A lot already has happened this year, so let’s catch up on a few things by taking a quick Rick-o-chet around the world of sports:
Rather than try to lay blame, explain or rationalize Ohio State’s national championship game loss to LSU, let’s simply cut to the chase: The Buckeyes were not as good as the Tigers.
Accept it, people. They could play this game 10 times and LSU would win eight, nine, maybe even 10 times.
Now that Ohio State has once again been dominated by an SEC team, can we please, please, please stop any and all talk about how rugged the sad-sack Big Ten is?
• Kudos to Shaquille O’Neal, whose pregame skit, especially referring to LSU as “Love Shaq University,” had me rolling.
• If Billy Kilmer and Sonny Jurgensen could coexist, if Bob Griese and Earl Morrall could play for the same team, if Johnny Unitas and Morrall could survive at the same position, surely the Browns have room for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
• Hey, speaking of the Browns, how many days till the NFL Draft?
• A 10-6 record will be a lot more impressive when the Brownies actually beat someone good.
• How ’bout the Cavaliers’ offensive flow Wednesday in Atlanta, huh?
You really mean to tell me this team spent most of training camp concentrating on that end of the floor? …
Here’s Cleveland’s half-court offense in a nutshell: Hey, LeBron, here’s the ball. Go score. And whatever you do, don’t pass to No. 32.
Yes, folks, Larry Hughes put up another 2-of-11 shooting performance. Sad thing is, when he goes 4-of-11 or 5-of-12, people are actually starting to view that as a good outing.
Looking for the safest place to be when Hughes throws up his next brick? Try standing directly under the basket.
• Good to see Sasha Pavlovic follow a 13-point game against Seattle — his first double-figure performance in 13 contests — with a scoreless outing in Atlanta.
• I know the Cavaliers have won six of their last eight games and should be able to win at home tonight against Charlotte and on the road Tuesday in Memphis, but I’m firmly convinced this team, as presently constituted, is not good enough to win more than one playoff series. And even that is far from guaranteed.
• The Bobcats, incidentally, ended an 11-game road losing streak by winning in Boston on Wednesday. Charlotte’s 12-point victory was easily the worst of the Celtics’ four losses this season.
It’s probably due to subpar nights from Boston, but it also took a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Celtics to win in Charlotte earlier this season.
OK, that’s enough for now. Putting on my hard hat and heading to The Q to watch Hughes miss some more shots.
Noland may be reached at rickn@ohio.net or 330-721-4061.

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