Connor Jones

Men's basketball

One week into the WAC season, Utah State was 0-2 and way behind. Since then, the law of averages has prevailed and U-S-U now finds itself right back in familiar territory - within reach of a WAC regular season title. The only team ahead of USU is Louisiana Tech. If you haven't marked February 17 on your calendar, then mark it down right now. USU has six of its final 8 games at home, but February 17's game against Louisiana Tech in the Spectrum will be by far the most important. That game has more potential than perhaps any other to determine who will win the regular season WAC title, and the game is on ESPN. If USU continues to play the next 9 games like it has played the last five, get ready for WAC title three-peat, because the buck stops at the Spectrum. Grab your Valentine and tell him/her, "Look babe, part of this year's valentine's day is for us to be on the second row at the Spectrum, losing our voices." February 17. Be there. I will.

Pro bowl

I for one was intrigued when I heard that this year's Pro Bowl is to be played in Miami the week before the Super Bowl. I thought it would give importance to the game and make it more relevant in the football season, since everyone forgets about football when the Super Bowl is over. I bought into the idea, and I was totally right. The fact that I am even arguing about the relevance of the Pro Bowl makes the game relevant; if it wasn't, I wouldn't be writing about it in the Blue and White. I heard some rumors that the starting AFC quarterback would be Vince Young, but the NFL website says that Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are the starters for the Pro Bowl, which could be an interesting preview of the game that really matters in the end. I don't like the location very much; I would much rather the game still be played in Honolulu, but I do approve of the switch to the bye week between the AFC/NFC title games and the Super Bowl. The NFL did a great job of making the pro bowl relevant this year.

Deron Williams All-Star selection

All I want to be able to say is it's about time, but then what else would fill up the column space on your web browser? I refuse to be out-written by my competitor. That's what makes America great: the ability to compete in pointless ways, such as word count in a sports debate column. By the way, don't believe that other guy over there, unless he agrees with me, in which case, please agree with him. But I digress. Seriously, if Deron Williams had not been picked after Allen Iverson made the East's starting lineup, I would have refused to watch the All-Star game this year. What a sham. Deron Williams is averaging 19 points and 9 assists per game this season and has been the heart and soul of the Utah Jazz since Derek Fisher skipped town. The All-Star game has become a popularity contest, and smaller market teams that feature players with less celebrity but not necessarily less importance or skill rarely get the benefit of the doubt, but D-Will got it this year. I hope the Olympic Gold medalist outdoes Steve Nash. Good job Deron. Represent us well.

Ladies' ball

Is it any twist of fate that the player who hit the winning crossover, ankle-breaker, fade-away, buzzer-beater jumpshot to win the Aggies' last game on the road against Idaho is named Tahara Williams? Well, I certainly hope that our Williams continues to play like a certain other Williams who plays professionally in Salt Lake City and just made the NBA All-Star roster. USU's resolve to win that game on the road and snap their four-game losing streak in such a way is not only commendable, it's inspiring. The fact that USU lost the previous game by one point only amplifies the magnitude of the resolve these players must have had, because less worthy athletes would have certainly crumbled to discouragement. Before their skid, the women had a record almost identical to the men - their best start in a couple decades - and were looking like they would roll. Hopefully this buzzer-beater win can get them back some of their mojo, and hopefully that mojo will carry on into the WAC tournament.

Rant

A monumental court ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, was handed down earlier this week. The court decision ruled that corporations, which are legally regarded as artificial persons, have the constitutional right to free political speech just like every real living human being in America in accordance with the First Amendment. Since corporations can't talk through any means beside their wallets, that means that corporations can now donate unlimited funds to the party or campaign of their choice. In other words, corporations can now sponsor election campaigns without restriction on how the money is given, when it is given, where it is given, etc. This is a black mark on the Supreme Court because it will mean the end of corporate sponsors for sporting events as we know it. Political sponsorship is an attractive substitute for athletic sponsorship. When politics are compared with sports from a competitive position, politics have the clear advantage. They never end, they are directly tied to those who control the world, they determine the quality of life of millions of people, and they evoke just as much foul language and slanted comments from the losing side. Without sponsorships, how will leagues make the millions of dollars they need to be able to make the monstrous payroll incurred? Cash flow will slow, salaries will fall, and quality will suffer. For the sake of American professional athletic leagues everywhere and in the name of American sport, I call upon the Supreme Court to reverse this ugly stain on America's political machine.

-c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu

Tyler Huskinson

Men’s Basketball

What can I say about the Aggie men’s basketball team? At the beginning of the season, the Aggies were in a funk and in search of an identity. The team was frustrated with its failure to play well on the road as it does at home. I will admit I almost counted out Stew’s crew. With disappointing losses to Utah, Northeastern and New Mexico State, coupled with blowout losses to Long Beach State and Louisiana Tech, I got the feeling that Utah State was no longer a WAC conference title contender. Well shame on me for doubting the Aggies. With coach Morrill at the helm, anything is possible. The Aggies truly turned their season around when they defeat the Nevada Wolf Pack at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, 79-72, in overtime. Right now, the Aggies have won five in a row, Morrill captured his 500th-career win and the Aggies are a different team. Things couldn’t get much better for the Aggies at this point. After following every single men’s game this year, home or away, I am sure that the Aggies are a different team than they were when they started the season. The way Utah State is playing right now, a 25-win season is plausible, and maybe a humble prediction at best. After finishing a tough road-heavy schedule 5-2, the Aggies are favored with a home-heavy schedule for the remainder of the season. The Aggies have found a solid seven-man rotation with each player stepping up when needed. Brian Green and Brady Jardine have been unbelievable off the bench and starters have remained consistent. Feb. 17 will determine whether the Aggies are ready to win the WAC title and claim a three-peat. First place Louisiana Tech comes to town and the team is first place for a reason. It is my humble opinion, however, that the Aggies will treat Louisiana Tech with the same way they have treated every other WAC team since the Nevada victory. Buy your tickets for the WAC tournament and save up for the week of March 15. The Aggies will be dancing this year.

Women’s Ball

The Lady Ags have an experience opposite of the men’s basketball team this season. The Lady Ags defeated Weber State at home Dec. 21 and that sparked a six-game winning streak. The Aggies then went on the drop four straight. Three of the losses came against the top-three teams in the WAC conference and one two Hawai’i in the islands. After a heartbreaking wire-to-wire loss to New Mexico State at the Spectrum, senior guard TaHara Williams hit a 14-foot jumper at the buzzer to defeat Idaho on the road. Is this the spark that the Aggies need? Only time will tell. However the Aggies finish the season, they will end up with a better record than they did just last season.

D-will’s All-Star reserve invite

Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams may be the most underappreciated guard in the NBA. At least he was until a bright group of coaches finally got the message that Williams actually deserves to be an All-star. Williams will head to Dallas, because NBA fans nationwide don’t realize that Williams is an All-star, but that is of little importance, however. Williams will be representing the Jazz and finally receiving what he deserves. Williams was picked third by the Jazz in the 2005 draft, and ever since then he has taken the NBA by storm. Williams has averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists per game during his career and is nearly averaging a double-double this season, with 19 points and 9.5 assists per game. All I can say is, props to Williams. He finally got what was coming to him. However, I hope NBA fans nationwide realize the talent of Williams and vote him to start in the All-star game in years to come.

The Pro-Bowl

The NFL Pro Bowl? Really? What a joke. This game means absolutely nothing. For example, Vince Young from the Tennessee Titans and David Garrard from the Jacksonville Jaguars are the starting quarterbacks for the AFC. Come on. Now that I have released my hot air, here is a solution. The NFL needs to follow a similar format that the MLB follows. Let me explain. The NFL Pro Bowl game needs to be after the Super Bowl. That would do wonders for game in and of itself. Next, the NFL needs to make the game count for something. Remember back when the slogan for the MLB All-star game was, ”This one counts?” The NFL should do the same thing. Whichever conference wins the Pro Bowl wins the right to home field advantage in the following seasons Super Bowl. I think we would see the premiere players of the NFL at point. It never hurts to try.

Rant

Now is the time where I step on my soap box. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that the face of professional sports has changed since I returned from an LDS mission in 2008. Gone are the days that the superstars of sportsdome knew how to behave. I can’t turn on ESPN or any other sports channel or program without seeing the latest prosports icon that fudged up. What troubles me more is that the epidemic has spread to coaches as well. Sure we had idiots in sports before, but it seemed that they were fewer. John Rocker, Bobby Knight, Jayson Williams and Ron Artest are some names that come to mind. Nowadays, it seems that the headlines are filled with crime, lies, deceit and other bad behaviors. Thankfully these athletes are punished for their misdeeds. I acknowledge that these athletes are not perfect. However, these are public figures that are more revered than politicians or movie stars. America looks to professional athletes in hopes that the rich and the famous could also be good citizens. For the most part, I feel that professional athletes do set a good example. However, I think it is time they realize what impact their decisions have and start making better ones.

-ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu