You Can Eat Coach K's Big D

Spotted on a restaurant menu in Durham, NC by HHR's Special Investigative Reporter, Blue Pulaski.

Preserving History: Bulldogs Feel the Blues

After each major sporting event, HHR takes a look at how it is portrayed in news print in some of the nation's leading dailies. Part out of curiosity, and part to preserve the dying medium.

Despite being a competitive championship game throughout its duration, Duke's victory was lost on most of the major dailies throughout the country as Opening Day and Tiger's presser dominated most front page sports headlines outside of Tobacco Road and Indiana.

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"Mountaineers Send Duke Home..."

Country Road...the remix.

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Diary of a McDonald's All-American Part I: Duke-Bound Haley Peters

It's the end of the March. Another high school basketball season has come to a close, and with that comes the annual McDonald's All-American Game. The 2010 edition takes place in Columbus, Ohio at the Value City Arena this Wednesday.

HHR enlisted a player from both the boys and girls' teams to give us a personal diary of some of their time as a McDonald's All-American.

First up is Haley Peters, a member of the East Squad from The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ. Haley is headed to Duke, but in the meantime she gets props for being a Garden State native like so many of the HHR staffers. She takes us inside her life for two days as a member of the McDonald's East squad.


Haley Peters Journal
Written March 28, 2010

Saturday, March 27

I arrived in Columbus for the 2010 McDonald’s All American Games yesterday here from Newark at 4:00 p.m. with fellow New Jersey native Laurin Mincy. We were greeted at the airport by a few of the McDonald’s volunteers and staff members, who were friendly and helpful as usual. From there we took a short car ride to the hotel, and since then the activities and events have not stopped. Right away I met up with some former and future teammates, as well as some friends from other teams. Chiney Ogwumike was in the lobby when I walked in. Soon after I saw Maggie Lucas, my Philly Belles teammate, and fellow future Dukie Richa Jackson.

I first went to a meeting room to collect my gear and sign a few basketballs that are going to be auctioned at the banquet Tuesday night to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (more on that later). I tried on my #33 white uniform, shirts, sneakers, and shorts for sizing and then moved on to the next meeting room for a picture in the jersey.

From there I had a minute to put my stuff into my room and met my roommate Jennifer O’Neill, a PG from the Bronx. She and I have played against each other a few times in some New York events, so I was excited when I saw we were rooming together. Not to mention that we were hooked up with the corner room in the hotel, so it’s a little more spacious and has a couple extra couches.

The rest of Saturday had more fittings, specifically for the banquet dresses. This year, they are red, and every player had the option to go with a long or short one, and everyone who was being fitted at the same time as me looked beautiful in them.

The main event of the day was the welcome dinner. So far the meals have been delicious- the first night included chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, and chocolate cake. I had to break my Lent fast of deserts for the night to try the chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies.

After dinner we had team meetings. Coach Rogers, Schlabach, and Moser are heading up the East team this year, and the tone from the outset was that our team will not be the stereotypical all-star game team. Coach Rogers brings a lot of intensity, and as a team we established pretty quickly that our main goal was to win. We then hung out for a little while in the players lounge, watched some of the NCAA tourney games, and played EA Sports and Rock Band before heading to bed.

Sunday, March 28

Sunday started pretty early with breakfast, then optional religious services. From there we headed out for a full day. First we headed to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. The entire event is truly centered on this charity and one of the most surprising things for me these past two days is how central that organization is to all that we do. We ate an early lunch at the House, then baked cookies, read stories with the kids, played HORSE, and had a tour of the facility. The volunteer work there is incredible.


We headed across the street to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and I ended up in a group with Ronika Ransford, Jenny from the Bronx, and Samarie Walker.

We visited about four rooms in the hospital and handed out basketballs, teddy bears, and signed pictures for the sick children. For most of us, this has been the highlight of the week thus far. Volunteering there put a smile on my face for the whole day.

From there we headed to practice at Ohio State. We went for just about an hour and a half after a quick warm up. The East team’s intensity from the previous night’s meeting carried over as we worked on some transition and defense.

Since then, we’ve had some time to hang out with some of the boys players during the EA Sports tournament. Tiffany Moore, Afure Jemerigbe, and I entered into the Rock Band tournament, and for a first time band we performed pretty well. Quite frankly, we should have won, but there was a little interference from some opponents... Tomorrow is another busy day with the Jamfest at night and a visit to McDonald’s and the Columbus Zoo!

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Tonight’s Jam Fest begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with the finals will air live on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

As for the games themselves, both will air this Wednesday. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPNU. The boys game will tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN.

Game tickets are still available, and you can get them here.

For those in the Cleveland area, you can get POWERADE Jam Fest tickets for tonight here.

(Or you can buy tickets to both by calling (866) 909-GAME)

You can visit www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com for additional info.

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The Ghost of Christian Laettner Haunts KY Politics

Via LA Times' Top of the Ticket:

Trey Grayson started it.

As soon as the NCAA men's brackets were announced, Kentucky's Republican secretary of State was up with an Internet ad assailing his opponent in the Senate primary -- Rand Paul. Not because he's the son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, the darling of Libertarians everywhere, or because he has never held public office before, but because he's a graduate of Duke Medical School.

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Waiting For Godunk: On Coaching, the Big Dance and Smelly Frenchmen

My name is Kevin Owens and I have been playing professional basketball for the past six years. I decided to start a blog documenting my daily life. I have a degree in journalism and haven't written anything since college, so I figured why not. I don't particularly think I am that interesting, however when telling people about the traveling circus that is my life, they seem very entertained. I'll be contributing some of those stories once a week here at HHR. You can also now catch me on Twitter @Waiting4Godunk. Hope you enjoy!

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I have a little confession to make...I have been waiting to go play for a few months now, but I recently turned down several opportunities. I had the chance to workout for a D-League team and was also offered a deal from a PBL (Premier Basketball League) team. I turned them both down because my dream job became available…A chance to join the staff of a local collegiate basketball program. At this point in my career, I feel the need to start looking towards the future. Coaching would be my first choice.

I have been teaching basketball lessons to students of all ages for the past seven years. During that time I have really honed my coaching skills. I’ve worked with quite a few players who have gone on to successful Division I careers. I believe I will make a great coach one day.

However, passing on jobs is a little stressful. I have never been the best decision maker. If I were ever on Let’s Make a Deal I would walk away with a goat every time.

‘Maybe I should take this deal and pass on coaching…Nah, I’m a shoe in.’

‘Perhaps I should retire from basketball and move on with my life…No way, teams will be knocking down my door.’

‘Perchance I shouldn’t invest in AIG…C’mon, They sponsor Man United, their stock will never drop.’

‘Maybe I should not sell my enormous pick-up truck…Nah, What do I need four wheel drive for?…It’s not like we ever get a blizzard in South Jersey.’

Anyway, the main reason I am so enamored with coaching is because of the atmosphere. I love college basketball. There is so much more passion in collegiate athletics than in the pros. When I think back to the most passionate fans I ever played in front of, it has to be from my sophomore year in college…The most enjoyable, rewarding and memorable season of my career.

Let me set the scene for the Monmouth University Hawks 2000-2001 season. We were a proverbial walking-mat for the NEC (Northeast Conference). During the two seasons prior to 1999, we were 4-23 and 5-21. That’s when we developed the nucleus that would take us to the first NCAA tournament appearance of my career.

During the 1999-2000 season, my freshman year, we acquired two transfers named Gerry Crosby and Rahsaan Johnson. We finished 12-16, respectable for the program at the time. During that summer we took a visit to France and Switzerland…and that is when it happened. It was the fourth quarter of a rough and meaningless game between MU and some random French team. We were playing in what felt like a grade school gym in the middle of August.

Gerry Crosby had the ball on the sideline when a large smelly Frenchmen (trust me I was guarding this monster all game) elbowed Gerry directly in the mouth. G retaliated and the benches cleared. Now, I never believed I would be in a brawl. If I did, I guess I envisioned lots of snapping and dancing. However this was intense. It all happened so fast. I remember having an attempted roundhouse kick flung my direction by a surprisingly limber gentleman. I also remember getting a jab in on a guy half my size. The next thing I know we are being dragged off the court by our coaches. In the locker room after that game something changed. We developed a trust. We realized we are not alone…we were all in this together.

We took that attitude into the season and finished with 21 wins, the most regular season wins in school history. We rolled through the playoffs…until the championship game. That night we played St. Francis (NY), with an NCAA tournament bid on the line. You may have watched it on ESPN. It was the game with no fans. We played in front of a raucous crowd of about 200 people. A powerful snowstorm blanketed the east coast making travel conditions a little shaky. Or at least that’s the excuse my roommates gave me.

As the game wound down we found ourselves in a deep hole. Down by over twenty points with less than fourteen minutes remaining we started to mount, what is now known in Monmouth inner circles, as “The Comeback.”

Little by little the lead was chipped away until it was 61-59 with just over a minute remaining. That is when our two leaders took over. Rahsaan drove into the middle of the lane and kicked to Crosby who buried a three giving us a one point lead, and we never looked back.

In the NCAA tournament we drew, quite possibly, the best Duke team in school history. Although we lost, I still maintain the game was much closer then the 95-52 score indicated. In that game I played against two future teammates. Casey Sanders, my teammate in the D-League, and Nick Horvath my teammate and now good friend, in New Zealand. It’s funny how small the world is when you are seven feet tall.

I was reminded of the Monmouth team this week by a posting on Facebook. It’s amazing how different everyone’s lives are now, but how strong the bonds still remain. I still pop in the highlight tape of “the comeback” every once in a while…or when I can find a VCR that still works.

Who would have thought a seven foot Frenchman would have impacted our lives so drastically. If I could meet this man now, I probably would shake his hand…or offer him some soap.

RIP Jay Dooley…teammate, friend, champion

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Anybody But Duke, Baby.

We fully intend on winning Yardbarker's 1800clothes.com March Madness TShirt Contest with this stellar submission:

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Throw the Flag: Vegas, Baby, Vegas

Duke is a 6.5 point favorite in this week's game vs. Virginia, the first time they have been favored in six years.

From the Daily Press:

The Blue Devils have lost 25 consecutive ACC games, 61 of 64 this decade. From 1999-2003, they lost 30 straight conference outings. They haven't had a winning season since 1994 and haven't beaten Virginia since 1999.

According to my trusted gambling source, Professor Nappy, this marks the first time Duke has been favored against a conference opponent since the 2002 season finale against North Carolina, a game the Blue Devils lost.

Next thing you know, the Washington Generals will be giving points to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Joe Alexander to Dukies: Aint so bad. Ain't so bad. Ain't Nuthin.

C'mon, champ, hit me in the face! My mom hits harder than you!



After WVU embarrassed the higher seeded Blue Devils, Mountaineer forward couldn't help but take a shot at the Dukies, and the entire ACC.

March Blandness

I am not watching the NCAA tournament.

BLASPHEMY!

Just not interested. Save the reasons. Top level basketball. Anyone can win. Upsets. Cinderella stories. Buzzer beaters.

Ehhh....

Never really got into college basketball. Sure I've watched games over the years. I only remember one. Laettner's last second shot. The only reason I remember is because I was in high school and over a friend's house when it happened. The girl I had a crush on commented on how hot she thought he was in the post game interview. The next day I asked the barber for the Brandon Walsh pompadour and started filling in my lack of sideburns with a brown coloring pencils. Except for the height, talent, age, and me being straight, you couldn't tell us apart.



Used to skip classes in college to watch in the dorms. Everyone else did it. Once took off an entire day of work to watch the Friday games. Why? My friends all took off. Who wants to sit at work knowing your friends are all sitting home or at a bar, watching games and drinking beer while you read Popsugar and peek over the cubicle wall and pretend you aren't staring at your co-workers cleavage. (It's his fault for wearing such revealing tops).

I even went to two colleges (not the sharpest knife) that were both dominated by the basketball teams. Never went to one game. My college roommate for two years actually played basketball. Still never went. Wished him luck though. Told him which party I'd meet him at afterwards.

Could have been my upbringing. Not a basketball fan in the entire tree. Could have been the fact I am 5'6 in work shoes and can't dribble without looking down.

A few years ago, knowing even less about college basketball then I do now, I entered an NCAA bracket pool at work. Out of 85 entrants I came in fourth. I won $485 dollars. I can't take a sport seriously where I can guess at over 50 games and get them correct while an actual fan can't pick better than me.

So, I've decided I am not going to watch a single minute. I am sure there are people who will watch every moment of every game. Good for them.

American History X, TNA Impact, Figure skating championship on the World Wide Leader.

I'll be fine.

Hot damn a Dr. 90210 marathon starting tomorrow. Might have to call out after all.

Focus, Roy, Focus

Are you threatening me?

Now, Rusty usually lets the Rev handle college hoops, but when it comes to the mecca of college bball, Tobacco Road, ole Rusty can hang with the best of them.

Williams irked by Coach K

So, apparently, looks like Roy Williams is having a fit about something the venerable Coach K said on a radio show.

"[He] has been dealing with that since -- and unlike other schools we don't release our injuries -- so I thought he played a strong game tonight," Krzyzewski said.

That nine-word aside about "other schools" was, Williams said on Tuesday, "aimed toward us."

Seriously? Doesn't he have a top ranked team he needs to coach? Isn't he going into the hostile RBC Center tonight to play Carolina's real in-state rival (sorry national fans, but for us NC folks, Duke is Mayonaise, the real rivalry is State Carolina)?

Just seems like a bunch of hooey to me. But maybe if he worried about his own ball club more, he wouldn't be fainting on the sidelines so often. Just a thought.

-posted by Rusty

Separated at Birth: Durham 90210

Ariel discovered Beverly Hills 90210 on the Soap Channel. Woe is me. It did spark a question in my head: Why did Coach K give up on his acting career?