Myles Brand did a lot for college football, and his death this week has been a huge blow to the sports world.
He was president of Indiana when they made the decision to fire basketball coach Bob Knight after he violated personal conduct policy, and that’s what people will probably remember most about him, but he was equally reforming in the NCAA. He actually used this decision to create a platform, saying that there needed to be more personal accountability in sports.
Brand was the first NCAA president who wasn’t an athlete, coach, or other sports professional himself. As a result, his …read more

The Bowl Championship Series has been criticized for years, but in the last several months, things have gotten political. There are a number of people seeking to make the BCS illegal or pushing for a playoff system. President Obama’s recent Supreme Court nominee could be someone that will make that happen.
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who was nominated today to fill an empty seat, is on board with solving sports-related problems. In 1995, she helped to end the MLB strike. Her ruling against the owners effectively ended the strike, which lasted 232 days.
Sotomayor also was involved with the ruling that players must …read more

Hey, I’m all for unique coaching methods. I mean, if players aren’t motivated, you have to be creative to get them to give that extra mile. But I’m not sure this method is the right way to go.
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight (pictured) was frustrated with his team for missing layups. Layups, for all those basketball virgins out there, are defined as a “usually one-handed, banked shot made close to the basket after driving in.”
Close to the basket is the key part of this little story. If players can’t hit a shot when they’re right next …read more

Happy New Year to each and every Gossip on Sports reader out there. And if you AREN’T a regular reader here, why the heck aren’t’ you?
Since it’s New Year’s Day, I thought I would treat us all with a little top ten action from sports.
Let’s start with the Top Ten Most Awkward Sports Interviews. There’s a quite a few good snippets on this clip. Shaq is probably my favorite because who doesn’t love him? He cusses on air, tells a reporter that his jacket sucks, and then comes up with a brand new word. …read more

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(420,497,377449,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()

So you think the stars are spoiled because they get gift bags just for showing up at events or announcing nominees at an awards show?
HA! That’s nothing to the booty some college bowl players are getting this year. Things like Nintendo Wiis seem to be a popular gift item, as are mini camcorders and designer watches.
The more “high profile” the game, the better the gifts. (Or should I say the better the sponsor?) Personally I think the Insight Bowl players got the best set of gifts, with a Vizio 26-inch …read more

Here’s some team spirit! Check out these happy faces.
var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(420,335,327735,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()

Painting your face? Now that’s dedication. Painting your face with stripes? Waaaay better!
These are fans from the Virginia Tech Hokies as they cheer on their team, who plays against the Boston College Eagles in the 2008 ACC Football Championship game at Raymond James Stadium on today.

Image credit: Newscom.
Did you hear about the Colorado fan that thought they would “help” its team win against Okaloma State? One of the fans brought a laser gun and tried to shine it in Quarterback Zac Robinson’s eyes. Matt Hinton has a really good picture of it here.
The laser apparently “hit Robinson’s visor and cost Oklahoma State a timeout before a 3rd-and-9 snap in the second quarter.” Check out the video here.
Of course, what do we say about cheaters? They never, ever prosper!
The Colorado cheater didn’t either. The play after the laser resulted …read more

HUGE upset over the weekend with Texas Tech upsetting the #1 Texas Longhorns.  It was an exciting game that went right down to the wire as Tech Quarterback Graham Harrell threw the game winning touchdown to Michael Crabtree.  Check out the final minute and a half of the game:

More than that, however, the game had other oddities we should point out.  Like this guy ringing the bell:

And about 500 people that got ripped off with fake tickets (and therefore didn’t get to see the game!)  Oh, and a bunch of folks dressed up as the Joker, which I don’t have …read more