John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering where the next Big East memories will come from, and where future Big East legends will be made…
• Since we are on the precipice of the final Big East Basketball Post-season Tournament – as we’ve known it – I’ll share some memorable moments of the event throughout its 34-year history. And I hope you’ll do the same…
• I’ll start with the first time I walked into Madison Square Garden. It was 1989, and to borrow a line from the movie “Rudy,” it was “one of the most beautiful sights these eyes have ever seen.” Long considered Mecca for basketball fans – and me – thanks to the history that has played through that building…the Garden is still very much revered today…
• Sports Illustrated and SI.com released its annual Top 50 “Most Powerful People in Sports” list this week…and the NFL remains in a dominating position overall. Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft ranks #12, with commissioner Roger Goodell – love him or hate him – at the top…
• SI also listed its Top 10 “most powerful” in college sports, and the top of the list featured two conference commissioners – Mike Slive of the SEC and Jim Delaney of the Big 10. Also moving into position at #6, Fox Sports COO Eric Shanks…with the arrival of Fox Sports 1…
• What the Friars have accomplished since February 1st is nothing short of remarkable, actually. In 34 years of league play, they’ve never gone 8-1 over the last half of a Big East schedule, and have the chance to do that with a win at UConn. Even without that, righting the ship to put this team in position to even be mentioned as an at-large NCAA team…after a 2-7 start…is improbable…
• The secret to PC’s success? Knowing roles, and defending. Vincent Council understands his – distribute first. Bryce Cotton has learned his – look for his shot more often. Kadeem Batts continues his – pound the boards and shoot the mid-range jumper. If the Friars could somehow get LaDontae Henton to fake the three, and step up for a 15-to-17-foot “two,” or better yet – drive to the hoop – this team would be harder to defend than it already is…
• Because of the non-conference missteps, the Friars will almost assuredly need to reach 20 wins to have a legitimate shot of reaching the NCAA’s, barring a Big East Tournament title next week. Considering where this team was just six weeks ago…putting “PC” and “Big East title” in the same sentence seems ridiculous. Best guess? A home game in the NIT week-after-next, which is still pretty good. These guys are playing with house-money…
• Expect a sense of urgency from the Louisville Cardinals and Rick Pitino next week at MSG. Pitino has said he expects junior big man Gorgui Dieng to go pro…and as such, he is participating in Louisville’s senior night festivities…
• Championship moments? If you’re a Friar fan, you remember March 12 and 13, 1994 like they were yesterday. Providence knocked off #2 UConn (behind a phenomenal shooting performance from Rob Phelps) in the tournament semis, before taking their one-and-so-far-only Big East title over Georgetown. I can still see Michael Smith’s ear-to-ear grin as he cut down the nets…
• Congrats to PC Lady Friar Symone Roberts, who was named to the all-Big East second team this week…Roberts leads the Friars in scoring (14.7 ppg), assists (4.5) and steals (3.3)…
• RIP, Soup Campbell. A really good guy, he was a frequent visitor to our broadcast booth at the Dunk over the past few years, because of his friendship with Joe Hassett. Those who have followed New England basketball over the years say he was one of the best prep players – ever – in this area. We’ll miss him, for sure…
• Bryant’s basketball season was historical. A 17-game improvement from one year to the next is a feat that won’t soon be – if ever – surpassed. It’s disappointing that it ended the way it did, but the goal was to reach the post-season, and the NEC Coach of the Year, Tim O’Shea, accomplished much more than just meeting a goal. He also established a program…
• I’m getting the feeling there is going to be some bargain shopping done by teams throughout the NFL this off-season. Veteran players will be picked upon like yesterday’s cantaloupe in the grocery store. The Patriots are gambling that after a few days of free agent shopping, there’ll be a few guys let go by other teams ripe enough to pick…
• Answer: Aaron Ross, Jacksonville? Chris Gamble, Carolina? Question: Name two overpaid, somewhat underachieving NFL cornerbacks that might be had for pennies on the dollar by the New England Patriots…
• It seems the New York Jets are determined to trade away Darrelle Revis. Love to see the Patriots become determined, and work out an arrangement for a Foxboro destination…
• I understand why the Patriots did not use the “franchise tag” on any player this year. They simply feel they can find replacements, at a monetary value, for their existing free agents. And this includes Wes Welker. There a several conflicting reports out there about his “impending deal,” and whether or not he’ll try free-agency. I think he’ll definitely kick the tires on other offers, but he needs the Pats. And the Pats still need him…
• Some rumblings and grumblings at Quinnipiac University…it seems that a district court judge has ruled that “competitive cheerleading” is not a sport, and adding women’s rugby doesn’t count – therefore, QU must keep its women’s volleyball team at varsity level in order to provide the school’s women with competitive opportunities…
• Is it really true? Carrie Fisher is going to return as “Princess Leia” in Star Wars: Episode VII? Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker is on board, already. No sign of Harrison Ford as “Han Solo” just yet, but I can’t imagine he could say no…if Fisher has said yes…
• March 10, 2011 – UConn’s Kemba Walker hit a step-back jumper to beat top-seeded Pittsburgh 76-74. The Huskies would win five games in five days, as a 9-seed, and then win six more in a row to claim their 3rd national championship…
Courtesy: Rotoworld
• Former Sox outfielder Carl Crawford told the Los Angeles media that the Boston media was the “worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.” Really, Carl? Really? The worst thing? Fella, that’s some life you’ve got there. Let’s see, big contract? Check. Underperform? Check again. With big bucks come big expectations…
• The Gerry McNamara show was in 2006…as the Syracuse guard hit a three at the buzzer to win in the first round, tied the quarterfinal game with five seconds left on a jumper (they won in OT), hit a late three in the semis to pull the Orange within a point and forced a turnover on Georgetown’s last possession. McNamara led a 9-seed Syracuse team to the title…
• The America 12 Conference? Hmmm…doesn’t quite have the ring to it. But then again, nothing is going to ring like “Big East.” Simple. Direct. To the point. Other names are still being considered…I do like “Metro Conference,” or “Metro 12” as the new name for the old league…but no one asked me what I thought. I would offer this, however. No numbers. The Big 10 is just turning stupid with 14 (perhaps soon to be 16) schools, but they’ve got a brand that has decades of recognition. Talk about new math…since you’re starting from scratch here, how about something that makes sense?
• Tweet of the Week – from @TheUConnBlog, re-naming the remaining schools of the former Big East: “Dumpster Fire 12...we could at least be the AmericaN 12, that way we sound like super heroes….”
• At first glance, I think the football schools left behind have a pretty good basketball league set up for next year. With Louisville sticking around for another season, the presence of UConn, Memphis, Temple and Cincinnati will make for a tough conference…better certainly than say, the SEC. Or the Pac-12. And those are so-called power leagues…
• What’s the official over/under on the number of games David Ortiz will actually play in for the Red Sox this season? He’s sore after running in spring training? He hopes to be ready by April 1? If I set the number at 95, would you go over? Just sayin’…
• Not for nuthin’…over/under on total number of wins this season for the Red Sox – 84.5. And if they get to 85, that’s still a 16 game improvement over last year! I might take my own bet, and go under…
• Can’t wait…but I guess I’ll have to. If you’re a fan of the “Hangover” movies, Part III is on its way, for Memorial Day…
• March 9, 1996 - Ray Allen’s off-balance shot with 13 seconds left put Connecticut ahead 75-74 in one of the most exciting Big East Tournament finals ever. Georgetown had led by 11 with under 5 minutes to play, but did not score a point the rest of the way…
Courtesy: eagletribune
• Yankees’ legendary reliever Mariano Rivera is expected to announce his retirement Saturday…and the fact that he can apparently do it on his own terms is something to be savored. No hanging on, no long good-byes, although this entire season will be a “so long” tour. And that’s fine with me. He tore an ACL last year, came back on his own at age 43…proved he could do it (come back, that is – and not that he needed to), and walks away. Bravo…
• March 10, 1984 - Georgetown beat Syracuse in the Big East Tournament title game in a heated, overtime battle. There was an altercation in the game as Georgetown’s Michael Graham allegedly took a swing at Syracuse’s Andre Hawkins. However, Graham was only called for a two-shot foul. The Hoyas won 82-71 in overtime. After the game, an angry Jim Boeheim exclaimed: “Today, the best team didn’t win…”
• That’s perhaps the best Boeheim whine of them all. And I will miss all of them. No matter the stakes, no matter the outcome, Syracuse and Duke can hammer away at each other in the ACC and it just won’t ever measure up to what Syracuse and Georgetown did in the Big East. Here’s to new horizons, but also to old rivals…
• Ok, so the Harlem Shake has made its rounds…and it finally got around to the Friars. They did a pretty good job with it, but what do I know…
• As things change on the collegiate landscape, one thing should still remain the same – the Big East Tournament. No, Syracuse, Pitt and probably Notre Dame won’t be a part of it after this year, and while there might not be a marquee team at the top of the list for the New Big East…the tournament gets to remain true to its roots. Basketball first – profiteering second. Football doesn’t enter the discussion, even though it rules the roost around the rest of the country. Rivals will still meet, students and alumni still get to board a train and arrive at Penn Station to cheer for their teams, and New York still gets to be “mecca” for so many who love basketball. Players and coaches come and go, but fans get to keep coming to Madison Square Garden, and be a part of the excitement and intensity the Big East Tournament brings every year. No – it’s sad we must say goodbye to so much that has been good from the past when the tournament opens next week. But yes, it’s great we get to say hello to old friends and rivals again…and again. Keeping the Garden for the tournament should be celebrated, and savored…by everyone…
• And perhaps the most famous/infamous Big East Tournament game of all, March 12, 2009 - Syracuse beat Connecticut 127-117 in 6 OT. Tied for 2nd longest game ever played in Division I history (7 OT game between Cincinnati and Bradley in 1981). NCAA D-I record 102 combined overtime points scored. The time of game was an unimaginable 3:46. Once the game went into OT, the Orange didn't take their first lead until the sixth and final overtime period. Big East Championship single-team records for points, rebounds, fouls, FG made, FG attempted, blocks and turnovers. Big East Championship combined records for points, rebounds. Syracuse set school records with 103 FGA and 40 FTM and tied a school record with 51 FTA. Jonny Flynn played 67 of 70 minutes. A.J. Price AND Jonny Flynn had 30-point, 10-assist games. And I was privileged to call every second of it on national radio for the IMG Sports Network. John Celestand, my on-air partner that night and a former Villanova guard, had nothing left after the second OT…literally. His voice was gone. As I look back on it, what was there really left to say? History simply unfolded before our eyes, and ears…
• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Mark in Cumberland, RI via Facebook, after I semi-slammed his alma mater (Rutgers) joining the Big 10: “One point you made was the breaking up of the Big East. You mentioned Rutgers would bring nothing to the Big 10 Conference. As an RU alum, that is mostly true athletically in basketball. They have been bad for some time. They did share the conference title in football (though I can't say it with a straight face or say it without punching a wall given how they should have won it outright). Thinking about your statement, I could think of one thing RU can give the Big 10 it doesn't have...the New York market. The largest media market in the country. The conference can expand in a market they need and RU can get more money to upgrade their programs. God knows the hoops teams need the help.”
Mark: Even your fine RU education should tell you that Rutgers doesn’t “own” the NY media market. It doesn’t even come close. But that’s not the reason why the Big 10 plucked your school. They can now go to advertisers and SAY they have coverage within NY, even if they don’t. They can sell thousands – millions? – of Big 10 Network TV subscriptions. You’re a state school, and that’s what the Big 10 wants. They want a Big 10 alumni base in order to sell more cable hook-ups. The end.
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• Don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 37937…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 90-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
Comments:
Paul S Hanley
1:07pm on Saturday, March 09, 2013
In reference to Mark in Cumberland saying Rutgers is going to give the Big 10 the NY market you have to be kidding no one in NY cares about Rutgers in fact I would go so far to say no one in NJ even cares look at what they draw to the Rac it is the worst attendance in the Big East I believe. And I would be shocked if Rutgers is able to compete in football in the Big 10 big difference between Big 10 and Big East in football it is like comparing the NFL to the arena football league in my opinion.