If I ruled the world

Mizzou and the SEC….DUMB

cebembry — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:37:49 +0000

Mizzou – C-mon Man! Taking a phrase from my folks at ESPN, Mizzou you want to leave the Big 12 for the SEC?? That has to be the dumbest thing in the world. Back in the 90’s the Wayans’ brothers had a hit comedy “In Living Color” in one particular episode, Keenan played former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and whenever someone made an off the wall comment or suggestion Keenan imitating Mike would scream out “that’s ludicrous!” Missouri, Mizzo..Hold That Tiger…whatever you call yourselves, leaving the Big 12, where you have been a doormat for years, to try to compete in the SEC is LUDICROUS! I don’t know what ya’ll were smoking in that conference room or board of at some of those meetings(Puff,-Puff-Pass) but the only reason the SEC or Big Ten would ever want you is to Pimp your school for wins! “Pat your feet and the concrete and go get my money woman (Mizzou)”! Let’s look at the facts. Since 1988 when Mizzou thought Tony Van Zant was the next Herschell Walker (That did not happen!) the program has been OK but not dominates by any means. In Football your teams have won 2 Big 8/12 Championships. Overall in the Big 12 your teams participate in 18 Varsity Sports and have had 3 National Titles, oh yeah a real powerhouse! In Mens’ basketball you have never won a Big 12 Regular Season Conference Championship, hell being brutally honest your all time win % is only .588 and take away the great Norm Stewart and the number probably drops lower! Baseball…No Championships…In your last four Bowl Games Mizzou you are 3-4 and have lost to National Powerhouses, Navy, Oregon State, Arkansas and Iowa! Let’s be honest and realistic, you cannot even against Texas, Oklahoma, OSU-Football; Texas, Baylor, KSU-Basketball, ISU-Wrestling, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech-Baseball..But yet you expect to compete with Kentucky, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Miss State, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida?? They brought Texas A & M in to pimp them. Do you really think the SEC would invite Texas or Oklahoma or TCU or Boise State in to their conference to compete with the traditional powerhouses in the SEC?? STUPID!!! You are being PIMPED….Let me spell it out Vanderbilt kicks your butt academically and in Baseball. I have heard from sources that Mizzou thinks an affiliation with the SEC will help in recruiting…STUPID! I am a top 50 basketball recruit and Mizzou, Florida and Kentucky come for in home visits…hell who is the basketball coach at Mizzou? Wait…I am a top 30 Football recruit with a 3.5 GPA and Georgia, Auburn, So Carolina and Vandy come calling along with Mizzou…wait I also am a top 150 baseball prospect and would like to attend Med School….Bye Mizzou..Hello Vandy! The Big Ten needed Nebraska, the Pac Ten needed Utah the SEC does not need Mizzou

Death and Sports

cebembry — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:37:51 +0000

As a fan of sports, I like most was shaken by the horrific accident that took the life of 2011 Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon yesterday in Las Vegas. Add to that the death of another off-road driver in a plane accident and the motorsports fraternity has lost two shining stars. Motorsports are dangerous and the men and women that strap on that helmet in any series from Midgets to Open-Wheel to NASCAR are brave beyond my wildest dreams and understand the risk /rewards of the sport. Every time they strap on the helmet to race, test, quality or practice there is a chance they will not return back to the pits…Sadly I can live with that risk because they live with that risk. What I cannot stomach are the stories surrounding HS football players dying playing a game that should be just that…. a game!
HS Football in America is an icon and I am not in favor of stripping away any more American icons, but I am fed up with reading about the stories of these young men dying before they start living. Because the NFL is bigger, faster and more violent than ever before in the history of the game, the trickledown impacts HS football.
I recently attended a HS game where the starting front defensive line averaged 6’3 and 255! Are you kidding me! My daughter cheers for Division III Manchester College and their Front Four averages about the same and they are all seniors in College! We are making our kids too big too soon and their bodies are not prepared for the violent hits being doled out at the HS level.
We have rarely heard of a player in the pro’s dying from a hit, paralyzed, but not actually die during the course of a game and there is a reason for that. First the NFL players have a team of medical professionals at every game whose talent level rivals that of some best ER physicians in the US. Second the equipment given at the pro level is better than that at the HS level. Third they are in better shape mentally and physically than most HS students and fourth and most importantly most guys playing on Sundays are millionaires and have a cash position to handle a crippling injury.
I propose making the game fun again and quit trying to make your local HS team look like Oklahoma, USC, Penn State or Notre Dame. Put more emphasis on being in shape and less on muscle mass. Parents quit taking your kids to GNC and hyping them up on all these supplements. Get your ass in the kitchen, cook balanced meals, and stop buying Hostess products and high sodium microwave dinners. We have become too busy to ensure proper nutrition so we disguise by adding supplements to the diet. Quit running your kids to the gym, get them out in the yard to pull weeds, move shrubs, cut down trees or move rocks….Guess what? That stuff builds muscles!
Last gripe point….No 14-17 year old kid needs a personal trainer! Parents if you want a personal trainer to take 10-20 lbs off your fat butt, Go ahead, but your kids don’t need it!
You might wonder, who is Calvin and how in the hell is he going to tell me what I am doing wrong?? And you my friend are correct! I am just a Former HS and Small College Athlete, Current HS Basketball Coach, father of a former Jr Olympic Competitive Gymnast and concerned taxpayer.
As a coach I am disturbed by what I see and as a parent of rising 8th Grade basketball player who is in the top 20 Point Guards in the talent laden state of Indiana, I am scared for my son and his friends. I am equally scared for my 8 year old who is in her first year of competitive AAU track & field. I am terrified of what her competition will look like in five years. I am not afraid of the competition…just what it will look like!
My Name is Calvin and if I ruled the world all supplements would be banned until age 18!

College Football 2010/2011

cebembry — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:23:08 +0000

Awwww the smell of college football is right around the corner. What a great time of year so now the Grand Pooba of College football announces my top 25 and my National Championship Prediction:

Here Goes

1. Boise State 2. Bama 3. Ohio State 4. Iowa 5. TCU 6. Florida 7. Pitt 8. Va Tech 9. Texas 10. Nebraska

11. FSU 12. Wisconsin 13. Arkansas 14. Utah 15. Cincy 16. USC 17. BYU 18. Stanford 19. LSU 20. North Carolina

21. Oklahoma 22. Texas A & M 23. Northwestern 24. Georgia 25. Oregon

Just Outside (25-30) : Miami, Penn State, Mizzou, Kansas and Oregon State

Rose Bowl: Iowa vs Bama

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs Va Tech

Orange Bowl: Pitt vs Texas

Fiesta Bowl: TCU vs Nebraska

BCS National Title: Boise State vs Ohio State

Cotton Bowl: Arkansas vs USC or Stanford

If I ruled the world BSU will win the National Championship

Brett Favre is a Pimp

cebembry — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:38:30 +0000

Hello Sports Family,

I am sick and tired of the Brett Favre saga…I mean who is this guy. Last time I check he had only one 1 Superbowl ring and while we don’t doubt his talent level or celebrate the 25-33 year old Brett Favre, this is crazy! First boo to the Vikings for letting Brett pimp them this year (“better have my money”). Boo to Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels for basically keeping the corner warm so Brett can exert his pimp slap on all those that don’t see things the way Brett sees’ things.

Childress is a joke, the three Vikings players that went down to Georgia (Wrong Song-Devil Went Down to Georgia) err Mississippi to “just chill” with Brett….Puhleeezzzeee! Give me a break, I guess they left out the part about taking their knee pads as they crawled into the palatial Casa De la Favre and proceeded to beg Brett to come back while massaging his surgically repaired ankle with Cocoa Butter while feeding him grapes.

Last time I saw Brett he was throwing away the NFC Championship game vs the Saints. Not taking anything from my fellow IU alum Tracy Porter, but the pass Brett threw was not a great pass, maybe if he would have made it to pre-season workouts and training camp…..

If I ruled the World Brett would stay retired….

Memo to UAW Leadership

cebembry — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:15:19 +0000

Memo to UAW Leadership:

Top of the morning to the strong UAW leadership that continues to exert its’ power to weaken the global automotive industry. A few months back I wrote a blog entitled the “UAW Sucks” I received a fantastic response to my post and now feel it is time to update the American people on the stupidity that prevails in the membership of the UAW.

Let me state for the record that I support the UAW on many fronts and was raised in a home of a US Union Worker and come from a strong family of UAW employees, thus I write this with mixed emotions.

Recently the UAW plant in Indianapolis voted against the sales of the stamping plant unless the new owners could guarantee jobs for the entire work force. Stop right there…if the plant shuts down because a new owner cannot be found….you are still out of a job!!

Second, how can you expect the new owner to guarantee jobs when the UAW cannot guarantee it’s own work, ethics and quality? I worked in a plant and have seen first hand what can and does happen in those plants. You thought it was just a viscous rumor never to buy a car assembled on Friday or Monday? Ha! By the time the management team leaves the plant half of the plant is either drunk or drinking in the parking lot.

Some people would say “fire them”, “terminate their employment”, we would but the UAW has created this bull crap system for terminating employees that creates more of a headache than help. Kudos to the attorney that wrote the “step process-Brilliant!

I am not saying all UAW workers are bad, what is bad is the closed-mindedness of the leadership to accept change and to accept less in order to survive.

Take a look around UAW more Americans are living with less today than we were five years ago. Why not put greed on the backburner and give humility a try.

I am Calvin E. Bembry and if I ruled the World this is how it would be!

Letter to Republican Hookers and Their Pimp Mike Steele

cebembry — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:46:25 +0000

Mr. Steele,

As an American I was happy with the content, flow and facts of the speech, I was more discouraged by the childish acts of only clapping “when it applies to me or my agenda” by both the Democratic and Republican Parties. A registered Republican, what frustrates me is this adolescent attitude by the Republican officials I helped put in office.

I am sick and tired of the bashing in an economy that is still sick. George Bush, Dick Cheney and the rest of your Elephant Yahoos, created this mess by governing with an iron fist wrapped around an oil well gushing with taxpayer money.

Are we trying to make it better for the American people or are we just trying to get re-elected. Get off ass and get to work! You people are similar to the street gangs of our American cities struggling for supremacy in drugs and money laundering. However, you, the so-called experts, are only concerned with who can sell their soul to the highest bidder. My opinion of The Republican Party is on par with a high paid streetwalker…Sold to the highest bidder!

You speak of lies, but why don’t you tell the truth about what the Republican agenda really is about!

College Coching Changes

cebembry — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:31:04 +0000

Coaching Changes affect my 2010 rankings.

Well here, on January 18, 2010 and my 2010 Pre-Season College Football Rankings that I posted two weeks ago are down the drain. With the changes at USC and Tennessee as well as impact players entering the NFL Draft, I have shuffled my line-up quite a bit.

Here is my new Top 25.

Boise State-High maybe, but this team is good and Peterson can coach
Alabama- With a few high profile defections on defense and recognizing how tough it is to repeat
Ohio State- Will the real Terrell Pryor please stand up?
Oregon-With Pete C now in the NFL let the Duck Dynasty begin. I quack me up!!
TCU-If he fills a few holes on D this team will be tough to beat.
Oklahoma-If their leading rusher returns this team will be tough to beat
Wisconsin-Brett Bielma is doing a good job. With a strong running game returning and an efficient QB, plus they get OSU @ home
LSU-Team is loaded on both sides of the ball and the Bayou Bengals will be tough to beat @ home
Texas-If the Longhorns can get steady QB play and fill a few holes on the defense, this team will be hard to beat.
Miami-J Harris and the U will be back in the National Title Hunt
Iowa-If they can replace the talent lost on the front line and IF Ricki Stanzi cuts down on the Interceptions, this team could be dangerous. They also have a favorable home schedule, additionally Jewel Hampton returns @ RB
Va Tech-The return of a healthy Darren Evans to a stable of RB’s helps Tyrod Taylor be more efficient in the red zone.
Pittsburgh-Coach Dave and Dion Lewis have fans in Pittsburgh talking about a National Championship
Washington-Steve Sarkisians decision to stay in Huskie Town and the return of Jake Locker has fans dreaming of title runs in the Pac 10.
Georgia-The one-year recovery period (Moreno-Stafford hangover) is over; Coach Mark can flat out coach and will have the Junk Yard Dawgs back in the SEC title hunt.
North Carolina-Butch Davis has too much talent to be ranked lower than this.
Cincinnati- Brian Kelly should have stayed put, this team is loaded and the new person from CMU can flat out coach.
USC- Lane Kiffin, a personal fav is back home, this is where they start, not finish!
Florida-Too many holes to fill and too many questions.
Arkansas-Could possibly be the most dangerous team in the SEC. With a couple of breaks I can see the Hogs and Tide swapping rankings.
Utah-Utes know how to win. They will give TCU a run for the money.
Nothwestern-If the Cats can find a solid QB and replace ¾ of the secondary they will contend in the big 10. They only lose starters from this year.
Stanford-Great coaching, solid running game and returning QB spell trouble for the rest of the conference.
Nebraska- Offense has to show something. Black Shirts are back and defense will be stout.
Navy-Triple Options is crazy good

Just Outside: Kansas, Notre Dame, Texas A & M, Florida State, Michigan, Fresno State, UCLA, Illinois, Tennessee, Ga Tech, Boston College, and Idaho.

College Football 2010/2011

cebembry — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:44:46 +0000

College Football 2010/2011

Please….No…No…No

The College Football Season came to a spectacular close last night with a better than average BCS Championship game. The Freshman Gilbert will be a special player, in part, of what he endured thru two quarters yesterday against a stout Bama defense. Congrats, to Nick Saban and the Tide family for a tremendous run to the National Championship. As a Tennessee fan, it pangs me to say this but …..here goes…Roll Tide!

Sorry!

Now my thoughts turn to next year and I am excited about Spring Ball, yes I am a college football junky! Here is my top 25 for next year based on returning players and those not yet declaring for the NFL.

#1 Alabama ( I don’t think they will repeat)

#2 Boise State (Yes they are this good)

#3 Ohio State

#4 USC (2009 was a fluke and this team is loaded

#5 Oklahoma (Freshman QB grew up a lot this year)

#6 Texas (With a couple of breaks could end up in the BCS again)

#7 Wisconsin (They have everyone back)

#8 Miami (J Harris will have a monster Campaign)

#9 Pitt (Coach Dave has this team on the verge of something Big

#10 TCU (This team is loaded)

#11 Iowa (Kirk Farentz might be the best coach in College Football)

#12 Tennessee ( Lane Kiffin has the Vols ready to blow-up)

#13 Northwestern (Call me crazy but the Purple only loses 5 starters and will be strong @ LB)

#14 Georgia (Mark Richt has endured the “down year)

#15 Fresno State

#16 Florida (Tebow and Meyer are hard to replace, I think they start here but finish much higher)

#17 LSU ( I like what is brewing in the swamp, can they do a better job of clock management)

#18 Cincinnati ( Brian Kelly left this team loaded and new boss from Central Michigan can coach)

#19 Va Tech ( You know college football must be loaded if the Hokies are starting this low!)

#20 North Carolina (Butch Davis has a good team coming back)

#21 Stanford

#22 Utah

#23 Nebraska

#24 Washington

#25 Texas A & M

Surprise team of the year, I actually have two Illinois, now that the Juice Williams experiment is over and Kansas…..

Urban Legend

cebembry — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:54:40 +0000

Urban Legend

“I’m so glad we had this time together, to have a laugh and sing some songs, seems we just get started and before you know it , comes the time we have to say so long….. “ Carol Burnett sang this song for years at the end of her television show and now Gator Nation you can bid adieu to the Urban Legend. Urban Meyer, a coach who actually earns his money, is stepping down from one of the premier jobs in college football. Citing health reasons, heck I cannot blame him, a chest pain now, possible sudden cardiac death later just for a job. Urban will coach again, where I do not know, but with all the pressure, we place on college coaches it would not surprise me to see younger coaches step down and enjoy life a little more.

As a coach, I understand that coaching is like a narcotic, once you get the itch and are fully engrained it is impossible to give it up…..Unless forced to give it up. Now as a High School Basketball coach, I can only imagine the stress that goes along with coaching a top three program in college football. Coaching is actually the fun part, the fans, the press the all the stuff that goes along with coaching is what drives up the stress level and drags one down.

Now who takes on this juggernaut, well I mean who would not want to take on this job? I think the AD goes back to West and pulls a name that might surprise a few but will not serve as real shocker to anyone, Chris Peterson @ Boise State, TCU head Coach Gary Patterson or hit the Big East Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano, North Carolina Coach, Butch Davis or (Drum Roll Please!!) Brian Kelly @ Notre Dame. Call me crazy, but I guarantee that if Florida calls he will drop ND like a hooker with syphilis.

Crazy, nah…Brian Kelly wants to win and win now, Urban Meyer had the same decision several years ago, either go to ND your dream job or go to Florida and compete for a National Title….ND Fan I would be nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

By the way, has anyone seen Jon Gruden lately?

Indiana and College Football

cebembry — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:15:24 +0000

Monday morning and here we are again looking at the box scores of ND, Purdue and IU. As another sad season of college football in the state of Indiana ends, less Butler, which has enjoyed great gridiron success, fans of the Big 4 IU-Purdue-ND and Ball State look to the hallowed halls of Hoop Hysteria in need of a quick fix called success.

ND and their overhyped coach…Hi My Name is…..Charlie “I am a good person” Weis lost to another top 10 football program on Saturday evening. Memo to Lou Holtz, I know ND is still paying you, but please do not ever go on National TV and say that they will play in the BCS Championship game as long as the Michelin man is patrolling the sidelines.

Dave Wannstedt, who has been compared to other great college coaches, Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, Amos Alonzo Stagg….Sorry I was carried away. This same Dave was fired in Chicago and Miami as a Pro football flop. Now maybe the college game is more to his liking, however Dave is only 34-24 as the headman at Pitt. Nevertheless, how Pitt is playing is how the pundits assumed ND would play this year with the Jimmy and the man being in charge in South Bend.

Interestingly Dave and Charlie made their college debuts against one another in 2005 with ND winning big, but since that time Dave’s Pitt team has become more competitive and ND has become increasingly worse. Pitt has gone 5-6;6-6;5-7;9-4 and currently 9-1; ND has done the opposite under CW against lesser competition going 9-3 and 10-3 with Ty Willingham’s recruits and 3-9;7-6;and 6-4 with his own superstar recruits. Enough Said!

IU….Ohhhh what a bad team….Ben Chappell, Academic All American, I am sure he is great young man and I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do I life, but as a QB, he is bad. I applaud Bill Lynch, the same Bill Lynch that lost 70-0 to KSU in 2000, for being patient with Edward Wright Baker and allowing him to stay in redshirt status so we can at least see him do some great things over the next four years.

IU’s defense, which many non-fans will lament for giving up too many big plays, has been decent for the most part, IU defense has recorded 16 interceptions that ranks in the top 10 nationally ahead #2 Alabama and #5 Cincinnati! The rank #2 nationally in total unassisted tackles, #53 in sacks and #8 nationally in turnover margin. IU again is not a strong team statistically against the pass or run but opportunistic. If you do not have Alabama or Texas talent on the defensive side of the ball then your kids have to be in a position to capitalize on the others team’s miscues AKA interceptions, fumbles!

IU’s Defense has accomplished the goal of capitalizing on the miscues and missteps of Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State. The offense on the other hand has been pathetic. Ben Chappell is terrible at red zone reads; the offensive line cannot grind it out and get a tough 2 or 3 yards when needed. Demarlo Belcher, Tandon Doss, Darius Willis, Mitchell Evans and Max Demond have been bright spots on the offensive side of the ball, but that is where it stops!

Indiana ranks #83 in Red Zone offense, while Ben has tossed 15 touchdowns he has also given up 13 interceptions.

I am calling for a change on the sidelines @ Indiana and Notre Dame. I will give a pass to Ball State and Purdue for having new coaches. Purdue has actually looked better as the season has progressed. Boiler fans, be patient with Coach Hope, I think he is the right person for the job. He beat Michigan and Ohio State in the same year.