The Real Stars of Championship Week

Usually the stars of ESPN Champions League are the players that hit the last minute shots to win a game and send a team on to the next round, but this years Championship Week star might be a little know broadcaster.

During the course of his work on the Big East Tournament, Dave Pasch, a Syracuse graduate, has shown that he is ready to be a big time star on TV. While working the tournament Pasch was at the controls for the two biggest moments of the week: the ref error in the Rutgers vs. St. John's game and the game winner by UConn's Kemba Walker against Pitt.

On both calls Pasch showed grace and a flair. While others also do that, Pasch let the moment breath and did not over power it, which is something that you rarely see anymore as announcers try to brand themselves.

This is how little a name Pasch is, check out his Wikipedia entry: "Dave Pasch is an American sportscaster. As of 2010  Pasch works for ESPN, for which he calls play-by-play of college football, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, and Arena football games. He has also been the radio voice for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL since 2002, teaming with Ron Wolfley." Not exactly the wikipedia entry of a big time sports announcer.

With his performance on the mic I would expect Pasch's stature to continue to grow in the coming years and maybe take on a bigger role at ESPN.

Ryan Giggs: The owner of Arsenal

This banner is set to be debut tomorrow during United game against Arsenal in the FA Cup and boy is it true. Giggs has owned Arsenal over the years.

Craig Burley owes Nani something

While yesterday was not the greatest day to be a Manchester United fan, it was made worst by  the action of TV Commentator Craig Burley on FSC. During the game Jamie Carragher slide into Nani with studs showing creating a huge gash on the Portuguese winger leg. After the tackle Nani went down and check then injury and then went running over to the ref asking for a red card and then falling down again in pain.

While this was all going on Burley went off on the winger questioning his tactics and basically calling him a cheat. After the match was over photos came out that showed the severity of the Nani injury, it looked like someone took  a knife to his leg.

The one thing that got lost on Burley was the fact that Carragher should have been shown the door for his tackle, it was studs up and high, not at one point during this rant did Burley go off on Carragher for the irresponsible challenge. I think that has something to do with Carragher being English, but that is another story for another day.

While I'm not saying Nani was in the right in his actions, but Burley was not right to question the players injury and he should apologize for his comments. 

This Shirt Says it All

Nothing beats winning a regular season championship, especially when you beat Duke to do it.

Obertan: Maybe he is a bust

After CR7 left Manchester United for Real Madrid two years ago, United brought in a promising french winger named Gabriel Obertan to help fill that void. After a year and a half, I'm really starting to question if Obertan is going to make the grade.

During the season Obertan has had his detractors for his performances, I was not one of them. I thought that he had not been given a fair chance to show his skills, but that all changed on Saturday against Wigan and it had nothing to do with his performance on the field, but rather off of the field.

While watching the game on TV, the telecast showed a shot of Ryan Giggs sitting next to Obertan and Bebe in the directors box. One thing was different about the three of them, Giggs was sitting their watching the game, Bebe was checking his phone, while Obertan had head phones on. I'm not excusing Bebe for checking his phone, but who really knows if he was on during the whole game. I don't care if you are an academy player that has not been used all year, you should not be wearing headphones in the directors box.

If Obertan really cared about his spot or his future at United he would act like a professional and professionals don't sit in the director box wearing head phones, its not acceptable.

Professional Tailgating: Flyers vs. Islanders

As part of my birthday gift my wife sent me to the Flyers Islanders game on Thursday night and here are some of the sites and sounds from the game.

The old Spectrum is no more, so sad

The flyers hat trick wall

This seat could be yours for next season

Former United States World Junior Championship hero Al Montoya in goal in goal for the Islanders. Montoya was named top goalie during the 2004 event.

Fomrer Shore Conference hockey player JVR interviewed between the second and third periods

Wow UEFA got this right

For years the Round of 16 of the Champions League had been played over two days and it was hard to get the chance to see all of the action, but this year that has change. This year the eight match ups were played over four days allowing for time for hardcore fans to see all of the match ups.

In the past it would be hard for everyone to see the games and now we are able to see them and enjoy them, its easier to watch two games a day then having to watch four games a day.

While UEFA might screw up most thing, at least for the Round of 16 of the Champions League UEFA has done something that is fan friendly.

Baseball season is almost here

Every year around this time, pitchers and catchers report for spring training and OTWT gets their hands on the Baseball American Prospect Handbook, the bible of player development and that later happened today. For the last decade, the book has been a great source of information for OTWT. Anytime there is a deal made, everyone calls to see the prospects that are given up.

South Carolina's State Holiday

Yesterday was a big day in South Carolina as Jadevon Clowney, the number one high school football player in the country announced that he was going to be a Gamecock. The story was such a big deal that it was shown all over and it played a huge part in the front pages of three major state newspapers. Wow who ever said recruiting was not a big deal has never been to the south, its a season in its self.

A true great: Ronaldo

Over the last couple of years people have talked about the joke Ronaldo has become, but lets not forget the greatness of the player he was before injuries took their toll. Simply Amazing.

Finally the '94 Expos are crowned champions

As an Expos fan, the 1994 team holds a special place in my heart. They were the best team in baseball when the strike hit, ending my dreams of seeing Youppi's gang crowned World Series Champions. But now Baseball America Columnist Jim Callis has made that dream come true, i know it happened in sometime of internet game but its still a title. During the course of the last week, Callis has been tweeting about this historic win:

• My 1994 Expos swept the 1931 A's in the World Series of Seamheads.com S-O-M celebration. Too bad they didn't get chance to win in real life
• My 1994 Expos have advanced to the World Series in the S-O-M celebration run by seamheads.com. Not the biggest sports result tonight, I know
• Mike Lansing with the game-winning single in the bottom of ninth of Game Four at Olympic Stadium. Go crazy, Montreal! You too,

As the tweets came rolling in I could not think but get emotional, the thought of Mike Lansing, Wetland, Pedro, Larry Walker, Sean Berry running around The Big O with the trophy is an amazing. So thanks you Jim Callis, somewhere Youppi is smiling after hearing the news.

FIFA only talks about the key soccer issues

While questions still linger with FIFA about the awarding of the future World Cups to Russia and Qatar, FIFA's executive board is set to discuss the future of snoods in soccer, yes they are going to talk fashion. During the course of the cold winter in the Premier League many stars have taken to wearing Snoods to keep them warm during games. Many of the Manchester City Millionaires crew have been sporting the neck wear.

The term Snoods applies to a tubular neck protector or warmer, often worn by skiers or motorcyclists. The garment may be worn either pulled down around the neck like a scarf, or pulled up over the hair and lower face, like a hood.

Fifa said they are going to look at the idea of banning the neck wear because of safety reasons. A FIFA spokesman told the Daily Mail : 'We want a debate over the snood and whether it could be dangerous. There may be a safety issue - if for example a player was running through on goal and an opponent grabbed his snood, that could pose a potential danger to his neck.'

I'm all for people trying to stay warm while playing gloves, Under Armour that is fine, but come on these thing look terrible and makes me question their fashion. So come on tough it out, and leave the snoods for your night life.

While I'm against players wearing them, I don't understand why FIFA is looking into the matter, don't they have enough issues to worry about like fixed World Cup bids and goal line technology. This would be like the United States Government talking about fixing the BCS and not worrying about what is going on in the Middle East. Its not worth the time spent debating it, FIFA should be focusing on more important issues rather then stupid stuff like banning snoods.

Rodgers now has his belt

So Aaron Rodgers now has his championship belt. Rodgers and the Packers beat the Steelers last night in a really good football game. Here is how newspapers in Green Bay and Pittsburgh covered the game.

OTWT Super Bowl Pick

Everyone is doing it, so why not us. Here is my Super Bowl pick for later today: Green Bay 28, Pittsburgh 31 on a last second field. If I'm wrong who the hell cares.

Recruits in Review

So National Signing Day has come and gone and for once their is no reason to complain about Rutgers 24 member class. Here are a couple of thoughts from the OTWT Scouting Department

• With both Shuler and Johnson in the fold, the Scarlet Knights now have two players that have been crowned the fast high schooler in New Jersey.
• With all of the talk of the Knights getting fellow four stars Huggins, Shuler, and Wright, four star defensive end Djwany Mera is not getting the love that he deserved. Because he went to prep school for a year Mera might be able to step in and play on the DL right away.
• With Tom Savage walking away from the program, it was critical that the program got a qb and they did in Bosco's Gary Nova.
• Since Clark Harris left the program the positions of TE has been an issue for the knights for a while, with DC Jefferson playing the position now, there is a need for depth and the Knights got it in Pennsylvania based TE Tyler Koft. Many experts see him as the sleeper of the class.

A blast from the past

It's a blast from the past, the 2002 Philadelphia Eagles NFC East Championship plate. The one thing that strikes you when you look at the plate are the players on that team. From Brian Mitchell to James Thrash to Bobby Taylor to Corey Simon to Donovan McNabb to David Ackers. Its like a blast from the past. I wonder how this team won anything. Shows how good a coach Big Red really is.

The Biggest of Fishes

During his tenure at Rutgers, Greg Schiano has done a lot of great things including turning the Scarlet Knights into a bowl team every year. But with the success their has been some disappointment one of the most glaring was that he failed to get the top kids in the state of New Jersey to stay at home. But on Friday that all changed when St. Peters Prep running back Savon Huggins committed to be part of Schiano's program.

This is the first time that Schiano or any other Rutgers coach has gotten the top ranked player in the state, the closet anyone has gotten was when Anthony Davis committed to the Knights. This year Schiano has managed to get with Huggins and recieved Miles Shuler two of the top three players in the state. Which is no small feet. That number might increase to three of the top four if DL Marquise Wright picks the Knights on National Signing Day.

Huggins feels that he is going to have an impact right away: “Marcus Lattimore (of South Carolina) did it. Reggie Bush did it at USC. If you stay home and bring the program to different heights, it will be better than if you do it out of state. Yes, it would be nice (out of state). But if you do it in your own state, it has a lot more meaning, ” Huggins told NJ.com

Last year the Knights running game was almost useless but with Huggins on board that could all change. Take a look at what Marcus Lattimore did at South Carolina. Lattimore was a must get for Steve Spurrier, alot of people thought that his job depended on it. Just like Huggins was for Schiano. During his first season at USC, Lattimore, you could make the argument that he was most important running in SEC, lead the Cocks to the SEC Title game.

While I'm not saying that he is going to have the same impact as Lattimore, Huggins is going to make a huge impact both on the field and off the field. Huggins committing to the Knights shows that you can be the top player in the state and stay home. Maybe Huggins commitment will be felt for a long time as more and more top players choose the Knights.

We have been on the Jimmer Train since last season

Today everyone is talking about Jimmer Fredette and his performance against San Diego State last night. It sounds like everyone has just heard of how fun to watch guard out of BYU is, everyone but OTWT. OTWT was riding the Jimmer train last year and here is the proof.  So this is an I told you type of post, So I told ya so.

Everyone hates CBS College Sports

Last night was CBS College Sports time to shine with them showing BYU and San Diego State in the game of the year in the Mountain West Conference, but instead of shining the network laid a huge egg. All over twitter last night college basketball fans were throwing a fit about the telecast.

Here are sampling of some of the hate that was being thrown around CBS College Sports and color guy Steve Lappas last night on Twitter:

• sportsguy33, Bill Simmons: "Szezcerbiak! Abdelnaby! It's the Not Quite March Madness Halftime show on Not Quite CBS!"
• mz734, Andrew: "RT @sharapovasthigh: RT @sportspickle: CBS College Sports is trending. The Internet has reached the peak of its potential."
• TheCoolSub,Jonathan Gold: "This is just marvelous. RT @doctorgc: Steve Lappas increasingly sounds like Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas #SteveLappas"
• EdwardFLewis, Edward Lewis: "OK we're midway through the first half and the only thing Ive learned is CBS College Sports' color commentator is awful. 15-15 tie in Provo."
• AubreyBloom247, Aubrey Bloom: "If Gus Johnson were doing this game the "rise and fire" count would be at about 20 already. Also, terrible job mic'ing up the crowd CBS.''

So in there moment to show the country that they are a legit college sports station, CBS College Sports dropped the ball and ended up being a laughing stock.

You know you have been to alot of events

You know you have been to too many sporting events when your dashboard is covered with parking stubs from different sporting events that you have been to. This is the dashboard of my car and there are a number of parking stubs from the different events I have been to over the last 6 months, just imagine if  I have had this car longer.