John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, February 11, 2012
John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor
Thinking Out Loud…while wondering what’s next for football. Skirts?
• Not for nuthin’…but some Patriots’ fans – New England fans – are just way too spoiled to be taken seriously. Blame Wes Welker for the SB loss? Tom Brady has lost it, and should be traded? I’ve heard those this week. Come back to Planet Earth after you Google search “Patriots” and “early NFL history…”
• Bottom line – New England has played in five of the past 11 Super Bowls, and won three of them. They lost the other two in the final minutes. They’ve also lost an AFC Championship game – which could have been another SB appearance – as well. Would Steelers fans trade for that run? Jets fans? Just sayin’…
• Brady will no doubt shoulder (no pun intended) a lot of the “blame” for the Giants’ loss. But at age 35 next season it should serve as nothing but pure motivational fuel for his fire. Is he nearing the end? Absolutely. Does he have any gas left in his tank? I think so. Do you?
• But as he refuels this offseason, can we get Giselle a tune-up in team etiquette? “Thou shalt not bad mouth your rich and famous husbands’ teammates, especially those that catch 122 of his passes during the season to help make him rich and famous in the first place…”
• And can someone pay for Rob Gronkowski’s dance lessons? Everyone do the “Gronkty-gronk!”
• UConn tried to self-penalize itself in advance of the NCAA’s impending hammer that could keep them out of the 2013 NCAA Tournament for poor academic performance. The NCAA wasn't buying. The Huskies say they'll appeal, but without the possibility of post-season play next year, UConn could see its roster decimated. Included in their self-penalty request was a proposal to cut back from 30 to 27 games next year…
• No truth to the rumor they’ve asked to make PC one of those teams they don’t have to play…
• Made official by Ronald McDonald this week…New London, CT’s Kris Dunn becomes the first future Friar to make the McDonald’s All-American team since God Shammgod in 1995. And, both Dunn and Ricky Ledo (Ledo wasn’t eligible for the Mickey D’s team as a 5th year player) were named to the Jordan Brand All-Star Classic…
• Teams with multiple players on the Jordan rosters…Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona and Providence? Whoa. Can we fast-forward to October?
• Memphis accepting the invitation to join the Big East puts real credibility back into the league. Even if it’s only a mediocre football move, something had to be done to re-establish the basketball side – which is why the Big East exists in the first place – after taking major hits. Mission accomplished…
• And if you’ve never tried the Memphis “dry rub” barbeque ribs, then make your plans for a road trip…
• To which my buddy Statbeast sez “forget the games. It’s really all about the food…”
• Stupid is as stupid does…late Thursday, West Virginia apparently settled its’ legal matters with the Big East for an estimated $20 million, with a portion of that to be paid by the Big XII, so the Mountaineers can move into the league on July 1. Expect Pitt and Syracuse to line up and follow suit to the ACC, now that a price tag has been set…
• And if the legal wrangling works out to let WVU leave early, a plan is being discussed to allow Boise State’s football program to join the Big East early to potentially replace the Mountaineers. Nice knowin’ ya’, West Virginia. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out…
• Junior guard Malik Stith has left the St. John’s basketball program. He was the only returnee from last year’s team that reached the NCAA Tournament. It’s what happens when the young ‘uns get all of the playing time…
• Two items in college hoops stand out to me this week…one, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim passes the legendary Dean Smith for 3rd all-time with 880 career wins, and most by a coach at a single school; two, Boston College beat Florida State…the same Seminole team that beat BOTH Duke and North Carolina this season. Which means that since PC and URI BOTH beat BC, they’re better than Duke and UNC, right?
• In 23 seasons behind the mic for Providence, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen what I saw this week…losing in OT to West Virginia after leading by 15, and losing to Villanova after leading by 19 – in the same week. Those sucker punches hurt, but I think you’ll see the Friars get up off of the canvas…this year, too. Not just next year when the cavalry arrives…
• Oh yeah. Feb. 5th sure ranks up there on “worst days” for our teams, as the Super Bowl wasn’t exactly a prom dance, either…but don’t tell that to Gronk…
• Speaking of dancing…did you see Doc Rivers’ jumping and high-fiving after his son Austin knocked down a game winning three for Duke to beat UNC? Will he do that if the Celtics make the playoffs?
• I’ll say it again…I’m not a big fan of regular season NBA play. Too many games, too much “coasting” by too many players. However, anytime the Celtics get together with the Lakers, I watch. It’s not Magic vs. Bird, but rivalry should be cherished. There’s energy, passion and fight…
• Pretty soon though, the players on the Celtics and Lakers’ rosters will be fighting over Medicare and Social Security, instead of points and rebounds…
• Oil Can Boyd says he used cocaine for roughly “two-thirds” of his games while a pitcher with the Red Sox, and that teammates were aware of it? What’s next? Bill Buckner’s admission he was stoned and couldn’t see the ball that rolled under his legs? Actually, that would explain a lot…
• The NCAA rules committee (in its infinite wisdom) has a proposal to move kickoffs to the 35 yard line and to limit the running start by players to five yards, as a way of keeping players safer. I’m all for reducing injuries, but this rule would effectively eliminate the kickoff and kick return from the game altogether. Why even kick the ball off at all? Did you like the new kickoff rules in the NFL? YAWN…
• This week’s mailbag question comes from Ryan in Providence via Facebook: “What are your thoughts on the future of the Big East tourney? Specifically, do you think the Garden will be the venue going forward?” Ryan: The Big East Tournament is safe through 2016. This year will be the 30th anniversary at Madison Square Garden of what is annually the best conference tournament in the country, in terms of excitement, passion and interest. The general feeling is that it will remain in New York at the World’s Most Famous Arena, for the foreseeable future – because it’s good business for the Garden. I’ve been told the Garden believes in loyalty to its long-term partners…a quality sorely lacking within some soon-to-be-departing members of the Big East…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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