John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering whatever happened to Bernadette Mattox?
• In Washington, DC this week…leaders from the “Power Five” conferences (Big 12, SEC, Big 10, ACC, Pac-12) met to continue discussions on change within the NCAA. Momentum for the so-called “Division 4” has waned…as has the thought of paying student-athletes. However, student-athlete welfare, changes to governance rules and enforcement are all high priorities. The key here, is the Power Five leaders have not (yet) shared what they feel is in their best interest with leaders from the “other leagues.” That – will be most interesting…
• Enforcement can be corrected fairly quickly. Simply allow outside sources to do it, rather than the “jury of your peers” way of doing things the NCAA currently subscribes to. Governance and taking care of student-athletes is where the sticking points lie…because the higher revenue schools want their own set of rules. And if they want to increase the value of scholarships for their student-athletes (i.e. “pay” them), they may want to do that, regardless of what smaller DI schools say. I simply don’t see everyone getting along here. Hope I’m wrong, but self-interest is too great. The NCAA convention in San Diego set for January 15-18 will be the Waterloo for all concerned…
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST• The Ed O’Bannon class-action lawsuit against the NCAA has been partially certified by a US District Court judge. What does this mean? It means you just might see the formation of a “trade association” that college football and basketball players (and perhaps others as well) could opt to join – and you would begin to see actual names and likenesses appear on video games and apparel. A trial on the actual law case is set for next summer…and could mean future $$$ for future student-athletes. Why would student-athletes NOT join this trade union? Because the issue of being compensated while still technically an amateur has not been settled. Until the rules are changed, accepting compensation could still cost an athlete his or her eligibility…
• I’m hearing Mark Trumbo and the Red Sox may have mutual interest. One question…why? His OBP is not exactly Red Sox-styled (.299 this year, ouch)…and flies in the face of their patience-at-the-plate approach. Still like Mike Napoli, or perhaps make the move for 37-year-old Carlos Beltran. Coupled with David Ortiz, you could get some kind of a serious partnership going with AARP, right?
• Speaking of the World Series MVP…did you see where Ortiz is collaborating with MTV for a series that will combine pop culture with baseball? Pittsburgh NL MVP Andrew McCutcheon is also producing the TV series with Ortiz, and will likely air on MTV2 around the time spring training starts next year. To get the younger audience back, and with Ortiz and McCutcheon as “pied-pipers,” this is a move WAY overdue…
• Was there really any doubt that Ben Cherington was MLB’s Executive of the Year? Let’s mix metaphors here – it was a slam dunk…
• Ditto John Farrell for AL Manager of the Year, but who doesn’t hold a bit of a soft spot for Terry Francona and what he did at Cleveland? Realizing that we live in a cocoon in New England, Farrell’s snub here was a little surprising. I mean, weren’t the Sox expected to be about as good as the Indians before the season began? What division did Cleveland win? The baseball writers who vote are just plain goofy – if not a bit idiotic. Francona won two World Series titles with Boston…and didn’t win ONE Manager of the Year crown. Still, an extraordinary year for the Boston baseballers. I’m sure Farrell will gladly make the trade for the hardware he DID receive…
• Even if the voting is done before the post-season – which it is – it’s still extremely short-sighted. Again, what exactly did Cleveland win? Spare me the “who did more with less” theory. Were the Sox not down in the basement with the Tribe, and others, before the season began? You can’t have that argument both ways. What was Cleveland’s improvement from last season to this one (24 games)? And Boston’s win improvement was 28 games? I know I struggled with algebra, but isn’t 28 > 24?
• Sign Napoli, Salty and make your best effort with Jacoby Ellsbury…knowing there are options in the outfield, at least. As for catching, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t…hence, my wish for his return. Then, let’s see another bat somewhere so Ortiz can perhaps earn his way into Cooperstown by actually seeing some pitches next year…Beltran?
• Major League Baseball approving instant replay WITHOUT doing something about the length of games is a disaster waiting to happen. Can we throw a flag on Clay Buchholz for delay of game? I guarantee this – if the umpires were to say “ball four” on a 3-2 pitch because the pitcher takes too freaking long to throw the ball…or “strike three” on a batter stepping out to adjust his flipping gloves with two outs and the bases loaded…games would move a lot faster…
• The latest craze on the collegiate scene…bottling the college “smell.” I kid you not. In a crowded US market for fragrances ($5.8 billion in retail sales last year), schools and some pro teams are creating perfumes and fragrances in an effort to continue keeping brand awareness high among fans and alumni. Ok, seriously. What would a Friar smell like? The kitchen at Raymond Hall? Or what about a Rhody Ram? The mind boggles at the possibilities…
• Did you watch the celebrity SportsCenter a couple of weeks ago with actor/comedian Ken Jeong (The Hangover) as a co-anchor? A lot of people did…ratings for the normally flat 6-7p ET show were up about 165K viewers from the previous week. Whether you’re into the celeb thing or not, expect ESPN’s SportsCenter to do more of this…as sports journalism continues to bastardize itself in the TV industry with entertainment…
• Now, if you were to get Ron Burgundy (aka Will Ferrell, of Anchorman movie fame) to co-host a show…I might actually watch that one. Go (bleep) yourself, America…
• Why do I get the idea that if Toronto mayor Rob Ford were the Mayor of Providence, we’d be celebrating him as “just one of us?” Maybe except for the “smoking crack in a drunken stupor” comment about a year ago. He’s absolute media gold. Is he for real? Whatever the case may be, I really, really wish Chris Farley were still alive to spoof him on SNL…
• Not for nuthin’…but the revelation this week that Jonathan Martin, the erstwhile Miami Dolphin embroiled in controversy with another former ‘Phin in Richie Incognito, wants to keep playing in the NFL doesn’t sit well with me if I’m a current player. Does the man’s talent level put him at the point where I wouldn’t have to worry about being “PC” in my own locker room that I couldn’t engage in some good-natured ribbing or horseplay? Team-building stuff? Busting chops on my teammates? I think most players wouldn’t want to have to keep looking over their shoulders…
• Saints’ coach Rob Ryan is now almost as much fun to follow as his brother Rex in New York. He went out and bought drinks for Saints’ fans after their demolition of the Dallas Cowboys last week…the same team that let him go a year ago. As a long-time Cowboy fan, all I can do…really…is just laugh. And blame Jerry...
• As if you needed another one…Reason #612 to consider the NCAA a complete and total failure when it comes to common sense…
• If you thought that 55 fouls and more than two hours of game time was too much when the Friars met the Boston College Eagles a week ago…at least you didn’t have to endure what Seton Hall fans had to put up with in their opener against Niagara – 73 fouls in a game that took two hours and 28 minutes (without overtime) to complete. The new rule changes on contact in college basketball? They are taking on a consequence that I’m wondering if coaches’ and administrators really realized what the hell they were doing…
• I mean, we’re all hopeful that the sport of basketball can return to what was originally intended…without physical play becoming dominating, overwhelming and turning the sport into football-on-hardwood. Which it has been for some time now, especially in the rough-and-tumble Big East. But this? No pain, no gain…
• It’s great to see Bryce Cotton take off in his senior year like he has, the Brown game notwithstanding. Cotton has a legitimate shot at Player of the Year in the Big East, and in a strange twist of fate, he has the chance to improve his game enough at the point guard level (having to step in for the injured Kris Dunn) to make him NBA-worthy at the position. The trouble here, as I see it for the Friars, is that PC can’t be “100% Cotton” this season in order to get where they want to go – and that’s the NCAA Tournament. This team needs the depth in the backcourt that Dunn and/or Brandon Austin could provide. They also need Kadeem Batts to avoid off-nights shooting the ball, and when he can’t hit outside, take his game inside…
• As for that Brown game, kudos to the Bears. They get up for this game, especially after the win a year ago at their place…kinda like a shark gets up for blood in the water. It’s impressive, and they have some good, young athletes in place that should make Mike Martin’s team competitive in the Ivy. Sean McGonagill can play on any team, anywhere. But there’s a way to go before becoming Harvard-good…
• Tweet of the Week I – from Marvin Barnes (@Bad_Marvin): “Brown, good school: Hired me one a them dudes in '74 to do my taxes…”
• As for the Friars, fans got a glimpse of life without Kris Dunn…especially when Cotton doesn’t have his “A” game going. In an effort to limit the stress on his right knee tendonitis, Cotton doesn’t practice in game situations…and without reps in game-speed, it tends to dull the sharpness of his shooting capabilities. This may be the most important area for the PC coaching staff to monitor all season long…
• The silver lining in the otherwise dark cloud from Wednesday night has to be Tyler Harris’ 21 points. It was a “quiet” 21, not particularly impressive, yet it happened. As mentioned above, PC needs another scoring option to win games where they don’t play particularly well, and Harris (along with LaDontae Henton, Carson Desrosiers and Josh Fortune) needs to be an option…
• Did you catch a glimpse at a few of the freshman superstars on hand for college hoop games earlier this week? And were you thinking like me “it sure would be great to have PC’s Brandon Austin show what he can do.” Whoops…
• Got the chance to watch several future Providence opponents this past week, and I’ll say this for Kentucky…for a bunch of kids who all seemingly need the ball, they shared the same ball pretty well. And Julius Randle is a flat-out LOAD. LaSalle’s Tyreek Duren impressed me, and Xavier’s Semaj Christon is sleek, quick and aggressive. Chaz Williams from UMass has to be one of the best point guards in the country, but gets no run – maybe because he’s listed at 5-9 and is more like 5-7? All I know is he can play. This could be some ride this season…
• One other note about Kentucky…after falling down big to Michigan State, the fact they had resiliency to come back and almost pull out a win over #2 was impressive. The Harrison twins (Andrew and Aaron) are a bit of a puzzle, at times equally looking mature and at others completely disinterested. If the Wildcats can’t improve on 20-36 free throw shooting like they had against the Spartans, they’re beatable – for now…
• So now the Big 10 says they plan to have basketball championships in the East? Commissioner Jim Delaney said as much this week, and also said the league offices are looking for space in New York City. Seems that the ACC isn’t the only conference that wishes they had a Garden party in March. Just sayin’…
• Really now, this New York-envy, all of a sudden, will pass. Some people just don’t know how good they have it, until the good is gone. Or until they see others having fun (or making $$$), and want a piece of the action. That, in a nutshell, is the basis for the ACC and Big 10’s overtures into Gotham. Maybe those leagues shouldn’t have let football rule their worlds…NY is a big place, but the Garden is taken. Sorry. Go find your own mecca…
• Maybe for the ACC, they’ll find it in the nation’s capital? Their tournament moves to the Verizon Center in 2016 for a year…even after the closest school, Maryland, leaves for the Big 10. Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Louisville…sounds a lot like the old Big East – maybe better – and was a big reason the ACC raided the old Big East in the first place…
• Don’t look now, but UConn might have a chip on its’ shoulder. Shabazz Napier just had his second straight triple-double performance this past week as the Huskies hung a hundred on Detroit. They’re playing with a purpose…
• This week’s “feeling old” moment? Watching that UConn-Detroit game and seeing Juwan Howard, Jr. – the son of the former Michigan “Fab Five” star and current Miami Heat assistant coach – scoring 14 points for his Titans…
• My thoughts and prayers are out to Steve “Homer” True, the radio voice of the Marquette Golden Eagles, who was hit by a drunk driver this week in Milwaukee. Homer has been Marquette’s voice for 20 years…he also hosts a radio talk show and is a former TV anchor in Milwaukee. Fortunately, later in the week he was upgraded from critical to fair condition…and true to form was asking if he could work the Marquette-Ohio State tilt Saturday night. Typical play-by-play guy, never wants to miss a game…
• Also glad to hear former WEEI host Glenn Ordway is back on the radio, hosting a weekend morning show on Sirius/XM’s Mad Dog Radio channel. Hey, wait a minute. That’s when our GoLocal show is on. Decisions, decisions…
• If you missed the feel-good story of the week - maybe the year - just know there are some true heroes out there. Organizations like Make-A-Wish and the City of San Francisco are two...and the SF Bat Kid, five-year-old Miles Scott, is my hero...
• So, the Celtics lost four in a row to start the year. Then, they won four in a row. If you were thinking draft lottery for Boston next June, it’s still early…but you might want to re-think your plans…
• It stands to reason once Rajon Rondo actually comes back, this team could be better. For now, they’re responding to Brad Stevens’ style, the roles they have within the offense, and playing hard with some sticky defense on the other end that kept them in games early, while waiting for shots to fall…
• While watching news on Channel 10 in the last week, I was reminded of a famous quote from the legendary John Wooden: “What is right is more important that who is right.” Is it possible any more to actually deliver the news, without taking credit for it? Whatever happened to just doing your job?
• Actually, all TV stations do this to some extent. Our life and times of self-promotion. It certainly seems, however, WJAR Channel 10 is more egregious than the others in this practice. I don’t know much about WLNE Channel 6, however…because I have DirecTV, and they’re not currently ON DirecTV for some reason. Oh, you didn’t notice? Just another reason why they lag behind the other two stations, and have since inception. Stupid is as stupid does…
• Another pet peeve…anchors who “thank” reporters. I mean, they’re doing their J-O-B-S. If you flip burgers for a living does the boss, your fellow fry-cook or the customer thank you for that well-done patty you just cooked? Um, no…
• I’m all for getting up close to the action to call a game. Gotta have the windows open in the press box for football, no matter the weather. Gotta be courtside for hoop action, to see the players, hear the coaches and understand the refs. But rinkside for hockey? Isn’t that a death-wish?
• My newlywed buddy “Big E” sez he’s really become a hockey fan lately. So much so, he provided me with three reasons why hockey is better than sex: 1) A 2-on-1 or a 3-on-1 is not uncommon…2) You’re sure to get it at least twice a week…3) Many people play hockey even after they’re married…
• Tweet of the Week II – from @OMGFacts: “Men are four times more likely than women to be struck by lightning.” Is that because we’re “positive”-ly charming, or because we’re capable of drawing the Wrath of God at a moment’s notice? “Smite me, O mighty Smiter…”
• The Providence women’s basketball team has certainly had its’ share of hard times over the past couple of decades, with a sprinkle of success thrown in. But Susan Robinson-Fruchtl’s Friars opened this season with back-to-back 100+ point games (yes, both were wins). Hard to do at any level, right? That’s a start…
• Anyone remember Bernadette Mattox? When Rick Pitino hired her to become the first female assistant for a men’s program at Kentucky in 1990, it was thought to be a gender-breaking moment in sports. It hasn’t turned out that way. In fact, it’s gone the other way. The key…is it takes time to build relationships in order to have success. A great story on the aftermath from USA Today’s Nicole Auerbach…
• From the mailbag this week – Kyle (@KyleB_MUT) from Cleveland, OH writes via Twitter: “What happened with Adrian Wilson? Haven't heard anything about him in a while.” Kyle: There’s a very good reason for that. Knowing that there was quite a bit of focus this week on the safety position for the Patriots with Ed Reed’s release in Houston (and he ultimately signed with the Jets), the Pats’ Steve Gregory (broken thumb) did not practice at all. But Wilson won’t replace him. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve before the start of the year.
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• Don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text us at 37937…and send email to the show - [email protected] .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 91-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
