Killshot: Not a bad movie

Not often will I stray from the topic of sports but I thought Killshot is relevant and for that matter fresh on my mind (I watched the movie last night).

After three years of waiting for Killshot to be released it finally arrived on (DVD)...Unfortunately not at a local theater.

For those not familiar with Killshot or why I would write about it on a sports blog...allow me a few lines to explain.

A few scenes of the movie were filmed in and around Cape Girardeau in January of 2006. Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joeseph Gordon-Levitt and Johnny Knoxville were all in Cape for a few days. According to the movie website IMDB Knoxville was completely cut out of the final version because his character did not test well with audiences.

Of course I was most interested in seeing shots of Cape Girardeau and how the city and/people would be portrayed...No complaints in that department. It'a always great to see places your are familiar with on the big screen and there are a few. You'll see Brenda's restaurant with the Emmerson bridge in the background. However, Brenda's is not named and the scene doesn't take place in Cape. Thomas Jane's character walks out of the courthouse and you'll get a wide shot of downtown Cape from atop the hill. There are a few more but I don't want to ruin the surprise...I'll let you see for yourself.

It's worth renting...It's a solid movie and a much better way to spend 95 minutes than watching some goofy reality-singing-dancing-survive-the-island type show.

A couple interesting notes I found about the movie:

• Originally set up in 2002 with Tony Scott directing, Robert De Niro playing Amand Degas, and Quentin Tarantino playing Richie Nix.
• Viggo Mortensen and Justin Timberlake were considered for the roles of Wayne Colson and Richie Nix, respectively.

What do you think of the movie?

Looks to be official: Watson to USI

It looks like Rodney Watson is the guy for Southern Indiana. USI will hold a press conferernce this afternoon to introduce the school's new basketball coach.

I think it's safe to assume Watson has the job...We got a press release from Southern Illinos University alerting us to this afternoons announcement at USI.

Stayed tuned to Heartland New for the latest.

Here is the release:

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana Department of Athletics will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m.today to announce the hiring of its new men's basketball head coach. The press conference will be held in the Varsity Club Room of the Physical Activities Center.

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Sources: Rodney Watson To Take Over Southern Indiana University

According to sources in Evansville, IN longtime SIU mens assistant basketball coach (Rodney Watson) will take over the program at Southern Indiana University.

Coach Watson is the dean of Missouri Valley Conference assistant coaches...He has been with the Salukis for 21 seasons.

Tune into Heartland News at 10:00 for the latest.

Final Year For OVC Tournament In Paducah?

This could be the final year the OVC Baseball Tournament will be played at Brooks Stadium in Paducah. OVC Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations Kyle Schwartz tells me the contract between the city of Paducah and the OVC ends this year and could be renewed. Other cities have shown interest in hosting the tournament including Marion, IL. A final decision could be made soon.

Paducah has hosted the baseball tournament since 2001. Prior to landing in Paducah the event was held on campus of the top seeded team with a lighted stadium.

Obviously it's too early in the process to get excited about one city or another, but I like the idea of Marion, IL. Moving the tournament to the home of the Southern Illinois Miners (Rent One Park) is a better choice. The facility is much nicer (in all aspects) and would better handle the event. Barring a monsoon or lightning games would have a better chance of completing since the playing surface of Rent One Park is field turf and able to handle rain without major problems.

I really like Brooks Stadium..It's in great condition and best of all possesses a quality found in classic ballparks. Each time I walk up the ramp and into the grandstands I am taken back to the golden era of baseball...Baseball at Brooks is a great experience.

I'm struggling for the proper description...You just have to watch a game at Brooks Stadium to get a true feel of what I am trying to convey.

With that said...I think Brooks Stadium has served it's purpose for the OVC (and served it well). It's time for the OVC to make a statement and make the next step forward with a new and modern venue in which to hold the baseball tournament. I can think of no better park than Rent One.

It's time for the Conference to help the cause and improve its tournament.

• Panoramic picture of Brooks Stadium
• Picture of Brooks Stadium
  

OVC Baseball Tournament

Click below to download the bracket:
OVC Baseball Tournament Bracket

NCAA Basketball Attendance Figures

The NCAA recently released the attendance numbers for the past season for division one men's basketball. If you are a stat geek like me you'll love diving into the report. It's only 7 pages long but filled with interesting information.

Download the NCAA Report

Here is a quick breakdown of teams of interest making the top 100...The numbers represent the average for home games.

1. Kentucky.........22,239
3. N. Carolina......21,035
4. Tennessee.......20,483
5. Louisville.........19,397
8. Memphis.........16,933

9. Kansas..............16,350
11. Arkansas..........16,043
12. Creighton.........15,930
13. Illinois..............15,499
47. Missouri............9,805

71. St. Louis...........7,627
75. Missouri St.......7,147
77. Illinois St..........7,118
92. SIU..................5,892
94. Evansville.........5,863

Not in the top 100:

UT Martin..........3,762
Murray State......3,543
SEMO................2,613

• (A surprise to me) The Big Ten is the top drawing conference averaging 12,519 pergame and the SEC is 2nd with an average attendance of 11,625 a game.


• The Big XII ranks 5th (10,395)


• The Missouri Valley is 8th (7,752)


• The Ohio Valley Conference ranks in the bottom half (18th) with an average of 2,500 fans attending OVC games.


• Of the 31 division one conferences all but 10 saw a decrease in attendance.


• The Big XII suffered the largest decrease...down 600 a game from the previous season.

Wild Day For SEMO Baseball

What a crazy day at the park for Southeast Missouri State baseball in Sunday's series finale at Eastern Kentucky...a 11-10 loss.

Head coach Mark Hogan was tossed, Matt Wagner was tossed, Southeast fans were ejected and
according to a reporter at the Richmond Register the father of a Redhawks player was ejected after storming the field and charging toward and umpire. The parent was restrained by a Southeast assistant coach.

The Richmond Register reporter told me the incident stemmed from a play in the ninth inning... a ball hit by the Redhawks infielder Matt Wagner was called foul (many thought it was fair). Wagner eventually struck out in the same at-bat.

The next batter, Louie Haseltine, hit a homerun... then during the celebration Wagner was tossed and that's when the Redhawks fan got onto the field.

I talked with a couple of people in the SEMO athletics department but neither would make an official comment until more information is gathered.

We do know coach Hogan and Matt Wagner are suspended for the next scheduled conference game. Ohio Valley Conference rule states a player or coach ejected from a conference game must sit out the next scheduled conference game.

Pictures courtesy: Richmond Register

Vols Give Player Second Chance

I regularly listen to a Sports Talk Radio show from Cincinnati, OH...The Tennessee Vols football program was a hot topic. Talking Vols football in the heart of UC Bearcat and Buckeye country is not normal....But this story is as far from normal as possible.

New Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin offers a scholarship to Dan Hood (offensive lineman with a troubled past.) It happens all the time at schools across the country...but the circumstances surrounding the player's past are disturbing.

For more on the story:

• SEC Chatter Blog


• Go Vols Xtra


• Testimony from court

What do you think? Would you offer the kid a scholarship? Does everyone deserve a second chance despite their past?

Before you commet... please read the story and the testimony, but be warned the testimony is graphic.

MVC Softball Tournament Is Set

SIU finishes second in the final regular season standings and takes the No. 2 seed in the MVC Softball Tournament. The Salukis will face either No. 6 Bradley, No. 7 Missouri State or No. 3 Northern Iowa on Friday at 2:30 p.m

OVC Softball Tournament Is Set

2009 OVC Softball Tournament Field Set

The 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Tournament field is set. Jacksonville State earned the top seed and the right to host the three-day event while Southeast Missouri is the second seed. With the top two seeds, the Gamecocks and the Redhawks receive first round byes. Morehead State is the third seed followed by UT Martin, Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois.

Redhawks fans have to feel confident...The team is soaring with a 14 game win streak.

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship Schedule

THURSDAY, MAY 7 – Jacksonville, Ala.
Game 1 - #3 Morehead State vs. #6 Eastern Illinois – 10:00 a.m.
Game 2 - #4 UT Martin vs. #5 Tennessee Tech – 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #2 Southeast Missouri vs. Game 1 winner – 3:00 p.m.
Game 4 - #1 Jacksonville State vs. Game 2 winner – 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 8 – Jacksonville, Ala.
Game 5 – Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser – 10:00 a.m.
Game 6 – Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser – 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 winner – 3:00 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner – 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 9 – Jacksonville, Ala.
Game 9 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner – 10:00 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 12:30 p.m.
(If necessary, Game 11 follows at 3:00 p.m.)