The Big Event

Breaking news out of the ACC

2006-02-07T11:01:00.000-06:00

I got this from Phog.net:

Duke foul to be called on National TV!!!!!

Greensboro, (NC) Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that a foul is tentatively scheduled to be called against Duke sometime in the first half of their game with UNC in Chapel Hill, next Tuesday, February 7th.

In a joint press conference with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and ACC Director of Officials John Clougherty, Swofford said an agreement had been reached for a touch foul to be whistled on as-yet-to-be-determined Blue Devil player around the 7:00 minute mark during the first half of the game at the Smith Center.

"We are very excited to arrange something that hasn't been seen in our conference since 1998," said Swofford. "I want to personally commend Mike (Krzyzewski) for agreeing to this unconventional deal. We all know how reluctant he has been to allow any calls to go against his team."

Krzyzewski insisted that this move was purely a gesture of generosity aimed at rehabilitating his public image in light of recent lip-synching fiascos during several nationally televised games. "The camera did not catch me really uttering the BS-word during my argument with the official the other night. Those really were my lips moving but I wasn't really yelling the word. I'm sure our fans will understand."

"Mike is being a really good sport about this," noted UNC coach Roy Williams. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play them with a foul being called against their squad, and to have it happen here in front of the home crowd will be especially enjoyable for our fans."

Clougherty says that unless unforeseen intimidation happens during the game, that the scheduled foul should occur without a hitch. "It all depends on whether Coach K holds up his end of the bargain and promises not to harrass our crew that evening."

Clougherty also said not to expect any more fouls to be called against Duke this season, but did not rule out the possibility of another one being called in an exhibition game in November 2006. "The Duke AD told me that they are trying to schedule Marathon Oil for a pre-season game next year and we are in discussions about perhaps calling another foul against Duke in that match-up if everyone can come to terms."

The officiating crew for the Duke vs. UNC game will not be announced publicly prior to the game in order to protect their privacy. Swofford said he anticipated a media barrage and did not want the referees to be distracted from their big task at hand. "This is a big deal and a momentous occasion for the league. We need our employees to remain focused so that they can complete their jobs in what could end up being a very difficult situation."

Game Notes: If the foul occurs on February 7th, it will be the 27th foul called against the Blue Devils in their basketball history...........
UNC fan favorite Byron (Colonel) Sanders had a chicken bone removed from his throat yesterday, and is expected to be recovered for the game......
Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick will be handling the TV play by play for ESPN. Vitale says he has no idea what he will say when the foul is called against Duke but he has been placed on a prescription sedative as a preventive measure. (Patrick could not be reached for comment, and was last seen entering a tanning salon in Durham with a picture of JJ
Redick).........
A CBS 60 Minutes television crew is planning to attend the game to catch the event on tape for an upcoming expose on the Duke basketball program and how Mike Krzyzewski uses friendships and loyalty to advance his own agenda.

__________________________
On a side note, I do aologize for the complete lack of posting recently. Everything has hit the fan at the same time and I haven't had the opportunity to discuss the many Packers and Jayhawks related stories that have transpired over the last couple of months. Bear with me, I'll be back in full force soon.

Real Men of Genius

2006-01-26T08:38:00.000-06:00

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

2006-01-25T12:48:00.000-06:00

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

2006-01-10T18:08:00.000-06:00

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

2006-01-09T11:34:00.000-06:00

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

2006-01-08T14:29:00.000-06:00

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.

"We knew coming into the bowl game that Kansas is a great team"

2005-12-27T18:32:00.000-06:00

Even I would never have called Kansas a great football team. But, maybe that's what you say when you get your lunch handed to you in the only game broadcast that evening. For those that may have missed it last week, the might Jayhawks of Kansas, the best football team in the state thank you very much, trounced the Cougars of Houston 42-13. The score is fairly indicative of the dominating performance displayed by both the offense (Huh?) and defense (Of course).

Now, some disbelievers might sat "It was only Houston" or "Play a real team" or "Let's see you do that to USC". But this is Coach Mangino's second bowl in four years and Kansas' first bowl victory in a decade. While the Hawks will be losing a few key players, they have some great players returning and Mangino has locked in another solid recruiting class for next year. Rome wasn't built in a day and, with a little luck, perhaps we can stand tall in the completely lame Big 12 North someday soon.

Geaux Hawks!

Down the stretch they come

2005-12-27T17:19:00.000-06:00

Perhaps I should have my friend DillyBerto handicap the race for Bush '06. Mr. Banks at CNNSI seems to think the Saints are in the drivers seat, given that Houston finally gets over the hump and wins a game. My beloved Packers appear to be on the outside looking in. Since Dilly is not in the house, I'll take a stab at breaking it down for you.

The game of the year for my Packers has to be Houston-SF. In an odd twist of fate in the last game of the season for each of these miserable teams, the Niners (3-12) and Texans (2-13) play each other in San Francisco. For what it's worth, the teams appear evenly matched on paper. My heart pleads the Niners to suit section 135 at Candlestick Park as a thank you to those fans not canceling season tickets thereby giving the game to Houston. Not. Advantage Niners.

In other games of interest, Green Bay has the home field advantage but Mike Sherman has squandered it like so many of his past draft choices. The only two home playoff loses in the history of venerable Lambeau Field have been under his watch. Unless of course, Holmgren decides to screw the Pack again and sit his starters. I predict Seattle if Shaun Alexander plays more than one quarter. And our home town New Orleans Saints, the league's only permanent road team, must face the Bucs in Tampa. Ha! Not a chance in Haslett's last game. The Saints finish with a faceplant.

That leaves the Jets. What else can you say about a team that lost to the Saints? Other than than they're hosting the Bills, a team that's almost as bad as the rest in this bunch. Prediction: Who cares.

So, as one can plainly deduce from this scholarly analysis, Bush stays in Texas. Booo!

I must take this moment to commend DillyBerto on his overwhelming optimism for the Saints and the city of New Orleans. The staff at the Big Event has a more pessimistic view of sports than does he but we share in his unbridled enthusiasm for a better New Orleans. Vive New Orleans!

Now THAT'S how you lose

2005-12-20T10:06:00.000-06:00

Bravo Mike Sherman. You've finally discovered the secret to throwing a football game - let them score at will and take any suspense out of the game within the first two possessions. Several obvious missed tackles and some horribly inept offensive play-calling smells like a thrown game to me. After all, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck ......

Unfortunately, the 48-3 shellacking of the Packers by the Ravens only counts as one loss and we don't gain any additional ground in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes for our Monday Night faceplant. We have to take care of our own business and lose the next two games against Chicago and Seattle. AND we'll need a couple of wins from Houston and San Francisco and one win from New Orleans and the J-E-T-S. Now that Sherman has opened his eyes to a new alternative, perhaps he can use his powers of persuasion to affect the outcomes of the Saints, Niners, Jets, and Texans. It seems so perfectly simple when the Big Event spells it out in plainspeak.

After all, Christmas is the season when wishes come true, n'est-ce pas?

Joyeux Noel Reggie Bush!

GIles Top Perfomer of the week

2005-12-13T13:00:00.000-06:00

drafexpress.com listed the afore mentioned CJ Giles as one of its Top Performers of the week for his defensive abuse of Leon Powe:

"The difference in Saturday's game was Giles' defense. Powe had been bulling his way to a 25 ppg average against undersized opponents, but really struggled to score over the long arms of Giles. Giles displayed enough strength to keep from being completely bulled over by Powe, and altered many of his shots as his bouncy legs allowed a quick recovery from the burly big man's physical assaults. When looking solely at Giles' physical attributes - size, explosiveness, strength, and a frame clearly capable of adding more bulk - he has to rank as one of the more promising frontcourt prospects in the nation".

My favorite quote: "Bill Self has an absurd amount of young talent on his roster, and CJ Giles has as much upside as any of the Jayhawk youngster".

Beauty.

A good weekend to be a Jayhawk

2005-12-12T17:46:00.000-06:00

For all of you who missed the, um, big event, my beloved Jayhawks garnered their first victory over anyone of significance. That's right, the mighty young Jayhawks dismanteled the Cal Golden Bears in the second half to earn a 13-point win.

Going into this epic battle, we were a measly 3-4, licking our wounds after close losses to Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada, and St. Joe's. Not exactly Duke but all of these teams used their significant seniority to show my Hawks that age sometimes outplays talent. This Cal team posed some serious matchup problems for the Hawks such as how to control Powe. Alas, sophomore CJ Giles covered him like a cheap suit and held him below his 25-point per game average.

Again, it's not like we upset Duke or anything. But, this was a solid win for a team that can be seen learning with every trip down the floor. And this team will continue to learn something new every game with Kentucky coming to Allen in the not-so distant future. With all of the growing paing we will endure this season, studs like Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich can be indoctrinated into the fold next year to add more pieces to the puzzle.

They're learning how to win. It's good to be a Jayhawk.

Packers win! Ugh!

2005-12-12T10:36:00.000-06:00

When will Mike Sherman ever learn (For those who don't know me personally, I have disliked this clown since the day he became our head coach. For those who do, you've heard my rant and, for your sake, I will not unleash that tirade).

This is not the season to find a sack and rally late in the year. REGGIE BUSH!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, with this win, the Packers may be officially disqualified from the Reggie Bush sweepstakes. The Texans, Niners, and Saints REALLY suck and the Packers and Jets both won this weekend. Thus, we're at best fourth (I don't know what the tie-breaker would be) with three games to go. It doesn't look good. I mean what's your game planare when you're 2-10 and headed into a Sunday game against the Lions. LOSE!

With many players returning from a good but injury-beset team, a good draft pick could go a long way next year. Knowing the Packer drafting strategy during the Sherman-era (Draw names out of a hat), we'll probably take Matt Leinart (Who I think will be a bust - I've always said Bush WAS the USC offense) or even worse, some no-name cornerback with speed and no skills that is marked for the third round (Remeber Ahmad Carroll?).

Please, LOSE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! Your future depends on it!

Help

2005-12-12T10:17:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to keep politics off my blog but this I had to post. No comments regarding either party, I just wanted people to read it and remember that New Orleans is a long way from returning to normal. Unless some federal help comes, New Orleans ain't gonna make it. Don't care which party, just shut up and fix it.

An editorial from yesterday's NYT:

Death of an American City

Published: December 11, 2005

We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum.

We said this wouldn't happen. President Bush said it wouldn't happen. He stood in Jackson Square and said, "There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans." But it has been over three months since Hurricane Katrina struck and the city is in complete shambles.

There are many unanswered questions that will take years to work out, but one is make-or-break and needs to be dealt with immediately. It all boils down to the levee system. People will clear garbage, live in tents, work their fingers to the bone to reclaim homes and lives, but not if they don't believe they will be protected by more than patches to the same old system that failed during the deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city.

At this moment the reconstruction is a rudderless ship. There is no effective leadership that we can identify. How many people could even name the president's liaison for the reconstruction effort, Donald Powell? Lawmakers need to understand that for New Orleans the words "pending in Congress" are a death warrant requiring no signature.

The rumbling from Washington that the proposed cost of better levees is too much has grown louder. Pretending we are going to do the necessary work eventually, while stalling until the next hurricane season is upon us, is dishonest and cowardly. Unless some clear, quick commitments are made, the displaced will have no choice but to sink roots in the alien communities where they landed.

The price tag for protection against a Category 5 hurricane, which would involve not just stronger and higher levees but also new drainage canals and environmental restoration, would very likely run to well over $32 billion. That is a lot of money. But that starting point represents just 1.2 percent of this year's estimated $2.6 trillion in federal spending, which actually overstates the case, since the cost would be spread over many years. And it is barely one-third the cost of the $95 billion in tax cuts passed just last week by the House of Representatives.

Total allocations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terror have topped $300 billion. All that money has been appropriated as the cost of protecting the nation from terrorist attacks. But what was the worst possible case we fought to prevent?

Losing a major American city.

"We'll not just rebuild, we'll build higher and better," President Bush said that night in September. Our feeling, strongly, is that he was right and should keep to his word. We in New York remember well what it was like for the country to rally around our city in a desperate hour. New York survived and has flourished. New Orleans can too.

Of course, New Orleans's local and state officials must do their part as well, and demonstrate the political and practical will to rebuild the city efficiently and responsibly. They must, as quickly as possible, produce a comprehensive plan for putting New Orleans back together. Which schools will be rebuilt and which will be absorbed? Which neighborhoods will be shored up? Where will the roads go? What about electricity and water lines? So far, local and state officials have been derelict at producing anything that comes close to a coherent plan. That is unacceptable.

The city must rise to the occasion. But it will not have that opportunity without the levees, and only the office of the president is strong enough to goad Congress to take swift action. Only his voice is loud enough to call people home and convince them that commitments will be met.

Maybe America does not want to rebuild New Orleans. Maybe we have decided that the deficits are too large and the money too scarce, and that it is better just to look the other way until the city withers and disappears. If that is truly the case, then it is incumbent on President Bush and Congress to admit it, and organize a real plan to help the dislocated residents resettle into new homes. The communities that opened their hearts to the Katrina refugees need to know that their short-term act of charity has turned into a permanent commitment.

If the rest of the nation has decided it is too expensive to give the people of New Orleans a chance at renewal, we have to tell them so. We must tell them we spent our rainy-day fund on a costly stalemate in Iraq, that we gave it away in tax cuts for wealthy families and shareholders. We must tell them America is too broke and too weak to rebuild one of its great cities.

Our nation would then look like a feeble giant indeed. But whether we admit it or not, this is our choice to make. We decide whether New Orleans lives or dies.

Screw Bill Gates

2005-12-09T20:16:00.000-06:00

Alas, I've seen the light and officially dumped Microsoft Internet Explorer and switched to Safari on my Mac. Thus, I can post at will. Beware.

It's been a few days since my last post and my Hawks haven't done so well, on the surface at least. At times, our offense has executed quite well and we've done some brilliant things in spurts. However, we've sputtered when it has mattered most. Clearly, up to this point, on the eve of the Cal game, our team looks like a bunch of inexperienced, extremely talented freshmen and sophomores. Observers from all over the country have said this team has game, it just lacks experience. We've dropped a couple of games (Arkansas, Nevada and St. Joe's) that we could have won. And we fought Arizona tooth and nail. Each of these games could have been easiy had with a little more experience considering that we lost to senior-laden teams. Also, let's keep in mind that Big 12 conference has not even started yet and that the experience gained from these early games will help us in conference play (Particularly on the road at Stillwater). If we finish in the top three to four in the Big 12, keep in mind that our invitation to the Big Dance comes will come from our conference play and not the pre-season schedule. We just have to show well in conference.

Fellow Jayhawks, have faith. Bill Self is the man we wanted to replace Roi Williams (The Lyin' King as some would have). We lost a Hall of Fame coach to his own Freudian issues; however, I am supremely confident that Mr. Self will deliver the goods. After all, how many coaches actually WANT to coach in Lawrence, KS. These terrific freshmen and sophomores need time. If not this year (which I hope they can still achieve), next year will be a banner year.

Please be patient. Your efforts will be rewarded. I guarantee it!

Geaux Hawks!

College Basketball has returned

2005-11-18T22:00:00.000-06:00

For most New Orleanians, the last few months have been extraordinarily difficult by any standard. They remain so to this day.

On the bright side, we can focus on things that will enliven our spirits (Maybe not if you're a Saints fan) and allow to us to forget about the tradegies we've all endured, if only temporarily. College sports allows us such a venue in that we are not concerned whether or not our favorite NFL team will up and leave as some of us have boldly predicted for far too long. Generally speaking, colleges stay put and are confined to the borders of our state and region; right now, that's a comfort.

But considering that LSU's season has been disrupted by several hurricanes, even their Number 4 ranking is difficult to swallow since we all know they would have beaten Tennessee given a normal pre-conference schedule. The Bayou Bengals should be undefeated under first year coach Les Miles (Lay off him people). However, we still hope for another SEC title.

College basketball allows us a fresh start and, for me, it's not so much LSU as it is Kansas. I graduated from KU in 1994 and Jayhawk basketball remains my true passion in all of sports. (By the way, for all you Brady-haters, give him another season or two. He's got some players). This evening, I watched the KU season opener on the internet against the might Idaho State Bengals (I'm guessing there aren't many Tigers up there outside of a zoo). We've got a young team that is extraordinarily talented and will make many mistakes. However, as we can see already, Bill Self has abandoned his dump-to-Simien offense and allowed his players to open the court a bit more. We've never seen this much talent come to Lawrence in consecutive recruiting classes. This year will be a learning year after the four seniors received most of the playing time last season. I boldly predict a 2007 Final Four appearance, assumning everyone returns with another amazing class on the horizon next year. Yes, we're that loaded.

God bless all of my fellow New Orleanians and may each of you find solace in whatever drives your passion. Right now, it all comes from the heart.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

Artest will get to finish his album after all

2004-11-21T18:38:00.000-06:00

I've been out of commission for a while but I'm back.

Ron Artest was just suspended for the rest of the season. Fellow Pacers Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal, and Anthony Johnson got 30, 25, and 5 games, respectively. Detroit's Ben Wallace received a 6 game suspension. In total, 9 players got 143 games of suspensions. The NBA cannot dictate how to prosecute or reprimand the Detroit fans. They'll leave that to the local authorities. I'll discuss fan behavior and the inability to handle your alcohol at sporting events another time. (By the way, I'm no too happy with the state of Michigan anyway since they're going to the Rose Bowl. I realize that it's the fault of my beloved Badgers but I'm still not happy for them).

Now, I think that we've all seen what happened Friday night at the Palace at Auburn Hills. From what I've seen, I didn't see Artest throw too many punches while he was in the stands. In fact, he didn't throw a punch until the Detroit fans started swinging at him, as they responded to Jackson and O'Neal. Those two were the guys causing the trouble in the stands. And they cannot hold anyone accountable for altercations with fans running onto the court in that hostile situation. Until he had the beer thrown on him, Artest was the coolest guy on the court. Artest had to weather a ridiculous jab to the face from Wallace and having Ben later throw a towel at him to try to aggravate him a little more.

Now, he did rush up into the stands after someone who threw a beer (Or some other beverage) at him. I would be pretty pissed off too if I were him. Now, he was the first one to rush into the stands. However, he didn't throw most of the punches. And we won't even start talking about the Detroit fans. While I normally do not make a habit out of defending Artest, I think the NBA's action is way out of line. Artest's suspension totals 73 games, half of the total for all 9 players.

Is this guy trouble? Sure. Does he have a reputation that increased his suspension? Absolutely. Will this guy have done something before the end of the year if he would have been allowed to return? Hell yes. Should he have charged the guy in the stands? No. But does that constitute 73 games considering everyone else and all the crap that went on that night? No one has ever accused David Stern of having a grasp of his league or how it relates to the outside world. Most of the NBA's success during Stern's tenure can be attributed to three players: Magic, Bird, and Jordan. The rest of the time, the NBA has been worse than baseball.

It sounds to me like they've been looking for a reason to get rid of this guy for a while and the NBA seized the opportunity when they had it presented to them. Artest should have had the most games of any suspended player but nearly three times as many games as the next guy, who did most of the fighting, is way too much. They should have analyzed the events as they pertain to Friday night and Friday night alone.

In the end, I could really care less since, generally speaking, I don't watch professional sports. And I certainly will not start now.

What the fuck?

2004-11-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

Another example of the freaky Religious Right and how justified they feel with this election. Daily Kos found this enlightened opinion:

I hope the election of George W. Bush is seen as a wake-up call to all the liberal Democrats who oppose God's will.

It is His doing that George W. Bush is still our president. Millions of born-again Christians helped win this election through our prayers and votes. Jesus speaks through the Republicans.

The Democrats will not be able to win elections until they renounce their sinful ways and stop encouraging abortions, gayness, and trying to take away our guns.

I'm not really sure which Bible this guy's reading but I don't recall Adam and Eve espousing the right to bear arms. Like DKos said, this guy is one very, very confused idiot.

Ratherisms

2004-11-09T08:10:00.000-06:00

This is really funny. I found this website that chronicles Dan Rather's attempt at humor and frivolity during the the campaign and election. The site even has links to previous elections. Every English teacher or professor I had in all of my years in school told me to stay away from such colloquialisms and I find their usage, particularly for a national journalist of his stature and reputation, to be quite unprofessional.

These quotes are a major reason why I simply cannot watch the CBS Evening News. Stop it Dan, for the sake of all humanity and the english language.

KU Number 1 in AP

2004-11-08T16:07:00.000-06:00

My Jayhawks are Number 1 in the preseason AP college basketball poll. Surprisingly, this is the first time we've had this honor since Wilt Chamberlain played at KU.

I think we'll need to win it all just to save face.

Are the red Sox still cursed?

2004-11-07T07:14:00.000-06:00

In spite of the fact that the Red Sox have finally won a Series (Cubs and White Sox both had longer dry spells by the way), the dreaded Bambino curse may have turned in a different direction:

This, and more, from the Hill:

Kerry had been sporting a sharp Boston Red Sox cap on the campaign trail ever since the Sox won the World Series last Wednesday, perhaps hoping that some of the team’s curse-breaking karma would rub off on him.

Maybe the Babe Ruth was a Republican?

Mrs. Edwards has cancer

2004-11-04T13:19:00.000-06:00

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Elizabeth Edwards, wife of John Edwards, who was rushed to the hospital immediately after her husband and Kerry conceded the election:

Spokesman David Ginsberg said Mrs. Edwards, 55, discovered a lump in her right breast while on a campaign trip last week. Her family doctor told her Friday that it appeared to be cancerous and advised her to see a specialist when she
could.

She put off the appointment until Wednesday so as to not miss
campaign time. Mrs. Edwards had a needle biopsy performed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where Dr. Barbara Smith confirmed the cancer, Ginsberg said.

He said the cancer was diagnosed as invasive ductal
cancer. That is the most common type of breast cancer, and can spread from the milk ducts to other parts of the breast or beyond.

Want to see what our lovely Republican friends have to say about it? Oliver Willis found these at the Free Republic:

Could explain her dimentia in talking about the Cheney's daughter. Prayers.. (The Big Event: I find this particularly funny since they're the ones trying to ban gay marraige)

Elizabutt has breast cancer

If I were a doctor, I'd be frightened to treat the wife of a guy who sues doctors for a living.

a pity for sure, but good luck finding a doctor to treat the
wife of the most vicious medical malpractice attorney in the nation...what goes around comes around I guess.

she could always go to canada or cuber to get the very best treatment possible.

I want her well, but NOT treated here.

any doctor here who treats her should have his head examined.

It's also a shame because, if it wasn't for her bottom-feeding trial lawyer husband, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies probably would have found a cure for breast cancer by now...

would you bet YOUR house, your kids college on Edwards wife?

Send her to cuber. Libs say their system is better than ours.

....revenge is mine sayeth the LORD!!!!!!!!!

God is not mocked, you reap what you sow. I'm sorry folks but we all have to learn that you cannot go around spewing hatred and leave the door wide open to satan.

sometimes boobs have problems....

"God dont like ugly" (behavior)

And these people are the ones who elected Bush on morality? I didn't realize that inhumane behavior was part of the right wing morality.

Mean people suck.

Many Americans unhappy with the election results

2004-11-04T06:53:00.000-06:00

Fifty-one percent were pleased, however, nearly 40 percent, including myself, were upset by the results.

I guess my previous vitrolic post wasn't as out of line as I originally suspected.

Where we are going and what others think of us

2004-11-04T06:47:00.000-06:00

From the Guardian in Britain: This is no passing phase. This is now an era

And And Pepe Escobar at Asia Times: Damn politics, let's dance

Hungary now withdrawing troops

2004-11-04T06:40:00.000-06:00

Who's left? Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Spain have left already and Poland is leaving early next year. Do I smell a draft?

Yahoo News

I need a break from politics and maybe this country

2004-11-03T13:43:00.000-06:00

Our country is in serious trouble with the Republican juggernaut in Washington. I'm so angry I could write a book on the thousand ways that Kerry would make a better president. Do you realize that we're the only country in the world that still believes WMD ever existed in Iraq? I've had it.

This eloquent piece from Talk Left sums things up:

Many in the blogosphere are urging acceptance of the election results and, now that Kerry has conceded, an endorsement of support for George Bush because he is our President.

TalkLeft will not support George Bush. We recognize that
he is our President, but as our mission statement states, we will continue to expose the injustices in his Administration.

TalkLeft believes George Bush has been a terrible President, perhaps the worst ever, and objects to virtually every policy he has implemented.

The thought that he will pick the next Supreme Court Justices is terrifying. How many more will die in Iraq and elsewhere because of his unilateral decision to invade Iraq while terror threats from al Qaeda abound?

Our criminal justice system is not fair. Innocent people are languishing in jails and on death row. Mandatory minimum sentences and the wrong-headed drug war are locking up thousands needlessly at great expense to the taxpayer. Our civil liberties are under siege as never before, largely due to Bush's appointment of John Ashcroft as our Attorney General.

Bush's faith-based programs and continual expression of his
personal religious beliefs are offensive to those who do not share those beliefs and those who value the separation of church and state mandated by our Constitution.

TalkLeft will continue to bash Bush, fight Bush and mock
Bush--he may be our President but he does not have our support.

A comment on this article from ProudLiberal sums up my experience personally:

Alhough I agree with everything you write, I feel that things are bleaker than you think. This is not a country to be very proud of today, at least if you believe in democracy. I shudder to think of what this country will become. Sparta, perhaps.

For me, last night destroyed whatever faith I had in
America. I will certainly never trust my government again, nor will I trust the electoral system. Last night I cast my last ballot ever in an election. I choose not to participate in whatver monstrosity this country will become.

I certainly do not feel anything I can do will change the country, so I simply will quit trying.

The Republicans now control both houses, governorships, the White House, and soon, the Supreme Court; the system of checks and balances installed to prevent a faction from taking over our country has failed us. Given the overwhelming control the Republicans now possess, a political party with to which I have no connection ideologically, a vocal majority has seized power and therefore, the United States can no longer be considered a democracy. Taken together, it will be some time before my vote counts for anything in this country; I am a lost voice. And, I will not and can not look myself in the mirror if I were to vote for any candidate from the current Republican Party. After the sleazy campaign he ran against Kerry, there is no way he will reach across the aisle with a peace pipe like he's proclaiming; when he was elected in 2000, he shoved his policies down our throat and he'll do it again this time around. Not to mention the personal vendetta displayed as they spent over $20 million to knock out Daschle. These people are ruthless, gay-bashing bigots who want to keep every cent for themselves and screw the rest of the country. Fucking assholes.

The saving grace is that Iraq belongs exclusively to Bush and the blood will be on his hands. Karl Rove cannot spin failure in Iraq onto Kerry when, not if, we see another terrorist attack on the United States. However, since Bush cannot be re-elected and he has both houses, I'm frightened to see what legislation he will try to pass during these next four years. And we thought the last four were bad.

I'm tired and I have no fight left in me right now. The Bastard beat me. I quit.

2004 Election Drinking Game

2004-11-02T08:15:00.000-06:00

Kudos to Get More Ass (Brian McQuirk) for the rules to follow while watching election returns this evening:

Ok, here we go. And remember, um, drink responsibly and shit...

Take one full shot every time...
Ann Coulter comes out of the crypt and onto your screen
Tim Russert eyes his marker board lustfully
A swing state goes for Kerry (two for Bush, the logic being that you should forget it as soon as possible)
The current President of the United States concedes the election (two if he takes it back)

Finish your drink and the next one as fast as
possible if:
Kerry wins Texas
Bush wins Massachusetts
Nader wins... anything, actually
I win my bet.
Take one sip every time...
Someone says 'landslide'
Karl Rove's name is mentioned
Someone says 'turnout'
There's a Taco Bell commercial
Someone says 'bloodletting'
There's an update on racist vote-challenging in Ohio
TerAIZa comes on screen
Bill Clinton comes on screen (um, pardon the pun)
Chris Matthews screams (optional - we don't want any alcohol poisoning)
Someone says 'Vietnam'
Judy Woodruff looks like she's hitting on America from across the room at an over-50 single's night at a country club (again, optional due to potential abuse)
Wolf Blitzer says something that's supposed to be dramatic but just sounds asonine (should be optional, but no, no you're gonna need that extra liquid courage to get through
it)

More after my Hindi class. And yes I'm gonna be playing by these rules.

I hope that everyone's bar is well-stocked.

Kiss of Death?

2004-10-28T17:11:00.000-05:00

My Jayhawks are the preseason #1 according to USA Today/ESPN.

Top 25

I'm not sure what to think of this tremendous honor.

Skins vs. Packers: The world will be watching

2004-10-28T11:52:00.000-05:00

I'm not normally a person that boasts how well his team will do before they take the field. But there's a lot at stake in this Sunday's Packers-Skins game. Snopes.com has a nice piece regarding the Skins and the Presidency: http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/election.asp.

Now, I am a lifelong Packers fan. I was born in Milwaukee and lived in Wisconsin for the first 13 years of my life, so I am a wee bit biased. However, Brett Favre has an amazing ability to rise above atrocities in his personal life to perform a masterpiece. His wife Deanna was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Expect a superb effort from Favre to save the Packers and the election.

Prediction: Packers 24, Skins 14.

The Return of Steve Superior ..er.. Spurrier

2004-10-28T09:32:00.000-05:00

In case any of you have been on another planet, or are a Red Sox fan drunk for the last week, head ball coach Ron Zook was dismissed from the Florida Gators on Monday. Everyone involved with the University of Florida should send a big thank card to Ron Zook. First off, Spurrier hates recruiting and Zook loved it; he leaves Steve a wealth of talent, particularly quarterback Chris Leak. Second, he didn't completely destroy the program while the Gators waited for Steve's NFL experiment to fail, although Zook did lose both bowl games. Third, while Spurrier's return would have been hailed as the second coming regardless of the circumstances, Zook choked so badly that anything Spurrier does will be an improvement in the eyes of Gator fans.

Now, the deal isn't done. Sources close to the Big Event have noted that Spurrier has been living in his golf course home in Gainesville since he left the Redskins and, although he's been trying to keep a low profile, has kept a watchful eye on the Swamp. This morning, ESPN radio quoted Spurrier as saying he's interested in returning to the Florida sidelines. Hmmm...

Now, I'm going to apologize before this next statement since I live in SEC country and know several Florida State fans (Particularly Oyster, aka, Your Right Hand Thief). But I really must say, Spurrier returning to Florida is good for college football and the SEC. Zook has made a laughing stock of the Gators in important games, including nationally significant rivalries like Florida State, Tennessee, and Miami. Plus, Spurrier inspires so much animosity from his opponents that it drives those teams to greater success. Many SEC teams had to recruit and alter game plans to beat Spurrier and the result has been the most dominant conference in college football when they compete against schools from other conferences. The SEC record in bowl games since Spurrier went to Florida is outstanding. Everyone benefits and obviously, no one more than the Gators.

Watching the Gators offense under Spurrier was a thing of beauty. Even Oyster admitted that Spurrier was an "Evil Genius". It will be good to see that offense at a school with that kind of talent.

This could be fun.

Armageddon

2004-10-28T08:55:00.000-05:00

Everyone kiss your sorry asses goodbye, the Boston Red Sox have finally lifted The Curse. Maybe I shouldn't pay my mortgage bill this month, just in case I don't have a home tomorrow.

In all seriousness, hats off to the Red Sox and their fans for the domination of the Cardinals. It was most impressive, however, to be quite honest, the World Series was pretty boring from an objective point of view. Being from the Cradle of Liberty, I thought the Sox might be more diplomatic and actually give the Cards a chance (I guess Suppan did blow the gife from the Red Sox). I didn't watch most of the Series simply because the Cardinals were completely overmatched. I attempted to analyze what went wrong for the Cards, a team I thought would beat the Sox in seven games, however, there's nothing to analyze; every stat shows complete destruction.

In an earlier post, I blasted Bud Selig for the "Let's Overemphasize the All Star Game" abomination. I will not retract that tirade since there will be a World Series that will be affected by this decision. Obviously, home field advantage didn't matter much this year.

The man who turned everything around for the Sox: Theo Epstein. Canning Dan Duquette several years ago was the smartest thing the Red Sox have done in ages. From the ashes left behind by Duquette, and he left a pretty good team behind, Epstein briliantly added the missing pieces. In an interview with Mike & Mike this morning, Epstein stated that any moves the Sox have made and will make place the importance of the team over the individual. That's how the Yankees won in the late 90's.

I hope Brian Cashman was listening. If Epstein is a free agent, maybe George can sign him away from the Sox.

Brett Favre

2004-10-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

I just read that Brett Favre's wife, Deanna, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. What else does this guy have to go through?

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brett, Deanna, and their family.

From the AP:

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) -- Deanna Favre, the wife of Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Deanna Favre was recently released from Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after undergoing a lumpectomy, Bonita Favre, Deanna's mother-in-law, told The Sun Herald on Monday.

Deanna Farve will undergo chemotherapy treatments which could last up to five months and is expected to make a full recovery, Bonita Favre said.

Favre was told about the cancer Oct. 14 and left practice to be with his family for a day prior to the Detroit Lions game on Oct. 17.

"Brett was relieved to learn that the situation is not as bad as it could have been," Deanna's brother-in-law, Scott Favre said. "We think that they got (all of the cancer) out."

It has been a difficult year for the Favre family. In December, Brett's father, Irvin, died from a heart attack. Deanna's brother, Casey Tynes, 24, was killed three weeks ago in an ATV accident on Brett Favre's land near his home in Oak Grove.

Deanna is originally from the Kiln. She and Brett married in 1997.

Deanna Favre runs the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, which has raised more than $1 million for disadvantaged or disabled children who live in Wisconsin or Mississippi.

"The family has been through a great deal and we will get through this," Bonita Favre said. "We would like to thank everyone for the prayers and support. We're a strong family and with the help of the Lord, we'll get through this."

Bud Selig

2004-10-26T13:23:00.000-05:00

Being from Wisconsin, I'm inclined to support Bud Selig, a Wisconsin graduate and former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. But I must say, after viewing the first two games of the 2004 World Series, I think he's made a terrible mistake regarding home field advantage. I'm not sure his decisions are in the best interest of baseball nor do they provide a reward for a successful regular season.

The league that wins the All-Star Game, held in July when divisional races are far from completion, host four of the potential seven games of the World Series. This decision was made after the tie All-Star game several years ago held, ironically, in Milwaukee. Interest in the game had been declining so, in an effort to add meaning to the game, he decided that the winner should have home field advantage for the Series.

Now, the Cardinals had the best win-loss record (.648) in all of baseball and finished the season an astonishing 13 games ahead of the second place Houston Astros, a team that captured the National League Wild Card. On the flip side, the Boston Red Sox (.605) won the American League Wild Card and finished three games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. So, with all things being equal, who should be the home team, a wild card team or the team with the best record?

This year, the decision takes on added significance considering the rabid Red Sox fans and the obsession they have with winning their first title since 1918. Fenway is out of control with excitement creating as partisan crowd as you will see in baseball. After the Red Sox won the first two games, they have guaranteed that critical games six and seven will be played in Boston as well, if necessary.

Interestingly, I heard a recent interview with Frank Viola, a great pitcher for the Twins, Red Sox, and Mets, say that the All-Star Game has changed since this decision in that, managers are not playing their full squads anymore in an effort to win the game. Thus, if you're from Milwaukee, for example, and only one player is on the roster, you might not be able to see him play if it's a close game. The All-Star Game IS an exhibition and was always intended to be one.

So, it seems that Selig has ruined not only the Fall Classic, but the Summer Classic too. And, given that baseball's opening day was played in Japan this year, he just may have ruined the Spring Classic as well.

Hey Bud, is nothing sacred?

Bob Uecker

2004-10-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

Now that we have a fortuitous day off in this World Series (They end so late that I haven't seen either game to completion), cnnsi.com gives us rundown of the Top Ten Characters in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals on the 10 Spot (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/pete_mcentegart/10/25/ten.spot/index.html). Sitting at number six is none other than Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker.

Pete McEntegart:
6. Bob Uecker (1964-65) The classic clubhouse cut-up. The backup catcher didn't play much and couldn't hit a lick (.200 for his career) but earned his keep with solid defense and by keeping the club loose with his impressions and quick wit. In '65, the right-handed Uecker pretended to be a lefty swinger in his Topps card, which was about the only way the card would have any value. Uecker convinced Bob Gibson to hold his hand in the 1964 team picture; management didn't notice at the time and had to retake the photo later. He collected 52 mug shots of unfortunate-looking souls to create the card game Ugly, at which he was a master. Uecker later finagled a second career making fun of his first in beer commercials and speaking engagements.

Brilliant stuff. Somne of my fondest memories from my childhood are staying up at night during the summer listening to the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, Mr. Uecker. Some may remember him for the TV sitcom Mr. Belvedere or his Miller Lite ads. But for me, I could stay up past my bedtime when the Brew Crew were playing on the West Coast and fall asleep to his voice calling the game. My parents bedroom was upstairs so I could listen to the game without getting into trouble. When I visit Milwaukee these days, which is quite rare after my grandfather passed away several years ago, I listen to Brewers games on the radio rather than go to Miller Park. Beautiful stadium (Saw Barry Bonds hit a homer the year he hit 73) but there's a romance with radio and baseball that's further enhanced by my own nostalgia. Perhaps what made him so great was that his sense of humor would take over during the downtime between pitches and we all know there's plenty of that in the game.

Through Major League Baseball's website, you can purchase as season long pass to listen to the broadcast from both teams for every game played during the year. It's pretty cool and has given me a chance to catch up on other Hall of Famers such as Vin Scully. If you love baseball on the radio, treat yourself to a subscription while some of the great play-by-play announcers are still practicing their craft. The new generation is good it's not the same.

Perhaps Uecker will make it to the Hall of Fame as a broadcaster some day. He certainly couldn't have made it as a player.

I'm A Jayhawk

2004-10-24T22:14:00.000-05:00

Some of you may be unaware but my name is actually the KU fight song. Here is a brief story and words to the song from the official University of Kansas Athletic Department Homepage:

George "Dumpy" Bowles, a student with the class of 1912, longed to make a great contribution to KU spirit, but wasn't big enough to do historic deeds on the athletic field. He turned to music and produced some outstanding student musical shows.

A song in one of these shows was "I'm a Jayhawk." Written in 1912, it was dormant until 1920 when a growth in school spirit brought out "I'm a Jayhawk" once more. The song contributed to the raising of funds to build both the stadium and union as World War I memorials. The 1926 glee club made it known nationally.

"I'm A Jayhawk"
by George Bowles
Talk about the Sooners, the Cowboys and the Buffs,
Talk about the Tiger and his tail,
Talk about the Wildcat, and those Cornhuskin' boys,
But I'm the bird to make 'em weep and wail.

Chorus:
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay Jayhawk
Up at Lawrence on the Kaw
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay Jayhawk
With a sis-boom, hip hoorah.
Got a bill that's big enough to twist the Tiger's tail,
Husk some corn and listen to the Cornhusker's wail,
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay Jayhawk,
Riding on a Kansas gale.

Follow this link to listen to the song:
http://kuathletics.collegesports.com/trads/kan-fight-song.html

Why Bill Self is a better fit for Kansas than Roy Williams

2004-10-24T21:19:00.000-05:00

With the onset of the college basketball season, I am excited beyond words. For a Kansas alum, I consider this the greatest of all sport. Bar none.

Many in the basketball community thought Kansas was finished after we lost our coach of 15 seasons, Roy Williams. KU hired Roy after the 1988 national championship season. We had just been placed on probation after our former coach, Larry Brown, purchased a plane ticket for a recruit to go home for his grandmother's funeral. No one wanted to touch the job, especially after the National Player of the Year, Danny Manning, graduated and went to the NBA. Thus, we hired Roy Williams, a man whose only previous head coaching experience was at the high school level, on the recommendation of Dean Smith, a KU alum who declined the position himself after they just named a new Basketball arena after him at the University of North Carolina. Roy had served under Dean Smith for 10 seasons as an assistant coach.

Anyway, to replace Roy, who departed KU one week after losing to Syracuse in the national title game here in New Orleans, KU swiped Bill Self away from Illinois. Self had played at Oklahoma State, another Big Eight school (now the Big 12), and served as an assistant to Larry Brown on the 1986 team that went to the Final Four in Dallas, losing to the Duke in the National Semifinals. Moreover, he had guided two schools, Tulsa and Illinois to the Elite Eight, never quite reaching the Final Four.

You might ask where am I going with this line of reasoning. Since Roy has left, Bill Self has re-recruited the top 5 class that Roy left behind and added two more top 5 class to that class. Barring any injuries (God forbid) we're loaded at every position for the next few years. Of all the great success Roy had at Kansas, he could never put together consistent great recruiting classes. He would put his eggs in one basket and, if that recruit didn't come, we'd end up with plan B or C or, well, you get the picture. The state of Kansas does not produce many basketball phenoms so we have to go out of state to get them. And Roy wouldn't recruit in areas of the country where UNC had a stronghold. Moreover, he told Bill Self of the "Fool's Gold" on the recruiting trail when it came to Kansas. I truly believe that, as much as Roy loved KU, he thought UNC was better. It showed in his actions and he did leave KU for UNC.

Bill Self has a grace, style, and understanding of the great tradition of KU basketball and he is able to sell it to the premier high school players in the country. In spite of Roy's advice, they're coming to Kansas. Players speak of Bill's laid-back attitude and ability to relate to the players. He loves this job and knows how the KU community lives and dies with basketball. More importantly, he embraces it and doesn't believe there's a better school out there.

Bill's coaching style is completely different than Roy's. Bill adjusts his team concept and game strategies around the players he has available and is extremely flexible. At Illinois, he had a bruising style since that's what he was left with while at Tulsa, his teams ran up and down the floor lighting up the scoreboard. During a game, Roy made few adjustments, believing the game plan he had outlined would eventually triumph, regardless how far the Jayhawks fell behind. Self is terrific at in-game adjustments and will throw out the playbook if something isn't working.

And last and perhaps most important, Bill is one tough SOB. His squads play aggressive defense and will not back down to anyone. Roy's teams, on the other hand, were known as choir boys. In fact, in one of our weakest hours, a Bill Self coached Illinois team knocked us out of the Sweet 16 with physical basketball. In short, we were afraid of them. And, it doesn't hurt that Self is 6-0 against Missouri in his coaching career.

So, there you have it. Fellow KU fans, we're in good hands. The future is very bright indeed.

So, the Sox FINALLY beat the Yanks

2004-10-22T10:49:00.000-05:00

Hats off to the boys from Beantown. There's really nothing I can say following their come from behind triumph. As objective as I can be, it was awesome. Sad day for the Yankees but we've got 26 world titles already under our belt. And we will be back, although not as often as we would like (See bottom).

The Sox still have to beat the Cards. They'll have their hands full against probably the best managed, most fundamentally sound team in baseball this year. They're also the most well-rounded team; they have no weakness. Anyone catch the suicide squeeze last night? The biggest advantage the Sox have is home field advantage.

In all honesty, this Series could be a classic. Two good, well-matched teams that can light up a scoreboard on any given night. And solid, if not great, pitching on both sides.

I look forward to Game 1 tomorrow night.

As for the Yankees, I'm sad and eating crow at the moment but I don't feel sad for the players or the organization. There's really no excuse for blowing a 3-0 when you're three outs away from wrapping up the series. You had two of those four losses at home. I suspect Bernie Williams will be dealt to make room for Carlos Beltran. Now that he's on vacation, I'm sure the two parties will speak soon. They also need to find a second baseman and some pitching, obviuosly.

Here's the thing with the Yankees. The teams that won the titles had a core of above-average players with great funamentals such as Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neill, and Tino Martinez, as well as a core of players (up the middle I might add) that were developed in the Yankee farm system (Jeter, Williams, Soriano, Posada, Rivera, Petitte, etc). The sense of team has been lost with the exits of Clemens, Petitte, Soriano, and retirements of Brosius and O'Neill, as well as the addition of hired assassins Giambi, Sheffield, and Rodriguez. Several years ago, I argued that the Yankees weren't trying to buy championships, rather their success was the result of a good farm system and the acquisition of quality role players. Now, they are the team everyone accuses them of being, out to buy a World Series. And they won't have the same success with that mentality.

With George, you know heads will roll following this loss. I'm pretty confident that the moves he makes won't necessarily be the right ones given the Boss. It's been less than 48 hours and I'm surprised that no one has been fired yet. He's getting slow in his old age.

There's something about a game 7

2004-10-20T13:32:00.000-05:00

The baseball playoffs are the most compelling of all sport post-seasons. The regular season can be a little boring, however, everything changes in the playoffs. Once you factor in that, with every pitch thrown, the dynamics of that at-bat, that inning change dramatically. In a close game, the intensity builds as the innings accumulate and the game progresses with the fate of two teams hanging on every pitch. The pitch count, pitcher, runners on base, and batter all factor in to how the defense plays each pitch and what type of pitch will be thrown. That's a pretty awesome thought given that two to three hundred pitches are thrown in a nine inning game. And with the added pressure of saving your season, that's pretty high drama.

John Donovan from cnnsi.com gives us a nice look at the greatness of game sevens. Who will be the hero tonight?

NEW YORK -- Seventh games are postseason baseball's mother lode. When you hit on one of those babies, you've hit on something big. They are what fans scream for, what players play for, what makes the history books worth reading.

A seventh game in the 1960 World Series made a household name of a light-hitting second baseman Bill Mazeroski. A bloop single in the seventh game of the World Series in 2001 defined Luis Gonzalez's career and gave the state of Arizona its first professional sports title ever.

Edgar Renteria singled home the winner for the Marlins in Game 7 of the '97 World Series, the Twins' Jack Morris was a seventh-game stud in the World Series in 1991, the Pirates' Willie Stargell became a seventh-game hero in 1979 and Sandy Koufax, on two days' rest, won the 1965 World Series for the Dodgers with a gutsy three-hitter in Game 7.

There are lots of other examples, too, both in the World Series and in Game 7s for league pennants. Some of them turn out to be thrillers, some major letdowns.

Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox and Yankees will meet in a Game 7 unlike any other. It will be the crowning moment in the most compelling American League Championship Series ever played.

It is a Game 7 that never should have been -- one, historically speaking, that is a first -- and, yet, a Game 7 that looks excitingly familiar.

Last year, remember? Aaron Boone. Eleventh inning. Yankee Stadium.

Yeah, like any baseball fan could forget that.

"This is too good of a series not to go to a Game 7," Boston first baseman Kevin Millar said. "There's nothing more that you could want."

The Red Sox have made this a series that will be remembered for a long, long time by doing what no team ever has done. Just four days ago, the Sox lost a 19-8 laugher to the Yankees in Fenway Park in Game 3 of the ALCS. It was their third loss in three tries. They looked cooked. Historically speaking, they were cooked.

No team has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. No team had forced a Game 7.

But then came two wild games in Boston, 26 innings and almost 11 hours of baseball nail-biting, both won by the Red Sox. And then came Tuesday in a wet and chilly Yankee Stadium, and superhuman Curt Schilling wrote his own little page in the books.

Playing on a stitched-up ankle holding down a tendon that plings around more than a guitar string, Schilling checked the Yankees on four hits though seven innings as the Sox won, 4-2.

From 0-3 to a Game 7. Just like that.

"The easy thing to do would have been to give up," Millar said. "But we don't do anything easy in this clubhouse."

"I guess it was supposed to come to a Game 7," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "We'll see what happens."

Last year, these two teams smacked each other around until Boone, the third baseman for the Yankees, pulled a knuckleball from Boston's Tim Wakefield down the line in the bottom of the 11th inning for a dramatic homer and a 6-5 win.

Since then, the teams have been angling to get back at each other in every way. They battled for the services of Alex Rodriguez in the offseason. (The Yankees won.) They battled for the AL East title. (The Yankees won.)

Now, after this unprecedented comeback by the Sox, it comes down to one game. Again.

"We want to get to the World Series, to make history," Boston center fielder Johnny Damon said. "That's our motivating factor. Not last year."

The Sox, of course, have not won a World Series since 1918, haven't even been there since '86. All of an on-the-edge Red Sox Nation will be watching this one.

But so will all of New York. The Yankees have their fans, a lot of history -- 26 World Series titles -- and all the talent that $180 million can buy.

On Wednesday night, in Game 7 of the ALCS, someone will strike it rich.

John Donovan is a senior writer for SI.com.

So, the Red Sox found a way

2004-10-20T12:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I hate to tell it like it is folks but the Sox have all the momentum. I wasn't sure after they eeked out two extra inning games but they brought their game last night. It kind of sucks. The Yanks have their hands full tonight.

Some thoughts from the game last night:

One, would somebody please light a fire under the Yankees butts. Thank you. All night long, the players seemed to act like they still had a 3-0 lead. While I don't think they needed to panic last night, they needed more heart. This was a winnable game and they did not take advantage of opportunities again. Much of that credit goes to the Sox. Simply put, the Sox and Schilling in particular, played like they wanted it more than the Yanks. Sad.

Two, I thought the Yanks hit Schilling much harder than the stats indicate. Unfortunately, the ball was not in play or the natural elements kept the ball in the park. On normal nights, Cairo and Posada each hit solo shots and have at least a 2-0 lead. Now, I'm not trying to discredit Schilling's performance but Lady Luck wasn't on the side of the Yanks.

With that said, I don't feel very confident about the Yanks chances tonight. Their backs are against the wall and need to win, if nothing else, to save themselves from history. If there's any team and franchise that can pull of this feat, it's the Yanks.

But, if I'm a gambling man, take the Sox 5-3 in nine innings. I'm not a gambler so I hope I'm wrong. I certainly was last night.

Friends of yours, Mr. Bush?

2004-10-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

I'm speechless.

From TalkLeft via Oliver Willis:

The fundamentalism regime of Iran is planning to stone a 13-year-old girl, Jila [also spelled Zhila], in the city of Marivan in coming days. Jila was raped and impregnated by her brother and Iran’s clerical judge has sentenced her to death by stoning. According to the Iranian regime's penal code, stoning is the punishment for those who commit adultery. Jila did not commit adultery; rather she is a victim of rape.

Stoning in Iran is carried out as "the condemned are wrapped head to foot in white shrouds and buried up to their waists. “ The misogynous regime of Tehran even details the difference between the stoning of men vs. women. “The female condemned are buried up to their neck to prevent their escape.” Furthermore, "the stones are specifically chosen so they are large enough to cause pain, but not so large as to kill the condemned immediately. They are guaranteed a slow, torturous death. Sometimes their children are forced to watch.” No other government in the world practices stoning as the Iranian regime.

Why the Yankees finish the Sox tonight

2004-10-19T12:32:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, it's in the Bronx. While I realize the Sox have no fear of our beloved pinstripers, the Sox fed off the energy at Fenway. The Yanks had them down on several occasions and somwhow the Sox fought back. Thus, I think a change of venue is necessary.

Second, Curt Schilling is pitching for the Sox tonight. While I have no doubt he will do his best to outpitch his injury, given the reports from last week, I suspect his injury is worse than they're letting on. Last week, he was on the brink of a season-ending surgery and now he's been cleared to play. I don't think he gets more than three to four good innings and given the length of the last two games, the Sox need him for six to seven scoreless innnings. (I concede that the Sox may have more answers for Lieber this time around give the nasty junk he threw at them in Game 2).

Third, both Sox victories were very hard-earned and could have gone either way. I can't see them winning a third game in a row.

Fourth, the history. The Sox have a wonderful tendency for setting themselves up for failure. These last two games have given them sudden hope and I sense the Yanks will find yet a new way to dispose of the New England upstarts. Let's see, last year Monsieur Boone had a walk-off home run. Perhaps, Schilling will throw a wild pitch to allow the winning run to score. Or maybe a suicide squeeze if Torre should find a need to put Lofton in tonight (Excellent bunter).

Finally, the Yanks want to finish this so they can get some rest before the World Series. The series looked like it was in the bag but now they've had to expend a lot of energy. The Cards-Astros have today off and I expect the Cards to win in seven. That gives the Yanks two extra days of much needed rest.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Carlos Beltran

2004-10-19T12:12:00.000-05:00

Friends of mine have heard me complain for quite some time about the state of baseball, and more specifically, it's inequalities.

Baseball needs a firmer salary cap and increased revenue sharing. There are too few teams able to put together a competetive team. Every year, the same teams compete for the playoffs and World Series: Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs (Believe it or not), Braves, etc. All of these teams have significant payrolls and the Yankees, the highest of them all, pay the luxury tax as if it were an annual expenditure on par with electricity.

I know that I'm a Yankees fan and some might view this fact as a paradox. But I think baseball is the greatest sport in the world and the health of this game far outweighs the success of any single team. I would rather see the Yankees win the World Series against a level playing field than simply outspend 95% of the other teams. To me, this is the ultimate test of greatness: the ability to beat your opponents at their best.

Now, this brings me to Carlos Beltran. This guy may be the best young player in baseball today. And he's having a terrific post-season. I spent almost one-half of my life in Kansas City and it was, at one time, the best baseball city in America. I saw George Brett play third then DH, Bo Jackson, and the wonderfull 1985 World Series vicotry over the Cards. The locals understood the game, followed it relentlessly, and were passionate about their team. But, as most of you know, they've fallen on hard times the last 15 years and the fans grew somewhat ambivalent and indifferent to the plight of the Royals.

Last year brought a ray of sunshine to the hope of the Royals returning to greatness. They outperformed and exceeded all expectations. For this season, they added Juan Gonzalez and made the right moves to try to build a true contender given their small market constraints. Before opening day, nearly the entire pitching staff was already on the diabled list and they never go it going this year. Thus, the Royals traded Beltran before the trade deadline since he would be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and they wanted something in return. Here's the horrible part: No serious negotiations were made since the Royals had no hope of retaining his services. They gave up on trying to sign him and traded him away for future prospects. The price tag was way too high. For me, it was a very sad day for Kansas City and all small market teams.

Now, I know how baseball works and everyone in KC knew this was inevitable. However, it doesn't mean I have to like it.

So, I'm following the postseason and still am not particularly thrilled with baseball. However, I cannot allow the Red Sox to beat the Yankees.

I am quite happy for the success Carlos is having. He deserves the accolades and attention. However, imagine Beltran going to the Hall of Fame in a Royals uniform. Oh, what might have been.

Damn Red Sox

2004-10-19T00:26:00.000-05:00

They've managed to fight through two, long extra-inning games but they need to remember their place in the world:

Ladies and Gentlmen, Mr. Aaron "F*cking" Boone