8:00 PM CSN Baltimore has video of Marcus Smith, a U.S. soldier who dressed as a minor league umpire to surprise his children at a Bowie Baysox game with a home visit from Afghanistan.
7:45 PM A Japanese Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was swept out to sea during last year's tsunami washed up on a shore in British Columbia last month. The bike's owner asked that the motorcycle be displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee as a memorial to the tsunami victims.
7:30 PM Buffalo Bills receiver David Clowneytweeted the results of his HIV test which came back negative. And to the critics of his decision to share his results, Clowney added: "Some people are Ridiculously stupid ... And can't see the bigger picture about things that are important in this world."
Last season Arizona Wildcats coach Lute Olsontook a year off from the team. While an official reason for for his leave of absence was never given, the school did say that it had nothing to do with health reasons, and then a few days later we found out Olson had filed for divorce from his wife.
Well it looks like Olson enjoyed that year off, because he missed practice on Wednesday and skipped an appearance at a local Rotary Club event as well. The school said Lute was just sick and has laryngitis, but according to ESPN’s Dick Vitale, that isn’t the case. He says that Olson is just stepping down as coach.
In a move that both stabilizes the warmth of their bench and keeps it from tipping over at the other end from the weight of coach Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic have extended the contract of poet laureate J.J. Redick by adding a fourth-year option.
At the same time, the ORLANDO SENTINEL reports some movement may be in the former Duke Blue Devil and DUI arrestee’s future:
This is too good to pass up. Fresh off clinching the franchise’s first-ever playoff berth, the Tampa Bay Rays now face a serious problem: Who will throw out the first pitch in their first playoff game?
Ever-diplomatic for such a previously woeful franchise, the Rays’ first instinct was to make it public through the WASHINGTON POST that you’re not worthy. You, as in, anyone:
John Keiley, owner of Johnny’s New York Pizza & Pasta located in Denver, is offering free pizza to the entire world if the Tampa Bay Rays win the World Series.
Unlike Dick Vitale, Keiley doesn’t even like the Rays, and he has hair. However, just like Dickie V, the man who owns a New York-style pizza shop in Denver likes a little publicity, baby!
Should the Rays’ surprise season end with a World Series trophy, it would not only fill the empty stomachs of children in third world countries with cheese & pepperoni, but it would also be the third time that Keiley had to make good on such an offer.
Maybe I missed this awhile back, but the TAMPA TRIBUNE notes today that Jon Gruden was a ball boy for the 1975-76 IU basketball team that went undefeated, and was of course coached by Bob Knight.
Gruden was 12 at the time, and was recently reunited with Knight at a cancer benefit hosted by Dick Vitale in Sarasota. I’m not so sure that Tampa fans will be thrilled to hear that Knight is still a major influence on Gruden. Nor the platitudes from Gruden about what a wonderful human Knight is on and off-the-court. But it is a cool coincidence and worth noting.
The cancer benefit brought together all the college basketball greats, and raised $1M in one evening. One of the big reasons for that haul was Vitale’s auction item up for bid: A 50-person catered dinner at this home in Sarasota (asking price $100K!). Read more…
Please send me $25,000 from the petty cash fund. I have found a new promotional opportunity that we must immediately pursue. Dick Vitale has arranged a fundraising auction for cancer research that includes the chance to play a round of golf with Bob Knight. When we win this auction, I will endeavor to recreate this video.
(Warning: Don’t watch this video at work, Brooks, because the language is naughty and will get you in trouble with your boss.)
The increase in traffic from having video of Bob Knight strangle a blogger should increase ad revenue 14% month over month. Heck, my enemies list should take care of half that number.
Dickie V’s tears came on his recent nomination into the Basketball Hall of Fame. After an eloquent introduction by Jim Nantz, Vitale was given his own “08″ jersey, and when it was his turn to talk, we almost witnessed the impossible - Dick going speechless.
