During Yard youth, the Cotton Bowl was the first game on New Years day. It was usually a Texas school versus Notre Dame. The Sugar Bowl came on midday but was the first bowl to be shuffled around a bit when TV started calling the shots. It was an intra-family rivalry between south eastern schools that offered educational services to athletes in exchange for football wins. The Rose Bowl has and always will be at 2:30 PST shared under a blue sky and thousands of out of town guests with a B-1 flyover. It was the first intersectional rivalry between Hollywood and the heartland. The Orange Bowl was at the end of that night when the women folk could dang not believe there was another frigging football game. It was usually Miami versus Nebraska or Oklahoma.
During the monetization of college athletics in the 90’s, the Cotton Bowl snubbed the BCS and joined the unkempt masses. The Allstate Sugar Bowl played on whatever night TV told them to play the game. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl emerged and became a similar TV slut with fine taco chip commercials. The Rose Bowl maintained their perceived dignity as the only bowl sponsored by but not beholden to the Fortune 500. The Orange Bowl sold their naming rights to Federal Express before naming rights existed. New Year’s Day became New Year’s week and it is not over yet!
UCLA played the Temple Fighting Owls for the first time in history at the Eagle Bank Bowl in Washington DC on December 29. This was the most anticipated match up in the storied two year history of the only college bowl game to be held in our nation’s capital. UCLA playing in a bowl game at all was a surprise after a 6-6 season. UCLA playing a bowl game later in the bowl season than USC was shocking! UCLA and USC being the only Pac-10 teams to win bowl games...priceless. “NFL, we do not need no stinking NFL in LA.”
It was the Fighting Owls third bowl game in school history. UCLA rallied in the cold air to the surprise of many to win. Temple alumni, family and friends provided our safe passage, humiliation and redemption. We tailgated with three captains of their respective Temple football squads. Their passion for their team was not diminished by their results. There is no better wingman than a Fighting Owl.
USC AD Mike Garrett did what he had to by throwing the USC moribund basketball program to the wolves. USC football grosses $20 million a year. USC football built the Galen Center for basketball. USC football enhanced the BCS. USC football never wants to be accused of “lack of institutional control”. USC AD Mike Garrett enforced institutional control of his basketball program before the NCAA enforced control of his million dollar football institution.
USC Heisman winner Reggie Bush has stonewalled the NCAA about his infractions…allegedly. He is now subpoenaed. Pete Carroll is on the same summons. Joe McKnight is driving Range Rovers. It was time to sacrifice the basketball team. Reggie Bush’s civil suit will be settled out of court and sealed before institutional control is a question mark. USC basketball was the tax.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Karma and Commas
There is no such thing as bad publicity…really? Between the McCourt Family and the Woods family, local royalty is testing this axiom. The McCourt’s were interlopers from the east. They are an acquired taste much like smelt eggs. Tiger Woods was our local prodigy who grew up before our eyes. He played his first PGA event at Riviera and had his first extramarital affair in the OC. Both families have taken a public TMZ style unraveling of unmanageable publicity. Both divorces are inevitable. These legal proceedings will be historic in grandeur and in commas.
It appears Frank McCourt did a bit more planning than El Tigre. According to his assertions, Jamie stepped out on the marriage while attending the Maccabiah games in Israel with Dodger Team driver, Jeff Fuller. Driver Fuller then represented the Dodgers on a junket to Taiwan last week. The Yard thought the Dodger pilates instructor was a better catch for the J-Dog.
Frank had already fired Dodger Team President Jamie. Frank claims that he can not afford to provide Jamie the $448,000 per month that she needs to keep her boat afloat. Research is underway but it is our understanding that being the president of the Dodgers would not sustain a $448,000/month lifestyle anyways. Tiger would give Elin $448,000/month effective immediately.
Elin Woods did not sign up for the Tiger Woods Cocktail Waitress Open. Apparently, she was unaware that this tour event was in the mix. She will be well paid for her ignorant tolerance. We do not believe all of these women are legit but even with the Calloway scoring system, Tiger has covered the over in the infidelity pool. Rumors are that Tiger will attempt a comeback playing left field in the White Sox organization prior to the 2011 Masters.
There is no better college football conference in America than the Pacific Ten. The SEC might have more BCS champions but they have never produced a good cabernet or a renowned nuclear physicist. The Pac-10 will win more than they lose over the next three weeks. During this time, Stanford and UCLA will begin classes. Alabama University will close down the school from January 6-8 in proper recognition of the school’s first trip to the BCS Championship game. The BCS money that Oregon brings to the conference this year will fund the athletic departments as well as academia. The SEC BCS riches will never be wasted on math or science.
Stanford senior Toby Gerhart should have won the Heisman trophy. Gerhart rushed for 1,726 yards while scoring 26 touchdowns. Gerhart accrued 22 hours of Stanford course credit while keeping up with his job on Saturday afternoon. Alabama’s Mark Ingram won the award with his 1,542 yards rushing/15 touchdowns and course credit towards his ceramics major.
Gerhart is the epitome of what the Heisman trophy stands for. Mark Ingram is what it has become. Ingram had a fine year and is a noble recipient. He will leave school early, never graduate and play 4.6 years in the NFL. Gerhart will graduate with his class and will play in the NFL because he wants to not because he has to.
The USC athletic scandal continues to evolve. The NCAA does not want to kill the only golden goose of western American college football revenue. With no other football power west of Austin, the NCAA can not have USC on probation even as the alleged infractions grow in dimension.
It appears Frank McCourt did a bit more planning than El Tigre. According to his assertions, Jamie stepped out on the marriage while attending the Maccabiah games in Israel with Dodger Team driver, Jeff Fuller. Driver Fuller then represented the Dodgers on a junket to Taiwan last week. The Yard thought the Dodger pilates instructor was a better catch for the J-Dog.
Frank had already fired Dodger Team President Jamie. Frank claims that he can not afford to provide Jamie the $448,000 per month that she needs to keep her boat afloat. Research is underway but it is our understanding that being the president of the Dodgers would not sustain a $448,000/month lifestyle anyways. Tiger would give Elin $448,000/month effective immediately.
Elin Woods did not sign up for the Tiger Woods Cocktail Waitress Open. Apparently, she was unaware that this tour event was in the mix. She will be well paid for her ignorant tolerance. We do not believe all of these women are legit but even with the Calloway scoring system, Tiger has covered the over in the infidelity pool. Rumors are that Tiger will attempt a comeback playing left field in the White Sox organization prior to the 2011 Masters.
There is no better college football conference in America than the Pacific Ten. The SEC might have more BCS champions but they have never produced a good cabernet or a renowned nuclear physicist. The Pac-10 will win more than they lose over the next three weeks. During this time, Stanford and UCLA will begin classes. Alabama University will close down the school from January 6-8 in proper recognition of the school’s first trip to the BCS Championship game. The BCS money that Oregon brings to the conference this year will fund the athletic departments as well as academia. The SEC BCS riches will never be wasted on math or science.
Stanford senior Toby Gerhart should have won the Heisman trophy. Gerhart rushed for 1,726 yards while scoring 26 touchdowns. Gerhart accrued 22 hours of Stanford course credit while keeping up with his job on Saturday afternoon. Alabama’s Mark Ingram won the award with his 1,542 yards rushing/15 touchdowns and course credit towards his ceramics major.
Gerhart is the epitome of what the Heisman trophy stands for. Mark Ingram is what it has become. Ingram had a fine year and is a noble recipient. He will leave school early, never graduate and play 4.6 years in the NFL. Gerhart will graduate with his class and will play in the NFL because he wants to not because he has to.
The USC athletic scandal continues to evolve. The NCAA does not want to kill the only golden goose of western American college football revenue. With no other football power west of Austin, the NCAA can not have USC on probation even as the alleged infractions grow in dimension.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Foundations of Karma
It was a blustery day at the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club last weekend. The Tiger Woods Foundation hosts this event every year to raise money for his foundation. Tiger was unable to attend and was unavailable for comment. Apparently, he has been out raising money for two new organizations. The Elin Woods Foundation received a $20 million grant to continue her charitable work as supporting wife and mother of his children. The Rachel Uchitel foundation was hastily formed by the ever present Gloria Allred and an undisclosed grant by Mr. Woods. It is unclear about their mission but silence seems to be a core value. There are rumors of other similar organizations with similar agendas being formed.
It is unfortunate that Tiger’s benevolent works that he has tirelessly worked to conduct without his wife’s or the public’s scrutiny came to light on the eve of his annual event. He is a multi-tasker and we expect to see him right back on the links right after the next big celebrity scandal grabs the TMZ baton. Tiger is going to traffic school for his incident. Elin is taking golf lessons to improve on her swing mechanics.
Upon further review, the Yard ruling on the last blog has been overturned. USC had every right to throw the ball if the Bruins called time out. Our real issue was with Pete Carroll jumping up and down and running on the field like they had just accomplished brilliance. It was meaningless, controversial play with USC already leading by 14. In a down season for USC, the head coach was acting like the Trojans had won the national championship or something. His example morphed into taunting from his players which lead to an ugly confrontation at midfield before the game ended. Trojan fan, take down the banners hanging in your front yard until next fall…please.
Alas, Peter of Carroll got bit by the karma bug in the Trojan’s final home game. The Trojans let Arizona hang around all day until the Wildcats took the lead with 3:14 to go. Troy went four and out and Arizona took over on the USC fifteen yard line with under two minutes. Arizona could have punched in another score from the USC fifteen yard line but they took knees and actually gave USC the ball back with four seconds left. By losing their 4th Pac-10 this year, Troy equaled their total of the past four years. They ensured a hard earned trip to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on December 23. The Bruins will be relaxing at home preparing for next year’s USC game.
This is not going to be a year that we can compartmentalize the miserable performance of the UCLA football season while basking in the success of the Bruin hoopsters. Basketball has already been really ugly. The Yard got to see the home opener OT loss to Cal State Fullerton live. Well, “live” might be a bit effusive because the Bruins were barely above flat line on that night. Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Jrue Holiday are all playing significant minutes in the NBA and would have been the leaders of a potential national champion at UCLA this season. They sold out the millions of dollars they are now guaranteed annually. Ben Howland gets that. You will never see Ben go Pete Carroll if one his players goes pro prematurely.
The Lakers put the rest of the NBA on notice Wednesday night. In a close game with division rival Utah, the Lake show outscored the Jazz 26-6 in the 4th quarter. In softball, the Jazz would have been given the mercy rule with five minutes to go and a plane to catch.
It was their 10th win in a row after losing two ugly games three weeks ago. When the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in Denver by 26 and limped home two days later only to lose to the undermanned Rockets by ten, the Lakers had a 7-3 record with two home losses. Questions were being asked and Ron Artest was on Jimmy Kimmel show in only his shorts answering those questions. 21 days later, the Lake Show is 15-3 and Artest is talking about the good old days in Chicago drinking Hennessey during halftime of games. It is going to a different kind of championship this year but the Lakers will repeat unless Bynum goes down…oh wait…bad karma…
19th Hole: If another media outlet wonders about the impact of Tiger Woods fornicating outside his marital contract or an athlete using performance enhancing drugs or some other superstar’s bad behavior on our children, we will collectively puke. We are raising the smartest generation of kids that this planet has ever seen. They do not care if Tiger cheated or Roger Clemens shot steroids in his and his wife’s buttocks or that Barry lied to the feds as it relates to their goals.
The Yard is putting these kids, especially my three investments that they are on notice to fix all the things we messed up. Get busy making this place better for us in our retirement. You have been given a lot and much is expected. You have never been without a computer, cell phone or the internet. You had every chance to go to college. Your clock is ticking and the heroes have left the building.
Our children do not look up the athletes, actors or celebrities as their heroes. Their heroes are their parents and never let them forget that. Tiger’s responsibility or lack thereof is not to us, it is to his family. It is private but I do hope TMZ gets the security camera tapes.
We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.” Will Rogers
It is unfortunate that Tiger’s benevolent works that he has tirelessly worked to conduct without his wife’s or the public’s scrutiny came to light on the eve of his annual event. He is a multi-tasker and we expect to see him right back on the links right after the next big celebrity scandal grabs the TMZ baton. Tiger is going to traffic school for his incident. Elin is taking golf lessons to improve on her swing mechanics.
Upon further review, the Yard ruling on the last blog has been overturned. USC had every right to throw the ball if the Bruins called time out. Our real issue was with Pete Carroll jumping up and down and running on the field like they had just accomplished brilliance. It was meaningless, controversial play with USC already leading by 14. In a down season for USC, the head coach was acting like the Trojans had won the national championship or something. His example morphed into taunting from his players which lead to an ugly confrontation at midfield before the game ended. Trojan fan, take down the banners hanging in your front yard until next fall…please.
Alas, Peter of Carroll got bit by the karma bug in the Trojan’s final home game. The Trojans let Arizona hang around all day until the Wildcats took the lead with 3:14 to go. Troy went four and out and Arizona took over on the USC fifteen yard line with under two minutes. Arizona could have punched in another score from the USC fifteen yard line but they took knees and actually gave USC the ball back with four seconds left. By losing their 4th Pac-10 this year, Troy equaled their total of the past four years. They ensured a hard earned trip to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on December 23. The Bruins will be relaxing at home preparing for next year’s USC game.
This is not going to be a year that we can compartmentalize the miserable performance of the UCLA football season while basking in the success of the Bruin hoopsters. Basketball has already been really ugly. The Yard got to see the home opener OT loss to Cal State Fullerton live. Well, “live” might be a bit effusive because the Bruins were barely above flat line on that night. Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Jrue Holiday are all playing significant minutes in the NBA and would have been the leaders of a potential national champion at UCLA this season. They sold out the millions of dollars they are now guaranteed annually. Ben Howland gets that. You will never see Ben go Pete Carroll if one his players goes pro prematurely.
The Lakers put the rest of the NBA on notice Wednesday night. In a close game with division rival Utah, the Lake show outscored the Jazz 26-6 in the 4th quarter. In softball, the Jazz would have been given the mercy rule with five minutes to go and a plane to catch.
It was their 10th win in a row after losing two ugly games three weeks ago. When the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in Denver by 26 and limped home two days later only to lose to the undermanned Rockets by ten, the Lakers had a 7-3 record with two home losses. Questions were being asked and Ron Artest was on Jimmy Kimmel show in only his shorts answering those questions. 21 days later, the Lake Show is 15-3 and Artest is talking about the good old days in Chicago drinking Hennessey during halftime of games. It is going to a different kind of championship this year but the Lakers will repeat unless Bynum goes down…oh wait…bad karma…
19th Hole: If another media outlet wonders about the impact of Tiger Woods fornicating outside his marital contract or an athlete using performance enhancing drugs or some other superstar’s bad behavior on our children, we will collectively puke. We are raising the smartest generation of kids that this planet has ever seen. They do not care if Tiger cheated or Roger Clemens shot steroids in his and his wife’s buttocks or that Barry lied to the feds as it relates to their goals.
The Yard is putting these kids, especially my three investments that they are on notice to fix all the things we messed up. Get busy making this place better for us in our retirement. You have been given a lot and much is expected. You have never been without a computer, cell phone or the internet. You had every chance to go to college. Your clock is ticking and the heroes have left the building.
Our children do not look up the athletes, actors or celebrities as their heroes. Their heroes are their parents and never let them forget that. Tiger’s responsibility or lack thereof is not to us, it is to his family. It is private but I do hope TMZ gets the security camera tapes.
We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.” Will Rogers
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