SPORTS FOLDEROL

  Come on!! College football in Virginia isn’t THAT bad … is it? The NFL’s 32 teams must think so … after  MALIK WASHINGTON  who, in his only season at U.Va., set several records, was the only player selected from the commonwealth in the 2024 draft … And Washington, a transfer from Northwestern, had to wait until the sixth round before Miami called his name, the 184 th  player chosen overall … The 5-9, 191 pound wide receiver caught 110 passes for 1,426 yards – both school records – and nine touchdowns. In addition, he established another Cavalier standard for excellence, an even-more-impressive 100 yards (or more) receiving in 10 of 11 games for a team that finished 3-9, matching Pittsburgh for the worst record overall in the ACC … Actually, he was equally outstanding off the field … compiling a 4.0 average in his quest for a masters in higher education … At Northwestern, he was a two-time member of the Big 10 All-Academic team … with a four-year GPA of 3.7 … So someone, please … tell

  Oh no …another  ROBERT GRIFFIN III  … not AGAIN? What was the rap against  MALIK WASHINGTON  …  because he played for traditional non-powers Northwestern and  U.Va.? Best receiver after the reception we saw in 2023 …  including  MARVIN HARRISON JR. , over-rated because of  blood line … In his only season in Hooville, Washington set a  school record with 1,426 yards receiving on 110 catches, 43  more than Harrison Jr. (whatever that means). In this world of anything goes … another chapter, another.  verse … A suit has been filed in Queens (N.Y.) court against the  NCAA on behalf of two St. John’s basketball players seeking a  fifth year of eligibility … Transfers from Ivy League schools,  they argue the Ivies got an extra year because of restrictions  caused by the pandemic … so they should as well ...Wanna bet  they get it, too Not that we are surprised but … officiating in the National  Hockey League has gotten so bad the players hardly blink any  more when an obvious call is missed

  Another voice is heard … Interested in bringing hockey back to the area … when the proposed 17,000-seat arena is built (eventually) in Henrico County … is  TODD “PARNEY” PARNELL  of Richmond Flying Squirrels’ colorful pants fame … The former GM of the local AA baseball team says he and several other people affiliated with the Squirrels would like to own the next hockey franchise here … and provide the same entertainment value they brought to The Diamond in 2010 … Parnell, who retired from his Squirrels’ front office duties this year to spend more time with his family and – equally important -- catch his breath, remains involved with the team on a more limited basis while serving as consultant on the city’s plans to replace The Diamond … That makes at least three parties (to our knowledge) who have expressed interest in ownership of the seventh hockey team to call Richmond home … first since 2009 when  ALLAN HARVIE  pulled the plug on Renegades II after three years.  Should have known

  Saturday, for the first time in more than 50 years, the state sports hall of fame’s induction ceremony was held outside of Hampton Roads. It was, in one sense, an act of desperation of sorts by executive director  WILL DRISCOLL  who was hired five years ago at a time when the country was more upside down than right side up … and the hall’s future suspect at best. More on that in a moment. But first … you should understand Driscoll is a piece of work    … with energy to spare ... who apparently never met an   obstacle he couldn’t overcome … big and small … like? Well,  he attended Temple University planning to be the next great  sportscaster and, following graduation, found himself in Alaska  working for the CBS affiliate in Fairbanks doing everything …  news, weather and sports. “I sent out about 80 resume tapes,”  Driscoll said, “and they were the only one that offered me a  job.” Undaunted, he made the 4,500-mile trip from Tidewater, Va.,  north to Alaska, made the best of an unusu