After almost single-handedly instigating “LA Riots: The 2009 Generation,” courtesy of a childish play call against UCLA in the closing seconds of their rivalry game, it would be wise if Pete Carroll closes his mouth the next time Jim Harbaugh runs the score up on him. You see, not only was Carroll egomaniacal enough to actually call such a play, he then allows his entire team to taunt the Bruins, which just about set off what would’ve been one of the most awesome football fights, perhaps ever.
I’ll grant you Rick Neuheisel has contributed to the feud — well, his employers have — but I’m not sure what rubbing the opposing players faces in it is going to accomplish. Punishing him for calling a timeout comes across as awfully petty, not to mention hypocritical in light of the Stanford game. Oh, and one more thing, Pete:
You have one National Championship, not two. LSU was the BCS Champion, which absolutely trumps anything the AP offers as its consolation prize.
This is all over the tubes this morning, but I thought I’d share anyway. The video depicts an ugly, ugly brawl between two Alabama high schools that started on the basketball court but ended up in the stands. The game was a state tournament match up between Carver-Montgomery High School and Valley High School and the fracas started when two players from each team — Carver’s Roquez Johnson and Valley’s Enrique Florence — got in a shoving match.
Yeah, this video is going to be everywhere when the sun comes up so I’ll jump in and enjoy the fun. Last night at the Palace at Auburn Hills, the WNBA decided to put on their version of Malice in the Palace. And what a joyful event it was. Let’s see, we’ve got Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks and Plenette Pierson of the Detroit Shock falling all over each other and this “sparks” a nice little scuffle.
Then we have Cheryl Ford almost blowing her knee out when she tries to break up the fracas — but that’s not even the best part. No, this little distinction goes to Rick Mahorn and his non-push of Lisa Leslie that resulted in Leslie winding up on her backside. Let’s go to the tape:
While the pushing and shoving was entertaining, the whole Rick Mahorn incident will be the focal point of last night’s fun. He denies pushing Leslie, yet it’s awfully clear he does just that at the 36 second mark of the video (and many other moments). I’d like to point out Mahorn is 6-10 and weighs about 270. Granted, Leslie is also 6-10, but she’s 100 pounds lighter.
While there will be fines and suspensions aplenty, the all-girls version of Malice in the Palace will probably wind up hurting the Detroit assistant coach the most. You just can’t go putting your hands on a female — especially when you are the coach of a WNBA team. It’ll be surprising if he makes it through the weekend as an employee of the WNBA.
Of course, there could be a bright side to all this: maybe if we see an increase in WNBA brawls, the interest level will increase as well.
