You Know, Sports and Stuff

Tying up a few loose ends while I watch Eurotrip for the 300th time on cable and await tonight's Duke/UNC matchup...

Despite the warnings of the evils of nepotism provided by Don Nelson Jr, Joey Meyer, Jim Harrick Jr, and Joe Buck, Georgetown appears to have rediscovered its magic with John Thompson III. I grew up a Hoyas hater in the mid-80s, but now they are one of my favorite teams to watch. They are team-oriented on offense and fundamentally sound on defense. I'm sure John Jr. Jr. makes daddy proud, except he hasn't learned how to bully the officials yet...

After losing to Washington State over the weekend, Washington's basketball team should be feeling a little bit of pressure going into this upcoming weekend when they host USC and UCLA. With Stanford and Cal on the rise, if the Huskies they don't win at least one of those games, then the Huskies might go from top 25 to NIT in a hurry...

The TWolves beat the Suns last night on a game ending block by Kevin Garnett. The Wolves are 2nd in the league with 6.2 blocks per game. The top 10 teams in blocks are: LA Clippers, TWolves, Utah, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Denver, Boston, Portland, San Antonio&Phoenix (tie). The bottom 10 teams in blocks are: Toronto, New Jersey, Sacramento, Seattle, Milwaukee, New York, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Washington. Notice a trend here? Most of the winning teams aren't stepping in to take charges- they go for the blocked shot. Sliding under a player that's driving to the hoop sends the message that the team is inviting its opponent to literally run over its ass, whereas blocking a shot is an act of aggression and intimidation. It appears the latter attitude is more conducive to winning. Either that, or I'm full of crap and it's just that having a legit big man is part of the winning model...

Steve Hutchinson and Shaun Alexander are both free agents for the Seahawks. Signing Hutchinson has to be the top priority. If the Cardinals or some other team gives Alexander a huge offer, the 'Hawks should thank him for his services and let him walk. Alexander's best asset is his vision, but if a hole isn't there, he's not going to make any space for himself. Personally, I think Seattle should let him walk regardless, but if he shows a willingness to sign for the Seahawks for less than he can get on the open market, then I suppose that it makes sense to keep the known quantity rather than draft someone like Brian Calhoun, Maurice Drew or Jerome Harrison- although Harrison would be an intriguing home-state pick...

John Clayton had the best post-Super Bowl comment. In a radio interview, he said the Steelers' victory in Super Bowl 40 gives hope to 49ers fans, because Pittsburgh was able to take home the Lombardi trophy with their QB looking like Alex Smith...

And just because it's been stuck in my head for the last month-

Scotty doesn't know
That Fiona and me
Do it in my van every Sunday.

She tells him she's in church,
but she doesn't go.
Still, she's on her knees and...

Scotty doesn't know
Scotty doesn't know