Bob Valvano was born the youngest son of Rocco and Angelina Valvano in Long Island, New York.
As a coaches son, he played many sports when he was young. Basketball at the gym, football in the park, and stickball in front of the corner grocery store where he frequently shoplifted candy bars. His prowess with the broomstick even earned him an athletic scholarship to Andy’s Barber College in Upton, New York.
After discovering he was much better with a broomstick in his hands than a pair of scissors, he transferred to Virginia Wesleyan College were he would play soccer, basketball, and golf even being named All-Conference 1st Team and soccer MVP in 1978.
He would graduate cum laude from Wesleyan with a degree in Communications and parlay that into a successful basketball coaching career that would last 19 years and include record setting stints at Kutztown University, Catholic University, and St. Mary's College before coming to an end at Bellarmine College right here in Louisville, KY.
Bob now serves as an ESPN Radio host (“The V Show” every Saturday and Sunday from 1AM EST to 6 AM EST), color analyst for the University of Louisville Cardinal basketball television and radio broadcasts, member of the Board of Directors of both the V Foundation for Cancer Research and Kosair Childrens Hospital Foundation, and co-host of the Bob and Will Show.
Bob is survived by his wife, Darlene, and two sons.
Will Wolford was born on May 18th, 1964 in Louisville Kentucky to big Moe and Mary-Catherine and Wolford.
He too played sports as a child, Catholic school sports, which obviously are more competitive than regular public athletic leagues…just ask him, he’ll tell you.
While attending, and eventually graduating, from the great St. Xavier High School, Will played football, basketball, and even ran track…yes, I said track. He wasn’t always three hundred pounds, you know. He also developed an unhealthy love for the movie “Private School”…don’t even ask.
But it was his prowess on the football field that led him to a full-ride scholarship at “The V” (Vanderbilt University).
As a freshman at “The V”, Will would be named a Freshman All-American, help the Commodores to an 8 – 3 record, and a berth in the Hall of Fame Bowl…it still stands as Vandy’s last winning season. The year was 1982, or 25 years ago...however you want to say it.
While two years of data seem to be missing on Will, “The Tractor” (as he was nicknamed by Vandy coach George MacIntyre) earned unanimous first-team All-SEC honors as a senior and went on to be taken by the Buffalo Bills as the 20th pick of the 1986 NFL draft.
Six days after Will began his NFL career, he would be joined by two other Buffalo greats (Jim Kelly and Kent Hull), and together they would lead the Bills to three Super Bowl appearances…with the help of Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, James Lofton, Kenny Davis, Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley, Steve Tasker, and coach Marv Levy…wow, it sure seems like Will had a lot of help.
After 14 years in the league, three teams (the aforementioned Bills, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers), three Super Bowls, three Pro Bowls, many appearances in the NFL’s real-life performances of “North Dallas Forty”, and many missing body parts, Will has moved on to his real callings in life…being the majority owner of the AF2’s Louisville Fire and becoming a professional bowler. If I was Norm Duke or Walter Ray Williams Jr., I wouldn’t be too worried.
In between his pro football ownership and bowling practice, Will is also the co-host of The Bob and Will Show, husband to Jude, and father of three daughters...and did I mention the man fiscally responsible for making Churchill Downs the most beautiful track in America?
Oh wait…Bob isn’t dead. And he never played stickball, robbed grocery stores, or went to Andy’s Barber College in Upton, New York.
But Will, he does love “Private School” and think that Catholic shool sports are the best. But the rest is true…or is it?
I know that the headline above looks like something bad happened, but it didn't. It was just to get your attention. Did it work??
Obviously it did or you wouldn't still be reading...I just hope I can keep your attention for a few minutes more.
Over the weekend, I did what I always do...spend my free time eating White Castles and playing video games. This weekend, it was EA Sport's NCAA Football 09.
The White Castles were great (as always), but I can't really say the same for NCAA 09.
Granted, I only played two full games, did a little recruiting, and played some of the mini-games, but I was not overly impressed.
On the plus side, the graphics are great, the mini-games are inventive, and the recruiting is very in-depth. Those are all very good things, but the one bad thing I noticed was a much bigger negative than any of those positives...
The game play sucks.
It's nice to have a sports game with a lot of bells and whistles, but if you can't produce on the field (another intended pun) it is all for naught.
The passing game is a little too easy. No matter the level of competition, defensive backs have trouble covering receivers...leading to a lot of passing TD's. And if you couple that with the running game, which is way too difficult (the players movement lacks the smooth flow they have had in past versions of the game...everything is very jerky), it makes running a consistent, balanced offense very hard to do.
Playing on the defensive side isn't all that easy either. All of the players seem slow to react to the movement of the joystick or press of the buttons, and that makes it hard to cover receivers or tackle running backs.
And it's not that I really want the game to be easy, I like a competitive game as much as the next guy, but the level of control over the players on the screen lacks a lot to be desired.
If I had to rate the game on a four-football scale, I would give it a 2.5.
The bells and whistles are great, but the game lacks a lot of substance. I would much prefer to play last year’s version (I would give it a 3.5 out of 4 footballs).
Sorry EA. Normally I love what you do, but on this one I'm not really sure what you did.
A Good Idea For The Armed Forces??
Thursday 07-24-2008 11:52am ET
Pictured above is Caleb Campbell attempting to
make a tackle on a Navy running back.
Campbell was a 7th Round pick (218th selection overall) by the Detroit Lions in
the 2008 NFL Draft, and today is the day he should've signed his contract and
reported to training camp.
In the past, a cadet that was accepted into the program would, "owe two
years of active service in the Army, during which time they will be allowed to
play their sport in the player-development systems of their respective
organizations and be assigned to recruiting stations. If they remain in
professional sports following those two years, they will be provided the option
of buying out the remaining three years of their active-duty commitment in
exchange for six years of reserve time."
In other words, cadets would be allowed to play and perform their mandatory
service at the same time by working in recruiting offices close to the cities in
which they are playing.
Now, it seems that rule has changed.
Two weeks ago the U.S. Army revised it's interpretation of the rule and will
not longer allow cadets to both play and complete their active service at the
same time.
Therefore, all cadets not under contract by a professional sports team are
required to report for duty for the next two years.
But wait, Campbell had agreed to terms on a deal and was going to sign it
today...a slight mistake that may cost Campbell his football career. No
signed contract equals you report for duty.
For Caleb Campbell, this change in interpretation must be crushing. He
was hours from being an NFL player and now he will report to either Iraq or Afghanistan.
But for the Army and the rest of the armed forces, it may be more detrimental.
Let's create a scenario:
Billy is a football player being recruited by Army and Western Kentucky.
Both are independent of conference affiliations (at this time), both will play
tough schedules, and both are quality institutions of learning. On their
face, neither seems to have the upper hand in recruiting on the other, until
you factor in the new rule change by Army.
Now, if Billy thinks he may one day have the ability to play in the NFL, there
is very little chance he is ever going to go to Army. It's simply not in
his best interest to agree to a two-year hiatus from the sport in the beginning
of what could be his NFL career.
And even if he does choose Army (due to a higher calling to serve, or whatever
the reason may be), why would an NFL waste a draft pick on a guy that can't
even begin to practice with them for at least two years (not to mention the
fact that they won't own his rights anymore by the time that two years is
over)?
The answer is, they wouldn't.
NFL teams want their draft picks to help the team to do two things: 1. Make
their team better on the field, and 2. Save them money.
Sure, Billy may save them money, but he will not help their team get any
better. Therefore, Billy will not be drafted.
Simply put, this rule change by the Army would cost Billy his career in
professional sports...and it will cost any future Army athlete that career as
well. And that is a fact that will hinder Army's (and the other armed
forces) recruiting until the rule is changed.
Now I know that they don't get all of the best quality athletes anyway, but
they do get some. And with this rule change, some will go down to none.
So if you are a fan of one of the armed forces academies, I feel for you.
You're in for a long, hard future on the field, the hardwood, the diamond, and
any other area of play. But, you did it to yourselves.
I just hope you can't live with it.Change the rule back.Give the
kids who can earn it a future, not a gun.
I know that there are very few people who are interested in the WNBA, but if they had action and intensity like this on a nightly basis I think everyone would get behind their league.
Now I'm not saying that there should be a brawl (and I use the word "brawl" lightly) every night out on the court, but there needs to be some passion.
I like the fact that Sparks coach Michael Cooper and Shock coach Bill Lambier don't like each other. I like the fact that those teams have taken on the personalities of their coaches and developed a dislike for eachother. That is a good rivalry and that makes for a good game...and good games are what the WNBA is looking for (it's not like they have a reputation built on them).
The only person who isn't going to like the results of last night's fight (once the suspensions and fines for the players are handed down and over) is Detroit Shock assistan coach Rick Mahorn.
As you can see from the picture above, he got a little over-involved.
I know that Lambier said he was trying to make peace, but it looks to me like he was just trying to throw Lisa Leslie across the floor. I expect him to get a hefty fine and a massive suspension, if he doesn't get removed from the league all together.
A little advice Rick, if you are going to make peace, try just getting inbetween the ladies doing the fighting. You're a massive man. I don't think they will be able to get around you to throw any more punches. And if you feel the need to touch a player, make sure she is on your team. That way, it really does look like you are trying to make peace.
And in case you have read through this whole post and are still saying, "What the hell is this guy talking about? A brawl in a WNBA game?"
Here's the video for you to check out...
I told you I use the word "brawl" lightly, but I still think it will work out okay for the WNBA.
The players showed passion and the sports world is actually bringing up their games for once. I know it looks like a black eye now (and yes, that pun was intended), but it can only help the game grow, and that is what they should be focused on anyway.
© 2008