Rodriguez: "Going To Michigan Was A Mistake"

After having time to sit back and digest his firing after a humiliating three years at Michigan and an embarrassing Gator Bowl loss to Mississippi State, Rich Rodriguez says going to Michigan was a mistake. RichRod, how do you think the Michigan fans feel?

Drastic changes and a lack of defense made Michigan a laughingstock in college football. And that 3-3-5 defensive formation made two defensive coordiantors look horrible. Trust me fans, Greg Robinson was not the problem. He just had a lousy scheme shoved down his throat.


"I think it's easy to go back now and say, 'Gee, made a mistake.' And you can say that now because of hindsight," Rodriguez said in the interview. "But at the time, some of the things I was looking to do and the opportunity that was there, you kind of make the move.


"The frustrating part for us was that we thought we battled through the tougher times to get it to this point where we had a lot of the team coming back and we thought we were getting ready to take off. But you know hindsight is always easier to look back and say, 'It was a mistake.' Because we did have a good thing going at West Virginia, and we really enjoyed it. As you look back at it, wasn't the best move. Easy to say now."

Rodriguez did have a good thing going at West Virginia and decided that he could take his show to a higher level and failed. He should've realized what a good thing he had in Morgantown after his flirtation with Alabama, but I guess the lure of Michigan was too much. I for one wish he would've stayed at West Virginia, therefore the Wolverines wouldn't be going through another upheaval process. He still thinks he could've got the train rolling despite all the turmoil and bad losses.

Rodriguez is not a bad coach, just a bad fit who was in over his head. He says he still wants to coach and I'll be surprised if he doesn't land another job.

"We played the Gator Bowl, then when we were let go in January there wasn't a lot of coaching jobs that were available," Rodriguez said. "I still love coaching, I'm open to another opportunity, but we'll see. If something comes open after this season, and it seems like it may be a good opportunity for me and someone is interested, I'm sure I'll look into it."

They had to let Rodriguez go after the Gator Bowl. They were at the point of no return with the guy. It was a move that had to be made. Also, this is the most honest thing Rodriguez has said regarding Michigan.







 

Former NHL Enforcer Brashear To Try His Hand At MMA

Former NHL tough guy Donald Brashear has been busy in a low level hockey league since being bounced out of the league in 2010. There just wasn't any room for in the league for a one dimesional pugilist that amounted to a professional bouncer.

Brashear has now decided to take those "handy" skills to the world of MMA. Brashear signed with a Canadian promotion called Ringside MMA.  Brashear was capable of handling himself on the ice, but the octagon is a whole different story. Ask street brawling legend Kimbo Slice how hard it was to make the transition to MMA.

According to Patricia Vincent of MMADiehards.com, there is a different reason why Brashear has changed course and hung up the skates. He's running from the law.  

Now playing in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH), Brashear has recently been investigated for an incident that allegedly occurred at the end of a game against the Trois-Rivières team on March 25. Charges of assault were filed against Brashear, who was also suspended for five games.



The complaint has been filed against Brashear, on behalf of the alleged victim, Eric Labelle, by the Trois-Riviere team, Caron et Guay, and is now in the hands of the crown prosecutor.

Brashear hasn't yet applied for his license so him going to fight might be a moot point. I he does get licensed he could debut at the June 4th show in Quebec City (Ringside 11). I'm no fortune teller, but I don't see a bright future for Brashear in MMA.

Jon Gruden Thinks Terrelle Pryor Can Succeed In The NFL

A few weeks ago NFL draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. came out and said that Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor basically had no chance at being an NFL quarterback. He even went as far as saying that he might want to switch positions for his senior year.

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden  is singing a different tune about the Buckeyes signal caller. Gruden says that Pryor has "dominated college football" and can make it in the NFL.

"I have met Terrelle Pryor, had a chance to watch him," Gruden told the media after speaking at the 80th annual Ohio State Football Clinic. "This is a freak of nature. This guy is really something with the ball in his hands."


I agree and disagree with Gruden. Pryor is an athletic freak and I think he's been shackled by Jim Tressel's offensive system. That may be sound harsh, but he should've turned Pryor loose a long time ago. I'm sure there are some Buckeye fans that will disagree with me. I think Cam Newton was everything Terrelle Pryor should be. But by no means has he dominated college football. Just check out last year's Wisconsin game for further proof.

"Terrelle Pryor can run and he can throw and he's a hell of a competitor," Gruden said. "You might have to cater your offense, to a degree, towards his strengths, but I think this guy can develop his passing.


I do think Pryor should be given a chance to prove he can be an NFL quarterback. I don't see any NFL offensive coordinators catering their offense to accomdate Pryor. If they're not going to do it with Newton, why would they do it with Pryor. He can develop his passing if given chance. He's not a once in a lifetime talent, but shouldn't switch positions to make it in the NFL.
If Gruden takes another NFL coaching job, Pryor has someone in his corner.







   

D'Antoni Is A Bad Late Game Coach

New York Knicks head man Mike D'Antoni is not a bad coach. Not by any means. He can get your team to the playoffs, rack up plenty of wins in the regular season, and plays an exciting style of basketball. His only problem is that he's a bad late game coach.

Watching the Knicks melt down in the first two games in the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Boston Celtics reminded me of when he was coaching the Phoenix Suns. Suns fans probably know what I'm talking about and were probably having flashbacks watching the Knicks give away the first two games to the Celtics.

For all the flash the Suns had, they constantly found ways to lose to the Spurs, among others, in the playoffs. The Suns were always there in the end but found ways to lose it. Credit D'Antoni for that. He wasn't the greatest late game tactician. That flaw reared it's ugly head in games 1 and 2.

In game 1 Amare' Stoudamire was punishing Kevin Garnett in the fourth quarter, but for some reason he didn't see the ball down the stretch. Now if Stoudamire is the hot hand you keep going to it, don't you? I know I would, but I'm only a Playstation coach so how would I know. All plays should've been ran through Stoudamire, save for Toney Douglas' three pointer. Then you let Carmelo Anthony settle for a 30 footer for the last shot. Take your chances for overtime. I didn't watch much of game 2, but I saw enough to come to the realization that D'Antoni doesn't make the best choices late in the game.

The Knocks will be a force in the Eastern Conference in the years to come, whether D'Antoni will be there to see it through I don't know. I'm not calling for his job, but the Knicks are destined to become the new age version of the 1980's Milwaukee Bucks. Win a lot of games, but won't win big in the playoffs.    

Duke Football Player Arrested For Drug Trafficking

When you think of Duke, you think of academic excellence, their highly successful basketball program, and scores of graduates that have tasted success in the real world. You normally don't think of their football program and when you do think of it, it brings me the thought a sad sack team usually getting crushed in the ACC. But their players are probably the boss at a Fortune 500 company so their not bothered by it. Go ahead Duke fans rip me if you want, I can take it.

Duke linebacker Tyree Glover tried his hardest to get rid of the Duke image as a goody two shoes university. There's nothing wrong with being what I just labeled them, I only said that because Glover was arrested and charged for trafficking in cocaine. Hardly what you think of when you think of Duke.  

The 6-foot-1, 255-pound sophomore linebacker from Crescent City, Fla., was being held in the Durham County jail Thursday in lieu of $750,000 bond ...



[Police spokesperson Kammie] Michael said police then obtained a search warrant and searched his dorm room on the Duke campus where they found marijuana.


Michael said police confiscated 29.6 grams of powder cocaine and 72.4 grams of marijuana.

Naturally he was kicked off the team by head coach David Cutcliffe "for conduct unbecoming of a member of the program". Translation: Tyree f'd up bad.

Nice way of trying to dispel the Duke stereotype Mr. Glover. Duke is one of the most prestigious universites in America and you go there trying to be Nino Brown. What's with college football players trying to be the dopeman these days.

Floyd Mayweather Has Too Much Time On His Hands

Floyd Mayweather has entirely too much time on his hands. Why do I say that? Because instead of trying to make a fight with one of the up and comers in the welterweight division or trying to negotiate a fight with Manny Pacquiao, he makes videos detailing his excessive wealth.



Come on Floyd concentrate your efforts to being the best in the ring and not making videos. If you just want to go out on top, just say so. I, for one, will understand. It looks like Mayweather is on track to be one of those boxers that will "retire" and keep coming back.  
 

Dykstra's Brother Says He Deserves To 'Pay For What He Did'

Apparently former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Len Dykstra has been getting bailed out by his family and now they aren't going to bat for him anymore. His brother, Brian, says that Dykstra deserves his fall from grace amd is guilty of the charges brought against him last week.

"It's sad, but he's got to pay for what he did," the older brother, 49, told The New York Daily News. "We feel sorry for him, but he's pretty much on his own right now. We're praying for him."


"I wish I could post bail. I know the real Lenny from years ago is still in there somewhere. But the family breakup was bad," Brian said. "We'll be there to help afterwards - when he gets out. I know he could go coach somewhere."


I'm not well versed in the Lenny Dykstra story, except that he played hard. I guess he lived harder and made some bad business deals along the way, while pissing off a few family members in the process. Brian and another brother Kevin, haven't got along since Len sold the car wash business they owned and didn't pay them money they were owed. Talk about shady. I know it's not my place to say this, but they would've been better off doing business with a stranger than their own brother.

Maybe Dykstra can hit up Mookie Wilson for a few dollars.