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Feb 03 Quite A PromotionPosted by pblackwell | 02/03/08
First, expectations are created. Then, when they’re not met, the clamor grows, louder each day and week and month, until it reaches a point where only total victory is acceptable, and anything less requires a firing squad.
Such was Syracuse University football, circa 2004. Daryl Gross, the new athletic director, needed to send Paul Pasqualoni and his staff into exile. It fulfilled the greatest wishes of the local crowd convinced that Coach P, and Coach P alone, was the roadblock standing between the Orange and a place among the college football elite. So out went Paul, and his staff, scattered to various ports in America to try and keep on following their true love... Feb 06 Giant-killer GiantsPosted by pblackwell | 02/06/08
As displayed on every stadium display wall and as splattered over every TV ad touting the show, the official theme the NFL gave to this year’s playoffs was “Who Wants It More?”
The answer arrived at about 10 p.m. Sunday night in the Arizona desert, the moment Eli Manning slipped out of the grasp of two New England defenders, threw high downfield over the middle – and we still don’t know how David Tyree came up with that ball. This was the play Super Bowl XLII will be remembered for. That’s what they’ll highlight for decades as the instant where New England’s grab at perfect, 19-0 immortality slipped from their fingers and the 1972 Dolphins could smile again (and raise a glass or two) at their singular status. From a local standpoint, the Giants’ 17-14 victory played well... Feb 13 Are the parties over?Posted by pblackwell | 02/13/08
In some ways quiet, in other ways not so quiet, a revolution of moderation and common sense is overtaking the American political scene – and we’re all better for it.
Want some proof? Listen, or cringe, as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter and the rest of the talk-show right take turns lighting into John McCain, brutalizing him for having the nerve to be a Republican that, once in a while, thinks for himself. Stop the world before that gets too contagious! Go to other media outlets, too, where it’s all Hillary all the time... Feb 21 A turf worth havingPosted by pblackwell | 02/21/08
Round about a decade ago, a couple of school districts in Central New York looked around, realized that the weather tends to get nasty around here from October to April, and decided that it might be prudent to get an all-weather facility out there.
Now it helped that Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool were large districts with a distinct political advantage at the time, plus beverage bucks. Still, artificial turf went down in both places, with admittedly mixed results. Short-term, it was a slam dunk, grand slam, knockout and other tired sports cliches. A stream of events came to these locales beyond the usual CNS and Liverpool stuff, from semi-pro football to college lacrosse to state championships in (at one point or another) track, lacrosse and field hockey... Feb 29 Into the magic monthPosted by pblackwell | 02/29/08
When it comes to college basketball, the wild times are not reserved for March alone. As we have found out in the last two months, earth-shaking matters take place long before the NCAA committee huddles in Indianapolis to figure out the Dance card.
Much of the ink in the latter part of the regular season was spilled writing the career epitaphs (or is it epithets?) about Bob Knight after his abrupt departure from Texas Tech. To be sure, he quit, and that’s not too noble – but neither is staying on too long when you don’t want to be there. At least Pat Knights wants to be there. Whether he gets to stay is another matter... 
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Random ThoughtsYou can listen to Phil Blackwell, Eagle Newspapers' sports editor, at 10 a.m. every Saturday on WHEN, AM620SubscribeEmail Archives |
