The Pinkie's Official “Uncategorized” Page
Ben Roethlisberger Off-Season Training in Full Swing
By: Stella | March 9th, 2010 | Category: Hilariousness - Sports - UncategorizedJust a few years ago, we were all near tears puking as we heard about choir boy/Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger driving his little sister to prom on the team’s bye week. While Roethlisberger’s bye week activities may be pure and altruistic, his off-season endeavors are a bit more brash. After hitting the college bar circuit in the Milledgeville, Georgia area this past week, Big Ben is facing sexual assault charges from a 20-year-old. She claims the quarterback may have put his hands under center when she asked him to get back in shotgun formation. While there is definitely a chance she’s just a gold digger looking to get into the quarterback’s pockets, this is the second such case brought against the Manchurian Quarterback in the past few years. It’s tough to hate on a single, 28-year-old pro athlete looking to get some strange, but throwing booze down an underage girl’s throat is something that NickEv would do to a young hottie on a Friday night. Here are a few other off-season activities Big Ben may be taking part in to prepare for the upcoming season.
Hoping to get an honorary degree from Georgia College and State U?
- Bathroom attendant
Much like the guy handing out towels at a gentleman’s club, the Miami-Ohio alum seems to enjoy his time in the men’s room. Although we may never know exactly what went on in the now infamous Georgia bathroom, I’m sure Roethlisberger was running the hurry-up offense. Whether it was a criminal act or just a random hookup, Ben seems to have mastered the intricacies of public restroom etiquette.
- Greek Week participant
What better way to fan your competitive flame, all while getting to impress some college-age girls? Big Ben dropping anchor in the tug of war event would mean an instant victory for one lucky fraternity. Better hope there’s not a flag football event, otherwise there’s gonna be some frat boys catching long bombs while blushing chicks look on with Solo cups in their hands.
- Public speaker for underage drinking awareness
Commissioner Goodell loves NFL players making public service announcements almost as much as the athletes hate making them. The Manchurian quarterback wants to remind all young people that drinking if you’re under 21 is just wrong…unless you have a fake ID want to come into his VIP room.
All-Time Kentucky Team (Backup Forward): #44 Cotton Nash
By: Guy | December 23rd, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedNext up on the All-Time Kentucky Team is the second backup forward, #44 Charles Francis “Cotton” Nash.
Kentucky 1961-1964
Cotton Nash was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but moved throughout his childhood, playing his junior and senior high school years in Louisiana. He was coached during his sophomore year by former Wildcat and Fab Fiver Cliff Barker, who fortunately tipped off Adolph Rupp on his talent before he moved down south.
He played during the era when players did not play varsity during their freshman season (thank goodness that rule is not in effect this year), so he didn’t lace ‘em up with the big boys until his second season on campus. When he did, he wasted no time making an impression, scoring 25 points in his first game.
That kind of performance quickly became the norm for Nash, as he averaged 23.4 points per game on the way to being named consensus second team All America during his first season. He followed that up with another second team All America selection his junior year and first team his senior year. Nash is one of six Wildcats to be named an All American three seasons in a row.
He also holds the distinction of being one of only three players in Kentucky history to lead UK in scoring three seasons in a row, along with Jack “Goose” Givens and Tony Delk.
UK was 60-18 during Nash’s career and Cotton finished with lifetime averages of 22.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists. He is ninth on UK’s career scoring list and fifth on UK’s career rebounding list. He is also the fastest player in UK history to score 1,000 points.
NBA and MLB
Cotton Nash is the only player in Kentucky history to play in both the NBA and the MLB, a truly amazing distinction, and unimaginable in this day and age of specialization. In fact, Nash is one of only two players in UK history to play in the MLB (the other is James Park, who played in 1913-1914).
Nash was selected with the 12th pick of the second round of the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent just one season in the NBA, quickly moving on to play for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA. Nash moved on to baseball, playing 13 games over three seasons.
Pinkie Squad to Make Debut on Louisville Sports Buzz Tonight at 8:30
By: nickev | December 15th, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedI am sure you have noticed the LouisvilleSportsBuzz.com logos sprinkled throughout our website. Well, we at StraitPinkie.com are happy to announce that the two websites have teamed up in an attempt to bring local fans the best in sports on the web and on the radio.
The venture begins tonight at 8:30 on the Evening Buzz with Trevor Kelsey. I will come on around 9 PM to talk a little about UK, a little bit about UofL and then some about the absolute mess that is StraitPinkie.com. The Evening Buzz airs Monday through Thursday, starting at 8:30 PM.
One member of the Strait Pinkie Squad will also be making appearances on the John Renshaw’s Freak Show which airs Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. I will be on there tomorrow around 3:30 PM.
This is an exciting time for StraitPinkie.com as we attempt to delve our way into the radio world with absolutely zero radio experience. I mean, seriously, we can barely handle this whole website thing and now this?
Don’t forget to check out LouisvilleSportsBuzz.com’s podcasts everyday!
The Freak Show with John Renshaw (M-F, 3-5 PM)
The Evening Buzz (M-T, 8:30-9:30 PM)
Business time for Coach Cal, UK
By: Guy | November 5th, 2009 | Category: Cats - UncategorizedA bit of a Flight of the Conchords feel on the Pinkie the past couple days, huh?
All joking aside though, since the Campbellsville game, I think everybody around the Kentucky program, from Coach Cal all the way down to the guys who still call into radio shows, has realized that the omnipresent buzz around the UK program is nothing but unfulfilled hype. The hype is based on some tremendous talent, but nothing has yet been accomplished, and nothing will be accomplished without some serious work.
John Calipari has been doing this too well for too long to think that Patterson, Wall, and company were going to jump right in, grasp the dribble drive, and dominate college basketball right way. However, a lackluster performance in a sloppy win over an overmatched opponent has given Calipari the ability to lay down the law and have his players understand why.
Two a day practices, in. Pre-6 am wake up calls, yup. Team curfew, yes, indeed.
During the first week of practice with a bunch of freshman that think they “poop ice cream”, that’s tough to pull off. Now, he’s got a team that is fully aware of its talent, but also fully aware that they just aren’t there yet. They have been completely willing listeners to this point. Patterson and Wall have established themselves as leaders. They are ready to make Coach Cal’s vision a reality.
This should be a reminder for us as fans that we are observing a work in progress. However, I think the final product will be well worth the wait. Besides, after 2 years of Billy Gillispie, I think we can wait a couple months for our ‘Cats to get their feet under them.
-The other piece of news today from Calipari’s session with media was that Eric Bledsoe could miss tomorrow’s exhibition against Clarion with the sprained ankle he sustained on Monday against Campbellsville. Calipari did not rule him out, but my guess is that they will play it cautiously in this case.
Sitting out tomorrow will give Bledsoe a full week and a half between the injury and UK’s first regular season game against Morehead State.
-Finally, a quick reminder to check out the running Tobias Harris recruiting journal on AllKYHoops.com. It’s a really cool inside access feature on one of the best prospects in the country who is preparing to make his college decision in the next 2 weeks. Anthony Wireman runs AllKYHoops.com and contributes to Strait Pinkie weekly with a recruiting article on Saturday’s, so we’re very happy for Anthony.
Remembering 9/11
By: nickev | September 11th, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedEveryone remembers exactly where they were on that morning eight years ago. Today we recognize the innocent people who tragically had their lives taken from them on that day, along with the heroes who gave their all.
Patrick Patterson and John Wall for POY, who’s the more likely candidate?
By: Guy | August 16th, 2009 | Category: Cats - UncategorizedIf I had told you 5 months ago that UK would have two viable candidates, a guard and a big man, in the conversations about National Player of the Year, I’m betting you would have thought Awesome, Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks both came back!
As we all know, Jodie Meeks did not come back, but here we are, with a guard (John Wall) and a big man (Patrick Patterson) being talked about as possibilities for POY. Andy Katz included Wall and Patterson among his top 15 candidates for honors and has posted a corresponding poll to ask fans to rank those 15.
I hope Katz is prepared for the upcoming onslaught of UK votes about to be cast (especially after Coach Cal’s tweet on the subject). For UK fans, there’s really only one decision to make: whom to rank first.
Actually, that raises an interesting question in and of itself. Between Wall and Patterson, which UK player is the more viable, the more likely candidate for National Player of the Year?
On one hand, you have the veteran big man who is sure to be a double-double machine. We know about what we’re going to get out of Patrick Patterson on a nightly basis, it’s really just degrees of dominance.
On the other hand, you have the freshman phenom, the dynamic talent whose hype machine is already beginning to churn. We know John Wall is going to make some YouTube plays, but will he be the Derrick Rose with springs in his shoes that so many are cracking him up to be?
In my opinion, John Wall is the more realistic candidate for POY. His ceiling is almost infinite. Like I said before, we know about what we’re going to get out of Patterson. On the high end, he’ll be a First Team All American, on the low end, he’ll be First or Second Team All SEC.
So, very prematurely, I ask which Kentucky player has a better shot at winning POY?
More likely POY: Wall or Patterson?
Loading ...Cubs Not Only Terrible, Also Bankrupt
By: Carl H | July 13th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorizedvia espn.com newsservices
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs might file for Chapter 11 in order to speed their sale by bankrupt media company Tribune Co, two sources familiar with the process told Reuters on Monday.
Bloomberg News also reported the story Monday, saying the Cubs would become the first team to declare bankruptcy since the Seattle Pilots went belly-up in 1970.
“It’s pretty certain that they will do it,” one of Reuters’ sources, who asked not to be identified because the sales process is continuing, said.
Such an approach would likely be taken to ensure the storied baseball team and related assets are free of liabilities so as to speed a sale, said the other source, who also asked not to be identified. Tribune filed for bankruptcy last December, but the Cubs were not part of that filing.
“I assume it will be a quick in and out,” the first source said, adding the team could emerge from bankruptcy in anywhere from weeks to days.
Tribune Co. spokesman Gary Weitman declined to comment.
The company has reached an agreement to sell the Cubs, their home park of Wrigley Field and a stake in a regional sports cable network for slightly less than $900 million to the Ricketts family, Reuters previously reported. However, the company also remains in talks with a second group led by private equity investor Marc Utay, sources have said.
Weitman reiterated on Monday that Tribune has not reached a deal with any group.
A third source familiar with the sales process said Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co — the banks involved in the bid by Tom Ricketts, CEO of Chicago investment bank Incapital LLC and son of the founder of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp — have begun calling to syndicate that group’s loan.
Tribune Co filed for bankruptcy in December due to its heavy debt load and the weak U.S. publishing sector. It put the Cubs, Wrigley Field and a 25 percent stake in a local sports TV network on the block in April 2007, when Tribune agreed to an $8.2 billion buyout led by real estate magnate Sam Zell.
Buyers are eager to take control of the National League team, which despite not winning a World Series title since 1908 has a huge fan base helped by its “lovable losers” image and national exposure on cable TV.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
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ON A POSITIVE NOTE, OUR FANS ARE STILL SSSSMOKIN’ HOT:
Cubs News And Notes (6/22-6/28)
By: Carl H | June 28th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Chicago, after a week that saw them lose 6-of-7, is still only two games back in the loss column of first place in the NL Central. The Cubs are 3.5 games behind the Brewers and Cardinals, but only 1.5 games ahead of last place, perennial cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh.
Here is a quick wrap-up of last week’s results, along with a couple newsworthy happenings.
6/22: The Cubs started a ten-game, four-city road trip by playing one of the most frustrating games I have had the *privilege* to watch over the past 20+ years. Chicago hitters combined to strand 19 runners in a 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves in a make-up game of the June 4th rainout.
6/23: Now in Detroit, the Cubs looked like they were going to bounce back and take the first game of this series. After Brandon Inge gave Detroit a 3-2 lead via a 2-run YAK EM! in the seventh, Micah Hoffpauir promptly gave Chicago the lead back with a 2-run YAK EM! of his own in the eighth. Then Kevin Gregg came on and blew the save, issuing a lead off walk to Don Kelly and the game winning walk-off YAK EM! to pinch hitter Ryan Raburn. The Tigers won 5-4.
6/24: More of the same in Detroit as the Cubs fell 5-3 while stranding 13 more runners on base. Sweet Lou was left with this say following the game: “I might leave the couple guys that are doing their jobs in their places and draw out the rest of them. We couldn’t be any worse.”
6/25: Even Ted Lilly couldn’t end the madness as he gave up six runs on 10 hits – tying a career high – and lost for the first time in a month. Derrek Lee’s career-high 21-game hit streak was snapped and Chicago was swept out of Detroit 6-5. Jake Fox did connect for his first career YAK EM!, a three-run shot in the first inning of his 23rd game.
6/26: Geovany Soto hit a three-run YAK EM! in the seventh inning to put the Cubs up 5-2. Carlos Marmol tried to blow it in the eighth, giving up a two-run double to Jim Thome, but the Cubs held on to win it 5-4. Even on the only day Chicago won this week, there was the whole Milton Bradley ordeal, as after flying out routinely in the sixth, Bradley attacked the water cooler and was told to go home early by Piniella.
6/27: The Cubs couldn’t get a winning streak going, despite being ahead 7-6 going to the bottom of the eighth. Carlos Marmol again blew the lead (his fourth blown save this year; he had two all of 2008), giving up a two-out single to Alexi Ramirez, scoring Gordon Beckham to tie the game. Then with two-outs in the ninth, Jose Ascanio came on and promptly walked the first batter he faced, then served up the game winning hit to Beckham, who just one inning earlier had scored the tying run. The White Sox won 8-7 and the Cubs were back to their losing ways.
6/28: Today the Cubs just stunk. They were shut out 6-0 by John Danks and the ChiSox. Chicago managed just four hits all day. Pathetic. The White Sox now lead the interleague series that began in 1997 by the count of 36-35.
Bad News of The Week: Soto tested positive for marijuana during the WBC (not that anyone cares, Sweet Lou certainly doesn’t). Milton Bradley blew up in the dugout, Piniella sent him home, followed him to the clubhouse and apparently told him “You’re not a player, you’re a piece of sh*t.” The two quickly made up. And then came the worst-case scenario: Mark DeRosa, who’s abscence from this year’s team many are blaming for its ineptitude, was traded to hated St. Louis for basically a stick of baseball card bubble gum.
Good News of The Week: Not much, but Aramis Ramirez did take batting practice the past three days and could begin his rehab assignment in the next couple days.
Votto Back With the Reds in Toronto
By: Biscuit | June 23rd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Former Louisville Bat and current Cincinnati Reds great Joey Votto is ready to return to the Redlegs lineup. Votto has rejoined the Reds in Toronto, and is expected to be activated from the DL for the start of a 3 game series against the Blue Jay’s tonight. Votto is a Toronto native and has been on the DL since May 30 with stress related issues. Before his absence, Votto was batting a team high .357 with 33 RBI”s, eight home runs, and a .464 on base percentage. Joey has played in three rehab games with Single-A Sarasota and Dayton. He was 3-9 in his rehab stint with one home run.
The Red’s have struggled in Votto’s absence going 8-13 and seeing their record drop to .500. Cincinnati currently sits in fourth place in the NL Central division, trailing the division leading St. Louis Cardinals by 3.5 games. The Reds offense is among the cellar dwellers in all of baseball mainly due to the fact that they lack a run producing hitter. Votto’s return gives the Red’s the power bat that they lack, and a solid run producing 3 hitter that they need. The return of the Canadian should give the Reds the jump start that they desperately need.
In other Reds news, Edwin Encarnacion has started his rehab assignment with AAA Louisville. In two games thus far, Encarnacion is 1-5 including a 3-run jack last night agaisnt the Gwinnett Braves. He has also walked twice and struck out twice. Encarnacion has been on the DL since April 28 after chipping a bone in his left wrist against the Houston Astros.
Chicago Cubs weekly update 6/21/09 – The week it all changed?
By: Guy | June 21st, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedIn another revamping of our Cubs coverage, we now will be doing weekly updates on the Cubs that take a look at the action from the past week and look forward to the upcoming one. Along the way we’ll be posting on major occurences and rumors, but check in every Monday to see what’s going on in Kingdom Cub.
I have to say, it felt different watching the Cubs this week than it has in a while, maybe even all season: it was actually enjoyable. It really has almost felt like a chore to watch the Cubs lately. The offense has been anemic at best, constantly betraying good starting pitching. Even when the offense has done enough to get a win for the starter, the bullpen has allowed the opposition to come back, typically thanks to poor control.
This week has been anything but boring, even though it started otherwise. We were treated to more rain to start the week, raining out the Cubs opener against the White Sox at Wrigley. It’s that kind of weather that has caused the Cubs to play the fewest games in the Majors, which will mean that the Cubs will have limited off days the rest of the way.
The Cubs took the field on Wednesday and were down 2-0 to John Danks before batting twice. 2 runs were all Danks would need, as he shut down the Cubs for 7 plus innings on the way to a 4-1 victory. Ryan Dempster put together a quality start in spite of some SERIOUS control issues (6 walks). The Cubs never really seemed to have a chance.
It was more of the same in game 2, at least to start with. Carlos Zambrano turned in another strong performance, but fatigued in his last 2 innings, giving up all 3 of his runs in the 6th and 7th. Even so, the Cubs found themselves down only 3-1 after 7, handing the ball to Carlos Marmol to keep the deficit small.
Marmol failed to complete his task, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in 2/3 of an inning. The 4 run deficit seemed to be far too much to surmount, but Micah Hoffpauir and Alfonso Soriano reached to bring the tying run on deck, before Scott Linebrink retired Ryan Theriot and Milton Bradley harmlessly.
Derrek Lee, the Cubs only hot hitter at that point, then brought the Cubs to within one with a massively important 3 run homer. Before the crowd even had time to quiet down after the big shot, Geovany Soto tied things up with a homerun to left, sending Wrigley into a frenzy. (more…)
