masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
April 14, 2006

Press Releases, Lots of Press Releases

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 6:12 am

And you can assume you will see these recycled into stories.

H.B. Blades was named to part of the Playboy All-American Football Squad for 2006.

Blades (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) is the first Pitt player to be named to Playboy’s All-America squad since receiver Antonio Bryant was honored in 2001.

This is the latest accolade for Blades who recently was named to the “watch lists” for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy. The Lombardi Award honors the country’s top down lineman or defensive player who lines up within five yards of the football. The Lott Trophy honors college football’s top defensive player and takes into account athletic performance and personal character.

I perfromed an exhaustive search of Playboy.com repeatedly and thouroughly, but could not find the full squad. So far the only other confirmations are Center Dan Mozes, WVU and Place Kicker Mason Crosby, Colorado.

FSN Pittsburgh will air the Blue-Gold game on a slight tape delay. One week later.

The 2006 Blue-Gold Game will be played this Saturday, April 15, at Heinz Field. FSN Pittsburgh will show the game a week later on Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m. It will have a repeat showing on Wednesday, April 26, at 1 p.m.

FSN anchor Rob King will serve as play-by-play announcer and Trenni Kusnierek will report from the sidelines, while former Pitt head coach Serafino “Foge” Fazio will provide color analysis. Coach Dave Wannstedt will also join King and Fazio in the broadcast booth to provide insight and analysis.

Okay.

April 13, 2006

Football Notes

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 10:08 am

Shane Murray gets a big old puff piece on his transition from high school QB/Safety to full-time Safety. Apparently it has something to do with being from Hazelwood.

Murray had heard the talk, he knew darn well that a move to safety was something that not only could happen, but more than likely something that would happen.

“I always heard that, you know, I always heard from everyone that they thought I would eventually be a safety here,” Murray said.

“Change is fine with me, it doesn’t bother me at all. I’m a guy who wants what is best for the team, and right now they need a safety and they want me to be a safety. So I’m going to go out and play there to the best of my abilities every day.”

It isn’t just his ability, though. The Pitt staff looks at Murray as the personification of what his Hazelwood roots are all about. Murray is a tough guy on the field, never shying away from contact. Watch him in a scrimmage and it becomes quickly evident that Murray is seemingly always around the action, that he is forever looking to lay a hit that will force the “oohs” from the crowd.

That penchant for mixing it up is undoubtedly the Hazelwood in him.

Uh-huh.

Meanwhile as the Big 33 game limps along trying to get enough star high school players from Pennsylvania and Ohio not to enroll early in college (Jovani Chappel) or just be interested enough to commit the time, they are taking a more proactive stance. Instead, announcing cuts of invited players for not submitting paper work or showing up for press conferences.

Baldwin’s Jason Pinkston and Beaver Falls’ Lance Jeter have been removed from the Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star football team.

Big 33 officials and Pennsylvania’s coaches made the decision on Pinkston and Jeter recently. Leigh Ann Urban, Big 33 director of operations, said the move was because of a “lack of interest” from Pinkston and Jeter.

The Big 33 game, which pits Pennsylvania against Ohio, will be June 17 in Hershey. Jeter, a receiver, and Pinkston, a lineman, were selected to Pennsylvania’s team in January.

“We have deadlines for players to return paperwork,” Urban said. “They didn’t return anything.”

Pinkston is a Pitt recruit; Jeter has not made a college decision. He might choose to play basketball in college.

Urban said neither Pinkston or Jeter showed up for a news conference to announce the Pennsylvania team. Jeter also did not attend a workout this past Sunday at Gateway High School.

“It was decided that they just didn’t seem to want to play,” Urban said.

That’ll teach ’em. These games have been slowly fading as more kids either enroll early or just decline to participate. At some point they are going to end.

Maybe Coming And Maybe Going

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 8:19 am

Still no announcement from Tyler Smith from Hargrave. Not unexpected, since all reports said he would take his time during this signing period. If, as his coach suggested, Pitt and Iowa are the top two schools he is deciding between then a bit of shake-up at Iowa might make things more interesting.

Iowa coach Steve Alford announced in a statement released late Tuesday afternoon that assistant coach Greg Lansing and director of basketball operations Rich Walker would not have their contracts renewed when the fiscal year ends in June.

Alford also announced that sophomore guard Carlton Reed and sophomore forward Alex Thompson had been released from their scholarships and would be transferring.

That means that the Hawkeyes will have only six scholarship players returning from last season’s team that finished second in the Big Ten, won the conference tournament, and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

So Iowa will have definite playing time available. Neither was a starter. Thompson was 8th on the team in minutes played and expected to be up for a starting forward gig with all of the graduating seniors on the team.

The coaching shake-up, though, might affect Smith’s choice if either was substantially involved in his recruitment. The story indicates that at least one of the coaching vacancies will likely be filled by the former Ball St. head coach, so that won’t be much of an impact on Smith.

Bob Smizik mails-in his column on Aaron Gray and Gray considering the NBA.

Seven-footers who walk and chew gum at the same time get NBA attention. When they average a double-double (points and rebounds) in a league as competitive as the Big East, they get scrutiny. Gray led the Big East in rebounding with an average of 10.5 a game and was 20th in scoring with an average of 13.9. He was the only player in the league to average in double figures in both categories. He also was first-team all-conference.

At least one Internet site has Gray ranked in the NBA draft, which will be in June. Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks Gray as the 39th-best prospect and predicts him to go late in the first or early in the second round — if he opts for the draft.

Of course, Gray is not ready to play in the NBA. His game needs to improve, he needs to get stronger and better conditioned. But being ready is not the issue. A lot of players who weren’t ready entered the draft. For some it was a wise move, for more it was not.

The whole thing is just filled with the kind of strong opinion you’d expect. By the way, Ford now has him down another spot to #40 (Insider Subs). It’s not like there is anything in there with which to really disagree or take issue. You just kind of look at the column and think, “And?…”

Stupid statements regarding the lack of good centers in the draft “this year” annoy the hell out of me. There aren’t very many good centers in the draft in any year. That’s why you shake your head years later and wonder aloud, “How the hell was Chris Mihm the #7 pick in the draft?” Michael Olowokani #1 in 1998, Kwame Brown #1, Tyson Chandler #2 and Eddy Curry #4 in 2001 all Centers. The NBA draft history is littered with centers who flopped. Hell, just look at the NBA rosters and you can name only a handful of good centers in the league.

It’s why players like Mark Blount and Eric Dampier can parlay their one good season (that just happened to be in their contract year) into ridiculous contracts.

So, Gray is listed as the 5th best Center prospect in the draft (behind O’Bryant, Hilton Armstrong, Paul Davis and Josh Boone) and is down at the 40th pick. Either the NBA draft is finally wising up, or the Centers are that bad this year that nothing is going to make them rise much.

Gray’s decision to stay (not “enter”) in the NBA draft all depends on the Orlando camp. That will do the most to determine his draft stock.

If I Can Make It Here…

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 6:30 am

The Manhattan job is one of the plum jobs in the Northeast for up-and-coming assistants. Plus the now Seton Hall Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez, left the team loaded by most accounts for the next guy. No wonder several assistants are eager to make it known that they are interested in the job.

With the program set up to win right away, there’s no shortage of candidates lining up to replace Bobby Gonzalez at Manhattan College.

Three prominent Big East assistants highlight a growing list.

Pittsburgh’s Barry Rohrssen and Connecticut’s Tom Moore are very much in the mix right now, and Syracuse’s Mike Hopkins also might be interested. Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes is still collecting resumes and making introductory phone calls.

It’s unlikely he will begin conducting interviews before the end of the week.

Byrnes discussed the job with Steve Masiello this week, but the former Gonzalez assistant is not interested. He’s content staying at Louisville under Rick Pitino.

“I’m really happy where I’m at,” said Massiello, a White Plains native. “I have a great job working for the best coach in the country, and we have some really good recruits coming in. I’m not looking to change anything.”

Mike Malone isn’t likely to join the fray, either. He also has strong credentials and ties to the school after spending two years rebuilding Manhattan alongside Gonzalez. After four years on the Knicks bench, Malone jumped to Cleveland this season.

DePaul assistant Gary DeCesare also is looking to move up. The former longtime St. Raymond’s coach has been in touch with Manhattan officials during the week.

It’s an opportunity for any ambitious assistant.

And here’s the answer to an annoying question. What is a “jasper?

The unique nickname of Manhattan College’s athletic teams, the Jaspers, comes from one of the College’s most memorable figures, Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., who served at the College in the late 19th century.

One of the greatest achievements of Brother Jasper was that he brought the then little-known sport of baseball to Manhattan College and became the team’s first coach. Since Brother was also the Prefect of Discipline, he supervised the student fans at Manhattan College baseball games while also directing the team itself.

The site also claims Brother Jasper was the one behind the “7th inning stretch.” I always understood the credit went to President Taft, but both stories could be wrong.

Or not, as the case may be. As it turns out, baseball historians have located a manuscript dated 1869 — 13 years earlier than Brother Jasper’s inspired time-out — documenting what can only be described as a seventh-inning stretch. It’s a letter written by Harry Wright of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first pro baseball team. In it, he makes the following observation about the fans’ ballpark behavior: “The spectators all arise between halves of the seventh inning, extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about. In so doing they enjoy the relief afforded by relaxation from a long posture upon hard benches.”

More useless information than expected from this post.

April 12, 2006

Little Things To Note

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 3:06 pm

Tom Deinhart names some of his favorite places to grab some grub when covering college football games.

Primanti Bros at Pitt: Tucked among the bustle of a section of town called Oakland, this Steel City staple features primo sandwiches. Oh, they come with French fries — on TOP of the sandwich. I bet Ironhead Heyward ate here. He just had to. Sure wish I could have dined with him.

One of my favorite post-hangover places to grab breakfast/lunch on Sundays around 2 in the afternoon.

Now I have to wonder about what this means for parking at Heinz Field in the future. And that really is my only concern. Will this eat into the parking there, and push more people out to the lots where we are tailgating for Pitt games?

The entertainment and retail developer that was involved in the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and a new entertainment district in Louisville, Ky., is close to securing land on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

David Cordish, chairman of The Cordish Co. in Baltimore, said Cordish Co. and Continental Real Estate Cos. are partnering to buy and lease several tracts of property between Heinz Field and PNC Park.

The development will be closer to Heinz Field than the baseball park, according to Mr. Cordish.

Cordish hopes to build one of its signature urban “Live” districts, which can be found in Louisville, Kansas City, Baltimore and elsewhere. “Power Plant Live!” in Baltimore and “4th Street Live!” in Louisville feature shops, clubs, restaurants and bars, many of which are chain or franchise outlets and can already be found in Pittsburgh.

Louisville’s version, for example, has a Hard Rock Cafe, a Red Star tavern, a T.G.I. Friday’s, Lucky Strike Lanes and a Saddle Ridge rock-n-country saloon.

Just what we need. More chain restaurant, bar food.

I don’t really dislike chains or feel that they totally become soulless voids that need the requisite amount of “flair” on their employee uniforms. God knows when you have kids you end up at them often enough because they have beer for you and food the kid will eat. Just don’t expect me to want to go there when I’m actually free for those few hours and I can delude myself that I’m not really an adult.

Blue-Gold Game Preparations

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 11:52 am

The latest press release on the Blue-Gold Game for this Saturday doesn’t really say much, other than the fact that no score will be kept. This year it’s going to be just scrimmaging.

Wannstedt said the format for the spring game will be a controlled scrimmage — first-team offense vs. first-team defense, second team vs. second team, etc. — as opposed to a typical spring game in which the team is divided into two teams and score is kept. “We need to get one last good day of work in, and the only way to do that is go best against best,” Wannstedt said.

I believe Pitt has one practice on Thursday left on its schedule before that final workout to end Spring Drills.

The Blue-Gold Game, of course, also serves as an unofficial recruiting event. There will surely be sightings of plenty of kids with offers or expected to receive offers from Pitt in attendance.

Last Saturday’s practice was also a recruiting day.

Pitt used Saturday’s practice session as a blue-chip day, and more than two dozen high school prospects visited the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side. The Panthers used the occasion to extend a formal scholarship offer to Thomas Jefferson’s Dom DeCicco, a 6-3, 195-pound safety who is on his way to becoming one of the WPIAL’s top prospects.

Manheim Township quarterback Pat Bostick spent much of Pitt’s practice yesterday hanging out with 2006 signees Dorin Dickerson of West Allegheny and Elijah Fields of Duquesne, perhaps giving Panthers fans a glimpse of their future offense.

Southern Columbia fullback Henry Hynoski and lineman Josh Marks, who combined to lead the Tigers to a fourth consecutive PIAA Class A championship, spent the weekend making unofficial visits to Pitt.

“It’s been awesome,” Marks said of his trip. “I like it here a lot. It’s definitely one of my favorite schools.”

Marks said Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State and Michigan are his early top five — although the latter two have yet to offer scholarships.

Always good to see the incoming freshmen eager to help in the recruitment for next season.

Undersized On Line

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 9:45 am

Chris McKillop gets a puff piece on his second season at Defensive End.

“Last year, I was so worried about what I had to do before the snap,” McKillop said. “This year, I know exactly what I have to do, so I can do more things.

“I can read the offensive tackle, to see if he’s going to block or run. I can read their stances, to see if they’re going to double-team me or clog. Things of that nature come a lot quicker with a year under your belt.”

Before Tuesday’s workout on the South Side, Wannstedt praised McKillop for using his natural skills and adapting to the new role.

“He’s probably our most consistent defensive lineman,” Wannstedt said.

McKillop is at a size disadvantage against most offensive linemen. Last year, he figured ways to combat that by sparring in practice with 330-pound offensive tackle Charles Spencer.

“You couldn’t let him grab hold of you, or it was over,” McKillop said with a chuckle. “This year, the same thing goes with Mike McGlynn. He’s a strong man.”

McKillop goes about 245 and at the other end position, Charles Sallet is 235. An undersized, but ostensibly fast pair of DEs. The whole D-line had better be fast to compensate for the noticeable lack of size up and down.

In the notebook, Coach Wannstedt observed the lack of depth on the O-line. Also, much like the receivers, now that the initial puff pieces and happy stories about the running backs have subsided it reads as if there is no one really distinguishing themselves outside of LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Neither Shane Brooks nor Brandon Mason has emerged as an obvious choice for the backup tailback spot behind starter LaRod Stephens-Howling. “They just need more work,” Wannstedt said. “We’re still getting a feel for what they’re capable of doing.”

Roughly translated, Kevin Collier is going to see a lot of action come the fall.

Pencil In Dickerson

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 8:10 am

I really don’t think there is any other way to read this report on how the wide receivers are doing. Derek Kinder looks solid in his spot, but it seems no one else has really made a claim, though Joe DelSardo seems to have the #3 WR slot.

Early in the spring it looked as if redshirt freshman Oderick Turner was a lock to earn a starting job, but he has had an inconsistent spring and was passed — at least temporarily — by fellow redshirt freshman Cedric McGee.

There is also senior Joe DelSardo, who is actually the team leader in career receptions, and was a starter as a sophomore before losing his job to Kinder three games into last season. DelSardo has excellent hands, is a great route-runner and understands the offense better than any of the other receivers.

One other player who has been competitive is sophomore Marcel Pestano.

“We’re still waiting for that one player at receiver to step up, but it hasn’t happened yet,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “The guys have been doing a good job, but we have been looking for one of them to step up and be the guy. We have some options. I think Joe DelSardo has done a good job and there are a lot of ways we can use him, he’ll be an intricate part of what we do.”

The spot appears to be Dorin Dickerson’s to lose. I mean when Derek Kinder is stressing the run-blocking aspect of his WR teammates, that’s not a good sign.

“We are always going to put the ball in the air, but we really focused on run-blocking, on being more physical. We always hear references to [Steelers receiver] Hines Ward, how tough he is and how tough we have to be. Even if we’re not as tough, we’ve got to put on that face like we’re going to go in there and take on those linebackers or we won’t play.”

Vital and important, I know, but not one of those things you expect to talk about when you don’t have a clear depth chart at the WR positions, and that really hasn’t changed.

Tight End Darrell Strong gets a puff piece from the AP. Now at tight end, it’s good to talk about improved blocking skills.

Wannstedt said Strong is vastly improved since last season.

“He’s blocking the powers and the sweeps, and that’s been the best thing to happen to him,” Wannstedt said. “But we’ll see what happens this summer when Pelusi comes back and Nate Byham comes in. Then, we’ll sit back and look at our tight end position and see what we can do.”

Until then, Strong will continue to work hard.

“For me, the improvement from last year would be that I got a lot bigger in the offseason,” Strong said. “This year, I’m probably going to be more of a blocking tight end than a receiver. I lost a lot of body (fat) and put on muscle.”

Strong’s increased size, strength and blocking ability could help take his game to another level.

“Right now, I feel confident that this can be a breakout season for me,” Strong said. “I feel better and a whole lot more comfortable with everything that we’re doing on offense, and they want me on the field a whole lot more than they did last year. I’m not just on the field to catch the ball. I can be in there to block, too, so I’m a better overall tight end.”

Good.

Draft Stuff

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 6:48 am

Still no word on a Big East-SEC basketball challenge, other than reports that they are still talking.

The Trib. catches up and notes Krauser’s solid performance at Portsmouth.

Now, the former Pitt guard is hoping for another shot at attending the prestigious NBA Pre-Draft Camp in June.

Judging from the way he played at Portsmouth, he’ll likely be invited.

“It’s just about being solid,” said Krauser, the No. 9 all-time scorer at Pitt.

NBA scouting director Marty Blake was impressed with Krauser’s effort, saying he “does what we want in a point guard.”

Now, maybe it’s nothing. Perhaps it’s just oversight, but the other day Andy Katz blogs (Insider Subs.) a list of early entrants and likely early entrants for the NBA draft.

The deadline to declare is April 29. Unlike football, players can declare and return to college as long as they don’t sign with an agent. And for the umpteenth time, players must pay their expenses in advance for all NBA workouts except the Orlando predraft camp in June. There are no exceptions. We can’t stress this enough, yet every season at least one player doesn’t abide by the rules and has to sit out multiple games when he returns to school.

With Texas’ LaMarcus Aldridge the latest to decide he’s going (no surprise), here’s the list of significant names who have declared so far:

• Will Blalock, Iowa State
• Josh Boone, UConn
• Guillermo Diaz, Miami (signing with agent)
• Nick Fazekas, Nevada
• Thomas Gardner, Missouri
• Brandon Heath, San Diego State
• Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech
• Danilo Pinnock, George Washington
• Richard Roby, Colorado
• Rajon Rondo, Kentucky (signing with agent)
• Marcus Slaughter, San Diego State (signing with agent)
• Curtis Stinson, Iowa State

Decisions coming soon from:

• Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas
• Glen Davis, LSU
• Quincy Douby, Rutgers
• Rudy Gay, UConn
• Josh McRoberts, Duke
• Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
• Patrick O’Bryant, Bradley
• Leon Powe, Cal
• Brandon Rush, Kansas
• Mustafa Shakur, Arizona
• Tyrus Thomas, LSU
• P.J. Tucker, Texas
• Darius Washington Jr., Memphis
• Marcus Williams, UConn
• Marcus Williams, Arizona
• Shawne Williams, Memphis

Don’t be surprised to see most of these names declare for the simple purpose of getting the free trip to Orlando. But expect Gay, UConn’s Marcus Williams, Morrison and Thomas to stay in the draft if they declare. They’re all too highly regarded to flirt with the process.

Aaron Gray doesn’t even merit a mention.

Now maybe Gray will open a lot of eyes at the camp, and rocket up the board. But right now, he is not a significant name in the list of underclassmen.

April 11, 2006

The Funeral

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 7:38 pm

This story also has a link to a local TV news report in LA on the funeral. The service drew some 1200 mourners.

Her brother Jamie, the men’s coach at Pittsburgh, said he and his sister used to talk every day and that she gave him inspiration.

“She saw the good in everyone. She made everyone around her a better person. She made me a better person,” he said. “I’ve said this before — when I grow up I want to be just like her.”

Monsignor Robert Gallagher, who recalled meeting Maggie Dixon when she was “a scrawny little kid,” cited a biblical passage that says “In my father’s house, there are many dwelling places.”

“I’m not sure how many basketball courts,” Gallagher quipped.

A picture of Dixon’s Army team was placed just below the altar.

“She reached every one of their souls,” Army athletic director Kevin Anderson said.

And well beyond that.

On Duke LAX

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 1:35 pm

Other than child molesting, rape is probably one of the worst things a man can do. If you did it, there is never a defense. I, personally, favor castration as punishment for those crimes. At least murder has a self-defense claim. Just being accused of rape is an absolutely terrifying thought, because of the public presumptions.

I know I wasn’t expecting the DNA tests on the whole Duke Lacrosse team to come back negative.

Stan Goldman, who teaches criminal law, evidence and criminal procedure at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the DNA results don’t mean that [District Attorney Mike] Nifong can’t go forward with the case — but the test results make a successful prosecution much harder.

“Isn’t the absence of DNA evidence, given the way the victim has described the crime, in and of itself almost enough to raise a reasonable doubt?” he said. “That’s all the defense has to do.”

Let’s face it, just about everyone was assuming they were guilty. From the Colorado football scandal to numerous jock assaults on women, there is an arguably earned public assumption that male athletes are guilty when accused of any sort of assault on a woman.

Add in the fact that the lacrosse players were rich, white kids at an elite university and I think many were actually hoping it was true. This article (a strange mix of rich, white, male guilt as the writer notes that 5 of the lacrosse players attended the same private Catholic high school he attended in North Jersey crossed with a pathological hatred of lacrosse players stemming from some abuse he took) all but declared them guilty because they were rich, elitist, white preppy lacrosse players.

McFadyen may not have committed a crime, but he is guilty of a common lacrosse sin: puerile meatheadedness. According to court documents, a search of McFadyen’s home turned up a poster that apparently pays homage to the crude sexual maneuver known as “the shocker.” (For those of you unfamiliar with the nuances of the shocker, consult Wikipedia, or, better yet, your local lacrosse squad.)

Students, faculty, and Durham residents have carried out near-daily protests on Duke’s campus. But if any of them are wondering how alcohol-fueled misogyny could fester at one of the nation’s top schools, then they simply don’t know lacrosse. A brief sociological account is in order. Lacrosse players hail from the privileged, largely white pockets of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. They unite and form tribes in Eastern prep schools, where they can be spotted driving SUVs with “LAX” stickers affixed to the rear windows. Many grow addicted to dipping Skoal and wearing soiled white caps with college logos on them. They gain entry into top colleges by virtue of their skills with the stick. They graduate, start careers in New York, marry trophy wives, and put lacrosse sticks in their kids’ cribs.

Arguably, the human race would be better off, the way this guy writes if we simply exterminated those expressing any desire to play lacrosse.

Like I said, I thought they were guilty even if I didn’t post anything. I don’t claim any superiority. I also don’t begrudge others who did post, being wrong. I am bothered, especially, when a good site like Deadspin engages in bs rationalizations.

It is perhaps instructive to remember what initially sparked so much outrage in the first place (and media outlets, like us, to print the Duke lacrosse player roster). When the district attorney — who still insists a rape occurred — asked for cooperation from the team as to what happened, the team closed ranks and gave no information or help. This was the district attorney, attempting to investigate an alleged crime, receiving no assistance from potential witnesses, either to refute or affirm allegations. Putting aside issues of class, race or anything else, that was the element of the story that tipped it from disgust to outrage. No matter what happened that night, even if it was nothing, that was what inspired the initial public reaction.

What a crock. So giving the DNA samples for comparison wasn’t sufficient. They were supposed to just go chat with the DA in the meantime. It’s not their job to help build the case against themselves.

These weren’t witnesses to a street crime. This was an entire group facing accusations of rape. Not all of them, but they were participants, and enablers. They were all looking at criminal charges and — even those who may not have participated — civil actions and lots of shit.

The DA was playing his game and trying to get individuals to turn and play off one another. Making his complaints public was just another advantage he used. Maybe they weren’t cooperating to the level the DA wanted, but they did supply the DNA requested.

These kids and/or their parents were smart enough and rich enough to hire good attorneys who told them to shut-up and wait. Take the abuse in the media and a DA who had no trouble talking — and is still saying the case will go forward. The kids and their families actually listened to their attorneys.

No charges had or have been filed. There is no obstruction of justice by refusing to talk under advice of their attorney when not even charged. And even if they were charged, they were under no obligation to talk.

Rohrssen Watch

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 10:53 am

It’s definitely on a pause today as far as any hiring announcements go.

Tom Moore, the UConn Associate Head Coach, has made it known that he is interested in the Manhattan job.

“I’d be interested in Manhattan,” Moore said. “It’s preliminary. I’ve just expressed interest in them.”

Moore said he hasn’t been contacted by Manhattan officials, but that’s not surprising. Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes said he will allow applicants to show interest rather than pursuing the Jaspers’ next head coach.

Moore also pulled out of the coaching search for the University of Hartford.

Manhattan won’t be doing much in the way of interviews right now, as two likely candidates will be in LA.

With Pittsburgh assistant coach Barry Rohrssen and DePaul assistant Gary DeCesare both headed to Los Angeles yesterday to attend the funeral of Army women’s coach Maggie Dixon, there wasn’t expected to be much movement in the Manhattan College coaching search.

Former Manhattan coach Fran Fraschilla’s name has also found its way into the mix. But Fraschilla, now a college basketball analyst for ESPN, told the Daily News at the NIT championship game on March 30 that he enjoys his new career and has no interest in the Manhattan job.

The head coach of St. Peter’s has retired, and while the article lists a couple Peacock assistants as potential replacements, it’s another MAAC, metro NY job opening to keep in mind.

B-Ball Recruiting Wait

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 9:18 am

As I noted yesterday about Tyler Smith, he has from tomorrow until May 17 to actually make a written commitment. Pitt appears to be right at the top of his list.

Tyler Smith, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Hargrave Military Academy, has narrowed his list of schools to Pitt, Iowa, Kentucky and Memphis. According to Hargrave coach Kevin Keatts, Pitt is one of the leaders.

“The two schools that lead are Pitt and Iowa,” Keatts said.

Smith, rated the No. 56 senior in the country by Rivals.com, does not have a timetable for making a decision.

“Right now, I don’t think the family is in a hurry,” Keatts said. “If you’re asking me if he’s going to sign on signing day, I can’t answer that. I don’t know if he will or not. He could decide today or he could decide in two weeks. The family is going to make sure it’s the right fit for Tyler.”

The signing period is from tomorrow through May 17.

Smith would fill a void in the Pitt lineup. The Panthers have been searching for a small forward since Jaron Brown graduated in 2004. Eight players have tried to play the position the past two seasons.

Sam Young, who played at Hargrave in 2004-05, was supposed to be the small forward of the future, but he played strictly power forward as a freshman. Keatts said there is no doubt that Smith is a small forward.

“He is a very exciting player,” Keatts said. “He’s one of those guys who will bring you off your feet. He is super-athletic. He can do things on the wing. He can guard one through five and he can put the ball on the floor. He has a chance to be a very good player. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen.”

You hate to put too much pressure on a kid who hasn’t even committed, but small forward, a guy who can defend outside and in is something Pitt has been in dire need.

I’m not sure how serious Memphis is in all of this with the questions surrounding Calipari and maybe taking the NC State job. Obviously, the sooner Smith makes a decision, the less likely it will involve Calipari.

The Hargrave coach also doesn’t seem to think Smith’s decision will be based on anything involving Associate Head Coach Barry Rohrssen, that Smith is quite comfortable with Coach Dixon.

Pitt has one scholarship to give this spring. If Smith chooses another school, the Panthers have been recruiting a couple of other top 100 players who are still unsigned — centers Hamady N’diaye and Mike Davis and forward Kiwan Smith. N’diaye is the highest rated player of the group at No. 55, one spot ahead of Smith.

I have my doubts that Davis will ever get his academics together at this point.

A Day To Cry — Again

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 7:56 am

Maggie Dixon’s funeral is being held today in North Hollywood, California. Where her family lives and she grew up. Then it will be returned to West Point for burial there.

The family of Army coach Maggie Dixon has accepted an offer to have Dixon buried at West Point.

The burial, an honor usually reserved for high-ranking officials, is scheduled for Friday.

Dixon, 28, died last Thursday night at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., after suffering a heart arrhythmia Wednesday. An autopsy conducted Friday found that Dixon had an enlarged heart and a problem with a heart valve, according to the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s office. The valve problem could have caused her heart to beat irregularly and ultimately stop.

A funeral service for Dixon will be Tuesday morning at St. Charles Church in North Hollywood, Calif., her hometown.

The Army and DePaul teams are in California and will attend Tuesday’s service. Dixon was an assistant at DePaul before taking over the Black Knights this past season. Players gathered at a dinner Monday night in North Hollywood to share stories about their coach.

If you haven’t taken a look, Keith uploaded the video of the celebration at the conclusion of the Patriot League championship game where the cadets charged the court and carried Maggie Dixon off the court. I never noticed how dusty my office is. Really hurts my allergies.

Here’s a column from the Denver Post.

You know anybody 28? It is supposed to be a time of growth, a time to have lived just long enough to begin to reflect, to look forward to that big number of 30, what it brings, what lies beyond.

“We met with her in Detroit for the interview,” [Army’s Athletic Director Kevin] Anderson said. “Early into it, we knew we were looking at our next coach. She did a wonderful job of getting her kids to believe in themselves. Every game, the team got better.

“We were together in Indianapolis recently for the Final Four. We went to a couple of parties. People gravitated to Maggie. They kept congratulating her on her first Army season. She just deflected the compliments to the players and the school; so humble. Maggie has family and then a large extended family. When we hired her, we hired the family. In that way, hiring her alone helped sell tickets.”

Anderson laughed after he said that. Sometimes laughter sounds sad. He was proud when he spoke of her mom and dad, Marge and Jim, and of her sister, Julie.

A NY Daily News Borough columnist offers his condolonces to old friends.

This one is for my friends Jim and Margie Dixon out of Throgs Neck in the Bronx, who in a single season have fallen from the heights of glory to the abyss of human despair.

Last month, Jim and Margie watched two of their terrific kids, a son named Jamie and a daughter named Maggie, lead teams into the NCAA tournament, the first time in history a brother and sister ever did that.

The single consoling thought I had after hearing the news was that Maggie Dixon had been raised by two of the best people you’d ever meet. She had champions for parents, truly good and decent and selfless people whose 41-year marriage was forged in the Irish working-class streets of “The Neck” and survived four decades in North Hollywood, where they raised their three kids in a modest home with a basketball hoop in the yard that became the brass ring of life for two of them.

Even with all the fake distractions of Hollywood around them, Margie working for Warner Bros. and Jim acting and writing for the movies, nothing was ever more important to these two Bronx kids than their family. Their children always came first. And so Maggie Dixon’s short, sweet and amazingly successful 28 years were probably jam-packed with more life, love and laughter than a full roster of other young women her age.

Everything else was gonna be gravy.

But goddamnit it all to hell, this kid was only getting started in what would have been an amazing life and career.

On a personal note, today is my little sister’s birthday. Happy birthday, Jen. I love you.

I’ll get to see her this weekend when I travel to the folks and she comes up from Houston. Right now, this weekend can’t come soon enough.

Needlessly Complicated

Filed under: Uncategorized — Chas @ 6:48 am

Remember this time last year when Kevin Pittsnogle was considered almost a lock in the NBA draft? He had that tremendous run, he was a big man with an outside shot. At worst he would be a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki. Then he went to the Chicago pre-draft camp and found out just how much more he had to learn and do before he’d get to be a 1st round pick.

Now we are starting to see the same thing playing out with Aaron Gray.

Aaron Gray is closer than ever to turning his childhood dream to play in the NBA into reality.

The 7-foot center from Emmaus is coming off a standout junior season at Pittsburgh and is being projected by some NBA draft experts as a mid-to-late first-round pick in June.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of pro scouts and a lot of general managers,” Gray said. “I just talked to Jerry West the other day, and he seemed to think I have a good chance to be mid-to-late first-round, and that I’ll have an opportunity to go through some workouts to improve my status.

“If that’s the case, then obviously it’s going to be something big that I’m going to have to consider.”

But Gray said he won’t make any decision without talking with Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, whose younger sister Maggie, the Army women’s basketball coach, died on Thursday. Gray said Internet reports that he had already made his decision to enter the draft are false.

“I don’t know what sources they are talking about, especially with what’s going on with coach Dixon now,” Gray said. “She just died [Thursday] night. He obviously needs some time. I’m not going to be selfish and put myself ahead of what he’s dealing with, because obviously his situation is more important than mine right now.

“The last thing he needs to worry about right now is me.”

It’s pretty much a given that Gray will go to the pre-draft camp in Orlando and not hire an agent — he’s already said there wouldn’t be any hiring of an agent. He has nothing to lose and everything to learn and gain by going. As this article points out, there is still a way to go.

As for Gray, he proved much work remains after he wore down against a brutal Big East schedule.

He was outplayed by Bradley sophomore Patrick O’Bryant in the Panthers’ season-ending 72-66 loss to the Braves in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19.

“There is so much stuff I can take away from this season and go back and look at,” Gray said. “I learned about how to better prepare myself for each game, what I need to do on off-days, the type of stuff I need to do in between games so I stay fresh.”

Gray will get his game broken down, his strengths and weaknesses completely explored by the process, and that is a good thing. The more knowledge and information he gets, the more he can use it to get better.

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter