More Madness
Winners tonight were Butler, West Virginia, Kansas State and unfortunately, not Cornell. The Kansas State/Xavier game was the best of the tournament so far. Double overtime. Xavier kept hitting ridiculous threes that would be stupid shots most of the time. But after a while you found yourself expecting them to make these incredible shots. Sucks that Kansas State won, I was rooting for the Ohio team/underdog. Jordan Crawford = beast.
Butler did some work against Syracuse. Congrats to them.
Cornell kind of got back in the game after only scoring 16 in the first half, but it was never in doubt. UK was the much better team. Nice run for Cornell. Congrats to them and their 430 fans.
Tomorrow = biggest game of the year for Ohio State. Beat the Vols. Carmen Ohio > Rocky Top. It'll be a tough game.. but I have faith.
CBJ Updates
Jackets won 8-3 tonight against the Blackhawks. Where was that all year? CBJ, just so you know, losses are more important than wins at this point. You're not going to make the playoffs, so you should tank and get the highest pick possible. #2 is not out of the question. Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall is going to be a player.. please lose more. Scratch Rick Nash (where's he been, anyways?) Start Steve Mason for the rest of the year. You'll be sure to get passed by the teams below you.
Not much of an update, I know. Not like anyone is reading anyways.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Bracket = Done
March Madness
It's living up to the nickname this year. Kansas goes out against Northern Iowa in the second round. Who picked that one? OU taking out Georgetown. Few picked that one (I'm looking at you, OU homers). I appreciate that, being a Buckeye fan. Good job, Bobcats. Well-deserved. Armon Bassett was balling. Thank you, Indiana.
The two biggest hurdles in Ohio State's region are out already. Talk about relief. I'm fully aware that we still have plenty of basketball left to play before getting to the final four, but the fact that we take on Tennessee instead of Georgetown is awesome. If we get around Tennessee, we won't have to worry about Kansas. Super awesome. The Midwest region is down to Northern Iowa vs. Michigan State and Tennessee vs. Ohio State. Unfortunately for Michigan State, it appears that two-time Big 10 Player of the Year Kalin Lucas is out for the remainder of the tournament. He has a leg injury - I believe it's a ruptured Achilles tendon. I think I heard that on ESPN. Don't quote me (look at me acting like someone actually reads this). Michigan State is plenty talented without Lucas, but this doesn't make things easier for them. I think they get by Northern Iowa.
As for Tennessee vs. OSU, it's quite an intriguing matchup. Tennessee has proven that they can beat anyone when they play at the top of their game. They're the only team to beat both Kansas and Kentucky this year. That being said, they have some bad losses and I feel that Ohio State is the better team. I think OSU can beat pretty much anyone when they play at the top of their game, too. Diebler is stroking threes like crazy right now. It appears that Turner is getting to his normal level, although his almost quadruple double yesterday (24 pts/9 rbs/9 ast/9 TOs) is bittersweet because of the turnovers. Lauderdale is beasting, which is awesome. Lighty seemed to start to heat up in the second half. Hopefully Buford cuts down on the mental mistakes and gets his explosive ability back. He seems a little off. I feel that from here on, the Buckeyes can't afford to give the other team much.
The win against Georgia Tech was impressive. The defense shut Derrick Favors down for the most part. We forced them to take a lot of shots that they didn't want to take, and kept their physicality inside to a minimum. Great win, and Turner was the only Buckeye with a pulse in the first half.
As for my bracket, I had Kansas winning it all against WVU. My other Final Four teams are Baylor and Kansas State, both are still alive. I have picked Cornell to get to this point in the bracket. I think their luck runs out next week, however. Aside from that, about everything else is wrong.
Pretty short update tonight. I haven't been paying too much attention to anything other than college basketball. I'm not even going to talk about hockey tonight. Lucky you.
It's living up to the nickname this year. Kansas goes out against Northern Iowa in the second round. Who picked that one? OU taking out Georgetown. Few picked that one (I'm looking at you, OU homers). I appreciate that, being a Buckeye fan. Good job, Bobcats. Well-deserved. Armon Bassett was balling. Thank you, Indiana.
The two biggest hurdles in Ohio State's region are out already. Talk about relief. I'm fully aware that we still have plenty of basketball left to play before getting to the final four, but the fact that we take on Tennessee instead of Georgetown is awesome. If we get around Tennessee, we won't have to worry about Kansas. Super awesome. The Midwest region is down to Northern Iowa vs. Michigan State and Tennessee vs. Ohio State. Unfortunately for Michigan State, it appears that two-time Big 10 Player of the Year Kalin Lucas is out for the remainder of the tournament. He has a leg injury - I believe it's a ruptured Achilles tendon. I think I heard that on ESPN. Don't quote me (look at me acting like someone actually reads this). Michigan State is plenty talented without Lucas, but this doesn't make things easier for them. I think they get by Northern Iowa.
As for Tennessee vs. OSU, it's quite an intriguing matchup. Tennessee has proven that they can beat anyone when they play at the top of their game. They're the only team to beat both Kansas and Kentucky this year. That being said, they have some bad losses and I feel that Ohio State is the better team. I think OSU can beat pretty much anyone when they play at the top of their game, too. Diebler is stroking threes like crazy right now. It appears that Turner is getting to his normal level, although his almost quadruple double yesterday (24 pts/9 rbs/9 ast/9 TOs) is bittersweet because of the turnovers. Lauderdale is beasting, which is awesome. Lighty seemed to start to heat up in the second half. Hopefully Buford cuts down on the mental mistakes and gets his explosive ability back. He seems a little off. I feel that from here on, the Buckeyes can't afford to give the other team much.
The win against Georgia Tech was impressive. The defense shut Derrick Favors down for the most part. We forced them to take a lot of shots that they didn't want to take, and kept their physicality inside to a minimum. Great win, and Turner was the only Buckeye with a pulse in the first half.
As for my bracket, I had Kansas winning it all against WVU. My other Final Four teams are Baylor and Kansas State, both are still alive. I have picked Cornell to get to this point in the bracket. I think their luck runs out next week, however. Aside from that, about everything else is wrong.
Pretty short update tonight. I haven't been paying too much attention to anything other than college basketball. I'm not even going to talk about hockey tonight. Lucky you.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Article on Alex Ovechkin
Different post today. I wrote a piece on the controversy surrounding Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. Not much news in the world of Ohio Sports today, anyways. Enjoy the article.
Alex Ovechkin - Dirty? Reckless? Entertaining? All of the Above.
NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin's passion should not be questioned. He plays hard. For the most part, he plays how everyone loves hockey to be played. He’s physical, he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s excellent in the offensive zone. He’s great at what he does – as close to a generational talent as we have seen since Gretzky and Lemieux retired. When his career is over, he may go down as one of the best scorers in NHL history. His talent simply cannot be debated. But his acts on the ice are drawing more criticism from many people.
Ovechkin has been criticized by hockey purists for actions not related to dirty play. For example, when Ovechkin secured himself as the first Washington Capitals player with three, 50-goal seasons in his career, he celebrated by acting like his stick was on fire. An act that was humorous to some and disrespectful to others – but a rather innocent act in the grand scheme of things. No matter how innocent, some viewed this act as arrogant. The recent troubles that Ovechkin has faced are related to his decisions on ice during play, however. Ovechkin was suspended by Colin Campbell, Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL. This is Ovechkin’s second suspension this season. The most recent suspension was a consequence of Ovechkin recklessly checking Chicago defenceman Brian Campbell from behind, causing Campbell to crash into the boards. Campbell suffered broken ribs and a broken collarbone and may be lost for the season, and maybe even the playoffs. Campbell is an important player for Chicago, a team with strong Stanley Cup aspirations this season. Ovechkin’s first suspension this season was from a knee-on-knee hit against Carolina’s Tim Gleason. That knee-on-knee incident was not the first of its kind for Ovechkin. Pittsburgh’s Sergei Gonchar was injured after a knee-on-knee hit from Ovechkin in the playoffs last year. There have been other incidents as well, including a feud between Ovechkin and Philadelphia’s Daniel Briere, a boarding incident against Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta and a slew-foot against Atlanta’s Rich Peverley.
The league has seen an alarming number of headshots this year. The hit from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke on Boston’s Marc Savard is getting the most publicity, and deservedly so. Cooke appears to have actively checked Savard’s head right after a shot on goal from Savard. Savard may not return this season and, like Campbell, is a very important player for his team if they wish to be successful. Many of Ovechkin’s hits have been more reckless than dirty, but it seems that some of his recent incidents have been more on the dirty side than the reckless side. And it’s the accumulation of these questionable hits that has fans questioning his play and players answering questions about his on-ice behavior.
“He’s an aggressive player.” Carolina’s Tim Gleason said, after being asked about the knee-on-knee incident between he and Ovechkin.
“I think it’s one of those things where he’s just going to play the way he plays. That’s what put him here,” Gleason added.
Players are sure to be a little more forgiving for acts like this because they understand the speed of the game and the fact that reactions must be made in a split-second. That does not mean that Ovechkin’s actions should go unpunished, and it appears that the league agrees. Colin Campbell declared the hit “reckless” and awarded the suspension in addition to the five minute major that the Blackhawks received, and a game misconduct.
Don’t expect Ovechkin to change his style of play. Should he? That’s another story entirely. The fact is that Ovechkin brings fans in bunches to arenas around the country, and his reckless style of play is half of what makes him exciting. You never know what you’re going to get with him. He’s a polarizing figure in the hockey world, and one that can either dazzle you with skill or knock the wind out of you when you least expect it. It’ll be a shame if Ovechkin changes. The unquestioned skill, passion and controversy are why Ovechkin is who he is, and partly why the NHL is what it is today. For the sake of your game, and the game, don't change, Alex. I know you wouldn't anyways.
Alex Ovechkin - Dirty? Reckless? Entertaining? All of the Above.
NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin's passion should not be questioned. He plays hard. For the most part, he plays how everyone loves hockey to be played. He’s physical, he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s excellent in the offensive zone. He’s great at what he does – as close to a generational talent as we have seen since Gretzky and Lemieux retired. When his career is over, he may go down as one of the best scorers in NHL history. His talent simply cannot be debated. But his acts on the ice are drawing more criticism from many people.
Ovechkin has been criticized by hockey purists for actions not related to dirty play. For example, when Ovechkin secured himself as the first Washington Capitals player with three, 50-goal seasons in his career, he celebrated by acting like his stick was on fire. An act that was humorous to some and disrespectful to others – but a rather innocent act in the grand scheme of things. No matter how innocent, some viewed this act as arrogant. The recent troubles that Ovechkin has faced are related to his decisions on ice during play, however. Ovechkin was suspended by Colin Campbell, Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL. This is Ovechkin’s second suspension this season. The most recent suspension was a consequence of Ovechkin recklessly checking Chicago defenceman Brian Campbell from behind, causing Campbell to crash into the boards. Campbell suffered broken ribs and a broken collarbone and may be lost for the season, and maybe even the playoffs. Campbell is an important player for Chicago, a team with strong Stanley Cup aspirations this season. Ovechkin’s first suspension this season was from a knee-on-knee hit against Carolina’s Tim Gleason. That knee-on-knee incident was not the first of its kind for Ovechkin. Pittsburgh’s Sergei Gonchar was injured after a knee-on-knee hit from Ovechkin in the playoffs last year. There have been other incidents as well, including a feud between Ovechkin and Philadelphia’s Daniel Briere, a boarding incident against Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta and a slew-foot against Atlanta’s Rich Peverley.
The league has seen an alarming number of headshots this year. The hit from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke on Boston’s Marc Savard is getting the most publicity, and deservedly so. Cooke appears to have actively checked Savard’s head right after a shot on goal from Savard. Savard may not return this season and, like Campbell, is a very important player for his team if they wish to be successful. Many of Ovechkin’s hits have been more reckless than dirty, but it seems that some of his recent incidents have been more on the dirty side than the reckless side. And it’s the accumulation of these questionable hits that has fans questioning his play and players answering questions about his on-ice behavior.
“He’s an aggressive player.” Carolina’s Tim Gleason said, after being asked about the knee-on-knee incident between he and Ovechkin.
“I think it’s one of those things where he’s just going to play the way he plays. That’s what put him here,” Gleason added.
Players are sure to be a little more forgiving for acts like this because they understand the speed of the game and the fact that reactions must be made in a split-second. That does not mean that Ovechkin’s actions should go unpunished, and it appears that the league agrees. Colin Campbell declared the hit “reckless” and awarded the suspension in addition to the five minute major that the Blackhawks received, and a game misconduct.
Don’t expect Ovechkin to change his style of play. Should he? That’s another story entirely. The fact is that Ovechkin brings fans in bunches to arenas around the country, and his reckless style of play is half of what makes him exciting. You never know what you’re going to get with him. He’s a polarizing figure in the hockey world, and one that can either dazzle you with skill or knock the wind out of you when you least expect it. It’ll be a shame if Ovechkin changes. The unquestioned skill, passion and controversy are why Ovechkin is who he is, and partly why the NHL is what it is today. For the sake of your game, and the game, don't change, Alex. I know you wouldn't anyways.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Big 10 Tournament, NCAA Tournament, Browns Confusing Fans, Cavs Win
Big 10 Tournament
I'm not really a huge fan of these conference tournaments. That being said, the Big 10 tournament was fantastic. Especially for Buckeye fans. With a blowout of Minnesota in the championship game, the Buckeyes confirmed that they are the best team in the Big 10. What a run for the Buckeyes. Knocking out Michigan with a buzzer-beater from Evan Turner was unbelievable. A double-overtime thriller against Illinois gave many of us heart attacks. The blowout today was a welcomed result. The stress from the previous two games was enough. Congratulations, Buckeyes.
NCAA Tournament
If the Big 10 champion Buckeyes want to get to the Final Four, they have quite the road ahead of them. The second round matchup will be against either Georgia Tech or Oklahoma State. Neither are as talented as the Buckeyes, but neither would be a walk in the park. If the Buckeyes win in round 2, the matchup will likely be either Tennessee or Georgetown if neither are upset. If they win in round 3, the most likely candidates for the Buckeyes to face in the Elite 8 will be Kansas, Michigan State and Maryland. The Midwest bracket is, by far, the toughest. Best of luck to the Buckeyes.
And how about Duke's draw? Talk about easy. If they aren't in the Final Four, then they weren't deserving of a one-seed.
I have to go with Kansas as the favorite to win it all. They have an inside presence (Cole Aldrich), a great player at point guard (Sherron Collins) and a good supporting cast (Xavier Henry). They're experienced, as well.
Browns Confusing Fans
Brady Quinn was traded to the Denver Broncos today. For Peyton Hillis, a 2011 6th round pick and a conditional pick in 2012. According to Adam Schefter, the Browns could have traded Quinn last year. For Jay Cutler. There had to have been something else involved (likely draft picks), but the fact that they received a fullback and two future (late) picks is disappointing. Say what you want about Jay Cutler, but he has a ton of potential and has shown that he can play. The picks are a problem, but he's young and just a terrible fit in Chicago.
Hillis will be loved in Cleveland, however. He's tough, and one of the better fullbacks in the league. He can run and catch out of the backfield. Should be a good third-down option for the Browns.
I think that this means Jake Delhomme will be the starter. I was hoping that the Delhomme signing was for depth purposes, because a 35-year old Delhomme does nothing for a rebuilding Browns team. He's an older Derek Anderson. The Browns would've benefited more by seeing what they had in Brady Quinn. They know what they have in Delhomme - they have a QB who will be out of the league in a couple years, while the Browns are still rebuilding. This sets the QB situation back two years. Unless they draft someone. I have my fingers crossed that it's not Tim Tebow.
The Browns also traded outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to the Raiders for a third-round pick. This is a disappointment as well. He's young, shown flashes of ability, but never really lived up to his draft status. I'm a little confused about why the Browns would trade young, talented players when linebacker is a position of need for the Browns.
Other NFL News
LaDainian Tomlinson signed a two-year deal with the New York Jets today.
Shaun Hill was traded from the 49ers to the Lions for a 7th-round pick.
Ex-Brown Hank Fraley signed a deal with the Rams.
Cavs Win
The Cavs took out the Celtics today. I didn't get to watch the game because the Buckeyes were playing, so all I have to say about it is that I can't wait for the playoffs. I think this is the year.
Random Topic
I've watched some good movies lately. Finally got around to watching Inglourious Basterds, which was excellent. Christopher Waltz gives a great performance, one of my favorites ever, actually. Also watched a different Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction. It was also excellent. Samuel L. Jackson is a man. Fonzie is cool. Movie was great. If you haven't seen either of these, watch them both immediately.
All for now.
I'm not really a huge fan of these conference tournaments. That being said, the Big 10 tournament was fantastic. Especially for Buckeye fans. With a blowout of Minnesota in the championship game, the Buckeyes confirmed that they are the best team in the Big 10. What a run for the Buckeyes. Knocking out Michigan with a buzzer-beater from Evan Turner was unbelievable. A double-overtime thriller against Illinois gave many of us heart attacks. The blowout today was a welcomed result. The stress from the previous two games was enough. Congratulations, Buckeyes.
NCAA Tournament
If the Big 10 champion Buckeyes want to get to the Final Four, they have quite the road ahead of them. The second round matchup will be against either Georgia Tech or Oklahoma State. Neither are as talented as the Buckeyes, but neither would be a walk in the park. If the Buckeyes win in round 2, the matchup will likely be either Tennessee or Georgetown if neither are upset. If they win in round 3, the most likely candidates for the Buckeyes to face in the Elite 8 will be Kansas, Michigan State and Maryland. The Midwest bracket is, by far, the toughest. Best of luck to the Buckeyes.
And how about Duke's draw? Talk about easy. If they aren't in the Final Four, then they weren't deserving of a one-seed.
I have to go with Kansas as the favorite to win it all. They have an inside presence (Cole Aldrich), a great player at point guard (Sherron Collins) and a good supporting cast (Xavier Henry). They're experienced, as well.
Browns Confusing Fans
Brady Quinn was traded to the Denver Broncos today. For Peyton Hillis, a 2011 6th round pick and a conditional pick in 2012. According to Adam Schefter, the Browns could have traded Quinn last year. For Jay Cutler. There had to have been something else involved (likely draft picks), but the fact that they received a fullback and two future (late) picks is disappointing. Say what you want about Jay Cutler, but he has a ton of potential and has shown that he can play. The picks are a problem, but he's young and just a terrible fit in Chicago.
Hillis will be loved in Cleveland, however. He's tough, and one of the better fullbacks in the league. He can run and catch out of the backfield. Should be a good third-down option for the Browns.
I think that this means Jake Delhomme will be the starter. I was hoping that the Delhomme signing was for depth purposes, because a 35-year old Delhomme does nothing for a rebuilding Browns team. He's an older Derek Anderson. The Browns would've benefited more by seeing what they had in Brady Quinn. They know what they have in Delhomme - they have a QB who will be out of the league in a couple years, while the Browns are still rebuilding. This sets the QB situation back two years. Unless they draft someone. I have my fingers crossed that it's not Tim Tebow.
The Browns also traded outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to the Raiders for a third-round pick. This is a disappointment as well. He's young, shown flashes of ability, but never really lived up to his draft status. I'm a little confused about why the Browns would trade young, talented players when linebacker is a position of need for the Browns.
Other NFL News
LaDainian Tomlinson signed a two-year deal with the New York Jets today.
Shaun Hill was traded from the 49ers to the Lions for a 7th-round pick.
Ex-Brown Hank Fraley signed a deal with the Rams.
Cavs Win
The Cavs took out the Celtics today. I didn't get to watch the game because the Buckeyes were playing, so all I have to say about it is that I can't wait for the playoffs. I think this is the year.
Random Topic
I've watched some good movies lately. Finally got around to watching Inglourious Basterds, which was excellent. Christopher Waltz gives a great performance, one of my favorites ever, actually. Also watched a different Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction. It was also excellent. Samuel L. Jackson is a man. Fonzie is cool. Movie was great. If you haven't seen either of these, watch them both immediately.
All for now.
Friday, March 12, 2010
General News, Evan Turner, Thoughts on Troy Smith
General News
The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year. They were also victorious over the 76ers tonight.
The Browns signed tight end Ben Watson to a three-year deal, worth $12M (6.35M guaranteed).
The Bengals signed Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28M deal. Pretty big deal, but he should be a very nice addition if he stays healthy. Should be interesting to see where Terrell Owens plays next year.
I made a prediction a couple days ago, that the Jackets would lose 4-3. They decided to get blown out 6-0. I'm never predicting a Blue Jackets game again. They need help in the offseason, and they need it badly.
Evan Turner
Evan Turner did what great Ohio State players do best today - make Michigan feel like they deserve to be around, then do something amazing and show them why Ohio State has dominated them for such a long stretch of time. It was like many of the epic OSU/Michigan football games. Not so much recent ones, though.
Down by 2 points with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, Turner received an in-bound pass from David Lighty and crossed half-court. Turner reached about halfway between the three-point line and half-court and took a shot. Actually, I take that back. That wasn't a shot. That was a dagger. It was a sword. It was yet another fantastic moment of greatness against our rivals from the north. These moments will never be forgotten. No matter what Evan Turner does in the NBA, he'll be considered an all-time great at Ohio State. He's been excellent on and off the court. Sounds cliche', but he's everything you want your athletes to be. Helps that he did things that few other Buckeyes have ever done.
Beauty.
Best of luck in the rest of the tournament, Evan and the rest of the Buckeyes. Today's game was well-earned. Michigan played one of their best games of the season and it wasn't enough.
Thoughts on Troy Smith and the Browns
I've been reading on the internet a lot lately, as I usually do during the NFL offseason. It's always an intriguing time. Whether your favorite team sucks or not, you can't help but be interested in what they do in the offseason. It's also interesting to see who the Raiders and Redskins overpay for, too. Anyways, I've been reading a lot of chatter (mostly from Buckeye fans who happen to root for the Browns) about Troy Smith and how he should be a Cleveland Browns QB. Smith himself has fueled this fire.
What do we know about Troy Smith? He's a fantastically gifted player with the ability to throw and run. He's a great leader. He's had his issues off the field, but it seems that those are behind him. He's shown flashes of ability in the NFL, but hasn't had enough of an opportunity to really prove his worth on the field. I'd certainly like to see him get a shot to start somewhere, especially given the fact that the Ravens placed a lowly 5th-round tender on him.
With the trade of Seneca Wallace to the Browns, it appears that Smith's hopes of going to the Browns may be crushed. There's still a chance - it's been written that Wallace will be the backup and a starter will be traded for, drafted or signed in free agency (please not Jake Delhomme). But the lack of interest in Troy Smith tells us one, very important thing about Smith - he's viewed as a backup QB in the NFL by NFL teams. Buckeye fans, no matter how much we want to see Smith get a shot, it might have to wait. Teams probably feel like they can draft a better fit for their system with a 5th round pick, and this player will be younger. If teams thought that Smith could be a starter, Smith would not be a Baltimore Raven right now. A 5th round pick for a starting QB? What a deal! As much as I think Troy Smith can be an effective, not elite, NFL QB, it's likely not going to happen in Cleveland. Probably best to just move on and stop questioning Holmgren. He just got here and he's being second-guessed because he didn't trade for the right backup QB.
Best of luck Troy, I hope you get a shot. Maybe it's for the best that it's not in Cleveland.
Weather keeps getting better. Had to have reached 70 today. It's raining, but the windows are open and there are only small piles of snow in mall parking lots now. Get that stuff out of here.
The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year. They were also victorious over the 76ers tonight.
The Browns signed tight end Ben Watson to a three-year deal, worth $12M (6.35M guaranteed).
The Bengals signed Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28M deal. Pretty big deal, but he should be a very nice addition if he stays healthy. Should be interesting to see where Terrell Owens plays next year.
I made a prediction a couple days ago, that the Jackets would lose 4-3. They decided to get blown out 6-0. I'm never predicting a Blue Jackets game again. They need help in the offseason, and they need it badly.
Evan Turner
Evan Turner did what great Ohio State players do best today - make Michigan feel like they deserve to be around, then do something amazing and show them why Ohio State has dominated them for such a long stretch of time. It was like many of the epic OSU/Michigan football games. Not so much recent ones, though.
Down by 2 points with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, Turner received an in-bound pass from David Lighty and crossed half-court. Turner reached about halfway between the three-point line and half-court and took a shot. Actually, I take that back. That wasn't a shot. That was a dagger. It was a sword. It was yet another fantastic moment of greatness against our rivals from the north. These moments will never be forgotten. No matter what Evan Turner does in the NBA, he'll be considered an all-time great at Ohio State. He's been excellent on and off the court. Sounds cliche', but he's everything you want your athletes to be. Helps that he did things that few other Buckeyes have ever done.
Beauty.
Best of luck in the rest of the tournament, Evan and the rest of the Buckeyes. Today's game was well-earned. Michigan played one of their best games of the season and it wasn't enough.
Thoughts on Troy Smith and the Browns
I've been reading on the internet a lot lately, as I usually do during the NFL offseason. It's always an intriguing time. Whether your favorite team sucks or not, you can't help but be interested in what they do in the offseason. It's also interesting to see who the Raiders and Redskins overpay for, too. Anyways, I've been reading a lot of chatter (mostly from Buckeye fans who happen to root for the Browns) about Troy Smith and how he should be a Cleveland Browns QB. Smith himself has fueled this fire.
What do we know about Troy Smith? He's a fantastically gifted player with the ability to throw and run. He's a great leader. He's had his issues off the field, but it seems that those are behind him. He's shown flashes of ability in the NFL, but hasn't had enough of an opportunity to really prove his worth on the field. I'd certainly like to see him get a shot to start somewhere, especially given the fact that the Ravens placed a lowly 5th-round tender on him.
With the trade of Seneca Wallace to the Browns, it appears that Smith's hopes of going to the Browns may be crushed. There's still a chance - it's been written that Wallace will be the backup and a starter will be traded for, drafted or signed in free agency (please not Jake Delhomme). But the lack of interest in Troy Smith tells us one, very important thing about Smith - he's viewed as a backup QB in the NFL by NFL teams. Buckeye fans, no matter how much we want to see Smith get a shot, it might have to wait. Teams probably feel like they can draft a better fit for their system with a 5th round pick, and this player will be younger. If teams thought that Smith could be a starter, Smith would not be a Baltimore Raven right now. A 5th round pick for a starting QB? What a deal! As much as I think Troy Smith can be an effective, not elite, NFL QB, it's likely not going to happen in Cleveland. Probably best to just move on and stop questioning Holmgren. He just got here and he's being second-guessed because he didn't trade for the right backup QB.
Best of luck Troy, I hope you get a shot. Maybe it's for the best that it's not in Cleveland.
Weather keeps getting better. Had to have reached 70 today. It's raining, but the windows are open and there are only small piles of snow in mall parking lots now. Get that stuff out of here.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Spurs @ Cavs, CBJ @ LA Kings, NFL News, Weather
Spurs @ Cavs
Two things of note on television tonight. The Cavaliers face the Spurs at 7 PM. Should be an entertaining rematch of the finals of 2007. Hopefully the result of this game is better than the result of any of those finals games. The Cavs will be without Shaq until the playoffs, but I'm pretty excited to see how JJ Hickson grows until then. I think this experience will be valuable for the Cavs, and for JJ. I'm extremely happy that he was not traded at the deadline for Amare Stoudemire. I think Stoudamire is a fantastic player, but I'm not sure he is the best fit for the Cavs. How is he on defense? Not sure. Antawn Jamison is more than capable and has proven to be effective so far. Here's to another deep playoff run, only one that ends in something positive not only for Cleveland, but all of Ohio's professional sports. We're struggling here..
Lebron is a game-time decision. Add that to the fact that Shaq is out, and we could be without two major parts of the offense. Even without Lebron, the talent that the Cavs have should be able to compete. Especially considering that Tony Parker is out, too.
So, maybe not the entertaining rematch we could have if Lebron, Shaq and Parker were healthy.
Blue Jackets @ Kings
You'll find that I'm a big hockey fan and I'm going to pimp it whenever possible. So here we go. The Blue Jackets face off against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. Don't like watching the Blue Jackets? Fine, and understandable, to be honest. They aren't stacked with talent and only have a couple guys really worth watching on a nightly basis (Canadian Olympian Rick Nash, Steve Mason when he's playing well, same with Jakub Voracek). The rest are either still growing or gritty players who don't do anything flashy. Not good for the average fan. The Kings, however, have plenty of offensive firepower and some fantastic defenders who could (and possibly already are) stars in this league.
I'll start with offense. Anze Kopitar is scoring at over a point-per-game pace. He started the season on fire. Since then, he's cooled somewhat, but he's still among the top 20 in scoring (30 goals, 37 assists). Captain (and USA Olympian) Dustin Brown has had somewhat of a disappointing season, considering he has only 15 goals. He had 24 last year and 33 the year before. The Kings are really loaded on offense. Along with Kopitar and Brown, they have veteran Ryan Smyth and Alexander Frolov. Those are the guys on whom the Kings rely for their offense. The Kings have an excellent third line as well - certainly one of the better third lines in the Western Conference, and possibly all of the NHL. Ex-Blue Jacket Fredrik Modin was traded to the Kings at the trade deadline, and he really solidifies the Kings' third line. He'll be playing left wing alongside Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds.
Drew Doughty was arguably the best player for Team Canada in the Olympics. He's a future Norris trophy winner. He's second on the Kings in points, which is impressive given his age, the talent that the Kings have and the fact that he is a defenceman. Jack Johnson is a name that Team USA fans might remember from the Olympics. He was solid in the Olympics and has been solid for the Kings this year, despite his poor +/- statistics.
Jonathan Quick has been above average in net this season, as well, resulting in a selection to Team USA.
My prediction: The Kings win this game. Fortunately for the Jackets, the coaching change has seemed to give them a little spark, and Mason has looked better. Kings 4, Jackets 3.
Browns After TE Ben Watson, Ben Hartsock Signs Deal with Jets, Bengals Pursuing Buchanon
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Browns are interested in TE Benjamin Watson.
Would be a nice signing for the Browns. Still a productive TE and he plays a position of need. Which positions aren't of need? I don't want to talk about it.
Ex-Buckeye Ben Hartsock is also close to a deal with the Jets, according to PFT. Hope he gets the deal. He loves New York and is a good guy.
PFT is a good source today. Phillip Buchanon is being pursued by the Bengals. Apparently, he played some safety last year for the Bucs. He was drafted as a corner. Safety would make more sense than corner, considering that the Bengals are pretty good at corner already. He could be the third corner, I suppose.
Random Topic of the Day
It's getting warmer here in Columbus. The sun just seems brighter. Hopefully it melts this snow. Spring break is in two weeks and it can't get here fast enough. The only good things about winter are hockey and the possibility of classes getting canceled.
Two things of note on television tonight. The Cavaliers face the Spurs at 7 PM. Should be an entertaining rematch of the finals of 2007. Hopefully the result of this game is better than the result of any of those finals games. The Cavs will be without Shaq until the playoffs, but I'm pretty excited to see how JJ Hickson grows until then. I think this experience will be valuable for the Cavs, and for JJ. I'm extremely happy that he was not traded at the deadline for Amare Stoudemire. I think Stoudamire is a fantastic player, but I'm not sure he is the best fit for the Cavs. How is he on defense? Not sure. Antawn Jamison is more than capable and has proven to be effective so far. Here's to another deep playoff run, only one that ends in something positive not only for Cleveland, but all of Ohio's professional sports. We're struggling here..
Lebron is a game-time decision. Add that to the fact that Shaq is out, and we could be without two major parts of the offense. Even without Lebron, the talent that the Cavs have should be able to compete. Especially considering that Tony Parker is out, too.
So, maybe not the entertaining rematch we could have if Lebron, Shaq and Parker were healthy.
Blue Jackets @ Kings
You'll find that I'm a big hockey fan and I'm going to pimp it whenever possible. So here we go. The Blue Jackets face off against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. Don't like watching the Blue Jackets? Fine, and understandable, to be honest. They aren't stacked with talent and only have a couple guys really worth watching on a nightly basis (Canadian Olympian Rick Nash, Steve Mason when he's playing well, same with Jakub Voracek). The rest are either still growing or gritty players who don't do anything flashy. Not good for the average fan. The Kings, however, have plenty of offensive firepower and some fantastic defenders who could (and possibly already are) stars in this league.
I'll start with offense. Anze Kopitar is scoring at over a point-per-game pace. He started the season on fire. Since then, he's cooled somewhat, but he's still among the top 20 in scoring (30 goals, 37 assists). Captain (and USA Olympian) Dustin Brown has had somewhat of a disappointing season, considering he has only 15 goals. He had 24 last year and 33 the year before. The Kings are really loaded on offense. Along with Kopitar and Brown, they have veteran Ryan Smyth and Alexander Frolov. Those are the guys on whom the Kings rely for their offense. The Kings have an excellent third line as well - certainly one of the better third lines in the Western Conference, and possibly all of the NHL. Ex-Blue Jacket Fredrik Modin was traded to the Kings at the trade deadline, and he really solidifies the Kings' third line. He'll be playing left wing alongside Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds.
Drew Doughty was arguably the best player for Team Canada in the Olympics. He's a future Norris trophy winner. He's second on the Kings in points, which is impressive given his age, the talent that the Kings have and the fact that he is a defenceman. Jack Johnson is a name that Team USA fans might remember from the Olympics. He was solid in the Olympics and has been solid for the Kings this year, despite his poor +/- statistics.
Jonathan Quick has been above average in net this season, as well, resulting in a selection to Team USA.
My prediction: The Kings win this game. Fortunately for the Jackets, the coaching change has seemed to give them a little spark, and Mason has looked better. Kings 4, Jackets 3.
Browns After TE Ben Watson, Ben Hartsock Signs Deal with Jets, Bengals Pursuing Buchanon
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Browns are interested in TE Benjamin Watson.
Would be a nice signing for the Browns. Still a productive TE and he plays a position of need. Which positions aren't of need? I don't want to talk about it.
Ex-Buckeye Ben Hartsock is also close to a deal with the Jets, according to PFT. Hope he gets the deal. He loves New York and is a good guy.
PFT is a good source today. Phillip Buchanon is being pursued by the Bengals. Apparently, he played some safety last year for the Bucs. He was drafted as a corner. Safety would make more sense than corner, considering that the Bengals are pretty good at corner already. He could be the third corner, I suppose.
Random Topic of the Day
It's getting warmer here in Columbus. The sun just seems brighter. Hopefully it melts this snow. Spring break is in two weeks and it can't get here fast enough. The only good things about winter are hockey and the possibility of classes getting canceled.
53°F | °C
Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 47%
Beautiful.
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 47%
Beautiful.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Oscars, Lady Buckeyes, Browns News, Hockey Issues
Hello
I feel it necessary to introduce myself in the first entry. My name is Chris. I'm a student at The Ohio State University. Scarlet and Orange refers to various Ohio sports teams.
82nd Annual Academy Awards
Tonight, the 82nd annual Academy Awards took place. I find the award shows pretty boring for the most part.. this one included. Had a few funny moments. Definitely some awkward ones too, especially during the interviews before the actual show. Happy to see The Hurt Locker win six Oscars. Deserved them all. Thought Avatar was a great film, but it wasn't as intriguing and intense as The Hurt Locker. I've read that people who have experience fighting in the middle-east do not find The Hurt Locker realistic, but as far as film goes, it felt about as real as I can remember.
Thought Up in the Air was criminally underrated. Clooney can play that type of character well. It was fantastic. Vera Farmiga is great as well.
And how about Jeff Bridges? His career reached its pinnacle tonight with an Oscar win. Well-deserved, Dude.
Anyways.. congrats to all the winners I didn't remember or care to mention.
Lady Buckeyes Earn Big 10 Title
Congrats to the lady Buckeyes for taking home the Big 10 title tonight. Well-deserved. Certainly not their best game today, but a win is a win and this one was important. Props to Iowa for a well-played game.
Browns with Two Signings
The Browns signed offensive tackle Tony Pashos and linebacker Scott Fujita. According to Peter King, Fujita wanted to stay in New Orleans, but the deal the Browns gave Fujita (3 years, $14M, $8M guaranteed) was too good to pass up. Fujita is an immediate upgrade at the linebacker position. Good signing for the Browns and their new regime. Pashos has been a starter, but he's had some injury problems. At the very least, he'll add needed depth on the line, and will probably compete for the right tackle spot.
Drew Brees had this to say about his ex-teammate and ex-free agent Scott Fujita:
"We lost a great player, person, and leader today in free agency. Scott Fujita signed with the Browns. He will be missed"
Kind of hoped that the Browns would push for Antrel Rolle. I think he could be a guy the team could build their defense around for the future. Disappointed that the Giants signed him.
NHL Problems
This will be my second random topic for the day. In the hockey world, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke will likely be suspended for his blindside hit on Boston's Marc Savard. He deserves the suspension. The NHL needs a rule change in the worst way.. Cooke's hit was legal by the books. But he'll probably get suspended. Obvious problem there. Cooke didn't use his elbows, he didn't interfere, he didn't board Savard. He hit Savard right after Savard took a shot. Savard suffered a concussion after Cooke's shoulder/upper arm blasted Savard pretty hard. Here's the video:
Figured there'd be more fighting after that, considering how dirty the hit was. But that's a different subject for another day. Earlier this year, Mike Richards made a hit on Florida's David Booth . It was very similar.. no suspension resulted. This is a big problem with the NHL. Punishment isn't consistent. Richards got a game misconduct and the Panthers received a five minute power play for the incident. Cooke will likely be suspended, but no penalty resulted from the play. Probably because there isn't a rule regarding blatant headshots like this. If the NHL wants to improve itself and sell itself, it needs to clean up things like this and be more consistent with officiating. The momentum for the Olympics is still great, and negative stories like this don't need to be dominating headlines. That being said, good (for me) to see the Pens get a win. Looks like the MVP will come down to Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Imagine that.
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