So yesterday I finally gave up on Gary. Today, the Baltimore Sun reports that Gary and the MD Athletic Department are publicly sparring over the two recruits MD lost over the summer. It's bad enough that the Terps can't compete on the court, but know they have to fight off it?
Understand that Gary tried to pull rank here, citing his 20 years as head coach and his title, then insulted the deputy AD. Why would the deputy AD be addressing Gary publicly you ask? Becasue the AD, Debbie Yow, is mourning the loss of her sister, NC State coach Kay Yow, to breast cancer over the weekend. Read that last sentence again. I'll wait. Gary insulted the deputy AD, who is filling in for a grieving sister. How low class can you get?
To top it off, MD announced today that Jin Soo Kim, the first Korean to play Division I basketball, ineligible for the spring semester. So not only can Gary not keep his players competitive ON the court, he can't keep them eligible to play at all. Coming on the heels of Chris McCray not being enrolled in the minimum number of classes (that would be 1), we have a major problem here.
While Gary restored honor to a school that had lost plenty after Bob Wade took over from Lefty, he is now returning the Terps to that Wade level- uncompetitive and academically fraudulent.
28 January 2009
27 January 2009
Disappointment
I think the saying goes something like" if it happens twice it's a coincidence. If it happens three times it's a pattern", or some such thing. Well, after tuning in to the second half of the Mayland game tonight vs. Boston College (against my better judgement- I watched the first half of the Duke debacle on Saturday), I have come to this conclusion: Maryland sucks. How the Terps fell from National Champions in 2002 to NIT first round elimination locks in 2009 is beyond me.
But I do know this: If Maryland is up by double digits at halftime, they will lose. Maryland has now blown that big of a lead 4 times in the last 5 games (the 5th game being vs Duke, when they almost didn't SCORE double digits.) Miami, Florida State, Virginia, and now BC. While they rallied to beat UVA, they squandered huge leads in the other games. This is unacceptable. I can deal with MD not having the horses to keep up with the UNC's and Duke's of the world, losing to basketball also-rans after blowing huge leads is the final straw.
Gary must go.
But I do know this: If Maryland is up by double digits at halftime, they will lose. Maryland has now blown that big of a lead 4 times in the last 5 games (the 5th game being vs Duke, when they almost didn't SCORE double digits.) Miami, Florida State, Virginia, and now BC. While they rallied to beat UVA, they squandered huge leads in the other games. This is unacceptable. I can deal with MD not having the horses to keep up with the UNC's and Duke's of the world, losing to basketball also-rans after blowing huge leads is the final straw.
Gary must go.
20 January 2009
Inauguration Day
Finally, we have a president who doesn't mangle the English language! While Chief Justice Roberts tried his best to flub the one sentence oath of office, President Obama (the oath started at 4 minutes past noon, making him the president already, as per the Constitution) stood there and smiled at the gaffe. He seemed genuine, a figure of respect- a sharp contrast to the ill-timed smirks and defensive posture of his predecessor. It made me very happy.
I hope that the next four years bring to this country all of the things Obama has to offer, including a dialogue on race. I will never call Obama the country's first black president, mostly because he's not black. He is our first mixed race president that looks like a minority. Symbolically, that means a lot, but I hope that the discussion of how we define race is what comes of it. I know I've ranted on this before, but I feel we close ourselves in by trying to place into one box or another citizens of this country that come from all backgrounds.
A place to start is the Census. Taken every ten years, the census measures the country on many things (number of TV's, household income, mismatched socks) and race is one of those boxes. There is no box for mixed race (my wife says "potpourri," I say mullatto). This needs to change.
The United States is unique among countries in that there is no "native" population (mostly because it was the policy of the Government to exterminate them.) But what of children of mixed race marriages? Which box are they to choose? Why limit them with four choices?
Race is a social construct. The amount of melanin in a human's skin should have no bearng on their place in society. I realize that this sounds ridiculously naive, but if we are not learning from the mistakes and tragedies of the past, then we have failed as a nation.
The founding documents that Obama so eloquently referred to in his Inaugural Address make no mention of race. Shouldn't we adopt their blindness?
I hope that the next four years bring to this country all of the things Obama has to offer, including a dialogue on race. I will never call Obama the country's first black president, mostly because he's not black. He is our first mixed race president that looks like a minority. Symbolically, that means a lot, but I hope that the discussion of how we define race is what comes of it. I know I've ranted on this before, but I feel we close ourselves in by trying to place into one box or another citizens of this country that come from all backgrounds.
A place to start is the Census. Taken every ten years, the census measures the country on many things (number of TV's, household income, mismatched socks) and race is one of those boxes. There is no box for mixed race (my wife says "potpourri," I say mullatto). This needs to change.
The United States is unique among countries in that there is no "native" population (mostly because it was the policy of the Government to exterminate them.) But what of children of mixed race marriages? Which box are they to choose? Why limit them with four choices?
Race is a social construct. The amount of melanin in a human's skin should have no bearng on their place in society. I realize that this sounds ridiculously naive, but if we are not learning from the mistakes and tragedies of the past, then we have failed as a nation.
The founding documents that Obama so eloquently referred to in his Inaugural Address make no mention of race. Shouldn't we adopt their blindness?
16 January 2009
Omissions
When writing my New Year post, I forgot two points I wanted to make.
Myron Rolle- The FS from Florida State won a Rhodes Scholarship, then decided to skip the NFL draft, and go to Oxford. Awesome. He is the shining example of a "student-athlete" that is rare in major college athletics. That he comes from a family of football Rolles is even better. I cannot say enough about this kid. I hope Dallas drafts him in 2010.
Gaza Strip- Let's see, rockets are launched into Israel and kill less than 10 people. So the Israelis bomb the Strip (an ethnic ghetto) and kill hundreds, and the US (which supplies Israel with military items) declares that the Israelis are justified. Hmmm, why do Islamic extremists hate us again? I know that the US will always publicly support Israel, and that the conflict is the thrid rail of world politics, but something has to change. While I do not condone shooting rockets into populated areas, I understand the frustration felt by Palestinians. They live as second-class citizens in a country that was artificially created due to European guilt after WWII. Living conditions are horrible, poverty is rampant, and they look across the (heavily guarded) border and see Israelis living in comparable heaven.
I realize that there are more pressing national security concerns, but can't help but think that the battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims might be made easier if the US didn't blindly support Israel.
Myron Rolle- The FS from Florida State won a Rhodes Scholarship, then decided to skip the NFL draft, and go to Oxford. Awesome. He is the shining example of a "student-athlete" that is rare in major college athletics. That he comes from a family of football Rolles is even better. I cannot say enough about this kid. I hope Dallas drafts him in 2010.
Gaza Strip- Let's see, rockets are launched into Israel and kill less than 10 people. So the Israelis bomb the Strip (an ethnic ghetto) and kill hundreds, and the US (which supplies Israel with military items) declares that the Israelis are justified. Hmmm, why do Islamic extremists hate us again? I know that the US will always publicly support Israel, and that the conflict is the thrid rail of world politics, but something has to change. While I do not condone shooting rockets into populated areas, I understand the frustration felt by Palestinians. They live as second-class citizens in a country that was artificially created due to European guilt after WWII. Living conditions are horrible, poverty is rampant, and they look across the (heavily guarded) border and see Israelis living in comparable heaven.
I realize that there are more pressing national security concerns, but can't help but think that the battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims might be made easier if the US didn't blindly support Israel.
13 January 2009
The New Year
It's a new year, and I have some observations/reflections on 2008 and a look forward to 2009.
2008
NFL- What a disappointing season. I hate to say it, but I hope that Jason Garrett gets offered one of the openings and he takes it. Dallas' offense was terrible all season long, and there needs to be some change. Since JJ won't fire him, I hope for the next best thing. JJ should fire Wade, but he wont. Getting rid of Pacman and Tank is a good start. To be fair, I was all for the trade that brought Pacman to Dallas, but ulimately, he didn't show enough to keep around. And he's a criminal.
Politics- I am glad Bush is (almost) gone. What a disaster.
Entertainment- With more time that I had perviously had now available (due to the birth of my son), I have gotten to watch a rack of movies that I hadn't gotten around to. I was most impressed with a movie that I re-watched recently- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Just outstanding. Casey Affleck should have won the Oscar.
My favorite albums of 2008 are Attack and Release by the Black Keys (and produced by Danger Mouse- I am now officially in the "if Danger Mouse is involved, I'm buying it" camp), Fight With Tools by Flobots, and Dig Out Your Soul by Oasis.
I have also joined the "Trillion Man March"- the followers of a hilarious blog written by a member of the Ohio State men's basketball team. Club Trillion refers to the box score (1 minute played, zeros the rest of the way). Good stuff, even if he does play for a Big Ten school.
2009
Dallas- Having spent their 1st round pick on Roy11 (a trade I would do every day, regardless of his performance this year. From all reports, Roy11 had Mark Price Disease. He'll be healthy next year), Dallas' first pick is #51 (2nd round) but they have 9 overall picks. They need depth at LB, OL, DL, and CB. A fast, field-stretching WR would be nice, but not necessary. I'll have more on this as the draft draws closer.
Like I said before, the biggest changes need to come with the coaching staff. There is no accountablility for players or management for mistakes. That has to change if JJ wants to open his new stadium with a trophy.
Maryland B-ball- I truly don't know how to feel about this team. I am a dyed-in-the-wool ACC fan, and I don't particularly like the grind it out style this team is forced to play due to their lack of offensive fire power. I watched the UNC-Wake game Sunday night, and loved it not only because UNC lost, but the tempo of the game was great. MD can't run like that with this team. Too bad.
2008
NFL- What a disappointing season. I hate to say it, but I hope that Jason Garrett gets offered one of the openings and he takes it. Dallas' offense was terrible all season long, and there needs to be some change. Since JJ won't fire him, I hope for the next best thing. JJ should fire Wade, but he wont. Getting rid of Pacman and Tank is a good start. To be fair, I was all for the trade that brought Pacman to Dallas, but ulimately, he didn't show enough to keep around. And he's a criminal.
Politics- I am glad Bush is (almost) gone. What a disaster.
Entertainment- With more time that I had perviously had now available (due to the birth of my son), I have gotten to watch a rack of movies that I hadn't gotten around to. I was most impressed with a movie that I re-watched recently- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Just outstanding. Casey Affleck should have won the Oscar.
My favorite albums of 2008 are Attack and Release by the Black Keys (and produced by Danger Mouse- I am now officially in the "if Danger Mouse is involved, I'm buying it" camp), Fight With Tools by Flobots, and Dig Out Your Soul by Oasis.
I have also joined the "Trillion Man March"- the followers of a hilarious blog written by a member of the Ohio State men's basketball team. Club Trillion refers to the box score (1 minute played, zeros the rest of the way). Good stuff, even if he does play for a Big Ten school.
2009
Dallas- Having spent their 1st round pick on Roy11 (a trade I would do every day, regardless of his performance this year. From all reports, Roy11 had Mark Price Disease. He'll be healthy next year), Dallas' first pick is #51 (2nd round) but they have 9 overall picks. They need depth at LB, OL, DL, and CB. A fast, field-stretching WR would be nice, but not necessary. I'll have more on this as the draft draws closer.
Like I said before, the biggest changes need to come with the coaching staff. There is no accountablility for players or management for mistakes. That has to change if JJ wants to open his new stadium with a trophy.
Maryland B-ball- I truly don't know how to feel about this team. I am a dyed-in-the-wool ACC fan, and I don't particularly like the grind it out style this team is forced to play due to their lack of offensive fire power. I watched the UNC-Wake game Sunday night, and loved it not only because UNC lost, but the tempo of the game was great. MD can't run like that with this team. Too bad.
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