How about that fifth year senior

“Someday, Drew Henson, a sophomore quarterback at Michigan and a can’t-miss farmhand in the New York Yankees’ organization, may win Super Bowl and World Series rings in the same season. Someday, Henson will shine at crunch time. But last Saturday the Wolverines needed more than potential as they trailed Notre Dame 22-19 with 4:08 to play. That’s why fifth-year senior quarterback Tom Brady was on the field for the 58-yard touchdown drive that gave Michigan a 26-22 win.”

That is part of a 1999 Sports Illustrated article. The part about Henson is funny, considering he had his chance with the Cowboys and was a bust. He didn’t win a World Series or a Super Bowl in the same season. He couldn’t even stick with either sport.

Meanwhile, that fifth year senior isn’t so bad.

COLLEGE basketball

Last year, I did a mini college basketball preview about the arcs and certain perennial powers. Here’s a quick recap:

(From Nov. 2008)- The college basketball season is here. The Tar Heels are the national favorites, followed by the likes of perennial powerhouses UCONN and UCLA. The season figures to be entertaining, thanks largely in part to a bunch of players who stayed in school.
But what really is the biggest story at the start of the college basketball season? The new arc? Can you believe it? A line is hogging the spotlight. Both Sports Illustrated and The Washington Post did feature stories on arcs. They were good, but what a shame that an arc is stealing the limelight from the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Luke Harangody, and Blake Griffin.
It’s all great and good that there is a new arc. But it probably won’t make a difference. So lets focus on the players shooting from the arc, not the arc itself.

 

 

I would like to say that things are the same this year, but that would be far from true. Gone is the dominance of UNC and Hansbrough. In is a lack of dominance, in my opinion at least. The stars that stayed in school last year are gone. Only Harangody is back. The other stars are labeled that way because that is what they have to become to replace the departed players. Kansas is supposed to lead the pack, with All Americans Sherron Colllins and Cole Aldrich. Did you know that those two were bench players in the Jayhawk’s national title team from two years ago? UNC is supposed to remain strong with supposed lottery pick Ed Davis, who is being declared great based on potential,not real life results. However, he did shows glimpses of skill last year.

Lucky Kentucky. They not only get John Calipari, but John Wall and a bunch of other top recruits. All for the price of one! Just kidding. But Kentucky did make the leap from no NCAA to top five team.

The Big East will be down. They lost Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams, Marquette’s threesome, and a bunch of others. So who’s left? Greg Monroe of Georgetown, who showed great flashes as a freshman last year. Syracuse transfer Wesley Johnson is supposed to be good. We’ll see. Harangody, a proven star, is back. Pitt is down. Louisville and Connectiuct are down key players from last year but not depleted like Marquette and Pitt. Cincy is on the rise, as are Seton Hall and St. Johns. Villanova leads the pack with Scottie Reynolds, while WVU trails closely. I think it’ll be a tight race.

The ACC will be lead by (gasp!) UNC and Duke. But UMD has Greivis Vasquez and Georgia Tech has some good recruits. Wake lost Jeff Teague and James Johnson. UVA has Sylven Landesberg.

In the SEC, they’re still focused on football.

In the PAC 10, Cal leads the way with guards Randle and Christopher. Washington has Isaiah Thomas (different one).

The Big 12 has Texas and Damion James. Also, can Mizzou repeat last year’s magic?

And the Big Ten. I’m feeling the Big Ten. Purdue is loaded with JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel, Chris Kramer and E’Twaun Moore. Michigan State just made the final Four. Michigan and Manny Harris should be good. Wisco is always solid. Illinois was good last year and Penn State should build off their NIT Championship.

It will be an interesting year for sure. Is it too original if I pick Kansas?

 

 

As long as their football team doesn’t get to them first.

Forde Minutes: A look back and a look forward – ESPN–Found this on ESPN. Interesting.

CONGRATS

27

The world is back on its axis. Number 27 has arrived. I painfully watched the final out and about 30 seconds of the on field celebration when I heard a lot of noise in the halls. That was normal, because I am in NY. But then there was a loud buzzing. Some idiot pulled the fire alarm. So out into the cold we went at midnight, thanks to some Yankee fan who pulled the alarm. Congrats, Yankees. New York’s taking it home again next year. (But it’s gonna be the cross town rivals). And to Phillies fans, I’m sorry. NOT.

27. Doesn’t have the ring that 26 held for half of my lifetime. I tried to look up this number, and what did I get: the Yankees. Wikipedia is already updated.

The last time the Yankees won the World Series was 2000, at the expense of the Mets. Now I’m sure they really appreciate it.

Tonight’s updates

So I’m sitting here watching some of the Nets game on tv for my first NBA game of the season. Ex-Net Kenyon martin fouled Brook Lopez, but why would he feel bad beating the Nets? I don’t even know who this team is anymore. I feel like I’m watching a team of amateurs. I have more allegiance for K-Mart and ex-Cuse star ‘Melo than for the Nets. But they are still the Nets, and they are still my team. Just saw a fastbreak. Got the foul, but couldn’t finish at the hoop. Always finished in the past. But these Nets are young, so I’ll give it to them. And now they’re leading!

Meanwhile, the Yankees can clinch the WS tonight, and the Wizards are on ESPN!

A shock

The Wizards beat the Nets today. The sad thing is, I didn’t even know these two teams were playing each other. The Nets always had the Wizard’s number in the past; now that seems to have switched.

In other news, I just read that the WNBA’s Detroit Shock, one of the league’s most successful teams, is moving from Detroit to Tulsa, OK. Detroit is in bad shape I suppose, but Tulsa kind of seems like isolation. Can you imagine if the Pistons moved to Tulsa? I know! And can you imagine if the Lions moved to Tulsa? I know…um I mean, yeah, actually I could imagine it. Haha!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changin’

You see this jersey?It’s gone! The Nets ditched this away jersey for their red jersey that had been used as an alternative the past couple of seasons. I don’t really like the change. I think away jerseys should say where a team is from. And the red is bright. At least the home jersey is the same. Good thing I have this jersey to remind me of when the Nets were good!

Trick or treat!

Winnie (middle) gave me nightmares.

In honor of Halloween, I’m going to list my top seven (that’s all I could think of) Halloween movies. (Yes, most of these are Disney only because that’s what I grew up with) Oh and Syracuse is playing Cincinnati today. Now that’s a scary thought. And I have to see it in person! Anyway,

1. Hocus Pocus

2. Halloweentown

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas

4. Under Wraps

5. Don’t Look Under the Bed

6. Phantom of the Megaplex

7. Tower of Terror

I know none of these are classics or well known besides number one and three. When I watched Hocus Pocus in elementary school I thought they had to pick an ugly actress for blondie. Little did I know that Sarah Jessica Parker actually looked like that. All these movies except #3 are based off of Halloween as well. What are your favorite Halloween movies?

Wishful thinking?

Jonny Flynn beat the Nets

 

Do we just stand there?

What are they teaching these players at Syracuse? How to score 13 of their 18 points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to help a team come back and win by 2 after being down by 16? Don’t take it out on the Nets next time.