Fireside with Fury

Hail to Pitt.  If you watch them long enough they will break your heart, at least in Division I Basketball.  The Pitt Panthers and their number one seed exited the big dance in an exciting game against Villanova.  I'm a college basketball fan, mainly around the NCAA tournament.  I'll watch a few games during the regular season but other than that, consider me a college basketball novice. 

I have no clue what a foul is in basketball.  I think in theory I do, but in practice, no clue.  I remember learning a double dribble, what a walk is and in general not being allowed to touch someone else during middle school gym class.  I get interested in basketball mainly because I like to see how my bracket pans out.  I put some time in filling out the bracket and have had decent results in the office polls.

After watching many games during this tournament, and focused on Pitt/Nova this game was unbearable to me, as a casual fan.  Not the play itself but the number of fouls.  This game was constantly interrupted and I became more un-clear on what an infraction really is.  It kind of reminded me of the NHL when they would allow you to beat the hell out of each other all season and then get real strict and call things by the strict letter of the law during the playoffs.  The Pitt/Nova game showed athletes in disbelief over some calls.  I think Pitt was gun-shy at the end and on the last play, the Nova player had multiple clear lanes to score.  The tight calling of this game was a factor for Pitt at the end.

I like basketball but I don't like watching players parade to the free throw line every few seconds and that is what this tournament does.

"I asked a ref if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him. He said, of course not. I said, well, I think you stink. And he gave me a technical. You can't trust 'em."--Jim Valvano

Steeler Nation.  I'm not a Jim Wexell fan.  I think is analysis covering a major sports team leaves a great deal to be desired.  I did find something interesting from Wexell and it is his book Steeler Nation, A Pittsburgh Team, an American Phenomenon.  Wexell, a writer of the Steelers since 1995, embarks on a roadtrip for the away games during the 2007 season. He teams up with a friend (who has an RV) and they drive around the country talking to fans, Steeler family members, ex-coaches, writers and local experts.  This book is right up Wexell's alley and is an enjoyable read.  For those that have heard enough about the '70s, this book is current and he walks into the living room with relatives of players like Willie Parker, James Harrison, Heath Miller, Casey Hampton and many others.  Their stories make the book.  You'll learn why the Steeler Nation thrives and get a new appreciation for its fan base.  You'll learn some interesting tidbits/trivia about some players; like why Willie Parker saw such little playing time at North Carolina and that James Harrison's mother thought Bill Cowher was one of the rudest men she had ever met.

I recommend this book; it is something different and provides a unique perspective of the Steelers organization.

Farewell Lou Saban.  Lou Saban died this past weekend at the age of 87 in his home.  Lou is most famous for the number of jobs that he held over his career as a coach.   Lou played college ball at Indiana University and was a All Big 10 player a quarterback and then as a full back.  Lou played in the NFL for the Browns and was an All-Star as a linebacker.  Saban is also known for coaching OJ Simpson when OJ broke the NFL rushing record and recruiting Jim Kelly to Univ of Miami.  Saban also was the President of the New York Yankees for a season in 1981.  A look at Saban's head coaching jobs:

• 1955 -- Northwestern
• 1957-59 -- Western Illinois
• 1960-61 -- Boston Patriots (AFL)
• 1962-65 -- Buffalo Bills (AFL)
• 1966 -- Maryland
• 1967-71 -- Denver Broncos (AFL/NFL)
• 1972-76 -- Buffalo Bills (NFL)
• 1977-78 -- University of Miami
• 1979 -- Army
• 1983-84 -- Central Florida
• 1991 -- Peru State College
• 1994 -- Milwaukee Mustangs (Arena)
• 1994 -- Alfred State
• 1996-00 -- SUNY-Canton
• 2002 -- Chowan

Source:  Espn.com

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Enjoy.