tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Tuesday Thoughts

While waiting for the sun to come up, some things rolling around in my head:

The Big East Tournament opens today and it promises to be one of the best ever.  It will be interesting to see if Villanova can right the ship.  Of course, I'll be pulling for St. John's, Notre Dame and Louisville. 

Can you imagine the Garden if St. John's makes the finals??

Who would ever have thought that Notre Dame's basketball team would be ranked higher (4th in the country) than its football team(don't think it was ranked this year).

Certainly nice to hear about A.J. Burnett's impressive outing against the Phillies yesterday.  Sure hope this is a sign of things to come this season.

Is there anyone more unlucky than Francisco Cervelli??  This kid needs to skip the Grapefruit League having suffered a broken wrist a couple of years ago and now a broken foot as a result of a foul tip.  It's too bad because the 25 year old really came into camp determined and in great shape.

Been reading and listening to so called fantasy baseball experts who are predicting the continued decline of Derek Jeter.  Here's hoping the Captain shuts these know-it-alls up.

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the first Ali-Frazier fight.  I remember listening to the round by round report on the local radio station.  The broadcaster received wire accounts of what happened each round and read them as they came across the wire.  I was a freshman in high school at the time and I remember winning a little bit of money on Smokin Joe's win.

The heavyweight class during the 60's and 70's was at its finest.  There were a number of legitimate contenders and the fights were classics with Muhammad Ali usually a participant against such foes as Frazier, Ken Norton and George Foreman.  Never will be the same.

Read the article in SI about the criminal element in college football.  The story listed the number of players who were charged with crimes ranging from possession of drugs and underage drinking to assault, domestic violence, rape and possession of a deadly weapon.  What was really disturbing was that schools indicated that they did not want to be known for looking to see if a recruit had a criminal record for fear that they would miss out on high end talent.  What a disgrace!  Of course the NCAA is more concerned about having no college football playoff than cleaning up its act.

Staying with college football, Yahoo reports that as a result of a two month investigation that Jim Tressel knew in April 2010 that his players were selling items which didn't come out until December 2010.  In December, Ohio State was saying they just found out about the situation.  If this is true, what a joke.

If you have the opportunity, take in Sportstime Ohio's Chuck's Last Call (CLC).  The show is on from 10pm to 11pm.  The host is Chuck Galetti.  Very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Chuck had Peyton Hillis on last week and it was a great show.  Hillis is a throw back and should do well in the west coast offense the Browns will institute this season (if there is a season). 

Does anybody no what the story is with Sidney Crosby's injury??  What a shame.  Best player in the game and its possible he won't play again this year.

All the controversy over the BYU player being suspended for having premarital sex misses the point.  The school had set certain rules and the kid violated it.  Case closed.

Here's hoping the Miami Heat keeps crying all the way out of the NBA playoffs with an early exit.

And finally, isn't it a shame that baseball doubleheaders have gone the way of rotary television antennas. (I'm really dating myself today)  There was nothing better than taking in a Sunday doubleheader.  Did it a few times at the old Municipal Stadium  watching the Yankees take on the Tribe.

Don't forget this weekend: Spring forward (I hate losing the hour of sleep but at least summer is around the corner).