AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGoodfellas 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.
Comments
By JACKET MAN
November 1, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this
UGA IS GONNA LOOSE TO UK!!!!!
FEAR THE JACKETS!!!!
I AM THE MAN!!!!
By Old Dawg 55
November 1, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this
The only winning combo to come out of Kentucky is Maker’s Mark and ginger ale! The Cats will be a formidable foe and if the Dawgs aren’t hungry by now we may use more of MM/ga then usual. This is the week that the Kid and the Dawg receivers have to come into their own..knowing that, it means Georgia will go to a running attack…don’t ask me why. My confidence level in good schemes by our coaches is at rock bottom. We still have outstanding players..just point them in the right direction!!
By Dawgone
November 2, 2006 04:47 AM | Link to this
Dawgs will probably squeek by UK — I hope! NCSU will probably give Techsters a hard time but I think the Trekkies take that game.
My only hope is that my beloved Dawgs beat the hated Jackets! That will salvage this miserable year. I don’t want to even think about AU.
By Brad Stephens
November 2, 2006 06:37 AM | Link to this
The newsobserver skits on Amato and Bunting are hilarious! I watched those a few weeks ago right after the Akron debacle. I wish Grey would do more.
It’s hard to explain NCSU. They’re almost like Tech last year playing to their opponents level for better or worse.
I truly hope my Dawgs win Saturday, because it could realistically be our last of the season before some craptastic bowl. Kentucky, I think, is more talented than Vandy and Miss State, so it promises to be a real struggle for the Dawgs. We shall see come Saturday. The big game I’ll be watching is on Thursday, when I believe an undermanned Louisville squad gets taken down by the ‘Eers.
By Alabama Jack
November 2, 2006 07:36 AM | Link to this
Duke is puke, Wake is fake, NC State is the one to hate
By GATORS OWN YOU BEEATCH
November 2, 2006 07:50 AM | Link to this
Who cares about UGA?
BOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRINNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
By Wrecker 1
November 2, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this
I never have liked Amato. The only thing he’s accomplished in Raleigh is to turn NCSU into FSU north with their brashness and trash talking. If you’re going to do that it helps to win a whole bunch of games. Maybe if he worried more about caoching than getting paid to wear sun glasses in the dark or bright red shoes he wouldn’t be in the position he is today. They can lose every game and I wouldn’t care. With UNC replacing their coach Amato may be able to hold on to his job one more year.
By chuckj
November 2, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this
The Cats will keep this game interesting until the last 9 minutes or 9 seconds when they will again become the kittens and lose somehow - i’ve been there eight times when they lost on the last possession. They don’t know how to win games agains GA, TN, Fl, Sc and now Vandy. Close but no cigar GA 30 Cats 17
By catman
November 2, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this
uk wins this one. 27-21. Go Cats !!!
By Reality
November 2, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
CATS WILL CRUSH THE CONVICTS
By Brooks
November 2, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this
I don’t know how anybody can get on here and say they think Kentucky will handle the Dawgs this weekend. Very rarely do we drop one on an opponents home field. Kentucky is without their number one threat in Rafael Little and their secondary gave up 350 yards to Miss. State last week. Our D is coming back into form. Only Kentucky fans would think they will pull it off. The Dawgs don’t blow it this weekend. GO DAWGS
By dawgsfan
November 3, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
GATORS,
Get the he!! off this board if you think the Dawgs are so BORING!!! Go to a UF board!!
GO DAWGS!