House Of Sparky: FanPosts

Andrew Pettes Wants To Make Arizona Cry

2008-12-04T17:30:10Z

The student reporter at ASU was talking to Andrew Pettes and asked him what his ideal way to go out as a senior would be. His response? http://palestra.net/videos/play/19490

I think this is some great bulletin board material. Will it work or will it backfire? I know Pettes better have a great game or he will end up the next Jerramy Stevens. The Duel in the Desert just got a shot in the arm.

Kyle Williams- Son of a GM?

2008-11-13T19:10:45Z

I had no idea that Kyle Williams was the son of Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams. Found a great story on it....http://palestra.net/videos/play/18666

I think it is great that he took what he learned when he was young about how much passion and focus matters, and now he is trying to make it count at Arizona State. I would take a team full of guys like Kyle over some guys.

Coach Erickson Loves Chad Johnson

2008-10-30T16:00:00Z

With the Sun Devils heading up to Corvalis, you know somebody was going to talk about Erickson's days back with Oregon State. One reporter started to talk to him about Chad Johnson and you could tell Chad was Chad even in college. Erickson gives some great sound and it seems like they got along really well.

http://palestra.net/videos/play/17937

I forgot how much crazy talent he had up there. Steven Jackson, Ocho Cinco, and old TJ Whosyomama.....some solid teams.

[Now with Summary]: carp's Pac-12 expansion proposal

2008-10-29T16:29:48Z

I posted this proposal over at Cal Golden Blogs originally (among others). Be sure to vote here in this poll if you are a ASU fan!

A decision of this magnitude needs input from other Pac-10 teams so I’ll post similar things at the schools that have entered the 21st century and have SBN blogs (I’m looking at you ‘furd!). This includes ATQ, Conquest Chronicles, House of Sparky, Bruisnation, Building the Damn, UW Dawg Pound, and CougCenter, as well as Block U and The Ralphie Report. I also e-mailed Dr. Saturday (formerly SMQ), Ted Miller, and Jon Wilner to get their input.

Poll

ASU fans only: Do you support the Pac-10 expanding to 12 teams by including Colorado and Utah?

Yes

11 votes

No

15 votes

26 votes | Poll has closed

Watching Cal-Arizona State Online or At the Bars

2008-10-04T06:42:40Z

(This was written originally for Cal fans, but you guys might find this useful too.)

So I found most of the possible locations for viewing Cal football and put them on the Google Map here for Bears fans, so I decided to do it for every Pac-10 team. Oregon, Oregon St., Washington, Wazzu, USC, UCLA, ASU, Arizona all are mapped out. Except for the 'Furd, because everyone knows they don't have fans.

I cannot verify these are the current locations for this week's games; you'll have to call the bar or contact your local alum officials to make sure the game is going on.

However, these aren't all the locations, there are also meetups by our team's opponents being organized. I've included the locations to Arizona State meetups on this Google Map in case you can't make it or are nowhere close to the Cal meetups. So you should have almost all the official places to watch the game at your disposal.

As for watching online, there should be a few streams available. It'll be available on ESPN360 for sure for whichever locations you need--there should be at least one online stream by some ASU fan out there. I'll put a link on the game threads and here.

Unrelated, But Awesome: Toledo Has a Rocket Aimed At Bowling Green

2008-10-03T18:45:46Z

This has nothing to do with ASU, Cal, or anything Pac-10. But I came across this gem after reading a reference to it by Over The Pylon.

From all reports I could gather Toledo doesn't have an official mascot, though there is scuttlebutt of a certain Rocky the Rocket. However, they do have an actual rocket pointed at the football stadium of Bowling Green. That's hardcore. Insane. But hardcore.

Upon reading this, I had to do a little research. This is what I found:

In 1961, The University of Toledo procured a genuine rocket from the U.S. Army missile program, which was placed behind the crossbar of the north end goalpost, where the Larimer Athletic Complex resides today. The University of Toledo's prideful piece of artillery was donated partially because of the university's affiliation with the Ordnance Corps of the U.S. Department of Army.

During the renovation in 1989-90, the rocket was moved to its present day position on the northeast corner of the Glass Bowl just outside of the wall. The one-ton rocket carries two sets of fins and a propellant boost capable of guiding the missile to supersonic velocity.

The trajectory of the rocket is pointed 25 miles south towards Bowling Green State University. If the rocket were to be lit, it would blast-off and land directly on the 50-yard line of the Falcon's Doyt Perry football stadium.

Holy crap!

I like how there is a church in the background. If this rocket is coming at you, there is no God.

Anyway, this just made me sad that ASU doesn't have a massive pitchfork on a crossbow or something that is aimed right at Lute Olson's house.

Pictures of the Pitchfork

2008-10-02T16:03:17Z

I am doing some artwork, and I want to incorporate the pitchforks that are painted on the field at Sun Devil Stadium that serve as directional arrows. If anyone can help me out there I would appreciate it! I have searched all over the internet and either my search skills suck, or there aren't many pictures posted out there...Thanks in advance!

I am a member of blackshoediaries.com which is in the sportsblognation and figured you folks would be likely to help so I reached out to ya! I hate the 75 word minimum that is why I am rambling on like a mad man~!

California - Arizona State Broadcast Information

2008-09-30T23:55:12Z

Passing it along, since ASU fans deserve to know if they're going to get to see the game on their TV or are going to have to go scrounging for sports bars.

Announcers: Eric Collins, Rod Gilmore

The game will not be broadcast in High-Def. Should be on ESPN360 though if you get it. I'll try to find information for both Cal and ASU fans/alumni to use to watch the game outside regional restrictions later this week. Hope this helps!

Should Arizona State be terrified of an SEC defense?

2008-09-19T20:54:43Z

Now, let me preface this by saying as much as I enjoy Ted Miller, I have a sneaking suspicion he's a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing on this issue. He came to ESPN via the Seattle Post Intelligencer, and currently lives right here in Scottsdale (ahem, ahem -- good interview suspect, House of Sparky?). But he was born in Atlanta and went to school in Virginia, so he's certainly steeped in the SEC mystique, and in various interviews I've read he has generally been admiring of that conference's tradition and power.

All that said...he is a GREAT beat writer, and I'd kill to have him on staff at one of the local papers. He did a piece on his blog presenting some *gasp* FACTS about recent SEC/Pac-10 tilts, and questioning the going wisdom that ASU is going to shrivel up in a little ball at the mere sight of those big, bad southern boys are visiting SDS tomorrow. An excerpt:

As ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel pointed out this week: Eight SEC teams are in the top 30 in total defense.

But how many elite offenses have SEC teams faced so far? Check out the schedule. I'll wait here.

And it's not like those SEC defenses will face elite offenses in conference play, as Ivan also pointed out, "Four SEC teams rank among the top 50 in total offense, and only four rank among the top 59 in passing efficiency."

Now, Sun Devil fans certainly have reason to worry, given our collective fragile psyche after the shocking upset to UNLV last week. And ASU's last several big stage performances certainly haven't gone particularly well (I'm looking at you, Oregon, USC, and Texas). But it shouldn't be a surprise to see Rudy Carpenter & Co make some hay on the big, bad, Bulldawgs.

ESPN: Should Arizona State be terrified of an SEC defense?

Pac 10 v SEC: Some more facts

2008-09-04T22:56:27Z

So we out here in the west know how talented the Pac 10 is, but very rarely do we get the respect we deserve. Bruce Feldman wrote an article today on his blog and he had some interesting stuff about the Pac 10 vs the SEC. Check it out:

• More grist for the SEC nonconference scheduling debate. This time from Jon Solomon:

"Besides losing a payday, leaving home means this harsh reality for the SEC: It's pretty mediocre on the road. Since 1998, the SEC is 40-39 in nonconference road games. That mark drops to 24-31 at schools from BCS conferences. The Pac-10, which SEC fans conveniently shoo aside, is now 10-6 this decade against the SEC. Whereas the SEC is 1-6 at Pac-10 schools, the Pac-10 has gone 4-5 at SEC stadiums."

As I said the other day, I do believe that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football. "Believe" being the operative word. And while it is true that the league has won the past two BCS titles, these head-to-head games should carry some weight.

The Heisman Pundit weighed in on this subject recently and raised a valid point.

Good luck against Stanford this weekend, hope the game goes better for you than it did for us.

A look at negotiating at the top of the draft

2008-08-22T18:30:20Z

Came across an awesome article in the Washington Post via The Big Lead about the negotiation process between the Washington Nationals and their top draft pick Aaron Crow, who ended up being the only 1st rounder not to sign (I think -- max of 2.) Unlike the NFL or NBA drafts, the MLB draft doesn't get nearly as much attention and the process is pretty opaque to alot of us. This sheds a good light on what goes on with many players at the top of the draft and how it can often come down to the very last second, just like it did with Eric Hosmer this year and Josh Vitters last year. Because of the type of players we are dealing with at ASU who are among the most talented in the country, we will probably see something like this situation just about every year with at least a few players. It's long, but well worth a read.

More Than 3,700 words from Jim Bowden on Aaron Crow

Rudy in the NFL

2008-08-21T20:01:59Z

Ok, so a week and a half before the opening kickoff may be early to start talking about Carp playing in the big leagues, but there seems to be a large majority that considers Rudy a sub-par prospect.

Here's an article on ten senior quarterbacks expected to be drafted,

Rudy's Number Seven.

The thing that caught my eye was the first comment, which was particulary harsh, at least in my opinion.

uh, this guy is a liability. total hothead, probably wont make it through the season unijured. In a regular year for QB strength this clown wouldn`t be in the top 25. Has never won a big game. ever

Any opinions?

Could Eric Hosmer come to ASU?

2008-08-13T22:29:44Z

UPDATE: Baseball America is reporting that Hosmer signed a deal with the Royals at the deadline. Terms haven't been released as of yet, but I'll update when they are.

The deadline for drafted players to sign a contract is this Friday, 8/15. As always, there's a handful of high picks holding out to the last minute, and in all likelihood, everyone will come to terms before midnight on Friday. ASU recruit Eric Hosmer was drafted 3rd by the Kansas City Royals and negotiations are still apparently ongoing. But much of what's been written seems to indicate that although Hosmer is still pretty likely to sign a contract, it's not an absolute slam dunk.

Hosmer is represented by uberagent Scott Boras, who has almost singlehandedly remade the finances of the major league draft over the past 15 years. Year after year, high draft picks sign record breaking deals under his watch, as if pro clubs are helpless to keep themselves from throwing out cash by the bushel at his clients. This article from the Kansas City Star talks about the dynamic between club and agent.

We bring all this up because signing Hosmer is not a forgone conclusion. There were reports before the draft that Hosmer and his advisor, superagent Scott Boras, were looking for a bonus in the neighborhood of $7 million to skip out on his scholarship at Arizona State.....There's a little bit of a different feeling around Hosmer, who some think might be more willing to play college ball. Boras has always been a proponent of guys going to college. Some think that's just a negotiating position, and maybe it is to an extent, but I also think he believes it.

While KC has historically had decent success working with Boras clients, they are a small market team and you never know when they could decide that enough is enough.

Also, Hosmer himself doesn't seem to be the usual ballplayer who is only interested in money. This article from the Farmington (N.M.) Daily Times talks about his decision to come back for his Connie Mack team for the summer when he could have been at home enjoying his summer vacation.

"When Eric left last year, he said, I'll see you next year,' and I believed him," Redskins manager Joe Hayden said Saturday morning during his team's workout at the Farmington Sports Complex, a cigar dangling from his left hand. "Hos isn't driven by what drives a lot of young guys. Sure, he wants to make a lot of money, he wants to be a success, but he remembers his roots."

With all of the star power that left Tempe in the wake of a somewhat disappointing Super Regional finish that ended far short of the team's goals (even if they did lose to the eventual national champion), most were figuring that the team was going to take a significant step back. For all that Brett Wallace, Ike Davis & Co. were maligned for not performing up to expectations in postseason play, they led the Sun Devils to the best 3 year run of the Pat Murphy era. Adding a talent like Eric Hosmer would instantly allow them to replace a big chunk of the offense that was lost when those stalwarts moved onto the pros. It'd also quiet some of the critics who argue that Murphy doesn't bring in players who are interested in playing college baseball.

Certainly, the odds are still stacked high against Hosmer showing up in Tempe. Negotiations with top 5 pick Josh Vitters went down to the wire last year, but he still ultimately ended up signing on the dotted line of a professional contract. Expect a flurry of deals in the last hours and minutes before the 11:59 PM deadline Friday night. Cross your fingers though, that Eric Hosmer's name doesn't show up on that list and we get to look forward to seeing him in maroon & gold.

Mike Pollak

2008-08-05T22:16:00Z

Hiya! I'm BigBlueShoe, the head writer over at SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts site: Stampede Blue. Indy's first pick in the draft this year was Arizona State's Mike Pollak. Just wanted to know what Sun Devils fans thought of Mike.

So far, in camp, Mike has been competing with Charlie Johnson for the starting OG spot (Indy moved Mike to guard). He looked damned impressive in the HoF game recently, but I wanted to know what you guys thought of him when he anchored your offensive line.

Thanks, and welcome to SB Nation.

The Logo

2008-08-04T06:55:46Z

The site is ill wittit doe.

the logo?

Sparky's house

HouseOfSparky.com

i mean come on people. its perfect.

go ask your folk about it. they already know.

haha i now see why kristyn typed a lot. 75 words is like an assignment.

BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU BSU

ASU

2008-08-03T21:50:40Z

FINALLY!!! An ASU blog!!!!!!!!!!!! ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU ASU