House Of Sparky: FanShots

House of Sparky - one of the top 100 college sports blogs!

2008-11-20T05:45:30Z

House of Sparky - one of the top 100 college sports blogs!

The crew over at learning XL, a site dedicated to top 100 lists on various subjects like networks for change, sites for scholars, and search engines for writers, has posted a great list of their top 100 college sports blogs. Lo and behold, House of Sparky clocks in under one of the top school blogs. Thanks for the love!

ASU Alum Dustin Pedroia Wins AL MVP!

2008-11-18T20:30:55Z

ASU Alum Dustin Pedroia Wins AL MVP!

Pedroia, the pride of ASU, has become the first 2B to win the award in over 50 years. The little man led a depleted Boston squad (no Manny after the trade, Ortiz injured...) deep into the playoffs, and within a game of the World Series.

He beat out Justin Morneau of the twins by 60 points in the voting.

His 2008 MVP stat line:

157 games played
653 At-Bats
118 runs
213 hits
54 doubles
2 triples
17 home runs
83 runs batted in
50 walks
52 strike-outs
20 stolen bases
1 caught stealing
.326 average
.376 on-base percentage
.493 slugging percentage
.869 on-base plus slugging

C.W.'s note: This guy was a beast at 2B. It's difficult to say that anyone else held more value for their team in the American League this past season.

Pat's Run Set For April 18th, 2009

2008-11-13T17:13:50Z

Pat's Run Set For April 18th, 2009

I am looking forward to Pat's Run. Last year it was a great experience, and in 2009 House of Sparky will be throwing together a "House of Sparky Support" Group.

Members of this site can register under our group and may be able to get a discount. We will work this out at a future date. I just wanted to remind everyone that this will be occurring, and to get ready for a 4.2 mile walk/run!

ESPN's First Bracketology

2008-11-12T20:37:27Z

ESPN's First Bracketology

and it begins.

My question is: why would ASU have to go to Philly to play Temple in the first round.

"(New York, November 10, 2008) – Sports Illustrated’s 2008 College Basketball Preview issue hits new...

2008-11-10T18:59:25Z

"(New York, November 10, 2008) – Sports Illustrated’s 2008 College Basketball Preview issue hits newsstands on Wednesday with six regional covers featuring North Carolina, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Arizona State and Oklahoma. The Tar Heels are SI’s choice for the No. 1 men’s team in the land, while on the women’s side UConn gets top billing. In the preview issue, college basketball fans will find scouting reports for the top 20 men’s teams, complete with a five-minute guide that includes players to watch, preseason All-America teams and a projected field of 65 for the 2009 NCAA Tournament."

ASU gets its own cover? Somewhere in Tucson, Lute Olsen just fell in the shower.

Sports Illustrated Press Release

Randy Lein to be Inducted into GCAA Hall of Fame Arizona State coach lone inductee in 2008...

2008-11-04T19:52:15Z

Randy Lein to be Inducted into GCAA Hall of Fame
Arizona State coach lone inductee in 2008 class

NORMAN, Okla. — The Golf Coaches Association of America has named Randy Lein of Arizona State as the inductee of its 2008 Hall of Fame class. Lein will be officially honored at the GCAA Hall of Fame Reception and Awards Banquet Monday, Jan. 26 at the Doubletree at Universal Orlando in Orlando, Fla.

In his 17 seasons as the head coach at Arizona State, Lein has guided the Sun Devils to 41 tournament victories - including a school record six in 1995-96 - eight Pac-10 titles, four NCAA West Regional wins and eight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. He led ASU to the NCAA title in 1996 with a three-stroke victory at the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. In addition, Lein has tutored NCAA medalists Todd Demsey and Alejandro Cañizares and 14 PING All-Americans who claimed the honor on 34 occasions. More than 45 players have earned their undergraduate degrees under Lein. He has won Pac-10 Coach-of-the-Year honors five times at Arizona State and twice while at Southern California.

"I’m very honored to join such an elite group," said Lein. "To have your peers acknowledge what you have accomplished over the course of your career is most gratifying. To be recognized alongside the great coaches and contributors to college golf is very humbling."

Thanks to ASU Media Relations.

FOX SPORTS ARIZONA PICKS UP ASU/WASHINGTON FOOTBALL GAME Fox Sports Arizona announced today...

2008-10-30T19:27:11Z

FOX SPORTS ARIZONA PICKS UP ASU/WASHINGTON FOOTBALL GAME

Fox Sports Arizona announced today that will televise the Arizona State at Washington college football game live on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. to its regional viewers in Arizona and New Mexico.

Fox Sports Arizona will air Fox Sports Northwest¹s production of the game. The ASU/UW match-up will be one of five games televised on Fox Sports Arizona on Nov. 8 and the schedule is as follows:

9:30 am: College Football Saturday Kickoff
10:00 am: Big 12 game - TBA (match-up will be announced Nov. 3)
1:30 pm: Stanford at Oregon
5:00 pm: Arizona State at Washington
8:30 pm: Hawaii at New Mexico State (same day tape delay)
1:00 am: Tape delay Big 12 game - TBA (match-up will be announced Nov. 3)

Looking Back at Arizona State: Pursuit Angles

2008-10-29T18:46:12Z

Looking Back at Arizona State: Pursuit Angles

HydroTech over at California Golden Blogs has done it again, but this time has dissected the pursuit angles on defense that allowed ASU to cut the lead to 17-7 in the 2nd quarter. Fairly interesting analysis.

Is It Basketball Season Yet? Basketball Team On Hand For Autographs At The Select-A-Seat

2008-10-22T19:46:18Z

Is It Basketball Season Yet? Basketball Team On Hand For Autographs At The Select-A-Seat

This looks like a nice event. The team will be on hand from 4:30 to 5:15 signing their autographs on memorabilia. This is mostly for the kids, so bring them out and get geared up to support the maroon and gold in Sun Devil Stadium.

"This Saturday (Oct. 25), check out the Sun Devil men's basketball team before the ASU vs. Oregon football game. The men's basketball team will be hosting an autograph session and Select-A-Seat event inside Wells Fargo Arena. The east entrance gates will open at 4 p.m. and the team will sign autographs from 4:30-5:15. Please note that autographs will be limited to one item or photograph per fan. Bring your family and arrive early as seats available for season ticket purchase will be tagged and ASU ticket sales representatives will be on hand to assist you in finding your ideal seats to watch your Sun Devils in action for the 15-game home schedule.

Great seats are available and season tickets start at just $99. "

Pac-10 Power Poll: Week 6, Located at CougCenter

2008-10-08T17:01:07Z

Pac-10 Power Poll: Week 6, Located at CougCenter

Here's Week 6 in the Pac-10 Power Poll: USC is unanimously #1 again.

1. USC - 70
2. Cal - 63
3. Oregon - 51
4. Arizona - 47
5. Oregon State - 45
6. ASU - 38
7. Stanford - 27
8. UCLA - 23
9. Washington - 11
10. WSU - 10

Click through the link to see how everyone voted individually, including House Of Sparky.

USC QB Mark Sanchez "Questionable" For ASU Game

2008-10-06T22:47:38Z

USC QB Mark Sanchez "Questionable" For ASU Game

Here's what they are saying over at The Trojan Empire.

"Quarterback Mark Sanchez became a casualty of the Oregon Ducks. Monday's MRI revealed a bone bruise, but no ligament damage. Sanchez is listed day-to-day and remains questionable to participate against Arizona State on Saturday. Mitch Mustain would receive the start, if he is unable to go."

Interesting. It could be backup theatre this week, as both Rudy Carpenter and Sanchez are hurt. Wonder what will happen over the course of the week...

LB Gerald Munns to Miss Rest of Season to "Personal Issues"

2008-10-01T19:48:46Z

LB Gerald Munns to Miss Rest of Season to "Personal Issues"

Gerald Munns is out for the season with undisclosed personal reasons. It appears like the team doesn't really know what is going on - and we can only be left to speculate what happened. But Munns is a big loss, he was Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2 against Stanford, and now our depth will have to step up. Suspended player, Morris Wooten, will start in place of Munns along with Mike Nixon and freshman Shelly Lyons. Erickson calls Wooten, "An energizer bunny."

Collegiate Baseball names Arizona State #1 Recruiting Class in the Nation!

2008-09-26T09:58:09Z

Collegiate Baseball names Arizona State #1 Recruiting Class in the Nation!

Even after we lost Eric Hosmer (4th overall pick) to the Kansas City Royals, we have managed to bring in the #1 ranked class for 2009. 21 new players, 12 were drafted. 15 freshman, 6 transfers, of those 6 transfers 3 were all americans.

The drafted players:
Johnny Coy, OF/IF, 7th round, Philadelphia Phillies
Zack MacPhee, IF, 22nd round, Detroit Tigers
Josh Spence, LHP, 25th round, Arizona Diamondbacks
Zach Wilson, IF, 26th round, Pittsburgh Pirates
Brandon Magee, OF, 29th round, Tampa Bay Rays
Riccio Torrez, IF, 32nd round, Arizona Diamondbacks
Carlos Ramirez, C, 34th round, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2007 draft)
Johnny Ruettiger, OF, 35th round, Texas Rangers
Jared McDonald, IF, 40th round, Chicago Cubs
Jordan Swagerty, C/RHP, 44th round, Colorado Rockies
Abe Ruiz, IF, 47th round, San Francisco Giants
Drew Maggi, IF, 47th round, Arizona Diamondbacks

None of the drafted players in this list signed, they will all be attending ASU.

Receiver Makes Unreal Catch, Nearly Breaks His Own Neck

2008-09-26T00:03:11Z

Receiver Makes Unreal Catch, Nearly Breaks His Own Neck

This catch is amazing! I was a little unsure of how a catch could be so awesome, but after seeing the video I am a believer in this catch. What a play.

QB Recruit Brock Osweiler Enrolling at ASU in January

2008-09-25T22:31:30Z

QB Recruit Brock Osweiler Enrolling at ASU in January

This kid sounds like a beast. 6'8", averaging 300 passing yards and 70 rushing yards in Montana? Sign me up to see him. He might just be able to play backup next year, seeing our current crop (including the erstwhile Danny Sullivan).

Road to Game Day visits Tempe for UGA game, says "Arizona State football fans suck"

2008-09-25T01:26:40Z

Road to Game Day visits Tempe for UGA game, says "Arizona State football fans suck"

These guys should have contacted some actual football fans before coming out to Sun Devil Stadium. If they had, they would have learned that many students just go tailgate, and don't even go to the game. It's just a great excuse to get piss-drunk.

But I digress. Here is the quote I am referring to:

Let’s get the tough part out of the way. Arizona State football fans suck. At one point in the afternoon, I started asking ASU fans actual football questions, and most of them knew next to nothing about their team. You know your fanbase isn’t quite rabid when they agree that Rod Tidwell was going to have a really good season this year. While the stadium was pretty loud, and it’s an impressive feat of endurance to watch any football game in that heat, the stadium was inundated with Georgia fans (many of whom had to buy season tickets just to get tickets for the game) and we got two very good seats for less than face value.

ASU's 12 man goal line stand against UGA in 4th Quarter

2008-09-23T22:25:25Z

ASU's 12 man goal line stand against UGA in 4th Quarter

Thank you, Sean Piccola, for sending this link in.

This is a video showing ASU holding a goal line stand against Knowshon Moreno and the Bulldogs in the 4th quarter. Why was this a success?

Probably because we had 12 men on the field, and the refs didn't even notice it. Good work, ya schmucks.

Ethan Mather Commits to Sun Devil Baseball

2008-09-23T16:52:12Z

Ethan Mather Commits to Sun Devil Baseball

Ethan Mather, a pitcher from Ozark High School in Missouri, has committed to ASU for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Ethan Mather file

School: Ozark High School
Year: Senior
Position: pitcher/designated hitter
Honors: two-time all-state and all-Ozarks; two-time Central Ozark Conference player of the year
2007 stats: 8-0; 1.62 ERA; 82 strikeouts; .393 average; 10 doubles; 23 RBI

I would be interested in seeing his K/9 ratio, his WHIP, and just how hard he throws the ball.

Either way, it is good to see ASU pulling the talent consistently. It is the hallmark of an elite program.

What Happened to Cal's Running Game?

2008-09-23T00:34:17Z

What Happened to Cal's Running Game?

This article is featured on the front page of SB Nation, and for good reason. It is an in-depth breakdown of how Maryland's 3-4 defense stymied a Cal running game that is used to operating against a 4-3 set.

We can learn a lot about how to stop Jahvid Best and the Golden Bears by checking out this article. Maybe Dennis Erickson can pick up a thing or two while he is at it..

Georgia 27, ASU 10: Dawg Sports Analyzes Their Performance In The Desert

2008-09-22T03:31:23Z

Georgia 27, ASU 10: Dawg Sports Analyzes Their Performance In The Desert

Dawg Sports has analyzed the game. It is clear that Georgia is superior physically, and their coaching is top notch.

There is one image in the article that can hopefully serve as motivation for our Sun Devils as they begin Pac-10 play in California on October 4...