Sportsmanship — peyton vs. lebron

Peyton Manning stormed off the field after a Superbowl loss.

Lebron James doesn’t shake hands after a devastating loss…..

Why should Peyton be let off the hook? He is the professional, a seasoned veteran, should he have stuck around?

I said NO with Lebron and I say NO for Peyton. It’s like watching the dentist pull a tooth, why do it if you don’t have to?

Peyton Manning probably called Drew Brees to concede =) Manning is a class act and fierce competitoor, just like Lebron James.

Calm after the super bowl- before DAYTONA and the Olympics & THE MASTERS….

Can you believe the SAINTS did it? How cool for the city, the fans and for the players that helped rebuild after Katrina. It’s really hard to explain why the gritty and smelly streets of New Orleans smell so sweet. You will know once you go and if you missed it pre-Katrina, honestly you will never get why it’s so special. You will see the strength and spirit so that is enough to mix up and make gumbo.

It’s DAY 1, no football… what is a girl to do?

Daytona is just a few days away –

The Olympics are almost set … but, there is no snow in Canada — It’s all in Washington D.C. right now. I bet the Curlers and speed skaters are so in a ZONE right now.

Then add the fact that whispers are betting that Tiger Woods will be back in time for the Masters…

— There is plenty to keep me busy…. let the games begin…

Bump Draft the super bowl… LET’S GO RACING

Everyone is talking about Super bowl XLIV — I am ready for the game. I have my hotdogs and I am ready to wrap them in bacon… with my homemade spinach dip and veggies.I am sad that it means the football season will be over…. (sniff, sniff, regroup)

The game will be epic - I heard local sports jocks Mark and Mike on 99.9 THE FAN (ESPN RADIO) talk about the Carolina Panthers Superbowl where there were over 700 passing yards between quarterbacks… before hearing that, I had told our MCO that Drew Brees and Peyton Manning will each pass for at least 300 yards. The guys talked about defensive chess playing and I agree –Mark broke these stats down about each team and my head was spinning.

Mike and Mark are so fun to listen to in gridlock traffic, I almost forgot that traffic wasn’t moving.

The 1st quarter will be the “getting to know you” period… Reggie Wayne tweaking a hip or something in practice is going to open opportunities for Pierre Garcon and Hank Baskett Jr on game day.

While I am super excited about the game… I am more excited about the DAYTONA shootout and the 500 next weekend. I know it’s valentines weekend and to me, NASCAR = LOVE

People laugh at me because it’s just a bunch of guys “going in circles” …. but they have already used math and formulas to calibrate the wedge and chassis for optimal handling and speed. Nothing passes NASCAR (pun intended) at DAYTONA… it is the super bowl of NASCAR and I will never forget the race in 2001 when the world lost it’s hero, DALE EARNHARDT …

so raise those 3’s ….(since CAROLINA’S BASKETBALL TEAM is having trouble with 3’s, defense, confidence…gosh…)

As Darrell Waltrip says in the booth with, Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and David Reutimann

BOOGITY Boogity , LET’S GO RACING”

Who DAT nation — Super bowl pre game… on

Watching media day was a gas – When ESPN gave Chad Ochocinco the mic and let him loose, it got interesting. When said he will go by “uno uno ” now because he wears number 11, I cracked up.

As the media looked for new hooks, the common one was “We wish Peyton was that stupid.” I liked “Peyton’s an old dog and we bet he doesn’t have any new tricks.” —

I bet now that he hears that and instead of mingling on south beach, he is watching film to prevent a double back blitz on 3rd and goal. He will confuse you with his many receiver options and Pierre Garcon is playing for Haiti;  … New Orleans consider yourselves warned.

My Pick is New Orleans — but that’s just because the city has been through so much. I firmly believe the spirit of New Orleans will push the black and gold to victory…..

However, because Peyton Manning is so lethal… I like the COLTS…. I can’t lie, but this is THE SAINTS year

This is probably the most anticipated game in modern history. If you can name another (Minus the Panthers and Giants super bowls…)

I’m listening…

Who do you want to see in the super bowl?

The Saints and Colts remained undefeated for most of the season and I think that deserves a standing ovation.

Brett Favre has reinvented himself, and the Minnesota fans couldn’t be more excited about it.

The NY Jets are the cinderella of the ball – so who do you want in the big game?

The NFC  is a toss up, because both teams are worthy. On a side note, I do not want NY METS fans upset – most fans also root for the Jets. The championship games will be most interesting… I hope the Saints win it all so Reggie Bush can finally marry Kim Kardashian!

Hooray for the ACC — Powerhouse Teams lose in unique fashion

The woes continue for defending NCAA champs, the Carolina Tarheels. The loss to Wake Forest just dropped the Chapel Hill squad out of the AP and Coaches Poll. Tarheel fans are usually accused of not admitting defeat, well there is no denying how bad we are. I say that it’s a rebuilding season, but it just seems to me like the Carolina starters play with little passion. With no point guard to speak of and a freshman group that has more energy than the starters – oh boy, what a season this  is shaping up to be.

MY ONLY PLEASURE last night — was to watch NC STATE out hustle DUKE UNIVERSITY. The game started with Duke swarming the offensive glass and NCSU did not back down. They stuck to the game plan and were victorious. I know State fans don’t believe me when I say this, but I think NCSU has the most heart on Tobacco Road this season, and they will surprise a lot of people if they keep playing this way.

The state of college football

During the past bowl game season I had an “AHA” moment.

I know that most sports fans do not associate Oprah Winfrey moments to describe memorable moments in sports; but, this was different.

Joe Paterno, affectionately known as “Joe Pa” a.k.a ‘the winningest coach in college football’ says in an interview that he doesn’t get the young coach that jumps ship and breaks the university’s heart for a big money contract. The Brooklyn born coach goes on to talk about how no names on football jersey’s helps to promote team unity and how his salary is considerably less than most coaches. This interview is on my mind as I watch Lane Kiffin leave Tennessee in the middle of the night for USC. I read somewhere that the remaining “Kiffen’s Krazy’s” shirts are heading to Haiti to clothe earthquake victims…. at least they won’t go to waste, right?

And then the news that Skip Holtz is leaving…

I wasn’t shocked, although as a Pirate, I had a moment of regret. If you consider that East Carolina is a mid-major school and without a BCS bowl the coaching scene will remain a shiny revolving door. Who’s next? Greenville isn’t very attractive these days… no quarterback, 28 graduating seniors and a few coaches off to Florida State.

Whatever happened to the good days?  Where players and coaches made a career out of building a program?  With multi-millions at stake, good luck in keeping your “new school” coaches. They always leave…

The Scarlet Asterisk (*) and Major League Baseball

Mark McGuire’s news is nothing new, and anyone that remembers his days with the Oakland Athletics knew the truth.

I remember watching the A’s come to Shea Stadium in the late 1980’s.

You remember it too: Mark McGuire hit before Jose Canseco in the lineup and Terry Steinbach wore that funky batting helmet that covered his chin. Let’s not forget Dennis Eckersley‘s side-arm delivery made him the Dan Marino of baseball. If you remember this, then you can recall the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup that included Barry Bonds batting clean up for Bobby Bonilla. Barry was young and talented and skinny. Nobody talks about Ken Griffey Jr. he was always injured. The injuries stunted his career — maybe “the KID” took a stand against steroids???

I remember the “era” vividly.

As a fan, baseball was ruined for me in 1987 when Dodger’s pitcher Orel Hershiser was caught with grease in his glove during the NL divisional series. I looked his profile up on wikipedia, and there is no mention of it… he deserves an Asterisk for that series, he cheated.

A friend said to me today that Barry Bonds is a hall-of-fame star before and despite a suspected link to the infamous “Balco steroids scandal.” My response “NO WAY” —  I tell you what, add an asterisk to every feat accomplished by a confirmed user and I will let this go.

Nobody wants to add a scarlet letter to Mark McGuire’s bat, but why? I hear that Barry Bonds states he “did not knowingly take steroids.” How can this be? How can an adult not know what they ingest? Morally, the argument is void because you wouldn’t hide or use in secrecy if it were an accepted behavior. The “era” in baseball is ugly and it cannot be excused or brushed aside.

Athletes know this practice is bad and Lyle Alzado proved it to the world by dying  in 1992 at the age of 42.

I don’t buy the not knowing in 2006 — ignorance is NOT an excuse in the eye of the law.

I wish the entire Mitchell report would be released, WITH NAMES!!!!

If I had my way, the hall of fame would include  (******) on the bat, plus Barry Bond’s 73rd home-run ball. That, and a conclusion to his grand jury indictment on perjury charges might SAVE BASEBALL.

****** add the asterisk

******* add the asterisk, they earned it!!

NFL playoffs so far

Stick a fork in the New England Patriots – They are done for the season. Randy Moss wasn’t a game changer, in fact, I think he only had approximately 29 yards … that’s sad!

It is not surprising though because this whole season has been lackluster in Foxboro. The way the Ravens played today makes them a very dangerous dark horse. I know Peyton Manning will be watching massive amounts of game film to read the defensive next week. Ray Lewis reminds me of Lawrence Taylor, his only mission is to lay the quarterback down. He is quick and strong – plus his spirit is classy like his wardrobe. His closest rivals that of Joe Namath back in the day.

Speaking of the Jets – can you say wow? Mark Sanchez has become the second NFL rookie to win a playoff game on the road – that’s no small feat. It was disappointing to watch the Bengals unravel the way they did. Carson Palmer never really hit his rhythm and Chad OchoCinco got abused out there – what an insane mismatch for him.

I am watching Kansas(15-0)  vs. University of Tennessee basketball and flipping between the Green Bay/Arizona game on FOX. It got a little dicey early on  and the Packers are down 17-0 …. I hope they can come back to make the game interesting.

The Dallas Cowboys really put on a show yesterday against the Eagles. The minute the running game took over, I knew they were going to the divisional game. The Cowboys are really looking like they finally figured out how to put all the pieces together…

ON A SIDE NOTE: Michael Vick had a great game and I am looking forward to watching his reality TV show.

DEAR NORTH CAROLINA STATE FANS

Dearest ACC comrades,

I believe that your road has been tough of late.

It has been a while since the sweet-sixteen in basketball and I know your program is hungry.

That shot, oh you know the shot, was heartbreaking.

I am not writing to minimize the disappointment, but to merely encourage you to hold on. Sidney Lowe is a wonderful coach – his incoming class will play with serious passion and you will be victorious once again. Football is a distant memory… (for some… or not) and Carolina looks a little weaker in the post than in basketball years past. There is work to do, we must beat DUKE — so, I say to you as my rally cry, please don’t cry over 75ft shots…. Just practice free throws and get the eye of a wolf/tiger and come back stronger with more confidence. I see a beautiful thing happening outside of the tobacco road rivalry and that is a coach getting his philosophy across — It’s working… just keep pushing… and you very well may see the NCAA tournament soon!

Go Heels!

Aolani