Bleacher Report - Articles by C. J. Krasyk

Memo to WVU Fans: The Grass is Not Always Greener on the Other Side

C. J. Krasyk — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:40:47 -0500

I have to write this article because I have heard enough of the "replace Bill Stewart" talk.

All I heard from some self-proclaimed Mountaineer fans is that beating Pitt was a bitter sweet victory. Sweet because we beat our hated rival after losing two straight. Bitter because Stew got his signature win.

Let me tell you guys something. The grass is not greener on the other side. Let me repeat IT IS NOT GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

Don't believe me. Just ask Michigan. Just ask Notre Dame (multiply that by three now). Ask North Carolina State what their thoughts on the subject are. Ask Michigan State if they are any better now than two years ago.

Michigan fired Llyod Carr and brought in Rich Rodriguez. The result: same if not worse. They still lose games they shouldn't. They still get out coached and outclassed by rival Ohio State.

Notre Dame's coaching changes read like Matthew chapter one from the Bible. Notre Dame fired Bob Davie. Notre Dame hired Ty Willingham. Notre Dame fired Ty Willingham (after just three seasons). Notre Dame hired Charlie Weis. Notre Dame fired Charlie Weis (after four seasons). When they do finally hire a coach it will be number three in seven seasons.

The result for all involved: none better than the previous. Two straight losses at home to Navy. A loss at home to Syracuse and UConn. The only positive is that they have two closes losses to USC. Key word: loss.

North Carolina State told Chuck Amato thank you for your service, but we no longer need you. They brought in Tom O'Brien. Result: worse. O'Brien was suppose to build up the program to a national level and it has not even been close to that.

Michigan State decieded that John L. Smith was no longer the man to lead the Spartans. They brought in Mark Dantonio. The result: not much better. Yes the recruiting has gotten better but the win/loss record still looks similar.

The moral of the story. Be careful what you wish for.

WVU has the coaching staff in place to recruit and win. Yes this year was frustrating because of youth and nothing less. Sometimes rebuilding happens. Look at USC. They had a down year but no one is yelling for Pete Carroll's head.

Be patient and wait. Pitt did with Dave Wannstedt and it paid off.

It will pay off in Morgantown too.

West Virginia Mountaineers: Is It Time To Replace Jarrett Brown at QB?

C. J. Krasyk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:56:45 -0500

The time comes in almost every football season when questions arise about players and who should and who should not sit.

Right now for West Virginia is one of those times.

Should freshman Geno Smith start in place of fifth-year senior Jarrett Brown?

I know that some people are going to be saying "Are you serious? WVU is 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play with a chance to still win the Big East."

Yes, this is a serious question I am proposing.

I understand that Brown waited his turn behind Pat White. He was rewarded this year by starting every game thus far. However there are some things that are starting to concern me about him.

First off, he will not take the ball on the option read. He is force feeding Noel Devine the ball on this play. Not one time in the South Florida game did Brown keep it and force either Jason Pierre-Paul or George Selvie to play honest. They crashed on every single play because they know as well as every other defensive end in the Big East that Brown is not going to keep the ball and run.

Second, his completion percentage over the last three games is 57.2 percent compared to 68.6 percent. And had it not been for the 56.3 percentage against Auburn it would have been higher. I purposely left the Marshall game out of the equation due to the fact that he got hurt on the first series.

Making this decision will not be easy and could leave the coach staff scratching its head. He has thrown eight interceptions on the season. Yes, four came in the game against Auburn, but he has thrown a pick in each of his last three games. The one against South Florida was a red zone INT and cost the Mountaineers at least three points. Same can be said for the pick in the Louisville game.

Geno Smith played almost the entire game against Marshall and looked really good. The touchdown to Alric Arnett was a thing of beauty. Also he will take the read and make the defensive play honest. He is a perfect dual threat QB.

It is time for Jarrett Brown to be told thank you for your time and for sticking around but it's Geno's turn.

Will Derek Jeter Be the Greatest New York Yankee Ever?

C. J. Krasyk — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:32:41 -0400

The question of who is the greatest ever (fill in the position) is always a fun debate. So I want to take this time to ask the question a different way.

Will Derek Jeter be the greatest Yankee of all time when he retires?

Now, I know some people are going to find this ludicrous and say I am crazy because of all the greats that wore the pinstripes. I know the names: Lou Gehrig, Micky Mantle, Roger Maris, Joe DiMaggio, and Babe Ruth. But seriously lets look at it.

Jeter currently ranks in the top ten of nine offensive catetories. Batting Average (fifth), Home Runs (10th), Runs Batted In (10th), Hits (second), Doubles (fourth), At Bats (first), Stolen Bases (second), and Runs (fourth). He is also fourth in games played.

If he plays at least three more years he will probably be the leader of three or four of those categories. He is guaranteed the hits record this year and will be the first Yankee ever to get 3,000 hits. Staying healthy would allow him to get the games and runs records.

He is only 28 stolen bases short of claiming that record and you have to believe that he will get that one mainly because of the way Joe Girardi manages the game.

Now the detractors will say that he has a high number of strikeouts (1,443), but Mantle has more (1,710). They say look at the errors (211), but you have to then look at the number of chances (8,631). Which makes his fielding percentage .976.

In Yankeel-and, you are measured by World Series rings and Jeter has four and could add his fifth one this year.

While it is always hard to compare players from different generations it still does not stop the debate.

Is Derek Jeter the greatest Yankee of all time? Let the debate begin.

Is Jarrett Brown This Years Mark Sanchez?

C. J. Krasyk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:26:40 -0400

As the clock continues to count down toward the start of the 2009-2010 college football season, already the scouts and fans are thinking about bowl games and even how players size up for the NFL draft.

Last year, while Matthew Stafford was a well-known quarterback, Mark Sanchez was relatively unknown . I mean, people knew his name but were not sure how good he could become.

As the season progressed, Sanchez showed poise, a big time arm, and the ability to make the right decision. All of these attributes translated into the Jets trading up to take him as their fifth pick overall in the draft.

Jarrett Brown looks like he could also, be in that mold this year.

Unless you are a die hard college football or Mountaineer fan you might not know who he is. He has been a back up to Pat White for the last three years. He is 2-0 as a starter and which might be the only stat that really says anything.

He has thrown for 839 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He has seen some mop up duty as well as being put in games when White went down with injuries.

Brown possess what scouts love. He stands tall at, 6'4", big weighing 220 lbs., has a big time arm that can put touch on passes when needed, and is mobile which he proved, rushing for over 600 yards, so far.

The big thing that the scouts really want to see is his leadership ability. Can he step in and be the leader that White was?

While he will not be what White was at WVU, Brown has the change to show that he is completely capable of running the show. He showed great leadership during the spring. He commanded the huddle and showed excellent understanding of the offense.

If Brown can play this season like he has looked in the spring, and that is a big IF, he could really vault up the draft board.

Does Phil Mickelson Want the U.S. Open Too Much?

C. J. Krasyk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:14:32 -0400

Phil Mickelson now holds a U. S. Open record that I am sure he does not want.

On Monday afternoon, Mickelson finished second for the fifth time. Five times, Mickelson he has been runner up, with three of them happening in New York.

Mickelson openly admitted that he wants this major. His wife wanted him to win it and bring the trophy to her hospital room. I would go out on a limb and say that he would trade in his two Green Jackets for one silver trophy.

So is it possible that he wants it too badly?

In a word: Yes.

This is the one major that he dreams about. To be champion of his own country's tournament would be an honor.

The critics of Lefty have pointed out his inability to hit crucial putts in the late rounds. They say he does not have the killer instinct of a Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, or Arnold Palmer.

Lefty has semi-shredded those opinions with two wins at The Masters and one at The Players.

Twice he shared the lead, but was unable to ride the roars of the gallery to an Open Championship.

From the time the world learned of his wife's diagnoses of breast cancer, he became the sentimental favorite. Everyone in the gallery and watching on TV was rooting for him.

Will Lefty ever conquer his demons at the Open? Only time will tell if he will, but given his passion and drive, I would not bet against him.

Dwight Howard: Not an Elite Player Yet

C. J. Krasyk — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:40:57 -0400

Last night in Orlando, the Los Angles Lakers finished off the Magic in five, which led Jon Barry on ABC's post-game show to say you can't win a championship being a jump shooting team.

He is right. The Magic are a jump shooting team and I think I have the answer as to why: Dwight Howard.

He has one post move. One. Dribble, spin right, baby hook.

Yes, he did show some flashes of other moves in Game Five, but he is not constant with any of them. He has amazing upper body strength but no lower body. He is a bench press warrior.

Maybe he should become a squat warrior. I am not going to go and label him soft like Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were last year. I think Howard is a strong guy. He just isn't strong enough in the right areas.

Last year, after the Lakers got flat out beat up by the Celtics, Odom, Gasol, and Kobe Bryant decided to get a renewed dedication to the weight room. Howard needs to have that dedication to get his lower body stronger and develop some post moves.

Until he gets a go-to move, he will continue to struggle and his teams will continue to fall short.

He also needs to learn to keep the ball up high. Repeatedly during the finals and the rest of the playoffs, the guards were able to get in and strip him.

Free throw shooting should also be looked at. He says he is working and I believe him. But his form is what is killing him. He is always short-arming the ball. Shaquille O'Neal has learned over the years that you have to get extension, arc, and get some touch on foul shots. Shaq is still poor at times, but even at his worst, made the big ones in clutch situations.

Howard bricked two huge freebies that would have made the series 2-2 and would have kept the Magic in this series.

He has the potential to be one of the greatest big men ever.

The question now is, does he have the dedication to get in the gym and work his tail off to get there?

Right now he is not an elite player, but the story for Dwight Howard is far from over.

David Ortiz: PED's or no PED's

C. J. Krasyk — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:37:25 -0400

I hate to ask this question, but I have to.

Its not because I am a Yankees fan. I respect, and even love, David Ortiz. Big Papi's love for the game and the fact that he is a fun-loving and genuine good guy, are what draws people to him.

But the question has to be asked. Bill Simmons, a love-all-that-is-Boston sports writer for ESPN wrote about ita couple of weeks ago. Simmons wants to believe that Ortiz is just older than he claims to be. Now, that is possible given the fact that Miguel Tejada lied about his age.

There is also the possibility that his wrist is not fully healed. That would not shock me, either. But let me ask the question that no one wants to seriously talk about: Did Big Papi take steroids?

Manny got busted not even a month ago for taking banned substances.

Seriously, you do not have that kind of production drop without having been on something. Ortiz was never a guy that was going to hit for average. But he went from hitting barely 20 home runs a year with the Twins to blasting 40 or more with the Red Sox.

Now he can't even hit a 89 MPH fastball. His batting average is .198 and has only two home runs. The second one was a barely-out-shot of short porch at Fenway.

MLB has started to crack down on PED's, and if you are cheating you are going to get caught. So, maybe Ortiz decided to get clean before he got caught.

It's a sad world when we think the worst without any type of proof. But thanks to Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Brian McNamme, and Jose Conseco, we do.

Ronnie Brown: Exclusive Interview Questions

C. J. Krasyk — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:42:22 -0400

If I could sit down with one Miami Dolphin player, and have an exclusive interview, it would be Ronnie Brown.

What fuels you? What keeps you motivated day in, day out?

What kept you interested in college, splitting carries with Cadillac Williams?

Who was your biggest supporter when you blew out your knee?

What are the feelings you have when you go through a 1-15 season?

What does Pat White bring to the wildcat offense?

What are realistic expectations for this team?

Your contract is up in 2010. Do you want to be back with the Dolphins?

The Dolphins Usher in the Spread Offense to the NFL

C. J. Krasyk — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:25:03 -0400

"With the 44th pick, the Miami Dolphins select Pat White quarterback West Virginia."

The Dolphins picked Pat White in the second round and in doing so helped usher in the spread offense. Don't believe me; just ask John Gruden.

On the NFL Network, Gruden said "the spread has officially arrived, and White was a wildcat who could throw."

The Dolphins spent rookie camp with White at quarterback, which is where he will play, but also during OTA's lined him up at wide receiver.

The Ravens were the only team that really stopped the wildcat last year. Now, with a guy of White's ability, it will be hard to read what the actual call is going to be. White has the ability to throw, run, and has the knowledge to run the read play.

No more stacking the box and daring the pass. White can kill you throwing the football. Don't believe me again? Ask Butch Davis. White threw for 332 yards as West Virginia beat North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

But don't be fooled to think that White is strictly a gimmick quarterback. Mike Mayock believes that White could beat out Chad Henne for the starting job in three years.

"If you are betting against this guy being a full-time quarterback, don't," Mayock said during the NFL Network coverage of the draft. Of course most of that hinges on White's ability to learn the offense and how much longer Pennington plays at a high level.

White has the opportunity to have a huge impact as a rookie. Don't be surprised if he wins Rookie of the Year.

AFC East: League's Toughest Division?

C. J. Krasyk — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:29:19 -0400

Tom Brady is back and healthy, T.O. is in Buffalo, Mark Sanchez is the supposed savior in New York, and Pat White is in Miami looking to make the Wildcat offense even more unpredictable. The AFC East is setting up to be one of the strongest divisions in the NFL this year.

For Dolphins fans everything aforementioned that is not Pat White-related is scary, especially the Tom Brady part. Let's just run down the division and try to predict the future.

New England will be expected to compete from day one. Brady is back and any team with him at the helm is going to win games.

They won 11 games last year with a running back by committee approach and with a half-injured defense. Look for the Patriots to be in the hunt all year.

Buffalo. with the addition of wideout Terrell Owens, is expected to be able to put points on the board, which was the problem down the stretch last year. But T.O. has a history of ruining teams and disappearing when he is needed most.

Marshawn Lynch also continues to stay in trouble and will miss the first three games of the year due to suspension. Having higher expectations is always hard on younger teams, and Buffalo is no exception.

The Bills will start out hot and could be in contention, but the question is whether T.O. can keep from being the T.O. we all know and hate.

New York traded up to get their franchise quarterback in Mark Sanchez. The question is did they get Ken O'Brien again or Dan Marino?

Not sure yet, even though Sanchez has looked sluggish in rookie camp and struggled to grasp the offense, no one will know what he brings to the table until training camp starts.

The Jets have bigger issues than Sanchez as well. The fact that their top two running backs, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, are not happy and each want a new deal isn't good.

I'm not positive how any of this will effect the Jets because Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco proved last season that rookie quarterbacks can win right away. I expect the Jets to hang around but fizzle out when experience starts to count in the win and loss columns.

Miami looks like a team that can defend its East crown. They have brought in Pat White, Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Patrick Turner, and Brian Hartline via the draft.

Jason Taylor rejoins the team to add depth to the linebackers and he is a big addition to their pass rush.

It will be a very tough race, but look for the Dolphins to compete with the Bills and Patriots for the crown.

Prediction: Dolphins defend their crown with a victory in Week 17.

Kentucky is Baketball's Verison of Notre Dame Football

C. J. Krasyk — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:01:45 -0400

After two seasons at the helm, Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie. In those two seasons Gillispie went 40-27, which a winning percentage of .590. He appeared in the NCAA Tournament last year losing in the first round to Marquette. This year UK failed to make the field of 65. Making it to the quarterfinals of the NIT before losing to Notre Dame.

It is only ironic that they lost in South Bend. Notre Dame has become infamous for firing football coaches after just two or three years. Now, Kentucky seems to be following that model.

The unreal expectations that Kentucky fans, boosters, alumni, and athletic department have shows arrogance. Arrogance that they belong in the Final Four every year is the same one that Notre Dame has about being in BCS Bowl every year.

Kentucky's AD Mitch Barnhart said that you could not accuse them have being hasty about the firing because they gave Rich Brooks time with the football team. But that is the exact reason to call this move hasty.

Kentucky is a once proud powerhouse of college basketball. Now it is in need of being rebuilt. Every program has to go through it. North Carolina went through it. So did Georgetown and Villanova.

Yes, Gillispie's record is not dazzling but it is far from horrible. Yes, he lost games he should not have, especially at home. Young teams tend to struggle at times, they have trouble not playing down to their competition.

Remember that he replaced to big players from last year in Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley. He had to rely on a inconsistent Patrick Patterson and the streaky Jodie Meeks.

Billy Gillispie deserved the third year. He is still playing kids that he did not recruit. Asking him to win without your type of players is impossible.

The University of Kentucky's arrogance that it belongs in the Final Four or National Championship every year is its down fall.

Notre Dame-Hawaii: Will the Irish Make It 10 Straight Bowl Game Losses?

C. J. Krasyk — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:05:09 -0500

On Christmas Eve night, the Fighting Irish will take on Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. Notre Dame will be trying to break its NCAA record for consecutive bowl games losses, which stands at nine.

Standing in their way is a Hawai'i squad playing a virtual home game. Hawai’i's last game was at home against Cincinnati, and they looked pretty impressive.

I see Notre Dame dropping their 10th bowl game in a row. Now, I know a lot of people are going to assume that I am picking Hawai'i because I dislike the Irish. That is not it at all.

Notre Dame is going to be leaving a cold, wintery South Bend and land in sunny, warm Hawai'i. Its hard to ignore all that Hawai'i is about: sandy beaches, great sunshine, nice people, good food. It is a vacation spot.

The Bearcats fell victim to that for about three-and-half quarters and they are a far better team than Notre Dame.

Also, the Irish have had their issues with teams that can sling around the football and put up a lot of points. And let’s not forget that they can't really score that many points either.

This will be the Warriors' fifth appearance in the Hawai'i Bowl and they are 3-1.

Notre Dame's average margin of defeat in their nine game stretch is a little over 17 points per game. They have been outscored 133-159. Losing by as many as 32, to Oregon State in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.

Notre Dame will continue to struggle on offense, find it hard to get off the field on defense, and lose its 10th straight bowl game.

Should Shaq Be In The Hall Of Fame If He Bricks 5000 Free Throws?

C. J. Krasyk — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:57:37 -0500

As Shaquille O'Neal stands on the threshold of a dubious historic record, the question has to be asked: "Does Shaq belong in the Hall of Fame if he bricks 5,000 free throws?"

I understand the argument that says he is in regardless of the free throw shooting problem (hard to call it a problem, but I'm not sure if they have a word for it). Just think about it though. He can not make an open 15-foot shot. Only Wilt Chamberlain has a worse free throw percentage.

I just find it hard to believe that you can put someone in the HOF that shoots 50 percent from the line. He claims to make the shot when it counts, but we all know that is not the case either.

He does not shoot free throws better in the playoffs, sometimes worse. Case in point: Miami's 2006 championship run, where Shaq was 36% from the line. I know 6th graders that can match that percentage.

If you take the top 12 free throw shooters in the history of the game, they don't even combine to miss 5,000. His misses are the difference between him being currently tenth on the all time scoring list and fifth.

A a commitment to the fundamentals of the game should be a requirement for the Hall. Free Throw shooting should be considered in judging all those deemed worthy of entering the Hall of Fame. It cost Memphis a national title. That is how important it is.

I understand that he will go in. But I think that his inability to make an open 15-foot shot should hinder him.

Some stats courtesy of ESPN and John Hollinger.

Chad Pennington Deserves MVP Consideration

C. J. Krasyk — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:28 -0500

It is that time of the year. The playoff race is tightening. Every game is crucial. A loss now could be the difference in playing in January or watching. It is also the time when everyone starts discussing who should win the NFL MVP.

I keep hearing Kurt Warner's name, and for good reason. He has put up huge numbers and the Cardinals have won the division for the first time since 1961. Eli Manning was another name on the list, too.

Not hating on anyone, but how in the hell is Chad Pennington not on, or, at the top of the list? Just look at the definition of the MVP: "The player who is considered most valuable in the league." Not whose team is sitting at the top of the conference or the player that has put up the gaudiest numbers.

By that definition Chad Pennington has to win the award. He came to a team that was 1-15 the year before and now has them at 9-5 and looking at winning the AFC East. Yes, the cast is a little bit different but this was a team that was thought of as being at least a two year rebuilding project.

Pennington might not have overwhelming numbers but they are solid. He is 273-412, which is a 66.3 completion percentage. He has thrown for 3,218 yards, 14 touchdowns to only six interceptions, has lost only two fumbles. His quarterback rating is an impressive 95.1. He is leading an offense that is about to set an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season. Right now the record is at 14, and the Dolphins have only committed 10.

Now I understand that Warner has much better numbers. His team has already locked up the division and at least one home playoff game. But the Cardinals have yet to win a big game on the road, not to mention they have yet to win since clinching the division.Same case could be made for Eli Manning.

Pennington continues to help his team win by not making the big mistake. He has also won some big games not just at home but also on the road.

As the pressure gets tighter Pennington has been, as Stuart Scott says, "cool as the other side of the pillow."

T.O. Needs a T.O.

C. J. Krasyk — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:03:09 -0500

Stop me if you have heard this before: Terrell Owens is splitting a locker room over a argument with his quarterback because he is not getting enough touches.

Owens says that he is not getting enough chances and that tight end Jason Witten is getting to many. TO not getting enough touches? Are you kidding me?

He has been thrown to 87 times. Witten has has 80 come his direction. Witten does have more receptions but could that be because Witten does not have problems with drops? That would be a yes.

TO has touched the ball over 100 times between passes and rushing attempts. Look at the Washington Redskins game in Week 11. They ran a reverse for Owens. Throw his direction early and often to the tune of 13 times.

Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett has been forcing the ball to Owens ever since Romo came back from injury.

Now there is meeting with Owens, Patrick Crayton, and Roy Williams about everyone's roles, all because Owens opinion is spreading like an infectious cancer.

Someone is going to have step up and grab this situation by the neck. Tony Romo is not that type of leader, though this might not be the best time to become that type of guy. Wade Phillips is trying to pretend that nothing is wrong and God knows that Jerry Jones is going to defer to Owens.

Yes, Owens is a play maker and needs to get the ball but to say that Romo is ignoring him and only looking for Witten is just a bit obscured. But can you blame Romo, I know that I would throw the ball to Witten because he at least is going to make the catch.

Personally I think that TO needs a TO. Treat him like the little child he is acting like. Put him in time out, somewhere near the end of the bench. At least until he learns to just shut the hell up and catch passes.

BCS System Needs to Be Changed to a Playoff

C. J. Krasyk — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:46:32 -0500

The new BCS polls are out and you can hear the screaming coming out of Austin, Texas no matter where you are. My only question is, "How in the hell do you vote that way?"

This is just more proof that the computers do not work.

Texas, on a neutral field, beat Oklahoma. Do you think for one second that if this situation was reversed that Bob Stoops would be fine with it?

The answer is hell no. Stoops would be screaming at the top of his lungs about how they beat Texas.

Is Texas, Oklahoma, or Florida the second best team? I have no idea, but I know one way to find out. That's right...a playoff!

We need, and fans deserve, a playoff.

Do not hand me that excuse that if a playoff was implemented, the regular season would mean nothing and that you'd lose money.

Ask the coaches and officials at the I-AA, D-II, and D-III levels about that. They will tell you the same thing. They make more money during the playoffs than the regular season. It also makes the season even more exciting because you are playing for home-field or just the right to be in the playoffs.

Let's not forget the favorite argument against the playoffs: The students would miss too much class.

That is crap for a number of reasons.

First, you already play games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Do the road teams not miss class on those days?

That would be a yes, they do.

Second, how about the kids at I-AA, D-II, and D-III? They go to school primarily for academics and they have a playoff system. So, are the kids that go play football at Florida more deserving of an education than those that go to Appalachian State?

Third, and the best reason, is that classes are over by the time you would start the playoffs. Finals are being held in the second week of December. Final grades and everything would be processed by the time the first game kicks off.

There is no legitimate reason not to have a playoff.

We need a playoff. Even President-elect Barack Obama knows, “I think it is about time that we had playoffs in college football. I’m fed up with these computer rankings and this and that and the other. Get eight teams—the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff. Decide on a National Champion.”

If the President-elect wants it and millions of football fans want it, then why in the world won't the University presidents stand up and make this happen. College football remains the only sport that allows computers to pick its national champion. This has to change and has to change now.

Myron Rolle of Florida State Proves That Student Does Come Before Athlete

C. J. Krasyk — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:39:50 -0500

In a day and age when the term student-athlete has been forgotten, there is a breath of fresh air coming from kind of an unlikely place...Florida State University. A school that is known more for its football and partying is getting some much-needed good publicity.

Senior safety Myron Rolle, who came to FSU as the number one recruit out of high school according to ESPN, has become known for his aggressive, in your face, fly all over the field style of play.

But as impressive as he is on the football field, it is what he is doing off of it that is simply amazing.

He graduated in only five semesters with a 3.75 GPA in pre-med. That is only two-and-a-half years. Most full-time students that are not involved in extracurricular activities have no shot at completing their degrees in that amount of time, let alone one that is a member of the football team.

Rolle wants to go on and finish his medical degree and become a brain surgeon.

He is now a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. The scholarship allows the winners to study at Oxford University in any field they choose, all expenses paid.

The interview that is being conducted in Alabama is going to be the same day as the Seminoles take the field in College Park, Maryland in a huge ACC showdown with the Terps.

Rolle never thought twice about his decision. He will be in Alabama attempting to become one of 32 scholarship winners. If he wins, he will be only the second ACC athlete to win the honor. The other was a shot-putter from FSU named Garrett Johnson.

In a time when getting athletes to class is like pulling teeth, we need to stand up and applaud those like Myron Rolle.

Rays Win Despite Losing the Series

C. J. Krasyk — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:30:12 -0400

In the end, the history books will read the Tampa Bay Rays lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies, four games to one. But the Rays won something better: respect and confidence.

The Rays spent a decade living in the cellar of the American League East. To say they were mired in mediocrity would be giving them credit that's how bad it is.

They lost at least 90 games every year. Their worst record was 55-106 and best finish was 70-91.

They finished in last place in the division all but once.

But all that changed in 2005 when Stuart Sternberg bought the team and made Adam Friedman the general manager. They quickly hired Joe Maddon to be the manager of the ball club.

Maddon quickly changed the culture of the franchise.

In a state where baseball is an after thought because football is the dominant sport, people in Tampa-St. Pete were wearing Rays apparel and sporting blue mo-hawks.

Its all because management decided to stay the course and wait on the young talent to emerge and as they did the people flocked to games.

With a young talented core and veterans sprinkled in the clubhouse the Rays are set to be around for a long time. The result was a 34 game win increase, a AL East title and an AL pennant.

They remind me of the 1996 New York Yankees. Loads of young talented stars and veteran leaders in the clubhouse. A manager who stuck to what he believed in, which was his players.

Maddon never once wavered on Kazmir as the Game 5 starter. He had confidence in his guys and they in turn had confidence in him and it showed on the field.

Yes they lost the World Series, but this is only the beginning for the Rays. Don't believe me? Just ask Joe Maddon himself.

"Just the fact that a mind once stretched has a difficult time going back to its original form. I've always liked that. Our minds have been stretched. Everything about us has been stretched. I don't think our guys are ever going to be satisfied going home in October again."

Sorry Lou, Notre Dame Is a Enigma

C. J. Krasyk — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:54:13 -0400

I was watching ESPN's College GameDay Final last night and just so happened to catch the segment where Rece Davis is the judge and Lou Holtz and Mark May are lawyers making arguments for their respected points of view. The topic for this one was, "At 4-1, is Notre Dame back?"

Of course, Lou said they are relevant again. He even went as far as to say they are a top five school. Mark, on the other hand, argued that they are not given their body of work: wins over San Diego State (barely) at home and a Michigan team that is just really bad, and let's not forget the pounding at Michigan State.

I am not a big fan of Mark May, but I completely agree with him on this. Notre Dame is better this year. Jimmy Clausen has shown promise at times that he is going to be a big time quarterback.

But come on: A second half implosion by Michigan is when it got out of hand, and missed opportunities and too many big plays cost Purdue, especially in the third quarter. Those are the only wins that were double-digit wins.

That's right: They only beat S.D. State by eight, and that was a game Notre Dame should have lost. S.D. State controlled that game for three-and-a-half quarters but just could not put Notre Dame away when they needed too. The Irish do have a win by seven over a much-improved Stanford team, but they will be lucky to win three more games.

Let's not forget to look at Notre Dame's remaining schedule: at North Carolina, at Washington, Pittsburgh, at Boston College, at Navy, Syracuse, and at USC.

North Carolina is a very good team and still has a shot at an ACC title. They have too many playmakers, plus it is at North Carolina—that is a loss.

Washington is kind of a revenge game because of Ty Willingham. I know this is the third time, but Ty has to still feel like he got shafted. The big question will be if Jake Locker plays in this one. He has a broken hand right now but has said that he is willing to play another position until it heals. But if Locker is not the QB, then I think this a very winnable game for the Irish.

Pittsburgh is a team that has seemed to found its identity and is running the football with LeSean McCoy. QB Bill Stull makes just enough plays to keep a defense honest. Don't forget, LaRod Stephens-Howling is a nice change of pace back that compliments McCoy well. Notre Dame will have trouble stopping the run in this one. Pittsburgh wins.

Chestnut Hill is a tough place to go in and win. BC is a team starting to figure out its identity and should have it put together by the time the Irish come calling. BC wins

Navy finally broke that massive losing streak to Notre Dame last year. Now the question is whether they can turn that win into a streak and make it two in a row. Navy might have lost coach Paul Johnson, but they still run the same offense. It is in Annapolis and Navy normally plays very well at home. I see Navy making it a streak.

Syracuse...well, that is enough said. Notre Dame wins big.

Finally the Irish make a trip out west to end the year at rival USC. Despite the loss to Oregon State, USC still has a shot at the national title. USC just has too many playmakers on both sides of the ball. Plus USC (outside of a fluke game against Stanford) never loses at home, and they never lose big games or rivalry games in the Coliseum.

That would make Notre Dame 6-6. They would be bowl eligible and probably get invitation to a small bowl just because they are Notre Dame.

I know that is a lot better than last year, but they still have long way to go before they are completely relevant on the national stage again.

With Stanley Cup 2008, NHL Looks to Re-enter the Spotlight in American Sports

C. J. Krasyk — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:17:56 -0400

Let’s hop into the time travel machine and go back all the way to 1994.

When Mark Messier delivered the New York Rangers their first Stanley Cup Title in 54 years the NHL was at its pinnacle. NHL '94 was the hottest game on the market and hockey was poised to take over the spotlight that was on the NBA,.

What followed was a series of incidents that all contributed negatively to the development of the league. The NHL experienced their first lockout and followed it up with the neutral zone trap. These changes caused many fans to leave, but the worst blow came in the form of another lockout that canceled the entire season.

This blunder caused the few remaining fans to leave en masse, leaving the league in desperate need of answers, and an audience. One of those answers has arrived, in the form of a finals appearane for the league's brightest young star.

It is a dream match-up in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins, with their star Sidney Crosby, will face one of the most storied franchises in the hockey, the Detroit Red Wings.

It is a potential sexy match that could propel the NHL back into the limelight of American sports.

While I will not go as far to say that this change will be as meteoric as that of NASCAR, it will re-launch the NHL back into the discussion of professional sports leagues that the NFL currently dominates. It's not unreasonable. In a small way the NBA has already taken this route and is beginning to rebound from criticisms and problems that were posed to the league in the past few years.

A win by either team figures to be a victory for the NHL. The Pens are very young, and have the look and feel of a team that is going to be around for a long time. More than likely this won't be the only shot they get at the Stanley Cup.

At the same time, a Detroit victory wouldn't be bad either. The Red Wings are centered in a popular hockey market and have traditionally been very competitive.

Professional sports still has plenty of room for improving leagues to climb into the spotlight. With a little bit of luck, the NHL is poised to step back into that spot they forfeited back in 1994.

Patriots Spygate Fallout: Is Bill Belichick Lying?

C. J. Krasyk — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:14:01 -0400

OK, lets clear the air first.

I am not in any way, shape, or form, agreeing with Senator Spector about needing a independent investigation into spygate. What I am doing is questioning whether or not Bill Belicheat, I mean Belichick, is telling the truth about not understanding the rules about video taping coaches signals.

First things first, let's read the rule, so we all know it. Page 105 of the 2007 NFL "Game Operations Manual" states, "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game...All video shooting locations must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."

Now, to me that is as clear as it can possible be, so I have no idea how in the world Belichick could have not understood that, especially for that long. My 18-month old nephew could understand that rule. Okay that is kind of a wild stretch, but you get my point. I digress...

Matt Walsh comes forward and says "Here are some more tapes. No, there is no video of the Rams' walkthrough, and oh by the way, we did know that we were breaking the rules, no we did not care, and we were instructed on how to aviod being caught."

Bill Belichick fires back that he is telling the truth that he made a "mistake". He even went as far as saying Walsh was a low-level staffer, and was fired for "poor job performace." But wait, I thought Belichick had no idea who he was, and said that he could not pick him out of a lineup. Just smells funny to me, that's all.

They went from really bad to really good pretty quickly. Now, it was not a huge help, because the players still have to execute the plays, so I don't believe that it was a huge advantage.

I am not sure if Goodell should punish the Patriots in light of what Walsh said, or if he even will, and truly I don't really care. There is no way to prove whether Belichick is lying or Walsh is just trying to revenge his firing.

Personally, I think that Belichick is lying, just because it is hard to believe that he misinterpreted a rule for like five years. But still, all I have to say is for God sakes, let it go.

LeBron James Could Not Have Played in the Old NBA

C. J. Krasyk — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:52:04 -0400

As I sat on my couch last night, watching the Cavs and the Wizards, I could not help but notice just how much the NBA has changed over the last 20 years. The first two games of the 2008 playoffs resembled the Knicks-Bulls and Bulls-Pistons series in the late 80s and 90s.

The difference: no one in those series received flagrant fouls or was ejected.

The one play that led me to this conclusion happened in the third quarter, when LeBron James was pushed by Brendan Haywood on a layup attempt. Haywood was hit with a flagrant-two and ejected from the game.

He could end up being suspended, and possibly fined for it as well. LeBron spent a post-game interview whining about it, calling it "non-basketball play."

After the play happened and Haywood was ejected, it dawned on me that the epic battles and hard fouls that I grew up watching with the Knicks, Bulls, and Pistons were now officially history.

Seriously, did you hear M.J. complain about the physical nature of those series? Was anyone tossed or called for flagrant fouls? The answer you are looking for is "No"!

Personally, I think it is about time that LeBron was bodied around the rim. Every highlight you ever see of LeBron involves the dunking or sinking of layups with no one around or contesting him.

I mean, I could average 30-some points a game if I could have uncontested layups and dunks.

During Jordan's first couple of years, especially in the playoffs, he was pushed and bumped and fouled hard repeatedly.

Antonio Daniels of the Wizards summed it up perfectly. "There's a difference between taking hard fouls and trying to hurt somebody. No one in this locker room or that locker room fouls anybody with the intention of hurting him.

"That's not the way the NBA is. That's not the way it's played. We all get knocked to the floor. That's playoff basketball.

"When you drive, you should expect to get hit."

Does LeBron expect the rest of the playoffs not to be physical? Does he think that the Pistons won't bump and push him? How about the Celtics?

And let's assume the Cavs make it back to the Finals. Does LeBron believe that the West does not play physically?

The Spurs have Bruce Bowen, the Suns have Raja Bell, and the Lakers have Kobe Bryant. All three of them are or have been NBA All-Defensive first team. They all love to play physically and knock you around.

The playoffs are more intense than the regular season, no matter which sport you pick. The reality of it is, the play gets more physical, guys get a little more chippy, and the trash talking tends to be more elevated. It's win or go home.

Or, as the Gatorade commercial says, "There are only two choices: make history or become history."

The quicker LeBron understands that is what the playoffs are about, the quicker he will learn how to win a championship.

Caged Tiger: Dominant Woods Out Three to Four Weeks

C. J. Krasyk — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:43:39 -0400

Tiger Woods decided to have surgery on his left knee for the third time in his career to repair cartilage damage. According to Woods, it was something that he knew about and was trying to play through it.

This should scare anyone and everyone on the PGA Tour. Why, you ask?

He started off by winning the first four events he entered this year. He finished second at The Masters by three and was close to winning.

The part of his game that should have suffered from this injury, his driving, has not. The torque that he puts on his body and more specifically his knee when he drives showed no signs that anything was wrong.

The fact that he was able to play through this and still dominate begs the question: What is he going to do when returns completely healthy?

The man said that a grand slam is very doable and he knew that he was not at 100 percent. At best he was at 85 percent, and he still was in the hunt for a fifth green jacket and a shot at history.

Some will say that Tiger is using this as an excuse. But he never even mentioned it to anyone. He tried to grin and bear the pain, electing to put off surgery until after The Masters for one and only one reason. Tiger, like Jack, only cares about majors.

Majors are all you are remembered by, and Tiger wants to (and will) pass Jack's record. Tiger strives to be perfect, and the only way to perfect in the majors is the grand slam. He even said in an interview with ESPN's Scott Van Pelt that 19 majors is the only thing he thinks about.

So here is my advice to everyone else on Tour: enjoy the next month and win while you can. The last time Tiger had this done, he came back better, winning three of his first four events.

The grand slam might have to wait for next year, but another Tiger slam is very possible.

Final Four: Where Was the Love?

C. J. Krasyk — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:20:06 -0400

As I watch the National Semifinal between UCLA and Memphis State (thanks for being up on current events Ben Howland), I felt like I was singing the chorus to the Black Eyed Peas' 2003 hit "Where is the Love?"

In the first three rounds of the tournament, Howland got Love involved early and often. But in the semifinal, after the first 20 minutes, Love had ONLY four shots from the floor. How in the world is that possible!?

He should have had four shots in the first five minutes not with five minutes to go. I would have been shocked if you told me that Kevin Love would only have six points on two of four shooting in the first half.

Love was one the best players all year and was a huge reason that UCLA was even in the Final Four, and they quit feeding him the ball. That is the stupidest thing that I have ever seen.

How do you slow a team that loves to run in the open floor like Memphis does? Run your half court sets and pound the ball in down low. Love should have touched the ball on every single trip down the floor. Now I am not saying that he should have shot the ball 30 times, but he needed at least that many touches.

There was no doubt or question that UCLA was the bigger of the two teams. Every time they went inside, something good happened. Whether is was a foul, a basket, a combination of both or at the worst was a good look that just did not fall.

Dorsey and Taggart both picked up their third fouls in a span of 30 seconds. Both fouls came as a result of guarding Love and for some strange reason Love did not touch the ball again for what seemed like an eternity.

Ben Howland is a great coach and he will continue to win at UCLA and will probably hang a championship banner before much longer, but he missed a golden opportunity to hang this year.

While I might have been singing "Where is the Love?" last night there might just be a lot of Bruins singing it soon if Love opts to enter the NBA draft.

West Virginia: A Phone Call from an Old Coach

C. J. Krasyk — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:22:09 -0400

I read this article from Dave Hickman, a writer for the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, and I just had to share with everyone.

Great article Dave. All I can say is Amen!!!

Memo to John Calipari: Free-Throwing Shooting IS a Big Deal

C. J. Krasyk — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:01:32 -0400

Memphis Coach John Calipari has been on every sports talk show that will have him on saying that free throw shooting is overrated and not a big deal. I think he is the only one that truly believes those words. Allow me to offer up some examples of how Coach Calipari is just fooling himself. Allow me to use my beloved West Virginia Mountaineers, a Sweet 16 team, as the example.

On January 26, West Virginia lost to Georgetown by one. Georgetown shot 80% from the line while WVU shot just 52 percent. That came three nights after almost giving a game away to in-state rival Marshall. With 8:30 to go in the game WVU held a 12 point lead. The inability to make free throws allowed Marshall to make a comeback. WVU finished 11-28 (39 percent) from the line.

West Virginia then traveled to Pittsburgh in early February and lost by one on a buzzer beating three. WVU was 41 percent from the charity stripe while Pitt shot 62%.

Three games, two losses because of poor free throw shooting. I can hear the Memphis fans now..."Well we lost only once and we are still playing unlike you." OK, that is fair but not being able to make free throws against Xavier cost WVU a shot at the Regional Final.

But just for you Memphis fans out there I offer these three examples.

Against UAB in February Memphis escaped by one. UAB shot 90 percent from the line while Memphis shot just 52 percent. Hardly anyone will argue that game should have and could have went in UAB's favor.

In the second round of the NCAA tournament Memphis nearly gave the game to Mississippi State because of poor free throw shooting. The Tigers were 46 percent from the line. Mississippi State for the most part just went into a "hack-a-tiger" mode and nearly pulled out the upset.

Still not convinced. Okay lets go with the one that you actually lost at home to Tennessee. 47 percent from the line in a game that close through out. Memphis makes three to four more free throws than they more than likely go undefeated.

I know that Coach Calipari has to say that free throw shooting is no big deal to the media mainly for his kids confidence. But what scares me is that I think that he actually believes the words that he is saying. So to you coach I say this, free throw shooting is a huge deal and it will cost you games.