Draft Prospects admit to using marijuana

Three NFL Draft Prospects have admitted to past marijuana use. Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and Amobi Okoye admitted during the scouting combine that they have smoked marijuana.

My problem with this situation is not that these players admitted to this, but that the league allowed it to become public knowledge. Those interviews are meant to be secretive and only distributed to NFL teams. I do not think these players admitting to past marijuana use should hurt there draft stock, because lord knows there are many players in the league that do use marijuana and do not get caught. These players were mature enough to admit they have used marijuana, and now because of a mistake by the wonderful NFL front office, everyone in america knows too.

Earnhardt Jr. offered majority ownership

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has reportly been offered 51 percent ownership of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, the company his late father founded and Earnhardt Jr. currently drives for. Both Earnhardt Jr. and Max Siegel, chief negotiator for DEI, have denied any rumors of a 51 percent ownership offer.

I for one would just like to say "It's About Time". Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the most popular driver in Nascar at present, and his on the track performance is better then what most people give him credit for. He tends to be labled as overrated because he has never won a Championship, unlike his late father who won 7. However, Earnhardt Jr. is only 32 and in six full seasons of Nextel Cup racing, has finished in the top ten in the points standings 4 times, including 3 top five finishes. If DEI let's Junior go I fear it is a move for which they would never recover.

Redskins '07 schedule set

The 2007 NFL schedule was announced this past Wednesday. The Washington Redskins will open the season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 9. The following week the Redskins will travel to Philadelphia for a Monday Night match-up against the Eagles. The Redskins have two more national television games. Dec. 6 they will host the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears on the NFL Network. The following week the Redskins are slated to travel to New York for a Sunday Night match-up with the New York Giants. However, due to the NFL's flex scheduling, this game could be moved to Sunday afternoon.

I like the way the schedule was layed out. The Redskins play the AFC East this season and the NFC North. However the games against these divisions are spread out evenly so the schedule is not too overbearing. Considering the 5-11 finish to last season, and the off-season moves the team made, I wouldn't expect more then an 8-8 finish to 2007.

Spurrier doesn't like flag

South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier announced after the teams spring game saturday that he wishes the confederate flag would be taken down from the South Carolina state capital. Spurrier was quoted as being embarassed this past season when the South Carolina-Tennessee game was featured on ESPN's saturday night coverage because a fan was seen waving the flag on tv.

I disagree with Spurrier's view. I know the racial feelings that are conjured up by the confederate flag, however I feel it's a part of American history that should not be ignored. People in are country fought to end slavery, and although slavery is what is thought of when people see that flag, it's important to remember the people that died during the Cival War to end slavery.

Aggies leaning toward Turgeon as new coach

The Texas A&M Aggies are leaning towards offering Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon their head basketball position. Turgeon just wrapped up his seventh season at Wichita State where he has compiled a 128-90 record. Turgeon is best know for leading the Shockers to the 2006 sweet sixteen where they fell to George Mason University.

I think this is a terrific hire for the Aggies. Turgeon has proven that he has the ability to lead a team to through the NCAA tournament. This is also a step forward for mid-majors as Turgeon is not the only mid major coach to be offered a high profile position. Dana Altman of Creighton was offered and excepted the Arkansas job two weeks ago. He then decided to return to Creighton less then 24 hours after his introductory press conference. It is believed Turgeon is being offered in excess of $1.5 million dollars.

Imus tells sharpton he went too far

Don Imus appeared on the "Al Sharpton" show on Monday morning to speak with the Rev. about his comments towards the Rutgers women's basketball team. One day after they lost to the University of Tennessee in the National Championship game Imus made racially insensitive remarks about the Lady Scarlet Knights.

I for one do not agree with Imus's remarks. I think it is sad in today's world that we still have individuals who harbor racial feelings. However, I do not feel Imus should be lose his job. What he said was competely wrong and he should be punished, but we do have freedom of speech in this country and he exercised that right.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=2830850

Big Men staying in college

This year has been refreshing for college basketball. That's because for the first time in what seems like a decade, there are bonafide big men in college basketball. Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, and Greg Oden are the big name big men in college basketball. And not coincidently, they have led their schools to the 2007 Final Four.

College basketball is the minor leagues for the NBA. A place were kids who want to go to the NBA can improve their skills. Noah, Horford, Hibbert and Oden have certainly done that. I credit Oden ever further for saying he needed to stay in college because he's not ready for the NBA. Way to resist the temptation of the money Greg, hopefully Kevin Durant will do the same.

Redskins to meet with Russell

A story broke on ESPN.com Thursday afternoon that said the Washington Redskins have set up a meeting with former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell has been taughted as a possible number 1 pick in the draft, which would have him going to the Oakland Raiders.

If the Redskins draft JaMarcus Russell I am going to lose my mind. The Redskins sent three draft to the Denver Broncos in 2005 to acquire Denver's first round pick that year so they could draft Jason Campbell. After starting the last seven games last season, Campbell has been talked about as the long term quarterback for the Redskins. If I were Campbell, I would go to Joe Gibbs right now and tell him if you draft JaMarcus Russell you might as well trade me because I will never play for this franchise again. This is why the skins are constantly at the bottom of the league. They never stick with a certain way of doing things. It's always what can we do as an organization to grab headlines.

The Los Angeles Lakers ended a seven game losing streak on Friday night with a 116-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant's 65 points. Bryant scored 33 of his 65 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

You can't help but notice that injuries have killed the Lakers this season because they started the season 26-13. Part of that was also the improved play of Kobe Bryant. Instead of looking to score, Bryant was also spreading the ball around more, evident by his assists per game going up by 8 assists per game. However, last night the Lakers needed a spark. They needed someone to step up and lead them to victory and Bryant did just that. I know he hasn't won a championship since Shaq went to Miami, but give him a few more years and an injury free season, and I think you will see Kobe Bryant once again raising the NBA championship trophy.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270316013

VCU not trying to be this year's George Mason

The Virginia Commonwealth Rams defeated Duke on Thursday night to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. With last years Final Four run by George Mason still on people's minds, the comparisons have started. However, VCU sophomore guard Eric Maynor has stated that the Rams don't want to be last years George Mason, they want to be this years VCU.

I think that is the right approach for VCU to take. They have the talent to make a deep tournament run. They have 4 guards, if you count Jamal Shuler, that can score and two big men down low that can play defense and rebound. All the Rams have to do is just play their game and the rest will take care of itself.

http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/16/AR2007031602361.html

The Sacramento Kings have allowed forward Ron Artest to return to the team a week after he was arrested for domestic violence.

This is a sticky situation. This is the first time Artest has gotten into any kind of trouble since he became a member of the Kings. Of course, everyone knows Artest for his brawl with fans in Detriot two years ago. Although he has been good in Sacramento until now, I think the league and the organization should come down hard on Artest considering his past history. The league is doing well now and doesn't need a player that is going to continuously perpetuate a thug image. Artest is a good player and needs to get his personal life in order so he can reach his full potential.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2794038

The NHL suspended New York Islanders forward Chris Simon yesterday for the remainder of this season including the playoffs. Simon was ejected from a game earlier this week for swinging his stick at the head of Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg after Hollweg had finished a check on Simon.

I like that the league has done this, but I would like to see them do more. The evidence is plain as day in this case. Simon swung his stick at Hollweg like he was swinging a baseball bat and Hollwegs head was the ball. Personally, I think Simon should be suspended for all of next season as well. There was defenit intent to hurt in this case, and the league should take a more brutal stance.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2794638

The Washington Redskins are once again a big player in free-agency. Just two days into the free agent signing period the skins have already signed middle linebacker London Fletcher, and cornerback Fred Smoot. Joe Gibbs says the rest of the free agent signing period will not be a hecktic one for the skins considering their heavy spending last off-season landed them a 5-11 record in 2006. Although that makes me happy, I am still perplexed by one thing. The redskins gave Smoot a five year 25 million dollar contract. If they feel Smoot is that valuable a player then why didn't they gave him that kind of contract two years ago when he was a free agent. They also gave the same contract to London Fletcher, when two years ago they could've given the same kind of contract to now New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce. If the front office would spend big on the players we have instead of the players we don't have, then maybe this team would actually produce headlines in January instead of March and April http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/03/AR2007030300808.html

Mason upsets Hofstra

the George Mason University men's basketball team upset the Hofstra Pride on Saturday Mar. 3 to advance to the semifinals of the CAA tournament. I particularly love this victory because all season long Hofstra has been complaining that they should've been in the Final Four last year and not Mason. Well, they had their chance to prove that last night and they failed. Sorry, boys, looks like you're NIT bound once again.

Daytona Rules infractions

The past seven days at Daytona International Speedway have not been kind to the sport of nascar. Last Sunday after qualifying for this Sundays Daytona 500 concluded, four drivers and crews were fined and suspended for rules infractions. Crew chiefs for drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliot Sadler, Matt Kenseth, and Scott Riggs were fined and suspended for rules violations involving the aerodynamcis of their cars.

On Wednesday, Michael Waltrips crew chief was fined and suspended indefinetly after a foreign substance was found in the engine of Waltrips car. And just yesterday, four-time nascar champion Jeff Gordon was forced to start 42nd in Sundays because his car failed inspection after a victory in his 150 mile qualifying race.

The irony in all this is the difference in the punishments for these incidents. Kahne, Sadler, Kenseth and Riggs had their crew chiefs suspended and were docked 100 points each in the drivers standings. Gordon, who has been a top driver on the circut for over a decade now, was not finded or docked points.

There is a double standard here. I saw it happen when the late Dale Earnhardt was in the prime of his career. I remember a specific incident that took place during the 1993 season. Earnhardt was accused of causing a wreck, and was ordered to go to the back of the field, but remained on the lead lap. A less successful driver was accused of the same infraction, and was forced to go a lap down.

Rules infractions should be handled the same no matter what the infraction or who the driver is.

Tim Hardaway

Former NBA star Tim Hardaway insensed many this past week with his derogatory remarks towards homosexuals. Hardaway, who was speaking on Miami Herald Columnist Dan Le Batards radio show, was asked how he felt about former NBA player John Amechi coming out and admitting that he is gay. Hardaway paused for a moment, then flat out said he hated gay people. Hardaway also said he is homophobic.

I have mixed feelings about Hardaways comments. Although I am in the same boat and do not particularly like being around openly gay men, I do not think they should be looked down upon for their lifestyle. I always equate discrimination against homosexuals to discrimination against race or gender. Either way you look at it you are discriminating against a person for who or what they are.