Summer Solstice For Sports Fans

Summer has arrived-- so things are slow. Including my ambition. But even by my standards, I'm taking this blog thing a bit too casual. I pledge to do better. Even if it means spending more time reading the endless line of dreadfully redundant college football preview magazines that have hit newsstands. Before I start reading-up on the WAC, some serious matters:

Pat Summitt's Silence: Don't want to talk about cancelling the series with Connecticut? I'm cool with that. Geno's a hard-ass who loves getting under everyone's skin. Both coaches are good for the game. But Pat's not happy and rather than sound bitter, she's not saying anything. Like I said, that's cool, but I really wish she would.

Pat Summitt's Silence II: Last week the winningest coach in college basketball passed out. She fainted like that stunned spelling bee kid a few years ago. Pat's episode had nothing to do with UConn landing the last two national high school players of the year. At least, I don't think it did. Summitt spent the night in a Knoxville hospital for what UT says was dehydration. I've seen Pat work. There's no such thing as a lunch break. I've seen her walk down the hallway at Thompson-Boling Arena with a salad in one hand-- and a cellphone, and a fork in the other. Even she admits, the schedule can hit you in negative ways. After the fainting incident, she delclined to meet with the broadcast media. I know, we're a bunch of sick hounds always looking for a juicy soundbite, and I'm cool with that description too. But after being told by the always hard working, and highly respected Lady Vols SID Debby Jennings that the coach wouldn't comment, one Knoxville television station staked-out the arena hoping to ambush the coach for the inside word. Promoted it on the air and then, well, never got it. But still bragged about it. Nice scoop-- no soundbite. Summitt does need to speak-up-- but in the case of a medical situation, she should be allowed to do it on her terms.

Ray Mear's Memorial Service: It was touching, and well-done-- an honor to the former Tennessee basketball head coach. It was also good to see the entire current UT men's basketball team there. Bruce Pearl deserves credit. All the eulogizing was excellent, but former player Billy Justus' eloquence was most memorable. Mears deserved more recognition from UT after his retirement. It's a credit to current AD Mike Hamilton and Pearl that the coach was able to enjoy the finals years of his life as a true Tennessee sports icon. I only knew Mears during his post-coaching days, but the conversations I had with him will always be memorable. He told some great stories.

Caught Red-Handed: I've always respected veteran NASCAR driver Mark Martin, but I have do disagree with him on this. Martin was in Knoxville Tuesday night and said the punishment Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon received was too severe. For those who don't spend their Sunday's glued to NASCAR-- Johnson and Gordon's crew chiefs were suspended for six races after their cars failed inspections. I disagree with Martin. Last year Johnson's crew chief was suspended before Daytona. He still won the race, and went on to win the season title. NASCAR's punishment won't impact the chase for the championship. Gordon's still in 1st place in the standings. Drivers need to be benched. I don't buy the excuse that drivers don't know what modifications are made on their cars. They should. They're driving them at 190 miles an hour.

Chris Benoit Death: Steroids may, or may not, have contributed to this tragedy, but if congress is hunting down ballplayers in their quest to clean-up sports, they should include pro wrestlers. It's a no brainer.

Now where'd I put that magazine?