This week, instead of beginning WOE with a few sentences of shameless self-promotion and off-color commentary about the weekend's happenings in the sports world, I've decided to just jump right to the awards. Between the post-Super Bowl XLI drama, the beginning of the NFL off-season, the start to baseball training camp and the Beanpot, there's just too much going on for me to waste words on petty drivel a la Dana Walker '07 and Ned Hillenbrand '07. Besides, my faithful readers already know enough to expect nothing but the highest quality and the utmost journalistic integrity out of each and every one of my columns.
That being said, let's move on to the plethora of awards for the weekend:
Unranking of the Weekend: Duke basketball
For the first time in the nine-year history of the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, the Duke Blue Devils did not receive a ranking this past week and began their first week atop the "others receiving votes" category. The recent drop in the rankings (predicted in the last edition of WOE, just in case you were questioning my prediction abilities or my shameless self promotion) came after four straight losses, the last of which saw Duke unceremoniously fall to an unranked Maryland squad, 72-60. Blue Devil head coach Mike Krzyzewski said of the program's recent mid-season collapse, "Look, I've been winning at Duke for years, but I still know when to throw in the towel and concentrate on winning bigger things than NCAA championships -- I'm gunning for Olympic gold, baby, and I can't let a group of underachieving collegiate athletes to stand in my way."
Pink Slip of the Weekend: Carolyn Peck, lame-duck University of Florida women's basketball coach
Proving once again my loyalty to even-handed journalism, let's shift focus to the women's side of college basketball for a moment and try not to gasp in utter disbelief at the state of the University of Florida's women's program. This past Sunday saw head coach Carolyn Peck lose her 13th straight game, falling to 0-11 in conference play and 6-20 overall. Less than 24 hours later, Peck was fired. I never really understood the late-season firings that sometimes befall poorly coached teams. Honestly, there are only three more games left on the Gators' schedule. They couldn't wait until the team lost the last three games of the season to fire Peck instead of publicly undermining the last scraps of authority she had over the team?
Release of the Weekend: LaVar Arrington, ex-New York Giants linebacker
In what will most likely be remembered as one of the worst signings in Giants history, the former Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington was released Monday, less than one year after signing a seven-year, $49 million contract laden with incentives. After injuring his Achilles tendon just six games into the season, Arrington spent the remainder of the season on the sidelines. Head coach Tom Coughlin said of Arrington's release, "You know, we really could have used LaVar in the second half of the season when our defense couldn't even stop a cab, much less an opposing running back. So we've decided that instead of blaming our poor second-half performance on my lack of mid-season adaptation to our roster, we're just going to release everyone who got injured last season and hope for healthier players next year."
Schottenheimer of the Weekend: Marty
So you think you still feel a little under the weather after going on a four-day bender over Winter Carnival weekend? Well, Marty Schottenheimer led the Chargers to a 14-2 record this past season, sent 15 players to the Pro Bowl as starters or alternates and he just got fired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. If you still feel miserable, the fact that Schottenheimer will get paid $4 million not to coach next season probably won't make you feel any better. Take some Advil and call me in the morning.
Undefeated Team of the Weekend: Dartmouth ski team
Winning its home carnival with 722 points, the Dartmouth ski team posted its fourth straight first-place finish and remained undefeated this season with just the Williams Carnival left before the EISA and NCAA championships. The Dartmouth skiers have thoroughly dominated the slopes this year and are well deserving of a WOE weekend award.