I cover everything today from Game One of the Stanley Cup and Michael Buffer…The women of the Indy 500…Jontay Porter’s body fat…Anthony Rizzo and “the slide”…and which former Marlins outfielder do Cardinals fans wish they had?
#Mizzou hires new softball coach. Learn more about Larissa Anderson
Larissa Anderson, who has spent the past four seasons as head coach at Hofstra University, has been named the new head softball coach at the University of Missouri. In four seasons at Hofstra, Anderson fashioned a 125-69-1 (.644) record with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, two Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles and four winning seasons.
Anderson’s 2018 squad reached the 40-win mark for the 11th time in program history (and first since a school-record 46 wins in 2013), while setting school records for runs scored (334), home runs (70) and RBI (315). Hofstra owned an RPI of 19 against the nation’s 29th-toughest schedule in 2018.
“I am thrilled that we were able to recruit Larissa Anderson to Mizzou and am confident that she will build upon the great Tiger Softball tradition that has been established over the last 44 seasons in Columbia,” said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. “She is highly-respected within the coaching community, enjoys an outstanding reputation for player development and has had tremendous success at Hofstra, first as an assistant coach, and then for the last four seasons as head coach.”
“I am very proud and honored to be the next head softball coach at Mizzou,” Anderson said. “I want to thank Gina (Fogue) and her staff for their loyalty and dedication to Mizzou Softball. Our future is very bright and I’m ready to get to work to start a new era of Mizzou Softball.”
She is married to former Hofstra Baseball Coach Patrick Anderson, who manages the Washington Nationals Class A affiliate in Hagerstown, Md. She’ll be formally introduced in a press conference later next month.
Bill Pollock Show–Good on Sterk for not backing down on USC fan incident. Faurot Field featured in rap video #Mizzou (PODCAST)
So maybe Jim Sterk had to back off of his comments about Dawn Staley, although I truly feel she helps create a hostile environment at South Carolina women’s basketball games. Anyway, he apologized and Mizzou will pay $25,000 to her charity and $25,000 to the lawyers. However, he did not back down from backing his players and staff who claimed they were called names and spit on at a January 28th game. For that, I applaud Sterk.
I also stumbled upon this rap video from the artist Blacc Dolla that was uploaded to YouTube last week. I would describe the artist’s song as vulgar. Faurot Field is prominently displayed in the music video. I talk with the video’s producer.
Plus hear from the Chiefs following their first round of OTAs. Andy Reid is trying to throw everything he can at Patrick Mahomes who said he is feeling more comfortable in the quarterback role.
Anthony Reyes will pitch Tuesday for the Cardinals. He was remarkable in his final rehab start, striking out nine in a row at one point.
Enjoy the podcast! WARNING: LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED!
Mizzou settles lawsuit with Carolina coach Dawn Staley for remarks made by Jim Sterk.
The University of Missouri has settled a lawsuit brought against its Director of Athletics, Jim Sterk, by South Carolina Head Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley for $50,000. One half of the settlement will be paid to Staley’s non-profit foundation, INNERSOLE, and the other half of the settlement to her attorneys.
“Following a very spirited and intense game I attended in late January between the nationally ranked Missouri and South Carolina women’s basketball teams, I made comments in a local radio interview that were construed to suggest that Coach Staley promoted the negative experiences of racial epithets and spitting,” Sterk said. “I do not believe Coach Staley would promote such conduct, and I sincerely apologize to her for those comments.
“I accept his apology and I appreciate the contribution of $25,000 to INNERSOLE, a not for profit organization I co-founded that provides new sneakers to children who are homeless or in need,” Staley said. “I’m glad we can share in support of this worthy cause and I look forward to moving past this with a continued spirited but positive competition amongst our programs.”
In accordance with University policy, the lawsuit settlement will be paid by the University since Sterk made his comments in good faith while performing his duties as a University employee.
However, Sterk is still standing by his claims that Mizzou players were harassed by Carolina fans.
“Immediately after the game, several of our student-athletes and staff shared with me experiences they encountered before, during and after our game at South Carolina, including incidents of being spit on, a racial epithet, and other derogatory comments,” Sterk said in a statement released by the University of Missouri. “Those actions have no place at any sporting event, and I’m truly sorry that our student-athletes and staff had to endure that type of treatment.
“My concerns about those incidents continue. I appreciate that the Southeastern Conference takes seriously the reports of our student-athletes about inappropriate language and actions directed at them, as well as their efforts to engage in a review of game management issues with South Carolina, which I understand is ongoing.
“All of us, Mizzou and South Carolina included, have obligations to promote a respectful environment for all student-athletes to compete in. It is my sincere hope that we continue to encourage appropriate behavior at all college sporting events. We must condemn that type of negative behavior wherever it might occur and take steps to ensure that no team has to endure type of hostile behavior moving forward. I hope that efforts following the January 28 game will move us toward those goals.”
Bill Pollock Show–Hammel forgets how to celebrate, how to help Holland. Sterk makes right move for #Mizzou (PODCAST)
Busy podcast today. Of course I’ll take Royals and Cardinals from last night. Hear from the main players.
Jim Sterk fired his interim softball coach. Why its the right move for Mizzou.
A novel idea in college football. Players and coaches taking responsibility for their actions. It’s happening in Japan.
Brand Chastain, U.S. women’s soccer hero gets a plague and it looks like Gary Busey
Fogue out as Mizzou softball coach. Has a desire to continue coaching
Mizzou Athletic Director Jim Sterk is conducting a national search for the Tigers next softball coach. Sterk let Gina Fogue go after she was named interim head coach days before the season when longtime coach Ehren Earleywine was fired. The Tigers went 30-29 and made it to NCAA regionals for a 12th straight season, but the coaching staff and players were notified of the change after losing to Oklahoma.
“A national search is underway to recruit the very best individual to lead Mizzou Softball into the future,” Mizzou athletics director Jim Sterk said in a statement released Tuesday. “Our program enjoys a rich tradition, plays in a state-of-the-art facility and competes in the nation’s toughest conference, and it is our desire to build upon past successes moving forward. We will not utilize a search consultant in this process, and in order to protect the integrity of the search, I will have no further public comments regarding the process or the status of any candidates until the announcement of Mizzou’s next head softball coach is made.”
Before the Tigers left for Norman, I had an informal conversation with Gina and was just asking her about her first season as head coach. I asked Gina what the biggest adjustment was from being an assistant coach to a head coach and she told me it was having the sometimes difficult conversations with student-athletes. I took that as the honest assessment discussions coaches will have with players on their game.
I told her I wasn’t going to ask about her future at Mizzou or whether or not she knew at that time what Sterk was thinking, but I did ask her after getting a taste of being a head coach if this was something she would like to pursue whether or not it was in Columbia and Gina didn’t hesitate.
“Oh yeah.”
There is no doubt Gina has a feel for the game and will continue as a successful coach on the college level.
Mizzou baseball one-and-done at SEC Tournament. Tigers wait for NCAA invite (AUDIO)
12th seeded Mizzou dropped its SEC Tournament opener to fifth-seeded South Carolina, 4-2, late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning at Hoover Met Stadium in Alabama. Mizzou took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Carolina sent nine men to the plate and scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a lead for good.
Mizzou falls to 34-22 on the year while South Carolina improves to 33-22 and moves on to the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Senior RHP Andy Toelken was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema pitched 4.0+ innings and allowed just one run on six hits in start on short rest.
Tigers coach Steve Bieser said Mizzou was right there all game.
The Tigers are 34-22 overall, but just 12-19 in SEC, including 4-9 since the end of April. Bieser is banking on a strong RPI and hopes for an NCAA Regional berth when the field of 64 is unveiled Monday.
Bill Pollock Show–Big questions, did the #STLCards get a steal in O’Neill? Jontay Porter coming back to #Mizzou ? (PODCAST)
Tyler O’Neill hit a homer in his third straight game. The Cardinals rookie says he isn’t trying to hit home runs. I take a look back at the trade that brought O’Neill to St. Louis and what John Mozeliak liked about the native from British Columbia, Canada.
One website says their sources say Jontay Porter is coming back to Mizzou for his sophomore season.
Plus, what the St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights have in common.
Yuen sets Mizzou record for best finish at NCAA Women’s Golf Championship
University of Missouri sophomore golfer Jess Yuen (Bolingbrook, Ill.) closed her historic 2017-18 season by tying for 57th place at the 2018 NCAA Women’s Golf National Championship, held at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla. The finish was the highest-ever showing at the NCAA Championships by a Tiger women’s golfer, surpassing the previous standard of 61st place by Kristen Samp in 1996.
Yuen shot a five-over par 77 in Sunday’s third round, and her 10-over total of 226 was just shy of advancing to Monday’s final championship round. Yuen finished five strokes off the cut line, as 221 (five over) was the cut off for individual advancement. She had entered the day just two shots shy of the unofficial cut line, and she was still there on Sunday as she stood two over on the day through 11 holes. However, a quadruple bogey on the par-four 12th hole derailed her plans, and not even a birdie on the par-three 15th could make up for it.
It was essentially two holes that kept Yuen from being in position to advance to Monday’s final round. Seven of her 10 shots over par for the three rounds came on just two holes – Sunday’s quadruple bogey, and a triple-bogey seven on the par-four 17th on Saturday. In her 52 other holes during the three days, Yuen was just a combined three over par (eight bogeys and five birdies to go with 39 pars).
Yuen entered the championship ranked 60th in the nation individually, and she fired an opening-round even-par 72 on Friday, and stood tied for 11th. A five-over 77 on Saturday bumped her to 35th place, prior to Sunday’s final results.
Mizzou softball season ends at NCAA Regionals
Mizzou
Mizzou Softball saw its 2018 campaign conclude Sunday after battling throughout four contests this weekend at the NCAA Norman Regional.
The Tigers opened their day with a 6-5 triumph over Tulsa, but couldn’t stave off elimination for the third time in two days after falling 7-0 to No. 4 Oklahoma.
The Tigers season ends at 30-29.
