AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 01
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Goodfellas and ‘Cat Scratch Fever
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Enemy Watch has a soft spot in her normally cold little heart for embattled N.C. State coach Chuck Amato, and not just because he’s a dead ringer (sort of pun intended) for the Joe Pesci character in “Goodfellas.” Come to think of it, ditto for the Joe Pesci character in “My Cousin Vinny.”
So she wondered if the fine folks at Raleigh’s Premier Newspaper had gone a bit over the top in depicting Amato rather unsparingly in a wicked ‘web cartoon,’ basically implying the guy’s stealing money to perpetuate a mediocre program.
But this was done before the season. N.C. State’s results thus far make this interactive bit quite a gem.
And these multimedia whizzes spared no generosity to soon-to-be-ex-North Carolina coach John Bunting, and the regal Coach K, dancing around with his ‘kPod’ and shilling for a relationship service called ‘dHarmony.’ Devilishly delightful, indeed.
The Amato “character,” with the voice coming from The Notorious B.O.B. (is this a real rapper?) insists that “I am the man,” which is essentially what Pesci’s character thought in “Goodfellas” on the day he was supposed to be a “made guy.” Moments later, he gets whacked.
Which is what the Howling Wolf-pack Hordes are crying for right now with N.C. State at 3-5, coming off an inexplicable loss to Virginia, which followed inexplicable wins over Florida State and Boston College, which followed an inexplicable loss to — ahem — Akron of the Mid-American Conference.
This is the Amato Era, in a nutshell, and the puzzling environment into which the 20th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will plunge on Saturday, the trickiest of their final three conference games. Call it a Bermuda Triangle of gridiron grotesqueries, with North Carolina and Duke rounding it before the Bulldogs beckon.
Deftly navigate this encounter at the revamped Carter-Finley Stadium — The House That Chuck Had to Have Built — and a spot in the ACC title game is all but assured. Right?
The Jackets aren’t saying that, but in Raleigh the thinking isn’t about a bowl game, but trying to establish something better down the road — with or without Chuck.
The Head Goodfella tries to describe his team’s wacky ways, but is stumped himself: “We have a hard time explaining it to ourselves.” One factoid mentioned here worth pointing out is an N.C. State defense that’s forced only six turnovers ALL SEASON.
The Wolfpack is its own enemy, sez this blogger, especially after the Virginia debacle.
Fans chime in on what changes should be made — namely, everything.
Yes, the only thing Wolfpackers are cheering these days is that George Steinbrenner got sick in Chapel Hill.
As for another ex-FSU coach wondering wha’ happened, Mark Richt couldn’t have done better on the schedule than face Kentucky before the Auburn-Georgia Tech finale. Or could he?
There is a big game in the Commonwealth this week, but it isn’t in Lexington. Has the Kentucky sporting epicenter shifted to Louisville — Thursday’s Cardinals-West Virginia whopper is drawing more attention even than the Breeders Cup and Big Blue Basketball for the moment.
The gridiron Wildcats are resisting the urge to talk big about their chances against Georgia after a 34-31 thriller over Mississippi State.
“I don’t say (Georgia is) down,” UK wide receiver Keenan Burton said. “I say they’re hungry, more than anything. I think Georgia’s the same team they’ve always been.”
He watched his words because a teammate who ran his mouth last week against Rich Brooks’ orders has been muzzled. It’s hard to talk to the media when you’re busy doing wind sprints. Quoth the coach: “I’m old, so I’m old-fashioned. I believe you respect your opponent.”
But the chance to feel something resembling giddiness over UK football is in the air. Are they smelling bowl eligibility, or at least the chance to craft a winning record, with a 4-4 slate and home games after this against Vandy and UL-Monroe? Winning two of the three before meeting the Vols could have them dancing in the streets.
This fan blogger is hopeful and some others think the UGA game represents the “biggest opportunity” in the Brooks era for the Wildcats to do something meaningful.
