ILL INI! (oh yeah, how about that handshake)

So far it's the only pick I've gotten right this week.

Illinois picks up what is probably their biggest win of the season over 24th ranked Indiana. This win gets them back to 3-4 in Big 10 play, 15-7 overall. It also is their first win of the year against a ranked opponent after losing earlier games this season to Maryland, Arizona, Ohio State and Wisconsin. This win puts Illinois back on the bubble as a potential, although certainly nowhere near a lock, NCAA team.

But as much as it was a needed Illinois win, this handshake will probably be the biggest story.

Prior to the game, Weber and Sampson had their normal pre-game handshake, but instead of being a normal cordial handshake, Weber was very hesitant and it looked as though he almost pulled his hand back in that whole "run your hand through your hair" blow-off.

The origins, as I talk about in this post, goes back to a recruiting war over top guard Eric Gordon. Gordon was originally verbally committed to going to Illinois and then backed out to become a Hoosier when Sampson was hired. Gordon could have been the top prospect that put Illinois with Weber on the recruiting map. Instead, there are numerous questions from Illinois and college basketball fans about whether Weber can recruit. Afterall, he also lost out on Duke guard Jon Scheyer, who was coached in high school by Bruce Weber's brother.

This handshake is probably going to be one of the big stories of the next few days, so let's see how it works out.

By the way, I'm not picking any more "Tech" games this year if I can help it.

NLCS Fever! (And stupid H.S. kids)

First topic: Cardinals lead the Mets 2-1 in the NLCS and are now going up against Oliver Perez.

Some key stats:

Perez vs. the Cardinals: 1-2, 4.82 ERA, 10 K's, 7 BB, .297 BAA in just under 20 innings.

The Cardinals vs. PErez individually:
The best, by OPS, min. 10 ABs

Pujols: 9/24 batting(.375 BA), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.361 OPS
Rolen: 9/20 batting(.450 BA), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1.178 OPS
Molina: 5/16 batting(.313 BA), 1 HR, 3 RBI, .915 OPS
Eckstein: 3/10 batting(.300 BA), 0 HR, 2 RBI, .900 OPS

Meanwhile, Anthony Reyes has never faced the Mets, so hopefully that will work to his advantage as they won't know his stuff very well.

A win tonight and the Cardinals are in a dominant position, up 3-1, with Carpenter going in Game 6, should it go that far. Carpenter wasn't that sharp last time, but in games after he failed to post a quality start, he has posted a 2.39 ERA this year. One of these starts was on June 6th, which was really his first start back after time on the DL. If we take out this start(as his last start BEFORE the DL stint was not a quality start), then his ERA in games after he gets beat up is 2.19.

Now, on to the 2nd topic. I'm split on this, as a H.S. teacher and being only 25. I understand and remember that I was a stupid idiot who knew everything in H.S. as are most H.S. students.

However, if you're a big profile athlete, you have to know that the choices you make will be seen and criticized by others. Eric Gordon, the #1 rated shooting guard in America, has spurned the Illini after giving them a verbal commitment and has decided to go with Indiana.

This is just filthy on two levels. First off, shame on Gordon. You don't have to make a verbal commitment, but when you do, you should honor it. Illinois head coach Bruce Weber has now been put in a bad place, as he now has to either go one scholarship player shy, or he has to bring in a far lesser calibre player to replace Gordon.

The other level in which this is just absolutely filthy and horrible is that new IU coach Kelvin Sampson, who is already in trouble with the NCAA for recruiting violations while at Oklahoma, has pursued a player who gave a verbal commitment. He hired people close to Gordon to fill positions they're probably unqualified to actually fill in order to get them to influence Gordon to defect. Sampson has shown, both at OU and now already at Indiana, how despicable of a coach he is. The stability that existed under Bobby Knight will continue to be missing from IU's basketball program under Sampson.