The Daily Roundup: Free Throw Friday

The Headlines:

Duke's dynamic duo, Christian Lattener and Brian Davis donate $2Million to the Duke basketball program. Here is another really nice piece by Frank Dascenzo of the Durham Herald Sun about the donation and what it means for the Duke program.

With Stephan Davis down, expectations are running high for the Panther's DeShaun Foster.

How about starting the day with a little Q & A from the coach of the football powerhouse that is Duke University, Ted Roof.

This is the one of the worst things I've ever heard: In order to avoid having to play a mentally challenged member of his team, a youth coach offered one of the players own teammates $25 to injure the challenged youth.

Eight-year-old Keith Reese testified at a preliminary hearing that T-ball coach Mark R. Downs Jr. made the offer before a June 27 playoff game.
"He told me if I would hit (the teammate) in the face, he would pay me $25," Keith said.
Reese said he had never before warmed up for a game with his mentally disabled teammate, Harry Bowers. But on that day, he did.
His first toss hit Bowers in the groin area. As the boy walked away, he said his coach told him to "go out there and hit him harder."
"So I went out and hit him in the ear," Reese said.

I'm open for punishment suggestions for this dirt bag. I hope that when he goes to jail, the boys give him the 'ol full mettle jacket blanket treatment, then give him to the Gimp to have a little fun with.......and then give him the 'ol blanket treatment again, and then the Gimp, and then the blanket, and then the Gimp.....and so on and so forth. Suggestions are welcome in the comments section.

Another "top" recruit sips the syrup that UNC is serving and signs with the Tar Heel football program. Seriously, he's a Top 10 North Carolina kid so we can all be happy that one of our best didn't leave home. Let's see JB can do with him.

Wow........may main man T.A. McClendon is cut by the Falcons. I hope this is not shaping up to be one of those sad, sad, tales of boom, to overconfidence, to laziness, to poor guidance, straight to bust and despair. Man up and get your sh#* together, T.A.

Justin Gray and Mr. Reddick (because that's what his new MO is on the Basketblog. I'm saying.....), make the US Under 21 National Team.

Notes on Virginia Tech and UVa. from the Times Dispatch.

Terry Holland is changing the sports culture and landscape at ECU. I like the direction he's taking things down east. Keep at it, Coach.

More to come.....

U.S. Under-21 National Team

JJ Redick made the squad that will be competing in Argentina from August 5-14.

Gotta give a shout out to Duke's BMOC!

The Daily Roundup - Thursday

The Headlines:

Looks like Shav will sign a free agent deal with he 76ers. I'll say it once again: This kid is not as bad as the Duke system and the Rat made him look. The guy is too big, too skilled as a player, and represents a much needed demographic not to get a chance in the league. Don't agree? Take it to the comments section.

The Panthers may have found a gem in Rod Gardner if they can close this deal with Washington. A starter for 4 years in DC.....this is would be a very nice addition. That 's the good news......

The bad news is that Stephan Davis will not be ready to go in camp. My friends, that is not a good sign. I hope foster has gotten rid of the yips as I think we will see lots of him this year.

From Pack Pride.com, breaking down instant replay.

The best point guard in Chapel Hill last year was not Raymond Felton, it was Ivory Latta. The Herald Sun caught up with her as she tries out for the US National Team.

How about a little Q&A with Mr. Hot Seat, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

Tar Heels searching for depth on the football field.

Want to know what college basketball coaches do in July? Read this nice piece by Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer. It is not all fun and games (well, at least by their standards).

2005 preview of The "U" from CU Tigers.com.

Terps don't mind being picked over in the new ACC.

What we know and don't know about the Duke linebackers. Hmmmmmm......

According to Neil Amato, North Carolina has gotten a great start in football recruiting. I just don't know....it seems that every guy they get has offers from Elon and Navy. I know offers aren't everything, but Carolina needs more kids with offers from the Big 4 plus Clemson, Auburn, Michigan and Florida (and they have a few of those every year) and less of those who seem to dominate the roster with offers from a couple of the Big 4, ECU, James Madison, and Navy. Don't agree? You know where to take it (to the comments section, of course).

Not ACC related, but Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators is always a great story. He's ready to get it on in the SEC.

Moore to come.......

The Daily Roundup - Wednesday

Updated at 11:41

Well, loyal readers, I had the whole page ready to be posted and my firefox browser farted. As such, I'm going to have to give this to you bit by bit until noon. Sorry.

The Headlines

The New York Daily News is reporting that Larry Brown has come to terms with the Knicks.

As the ACC expands, so does their bowl line up. With new games in San Francisco and Nashville, that give the ACC 8 opportunities. Are bowl invitations even special any more? You have to be a really bad team or unfortunate enough to play in a small conference not to get a bowl invite.

The BC Eagles will bring a style of football to the conference that is very different but will fit the mold in every other way

"I think B.C. might be more of an ACC school now than a lot of ACC schools already are," said O'Brien, who was an assistant at Virginia for 15 years before heading to the Eagles' Chestnut Hill, Mass., campus in 1997. "The academics that go into the thing and us being a private school. I think we'll fit in perfectly with what the ACC is all about."
Boston College's profile is similar to the ACC's Duke, Miami and Wake Forest, private schools with smaller enrollments than their state-school counterparts. And like Boston College, they have sterling academic reputations -- as do larger public institutions like Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

The Eagles are hoping to leave a lasting impression in their first season. Could we have another Virginia Tech situation in '05?

Former ECU football player Jeremy Carter is finally able to chase his NFL dreams.

ACC hopes that their new replay equipment will help officials make the right call in less than 90 seconds. Good luck with that...... remember UVa v. Fresno State? One year to late.

George Karl to undergo cancer surgery. Good luck, coach!!!

The ACC's new divisions need more spice!!! Didn't someone mention that very thing in our comments section on Monday? The streets are watching!

Bobby Bowden ends vacation with a few smiles.

More to come.........

Afternoon Stuff

Times are tough at the FootBlog.¹ Ed and I are both transitioning to bigger and better (*fingers crossed*) things and face big time crunches as we adjust. But we'll have the best ACC (and probably national) college and professional football coverage in the blogosphere. Oh Yeah!

First up: Ricky 'Blunt' Williams looks crazy. Abso-frickin'-lutely crazy. Chris Rock in New Jack City crazy!! But it appears that his teammates have accepted his apology and are willing to move on. Even a sports columnist is praising the contrition Williams displayed in his first press conference since rejoining the team.


Back to the footblogging, the WaPo calls the Hokies huge favourites² in the new Coastal Division of the ACC. (reg req'd) That seems about right to me. As an aside, what I really wanted to write was the following headline: WaPo calls WaHoos doormats. But I couldn't do it. 'Cause that would be mean.

Also, the 'Noles are picked to win the Atlantic Division. That division championship will be on permanent loan to the state of Florida.

Meanwhile, the ACC is going to keep all its bowl alliances in tact. That looks like bad news if you're a fan of a college football playoff system, me thinks.

Because I'm an equal opportunity guy, I'll give a shout out to the ladies who play professional football. Perhaps it's not your cup o' tea but we at the FootBlog are all about diversity. Heck we'll even allow a minority as despised as the Duke football fan participate!

Wil the Bravos win their 14^th straight division title? The upcoming series with the Nationals might go a long way to answering that question.

Hockey Town, USA says goodbye to three veterans. What's that? You weren't aware that hockey still exists? Me neither.


¹ Notice the subtely with which I note the changing of the seasons.
²That's for our British readers.

The Daily Roundup - Tuesday

Unfortunately, it looks like the North Carolina ACC schools are losing their best recruits, and the preseason poll may be showing the results of those losses. Here is a list of the best players who left the state.

Caulton Tudor of the Raleigh News and Observer says that Roy Williams may be on to something: Graduating football and basketball players deserve to be given a cash parting gift. Hmmmmmm, I don't know about that, my man. The possibilities for abuse are off the charts. I see the logic but we live in an illogical society, especially when it comes to our fascination with the exploits of 18 year old kids. This is a tough one. Have thoughts? Take them to the comments section.

Carolina gets commit from RB Wesley Flagg who has "4.4" speed. Amazing how Carolina always signs these guys who run 4.4 Monday-Friday and 4.7 when they are being mowed down by FSU's D Line. The Heels also got two additional commitments from Asheville tailback Johnny White and jumbo athlete Morgan Randall.

Virginia Tech appears to be set for the season as they are picked to win their division. I can't disagree with this. They appear to be absolutely stacked at every position. If Vick turns out to be as expected, watch out.

Terps picked fifth by the ACC coaches. Has the Fridge done a job in College Park or what. I love to compare the Fridge to Bunting. They came in to big state schools at the same time. You be the judge.

If you think BC is running scared in the new ACC, think again.

Why do the Tar Heels go through this madness at tailback every year. It appears that even with the injury of Ronnie McGill, Coach Bunting is determined to out think himself again. BARRINGTON EDWARDS!!! If you would like to read another story on Matt Baker feeling the heat at QB, here it is. I'm pretty tired of it all, myself.

BC Coach Tom O'Brien wants active coaches to have the loudest voices in voting. Makes sense to me.

Bob Lipper has it right: The defenses will rule in the ACC this season. Sorry Charlie Whitehurst and all of you other wanna be cover boys.

GT's Gailey tells it like it is about coaching and life.

After an AWFUL season last year, Larry Cocker expects more out of The "U" in '05.

My man Bobby Bowden says that as it relates to the off field troubles of AJ Nicholson and Ernie Sims, pain is the way to punish these kids.

''There's more ways to discipline than a dad-gum suspension,'' Bowden said. ``Y'all have heard of physical pain, haven't you? That's our method. Physically, we're going to get them if they break our rules.''

You gotta love this guy.

The preseason ALL ACC Team.

The Daily Roundup - Monday

The Headlines:

Seven!

Carolina QB Matt Baker has waited patiently for his turn to shine. He'll get that opportunity, even if the new College Football 2005 video game has his speed rated at an offensive linemen slow 52!

Salley Jenkins of the Washington Post says that through the implementation of the new APR grade report, college presidents have proven they aren't serious about reform in college athletics.

In effect, the APR penalizes athletic ambition. The APR works on a points scale, with 1,000 the highest score. If a school repeatedly falls below 925, because, for instance, it produces too many great basketball or football players who turn pro early, it can be kicked out of the NCAA tournament or a bowl game, no matter what the academic standing of the players. If that sounds reasonable to you, which it shouldn't, consider North Carolina, the defending NCAA men's basketball champion, which just lost four players who chose early entry to the NBA draft. Under the APR, the school would be penalized a point for each player, regardless of how good his grades were.

What's going to happen the first time Duke misses the numbers three years out of 10 and isn't eligible for the NCAA tournament?

The new divisions for the ACC are unfamiliar and exciting, though they did cause a bit of confusion yesterday at picture time.

Florida States Leon Washington says "Just give me the Ball."

Football notes on NC States QB Davis, Virginia Tech's rings, and Wake's take on BC. This effort by the Durham Hareld Sun is actually a little more comprehensive. You be the judge.

Clemson's Whitehurst says that theTiger's new offense will help out smart the competition. Hey, Charlie, why don't you just concentrate on not throwing the ball to the other team first and, we promise you, the offense will take care of itself.

Wake Forest is looking forward to their Thursday night opener against Vandy. Hear us out, Deacon fans: you need to play more schools like this. You (and Duke) ought to play a rotation of Rice, Vandy, Northwestern, Stanford, and the Military academy's and stay away from coaching try out and potential head ringer games (Nebraska) for your GREAT coach Grobe. If you win, it's much better for HIM than it is for your program. It's really not going to help your recruiting in football that much: Too much history of close loses, heartbreak, and generally low fan expectations to consistently draw 3 star talent. If you get your skull cracked, it just sets you back further in your weekly challenge to prove to EVERY team in the ACC that they are not going to run you over. Teams already gun for you for all of the WRONG reasons. I think Wake is better than all of the aforementioned Academic/Big Conference football schools above. Beat those jokers, get your confidence up, take 3 of 4 in the conference, and be in the hunt for a bowl game EVERY year. Don't agree? Take it to the comments section.

Bob Lipper of the Richmond Times Dispatch says that in '05 v.s '04, Virginia Tech and UVa. have switched roles. Interesting read.

ACC QBs and OLines, listen and listen well: BC's Kiwanuka will break your BACKS!!! The Big East's '04 Defensive Player of the Year intends to make a statement the new ACC.

Jesse Allen....Sugar Bowl.....in the endzone......wide open.........for Virginia Tech fans, this is a painful memory. A good read on this kid and the story behind the story.

News from The "U": Eric Winston is glad to be back on a line that he believes is the driving force behind the Hurricane's chances in '05.

USC's Derek Watson defends USC's loyalty to him and insists there were no infractions. I actually know a little bit about this situation and if there weren't any infractions, there was certainly enough bending over backwards for this dude in an effort to save him from himself. Let's hope he's finally turned the corner.

Moore to come .........

The Daily Roundup: FreeThrowFriday

Updated at 11:10
The Headlines:

I know it's just the summer league, but apparently Raymond Felton put on some kind of show last night with a 22pt, 7 assist outing. The folks in Charlotte are getting very, very excited about this kid and May.

Former Dookie Jason Williams says that he will make an NBA roster this year after a difficult 2 year rehabilitation of his mangled leg. Clearly, he paid the price for a very bad decision. We wish him luck.

Carolina lands one of the top linemen in the state of Florida in Zack Handerson. With offers from Florida and Auburn, Handerson says that something besides football drew him to Chapel Hill

"I went up to North Carolina for camp, and I was really dumbstruck by the academics," Handerson said. "I got an academic tour, and I really liked the academic center. I liked the fact that you are probably not going to find a better balance of athletics and academics in the NCAA. That's the biggest reason why I chose North Carolina. A lot of schools would like to say they have a good balance, but North Carolina backs it up."

Slow down, cowboy. Now, while I like the Heels and everything, I think I can come up with a few schools with as good or better historical Academic/Athletic (Football) balance, starting with Michigan and Texas. See UVa, UCLA, Wisconsin, and even Penn State. Don't agree? Take it to the comments section.

How about an ACC team in the Music City Bowl? It could happen if the two sides can come to terms.

While Felton and May are off and running, Marvin Williams is finding the going much, much tougher. This is really not that big of a surprise. He'll be fine but is really going to have to adjust to the physical play and tempo.

Another Duke football commit!!!!! Safety Catron Gainey commits to the Blue Devils. At least Duke got this one right from a name standpoint. You have to have some Catrons, some Pork Chops, a couple of Billy Bobs, and a Laverneous or two to compete in the ACC these days. Too many guys named William, Theodore, Edward, Benjamin, and Michael will lead to low arrest rates and lots of ass whoopins' for your team. Don't believe me? Check the rosters of the Top 10 teams vs. those of the traditional door mats.

USC Columbia Campus players are starting to take heed of the words coming from the 'Ol Ball Coach. I tell you what, he's not playing games with them. He has shown before that it is his way or no way. I think that guy is going to have the 'Cocks in contention for the SEC in 3 seasons.

This is a great story about two Marines back from Iraq who will play football at Appalacian State this year.

Shaw U picked to win the CIAA this year. This program was just started a couple of years ago and won the conference last year. Their coach is a definite up and comer.

More to come.....

We're running a little behind today........

What can I say..........we'll be posting through the AM so check back with us!!! Thanks

The Basketblog

Separated at Birth?????

Some people, including the folks at the Philadelphia Enquirer, are criticizing TO for comparing himself to Jesus. Now we're not saying he's right, but the resemblance is striking. Don't agree? Take it to the comments

The Daily Roundup - Thursday

Updated at 11:00 am
The Headlines:

Joe Dumars is obviously the PC spokesperson for the Piston's organization when it comes to the Larry Brown "exodus", while owner Bill Davidson basically let's it be known that he was just tired of Larry. Needless to say, it is clear that the former Tar Heel had worn out his welcome in Rock City by the end of last week.

Virginia Tech is cleaning up in football recruiting with the commitments of Brown and Gee.

Another day, another commitment to UVa., this time from a 4.38 40 yard dash speedster.

Wake Forest point guard Justin Gray wants you all to remember that before he was a shooting ace, he was a pretty good point guard. Wake won't win 25 this year, but their depth is going to make them very tough.

Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer says that Larry Brown will coach again, and leave again....b/c that's what Larry does

He will coach again somewhere, because that's what Brown does. And he will win again, because he does that, too. And he will leave again.

Brown is a fascinating character study -- his skills, his demands, his charm, his rootlessness. Sports Illustrated's Gary Smith once counted up and wrote that Brown had lived in 32 apartments, dorms or houses.

That was in 1984.

The CIAA will rename it's men's basketball championship trophy the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Trophy. Totally appropriate in order to place in concrete the legacy of a man who shaped many lives in and out of basketball.

Gaines, who died April 18 at age 81, spent 47 years on the bench and ranks fifth all-time among men's basketball coaches with 828 victories. His teams won eight CIAA titles and one Division II national championship, and Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1982.

Lenox Rawlings of the Winston-Salem Journal chimes in on the Roy Williams "debacle". It seems that Kansas may have bigger problems in their athletic department

Compared to many NCAA cases or the accepted industry practice of condoning car loans for athletes, the careless mistakes seem miniscule. Kansas also discovered eight football violations, some flagrant. Three former players shared answers for the online part of correspondences courses. A former aide gave players answers to an exam.

The school cut Coach Mike Mangino's quota of junior-college transfers from nine to three for the next three seasons. In women's basketball, the administration took away two scholarships next season because an assistant coach arranged on-campus jobs for two potential recruits and committed other violations.

The West routes the East 40 - 0 in the NCHSAA East v. West All Star football game.

And....wow, another story on Roy Williams and Larry Brown by Bob Lipper of the Richmond Times Dispatch. Bob sounds a little like the kid who "couldn't" who finally gets a chance to rub mud in the face of the kids who always "have." I call those folks haters, no matter how elequent they may be.

The 'Ol Ball Coach is putting on the positive face as he prepares to enter his 1st season in the Concrete Jungle that is Columbia, South Carolina.

More to come......

Rosenhaus

In case anybody questions how good an agent Drew Rosenhaus is, perhaps you should consider the fact that Rosenhaus out-negotiated the Grim Reaper yesterday.

Long story short: Rosenhaus saved a boy from drowning. The kid had no pulse and no heart beat when Rosenhaus pulled him from the pool. (Ed adds: How about this for a headline - Ruthless Shark Saves Boy!)Ever the hard worker, Rosenhaus added this bit of humor:

"I dropped my phone, which is pretty rare," joked Rosenhaus, who worked as a lifeguard as a youngster. "I was thrilled to help the boy. It was nice to be a good guy for once."

Now if he can just get TO into Eagles camp...

The Daily Roundup: Wednesday

Updated at 11:00

The Headlines:

Brown is out in Detroit. Wouldn't it be nifty if Bernie the GM made the move to bring one of the unquestioned great minds of basketball to the Bobcats? Think about that, Bernie.....you might want to ask Bernie the Coach to step aside for three years and let Larry retire where his NBA career began: In the Carolinas. Perhaps, the Knicks wouldn't be as much of a lock as most people think if the 'Cats put their name in the ring. Talk about instant franchise credibility with the fans and the league!!!

Ahhhh, Ms. Myskina.....sports star or not, never let a guy take pictures of you topless "just for himself." It appears that the judge agrees with the Basketblog.

Judge Mukasey wrote that the Russian star's rights were not violated when topless photographs were published with an article weeks after she won the French Open in 2004, despite her insistence that she did not understand a photo release form with her signature on it and was not fluent in English at the time.

"Absent allegations of fraud, duress or some other wrongdoing, Myskina's claimed misunderstanding of the release's terms does not excuse her from being bound on the contract," the judge wrote.

Apparently, the coaches at UNC and NCState really don't like each other. Both got in a few digs (all in good fun, right?) at the Triangle Pigskin Preview.

Lance finishes his stage in the mid 30's and maintains what is beginning to look like an insurmountable lead.

UNC's Sean May is honored as the ACC Male Athlete of the Year. Kind of tough to argue with that selection. Don't agree? Take it to the comments section.
Bobcat hopefuls are already adopting the values of the franchise: work hard, share the ball, and stand out by NOT standing out.

Former Wake star Josh Howard has established himself as a legit player in the NBA. He can now take a little time for himself and get ready to take on the role of full time starter.

Howard is now signed through the 2006-07 season, scheduled to make $873,880 next season and $1.57 million in '06-07. After that, he'll be in position to sign a lucrative, long-term contract that would set him up for the rest of his career. "They picked up his option two weeks after the playoffs ended, so we take that as a positive thing," Young said. "They could have dragged it out all summer, but they didn't. And you have to think (owner) Mark Cuban will really push to get the extension done as soon as they can so they can get him wrapped up long-term."

Looks like Carolina just picked up two quality tight ends in Charlotte's Vince Jacobs and Houston's Trevor Stuart.

Triangle football notebook including excitement at NCCU, Duke helmets being auctioned for $1000 (!?!?!?!?) and the stock of NCSU's Manny Lawson. He has NFL written all over him.

Moore to come.....

The Daily Roundup: Tuesday

Updated 3:10 pm

The Headlines:

Ohhhh, Wolfgang, this is the Carolina kid you were talking about!!!! Wow, that dude hasn't even had a cup of coffee in Chapel Hill yet and his been charged with 3 misdemeanors. What kind of thugs is Charlotte Latin putting out these days :-)

How about a great human interest story from Ric Bucher on NBA players and their work in Beijing.

NC States Bobby Washington has dedicated himself to improving after a dissapointing year in '04.

Gaining the love of the French people has been much more difficult for Armstrong then destroying his competition has. Perhaps, that is part of the "problem."

Virginia adds more football talent with the signing of Kordell Young.

With his 10th major in place, Woods has now officially entered the chase for Jack's records. I think he'll get the major record far sooner than some suspect, or would like.

Wake recruit Kevin Swinton explodes for 28 pts in the East-West All Star game. Kid looked goooooood. Despite all of the crying from Wake fans, Skip is doing a fine job bringing in home grown talent to stock that program while he looks for the one national superstar to put them over the top. You need a "big" and you may have just gotten one in the mold of Elton Brand. Wake is in fine, fine shape.

The Bobcat's Sean May is living it up, and doing some serious thinking about what his new level of fame and fortune has is store for him.

Joe Ponanski of the Kansas City Star gives us the dissent to an earlier article published by his paper that spit shined 'Ol Roy's image after it took a little ding last week. The Raleigh N&O got in on the action today as well. OK, Coach, time to practice a little humble pie eating, take a bit of hot sauce with that wing of crow (you don't have to eat the whole thing), say you were wrong, thicken that skin up a little, and move on.

How about a little 2005 football preview of the ACC's newest member, the BC Eagles.

Duke lands another commit over the weekend in 6'8 325 pound OL Mitch Lederman.

How will the Seminoles ever replace Antonio Cromartie this year. Brett Malone of Renegade Report has some thoughts on just that subject.

More to come.....

The Daily Roundup: Monday

The Headlines:

Tiger romps on Sunday and takes his 10th major championship. So much for all of the talk about there being a big five in men's golf.

Roy speaks. Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star also has a word or two on the Roy Williams "scandal"

Hey, I'm not saying Roy Williams is blameless. He built his career on being meticulous and careful and knowing the rules better than the people who wrote the rules. He either knew the rule or should have known it.

But come on. He didn't deserve to have this shadow cast over his coaching career at Kansas because of a grandma's gift, a get-started-in-life present and a suit, all coming after the players finished playing.

Catch the bad guys. I'm all for that. But these days, it's like we can't nab the real bad guys, so we scream like Barney Fife whenever we catch anybody.

Armstrong builds on his lead while teammate Hincapie wins the stage, his first ever Tour stage victory.

Wake out duals Carolina for '06 Catawba linebacker Woodlief.

DEI stunned, stunned I said, about Waltrip's "decision" to leave the team.

Looks like NC State has finally gotten something right with the contruction of Vaughn Towers at Carter Finley Stadium. This looks niiiiiiiccccceeeee. Congrats, Pack (you're only 15 years and a bunch of wasted opportunity late to the game).

Ex Cav Elton Brown pleads guilty to a concealed weapon charge. Elton, Elton, Elton.

Clemson picks up a commitment from wide receiver Jeffrey Ogren.

The hits just keep on coming for FSU: Freshmen Bright and Hardrick will not be joining the team in the fall.

Duke picks up 6th football commit from the class of '06 in Andrew Holoman

Injury sidelines BC basketball commit, Roche.

Duke commit Henderson ignites his team to tournament win.

The Daily Roundup: FreeThrowFriday

The Headlines:

Updated at 11:40 am

The British Open Leaderboard. Tiger moves to -10. Folks, it's over!!! We'll keep the leaderboard at the top of the page for the rest of the weekend.

Tiger Woods gets off to a fast start and leads after the 1st round at St. Andrews.

Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer says that Kevin Donnally must publicly come clean, or he must resign as head football coach at Charlotte Christian School. Don't you think that decision should be left to Kevin and his employer? Kevin doesn't have to tell us anything! If his employer wants an explanation (and Kevin wants to keep his job), then Kevin needs to talk to them, not us. Don't agree? Take it to the comments section.

As the Tour rolls on, Lance keeps the lead but looses a teammate to an accident.

Michelle Wie is 3 match wins away from an invitation to the Masters, and the little boys are crying about it. Guess what, fellas, just b/c you are a guy doesn't make you better than this 15 year old .........girl. Hehe.

UNC backup lineman Donnell Livingston is leaving the program in search of playing time. Donnell, a bit reality for you, my man: If you can't play on THAT defensive line......well, I'll let you figure out that rest of it. Good luck to you.

The NCAA has finally cracked down on colleges and is limiting the size of their football media guides to 208 pages. Oh well, no more NYC Phone Book type guides from Michigan and Texas. Do you think these things really make a difference in the recruitment of star caliber players?

Cavs sign QB Marc Verica. Wow....it seems like UVa. signs a kid every day of the week.

Jawad Williams is still bitching, making excuses, and not backing up his talk with action.

As for proving himself in the Summer League, that's not going so well, either. Williams has averaged 11.7 minutes, 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in three games for the Warriors.

"I'm doing the best I can with the little bit of time I'm getting," Williams told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. "That's very hard to do when you don't get a lot of time. I want to play on this level, so I have to do all I can whenever I get out there.

Hey, Jawad, don't you think the best thing to do would be to stay out of the newspaper, concentrate on showing teams that you aren't the tissue soft player that you demonstrated as a 4 year starter at Carolina that you absolutely are and, instead, show your proven championship, leadership and character qualities? You're not good enough to talk to the papers everyday!!!!! Keep it up, and you'll be chillin.....in Russia next year (They make good money though so, ehhh).
Steve Spurrier is laying down the law in the concrete wasteland, pulling 6 scholarships including that of former Irmo star Grayson Mullins. Do you get the feeling that you might see a better Gamecocks team on the playing field over the next few years?

Clemson's Roscoe Crosby will get his chance to shine after signing a multi year deal with the Colts yesterday. Crosby was not selected during the NFL draft. Congrats, Roscoe.

Bob Lipper of the Richmond Times Dispatch says that as a player or coach, if you have something to offer then most of your prior sins will be forgiven. The piece mostly focuses on Kobe Bryant and his return to Nike's ad blitz over the last week. No conviction = bring on the cash, baby. Don't agree with Nike? Take it to the comments section.

BC coach alleges gender bias in case against BU athletic department.

My friends at RJ Reynolds will love this: Lowe's Motor Speedway will implement a no smoking family section at the track.

The Daily Roundup - Thursday

The Headlines:

The NHL has a new deal and our Carolina franchise is ready to start over, but can our local Hurricanes win the fans back?

Sean May is, apparently, proving that he can pass and shoot. Had he not proven that for three years on the Hill.

Tiger is aiming to stay out of the traps and tame St. Andrews. Guess what, he's in the lead right now.

ACC football recruiting, Terry Holland, and more from the Roanoke Times.

Lance is taking it easy and maintains the lead in the Tour.

FSU suffers a big blow with the loss of Antonio Cromartie for the 2005 season due to injury.

The Kentucky Speedway is suing for a race.

Wake Forest will take on Ole Miss in football in '06 & '08. Nice pick up, Deacs.

Wie rallies for match play win. Folks......she's 15!

UVa lands another recruit in 6'5, 270 pound defensive end Sean Gottschalk.

NCAA punishes USC (Columbia South Carolina Campus) for 10 violations. Lou leaves his fingerprints at the scene of the crime. I've just never understood programs that cheat, and don't win!!!! If you're going to cheat, do it well!

Frank Descenzo of the Durham Herald Sun: Hockey, we barely knew you were gone.

More to come.....

The Daily Roundup - Wednesday

Updated at 2:50 pm

The Big Five (Well, actually one at a time over the course of the day. Busy, busy, busy):

From StateFansNation, comments on this article about scheduling, featuring NC States Associate Athletics Director, David Horning and UNC-CH's Steve Kirschner. Get over there!

WOW....is that Maryland Basketball coach Gary Williams?!?!? We're a bit late with this, but thanks to our buddies over at Dave Sez for posting it. Get over there!!

Well, while were at it, why not another one from the great Dave Sez on Wyatt Sexton's "Lame Disease." Come on, Dave.....that could be a really serious issue!! Get over there!!!

You think home court advantage really makes a difference in college hoops? The great Ken Pomeroy might change your mind. Get over there!!!!

And if you like BIG BLUE (like my partner, Birkel) then you'll LOVE this insight on Michigan from my man over at Straight Bangin'. Wow....we've got to step our game up! Get over there!!!!!

The Headlines:

The AL lays the smack down on the NL for the 8th straight time in the MLB All Star Game.

Lance Armstrong punishes the field in the Alps, taking a 30 second lead in the Tour.

The British Open starts tomorrow and for Jack, it will be his last dance. How great would a Jack/Tiger paring be?

Marvin Williams, Atlanta's highest pick since selecting David Thompson first in 1975, signs with the Hawks.

Looks like former Vols QB Brent Schaeffer will be going to Clemson next season.

Former UNC star and Carolina Panther Kevin Donnalley linked to steroid use. Say it ain't so, Kevin, say it ain't so.

Tiger roars: R & A setup fairer than USGA. Just hit the ball, man....just hit the ball.

The Bobcats may have gotten a steal by getting Michigan State's 6-8 shooting guard Alan Anderson into camp. No way this kid should have gone undrafted.

USC (that would be the Columbia South Carolina Campus) officials have reached an agreement with the NCAA that may resolve a three year investigation into the football program. Holtz, Holtz, Holtz.

Montross and Steinbacher will be the new color analysts in '06 for the Tar Heel Sports Network.
For the NASCAR heads: Jr's crew chief issue still in limbo.

More to come.....

The Daily Roundup - Tuesday

Updated11:45 am

Well, forget what I said about a lack of homeruns in last nights All Star Home Run Derby. Abreu bests Pudge, hits 24 in the first round! Wow...

As expected, Armstrong regains the Yellow in the Alps.

Will we see Mural II for the city of Charlotte and the stars of their NBA franchise? They did it once....and ended up trading 2 of the three players (Mourning and Johnson). Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer suggests the Bobcats give it up for Okafor, Felton and May. Scott....how about letting Felton and May prove that they are worthy of a 10 story painting first.

The Panther's Dan Morgan wants a new deal. The Panthers aren't budging. His agent: Drew Rosenhaus. Hmmmmm.....

The new BCS Harris poll (replacement for the AP) won't come out until 4 weeks into the season. That's a start in the right direction. However, Caulton Tudor of the Raleigh News and Observer believes that with 150 of the 176 total voters being coaches, former coaches, or closely affiliated with schools and coaches, the BCS is still a recipe for unnecessary controversy. Please college presidents: Give the fans a playoff!

More for you NASCAR heads: Jr. says that his Chicagoland victory was a tribute to the hard work of his crew. They are going to need to work hard for a couple of more wins to get him into the chase (or BUD is going to be pissed).

Randolph Morris finally makes the right move and heads back to Kentucky after going undrafted. Had he reported to the Hawks camp (as was planned) he would have terminated his collegiate eligibility. Now all he has to do is convince the no nonsense Tubby Smith to take him back. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, but one never knows.

Pondering the football possibilities in a few ACC and sec football programs during these, the dog days.

FSU freshmen QB's get back to work.

Three Clemson baseball players leave the program.

More to come.

The Daily Roundup - Monday

The Headlines:
Updated at 4:05

The talented and troubled JR Giddins will transfer to New Mexico. See you in '06, JR.

Jawad Williams is pissed and talking about it. I agree with him: he should have been drafted. However, for him to say that he wasn't really given an opportunity to show what he could really do is just not true: He was a 4 year starter, had the "lime" light his freshman year and was a starter this year b/c the coach was trying to give him every opportunity to shine. The truth about his status as a player came to the surface at the end of every big game last season when the freshman Marvin Williams was on the court and the kid who "never got an opportunity" was on the bench.

Come on, Jawad. Man up, shut your mouth, get stronger and tougher, and make an NBA squad (where you belong).

Here is a nugget on the great John Gilchrist from the same article

Warriors point guard Marque Perry (Saint Louis, '03) embarrassed former Maryland point guard John Gilchrist in Saturday's game vs. Cleveland. Perry pulled off a vicious crossover dribble from the right wing, causing Gilchrist to stumble and fall on his backside as Perry drove by for a layup. With a smile on his face as the crowd celebrated, Gilchrist immediately sought revenge. He drove straight to the basket and scored a bank shot, but hardly saved face.

Dual threat QB Patrick Devlin commits to The "U".

The time is now for the FSU quarterbacks. Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford will be expected to produce if the Seminoles are to have a chance in the new and improved ACC.

Clemson get a kicker and offers a 6-10 North Carolina native a full ride in basketball. His numbers spund pretty good: 20 pts, 10 boards. The story.

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution asks a good question: Why tie the World Series to the All Star game?

All is right in the world again: Jr. wins in Chicago.

Armstrong's team struggles to keep up with him over the weekend: Lance drops to 3rd.

It seems that even though the NBA has set a new age limit, coaches and players alike don't hold it in high regard. Some players say their peers will simply opt for prep school to insure that their high school reps aren't tarnished by playing against(and perhaps, failing against) high level collegiate competition. Look folks, the genie is out of the bottle: this is a business and these kids know it. Let these kids follow the path of every young tennis, golf, soccer, and basketball player(European) worldwide. When they can get a pro contract, let them take it and stop lying to yourselves about how much you want these young basketball players to get an education. BS!!!! You want them in your favorite college teams uniforms so that you don't get ragged on at the watercooler on Monday's.

If you are planning on watching the MLB All Star Home Run Derby tonight, those homers may be a bit scarce. Comerica Park is a tough place to hit 'um out of.

Spurrier's quarterback dilemma.

More to come....

The Daily Roundup: Free Throw Friday

The Headlines:

Armstrong looses time, but maintains his lead in the Tour.

Surprise, surprise: the kids at NIKE summer basketball camp don't like the new NBA age minimum.

A very nice read on Carolina basketball alum (and fellow member and chapter brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity) Jason Capel. After 3 years, his game is up, his weight is down, and his maturity is leaving him feeling more focused than ever

"My ultimate goal is to make it to the NBA," Capel said. "I'm 25 years old, so I'm still relatively young, and I just need to continue to work hard. I know I can make a good living overseas. I know I have that to fall back on. And the money's good, too. But playing in the NBA, that's always been my dream."

OK, ok...so I missed this story on UVa. coach Dave Leitao from 3 weeks ago.....shoot me! Nice read. Well, while I'm at it, I missed this one on the Cavs recruiting focus, too. Sorry.

It's official: Sean May and Raymond Felton sign their deals with the Bobcats.

For Duke fans, the K Academy (July 27-31) is a chance to meet Duke stars and contribute to a great cause.

Clemson basketball player Olu Babolola gives up his football ambitions and will head off to Europe to make $200 - $400,000 next year. That's good jack!

Is it me, or is the $96 Million Michael Redd got under his Christmas tree yesterday a bit over the top. I understand that he is a shooter and all, but 96 Million clams???

Wake's recruits at the NIKE Camp are excited to be Deacons. My advice to them: please see the treatment of Chris Paul by many in the Wake Forest nation after he declared (and since). Very suspect......

As expected and predicted by the Basketball, adding Felton and May to the Bobcats mix is causing a stir in Charlotte.

Losing four players to the NBA lottery and winning a National Championship does have some upside: recruits are taking renewed notice of, and interest in, North Carolina .

A very nice read from the Miami Herald on the Hurricane's version of Jackie Robinson: Ray Bellamy.

Any NASCAR heads out there? If so, then you know that Jr. is in trouble, and things only look to get worse for him at the 1.5 mile Chicagoland track.

Cavs add JUCO punter to the mix.

Even though they are in a bit of hot water with the press, the FSU football camp still attracts the nations top talent.

The Daily Roundup: Thursday

The Headlines:

How would you like to be 16 years old competing at the Nike Basketball Camp and your last name happens to be Jordan. Welcome to Jeffrey Jordan's life as a promising Division I basketball player.

Armstrong retains lead in the Tour. Apparently, he had a brief run in with officials when he attempted to start the race without putting on the yellow jersey out of respect for a fallen rider.

His choice immediately became clear when the race director told him to wear it -- or he wouldn't be allowed to race.

"It didn't feel right to take the jersey on somebody else's misfortune," the six-time defending champion said.

Billy King and the Sixers give Shav a shot at the NBA. We've said it before and will say it again: There are worse basketball "players" at the end of NBA benches than Shav. His pure skill set (dribble, pass, shoot) cannot be questioned. Once he drops the 35 pounds K put on him at Duke, his athleticism will improve as well. Don't be surprised if he makes this roster or is hidden on the "inactive" list going into the 2005 season.

Junior FSU linebacker Ernie Simms was arrested this morning on domestic battery and resisting arrest charges after throwing his girlfriend to the ground.

Duke continues tradition of scheduling tough mid major opponents for their men's basketball team.

True NASCAR fans will celebrate this day: Darlington, the "lady in black", survives for another year.

College football is fast approaching and in the state of Georgia, questions surround the states top programs.

After a long 4th of July break.....

Updated at 7:58:

We're back!

The Headlines:

London gets the Olympics.

Lance Armstrong snatches the Yellow Jersey and the overall lead in the Tour.

Virginia Tech has released it's 2006-2011 football schedule and, according to David Teel of the Daily Press, it is BORRRRRRRRING.

The good news regarding Virginia Tech's schedule is that ECU will get a shot at their neighbors from the north for 8 straight years. ECU will now have a series set up with each of the big 4 and Virginia Tech during the next ten seasons.

The vote for the Olympics started this morning at 6:30 and NYC has made their last pitch. Moscow is out, leaving NYC, London, Madrid, and Paris, but why the secret ballot.
UPDATE: NYC eliminated in the 2nd round at 6:33 am.
UPDATE: Madrid eliminated at 6:39 am.
UPDATE: London to host the Olympics

The freshman class of basketball stars entering Duke hopes to make an immediate impact for the Blue Devils.

Julius Hodge signs his deal with the Nuggets.

From Jeff White of the Times Dispatch from last week, this is a nice read on the new ACC now that BC has joined. If the success that Miami and Tech experienced in their first year is any indication, BC should be very excited

The Hokies won the ACC football title last fall and fared much better in men's basketball than all but their most optimistic fans would have predicted. The Hurricanes had, by their lofty standards, a subpar season in football, finishing 9-3, but they too exceeded expectations in basketball.

Boston College, meanwhile, expects to sell all of its season tickets in football and men's basketball in 2005-06, apparently the first time that's happened in the same school year at BC, according to Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo. "I'm not having to do a whole lot of selling and marketing," DeFilippo said. "Our fans are doing that."

Bobcats say that their rookies Felton and May will not serve as pitchmen for the team.

"We want to take advantage of the fact that they're Carolina guys, but the thing is, they're not just Carolina guys, they're successful Carolina guys," Weiller said. "We're trying to emphasize that we're building our foundation on success. Emeka Okafor was our first pick, after he won a national championship. Raymond Felton and Sean May were our picks this year, after they won a national championship.

"And the most important thing is that they continue to have success. That's why we don't want to do anything marketing wise that is going to detract from their development as basketball players. We're looking to market this team over the long haul, and if you aren't successful, nothing else is really going to matter."

From the Boston Globe, the Boston College basketball program has, apparently, been producing problem players off of the court for some time. That must change if they hope to compete over the long haul in the new ACC.

Former Carolina forward Brian Reese has taken the JV Head and Varsity Assistant coaching post at Porter Ridge High School.

The Daily Roundup: FreeThrowFriday

The Headlines:

Undrafted 49er Basden joins the Chicago Bulls summer league team. This kid can play and is as good as some players who were taken in the 1st round. Look for him to be on the Bulls roster in the Fall.

Jawad Williams will play for the Golden State Warriors in the Las Vegas summer league. Quality, dribble pass and shoot type player. Toughness has always been an issue for Jawad in my mind. He's an NBA talent but does he have an NBA heart? We shall see......

JR Giddins is done at Kansas. Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star says that JR blew any opportunity he had to return to Kansas. Pretty unfortunate situation.

The 12 team ACC is now in place. BC's athletic Director loves the move. Let the games begin!

Frank Dascenzo of the Durham Herald Sun with more on Boston College and the new 12 team ACC.

More from the Durhum Herald Sun on the possibility of the ACC Baseball Tournament at Fenway. That would be great.

And how about rounding out the morning with a little New York City NASCAR news. The new track is starting to raise some very real concerns about traffic. imagine that....traffic concerns in New York.