Sports in Stilettos

USC Starts the Season in Hawaii TOMORROW!! »

I’m way excited. I can’t even imagine how glad the actual team must be to finally get this season underway.

My USC-Hawaii preview is live NOW on isportsweb.com!

Game time tomorrow night, 11pm EST on ESPN! Who else is staying up to watch?

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, or even if you haven’t, you’ll notice that it’s my policy to keep it clean, and free of profanity and anything inappropriate (shirtless guys are totally appropriate).

As a result, I’m being very careful to keep everything that immediately came to mind when I got the above news inside (and lemme tell ya, it ain’t easy), but I will say that this ruling is BS.

Just how much of sham/scam the NCAA really is these days is still up in the air, pending its rulings on Ohio State, UNC, Auburn, etc.

But I’m pretty sure I’m still going to think it’s BS. Bold, in all caps, fully spelled out.

If you’re a USC fan and you need to take the edge off between now and whenever these stupid sanctions are lifted, go join Arrogant Nation over at Lost Angeles Blog this season. Our fearless bear-hunting leader is always clutch in providing a little perspective and a shot in the arm of arrogance.

As for me, I’ll be steering as clear as I can of any and all details and updates about the NCAA and their most recent arbitrary ruling. It’s bad for my blood pressure.

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The Trojans proactively hoarded talent ahead of impending NCAA sanctions and are in such decent shape entering 2011 that they’ve been picked to win a Pac-12 South division they aren’t, technically, allowed to win.

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Arrogant.

For USC Football, hard times are going down pretty easy — Chris Dufresne — LA Times

Anonymous asked: How would you rank your preference for one of these to happen in the next few years? USC football national title, Terps basketball national title, Ravens Super Bowl title, Orioles World Series title.

Love this question! (But I have to choose? Why can’t I have them all??)

Here’s my order, with explanations:

1. Ravens Super Bowl title

USC would be my #1 choice, but since they’re ineligible this year, I’ll take a Super Bowl first. Today’s game aside, I think the Ravens are a great team and I’d like to see Ray Lewis get another ring while he’s still playing at such a high level

2. USC Football National title

It’s not an option this season, but this is the last year of the Trojans’ postseason ban, so next year…..

USC has a great quarterback in Matt Barkley, young receivers that are already among the best in the conference (Robert Woods is one of the best in the nation as a true sophomore), and a defense that keeps getting stronger. The Trojans are already playing much better than many expected, and if Barkley returns next year, it’s exciting to think how good this team could be.

3. Terps basketball national title

I wasn’t really a big basketball fan the last time around, so I’d love, love, love Maryland to win another national title. I’m excited about the future of the program under Mark Turgeon and I really really really want to see him succeed in College Park, because if he’s successful, that means the team is doing well.

4. Orioles World Series title

Sometime in my lifetime, please. This is almost a toss-up with Maryland basketball, but I made it my last priority just because it’s been SO long since it happened that I’ve managed to live without the O’s being any good. I remember what it was like when Baltimore was competitive in the division, but I honestly can’t imagine what it would be like for the O’s to be really good, World Series good.

I really hope I find out, preferably sometime soon, but right now, it seems like the Ravens and USC are better positioned to get the big wins.

National Signing Day’s around the corner!

If you’re new to Sports in Stilettos, hello and welcome! I’m Justine!

With just two days to go before Signing Day, the college football world is fawning over a bunch of highly talented teenagers and hanging on their every word (and every tweet!). Because that’s healthy and productive.

I’m a little too old to care much about high school dudes, but since I also blog about the USC Trojans’ football program over at isportsweb, I get to watch this annual mating dance between university and potential star from a distance and report on it. Yesssssss.

I obsessed over boys quite enough when I was actually in high school, thank you very much, so my recruiting posts, unlike this explanation, are short and sweet.

USC Football: In With the New has a look at current commits and who else the Trojans hope to sway by Wednesday.

USC Football Recruiting: Trojans whiff on Armstead, snag Banner gives today’s updates (spoiler: USC is 1 for 1 on recruits so far this week)

And since it’s not over until we hit 75 peeps, there will be more to come on Wednesday. Get excited.

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