Time Out Awards: Georgetown, Washington and the PGA

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

It’s that time for the weekly Time-Out awards, given by me to those athletes who have been sub-par on and off the field in the world of sports. Let’s start by giving out the first Time-Out in response to something near and dear to my wallet.

Like many this time of year, I made a monetary investment into an NCAA tournament pool, hopefully for my picks to bring my investment back with some extra cash. The Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team receives a Time-Out for possibly turning my investment into a donation. Georgetown was the definite favorite in their game with Ohio University Bobcats, which they lost by the score of 97-83.

Georgetown deserves this Time-Out for three reasons. First, Ohio, which only made the tourney because it got hot and somehow won the MAC tourney, hasn’t won a NCAA tournament game since 1983. Second, Georgetown had such a great performance in the Big East Tournament, you would think they would have a better showing in the Big Dance. And last but not least, they cost many people, including myself, a chance to win some cash.

The next Time-Out goes to Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, who tested positive for cocaine for last season. In a press conference on Wednesday, Washington said, “I did wrong, and I take responsibility for that, and I’m sorry.”

Although Washington did openly admit to his mistake, I still have to give him a Time-Out because as the leader of a team, you can’t allow yourself to get in a situation like this. Washington is in charge of making important on the field decisions for his ball club. How can the Rangers trust him to do that when he can’t make important off the field decisions for himself?

Every golfer on the PGA Tour not named Tiger Woods is the recipient of this week’s final Time-Out. Woods announced he will end his hiatus from golf April 8 at the Masters. Shortly after, Las Vegas odds makers deemed him the 3-1 favorite to win the Masters.

I don’t think there are any golf courses at the sex rehab clinic Woods has been at, so he hasn’t had much time to practice. Somehow he is still the favorite. I think Woods is the greatest ever to play the game of golf, but maybe the crop of golfers he is playing against are just not very good. Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and the rest of the tour might not be the favorite to win the Masters, but they definitely win this Time-Out award.

That closes another edition of the Time-Out awards for this week. Athletes, coaches, and front office personnel: put your best foot forward and don’t make me give you a Time-Out.

NBA Dunk Predictions

by T.J. Cowell, Alestle Sports Reporter

I never thought I would blog about the NBA again. I’m not sure what it is about it this year, but I can’t stop watching the NBA, and the NBA’s Dunk Contest is coming up on Feb. 13. As participants go, you have Nate Robinson, Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats, the Lakers’ Shannon Brown (who mentioned who would win even if MJ was in it), and the Dunk-In winner of either DeMar DeRozan or Eric Gordon.

Krypto-Nate Robinson:

• Two time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner (2006, 2009)
• Is listed as 5’9 with his shoes on
• Vertical leap of almost 44 inches

Shannon Brown:

• not a big fan of the Lakers, but this guy is from Maywood and even was teammates with Dee Brown at Proviso East High School.
• Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2003
• Played his college ball at Michigan State (woo Big Ten)

Gerald Wallace:

• One of the most versatile guys in the league
• 2010 marks his first NBA All-Star appearance
• 2002 NBA Slam Dunk Contest runner-up

DeMar DeRozan:

• Will face the Clippers’ Eric Gordon in a dunk-in at halftime of the NBA Rookie Challenge. This marks the first year doing this. The winner of that face-off is the final participant in this year’s contest.
• On tape, one of the most impressive dunkers in the NBA. This guy is so raw.
• 2009 Pac-10 Tournament MVP for USC
• Only 20 years of age

Eric Gordon:

• 2007 Indiana Mr. Basketball
• 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, also made first team All-Big Ten that year
• 2009 NBA All-Rookie Second team

Check out the website see highlight reels of all of this year’s dunk participants. From what I have seen, Wallace and DeRozan look the most impressive heading into this year’s endeavor.

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SIUE and Charter reach TV agreement

SIUE sports information announced yesterday an agreement has been made with Charter Communications to air ten SIUE basketball games LIVE from the Vadalabene Center.

This is great news for the university, considering Charter reaches half a million homes in the St. Louis area, and the television contract will allow SIUE to further branch out into the St. Louis market, and put itself into the local college hoops conversation with Missouri, Illinois and SLU.

Don’t know the cost, or any specifics regarding the contract, besides the games will air on Channel 3, the Charter Communications Information Network (basically the public access channel, but it’s a channel nonetheless) as they happen and again in tape delay, Randy Karraker, a well known St. Louis media personality will be doing the play by play, and ten games, including the home openers are set to be broadcast.

This boosts SIUE’s television exposure this season to 12 games, Friday’s men’s opener at the University of Illinois will air on ESPN360.com (also a part of ESPN’s pay per view package on television, so I’m sure Charter will broadcast the feed live on television locally, as they did last season for a pair of games) and the Dec. 22 game at Purdue is on ESPNU.

That explains the new press conferences and confusion over media seating at the VC during the exhibition games. Should be a great thing for SIUE, hopefully it doesn’t take away from attendance at the games.

Here is Charter’s schedule for the season from the press release:

Date Opponent Game Time
Sun., Nov. 15 Milwaukee Noon
Sun., Nov. 15 Illinois State (M) 2:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 28 Lipscomb (M) 2:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 20 Loyola (M) 2:00 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 22 Missouri State 7:00 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 28 UMKC (M) 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 30 Murray State (M) 7:00 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 5 Milwaukee (M) 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 5 South Dakota (M) 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 7 North Dakota (M) 1:30 p.m.

Headed to the U of I tomorrow around two with T.J, should be fun, be sure to keep up with the live blog during the game, and as you watch online. Instead of blogging straight into this we will have a link available around 6 p.m with cover it live, so you can interact and ask questions about the game as it happens or share your input. Much more interactive approach, hope you join us!

Allan Lewis
Alestle Sports Editor

Wrapping up last night’s game

SIUE came away with a 30 point triumph over MacMurray last night in exhibition play, a few performances stood out, scoring was distributed nicely, and once the Cougars found their rhythm they looked tough to beat.

You can read more later on in the day, I just submitted my “view from the sidelines” column on the game, TJ should be getting the game story in shortly and they will be posted on Alestlelive.com sooner than later.

First, the good from last night, SIUE had six players scoring in double figures. That’s huge to have that many guys on your team who are able to contribute that much offense. This comes with the team missing their leading scorer and starting center, whom we learned from coach Lennox Forrester after the game were benched for “violating team rules.” Senior guard Stephen Jones was in the same boat. All things considered, the Cougars played well and pushed aside a sluggish start.

Last night yielded some impressive performances, notably sophomore guard Kevin Stineman, junior guard David Boarden and freshman guard LeShaun Murphy. You can throw junior guard Cody Rincker into the mix as well, scoring 12 points.

Stineman hustled better than anyone on the floor.

Boarden led the Cougars with 8 rebounds, which was impressive considering he fills a 6’4 frame, Rincker made his case to become a key component of the bench, and was SIUE’s hottest three point shooter, going 4-6, and Murphy showed he can be an explosive player capable of swinging momentum in a heartbeat.

Boarden and Murphy seem to be the perfect answer to the question of “who will replace Barry Wellington and Brandon Dunson?”

They fit the role seamlessly.

The post game could be better for the Cougars, Zeke Schneider did not play well at all, Dobrivoje Mavrak got off to a nice start, but his play tapered off considerably in the second half, but that will improve with Bundalo in the lineup.

Overall, not a bad effort, but still things to improve upon come the regular season opener.

-Allan Lewis

Alestle Sports Editor