LeBatard goes off after Heat win the title

Since I have a desk job and have had one for just over a year, I sit in my cube, enter data and stream sports radio.  In the morning, on my drive into downtown Columbo, I hit up the Morning Zoo on WNCI 97.9.  I simply cannot take Mike and Mike (unless they get after certain coaches in the B1G)...

9:00-12:00 Dan Patrick show on DPShow.com
12:00-3:00 Jim Rome on ESPNCleveland.com
3:00-4:30 Common Man & The Torg 971thefan.com or the Dan LeBatard Show

I am a huge MYGUY fan, but I can't stream their show on the Internet, which is a total pain in the ass, so I head on down to 790 The Ticket in Miami for a few hours.  I went down there when everything was happening in the summer of 2010 to get their perspective, and his show is really funny. 

Anyway...After the Heat do something, like when they got James, when they took Boston out and after they won the title, Dan goes on a tirade and yells a few things about the city and team, then yells, "GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN" and compares the city of Miami to everything.  It's great.  Here is the latest rant after the 3 kings got their first crown together.

Over the weekend...

It's been real Boston.  Off to the
south side of Chitown

This guy will spend the rest of his life in jail.

I attended the Twins-Reds game on Satuday with one of my college buddies, his college buddy and my homey from high school and OSU.

This guy was traded from the Sawx to the Sawx.

This guy hit a walk-off for the Fightin' Phillies and made some money.

UCLA offered Snoop Dogg's soon-to-be sophomore son a scholarship.  I hope they hire Master P's son a coaching position and get Faith Evans a board of director's spot.  There is nothing better than 1990s rap.  No doubt DMX could coach Cover 1.

The Heat win, LBJ MVP

The Heat won the NBA championship and James was named MVP of the Finals after he was named regular season MVP for the 3rd time.  He closed out the Thunder with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

Here are James' numbers:
Season: 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.2 APG
Postseason: 30.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 5.6 APG

The best player was the best player in the playoffs and when it mattered the most, the NBA Finals.  Now all the hate the media gave to James will now be love.

Obviously, I am a Cleveland fan, and was crushed when things went down the way they did in the summer of 2010, and after he lost last year and said, basically, that everyone is happy we lost, but my life is better than yours and tomorrow, when you wake up, your life will still suck and I'll be fine.

I am sad as a Cleveland fan, and I turned off the game last night with 6 minutes left.  Partly because I was dead tired and partly because I didn't want to watch the Heat and their horrible fans celebrate a championship.

I think James has matured, and all everyone really wanted is for him to go '07-Pistons when it mattered the most, instead of quitting in the closeout game vs. Boston in 2010 (I will NEVER get over that) and last year in the Finals.  He took control, and especially in game 6 at the Garden this year, he was in total FU mode.  Give me the ball, and 1) get out of my way and 2) crash the boards in case I happen to miss it.

He didn't stop in the Finals, and was the definite leader for Miami.  I truly and happy for James, who had the pressure of the entire sports world on his shoulders.  It does seem he has grown up and become a person with a lot more self-awareness.  He has the title he could never get in Cleveland, and it took one year with Wade and Bosh and a few inconsistent role players to finally get it.  They look like a force to be reckoned with a la Jordan in the United Center.

Arkansas football unis for 2012

Arkansas has made some changes since they went 11-2 and had their starting QB and stud RB that has returned from injury.  The Razorbacks looked like a top 5 team that was ready to challange 'Bama and LSU (both teams come to Fayettesville) for the SEC and National crown.  However, their coach had a motorcycle accident, was fired, and the best coach of all time now leads pig sooie for 2012.  They have also changed their look.  Not a drastic change, but added some silver razor wire thingy on the shoulders and a black uni option.  Also, to fit the mold of every other team, they have added a white helmet for the first time ever.

I don't really mind the shoulder thing, but the two-tone numbers, adding a black uni and a white helmet option really is played out.  The all white look will be nice, but it's not really Arkansas.  Whatever, time to move on I suppose.

That Queen City

Looks like on Saturday I am headed down to the GABP to catch the 'legs and Twinkies duke it out in an interleague tilt.  First pitch: 4:10.  I am staying with Heider (with Hale to join after he gets off of work at 2PM on a Saturday, sounds like a bunch of terrorism to me) and with two days before the ball game, he came through and got us tickets, which I turned into a picture.  Here is wehre we will be "sitting" even though the plan is to get in early to capture a Sean Casey bobblehead (the only requirement to receiving free tickets) and head to the bar in left field.  Anyway, here are our tickets:



And no, my year and a half old daughter did not write that for me.  It's hard to write with a mouse, aholes.

VTECH Camo Jerseys

These are the camo jerseys the Hookies will wear this year at home.  They are pretty "boring" for a camo set, but with the maroon trim and the camo numbers (sleeve numbers a huge bonus), along with wearing white at home, I love the look.  It's rare for Nike to go the other way when introducing new uniforms, so this is a nice, classic, clean tribute to those who make it easy to watch the game we love on fall weekends. 

Source: Nike Blog

Stay tuned...

Hello...I don't know who will see this because, of course, if I don't check it every other day week month, then I don't know why anyone else would, but I think I may be done with my tumblr page and head back here for more personal stuff...more uniforms and NCAA football betting posts...so stay tuned loyal healthy scratch readers...for now I will leave you with this



Not too bad Maryland, not too bad...

Tumblr

So I started a tumblr for my daughter, posting a picture of her everyday with the intention of looking back at it with her when she gets older to see what it was like in her first 2 years. 

Then I came up with the idea of posting whatever I read at work when I'm not dealing with retirees and the world's most renown professors and surgeons who cannot fill out forms properly.  Just about every article I read I post, along with videos and comments about what I am reading.  It is pretty easy and I found that I like to comment on other people's work, rather than do the work myself. 

You can find me at jamiedupler.tumblr.com and elladupler.tumblr.com. 

I am most active on here with my college football betting and I am not sure how I can do that over there (I haven't found how to add pictures to a post with a caption), but I have about 10 readers so I don't think it matters.  Anyway, I will be over there more often than not.

Let's welcome Memphis to 2013 Big East Football

With news coming down that Memphis has accepted an offer to become the newest, and 12th member of Big East football and in all other sports, the Big East's goal of surviving as a conference is complete.  However, surviving the exits of Syracuse, Pitt and WVU, they may solidified their status as a mid-major conference.  Let's take a look at the new Big East (assuming all the teams leaving are able to leave for the 2013/2014 school year):

Big East East:
Central Florida (added 2012, C-USA)
Cincinnati (added 2005, C-USA)
UConn (added 2004, Independent. I-AA 1980-1999)
Navy (added 2015, Independent)
Rutgers (Original member)
South Florida (added 2005, C-USA. I-AA 1997-2001, Independent 2001-2003)

Big East West:
Boise State (added 2012, MWC/WAC)
Houston (added 2012, C-USA)
Memphis (added 2013, C-USA)
Louisville (added 2005, C-USA)
San Diego State (added 2012, WAC)
SMU (added 2012, WAC)

Teams lost:
Boston College (2005, ACC)
Miami (FL) (2005, ACC)
Pittsburgh (2013, ACC)
Virginia Tech (2005, ACC)
Syracuse (2013, ACC)
TCU (2012, Big XII)
West Virginia (2012, Big XII)

Now if these teams do not define a mid-major conference, I do not know what does.  The Big East could not have expected, as the weakest auto-BCS league, to lose the "best" programs, raid C-USA and keep their BCS status.  Oh and the football program they just added had their fired coach say this at his exit presser.

Good luck with that, Big Least (ahhhyyyoooo)

*AD response Update* Memo to the B1G: Keep up or get out of the way

Who wants some?!

"You're pissed because we went after a committed guy?  Guess what?  We have 9 guys who better go do it again.  Do it a little harder next time".  Shots fired (back).

This is what Urban had to say at the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Clinic this morning, first reported by TheOZone.net and I found it from @LostLetterman.

This is a response to Bielema and Dantonio's bitching after signing day where the Buckeyes landed the 3-6th best class (depending on who you ask) while taking Se'Von Pittman who was committed to Sparty and Kyle Dodson, a lineman from Cleveland who had committed to the Badgers in the summer.

Things are getting hot and heavy and Urban hasn't been in the B1G for 3 months.  The two coaches who have had the best run in the last two years are not too happy with an SEC coach coming into the B1G and doing things the wrong way.  The way that has led the SEC to win 6 straight national championships, beating the B1G (Ohio State) in the title game twice.  Florida pounded, arguably, the best B1G team in the last 10 years ('06 Buckeyes) by 4 scores on the biggest stage.

You know who you don't hear bitching?  Michigan and Penn State.  They would have something to say about the Buckeyes "stealing" committed guys, but they haven't said anything.  You would think that Hoke would maybe chirp in because he likes to talk and forget the State part of Ohio State, but he has stayed quiet.  Michigan did finish with a Top 10 class themselves, however, I am sure he would have said something if he was pissed.  He probably isn't because Michigan is a top class program on their way back, and they probably like the challenge.  Penn State's coach, who is calling plays for the Pats in the Super Bowl, has not been quoted after Ohio State took 2 of their guys.  Michigan and Penn State are big time programs and understand you have to do what you have to do to get your guys.



He was good. In the 90s.



Michigan State won a share of the B1G title in 2010 but didn't make it to the Rose Bowl and lost to Alabama by 40 in the Citrus Bowl after a season that marked the most wins in school history.  Wisconsin made the Rose Bowl the last two years, losing both, to TCU and Oregon respectively.  The Badgers were the lead dog in the B1G the entire year and seemed to be on the path to the national title after a dismantling of Nebraska when Gameday came to Madison.  It was Wisconsin's first (and only) "huge" win where they were favored.  All their other program-defining wins have been an upset in the Rose Bowl in the late '90s and wins over the higher ranked Buckeyes, Wolverines and Nittany Lions (usually at home).  Their best players have been Ron Dayne and a QB that transferred for one year after playing at N.C. State.



After Wisconsin put
83 on IU in 2010


The Badgers are upset Urban is doing things the wrong way.  Here's a fun history fact: Wisconsin put 83 on Indiana in 2010.  Also, after going for two after a passing touchdown to put his team up by more than 5 touchdowns in the 4th last year, Bielema responded that his card told him to go for two after he was asked why he would run up the score.  It seems to me, on gameday, Wisconsin goes by the "if you don't like it, go ahead and stop it."  They also seem to love to beat up on the bottom-feeders of the conference, but when they get some competition, they tend to come up short (see: 2011 at Ohio State).

Do you think Urban gives a shit what those guys think?  The rest of the countries' elite programs laugh at the B1G.  Sure, Bielima doesn't want to do things the "SEC way", however, their way works, and dominates.  Get on the train or get run over.  They are pissed because Urban knows what it takes to compete with the SEC and the country, not just the Leaders and Legends.

If you would have told me before Memorial Day that Tressel would be fired retired, TP would be gone, Boom and Posey would miss a majority of the games, Ohio State would end up with a bowl ban after a 6-7 season, hire Urban Meyer and bring in a top 5 recruiting class, I would have punched you in the dick.

Michigan is back (maybe, probably).  Wisconsin is on top.  Michigan State is second.  Nebraska is lurking.  I hope they enjoyed Ohio State's one transition year.  I'll see you in Indy for the B1G Championship Games starting in 2013.



As Bo Ryan would say,
"JUST DEAL WITH IT"


Update:
Barry Alvarez has a response (and it sides with Urb) that he shared with ESPN's Joe Schad:
"Recruiting is recruiting until they sign.  If we had somebody who changed their mind and came to us, that's OK.  Urban was very aggressive but there is no pact within the conference not to continue to recruit. Open season until they sign."

Geno had his take as well:
"I am disappointed that negative references have been made about our football coaches, and particularly head coach Urban Meyer regarding recruiting. In our league appropriate protocol, if you have concerns, is to share those concerns with your Athletic Director (AD). Then your AD will make the determination on the appropriate communication from that point forward. The ADs in our league are professionals and communicate with each other extremely well. Urban Meyer and his staff have had a compliance conscience since they have arrived."

There you have it.  Once again, suck it ya big baby.  JUST BIEL WITH IT.  Next up, after Bert runs to the principals office, Jim Delany's take...Stay tuned for more BIG TEN IS BURNING!!!!