Suspended ND QB Golson Offers Up Incompletion

May 27, 2013 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: Notre Dame suspended Everett Golson because of “poor academic judgment,” the former starting quarterback said Sunday in a statement. He did not say what the transgression might have been. South Bend sources are fairly certain it has nothing to do with former Irish linebacker Manti Te’o’s imaginary girlfriend taking a test for him. Maybe Golson will provide a clearer explanation regarding his “poor academic judgment.” Until he does, the one he has provided will be nothing more than an incomplete effort.

Loop Rock Girl Shannon Ihrke is one of our favorites around here — in or out of military attire. She was in the Marines.

* Speaking of football, the notion that the NFL needs to move its draft to May to have the league’s time in the media spotlight extended year-round seems silly. It’s that way already. Not that commissioner Roger Goodell or anyone else running the league and/or franchises should ever be concerned that someday fans actually might like to have less overlap of sports. Focusng on football in April, May, June and July runs the risk someday of fan weariness. Unless there’s a way to incorporate betting — one of the prime underpinnings of the NFL — into offseason occurrences.

* Speaking of sports commissioners, nothing says Memorial Day quite like baseball’s interleague play. OK, not really. But having Memorial Day featuring interleague matchups — mostly long-standing rivalries such as the Chicago Cubs vs. White Sox, New York Yankees vs. Mets, etc. — is one way commissioner Bud Selig can make sure interleague attendance figures look halfway decent. Of course, with interleague play a daily existence this season, the “special” nature of all that is anything but. But don’t tell the commissioner that.

* The National League Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals have the best road record in baseball: 18-9. To put the last-place Cubs’ record in some context, the Wrigley Field residents have 19 victories — home and away.

*At 19-30, the Cubs have a -12 run differential. At 24-24, the White Sox have a -11 run differential. What does that all mean? The Cubs are 19-30 and in last place, and the Sox are 24-24 and in third place. Well that and the Cubs win by wider margins when they do win.

* Speaking of run differentials, the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers (28-20) have a plus-66 run differential. That’s tied with the Cardinals (32-17). Which means the Tigers win games by wider margins than the Cards do.

* Phil Jackson said the other day if he was starting a franchise, he would take Bill Russell over Michael Jordan. Because the former Celtics center won 11 NBA titles to MJ’s six. Of course, by that reasoning, if Jackson was choosing a coach, he would choose himself over Red Auerbach. Because the former Celtics coach had nine NBA titles to Jackson’s 11 (six with the Chicago Bull and five with the Los Angeles Lakers).

* Speaking of NBA titles, the Miami Heat would seem back on track for its second in a row after a 114-96 victory over the host Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference final. The Heat holds a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Note to Pacers: Against a good team (such as the Heat), it is quite a challenge to prevail when not one of your starters shoots better than .500 from the field — and all five of your opponent’s starters shoot better than .500 from the field and all five score in double figures.

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Today is Memorial Day, a somber time for honoring America’s war dead. Without the sacrifice those men and women made, we would not have the luxury of enjoying sports — or anything — today. To those who gave their lives in the defense of freedom, we offer our eternal gratitude.

Speaking of things military, April Rose — a favorite around here — has posed in Maxim’s tribute to the military, and we have been honored to run her photos from that. Today we have some video, not necessarily Memorial Day in nature, but certainly worthy of inclusion: