LSU Coach Pokey Chatman resigned on Wednesday due to allegations of a relationship with a former player. At the time of her resignation, it was thought that she would stay on and coach the team in the NCAA tournament. But on Thursday, she decided to step down completely so that she wouldn’t be a distraction to the team.

Pokey Chatman resigned as the head women’s basketball coach at Louisiana State University on Wednesday after the university became aware of an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship between Chatman and a former player on Chatman’s team, sources told ESPN.com. The university, the sources said, learned of the relationship from an employee within the basketball program.

So is this a love triangle go wrong? Is this one lover being jealous of another? Or is this someone in the basketball program that has their own agenda and wants to be coach? The main question at hand is this for me. Did she have a relationship with this “former” player while the player was playing at the school? Because if she did, then that would be the only thing she did wrong. If she has chosen to have a relationship with a player who used to play but is no longer playing, then I don’t see what she has done wrong.

We will probably never know the whole truth of the story. Right now, LSU has closed their practices and the media isn’t allowed to speak to the players. She resigned immediately as to not be a distraction from the program, but I think no matter what, this is going to be a huge distraction. Hopefully, the media respects the players and keeps the questions limited to the tournament and not their former coach’s actions.

I came across an article on Yahoo that was really interesting. A former Duke graduate built himself a robotic beer launcher. You absolutely have to see this video.

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How many people would buy this if it were on the market? It is probably one of the best inventions for the couch potato beer drinker.

Well America, your favorite nude Idol has sung already on the show and I will just say this. She sucked. The judges agreed with me. Simon even said to her that she has gone as far as she could go because of the talent she is surrounded by.

That’s all on that front. I say don’t vote for her but that’s just my opinion. If your voting on looks, by all means vote for her. It’s just a matter of time before she returns home anyways.

Technorati: American Idol, Antonella Barba

In front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, Demetris Nichols and Eric Devendorf led the Syracuse Orange to a 78-65 victory over the UCONN Huskies in the first round of the Big East Tournament. Nichols had 28 points, including 7 three pointers, and Devendorf had 19 points, 15 in the 1st half, to lead the Orange. For UCONN, they were led by Jerome Dyson’s 21 points and A.J. Price’s 11 points.

It was a tale of two halves for the Huskies. They played inspired basketball in the 1st half and decided not to show up for the second half.

With the loss, UCONN’s season is probably finished. Their record was 17-13. According to NIT-ology, the Huskies are not one of the teams that will make the NIT. I do disagree with that as odds are if they made the NIT and were given a home game, it would be a good revenue maker for the NCAA. But I don’t make these decisions. I can only hope as a UCONN fan, a bitter one right now, that UCONN will be chosen.

Technorati: UCONN Huskies, Jim Calhoun, Syracuse Orange

We all know how annoying squirrels can be at times. Well it seems someone has found a way to combat the problem.

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Thanks to an anonymous friend for the tip.

Jon Lester returned to the mound for the first time since Aug. 23, 2006 and was spectacular in his 1 inning of work. He only needed 8 pitches to retire 3 Minnesota Twins batters on ground balls. He threw 8 pitches, 6 of them for strikes. And of those 8 pitches, 6 of them were also fastballs. 3 of them were clocked at 88 mph, 2 at 89 mph and 1 of them at 90 mph. Lester had this to say about his start after the game:

“I tried to treat it as much as a normal game as I could. I tried not to get too amped up and tried not to worry about it and just get a good night’s sleep and come in here and get my work done and go on and build from here.

“Command was great. I went away when I wanted to go away and went in when I wanted to go in. I was in the general vicinity [with] all my pitches. I don’t know what the velocity was. It felt good. We’ll just build from here and hopefully get stronger as camp goes on, and if the velocity isn’t there, hopefully it will build back up to normal.”

“I don’t think the treatments are a factor right now. I’m still building it back up from the offseason, but I think I’m right about at 85 or 90 percent, getting close and starting to feel a little more comfortable with my body and how things are flowing.”

All I have to say is this. Congratulations Jon. It is nice to have you back on the mound as you continue to get healthy from your cancer battle. This is just great news. If Lester can return to form, it can only bring good things for the Red Sox. The big question is where we will be pitching to start the season. One can only hope if he is 100% and ready to start in Boston, that the Red Sox do what is best for Lester and the team.

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, Jon Lester

A good friend of mine sent me this video of Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, from WFAN 660 in New York, raving and ranting about Pacman Jones involvement in a nightclub shooting in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Star weekend.

Russo had received an emotional call from one of the victims in the shooting’s relatives and then just went on a 6 minute rant.

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He does make some good points about how athletes really don’t pay for their crimes. They usually end up getting some kind of community service. If Tank Johnson is allowed by the courts to go to the Super Bowl after violating his probation, what kind of statement that does that make to the youth of America. It’s ok to break the law if your an athlete, because your riches will get you out of trouble.

I honestly enjoy listening to him when I have the chance. I think he is one of the better sports radio hosts out there.

Technorati: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, WFAN, Pacman Jones

I caught this while I was watching the Tennessee-Florida basketball game tonight. ESPN panned in on Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer while Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt was performing with the cheerleaders (I will have the video of that up in a while).

Just a quick word to Coach Fulmer. Don’t pick your nose when the tv cameras are on you.

Technorati: Tennesse Volunteers, Phillip Fulmer

Here is a great video about doing pool trick shots with dominoes. Thanks to my dad for the video.

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Manny Ramirez’s agents, Greg Genske and Gene Matos, met with members of the media on Monday just a little while after the 12 year old reported to camp. Here is a transcript of the press conference from Extra Bases:

Why is Manny here today?

“He was ready to report, and he’s excited to be here.”

What’s situation with his mother?

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to get into the health issues of his mother. Those questions would be better addressed to Manny himself, when he’s ready to talk about it.”

Reporter: That might be October. Can you acknowledge whether she’s in the hospital?

“I’m not going to talk about the health of Manny’s mother.”

Manny is 34 now. Do you think it’s time for him to be more accountable instead of being babied like a 12-year-old?

“Well, I wouldn’t accept your characterization of his behavior to begin with, and again I’ll just say he’s reported to spring training here, he’s happy to be here he’s here before he’s required to be here, either by the team or the mandatory report date. He’s happy to be here and ready to go.”

Do you think since he’s your meal ticket, you should try to help him grow up?

“Again, I wouldn’t agree with your characterization, either of Manny’s behavior or of whatever else you’re talking about.”

He indicated March 1 was the day. What changed that he moved that up?

“Again. I think that’s something Manny would have to answer but he indicated he was ready to go so that’s why he’s here.”

What was the deal with the auto show?

“I have no idea what the deal was with the auto show. I do know Manny had never had any intention of being there.”

What has changed since he asked to be traded last fall?

“I’m not going to comment on anything about trades or speculation or anything like that right now. He’s here right now, and he’s excited to be here. You can tell that when he took the field.”

He never agreed to do the car show?

“Not that I’m aware of.”

So he doesn’t want to be traded now?

“He’s just focused on the season right now. He’s reported, he’s here and he’s ready to go.”

Why did he choose not to report with other position players?

“I think the Red Sox have already gone to the press with this. They extended him the opportunity to stay with his mother, who had surgery this offseason.”

Was it at all important for you or Manny to arrive before tomorrow’s mandatory report date?

“I think it was important for both Manny and me that he get to spring training as early as he could given his family situation. That’s why he came today, because he was prepared to come today.”

Have you had conversation with the organization at any point to discuss whether Manny still wants to be traded?

“No. We have not had any conversations about trades.”

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