Deuce (aka Clint Dempsey) - Don't Tread

"US National Team midfielder Clint Dempsey aka Deuce teams with Houston rappers BIG HAWK and XO in this original nikesoccer.com production."

USA! USA! USA!

Sanctioned. Vindicated. Now Win.

Would B. Minor be copping a feel if he had anything but love for Rich Rod?... nahhh

"The University is satisfied that the initial media reports are greatly exaggerated if not flatly incorrect."
-University of Michigan

I wrote a short novel earlier expressing everything from my hatred for Michael Rosenberg and Mark Snyder to a happy belated birthday to Rich Rod and realized no one else would care....so here is my spiel, albeit brief. I am happy it is finally over, yet sad to see there is no accountability in journalism anymore. The Detroit Free Press will never incur the penalty they should for its hit-job, but forcing the University to spend countless $$$ and try and undo some of the external damage is something that I hope comes around one day. Biting the hand that feeds, and in your own back yard, well, I'd advise against that strategy.

The NCAA has to slap us on the wrist, but that's not what this is about. The initial report was not focused on stretching too much or that the water boys are bad at filing papers, because that's just not interesting, that's not what attracts readers. Even Madhoff would be shocked by the lack of integrity displayed as the paper alleged the serious mistreatment of student athletes as well as the department's complete disregard of multiple NCAA rules. It used unnamed sources, manipulated context, and knowingly exaggerated the truth. The paper brought the program under a microscope amidst its roughest stretch in 130 years and with the touch of a child molester fabricated a story, getting their shots in before readers completely tune them out.

The FREEP, ironically enough, is the one who in reality disregarded NCAA rules when they failed to look in the manual and discern what constitutes countable hours! For those who like analogies, the Free Press did the equivalent of tipping off the police about dead bodies in a house, and when the police show up they find the residents are only stealing cable. Even after they are found to have caused a bigger disturbance than what was actually found, the FREEP still pats itself on the book because they can say, "see! I told you something illegal was going down in there." Bushleague, and neither here nor there, but now I am riled up again.

Take a look at what Jonathon Chait has to say as he is much better than I with words. Quote of the day in my book, "Which office do I go to get my reputation back?"

http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1088066

Nike - Write the Future

I know, I know it's "soccer" and a "commercial" but on the eve of this 
summer's World Cup, it's going up. Nike is also claiming this is the Best 
Commercial Ever! wow. Bold. What do you think??

Take It and Run

 

Advantage Chi-City.

Niemi was a beast last night as he stood on his head for 60 minutes. The pace of play was lightening and, while in theory should have favored the Hawks heavily, kind of made me nervous. The Hawks certainly didn't play their best game, but they didn't play terribly either. I thought Hossa had a solid night, huge in forecheck, but still can't send one home. Big Buff has turned into Pat LaFontaine all of a sudden and anything next to his name on the scoresheet that doesn't read with a minus sign or with PIM next to it is cool with me. In the back end Duncan was his usually great self and I thought Nikolas Hjalmarsson had one of his better games of the playoffs. Big ups to Eager, Ladd, and Bolland for throwing the body around a little last night. Not sure why you are afraid to do that in front of your own fans.

Good highlights from the game. For the save of the year skip to 4:45. The save comes at about 4:55 and the holy shit slow mow how did he do that replay at about 5:20. Or you could just be a real fan and watch the whole thing. It's the Conference Finals, step up.

Big Ten Expansion Talk

Unless you live in a cave, or the south, you have heard some of the rumors surrounding Big10 expansion. At this point I label the rumors of a power 16 team conference, becoming college football's version of Big East basketball, as merely gossip. There is obviously discussion regarding what is best for the conference in the midst of SEC imperialism. The Big10 needs a championship game, making the season last longer while creating a bigger stage prior to bowl season. A move to 12 teams, at least, is going to happen at some point so let's take a look at some of the issues we're working with here.

What Does the Big 10 Have to Offer?

The Big10 is the oldest division 1 sports conference with some unique characteristics. All 11 members schools are on the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, along with the University of Chicago, as part of one the nation's top academic consortium's. But we're talking about sports right, big deal you say? Sure....except for that $5.5 billion fund you get to share as part of it. CIC admittance is a requirement in order to be a member school of the Big10, giving universities eager for acceptance a taste of their own medicine.

Academics: The Big10 is top academic conference in division 1 sports, with a US NEWS average of 50.1, nudging out the ACC by a few points. While us Wolverines consider the heathens from Columbus as somewhat primitive, US NEWS considers Ohio State as the #53 ranked school in the country. Even Michigan State, the armpit of Big10 academics, comes in respectively at #71. I've seen what East Lansing produces, it's not pretty. To think that there's worse, I weep for our future.

Money: The Big10 is the fattest of all the conferences and with the most progressive revenue sharing structure. Any team would be luck to leech off the motherland, and some lucky team(s) might get that chance. Not only do you have a remaining 7 years on a 10 year extension with ABC/ESPN, but you get the Big Ten Network. The BTN is owned by Fox and reaches approximately 75 million households. It has cable contracts with hundreds of providers and is available in 95% of the largest media markets.

WHY EXPAND?

Many reasons. Actually just 1, money. Still, it's a bit more complicated than that. Everything from expanding the footprint of the conference (i.e. money) to mitigating SEC propaganda (i.e. money) to giving fans a conference championship game and with a longer season, a better shot of competing in BCS bowl games (i.e. money). As far as the number of teams, rumors have pinned negotiations with anywhere between 1 and 5 more schools.

Targets

Notre Dame: As much as I hate the domers they would be the only team I would want should the Big10 choose to add only 1 team. In a 12 team Big10 it's ND or no one for me. Putting everything aside that makes one hate ND, they are the only true fit. Never mind expanding the footprint, more people watch ND in New York than watch Rutgers. It is obviously an outstanding school, would have no problem meeting the requirements for the CIC, and would generate a great deal of hype. Among the biggest myth's is that ND would be financially downsizing by losing their contract with NBC. This is not true as NBC will not be offering ND the same kind of dough they could once leverage when their contract expires in only a couple years. The revenue sharing system and network contracts in the Big10 dwarf anything ND could achieve on their own.

In case you need to know what ND is all about:

Wow, just, wow. It's so painful but I can't look away. Like roadkill, or albinos.

PITT: In a larger expansion I would be OK with Pitt. They don't expand the footprint, but add a natural rival for Penn State and is also a huge addition for basketball. Academics are not an issue as Pitt comes in at #56. At any rate you would get to see more of a Dave Wannstedt, a clown posing as a football coach.

Rutgers: No way. People who are footprint obsessive will label Rutgers as an obvious choice, gaining a direct entrance to the NYC market. I counter that with logic. First off college football doesn't have any roots in NYC, no power teams play anywhere near the city. Rutgers football, now matter how big it became, would always fall behind; the Yankees, Mets, Jets, Giants, Nets, Rangers, and Islanders in terms of popularity. Aw shucks throw the Knicks in there too for old times sake. Rutgers adds nothing in terms of competition in either football or basketball, and academically they are pushing Michigan State type limits.

MIZZOU: I appreciate the offer, but I respectfully decline. They give the conference an increase in footprint, and recruiting paths into Big12 territory, and are a natural rivalry...BUT. No way. Not consistently competitive in either football or basketball. They would be the only school outside the top 100 in academics and would generate limited hype.

TEXAS: Yea, in your wet dream. Some people were talking about this for a while but it would never happen. They have rivalry games with A&M and Oklahoma and keeping those on top of a Big10 schedule would be disastrous. Location is obviously a huge factor too for Texas, and most likely would keep them from giving the move much consideration. If the stars aligned right, the Big10 would welcome with open arms.

Syracuse: In a multi team expansion I would take it. For basketball if nothing else.

WVU / UConn / Louisville: No, no, and no. Not worth anything other than that.

Iowa State: I renounce my Big10 diploma should that transpire.

We'll see what happens. Big10 honcho Jim Delaney has maintained that talks are ongoing but no decision will be reached for some time. As rumors linger and become more outrageous we will revisit this topic.

Cornelison Dominates a Pork Chop

The mulleted ball of joy the Canucks call their anthem singer, operating under the human alias of Mark Donnelly (seen right), couldn't fondle the jockstrap of the one and only Jim Cornelison. Donnelly kind of looks like Hurley from the atrocity in entertainment known as LOST (que the violins), and with LOST finally ending for good, and Donnelly preparing for his stringent off season workout regiment, maybe the two can get together and watch some tape of the real deal.

Stand on guard for thee and get served Pork Chop. Cornelison belts out your shit better than you.



Skip to 1:35 to forgo the formalities and get straight into the meat.

Get on the Bus

The Hawks are now 5-0 in the postseason with Burish in the line-up.

That's more like it. After 65 minutes of nonsense the Blackhawks officially got back into the series behind a ridiculous night in net from Niemi. Some people were questioning the decision to stay with him, but as history said he would Niemi followed shit with whipped cream. He kept the Hawks from going down 4-0 in the first 1o minutes, then looked confident the rest of the night as he consistently challenged shooters and kept second chance opportunities to a minimum.

As for the guys that skate; Versteeg (even before his goal), Mr. Kane, Seabrook and Duncan all had big games. I thought Hossa showed a sign of a pulse but still looks uncomfortable in the red light district...don't we all.

I don't know what flipped the switch but I'll take another Charlie. After the first 10 minutes the Hawks dominated in nearly every faze of the game, sans the repeated Squirt level offsides. Although I didn't see too much line shifting or change in strategy, Kudos to Quinville for unleashing the defensemen in the 2nd and 3rd period and for inserting Adam Burish into the lineup.

The Hawks hit the road now where they have been good in this postseason. Let's take 2 on the road bring it back home and get it over with.