2012.02.09
Thursday: Duke stuns; UVa cruises; Peyton has a noodle arm?
UNC FANS, AVERT YOUR EYES. Below is Austin Rivers’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer last night that gave Duke an 85-84 victory over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill:
Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer says it’s just the latest scintillating moment in the best rivalry in sports.
SO WHO GETS THE ANGRY TAR HEELS NEXT? WHY, VIRGINIA OF COURSE. The Wahoos will be coming off one of their most complete performances of the season — a 68-44 victory over Wake Forest in which Mike Scott went 9-for-9 from the field.
OTHER COLLEGE HOOPS FROM LAST NIGHT
-Boston College upsets No. 15 Florida State, 64-60.
-Kansas blasts Baylor 68-54.
-Jim Boeheim wins his 880th game at Syracuse, moving past Dean Smith for third place on the all-time list, as the Orange defeats Georgetown 64-61 in overtime.
LOOKING AHEAD…
-The Hokies travel south to face surging Miami at 9 tonight on ESPN2. Here’s a capsule preview. The Hurricanes are a 6.5-point favorite.
-N.C. State plays at Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
AROUND THE HORN
-I don’t get to Galax enough, but I will tonight, as the local Group A power hosts…the top-ranked high school team in the nation. Yep, Maroon Tide wanted to beef up its schedule to prepare itself for the playoffs, so it added Oak Hill Academy. It’ll be over early, but it’ll be interesting.
-Oil Can Boyd admits he pitched under the influence of cocaine about two-thirds of the time. “Oh yeah, at every ballpark,” Boyd says. “There wasn’t one ballpark that I probably didn’t stay up all night, until four or five in the morning, and the same thing is still in your system.”
-Indianapolis Star writer Bob Kravitz says that Peyton Manning’s “arm is a noodle.” Somehow, that’ll make Dan Snyder want him more.
-Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post writes that the ‘Skins should get Peyton at any cost. As we’ve previously discussed here, I don’t agree with this.
-The best thing to come out of the Memphis-to-the-Big-East move: SI blogger Holly Anderson directed us to the following trophy that UAB and Memphis (used to?) play for:
READER COMMENT O’ THE DAY
From HokieAl
Peter Angelos – Get in your Prius.
Daniel Snyder – Get in your Prius.
Current BCS System – Get in your Prius.
NAME THAT TUNE
-Tough one today.
Pleased to meet you
Nice to know me
What’s the message?
Will ya show me?
I’ve been waiting
A long time, now
Now here’s the answer
You’re all mine now
Ya, I’ve been waiting for my Sunday girl
Ya, I’ve been waiting for my Sunday girl, now
Stone Temple Pilots!! Name of the song escapes me,though.
Comment by HokieGal — February 9, 2012 @ 9:06 am
HokieGal scores on the artist. Nicely done. Still seeking title.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 9, 2012 @ 9:15 am
I still think Boeheim retires before ever coaching a game in the ACC. As for the Peyton scenario, it reminds me of when the Colts shipped Johnny Unitas to the Chargers. The Colts had drafted a hot young QB named Bert Jones. Bert Jones, incidentally, had to retire because of a neck injury.
Just some trivia…
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 9:24 am
If you would have told me coming into this year that UVA would have a chance to play in the ACC championship game with a win over Tech in football and that 9 games into ACC play in basketball UVA still has a shot to win the ACC I would have told you that cocaine is a hell of a drug! They probably will not win the conference but with Mike Scott all things are possible. Mike Scott would run for president but even the secret service can’t guard him.
Bonus Trivia Question: What did the five fingers say to the face? A-Mac will appreciate that one
Comment by NewUVAFan — February 9, 2012 @ 9:25 am
As for the Duke-UNC game, did Curry take four steps before sinking his 3-pointer, or five?
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 9:26 am
Forget the name of the song but I know it’s track #1 on the cd. STP rocks
Comment by NewUVAFan — February 9, 2012 @ 9:28 am
Cuse!
Comment by Uptheriver — February 9, 2012 @ 9:29 am
Just wanted to come by and offer my condolences to Trevor on last nights Duke win…I know he’s the only guy on here that hates Puke worse than I do. Got to say though that was a gutsy shot by the freshman…Rivers has definetly got game.
Snyder has not and probably refuses to learn from his past big check writing fiascos. There’s alot of truth in the old addage “That man’s got more money that he does sense”. Fits him perfectly. When he gets the urge to write one of these checks, Snyder needs to review the footage of Neon Deon Sanders in that God awful burgundy suit and fedora, strutting around on that stage after suckering him out of a big chunk of cash. I remember telling my wife what a pimp he looked like, and Dan Snyder looked like his Ho. If revisiting that scene doesn’t snap him back to reality don’t know what will. It still sickens me as a Skins fan to think about it.
Comment by Huntersdad — February 9, 2012 @ 9:30 am
Sports are always cyclical. I’m old enough to remember when both the Redskins and the Cowboys weren’t a joke.
I’m old enough to remember when the Colts drafted a guaranteed superstar QB from Stanford and he refused to play for them. Evidently he thought George Steinbrenner was a better owner than Bob Irsay. Now John Elway is left to deal with a charismatic young stud QB who doesn’t necessarily fit his game plan. Funny how that works.
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 9:44 am
I don’t have a good feeling about tonight’s VT-Miami game. Miami is going in the right direction it seems, VT is still trying to find their way. If they had finished strong against Clemson, I might feel otherwise. But they finished weak and nearly blew another game…so I’ll side with Vegas on the points.
Somehow I’m thinking that the next BC game for the Hokies might be a tad tougher than I imagined, but still winnable since it’s at home. That young group of Eagles has their moments when they can play pretty decent ball, like last night. But overall, I still only see 2 truly winnable games at this point now, about 3 that if they fire on all cylinders and play well they could win, and 3 that would take a miraculous effort to win that they probably won’t win even with a normal good effort.
I think UVA will get a tough fight from the Heels for sure, but the Cavs have the tools to beat them, if they can put it together. UVA and NC State have been pleasant surprises in the ACC this year.
I have to say, that trophy would look a lot better if those were real ribbed, slathered in a good sauce. Now that would be a trophy football players would really fight to win…a former co-worker of mine played HS football in Roanoke and mentioned that he and his team would go to one of the buffet pizza places on a regular basis, and pretty much clean the place out every time. Put food on a trophy and you’ll get a fight-to-the-death match to win that rack of ribs…
Comment by Other John — February 9, 2012 @ 9:46 am
Last night’s Puke-UNC game was just one of 2 great games I watched. The ‘Cuse-G’town game was just as compelling. What a great way to kill an evening. Although getting up at 5:30 for work today was a bit rough. Another late one tonight with VT-Miami at 9:00.
I watched Oil Can play. The way he threw, I’m surprised about his cocaine use.
@ Huntersdad-Snyder can’t come back to reality because he has no concept of what it is. Manning in D.C. for summer camp. Bank on it.
Comment by HokieAl — February 9, 2012 @ 9:48 am
Tried to post this earlier, but received a timeout error.
I was faced with a dilemma last night – watch UNC or go to bed early.
Naw, I love my sleep more, so to bed I went, and checked the score this morning. Laughed out loud I did at the score.
As I said yesterday, UNC hasn’t impressed me all year long. I wasn’t too torn up over it.
@Huntersdad, I’m ok. I’m more irritated with the automated testing equipment I use at work than about UNC. It’s just like last year when UNC was up at the half before Duke came storming back. It’s all good. Football is actually holding my interest more than basketball till March.
Comment by Trevor — February 9, 2012 @ 9:49 am
I say Oil Can Boyd deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, if for nothing else than coming clean about what he was doing, what he was jacked up on during games. I don’t care if his overall record was just 1 game over .500. Maybe his admission could drive a point home to some of the other Hall Wannabees.
I’ve got to agree with the Briefing Man, if Peyton’s arm is a noodle, Danny Boy will certainly have the meaty spaghetti sauce to slather all over it.
That trophy is pretty tasty looking. It certainly looks better than the Commonwealth Cup, or any Black Diamond Trophy.
Got not much else to add to today’s convo.
Comment by Rick H. — February 9, 2012 @ 9:54 am
Song is “Down” by Stone Temple Pilots. C’mon Aaron, you’ve got to dig deeper! (By the way, Scott Weiland is In The Prius)
Comment by Chad Willis — February 9, 2012 @ 9:56 am
As you wish, Chad. Friday’s song will be brutal. You gotta admit Down would be a pretty killer walk-up song.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 9, 2012 @ 10:00 am
Story in the N/A this morning that the Braves want to buy out the Hillcats owners and move them to Wilmington, N.C. if they will build them a new ball park. There has been baseball here for about 46 years, I think. The Braves have promised to help get another team here but I think the longtime owners selling out might not bode well for baseball here. For us older fans, this will limit our outdoor Summer activities to Putt Putt and star gazing, I guess.
Comment by Ralph — February 9, 2012 @ 10:18 am
Ralph — Thanks for reminding me; meant to get that in there. We had a blurb in our paper about it, too. Here’s the News & Advance story.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 9, 2012 @ 10:33 am
Oil Can?! That’s his name? Seriously?
If he had introduced himself to me, my response would have been, “What brand are you? Pennzoil? Quaker State? Mobil? Castrol?”
Heck, I’d even ask him for a recommendation of what oil I should be putting in my Tacoma, just based on his name.
Comment by Trevor — February 9, 2012 @ 10:35 am
“Hi, my name is Oil Can Boyd.”
“Hold it right there. I think Tin Man needs some oil.”
____________
“Hello, my name is Oil Can Boyd.”
“Can I have some of your oil for the Prius?”
_____________
“Hey there, Oil Can Boyd’s the name.”
“Sup, dog? Achoo’s the name.”
“Bless you.”
“No, that’s my name, Achoo.”
Comment by Trevor — February 9, 2012 @ 10:41 am
Trevor, I would have said “Nice spout you got there, Oil Can”
Comment by Ralph — February 9, 2012 @ 10:43 am
“Hi, I’m called Oil Can.”
“I know a girl that goes by the name KY. Interested?”
Comment by Trevor — February 9, 2012 @ 10:45 am
Sad about the Hillcats. as we all know what is inevitable. I think the innocence of the minor leagues died right about the time ‘Bull Durham’ was released into theaters. $35-40 mil for a 6K stadium. Wow, where the return on investment? It would take at least a dozen years to get close to recouping that.
Such a shame that the fans in Lynchburg will miss out on a lifetime of memories because of the financial sheets of some businessmen. I’m not talking about the Lynchburg guys who are at the end of their lives, to be honest. It’s about the major league teams who control all of this.
I used to say I’d start a minor league team if I won the lottery. I’d have to win about $200 mil to make the math work now. Winning the ‘regular’ lottery, I might get a HS football field named for me.
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 10:51 am
OK, easy trivia for the day – what is Oil Can’s real name?
Comment by Rick H. — February 9, 2012 @ 11:00 am
What was Oil Can’s favorite drug of choice? Oil Can Blow
Comment by Frank — February 9, 2012 @ 11:06 am
I can’t believe my heels blew that game. I think they were running the Greenberg offense during the last 2 minutes.
Comment by Original Greg — February 9, 2012 @ 11:06 am
Upon investigating the Lynchburg HillCats situation, it sounds like they are prepared to let the team go, and have another team lined up to replace them. My guess is that it would be at a lower lever, either Appy League or Sally League. That would accommodate the lower cost, and also accommodate the ownership issue with the big league sponsors.
Anything AA or higher just gets into so much political stuff it is amazing. Even at the upper A level, it can be that way with certain teams.
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 11:21 am
Oil Can’s real name is Dennis, isn’t it?
Comment by crooked road — February 9, 2012 @ 11:22 am
Crooked road is right. The Hillcats say that part of the agreement would be to have another minor league team come to Lynchburg.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 9, 2012 @ 11:24 am
Trevor, good decision going to bed…it was painful to watch Rivers sink that three at the end but I pretty much new it was gonna happen. Don’t know the exact numbers but Puke was draining a bunch of threes…Ol’ Dicky V said earlier in the broadcast that you could never count Duke out the way they can shoot from long range, and UNC was up by a dozen then. Dick V. knows his hoops. Can’t help but wonder how the refs missed Curry’s four step three pointer…looked like he was dancing the watoosie or something. Guess Coach K’s magic spell he has on the ACC refs must have cloaked that one from them. And my hate for them continues….I may have issues there…anyone know a good councelor?
Comment by Huntersdad — February 9, 2012 @ 11:25 am
Oil Can Blow – sounds like it needs to come with its own warning label.
The Hillcats – funny, I used to live in Amherst for a while before moving to Pulaski, and drove past their stadium many time. Never seen them play either. Often drove past the Pulaski Orioles/Rangers/Marlins/Brewers stadium.
The only minor league game I have been to is at Pawtuxet Red Sox (if they still are the Red Sox) in Rhode Island.
Huntersdad, that’s why I firmly believe Coach K is Satan’s offspring. Look at his eyebrows, they bear too much resemblance to the mascot.
Comment by Trevor — February 9, 2012 @ 11:41 am
Hey, Aaron, send crooked road a pack of Whoppers, postage due, delivered by somebody in a Prius.
I’m with Huntersdad, slept through the end of the game (on the couch, no less, as I mentioned yesterday), and I don’t think I could have stood it. And, it’s easy to see how they miss any Duke traveling calls. I’m quite certain nobody for Duke has ever been called for traveling (Donald, where are you?), same for good old Hansbrough, when he was at UNC – never saw a big man move his feet more and never get called for anything. Its hard to miss size 13′s moving around.
Comment by Rick H. — February 9, 2012 @ 11:42 am
I was only a kid when Oil Can Boyd pitched, and his drug problems were very well-documented at the time, but I remember him as quite the character on the mound —– a lot like Mark “the Bird” Fydrich (not sure on the spelling there…). The fact that he was pitching while high sure explains a lot of those antics…
On a different note, it will be a crime if Syracuse & Georgetown don’t play at least once each season as a nonconference game once ‘Cuse jumps to the ACC. Does anyone know if that has been reported or discussed?
Comment by RP — February 9, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
Just talked to Galax coach Verl Brown to get a little background on tonight’s game with Oak Hill (No. 1 in USA Today high school poll). Team’s being realistic: “We know we can’t stop their alley-oops and all that; we just needed to be pushed hard.”
For some perspective, Oak Hill is 36-0 and has won games in Kentucky, Georgia, Oregon, and a bunch of places in between. They just announced that they’ve accepted an invitation to go on a basketball tour of China next month. The Mouth of Wilson school’s trip road tonight? Twenty-seven miles.
Comment by Aaron McFarling — February 9, 2012 @ 1:08 pm
I saw Lebron play in high school years ago…Oak Hill will be worth the price of admission
Comment by RP — February 9, 2012 @ 1:50 pm
Oh, man, do us a favor, lay off of the nonsense that Oak Hill is the #1 high school team in the country. Oak Hill is as much a ‘high school’ as Virginia Western CC is in the Ivy League (not picking on VWCC, by any means). They recruit, they find “scholarship” money for kids that can play a sport. They command “appearance fees” to come to play in tournaments or games.
It sickens me every year to see these alleged “rankings” that USA Today (and wasn’t it Dave Krider, in particular) started doing that glorifies these basketball factories, many of which are shams when it comes to education (not necessarily Oak Hill, it does have some pretty stiff standards, but it still isn’t a high school, in the true sense).
I feel sorry every year for that one true public high school that is buried down in the rankings, playing with kids legitimately in their district boundaries, that never gets a mention as being truly the best ‘high school’ team in America.
Comment by Rick H. — February 9, 2012 @ 2:49 pm
The Braves took their Triple A team out of Richmond a few years ago. We now have AA Flying Squirrels (Giants). The Braves organization likes to move teams to localities that spend money to build new ballparks. They don’t care about history or disrupting the communities they leave.
The Braves-Get in the Prius.
Comment by HokieAl — February 9, 2012 @ 3:33 pm
There is NO good to come out of the game for Galax, unless there is a big money take for admission.
Comment by Frank — February 9, 2012 @ 5:03 pm