random ramblings fred riecke, gamblersdata
…Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell won’t be making the trip to New Orleans with the rest of the team for the Sugar Bowl. This is because he was suspended by the school after being arrested by Blacksburg, Va. police on charges of breaking and entering. “Blacksburg Police say the 20-year-old Journell was one of three men charged Wednesday night, after an alleged home invasion. Police said the men were arrested after officers responded to a report of a “physical altercation” at a house near downtown. Journell, a redshirt sophomore from Ripplemead, Va., was 14-for-17 on field-goal attempts this season. Athletic director Jim Weaver said Journell has been suspended. The 17th-ranked Hokies play Michigan in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3.” Really? What are these kids thinking?
…Atlanta Falcon coach Mike Smith had a scare after his team beat Jacksonville. The coach didn’t make the flight home due to discomfort in his chest., Doctors advised Smith to get checked out at a Charlotte hospital. He did and then had a follow up which revealed the cause of his problems was not his heart.
…What is with the rash of coaching changes in the NHL so early in the season? Both LA teams already have new skippers.The Washington Capitols pulled the trigger in a hury on Bruce Boudreau and Montreal dumped Jaques Martin.
…Joe Paterno was released from the hospital where he was treated for lung cancer. An unnamed source supposedly close to Paterno said he has shown improvement. Paterno, 85 years of age, also was treated for a broken pelvis suffered in a fall at home. No doubt JoePa’s heart is getting overworked due to the Jerry Sandusky scandal as well.
…ESPN’s Craig James is no longer with ESPN. The network announced he could no longer work for them since James announced his candidacy for a senate position in Texas. The guy has some nerve. There are certainly some areas of Texas that hardly appreciated his role in the firing of Mike Leach.
…So Urban Meyer felt like he was punched in the gut when he heard the rather lenient action taken against Ohio State by the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. What did he expect would happen? A one year bowl ban and the loss of 9 scholarships is a pittance when compared to the treatment of USC. Supposedly USC wqas hit harder because they violated the “lack of institutional control” measure and the Buckeyes didn’t. Ohio State, already caught with Tressel lying about his knowledge of the improper benefits, signed false documents and played a season with players he knew cheated and should have been ineligble. And that’s not a lack of institutional control?
…I can’t imagine anyone more shocked than Floyd Mayweather jr. when a judge sentence him to 90 days for domestic violence. A deal was reached where he pled guilty to reduced charges and Mayweather no doubt figured fine and community service. Floyd originally faced felony charges. Estimates are the “Money” might do 55 days!
…I guess going from Rookie of the Year to MVP in 3 seasons will get you a 5 year contact worth $94 million. Averaging 25 points and 7.7 assists doesn’t hurt either. Congratulations to Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls.
…The UCLA Bruins hoopsters have won 5 straight since coach Ben Howland dumped star player Reeves Nelson. That’s great news for Bruin fans who were reeling, losing 4 of its first 5 games by double digits. The victory put the Bruins above .500 for the first time this year. Take a breath Bruin fans – those 5 wins came against Pennsylvania, Eastern Washington, UC Davis, Richmond and UC Irvine. Pac 12 play begins soon so we will see, even though this may be the weakest year in some time for the conference.
…For the second year in a row Iowa has suspended its top running back for the Insight Bowl. Hawkeye sophomore star Marcus Coker was suspended for the game for violating the university’s athletic code of conduct.
…The Dodgers are getting back reliever Ronald Belisario when he finally obtained a visa after missing the entire 2011 season. But first things first. Belisario still has to serve a 25 game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. Belisario missed last season when he was unable to get a visa and gain entry into the United States. Belisario was absent for more than a month during the 2010 season to receive treatment in a substance abuse program and the previous year was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
…Authorities are investigating a report that New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley physically abused his 5 year old on in his hometown of Gadsden, Alabama. Allegations by the child’s mother will be presented to the grand jury.
…The Jerry Sandusky scandal has far reaching implications. Now Hall of Fame sportswriter Bill Conlin has been accused of sex abuse in the Philadelphia Daily News. The newspaper reported that the four accusers claim Conlin groped and fondled them in the 1970′s when they were aged 7 to 12. One of the accusers, a neice of Conlin, is now a prosecutor in Atlantic City. Authorites said no criminal charges would be pursued because the allegations happened too long ago.
…Trojans QB Matt Barkley will return to USC for the 2012 season. You’ve got to admire him for that. He has chosen to do something for free (play college football) when he could receive millions for doing the same thing (pro football). A football player only has so many years to receive pay so don’t think for a minute that Barkley isn’t throwing away a tidy sum. Like Andrew Luck, I’m sure there will be a multi-million insurance policy for protection and it doesn’t hurt that USC is loaded with young players on both sides of the ball and a bevy of great receivers.
…Get your tickets before they are sold out. During a recent radio interview, Shaquille O’Neal said he is in negotiations with the WWE to make an appearance at WrestleMania 28 and wrestle The Big Show. And who would want to miss that? I’d rather watch a meaningless bowl game between two teams with .500 records.
…A study at the University of Oregon revealed that increased wins by the football team correlated with worse grades for male students. The theory is that the increased win count led to more partying and more partying led to less studying – you get the picture. I don’t think we needed a study to figure that one out.
…Sawicki Motors, a car dealership in the town of Rochelle in north central Illinois has come up with a brilliant marketing coup that has virtually no chance of costing them a dime: if the Chicago Bears hold the Green Bay Packers scoreless in the teams’ upcoming game on Christmas, the dealership will give out free cars. I realize that the chances of that happening are mighty slim, but it would be interesting if Aaron Rodgers was injured early on or sick or sat for the game. Of course, the Chicago Tribune report makes no mention of any rules, stipulations, caveats, or fine print regarding the free car giveaway, much less exactly how many cars the dealership will part with if the unimaginable and miraculous somehow occurred. But hey, we’ve all heard of Sawicki Motors now. Note: The Pack scored 35 points against the Bears.
…Kobe Bryant has had his share of troubles lately. The Lakers lost out on Chris Paul and haven’t as yet nabbed Dwight Howard. His buddy Lamar Odom is gone. He has an injured wrist. And, oh yes, he is about to lose millions to divorce. But those aren’t the only problems facing Bryant. In the arena of ridiculous lawsuits, Kobe is also a big player. A fan’s lawsuit against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant over a courtside incident in Memphis, Tenn., six years ago has been returned to a lower court. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Thursday that a federal district court was right to dismiss the fan’s claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. But the lower court was told to take another look at the lawsuit’s claim of assault and battery. The fan charged that Bryant had knocked his seat back as he charged after the ball in a 2005 game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but then forearmed him in the chest. The western Tennessee district court ruled that fans sitting courtside assume the risk of such contact. But the three-judge appeals panel said that wouldn’t include the alleged forearm shove. The fan, Bill Geeslin of Blytheville, Ark., has since died. His estate is continuing the lawsuit. I’m on Kobe’s side on this one.
…Golden State Warriors’ guard Monta Ellis is being sued by a former Warriors employee for sexual harassment. Erika Smith said Ellis bombarded her with suggestive text messages before sending her a photo of his genitals. Smith said she rejected Ellis’ advances, but was worried she would not be believed if she came forward. Ellis’ wife Juanika Ellis found out about the steamy texts and confronted Smith, apparently believing that Smith instigated the texts. Eventually, Smith was fired from her job. Smith is suing not just Ellis, but also the Golden State Warriors for wrongful dismissal among other charges.
…Philadelphia 76 Lou Williams is a lucky guy. Williams says a crook decided against robbing the 76ers guard after recognizing him because of the community service Williams has performed in the robber’s neighborhood. It must be the Christmas spirit even getting to the miscreants among us.
…A league source claims that the Jets are starting to realize that Mark Sanchez may not be their QB of the future, and could look to move on from him this offseason.
…Enough of these 35 or so bowl gmaes. How many people showed up for the Sheraton Hawaii game? The stands looked like a Florida Marlin game. And really, why would anyone want to see Nevada and Southern Mississippi on Christmas Eve anyway? I can’t wait for 6-7 UCLA to face the 6-6 Illinois squad that has lost 6 straight. We can have a game like this but can’t a playoff – makes all the sense in the world.
