Ben Patterson Sports

Peter King Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 07:02:00 -0500

Here is the interview with Peter King of Sports Illustrated from The Fan Morning Show.

Click this link to access the Peter King Interview. Thanks.

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:17:00 -0500

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 08:09:00 -0500

Mario!

Here's the call of the greatest shot in NCAA Championship history, courtesy of the Jayhawk Sports Network from IMG Sports.

And again, on the other side of the coin, from the Memphis Tiger Network from Learfield Sports.

And one more time, from Westwood One Radio Network.

Rock. Chalk. Jayhawk.

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 20:22:00 -0500

If you make the Final Four then you most certainly need to write a rap jig. I offer you, "Luv That Crimson Blue."

BicMedia

Tourney Picks: Me vs The Rice Squares Box

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:18:00 -0500

Anyone can pick games in the NCAA Tournament, no? In a decision that carries considerable risk, I have decided to pick the tourney games against a box of cereal. Oh yes, you read that correctly...a box of cereal. Rice Squares, straight from aisle 3 at Aldi; it doesn't get any cheaper than that.

It's easy to enter big internet contests and get humiliated, but if I lose to the Rice Squares that is every single morning for the rest of the year that I will have to wake up to that box of cereal every morning knowing that it embarrassed me in the tourney pick 'em. So, here we go. It's the man v the bran, horn v corn, dude v breakfast food. Showdown!

Here's the field:

After the first round:

All four #1's & 2's survive
CS Fullerton & Cornell advance as 14's
Arizona was the only 10 to lose
And the classic 12/5 upset: Temple over Michigan St.

Print the t-shirts, they're onto the Sweet Sixteen:

Except for Memphis, all the #1's bite the dust.
South Alabama stuns Tennessee!
13th-seeded Siena is fit for the Cinderella slipper.

Elite Eight:

Siena charges on.
Memphis survives.
South Alabama is still alive.

The Final Four:

East: South Alabama
Midwest: K-State ends Siena's bid
South: Memphis charges on
West: Drake knocks off Duke

Monday Night Nat'l Championship

The winner of the Rice Squares' Bracket 2008!
Paper Tigers!

This is the Rice Squares Bracket

Here is my Bracket

If I don't win, I will never fill out another NCAA Bracket again. Pinky swear.

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:48:00 -0500

Well, well, well. Six Iowa softball players have been suspended indefinitely with another getting kicked off the team. I wonder what they were doing. [IC Press-Citizen ]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:35:00 -0500

Try Some Drake Basketball. C'mon, Everyone is Doing it!

The Drake Bulldogs will be the lone representative for the state of Iowa in the NCAA Tourney, doesn't that sound like a thrill? Well, now YOU can join the bandwagon if you haven't already. We learned today that you will be able to try to get on TV at a Drake rally.

CBS has selected Drake as one of six programs it will feature during its NCAA Tournament ‘Selection Sunday’ show, officials confirmed this afternoon.

And whether or not you're going to make the trip to Des Moines for the rally, you'd better get brushed up on your Drake Bulldogs Cheer !

No, that is not enough! Let's be sure we all download our Keno Davis Masks as we rant for DU. Goodness, this is going a little overboard. I remember being pumped up when Coach Mac led UNI to the Big Dance but I don't recall downloading a Coach Mac fat head.

CBS Picks Drake to Highlight on Selection Sunday [DMR]

Learn the Official Drake University Cheers [DMR]

Download Drake Posters for Your Cubicle [DMR]

Digger Phelps is an Idiot

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:48:00 -0500

You're on D, up by one and there's 16 seconds left in the game. Digger Phelps, what do you do?

Why didn't Hubert Davis tell Digger that he was an numb-skull? Isn't that what he's paid to do? At least Digger's highlighter matched his tie, riiiiiiiiiight.

Digger Phelps Has No Idea What's Going On [Awful Announcing]

Buzzer Beater Bank Shot [It's the Top 5]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:13:00 -0500

It's the Top 5!

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

LeBron missed LeShot and LeCavs lost to LeWiz, 101-99. Oops. We hear one side of the story from WTEM Wizards Radio Network and we get the other side from WTAM Cavaliers Radio Network.

#4
Kevin Love can drop it in close and he can knock it down from far. We'll take a trio of the latter in UCLA's 88-66 victory over Cal courtesy of AM 570 KLAC Bruins Radio Network.

#3
Joe Alexander went bonkers and WVU topped #15 UConn 78-72 in the Big East Tourney. Alexander had this slam to chip in for 2 of his 34 points, courtesy of WAJR Mountaineers Radio Network.

#2
The trade for Shaq may not have paid off, but Amare has been brilliant since the deal. This highlight stuffer is just a glimpse of the Suns 123-115 win over the Warriors, courtesy of the Suns Radio Network.

#1
Ain't nothin' like a buzzer beater bank shot for the victory. Here's the agonizing call as Ole Miss ended up on the short end of the stick, and Georgia won 97-95 in OT, courtesy of the Ole Miss Radio Network.

AP Photo/Dave Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:42:00 -0500

Tour of the State - March 14, 2008

Here is what writers around the great state of Iowa have been sounding on.

John Naughton of the Des Moines Register tells us about a sister-brother act coaching softball.

Alex Johnson of the Daily Iowan thanks the Wolverines for putting and end to Iowa's season.

Meet Iowa's Mr. Basketball for 2008 with Susan Harman of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

It's time for the NCAA Indoor Track Meet and Jim Sullivan of the W-CF Courier sits down with Tyler Mulder.

The W-CF Courier is also on top of the DII National Wrestling Championships. Jim Nelson previews Upper Iowa.

Tommy Birch of the Iowa State Daily covers the Cyclones' season ending loss.

The east side of the state is trying to dig out of record snowfalls. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald's Erin Murphy takes a look at how it affects spring sports.

In the Sioux City Journal, Terry Hersom says that it's been too long for this great to be inducted to the Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame.

Still trying to cope with great NBA careers coming to a horrible end? Owen Siebring of the Northern Iowan has compiled a Top Ten.

Don Doxsie of the Quad City Times says that you don't have to bet on sports to have fun.

Want your story on the Tour of the State? Send story links to bennyjpatt@gmail.com

Coach Lickliter Indicts Himself

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:05:00 -0500

Are you freaking kidding me Coach Lick? After wrapping up his first season in Iowa City it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done. Iowa is a far cry from Butler, and that's kinda sad. But, after yesterday's loss to Michigan Coach admitted that it was tough at times to get his system in place. Listen for yourself

First of all, if Tony Freeman doesn't want to play within the system then SIT HIM ON THE BENCH! Go out and lose with Dan Bohall out there, what's the difference? You're going to lose anyway, might as well take the cancer out. Freeman had better get the message before they roll the basketballs out in the Fall otherwise he'll spend his senior season on the pine. And speaking of the seniors, has there ever been a class with less impact on the program than Justin Johnson, Kurt Looby and Seth Gorney? I don't know if I'll even remember any of those guys when I wake up tomorrow. Good riddance.

No, the Money Didn't Come From My Savings

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:42:00 -0500

Yes, I Purchased Some Dirt

We get to see stadiums come toppling down pretty much on an annual basis these days and 2008 is no different. The RCA Dome is about to bite the dust and I wasn't about to let it happen without getting in on some of the action. So, I am proud to announce that I went ahead and bought some Genuine RCA Dome Rubber Turf Filler. Being a Colts fan I had to. It was so important, I didn't even clear it with the Mrs., she was just going to have to be happy with the fact that I was buying dirt. That may backfire sometime down the road.

Hey, at least I wasn't bidding for the Midfield Helmet Logo or a Locker Room Urinal.

Buy the Dome [ColtsProShop ]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:52:00 -0500

UNI has its first MVC Freshman of the Year winner. [UNI Official Athletic Site]

Iowa's Offense is (was?) Offensive.

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:36:00 -0500

The painful season for Hawkeye basketball fans is officially o-v-e-r and done with. Michigan "knocked off" the Hawks 55-47 in the First Round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. And is there a more suitable way for this team to go out than suffering through a 16 minute and 57 second field-goal drought in the second half?

Yes, you read that right. SIXTEEN MINUTES AND FIFTY-SEVEN SECONDS WITHOUT ONE SINGLE FIELD GOAL. Not one!

Seth Gorney hit a jumper with 18:10 remaining in the game to pull the Hawks within ten, 29-39. Ten free throws and nearly seventeen minutes later, Jake Kelly hit a jumper to end the famine.

Coach Lickliter, welcome to Iowa. One year ago you were making a run in the tournament and now you've piled up 19 losses in Iowa City. 19 losses, the most in Iowa history and the team can't even score 50 stinkin' points in March.

Philadelphia's Curse

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:05:00 -0600

Liz (the wife) is a massive Philly fan. If you ever meet her just talk about anything Philly and she will instantaneously be wrapped around your little finger.

Sooo, it was her deep love to Philly that inspired this post. I don't re-post content from other bloggers too much but this was a must. For those of you who don't have any such background or understanding of the Curse of William Penn then listen up.

Jumping into the way back machine, William Penn's statue was placed on the original City Hall in Downtown Philly, facing the Delaware River. Under a Gentleman's Agreement, no building in the city was to ever rise above Penn's statue. That was until March of 1987 when a steel and glass skyscraper known as One Liberty Place opened blocks away, dwarfing City Hall. Thus, the curse of William Penn as the Gentleman's Bet was no longer being upheld. The moral of the story; don't ever break a Gentleman's Bet. Ever.

I now present to you, courtesy of Ryan Parker Songs, the "Curse of Billy Penn"

Ryan Parker Songs
Ryan Parker Chronicles the Curse of Billy Penn [The 700 Level]

Blame the snow for the frozen keyboard

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:48:00 -0600

Yo! Apologies for the lack of posting recently. My play-by-play responsibilities have expanded a little bit over the past couple weeks because I've taken on a couple extra teams as hit High School District and Sub-State action.

Tuesday night at 7:00 I'll be broadcasting the NU High Boys, if they win they'll go to State in Des Moines next week. The Cedar Falls Girls are already at State, their first game is Wednesday morning, tipoff at 11:30 from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Both games will be on 1650 The Fan KCNZ and also web-cast at www.1650thefan.com *click "Listen Online" on the left side*

I'll have some veeery irregular posts through the middle of this week. My sked is all thrown off as I have to drive an hour to Marshalltown everyday for a sales training, and also call those bball games. Again, my apologies.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some pictures of what Iowa is looking like right now. Yay! Snow is fun!

Buzzer beaters are fun! [It's the Top 5!]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:35:00 -0600

Second-ranked Tennessee wasn't looking past Auburn last night, handling the Tigers quite nicely, 89-70. Chris Lofton hit his 400th 3 point basket on the Vol Radio Network and Host Communications.

Dook loses!!! Doooook loses!!! It will always be a good day whenever Duke drops a game, today is no exception. Here we have two polar opposite final calls (back to back), first courtesy of the Hurricanes Radio Network and secondly from WDNC Blue Devils Radio Network.

I like to dip into the NHL from time to time because it has the potential for some great calls; I love the horn in the background. Thomas Vanek of Buffalo went nuts on Tampa Bay last night finishing off the hat trick with a goal in overtime. Courtesy of MSG Television.

Did anybody know the Lakers and Suns were playing last night? Well they got together in the desert for a friendly and The Big Cactus got busy. Shaq found himself on the receiving end of a Nash alley-oop slam but it was Mamba who scored 41 and led the Lake Show to a victory, 130-124. Highlights courtesy of the Suns Radio Network and KLAC Lakers Radio Network.

Baron Davis stole the show in the Bay Area with his game winning buzzer beating jumper and the Celtics have now lost two in a row. Courtesy of KNBR Warriors Radio Network.

Kelvin's Last Stand? [It's the Top 5! ]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:33:00 -0600

#5
Big match up with the C's out West in Denver last night. The Nuggets don't have Ron Artest yet, but that won't keep AI from putting on a show. He hit this huge J in the 4th to propel Denver to the 124-118 win over Boston. Courtesy of KKFN Nuggets Radio Network.

#4
I don't know how I would get through one single day with a pinky-finger as bad as Kobe's, but somehow he can casually go out and play basketball night after night. Craziness. Here's a couple highlights from Mamba last night, courtesy of KLAC Lakers Radio Network

#3
Just when I say that Drake is for real, they go out and lose 2 of 3. Sweet mercy, the Bulldogs gave this one away last night. They folded like a cheap lawn chair and didn't score a single point in the final 5 minutes, falling to Bradley 72-71. Here's the final call courtesy of AM 1350 KRNT Drake Bulldogs Radio Network.

#2
The Rockets beat LBJ's Cavaliers last night and McGrady was dropping dimes to Carl Landry for a couple highlights. Courtesy of the Rockets Radio Network.

#1
If actions speak louder than words then I believe by Kelvin Sampson's recent actions he's saying to the Indiana Brass, "Fire me now!" Indiana gets another big win at home against a Top 25 opponent, this time handing Purdue only their second Big Ten loss. DJ White was high-flyin' on this put back slam, courtesy of the Hoosier Network from Learfield Sports.

It's the Top 5! [from 2.18.08]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:11:00 -0600

#5
Craziness on the West Coast last night, St. Mary's dropped 100 on Pepperdine and from the sounds of it there was absolutely nobody in the building to see it. The Gaels knocked down 17 three point baskets and decided to push the point total into the triple digits with under 30 seconds to go, winning 100-64 over Pepperdine. Courtesy of AM 1640 KDIA Gaels Radio Network.

#4
One of my favorite shots to try in the pick-up games out on the asphalt, or better yet, in the intramural game in front of the small gathering that's forced to go watch the game is the tear drop. It's an appears to be an easy shot in the paint, but to loft it so high and have it fall so true is quite a beauty and not the easiest shot to pull off. I now present to you, Drew Lavender floating the tear drop in tenth-ranked Xavier's 81-77 victory over Rhode Island. Courtesy of WLW Xavier Radio Network.

#3
How about a three pointer for number three, Louisville's Andre McGee went a little loco behind the arc, knocking down his fourth three of the game with 50 seconds to go as the Cardinals knocked off the Orange 61-50. Courtesy of WHAS and the Cardinal Basketball U-of-L Radio Network.

#2
That Big Monday match-up between A&M and Texas didn't turn out to be anything special. DJ Augustin, however, was special getting the hoop and the harm and then scoring is 1,000th career point late in the second half. Courtesy of the Longhorns Sports Network from IMG Sports.

#1
The play of the night came in Georgetown's 68-58 win over Providence. Patrick Ewing, Jr had a driving dunk and give him an "OH MY!" Courtesy of WTEM Hoyas Radio Network.

Drake wins MVC, absolutely no celebration ensues

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:27:00 -0600

I had the good fortune of sitting court side at the McLeod Center for Saturday's Showdown between #14 Drake and UNI. After watching these teams go at, I have this to offer: Drake is for real. No, the Bulldogs aren't for real simply because they beat UNI for a second time this season; they're for real because they won a tough game on the road against a team that already had a crack at them and came out with a great game plan. And to boot, a sellout crowd was bananas for the Panthers. It seems like game after game when the final 5 minutes come around the Bulldogs trade in their uniforms for Superman capes.

The difference between the Bulldogs and Panthers might have come down to one play on Saturday. You see, the first time these teams met Klayton Korver went bonkers from three point land. He hit seven of them from beyond the arc that night. The Panthers were not going to let that happen again. Not if Coach Jacobson had any say in the matter. But this one play occurred after Adam Koch had to go to the bench late in the second half because of visible blood from a small cut on his forehead. Koch had denied Korver all afternoon long, but as soon as he took a seat to get bandaged Korver drained a 25-footer off of a hand off from Emmenecker. Game, set, match.

Coach Jacobson feels like there is little difference between these two teams.

Even though the win gave Drake the MVC Title, there wasn't so much as a hat, t-shirt or sign to commemorate the moment. Drake head coach Keno Davis was asked after the game if he felt like his team should cut down the nets.

Drake hosts Bradley tomorrow, UNI hits the road for a Wednesday night match up with Southern Illinois. The Salukis are 60-1 in their last 61 home games, including a win over Drake last week so the Panthers could easily be losers in 4 of their last 5 if they don't show up on Wednesday. Ouch.

Photo courtesy of unipanthers.com

It's the Top 5! [from 02.17.08]

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:13:00 -0600

#5
Impressive week for a bottom feeder in the Big Ten, the Michigan Wolverines. They pickup their second road win of the season in Iowa City and then go home and successfully defend their home court against Ohio State, 80-70. DeShawn Sims had a nice second half shooting nicely from distance. Courtesy of Michigan Sports Network and Host Communications.

#4
Staying with the college hoops theme, Kevin Love is ridiculous. The Fabulous Freshman was not only hitting threes he was going to work on the glass as the Bruins avenge an early season loss to USC, 56-46. Courtesy of KLAC Bruins Radio Network.

#3
Doooook loses! Dooook loses! Wake Forest was still throwing down dunks in the final minutes en route to an 86-73 thrashing of Dook. All five Blue Devils fouled out, craziness. James Johnson with the exclamation point and the final call courtesy of Wake Forest ISP Sports Network.

#2
I couldn't bring myself to put NASCAR in the top spot. But I did watch roughly the final 30 laps of the race yesterday which was more time spent watching than the previous total amount of time combined that I'd ever watched the sport. I'm a loser. Here's the final call of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 courtesy of FOX Television.

#1
Even though the game only amounts to shameless opportunities to show off, the NBA All-Star Game gets the top spot with this LeBron James emphatic slam to give the East the edge. Courtesy of TNT Television.

Drake in unfamiliar territory, playing after a loss

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:44:00 -0600

I'm excited for tomorrow, why you ask? It's a big day, the Fourteenth-ranked Drake Bulldogs make a stop at the McLeod Center and I'm thinking that UNI can hand them their third loss of the season. The Panthers have won four in a row at home and were a possession away from knocking off the Bulldogs in Des Moines before falling 58-54.

The last ranked MVC team to visit Cedar Falls was #15 Southern Illinois on March 1, 2004. The Panthers snapped SIU's 16-game win streak and bid to go undefeated in the Valley, 68-52. Drake's 21-game winning streak came to an end at Southern Illinois on Wednesday night, but despite being 22-2 on the season Drake hasn't received the respect on a national level. UNI's Ben Jacobson:

Rookie Head Coach Keno Davis has done a spectacular job managing his team and keeping the guys motivated all season long. Coach Davis talked about the drive this team has.

Other motivating factors? Try being picked to finish ninth in the league and also not having one single player on any of the Preaseason All-Valley Teams. I don't think Coach Davis will have to worry about any lack of recognition come the post season awards.

I'll be court-side at the McLeod Center tomorrow for the 1:05 tip. I'm debating on doing a live-blog, we'll see how it all goes down. Get your purple on.

Interested in Sports?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:24:00 -0600

You have to checkout the newest sports-networking website sportsblackboard.com

This is the MySpace of sports sites. Visit the site, surf around and then create a profile and contribute yourself.

And since I know everyone is worried about signing up and not having friends, here, you can be my friend . Then you won't look like a dork without friends.

Iowa loses a game it should have won

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:09:00 -0600

I received the text message last night: "Michigan 60 Iowa 52 Final." How did that happen? I asked. I closed out of the message and then opened it back up again just to make sure that I'd understood correctly. Yep, they really did lose. See, I wasn't able to watch the game because I was play-by-playing NU High's 77-46 win over North Tama in District Bball action from Traer, but I had to know how it happend. How did the Hawkeyes lose this game?

Michigan had lost 11 of 13 with only one win on the road. For the first time since the Hawkeye Challenge, Iowa came into a basketball game expected to win. And they decided to take a crap on the toilet. Todd Lickliter was frustrated with the loss.

How could you not be furious with a performance like that? Iowa had a 16 point lead in the first half and stunk in up in the second. The Hawks went more than seven minutes down the stretch nary a basket against a Michigan team that had won a total of just six games heading into the contest.

Lickliter adds that the Hawks still don't know how to make plays that win games (gee, ya think?)

So, the Hawks are 4-9 in the Big Ten, 11-15 overall, and the schedule does get easier. Northwestern comes to C-HA on Tuesday night. I hope Coach Lick runs his players into the ground over the weekend.

Missouri State Head Coach Barry Hinson is Bent

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Patterson Sports) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:35:00 -0600

To start this thing off, I've always liked Barry Hinson. After sitting through press conference after press conference, phone call after phone call with coach after coach (lather, wash, rinse, repeat) it's nice to have a guy who will spice it up a little bit. Barry is that guy.

The latest topic to catch his wrath was the lack of respect that the Drake Bulldogs are getting at the national level. Listen for yourself.

That is why I like Barry so much. He is on the brink of being run out of Springfield, and he's still going to battle for the Drake Bulldogs and the MVC; like he doesn't have anything else to worry about. And he's right. He's spot on. Just because Drake isn't on TV twice a week doesn't mean that they aren't a good team. I don't think you can just trip all over yourself and win 21 in a row as the Bulldogs have, they are that good.

Drake will have a chance to show the nation on the 23rd how good they really are, and maybe a win in Indianapolis against Butler will give the "experts" a little bit to buzz about.