Things in Iowa City no longer Alford-given
The University of Iowa Athletic Department could have a mess on their hands to make the Chicago Cubs/Sammy Sosa marriage look like Ozzie and Harriet. This afternoon, to great media attention, men's basketball coach Steve Alford kicked top scorer Pierre Pierce off the team. In 2002, Pierce was charged with third degree sexual abuse and later pleaded guilty to a lesser count of assault causing injury. At the time, the decision to keep the talented player on the team caused an outpouring of public criticism, even student protests. The university tried to cover its ass by promoting a new Code of Conduct for its student-athletes.Fast-forward two years and Pierce is again a suspect in a sexual assault case, and Alford boots him despite the fact that no charges have been filed in the case, and- guess what?- the university hasn't gotten around yet to finalizing the Code of Conduct.
Frankly, it's the coach's perogative to keep whichever players he chooses, but you've got to let this thing play out at least to the point of charges being filed. Two years ago, you would have found me in the camp of those who wanted to see Pierce dismissed, but this most recent case has not advanced far enough along yet. Hold Pierce to a higher standard because he already has one strike against him, but let's make sure a pitch has been thrown.
According to Pierce's attorney, his client was told by Alford that he was being let go because charges were imminent. He cited West Des Moines police sources, but the department denies this is the case. Furthermore, athletic director Bob Bowlsby seems to be distancing himself from Alford's decision. Though he didn't defend Pierce, he pointed out that Pierce would not lose his scholarship. If charges are never filed-- and the alleged victim is no longer seeking them, it's conceivable that Pierce could suit up and play again. In fact, his career in Iowa City might yet last longer than his coach's.
---
St. Louis is once again proving that it's America's best sports city. Boxing fans in the Gateway City have gobbled up all of the tickets for Saturday's welterweight bout at the Savvis Center between native son Cory Spinks and Zab Judah. Or maybe it's the opportunity to watch the stars at ringside that has the town abuzz. VIP passes have been extended to Denzel Washington, St. Louis native John Goodman, Jay Z, St. Louisans Leon and Michael Spinks (the boy's father and uncle,) P Diddy, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Felix Trinidad, and Oscar de la Hoya. The original St. Lunatic, Nelly, will lead Spinks into the ring.
Local sportswriter Jeff Gordon gives all the credit to promoter Don King: "As King runs around town, visiting radio stations, schools and even the Mardi Gras parade, he makes St. Louisans feel very great about themselves and this event. Our self-esteem swells everytime he busts out another half-baked Lewis and Clark analogy.
"We laugh everytime he quotes William Shakespeare and Otis Redding 30 seconds apart. It's been a blast to finally see the Don King Phenomenon up close."
There could be more visits to St. Louis in King's future. Knock 'em dead, Cory! We're pullin' for ya!
---
I'm still deep in Johnny Carson nostalgia mode. Letterman did one of his great hours of all-time in tribute to Johnny Monday night, and Conan O'Brien had me choked up on Tuesday. I've re-read the interview Johnny gave to fellow traveler Bill Zehme and Esquire magazine in 2002, I started in again on Stephen Cox's definitive Tonight Show book, "Here's Johnny," and I'm re-watching the tapes of Johnny's last two weeks on the air. It's all wonderful.
---
I've got one more follow-up on Groundhog Day. I heard an ad on our radio station for the local horsetrack, Prairie Meadows. It promoted a Groundhog Day event. The music behind the ad was the polka song from the "Groundhog Day" movie during the scene(s) at Gobbler's Knob. It's not a traditional Groundhog Day song-- until now, apparently. That's the power of movies for you. In the years to come, we'll all surely gather around the fire on February 2nd and sing that old Groundhog Day chestnut, "I Got You, Babe," by Sonny and Cher.
posted by CM @ 7:43 PM
9 Comments:
Yo Pierre, Keep yo head up, kid.
Ain't no thing.
Peace out,
Kenny Pratt
I'm afraid it's about over for Steve Alford. It'll be interesting to see if the University will start pinning the blame for stuff like this on the coach. I think the university is ready to cut their losses with this guy. It's one thing to underachieve year after year, but now that ticket sales are in the crapper, I think the camel's back is about to be broken.
Here's a quick paraphrased quote from a student that was in the CR Gazette two weeks ago: "We just don't care. Iowa's a football school."
I'm always going to call you out on this St. Louis garbage, Chris. I don't see the connection with St. Louis being a great sports city just because they're soon hosting a fight and lots of celebrities are showing up. Does that make Jacksonville an even better sports city, since the Super Bowl will draw even more fans? I think with all the national attention going to Boston and Philadelphia this week, St. Louis is showing a middle child complex at being revealed a second tier city.
The scary thing is, I think, that deep down St. Louisans are loving this because Don King's B.S. isn't that far removed from things they already think about themselves.
Actually, I was implying it was a great sports town because they sold more than 21,000 tickets for this fight. They did it in a city that hosted the World Series four months ago, will host the Final Four in two months, and did it for a fight that was being held on Super Bowl weekend. Don't compare us to those expansion football stiffs in Jacksonville.
The Edward Jones Dome is a worthy facility to host a Super Bowl, but the NFL doesn't let you host that game if your team is likely to play in it. That's why they always pick a host city where the local team sucks, like Jacksonville, New Orleans, or Miami.
One thing you will never ever hear... "Welcome to Super Bowl xxxx live from beautiful downtown St. Louis.
In 11 years, St. Louis should host Super Bowl 50, since it's Super Bowl L (for Loser). HA!
Great quote in the paper today from Pierre Pierce: He's been arguing through his lawyer that the alleged victim was his quote/unquote girlfriend and she's been saying he's exaggerating the relationship. The quote:
‘‘It appears to me for the first time that she has tried to minimize the extent of our relationship to her family and others. In reality, though, I was a lot more than her ‘Mandingo.’ Our relationship over the past two-and-a-half years is well-documented.’’
This is in reference to a 1970's movie in which a white daughter of a slaveholder has a relationship with a slave. This story's about to get messy...
Wow. That is a good quote.
Post a Comment
<< Home