Hottest Sports Stories for Wednesday, Nov. 16
Coach K gave fans more reason to hate Duke, the NBA is slashing games and the Penn State debacle is all over the place.
Welcome to the Daily Radar, one of many places to use "Coach K" over his actual last name. Leave your comments and make me smile.
Let's Dish.
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In this edition:
DIAMONDBACKS KIRK GIBSON & RAYS JOE MADDON GET SOME LOVE
The third day of MLB's annual awards week brought the Managers of the Year in the National League and American League. Gibson and Maddon were the obvious choices when the regular season ended and they won in landslides.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Did the voters get it right?
Our Take: YES! The BBWAA does a lot of infuriating things, but when they get something right you have to give them credit. Maddon is the best manager in the game and, quite honestly, should win the award every year. But since a team has to win or overachieve for a manager to get love, he has only won twice. Gibson did a fantastic job with the Diamondbacks and is a worthy recipient.
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Pairs of Joe Maddon Glasses
Call me a dork if you must, but I love MLB awards season. It is a time for analysis and reflection on the greatness of a few select players that are either getting the love they deserve or got screwed out of the award that they obviously earned. (The latter argument will likely happen when the MVPs are announced.)
Deeper Dive
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JOE PATERNO'S STATUE IS REPORTEDLY GETTING FIRED BY PENN STATE
Less than one week after the real Joe Paterno was fired as head coach of Penn State's football team, the university could take action against the 7-foot statue of the 84-year-old that sits in front of Beaver Stadium.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Is Penn State doing the right thing?
Our Take: This seems like a shortsighted move, if it happens, to appease those people that want all traces of Paterno removed from the university. He is always going to be a prominent figure at the school and his statue was a testament to all the work he did to build the program up. He has paid for his mistakes in the Jerry Sandusky scandal already, this is just piling on.
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Bronze Joe Paterno's
This move makes you feel bad for Paterno. He dedicated his life to the university and now there will be nothing left of him around the football program. The outrage directed at Penn State is warranted, but to try and erase the record books is never going to sit well with people.
The Award For Gregg Doyel Tweet That Will Outrage Penn State Fans Goes To...
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MIKE KRZ...DUKE HEAD COACH GETS RECORD WIN
Mike Krzyzewski (nailed the copy and paste) lead the Duke Blue Devils to his 903rd win as head coach. It would have been awesome had the 903rd game not been so damn boring. This is how I think Coach K felt after the game.
Question on Everybody's Mind: How awesome is Coach K?
Our Take: See? This is why everyone hates Duke. They continue to win and we are all pretty sick and tired of it. So you got nearly a 1,000 wins. We get it. You are some unbelievable coaching machine that can meld young minds into amazing feats.
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Can I Buy Less Consonants, Pleases
All friendly hate speech aside, Krzyzewski is really the bee's knees when it comes to getting the most out of his players. Who has he had? Christian Laettner? Bobby Hurley? JJ Redick? Coach K really got the most out of those goofy-looking guys.
Well, Maybe Not Blue Devils Fans Tweet Award:
Deeper Dive:
Coach K Wins Record 903rd Win as Duke Head Coach (News Observer)
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NBA GAMES CANCELLED. HOW DO YOU SPELL DUH?
NBA games in December got a whole lot more David Blaine-y and disappeared, up to December 15th. The slashing will continue as lawsuits pile up like Sasha Vujacic bricks.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Will season be cancelled?
Our Take: Oh god yes. At least that is the most measured response I can muster. Anymore and my computer would have exploded. The story takes a hilarious turn as David Stern may have shot himself in the foot by giving an ultimatum, thus being the first to end the bargaining period. ESPN writes a lot of words on the matter.
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Rock Out With Your Lockouts
The players get a flashy attorney in David Boies and that may prove to be the difference. Here is video of Boies getting the players pumped to fight the owners in court. Great Gandalf can that guy make a speech.
Deeper Dive:
Players Sue For Anti-Trust Violations (CBS Sports)
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PENN STATE SCANDAL GETTING MURKIER
Tuesday saw CBS interview Mike McQueary for all of three seconds and Jerry Sandusky's lawyer claims the 2002 victim is denying a rape ever occurred.
Question on Everybody's Mind: What the hell is going on?
Our Take: Until a trial starts, we are just not going to get a straight answer on anything. The odd part is that you would expect Sandusky and his legal advisers to keep mum until the trial. They are talking up a storm at the time being.
Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Disaster Areas
This mess will take a long time to unfold. The biggest story of 2011 will turn into the biggest trial of 2012.
Deeper Dive:
Victims May Dispute Charges According to Sandusky's Lawyer (Philadelphia Inquirer)
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MLB CLOSE TO NEW LABOR DEAL. TAKE THAT NBA
Major League Baseball is on the verge of finalizing a new labor deal that will ensure two decades of labor peace. I really wanted to include this just to show you that nothing is impossible, or rather anything is possible.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Wait. What? MLB is negotiating?
Our Take: Well, not negotiating so much as hugging out the details of a new deal that will ensure more interleague games and free unicorn rides for kids.
Hype Meter: 1 out of 5 Kumbayas
There is nothing interesting about things working out. We fans need some butting of heads and clashing of ideals. It's what made Riggs and Murtaugh such an enjoyable duo. We need more crazy, MLB.
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DAILY FUN WITH MOVING PICTURES
Because video is the new pictures.
JOHN HARBAUGH LIKES TO SAY FOOTBALL, A LOT
John Harbaugh is a football coach that coaches a football team in playing football.
Which reminds us of a remarkably similar post-game interview.
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NBA SEASON HIGHLIGHTS - ONLY, LAST SEASONS
As more games are cut from the schedule, we look back at what we are missing with a sick compilation of last year's best.
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BITS OF TID
Little nuggets of goodness with chewy center.
ORIOLES GO FULL CARTOON
Baltimore is dropping the proper looking Oriole on their hat for the classic cartoonish-looking one. When reached for comment, an actual oriole stated, "It's about time. That team was killing our rep with the ladies."
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YOUR WEEKLY RIDICULOUS TEBOW STORY
Fans are customizing Tebow jerseys with the name Jesus on the back. I think Jesus would have a better passer rating than 81.7, though.
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Until tomorrow, GET OUT.
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