Ben Patterson Sports

Liz (the wife) is a massive Philly fan. If you ever meet her just talk about anything Philly and she will instantaneously be wrapped around your little finger.

Sooo, it was her deep love to Philly that inspired this post. I don't re-post content from other bloggers too much but this was a must. For those of you who don't have any such background or understanding of the Curse of William Penn then listen up.

Jumping into the way back machine, William Penn's statue was placed on the original City Hall in Downtown Philly, facing the Delaware River. Under a Gentleman's Agreement, no building in the city was to ever rise above Penn's statue. That was until March of 1987 when a steel and glass skyscraper known as One Liberty Place opened blocks away, dwarfing City Hall. Thus, the curse of William Penn as the Gentleman's Bet was no longer being upheld. The moral of the story; don't ever break a Gentleman's Bet. Ever.

I now present to you, courtesy of Ryan Parker Songs, the "Curse of Billy Penn"



Ryan Parker Songs
Ryan Parker Chronicles the Curse of Billy Penn [The 700 Level]

Yo! Apologies for the lack of posting recently. My play-by-play responsibilities have expanded a little bit over the past couple weeks because I've taken on a couple extra teams as hit High School District and Sub-State action.

Tuesday night at 7:00 I'll be broadcasting the NU High Boys, if they win they'll go to State in Des Moines next week. The Cedar Falls Girls are already at State, their first game is Wednesday morning, tipoff at 11:30 from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Both games will be on 1650 The Fan KCNZ and also web-cast at www.1650thefan.com *click "Listen Online" on the left side*

I'll have some veeery irregular posts through the middle of this week. My sked is all thrown off as I have to drive an hour to Marshalltown everyday for a sales training, and also call those bball games. Again, my apologies.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some pictures of what Iowa is looking like right now. Yay! Snow is fun!

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5

Second-ranked Tennessee wasn't looking past Auburn last night, handling the Tigers quite nicely, 89-70. Chris Lofton hit his 400th 3 point basket on the Vol Radio Network and Host Communications.

#4

Dook loses!!! Doooook loses!!! It will always be a good day whenever Duke drops a game, today is no exception. Here we have two polar opposite final calls (back to back), first courtesy of the Hurricanes Radio Network and secondly from WDNC Blue Devils Radio Network.

#3

I like to dip into the NHL from time to time because it has the potential for some great calls; I love the horn in the background. Thomas Vanek of Buffalo went nuts on Tampa Bay last night finishing off the hat trick with a goal in overtime. Courtesy of MSG Television.

#2

Did anybody know the Lakers and Suns were playing last night? Well they got together in the desert for a friendly and The Big Cactus got busy. Shaq found himself on the receiving end of a Nash alley-oop slam but it was Mamba who scored 41 and led the Lake Show to a victory, 130-124. Highlights courtesy of the Suns Radio Network and KLAC Lakers Radio Network.

#1

Baron Davis stole the show in the Bay Area with his game winning buzzer beating jumper and the Celtics have now lost two in a row. Courtesy of KNBR Warriors Radio Network.

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5
Big match up with the C's out West in Denver last night. The Nuggets don't have Ron Artest yet, but that won't keep AI from putting on a show. He hit this huge J in the 4th to propel Denver to the 124-118 win over Boston. Courtesy of KKFN Nuggets Radio Network.

#4
I don't know how I would get through one single day with a pinky-finger as bad as Kobe's, but somehow he can casually go out and play basketball night after night. Craziness. Here's a couple highlights from Mamba last night, courtesy of KLAC Lakers Radio Network

#3
Just when I say that Drake is for real, they go out and lose 2 of 3. Sweet mercy, the Bulldogs gave this one away last night. They folded like a cheap lawn chair and didn't score a single point in the final 5 minutes, falling to Bradley 72-71. Here's the final call courtesy of AM 1350 KRNT Drake Bulldogs Radio Network.

#2
The Rockets beat LBJ's Cavaliers last night and McGrady was dropping dimes to Carl Landry for a couple highlights. Courtesy of the Rockets Radio Network.

#1
If actions speak louder than words then I believe by Kelvin Sampson's recent actions he's saying to the Indiana Brass, "Fire me now!" Indiana gets another big win at home against a Top 25 opponent, this time handing Purdue only their second Big Ten loss. DJ White was high-flyin' on this put back slam, courtesy of the Hoosier Network from Learfield Sports.

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5
Craziness on the West Coast last night, St. Mary's dropped 100 on Pepperdine and from the sounds of it there was absolutely nobody in the building to see it. The Gaels knocked down 17 three point baskets and decided to push the point total into the triple digits with under 30 seconds to go, winning 100-64 over Pepperdine. Courtesy of AM 1640 KDIA Gaels Radio Network.

#4
One of my favorite shots to try in the pick-up games out on the asphalt, or better yet, in the intramural game in front of the small gathering that's forced to go watch the game is the tear drop. It's an appears to be an easy shot in the paint, but to loft it so high and have it fall so true is quite a beauty and not the easiest shot to pull off. I now present to you, Drew Lavender floating the tear drop in tenth-ranked Xavier's 81-77 victory over Rhode Island. Courtesy of WLW Xavier Radio Network.

#3
How about a three pointer for number three, Louisville's Andre McGee went a little loco behind the arc, knocking down his fourth three of the game with 50 seconds to go as the Cardinals knocked off the Orange 61-50. Courtesy of WHAS and the Cardinal Basketball U-of-L Radio Network.

#2
That Big Monday match-up between A&M and Texas didn't turn out to be anything special. DJ Augustin, however, was special getting the hoop and the harm and then scoring is 1,000th career point late in the second half. Courtesy of the Longhorns Sports Network from IMG Sports.

#1
The play of the night came in Georgetown's 68-58 win over Providence. Patrick Ewing, Jr had a driving dunk and give him an "OH MY!" Courtesy of WTEM Hoyas Radio Network.

I had the good fortune of sitting court side at the McLeod Center for Saturday's Showdown between #14 Drake and UNI. After watching these teams go at, I have this to offer: Drake is for real. No, the Bulldogs aren't for real simply because they beat UNI for a second time this season; they're for real because they won a tough game on the road against a team that already had a crack at them and came out with a great game plan. And to boot, a sellout crowd was bananas for the Panthers. It seems like game after game when the final 5 minutes come around the Bulldogs trade in their uniforms for Superman capes.


The difference between the Bulldogs and Panthers might have come down to one play on Saturday. You see, the first time these teams met Klayton Korver went bonkers from three point land. He hit seven of them from beyond the arc that night. The Panthers were not going to let that happen again. Not if Coach Jacobson had any say in the matter. But this one play occurred after Adam Koch had to go to the bench late in the second half because of visible blood from a small cut on his forehead. Koch had denied Korver all afternoon long, but as soon as he took a seat to get bandaged Korver drained a 25-footer off of a hand off from Emmenecker. Game, set, match.


Coach Jacobson feels like there is little difference between these two teams.

Even though the win gave Drake the MVC Title, there wasn't so much as a hat, t-shirt or sign to commemorate the moment. Drake head coach Keno Davis was asked after the game if he felt like his team should cut down the nets.

Drake hosts Bradley tomorrow, UNI hits the road for a Wednesday night match up with Southern Illinois. The Salukis are 60-1 in their last 61 home games, including a win over Drake last week so the Panthers could easily be losers in 4 of their last 5 if they don't show up on Wednesday. Ouch.

Photo courtesy of unipanthers.com

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5
Impressive week for a bottom feeder in the Big Ten, the Michigan Wolverines. They pickup their second road win of the season in Iowa City and then go home and successfully defend their home court against Ohio State, 80-70. DeShawn Sims had a nice second half shooting nicely from distance. Courtesy of Michigan Sports Network and Host Communications.

#4
Staying with the college hoops theme, Kevin Love is ridiculous. The Fabulous Freshman was not only hitting threes he was going to work on the glass as the Bruins avenge an early season loss to USC, 56-46. Courtesy of KLAC Bruins Radio Network.

#3
Doooook loses! Dooook loses! Wake Forest was still throwing down dunks in the final minutes en route to an 86-73 thrashing of Dook. All five Blue Devils fouled out, craziness. James Johnson with the exclamation point and the final call courtesy of Wake Forest ISP Sports Network.

#2
I couldn't bring myself to put NASCAR in the top spot. But I did watch roughly the final 30 laps of the race yesterday which was more time spent watching than the previous total amount of time combined that I'd ever watched the sport. I'm a loser. Here's the final call of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 courtesy of FOX Television.

#1
Even though the game only amounts to shameless opportunities to show off, the NBA All-Star Game gets the top spot with this LeBron James emphatic slam to give the East the edge. Courtesy of TNT Television.

I'm excited for tomorrow, why you ask? It's a big day, the Fourteenth-ranked Drake Bulldogs make a stop at the McLeod Center and I'm thinking that UNI can hand them their third loss of the season. The Panthers have won four in a row at home and were a possession away from knocking off the Bulldogs in Des Moines before falling 58-54.


The last ranked MVC team to visit Cedar Falls was #15 Southern Illinois on March 1, 2004. The Panthers snapped SIU's 16-game win streak and bid to go undefeated in the Valley, 68-52. Drake's 21-game winning streak came to an end at Southern Illinois on Wednesday night, but despite being 22-2 on the season Drake hasn't received the respect on a national level. UNI's Ben Jacobson:

Rookie Head Coach Keno Davis has done a spectacular job managing his team and keeping the guys motivated all season long. Coach Davis talked about the drive this team has.

Other motivating factors? Try being picked to finish ninth in the league and also not having one single player on any of the Preaseason All-Valley Teams. I don't think Coach Davis will have to worry about any lack of recognition come the post season awards.


I'll be court-side at the McLeod Center tomorrow for the 1:05 tip. I'm debating on doing a live-blog, we'll see how it all goes down. Get your purple on.

You have to checkout the newest sports-networking website sportsblackboard.com

This is the MySpace of sports sites. Visit the site, surf around and then create a profile and contribute yourself.




And since I know everyone is worried about signing up and not having friends, here, you can be my friend. Then you won't look like a dork without friends.

I received the text message last night: "Michigan 60 Iowa 52 Final." How did that happen? I asked. I closed out of the message and then opened it back up again just to make sure that I'd understood correctly. Yep, they really did lose. See, I wasn't able to watch the game because I was play-by-playing NU High's 77-46 win over North Tama in District Bball action from Traer, but I had to know how it happend. How did the Hawkeyes lose this game?




Michigan had lost 11 of 13 with only one win on the road. For the first time since the Hawkeye Challenge, Iowa came into a basketball game expected to win. And they decided to take a crap on the toilet. Todd Lickliter was frustrated with the loss.

How could you not be furious with a performance like that? Iowa had a 16 point lead in the first half and stunk in up in the second. The Hawks went more than seven minutes down the stretch nary a basket against a Michigan team that had won a total of just six games heading into the contest.

Lickliter adds that the Hawks still don't know how to make plays that win games (gee, ya think?)

So, the Hawks are 4-9 in the Big Ten, 11-15 overall, and the schedule does get easier. Northwestern comes to C-HA on Tuesday night. I hope Coach Lick runs his players into the ground over the weekend.

To start this thing off, I've always liked Barry Hinson. After sitting through press conference after press conference, phone call after phone call with coach after coach (lather, wash, rinse, repeat) it's nice to have a guy who will spice it up a little bit. Barry is that guy.




The latest topic to catch his wrath was the lack of respect that the Drake Bulldogs are getting at the national level. Listen for yourself.

That is why I like Barry so much. He is on the brink of being run out of Springfield, and he's still going to battle for the Drake Bulldogs and the MVC; like he doesn't have anything else to worry about. And he's right. He's spot on. Just because Drake isn't on TV twice a week doesn't mean that they aren't a good team. I don't think you can just trip all over yourself and win 21 in a row as the Bulldogs have, they are that good.




Drake will have a chance to show the nation on the 23rd how good they really are, and maybe a win in Indianapolis against Butler will give the "experts" a little bit to buzz about.

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5

North Carolina slipped past Virginia last night, 75-74. Tyler Hansbrough had a clutch jump hook to put UNC up four late in the 2nd Half. Courtesy of the Tar Heel Sports Network from Learfield Sports.

#4

Boston, oh Boston, the C's are still in single digits in the loss column after holding off Indiana 104-97 last night. Rajon Rondo hit a three, and what's so special about that you say? Well, it was his first career thee point basket on the road. Courtesy of WEEI Celtics Radio Network.

#3

Make it four Boilermakers! Four is nice, but how about ten wins in a row for Purdue and first place in the Big Ten to show for it. Robbie Hummel put on a show last night in the 60-54 win over Michigan State. Courtesy of the Purdue Sports Network from Learfield Sports.

#2

The Miami Heat are the first to lose 40 games. 40! D Wade and Co. will have to go 32-0 the rest of the way to get to .500 and I don't think that's going to happen. The latest loss, 114-113 to Denver in OT. Here is the winning call courtesy of KKFN Nuggets Radio Network.

And why not, as a bonus, the losing call courtesy of WIOD Heat Radio Network.

#1

Dog Show! No, Mike Vick was not present. In an upset for the ages, Uno The Beagle took Best in Show at the 132nd Westminster kennel Club Dog Show. Courtesy of USA Network.

Part of being a Division I Men's Basketball Coach is an obligation to participate in a weekly teleconference call. This particular coach is not above his obligation and here is your nice and tidy version of what transpired.

Iowa State picked up a moral victory over the weekend in their 71-65 overtime loss at home to Texas. No matter what anyone tells you, this ISU squad hanging with a Top-25 team, is in fact a moral victory. Texas may have hit the snooze button all game long but you couldn't tell by watching A.J. Abrams. He put in 25 points on seven three pointers to lead the Longhorns.

Earlier this season Coach Mac placed a call to his buddy Mark Turgeon down at Texas A&M to offer him a little pick-me-up. At the time the Aggies were struggling and Mac elaborated on why he gave Mark the call.

On Saturday at Hilton Coliseum there will be a nice celebration for the 100 years of basketball at Iowa State. They will even have a DVD to commemorate the milestone! Coach Mac is excited to showcase the history of Iowa State Hoops.

Hey, Coach! Is there a Cyclone Great who is your most favorite?

On the schedule this week for ISU, Wednesday at Oklahoma and back home on Saturday for the Centennial Celebration vs Nebraska.

Audio courtesy of the Big 12 Conference

Part of being a Division I Men's Basketball Coach carries an obligation to participate in a weekly teleconference call. This particular coach is not above his obligation and here is your nice and tidy version of what transpired.

The Iowa Hawkeyes took a thumpin' twice last week. One of the losses was acceptable and the other loss parallels wetting your pants. With the right timing and good execution, it should never happen. Let's let Coach Lickliter do the explaining.

If you take an honest look at the Hawks right now, it is a freakin' accomplishment by Coach Lickliter to have this team in a place where I'm complaining about losing Big Ten games in February. Back in Nov/Dec/Jan I was scared that this team would not win one single conference game. The only thing I anticipated getting excited about when watching this team was executing a clean box-out drill on the defensive end, or playing 'team oriented basketball' on offense (pretty much everything that the old slick-haired-sleaze-of-a-coach didn't care about). Back then, asking for a win was out of the question. But that's not the case now. Iowa is making a play for the top half of the conference and a post-season tournament bid (anything will do). However, the riddle left to solve is the consistency, or lack thereof, with this team.

Being that it is Coach Lickliter's first rodeo in the Big Ten, Todd reflects on some of the adjustments he's made to the competition.

Iowa's schedule is a lot easier from here on out. Sure, they'll probably lose to Michigan State in East Lansing by 178 points, but other than that their schedule is cake. See for yourself. And even though the sched lightens up considerably, Coach Lick only has eyes for the next game.

It should be fun. Up this week for I-O-W-A is one opponent and one opponent alone: the Michigan Wolverines, Thursday, at Carver-Hawkeye, 8:05, on ESPN or ESPN2.

Audio courtesy of the Big Ten Conference

To promote radio and create image awareness, everyday I will probably maybe present to you a Top 5 highlight reel of standout calls/plays from your radio dial last night. This is the latest installment. Enjoy.

#5

From the Lakers and Bobcats last night, Kobe Bryant with a back door dunk. Courtesy of KLAC Lakers Radio Network

#4

Dip into the NHL, Coyotes @ Stars it's Mike Modano with the power play goal. Courtesy of Versus Television.

#3

In a game where Georgetown absolutely got over on Villanova, it came down to the free throw line. Courtesy of WTEM Hoyas Radio Network.

#2

It pains me to include this one, but it was an exciting finish. Texas over Kansas in a men's basketball game, this is the final call courtesy of Longhorns Sports Network and Host Communications.

#1

And finally, a fitting number one, Stephen Jackson misses a free throw and goes bonkers from the three point line. Courtesy of KNBR Warriors Radio Network

Only a mere two weeks ago, the UNI basketball team was on a roll. They had won 3-of-4 with the loss being a tight one in Des Moines to Drake. But the inevitable trip to Omaha was up and the Panthers laid an egg on ESPNU, getting pounded 74-50 (and I'm not even sure it was that close). UNI followed up the Omaha performance with another stinker on Saturday at Missouri State. All the sudden, instead of being in the top half of the Vally, UNI is in seventh place in the league. If they held the MVC Tournament today the Panthers would have to compete in the play-in-game which means they'd have to win four game in four days to get to The Big Dance. Coach Jacobson tries to explain the two blowout losses on the road last week.

Put the spin on it as you wish, UNI is not in a good situation anymore. Yes, Wichita State should be a W tomorrow but that isn't even a given with their pathetic play lately. Even after Wichita, it's 'hello, Drake' and 'how are you, SIU?' and you could easily be looking at losers in 4-of -5. That doesn't sound like a team riding a hot streak to me, you?

Carl Jackson came to the University of Iowa to coach running backs under Hayden Fry in 1979, 2-stints and 30 years later he has decided to retire. Kirk Ferentz joined Jackson for the retirement announcement in Iowa City.

Twelve running backs that Jackson coached have gone onto the NFL. While at Iowa, Jackson coached nine of the eleven Hawks that have rushed for 1,000 or more yards in a season. Jackson feels that this is the right time for him to retire even though he doesn't know what he's going to do next. He also talked about some of his favorite memories at Iowa.

Jackson had a few nice stints with the Black and Gold, I have no doubt that KF will be able to replace this position on his staff with an able body ready to recruit.

photo courtesy of hawkeyesports
audio from Radio Iowa

The Iowa women would like to dispute the claim that basketball in Iowa City is down this year. Bluder's Bunch maintained first-place in the Big Ten with their latest victory, 73-65, over Penn State. Iowa has ripped off eight-consecutive victories. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder on the win.

Iowa had to hold off numerous second half rallies by the Nittany Lions, a big factor in being able to stay out in front was the tremendous free throw shooting. The Hawks were 19-of-20 from the charity stripe in yet another close victory.

The Hawks are now 17-7 overall and have an upcoming showdown at Purdue on Thursday. The Boilermakers are currently tied with the Hawkeyes for first in the Big Ten.

photo courtesy of hawkeyesports.com
audio clips from Radio Iowa

Here is your clean cut one minute sports update.

Nice.