"The Jock Itch" with Jasmine Sadry: 2011 NCAA Butler/UCONN Title Game Was a Ratings Machine! Or Not...

DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) Leading off Today's "Jock Itch:" Poor Butler. First, they couldn't fight to stay in the game against UCONN and now, they're partly being blamed for VERY low TV ratings for the national championship game!

After the Huskie's defense dominated to a measly 53-41 win Monday on CBS, the network earned an 11.7 fast national rating and an 18 share. That may sound impressive but that figure is actually down 18 PERCENT from last year's Duke-Butler final! (You may remember THAT game as being the one where the underdog Bulldogs had a glimmer of hope to win it at the buzzer.)

Anyway, to put it into perspective, "ratings" represent the percentage of all households with TVs that tuned into a program and "shares" represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time.

There's always next year...

http://www.ksat.com/college-tournament/27440758/detail.html

And in OTHER "itch" worthy news...

Ralph Nader says he wants to put an END to college athletic scholarships! (Keep in mind, this is the same guy who's failed FOUR different times to become President of the Unites States; but apparently, he thinks he's got what it takes to clean up college sports.)

Ralphie says that schools should stop giving out athletic scholarships to end the "myth of amateurism." Instead, he said, universities can give out "need-based" financial aid.

Some who work for NCAA schools agree with his point of view! Take for instance, Ohio University professor, David Ridpath; He said, "The current model does not work. It's a pay-for-play contract and the students are being exploited."

Wait, but what about Aub...? oh... good point...http://benmaller.com/2011/04/four-time-candidate-for-president-of-the-us-wants-end-of-athletic-scholarships/

Yikes. So, there was an engaged couple who was at the Rangers-Mariners game earlier this week, and boy, if THIS clip doesn't say that good, old-fashioned Southern chivalry isn't dead, I don't know what will!

During the top of the 8th inning, Fox Sports Southwest sideline reporter Jim Knox is interviewing a couple known as Matt and Taylor, who were claimed to be getting married at Rangers ballpark the very next day.

If you listen to the audio link, you'll see that it's her very first time at the place she's supposedly getting married at and her fiance couldn't sound more beat down if he tried. But, upon further investigation, the Rangers PR is clueless as to what the couple is talking about because there was no official arrangement with the club to get married there.

In fact, it was probably a case of them planning to buy tickets and get married in the seats!

Way to beat our Southern stereo-type there, Matt and Taylor.

Anyway, take a listen for yourself here:http://deadspin.com/#!5789317/this-texas-rangers-broadcast-clip-will-someday-be-evidence-in-divorce-proceedings

Speaking of couples, rumor (and a circulating video clip) has it that a Phillies fan was getting himself a little beejie from the missus in the stands during the game against the Mets.

Maybe she was searching for a garlic cheesy fry that she dropped?

Judge for yourself here: http://www.bustedcoverage.com/?p=41575

Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick's 2008 World Series ring was stolen and cops STILL have no leads! The ring was taken, along with a framed Ken Griffey Jr. jersey off the wall, and several baseball gloves and bats which were keepsakes from different stages in Kendrick's career. TVs, computers and other high-end electronics were also stolen, so with the volume of stuff that's gone missing, it's leading the cops to believe that the thieves were inside Kyle's house for several hours just pilfering away!

His home is for sale, and detectives are looking into those who have visited the property recently, for any leads in the case.

Oh, and you don't have to lose any sleep over it because Kyle DID have insurance for the ring that had 103 diamonds in a white-gold setting. http://www.king5.com/sports/mariners/Police-No-new-leads-in-burglary-of-baseball-players-home-119282209.html

Dodger Stadium officials say that they're satisfied with their security, despite the fact that a Giants fan was beaten and kicked to a bloody pulp in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on opening day, which eventually lead him into a medically induced coma. The suspects that attacked and beat the injured fan still remain at large.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt called the incident "tragic" but also said "You could have 2,000 policemen there, and it's just not going to change that random act of violence."

The Giants players all signed a team jersey for him, and club President Larry Baer was the one, said to have delivered it to the hospital. 

Incidentally, the LAPD said that 72 fans were arrested and another 48 were cited on opening day at Dodger Stadium.

God, it's great to be a good, clean, Rangers fan! http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2011/04/frank-mccourt-dodgers-giants.html

NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff is telling Saints quarterback Drew Brees to basically pipe down and learn some history!

This is all in reference to Drew making a certain comment back in 2009 regarding the NFL labor dispute. Now, you'll remember that Drew is a member of the executive committee of the dissolved NFL Players Association and is also one of the 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that players have filed against the owners and the league.

This is the comment that Drew said: "There's some guys out there that have made bad business decisions. They took their pensions early because they never went out and got a job. They've had a couple divorces and they're making payments to this place and that place. And that's why they don't have money. And they're coming to us to basically say 'Please make up for my bad judgment.' In that case, that's not our fault as players."

Easy, Drew. Compared to the guys that set the bar for you, you're a little wet behind the ears, don't ya think?

Sam was NONE too thrilled with Drew's statements, firing back with a really long commentary that he sent to the New York Post. Among the things he outlined, he said this, "I think I know enough about the game to say something is wrong when I think it is wrong. I am not one of those retired players who, as Drew Brees insinuates, has begged for money, and I do not need to. However, I know about the players of the 50's and 60's, and they gave everything imaginable to make the game what it is today. Some of those players need help from the NFLPA. They deserve it, and Drew Brees needs better credentials before he makes such derogatory statements about those players."

He also adds, "He seems to belong to that group of younger generation who left their NFL history books at home."

He signs it: Sam Huff, NFL HOF '82, LINEBACKER

For the full, brilliant, transcript, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/sam-huff-to-drew-brees-pipe-down-and-learn-some-history/2011/04/04/AFHkl6eC_blog.html

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's house is stinkin' HUGE! He's in the middle of building a 22,000 square-foot mansion in Brentwood, California!

Here are some details on Tom's abode: It's an eight-bedroom mansion that sits on just under 4 acres in the hills. It has a lift, lagoon-shaped pool, wine cellar, parking for six cars, weight room and a covered bridge connecting two buildings. The plot of land itself is $11,000,000 bucks WITHOUT the house even on it!

He took out an $8.225 million dollar mortgage to be paid back over five years. (Something tells me, this was probably NOT an FHA loan.)

Initially, he had also had plans drawn up for the property, which later ended up being scrapped because the house wasn't, "big enough."

Are you serious?

Tom's house is said to dwarf the houses of his neighbors, those being of Arnold Scharzenegger and Heidi Klum. Check out the pictures for yourself here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1373651/Gisele-Bundchens-20-million-dream-home-coming-nicely.html#ixzz1IjpPUhGq

Anyway, it doesn't look like he needs to cut back on any expenses anytime soon, considering his wife, Gisele Bundchen earned $25,000,000 last year and in September, Tom signed a fat four-year contract extension with the Pats worth a cool $72,000,000 million, making him the highest paid player in the NFL.

Former LSU and NFL football player (and current Southern University Athletic Director…oops) Greg LaFleur was busted in Houston for prostitution while he was there for the Final Four games!

According to the police report, he was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Houston for solicitation of a prostitute. The prosecutor's office in Harris County characterizes the case as "straight sex for pay," because the police report says he picked up a female for sex. And the female he picked up, just so happened to be an undercover police officer.

He was booked on a misdemeanor charge, with bond set at $500 bucks.

Hasn't Greg heard of the hotel bar? That's EASY pickin's there!! http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=14380994

The "He said, she said!" trial involving former Padres outfielder Brian Giles and his ex is just getting even more weird, now that NFL-er Kris Dielman was thrown into the testifying mix!

Kris testified this week that Brian's ex-girlfriend threatened to sue Kris after he accidentally gave her a bloody nose in a limo a few years ago!

Kris said they were just goofing around in the limo after partying in downtown San Diego. As he tried to tackle Brian in the limo, Kris said his size 13 foot went up and hit Brian's girlfriend, Cheri, in the nose, making it bleed.

Several months later, after Kris agreed to a six-year, $39 million dollar contract in 2007 with the Chargers, Cheri came knockin' on his door, asking him for money saying, "Now that you have a contract. I'd like to sue you!"

The testimony was part of Cheri's palimony and domestic violence suit against Brian, where his attorneys have tried to demonstrate that her suit is part of a pattern by Cheri to seek wealthy men for money to satisfy her lavish lifestyle. Olvera is seeking more than $10 million in damages from Giles in San Diego Superior Court.

Kris also testified that he would see Cheri smack Brian around and get rude and mouthy with him and his family. He said in one incident, Cheri actually became confrontational with Brian's mamma for sipping her champagne in a red Solo Cup in the suite box at Petco Park.

As part of her palimony claim, Cheri also said that Brian broke a promise to support her financially after they lived together in a marriage-like relationship for 5 years.

Her attorney's even went to the extent of showing part of an unsigned prenuptial agreement in which Brian appeared to offer Cheri $80,000 grand per year for four years as "payment for non-marital relationship." The money was due after either party filed for divorce, according to the document.

Brian is saying, no way! That was a "draft never agreed upon!" The two planned to marry in Hawaii in November 2007 but canceled it. He said the wedding never happened because she wouldn't sign the pre-nup while she's saying she didn't sign it because he wouldn't get counseling about his abuse.

And yes, if your head isn't already spinning enough with the details, throw in the fact that Brian also did a stint with Alcoholics Anonymous and took anger management courses during the course of this whole time as well…

(insert Jerry Springer chant ANYWHERE within the context of this story at any time) http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/05/chargers-dielman-testifies-giles-trial/#

Redskin Donovan McNabb's front yard was covered in tire tracks over the weekend, an apparent victim of a hit-and-run driver who wrecked a metal fence in his front yard as well!

The Washington Post is reporting that some unknown car was traveling north (probably not intentionally at this point) around 2am. The car apparently crossed into the oncoming lane, hitting a mailbox on the far side, before veering back and straight up onto McNabb's property.

They have no idea what prompted this to happen from the driver.

Um, let's see. 2am. Opposite side of the road. Alcohol, perhaps?

Anyway, to see the photos of the damage, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/rs-mcnabb/2011/04/05/AFtoAxkC_blog.html

Chicago Blackhawk and ex-Dallas Star Marty Turco is Corey Crawford's back-up, so it looks like he's taken to other resources to serve as entertainment from the sideline.

On Tuesday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, he supposedly accepted a casual bet from a Canadiens fan DURING the game!

A Montreal fan is claiming this, after he called into a radio station to tell his story. He claims that while the Canadiens were up 1-0 in the first period, he leaned over to the Chicago bench and told Marty he'd wager that the Blackhawks wouldn't score again in the game. When the game got tied up, Robert scribbled "Habs Rule!" on a $5 bill and handed it over. The two carried the bet throughout the game: double-or-nothing in the second, triple-or-nothing in the third, and in OT, Marty actually accepted "5-to-1 odds that the Canadiens would win the game."

This is DURING the game!!

When Montreal ended the game in overtime, Marty handed over the cash and Robert's original bill — with an edited note that said, "Turco Rules."

The fan is claiming THAT story, but a local broadcaster is saying, "There was no 'wad of $5 dollar bills' exchanged between Turco and a fan. Turco says he gave back the original $5. Good, clean fun…"

Incidentally, The Sun Times points out that the NHL set a bit of a precedent for this kind of stuff back in January, when it fined Ron Wilson for offering his players a cash reward for a game-winning goal.

Can't an idling veteran, bored to tears on the bench enough to cut up with a fan, just have some fun and not be judged by the NHL? http://deadspin.com/#!5789438/chicagos-marty-turco-uses-bench-time-to-place-bets-with-fans-write-turco-rules-on-5-bills

And finally…

This story just writes itself when I give you the headline: "Man with Brass Knuckles, Wearing Bunny Hat, Hurls Bowling Balls in Dispute Over Kids with Wet Shoes."

Seriously.

23-year-old Doua Yang was charged with second-degree riot in the incident and here's how it all went down.

A man who was bowling that night told cops that he saw a group of Asian males come down to the lanes with wet shoes. He told one of them to stay on the carpet.

Shortly after that, he said an older man, who he assumed was a guardian of some of the younger guys started yelling at him, but he ignored him. That's when he said "a group of Asian males returned and started fighting with them. A large fight broke out, and the Asian males were throwing chairs and bowling balls at the bowlers," all out of being upset that their kids had been asked to leave the lanes because of their wet shoes.

Our good buddy, Doua Yang — who witnesses said was wearing a white bunny hat and homemade brass knuckles — punched two of the bowlers, leaving one man needing stitches and another guy with a broken left hand and bruised ribs.

Couldn't they just all agree to extend the olive branch and make amends via the nachos at the bowling alley snack bar?!?!  http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_17771960?nclick_check=1

And THAT'S my "Jock Itch!"

 J