The Sports Blog

Dickson Wins Titles, Gets a Visit from Mom

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:39:21 GMT

Vanguard High School and University of South Florida graduate Jessica Dickson is playing professional basketball in Croatia. Here is her latest blog entry.

Oh wow! It's been a while since my last blog but I have been very busy. Our team has been doing very well - we actually have won the Adriatic League championship as well as the Croatian Cup championship. Both were big victories for the team as well as the city of sibenik. There was a big celebration and dinner after winning the Croatian Cup. I was dancing and enjoying the festivities of their culture. I had loads of fun! It was great!

I have been really happy as of late because my mom is over visiting me. She arrived April 4. I was so excited to see her when she arrived. She has been enjoying herself, getting the chance to experience a different culture and atmosphere. We have been spending time sightseeing and drinking lattes by the sea. It's been fun for her. She has really enjoyed the experience.

Our team is actually getting ready to play in the Croatian League playoffs and championship. We are projected to win all the marbles ha ha. So I'm excited about coming home a champion. Well until next time take care and God bless!

P.S. I have enclosed some pics of our Adriatic League championship game, as well as pics of me and my mother here in Croatia sightseeing. The pic with me in the orange cap is actually a traditonal Croatian hat. Pretty cool. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Jessica Dickson's Journey to the EuroLeague All-Star Game

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:49:52 GMT

Vanguard High School and University of South Florida graduate Jessica Dickson is in Croatia playing professional basketball. Read her previous blog entry here.

Well, countdown to the EuroLeague All-Star Game. The game will be on Thursday, March 13. So exciting!
I actually found out that the game will be televised on NBA TV at 9 a.m. eastern time. I know that's early for everyone, people will be at work, but maybe they will show it later on at night. I have actually been doing good. I can't believe I only have 2 months left. I'm sure that time will go by fast and I will be back in the states eating Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Burger King, Red Lobster and every other fast food restaurant you can think of. I definitely miss the fast food scene.

Also looking foward to using my cell phones. Aww man I miss them so much, especially my sidekick. It's like my must-have item. I'm just ready to get back to the States to see my family and friends. I'm so excited because my mommy is coming over next month. It's gonna be great. I think I'm gonna have my mom be a guest blogger so she can tell you about her overseas experience. I think that will be fun.

Oh yeah, i definitely wanna congratulate my baby Bulls, the University of South Florida women's basketball team. I'm very proud of them for finishing out the season strong and having a good showing at the Big East tournament. Great job!

Well, it's late. I gotta get some rest and get some things done tomorow before i leave on Wednesday. So until next time, good night and God bless.

UPDATE: I'm here! I made it to Russia. It was definitely a long day for me with flying. The flights were actually not bad. I really didn't have any layovers. My plane leaving from Vienna to Russia got delayed a little bit because a passenger got sick before we took off and they had to call the ambulance. So that threw everything off and made me late arriving to Russia, but I was told I really didn't miss anything, so that's great news. Ha ha ha ha.

The hotel is very nice, no complaints from me, and my roomate happens to be Janel McCarville. She's really cool. I like her. We get along well. Dinner was okay. I actually had the chance to conversate with Iciss Tillis and her mother. They were very nice. We talked about being overseas and how hard it is that first year. It was good conversation. So today has been quite an eventful day. It's late, so I am gonna go ahead and call it a night. I will blog in after the all-star game. Until next time, take care and God bless!

UPDATE: The All-Star game is over and I had a blast! It was fun even though we lost. Everybody was having a good time, I really enjoyed myself. It was definitely a great experience for me being in that atmosphere and getting a chance to mingle with WNBA stars. Fun times. Everyone was so nice and funny. l know Lindsay Whalen is hilarious - she kept me laughing as well as Delisha Milton-Jones and Chamique Holdsclaw.

After the game there was this big celebration where everyone ate and celebrated the game of women's basketball nationally and internationally, and for our music entertainment Kelis performed. She had everyone there up and dancing, I mean it didn't get any better than that. It was so great to experience and get to see the unity and frienship between WNBA players and European players. That's what it's all about, competing and having fun.

Well, I am so tired. I had to be up at 3:00 in the morning to catch a shuttle to the airport and Russia is 8 hours ahead of the East Coast so it's a big time difference. I'm actually in Vienna waiting to catch my flight to go back to Croatia. I have a 6 hour layover, so maybe i can get some rest before it's time for me to leave. Until next time take care and God bless!
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LIVE: St. John Lutheran vs. Sarasota Christian

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:23:24 GMT

Good morning. Live from the Lakeland Center, The Sports Blog is proud to bring you live updates of the St. John Lutheran girls’ basketball team in the FHSAA state semifinals. Today’s foe in the 1A bracket is Sarasota Christian.

UPDATE: Watching the teams warm up, the Lady Saints are a good match physically for the Lady Blazers. No ridiculously tall girls on the other side or anything like that. And I’m not sure anyone looks up to the task of guarding Ashley Hampton. As for the crowd, St. John’s got about three sections of fans, and a slight advantage over Sarasota in the noise department.

EARLY ACTION: Sarasota point Jenna Hostetler misses a pair of 3s on the Blazers’ first possession. Hampton knocks down a turnaround on the other end. 2-0 after 1:20.

FALLING BEHIND: 12-7 Sarasota with 2 minutes to play. Hampton is dominant on both ends, but the Blazers are solving the Saints’ defense and owning the glass on offense and defense. Another Sarasota layup makes it 14-7 with 1:22 left in the first, and St. John uses its first timeout.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Sarasota ended the first quarter on an 18-3 run, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, to go up 20-7 after 8 minutes. The Blazers are playing Hampton physically, pushing her around and double-teaming constantly, and the Saints have yet to find an answer for that.

CLAWING AWAY: St. John gets on the board with free throws by Rebekah Corn and Rebecca Westol, and a contested three by Hampton. But Sarasota isn’t letting up, and leads 30-12 with 5:20 to play in the half.

OVERWHELMING: The Blazers are bringing productive players off the bench and continue to get to loose balls and offensive rebounds as the Saints starters begin to tire. Sarasota’s lead is 22 with 2 minutes left in the half.

HALFTIME UPDATE: The Saints couldn’t make much progress before the break, and head into the locker room down 40-16. Hampton has 8 points.

UPHILL CLIMB: The Lady Saints get a long and loud standing ovation coming out for the second half, but they face an extremely difficult task, with only 16 minutes to erase a 24-point lead.

MORE OF THE SAME: The Saints made a few adjustments, trapping faster and harder and finding weakside cutters to the basket. None of it is helping the score. 45-18 with 5 minutes to play.

SCORING BURST: An 8-2 Saints rally provides some hope, but an aggressive Hampton picks up her third foul reaching for a steall. Amy Ergle drops in a layup that cuts the lead to 47-28, and Sarasota calls time. Saints fans are screaming with renewed vigor.

8 MINUTES LEFT: The Saints continue their strong play to finish the third, but the margin is just too big. Sarasota leads 56-31 with one quarter to play. Hampton has 17 points, a game-high.

WINDING DOWN: The Saints have played admirably in the second half, but it wasn’t meant to be. It’s been a brilliant career for Ashley Hampton, and a remarkable run for this group of young women, especially seniors Hampton, Amy Ergle, Annie-Grace Shaffer and Rebecca Westol. Congratulations to all on a fantastic year, and to Kimberly Pompey-Bell for an outstanding debut season. The Saints backers are still bringing the energy, the cheerleaders are still performing just as they did in the first quarter, when the Saints led 4-2. With 6 minutes left, it’s 61-37. I’ll be back with a final shortly.

FINAL UPDATE: Hampton left with 2:21 to play to a rousing ovation from the Saints. All the reserves are getting in as the game wraps up. Final score: 82-43, Sarasota Christian. St. John’s season is over at 26-6, and with the school’s first FHSAA State Tournament appearance. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but this team will look back on this season fondly pretty soon.

Be sure to check ocala.com and tomorrow’s Star-Banner for more.

Get Walter Ray on Your Cell Phone

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:54:11 GMT

Ocala bowler Walter Ray Williams is so awesome that you'd probably like to put him in your pocket and carry him around with you at all times. Now, thanks to PBA.com, you can.

The Web site of the Professional Bowlers Association is now offering wallpapers and ringtones of your favorite bowlers, including a snazzy pic of our own WRW. No ringtone yet, but if you flood them with e-mails, perhaps we can change that. He's only the best bowler human eyes have ever seen. Sean Rash gets one, but no W? Seriously?

For now, it's just the wallpaper, and you can download that puppy right here for a cool $2.99. Do yourself a favor and click on that "PBA Rap" ringtone preview while you're there. It's sounds exactly like you're thinking it will.

FSU and Miami Skeds Are Out

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:08:54 GMT

'Noles and 'Canes fans, mark your calendars. The teams' 2008 football schedules:

Florida State

Sept. 6, Western Carolina

Sept. 13, Chattanooga

Sept. 20, Wake Forest (ACC)

Sept. 27, Colorado, at Jacksonville

Oct. 4, at Miami (ACC)

Oct. 16, at North Carolina St. (ACC)

Oct. 25, Virginia Tech (ACC)

Nov. 1, at Georgia Tech (ACC)

Nov. 8, Clemson (ACC)

Nov. 15, Boston College (ACC)

Nov. 22, at Maryland (ACC)

Nov. 29, Florida

Miami
Aug. 28, Charleston Southern
Sept. 6, at Florida
Sept. 20, at Texas A&M
Sept. 27, North Carolina
Oct. 4, Florida State
Oct. 11, Central Florida
Oct. 18, at Duke
Oct. 25, Wake Forest
Nov. 1, at Virginia
Nov. 13, Virginia Tech
Nov. 20, at Georgia Tech
Nov. 29, at North Carolina State

Hey now! Euro All-Star!

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:58:34 GMT

See anyone you recognize up there? That's our own Jessica Dickson, second from the left, alongside some of the best women's basketball players in the world. Dickson, a Vanguard and U. of South Florida grad and a 2007 WNBA draft pick, was chosen this week to participate in the EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 13 in Moscow. Dickson made the 12-player "Rest of the World" roster, joining WNBA/EuroLeague stars Diana Taurasi, Nykesha Sales and Lauren Jackson (left to right). Dickson averaged 15.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 10 EuroLeague games.

Here's her latest blog entry, and below that, the text of a quick phone interview I did with Dickson on Wednesday nigh. You can also read her entries from September and October and November and December and January, as well as The Sports Blog's original post on the signing.

OK everyone, I have some good news and I have some bad news. Well, I will tell you the bad news first. My team is out of EuroLeague play. We were not able to advance to the tournament, but that's OK. This was our first year in EuroLeague play, and with a little more adjusting I think next year the team will go further. Now, the good news is I got selected to play in the 2008 EuroLeague All-Star game. Wow! Now if you think that's something, here's a list of the people I get to play alongside:

REST OF THE WORLD

G - Diana Taurasi (Spartak Moscow Region)

G - Lindsay Whalen (ZVVZ Prague)

F - Lauren Jackson (Spartak Moscow Region)

F - Cappie Pondexter (Fenerbahce)

C - Delisha Milton-Jones (Ros Casares)

G - Kedra Holland-Korn (Phard Napoli)

G - Nykesha Sales (TEO Vilnius)

G - Jessica Dickson (Jolly JBS Sibenik)

F - Chamique Holdsclaw (Lotos PKO BP)

C - Janel McCarville (Kosit 2013)

C - Iciss Tillis (TTT Riga)

C - Nicole Ohlde (USVO)

I mean this is definitely an honor for me. These are the big-time players in the women's game. I'm so honored and humbled because anyone besides me could have made the roster, there are so many great players out there. It's definitely a blessing and I truly thank God! I am so excited. The game will be March 13th in Moscow - I believe the game can be viewed on the Internet. I will get the Web site and post it on my blog as the time comes closer for the game. Until next time, take care and God bless!

PHONE INTERVIEW

TSB: So, those are some pretty cool names you're on the roster with. How does that feel?

JD: Very, very, very cool. I'm definitely honored to be alongside some of the great players like Taurasi and Jackson and all of the great players, Cappie Pondexter, all of them that are on the roster. You know, I'm definitey blessed.

TSB: Were you surprised, or did you know you were in the running for it?

JD: I actually didn't know I was in the running for it...I never thought that I would be considered for the All-Star Game. It definitely surprised me. My coach told me, I was walking with the team coming out of the locker room, that I would be going, and I was just surprised. So I definitey didn't think that I would be going.

TSB: Do you think this might help your chances to get back in the WNBA next year?

JD: My whole play in the EuroLeague and the other league that we're playing in, just playing over here, I hope will speak for itself.

TSB: Are you getting more homesick over there, or are you getting used to it?

JD: I've gotten used to it. I had the chance to come home for Christmas, and then I came back I was a little homesick because I got a taste of home. You know, I'm used to it. I've got, I think, three months left. I take it each day at a time. But I'm definitely used to it.

Shaq On the Way Out of Miami?

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:49:16 GMT

The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the Miami Heat are engaged in "serious talks" with the Phoenix Suns about a trade involving center Shaquille O'Neal. The other side of the deal would have Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks heading to Miami.

My analysis: It's kind of harsh, seeing that we're just under two years removed from Shaq delivering that championship parade Pat Riley promised so many years ago, but it makes sense. This version of the Miami Heat is broken beyond the point where a cagey veteran signing or a single smart trade could help. Due to financial constraints, Riley's hubris or just bad basketball decisions, most of the quality support players to help Miami to its first NBA title in '06 was allowed to leave, from James Posey to Jason Kapono to Antoine Walker. Coupled with Wade's mounting injury history and Shaq's inevitable decline, the current model of the Heat cannot and will not win.

And so drastic action is needed, and this would be drastic action. Wade is the future, and RIley needs to keep him happy. The only way to do that is to spend money on good players, and to spend money, he has to have money. The Heat don't have money to spend because Shaq is getting $20 million per. As recently as 18 months ago, he was worth that cap hold. Last year, he wasn't, and this year, he's Ben Wallace with more personality - almost a pure salary albatross. It's amazing the Knicks aren't involved in these talks, assuming they're not.

The article says Shaq is hurt by these talks, and I can understand why. For a player of such historic significance, he's kind of been jerked around a lot. Don't feel bad for the guy, because he's been well-compensated for it. But if the Heat cut bait, it will mean all three of his teams have given him a gentle nudge, if not a full-fledged kick, to the curb.

The Magic wanted Shaq, but came in with an insulting low-ball offer, and Shaq never really listened after that. You could argue that he had his eyes on Hollywood anyway, but the Magic sure didn't help their case. The Lakers, believe what you will about the Kobe-Shaq feud, chose the younger Bryant over their franchise center, and now look pretty astute, depending on how your value system processes short-term winning over long-term viability. And now the Heat, the team that truly cemented Shaq's messianic complex, is ready to move him in a pure salary dump. Sure, Marion's good, but if he didn't have that $17 million opt-out this summer this wouldn't even be on the table. Miami wants the freedom to put the kind of players around Wade that Wade wants to play with. This deal makes that happen.

As for Phoenix, have a look at this starting 5:

C Shaquille O'Neal
PF Amare Stoudemire
SF Boris Diaw
SG Raja Bell
PG Steve Nash
6th Leandro Barbosa
7th Grant Hill

That's straight up nasty, and it potentially sets up a Shaq vs. Kobe conference final, considering the Gasol trade I broke down earlier this evening. Assuming Dallas takes a dive again and the Spurs follow their one-year-up one-year-down pattern, we might be on the verge of the most exciting playoff series in many a year.

It makes sense for both sides. And it makes sense for us followers of the league. The playoffs are a better place with Shaq in them.

Lakers vs. Celtics - The Next Generation

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:11:13 GMT

The above-pictured game had a huge effect on my life: it enhanced my burgeoning NBA fandom, deepened my understanding of what it meant to love a sports franchise and hate its rival; and delayed me from developing a healthy interest in girls. It consumed much of my 5th and 6th-grade school years and kept my frustrated dad from playing Hunt for Red October on our state-of-the-art Tandy machine.

Pleasant MS-DOS-based memories came flooding back this week when the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol, a stick-thin 7-foot Spaniard who might be the key that unlocks a new era of the NBA's most historic but long-dormant rivalry. In its prime, this was a blood feud with every angle covered, from the teams' respective styles of play, to the East vs. West coast fan base, to the color of the star players' skin. It was riveting, disturbing, transcendent.

Nothing so pure could ever be replicated, and a potential Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the late 2000s would be a subdued imitation of the Magic-Bird cage match that was the 1980s. Check out these lineups:

Kendrick Perkins vs. Andrew Bynum
Kevin Garnett vs. Pau Gasol
Paul Pierce vs. Lamar Odom
Ray Allen vs. Kobe Bryant
Rajon Rondo vs. Derek Fisher
James Posey vs. Luke Walton

and these:

Robert Parish vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kevin McHale vs. A.C. Green
Larry Bird vs. James Worthy
Danny Ainge vs. Byron Scott
Dennis Johnson vs. Magic Johnson
Jerry Sichting vs. Michael Cooper

There's plenty to like in this year's version - KG vs. Gasol is a decent head-to-head, and Allen and Kobe have some history - but nothing like the epic battles of the vintage rivalry. Thing is, the best part about a potential Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals in 2008 is all of the history it will bring flooding back to our TV screens. I'll happily relive the genesis of my love for the NBA, especially if it means an end to a heartless Dirk Nowitzki, an expressionless Tim Duncan or a defenseless Steve Nash in the Finals. For every lifelong NBA fan forced to watch the Nets, Pacers, Mavericks and Cavaliers contaminate the Finals in recent years, Lakers vs. Celtics needs to happen. Please.

Reflections on the Best Football Game in Recorded History

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:45:23 GMT

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates after his 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz." width="350" border="0" src="http://osimg.ny.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OS&Date=20080204&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=802040338&Ref=AR&Profile=1368&MaxW=250" />

I had more than 10 thoughts yesterday, but these are the ones I remember the best:

1. That was the best Super Bowl I've ever seen. Competitive, well-played, a dramatic ending, an abundance of storylines. It was pretty near perfect. And most surprising of all, the game didn't have a single controversial call - the refs handled the Belichick 12-men-on-the-field challenge efficiently and correctly, made the correct pass interference call on the Pats' early TD drive and generally had this game entirely under control. The good referees are the ones you don't notice, and I didn't really notice them until after the game, when I noticed how awesome they were.

2. I had absolutely zero confidence in Eli Manning all evening. Not until his pass settled in the hands of Plaxico Burress did I believe he would make a decisive play. He looked shaky and a little scared on every possession between the opening field-goal drive and the final game-winning one. Manning looked like he was the one who had to deal with the Giants defense.

3. Speaking of the Giants' defense, that was simply unbelievable, especially since Eli and the offense left them hanging out there forever. The Patriots' offensive line, a group packed full of Pro Bowlers, was completely overwhelmed, to the point that they suffered from nervous twitches that turned into false starts. And Matt Light's face was a brighter red than Tom Coughlin's was at Green Bay.

4. Tom Brady's reputation is going to have to take a hit on this one. It's not really his fault he spent much of the night on his back, but even when he wasn't getting hit, he threw like he was expecting it. He overthrew, underthrew and just plain missed receivers throughout the night. Not to paint myself as insightful after the fact, but you could kind of sense something was wrong with him from the way he was kind of slumped on the bench every time the cameras cut away to him on the sideline. He just looked a little off, and when he was playing, he looked more than a little off. Hope Terry Bradshaw didn't start carving Brady's mug into Mount Passmore yet. By the way, I blame Gisele.

5. David Tyree is my hero. He catches better with his helmet than most people do with their hands. And I love that he held onto that ball despite the efforts of performance-enhanced Rodney Harrison.

6. I flipped over to ESPN as the Fox show was winding down. They were "efforting" Mercury Morris, so I decided to just go to sleep.

7. Wes Welker was an absolute monster. It was pretty cool that Randy Moss caught his go-ahead TD because the Giants were double-covering the Slot Machine.

8. My favorite part of any championship game/series is watching people win rings for the first time. For the Giants, that was roughly everyone. And I never appreciated how good a player and leader Michael Strahan really is until last night.

9. Bill Belichick is an enormous jerk. What's with him walking onto the field and heading for the locker room with 1 second on the clock? Was I the only one who immediately understood that the Giants had a second or two to kill after Brady's 4th-down incompletion? You can't just wave off that final play - it's not a mercy rule youth basketball game, it's the Super Bowl. Finish it off right.

10. The commericals were overall pretty lame, as I'll discuss in detail below.

1. Will Ferrell's Bud Light spot was predictably awesome.

2. The remaining Bud Light ads were predictably crass and unfunny. They get worse every year.

3. Underdog vs. Stewie Griffin, and Charlie Brown wins. My favorite commerical of the night.

4. I didn't like the talking baby E-Trade commericals until the baby wondered how he was going to spend all this coin. That was funny.

5. I'll admit it - I'm a Justin Timberlake fan. For real. And his Pepsi commercial was pretty good. I also didn't mind the Pepsi Max commercial, which was very funny when everyone was nodding off but kind of annoying when they all did the Night at the Roxbury head-dance.

6. Tide To Go's talking stain ad made me giggle.

7. More ads that didn't work: The unattractive woman using Planters peanuts as perfume was simply nasty; if I ever have to swerve around aging celebrities on a twisty, darkened road, I'll do my best to be using Bridgestone tires; and the Taco Bell Fiesta Platter looks like all of Taco Bell's least-desireable menu choices piled onto one segmented styrofoam plate. When I'm nostalgic for Mexican Day at my old middle school cafeteria, I know where I'm going.

8. Company that should be banned from advertising in future Super Bowls: SalesGenie.com.

9. Good idea for Doritos to use its spot for a music competition - those seem to be popular - but if that warbling folkstress singing Bum-bum-bum over and over is the best the contest produced, I don't want to see who finished second.

10. The FedEx carrier pigeons scared me.

P.S. - Velveeta Chili Dip was a big winner, as were my wife's chicken wings in Jack Daniels Spicy Barbecue sauce.

The Sports Blog's Super Bowl Prediction

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:55:06 GMT

+ + =
Velveeta Chili Dip + Tostitos Scoops! + Tackle Football = A Contented The Sports Blog

You could go with the Plaxico Burress prediction or the I Am Legend prediction, but I encourage you to go with the hot hand that is The Sports Blog's recent streak of correct NFL predictions.

Or, I would if I had any idea who was going to win this game.

I recently had to come down on one side or the other, as I was asked to contribute my pick to a collection of the sports staff's wild speculation on who will win the Super Bowl. I went with the Pats, 34-24, with some overwrought cop-out rationale about Brady in big games and what have you. It's quite uninspired stuff.

To tell you the truth, I don't have a good feeling about this game. I can tell when I'm going to be right and when I'm just guessing. I felt supremely confident about the Colts winning last year and the Giants getting to the Bowl this year, but I'm just flailing around at this point. I don't feel like picking against either side.

I'm mostly excited that I have the Sunday off for the first time in two years, that I'll get to hang with my wife and kids to watch the game, and that my wife will be making Velveeta Chili Dip with Tostitos Scoops! (That's not my exclamation point, by the way).

I'd like to enjoy Sunday's game without the fear of looking like an idiot hanging over my head. So it's Patriots 34, Giants 24, because you can't bet against Tom Brady in a big game.

UPDATE: Monkey pick!

ITEM: Playing Basketball in a Skirt

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:46:50 GMT
A girls' high school basketball team in Connecticut plays its basketball games wearing full-length skirts, and is also named the Skirts. Thought you'd find that interesting. Also, "skirt" is one of those words that quickly loses all meaning if you say it out loud a few times.

ITEM: Florida's Been Good Lately, But Oklahoma Was Good Sooner

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:57:41 GMT

Rivals.com has come out with a "Best of Both Worlds" list, a rundown of the "best combined football and basketball programs since 1974."

The top of the list goes Oklahoma, Michigan, North Carolina (I know, right), a tie between inextricably linked Ohio State and Florida, and Florida State in sixth.

The list notes that Florida is the only school with multiple national titles in each sport since '74. You'd think that count for a little more in the formula. UNC gets by on three hoops titles and a pair of top 10 finishes under Mack Brown, and OSU knows how to get to the big game even if actually winning it manages to escape its grasp. FSU's longtime football prowess carries a mediocre basketball program into the top 10.

Lots of SEC reps on the list, including 'Bama at No. 8, as if you needed more confirmation that the SEC is wicked competitive.

Super Bowl Urban Legends on the World's Greatest Web Site

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:38:58 GMT
About.com does its usual fantastic job in this life-changing article on various urban legends related to Super Bowl Sunday. The writing is crisp, the tone pleasant and conversational and the research impeccable. Outstanding work, as we have all come to expect from About.com. I insist that it become your home page immediately.

Full disclosure: About.com and the Star-Banner are both owned by the New York Times Company.

NFL Predictions Not Related to the Super Bowl

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:49:16 GMT

I'll post my Super Bowl pick later, finishing off a 7-0 run of playoff picks over the last four weeks. Turns out I know what I'm talking about sometimes.

But this article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution got me to thinking about the offseason, and where your favorite overpaid vets might be drawing their outsized paychecks next season. The story posits that former Florida State and Tampa Bay Bucs star Warrick Dunn will likely be cut loose by the Falcons, and quotes Dunn thusly:

"If I wasn't a Falcon, and I went back to Tampa or played for (Indianapolis) coach (Tony) Dungy, it would be something that's full circle," said Dunn, who played for the Buccaneers from 1997 to 2001 under Dungy. "It's not what I'm hoping for and wishing for, but you never know."

I wish I could tell you why athletes are so fascinated with the idea of returning home, but they totally are.

Anyway, I can't see the Bucs signing Dunn with the return of Cadillac Williams and the emergence of Earnest Graham, and the Colts look set with Addai and Keith in the backfield. So I'm predicting that Dunn signs with the Dallas Cowboys, a contending team that could use an experienced guy like Dunn to eat up a handful of carries a game.

As for our four local guys, I predict all but Chargers safety Clinton Hart will be on the move this summer. Here are my not un-educated guesses as to where they'll land.

QB Daunte Culpepper still has some life left, but he's got to know he's a veteran backup at this point in his career. I predict Culpepper will sign with the Houston Texans in support of starter Matt Schaub.

Vanguard grad Drayton Florence is on the outs in San Diego, owing more to superior competition rather than his own play. I predict Florence will land with the Bucs, who could use some secondary help and have money to spend.

And unfortunately, it's hard to see Tony Beckham catching on with anyone. The Forest grad struggled to find a niche in the Lions' secondary, and the Lions were rather awful defensively. I predict Beckham will be out of the NFL.

Florida-Connected Snubs Abound in NBA's Rookie Challenge

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:07:12 GMT

Former Gator Corey Brewer is feeling small today, having been left off the roster for next month's Rookie Challenge, also referred to as the Festival of Mis-timed Alley-Oops.

Brewer is joined by his former teammate Joakim Noah, a more surprising snub who is having a decent and considerably more interesting rookie campaign, and Florida State product Al Thornton, who is playing well for the Clippers.

The rosters:

SOPHOMORES: Brandon Roy, Blazers; LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers; Rajon Rondo, Celtics; Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers; Jordan Farmar, Lakers; Rudy Gay, Grizzlies; Andrea Bargnani, Raptors; Ronnie Brewer, Jazz; Paul Millsap, Jazz.

ROOKIES: Kevin Durant, Sonics; Jeff Green, Sonics; Al Horford, Hawks; Luis Scola, Rockets; Mike Conley, Grizzlies; Juan Carlos Navarro, Grizzlies; Yi Jianlian, Bucks; Sean Williams, Nets; Jamario Moon, Raptors.

I'm thinking Navarro ought sit this one out, considering he's 27 years old. This game cries out for an age limit, though it's hard to get worked up over something so fluffy. I'd give Thornton the nod over Noah, regardless. Note that Horford made the team - it's always the quite ones who get you.

You may recall another former Gator, David Lee, winning MVP honors in the sophomores' 1,568-1,345 victory last year.

By the way, here are my picks for the All-Star Game reserves, to be announced tonight:

EAST

The starters:
C Dwight Howard, Magic
F Kevin Garnett, Celtics
F LeBron James, Cavaliers
G Dwyane Wade, Heat
G Jason Kidd, Nets

My reserves:
C Chris Bosh, Raptors
F Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
F Caron Butler, Wizards
F Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
F Richard Jefferson, Nets
G Chauncey Billups, Pistons
G Joe Johnson, Hawks

My final cuts:
C Shaquille O'Neal, Heat; G Michael Redd, Bucks; F Tayshaun Prince, Pistons; F Josh Smith, Hawks; F Antwan Jamison, Wizards; F Paul Pierce, Celtics; G Ray Allen, Celtics; G Rip Hamilton, Pistons; G Ben Gordon, Bulls; G Jose Calderon, Raptors.

Turk and Wallace are two of my favorites, so it's nice to see them have a chance at making the squad. Jamison, Pierce and Allen are the toughest outs, but I'd argue that Butler and Garnett, respectively, are the primary difference-makers on those teams. I fully expect to be wrong on Jamison and Pierce.

WEST

The starters:
C Yao Ming, Rockets
F Tim Duncan, Spurs
F Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
G Kobe Bryant, Lakers
G Allen Iverson, Nuggets

My reserves:
C Marcus Camby, Nuggets
F Josh Howard, Mavericks
F Carlos Boozer, Jazz
G Brandon Roy, Blazers
G Baron Davis, Warriors
G Chris Paul, Hornets
G Steve Nash, Suns

My final cuts:
C Tyson Chandler, Hornets; C Amare Stoudemire, Suns; C Chris Kaman, Clippers; F Al Jefferson, Timberwolves; F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, F Shawn Marion, Suns; F David West, Hornets, G Deron Williams; G Tony Parker, Spurs; G Manu Ginobli, Spurs; G Tracy McGrady, Rockets;

It's hard to leave Dirk off, but choosing him feels more like habit than anything else. I'd take West anyway if I had another slot to fill. Roy and Davis are narrow choices over Parker and Williams, but I wouldn't be too upset if it was reversed. I love Iverson, but if he weren't starting I'd consider leaving him off.

The All-Star roster selection I always find interesting, but the game itself is often unwatchable. It's like the sports version of the Academy Awards.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Marty Smith

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:21:38 GMT

Here's five things I learned in my interview with CFCC baseball coach Marty Smith, the bulk of which can be found in Friday's paper.

• He idolized Ryne Sandberg and Dale Murphy as a young player, and has uniforms signed by each in his home.

• He followed the Braves growing up, but is "slowly switching" his allegiance to the Cubs, and visited Wrigley Field for the first time last summer. "I'd love to go to Fenway, but Wrigley's special," he said. "A totally different way to watch baseball."

• He has a hard time picking the best player he's ever coached, but the name of Minnesota Twins third baseman Brian Buscher comes up early in the conversation.

• He and his son Ryan held season tickets to the Jacksonville Jaguars this past season, but he also cheers for former CFCC outfielder Clinton Hart and the San Diego Chargers.

• He cites the support of CFCC president Dr. Charles Dassance as a reason for his long tenure with the school. "He's always been extremely fair with athletics," Smith said. "He knows the real reason why students are here - academics - and we do too."

ITEM: CFCC grad Auguste to start for Lady Vols tonight

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:35:42 GMT
Former Central Florida Community College basketball star Alberta Auguste will start against Arkansas tonight, taking the place of the injured Alexis Hornbuckle.

From GoVolsXtra.com:

"To me it's not a big deal,'' Auguste said. "It might be a big deal to everyone else. I'm humble about the situation."

First and foremost, UT coach Pat Summitt wants the 5-foot-11 senior, who's averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a reserve, to be mindful of the proper mindset.

"Bring intensity on every possession,'' Summitt said, "whether it's on offense or defense."

Auguste is the best player I've seen come through CFCC in my 3 or so years covering the school. I think she'll do well. I'm calling 9 points, 3 rebounds and a couple of steals. Check back tomorrow to see how right I was.

The Sports Blog's Spring Training Guide

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:50:11 GMT

View Larger Map

Marion County is in prime position to sample the offerings of the Florida Grapefruit League, and The Sports Blog is proud to present a guide to doing just that.

This interactive map contains all you need to know to enjoy each of the 18 Major League Baseball teams that make their spring home within a few hours of our own Marion County. You can play around with the version above a little bit, but click the link for the suggested full-screen experience.

Once you're there, click on the logo of your team of choice. You'll get a pop-up box with a picture of the team's stadium, more detailed information on their home field, ticket prices, a home schedule and a seating chart. Click the bold, blue links to get further details or to go ahead and buy your tickets. At the very bottom of the box, you can enter your starting address for turn-by-turn directions to the stadium. If you plan on buying tickets at the game rather than in advance, I'd suggest you call ahead and make sure they're still available and that the schedule hasn't changed.

Hope this is a tool you'll find useful throughout the next couple of months. As of this writing in late January, tickets were on sale for all but a couple of the teams, and going quickly for the likes of the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers. Now might be the time to jump in there and get your seat.

And please, tell us about your experiences at some of these historic parks or your plans for this spring in the comments area below. I also welcome your feedback on how this feature might be improved.

Play ball!

Predicting the NFL Conference Championship Games

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:22:40 GMT

Loyal readers of The Sports Blog - how's it going, Dad! - had the benefit of my wisdom a week ago, when I correctly predicted all four NFL divisional playoff games.

So, SportsCenter, if you're asking for the millionth time if anyone could have guessed that the Manning brother who would be playing this weekend would be Eli, and not Peyton, the answer is yes. I did.

And I fully expect to be right again this week. It's all about confidence.

The picks:

42 27

The above-illustrated Tom Brady, as smug as he is, comes off as the nice guy in his matchup with Philip Rivers, who has turned into a harmless and non-threatening but supremely irritating jerk, kind of like this. I can't bring myself to root for either one. But there are a whole lot of decent, hard-working players that are easy to root for on both sides of the ball, except for the Patriots' side of the ball. Truth is, it doesn't matter. We could all hoot and heckle the Patriots from now until kickoff and they'll still do what they do. They're going to win, and we all know it.

24 23

I don't expect Brett Favre to get a whole lot of clean throws off against the Giants' ridiculous pass rush. You might counter that improvisation is Favre's strength as a QB. To that, I would say it's also when he tosses his patented jump balls, the throws that remind me of those games we played in school where nobody knew how to punt competently so we just threw the ball for the opening kickoff. The Giants will pick a couple of those off. Meanwhile, I see the weather as a useful crutch for Manning - it should scare him enough that he decides against the riskier passes he so often turns into INTs. I think the weather keeps Eli restrained and makes Favre go nutso, just enough to let the Giants prove for the second time in a month that they can avoid embarrassing themselves against New England.

Super Bowl pick remains Patriots over Giants.

Golfweek Fires Editor Responsible for Controversial Cover

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:00:54 GMT
The magazine's attempt at a "strong and provocative graphic image" was provocative, all right. UPDATE: New York Times says he's been fired.