An Era No More

Jim Tressel was always known around the college football world as an iconic coach and he might as well as just been enshrined by the people of Columbus, Ohio as well.  So, to me, it seems weird that after one infraction with the NCAA, did he resign?

It seems like every year now, we are beginning to hear about major college coaches or players violating the NCAA rules in some way.  Whether it's accepting improper benefits or coaching violations, college sports has created a sideshow where players and coaches are trying to see how much they can get away with.
This is what leads me back to Tressel.  So he mislead the NCAA and withheld information regarding his players selling memorabilia to get free ink.  That's not the worst thing a coach has done over the last few decades, so accept the five game suspension, serve it, and go back to winning championships.  But, to the people of Columbus and everywhere around America, Tressel was seen as more than just another football coach.  He was the gentleman in the red and gray sweater vests on Saturdays in the fall who led a CLEAN and UNTARNISHED powerhouse football team... the right way.

That is why it amazes me that he was forced out the way that he was.  Many people are saying that there had to have been more for him to be feeling this much pressure from the school to step down.  But, even Athletic Director Gene Smith has backed Tressel through the thick and thin of this controversy, as well as many current and former players.
This is the third time in Tressel's coaching career that his program has encountered NCAA sanctions, once when he was at Youngstown State and an earlier time at Ohio State.  Both of the previous times he was found to have no knowledge of the events.  For the thousands of players that have gone through Jim Tressel, it is hard for me to believe that for a man with as great a track record that Tressel has had, that after one incident that can barely even compare to some violations of the past, there better be something more that we don't know about.
As much as I like Tressel, I really hope that this was on his own concerns and not someone else's.

*All images courtesy of Google Images*

It's Finals Season, Baby!

Now is the time when all sports fans begin to lock onto their TV screens with the beginning of the NBA and NHL Finals.  This is the only time of year when the sports enthusiast (much like myself) can watch two championship finals occurring at the same time.
Tonight (more like in a matter of minutes) the Miami Heat will try to once again end the Dallas Dirk Nowitzki's season on a sour note and sending them home hardware-less.  This is the reason LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh decided to come together.  However, this time, it isn't Dallas vs. Miami.  No, this time, it is Miami vs. The Rest of the Basketball World, as everyone else besides the Miami locals are hoping that The Big Three fall flat on their faces and begin their quest to go 0-for-7 in winning an NBA Title.

On the other end of the sporting spectrum, tomorrow night, the NHL Stanley Cup Finals get under way, with a matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins.
Neither of these teams have tasted victory in a while, heck, the Canucks haven't won since coming into the league 40 years ago.  But, if any year is their year, this is it.
As a raving hockey enthusiast, I can honestly say that I have never seen a power play run as effectively and efficiently as this Canucks team.  When you mix in the Swedish Twin Towers with arguably the best U.S. born player in Ryan Kesler, right there you have a nice three-man unit to pace your offense.  But, add in the emergence of Alex Burrows, Mikael Sammuelson, and Kevin Bieksa and you have a power play that is tough to stop.
I can't disregard the Prince of Whales champs though.  David Krejci and Nathan Horton have set the pace for the Bruins offense, while Denis Seidenberg and Zdeno Chara has proved to be too much on the blue line.  And don't be surprised if the potent attack of Vancouver is stymied by the should be Vezina Trophy winner in net Tim Thomas.

My Bold Predictions for these series:
1. Dallas Mavericks in 6-- Dirk finally shuts up any critics out there (if there are any) and gives Mark Cuban his first title and the city of Dallas their first since the 2000 Dallas Stars.
2. Vancouver Canucks in 5-- If this series isn't a sweep, don't expect it to be a long one.  Vancouver is destined to win the Cup.  They'll be backed by Roberto Luongo who will become Mayor of Vancouver after this series, bringing the team and the city their first Stanley Cup and leading team Canada to a gold medal in the 2010 Olympics, which also took place in Vancouver.

*All images courtesy of Google Images*