End Of An Era

It's a rare occasion that I write about basketball. In fact, it's never happened on this blog. But today is an excpetion, as the last active sports person and icon from my childhood, Coach Bobby Knight, has retired. I'm not sure how I really even became a fan. I didn't follow much college basketball as a kid, and to root for a controversial figure who coached in the middle of Indiana seems odd to me now. But something about him being such a fiery figure at the dawn of the "Sportscenter" Era must have drawn me to root for Coach Knight.

And I never changed my mind about what a great coach he is, even though he seemed to constantly draw negative attention with his outbursts of anger against anyone who rubbed him the wrong way. He threw chairs, he cursed worse than a sailor, he berated some players; worst of all, he once put his hands on a player's neck. Some would say he choked him, though the video was grainy and somewhat inconclusive. After too many incidents, he was run out of Indiana in 2000. He somehow resurrected his career in the depths of unknown Texas Tech.

For all of his personal shortcomings, no one could argue about Knight's abilities as a coach. Over 40 years at Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech, Knight has had a graduation rate over 90% with his players, just an astronical number that is never seen in college basketball. He always put education first and if a player slacked off on his studies, Knight would kick him off the team- no matter how good he was. He won 902 wins as a Division I coach, easily an NCAA record; he also won 3 NCAA championships, which puts him in elite company. Hopefully, when the final story about Bob Knight is written, it will include all of these good things as well.

BK's Best and Worst Super Bowl Ads

Here are the worst ads from last night, in my humble opinion:

5. Garmin GPS- Napoleon using GPS to get through France.
4. Sunsilk- Madonna and Marilyn Monroe in a hair produce ad.
3. Career Builder- Woman's heart leaps out of her chest.
2. (tie) Both Sales Genie ads- Horrible cartoons with 1930's style racist undertones.
1. AMP drink- Redneck sticks jumper cables on his nipples.

And my favorites:

5. Coke- Underdog & Stewie balloons battle while Chasrlie Brown actually wins something.
4. Bud- Dalmation trains Clydesdale to Rocky music.
3. NFL- Story of grocery clerk & oboe player Chester Pitts making the NFL.
2. Bud Light- Will Ferrell as a Flint Tropics basketball player.
1. Diet Pepsi Max- To me, the funniest ad was stars and people alike waking up to Pepsi Max and "What Is Love?" Kattan's appearance at the end is priceless. To see it again, watch below:



Feel free to share your own favorites. A full list of ads is online In USA Today's Money Section.

Conversations with Sports Gods

Sunday, February 3rd, early morning, on another plane of existence. NFL Legend Walter Payton is sent to speak with the Congregation of Sports Gods:

Payton: Sorry to bother y'all, but we have a serious situation developing down in Arizona.
Sports Gods: Why? What's going on?
Payton: Well, the NFL's New England Patriots are about to go undefeated for the season by winning the Super Bowl.
Sports Gods: That should be good for the sport.
Payton: I would normally agree, but there has been proof that they illegally taped games to gain a competitive advantage.
Sports Gods: Well, that is a shame, but these things happen occasionally.
Payton: The problem is that this has been happening too much in sports lately. Between Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, among others, illegally enhancing themselves, and the NBA's Tim Donaghy throwing games, the true sports fan is becoming disillusioned.
Sports Gods: Does anyone even care?
Payton: Not as many as you would hope. But there are those who cannot stomach much more of unattainable records being broken.
Sports Gods: Well, we haven't gotten involved in anything like this since Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson. But you make a compelling argument. Let us right things for this one last game of the NFL season.
Payton: Thanks guys. Anything you can do will be appreciated.

Time For The 275,689th Prediction Of The Week...

The big day is here, and I will not let anything stop my love for this day. Even though I hate both teams. Even though there will be no "winner"(see previous post for explanation). Even though I am much more excited about two events surrounding today (Lost premiere last Thursday and Super Tuesday). So, I have decided after much hand-wringing, that I will not let the Immoral Bowl ruin my favorite "holiday." There will still be great food, great commercials, and hopefully, a decent football game. So here is my unscientific, completely on-the-fence prediction. I am with the thinking, of which I can take no credit, that there could be 2 very different outcomes:

Scenario 1: A complete and devastating Patriots blowout in which She-li Manning throws 8 interceptions and Tom Brady does his best Joe Montana. In this scenario, the Patriots win 54-7.

Scenario 2: The Giants are still the Giants who took on the far-superior Cowboys and Packers and outplayed them both. They are still the Giants who only lost by 3 to these Patriots a few weeks ago and just couldn't close the deal. If they are these Giants, they come up with the biggest upset in 25 years and win 41-38.

Which of these do I believe more likely? Scenario 1, unfortunately, though I hope not. Blowouts make the Super Bowl unwatchable, and seeing this immoral team go 19-0 will be close to Bonds "breaking" the home run record, in my mind. So let's hope for a close game and then- it's only 11 days till pitchers and catchers report!

The Immoral Bowl

One of the biggest quandries of my sports life will happen in 13 days. Who do I root for in what I have dubbed "Immoral Bowl I," more commonly known as "Super Bowl XLII."

In one corner you have the New England Patriots, who are having an "historic" season. They are the first team to go 18-0 and look to become the 2nd NFL team in history to go undefeated. All well and good, except for the fact that in the first week of this season, the Patriots were caught using illegal cameras to tape the opponents' sidelines in order to steal signals and change their defense accordingly. The Pats' defensive players were also accused of using microphones in their uniforms to pick up offensive signals. This incident was considered so severe that the NFL fined the Pats and coach Bill Belichick a combined $750,000 and took away their #1 draft pick. All of this, while still mentioned frequently in the media, is largely dismissed as an apparition, and there's no way they can still be cheating, right? Or the great excuse, "Everyone does it, so it doesn't matter." First of all, are you telling me that the other 31 teams have just been lucky enough not to get caught? And even if every team does do it(HIGHLY unlikely), how does this make it right? Beacuse they're better at it? This is the Barry Bonds apologist excuse, and it doesn't fly with me.

Then you have the Giants, "led" by their "selfless" quarterback Eli Manning. The same Eli Manning that during the 2004 Draft refused to become a San Diego Charger. He didn't like the make-up of the team, he said. Regardless of the fact that when you are a number 1 draft pick, you are going to a bad team, everything Manning that day was low-class. When the Chargers still drafted him, he stood on stage with a pout on his face and even refused to put the Chargers hat on (a draft-day tradition). It would mess his hair, he said. The Chargers, left with no choice, traded him to the Giants(one of three teams he said he would play for). Unbecoming, selfish behavior by Manning, who has turned out be a subpar player until the last 4 weeks or so. And yet he is left off the hook by most media as well. The same people who wanted to run him out of New York in early December now talk about his "pressure under fire." At least he puts his helmet even though it messes his hair up.

So there you have it, folks. Who do you root for? The Cheat-riots or the Littlest Giants? The cheaters or the primadonnas? For those of us that still care about the integrity of sports, the choice is difficult. And for the first time in my life, I may not root for anyone in the Super Bowl.

It's Time For Blue Rock Baseball!

Well, just for me. The rest of you have to wait till April 4th. Here are some pictures from my first day with the team:

Seperated At Birth?

Staci:


Actress Kim Dickens, guest star on "Lost" and many other roles:



Same nose and smile, mostly. But like I've said, my baby could be a model. :)

The Year That Was Going, Going...

"And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."

Here we are at the end of yet another year, a time for remembrance and a chance to look forward to a better year ahead. Financial problems aside, it will be hard to top the year of Ought-7. Let's take a look at some of the highlights:

Jan. 1: I give my notice at EFI with no real idea of what I am going to do. My best leap of faith EVER.

Feb. 13: 13 years after first looking for a job in this field, I finally begin a career in baseball, joining the Potomac Nationals. Despite very low pay and very long hours, I could not have made a better decision. It's a decision I might not have made without Staci's support and urging. No wonder I married her. Speaking of...

Sept. 2: The big day is finally here, as Staci and I get married on a baseball field in front of our loved ones. It's a day that I think everyone will remember as one of the funnest weddings they have ever attended.

Sept. 23: Two emotional goodbyes, as we attend the final baseball game ever at DC's RFK Stadium, and later pack up and move from Virginia to Quakertown, PA. It was most definitely past due getting out of Northern Virginia, but between meeting and marrying my wife there, and starting my baseball career there, there will always be a significant part of my life that took place in NoVa.

Dec. 12: I finally get my second job in baseball with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. A nicer stadium aside, my hope is that I can create the same type of great memories I got with the P-Nats.

On a baseball note, I added 4 more Major League stadiums(the 2 Chicagos, San Diego & Anaheim), plus got to see Dodger Stadium again. Over 100 baseball games attended this year between Minors and Majors- not too shabby.

2007, for all of its faults, was a life-defining year for me, the kind of year that you look back on as a turning point in this wild ride of life (much like 1997 and 1987- must be Lucky Sevens..). So raise a glass- here's to hoping that you had as memorable a year, and wishing that Ought-eight is a healthy and fruitful year for all. Salut!

Christmas 07 in Pictures

The long journey across 100's of miles was much fun. 2 states (or 6 if you drove like me), and 2 broken-down cars later, here are the pics that defined a holiday.

Driving through New Hampshire:



Staci and the folks:



Mindy enjoying her present:



Jeremy and Josh being funny:



Staci & Mary:



The whole Kenney clan:



Abby & I on our Christmas:

Happy Christmas!

Just a quick message to wish all a great holiday today. Major car problems aside, Santa has been very good to all of us already here..I will be posting pics of all of the festivities as sson as we get back to Q-Town. Hope all have a great Christmas with you and yours...