Real Men of Genius

I found this on the Phog.net Kansas Jayhawk message board from someone who stole it from the Tigerboard. It's good stuff. Hat tip to whoever wrote this piece but, if you've ever read a college sports message board regardless of school or sport, you'll certainly get a kick from this parody:

BUD LIGHT PRESENTS, REAL MEN OF GENIUS

Reeeeal men of geeeeeniuuuus!

Today we salute YOU, Mr. Really Mad Internet Sports Fan

"Mr. Really Mad Internet Spo-orts Fan!"

Only YOU can fully appreciate the mind-blowing tragedy of a bunch of 18-22 year old athletes you'll never meet, losing a game.

"Don't you TAAAAALK to me about perspective!!"

While others are too preoccupied with things like real life, you take your anger directly to the place where it will make the absolute least possible impact: An Internet discussion forum.

"Loggin' on now!"

Your unique eye for logic allows you to sling turds of doom every which way, and then brag about how you were RIGHT as soon as one of the pieces sticks to the wall – regardless of how many dozens fell limply to the floor before that.

"See I told you sooooooo!!"

And if some idiot newspaper columnist has the gall to not be as incensed as you are, you unleash your fury down upon him with all the tenacity and mercilessness of a rabid pit bull with a tender buttock locked in its jaws.

"Total anonymity!"

So keep clicking away, oh Marauder of the Mousepad. Because when the results you so desire finally come about years from now, you can say it was because YOU demanded it."

"Mr. Really Mad Internet Spo-orts Fan!"

RIP Wicked Pickett

I've been extraordinarily busy with work lately and my posting has dropped considerably. For those of you who know me, my passion for music may be greater that my love of sport. As I drove home from work the other evening, the DJ on the radio told his audience of how Wilson Pickett had died of a heart attack the previous week on January 19.

Pickett was most noted for his superb "Mustang Sally" and "In the Midnight Hour" but his career was so much more than that. I had the good fortune to see him perform on May 4, 2001 at the 2001 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival where he was the second to last performance on the Acura stage. My friends and I were greatly intrigued by the addition of the soul legend to set the stage for Paul Simon to close the day. While he certainly obliged the audience by performing his hits, I most remember how eloquent his old voice still sounded after all these years. Truly one of the highlights of Jazzfest experiences.

I am somewhat concerned about the next generation of soul artists. We've lost a lot of our old school R&B and Motown singers and I don't see their legacies being carried in today's youth. There are exceptions of course but I can't help but think that we're losing a terrific genre of music.

God be with you Wilson and thank you for all the wonderful memories you've left with us.

Some great reads from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and BBC.

The words of Louie Armstrong

Do you know what it means to miss new orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I’m not wrong... this feeling’s gettin’ stronger
The longer, I stay away
Miss them moss covered vines...the tall sugar pines
Where mockin’ birds used to sing
And I’d like to see that lazy mississippi...hurryin’ into spring

The moonlight on the bayou.......a creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about magnolias in bloom......and I’m wishin’ I was there

Do you know what it means to miss new orleans
When that’s where you left your heart
And there’s one thing more...i miss the one I care for
More than I miss new orleans

The moonlight on the bayou.......a creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about magnolias in bloom......and I’m wishin’ I was there

Do you know what it means to miss new orleans
When that’s where you left your heart
And there’s one thing more...i miss the one I care for
More.....more than I miss.......new orleans


God bless New Orleans!

Accolade for Rush

Not surprisingly, Brandon Rush has been honored as the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on the strength of his performance against Kentucky.

From KU Sports.com:

Big 12 officials announced Monday that Kansas University guard Brandon Rush was the league's Rookie of the Week. Rush averaged 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as Kansas recorded home victories over Yale (87-46) and No. 19 Kentucky (73-46). The freshman guard shot 57.1 percent from the floor (12-of-21) and 3-point range (4-of-7) in two games, with eight assists. Rush's highlight game came against Kentucky, when he posted his first career double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He was 9-of-15 from the field in the contest. Rush leads KU in scoring (12.8 points per game) and is the top-scoring freshman in the Big 12.

Rush's honor is the first to be bestowed on a Jayhawk this season. And I don't think it will be the last. If he keeps playing like this, he may be in the NBA next season.

Things are coming together

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. For those who missed it, the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team throttled the Number 21 Kentucky Wildcats 73-46 in a meeting of two of the top three winningest collegiate programs of all time. The Jayhawks shot 50% from the field, had eight blocked shots, and held Kentucky to 21.4% shooting. KU leads the country in field goal percentage defense and that number will drop after yesterday's performance. Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers are settling in nicely at the two and four respectively. Thanks to Russell Robinson, Kentucky's top scorer Rondo was held to nine points and three assists. The backcourt of Robinson and Chalmers is going to be a beautiful thing to watch over the next couple of years. A memorable display by the stud Brandon Rush even caught the eye of a certain Kentucky-crazed Hollywood starlet.

A Wildcat fan penned a wee testimonial of yesterday's debacle:

I will say this though the people of Kansas were a class act, and I was very appreciative of their hospitality. Also Allen Fieldhouse is a site to see and experience. The introduction with the Rock Chaulk Jayhawk chant and pregame ritual is a pretty neat thing to experience.

The player introductions are very cool, they show pictures of Naismith, Allen, and Rupp in pictures before they announce the players.
And it is very LOUD in that arena too.

I was very upset, and it was very hard to watch this game but the memory will last a lifetime of the history of this place and being with friends to experience it with.

Yesterday, Bill Self's lineup juggling and player rotations came together as the Jayhawks looked fresh for the entire game, kept up the defensive intensity, and always seemed to have the right guys on the floor to match up with Kentucky. For a freshman and sophomore dominated team, they have improved significantly since the start of the season and the team is beginning to gel as a cohesive unit.

We still have some room for improvement and we're going to lose few more. As is the case every year, we'll sell out every road game and that school will be gunning to knock us down a notch or two. The buildings will be loud and our youth will tested dramatically. But that youth is so exciting and I can't wait to watch them develop as a unit over the next couple of years.

Every day is a great day to be a Jayhawk. But beating Kentucky makes it feel Christmas.