John Wooden on Prudence

Mike Kzyzewski on Responsibility

Roger Craig on Opening Day Pitchers

Bart Giamatti on Baseball

George Bernard Shaw on Baseball

Chris Rock on the Final Four

Geno Auriemma: Men's College Basketball Is a Joke

University of Connecticut Women's Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma had harsh words for Men's College Basketball, pronouncing it a joke.  Auiemma believes that bolstering offense is the key to keep hoops with the times. 

Those were fighting words to ESPN commentator (and former University of Detroit Titan coach) Dick Vitale,who has made his career on college basketball, thus he thinks the current men's basketball game is, to use his lingo, AWESOME BABY.

Does Coach Auriemma think that having a three point line (which is significantly closer than the pros) does not add to the offense?  How about the shot clock, which mooted the Tar Heels infamous Four Corners offense?  Is Auriemma's objection to the recent  NCAA rule on charging which no longer sanctions physical play driving to to basket?  Does the UConn Coach consider that the NBA has drifted away from scoring free for alls that were commonplace during the 1980s?

For me, what makes the college game exciting is the rawness of the talent.  Most men's teams do not sport three starters who will make it into the pros.  Many need to develop their skills and rely on teamwork to be successful.  For men's college football, the strategy coming from the coach is key. If college basketball becomes a scoring-centric sport, strategy will become negligable 

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Bill Veeck on Spring

Hillary Can't Heisman?

Typically, the Heisman refers to an award given to the outstanding college football player in the United States since 1935.  The Heisman Memorial Award trophy is distinct as it is a  lost wax process bronze casting design by well known sculptor Frank Eliscu that depicts a skilled and powerful football player, sidestepping and straight-arming his way to a touchdown.

Sculptor Frank Eliscu and the Heisman Trophy

Recently, when former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) was interviewed by Hugh Hewitt, the undeclared Republican Presidential hopeful invoked the Heisman when surveying the 2016 political playing field. Jeb Bush was asked about all of  chaos in the Middle East which the Obama Administration's foreign policy precipitated (namely Libya, ISIS and an inchoate Arab nuclear arms race).  Governor Bush responded that:

 "I think she can’t do the Heisman on the first four years of the Obama foreign policy. She’ll try. I mean, she’s going to, look, this is very Clintonian, I think, to figure out a way to get out of a mess."

Bush invoked the image of the Heisman stiff arming opposition before striding into the end zone for a score. Certainly, the big bench of talented GOP Presidential candidates will seek to stop Hillary from side stepping opposition blocking her way to the South Lawn of the White House despite screens from the Lamestream Media.

It should be remembered, however,  that the Heisman Award is an honor given by sportwriters (journalists) through a beauty contest vote.  There is concern about the Heisman curse that designated winners often do not perform well the big game or during their careers  in pro football despite the honor and the hype of the Heisman. Certainly, parallels can be made to Hillary's proto Presidential campaign and presumed coronation at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Falcons Fined for Faux Fan Noise

Atlanta Falcons fans have had little to cheer about over the last couple of seasons as the team went 3-5 at home during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.  The Falcons organization sought to fire up their fans by playing an audio file with fake crowd noise to make it sound louder in the Georgia Dome.  

After an investigation by the NFL, it was determined the Falcons faux fan noise was a direct violation of league rules. Falcon's owner and chairman Arthur Blank issued a mea culpa which admitted to the forbidden practice.  

 Consequently, the Falcons will forfeit a fifth round draft choice in 2016 and will be fined $350,000.  Roddy White, the events marketing director who spearheaded the artificial crowd noise, is no longer with the Falcons.  Falcon President Richard McKay has been suspended from the NFL Competition Committee .

The Atlanta Falcons are in the process of constructing the New Atlanta Stadium to replace the Georgia Dome, which has been the Falcon's home since 1992.  The NFL ought to ensure that the $1.4 billion pinwheel roof stadium does not have a sound system like Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel which "goes to 11" .