Eddie Robinson passed away last night at 88, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. I don't remember much about Eddie, except seeing him but once a year for the annually televised Grambling / Southern football game, usually on NBC. The halftime show battle of the marching bands was always fun to watch, but so was Eddie, always in a suit and tie on the sidelines, directing traffic. Such a passionate and amazing man. Some amazing stats: 80% of his players graduated, 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, 408 wins, over 200 players that went on to the NFL, only 8 losing seasons in 56 - yes, fifty-six consecutive seasons as a coach, from 1941 to 1997. You really need to read this article to appreciate the hard times, and the class of man he was: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2825016
Florida won the NCAA Tournament. Even though I dislike them for one player and the school as a whole, it is still pretty impressive winning 2 in a row in this day in age, especially since all 5 starters returned for school this year.
Oh Lou Lamoriello! Three games to go in the regular season and he fires the coach of the NJ Devils, Claude Julien. I've never met the man, but after 20 years as the Devils GM, I feel I know him. Having had a slump in the past month: In February, the Devils were a hot 10-3, however for the month of March they were 6-8. With the playoffs right around the corner, perhaps lightning will strike again for Lou - he's twice had to make a coaching change late in the season for a playoff run - once in 2000 (Larry Robinson stepped in and they won The Cup and last year Lou stepped in after Larry Robinson left in the middle of last season. With all of this going on, and both side alleging no "bad blood", this doesn't appear to be an A.J. Smith/Marty Schottenheimer deal. Plus, the Devils have lots to look forward to: Martin Brodeur last night tied the record for wins in a season (47 - 2 games to go), and the Devils are in the driver's seat for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Plus, Patrick Elias, Brian Gionta and John Madden are all healthy from their mid-season injuries. They don't score as many goals as most teams, but their #1 in goals against in the Eastern conference, thanks to Brodeur and their trap defense. (For those Devils fans in South Jersey, they will be on tomorrow night against the Flyers at 7pm on Comcast SportsNet. A win clinches the Atlantic Division for the Devils.)
For those that missed it last week, the "Peyton Manning" dude, can't change his name after all. As predicted right here in "The Dish" on February 8th, the judge did not allow it "...because it would be too confusing and might infringe on the privacy of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback." And I quote: "I'll tell you now, it isn't going to happen. He filed paperwork yesterday and now will have to appear before a judge to make this official." Now if only I put my emotions aside and predicted Florida would win it all, you all might have some more cashola in your pah-quettes!
Breaking News: Mike Doss, signs with the Minnesota Vikings. The best of the remaining free agents, the safety formerly of the Colts is now a Viking. No more chance for the Eagles, but you have to bet they at least contacted him...
Some randomness:
South Park - 24 "hill dog" - it was only a matter of time. Right in her sniz. Hope a few of you watched in laughter as did I. By the way, I got an email about the US Airways merger with America West Airlines from the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Ready for this? Ready? His name is H. Travis Christ. See that's the problem with US Airways! Your sales guy is Christ and he still can't control the weather in Philly!!!
Kelly Holcomb = Taylor Hicks? At least Kelly Holcomb is in his 30's though: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=66789
So, yeah, I had asparagus recently. Made it on the grill, wrapped in foil with some butter, and garlic powder. (I've had it like that before, but usually over the brother-in-laws, and usually with about "a few" beers, so I didn't notice it then.) I went to urinate later that night and almost passed out from the smell! Now, after a while, coffee "scented" urine, is nice. Asparagus urine is just wrong! Here's a tip - drink at least 48 oz of fluid next time you eat asparagus.
By the way, I hate when my bowling ball pours Portland Cement into my washing machine. Oh, and March: "Came in like a lion, went out like a lamb" - anyone else know what I'm talkin' about?
Finishing this up - I'm watching "Undercover Brother" on USA network. Chappelle, Doogie Howser, the Principal from "Boston Public" - I may have to do like Eddie Griffin says and get it on DVD. (I'll avoid driving like him though) Talking into my baseball mitt...
Around the balls:
Giant-orange- In a little smaller than giant - the Lady Scarlet Nights of Rutgers came up short last night in the championship game. Pat Summitt and the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee are just too good. That was Pat Summitt's seventh - yes, 7th, Division I Championship. Talk about impressive. Not too sure she was as great a cheerleader as Bruce Pearl was painted orange, but 7 Championships is nothing to laugh at. Neither is Candace Parker, though a very beautiful woman, she's a beast on the court.
White-leather-stitched- When is opening day again? JK - I bowed out early on the NCAA game Monday night to watch some of the Angels/Rangers game in Los Angeles, err...California, err...Anaheim. The game is really starting to grow on me - kinda like that skin tag on my left armpit!
Rubber-non- Only 2 or 3 games left in the regular season. Post-season hockey might be better than post-season basketball. No, it is.
Big-brown-oblong- Commish Roger Goodell met with Pacman Jones and Chris Henry yesterday and set up an "Advisory Committee"
Tiny-white- The Masters begins tomorrow and continues through Sunday (FYI, most golf tournaments are 4 rounds, in case you didn't know). I'm still taking Tiger. I'm not sure if he'll win by 12 strokes like he did in 1997, but Tiger is going for "one for the thumb".
Program Alert:
The Masters - coverage begins tomorrow, 4pm on USA.
Chevelle's new CD "Vena Sera" hit stores yesterday. I rate my "music" for my iPod by the intensity (speed/anger being a 5, mellow being a 1) - this CD has almost all "4's" on the Dom scale.
Links:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2825016 - Eddie Robinson - nice video on there
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2818261 - Brodeur article - not ordinary
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2823081 - Devils GM fires coach - more perspective
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2816559 - Peyton Manning name change guy
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For those new to "the dish", I once dreamed of being a sports-caster having my own column. Let me know if you don't like it, and/or want to be discontinued from the list. If you have another email address to send it to, send that to me also. For older issues of the dish, email me. domsdish@gmail.com or go to http://domsdish.blogspot.com
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