FanHouse Rudy Giuliani

It has been nearly two months since we've checked in with the ongoing battle between Andrew Giuliani and the University of Duke golf team, but finally the real story is surfacing.

It turns out, Rudy Giuliani's son, who was dismissed from the Duke golf team in February and decided to sue the University, might have been a bit of a hot-head on the golf course. Oh, and off the golf course too. Yeah, both of those.

Giuliani sued Duke in July, claiming he was improperly cut from the team earlier this year and that the coach violated a contract he entered when he agreed to come to the university and pay $200,000 in tuition and fees.

But Duke said in a court filing Wednesday that the 22-year-old Giuliani was properly suspended after throwing an apple in the face of another player, breaking a golf club during a tournament, injuring a teammate and becoming verbally abusive with a coach.

Call me batty, but that sure sounds like the kind of kid I want on my golf team!

Honestly, if these reports are true, which I'm assuming are since they were noted in a court filing, what in the would was Giuliani thinking? Did he think the coach just forgot he was a (jerk)?

Nothing is more of an absolute certainty in this world than a rich kid filing a lawsuit because he wasn't treated fairly and then the real story coming out.

After Andrew Giuliani, son of former mayor Rudy Giuliani, was kicked off the Duke golf team, he filed a lawsuit claiming he was "illegally terminated from the team in February." After it was shown that Giuliani might have been released because of his mediocre golf record for a top-15 golf school, new reports have come out that it might have been because he was a bit of an ass.

One of the first things (head coach O.D.) Vincent did as coach was meet with each of the 13 players for four to five hours to go over the "very thick athlete code of conduct," the source said. Each player agreed in writing to obey the rules.

But Andrew soon became disruptive, teammates said.

"There was a lot of bullying," the source said. "I guess the guys didn't dislike him; they were cautious of him. He just kind of got a little pushy."

Andrew was accused of hurting two teammates in a football game and allegedly threw an apple at a teammate, sparking a fistfight.

There are probably a lot of reasons to sue a collegiate sports program for kicking you off the team without any previous knowledge of the happenings.

If the coach tried to seduce you with flavored candles in his apartment or the athletic director forced you to do a Starry Night shot and you declined or if the mascot of the college was seen dry-humping your girlfriend on the JumboTron and you complained.

One reason not to sue is if you're dropped from the squad because you suck at the sport.

As we noted yesterday, Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy, is suing Duke University because he was "illegally terminated from the team in February."

As Andrew complains of wrongdoings, the numbers just sit there smiling, explaining what went down. Giuliani has played in four tournaments in his first three seasons at Duke and was probably not going to get much time on the links this season as five of the top six golfers on the team are returning for 2008-09.

His scoring average was 75.75, extremely mediocre at the college level, and he shot as many rounds (1) in the 80s as he did breaking 72. For a team currently ranked 15th in the nation, a guy like that is extremely disposable.

Playing collegiate sports is a tough gig. You're up at 5 AM, doing sprints before workouts before class before practice. You hang, play and party with the same group of teammates you travel with.

So, when the coach decides to dismiss you from the team, what's the first logical step to take? Yep, you guessed it, sue the coach and the university.

Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, is suing Duke University after being kicked off the team by head coach O.D. Vincent, claiming he was "illegally terminated from the team in February."

"[Men's golf coach] O.D. Vincent announced to the team that he was unilaterally canceling Andrew's eligibility to participate in the University's Athletics Program immediately and indefinitely. Andrew and his teammates were shocked. Andrew had no prior notice of what was about to happen. At no time was Andrew ever given an opportunity to defend himself; instead he was summarily dismissed," the lawsuit read.

Now, I'm sure it kills you to be tossed to the curb by your coach, but it isn't like Andrew is winning Nobel Peace Prizes or anything. This is the same kid who said he wasn't going to campaign for his father because he didn't want it to get in the way of his aspiring professional golfing career.

Before his presidential campaign flamed out in remarkable, oh-my-god-what-happened fashion, Rudy Guiliani was doing almost everything in his power to appeal to every American everywhere. For example, his long-time Yankee fandom? Still there, sure, but that doesn't mean ol' Rudy hated the Red Sox! No way! That would be, like, politically disadvantageous.

So Rudy embraced his fellow AL team, and even if his campaign no longer needs the help, his Red Sox fandom will be imprinted on cardboard forever:

When Topps baseball cards hit the stores this week it'll appear that way. About one in every 70 packs will include a picture of the former New York City mayor, fist raised in victory, celebrating with the Red Sox on the field after their World Series win.

Yankees fans need not worry, though. Giuliani, a self-professed, die-hard supporter of the Red Sox's chief rival wasn't really there.

"We took that and thought it would make for a funny card, since the Red Sox won," said Clay Luraschi, baseball brand manager for The Topps Co. "We thought, let's put him in the championship dog pile."

See? Changing your allegiances will always haunt you. It's much better to be the swaggering Yankeecrat than a flip-flopper, after all.

Rudy Giuliani's affinity for the New York Yankees is no secret, but openly having a favorite team isn't exactly the most politically palatable thing to do. (Mitt Romney can't make up his mind about immigration, let alone wholly support the Red Sox.) Recently, Guiliani's even admitted to cheering for the Red Sox in the World Series because they were an American League team, a brand of logic usually employed by only the most casual of baseball fans.

Now, Guiliani's fandom has hurt him yet again. Supporters canvassing New Hampshire -- Red Sox country -- made the horrible mistake of running around in Yankees gear. Nice thinking, guys:

Some Rudy Giuliani volunteers bused here from New York City struck out as they went door to door in advance of Tuesday's Granite State primary while wearing caps or jackets of the hated New York Yankees.

"Some people really don't think," said a person with knowledge of the situation.

"You're in the middle of Red Sox Nation wearing stuff from their enemy. It's absolutely ridiculous.

"Can you image if people were running around The Bronx in Red Sox hats?" he added.

Giuliani reps didn't immediately return calls for comment.

For a candidate who, like Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side, seems lost in the early stages of primary voting, supporters rocking Yankee gear in Red Sox territory probably isn't the biggest concern ... but it certainly can't help. That's, oh, what's the phrase? Grossly, thoughtlessly counterproductive? Yep, that's it.

(HT: BBTF)

As the Joe Torre Death Watch carries on into day two, we all still await the judgement from Mount Olympus as George Steinbrenner tries to decide what he's going to do. Will he fire Joe Torre and effectively end an era in New York, or will he keep one of the greatest managers in Yankees history?

I don't know, and neither does Joe Torre. If Torre does find himself out of a job soon, at least he can take comfort in the fact he's going to have plenty of options when it comes to finding a new job. And I'm not just talking as a manager. No, I'm thinking more of a secretary type role. Say, Secretary of Transportation or something like that.

It could happen if Rudy Giuliani has his way. From the always reliable New York Post and Page Six comes this:

COULD Joe Torre be going from the House that Ruth Built to the White House if he's ousted by George Steinbrenner? Maybe, if Rudy Giuliani gets elected. In his new book, "The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President," Time magazine editor-at-large Mark Halperin asked the leading presidential candidates whom they'd put in their Cabinet. Most refused, except for Giuliani, who gave one name: Torre.

It's nice to know that Giuliani is taking the possibility of being our country's president seriously. Maybe he can nab Jeter as his Vice President and get Tiki Barber to be his press secretary.

We're two years out from the next Presidential election, but already one of the lead candidates is hitting the red state sports scene hard for votes: Rudy Giuliani. See the screen capture below - a Guiliani for President ad placed prominently on the Rivals.com college football website.



Nice.

This is smart and annoying at the same time. Guiliani must first defeat several other big time Republicans in the various primaries if he is to have a shot at being President.. Seeing as how he hails from deep blue New York, a concerted effort must be made to bridge the gap between himself and the red, southern-ish party base. Enter the Rivals.com ad.

Like I said, smart. Hey, look at me, I'm Rudy and I like football! So long as he doesn't pretend he's part of the Kennedy clan playing football with the family and get photographed having the football attack him (don't fight the ball!) like uh, one John Kerry, this will work out well.

Yet ... it's also annoying. The campaigns just keep getting earlier and earlier and now the pandering extends not only to mailers, phone calls, television ads and radio ads, but also our favorite internet sports sites that are supposed to be our diversions from the politicians. Oy.