Duron? More Like Moron.

The former Ohio State receiver will not be returning to OSU, said Darian Dulin, Carter’s coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Carter, the son of former OSU star Cris Carter, played for the Buckeyes as a true freshman in 2009. He was ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl and also was held out of 2010 spring practice. Dulin said the reasons Carter is not returning to OSU “are the same as before,” but he didn’t elaborate. Recently, Carter indicated on his Twitter account that Ohio State was not allowing him to return.

 I am baffled at how a talented player can grow up around football, around a class act like Cris Carter, attend his father's alma mater and make such a colossal fool of himself.  He could not have been made more aware of his responsibilities coming into the Ohio State program.   He could not have had more resources at his disposal.  I have taken classes with football players, a coach checks them into class every day.  There is, literally, a coach standing by the door of the classroom to ensure that the players make it to class.  The athletic department offers the best tutors on campus, free of charge.  Student-athletes are given near complete note sets for each class.  Perhaps Duron can still turn it around or can make a big enough splash at the JUCO level to move on to the NFL, but, given his results so far, that does not seem to be in the cards.

Also...

Brian Fuentes to the A's for 2-yrs, $10.5mil.

The Yankees are very close to a 1-yr deal with Andruw Jones.  Believe it or not (I don't), Jones is considered by many to be a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame.

According to Buster Olney, Grady Sizemore will be ready for opening day.  That would be nice.

With Rob Ryan's departure to Dallas, former Pitt head man Dave Wannstedt and Eagles DB coach Dick Jauron have emerged as the top candidates for the Browns' DC job.  Either would be a welcomed addition in my opinion, as they both have past NFL head coaching experiences and tremendous track records in the defensive coordinator slot (see '92 Cowboys & '96 Jaguars).  I'll have to do some digging on defensive philosophies, but, given the dearth of talent on the Brownies' D, I don't think it matters.

And, yes, your Ohio State Buckeyes are now #1 in both men's basketball polls.  The Buckeyes, off to their best start since 27-0 in the '61-'62 season, next host Iowa Wednesday @ 6:30p.

Dig the #3 vs. #5 tonight at 7:30p as Syracuse visits Pitt.

And lastly, Jim Valvano would love how the Sycamores won yesterday.


Cheers.

Pretty Girl 01.17.11 - January Jones

Well, I had to get her in sometime this month.

And He Caught Passes Too!

Braylon seems rl excited to be a Jet.  He didn't even have to jump to catch his TD.

If Smoking is the New Leprosy, Is Tanning the New Smoking?

Obviously smokers are now shunned and shunted into corners for their dirty, sinful behavior.  At one time I held strong to the belief that I would be last smoker on the planet, now I can't use all of the coupons Camel sends me before they expire.  Through the course of my lifetime smoking has transitioned from the social norm to outsider rebellion to the mark of a social pariah, but everyone always knew that it killed you.  Regardless of whether we deluded ourselves into rationalizing the risks to facilitate our habit, the boldly printed labels and fanatic PSAs have been inescapable.  We were all making an informed, if not healthy, life decision.

Now, in the wake of underage tanning bans sweeping through Canada, the question is begged - "Are the risks posed by tanning beds mitigated by the narcissistic vanity their use feeds?"  Or to say it in a way that seems eerily reminiscent of smoking, "Is looking cool worth putting your life in danger?"  Last year the World Health Organization "tagged tan beds as 'a known carcinogen' and reported [their use] to reduce immunity, mutate DNA, caus[e] eye damage and [wrinkle] skin."

Now, I don't use tanning beds, but from all I've heard there are no neon signs indicating the dangers posed the intense UV exposure.  I expect the same backlash from "tanners" (ooh, a new group to ostracize) that I gave as a smoker.  You become accustomed to something and then fight like hell to defend your behavior against the slights of pedantic Samaritans.  I am in now way in favor of legislating personal behavior at the expense of individual freedom (Hi G-Dubs!), but if you're going to tan, and it's going to kill you, you should probably read that memo.

Cheers.

MVotD - The Shins - Caring is Creepy & New Slang

Well goddamn, the Shins were actually using words the whole time!


p.s. The spellcheck is cool with "goddamn." Ha! ;-j

Pretty Girl 01.16.11 - Danica Patrick

Those lucky schmucks from Oxford up closed her personal after they won the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Survivor: Value City Arena

Jared Sullinger is the real deal.  After putting up just 7 shots in the first 38 minutes, Sullinger powered his way to three point plays on consecutive possessions.  There are plenty of superlatives that could be heaped on this Buckeyes squad, but three stand above the rest.  (1) Offensive Balance - Sullinger can go for 40, Diebler can drop 9 treys or Lighty can shoot 9-for-11.  William Buford has perhaps the best mid-range game in the country.  Freshman Deshaun Thomas has already scored 20+ twice.  Tonight, Aaron Craft led the way with 19/3/7.  No team can stop them all.  The synergy built between Sullinger and Craft on Ohio AAU Red team was on full display, it's a shame we only get to enjoy it for one year.  (2) Lateral Defense - The Bucks play D the only way to do so well, as a team.  Their feet (particularly Craft's on Talor Battle) are always moving.  Their arms are up and their hands in the passing lanes.  Most strikingly, they recover so quickly on zone rotation than they can virtually double-team everyone.  (3) Ball Handling - They had 5 turnovers today and the average fewer than 11 per game.

The one knock on Ohio State is a lack of depth.  The bench only goes 7 deep, the same 7 that played today.  Through 5 Big Ten games Thomas and Dallas Lauderdale are the only reserves playing more than 4 minutes a night and each averages fewer than 15.  Jon Diebler plays 39 minutes per.  Compounding the issue is how stagnant the offense becomes when Sullinger gets a blow.  Lauderdale is not a threat in the paint and, consequently, the ball tends to simply move around the perimeter until someone jacks a triple.  Today that inefficiency led to Penn State fighting back from a 10 point deficit to briefly lead in the last 3 minutes.  Luckily, Sullinger is not foul prone and will likely see even more minutes as we head toward March.

OSU is seasoned.  Matta starts 3 seniors and a junior around his 280 pound freshman sensation  and despite their youth, Sullinger and Craft, do not make rookie mistakes.  If this team is to drop a conference game they will have to beat themselves or endure an unlikely combination of injury, foul trouble and an off night.

Welcome to #1 Buckeyes, the reign should be anything but brief.

Cheers.
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=5a2aa968-00a0-4372-b8da-92fa2ce07ccb" target="_new" title="">Highlights: PSU - (2) OSU</a>

Pretty Girl 01.15.11 - Ashlynn Brooke

Yes, you do recognize her. But from where?

Dig the Floor. Dig the Dunk.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=b84de049-22b7-4911-9636-702abc84a0af" target="_new" title="">Highlights: USC - Oregon</a>
I can steal from Fox too!

Pretty Girl 01.14.11 - Chloe Sevigny

Brown.  Bunny.