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0-for-54 What comes to mind when I mention the "0-54"? Around these parts, the immediate answer is Clemson's inability to beat the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill in men's basketball. It is an amazing run of futility or dominance, depending on which side of the argument you defend. But for the most part, the Heels have been favored in nearly every home game against the Tigers. I'm going to give you a stat this is more amazing that Clemson's goose-egg, and it involves the ACC. The entire ACC, for argument's sake. Since 1955, the ACC has gone 54 straight years without winning the College World Series. And unlike Clemson being a dog in every visit to Orange County, the ACC has produced some terrific teams that have come up empty in Omaha. As a matter of fact, the league has produced 6 teams that have qualified for the trip to Omaha since 2006.....but none of them have found a way to close the deal. The last conference member to win it all was Wake Forest, in 1955. This year, the ACC placed two more teams in the final field of 8 in Omaha. Both UNC, the nation's #4 seed, and Virginia, the conference champ, have a chance to end the skid. After the opening weekend of play, both Virginia and UNC find themselves with a loss to LSU and Arizona State, respectively. The good news is that it's a double-elimination process...the bad news is that both ACC teams are halfway to packing their bags. Will the streak ever end? At this pace, Clemson might win a hoops game in the Dean Dome before we see a conference team close the deal in the CWS. Roll Tide, Roll. Bama is back.....on NCAA probation. That didn't take long. I could have sworn they were just placed on probation just a few years ago? Oh well, who is counting anyhow? So, let me get this right: the entire school goes on 3 years of double-secret probation, because of textbooks. Makes sense to me. When it comes to the NCAA, nothing should surprise us anymore. The good news for Bama is that all the vacated wins and pocket-change fines are a drop in the bucket, compared to no scholarships being eliminated along without any post-season restrictions. The bottom line is that it is business as usual, for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. They are in the process of putting together one of the best football programs not only in the SEC, but in the entire country. There's no stopping the Tuscaloosa Express....and that includes the NCAA. Take away as many games as you want from the past; the future is now, and the Tide is going to be tough. Roll Tide, Roll. As I'm writing this blog entry, I sure hope the LA Lakers win Game 5 in Orlando. I've already grown tired of listening to Shaq, in his lame attempt to stay in the spotlight. I'm tired of watching Orlando fire up another 3-point field goal, and listening to Stu Scott and Magic Johnson is painful enough. I'm sorry, but this series has been anti-climatic for me, and that includes a pair of botched OT games by the Magic. They had a chance to hook me in game 4, but Orlando choked all over themselves down the stretch. The Lakers are up 3-1 and feeling great, and they should be. No team has rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Championship. I don't sense the Magic can win three straight in this case, either. The Lakers' title will give them 15, and coach Phil Jackson will pocket his tenth title as well. Congrats to all parties involved, but wake me up when the football season starts. This Laker team will never be confused with the great teams of yesteryear...but they are the champs. The Pittsburgh Penguins' win in dramatic style over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 on Friday was entertaining. It marked the first time a major pro sports team in America won a Game 7 on the road for a championship since the Pittsburgh Pirates did it back in 1979. It's hard to believe that it was 30 years between victories under that scenario. It was also interesting to note that Pens superstar Sidney Crosby caught grief for not being in the "handshake line" at the appropriate time, following the huge win. Some of the Detroit players called it garbage, while the Pittsburgh contingent gave him an excuse due to the massive celebration taking place on the ice. This marks the second major "handshake" debate, after LeBron walked out on the Magic and the media following their upset loss in the Eastern Conference Finals. The biggest difference between the two respective stars is one thing....Sid has the hardware. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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