Tune in at 2PM for this week's edition of The Mouth That Roared.
Guests include Mike Weinstein of WKCR, Lucas Shaw of the Columbia Spectator, and Adam Seif in a round table discussion of the Mets, Yankees, Jets, March Madness, the World Baseball Classic and much more.
The show will return to its normal live format next Sunday at 2.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
State of my Bracket Address
The end of the opening weekend of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament is always bittersweet. For me, the first four days of March Madness are among my "high holy days" of the sports calendar, rivaled only by the likes of the Super Bowl and the World Cup. On those days, my attention is on nothing else but the competition, and I am almost always highly entertained by the games themselves.
With that being said, my bracket does not reflect my love for college basketball. Awful early picks (BYU, Ohio State, Minnesota) and good picks that did not quite pan out (Utah State, West Virginia) outweighed my good decisions, and two of my elite eight teams are already out (Clemson, Utah State).
But before you write me off, let me defend my struggling bracket.
1. I have 1 and only 1 bracket per year. That bracket applies to all pools/side bets entered. I do not take multiple shots at guessing games. I commit to picks and I enjoy the action.
2. I understand that boring brackets are not interesting (hence their name) and that they will not win pools. A seven or worse has made the elite eight in 8 of the last 9 years and the final four is rarely comprised of one seeds. Due to this, I take risks and attempt to guess a Cinderella or two for the sweet sixteen.
3. My love for the Big East makes it difficult for me to subjectively analyze the conference's talent from year to year. I have made an awful habit of putting 3 or more Big East teams in the elite eight on a yearly basis.
Ordinarily, these things have prevented me from having stellar brackets over the years, although I did finish 3rd in a 20+ people pool behind Florida's second national championship run two years ago. But this year, my old limitations completely destroyed my bracket hopes in a perfect storm of sorts.
First of all, I picked against the Big East for the first time in my life this year, figuring they were overrated and overhyped and that this could be the year I finally realized that the conference disapoints in the tournamet. Well, with 5 of 7 teams through to the sweet sixteen and at least 4 looking in good shape to get to the elite eight, the Big East has finally impressed this year. It figures.
Then, my time tested theory of the emergence of at least one Cinderella story collapsed, as this tournament has none left. The lowest seed remaining is Arizona, an incredibly talented team and storied program that simply can not be regarded as a Cinderella. So my Utah State pick became as silly as my Clemson pick, and a quater of my elite eight went up in flames.
The positives? My final four is still in tact, and my champion, Connecticut, has looked like one of the two best teams in the tournament, along with Villanova.
So tune in next week for an update on the state of my bracket and much more on The Mouth That Roared.
With that being said, my bracket does not reflect my love for college basketball. Awful early picks (BYU, Ohio State, Minnesota) and good picks that did not quite pan out (Utah State, West Virginia) outweighed my good decisions, and two of my elite eight teams are already out (Clemson, Utah State).
But before you write me off, let me defend my struggling bracket.
1. I have 1 and only 1 bracket per year. That bracket applies to all pools/side bets entered. I do not take multiple shots at guessing games. I commit to picks and I enjoy the action.
2. I understand that boring brackets are not interesting (hence their name) and that they will not win pools. A seven or worse has made the elite eight in 8 of the last 9 years and the final four is rarely comprised of one seeds. Due to this, I take risks and attempt to guess a Cinderella or two for the sweet sixteen.
3. My love for the Big East makes it difficult for me to subjectively analyze the conference's talent from year to year. I have made an awful habit of putting 3 or more Big East teams in the elite eight on a yearly basis.
Ordinarily, these things have prevented me from having stellar brackets over the years, although I did finish 3rd in a 20+ people pool behind Florida's second national championship run two years ago. But this year, my old limitations completely destroyed my bracket hopes in a perfect storm of sorts.
First of all, I picked against the Big East for the first time in my life this year, figuring they were overrated and overhyped and that this could be the year I finally realized that the conference disapoints in the tournamet. Well, with 5 of 7 teams through to the sweet sixteen and at least 4 looking in good shape to get to the elite eight, the Big East has finally impressed this year. It figures.
Then, my time tested theory of the emergence of at least one Cinderella story collapsed, as this tournament has none left. The lowest seed remaining is Arizona, an incredibly talented team and storied program that simply can not be regarded as a Cinderella. So my Utah State pick became as silly as my Clemson pick, and a quater of my elite eight went up in flames.
The positives? My final four is still in tact, and my champion, Connecticut, has looked like one of the two best teams in the tournament, along with Villanova.
So tune in next week for an update on the state of my bracket and much more on The Mouth That Roared.
CU Baseball Goes 1-9 On California Swing
With seven games on the swing against ranked teams, Columbia baseball was always looking at an uphill battle over the spring break trip.
Unsurprisingly, wins did not come easily for the Lions, who managed only one during the ten game trip.
However, there were positives to take from the week in California. Freshman Jon Eisen continued his stellar play, and looks to have won a second base position which has a surprising amount of depth despite the loss of Hank Perkins to graduation. Senior Kyle Roberts finally looks to be recovering from his preseason back injury, and sophomore Chris Meininger has been effective when called upon.
Ace Joe Scarlata also continued to pitch well, but took multiple hard-luck losses during the road trip. His record is now 0-4. More significantly, Dan Bracey got the only win in California in a surprisingly strong seven inning performance against Cal-State Northridge. He may have gone a long way towards securing the third spot in the rotation for the Ivy League schedule with the performance.
Unfortunately, potential super-sophs Nick Cox and Alex Ferrera have struggled to begin the season, despite their enormous potential at the crucial centerfield and shortstop positions.
The Lions take on the St. Johns Red Storm at Robertson Field on Tuesday, Mach 24. Coverage on WKCR's Real Audio stream at WKCR.org.
Unsurprisingly, wins did not come easily for the Lions, who managed only one during the ten game trip.
However, there were positives to take from the week in California. Freshman Jon Eisen continued his stellar play, and looks to have won a second base position which has a surprising amount of depth despite the loss of Hank Perkins to graduation. Senior Kyle Roberts finally looks to be recovering from his preseason back injury, and sophomore Chris Meininger has been effective when called upon.
Ace Joe Scarlata also continued to pitch well, but took multiple hard-luck losses during the road trip. His record is now 0-4. More significantly, Dan Bracey got the only win in California in a surprisingly strong seven inning performance against Cal-State Northridge. He may have gone a long way towards securing the third spot in the rotation for the Ivy League schedule with the performance.
Unfortunately, potential super-sophs Nick Cox and Alex Ferrera have struggled to begin the season, despite their enormous potential at the crucial centerfield and shortstop positions.
The Lions take on the St. Johns Red Storm at Robertson Field on Tuesday, Mach 24. Coverage on WKCR's Real Audio stream at WKCR.org.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Columbia Baseball Returns This Weekend
After capturing a rare Ivy League championship for Columbia last year, the Lions baseball team will resume play on Friday against undefeated Lamar in Southeast Texas.
Despite the team's recent successes, the Lions are a different team this year, and enter opening weekend with position battles at 2nd base and the corner outfield spots.
After losing Jay Banos on the first day of spring practice to a torn achilles tendon, an injury eerily reminiscent of Lion basketball player Brian Grimes' on his first day of practice, left field has become a glaring vacancy. Among the competitors for the spot are freshman giant (and starting goalkeeper for the soccer team) Alex Auricchio, freshman Anthony Potter, and the probable opening day starter, senior Jon Tasman.
The graduation of Noah Cooper, the league's batting champ last season, creates another hole in right field. Freshman speedster Billy Rumpke is expected to take his place.
Another promising freshman is Jon Eisen, who may well get the opening day start at second base. Also being considered for left field, Eisen has impressed so far this spring. Senior Kyle Roberts has been hampered by injuries this spring, but would, in theory, get his spot back when he recovers. Then there is Chris Meininger, who started the double play which sealed the team's first Ivy championship in decades. He is also contending for the left field spot abruptly vacated by Banos.
The Lions can find solace in their proven returning starters, however. Senior captians Joe Scarlata and Mike Roberts are both experienced and both have the opportunity to dominate the Ancient Eight. Scarlata will head up a rotation that will also include the team's leader in wins from a year ago, Sophomore Geoff Whitaker. Roberts, on the other hand, returns as the starting third basemen, and will be joined in the infield with senior first basmen Ron Williams, who will likely bat third in the lineup, and sophomore shortstop Alex Ferrera, who showed good poise and a good arm along with some power while earning the starting shortstop gig in his first year with the team.
Then there's Nick Cox, the much-hyped, five-tool centerfielder who was named to the Freshman All-America team last year. He may already be the most dangerous all-around player in the league.
Do not expect too much from this team on opening weekend, or throughout the rest of the conference schedule for that matter. They will be travelling heavily over the next month, and their opponents will have all had more games under their belts than the Lions.
Until the Ivy season begins, we will not truly know if this team can repeat as champions of the league.
Despite the team's recent successes, the Lions are a different team this year, and enter opening weekend with position battles at 2nd base and the corner outfield spots.
After losing Jay Banos on the first day of spring practice to a torn achilles tendon, an injury eerily reminiscent of Lion basketball player Brian Grimes' on his first day of practice, left field has become a glaring vacancy. Among the competitors for the spot are freshman giant (and starting goalkeeper for the soccer team) Alex Auricchio, freshman Anthony Potter, and the probable opening day starter, senior Jon Tasman.
The graduation of Noah Cooper, the league's batting champ last season, creates another hole in right field. Freshman speedster Billy Rumpke is expected to take his place.
Another promising freshman is Jon Eisen, who may well get the opening day start at second base. Also being considered for left field, Eisen has impressed so far this spring. Senior Kyle Roberts has been hampered by injuries this spring, but would, in theory, get his spot back when he recovers. Then there is Chris Meininger, who started the double play which sealed the team's first Ivy championship in decades. He is also contending for the left field spot abruptly vacated by Banos.
The Lions can find solace in their proven returning starters, however. Senior captians Joe Scarlata and Mike Roberts are both experienced and both have the opportunity to dominate the Ancient Eight. Scarlata will head up a rotation that will also include the team's leader in wins from a year ago, Sophomore Geoff Whitaker. Roberts, on the other hand, returns as the starting third basemen, and will be joined in the infield with senior first basmen Ron Williams, who will likely bat third in the lineup, and sophomore shortstop Alex Ferrera, who showed good poise and a good arm along with some power while earning the starting shortstop gig in his first year with the team.
Then there's Nick Cox, the much-hyped, five-tool centerfielder who was named to the Freshman All-America team last year. He may already be the most dangerous all-around player in the league.
Do not expect too much from this team on opening weekend, or throughout the rest of the conference schedule for that matter. They will be travelling heavily over the next month, and their opponents will have all had more games under their belts than the Lions.
Until the Ivy season begins, we will not truly know if this team can repeat as champions of the league.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
How Good Are These Guys? Better Than Last Year, That's For Sure
I hate to say I told you so. Actually, I love saying that. And it applies here, as I was mocked for claiming before the season that this team would outperform last year's senior laden group.
What the Columbia basketball team had last year was John Baumann. What they have this year is heart.
The Lions showed it last night with a breathtaking 60-59 win over Harvard at Levien that left the again boisterous Columbia crowd wanting more. Talk about home court advantage, huh? The Lions have now won four games in a row at home and have bumped their Ivy League record up to 5-3.
More importantly, Princeton fell at Brown (a bad loss with a capital B), leaving the Lions' hopes for second place in the league wide open. If you take into account the fact that Columbia's 4 toughest games of the season (both Cornell games and road games at Penn and Princeton) are behind them, prospects seem good for an impressive and utterly shocking league performance from the 2008-2009 Lions.
Realistically though, Columbia was too sloppy last night against Harvard and were lucky to be in a position to win. Suspect coaching from the Ancient Eight's highest profile coach left the game wide open for Columbia when Tommy Amaker decided to try to kill the clock with a 4 point lead and 4 minutes remaining. The result of that brilliant strategy was 2 shot clock violations in 3 possessions and 0 points. On the other end, big baskets from Agho and Miller allowed the Lions to claw back into it, and Kevin Bulger's miracle floater sealed the deal.
A second or third place league finish will take a major offensive improvement from this team over the rest of the season. But the emergence of Jason Miller as the premier big man in the Ivy League and the steadily improving stellar play of superfrosh Noruwa Agho does give a fan hope...
What the Columbia basketball team had last year was John Baumann. What they have this year is heart.
The Lions showed it last night with a breathtaking 60-59 win over Harvard at Levien that left the again boisterous Columbia crowd wanting more. Talk about home court advantage, huh? The Lions have now won four games in a row at home and have bumped their Ivy League record up to 5-3.
More importantly, Princeton fell at Brown (a bad loss with a capital B), leaving the Lions' hopes for second place in the league wide open. If you take into account the fact that Columbia's 4 toughest games of the season (both Cornell games and road games at Penn and Princeton) are behind them, prospects seem good for an impressive and utterly shocking league performance from the 2008-2009 Lions.
Realistically though, Columbia was too sloppy last night against Harvard and were lucky to be in a position to win. Suspect coaching from the Ancient Eight's highest profile coach left the game wide open for Columbia when Tommy Amaker decided to try to kill the clock with a 4 point lead and 4 minutes remaining. The result of that brilliant strategy was 2 shot clock violations in 3 possessions and 0 points. On the other end, big baskets from Agho and Miller allowed the Lions to claw back into it, and Kevin Bulger's miracle floater sealed the deal.
A second or third place league finish will take a major offensive improvement from this team over the rest of the season. But the emergence of Jason Miller as the premier big man in the Ivy League and the steadily improving stellar play of superfrosh Noruwa Agho does give a fan hope...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Second Half Surge Gives Columbia Chance to Complete Another Home Sweep
The first half of last night's Columbia-Dartmouth game at Levien ended in spectacular fashion for the Lions as KJ Matsui drained a circus shot from the corner at the buzzer to give Columbia its first lead.
The shot capped an embarrassingly poor half of basketball for the Lions, who found themselves trailing from the first minute of the game. Poor defense and sloppy execution from the Lions kept the Big Green ahead for most of the half, but KJ's buzzer beater turned the momentum and Columbia cruised to victory in the second half.
The star of the game was, without doubt, Noruwa Agho, who successfully dueled with possibly the best player in the Ivy league, Alex Barnett. The 6'6'' senior had his hands full with Agho, whose physical and resilient play led the Lions to victory. Agho finished with 20 points and a career high 9 rebounds.
Tonight, Columbia looks for their second consecutive Ivy weekend sweep at home against Harvard. The game marks a turning point in the season for the Lions, who could go to 5-3 in the Ancient Eight with a win. That record would have Columbia seriously thinking about a number 2 or 3 finish in the league. However, a loss tonight adjusts those aspirations, and maintaining a .500 record becomes the more reasonable goal.
The game tips at 7 in Levien, with Lions Countdown on WKCR 89.9 FM starting at 6:45.
The shot capped an embarrassingly poor half of basketball for the Lions, who found themselves trailing from the first minute of the game. Poor defense and sloppy execution from the Lions kept the Big Green ahead for most of the half, but KJ's buzzer beater turned the momentum and Columbia cruised to victory in the second half.
The star of the game was, without doubt, Noruwa Agho, who successfully dueled with possibly the best player in the Ivy league, Alex Barnett. The 6'6'' senior had his hands full with Agho, whose physical and resilient play led the Lions to victory. Agho finished with 20 points and a career high 9 rebounds.
Tonight, Columbia looks for their second consecutive Ivy weekend sweep at home against Harvard. The game marks a turning point in the season for the Lions, who could go to 5-3 in the Ancient Eight with a win. That record would have Columbia seriously thinking about a number 2 or 3 finish in the league. However, a loss tonight adjusts those aspirations, and maintaining a .500 record becomes the more reasonable goal.
The game tips at 7 in Levien, with Lions Countdown on WKCR 89.9 FM starting at 6:45.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Mouth Blog
Welcome to the official (and only) blog of WBAR's NY sports talk radio show, The Mouth That Roared.
Stay tuned for sports news and opinion as well as access to show archives.
The Mouth That Roared- Sundays from 2-4 PM only on WBAR.
Stay tuned for sports news and opinion as well as access to show archives.
The Mouth That Roared- Sundays from 2-4 PM only on WBAR.
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