MORGANTOWN - The average lifespan of a Major League baseball is roughly six or seven pitches.
There is a pair of shoes in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that belonged to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
The spitball was outlawed in the big leagues in 1920, but was still thrown legally as late as 1934. That's because spitball pitchers were grandfathered into the rule and a guy named Burleigh Grimes lasted 14 more years before retiring.
Why do I know these things? Well, because I have The Answer Dude at the ready.
And today, so do you:
Dear Dude,
What is it with you sports media types constantly harassing me about what my plans are for Big Ten expansion? Don't you understand this is something I want to milk for all it's worth? I mean, really, you guys keep pointing out how lousy we've been in football in recent years, and so now that I finally have this financial sledge hammer to wield, I'm going to enjoy it. What's the hurry?
J. Delany,
Chicago
Dear Jim,
Yeah, you've got a point. Football isn't even the issue here, right? I mean, let's say you do add Rutgers and Pitt and Syracuse. Oooh, now that's going to turn the Big Ten around, right? Look out SEC.
Sure, I understand it's all about the money and the Big Ten Network and cable operators and $22 million payouts and all that. And I understand why you'd like to drag this out as long as you can. You're finally in a position of power and you aren't going to let anyone forget it.
But let's face it, you have all the facts. You've done all the research. With the exception of Notre Dame, no one you invite is going to spend more than a millisecond considering the offer before accepting, so that's not an issue.
All you're doing is dragging this out because you can drag it out. Just pull the trigger and get it over with so the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Dear Dude,
What's up with Coastal Carolina on the West Virginia football schedule? For that matter, could there possibly be a more awkward schedule than one that also includes a home game with UNLV, a government-forced visit to Marshall and road trips to the only two games I really care about - LSU and Pitt? The only good thing I see in there is that Ralphy Friedgen is finally back in the house this year.
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Answer Dude weighs in on Big 10's future
MORGANTOWN - The average lifespan of a Major League baseball is roughly six or seven pitches.
There is a pair of shoes in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that belonged to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
The spitball was outlawed in the big leagues in 1920, but was still thrown legally as late as 1934. That's because spitball pitchers were grandfathered into the rule and a guy named Burleigh Grimes lasted 14 more years before retiring.
Why do I know these things? Well, because I have The Answer Dude at the ready.
And today, so do you:
Dear Dude,
What is it with you sports media types constantly harassing me about what my plans are for Big Ten expansion? Don't you understand this is something I want to milk for all it's worth? I mean, really, you guys keep pointing out how lousy we've been in football in recent years, and so now that I finally have this financial sledge hammer to wield, I'm going to enjoy it. What's the hurry?
J. Delany,
Chicago
Dear Jim,
Yeah, you've got a point. Football isn't even the issue here, right? I mean, let's say you do add Rutgers and Pitt and Syracuse. Oooh, now that's going to turn the Big Ten around, right? Look out SEC.
Sure, I understand it's all about the money and the Big Ten Network and cable operators and $22 million payouts and all that. And I understand why you'd like to drag this out as long as you can. You're finally in a position of power and you aren't going to let anyone forget it.
But let's face it, you have all the facts. You've done all the research. With the exception of Notre Dame, no one you invite is going to spend more than a millisecond considering the offer before accepting, so that's not an issue.
All you're doing is dragging this out because you can drag it out. Just pull the trigger and get it over with so the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Dear Dude,
What's up with Coastal Carolina on the West Virginia football schedule? For that matter, could there possibly be a more awkward schedule than one that also includes a home game with UNLV, a government-forced visit to Marshall and road trips to the only two games I really care about - LSU and Pitt? The only good thing I see in there is that Ralphy Friedgen is finally back in the house this year.
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MORGANTOWN - The average lifespan of a Major League baseball is roughly six or seven pitches.
There is a pair of shoes in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that belonged to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
The spitball was outlawed in the big leagues in 1920, but was still thrown legally as late as 1934. That's because spitball pitchers were grandfathered into the rule and a guy named Burleigh Grimes lasted 14 more years before retiring.
Why do I know these things? Well, because I have The Answer Dude at the ready.
And today, so do you:
Dear Dude,
What is it with you sports media types constantly harassing me about what my plans are for Big Ten expansion? Don't you understand this is something I want to milk for all it's worth? I mean, really, you guys keep pointing out how lousy we've been in football in recent years, and so now that I finally have this financial sledge hammer to wield, I'm going to enjoy it. What's the hurry?
J. Delany,
Chicago
Dear Jim,
Yeah, you've got a point. Football isn't even the issue here, right? I mean, let's say you do add Rutgers and Pitt and Syracuse. Oooh, now that's going to turn the Big Ten around, right? Look out SEC.
Sure, I understand it's all about the money and the Big Ten Network and cable operators and $22 million payouts and all that. And I understand why you'd like to drag this out as long as you can. You're finally in a position of power and you aren't going to let anyone forget it.
But let's face it, you have all the facts. You've done all the research. With the exception of Notre Dame, no one you invite is going to spend more than a millisecond considering the offer before accepting, so that's not an issue.
All you're doing is dragging this out because you can drag it out. Just pull the trigger and get it over with so the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Dear Dude,
What's up with Coastal Carolina on the West Virginia football schedule? For that matter, could there possibly be a more awkward schedule than one that also includes a home game with UNLV, a government-forced visit to Marshall and road trips to the only two games I really care about - LSU and Pitt? The only good thing I see in there is that Ralphy Friedgen is finally back in the house this year.
Just wondering because it seems I'm going to have some free time on my hands soon and am looking for something to do.
A. Mollohan,
Washington
(but looking to relocate)
Dear Alan,
No, it's not the kind of home schedule you build a marketing campaign around, but down the road this one might look positively exhilarating (see Big Ten expansion).
For the record, I just can't help but think West Virginia is going to come out of this whole conference-shifting thing no worse for the wear. Maybe that's a Pollyanna outlook, but I'm more worried if I'm in the Big 12 than the Big East.
Still, if the worst happens as far as WVU and the Big East are concerned, watch out. In a couple of years, if the Big East is still around, Coastal Carolina and UNLV might be members.
Dear Dude,
Just saw the WVU basketball highlight video on YouTube. Wow. Were we really that good?
B. Huggins
Morgantown
Dear Bob,
Yeah, you were pretty good. But the MSN guys who put those things together are even better. I remember watching a football highlight video they put together a few years ago to an Elvis track and getting goose bumps. And here's the thing: It wasn't even a great team and I'm not even a fan.
I'd love to see what they could do with the whole Dan Dakich era.
Reach The Answer Dude, or Dave Hickman, at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
Article Preview
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Answer Dude weighs in on Big 10's future
MORGANTOWN - The average lifespan of a Major League baseball is roughly six or seven pitches.
There is a pair of shoes in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that belonged to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
The spitball was outlawed in the big leagues in 1920, but was still thrown legally as late as 1934. That's because spitball pitchers were grandfathered into the rule and a guy named Burleigh Grimes lasted 14 more years before retiring.
Why do I know these things? Well, because I have The Answer Dude at the ready.
And today, so do you:
Dear Dude,
What is it with you sports media types constantly harassing me about what my plans are for Big Ten expansion? Don't you understand this is something I want to milk for all it's worth? I mean, really, you guys keep pointing out how lousy we've been in football in recent years, and so now that I finally have this financial sledge hammer to wield, I'm going to enjoy it. What's the hurry?
J. Delany,
Chicago
Dear Jim,
Yeah, you've got a point. Football isn't even the issue here, right? I mean, let's say you do add Rutgers and Pitt and Syracuse. Oooh, now that's going to turn the Big Ten around, right? Look out SEC.
Sure, I understand it's all about the money and the Big Ten Network and cable operators and $22 million payouts and all that. And I understand why you'd like to drag this out as long as you can. You're finally in a position of power and you aren't going to let anyone forget it.
But let's face it, you have all the facts. You've done all the research. With the exception of Notre Dame, no one you invite is going to spend more than a millisecond considering the offer before accepting, so that's not an issue.
All you're doing is dragging this out because you can drag it out. Just pull the trigger and get it over with so the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Dear Dude,
What's up with Coastal Carolina on the West Virginia football schedule? For that matter, could there possibly be a more awkward schedule than one that also includes a home game with UNLV, a government-forced visit to Marshall and road trips to the only two games I really care about - LSU and Pitt? The only good thing I see in there is that Ralphy Friedgen is finally back in the house this year.
