WRAL Sports Fan

The Mitchell Report: Bol Bol and guys we don't like

By Mandy Mitchell
Oct 14, 2012

This will serve as my weekly column for notes about things I find interesting outside the Triangle. Enjoy my insights. I will enjoy sharing them ...

Does anyone like that guy?

I was left wondering this week...is anyone really an A-Rod fan? Was anyone disappointed when Joe Girardi pinch hit for him? I feel like he is one of the more disliked guys in all of sports. People who are not Yankees fans don't like him because he's made A LOT of money for a guy who isn't exactly clutch. Yankee fans don't like him because he isn't exactly clutch. Then there's that whole performance enhancing drugs thing. I don't like him much because I don't like his mental makeup. I admire people with swagger. I want my favorite athletes to know they are going to win. It's hard to be clutch if you are afraid to fail. Or worse, you are afraid people don't like you.

I know you don't like this guy...

Staying on the subject of athletes who we could all do without...Kurt Busch. Did you know Busch made his debut with a new NASCAR team in Charlotte? Probably not because he's pretty irrelevant in the sport these days. He is now driving a car for Furniture Row. Sounds like that's a team ready to take on Hendrick doesn't it? Busch was with Phoenix Racing, but left to join Furniture Row for the remaining races of this year and 2013. Busch won the Cup in 2004. He has a championship, and he can't find anyone better than Furniture Row to hire him. That's because he's a big time jerk. His latest "run-in" with NASCAR was last week in Talladega when he sped away from that huge wreck while emergency crews were working. He claimed he "didn't hear" the officials who were yelling at him to stop. Best of luck to Furniture Row when Busch decides the equipment is not up to his high standards.

Bol Bol

Simply because of the name, I hope Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, or Mark Gottfried gives this kid a call. There is a 7th grader in Kansas who is turning some heads. His name is Bol Bol. He is 6 foot 5. You may have heard of his Dad, 7 foot 7 NBA player, Manute Bol. Apparently Bol is quite the player for a youngster. He can drain the three and even makes flashy passes behind his back. Here's hoping Bol Bol becomes a big star!

Heisman Talk

There are few things in sports that bug me more than early Heisman talk. I wish we would all remember you can not win the Heisman in September, you can only lose it. I saw multiple people ready to hand the statue to Geno Smith a couple of weeks into the season. I like Smith and I really enjoy watching West Virginia's offense, but take it easy! WVU lost badly to Texas Tech. Geno threw for one touchdown and seemed to have come down to earth. I know it's fun to talk about the Heisman, but it's usually a waste of time. How about pre-season Heisman front-runner Matt Barkley? He ranks 30th in the country in pass efficiency. I'm not liking his chances.

The Space Jump

I have to admit, I spent two hours in front of my computer on Sunday watching the Felix Baumgartner jump from space. I honestly didn't think the guy was going to make it. I was so nervous watching this, but it was really great entertainment. It's amazing how much drama there is in watching a man hanging from a balloon. I don't think many people would have half the guts to attempt what Felix did. I thought it was really quite stupid when I heard about the stunt. However, there I was really excited for him when he opened that parachute. It is interesting to watch someone who seems fearless achieve something so great. Yet A-Rod seems scared to hit a baseball in October.