Campus Chatter: "IT'S NOT INTRAMURALS!" Edition

Last week I said that I would get into my thoughts on the impending DirecTV/Major League Baseball deal that is about to go through and I will get to that, hatred/homophobia in America, WWE and some other stuff before we hit the “Related Chatter” so let’s not waste any more time.

Unrelated Chatter:
-We saw our first bit of out and out homophobia in the NBA with Tim Hardaway’s comments on gay people. While I don’t agree with what Hardaway had to say, at least it was honest as opposed to what all of the players and league office members are saying to avoid fines. Homosexuality is something that never bothered me because I grew up with an aunt who was a lesbian but clearly not many people are exposed to it and it scares them. America needs to get over this fear that all gay people are out to rape them. They probably are less interested in you than you are in them.

-Sticking with hate, something that drives me insane is how the WWE has dropped the ball with Cryme Tyme. Explain to me why they were brought in as faces? Let’s be honest, America hates blacks just as much as gay people. I am a History major here at the University of Florida with my concentration being in “Slavery and Abolition” and it is amazing to see how many of the stereotypes that existed back in the days of slavery still continue today. Cryme Tyme should have come is as America’s ideal image of black people: violent and rule breaking, and you could have had arguably the hottest heel tag team in recent memory. Vince McMahon somehow got the character of Goldust over simply by using America’s fear of homophobia. Imagine what he can do now with a heel black tag team?

-Steve Nash is doing more to prove his worthiness of back-to-back MVP awards off the court than he ever did on the court. Nash is the vital cog in the Suns’ offense and without him they just simply aren’t that good. Leandro Barbosa is one of my favorite guards in the NBA and is perfectly capable of running the point for just about every team in the NBA, but that offense just does not work without Nash.

-The Chicago Cubs have removed some of the ivy on its outfield walls this year to rent out advertising space. And you thought there was a God…

-The rumor for the past few weeks has been that Major League Baseball is about to sign over the exclusive rights to their “MLB Extra Innings” package to DirecTV. Why does this matter? Well it’s simple, I am one of the many people who are screwed by this. The package, which shows just about every Major League Baseball game, has long been offered on both cable and satellite. Each year I pay $250 so that I can watch the New York Mets while I am in college, as well as just about every other game that they offer. I am someone who can’t get enough baseball. I watched the Caribbean World Series on Fox Sports en Espanol two weeks ago despite the fact that I don’t even speak Spanish. Now people like me, who simply are not allowed to get a saetellite where I live or others who just refuse to switch to satellite for a variety of reasons, are screwed. Anyway, shifting the package to satellite will net Major League Baseball a mere $30 million dollars more than should they choose to return to both outlets. That works out to $1 million dollars per team. The sad thing is that Major League Baseball knows that they can afford to do this because the hardcore fans that order the package are not going to stop following the league and spending money on it. I have season tickets for the Mets AND I cannot watch their games on TV until I graduate in August and move back home, yet I cannot wait for pitchers and catchers to report tomorrow. It’s a disease, I guess.

Related Chatter:
-“IT’S DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL! IT’S THE BIG 12! THIS IS NOT INTRAMURAL FOOTBALL!” Those were the words that Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins screamed to respond to an anonymous letter he received from the parent of an incoming freshman. The letter complained that the players would be getting just 2 weeks off before summer workouts as opposed to the usual 3. It’s a good thing this letter is anonymous because the player would probably be forced to transfer if it wasn’t due to all the heckling and punishment he would have coming his way. And seriously, stay out of it parents. Your son should be man enough to speak to the coach if he has a problem with it, not have his mommy write a letter. Good luck with summer workouts guys, they are about to get a lot more intense.

-Duke “righted the ship” so to speak last night with a win at Boston College. Duke had been struggling mightily as of late and needed the win. Boston College somehow continues to keep on winning and was due for a letdown here. Duke can breathe a little easier now while BC has to avoid a tailspin with North Carolina coming to town this weekend.

-Bracketbuster Weekend kicks off tomorrow night and I figure what better way to celebrate than by previewing what I feel are the five biggest match-ups of the weekend. For those who are unaware, Bracketbusters features mid-major programs from around the country, playing another mid-major program of their equal in an attempt to ease their scheduling difficulties and raise their RPIs. Got all that? Good, then let’s get to it!

Winthrop (22-4) at Missouri State (19-8) Friday, 7:05 PM on ESPN2: This game is a textbook example of why the Bracketbuster format was invented with two teams needing a big, late-season win to help secure an at-large bid. The two share a major common opponent in Wisconsin, a team that Missouri State beat on a neutral floor while Winthrop lost by 3 at Wisconsin. Winthrop has arguably the best four losses in America (at North Carolina, at Maryland, at Wisconsin, at Texas A&M) but they lack a quality win. In other words, Winthrop needs to win this game if they want to get an at-large. Missouri State has the Wisconsin win to fall back on but was 0-4 this season against Creighton and Southern Illinois. Neither team earns lock status with a win but the loser could be eliminated from at-large consideration.
Winthrop 69 – Missouri State 63

#15 Southern Illinois (22-5) at #12 Butler (24-3) Saturday 4:00 PM on ESPN2: This is the only game of the weekend which features two teams who are locks for the tournament and are just looking to improve their seeding. Butler has wins over Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga this year and is looking for one more big scalp. Southern Illinois lost at Indiana but still has an impressive win over Virginia Tech and swept the season series with Creighton. Because of their defense I feel that Southern Illinois is the more talented team but I have a hard time picking against Butler at home. Southern Illinois has struggled at times on the road and I feel like Butler is out to prove that November was no fluke.
Butler 64 – Southern Illinois 59

Northern Iowa (16-11) at #10 Nevada (23-2) Saturday 6:00 PM on ESPN2: Northern Iowa has essentially played its way out of the tournament with four straight losses and even a win at Nevada won’t be able to salvage their season. Truth is this game is only being discussed because I rarely get the chance to discuss Nick Fazekas and company. Nevada is a team with Fazekas down low and experienced guard play that will cause nightmares in the tournament. A Final Four run for this team is not out of the question as they have the talent to match up with the big boys. Nevada should make easy work of the Panthers, further solidifying their case for a top four seed.
Nevada 78 – Northern Iowa 61

Bradley (18-10) at Virginia Commonwealth (22-5) Saturday 8:00 PM on ESPN2: Both teams have dropped a couple of games as of late that they could not afford to lose. VCU was hovering around lock status as of 2 weeks ago but that is no longer the case. Both teams lack that key win that will push them into the tournament and any chance that they have of making it as an at-large hinges on this game. The winner of this game probably still needs to win their remaining two games as well as a trip to the conference finals to have any chance at an at-large although it would appear that VCU is closer.
Virginia Commonwealth 74 – Bradley 66

Drexel (19-7) at Creighton (18-8) Saturday 10:00 PM on ESPN2: It is truly a shame that Drexel got this game and it was not one of their CAA foes such as VCU, Old Dominion or Hofstra. All three of those teams would have benefited a lot more than Drexel with a win at Creighton. The problem with Drexel is not quality wins but it is their bad losses that will haunt them come Selection Sunday. It amazes me that Old Dominion drew a very mediocre Akron team and Hofstra drew a no-win situation in Holy Cross while Drexel gets one more chance to shine. Even if Drexel does win here, I can’t see them getting in with losses at Penn, Rider and just a 1-4 mark versus the conference big boys. Creighton appears to be an at-large but I would hesitate to call them a lock. Call it parity, mediocrity or whatever you choose but the Missouri Valley Conference has been hurt this year by conference play. Creighton should win at home here and moves one step closer to lock status.
Creighton 77 – Drexel 70

Ok folks, that’s all for now. Be sure to enjoy the weekend of college hoops as well as NBA All-Star Weekend. Until next time, take care.