Scott Sicko is an Idiot

Saw this story about New Hampshire football player Scott Sicko. Apparently he’s pursuing a new career path because he wasn’t drafted in the NFL. How’s that for giving up on a dream overnight? I suppose it’s a pride thing. More like an idiocy thing. Michael Crabtree did a similar (albeit less stupid) thing by holding out for a lucrative contract before eventually agreeing halfway through last season, but what SIcko is doing is just downright dumb. The article fails to mention if he’s tired of playing football or if he’s more interested in a second career, but one has to think his passion isn’t playing football. The funniest part about the whole Sicko thing is that some of the game’s current stars were never drafted.

James Harrison, Adewale Ogunleye, Bart Scott,. Gary Brackett, Nick Harper, Rob Bironas, Josh Cribbs, Tony Romo, Willie Parker, Miles Austin, Wes Welker, Antonio Gates and Shaun O’Hara have all made a name for themselves in the NFL after being undrafted. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Scott SIcko, can’t be this dense? Or can he?

I don’t Understand Jon Gruden

Last week on ESPN, Jon Gruden was nitpicking Colt McCoy and said to his face he needs to get rid of his Texas twang. Are you serious? And you need to get rid of your orange skin, Mr. Gruden. I understand where Gruden is coming from and I appreciate his candor and his passion, but Terry Bradshaw talks like a stammering idiot, Brett Favre talks like a beer-swilling redneck and Vince Young talks like a person with a fifth-grade education. It’s fine that Gruden wants to rag on Colt McCoy, but he should probably spend his time picking apart hordes of other more-deserving targets.

Coming Around to Terry Bradshaw

Saw this article about the Big Ben fiasco and decided to chime in.

For starters, I’m not the biggest Terry Bradshaw fan. Sure the guy is comical cause he pokes fun at himself (in movies and on TV) and often makes reference to his lack in intelligence, but nothing about him is entirely endearing. He almost comes across as a caricature of himself and more often than not I find it trite and tiring. And then I saw the above article, and well, nothing in it is false. And for some reason that makes me like him that much more. People continue to hide behind the fact that Big Ben hasn’t been charged in either of the two investigations (Las Vegas and Georgia) and that’s all well and good, but let’s not skirt the main issue. Big Ben is a Big Dummy. A creep. A predator. A boozy celebrity with absolutely no foresight. Should I continue? I think you get the point.

Now I realize that 40 years ago, Kenny “Snake” Stabler and Lawrence Taylor used to gallivant around town without a care in the world. They got away with plenty and barely ever was it front page news. But that was then and this is now. Sports pundits across the country have commented on Big Ben’s judgment problem, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. To quote a Tiger Woods phrase, he thinks he’s entitled. Now certainly Ben is free to do whatever he wants. He’s single, young and has loads of money. But for the love of God, how hard is it to keep your nose clean?

In Praise of Phil Mickelson

For all the media hype that surrounded Tiger Woods this past week (and weekend), it was elating to see Phil Mickelson don the green jacket for the third time in 10 years. For all his flaws and critics, Mickelson remains a steadfast family man, whose undergone far greater personal catastrophe than anything Tiger Woods has faced. Cancer can’t be avoided. Infidelity and impaired judgement can. Off the course and on the course, Phil Mickelson is it has best when he puts it all on the table and doesn’t hold back. All those traits came to the surface this weekend, most notably on Sunday. In securing the green jacket, he put together as scintillating and as remarkable a final round as any we’ll see all year.

So while the media focuses its attention on the world’s most famous philanderer, let’s cast a glance towards something far more wholesome and far more celebratory. With his Masters win, Mickelson joined elite company, ranking alongside Nicklaus, Palmer, Woods, Demaret, Snead, Player and Faldo. Being that he’s not even 50, the chances of Mickelson vying for Nicklaus’ record of six does not seem out of the question. Once upon a time everyone used to say the same thing about Tiger. Instead, while everyone focused their attention on the fallen hero, another hero emerged.

Is a sea change in order? Perhaps it’s too soon to tell. Instead of casting hordes of attention on Tiger, let’s give Phil his fair share of the spotlight. After all, since he became pro, he’s done very little to prove he doesn’t deserve it. The same can’t be said for Tiger.

John Calipari and David Stern, I Loathe You!

So this is why teams hire John Calipari? So he can recruit NBA-ready freshman who depart his program after one year? Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Sorry for not attending your class, I was busy trying to reach the Final Four.

Haven’t we seen this before? Isn’t this pattern getting tiring? In the end, all that matters is that Kentucky had a sensational year and lasted until the Elite 8. Calipari proved his salary. And so it continues. He has to rebuild the program for a second consecutive year. And sure enough Kentucky will probably make another Elite 8. Calipari is great at getting freshman to play for him, he just never cajoles them into sticking around. And who can blame them. Riches and royalties await. Picking up a textbook though, psht, that’s for losers.

How can UK boosters actually embrace this kind of track record and smile from ear-to-ear? Once upon a time college basketball had programs of integrity, these days they’re only found in the Patriot League.

John Calipari can rack up as many wins as he desires. He can take as many teams to the Final Four as he wants, but he will never receive an endorsement from me. High school students go to college to gain an education and forge their careers. Calipari signees go to college to pave their way into the NBA.

David Stern can defend the one-year-in-college rule all he wants, but he’s prolonging this trend and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Until Stern changes his ways, the NBA will get no love from me. And neither will Calipari. Once upon a time four years in college was an honorable thing. In the pathetic landscape of Division I college sports, it’s now a rarity. And Calipari and Stern are doing absolutely nothing to change that.

Who the heck is Evan Turner?

Evan Turner was named player of the year. To this day, I don’t even know who he is. Yes, I know he plays for Ohio State. But honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play. I saw him twice in the NCAA tournament this year, but that’s about it. Now granted I didn’t follow the NCAA as closely as I have in past years, but did this guy slip under the radar or what? Yes, I know, he hurt his back and missed some time. But you would think that such an injury and his imminent return would have generated some kind of pulse on my proverbial radar. Nope. Not a lick. How is this possible?

If it were up to me the player of the year award would go to Wesley Johnson. Now granted I saw him play about every week and am partial to him for those reasons, but it’s safe to say, Syracuse would not have been nearly as good, had he not blossomed the way he did in Boeheim’s system.

Other possible contenders include John Wall (ugh, I hate to admit that) Da’Sean Butler and the criminally underrated Aubrey Coleman at Houston.

Any other opinions? Discuss in the replies below.