Feb 10, Week in Sports
:: SHAQUILLE O’NEAL TRADED TO THE PHOENIX SUNS
:: BOBBY KNIGHT RESIGNS FROM TEXAS TECH
MR. CLEMENS GOES TO WASHINGTON
Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, who claims to have injected Clemens with performance enhancing drugs, were deposed on Capitol Hill this week. Clemens’ deposition on Wednesday marked the first time that he has denied the allegations made against him in the Mitchell Report under oath.
The already-hostile relationship between the two parties got even nastier on Thursday, when McNamee’s lawyers released photos of crushed beer cans beside bloody syringes that McNamee supposedly used to inject Clemens with performance enhancing drugs. McNamee also reportedly claimed he injected Clemens’ wife with HGH at Roger’s request. Both parties will publicly testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this week.
Quote of the Week: “Roger Clemens has put himself in a position where his legacy as the greatest pitcher in baseball will depend less on his ERA and more on his DNA.” – Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s lawyers
Further Reading: “Clemens and McNamee Take Stories to Hill” — The New York Times
THE BIG DIESEL IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN
In a move that shocked the basketball world, the Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat on Wednesday in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
Many NBA analysts believe that the Suns effectively dismantled their signature “Run and Gun” offense by dealing Marion, an explosive all-star, for the aging and oft-injured O’Neal. The move was all the more surprising since the Suns, an annual contender since Steve Nash returned to the team in 2004, held the best record in the highly competitive Western Conference at the time of the trade.
However, NBA experts have often said that the Suns would never win a championship without a big man. Now they have the biggest man of them all. Even if Shaq’s skills are diminishing with age, he is still a four-time champion and the kind of on- and off-the-court presence that could light a fire under the Suns.
Quote of the Week: “You just don’t really want to get me upset. When I’m upset, I’m known to do certain things—like win championships.” – Shaquille O’Neal, responding to critics of the trade
Further Reading: “Phoenix, the NBA’s fastest team, acquires slow, once-mighty giant - Shaquille O’Neal” — The Associated Press, via ESPN
THE GENERAL STEPS DOWN
On Monday morning, Bobby “The General” Knight resigned from his position as head coach of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team. Knight’s 902 career wins stand as the all-time NCAA Division I record.
Bob Knight made a name for himself as the head coach of Indiana University, where he led the Hoosiers to 3 national championships. However, Knight was equally known for his volatile temper. Undoubtedly the most famous Bob Knight incident took place in 1985, when he hurled a chair across the court in the middle of a game. After reportedly becoming physically aggressive with an Indiana University student, Knight was fired from his position as head coach of the Hoosiers in 2000.
While his behavior has drawn widespread criticism, his supporters have been quick to point out that Knight, unlike many of his peers, has never violated any NCAA recruiting policies and his players have had an excellent graduation rate.
Quote of the Week: “It’s a sad day in sports. That’s right — a sad day. And before you start raging on and on about choking players and tossing chairs and putting humans in garbage cans, consider how much less interesting college basketball is this morning than it was 24 hours ago.” – Tim Keown, senior writer for ESPN
Further Reading: “Knight Resigns from Texas Tech” — The Associated Press, via Sports Illustrated; “Bob Knight’s Outburst Timeline” — The Associated Press, via USA Today
WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK:
:: BASEBALL: Clemens and McNamee are scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday. Nobody knows what to expect…except for a guaranteed media circus.
:: BOXING: In September 2007, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik upset Jermain Taylor in a match that many considered one of the most exciting fights of the year. On Saturday, February 16th, the two are slated to face off in a 12-round rematch on HBO PPV.
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