GW basketball coach resigns

George Washington University head coach Karl Hobbs has just resigned . Hobbs had a 166-129 record in ten seasons as the head coach of the Colonials. He was not fired by the university, as reported by some news outlets earlier today.


This move was not entirely unexpected, as the Colonials hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since the 2006-07 season. Sources also indicated the Hobbs may have been fired anyways, especially after this season, as the Colonials capped what was once a promising season with a loss to 12th seeded St. Joseph's in the A-10 conference tournament. The new athletic director, Jack Kvancz, is also most likely looking to make his mark on the program with his own coach.


Around the campus, student sources have expressed relief that Hobbs is gone. Hopefully, with their new coach, the Colonials can bring a little enthusiasm back to GWU's campus. Hobbs was often distant and aloof, especially with the student body.


Concern for the Colonials should now be turning to two issues: First and foremost, a search to replace Hobbs is expected to be mounted in the coming days. Second, Hobbs' incoming recruiting class should be reassured that their scholarships would be retained, and a coach who will respect Hobbs' decisions will be retained. This incoming class includes two rivals.com three-star recruits, so the new coach is inheriting some talent. Lassan Kromah should also be back after an injury kept him out of the past season. With the right hire, the future looks bright for the Colonials.

Top frustrations of my sports life, 5-1

5.) Why people insist on buying the newest version of Madden, 2K, NHL, etc.
I get buying a new version every three or four years. Possibly even every two years. But dropping fifty dollars a year on a game that virtually doesn't change from year to year (except a new class of rookies, ratings, and players who have retired) never really made sense to me. I'm fine playing with a year old roster, and with the wonders of the PS3 and Xbox 360, we even have the ability to upgrade our rosters so that the ratings, and players don't even change. Buying it every three years, or four, at least I can notice a difference in the graphics and the gameplay


4.) LPGA players playing in PGA events
For a full explanation of why this bothers me so much, read my post from yesterday here. Suffice to say, it shouldn't happen. And I hope the number of LPGA players playing in PGA events continues to decrease


3.)  People who can't find a way to divide tons of money
This just bothers me in general. I get that you have principles that you stand for, but the NFL generates a ton of money, both for players and owners alike. I get that players live literally paycheck to paycheck. And I get that some of them don't make as much as others. I also get that some owners lose money on their teams, either because they have terrible teams, and no one wants to watch them play, or they just do dumb things with their teams. However, it's nine billion dollars. Like President Obama, I don't care how they divide it. Just get it done.


2.) Politics in sports
I pay taxes, same as any other United States citizen. I pay these taxes, one because I have to, but two because I believe it goes towards funding education, infrastructure, and other things that are over my head. What I'm sure, what I know I don't pay taxes for, is for the federal government to prosecute players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens about steroid usage. So they lied about steroids.  Let sports deal with sports. Politics, stick to politics. Lets keep the two worlds separate


1.) Yankee Haters
I'm a Mets fan, personally. My best fan is a Red Sox fan. As fans of teams that have a distinct rivalry with the Yankees, our hatred of the Yankees is justified. But for a fan of say, the Padres to hate the Yankees? I realize that lots of small market teams complain about the way the Yankees pay for the best, and therefore that's why they are competitive every year. However, they carry a winning tradition greater than any other team in the United States, from any sport. If all someone has on the Yankees is the fact that they win, they have no right to hate on the Yankees.


There's my list, readers. I hope that you leave me your feedback, as always

Female Athletes

Readers, the following post is extremely controversial. I hope you leave me your thoughts and comments below, and I hope you are able to read my opinion with an unbiased mind, as I shall read your comments. The following opinion is not about all sports, but merely the PGA and the women from the LPGA who insist on competing in PGA tour events

Just to be clear: I have no bias against women, I am not a chauvinist, and I firmly believe that men and women should be equal in today's society. But one place where men and women should not coexist is the sports field. I understand that there are many gifted female athletes in the world, and many of them would kick my butt in any athletic competition. But inherently, due to genetics, science stuff I don't understand, men are physically more imposing than women are. I understand there are exceptions, that there are female athletes that are not only able to keep up with most male athletes, but exceed their abilities. But the majority of female athletes cannot keep up with their male counterparts, not because of talent, but because of physical strength

Why then, do women insist on playing in the PGA, time and time again? Many people say it's a sign of progress, that it's a good thing that women are allowed to play on a men's tour, but for it truly to be equality, shouldn't men be allowed to play in LPGA events? Can you imagine the uproar, if say, Phil Mickelson attempted to enter the Kraft Nabisco Championship? It would never be allowed, because someone would point out how much further he could drive the ball than any of the best female golfers.

I don't believe that the PGA and LPGA should merge. The ideas floating around that the best men and women would be competing on the same courses (from the same tee) are ideas I am not in support of. I am a firm believer in the independence of the LPGA, and the PGA, and a firm believer that the tours were created separately for a reason.

One final note: Augusta does not need to allow female members, should the club not wish to do so. At least, not until a bar creates a men's night. Or some of the Women's Clubs around the country start admitting male members.

Like I said, controversial. Leave me your comments, so I can understand your opinions and I hope you all understand mine

Top ten biggest frustrations of my sports life

Readers, be warned. This list is long and varied, and includes sports from all across the world. I invite you to share your own frustrations as well, in the comments section below. This is part 1. Part 2 shall follow tomorrow


10.) Being a fan of the Kansas Jayhawks
This is frustrating, because by now, we as Jayhawk fans have come to expect Big 12 championships. Granted, we may have been spoiled by the streak of seven consecutive conference championships (and nine of the past ten), but Kansas always leaves us wanting more in the Big Dance. And here's why: 2004-05, first round loss to Bucknell. 2005-06, second round loss to Bradley. 2009-10, second round loss to Northern Iowa. 2010-11, Elite Eight loss to VCU. Looking at the teams the Jayhawks have lost to, most fans dream of what could have been. If it weren't for those Big 12 banners hanging in Allen Fieldhouse, this would be much, much lower on the list


9.) Watching a soccer player dive
I hate divers. They provide comedic relief during games, but unless a player screws up like Von Wafer did yesterday, comedy has no place in sports. Soccer is a game where faking injuries and diving helps you win the game, and is part of the strategy. Where's the fun in a game like that?


8.) Reading every golf story and realizing they're all about the same thing
Once in a while you're get a story about a golfer doing something charitable, or struggling with his own demons, but very rarely will you get a golf story actually about golf that does not include at least a mention of Tiger Woods. Look, Tiger is, and always will be my favorite golfer. But the accomplishments of Rory McIlroy can stand on their own. The fact that a South African won the Masters is a story in itself. But writers need to stop making every story about 'Tiger's fall' or 'The return of Tiger' or 'People aren't scared of Tiger anymore.' Tiger has had his day in the sun, and may yet have one again. For now, lets concentrate on a 21 year old prodigy, without talking about the 35 year old legend.


7.) Being a New York Mets fan
And here's why: The Mets spend almost as much as the Red Sox and Yankees. Yet every year, we managed to finish closer to the Nationals in the standings, than the Phillies. Two heartbreaking division leads lost, turns into two seasons of mediocrity with a bloated payroll. This season, even the Royals, who pay their entire team less than A-Rod makes in a season have a better record (and farm system) than the Mets.


6.) The fact that Deborah wins the NCAA March Madness pool every year
During the season, I watch anywhere from 100-200 NCAA basketball games. I read scouting reports on every team in the tournament, and I delight in picking upsets that I'm sure no one else sees coming. And then, every season, I get beat by everyone that doesn't know anything about basketball. Most successful reasonings I've heard include 'I like X team's color better' or 'Y team has a better mascot'. As a sports enthusiast, this kind of reasoning tears at my brain stem, and I can't compute it. Frustrating beyond belief.


Tune in tomorrow for  the top five frustrations I've ever experienced in sports. Until then, leave your own frustrations for me to read!

Greg Norman returns in the form of Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy's chances of winning the Masters disappeared faster than a Loch Ness monster sighting. With a collapse nearly as epic as Greg Norman's, McIlroy hit a horrific sequence at amen corner, with a triple bogey at 10, a bogey at 11, and a double bogey at 12, McIlroy was at plus-8 for the day, finishing with a final round score of 80.


Of course, I guess it's better to go out this way than the way Norman did when he finished an epic collapse on the final hole in 1996, allowing Nick Faldo to win his third green jacket. McIlroy at least has years ahead of him as a brilliant golfer, while Norman would play 'only' another ten years. McIlroy sitll has another fifteen years to go before he hits his golfing prime.


What they're saying about the collapse:


Rory McIlroy matched the greatest collapse in Masters history with a stretch of holes not even Greg Norman would want to watch - Doug Ferguson, Yahoo! Sports


Few of even the grisliest Masters tales can match McIlroy’s for sheer self-torture. - Edwin Pope, Miami Herald


McIlroy’s unravelling was arguably as great as any we have seen, worse than that of Greg Norman here 15 years ago, who blew a six-shot lead to a merciless Nick Faldo. - Kevin Garside, The Telegraph


I will learn character from this and come back a stronger player - Rory McIlroy


I do have to give credit to McIlroy though. The guy led three rounds of the hardest tournament golf has to offer. Even after the implosion the guy conducted himself with dignity and poise, vowing to work harder than ever to improve his game. That's the true attitude of a champion

The Fridge has his ring back

Turns out, there is hope for the future of this country.


A ten year old boy by the name of Cliff Forrestt took $8,500 out of his college savings account to buy William 'The Refrigerator' Perry's 1985 Super Bowl ring in New York.


Normally, the only part of this story that would make news is the fact that a ten year old boy already has $8,500 in his savings account. Or that a ten year old boy was the one making the purchase and not his parents.


However, when Cliff decided to bequeath the ring back to Perry out of the kindness of his heart, it reminded me that there still is humanity in this world. You can read the full story here.


Perhaps our government can take a lesson from Cliff on playing nice. They've got eleven and a half hours to do so.

An Open Letter to Gregg Doyel

Gregg,

I enjoy reading your columns. Just kidding. You are a horrible writer. 

You criticizing Gary Williams is the epitome of what a journalist should not do. Actually, you are the epitome of what a journalist should not want to become. I am a journalism major at Maryland and on the behalf of the journalism industry as a whole, I am embarrassed by your column.

It's not even because I go to Maryland. If you had made a valid argument against Gary, people would value your opinion. Instead, your best argument against him is that he yells at his players. Obviously, you have never been a coach, parent, or teacher. Every coach at some point in his/her career has yelled at a player. Every teacher at some point in his/her career has yelled at a student. Find a parent that has NEVER raised his/her voice at his/her child. Yelling is not a tool of hatred, it’s a sign that someone cares.

Also, calling him a coward because his PR Department did not return your emails is ridiculous. Why would Gary want to speak to an idiot who has already taken a side? Instead, Gary can take the smart route and talk to professional journalists at the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and ESPN that will hear his side of the story before passing judgment. This may sound crazy, but you are not a destination name in journalism. There's a reason people don't want to talk to you and that's because you don't give them a chance to defend themselves. Also, your writing is awful.

A true coward is someone like you. Someone who takes faceless attacks at another person with baseless arguments. Someone who refuses to do interviews (with Maryland radio stations and Maryland blogs) to defend his comments.

I want to know your motivation for attacking Gary Williams. My guess here is that since no one reads your articles anyway, you are just trying to create attention for yourself. But here's something about journalism- I want to hear your side of the story, I want to give you the courtesy you never extended Gary Williams

But know this- If you don't respond to me, it is just proving you're a coward.