Lute Olson.....so wise

College BasketballI wonder how long Dukie V will be around

Another ASU thug

Figures it would take a blind side hit to get Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger out of a game, and form Scum Devil Terrel Suggs was happy to oblige. I'm sure it was a clean hit (I didn't see it myself), so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Besides, we'll always have Chuck Cecil.

Volunteers needed for Final Four

St. Louis is looking for a few volunteers for the 2005 Final Four. Get your application here.

Nice link, Yoni.

Department of Justice probe scares some big-name schools

Here's a story to keep an eye on down the road - it's about a community college basketball program that appears to actually be a farm team (JV?) with some Div. I ties. As reported on College Basketball Blog, it could be the beginning of bigger and badder things to come.

It's okay to run your little men's club, but looks like it's time to tidy up a little bit.

Majerus wobbles, has change of his very big heart

No sooner did Rick Majerus leave the press conference announcing his hiring as the Next Big Thing at Southern Cal (I hear they hate it when they're called "Southern Cal") than he began to have second thoughts about the whole deal. By playing the Health Card he is hoping to slip out of LA before the locals figure out that they've been duped....check out this clip from the aforementioned press conference just three days ago:


"The nicest thing is no one will ask me how soon you are going to leave here. I hope I die here. I hope I coach here for the rest of my life. I have no aspirations to go to pro ball. I hope to end my career here, but only after a long stint. I want to be here as long as they would want to have me." -- Rick Majerus


Way to go, Rick. Making it even worse was the praise Digger Phelps heaped on RM during halftime of our AZ/Marquette game, all but calling Majerus the annointed Messiah of PAC-10 basketball.

Gimme a freakin' break.

Read all about it.

Mankind aka Cactus Jack aka Mick Foley joins up

Former champion and best selling author Mick Foley is teaming up with
WWE to travel to the Middle East for the upcoming Smackdown! tour in
Iraq. Foley, along with Vince McMahon, 18 WWE Superstars and crew will
be traveling to the war-driven country on December 14th for a five day
tour which will lead up to a special Christmas edition of Smackdown!
tapings for the troops. During those five days everyone will travel with
the troops and make appearances at several bases delivering care
packages. Last year's visit to Iraq was a very successful trip for the
company and the Smackdown! tapings with the thousands of troops,
military vehicles and snipers in the background was quite a sight to
see!

Also heard that Todd Grisham, the former sports anchor with KOLD-TV and now on-air personality with the WWE, is getting married. Todd was a local favorite, and his hilarious teaming with Scott Kilbury for Friday night high school football coverage won't soon be forgotten.



Thanks to my Wrestling-online newsletter for keeping me informed.

Tomey ends up in the Rose Bowl - finally

Detour lands Tomey in Pasadena, just not with our beloved Cats. I miss his down-home attitude, but I gotta tell ya Stoops sure fires it up on gameday. Can't wait for football season next year. Did I just say that?

Tweak the BCS

Here are some guys who have been doing their BCS homework. Against all odds, they have come up 6 (six) different playoff systems for Div I, all of which are bigger moneymakers than the bowls we have now (New Mexico vs. Troy?). The main problem, however, is that they all make perfect sense, generate bigger bucks, and have a national championship game (how about the weekend before the Super Bowl?); of course, if it makes sense the NCAA won't do it. I really thought this would be settled in my lifetime.

That'll leave a mark

Even as a diehard 'Cat fan I was sorry to hear that Andrew Walter will have to miss ASU's bowl game this season. Looking at the replay of his injury it certainly wasn't an illegal hit or cheap shot that bent his wing, just one of those things.

Here's wishing ASU's QB a speedy recovery , and a few more "meetings" with Lance Briggs, Chris MacAllister, Tedy Bruschi and others in the NFL.

Rebound Bowl??

This is the sixth time since 1982 that the Sun Devils are going to a bowl coming off a loss or tie to Arizona. They are 4-1 in those rebound bowls, beating Oklahoma in the '83 Fiesta, Michigan in the '87 Rose, Air Force in the '87 Freedom and Iowa in the '97 Sun. The only bowl defeat after a loss to UA was 18-17 to Arkansas in '85 in the Holiday Bowl, where ASU appears headed to face Texas A&M (7-4) on Dec. 30 in San Diego.

Here's the whole AZRepublic story about the ASU awards banquet this year.

Hardcore Holly goes berserk!

Whoa! I thought you said this all was fake! HH snapped after a fellow grappler made a few bad choices with Holly's car. Some beach! Too bad the match wasn't televised.

Basket Cats start the regular season tonight

Lute takes the gang into yet another early season tournament (he loves those things), and who can forget Dickie V. "discovering" Sean Elliott and the Cats in Alaska back in the 80's. Tonight's Preseason NIT game at McKale finds 'Zona (we hate that) taking on San Diego in a first-round game. If all goes well, we should be watching UA/Wake Forest for the tourney title when Jeff,Zenna, and family are here!

45-0??

once again Greg Hansen proves that he's no homer when it comes to Wildcat football. The only thing missing here is the irritating reference to Larry Smith. I'll take Corky Simpson on this one.

Can the Cats pull this one off? It'll be tough. but not impossible (think Rudy, Hoosiers, '81) -

UA 22 Usc 19

No Foreign Objects

I don't know about you, but I recognize all the wrestlers that are lined up for this WRESTLING REUNION show in N.J. Look for Superfly Jimmy Snuka to make a surprise entrance from an upper balcony...

(wonder what the Golden Ticket package is....yikes!)

"To be the man you have to beat the man........Whoooooo"
Ric Flair

Final tune-up tonight for 'Cats

Sonoma State drops into McKale tonight for the competition as the Cats get ready for their run to March Madness '05. I'm waiting to see if Isaiah Fox gets any minutes tonight, or if he's still in Lute's doghouse for undisclosed reasons (I'm guessing this time he lifted a Krispy Kreme from Gas City). With preseason polls putting us only as high as #10, maybe we can fly under the radar for awhile until we gel as a team. Let's hope the Cats don't try to sleepwalk through this one tonight - if they play like it's Somnambulate State they'll be in trouble.

Tonight also marks the debut of Mohamed Tangara, which make the question of I. Fox moot.

Ouch!

SI.com opens a can of whoop-ass on the 'Cats and slaps 'em good in a recent article. Seems to me, though, that the chemistry on this year's team is much-improved from last season's one-and-done squad. Don't these guys know what happens when you back a Cat into the corner?

Bear Down!

Where are they now?

Chris Dunn

It's only been a year since he left the UA (couldn't handle going to class), but he has had a very busy 12 months, as told so well in this story. Thanks to Yoni for the great research, and only the best to Chris D.

Rare article about UA basketball team here

Sorry, I meant a rare article about the ASU hoops team. This PAC-10 preview is just a little of the wealth of info at I found at College Basketball Blog. Great week to be a Cat - just beat Washington, playing #1 USC in three days (and anything can happen, folks), and the basketball team is working out the kinks before they begin play in the Preseason NIT. Slap a little family, a little turkey and dressing in there, spanking the Devil, and it's going to be a November to Remember.


(withholding my UA/'SC prediction for the time being)

Arizona's Bowl Games

After finally winning a PAC10 game, and on the road to boot, the Wildcats are looking at November as their bowl season. Two games - against #1 USC and arch-rival ASU - remain. Looking forward to a great effort from our guys this week! CAts talk about the plan.

C'mon, Cole

A drive-by at Siegfried and Roy's?? Here's a mugshot fit for the Smoking Gun

The Best and Worst of College Football

The top 10 best and worst things about college football are all spelled out for us. I gotta put the "Pageantry" higher than 10, though.

Tough week for LA school point guards

UCLA and USC both lost point guards, which really breaks my heart. Looks like the Cats have depth enough this year to be able to handle such a loss, heaven forbid. Then again, last year we were feeling pretty good, too, and things sort of imploded from the get-go. Sunday's exhibition game will be our first look....hope it's on TV.

Tommy, Tommy. Tommy !!!

A word from General Franks

Rincon graduate epitome of courage

Exhilarating story here about by Greg Hansen about Cory Crowell - Greg Hansen: Rincon graduate epitome of courage | The Arizona Daily Star �. We grew up in the same neighborhood, learned the game at Randolph park, and although we were not very close friends he's one of those guys I seem to cross paths with every so often. Last time I saw him was at a Best-Ball tourney I played with Jeff and Chris A. at El Rio. What an inspiration to us all.

STOOPS

Nice column here about Coach and his handling of our football players. Athletes have to be more accountable than the rest of us because they are athletes, and have to walk the line of right and wrong just like the rest of us. Problem is, they end up in the newspaper for every little thing they do.

Hey! I'd trade for that and a hard body!

UA to start QB Kovalcheck

I really wasn't surprised to read UA to start QB Kovalcheck - we haven't really been lighting it up, have we? I think the fact that Heavner turned the red zone into the dead zone had lots to do with it; the Cats just couldn't put it in the end zone. And what do we have to lose? We're only playing Cal, right?

SportsBlog

SportsBlog, for the sports-fan who has everything.

In NBA news - 3-pt shot being re-examined

League looking at plan to limit three-point shot

Wire Reports

The NBA is considering a plan to abolish the three-point shot until the end of games to increase shooting percentages and make the sport more aesthetically pleasing.

Steve Kerr, who made a record 45 percent of the three-pointers he attempted in his career, supports the elimination of the long-range shot.

"I kind of liked the three-pointer before every player on every team was a three-point shooter," Kerr, who won five NBA championships, said in a telephone interview. "It's being shot way too often these days, and it's hurting the game. I wouldn't mind seeing an experiment that gets rid of it."

The NBA might do just that. The league is considering banning three-pointers until there are five minutes left in the game in its development league, National Basketball Development League, this season. The NBDL season begins Nov. 19.

"We've talked about it," Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations, said in a telephone interview. "We're wrestling with the idea."

Banning the three-point shot until late in the game might lead to a more up-tempo style and higher shooting percentages because players would be encouraged to take shots closer to the basket. It also would stop players on fast breaks from pulling up for a shot from the three-point line instead of going for layups.

NFL Office Pool Quick Picks

I've been using this site for my weekly NFL Office Pool Quick Picks, and although I haven't won yet, I've been in the running til the end.

Jake the Snake and his tribute

Every once in awhile one of those Scum Devils surprises me, but what Jake did to honor Pat Tillman goes above and beyond. Kudos to him for blowing off the NFL and their edicts and for wearing his heart on his helmet. Teammates are forever...


Update - 10/14 - Jake to remove the decal, will not be fined. Word is they'll be planning a new tribute.

Sammy - Say it ain't so!

Guess the corked **pop** bat should have tipped me off, or the irritating two-step as he eyes the ball leaving the field, but I always thought Sammy was one of the good guys of the game, a team player. That's a short-enough list (Jeter and Schilling come to mind) as it is without losing one more.

The list just got shorter.

Last game of the year, no play-offs again, and Sosa takes himself out of the starting lineup, doesn't even dress out, and leaves early. Sounds like he didn't play to me!

I heard Sammy's original story was that he stayed until about 30 min. left in the game, but the security cameras caught his much-earlier exit.

Then again, it is the Cubs.

Read it here

And he's fighting the fine, too - just another OPUP athletes (Over Payed, Under Played)

My Way - Sports News

Point Guard U

Sorry, Devil fans - here's yet another one that got away. What? You weren't even on his list??

UA gets Memphis basketball star

Williams wants to rejoin Dolphins, agent says

In other news, agent stands to lose $9M if Ricky Williams doesn't re-sign with the Dolphins.

Wonder what these two have been smoking?

Williams wants to rejoin Dolphins, agent says

Vegas Trip later this month

We'll be heading off for Vegas Oct. 19 for my MRI conference at the Luxor. Three days of meetings is a small price to pay for things to do up there. We're going to finally hit the downtown Fremont area, maybe take in a show, and we're even thinking about playing some golf while we're there. Just have to toss the clubs into the back of the Ranger when packing, that's all.

I'm planning on checking out a par 3 course up there, Cloud Nine, which is lighted for night playing and has duplicated some of the famous golf holes in the world. Hope it works out.

Cross-dressing can save your life

Those crazy baseball players - they seem to act the most like kids when they're not playing their game. This time, it worked out for the best. The bad news - a Cleveland Indian was shot in the leg while riding on the team bus. The good news - his knee-high white go-go boots saved his career.

Un-freakin'-believable.

Here's the story

Today's Amber Alert: The Wildcat Offense

The defense is looking great, now it's time for the offense to start catching up. O'fer the last 7 trips into the red zone (most of those right in front of our seats, dang it!) just has to stop. Interesting to read that Costa is being moved back to QB - I was expecting to see him a lot more in our offense. Let's see some more with Fleming, especially - he could take the tight end position out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

In other news - Midnight Madness for Men's BBall is set for Oct.15.

Stoops is learning, too

Before our Wildcats can raise up and roar again they must endure the painful growing process. No talk here about woulda/shoulda - just a reminder to all true CAT fans before we taste success we must have to suffer. At least that seems to be what the gods are telling us.
Just last year we were looking forward to these bye weeks because we couldn't lose when we didn't play.

Stoops and staff have a great thing started, and I for one can't wait for the winning to begin!!

Chris

GOAZCATS.com - Notes and Thoughts on Arizona�s 20-19 loss to WSU