John Rooke: Scattershooting

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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Scattershooting…while wondering whatever became of Tony Dow?

It may be sacrilege around these parts to say it, but I will anyway…I don’t much care for regular season hockey. Too many games, too many faceless players that I can’t relate to. Now playoff hockey? The intensity ratchets up several notches where it almost doesn’t matter who is playing.

This being said…the Bruins are lucky to still be playing. They can’t handle the puck, the power play is awful, and they play an undisciplined style (too many penalties). Yet, they beat the Canadiens. Don’t get comfortable in your seat, the Flyers await.

Is Rhode Island still considered a hockey hotbed? Or is that just a rumor? And why can’t Providence College – or Brown – win consistently on the ice? What are we missing here? URI’s club hockey team wins more than either of the state’s two major programs…

I’ve been asked a lot about the new Friar basketball coaching staff. Ed Cooley is head coach number five during my tenure as a broadcaster. There are many things I liked about his predecessors, but one thing really stands out to me about Cooley – his energy.

I’d love to see 2012 recruit Ricky Ledo become a Friar. He’s a highly-ranked, national impact player. It’s been too long since a local kid had an impact at PC. But Ricky, do us this favor? Don’t play the Friars for fools on the recruiting trail. What goes around…comes around…

Never been a fan of Kobe Bryant. Maybe it’s because of his legal troubles in the past, maybe it’s because he appears smug to me in most interviews he conducts. But I will say this – the man can turn on his talent when he wants to.

RI House Minority Leader Robert Watson’s recent legal faux pas should tell you all you need to know about the two-party political system in this state – it doesn’t exist. And he’s our Republican “leader?”

Now Rex Ryan is coming out with a book of his own, and he’s taking more shots at Tom Brady. Does this mean that Sexy Rexy also has a Brady-fetish?

If I’m Frank McCourt, I want to crawl into a hole for awhile until his divorce mess blows over. But not Frank – who’s still going to Dodger games. Hope he has body armor.

Should Ohio State’s Jim Tressel be fired for withholding information and lying about the eligibility of some of his players? Is the Pope catholic? But don’t hold your breath waiting for his dismissal – at Buckeye U, winning is the only thing that matters. And he wins.

And not for nothin’, but just who is Ohio State’s president overseeing this scandal? None other than Gordon Gee, that’s who. The same Gordon Gee who presided over such bastions of learning as Vanderbilt – and Brown. Guess the Scarlet and Gray fever got to him…

You’re surprised by the recent New York Times story on college programs inflating women’s participation numbers to circumvent Title IX? Please. Get a clue.

Did you see the recent story on the Fiesta Bowl committee sponsoring a retreat that included free meals, resort rooms, golf outings and, uh, excursions to adult establishments? Just BAU (business as usual) in big-time college athletics. Except for the part about reimbursing employee political contributions. No, that probably interests some state and federal law enforcement officials…

And as long as we’re on the subject of big time…did you see the latest salary info for Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini? Three million dollars. Per year. What? The Governorship isn’t included in the deal?

Regis and Kelly should have their personality credentials revoked for their latest series of radio commercials…the word “insipid” comes to mind…

I will admit it. I’m watching “Tough Enough,” the reality TV series based on the WWE, with the winner getting a one-year contract to wrestle guys like John Cena, the Big Show and others. What exactly, though, does this person really “win?”

If Albert Haynesworth lived in India, or maybe Indonesia…he’d be missing a hand right now.

ESPN’s “E:60” program is a must-watch for me…and I also try not to miss HBO’s “Real Sports” with Bryant Gumbel. It’s great to know that television sports journalism still exists. And if you haven’t caught at least one of ESPN’s “30 for 30” film documentaries, you’re missing out.

And by the way, Tony Dow (who is most recognized for his role as “Wally Cleaver” on the Leave It To Beaver television series in the 1960’s) is actually a respected amateur sculptor these days. Oh Google, you’ve done it again…

John Rooke is a football and basketball broadcaster in the Big East, and has been the radio “Voice of the Friars” since 1989.

 

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