COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Jim Tressel, who guided Ohio State to its first national title in 34 years, resigned Monday amid NCAA violations from a tattoo-parlor scandal that sullied the image of one of the country’s top football programs.
“After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach,” Tressel wrote in the resignation letter he submitted on Monday morning. “The recent situation has been a distraction for our great university and I make this decision for the greater good of the school.”
Luke Fickell will be the coach for the 2011 season. He already had been selected to be the interim coach while Tressel served a five-game suspension.
Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said he was unaware of any buyout or severance package. He added that Tressel had returned from vacation Sunday night and met with athletic director Gene Smith, who then met with staff. Tressel typed his resignation and submitted it to Smith, he said.
Under terms of Tressel’s contract, which was worth around $3.5 million a year through the 2014 season, Ohio State is not required to pay him any money or provide any benefits upon his resignation.
Clearly, the turmoil had been building. The resignation comes nearly three months after Ohio State called a news conference to announce it has suspended Tressel for two games — later increasing the ban to five games to coincide with the players’ punishment — and fined him $250,000 for knowing his players had received improper benefits from a local tattoo-parlor owner.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
refs penalized for pink whistles
[via twitter] This just in from the Department of No Good Deed Goes Unpunished:
After sitting on its hands for seven months, a Washington state referees association decided earlier this week to ban nearly 150 high school football officials from working most postseason games during the next two years — all because the refs wore pink whistles during games last fall.
Too soul-numbingly stupid to be true?
Not.
But that only begins to explain how something that started out as a neat little effort to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research turned into a cautionary tale about revenge and what happens when the wrong people get their hands on a rulebook. Just when you thought the NCAA had cornered the market on bureaucratic silliness in sports, along comes the Washington Officials Association and commissioner Todd Stordahl.
“Amazing,” said Frank Naish, the football coach at Inglemoor High, just north of Seattle, for the last 30 years. “It bit ‘em last year, when the story first came out, and the response was ‘What the heck are you doing?’ Then they back off. It quiets down for 6-7 months, and instead of just letting it die, they throw gasoline on the fire. ...
“It’s just a little power play and mean-spirited to boot,” he added in a telephone call Thursday. “Now they got a bunch of people mad and talking about picketing their offices.”
The WOA’s disciplinary decision was first reported Tuesday by KIRO-FM in Seattle. The station also reported the 143 members of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association, which covers King County and falls under the statewide umbrella of the WOA, will have the majority of their playoff games revoked for the next two years. According to the report, the PNFOA was also placed on probation for the next three years.
The brouhaha dates back to last October, when PNFOA members were looking for a way to support the fight against breast cancer. The disease had touched the lives of so many officials that someone came up with the idea of wearing pink whistles for a week’s worth of games. Then members decided to go a step further and donate their game checks to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
But their bosses at the WOA, which supervises 150 referees’ associations in all, put the kibosh on the idea. They decided pink whistles were a violation of the uniform code. Then they warned that any ref wearing one could face suspension and the loss of a game check. Besides, Stordahl contended, think of the precedent it would set.
“It sends the wrong message to kids that are playing the game,” he said then. “’If they broke the rules, why can’t I do the same.’”
The PNFOA decided to go ahead with its plan, anyway. Not surprising, the refs’ efforts were warmly received.
“Everyone there loved the whistles, the whole atmosphere, kind of like what you saw when the NFL did it,” Naish recalled. “We had a fundraiser to go along with it.
“I had lost a sister to breast cancer that April and one of my kids lost his mom a month earlier, so it was a really cool thing at the local level. It was an opportunity for football, which is all about men, to honor women.”
Oddly enough, the WOA had previously approved a “blue flags” football weekend in support of prostate cancer awareness, as well as “pink whistle” events in volleyball, soccer and basketball. Yet Stordahl said last fall the organization decided against pink whistles for football to keep the focus on the players and games.
For all that, though, Stordahl appeared to relent in the face of the backlash from the football community around Seattle, doing an about-face in a message posted on the association’s website. “The WOA did not have nor continues to have any intention to fine, take away games or deny paychecks to any member due to wearing a pink whistle,” it said.
Until Tuesday, that is. By then, after nursing a grudge for all those months, Stordahl apparently decided to show the refs who was boss. That’s some message to send the kids, not to mention everybody else involved in a worthy cause.
“We appreciate what these referees were trying to do, and we were sorry to hear about the sanctions for supporting breast cancer programs in Washington State,” said Andrea Rader, a spokesman for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
After sitting on its hands for seven months, a Washington state referees association decided earlier this week to ban nearly 150 high school football officials from working most postseason games during the next two years — all because the refs wore pink whistles during games last fall.
Too soul-numbingly stupid to be true?
Not.
But that only begins to explain how something that started out as a neat little effort to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research turned into a cautionary tale about revenge and what happens when the wrong people get their hands on a rulebook. Just when you thought the NCAA had cornered the market on bureaucratic silliness in sports, along comes the Washington Officials Association and commissioner Todd Stordahl.
“Amazing,” said Frank Naish, the football coach at Inglemoor High, just north of Seattle, for the last 30 years. “It bit ‘em last year, when the story first came out, and the response was ‘What the heck are you doing?’ Then they back off. It quiets down for 6-7 months, and instead of just letting it die, they throw gasoline on the fire. ...
“It’s just a little power play and mean-spirited to boot,” he added in a telephone call Thursday. “Now they got a bunch of people mad and talking about picketing their offices.”
The WOA’s disciplinary decision was first reported Tuesday by KIRO-FM in Seattle. The station also reported the 143 members of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association, which covers King County and falls under the statewide umbrella of the WOA, will have the majority of their playoff games revoked for the next two years. According to the report, the PNFOA was also placed on probation for the next three years.
The brouhaha dates back to last October, when PNFOA members were looking for a way to support the fight against breast cancer. The disease had touched the lives of so many officials that someone came up with the idea of wearing pink whistles for a week’s worth of games. Then members decided to go a step further and donate their game checks to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
But their bosses at the WOA, which supervises 150 referees’ associations in all, put the kibosh on the idea. They decided pink whistles were a violation of the uniform code. Then they warned that any ref wearing one could face suspension and the loss of a game check. Besides, Stordahl contended, think of the precedent it would set.
“It sends the wrong message to kids that are playing the game,” he said then. “’If they broke the rules, why can’t I do the same.’”
The PNFOA decided to go ahead with its plan, anyway. Not surprising, the refs’ efforts were warmly received.
“Everyone there loved the whistles, the whole atmosphere, kind of like what you saw when the NFL did it,” Naish recalled. “We had a fundraiser to go along with it.
“I had lost a sister to breast cancer that April and one of my kids lost his mom a month earlier, so it was a really cool thing at the local level. It was an opportunity for football, which is all about men, to honor women.”
Oddly enough, the WOA had previously approved a “blue flags” football weekend in support of prostate cancer awareness, as well as “pink whistle” events in volleyball, soccer and basketball. Yet Stordahl said last fall the organization decided against pink whistles for football to keep the focus on the players and games.
For all that, though, Stordahl appeared to relent in the face of the backlash from the football community around Seattle, doing an about-face in a message posted on the association’s website. “The WOA did not have nor continues to have any intention to fine, take away games or deny paychecks to any member due to wearing a pink whistle,” it said.
Until Tuesday, that is. By then, after nursing a grudge for all those months, Stordahl apparently decided to show the refs who was boss. That’s some message to send the kids, not to mention everybody else involved in a worthy cause.
“We appreciate what these referees were trying to do, and we were sorry to hear about the sanctions for supporting breast cancer programs in Washington State,” said Andrea Rader, a spokesman for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Friday, May 20, 2011
the last game for Jim Leahey?
"I don't know what the future holds," said Leahey, who has served as the narrator of University of Hawaii sportscasts for nearly three decades.
KFVE's contract with UH expires next month, but this past Sunday's baseball game was the station's last live UH telecast after a 27-year run.
With Oceanic Time Warner set to take over production and distribution of UH sportscasts this summer, the future of KFVE's crew is uncertain.
At this time in past years, he would rest before getting ready for the start of the football season in a few months.
"Now you don't know," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen."
Calling sporting events is part of Leahey's DNA. His father was trailblazer Chuck Leahey; his son is KHON sports director Kanoa Leahey, who also is a play-by-play announcer for Oceanic's high school football games. Of his own decorated career, Leahey said: "Names and describing games."
He said he is prepared for the possibility that he called his last UH sporting event.
"I think if it's over, well, I did the best I could for as long as I could," Leahey said. "It's like driving in a race. You go as far as you can, and then when it's over, it's over. You cannot control it. Everything is temporary. Everything ends."
***
[10/18/11] University of Hawaii basketball, already practically a Leahey family franchise, will go into its 47th year of three-generation association with the sportscasting family.
Kanoa Leahey will do play-by-play for men's games and his father, Jim, will do Rainbow Wahine games on Oceanic Time Warner's OC Sports this season, it was announced Monday.
Kanoa, who has done Diamond Head Classic games the past two years for ESPN, will be joined by analysts David Hallums and Tony Sellitto. Hallums played for the Rainbow Warriors (1987-88) and Sellitto was Hawaii Pacific University's head coach (1988-02 and 2008-10).
Jim Leahey will be joined by Lori Santi on Rainbow Wahine games.
The Leahey family has been doing UH basketball games since 1964, when Jim's father, Chuck, began doing the Rainbow Classic, which he and Red Rocha pioneered, on the radio. Jim worked with his father on radio in the late 1960s and began doing them on TV in 1978 and continued with KFVE from 1984 through last season.
"He (Kanoa) has accepted the passing of the torch," Jim said. "He's very good at it, excellent in fact, and ESPN has been very impressed with his work."
KFVE's contract with UH expires next month, but this past Sunday's baseball game was the station's last live UH telecast after a 27-year run.
With Oceanic Time Warner set to take over production and distribution of UH sportscasts this summer, the future of KFVE's crew is uncertain.
At this time in past years, he would rest before getting ready for the start of the football season in a few months.
"Now you don't know," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen."
Calling sporting events is part of Leahey's DNA. His father was trailblazer Chuck Leahey; his son is KHON sports director Kanoa Leahey, who also is a play-by-play announcer for Oceanic's high school football games. Of his own decorated career, Leahey said: "Names and describing games."
He said he is prepared for the possibility that he called his last UH sporting event.
"I think if it's over, well, I did the best I could for as long as I could," Leahey said. "It's like driving in a race. You go as far as you can, and then when it's over, it's over. You cannot control it. Everything is temporary. Everything ends."
***
[10/18/11] University of Hawaii basketball, already practically a Leahey family franchise, will go into its 47th year of three-generation association with the sportscasting family.
Kanoa Leahey will do play-by-play for men's games and his father, Jim, will do Rainbow Wahine games on Oceanic Time Warner's OC Sports this season, it was announced Monday.
Kanoa, who has done Diamond Head Classic games the past two years for ESPN, will be joined by analysts David Hallums and Tony Sellitto. Hallums played for the Rainbow Warriors (1987-88) and Sellitto was Hawaii Pacific University's head coach (1988-02 and 2008-10).
Jim Leahey will be joined by Lori Santi on Rainbow Wahine games.
The Leahey family has been doing UH basketball games since 1964, when Jim's father, Chuck, began doing the Rainbow Classic, which he and Red Rocha pioneered, on the radio. Jim worked with his father on radio in the late 1960s and began doing them on TV in 1978 and continued with KFVE from 1984 through last season.
"He (Kanoa) has accepted the passing of the torch," Jim said. "He's very good at it, excellent in fact, and ESPN has been very impressed with his work."
Randy Macho Man Savage
Pro wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage, 58, was killed Friday morning in Florida when the Jeep he was driving jumped a median and hit a tree, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
His wife, Barbara L. Poffo, 56, who was in the passenger seat, was injured, the patrol said. She was expected to be released from a hospital, said Highway Patrol Sgt. 1st Class Steve Gaskins.
Savage's real name was Ralph Mario Poffo, according to the wrestling federation for which he performed. The couple lived in Seminole, Florida, authorities said.
An investigation is under way, but a Highway Patrol report said that Ralph Poffo "lost control" of his 2009 Jeep Wrangler for "unknown reasons" as it was traveling westbound on Florida State Route 694 near 113th Street North in Pinellas County.
The highway patrol report said Poffo "may have suffered a medical event; however, this cannot be confirmed until an autopsy is performed."
As a pro wrestler, he was known for his catchphrases "Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh!" and "Can you dig it?"
After he retired from wrestling, he became known for his Slim Jim commercials.
The wrestling federation and the maker of Slim Jim meat sticks expressed sympathies.
"WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest superstars of his time, Randy Poffo, aka Randy 'Macho Man' Savage," the wrestling federation said in a statement. "Poffo was under contract with WWE from 1985 to 1993 and held both the WWE and Intercontinental championships. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. We wish a speedy recovery to his wife, Lynn. Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans."
"We're saddened by the loss," ConAgra Foods, which makes Slim Jims, said in a statement. "Randy was a beloved ambassador for the Slim Jim brand for many years and will be greatly missed.
***
It was Mr. Savage, along with fellow World Wrestling Federation headliner Hulk Hogan and a few others, who in the 1980s made professional wrestling into a pop-culture touchstone. Their matches attracted millions of television viewers for over-the-top confrontations that mixed violence with cartoonish dramas and implausible costumes. Some said the outcomes were fixed.
Outfitted by a designer who had worked with rock acts Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge, Mr. Savage wore outlandish duds featuring feathers and gold lamé, giant goggles and often a neon cowboy hat.
He played a jealous lover who assaulted anyone who came near his manager (and wife), "Miss Elizabeth." In interviews, he liked to conclude his comments with a lusty "Oooohhh yeaaaaah!"
Backing up the bravado was an impressive record that included a score of championships, including two stints as world heavyweight champion.
In one celebrated match, Mr. Savage in 1987 took on Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome, an event The Wall Street Journal hailed as Woodstock for Middle America. The two wrestlers had been feuding since a year earlier, when, using innovative tactics, Mr. Savage went after Mr. Steamboat's throat with the ring bell, crushing his larynx. In the 1987 match, Mr. Steamboat pinned the Macho Man, getting his revenge.
Born Randall Mario Poffo, Mr. Savage was the son of Angelo Poffo, a wrestler who often played a villain known as the Masked Miser. He was crowned national heavyweight champion in 1958, and wound up in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. A physical-fitness buff, Angelo Poffo at one point held the world record for consecutive sit-ups.
Mr. Savage was signed to a minor-league baseball contract out of high school and spent a few years as a catcher in the Reds and White Sox systems. In the mid-'70s, he began wrestling alongside his brother, Lanny "The Genius" Poffo. In the early days, he wore a mask and billed himself as "The Spider."
In recent years, Mr. Savage starred in wrestling videogames, appeared in movies including "Spider-Man" (2002) and produced a rap CD.
***
Remembering Randy Macho Man Savage
Jim Ross memories
videos
Ric Flair on Randy Savage
Randy Savage remembered at Hall of Fame weekend
His wife, Barbara L. Poffo, 56, who was in the passenger seat, was injured, the patrol said. She was expected to be released from a hospital, said Highway Patrol Sgt. 1st Class Steve Gaskins.
Savage's real name was Ralph Mario Poffo, according to the wrestling federation for which he performed. The couple lived in Seminole, Florida, authorities said.
An investigation is under way, but a Highway Patrol report said that Ralph Poffo "lost control" of his 2009 Jeep Wrangler for "unknown reasons" as it was traveling westbound on Florida State Route 694 near 113th Street North in Pinellas County.
The highway patrol report said Poffo "may have suffered a medical event; however, this cannot be confirmed until an autopsy is performed."
As a pro wrestler, he was known for his catchphrases "Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh!" and "Can you dig it?"
After he retired from wrestling, he became known for his Slim Jim commercials.
The wrestling federation and the maker of Slim Jim meat sticks expressed sympathies.
"WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest superstars of his time, Randy Poffo, aka Randy 'Macho Man' Savage," the wrestling federation said in a statement. "Poffo was under contract with WWE from 1985 to 1993 and held both the WWE and Intercontinental championships. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. We wish a speedy recovery to his wife, Lynn. Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans."
"We're saddened by the loss," ConAgra Foods, which makes Slim Jims, said in a statement. "Randy was a beloved ambassador for the Slim Jim brand for many years and will be greatly missed.
***
It was Mr. Savage, along with fellow World Wrestling Federation headliner Hulk Hogan and a few others, who in the 1980s made professional wrestling into a pop-culture touchstone. Their matches attracted millions of television viewers for over-the-top confrontations that mixed violence with cartoonish dramas and implausible costumes. Some said the outcomes were fixed.
Outfitted by a designer who had worked with rock acts Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge, Mr. Savage wore outlandish duds featuring feathers and gold lamé, giant goggles and often a neon cowboy hat.
He played a jealous lover who assaulted anyone who came near his manager (and wife), "Miss Elizabeth." In interviews, he liked to conclude his comments with a lusty "Oooohhh yeaaaaah!"
Backing up the bravado was an impressive record that included a score of championships, including two stints as world heavyweight champion.
In one celebrated match, Mr. Savage in 1987 took on Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome, an event The Wall Street Journal hailed as Woodstock for Middle America. The two wrestlers had been feuding since a year earlier, when, using innovative tactics, Mr. Savage went after Mr. Steamboat's throat with the ring bell, crushing his larynx. In the 1987 match, Mr. Steamboat pinned the Macho Man, getting his revenge.
Born Randall Mario Poffo, Mr. Savage was the son of Angelo Poffo, a wrestler who often played a villain known as the Masked Miser. He was crowned national heavyweight champion in 1958, and wound up in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. A physical-fitness buff, Angelo Poffo at one point held the world record for consecutive sit-ups.
Mr. Savage was signed to a minor-league baseball contract out of high school and spent a few years as a catcher in the Reds and White Sox systems. In the mid-'70s, he began wrestling alongside his brother, Lanny "The Genius" Poffo. In the early days, he wore a mask and billed himself as "The Spider."
In recent years, Mr. Savage starred in wrestling videogames, appeared in movies including "Spider-Man" (2002) and produced a rap CD.
***
Remembering Randy Macho Man Savage
Jim Ross memories
videos
Ric Flair on Randy Savage
Randy Savage remembered at Hall of Fame weekend
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Shaquille to play for Hawaii
Shaquille Stokes, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior point guard at Lincoln High in Brooklyn, N.Y., signed to play with the Hawaii men's basketball team for the 2011-12 season yesterday, choosing the Rainbow Warriors over Colorado State.
His decision comes on the heels of a stellar prep career in one of the toughest places to play in the country. Lincoln has produced talents such as Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair and even pulled weight in the fictional realm — Jesus Shuttlesworth of "He Got Game" fame went to Lincoln.
As a senior, Stokes more than held his own with averages of 18.4 points, five rebounds and four assists in leading the Railsplitters to the NYC public school championship game and earning league MVP honors. He was named the New York City Player of the Year yesterday by the New York Daily News.
The lithe Stokes, who was named after Shaquille O'Neal, might not resemble anything close to the hulking NBA veteran, but might match The Diesel in one category: nomenclature.
"They call me Shaq. Old Shaq Stokes. They call me a bunch of nicknames," Stokes said last night. "(Growing up) I felt great, knowing that Shaquille O'Neal's famous. Maybe I could be famous one day, me playing the game of basketball or me doing something else in my life. I just want to live up to the name."
His decision comes on the heels of a stellar prep career in one of the toughest places to play in the country. Lincoln has produced talents such as Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair and even pulled weight in the fictional realm — Jesus Shuttlesworth of "He Got Game" fame went to Lincoln.
As a senior, Stokes more than held his own with averages of 18.4 points, five rebounds and four assists in leading the Railsplitters to the NYC public school championship game and earning league MVP honors. He was named the New York City Player of the Year yesterday by the New York Daily News.
The lithe Stokes, who was named after Shaquille O'Neal, might not resemble anything close to the hulking NBA veteran, but might match The Diesel in one category: nomenclature.
"They call me Shaq. Old Shaq Stokes. They call me a bunch of nicknames," Stokes said last night. "(Growing up) I felt great, knowing that Shaquille O'Neal's famous. Maybe I could be famous one day, me playing the game of basketball or me doing something else in my life. I just want to live up to the name."
Monday, May 09, 2011
it's over for Phil Jackson
The fun is over for Phil Jackson and his five kids.
They've spent the last 20-plus years treating the NBA playoffs like a private party, according to their dad. So with Jackson retiring after this postseason, and with his Los Angeles Lakers on the brink of elimination, four of them flew to Dallas for Game 4 of a second-round series against the Mavericks.
Decked out in yellow hats with Roman numerals marking Jackson's 10th and 11th championships, hoping he could somehow pull out No. 12, they instead witnessed perhaps the worst game of his playoff career - an ugly blowout loss to the Mavericks, completing Dallas' sweep.
Jason Terry tied a playoff record with nine 3-pointers and the Mavs advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 122-86 victory Sunday that ended the Lakers' run toward a third straight NBA champions.
A Hall of Famer since 2007, he leaves with a record 11 titles, and only 10 series losses. Take away Red Auerbach, who won nine championships, and Jackson won more titles than any two coaches combined. He won six championships with Michael Jordan, three with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, and the last two with Bryant leading the way.
The 65-year-old Zen Master had to be talked into coming back this year. He was lured by the chase for a 12th title, bundled neatly as four three-peats, but he knew it would be tough with a team worn down by three straight years of playing into mid-June.
"(That) puts a lot of strain on the basketball club from all angles: personalities, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and getting charged up for game after game and assault after assault when you go in and play a team," Jackson said. "It was a challenge bigger than we could beat this year."
Jackson has retired before, only to come back. This time, he said he means it.
"In all my hopes and aspirations, this is the final game that I'll coach," he said. "It's been a wonderful run."
They've spent the last 20-plus years treating the NBA playoffs like a private party, according to their dad. So with Jackson retiring after this postseason, and with his Los Angeles Lakers on the brink of elimination, four of them flew to Dallas for Game 4 of a second-round series against the Mavericks.
Decked out in yellow hats with Roman numerals marking Jackson's 10th and 11th championships, hoping he could somehow pull out No. 12, they instead witnessed perhaps the worst game of his playoff career - an ugly blowout loss to the Mavericks, completing Dallas' sweep.
Jason Terry tied a playoff record with nine 3-pointers and the Mavs advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 122-86 victory Sunday that ended the Lakers' run toward a third straight NBA champions.
A Hall of Famer since 2007, he leaves with a record 11 titles, and only 10 series losses. Take away Red Auerbach, who won nine championships, and Jackson won more titles than any two coaches combined. He won six championships with Michael Jordan, three with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, and the last two with Bryant leading the way.
The 65-year-old Zen Master had to be talked into coming back this year. He was lured by the chase for a 12th title, bundled neatly as four three-peats, but he knew it would be tough with a team worn down by three straight years of playing into mid-June.
"(That) puts a lot of strain on the basketball club from all angles: personalities, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and getting charged up for game after game and assault after assault when you go in and play a team," Jackson said. "It was a challenge bigger than we could beat this year."
Jackson has retired before, only to come back. This time, he said he means it.
"In all my hopes and aspirations, this is the final game that I'll coach," he said. "It's been a wonderful run."
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Blake Griffin unanimous rookie of the year
Blake Griffin played his entire rookie season like a man making up for lost time.
Now that the Los Angeles Clippers' dynamic dunker has been named the league's top rookie in a landslide, he's already thinking about ways to improve on a delayed NBA debut that was well worth the wait.
Griffin accepted the Rookie of the Year award on Wednesday, becoming the NBA's first unanimous choice for the award in 21 years.
The No. 1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2009 missed all of the 2009-10 season after breaking his kneecap in the Clippers' final preseason game. But Griffin returned with one of the most impressive debut campaigns in a generation.
Griffin received every first-place vote from a panel of 118 media members, easily outdistancing Washington's John Wall. The Clippers' 22-year-old power forward is the first unanimous choice since San Antonio's David Robinson in 1990, and just the third in NBA history after Ralph Sampson in 1984. New Orleans' Chris Paul came close in 2006, missing by one vote.
Griffin led all rookies in scoring and rebounding while playing in all 82 games for the Clippers, finishing 12th in the entire NBA in scoring (22.5) and fourth in rebounds (12.1) while ranking second among rookies in assists (3.8).
The 6-foot-10 Griffin was the NBA's first rookie All-Star since Yao Ming in 2003, and he won the dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Staples Center with an iconic leap over a car.
Griffin received a maximum 590 points in the voting, while Wall had 91 of the 118 second-place votes to finish with 295 points. New York's Landry Fields received 12 second-place votes and 62 points, but finished fourth in the overall voting behind Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, who got 11 second-place votes and 81 points. San Antonio's Gary Neal and Detroit's Greg Monroe were the only other rookies receiving votes.
Griffin is the first Clippers player to win the award since Terry Cummings won it with the San Diego Clippers in 1983. Adrian Dantley, Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio won the award during a five-year stretch with the Buffalo Braves, who moved to San Diego in 1978.
Now that the Los Angeles Clippers' dynamic dunker has been named the league's top rookie in a landslide, he's already thinking about ways to improve on a delayed NBA debut that was well worth the wait.
Griffin accepted the Rookie of the Year award on Wednesday, becoming the NBA's first unanimous choice for the award in 21 years.
The No. 1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2009 missed all of the 2009-10 season after breaking his kneecap in the Clippers' final preseason game. But Griffin returned with one of the most impressive debut campaigns in a generation.
Griffin received every first-place vote from a panel of 118 media members, easily outdistancing Washington's John Wall. The Clippers' 22-year-old power forward is the first unanimous choice since San Antonio's David Robinson in 1990, and just the third in NBA history after Ralph Sampson in 1984. New Orleans' Chris Paul came close in 2006, missing by one vote.
2010-11 NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTING Rookie, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Total Blake Griffin, LAC 118 - - 590 John Wall, WASH - 91 22 295 DeMarcus Cousins, SAC - 11 48 81 Landry Fields, NY - 12 26 62 Gary Neal, SA - 3 10 19 Greg Monroe, DET - 1 12 15
Griffin led all rookies in scoring and rebounding while playing in all 82 games for the Clippers, finishing 12th in the entire NBA in scoring (22.5) and fourth in rebounds (12.1) while ranking second among rookies in assists (3.8).
The 6-foot-10 Griffin was the NBA's first rookie All-Star since Yao Ming in 2003, and he won the dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Staples Center with an iconic leap over a car.
Griffin received a maximum 590 points in the voting, while Wall had 91 of the 118 second-place votes to finish with 295 points. New York's Landry Fields received 12 second-place votes and 62 points, but finished fourth in the overall voting behind Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, who got 11 second-place votes and 81 points. San Antonio's Gary Neal and Detroit's Greg Monroe were the only other rookies receiving votes.
Griffin is the first Clippers player to win the award since Terry Cummings won it with the San Diego Clippers in 1983. Adrian Dantley, Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio won the award during a five-year stretch with the Buffalo Braves, who moved to San Diego in 1978.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Derrick Rose named NBA MVP
Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2010-11 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, the NBA announced today. Rose, who does not turn 23 until Oct. 4, becomes the league's youngest MVP, a distinction previously held by Wes Unseld, who earned the honor in 1968-69 as a 23-year-old.
Rose totaled 1,182 points including 113 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada as well as an NBA MVP fan vote. For the second consecutive season, the NBA and Kia Motors America gave fans the opportunity to submit their votes by ranking their top five choices through a dedicated Web page on NBA.com. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 120 media votes to determine the winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.
Rounding out the top five in voting are Orlando's Dwight Howard (643 points, three first place), Miami's LeBron James (522, four first-place votes), the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (428, one first-place vote) and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (190).
Rose, who became the first player since Steve Nash in 2005 to win the MVP award after not receiving any votes in the previous year's balloting, led the Bulls to an NBA-best 62-20 mark. The third-year player averaged team highs of 25.0 points and 7.7 assists to go along with 4.1 rebounds. He became the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. The All-Star guard made or assisted on at least half of the Bulls' field goals in 26 games, the highest such total for any NBA player this season.
Rose totaled 1,182 points including 113 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada as well as an NBA MVP fan vote. For the second consecutive season, the NBA and Kia Motors America gave fans the opportunity to submit their votes by ranking their top five choices through a dedicated Web page on NBA.com. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 120 media votes to determine the winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.
Rounding out the top five in voting are Orlando's Dwight Howard (643 points, three first place), Miami's LeBron James (522, four first-place votes), the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (428, one first-place vote) and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (190).
Rose, who became the first player since Steve Nash in 2005 to win the MVP award after not receiving any votes in the previous year's balloting, led the Bulls to an NBA-best 62-20 mark. The third-year player averaged team highs of 25.0 points and 7.7 assists to go along with 4.1 rebounds. He became the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. The All-Star guard made or assisted on at least half of the Bulls' field goals in 26 games, the highest such total for any NBA player this season.
Monday, May 02, 2011
The Top 50 Wrestling Stars
These are Kevin Eck's picks for the top 50 (and more) wrestling stars of all time
Countdown
41-50
31-40
21-30
11-20
1-10
Best of the Rest
***
And here's dvdtalk's review of the WWE DVD
*** [2/15/14]
WatchMojo's list of Top 10 Wrestlers
*** [6/18/16]
Wrestlinginc.com (Jesse Collings) presents his 50 greatest wrestlers of the last 50 years. So who isn't on the list?
While creating the list and debating names, the two biggest reasons I noticed for keeping talents off of the list was that either they missed the cutoff date or their careers as a top talent were not long enough, either due to injuries, personal reasons, or just a lack of faith from a promoter. I will include their names below, along with a list of wrestlers who just missed the cutoff for no other reason than just I thought they were a shade below the Top 50, consider them the honorable mention.
Wrestlers Who Missed the Cutoff Date: Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Gorgeous George, Rikidozan, Killer Kowalski, Johnny Valentine, El Santo, Freddie Blassie, Danny Hodge, Blue Demon, Whipper Billy Watson, Ray Stevens
Wrestlers Who's Careers Were Too Short: Tiger Mask, Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, Curt Hennig, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Rick Rude
Honorable Mention: Randy Orton, Jerry Lawler, Konnan, Akira Taue, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Shinsuke Nakamura, Eddie Guerrero, Pedro Morales, Paul Orndorff, Dick the Bruiser, Mad Dog Vachon, Kensuke Sasaki, Billy Robinson, The Crusher, The Destroyer Dick Beyer, Ernie Ladd.
[So already it's controversial.]
The list starts with #50: Ted DiBiase. That's controversial since he was never a world champion. DiBiase over Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, Brock Lesnar? All headliners. #49 was a superstar who was a world champion: Superstar Billy Graham. Another long-time champion is only #46: Gene Kiniski. So far is about halfway done with The Great Muta at #27.
Countdown
41-50
31-40
21-30
11-20
1-10
Best of the Rest
***
And here's dvdtalk's review of the WWE DVD
*** [2/15/14]
WatchMojo's list of Top 10 Wrestlers
*** [6/18/16]
Wrestlinginc.com (Jesse Collings) presents his 50 greatest wrestlers of the last 50 years. So who isn't on the list?
While creating the list and debating names, the two biggest reasons I noticed for keeping talents off of the list was that either they missed the cutoff date or their careers as a top talent were not long enough, either due to injuries, personal reasons, or just a lack of faith from a promoter. I will include their names below, along with a list of wrestlers who just missed the cutoff for no other reason than just I thought they were a shade below the Top 50, consider them the honorable mention.
Wrestlers Who Missed the Cutoff Date: Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Gorgeous George, Rikidozan, Killer Kowalski, Johnny Valentine, El Santo, Freddie Blassie, Danny Hodge, Blue Demon, Whipper Billy Watson, Ray Stevens
Wrestlers Who's Careers Were Too Short: Tiger Mask, Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, Curt Hennig, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Rick Rude
Honorable Mention: Randy Orton, Jerry Lawler, Konnan, Akira Taue, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Shinsuke Nakamura, Eddie Guerrero, Pedro Morales, Paul Orndorff, Dick the Bruiser, Mad Dog Vachon, Kensuke Sasaki, Billy Robinson, The Crusher, The Destroyer Dick Beyer, Ernie Ladd.
[So already it's controversial.]
The list starts with #50: Ted DiBiase. That's controversial since he was never a world champion. DiBiase over Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, Brock Lesnar? All headliners. #49 was a superstar who was a world champion: Superstar Billy Graham. Another long-time champion is only #46: Gene Kiniski. So far is about halfway done with The Great Muta at #27.
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