In case you've never seen the video, the President of the United States can't bowl. He should declare any alley he visits a major disaster area. Then again, after First Brother-In-Law Craig Robinson thought the other day about the pathetic ways of Barack Obama whenever he rolls a ball toward a set of pins, he told me with a playful frown, "I mean, bowling isn't even a sport, so why bring it up?"
Why, indeed? Except for bowling, this President is becoming the Commander In Chief of all things athletic. Just take it from Robinson, the older brother of First Lady Michelle Obama. Robinson also is the miracle worker of a basketball coach at Oregon State when he isn't the unofficial head of the Barack Obama Fan Club.
The upheaval at USC and constant defections at UCLA may have sent conference supremacy north.
The NBA draft's early entries have one month to return to school (June 15), but it doesn't appear any of the Pac-10 entries are coming back. Six underclassmen -- USC's DeMar DeRozan and Taj Gibson, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, the Arizona duo of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger and Arizona State's James Harden -- will participate in the draft combine beginning May 28 in Chicago, and none are likely to return to their schools. Even Holiday, a projected late first-rounder, is reportedly close to hiring an agent and remaining in the draft.
Stanford has ruled the Pac-10 Women's basketball landscape for the past 20 years, and California and Arizona State have recently emerged to make the conference a three-team scramble for supremacy. But two recent hires by Oregon and USC have made it apparent that women's basketball is indeed becoming a higher priority on the West Coast.
On a night when the University of Arizona honored famed coach Lute Olson during halftime, something became very clear as the ceremonial speeches ended and the basketball began. If the Wildcats want to continue their NCAA streak of 25 consecutive tournament appearances, they would need more than an uplifting video (it got dusty in my apartment) and the memory of a coach that has been through a lot the last two years. The Wildcats need a W.
It wasn't happening, as Jerome Randle absolutely murdered the 'Cats in the second half, helping California (22-8, 11-6) improve to third in the Pac-10 with the 83-77 win and put the Wildcats in another uncomfortable position similar to last season -- leaving their March Madness dreams up to chance.
College basketball coaches are always looking for that edge. And Oregon State's Craig Robinson is no different than say, Ben Howland, Mike Montgomery or Tim Floyd in that respect. (Well, given USC's recent troubles, maybe Floyd isn't a good example.)
College recruiting can be competitive and tough. So any coach would be foolish to turn down any recruiting help. Especially recruiting help from family. Especially family that just happens to be the President of the United States.
This is never why you listen to the stat heads. They will let you down. Just when you start to doubt UCLA, the Bruins go on a huge winning streak with impressive wins. And just when you completely buy in and believe that UCLA has turned the corner, the Bruins lose on the road at Arizona State, 74-67.
Are we ever going to get an accurate read on this team or are we doomed to be on the back end of a trend?
Ernie Kent is an Oregon alumnus and has had a fairly successful tenure in Oregon, but the Kent era seems to be drawing to a close. The Ducks went 6-6 before conference play and have slumped to an 0-9 mark in the Pac-10 after falling to Oregon State 57-54.
The Ducks lack inside scoring and their defense has been horrible. Only guards Tajuan Porter and LeKendric Longmire have shown much fire for Oregon in conference play. That really seems about it. Part of it is youth, but that also goes to the coaching.
Washington State certainly isn't the team it wa in the past. But you can't overlook the effort Cal showed in Pullman, Wash., Thursday night in a 57-50 win.The Cougars no longer have the superstars they once had, but they still play pretty good defense. Washington State held Bears star guard Jerome Randle to only eight points, well below from his 20-points-per-game average.
Yet, Cal didn't fold.
Instead, other players stepped up. Patrick Christopher scored 22 points, and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. This is the kind of team effort you can expect from a team coached by Mike Montgomery. This would have been a huge letdown game for Cal in the past. Especially after such a huge win against Arizona State. A trip to Pullman would have easily derailed the momentum of this team under the former regime.
In fact, you can reason that this game says more about Cal's character than its upset win over Arizona State. Look at what Boston College did after it beat No. 1 North Carolina -- it lost to Harvard. But the Bears didn't fold, instead putting up a great effort. This win is pretty impressive and Cal fans, go ahead and get excited about this team.
It's been a while. Clearly change has come. Not simply to that place where Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson's brother-in-law will be taking up residence, but in Corvallis as well. The Beavers had not won a game within the Pac-10 in 23 months. The last time was a home win over Washington in late-February 2007. A span of 21 games.
It had to end sometime. So why not against a team many pegged for the top-25, but now looks like a surefire bubble team. Oregon State knocked off USC in overtime, 62-58.
Oregon State made it a complete defensive game. Every possession was contested. Both sides had to use most of the shot clock to get an attempt. It wasn't a case where the teams just couldn't make a basket. Oregon State shot 50% and USC hit 44%. Neither side got many opportunities.
While both teams relied heavily on frontcourt play, the game was ultimately decided by the backcourt and perimeter shooting. Oregon State's Roeland Schaftenaar hit a three with four seconds left to force overtime and then Omari Lawrence hit a tying three after USC's DeMar DeRozan missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Despite only being tied, USC panicked and settled for jumpers. Oregon State's guard Calvin Haynes, countered with two straight drives to the basket for lay-ins.
You might have heard that there is actually scalping of Presidential Inauguration tickets occurring for absurd sums, despite the fact that the tickets are free and haven't even been distributed as of yet. Washington D.C. is juiced over all things related to President Elect Barack Obama. Everyone wants to see him, anywhere.
"If they are in Washington, I don't know why they wouldn't come to the game," Howard Coach Gil Jackson said. "He likes basketball, and he and Craig are boys. They are supportive and would probably want to see Craig play as much as they could. My sister is coming to the game."
Datcher said 20-25 security personnel are usually on hand for home games, including those who man doors. An appearance by the Obamas would mean enhanced university security -- Datcher did not have specifics yesterday -- in addition to the Secret Service detail for the Obamas.
"How they handle security, they may not publicize that ahead of time," Jackson said. "They may just show up."
Depending upon who is in the gym, a ticket to watch two teams that won a combined 12 games last season could suddenly become coveted. A ticket-office official said tickets are still available ($15 and $20) but declined to say how many remained.
This game was scheduled before Oregon State Coach Craig Robinson took the job. The Howard Athletic Director indicated that he expected to find out sometime Wednesday. No word as to whether he'll be sharing the news with anyone else.
NCAA Basketball 
In case you've never seen the video, the President of the United States can't bowl. He should declare any alley he visits a major disaster area. Then again, after First Brother-In-Law Craig Robinson thought the other day about the pathetic ways of Barack Obama whenever he rolls a ball toward a set of pins, he told me with a playful frown, "I mean, bowling isn't even a sport, so why bring it up?"
The upheaval at USC and constant defections at UCLA may have sent conference supremacy north.
On a night when the University of Arizona honored famed coach 
College basketball coaches are always looking for that edge. And Oregon State's Craig Robinson is no different than say, 
This is never why you listen to the stat heads. They will let you down. Just when 
Ernie Kent is an Oregon alumnus and has had a fairly successful tenure in Oregon, but the Kent era seems to be drawing to a close. The Ducks went 6-6 before conference play and have slumped to an 0-9 mark in the Pac-10 after falling to Oregon State 57-54.
Washington State certainly isn't the team it wa in the past. But you can't overlook the effort Cal showed in Pullman, Wash., Thursday night in a 
It's been a while. Clearly change has come. Not simply to that place where Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson's brother-in-law will be taking up residence, but in Corvallis as well. The Beavers had not won a game within the Pac-10 in 23 months. The last time was a home win over Washington in late-February 2007. A span of 21 games.
You might have heard that there is actually 
