CBS, Definitely Not the Sports Leader

This weekend I was in Washington DC putting the final touches on the newest addition to the writing team here at Drinking the Forty. After the deal was closed I obviously went out, had too much drink, and somewhere during the evening signed a cricket correspondent. That's another story for another time.

Saturday around noon, like any good Texas fan, I began my search to catch the Kansas game. Big XII title on the line, number three versus number fifteen, the best player in the country, at one of the most hostile environments in the country. Must see television isn't it? Well, unfortunately, NBC seems to be the only network that has "Must See TV".

Now I understand the concept of regional coverage, and frankly it works well. I'm sure a majority of people in the northeast could care less about Kansas against Texas, let alone know where Lawrence, Kansas is (Not that I really do). Georgetown versus Connecticut is probably a much more prevalent game considering Georgetown is in the District. However, you figure with two to three bars in the District that tend to show Texas games or a plethora of college basketball, you would think that one could find the Texas game. Well after making a search of eight to ten bars and contacting several people in the know in the District, (we even thought about calling or Congressman) we came to the painful realization we weren't going to be watching the game.

Seriously though, wouldn't a bar, with multiple televisions think to show a game between two powerhouse teams that will draw fans, from an area with a large Kansas and Texas contingent? I think so. Which leads me to wonder, does CBS have regional availability for out of region viewers? I could see not doing that for someone in their home, but bars kind of thrive off that kind of business. Also, it means that since CBS has top games every week there are fans across the country, that are as pissed as I was. I mean it's one thing to not know how to put together a sports broadcast as well as other networks, but to just not know how to handle a gold mine like NCAA basketball; it's just frustrating. I mean in all the years that they've been covering the NCAA, they just now realized that it might be a good idea to make available all the 1st round games? Wow, give that guy a raise!

What explanation do I have for all of this? I think it's pretty obvious. Just like the BCS in college football, this is the NCAA's way to make sure we don't enjoy college sports too much. I suppose dealing with a network that could maximize the NCAA's product would way to smart. Why mess with a good thing when you could have a great thing. Thanks Myles, thanks.

Durant Wins Several Acronyms: POY & FOY

Kevin Durant adds two awards to his soon to be overflowing trophy case. Along with being named a unanimous selection to the All Big 12 First Team, Durant adds the titles of 2006-07 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the Big 12.

Following an unprecedented year during Big 12 play, Durant led the league in both points and rebounds per game (29.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg). Durant was also the first player in the history of the Big 12 to score 400 points and grab 200 rebounds in one Big 12 season.

While the Freshman of the Year honors were a forgone conclusion many games ago, the overall Player of the Year award came down to the wire between Durant and Texas A&M's Acie Law. In any other year Law's numbers (20.8 ppg, 4.9 apg) would have garnered him such accolades, this year he was competing with one of the most dynamic players in NCAA history.

There was, however, a good argument to be made on Acie's part. Many feel the POY should be the best player on the best team, and that was arguably Acie Law for A&M. You would be hard pressed to find a more clutch player in the Big 12 this year. As Texas and Kansas can attest to, Law seemed to elevate his game to an annoyingly high level (for Texas fans anyway) against the best competition in the league.

In the end, though, the most talented player with the highest stats won out for the annual award. The only major award left for Durant to recieve will be the Naismith National Player of the Year awarded later this year. Durant seems to be the favorite thus far in the season to win (with Law, Wisconsin's Alando Tucker, UCLA's Arron Affalo and Ohio State's Greg Oden as the top contenders). Durant would be the second Texas player to win the National POY as T.J. Ford took home the award in 2003.

Cricket Correspondence: England Destroys Bermuda in World Cup Warm-Up

In a dastardly display of domination, England took advantage of the beautiful St. Vincent weather on the way to a crushing 286-8 win over Bermuda 45 by 241 runs. A favorite in the upcoming World Cup, England put in a solid performance punctuated by Jamie Dalrymple’s 76 just after Dwayne Leverock’s two wickets had the Brits up by 132-5. Simply outclassed, the Bermudian batsmen were no match for tough English bowlers vying for a spot on the 11-man World Cup starting squad. The match marked a sad day for Andrew Strauss who missed out on Michael Vaughan’s line-up after 74 successive ODIs for England due to some poor form in Australian league play. On an edgy note, Ed Joyce did get his chance and was promptly bowled by a gentle yorker in the third over. Nonetheless, it was all smiles for England after a match that could easily be classified as easier than a day in the life of an east-ender.

Seriously, where did he go?

So, after being asked to join the "staff" (call it what you will) of this fine piece of journalism, I had to come up with a display name. Took me awhile, but then a vision of the most handsome, perfectly chisled square jawed quaterback entered my head and before I knew it, a name was born. Which leads to my first post - what the heck happened to Marty Cherry? Last we heard, he left the sidelines of Memorial Stadium to enter the masucline world of modeling. Really, who could blame him though? After solidifying his place on the "Guys who did bad things in some of UT's worst memorable games ever" list, with his 9 for 18 with 2 INTs and a fumble after taking over for Richard Walton in the worst home loss ever Texas, 66-3 at the hands of UCLA. We were ranked like #11 going into that game. I was there. For the entire thing. Seriously, I'm pretty sure we stayed to the end and were 4 of a grand total of probably 10 left in the west side upper deck to sing the Eyes of Texas at the end. But I digress - back to the issue at hand.... At this painful game, a photograph caught sight of Cherry on the sideline and thus his door into the modeling world was opened. It looks like Marty moved from the field to some photo shoots for Abercrombie & Fitch. I am not able to find any photos of Marty modeling for A&F, which is quite unfortunate, as we know that most A&F photos have actually very little to do with the clothes. I've also found that he moved on to Polo Ralph Lauren, but oddly enough little is mentioned of him on el internet. No images found on google, and the only articles found are those talking about the UCLA disaster or discussing his departure from the team in 1997. So where is he now? Somebody somewhere has to know what happened to Mr. Cherry. He'd be about 32 these days, which isn't too old for a male model, but with no reference to him anywhere, it's hard to imagine he's still in business. Maybe someone caught sight of him on the catwalk and he walked away from modeling to yet another career. What comes after football and modeling? My guess is the kid is either in real estate or car sales.... isn't that where all former UT players end up? Whatever happened to him, he's still perhaps the prettiest QB to ever wear the burnt orange.

Next time: What ever happened to Ron McElvey/Weaver?

Texas, Durant Fall at Kansas

What, seemingly, started as a Longhorn upset and a big game for Kevin Durant...

Soon turned into another Jayhawk Regular Season, Big 12 Championship and an ankle injury for Durant:

Up next for the Horns: The Big 12 Tournament, Mar. 8-11.

Happy Texas Independence Day!

"The stars at night, are big and bright...." So goes the song sung by millions of Texans over the years.

The end product of Texas' fight for independence from Mexico has final come to fruition; Kevin Durant as a Longhorn. Just think, if it weren't for brave men such as Davy Crockett and Sam Houston, today, KD might be playing for the Oaxaca Iguanas.

No word yet if the Republic will continue to exist once Durant enters The League. Until then...

Damion James = Akon??

Chalk this up in the category of "Things I am glad I wasn't the only one to see." Not just because the act was a vicious male-on-male ass smack, but this is one of those "What the F***" moments that are fun to share with those with a more "refined" eye for the game.

Several things strike me as funny from this clip:

1) AJ's initial reaction. It's that moment that every diminutive person gets when something makes them snap and their initial reaction is to immediately look to hit someone in the face, then seconds later they realize the chances of a 5'10'' person being able to take on the 6'7'' aggressor are quite slim (unless of course you know Charles Oakley). Such was AJ's dilemma last night. I give him a great grade for his initial step toward James. It shows he has some fight in him. I give him more points for his immediate retreat from the situation. Shows he has brains.

2) Trying to imagine what James was thinking at the time. Was it just an unfortunate miscalculation of velocity? Was there a split second when he had to decide what he might have to do if AJ actual hit him? Should he laugh? Should he hold AJ's head at arms length while AJ threw punches into the air?

3) Then I began to wonder what Damion's role on the team was. Not in a X's and O's sort of sense, but his role in team chemistry. Was he the "Ass Grabber?" I Know, if you ever played sports, you know who I am talking about. There is always an ass grabber or ass slapper on the team. It's like how there is always a gay person on the Real World. You don't ask questions. It just has to be that way. If there is ever a surprise "pat" on your backside, you know immediately who it is, followed by the, "Why the heck does he always have to do that?". I think more than anything, that explains AJ's reaction. The initial "Oh no you didn't," followed by the "Oh, that was Damion. Figures."

4) The clip itself. It's obvious that this incident was of such magnitude that the person paused the game, rewound it, went and got a video camera, taped it and then posted it. You gotta love the Internet and sports fans.

5) The fact I just made fun of that guy and I have 5 points about an ass smack.