When it became clear that Lance Armstrong had used performance enhancing drugs in his pursuit of his Tour de France victories, it was a shock to many. However, it was not unprecedented. Sometimes the “win at all costs” mentality leads athletes down dark paths and those who were once our sports heroes fall to disgrace. Here are our Top 5 falls from grace in sports history. Read the rest of this entry »
In Honor of Nike Ending its Nine-Year Partnership with Livestrong: The Top 5 Falls From Grace in Sports History
May 31st, 2013Sports Marketing Group Now Offers Mobile Web Solutions
May 21st, 2013TAMPA, FL- With the success of their branding and design division and based on the ever-growing number of fans that use a smart phone as their primary method for getting sports news, the Sports Marketing Group announces the addition of mobile web solutions to their suite of services.
According to an IDC study, 79 percent of people between the age of 18-44 use their smart phones as soon as they wake up each day. Many sports fans are grabbing their phones to get the latest scores, adjust their fantasy football teams or check in at the arena. Sports Marketing Group recognizes that and has assembled a high-level team to produce mobile apps for brands, athletes, teams and leagues. These apps will bring an enhanced user experience that not only mirrors what is seen on standard web sites, but goes well beyond it.
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About Sports Marketing Group
The Sports Marketing Group has a combined 50+ years of experience in the sports marketing industry. Our staff knows the keys to effective marketing through sports and can help you to achieve your marketing objectives. For more information, please visit http://sportsmarketinggroup.net.
The Top 5 Super Bowl Commercials You’ll See on Sunday
February 1st, 2013As if there aren’t too many commercials during a regular NFL game already, now the length of each Super Bowl commercial is going to be longer. The positive side? Companies spend millions of dollars and put great efforts into creating entertaining and sometimes even hysterical commercials for the viewing audiences’ pleasure. The downside? If you are like me and use the commercial breaks to grab a snack or use the bathroom, the commercials may be too good to miss. So to make sure you can fit what you need into commercial breaks with out missing too much of the famous Super Bowl commercials, here are five must see commercials for 2013. Read the rest of this entry »
Can Joe Flacco Be a Superstar?
January 31st, 2013While much attention during Super Bowl week has been paid to the meteoric rise of San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick the QB on the other sideline, who has won a playoff game in each season of his career, gets attention for slightly odd reasons. Read the rest of this entry »
Getting it Back- What Tiger Woods can Learn from Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis and Michael Vick
August 15th, 2011What’s the bottom for Tiger Woods? Was it not making the cut at the PGA Championships? Or Tag Heuer deciding not to renew their sponsorship, just a few days prior? Or was it the injuries? Of course, it’s impossible to know how bad things will get for Woods. However, he can take solace in knowing that superstars can bounce back. It’s the nature of fame. We love to build them up (the next big thing) then we love to tear them down (he can’t be that great.) Then we love to build them up again (the comeback story.) Woods is 35 and can play golf for another 20 years. This is an advantage that other fallen stars (Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis and Michael Vick) did not have.
In 2003, Kobe Bryant had established himself as one of the NBA’s elite players and in the conversation as an heir apparent to Michael Jordan. Then accusations of sexual assault on a hotel worker in Colorado surfaced. People forget, but this was equally as large of story 2003 as Tiger Woods is now. Endorsements from Nike and Sprite, among others, vanished. Luckily, he was young enough that he could continue playing at a high level and winning championships. While he’s not the endorsement machine that he once was, his troubles are a footnote in an accomplished career.
Ray Lewis didn’t have many endorsements when he was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges for the stabbing deaths of two individuals during a fight outside an Atlanta bar. However, Lewis was labeled as “what was wrong with the NFL.” His involvement in the crime is still murky, but Lewis has done everything he can, on and off the field, to reclaim a positive image. His role as pitch man for Old Spice showed a comedic side that belies his aggressive style of play.
Finally, Michael Vick was the controversial face of the NFL in 2007 when a search of his Virginia home revealed dog fighting kennels and fighting rings. This struck a major nerve among the national consciousness and it did not seem like Vick would ever recover.
Vick’s story is not complete and there is still some who will never forgive him for his heinous actions. His play on the field and willingness to fall on the sword, whenever possible, seems to have improved his image.
Tiger, take some notes.
NBA Lockout not Deterring Hornets from Gaining Sponsors
August 16th, 2011When you’re fighting to keep a franchise in your city, you can’t let a little thing like the NBA lockout hold you back. The New Orleans Hornets haven’t; they just inked a deal that will add New Orleans-based Entergy on as a sponsor. Their program, the Crescent City Champions, is an initiative designed to establish partnerships with the business and corporate community in and around New Orleans. Read the rest of this entry »
The Groupon Revolution Hits College Football
August 25th, 2011With college football starting a week from today, fans are gearing up for an exciting season and deciding on how to watch their favorite teams. Even in the age of HDTV, some people insist on the “at game” experience. For those fans, a new option is popping up on campuses throughout the nation. Read the rest of this entry »
What is the Real Tampa Bay?
October 3rd, 2011Tampa Bay has played a gracious host whenever national attention is turned to this mid-market area. They’ve been lauded as a Super Bowl host and have celebrated winning franchises in the Lightning, Buccaneers and the Rays.
For every bit of praise this area gets when the spotlight is the brightest, the public and the media heap on the region whenever it’s removed. What results is a mixed message out in the media landscape. What is the real Tampa Bay? Read the rest of this entry »
Tampa Bay Rays’ Attendance – The Persistence of Numerical Memory
October 3rd, 201122,820.
This number represents the total reported attendance of the Tampa Bay Rays’ game No. 161 versus the New York Yankees in their 2011 season.
Nobody will remember this number in five, 10, or 100 years. Yet, in the brilliant now, this number has a weight. The number is an enigma of the present. Figure it out and you’ve solved the Gordian knot-like relationship between a franchise and its erstwhile fan base. Read the rest of this entry »
SEC Expansion: Still the Good Ole South
October 10th, 2011Texas A&M is set to enter the SEC in 2012 and rumors of a 14th team joining are swirling about. Could it be Missouri, Clemson or West Virginia?
In any case, the SEC will maintain its hold south of the Mason-Dixon line. The strict regionalism of SEC football is tied to borders stemming back to the Civil War and is likely to stay that way throughout the realignment mess. Why? Read the rest of this entry »
Throwing Money Down the Drain?
October 11th, 2011Don't worry about this money, the Yanks have plenty more where that came from.
Take the three combined highest payrolls in Major League Baseball in 2011 at $557.5 million. Then compare that to the amount of postseason glory, zero. Such is the reality for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
You can’t buy a championship these days, but this exorbitant amount of money isn’t wasted money. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Read the rest of this entry »
Kobe Overseas: A Good Thing for the NBA
October 11th, 2011For one, the Italian-speaking Kobe Bryant won’t need a translator for his ongoing negotiations with Virtus Bologna. This might be the only thing spurring the hubbub about the NBA’s most famous player bolting overseas due to the lockout. Read the rest of this entry »
Meaningful Football on Thanksgiving Day? In Detroit? It can Happen!
October 11th, 2011A feast on the plate to match the one on the field
Imagine, meaningful football on Thanksgiving Day? It can happen. Typically the Thanksgiving match-up with the Detroit Lions and, well, whoever they play is at best a chance to laugh at awful football, at worst, background noise to the bountiful supper. Not this year, not only is the game between Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers a critical NFC North battle, it may be the battle of unbeaten teams. The path to the most important Thanksgiving Day match-up in a generation goes like this. Read the rest of this entry »
The NBA is coming back for Christmas—and it means back to business!
December 2nd, 2011
Places like New York and LA don't really field the pinch, but in Indianapolis, the effects of the NBA Lockout are felt.
Work stoppage in any professional sport means ripple effects will trickle down—affecting small businesses both in and out of the stadiums and arenas. They will certainly feel the pinch, especially during this protracted economic downturn.
Case in point is the NBA lockout. During a regular season, there are 41 home games. Local businesses have stood to lose thousands—especially during nights of crucial games, where sales are at their peak.
Once the league called off hundreds of games, fans became visibly upset, and businesses serving areas around stadiums felt the consequences of their anger. Parking lots, restaurants, sports bars—normally overflowing during games—now consider cutbacks.
Many fans wondered—why did this happen? What were reasons for the NBA lockout?
A quick reply needs only one word—profitability. According to league sources, the past year saw NBA teams lose over $300 million collectively. Twenty-two of the 30 teams—nearly 75 percent—were unprofitable.
This forced owners to propose an amendment to the current soft salary cap to a hard (or “flex”) cap—in an effort to reduce costs and prevent the large difference in total compensation among teams. A hard cap—as the name suggests—is not to be exceeded. A soft cap can provide teams a way to bypass the ceiling, after meeting certain conditions. Traditionally, few of the NBA teams stay below the soft cap.
The announcement of the end of the lockout comes an opportune time, because players are just now beginning to feel the pinch.
The first NBA paychecks are traditionally issued in mid-November. Veteran players—with bigger bank accounts—may not have felt the pinch, but younger players would have a significant impact to their finances.
Everyone associated with the NBA—players, owners, businesses large and small—are all ready to be getting back to work for Christmas.
Location, Location, Location- Why Where this Weekend’s Conference Championships are Played Matters
December 2nd, 2011Championship Saturday (and Friday) is upon us. And while most of us will be popping a squat on the couch (cold beer in hand) to watch the games, some venture to stadiums across the country to watch their favorite teams. For those lucky few, this weekend’s slate presents three unique concepts for hosting title games (all with financial positives and negatives). Conferences like the SEC and Big Ten host their championship games in marquee cities (Atlanta) and sites (Lucas Oil Stadium). The ACC hosts its championship game in Charlotte, near where a cluster of their teams reside. The PAC 12 is taking page from, of all places, the Conference USA in hosting their championship at the site of the team with the best record; in this case, the University of Oregon. Read the rest of this entry »
Miami Vs. Kansas City: Where do you want to Coach Next Mr. Fisher?
December 14th, 2011
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher is the presumptive front runner for the suddenly open job vacancies at Miami and Kansas City. But which job should he or any other candidate of ilk take? Let’s take the Jacksonville job out of the mix. No one wants the job- unless, of course, it becomes the Los Angeles job with the new ownership.
There are four ways to judge out which head coaching job is the best:
- Division strength
- Current team
- Draft status
- Front Office
Here’s the SMG scorecard on both teams:
Division Strength
The Miami Dolphins are in a far tougher division than Kansas City. The AFC East brings with it perennial champion New England and perennial upstart New York Jets. Even the Buffalo Bills are much improved (late season collapse aside.)They also bring a more intense media focus, which leaves your nowhere to hide if your team has a slow start. Advantage: KC.
Current Team
This is a tough one because much of the Chief’s talent was injured at different points of the year. Injuries to Eric Berry, Matt Cassell and Jamaal Charles keep us from knowing how good they really are. The Dolphins have had a bit of a surge over the last half of the season winning four of their last six. This has been done largely on the strength of their defense. This unit is talented, but inconsistent. A good coach can change that. However, if KC can get guys healthy, they already have a good nucleus. Advantage: KC.
The 2012 NFL Draft
If all things stay the same, Miami will have the eighth pick in the draft, while KC will have the 14th pick. Both picks suck! Miami needs a quarterback but Andrew Luck and, likely, Matt Barkley will be long gone. Kansas City needs help along the offensive and defensive lines with several top flight guys gone as well. However, Miami, by the numbers, has a better pick and, thus, a better shot at trading up to get Luck or RG3 (they could also stay with Matt Moore.) Advantage: Miami
Front Office
Both are committed to winning, almost ruthlessly so. Miami owner Stephen Ross was trying to lure San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh to the Dolphins while Tony Sparano was still the coach. The move now makes him look like an almost genius ( a genius would have got him.) However, with Scott Pioli and the former New England brain trust in place, it’s Advantage: KC.
Well Mr. Fisher, the choice is easy. While Miami is nicer in the winter, the Chiefs are more talented, have better front office leadership and are in a easier division than the Dolphins. These are traits for short and long-term success.
The Lower Tier Bowl Experience- A Night at the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl
December 22nd, 2011I LOVE bowl games. Many of them have sort of a championship-lite feel, with teams that don’t normally play each other and fans in hyped, festive moods. I try to go to one a year whether through work or for pleasure. This year I decided to stay close to home and attend the Beef o’ Brady Bowl. Tropicana Field, the game’s location, is a ten minute drive ($15.00 cab ride) from my house in St. Petersburg, FL. My friend, Rob, and I want to a small school (Rollins College) and don’t have a dog in the fight. So I thought it would be an interesting experience to go to a lower tier bowl game. See how the other half lives. Read the rest of this entry »
Conference Championships Trump Super Bowl
January 19th, 2012Many believe that the Super Bowl is the most interesting game of the NFL season, I have grounds to argue that it is not; in fact, it is the championship weekend leading up to the Super Bowl. After all, the Super Bowl is more about commercials anyway. Here are five reasons that championship weekend is far superior to Super Bowl Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »
Five Story-Lines to follow Super Bowl Sunday
January 24th, 20121. Eli Manning and what this game means to him Read the rest of this entry »
Denied…but how bad does it sting?
January 24th, 2012Cash Is king right? Apparently not for Chip Kelly, he has chosen to stay with his heart in Oregon for about half the pay he could have earned coaching for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers offered Chip Kelly six million per year and also offered to cover the cost of buying out Kelly’s contract at Oregon. To the untrained eye this decision looks as if it helps the Ducks and hurts the Bucs, but a closer look reveals just the opposite.
The Big Least
January 25th, 2012Growing up in Connecticut I have always been interested in the Big East conference, but this interest has come to an end. While the Big East still seems as if it is the NCAA Basketball power conference, there is certainly diminishing curb appeal for Big East Football. Read the rest of this entry »
The Indy Experience- Gateway to Cold Weather Super Bowls?
January 26th, 2012While Indianapolis certainly doesn’t have the curb appeal of cities like Miami or New Orleans, I am optimistic that this year’s Super Bowl will prove better than the last. From the rare Texas snow storm, the unprepared stadium employees, and even the unsafe seating, there were plenty of issues with Super Bowl XLV. However, Indianapolis is certainly prepared to prove that they will not make the same mistakes. Read the rest of this entry »
Moneyball and What it Takes to be a Successful Sports Movie
January 26th, 2012Honored with no less than six academy award nominations, including for Best Actor and Best Picture, Moneyball has fast become a favorite among baseball enthusiasts. The film was an adaption of the well-received novel of the same name by Michael Lewis and stars the eternally youthful Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The plot is at once historically grounded and heartfelt and explores the relationship of Oakland’s Athletic general manager Billy Beane and Peter Brand, a promising economics alumnus of Yale, as they pioneer a highly methodical and efficient system of choosing ball players. Read the rest of this entry »
Bringing Social Media to the Super Bowl
January 26th, 2012For the first time in Super Bowl history, the initiation of a social media command center has been authorized to help better direct the flooding of football fans into Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5th. Designed to bring order to an otherwise chaotic event, this ingenious advance in sports technology will help to ease the arrival of as many as 150,000 visitors to the city. Read the rest of this entry »
Media Day 2012
January 31st, 2012Undoubtedly the most over-analyzed aspect of the Super Bowl this year will be media day. Media day is an opportunity for 2000 media members to repeat the same question in 50 different forms to each member of the team. Neither team is going to reveal anything about game day strategy, or how their given injury is holding up.
That being said, media day does allow both fans and media to obtain a qualitative view of the players’ moods. We will be able to gain perspective on the Super Bowl based on the energy of the players.
With the Patriots taking the stand first, I can almost guarantee most of the attention will be directed towards Rob Gronkowski and his ankle injury. Overall, I would assume that most of the Patriots will take a page out of Bill Belichick’s book, and speak rather conservatively throughout. I Expect Gronk to take the stand with confidence and poise, letting the media know that he is ok, and that is all. Tom Brady will also be a subject that both media and fans alike will gravitate to. His poise on the podium is sure to make any Patriot-doubters skeptical.
Beginning at noon the New York Giants will take the podiums with their swagger on full blast. Expect most questions to be directed towards elite Eli Manning, as well as the energetic defensive line. Tom Coughlin will be asked a billion questions about how he plans on stopping the Patriot offense, and he will most likely differ all of them.
Media day is an excellent tradition and adding the fans to the experience is a bonus. Don’t take it for too much, though, the focus is on Sunday.
#ProBowl
January 26th, 2012Not as if the Pro Bowl was ever an uptight environment, but this year, the NFL is taking relaxed to the next level by allowing players to tweet from the sidelines. I have always been a proponent of keeping your head in the game, but I guess I could set that aside for a game such as this. Read the rest of this entry »
Great Super Bowl Commercials
January 31st, 2012At 3.5 million dollars per 30 seconds, Super Bowl commercials don’t come cheap. They do however, come with a massive and captive audience, as well as constant post-Super Bowl mention through various news sources and word of mouth. With that being said, I bring to you the five greatest Super Bowl commercials of all time.
The classic Budweiser Clydesdale commercials are an annual favorite. My favorite dates back to the 2005 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
In a more recent ad, Coca-Cola makes light of 2009’s economic downturn, the Simpsons and George Burns take the stage.
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne certainly has his place in advertisement, and Best-Buys move to place him alongside Justin Beiber in last years Super Bowl appealed to a vast audience.
“Wazzup” A Budweiser favorite that sticks around in casual conversation to this day.
And finally, an advertisement to look forward to this year. A two minute and 30 second Honda CR-V commercial. To put it into perspective, this ad costs about 600 CR-V’s to run just once.
Manning vs. Indianapolis Colts
January 31st, 2012Loyalty is one of the most important aspects of sports. Loyalty to the team, fans, and the organization are all crucial aspects of success. But when is it correct to toss loyalty to the wind? In the case of Peyton Manning v. Indianapolis Colts, I would say it is time. The Colts organization has tarnished the relationship too much, and the classic exit by injury has once again taken its toll.
Four Super Bowl Commercials to look out for
January 31st, 2012Super Bowl kickoff is in approximately 123 hours, and the commercials have already begun leaking onto the internet
The first and least original (in my opinion) is Hyundai advertising their new car which is “faster than a cheetah”…real original
With a clever commercial, Audi is following along with the recent vampire trend. Claiming that the new lights on an Audi are strong enough to effectively ‘crash’ a vampire party
This is perhaps my favorite type of commercial. A commercial that has absolutely nothing to do with the product itself. However, it is extremely catchy, funny, and gets just about everybody’s attention. …’Don’t wake up in a roadside ditch’
Last years Volkswagen commercial incorporated Darth Vader and the new Passat. This year, they plan on throwing dogs who can sing Star Wars into the mix?? Hmmm…just a teaser
We look forward to these and other non-car related advertisements at this years Super Bowl. 123 hours till kickoff
Host with the Most
February 2nd, 2012Are you hosting a Super Bowl party this year? The few who are taking on this daunting task have a lot to prepare for. If you don’t want a lame Super Bowl party, your guests are going to need more than the standard pigs in a blanket to be satisfied.
Super Bowl Halftime
February 2nd, 2012
Ever since the Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson mishap, the Super Bowl halftime show has lost its luster. This year, Madonna will take the stage in hopes of resurrecting what the halftime show had lost. Sadly, I feel as if the Super Bowl half time show and Madonna are a perfect fit. Why? They both peaked in the 90’s attempted a comeback, and are far past their prime.
Looking Ahead to March…
February 7th, 2012February is Black History Month, and March is Madness month. On March 11th 65 teams will be selected to compete in the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament. If you are an NCAA basketball fan, there is a few cities and stadiums you cannot afford to miss this year. Read the rest of this entry »
The Ultimate Title
February 7th, 2012With so many different championship trophies in sports, we had to decide which is the most prestigious.
World Cup trophy is the ultimate sports prize. Standing at 14 and one half inches, weighing 11 pounds and made of 75 percent gold, this is the Mack Daddy of trophies. It has only been hoisted by 8 teams, and is available only once every four years. On top of that, the global focus on the World Cup Final is unmatched.
The second best ‘trophy’ in sports is the Green Jacket. Standing at Augusta, being robed by the previous Masters champion must be a feeling unlike any other. Not to mention, it comes with a delicious eight million dollar purse.
My issue with the Gold Medal is that they hand out about 500 of them every two years. However, it shows you are a true world-class competitor, as well as a premier representative of your country.
The fourth most important trophy in sport is the Heisman trophy. At 13.5 inches, it is made out of cast bronze and weighs a whopping 25 pounds. This trophy means you are certainly the best athlete in all NCAA football, and it ensures you will be a candidate to make the big bucks in the NFL.
Only the second team sport trophy to make the list is the Stanley Cup Trophy. It has an incredible amount of prestige associated with it. Skating around the rink with the cup risen above your head, drinking out of it in the locker room- nothing is better in American team sports.
Super Bowl Commercial Wrap-Up
February 7th, 2012This years 2012 Super Bowl commercials were full of studs and duds. And as you would expect, Anheuser Busch, Doritos, and Chevy hold spots at the top of the list. Read the rest of this entry »
The Most Hyped
February 10th, 2012With the buzz in New York around Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin, you have to wonder if this fairytale story can continue. The Knicks are supposed to be centered around Melo and Stoudemire, not an undrafted rookie, right? In his first three starts Lin has had 28, 25, and 23 points respectively. This cant keep up, its not possible. All this improbability has got me wondering, who were some famous sports one-hit wonders. Read the rest of this entry »
Big East Involved in Big Action
February 14th, 2012Memphis and the Big East have officially announced they will be joining forces in 2013. While this is an excellent move for the basketball side of the conference, however this is going to have a huge negative impact the football side of things. Read the rest of this entry »
Were we Wrong About Lin-Sanity?
February 14th, 2012Lin-Sanity; The Lin-derella Story; Lin-vincible, and even Super-Lintendo. If you haven’t heard the hype about Jeremy Lin, you must live in a hole. The incredible story about the undrafted kid out of Harvard has captured the hearts of New Yorkers and, most importantly, the NBA. Lin has scored over 20 in each of his first five games. Can this possibly continue? Read the rest of this entry »
Should Homeschoolers Play on High School Teams?
February 16th, 2012I didn’t even have to read past the title before I was able to form an opinion on this issue. Home-schooled children should absolutely not be allowed to play on public school teams. 13 states already allow this, and the famed Tim Tebow was home-schooled up until college, and we all know how his athletic career bloomed. This negatively effects the school, the competition, and even the team. Read the rest of this entry »
Russian Roulette of Bar Games
February 21st, 2012A New York post article was published online a few weeks ago regarding a lawsuit involving a bar hosting beer pong and a patron of that bar. The 22 year old left the bar after several hours of beer pong, and proceeded to be struck by a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour. Read the rest of this entry »
How did Lin slip through the cracks?
February 21st, 2012This is not another article about Jeremy Lin. Even with Lin’s recent triumph, I still do not think scouts will focus any more on mid-major or small school recruits. Yes, Jeremy Lin is a great story, but his talent is so improbable it will not change years of successful fundamental recruiting principles. Read the rest of this entry »
The Award for Worst Referee’s Goes To…
February 21st, 2012The National Basketball Association has the worst referees in all of professional sports. Granted, NBA referees do have a pretty demanding job, but mostly all of them struggle to be a consistent. Read the rest of this entry »
Is Jeremy Lin a Clone?
February 21st, 2012Is Jeremy Lin a clone? All this Lin-sanity had me researching other NBA athletes who have been in similar situations. What I came upon is not only shocking but creepy. Read the rest of this entry »
Big East Endangerment
February 23rd, 2012With all this current conference re-alignment, experts have the Big East pinned for extinction. However, I do not think they are doomed by any stretch of the matter. All great leaders reference past triumphs and failures and use them to make better decisions in the future. Read the rest of this entry »
Its That Time of Year…
February 23rd, 2012Pitchers and catchers are here! The start of baseball season marks the beginning of a nine-month ride of 160 games played by 32 teams. What are the most interesting things to watch for this season? Read the rest of this entry »
The Next Big Thing?
February 28th, 2012Just like there will never be another Gretzky, Ruth, or Rice, there will certainly never be another Michael Jordan. Nobody can ever compare to what Jordan did; not even Derrick Rose. Many have Rose pinned as the next great NBA superstar; I will not strip him of that title (reluctantly), but he can never top MJ. Read the rest of this entry »
Have a Beer and Relax
February 28th, 2012The Boston Red Sox have been involved in plenty of turmoil lately, most of which resulting in their late season collapse and missing the playoffs. However, with this catastrophic collapse came another controversy; the one that involved starting pitcher Josh Beckett and Jon Lester among others, and their habit of drinking beer on days off or after games. Read the rest of this entry »
Bucket Bracket Part 1/7
February 28th, 2012Over the next few weeks, I will be breaking down each division of the Lynn Sports Management Bucket Bracket in order to determine the best sporting event in the world. For the sake of reference, the four divisions will be titled NorthWest, SouthWest, NorthEast, and SouthEast.
Sports Fan Bucket Bracket Part 2- SouthWest Region
March 1st, 2012Continuing on Lynn University’s “Sports Fan Bucket Bracket”, this week we take on the SouthWest Portion of the bracket. The SouthWest boasts impressive events like the Olympics, NBA finals, Tour De France, and the British Open; among others. Read the rest of this entry »
Tech Football
March 1st, 2012There has been plenty of chatter about Miami lately, whether it be the resurgence of the Marlins, the dominance of the Heat, or the Quarterback situation for the Dolphins. However, there has been little mentioned about SunLife Stadium and its technological plans for the future. Read the rest of this entry »
Championship week brought to you by…Facebook?
March 1st, 2012In an article posted yesterday on LostRemote; it was reported that ESPN will air all 225 championship week games on Facebook via the branch of ESPN3. I don’t know why, but this irks me in all the wrong ways. Read the rest of this entry »
NCAA Bubble Watch- What teams need to do
March 6th, 2012Ok, normally this blog is dedicated to the business side of sports, but with the Selection Sunday looming and Championship Week upon us, we have to talk about bubble teams. Right? Here’s our first installment in the series, what they need to do. Read the rest of this entry »
Mr. Manning- Where are you going?
March 7th, 2012Peyton Manning is maybe the greatest quarterback of our generation. He’s an icon in Indiana (and Tennessee) at the level of Larry Bird and Reggie Miller. Ok, now that it’s been said and the tears from Manning and the afro-ed one have been mopped, let’s talk about Manning’s next stop. Assuming he’s healthy, Manning looks to have his choice of viable suitors. He’s got to choose carefully, this is the twilight of his career and the line between being Joe Montana in Kansas City and Joe Namath in L.A. is thin. No one wants to see a drunk Manning try to place a sloppy kiss on a sideline reporter. Read the rest of this entry »
Top Five NFL Free Agency Storylines
March 13th, 2012A look at the five most interesting free agency story lines around the NFL this offseason Read the rest of this entry »
Opening Round Thrillers
March 13th, 2012With March Madness lurking around the corner; we breakdown the five most interesting matchups of the opening round. Read the rest of this entry »
Hot Spots- Top Tickets and Experiences for the NCAA Tournament
March 13th, 2012Atlanta's the place to be for the Sweet Sixteen
Aww yes! It’s finally time for a little March Madness. For basketball fans everywhere, this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. For those of us, that are lucky enough to get tickets to the games, it’s even more wonderful. Here’s a rundown of the must do experiences for basketball fans and those who like to have fun in the NCAA tournament cities. Read the rest of this entry »
A New Angle on Madness
March 15th, 2012We came across an article recently on thebusinessofsports.com that discussed using March Madness brackets as a marketing tool. The article discussed how an email blast was used to not only attract customers, but in a unique manner. “Company X” invited customers to fill out a free bracket where the winners received Knicks tickets among other prizes. Not only is this an excellent marketing tool, but it has stretched the boundaries of March Madness’ relevance. Read the rest of this entry »
Tournament Questions…Not about the Tournament
March 15th, 2012If you are looking for a good laugh, check out Page 2’s Party of Five discussion about all things March Madness on ESPN.com. These guys asked five questions, each of which poised for a comical response. Here’s my response to these questions. Read the rest of this entry »
NorthEast Bucket Bracket
March 15th, 2012We are back with the NorthEast round of the Lynn University Bucket Bracket. Without further delay, our first round begins with a clean sweep of the Hot Dog Eating Contest by the FIFA World Cup. Read the rest of this entry »
SMG Editor’s Take on ESPN PG 2 Bracket Questions
March 15th, 2012Now, it’s the editor’s turn to take a stab at the questions from ESPN’s Page 2 column Party of Five. Madness ensues! Read the rest of this entry »
Bucket Bracket- Elite Eight
March 20th, 2012Eight teams remain in our interpretation of the Lynn University Bucket Bracket. Only four teams will move on past today. Read the rest of this entry »
Mr. Tebow- Don’t Settle on Jacksonville Yet! You Have Options
March 21st, 2012Would you look at that? Its Tebowmania…again. This time it could not be any further away from football season. With Peyton Manning taking his talents to Mile High, where does the world’s nicest man Tim Tebow end up? Read the rest of this entry »
Tebow Going Green
March 22nd, 2012As of last night, Tim Tebow is a New York Jet. That means he will be playing along with pseudo-star Mark Sanchez, and underneath the wing of Rex Ryan. What does this mean for Tim Tebow’s future? Read the rest of this entry »
Peyton is back and Payton is gone
March 22nd, 2012Yesterday was filled with NFL drama. From Tim Tebow’s trade to Robert Griffin’s pro-day. However, the most riveting news at all was the one year suspension handed down to Sean Payton, the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Read the rest of this entry »
Elway the Gambler
March 22nd, 2012
Elway is hoping this gamble produces a Super Bowl
John Elway is best known for his impressive career with the Denver Broncos, winning two Super Bowls, making 11 Pro Bowls, and being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. However, he is not known for his executive decisions quite yet. Read the rest of this entry »
Whatever fills the stadium…right?
March 23rd, 2012Acquiring a lesser-qualified player based on solely their fan following is an interesting ploy for any team. They do realize that the athletic ability is not available, but they will certainly boost attendance. We have seen this done multiple times before, i.e. Manny Ramirez to the Rays; David Beckham to the Galaxy; and even Michael Jordan to the Wizards. Read the rest of this entry »
Atleast the Agents are happy…
March 29th, 2012Yesterday news broke of the NFL Players Association has lifted the ‘Junior Rule’ from NCAA football. If you are not familiar with this rule, it states that agents cannot contact players until their junior year; their first year of eligibility. Read the rest of this entry »
Bucket Bracket Final Four
March 29th, 2012The first matchup of the Final Four events in our Lynn University Sports Management Bucket Bracket pits the Super Bowl against the Olympics. Many of you may have an issue with my pick, but the Super Bowl is headed to the Championship Round, here’s why: Read the rest of this entry »
Bucket Bracket Championship Matchup
April 3rd, 2012Last night, Kentucky won the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Tonight, Baylor will win the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. More important than both of these games is the game happening right now. The 2012 Lynn University Sports Management Bucket Bracket Championship, deciding the greatest sporting event in the world! Our winner has topped world-renowned events like the Wimbledon, Masters, Daytona 500, Olympics, World Series, NBA Finals, and many more. With that being said, our championship matchup of the Super Bowl and the World Cup was a no brainer for us. The greatest sporting event in the world is….The FIFA World Cup.
It would be mundane to sit here and talk about why the Super Bowl is inferior to the World Cup. Instead, simply praising the utter dominance of the World Cup is due process. From its rich history, its modern following, and heated format; the World Cup is unmatched by any other competition.
The World Cup was founded in 1930. Each year there are hundreds teams eligible to qualify for the World Cup, but only 32 make the finals. The bracket style tournament decides who the greatest soccer country in the World is. 19 World Cup tournaments have been played every four years since 1930. Brazil is the leader in World Cup Championships with five, with Italy trailing close behind with four.
Aside from the rich history, what the World Cup does for the worldliness and nationalism of the human race is incomparable to anything else. Unique to the club-style play of most professional soccer leagues, players play for their home country. This creates an emotional relationship between the players and the fans, rather than a business one. On top of that, the anticipation the World Cup brings is intense. This is not an event that happens yearly, not even once every two years. Once you win a World Cup, it is yours for four whole years. More importantly, once you lose a World Cup…you may never have the chance for another.
I have only watched one World Cup live, and it certainly captivated every piece of me. Even though my home country of the United States had been eliminated early, I still sat atop my cruise ship deck, glued to a projector screen, surrounded by thousands of other passengers, with only the sound of Vuvuzuela’s echoing. I am hardly a soccer fan, but I was emotional about the games from beginning to end. Sometimes even informing my younger siblings on the fundamentals of the game. The World Cup is an event that should not be ignored by anybody for any reason.
The Payton Appeal
April 3rd, 2012Even though we are in the midst of the football offseason, football headlines are still everywhere. The Sean Payton appeal is what’s currently on the table, drawing speculation and headlines from every angle. While Sean Payton certainly has a right to appeal his suspension, it may not be the best decision for the Saints, or the NFL.
Ok, say Sean Payton wins his appeal, and the suspension is cut in half; to eight games. Now what?
Nobody wants to coach a half season; especially the first half. The entire purpose of a coach is to learn from your team’s mistakes and help them get better; which requires adequate time. And what will this cause his players to think of him? After week 8 and the Saints are 5-3, they are going to have a coach jump in who caused a tremendous amount of turmoil for the organization. Trust issues are unavoidable.
If Sean Payton wins his appeal, or it is at least reduced, say goodbye to the possibility of Bill Parcells. The only way Bill Parcells is going to come into New Orleans is if he knows he can take the New Orleans Saints to the Super Bowl, and win. It is not like Parcells is going to have time to coach the youngsters into greatness, or make vast changes to the New Orleans lineup.
Roger Goodell revoking Sean Payton’s suspension would be the softest move in the history of sports. People around the NFL were very excited when Goodell laid down the harsh one year sentence on Payton. This shows that the NFL will absolutely not tolerate any sort of bounty or game play conducive to injury. In my eyes, it was the perfect ‘make-up call” from the pathetic penalty handed to Bill Belichick for the Spygate Scandal.
Hopefully Goodell stands true to his ground, and does not repeal the suspension he originally handed to Peyton. If he needs consulting, he should refer to the public’s reaction of Ryan Braun’s reinstatement. The NFL wouldn’t dare take a softer stance on cheating than the MLB…right?
NFL New! New!
April 4th, 2012
Yesterday, Reebok descended even further into irrelevance by losing their contract with the NFL. Nike has taken over the rights to design and distribute all 32 NFL jerseys. The highly anticipated release of the uniforms came at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time yesterday morning. Although there was concern that the uniforms would lose their tradition and become too much like an Oregon Ducks uniform. All the gripe was for nothing, Nike hardly altered the uniforms. Read the rest of this entry »
Wonderful Wonderlic
April 4th, 2012The Wonderlic Test is a test that has been used since the 50’s to determine an individuals aptitude in basic life skill sets. This test has had many uses over the decades, but most popularly in the NFL Combine. Players are asked to take the test in order to determine if they are ‘smart’ enough to be on an NFL team. Read the rest of this entry »
NBA: Let it be
April 5th, 2012If you want an entirely new perspective on professional basketball in the United States, have a look at the article titled “NBA: Mirror Image of Summer Youth Basketball Programs”. It is a letter from Lindsey McDaniel, an educator, learning designer, and basketball coach. His response exposes me to ideas about the NBA that I have never once considered. Read the rest of this entry »
Firing Petrino was the Right Choice
April 11th, 2012Bobby Petrino, now former head Coach of the University of Arkansas earned $3.5 million a year. This salary is based upon his on-field coaching ability, not his sketchy off field antics. If you are not familiar with the case, Bobby Petrino was riding his motorcycle with colleague Jessica Dorrell. Dorrell is a 25-year-old Razorback student-athlete development coordinator for whom Petrino admittedly had a relationship with that went beyond the workplace. The issue at point here is similar to that of the Ozzie Guillen case. Did Petrino deserve to be fired his ‘immoral’ weekend activities? Read the rest of this entry »
And While We’re Firing People: Can Ozzie Guillen!
April 11th, 2012It’s no surprise that Ozzie Guillen is in the news today, this time for his most severe statement in recent memory. In an interview with Time Magazine, Guillen stated that he loved and admired Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. This morning Ozzie was suspended for five games by the Marlins. Although this was a swift and effective tactic for the Miami Marlins, I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the Miami Heat that is going to be felt by Ozzie. Read the rest of this entry »
Best Fit for Hard Knocks
April 12th, 2012The HBO Special Hard Knocks follows an NFL team through training camp and preseason. Last season HBO followed the Jets. Funnyman Rex Ryan and young quarterback Marc Sanchez certainly made for a drama filled documentary. This season however, Hard Knocks has not selected a team to follow. Read the rest of this entry »
Hard Knocks: Atlanta
April 12th, 2012Adam Schefter has reported that the HBO hit series: Hard Knocks has made an offer to the Atlanta Falcons for this upcoming season. Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons, should take some time to think before he allows this to happen. Here are three reasons why. Read the rest of this entry »
Broadcasting Losing Value
April 13th, 2012Evolution in technology is the all the rage these days, even in sports. In an article posted on Adweek.com, the relevance of expensive broadcasting rights is considered, based on the large number of social platforms emerging as alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »
Ozzie In, Bobby Out
April 13th, 2012Two scandals have been at the center of the sports world for about five days now. Ozzie Guillen made comments professing his love for Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro, and Bobby Petrino crashed his motorcycle and lied about it. Ozzie however, had much better fate in resolving the matter; Petrino was fired. How did this happen? Read the rest of this entry »
Out with the Old?
April 13th, 2012Fenway turns 100 today, a time tested feat most ballparks or stadiums never come close to. New stadiums like Marlins Park are making the news as well. Both young and old stadiums provide unique experiences, but what is better for a fan? Read the rest of this entry »
Party of Five Questions Answered
April 13th, 2012With the recent announcement that ESPN’s PAGE 2 will be shutting down, this may be our last shot at a party of five questionnaire. Let’s make it worth it.
Why “42″ was Everywhere on Sunday, Why it’s Right
April 18th, 2012Sunday marked 65 years since Jackie Robinson’s Major League debut. In honor of this, every player wore the number 42 on their jersey. In an article posted on the popular Sports Law Blog, Howard Wasserman challenges the appropriateness of this type tribute, I rebuke. Read the rest of this entry »
Where to Watch What
April 18th, 2012For our money, baseball is best watched live.
Essentially there are three places to watch sporting events; at home (or friends’ home), at a bar (or restaurant), or live. While each of these locations certainly has its pros and cons, they vary depending on the sport. Taking a look at the four major sports, where would you want to watch them? Read the rest of this entry »
The Tale of The Tape
April 22nd, 2012This upcoming Saturday is one of the biggest fights of the 2012. John ‘Bones’ Jones will face off against Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans at UFC 145. The two fighters have lost a combined 2 matches in their career, making this a match of the century. Read the rest of this entry »
Thursday Night at The Garden
April 24th, 2012The first round of the NHL playoffs has almost come to a completion, with only three spots remaining in the next round. One series that is particularly interesting is the Rangers and Senators matchup. The New York Rangers entered the playoffs as a top seed, but have met their match in the Ottawa Senators. Read the rest of this entry »
Gambling Problems?
April 24th, 2012The NFL recently announced that they would start accepting advertising money from casinos. This move may come as a shock to some in the industry, mainly because no professional league boasts a direct correlation to gambling. However, I see the acceptance of sports gambling to become much more of a social norm in the upcoming years, and the NFL is the catalyst. Read the rest of this entry »
Who’s to Blame in Orlando?
May 22nd, 2012Not all is well in the happiest place on Earth
As the Orlando Magic put the Stan Van Gundy/Otis Smith era to bed, the question some fans and media will ponder is who’s the blame for this mess?
In our blame-laying society, what we don’t want to hear is that everyone is at fault, at least a little, but it’s the truth.
Here’s the blame breakdown: Read the rest of this entry »
NFL-Referee Agreement- 5 Things You Need to Know
October 1st, 2012After three weeks and 48 lengthy regular season games of embarrassment, missed calls, and questionable interpretation of the rules, the regular refs are back! The negative backlash from Monday’s game resulting in a loss of the Green Bay Packers to the Seattle Seahawks undoubtedly pressured the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell into insuring a deal was made with the NFLRA. A tentative eight year deal was signed just in time for the Thursday night throw-down between the Browns and the Ravens. Here are five things everyone should know even if you don’t like football (blasphemy, I know). Read the rest of this entry »
5 First Ballot Hall of Famers Currently Playing
October 19th, 2012What does it take for a football player to be a First Ballot Hall of Famer? In addition to impressive statistics, players must demonstrate a certain leadership ability that their teammates respond to. These are characteristics that cannot be taught or learned; they are a form of intelligence all their own that separate the truly great players from the good ones. Here is a list of current NFL players that will one day be First Ballot Hall of Famers:
- Tom Brady- A true leader is someone who never gets rattled by the opposition and plays his absolute best when it matters most. Brady has orchestrated countless come from behind victories and turned even more two-minute drill situations into touchdowns; whether it is a regular season game or the Super Bowl. In his 10 years as a starter, Brady has amassed an incredible five Super Bowl appearances with three victories, as well as being named MVP of two Super Bowls and two regular seasons. Also the record holder for most single-season touchdown passes, Brady’s individual accomplishments combined with the success of his team make him an obvious First Ballot Hall of Famer.
- Peyton Manning- In terms of statistics and individual accomplishments, no quarterback in the NFL today is as decorated as Peyton Manning. A Super Bowl MVP and champion in 2007, an 11 time pro-bowler, four-time regular season MVP, and six-time AFC Player of the Year, Manning was the face of the Indianapolis Colts organization for 13 years. Manning also threw for 50,000 yards, 4,000 completions, and 400 touchdowns faster than any other quarterback in history. Regardless of how he performs in Denver after his cervical fusion procedure, Manning has already solidified himself as a First Ballot Hall of Famer.
- Eli Manning- Several years younger than his big brother, Eli Manning could sit atop this list before his career is over. Already a two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP, Manning is one of only five quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl championships and likely has a lot of time left in his pro career. Although his statistics don’t compare to Peyton’s, Eli has played his best when it matters most, setting records for most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a single season (15) and most game winning drives in a single season (eight). Whether or not he’s having a good game, giving up is simply not in Eli’s DNA, so you can never completely count the Giants out of a game ‘til the clock runs out.
- Ray Lewis- One of the fiercest competitors to ever play the game of football, Ray Lewis is the true definition of toughness. A Super Bowl MVP and champion in 2001, 13-time Pro Bowler, and two time defensive player of the year, Lewis has been the face of the Baltimore Ravens franchise for over a decade. Lewis is also the only player in NFL history with over 40 sacks and 30 interceptions. Ultimately, because he is a defensive player, all that Ray Lewis has done for Baltimore goes way beyond his statistics. His intensity, relentlessness, and toughness allow him to lead by example, and these traits have rubbed off on all of his teammates, defining the culture of Baltimore Ravens football.
- Drew Brees- The heart and soul of the New Orleans Saints is as much of a leader as anyone else on this list. A Super Bowl MVP and champion in 2010, six-time Pro Bowler, and two time offensive player of the year, Brees does not appear to be losing his touch as he makes his way into his mid-30’s. Brees is coming off a season in which he set new NFL records for most passing yards (5,476), most completions (468), and highest completion percentage (71.2%). With several seasons of good football left in him, Brees will be one of the league’s top quarterbacks for years to come, and a safe bet to be a First Ballot Hall of Famer when he retires.
NFL: Who Is America’s Team?
May 9th, 2013“America’s Team” is a term that was originally coined in a 1978 NFL films production about the Dallas Cowboys, and since that time the organization that truly deserves this title has always been in question. While some people consider teams with more recent success such as the Chicago Bears or Pittsburgh Steelers to be America’s team, a great deal of people still think of America’s team as the Dallas Cowboys. This has to be due in large part to the brand name that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has turned the franchise into; the Dallas Cowboys’ star is as recognizable as any logo in professional sports. That being said, describing an organization as America’s team has to be based on much more than public recognition, which is why the Green Bay Packers have taken the reigns from the Dallas Cowboys as the new America’s team.
The most important component of America’s team also happens to be the main reason the Dallas Cowboys are out: winning tradition. While Dallas may have more Super Bowl trophies all-time than Green Bay, it’s been almost 17 years since they’ve made it back to the big stage. Since that time the Packers are 2-1 in the Super Bowl, and there’s no question that they look better prepared than the Cowboys to continue that winning tradition for the next five to ten years. Dallas may have built up a winning tradition through the mid 90’s, but since that time it has been an up and down road for the organization without any true franchise players to lean on.
One of the reasons the Dallas Cowboys were originally described as America’s team in 1978 is because the filmmakers felt that the players “appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars,” according to NFL correspondent Simon Samano. While this may have been the case in 1978, the Cowboys have suffered a severe loss of identity since then, with Tony Romo being their only recognizable player to the general public. On the Packers; however, I’d bet a lot of money that Clay Matthews, Aaron Rodgers and B.J. Raji get recognized almost anywhere they go due to their many commercial appearances.
The last aspect in defining America’s team is where the Green Bay Packers really separate themselves from the competition: the long-standing culture and tradition of the organization. One of the first teams to ever play in the NFL and the winners of the first two Super Bowls, the Packers are simply unrivaled in their rich football history. The culture of football in the Green Bay area is something that cannot be taught or rendered anywhere else, as it goes back a long way to when the program was first founded and immediately beloved in the state of Wisconsin. And although the new Cowboys Stadium may be the largest and most impressive stadium in the NFL, the $1.2 billion spent to build it couldn’t buy the charm you find at Lambeau Field.
The New Orleans Hornets are changing their name to the New Orleans Pelicans
May 9th, 2013The brown pelican is the Louisiana state bird and it appears on the state flag and seal, not to mention Louisiana is known as The Pelican State. Now the former Charlotte Hornets who now reside in New Orleans are changing their name to “The Pelicans.” The NBA team will start playing under this nickname as soon as the 2013-2014 season. Owner Tom Benson, who also owns the New Orleans Saints, already owns the rights to the nickname wants to change the team colors as well.
Many fans bashed the new name via Twitter when the news was announced mainly citing that “the pelicans” are not intimidating. They have obviously never been attacked by one like I have. They are some feisty birds and their size is scary when they are flying right at your head. The team also considered Krewe and Brass for nicknames.
Charlotte Bobcat fans are hoping to reclaim their old name. The Hornet franchise left Charlotte in 2002 and was replaced two years later by an expansion team, The Bobcats.
Honestly, I don’t think it really matters what they call themselves as long as they prove themselves on the court. That is what really matters. Some fans said they were concerned about resigning Anthony Davis when his contract is up with a name change but I am sure he will follow the money.
As the NFL Turns- The Coaching Carousel
January 8th, 2013Last year we bantered about where then coaching free agent Jeff Fisher should go next. At the time he only had a few places to choose from with St. Louis being the lucky winner. This year hot coaching commodity was Oregon head coach Chip Kelly. And the NFL’s most recent black Monday yielded him plenty of choices. We all know that Cleveland, Philadelphia and Buffalo were the leading suitors but as we did last year, we will evaluate each job opening and grade out the best situation.
Once again, there are four ways to judge out which head coaching job is the best: Read the rest of this entry »
Should the Catholic Schools Leave the Big East?
December 13th, 2012The seven Catholic, non-football schools in the Big East are currently writing the latest chapter in the long novel about NCAA conference realignment. Early Thursday morning the presidents from DePaul, Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, and Seton Hall had a teleconference with Big East commissioner Mike Aresco, in which they collectively stated that they are leaning towards an exit from the Big East, although this move is not official yet. So with the last remnants of a once-great basketball conference on the verge of leaving, college basketball fans are now asking a great deal of questions: Is this really the best move for the seven Catholic schools? And what would happen to the rest of the Big East?
As much as it normally kills me to see a school or group of schools uproot their tradition and abandon their long-time conference rivals, leaving the Big East would be the best thing for these seven schools, hands down. With most of the other basketball powerhouses in the Big East either gone already or on their way out, the Big East has acquired several new school to replace them, none of which have very strong basketball teams. This has made the seven Catholic schools concerned that a lack of talent depth across the league will hinder their strength of schedule, and therefore make it more difficult to obtain NCAA tournament bids.
So where would the seven Catholic schools go? According to Notre Dame Basketball coach Mike Brey, the presidents of each university have been discussing the possibility of creating a national Catholic conference consisting of these seven schools plus Xavier, Creighton, Saint Louis, Dayton, Gonzaga, and Saint Mary’s. This would form arguably one of the deepest basketball conferences in the country, as any of these thirteen teams are a legitimate threat to make a run in the NCAA tournament each year. Look for the presidents of each Catholic Big East university to get these plans finalized before they ultimately decide to leave the Big East.
Essentially, the future of the Big East could be decided by these seven Catholic schools. According to the Big East bylaws, the conference can be dissolved by a two thirds majority vote of member universities, and these schools make up 7 out of 10 members with voting privileges (Temple doesn’t have a vote on dissolution of the league). In this case, remaining members UConn, South Florida, and Cincinnati would all be forced to join other conferences, as would the universities currently set to join the Big East in 2014. If the Catholic schools decide not to dissolve the conference, the Big East will likely seek out other universities to fill the void they leave behind.
Northern Illinois: Good or Bad Move for Orange Bowl?
December 5th, 2012This season of college football has culminated in a similar fashion as years past: conference championships were played, the bowl week schedule was released, and fans responded with relentless bashing of the BCS ranking system. It’s becoming quite a tradition, really. Small conference teams with impressive records feel robbed of a chance to play on the big stage, while others complain that conference champions receive too much praise from the ranking system. But the BCS ranking system occasionally helps out a team in a mid-level conference, and this year Northern Illinois is the beneficiary. The Huskies will travel to the Orange Bowl to take on ACC champion Florida State, and in doing so they become the first ever MAC team to play in a BCS bowl. But is this a good move for the Orange Bowl?
All things considered, and contrary to the opinions of many college football fans, putting Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl was potentially a great move for this historic bowl game. Call me crazy if you want, but first let me explain my reasoning.
The first thing that came to my mind when I heard about this year’s Orange Bowl matchup was the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Boise State. This was the first time that Boise State had ever played in a BCS bowl, and although they were 12-0 and the ninth ranked team in the country, nobody thought of them as a legitimate opponent for Oklahoma. Long story short, the game went into overtime, Boise State won on a trick play, and this win is now regarded as one of the greatest upsets in the history of college sports. Just because Northern Illinois doesn’t play in a major conference does not mean they should be taken lightly by Florida State. As far as we know, this might be the big break that they’ve long been waiting for.
Think back to the 2011 BCS championship game between Oregon and Auburn. The anticipation of that game was incredible; two teams loaded with offensive talent, neither of which had ever played in the BCS championship before. And while the 2012 BCS championship between LSU and Alabama looked much more intriguing on paper, television viewership dropped by 14% from the previous year. During bowl week, fans want to see matchups between unfamiliar opponents that nobody could have anticipated at the beginning of the season. Not matchups between the same low-scoring, ground and pound football teams they’ve been watching during primetime all season long.