A Potpourri of Sports Items

Here are five interesting stories to start the second month of 2010.

You’re my boy, Red!

I’m officially a college hoops junkie the second I start a blog entry with the topic of Ivy League basketball. Last week, I complained about Temple being in the Top 15—now I think Cornell isn’t getting the respect it deserves.

The Big Red (18-3) slid into the rankings at No. 25 this week, having just disposed of an accomplished Harvard squad by 36 points! Their only three losses are to two Big East teams (Seton Hall and Syracuse) and to the nation’s No. 1 (Kansas) after leading late at Phog Allen.

Chances are Cornell will end the year at 28-3 (with 10 Ivy League tilts remaining) and for a team in that conference to put up over 76 points per game is an accomplishment by itself. I’m curious to see if they can crack that total against Princeton next week—when there could be a combined 10 possessions in the first half.

Powder Blue isn’t in Style

Before we move away from college basketball, let me just add that it warms my heart to see that North Carolina (13-8, 2-4 in ACC) isn’t even receiving a vote in this week’s ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Roy Williams asked if it “could get any worse” for his Tar Heels after a blowout loss at home to Virginia. Yeah Preacher Roy, it must be tough winning two national titles in five years.

Stop picking on Rex

Maybe it’s because his father had a big mouth as he was cultivating the “46 Bear” NFL defense, but the media seems to have something against New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. Yes, it probably wasn’t a good idea to flip the bird to Miami Dolphins fans in public but the infatuation with his bad-boy attitude continues.

Do people want every coach to turn into Bill Belichick and never say anything substantive? With these kinds of crackdowns, any ounce of personality a coach possesses will be sucked out quickly.

Channing Frye?

As a college basketball guy, I don’t like the style of basketball played in the pros. It’s slow, boring and there’s no defense. And to add further insult to rudimentary issues, a center (who was OKAY on his University of Arizona teams) is going to take part in this year’s 3-point contest.

Somehow, Channing Frye sits at second in the league in shots made from distance (114). He’s certainly a system beneficiary (even with a new coach in Phoenix). 6’11”, 245 pounds and playing under 30 minutes per game—yep, sounds like someone who deserves to take part in an All-Star weekend SHOOTING event.

Early Baseball Tidbit

Just to take a quick look into the free agent market in Major League Baseball (while pitchers and catchers report in a couple weeks), I’m excited to see the Seattle Mariners building a formidable team out in the AL West.

Seattle signed Ryan Garko today—who can provide some pop to an already solid Mariners lineup.

Don’t forget they’ll have the best one-two in baseball with Cliff Lee and “King Felix” Hernandez.

Who says February is a boring sports month? March Madness notes will stream in soon.