Archive for the 'NCAA Baseball' Category

Snipets

sandcrabs June 9th, 2008

Just a few things on my mind.  I don’t have enough to go on, and on, and on about, but there’s been enough happening that I need to say something…..or several somethings.  Some will be rants on themes I’ve talked about before (crappy officiating) and others will be just my twisted little observations.  So, without further ado, here we go.

Fans of this blog, or “fan” I should say, know my disdain for professional sports officiating.  There’s no telling what’s going to be called or when for that matter.  Now, I haven’t watched much of the NBA finals.  Hell, I’ve spent more time on the crapper today than I’ve spent watching this junk, but the disparity in fould shots for game 2, 38-10 Boston, is not only ridiculous but bordering on the slanderous.  Now I understand the home team will get most of the calls.  That’s a given.  But anybody with a brain that’s still connected to the rest of the functioning body and operating normally can not in any dreamlike state believe this isn’t a joke.  As I’ve stated many times before, don’t make it so obvious.

Big Brown’s disappointing Belmont.  There’s been a lot of criticism about what happened.  I, for one, applaud the decision made by jockey Kent Desormeaux to pull up when he knew he didn’t have the horse to win.  He did it explaining that he cared for the animal.  What an original concept.  Others have mentioned how valuable the horse is in explaining their agreement with the actions.  These people have no character.  I can’t believe that I’m siding with PETA, but those people don’t give a damn that such a wonderful animal could have lost their life.  All they can think about are the millions that could have been lost had something happened to BB.  Those folks need to get the hell out of the sport.  They are definitely what’s wrong with horse racing.  I didn’t believe it at first, but their comments have certainly opened my eyes.

NASCAR points leading Kyle Busch got a little come-uppance.  His too aggressive driving caused yet another accident, yet this time he was the one sitting in the garage instead of another contender being put out of the race by this butt-monkey.  I give him some credit (but not much) for taking responsibility for the situation.  Still, it happened.  This guy needs to take a long look at himself and figure out how to race well without being reckless.

The college baseball world series is about to begin.  The super-regionals are winding down with several teams already qualifying for Omaha.  Baseball sucks but there’s something about college baseball that is somewhat exciting.  I know that all NCAA sports have been corrupted by the bungholes who call themselves administrators, but I do still enjoy it.  I guess it’s got something to do with the “ping” of the metal bats.  We’ve seen several MLB pitchers almost get their heads taken off lately, and they’re using wood bats.  Kind of makes that whole argument a moot point.  (Yes, that’s moot and not mute)

The dismantling of Roger Federer by Rafeal Nadal was quite impressive.  Some are saying this is an indicationg that Federer’s skills are dimishing.  They are much like the same idiots who made Federer #1 and Nadal #2 for the French Open.  Again, anybody with normal cranium functions know better.  This just makes for better tennis.  It will be interesting to see if Nadal can close the gap on other surfaces.  Maybe we’ll see a rivalry that harkens back to the Borg/McEnroe days.  Much like the NBA, shorts back then were much tighter and much shorter.

Take heart sports fans.  The U.S. Open is this weekend and football is less than 2 months away.

Oh No! Not OU!

sandcrabs May 28th, 2008

Before I begin, I want to make a quick comment regarding the non-call at the end of the Spurs-Lakers game 4.  Sports talk shows and blogs all over are blowing up over this issue.  I’ve brought it up on many occassions and that particular play just illustrates how inept NBA officials are.  Or, at least should give more credence to the fact David Stern really wants LA in the finals.  Granted the shot was a crappy one.  Had there not been any contact it likely would not have gone in.  However, as clearly shown in replays…hell, even live it was obvious.  Derek Fisher fouled Brent Barry.  No ifs, ands or buts.  He practically landed on his head.  This should not be a case of “You’ll never get that call at that junction of the game.”  It was not ticky-tack.  Barry got hammered.  Stone up.  Make the freaking call!

Okay, enough of that.  On to the topic which has caught me today.  The start of the NCAA Baseball tournament begins.  The 64 teams were chosen and shown on ESPN with a little less fanfare than the NCAA Basketball selection show.  Okay, no issues there.  However, there will be no repeat champion.  In fact, Oregon State could have gone for 3 in a row had they been given the chance.  To say a team just wasn’t good enough is okay, but the NCAA’s excuses were pretty lame.  Committee chairman Larry Templeton gave a small list of reasons for excluding OSU.  Let’s take a look at them. 

First, he cited the Beavers’ 24 losses and who some of those losses were against.  Hmm.  Oklahoma has 24 losses and lost games to Washington State (3), Baylor and that powerhouse of a program Southern Nazarene.  Next he mentioned Oklahoma’s non-conference record.  Quite amazing since they went 10-0 against stalwarts Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Dakota State (don’t they play hockey?), Western Illinois and South Florida.  All Oregon State could do was beat the likes or Georgia and Pepperdine, both tournament teams.  In fact, Oregon State had a winning record against teams who are in the tournament this year.  Oklahoma, sadly, did not quite meet this feat.  In fact they had over 15 losses to tournament teams.

 Granted, Oregon State did not look much like the 2-time defending champions this year.  Well, they didn’t look like that last year either and look at the run they had.  All they did was end the year repeating as champs.  Quite impressive.  This has the appearance of the NCAA still punishing the state of Oregon for the blown replay call in the Oregon-OU game.  Come on!  Enough is enough.  It was bad enough that parishoneers for a church in Oklahoma were threatening their pastor when they learned he came from Oregon.  The NCAA stands for No Class At All.  Based on that criteria, Oregon State should have been given the opportunity to make another magical run much the same as last year.  Point taken NCAA.  Get over it.  We have.