Hey! Hey! Hey!

Buccos go all the way!!!!!

This here song could make me a Pirates fan once again. Probably not...but it is fun. Enjoy, courtesy of ESPN1250 Radio and Billy Nardozzi...

Billy Nardozzi - Bucco Ballad
PLAY OR DOWNLOAD HERE

Superbowl Winner Predictions

We have yet to do our full 16 game Steeler schedule prediction, which has been ON FIRE the past two years. We hate to disappoint the fellow Beloved fandom out there, but this here is EC's three favorites to win this year's Superbowl:

The Minnesota Vikings


Rather simple actually...they now have Brett Favre.

The Philadelphia Eagles


With the addition of Michael Vick, they have the most talented and athletic offense in the history of the NFL. Plus...they run the "Wildcat" which is crazy.

The Baltimore Ravens


Many will think I'm predicting this one based on how scary and intimidating Ray Lewis is (you remember how big his arms are). But actually, this is another no brainer. We base this one off of Chris Mortensen's prediction, naming the Ravens as one of the Superbowl favorites. And Mortensen just got off the phone with someone who told him so.

We Talked About This Before, Just Shut Up!

When push comes to shove, I actually think the NCAA isn't doing a terrible job. I'm aware that this would put me in the vast minority, but so be it. The boys in Indianapolis are coming down hard at Bowden and FSU and however you want to look at "one-and-done" merry-go-round of elite players in basketball, the fault lies squarely on the NBA. To put blame anywhere else is foolish.

So, it pains me to hear about Memphis vacating their magical 2007-08 run under coach, and Moon Area grad, John Calipari. It's not the vacated wins that bother me, rather the fact that it's ONLY vacated wins. That is what has had me pacing around for the past hour.

Unlike the Bowden situation, where a man has now been hopelessly placed out of reach of the all time wins race, Calipari has already moved to a bigger program and fatter paychecks. Most of all, he's moved away from the mess he left for the Tigers.

Except, it's not really a mess. Memphis isn't losing scholarships, nor are they being left out of tournament play. They just move on. Wiser to the fact that cheating can occur, as long as the head coach and administration are kept far enough away from the cheating. Lessons will be learned here, I bet ya!

For Calipari, even less to worry about. No sanctions will be coming for the head coach. Except, the head coach is just that, the head coach. If responsibility doesn't lie with the head coach, who else is there? Even if he didn't know it happened, his failure to monitor the players he recruits, and the staffers he hires, makes him liable, regardless of knowledge.

Maybe I'd be more sympathetic if this was a first offense, but it isn't. UMass has a final four trip they can't recognize, also while Calipari was the man in charge. Oddly enough, Calipari had again skipped town before the "hammer" (term used loosely) came down.

People will charge that it's unfair to punish the people left behind for the actions of the departed. Maybe, but that's hardly justification to under-punish for clear rules violations. Hit Memphis with a couple of scholarship losses, then tack on a few post-season bans. See if they choose to monitor their employees and recruits better. I have a feeling they would. For Calipari, he can take a year off, and try to find work with a "show-cause" sanction attached to him for the next three years. I'm confident that John would be overlooking all aspects of his team, the next time he was put in charge of one.

The problem is that schools and individuals can run the risk-benefit analysis and see that any sanctions they may occur are far outweighed by the attention, money, and prestige that an ill gotten season can bring. I think it's time for the NCAA to go so extreme in it's punishments that institutions and individuals would get buried for cheating the system. If schools knew that they could face the death penalty for any type offense related to a players eligibility or amateur status, you'd be hard pressed to see schools bring in the OJ Mayo's and Reggie Bush's.

Your move, NCAA. Don't be afraid of being in charge.

/Steps off soapbox

I heard this place is restricted, Yang, so don't tell 'em your jewish

Tiger finally chocking with a Sunday lead at a major; good.

A sports book paying out the Tiger bets on Saturday; amazing.

I mean, Yang over Woods may not be as good as Spurs over Liverpool, but you take what you can get.

Landon Donovan has Swine Flu

maybe that explains why he acts like a douche nozzle.

"me me me me me me"

Baghead

The Duplass Brothers latest film is an absolute blast! We really fell in love with The Puffy Chair a couple years ago, but Baghead is a special treat. I knew nothing about the story line or plot going into my first viewing, and perhaps for a film like this, it's the best way to go about it. So I'm not even going to insert the trailer here.

Don't read what it's about or look at any reviews. Trust me on this one. Simply get Baghead. Insert. Enjoy. (You can thank me later).

Chad Smith and Sid

Courtesy of our hockey insider, GBVH, taken in a bathroom stall at the Fillmore in Detroit, where Chickenfoot played last Wednesday....



Supposedly, Chad Smith (Chickenfoot and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer), who is from Detroit, trash talked Sid during the show...letting out a "Crosby sucks."

Scoreboard...



50 more days til Hockey Season. Rest up, my son.

Fight Like Apes

I can't wait to use this song in my first Eric Godard montage edit...



note to Weldy: how can you guys not use this at Mellon next year?

I want my TWO DOLLARS!

Sorry, Johnny. I don't have a dime.

Didn't ask for a dime. TWO DOLLARS.

My little brother got his arm stuck in the microwave. So my mom had to take him to the hospital. My grandma dropped acid this morning, and she freaked out. She hijacked a busload of penguins. So it's sort of a family crisis. Bye!



Seriously, though. Can you really blame Kane for wanting his 20 cents. I mean...this economy is taking its toll on everybody, no?

thanks to EC correspondant and hockey lover GBVH for breaking this story :)

Troy Making Sense

Steeler Safety Troy Polamalu, and arguably the best playmaking DB in the NFL, on watching Game 7 of the Stanley Finals earlier this year:

"Hockey is the greatest spectator sport there is. I was more nervous watching those final 15 minutes than I was during the 4th quarter in Tampa (referring to the Superbowl)."

Rugby > American Football

I've quietly held this belief for some time, but I think now is the time to take my stance public. I don't get the endless love for football, when rugby gives people everything they like in football, but does it better.

Everyone constantly endorses football for the big hit by big guys in order to control an oblong ball. Now, with rugby, you get big guys laying big hits, with next to no padding, in order to control an oblong ball. Not to mention the clock hardly stops and they would laugh at something called a "tv timeout." Football is the half hearted sibling of rugby, yet this country eats it up. Not that I'm turning my back on football, I'm just wondering out loud how it's better counterpart can't even begin to grasp a ounce of attention while football can do no wrong.

That and Walt Anderson will probably never experience this...

Stop Making Sense

Kinda forgot how magical these guys were, and what a pure genius David Byrne is. Can't believe this was 25 years ago. Perhaps the greatest musical performance these eyes have ever seen on film, I poop you not. If you've never seen it, give yourself a treat...



"Once In a Lifetime" :

The Yankees are playing the Red Sox this weekend

just in case you haven't heard.

Imbarazzante

The announcer's commentary is classic!!

Roy Williams on Not Sucking

"Everybody thinks I suck, and I just have something to prove, not to prove that I don't suck..."

As Roger Clemens claims, it's impossible to prove a negative.