2012.02.13
Monday: Hokies finally get one to fall; Threats from jail; Warming up pitching arms and engines
AFTER MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF COMING UP JUST SHORT THIS SEASON, Virginia Tech finally gets the big shot at the end to win one. Dorian Finney-Smith hits a putback with 2.4 seconds remaining as the Hokies defeat Boston College 66-65 in Blacksburg. “It finally went our way,” point guard Erick Green says. “I’m just proud of our team for how we handled adversity today for the first time. We didn’t quit. When we got down a couple, we didn’t give up like we did against Miami [on Thursday].”
-It must be noted that Tech never should have been in that position against a young team that it was favored to beat by 12 points, but at this stage, beggars can’t be choosers.
-Up next for the Hokies: at Florida State on Thursday and home against Georgia Tech on Saturday.
-UVa guard Joe Harris, the team’s second-leading scorer, has a fractured left hand but will continue to play. Curious if any of you ex-hoops players out there have played with an injury to your non-shooting hand. If so, how much does it affect you?
-The Cavs play at Clemson on Tuesday and host Maryland on Saturday.
GOLF
-Phil Mickelson surges to win at Pebble Beach, while Tiger Woods can’t mount a charge.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
-Miami hasn’t heard the last from Nevin Shapiro, who’s sending angry emails from prison. “The public is going to hate me worse in the next coming months,” Shapiro, serving a 20-year sentence for a Ponzi scheme, wrote in numerous e-mails over the past few months. “It’s going to be severe and catastrophic. My feelings are getting inflamed and I’m going to pop off pretty soon with regards to them and the NCAA. I’m coming for them both [UM and former players] and I’m going to be successful.
“I’m taking that program down to Chinatown and the former players and links to that program. Why? Because the U.S. government lined up 47 former players to testify against me in open court if I went to trial. That in itself is motivation to shove it up their collective [butts].”
BASEBALL
-Pitchers and catchers have reported to Mariners camp already (ain’t it great?) Seattle gets an early start because it’s opening the season in Japan next month. The rest of the teams will have pitchers and catchers report later this week or next week.
-Hokies and Cavs open their baseball seasons on Friday.
NASCAR
-The Budweiser Shootout is Saturday night. I don’t have anything more to add to this; it’s sort of like the pitchers and catchers deal. Just makes me smile.
NBA
-The Jeremy Lin train’s next stop is in Toronto tomorrow night. If you haven’t heard this guy’s amazing story yet, here you go.
WEIRD NEWS
-Don’t let my wife hear this one. A burglar breaks into an Indiana home and cooks dinner and folds laundry.
NAME THAT TUNE
I don’t mind you comin’ here
And wastin’ all my time
’cause when you’re standin’ oh so near
I kinda lose my mind
It’s not the perfume that you wear
It’s not the ribbons in your hair
I don’t mind you comin’ here
And wastin’ all my time
“Just What I Needed” by the Cars
Comment by RP — February 13, 2012 @ 8:49 am
RP scores.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 13, 2012 @ 8:54 am
Big game for ‘Cuse tonight for those scoring at home @Louisville.
Comment by Uptheriver — February 13, 2012 @ 9:04 am
Tiger`s trademark red was mostly covered by a black sweater Sunday. How appropriate. The red showing was on the flag that was raised after he shot a final round 75 on a course that he won the U.S. Open on 10 years ago by 15 shots. He was in contention and paired with long time rival Phil Mickelson. In this setting, the old Tiger would have been making putts and fist pumping to the final hole. Things are so different now. He had to notice Phil and his long time caddy in an emotional moment on the 72nd green. He had to notice Phil getting a hug from his blond wife. Tiger`s lady this day was the fat one. For him Sunday, the more things change, the more they are not the same.
Comment by Ralph — February 13, 2012 @ 9:09 am
The Orrie was in the house in B Burg last night ..
Ole Seth was kinda willin’ the team to victory ..Cat is animated ..
Ok ..Per Last Night’s Animal Planet show ..” In search of Big Foot” ,
Southwest Virginia was the focus ,specifically the Saltville area, where locals refer to the Alledged Sasquatch as “The Wood Booger! ” No kidding ..They already are reknown for their infamous “Wooly Mammoth ”
What happens when these two meet ?
Comment by The Orrie — February 13, 2012 @ 9:19 am
Count me as being on the Lin bandwagon. My wife & I were at a local establishment on Friday night when the Knicks game appeared on the screen. She is most definitely NOT a sports fan — hates pretty much all sports, but tolerates the occasional sports conversation because she knows I enjoy them. I gave her the 10 second overview of Lin’s background and his recent exploits in NY, and she was hooked. She insisted on watching the whole game, and even wanted to see the highlights on Sportscenter the next morning.
Definitely an underdog story worth watching, even though it’s (a) the Knicks and (b) every sports radio host and journalist will try to make it into an “Asian” thing today. I’m most impressed that he played at Harvard and was overlooked & cut several times in the past. I’ve actually attended a few basketball games at Harvard in the past; their home gymnasium is smaller than Patrick Henry H.S.’s gym.
Comment by RP — February 13, 2012 @ 9:30 am
Anyone else notice that Tiger couldn’t be bothered to go ahead and putt out so Phil could ‘enjoy the moment’, as is virtually always done in PGA tourneys? Instead, we had this awkward time of Phil winning the tourney, then everyone got to see Tiger ram a three foot putt about five feet past the hole. Somehow I thought that was appropriate. It’s always been about nothing but Tiger. If he keeps collapsing this way when he’s in contention, he may not even be able to win the Masters, and that course is pretty well custom made for him.
Comment by crooked road — February 13, 2012 @ 9:38 am
AMc, looks like the hokies will climb back onto the NCAA bubble, they’re poised to make a run the rest of the month and then you and the RT will be saying that all they have to do is “win two ACC tournament games” and they should be in the ncaa tournament. A couple more wins and the Coach Greenburg will start lobbying. Personally I believe that Virginia Tech should extent Coach Beamer and Coach Greenburg to lifetime contracts…
Comment by Stack Maroon — February 13, 2012 @ 9:46 am
P.S…AMc I like how you are following Melvin Shapiro and boosting his antics from prison…
Comment by Stack Maroon — February 13, 2012 @ 9:47 am
Yes, the sweet strains of “gentlemen, start you engines” is one of the first true signs of spring, just like “pitchers and catcher report.” Sweeter words have never been spoken.
Although, if Danica gets her mojo on, I guess it’ll eventually always be “drivers, start your engines.” I can’t complain too much, she certainly fills out one of those driver’s fire suits much nicer than Dale, Jr, or any of his counterparts.
Nice to see the Hokies battle back. Say what you want about that “young” BC team, they are very good, given their age. There is very good chemistry among them. They are really going to be a force in a couple of years. With the freshmen they have, and the freshmen Tech has, here are a couple of teams that can really help elevate the ACC back to where it has been.
VT was favored by 12 ??? . . . had I known that, I’d have gone to every ATM in town and took the Eagles, and still cheered as loudly for the Hokies as ever. Just shows what bookies know about college basketball. About the same as Bob H., I guess. That was a ridiculous line. 12 points in ANY conference game is pretty ridiculous.
For the life of me, I don’t understand how Ted Valentine still gets to officiate games. He’s horrible. No, he’s beyond horrible . . . he’s arrogant. The best thing you can see, as a road team, is Teddy V on the floor. That SOB does whatever he can in game to incite the home team crowd, in terms of making a couple (at least) of questionable calls. I’ve never seen a more flamboyant official in all my life. ‘I’m Teddy V, it’s all about me.’
I hope Shapiro takes Miami even further into the depths of hell than it is already in. Miami can’t win if they can’t cheat, and even when they cheat, they can’t cheat well enough to really win big, lately. It’s time that the make-up be taken off of this pig and lets see the U program for what it really is, just a pig.
Comment by Rick H. — February 13, 2012 @ 9:52 am
I for one thought that Tech had lost the game. Once again, they got behind early and couldn’t seem to close the gap until the final minutes. DFS has got the monkey off his back. The kid one the game for them, no doubt. The final 5 Tech points were his and he did playing tough.
If any other golfer won yesterday and Tiger looked bad, that would have been fine by me. But, to have Phil do it, while paired with Tigger, was delightful. Phil is the man. I hope he has a great year and Tiger continues to go overseas to try to win tournaments.
“Pitchers and catchers report” is one of my favorite sports phrases. It means that Spring is around the corner, and the O’s are tied for first place until 2 days into the regualr season.
@The Orrie-That would be a Wooly Booger, maybe a Mammoth Wooly Booger.
Comment by HokieAl — February 13, 2012 @ 9:53 am
Did Nevin Shapiro really go to prison or did he just get grounded? It just seems odd that inmates are popping off emails like that. Maybe Kellen Winslow Jr. baked him a cake with an tablet on the inside or Devin Hester hooked him up with some Iphone cupcakes. I think people still do that, well according to cartoons. Either way, I need his Twitter handle.
I am a little confused too on this Chinatown thing. Isn’t that a good place? I thought they have like parades with those giant dragon things and throw fortune cookies and stuff? Sounds kind of awesome. Nevin’s sending mixed message I think.
Comment by Travis Williams — February 13, 2012 @ 9:53 am
Agree on “all the way down to Chinatown,” Travis. Pretty sure I’m going to start using that in incongruous places. I’m VERY disappointed, however, that you made a reference to Kellen Winslow without making any reference to Carl Winslow, which could have led to a discussion about the short-lived 1990s breakfast cereal, Urkel-O’s.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 13, 2012 @ 10:05 am
crooked road, I did notice that too. Have never seen it before. Almost like Tiger didn`t want to give up the stage. I think Romo even beat him yesterday. On more champion of the 2000`s who had a bad weekend. Roger Federer lost 2 matches in about 24 hours to guys not named Novak, Rafa, or Murray. In Switzerland and on a court he picked also. Big difference here though, Roger is a class act. If either has one more “major” in them-hope it`s Fed.
Comment by Ralph — February 13, 2012 @ 10:23 am
Dude, it’s Monday. The only short-lived TV themed cereal running through my head this early in the week is that Mr. T cereal. It was pretty much generic Captain Crunch and you never could find a “T” fully intact, but it did come with Mr. T stickers, so that helped.
Winslow trivia: Name two movies where Carl also played a cop.
Comment by Travis Williams — February 13, 2012 @ 10:24 am
#9 “P.S…AMc I like how you are following Melvin Shapiro and boosting his antics from prison…”
I think by showing this obnoxious picture and quote AM is not “boosting” the clown but just further illustrating what a turd he is…
Comment by scott whitaker — February 13, 2012 @ 10:25 am
Hey, Stack, take your sarcastic, know nothing, refuses to tell us who you root for, self and get in your Prius! It’s Nevin, not Melvin. Get it right before you start accusing anyone of anything.
Incidentally, I hate baseball (and REALLY hate the Braves and Yankees) so “pitchers and catchers reporting” makes me ill. However, for all you baseball junkies, I do have a little something for you:
Well, Mr. Burns had done it
The power plant had won it
With Roger Clemons clucking all the while
Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness made us smile
While Wade Boggs laid unconscious on the bar room tile
We’re talkin’ softball
From Maine to San Diego
We’re talkin’ softball
Don Mattingly and Canseco
Ken Griffey’s grotesquely swollen jaw
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law
We’re talking Homer, Ozzie and the Straw
Comment by Donald — February 13, 2012 @ 10:27 am
And, on the Weird News . . . what is weird is somebody willing to cook and clean. If the dude can do gravy, along with broth, he can break into my house (the key is under the planter on the front porch, the one on the right side of the door, just to save you some time) and hang out. I’m usually home about 6:15. I’ll give him a room, if’n he is willing to cook and clean. I’m fairly certain Mrs. Rick H has no issues with it, either.
Comment by Rick H. — February 13, 2012 @ 10:31 am
crooked road — I thought the same thing. I’m not an expert on golf etiquette but that’s immediately what came to mind when I was watching it yesterday — “Shouldn’t Tiger putt this and get out of the way?” Thought maybe it was Phil’s call, as in, “I don’t want to make it seem like this is a gimme, so I’ll putt first.” Golfers — Who decides who goes first in that spot?
Another note on Chinatown: If you’re a UM football player, why wouldn’t you want to go to a place where you can get authentic-looking Oakley’s — aka “Jokely’s” — for five bucks?
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 13, 2012 @ 10:32 am
Normally, the golfers give each other a silent – ‘go ahead’ and approval. I saw Phil look to Tiger, and then saw Phil start fishing his marker out of his pocket and go ahead to line up his putt. In almost all circumstances like this, it isn’t even necessary to play the ‘eye games’, the lesser golfers know to get the heck out of the way. But then again, we are talking about Tiger, so it’s not that surprising. Phil could have upstaged Tiger by physically motioning for him to get on with his failed putt, but despite some folks thoughts, Phil is too classy to do that. Phil’s nowhere near the diva that Tiger is, and it seems to be more apparant with every tourney the two play.
Comment by crooked road — February 13, 2012 @ 10:40 am
I’d have to say there was nothing wrong with Tiger putting after Phil (Phil was away) because there was still a group behind them. Even though Phil had it all but wrapped up, they weren’t going to interview him on the green and give him a giant check right then and there. It’s different if the winner is in the final group, though.
Comment by Say What? — February 13, 2012 @ 10:42 am
An insignificant win for an insignificant basketball team. Who cares?
Comment by Frank — February 13, 2012 @ 10:49 am
The Tiger/Phil drama made an otherwise-dull sports weekend much more entertaining for me. There was something quite appropriate about Tiger being paired up with Romo yesterday. At this point in their careers, both are more hype than substance.
On a side note, I was disappointed Bill Belicheck didn’t wear a hoodie at Pebble Beach.
Comment by RP — February 13, 2012 @ 10:55 am
So the tournament winner doesn’t even get ‘honors’ among the group? Let’s hear the same claim when the roles are reversed, and listen to the clamor. Some of the sports media have already made mention of it, so I certainly don’t think it was innocuous.
Comment by crooked road — February 13, 2012 @ 11:05 am
Donnie, relax man, my bad, it is Nevin and not Melvin, just a simple mistake, I’m assuming that you don’t make those…I didn’t know that rooting for a certain team was a prerequisite to be on here…I wasn’t accusing AMc of anything, just making a simple observation. Maybe Maurice DeShazo was in Chinatown when he was trying to get with the hookers? Maybe AMc? Also Donnie, usually, the only people that drive Prius’ are people that accuse others of driving them…
Comment by Stack Maroon — February 13, 2012 @ 11:20 am
I’ll admit I was surprised to see that VT pulled this one out. I was busy during the evening and when I checked the game, I saw they were down big in the first half, and sort of wrote them off. Well for a change, they came back and got a W. The upcoming GT game is probably the last easily winnable game they have on the slate. But they’ll need at least 3 more regular season wins to have a shot at making the NIT. Aside from GT, the best chances I see are also home games: UVA and NC State. They’re winnable because both can be beaten, and they’ll be in the Cassell. But aside from that, I think VT has trouble in all 3 road contests, though if they’re going to win on the road, it will probably be at Clemson. I still don’t like the way this team plays, but if they can close going 3-3 down the stretch, they’ll at least have a post season. 2-4 would make it very difficult, and 1-5 or worse and they’ll be playing golf. Even if somehow VT caught fire and went 6-0 to close (which I highly doubt), their bad losses would keep them out of he NCAA mix. They’d have to win the ACC tourny, or at least be playing for the title. Odds of that happening? I’ll win the lottery first.
Comment by Other John — February 13, 2012 @ 12:12 pm
#22 “An insignificant win for an insignificant basketball team. Who cares?”
Let’s see. Hokie fans, ACC b’ball fans, UVa fans. That’s quite a few folks who live in the area and this is a Roanoke publication is it not? You just a fan of your team only when they win?
Comment by scott whitaker — February 13, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
Re: Mickelson. After Kyle Stanley fell apart and lost at Torrey Pines, Phil took him aside and spoke with him one to one for 45 mins. Announcers talked about how much time he spends mentoring the younger players on Tour, apparently not worrying one bit that some day they might replace him. I’m not saying TW does not do that, just that Phil shows an interest in the future of professional golf. He’s one of the good guys.
Comment by scott whitaker — February 13, 2012 @ 12:58 pm
Yeah Tiger and Phil got the headlines but the best shot of the day was Cory Pavin on the senior tour. Ball was left of the green between the hardpan and cart path about 20 yards from the pin. Vision was blocked by elevated green, had to hit it left handed because of a tree. Ball was nestled next to root. He turned his club over and hit it left handed to within 2 1/2 ft. of pin. Non-golfers will blow it off but all golfers who see it will proclaim it the shot of the century. Kinda like rolling twoo 3oo’s back to back for you bowlers. I know that sport too, before my knees failed me carried a 200 avg..
On Tech’s win, if BC makes their foul shots same ole story. Just luck, not improvement.
Comment by Tom L — February 13, 2012 @ 1:49 pm
“22.An insignificant win for an insignificant basketball team. Who cares?” . . . written by an insignificant person. LOL !
Comment by Peppers Ferry — February 13, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
Phil is and always will be a class act. The way he reacted to blowing the U.S. Open a few years ago proves it. Yesterday proves it again. Phil has class. As Fat Albert said, “Tiger is like school in the summertime. No class.”
Comment by HokieAl — February 13, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
1. Unless you are someone I know from childhood, please don’t call me Donnie. Excluding family members, I haven’t been called Donnie in almost 25 years.
2. I find it convenient you, and others, gladly bash a team and intentionally take everything their beat writers post to the point of hyperbole, and belittle or mock the team when it has genuine successes – and the way this season has gone, any win is a genuine success for the basketball team – but won’t let anyone know who you root for. I’m not saying this just as a Hokie fan, either. I’ve seen other people do the same for other teams. However, it makes me ask: are you afraid of revealing this information, or do you enjoy using the anonymity of the Internet to make you look bigger than you are, or just maybe you’re actually a bandwagoner who jumps ship at the first sign of trouble for ‘your team’?
To draw a parallel, your actions would be like me going (as a lifelong Redskins fan) to the Dallas Star-Telegram, never revealing I’m a ‘Skins fan, and making the same posts as you do about the ‘Boys. Sure, someone could guess I’m a Redskins fan, but there are 30 other teams in the NFL and I could just as easily be a Giants, Eagles, 49ers, Steelers, or Packers fan – all of whom have had some rivalry with the Cowboys – or be a random St. Louis Rams fan or be a bandwagon fan.
I’m not saying you have to agree with the RT, Aaron, or any Hokies fans, but at least give credit when due and stop the hyperbole. :-p You’re as bad as BBAT/NTF/CTF to be quite honest, and it makes me wish there was an registration and ignore feature here so I could ignore your posts and his.
3. Yes, I make mistakes. We all do. But it would have taken you all of, what, 5 seconds to verify his name was Nevin and not Melvin before submitting your comment? After all, it is in the blog post above.
Comment by Donald — February 13, 2012 @ 3:15 pm
Say what @21, That`s a good point. I forgot about last group. Guy putting has the option of marking or putting again. I`m sure Phil thought Tiger was going to putt out and leave the stage to him which Tiger may have done of they were the last group. That will be his explanation if asked and we all know Tiger has gotten good at explaining things.
Comment by Ralph — February 13, 2012 @ 3:33 pm
Saw pavin’s shot, truly amazing.
I agree it sure was lucky Finley smith worked for position and was lucky to time his jump for the stick back. Pure luck, sure he’s never practiced that before…
Comment by Scott Whitaker — February 13, 2012 @ 3:54 pm
Typo, “Finney”
Comment by Scott Whitaker — February 13, 2012 @ 3:56 pm
Playing with a fracture hand is not smart, it’s dumb, and could risk further injury down the road. It might be the warrior spirit, but think about how it might impact the team if you can’t use that hand. No, I have never hurt my shooting hand (I’m a righty, by the way), but I know if my non-shooting hand is hurt, forget it. I need both paws for rebounding, boxing out, and just to aggravate post players. I use my left hand as a guide for my shooting hand, and it usually work. Usually.
Watched a bit of golf yesterday when I woke up from my brief nap, just so I could wake up, and watched Phil and Tiger go at it. For a while, I thought I was seeing a vintage Tiger (I recall seeing him win his first Green Jacket), but then after reading the post, I thought, “Nah.”
Good W for the Hokies, but Florida State is hot, dangerous, and loaded with experience. It should be an interesting battle.
Comment by Trevor — February 13, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
Why in the world is someone in prison allowed to use a computer and send emails? Nice to know what my tax dollars are paying for! It really is a shame that some prisoners have more privileges than some people who are just trying to get by!
Comment by M — February 14, 2012 @ 12:12 pm