I should have known better than to kick dirt on Rick Pitino’s Bruno Maglis yesterday…On the verge of consecutive trips to the NIT, all Pitino’s Cards did last night was go to Pittsburgh and kick sand in the face of the Big East’s resident bully. U of L got fine play from oft-injured David Padgett and prodigal freshman Derrick Caracter, as the duo combined to outplay Pitt’s All-America candidate at center, Aaron Gray. Louisville’s 2-3 zone forced the Panthers into 3-21 shooting from behind the arc and a putrid 35% for the night overall. The big win on hostile soil almost assures the Cardinals of ten Big East wins and twenty victories overall, tallies that should bring a NCAA tourney bid for Slick Rick and company.
It hit the wires last night that Marty Schottenheimer had finally lost his power struggle with general manager A.J. Smith. Schottenheimer, with 200 wins in his career, was sent packing after a 14-win season. He and Smith have barely spoken over the last year, and apparently the losses of coordinators Cam Cameron (new head coach of the Miami Dolphins) and Wade Phillips (new lackey for Jerry Jones in Dallas) upset the delicate balance being struck in San Diego. This isn’t the first time that a power struggle between a coach and a GM has resulted in one of the parties losing their job, but it might be the most ridiculous. For all of the criticisms of his postseason record, Schottenheimer is a marvelous coach, and despite the fact that Smith seems to be a petty smartass, he has done a fabulous job of building an outstanding football team. Theirs may not have been a happy marriage, but results would indicate Smith and Schottenheimer could have continued to be successful together. I suppose if forced to pick a side, I’d pick Schottenheimer. Personnel isn’t easy, but it’s a hell of a lot easier than winning 200 football games in the NFL. And Smith should know that. He should have dropped his ego and done whatever it took to appease one of the great coaches in the NFL. Sources close to the situation say not to expect Bill Cowher to get a phone call from the Chargers as he and Schottenheimer are very close friends. Speaking of Cowher, there are many who have speculated that after a year off, he might get a phone call from the Cleveland Browns if they fire Romeo Crennel after the 2007 season. But here’s a more interesting scenario…how about if the Browns give Marty a call to return to the city where he had his greatest success???…and where his playoff demons first materialized. Expect the Chargers to pick up the phone and call Ron Rivera, the Bears defensive coordinator, even though he’s not a 3-4 guy (the Chargers base the last few years). And if that doesn’t work out…somebody call Don Coryell….
As many of you already know, the Dixie Chicks won five Grammys on Sunday night. It was a coronation of sorts, as they appear to have been martyred into becoming the latest and greatest protest singers in American history. They were even introduced at the Grammys by Joan Baez. And somewhere Jane Fonda wept.
I was reading an AP report today about the still-frayed relationship between the Chicks and country music radio, and based on their comments Sunday night, the Chicks aren’t country anymore anyway. Good to know. But I’d just like to thank everybody who boycotted the Dixie Chicks and turned them into national heroes for having an opinion. Nice job. Look, did I like hearing that Natalie Maines ripped the President at a London concert? No, I didn’t. But she is a country music (no matter what she says) entertainer. I could give a damn what she thinks about anything. Nobody else should care either. But since people cared so much that several yahoos issued death threats and the country music establishment (where the hell is this so-called establishment anyway? Do they have a clubhouse or something?) cut them off entirely, refusing to play their music and leading boycotts of their concerts, they became oppressed darlings of the left. And now, with popular opinion in the country swinging heavily to their side, they look like political geniuses and true Americans who stood up for what they believed. Gakkk. Give me a break. Maines mouthed off, they got smacked in the head for it, and they hung around long enough to receive credit they don’t deserve. This is what happens every single time people put any stock into something a ‘celebrity’ says.
I’ll be honest with you. I enjoy the Dixie Chicks music. Always have. I think they are remarkably talented, and I love their last album, including their in your face ‘Not Ready to Make Nice’ that helped them haul in all of the hardware Sunday night. I could care less that they don’t care for George W. Bush. They may drive around with Ted Kennedy bumper stickers on their tour bus. They may revere Hillary Clinton. They may all have secret crushes on Al Gore. None of it matters to me. Just like I wouldn’t care if they loved George W. Bush, went hunting with Dick Cheney, worshipped Rudy Giuliani, and shared diet tips with Mike Huckabee. They are freakin’ country music entertainers!!! I don’t turn to Britney Spears for advice on underwear, I don’t seek Paris Hilton for moral fiber, and I don’t look up the Dixie Chicks for political or social direction. And neither should anybody else.
Finally, two last notes. One, Huntington High School issued a three-game suspension for OJ Mayo in wake of the RefereeGate saga, forcing me to recognize Huntington principal Greg Webb as an administrator who has forced his star athlete to be accountable for his actions. I gave Webb and his fellow administrators for doing nothing; now I must acknowledge his action and revoke his contempt status here at The High Court. You know he will be relieved. And…I would like to recognize the return of my good friend leftygolfer to The High Court audience. He just posted a comment on my rant directed at the FedEx Cup a few weeks back, and I believe it is worth a read for everyone. Good to have you back, lefty…
Chief,
Cold rainy days bring out the best in you to hit so many subjects at once. This biggest thing I got from today Verdict is that I am very happy for you, that you do not turn to Britney Spears for underwear Tips and Tricks.
On the Dixie Chicks, in my humble opinion who cares? I listen to very little music and what they call country today is not country. Toby Keith maybe the only one worried about them. I feel the RNC has bigger problems to worry about, like can Rudy whip Hill’s in a debate and make the soccer mom’s love his dour demeanor
The story that got me today is Martyball is out. You are right, A.J.’s ego got in the way. If owner Spano was going to fire Marty which is his right, he signs the checks; he should have done it earlier like January 17th when he gave Marty the dreaded vote of confidence. From sitting 2500 miles away Smith a whiner, Marty’s getting old so Spano took the young kid. For coaches don’t forget June Jones out in Hawaii and he has a defensive Coordinator by the name of Jerry Glanville (Elvis you tickets are at the will call window)
Chief,
If Dixie Chicks aren’t a country act they should win 6 Academy Awards for portraying one……because that sure as hell sounds like country to me….My question is this, aside from tapping into the American dream for themselves what have they really done for this country? Answer: Nothing….