Jim Rutherford finally budged from his “everything is the same as it’s been” routine and let it be known the Carolina Hurricanes will retain Peter Laviolette as coach. Not that this should be earth shattering news, but Rutherford let this linger long enough for speculation to take over, and it won’t go away easily in my opinion. It’ll fire up again if the Canes hit another slump.
Hoops Notes: Stepheson Transfers, Kansas Has An Issue
Published by May 16th, 2008 in ACC Hoops and College Football. 18 CommentsA couple of notes from the world of college sports:
- Andrew Jones of the Wilmington Star hinted at this news shortly after the season ended. North Carolina forward Alex Stepheson will transfer. The big man wants go back to California to be closer to his family, which is dealing with health issues.
- Did Kansas win the NCAA Tournament with an illegible player? According to WFAA in Texas, yes. The reports states Darrell Arthur had his grades improperly altered while at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas.
- Memphis denied any negotiations with the Big East.
Marissa Miller, left, recently named #1 in Maxim’s Hot 100. Megan Fox, right, was #1 in FHM’s list. Sports Illustrated cover model vs. the only reason worth watching “Transformers” again. And yes, I’m aware of Fox’s recent collection of pseudo-nude photos. Discuss.
NC State AD Lee Fowler stopped by the studio this morning and answered our questions for an hour. He also took questions from several callers, ranging from the cost of seeing Wolfpack sports to the negative perception of the university.
NCSU AD Lee Fowler
Would it be a shocker if JJ Redick has an Arturs Irbe jersey somewhere in his closet? The former Duke star pulled the classic “play me or trade me” ultimatum on the Orlando Magic just one day after the team was bounced from the NBA playoffs.
There were a lot of things that were said last summer and in the preseason, you know, and I thought I was going to play. It didn’t happen. I’m certainly not going to sit there and hear the same stuff and think I’m going to get the same results. I’m going to put some of this on myself to get better, but there’s got to be an opportunity for me to get on the court.
From toast of the ACC to “remember that guy?” In the 2 years since he left Duke, he’s been busted for DUI, dealt with a nagging injury, a bizarro allegation from an “ex-girlfriend” that involved his brother, and being lost on the Magic bench behind Mo Evans and Keith Bogans. Stan Van Gundy must be holding Redick accountable for a busted bracket back in the day or something, because he’s not catching a break in Orlando.
The dollar stinks, gas prices are going up, and the cost of simple items like milk have caused some folks to start hoarding. After the Carolina Hurricanes released season ticket pricing for 2008-2009 this afternoon, add the cost of sports entertainment to the list. Season ticket holders will get a 10% increase for all seats, while normal gate prices increased by varying degrees. For example, lower level endzone seats went from $60 to $70 and the “cheap seats” in the upper level corners went from $30 to $35. Remember when Gary Bettman talked about cost certainty and the possibility of prices actually going down? In 2004, Bettman said the following:
I believe with the right economic system, many, if not most of our teams, will actually lower ticket prices. I believe we owe it to our fans to have affordable ticket prices. The fact of the matter is, more than a majority of our teams would use the opportunity of economic stability to lower their ticket prices.
Riiiiiight. Bubba over at Canes Country did some research based on old ticket stubs and details the price hike from pre-lockout tickets to current tickets. Season tickets increased by an average of 18.5%, while gate prices have been upped by an average 41.5%. Carolina is expected to lose $10 million from this past season because they missed the playoffs, had decreased attendance and not as much NHL revenue sharing from previous years. How increasing prices for seats while fans are dropping close to $4 for a gallon of gas is supposed to get butts in the seats escapes me, but the Canes marketing department came up with an incentive program to ease the pain for season ticket buyers who pay in full by mid-June. Who needs to drive when you can hang around the house in a sweet new Hurricanes wristwatch and digital frame loaded with 2006 memories! Sarcasm aside, Carolina is still one of the cheapest tickets in the NHL and Peter Karmanos has to do what an owner has to do in order to pay the bills.
Memphis Pouring Cold Water On ECU’s Dream?
Published by May 15th, 2008 in College Basketball and College Football. 20 Comments
The ACC expansion saga was so much fun to follow, so why not jump on the Big East expansion rumors during the summer doldrums? Earlier in the week, the Hartford Courant detailed East Carolina’s attempt at showing off some cleavage and wearing a short skirt in order to attract the eyes of the conference. Now Memphis, that $2 hooker, has arrived on the scene and is distracting the Pirates’ object of affection. According to a TV anchor in Memphis who has a blog, and who doesn’t at this point, the Tigers could be Big East bound.
Sources have confirmed to FOX13 Sports that University of Memphis officials have been in serious talks with the Big East about joining the conference. How about them apples?
Mr. Memphis Anchor insists the school would be a full member, but them apples don’t make much sense. The Big East has stated several times that they have no interest in expanding beyond 16 teams in basketball, so are they going to kick someone out? Marquette and DePaul come to mind, but the conference has given no indication that they would like to pull off another Temple jettison. Then again, John Swofford denied ACC expansion until the late Skip Prosser blew his cover by not taking the Pittsburgh job. This is going to be fun!
Manny Ramirez just kills me. I want to root against the guy because I follow the Yankees, but I honestly can’t watch a play like this and not be thouroughly entertained. The guy makes the catch, hi-fives a fan and still hits the cutoff man in enough time to double Aubry Huff off of first…7-4-3, double play. The O’s won the game on a grand slam from Jay Payton in the seventh, but the Manny play is just priceless.
Sonny, Thank You For The Sunshine Bouquet
Published by May 14th, 2008 in Basketball and College Basketball. 16 CommentsDepending on who you are and who you’ve talked to, Sonny Vaccaro is either a champion of basketball players’ rights or…well, let’s just say some people may find the casting for the role of Vaccaro in an upcoming HBO movie about the former sports marketing executive very fitting. Chances are good, though, that your opinion of him–good or bad–was formed without ever meeting him and, perhaps, without ever hearing a word out of his mouth.
But when stories like the recent allegations surrounding O.J. Mayo surface, you’d be hard pressed to find a more relevant–or a more passionate–personality to talk about the state of affairs in amateur athletics than Vaccaro. Bomani Jones caught up with the “grassroots godfather”. Among other things, Vaccaro pondered if he is or was ever as powerful and influential as folks have made him out to be.
One side note: Vaccaro may single-handedly be responsible for Bomani Jones henceforth being referred to simply as ‘Bo’.
Bomani with Sonny Vaccaro
The No. 1 women’s tennis player in the world, Justine Henin, is retiring. I must say there’s something gangster about this. I think even Jim would agree…sorta.
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