Wednesday, July 04, 2012
G-d Bless the USA
G-d Bless the U.S.A
by Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.
I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
G-d Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:
I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
G-d Bless the U.S.A.
by Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.
I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
G-d Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:
I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
G-d Bless the U.S.A.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Book Review: Don't Mess with Travis by Bob Smiley
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (May 8, 2012)
I recently read Don't Mess with Travis by author Bob Smiley. The book is an entertaining read for anyone with an interest in politics, no matter where in the political spectrum that they fall.
This is Smiley's debut novel and he has done a fine job creating characters that pay homage to the likes of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George Soros, Glenn Beck, etc. His novel tells the story of Ben Travis, a right-wing member of the Texas State Senate who becomes the Texas governor after both the governor and lieutenant governor die in a tragic car crash.
After Travis takes the oath is where all the fun takes place. Smiley doesn't just lampoon the present state of American politics, he takes it to a whole new level as Gov. Travis calls for the state of Texas to secede from the Union. This puts Travis at odds with President Michael Leary, who can only be described as "a golf-obsessed, progressive egomaniac with spotty leadership skills."
Leary is from Massachusetts so don't be blamed if all of a sudden you hear the voice of Denis Leary in your head!
While it is more likely that conservatives will enjoy this book more than liberals and moderates, that does not mean that liberals and moderates should not read it. Don't hold the fact that Bob Smiley once worked as a research assistant for William Buckley, Jr. against him.
Stop what you are doing and click on the Amazon link right now! Because, in all honesty, DON'T MESS WITH TRAVIS!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Book Review: The Weight of Vengeance
Hardcover: 344 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 11, 2012)
This year, America has been celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Maybe observing is more like it. I don't know. In any event, The Weight of Vengeance by Troy Bickham is a nice way of celebrating the war.
History buffs will appreciate the effort that Bickham, an expert on the war, put into it. It's a well-written book that looks at the behind the scenes of another rejection of Great Britain and the first of many major wars that define American imperialism.
Bickham's account of this "forgotten war" is provocative and places the 1812 war in a global context. With the Napoleonic Wars going on across the Atlantic Ocean, the United States was able to challenge Great Britain. This was in spite of the fact that many Americans were opposed to the war and that they were outmanned, outnumbered, and underfunded. In waging war against Britain, the United States confirmed it's independence and it's right to be recognized by the great powers.
This book truly transforms how people will think of the War of 1812, otherwise known as the second war of independence. It's no longer just the war that is known for Dolly Madison taking down a Washington portrait or making the careers of Andrew Jackson (elected President in 1828 and 1832), Richard Mentor Johnson (elected Vice President in 1836), and William Henry Harrison (elected President in 1840).
If you are a history buff, make sure to get a hold of this one for a greater understanding.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Book Review: Starting and Closing by John Smoltz
Starting and Closing Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (May 8, 2012)
John Smoltz is going into the Hall of Fame with an Atlanta Braves cap. It doesn't matter that his final season consisted of playing horribly with the Boston Red Sox before turning it around with the St. Louis Cardinals. Smoltz was given one more chance to make the postseason. One more chance to get a World Series ring. That didn't happen. Matt Holliday dropped the ball in the outfield and the Los Angeles Dodgers would go on and beat the Cardinals and advance to the 2009 NLCS.
In Starting and Closing, John Smoltz starts out talking about his final season before flashing back to other moments in his life. As Smoltz writes, it's not your typical autobiography that starts out with "I was born in..." Far from it, actually.
Smoltz writes about what it was like to be a member of one of the best pitching rotation cores in history--including Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery. Together, the formed the core of a rotation that would lead the Braves to the top of their division each year. But it was between Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine that it seemed the Braves pitching would rotate the Cy Young Award between 1991-1998.
There are plenty of fun stories about the Braves pitching core, including their golf outings. It was Smoltz's way to relax.
From 1991-2005, the Atlanta Braves would win their division title each year. They would win 5 NL pennants between 1991-1999, only winning 1 World Series in 1995. All John Smoltz wanted to do was win. And win, he did. Sure, he didn't take home more than one World Series ring. And yes, he moved to the Atlanta Braves bullpen if it meant helping his team win.
The numbers speak for themselves but that's not what this book is about. It's about how John Smoltz recovered from another surgery. Also, his love of golf but that's beside the point.
One chapter does focus on how Smoltz became a born-again but aside from that, he never goes all-Tebow on those reading the book.
At it's core, this book focuses on Smoltz wanting to win, never being afraid to fail, and accepting fate with regards to his shoulder. As far as baseball books go, it is a fun read.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Book Review: Fat, Drunk and Stupid by Matty Simmons
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (April 10, 2012)
Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Inside Story Behind the Making of Animal House is written by Matty Simmons from a first hand perspective. Simmons produced the movie and dedicates the book to Doug Kenney, John Belushi, and John Vernon.
The comedy is one of the most quoted and funniest movies of all time. Simmons gives us an uncensored look at what went on behind the scenes.
Simmons reflects on how National Lampoon came into being and the experience in just trying to sale a screenplay to Hollywood. When it did happen though, the script had to be rewritten again and again and again.
Try making a comedy on a budget of $3 million in this era of digital filmmaking and what you would be making is an indie. To do so in 1977 over the course of four weeks in Oregon? What Simmons and crew created was an iconic comedy that made them millionaires. Except for Donald Sutherland as he was only paid a sum of $35,000 for a day and a half of work. Sutherland turned down the points as he thought a film like this would not have made much. He would have made $6 million when all was said and done.
What this book is, in earnest, is a romp through one of the most celebrated comedies of all times.
Without Animal House, there would be no Vacation, no Van Wilder, and really, no John Hughes era in Hollywood. There would not be the raunchy comedy that we love so dearly today. What they did with that movie was take a chance and risk a huge loss. If the movie were released in this era and brought in the numbers that it did, the movie would make $500 million!
So thank you, Matty Simmons, for not only the film but a loving look back at the late 1970s.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Book Review: The Kentucky Derby by James Nicholson
Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (May 5, 2012)
What James C. Nicholson has done with The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event is tremendous. This is a book that took me at least 8 hours to right, give or take a few. It's a rather quick read and the 296 pages closer to 220 pages when you take out the index and the footnotes. As a result, this book is as fast as the track at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby is the most exciting two minutes in sports and the city of Louisville gets the spotlight for the week. It didn't always use to be this way as Nicholson explains.
The first running in 1875 was ran in front of only 10,000 spectators. In 1925, WHAS Radio aired the first national broadcast of the race and it would not be until 1949 when the race would be first aired on TV on WAVE-3. Soon thereafter, the CBS network would air the first leg of the Triple Crown in a national broadcast on television.
The Derby started as a reflection of Old Kentucky and during World War 2, it became the American Institution that we know it as today--only to become larger. People would travel to Louisville to experience "southern hospitality," as Nicholson writes, but without having to travel into the Deep South. It's the best of both worlds, he says.
I've only read a few books about horse racing and this is one of the best. A must read and a must own if you ask me.
Grade A+
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Book Review: Over Time by Frank Deford
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press (May 1, 2012)
Over Time is not just a sportswriter’s memoir but a history
of American Sportswriting. Frank Deford
is a genius for making it work. There's a reason that he is one of the most respected sportswriters of his generation.
I zipped through the first 300 pages over Memorial Day
weekend and I probably would have finished the book, too, had their been a few
more hours in the day!
In Over Time, the
longtime Sports Illustrated writer
reminisces about some of his favorite moments in sports and some of his
favorite sportswriters. Deford takes us
back to the days of when SI was just
becoming what it is today. The relationship between sportswriters and athletes in the 1960s is not what it is today. Can you imagine NBA players today going out with any writer to a bar after the game, where the writer pays for the drinks? It happened in Deford's early days, when the NBA was "bush."
There’s some mentions of Kentucky—mainly
Lexington but just briefly. Deford visited former Kentucky Wildcat Frank
Ramsey at home to interview him about the tricks of the Celtics. This was the only time that Deford made the
cover of the sports magazine.
Deford goes into detail on how he became an editor for a
daily sports newspaper, The National, which failed—of course—but not because of him. Rather, in the age prior to the internet, it
would be because of delivery issues.
Deford’s book is a must-own for sports fans. If you prefer not to own it, try and find it
at your library and read it. You won’t
regret it. It’s a fun read and a rather
fast one. It's storytelling and sports history in one place.
Grade: A
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Book Review: Watergate: A Novel by Thomas Mallon
Publisher: Pantheon (February 21, 2012)
Watergate was one of the darkest moments in modern American
history. What Thomas Mallon does with Watergate: A Novel is making this period
of time captivating to say the least.
Through seven characters, Mallon conveys the drama and comedy of the Nixon Administration. The "third-rate burglarly" has become a "tulmultous, first-rate enteratinment." It's the polar opposite of Dick but it solves mysterious in Mallon's own way.
The prose at hand manages to keep the audience reading but
at the same time, this is one of those books that will either having you
turning pages at light speed or struggling to get by page by page.
Maybe it was the content involved, I’m not sure, but this
was a book that took me several weeks just to finish. Take out the network television season coming
to a finish and maybe, just maybe, I could have zipped through this one in less
than 2 weeks instead of 6 days spread out through the month of May.
This book is not non-fiction nor is it pure fiction. It is historical fiction. It’s not the first time Mallon has undergone
a project such as this but I am very certain that it won’t be the last. I feel somewhat confident in that prediction, actually. Writers write so it would not surprise me, to
say the least, if Mallon is starting his next project now…if he hasn’t already
done so.
Mallon will be appearing at the Louisville Free Public
Library in June to give a lecture about his book along with signing those that
are being purchased. Whether you are
going to attend is your choice.
Grade: B
Two reviews coming soon!
On Thursday or Friday, I'll have reviews up for Watergate: A Novel by Thomas Mallon and Over Time by Frank Deford. Stay tuned!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Louisville Jewish Community Center fails its mission
I submitted the following editorial to the editor of the Community newspaper in plenty of time for publication prior to being mailed out to Jewish families within the Louisville community. Unfortunately, they chose against publishing it. What a shame, though.
As a religious member of the Jewish community, I was very sad to read that the JCC would allow their pool to be open on Yom Tov. Even if it is Memorial Day, the fact of the matter is that it is also the second day of Shavuot. To allow the JCC to open during Yom Tov is saddening.
When I consider financial contributions in the future, I know which organizations do not represent my interests at heart. The JCC has shown that by closing the indoor café, previously open year round, they could care less about those of us who eat kosher food. I would love to eat out at a kosher restaurant but Louisville just does not provide that ability. It’s a shame.
Despite Memorial Day coinciding with the second day of Yom Tov for Shavuot, the Louisville Jewish Community Center decided that it
was better to fulfill the needs of their non-Jewish membership that wanted to go swimming than it
was to fulfill the Jewish values that they were founded on. As such,
Rabbi Litvin had a nice (sarcasm intended) thing to say about the
neighbors across the way during the sermon this morning.
This was something that was talked about not just at Kiddush yesterday but then again today! There was some talk that the JCC would do away with the kosher cafe and allow trayf food to be served. That battle has been won, for now, by the Orthodox community for the time being. Since the Jewish Federation of Louisville has merged with the Jewish Community Center to become the Jewish Community of Louisville, you can understand how the Orthodox community feels when it comes to trayf food being allowed on the JCC premises.
This was something that was talked about not just at Kiddush yesterday but then again today! There was some talk that the JCC would do away with the kosher cafe and allow trayf food to be served. That battle has been won, for now, by the Orthodox community for the time being. Since the Jewish Federation of Louisville has merged with the Jewish Community Center to become the Jewish Community of Louisville, you can understand how the Orthodox community feels when it comes to trayf food being allowed on the JCC premises.
In allowing the building and pool to be open on Shavuot no less, the JCL has failed it's mission statement.
Jewish Community of Louisville (JCL) serves as the collective body to preserve and enrich Jewish life and values in Louisville, Kentucky, and to identify a connection to the State of Israel, by providing the services and resources that meet the educational, recreational, social and cultural needs of the individual and affected organizations.
Can you imagine that? An organization that wants to preserve and enrich Jewish life and values would be open on Yom Tov. Shame on you, JCC. Shame on you.
Monday, May 21, 2012
My Best Article Yet
Over at Wildcat Blue Nation, I wrote a feature story on former Wildcat point guard Rajon Rondo, who now stars for the Boston Celtics. Please feel free to read it and share it with your friends!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
CW unveils 2012-13 TV schedule
The CW has unveiled their 2012-13 TV schedule.
MONDAY
8/7c 90210
9 pm Gossip Girl (THE CARRIE DIARIES takes over in January)
TUESDAY
8 pm Hart of Dixie
9 pm EMILY OWENS, M.D. (formerly known as First Cut)
WEDNESDAY
8 pm ARROW
9 pm Supernatural
THURSDAY
8 pm The Vampire Diaries
9 pm BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
FRIDAY
8 pm America’s Next Top Model
9 pm Nikita
MONDAY
8/7c 90210
9 pm Gossip Girl (THE CARRIE DIARIES takes over in January)
TUESDAY
8 pm Hart of Dixie
9 pm EMILY OWENS, M.D. (formerly known as First Cut)
WEDNESDAY
8 pm ARROW
9 pm Supernatural
THURSDAY
8 pm The Vampire Diaries
9 pm BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
FRIDAY
8 pm America’s Next Top Model
9 pm Nikita
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
CBS unveils 2012-13 Fall TV Schedule
CBS announced their schedule for the fall TV season.
MONDAY
8/7c How I Met Your Mother
8:30 pm PARTNERS
9 pm 2 Broke Girls
9:30 pm Mike & Molly
10 pm Hawaii Five-0
TUESDAY
8 pm NCIS
9 pm NCIS: LA
10 pm VEGAS
WEDNESDAY
8 pm Survivor
9 pm Criminal Minds
10 pm CSI
THURSDAY
8 pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30 pm Two and a Half Men
9 pm Person of Interest
10 pm ELEMENTARY
FRIDAY
8 pm CSI: NY
9 pm MADE IN JERSEY
10 pm Blue Bloods
SATURDAY
8 pm Crimetime Saturday
SUNDAY
7 pm 60 Minutes
8 pm The Amazing Race
9 pm The Good Wife
10 pm The Mentalist
MONDAY
8/7c How I Met Your Mother
8:30 pm PARTNERS
9 pm 2 Broke Girls
9:30 pm Mike & Molly
10 pm Hawaii Five-0
TUESDAY
8 pm NCIS
9 pm NCIS: LA
10 pm VEGAS
WEDNESDAY
8 pm Survivor
9 pm Criminal Minds
10 pm CSI
THURSDAY
8 pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30 pm Two and a Half Men
9 pm Person of Interest
10 pm ELEMENTARY
FRIDAY
8 pm CSI: NY
9 pm MADE IN JERSEY
10 pm Blue Bloods
SATURDAY
8 pm Crimetime Saturday
SUNDAY
7 pm 60 Minutes
8 pm The Amazing Race
9 pm The Good Wife
10 pm The Mentalist
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
When a website thinks something is fact
PAPERMAG got punk'd rather badly. My friend, Liz, did a fake TV show poster for a fake sitcom starring John Mulaney and they picked it up as a fact. Better fact-check next time!
ABC announces 2012-13 TV Schedule
ABC announced their schedule for the 2012-13 TV season.
MONDAY
8/7c Dancing With the Stars/The Bachelor (in January)
10 pm Castle
TUESDAY
8 pm DWTS Results
9 Happy Endings
9:30 pm Don’t Trust the B—– In Apartment 23
10 pm Private Practice
In January
8 pm HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
8:30 THE FAMILY TOOLS
WEDNESDAY
8 pm The Middle
8:30 pm Suburgatory
9 pm Modern Family
9:30 THE NEIGHBORS
10 pm NASHVILLE
THURSDAY
8 pm LAST RESORT
9 pm Grey’s Anatomy
10 pm Scandal
FRIDAY
8 pm Shark Tank
9 pm Primetime: What Would You Do?
10 pm 20/20
In November
8 pm Last Man Standing
8:30 pm MALIBU COUNTRY
9 pm Shark Tank
10 pm Primetime: What Would You Do?
SATURDAY
8 pm Saturday Night College Football
SUNDAY
7 America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 pm Once Upon a Time
9 pm Revenge
10 pm 666 PARK AVENUE
MONDAY
8/7c Dancing With the Stars/The Bachelor (in January)
10 pm Castle
TUESDAY
8 pm DWTS Results
9 Happy Endings
9:30 pm Don’t Trust the B—– In Apartment 23
10 pm Private Practice
In January
8 pm HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
8:30 THE FAMILY TOOLS
WEDNESDAY
8 pm The Middle
8:30 pm Suburgatory
9 pm Modern Family
9:30 THE NEIGHBORS
10 pm NASHVILLE
THURSDAY
8 pm LAST RESORT
9 pm Grey’s Anatomy
10 pm Scandal
FRIDAY
8 pm Shark Tank
9 pm Primetime: What Would You Do?
10 pm 20/20
In November
8 pm Last Man Standing
8:30 pm MALIBU COUNTRY
9 pm Shark Tank
10 pm Primetime: What Would You Do?
SATURDAY
8 pm Saturday Night College Football
SUNDAY
7 America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 pm Once Upon a Time
9 pm Revenge
10 pm 666 PARK AVENUE
Monday, May 14, 2012
Fox unveils 2012-13 Television Schedule
MONDAY
8/7c Bones
9 pm THE MOB DOCTOR
TUESDAY
8 pm Raising Hope
8:30 pm BEN AND KATE
9 pm New Girl
9:30 pm THE MINDY PROJECT
WEDNESDAY
8 The X Factor
THURSDAY
8 pm The X Factor (Results Show)
9 pm Glee
FRIDAY
8 pm Touch
9 pm Fringe
SATURDAY
8 pm Fox Sports Saturday
SUNDAY
7 NFL OT
8 pm The Simpsons
8:30 pm Bob’s Burgers
9 pm Family Guy
9:30 pm American Dad
Midseason: American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, The Cleveland Show, The Following (to air Mondays) and sitcom The Goodwin Games (to air Tuesdays) along with Cops
8/7c Bones
9 pm THE MOB DOCTOR
TUESDAY
8 pm Raising Hope
8:30 pm BEN AND KATE
9 pm New Girl
9:30 pm THE MINDY PROJECT
WEDNESDAY
8 The X Factor
THURSDAY
8 pm The X Factor (Results Show)
9 pm Glee
FRIDAY
8 pm Touch
9 pm Fringe
SATURDAY
8 pm Fox Sports Saturday
SUNDAY
7 NFL OT
8 pm The Simpsons
8:30 pm Bob’s Burgers
9 pm Family Guy
9:30 pm American Dad
Midseason: American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, The Cleveland Show, The Following (to air Mondays) and sitcom The Goodwin Games (to air Tuesdays) along with Cops
Some thoughts on the 2012 Fall Network Schedules
It’s that time of year again. The broadcast networks are all releasing
their fall 2012 television schedules.
With that comes the chance of your new favorite television show being
pulled within weeks of going on the air.
In this age of a thousand cable channels, the broadcast
networks are fighting for their life, especially NBC. It does not matter what CBS puts on the air
because, more often than not, it will stay on all season long because their
viewers have misplaced their remotes a long time ago.
One of the more promising shows of the next season is being
held until the midseason: 1600 Penn, a show that NBC picked up. The series focuses on a First Family but, as
is the case with sitcoms, they all have their own quirks.
The biggest question of all is whether or not viewers will
move with their shows? That’s going to
be a very important question for FOX, especially in light of moving Glee to
Thursday nights to a very competitive time-slot.
We saw what happened when CSI: NY moved from Wednesdays at
10 to Friday nights at 9. They lost
viewers. They are continuing to lose
viewers. After being on the bubble for
two seasons in a row and getting a last minute renewal, I fully expect the
2012-13 season to be the last for the CSI spin-off.
ABC officially announces their schedule on Tuesday. I expect them to move Revenge to Sunday
nights at 10. Even with the juggernaut
called Sunday Night Football, we saw that Once Upon A Time was able to hold its
own so one would think that the Revenge viewers would move with the show.
I do have a bone to pick with NBC. They might think that they are protecting
Community but placing it on Friday nights does hurt the show. Moreover, instead of airing it at 8:30, the
show should kick off the night at 8 PM.
In addition, I expect heavy competition from Fringe during the timeslot.
The CW picked up Arrow, based on the DC comic book Green
Arrow. My gut feeling says that the CW
will keep it on their Friday night genre night, thus more competition.
I don’t understand why viewers have not given up on American
Idol. The series sucks. I don’t even watch it. Instead, why do you not make the decision to
vote with your remote and watch shows that deserve an audience?
One big thing to note is that comedies are back. NBC has given their schedule a combined 5
hours of sitcoms. FOX, on the other
hand, has two nights of two-hour comedy blocks for a total of four hours.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
NBC Fall 2012 Television Schedule
NBC released their fall schedule for the 2012 TV season.
MONDAY
8/7c The Voice
10 pm REVOLUTION
TUESDAY
8 pm The Voice
9 pm GO ON
9:30 pm THE NEW NORMAL
10 pm Parenthood
WEDNESDAY
8 pm ANIMAL PRACTICE
8:30 pm GUYS WITH KIDS
9 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 pm CHICAGO FIRE
THURSDAY
8 pm 30 Rock
8:30 pm Up All Night
9 pm The Office
9:30 pm Parks and Recreation
10 pm Rock Center with Brian Williams
FRIDAY
8 pm Whitney
8:30 pm Community
9 pm Grimm
10-11 pm Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
Encore programming
SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football
SUNDAY (Post-football/Winter 2013)
7 pm Dateline NBC
8 pm Fashion Star
9 pm The Celebrity Apprentice
10 pm DO NO HARM
MONDAY
8/7c The Voice
10 pm REVOLUTION
TUESDAY
8 pm The Voice
9 pm GO ON
9:30 pm THE NEW NORMAL
10 pm Parenthood
WEDNESDAY
8 pm ANIMAL PRACTICE
8:30 pm GUYS WITH KIDS
9 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 pm CHICAGO FIRE
THURSDAY
8 pm 30 Rock
8:30 pm Up All Night
9 pm The Office
9:30 pm Parks and Recreation
10 pm Rock Center with Brian Williams
FRIDAY
8 pm Whitney
8:30 pm Community
9 pm Grimm
10-11 pm Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
Encore programming
SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football
SUNDAY (Post-football/Winter 2013)
7 pm Dateline NBC
8 pm Fashion Star
9 pm The Celebrity Apprentice
10 pm DO NO HARM
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Dick Lugar's Loss: What Does It Mean?
In last night’s Indiana Senate primary election, longtime Indiana Senator Dick Lugar lost his bid for a seventh term in the United States Senate.
At 80 years old, Lugar is the senior Republican in all of the United States Senate. His leadership on foreign policy alone is what the Senate will miss in his absence.
In a written statement following his concession speech last night, Sen. Lugar has some scathing words when it comes to his opponent, Richard Mourdock. I don’t blame him one bit. In fact, I applaud the senator all the more for his scathing critique.
Mourdock is of the tea party wing of the Republican Party, meaning he is so far to the right that he would rather alienate moderate Republicans and lose votes to Democratic opponent Joe Donnelly, a moderate.
This is all a whole lot worse when you factor in what Dana Milibank wrote about last week in The Washington Post. What we have seen from this Congress is an absolute disgrace. An outrage, if you will. Nothing has gotten accomplished, and the things at have? They came after the threat of a government shut-down.
It gets worse when you look at not just the state of the economy but how much tuition is going up for college—and Republicans are not moving from their stance on the increase of the student loan interest rates that go into effect on new loans, starting on July 1, 2012.
Senate Republicans that are in favor of increasing the burden on the next round of college graduates should look at their views on student loan interest rate as political suicide. It should be viewed as an elected official voting to re-instate the draft or voting to screw with Social Security.
At the same time that Lugar was defeated, the citizens of North Carolina decided that it was more important for Kim Kardashian to make a mockery of the sanctity of marriage than it was for same-sex couples to either marry or have a civil union. What the press really doesn’t tell the simple folk is that these sort of amendments hurt straight couples that have a “common law marriage” but not a “civil or religious ceremony” to honor their commitments to each other, til death do they part.
This afternoon, it was announced that President Barack Obama has announced that he is in favor of same-sex marriages. It came only a few days after Vice President Joe Biden made similar remarks. While the Democratic leadership is in the 21st Century, as Sheppard Smith commented, the Republican Party wants the government in and out of the bedroom.
It’s funny, too, because Republicans are in favor of lesser government but at the same time, they want the government in their bedroom. This is one of those things that will never be understood. Religious conservatives don’t even vote on domestic or foreign policy matters. Rather, they vote on social issues. They do so in droves. Interestingly, these social conservatives are by no means a fan of their nominee for president, Mitt Romney. We shall see what happens come November.
At 80 years old, Lugar is the senior Republican in all of the United States Senate. His leadership on foreign policy alone is what the Senate will miss in his absence.
In a written statement following his concession speech last night, Sen. Lugar has some scathing words when it comes to his opponent, Richard Mourdock. I don’t blame him one bit. In fact, I applaud the senator all the more for his scathing critique.
Mourdock is of the tea party wing of the Republican Party, meaning he is so far to the right that he would rather alienate moderate Republicans and lose votes to Democratic opponent Joe Donnelly, a moderate.
This is all a whole lot worse when you factor in what Dana Milibank wrote about last week in The Washington Post. What we have seen from this Congress is an absolute disgrace. An outrage, if you will. Nothing has gotten accomplished, and the things at have? They came after the threat of a government shut-down.
It gets worse when you look at not just the state of the economy but how much tuition is going up for college—and Republicans are not moving from their stance on the increase of the student loan interest rates that go into effect on new loans, starting on July 1, 2012.
Senate Republicans that are in favor of increasing the burden on the next round of college graduates should look at their views on student loan interest rate as political suicide. It should be viewed as an elected official voting to re-instate the draft or voting to screw with Social Security.
At the same time that Lugar was defeated, the citizens of North Carolina decided that it was more important for Kim Kardashian to make a mockery of the sanctity of marriage than it was for same-sex couples to either marry or have a civil union. What the press really doesn’t tell the simple folk is that these sort of amendments hurt straight couples that have a “common law marriage” but not a “civil or religious ceremony” to honor their commitments to each other, til death do they part.
This afternoon, it was announced that President Barack Obama has announced that he is in favor of same-sex marriages. It came only a few days after Vice President Joe Biden made similar remarks. While the Democratic leadership is in the 21st Century, as Sheppard Smith commented, the Republican Party wants the government in and out of the bedroom.
It’s funny, too, because Republicans are in favor of lesser government but at the same time, they want the government in their bedroom. This is one of those things that will never be understood. Religious conservatives don’t even vote on domestic or foreign policy matters. Rather, they vote on social issues. They do so in droves. Interestingly, these social conservatives are by no means a fan of their nominee for president, Mitt Romney. We shall see what happens come November.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Book Review - Mike Wallace: A Life
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (April 13, 2012)
Scheduled to come out later this year, this biography by Peter Rader was pushed up following the death of the newsman.
Mike Wallace had a lengthy career with CBS News. His death came just a few months after that of 60 Minutes colleague, Andy Rooney. His most recent memoir was released in 2007, which I read recently.
Rader's writing in the biography uses a cinematic style. Rader explores how Wallace, a feared reporter, was able to transform his depression into a style of journalism that went on to redefine how television news works.
If you think you knew Mike Wallace, think again.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Between You and Me by Mike Wallace
Publisher: Hyperion (May 2, 2007)
Following the death of 60 Minutes legend Mike Wallace, the first thing I did upon getting back to Louisville--following the first days of Passover being spent in Chicago--was head over to the Louisville Free Public Library to pick up a copy of this book. It was a rather quick read for me but that's also because Wallace's voice was in my head while reading.
Wallace goes in-depth on his battle with depression during the Westmoreland lawsuit and how he felt betrayed by the whole incident with getting the Jeffrey Wigand interview onto the small screen.
There are excerpts upon excerpts of a countless number of interviews that Wallace did throughout his career, starting when it was just a local show in New York. The hardcover version includes a 90 minute DVD--no doubt including clips in the recent 60 Minutes clip show to celebrate Mike Wallace's life in the news.
There's no doubt that Wallace has been missed by many since he went into retirement a few years back. There's not that many people, in news these days, that can do what the iconic newsman was able to do. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. That's what I'll say as you begin to read his book.
Peter Rader just wrote Mike Wallace: A Life, published earlier this month. Brilliant timing on the part of the publisher. It's sitting in my book pile at the moment and I expect to get to it shortly.
Grade: A
Book Review: Elite Eighth by Larry Vaught
Publisher: Triumph Books; Commemorative Edition edition (April 17, 2012)
With an introduction and articles by acclaimed Kentucky sportswriter Larry Vaught, this book is a must-read and must own for Wildcat fans. After recapping the championship and Final Four games, the rest of the season is highlighted--mainly the big games during the season and the postseason.
Vaught includes feature articles on all the players that were published during the regular season.
If you are looking for a keepsake book to celebrate the championship, you can't do any worse than this one. While there are a few typos, those are trivial compared to the rest of the book. I let it slide myself and enjoyed every minute of reading it.
Grade: A
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Some news
I'm now writing for Wildcat Blue Nation as far as the Kentucky Wildcats go. You can view my latest post on the lack of veteran leadership and the fire ESPN has fueled over here.
Please be sure and check it out!
Please be sure and check it out!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
David Williams lies again
David Williams recently said, and it was caught on video, too, by WLKY News in Louisville. Well, he said it while in the state capital of Frankfort. Nevertheless, here are State Senate Dictator David Williams comments:
Was there a negative feeling when he attended that game? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. It’s hard to say if you ask me.
The senator does not have that many fans in this neck of the woods. If he does, they are not really admitting that they like him. Regardless, David Williams is nothing but a bully.
"We get threats, we get verbal assaults when we go out. I absolutely, at this juncture, would not go to Louisville, Ky., to a sporting event or to a concert or anything because of what I've experienced with people."Nevertheless, I have photographic evidence proving otherwise. The senate dictator was at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville when the Kentucky Wildcats took ob the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Was there a negative feeling when he attended that game? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. It’s hard to say if you ask me.
The senator does not have that many fans in this neck of the woods. If he does, they are not really admitting that they like him. Regardless, David Williams is nothing but a bully.
Book Review: The 50 Funniest American Writers according to Andy Borowitz
Editor's Note: This was saved as a draft a few months ago instead of getting posted. Sorry!
Publisher: Library of America (October 13, 2011)
I'm not going to lie. When I first heard about this book, I thought that Andy Borowitz would not only rank his favorite comedic writers in order but that he would have some sort of introduction to any pieces that there might be. Nope. Far from it. The complete opposite, in fact.
Borowitz pens an introduction to the book but does not pen intros to the pieces in the book so as to "let the writing speak for itself."
All of that said, it's a fairly good selection of American comedy writers. Having said that, Borowitz ignores stand-up albums and comedic sketches that have aired on television. Those stand-up comedians, like George Carlin, are included because of books that they wrote.
All of these writers are notable in their own ways. However, if you are like me, it is hard to read some of these writings because of the old English used. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get this one published here on the blog. I started writing and then stopped all of a sudden as if I wanted to give the book a fair shot. In fact, my original grade was a C. Then I reflected on it and decided to give it another chance.
Grade: A-
Publisher: Library of America (October 13, 2011)
I'm not going to lie. When I first heard about this book, I thought that Andy Borowitz would not only rank his favorite comedic writers in order but that he would have some sort of introduction to any pieces that there might be. Nope. Far from it. The complete opposite, in fact.
Borowitz pens an introduction to the book but does not pen intros to the pieces in the book so as to "let the writing speak for itself."
All of that said, it's a fairly good selection of American comedy writers. Having said that, Borowitz ignores stand-up albums and comedic sketches that have aired on television. Those stand-up comedians, like George Carlin, are included because of books that they wrote.
All of these writers are notable in their own ways. However, if you are like me, it is hard to read some of these writings because of the old English used. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get this one published here on the blog. I started writing and then stopped all of a sudden as if I wanted to give the book a fair shot. In fact, my original grade was a C. Then I reflected on it and decided to give it another chance.
Grade: A-
Book Review: Jewish Major Leaguers in the Own Words
Publisher: McFarland (March 5, 2012)
Written by Peter Ephross with Martin Abramowitz, this book is a oral history of 23 former major league baseball players.
When you think of Jewish ballplayers, the first three that people tend to think of are Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, and Shawn Green. At least, that's how it is in my case. There have been well over 100 Jewish baseball players and appendix of the entire list follows at the end.
Sandy Koufax gets mentioned a lot, especially from Larry and Norm Sherry, but that's about it. He was not interviewed for the project as he's become somewhat of a recluse since he retired.
Peter Epross, a longtime editor for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, did a superb job editing down what probably could have been 1000 pages into 227 pages. We get more of a "what's it like" for Jewish ballplayers than anything else.
Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc. sponsored many of the interviews that were provided by president Martin Abramowitz.
While I think that there could possibly have been room for a Shawn Green, I can see why they limited to 23 players. Most of the players were from the pre-70s although there were some that made their debut later like Jesse Levis. He shared a funny story about Shawn Green wishing him and umpire Al Clark a "Happy New Year" on Rosh HaShanah.
That's another thing that's brought up. Taking off for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. One player, who had a Jewish coach, said he had no interest in taking off for Rosh HaShanah but then the coach talked him into it.
We get a sense of how players responded to anti-Semitism both on and off the field. We also see how they developed a rapport with the African-American players who were dealing with the restrictions in the Deep South.
In reading, I could not believe the numbers that played for the Chicago Cubs but also that Jose Bautista, a player who came from the Dominican Republic, is a member of the tribe.
Jesse Levis also shared a story of being invited to Bud Selig's house for Rosh HaShanah dinner.
If you are Jewish and a baseball fan, this is a very good book and I highly recommend it. In fact, I give it the following grade: A+
You can purchase the book directly from McFarland at 1-800-253-2187.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Whole Lotta Reading Going On!
While college basketball and Pesac have certainly kept me busy, I have a pile of books that I have been working on slowly but surely. I hope to get, at the very least, one of these reviews up on Sunday.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
2012 MLB Preseason Predictions
In keeping with a longtime tradition, I'm posting these picks here and Redbirds Fun. Bud Selig, though, has made it even harder with the addition of another Wild Card team, and thus allowing for a one-day play-in game. What's next, a First Four?
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East: Philadelphia Phillies
Central: Cincinnati Reds
West: San Francisco Giants
Wild Card 1: Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card 2: St. Louis Cardinals
Battle of the Wild Cards: St. Louis over Los Angeles
NLDS: Philadelphia over Cincinnati, St. Louis over San Francisco
NLCS: Philadelphia over St. Louis
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East: New York Yankees
Central: Detroit Tigers
West: Los Angeles Angels
Wild Card 1: Tampa Bay Rays
Wild Card 2: Texas Rangers
Battle of the Wild Cards: Tampa Bay over Texas
ALDS: New York over Los Angeles, Detroit over Tampa Bay
ALCS: New York over Detroit
WORLD SERIES
New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1
POSTSEASON AWARDS
National League
ROY: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
MVP: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
American League
ROY: Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays
MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Cy Young: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East: Philadelphia Phillies
Central: Cincinnati Reds
West: San Francisco Giants
Wild Card 1: Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card 2: St. Louis Cardinals
Battle of the Wild Cards: St. Louis over Los Angeles
NLDS: Philadelphia over Cincinnati, St. Louis over San Francisco
NLCS: Philadelphia over St. Louis
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East: New York Yankees
Central: Detroit Tigers
West: Los Angeles Angels
Wild Card 1: Tampa Bay Rays
Wild Card 2: Texas Rangers
Battle of the Wild Cards: Tampa Bay over Texas
ALDS: New York over Los Angeles, Detroit over Tampa Bay
ALCS: New York over Detroit
WORLD SERIES
New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1
POSTSEASON AWARDS
National League
ROY: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
MVP: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
American League
ROY: Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays
MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Cy Young: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels
President Obama's Statement on Monday Night
President Barack Obama issued a statement with regards to the Wildcats winning #8:
Today, President Obama called John Calipari to congratulate him and the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team on their 2012 NCAA championship victory. The President told Coach Calipari that his team played with class and dignity, and that it was a great game to watch. Coach Calipari passed the phone to Anthony Davis, and the President congratulated the Chicago native on earning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award. The President also commended Coach Calipari on his first title win and told him that he looks forward to congratulating the entire team in person and receiving his own Wildcats jersey at the White House.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
PSA: Your couches
If you are going to be the drunk idiot that decides burning couches and flipping cars is kind of fun, please stop now. If you are very inclined to burn your couch, please consider donating it to the tornado victims. They'll appreciate it more than the fire houses that would rather not worry about a drunk idiot burning couches.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wildcats Friday Schedule
The schedule for the Kentucky Wildcats this Friday is as follows:
2:30-2:45 p.m. Student-athlete news conference
2:30-3 p.m. Student-athlete interviews in or outside of locker room
2:45-3 p.m. Coach news conference
3:10-4 p.m. Open practice
Here is what ESPN has on deck for Friday:
2:30-2:45 p.m. Student-athlete news conference
2:30-3 p.m. Student-athlete interviews in or outside of locker room
2:45-3 p.m. Coach news conference
3:10-4 p.m. Open practice
Here is what ESPN has on deck for Friday:
Friday, March 30: Live coverage of team practices and press conferences with analysis and updates
WLKY Special Basketball Coverage
WLKY specials:
Friday 8 PM
Saturday: 3-4 PM and 11 PM-1 AM
Monday: 5-9 PM and after the championship game
Friday 8 PM
Saturday: 3-4 PM and 11 PM-1 AM
Monday: 5-9 PM and after the championship game
Sunday, March 25, 2012
2012 NCAA Final Four
FINAL FOUR
(1) Kentucky vs. (4) Louisville, 6:09 PM
(2) Ohio State vs. (2) Kansas, approx 8:49 PM
(1) Kentucky vs. (4) Louisville, 6:09 PM
(2) Ohio State vs. (2) Kansas, approx 8:49 PM
2012 NCAA Elite 8: Sunday Edition
SOUTH REGION
(1) Kentucky 82, (3) Baylor 70
MIDWEST REGION
(2) Kansas 80, (1) North Carolina 67
(1) Kentucky 82, (3) Baylor 70
MIDWEST REGION
(2) Kansas 80, (1) North Carolina 67
Calipari didn't like 21 Jump Street
John Calipari didn't like 21 Jump Street.
Thursday night, the team went to a film that Calipari described as “awful.” “There were some of the stupidest things in this movie I’ve ever seen,” he said. When pressed, he identified the stinker as “21 Jump Street,” a remake of a former television show about undercover cops fighting crime in high schools that launched Johnny Depp’s career. (Richard Greico’s career didn’t quite get the same boost.) The new version was played for laughs, which explains the casting of Seth Rogen.Somebody needs to tell Robert Weintraub that Seth Rogen was not in the movie.
Calipari sought to clarify that he was considerably older than the movie’s target audience. “I should say it was awful if you’re 53,” as Calipari is at the moment. “If you’re 19, 20, 21, it was a fun movie. But people were laughing. I was the only one not laughing.”
Calipari explained that he wasn’t responsible for the selection. Darius Miller “picks the movies, O.K.,” Calipari said to laughter, while Miller shrunk in his seat — which, given that he is 6-foot-8, isn’t easy to do.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
2012 NCAA Elite 8: Saturday Edition
WEST REGION
(4) Louisville 72, (7) Florida 68
EAST REGION
(2) Ohio State 77, (1) Syracuse 70
(4) Louisville 72, (7) Florida 68
EAST REGION
(2) Ohio State 77, (1) Syracuse 70
Friday, March 23, 2012
2012 NCAA Sweet 16: Friday Edition
SOUTH REGION CBS
(3) Baylor 75, (10) Xavier 70
(1) Kentucky 102, (4) Indiana 90
MIDWEST REGION TBS
(1) North Carolina 73, (13) Ohio 65 (OT)
(2) Kansas 60, (6) N.C. State 57
(3) Baylor 75, (10) Xavier 70
(1) Kentucky 102, (4) Indiana 90
MIDWEST REGION TBS
(1) North Carolina 73, (13) Ohio 65 (OT)
(2) Kansas 60, (6) N.C. State 57
Thursday, March 22, 2012
2012 NCAA Sweet 16: Thursday Edition
EAST REGION CBS
(1) Syracuse 64, (4) Wisconsin 63
(2) Ohio State 81, (6) Cincinnati 66
WEST REGION TBS
(4) Louisville 57, (1) Michigan State 44
(7) Florida 68, (3) Marquette 58
(1) Syracuse 64, (4) Wisconsin 63
(2) Ohio State 81, (6) Cincinnati 66
WEST REGION TBS
(4) Louisville 57, (1) Michigan State 44
(7) Florida 68, (3) Marquette 58
Reports from Catlanta
Chad Ford just published an article on ESPN saying MKG would declare for the NBA Draft after the season ends. The problem with this? MKG has said recently that he would not go anywhere and would be graduating from Kentucky.
The belief in Lexington is that he's going to stay at Kentucky, which is why this report is surprising to many.
MKG responded via twitter. Tweet 1:
Rick Bozich reports that Anthony Davis--surprise, surprise, is undecided on his future.
John Clay has the transcript of the press conference with Kentucky student-athletes and head coach John Calipari.
Cal took ANOTHER DIG at the hack that we call Jerry Tipton!
"He hopes he'll be able to announce right after they win the NCAA championship," one source said. "But even if they don't win it all, he's coming. He knows he's going to be a top-5 pick. He can't pass that up."There's a strong feeling that the media will ask questions to MKG tomorrow with regards to this recent report.
The belief in Lexington is that he's going to stay at Kentucky, which is why this report is surprising to many.
MKG responded via twitter. Tweet 1:
I don't know where this is coming from. This is MY decision. Right now all I'm focused on my Teammates and winning GameTweet 2:
After the season Ill make a decision that's best for me and my family!Meanwhile, Gary Parrish spoke with Coach John Calipari about the Mississippi State opening.
"He's from there," Calipari said when I asked about Payne and Mississippi State in a hallway here at the Georgia Dome just before his Wildcats held an open practice in advance of Friday's Sweeet 16 game against Indiana. "You can't be a head coach unless you're ready to say no -- ready to create discipline in these kids' lives, and he is. He's probably tougher on our kids than I am. And then his recruiting speaks for itself. ... He would be a good choice."[...]Time will tell, of course, as to what happens with Payne's future.
"If someone has an interest in him they're gonna end up calling me at some point or I'll make a call," Calipari said. "He's gonna have opportunities."
Rick Bozich reports that Anthony Davis--surprise, surprise, is undecided on his future.
“I really haven’t decided yet,” Davis said. “I’m just still worried about the season right now. The season’s not over. You can’t really worry about the future right now. So I’m trying to win a national championship for my team, and then when the time comes, whether it be this year or next year or whatever year, that’s when I’m going to have to sit down with my family and my coaches and decide what I’m going to do.”I'm not going to lie. I hope that the core crop opts to return next season, especially if they pull off a championship win this season.
John Clay has the transcript of the press conference with Kentucky student-athletes and head coach John Calipari.
Cal took ANOTHER DIG at the hack that we call Jerry Tipton!
Michael is maybe the youngest freshman in the country by the way. Now, I have a writer in our town that will look that up. He’ll look up every freshman in the country to find out if he is the youngest freshman in the country. I will tell you, I would say right there that he’s one of the youngest in the country.Finally, in music news not related to the Cats, Ram is receiving a re-release.
Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 album will be released across a variety of formats with new and exclusive content including a beautifully packaged Deluxe Edition Box Set - the ultimate collectable.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Coaches name All-Americans
The NABC has named their All-American teams. They are as follows:
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Anthony Davis, Kentucky, 6-10, 220, Freshman, Forward, Chicago, Ill.
Draymond Green, Michigan State, 6-7, 230, Senior, Forward, Saginaw, Mich.
Doug McDermott, Creighton, 6-7, 220, Sophomore, Forward, Ames, Iowa
Thomas Robinson, Kansas, 6-10, 237, Junior, Forward, Washington, D.C.
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, 6-9, 280, Sophomore, Forward, Columbus, Ohio
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, 6-8, 215, Sophomore, Forward, Ames, Iowa
Marcus Denmon, Missouri, 6-3, 185, Senior, Guard, Kansas City, Mo.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, 6-8, 260, Senior, Forward, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, 6-7, 210, Senior, Forward, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, 7-0, 250, Senior, Forward, Washington, Ind.
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM
Isaiah Canaan, Murray State, 6-0, 193, Junior, Guard, Biloxi, Miss.
Jae Crowder, Marquette, 6-6, 235, Senior, Forward, Villa Rica, Ga.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, 6-7, 232, Freshman, Forward, Somerdale, N.J.
Damian Lillard, Weber State, 6-3, 195, Junior, Guard, Oakland Calif.
Austin Rivers, Duke, 6-4, 204, Freshman, Guard, Winter Park, Fla.
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Anthony Davis, Kentucky, 6-10, 220, Freshman, Forward, Chicago, Ill.
Draymond Green, Michigan State, 6-7, 230, Senior, Forward, Saginaw, Mich.
Doug McDermott, Creighton, 6-7, 220, Sophomore, Forward, Ames, Iowa
Thomas Robinson, Kansas, 6-10, 237, Junior, Forward, Washington, D.C.
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, 6-9, 280, Sophomore, Forward, Columbus, Ohio
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, 6-8, 215, Sophomore, Forward, Ames, Iowa
Marcus Denmon, Missouri, 6-3, 185, Senior, Guard, Kansas City, Mo.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, 6-8, 260, Senior, Forward, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, 6-7, 210, Senior, Forward, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, 7-0, 250, Senior, Forward, Washington, Ind.
2012 NABC COACHES’ DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM
Isaiah Canaan, Murray State, 6-0, 193, Junior, Guard, Biloxi, Miss.
Jae Crowder, Marquette, 6-6, 235, Senior, Forward, Villa Rica, Ga.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, 6-7, 232, Freshman, Forward, Somerdale, N.J.
Damian Lillard, Weber State, 6-3, 195, Junior, Guard, Oakland Calif.
Austin Rivers, Duke, 6-4, 204, Freshman, Guard, Winter Park, Fla.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Lehigh kills brackets, makes Big Blue Nation happy
Until Lehigh found a way to defeat Duke University in Friday night’s first round of the NCAA tournament, the last three teams to knock off a 2 seed during the first round all hailed from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Coppin State, Hampton, and Norfolk State. Who would have ever guessed?
Lehigh, though, pulled off what is easily the greatest upset in all of college basketball when it comes to the NCAA Tournament.
Yeah, yeah, I know. You are probably going to remind me that Gardner-Webb, a member of the Big South defeated my Kentucky Wildcats during the 2008-09 season. However, I’ll tell that that game was during the regular season and due to the pathetic coaching of one Billy Gillispie.
Lehigh, a member of the Patriot League, joins Bucknell in pulling of some shocking first round upsets. Bucknell, if you recall, upset Kansas in the first round of the 2005 tournament. Bradley, in 2006, did the same but they are a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Another MVC team did so in 2010 but that was in the second round.
The story here is not just the mere fact that Lehigh pulled off an upset against Duke in the first round. It’s that they pulled it off in the state of North Carolina. Greensboro, no less?
As I have said time and time again, you cannot script March. But seeing Duke go down in the first or second round is something that brings joy to my heart. I’ve been hating that university since March 28, 1992, and nothing will ever change the way I feel about Duke.
Lehigh, though, pulled off what is easily the greatest upset in all of college basketball when it comes to the NCAA Tournament.
Yeah, yeah, I know. You are probably going to remind me that Gardner-Webb, a member of the Big South defeated my Kentucky Wildcats during the 2008-09 season. However, I’ll tell that that game was during the regular season and due to the pathetic coaching of one Billy Gillispie.
Lehigh, a member of the Patriot League, joins Bucknell in pulling of some shocking first round upsets. Bucknell, if you recall, upset Kansas in the first round of the 2005 tournament. Bradley, in 2006, did the same but they are a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Another MVC team did so in 2010 but that was in the second round.
The story here is not just the mere fact that Lehigh pulled off an upset against Duke in the first round. It’s that they pulled it off in the state of North Carolina. Greensboro, no less?
As I have said time and time again, you cannot script March. But seeing Duke go down in the first or second round is something that brings joy to my heart. I’ve been hating that university since March 28, 1992, and nothing will ever change the way I feel about Duke.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Kentucky-Iowa State link roundup
Vaught's Views: Terrence Jones values winning national title now more than any offensive numbers
Vaught's Views: Darius Miller once again comes up big at crunch time for Wildcats
Vaught's Views: Winning, not revenge, on Marquis Teague’s mind as Kentucky gets rematch with Indiana
Brian Bennett, ESPN: Kentucky has all the answers vs. Iowa State
Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports: Top-seeded ‘Cats shoot their way into Sweet 16
Jeff Goodman, CBS Sports: Kentucky PG Teague finding his stride at the exact right time
Michael DeCourcy, Sporting News: NCAA Tournament 2012: Terrence Jones takes a beating, keeps UK ticking
Vaught's Views: Darius Miller once again comes up big at crunch time for Wildcats
Vaught's Views: Winning, not revenge, on Marquis Teague’s mind as Kentucky gets rematch with Indiana
Brian Bennett, ESPN: Kentucky has all the answers vs. Iowa State
Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports: Top-seeded ‘Cats shoot their way into Sweet 16
Jeff Goodman, CBS Sports: Kentucky PG Teague finding his stride at the exact right time
Michael DeCourcy, Sporting News: NCAA Tournament 2012: Terrence Jones takes a beating, keeps UK ticking
2012 NCAA Sweet 16 and Regional Finals
Times set for this weekend on CBS and TBS.
Play-By-Play/Analyst/Reporter
Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson - SOUTH
Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager - MIDWEST
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser - EAST
Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Len Elmore/Marty Snider - WEST
Thursday:
EAST REGION CBS
7:15 PM ET Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
approx 9:45 PM Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
WEST REGION TBS
7:47 PM: Louisville vs. Michigan State
30 minutes after: Florida vs. Marquette
Friday:
SOUTH REGION CBS
7:15 PM Baylor vs. Xavier
approx 9:45 PM: Kentucky vs. Indiana
MIDWEST REGION TBS
7:47 PM North Carolina vs. Ohio
30 minutes after: Kansas vs. N.C. State
Play-By-Play/Analyst/Reporter
Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson - SOUTH
Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager - MIDWEST
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser - EAST
Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Len Elmore/Marty Snider - WEST
Thursday:
EAST REGION CBS
7:15 PM ET Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
approx 9:45 PM Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
WEST REGION TBS
7:47 PM: Louisville vs. Michigan State
30 minutes after: Florida vs. Marquette
Friday:
SOUTH REGION CBS
7:15 PM Baylor vs. Xavier
approx 9:45 PM: Kentucky vs. Indiana
MIDWEST REGION TBS
7:47 PM North Carolina vs. Ohio
30 minutes after: Kansas vs. N.C. State
2012 NCAA Second Round: Sunday Edition
SOUTH REGION
(10) Xavier 70, (15) Lehigh 58 (TruTV)
WEST REGION
(1) Michigan. St 65, (9) Saint Louis 61 (CBS)
(7) Florida 84, (15) Norfolk St. 50 (TNT)
EAST REGION
(6) Cincinnati 62, (3) Florida St. 56 (TBS)
MIDWEST REGION
(1) North Carolina 87, (8) Creighton 73 (CBS)
(13) Ohio 62, (12) South Florida 56 (TBS)
(11) NC State 66, (3) Georgetown 63 (CBS)
(2) Kansas 63, (10) Purdue 60 (TNT)
(10) Xavier 70, (15) Lehigh 58 (TruTV)
WEST REGION
(1) Michigan. St 65, (9) Saint Louis 61 (CBS)
(7) Florida 84, (15) Norfolk St. 50 (TNT)
EAST REGION
(6) Cincinnati 62, (3) Florida St. 56 (TBS)
MIDWEST REGION
(1) North Carolina 87, (8) Creighton 73 (CBS)
(13) Ohio 62, (12) South Florida 56 (TBS)
(11) NC State 66, (3) Georgetown 63 (CBS)
(2) Kansas 63, (10) Purdue 60 (TNT)
Some thoughts...
You know how the media said we would be facing UConn, Indiana, and Duke on the way to a Final Four? Two of three aren't happening.
I'm looking forward to the rematch against Indiana. Just like in 1996, we'll avenge the sole loss of the regular season with a win. It's not exactly the same Indiana team with Verdell Jones III out for the season.
Kentucky put on a show tonight. The game was tied 42 all before Kentucky went on a 34-10 tear. Three pointers were going down like crazy...for Kentucky. However, for Iowa State, that was not the case. The Cyclones finished the evening shooting 13.6% from outside with only 3 out of 22 shots going in from outside the arc.
Kentucky sure loves to play in Louisville though. Saturday night, the Cats hit 50% of their 20 attempts from outside. Doron Lamb hit 5, Darius Miller hit 3, and both Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer had a shot a piece go in for 3.
My hat's off to Marquis Teague. Teague finished the game with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.
Three Kentucky starters finished the night with double digit scoring: Marquis Teague, 24; Darius Miller, 19; Doron Lamb, 16; Anthony Davis, 15.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones will need to play like the All-Americans that they are when it comes to the rematch against Indiana. That will be one of the keys to the game. That and keeping Davis out of foul trouble.
I'm looking forward to the rematch against Indiana. Just like in 1996, we'll avenge the sole loss of the regular season with a win. It's not exactly the same Indiana team with Verdell Jones III out for the season.
Kentucky put on a show tonight. The game was tied 42 all before Kentucky went on a 34-10 tear. Three pointers were going down like crazy...for Kentucky. However, for Iowa State, that was not the case. The Cyclones finished the evening shooting 13.6% from outside with only 3 out of 22 shots going in from outside the arc.
Kentucky sure loves to play in Louisville though. Saturday night, the Cats hit 50% of their 20 attempts from outside. Doron Lamb hit 5, Darius Miller hit 3, and both Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer had a shot a piece go in for 3.
My hat's off to Marquis Teague. Teague finished the game with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.
Three Kentucky starters finished the night with double digit scoring: Marquis Teague, 24; Darius Miller, 19; Doron Lamb, 16; Anthony Davis, 15.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones will need to play like the All-Americans that they are when it comes to the rematch against Indiana. That will be one of the keys to the game. That and keeping Davis out of foul trouble.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
NCAA Second Round: Sunday Tip-Off Times
Columbus:
Georgetown vs. NC State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Michigan St. vs. Saint Louis, approx 2:45 PM (CBS)
Greensboro:
North Carolina vs. Creighton, 5:15 PM (CBS)
Xavier vs. Lehigh, approx 7:45 PM (TruTV)
Omaha:
Florida vs. Norfolk St., 6:10 PM (TNT)
Kansas vs. Purdue, approx 8:40 PM (TNT)
Nashville:
South Florida vs. Ohio, 7:10 PM (TBS)
Florida St. vs. Cincinnati, approx 9:40 PM (TBS)
Georgetown vs. NC State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Michigan St. vs. Saint Louis, approx 2:45 PM (CBS)
Greensboro:
North Carolina vs. Creighton, 5:15 PM (CBS)
Xavier vs. Lehigh, approx 7:45 PM (TruTV)
Omaha:
Florida vs. Norfolk St., 6:10 PM (TNT)
Kansas vs. Purdue, approx 8:40 PM (TNT)
Nashville:
South Florida vs. Ohio, 7:10 PM (TBS)
Florida St. vs. Cincinnati, approx 9:40 PM (TBS)
2012 NCAA Second Round: Saturday Edition
SOUTH REGION
(1) Kentucky 77, Iowa State 61(CBS)
(4) Indiana 63, (12) VCU 61 (TBS)
(3) Baylor vs. (11) Colorado, 8:40 PM (TNT)
WEST REGION
(4) Louisville 59, (5) New Mexico 56 (TBS)
(3) Marquette 62, (6) Murray State 53 (CBS)
EAST REGION
(1) Syracuse 75, (8) Kansas State 59 (CBS)
(4) Wisconsin 60, (5) Vanderbilt 57 (TNT)
(2) Ohio State 73, (7) Gonzaga 66 (CBS)
(1) Kentucky 77, Iowa State 61(CBS)
(4) Indiana 63, (12) VCU 61 (TBS)
(3) Baylor vs. (11) Colorado, 8:40 PM (TNT)
WEST REGION
(4) Louisville 59, (5) New Mexico 56 (TBS)
(3) Marquette 62, (6) Murray State 53 (CBS)
EAST REGION
(1) Syracuse 75, (8) Kansas State 59 (CBS)
(4) Wisconsin 60, (5) Vanderbilt 57 (TNT)
(2) Ohio State 73, (7) Gonzaga 66 (CBS)
Friday, March 16, 2012
2012 NCAA First Round: Friday Edition
SOUTH REGION
(15) Lehigh 75, (2) Duke (CBS)
(10) Xavier 67, (7) Notre Dame 63 (CBS)
WEST REGION
(9) Saint Louis 61, (8) Memphis 54 (TBS)
(1) Michigan State 89, (16) LIU Brooklyn 67 (TBS)
(7) Florida 71, (10) Virginia 45 (TNT)
(15) Norfolk State 86, (2) Missouri 84 (TNT)
EAST REGION
(6) Cincinnati 65, (11) Texas 59 (CBS)
(3) Florida State 66 (14) St. Bonaventure 63 (CBS)
MIDWEST REGION
(8) Creighton 58, (9) Alabama 57 (TBS)
(1) North Carolina 77, (16) Vermont 58 (TBS)
(13) Ohio 65, (4) Michigan 60 (TNT)
(12) South Florida 58, (5) Temple 44 (TNT)
(11) NC State 79, (6) San Diego State 65 (TruTV)
(3) Georgetown 74, (14) Belmont 59 (TruTV)
(10) Purdue 72, (7) Saint Mary's 69 (TruTV)
(2) Kansas 65 (15) Detroit 50 (TruTV)
(15) Lehigh 75, (2) Duke (CBS)
(10) Xavier 67, (7) Notre Dame 63 (CBS)
WEST REGION
(9) Saint Louis 61, (8) Memphis 54 (TBS)
(1) Michigan State 89, (16) LIU Brooklyn 67 (TBS)
(7) Florida 71, (10) Virginia 45 (TNT)
(15) Norfolk State 86, (2) Missouri 84 (TNT)
EAST REGION
(6) Cincinnati 65, (11) Texas 59 (CBS)
(3) Florida State 66 (14) St. Bonaventure 63 (CBS)
MIDWEST REGION
(8) Creighton 58, (9) Alabama 57 (TBS)
(1) North Carolina 77, (16) Vermont 58 (TBS)
(13) Ohio 65, (4) Michigan 60 (TNT)
(12) South Florida 58, (5) Temple 44 (TNT)
(11) NC State 79, (6) San Diego State 65 (TruTV)
(3) Georgetown 74, (14) Belmont 59 (TruTV)
(10) Purdue 72, (7) Saint Mary's 69 (TruTV)
(2) Kansas 65 (15) Detroit 50 (TruTV)
NCAA Second Round: Saturday Tip-Off Times
In Louisville:
(3) Marquette vs. (6) Murray State, 5:15 PM (CBS)
(1) Kentucky vs. Iowa State, approx 8:00 PM (CBS)
In Portland
(4) Indiana vs. (12) VCU, 7:10 PM (TBS)
(4) Louisville vs. (5) New Mexico, approx 9:40 PM (TBS)
In Pittsburgh:
(1) Syracuse vs. (8) Kansas State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
(2) Ohio State vs. (7) Gonzaga, approx 2:45 PM (CBS)
In Albuquerque:
(4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Vanderbilt, 6:10 PM (TNT)
(3) Baylor vs. (11) Colorado, 8:40 PM (TNT)
(3) Marquette vs. (6) Murray State, 5:15 PM (CBS)
(1) Kentucky vs. Iowa State, approx 8:00 PM (CBS)
In Portland
(4) Indiana vs. (12) VCU, 7:10 PM (TBS)
(4) Louisville vs. (5) New Mexico, approx 9:40 PM (TBS)
In Pittsburgh:
(1) Syracuse vs. (8) Kansas State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
(2) Ohio State vs. (7) Gonzaga, approx 2:45 PM (CBS)
In Albuquerque:
(4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Vanderbilt, 6:10 PM (TNT)
(3) Baylor vs. (11) Colorado, 8:40 PM (TNT)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
2012 NCAA First Round: Thursday Edition
SOUTH REGION
(1) Kentucky 81, (16) Western Kentucky 66 (TBS)
(8) Iowa State 77, (9) UConn 64 (TBS)
(12) Virginia Commonwealth 62, (5) Wichita State 59(CBS)
(4) Indiana 79, (13) New Mexico State 66 (CBS)
(3) Baylor 68, (14) South Dakota State 60(TruTV)
(11) Colorado 68, (6) UNLV 64 (TruTV)
WEST REGION
(4) Louisville 69, (13) Davidson 62(TBS)
(5) New Mexico 75, (12) Long Beach State 68 (TBS)
(6) Murray State 58, (11) Colorado State 41 (CBS)
(3) Marquette 88, (14) Brigham Young 68 (CBS)
EAST REGION
(8) Kansas State 70, (9) Southern Miss 64 (TruTV)
(1) Syracuse 72, (16) UNC-Asheville 65 (TruTV)
(4) Wisconsin 73, (13) Montana 49 (TNT)
(5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) Harvard 70 (TNT)
(7) Gonzaga 77, (10) West Virginia 54 (TNT)
(2) Ohio State 78, (15) Loyola (MD) 59 (TNT)
(1) Kentucky 81, (16) Western Kentucky 66 (TBS)
(8) Iowa State 77, (9) UConn 64 (TBS)
(12) Virginia Commonwealth 62, (5) Wichita State 59(CBS)
(4) Indiana 79, (13) New Mexico State 66 (CBS)
(3) Baylor 68, (14) South Dakota State 60(TruTV)
(11) Colorado 68, (6) UNLV 64 (TruTV)
WEST REGION
(4) Louisville 69, (13) Davidson 62(TBS)
(5) New Mexico 75, (12) Long Beach State 68 (TBS)
(6) Murray State 58, (11) Colorado State 41 (CBS)
(3) Marquette 88, (14) Brigham Young 68 (CBS)
EAST REGION
(8) Kansas State 70, (9) Southern Miss 64 (TruTV)
(1) Syracuse 72, (16) UNC-Asheville 65 (TruTV)
(4) Wisconsin 73, (13) Montana 49 (TNT)
(5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) Harvard 70 (TNT)
(7) Gonzaga 77, (10) West Virginia 54 (TNT)
(2) Ohio State 78, (15) Loyola (MD) 59 (TNT)
Thursday link Roundup
Gene Wojciechowski | ESPN.com: It's hard to judge the Kentucky Way
This has become the Kentucky Way. It isn't right or wrong. It's simply a by-product of a system in need of a mulligan.Larry Vaught: Calipari has no interest in NBA, UConn’s Calhoun sees him going into Hall of Fame
“John at present rate, based upon numbers, is going in the Hall of Fame, assuming he stays in college basketball,” Calhoun said. “If you stick with it and you smell it enough, you’ll get it. So I don’t think it’s a case of John winning or not winning a national championship.Jeff Goodman, CBSSports.com: Everyone wants UConn-Kentucky, but Iowa State wants to disappoint
Iowa State can win this game. This is a UConn team that's lost 10 times this year -- including losses to Central Florida, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Tennessee and Providence. That's five teams that weren't even worthy of an NCAA bid.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
2012 NCAA First Four: Wednesday Edition
16 Vermont 71, Lamar 59 (TruTV)
12 South Florida 65, California 54 (TruTV)
12 South Florida 65, California 54 (TruTV)
Cal on Kentucky teams
John Clay has a transcript of this afternoon's presser. Coach John Calipari highlighted the Kentucky teams playing in the NCAA tournament.
Q. Coach, how about all these Kentucky teams in the tournament this year? Three of the four playing right here. Talk about what that means to the state of Kentucky.On the issue of one and dones:
COACH CALIPARI: I think it says a lot about basketball in this state. I mean, you’re talking about two of the teams, really three of the teams won their conference tournament. We did not. You’re talking three of the teams at the end of the year, they’re all on win streaks right now. Obviously, we are not.
But Murray was the story all year, and then at the end of the year, Ray gets Western playing, and out of nowhere they become the story. And then Louisville goes to New York and does what they do. It’s neat stuff for our state.
Q. You discussed the one and done issue repeatedly, but I was curious, if you could put NBA executives, player agents, players’ union and yourself in a room and come up with a policy that worked, how would you like to see it changed?Some more talk about Western Kentucky University:
COACH CALIPARI: How long can I‑‑ can I expound on this a little bit? Am I allowed to?
Here’s what I would say. It starts with you get the NCAA in the room, and you say you give these kids the stipend they deserve. That’s one.
Two, the insurance that they have to pay for themselves, which can be upwards of $15,000 per year, $20,000 per year that they have to pay for themselves. They’re loaned the money, and then they have to repay it when they come out. The NCAA should pay that to encourage them to stay.
The third thing is families, the NBA, and the NCAA should get together and have a loan program for those families‑‑ we’re only talking 30 kids. We’re not talking 500 players. We’re talking 30 kids that would be eligible for that insurance. They should be able to have a loan. To what level, I don’t know.
The last two things are the NBA. And Billy Hunter and I have talked about these. One, if a young man stays more than two years, his contract, his rookie contract should be shorter. And if a young man graduates, his pay scale should be higher when he comes in. Now we encourage these young people. It’s about them. You should stay because of the integrity of our school. Unless you’re Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, you guys leave and go change the world. But you guys, you stay in school because it’s the integrity. It doesn’t make sense to me.
My thing is these kids are chasing their dreams just like tennis players and golfers and geniuses and computer geeks and all the others. They’re chasing their dreams the same way. And what we’ve got to do is come together and say, how do we do right by these young people? How do we make sure?
If the NBA says, no, we don’t want to shorten their contract, well, then, it’s on them. It’s not on Billy Hunter, and it’s not on the NCAA. If the NCAA says, no, we’re not going to pay for this insurance. Those kids should pay for it themselves, disability insurance. Then that’s on the NCAA.
But I think there’s some things we can do, and hopefully people will come together and say these are simple things that would encourage young people to stay in school.
Let me say this. It’s like last year. Brandon Knight. Brandon Knight was a 4.0 student and had 60 college credits after one year. He transferred in 23 honors courses, and he graduated with 60 college credits. That’s two years of work in one year. But he was the seventh pick of the draft. How could you tell him to stay?
And Detroit, the Pistons, they love him. They want him to be what their whole organization is about. So it’s not academic, and it isn’t. It’s what is right for these young people.
Anybody want to talk about this tournament we’re about to play?
Q. Back to Western for a bit. What does it tell you about a team that continues to come back from double digit deficits and also a team that’s almost playing with house money because they could just as easily be sitting at home. How dangerous are they?
COACH CALIPARI: That’s what makes them dangerous. I told my team today, if you think they’re going to stop playing with 4:39 down 16, you’re out of your mind. I just watched it. They’re not stopping.
Literally, the other games I watched, they had people‑‑ or the people had them beat. It was over. And all of a sudden, you have to go back. How did they do this? They made plays.
They just play a vicious game. Ray should be proud of them. Their community should be proud of them.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Western Kentucky beats MVSU
Western Kentucky came down from 16 behind to win the game against Mississippi Valley State University with a final score of 59-58. MVSU is coached by UK alumnus Sean Woods.
Halfway through the second half, I nearly updated my facebook status to say that Sean Woods would receive a standing ovation at the YUM Center on Thursday being a former Wildcat at all.
But games like these? It's why we watch March Madness. The thrill and excitement.
As far as comebacks go, it does not quite touch the Mardis Gras Miracle in Baton Rouge in 1994, when UK was down 68–37 with less than sixteen minutes left to go in the game. Of course, Kentucky would go onto outscore LSU 62–27, and win 99–95 what is easily one of the greatest comebacks in college basketball history.
Halfway through the second half, I nearly updated my facebook status to say that Sean Woods would receive a standing ovation at the YUM Center on Thursday being a former Wildcat at all.
But games like these? It's why we watch March Madness. The thrill and excitement.
As far as comebacks go, it does not quite touch the Mardis Gras Miracle in Baton Rouge in 1994, when UK was down 68–37 with less than sixteen minutes left to go in the game. Of course, Kentucky would go onto outscore LSU 62–27, and win 99–95 what is easily one of the greatest comebacks in college basketball history.
2012 NCAA First Four: Tuesday Edition
Games played at UD Arena in Dayton and airing only on TruTV
16 Western Kentucky 59, Mississippi Valley State 58
14 BYU 78, Iona 72
16 Western Kentucky 59, Mississippi Valley State 58
14 BYU 78, Iona 72
Pierre Garcon leaves Colts
Pierre Garcon has decided to sign with Washington, thus another fan favorite has left Indianapolis.
He posted on Facebook:
He posted on Facebook:
I wanted you all to hear it from me 1st before u saw it on the news... I will be signing with the Washington Redskins and I'm very excited about the opportunity in front of me.
I want to thank all Colts fans from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support you've shown me the past 4 years and I hope that at some level u will still follow my career, as I will continue to share my life with you on here...
Fab Melo ineligible for NCAA tournament
Fab Melo, the Syracuse center, has been named as ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. This comes as a big blow to Syracuse's chances for any kind of a deep run. ESPN notes the following:
The three games that Fab Melo missed?
Notre Dame 67, Syracuse 58 AT NOTRE DAME
Syracuse 60, Cincinnati 53 AT CINCINNATI
Syracuse 63, West Virginia 61 AT SYRACUSE
Even though Syracuse went 2-1 without him, the two wins were barely even wins at all. They almost LOST to West Virginia at home although the officials missed a goaltending call.
However, a source told ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil: "This is an academic issue related to the first suspension. He was initially cleared after the first suspension but the NCAA has since revisited the case and deemed him ineligible again."[...]If you were wondering as to how much of an impact it is for the Syracuse squad, they went 2-1 in his absence, losing only to Notre Dame.
Melo, a 7-footer, was the Big East defensive player of the year and made coach Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense a formidable one. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and registered 88 blocks for the Orange, who spent a good portion of the season ranked No. 1 despite multiple off-court distractions.
The three games that Fab Melo missed?
Notre Dame 67, Syracuse 58 AT NOTRE DAME
Syracuse 60, Cincinnati 53 AT CINCINNATI
Syracuse 63, West Virginia 61 AT SYRACUSE
Even though Syracuse went 2-1 without him, the two wins were barely even wins at all. They almost LOST to West Virginia at home although the officials missed a goaltending call.
CBS Sports names POY, other awards
CBS Sports has named Anthony Davis as the Player of the Year. This comes as no surprise.
Here are the CBS awards related to Kentucky.
CBS also named their conference awards.
For the Southeastern Conference:
Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
Coach of the Year: John Calipari (Kentucky)
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
The SEC first team included Davis and MKG. Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones were named to the second team.
Here are the CBS awards related to Kentucky.
National Player of the YearDavis was named as the center for the First Team All-American. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was named as a forward on the Second Team. Both MKG and Davis were named as forward and center on the Freshman All-American team.
Winner: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Reason: Kansas junior Thomas Robinson led for this honor for most of the season, and deservedly so. He's terrific. But Davis is just better. The Kentucky big is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks per game. He affects the game tremendously on both ends of the court, and he's the best player on the nation's best team. Does he carry the Wildcats like Robinson carries the Jayhawks? No. But that's because John Calipari surrounded him with other pros, and we're not gonna hold that against Davis.
National Freshman of the Year
Winner: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Reason: If he's our National Player of the Year, then guess what? He's also our National Freshman of the Year. Any other choice wouldn't make sense.
CBS also named their conference awards.
For the Southeastern Conference:
Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
Coach of the Year: John Calipari (Kentucky)
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
The SEC first team included Davis and MKG. Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones were named to the second team.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Louisville loves Basketball
Via an ESPN Twitter account:
It's this time of year that networks like ABC and NBC are COMPLETE IDIOTS for airing NEW PROGRAMMING opposite the NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. I'm sorry but I'm watching basketball over my sitcoms. I love my sitcoms but watching basketball tape-delayed just isn't the same.
These 5 cities loved last night's ESPN Bracketology most: L'ville (6.3), Greensboro (4.9), KC (4.2), Memphis (3.8), Cincy (3.6).This tells you that the city of Louisville, which DOES include many Kentucky Wildcat fans, enjoys college basketball. I was watching it over the newest episode of Once Upon A Time, which I recorded and watched later on in the evening.
It's this time of year that networks like ABC and NBC are COMPLETE IDIOTS for airing NEW PROGRAMMING opposite the NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. I'm sorry but I'm watching basketball over my sitcoms. I love my sitcoms but watching basketball tape-delayed just isn't the same.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Some NCAA/SEC Tournament thoughts...
Personally, for the sake of not having to take two cars, I'm hoping for a primetime matchup in the evening, probably on CBS. I don't know which commentators we will be getting but based on Nantz/Kellogg in Dayton on Tuesday, they will be doing a Thursday/Saturday location, which includes Louisville.
Am I angry that UK lost to Vandy this afternoon? Not as much. We probably did need a loss. They were getting too arrogrant after running the conference. Plus, the omens line up with history. We won it all in 1951 AFTER losing to Vandy in the SEC Championship game. In 1996, after running through the conference with only one non-conference loss, we lost to Mississippi State in the conference championship game. Interestingly, both Vandy and Miss. State recieved 5 seeds. But Vandy would have to play Syracuse for a slot to the Elite 8 as opposed to the championship game. It's funny though that Miss. State knocked off a Big East team to go to the Elite 8.
Another 1996 omen is that a ACC team has the 2 seed. This happened again this year, with Duke receiving the 2 seed. There's storylines all over the South region. A rematch of last year's Final Four. A possible rematch against Indiana. A rematch against Duke, marking the 20th anniversary of THE SHOT.
Now, Kentucky has a lot of positive history in Catlanta so that's a great location although you should know right now that Cal's 1996 UMass team was placed in the same region that played in Atlanta and they ended up losing in the final four. Is that a bad omen? I don't know. Honestly. It's March. Anything can happen!
Cal's on ESPN Bracketology and is making jokes about playing in Dayton. He hasn't really seen the bracket though. The winning streak is done now. We aren't invincible. Games could be dog fights but we're in the month of March. It's a one-and-done tournament now.
Am I angry that UK lost to Vandy this afternoon? Not as much. We probably did need a loss. They were getting too arrogrant after running the conference. Plus, the omens line up with history. We won it all in 1951 AFTER losing to Vandy in the SEC Championship game. In 1996, after running through the conference with only one non-conference loss, we lost to Mississippi State in the conference championship game. Interestingly, both Vandy and Miss. State recieved 5 seeds. But Vandy would have to play Syracuse for a slot to the Elite 8 as opposed to the championship game. It's funny though that Miss. State knocked off a Big East team to go to the Elite 8.
Another 1996 omen is that a ACC team has the 2 seed. This happened again this year, with Duke receiving the 2 seed. There's storylines all over the South region. A rematch of last year's Final Four. A possible rematch against Indiana. A rematch against Duke, marking the 20th anniversary of THE SHOT.
Now, Kentucky has a lot of positive history in Catlanta so that's a great location although you should know right now that Cal's 1996 UMass team was placed in the same region that played in Atlanta and they ended up losing in the final four. Is that a bad omen? I don't know. Honestly. It's March. Anything can happen!
Cal's on ESPN Bracketology and is making jokes about playing in Dayton. He hasn't really seen the bracket though. The winning streak is done now. We aren't invincible. Games could be dog fights but we're in the month of March. It's a one-and-done tournament now.
2012 NCAA Tournament Pairings
NCAA Tournament times have now been announced along with broadcast teams and locations.
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday, March 13
At University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
16 Mississippi Valley State vs. Western Kentucky, 6:40 PM (TruTV)
14 BYU vs. Iona, 9 PM (TruTV), 30 minutes after
Wednesday, March 14
16 Lamar vs. Vermont, 6:40 PM (TruTV)
12 California vs. South Florida, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
SOUTH REGION
Thursday, March 15
At YUM! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
1 Kentucky vs. 16 Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky, 6:50 PM (TBS)
8 Iowa State vs. 9 UConn, 30 minutes after (TBS)
At Rose Garden, Portland Oregon
4 Indiana vs. 13 New Mexico State, 30 minutes after (CBS)
5 Wichita State vs. 12 Virginia Commonwealth, 7:15 PM (CBS)
At The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
3 Baylor vs. 14 South Dakota State, 7:27 PM (TruTV)
6 UNLV vs. 11 Colorado, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
Friday, March 16
At Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
2 Duke vs. 15 Lehigh, 7:15 PM (CBS)
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Xavier, 30 minutes after (CBS)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 23 and 25, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
WEST REGION
Friday, March 16
At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
1 Michigan State vs. 16 LIU Brooklyn, 30 minutes after (TBS)
8 Memphis vs. 9 Saint Louis, 6:50 PM (TBS)
Thursday, March 15
At Rose Garden, Portland Oregon
4 Louisville vs. 13 Davidson, 1:40 PM (TBS)
5 New Mexico vs. 12 Long Beach State, 30 minutes after (TBS)
At YUM! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
3 Marquette vs. 14 BYU/Iona winner, 30 minutes after (CBS)
6 Murray State vs. 11 Colorado State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Friday, March 16
At CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
2 Missouri vs. 15 Norfolk State, 30 minutes after (TNT)
7 Florida vs. 10 Virginia, 2:10 PM (TNT)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 22 and 24, US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
EAST REGION
Thursday, March 15
At Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1 Syracuse vs. 16 UNC-Asheville, 30 minutes after
8 Kansas State vs. 9 Southern Miss, 12:40 PM (TruTV)
At The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Montana, 2:10 PM (TNT)
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Harvard, 30 minutes after (TNT)
Friday, March 16
At Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
3 Florida State vs. 14 St. Bonaventure, 30 minutes after (CBS)
6 Cincinnati vs. 11 Texas, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Thursday, March 15
At Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Loyola (MD), 30 minutes after (TNT)
7 Gonzaga vs. 10 West Virginia, 7:20 PM (TNT)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 22 and 24, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
MIDWEST REGION
Friday, March 16
At Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
1 North Carolina vs. 16 Lamar/Vermont winner, 30 minutes after (TBS)
8 Creighton vs. 9 Alabama, 1:40 PM (TBS)
At Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
5 Temple vs. 12 California/USF winner, 30 minutes after (TNT)
4 Michigan vs. 13 Ohio, 7:20 PM (TNT)
At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
6 San Diego State vs. 11 NC State, 12:40 PM (TruTV)
3 Georgetown vs. 14 Belmont, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
At CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. 10 Purdue, 7:27 PM (TruTV)
No. 2 Kansas vs. 15 Detroit, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 23 and 25, Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
At Mercedes-Benz (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
March 31, 6 PM and 8:30 PM
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
April 2, 9 PM
Play-By-Play / Analyst/Reporter
*Regional Announcer Teams
Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson* - Greensboro
Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager* - Omaha
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser* - Louisville
Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore /Reggie Miller/Marty Snider* - Pittsburgh
Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson - Nashville
Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth - Portland
Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston - Columbus
Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel/Jamie Maggio - Albuquerque
Sideline Reporters: Tracy Wolfson, Craig Sager, Lesley Visser, Marty Snider, Lewis Johnson, Jaime Maggio and Otis Livingston
First Four Broadcast Team:
Tuesday: Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Steve Kerr/Tracy Wolfson
Wednesday: Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel//Lewis Johnson
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday, March 13
At University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
16 Mississippi Valley State vs. Western Kentucky, 6:40 PM (TruTV)
14 BYU vs. Iona, 9 PM (TruTV), 30 minutes after
Wednesday, March 14
16 Lamar vs. Vermont, 6:40 PM (TruTV)
12 California vs. South Florida, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
SOUTH REGION
Thursday, March 15
At YUM! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
1 Kentucky vs. 16 Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky, 6:50 PM (TBS)
8 Iowa State vs. 9 UConn, 30 minutes after (TBS)
At Rose Garden, Portland Oregon
4 Indiana vs. 13 New Mexico State, 30 minutes after (CBS)
5 Wichita State vs. 12 Virginia Commonwealth, 7:15 PM (CBS)
At The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
3 Baylor vs. 14 South Dakota State, 7:27 PM (TruTV)
6 UNLV vs. 11 Colorado, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
Friday, March 16
At Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
2 Duke vs. 15 Lehigh, 7:15 PM (CBS)
7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Xavier, 30 minutes after (CBS)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 23 and 25, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
WEST REGION
Friday, March 16
At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
1 Michigan State vs. 16 LIU Brooklyn, 30 minutes after (TBS)
8 Memphis vs. 9 Saint Louis, 6:50 PM (TBS)
Thursday, March 15
At Rose Garden, Portland Oregon
4 Louisville vs. 13 Davidson, 1:40 PM (TBS)
5 New Mexico vs. 12 Long Beach State, 30 minutes after (TBS)
At YUM! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
3 Marquette vs. 14 BYU/Iona winner, 30 minutes after (CBS)
6 Murray State vs. 11 Colorado State, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Friday, March 16
At CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
2 Missouri vs. 15 Norfolk State, 30 minutes after (TNT)
7 Florida vs. 10 Virginia, 2:10 PM (TNT)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 22 and 24, US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
EAST REGION
Thursday, March 15
At Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1 Syracuse vs. 16 UNC-Asheville, 30 minutes after
8 Kansas State vs. 9 Southern Miss, 12:40 PM (TruTV)
At The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Montana, 2:10 PM (TNT)
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Harvard, 30 minutes after (TNT)
Friday, March 16
At Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
3 Florida State vs. 14 St. Bonaventure, 30 minutes after (CBS)
6 Cincinnati vs. 11 Texas, 12:15 PM (CBS)
Thursday, March 15
At Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2 Ohio State vs. 15 Loyola (MD), 30 minutes after (TNT)
7 Gonzaga vs. 10 West Virginia, 7:20 PM (TNT)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 22 and 24, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
MIDWEST REGION
Friday, March 16
At Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
1 North Carolina vs. 16 Lamar/Vermont winner, 30 minutes after (TBS)
8 Creighton vs. 9 Alabama, 1:40 PM (TBS)
At Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
5 Temple vs. 12 California/USF winner, 30 minutes after (TNT)
4 Michigan vs. 13 Ohio, 7:20 PM (TNT)
At Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
6 San Diego State vs. 11 NC State, 12:40 PM (TruTV)
3 Georgetown vs. 14 Belmont, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
At CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. 10 Purdue, 7:27 PM (TruTV)
No. 2 Kansas vs. 15 Detroit, 30 minutes after (TruTV)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
March 23 and 25, Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
At Mercedes-Benz (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
March 31, 6 PM and 8:30 PM
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
April 2, 9 PM
Play-By-Play / Analyst/Reporter
*Regional Announcer Teams
Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Tracy Wolfson* - Greensboro
Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craig Sager* - Omaha
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Lesley Visser* - Louisville
Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore /Reggie Miller/Marty Snider* - Pittsburgh
Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson - Nashville
Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner/Jenn Hildreth - Portland
Tim Brando/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston - Columbus
Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel/Jamie Maggio - Albuquerque
Sideline Reporters: Tracy Wolfson, Craig Sager, Lesley Visser, Marty Snider, Lewis Johnson, Jaime Maggio and Otis Livingston
First Four Broadcast Team:
Tuesday: Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg/Steve Kerr/Tracy Wolfson
Wednesday: Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel//Lewis Johnson
CBS scores Obama interview
CBS Sports will have an interview with President Obama during Tuesday's First Four game.
CBS Sports and Turner Sports combine for a live exclusive joint interview of United States President Barack Obama and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron on truTV, Tuesday, March 13 (6:30 PM, ET) during halftime of the first game from the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship FIRST FOUR in Dayton, Ohio.
CBS Sports’ Clark Kellogg will conduct the interview in what will be the first and only joint interview of the two Heads of State during this visit. This will be Kellogg’s third time interviewing President Obama as the President joined him in broadcasting the Duke-Georgetown game in January 2010 and played one-on-one at the White House in an interview later that year in April during the NCAA Tournament.
Kellogg will join CBS Sports lead play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and Turner Sports’ Steve Kerr to call the first two games of the NCAA FIRST FOUR on truTV from the University of Dayton Arena.
2012 NCAA Tournament: Automatic Bids
It's that time of year again. Conference tournaments are underway and here are teams that have received an automatic bid ti the big dance.
UPDATED: March 11, 2012
America East: Vermont
Atlantic 10: St. Bonaventure
ACC: Florida State
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Missouri
Big East: Louisville
Big Sky: Montana
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: Michigan State
Big West: Long Beach State
Colonial: VCU
C-USA: Memphis
Horizon: Detroit
Ivy League: Harvard
MAAC: Loyola (MD)
MAC: Ohio
MEAC: Norfolk State
Missouri Valley: Creighton
Mountain West: New Mexico
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Murray State
Pac-12: Colorado
Patriot: Lehigh
SEC: Vanderbilt
Southern: Davidson:
Southland: Lmaar
SWAC: Mississippi Valley State
Summit: South Dakota State
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky
West Coast: Saint Mary's
WAC: New Mexico State
Brackets will be announced on CBS at 6 Eastern.
UPDATED: March 11, 2012
America East: Vermont
Atlantic 10: St. Bonaventure
ACC: Florida State
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Missouri
Big East: Louisville
Big Sky: Montana
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: Michigan State
Big West: Long Beach State
Colonial: VCU
C-USA: Memphis
Horizon: Detroit
Ivy League: Harvard
MAAC: Loyola (MD)
MAC: Ohio
MEAC: Norfolk State
Missouri Valley: Creighton
Mountain West: New Mexico
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Murray State
Pac-12: Colorado
Patriot: Lehigh
SEC: Vanderbilt
Southern: Davidson:
Southland: Lmaar
SWAC: Mississippi Valley State
Summit: South Dakota State
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky
West Coast: Saint Mary's
WAC: New Mexico State
Brackets will be announced on CBS at 6 Eastern.
Omens for a Championship
1951: Vanderbilt wins the SEC tournament, Kentucky wins the NCAA Championship
1996: UK loses to UMass during the season and Mississippi State in the conference championship game.
1996: UK loses to UMass during the season and Mississippi State in the conference championship game.
2012 SEC Tournament
First Round
(8) LSU 70, (9) Arkansas 54
(5) Alabama 63, (12) South Carolina 57
(7) Ole Miss 68, (10) Auburn 57
(11) Georgia 71, (6) Mississippi State 61
Quarterfinals
(1) Kentucky 60, (8) LSU 51
(4) Florida 66, (5) Alabama 63
(7) Ole Miss 77, (2) Tennessee 72 (OT)
(3) Vanderbilt vs. (11) Georgia, 10 PM
Semifinals
(1) Kentucky 74, (4) Florida 71
(3) Vanderbilt 65, (7) Ole Miss 53
Championship
(3) Vanderbilt 71, (1) Kentucky 64
Like last two years, the first two rounds were on the SEC Network while the final two rounds were nationally aired on ABC.
Commentators:
Daycap: Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes, Shannon Spake
Nightcap: Dave Neal, Kara Lawson
(8) LSU 70, (9) Arkansas 54
(5) Alabama 63, (12) South Carolina 57
(7) Ole Miss 68, (10) Auburn 57
(11) Georgia 71, (6) Mississippi State 61
Quarterfinals
(1) Kentucky 60, (8) LSU 51
(4) Florida 66, (5) Alabama 63
(7) Ole Miss 77, (2) Tennessee 72 (OT)
(3) Vanderbilt vs. (11) Georgia, 10 PM
Semifinals
(1) Kentucky 74, (4) Florida 71
(3) Vanderbilt 65, (7) Ole Miss 53
Championship
(3) Vanderbilt 71, (1) Kentucky 64
Like last two years, the first two rounds were on the SEC Network while the final two rounds were nationally aired on ABC.
Commentators:
Daycap: Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes, Shannon Spake
Nightcap: Dave Neal, Kara Lawson
When Grant Expelled the Jews by Jonathan Sarna
Publisher: Schocken (March 13, 2012)
Over the course of the last week, I spent time reading the recently published When Grant Expelled the Jews by Jonathan Sarna. The book deals with General Order No. 11, issued by General Ulysses S. Grant on December 17, 1862. This order, along with Grant's reputation of being a drunk, is one of the reasons why I, initially, had mixed views of Grant.
President Lincoln revoked the order as soon as he heard about it.
However, Sarna did a great job with this book. I no longer have that negative view of Grant, in spite of his leading the Union Army to victory during the Civil War. It's better than that now. Grant was a CHAMPION of human rights. He went as far as intervening in places like Russia and Romania after hearing how they treated Jewish people. He appointed more Jews to government positions than ANY OTHER PRESIDENT prior to his 1868 inauguration. For American Jews to be appointed to so many positions, it was groundbreaking. He was the first of any sitting or former president to visit Israel.
Grant, I imagine, was forever remorseful for issuing that order. It's no secret that many Jews wanted to vote against his candidacy in 1868. I'm not surprised. Not one bit at all. In all likelihood, I would have voted for him both times but only after I read where he was sorry for the order.
The 1868 election was the first one in which Jewish voters had no balance not only being an American but a Jewish-American no less.
When Grant died, his funeral was held on Shabbas. Rabbi Dr. Edward Benjamin Morris "Alphabet" Browne was the only Jewish person to serve as an honorary pallbearer for the funeral. He was on the conservative side of the reform movement. Instead of riding in the carriage, he walked the 7 miles to Grant's burial in Riverside, which was most definitely a slap in the face to the Reform movement wanting to do away with many Jewish laws at the time. It should come as no surprise though that Congregation Gates of Hope, the shul where he served as Rabbi, would later ditch the Reform movement for the Conservative movement in 1933. That shul is now the Park Avenye Synagogue.
Sarna's book is "a riveting account" of Grant's decision during the Civil War. The Brandeis professor did a marvelous job with looking into a glimpse of Grant's life and it's effect on Jewish-Americans.
Sarna will be visiting Louisville as a part of his book tour. His stop will be at 7 PM on Wednesday, April 25th at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
2012 Comedy Awards Nominees
The 2012 Comedy Awards nominees have been announced. The awards will air on Sunday, May 8th.
COMEDY FILM
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"Crazy, Stupid, Love."
"Horrible Bosses"
"Midnight in Paris"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR (FILM)
Jason Bateman, "Horrible Bosses"
Steve Carell, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Zach Galifianakis, "The Hangover Part II"
Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"
COMEDY DIRECTOR (FILM)
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
James Bobin, "The Muppets"
Paul Feig, "Bridesmaids"
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
COMEDY SERIES
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Happy Endings"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR (TV)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
COMEDY DIRECTING( TV)
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM
"Cars 2"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss In Boots"
"Rango"
"Rio"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS (FILM)
Jennifer Aniston, "Horrible Bosses"
Cameron Diaz, "Bad Teacher"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Emma Stone, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
COMEDY SCREENPLAY
"50/50"
"Bridesmaids"
"Crazy, Stupid, Love."
"Horrible Bosses"
"Midnight in Paris"
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
"Archer"
"Family Guy"
"The Life & Times of Tim"
"The Simpsons"
"South Park"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS (TV)
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
COMEDY WRITING (TV)
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"
"Saturday Night Live"
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"
"Late Show with David Letterman"
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Zooey Deschanel
Josh Gad
Donald Glover
Melissa McCarthy
Jason Sudeikis
CLUB COMIC
Ted Alexandro
Hannibal Buress
Pete Holmes
Anthony Jeselnik
Moshe Kasher
John Mulaney
Kumail Nanjiani
Chelsea Peretti
Amy Schumer
Rory Scovel
COMEDY FILM
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"Crazy, Stupid, Love."
"Horrible Bosses"
"Midnight in Paris"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR (FILM)
Jason Bateman, "Horrible Bosses"
Steve Carell, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Zach Galifianakis, "The Hangover Part II"
Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"
COMEDY DIRECTOR (FILM)
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
James Bobin, "The Muppets"
Paul Feig, "Bridesmaids"
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
COMEDY SERIES
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Happy Endings"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR (TV)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
COMEDY DIRECTING( TV)
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM
"Cars 2"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss In Boots"
"Rango"
"Rio"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS (FILM)
Jennifer Aniston, "Horrible Bosses"
Cameron Diaz, "Bad Teacher"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Emma Stone, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
COMEDY SCREENPLAY
"50/50"
"Bridesmaids"
"Crazy, Stupid, Love."
"Horrible Bosses"
"Midnight in Paris"
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
"Archer"
"Family Guy"
"The Life & Times of Tim"
"The Simpsons"
"South Park"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS (TV)
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
COMEDY WRITING (TV)
"30 Rock"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"
"Saturday Night Live"
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"
"Late Show with David Letterman"
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Zooey Deschanel
Josh Gad
Donald Glover
Melissa McCarthy
Jason Sudeikis
CLUB COMIC
Ted Alexandro
Hannibal Buress
Pete Holmes
Anthony Jeselnik
Moshe Kasher
John Mulaney
Kumail Nanjiani
Chelsea Peretti
Amy Schumer
Rory Scovel
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Rajon Rondo has MONSTER game
Against the Linsanity of the New York Knicks and recent trade rumors, Rajon Rondo recorded a MONSTER game with another TRIPLE-DOUBLE!
NBA.com:
NBA.com:
Paul Pierce delivered on the role of hero during today’s game, but Rajon Rondo played the role of stat stuffer.
Rondo recorded his fourth triple-double of the season in amazing fashion. This wasn’t just a triple-double – it was a monster triple-double. He scored 18 points to go along with his game-high totals of 17 rebounds and 20 assists. He also committed only four turnovers, leading to a shining assist-to-turnover ratio of 5-to-1.
The performance forced statisticians everywhere to look back in the history books to see how it stacks up against other triple-doubles of the past. Although we don’t have those comparisons handy at the moment, we can say that Rondo’s game was historic enough to cause Kevin Garnett to take a copy of the box score home with him as a souvenir.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Tornado Watch in Effect!
The NWS has issued a Tornado Watch for counties in the Louisville metro area. Expiring at 9 PM eastern.
PSA: SEVERE WEATHER ALERT
Severe weather is expected between noon and 5 PM eastern. Plan your day accordingly. Don't go out if you don't have to.
Via the WAVE-3 Weather Team and the Storm Prediction Center:
Via the WAVE-3 Weather Team and the Storm Prediction Center:
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a HIGH RISK for severe storms today. I can't stress enough how extremely rare this is...it rarely happens in the Spring let alone in "Winter."[...]
At this point, I would include *ALL* of the WAVE 3 viewing area in the high risk. Below is the statement from the Storm Prediction Center. It's important to note they've included large long tracked tornadoes...this is why the HIGH RISK was issued. It's a lot of "weather talk" but gets to the point.
SPC: THE VERY STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR...MODERATE INSTABILITY...A MOIST LOW-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT...AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FEW DISCRETE WARM SECTOR SUPERCELLS / AND SUPERCELLS WITHIN THE LINE ALONG THE FRONT/...ALL APPEAR SUPPORTIVE OF A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT TORNADO EPISODE WITH A FEW LONG-TRACK/STRONG TORNADOES. THE MOST PROBABLE AREA FOR DAMAGING TORNADOES WILL BE SE OF THE SURFACE LOW TRACK IN THE MORE ESTABLISHED WARM SECTOR...OR NEAR AND S OF THE OH RIVER FROM EXTREME SRN INDIANA INTO CENTRAL KY/NRN MIDDLE TN. BOTH PRE-FRONTAL AND FRONTAL SUPERCELLS ARE MOST PROBABLE IN THE HIGH RISK AREA...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD SPREAD AS FAR NE AS SW OH AND WRN WV BEFORE EXITING THE WARM SECTOR THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE...DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THE PRE-FRONTAL AND FRONTAL STORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
New video soon
In addition to working on yet another original screenplay, I've been hard at work in post-production of Wake Up, Kentucky!, a reaction to the failure of expanded gambling in the Kentucky State Senate.
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