ESPN is reporting that Kiffin a twelve (12) game winner (YEAH 12…) in two years (YEAH 2 YEARS) as head coach at Tennessee is reportedly making nearly four (4) million dollars a year as the newly hired head coach of USC’s college football program.  This makes Kiffin one of the highest paid coaches in collegiate football.  I have to admit I was a little shocked….What is the appeal of Lane Kiffin????

The out going USC head coach Pete Carroll’s salary was just a little more than Kiffin’s when he left.  Carroll boasted an outstanding run to include a slew of PAC-10 titles and two national championships.

Kiffin was a horrible coach for the NFL’s Los Angeles Raiders and was booted in 2008.  Not only does Kiffin carry a high price tag, but so does his coaching staff.  ESPN also reports Kiffin’s dad Monte Kiffin is reportedly pulling in two (2) million plus as an assistant coach.  All I have to say is Kiffin is absolutely unproven why on earth would USC put up a pretty penny for the father son team that are the as inept as the Griffin’s in the FOX’s cartoon comedy?  My advice to Lane Kiffin….. you better put up because those boosters will boot you faster than Al Davis did!

P.S. and after all this research and thought about Lane Kiffin, I still don’t know how I am gonna pay for my son’s college, cause it’s only gonna get worse, he better get a scholarship!!!!!

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These guys are in the heat of competition, they are excited, frustrated, and pretty much standing by themelves out side of the gallery that generally can’t hear the swears they mutter under there breath. So is it fair for us to expect them to be alter boys out there biting their lips when they have a bad shot, or is time we get some of he mics off the playing field.

This isn’t just an incidient that happens to Tiger, there was a big to do when it happened to Shaun White and his coach throwing out F bombs during a converstaion before Shaun when out into the half pipe to do his victory lap after winning the Gold at the games. These guys knew mics were around, but didn’t know mics where right on top of them for that converstaion. They were expressing joy in a way many grown men, especially those in a high intensity situation do, with a little vulgarity to keep the momentum and energy up.

So is it right? Who is to blame? And when are TV stations going to learn that not everything said in a game, or tournament needs to be broadcast to the world.

I say let the players play, get the mics off of them unless you are interviewing them. Expect men to act like men and then we won’t have to deal with the new stories about a grown man using the word fuck.

Let me know what you think about everything being mic’d up and going out live on TV by commenting below. Be sure to subscribe to our site by clicking the email icon at the top right hand of the screen.

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If you didn’t know tonight is the NCAA championship game with Butler vs. Duke and we ( Fanbrew ) are going to be out at Old Chicago Pizza in Merrillville finishing up our beer bracket tournament. We also have a little bit of swag to give away to some lucky participants in the tourney tonight so you better be there supporting Butler and vote for your favorite domestic light. I say that because it looks like the Champion of the beer bracket tournament is going to be either Bud Light or Miller Lite as we wait for the final ballots from the weekend to roll in today to determine the final match up.  So be there or be square.

Next up is the most important thing that has happened since Football ended, MLB kicks off the 2010 season today! Woot!  I have been waiting for this for months. I can’t wait to sit down and digest the nerve racking, hair pulling, gut wrenching, euphoria that is every Cubs game. Big Z kicks it off for the Cubs today at 3:00!

As for the beer part; I sat down with Petry’s Mr. Beer kit and brewed my first ever batch of beer over the weekend.  It will be about 5 weeks before the beer is ready for tasting, but when it is done I am going to review it, the process of making it, and the Mr. Beer Kit itself.  I figure if we advertise the product on the site then at the very least we need to have a review of how it works.

So to end this short update, tell me what you would like to see on this site, what you want to know about beer, and Go Cubs Go!

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Once again tragedy has struck the sports world as 22 year old FIU running back Kendall Berry was stabbed to death outside the teams rec center on the Miami Florida campus late last night.

It appears there was an argument between Berry and several other people just outside the teams training facility late Thursday when the stabbing occurred.

This appears so far to be just another senseless death over what was probably a petty amano amano spat. While details are unknown at this time and the investigation is ongoing I’d be willing to bet that it was about someone thinking they were “disrespected” or someone trying to be a “man”.

Young people today, especially athletes pretty darn much have everything handed to them and are pampered from the first time someone sees them throw, hit, bounce or catch a ball. Because of this pampered upbringing they believe everyone in the world should bow down to their knees in their presence because of their “greatness”. With those kinds of attitudes roaming around and the churning of hormones at those young ages tempers flare quickly when someone feels slighted and tragedies like this occur with regularity.

The only fix I can see for the future of these kids is to bring back some discipline into the lives of our youth. Stop pampering these kids, make them work for what they want and stop handing them everything they demand. And, throw out political correctness. Kids need to learn how to lose, how to fail and how to be offended and then take it like a human being. Humility is a part of life’s lessons. It makes you stronger and a better person. Until we bring back the realities of life’s lessons to our youth they will continue to run amok and tragedies such as this latest death of a 22 year old athlete will continue.

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With the elite 8 on the line starting tomorrow in the NCAA mens basketball championship tourney I thought I’d put my picks out there for the 8 teams to advance over the next 2 days.

First you have to understand that I am partial to Midwest basketball and especially the Big Ten Conference. So that being said, here we go.

In the Midwest Region being played down in St. Louis. I like Michigan State over Northern Iowa and Ohio State Over Tennessee. The 2 higher seeded teams will prevail here. Northern Iowa has had one heck of run. As a number 9 seed in the region they beat 8th seeded UNLV then pulled off a miracle and toppled the #1 overall seed of the tournament and power house Kansas. While they are on a huge roll and Michigan State has lost it’s catalyst point guard Kalin Lucas to a ruptured achilles tendon I think their wad is shot. Even with the loss of Lucas MSU is too talented and too well coached. Coach Izzo always has his team prepared come tourney time. He has made the finale 4, 5 times in 15 years at MSU, look for that trend to continue. OSU & Tennessee haven’t played anyone in the tourney yet. Tennessee a #6 seed in the region beat a # 11 and a #10. OSU the #2 seed has beaten a #15 and a #10. Tennessee is deeper than OSU playing 9 guys in the rotation and coach Pearl has them playing a solid motion offense and tough D switching from man to zone. OSU uses just 6 guys in their rotation, fatigue could be a factor for them in the late stages of the game. However Thad Motto is another great Big Ten coach and always has his team prepared to go deep in the big dance.  I believe OSU’s 6 guys have much more talent than anyone Tennessee can through out on the floor, look for OSU to advance.

In the West Region I like Indiana’s own Butler University to upset the vaunted Orange crew from Syracuse. Smart money says Syracuse will roll in this one but Butler has 3 outstanding players that can score form anywhere on the court and again are very well coached using a motion dribble drive offense and a tough man D. Butler had a perfect conference season going undefeated in Horizon League play. Syracuse has had an outstanding season too but have played in the much overrated and hyped Big East conference. While the Horizon League is no Big East Conference remember the selection committee gave the Big East 8 teams in the tourney and only 2 made it through the 1st weekend! Butler is the #5 seed in this region  so it’s not that far fetched that they can pull this off. The other game in this region is a toss up with 2 Midwestern teams playing. Xavier out of Ohio at the #6 seed taking on the #2 seed Kansas St. Both teams are well coached and disciplined in the offenses and D’s. Look for a tight game here with the higher seed Kansas St. taking it in the end.

There is no drama in the East Region. Real simple here, Cornell out of the Ivy League has their #12 glass slipper seeding crushed by the one and done pro players at the University of Cheat Kentucky. Look for their starting 5 to be playing in the NBA next year, ta ta Cornell! Same can be said about the other match up in this region with #2 seeded one and done cheaters out of West Virginia blowing past #10 seeded Missouri. The match between WV & KU for a trip to the Final Four on Saturday may include guns and knives and turn into a street brawl!

Down to the South Region where there is one great match up and one easy pick. I’ll start with the easy one. Look for #3 seeded Baylor to blow past #10 seeded St. Mary’s. Yes St. Mary’s is on a roll beating #7 seeded Richmond in the 1st round and then toppling #2 seeded Villinova. However, remember Villinova was one of those overrated over hyped Big East teams that were ripe for the pickens. Baylor on the other hand is coached by Scott Drew, yes the son of our favorite hometown guy Homer at VU. He took over a Baylor program 5 years ago that was on the NCAA death penalty and couldn’t even play any non conference games. He has taken this team to the NCAA tournament the last 3 years. A coaching pedigree, he will have is team ready for the upstart cinderella St. Mary’s team and end their dance before midnight! Now to my biased pick for the sweet 16 teams. I’m taking Purdue (naturally) to upset Duke on Friday to set up a show down with Baylor for a trip to the final 4. I really like coack K and Duke a lot. He does it the right way and always has very good teams ready to play in the tourney. But, even without Hummel I think Purdue has finally realized they can win and beat good teams. They have gelled at the right time and have found other guys like Krammer, Grant, Byrd, Bede & Hart that can score and contribute to the two horses they still have running the court in Moore & Johnson. With Purdue’s tenacious in your face defense I look for them to frustrate the heck out of a very good Duke team and take a close game at the buzzer.

There you have it. My Elite 8 after the final game on Friday. Michigan State will be facing Ohio State, Butler will have to face Kansas St, Kentucky will have to face W. Virginia and Purdue will play Baylor for trips to the Final 4 on Saturday and Sunday. Good Luck with your picks!

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I haven’t filled out a bracket for the NCAA tourney because there are just too many teams I know too little about, but I know many of you have so it is only right for me to get in on the holy day of which the NCAA tourney begins. In fact the only games I really care about are the ones that Purdue are in, which I have already pluralized games because Purdue is going to BTFU and beat down the Sienna Saints this afternoon to easily get through round 1 of the tournament.

So what game are you excited to watch, how many brackets have you filled out, and what is your prediction for the final four?

And don’t forget to subscribe to our site to get our content sent directly to your email.

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What I do not understand is why the NCAA does not adopt this format for the football programs.  Collegiate football uses a number of outside influences, media (the AP and Harris poll), individuals (the Coach’s Poll), and various analysis.   There is no deciding body and hard to justify a need for the Bowl Championship Series.  I would like to see a system crafted by the NCAA that makes for a decisive champion and a better experience for collegiate football following.  Your thoughts….

Just a quick plug, starting 3/16/2010 please make a stop at Old Chicago Pizza for Old Chicago Pizza’s Fan Favorite’s Sponsored by www.fanbrew.com.  Fanbrew and Old Chicago are reaching out to the fan’s to decide on a clear and decisive beer Champion.  Old Chicago is running the promotion in both their Merrillville, IN and Champaign, IL locations.  Get out to Old Chicago, support your local businesses and www.fanbrew.com as we DECLARE A BEER CHAMPION!

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Then with 7:10 remaining in the first half of Wednesday’s game Robbie Hummel was driving to the basket, planted his right foot and immediately crumbled to the ground.  I was watching the game and texting with my dad when it happened.  Right away I texted him “torn ligaments”, and unfortunately I was right.  Torn ACL, out for the rest of the year.

The question now became, how would Purdue fair without its best all around player?  We found out last night.  Purdue couldn’t compete with Michigan State at home.  They didn’t have any rhythm on offense, weren’t in proper position on defense, and lacked any sort of spark or fire that you need to win tough conference games.  It wasn’t a good showing.

Hummel didn’t always have great statistical games, but he did things that don’t show up in box scores.  He’s always in the right spot on defense, he makes the extra pass on offense, he’s a calming influence during hectic times of the game, and when needed can completely take over a game and carry his team to victory.  Without him they will struggle, really struggle.  They still have some talent and are capable of winning some games, but Hummel was the heart and soul of the team and I think this ends any hope they have of reaching the final four and getting a number one seed in the NCAA tournament.

My prediction:  because of the good season Purdue has had so far, they will get a high seed and win a game or 2 in the Big Ten tournament and then get into the NCAA tournament as a 3 seed.  They should get a first round win, but after that I think they are in jeopardy of losing in the second round and definitely don’t think they can make it past the sweet 16.  Which will leave Boiler fans like myself wondering what might have been and keep us looking forward to next season.

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I think its a great idea and that the Big 10 needs to expand.  First and foremost, it would allow the league to split into 2 divisions like the ACC, Big 12, SEC, and Big East all have.  There are a lot of benefits to adding a 12th team and most, if not all, of them are financial.  It plays the biggest role in football.  The Big 10 has been criticized in recent years for its performance in bowl games, although they did well this year, and many people believe its because they lack a conference championship game and their teams end the regular season so early (before Thanksgiving).  Popular belief is that a conference title game would give the league powers a game closer to bowl season therefore making them more prepared and competitive.  It would also give the league a showcase on national television that would pay butt loads of money and could give it a recruiting boost as well.  The only problem with this is that a league is required to have 12 teams in order to play a conference title game.  With the 11 teams that are currently in the league, the conference title is determined only by regular season record and ridiculous tiebreakers.  12 teams would mean crowning a real champ, no tiebreakers.

It has its benefits for basketball as well.  The league already has a post season tournament, but splitting the teams into 2 divisions could help them get more teams into the Big Dance.  Right now each team plays 18 conference games and 10 to 12 non conference games.  18 conference games is a ton, but with 2 divisions of 6 teams, each team would likely play the teams in its division twice and the teams outside its division once.  That makes only 16 conference games and leaves 2 games open to either schedule cream puffs for wins to pad the resume for some weaker teams, or for the better teams, playing a couple nationally ranked teams to prepare yourself for the tough post season competition.  Its a win win either way.

This has been talked about for a few months now and the Big 10 has just finally come out and said that if they expand the league the time table would be in the 12 to 18 month range.  Several schools have been discussed.  Most obviously Notre Dame, for name recognition and location relative to the other conference schools.  There has also been talk about adding a strong mid major school, but that wouldn’t make much of a splash.  Now talk has turned to basically stealing a school from another major conference.  The two that have been discussed the most, and seem to make the most sense, are Pittsburgh and Missouri.  Both fit geographically, are big schools, and are solid academically and athletically, not to mention rivalries with current conference teams.  Either one would be a nice addition but its not the big splash the Big 10 would like to make.

Here is the latest rumor, and this one completely blew me away and I love it…A source with ties to the Big 10 is reporting that the league has had “preliminary exchanges” with the University of Texas.  TEXAS!! The Big 10 is apparently going after the Texas Longhorns, and they appear to show some interest.  The source went on to say “People will deny that, but its accurate.”  Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of it, but going all the way to Texas for another school didn’t see to make much sense to me at first.  But when you think about it, its absolutely freaking genius.  If the Big 10 could pull this off the league could have every TV in that massive recruiting hotbed of a state tuning into the Big 10 Network on a regular basis.  Adding Texas could dramatically grow the money making potential of the network, which in turn would grow the money making potential of the entire conference and every school in it.  Texas is a fit size wise and also would be near the top of the conference academically.  Geographically it doesn’t make a lot of sense and a lot of people would worry about the cost and fatigue of travel, but with this era’s TV deals and all the money to be made by this move, it would actually make schools more money than it would cost them, and for that you tolerate a little travel fatigue.

There is only one thing that could really put this move off, Texas would more than likely want to maintain its rivalries with Texas A&M and Oklahoma.  There may have to be something worked out where a team like Iowa gets shuffled out and one of the other 2 come in, but compared to the pros of getting this deal done, those are minor details.

I absolutely love this move and want it to happen as soon as possible.  From a fan’s point of view it would mean more national exposure for your favorite Big 10 teams, and having a school in the south will lead to more recruiting in areas of the country that are being dominated by the SEC and Big 12.  This could instantly make the Big 10 the best conference in the country in all the major sports.

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The Big Ten is an extremely deep conference.   4 teams are ranked in the top 20, Michigan State (5), Purdue (10), Wisconsin (16), and Ohio State (20) and I think all four are final 4 contenders.  Michigan State has been flat out dominate in conference play, other than their 3 game losing streak, which is long behind them, Purdue has been dominate in and out of the conference with wins against teams like Tennessee, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.  Ohio State would probably be in or near the top 10 if it hadn’t lost Evan Turner, likely the national player of the year before his injury, for 6 weeks with a back fracture.  But he’s back and so is Ohio State.  Wisconsin, with their great defense, is capable of beating any team at any time, they beat Duke earlier in the year and gave Purdue its first loss after 14 straight wins.  Then there is Illinois, Minnesota, and Northwestern who all a shot at making the NCAA tournament.  Even the back end of the conference is dangerous.  There is no guaranteed win, especially on the road, which is why from top to bottom the Big Ten is the deepest conference in the country.  But to be fair, we have to take a look at some of the other conferences.

The ACC, a traditional power conference, is really having a down year.  Duke is ranked #7 and will likely fall coming off a bad loss, and that’s pretty much it.  Clemson is ranked 21st (and fell out of the rankings in one poll) and Georgia Tech 22nd, but they have been just average in conference play and don’t look like final four contenders.  And defending national champ North Carolina is 13-8 with a losing record in the conference and in danger of not making the tournament at all.  Not only is the ACC not top heavy like usual, but it isn’t a very deep conference to this point in the year.

The SEC isn’t bad this year.  It has three ranked teams, Kentucky (#1 but probably falling after a recent loss), Tennessee (14), and Vanderbilt (23).  But again, there isn’t much else there.  Florida and Mississippi St are decent teams and likely to make the Big Dance but the rest of the conference is just average.  Kentucky is a definite national title contender but its hard to picture Tennessee doing a lot come tournament time with only 6 scholarship players left on the team.

As for the PAC 10, it’s just awful this year.  Not a single ranked team and the Cal is leading the conference with a record of only 14-7.  I don’t know if it’s possible for an entire conference to have a rebuilding year, but that seems to be what is happening out west.

That leaves just conferences, Big East and Big 12, that I think are clearly in the top 3 along with the Big Ten.    The Big 12 is really good.  Kansas is about to regain the #1 ranking after Kentucky’s loss and despite two recent losses, Texas is still a top 10 team and national title contender.  Kansas State (#13), Missouri, and Baylor are all teams that could make some noise come tournament time.  The Big 12 is great at the top but starts to fall off a little bit in the bottom half of the conference and isn’t as deep as other conferences.

The Big East is just flat out loaded.  It has 4 teams in the top 10 and 6 ranked overall.  While the rankings might be a little inflated, I think 3 teams from the Big East are legit final 4 contenders (I’m not sold on Georgetown) and they will probably get 7 teams, maybe even 8,  into the dance.  I also think you can expect the ranked teams to fall a little bit, as the top teams have really played against each other yet.  There isn’t one dominate team that stands out so I would expect them to start beating each other and their records will start to come back down a little.  I should also mention that the Big East is also the biggest conference in the country with 16 teams.  So while 7 or 8 teams may make the tournament, the bottom half of the conference is bad.

Its hard to make a call on which one is best.  I’m going to have to leave the Big 12 out.  They are clearly better than the other conferences but other than its 2 top teams, it doesn’t have the talent and depth the Big East and Big Ten have.  Being a Purdue grad I would really like to say the Big Ten is the best conference but its a tough call.  The Big East has an advantage purely because of its size.  With 16 teams there are bound to be a few really good ones and I think because of that it has more really good teams than the Big Ten, but it also has more bad teams.  The bottom of the Big East is pretty bad.  I thinks its a situation of 1 and 1A, not necessarily 1 and 2.  Top to bottom, the Big Ten is the best, but at the top I think its the Big East.  We will have to wait until tournament time to see which conference’s teams go farther against non conference competition to really see who has the clear advantage.

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