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

All Other Sports

As Maryland as Crab Cakes

Post author By bsd987
Post date May 26, 2007
No Comments on As Maryland as Crab Cakes

If you search the Arlington Park website, you’ll find no report about why the horse track was closed for two years from 1998-1999.

You’ll find out how the track recovered in the 1980s from a fire that destroyed the grandstand, forcing the track to move its meet to Hawthorne Race Course, located across town in Chicago; you’ll find out how in 1981, Arlington Park became the first horse track in the history of the world to offer a $1 million purse for one race, the Arlington Million; you’ll find out that Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Native Dancer, and Citation have been among the countless horses to run and win at the track; you’ll find out that Cigar tied Citation’s 16-race winning streak at the track; but the only mention of the track going dark is that it reopened in 2000 after a two year absence.

Texas Rangers

The hero of Arlington

There’s probably no city in the country with a professional sports franchise that holds a coach or manager so close to its heart as Arlington, Texas.

In Atlanta, you can criticize Bobby Cox; in Miami, you could criticize Don Shula; in Boston, even Red Auerbach was questioned. But it’s a crime to say anything against Johnny Oates, who managed the Texas Rangers from 1995 until his resignation 28 games into the 2001 season.

College Football

College Football Hall of Fame Got it Right

Post author By bsd987
Post date May 9, 2007
1 Comment on College Football Hall of Fame Got it Right

The Hall of Fame does not exist for people like Joe Paterno and Doug Flutie.

Yes, these people are great and outstanding and should be in the College Football Hall of Fame, but that isn’t the purpose.

I would know of Babe Ruth and Red Grange if I hadn’t seen their plaques at Cooperstown and Canton respectively. They don’t need to be memorialized.

Tags College Football, ncaa

All Other Sports

The other side of the Kentucky Derby

Post author By bsd987
Post date May 3, 2007
2 Comments on The other side of the Kentucky Derby

It’s hard to believe only eight years ago Charismatic took 31-1 odds into the gate and emerged as the Kentucky Derby champion. And two weeks later, he took 8-1 odds and won the Preakness.

Sadly, the colt broke his leg in the stretch in his next race, the Belmont Stakes, finishing a close third, and was thus denied being the first Triple Crown winner in 21 years.

Tags horse racing, kentucky derby

All Other Sports

Lessons from Bluffton

Until a month ago, I had never heard of Bluffton University, a tiny Mennonite liberal arts college of less than 1200 students in the northwest Ohio town of the same name and just as obscure.

And in a couple months, I won’t even remember the name. But right now, it’s a story we can all learn from.

Tags college baseball

College Basketball

Second honeymoon over for Billy Donovan

Post author By bsd987
Post date February 15, 2007
2 Comments on Second honeymoon over for Billy Donovan

Never have I seen a college basketball game in which one team thoroughly outcoached, outplayed, and outmanaged the other so totally– and lost. Never.

Despite the fact that Florida seemingly had the game locked up with 35 seconds to go, up by nine; despite the fact that Kentucky had started only 1 out of 19 from three-point range, tying the worst start to a game in school history; despite the fact that Florida led the entire way, including by as much as 16 during the first half; despite the fact that Ramel Bradley, who entered the game hitting better than 86% of his free throws, went 3-8 from the line, Kentucky had a shot at the buzzer to force overtime. And it comes down to coaching.

MLB General

The Hall’s Blunder

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown is the biggest disgrace to the game.

Never, not even in refusing to induct Pete Rose, has the Hall proven to be as flawed as it did today.

Tags baseball hall of fame, MLB

College Football

Final thoughts on 2006: Story of the year

Post author By bsd987
Post date January 1, 2007
4 Comments on Final thoughts on 2006: Story of the year

As I await the New Year from the seclusion of the Colorado Rockies, without television or radio, although with wireless internet and my laptop, I figure that I might as well look for the story of the year.

I’ve heard George Mason’s run to the final four mentioned, I’ve heard Tiger’s resurgence, I’ve heard steroids in baseball, no steroids in baseball, and steroids in the Tour de France. But none of those are the story.

College Football

Feeling bad for Coker- a month later

Post author By bsd987
Post date December 27, 2006
No Comments on Feeling bad for Coker- a month later

It’s been more than a month since Miami both fired head coach Larry Coker and made him continue working for the school through the end of the year, and I disagree with the move more than ever now.

No, not for making him coach the bowl game against Nevada, but for firing him in the first place because of one bad season.

NBA General

David Stern’s word dilemma

Post author By bsd987
Post date December 9, 2006
2 Comments on David Stern’s word dilemma

Apparently, I’m the only one who notices the hypocrisy that has enveloped David Stern in his old age.

Now, I admit that I haven’t watched more than two quarters of any NBA regular season game since the lockout and I admit that before Hurricane Katrina, I thought the Hornets were still in Charlotte, so I’m probably missing something, but how does Stern get off forcing his employees to wear suits to the games but refer to them as players when they complain about the game ball? I think that’s hypocrisy.

Tags david stern, NBA