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.

Myles Brand, Image: Newscom

Brand was the first NCAA president who wasn’t an athlete, coach, or other sports professional himself. As a result, his policies were often more focused on gender equity, student academics, and other things that were unpopular, rather than on the sports themselves. Personally, I think he was well-needed in college athletics.

In January, Brand went public with is diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He continued to work at the NCAA, and so far, the organization hasn’t announced a replacement. He was 67. RIP.

Read more about Brand here.

Post from: EveryJoe

RIP Myles Brand

Sonia Sotomayor, Image: Newscom

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 be out of high school for at least three years before they can be drafted or signed as a free agent. A lower court had previously allowed Ohio State runnng back Maurice Clarett to enter the draft, even though he hadn’t been out of high school three years yet.

Post from: EveryJoe

Supreme Court Nominee could Save the BCS

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 to it they are surely missing some easy points.

Instead of having the players practice doing layups (which would have been my choice as a coach) Pat Knight instead pulls a 12-year old kid out of the stands in the middle of a game and asked him if he could hit the layup that his players were missing. He actually had the kid stand in the huddle with his players. (This was the part that was supposed to embarrass and/or motivate his players.)

Texas Tech did, in fact, win the game. But then again they also played Stephen F. Austin. (So they most certainly could have won the game with an entire group of 12-year olds.)

Oh, and did you notice that Pat Knight has a famous (in basketball at least) last name?

Yep, his dad is Bobby Knight. The apple doesn’t fall far, does it?

Imagess: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Pat Knight Pulls 12-Year Old Out of Stands to Show Up His Players

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. That’s talent!

In contrast, Mike Tyson also has a foul mouth but somehow doesn’t make us laugh when he cusses. He could take a lesson from Shaq. This clip also has Pete Rose and Jim Everett. The top spot belongs to a Hall of Fame football player with a little too much to drink.

The next clip highlights the Top Ten Most Unsportsmanlike Moments. Dennis Rodman’s kick at a photog starts things off (or should I say kicks ) things off. Mike Tyson is also in this group of clips at number 2. (Bet you can’t guess why…)

Next up is the Top Ten One Liners in Sports. Shaq is also in this set of clips with his “horri-awful” comment. The number 1 spot is one of my personal favorites of all time, and features a champion boxer and a sportscaster. Can you guess the moment?

The Top Ten Most Avoided Questions. (Or should I say Top Ten Lies?) Of course Shaq makes this list again, but it’s Terrell Owens who is the star of this set of clips. The number 1 clip is by Big Mac.

And finally, the list of the Top Ten Practical Jokes:

Why do those always seem so funny when you aren’t the person getting punked?

Post from: EveryJoe

Top Ten Interviews, Fights, and Practical Jokes

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 LCD HD TV as part of the booty (along with an all-important “snack pack”.)

One bowl that isn’t releasing the goods in its gift bag is the Cotton Bowl. They won’t tell what they are giving players until after everyone arrives. They’ve got a lot to live up to. Maybe they were waiting to see what other bowls gave out this year so they could get an equal gift? (We did this with a few family members!)

Post from: EveryJoe

College Bowl Game Gifts

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.

Post from: EveryJoe

Be a Fan: Paint Your Face

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 in a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant. Oklahoma went on to win the game 30-17.

Take that, Colorado fans!

Post from: EveryJoe

Colorado Fan Shines a Laser in Oklahoma QB’s Eyes…. Naughty, Naughty

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 a photo of but you can find a great one here.

College and Halloween…. a curious mix.

Post from: EveryJoe

Texas Tech’s Upset Victory, Bell Ringer, and Hundreds of Fake Tickets