Archive for the 'NCAA Basketball' Category

Relevant vs. Irrelevant

sandcrabs April 9th, 2008

The college basketball season is not officially over.  Champions have been crowned in both the men’s and women’s divisions.  Congrats to Kansas and Tennesse.  Really though, was it that thrilling?  Sure the shot near the end of regulation by Mario Chalmer was a hell of a shot.  But does anybody really care that much?  Unless you’re in some kind of tournament pool I’m thinking that college basketball is beginning to lose some of it’s allure.  On the side of irrelevant, can anybody name the coach for any college women’s team not named Sullivan?  I’m just glad that Rutgers was knocked out.  Had they won, their accomplishment would have been overshadowed with questions regarding vindication over last year’s controversy.  I’m not getting into that because, quite frankly, I don’t really care.

Moving right along.  What’s happened to officiating?  Kansas’ blowout win over North Carolina was one of the worst officiated games I’ve ever witnessed.  Next to Pac-10 officials (more on them in a minute) that group of incompetants were some of the worst I’ve seen.  Basketball referees in general don’t seem to have actually read a rule book.  From the NBA on down, how often have you just sat there shaking your head wondering what the hell the ref saw.  I have a theory on this.  Aside from which team David Stern wants to win for ratings, I think they sit in their little room before a game and think of a number between 1 and 10.  However many times they see a foul they don’t call it until they get to that number, unless it’s a blatantly hard foul.  I just don’t get it.  Umpires in baseball admittedly have different strike zones depending on the individual.  The rule book specifically states where the strike zone should be.  You constantly hear pitchers discuss the need to “adjust” to the strike zone.  Really?  Wow!

By far the best officials are in the NFL, but even some of those aren’t worth a damn.  Thank God Tom White finally retired.  Most in football generally do a good job, with the exception of Pac-10 officials.  Everybody should remember the OU game.  Yeah, the Sooners got jobbed on that onside kick attempt, but not enough that the replay official should get death threats.  Pac-10 officials who worked bowl games embarressed themselves with missed calls and complete confusion.  Some of those games were unwatchable due to this.  I’m sure it’s some sort on conspiracy.  The Pac-10 is out to make other conferences fail.  I’m sure 9/11 wasn’t an inside job but Pac-10 referees planned it all.  Hell, wasn’t that a Pac-10 official on the grassy knoll?

How do you feel now, IU?

sandcrabs February 18th, 2008

Kelvin Sampson has put his butt in a sling…again.  Too many phone calls to recruits…again.  Lied to the NCAA and the institution who employs him…again.  He came to IU with the same violations that were found at OU.  He received his punishment and that should have been that.  Instead, Sampson apparently did not learn from his mistakes.  Who’s to suffer?  More on that later.

NCAA bylaw 13.1.3.1 states “Telephone calls to a propspective student-athlete [or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians(s)] may not be made before July 1 following the completion of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school (subject to…exceptions…); thereafter, staff members shall not make such telephone calls more than once per week.”

Sounds clear enough.  The aforementioned exception (13.1.3.1.2) states “In men’s basketball, an institution is permitted to make one telephone call per month to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians) on of after June 15 of the prospective student-athlete’s sophomore year in high school through July 31 of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.  An institution is permitted to make two telephone calls per eweek to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians) beginning August 1 prior to the prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school.  An institution is permitted to make on telephone call per week to a two-year or four-year college prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians).”

Phew!  Lengthy also pretty clear.  But wait, there’s more!

13.1.3.1.6 states “Once an institution reaches the applicable limit on telephone calls to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians) for a particular time period (e.g., one per month, one per wekk, two per week), the instituation may not initiate an additional telephone call during the same time period, eve if no direct converstaion occurs during the additional call (e.g., voicemail message).”

On top of this, Sampson was prohibited from personally taking part of any calls to recruits for a period of 1 year back in 2006.  Somewhere in all this mess is where Sampson continued with the violations.  While debating on whether or not these rules are silly should be reserved for another time, the heart of the situation is this man’s integrity and honesty.  Make not mistake.  Kelvin Sampson is one hell of a coach.  He’s a great tactition and still relates well with today’s student-athlete.  However, it takes more than that to be successful at this level.  Continuing with these actions after being forbidden in participating sets a bad example to those whose lives are being formed at such an impressionable age.

I will put this as succinctly as possible.  Kelvin Sampson should be terminated immediately and not allowed to coach for several years… at least.  The very heart of this are his actions and refusal to follow the rules.  These bylaws were put in place as a means for kids not to be harrassed with coaches constantly badgering them to attend their institution.  However, who really suffers for these indiscretions?  The kids.  Sampson will undoubtably land somewhere else much as he did at IU.  If the NCAA wants for their sanctions to have teeth then penalties need to follow a coach and not just be left at the institution where they occurred.  The current Indiana underclassmen and possible future student-athletes will feel the penalties much more than Sampson will.  He will be sitting on his millions biding his time on the golf course or the lecture circuit.  Does anybody think something like this would ever happen under a certain recently retired red sweater wearing coach?  I think not. (yet another future discussion)  I’m thinking that the General’s antics weren’t really so bad.

Thanks a lot, Don

sandcrabs December 23rd, 2007

Recently, disgraced radio show host Don Imus returned to the airwaves.  Now when I say “disgraced,” it was his words and actions that caused him to fall out of favor.  Well, his appearance really is a disgrace.  I mean, wasn’t Leatherface from all those chainsaw movies based off Imus’ facial features?  C’mon, the guy has seen way too much sun in his youth.

For those who have been under a rock for the last six months, Don Imus made some racially sensitive remarks toward the Rutgers women’s basketball team.  I won’t get into that part of it at this time.  Maybe in a later column I’ll delve into the subject as I’ve got some definite opinions on that whole issue.  No.  My main beef is not with his ignorance.  God knows my ignorance has no limitations.  What I take exception to is how this old, cranky, wrinkly fart single handedly made women’s basketball relevant.  Not once, but twice!  Obviously the first was when he originally made those comments, but by coming back he reignited some interest in the so-called sport.

Please don’t mistake my disinterest in women’s basketball for sexism.  There are plenty of other things about me that point to that.  Infact, I gave women’s basketball a chance.  When Portland had a women’s professional team I rooted for them.  I kept track of their scores and standings.  The difficulty comes from how inferior a product it is to its male counterpart.  Oh, I can hear the screams of sexism now.  “Women’s basketball creates more opportunities for girls to be involved in athletics and can provide a chance for a continuing education.”  Fine, leave it at that.  Don’t make it out to be something that it’s not.

Here’s where I will venture into defending my caveman mentality when it comes to women’s sports.  The U.S. women’s soccer team’s success has provided so much more opportunities for girls than basketball has.  Women’s soccer is far more entertaining than women’s basketball…even though it’s still soccer.  Women’s softball has some of the best athletes playing. 

 There are not a lot of men who can compete with those women.  I’m not down on all women’s sports, just basketball.  It’s almost a travesty to the game.  Don Imus gave the “sport” some legitimacy that wasn’t earned by the competition.  Until the players can dunk on most plays, or be more fluid, women’s basketball will be the red-headed stepchild of the much better men’s game.

So, thank you Don for the double-dose of ignorance.  I tell you what.  Crawl into a hole and stay there.  Real sports fans, and your skin, will appreciate it.