Now that the Tournament is over (congrats to my nephew's Gators!) I have to reflect on its continuing diminuation of the college basketball season overall. In my opinion March Madness threatens to make the rest of the season obsolete. I listen to two hours of sports talk radio a day during my commute and I would wager the average amount of weekly time spent dicussing college basketball prior to the end of February is insignificant. Then the tournament kicks in and it goes into overdrive especially during the first week or two.
This brings me to my second point which is the Tournament starts on a high note the first weekend due to all the upsets, the total number of games and the proliferation of mid-majors. The second weekend is still good because a couple of cinderella teams exist and everyone is excited to see if they can go on. By the time the Final Four rolls around people are tired and the excitement seems diminshed and the Championship Game on a Monday night has to be the worst marketing/TV idea of all time (note to CBS - push the NCAA to have the semi-finals on Friday night with the finals on Sunday afternoon). The problem with the tournament is it diminishes excellence during the season and kills the national appeal of games. Contrast this with college football. Fans are focused on college football from the very first games, they matter! Florida St vs. Miami on Labor Day is a huge game not only for the schools' fans, but ACC fans and fans of any team with National Title hopes. Any late season games like USC/UCLA played deep in November matter a lot because one team (typically USC) could be out of the title hunt with a loss. Contrast this with basketball where the season starts in anonimity for most teams and late season games often mean nothing unless you are on the tournament bubble. A classic example is Duke losing to UNC on Senior Night /last game of the year. Great game, fans mayl watch but the loss means NOTHING to Duke in the grand scheme. Don't get me wrong, I like the tournament but the football season is so much more enjoyable than basketball because so many games are relevant to fans in addition to those of their own teams. A great compliment to football would be a very limited playoff structure where the Top 4-8 teams would play for the championship over 2 or 3 weeks. It would drawf March Madness.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Great New VT Olympic Sports Blog
Head on over to this new blog put together by a consortium of VT fans. Get insights into the Olympic Sports programs at VT. If you have something to offer on any sport...well you know the old saying...be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Pro Cycling in US Gets It Start in My Hood
Great article by John Wilcockson on early pro races in the Va, Md, DC area.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Thanksgiving Wishes
On this Thanksgiving I believe the world's glass is more than half-full. I am thankful for:
My Family
My Friends
My Job
My Bike
My Parents
My Sisters
The United States
The Men and Women in the Armed Forces
Police and Firefighters
Good Beer
Great Wine
Good Food
The ACC
Hokie Sports
Laptops
My Ipod
This Blog
Good People Everywhere
My Church
Turkey
Warren Buffett
OLN
Paris Roubaix
Flanders
Tour De France
Happy Holidays to all. Think of what you are thankful for today.
My Family
My Friends
My Job
My Bike
My Parents
My Sisters
The United States
The Men and Women in the Armed Forces
Police and Firefighters
Good Beer
Great Wine
Good Food
The ACC
Hokie Sports
Laptops
My Ipod
This Blog
Good People Everywhere
My Church
Turkey
Warren Buffett
OLN
Paris Roubaix
Flanders
Tour De France
Happy Holidays to all. Think of what you are thankful for today.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Sports Ramblings 10/28/05
MLB - White Sox win impressively and continue the invert the "reverse the curse" timeline. We now stand at 1917 and Shoeless Joe Jackson and friends can now sleep. Any widespread stories of Cubs fans leaping from tall buildings? We are only 9 years from 1908 guys, hang on, your day is coming.
NBA - Guys, buy a suit (or five). It is not a big deal. Call me in April when the playoffs start.
NFL - The DOMINANT league is at it again with a crazy unpredictable mix of teams. Just when one seems to be rolling, they get smacked. Colts are the best for now - tune in to see it that continues.
NHL - Is it actually back or just a rumor?
College Football - After last night's win over BC I think I have come to see VT as the body puncher to USC's boxer. Boxers are impressive; quick and flashy (see Roy Jones Jr. in his prime). Body punchers don't look impressive and blame is often heaped on the opponent for missing opportunities. What is missed is the impact of the constant pounding creating the marginal mistake that leads to the knockout. Yea they will receive a shot or two during a match but they come right back and start pounding. I think Texas may be a combination of the two teams. I have not seen Georgia so can't comment.
Kudos to BC's defense. They were on the field a longggggg time and did not show signs of fatique or quit. Brian Toal is a beast of a player.
NBA - Guys, buy a suit (or five). It is not a big deal. Call me in April when the playoffs start.
NFL - The DOMINANT league is at it again with a crazy unpredictable mix of teams. Just when one seems to be rolling, they get smacked. Colts are the best for now - tune in to see it that continues.
NHL - Is it actually back or just a rumor?
College Football - After last night's win over BC I think I have come to see VT as the body puncher to USC's boxer. Boxers are impressive; quick and flashy (see Roy Jones Jr. in his prime). Body punchers don't look impressive and blame is often heaped on the opponent for missing opportunities. What is missed is the impact of the constant pounding creating the marginal mistake that leads to the knockout. Yea they will receive a shot or two during a match but they come right back and start pounding. I think Texas may be a combination of the two teams. I have not seen Georgia so can't comment.
Kudos to BC's defense. They were on the field a longggggg time and did not show signs of fatique or quit. Brian Toal is a beast of a player.
Monday, October 10, 2005
College Football Season Midpoint
Time to get the update on the college football season as we make the turn for home. Here is the Top 10 thoughts (in one man's opinion).
1. USC - defense is a little suspect but the offense is scary, scary. Way to beat them is to really be able to run the ball and control the clock yet be able to pass if you get behind a little. Not many teams fit that bill.
2. Texas - Vince Young is a physical freak - nuff said. Most likely to play USC in the Rose Bowl.
3. Va Tech - No convinced my Hokies are the third best team in America but will say I think.
they may be one of the few teams that fit the bill in #1. Last years game was close and may have gone the Hokie's way except for the worst pass interference call in the history of college football (no really it was).
4. Penn State - Nothing like 4-5 18 year old burners to make JoePa seem a little younger. Good D. Looks like they have the inside track for the Big 10 Title.
5. Florida State - Don't look now but Saint Bobby has the boys winning and the QB is getting better. Could be scary at year-end. Might also be one of the teams that fit the bill in #1.
6. Michigan - What the ????
7. Oklahoma - Three years ago Bob Stoops was the second coming. 9-1 against Top 10 teams, fresh off a MNC. Now he is questioned and his team's heart is questioned. Good time to go long Bob Stoops in my best of the "wait till next year trades".
8. USC (East) - Steve Spurrier has found the going a little rougher in the SEC than when last he visited. Helps having better athletes eh Steve? However in my second "wait till next year trade" except it is the year after I am going long the Gamecocks and the Ol' Ball Coach.
9. Notre Dame and Charlie Weiss - Hell of a football coach but lets not assume ND had no talent. Tye's recruits were just entering their junior years which is when most college football players start to have an impact. Weiss added the discipline and offensive flair. Either ND takes out USC in the shock the world style reminiscent of other nauseating shock the world wins by ND through history or USC puts a little damper on the ND lovefest with a good old fashion "you ain't back yet boys" beat down. Stay tuned.
10. Conference of the Year - Not sure. Your comments would be appreciated.
1. USC - defense is a little suspect but the offense is scary, scary. Way to beat them is to really be able to run the ball and control the clock yet be able to pass if you get behind a little. Not many teams fit that bill.
2. Texas - Vince Young is a physical freak - nuff said. Most likely to play USC in the Rose Bowl.
3. Va Tech - No convinced my Hokies are the third best team in America but will say I think.
they may be one of the few teams that fit the bill in #1. Last years game was close and may have gone the Hokie's way except for the worst pass interference call in the history of college football (no really it was).
4. Penn State - Nothing like 4-5 18 year old burners to make JoePa seem a little younger. Good D. Looks like they have the inside track for the Big 10 Title.
5. Florida State - Don't look now but Saint Bobby has the boys winning and the QB is getting better. Could be scary at year-end. Might also be one of the teams that fit the bill in #1.
6. Michigan - What the ????
7. Oklahoma - Three years ago Bob Stoops was the second coming. 9-1 against Top 10 teams, fresh off a MNC. Now he is questioned and his team's heart is questioned. Good time to go long Bob Stoops in my best of the "wait till next year trades".
8. USC (East) - Steve Spurrier has found the going a little rougher in the SEC than when last he visited. Helps having better athletes eh Steve? However in my second "wait till next year trade" except it is the year after I am going long the Gamecocks and the Ol' Ball Coach.
9. Notre Dame and Charlie Weiss - Hell of a football coach but lets not assume ND had no talent. Tye's recruits were just entering their junior years which is when most college football players start to have an impact. Weiss added the discipline and offensive flair. Either ND takes out USC in the shock the world style reminiscent of other nauseating shock the world wins by ND through history or USC puts a little damper on the ND lovefest with a good old fashion "you ain't back yet boys" beat down. Stay tuned.
10. Conference of the Year - Not sure. Your comments would be appreciated.
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