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Kentucky Should Be Making NIT Plans

Posted: Mar 4th 2009 10:44PM by Chas Rich (author feed)
Filed under: Kentucky, SEC, Georgia

As far as gimme games go for a bubble team, this was the absolute definition of one for Kentucky. They were playing Georgia in Rupp Arena -- a Georgia team that had already fired their coach and only had two conference wins. The Bulldogs were absolutely the best team to get at this point, as their season is circling the drain.

Kentucky absolutely needed the game. It was at home. It was the final home game (and possibly the last night at Rupp for junior Jodie Meeks). It was a must-win, can not lose. Yet, somehow the Wildcats managed to do just that.

Georgia 90, Kentucky 85: Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

Continue Reading Kentucky Should Be Making NIT Plans

Tim Tebow Won't Save World, But He Can Certainly Save the Florida Gators

Posted: Jan 9th 2009 3:00AM by Ray Holloman (author feed)
Filed under: Florida, Oklahoma, SEC, Media Watch, Bowl Games

29 COMMENTS

What began with an apology ended with a national title.

Fourteen and a half weeks after Tim Tebow fought back the tears and promised that that day's loss to Ole Miss was only a beginning, he fought back the Sooners and made sure that promise came true.

And, unless you lived under a rock that has yet to undergo the digital transition, you already know this. It's been unwillingly drilled in to your head like multiplication tables or that darn Saved by Zero commercial.

Again. And again. And again.

He's a missionary. An icon for our generation. A man who can perform a circumcision during an out route and can turn Gatorade into wine.

Or maybe we're confusing him with someone else.

But then again, it's hard to tell with more sugar poured on him than John Daly's breakfast cereal. You think you put on weight over the holidays? Chow down a couple high-calorie Tebow features and you'll be punching new holes in our belt for all those added pounds.

Continue Reading Tim Tebow Won't Save World, But He Can Certainly Save the Florida Gators

Mark Cuban Has Been Charged With Insider Trading by the SEC Relating to Mamma.com

Posted: Nov 17th 2008 11:50AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Fans, NBA Gossip, NBA Media Watch, NBA Police Blotter, NBA Rumors

46 COMMENTS

Mark Cuban has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

Outspoken Owner

Outspoken billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been charged with insider trading over the sale of 600,000 shares of Mamma.com. The SEC's lawsuit, filed today, did not specify what fines the commission intends to seek. Find out what other controversies have surrounded Cuban since he entered the sports world.

David Zalubowski, AP

Cuban, who became a billionaire by selling his company, Broadcast.com, to Yahoo! in 1999, purchased the Dallas Mavericks in 2000 for $285 million from H. Ross Perot Jr. The Mavericks were a floundering NBA franchise, having a small following and struggling on the court.

Paul Buck, AFP / Getty Images

Cuban became a very hands-on and accessible owner, spending his time on the court rather than up in the owner's box and running his own blog.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

Cuban's rise to ownership is considered the ultimate fan fantasy successfully coming true. He is an unapologetic fan not afraid to celebrate or scream at officials or players.

Roy Dabner, AP

However, because of his gregarious nature, Cuban has had his share of spats with NBA commissioner David Stern. The league has fined the owner more than $1.6 million for various comments and actions.

Bill Janscha, AP

After saying "I wouldn't hire him to manage a Dairy Queen" about the NBA's head of officiating in 2002, the company challenged Cuban to work in one of its stores for a day. Cuban accepted, and served frozen treats at a Texas location.

LM Otero, AP

Even Cuban's ex-players aren't spared his wrath. After former Maverick Michael Finley returned to Dallas in the 2005-06 season, the owner encouraged fans to shower him with boos.

Douglas C. Pizac, AP

One of his own players thought Cuban should take a lesser role one the sideline. Saying it was a "bit much" for him to be next to the bench, Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki said "he's got to learn how to control himself as well as the players do."

J. Pat Carter, AP

Cuban's biggest fine came after the 2006 NBA Finals. He was fined $250,000 for various transgressions during Game 5 as the Mavericks fell behind in a series they led 2-0 and eventually lost to Miami.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

Cuban has expressed some interest in expanding his sports franchise empire. The outspoken Mavericks owner submitted an initial bid of $1.3 billion to buy the Chicago Cubs in July 2008, despite published comments that he had "zero chance" of being allowed to buy the team.

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Now, what in the name of the Duke Brothers does that actually mean? Well, here's the skinny: Cuban was invited to be an investor in Mamma.com, a conglomerate type of search engine start up company. He invested, back in 2004. However, Cuban dumped his entire investment in the company in 2004 after finding out from Mamma that their private funding money dipped by 10% , causing the company to offer their stock at a discounted price from the previous day's closing number. (In other words, everyone who owned the stock would take a tremendous loss.)

Since the SEC kind of frowns on investors using insider information to avoid financial losses, they've filed some charges against him.

The Commission's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleges that in June 2004, Mamma.com Inc. invited Cuban to participate in the stock offering after he agreed to keep the information confidential. The complaint further alleges that Cuban knew that the offering would be conducted at a discount to the prevailing market price and that it would be dilutive to existing shareholders.

Continue Reading Mark Cuban Has Been Charged With Insider Trading by the SEC Relating to Mamma.com

Big East - SEC Basketball Challenge

Posted: Apr 6th 2007 2:52PM by Charles Rich (author feed)
Filed under: Georgetown Basketball, Alabama Basketball, LSU Basketball, Villanova Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, South Carolina Basketball, Big East Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Campus, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, Alabama, West Virginia, LSU

1 COMMENT

This one has been in the works for a while, but it's finally been announced. The Big East and SEC will play a limited challenge series over the next several years. I'm sorry, they are calling it an Invitational. It will be a four game rotation for the next four years.

The games will take place on December 5-6. On December 5, two games will be played at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham Alabama. The two games will be: West Virginia-Auburn and Georgetown-Alabama. On December 6, the games will be at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That will have South Carolina-Providence and LSU-Villanova. The games will be aired on ESPN2 and ESPN.

"This Invitational will showcase two of the premier conferences in college basketball," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager of ESPN Regional Television. "Both conferences compete at the highest level, as evidenced by their recent appearances in the Final Four, and we are pleased to feature them on two consecutive nights on our networks."

Of course, only 2 of the Big East teams selected for next year were in the NCAA Tournament and none of the SEC schools even made the NIT.

How do the teams get picked each year? Well, that gets left to ESPN "in consultation" with the conferences. Considering ESPN will be handling the "Big East/SEC Invitational's organization, operation, sponsorship, marketing efforts and more," I'm guessing the consultations pretty much follow whatever ESPN tells the conferences to do.

Fitz Sees Similarities Between Game Day and Race Day

Posted: Apr 6th 2007 11:55AM by tallglassofmilk (author feed)
Filed under: SEC, Tennessee, Nashville, Busch Series

0 COMMENTS

Seven-year NASCAR Busch owner Armando Fitz loves going home to Nashville:

"I love coming to Nashville. There's not another race track I'd rather win at. My sister lives here, I've got family here, It's fun."

The former Vanderbilt linebacker always enjoyed the thrill of competition and now lives it every day in the "ultra-competitive world of motorsports." He draws parallels between competition on the gridiron and the racetrack:

"It's teamwork. Like a pit crew, there's seven guys that go over the wall. They've got to operate like an offense or defense in football. The jack man is like the quarterback."

Fitz, who owns Fitz Motorsports with his wife Mimi Sabates, sits just outside the Top 15 in owner points and heads to Music City with 2002 NCTS Champion and Cup driver Mike Bliss behind the wheel of the #22 Dodge and one immediate goal:

"We want to take home one of the [Gibson] guitars for our trophy case as well and know we have an excellent shot of doing just that."

His ultimate goal: The big leagues--a Nextel Cup team by 2009.

The Fanhouse thinks he's on the right track.

Spring Practice Questions: Ole Miss Rebels

Posted: Mar 13th 2007 1:00PM by Pete Holiday (author feed)
Filed under: Mississippi Football, SEC

1 COMMENT

Last Year: 4-8 (2-6 SEC)

Fans Are: The classiest tailgaters in the SEC and very little else. If you've never been to The Grove on gameday, it's certainly a sight to see, but the Rebels have been one of the SEC's worst teams since Eli Manning left in 2003. That season was something of a flash in the pan, however, and in a conference full of insufferable fans, the only ones that generally complain about the Ole Miss faithful are from a short jaunt down the road in Starkville.

Expectations: Zero. In 2006 the Rebels were, to put it kindly, not very good. Their most impressive game, by far, was a 3-point loss to LSU late in the season that the Vegas odds-makers thought would be a 27-point rout. That game also makes a strong case for "most impressive performance" by an Ole Miss team stretching back to 2003 when Manning lead the Rebels to a 20-17 win over #17 ranked Florida. Suffice it to say, the Rebels do not expect to be in the hunt for the top half of the SEC West this year, let alone a division or conference title.

Questions:

1. Can QB Brent Schaeffer throw more touchdowns than interceptions this year?

Let's hope so. Last year Schaeffer threw 10 picks but only 9 touchdowns including a 3-interception day against Missouri. There was a lot of hope for Schaeffer when he transferred in from Tennessee, but he spent most of his first season with the Rebels throwing to the wrong color jersey and getting sacked. This year he's had a bit of time in the system, the offensive line should see some improvements, and the Rebels are returning 10 offensive starters, so Schaeffer's numbers should go up. If they don't, look for Coach O to pull him early in the season.

Continue Reading Spring Practice Questions: Ole Miss Rebels

SEC Coaches as South Park Characters

Posted: Feb 23rd 2007 1:59PM by Brian Cook (author feed)
Filed under: Alabama Football, Auburn Football, Florida Football, Georgia Football, LSU Football, Mississippi Football, Tennessee Football, SEC, Arkansas Football, South Carolina Football

94 COMMENTS

Again from The Georgia Sports Blog and Kit Kitchens.

(full size)

Saban is brilliant, and the dour vacancy of Les Miles is perfect. Also, Croom looks like he's about to start muttering "the horror... the horror," which I figure he does every time he sees his recruits' academic progress ratings.

Previously: The Big Ten | The ACC | The Big Twelve

Jim Delaney Crushes Sportswriters In His Mighty Jaws

Posted: Feb 12th 2007 11:50AM by Brian Cook (author feed)
Filed under: Big 10, SEC

5 COMMENTS

Let's stipulate this: Taylor Bell of the Chicago Sun-Times is a very dumb person if his most recent column is any indication. I mean... it's ludicrously bad. Sample idiocy snippet:

So what happened? [To make the Big Ten suck]

It got slower.

The Big Ten fell behind because it stayed north of the Mason-Dixon Line and failed to bring in the athletes who were coming out of the Deep South, especially Florida.

The rest of it is the same ugly pastiche of unsupported cliches and general mouthbreathing. There's a 50-50 shot Bell is a nom de plume of Jay Mariotti. That's how bad it is.

So what, you say? Just another idiot sportswriter with a column trying to stir up passion the only way he knows how? Sure, if Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney hadn't taken time out of his schedule to respond with an open letter to "Fans of the Big Ten and College Football." Delaney ably uses actual "facts" to debunk Bell's column:

# The Big Ten was 2-1 vs. the SEC in this past season's bowl games.
# The Big Ten is 8-6 vs. the SEC in bowl games over the last five years 4
# The Big Ten is 13-13 vs. the SEC in bowl games over the last decade.
# Over the last nine years of Bowl Championship Series games, the Big Ten leads all conferences with 15 berths while ranking second with eight victories. The SEC tops all leagues with nine wins and ranks second to the Big Ten with 13 appearances.

This is no mere cherry-picking. Delaney takes bowl games that match similar teams (usually in locales much friendlier to SEC teams) and ignores Vandy-Michigan matchups that only serve to distort the true picture. The Big Ten and SEC have been neck and neck for a decade; Bell's an idiot. So... good job, Jim, but don't you have a conference to run?

The Orgeron Gets Contract Extension

Posted: Jan 30th 2007 1:42PM by Brian Grummell (author feed)
Filed under: Mississippi Football, SEC, NCAA FB Rumors, NCAA FB Coaching, NCAA FB Media Watch

1 COMMENT

ESPN's Joe Schad says Ole Miss will announce a two-year extension for football coach Ed Orgeron sometime today.

So far the Tasmanian Devil of a coach is just 7-16 in two full seasons, but this can be mitigated by 1)it's Ole Miss, 2)he's The Orgeron, 3)it's the SEC, 4)it's Ole Miss.

And he can totally beat the crap out of Urban Meyer. No official word yet from the man, but I think it'll sound something like this:

COACHO ALLWAYSAY CAINTWINNAH SEC CHAMP-SHUH WITHOUTAMOTIVASHA! Butda coachO gotheesefa-Idea thatgonna makedah Rebbahfootbawteam FIHREDUPPTAPLAYBALL!

Heh.

I just have one question, however. Can a statement of fact be editorializing? When it comes to ESPN's reportage of the story, I think it can. You be the judge (headline):

But Does Cal Have Its Own Army?

Posted: Sep 1st 2006 12:00PM by Voluminous (author feed)
Filed under: Tennessee Football, SEC, NCAA FB Fans

0 COMMENTS

Cal may have a pretty good football team, but do they have their own Army? I doubt they have much of a Navy either. Tennessee has both and much more. I have never been to Berkley for a game, but I can imagine that the atmosphere is nothing like they are going to experience Knoxville on Saturday. I doubt that they have every heard 100,00 plus fans in orange singing Rocky Top. I doubt they have felt the kind of electricity that runs through a stadium Tennessee runs through the "T". I am sure they have great fans, but there is just something different about SEC College Football fans. Just ask Warren over at Rammer Jammer , Orson at EDSBS , or the thousands of fans at Vol Nation. Cal may win on Saturday, but the atmosphere battle has already been decided. I may be wrong, but I will let the Cal fans decide.