Quote Of The Week: Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley to an Alabama radio station about the Cam Newton situation.

"First of all -this is a joke now- first of all I don't know what happened about that, but if that guy only asked for $200,000 for Cam Newton, they should fire him anyway."

Even when he's chipping in about his alma mater, the Chuckster is always good for a laugh. 

Quick NBA Thought

The Utah Jazz have been awfully impressive on this recent road trip. Three come from behind wins, from double digit deficits against Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta. Three teams in the East's top six. Deron Williams has kicked it into overdrive fairly early. 

Morneau Wants Some Home Cooking

Being a Detroit Tigers fan I've seen how your home field can be a detriment to some of your big bats. That's whta happened when Comerica Park first opened. Eventually they shortened the fences, but it's still regarded as a pitcher's park. Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau isn't taking a liking to Target Field.

 “Right-center to left-center is ridiculous,” Morneau said in an e-mail to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “(It’s) almost impossible for a right-handed hitter to (homer to the) opposite field and very difficult for lefties. It affects the hitters a lot, and you start to develop bad habits as a hitter when you feel like you can only pull the ball to hit it over the fence. You take those habits on the road.”

Be careful what you wish for. If you move the fences in, it could give visiting teams the same advantage that your looking for.

There are discussions about moving the fences in, but it's not imminent. 

A Few Key Moments That Caused Michigan Basketball To Slip

It slipped by me that college basketball has actually started. With the NBA starting and the NFL in full swing it's been kind of hard to keep up. Not to mention family obligations.

I have been thinking of the rut that Michigan basketball has been in since the Ed Martin scandal exploded. The program obviously hasn't been the same since. It just wasn't the Martin scandal that kept it down. There's been the ascension of Michigan State as the top dog here in Michigan and state players going elsewhere. 

I hate to make a story of this, but I will anyway. It all began in February of 1996 when thr infamous rollover accident happened. That opened Pandora's box. Nothing initially came of it, until Robert Traylor was spotted rolling in a tricked out Suburban. That's when the NCAA started sniffing around, which eventually led a trail to Ed Martin. A figure that had been around the program since the 80s. They tied him to coach Steve Fisher and Fisher was canned by Athletic Director Tom Goss shortly after.

In my eyes, as far as basketball waas concerned Goss was the worse thing that happened to the basketball program. Brian Ellerbe was named interim coach and won the first Big Ten Tournament title. With Fisher's players. That earned him the head coaching gig and to me he was in over his head. I hate to be blunt or put anyone down, but Ellerbe had no business being there. Right around that same time Goss came out and said he wanted Michigan to "be the Duke of the north". That was a stretch. That also meant he was turning his back on the lifeblood of Michigan hoops. Detroit and inner city players that the Wolverines were always in on. Two points right there that set the program back. Meanwhile, a lot of those same players that used to consider Michigan headed to East Lansing to play for Michigan State and other schools around the nation.

Right when it seemed everything was about to get back on track it went south again. Ellerbe did bring in a solid recruiting class that featured guards Kevin Gaines and Jamal Crawford and Michigan Mr. Basketball runner-up LaVell Blanchard. This was supposed to get the train rolling again. I remember a game where they gave a Duke team that featured Jay Williams, and I believe Shane Battier among others, all they could handle before falling 102-97. Crawford put on a show for about 27 points and the Wolverines looked to be in good hands. They started 12-3, then the walls caved in on them. Crawford's past with a close family friend was scrutinized and he was essentially suspended for the rest of the season. Fresh off the Martin scandal, Michigan felt they had to do it to avoid the NCAA's mighty hammer. After Ellerbe brought in supposedly talented players (Josh Moore, Avery Queen) and the losses mounted. Soon enough Ellerbe was shown the door.

The Tommy Amaker era started much like the Ellerbe era ended. In year two there was some promise and they finished 17-13. They might have made the NCAA's or the NIT, but they were on probation. Amaker was a good recruiter and brought in some quality players. But it was two recruiting misses that pretty much doomed him. Joe Crawford and Al Horford. These two would've joined Ron Coleman, instead it turned out to be a one man class (Coleman). A lot of people forget this. Horford and Crawford both verbally committed to Michigan. Coleman and Crawford played AAU together and talked about playing college ball together. Crawford and Horford would've greatly helped this team. Instead they both bailed on the Wolverines and joined Kentucky and Florida instead. Considering how Horford's career turned out, you have to think what might have been. About three years later and more NIT appearances than they would've liked Amaker was shown the door.

I have hope for John Beilein, but last year was a major disappointment. Recruiting will be key in the next few years if Michigan ever wants to regain their status as a player on the basketball scene. If he can't get things rolling in Ann Arbor, he might be gone sooner than anyone expects.

Francoeur Could Be A Low Cost Option For Tigers

I'm not gonna sit here and act like a scout or GM. I just think that since Jeff Francoeur cleared waivers and is now a free agent, he could be a low cost option for the Detroit Tigers. It wasn't that long long ago that he was highly thought of. They don't have a lot of outfield options, at least none that are gonna cost less than $15 million. I say take a chance since they don't have nothing to lose by signing him for a few mill. It could turn out to be a bargain signing that works out. Hey, its just a thought.  

What I Saw In College Football

I'll make the first part of this quick. Bad Big East and ACC football. As much as a fan that I am, I don't even know the leaders in any of these conferences.

Michigan and Illinois tipped off the Big Ten basketball, oh, sorry, played a football game that mirrored a game on the PS3. Michigan survived a triple overtime game 67-65. Ironically it was a defensive play that won it for the Wolverines. Only the rules that prevented teams from kicking extra points after two overtimes, they'd still be playing. Michigan seriously needs to get a clue defensively.

Iowa escaped Indiana because DeMario Belcher couldn't hang on to the ball. They better be careful with Northwestern on the horizon. The Hawkeyes need to stop looking ahead to Ohio State.

Gotta pimp my alma mater Navy. Ricky Dobbs and company hung 76 on East Carolina. All in regulation. Go Middies!

In what was supposed to be the game of the week, TCU trounced Utah 47-7. Nice parting gift huh? The Horned Frogs are legit and might get a crack at the BCS title game if they catch a few breaks.

Les Miles resorts to trickery to beat Alabama. Here's a good question. What if all this bullshit doesn't work? Then he would surely be out of a job.

In the Big 12 Oklahoma turned to Choke-lahoma and the Longhorns were thumped by K-State. Looks like the power is in the North this year.

The only thing that's gonna stop Cam Newton is a scandal and he has a few on his plate. Ther's the pay for play deal where they say his dad said "the money is too much to turn down" and "it's gonna take more than a scholarship". Then there's the alledged cheating at Florida. In the latter I think Urban Meyer may be a little bitter since Newton's not at Florida, where they've floundered for most of the year. As far as the pay for play deal, I hope it's not true. Newton seems to be a fine young man.

Let The Suffering Begin

After being jail sexed by the Green Bay Packers on a nationally televised Sunday night game 45-7, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that "people will suffer and suffer consequences". Players and coaches. Well, Jones has started wielding his mighty hammer by firing head coach Wade Phillips and naming Associate head coach and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett coach for the remainder of the year.

Wise choice, Jerry. Too bad you can't get fire the whole roster. I know you wish you could take back the trade in which the normally inept Detroit Lions front office fleeced you for a first round pick for receiver Roy Williams. Not that it could make a difference, especially how they've performed this year.

As far as naming Garrett coach, this was something that eventually was going to happen. It had to happen now since you're paying the guy millions to be an overpaid assistant. You might as well see what you have and get a feel if you want him around or not. If not I think he'll throw a ton of money at Bill Cowher to lure him out of retirement. Truth is, I don't think Jones can handle a will and personality as strong as his

I expect some more heads to roll once this nightmare of a season is over. He is the defacto GM, so I expect some players to be gone and some new ones coming in. In a way I feel sorry for Wade. It seemed that he was always in over his head. I'm not trying to be funny or rip on the guy, but it was like a country bumpkin sherriff going to takeover a police force in the city. He was a puppet and everyone knew it.

Goodbye Wade aka Bum's son. I'm sure you'll land on your feet somewhere.