By Paul Gotham
Whew! Now that the digging out is finished from the season’s first snow storm. Some thoughts to share.
Western New York well-represented in Vancouver
The United States will take 23 hockey players to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Of those going, two hail from Upstate New York. Patrick Kane (Chicago Black Hawks) from Buffalo and Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers) Hilton, New York will don the Red, White, and Blue.
How did Brian Burke earn the position as the team’s general manager? Burke is Toronto’s GM. Have you seen the Maple Leafs record?
Another olympian chosen is Ryan Suter. Suter’s dad, Bob, played on the 1980 ‘Miracle On Ice’ team.
USC self imposes penalty
After investigating the O.J. Mayo case, the University of Southern California has decided to forfeit eligibility for the upcoming post-season, vacate all wins from 2007-08, and reduce scholarships.
Why is it that the USC athletic department can move so swiflty when it comes to basketball? But when it comes to football, the Trojan investigation move in reverse?
Rationalizing
I don’t know what is worse? The fact that Gilbert Arenas, when interviewed about his recent firearms infraction, smiles throughout his repsonse. Or, that he thinks “I’m a goofball” should dismiss his responsibility in the situation.
Two-fifths is better than nothing
Either the Toronto Raptors are really bad, or the Boston Celtics are really good.
With three starters out of the lineup, the Cs took care of business downing their Atlantic Division rivals, 103-96. Ray Allen led six Celtics in double figures with 23 points. Rasheed Wallace followed with 16. Glen Davis came off the bench and added 15.
Usual starters, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett, were sidelined with injuries. In fact, the box score did not have a point guard in the starting lineup for Boston.
Callahan deserves to be there. He always gives his all, and is a solid player.
I was thinking how unfair the USC thing seemed. There is no personal responsibilty and only the college and the players on the team today have to suffer. OJ Mayo…nothing. The ex-coach…nothing. Both are making millions today in the NBA with no repurcussions. It seems like schools need to hire more NCAA rules inspectors. The assistant A.D.’s usually have this responsibility, but it seems like they need to hire more specific people for that job.
The Gilbert Arenas thing sucks. Imagine a teacher being caught with a gun and drugs in a car…FIRED!! Basketball player though…no problem, just don’t do it again. When they’re held to a different standard, they will continue to play by different rules…what’s to stop them…morality?? Come on.
Talk with the Arenas situation is that at the least he should be suspended for the season. Sounds good to me, but the whole way he has gone about this in a flippant manner is concerning. Have we as a society become desensitized to guns?