Tiger Woods Unbeatable?

I know this post is about a week late but I felt like still making a point of it. Tiger Woods is amazing right now, he is playing the best golf I have seen out of him in years. The question everyone posed on Monday, could he make a run at Byron Nelson streak of eleven straight?

I personally hope he gets close or does it because it would definitely bring the casual fan to golf to see if he had a chance at winning it. I have a tough time seeing it happen only because the Masters is still always tough and everyone brings their A game. Sawgrass has been an absolute bitch to Woods in years past. Also if he is gunning at this record doesn't that inspire others to be that much better to try to knock off the titan of golf right now.

The argument for it is that Woods does not play every week and sometimes it a three week period before he decides to play in a tournament. That gives him the ability to keep up with the grind of golf. I think if anything that plays to advantage and people are disappointed he did not play a lot in the West Coast Swing although he has dominated the Benz Championship, and Pebble Beach. I really think he should of tried to challenge Rivera again since he has been awful there.

You can already write it down as Tiger being my pick to win the Masters and hopefully he still is unbeaten.

Charlie.

The NBA Is Fun Again

So last night after I finished all my lovely reading for class, I made an effort to sit down and watch an NBA game. I watch the occasional NBA game but usually not for the entire game just few snippets or the final three minutes for a various amount of reasons.

1. It was not that fun to watch, no one played defense and it was boring to watch an And1 show every night of the week

2. The Milwaukee Bucks could be one of the worst teams to watch if one applies to you and they act like they do not give a damn about playing basketball half of the time so you feel yourself uninspired to watch.

3. They did not have like able guys and had thugs who showboated all of the time.

A lot of their guys are truly like able you cannot help but love Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James, I do not want to hear of the NBA having an image problem because they are right now the cleanest out of all the top leagues. They have more of the run and gun style of basketball which if you are casual viewer that is the type of basketball that you would like to watch. That is one of the reasons why I wanted to watch the Los Angles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns and just the hype that ESPN built around it I wanted to watch it.

I was pulling for the Lakers because I like Kobe Bryant and I think he is the best player in the NBA right now, not Lebron James, Kobe Bryant. The thing about it is Bryant fails to get the respect that he rightfully deserves. Plus what finger injury? The guy had forty-one points so I do not want to hear the talk that his finger is a legit concern. Pau Gasol really flows with the triangle offense that Phil Jackson runs and really was pulling Shaq outside out the post which was allowing easy baskets. One of the big reasons I think the Lakers will be the favorite out of the West will be the bench depth, their second team had multiple runs in the second and fourth quarters.

I also wanted to see how Shaq did in the Suns offense and he looked respectable plus paved the way for Amare Stoudamire to have a huge night (37 15). He seemed to move around and did not show signs of being out of shape. I think Shaq will help them out somewhat although just I do not see bringing him in resulting in a championship. Also when you look down the Suns bench they are lacking after Leoandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw thats pretty much it you go to the likes of Eric Piatkowski and Brian Skinner.

Oh by the way the Bucks still suck. Sometime maybe at the end of the year I would tell you how I would fix the Bucks.

Possible second post later on today....

If there is something you want to see on here, email me at tritscca@uwec.edu, let me know.

Thanks

Charlie.

Find Me One Person That Likes Stanford

As I was battling to not die over the weekend from influenza and of course when I am sick all of the games on ESPN are not that exciting.

Louisville and Providence was just boring because you knew the Friars werent going to win because they have given up on coach Tim Welsch.

So i resorted to the Big Ten Network to see Wisconsin-Minnesota playing which was once again boring then I get a text from the Birdman just discussing the days events in hoops.
Then he goes into that he is watching Zona against Stanford and how much he hated the Lopez Brothers".

Thats what got the wheels turning for this blog entry. Who really likes Stanford? I have always remember hating their basketball programs throughout the late 90s and into the 2000s. They always seem to reap the benefits of having two twin towers which immediately makes them dominate over the rest of the league- The Collins Bros. and the Lopez Bros. which also gets me to think both were smart enough to get into Stanford? Wow, usually one of them is dumber than a box of rocks.

Another thing I always didnt like about Stanford was their goofy ass tree mascot and the nickname to go along with it. They are not the Cardinals, just the Cardinal which is a color and somehow that turns their mascot into a happy redwood. At least the Orange have Otto whose an actual Orange, see the Cuse has their shit together. I hate wimpy mascots, the Tree look at that thing, it would just get owned by most mascots in America if we had a battle royal. This also has given me the idea to post my own list of top 10 college mascots but that will be for another day.

Lets just hope they do not make a run in the NCAA Tournament so we dont see that damn tree dancing around.

Charlie.

Thats More Like It

Well first off to give you an update, I feel a helluva lot better than I did the last couple of days. I am happy because I have a ton of shit to do for this week. This blog post is to talk about my boys from Marquette on how they did work that would make Big Black proud.

-You know Marquette was clicking on all cylinders when Dominic James only had four points and the Warriors still blew them out by 18. Also I do not need James to be a scorer every night, I would rather have him droppin dimes and not shooting the ball wildly.

-Ousmane Barro will be one of the X-factors for Marquette to get into a deep tourney run in the Big East and the NCCA. At this point, I dont see them going any farther than the Sweet 16. He can run the floor better than most big men in the nation and when he makes the bunnies, it makes Marquette a very effective team.

-Pittsburgh also fell due to the Ewing Theory something developed by my boy Bill Simmons from ESPN where the team plays worse when their star player is actually playing. Fields looked out of place and didnt seem to flow with the chemistry of the team

-Tom Crean owns Jamie Dixon in the last couple of years, he seems to always develop the perfect game plan against the Panthers. Jamie Dixon who looks like a sleazy car salesman cannot coach against Marquette style of play for some reason. They only got by in the Big East Tourney because Marquette was on the downswing and Aaron Grey was just a big loser who pushed people around a lot like Tyler "Fat Ass Golden Boy" Harangoody this year.

-Marquette cannot slip in these next two because they are cupcakes of the Big East although nothing is guaranteed in the Big East.

Charlie.

It was a Good Day For 6'10 White Long-Range Shooters

My title is for multiple reasons from last night due to two people. 1. Steve Novak and 2. Brian Butch.

Novak I was happy to see him hit a game winner against the Sacramento Kings last night. He has tried so damn hard to not fall off into obscurity and when I read he hit a game-winner, I knew today was going to be a good day. To be honest the only good thing was my mom bought me season two of Entourage, but for the most part it sucks since I feel like shit. I hope that he gets more playing time and has a chance to become a player for the Houston Rockets.

Brian Butch who is probably my most hated sports figure and has been for many years. He banked in a three-pointer to beat the Indiana Hoosiers. It could not just be an easy jump hook or a mid-range jumper, no he banked in an effin three. I will say this though, Wisconsin got away with a travel by Trevon Hughes who people say he is better than Jerry Smith is absolutely absurd, he is nowhere near the player Smith is. You could also argue Landry went over the back yet I would rather have the refs playing a minor role in the outcome of a game.

Then to put the cherry on top, he gets a text message from Erin Andrews, I just hate him more after this performance.

Charlie.

A Case of the Mondays for Refs

I witnessed some of the worst officating in sports history last night. I have seen poorly reffed games in all sorts of sports but there are not of alot of them that not one but two end with horrific calls.

-Villanva-Georgetown: I did not catch most of this game because I was doing the school thing although I had caught that the Hoyas were a double-digit favorite against the Wildcats who were a top 20 team a month ago then the Big East just ate them up. The Hoyas looked like they had a commanding lead then Nova pulled back with some great play from Scottie Reynolds. Then on the final possession, Reynolds drove down the lane with a ton of a contact. Then the ball is stripped away and they call a harmless bumping foul! It was unbelieveable that they gave Johnathan Wallace who happens to be the best free-throw shooter in G'Town history too. Made them both to give them the game. Coach John Thompson III should not be at all satisfied with this win. As someone said on a messege board, "If that's a foul then Shawn Pruitt (of Illinois) got away with murder."

-Rutgers-Tennessee: I honestly have never sat down and watched a women's college basketball game because I just do not find the style that women play interesting at all. Although I did see the highlights of this game and the Scarlet Knights got absolutly robbed. Candance Parker had a couple shot attempts in the paint then another UT player got the ball with .02 left and somehow gets fouled. C. Vivian Stringer definetly left nothing out but to be positive I would rather have that happen against a non-conference team then against UConn.

Also a random video...

Shaq does cheers!

Charlie.

College Basketball Round-Up

So I am not going to do a post on Signing Day because I really do not care as some freaks do because one knee injury could end some of these prospects and Terelle Pryor did not sign therefore I really had nothing to talk about because I do not need spend hours upon hours on Scout or Rivals.

-Before I begin I must give an ode to Bob Knight who was a legend in coaching and made sure kids work so hard at school and basketball. He was the true type of person who really didnt give a flying fuck what you thought about him. I really hope if he comes back that it will not be for a couple years because then it just seems like he wanted to get out of Texas Tech. I do not think he is a hyprocite at all I just believe he wanted to get the kids adjusted to Pat Knight. Lets all hope Bob makes more golf videos


I had really felt that college baksetball just was not that special all year, it really does not have that one special player that you make sure to watch every Saturday. So for Duke-UNC to come and then great games on Thursday night leading into Saturday it really felt to me as college baksetball is beginning to peak.

-I am not going to use the "Ty Lawson Excuse" to bail out North Carolina because you have to play with what you got and sometimes that might not mean having all of your tools. Duke played a great basketball game and I think Hansbrough did not get the ball enough in the second half which was one reason they lost. The other was Duke was flat-out unreal from beyond the arc.

-This game also solidified the fact that the Dukies are legit which is good because then it gives us all reason to bash the Bailey Bros. when they falter. They could have a great chance at making a run for a National Championship but I need a little more from Lance Thomas to prove to me they can stop a great big man.

-My final part about Duke is that they have no go-to-guy when things go rough in a game. No one they can throw the weight of a game on and during the long tourney process you get those games. I feel the same about the Wisconsin Badgers.

-How about Purdue though? Matt Painter has done of a helluva job with these kids who four of them are freshman getting serious playing time. I have a feeling we will be talking about Purdue as a dominate Big Ten team in the next five years if everyone stays in school.

-Indiana could be one of the more overrated teams in the nation (no wins in the top 50 RPI) or its just based off the lack of competition in the Big Ten. They were not all that great against a weak Illinois and should of lost if it was not for Shawn Pruitt complelty choking. It will be very interesting to see how they handle the Badgers on Wednesday because the last time they met IU looked lost.

-Private Schools got the best of both of the Wisconsin big boys (UW, Marquette) and frankly I am furious that Marquette dropped that game. They had some many shots at the basket that they could not make and their three-point shooting kept them in the game (12-25) but also taking 25 threes is awful. Proving once again that either the players are not understanding Tom Crean's zone offense or his zone offense is that bad. They have a MUST-WIN week against Seton Hall and Pittsburgh both of those wins would be a great and I really think Crean has been able to figure out Pittsburgh.

-The Pac-10 is the best conference in basketball I have been convinced after the Washington Huskies who had lost four straight knocked off #4 UCLA by ten so it was not like they won last second, they gave them a beat down. Also Arizona State an up and coming team beat a struggling Arizona team who showed that they were truly missing Nick Wise.

-I am pumped that Tenneesee-Memphis is next weekend. This will help out my bracket decision if I am going to go with either team. I am still not on the Memphis bandwagon nor am I with Bruce's Vols. I just think this game will by far be the best one so far in this season, cannot wait.

-My final blurb will be to a new blog that was started by a friend of mine who gives an interesting take on going to the University of Madison plus insight on a lot of music you probably have not heard also includes many random thoughts. Good Stuff

Charlie.

An Overlook at The Steal out of Memphis and the Big Shaqtus

Let me be the first one to say it: The NBA is becoming more fun to watch as great players move to different teams so it definitly adds new spice to the game. Also there are alot of young players that are becoming better making it more exciting to watch.

First starting off with the Pau Gasol trade: I really think that Kobe Bryant made a deal with the devil and pleaded to him to bring him another powerful force in L.A. They made out like bandits only giving up Kwame Brown and Jarvais Crittention plus a couple first rounders yet they really did give anyone up that would be damanging to the team. Now the Lakers are a legitamate threat to win the powerful West. The front line of Gasol-Bynum-Odom is the best in the NBA and that powerful size inside will be able to stop anyone in my opinion and why right now I think the Lakers will be back in the Finals. It is good for Memphis because as much as Gasol was a fan favorite; they are now able to retool with those draft picks and hopefully become a better team.

Then after that happen, Steve Kerr who was a force from the outside in the 90s yet his attempt to keep up with the Lakeshow was an airball. He decideds to trade away the frustrated Shawn Marion who is the glue of that team; he does all of the little things that people forget about and not shown in the stat book. And who does he get in return.... Shaq Diesel... Wow not a smart move at all. Shaq is averaging his worst numbers in his fifteen-year career and he is well-over 300 pounds, do you think it went through Kerr mind that Shaq is washed up? I do not know how it cannot and Shaq is a great performer infront of a mic so all the bullshit he fed about "Bringing a 5th ring", it will not happen yet how great would it be to see a Kobe-Shaq Western Conference Finals? I would be tuned in to every game possible if that was the case. For my main man, D-Wade eventhough they have the worst record in the NBA, they now get a force in Marion who can run with Mr. Wade and hopefully he will want to come back when they draft Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, or Michael Beasley.

Hopefully this brings back fans to the NBA.

Charlie.

Arlen Spector Thinks He's George Mitchell

You know when you are bored and you decide to take a look on http://www.imdb.com/ to see what new movies are coming out in the next couple of months and you see some awful sequal to a movie that was okay yet you still are in disbelief that they are making another one. That is exactly how I would compare Arlen Spector's attempt to be the next George Mitchell.

Maybe it is just that I am sick and tired of Congress getting involved in sports because last I check we did not live in a communist country where our goverment dictates what happens in our life. Shit happens like that throughout the years; people put pine tar on their bats yet you didnt see people coming down on them like this. I am so sick and tired of hearing about Roger Clemens because its just the classic example of a sixth grade battle of "he said, she said".

One of the reasons Spector wanted to check this out was because he wanted to make sure his team, the Philadelphia Eagles did not get cheated out of their Super Bowl! Give me a break, they were much worse than the Patriots and if thats one of your reasons its absoultly bullshit. I will give you that its fishy they destroyed the tapes although Goodell means well in my opinion and has been doing everything possible to clean up the league.

Matt Walsh=Brian McNamee. Thats all needs to be said, he wants to put himself into his personal fifteen minutes of fame so he can get a book written about him and the Today Show will interview him. I would hate to think the ramfications if this all came out to be true and how much all of the Patriots success goes into obsercuirty.

Watch out they will come after David Stern next

Charlie.

Super Bowl- Bet it Feels Great to be 18-1

First off sorry for the long wait everyone, I have been busy doing the school thing and I have so many things to write about on here such as the Super Bowl, Duke-UNC, Shaq/Gasol Trades, Signing Day, and Arlen Spector.

How great was the Super Bowl? No one saw this coming unless you were a diehard Giant fan who knew their Giants could win this thing. The one team we all hated two weeks ago now they are consider saving us from the Evil Empire of Football known as the New England Patriots. Just some thoughts about the Super Bowl

- The offensive line for the Patriots just could not handle the pressure of the Giants which was unreal because they have a couple All-Pros and Brady has had all the time in the world this year. As Strahan says, "THEY STOMP THEM OUT". Brady was just getting drilled all the time and for the first time in a long while, he was rattled.

-Tom Brady's ankle should not be an excuse for why Brady was not able to scramble or move around in the pocket. McNabb was throwing up and struggling with the flu yet everyone dismissed that excuse so I will do the same.

-Eli Manning is out of the shadows of all of the bust quarterbacks that have been drafted in the top ten who have just been awful. My dad said he thought "Eli needed a change of teams" before the playoffs started. He was definetly off about that one yet Eli has also proven another thing... The man is clutch. They have won 6 games in the fourth quarter and he just acts like nothing in the world phases him.

-Plaxico Burress is a straight up baller and I think he is a complete jackass when he puts on an act for a frickin 10 yard out route yet he was wounded throughout the entire year with all sorts of injuries then slips in the shower on Tuesday where the Giants training staff thought he torn his MCL and he still played!

-David Tyree picked the biggest stage for his key moment this year as he did nothing througout the regular season yet caught a touchdown then makes the most incredible catch in the Super Bowl. My buddy, Shay reminded me via text that he went to Syracuse which leads to me to believe that Gerry McNamera will end up on a NBA team to hit the game-winner to send a team to the finals.

-I dont think I have to go over how Billy Boy was classless for leaving the field with a second left, he is a prick we all know this. A lot of good coaches are assholes and they win ball games, if that was me I would be rattled before belief and I am sure Bill felt like crying.

-Credits goes to my friends Steve and Pat who both thought the Giants would go to the Super Bowl, now Pat deserves more because he thought they would win it all. I actually have to cook Steve up a steak for the Giants making it, no big deal for how good this victory felt.

-The Patriots lost because of a couple things but one of the main reasons was they were overconfident. They pattened 19-0 before they won anything, the Boston mayor already had the parade ready, and then all of that went haywire putting all of New England on suicide watch.

-I am happy that the people of Boston have no one to blame this one on either just pure choke, drink it in.

Charlie.