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Rebels Without A Pause

It's almost spring in Oxford, the time of year when a scholarship athlete's fancy turns to ... drinking. Two Ole Miss athletes were arrested for charges including public drunkeness, The Clarion-Ledger reported Tuesday. Offensive lineman Corey Actis was charged with disordely conduct and public drunkeness. Pitcher Nick Hetland was arrested for public drunkeness. What's interesting is that both men were arrested by University police. Imagine how drunk an Ole Miss athlete has to be to get an University police officer to arrest him.

Barnes Speaks; Why Won't Ole Miss?

Ole Miss lost to LSU 55-52 on Saturday at Baton Rouge. Afterward, Rebels basketballl coach Rod Barnes spoke to the press for the first time since Ole Miss announced a day earlier that he wouldn't return for a ninth season: "I've coached today like I've always coached, coaching to win," Barnes told The Associated Press. "That is what I am going to do. I will reflect on what has happened after this is all over. I don't have time for that right now." Nope, first Barnes and the Rebels have a game to lose in the SEC Tournament in Nashville.

Not All Flops Come From Hollywood

With the Oscars coming up on Sunday night (insert your favorite "Brokeback Mountain" joke here), it's time to recognize some of the greatest actors in sports: those guys in the NBA who fall down every time an opponent breathes on them. ESPN's Patrick Hruby gives us the lowdown on the fine art of flopping.

Choctaws Advance

Mississippi College defeated Maryville (Mo.) 88-58 on Friday night in the D-3 tournament at Clinton. But the Choctaws aren't finished with Maryville yet. On Saturday night, MC plays Maryville (Tenn.) at 7 p.m. in the Golden Dome.

Breaking: Ole Miss' Rod Barnes Fired

When Doctor S says you're going to be fired, call the moving company. On Friday, Ole Miss announced that basketball coach Rod Barnes would not be back next season. (Did he quit or was he fired? AD Pete Boone refuses to say, which means Barnes was probably fired.) It's too bad, because Barnes is one of the good guys in college sports. But the Rebels have gotten worse as the season has gone along.

The Colonel's Future

The Daily Mississippian, the Ole Miss student newspaper, has spent the past week debating the future of Colonel Reb. The DM has a poll that asks, "Do you think Colonel Reb is gone for good?" Doctor S was surprised to see that 78 percent of the respondents said no. Is this misguided wishful thinking or a prank by Mississippi State students? Colonel Reb and the Confederate battle flag have their place. That place is in history, but not on an athletic field in the 21st century.

So Long, Rod

Rod Barnes' days at Ole Miss are numbered. Rick Cleveland wrote Barnes' obituary on Thursday in The Clarion-Ledger. The Rebels started 13-3, but they fell to 14-14 with Wednesday night's loss to Vanderbilt. The Rebels are on their way to their fourth consecutive losing season and that won't cut it, even at a school with no basketball tradition like Ole Miss.

Colonel Reb: To Be Or Not To Be

The Daily Mississippian offers dueling opinions on whether Colonel Reb should be saved. Take it from Doctor S, it's time to retire the slavemaster.

This Is Why It Takes Balls To Play Soccer

Here's a pair of amusing and disturbing stories from the wacky world of soccer, via Deadspin.com.

1. When a Manchester United player suffered a broken leg during a match with Liverpool, Liverpool fans attacked the ambulance taking the player to the hospital.

Hoop It Up

Mississippi's greatest sporting event, the MHSAA Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournament, starts Monday at the Mississippi schedule. Here's the schedule (from The Clarion-Ledger):

Colonel Reb Rides Again?

Doctor S will definitely be checking the Daily Mississippian's Web site this week.

Stanford Tree Gets Ax

The Stanford University band fired its tree mascot after she showed up drunk for a basketball game. The band was already on "alcohol suspension" so the tree had to go. "We don't want to risk our core mission of rocking out and bringing funk to the funkless," a band spokesman said.

Blood Sport

This has nothing to do with sports, but in honor of Tuesday's pseudo-holiday, you should rush out and find a copy of "My Bloody Valentine", a 1981 slasher film that's hilarious (but only unintentionally). Doctor S just wants you to suffer like he did 25 years ago when he went to see it at the theater. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Punting Piney Woods

The Piney Woods boys basketball team is out of the MHSAA playoffs (again). The Tornadoes, one of the best teams in the state, were among the favorites to win the Class 2A title. The MHSAA threw Piney Woods out of the playoffs last week for illegal recruiting. Then, it was reported that an agreement had been reached that would allow Piney Woods to play as long as coach Wayne Brent did not attend the games. On Monday, a Hinds County judge denied an injunction by the school and the MHSAA said the team wouldn't be part of the postseason.

Joey Speaks

Doctor S could dole out analysis on Sunday's Super Bowl, but that would put all of those lesser analysts out of work. Instead, he offers some words of wisdom from Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, courtesy of the Mighty MJD.

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