Archive for May, 2009
Charlize Theron…UH YUMP!!!
By: Carl H | May 31st, 2009 | Category: UH YUMP!!!Someone on the Pinkie staff once stated the following about today’s Yump: “I just don’t get it. She’s not that hot.” For the sake of said writer’s credibility, and in the spirit of forgiveness in that we all at some point have made an ig-nant comment or two, we won’t reveal just who this moran was, but as you can see, he was obviously a moran. Charlize Theron, UH YUMP!!
[CLICK HERE FOR CHARLIZE THERON'S GALLERY]
Say WHAT? Xavier Henry unhappy with Kansas commitment?
By: Guy | May 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsSome late Sunday night rumors are floating around that Xavier Henry may not be totally sold on his decision to attend Kansas. His decision was widely thought to have been driven by his mother and according to the PlayMakers Blog, Xavier may be thinking that mother does not always know best:
The bizarre recruitment of Xavier Henry appears to be taking another crazy turn. Following Calipari’s exit from Memphis, Xavier and his brother were being courted heavily by Kentucky and Kansas, but in the end they chose the Jayhawks.
However, there are rumblings that the Henry camp is very, very unhappy with some “promises” made by Bill Self and the KU staff.
Another kicker involving this situation is the draft status of Jodie Meeks. Jodie has every intention of remaining in the NBA draft if he finds a suitor in the late first or early second round. It was widely believed that Xavier wanted to attend the University of Kentucky and play for Coach Cal, but his family’s influence swayed him towards Lawrence, Kansas.
Considering that Xavier had already signed a LOI to play at Memphis and was released, he wasn’t able to sign a LOI with the Jayhawks, leaving open the opportunity for Xavier to change his mind anyday.
Honestly I am shocked by these rumors. The key thing is that Xavier never could sign a Letter of Intent with Kansas since he already signed one with Memphis, so he can essentially declare “free agency” whenever he wants. I do not know at this point if he would reopen his recruitment to other schools, but I do know that he would SIGNIFICANTLY soften the blow if Jodie Meeks goes pro.
As the Big Blue world turns, huh?
Florida State sets NCAA record with 37 runs on 38 hits; Ohio State could use some pitching
By: Carl H | May 31st, 2009 | Category: SportsTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Stephen Cardullo set a tournament record with seven hits, including three of Florida State’s NCAA-record 15 doubles, as the Seminoles routed Ohio State 37-6 on Sunday and advanced to the super regionals.
Florida State (45-16) set NCAA postseason records with 37 runs, 38 hits and 66 total bases, while Cardullo tied the school mark for hits in an offensive performance the football team would’ve been proud of. The Seminoles set or tied 18 NCAA, school or postseason records.
The Seminoles did a lot of this today...
“I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it,” coach Mike Martin said. “We’re sitting there in the fourth inning and I knew we were going to a super regional.”
Jason Stidham, the regional’s most outstanding player, hit a two-run double as the Seminoles scored eight times in the first and cruised past the pitching-depleted Buckeyes (42-19), who trailed 32-0 in the fifth.
“Everything they did was right,” said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, who went through seven pitchers in an attempt to stem the rout. “Everything we did was wrong.”
The teams combined for a single-game postseason record for hits (51) and tied the mark for runs, which was previously set in Miami, Ohio’s 35-8 victory over Quinnipiac on June 4, 2005.
Ohmed Danesh homered a drove in five runs on four hits, while Mike Meschke was 5 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs. Stidham drove in four runs and led the tournament with 12 RBIs in three games.
Ohio State starter Jared Strayer allowed seven earned runs without recording an out. Andrew Armstrong, the Buckeyes’ fifth pitcher, was tagged for 11 earned runs in one-third of an inning.
“It was a great feeling,” Cardullo said. “It’s definitely true that hitting is contagious.”
Florida State will make its ninth super regional appearance in 11 years against the Norman regional winner.
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In Ohio State’s first matchup against Georgia on Friday, the Buckeyes lost 24-8. They then eliminated Marist 6-4 and Georgia 13-6 before taking on the Seminoles Sunday afternoon. For those of you that struggle with math, that means Buckeye pitchers allowed 71 runs in four games. I don’t mind watching the College World Series, but the ping ping of the bats is just ridiculous. Why are they allowed to use metal? Makes no sense. This does though:
Game 49 Recap: Dodgers 8, Cubs 2
By: Guy | May 31st, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedIt’s not a good sign when your team is playing Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, but you find yourself flipping to the MTV Movie Awards during the game itself. That’s exactly the situation I found myself in after the Los Angeles Dodgers pounced all over Sean Marshall and the Chicago Cubs for 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning.
It was really a game that felt a lot like the playoffs last year. Cubs fall behind early, Cubs play poor defense, Cubs sustain no consistent offensive rhythm, Cub fans try to convince themselves they can come back, but it never happens.
For me, it didn’t take much convincing myself to think the Cubs had a chance even after the Dodgers put up 5 1st inning runs because Eric Milton was on the mound. I have seen Eric Milton put up some epic stink bombs against the Cubs when he pitched for the Reds, so I thought the Cubs could rally against him.
Instead, he worked around plenty of Cub baserunners to work 5 scoreless innings before the Cubs finally broke through in the 6th. The Cubs loaded the bases for Reed Johnson with 2 singles and a HBP, then Reed Johnson chased Milton with a 2 run double. However, Ronald Belisario shut the door, striking Geovany Soto and coaxing a harmless deep fly ball by pinch hitter Micah Hoffpaiur.
The first 5 Dodgers reached base with singles to start the game before Sean Marshall finally struck out Matt Kemp. Journeyman infielder Mark Loretta then knocked in 2 with a double and Jamie Hoffman finished things off with a sac fly.
Even after the 1st inning, the Dodgers had Sean Marshall’s number. Marshall put up a quick scoreless 2nd inning, but Matt Kemp bomber a homer to left center to make up for a his 1st inning strikeout. The Dodgers chased Marshall with a walk and a double in the 5th and scored one more unearned run that was Marshall’s responsibility.
The Cubs bullpen tried to give the Cubs offense a chance to rally, turning in 4.2 scoreless innings and striking out 8. Jason Wadell was one of those relievers, tossing a scoreless 6th in his Major League debut, giving up a hit and K’ing 2 along the way. If he can step in Neal Cotts spot and throw strikes, this will make the Cubs a MUCH better team.
At the plate, the Cubs best performer was Reed Johnson, who has thrived of late in his first shot at consistent playing time. Starts for Reed have been hard to come by since the Cubs have faced righties almost exclusively, but he has gotten 5 starts in the past 8 days. He has responded with 10 hits in 22 AB’s. He also has 3 homers and 8 RBI’s. Lou Piniella needs to find ways to get him some more chances, because he has been really hot.
The Cubs get an off day to start June before heading on the road for a 9 game trip to Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Houston. Look for a preview of the Cubs-Braves series late tomorrow night.
Recapping a busy week for UK: Part 2-Billy Gillispie vs. UK
By: Guy | May 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsEarlier I posted part one of a four part series detailing a busy week in UK Basketball and the four main issues I am thinking about on the heels of this news. Here is the second main thing on my mind.
Billy Gillispie vs. UK and UK vs. Billy Gillispie – Any other week, the lawsuit filed against UK by former coach Billy Gillispie and UK’s countersuit against him would have thoroughly dominated the headlines in the Bluegrass. Instead, that issue played second fiddle.
Until this week, we knew very little about the way the divorce between UK and Gillispie were going, other than some hearsay and some Billy Gillispie sightings out on the town. Now we know much more and we know that we are probably about to know everything we could possibly want, and more.
Billy Gillispie, I’m sure, wanted to get his settlement and get on with his career, because if details of UK’s reasons for firing him after only two seasons emerged, his future in Division I basketball would be in peril. If half of the rumors of Billy G’s dealings with the players and media were true and made public, any high or medium profile program would have serious concerns about hiring him any time in the near future.
Apparently UK and Gillispie were so far apart on terms of a buyout that he was willing to take that career hit to get the money he felt he deserved. Believe it or not, Gillispie’s case against UK is pretty strong. I think UK treated the infamous Memorandum of Understanding as a binding contract, so the only way they will get out of paying him his rightful $6 million buyout will be to prove he violated the terms, either by not negotiating a full contract as called for in the MOU or otherwise.
This is going to be a long, drawn out fight, and the first stage will be whether the fight will take place in Texas or Kentucky.
Recapping a busy week for UK: Part 1-John Calipari and Memphis
By: Guy | May 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsI have to say, it’s been nice to have a quiet couple days in the world of UK Basketball. Things have been beyond crazy pretty much since the middle of March, and this may be the longest amount of time we have gone without big time news in the world of UK.
This quiet period does NOT mean that we as UK fans don’t have stuff on our mind about the program we obsess about so much. We are always thinking about something, whether the calendar reads March, November, or June. Besides, this past week has given us more than enough things to keep our minds racing. These are the four main things on my mind:
John Calipari and the Memphis allegations – This situation is not nearly as bad as it looked like it could be when the Memphis Commercial Appeal first broke news of possible major violations that occurred on John Calipari’s watch.
The UK coach is almost assuredly safe from any NCAA penalties in the wake of these investigations. His reputation, on the other hand, is not. No matter how uninvolved and innocent Calipari is in relation to these allegations regarding SAT fraud and free family member travel, the fact of the matter is that John Calipari’s name simply appearing in such reports has turned what so many think about Calipari (straddling the line between fair and unfair, cheater, etc.) into self-fulfilling prophecies.
John Clay wrote an article this weekend on this very subject. You likely have already read it, but if not, it’s worth your time. Clay correctly points out that this investigation is mostly about Derrick Rose, not John Calpari. Whether it is right or wrong, people are looking to nail John Calipari. When this news first broke, many thought this was their chance to do so:
“There may come a day when John Calipari’s detractors will finally catch the coach red-handed at something other than guilt by association.
But this isn’t that day.
Here’s why: The NCAA allegations against the Memphis basketball program aren’t a John Calipari issue.
They’re a Derrick Rose issue.”
In all likelihood, the only tangible thing that this investigation will cost Calipari is a few hours calling into the hearings this week while he’s in China.
Hopefully, though, this will act as a reminder (hopefully not a wake up call, because they already should have known this) for Calipari and UK that the college basketball world is going to be watching, especially if Calipari does as well on the court as he has on the recruiting trail. UK will have to keep its noses cleaner than clean.
It’s been written before, but this situation is also further proof of how badly Mitch Barnhart and Lee Todd needed to make a hire that would turn around UK basketball. John Calipari was not a candidate two years ago for the UK job, and back then his program was not in danger of having a championship game appearance taken away due to violations by a former player. Barnhart and Todd managed to look past this because they knew Calipari was not in danger, but more importantly because they had to have a coach like Calipari.
Game 48 Recap: Cubs 7, Dodgers 0
By: Miller | May 30th, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedThe Cubs put together perhaps their best all around game of the season on Saturday as they completely manhandled the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-0. Ryan Dempster produced his best outing of the year to improve to 4-3, while Eric Stults took the loss for the Dodgers to fall to 4-2. Dempster went 7 strong innings, giving up only 3 hits while striking out 5. With his shutout outing today, Dempster lowered his ERA by over a half a run.
As for the Cubs offense, there were many stars. Mike Fontenot got things going with a two out RBI double to right center in the 2nd inning, scoring Reed Johnson. With two outs in the 3rd and Ryan Theriot on third base, Reed Johnson laid down a perfect bunt to score the Riot to extend the Cubs lead to 2-0. The Dodgers’ infielders were playing back and Johnson dropped the bunt right down the third base line and no one had a play. The Los Angeles starter was done after three innings, but the Cubs offense was not.
In the 4th inning, Mike Fontenot struck again as he tripled to deep right center scoring Bobby Scales. Ryan Theriot then lined a RBI single to left to give the Cubs a 4-0 advantage. With the terrible Jeff Weaver now pitching for the Dodgers, Geovany Soto would bring another run in as he drew a bases loaded walk. Bobby Scales provided another run by way of a bases loaded double play with no outs which scored Milton Bradley. The scoring would end in the 7th inning when Reed Johnson launched a solo YAK EM!!! onto Waveland Avenue.
Johnson being congratulated by manager Lou Piniella after his solo YAK EM!!!
There were many positives to today’s game, particularly from the offense. Mike Fontenot went 2-3 with a 2B, 3B, and an intentional walk. Milton Bradley continues his improved hitting as he went 3-4 with 3 singles and a run scored. Reed Johnson had a great game at the plate going 3-3 with a YAK EM!!!, RBI single, another single, and a walk. The Cubs obviously need these players to contribute, especially since Aramis Ramirez is still about a month away from coming back. With all the injuries the Cubs have dealt with, if they can still play over .500 ball without their best hitter, they will be in good shape for the stretch run.
The Cubs improved to 25-23 on the season and the Dodgers dropped to 34-17. These teams will conclude this series on Sunday night when Sean Marshall opposes Eric Milton. The game will be televised on ESPN.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BOXSCORE COURTESY OF YAHOO
Game 47 Recap: Cubs 2, Dodgers 1
By: Miller | May 29th, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedThe Cubs continued their offensive woes, but today it didn’t matter as Ted Lilly decided the Dodgers were not going to beat him. Lilly went 7 very strong innings, giving up only a solo YAK EM!!! to Matt Kemp in the 7th, en route to earning his 6th win on the year. Lilly, now 6-4, out dueled Chad Billingsley who fell to 6-3. Kevin Gregg, despite an error by third baseman Bobby Scales which put the tying run in scoring position, earned his 8th save on the season.
The Cubs wasted scoring opportunities early against Billingsley. The Cubs put men on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the 2nd inning, but followed up with a lineout by Mike Fontenot, a strike out by Koyie Hill, and a pop out by Andres Blanco to let Billingsley off the hook. In the 6th inning, Kosuke Fukudome doubled and advanced to third on an error by Andre Ethier. However, Derrek Lee, Micah Hoffpauir, and Mike Fontenot all weakly grounded out to end the threat.
After Ted Lilly gave up a two out, solo YAK EM!!! to Kemp in the 7th, it appeared the Cubs offensive ineptness would haunt them again. Koyie Hill had other thoughts. Leading off the bottom half of the 7th, Hill launched the first pitch he saw, a hanging slider, from Billingsley into the right field bleachers to tie the game at 1-1. It was Hill’s 2nd YAK EM!!! of the season.
The rally in the 7th would continue. After Andres Blanco unsuccessfully bunted, Jake Fox and Alfonso Soriano hit back to back singles to put men on 1st and 2nd with one out. Bobby Scales then stepped up and blooped a single into left center to load the bases for Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome produced a great at bat. The Fuker worked the count to 3-1, then lifted a fly ball to center allowing Fox to score on a sacrifice fly giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead.
Carlos Marmol worked the 8th for his 12th hold of the year. Gregg came on in the 9th, struck out James Loney and got Casey Blake to fly out to right. He then gave up a hit to left by Andre Ethier to bring the go ahead run to the plate in the form of Matt Kemp. Kemp hit a harmless bouncer to third baseman Bobby Scales, but Scales bobbled it and failed to record an out. With the tying run now in scoring position, Mark Loretta stepped to the plate with a chance to be a hero. Fortunately, Gregg got Loretta to bounce out to Blanco to end the game.
The Cubs improved to 24-23 on the year while the Dodgers fell to 34-16. The Cubs have won three of their last four and now turn to Ryan Dempster on Saturday to continue the modest momentum they have going.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BOXSCORE COURTESY OF YAHOO
C-J: NCAA says Calipari not “at risk”
By: Guy | May 29th, 2009 | Category: CatsCHICAGO — In a letter dated April 27, 2009, the director of the NCAA Committees on Infractions told University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari that he is not considered “at risk” in the major NCAA violations alleged at Memphis during his time as the head coach there.
The Courier-Journal acquired a copy of the letter from UK via the Freedom of Information Act.
In the letter, which requests Calipari’s presence at an NCAA hearing regarding the alleged violations at Memphis, Shepard B. Cooper, the director for the Committees on Infractions, wrote: “The committee wishes to make it clear that you are not considered ‘at risk’ in these proceedings. However, because you were the head men’s basketball coach at Memphis during the time alleged NCAA violations occurred, the committee believes that you can provide helpful information and useful context that would assist the committee in better understanding this case.”
In a letter of response, Calipari notified the NCAA that he will be unable to attend due to a scheduled trip to China.
In a response to that letter, the NCAA’s Paul T. Dee, an educator professor in law and education, wrote that “after reviewing the information in this case, the committee now, more strongly than ever, believes that you should make yourself available to participate in the hearing in some manner.”
The letter continues, “As stated in Mr. Cooper’s letter, you are not alleged to have committed NCAA violations and thus are not considered to be ‘at risk’ in these proceedings. However, the committee is interested in hearing your views on the issues related to (name redacted).”
In another response, Calipari wrote that he is “very willing to cooperate with the committee and provide my views on the issues involved in this case.” Calipari wrote that he would be willing to participate via telephone.
This is more proof that Kentucky fans need not worry about anything else than their coach’s reputation as the NCAA investigates possible violations at Memphis. However, the NCAA is trying to make Calipari cancel his long scheduled trip to China, which will be a very productive one, to attend the hearing in Indianapolis. John Calipari has no intention of doing so.
Pinkies Up!!! Chris Dominguez Edition
By: nickev | May 29th, 2009 | Category: Pinkies Up
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. the Louisville Cardinals take on the Indiana Hoosiers in the opening round of the regional. The winner takes on Middle Tennessee/Vanderbilt winner. Now to some linkage.
2009 NCAA Regional Preview: Louisville (The College Baseball Blog)
Chris Dominguez and Justin Marks named Louisville Slugger First Team All-American (Card Chronicle)
AL West: Sitcom Style (Major League Jerk)
Ode to Calipari (MoonDog Sports)
Birdman gets posterized by Shannon Brown (The World of Isaac)
Has Milton Bradley’s strikezone been widened? (The Baseball Analysts)
Kissing Suzy Kolber blogged during the Spelling Bee (Kissing Suzy Kolber)
Fran Tarkenton Takes a Bite out of Brett Favre (Hugging Harold Reynolds)
Scott Boras Facts (National Lampoon)
What Five Players Cout Out-Eat Charles Barkley (NESW)
Candace Rae: Girl We Met on Twitter (Gunaxin)
