 Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Take It To The Bank With The Tank - "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"
I reconvened at PG's Place on the Upper West Side to watch the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. PG was with me at the infamous Knicks-Nuggets fight at the Garden in December 2006. Kansas had a five point lead at halftime. Rose hit a sick bank shot with 4:16 left in the second half. It was reviewed to be a two instead of a three. Let's see how that plays out later in the game. Memphis went on 16-4 run to overtake Kansas. But, Kansas got a steal and hit a three to close it to 60-56. Chris Douglas-Roberts hit two free throws to make it 62-56. Joey Dorsey fouled out with 1:23 left. Chris Douglas-Roberts missed a free throw. Kansas scored to make it 62-60. Memphis takes a timeout with 44 seconds left . Robinson got blocked with 20 seconds left. Chris Douglas-Roberts misses two free throws but Dozier gets the rebound. Chris Douglas-Roberts slams the ball down with 10.6 seconds left. Shouldn't he be called for a technical? The refs feel differently and don't call a technical foul. "The Kansas point guard (Collins) should be shot!" (for bringing the ball up so slow). But, "Super Mario" Chalmers bailed him out with a clutch three to tie it at 63. Advantage to Kansas because Dorsey is out with five fouls and Memphis missed four of last five free throws in regulation. Memphis wins the tip but Kansas gets the steal to take a 65-63 lead. PG wants Patrick Ewing going into the Loser's Hall of Fame instead of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Collins' East to West dribbling doesn't get it done for PG. Rush got the outlet, got his rebound to make it 71-65. Chris Douglas-Roberts hits a three to make it 71-68. It was their first basket in over six minutes. "Super Mario" Chalmers hits both ends of the 1 and 1 with 45.1 seconds left in overtime. Collins from Kansas slips loses the ball on the inbound. PG is about to kill him. "Don't dribble!" PG yells at Memphis before Chris Douglas-Roberts misses a three. Kansas came back from down nine with two minutes left in regulation. Kansas wins 75-68. Congratulations to KU! Congratulations to Coach Bill Self! Congratulations to Assistant Coach Danny Manning for getting into the College Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Larry Brown coached Danny and the Miracles to Kansas' last championship in 1988. It was a very memorable time as I was on my high school senior trip to Washington, DC. For those keeping the score, The Tank picked Kansas to win it all at the beginning of the tournament, touch wood. (This is even more accurate than my pick of Ohio State beating Florida 75-73 in last year's Finals. However, it was as accurate as my Yankees 94 win prediction during the Yankees' darkest hour last summer or Ohio State beating Michigan by three points in the Immortality Bowl in November 2006 to beat out ESPN's Scouts Inc who had Michigan winning the game by three points.) If you ever have a chance to go to Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, please go. I trained in Lawrence in team handball in the U.S. Olympic Festival in Los Angeles in the summer of 1991. In between training sessions, I went to the "Phog" with a couple of teammates. The lights were off during the day and sunlight streamed through the windows. It is a basketball cathedral and I heard the ghosts from the past. "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!" "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!" It's times like that make college sports so much more special than professional sports. Posted by a psyched up Tank at PG's Place on the Upper West Side.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Will John Calipari Be the Knicks Next Head Coach?
The above headline isn't a rumor but more of a hope, a prayer that new Knicks President Donnie Walsh fires Isiah and hires Memphis Coach John Calipari.
Calipari is from New York as is Walsh. Calipari coached the Nets back in the 1990s with players like Kerry Kittles. Calipari wasn't too successful so might not be inclined to take Walsh's offer. However, the thought of turning around the Bricks into the Knicks again might be the challenge that Calipari wants, especially if Memphis wins tonight. Calipari will have a national title and a nearly undefeated season.
If Calipari doesn't win, he might pass on the Bricks and stay in college. He makes lots of money, can recruit any player in the country he wants, and is literally Big Man on Campus (BMOC).
But if Calipari wins, isn't there part of him that wouldn't want to come home and help the millions of suffering Bricks/Knicks fans? He would be the brightest coaching star on the world's biggest stage. What do you say John? I can't handle another season of Isiah. Please come home John.
Posted by a desperate Tank in NY.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
And Then There Were Two - Final Four
I stopped by PG's place on the Upper West Side to watch the Final Four. The first game was Memphis against UCLA.
Both teams had trouble making baskets in the last ten minutes, especially UCLA didn't hit a three point basket until less than a minute left.
Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts had trouble making shots down the stretch.
What impressed me most was that Memphis was able to win in a half court game. Yes, they prefer up tempo but can win playing patiently. More importantly, they continue to make free throws. They were 58.7 percent during the season and 87.0 percent tonight. Unbelievable!
UCLA has won three straight Final Fours and came up short 78-63 to Memphis.
Congratulations to Memphis for winning a historic 38 games!
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The second game featured North Carolina versus Kansas in a match up of traditional powers.
Kansas tried to take Tyler Hansbrough out of his game. My advice is make him work on the defensive side to wear him out later in the game.
Kansas jumped out to an early lead leading 23-10 at 11:30 mark in the first half. Kansas stretched it to 31-10 at the mid way point of the first half.
Aldrich had longer arms than Hansbrough to get a rebound at 9:32. I made this point yesterday.
Kansas nails a three pointer to take a 38-12 lead at 7:32. PG says "it's over!" There is still lots of basketball left. Carolina has to start running plays or they will continue to be run out of the gym. They are taking too many ill advised three point shots.
PG asks "if the guy is bleeding, should a foul not be called." Good point bro!
Carolina didn't make a field goal for 9:03.
Carolina then goes on a 10-0 run to close the lead to 40-22 at 2:27.
Kansas is tired but has a 44-27 lead at half time.
"17 is doable," PG says. I agree.
After halftime, Kansas ran a perfect give and go to extend the lead to 19. You couldn't diagram it. Kansas weathered Carolina's initial run.
Carolina cuts it to 14 at the first TV timeout at 15:54 left in the second half.
PG predicts for a pivotal moment with five minutes left. Kansas needs to go back to basics. I agree with PG.
Carolina's half court trap works. They get the tie up to cut it to 54-44. "Why are they taking three pointers?" PG asks. I agree.
Kansas went dry for over five minutes. Carolina closed it to 54-50 with 11:08 left.
"How much has Michael Jordan bet on this game?" I ask PG. PG thinks the same thing as Jordan is a serial gambler and most famous Carolina alum. Talk about ESP.
Collins hit a key basket with 5:25 to increase the lead to 67-59. PG's basketball instincts are as good as anyone's. The refs finally call a travel on Hansbrough at 3:40.
"Have movies gone AWOL?" PG asks in reaction to the "I Hate Sarah Marshall" movie trailer.
"Does Kansas know anything about clock management?" PG asks as Kansas pulls for a quick shot with about three minutes left.
It's nice to see Larry Brown in the stands. PG thinks he is a "tortured artist".
"Tyler Hansbrough always looks like he is going cry. How can the best college player have such a herky-jerky game? Aldrich has ten times more grace than Hansbrough." PG observes even though he hasn't seen these teams play this season. PG is more a NBA fan than college fan.
Kansas wins 84-66. "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"
Posted by The Tank reporting live from PG's Place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Final Four Frenzy
The Final Four is finally here. All #1 seeds made it, the first time ever. I picked all four, except Memphis. My cousin Mirko was right that they would make their free throws. Wow!
What no one could anticipate is a key player, Andre Allen, getting suspended. Double wow!
Which Memphis will show up? The one that couldn't make free throws or the one that can? How will they play without the suspended Andre Allen? Memphis has better athletes and they embarrassed Michigan State and Tom Izzo. Ouch! John Calipari is a great coach but I think UCLA is a better team. I still like UCLA. Expect them to slow the game down.
Kansas versus North Carolina is the marque matchup. Yes, North Carolina is the favorite but I think Coach Bill Self is due to win the big one. North Carolina is also due for a bad game. Louisville gave them a run but nothing like Davidson gave Kansas. I think Tyler Hansborough is a great college player and will be a good pro. He won't be great like Michael Jordan or even James Worthy but a solid pro nevertheless. His slowness and short arms will decrease the likelihood of being a super star in the NBA.
Watch for Kansas to upset the Tar Heels in a close game.
Yesterday marked 25 years since North Carolina State upset Houston in the college basketball version of David beating Goliath. I remember Coach Jimmy Valvano looking for someone to hug as if it were yesterday. How time flies?
On a tragic note, yesterday marked 40 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in Memphis. May his memory of peace, non-violence, and social justice be eternal.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bruised But Not Broken Brackets
I took some hits last weekend with the losses of Duke, Georgetown, and other favorites.
According to ESPN, only 2 out of 3,000,000+ brackets in their competition had all Sweet 16 teams in tact. I only had eight correct Sweet 16 teams but my Final Four is still intact, touch wood. More points per game are awarded in later rounds as the Final Four approaches.
Posted by a cautiously optimistic and Traveling Tank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Day 1 Recap of the Madness
I had a good start and won the first eight games. There are always upsets and tried to pick a couple. 13 out of 16 correct picks, touch wood. Here's where I went wrong:
(1) Notre Dame recovered after a bad Big East tournament. George Mason had two returning players from the Final Four two years ago so I thought this might be an upset.
(2) West Virginia surprised me. I overestimated Arizona. Bob Huggins is a great coach and Lute Olson isn't back until next season.
(3) I thought USC's Mayo would have gotten the better of Kansas State's Beasley in the battle of top freshmen.
Duke was nearly upset by Belmont. That would have hurt my (and almost everyone else's) picks but I didn't have them go to the Final Four. Upsets happen but you have to weather the storm and hope your Final Four picks advance. I was tied for second and in third out of 100+ brackets a couple of years ago at a prior job. I would have been in the money had if Villanova or UConn made the Final Four. They lost in the Elite 8. Darn it!
It's nice to see everyone get in on the fun, except for Senator Clinton who didn't fill out a bracket according to reports. That is one of the reasons I am running against her for President on the Baseball\Sports Integrity Ticket with Steve as my VP. Senator Obama ate chicken wings with fans at a bar in West Virginia. Senator Obama picked UNC, possibly to gain favor from Senator Edwards who is a huge UNC fan and ahead of the upcoming primaries in North Carolina. Senator McCain also picked UNC and his picks are here.
Posted by The Tank in the middle of March Madness.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Georgia does the impossible
After doing the impossible on Saturday, beating two higher ranked teams in one day, Georgia held on for a 66-57 victory over Arkansas to win the SEC tournament and head to the NCAA championship tournament. Georgia sliced down the nets on the home court of their bitter rival, Georgia Tech, which was a replacement venue for the tournament after the Atlanta Dome was damaged Friday night by a tornado-causing Georgia to play an improbable double header on Saturday. Georgia remained on the court after the ceremony, watching the NCAA selection show on the video board above the court. This is a great story for Georgia and an even better story for the NCAA. I will be rooting for Georgia to make it to the final four! Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Georgia Double Header
A tornado hits the Georgia Dome and throws the SEC tournament into a crisis since Friday's games were canceled. An amazing decision was made, basketball was put before money. The games would be played at the smaller venue Georgia Tech-and no tickets would be honored for the games since Georgia Tech's venue is quite smaller than the Georgia Dome. Only friends and family were allowed inside, under 1,000 spectators. There was one catch-the winner of the Georgia vs Kentucky game in the morning would have to play again at 8pm against Mississippi State (22-10). This double header would be a first in NCAA tournament history. Of course, the Georgia (16-16) vs Kentucky (#2 ranked) game went into overtime. Georgia came out ahead 60-56. The kids had great spirits, saying "we'll go back and rest now and fight hard tonight." The player took it in stride, “To win two games in one day at the SEC tournament is not easy,” said senior Sundiata Gaines, who held an ice bag on his sore right hip but insisted “I’m not tired.” The coach was livid making rash comments. Had he not seen the tornado? Cut the SEC some slack dude. So Georgia pulled it out in overtime and that was impressive, but few figured that they could come back and beat Mississippi, the top team from the West. That is exactly what they did. “We came in expecting to win this thing,” Georgia senior David Bliss said. “A lot of things didn’t go our way this year. But we were not going to quit.” Georgia faces Arkansas (9-7) today at 3:30pm at Georgia Tech. Posted by Steve in New York
Saturday, March 15, 2008
March Twister
A tornado in Atlanta last night rocked the rafters, lights, and other parts of the Georgia Dome last night. It interrupted the end of the Alabama and Mississippi State game. After an hour, the final 2:11 of overtime was completed and Mississippi State won 69-67. The Kentucky-Georgia game was postponed to today and moved to Georgia Tech.
This tornado brought back bad memories as my parents, brother, and his then girlfriend were almost killed by an unseasonable 155 mile-per-hour tornado on May 31, 1998, during El Nino-La Nina. (The last tornado in my hometown was 1932.) No one was hurt thank God.
Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Len Elmore
I had the pleasure of meeting NYC basketball legend and ESPN analyst Len Elmore right outside of the Garden near where I currently work a couple of hours ago.
While I was coincidentially mailing Steve my deposit for our upcoming Everest Base Camp trip (touch wood) from the nearby Post Office on 32nd and Eighth, I happened to see Len.
It was great to meet him as I had listened to him recount his personal favorite moments as a player and a fan during the Marquette-Seton Hall game broadcast last night on ESPN. His recount of the Knicks 1970 championship was inspirational and mere days before I was born. I hope to live to see those Knicks glory days again, God Willing.
Len was cool and down to earth.
Posted by a grateful Tank reporting Live from outside the World's Greatest Arena, Madison Square Garden.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Orange Crushed
My beloved Syracuse Orange lost to the Villanova Wildcats, 82-63, today in the opening round of the Big East tournament at the Big East Tournament at the Garden.
The Orange started strong but played poorly in the second half. Their collapse before the half was similar to the recent second half collapse against Pittsburgh.
The only consolation is if the Orange play well enough in the NIT (Not In Tournament) to make the Finals at the Garden in a few weeks.
Posted by a depressed Tank reporting live from right outside the Garden at 2 Penn Plaza in NY.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
March Meltdown Madness
March Madness got off to an early start as University of Michigan Women's Basketball Coach Kevin Borseth lost it Thursday night after the Wolverines blew an 18 point lead against the Wisconsin Badgers. I happened to watch the early part of the game on the Big Ten network on my JetBlue flight back from Florida. BTW's JetBlue TV's rule! If you haven't seen the video, it's kind of sad but shows the passion that makes college sports special.
I can unfortunately relate to Coach Borseth's passion. My beloved Orangemen were leading by 11 points, 75-64, late in the game before losing to Pittsburgh 82-77 on Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. I didn't have a meltdown like Coach Borseth as I was trying to stay steady in my chair at the barber shop. The barber accidentally cut my face as he was shaving my goatee. He never cut me before, perhaps he watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Anyway, my "Color Me Bad" looking goatee is thankfully intact after light bleeding. Let's hope the Orangemen can stop the bleeding and make the Dance with wins over Seton Hall and Marquette and make at least the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament at the Garden.
Posted by The Tank on the bubble in the barber's chair.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Kathleen Wonders Aloud if Cheerleaders Add Value at the NIT Season College Basketball Tip-Off
My cousin's friend, Zoran, and I arrived at a near empty Madison Square Garden to watch the semi-finals of the NIT Season Basketball best of 16 team tournament this past Wednesday evening. Perhaps the Knicks' pathetic performance on Tuesday evening against the Golden State Warriors scared away everyone except the hardiest of basketball souls like Zoran and myself. Steve and Kathleen would join us later.
Zoran and I made the most of it as the Texas A&M Aggie Cheerleaders warming up kept us going.
The Aggies pulled away late in the game to win 77-63.
Steve and Kathleen finally arrived for the main event, Syracuse versus Ohio State, in the nationally televised game.
I rarely root against the Buckeyes but I must focus on the young Orangemen, the home area team of my early years. The Buckeyes were in the National Final last season and I picked their point total exactly, 75, but Florida scored 84 instead of 73.
Syracuse and Ohio State opened hitting three point shots but the momentum turned when Eric Devendorf was called for a senseless technical foul. Ohio State drew away as the first half closed and took at 42-34 lead at halftime.
"If you're not excited by this, go home and watch knitting," Steve said to Kathleen. I hope this tension was NOT caused by me putting Steve on the spot to propose to Kathleen two night's earlier.
As the Ohio State cheerleaders cheered during halftime, Kathleen and I discussed some Kirsten Dunst's best pre Spiderman work in the cheerleading classic "Bring It On". It's a story of Dunst initially sternly leading a "cheerocracy" and having a change of heart later in the movie. I won't ruin it for you if you haven't watched it but it is an important
reference point for tonight's post and a good movie too. 
Kathleen is opposed to cheerleaders because of so-called lack of athleticism. She originally refused to be quoted for SATT but later said that they "[a]dd no value."
Though Kathleen enjoyed the movie, she doesn't like cheerleaders in general and Ohio State's in particular. I politely disagreed as part of my gentlemanly duty and rushed to the defense of cheerleaders. I think they have to be in great shape to jump around and do cartwheels. I'm athletic but could you see me doing splits? No and I don't think you
would want me too either.
After halftime's fascinating halftime debate, both teams retake the court for the second half. Syracuse makes a 9-4 run until the 16 minute (15:47) TV timeout to 46-43.
Steve dislikes chairs on the court. No, we're not talking about former Indiana Coach Bob Knight who used to throw chairs onto the court during games. But, Ohio State takes chairs on court to meet with greater privacy during the timeout. Steve is also against the drafting non seniors. Given my stand against cigarettes and Steve's stance against drafting non senior athletes, we maybe targets of assassination attempts from the tobacco lobby and the NCAA and pro leagues, respectively. Our administration may be short lived, it will be one based on patriotism and principle. We have the guts to make the tough calls that other candidates don't because we are real New York baseball fans and they answer to special interests not the people. Steve's tenure maybe shorter than mine as he has called for a ban of all dogs in NYC. This will no doubt force Linda to sick her dog Jake on Steve. For the record, I am a pro-dog, especially Jake who looks like my boyhood dog Simon. However, I will step up dog curbing enforcement as I almost stepped in a huge dog pile walking down Columbus and 81st Street the other day.
The game restarts and Syracuse can't hit any shots. Darn it!
But before you know it, another TV timeout.
"The six pack of Gatorade is wrong!" Steve screams out as the Ohio State water boy carries plastic bottles of Gatorade to the players.
"No cooking utensils on the court!" David a Syracuse fan near us yells.
Back to the action. Steve wants the Buckeye free throw percentage written up. It's about 100 percent so I ask him to stop paying attention to it and it thankfully drops to 70 percent.
Ohio State hits a three point dagger to make it 67-52 with 8:02 remaining in the second half.
Another TV timeout.
The Ohio State cheerleaders retake the court including Brutus the Buckeye and male cheerleaders. You may not like male cheerleaders but it's the law that Steve and I will be elected to enforce. It maybe a strange reverse interpretation of Title IX. If you don't like male cheerleaders, vote Steve and The Tank for Vice President and President, respectively, and work to get it changed. Thank you very much for your support.
Brutus the Buckeye does one armed pushups to the chagrin of Kathleen. "Someone needs to kick the sh*t out of the chestnut," Kathleen added. Has she been drinking? Is she jealous?
"Let the chestnut play for two minutes," Steve said with the hopes of his lack of vision would let the Orangemen back in the game.
Back to the action. Eric Devendorf finally hits a three point shot to close it to 72-60. Devendorf is a good basketball player but no Gerry McNamara, a recent Cuse star who went on to play professionally in Europe. McNamara single handedly carried the Cuse to the Big East Tournament Finals with clutch shooting in the 2005 and 2006 which I witnessed first hand. Devendorf has to stay within himself, increase his free throw percentage, and keep his cool.
David's girlfriend Erica weighs in on the cheerleading issue as she thinks cheerleaders "just make noise and are not synchronized."
Ohio State unfortunately holds on and wins the game 79-65.
Bottom Line:
"Skin or skirts?" Steve from South Tennessee in front of us said. Tennessee Steve is referring to the fact that the NIT Finals will feature the "skin" of the Texas A&M cheerleaders versus the "skirts" of Ohio State. (Postscript: Texas A&M won 70-41 on Friday.)
Texas A&M and Ohio State won and they had cheerleaders while the Huskies and Orangemen did not. Therefore, the evidence suggests that my argument is correct and Kathleen's is incorrect. However, it is a small statistical sample. Therefore, I must travel the country interviewing cheerleaders to see if they add value.
Youth voting levels are low and this is a perfect opportunity to meet young voters and get their vote as I run for President. I will also conduct important in depth research to prove or disprove Kathleen's premise.
In the meantime, I appreciate all beauty -- outer and inner, as my buddy Tony Robbins taught Jack Black in the movie "Shallow Hal". Therefore, I may ask all the female Buckeye female cheerleaders to marry me. In the spirit of equal time, I will also propose to all the Aggie female cheerleaders pictured behind me.
Posted by the Tank reporting live from the world's greatest arena, Madison Square Garden, in NY.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Don Imus
Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock over the past couple of weeks has probably heard of Don Imus' racially and sexually insensitive comments about the Rutgers Women's basketball team.
Instead of Sunday's 60th celebration of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's race barrier taking center stage as it should, we are distracted by an odious slur.
The question isn't if Imus is right or wrong -- he was clearly wrong and even he admitted as much. The question was how to punish him.
As a so-called civil society, we struggle about how to balance hate speech versus free speech. Imus' comments belie an ignorance of the Rutgers Lady Scarlet Knights and their gifted coach, C. Vivian Stringer. Rutgers became the Cinderella of Women's tournament playing against traditional powers like Tennessee, LSU, and North Carolina in the Final Four. Would Rutgers pull it off? I watched them rout a motivated LSU team playing for their very recently resigned Coach Pokey Chapman in the National Semifinal.
I enjoy watching women's sports because they are usually play with better fundamentals -- two hand passing, defense, etc. than men's sports. Even if women make it to the WNBA or the international leagues, they receive a fraction of a fraction of their male counterparts. In essence, they are playing for the love of the game which is refreshing in this day and age. The women's tournament had plenty of positive storylines for Imus to comment on. Imus chose the low road and for we are all the worse for it.
Though I am someone who cherishes free speech, I was tempted to call for firing Imus from the FAN and MSNBC. He may get a chance on satellite radio or elsewhere on terrestial radio sometime down the road so his rights are preserved.
What Is To Be Learned From This: I hope basic human decency and respect will prevail here. Have we devolved as a society to where insults get better ratings and get ahead in the world? I have often been misunderstood and subsequently criticized for my "Passion for Compassion" (Tony Robbins), Zero Resistance Living (Dr. Maxwell Maltz and Matthew Furey), and other positive attitude philosophies. I would prefer to foster a positive uplifting world than a downward one. Instead of tearing each down in a zero sum game to get ahead, we can grow the pie of opportunity and results with hope, nurturing, and hard work.
We can constructively criticize each other without degrading one another. Political correctness popped up in the last 20 years, I believe, because how we as a society forgot to respect and love one another and had to come up speech codes and the like. Let's hope we learn from this unfortunate incident and focus on encouraging one another than tearing each other down. Our time here on earth is short, let's make the best of it.
Until Imus resurfaces elsewhere, he may literally ride into the sunset of his ranch for disadvantaged children. It was ironic listening to his wife, Deirdre, Friday morning on the FAN during the annual Radio Athon raising money for children's cancer and other diseases. One of the guests talked about how close they are to a "cure" for SIDS, God Willing. Imus' intolerant and inopportune comments robbed the SIDS and other researchers of an optimal opportunity to raise much needed funds. For that, we all lose from hate speech.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four
March Madness is one of the best times of the year especially because it bridges the gap between the end of football and the start of baseball. It's also a magical time of year of Cinderellas, upsets, and elation (Syracuse 2003).
The Tank got the two men's finalists correct and the Ohio State score, 75. However, the Tank predicted Florida scoring 73 instead of 84 points. My apologies to all our bettors.
Basketball condolences to Columbus Craig and the Buckeyes.
Congratulations to Gators Coach Billy Donovan and the Gators players for coming back. Let's see if Coach Donovan comes back to Florida or goes to that "old Kentucky home". Even Coach Donovan's Dad did not know what Billy was going to do as of Monday night. The Tank is monitoring that situation very
closely.
Congratulations to Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt on her 7th championship. She is one of the greatest coaches of all time, male or female. She only needs three more wins to overtake the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden.
The Tank also wanted to tip his hat to the Rutgers Women's Basketball team. They destroyed a very good LSU team in the National Semifinal on Sunday night but ran into the Tennessee buzz saw last night.
The Lady Scarlet Knights were well coached by C. Vivian Stringer and should be poised for great things to come in the future. See Kathleen, the Tank does say positive things about New Jersey as I have recently let most of my negative feelings about the Garden State go after lots of prayer and meditation.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Billy Donovan's Kentucky Terms
While the Tank was away in Las Vegas, the Tank heard back from his well placed Kentucky source. "Billy's agent spent three days in Lexington this past weekend. Billy's terms are $3.5 million per year for seven years. That without media bonuses." Wow! This is more than most professional coaches.
Florida can't touch those terms. The four prime time seniors led by Joachim Noah will graduate and Billy will be hard pressed to repeat that success regardless of Monday night's results.
Will Billy Donovan go to Kentucky? He hasn't denied being interested in the job like Nick Saban did earlier this year when the Tank was in South Florida and described the mood down there when Dolphins fans were losing it.
Even if Florida loses, I think Billy will go because Kentucky is one of the best jobs in the country. The Kentucky Men's Basketball Coach is the King of Kentucky as Kentucky is technically a Commonwealth (and not a state like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia). Billy will be far more popular in Kentucky than the Governor, Senators, any captain of industry, etc.
Keep your eyes posted on SteveAndTheTank.com for more on this story.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Buckeyes Advance to NCAA Final
The Ohio State Buckeyes advanced to the NCAA Final Monday night against the winner of the Florida - UCLA game. Florida is leading and it is late in the game.
Since the Tank is travelling and at a friend's house, I have to blog now. Thanks to Columbus Craig for the halftime text message. Basketball condolences to Linda who had the Hoyas winning it all. (Shame on you Linda!) Good luck to you and your other colleagues winning your office pool.
Posted by the Travelling Tank in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Carolina Collapses; George Michael's Sports Machine, R.I.P.
The Tank watched one of the biggest meltdowns ever Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. The North Carolina Tar Heels had an 11 point lead in the second half including 10 points with six minutes to go in regulation.
The Tar Heels took shots with too much time left on the shot clock. They couldn't rebound to save their lives and were 2 of their last 22 shots including overtime. Georgetown tied the game at 81 to force the game into overtime. Georgetown took over in overtime and won 96-84.
Instead of having three out of four teams in the Final Four, the Tank only has two, Ohio State and Florida. I also have to put with my arch-nemisis, Georgetown, in the Final Four. I will retriple my efforts to root for Ohio State in the National Semifinal.
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Sunday night was also the last show of George Michael's Sports Machine. Thanks George for 27 great years of sports memories. You will be missed!
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Where will Billy Donovan Coach Next Season?
It has been widely reported that the University of Kentucky is aggresively pursuing Florida Coach Billy Donovan.
The Tank spoke to a well placed Kentucky source last night who informed him that Donovan is seriously considering the job. Kentucky is one of the best jobs in the land and Donovan would be hard pressed to pass on it. However, Donovan is building a great program at Florida and really likes living in Gainesvillle with his family. For instance, Donovan lives next door to one of his closest friends, fellow football championship coach Urban Meyer.
Will the Kentucky job distract Donovan from his mission of repeating as defending their national championship? Probably not but every little bit counts. One thing is certain, Donovan will be much richer in a few weeks as Kentucky will make him an offer he can't refuse or Florida will sweeten the pot for him to stay.
Watch SteveAndTheTank.com for updates on this and other stories.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Buckeyes Bend But Don't Break
The Tank was stressed out to the limit last night when the Ohio State Buckeyes were almost eliminated from the Dance.
The Buckeyes were down by as many as 20 in the first half and all world center Greg Oden was in foul trouble with three fouls in the first half. Oden only played nine minutes in the first half.
The Tank was almost down and out as I got on the train home after the awesome Last of the Breed Concert (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price) at Radio City Music Hall. However, when radio reception came back after I got above ground in Brooklyn, the Buckeyes had miraculously rallied. The Tank hustled home and watched the end of the game where Oden had a key block on a last second Tennessee shot by Ramar Smith to seal the 85-84 victory. Unbelievable!
If Ohio State hopes to get to the Final Four, they need to play 40 minutes of basketball, NOT 20 against Memphis. Memphis beat Texas A&M in a classic 65-64 game. Speaking of Memphis, mega thanks to PermaGuest Outlaw Jack's girlfriend Michelle for texting Jack the scores and to Jack to passing them along to me during the concert. "Tell the Tank that Memphis is up 61-58" was a real time update. Classic! Gotta love everyone rallying, bonding together, and supporting each other through this exciting yet stressful this time of year. In that same spirit, I sent Columbus Craig a congratulatory text message after the Buckeyes sealed the victory.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Syracuse Stalled
The Tank's hopes of seeing the Orangmen in the NIT semifinals and finals next week at the Garden were dashed when they lost to Clemson, 74-70, last night in Clemson, South Carolina, on a game televised on ESPN.
The Orangemen got off to a slow start last night being down 40-27 at halftime. The Orangemen closed the gap in the second half to 69-68 with 19.8 seconds left but couldn't pull it off. Kind of indicative of a disappointing season.
The only solace I can draw is the last time the Orangemen made the NCAA in 2002, they won the NCAA Championship in 2003. Getting another Carmelo Anthony next season wouldn't hurt either. Go Orange!
Posted by the Tank in NY.
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