I was sitting in a bar in upstate New York with some college friends when, out of the corner of my eye, I notice on ESPN the bottom line that said “Diana Taurasi…” and I was intrigued. Generally I’m not intrigued by WNBA news of any kind, much like everyone else that is not a woman over the age of 65, but Diana and I have a history. It started my freshmen year. Even then I knew that I hated Connecticut.

Then #1 Connecticut traveled to Manley Field House to take on the then Syracuse Orangewomen basketball team. Well of course Syracuse was drubbed. Back then the team was atrocious save for Julie McBride. Meanwhile Connecticut had Sue Bird, who was as talented as she was lovely, and then Diana Taurasi. Seeing as Sue Bird was the senior leader on the team and the focus of most defensive efforts, she was also the focus of much heckling from my Sour Sitrus Society colleagues. If you are a loyal reader of the blog, you know what I mean by heckling. Now you have to understand, back then the team was horrible, we were playing #1 UConn, and we were getting trounced. We ended up losing this game by 30 points. There was not much to do at the women’s basketball games of this era other than heckle. With everyone else messing with Sue Bird, I focused my attention to the far lesser known Taurasi. I’m jawing at her the entire game, possibly calling her fat in some way, or maybe saying she looks like a dude. This was seven years ago after all. I definitely remember yelling at her, when it was quite as she shot a free throw, saying that I’d love to make up for the heckling by buying her Pita Pit. So we all have a grand old time, and we lose by 30. The buzzer goes and UConn is running back to the locker rooms, and just as I’m about to start playing the fight song, Diana looks right at me and gives me the middle finger across the court. I just stood there with my jaw dropped. And thus my real hatred of Connecticut women’s basketball was born. UConn went on to win the National Championship that year, by the by.

Thus the real news from this past weekend. So as I see Diana Taurasi on the bottom line I see it followed by “cited for D.U.I.”, and I immediately get excited. ESPN.com has the full low down. Basically she was speeding on July 3rd, got pulled over, the police smelled alcohol, transported her to a mobile D.U.I. center, then she gave blood and was issued a citation. Now, as a future lawyer, and at this point almost certain defense attorney, I don’t relish in people getting jacked up by police after having a few cocktails. But D.U.I. is a serious crime and if she had a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, she will surely face a fine but probably not jail. Either way, as probably the biggest WNBA star right now, as well as the leading vote getter for the WNBA All Star Game, she should have known better. Looks like the curse of UConn and the Connvicts caught up to her finally. I, of course, will keep you posted to any further legal developments in this case.

Finally, I wonder where SU Athletics got this idea?

How the hell is this not on the list?!?!

Best smile and best point guard in the draft.

Congratulations to Jonny Flynn, picked 6th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Congratulations to Jonny. Sadly he will not be heading to his favorite team the New York Knicks who had the 8th overall pick and selected Jordan Hill from Arizona. After all, Flynn plays some of his best ball in Madison Square Garden. Either way, Flynn will most likely be hung on by Minnesota, and Ricky Rubio, picked just before him, will most likely be used to get some other quality player to help rebuild the franchise. Flynn is a strong leader on the floor, can finish despite being undersized, and will be a good addition to Minnesota.

Other Big East selections in the NBA Draft were:

First Round
#2 Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut) to Memphis
#11 Terrence Williams (Louisville) to New Jersey
#14 Earl Clark (Louisville) to Phoenix

Second Round
#3 (33) Dante Cunningham (Villanova) to Portland via the LA Clippers
#5 (35) DaJuan Summers (Georgetown) to Detroit via Minnesota
#6 (36) Sam Young (Pittsburgh) to Memphis
#7 (37) DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh) to San Antonio via Golden State through Phoenix
#22 (52) AJ Price (Connecticut) to Indiana via Dallas

Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf were not selected in the first two rounds of this year’s NBA Draft. There was talk of Paul Harris possibly impressing enough that people might have taken him in the second round but it was not to be, as once again several surely overrated international players were taken in this draft (13 total). Maybe we’ll see two or three in the league, but not 13. Either way, there was a fairly strong showing from the Big East in this year’s draft. Now some analysis.

Hasheem Thabeet is a good defender and a great shot blocker. But unlike what Jay Bilas (whom I usually respect) said on the draft, he does foul. A lot. Even if they are not called every time. He should have fouled out of several more games than he did this past season, and should have found out after about 2 overtimes in the epic Syracuse game in MSG. While he will fit in nicely in Memphis, he does not deserve the dap he's getting lately.

Nice to see the fine folks from Louisville be rewarded with two first round picks after a nice season and a good run in the NCAA Tournament.

Best value picks in the draft; Dante Cunningham at 33 and DeJuan Blair at 37. DeJuan Blair is one of the best rebounders in the draft and was a steal for San Antonio at 37. DaJuan Summers (how did anyone from a terrible G’town team make it) is also a great value to Detroit at 35.

AJ Price squeaked in and may not make the Indiana team as they already have Jarrett Jack on the team. However he could re-sign thereby making AJ hit the bricks. Price isn’t that remarkable for a point guard and they got their marquee player in the first round with Tyler Hansbrough.

So that was the draft. No liveblog this year. Again. Sorry about that, but I wasn’t going to sit through five plus hours of coverage this year. Maybe next time. Either way, in summary the Big East is awesome, European players are overrated, and UConn… U SUCK!

Troy can't wait to listen to the whole thing.

This probably tastes like tomato and ass.

We are serious about lacrosse... and tailgating.

It was only two weeks ago Syracuse won a record 11th National Championship. Some would say tenth, but even the NCAA is selling shirts that say 11 so we’re going with that. As promised I would have the mega awesome recap. Uniquely however, rather than boiling down the Final Four in my usual prose and text written in this space here (you can read my Final Four and Championship recaps), I bring it to you in living video and in pictures. We start with the recap from the people that brought you the games; ESPN. From SU Alumnus Dave Ryan and Quint Kessenich, they called another Final Four in the booth together and bring you the official recap.


Next, we hit the Youtubes to see some compiled game footage, as the miracle actually happened.


Then the fine folks at Inside Lacrosse got a camera in the hands of injured player Spencer Van Shaak to give you a behind the scenes look at the team.


The IL folks obviously had the access, so they got some great interviews of players. Be sure to check out the end of Jovan Miller’s interview. He throws some trash talk Quint’s way.
















Finally, we have the official SU Athletics’ DOCTOR Gross Propaganda Machine Celebratory Video. Trademark pending. Highlighted by the inspirational ol’ ball coach, the legendary Roy Simmons II.


Check out my personal photograph album from the weekend right here. Feel free to log on and comment if we’re actually friends on Facebook. If you feel like reading a couple great articles, both from Syracuse Alumni, check out Dave Ryan's recap here, and a great article on the Syracuse Mystique from Inside Lacrosse Editor John Jiloty here. It was an epic weekend and the best 30 seconds of lacrosse I have ever been a witness to. It makes it all the better that it was for the National Championship. The epic and magical 11th National Championship, making Syracuse the definitive elite program of the last decade and of all time. If you aren’t into Syracuse Lacrosse what are you waiting for?

Oh, and one more time… The Glaude!

Also, just to briefly change gears, NBC 3's Alex Dunbar did a great report on the progress of the Melo Center. Check that out here.