First Call: Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski explains outburst; Ray Lewis endorses Steelers’ Hall of Fame candidates
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In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Mike Krzyzewski explains his odd outburst at his own student section during a win over Pitt Tuesday.
Pitt football loses a legend. Shaquille O’Neal discusses the loss of Kobe Bryant.
Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson endorse both Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca for the Hall of Fame.
Duquesne prepares for a huge challenge.
That was weird
During Tuesday night’s basketball game between Pitt and Duke, Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski walked over to his own team’s student section and started yelling at the fans.
Apparently, Coach K thought that the “Cameron Crazies” were chanting something derogatory at Pitt coach Jeff Capel.
Of course, Capel is a Duke grad and a former assistant of Krzyzewski’s. So he took offense on Capel’s behalf.
After Cameron Crazies started yelling "Jeff Capel, sit with us," Coach K could be seen yelling "Shut up" and "He's one of us."
Capel played at Duke and coached there for 7 seasons. pic.twitter.com/OdKeJ62MMv
— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2020
It appears that the student section was just chanting “sit with us” to Capel. And Krzyzewski either misheard or misunderstood. So he apologized after his Blue Devils won.
Well, kinda.
If you haven't yet heard, there was some controversy in regards to what the students were yelling to Pitt head coach, Jeff Capel, who is K's former player and assistant coach. K apparently told them to knock it off at halftime. Here was his full explanation: @Sports_Night pic.twitter.com/ecnFvD3DGe
— J.B. Ricks Sr. (@JB_Ricks) January 29, 2020
Wow. Hip and modern alternative suggestions there, K.
What an awful week
The NBA lost a future Hall of Famer Sunday when Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.
Early Wednesday morning, the NFL — and the University of Pittsburgh — lost a Hall of Famer as well.
Chris Doleman died after a two-year battle with brain cancer.
We express our deepest sympathies to Chris Doleman’s family and friends upon his passing. pic.twitter.com/4smc4gn5PY
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 29, 2020
Over 15 years with the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, Doleman totaled 150.5 sacks. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler. He was either first or second team All-Pro five times and was part of the 1990 NFL All-Decade Team.
Doleman was a star at Pitt from 1981-84.
Shaq speaks
Bryant will forever be tied with Shaquille O’Neal because of their championship days with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Their relationship was rocky at times, despite the three titles they won together.
But they seem to have reconciled somewhat in retirement. At least to the point that O’Neal was visibly shaken during a TNT segment Tuesday night.
“I haven’t felt a pain that sharp in a while.. it definitely changes me.”’@SHAQ on the loss of his brother, Kobe. pic.twitter.com/dM5i0DDgGK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
O’Neal and Bryant were teammates for eight years.
Endorsements abound
Steelers Hall of Famer Rod Woodson joined Mark Madden on 105.9 the X Tuesday.
He endorsed both Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca for the Hall of Fame vote this weekend.
Given their mutual Steelers ties, that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Here’s someone campaigning on their behalf that may shock you, though: Ray Lewis!
Yes, Lewis was a longtime Baltimore Ravens rival during the height of the careers of both Faneca and Polamalu. Despite the animosity that may have been built up during those seasons, Lewis is showing the respect he had for his peers on the other sideline after so many AFC North battles.
“He controlled the tempo of the front seven,” Lewis said on Steelers.com. “His climb was so quick. First level. Second level. Boom!
“I think a Hall of Famer is somebody who truly has a career that inspires others to be like them. To be great. Every time he stepped on the field, he was great.”
Lewis also gushed about Polamalu.
'The greatest ones find a way to change the game.'
Hall of Fame linebacker @raylewis explains why #PFHOF20 Finalist @tpolamalu deserves to be in Canton. pic.twitter.com/rS4LbLsX41
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 25, 2020
“The greatest ones have the ability to change games,” Lewis said. “Even though I hated it, had to respect it.”
Lewis specifically pointed to Polamalu’s interception for a touchdown against his Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship Game.
Daunting Dayton
The Duquesne basketball team hosts Dayton at PPG Paints Arena Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Flyers are ranked seventh in the country at 18-2. They average 83.2 points per game. Only Gonzaga and Eastern Washington average more.
They shoot at a 52% clip from the floor. That’s the best in the country. And they lead the nation in assists at 18.9 per game.
Plus Dayton boasts Player of the Year candidate Obi Toppin.
So how do the 15-4 Dukes handle all that? Here’s Keith Dambrot’s answer.
Coach D on the No. 7 Flyers#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/JOp6JN6Y7i
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 28, 2020
The Dukes lost at Dayton 68-64 last year. The Flyers also won at the Palumbo Center 78-67.