Ray Jr. on Sports

1. Pitt Panthers beat Boston College 83-72. Really? Can it be true? Did the Panther finally get a win and end their 8-game losing streak?? Yep, they sure did. And yes, it was against a team that’s struggled as much as they have, but when you’re lost as much as Pitt has, a win’s a win, Period.
2. What also made this victory special is the return of senior F Mike Young’s true game as he scored 19 second-half points and finished with 30 points, tying his career high. It’s a shame how much this kid has struggled after a strong start, but maybe this performance will open up the door to a strong finish. F Sheldon Jeter finished with 17 and G Chris Jones finished with 14 as the Panthers got their second win in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and are now 13-11 overall.
3. To be honest with you, my concern is now centered around senior G Jamel Artis who was only able to muster up 6 points in Wednesday’s win. What has happened to this kid? He’s honestly not been the same since his 43-point outburst vs. Louisville last month, and they didn’t even win this game. But his performance kept Pitt in the game.
4. I think Young and Artis’ performance this season basically defines the Panthers overall: Inconsistent. Earlier in the season, I mentioned that as Mike Young goes, so does the Panthers, and was I right? He struggles, the team loses 8 straight games. He finally wakes up, Pitt wins. Go figure. Artis (20.68) and Young (20.43) are still 1-2 in ACC scoring, but I don’t think either of them deserves Player of the Year unless they both finish strong.
5. As for the Panthers overall, it doesn’t take Einstein to realize that they’re not going to the NCAA Tournament in HC Kevin Stallings first season, and they will be fortunate to accept a bid to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) I mean, even they don’t just accept anybody. And please don’t get me started on that CBI Tournament, that the Panthers won back in 2013. They’re still using that trophy as a doorstop.
6. Anyways, there’s more Pitt basketball news as Redshirt sophomore guard Cameron Johnson was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 2 men’s basketball team as announced by CoSIDA Thursday morning. The District 2 region is comprised of teams from Washington, D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

7. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America® honorees will be selected later this month. Congrats to Cameron. Truly an awesome honor.
8. The Panthers will return home for the first time in a week and take on Syracuse for the second time this season. The Orange (16-9 overall, 8-4 ACC) is nothing like the team that played the Panthers the first time, and that team still beat Pitt. Here’s hoping the Panthers will be up for a little payback in Saturday’s game.
9. The Panthers will also wear throwback uniforms for the game vs. Syracuse. Those uniforms pay tribute to the 1980’s Pitt teams. Like the football throwbacks, those unis look pretty I think they should go back to those unis permanently, with home and alternate ones to match.
10. As for the rest of College Basketball, here is the AP Top 5: 1. Gonzaga. 2. Villanova 3. Kansas 4. Louisville and 5. Oregon. The only local ranked school is West Virginia at 14. North Carolina (8^th), Virginia (12^th) Florida State (14^th), Duke (18^th) are the ACC’s ranked teams.
11. Speaking of Gonzaga, it’s no surprise that they’re good, but this is the first time that they’ve been ranked #1. Could it be a special season for them? I’m not completely sold yet. They need to face teams like Villanova, Louisville, West Virginia and North Carolina before I become a believer, and of course, that can only take place at the NCAA Tournament.
12. Now onto the NFL as we’re now in the aftermath of that stunning Super Bowl as the New England Patriots came from 25 down to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28, giving the Patriots 5 Super Bowl championships (tied with SF and Dallas and one behind Pittsburgh) and allowing SB 51 QB Tom Brady to earn his 5^th ring, bypassing the Steelers Terry Bradshaw as the most by a QB. HC Bill Belichick’s 5 rings now pass former Steelers HC Chuck Noll as well.
13. Folks always want to call ‘fix’ when a team who’s not their favorite team wins the Super Bowl. I think it’s just time to give the Patriots their due. Regardless of the scandals and the drama that comes from those scandals, all the Patriots do is win, and no matter what you think of that team, they are one of the best in NFL history and Brady and Belichick are future Hall of Famers.
14. Speaking of the Hall of Fame, as you know, the Class of 2017 was selected Saturday and here’s who they are: RB LaDanian Tomlinson, QB Kurt Warner, K Morten Anderson, RB Terrell Davis, DE Jason Taylor, S Kenny Easy and Owner Jerry Jones. Congrats to all of them.
15. Do I think they deserve this honor? You bet I do. Each one for various reasons: Tomlinson for being the 5^th leading rusher in the NFL, Anderson for being the greatest kicker in the NFL, Warner for his inspirational story from the Arena Football League to a 2-time NFL MVP and SB MVP, Davis was a NFL MVP and 2,000 yard rusher,Easy as one of the best defensive backs in the 80’s and Jones for taking the NFL to another level market-wise and establishing a 3-time championship in the 1990’s. There you go.
16. Do I think WR Terrell Owens got snubbed? Yup. He’s #2 in career receiving yardage (behind HOF Jerry Rice) which is hard to ignore. It might take a while for them to induct TO, but eventually, he’ll get in. His stats will make sure of it.
17. As for Steeler G Alan Faneca. A 9-time Pro Bowler, I was surprised that he didn’t get in as I felt it was his time. But apparently, the voters didn’t agree this year. Hopefully next year. As for local ties, it’s good to see Taylor get selected. He’s a Pittsburgh man and Woodland Hills graduate, plus, he has 139 career sacks, which is also hard to ignore. Proud of him.
18. As for the NBA, the talks of the NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony joining the Cleveland Cavs and LeBron James has gotten quiet. Reports suggest that they don’t want to part ways with F Kevin Love, but other reports suggest that LeBron is pushing for this trade, of course, he dismissed it. He doesn’t want to be publicly accused as one who forced a trade.
19. Apparently, former Knicks and Chicago Bulls C Charles Oakley made the news as he was involved in a confrontation with Knicks owner James Dolan in Wednesday night’s game. Oakley was arrested and charged with three counts of assault after an altercation in the stands near Dolan at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
20. Regardless of how hurt Oakley is, he knew he was wrong for losing his cool at that game, especially at home. During his career, he was known as the Garbage Man as he did the ‘dirty work’ as a defender in the paint, but acting like that in the stands just makes Oakley a public embarrassment.

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