November 18, 2024

USC Penalties – Update

The NCAA has not been fooled and thus they have really come down hard on the USC Athletic Department.

The findings of the NCAA investigation found issues with not only Reggie Bush, but basketball player OJ Mayo and an unnamed women’s tennis player.

• A postseason ban in football following this season and next.

• A loss of 30 total football scholarships over the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.

• A vacation of all football victories starting in December 2004 and running through the 2005 season. This includes the National Championship win over Oklahoma on January 4th, 2005.

• An acceptance of USC’s self-imposed penalties on its basketball program, which included a forfeiture of all wins in 2007-2008 and a one-year postseason ban.

• All statistics vacated for Bush, Mayo and an unnamed women’s tennis athlete in the games which the NCAA deemed them ineligible due to rules violations.

• All titles won during ineligible games must be vacated and trophies and banners must be removed.

• Bush and Mayo must be disassociated from USC athletics.

• A forfeiture of wins in the women’s tennis program from May 2006 to May 2009, for long-distance telephone violations committed by an athlete.

• A reduction of recruiting days for the men’s basketball program in 2010-2011.

• Four years of probation

NBA Finals Bet of the Day – June 8th, 2010

Vegas is definitely trying to make a statement with the Celtics only favored by 2 1/2 tonight at home against the Lakers. While I do agree the Lakers will give the Celtics all they want I think the Celts get it done tonight in Boston. Good luck!

Celtics -2.5

Overall Record:

NBA 21-13 (2010) 65-49 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 14-8 (2010) 104-77-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)

Amber Alert! 6’11 Bald Power Forward is Missing

Lamar Odom was last seen in Phoenix, Arizona on May 30th riding in a gold Bentley with Khloe Kardashian after he stopped off for some Skittles at a 7-11 on the 10 Freeway.
The first 2 games Odome has provided the Lakers a dismal 8 points with 9 boards in 36 minutes of playing time. Lamar at one time last night had 3 fouls in 3 minutes. Take away the fact that Artest was 1-10 and Derek Fisher was 2-8 yesterday, Lamar is the guy who is supposed to come in and pick up the team if they are down.

The Lakers can ill afford to have Odom be the invisible man if they are to repeat as NBA Champs.

“The Wizard of Westwood” May You RIP

Forget the fact that John Wooden was voted the greatest coach in American Sports by Sporting News and forget all the NCAA records that he holds that will never be broken like 38 straight NCAA tournament victories, 88 straight game winning streak as well as 7 straight NCAA titles.  Forget the fact that he is the ONLY man to be inducted in the Hall of Fame as both player and coach. Take away all of the accolades that happened many years before so many men and boys this day were not even born yet, but please know the man for his accomplishments.

John R. Wooden has passed and seemed ready to do so many years ago to be with his beloved wife Nell who passed 25 years ago.  He continued to write a love letter to her every Sunday as he did when she was alive.  Wooden was not disliked by anyone because he was one of the greatest humanitarians of our time and spent his life teaching young men how to be a better person in life rather than just how to play a game.

I was greatly affected by this man as not only a UCLA Bruin fan, but as a fan of John Wooden’s life as a whole. He grew up on a farm in Indiana born just 9 years after Naismith’s peach basket, and became a 3 time All-American at Purdue.  He coached in high school before taking over at Indiana State and then ultimately at UCLA where he didn’t win his first championship until 16 years thereafter.  After that he could not be stopped. He once won a championship with the tallest player on the court at 6’5. His teams were so prepared mentally and physically that he would never adjust his schemes to match another team.

The Wizard’s contribution to everyone who came in contact with was extraordinary and real.  Once you had a conversation with him you knew you were not only ready to follow steps to be a better person, but you could not let down such royalty.  He will be missed not just because of his presence, but because he was too vital to mankind in this cynical world.

Rest In Peace John R. Wooden I know you are now in the place with Nell you are supposed to and want to be in.

Boston vs LA, Again!

How did the NBA get so lucky again? As much as David Stern would love to have a Kobe vs Lebron NBA Finals there is no debate that this is still the marquee matchup that got the NBA a new and exciting audience 26 years ago and is still a ratings magnet to this day.

It is amazing that combined these two teams have 32 total championships between them out of a total number of 62. The NBA Finals have been played every year since 1947. The Lakers have been to the NBA Finals 29 times and the Celtics have been to a total of 20 and have faced each other head-to-head 11 times. Magic Johnson’s Lakers won 11 of 19 games over Larry Bird’s Celts in Finals, but Boston is 9-2 vs the Lakers all-time in the Finals after starting with an 8 game winning streak.

This has all the makings of a great series that could very well go 7 games and I believe that this series will go the distance. This gives us all a reason to embrace the NBA Playoffs so enjoy.

I see at least 1 game going OT and the series being won by LA in 7 with a nail biter at the Staples Center.

NBA Playoffs Bet of the Day – May 28th, 2010

The Celtics are banged up and if they don’t get it done tonight in Boston I think the Magic ultimately win. They have the seasoned veterans and the firepower to do it, but the Magic cover. Good luck!

Magic +4

Overall Record:

NBA 21-12 (2010) 65-48 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 13-6 (2010) 103-75-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)

NBA Playoffs Bet of the Day – May 27th, 2010

All four games have gone over in this series so I will ride the wave. The over is 12-3-1 in the Lakers last 16 games overall. Good luck!

Suns/Lakers over 216

Overall Record:

NBA 21-11 (2010) 65-47 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 13-6 (2010) 103-75-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)

NBA Playoffs Bet of the Day – May 26th, 2010

Boy were we right about the over squeaking by yesterday with our NBA Playoffs bet of the day. Whew! Tonight we look for the rejuvenated Magic to get it done at home.

Magic -4

Overall Record:

NBA 20-11 (2010) 64-47 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 13-6 (2010) 103-75-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)

NBA Playoffs Bet of the Day – May 25th, 2010

Need another big Amare Stoudemire night coupled with a normal night for Kobe and Gasol. This one will be tight, but in the end they squeeze over. Good luck!

Lakers/Suns over 220.5

Overall Record:

NBA 19-11 (2010) 63-47 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 13-6 (2010) 103-75-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)

NBA Playoffs Bet of the Day – May 24th, 2010

Even though Game 4 is in Boston tonight I refuse to believe the Magic go down without a major fight. They might get swept, but I do think they get under the line. Good luck!

Magic +7

Overall Record:

NBA 18-11 (2010) 62-47 (overall)
NHL 0-1 (2010) 1-3 (overall)
MLB 13-6 (2010) 103-75-5
College Football 37-24 (2009-10) 142-115-1 (overall)
NFL 35-20 (2009-10) 138-92-5 (overall)
College Basketball 60-46-3 (2009-10) 257-195-9 (overall)