TODAY'S ACC HEADLINES: 5/13/07

Thursday, May 17, 2007

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE…

So take off all your Vicks…

The dog in the header is PEPE, and he, unfortunately, may well belong to Michael Vick. That’s the bad news. The good news is Pepe looks to be the main dog at Vick’s dog breeding operation so at least he’s enjoying the perks of Canine Crazy Town. Check it out at www.vicksk9kennels.com. Not kidding.

And so…According to the Daily Press, Vick is in the "hot seat" as the Humane Society of the U.S. wonders why no charges have been filed yet in the dogfighting investigation that centers on the former Surry County property of NFL quarterback and Newport News native Michael “Holy, S*** I Must Be A Moron” Vick.

But animal control officials say they have strong evidence in the case.

"This is one of the rare times we've actually found a pit," said Kathy Strouse, Chesapeake's animal control coordinator. "When you find something like a pit, that's pretty good evidence." Strouse has been investigating dogfighting for about 14 years. So you don’t just install the dog fighting pit to increase the value of your home? Who knew? Those Vicks, they're clever!

Last month, the investigation there netted evidence, including a bloodstained carpet - used in dogfighting pits to give dogs traction - as well as scarred pit bulls, drugs to reduce swelling, dog-training equipment and a training regimen etched in a wall, said John Goodwin, the Humane Society's deputy manager of animal-fighting issues.

"I don't know what else they would need," Goodwin said. "There are a lot of other people in Virginia that have gone to jail for dogfighting with significantly less evidence than that. There is not a shadow of a doubt when you have all those pieces together."

Strouse also said that an informant has said there is a witness who can put Vick at a dogfight.

Vick, who plays for the Atlanta Falcons, didn't live in the Surry house, but his cousin did. The house was subsequently sold in less than a day last week. Check out the pool (giggle) and the kennels (creepy).

A picture of a presa canario stud named Pepe is featured prominently on the Web site. "Look at this ultimate canine that is highly intelligent, powerful, well-framed, and has tenacious courage. ... You are looking at a well-qualified family pet and protector." The Web site also states, "We do not promote, support, or raise dogs for fighting."

But, we will fight the livin’ s*** out of your dog if you happen to drop by. PAR-TAY!

UNC SIGNS ROY TO FOUR YEAR EXTENTION

North Carolina awarded coach Roy Williams a four-year contract extension Thursday that will keep him with the Tar Heels through the 2014-15 season.

Williams, who signed an eight-year contract to coach his alma mater before the 2003-04 season, will make up to $1.8 million each year plus incentives based on the Tar Heels' performance on the court and in the classroom.

"Roy Williams is the most complete coach in the country," athletic director Dick Baddour said. "I knew when we hired him he was an outstanding basketball coach, but he has also exceeded our every expectation in the manner in which he runs a basketball program. He believes in character first, he coaches for all the right reasons and he is a first-rate ambassador of our university."

Duke coach Mike Kzysjhfvbsdn3ski said, “F#%&!!”

One hour later, Baddour called a second press conference. “Did I say four?” Baddour queried, “I meant 40. My bad.”

PICTURE OF THE DAY

WE WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE because they take field trips to the racetrack. Nice, Street Sense, NICE! What's not to like? Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense is led past a tour group by Paul Rutherford in the Preakness Stakes Barn at Pimlico.

(Photo by AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

THAT DIET IS REALLY WORKING FOR J.B. Must be the Red Bull and all the indoor soccer. Surely he has Dr. Bushmills, Dirt, All-Star and Puke Smoke to thank.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bull)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

OK, ALL THE RUSSIAN TENNIS PLAYERS AREN'T PRETTY...Russia's Dinara Safina returns the ball to Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko during the Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome's Foro Italico clay-court. Check out the gun on Dinara!

(Photo by AP Photo/Felice Calabro')

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

SOURCES CLOSE TO THE QUEEN TELL TAH that the purple outfit she wore to the Lords Cricket Ground in London during the first Test between England and West Indies was meant to demonstrate her sheer joy of being as far away as reasonably possible from those "crazy people" in Kentucky. Rumor has it that the Queen unfortunately happened upon the Kid Rock, George Strait, Dennis Hopper and Peyton Manning annual Kentucky Derby Whiskey Drinking Contest and she was not amused. Go figure.

Has she ever looked happier? Thanks, KR.

(Photo credit Chris Young/AFP/Getty Images)

WHAT? FEWER SISTERS OF THE POOR?

The ACC men's basketball schedule appears likely to stay at 16 conference games for four more seasons. Commissioner John Swofford said last week ACC officials would discuss an 18-game conference schedule beginning in 2008-09 .

"There seems to be some confusion, " said Swofford, "but I want it to be perfectly clear. The 18 conference game format isn't about the game, the league's prestige, recruiting, the fans, the coaches or the student athletes. This is about one thing, and one thing only -- MONEY."

But coaches at the conference's spring meetings have unanimously endorsed keeping the 16-game format through the 2010-11 season, when the television contracts will expire. Coaches feared dropping games such as North Carolina-Arizona and Duke-Georgetown in favor of a couple of more conference games would diminish the ACC's national appeal.

The 16-game schedule "allows all of our teams to go out and schedule intersectional games that will help with our marketing," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "It helps with our brand name, and it helps with recruiting." What Purnell meant: “Damn, how are we gonna get to 20 wins if we can’t play Furman, Wofford and Arkansas State?”

FSU, UVA RANKED #2 AND #3..

...on ESPN's list of underachieving athletic programs.

Ouch.

ESPN.com labeled Florida State and Virginia among their most underachieving programs of the past decade. The list is topped by Michigan, but FSU and Virginia file right behind at #2 and #3, respectively. Most ACC fans have been waiting for Florida State to emerge to top half of the ACC standings, yet it hasn't happened. They've not made the NCAAs since 1998, despite having a very good coach [Leonard Hamilton] who has NBA ties.

According to AOL ACC FANHOUSE: True, but what irks everyone is that the Noles have shown the ability to beat the Dukes and Carolinas at home, but cannot climb their way out of the group of Clemsons of the league. ACC fans know that Florida State is a football school in a basketball conference, but the goods are there for them to compete. Remember, their first league game was a win at North Carolina.

As for Virginia, things should look up in the long term. The new John Paul Jones Arena was a nightmare stop for ACC foes this season and joins the Smith Center, Comcast Center, RBC Center and Lawrence Joel as NBA-sized arenas that can suffocate you with it's home court advantage [of course, one of the ACC's smallest venues, Cameron Indoor, claims the ultimate advantage]. The nice facilities, great coach and academic history should lure more top recruits to the school.

As far as the Boo-Hoos are concerned, we have just dos palabras: Puerto Rico.