Dom's Dish - NCAA Bracket nearly busted Edition

So, after a long few weeks of watching college basketball (Mens' tournament), I was right about 2 things: Villanova will make the Final Four; Two Big East schools will be in the Final Four.  It will be a tough road for both Villanova (playing a team on fire, North Carolina) and UConn (playing a hot Michigan State team 75 miles from East Lansing).  I was also right about a #2, a #3 and two #1 seeds there in Detroit, Memphis and Louisville blew it for me.  Ah well, there's always next year.  In the meantime, it's been a fun journey watching all the games, especially Nova's miracle finish the other night.  Let's hope the last 3 games stay interesting and Nova comes out on top - after all, Jay Wright deserves it.  How can you not love the guy?

Heeeeeeeeee's back!  Tiger did it.  I think that was the moment that my son actually crapped himself when I yelled "YES" and pumped my fist when Tiger hit the birdie putt on 18 this afternoon at about 7:50pm - I know because the sun set in Orlando at 7:43pm.  After staying close all day, the pressure of the Tiger on the prowl got to "the field" and Tiger pulled into the lead on the 72nd hole at Arnie's tournament.  This sets the stage quite nicely for 2 weeks from now in Augusta.  You know Tiger's taking a few days off to be home with the family, count some more money, then gonna go back out and work his butt off for about 8 days before the start of the Masters.  And on Easter weekend, of all times.  Amen corner indeed.

Dom's Dish - Overtime's Overtime's Overtime Edition

So, as I'm about to shut down, I realize I missed the most amazing game ever.  I didn't see one second of it, but it's gone to 6 OVERTIMES SO FAR and it's still not over!  UConn and Syracuse playing in the Big East Quarterfinals on a day where Nova barely pulled it out, but pulled it out in classic March Madness fashion with a reverse lay-up at the buzzer to stun Marquette - who came back from 16 at the half!  Now, in the 6th overtime at 1:19am Syracuse seems to be pulling away from UConn pulling away by 10...wait, 11...wait 6.  OVER TO THE TV!  

Ok, I'm back, Cuse pulled it out.  In the 70 minutes of basketball (nearly 4 hours real time) 127-117.  Apparently only 3 other games have ever gone that long in college - 2 other went 6 OT, one went 7OT in 1983 I think.  Awesome game - biggest stat was Syracuse hit something like 23 of 28 free throws in the overtimes.  That's what every coach has you practice - free throws at the end of a long grinding practice, and it sure paid off for the Orange.  Awesome job, and kudos to one of their players after the game for giving props to their Strength and Conditioning coach!  Let's see how that fares in 19 hours when they take on West Virginia who upset #2 ranked Pitt by 14!  Should be an interesting game.  For those that didn't know, Big East Basketball in 2008-2009 is a lot of fun to watch.  March Madness is upon us indeed.

So, first and foremost, I hate Comcast.  I thought I would reiterate for anyone who didn't know, because I know there is no one out there that loves them, aside from maybe Mitch Williams, the Phillies "Wild Thing" who may actually be finding his way into Phillies fans' hearts after be the goat of all goats (Comcast pays him as an "analyst").  Anyway, I sucked it up last year and caved and paid $5.99/month so I could catch up on the NFL Network and prepare for the draft. I can't do it anymore, not in this economy and not with the DVR (one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century) being $15/month.  It's not the most thrilling TV, but it was awesome to watch for those few years and it brought all of you third-hand reports of the NFL Combine and free agency via me (Dom's Dish), the analysts there and my TV feed from Indianapolis.  Anyway, in a draft like this year's, with the team I follow most - the Eagles, having something like 11 or 13 draft picks, I'm a little upset.  I can't even watch the stuff on ESPN 360 if I could.  Not sure where I'm going with this other than Comcast sucks.  At least my service seems to have cleared up, but that'll only take a 90-degree day to fix that I'm sure.

Around the Balls:

Men's College Big Orange and Round - Oklahoma lost to OK State in the Big 12 championship.  Some say that might have blown their shot for a #1 seed.  You never know now with UConn and Pitt both losing their first games in the Big East tournament...

White stiched - Opening day is about 24 days away now.  The WBC is on, but with college hoops upon us, no one is watching really.  It's nice to see Chase Utley is getting ready to go in Clearwater and looks like he will be ready for opening day.  See A-Rod, you could have had the surgery in the offseason instead of now!

Tiny white - Tiger is back to "stroke play" - you'll hear that 45 more times this weekend "his first since that US Open win" - he didn't look too good today and he's 6 shots back after 1 round, though he was only missing his putts by inches - about 4 of them should have fallen.  Should be interesting this weekend, don't count him out yet!

Big Brown oblong - It's slow on the NFL Free Agency front.  How slow is it, you ask?  The ESPN Bottom line just flashed that the Arizona Cardinals signed an "LS" to a 3 year contract.  No, not a Lexus LS, a Long-Snapper!  A long snapper is the NFL news.   Wow. Seriously, I don't know how those guys take up a roster spot, but that's for another day.  Well, I guess no one wants to talk about how the $100 Million man in DC - Albert Haynesworth is being investigated in Tennessee for wreckless driving charges.  When are these guys going to get a driver?

Professional Big Orange and Round - I missed it live, but the best play of the night in the NBA was when Jason Richardson of the Suns went on a fast break down the floor and attempted a hot-dog 360 degree dunk and LeBron came out of no where and SWATTED the ball out of his hands!  Would have been a top play any other night.

Rubber Round non-balls - Martin Brodeur is back, an aside from the absolute debacle against the Islanders at Nassau Colesium over last weekend when he got pulled, he's won a bunch and is now 1 win away from tying Patrick Roy's record for all time wins!  He'll get a chance to do that on Sunday in his hometown of Montreal.  He's only a few (four I believe) shut-outs away from tying that record for a Goalie as well.

Rubber Round non-balls times four - So they suspended the NASCAR pit crew guy who ran after a tire at last weekend's race for 4 races!  A little harsh.  Yeah, he put his life in danger when he ran into the grass infield, but the tire was headed toward the track and for Pete's sake, he's on a pit crew!  Haven't you seen those guys get hit?  Didn't Danica hit one of her drivers a few years back?  Rubbin is racin fellas.  Rubbin is racin.

Dom's Dish - Mobile Edition

Dom's Dish - Mobile Edition

So here I sit, broken hearted, tried to but only farted...but I digress.

I can't help the giddiness (and dizziness) that Tiger is back. I
didn't get to watch the full round yesterday but I saw bits and pieces
on the Golf Channel and ESPN. 33 he is? Maybe less, but he looks mid
20's on the course (only the close-up during interviews make him look
mid to late 30's). Who knows what the weekend will bring, but Tiger
in the finals of this match play would make the PGA's dream! It makes
me jealous though seeing him and others in t-shirts playing golf in
the sun! Then today at 5:11pm EST Tiger shot an amazing sand wedge on
the 14th to win the hole and move to only 2 down.

So on the topic of greats in their profession, Martin Brodeur was
activated on Wednesday and will return today back in goal for the NJ
Devils. Woo Hoo! I sure hope the investment in the rookie card (via
brother Nic) pays off! On the verge of breaking so many records, he,
like Tiger, will again bring people back to their sports: obviously
Brodeur on a much smaller scale.

Last but not least, 12:01am and the NFL Free Agency period begins!
Where will TJ Houshamazilly wind up? Ocho Cinco? Albert Haynesworth?
So much will likely be done in the first 7-8 days so stay tuned.

Dom's Dish - Quick Edition Cali style

Ok, no real formatting or anything here, just some random thoughts as I sit in a nice hotel in the middle of one of those boom-to-bust-type areas called Temecula, CA...

Just saw the news, Tiger Woods will be back next week at the Accenture Match Play!  Great news for the sponsor (Accenture), his sponsors (Nike, Gatorade/G, Buick, etc), and of course TV and the PGA.  I am getting goosebumps writing this - is Tiger the reason for all this recession?  We'll know soon enough if he was the reason.  People love Tiger - he's not the typical underdog that people love, he's America's hero, and I'm sure in the next few days, this news will start to take over from all the A-Rod steroid scandal, the Economy/stimulus woes and all the greedy investors out there.  Or maybe not.  Either way, get ready to watch some golf this spring.

So, I'm thinking that $4M/year is way too much for a punter.  The Oakland Raiders just signed Shane Lechler to a $16M, 4 year extension.   Granted, he's been on my one Fantasy team two years running, but $4M to punt the ball a few times a game - I know he's been an integral part of the Raiders game the last few years because their offense is so bad, but still.  What's next?  $15M for a Cornerback?  Oh wait, Al Davis just authorized that for Nnamdi Asomugha - 3 yrs $45.3M.  Though he's worth it as probably the only true "shutdown corner" in the league, I can see Drew Rosenhaus right now on ESPN in a few weeks asking for $10M for Lito Shephard - "Leeetoe".  What recession?  Al Davis, when is he retiring?

It's just about Tourney Time - get ready, we'll be ramping up in the next 3-4 weeks with conference championships.  The field is so wide open this year, it should be a good NCAA tournament time - who will win? Oklahoma, NC, Duke, Pitt, UConn, Memphis, Davidson?

Utley seems ready to roll down in Clearwater.  Says he thinks he'll be ready for Opening Day - don't forget we have the World Baseball classic that delays everything by about a week.  Just want to again point out that the Phillies are 2008 World Phucking Champions - boy how I wish Hines Ward would have said something like that at the Steelers celebration.  We'll see what 2009 brings, hard for them to repeat, but I'll take another Division Championship.  What a month for sports mid-March to mid-April will be with WBC, NCAA, Spring Training, NBA ramping up and of course The Masters.

Around the Balls - just wanted to throw that in, nothing else to add.

Dom's Dish - Spring Sprung edition

Dom's Dish - Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The NCAA tournament. What else can I say? So far my prediction has held up: "Memphis, Georgetown, Ohio State, UCLA will go far." The first and second round games were somewhat uneventful. Not many upsets, and not many last second or OT wins. Sure, everyone's brackets are screwed, but that's every year. Problem is, almost every year, the 5/12 matchup is the biggest upset. Not one time did that hold true this year. All 7's won (over 10's), two 11's beat 6's, no 1's or 2's lost in the opening round, however three 9's beat 8's. The seeds left? 1-5, 3-7; 1-4, 3-2; 1-5, 6-2; 1-5, 3-2. Bad year to be a 4 seed - UVA, Maryland, Texas - 7, UNLV and 6, Vanderbilt have the chance to be "Cinderellas" if you can call a 6 or 7 an underdog. There have never been all four #1 seeds in the Final Four - will 2007 be the year? (Why is six afraid of seven? Because 7-8-9!) I should have checked with a doctorate in Stat before filling out my bracket this year!

(Someone let President Bush know that he is not Donald Trump - "ya fired!" Eight US attorneys let go? What's going on, lame duck?)

Breaking news: The Eagles have signed DT Montae Reagor, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, to a 3 year $8.25 mil. I was waiting for over 20 minutes for the "11:30" news conference, but Adam Schefter of the NFL network had already reported it. I was able to listen to Dave Spadaro while I waited! Reagor is 6-3, 285. His season was ended prematurely last year because of an automobile accident on his way to a home game in Indianapolis, week 6 last year. He did not play another game after the accident on the Colts Super Bowl run. (The accident caused a fractured orbital bone below his left eye, that required surgery.) "Experts" are already questioning his ability to come back from this injury, but we're not talking an ACL or hamstring injury. Then I looked at him once the PC started. Wow. His face is swollen and his eye is almost shut, however he did just have cosmetic surgery this past Friday. As long as the swelling goes down by the middle of Training Camp, expect Reagor to be on the roster as a DT, specializing in the pass rush. What does that mean to the DT picture? Gut feeling? Don't be surprised if Jerome McDougle and/or Darwin Walker wind up being traded before or on draft day for some more draft picks. Why them? Expiring contracts - 2007 and 2008, respectively. (last year, Hank Fraley, Hollis Thomas, Josh Parry, and Mark Simoneau were all traded - contracts were set to expire 2006, 2006, 2007 and 2007 respectively)

No doubt, free agency for the Eagles has been subdued (compared to the T.O., Kearse year and frenzy last year), however when asked for comment on the recent free agent signings, die hard Eagles fan "Cougar" Wright on the Kevin Curtis signing, "It's good!" Thanks Cougar, back to Merrill in the studio...

"Sorry Roger, you tiger now"

(After too many years, I've officially had a "Philly Cheesesteak". Sunday marked the day (National Irish Hangover Day) that a car load of four of us went down to Sout' Philly and got ourselves the glorious sandwich. Not Geno's or Pat's, we tried the place that Bobby Flay challenged on "Throwdown" - Tony Luke's right near the stadium and food warehouse section of town. We parked right under 95 - lots of pigeon shit there - and we tried the more modern "beef and beer" building. Onions, provolone and pure 100% rib eye steak - scrumptious. And you don't have to worry about how the heck you order it. The wings are good too! I can now say I am from "South Jersey" after all these years. Now I can live up to my name = "Cheesesteak.")


Around the balls:
Giant-orange- Gilbert Arenas and John Dorian, what do they have in common? Both shout odd things after a "zinger" of sorts. "Zoom zoom zoom" is what J.D. (of "Scrubs") shouts after a good zinger. "Hibachi!" is what Arenas aka "Agent Zero" shouts after he knows a shot is going in...I don't know what my thing will be, but you'll know it...
White-leather-stitched- There is still talk that the Phils will trade Jon Lieber, a starting pitcher, for a reliever. I still question the possible move - traditionally it's harder to find a good starting pitcher who can throw for 6-7 innings every five days versus a guy to throw 1-2 quality innings every other or third day, right? Maybe I don't know enough about baseball, but still there's the possibility of injury, then they're up a creek...
Big-brown-oblong- Word on the street is that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (no, not Dom Goodell) may in fact suspend Adam "Pac man" Jones for up to 1 year for his conduct off the field. For those that missed all 10 run-ins with the law since his draft in 2005, the kid "can't cut off his friends" according to interviews that appeared on ESPN all weekend long. He's going to wind up suspended, piss the rest of his money away and be broke by 32. Sad.
Tiny-white- Tiger collapsed last weekend. From 6-under the first day, he had a three-hole series of bogey, double-bogey, triple-bogey. With only two weeks to go, I'm sure he'll be out on the range and on the course every day until Augusta begins. Tiger or the field in the Masters? I'll Take Tiger.


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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/

Dom's Dish - Groundhog edition

Dom's Dish - Friday, February 2, 2007





And now, the conclusion of Jack Bauer vs. Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris filled in for Sean Hannity on an episode of "the popular" "Hannity & Colmes". (I don't know if I'll go as far as "popular." It's no "Lost" or "24.") Judging from last week's weak episode of "24" the series may have "jumped the shark" with the nuke this time, coupled with the death of Curtis in the same episode, and the impending movie...and the winner is CHUCK NORRIS! Sorry Jack Bauer, better luck next time. Guess you'll have to create some "survival guide to fight terrorism" or something to combat Chuck's "Chun Kuk Do" martial art form. After all, Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there. Did I mention Norris was in a Mountain Dew commercial?

Breaking news: Brett Favre told a Mississippi paper that he will return to the NFL next season. Good, now they will stop talking about it!

I know what it is, we all want to witness greatness. I do. LeBron and Kobe, Peyton and LT, Sidney Crosby and Brodeur, Clemens and A-Rod. Whether it's someone on the brink or someone with a bright future sure to break all sorts of records by 2015 or whenever they retire. Those I mentioned are all from team sports, but perhaps two of the greatest we're witnessing are from the individual realm: Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

Ok, I won't argue Tiger's "streak" of 7 events (there were events he didn't win but weren't on the PGA tour), but either way it's remarkable. On cue each tournament, eventually the competition crumbles at some point (like trying to make a snowball with the light snow that's fallen this winter in NJ). This past weekend, it was when Tiger hit the eagle put on the ninth hole. Within minutes, golfers were hitting their worst shots. They looked worse than me at Valleybrook County Club (Jaws' course in beautiful Blackwood, NJ: I recommend highly, especially when the beverage cart girl is out and there's nothing for you (or your friends) to damage the golf cart with) hitting the ball OVER the green and down 10 feet below the green. Federer has done an amazing job too, not losing a single set during this past Aussie Open? Federer's nemesis is coming up though in the French Open: Nadal and clay (in May). He hasn't won the French yet, but with that and Wimbledon both before his 26th birthday, Federer has the chance to pass Bjorn Borg to win 12 "majors" before his 26th birthday. Federer is dominating his sport, winning 3 "majors" in a row twice (Wimbledon, US, Australian 2005-2006, 2006-2007). Skipping of course the French in both years.

His good friend Tiger, the "Cablinasian" though, has won every major tournament, multiple times (4 Masters, 3 British, 3 PGA Championships, 2 US Opens). Though Tiger is not blowing the field away as he once did in 2000, he is in a way dismantling them each tournament. You just know he's going to win. Not expect, know. I saw he was only 2 back of the rookie Snedaker heading into Sunday and felt bad for the kid. The one who made plenty of comments about playing the "Tiger Woods Golf" video game after his amazing 11-under round day one, saw the real Tiger. Chewed up and spit out like the rest. I want to see Tiger win all four majors this year. Put him at 16 majors, two short of the Golden Bear. He'll win the first three in 2008, with the British Open as the 19th, which will make him the all time leader in majors, and would be 9 straight majors. It could happen. We're witnessing history with he, Federer, and the others I mentioned. Watch as much of them as possible. We'll be able to tell our grandkids about it.
Coaching News: A little late in reporting this here, but Omar Epps has been named the head coach in Pittsburgh. (Thanks honey for pointing that out a week ago, don't know why I waited so long to mention this news.) You be the judge


Finally watching some college basketball last night, I caught a little bit of the St. John's / Georgetown Big East matchup. Son of a! Yeah, that's right. Patrick Ewing and Doc Rivers both have sons that play for Georgetown. They play for son John Thompson III. Last night they played against Anthony Mason's son (St. John's). Talk about our four fathers! But seriously, St. John's was once decent in college hoops; and then Lou Carneseca retired in 1992. Carneseca's coaching record with St. John's: 526-200. Even after he left, they were able to recruit on that reputation. Guess it was Chris Mullin leaving? Sure and since I started writing this thesis about St. John's the point all along was to compare and contrast to Duke. Then they go out and lose in OT to UVA? Are you kidding me? Either way, my point was that in college hoops, so much of it comes down to coaching. Mike K - I'm not gonna attempt to spell that one - has recruited well, but I'm sure his biggest selling point is, well, him. The court is named after him for goodness sakes! He's had 7 #1 AP rankings at the end of the season with 10 Final Four appearances and 3 NCAA championships since 1985-86 (he's been coach since 1980-81). Again, history hear. Hopefully they stop losing when I mention them.


Andy Reid's sons. Back in my day, when moms and dads (some might call them "parents" but I call them "moms and dads") went away on vacation (I was never that lucky), people threw keggers or house parties. How times have changed. Now they ride around brandishing guns, speeding, running red lights and possessing hypodermic needles in the car? Oh yeah, that's because the one son did herion too. HEROIN!? They're mormons! Rastafarians believe marijuana is the "herb" they refer to in the bible. I know heroin ain't in no Book of Latter Day Saints! (And I don't mean they hide it in there, I mean in print.) You rarely see Andy Reid get pissed during a football game, probably one of the most high-stress and intense sports to coach. Now you make him cut his vacation short, admit to heroin use, and tarnish the family name? Oh, he's gonna be ppppiiiiiiisssssssed! P.S. Why are your sons driving GMC Denali's? You have a 1930-something Ford!



Around the balls:
Base- The wife beater back in Philly! They signed Pitcher Brett Myers to a 3 year $25.75 million deal. He won 12 games last year with a 3.31 ERA in 31 starts (7 losses as well). Will the Phils ever have a 20-game winner?
Foot- McNasty says all is well. In multiple interviews I watched him say the same thing, cool as a cucumber. Though not as funny as I've seen him in the past, I do still believe him. Once Manning wins his this weekend, McNabb will be the next QB to garner up some sympathy from the media for not winning one. Mark that down. I can't believe anyone actually took that article seriously. IT'S THE TRENTON TIMES, PEOPLE!
Rubber non- Sure, I mention how bad the 76ers were playing, now they're hot. I mention Brodeur's greatness and now he starts giving up 3-5 goals a game? At least the Devils played the horrific Flyers last night.
Basket- Poor Carmelo. 'Melo, for now, has been left off the Western Conference reserves roster for the All-Star game in 2 weeks in the Vegas. One non-snub: A.I. - the original aka Allen Iverson, made it to the reserves. I never liked 'Melo anyway, just something about him seems to me to be the un-LeBron. 'Melo, though will probably make the roster now that F Carlos Boozer of the Jazz is "out with a leg" for 3-4 weeks.

(Speaking of leg: Flipping through the channels last night I caught a few minutes of History Channel's "History of Sex" and found out why table skirts were invented. Story goes, back in Victorian days, women were expected to be pure until marriage and even then were not to enjoy sex, which obviously repressed the men. The term "limbs" was 'erotic' and they were afraid even seeing a table leg ("limb") would drive men to unusual unions with furniture. No lie. I saw this on History Channel, it wasn't a punch line. I also learned Charles Dickens even had a mistress for 20 years! Who knew!)

Sources / further reading:


http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_032125108.html : Reid's sons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Woods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Norris http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafarian#Ganja http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Krzyzewski

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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/