With the first column of the semester, it seems only fitting to have a year in review column detailing who should be feeling the love and who should be left out in the cold. Feel free to disagree with me and notify me at bars of your exact feelings about my sports writing (as a fairly intoxicated student did this past week).
CHEERS... Craig Littlepage (Spring version). The athletic director finally managed to escape the disastrous Pete Gillen contract and hire a quality basketball coach in Dave Leitao. Leitao is showing signs of rebuilding the identity of the basketball team into a disciplined, defense-oriented squad that uses heart to overcome a relative shortage of talent.
JEERS... Craig Littlepage (Fall version). After the Pete Gillen contract debauchery, there is no way Littlepage would make the same mistake again, would he? It would be inconceivable to once again give a coach a binding long-term contract before he has proven he can take the team to the next level, wouldn't it? Please Mr. Littlepage, say it ain't so...
CHEERS... Jason Cain. My vote for comeback player of the century is square on the shoulders of Cain. He currently ranks fifth in the ACC in rebounding and is leading the effort for one of the best defensive teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The fact that defense, U.Va. and Jason Cain are found in the same sentence is without a doubt a sign of the apocalypse. I don't care if you are a Cain hater or a lifelong member of the Assemblage of Cain. When you weigh in at 220 lbs. and can be ranked fifth in the ACC in rebounding, you should get some love from everyone.
JEERS... Donte Minter and Gary Forbes. Both players had promising basketball careers ahead of them but are currently M.I.A. due to a lack of discipline in the classroom. Both players would have flourished under the defensive-minded Coach Leitao and would have given the squad some much needed depth this year.
CHEERS... Virginia men's baseball coach Brian O'Connor. He is quietly building a national baseball juggernaut outside the states of Florida, California or Texas. He recently lured a top-rated shortstop prospect who hailed from the baseball powerhouse state of Florida. This feat is analogous with the best hockey center from Calgary going to play collegiate hockey with Texas El Paso. As long as O'Connor is not enticed by a Major League coaching offer, Virginia will find itself playing in Omaha within a few years.
JEERS... Al Groh, Virginia football coach. With the amount of future NFL talent that this team has had over the past two years, Groh unfortunately has earned the label of underachiever. I know he has done a lot for Virginia football, but a 7-5 season does not merit the contract extension given to Groh.
CHEERS... Chicago and Pittsburg. Two hard-nosed, blue collar towns have once again regained football prominence. It seems only fitting that come playoff time, major games are played on the frozen Soldier Field. What highlight show is complete without being able to make the sounds of a bus chugging along as Jerome Bettis makes another three yard run?
JEERS... Green Bay and Cleveland. Two cities that should never be at the bottom of the football barrel have let down their faithful fans again.
CHEERS... Matt Leinert. Thanks for showing class in defeat after the Rose Bowl in what will go down as one of the best college football games ever.
JEERS... Peyton Manning. After another postseason letdown, true leaders do not tank their soldiers as Manning did when he called out his offensive linemen in a post-game interview. Take the blame, move on and take some notes on gutsy leadership skills from a fellow AFC East quarterback...
CHEERS... Connor Hughes. Someday when I am in my rocking chair telling stories to my grandchildren, I will be able to talk about the former NFL kicker who used to be my roommate.
JEERS... my other roommates. According to inside sources, certain roommates were caught watching the O.C. rather than a Wahoo upset of the defending National Champion Tar Heels. No excuses from any Virginia student for this behavior.
CHEERS... Wilt Chamberlain. Thanks for not letting Kobe have the record for most points in a game.
JEERS... Kobe. I don't care how many points you score in a game, I would take Shaq any day.
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