Getting Into The Game with Johnny "Ballpark" Franks

Johnny “Ballpark” Franks can be heard weekdays locally from 3pm-6pm on SportsRadio 730 The Ump (730 AM/103.9 FM). Email comments and questions to Johnny.Franks@cumulus.com

Published: Thursday, May 20, 2010

With word expected any day now on the fate of the Southern California football and men’s basketball programs from the NCAA Committee on Infractions, I am of the belief that the punishment will not be lenient.

No slap on the wrist here. Don’t be surprised to hear the dreaded words “lack of institutional control” when the report is released to the public.

Former USC football coach Pete Carroll, who ran from the university instead of running to the head coaching vacancy with the Seattle Seahawks after the 2009 season, believes the punishment will be light.

However, his explanation that neither coaches nor administrators can monitor all of the athletes 24 hours a day is a weak argument in this case. USC operated in an environment that opened the door and invited in potential trouble from the Hollywood and Los Angeles entertainment players.

I expect a minimum of two to three years probation and loss of scholarships as well as the potential for a one-year bowl ban for the football program.

It is hard to believe that we have now gone 32 years since the last Triple Crown winner in horseracing. With Super Saver unable to match his Kentucky Derby success in last Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, we will have to wait at least another year for history to be made.

Affirmed captured wins over Alydar in the three legs of the Triple Crown in 1978 to become the last horse to achieve this milestone. More intriguing, Affirmed was one of three Triple Crown winners that decade, following Seattle Slew in 1977 and Secretariat in 1973.

Before Secretariat’s accomplishment, a draught of 25 years was endured between Triple Crown winners. The final leg of this year’s Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will be run on June 5 with neither Super Saver nor Lookin at Lucky (the Preakness Stakes winner) slated to race. With interest continuing to fall, don’t be surprised to see a break from tradition and a Kentucky Derby in the near future airing on prime-time television. Yes, Virginia, Churchill Downs in Louisville now has lights.

Finally, the Alabama Vipers (3-3), the Tennessee Valley’s Arena Football League squad, will try to bounce back from a two-game losing streak as they face Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday (May 22) in the Von Braun Center.

The Vipers, with starting quarterback Kevin Eakin sitting out due to an ankle injury suffered the previous week, lost 48-31 to Orlando this past Saturday at home. Alabama actually led 24-10 at halftime, but was outscored 38-7 in the final two quarters.

Johnny "Ballpark" Franks is the afternoon host on SportsRadio 730 The Ump (730AM/103.9 FM). His show can be heard each weekday from 3p-6p. E-mail: Johnny.Franks@cumulus.com