Author: bsd987

I have written for SportsColumn.com since 2004 and was named a featured writer in 2006. I have been Co-Editor of the site since January 1, 2009. I also write for BleacherReport.com where I am a founding member of the Tennis Roundtable and one of the chief contributors to both the Tennis and Horse Racing sections.

I am "Stat Boy" for Sportscolumn.com's weekly podcast, Poor Man's PTI.

I am currently a Junior at Rice University majoring in History and Medieval Studies. My senior thesis will focus on the desegregation of football in Texas and its affect of racial relations.

Please direct all inquiries to [email protected].

Thanks,
Burton DeWitt
Co-Editor of Sportscolumn.com

College Football

Discourse on (lack of) Reason

Post author By bsd987
Post date August 7, 2006
1 Comment on Discourse on (lack of) Reason

It seems like it was just a year ago that Myles Brand, the man who not even own organization can spell his first name (search “Miles Brand” site:ncaa.org and you’ll get a nice laugh when you find the press release announcing his hiring), foolishly decided that the “Seminole” nickname was “abusive & hostile” to a group of people who supported it 100%.

Oh wait, it was.

But some things never change. Now the man who should be selling swiss cheese to monkeys has decided that two green and yellow feathers symbolize hostility and abuse towards Native Americans. Am I missing something?

All Other Sports

Prelude to a Funeral

It’s a big enough disgrace to merit the immediate removal of the state of Maryland from the union.

Saturday, at a little past 6:00 p.m., Pimlico Racecourse allowed Barbaro to race after he broke through the gate without even glancing at him to see if he were all right solely to protect millions of dollars invested in this race that would have to be refunded if Barbaro was scratched. If this were any other race, they would have made sure the horse was still fit to run. But in order to save their business, they cleared the horse without examination.

College Football

That Time of Year Again

I think that people in this country truly do not grasp the fourteenth amendment.

Like any other survey on racial equality in collegiate sports, the University of Central Florida is attempting to dictate NCAA policy. According to “Professor” Richard Lapchick’s study, minorities make up less than 20% of presidents, athletic directors, and head football coaches at Division 1-A universities, including a decade low in number of head football coaches. And this is all true.

College Basketball

The Undefeated Record

While we are all marveling in the great starts of Florida and Colorado State and Indiana State, one unbeaten has been forgotten.

True, this team hasn’t beaten anyone. No seriously, they haven’t beaten anyone. They haven’t even beaten a Nicholls State or an Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. And true, it won’t beat anyone until at least January 11, if it ever does beat anyone. But for the beleaguered Baylor men’s basketball program, it can at least brag about one thing: its undefeated mark.

College Football

Back in Blackshire

“You can tell everybody that Prairie View football is back.”

In those words, the most remarkable rebuilding process ever to go undocumented was kept silent from the world. There was no mention on ESPN; there was no article on cbssportsline.com; there was no acknowledgement anywhere in mainstream sports society. But in the graceless ignorance given to Division 1-AA football, Prairie View A&M, the worst football program of the 1990s, has returned.

Florida Marlins

Southern Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

Post author By bsd987
Post date November 24, 2005
3 Comments on Southern Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

For those sober enough to remember the aftermath of the 1997 World Championship the Florida Marlins bought from Major League Baseball, these past couple of days must seem like déjà vu. But they should only wish that this were just déjà vu.

The Florida Marlins have begun a purge similar in quantity to that of Josip Stalin during the 1930s. Already gone are Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett, traded to Boston. Now the Marlins paid the Mets to take Carlos Delgado, although they got superstar rookie Mike Jacobs in return. Plus A.J. Burnett, Brian Moehler, the entire bullpen, Juan Encarnacion, Jeff Conine, and Alex Gonzalez are all on the free agent market.

College Football

Death of a Priest and a Salesman

Post author By bsd987
Post date November 20, 2005
No Comments on Death of a Priest and a Salesman

Rarely do four tenured coaches leave their schools in the same year.

First it was Barry Alvarez, who announced in July that this, his 16th season, would be his final at Wisconsin. Then it was Bill Snyder, who retired after 17 years from Kansas State just this past week. But there is no word yet on Fisher DeBerry of Air Force and Ken Hatfield of Rice. The previous infringed on the rights of his players and should be fired, while the latter made derogatory comments three years ago without paying the price.

College Football

The Coach of the Century

Before Bill Snyder graced Manhattan with his presence in 1989, Kansas State was an insult to abysmal.

The Wildcats had not won a game since October 18, 1986. They had not won a road game since October 26, 1985. They had not won consecutive games since September 24, 1983 and three consecutive games since the beginning of 1982. They had not played in a bowl since losing to Wisconsin on December 11, 1982 in the Independence Bowl, then the weakest of all the bowls. They had not won consecutive road games since October 27, 1979. They had not been ranked since November 14, 1970. They had not beaten a ranked team other than by forfeit since October 31, 1970. And they had not beaten a top ten team since October 3, 1970.