General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #24

Sterno's Talkin' smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. Welcome to the Wednesday morning edition.

Today's topics include the contrasting reports in the Patrick Dennehy case, the stubbornness of the NCAA regarding the BCS standings, and asinine remarks made by former partial owner of the Mets, Nelson Doubleday.

Smack This: The Dennehy Investigation -- In the past, I have left the Patrick Dennehy story alone, simply because I just felt that it was a bit too serious for a column dedicated to trash talking people who deserve it.

However, this new twist is a force to be reckoned with. We have heard in the news for weeks now, that Carlton Dotson seems to have had at the very least, "something," to do with Dennehy's disappearance. We also have heard that Dotson is the prime and pretty much only suspect in the case.

Well, it seemed that late Monday night, we the public had found out the truth. Reports crammed the wire that Dotson had been arrested after confessing to the murder of Dennehy. The case was solved, and soon the family and friends of the victim would be able to mourn with the body of the lost Baylor player.

Not so fast. The story that originally broke is far from what we read at the time of this posting. It seems as if not only do the police in Waco, Texas know where the body is (they think they know a "general area" where it is), but Dotson says that he didn't confess to anything at all.

What? Can somebody tell me what the heck is going on here? This is the biggest case (other than Kobe's) going right now and we still can't get a clear picture. How come I can watch troops attack an abandoned Iraqi building live, but we don't have the technology to find out what happened here?

Apparently, Dotson was questioned for two hours by authorities on Monday night, and shortly there after he was arrested. Something must have been said. What was it? You think that you and I are curious? Imagine Dennehy's family who for about an hour thought that they had some truth in this case, to then find out that we were right back where we started.

Well, almost. Ryan Holt, a Waco police spokesman is still stating that indeed, Dotson not only confessed the crime, but also where he threw the body. If you recall, an informant reported a few days ago that Dotson told a cousin that he shot Dennehy as they were arguing while shooting guns in Waco.

Baylor speech professor John Cunningham said that he got a call from Dotson, who sounded very upset, telling him that he had turned himself in to the FBI. "Pray for me so that I can have safe passage wherever I go from here."

This is very simply a really sad story. Yes, Dennehy had his scholarship taken away from him, and was not going to be playing basketball next year. Yes, he and Dotson were in some trouble. However, it should not have come to this. What ever did happen, the family, friends and the general public are looking forward to the truth. I am tired of what they don't know, or cannot say. I want to hear what they do know and what they can!

Carlton Dotson Situation -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: NCAA and Its BCS Standings -- Let's get back to the lighter side of sports, shall we. No laughing stock, not even that of Mike Price, compares itself within the ranks of college football, to the BCS standings.

What an absolute joke. Ever since they began a couple of years ago, fans everywhere have seen their teams get screwed out of opportunity after opportunity, while teams in more "power conferences" jump right on by.

I never have understood any part of the "Bowl" system in general. BCS conversation aside, without the parades and traditions, the games are ridiculous. Okay, fine. I am no sappy sports fan when it comes to the Rose Parade in the morning, or watching the National Championship by itself on a Wednesday night. To me, it still stinks.

I admit that it is tough competition to follow when the NCAA Tournament is possibly the single greatest playoff format in all of sports. However, how about doing exactly that? I will get to that in a minute.

The committee that oversees changes to the BCS won't consider using a tournament to determine the national championship, even though the media, some schools, and the players, all think it ruins the game of college football.

Look, this thing needs a complete overhaul. The way it is now, only six conferences can make the BCS bowls. Tulane, back in 1998, went undefeated and played in the damn Liberty Bowl. The Liberty Bowl? Hello! Earth to the NCAA, is anyone home?

As with everything else in life, it all comes down to money. These bowl games make massive amounts of cash and only the top names will draw. Who cares if Notre Dame is 8-5, as long as they can get us some ticket sales. Wrong! That is not how you run this gig. Here's what you can do.

Like, I said if it works, it works. Look at the NCAA Tournament. Obviously, 64 teams is way too much because you would have Brown playing Miami in the 1st round. So, I propose sixteen teams. How will they be chosen?

How about looking at the standings? Take the top sixteen teams in the rankings. Then, like in the NCAA you find some great neutral sites. Ann Arbor and Happy Valley are two examples that I thought of. You play one versus sixteen and so on, just like the basketball tourney.

Then when you get to the semifinals, you have your typical bowl spots. One game called the Fiesta. Another called the Cotton. Whatever. The names really don't matter to 90% of the public. Then, you can have the National Championship game played at the Rose Bowl every year.

That would add fun for the fans, money for the extra games, and excitement in general. Maybe a 16 seed would run the table. Who knows? What I do know is that I am sick of watching teams lose their first game, and then go and win out the rest of the way. Guess what? They can't win the title more often than not.

Reward the teams for having a tougher schedule, and actually give them a chance to lose more than one game, and still win it all. Just a thought. Whatever they do, this way is NOT the way for me!

The BCS -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Nelson Doubleday -- This is my favorite story of the day. If you don't know by now and are just starting to read this fantastic column, I am a die hard Mets fan.

I have watched this team through its good times, and its worst times. One of those in the latter category is right now. Yes, 2003 has been one to forget at Shea Stadium. Other than the beer flow, there is not much to write home about right now in Flushing.

However, there is some optimism. Young kids are playing like Jose Reyes and the surprising Jason Phillips. Dead beats like Mo Vaughn, Robbie Alomar, and Armando Benitez are gone. Sill, somehow, the Mets always seem to make Yankees fans laugh.

Last year it was the marijuana rumor that traveled throughout the media regarding the Mets habits. That, and the fact that Mike Piazza was apparently having an affair with a television weather person in New York. Did I mention this "person" was male?

Well, following the unloading of some overpriced players, the Mets are in the news again. This time, ex-owner Nelson Doubleday is the one bashing them. The comments he made are the feature story in today's show.

I will touch on a few of them in my own unique way. Come on, you love me!

"The Mets might be in Double-A next year. "

"The most exciting thing lately was that brawl between the Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones. Maybe they took lessons from (Armando) Benitez. He hadn't even reported yet and they got into that brawl."

Double A, Nelson? Well the only reason we are near Double A, is because of you. Your knowledge of baseball is that of a dead ant. Do me a favor, look at your affect on the team. Then talk to me.

Again, was that too harsh?

"I mean, Art Howe," Doubleday said. "Come on. This isn't Padooka."

What Mr. Doubleday? You do realize that under your esteemed visions, the Mets hired Jeff Torborg and Dallas Green right? Oh, you forgot? Keep hitting the bottle. Onto the next comment.

On Vaughn, Doubleday said: "They made him lose weight so they didn't have to feed him so much in the team lunch basket."

Nelson, Nelson, Nelson. Have we forgotten Bobby Bonilla my friend? Of Glavine, Doubleday said: "Somebody ought to check his record in the second half of last season. Maybe he lost his lunch at the Four Seasons." (Where current owner Fred Wilpon had lunch with Glavine this past winter)

Okay, that one you got me on Nelson. It was funny. The point here is that you sold off your ownership of the team because you realized that you sucked at doing your job. Then, you decided to make comments about not only Mr. Wilpon, but the players on the team. We all understand that you hold a major grudge with your ex-partner.

However, you have absolutely zero class, the way you talked about Howe, who I agree is no Davey Johnson, but is well respected. You should have kept your mouth shut on the Met busts, because you were the king of those kind of moves. In addition, the one Met with the most respect, over the hill or not, could not escape your firing line either.

"There's a great pitcher," Doubleday said. "The other night, it didn't look like he could throw it through the hole in a life preserver. But he's from Brooklyn! Watch out! He goes home to Ebbets Field every night. He takes a ride on the Cyclone!"

Yes, that would be John Franco. Again, the comment was funny. There's no doubt about it. However, trying to increase the laughing stock of the Mets, and making the comments he did, makes Doubleday more of a jackass than I even realized.

Nelson, do me a favor. Keep your trap door shut!

Nelson Doubleday -- Smacked!!!

One for the Road: Congratulations to the New York Yankees. Yes folks. Somehow the Yanks managed to be the only team in all of baseball to have to pay the new luxury tax.

No other team owes a dime. The Yankees owe a lot more than that. Try $10.8 million in cold hard cash. Why? Well, the Yanks have a payroll of $180.3 million following the addition of Armando Benitez, while behind them in a distant second are the Mets with $116.3 million.

Ha, ha. Are you kidding me? I think the Yankees roster makes more money than the rest of the American League East put together. I know that their pitching staff makes more than the entire Detroit Tigers team!

Hit me up with feedback at eSports (click the Write the Editor link) or on my homepage at http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/theycallmethecloser.

I'll see you all on Thursday morning. Til' then, DON'T be the one who's smacked!