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You Can't Play Baseball Without A Cup

Dr. S is weary of hearing sports fans say "Jackson never gets any big-college events." Not true, and tonight's Adjutant General's Cup is another example. Southern Miss, which is ranked No. 24 in the nation will play Mississippi Valley State, a baseball program on the rise, at Smith-Wills Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Call 362-2294 for tickets. This is the kind of game this city has been asking for, so how about putting your money where your mouth is?

Smith-Wills Stadium: Field of Dreams?

Still thinking, "I could be a pro baseball player if I only got a break." Well, put down the box cutter and pick up your glove. The Jackson Senators are holding a tryout. Baseball glory awaits you (maybe).

Uniform Excellence

Oddly enough, Dr. S has read some of his favorite sports stories in the Village Voice. Nobody has ever quite covered sports the way the Voice does. Much of the "hip" tone and style you read in today's sports sections and magazines was being done in the Voice 20 years ago, particularly in the Jockbeat notes column. The latest issue includes a very interesting story on one of Dr. S' favorite topics: uniforms. (All-time greatest high school uniforms: Laurel High. Blood and gold, baby.) Obviously, Dr. S is not the only sports fan who loves this topic; although some are more obsessive than others. Much more obsessive.

40 Years Ago, Maroons Made History

"Ghosts of Mississippi" is an excellent article in the latest Sports Illustrated on the 1963 Mississippi State basketball team which, backed by a courageous college president, defied a court order and went to play black players in the NCAA Tournament. Even if you think you know everything about this story, Dr. S guarantees that writer Alexander Wolff has unearthed much that you don't know. Check it out.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

OK, Ole Miss basketball fans, you can quit worrying about whether your beloved Rebels are going to the NCAA or NIT. They're not going anywhere. Sure, mathematically, they might still have a chance. But after losing their 10th straight game, 77-64 t0 LSU, Ole Miss' only chance of going to postseason play again is if the Rebels win the SEC Tournament. (Won't happen).

Catch Lanier and Provine LIVE on ETV !

Top-ranked high schools Lanier and Provine have made it

state champion Lanier, top-ranked in The Clarion Ledger poll and rated17th nationally by USA Today, advanced to 31-3. The Bulldogs aim fortheir 14th state title and Lanier coach Thomas Billups' sixth gold ballagainst fifth-ranked Provine, 25-5. The Rams will be making theirfourth appearance in the state championship game, and first since 1999 whenthey were defeated by Lanier 65-60.

Hoops Heaven

Basketball fans, your time has come. The MHSAA Boys/Girls State Tournament begins its 2-week run at the Mississippi Coliseum on Monday, Feb. 24 (schedule). Sixty teams, 12 days of action at the Big Barn ... Dr. S says check it out ... There will be big games starting right on Day 1 when the Provine boys play Northeast Lauderdale. This is where you can see the stars of tomorrow on the boys and girls sides. But it's also about team and competition. You know, that "Hoosiers" stuff where the small town comes to the big city. Except it's more fun in real life. Over in Clinton, the MPSA Academy Overall tournament also starts Monday (schedule). The talent might not be quite as good, but the competition is just as fierce.

Another Brand Of Football (Or Should We Blame This On ESPN?)

Remember Australian Rules Football? That was a staple on ESPN back in the early 1980s before the network got rich enough to show college football, college basketball, NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, etc., etc. 24/7 and had to expand to three channels to get it all in. The Australian game's rules seemed incomprehensible (Dr. S was probably drinking and not paying attention), but Dr. S found it fun to watch because of the violent collisions and frequent bloodshed. And Dr. S' roommate thought the referee's signals after a score were the funniest thing ever. His parents wasted a lot of money on a college education.

The Silent Warrior Sounds Off

Golden State Warriors center Erick Dampier, a former Mississippi State star, made headlines in the Bay Area when he blasted his coach after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. The Sphinx-like Dampier made news as much for making a quoteworthy statement as for what he said. And the ex-Bulldog said plenty: Dampier criticized coach Eric Musselman's defensive strategy against Minnesota star Kevin Garnett (who scored 37 points), complained about frequently being benched during fourth quarters of games and ridiculed Musselman by referring to him as "Musselhead." Now if Dampier would just play like the All-Star so many predicted he would be coming out of college, people might pay more attention to what he says.

The Tyson Twist

There's trouble coming to River City ... maybe. A day after saying Saturday's fight in Memphis was off, heavyweight has-been Mike Tyson changed his mind and said that facial tattoo or no, no training or no, he was going to fight. So call the prospects a definite maybe. Showtime will show the fight (maybe) along with a Jay-Z concert (for sure). And it's a free Showtime weekend. But there's nothing like seeing a freak show in person. (Did Dr. S mention that Tonya Harding is going to fight a woman from Mississippi, too? Maybe.)

MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS TOURNEY JUMPS ON THE TUBE

Thurs., March 6 through Sat., March 8

For the first time ever basketball fans statewide can watch all ten state high school championship games as the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) and Mississippi Educational Broadcasting (MEB) team up in March to air the games live on the state*s television network.

It's Never Too Early For Bracketology

It's February, and this is the best time of the year for college basketball fans. The ordeal of college football recruiting is past us (how did your favorite school do?), and the college fan can focus her/his attention on college hoops. It's about a month now until the national obsession we call March Madness gets underway.

Naked Man, Beware

Dr. S' favorite sports-themed commercial (not involving brawling babes) is the Nike ad where the streaker runs wild at the English soccer game. Now Reebok's office linebacker "Terrible" Terry Tate is striking back.

Get ‘Em Now

Tickets to the Mississippi State-Ole Miss Mayor's Trophy baseball game go on sale today (Tuesday, Feb. 4) at 10 a.m. at Smith-Wills Stadium. The game is scheduled for April 2. It's almost always a sellout, so you'd better get them quick. Tickets are $16, $13 and $9, and a dollar from every ticket goes to the Jackson Parks and Recreation Department. For information, call 362-2294.

Give Blood, Play Rugby

The Jackson Rugby Football Club is looking for players and spectators. The team will play its first home game of the spring season on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at Chastain Middle School (at the corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Drive). And if you want to play, no experience is necessary. For more information, call 714-4444 or check out the club's Web site http://www.jacksonrugby.com (which appears to be under renovation). Dr. S note: New Zealand rugby star Eric Rush (right) probably won't be at the game Feb. 15. But you need to go, anyway.

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