Click Here to Pick Up Dave Smith's Winning NFL and College Football Picks
 

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Watching the Lakers blow out the Mavericks last night reminded me once again thta no team in the NBA can beat them in a best-of-seven series….

Sure, teams can beat them one at time, but four times in 10 days is a different story….

And, typical of a Phil Jackson team, the Lakers are playing their best basketball just in time for the playoffs….

Another huge plus is the play of Ron Artest, who has come alive in the past few weeks and playing like an All-Star on both ends of the floor…

But the most important player in their quest for a three-peat is Andrew Bynum; because the only way the Lakers don’t win the championship is if he’s not playing….

Even though he’s not all the way back from his off season knee surgery, Andrew’s play of late has been outstanding. He might not be Dwight Howard, but without question Bynum is the second best center in the NBA….

There’s still one thing bothering me, though: Bynum’s teammates continuing to ignore him in the post….

He had 18 points and 13 rebounds last night, but it could easily have been 30 and 20….

Jerry Tarkanian always told his guards that “when you get your big men involved early and get them the ball, they run faster, rebound better, defend harder and give you maximum effort.”….

Very wise advice that the Lakers wing players should follow….

The more I watch Andrew, the more I’m convinced he’s a 20-25P and 15R guy if utilized properly….

That being said, Phil Jackson has done another excellent job coaching these guys….

There’s a reason The Zenmaster has won 11 titles and going for his fourth three-peat; he’s the best I’ve ever seen ay getting star players to buy into his system and play unselfishly….

He also knows how to pace his teams properly and have them hitting on all cylinders come playoff time….

I’ve always said the Mavericks will never win a championship as long as Dirk Nowitzki is their best player. As great a scorer as he is, he’s soft, doesn’t play defense and not a leader….

He’s Pau Gasol….

As the #2 option, Gasol is tremendous; an All-Star and future Hall-of-Famer. But when he’s your best player, as he was in Memphis, his team isn’t going to win….

Same with Dirk, who is a #2 player on a championship team….

A great example of how soft Dirk and the Mave are was during last night’s scuffles…..

When you’re down by over 20 points in a must-win game and Phil has his starters still in the game, there’s no excuse for giving up lay-ups and committing soft fouls….

After the game, TNT analyst Chris Webber was going crazy criticizing the “soft” Mavs, and said if he were the coach Nowitzki would have been fined for not stepping up during the flare-ups….

Sure enough, when they showed the replays, Nowitzki stood by meekly as Kobe Bryany made lay-ups and teammate Jason Terry was involved in a near fight….

Excellent player, Hall-of-Famer for sure, but Nowitzki is not a winner….

With the Kings rumored to soon become the Anaheim Royals, the debate beging on whether the Los Angeles area can support three teams….

Answer: Of course we can….

The population of Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego is about 5 million, so there’s an enormous fan base….

Sure, Orange County is Laker Country and probably always will be, but as the years pass and Orange County has the Royals, that will change….

I remember when Orange County was Dodger country, but now Angels fans outnumber them 100 to one….

During my daily segment on SEN 1116 in Melbourne, I asked the great Mark Fine how many Australian Rules Football teams were in Melbourne….

When I heard the city supports nine teams, I was suprised….

So we should have no trouble supporting three….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With: , ,

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With the United States involved in three wars, our southern border unguarded, crime out of control and our educational system in a shambles, you’d think these issues would be of the upmost importance to our Federal Government….

But I was wrong….

The size of Barry Bonds testicles and his performance in bed are the #1 priority….

On Tuesday, Kimberly Bell took the witness stand and told prosecutors that during their illicit affair Barry’s testicles shrunk and his sexual performance suffered….

Evidently Bell was into some kinky sex and brought a device into bed to measure Barry’s gonads, because how else could she testify in such detail about her man’s testicles?….

Her entire testimony was absurd and in no way proved the government’s assertion that Bonds was lying about steroid use….

Bonds defense team correctly pointed out that Bell was a gold digging skank; accepting expensive gifts from a married man, including several cars, jewelry, airline tickets, breast implants and an $80,000 down payment for a house. Bell made a $110,000 profit when she sold the house, which she claimed was a “second home” on financial records. For this, she should have gone to jail for fraud….

She also wrote a book and accepted a $100,000 offer to pose in Playboy….

In promoting the book, Bell went on a nationwide radio and promotional tour, including the Howard Stern Show….

After hearing all this, the judge should have thrown the case out of court….

The fact remains that without the testimony of Greg Anderson, the Feds have nothing and Bonds will be exonerated….

TesticleGate continues tomorrow….

When Roy Jones won a piece of the Heavyweight Championship in 2003 with an easy decision over John Ruiz, many were comparing him to Sugar Ray Robinson as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time….

HBO’s Max Kellerman even went so far as to call Jones the greatest fighter of all time. This, of course, was ridiculous, because beating a journeyman such as Ruiz should never launch you past Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson , etc….

But had Jones retired after the Ruiz win or stayed at heavyweight and continued to win, he certainly have been in the Top-10 of all time and possibly the Top-5….

And with the Heavyweight division in a shambles, there was no reason, financially or competitively, for Roy to go back down in weight….

Unfortunately, Jones massive ego trumped commeon sense….

After the Ruiz win, light heavyweight contender Antonio Tarver began calling Jones out and challenged his manhood. Instead of ignoring Tarver and keeping him anonymous, Roy went all the way back to 175 to accept the challenge….

Before moving to heavyweight, Jones was having difficulty making 175 lbs; so going back down to fight Tarver was a huge mistake….

Jones looked drained and tired during his gift decision win over Tarver and after that was never the same. He was knocked out by Tarver in the rematch, knocked out by Glen Johnson, lost to Tarver again, lost to Joe Calzaghe, was knocked out in the first round by Australian Danny Green and lost a lopsided decision to Bernard Hopkins….

In all those fights, Jones looked gaunt and dehydrated and I always believed he’d be much more effective and comfortable if he moved back up in weight….

At 42, however, and after all the beatings he’s taken it might be too late….

But on May 22, Roy finally moves back to 200 lbs. for a fight with tough Russian contender Denis Lebedev in Moscow….

He might not win, but at least Jones will be able to eat and not have to worry about making weight….

Maybe he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, but if he insists of continuing it’s wise to go back to Heavyweight….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

WEEKEND NOTES

March 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With David Stern’s stupid one-and-done rule ruining college basketball, it should come as no suprise that teams like Virginia Commonwealth and Butler are in the Final Four. With all the good players little more than mercinaries and running to the NBA after a year, the elite programs have to scramble every year to bring several more one-season blue chippers….

Meanwhile, teams like VCU, Butler, George Mason, Gonzaga, etc, have teams comprised mostly of seniors; meaning they know how to play together and mature….

As long as Stern’s silly rules stays in place, the mid-majors are going to continue making historic runs….

It’s great to see these Cinderallas in the Tournament, but if the power teams kept players more than a year teams like VCU and Butler would never make it this far….

A team of Seniors who know how to play together are going to give a team of talented Freshmen a difficult time….

So VCU and Butler owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to David Stern….

All that being said, it’s incredible that Butler has made the Final Four two straight years….

Because of VCU’s great run the Bulldogs are getting overlooked, but a small team from a small conference doing this two straight years, especially when they lost their best player to the NBA lottery, is unheard of….

If either VCU or Butler wins this thing, a Hollywood movie will soon follow….

The night the field was announced, ESPN’s panel of “experts” all ripped the committee for including VCU and unanimously agreed they didn’t belong….

Duke Vitale, Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas all ripped VCU, with Bilas even saying “Do these guys on the committee even know the ball is round?”….

Who’s laughing now?….

With the division completely off the radar, it’s been interesting to watch Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbigokowski fight as a heavyweight….

After two 1st round KO’s over a couple of stiffs, Tommy Z was actually challenged Saturday night and had to fight hard to win a four round decision over Caleb Grummet….

Unlike Tommy Z’s previous foes, Grummet was in good shape, fought hard and hurt Zbigokowski in the final round with a good right cross….

“Thank God it wasn’t a six round fight,” said Emanuel Steward, who worked Tommy Z’s corner. “He needs to come with me and do some serious boxing training.”….

In Tom’s defense, he was fighting at Cruiserweight and gave away 20 lbs. to Grummet. But still, he ran out of gas in the third round and was lucky to win….

It will be interesting to see how serious the Z Man is about boxing and if he’ll stick with it once the lockout ends….

He has skills and was 75-15 as an amateur; which shows he’s not some football player doing this as a lark. He really is a fighter and hopefully gets into top shape and brings some interest back to the heavyweight division….

Floyd Mayweather won’t fight Manny Pacquiao for $50M, but seems to be trying to make up for it through heavy gambling….

The Pretty Boy bragged over the weekend that he won over $100K betting on basketball and tweeted “betting on my lil brother Derrick Rose will get you paid.”….

To remove all doubt, Floyd posted a picture of his winning ticket on twitter….

I guess it beats getting hit in the face, but for God’s sake how can anyone turn down $50M?….

I’ve said repeatedly that Mayweather will defeat Pacman easily, delivering a boxing lesson obver 12 rounds and possibly knocking him out late….

But the longer the Pretty Boy waits, the more the advantage goes to Manny….

He’s not getting any younger and turned 34 on February 24th. He’s also fought only once in the past 18 months and twice in the last 40 months….

Meanwhile Pacman has been fighting regularly against top-notch competition and getting bigger and stronger every fight….

Floyd needs to sign for the Pacquiao fight and take at least one tune up before Manny….

If I were his manager, he’d fight three times before Pacman, because at his age he needs to shake off the ring rust and be at 100%….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Barry Bonds witchhunt continues, with former best friend Steve Hoskins again being taken apart by Bonds’ Dream Team of attorneys….

This Hoskins seems to be one rat bastard….

Evidently Barry put Hoskins in charge of his merchandise sales, among other duties, because they were childhood friends and he trusted him….

Bonds’ reward for this was Hoskins allegedly embezzeling money. Evidently he was putting lots of money from Barry’s card, jersey and other memorabilia sales into his pocket….

Then, after Barry finds out about the stealing and fires his ass, Hoskins began secretly taping conversations between Greg Anderson and Bonds, trying to get even with his childhood friend….

This thief has no credibility and the more he testifies the better it looks for Team Bonds….

Speaking of low character witnesses, Bonds former mistress/call girl Kimberly Bell takes the stand today….

Bell, as you probably know, carried on an affair for years with Bonds, knowing full well he was married….

Bonds flew her around the country for sex, gave her a down payment for a house and had Hoskins give her $10,000 to pay for legal fees….

In my opinion, this makes her little more than a prostitute. If you have a rich, married man paying you for sex, what would you call it?….

Barry’s lawyers should easily destroy her on the witness stand, because she’s nothing but a gold-digging tramp who only went after Bonds when he cut off the money and she had to start making her own mortgage payments….

To keep score, the governments two star witnesses are a thief and a jilted woman who accepted money for sex….

Good luck winning that case….

What a shame to see BYU lose to Florida in overtime; not because I’m a BYU fan, but because they weren’t playing with a full team….

With 6’10″ big man Brandon Davies, BYU wins the game and probably makes the Final Four; without him they were reduced exclusively to firing up shots from outside and unable to deal with the Gators big men….

Jimmer Fredette shot poorly, but still scored 30 points and showed toughness I didn’t know he had. He’s obviously run down after a long season of being the Cougars only offensive threat, but kept playing hard after getting beaten up for 40 minutes and nearly pulled off a miracle….

Incredibly, with a group of teamates who would have difficulty winning a noonball YMCA game, Jimmer took Florida into overtime before running out of gas….

It was sad to see Davies on the bench in street clothes, suspended for the season for violating the school’s Honor Code….

Because had he played the Cougars win by double digits….

I still can’t believe Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson aren’t marching on the BYU campus over Davies suspension, carrying bullhorns and holding picket signs….

It seems like a home run for them; a black player kicked out of school and off the team for having sex with a white girl….

Unless all of his teammates are virgins, this ruling against Davies is hypocritical and racist….

And where are ESPN and HBO’s “Real Sports?”….

I’d launch a thorough investigation and interview all of Davies teammates, players on the football team, girlfriends and anyone else in the know about BYU sports and the Honor Code….

It’s time to blow the lid off this Honor Code nonsense and the school’s selective enforcement….

And if it’s proven that Davies fellow athletes have had sex while students, Brandon has a lawsuit which will make him independantly wealthy….

Once the Honor Code is exposed as selective and BYU administrators covered up similar violations, this thing is going to be just like baseball’s steroid scandal; something whispered about for years but never examined….

Certainly Jim McMahon never had sex, never drank alcohol, never cursed and never had a cup of coffee while a student at BYU….

Hit the laugh track….

I continue to be amazed at all the people praising BYU for sticking to the rules and demanding athletes live by the Honor Code they signed….

I’d join them if the rules were enforced equally and there was not evidence of BYU administrators covering up for white athletes such as McMahon….

But since Davies is being unfairly singled out while white teammates are doing the same thing, it’s grossly unfair to punish him….

I hadn’t seen Arizona play all season and had never heard of Derrick Williams before Thursday night, but after the Wildcats blowout win over defending national champion Duke I’m officially a fan….

Williams was unbelievable against the Blue Devils, throwing down a variety of spectacular dunks and knocking down three-point shots….

This guy is the real deal and looks certain to be the first player selected in the NBA draft, if there is one, this summer….

Granted, I don’t follow college basketball anymore and not an expert, but I can’t imagine there’s a better NBA prospect than him….

Just read some horrible reporting on ESPN.com, which stated that the NFL wants to begin testing players for HGH….

I wasn’t aware there was a reliable test for HGH, so read the column to learn just how the league was going to make this test possible….

But there was no further explanation, no reporting of a new, fool proof test for HGH and no explanation of how the league is going to test the players….

Wouldn’t you think that of a reporter writes about a new drug test for players, he’d also explain how the owners can justify this without a reliable testing procedure?….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With: , ,

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The hypocrisy of NFL commissioner Roger “never penalize white executives” Goodell continues….

One of the most exciting plays in all of sports, the kickoff return, was dealt a severe blow yesterday as the league officially moved kickoffs to the 35-yard-line; thus drastically reducing the number of returns….

If I were the Bears, I’d be furious; because they have the greatest kick returner of all time in Devin Hester. But with this stupid new rule, his effectiveness will be neutralized….

Goodell claims the purpose of the rule is safety, but he’s lying. If he wants to reduce injuries, then why was he pushing for an 18-game schedule?….

The players are already banged up, tired and susceptible to injuries in a 16-game season, so an additional two games literally guarantees more serious injuries than ever before….

Yet the Commissioner didn’t care….

The NFL was already becoming the “No Fun League” with the elimination of end zone celebrations and heavy fines for clean hits; now they’re taking away kickoff returns….

Hopefully people will still be gambling heavily to keep the ratings up, because the product on the field is in rapid decline….

I’ve said this many times before, but someday before I pass away I hope to have a friend as loyal as Greg Anderson….

For the third time, Anderson is off to prison for refusing to testify in the Barry Bonds witch hunt and will remain behind bars until the trial concludes….

I know everyone believes Barry has Anderson on the payroll and Greg will be richly rewarded once he’s foung not guilty, but with the Feds harrassing and watching Anderson, I find this difficult to believe….

The Government is so desperate to get Anderson they’ve actually sent agents to his mother’s house, where they kicked in the door and threatened to throw her in jail….

They’ve also threatened his wife, other relatives and friends….

So you know they’re watching Anderson’s bank records and probably have his phones and computers bugged….

If he suddenly becomes wealthy after the trial, the Feds will be all over him like Dave Smith on a martini….

Especially if someone else is buying….

I find it difficult to believe Bonds will fork over millions to Anderson after the trial….

In my opinion, I believe Anderson has grown to hate the government for their continued harrassment of him and his family and he’s never going to cooperate….

God bless him….

Who among us would do the same if faced with similar circumstances? It’s easy to say you would not rat out a friend, but if faced with prison, how many would stay loyal?….

And if your mother and other family members were being harrassed and threatened, I’m certain almost all of us would have taken a deal and testified….

Federal prison is no joke and Anderson probably faces extermely difficult circumstances. Since he’s embarrassed the government and probbaly destroyed their case, do you think he’s in protective custody? Don’t you think the Feds have told him he’ll be sent to live among the worst prisoners possible in the course of their harrassment?….

I’d probably crack, as would 99% of the population….

But in spite of it all, Anderson remains a rock and going back to prison. If I can ever show this kind of character and be this good a friend, I’d be very proud….

I’ve never had a friend like him and in awe….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Interesting segment on ESPN’s “First Take” yesterday morning, with Jalen Rose and Jimmy King attmepting to explain their comments about Duke players being “soft,” “bitches” and Uncle Toms” and Coach K’s alleged refusal to recruit ghetto kids….

Rose refused to back down from his comment that he believed Duke’s black players, saying “that’s what I thought when I was 17.”….

Then he said something interesting at the end of the interview: “I’ve never seen Coach K in Detroit.”….

That statement implies Jalen believes nothing has changed and the black players on the team are still “Uncle Toms,” but unfortunately host Skip Bayless chickened out and didn’t ask Rose the crucial follow up question….

What Bayless should have asked is this: “Jalen, do you believe today that Duke’s black players are Uncle Toms?” And if Jalen came back again with “That’s what I thought when I was 17,” Bayless should have pressed and forced Rose to answer the question….

Because when you state “I’ve never seen Coach K in Detroit,” you’re saying nothing has changed and things are the same as they were in 1991….

It’s pretty simple and Bayless showed cowardice in not asking the question….

I’d love to hear Jalen’s answer….

Watched two games last night: Knicks-Celtics and Nuggets-Raptors….

In the first game, New York blew a 15-point halftime lead and are now 7-9 since the Carmelo Anthony trade. In the fourth quarter, both Melo and Amare Stoudemire were held scoreless….

Meanwhile, in Denver, the Nuggets built a 40-point lead, cruised to victory and are now 10-4 since the deal….

Who knows what will happen in the post-season, but so far Denver has gotten the better of the deal. They’re playing much better defense without Anthony and on offense are sharing the ball and look great….

No more Melo dominating the ball and refusing to guard anyone and the Nuggets look like a balanced, dangerous team….

I can see why Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was against making this trade and thought the Knicks were giving up too much….

What a stupid idea from NFL Commissioner Roger “Let’s drop the hammer on black players” Goodell to move kickoffs up to the 35-yard line….

This will lead to more touchbacks, which take away the most exciting play in football; the kickoff return….

Commissioner dumb ass also wants touchbacks placed on the 25-yard-line and also eliminate the wedge on kickoff returns….

His obsession with eliminating contact from the game and taking away thrilling plays is pure idiocy….

Memo to Roger “I’m fine with owners using the N-Word publicly” Goodell: If I want to watch soccer I’ll go to the international channels on my satellite system….

Football is a violent game with high speed collisions and trying to transform the NFL into World Cup soccer is going to result in lower ratings and interest….

We’re already looking at a lockout and no season in 2011, so Goodell’s attempt to further wussify the game is absurd….

Memo to USC Athletic Director Pat Haden: Fire basketball coach Kevin O’Neill and jump all over Bruce Pearl, who was fired yesterday by Tennessee….

Yes, Pearl broke NCAA rules, but looking at the violations it doesn’t seem all that bad….

Illegal contact with a recruit? Improper paperwork for a player’s visit to Tennessee for a game?….

Yes, in the NCAA’s bizarre world those are major violations, but nothing that doesn’t go on at every Division I basketball program in America….

In you dug into any program and looked for violations, you’d find the same thing and more….

Hell, Pearl is a saint compared to John Wooden….

What was going on at UCLA under Wooden was the definition of an outlaw program….

With a new, state-of-the-art arena and all kinds of money and support, the USC basketball program is a sleeping giant and ready to explode….

All they need is the right coach….

And with Presidents and Athletic Directors probably running as far away from Pearl as they can, now is the perfect time to strike and land one of the best coaches in the country….

There will never be another chance like this for USC and they should move right now….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With: ,

WEEKEND NOTES

March 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Despite averaging 30 points a game this season and 33 in two wins in the NCAA Torunament, BYU’s Jimmer Freddette continues to get no respect….

Granted, I haven’t watched any college basketball this year, but I did see him against San Diego St. and made it a point to try and catch BYU games whenever I could….

He reminds me a lot of Steve Nash when he played at Santa Clara in 1993 and led the Broncos to an first round upset of #1 Arizona. Like Nash, Jimmer has excellent court vision, the ability to make plays and is a winner….

While Nash might have been a little more polished as a pure point guard, Freddette is a much better outside shooter than Nash was back then. Jimmer is also physically stronger and finishes better around the rim than the1993 Nash….

Freddette also has incredible range and literally knocks shots down from a few steps inside the half court line….

Will he be as good an NBA player as Nash? That’s highly unlikely, because Steve worked incredibly hard on his game, got better every year and is now one of the greatest players in NBA history and a certain Hall-of-Famer….

To predict the same for Freddette would be absurd and unfair to the kid….

My point is Freddette is better at this point than Nash and in my opinion is going to be a very good NBA player….

Now we’ll see if he has the Nash work ethic and keeps improving….

Jimmer handles the ball like it’s on a string, gets to the rim whenever he wants, is an excellent passer and the best shooter in college basketball; a very dangerous combination….

But just like Nash in 1993, nobody seems to think he’s any good….

I remember the scouting reports and “expert” opinions on Steve’s NBA future back then and almost all of them were negative….

They all said he was going to be drafted and play in the league, but most thought he’d be a back-up point guard or starter on a bad team. He was a step slow, unathletic, couldn’t jump, couldn’t defend and would struggle mightily against superior NBA athletes….

It was all a politically correct way of saying a white guy his size couldn’t possibly play effectively in the NBA….

Now we’re getting the same thing about Jimmer….

It’s amazing to read the draft prospectus and scouting reports saying he isn’t any good, because he looks like a hell of a player to me….

Without Brandon Davies, the 6’10″ center who was thrown off the BYU team for violating the school’s honor code, Freddette has very little help from his teammates and absolutely nothing inside; yet he has the Cougars in the Sweet 16 after scoring 34 points against Gonzaga in a blowout win on Saturday….

Since Jimmer’s teammates aren’t any good, I was certain they’d be going home this weekend; but instead both Wofford and Gonzaga “Got Jimmered.”….

I thought BYU was a Final Four team with Davies, but without him would have no chance….

Shows you what I know….

Not only did Freddette knock down long range shots, he got to the rim, drew defenders and got the ball to wide open teammates who made shots. It was a very impressive performance and worthy of praise, but on the message boards after the game there were nothing but negative comments and haters….

Unfortunately, even though it’s 2011 and we’re supposedly beyond this stuff, a lot of it was racial and anti-Mormon….

Comment after comment stated he was overrated because of his skin color and promoted only because he was white and attended BYU….

They also ripped his religion, called it a “cult,” made stereotypical jokes about polygamy and labeled the entire faith as backwards racists….

I was disgusting to read this stuff, but it also reminded me racism is alive and well among people of all colors….

I’m as critical of BYU and their hypocrisy with this Honor Code as anyone and think Davies should be playing; but Jimmer Freddette had nothing to do with Brandon leaving the team and it’s not his fault he’s white and a great player….

In fact, he’s been Brandon Davies biggest supporter and stated Davies deserved a second chance and if it were up to him Davies would be back on the team….

Freddette is a victim of reverse discrimination and hopefully, like Nash, will prove the doubters wrong and go on to a great NBA career….

As for their next game, on Thursday against Florida, it would seem there’s little hope for Jimmer and the Jimmettes….

At every position on the floor, except for point guard, the Gators are bigger, stronger, more athletic and superior. They also have a better bench and play in a better conference….

All signs point to BYU going home, because it’s hard to imagine Jimmer beating them all by himself….

But this kid is special and since he has the ball in his hands all the time, Florida is going to have a problem….

One more thing….

In last year’s opening round game, it was Florida vs. BYU and the Gators “Got Jimmered,” as Freddette scored 37 points in BYU’s win….

But this year Florida is a year older and BYU does not have Davies….

This should be interestig….

But if the Cougars somehow manage to win, Jimmer might be on a Larry Bird/Indiana St. type run the Sycamores made all the way to the 1979 NCAA title game….

And remember, according to the NBA scouting reports, Bird wasn’t any good, either….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Interesting to read San Diego Chargers LB Kevin Burnett called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “blatant liar.”….

I agree with that assessment, but I would have added the following: Hypocrite, attention whore and racist….

No need to get into all my thoughts about this jackass, because his rulings, punishments and statements speak for themselves….

The record is clear: He punishes black players much more severely than white execituves and approves of league owners who use the N-Word….

Enough said….

It was also fascinating to see Ohio St’s Jim Tressel volunteer to take the same 5-game penalty as his players for withholding and covering up infractions….

He should have been given at least 5 games from the start….

As I said in a previous column, this is straight out of the Goodell playbook: Punish the black players severly while delivering a slap on the wrist to the white executive….

Finally we have an interesting Heavyweight Championship fight, with Wladimir Klitschko andDavid Haye finally meeting on either April 25 or March 2….

Unfortunately for Haye, the fight will not be happening in his native London….

It looks like the fight will take place somewhere in Germany, which will certainly work in Klitschko’s favor….

Unless Haye clips him early and knocks him out, as did Corey Sanders a few years ago in Frankfurt….

I’m fully aware Wladimir is fighting better than at any point in his career, but I’m not convinced his chin and stamina have improved….

Yes, he’s been dominating everyone he fights, but hasn’t been hit on the chin for years and also hasn’t been forced to fight….

On paper, Wladimir has it all over Haye, who is a small heavyweight and been knocked down as a cruiserweight. But he’s a great athlete, in supreme condition and has a fats, dynamite right cross….

You heard it here first, I’m predicting David Haye by upset knockout victory….

Federal prosecutors are so desperate to continue their witch hunt against Barry Bonds that they actually tried to bring into evidence voice mails Barry left mistress Kimberly Bell….

Evidently, the prosecutors were going to claim that Bonds getting angry with her on the phone was evidence of “steroid rage.”….

Forget the fact steroids were never discussed, the prosecutors see the case slipping away and using every dirty trick possible….

Thak goodness Judge Susan Ilston ruled the voice mails inadmissable and they won’t be heard in court….

The fact is, as long as personal trainer Greg Anderson refuses to testify, the Feds have no case and Bonds is going to walk….

Knowing this, our governemnt employees have shamelessly gone after Anderson’s mother; rolling to her house like a SWAT team, kicking in the door and scaring the hell out of her. Even though she’s a senior citizen and has nothing to do with Bonds, they harrassed her, threatened her and acted more like Saddam Hussein’s Republican Guard than the United States DEA….

When this failed, they turned to Bell; a gold diging skank who knowingly carried on a nine-year affair with a married man because he gave her money….

Sounds like prostitution to me….

You talk about a low character witness. Bonds’ lawyers will tear apart….

The plan is to publicly humiliate Barry in court, with Bell talking about his testicles, sexual performance and libido….

Hopefully, after Barry walks away from all this, a new trial begins and the prosecutors will serve lengthy prison terma for harrassment, malicious prosecution and wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I tried to watch the USC-VCU game last night, but after the first five minutes I switched to “Oz,” the great prison show produced by HBO….

In the first 5M, there were already two time outs and the referees were blowing their whistles as if they were getting paid by the foul….

Between the officials, the time outs and not knowing a single player on the floor, I was gone….

A few hours later, while Vern Schillinger and his Aryan Brotherhood friends were gang raping a new pragg on “Oz,” I switched back to the game….

There was a minute and a half left, Troy was down by 11 and coach Kevin O’Neill was frantically waving his arms and telling his players not to foul….

In all my years of watching March Madness, I’d never seen a coach throw up the white flag and quit so early….

Yes, there was little chance of USC winning the game, but it was certainly no time to give up. With the 3-point shot and lots of fouls to give, they could have extended the game and made a last run….

Instead, their coach literally quit on his players and he won’t have a job in a day or two….

But the bigger question is this: Why was O’Neill hired by USC in the first place?….

He’s always been a pretty good coach and recruiter, but rubs people the wrong way and has a filthy mouth. Everywhere he’s been, O’Neill has had ugly confrontations, displayed an obnoxious personality and offended people with his gutter language….

Evidently this escaped the attention of the USC athletic director and university president….

After the hirings of Lane Kiffin and O’Neill, people from USC’s administration should be walking the plank with them….

This one is shocking even for Donald T. Sterling….

During Elgin Baylor’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the Clipeprs, The Donald actually got on the stand and claimed he didn’t know about Baylor’s Hall-of-Fame career….

If I were the judge I would have arrested Donald T. on the spot for perjury….

An owner of a Los Angeles basketball team doesn’t know that the GM he hired was one of the greatest players of all time in his own city?….

Is there such a thing as grand perjury or perjury with special circumstances? If not, there should be in this case….

I think people are making way too much about Jalen Rose and Jimmy King’s comments regarding Grant Hill and the early 1990′s Duke teams….

Rose said the other day that he and his Michigan teammates “hated Duke with a passion,” considered black Duke players “uncle toms” and that Duke “never recruited guys like me.”….

King was quoted as saying he thought Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner were “soft bitches” and also labeled Hill as “a bitch.”….

The key to this is both Rose and King used these phrases in the past tense; meaning they thought this way when they were 17 and 18 years old. It’s still wrong and reprehensible; but the comments of two stupid kids….

And it’s also grossly unfair to Hill, who might be the classiest professional athlete I’ve ever come across….

There’s also this: A lot of black people hate Duke….

Over the past 20 years, I have never met a black Duke fan. From friends, guys at the gym and people on the street, I’ve never heard a positive word about them….

Hell, I’m a goofy-looking white guy and I can’t stand Duke, either….

In my opinion the referees bend over backward to help the Dookies win games and they’ve been the beneficiary of more gift wins from the officials since the days of UCLA and John Wooden….

Not only that; ESPN, Duke Vitale and the rest have their heads so far up Coach K’s keister they could give him a colonoscopy….

I’m sure Coach K. bends and breaks the rules just like everyone else and the word is most of his players are safely in soft majors with professors in the bag….

Coach K. also has a sewer mouth, which I’ve personally heard sitting behind the Duke bench. His salty language rivals anyone I’ve ever heard….

Plus, they win so much that people are bound to dislike them….

But let’s be honest about this; Duke is the Boston Celtics of college basketball, meaning they have too many white guys and black fans are not going to like them….

It was the same back in the Larry Bird/Celtics days. Whenever I’d ask someone why they hated Boston so much, they’d invariably say “Too many white boys.”….

Hey I hated the Celtics and still do, but not for that reason….

It was the same thing with the Laettner-Hurley teams: “Too many white boys.”….

So it’s understandable that a group of talented Freshman at Michigan in the early 1990′s, unrecruited by Duke, would feel their players were soft, white and priveledged….

But the bottom line is Hill and Duke went 4-0 against the Fab Five, including a 20-point hammering in the 1991 NCAA Championship game….

And it must have been the ultimate humiliation for the Fab Five to be taken to the woodshed four straight times by “bitches” and uncls toms.”….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With: , , ,

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I don’t follow skateboarding or extreme sports, but I’ve heard of Tony Hawk. He’s older now and not competing the way he used to, but he built an empire on his skateboarding ability and video game expertise….

He was in the right place at the right time and made a fortune….

But if the news about him having an affair with his best friend’s wife are true, he gets a Man Card Violation of the highest order….

Hell, this may be grounds for a revocation; a status only achieved Doug Chrtistie and Kobe Bryant….

I understand that boys will be boys and we’ve all spent time drinking, carousing and chasing women. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as any red blooded male will verify….

But any man will also tell you that a buddies wife or girlfriend are off limits….

Never, under any circumstances, do you pursue a woman involved with one of your friends. This is a line no real man will ever cross, no matter how tempting….

Evidently Hawk’s third wife, Lhotse Merriam, stumbled across a plane ticket Tony had purchased for Cathy Goodman; the wife of his lifelong best friend and business partner Matt Goodman….

Evidently Tony and Cathy were going to San Francisco together, but didn’t remember to tell their spouses….

In the aftermath of Ticketgate, Hawk filed for divorce and the Goodmans are now seperated….

By the way, the Goodmans have been married for 20 years and Matt stood as a groomsman at all three of Hawk’s weddings….

Evidently, Tony can’t keep it in his pants, as he left his first wife for the nanny and then left the nanny for his publicist….

Sure, it’s never a good idea to diddle the nanny or your publicist, but it pales in comparison to snaking your best friend’s wife….

So it’s a Man Card Violation for Tony Hawk and the Man Card board-of-directors will meet shortly to decide on further punishment….

After saying that “the owners are robbing us” and the NFL was “modern day slavery,” I decided to look up Adrian Peterson’s salary….

Sure enough, he makes $11M a year, making his comparison to slavery absurd….

If that’s slavery, then where do I sign?….

By the way, why are the owners under any obligation to show the NFLPA their books? They’ve taken all the risks in buying their franchises and running a business. If the players are so unhappy, they should form their own league and take on all the costs….

That experiment would last about a week….

I can’t imagine walking into my bosses office and demanding to see the books and neither can anyone else in everyday life….

It’s time for these guys to count their blessings, quit whining and think about how fortunate they are….

Both sides, however, need to address the shameful lack of compassion for the old time players, many of whom have inadequate or no health insurance….

Here’s an idea: How about every player in the NFL donate 1% of their salaries to retired players with major health problems? The owners should also agree to donate 1% of their $9B in television money….

This would give full coverage to the old timers who literally gave their blood, limbs and health to the NFL….

If the players and owners are not willing to donate 1% for the welfare of the older players, they they’re greedier and more reprehensible than I thought….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:
« Older Posts