Saturday, March 12, 2022

Sports this 'n' that

 There are those that believe Syracuse was screwed after the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) suspended Buddy Boeheim, the oldest of coach Jim Boeheim's two sons currently on the Orange roster, one game for punching a Florida State player in the 1st round of the ACC tournament this week. Syracuse subsequently lost to Duke, which will play for the ACC title today vs. Virginia Tech.

It is the final season for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who, along with Jim Boeheim, felt that the league didn't do things the right way. Had Buddy Boeheim been called for a flagrant foul, level 2, he would've been ejected, and probably would've missed the Duke game anyway. No foul was called in real time, but the league, after the game, issued the suspension.

Now, there are going to be conspiracy theorists who will say the league did this to make it easier for Krzyzewski, since Buddy Boeheim was Syracuse's leading scorer, to advance in the tournament. Virginia Tech eliminated Duke's in-state rival, North Carolina, on Friday, creating a fresh matchup for the tournament final. A Duke win sends them to the NCAA tournament, which starts next week. The next question would be if Duke runs the table, and wins one more national title for their outgoing coach. That will bear watching.
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Joe Buck has been the lead voice of NFL football and Major League Baseball on Fox the last several years. That all changes this fall.

Buck is following game analyst Troy Aikman to ESPN, where they will take over Monday Night Football from Steve Levy (currently a studio host for NHL hockey) and Louis Riddick. Brian Griese has left ESPN for a coaching job.


Son of legendary television & radio announcer Jack Buck, Joe Buck has his detractors, largely for the way he calls games. I haven't had any problem with him, to be honest. Fox will be looking for a new #1 NFL team, and someone to fill Buck's chair with John Smoltz for baseball. In the latter, I'd say that would open the door for MLB Network's Robert Flores, himself an ESPN alumnus, to land a major gig.
Stay tuned.
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A grand jury chose not to indict Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson on sexual harassment and/or assault charges, so now the speculation begins as to where Watson will land next after not playing in 2021. Ambulance chaser Tony Busbee's case apparently fell apart because of his questionable tactics.
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Scary moment for former WWE champion Big E (Ettore Ewen) Friday on Smackdown when he landed on his head during a match, and had to be removed from the arena on a stretcher. Ewen posted a message on Twitter saying he was told he had a broken neck. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

In other WWE news, Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will appear at Wrestlemania not to fight, but to stand up for his native Texas against Canada's Kevin Owens. Apparently CEO/Chairman/head nutcase Vince McMahon was hoping Austin would come out of retirement after 19 years for a match, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

McMahon, 76, is wisely, as of now, avoiding getting in the ring with Smackdown analyst Pat McAfee, who instead will take on Austin Theory at the big dance. Theory has appeared on Smackdown two straight weeks to confront & provoke the former All-Pro punter. I've a feeling the story will reveal that Theory's acting on his own, seeking approval from McMahon.

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