Belicheater Part II

(Warning: I tried to act like this didn't make me happy and I tried not to gloat, but I can't, so I stopped trying.)
So, the league has officially determined that the Patriots cheated against the Jets on Sunday. All that's left according to the Boston Globe and the NY Post is for the NFL to determine the penalty.

It's not the first time that the Pats have been caught taping another team's signals, and it's not the only form of cheating--if you're a Colts fan any doubt you had about Willie McGinist's "injury" in the playoff game in 2003 were put to rest after he was able to make a celebratory sprint to mid-field when the Pats won the game.

Add these instances to the rumors that Belichick fudges injury reports and the whispering that he has knowingly allowed stadium personnel to mess with the other teams' radio transmissions, well ya gotta ask "Is one of the greatest coaches ever or is his just a conniving, sneaky, criminal mastermind?"

As a Browns fan, it might help answer that question that's haunted the city of Cleveland for years "Why was he such an unbelievable screw-up in Cleveland and a genius in New England?" The answer we now know is that he just hadn't figured out how to cheat.

As a sports fan, it's disappointing that a franchise who puts so much emphasis on players' character and maturity has a coaching staff who clearly values winning more than character. As a devoted Belichick detractor, it's just desserts for the guy who took a Head Coach job with the Jets and then spit in their eye two minutes later, who fired Bernie Kosar and treated the Cleveland media like it was a bunch of kids off the short bus, and couldn't win even half the time until he got to New England.

Frozen Four, Baby!

Heh. They's more to sports than just March Madness and Spring Training. There's also the Famous Frozen Four of college hockey (hockey is THE sport in Maine, with a quick interruption for the Sox).

Congratulations to the Maine Black Bears, who defeated the UMass Minutemen and are headed to the Frozen Four, where they'll meet Sparty. Never underestimate Michigan State. They're a scrappy lot (caused by not being the University of Michigan) and like to give people some trouble. Just look at that guy. Would you mess with him?

And kudos to Boston College, who whomped up on the Miami Red Hawks (my little bro's alma mater) to advance to the Frozen Four as well. BC lost to Wisconsin in last year's final and they're ready for a National Championship.

Good luck to the Eagles and the Black Bears. (Revealing who I'm pulling for is unwise for a variety of reasons, but suffice it to say I've abandoned my midwest roots).

UNH Hockey Rocks

Just ask Wild E. Cat. The women are 5th in the country and the men are ranked third.

Nekkid Candlepin

In December, while I was in the home office, we had a team building event--we went candlepin bowling. I had to chuckle at the irony.
Candlepin bowling is HUGE in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Brunswick, and no where else, except, according to Wikipedia there is "one isolated candlepin center in Wyoming, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati".
Anyway that's where we went....that one isolated candlepin center.

So, when I came across this little item, I had to chuckle again and rejoice that Maine still does it with a little more panache than O-HI-O.

Barbaro Is Euthanized

Ah, Rats.
If one is going to be touched by something, there are many more important things in our crazy world to be touched by, I know, but this sure does take my breath away for a minute.

The NYTimes said:
"The eight-month effort to nurse the horse back to health riveted enthusiasts around the world, and reminded casual fans about the beauty, mystery and heartbreak that is part of thoroughbred racing."

I was a casual fan at best, until this horse captured my heart on Derby Day (one among a million hearts he won on that day, I imagine). He was a gorgeous horse who could run like the wind, it's not often we find exceptional beauty and outstanding talent in one package. When we do, we can be awed by it.

Then there was the instant sadness of the Preakness, watching Prado instantly stop and then hold his horse up, the severity of the injury instantly understood by anyone watching, but not by Barbaro. That horse still wanted to run and he was indignant that the others went on without him. That's when he got my heart forever.
This horse, so severly injured that he might be put down right at the track, was trying to break away from his jockey and the others holding him on the track so that he could run.
For those who think that horse-racing is cruel, that moment seemed to prove otherwise. This horse was doing what he loved to do, what he lived to do.

Beauty, talent and the heart of a champion. He never lost a race.

Chrissie, We Hardly Know Ya

I don't know how I missed this little item, but I did.

Anyway, Chris Evert and Greg Norman have both left their spouses and are now an item....this is big news and worth blogging about here because:

1) Chris Evert is my childhood hero. I started playing tennis at the age of six, but got very serious about it after I watched her Grand Slam debut at the US Open in '71. She made it ok to be a girl and to be an athlete.
2) Sadly,I have two and only two celebrity autographs: His and Hers.

His I got at the Memorial Golf Tournament in Dublin, OH at the height of his career, right before he had the stigma of never being able to to win the big one (I guess this changes that). I was at the rope between green and next tee and he was signing everything handed to him. So I handed him the only thing I had....my white golf hat. He signed it, winked and said, "Here ya go, luv." I have no idea where that hat got to.

Hers I got a few years later, when we physically crashed into each other in the Aspen Airport. I was walking in the door behind her (although I didn't know who it was at the time), when she turned suddenly and ran right into me. She apologized. I stammered something completely inane and then thrust my paper ticket at her and said something along the lines of, "You are my favorite athlete on the planet. You made it ok to be competitive and feminine and that was such a huge help to me. Thank you. Will you give me an autograph?" She sighed, said thanks and yes, signed it and went on about her way. I had to negotiate long and hard with United to keep that ticket, but I still have it. I've never asked for, nor wanted, another autograph.

It's Go Time, Baby

It's official. The Ohio State University will play the University of Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.

For the record, the University of Michigan got hosed and Michigan fans should be wicked angry at God and everybody.

But the most annoying thing about Michigan fans is that they never do get wicked angry at anyone.





For further updates and entertainment between now and January 8, we recommend that you check Every Day Should be Saturday a most excellent sports blog that just happens to be written by some Florida guys.

Gratuitous Ohio State Football Post

In which we detour (just for a moment) from life in Maine to other considerations--

It's amazing that I could post for four consecutive days before mentioning my beloved Ohio State Buckeye football team, but I couldn't quite reconcile the Bucks with a blog about Maine and cooking and books and whatnot. Any connection seemed contrived at best and just flat wrong at worst.

Now, thanks to the New England Patriots football team, I can mention the #1 college football team in the country. I won't mention their Heisman Trophy Candidate Troy Smith or their undefeated record or how they beat Michigan in the game, but since so many Mainiacs are rabid Patriots fans, I think this is fair game: Tom Brady (University of Michigan) lost his OSU-Michigan bet with Mike Vrabel (The Ohio State University) and had to wear an OSU jersey during Patriots' practice. (Now if I can only find a reason to talk about the basketball team.....)

Gosh, he looks so cute in scarlet, doesn't he?
Go Bucks!
ohio state football