1freeworld Groups - Print Page


    
      
        1freeworld Groups
        (http://www.1freeworld.net/cgi-bin/Yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Recreation & Wellness >> Sports, Travel & Automotive >> ESPN ZONE
        
(Message started by: need4speed8dalejr on Jul 25^th, 2004, 9:12pm)

Title: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 25^th, 2004, 9:12pm

This thread is for all Sports related issues and Sports fans who just wanna post about the latest topics of the day that does not fit into the other threads.

Who is getting traded, who wants to be traded, rumors, upcoming games of interest, which athlete is next to get arrested, and general Sports Smack. Ya Baby!!

So post away gang. Enjoy!! ;D

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 25^th, 2004, 9:37pm

Ricky Williams retired today.

Just a few days before the opening of training camp Ricky Williams has retired from the Miami Dolphins.

This has stunned the Dolphins and for that matter stunned the entire Sports World. No player has ever walked away from the game at the prime of their careers like this with the exception of Barry Sanders.

Ricky in his 5 years in the NFL has 6 354 yards from scrimmage on 1 589 carries and 41 career touchdowns.

Williams has been something of a loner throughout his football career and has always been thought of as a great football talent that has never reached his full potential as many people questioned his heart when he played for the New Orleans Saints.

Meanwhile the Dolphins must be kicking themselves and madder than heck because the timing of Ricky's decision has left the Dolphins without a starting running back. And just last week Eddie George went up on the market and was quickly snatched up by the Dallas Cowboys.

Ricky who says his retirement is permanent, must be getting the royal treatment from the Dolphins to return for at least one more season to ensure them of a shot at the Super Bowl. If Ricky doesn't return you can be sure alot of his teammates will not be happy with Ricky and will let their feelings for him be known in public.

Ohhhh...and football season has just begun! Maybe the Dolphins will try to lure Barry Sanders out of retirement. Well crazier things have happened. LOL

Because this season will be a wild one. LMAO. [smiley=batman.gif]

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by ReeBop on Jul 25^th, 2004, 9:41pm

Keep in mind he was going to be suspended 4 games for testing positive for pot...and I thought I heard that something else could have been coming up as well.....

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 26^th, 2004, 4:58am

on 07/25/04 at 21:41:22, ReeBop wrote:

Keep in mind he was going to be suspended 4 games for testing positive for pot...and I thought I heard that something else could have been coming up as well.....

Really,

I didn't hear anything about this. I had no idea. No one is talking about the 4 game suspension. If it's true then things are starting to make some sense. Especially after Ricky's "I finally Feel Free" comments over the weekend.

Hmmm...I gotta watch P.T.I. on Monday...George or Tony will mention it for sure. Those guys never fail to shed some "Insider" info on what's going on behind the scenes with an athlete.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by mylane on Jul 26^th, 2004, 9:05am

nice topic dale... I will contribute soon ;)

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Stonser on Jul 26^th, 2004, 11:55am

Dale,

It will be interesting to see how many more players will retire in the near future. With the crackdown on doping in sports and test for THG now commonplace it maybe a factor here. Maybe Ricky is beating a ban by retiring gracefully...

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Stonser on Jul 26^th, 2004, 11:57am

Speaking of Retirements at the pinnacle of careers, Marc Overmars, announced his retirement from professional soccer. He's had a niggly knee injury for hte past year of so and believes he can never reach his peak again because of it. It's a shame really because Marc was one of the best wingers in the game.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 26^th, 2004, 8:04pm

on 07/26/04 at 09:05:40, mylane wrote:

nice topic dale... I will contribute soon ;)

Hmmm...Welcome Mymy! Maybe you can post some more pics of your lovely hair for moi. Mmmm..LOL [smiley=laugh.gif]

That would be some vintage ESPN Classic moments!!

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 26^th, 2004, 8:36pm

on 07/26/04 at 11:55:15, Stonser wrote:

I agree that all the Major Leagues are starting to crack down on players who use banned substances, THG being a huge tip of the banned drug Iceberg. But as far as I know, the NFL isn't cracking down on too many players using performance enhancing substances, but do crack the whip when players use Illegal drugs like Cocaine or Ecstacy.

The performance enhancing drugs like THG or Steroids help an athlete to preform better, and most teams and coaches tell players to mask their drugs and accept it if that means the team has a better shot at winning. But Illegal drugs give players a bad image with fans and the media. I can only think of one player (A lineman with the Raiders) who was released a couple of weeks ago for Steroid use and he would of only been suspended for 4 games. Most teams sweep steroid use under the carpet.

As for Ricky retiring from Football (sorry...to us North American's anyway) I heard he suffers from a form of Societal Anxiety that makes him really uncomfortable to be in the "spotlight" and to be in large crowds. Both of which happens all the time in today's Sports environment. I dunno if this is true of not, but Ricky retiring just to escape a steriod suspension is highly unlikely.

I am sure that more info on this will be trickling out in the days and weeks to come.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by keensryche on Jul 26^th, 2004, 10:26pm

Ricky showed no class to his team and there fans for leaving this close to training camp. Instead of being a man and facing his penality of drug abouse, he put his tail between his legs and quit. He called from a cell phone in Aisa to say that he "retired" not wanting to face his team face to face. If he would have quit months ago and gave Miami time to replace him, then that would have been respectible, but instead he just killed Miami for the coming season. Have fun in quiting Ricky, and DON'T CAME BACK!!!!!!!

GO COWBOYS!!!

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 26^th, 2004, 11:33pm

on 07/26/04 at 22:26:11, keensryche wrote:

GO COWBOYS!!!

I totally agree with that Keen...

Go Cowboys!! [smiley=cowboy.gif]

Can you imagine what kinda azz kicking Ricky would have gotten if he played for Bill Parcells!! LOL[smiley=knife.gif]

Whooo Momma!!

But maybe that's what Ricky needs, an ass kicking followed by a hug. Coach Parcells is just what Ricky needs in his life. The Ultimate Motivator. [smiley=evil.gif]

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Stonser on Jul 27^th, 2004, 4:15am

on 07/26/04 at 20:36:25, need4speed8dalejr wrote:

Dale

I not huge up on the info or inside track in American sports. But it seems they condone cheating in what you say. Turn a blind eye to performances enchaners if it gives them a better shot of winning. That's cheating, plain and simple.

The Ricky thing I'm not upto speed on. I wasn't saying dor definitely he was retiring to beat a ban, but it was just you mentioned social drugs and a 4 game ban. I thought there might be more to it with something like THG.

MY cousin as hat social anexity thing. He freaks out if he's in a big crowd etc.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 27^th, 2004, 3:34pm

on 07/27/04 at 04:15:08, Stonser wrote:

Yah, I agree with you there. But you gotta understand that with most sports on this side of the pond that most teams like to secretly tell there players, "If your not taking performance enhancing drugs, then your not trying hard enough". LMAO at that, but it's the truth.

Quote:

The Ricky thing I'm not upto speed on. I wasn't saying dor definitely he was retiring to beat a ban, but it was just you mentioned social drugs and a 4 game ban. I thought there might be more to it with something like THG.

No, there has been no mention of THG or steroids. That might still come out, one can never tell what goes on behind closed doors.

Quote:

MY cousin as hat social anexity thing. He freaks out if he's in a big crowd

Ya, those kinda things are no joke. I saw an episode of MTV Cribs 3 or so years ago when Ricky played in New Orleans, and they went into his house to see how he lived. His place was very very toned down. He didn't live at all like most athletes with the huge house and all the "bling-bling". I even remember him saying that his house was where he spent most of his time and that he really wasn't into doing what other team mates did.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 27^th, 2004, 3:56pm

Ok....I have got a question for you.

Kobe or Shaq??

As most of you know, The NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers, made it to the Finals but lost to the Detroit Pistons. Now that the season is over the Lakers have self-destructed and coach Phil Jackson has left the team.

Meanwhile Shaq has openly demanded a trade because he no longer wants to play with "a ball hog" (Shaq's words), and was traded to the Miami Heat for about 75 players and a couple of there cheerleaders!! LOL.

In the meantime Kobe entertained an offer from the other team in LA...the Clippers, and a couple of other teams were in serious trade talks with the Lakers to try to get Kobe. All this and Kobe maybe going to Prison for allegedly sexual assaulting a maid at a Colorado hotel, meaning he may never play basketball again. But Kobe has since resigned with the Lakers for some serious dollars.

So I pose this question to you...which player would you take if you were the GM of a team and why?

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Jul 27^th, 2004, 10:44pm

Ok...I wanna post about "Beckham's Ball". No....silly not that ball! LOL.

In the Euro 2004 Quarter-Finals match, England vs. Portugal, the match was tied and came down to extra kicks. First for England was Beckham who launched a shot high over the crossbar and into the crowd.

I remember watching that shot and I gave no thought to who caught the ball, and just assumed that whoever catches a ball will simply just throw it back down onto the pitch. Yah...right!! LOL.

Anyways, this dude kept the ball and after getting some offers from a couple of English newspapers thought the smartest thing to do was to put the ball up for auction on Ebay. Turns out he was right.

At one point the ball had a 10 Million Euro bid on it (roughly 12 Million US Dollars). Ebay quickly caught on to the fake bids and after 97 real bids, the ball ended up selling for $23 650 Euros (roughly $29 270 US Dollars) to the GoldenPalaceCasino. Dang..seems like a steal.

When I looked on the closed auction 1 394 244 people looked at the auction. Does that mean there must be alot of people throughout the World who either have too much time on their hands or Beckham is really that popular. LOL. I think he's that popular.

Here is a pic of the Ball in question.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/need4speed8dalejr/BeckhamBall.jpg
The ball should of been Gold instead of Silver, but ohh it looks so much cooler that way doesn't it?

If anyone is intested in looking at the actual auction. Here is the Link.

http://cgi.es.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2887&item=3688276550&rd=1

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Aug 15^th, 2004, 10:07pm

Well Shaq is right about Kobe. Kobe is probably the most selfish player in the NBA, and almost all of them are selfish. To me he is just a guy that sells tickets. Worst team player in sports. Now Shaq is just a big son of bitch. If u need a guy who can slam dunk it or make a shot about 4 feet away from the basket and get a lot of rebounds he is your guy. But put him on the free throw line and chances are he will throw a brick or an air ball. I truely believe shaqs only talent is just being big, but i guess thats all u need now days.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Aug 15^th, 2004, 10:14pm

I want to make a comment about Ricky Williams and Quency Carter coming up positive in their drug tests for smoking hoochie. Hell, I bet over half of the NFL smokes hoochie. As far as Carter being released by the cowboys because he failed his drug test. Ha thats a bunch of bull. Carter wasnt producing like Jerry and Bill wanted him to produce and not having him around is one less headache. I remember when Bill Parcels coached the NYC giants. Does anyone remember Laurence Taylor. LT the best linebacker in the game probably, but also the biggest snorter of cocaine also. The difference is LT helped win super bowls. Quency Carter throws interceptions. QC had it tough at Dallas. Trying to replace qbs like Troy and Roger is almost impossible. I dont think he has the goods to start as a qb in the NFL, but he could make a good back up. As far as Rickey goes I think he lost his desire to play. Thats what smoking all that grass will do to u. I also think that he wasnt happy cuz things didnt turn out like he wanted them to. That might be y he smokes the grass also. But i bet he even smoked that stuff when he was playing for Mack Brown and the loser longhorns at the University of Texas.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Aug 16^th, 2004, 11:00am

Watched USA get beat badly Sunday by Puerto Rico in basketball in the preliminarys. Its very sad when u got the best players in the world playing and yet they cant play like a team. Sometimes I think we might be better off if we had college players play again. I have the feeling that USA isnt gonna do as well as everyone is thinking they are gonna do in this olympics. Every magazine that I see now seems to have some sexy lady athelete or hunky male athelete on the cover and open the magazine up and u see pics of them with not a lot of cloths on. Its gotten so commercial. I think most of the atheletes from the USA are mosly into it for the money they can get out of it. They have lost thier focus on the real reason why they are there. Its not about money or what kind of deal you can get if you win a medal. Its not really about winning either. Other countries who probably dont have as much money to train as the USA does maybe might not win, but to me they have more heart and desire because they are there for the right reasons. It really disgusts me to see olympic atheletes competing but not for winning a medal but for who is gonna be on the cover of the next box of wheaties cereal.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Aug 29^th, 2004, 1:11am

on 08/15/04 at 22:07:05, thebeast wrote:

Yep...that about sums things up nicely with that situation. Couldn't have said it better myself. ;D

Mark Christmas day on your calendar. I think that's when the Lakers play the Heat for the first time..that's a pretty cool present. :P

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Dec 4^th, 2004, 11:20pm

Did anyone hear about the "Balco" Investigation by the United States Grand Jury that is really starting to make waves in the sports World?

At first the investigation was focused on mainly Olympic athletes, but this past week there was "leaked" testimony by such Superstars as Jason Giambi, Marion Jones and now even Barry Bonds has reported to have testified that he DID take steroids and Human Growth Hormone.

Yikes!!!

This scandal just keeps getting bigger & bigger.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by need4speed8dalejr on Dec 19^th, 2004, 6:53am

Payton Manning is set to Break Dan Mario's Single Season Record of most Passing Touchdown's in a regular Season.

The record is 46, Payton has 44. With 3 weeks left to go, Payton is almost certain to not just break the record...but SHATTER it into a BILLION tiny Pieces.

But the Indy Colts play the Baltimore Ravens this week...and you can bet that Ray Lewis will be all fired up to try to stop the Colts and to make sure that Payton doesn't get the record against him & the rest of the Ravens.

The game is scheduled as a night game. Coverage starts at 7:30 Eastern...I will be watching...that's for sure. I am not a Manning fan at ALL...but I do like Ray Lewis, He is one Bad Mamma-Jamma.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Need4Speed8DaleJr on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:11am

So....

Jeff Gordon and the #24 just won the Daytona 500...Kurt Busch #97 was second...

and My Guy...Dale Earnhardt Jr and the #8 Boys ended up 3rd.

Ohh well....Can't win 'Em all. My Pre-Race picks to win the Daytona 500 were the...#10, #24....or the #88. I didn't think Jr was going to be much of a factor, and for amost all of the race Jr's Car just sucked bigtime! I really think Jr will struggle this year..and he will have a hard time making the top 10.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Need4Speed8DaleJr on Jul 8^th, 2005, 5:53am

Barry Bonds where are YOU??!!!!

This Season Baseball seem to Suck for some reason. There is just no DRAMA anymore. No Hitting Streak, No Towering HR's, No Strikout Kings......NO NOTHIN'!!!!

Could it be that when Barry Bonds is Playing, just his name in the lineup makes things more exciting?

Hmmmm...I wonder Ehh.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 10:15pm

on 07/08/05 at 05:53:53, Need4Speed8DaleJr wrote:

barry is to busy injecting more roids probably. I really lost a lot of respect for him. He didnt have to even use them, but he is so insecure I guess he did it anyway. I know lots of players use them, but to me its no different than cheating.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 20^th, 2006, 1:01am

My beloved Sooners were robbed of a victory by the Oregon Ducks. Cheated by PAC 10 officials. Cheated on a common rule. Cheated even with instant replay. Instant replay is great but if you not gonna call the call the way the call is supposed to be called then it doesnt do any good. I guess the eyes of the official making the call up in the instant replay area are different than mine, the broadcasters of the game, the NCAA, and pratically everyone else. To win is a great thing but winning by cheating is very poor sportsmanship. The official who made the call has apologized for missing the call...I dont see how anyone could miss the obvious. Fact is this person is a cheater and should be fired. This person is getting death threats now. Now I not agree with the death threats but if he is gonna cheat what would anyone expect?

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Need4Speed8DaleJr on Sep 20^th, 2006, 1:48am

on 09/20/06 at 01:01:58, thebeast wrote:

My beloved Sooners were robbed of a victory by the Oregon Ducks. Cheated by PAC 10 officials. Cheated on a common rule.

Joel,

On ESPN's PTI they mentioned something about the game and the blown call, but since I didn't see the game, what exactly happened? They say that the Sooners shouldn't be charged with a Loss for the game and that the call should of been obvious on replay to get right, and that the year-end Bowl consideration OU should get a "pass" and voters should dismiss this loss.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 20^th, 2006, 2:17am

on 09/20/06 at 01:48:57, Need4Speed8DaleJr wrote:

Well Need....about a minute left in the game and Oregon scored and they are behind 6 points. The only chance they have is to kick an onside kick and hope for a recovery. Well they kick and they recover...but the ball has to travel 10 yards before any of Oregon's players can touch it. After the ball travels about 7 or 8 yards one of the Oregon players slaps at the ball knocking it into one of the sooners and then a player for Oregon falls on it. I mean come on when I played in grade school I was even told about that rule. I cant even understand why the officials on the ground didnt see it. They know its going to be an onside kick coming up. They are supposed to be looking for something like that. Even so they have instant replay...I seen it and its obvious the ball didnt go 10 yards. I mean all you have to do is count hash marks and yards...its so obvious. Here is a article from the Dallas Morning News about the threats the official is getting now. LOL OU fans are resentful when they lose a game fair but just think how they are when they lose unfairly.

PORTLAND, Ore. – The instant replay official whose failure to overturn a bad call led to an Oregon victory over Oklahoma said Monday he feels like he is under siege after threatening phone calls, including a death threat.

Gordon Riese said he would make a decision soon about whether to finish the season, or even whether to return next year.

"I'm struggling with it," Riese said in an interview at his home. "I feel so bad I missed that call. It's driving me crazy."

Riese, who was a Pacific-10 Conference official for 28 years, said he hasn't enjoyed the job since becoming an instant replay official.

"I've felt much, much more pressure as an instant replay official than I ever did on the field," Riese said.

He said the equipment is not as sophisticated as NFL replay equipment and does not allow the official to freeze the frame. But Riese blames himself after replays showed an onside kick was touched by an Oregon player before it had traveled the required 10 yards. The Ducks went on to score the go-ahead touchdown.

"I can't sleep, I can't eat, my blood pressure is skyrocketing," Riese said, looking haggard and worn.

His wife, a registered nurse, has been checking his blood pressure every four hours, he said.

Police are investigating the threatening calls while keeping an eye on his neighborhood.

"They not only threatened me, they threatened my wife and kids," Riese said.

He said the equipment is not as sophisticated as NFL replay equipment and does not allow the official to freeze the frame.

What a bunch of crock...I have replay with my TIVO and I could still see it...I guess my TIVO is better equipment than the NCAA has.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 20^th, 2006, 11:37pm

This OU/Oregon game controversy is dominating the sports pages. PAC 10 officials are apologizing to The University of Oklahoma

Pac-10 sits officials, apologizes to OU

03:37 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 19, 2006

By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

NORMAN, Okla. – Pacific-10 commissioner Tom Hansen issued a one-week suspension for the officials on the field and in the replay booth who worked Saturday's Oklahoma-Oregon game.

He also apologized Monday to OU officials for two blown calls that resulted in the Ducks' 34-33 win in Eugene. That wasn't enough for the Sooners, though.

OU coach Bob Stoops said he's made a million mistakes, and he'll make a million more. Replay official Gordon Riese and his assistant, Roger Judd, had the opportunity to get it right, Stoops said, and chose not to. The coach added that was "absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable."
"You discern whether a one-game suspension is appropriate for those individuals," Stoops told reporters after practice. "That's not for me to decide what's appropriate. But I think it's fair to say a one-game suspension compared to the way our season now is altered, I don't know if that fits the situation."

In a statement, Hansen said an Oregon player illegally touched an onside kick inside of 10 yards with 1:06 remaining. OU's Allen Patrick also recovered the loose ball. Yet Riese reviewed the play and upheld the call on the field – that the Ducks recovered it at their own 48-yard line.

The ball should have been awarded to OU, Hansen said. The Sooners, who were leading by six points at the time, could have run out the clock.

Riese also decided there was not indisputable video evidence that OU's C.J. Ah You tipped a pass when Darien Williams was flagged for pass interference. Oregon was awarded a first down at OU's 23-yard line and scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play with 46 seconds remaining.

Ah You said he tipped the pass, and replays showed the ball changed direction in flight.

"Errors clearly were made and not corrected, and for that we apologize to the University of Oklahoma, Coach Bob Stoops and his players," Hansen said in the statement. "They played an outstanding college football game, as did Oregon, and it is regrettable that the outcome of the contest was affected by the officiating."

Pac-10 spokesman Jim Muldoon said Riese and Judd were both former game officials. Riese was moved to the replay booth last season.

Riese could not be reached by The News. He told The Associated Press, "I feel so bad I missed that call, it's driving me crazy."

"I got a 19-year-old kid who's out there in front of the whole country who makes a mistake and gives up a play at the end," Stoops said. "He's a man and walks in the tunnel and talks to everyone and explains himself.

"All parties involved should have to explain their actions to some degree."

As one might expect, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti has remained low key about the calls. "Very fortunate," he told The Register-Guard newspaper in Eugene.

OU president David Boren went to the extreme Monday. He wrote a letter to Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg saying the replay official should be suspended for the season and that the game should be recorded as neither a win nor loss for either team.

"It is truly sad and deeply disappointing that members of our football team should be deprived of the outcome of the game that they deserved because of an inexcusable breakdown in officiating," Boren said.

Weiberg, however, issued a statement saying that overturning results "would be chaotic."

OU (2-1) hosts Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. Saturday, and several players said it would be tough to put the Oregon debacle out of their mind.

"It's going to be something that's going to be stuck in the back of my head," running back Adrian Peterson said.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 20^th, 2006, 11:41pm

Even the president of Oklahoma University is pissed. Here is a letter David Boren wrote to the NCAA.

The University of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
660 Parrington Oval, Room 110, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-3073 (405) 325-3916, FAX: (405) 325-7605
September 18, 2006
Mr. Kevin Weiberg
Commissioner
Big 12 Conference 400 East John Carpenter Freeway Irving, TX 75062
Dear Commissioner Weiberg:
To describe the lapses in accurate officiating at the Oklahoma-Oregon football game last Saturday as constituting an outrageous injustice is an understatement. Since officiating is a conference responsibility as opposed to an individual institutional responsibility, we must look to you to launch a vigorous effort to correct the situation. On behalf of the University of Oklahoma, I ask that you as Big 12 Commissioner take the following actions:
• First, seek an apology from the Pac-10 Conference for the gross errors in officiating.
• Second, since institutions, players, and coaches are held responsible by conferences and the NCAA for their actions, those who officiate games should also be held responsible. At the very least, those found responsible for reviewing the offsides kick call and the interference call in the closing minutes of the game should be suspended from officiating for the rest of the season.
• Third, it is my understanding that the Pac-10 Conference has a rule that they will only use Pac-10 officials at games with other conference institutions hosted by Pac-10 members. In light of what happened Saturday, the Big 12 should request that the Pac-10 change its rule to assure impartial officiating.
• Fourth, the Big 12 should request that the game should not go into the record books as a win or loss by either team in light of the level of officiating mistakes.
• Fifth, the Big 12 should place on the appropriate agendas of NCAA meetings and meetings of the conference commissioners a discussion of how the film review process should be implemented.
Since the University of Oklahoma and its officials are required by conference sportsmanship rules to limit their comments in situations like this, we must look to you as the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference to vigorously demand that our teams be treated fairly when participating in non-conference games. It is truly sad and deeply disappointing that members of our football team should be deprived of the outcome of the game that they deserved because of an inexcusable breakdown in officiating.
Sincerely,
David L. Boren
President

Boren knows there is no way to get this loss canceled. This letter is just good public relations on his part. But I do agree the officials should be suspended for the rest of the season. This one game suspension sucks. They cheated and everyone knows it and they only gonna be suspended for one game????

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 20^th, 2006, 11:47pm

Okay here is my take on this situation. Instant replay is great to have...but I think it also causes a lot of problems. Firstly..I think it makes the officials out on the field look bad when a play is overturned. I think they resent that to some degree. I can tell by the expressions on their faces. Secondly...I think instant replay has made the officials out on the field calling the game lazy. They dont have to worry about getting the call wrong or right. I feel it causes them to slack off. Combine the laziness and the resenting and what do you get??? Bad officiating is what it is called. The OU/Oregon game is the perfect example. An onside kick was coming...everyone knew it was gonna happen. These sidline judges should know what to expect what to look for and pay close attention to what is happening. It is either that or the PAC 10 officials are cheaters and the more I think about it the more it seems to look that way. This loss destroys any hopes of a national champion game or even one of the BCS games. I really think OU had a good chance of playing in a BCS game. They were ranked number 17 going into this game...which I think they should be in at least number 10. Being ranked number 17 and losing??? They dont have a snowballs chance in hell now.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 26^th, 2006, 2:25am

Whatever happened to the mighty Miami Hurricane???
I will tell you what happened. All those years Miami was whipping everyone in their Big East Conference. All those rompings and undefeated seasons by beating teams that were no match for them. Easy games that were easy on them physically and mentally so when they did play a team that was competitive..they would beat them. Now Miami is no longer in The Big East(I used to call The Big Easy) they are in the ACC, and the competition is better. Now they dont sweep everyone and have undefeated seasons. Whoever made the decision to change from The Big Easy to the ACC wasnt very smart thats for sure. That guy just lost Miami University a whole lot of money. I would like to shake his hand. ;D

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by ReeBop on Sep 26^th, 2006, 3:40am

That's the problem when the "powers that be" decided that "super conferences" were the way to go. I've always been a Big 10 guy and adding Penn State was a good idea. The Big 12 was not really a good idea and the ACC and SEC are really too big to be entertaining. I think though, that college presidents will wake up someday and realize what they have done and break back up to more smaller regional conferences.

[smiley=smash.gif]

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Sep 29^th, 2006, 8:39pm

on 09/26/06 at 03:40:59, ReeBop wrote:

I dont agree Ree...while the conferences are larger...I think it is more competitive and more schools are able to recruit and cash in on being in a super conference. I can remember when the Big 12 was the Big 8. It was great for Oklahoma University. Oklahoma or Nebraska always won the conference every year also. Now look at it. Adding the other colleges made it more competitive and it isnt a shoe in for Oklahoma and Nebraska anymore. That is what happen to Miami. Miami has great football program and they will win more national championships and win the ACC...but it isnt gonna be as easy as it was for them.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Oct 5^th, 2006, 9:02pm

The game of the weekend is of course the Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. My Sooners of Oklahoma vs. Texas Longhorns. I think this is the only game in the nation where there really isnt a home team. The distance from Austin, TX to Dallas, TX is about the same as it is from Norman, OK to Dallas, TX. Lots consider Texas to be the home team since the game is played in Texas....but if you look in the stands during the game...I do not see an advantage for either side. This is one of those games that at the end of the year will help you recruit players. Obviously a win helps Oklahoma more as far as recruiting goes. Oklahoma gets about 40% of thier players from Texas. This is game spurs a traditional rivalry that dates back 101 years ago. The prize trophy i is The Golden Hat and the winner usually has a sucessful season. I think this will be a close game. The Longhorns dont have Vince Young and arent as good as they were last year and my Sooners are better than they were last year with a healthy Adrian Peterson. If the offensive line can open some holes up for him or if he can get to the outside lookout...he will be gone. The offense of the sooners will have to complete passes to give Peterson the opportunity to do this. Oklahoma's defense has improved since last year but not a whole lot. Still have problems in the secondary. I think they defend the run well enough to win this game but those 15 to 30 yard passes in the secondary are killing them. This is an important game to both schools. A win for my sooners will surely pull them into the top 10. A win for Texas will make thier case for another BCS bid easier. I dont think my sooners will get a BCS bid this year after they got cheated in Oregon....But you never know if the Sooners finish thier season without another loss and win The Big 12 and a few of those Top 5 schools get beat...anything is possible. One thing I will say is Bob Stoops is a much better coach than Mack Brown. Texas has the best players in the Nation. Yet it is hard for them to win National Championships or even to have successful seasons. It takes more than just talent to win. It takes the ability to know what talent to use and how you use it.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by ReeBop on Oct 6^th, 2006, 7:07pm

Look for me in the end zone from time to time during the game. I handle field access to the Cotton Bowl during the day. My favorite part is halftime when I go sample the BBQ in the press box. I'm very busy before the game and afterwards. Last year, some media guys had a tough time upolading their video over the Internet and I didn't get out of there until midnight. Hopefully I can lock up the field earlier.
I can say that Coach Stoops is a class guy. He always personally thanks me for my efforts that day. Coach Brown says nothing at all...although I did get a smile from him last year. Oklahoma's locker room is a thing of beauty and looks very professional. Texas' locker room is good, but not nearly as well done as OUs. I'm speaking as a Wolverine and I don't care about the game either way. If I can, I'll get some snaps of the tunnel as they come out.
[smiley=gossip.gif]

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Need4Speed8DaleJr on Oct 12^th, 2006, 8:52am

Sooooooo...

Who won the the OU vs Texas game? :P

I tuned in and it was 10-7 but I didn't hear how it ended?

OU must of won...otherwise Joel would be blowing a gasket. lol. [smiley=furious.gif]

Ree, a Wolverine? MICHIGAN? LOL. How does a dude from Texas become a Michigan fan? Just wondering. [smiley=peace.gif]

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by ReeBop on Oct 12^th, 2006, 5:29pm

I'm originally from Michigan and moved to Texas in 1984. Texas won big over OU. It was a tiring day, but fun and I locked up the Cotton Bowl at 11:15 pm. The only drawback was the number of drunks...both Texas and OU fans that were a problem later in the evening. The cleanup crew also created problems by leaving gates wide open and people getting into the stadium.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by Need4Speed8DaleJr on Oct 13^th, 2006, 2:08am

on 10/12/06 at 17:29:14, ReeBop wrote:

I'm originally from Michigan and moved to Texas in 1984.

Ahh...that explains it.

Quote:

Texas won big over OU.

Did they? Wow...Ohh well, you can't win 'em all.

Quote:

It was a tiring day, but fun and I locked up the Cotton Bowl at 11:15 pm. The only drawback was the number of drunks...both Texas and OU fans that were a problem later in the evening. The cleanup crew also created problems by leaving gates wide open and people getting into the stadium.

You have the keys to the Cotton Bowl?? Dang...Ree, they must be some pretty big keys, after all everything's BIGGER in Texas, or so I'm told. lol. ;D

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Oct 20^th, 2006, 12:44am

Yes Texas won but I wouldnt call it won big. To many mistakes and bad defense on the sooners. Anyway my sooners are in dire straits again. The nation's best college running back, Adrian Peterson, broke his clavicle in OU's romping over Iowa State. He might be back for a bowl game, but his season is pretty much over. Peterson has to make some decisions now. He is just a junior. Should he come back and play his senior year and break records and maybe win the Heisman Trophy? Or should he go pro get millions of dollars and probably be one of the top 5 picks in the NFL draft? I would love for Peterson to stay at Oklahoma another year. It would be great if Oklahoma produced another Heisman Trophy winner. If he stays healthy I dont think it is gonna hurt his chances of being one of the top 5 picks for 2008. He could help Oklahoma to a BCS game and the National Championship, but that is no guarantee. In fact Oklahoma will be searching for a QB in the off season. I think thier defense and offensive line will improve. Also the threat of NCAA violations are in the air. That stunt quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn did that led Coach Stoops to kicking them off the team is still looming in the air. If the NCAA decides to put Oklahoma on probation any chance of my sooners getting a chance to play in a bowl game are lost. A decision on that will come in November. But if he gets hurt with some kind of knee injury during his senior season...that will certainly have some kind of bearing when he goes pro. The possible probation, the injuries, the records, the college diploma, the money, the Heisman Trophy and a bundle of other things are what Peterson is gonna have to think about. If it were me? Take the money and go pro. No need to tempt fate. Adrian Peterson take the money and run to the Pros. You are the most exciting running back out of Oklahoma to watch since Billy Sims.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by ReeBop on Oct 20^th, 2006, 4:18am

I saw the look on Coach Stoops face, and it was not pleasant. His wife was almost on the verge of tears. The locker room people told me that they considered it a huge loss, but would move on. They know they are going to have problems the rest of the season with quarterback play like that. They really miss their starter.

Title: Re: ESPN ZONE
Post by thebeast on Nov 1^st, 2006, 2:40am

on 10/20/06 at 04:18:05, ReeBop wrote:

Well Ree, statistically sooner QB Paul Thompson is having a better year than Rhett Bomar did last season. Texas is just a real good team this year. But they almost got beat by Texas Tech this past weekend. I am trying to figure out how OU can still get into the Big 12 playoff. OU has to win the rest of thier games and Texas has to get beat by 2 of the Big 12 south teams that OU beat. The Longhorns control their own destiny as of now. I know its dreaming at this point but it is still possible.