John Rooke’s Scattershooting – “Killer” is Gone and So Could Walsh
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Scattershooting again, while wondering if my insurance guy has “no football season” protection somewhere in his bag of policies…
Another piece of my childhood broke away this week, with the passing of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. Arguably, “Killer” was one of the greatest pure home run hitters of all time…well in advance of the juiced ball era or steroids. In the decade of the ‘60’s Killebrew was #1 in HR’s hit (393) and walks (970), and was named AL MVP in 1969…
You’ve heard NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West is the model for the silhouetted NBA logo? Harmon Killebrew’s batting stance is the silhouette for the MLB logo. A great player, yes…but to those who knew him, an even better person…
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA fantastic story on ESPN.com this week by Dana O’Neil chronicles the “coming out” process for former Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan. He’s a role model, to be sure…but until the time comes when someone’s sexual orientation isn’t part of the story, I’ll continue to treat these instances cautiously. What’s the big deal? And is Sheridan guilty of “pimping” his product?
From Planet Texas: This week, lawmakers announced they’re moving to crackdown on unethical sports agents and their “runners,” threatening them with felony convictions and prison sentences for luring college athletes into deals that cause them to lose their eligibility. ‘Bout time someone stepped up…
Not for nuthin’…but the state of Texas also leads the nation in prisoner executions. And, they shoot horses, don’t they?
I have long advocated for student-athletes, especially in revenue-generating sports, to receive an additional “stipend” above the cost of their scholarships to attend school. They can’t hold jobs like “regular students,” and the demands on their time are much more regimented than a “normal student.” To say that the scholarship alone is enough compensation is simply being naïve, especially given the current collegiate athletic landscape. The Big Ten conference has been discussing the concept of paying athletes more than their current scholarship monies, and now, the SEC, CUSA, Big 12 and SEC all say the concept should be explored further. What say you, Big East?
The two-day NBA combine for prospective draftees concludes Friday in Chicago, and while prospective #1 pick Kyrie Irving from Duke sits out the drills, PC’s Marshon Brooks is apparently “wowing” some onlookers - to the point that ESPN analyst Len Elmore called Brooks the most impressive player at the combine on Day One…
The news this week that Doc Rivers is having throat surgery made me swallow extra hard…you’ve got to wonder about all of the yelling he does on the Celtics’ sideline, and the wear and tear on his throat and vocal chords…
What geniuses really think Dirk Nowitzki is better than Larry Bird? Career numbers to date: Bird - 22.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 6.0 apg, 3 titles. Dirk - 23.0, 8.4, 2.7, 0 titles (so far). Which player makes his team better? Slam dunk…
But Dirk did have a helluva performance in Game 1 against Oklahoma City – 48 points, with an NBA playoff record 24-for-24 at the free throw line, breaking Paul Pierce’s mark of 21-21 in ’03 vs. Indiana…
If you’re hoping that our sports teams start taking concussions more seriously, Patrice Bergeron’s return to the ice for the Bruins shouldn’t be good news…
Tyler Seguin? Where has he been, Claude? And why didn’t someone in the media ask that question earlier?
Do the Red Sox win anything for hitting the .500 mark?
So John Lackey goes on the disabled list with a “strained elbow?” Daisuke Matsuzaka also has the mysterious “strained elbow?” The actual ailment that has plagued these two probably lies somewhere north of their elbows…
And now you know why we have the baseball adage “you can never have enough pitching,” as the Sox still have Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler on the mend, too…
How about the story this week that Emerson College in Boston (that’s Division III Emerson, btw) hired former BC and Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien to be THEIR new basketball coach? Ok, I’ll say it…but you’re thinking it…why can’t we get coaches like that?
Speaking of coaches, still hearing on a couple of fronts that RIC head basketball coach (and former PC assistant) Bob Walsh is a leading candidate for the top job at Vermont…
I’ll say it out loud. The Big East is a physical league. You need size, sure, but also strength to compete. Don’t we all know this by now? Does the Friars’ new staff know this?
If first impressions mean anything, PC assistants Bob Simon and Carmen Maciarello are the kind of guys I’d like to have in my living room, recruiting my kid. Comfortable, composed and confident. And just plain good guys…
Drew Bledsoe is a fitting choice for the Patriots’ Hall of Fame this year, made even better by the fans voting him in. Wonder how many of these same fans booed him (rather than “Drewed” him) as he was playing hurt on his way out of Foxboro?
Forbes magazine this week says now that Phil Jackson has retired, Bill Belichick is the highest paid coach in pro sports – estimated to rake in $7.5 million a year. The other two NFL coaches who make $7 million are Pete Carroll and Mike Shanahan. I think we got the better deal…
In case you were wondering, NFL Network is running a feature on the current Top 100 players in the league…Patriots LB Jerod Mayo checks in at number 62, and counting down. Gotta do something to kill the time…and create programming…
Since we’re on the subject of football, I’m not sure if the Patriots will pursue any available free agents outside of their own, like Gerard Warren or perhaps try to make amends with Logan Mankins. But there are two new names to keep an eye on – Shaun Ellis and Chad (Ocho Cinco) Johnson. “85” isn’t a free agent, but there has been some interest in a possible deal…
Ok, enough football fantasy. We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality show, “NFL Divorce Court,” already in progress…
John Rooke is a football and basketball broadcaster in the Big East, and has been the radio “Voice of the Friars” since 1989.
Related Articles
- John Rooke: Patriots Draft 2011
- John Rooke: Scattershooting
- Rooke Interview: Bledsoe voted into Patriots Hall of Fame
- John Rooke’s Everything College Sports
- John Rooke: Scattershooting
- John Rooke’s College Notes
