James Patrick

Tressel Losing Some of His Star's Glow in Ohio

The fans in Columbus are some of the most fickle in all of sports. Not only was Saturday's game with Troy not a sellout, the Buckeyes were booed at times for their poor offensive production. How bad was the Southern California 35-3 loss ? It snapped a 141 game streak of the Buckeyes scoring at least one touchdown, dating back to a 13-9 loss to Michigan in 1996. The 32 point loss was the largest of the Jim Tressel Era and the biggest blowout suffered by the Buckeyes since John Cooper's boys lost to No. 1 Penn State in 1994.
Tressel and Woody Hayes now have the same number of losses by 32 points or more as Ohio State Coach : One. Hayes' only similar blowout in 28 years was a 41-6 loss at No.2 Purdue in 1967. How quickly fans forget!

They Don't Make Them Any Better Than "The Bear"

One of the best human beings this handicapper ever had the honor of meeting in person, Don "The Bear" Haskins, passed away on Sunday. The Head Basketball Coach at Texas Western College hastened the full integration of college basketball when he started five black players against an all-white University of Kentucky team and won the 1966 Men's NCAA Championship at the Cole Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Maryland. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997, Haskins was fourth in victories among active coaches when he retired in 1999 with a record of 719-353. Seventeen of his teams won at least 20 games and he had only five losing records in his 38 year career at Texas Western. 
Besides winning the 1966 NCAA title,Haskins teams played in 13 other NCAA Tournaments and in 1992 advanced to the Sweet Sixteen by upsetting No.2-ranked Kansas. Haskins also served as an assistant coach on the 1972 Olympic Basketball team. "The Bear" loved his neighborhood bar in El Paso and would love to eat the spicy chili and knock some cold beers down. An avid and accomplished pool player, the 2006 film based on his autobiography, Glory Road, brought long over due attention to the problems the coach and his players had to overcome. Don Haskins divided the money he made from the movie between each of his players giving each of them about  $35,000. Now if that is not an Old School Act- I've never seen one. Next time out toast one up to Don "The Bear" Haskins. SALUTE!!!!!

American League Cy Young Award Deserves to Stay in Cleveland

Cleveland Indians southpaw Cliff Lee put his stamp on the 2008 American League Cy Young Award at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Labor Day. Lee became the first Tribe pitcher to win 20 games in 34 years, not since Gaylord Perry hit the magic number in 1974 has the 20 win mark been achieved by a Cleveland hurler. Lee's 20 wins represent 30% of the Indian's victories to date this season and when we look at his season's accomplishments, how can he not win the award this season ?  A look at his numbers shows us that the lefthander has gone at least 5 innings in all 27 of his starts this year. His 9 consecutive wins are tied for the most in the league. He has a 15-0 record in night baseball. A 9-0 record at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Since the All-Star break he is 8-0 in the second half of the season. Lee became Major League Baseball's first 20 game winner. His winning percentage is .909 and he has allowed 2 or less runs in 21 of 27 outings. Don't forget that some poor choices by Tribe Manager Eric Wedge in respect to going to his bullpen cost Lee four more victories at least. Recent abdominal injuries have derailed Lee's Star Status as many fail to recall his 2005 record of 18-5 before the injuries hit. Was CC Sabathia really the ace of the Cleveland Indians pitching staff ? One thing for sure is the award that Sabathia coveted last season certainly belongs on the mantle in the Lee Family household this year.