Last summer Pat Summitt revealed that she is suffering from the early onset of Alzheimer’s and would not be coaching much longer. Despite the diagnosis, she coached the Lady Vols into yet another NCAA tournament this season, concluding with a spot in the Elite Eight – again. But success aside, it was clear to most observers, including Summitt herself, that another year of coaching would have required a miracle that only the Lord could provide. Which is why on Wednesday she announced her retirement.
Share on FacebookArchive for April, 2012
Appreciating Pat Summitt: One of Sports’ Greatest Coaches Steps Down
Posted: 19th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in Coaches, College Basketball, Women's basketballTags: Alzheimer's, basketball, college basketball, Lady Vols, Pat Summitt, Pat Summitt retires, Univesity of Tennessee, women's basketball
Feeling Uneasy About Ozzie Guillen’s Apology and Suspension
Posted: 11th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in Baseball, Lessons, SuspensionTags: apology, Fidel Castro, Miami Marlins, Ozzie Guillen, suspended
Surely he should have known better than to say something that would inflame the justifiably sensitive and politically powerful Cuban-American community of Miami, many of whom were refugees, or whose parents and other relatives risked their lives to flee Castro’s repressive communist regime.
How could Guillen say anything that sounds even remotely supportive of one of America’s foremost political enemies? But say it he did. And he’ll have to live with it.
Share on FacebookBawling Bubba Watson Takes the Masters
Posted: 9th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in Golf, MastersTags: Bawling Bubba, Bubba Watson, Bubba Watson wins Masters, Golf, lefty, Masters, pink driver
It was refreshing to watch someone else win The Masters this year. To be honest I never paid much attention to Bubba Watson before Sunday.
I didn’t know that Bubba, a Georgia Bulldog, who often practiced at Augusta, never had formal golf lessons, and no swing coach either. (I am so tired of hearing about swing coaches.) This was a completely self-taught golfer winning the sport’s most hallowed tournament.
Share on FacebookNFL Football: A “Hurt” Sport
Posted: 6th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in injury, NFLTags: audio recording, bounty-gate, Gregg Willams, hurt sport, New Orleans Saints, NFL, violence
As bad as the on-going “bounty-gate” scandal has become, especially now with the release of the damning audio from the Saints locker room, I’m just not willing to act like it’s the worst thing that has ever happened in sports. I’m growing weary of the hypocrisy that “bounty-gate” has inspired.
Share on FacebookWhere is the Love for Kevin Love?
Posted: 5th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in MVP, NBATags: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves, Most Outstanding Player, MVP
I am saying that this season, Kevin Love is the NBA’s most outstanding player. Period. And it shouldn’t be close. Love’s numbers speak for themselves.
Share on FacebookBrittney Griner Leads Baylor to Championship
Posted: 4th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Women's basketballTags: Baylor, Baylor basketball, Baylor Lady Bears, Baylor women's basketball, Brittney Griner, NCAA Champions
Let me offer some perspective about Brittney Griner’s impact on the women’s game. While there have been many great female players, a number of them tall, skilled and intimidating, who can actually throw down a dunk or two, like Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker among others, none have been the shutdown defender that Brittney Griner is.
Share on FacebookCalipari’s Cats Take the Title
Posted: 3rd April 2012 by DavidBurnett in Final Four, NCAA, NCAA TournamentTags: Anthony Davis, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, national championship, University of Kentucky
So why do I feel mildly nauseated by Kentucky winning, while at the same time admiring their skill at playing the game?
Maybe it’s because I continue to be uncomfortable with Kentucky’s coach, John Calipari, a slick, smooth-talking, renegade who left two schools, Massachusetts and Memphis, amid scandals that officially stripped them of their Final Four appearances. But amazingly Calipari himself sneaked away from personal sanctions in both of those cases- a slippery guy indeed.
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