Sports

I was listening to Mike & Mike after dropping off my son at school and could not believe what I was hearing. They were discussing the Steelers' sexual predator quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. In case you haven't heard, he's been in a bit of trouble:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who won't face criminal charges after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her inside a nightclub's bathroom, said Monday he knows he'll have to work to regain the trust of teammates and fans.

Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said Monday that after exhaustive interviews and inconclusive medical exams, the student's accusations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Bright also revealed the young accuser no longer wanted him to prosecute.

Bright said he continued to investigate the case, but ultimately decided against moving forward partly because he was never able to find out what happened behind the bathroom door at the Capital City club.

What was amazing was to hear these guys speculate about how Roger Goodell may suspend Roethlisberger and that, since no criminal charges were filed, this is the "least anyone ever did to merit suspension." The least?! Guys have been suspended for using marijuana and rightfully so, but is that really more serious than taking a drunk 20 year old college student into a public bathroom that is then closed off by bodyguards?

Roethlisberger can't even manage to make sure that the strangers he has sex with are sober enough to give consent. He has demonstrated himself to be a dangerous sexual predator and the NFL had better take that seriously.

I can't believe the Mikes can be so morally obtuse to not see that.

Kansas, of course, has a spotless record. Not. Not that it excuses UK's violations, but this twit's premise is that KU is somehow "honorable" in a way that UK is not. UNC isn't really important. Actually, KU isn't either.

As we all know, there are countless, indelible KU-UK-UNC connections. It’s regrettable that KU grad Adolph Rupp factored so heavily in a shady Kentucky march to glory. Kentucky may have hit 2,000 first but KU and UNC will do so more honorably. The Wildcats got there with considerable assistance from cheating and NCAA criminal indifference and oversight. [From Kentucky basketball victories tainted | KUsports.com]

Bobby Knight. Whenever I see him, it always reminds me of that idiot football coach I had in high school that would hit me on the helmet with his whistle. The other day, the red sweatered jerk did drop his pants and open his mind:

Bob Knight said integrity is lacking in college basketball and cited Kentucky coach John Calipari as an example.

During a fundraiser for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Knight said he doesn't understand why Calipari is still coaching.

"We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching," he said. "You see we've got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that.

[From Ex-Hoosiers coach Bob Knight speaks at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame - ESPN]

His conclusions about coaching ethics may well be well-founded, but this a cheap shot. Calipari did not "put two schools on probation." The first incident, involving Marcus Camby, was one of those sadly typical incidents where a school is punished for actions of a player that it could not have prevented. The other case, involving Derrick Rose, was also not Calipari's fault. The NCAA certified Rose as eligible, then after Rose had played a season at Memphis, changed its mind and then punished Memphis for relying on its certification. It's the kind of police state, Alice in Wonderland - like action that makes fans of collegiate sports despise the NCAA.

Bobby Knight was a great basketball coach, but he has also been a bully, a buffoon and a jerk. In this case, he showed 3 of his 4 talents.

One of the cool things about baseball is that, no matter now many times you watch it, you always have the chance to see something new. Consider this play from yesterday:

The Dodgers literally were awarded a gift run in the second inning Sunday when a rarely seen "fourth-out rule" was invoked in their game against the D-backs.

Andre Ethier was at third base, Juan Pierre at second, and with one out, Randy Wolf lined out to pitcher Dan Haren, who threw to second baseman Felipe Lopez, who tagged out Pierre off second base for the apparent third out of the inning.

But by the time Pierre was erased, Ethier had crossed the plate. The D-backs left the field without making a play on Ethier at third base, which would have been the fourth out of the inning.

But as the teams changed sides, plate umpire Larry Vanover walked over to third-base umpire Charlie Reliford, apparently to discuss the play, which Dodgers bench coach Bob Schaefer pointed out to manager Joe Torre, who went out to appeal.

After an umpire huddle, Vanover ruled that the Ethier run counted, even though Ethier had not tagged up, because there was no appeal at third base. Even though a play at third on Ethier would have been the fourth out of the inning, it would have taken precedence over the third out because it would have erased a run.

Weird and sorta cool at the same time.

Tigers Release Gary Sheffield

Some things to think about for UK fans here.

No way, now how. Anyone that thinks the Gold Glove awards are just about fielding hasn't been paying attention.

(Via Baseball Crank)

Top Fifty Players Of 2008:

Pick two of [players ranked 16-28]. Together, they were as valuable as one Albert Pujols.

Albert Pujols wins Most Valuable Player award:

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP award, powering past Philadelphia Phillies star Ryan Howard by a comfortable margin Monday.

He ended up scoring 20 points. It should make a great memory for him:

I have followed college basketball since I was a little kid, and I always wanted to play Division I basketball. When you think of college basketball, Kentucky is one of the first schools that come to mind — all the history, all the players and playing in Rupp Arena. This was a dream come true for me and most of my teammates.

As the game gets closer and closer, I think about all the hard work I put into becoming a college player, and I think about the unbelievable opportunity I have. There are only a select few who get to play in the historic Rupp Arena, and I am one of them.

I can’t wait until I hear 15,000 people screaming against me. I can’t wait until they call my name. I can’t wait until I get to touch that court. What a way to open my senior year with a chance of a lifetime.