Tale of Two Bubbles

First, sorry for the time off. Between midterms, hoops-related depression, and the Professional Bull Riders coming to Baltimore we have had very little free time. Besides, February is a slow sports month.

- Last week we talked about the similarities between Maryland and Syracuse, two teams that weeks ago looked like they would both be dancing in March. Both teams hit a rough patch that put them on the bubble.

Well, the similarities continue. The Orange had an 11 point lead over Pitt at the Carrier Dome with three minutes left, and a win would have put them right back into the thick of things. They coughed it up, and now the Not-In Tournament looks like a decent bet.

Meanwhile, the Terps had a 20 point lead in the second half against Clemson in a game that would have just about sent those Maryland NIT t-shirts to Nicaragua had they held on. But of course, they managed to blow it and lost on a three pointer with under three seconds left.

These two teams could end up facing each other in Manhattan.

- Players aren’t the sports figures that engage in trash talking. Hank Steinbrenner and John Henry proved. Hank started it, with the following rant:

“Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

To which Henry responded:

“I’m a big Hank fan. Just to ensure he knows how cool Red Sox Nation is, [Saturday] we officially inducted him as a member.”

It’s good to see the old guys getting in on the fun. Hank has a few potential moves now. He could buy the naming rights to Fenway and rename it Bucky Dent Field, or he could simply remind Henry that members of “Red Sox Nation” are responsible for Gigli and Taxi. We eagerly await his next move.

Picture Credits: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316732/
http://www.longhornrodeo.com/bullriding.htm