Hallelujah, Syracuse Fans: Greg Robinson Axed

Upstate New York, your long, regional nightmare is over. Greg Robinson, architect of the most frightening program collapse since, like, ever, has finally been fired. The firing is effective at the end of the season, which is mercifully near.

Mikhail Marinovich hookah
(”Our coach just got fired? I’ll smoke to that!”)

Calling Robinson’s resume “abysmal” would be a genuine compliment; his 9-36 record is Syracuse’s worst in modern football history and it’s unlikely that he ever coaches another game. His offenses are miserable, player attrition is high, and his players are even opening up hookah bars now.

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Another Marinovich’s Future Goes Up In Smoke

We’re all aware of Todd Marinovich’s passion for pot, his jonesin’ for joints, his making tracks for marijuana. Well, the smoking apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as younger brother Mikhail also enjoys lighting up. But the mini-Marinovich would rather do it legally - and make a tidy profit from it.

Mikhail Marinovich hookah

THE WIZ OF ODDS reports that Mikhail has started a smoking lounge in Syracuse. The Orange DE (L) has teamed up with teammate Niko Rechul (R) to open up Hollywood Hookah, a place where central New York Staters can enjoy a puff or two from those tall bottles they swear aren’t just giant-sized bongs.

But Mik & Nik’s new establishment isn’t just some hokey hookah hole in the wall. It’s got quite the spread for Syracuse smokers:

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Speed Read: Phillies Not Fanatical About Hitting

Deciding to listen to Tim McCarver blather his way through World Series commentary on TV or turning the sound down and listening to the dulcet, confused tones of Joe Morgan on the radio is like choosing between swallowing broken glass or sliding down a razor blade hill - both choices hurt. But I went with the radio guys for Game 2, mainly because of Jon Miller. And as usual, Morgan got stuck on a mantra he kept repeating over and over throughout the game, this time about the Phillies’ not being able to hit with runners in scoring position.

Rays fan with Joe Maddon sign

Unlike many of his obsessions, he actually was right about this. But it doesn’t take a Hall of Famer to know that hitting 1-for-15 in a game (and 1-for-28 for the Series) is bad. And while they were able to find a way past the Rays in Game 1, they couldn’t on Thursday, as Tampa Bay held on for a, frankly, uninspiring 4-2 win to tie the Series at one game each.

Phillies bench during Game 2 of the World Series

Anyone who kept claiming that this was going to be the most entertaining Series possible can shut up now - of course Red Sox vs. Dodgers would have been more fun, and it couldn’t have been played at a more average level. This Series is less sizzling through two games as it is melting. At least we have things headed over to Philadelphia, where I’m sure the fans will be in fine spirits. Enjoy the trips, Rays!

West Virginia running back Noel Devine

Meanwhile, Auburn was busy just plain fizzling against West Virginia, as Noel Devine made “SEC speed” seem like a stoner going 20 miles per hour on his way to Taco Bell for some munchies. It was big run after big run, as Devine wound up with 207 yards rushing as the Mountaineers throttled the Tigers 34-17.

Think the fact that a supposedly “quality” SEC team just got waxed by an underachieving Big East squad will lead anyone to start questioning the conference’s credentials? Nah, didn’t think so either.

Here’s what else was happening while you were checking out The Flintstones’ kitchen:

Which Tampa Bay Ray is going to get the most heat from Phillies fans during Game 3?

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Syracuse AD Gives Coach Vote Of Zero Confidence

If what Detroit Lions vice chairman Bill Ford gave Matt Millen yesterday was a vote of “no confidence,” then what do you characterize what Syracuse AD Darryl Gross told Ivan Maisel at ESPN.COM about embattled head football coach Greg Robinson? A vote of “no future?” Or perhaps a vote of “please do the honorable thing and quit now so I don’t have to get my hands messy and fire you?”

Greg Robinson

“It isn’t working out,” Gross said of Robinson. “It’s very disappointing … He has some work to do out in front of him.”

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Blog-O-Rama: All 28 of Josh Hamilton’s Derby HRs

• For those who want to relive Josh Hamilton’s opening round of the Home Run Derby, here’s the edited video of all 28 blasts.


• AOL FANHOUSE cheers up from word that John McCain’s wife Cindy was once a USC Song Girl.

• The ASSOCIATED PRESS learns that it’s not just male basketball players who like to steal, as a Oklahoma women’s player was caught swiping makeup from a Wal-Mart.

• BLACK HEART GOLD PANTS intercepts a letter of love to the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Co. from Purdue coach Joe Tiller.

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