Happy Anniversary to this here blog plus some News & Comment

Here's to the first year of Tripping the Life Fanatic. Yeah, there have been some good times but there was a bit of an abandonment issue with me and the blog near the end of 2007 but I think that those have been resolved (albeit from an unexpected Super Bowl loss).

This upcoming year, there will be a continued dedication to more quality content including the return of the Fanatical Reviews and possibly (make that definitely) an announcement of where I will be writing next at a place that you may or may not expect.

Now, for the news and comment where breaking up is the new hook-up:

• Jimah (or Sarmy depending on your point of view) are splitsville! The caustic couple have called it quits after five years. How can that be? They were supposed to be the Newman/Woodward of our generation. Maybe Silverman saw the writing on the wall (Leno to ABC; Kimmel bumped back to 1230 EST or later) and decided she didn't want to be attached to a plumeting star.
• Billy Packer and CBS are done after 34 years and I cannot shout loud enough from the tallest mountain top - FINALLY!! This guy has an ego the size of Montana and the appeal of a sewer shark. I hated hearing his foul voice during the first week of April when the last three games of College Basketball season were playing. His pompous and monotone delivery mixed with his agenda against Big Ten Basketball made me wish for Pro-ACC Dickie V. Speaking of the always on Vitale, you should be next, sir. Don't buy that 2-year subscription to the Mag just yet.
  

Sphere: Related Content

Former Gator Dupay arrested with rape and kidnapping

It appears that trouble just seems to follow one Teddy Dupay. First, it was the criminal assault - oops, sorry, the Cobra Kai-style leg sweep of Mateen Cleaves during the 2000 NCAA Championships. Then, it was the quick dismissal of Dupay from the U of F basketball team the very next year due to possible gambling activities. And now, the former "chippy sparkplug"-labelled point guard has been charged with felony rape, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping in the state of Utah.

Details currently are one-sided due to Dupay's lack of counsel at the time of arrest; although, he did admit in court that he and the victim (a former girlfriend of two years) got a little rough. But yet from the info obtained by the investigators attached to the case, the victim had two fractured ribs, bruises on her arm, shoulder and thigh, a swollen left eye and scratches on her back due to Dupay hitting and kicking her prior to the rape.

But there is one person who may still be on this guy's side - his former coach. Here's a telling quote from Billy Donovan, speaking at the time of Dupay's dismissal from the team back in 2001:

"I love Teddy," Donovan said. "There are people who do things wrong, but I will stand by him the rest of his life. I think he knows in his heart that I'm behind him. I'll miss not having him around, but our relationship will go on for a long, long time."

I wonder if Donovan would like to take those words back just like he did when he backed out of the Orlando job.

Sphere: Related Content

Sweet 16 - Michigan State versus Memphis

With this tonight's game with Memphis, the Spartans have four possible scenarios. Three of them do not lead to a positive result:

• The game is a physical one and the refs decide to call the play tight. End Result: The Spartans lose by less than 10
• The game is a run-and-gun affair and Memphis' pressure gets to State's PGs. End Result: The Spartans lose by more than 10
• The game is a close one but the Spartans' Bigs decide to disappear (which has happened more times than not). End Results: The Spartans lose by around 10.

But if you've been listening to all of the prognosticators this week, almost all of them have been picking this scenario:

• The game is a physical one and the refs let both sides bang a little. Memphis' lack of consistant free-throw shooting comes back to haunt them late in the game. End Result: The Spartans win by less than 10.

Case in point, here's some analysis by the worst comb-over since Marv was wearing the toup, Joe Lunardi:

My prediction: The game will be a tough one and both side will have their weaknesses exposed some more (Spartans are scarily inconsistant with both their shot selection and their ball control; Tigers' depth is not the greatest and of course, their free-throws) but at the end, the Spartans should get a few breaks (and calls) and limp away with a 5 point victory.

Sphere: Related Content

How Sweet It Is - Michigan State

Although, my "area of the country" was not treated to the Spartans taking out the Panthers (BTW - it's the fifth straight victory for Izzo and MSU against Big East teams), it was sweet enough to watch the updates on the the crawler at the top of CBS' broadcast while watching UCLA almost lose to Texas A&M. The Worldwide Leader's Andy Katz has a nice write-up on Drew Neitzel (pictured above) and his performance last Saturday.

Next up is the Number 1 seed, Memphis. Do you believe that I'm more scared that prognosticators (Dickie V in particular) are going with the Spartans than I am the actual Tigers themselves. Ugh, I'm not liking the role of the favorite for this team in 2008. and the less that is said about brackets, the better (Thanks G-Town.)

Sphere: Related Content

Sweet Christmas - Temple versus Michigan State

Today at 12:30, Michigan State, the five seed, will tipoff against the Owls of Temple and all I've heard is how the tandem of Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas might be too strong for the Spartans. This game has become a predictable 5-12 upset of most of the prognosticators.

Well, I mihgt not get paid for my opinion (yet) but how can these people think that the Big Ten doesn't offer the same type of team that Temple is - high-tempo, hard man-to-man. It just doesn't make sense why anyone would think that a team built to run it out of the gym (State) would be tripped up by a decidedly weaker Atlantic-10 tourney winner.

The predecition - State 80-60

Sphere: Related Content

"Fair is foul and foul is fair" - Michigan State versus Wisconsin

I know that this missive might be perceived as sour grapes or a fanboy just pissing and moaning but I'm not about objectivity with this one.

I purposefully stay home to peacefully watch the MSU/Wisconsin game and ended watching an unbelievable display of flopping that would make Manu proud and ticky-tack fouls that made me wonder if the officiating team was working a Donaghy angle on the outcome.

Early on, you could see that the officials were imposing their will on the game by reaching for their whistle seemingly every other time Wisconsin brought the ball down court. By the first half, the Spartans had a meager two point lead but also was averaging about a foul a minute. Hmm, you don't think that those early fouls would have an effect on the second half, would ya?

By the time all was said and done, Michigan State held the Badgers to 17 made shots from the floor (37% from the floor, 29.4% from 3-point line), forced 11 turnovers and got 2 blocks while hitting 42% of their shots including being 47% from 3s, and dishing out 10 assists. That's a recipe for success against the very consistent and tough Wisconsin team. But the Spartans lost dramatically in the one area of the game that they could not control - fouls. Wisconsin only committed 18 total fouls resulting in 19 free throws while Michigan State had four player foul out and had a total of 30 fouls, resulting in 37 free throw attempts. The only reason that the Badgers only won by two was that they were a shade over 70% from the line.

At least the Spartans will get a chance to prove themselves in the NCAA Tourney against a non-Hightower led crew. But for this Big Ten semi-final game against the Badgers, the old witches in Macbeth were right - "Fair is foul and foul is fair".

Sphere: Related Content