LETS GO TARHEELS!!!!!!

I am a little bias but so what,  North Carolina will beat Illinois 88 to 79.  You seen it first on the Herald. 

In this day and age of pro football you can’t get attached  to any one player on your team, because with the salary cap your team sort of limited to which players they can resign.  Normally the Redskins go on a shopping spree in the off season to sign the top free agents. Some have panned out and some haven’t.  This off season I felt the Redskins should focus keeping the money in house and resign players who epitomize a professional athlete and foremost a player who wanted to be a Redskin  

Picture courtesy of Ole Sarge

 According to the Washington Post (here)

“Cornerback Fred Smoot's likely departure from the Washington Redskins became reality tonight when he reached agreement with the Minnesota Vikings.

Smoot, 25, signed a six-year, $36-million deal that included a signing bonus of roughly $10 million, sources said”

If this is the true……………….Well Ole Sarge is disappointed but Ole Sarge knows that this sport of football is a business and I wish Fred Smoot the best. Not against the Redskins because you will be then considered THE ENEMY!  

Just one game made it a fantastic weekend. The North Carolina versus Duke mens’ basketball game which took place this past Sunday.  The Tarheels battled Duke tooth and nail in what can arguably  be one of the best games I’ve seen in this storied rivalry

The Tar Heels rallied for the win with an 11-0 run over the final 2:40. Marvin Williams' follow-up three-point play off a Raymond Felton missed free throw with 17 seconds left proved to the game winner. Duke's last basket came at 3:07. Junior Sean May scored 26 points and grabbed a career-best 24 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, for his eighth straight double-double. 

 I’ve been watching Carolina Basketball for close to 25 years. From James Worthy, Michael Jordan, Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter plus many other superstars that have worn that famous baby blue and white uniform. I am truly a diehard Tarheel fan. Yesterday’s game was Senior day, meaning the Seniors that are on their team are playing their final home game and also this is a way for them to say goodbye and go out with a bang.

(Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams and Jackie Manual)

(Picture Courtesy of  Inside Carolina)

As Thad Wilson of Inside Carolina writes:

“Now the next generation of Carolina fans has a Senior Day to remember with equal affection, amazement, and sheer joy – a thrilling 75-73 victory over another outstanding Duke team, this one literally snatched from the jaws of defeat.

Yes, there have been other great Senior Day wins over Duke in the last 27 years, but when one considers both the full range of circumstances in this game – an ACC regular season title on the line, the long odyssey of Jackie Manuel, Melvin Scott, and Jawad Williams – as well as the sheer quality of the basketball played Sunday afternoon, this one takes the cake, by some distance.”

What makes this such a great victory was that three years ago the same seniors that Thad writes about were freshmen on an 8 -20 Carolina team the worst in North Carolina’s history. All the years I’ve watched Tarheel basketball, they never finished less than third place in the ACC plus they won over 20 games while year after year making it to the big dance. Furthermore this includes 2 national championships and about 8 final fours . Jawad, Jackie and Melvin have seen the worst times in Chapel Hill. However on their final game at home they took the nets with them

Quotes:

Jackie Manuel

“I'd like to thank God for this opportunity. I'd like to thank my parents… I would like to thank the coaching staff for allowing me to find myself. You guys made me a better player… I'd like to thank my teammates who stuck it out when times were hard. I love you all. Last, but not least, I'd like to thank the fans. You are the best in the country. I love every one of you. I really appreciate everything you've done. Thank you.”

Melvin Scott

“First of all, I want to thank God and my Mom--or I wouldn't be here obviously. Coaching staff, I know at times I'm so crazy, but I thank you all for putting up with me anyway. My teammates, I love you all. Fans, I love ya'll too. And that's it.”

Jawad Williams

“First of all, I want to thank my family, my girlfriend, all my friends, all my teammates--especially Jackie and Melvin; we've been through a lot... the coaching staff, Coach Williams, Coach Robinson, Coach C.B., Coach Holladay, Coach [Sah]ration… Hopefully, we can keep this going. It was nice to cut down the nets tonight, but I want to cut down the national championship nets.

Thanks to all the fans, it's been a lot of fun. You all supported us when times were tough. A lot of you watched us grow. We appreciate all the support.”

NOTE:  The aforementioned former Tarheel players I spoke of earlier in this article never made it to shier senior year at Carolina however all did fulfill their obligation and earned their degree from the university.

Maurice Cheek the point guard and catalyst for one NBA’s all time greatest team, the 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers (AKA the Fo, Fo, Fo Boys) was fired by the Portland Trailblazers.  Cheeks, who played in the NBA for 15 seasons, was hired by Portland in 2001 to replace Mike Dunleavy, who was also fired. Cheeks career record with the Blazers was a paltry 162 – 139.  Besides being a class act as a player.  Coach Cheeks especially endeared himself with the people of Portland and America when in April 2003 before a big home playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks he came to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl, by the name of Natalie Gilbert, who forgot the words to the national anthem Coach Cheeks went to her side and helped her with the words. Despite the fact that he was off-key and couldn't carry the tune, Cheeks stuck with it -- and Natalie muddled through the song despite her shakiness.

According to the Associate press article on ESPN.com…..

“The Blazers hardly made Cheeks' tenure easy -- on and off the court.

There were several players cited for marijuana possession, and forward Qyntel Woods was investigated in a dog fighting scandal.

While generally popular among his players, Cheeks had a couple of high-profile verbal run-ins with former guard Bonzi Wells and current forward Darius Miles. Both players served suspensions for their actions.”

In retrospect Coach Cheeks was denied the opportunity by the Blazers to talk to the Sixers last summer when Philly wanted to give him the job. The Philly fans, Allen Iverson, Stephen A. Smith and my blogger buddy Avery Tooley would probably embrace the moved by the Sixers to hire Maurice Cheeks.  Ole Sarge on the other hand would see him as “The Enemy” “Go Wizards”  

Coach Cheeks will be coaching again soon!

Guillen, Osik Blast Homers as Nationals Win Exhibition Opener

Nationals 5, Mets 3

VIERA, Fla. -- Well, baseball fans, the first sneak peek at the Washington Nationals was a rousing success, from the stands to the scoreboard.

More to follow on the Nats…..  But for now HOW BOUT THEM NATS!

Former world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe of Fort Washington, Maryland is looking to continue his recent comeback attempt in Washington and has applied for a license with the D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission.

Quick tidbits about Riddick Bowe

• Won the Silver Medal in the 1988 Olympics (lost to Lenox Lewis)
• Nov 13 1992 Wins the Heavyweight title from Evander Holyfield
• Paid a visit to the Pope in 1993 offering the Pontiff the autograph boxing gloves he beat Holyfield for the title with.
• Joined the Marines in 1997 but left after 11 days of boot camp
• Feb 1998 was charge with kidnapping his wife and kids
• Served Approximately 15 months in jail for kidnapping and was released last April

Riddick Bowe’s career record is an impressive (41–1) with 32 knockouts. In his comeback attempt, he knocked out a fighter by the name of Macus Rhode in the second round.

Riddick Bowe’s career is marred with allot of “What Ifs” and controversies. When motivated and in shape Bowe clearly fought like one of the greatest boxers in his era but his problems in and out the ring prevented him from maintaining that championship level.  The three fights with Evander Holyfield were fought with the same fire and zeal as the Ali versus Frazier trilogy. Although since forgotten it was the closest thing my generation had to an epic trilogy (If you don’t include Star Wars in the fold)

At the age of 37 Riddick biggest hurdle will be whether or not the doctors will make a medical recommendation. Bowe's attorneys in his 1998 kidnapping case argued for a shorter sentence by claiming Bowe had brain damage suffered from boxing.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia -Riddick Bowe

Former Champion Bowe Is Seeking License in D.C (Washington Post)

What a lucky troop.  Ole Sarge would give anything to to take a picture with the Madame Secretary.  Ole Sarge is jealous (LOL)

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page C01

 Today ole Sarge is reading two totally different articles about my favorite pro football team the Washington Redskins . The first one is from Sally Jenkins who in my honest opinion writes from a doom and gloom perspective I can’t the imagine the articles she would write if she covered the War on Terrorism in Iraq. Just thinking about that makes ole Sarge sick.  Next, the second article is from Tony Kornheiser (of P.T.I fame) whose humor and wit makes for a pleasant read (whenever he does write an article)

The subject the two columnist write about is Washington Redskins disgruntled wide receiver Laveranues Coles. Laveranues is clearly one of my favorite Redskins his business like approach couple with his professionalism is indicative of what a professional athlete represent.  His 90 catches this season were a career best but only one of those catches was for a touchdown and that was from a trick pass by running back Clinton Portis (who look like a girl throwing the ball). The frustration of catching 90 passes in a conservative offense is tantamount to my frustrations of living in such a liberal city as DC.  Laveraneus, I feel your pain about being here in Washington.  However, I am not going anywhere and neither should you. Coach Gibbs is a proven winner and he will turn this ship around. I agree with many other Redskins fans that Coach Gibbs should open up the offense and exploit what could be a Ramsey to Coles connection in the end zone. Yes ole Sarge is such a dreamer or as I like to call myself a “visionary “.

In closing we are quick to call athlete warriors (ask Nike) Surely during their delusions of grandeur in a game they probably think of themselves as such conquers. But, what separates them from the real warriors fighting for freedom are the values we stand by are.

LOYALTY – To bear truth faith and allegiance.

DUTY – Fulfill your obligations

RESPECT – Treat people as they should be treated

SELFLESS SERVICE – Putting the welfare of the team above you own

HONOR –  Live up to your values and obligations

INTEGRITY – Doing what is right legally and morally

PERSONAL COURAGE – Face fear danger or adversity (Physical or Moral)

Show me and athlete who embodies these values and I will surely call him warrior.

UPDATE:

According the Washington Post:

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 24 -- The Washington Redskins are planning to attempt to trade disgruntled wide receiver Laveranues Coles if they can obtain salary cap relief by reworking the contract of offensive lineman Chris Samuels, sources said yesterday.