Best Seller
July 31, 2008
Coach Tressel has been honored with spots on a number of notable lists over the course of his career—and now he can add one more to that collection.
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Basketball: Redd, Team USA Oust Turkey, 114-82
July 31, 2008
Former Buckeye helps USA Basketball to 2-0 pre-Olympic exhibition record
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Will Troy Smith Start for Ravens Pt. II; Vegas bookmakers not sure
July 31, 2008
Unlike the fans in Baltimore, Ohio State fans know that Troy Smith can play. However, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have to fight for his position - and fight he is. While I haven’t been able to get up to training camp to check things out for myself, the writers at the Baltimore Sun have [...]
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Ohio State Tackle Pleads Not Guilty
July 31, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State football player who is in trouble with the law put in his plea Thursday.
Ohio State starting defensive tackle Doug Worthington was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Saturday morning and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Worthington’s lawyer entered a not-guilty plea.
The 6 feet 7 inch-tall, 276-pound tackle, who will turn 21 August 10, started 11 games for the Buckeyes in 2007.
There still was no word on how Worthington’s arrest will affect the start of the Buckeye football season.
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information on this developing story.
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Now Chris Wells can be your Fantasy team tailback
July 31, 2008
According to a story by USA Today’s Jack Carey, you fantasy college football team can have “real” virtual OSU Buckeyes on it — for now.
Here is what Carey wrote:
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The burgeoning world of fantasy sports is about to cross a new line. CBSSports.com has announced plans to introduce a fantasy college football game for the upcoming season, a game that will use the names and statistics of current college players.
The NCAA, citing amateurism issues, has historically warned against such practices as a violation of the association’s bylaws. Although such a notice has been sent by the association to CBS, a recent court case has been interpreted by some parties as allowing the use of college players, and the NCAA appears wary of pushing the issue with CBS — at least at this time.
We are in discussions with CBS to try to work (out) a solution that we would be comfortable with,” NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said Wednesday.
Previous attempts at college fantasy games have used inexact terms such as “Florida QB” or “Ohio State RB,” but now the names of Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and Buckeyes running back Chris Wells can be utilized.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to hear a case brought by Major League Baseball against a fantasy sports corporation over the use of baseball players’ names and statistics. The court’s move in effect said that statistics and names already in the public domain are not owned by a league or athletic association.
“There’s some debate as to whether the court decision applies to amateur athletes,” Williams said. “The court didn’t specifically say it did; some are interpreting it as it does. It remains to be seen.”
CBS is in the midst of a $6 billion contract with the association for the broadcast rights to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
That relationship has not been lost on some.
“This (fantasy game) seems to be in direct violation of current NCAA rules,” said Amy Perko, executive director of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which urges reform in college sports. “The NCAA has an obligation to ask its partner to cease and desist so its rules are not violated.
”At this point, what’s unsettling is that they wouldn’t clearly and actually say that it needs to be stopped, and you hope it’s not a different stance because their partner has unveiled this as opposed to someone else. The NCAA’s first responsibility is to their student-athletes, not their business partners.“
Williams acknowledged that such criticism is likely but said CBS is not being treated any differently.
”The fact remains that there was a court case that, some are interpreting, allows the use,“ he said. ”We (took) action like we normally would with anyone else and sent a notice to CBS indicating it’s a violation of our bylaw — that’s done to protect the amateur status of our student-athletes — just like we would anyone else. We’ve followed the same procedures that we would follow with anyone else.
“All things considered, our bylaws are what they are and, if we had our druthers, they wouldn’t (use the names). But the fact remains they’re making a decision, and it’s their right to make the decision.”
Williams said the issue will be addressed next week by the NCAA Division I board of directors “in terms of whether or not the bylaws need to be examined or whether we need to stay the course. What we’re doing is looking at all the factors and also looking at the realities of the new media environment.”
Other media are already looking at the issue.
“We think it’s a great opportunity,” said Jeffrey Gerttula, vice president and general manager online of The Sporting News. “The concern has always been that the NCAA would do something (in terms of legal action), but I think this is interesting.”
Gerttula said The Sporting News cannot get a fantasy “league” up and running for this season because of logistics. But he believes more sites will inevitably jump on board because players’ names can be used.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “It’s a lot more interesting.”
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11W Sneak Peek: Michigan State
July 31, 2008
Dantonio is expecting more Gatorade showers in ‘08.We’re counting down the weeks until kickoff by profiling a different Big Ten team each week. Today, Sparty is up.Michigan State seems to be a popular choice for the “darkhorse” team in the Big Ten conference this year. They are coming off a 7-6 record in [...]
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Buckeyes Take Control — Or At Least Controllers!
July 31, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Before they hit camp, the Buckeyes hit the digital field. Who had virtual bragging rights?
NBC 4’s Mindy Drayer reported, and she said when the Bucks took to the field, the competition was fierce and there was some trash-talking.
It was football — by video game. Thirty-six players took control – or controllers – to raise money the Kidney Cancer Association.
One by one, players were eliminated. DB Donald Washington was the last Buckeye standing – or sitting.
And, yes, Drayer said he made a big interception.
"How crazy is that," Washington asked.
Now, if the football Buckeyes can do the same thing in this year’s real championship, Drayer said.
Click on the video on the upper left to watch the video.
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Pitcock Leaves Heads Scratching in Indy
July 31, 2008
No confidence in Manning?It’s been a little over a day since the news hit and many of us are still wondering why Quinn Pitcock did decide to retire from the Colts.After notifying the Colts of his intention not to report for the start of camp, Monday’s speculation was that he had lost his desire to [...]
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ESPN radio ‘experts’ compare Boeckman/Pryor to Favre/Rogers
July 31, 2008
ESPN radio’s Scott Van Pelt was joined on air this afternoon by former OSU quarterback Kirk Herbstreit and the two of them came up with the oddest analogy yet regarding Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.
The less-than-dynamic duo compared the Packers vs. Favre situation to OSU returning senior quarterbackTodd Boeckman and incoming freshman Terrell Pryor. They wondered if OSU would just “give the keys” to Pryor over Boeckman (which they admitted would never happen) as Green Bay is doing with Aaron Rogers.
The differences in the two instances are so overwhelming I was stunned they were making the reach. There is enough stuff to talk about regarding Favre and OSU (despite the fact practice doesn’t start until this weekend) that there was no need to try to compare the two.
I expect better from the self-proclaimed “worldwide leader in sports.”
In case you’re having Brett Favre withdrawl, here’s a little Favre soundtrack (I apologize in advance for his belch).
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OSU transfer Boren talks about leaving Michigan
July 31, 2008
SportingNews.com has an in-depth profile of Justin Boren, who transferred from Michigan to Ohio State after Rich Rodriguez took over:
Boren didn’t respond to Rodriguez’s pushing and left, saying that the “family values” that Carr had instilled in the program had eroded. Some said Boren couldn’t handle the demanding conditioning program Rodriguez and strength coach Mike Barwis had instituted. Others said Carr had coddled Boren and other starters, and when Rodriguez and his staff turned up the volume, Boren cracked.
“I don’t think Coach Carr had favorites,” former Michigan running back Mike Hart says. “(Boren) got yelled at like everybody else, even though his dad played for Bo.”
Boren also disputes the notion that he left because he couldn’t handle Rodriguez’s offense.
“Was it my first choice? Hell, no. But I could have gotten acquainted,” he says.
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