USC May End Oregon's National Championship Hopes

The Ducks have never been too saddened by misfortunes in Southern California however USC's problems may cost Oregon a shot at the title.  Thanks to NCAA sanctions USC is not eligible, among other things, to be ranked. This means when the Ducks and Trojans get together for what may be the Ducks toughest test the men of Troy will not be ranked. So, if the Ducks can get by the Trojans and run the table thier strength of schedule and ultimate computer rating may be hurt by the NCAA sanctions. Certainly Auburn & Oklahoma may look to have tougher schedules than Oregon and may in the end be chosen if all three are undefeated at seasons end so ultimately even with a loss the Trojans may still cost the Ducks a shot at the National Championship.

Friday Farewells for June 18, 2010

This edition of the Four6Three's Friday Farewells is brought to you by your local World Cup Soccer team, here to help you tie up the competition.  


Farewell:

NBA Season. The Season is over, but it went as long as it possibly could and we are not talking about only game 7 but the six months that are the NBA playoffs.  Seriously the playoffs started April 17th and finished on June 17th.  TWO MONTHS.  Four tears for each year of my life the NBA has taken with its extraordinarily long playoffs. No wonder I don't watch the regular season.

Restraint. Laker fans we get it you hate the Celtics, but booing a 200 year old legend while he is awarding your star the Finals MVP is a little much. I don't care if Bill Russell is your worst enemy you don't boo one of the greatest players ever while he is handing your best player a trophy.  Two tears for the over-exuberance of an entire arena.

Mountain West. University of Utah has left the best Non-BCS conference for the PAC10. The original BCS busters have either Really busted the BCS for good or simply sold out. It makes one wonder if Utah Senator Orin Hatch will continue his crusade against the BCS. Only time will tell. Two sentimental tears for the Utes two BCS victories.

Conference Expansion Rumors. The hottest water cooler or sports radio show topic has been college expansion, but with Itah getting in the Pac-10 all that is behind us right?!? Sure it is unless you are listening to Jerry Jones and the rumors concerning Arkansas & Notre Dame to the Big 12.  So maybe the summer of fun isn't over yet, Arkansas A.D. has said Arkansas is not interested.  Lots of tears. What else am I going to do all summer if the rumors stop, WORK?

Field Goals. In one of the best defensive displays in NBA history or one of the most pathetic offensive performances the Lakers scored 12 out of their last 19 points form the free throw line where even there it looked as though there was a lid on the basket. The Lakers shot 32.5% while the Celtics were on fire shooting 40.8%. Kobe & Ray Allen combined for a 9 for 38 shooting night, which happens to be exactly what I shot at the rec center last week so next week I will be announcing to whoever decides to guard me that I am as good as Allen and Bryant combined. Don't worry I know how peposterous that statement is, my crossover and post game are way better.  Tears YES! I don't mind watching defensive basketball that was fantastic, but somebody mix in a make.  Maybe I am still bitter about the missing years of my life.  


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UTES GO PAC-10!

Utah has been officially invited to join the PAC-10!  We need not wait their response to begin the coronation.  Acceptance by Utah is guaranteed as they have expressed interest and would be crazy not to accept.  This makes the MWC addition of Boise State proves not to increase the conferences stature, but does help them maintain status as the best Non-BCS Conference.

The Utes will make it a 12 team PAC-10, that will likely be divided into two divisions.  We think the most sensible solution would be to do a North division with Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St., Colorado, & Utah.  The South would then include the four California schools and the two Arizona schools. This makes sense and would keep all the regional rivalries together on a yearly schedule, which means the division will probably be something else.

The Big 12 Is Wounded, But Alive

It is official the BIG 12 is alive, but 10. Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. are staying, why because they found money in Big 12 country.  There was a lot of rain clouds in Big 12 country last week so what did Commissioner Beebe do?  He went out and searched for the end of the rainbow.  Turns out he found a pot of gold in a reportedly $200 million TV deal with Fox & ESPN/ABC.  Unlike previous finds that lead country folks to head west to Beverly Hills, this Texas Gold is enough to keep the Longhorns and the rest of the Big 12 together minus 2.     

Questions still remain will Utah fill the last spot as the PAC-10?
Is the BIG 12 comfortable being 10 and going without a championship game?

Stay tuned as soon as we know you'll know. 

Friday Farewells for June 11, 2010

This almost tear-less edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by the World Cup & South Africa, thanks for inviting us to your party.

Farewell:


Boredom. The powers that be in sports have created the PERFECT STORM of SPORTS this week.  The NHL Stanley Cup was decided this week congrats Blackhawks, the NBA Finals has been terrific, College Baseball Super Regionals start today, NASCAR & MLB continue their seasons, and oh there is this little thing going on in South Africa called the World Cup that happens once every four years.  If you are a sports fan and cannot find anything to watch that you like then you might want to talk to your cable company because whatever your paying is too much.  I will watch some World Cup, College Baseball Super Regionals, & NBA Finals all on the same day. Tears of joy, although by the end of the week they may be tears of pain because my thumb hurts from changing channels so much to catch all the action.  

Big Baby. "I felt like a Beast."  Big Baby Glen Davis is no longer hello Big Beast.  Big Beast & his mini-me Nate Robinson carried the Celtics to a game four NBA Finals victory. Boston's bench outplayed the Laker's starters for almost the entire fourth quarter.  They did it with energy, effort, and emotion.  The latter lead to two technicals, but ultimately neither hurt as the Celtics evened the series.  No Tears. Goodbye Baby, Hello Beast!

Big 12. Colorado and apparently Nebraska will both say so long to the Conference with the most (tied with the SEC) appearances in the BCS Championship Games.  Maybe though Texas getting all the money is no longer tasting as good to these two especially with promises of greener & tastier pastures in the PAC-10 & Big Ten.  Is the Big 12 still salvageable? Absolutely.  If Texas stays it still works.  I know Nebraska is a storied program on the rebound, but they are not what they once were and Colorado has not recovered since the scandals.  Nebraska will be hard to replace, but not irreplaceable.  Tears NOTTA. I have no tears for any BCS conference losing teams or imploding only tears for the WAC losing Boise State.

Indifference.  I have never disliked MLS, but sort of been indifferent to it.  I would watch the occasional game or MLS Cup if nothing else was on.  I attended my first game Wednesday, between Real Salt Lake vs. L.A. Galaxy.  Galaxy were undefeated, notice I said undefeated past tense, thanks to a goal in the 81st minute by Real's Javier Morrales.  The game was about as much fun as a pair of crabs in a bucket (which is a good time trust me).  It was very exciting and the crowd was awesome, not even a 30 minute lightning delay could lower my impression of the what a first rate event the game was.  No tears here only good times and lots of new chants.  

Boise State.  A breaking event the WAC bids farewell to Boise State, which leaves the conference well empty.  The WAC has to be devastated.  It will be interesting to see if Boise State can be as dominant in a far stronger conference.  Tears only a few, because I will have to deal with BYU fans on a consistent basis now, that includes Mark & Martin the Fayetteville Cougars.      

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PAC-10 EXPULSION!

Is the PAC-10 growing in competitiveness or shrinking. Don't get me wrong the conference will grow leaps & bounds if the expansion rumors ultimately are true, but for now the PAC-10 might as well be the Whack-10, no dis on the WAC who at least has a reliable powerhouse team in Boise State. What about USC you say... well thanks to a compliance director's worst nightmare come to life USC will be receiving a post season ban. According to ESPN The USC football program will receive a two-year postseason ban, a reduction in scholarships with reports indicating possibly more than twenty, and a forfeiture of wins from at least the 2004 season. There are also rumors of television bans. It looks like Pete Carroll had John Calipari like timing in leaving town.
To say this hurts the PAC-10 is like saying getting hit with a cannon ball might leave a mark. Anyone have any cannon ball ointment for the PAC-10? Well in fact the Big 12 or what is now the Big 11, 10, 9 .... Let's call it the countdown conference for now. The Countdown Conference has the secret ointment in the form of Texas & four of its closest friends & its step sister (Colorado). This could be just what the Dr. Ordered. In fact speaking of Drs. maybe Pepper will move his sponsorship west as well.

BIG 12 is DEAD!

The Big 12 is no more.  Nebraska has already accepted a deal to go to the Big Ten according to sources.  This means that Missouri is likely to follow.  Texas & Texas A&M are meeting tomorrow to reportedly contemplate a move to the PAC-10 along with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Colorado & Texas Tech.  What will happen to the rest is left to be seen.

More to come as soon as we have it.

College Conference Realignment

The Big Ten is rumored to have offered membership in the conference to Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Notre Dame. 
This got us thinking if they all accepted what would this do to the rest of the conferences.  Below is our possibilities of what would happen within about 2-3 years if the conference realingment snowball starts rolling. 

Pac-10 would add:
Colorado
Utah

SEC would add:
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State

Big 12 would add:
TCU
BYU
UNLV
Boise State
Houston
Memphis or Tulsa or possibly Fresno State.  If they added all 3 they could be the Big 14.

WAC & what is left of the Mountain West would basically merge.  Some teams like Louisiana Tech may fill possible voids in Conference USA. 

This is just our thoughts let us know what you think.  It is a fun conversation anyway!