College Football Previews: Top Ten Games To Watch

There is an old saying about teams circling certain match-ups on their calender in anticipation of the game ahead. Fans do the same thing but usually in their head, if you are using the red sharpie on your refrigerator magnet, you are going a tad too far. Every year when the schedule comes out for football, there are certain games that you look forward to and want to do everything in your power to make sure you watch the action. They will ultimately not be the best games you saw at season's end, but sometimes anticipation can be the greatest form of pleasure. Read on for our top ten please know that there were many honorable mentions.

Preseason Coaches' Poll rankings are in parentheses.

10. Alabama(5) at Ole Miss(10)- October 10th


The Grove will be a rocking and raucous place this year (more so than usual) due to the increased expectations and top ten rankings the Rebels have received. In October, the reigning SEC west champions come into town. Many are wondering if the burden of these high hopes will ultimately come crashing down on the Rebs but a few things they have in their favor is getting this game at home and the veteran leadership at quarterback of Jevan Snead. Snead probably would have gathered some preseason SEC votes if it was not mandated under papal law that Tebow receive all of them. Also having the lightning bolt that is Dexter McCluster in the backfield helps as well. Alabama will certainly face a challenge of replacing John Parker Wilson behind center, and 5.9 YPR back Glen Coffee. Mark Ingram was great as a freshman last year, but is he ready to take on the full load with a slightly weaker O-line? This could also be an interesting game psychologically for the Tide considering they have the huge opening weekend match-up against Virginia Tech and then play FIU and North Texas before facing lighterweight SEC foes Arkansas and Kentucky. If they barrel through those first 5 they could be overconfident going into this game or if they drop the first one to the Hokies they could be facing a let down like the one they had in last year's Sugar Bowl after their title hopes slipped away last year.

9. Utah(18) vs. BYU(24)- November 28th

This game will not have any sway on who plays for the national title, but a BCS bowl berth may well be on the line. I made it a point to catch this game last year and the "Holy War" as it is dubbed did not disappoint. So far from the sports fan consciousness was this contest that it was not even on national television and the Utes were undefeated and the Cougars ranked. It was only on the Mountain West network so we had to forage out to find a bar that would carry it. The great thing about rivalry games, even the ones that are not as nationally known is that the teams generally do not like each other and give maximum effort to destroy the other team. This also gave a good glimpse at what the Utes could do on the field. I had seen them squeak by TCU but their 48-24 win over BYU showcased their all-around talent. It was that talent along with the guidance of Kyle Willingham at head coach that propelled them to a 31-17 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. The Utes were snubbed on a national championship and the Mountain West Conference did its best to propose that all teams would have a fair shot at playing for the title but even Congress can do nothing against the behemoth that is the BCS system. Both Utah and BYU are challenging themselves out of conference but it is unlikely that either will go undefeated but if they somehow do then this game will again be for a shot at the big boys for bragging rights but no title.

8. Florida(1) at LSU(9)- October 10th


This game between the past 3 national champions will take place at night in Tiger Stadium. The past time the Gators came to Tiger Stadium at night LSU came away with the victory on their way to the title. There will be much hype surrounding this game with an emphasis on the at night aspect of it. Something mystical must happen when the sun goes down in Baton Rouge because people certainly seem to think playing at home at night gives the Tigers an extreme advantage. Others postulate that it simply allows the fans to do even more disgusting and degrading actions that might otherwise be more conspicuous in the light of day.


7. USC(4) at Notre Dame(23)- October 17th

I have this as one of my top games to watch this season for one reason and one reason only; I want to witness the Trojans obliterate the Irish and snap their backs once again in front of their home fans. Year after year the Irish are given preferential treatment by the media, their own network NBC, and even the pollsters. If there is any excuse to get them in the top 25 they will be. Lou Holtz is the embodiment of such ridiculous notions. He has picked the Irish to face Florida in the national championship game. While the Notre Dame schedule is on the easy side, they would have to beat USC for that situation to even enter the realm of possibility. If Notre Dame somehow makes it to the USC match-up undefeated 5-0 then there will be a lot of chirping coming out of South Bend. I hope it happens, because it will make the crushing of their dreams much more sweeter. The Trojans have won the last 7 games in the rivalry with the only close one being the Reggie Bush pushing Leinart game 34-31 in 2005. Other than that game the average score in the match-up over the USC winning streak has been 41-14. The hot air Irish fans will be blowing prior to this game will be amusing and one can only sit back with hands placed in Montgomery Burns position and bellow out an "excellent" when SC destroys them yet again.

6. Tennessee at Florida(1)- September 19th


Congrats to the Vols for being the only unranked team on my list. They received 2 votes in the coaches' poll and 15 in the AP. New coach Lane Kiffin has been running his mouth and speaking boldly and if there is one thing we know in the SEC, it is that Urban Meyer is a thin-skinned dude. Not only that, he is more than willing to embarrass any team that he feels has offended his delicate sensibilities. Last year instead of kneeling after having the game well in hand he attempted a TD pass against Miami in the closing moments and even brought out the field goal unit just to cover the spread. After Mark Richt and Georgia sent their entire team out onto the field in a Bulldog win Urban punished the Bulldogs 49-10 last year in a game where he did nottake his foot off the brakes. The list goes on and on and even in the national title game last year Meyer was straining to score on the final drive with the game won. So you can only imagine what Meyer and the Gators will have in store for Kiffin and the Vols when they come into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in September. Pete Carroll at least puts on the breaks sometimes, no such luck with Urban. This is going to get ugly and get ugly quick and the car wreck analogy is most definitely fitting here. I will not be able to look away.

5. Georgia(13) at Oklahoma State(11)- September 5th


I have to give a lot of credit to UGA, they are willing to pack up an head out of their region to go play tough opponents from out of their conference. While other SEC powers fear what may lurk beyond the eastern half of the country unless they are called to play in a BCS title game, Georgia makes another foray into the latter time zones. Last year Georgia went to Arizona State and came away with the victory but this year will be a sterner test. The Bulldogs head to Stillwater to take on the T. Boone PickensOklahoma State Cowboys the first weekend of the season. Adding to the difficulty for Georgia will be dealing with the loss of Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno but Joe Cox seems to be up to the task. Let's just say Cox is not afraid to put himself out there. The Cowboys are going to be favored to win this one and look to improve on a 9-4 season from a year ago. Lead by Zac Robinson at quarterback and Kendall Hunter the offense should continue to thrive but the Cowboys gave up an average of 47 points in their losses. Mike Gundy added Bill Young as defensive coordinator and is hoping that will be the difference in a season where OK State could contend for a Big XII title.

4. Alabama(5) vs. Virginia Tech(7)- September 5th
This game was headliner for our ACC vs. SEC preview so allow me to quote myself:

The 2009 season is another chance for the ACC to take a step in the right direction and it all begins where it began last year, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Once again Alabama comes forth from the SEC, but this time Virginia Tech comes calling from the ACC. The Hokies won the first BCS game by an ACC team other than Florida State last year and are ranked in the top ten. They have been the most consistent ACC team since the league expanded, winning 3 in the past 5 years. A lot is riding on this game for Virginia Tech and their outside chances at a title shot, but perhaps just as much is on the line for the conference. Alabama is not as strong as last year, they will be starting a new quarterback and their line is not as formidable as last year but they are still a dangerous team.

3. Ohio State(6) at Penn State(8)- November 7th


Just like last year this game is expected to determine who wins the Big Ten. And like last year both teams could be vying for a spot in the BCS title game. Also Ohio States title chances hinge on a game with USC in September but this time the game is in Columbus. It must be deja vu because people are talking about the softness of Penn State's out of conference schedule again. And just like last year I expect this game to be a hard-fought affair that is close to the very end in Happy Valley.

2. USC(4) at Ohio State(6)- September 12th

Last year this was supposed to be the game of games, but it ended up being USC trouncing all over the Buckeyes' title hopes. The hype coming out of Columbus about Terrelle Pryor and his speed and his advancement as a quarterback has been non-stop. With USC having a first timer under center, the Horseshoe can be a daunting place to play and may give the Buckeyes the edge. The Trojan's defense may not be as strong as last year but it will still be stout and Pryor will have to put points on the board in order to keep this one close. Ohio State fans are looking for any reason to beat their chest nationally after the losses last year to USC and Texas and the two losses in the BCS title games.

1. Texas(2) vs. Oklahoma(3)- October 17th


Last year's Red River Rivalry game was a classic with Texas winning 45-35 yet somehow it was the Sooners playing in Miami for the title. Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford return once again and there is no reason to think this year's game will not contain the same fireworks as last year's record high scoring game. Both teams have many pitfalls in their schedule but it could very well come down to who wins this game. Come to think of it, last year it did not come down to who won this game. So throw all those title implications out the window, it is still a great game between two heated rivals in a terrific setting at the Cotton Bowl.

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It's Our One Year Anniversary!

One year ago today, fueled by a desire to share our insights on sports, Catfish and I embarked on the adventure that is The Amphibious Sports Duo. After introducing myself, I typed our first post about the Federer-Nadal epic Wimbledon match. After reading this post again I realize I really did not spell, grammar, run-on sentence, or diction check the article very well or at all. Yet, it was a beginning and soon Catfish made his appearance by stating some of his mantras and it was off into great unknown. The main reason we began the blog was because we wanted a location to store much of our material and brainstorming. Our ultimate goal is to be able to take the general thoughts, themes and ideas here on the site and bring them to light in the form of a show on radio. While real world obligations continue to require our attention, we have done our best to attempt to entertain, inform, and provoke thought through our content.

The addition of the Shackleford Files, our podcast, gave us the opportunity to be hear and not just seen. Our last official podcast was two and a half months ago but we have been working in the studio, putting material on tape and (hopefully) perfecting how we work together. The ASD also produced a podcast for our local NBA team, the Charlotte Bobcats, for the blog Bobcats Planet. You can listen to all nine Bobcats Planet Radio episodes here. Catfish and I really had some fun putting those introduction pieces in and just like the Shackleford Files, the show took off once we got in studio together. There is no doubt we have improved from where we started in this respect and are seeking an opportunity in the sports community.

So where does the blog go from here? Do we change our format? Do we do exclusively podcasts? Will we pursue advertising? Even we do not know the answer to that question at the moment (but we can go left or right). Both Catfish and I are trying to get a foothold of what our vision for the blog, our recordings, and where we are in life is going to be. But before we go forward, to mark today's significance we are going to look back. Here are the top ten blog posts from our first year. These posts were chosen based on certain criteria: how well we think they represent our philosophy, the entertainment value, the extent with which they were linked to other blogs, and our subjective opinions. I know you're thinking that how could we possibly choose from our over 600 posts, but somehow we were able to. So enjoy the reminiscing after the break.

10. Tennessee Swingin' September 2, 2008

In this masterpiece by Catfish, he was inspired by the University of Tennessee's epic collapse at UCLA on Labor Day. With some photoshopping and a dash of Swingers dialogue Cat attempted to bring Phil Fulmer up to speed on the problems with not running the ball and letting a third string QB march down the field on you. I guess ole Phil never got the message as he stepped down after the year which ushered in the Lane Kiffin era.







9. Top Ten Trick Plays August 25, 2008

One of our first Top Tens was by Catfish as he caught wind of Western Carolina having a contest which invited fans to draw up a play for the football team and if your play is picked you could win prizes depending on the result. I do not know how the contest shook out, but Cat's mention of the contest along with the subsequent list of trick plays got us our first mention in the blogosphere. Sadly the Fiesta Bowl moment at number 1 has been taken off of YouTube so I put in a replacement vid.


8. BCS Afterthoughts January 9, 2009

Florida ensured my streak of teams I despise winning championships would continue by beating Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The day after the game, many people were talking about Thom Brennaman talking about Tim Tebow. I chimed in my two cents which got a mention in Extra Mustard and a comment from an obvious Florida fan. I never got to retort to the comment that I used a vague stat stating "A large portion of the viewing audience". Sorry I was not scientific enough to produce numbers, but if you read any papers, blogs, listen to radio, or are not a UF fan, you found Thom's commentary ridiculous. I do not need a solid stat to know that buddy.

7. The Refs Hit Miami Again December 3, 2008

This post concerned a basketball game in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge between Miami and Ohio State. Of course these two teams have a controversial history so when Miami's All-ACC, scoring machine and second-round draft pick by the San Antonio Spurs (love that team for him) Jack McClinton was tossed out of the game for love-tapping a Buckeye after Jack got poked in the eye, it seemed like deja vu to an incredibly lesser degree. Afterwords we learned that the rule as it stood in the NCAA is that if the refs go to the replay and see contact they have to eject, they just cannot call a technical. It was incredibly lame and cost a lot of pro scouts money who flew down there to see McClinton. I thought this play could possibly cost the Canes a tourney bid come March but it turns out the team outside of McClinton played so horrid that losing this game did not even really matter. Miami went to the NIT and lost in the Quarterfinals while Ohio State made the big dance but fell to Sienna due to a double order of onions. The connection made in the post was not lost to the blogosphere as we got a nod on a few blogs including Deadspin.

6. Catfish Turns Heel November 12, 2008

In his quest to be just and fair about his beloved Tar Heels, Catfish concocted the most likely reasons Carolina would not cut the nets down in Detroit. I have to give him credit because this was early in the season when the Heels seemed unstoppable and on the possible path to a perfect season. He took some heat from his Tar Heel brethren but got the ASD's first link on Deadspin and more importantly to him, a championship.








5. The LeBron Situation June 18, 2009

This was only posted one week ago, but in my mind, it was some of my finest work. I cannot remember exactly how the idea for this Pulp Fiction homage got in my head, but I sat at my desk at work and cranked it out. The idea basically was that the Cavs need to make some offseason noise in regards to their roster and somehow Winston Wolfe came to mind as a perfect problem solver. The Cavs have since landed Shaq but it was probably not in the manner portrayed in the post...probably. If you have never seen the movie or do not count it as one of your favorites, then the angle might be lost on you, but otherwise it's an entertaining look at the situation.



4. The Evolution of the Press April 3, 2009

This is probably one of our biggest thought provoking pieces that we have posted. As much as we love the pop culture references and less than tasteful jokes, at our core these are the type of issues we find relevant when it comes to sports and society. This is the kind of discussion we would push for if given our own forum to the masses. Catfish explained the past, present, and future of how sports information is going to be obtained and interpreted. It was linked around the blogosphere as it should have been.

3. The Genesis: Point and Counterpoint July 7, 2008

This argument between Catfish and I (click the "Point" and "Counterpoint" separately for each side of the debate) is really what got the ball rolling for the blog. We wrote the opinions about the 2008 NBA Finals and their legacy in a forum thread and after talking, decided we should begin a blog to house debates such as this. Catfish was contending that the Celtics win over the Lakers had the most impact on individual legacies since the Bulls' first championship in 1991. He came at this from both sides; the Celtics big three and Doc Rivers, and the wounded legacies of Kobe and Phil. He made a strong case and of course this is neglecting the Lakers' triumph this year which alters some of that history. My contention that it was the two years where Jordan was flailing at curve balls where so many legacies were defined. Between Hakeem and the Rockets going back-to-back and all the other stars that failed to seize a title while Jordan was away (Stockton-Malone, Barkely, Ewing, etc.), those two years left a strong mark on NBA lore. Up to this point we had discussed creating a forum for our debates such as these and attempting to pursue careers in it, but it was this particular correspondence that put it into action. Not exactly letters between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, but it's who we are.

2. Carolina's Big Cat Missing October 13, 2008

Catfish made this right-on-point poster after the Panther's Julius Peppers had a less than inspiring game (cannot remember which one, there were many). It has long been a hot topic in Panthers' Country what should be done with number 90 and the debate rages on. Even though for a moment against the Saints it appeared the old Pep was back, this poster still holds true in the Queen City today. The poster is truly a great work of art and got the ASD some pub on the local sports radio station.






1. Bob Johnson Embarrasses Bobcats On CNBC October 15, 2008

I am loathe to make our number one post a negative story, but all the factors of this post combined makes it our top one. Catfish found the video footage of Bobcats owner and Charlotte sports hate target Bob Johnson on CNBC's show "Squawk Box" making such epic statements as "put the right players on the field." Nobody really caught the interview which also featured Mark Cuban and in the morning Catfish had the blogosphere and the local sports radio sharing a chortle over the cluelessness of the Bobcats owner. The story got linked on Ball Don't Lie, SLAM Online, as well as others. Considering this and that we here at the ASD covered the Bobcats closely this year and even had our own podcast dedicated to them, this post makes our number one spot.

So there you have it, our top ten from our Paper Anniversary. I'm sure all seven of you that read us faithfully may have other articles that stood out for you. Feel free to share which ones in the comments. We look on the second year as one of great hope and possibly, finally a positive and stable one. To once again quote Kodos, "...we must move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!”

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Top Ten: Worst Goodbyes You Can Get From A Girl You Are Interested In

If one thing is true in the messed up world of contemporary relationships, it's that we are all looking for and interpreting signs. This especially is the case when we first meet someone or are trying to determine if they are even remotely interested in pursuing romantic relations with a beast as detestable as yourself. The critical moment of deciphering the ancient code of attraction often reaches its seminal moment when you and said love interest part ways. The farewell body language you get from another can let you know if they are into an amorous encounter the next time you meet or if you have earned a one-way trip to the friends zone. This is of course assuming that you do not act like a jerkoff in the first place. Today's top ten travels slightly outside the realm of sports and the explanantion of that should in no way indicate that I have fallen victim to one or more of these goodbyes recently....ermm... the list after the break.

10. Ass Out Hug

The thinking may be that if the kiss is the best indicator of romantic interest, then a hug is the next best thing. However, not all hugs are created equal; there is a big difference between a long, tight squeeze and an awkward meeting of arms while keeping the crotch area as far away as possible. You can read this one as "I'm comfortable enough to touch you, but in no way do I want to mix it up downstairs." Of course it may just end up being awkward because the other does not know you very well so this is truly the best worst case scenario as it gets. Of course, Vince Vaughn's explanation maybe says it best:



9. Arm Around the Neck

This is another one that can be somewhat hard to figure out. There is prolonged contact with the arms, but not the enclosure that a hug offers. She is willing to open herself up with one arm, but something tells her throwing that other one up would be too much. A good way to tell if it is going well or not is what her hand is doing; if it is dangling it means she is comfortable but in nor way enamoured. If the hand is clutched firmly it means she trusts you and possibly deems you a figure of security. If she clutches and squeezes and/or rubs the neck or shoulder, it's a very good sign. If there is a reluctance to grip with the fingers, that is not a good sign. Unless she is sauced and unable to move without your help, you would much rather have both her appendages affixed to your person when you bid her adieu.

8. Forearm Squeeze

Here is where the list starts to take a sharp turn downhill. Nobody wants to be faced with these farewells if they are interested in a lass. This particular move is one that is not alltogether horrible because I consider squeezing a good indicator of interest, but you want this to occur during your time together, not at the end. If you get this in the middle of a conversation, that is a huge plus sign, but when the culmination of the time spent together is to touch you on a neutral part of your anatomy, not so much.

7. Playful Bicep Punch

Groan, unless the girl you are seeking has a very playful side when it comes to signs of attraction, this is not what you want in a goodbye. The other factor about this one is how hard she hits you. If she really wails you it is far better than if she gives a soft graze of the humerus. Naturally nobody wants to get Sacramoned but the arm better be left with a welt and a nice tingling sensation or she might have well just said, "See you around pal."

6. Pat on the Back

This is a gesture I associate more with coach, father, or overweight midwestern city councilman wearing suspenders. No obviously the girl is not conveying to you what a wonderful job you did in your encounter, she is telling you in no uncertain terms that you are nice enough to make physical contact, but you better just go on your merry way. There are not too many relationships that start off with a nice slap on the old back.

5. Sideways Peace Sign

Please remember I am doing this from the perspective of a white person. If you get the peace sign thrown out from the side pocket, you immediately feel uncomfortable. She is not wishing you love and flower power or trying to be hip, it is a display to inform you that she has no desire to touch you. The use of this in certain circles may stem from two possibilities: she uses this commonly among her friends or she wanted to send you off as awkwardly as possible. For some reason when I think of this gesture I think of the Chappelle Show "Mad Real World" sketch when the white dude gets thrown out of the loft.

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4. Fist Pound

I believe it was John McGinley in Any Given Sunday who said, "Come on man, give me a pound, knuckle up." I have never witnessed or experienced this but I'm sure it has happened at somewhere along the way. Nothing says turn the car heading for sexytown around faster than colliding metatarsals. It sends a clear message that she views you as a chum and not an object of desire unless your the president.



3. The High Five

Oh how I loathe this one. If your hopes are up, nothing dashes them more than going in for a meaningful goodbye and getting an open palm high five coming your way. Especially when you examine how females high five. The male high five has evolved into more of a handshake almost, it comes from the side and it usually involves a hand clasp (sometimes epic) and other finger gyrations. The female in contrast is usually a flat palm, elbow and arm fixed at a right angle to the torso. This increases the humiliation for the guy when he is hoping for some indicator that this is going to be a profound relationship and he gets the slap hands, especially if it is Borat style. It is very deflating...not that I know from experience or anything...sigh.



2. The Wave

The slapping of hands is bad, but if that palm is out there waving back and forth it has to be worse. Again this falls into the noncontact category of goodbyes which can always be painful. The girl goodbye wave usually consists of the arm tucked into the side with the palm shaking back and forth. A tiny little wave to make you feel just as small and inadequate.



1. "See Ya"

The words are usually said whatever goodbye you get, but in this case we are talking about preparing for some kind of nice goodbye with some show of physical affection but instead she just heads off in some direction while saying "See ya" without even making eye contact. This can go horribly wrong if you already start to make your move toward a hug or kiss or something. You are usually left in the middle portion of your motion as she walks away and gives you a casual farewell for all your troubles. What? You picked up the check too? Wow dude, major /facepalm on that one.

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Top Ten: WTF NCAA Tournament Moments

This time of year always invokes great memories of sporting events gone by. Part of the appeal of March Madness other than the office pool side of things is that you get incredible dramatic sports moments from young athletes and in an chaotic atmosphere. This leads me to the topic of today's top ten list. From the past twenty years which is really when I started to watch and comprehend completely what I was seeing. Some are buzzer-beaters which are the natural choice for amazing moments, but there are also some upsets and individual performances that register on my list. It was hard to narrow it down to ten, but Catfish treats these lists like he is running a police state and anymore than a deca of moments and I would spend time in the ASD Gulag. I threw the runner-ups in honorable mention however. The top ten Whiskey Tango Foxtrot moments are after the break.

10. 1991: Duke Upsets UNLV


It may seem a distant memory to think of Jerry Tarkanian biting his towel on the sidelines, but at the beginning of the 90s, the Runnin' Rebels were the dominant force in college basketball. Having beaten Duke in the finals the previous year 103-73 in an extremely embarrasing loss for the Blue Devils, UNLV was looking to repeat and cement their legacy as one of the greatest teams if not the greatest of all time. UNLV went 27-0 in the regular season and blew threw the West Region by an average of over 17 points. Duke came in as a 2 seed out of the Midwest and was not expected to lose by 30 again, but to be overtaken by the Rebels. The starting roster for the rebels consisted of Larry Johnson (22.7 PPG), Stacey Augmon (16.5PPG), George Ackles, Greg Anthony (8.9 APG), and Anderson Hunt. Duke had its usual cast of characters in Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Christian Laettner, Antonio Lang and Thomas Hill. The Blue Devils did the unthinkable and pulled off the upset 79-77 and then went on to beat Kansas in the final and earn their first national title. This was pretty much the moment that Duke became Duke as we know it today, thanks a lot Rebs.


9. 1999: Harold "The Show" Arceneaux



I do not think a single outstanding performance leaves you shaking your head as much as Harold Arceneaux's NCAA Tournament performance in '99. The Show and his Weber State Wildcats stunned #3 seed North Carolina 76-74 in the first round of the West Region. Arceneaux scored 36 points, including 20 in the second half to lead Weber to the huge upset. In their second round game against the 6 seed Florida, The Show again had a great performance, scoring 32 in an overtime loss 82-74.

After the season, Harold considered entering the NBA draft to strike while the iron was hot. He eventually decided to return to Weber for his senior year, but the Wildcats finished 18-10 and did not make the tournament. Arceneaux was not drafted after the season and came close to a deal with the Jazz but was never offered a contract. After this begins long and winding road of obscure American basketball teams and foreign countries. First The Show played with the Richmond Rhythm of the IBL and the Columbus Riverdragons of the NBDL. His foreign tour included Austrailia, France, Portugal, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Mexico. In 2004 he returned to the US and played for the Utah Snowbears(that should be the Jazz's nickname) of the ABA before the league went under. In 2006 he played for the CBA's Utah Eagles before that league went under as well. The 1999 Tournament was The Show's one shining moment and it was truly a moment because as quickly as he appeared on the national stage, he was gone from the national conscious just as fast. He is the quintessential NCAA tournament one hit wonder.


8. 1997: Arizona Beats Kansas, Then UNC and UK



Much like the 1991 UNLV squad, the 1997 Jayhawks of Kansas were one of the greatest college teams ever assembled in my opinion. Led by Jacque Vaughn, Scott Pollard, Raef LaFrentz, and Paul Pierce, the Jayhawks were 32-1 going into the tournament with their only loss coming in overtime to rival Missouri. The non-NBA players for Kansas were solid as well led by senior Billy Thomas, B.J. Williams and Jerod Haas. Roy Williams had what appeared to be his best shot ever at the title that eluded him many times before.

But in stepped Arizona, the 4 seed in the southeast region. By this point in time, Lute Olson coached teams had developed a bad reputation for bad first round losses over the years. It almost happened to them in this tournament as they trailed South Alabama by ten in the first round but rallied to win and then overcame a similar deficit against College of Charleston in the second round. The Wildcats were a mixture of senior leadership and young exuberance. The former came in the form of Mike Bibby, who led the way at the point. Miles Simon was the crafty veteran with an unorthodox shot that rivaled Shawn Marion's. Simon was also Darryl Strawberry's nephew. Michael Dickerson, A.J. Bramlett, Eugene Edgerson (now with the Globetrotters), the high flying Bennett Davison, and current Dallas Maverick Jason Terry.

Kansas played a horrible game and trailed big but stormed back to put themselves in a position to tie with a 3 but could not get it to go and lost 85-82. Roy Williams would receive the kind of heat that became the norm for him until his title in 2005 with Carolina. Arizona went on to beat Providence in overtime to reach the final four. Once there, they defeated another #1 seed North Carolina in Dean Smith's final game and then beat the defending champion #1 Kentucky Wildcats in overtime to win the national championship completing a truly "Where the f@$% did these guys come from?" tournament. Arizona beat 3 #1 seeds in one tournament for the first time ever and did it against the three of the premiere college programs in history.


7. 1996: John Wallace Tops Georgia

This was one of the craziest games I have ever seen in any sport. The 8 seeded Georgia Bulldogs were coming off an upset of 1 seeded Purdue. Syracuse was the 5 seed and not expected to do much in the tournament. In a sloppy back and forth game where both teams held large leads, Syracuse sent the game into overtime as John Wallace threw a pass in the corner to Jason Cipolla, the Frank Sinatra look-alike and this was the result:



In overtime the teams battled back and forth until Wallace threw in the prayer.



The win propelled the Cuse all the way to the championhsip game where they ultimately fell to Kentucky. Wallace had a Danny Manning type effort throughout and this shot will always live on in Syracuse lore. After the team's win over Kansas in the Elite 8, Al Mcguire my all-time favorite color analyst celebrated with the team in this now famous clip that spawned the battle cry, "The Cuse is in the House, Oh my God oh my God!" Final tidit on this game: Donovan McNabb was a bench player for Syracuse during their run. We miss you Al.




6. 2006: Adam Morrison Let's It Out



If you watched this game live there is no way you could be left dumbfounded after what transpired in the final moments. UCLA's 11 point run in the final minutes shocked Gonzaga, the nation, and All-American Adam Morrison. When J.P. Batista was stripped and UCLA made the go-ahead lay-up, Morrison already began to get emotional. I remember thinking, "There is still time left, no time to cry now, take the last shot." But the final pass went to Batista who got off a decent shot but fell short and led to another year of heartache without a Final Four for Gonzaga. Morrison collapsed on the court after the final buzzer in tears, a move that earned him both respect and mockery from the pundits. UCLA eventually made it to the championship game but fell to Florida. Morrison was drafted 3rd overall a few months later by MJ and the Bobcats....but that did not work out so well. The best part about revisiting this game was the call by the legendary Gus Johnson: "Batista with the caAAATCH!"


5. 2005: Illinois Overcomes 15 Point Deficit In Final Minutes



Illinois had only lost one game all season and was playing in the cozy comforts of Chicago when 3 seed Arizona jumped ahead by 15 with about 4 minutes left to play. Through sheer desperation Deron Williams and Luther Head mounted a comeback for the ages. As I watched this game I kept thinking there was simply no way the Illini would have enough to catch them but thanks to great shooting and a mental breakdown on Arizona's part, they did. In overtime, Wildcats had a few shot sto win it, but it looked all of a sudden as if Arizona forgot how to play basketball. Stoudamire had hit a game-winner against Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16 but he could not do it again here. Also the Wildcats were only down one but did not drive to the basket at all after the first attempts failed and they got the offensive board. A WTF comeback and WTF final shot earns this one the 5 spot on my list.


4. 1996: Princeton Goes Backdoor



UCLA was the defending champs thanks in large part to Tyus Edney's 4.8 second fullcourt dash. The following year in 1996, they were on the wrong end of the improbable. UCLA lost a lot from their championship team but still were an upper tier team heading into their st round game against the Tigers from the Ivy League. In the second to last game legendary head coach Pete Carril would ever coach in his final year at Princeton, the Tigers played the slow it down, work the ball offense and eventually hung in there with the Bruins. With less than a minute left Gabe Lewullis cut backdoor once and then again to beat Charles O'Bannon for the go ahead score. How O'Bannon got taken by the signature play of the Tigers is beyond me, but it led to one of the great upsets and a perfect swan song for Carril.


3. 1992: 2.1 Seconds



This game is cliché I know, but in my opinion it is still the best college basketball game I have ever seen. The things I remember from this game are Pitino's amazing coaching job, the juxtaposition of Jamal Mashburn with the Unforgettables, Laettner having a perfect shooting night, the shoe stomp on Timberlake, Sean Woods ridiculous almost game winner, and of course Thomas Hill's disbelief. This is game is hyped up every March but everytime you relive it, it lives up to that hype. As a kid watching this game from my kitchen, the game and the Laettner shot is one of the ultimate WTF just happened moments.


2. 1993: Chris Webber Needs A TO



Chris Webber will always take the brunt of the blame for this playand he does hold some accountability. But the coaching staff at Michigan should have let the players know they had none left and furthermore, should have had a play ready for Michigan when Webber made that rebound. Webber was the man about it afterwards and accepted full blame. It was a lame ending to what was a thrilling championship game unless you are a Carolina fan. Webber carried the Wolverines and the Fab Five in the second half, and perhaps mental fatigue set in. The result was a championship WTF moment for Michigan although due to certain violations were are supposed to pretend like this game never happened.


1. 2006: George Mason.....seriously



I am a Connecticut fan and have been since I was young since I was born there but I think regardless of that this still has to be one of the biggest WTF moments in sports. George Mason was a solid mid-major, so solid they gained an 11 seed in the tournament. They then proceeded to beat Michigan State in the first round, who is a notoriously good tournament team, then defeat North Carolina. After disposing of Wichita State in the Sweet 16, they faced UCONN. The Huskies would have all five of their starters drafted off this team, they were the most talented team in the country, but their refusal to play as one ultimately bit them. It was not just that though, the Patriots played out of their minds in this game. Even After Denham Brown forced overtime on a crazy reverse layup, George Mason fought back. I cannot explain what is was like to sit there and watch your team getting taken by this group of players from a smaller program that were playing like they were on the Celtics and Lakers of the 80s. Ridiculous shot after shot went down for George Mason and in the end, they earned the first ever mid-major spot in the Final Four. They tied with LSU as the highest seed ever to reach the national semifinals. I could complain about the luck factor or the fact that this game was played in George Mason's home city of Washington D.C but the plain and simple truth is that Connecticut lost this game and I will never understand why. Whiskey.....Tango.....Foxtrot.


Honorable Mention:

1996 Tyus Edney 4.8: Nice defense Mizzou

2001 Hampton over Iowa State: Steve Merfeld gets picked up off the ground; Eustachy not pimpin' (sorry Walt)

1998 Bryce Drew: This is why you practice end of game situations

1998 Arthur Lee and Stanford break Rhode Island's heart: Jim Harrick coaching URI here, please watch Mark Madsen doing his celebration on the 3 point play.

2008 Stephen Curry: Even though he will not make an appearance this year, last year's run was jaw-dropping at times.

2005 We get Pittsnogled: The sweet 16 game against Wake and then West Virginia's Elite 8 against Louisville some of the most entertaining games by any team.

1992 James Forrest .8 seconds: Holy mackerel!

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Top Ten: Individual Tarheel Performances Against Duke

No game inspires more cliches than the Carolina Duke rivalry. Tonight, when Soulja Roy leads his troops into battle, you're guaranteed to hear how far apart the two shools are, see the Jason Capel shot (isn't it funnt how so many Duke fans love this moment, and it was a loss and Coach K wasn't a part of it), and about how Larry Brown and Art Heyman took the rivalry to a new level. Many Duke fans... correction, some older Duke fans that realize that the program existed before Coach K and the '91 season will tell you that fight cost Duke the championship. I'm not above saying anything nice about Duke, but it generally involves their women and birthing hips, which in certain company isn't considered complimentary. With any further ado, here's the top ten individual performances by Carolina players in the rivalry.

10. Al Wood - Carolina's first win over a Duke team ranked #1 in the country (they weren't ranked that high very often back in the day). The Heels were previously 0-2 when Duke was ranked in the top spot, Al Wood led all scorers with 20 points en route to ruining Mike Gminski's final game in Cameron against the Tarheels. Wood also scored 14 in a 25 drubbing of the Devils in the final game of the regular season. Wood's best performance, however, came in the ACC tournament game in which Duke prevailed. Wood had 32 points, the only Tarheel with more than seven in the game, but Duke prevailed behind the G-man's 24 points and 19 rebounds.

9. George Karl - In the only time the two teams have met in postseason play (beyong the ACC tournament), George Karl led the Heels with 21 points in the semifinal round of the NIT. Carolina would go on to win the NIT, and Duke would lose the third place game to St. Bonaventure. More known for his defense, Karl's offensive outburst was key following a knee injury to leading scorer Dennis Wuycik. Forward Bill Chamberlain would win the MVP for the tournament, but it wouldn't have been possible with out Karl's performance against the Blue Devils.



8. Steve Hale - In January of 1986, the Dean Dome opened its doors for the first time, and rather than playing a patsy to insure an easy first victory, the Heels invited Duke to be their first victim opponent. A tightly contested game, saw the Heels emerge victorious 95-92, behind excellent performances by two Heels: Brad Daugherty and Steve Hale. Daugherty posted a double-double (23-11), but Hale had 28 points on 10 of 12 from the field and 8 of 9 from the charity stripe. Hale would later suffer a collapsed lung against Maryland, and while on the bench at Cameron, was chided with chants of "In-Hale, Ex-Hale," a chant that is credited with the start of the national recognition of the Crazies as Dickie V's favorites.

7. J.R. Reid - The most controversial period of the Dean Smith/Coach K rivalry centered around J.R., in 1989 Duke fans had signs that stated, "J.R. can't Reid." For Duke fans, it was little more than (semi)clever word play, but for Dean Smith, a man that had been a part of the civil rights movement, the sign crossed a line. Reid always played well against the Devils, putting the team on his back in a 1988 game, where the team fell short, leading the team to a 20-point beatdown of a top ranked and undefeated Duke team in the first meeting in 1989, but his best performance was in the '89 ACC tournament championship game. Reid led the team in scoring, but with only 14 points it was his defense that contributed most to the victory. Danny Ferry was the National Player of the Year, but struggled mightily against Reid, matching Reid's fourteen points, but on 20 shots and was held to only three rebounds.

6. Raymond Felton - With Duke riding a six game series winning streak, and having won eleven of the last twelve, an unranked Carolina needed a spectacular effort to knock off tenth ranked Duke in March of 2003. Duke was led by JJ Redick, Shelden Williams, Chris Duhon, and Dahntay Jones and had been ranked in the single digits all season, until a one point loss to St. John's (led by Marcus Hatten's 29). One week later, the strode into the Dean Dome to face a Carolina team searching for it's identity with young coach Matt Doherty at the helm. Spurned on by two of their freshmen, Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton Carolina would snap the losing streak. McCants was the top scorer in the game with 26, but Raymond Felton had 18 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds (nearly a crappy triple double) to lead the Tarheels.

5. Bob Lewis - Fresh off the Art Heyman era, Duke had captured seven straight against the Heels (their longest streak in the rivalry, Carolina has twice won eight straight). In January of 1965, Duke was ranked in the top ten and Dean Smith was being hung in effigy. Billy Cunningham famously tore down that effigy and was a big player against Duke in Durham, but it was Bob Lewis who shone through. Lewis's 21 points trailed Cunningham by only one, but his 12 rebounds were instrumental in securing a 65-62 victory over the favored Devils. This was only Dean's second win against Duke in his fifth season at Chapel Hill. Smith would recover to go 59-35 against Duke, and 24-14 against Coach K.


4. Joseph Forte - Perhaps the most forgotten Tarheel of the last twenty years (mostly
because fans of other teams won't let us forget Makhtar), Forte was a one man wrecking crew against the Devils. In 2000, he forced overtime with a dramatic three, but his best show came in Cameron in February of 2001. The game was the first against Duke for rookie head coach Matt Doherty and his team faced an uphill climb against the number 2 ranked Devils led by Jason (now Jay) Williams, Mike Dunleavy, and Carlos Boozer. Forte stole the show, scoring 24 and grabbing 16 rebounds. At 6' 3" he outrebounded everyone, including his teammate, 7-footer Brendan Haywood. Forte won ACC rookie of the year in 2000, and this game helped earn him 2001 ACC POY honors, and also insured that every Duke team that has won a national championship, has also lost that same year to UNC.

3. Jerry Stackhouse and Danny Green - Need you ask why?





2. Tyler Hansbrough - Few games have been as satisfying in for Tarheel fans, than senior night in Cameron 2006. In both JJ Redick's and Shelden Williams's final games in the building, it was a freshman that stole the show, outplaying both of them. Hansbrough had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and even a three pointer to clinch the 83-76 final. Tonight Hansbrough (and Danny Green) will attempt to go 4 for 4 in games at Cameron, something no player has ever done at Carolina (The Heels did win five straight from '73 to '77).

1. Walter Davis - Eight points in seventeen seconds. Along with senior Bobby Jones, who scored 24, it was again a freshman, Walter Davis, whose 31 points paced the team to a 96-92 overtime win against the Devils. Coach Smith famously predicted, "We can win this game. Bobby is going to make these free throws, we're going to put a trap on them and get a steal and score quickly." Jones did, the tem did get the steal, and then a long pass after a missed free throw by Mitch Kupchak to Davis set up a 30-foot bank shot at the buzzer to tie the game in arguably the greatest comeback in college basketball history.

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Top Ten: Stadium Songs We Don't Want To Hear Ever Again

I like to think of myself as observant when it comes to taking in a sporting event. Whether it is in a full stadium of fans or in a near empty building. One of the aspects that always holds my attention is the music selection. In my opinion the music at a sporting event should complement the attitude of the fans and on some occasions enhance the experience. In no way should this translate to playing the same redundant, overused, and downright annoying songs during the breaks in the action. Submitted for your approval or your disdain, here are the top ten stadium songs which we would rather stab our eardrums with a rusty spork than listen to again while trying to enjoy the game. This is not necessarily a knock on the songs themslves, I am not one to rag on anyone's taste in music, some are songs I had enjoyed, some were not on my playlists so to speak, but all are now melodies I want stricken from stadiums everywhere.

10. "Sweet Caroline"- Neil Diamond

I have no problem with Neil Diamond, and I mean that. The man can croon, and he still is rocking decades later. He even lost $150 million in his divorce and said of his ex-wife, "She's worth every penny." Furthermore I even enjoy this song, but it has turned into one of those where every stadium thinks it is their special little tradition to play it during the game. Look no further than Boston Red Sox fans screaming it out. Down here in North Carolina, people seem to think that they have lordship over the song even though Diamond is clearly speaking of a woman he probably had intimate relations with and not the Tarheel state. I prefer Neil's story behind the song in Will Ferrell's words:



When everyone screams out the "Oh,Oh,Oh" I want to be like Glenn Guglia in the Wedding Singer and say, "Ok, great, we all know the words to the song."

9. "Hell's Bells"- ACDC

I know it seems blasphemous to list a group such as ACDC on this list and it really is not their fault, but this song has become the token "our team is tough and mean and this is the play where we prove it" song. It usually occurs on a football field on third down when the home stadium wants the crowd to get into the game. The problem as been that it has begun being played on every third down at every stadium. Trevor Hoffman came out to the song while he was in San Diego which was cool because that was his thing, but then everyone added the song to the stadium playlist and played it early and often during the games. The final straw may have been when ESPN seemingly bought the entire ACDC collection and began using it in commercials, pre-game line-ups, going to commercial breaks, and anything else they could slap it on. I know ACDC rocks and all that, but I would like to see this song relegated to concerts, VH1 countdowns, and Guitar Hero.




8. "Welcome to the Jungle"- Guns N' Roses

As soon as this song starts everyone knows what it is. I kind of feel bad for the Bengals, and not just in the usual they suck ever since Boomer left way, when I see what has happened to this song inside the sports arena. It used to have relevance and meaning, you see the Bengals stadium was refered to as the jungle because they were named after tigers and such. Like many songs at the bottom of this list, I did not mind it on its own, but now it is the generic go-to song for almost every kick-off, tip-off, team taking the field, or any other beginning of a sporting event. I remember when the video came out they would not show it on daytime television because of the "scary" images it portrayed. Like any song, hearing it over and over again and seeing throngs of people enjoying it dulls the edge. Besides there are far better GNR songs to play at our sporting events and I'm not talking about November Rain.



7. "Imperial March"- Star Wars(John Williams)
This one is mainly featured in college games where bands attempt to blow people away by playing the Darth Vader theme from the movies. Oh no look out, that team has the toughened spirit of a young Hayden Christensen! The song used to represent something kind of cool back in the day, but now it is way overplayed and is sadly the staple of many college bands in football and basketball except for Wisconsin, where I believe their main staple is "Nothing But A Good Time". The other thing that is bothersome about this one is that the bands usually sound like crap when playing the march, which takes away from its overall effect. The Lego band does it much better anyway:



6. "Cotton Eye Joe"- Rednex

There really is no explanation required. The song grates on your ears and you end up wanting to strangle someone. I prefer not to look around when this song comes on because you are almost guaranteed to see a large, overweight, white person jumping around to this tune. I would like the youtube video so you could relive the horror of the song, but even the video is too much to take, even with a girl on a mechanical bull, you can look here(slightly NSFW) if you are into that sort of thing, sicko.

5. "Unbelievable" -EMF

Wow, did you see that play! That is one of the most exciting plays I have ever seen transpire on a competitive field of play, if only there was some way to express my amazement through song. This song needs to die. I do not know if the sound guys at the stadium think they are obliged to play a song like this after some big pay or they think it is clever given the title or what, but maybe there are other songs that can fit the bill. This song was a hit back in the 1990s and had a good run, but once it began to get overplayed ad nauseum it became a hated moment anytime it blared on the sound system. Also annoying is when they play just the soundbite of the singer(if that's called singing) saying the song title. It hit a new all-time low when some ad wizards gave us crumbelievable...



4. "Whoomp There It Is"- Tag Team/ "Who Let the Dogs Out"- Baha Men

These two songs belong together because they are both equal in their surge into pop culture and my desire to burn every copy of them still in existence. You really would think that the songs would go away after their initial popularity, yet you are still likely to hear either one at some point in a sports season. Can these songs just go to their rightful place in the music graveyard with the Macarena? It just goes to show make a mockery of what hip-hop is supposed to be, mix in snazzy catch-phrase, and put it to a roughly pop beat and there you go, a one-hit wonder made in heaven. Still don't think these songs are outdated and make white people look awkward? I give you Mitt Romney..



3. "YMCA"- The Village People

It is somewhat inconceivable that a song like this still finds its way into sports venues around the country year after year. I don't think most people realize what the song is all about. It is not about how great your local YMCA is for harnassing the energy of a youthful generation of males doing various physical activities and good deeds, it's about how great it is to head down to the YMCA and pick up guys. Before you rush to judgment, no this is not a slam on gays or gay culture, it is a slam n hearing this song while I'm trying to enjoy a sporting event. I guess it makes some people feel great to be able to master the complex and secretive dance that is involved with song. In truth the "dance" is not even a dance it is a series of arm gestures. I have no beef with the Village People or their fine catalog of work, but save this song for the weddings, or the 7th-grade dance, or the dancefloor, not for time-killing during a break in the action at a sporting event.



And in case you are wondering, yes I have danced to this song once in my life. It was on a cruise right after I graduated from college. I was involved in a 'Olympics' competition on the boat featuring various random events and our team needed a win in this event for the points, which was coming up with a unique dance to this song. Luckily one of our group members had experience dancing to the tune from when she was younger in a dance class(she was the Indian) and gave us the choreography. Did we win that event? Damn right.

2. "Kernkraft 400"- Zombie Nation

The name of this song may not be recognizable, but as soon as you hear it you know what it is. This song has managed to infiltrate every level of sporting events. It is played all the time, in a variety of situations: when something good happens, during a timeout, when a rally is taking place, before kickoff, etc. The song has quickly dethroned Darude's "Sandstorm" as the techno king of overplayed sports anthems. Still wondering what song I'm speaking of, take a look at some old resident evil clips and listen:



1. "Rock and Roll Part 2"- Gary Glitter

Die! Why won't this song die! If you have been watching/attending sporting events over the past 25 some odd years like I have then you have heard this song more times than you probably care to. Whether it is pumped into the stadium by loudspeaker or a college band is blowing it shrilly from their brass, I cannot stand this song. I'm guessing the reason it caught on so well is the part where everyone can shout out "Hey!" over and over again. I have come to accept there is no getting away from this song and each time I hear it the walls of my skull ache in agony. Even when Gary Glitter ran into "legal" trouble the song could not be quelled in the stadiums. Play the video for the song if you must, if not just to remind you of how annoying it is, then to wonder how people can be amazed that this man has done bad things to children. I can honestly say the mark Gary Glitter is leaving on the world has not made it a better place, for sports fans or for children.

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