Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Good Morning, Hawks Revelers!
Just a short time ago, the team arrived with the Stanley Cup in Chicago. Let’s not waste any time getting to the top story 49 years in the making!

Whether hockey fans are aware or not, there’s still one more championship series up for grabs. Celtics captain Paul Pierce will play a big role in determining the outcome.

The Michigan State Spartans men’s hoops program possesses its own pedigree. How much of that is because of Tom Izzo? How satisfying is Izzo’s legacy at MSU? Those are a couple questions that loom as he mulls over an offer from the Cavs.

Meanwhile, it appears a move, in this case to the Big Ten, is indeed best in the minds of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Finally, a championship program takes a hit.

Thanks for visiting Free Keon!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Happy Thursday, Everyone. Thanks for not giving Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media and Free Keon up for Lent. Today’s links are a little more locally focused for a change. In between, there’s plenty of national sports stories to talk about.

We start with the Olympics, of course.

Speed skater Shani Davis’ path toward gold began in Evanston where club founder Saunders “Sam” Hicks helped Davis ply his trade on the way to Davis’ defeat of Stephen Colbert.

From Shani Davis and Lindsey Vonn, the focus now shifts to a figure skating duel tonight.

On to topic No. 2. With pitchers and catchers reporting to warm baseball locales, White Sox mouthpiece A.J. Pierzynski says the South Siders did everything they could to lure Johnny Damon. Now the baseball’s in Damon’s glove.

While one player may be moving to the Windy City, another appears to be on his way out by this afternoon's NBA trade deadline.

Finally, I couldn’t get away, even if that meant a longer blog than usual, without saying RIP with an update on star recruit Rajaan Bennett. How sad.

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Plenty of news to discover today, Free Keon readers. I’m certain I could double or triple my usual Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media Links Edition, but I’ll stick to the usual five.

Hop on for the ride! We’ll start with the aftermath of college football’s Signing Day. Florida reigned supreme in its recruiting efforts, and the Illini, well, that’s TBD.

And let’s not forget Rich Rodriguez and the Maize and Blue. It never hurts Illini fans to hear what misdeeds, miscues, and general pitfalls could be going on up in Ann Arbor. From the sound of things, observers closer to the action up there aren’t too sure about yesterday.

Carrying on, today’s links could have been all about Michigan. In case you missed it, the current Big Ten Player of the Year, Kalin Lucas suffered a high ankle sprain in last night’s first MSU blemish.

Giants Defensive End and catalyst Osi Umenyiora is hurting too. Except what's dogging him is his pride. He’s threatening to take his ball and go home.

Finally, on the lighter side, a collection of Who Dat parodies. May the best team win Sunday.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Slammin' Sam Links Edition

“Should I stay or should I go now?” Lane Kiffin made his decision. The Internet blogosphere is not so sure it wants to let go of this topic.

On the day Kiffin was officially introduced (not that an introduction was necessary), the LA Times’ T.J. Simers buckled up and is ready for wherever the Kiffin mobile takes him.

Those left in the lurch in Tennessee are looking ahead, not blaming their former coach.

One obvious bright spot not too far from Rocky Top is Titans honoree Chris Johnson. Though take this as a warning: Johnson’s Offensive Player of the Year honors may be the iceberg, not the tip of the frozen body. Gary Estwick from The Tennessean has that story.

Fourth, Olympic stories are starting to come in, less than a month before Vancouver takes center stage. Here’s one on figure skaters who are both roommates and rivals.

Last, a sporting angle on the Haitian tragedy.

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Congratulates Andre Dawson!

Good afternoon, all! As I sit here compiling the Thursday Edition of Slammin’ Sam, snowflakes continue to frolic hither and thither with no destination in particular. And just like snowflakes, each athlete comes to play with different characteristics, hoping that he or she can add to the beautiful sporting landscape.

More than Roses and Buckeyes

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media

Now that we’re in full football fervor mode, known as “Bowl Mania,” I thought I’d hand off to college football.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are slim underdogs going into their Rose Bowl match-up with the Oregon Ducks, but while the results of that game will hold up for anywhere from a few days to some months, history shows that the outcome will not be the primary offshoot for Buckeyes players. Go out and grab a copy of David Lee Morgan, Jr.’s “More Than a Coach,” and you will understand why.

The Best Names in College Football today

Lets call it the Anti-John David Booty All-Stars.  Because it is not okay for quarterbacks to start throwing the middle name in there like crappy teen actors and 70's serial killers. 

College Football has a rich history of great names from Major Applewhite to Knowshon Moreno, and this year is no different.

Starting at QB: Jacory Harris, Miami
I just love this name.  If my name was Jacory Harris, I would run at least a 4.5 40.  If Cory Bradford had been named Jacory Bradford, he would have put up at least 20 a game.  Also, he probably would have been able to dunk.