Let's set the record straight on mid-majors

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

All the hoopla about that Xavier kid dunking on LeBron has me thinking once again about this aberration I came across a while back.

Listen, I'm not taking a dig at Antonio Williams' credentials. When you've got experience scouting the NBA, you know what you're talking about when it comes to evaluating talent. Your words bear more merit than, say, chuckleheads like Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotti.

But where Williams, and a majority of the media, go wrong is in blanketly labeling any basketball team outside the six "power" conferences as a "mid-major". If anything, the fact that a kid from Xavier dunked on LeBron should show the masses that Xavier is a Top 25 program. Just look at their last three coaches -- Skip Prosser (1994-2001), Thad Matta (01-04) and Sean Miller (04-09) -- and remember that this team has been to two Elite Eights and three Sweet Sixteens since 2004. This is a program.

Yet some refuse to classify them as so, chalking it up to rolls of the dice and "good coaching". I fear Memphis will now be shed in a similar light, despite having one of the best young basketball minds in Josh Pastner.

The use of the term "mid-major" can be maddening, because its perspective is different amongst the eye of each beholder. Some people get it right, and count many basketball schools amongst its "major" category. Historically, because of such limited roster spots, basketball offers the most parity of any of the four major college sports. Many talented players slip through the cracks for reasons unknown -- see Elgin Baylor, Nate Archibald, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, etc.

Other writers -- primarily, the ones working for recruiting services -- seem to think any school not in one of the six BCS conferences is squabbling amongst the commonfolk for breadcrumbs. These are also the same people who think Alex Oriakhi is from New Hampshire, and every BC High kid lives in Dorchester.

Two years ago, when Rivals.com sent a mid-season award trophy to Xavier's athletic department for being the "best mid-major school", XU promptly refused to accept it. And rightfully so. How can you call Xavier, which has sent nine guys to the NBA in the last 15 years, a mid-major; and South Florida -- which might be one of the ten worst programs in Division 1 -- a high-major, strictly because they play in the Big East and XU is in the A-10?

South Florida might be the Dubai of college athletics (scrap of the Earth a decade ago, Deity in 2009), but they still out and out tank in basketball. You can make the same case about other "power conference" schools who haven't made a dent since the Clinton presidency.

I have a novel suggestion. If you have demonstrated a consistently competitive team at a high level, like Gonzaga or Memphis, then you are not a mid-major. If you’ve competed for a national title in the last 25 years, despite playing in a terrible conference – see: Louisville circa 1980’s, UNLV and Utah in the 90’s – and you haven't gone to shambles, then you’re still a high-major. Period. I don’t care if you play in Mid-Wach D. I actually have a whole argument on why the A-10 is not a mid-major, but that’s for a different day. Right now, let's set the record straight on mid-majors.

The following are examples of what AREN'T "mid-majors": Gonzaga, UNLV, Xavier, Memphis, BYU, Fresno State, Houston, UAB, Dayton, Utah, UMass, UTEP, New Mexico, George Washington, Rhode Island, Nevada, Saint Louis, Charlotte.

The following are examples of what ARE "mid-majors": Central Florida, George Mason, Rice, Davidson, Winthrop, Boston University, Southern Miss, New Mexico St., Siena, Manhattan, Oral Roberts, Butler, Creighton, Drake, Pacific, Wichita St., Holy Cross.

The following ought to be considered "mid-majors", because they are run like one: DePaul, Rutgers, St. John’s, Georgia, Northwestern, Nebraska.

Get the idea?

As for South Florida...the Bulls have made some splashes on the recruiting trail in the Northeast (see: South Kent), but the jury's still out.

I, for one, am not sold. Not until somebody dunks on Vince Carter.

Bicycle Frauds Hit the Streets

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's the middle of the summer and that means the Tour De France is currently in progress. No one really cares, and but that's not why I bring it up. I am writing a very short blog because the Tour De France brings out the biggest frauds of the year.

Have you noticed all the out of shape guys with skin tight spandex on the road with their bikes the past few weeks? I have, and can't stand having to slow down and move over while their bloated bodies pretend they're bike enthusiasts. This is the ONLY time they dust their bikes off and actually hit the road. As if it's not bad enough we have to pretend Lance Armstrong and every other bicyclist isn't cheating, we have to inconvenienced by these two week wannabes.

Ah, I feel much better for now. My doctor does say I need to express myself and my anger a little better.

Enjoy the race, Frauds!

Advantage American League ... again!!!

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What a great All-Star Game.

The best and brightest stars came out and put on a show -- some clutch hitting, great pitching and exceptional defense (Carl Crawford robbing a homer in left field was just amazing!).

And to top it off the American League, with another All-Star Game win, secured home-field advantage in the World Series.

Nice! 

Especially if you're an American League fan who roots for the Red Sox, Yankees or Rays -- just a few teams who actually have a shot at winning the whole thing.

But I'm still confused as to why people still want to complain about the All-Star Game, a game now that puts an emphasis on winning and rewards the team with home-field advantage in the World Series.

What's the big deal with that? Every other All-Star game --football, basketball, hockey, etc. -- is just a goof-around session which is done to simply entertain. There's no defense played in any one of those other games, but in baseball there's no taking it easy. The managers manage to win the game and what's so bad about that?

Do you like the All-Star Game format, rewarding the winning league with home-field advantage in the World Series? Or what do you think should be done?

Go ahead, let me hear you!

Competition for WEEI? I am already a 98.5 Sports Hub Fan!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There was a gigantic shake up in the radio community of Boston yesterday. Without getting too much into the details, it looks like the radio frequency of 98.5 will become The Sports Hub. This will signify the very first FM Sports Talk radio station in Boston.

It's hard to say if this new station can take on the 800 guerrilla in the city, hello 850 WEEI, but it's good to see someone try. I am very happy The Toucher & Rich Show will be moving from the soon to be defunct WBCN to the 6-10 AM slot of The Sports Hub. I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music. The problem is who will be manning the station the rest of the day? I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music.

Well it looks like Mike Felger and Gary Tangauy will be hosting their own shows as well. I am a HUGE Felger fan, and have been hoping he got his own show on WEEI. He was the fill in co host of the Dennis & Callahan show last week and I loved every minute of it. He's a guy who's not afraid of ticking people off, and is a born contrarian like me. It looks like Felgy will be going head to head with The Big Show, which is barely listenable thanks in part to Glenn Ordway and Pete Shepherd. OK, enough of the Felger love show.

As for Tanguay, I don't watch CSN much, so I can't say anything about him. It looks like he'll be manning the midday show against Dale & Holley. I have to say that I am very much looking forward to this station. I can't wait and hope it does well. Of course, I will be doing my best to get this website associated with "The Sports Hub".

Potential Lineup:

Morning Drive - Toucher & Rich

Midday - Gary Tanguay

Afternoon Drive - Michael Felger

What do you think? Will you give the new sportstalk station a chance?

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