The State of Hawkeye Nation

Last Saturday night the Iowa Football team had about everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Anytime you spot a team 14 points to start and have your special teams play not so special you shouldn't win. On top of that the Hawks were playing in front of a hostile crowd, and everything I have read and seen thanks to Youtube you would have thought Iowa was playing in the Arizona Prison League. I am pretty sure that I will never attend a game down there, but i'm pretty sure after this past Saturday Iowa will never return there for a non-conference game. Apparently in Arizona sportsmanship doesn't exist. I know not everything is perfect in Iowa City either, but I have never witnessed in my 15 years as a season ticket holder to Iowa the things I saw and heard on Youtube of the treatment Iowa fans received at Arizona. Between there fans constantly using profanity towards Iowa fans and this includes kids and 80 year old Iowa fans as well. There fans were verbally threatening Iowa Fans, and continued after the game when the media was trying to talk to Iowa coaches and players at the endzone. But this is the same school that was throwing objects at Oregon Fans and players just a year ago, knocking an Oregon Cheerleader out with a water bottle that was thrown. So stay classy Arizona, maybe we will get to see you again in Pasadena, thankfully that will be a neutral site game and not inside the prison walls of Arizona Stadium.
But Back to the Hawkeyes. So Iowa has lost a game where everything went wrong that could go wrong. One thing about the Ferentz era is when Iowa loses a game, they improve quite a bit for the next game. This lose to Arizona does nothing to the goal of winning the Big Ten Conference title. In 2002 Iowa lost to Iowa State, and in 2004 Iowa lost to Arizona State which was a brutual beat down of 44-7. So the goal or prize is still obtainable. Iowa does lose Jewell Hampton for the year, but Marcus Coker the freshman from Maryland will get to showcase what he can do as Adam Robinson's backup. We never knew what Shonn Greene was going to be able to do, and we didn't know what Robinson, and Brandon Wegher were going to be able to do last year either, yet Iowa was just fine. Under Ferentz the motto has always been next man in, so that is what they will do, and move on.

Slacker Sports is now on Twitter

Thats right, Slacker Sports is on Twitter as of today (8/28/10). I have so many thoughts and points throughout the day, so I thought I would bring Slacker sports to twitter. Maybe this will help expand Slacker Sports. Over the past year Slacker Sports has had visitors from Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, and many more countries. Slacker Sports gets visitors from many states as well. For some reason Slacker Sports is a hit in Tennessee. The tag is SlackerSports for Twitter.

Quick Hits

There are a couple of the things that I would like to touch on. The Florida Gators, Chad Ocho Cinco, and Marcus Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan.

Earlier this week the Florida Gators had 2 freshman by the names of Ronald Powell, and Dominque Easley boycott practice. Apparently these 2 highly taunted freshman players were upset at the way they were treated by the coaches on special teams on Monday night. It gets better, these 2 along with Sharif Floyd were center of attention on media day because these 3 highly taunted players made comments that make head coaches cringe. Dominque told the media that Ronald was like Chris Bosh, Sharif is like Dwayne Wade, and I am like Lebron James. Yes, 3 players that are freshman who haven't even played a snap of Division 1 football is comparing themselves to 3 players that are professional athletes and are all-stars. All I have to say is I am thankful that I will never hear something like that out of Iowa City. So Dominque and Ronald got their feelings hurt at practice on monday night, then boycotted practice, and even threatened to transfer. I don't care if you are a highly touted 5 star recruit coming in, last time I checked you are at one of the best programs in the SEC, and country. The head coach has won some titles, they are called National Titles, and he has won everywhere he has been. So for you, who hasn't proven anything yet, to think you are all high and mighty. If my name was Urban Meyer, I would say bye bye, good luck at Central Florida, because nobody is going to want you now, have fun competing for Conference USA titles while us Gators will be playing for National Titles. Urban Meyer did say that "you have 25 new guys and they think they will dominate like they did in high school. They have no idea what is about to hit them".What has happened to these kids? I got yelled at by the coaches, and teammates at times in high school, and I still showed up the next day.

If you ever wanted to know why Michael Jordan's son's will never be NBA stars, I have the answer. Most star athletes have to work hard to get where they are. Some have to work extremely hard because they may not have the same freakish talent. Couple examples, about 8 years ago, you could say Tracy McGrady has the same talent as Kobe Bryant. Differences is Kobe worked harder, found that mental edge, and became a star. McGrady I don't think did anything, but sign contracts for a lot of money. Kobe wanted to win, McGrady seemed find playing for less talented teams for more money. So Marcus Jordan had put on his twitter account that he spent $35,000 in one night at Haze nightclub in Las Vegas. The 19 year old sophomore guard at Central Florida is being investigated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Marcus doesn't have to work hard to make the NBA, he is already living like a NBA millionaire. Michael may want to cut back his allowance.

Here is a positive story that nobody will tell you because they only report the bad. Chad Ocho Cinco has his own Cereal that is coming out Sept. 7th at Kroger Grocery Stores and on-line. All proceeds go to Feed The Children program. He may be an ego-maniac, but he is doing something good too.

1st Annual Big 12 Conference Preview

I will be doing a Big Ten Conference Preview that is more in depth than the Big 12. I was not far off at all with my predictions with the Big Ten a year ago. We will see how I do with the Big 12 as I don't know it as well as the Big Ten, but here it is.

Big 12 North
1. Nebraska. They are lucky they are in the North, they might as well have a bulls-eye on their helmet, every team and away fans will want to beat Nebraska for leaving the conference.
2.  Missouri - They return quite a few players, will be much better this year, and Pinkel will show that he can coach somewhat.
3. Colorado - Its now or never for coach Hawkins. He has a lot of players coming back from a disappointing season in 09, but his job is on the line this year thanks to the paycheck written by PAC-10.
4. K-State - Wildcats have a big powerful Running back that will be their key player, but its still K-State.
5. Iowa State - They are coming off of a 7-6 season and a bowl win in Paul Rhoads first year, call it a miracle, but not happening this year. They play at Iowa, and get Oklahoma and Texas back to back weekends, you won't find another program that gets that every time like ISU does. They will be better than Kansas though.
6. Kansas -They are back to being a basketball school, at least for now. They did land Turner Gill as their new head coach, he did an outstanding job at Buffalo, apparently he likes coaching at the worst locations in the country.

Big 12 South
1. Oklahoma - The Sooners return from a season they would like to forget by punishing everybody. They are lead by a QB that got an early start to his career due to Sam Bradford getting hurt last year, and that will pay off big time for the Sooners.
2. Texas - Not this year for the Longhorns, they will be coming in with a QB that got National Title experience, but not a season like the Sooners QB. Texas won off the field this year in keeping the Big 12 together and filling up their bank account, so they will be easy on others this year.
3. Texas A&M - They are A&M, they are content for being middle of the pack when they could be as big or bigger than the 2 above them. If they would have went to the SEC, they would have become the powerhouse of the state, but they like being little brother to Texas, so enjoy being average.
4. Texas Tech - They are going from Air attack to Ground attack. Tommy Tuberville was very successful at Auburn, we will see how he does in West Texas, and changing a team's philosophy big time.
5. Baylor - This is really their chance to shine and go to a bowl game. They could be number #4 in the south this year, but when you are use to losing, and losing a lot, its hard to change the culture. 
6. Oklahoma State - This team lost a lot of talent, and its going to be a long year in Stillwater. You may not see a team drop as much as this team from one year to the next.

Oklahoma will win the last Big 12 Conference Title game in Dallas, TX over Nebraska who will be going to the Big Ten next year.
 

NCAA Football Probations are Not Fair

You may be saying, whats wrong with NCAA probations. Here is the problem I have with it, take USC Trojans. They got handed a 2 year bowl probation, and limited scholarships that they can give out. Most people are saying finally something is being done with USC, they cheat and now it has been proven. Here is my issue with it, they are being punished for things that happened when Reggie Bush played there. Reggie Bush is going on year 5 of his NFL career. He has been playing pro football for over 4 seasons going on 5. There isn't one player at USC that was even there when Reggie Bush was there, yet they have to pay the punishment while Reggie Bush is in a 6 year $52.5 million contract. Seems fair doesn't it? It makes no sense whatsoever. The head Coach Pete Carroll even left USC for the Seattle Seahawks. So the player and the head  coach that were present during the so-called violation are not affected by it, just the kids that were playing high school football when it took place. I understand that the University should be penalized if they were aware, but to punish players that had nothing to do with it while the player that had everything to do with it is sitting in a multi-million dollar mansion playing in the NFL gets nothing? That doesn't cut it for me.

Spain Goes for First World Cup on Sunday

Spain beat Germany on Wednesday 1-0 to go on to the World Cup Final this Sunday against the Netherlands. For Americans, its hard for us to truly know what this is like for most of these countries. We have NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB. We get so connected to our regional teams in those leagues that sometimes when we have a USA team competing we still don't have that National pride that other countries have. When we watch Team USA basketball, I think we expect to win, and if we don't it doesn't bother us like our team losing the NBA Finals does. If my Cubs are having a bad season AKA like right now, then I can focus on Football coming up and it starts before baseball even ends. Soccer in Spain is a way of life, its pride, and they believe they are the best in the world, and they won't hear it otherwise. I spent 2 weeks in Spain in May. I attended a Soccer promotion they had going on at a park, and people in Sevilla were excited then for the World Cup. While I was in Spain, Athletico Madrid won a Europa League Cup, Barcelona FC won the Spanish League title, and Sevilla FC won the Copa Del Rey Cup. I didn't need ESPN Sportscenter to inform me, because their was people celebrating in the streets. Their was fireworks, car horns, and screaming in the streets. Chipiona, Spain is 697 miles from Barcelona, 12 hour drive. Yet their was a car parade of fans hanging out their windows screaming of joy and honking their horns as they drive down every street to let everyone know that Barcelona FC had won the title over Real Madrid. They don't have other sports to get into, this is it. Spain is good in Basketball, but it has nothing on Soccer. They live and breath soccer. Its their national past time, and they have a very rich tradition in Soccer, just have never been able to put it all together to get into the World Cup Final, let alone win it. But on Sunday, a Nation that is very proud, will try to prove to the world they are the best Nation in the game of Soccer. They will be patient, and will control the ball to wear down their opponent, and strike when the opportunity is there. You will not find a better passing team than the Spaniards. They make the game look easy, and have a great skill of dribbling the ball. Spain will feature their scoring machine David Villa who has had a wonderful World Cup. Xavi Hernandez is known as the World's best mid-fielder and he shows why every time he touches it down by the goal in traffic. If Spain can get their other superstar Fernando Torres who has been struggling to score, if they can get him going, its going to be all red and yellow in the streets of Spain all night Sunday into Monday.

Spain's national team (Bottem L-R) Santiago Cazorla, Xavier Hernandez, David Villa, Marcos Senna, Raul Albiol, and (Top L-R) Iker Casillas, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Xabier Alonso and Fernando Torres pose for a team picture during the FIFA2010 World Cup Qualifier match between Spain and Turkey at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 28, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. Spain won the match 1-0.

(March 28, 2009 - Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe)

Lebron Could Never Top the Legacy of MJ in Chicago

Lebron James will be playing for Miami Heat next year. Not the Cavs, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, and everybody else who thought they had a shot. Personally, I think Chicago would have been a good choice for Lebron, they have a lot of potential in the future with their young players. One problem for Lebron, Michael Jordan. You can't fill his shoes, you shouldn't even be allowed to wear his jersey number, and you will never win 6 titles like he did. Lebron could never live with the fact that he would never live up to Jordan. He would be reminded daily with the statue outside the United Center, and the banners above him. The fans of Chicago would support Lebron, but it would never be what Jordan was to the city of Chicago.
Cleveland's owner has thrown Lebron under the bus by saying he quit on the team Vs. the Celtics in the playoffs. Yet he would have been ecstatic if the same Lebron would have chosen Cleveland yesterday over Miami, the same player who apparently quit. Cleveland will go back to being an average if not below average franchise, plus who would go there after the owner bad mouthed a player that brought more money to him and his franchise. People in Cleveland also need to realize that most athletes don't play for their hometown in professional sports, so get over it.
I think Lebron was over the top with his Decision making and national TV spotlight, but apparently it was all for a good cause and money was given to Boys and Girls Club. Lebron would have gotten more money going elsewhere, so it wasn't about money as he will have the same amount as Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. I think Lebron has a huge ego, most stars do, so it will be interesting to see how the 3 of them will co-exist on the same team, wanting their touches. What is crazy in the whole deal is most mega stars don't switch teams, and by going to Miami he may win some titles, but I don't see Miami being his last stop. I think Lebron wants to make sure he gets a title as soon as he can, but I think he knows by winning it with 2 other All-Stars in a different city will not feel the same as if he would have won in Cleveland.

If he truly wanted to be in the class of Jordan and Kobe, I think he should have went to New York. If the Knicks get Carmelo Anthony next year, he could have already been there and formed the foundation with Stoudamire. Making New York City relevant again would be huge for the NBA, and would have boosted his career and legacy if he could win a title there. But maybe in 5 years he will go to New York City, because I'm pretty sure Cleveland will not want him back.