Isiah to be Paid $18M to Fetch Coffee for Walsh

Let Me Get This Straight...$18M to Do Nothing? I'm IN!

I know I promised to back off of Zeke once this whole soap opera season came to a close. But, c'mon, this organization makes it nearly impossible to keep quiet. And just when you think it can't possibly get any better - it does. With a HT to Mike and Mike in the Morning, we felt obliged to pass along this update on Zeke's new "role" with the New York Knickerbockers.

As you may have heard earlier, Isiah will report directly to Donnie Walsh. This was the first "detail" we heard about his position. Next, we were informed that Isiah, in this esteemed job, would have "no official title" but would provide "meaningful input" to Walsh.

Since those public comments a few days ago, Zeke's responsibilities have come into even clearer focus. In today's New York Daily News, Knicks beat writer Frank Isola reports that, according to a team source, "Thomas has been barred from having any contact with the team as part of his reassignment agreement with Knicks president Donnie Walsk."

OK, so let us recap.

1. Isiah Thomas is fired as coach but Walsh indicates he will remain with the organization due to his tremendous value and ability to contribute to the success of the team and franchise
2. It's revealed that Isiah will report directly to Donnie Walsh
3. Thomas will have "no official" title
4. Zeke is banned from having any contact with the team

So, here's our question? What exactly is Zeke going to do for the Knicks? Our guess, absolutely nothing. While we welcome that concept, some could argue Thomas is getting a pretty decent deal...and we thought Jerome James had a good thing going. Hang out at the Garden every day. Watch some basketball. Maybe occasionally go scout a few players. Oh yes, and of course provide "meaningful input" to Mr. Walsh. As in, "Mr. Walsh, we're out of Splenda, I'd recommend Sweet and Low or Equal as an alternate choice." Perhaps the best-paid secretary in employment history.

Ahhh, Zeke...

Isiah-Related Quote of the Year, Defiant Dolan Cares Not

You didn't think I'd leave this one alone, did ya? It's one thing to restrain oneself from waxing poetic about one former Mets player's issues with anal fissures, it's another thing entirely to go silent about a man who is single-handedly trying to stick it up the ass of New York Knicks fans.

Frank Isola, one of our favorite local Knicks beat reporters, reports in today's NY Daily News that the irrepressibly moronic James Dolan continues to put his faith behind Zeke as head coach in discussions with potential incoming GMs.

Unfortunately, we have neither the time nor the energy to further discuss this story at any length...which is actually fairly convenient as it's left us ostensibly speechless. Instead, we will only quickly pay heed to one of our favorite Zeke-related quotes from this season, a season that could blow any midday soap's best efforts out of the water.

From Isola's unnamed source:

"There isn't a basketball executive alive who would keep Isiah as head coach, but Jim is telling whoever he interviews, 'I would prefer to keep Isiah but you do what you have to do,'" said the source, who is close to Dolan, the Garden chairman. "If Isiah isn't the coach, Jim still wants him to stay in the organization in some capacity."

We love the first sentence. And with that we leave our readers with an age-old proverb. Mr. Dolan, this would be an accurate word to describe your actions as owner of this once-proud franchise.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The LCG staff awards you no points and may g-d have mercy on your soul.

Knicks Show Great Progress Since November

I've gotten to the point where I can barely write about this stuff without laughing out loud. Actually, as I penned the headline to this post the only thing that came to mind is that such words could come out of Zeke's mouth today and none of us would be the least bit surprised...not even a trifle ...staggering. Anyway...in the midst of all this NCAA discussion, we picked up this morning's amNY (best free paper ever) on our way into the office and were greeted with this front page image.



Now, we've done more than our share of Isiah-bashing on this blog, so we don't necessarily need to repeat ourselves. Plus, nothing in today's story was entirely new or interesting. Here's what we are finding intriguing. Below is the cover of the Post from November 22 of this year -- approximately four months ago. On a complete side note, the artwork below still remains among our favorite NY Post photoshop jobs of all-time. Stunning stuff.



So, here's our question. What the h-e-double hockey sticks is going on here? It's been four months of this crap! Can someone freakin' pull the trigger already?! Is it Isiah's stunning 17-39 record in between these two headlines that's managed to keep the faith alive with Dolan? Maybe the all-out effort reflected in the team's impressive 1-8 start to the month of March? (granted, we're finally playing all the young kids). Oh wait, we've got it. It must be Zeke's renewed passion and enthusiasm on the bench?

Zeke and the Knicks: Where Amazing(-ly Awful) Happens

I apologize for those who frequent The Legend but couldn't care less about the NBA, let alone the New York Knicks. But, if you live in this town and pay attention to sports, not writing about this team is...well, it's like Eddy Curry being in a room with a box full of cupcakes...we simply can't resist.

Watching this team over the course of this season has been the equivalent of having a front-row seat to the most fantastic explosion imaginable, or watching the most ridiculous movie you've ever seen. One of those films that is so terrible that it's actually phenomenal. Classics like "The Replacements" come to mind, as does anything starring Keanu Reeves who himself is awesomely bad.

But, through it all, the most compelling part of the soap opera continues to be our main man Zeke. As previously related on this here blog, Zeke is a constant source of post-game entertainment via his unforgettable and mind-boggling press conferences. Last night was another classic example.

Following a pathetic effort from the opening whistle to the final horn last night in Dallas, Isiah answered random questions from the media. During the conversation, he dropped another classic apparently praising Eddy Curry's conditioning program this season. Marc Berman of the Post has an amusing recap of the "game" and the Curry conditioning exchange, after which one Knicks beat reporter incredulously blurted out "Really?" Zeke replied leaning on his trademark idiot logic: "I'm very comfortable with the weight he's played with and we're comfortable with the weight he's at." Stuff like this is nothing new for our feather-brained leader.

This would be another one of those AFLAC duck moments of dumfoundedness for me. What planet is Zeke living on? It immediately made me think of an interview I heard a few months back on ESPN Radio. The host had Bob Thornton on, a former Knicks player, now a scout with Seattle. Thornton was asked what he thought about Curry. Paraphrasing here, but he basically said that Curry could and should be a top five offensive post player in the League. The host asked him why we thought Curry wasn't there. Thornton replied that Curry is 25-30 lbs overweight. Point being, he's out-of-shape and can't run or jump. Something every Knicks fan who's watched a game this year could tell you in :30. Zeke is somehow missing it.

To top it all off, Zeke continues to stand - actually, mostly sit - on the sidelines idle. Silent. Stoic. Or, even worse, with that dumb half-smile expression on his face. You know what, Zeke? Cry on the bench. Throw a chair. Get tossed out of 10 straight games. Do something that indicates you have some sort of competitive bone in your body. Didn't you use to play on Pistons championship teams?! What the hell gives?

I can't take it anymore. Unfortunately, this team is a 12-car collision that I simply cannot peel my eyes away from...

Ray Lew UFC-Bound, Balls in a Bunch, Danny Almonte & Allison Stokke Updates and More from the All-Powerful Blogosphere

Time for a mid-Tuesday quickie. Here is what's making news in the kingdom of the blogs.

Our friends at Construda share news that Ray Lewis may be making his UFC debut. This might cause us to tune in. Maybe.

100% Injury Rate over at Fan IQ honors Felix Pie's twisted testicle with a rundown of other unforgettable sports injuries.

Matt McHale's column at Deadspin ponders whether Zeke is now actively trying to get fired. The scary thing is, we would tend to believe he isn't.

Sports by Brooks postulates on whether Brady Quinn's endorsement deals are in jeopardy as he gets comfortable on the pine.

Apparently, there is one existing photo of Allison Stokke at Cal. Was there any doubt someone would find it? You gotta hand it to the Busted Coverage guys. Here's your update.

Larry Brown Sports checks in on Danny Almonte. He's now pitching at a JuCo...and is 87 years-old.

Zeke Press Conferences are Must-See TV

You know how sometimes you'll have those friends who are always watching that hot new TV series on Showtime or HBO and tell you: "just watch one episode...trust me?" And most of the time, because you respect their opinion, you take their word and give it a try. Usually, you're glad you did. It's in this general manner that I've been drawn into Entourage, Californication, Rescue Me and the like. Word-of-mouth is a powerful thing.

That's why we want to take this moment to provide our readers in the New York metropolitan area with a quick TV tip (our apologies to those from elsewhere around this fine nation who don't have regular access to our regional cable networks). If you have any interest in sports (and we assume you do if you're reading this), schedule some time to check out an upcoming post-game press conference with Isiah Thomas, head coach of the New York Knickerbockers.

Frankly, we think MSG Network is missing a blinding opportunity to market the hell out of these things - on their own. Forget the game. They should have stand-alone promos..."tune in at 9:30 p.m. for the next episode of 'Conversations with Zeke: A Journey into the Unknown.'" All we can say to the uninitiated...trust us. Pick a night when the Knicks are playing. If so inclined, check out the final few minutes of the on-court action. Then, as T.O. would say, get the popcorn ready.

Without fail, Isiah will mesmerize you with his soft, feminine almost-whispering voice...a strange and somewhat frightening permagrin...and at least one to 12 references that will leave you in complete jaw-dropping awe. Following Monday's loss to the Celtics, it was Thomas's reply to a reporter who asked why Eddy Curry's play so lacked in the first half compared to his effort in the second half. After a long, and extremely awkward pause (permagrin unaffected during this time), Zeke gave the following logical answer:

“He’s a nice man, he’s a gentleman,” Coach Isiah Thomas said. “In his mind, he’s got to find the balance between his physicality and being a gentleman.”

Like so many other occasions with Zeke, I was left both perpelexed and highly amused. Conversations with Zeke frequently bring about bouts of laughter. We highly recommend giving the show a try. The Knicks play again on Friday versus the Sixers. Do yourself a favor. Make an appointment to sit down with Zeke post-game. You will not be disappointed. Trust us.

It Has to Stop Now: Empty the Garden

I had no intention of posting anything tonight. My goal was to get home, sit on the couch and watch the Fiesta Bowl. Then, I made the mistake of checking out the Knicks during a commercial. And how can anyone who has ever been a fan of the New York Knicks not be compelled to say something after another mind-boggling awful performance...at home...against the putrid Sacramento Kings...sans three of their top players.

So, here it goes. Short. Simple. It has to stop. If Dolan isn't going to pull the trigger on Isiah, then something else has to happen. Seriously, this is one of the most storied franchises in sports putting out one of the most inept, uninspired and flat out lost team I've ever witnessed in any sport at any level. Chants of "Fire, Isiah!" aren't doing anything, nor will a calculated in-arena fan walkout or even an organized protest outside MSG (although I certainly applaud the effort).

People need to just stop showing up. Period. Don't come late and boo. Don't leave early as an act of feigned definace. Just stop going. Don't even walk through the gates. I know it's easy to say and there are tons of logical reasons that it can't work...but isn't it worth a try? What if those season ticket holders (for starters) just stopped showing up at the Garden. Don't sell your tickets online or give them to a broker. If you can afford seasons in the first place, chances are you're not too hard up. Put 'em in your pocket and envision your seats -- empty.

Imagine if little by little those folks could start leaving their precious seats unoccupied. What if those casual fans who go to a few games a year decided to keep their money in their pockets. In reality, it is the only thing we fans may be able to truly control. It's the age-old "vote with your wallet." C'mon, you can't even make the argument that whatever they're doing right now even qualifies as entertainment. 8-22. Blowout after blowout. Embarrasment after embarrassment. It's unfathomable that Isiah is still on the sideline. Empty the Garden. It could be our only hope.

I'm Staying Aliiiiive-iiiiivee-ahhh-a-iiiive....

Knicks win, Knicks win. In typical Thomas-era schizo fashion, the Knickerbockers followed up the Boston Massacre with three quarters of sludging their way through a river of sh*t...

...but then something happened in the fourth quarter and, for one night at least, the Knicks emerged clean on the other side. And much like Andy Dufresne, Isiah also escaped. He avoided the Reaper, or at least caused him to stay in a holding pattern.

Should the Knicks have performed in the fourth quarter as they had the previous three, I think today would have been announcement day. If the team had not managed to fight back, but would have fallen to the Bucks by double-digits at home following Thursday's embarrassment, I think Dolan would have pulled the trigger.

Instead, we get to see if the fact that this team has actually won three out of four should mean anything. Phoenix rolls into town tomorrow night.

P.S. Isn't it interesting how this whole comeback thing happened with Marbury in the locker room? Ain't that just the strangest coincidence?

NY-Area Papers Rally in Support of Isiah

Ahhhh, the joys of Thanksgiving. Today, we of the sports blogosphere thank the tabloids from our respective hometown cities across this fine nation. Growing up, we read you day-after-day. We formed an unspoken bond with our beat writers and considered reading "back-to-front" the widely-accepted norm. We prognosticated over your cover headlines and anticipated with great anxiousness your day-after-a-big-game breakdowns.

Today, back home in suburban NY , the Post and Daily News reminded this sports blogger of what makes these journalistic publications (and we use that phrase loosely) so damn entertaining -- the back cover.

This morning each area paper lends its thoughtful interpretation of the state of affairs of the struggling Knicks and Isiah Thomas. Newsday, befitting of a newspaper that comes closer to "real paper" status, chooses to go with a game image and appropriate headline.


(Newsday)

The Daily News gets a little more creative, choosing to bring in their illustrators to insert some humor. The headline that ran with the image below in hard copy simply decreed "Turkey Day" (wow, those back-cover copywriters sure are making their money!). James Dolan also gets some much deserved love.


(New York Daily News)

And, then finally, our dear friends at the highly-esteemed New York Post, putting the right perspective on this holiday of giving, chose to go with Isiah on the front and back cover. The back cover featured a fairly innocuos, and now increasingly tired, shot of a dejected-looking Thomas and the headline "Motown Meltdown."

Then, on the front cover, those crazy kids at the post went Photoshop on us! Displaying skills that would make any amateur blogger proud, we leave you with this. Never did I imagine the day when we would, literally, be able to see a turkey adorned with Isiah Thomas's noggin. Isn't technology grand?

Happy Thanksgiving. And Happy Turkey Day to you Isiah, wherever you are. Take comfort in knowing this city stands firmly behind you. At least you've got that to be thankful for...


(New York Post)

Isiah Thomas is Delusional: Thoughts on Post-Game Press Conference Word Selection

Can You Define Effort?

The mockery at the Garden continued last night. Rarely do I get a chance to truly drink in the experience of watching a full Knicks game. Last night, I came close. I got home from work in time to tune in from the second quarter through the final merciful whistle. And then, the proverbial cherry on top, the Isiah Thomas press conference.

Whereas there is plenty to directly criticize about the Knicks abysmal play during last night's 108-82 shellacking at the hands of the Golden St. Warriors, where the Knicks were generally putrid (as a stellar 29 turnovers can attest), as usual the magnetic force that is Isiah Thomas somehow manages to grab our attention . This time it's for his comments during the post-game press conference.

Thomas has already shown Knicks fans a penchant for painting things "rosy" with utter disregard for what may have happened on the court on a specific night. Last season, Thomas would typically address the media following embarrassing home losses with tidbits about all the players he thought performed well, thoughts on the team's "good energy level" and various spins on how the final score was somehow not indicative of the game's competitiveness. Last night was different.

Last night was different in the sense that Thomas did not spin his team's performance (well, not totally). He said they were bad and that the boos were "deserved." He said the team's play was "on him." One can take sides on that "on him" comment and the meaning of all that nonsense later, but here was my "Isiah is out-of-his-f-in-mind" moment last night. In what seemed like the most obvious question of the evening (outside of "how did you feel about the booing and "Fire Isiah" chants), a reporter asked point-blank: "What did you think about the team's effort tonight?"

Isiah's response: "I thought the effort was good..." Call this our moment of dumbfoundness for the week.

Good? Good? GOOD???!!! I was, literally, speechless. In fact, I still am. Hey, Isiah, can we chat about word selection for a second? Do you have trouble with adjectives? Here are just a few suggestions which may have been more appropriate to modify the noun "effort":

ABYSMAL

EMBARRASSING

ATROCIOUS

AWFUL

UNBELIEVABLE

HORRIBLE

UNPROFESSIONAL

HUMILIATING

LACKLUSTER

MISSING

LACKING

ABSENT

PISS-POOR

In all seriousness, Thomas's answer was not just funny or weird (although, it was both those things too), it was insulting to any Knicks fan. Having played basketball and watched a good share of it in my time, there have been few games I've witnessed that could be more shining examples of flat-out lousy effort...of giving up...of laying down...of throwing in the towel...mailing it in...ok, you get the point.

Bad shooting and poor execution are one thing (and the Knicks covered off on both of those categories with their typical splendor), but, in every aspect of the game tied to hustle, the team did not even show up (rebounding aside...although the Warriors throw up a ton of shots, so that stat is not that telling):

On multiple occasions, Curry and Randolph were barely making it back to halfcourt by the end of a Warriors possesion at the other end.

In the second half, when one would think the Knicks would be desparate and energetic, they looked tired, lethargic and flat.

Their laziness manifested itself, among other ways, in what seemed like a dozen loose ball fouls in the second half alone.

David Lee was lifeless, which I've never seen before.

Floor burns were remarkably off early for the holidays.

29 turnovers.

3 steals.

We could go on forever, but it's just too depressing. We're not sure of all the answers, but we do not one thing. The answer to "what did you think about the team's effort" should have been anything but "good."

Adjectives. One more thing to add to Thomas's list of deficiences. Tick-tock, tick-tock. When oh when will the bell toll?

Celebrating Unbridled Fan Anger: FireBillCallahan, Trade A-Rod, Petitions and More

Fans are amusing. We get way too wrapped up in "our" teams. We scream and shout. Sometimes there are tears of sadness...less frequently tears of joy. We think up brilliant nicknames that should last for eternity. Because we can. We wear funny clothes. We yell loudly. And while it's all likely painfully unnecessary, it is what makes us fans.

However, for my money, nothing is more entertaining than sitting back and taking in the pure, unbridled anger of other fans. Those who truly take their displeasure to the next level.In today's digital world, creating a soapbox to stand up and shout spit-enducing rants of rage takes minutes. So, this Tuesday we take a look at who's shouting about what...and why it's making us laugh. In so doing, we also recognize those who've done a little extra to deliver a fairly straightforward message such as...

Fire Bill Callahan: Alive since late 2006, Fire Bill Callahan could be the gold standard in the "fire "fill-in-the-blank coach" blog category. With labels like "arm tackling," "giant gaping holes," "record-breaking losses" and "third down is killing us," the anger is immediately tangible. But, in all seriousness, this site goes to new heights to try to illustrate the magnitude of Callahan's ineptitude. Not only is it comprehensive, it's mind-blowing (8-17 vs. winning 1-A teams??!!). Add to it all the "fun with stats" feature atop each page (today's is "Bill Callahan is 1-8 vs. the AP Top 25 (based on final season rankings). The only team defeated was 2004 Pittsburgh, ranked #25 at season's end. ") and FBC is very tough to beat. Take some time to peruse this site. It's well worth it. The right-hand column alone deserves at least five minutes.

Fire Dave Wannstedt: Wow, who knew this door would unlock such treasures. Not only does a solid-looking blog and dedicated domain exist to incite the fans of Pittsburgh to revolt...but, apparently, this is old hat for Wannstedt-coached teams. The "tradition" extends back to Dave's crazy days in Miami where fans petitioned to Huzienga for his dismissal and, before that, unceremoniously in the annals of Chicago Bears history. As we've said on these pages, he is a special coach. This quick bit of research only confirmed our suspicions. Kudos to firedavewannstedt.blogspot.com for kicking off their blog with a simple and subtle message. And we quote..."Monday, September 24, 2007. Raison d'etre: Resolved, that Dave Wannstedt should be shown the royal blue and mustard yellow door." Oui, Oui.

In Defense of Isiah...Just Kidding: Combine passionate New York fans....the Internet...and an incompetent GM with a knack for saying exactly the wrong thing pretty much all the time...and presto! Internet bliss for all. Ladies and gentleman, those in need of a little anti-Isiah pick-me-up have countless options. For starters, head over to http://fireisiahthomas.blogspot.com/. Cool features include a countdown clock to the end of Thomas's extension and an ode to some of Isiah's finest moves. My one piece of advice? Stick with the last sentence of your blog description: "Destroying the Knicks Since December 22, 2003." It has a nice ring to it. Says it all. Like the fine folks in Miami, some longtime Thomas haters also have the whole petition thing going.

Trade A-Rod Now: While I'd been hoping for that diamond-in-the-rough "Kill A-Rod" URL, you can't be disappointed with what this site brings to the table. More than meets the eye, this gathering spot for A-Rod haters boasts sections dedicated to "Hate Mail," "Nicknames" and "Trade Propositions." Best of all is the site sub-title: "Anti-A-Rod since 2005." Good for you, sir. Keep on keeping on.

Trade ShaunA: Moving to the NFL for a moment, we pay heed to Trade Shauna a Seahawks blog recently started by a friend of a friend. We assume the monikker Shauna used in a similar way as many of my Giants fans friends use Elisha...in a whimsical, feminine sort of manner that belies their respective girly-like play. We get the whole double entendre thing, too. Nice. A quick perusal of the few posts already up reveal a slightly-below-the-surface, but, nonetheless, deep-seated and long, bubbling hatred of Shaun Alexander. We anxiously anticipate a bubbling over in the near future.

There are so many more out there in the blogosphere to read and enjoy...to absorb and appreciate anger of the purest kind...but, alas, we have not the time to peruse them all. Please share others in the comments.

And, of course, there are always the more-than-entertaining one-off declarations of ill-will and even official forum threads devoted to demotion.

Enjoy it all. More happy tidings later.

The Return of HDP (Hump Day Potpourri)

Oh, where art thou o lovely scents of potpourri. Come hither. Come cinnamon and nutmeg...come lilac and lavender...come peaches and pine...and away we go.

For those living under a rock this past week and/or those who don't spend hours a day reading online sports stories of all shapes and sizes, here's what's happening around the sports world and what's making headlines in the blogosphere.

You can't hold a good stoner down. It's been over two years since Ricky Williams's memorable 60 minutes interview. Now, after a glorious season in the CFL, the dreadlocked Rasta has applied for reinstatement. Apparently, the citizens in Denver, including members of the Safer Alternative for Recreational Enjoyment are clammering to get Ricky to the Mile High City (Larry Brown Sports).

MJ's still enfuego. Apparently, his airness hasn't stopped getting down. Here's some more snapshots of 2-3 hitting the town with the Oak Man (Lion in Oil).

Isiah gets nailed again. Kind of. While it will all sort out with Dolan, MSG, Isiah and the League, there is one undeniable winner: Anucha Browne Sanders. $11.6M. Makes Matt Leinart's child support look like pocket change. (Deadspin).

Sick, sick and sick. And Dolphins tickets were the hook? (With Leather).

Speaking of hooks...Da Meat Hook takes home NL Comeback Player of the Year (Bugs & Cranks).

A MUST-READ story on Bonds and steroid allegations (The Big Lead).

You gotta love college quarterbacks with great afros and dads who banged the drums for a virtual mainstay on Dial MTV top 10 in mid-80s. What you don't remember Ratt? How about Winger, the Bullet Boys, Slayer, White Lion? OK, I'll stop now (Mister Irrelevant).

In the real breaking news...The Legend of Cecilio Guante has had a big early week thanks to our loyal readers and shout-outs from the likes of The Big Lead, With Leather, 100% Injury Rate, Home Run Derby and Juiced Sports Blog (apparently, we're the #72 most influential sports blog based on a completely unscientific study of questionable credibility...you bet we'll take it. We're #72! We're #72!).

And, finally, we got an unexpected drop from ESPN senior baseball writer Rob Neyer who not only directly quoted much of our mindless rambling but even referred to Cecilio's Scribe. Compelling and rich. The blogosphere never ceases to amaze us.

So thanks again Legend readers. You...complete...me.

Monday Musings: Sexy Rexy, The 'Cuse and More

"At least someone still loves me despite my 27.5 passer rating..."

Pleasant Monday to all loyal Legend readers and new visitors. Before we get to the weekend wrap, a quick note that we received a quick shout-out from sports blog Godfather Will Leitch over at Deadspin on Friday. We'd like to extend a personal thank you to Isiah Thomas for occassionally making our job just too damn easy. With Thomas and Dolan both scheduled to take the stand this week, I'm eagerly anticipating the Post and Daily News back pages.

The highlights and lowlights from another glorious weekend of sports action.

Simply Gross: Even Lovie Smith has to have a breaking point. Doesn't he? In another game where the spotlight shined brightly on Rex Grossman, he proved himself utterly inadequate. Lion in Oil officially denounced their loyalty this morning and many more windy fans are lined up right behind them.

San Diego...Not-so-Super Chargers: Now, I know the coach is not the root of all ills for the Chargers. HOW-ever (and you know how much we love linking to our own posts), Mr. A.J. Smith this CAN NOT surprise you. How many different ways do we need to say this? Norv Turner = born loser.

Dear Louisville: Never mention the words "national title" in the same sentence as "Louisville Cardinals." In a loss that falls short only to UM/App. St., the high-powered Cardinals lost AT HOME to a pretty terrible Syracuse team. It also solidified the notion that you can never take this all-O, no-D team seriously when discussing the elite teams in the country. Sometimes capturing the sentiment of a fan base cannot be done any better than visiting a blog of a hard-core, educated fan of that team. In this case, the source of information is Card Chronicle. Read the post when you have half an hour to spare. If you don't have that kind of time, let us pull some of the more memorable quotes:

"I'm sitting here a day later and I still have absolutely no idea what to write about what I witnessed Saturday afternoon..."

"I can't imagine there being another reasonably eligible head coach on this planet who could have done a worse job thus far than Steve Kragthorpe."

"I will never, ever boo a Louisville team or coach, but for the first time in my life I found myself feeling glad that other people were. "

Call me a Bandwagoner: But I'm pulling for Favre to lead the Packers back to the playoffs and go out on a high note. Maybe it's those oh-so-genuine Wrangler jeans commercials, or the fact that he is now playing the way critics have been encouraging him to play the last three seasons, but there is something compelling about this whole thing. Old gunslinger...putting a young team on his back...finally trusting in his supporting cast...coming to a realization about how we can best lead them...good stuff all around.

Other good stuff...

'Bama/Ga. on Saturday night was one of the better games I've caught this season.

We often forget that these big-time college ballplayers are...well, college kids. Therefore, it should not be surprising that WVa. quarterback Pat White is enamored with Erin Andrews. Listen Pat, when you grow up that infatuation will go awa...wow, she is hot isn't she?

A solitary blogger tries to keep the hopes of a nation alive.

Oh yes, and the J-E-T-S got a W-I-N, while the Mets managed to give away another three-run cushion and provide their fans with a mild coronary before beating those pesky fish in 11. This will continue to be anything-but-easy.

And, finally, congrats to Erie's Scribe and the rest of Wahoo nation on the Tribe officially clinching a spot in the postseason. If you haven't noticed...and judging by the lack of media attention...you haven't...the Indians are the hottest team in baseball.

Professor Isiah, The B Word and the Saga Continues

"Now, if I was to call you a dumb honkie, that'd be OK. Ya see?"

The brilliance of Isiah Thomas shined through again today as news sources described his ruminations on the word b*&ch. While this entire saga could not be more entertaining, the question that remains is how in the world did anyone with any knowledge of Isiah and this organization let this thing ever come near a courtroom. Actually, with Isiah, anything is possible...

Months ago in the executive offices of Madison Square Garden...

Smart Advisor (who was apparently absent before this trial began): Isiah, it is my my sincere belief that we should try to settle this matter out of court. The negatives far outweigh the positives, here. This could be a PR nightmare for you, the Garden and the New York Knicks franchise.

Isiah: How much is she asking for again?

Advisor: $10M, sir.

Isiah: Nah, f that black b*#ch.

Advisor: Isiah, this is going to get ugly. She's going to bring out all sorts of dirt. It will further tarnish your reputation. There's no good that can come out of this. We can settle for half of the amount she's asking and this will be a blip on the radar and then gone.

Isiah: $300K. That's it. And what are you implying about my reputation?

Advisor: $300K?! Isiah, let's be rational here. This is not going to end well. Plus, all sorts of folks are going to be dragged along into this. Heck, there are even players on the scheduled list of witnesses for the prosecution. We need to make a real offer and make this go away -- quietly.

Isiah: Players!? Like who?

Advisor: Well, Stephon for one.

Isiah: Stephon? For real?

Advisor: Yes, sir.

Isiah: Stephon's my boy! We in this thing together, then. No way some crazy black b&%ch is going to take us to the cleaners. What are they going to try to dig up on Stephon?

Advisor: I'm not quite sure Isiah, but, apparently, there are rumors that he wooed an intern into his truck for sex.

Isiah: And???

Advisor: Well, the prosecution is going to take this opportunity to insinuate that this behavior is a reflection of the prevailing attitude of this organization.

Isiah: Well, they damn well better. That's why I love Stephon. He's fearless. He takes charge. That kid sees an opening and he takes it to the hole strong. He's going to take this team to the promised land.

Advisor (incredulous): Ummm...Isiah, I implore you to consider that a few million to settle this thing is a worthwhile investment.

Isiah: A few million? We don't just throw around money in this organization. Especially not on some bogus case like this.

Advisor: Isiah, we gave $29M to Jerome James.

Isiah (in perfect post-game press conference voice): Jerome's been good for us. He's solid. Gives us some good minutes in the middle. He changes things on the defensive end.

Advisor: This matter needs to go away for the sake of the team, the organization and the fans.

Isiah: Fans? Like I give a rat's ass about all those rich white folk. Let's do this thing. We're going to show this b&#ch who's boss.

Advisor (defeated): This is going to end poorly...