Money Poorly Spent
In Baltimore, says the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell, money has bought nothing but mediocrity.
“The Orioles illustrated how, year after year, you can find ways to spend more money but win fewer games… . For the last three seasons, the Orioles were so internally conflicted, in their muted passive-aggressive way, that their dugout seemed as quiet as a study hall. `Do Not Disturb: Rich Guys Getting Beaten.”’
Poetry in motion
Statistics aside, don’t even begin to compare the Baltimore Ravens defense with that of the 1986 Chicago Bears, says Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News.
“If (Ray) Lewis is Mike Singletary or Tony Siraguso is Dan Hampton, I am Emily Dickinson.”
Getting to know you
Youngstown State defeated Northern Iowa 79-76 in double overtime Dec. 22 for fifth place at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.
Both teams had the next week off before opening play Friday in the Oneida Bingo and Casino Classic in Green Bay, Wis. Against each other.
That’s right. Seven days and 70 degrees later, the Panthers and Penguins met again.
“I guess we’ll have plenty of tape to watch,” Youngstown State coach John Robic said after their first battle.
Youngstown won the second matchup 54-46.
`L’ is for loser
Each of John Feinstein’s books on college basketball has brought characters into the mainstream of the sport.
In his latest, “The Last Amateurs,” Feinstein spends a season in the Patriot League, giving a look at a league where scholarships are not the norm and thoughts of NBA careers are almost nonexistent.
The best seller has already created a new cult hero among college basketball fans in former Holy Cross player Chris Spitler.
Spitler was a walk-on to the basketball team as a junior, when coach Bill Raynor told him he was on the team because of his attitude and work ethic but he would not play.
Midway through the season, the Crusaders were in last place in the Patriot League. Spitler was reading a basketball magazine and it ranked the Patriot League last among the 31 Division I conferences and it got Spitler to thinking.
“Let’s see, if I’ve got this straight. I’m the worst player on the worst team in the worst conference in Division I. Wow! I’m the worst Division I player in the whole country!”
The last word
“Remember when Bill Walsh said Jake Plummer would be the next Joe Montana? Well, at this rate Plummer won’t even be the next Butte, Montana.” - Tony Kornheiser in the Washington Post.