NOT SO FAST

Yeah, yeah, yeah...we're going to the beach, but we couldn't leave you hanging on the draft. Especially since it actually involved two things of note: 1) the ACC and 2) hoop!

WRIGHT TOP ACC PICK

The University of North Carolina's freshmen forward Brandan Wright was the first ACC player take in last night's NBA draft. He was originally drafted by Charlotte, and seemed to be off to play with his home Heel boys Sean May and Raymond Felton, but Michael Jordan's Bobcats quickly traded him to Golden State. The swap set Jason Richards and the #35 pick Glen "Big Baby" Davis to the Cats in exchange for Wright.

Other ACC guys drafted were: #12 -Philadelphia 76ers Thaddeus Young - Georgia Tech, #14 -- Los Angeles Clippers - Al Thorton, FSU, #17 - New Jersey Nets - Sean Williams, Boston College, #19 Los Angeles Lakers - Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech, #22 - Charlotte Bobcats (from Toronto Raptors) - Jared Dudley, Boston College, #37 Portland Trail Blazers - Josh McRoberts, Duke, #44 - Orlando Magic - Reyshawn Terry, North Carolina and #59 Phoenix Suns - D.J. Strawberry, Maryland.

Strawberry had worked out several times with the Whiz, so imagine Mrs. Strawberry's relief when her boy got nabbed by the Suns.

Hey, what happened to those to Clemson fellas who declared...?

PARTY ON, GARTH. PARTY ON, WADE.

From our friends at DEADSPIN:

EAST SIDE LITTLE LEAGUE WILL CAP YOUR ASS
First of all, this is not a hockey post. This Wade Campbell (pictured right) is a Little League dad, who, concerned that his son wasn't getting enough playing time, had a cheerful discussion with his coach. Yes, the term "shot down like a dog" was used, but only in the most constructive of ways.

According to the St. Paul Tribune: “Police arrested Wade Campbell, 46, Sunday after he called the coach and told him "he was going to be shot down like a dog and that they 'f----- with the wrong East Sider," according to a criminal complaint charging Campbell with making terroristic threats.”

Judging from dad's photo, we can only imagine how lithe, athletic and fleet on the basepaths Campbell's son must be. We're sure he's indistinguishable from Benny Rodriguez in The Sandlot, and this is all just politics, pure and simple. Campbell's son should be playing every inning of every game! This is bullshit, man!

Whacky, yes?

AND YOU THOUGHT WISCONSIN WAS BORING

More crazy news from the center of the country…We thought those folks in the Midwest were “sensible.”

According to the AP, a man accused of stomping a pet tropical fish to death during a dispute with a girlfriend faces charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.

Anastacio Molina Jr., 40, of Sheboygan, was charged Wednesday in Sheboygan County Circuit Court.

The criminal complaint said police were called to Molina's home about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after a caller said he was destroying things in the house.

101 EVENTS EVERY SPORTS FAN SHOULD ATTEND

This would be a great list to take on a road trip as it could inspire hours of discussion. For starters, the Army Navy game and the Monaco Grand Prix are not on the list…The Kentucky Derby is 32 and the Indy 500 is 33…With apologies to Kat (and all his teamates on the only Virginia team to go to the CWS – the mighty mighty J Mad U Dukes!!), both the Derby and the Indy 500 are behind the College World Series on Caple’s list. Huh? (OK, we would camp out for a ticket to see Roger Clemens fan Kat’s ass!!!)

From ESPN – Page 2:

Jim Caple is a senior writer at ESPN.com, with his weekly baseball column "Off Base" for Page 2 among his contributions. Before coming to ESPN, Jim worked in Minneapolis and Seattle. His first book is titled "The Devil Wears Pinstripes."

Here’s what Mr. Caple had to say:
I've attended many of these events while friends and fellow writers swear by the ones I haven't. The rankings are based on the total experience, including the event itself, the participants, the setting and the atmosphere for the fans. Personally, I could fill the list up with nothing but baseball and college football games, but to keep things manageable and varied, I've limited the repetitions within any one sport as much as possible. That's why only two college football rivalries make the list (Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn), though many more certainly could have been included. Same with big soccer rivalries.

This is by no means a comprehensive list -- there are just too many games in too many sports for that -- but it does include a full range of national and international competitions well worth camping overnight on the sidewalk for a ticket. In fact, camping out is No. 63 on the list.

For his complete comment on each event: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/070625

1. Summer Olympics (every four years in a different city).
2. World Cup (every four years in a different country).
3. Winter Olympics (every four years in a different city).
4. The World Series (every October, various cities).
5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites).
6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona).
7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities).
8. The Masters (April, Augusta, Ga.).
9. Wimbledon (late June-early July, London).
10. Tour de France mountain stage (July in various rotating cities in France).
11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England).
12. Rose Bowl (New Year's Day, or thereabouts, Pasadena, Calif.).
13. NBA Finals (June, various cities).
14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.).
15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York).
16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.).
17. Michigan-Ohio State football (November, Columbus, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, Mich.).
18. The F.A. Cup (fall-spring, England).
19. Duke-North Carolina basketball game (winter, Chapel Hill or Durham, N.C.).
20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities).
21. British Open (July, Great Britain).
22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago).
23. A football game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.).
24. ACC basketball tournament (March, various sites).
25. A soccer game at Maracana Stadium (various dates, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
26. Little 500 (late April at Indiana University).
27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses).
28. U.S. Open golf (mid-June, various courses).
29. A game at Rucker Park (anytime, Harlem).
30. U.S. Open tennis (late August, New York).
31. Bayou Classic (November, New Orleans).
32. Kentucky Derby (May, Churchill Downs, Ky.).
33. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis).
34. The All-Africa Amputee Football Tournament (Sierra Leone).
35. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities).
36. Boston Marathon (April, Boston).
37. Frozen Four (April, various cities).
38. Canadiens-Leafs game (winter, Montreal or Toronto).
38. Auburn-Alabama football game (November, Tuscaloosa or Auburn, Ala.).
40. Town ball in Minnesota (summer, towns throughout Minnesota).
41. The Iditarod (February, Anchorage to Nome, Ala.).
42. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city).
43. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities).
44. Il Palio horse race (July and August, Siena, Italy).
45. Play Pebble Beach (year-round, Pebble Beach, Calif.).
46. Daytona 500 (February, Daytona, Fla.).
47. Running of the Bulls (July, Pamplona, Spain).
48. Triple Crown Surfing (November-December North Shore, Oahu).
49. Lady Vols game (winter, Knoxville, Tenn.).
50. Caribbean World Series (January, various sites).
51. Heavyweight championship bout in Vegas (sporadic).
52. Indiana high school basketball tournament (March, Indiana).
53. Golden Gloves tournament (regional).
54. Green Bay Packers game in the snow (December, Green Bay).
55. Koshien baseball tournament (spring and summer, Nishinomiya, Japan ).
56. All Blacks rugby game (various dates, New Zealand).
57. World Figure Skating Championships (annual, around the world).
58. Dubai World Cup (late March in Dubai).
59. Calgary Stampede (July, Calgary, Alberta).
60. National Veterans Wheelchair Games (summer, Milwaukee).
61. Maui Invitational (November, Maui, Hawaii).
62. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country).
63. A Big 5 Game at the Palestra (winter, Philadelphia).
64. Camp out for tickets (any event).
65. Wife Carrying World Championships (June in Sonkajarvi, Finland).
66. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis).
67. World Armwrestling Championships (annual, Uncasville, Conn.).
68. Sumo championship (various cities, Japan).
69. 24 Hours of Le Mans (May, Le Mans, France).
70. Prefontaine Classic (June, Eugene, Ore.).
71. The USTA boys tennis championship (August, Kalamazoo, Mich.).
72. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.).
73. The Beanpot hockey tournament (first two Mondays in February, Boston).
74. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa).
75. Racing at Saratoga (late July-August, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.).
76. Beach volleyball (summer, various cities).
77. Swimming championships in Australia (various dates, Australia).
78. The Dakar Rally (January, southern Europe and North Africa).
79. Rickwood Classic (summer, Birmingham, Ala.).
80. Junior league hockey in small-town Canada (winter throughout Canada).
81. Henley Regatta (July, Oxfordshire, England).
82. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota).
83. Little Brown Jug race (September, Delaware, Ohio).
84. Bay to Breakers (May, San Francisco).
85. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.).
86. Iowa-Iowa State wrestling match (winter, Iowa).
87. The Ironman (June, Hawaii).
88. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities).
89. Women's College World Series (June, Oklahoma City).
90. Show-Me State Games (July, Columbia, Mo.).
91. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere).
92. A Permian High School football game (fall, Odessa, Texas). Friday Night Ligths.
93. Pakistan-India cricket (occasional meetings).
94. Hot dog eating championship (July 4, Coney Island).
95. Tough Guy (January, outside Wolverhampton, England).
96. Ultimate Fighting Championship bout (various dates, Vegas).
97. NCAA women's volleyball championships (December, rotating sites).
98. Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee (May, Calaveras County in California).
99. The Baja 500 (June, Baja Peninsula).
100. A Harlem Globetrotters game.
101. Driving the Ring (daily, western Germany).

TEN EVENTS TO AVOID

Here are Mr. Caple's bottom 10:

1. The Super Bowl. The cost-to-enjoyment ratio is the highest in American sports for this overhyped, outrageously expensive event. You'll enjoy the game more on TV while saving your money for a far more rewarding experience. (Plus, you can only see the Lingerie Bowl on TV during the Super Bowl half-time -- not that you'd want to...)

2. NFL exhibition games. Why would anyone willingly buy tickets at full price for meaningless games in which the main objective is to play the starters only long enough not to get them hurt? The answer: No one. Which is why teams require that their season-ticket holders buy tickets for these miserable games.

3. NBA draft lottery. Drafts are bad enough, but at least players are actually picked there.

4. Baseball old-timers game. The desire to see your favorite player on the field again is understandable, but don't give in to the temptation. There is nothing worse than seeing a former hero so fat and out of shape that he can't bend over, let alone bend over to scoop up a grounder.

5. Pro Bowl. If you want to go to Hawaii, just go. No need to mix in your vacation with a game that not even the players chosen to play want to attend.

6. World Series of Poker. Poker is not a sport. It's gambling. And your money isn't on the line, so why would you care?

7. WWE. Real sports don't need scripts.

8. Rhythmic gymnastics. Is an explanation really necessary?

9. The Wing Bowl. The contestants may not feel like throwing up at this annual Philadelphia eating competition, but you will.

10. Dogfight night at Michael Vick's house. (Good one, yes?)

EVERYBODY’S CRAZY 'BOUT…

...a sharp dressed man. Well, maybe not everybody…

Have you been in a conversation lately about what slobs NFL coaches appear to be, and why nobody wears a suit like Tom Landry did for 129 years with the Dallas Cowboys? I mean the sweatshirts, the warm-ups, what gives?

Well it seems as nobody was wearing a suit because its against the rules in the No Fun League. So San Fransisco coach Mike Nolan took the matter to the big boss with back-up from Jacksonville’s Jack Del Rio.

According to AP, the story goes like this:
Nolan and Del Rio got permission from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday to wear suits and ties to all eight of their clubs' regular-season home games in 2007.

The dress-up detente was the result of nearly three years of negotiations among Nolan, the league and Reebok. Though the league determines what apparel can be worn on the sideline, Reebok provides that clothing for coaches -- from Bill Belichick's sleeveless sweatshirts to the black suit Nolan was allowed to wear in two games last season.

Ever since he got the 49ers' top job in 2005, Nolan has sought permission to dress like his ex-coach father while projecting an image of authority. He got a trial run last year when both Nolan and Del Rio were allowed to suit up in coat-and-tie ensembles manufactured by Reebok during two home games.

But Nolan wanted to wear his old-school outfit at every home game. He saw the move as a tribute to the league's great coaches of the past -- including his father, Dick, who coached the 49ers from 1968-75 .

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said other coaches also would be allowed to wear suits at home games if they desired -- though only Nolan and Del Rio expressed interest when the league surveyed the coaches during NFL meetings in Arizona in March.

Nolan's quest attracted support from 49ers fans who backed an online movement to persuade every spectator to show up to the home opener wearing a suit and tie.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

EVERYBODY KNOWS the minor leagues have whacky promotions. Evidently, now the uniforms are part of the fun. There is a blog about sports uniforms and the guy is so good that ESPN picked him up and he does a column on Page 2. Here are some prime examples of Marketing Directors going temporarily insane...First up the Everett Aquasox Frogstock Promotion Night and the unis to go with it...

Of course, such shenanigans never happen in the majors since Bill "Send the Midget Up to Bat" Veeck died, or do they?

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

THE FRESNO GRIZZLES have Price is Right Night, whatever that is?

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

THE SAINT PAUL SAINTS don pink scrubs for Hospital Nurse Appreciation Night. This is not happening in the NFL, eh?

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

THE LAKE ELISNORE STORM annually has a Cat In The Hat night with unis to match.

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

THE ROCKFORD RIVER HAWKS stick a bunch of logos on their unis for Danika Patrick night.

HEELS LOSE SECOND STRAIGHT CWS

Damn Beavers!!!

The Tar Heels were beaten in finals of the College World Series for the second straight year by Oregon State, falling 9-3 and failing to stop the Beavers from becoming the first repeat national champion in 10 years.

Carolina's players leaned against the dugout railing as they watched Oregon State raise the trophy, put on national champion T-shirts, and pose for pictures as fans cheered.

But coach Mike Fox wasn't one of them.

"Reid (Fronk) didn't want to watch the celebration and neither did I," Fox said. "I'd seen that before, so I just went in the locker room."

North Carolina (57-16) scattered three runs over the first five innings, but could never break through against Oregon State. The Beavers (49-18) retired the last seven batters and the Tar Heels left runners on base in all but three innings -- a total of 18 in two games against OSU.

HOKIE WINS BRITISH AMATEUR

Hokie Drew Weaver became the first American to win the British Amateur tournament since 1979.

The 20-year-old junior defeated Australia's Tim Stewart 2 and 1 in his first appearance in the tournament, held at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in northern England. Weaver earned an invitation to the British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland from July 19-22 and to next year's Masters.

"This win is for the people we lost on April 16," he said. "I've been proud to represent the college here this week and to give them something positive. There's been so much negative publicity about the place in recent months, and this is just a fantastic feeling to do something like this."

Weaver matched Jay Sigel's win in 1979 and was the first American in the championship match since Jim Holtgrieve in 1983. This was the 22nd American win in 112 editions of the amateur game's most celebrated event.




(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

DUKE CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED, COACH K WANTS COURT NAMED AFTER EACH FAMILY MEMBER

According to Yahoo Sports, Duke Coach Mike Krzxcnvbgh5dski has issues with “scrutiny.” Huh?

In an article today:

He's also eager to make amends for a disappointing, 22-11 season at Duke. His inconsistent, youth-laden team closed with four straight losses. The last one, a 69-67 loss to Virginia Commonwealth, gave the Blue Devils their first one-and-done in the NCAA tournament since 1996.

"We played a year where people, right from the beginning, treated us like Duke" of the past, Krzyzewski said. "We were always that team. Always. And that took its toll on those young kids. By the end of the year, we were worn out."

One reason: for the first time in years, Duke didn't have a productive senior to take the pressure off the younger players. That shouldn't be the case this year, Krzyzewski said, because rising sophomores Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson were hardened after spending their freshman season in the unrelenting spotlight.

"They were more closely scrutinized last year because you didn't have a senior that they were normally focusing on," Krzyzewski said. "When you have that scrutiny, you're not ready for it, and you are going to go up and down. ... They had an incredible amount of experience that a lot of freshman classes wouldn't get, plus the experience of being closely scrutinized.

Krzyzewski spoke at the Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center, a gym and community center near downtown Durham named after Coach K's late mother.

"Just walking past the court makes me want to get another court," Krzyzewski said. "Forget about another title -- I would like to have another court."




Scrutinized? Another court? What next? Rodeo?

SINGLETARY BACK TO SCHOOL?

Here is what Scott Weaver at the web site C’ville – Charlottesville Weekly had to say about Sean Singletary's return to UVa.

"Singletary’s return is seen by many as the Cavaliers’ only hope to continue last season’s success. After spending five seasons as an ACC punching bag, UVA tied powerhouse University of North Carolina for the conference title last season and won its first-round game in the 2007 NCAA tournament.

Singletary, an All-ACC point guard, will get help from four incoming freshmen this fall as the Cavs prepare to make another tournament run.Incoming freshman point guard Sam Zeglinski, who graduated from Singletary’s Philadelphia high school and will most likely serve as his UVA backup, will benefit from a year of watching Singletary do his thing.

Three other recruits join Zeglinski: Mustapha Farrakhan, a shooting guard; Jeff Jones, a combo guard; and Mike Scott, the Cavs’ lone incoming post player. UVA assistant coach Bill Courtney says that while all four will contribute, Singletary’s return helps that. “You don’t want to have to depend on freshmen,” Courtney says. The Cavs need help inside though, and Courtney says the 6'8" Scott, who played a postgraduate year at Hargrave Military Academy, will provide it. “He may be the most athletic front-court player this year,” Courtney says.

Although Farrakhan doesn’t necessarily come in with a famous basketball name, it’s a famous name nonetheless. The 6'4" guard is the grandson of Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader. Cavs fans might notice if his grandfather shows up at John Paul Jones Arena. Last year, the minister came to three of his grandson’s games escorted by his 30-person entourage."

HOT DOG KING ON INJURED RESERVE

Yesterday was a sad day in the world of competitive eating because the Babe Ruth of tube steak consumption, Takeru Kobayashi, announced that he will miss the July 4 Coney Island Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

In an entry on his blog entitled "Occupational hazard," Kobayashi said: "My jaw refused to fight any more." The injury occurred only a week after the slender 29-year-old started training to win his seventh straight title .

"I feel ashamed that I couldn't notice the alarm bells set off by my own body," he said. "But with the goal to win another title with a new record, I couldn't stop my training so close to the competition."

Florida State and Miami are rumored to be recruiting Kobayashi, but no one at either institution knows why.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

FAREWELL AND GODSPEED. Members in the Indiana football hoist their helmets as the hearse carrying coach Terry Hoeppner passes following a memorial service in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, June 23, 2007. Hoeppner died Tuesday, June 19, from complications of a brain tumor.

(Photo by AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

EYE ON THE BALL. North Carolina starting pitcher Luke Putkonen throws against Oregon State in the first inning of Game 2 of the best-of-three College World Series baseball finals, in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 24, 2007. Oregon State won Saturday's first game 11-4.

(Photo by AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

MAYBE THE HELICOPTER IS FROM AMERICA, cause the boats sure as hell aren't! Switzerland's Alinghi, right, and Emirates Team New Zealand sail as a media helicopter flies over them during race three of the 32nd America's Cup - sans America.

(Photo by AP)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CRICKET TEAM HEADED TO WORLD SERIES. OK, Just kidding. Indian cricketers Rahul Dravid (L) and Sachin Tendulkar run between the wickets as they bat against South Africa during a One Day International match at Stormont cricket grounds in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 26 June 2007.

(Photo by Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

WHO KNEW THERE WAS A POPE FERRARI or that he was so funny? Formula One Ferrari fans enjoy the race during the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, 17 June 2007.

(Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)