Thinking out loud…while wondering if an apple a day could keep anything away if you throw it hard enough…
“He’s a com-bine hero, got stars in his eyes…”
With all due respect to Foreigner and their hit “Jukebox Hero” from 1982 (wait, wut?) – we’ll probably find some NFL Combine hero this week in Indianapolis that we’ll all fall in love with and place ridiculously high on some pedestal...even if we’ve don’t know who he is.
Why? Because there’s always a workout wonder lurking about…a player with measurable speed, agility, strength and smahts that will wow us in the Wonderlic, but then flop miserably on the field.
We fall for it nearly every year. This is the NFL’s way to extend their heavy-handed PR influence throughout the calendar year, giving them a place among the spring training, NBA, NHL, and college hoop headlines in the news.
Ooh, the NFL Combine! Can’t wait to see those 3-cone drill times. As if that actually has anything to do with learning a playbook…making an open field tackle…or breaking one.
NFL Combine time – aka nothing more than watching “Men in Tights.” But you go and do you.
Not for nuthin’, and it certainly wasn’t nuthin’ for SMU in 1987…but this past Monday was the 36th anniversary of the NCAA’s one, and so far, only death penalty being administered to an athletic program.
Not an insignificant anniversary, killing a football program in football-mad Texas because the then-Governor of the state authorized a slush-fund to pay its players.
The Mustangs were simply 36 years ahead of their time. Now, there’s nothing slushy about “paying” players, thanks to NIL money.
Last year, women’s basketball players (and social media stars) Haley and Hanna Cavinder transferred from Fresno State to Miami. The twin sisters are two of the top name, image, and likeness earners in the country, reportedly earning north of $700K each. Per year.
Their incentive to actually graduate from “The U” would be what, exactly?
The two have maintained very high visibility and recently got caught in the NCAA’s newly-launched NIL enforcement program, and the governing body then handed down the first NIL (probation) infraction...to Miami. Which doesn’t sound unusual, does it?
Until you consider those alleged violations occurred within a women’s basketball program. That’s highly unusual. Our times, they have a-changed.
And former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker took over his new gig as NCAA Grand Poobah this past Wednesday. Hi Charlie! Good luck with, um, all of it.
Xavier was THAT good Wednesday night. That Musketeers team could have – would have – beaten any team in the country with Souley Boum and Colby Jones shooting like they did.
But how the hell did XU lose to Butler and DePaul? Inquiring minds need to know.
And just part of the charm this month of “March Madness.” Where the inexplicable isn’t just explained, it’s expected.
Ed Croswell made the Big East honor roll for a second time this season after a career high 25-point performance over Georgetown. If “Croswell Cleaners” isn’t the most improved player over the past year in the league, the honor should be retired.
Cumberland’s Tyler Kolek was again named the Big East Player of the Week for a second time this season. He has been named a national finalist for the Oscar Robertson Award as Player of the Year…and is, likely, the Big East Player of the Year to be named next week…with the Friars’ Bryce Hopkins, Xavier’s Boum and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner as contenders.
That’s a long way from the transfer portal after leaving George Mason. Or leaving Cumberland High for St. George’s.
The last weekend of the regular season will have the Friars facing Seton Hall Saturday in the finale at the AMP, trying to start a new winning streak and potentially clinching the 3-seed with a victory. Their reward?
Villanova at 9:30 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Count me among those who really don’t want to see Villanova on the other sideline in a game my team is playing next week. But I don’t have a say in this…and neither does Ed Cooley.
Marquette’s #6 ranking in the AP poll this week is their highest ranking since 1978. Their win at Butler Tuesday gave the program its first-ever outright Big East regular season title, and it was also the first-ever regular season crown for Shaka Smart, too.
Think Kolek and the Golden Eagles could sell a few t-shirts with what he told the media last October when told his team was picked for NINTH? “F*** ‘em.”
Without a senior in their lineup playing regularly in the rotation. Preseason picked, by the coaches, for ninth. Shaka is the Coach of the Year…even if Ed Cooley’s job this year has been as impressive as it was a year ago. No returning starters, and his team has been in contention.
The morons (aka college basketball know-it-all columnists, pundits, and analysts) are out in droves, continuing to insist Cooley-to-Georgetown is actually a ‘thing.’
Sure, Ed has love and respect for John Thompson. Most Friars do, since Big John was a Friar. Yes, his daughter is a senior at Georgetown. My son went to Marquette, but that doesn’t mean I’m moving to Milwaukee.
Try answering, honestly, one question: “Why?” Why would Ed Cooley make that move? Money? Prestige? Recruiting advantage? Better job?
No, no, no and maybe it used to be, but it certainly isn’t now.
Providence might have been a ‘stepping stone’ at one time for Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, and perhaps even Pete Gillen. Ed Cooley (with mucho help from former President Brian Shanley and AD Bob Driscoll) has Friartown as a destination in this incarnation of the Big East.
PC stepped on the gas pedal when the opportunity presented itself as football greed drove the old Big East into oblivion. They moved from occasional-contender to annual-contender, competing against like-schools and programs, with a goal of sustainability.
Couldn’t say that 25 years ago. 25 years ago, Georgetown was a different program, too. But it labors today under the burden of past successes and current expectations. There’s a house-cleaning coming up…and it’s not all Patrick Ewing’s doing.
Today, Providence is simply in better shape. It’s a better program, a better job. If you can’t see that, with all due respect, you’re just not paying attention. Or stuck in the past. Or acting moronic. Just sayin’.
This Week in the Big East Episode 9.9 features Commissioner Val Ackerman (with a State of the Conference), PC’s Ed Cooley (who does HE like as Coach of the Year?), and the one-and-only Bill Raftery from CBS/Fox. Get it on Sirius 134, XM 201 and Online 964 Saturday at 11:00 am ET, or online anytime at westwoodonesports.com and bigeast.com.
Brown’s moment in the spotlight…is now. A ticket to the postseason Ivy Madness Tournament awaits if the Bears can beat first-place Yale Saturday night.
Biggest game ever at the Pizzitola Center? One of…certainly, one of…with a rare, postseason spot on the line.
Tough finish to its first season in a new league for Bryant – the Bulldogs lost on a tip-in at the buzzer to Maine Tuesday night. That dropped the Dogs (17-12, 8-8) to the 6-seed in the America East Tournament that tips off Saturday at third-seeded New Hampshire.
Big ups to the URI women’s basketball program. In knocking off Dayton last week for the first time in 19 (!) years, the Rams also claimed a share of the Atlantic-10 regular season championship.
It’s a first for the Rhody women since the school joined the conference in 1983-84. They’ll share the crown with UMass and take a two-seed into their postseason tourney with sights set squarely on a Big Dance invitation.
Rhody’s men snapped a seven-game losing streak and won for the first time on the road – beating Sister Jean’s Loyola Ramblers 79-77 Wednesday night. URI has Davidson at the Ryan Center in the regular season finale Saturday, then hits Brooklyn for the A-10 tourney next week.
Who else remembers Boston College had a basketball program? It’s had a revival, of sorts, late this season. The Eagles have won three straight (one over nationally ranked Virginia) with a chance to make it four this weekend against Georgia Tech which, maybe, could get them into the postseason NIT.
Makai Ashton-Langford, the one-time Friar guard and former UConn recruit…leads the charge.
And what’s this we’re hearing? Florida State and Clemson are unhappy with the ACC media money coming in – which is about half compared to the current and future monies being brought in by the SEC and Big 10.
That house of cards Mike Krzyzewski built 20 years ago on the backs of Pitt, Syracuse, BC, and the old Big East into his retirement? Not enough dolla dolla bills ya’ll to keep ‘em all happy.
College hockey this week – PC’s women in the Hockey East tourney, the men wrap up their regular season with a home-and-home against Boston University.
My buddy “Big E” sez he doesn’t have a bucket list. But his f*** it list is a mile long.
A goal scoring goalie? What a week for the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark. First, his actual goal scored against Vancouver was a franchise first as well. Next, in the midst of playing three games in four nights,
Ullmark stands on his hands and stops 54 of 57 shots in a 4-3 win at Calgary.
The Flames took 37 more shots at the net than did the B’s, the largest differential in franchise history. There’s that franchise thing again. But Boston got a career best 54 saves from Ullmark, which was – stop if you’ve heard this before – a franchise regular season single-game record.
And the Bruins are streaking, again. I don’t know about you, but these guys have become must-see TV and it ain’t even the postseason yet. They’re the first team in NHL history to beat 31 other teams in the same season. Think about that.
You always want a hot goalie, amiright? Sheesh. Dude is straight fire.
And kudos, Bruins, for doing something this week that the Patriots have forgotten how to do – and the Red Sox are now very reluctant to do: Pay Their Stars.
David Pastrnak has grown up with the B’s since he was 18, and his new deal announced this week takes him through age 35. Wow, what a novel concept, actually paying the people who outperform so many others.
Take notes, Chaim. You forgot what got you to where you are, haven’t you Mr. Henry and Mr. Werner?
Baseball’s on-field rule changes have already brought us something I never thought possible – interest in what happens at actual spring training games.
Way too early Red Sox thoughts: Alex Cora sez he’s not worried about Garrett Whitlock’s health. Why am I? Because I trust n-n-no one?
And Jarren Duran appears to have learned how to catch fly balls, which is a good thing for an outfielder, of course. Especially one who allegedly had one foot, and a glove, already out of the clubhouse door.
Not for nuthin’, here’s something else to chew on – MLB salaries are now at an all-time high average of $4.2 million. Per player. This reverses a trend of four straight years of declining salaries…which Sox ownership has certainly contributed toward.
The one-and-only Bob Ryan dropped in his podcast this week he believes this Celtics team might be the deepest he’s ever seen. Considering he’s seen just about all of it – that statement caught my attention. Should catch yours, too.
And yet, we’ve seen Milwaukee jump up to challenge the C’s in the East for best record. Competition is always good – keeps complacency from setting in. Which would you rather have – best record in the conference, or the Lawrence O’Brien Trophy when it’s over?
The NBA and NBAPA are getting ready to drop the draft-eligible age back to 18. Normally, I’d be against this – preferring players NOT have to learn skills on the job. If I’m paying top quid for tickets, I want the pros to KNOW HOW to pass, defend and not take dumb shots.
Oh, wait. Wut?
Here are your choices, if you’re a big-time, teenage hooper: 1) own the playground; 2) own your teammates’ girlfriend; 3) go to school, work on your skills, and grab some NIL cash; 4) do the G League or Overtime Elite if skool ain’t for you; 5) get drafted into the NBA if you’re really good enough.
Gotta admit, #2 might be underrated.
Ok, maybe it’s cool to have loud crowds, live music, players wearing shorts and Greg Norman tossing beers into the gallery like he’s Stone Cold Steve Austin. But LIV Golf doesn’t yet measure up to the PGA’s TV ratings or offerings, for sure. LIV has a contract with the CW Network for five of its’ 14 events to be televised. 300K watched the last one.
The PGA has Tiger still playing, which beats every ratings book known to mankind – still – these days. 3.7 million watched golf on Super Bowl Sunday, no less.
Always thought it a bit silly to be playing outdoor futbol when there’s snow on the ground, but hey, what do I know? When MLS sez it’s time to kick, it’s time to kick.
And the Revs have their home opener Saturday at Gillette, after getting a dub on the road to begin the year last week. Gustavo Bou has also returned to the team and should provide a boost to the offense.
ICYWW, and maybe you weren’t, but MLS attendance on opening weekend was jaw-dropping in a couple of places. Charlotte FC (where the Revs opened) and Atlanta each had more than 67K fans in attendance – the first time the league has ever had two crowds of 65K+ on the same day.
If you’re of a certain age, you’ll love this one – it was 40 years ago this week (Feb. 28, 1983) that M*A*S*H aired its’ final episode. The iconic sitcom is still in syndication today – but the night of the final show on CBS the program drew a total audience of more than 121 million viewers and stayed as the most-watched TV show on record until 2010.
That’s when Super Bowl XLIV finally clipped it in the ratings. But it remains as the most-watched finale of any TV series.
If you don’t count the Apollo 11 moon landing. Number one in the ratings book today? That would be Super Bowl XLIX, aka the Malcolm Butler/dumb move by Pete Carroll/Patriots beat the Seahawks game.
Ah, memories. You’re welcome.
Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions, comments, and local stories to jrbroadcaster@gmail.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Would appreciate the follow on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and join in on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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