cuervo72
11-09-2007, 03:18 PM
Round of 32, from the Sports I Bracket.
The Matchup:
Ricky Birdsong
Ricky Byrdsong (June 24, 1956 – July 2, 1999) was an American former men's basketball coach for Northwestern University. Byrdsong coached the Wildcats from 1993 to 1997, leading them to a National Invitation Tournament berth in 1994. He had also been head coach at the University of Detroit and assistant coach at the University of Arizona, Eastern Illinois University, Western Michigan University and Iowa State University, his alma mater. He was murdered outside his Skokie, Illinois home in a hate crime committed by the Creativity Movement's Benjamin Nathaniel Smith. The Ricky Byrdsong Foundation was started after by Byrdsong's wife, Sherialyn Byrdsong, after his death. Its mission is to "arrest the growing epidemic of hate and violence in our society by and against our youth." The foundation holds a number of events in and around Evanston; the most well-known is the Race Against Hate, a 5,000-meter running race held annually in late June which race draws hundreds from Evanston, the Chicago area, and surrounding areas.
RND 1 - DEF BELL 5-4 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61793)
VS
Rick Ankiel
Richard Alexander "Rick" Ankiel (born July 19, 1979, in Fort Pierce, Florida) is an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Ankiel began his career in the majors as a starting pitcher, posting a solid rookie season in 2000 with 11 wins and 7 losses, but during the playoffs that year, he suddenly found himself unable to consistently throw strikes. In Game 1 of the NLDS, the Cardinals jumped to a lead early, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ankiel had walked two batters in the top of the first, as well as allowed a single, but escaped unscathed. He also allowed a double in the second inning, after striking out the leadoff batter, but ended the inning with a double play. It was in the third inning that Ankiel lost control; he allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, walking 4 and throwing 5 wild pitches before being removed with two outs. After a few years of struggling with injuries and command, he abandoned pitching in 2005 and began to work his way back up to the major leagues as an outfielder, finally succeeding in August 2007, becoming the only active major leaguer to have played as a full-time major-league pitcher and position player. In early September, his homecoming was mired in controversy when the New York Daily News reported that he had received shipments of human growth hormone in 2004.
RND 1 - DEF MIRER 21-6 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61806)
Voting will be open for two days.
The Matchup:
Ricky Birdsong
Ricky Byrdsong (June 24, 1956 – July 2, 1999) was an American former men's basketball coach for Northwestern University. Byrdsong coached the Wildcats from 1993 to 1997, leading them to a National Invitation Tournament berth in 1994. He had also been head coach at the University of Detroit and assistant coach at the University of Arizona, Eastern Illinois University, Western Michigan University and Iowa State University, his alma mater. He was murdered outside his Skokie, Illinois home in a hate crime committed by the Creativity Movement's Benjamin Nathaniel Smith. The Ricky Byrdsong Foundation was started after by Byrdsong's wife, Sherialyn Byrdsong, after his death. Its mission is to "arrest the growing epidemic of hate and violence in our society by and against our youth." The foundation holds a number of events in and around Evanston; the most well-known is the Race Against Hate, a 5,000-meter running race held annually in late June which race draws hundreds from Evanston, the Chicago area, and surrounding areas.
RND 1 - DEF BELL 5-4 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61793)
VS
Rick Ankiel
Richard Alexander "Rick" Ankiel (born July 19, 1979, in Fort Pierce, Florida) is an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Ankiel began his career in the majors as a starting pitcher, posting a solid rookie season in 2000 with 11 wins and 7 losses, but during the playoffs that year, he suddenly found himself unable to consistently throw strikes. In Game 1 of the NLDS, the Cardinals jumped to a lead early, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ankiel had walked two batters in the top of the first, as well as allowed a single, but escaped unscathed. He also allowed a double in the second inning, after striking out the leadoff batter, but ended the inning with a double play. It was in the third inning that Ankiel lost control; he allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, walking 4 and throwing 5 wild pitches before being removed with two outs. After a few years of struggling with injuries and command, he abandoned pitching in 2005 and began to work his way back up to the major leagues as an outfielder, finally succeeding in August 2007, becoming the only active major leaguer to have played as a full-time major-league pitcher and position player. In early September, his homecoming was mired in controversy when the New York Daily News reported that he had received shipments of human growth hormone in 2004.
RND 1 - DEF MIRER 21-6 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61806)
Voting will be open for two days.