Spurs hire first ever full-time female assistant coach

The San Antonio Spurs have hired the first ever full-time female assistant coach. Becky Hammon who has 16 years of experience in the WNBA has been associated with the Spurs and the WNBA team the San Antonio Stars for some time.

I think it'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the locker room. A lot of people are saying that because she has earned her way to this spot that she already has the players' respect. The Spurs and Popovich specifically are extremely progressive so this is not the least bit surprising that they are the first team to take this step.

I wonder what Twitter has to say?

Oh..

:/

Former Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline gives perspective on Paul George injury

Brian Hartline suffered a nearly identical injury to Paul George his senior year in high school shortly after committing to Ohio State.

When I first saw Georges' injury I thought it could very well be career ending based on how gruesome it looked but after hearing this and other experts' opinions I'm starting to feel optimistic.

"I was reading everybody saying, 'Ah, his career might be over.' His career is not anywhere near over,"..."He'll be fine. He's a freak athlete. He'll do awesome, he'll work hard. That's my perspective."

Hartline, who sustained his injury was out for roughly 6 to 8 weeks but was up and running the following Spring, winning two hurdling championships.

I guess the human body is pretty amazing in what kind of punishment it can take. Maybe Hartline is right and the leg heal and be stronger than before.

Cincinnati still content with being good, not great.

Cam Newton loves this mug.

The Bengals awarded Andy Dalton with a six year contract worth $115 million. Why? Who knows. How much is the guaranteed money which is all that really matters with these sorts of deals? That's not yet known. But what it does show is that Cincinnati is committed to Dalton for the immediate future as well as to good regular season play but horrible post season play.

Dalton is the face of "good when he's good, horrible when he's horrible". During the regular season Dalton is 30-18 but 0-3 in the post. Without pressure he completes about 66% of his passes but with pressure this number plummets to 38.8%. Dalton has had a good offensive line and some of the best talent positions in the NFL. Without an elite arm or feet Dalton could already be at his ceiling.

This contract also raises important decisions for other teams around the NFL. Dalton and Caepernick, both from the same draft class have already received extensions while the #1 pick Cam Newton is still playing on his rookie contract as is Andrew Luck and RGIII. If I were these teams I'd be getting ready to break the bank because they are going to demand (rightfully so) huge deals.

Virginia Tech probably needs a new coach

The Gatorade represents mediocrity.

Ohio State's second game of the season is against Virginia Tech which made me realize Frank Beamer has been the coach their for just about as long as I've been alive. Cool.

For about as long as I've been into college football Virginia Tech has seemingly been considered one of the "better" teams out there, which honestly I don't really see why. Frank Beamer has a .672 winning percentage at VT which is obviously good but I'd just leave it there at "good". He has never won a title and has a 9-12 bowl record. I'm not trying to have this be a Frank Beamer bashing post, what I'm really just getting at is I think it's time for VT to get a new one.

Looking into it I almost feel like VT's perception as one of the better teams in college football has more to do with the ACC not really being that good as opposed to their individual performance. I will them give them tons of credit for playing extremely tough out of conference games like OSU this year and Alabama last year and LSU a few years back as well.

I can relate a lot to how many VT fans must feel. "Beamerball" is really similar to "Tresselball" in that it emphasizes strong defense and special teams and like us I feel like when a team has had the same coach for too long that program starts to get stagnant.

What I'm really trying to say is I don't like them and I hope we beat them by twenty points.

Charlie Strong is cleaning up the mean streets of Austin

Sometimes a super hi-res picture explains more than words ever could.

When Charlie Strong took over at Texas he talked a lot about his 'core values' - honesty, treating women with respect, and no drugs stealing or guns. With his dismissal total for the year up to seven now I guess you could say he was serious.

Running backs Joe Bergeron and Jalen Overstreet as well as Chevoski Collins have been kicked off the team, with the ability to transfer, Strong confirmed today. Daje Johnson, Desmond Harrison, and safety Josh Turner have also been suspended for at least two games this season.

It should be noted that these aren't just backups - Johnson is one of the Longhorns' best players. Harrison and Turner were both also likely starters.

In addition to these removals Strong also permanently kicked off  two more players last month because of sexual assault charges.

Oh my God, that Paul George injury.

Oh my God, it happened again. Immediate flashbacks to Kevin Ware of Louisville. There's nothing really I can say except my thoughts go out to Paul George, from what I hear he's a class guy. And to have this happen for USA Basketball just makes it that much worse. It's just horrible. This looks like a career-ender. I'm not going to post the picture because I don't really want to have to keep looking at it but you can easily Google it. I warn you though it's just as bad as the Ware injury.

A lot of players are already weary of doing this like Kevin Love and I can imagine even more are going to opt out now.

It's August. We're in the month that touches college football (Top-10 Coaches Poll fun)

I'm using SI's chart, I hope they don't sue.

I'm not going to lie, it's been getting mighty cold on my soap box these last couple weeks. But fortunately we've made it to the month where college football stuff will really start heating up. At last I can lay down my SJW sword of righteousness and get down to talking what I really love, college football. Ray Rice? Who cares any more. Johnny Manziel? Never heard of him.

1.) The, and I want to make sure I get this right, Amyway Coaches Poll came out which gives us our first real opportunity to argue about how wrong everyone else' opinion is. Although to be fair it actually looks pretty good to me. Florida State definitely deserves the top spot considering their offense returns basically in tact as well as their defense. Not to mention Jameis Winston returns who has as good a shot to win back to back Heismans as anyone. They are definitely the odds on favorite to repeat this year. 

2.) Alabama gets the number two spot although this is probably the most questions Alabama has gone into a year with in a long time. They start the year with an untested quarterback as well as a young defense but then again it seems like we say this every year about Alabama and the result is usually the same. Finishing the year at or near the top of the rankings. 

3.) Oklahoma should start the year with strong confidence considering their demolishing of the above mentioned team at the end of last year. College football is always good when their is a real dislike between coaches and Bob Stoops seems to have it in for just about everyone in the SEC. The Sooners' starting QB, Trevor Knight should pick up right where they left off last year albeit without one weapon in Joe Mixon who got in trouble for assault. OU's defense is the real ticket to their championship hopes with a tremendous front seven who should make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks all year.

4.) For as great as Oregon has been recently this could potentially be a make or break year for the Ducks. Oregon has been on the precipice for so long it must be frustrating for their fans to have never made it over the last hump. Returning veteran QB Marcus Mariotta should provide the stability the Ducks need on offense while defenseman Ekpre-Olomu will dominate on that side of the ball. However, there are questions on either side of the ball particularly if a revamped O-line will be able to protect Mariotta. Mariotta's skill with his feet will make up for a little shakiness though.

5.) Auburn comes into the year with Nick Marshall back at the helm but without Tre Mason and the nation's leading rushing star. Marshall will find some comfort in the fact that most of his receivers are the same. There will be some questions regarding the Tigers' defense 

6.)  Like last year Ohio State's hopes rest firmly on Braxton Miller's arms and feet but that shoulder injury is always in the back of my mind. This should also be the make or break year for Fickell and the Buckeyes' abysmal secondary. If Ohio State gives up yards like they did last year I don't see how Meyer can not make a change at the coaching level. Ohio State's schedule is about has cushiony soft as cotton candy so even one misstep will probably cost them a spot in the new CFB playoff. Ohio State's one challenge will come against MSU who frankly I'm surprised isn't ranked above us. Considering how soft our schedule is I think we need to not only beat every single team but probably also beat them by 10 or more points to impress the playoff selection committee. Thankfully Urban Meyer is known to step on the throats of opponents so I'm sure that's just what will happen. The running back position will be key and will be mighty difficult for whomever does end up replacing Carlos Hyde. Miller will for sure be dependent on it though to take off some of the pressure. 

7.) UCLA has won the most NCAA titles of any school, just never in football. Will this be the year for the Bruins? Probably not, but a Pac-12 title could very well be within reach. UCLA returns most of their offense from last year including veteran QB Brett Hundley. The Bruins' main concerns should be on the defensive side of the ball mostly with a pass rush that leaves a lot to be desired.

8.) Michigan State enters the year with high hopes. I feel like although they have a much tougher schedule than we (OSU) do they also have a little more room for error. The Spartans' week 2 game against Oregon being the key. A win or even close loss will probably be rewarded by the selection committee, at least I hope it will be. Teams should be encouraged for scheduling tough OOC opponents. Sparty returns most of the key offensive positions as well as on the defensive side. Like I said before I'm not sure why we are ranked higher than they are. 

9.) South Carolina sort of reminds me of Oregon in that both are usually pretty good but have not yet won the big one. Spurrier has provided great entertainment all off-season with his fantastic media appearances and the constant Spurrier vs. Saban arguments are also great. The SEC East is about as up for grabs as it has ever been and the Gamecocks should be able to capitalize on that. SC loses some key pieces most notably Connor Shaw at QB and some guy named Jadeveon Clowney but nonetheless they should have the pieces to get through. If SC can get through the front end of their schedule unscathed or at least un-bruised they have an easy route to SEC East champions. 

10.) It's hard to believe not even five years ago the Baylor Bears were the doormats of the Big-12. It just goes to show how one player can make a huge difference even in a team sport like football. Baylor has become synonymous with extremely high scoring high-octane offenses, maybe even more than Oregon. Baylor returns plenty of weapons in the offense and QB Bryce Petty should be able to continue his Winning Ways™. Of course as much as they are known for their high powered offense they are also known for their abysmal defense. It will be incumbent Oakman and Singleton to at least provide some resistance. With Texas and all their questions as well as a now Manziel less A&M, the way to a Big 12 championship Winning Season™ should be relatively easy.