John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Saturday, August 27, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Thinking Out Loud…while wondering how we can keep the focus on this season, when the future of the Friars’ basketball program starts NEXT season…

• Kudos to Coach Ed Cooley, Andre LaFleur and the entire PC basketball staff for landing one of the nation’s top guards this week in Kris Dunn from Connecticut. Ricky Ledo is next – followed by a big man. Get your popcorn ready…the show is about to begin…

• With Dunn, Ledo and previous 2012 commitment Josh Fortune in hand, the Providence recruiting class is Top 5 – not in the Big East, but nationally…

• If the Friars land either Nerlens Noel or Zach Auguste as a big man to complete the current recruiting picture, I will ask Frank Carpano for permission to take the Dunk microphone when the season opens, and we’ll blow the roof off of the place…

• Ok, back to my weekly rant on Texas A&M leaving the Big 12, and turning their back on 100 years of history…the Aggies will have money and they’ll have their “revenge,” and they’ll have shown the Texas Longhorns they can live without them. Eventually, though, they’ll realize it’s just a different life, not a better one…

• Great story by The Daily’s Dan Wolken this week on the subject. “A&M can talk all it wants about getting a bigger paycheck from the SEC and the benefits of breaking free from Texas, but the fleeting satisfaction of striking out on their own will pale in comparison to the enjoyment of having a 100-year-old rival to hate. Nothing gives the Aggies more enjoyment than beating Texas, but you can’t beat the Longhorns anymore after you’ve run away from them. College sports are big business, sure, but aren’t they also supposed to be fun?”

• And the final word (ok, not really) on all this conference realignment mess? Superconferences may sound fun and exciting, but fans don’t get to count the money. They only count wins. Have fun finishing 12th. A&M’s childish behavior will lead to more restless fans, more coaching changes and more cheating. Bet on it…

• The Big East was incredibly smart in moving to add TCU to the league for 2012. SMU (located in Dallas) has expressed interest in the Big 12 if A&M leaves for the SEC. TCU (located in Fort Worth) would have been a natural for the Big 12. Now, the Big East can solidify itself long term (and trump the Big 12) by adding Houston…

• The slow burn in South Florida has begun…Miami has declared up to 13 of their current football players ineligible, in light of the current NCAA investigation. Tip of the iceberg…

• Social media faux pas: Mississippi State freshman D.J. Gardner has been dismissed from the basketball team for “repeated actions detrimental to the team.” He was expected to redshirt this year, and expressed his feelings through profanity-laced Twitter tirades…

• Ok, I’m old school (really, John?)…but I think if I were an Oakland A’s pitcher, there is NO way I would have thrown a pitch anywhere close to the plate after giving up a grand slam, or two, to the Yankees. But three? That’s just stupid…I would have drilled someone first…

• We might have a power outage this weekend with Hurricane Irene set to visit…but just as long as Adrian Gonzalez doesn’t have a power outage this weekend, I’m ok with it…

• You just knew that Terrelle Pryor was going to end up with the Oakland Raiders, didn’t you? Does anyone actually think he’ll turn out BETTER than Jamarcus Russell did? He’s now a 4-year development player who can run fast (4.36 in the 40), but has been described as “horrendous” in his throwing accuracy. Horrendous? And you want to sign him to a long term deal?

• Congrats to Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson for telling Cam Newton “no tattoos.” If he’s the future face of the franchise, and he’s getting paid to be that face, the owner should have the right to dictate any changes to that face. Or arm. Or leg. Or back. Or front…

• A prediction: At least two members of the Patriots’ secondary will reach the Pro Bowl. Why? Look up front. And a couple of those guys should be there as well…

• Ochocinco will be fun to watch, and we’ll all be watching to see what Haynesworth does, but my favorite player to watch this season will be Aaron Hernandez. The second year receiver/tight end from Florida just has “it,” and I don’t want to miss “it…”

• Bill Belichick said recently that the extra point attempt in football is too easy, and it doesn’t create any interest. He’s right. The coach also says to make it a challenge, attempts should be moved to the 20-yard line (a 38-yard attempt). I agree. Keep the ball at the two for two-point tries, but back it up to go for one…that puts excitement back into a mundane part of the game. And eliminates your bathroom/refrigerator break after touchdowns…

• Life After Peyton? The Colts are getting ready to see just what that will be like. It might not be “penthouse to outhouse,” but they will, at the least, be moving to the ‘burbs…

• Roller Derby is back in Rhody…the “Old Money Honey’s” face the Sakonnet River Roller Rats on September 3rd at the RI Convention Center. Providence Roller Derby also supports the RI SPCA…fun time, good cause…

• NBA and players’ association officials are going to meet next week, just their second meeting since basketball’s lockout started July 1. YAWN.

• Ed Cooley will have his hands full this year, no doubt. With promise on the horizon, the present will be much different. His “focus” machine (a practice treadmill) should get a lot of work. If the Friars can learn how to defend and rebound with any consistency, they’ll be in games this season…and if they can win some in the Big East, Cooley should be coach of the year…

• The mailbag question this week comes from Jim in Smithfield, on the subject of paying college athletes – he says “no”: “If the schools are truly worried about graduation why not leave an open ended scholarship for the kids? A lot of them have to drop their course load to the minimums so there is no way they will graduate in 4 years. If they compete for teams at the school they should have ample time after 4 years to be able to graduate. What’s it really going to cost?” Jim – in your example, you’d be turning a 4-year scholarship into a 6 or 7 year deal. That’s way too expensive for most schools to handle, and way beyond the $2-3K annual figure that is being talked about in a “stipend” to student athletes.

• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, too @jrooke0722…