT UP (ever get the feeling that you're asking for too much sometimes?), I'll just settle for Melo.

4 match ban for Gattuso

Gattuso (without shirt) confronting Joe Jordan (far left)

On Monday, UEFA handed a 4 match ban to AC Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso, for his antics in the wake of Milan's 1-0 loss to Tottenham in their Champion's league match last Wednesday.

Gattuso and Jordan got into it during the game

As the game wore on, Gattuso's "hard man" tactics failed to intimidate the Spurs and he somehow found a way to the away team's sideline, first grabbing Jordan by the throat (picture left), then after the game, headbutting the former AC Milan and Scotland player.  Scots are usually known for their short tempers; I'm sure you've heard about Sir Alex Ferguson's occasional "pep talk", or you've seen how chef Gordon Ramsay can be a little too liberal with his vocabulary on the TV show "Hell's Kitchen".

So I am rather surprised that Joe Jordan chose to exercise restraint.  It obviously shows that he is more mature than Ringhio ("the growl" in Italian).  Joe Jordan wasn't exactly a slouch during his playing days, and was quite the hard man too; well respected that The Times recently ranked him "the 34^th hardest man in the history of the game".  To summarize the story, Gattuso needs to pick his fights more carefully because Joe Jordan would have taken him to the cleaners (and I'll even put my money on it if I had to)!!! 

Hey Ramsay, watch your language already.

After hearing about UEFA's decision, the first thing I thought to myself was, "It's about time!!"  Gattuso has been getting away with this kind of behaviour for as long as I can remember.  The list of his antics are endless indeed.  It's no secret that he lacks any modicum of skill whatsoever, so the only reason to explain as to how he has been able to win so much during his career (Serie A titles, 2 Champions League titles and the World Cup are just a few) is that he just happened to be on the right team, at the right time; call it a miracle if you'd like.

His role on the team is intimidate the opposition; kind of like how your neighbour might sic his pitbull on you during a game of basketball, just so he can get that unfair advantage.  The older Gattuso has become, the less and less people really pay any attention to him.  I'm just surprised that he's hardly ever sent off or even booked to begin with for his rough play.  What's even surprised me more is that no team has ever looked to return the favour and give him a taste of his own medicine.  Look, I really don't want to spend the entire day writing about this.  If you've read this far, you'll see that my dislike for him is evident; so I believe I got my point across.

To be fair, the man is a hard worker; he's tireless and he will run around the field, for the entire game if necessary.  However, since he doesn't really have to touch the ball as much, he might as well be good for something.

The State of O...M...G!!

There is a chance that for the first time since 2007, both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will miss out on March Madness.  What on earth has happened to basketball in the State of Oklahoma??

OSU found the going tough against A&M

Oklahoma State who started the season with an 11-1, record have gone 5-9 since.  Their last win was over Oklahoma in Bedlam Showdown.  Quite frankly, there had to be a winner in that game, so it doesn't really tell you much, if anything at all.

The Cowboys have been a "Jekyll and Hyde" kind of a team this season (okay, maybe all the time, but you know what I trying to get at here).  They are quite capable of playing with the best of them (they beat #17 Kansas State convincingly, and also beat #15 Missouri).  At other times, they look clueless and seem to have no fight at all (blowout losses to Texas, Texas A&M; a loss to Nebraska??).

Good thing is that they have a winning record, but to play in the big dance, they'll need to win the Big 12 tournament.  They might be lucky to even earn an NIT berth; a tournament which they played in from 2006-2008, but failed to make it past the first round in each trip.


The going hasn't been any easier for Oklahoma


Oklahoma started off 3-0, then went on a 5 game losing streak that was highlighted by a loss Chaminde, a Division II school.  They are currently riding a 5 game losing streak and by this time next week, it will probably be up to 7 (OU play Texas A&M and Kansas on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively).

Anybody following OU basketball is wise enough to know that this team won't be going places this year.  However, they will appreciate the effort of this squad compared to last year's squad that featured Willie Warren, Tommy Mason-Griffin and Keith "Tiny" Gallon; three players who embodied the "me, first" persona to perfection. 

This OU team is still too young (Cade Davis, pictured above, is the lone senior on the team), and it's not really where it needs to be; so for those of you calling for Jeff Capel's head, you gotta have some patience.  Players like Blake Griffin don't just show up to your door everyday. 

I guess when it's time fill in my March Madness bracket, I won't have to worry about being biased toward OU or OSU.  Not good, but, oh well.

So, who really wants to be #1??

Nolan Smith and Duke; back at 1?

Duke's 79-57 win over Georgia Tech saw them regain the #1 spot, and also end an "upset" type of weekend.

#4 ranked Pittsburgh  fell 60-59 to St. John's, who entered the rankings for the first time in what has almost been eternity.  Seriously, can anyone remember the last time St. John's made some noise on the basketball scene?  Besides winning the 2003 post-season NIT, I can't recall anything else.

#7 Notre Dame fell 72-58 to West Virginia, while #16 ranked Louisville beat #12 Connecticut;  another testament to just how brutal the Big East can be.  You can make an argument that it is possibly the best conference in America, even though they haven't produced a national champion since 2004.

Texas was literally held back by Nebraska

Kansas had retaken the top stop, only to get upset by Kansas State a few hours later.  That left the door open for Texas, who looked really good after putting the hurt on Oklahoma State last Wednesday.  The only thing standing between the Longhorns was a trip to Lincoln, NE.  Nebraska managed to hold off them off for 70-67 win.  The fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset win, but I'm thinking that there's probably more to the story.  I'll save that for a later discussion.

E'Twaun Moore and Purdue halted Ohio State.

Following Texas' loss to Nebraska, Ohio State had a great chance to go back to #1, but E'Twaun Moore (38 points) and Purdue had other ideas.  The Boilermakers handed Ohio State the second loss in as many days.

Since nobody wants to be #1, I guess Duke didn't mind skipping up four spots from their previous #5 position.  They started at the top anyway, so I guess they might as well take the reigns.

It's not even March and the madness is already under way. 

And down goes Kansas.

Just a few hours after reclaiming the #1 spot, Kansas fell to Kansas State 84-68.  Jacob Pullen scored a career-high 38 points, in what was the Wildcat's 3^rd win against the Jayhawks in the last 45 meetings.  Can't blame the crowd for storming the court after the game.


Pullen the strings (no pun intended)



Just a little over a fortnight ago, Kansas State was on the tail end of a 90-66 whipping by the Jayhawks.  It was quite a fall for a team that was ranked #3 in the pre-season, with Jacob Pullen (the school's first pre-season All American) gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.  I guess the "SI Cover jinx" is still alive after all.

This win will definitely ease the sour taste of a season that has just gone horribly wrong.  Pullen served a 3 game suspension for receiving inappropriate discounts at a local clothing store and two players left the team.  I'm guessing that's not exactly the way they were hoping things would go when the season started.  That is why you need nights like this, just to remind you that maybe you've still got it in you after all.

The Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, have been rock solid for the Jayhawks, but were missing in action.  They both combined for 16 points and 3 rebounds (Markieff didn't register any rebounds).  With the twins getting into early foul trouble, Kansas State was able to establish an inside game and they never really looked back.

A moment of Self-reflection

Also due to early foul trouble, Kansas couldn't establish their own inside game; something that hurt them in their loss to Texas (who will likely take over the #1 spot).  Shooting 44%, down from their 52.3% didn't quite help their cause.  Still, there's a good amount of basketball left to be played.  Kansas can still make something of what's left in their season.  I wouldn't be too worried.

The Wildcats can only hope that the worst is behind them.  They are a team that is capable of going deep in the tournament, and a win like this is proof of what they are capable of.  The problem with winning a big game like this, is the letdown that usually follows when you play your next opponent (especially if they are trying to make their own statement). 

Knowing how rare wins against the Jayhawks are, I don't blame Wildcat fans if they decide to hold on to this one for as long as they'd like to.

Jump Around!!

Jordan Taylor and Badger faithful

"Pack it up, pack it in,

Let me begin, I came to win,

Battle me that's a sin........"

Those are the opening words to House of Pain's 1992 hit song "Jump Around"; which when played in Madison, Wisconsin, sends the student section into absolute frenzy.  They literally do as they song says, "get off your seat and jump around!!" 

There was no doubt they were doing just, after Wisconsin upset #1 ranked Ohio State in basketball last weekend.  About 4½ months ago, the Badgers achieved a similar feat over #1 Ohio State in the football field.  That result catapulted Wisconsin to a Rose Bowl appearance; their first since 1999.

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan preaches defense.  He lives defense, he breathes defense.  The Badgers might not be flashy on offense.  On the defensive side however, like a constrictor, they will suffocate and wear you down.  As of yet, no team has scored more than 70 points on them this season, and the top ranked Buckeyes would be no exception (they scored 67).


Jared Sullinger & Co. found the going tough.


At one point, it seemed like Ohio State would just run away with this thing.  After taking a 28-26 lead into the break, the Buckeyes behind Jared Sullinger, David Lighty and crew would lead by 15 with about 13 minutes left into the game.

The crowd in Kohl Center would not be silenced however.  Basketball is a game of runs, and if you can get one on at the right time, it is very possible to turn a game on its head.  Behind Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin went on a 15-0 run and then later on with the outcome still in doubt, kept enough poise to seal the win.  Wisconsin hadn't beaten a top ranked team in hoops since 1962.  Ironically, that team was Ohio State; which featured legends John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight (before he was tossing chairs and choking anyone in sight).

It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the regular season unfolds.  I doubt Ohio State will lose again, but I'd love to see how this turns out for Wisconsin come tournament-seeding time.  Until then, Jump Around!!

Out of the Woods.

For Charles Woodson, the road culminating in a Super Bowl championship has its own share of twists and turns.  As is always the case, what matters more is not the destination, but the journey, and what you learn from it.

Word on the block was that Woodson was washed up and when most teams opted to pass on him, Green Bay took a chance on him, signing him in 2006.  Five seasons later, the Packers are reaping the benefits of that gamble.  Woodson has been a key component for the Packers as his career has experienced a renaissance of sorts.

Woodson was injured on this play

In five seasons with the Packers, he has recorded more interceptions (30) than he did during 8 seasons with the Oakland Raiders (17).  He also holds the franchise record for most defensive touchdowns (8 total; 7 on interception returns, 1 on a fumble return).  Quarterbacks prefer not to throw in his direction, which leaves him free to help in run support and the occasional blitz (which he's really good at).  Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Nick Collins have been the beneficiaries of Woodson's versatility.

It was rather amazing that Green Bay survived his absence during Super Bowl XLV, after he broke his collarbone during a pass break-up in the first half (picture).  While he wasn't on the field, his emotional half time speech fired up the Packers and they went on to victory; helping erase the painful (and embarrasing) memories of Super Bowl XXXVII, when the Raiders got routed by Tampa Bay.

Woodson during his time at Michigan.

In Green Bay, Woodson has made three straight Pro Bowl teams (2008-2010) and was named the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year; an honor that is rarely awarded to defensive backs.  He has also avoided any major injuries, something that plagued him during his later years in Oakland.

Woodson was drafted 4th overall by the Oakland Raiders in 1998 after an an All American junior season, in which he won the Heisman Trophy (the only primarily defensive play to win the award) and was part of the Michigan team that won a share of the national title; the school's first since 1948.

Woodson in the Black Hole

His career started off on a high note, as he won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.  He was also a 4 time Pro Bowl selection, a 2 time "First Team All Pro", and helped changed the fortunes of the Raiders who had yet to record a winning season since moving back to Oakland from Los Angeles in 1995.

From 2000-2002, the Raiders won the AFC west division but would only make one Super Bowl appearance.  They lost to the Ravens in the 2001 AFC title game, but seemed to be on the right track after beating the NY Jets in 2002 Wild Card game.  Then came a trip to Foxboro, MA. 

The Raiders were leading 13-10 with a little under 2:00 minutes left, when Woodson came on a blitz, sacking Tom Brady and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Oakland's Greg Biekert for what appeared to the game clinching play.  The problem is that things got a little complicated.  Thanks to a little thing called the "Tuck Rule", New England retained possession, tied the game and went on to win in overtime.  A few seasons later, Tom Brady is the proud owner of 3 Super Bowl rings; go figure.

Woodson admitted to thinking about the "tuck rule" incident every now and then.  However now that the Packers are the champions, he should be able to close the door on that chapter.

Fight On!! Sanchez making his mark.

The Pete Carroll era at USC lasted from 2001 through 2009, during which the program enjoyed a period of dominance that it had not experienced since the 70's.  From 2002-2008, USC posted an 82-9 overall record (6-1 in bowl games) which included 2 national championships, 2 Orange Bowls, 4 Rose Bowls and a "Top 5" final ranking in all seven seasons.  The Men of Troy were on the map and from the look of things, they would be staying for a while (well, things changed when NCAA sanctions hit, Carroll fled to the NFL; but let's save that for another day).

The starting quarterbacks during this period were Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, John David Booty and Mark Sanchez.  Palmer, Leinart and Sanchez were all drafted in the first round of their respective drafts; Palmer being drafted 1st overall in 2003.  With Sanchez just having completed his second NFL season, would it be fair to ask whether he's the best quarterback out of USC in the Pete Carroll era?

Sanchez was 14-2 as a starter & 2009 Rose Bowl MVP

Unlike Palmer and Leinart, who both starred in multiple seasons, Sanchez only started one season during which he led USC to a 12-1 finish and a Rose Bowl win over Penn State.  A Thursday night loss to Oregon State in Corvallis, OR, derailed any hopes the Trojans had of playing for a national title that year.

In the days following the 2009 Rose Bowl, Sanchez declared for the NFL draft; a move that wasn't exactly welcomed by Pete Carroll, who publicly criticized Sanchez for the decision.  I think Carroll must have known that without Sanchez, USC was headed for a rebuilding year.  They finished the season 9-4, so Carroll was onto something after all.

Sanchez was drafted 5th overall by the New York Jets, and started all but one game in his rookie season.  He led the Jets to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and their first playoff win (Against the Palmer-led Bengals) since the 2004 season.  The Jets played in their first AFC title game since the 1998 season.  In his second season, he led the Jets back to the AFC title game, only to fall short against Pittsburgh.  All in all, Sanchez has played in (6) and won more playoff games (4) than Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart combined.

Palmer & Leinart were both Heisman Trophy winners at USC

Carson Palmer led Cincinatti to two AFC North division titles in 2005 and 2009, but the Bengals came up empty in the ensuing wildcard games.  In the 2005 playoff game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, he suffered a late hit to his knee, and his absence derailed any momentum the Bengals had picked up, costing them the game.  In his most recent playoff game, the Bengals lost to the Jets, leaving Palmer's playoff record at 0-2.

Leinart, who could gone 1st overall in the 2005 NFL draft, opted to stay in school and almost led USC to their third consecutive national title.  He was drafted 10th overall in 2006 by the Arizona Cardinals and saw plenty of action during his first two seasons.  However, following an injury during his second season, he never regained his starting job; having to make do as Kurt Warner's backup during Arizona's run to the Super Bowl in 2008, as well as the 2009 playoffs.

Palmer might not even be at Cincinatti next season, and who knows if Matt Leinart will ever get another start, let alone make another roster.  Their futures are uncertain, but we do know that Mark Sanchez is only getting better.  Slowly but surely, he is being tasked with more than just "managing the game".  He has led the Jets to wins against tough teams, both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

So having seen the evidence that has been presented, I think it might be safe to say (albeit prematurely) that Mark Sanchez is indeed the best quarterback out of USC during the Pete Carroll era.