Posts Tagged ‘NCAA Basketball’

I think I’ve made my disdain for the University of Memphis Tigers basketball program pretty well-known. So when I got a text message from my dad last night in the middle of the Lakers-Nuggets game alerting me of the allegations against the Tigers, I must admit I got a kick out of it.

The Tigers’ best season, where they won 38 games and should have won a national championship (thank you Mario Chalmers), now apparently will be null-and-void.

Read the rest of this entry »

I will be the first to acknowledge that both the blogosphere and the internet in general are full of vitriol directed toward various teams.  Any team that has ever enjoyed any success whatsoever has something written about it which drips of the sort of steaming hatred that accompanies sports rivalries great and small.  Most of the time these flaming rants come from fans of teams that are either rivals (or wish they were rivals) of the object of the spewing hatred.

This post is a flaming rant.  It is not, however, aimed at a traditional rival of the Tennessee Volunteers.  Furthermore, while it amounts to little more than a creative rationalization on my part, I feel that I have earned my bitching license on this one since — in addition to being a graduate of the University of Tennessee — I am also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

I despise the Tarheels Tarheads…

From 1998 until 2001, I attended “trade school” at UNC.  For the record, I got a wonderful education at the UNC School of Law, and have nothing but good things to say about the educational aspects of that institution.  There are a few reasons for this.  First, UNC School of Law is an excellent institution with a fine faculty.  Second, as is the case at most professional and graduate schools, most of the students at UNC School of Law did their undergraduate work elsewhere.

See, I said something nice about UNC…

Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, friends and neighbors the NCAA Tournament is upon us.  Thus, we all get ready for the mayhem that accompanies that grand old tradition.  For what seems like forever, that has included watching endless hours of basketball courtesy of CBS Sports.  Now, generally, I am a huge fan of CBS Sports, and I favor their web presence when it comes to sports content on the internet. **

All that said, last year’s NCAA tournament almost drove me mad.  Actually it wasn’t the tournament, but the way that CBS covered the tournament on television.  That led me to fire off at the mouth a bit.  Since it is that time again, I figured it would only be appropriate to take a stroll down memory lane and look back on what I had to say about CBS’s coverage.  I do this for two reasons.

First, this seems relevant as we all get ready to become couch potatoes for a month.  This may be minimized a little bit due to the fact that CBS will be broadcasting all games online free of charge once again, but the fact remains a big flat screen is infinitely better than even the best computer monitor.

Second, I have been so busy that I haven’t yet gotten a chance to finish up my thoughts on the Oklahoma State Cowboys…

Thus, without further adieu, we go back in time to my post entitled simply:

CBS = Complete Bull Sh*t

The following is an excerpt from an archived post on Gate 21 which originally appeared on 31 March 2008.  To continue reading the original post in its entirety, simply click the title above, or the “Continue Reading” link at the foot of this post

I intentionally waited a few days before airing this complaint, mainly because I didn’t want my vitriol to be mistaken as nothing more than “sour grapes” over the BasketVols loss to the Louisville Cardinals.

Trust me, this has nothing to do with Tennessee, Louisville, or any other specific team…

For the past … well, it seems like quite a long time, now … CBS has been the exclusive home of the NCAA Tournament. I vaguely remember ESPN covering first and second-round games during the 1990s, but CBS is all we have had for a while. Either way, CBS has held a stranglehold on the Final Four since Billy Packer conned James Naismith himself into signing over the rights some time during the 1920s — back when Billy Packer was in his 50s.

First of all, I do want to applaud CBS Sportsline — CBS Sports’ internet division — for their ambitious decision to broadcast every tournament game for free on the web. Similarly, the CBS “Game Center” on the internet for each game — displaying myriad stats and information in real time — is amazing. It is as artful as it is impressive. Any fan can get up-to-the-second information on every facet of the game — including points, fouls, assists, shooting trends, whether a player is taking bribes to throw the game, which boosters the cute little cheerleader next to the basket is sleeping with, and so much more — via one of the best interfaces I’ve ever seen for statistical information of that kind.

Despite the minor fact that the bandwidth draw for the “March Madness on Demand” service has been so obscenely high that it has — at times — nearly crashed massive trunk lines on the web, I salute these efforts of CBS’s internet division. For reasons which will become clear in a second, in the future I may choose this as the only way I’ll watch the tournament — even if it is in a 5″ x 5″ low resolution streaming window.

Continue Reading >>

**Disclosure: While lawvol is a voting member of the CBS Sports Football Blog Poll and the CBS Sports BasketBlog Poll, neither this site, its editor, nor publisher receives any payment or other compensation of any type or kind in return for participation. Furthermore, neither Gate 21 nor lawvol received any benefit of any kind for this article, which was neither requested nor solicited by CBS Sports. This article represents the actual opinion of the author (for what that is worth) and was in no way influenced by any other person(s).

Well, given the success of the CBS Sports College Football BlogPoll this past fall, the powers that be have decreed that the fun should continue.  Thus, once again Gate 21 has been given the opportunity to pretend like our opinions matter, this time, however, it’s basketball.  Yes, it is our pleasure to be voting in the CBS Sports College BasketBlog Poll, hosted by — as you might imagine — CBS Sports.

Week 1

Through 08 February 2009

Well, we’re already fairly far along with the season, so there really isn’t a whole lot to say in terms of how the teams in my ballot for this week arrived at their present ranking.  In the future, however, I plan on trying to offer a few comments on why I voted the way that I did.  Furthermore, all of the voting blogs — including Gate 21 — encourage those of you out there who read to tell us where we get it right, and where we get it wrong.  You can do that via the comments box at the bottom.  I promise that I’ll consider any and all rude remarks.

Either way, here’s my ballot for the week:

Rank	Team
1	Connecticut
2	Oklahoma
3	Pittsburgh
4	North Carolina
5	Wake Forest
6	Marquette
7	Duke
8	Louisville
9	Michigan St.
10	Xavier
11	UCLA
12	Clemson
13	Memphis
14	Butler
15	Villanova
16	Gonzaga
17	Missouri
18	Purdue
19	Syracuse
20	Illinois
	Kansas
22	Arizona St.
23	Minnesota
24	Ohio St.
25	Utah

The Rest of the BlogPoll

Having taken the time to consider my feeble attempt at ranking the powers in college football, feel free to try and convince me that I am wrong — which is part of the way the BlogPoll is supposed to work.  I promise that I will consider all comments.

As for the rest of the BlogPoll, well, you can check out how other bloggers voted, how your team fared across the blogosphere, and view the weekly results each week over at CBS Sports (at least that’s how I think it’s supposed to work…)

– So it goes…

After his performance on the court over the past 4 years, I hardly needed anything to make me consider Chris Lofton to be one of the great players to wear the orange and white. The revelations of last week regarding Lofton’s off-the-court struggles, however, only serve to further cement Lofton’s place in Tennessee Volunteers history, and have elevated him to the status of legend.

As you may well know, last week ESPN’s Chris Low reported on Chris Lofton’s battle with his greatest adversary, and all that came along with it. This adversary is not a team, a player, or a coach — it is not the usual opponent for a college basketball player, and in fact has absolutely nothing to do with basketball whatsoever.

The opponent is cancer, and I’m pleased to say that Lofton is undefeated.

It absolutely amazes me that Chris Lofton has spent a year of his life battling cancer and, at the same time, took the court for the BasketVols every night as its most visible leader. While he was wowing Orange Nation with his shooting ability, coolness under fire, and tenacity — away from the court he was dealing with the most intense duel of his life: the fight for his life.

And none of us ever knew anything about it…

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to have the weight of cancer treatment bearing down on you, as you try to go out and play your best at a game which, when compared to a life-or-death struggle, seems so very unimportant. The adversity would have made most people crumble. Had I been in his shoes, I cannot say that I would not have opted to simply “sit this one out” and just try to get by. Lofton, however, didn’t just “get by” during this period, he succeeded, he conquered, he overcame — both on the basketball floor and in his fight against cancer.

I am not going to try and tell the whole story of what Lofton went through, Chris Low does a beautiful job, and I strongly encourage anyone who has not read Low’s story to do so. What I will say is an even more heartfelt thank you than I said to Lofton as he played his last game as a Tennessee Volunteer. The unselfishness he showed this season was always apparent in the way he played the game, but now we all know just how unselfish he truly was. I cannot personally think of a greater sacrifice or more unselfish act by a player at Tennessee. Now, more than ever, I am stuck by the maturity, poise, and integrity that Chris Lofton demonstrates both on the floor and off. I am so very proud that I can say Chris Lofton played for Tennessee.

I also want to give credit to the other members of the basketball squad and the coaching staff for respecting Lofton’s wish that his condition not be publicly released until he was ready to discuss it. In this age of constant media attention — sometimes to a ridiculous degree — it is hard to believe that this story was not plastered all over the internet or elsewhere long before Lofton sat down with Low to tell his story. That is exemplary of the kind of trust usually reserved for family members. That speaks volumes about the character of the leadership within the basketball program.

Furthermore, as Chris Low said while talking to Basilio last week, he learned of Lofton’s condition months before he reported on it last week. I applaud Low for approaching Lofton, asking him about it, and honoring Lofton’s wishes that Low not report the story, unless and until Lofton was ready. That is the mark of a good journalist.

I sincerely hope that Chris Lofton’s bout with cancer is over once and for all. I wish him nothing but the best, and I hope that he gets the chance to excel at the next level — whether that be in the NBA, in business, or in life. Given the kind of person Chris Lofton has shown himself to be, I have a feeling that — no matter what path he follows — he will find success though hard work, integrity and determination.

Bearing all of that in mind, I want to publicly encourage the University of Tennessee to give a little something back to Chris Lofton. In my opinon, it is time for number 5 to go into the rafters, and be retired — for excellence as a basketball player, as a student-athlete, and as a person. I think Chris Lofton has more than earned it.

Thank you, Chris Lofton, for all that you have given to the University of Tennessee, for your example as a rolemodel, and for having the soul of a legend.

You’ve not only thrilled us in basketball, you’ve inspired us as human beings. For that, I am grateful.

– Go Figure …

Image Courtesy of: AP / Rivals.com

Ramar, Duke, What the Hell Were You Thinking?

Less than 24 hours after Les Miles showed Ryan Perrilloux the door for failing a drug test, ESPN is reporting that Bruce Pearl dismissed both Ramar Smith and Duke Crews from the Tennessee Basketball Squad for reportedly failing multiple drug tests.

Coach Pearl said:

They did a lot of positive things in two years, but we have very, very high expectations for student-athletes on and off the court … We just felt like both the University of Tennessee and the student-athletes would be better served to move on.

ESPN also reported that each of the players would be transferring to another school.

While I am terribly disappointed to see the two BasketVols dismissed, I have to give praise to Pearl for his stance on player conduct. Since his first days on campus Pearl has made it clear to his players, the University of Tennessee, and Orange Nation that he is not willing to put up with players that cannot follow the rules. I applaud Pearl’s commitment to the integrity of the university and the program, and his willingness to act both firmly and decisively.

I’m not going to make excuses for Duke Crews or Ramar Smith — they made their decisions. In the process, they forced Pearl to make one as well. While I take no joy from the dismissal of these young men from the program, I must commend Bruce Pearl for continuing to stand firm on his principles, and to send a message that no individual comes before the team, the program, or the institution.

That is what they call leadership…

– Go Figure …

Despite the fact that basketball season has been over for nearly a month now, Geno Auriemma just can’t let it go…

Apparently, Geno simply couldn’t fight the urge to run his mouth one last time. At a press conference wrapping up the 2007-08 season, Geno jumped on the chance to get in a dig on Pat Summitt over the cancellation of the regular season Tennessee vs. Connecticut series and “Tour-gate.” Nevermind the fact that — since the season is over and the UConn Huskies weren’t around as one of the last two teams standing — no one gives two shits about his opinion at this point. Geno, being his usual blowhard self, went straight ahead and got those gums a-flappin’

I don’t have to say anything. Pat knows. She knows why we’re not playing. There’s nothing for me to say. I’m not the one that made the decision not to play. So she should just tell you why instead of saying, ‘Geno knows.’ I do know. I already told you. She accused us of cheating at recruiting. She doesn’t have the courage to say it publicly. So yeah, Geno does know. And I’ve said it.

. . .

There’s a lot of things I know about a lot of people. That doesn’t mean I cancel the series. This is the same person who said if the Duke fans didn’t treat her players right, she was going to cancel that series.

Auriemma went on to add that he would only resume the series under favorable circumstances:

It would have to be eight games here, one in Nashville and one in Memphis; that would be my proposal to them. That’s the only way I would do it.

Sounds to me as if Geno is simply trying to grab a little bit of publicity for his team — perhaps in hopes that the hype will prevent some poor recruit from realizing what an arrogant tool he is. The fact remains, however, that the gap between he and Pat Summit is only getting wider, and each dumb comment on his part only serves to make him look like more of a sour-grapes jackass than he already does.

I mean, really, Geno, who gives a damn right now? What relevance does this have to anything other than stroking your ego?

To her credit, Pat Summitt’s response was as appropriate as it was direct. Summitt simply stated:

It’s absolutely not worth a comment.

I imagine that if she had been responding directly to Geno — face to face — her words might have been more … pointed.

Don Imus, on the other hand chimed right in stating:

Auriemma’s tirade sounded like some whacked-out ghetto crack whore looking for a trick and some smack… **

Shortly thereafter, Imus followed-up this comment by indicating that he would be changing his name, undergoing plastic surgery, and moving to Paraguay. **

One way or the other, Auriemma is already cementing his position as the early front runner for the “2008-09 Women’s College Basketball Massengill Douchebag of the Year Award.”

Way to go Geno, once again you’ve outdone yourself…

In other Basketball news, the folks over at Hugging Harold Reynolds have made a breakthrough in the battle to combat global warming and environmental degradation, which links these problems directly to the NBA.

Who knew?

– Go Figure …

Quotes Courtesy of: GoVolsXtra • Images Courtesy of: SI.com & The Phoenix

**Disclaimer: As if it were not completely obvious, the quote from Don Imus is complete crap and is purely a creation of the unbalanced mind of the author. That quote is a fictional humorous depiction (a/k/a “Fark”), intended as satire, of Don Imus and his prior statements about “Nappy-Headed-Hos,” and does not reflect the views or position of Mr. Imus. Neither this posting, those who created it, nor this blog are in anyway affiliated with the Don Imus. So please don’t have your lawyers send me a bunch of nasty letters…

All other quotes in this article are — to the best of the author’s knowledge — accurate