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College Football

We Are Penn State Football – Part III

Continued from “We Are Penn State Football – Part II – PSU vs. scUM Part II of II”

The Penn State vs. Michigan game really turned out to be a classic, overshadowed greatly by the great USC vs. ND game. ESPN Classic would later show the PSU vs. scUM game a few days later as an “instant classic” during the coming week. I watched the game not because I wanted to see the worst game I have ever watched all over again, but because I had to see the blown coverage on the last play of the game by Calvin Lowry. Sure enough, Lowry’s man is wide open and Lowry is no where to be seen on the TV.

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College Football

We Are Penn State Football – Part II – PSU vs. scUM Part II of II

Continued from “We Are Penn State Football – Part II – PSU vs. scUM Part I of II”

One second remaining on the clock. The Penn State defense gets set at the line, as does the Wolverine offense. 4th and 4 from the Penn State ten yard line but that doesn’t matter. Michigan needs to score here or the game is over. Henne drops back; stays in the pocket, looks, now finds a receiver down the middle into the end-zone…

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College Football

We Are Penn State Football- Part II – PSU vs. scUM Part I of II

Continued from “We Are Penn State Football – Part I”

Michigan. As I’ve said before, when I see that word I instantly think scUM. It seems every season since Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993, scUM referees really like to have fun with Penn State coaches, players and fans. Penn State vs. Michigan, as young as the rivalry is, may turn into one of College Football’s most fierce rivalries in the coming seasons. It’s too bad it hasn’t turned into a major rivalry all around the College Football world already. Because of the size of the Big Ten, every season a few teams don’t end up playing each other. There is one team that a Big Ten team is locked into playing every season, in Penn State’s case it is Michigan State, for the very last game of every season. Mix in the recent bad years of Penn State with that and the PSU vs. scUM rivalry really just hasn’t blown up yet like it may very well.

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College Football

We Are Penn State Football – Part I

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Names. All Game.  

It was a cold Saturday in early October. You know, the kind of day where just looking outside makes you gloomy inside. I was in Buffalo, NY for a baseball clinic the next morning and I arrived at the Marriott with my dad and younger brother a few hours before the Penn State vs. Michigan game was slated to start. PSU vs. scUM is more how I like to think about it. I hate Michigan. No, let me rephrase, I HATE scUM REFS! What are these guy’s real purposes? An average fan would tell you to conduct the rights and wrongs of a game/match, but then again isn’t that why instant replay was invented? An average fan would also tell you the job of a referee/umpire is to make sure things don’t get out of hand during events, but even an average fan must know that is not in fact the case (Pistons-Pacers brawl anyone?). So then why do we have referees? If you ask me, they were put on earth to give sports fans like myself a reason to complain. I’m not afraid to admit it. Sometimes it is mind-boggling the mistakes they make, makes you wonder why they even pay those sunovabitches.

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NBA General

Heat vs. Lakers Rematch Finally Has Some Spice to It

It’s Christmas Day. You are 31 years old, with a wife of five years and a two year old daughter. Santa Claus has come and gone, presents have been opened, kisses have been exchanged, and you now sit on your couch looking for something to do. It’s too cold to be outside and Christmas Dinner at your mother’s house doesn’t begin for a few more hours.  So you do what most people do when they are bored; turn on the television. Flipping by the stations you notice nothing else but the Heat/Lakers game is on. You turn off the TV because let’s just admit it; Kobe vs. Shaq isn’t as fun as it used to be and the Heat and Lakers have been disappointments this season thus far. But hold on a minute and don’t turn off that TV yet. Here’s a look at the menu for the Lakers vs. Heat, Kobe vs. Shaq, Jackson vs. Riley…. well, you get the picture don’t you?

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Detroit Lions

Bly and Garcia Should Be Suspended and Fined

On Monday, cornerback Dre’ Bly and quarterback Jeff Garcia of the Detroit Lions came out publicly and put blame on 4th year quarterback Joey Harrington for the firing of former head coach Steve Mariucci. True or not, Bly and Garcia should be fined and suspended for their actions.

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College Basketball

NIT for the ‘Cuse in 2006

It wasn’t too long ago the Syracuse Orange (formally known as the Orangemen) were Champions of College Basketball. Led by a squad that included stars such as Carmelo Anthony (now of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets), fan-favorite Gerry McNamara, Craig Forth, and the flashy dunks of Hakim Warrick, the Orange always seemed to be in the middle of the National Championship mix. Since then, players such as Anthony have gone pro and others have graduated, leaving only a few players left from that 2003 National Championship team. Although some highly recruited freshmen have been brought in the past few years by head coach Jim Boeheim (currently enduring his 30th season as head coach) these young “stars” have yet to step up as did ‘Melo and G-Mac in their respective freshman years. The team as a whole has suffered thus far.

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College Football

We Told You So: Why Penn State Could Be Smelling Roses This Year

Penn State, at home, this year is too tough. Wow, did you think you’d hear those words this year? What a dream season this has been so far for the Nittany Lions of Penn State coached by none-other than Joe Paterno. Yes, Joe Paterno. The same guy who was being asked by the alumni of Penn State to step down after two National Championship, five undefeated seasons, and years and years of glory. But Paterno, who turns 79 in December, persevered and it looks like he may very well get the last laugh after all. Resurgence could be the word you use to describe this football team, as Joe has made some key recruits, his senior leadership led by quarterback Michael Robinson and company; the Lions continue to show us (the audience, press, etc.) that through pride, strength, and success with honor it’s never over for elite football programs such as Penn State.

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College Football

Return to Glory?

Penn State’s record as of today: 4-0. It has been a long five years for Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ever since the great graduating class of 1999, which saw two Nittany Lions, Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington, go one and two of the NFL draft, things have been anything and everything but happy in Happy Valley.

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New York Yankees

You Can’t Count Them Out

I know everyone has been ripping on the New York Yankees all season long and everyone wants to see the first $200 million dollar team not make the playoffs, but any fan can’t help but think what might happen if the Yankees do pull it off this week and win yet another division title. Think about it; how many starters have the Yankees used this season? Probably enough to fill three major league starting rotations. It has been a combination of good and bad for manager Joe Torre this season, but don’t be fooled because come October things could start cooking in the Bronx, and the Yankees could become a very, very scary team in the playoffs.