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Statistically
Speaking There are all kinds of polls being released, these days. BCS....Pre-season hoops...Republican Presidential nominees...you name it. I couldn't help but notice that the ACC had only two teams make the Coaches Pre-Season Hoops Top 25...and it's the same old shades of blue that are carrying the flag for the conference. North Carolina is ranked #1 and Duke is ranked #6.....that's it, for the league that considers itself a "basketball conference". I'd be the first to admit that I thought Florida State and perhaps one other league member could squeeze into the mix, and I do believe that will happen once we play some games and weed out legit teams from the media frauds.....but the pre-season list only shows UNC and Duke on the docket. It's interesting to note that the ACC only has two teams in this week's BCS football poll, too. Clemson and Virginia Tech are leading the way...and both should stay in the hunt, unless they collapse in November. I can assure you that local Charlotte organizers are openly rooting for that match-up in early December for the ACC Championship....if it happens, it will easily be the toughest ticket in the history of the ACC Championship. You never know about polls....but one thing I do know...and that is that pre-season polls usually offer nothing but fodder for sports fans and media talking heads. I couldn't help but laugh when I read the comments from Louisville coaching legend, Rick Pitino, during the Big East Basketball Media Days last week. Apparently, the sharp-tongued Pitino had a few choice comments about fellow Big East members (for now) Pittsburgh and Syracuse. As you know, the previously mentioned schools have decided to leave the Big East for the ACC....but Pitino wasn't about to give them a free pass. Pitino declared that the schools had made a hasty decision. Pitino said, "My problem is not with them leaving. My problem is that you did it in 48 hours. You don't run away with a girl after one date when you've been dating someone else for 3 or 4 years. You've been dating this woman for 30 years...show her a little respect." Wow...Rick....nice analogy. You of all people shouldn't be talking about being true to your woman. Aren't you the same guy that cheated on your wife of 20-some years at the time, by having sex with a stalking lunatic in a Louisville restaurant? This, coming from a guy that is talking about taking a few years to get to know someone....but had no problem telling the world that 15 seconds was all it took to take care of business. I'm embarrassed that nobody in the media called him out on it. Great coach...one of the best that I've ever seen....but the analogy was pathetically weak. I'm trying to get into the Chase for the Cup, but I've got to tell you.....it's so boring. NASCAR has ruined the racing at Talladega and Daytona. Anybody that tells you that they like this crap is either a racing team member, NASCAR employee, or blind. It stinks...it really does. Another problem the sport needs to address is the length of the season. I have the same feeling towards NASCAR as I do with the PGA Tour. It needs to end in August. Once the football season starts, along with the baseball playoffs (another sport that needs to tweak some things), NASCAR and the PGA Tour are after-thoughts. I can't believe the sport needs 36 races.....every time I turn on the race, all I see is empty seats. It's like Kenan Stadium with banked turns. I think the NASCAR suits need to do some serious soul searching and tweak the sport ASAP. It's never too late to make the sport better. And since Dale, Jr. still can't find a way to win with the best equipment on the planet, then you better go to plan B....whatever that might be. SEC Football coaches have been on the rampage, lately..... We all know about Steve Spurrier's ill-timed rip of The State's Ron Morris. USC Gamecock fans loved it, since they think Morris is anti-Gamecock and has it out for the program.....unfortunately, the national media didn't care for Darth Visor's tactics. I watched Nick Saban last week rip into the local press that was more concerned about everything other than the Tennessee team that was coming to get beat down in T-town. Saban enjoyed it so much, that he reminded everyone about it a few days later. Now it appears that Houston Nutt decided to rip into a reporter following another Ole Miss SEC loss. Supposedly, he was upset that the guy predicted the Rebels would get pummeled by the Arkansas Razorbacks. There's one thing that Nutt failed to realize, compared to Spurrier and Saban's approach and comments......and that is that Nutt can be replaced. And after Ole Miss dropped their record 10th straight SEC game (a school record), the chances of that happening are probably better than he realizes. The Carolina Panthers picked up another win.....and that makes them 2-5 for the year, as they match last season's win total. Things are so upbeat for the Panthers that center Ryan Kalil believes they are capable of running the table and winning every game on the schedule. I love Kalil, but he's nuts. Next thing you're going to tell me is that the Armanti Edwards, Jeff Otah and Everette Brown picks are working out perfectly for the Panthers. I'm glad people are up-beat and excited, but this team is a long ways away from being playoff-bound.....though they are headed in the right direction. One thing is perfectly clear: when Cam Newton protects the ball and doesn't throw a pick, the team is 2-0.....when he finds the wrong team via the pass, the team is 0-5. Up next is Minnesota....and it should be a game that the Panthers win. |
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