Dave Smith

Last season, with USC leading Stanford by 28 points late in the 4th quarter, the Cardinal were near the Trojan goal line and attempting to score a face-saving TD. With the clock running out, Jim Harbaugh called time out, in order to try and score and make the loss more respectable….

Furious at an opponent daring to challenge his superiority and not bend to his will, Pete Carroll responded by putting his starting defensive unit back on the field; in order to 1) Stop the Cardinal from sacoring a meaningless TD and 2) Teach Harbaugh a lesson about who his daddy was….

Being a fierce competitor, Harbaugh filed this in his memory bank and when the chance for revenge came this season, he didn’t hesitate to stick it to Carroll and the Trojans; going for two points with a 48-21 lead in the fourth quarter. After the final seconds ticked off on the Cardinals 55-21 win, the coaches met at midfield and Carroll angrily said to Harbaugh, “What’s your deal?” To this, the Cardinal coach responded “What’s yours?”….

Reminds me of 1985, when the Bears were playing the World Champion 49ers in San Francisco. The year before, as San Francisco was closing out Chicago in the NFC title game, Bill Walsh put offensive lineman Guy McIntyre at fullback; to lead block as the 49ers scored again….

Since the game had long been decided, Ditka took this as Walsh intentionally trying to embarrass him and vowed revenge….

The following season, as the Bears were winning easily in San Francisco, Ditka saw a chance to stick it to Walsh and inserted William “The Refrigerator” Perry at fullback near the goal line. The result was another TD and a phenomenon was born….

After Carroll embarrassed Harbaugh in Palo Alto the year before, he shouldn’t have been suprised Stanford attempted to run up the score on him two weeks ago. Especially knowing that Harbaugh is a hard nosed, tough guy….

At his initial press conference before his first season, Harbaugh boldly announced he wasn’t afraid of USC and was going to beat them; which happened later that year when 41-point underdog Stanford pulled off the biggest upset in NCAA history at the Coliseum….

Carroll was probably shocked at the temerity of the young coach who dared challenge his great Trojans….

Remembering that Carroll took great offense at Harbaugh attempting a two-point conversion with a 27-point lead, it was suprising to see what Carroll did with :44 remaining in the fourth quarter against UCLA….

With Troy up 21-7 and less than a minute remaining, USC QB Matt Barkley took a knee, attempting to run out the clock. But Rick Neuheisel had three time outs remaining and used one ofter the first kneel down. Down by two touchdowns, I knew what he was thinking: He could get the ball back with around 40 seconds left, throw a bomb for a TD, successfully recover an onside kick and then throw another bomb to send the game into O.T….

He could relive 1965 all over again, when Gary Beban threw two late strikes to defeat Mike Garrett and John McKay; keeping Troy out of the Rose Bowl….

Since UCLA has an inept offense, however, the chances of them scoring once were near zero. Scoring twice would have been mathematically impossible….

Offended that the Bruins didn’t simply lay down and accept defeat, Carroll then ordered a pass deep downfield, which resulted in a humiliating TD….

I know that Neuheisel calling time out meant he didn’t think the game was over, but Carroll throwing deep in that situation was classless and unnecessary. And since fellow Pac-10 coaches already don’t like Pete and think of him as phony and arrogant, he can look forward to all of them doing the same to him one day….

But if the call was unnecassary, the way Carroll and his team responded to the score was even more classless. After the score, Carroll ran around like a teenager, high fiving his coaches and then pointing toward the UCLA sideline. His players then taunted the Bruins by pointing, shouting, laughing and walking toward midfield to further humiliate their cross town rivals….

UCLA, of course, responded by walking to midfield and it looked like we might have an ugly brawl….

As a lifelong USC fan and admirer of Carroll, I was embarrassed by this total lack of class. They had the game won and there was no need to humiliate the Bruins….

John McKay would never have allowed his team to behave that way and Carroll should be ashamed….

Explaining his decision by calling himself “a competitor” is absurd. It was simply a blatant attempt to humiliate and embarrass….

And also hypocritical, considering two weeks ago Carroll was indignant someone did it to him….

Here’s what Pete should have done: Since Neuheisel was attempting to extend the game and wasn’t going to allow Troy to run out the clock, Carroll should have either called a couple of running plays or maybe a short pass to make a first down. Then, with UCLA out of time outs, he could have taken a knee and run out the clock….

Had Troy broken a long run for a TD, Slick Rick would have nothing to complain about, since he was the one extending the game….

But calling a play action pass and throwing deep was wrong; and the reaction of Pete and his players should be an embarrassment to all USC fans….

What’s your deal, Pete?….

With reports all over the internet that Tiger Woods is cheating on his wife, two thoughts crossed my mind: 1) I hope it’s not true and 2) If it is true, how could Tiger be stupid enough to get involved with a homewrecking, gold digging skank like Rachel Uchitel….

If Eldrick is going to get a little on the side, he has to be smart enough to either find a top-end call girl or someone out of the limelight….

I’d never heard of Uchitel before this morning, but when I googled her all that came up was “party girl” and “infamous for sleeping with famous, married men.” With all the resources Tiger has, couldn’t he have had someone look into her background before allegedly diving in?….

It just goes to show that men, no matter how rich or talented, have no control when it comes to our penises….

Throughout history, it hasn’t been great armies who brought down empires; or treachery, treason, financial crashes or anything else you can think of. In most cases, it’s been a blonde bimbo with big boobs….

Why is it that a man can be brilliant when it comes to business and such an idiot when it comes to sex? Rich, powerful men tend to be ruthless in business and would sell out their mother for a quick buck. They enjoy destroying the competition and laugh while they’re bleeding….

But then they lose all common sense and put their entire fortune at stake for a young piece of tail….

It happens time after time, but men never learn….

I guess the only reason we work hard and acquire wealth is for the payoff; an endless parade of young, stupid, pretty girls willing to sleep with us. What good is a big house, jets and expensive cars without using it to score beautiful women?

Hopefully, if any of this is true, Tiger made Elin sign an air tight pre-nup and he can either A) grovel, cry, beg for forgiveness and hope his wife takes him back or B) Get out of this thing with most of his money, due to the pre-nup….

But if was as dumb as Kobe Bryant and walked down the aisle without the pre-nup, God help him. He’s looking at the most expensive settlement in American history….

As for Rachel Uchitel, there’s not much positive to say about her, according to what I’ve read. Most of it describes her being out on the town, partying and having sex with married men….

According to the New York press, she lost her fiance on 9-11, which was a tragedy….

But she certainly seems to have gotten over the heartbreak….

Evidently, she traveled to Australia during the Australian Open and stayed in the same hotel as Tiger. When confronted by the press, she said it was coincidental she was there and was traveling with her boyfriend. When she admitted that was a lie, all hell broke loose….

Another curious aspect is Rachel isn’t even that hot, certainly not in Elin Nordegren’s class. She seems to have a good body and any one of us would do her, but the boobs are fake and all the years of partying seem to have taken their toll. Her face looks tired, haggard and worn out….

One thing working in Woods’ favor is that his wife is European; which means she probably is a lot more understanding and open about these things. Mistresses and affairs go on all the time over there, and nobody seems to care….

And Elin is Swedish, which makes things even better for Tiger. Those girls are about as open and cool as it gets….

One thing’s for sure; had Elin been American Tiger’s balls would already be hanging from his golf bag and the divorce lawyers would be talking deal….

Tiger Woods is living the dream. He is the arguably the greatest athlete in the world and one of the greatest of all time. He’s still in his early 30’s, is closing in on being a billionaire, has maybe the prettiest woman in the world as his wife and has two beautiful kids….

Why he would risk it all to allegedly take up with this skank is inexplicable….

Unless you have a penis….

Source: Gambler claims 13 referees involved in NBA betting scandal
BOSTON — A source tells 7Sports that the gambler at the center of the 2008 NBA betting scandal says 13 referees were involved.

Jimmy “The Sheep” Battista pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transmit wagering information in connection with disgraced NBA official Tim Donaghy and served 15 months in federal prison.

The source also tells 7Sports that Battista claims he has the phone records to prove his contact with these 13 referees.

Donaghy served 15 months in federal prison for providing inside tips on NBA games to a professional gambler in exchange for money.

When the scandal broke in June of 2008, NBA commissioner David Stern called Donaghy a “rogue, isolated criminal.”

The source tells 7Sports that Battista says he had a “Big-5″ of dependable referees with Tim Donaghy being the “King” as Battista called him, who the gambler says delivered a winning bet 78 percent of the time in games he officiated.

The 7Sports source says that on December 12, 2006, the night before the Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers, Battista says he met with Donaghy and a mutual high school friend.

On that night, the gambler claims they made a deal which according to Battista involved Donaghy supplying information including injury reports and referee assignments and Battista making the bets.

The source says that according to Battista, the first game the two men bet on together was the Celtics-76ers game the following night — a game Donaghy officiated and one the Celtics covered with ease.

The Celtics were 1 1/2 point favorites, but with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, the score was tied.

The Celtics would eventually go on to win by 20 points.

The source says Battista is making these claims as he works to finalize a tell-all book deal.

Reaction: Obviously, a guy named Jimmy “The Sheep” Battista, who served 15 months in prison, must be looked on suspiciously. He’s trying to sell books and anything he claims must be taken skeptically….

Also, the story claims “sources,” which also must be examined closely before accepted as fact….

But I’ve claimed from Day One that Donaghy had plenty of help from his fellow officials and didn’t believe for a second he acted alone. I also thought Stern covered up the truth by launching such a quick and NBA-friendly investigation. After about five minutes, the Commissioner concluded Donaghy was a “rogue official who acted alone.”….

This thing had cover up and cover-my-ass written all over it and Stern is finished if the story is true….

Can you imagine the fallout if indeed 13 referees were involved? The NBA would have no more credibility than professional wrestling and they might as well have the coaches hitting opposing players over the head with chairs….

While the referee has his back turned, Phil Jackson could slip Kobe a pair of brass knuckles. Then, the Zenmaster would create a diversion by yelling and screaming at the zebras. While they went to calm him down, Kobe would then coldcock Tim Duncan with a brass-knuckle enhanced right cross; followed by him taking the ball and dunking….

If Battista can indeed produce phone records and Donaghy backs him up, there’s no place Stern can hide. He will have been caught lying, covering up evidence and obstructing a criminal investigation….

Hell, he might be facing prison time….

But let’s hold off until all the facts are in, because what we have now is an ex-con running his mouth….

But holy s***, if this is true….

In a related story, this just in from Yahoo NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski, via his twitter page:

“The NBA has banned former Sacramento scouting director Jack Mai for betting on league games, including the Kings, league source tells Yahoo….”

Commissioner Stern must be in state of panic. A scouting director has all kinds of inside information regarding injuries, game plans, tendencies, players and coaches fighting, etc. And who’s to say he wasn’t on the phone with other scouting directors, GM’s, referees, players, coaches, scouts, announcers, trainers; exchanging info and planning to win big?….

If this turns out to be bigger than one guy, which it has to be, it’s another dark day for the Commissioner….

It will be interesting to see how Stern handles this one. Will he claim Mai is “a rogue scouting director, acting alone?” The laughter following this will be heard all over the world….

In closing, my best wishes to all of you for your support and I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving….