In a day filled with resolutions, hangovers, and College Bowl games, the biggest stories of New Year's 2007 have to do with coaching. From Bobby Knight becoming the winningest coach in Men's Division I-A College Basketball to another Bowl victory for Joe-Pa, the headlines were dominated by the men of the sidelines. Those two men stole the spotlight early in the day with Paterno securing his 22nd bowl win before many even got out of bed. At around the same time in Lubbock, Texas, Red Raider nation serenaded Coach Knight with Frank Sinatra's "My Way" to commemorate his milestone. Knight's uncharacteristic show of emotion clearly demonstrated the importance of the victory to family, former players, mentors, and apprentices. Unquestionably his most successful protege and the man most likely to break his record, Coach Mike Kryzewski heaped praise on his former coach. For all the criticism Knight takes about his abrasive ways, it is clear to those around him that it is merely tough love.
While college coaches were climbing new heights, the men of the professional ranks were falling from their perch. The axe fell on NFL coaches Jim Mora and Dennis Green after their teams failed to live up to expectations. Mora's Falcons were a disappointing 7-9 and Green could not get his offensive weapons firing in one of the NFL's weakest divisions. One of their former colleagues, Miami coach Nick Saban, reportedly will receive a formal offer for the vacant Alabama position. Once a coveted position held by such coaching greats as Bear Bryant, Alabama has struggled to find their new head man. It is believed that the compensation should be enough to paint Saban crimson, but no official word has been made. Finally, many in the Steelers organization are suggesting Bill Cowher has coached his last football game. Cowher is the longest tenured coach in the NFL, but many believed that 2006 would be his final season on the sidelines. Crushing division rival Cincinnati's playoff hopes with a thrilling overtime win would be a nice way for Cowher to make his exit.
Showing posts with label College Athletics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College Athletics. Show all posts
Monday, January 01, 2007
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Broadway Blues
The world's most famous arena may need to be renamed. It now houses the worst franchise in professional sports, the New York Knicks, and tonight the biggest chokers in hockey. With control of their playoff destiny, the Rangers got throttled 5-1 by Ottawa and have now fallen to the number six seed entering the NHL Playoffs. Instead of hosting their cross river rival New Jersey Devils, they head to the Meadowlands on Saturday for game one of the opening round. Although Ranger fans have to be ecstatic that this team is headed to the playoffs after being projected by some "experts" (no offence to loyal SI readers) to be the worst team in hockey, the way they collapsed at the end of the season is laudible. While some credit must be given to the Devils for putting together an unbelieveable 11 game winning streak to end the season, there is no excuse for allowing this division to slip through the cracks. Losing on Saturday at league bottom feeder Pittsburgh, the Rangers opened the door for the Devils heroics. Coupled with the Flyers win over the Islanders tonight, the Rangers were jumped by two teams on hockey's final night. The Rangers have been riddled with injuries, most notably to star goalie Henriq Lundqvist, but had many opportunities to secure the third seed.
In other sporting news, two Duke lacrosse players were charged in the rape scandal that has torn apart Durham. They were released after posting their $400,000 bail, but still face serious charges. This affair has been a major story for many news outlets because of the wide range of issues it involves. Durham is heavily populated by lower-class African-Americans, and the victim herself is black. Forty-six of the forty seven lacrosse players were white, and the alleged perpetrators are both affluent caucasians. Due to the association with a major college sports program, this issue gets a lot of press. However, while it certainly is a serious issue, it has received far too much coverage. This is not to show a lack of sympathy for the victim, or to suggest guilty parties should not be harshly penalized, but this story has received too much publicity. It is unfortunate, but it is also unfair to Duke students. Now they must be tormented for the alleged mistakes of only a few students. The actions of the accused should not reflect the school as a whole. Cameron Crazies bother me as much as the next guy, but it is unfair that the student body as a whole most suffer through this case.
In other sporting news, two Duke lacrosse players were charged in the rape scandal that has torn apart Durham. They were released after posting their $400,000 bail, but still face serious charges. This affair has been a major story for many news outlets because of the wide range of issues it involves. Durham is heavily populated by lower-class African-Americans, and the victim herself is black. Forty-six of the forty seven lacrosse players were white, and the alleged perpetrators are both affluent caucasians. Due to the association with a major college sports program, this issue gets a lot of press. However, while it certainly is a serious issue, it has received far too much coverage. This is not to show a lack of sympathy for the victim, or to suggest guilty parties should not be harshly penalized, but this story has received too much publicity. It is unfortunate, but it is also unfair to Duke students. Now they must be tormented for the alleged mistakes of only a few students. The actions of the accused should not reflect the school as a whole. Cameron Crazies bother me as much as the next guy, but it is unfair that the student body as a whole most suffer through this case.
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