ABOUT OPEN MIKE

Mike Celizic

MSNBC.com contributor Mike Celizic provides his unique slant as he takes an offbeat look into the world of sports beyond the box scores.



April 2008 - Posts

BCS officials fumble another chance

Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:46 PM

Is Dick Cheney a member of the BCS? That’s got to be the explanation for the latest load of nonsense to come out of the the outfit that runs the system by which college football does not choose a legitimate champion. Because these guys are blazing new ground in art of never getting off a bad idea.

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Wizards talk trash, then play like it

Posted: Monday, April 21, 2008 11:41 PM

The Wizards couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into LeBron James and the Cavaliers. That’s what they said. They wanted Cleveland and King James because they knew they could beat the stuffing out of them.

Gilbert Arenas led the way down trash-talk lane. “I think everybody wants Cleveland in that first round,” said the man who has the tact of a pit bull but none of the manners. “They've been a .500 team ever since they made that trade and everybody wants a chance at that matchup. We want Cleveland for our own reasons, we don't think they can beat us in the playoffs three years straight. It's hard to beat a team three years straight. We want to try our luck."

There’s a saying about leaving sleeping dogs lie. Arenas should read up on it some day. He might also want to check out the old line about having the last laugh. He’ll have plenty of time to do it. After Monday night’s 30-point massacre in Cleveland, the Wizards are down 0-2 in games. I’ve seen road kill with more life in it than the Wizards are showing.

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Isiah won't go quietly after ruining Knicks

Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008 4:54 PM

The ripples from Isiah Thomas’ firing are spreading already. Within minutes of his dismissal, the FireIsiah.com website had replaced its petition with a page that was blank save for a single line: “No Need For This Site Anymore - He's Toast...”

There’s only one tiny problem with that line – Thomas may not be coach anymore, but he’s still a Knicks executive. He had said he wanted to stay with the team on which he’s brought so much disgrace, and so he remains. CONTINUED >>

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Nicklaus' record just got a lot harder to catch

Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 8:29 PM

Jack Nicklaus’ record just got a lot farther away.

I know Tiger Woods isn’t thinking that way, but that’s the inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the news that Woods put his left knee under the surgeon’s knife for the third time in his career and the second time since 2003. Now, Tiger’s race is no longer just against Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories. It’s against time.

Before this news, I figured Tiger had eight years – until he’s 40 – to collect the six major titles he needs to pass the Golden Bear. Now, he’d better plan on getting it done in three or four. He’s still young in years – 32 – but that knee is already ancient. And once it goes totally, so does he.

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Nike's new Kobe ad is simply stupid

Posted: Saturday, April 12, 2008 2:08 PM

What’s the point, Nike? No, don’t answer. Let me guess.

You want to inspire some of your customers to compete for a Darwin Award? Or maybe you just wanted to revive the “Jackass” franchise by inspiring some stupid human tricks of your own?

I can’t think of any other reason for the new online Kobe commercial in which your hero appears to leap over an onrushing Aston Martin convertible. CONTINUED >>

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Beware Self-centered coach, Kansas fans

Posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 6:33 PM

A day after bringing Kansas an NCAA basketball championship, coach Bill Self said he has no intention of leaving. But, he let slip, he would “like to have some security.”

If I were a Kansas fan I’d be very worried.

Self pulled this same act at Illinois five years ago. He said he had no interest in leaving and then chased the money being waved in front of him by Kansas. He just had to go, he pointed out as he weaseled out of his contract, because coaching the Jayhawks was his dream job.

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Don't cheat yourself: Watch hockey playoffs

Posted: Monday, April 07, 2008 6:35 PM

Do yourself a favor this weekend. Watch a Stanley Cup playoff game. There’s nothing like it in sports, and if you brush it off with a sneer and a “who cares about hockey?” you’re only cheating yourself.

You’ve got two to choose from on NBC, Nashville at the mighty Red Wings, the Cup favorites, at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Philadelphia at Washington, the home of the amazing left wing, Alexander Ovechkin, at 2 p.m. on Sunday. There are also games on VERSUS during the week, if you get that obscure cable network. CONTINUED >>

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Leinart a party animal ... so what?

Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 2:32 PM

Matt Leinart went to a party and did beer bongs with women. What’s the big deal? NBC Sports’ Tom Curran assures me this is an embarrassment to Leinart, to the Arizona Cardinals, to the National Football League and maybe to the Republic, a horrible breach of contractual faith on the part of the quarterback that has his coach’s knickers in a sheepshank.

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