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Commentary: Time  to take  Flyers  seriously

By Brian Kollars, Sports editor Updated 5:19 PM Monday, January 23, 2012

Jim Tressel’s master plan is really coming together. The disgraced former Ohio State football coach reportedly is in the running for the Indianapolis Colts job. What better way to taunt the NCAA than to take an NFL gig a few blocks from the headquarters of college sports’ governing body?

The Dayton Flyers have become one of the feel-good stories of the college basketball season. I’ve been asked many times what I think of this Flyers team, and my answer always has been: “I can’t buy in until UD beats Xavier.” Well, cross that one off the bucket list.

UD played Eliot Ness to Xavier’s group of wayward gangsters at a raucous UD Arena on Saturday. The 87-72 victory was extremely impressive considering Chris Johnson looked to be less than 100 percent.

The Flyers began the season as a group that played suspect defense and couldn’t rebound. They played defense with purpose against the Musketeers and controlled the boards. Impressive.

So Fausto Carmona really isn’t Fausto Carmona? The story of the Tribe’s mysterious pitcher from the Dominican Republic, who is three years older than he claimed, makes you wonder how many other guys are fibbing about their age. (BTW, Albert Pujols, another Dominican guy, is, well, 32.)

Speaking of old guys, how many years has Scoop Jardine played for Syracuse? I think he was in the Orange’s starting backcourt with Pearl Washington.

I caught the end of the UC-West Virginia game and was impressed that the Mountaineers’ mascot also plays basketball. Turkish enforcer Deniz Kilicli has facial hair that would make Kevin Pittsnogle jealous.

The NBA still doesn’t call traveling. Kobe Bryant scrambled for a loose ball Friday night, steadied himself then clearly took two steps right in front of an official. No whistle.

The FX hit “Justified” came out of the blocks firing from both barrels. The season premiere provided more evidence that Timothy Olyphant might be the coolest actor on TV.

If you’re hungry and happen upon the Golden Arches, steer clear of the McBites. There might be some chicken in there somewhere, but I couldn’t find any.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2163 or bkollars@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Knucklehead  of the week

Dre Kirkpatrick, a cornerback who helped Alabama become the king of college football, is busy preparing for the NFL lifestyle. Kirkpatrick, who is skipping his senior season for the riches of pro sports, was arrested after midnight last Monday on marijuana possession in Bradenton, Fla. Young Dre was a passenger in a truck that was stopped by police. He told the authorities he had absolutely no idea what was in the bag that drug dogs found near his feet.

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