Memphis' Barton Declared Eligible

After further review from the NCAA, Memphis freshman guard Will Barton has been cleared and is now eligible to play this season. This was after being ruled ineligible about 3 weeks ago by the NCAA. Coach Josh Pastner says he is very pleased with the decision. Of course you are Josh. What else are you gonna say? This is major for the Tigers as they attempt to claw back into elite company.

Legarrette Blount Still Has That Fighting Spirit

After supposedly learning his lesson after punching a Boise State player last year, Legarrette Blount is at it again. That punch lowered his draft stock and cost him most of his senior season, also a whole lot of money.

After Blount's helmet was taken off for the second time in a goal line drill defensive end Eric Bakhtiari got in his face and Blount retaliated with a punch. This is standard training camp fare so this might not be as costly. Unless Jeff Fisher thinks he hasn't changed and it costs Blount a roster spot. He did apologize to Fisher and Fisher stated that he wasn't disappointed.





Blount looked like he was ready to go. I think he needs to go to some kind of counseling or something. In my opinion it looks like he hasn't learned anything from his last mistake and from stories that were put out, the Boise State incident wasn't the first time. Maybe he can look up Ron Artest's doc.

The Hits Keep Coming

Ever since Rich Rodriguez set foot on Michigan's campus nothing has gone right. As you've heard about the latest news, cornerback Troy Woolfolk suffered a dislocated ankle and broke a bone in his leg, leaving the secondary thin as Kate Moss. This is the latest in a string of bad luck and misfortune since Rodriguez has taken over in Ann Arbor.

My personal opinion is that Rich Rod could be done in Ann Arbor by midseason if the team gets off to a slow start, as much as I hate to say it. I also hate to read between the lines, but I'm going to read between the lines. Newly minted atletic director David Brandon is old school Michigan. Definition-He's a former player from the Schembechler era and he doesn't mess around. Deep down I don't think he approves of Rodriguez too much. Brandon said that Rodriguez would coach this season. Meaning that he will start the season as coach, but might not last the season if things don't go right. Brandon couldn't fire Rich Rod in the offseason because he would've been cutting his own throat. He wouldn't be able to find a suitable coach in  time for the season opener. The Wolverines would've been stuck with an underqualified assistant, like when Brian Ellerbe took over the basketball program. So as of now Rich Rod gets a quasi, dreaded vote of confidence. Even if he lasts for the full season, who knows if he lasts beyond this year. I believe Brandon has  list of who HE wants on the sidelines in the Big House.

Another factor is the recruiting game. I'm no insider for the school or football team. Nor am I a recruiting guru. I know plenty of schools take in plenty of questionable talents year after year. Even the mercurial Willie Williams got chances at two schools. I know Michigan accepted them year after year until they do something ridiculously stupid (Larry Harrison) or smoke too much chronic (Kelly Baraka). Demar Dorsey was no angel. He wasn't gonna be on the dean's list anytime soon either. But knowing what I know, Michigan has had players dumb as stumps on the field. If it had been Lloyd Carr, Gary Moeller, or Bo Schembechler on the sideline, I'm pretty damn sure Dorsey would be suiting up for the Maize and Blue. Since it's fact, that will somehow be denied, that there are alumni and regents that don't like Rodriguez, Dorsey doesn't get in. He's also being shortstopped in recruiting players because they say that type of player doesn't belong at Michigan. It happened recently with some kid from Florida, I believe,but I could be wrong. I've heard that the kid was told to get his grades up before he thought about Michigan. Reminds me of the Tom Goss era, when he said he wanted Michigan basketball to be like Duke and he didn't want anymore questionable kids (Detroit kids) playing at Michigan. If coach Rod is to stay at Michigan, this is another hurdle he's gonna have to overcome.

As far as the NCAA inquiry, plenty of teams do the same thing Michigan and Rodriguez are accused of doing. I'm not well schooled in the screwy ways of the NCAA rulebook, but I feel that this was something personal against Rodriguez. I'm sure Michigan had been guilty of this offense for years. I believe there was a personal dislike for Rodriguez so the story comes out.

I like Rodriguez and I do feel he hasn't been given a fair shake. Some of this mess he created on his own, some of it I believe has been the result of higher ups and other powerful people within the adminstration that don't want him there. The best case scenario is that he gets 8 wins to have a stay of execution. I just don't think it's gonna happen. I hate to say it but he could be gone by week 2 and the coaching search will be in full swing.

    

K-Rod Done For 2010

I didn't figure the New York Mets would make a late season run, and even if they think about it they will have to do it without closer Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb during the well publicized altercation with the grandfather of his children. Well, I really don't consider it too much of an altercation as K-Rod roughed up the grand old man.

I hate to see anyone get hurt, but I do find it kind of funny he gets injured jacking up the old man. Now that's karma for you. I'm not going to get into the undecodeable statements manager Jerry Manuel had to say about this mess. All I can say is that he seems very disappointed. I guess the next time K-Rod decides to drop hammer on someone, he'll be more careful.

UH OH! Haslem Arrested On Drug Charge

This was probably his reaction during the traffic stop.

 Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem was arrested on a drug charge after a routine traffic stop in Miami-Dade County. I'm pretty sure this is a marijuana related charge which Haslem would get a slap on the wrist for everyone's trouble. An FHP spokesman  said that Haslem and an unnamed passenger were both cited. I know Pat Riley didn't want the team to have this kind of press in the offseason.

NO GOOD!

Baltimore Ravens wannabe lineman gets hung on his dunk attempt.





The kicker is that he played basketball at Western Michigan. Pretty good too, as he was third on the school's all time scoring and rebounding lists. All in all, I hope he makes it. Just don't try redeeming yourself against the goalpost.

The Agony Of Defeat

I know the agony of defeat is an overused phrase. With the coverage of the Little League World Series that's what it truly is. The network that covers the games are always focusing on the losing team. Then they get the inevitable close up of the kids on the losing team crying. I don't think it's right, but deep down I find it kind of funny. I know whoever reads this figures I must be some cruel, dastardly individual. I just have a sick sense of humor like that sometimes. The people at the network (ESPN) must be worse than me since they always focus on this all the time.