Mack Brown Gets More Green

Texas just made Mack Brown the top paid coach among NCAA men's coaches. They decided to give him a ho-hum 2 million dollar raise up to 5 million dollars. Is he the best coach in America? Certainly not. Has he had the most success? Certainly not. Do I have a problem with this raise? Well, here is a case for what Texas was thinking...
Texas will be playing for its 2nd BCS title in 5 years. That is pretty good but not as good as Urban Meyer's run. The most impressive part of Brown's resume is 9 straight 10 win seasons. Most coaches kill to have 9 total 10 win seasons. The biggest part of that is in most years 10 wins will get you a BCS bowl and that means loads of money for Texas and the Big 12. It is very evident that college sports is just as much business as it is providing an opportunity for student-athletes. Does Texas really think he is the best college in the NCAA like their AD has said? Maybe, but thats only because he brings in loads of money.
Brown started at 750,000 dollars in 1997, his first year on the job. When he came to Texas their football revenue were 21.3 million dollars. They currently stand at 87.5 million dollars. Texas sees Mack Brown as the CEO of their football company and looking at the results he has done a good job. The biggest reason I surprisingly don't completely disagree with this raise? His salary is paid entirely with athletic department revenues. No state tax money is used. If Texas sees him as the guy bringing in the money, with his clock management aside, then I suppose it is smart for them reward him. However, do you think Brown would honestly ever go anywhere if you didn't give him a raise?

Some nuggets of fun for your enjoyment...

Snow Days, Marathon, and Boredom

Having a snow day before winter break is never a good sign. It looks like we will have at least two this year. Yes, I realize this pushes the school year back if we go over three. This may push my work schedule back into June, but to all of you that say “have fun going extra at the end of the year”, I say “have fun working the entire summer!” When you are working in July, I will be golfing and sleeping. Or maybe I will be watching baseball, traveling or enjoying more golf and sleeping. I could also spend eight hours a day thinking about getting stuff done, but having no reason to do so. I may be working into June, but have fun working, commuting and going to school tomorrow because I will be watching my soap operas once again and enjoying another day off. In June? You will still be working. In July? You will still be working. Most of August? You will still be working.

I have decided to run a marathon. Another teacher at my school talked me into it and I decided to do it. It will suck. It will be painful. Hopefully it will be worth it. It has always been something I wanted to do and this seems like the right time. It may mean taking it easy some Saturday nights so I can run 10+ miles on Sunday, but that won’t be the worst case scenario for me. It is a 26 week program (yes business majors that is half a year). It involves cross-training, timed runs and long runs. It started Monday and the race will take place on June 6^th. This training will help me beat Jeremy’s butt in our “Houston to Marion” challenge. It is a one year challenge from Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving to see if we can run, bike, swim, ellpitacize, etc. our way from Houston to Marion (1128 miles). I am currently in the lead by a decent margin.

I have learned (in the middle of watching soap operas) that there is some interesting crap on the internet. You want to know what Rahshon Clark is up to these days? Click this link: http://www.keflavik.is/Karfan/Mfl_karla/ . Best part? His teammate Halldor Halldorson. I am not sure what kind of team this is but I hope it pays well. He kind of reminds me of the old guy from Dodgeball. Sorry, I cannot find a picture of him, but I believe the only difference is their chest size. Good old Halldor. Best of luck to you Rahshon in your current endeavors.

I have also been doing a lot of research in getting down to Arizona for the Cyclones game in Tempe. There are obviously several options. Most of them are rather expensive, mainly the ones that include flying down there. The Alumni Association decided to put together a trip for those interested (which is already sold out). The price for a quad-occupancy trip per person was $1,421! That got me to thinking. What kind of a bowl party could you throw for $1,421? Here is my bowl party:

40” Samsung 1080p LCD HDTV -$700 (which you get to keep by the way)

16 gallons of fun -$100 (which you get to enjoy by the way)

2 liters of Mexican fun- $20 (Price of lime and salt included!)

Saucy Southerners equipped with regular and spicy BBQ sauce along with three sides $120 (enough for 20 people!)

Oh wait the game is on NFL Network…

That’s why I decided to include:

12 months (3 months free) Direct TV package, 150+channels, HD, free installition, etc. - $360

Cyclone Insight Bowl T-Shirt: $20

There is now $100 to spend…

Season Tickets to ISU football 2010 $99

With the last and final two dollars I will put them on a parlay with every possible situation in the bowl game with a chance to have this all paid for.

That sounds like one heck of a bowl party. Keep in mind, that is only the price of one person to go. You could have four times the fun with the real price for four people to attend! With that being said I think I am going to find a way to drive down there and be there in person. Although having one heck of a bowl party sure does sound enticing!

You can look forward to more posts as long as this snow keeps falling!

The Waiting Game

With Kansas' loss to Missouri, ISU is assured a bowl berth. It looks like either Shreveport or Houston unless a Nebraska upset over Texas occurs (Insight then). Most have all signs pointing to Shreveport. Word of mouth through a donor at the basketball game tonight says Pollard is on record as saying the INDY bowl wants TAMU not ISU. This might be a result of their strong showing against Texas. It is still up in the air, but at least it is not up in the air as to if the Cyclones will go or not. A year ago today I was not thinking of a bowl game this year, so I am not going to complain about which bowl ISU goes to or does not go to. At this point I would like to go to Houston for selfish reasons and I don't need to lose money in Shreveport at the casinos. The biggest impact of this bowl berth is the extra month of practice for the Cyclones. It will be huge for the players in the first year of new schemes. Look for them to be really prepared against whoever, whenever they play. Their opponent will be just as prepared, but it certainly will be fun to see ISU bowling around the holidays!

How November 2006 Changed ISU Football

On November 26, 2006 it was expected ISU was going to name Brian Kelly their new head football coach. It seemed logical at the time. He would be getting a 900,000 dollar raise. He was successful at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan. The other known interviews were Jay Norvell, OC at Oklahoma, and Jim Harbaugh. Pollard came out of left field and introduced Gene Chizik as the new head football coach. Meanwhile, Brian Kelly was snatched up by Cincinatti, and Harbaugh caught on with Stanford.

Brian Kelly

Kelly has taken Cincy from 19-17 in the 3 years previous to him taking over to 30-6 in the three years since, with three games left in this season. That was quite the turnaround.

Jim Harbaugh

Harbaugh came from a program that didn't offer scholarships to guiding Stanfords football program. Their record in the 3 years prior to Harbaugh--10-24. Their record since: 15-18. Keep in mind Stanford was 1-11 the year before Harbaugh took over. He also has two victories over Top 10 opponents (at USC, vs Oregon).

Jay Norvell is still searching for a coaching job at this point.

Kelly=+11 wins and counting
Harbaugh= +5 wins and counting


Now, Gene Chizik.

In the two years before Gene got here McCarney went 11-13, including a bowl trip. That is a little better than most people think. Chizik was brought in and went 5-19 in his two years. That is a MINUS 6 win differential. What a hire.

I think people thought ISU football was in a lot worse of a place when Chizik took over. People failed to realize that they were one year removed from a bowl game.

If Pollard had gotten it right...

ISU may have been coming off a bowl trip.
People might be wanting our head coach for the right reasons.
ISU WOULDN'T have wasted the last two years.

Did Pollard get it right? (Part Two)

At the moment it looks like Pollard got this one right. Rhoads already has a +3 win differential, among the best in the nation. Another candidate, Turner Gill has cooled off at Buffalo and isn't quite the coup he was a year ago. Most importantly Rhoads looks like he wants to be here.

Looking back to November 26th, 2006 it is funny to think how much one date could have changed ISU football so much. Kelly had his bags packed and thought he had a contract in hand. Instead he shipped his bags and his coaching ability for the Big East and now appears to have first dibs on whatever coaching job he so chooses. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have Notre Dame trying to steal away our coach?!

Moral of the story:

ISU appears to have finally gotten their hands on a good coach. Does he have the ability to make them more than mediocre? We will see. Pollard put this program back two years with one decision. If it turns out he was wrong on this one, he needs to be out the door as well.

Cyclone Football

Cyclone Football

A lot has happened since the last time I posted about ISU football. ISU pulled off their first win in Lincoln since 1977 and the Cyclones got to within one game of bowl eligibility! I would like to take a moment to recap what I saw the last couple of weeks and take a look ahead at what might happen the rest of the season.

The Past:

ISU made great strides the last several weeks ending three streaks: Conference losing streak, conference road losing streak and losing streak at Nebraska. Paul Rhoads has released several demons surrounding ISU football so far. With one more win he will end a streak of losing seasons dating back to 2005. ISU’s wins against Baylor and Nebraska proved they are relevant in the North once again, although that is not saying a whole lot. Considering ISU played without their top two offensive players made it all the more impressive. They players are buying into Rhoads’ system and it seems to be working. What I also learned was ISU has a long way to go, which is about as obvious as Charles Barkley’s gambling problem. The Cyclones going to a bowl game was a long shot before the season and it looks like a real possibility now. The Cyclones are two plays away from leading the Big XII North. It will be interesting to see if they continue to play at a high, by their standards, level of play the rest of the season. It starts with a ranked Oklahoma State squad.

Present:

Iowa State gets a chance to play on ABC, although its regional coverage, against a ranked opponent at home. Can Rhoads exercise another demon? It will be easier with the return of Arnaud, Stephens and a healthy Robinson. This game really comes down to the defense. They are going to have to at least slow down the OSU offense. If they can play opportunistic defense and be plus two in turnover margin they should be in good position. If not, they will be in trouble. It was very surprising to me that ISU was only a 7.5 underdog. To be honest, I am picking OSU to cover in my spread pool. This would be another great win for Paul Rhoads and could keep the momentum rolling and keep them in position for the Big XII North title. Honestly, I don’t think it is going to happen, but I am certainly hoping for it.

Future:

Looking into my crystal ball I see the Cyclones finishing at 6-6 with a big losses to Oklahoma State and Missouri and a narrow victory over Colorado. That should get them into a bowl game especially if Kansas State fails to get to 7 wins, which they need to become bowl, eligible. Six wins could put them anywhere from the Independence or Texas bowl to the Humanitarian or New Mexico Bowl. None of those sound to appealing, but to think the Cyclones started the season on a ten game losing streak, it would be quite the feat. That is all for right now…Go Cyclones!

Quote of the Day

On PTI (Pardon the Interruption) 10/12

Wilbon: Today is Columbus Day Tony. In your opinion what is the worst holiday in America?

Tony: Well Wilbon I'm going to tell you. It's in St. Louis and its called Matt Holliday.


Maybe you had to watch it live but it was hilarious.

Cyclones Playing in December?

Basketball season is right around the corner, but the question that remains is if the football team will join the basketball team competing in December. The Cyclones are possibly a blocked PAT and another missed PAT and another missed PAT AND a botched field goal attempt from being 5-1. That is a bad case of playing the "What If?" game, but truth be told those are the mistakes keeping them from a 5-1 start and a chance to clinch a bowl berth this upcoming Saturday. Standing at 3-3, the Cyclones need to finish 3-3 to go bowling. With that being said there is not a guarantee they will get an invite although I have a hard time believing they wouldn't at least go to the Mediocrity Bowl and play the likes of a 6-6 Navy team or another mid-major. This is what I saw on Saturday.

The Good:

The offense looked great. Herman was in a zone and a rhythm calling plays and this was due in large part to Austen Arnaud making accurate throws. I don't know the last time I have watched an ISU game and seriously thought that ISU would score every time they touched the ball. Alexander Robinson is a great back and could be looking at some Big XII postseason honors if he continues to put up performances like he did Saturday (152 yds rushing, 52 receiving, 2 TD). Hopefully he can keep playing through his pulled groin, because he is the key to ISU's success. Arnaud had that level of confidence back that he showed toward the end of last year. It is his 3rd offensive system in 4 years and he appears to be settling into this one after a mediocre, at best, week last week. If Herman and the Cyclone offense really are starting to hit their stride, ISU could pull out 3 more victories. KU's defense isn't that good, but when you put up over 500 total yards of offense I don't care who you are playing, that is impressive.

The Bad:

The defense struggled again. This really was no surprise. To be honest, the Cyclones can survive with the defense residing in this portion of the post-game comments. Kansas has a stellar offense with an excellent QB and talented WR's. ISU's defense was opportunistic, forcing punts at crucial times. The back-breaker was giving up a TD drive with 2 min left in the 1st half to make it 20-12. If there are any positives to take from a an effort that yielded 41 points it would be the effort in getting KU off the field after ISU made it 41-36 with 2 min left, giving the offense a chance to win the game. The DB's still are taking horrible angles to the ball and flat out getting beat. They aren't helped out at all by a lack of a pass rush.

The Ugly:

The special teams once again cost ISU a Big XII victory. It is common occurrence now for ISU to have a horrible kicking game. ISU has a great punter and their kick coverage units have been doing a very solid job. There is no excuse for missed/blocked PAT's or mishandled holds. ISU needs to win a close game like this to get this turnaround going in the right direction. They are knocking at the door, but their kicking game is keeping them from opening it. ISU has now lost out on two appearances in the Big XII title game and most recently a chance at a road upset because they can't kick the ball through the uprights from 30 yards and under.


Rest of the year:

John Walters said over the air that he doesn't think there is a game left on the schedule that ISU can't win. I tend to agree with this statement, although I think its much more accurate to say there isn't a game left on the schedule that ISU can't lose for themselves. Getting three more wins will be tough-making the recent close losses that much tougher. Saturday is a must win for the psyche of the club. I just hope the players sense how close they are and don't throw in the towel this early in the year.

Pessimistic Prediction:

Baylor-L, @Neb-L, @TAMU-L, OK St-L, Colorado-W, @Mizzou-L

Realistic Prediction:

Baylor-W, @Neb-L, @TAMU-L, Ok St-L, Colorado-W, @Mizzou-L

Optimistic Prediction

Baylor-W, @Neb-L, @TAMU-TU, OkSt- TU, Colorado-W, @Mizzou-L

Sun Bowl vs Arizona

If Dez Bryant is out for the year I could see ISU beating either TAMU on the road or beating the Cowboys at home. None of that will matter if ISU doesn't win on Saturday. I agree with Walters if the offense keeps it up there isn't a game left on the schedule that ISU can't win.

Cyclone Football

After two straight victories over "powerhouses" Kent State and Army, ISU is looking at the possibility of a bowl game. Yes, I said it-a bowl game! Now, going into the season I thought there was no way, and to be honest there still should be a lot of doubt in everyone's minds. ISU was very close to finishing the non-conference 3-1 last year only to drop every single Big 12 game last year. The Cyclones must go 3-5 in conference to go to a bowl game. The injury of Robert Griffin from Baylor just made the Cyclones trip to a bowl game, possibly in Houston, much more possible. Their three most likely victories come from K-State, Baylor and Colorado, all of which are having down years (Baylor was looking toward a bowl but should struggle without Griffin). Saturday will tell us a lot about the 2009 Cyclones. K-State is not a powerhouse, but is a team that they should beat which is something that ISU has done this year. The biggest change I have noticed from last year is that ISU has come out and acted like and performed like they are the better team when they are playing a lesser opponent. It is a step in the right direction. Three straight 100-yard games from A-Rob is awesome. Austen Arnaud has only been sacked twice this season...once again awesome. The Cyclones have the snowball rolling in the right direction and a 4-1 start would get some much needed momentum going into the conference season. Once again, we will have to wait until Saturday to see how real this ISU team is. The atmosphere should be awesome, especially considering it could be the Big 12 North "Battle to Stay Out of the Cellar". My prediction: A-Rob will gain another 100 yards rushing although ISU will not put up the 30 points they have been putting up. ISU 20 K-State 13 (subject to change)

Football

Cyclones- I am not sure what that was on Saturday, but it didn't look much like football. Arnaud made horrible decisions and in the spread the quarterback needs to make excellent decisions. The defense was put in tough spots by the offense so it was hard to tell how well they really did. This weekend will be a measuring stick for 'Clones and a must-win if they have any hope of six wins and a bowl game. If they play like they did Saturday they will get smoked just as bad. I'm guessing they play better and I'm going to go out on a big limb and say they snap their horrendous road losing streak. I honestly think they have a better chance winning this game coming off a loss than coming off a win. Arnaud will throw for a couple TD's and a couple INT's. If the INT's come first ISU has no shot. Prediction: ISU:27 Kent State: 24

Bears- It looked like Arnaud suited up for the Bears Sunday night. With as bad as Cutler played it is amazing the Bears still were in a position and should have won that game Sunday night. The Packers played well (much better than the Bears), but the defense needs to hold onto that lead with 2 minutes left. Turner got away from the game plan that allowed them to compete with anemic quarterback play. GIVE THE BALL TO FORTE!!! He was their entire offense last year and now Cutler comes and he is nowhere to be found. Cutler should be an improvement from last year in the respect that when they do throw Cutler will stretch the field. The Bears don't have the receivers to throw the ball 50 times per game. The Bears toughest part of the schedule is their first three games. The have the defending Super Bowl Champions coming to Soldier Field and then they travel to Seattle. There is a very good chance they start the season 0-3 and the Packers and Vikings start the season 3-0. The schedule will even out throughout the course of the year, but with Urlacher out for the year the last thing Chicago needs is an 0-3 start to destroy any confidence that is left over. The Bears need to win one of these next two games. Wishful Prediction: Bears 19 Steelers 17

Thoughts from College Football:

There are a number of teams starting off hot and coming out of nowhere with young players. Michigan, Miami and UCLA are familiar teams with unusual low expectations from some that are exceeding them right now. Michigan and Miami have young QB's that are playing very well. Jacory Harris from Miami has vastly improved from last year and looks like he could be a real good player for a couple of years. IF Miami finishes this brutal stretch undefeated look for Harris to be a Heisman candidate.

Big XII Thought:

Baylor will be going to a bowl game this year. Coming off a victory at Wake Forest and now coming home to Connecticut they should have victories over some decent competition and will be prepared for the Big XII season. They will get 3-4 wins in conference and be traveling to a bowl game for the first time in awhile. Congrats to Art Briles.

NFL:

The league is competitive and that is why it is so fun to watch. Outside of the Lions and Rams, any team could win any week. MNF looked like it was a doubleheader snoozer and then turned into two great games. The Bills and Raiders showed signs off life and both should have had victories.

Most Impressive Teams:
Jets
Philly
Dallas
*I cannot include any team that plays the Lions-Sorry Saints

Disappointing Teams
Texans
Cardinals
Panthers
*Lions-you are exempt from this list

With the 16 game season, don't expect the same teams that are hot right now to be hot in four weeks or eight weeks and vice versa. I'm very interested to see which teams backup their first performances of the year, which ones take a step back and which ones make a statement in the second week.

*The Lions will win a game this year. Look for the game against the Packers to be close. I'll be rooting for them.

Week Five

238.6-Same as last week. Staying home this weekend should help.

Week Four

On Wednesday I was 238.6, Thursday 238.0. After four weeks I have lost 7 pounds. I like this pace and I'm going to try and keep it up. Hopefully the tailgating doesn't start to hurt me.

Week Three

On Wednesday I weighed in at 241.4 which would have been a gain of 1.4 lbs thanks to a trip to Ames. On Thursday I was able to get down to 238.6, which is what I am going to use as my weekly weight. That brings me to 1.4 lbs lost for the week and 6.4 lbs lost total in 3 weeks. I had a physical Wednesday afternoon and apparently I am 60 lbs overweight. I am eating small meals and it seems to be helping.

Week Two

New Weight-240.0lbs....a loss of 2.2lbs from 242.2lbs. I did pretty well with my food in Ames and still enjoyed some beverages.

Week One

242.2 lbs...A loss of 2.8 lbs. It helps having a job and not snacking all day long. I'm going to Ames this weekend and I need to at least not eat horrible.

A Smaller Me

With the Cubs tanking, I need a new hobby. Back to the drawing board to see if I can lose some of this weight. Going back to teach at my middle school and having teachers tell me I look the same as I did in 5-8th grade is not a good thing...I was fat. I'm going to try to do one pound per week. My trouble, like usual, will be tailgating season. Hopefully I can get some momentum heading into the fall. Current weight as of Wednesday(my check-in day) was 245 lbs. I have taken a picture of myself, but luckily for you my batteries ran out and I can't post at this point.

Cubs Postseason Chances

With 106 games down and 56 games to go, it is no longer a marathon it is a sprint. Although the Cubs remain in a tie for first place in the Central Division with the Cardinals, they have a two-game advantage in the loss column, meaning they control their own destiny. They are two games back of the SF Giants in the Wild Card, with the Rockies in between heading into a four game series against the Cubs this weekend. The goal for the Cubs is not just to make it to the playoffs, but do something once they get there. Here are some issues to consider for the last two months of the season.

Issue #1

Closing Time

Kevin Gregg sucks. Marmol is better in the 8th and Angel Guzman is the most dependable arm in the bullpen. With the addition of Grabow and Gorzelanny the Cubs now have 2 more lefties. Here is something I think the Cubs, if nothing else, just at least consider to solidify the 9th inning. RICH HARDEN. Hear me out. Rich Harden has swing-and-miss stuff, dominating most of the time. His problem in the rotation? He strikes out so many batters he is at 100 pitches after the 5th or 6th inning. Let Gorzelanny fill-in as the 5th starter and if he proves he can't do it move him to the bullpen and have Marshall fill-in that spot. Neither of them would have to start in the postseason. The rotation would then be Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Gorz. Wells is by-far the most reliable starter this season and I hope he gets a start in the playoffs if they get there. So food for the thought: Harden or Dempster as a closer for the rest of the year? Keep in mind the Cubs are 51-4 when having a lead going into the 9th inning, but it is a problem that hasn't hurt them....yet.

Issue #2

Right Field

Milton Bradley is not hitting. Jake Fox is. Now this would work well if MB was hitting from the left side and not the right, but its the opposite. Jake Fox needs a chance to be in the lineup as a regular for at least a week to prove himself as a defender. Yes, defense is important but the Cubs need to put runs on the board. Fox has the same HR's and RBI's in half as many at-bats. The guy can hit and he needs to have a bigger role down the stretch. There is talk of giving him practice at 2nd base in the Instructional League after the year...that sounds scary and if he's going to play 2nd why did you get rid of DeRosa?!

Issue #3

Catcher

Soto is coming back Friday to provide an offensive lift. However, Koyie Hill has played 26 straight games and over 220 innings since July 7th or 36 more than the next catcher (Russell Martin). Thats four games more. The Cubs are 28-17 with him behind the plate. He's throwing out 44 percent of runners, the best in the majors. The Cubs starters are 12-2 since the All-Star break. Catcher is one spot that can be sacrificed offensively for strong defense. He needs to get at least 40 percent of the starts down the stretch. Soto can swing the stick, but if he struggles at the plate there is no reason for Hill to ride the pine.

Issues Resolved:

Soriano hitting 6th seems to have helped him out. He's hitting roughly .340 since the switch and Kosuke hitting leadoff has been a pleasant surprise with an OBP close to .400 which is where you want a leadoff hitter. ARam coming back has been a huge lift and DLee is swinging the stick. I think the Cubs will be fine down the stretch and the Cubs will prevail. The Cardinals are a very good team with one hell of an offense. If their SP's can pitch average they will be a team to be reckoned with.

Prediction:

Cubs by 1 game in the Central
Cards tie Giants for WC--Cards win one-game playoff

Michael Jackson's Death and Remembrance

I was late to the party. There were others my age who had already discovered Michael Jackson's music. I think Bad might have been my first MJ album. Not his greatest offering, but better than what was to come. My mother had the Thriller tape, up in her closet. I think I wore that tape out. Both Bad and Thriller join Dangerous in my green tape case that's still in my old bedroom in my parents' house.

MJ had an impact on me like many who listened to his music. He was my favorite artist for a long stretch, probably until he got too "weird" to claim. His music was pop. His music was melodic. His music was catchy. As a youngster, I knew his music was good.

Jackson lost me in probably the sixth or seventh grade. But he had started singing much earlier. If you assume his music with the Jackson 5 was current with people 10 years older than he was, that means he was relevant to those born between 1950 and, my birth year, 1983. This is a conservative estimate. These people would range from being 23 when Jackson 5 had its first single to just being born when Thriller came out. Indeed, his influence was much, much greater than even this!

I don't agree with those who argue Jackson's death is being over-covered. MJ was strange in his later life (last 10 years at least), while his music lives on forever. Pointed out above, everyone up to 59 (and likely older!) have heard and enjoyed his music. This encompasses three-quarters of the population of the United States, and an even larger percentage of the rest of the world.

This is why Jackson's death has been covered over the health plan, North Korea's missile launches, and all other news stories. Perhaps those who argued against the coverage were jealous of Jackson's influence. People around the world actively mourned his death and celebrated his life. It is obvious MJ connected with people across geographical and social borders in a way that no politician could ever hope.

Allow everyone this moment to mourn an enormous talent - perhaps a part of their musical development, perhaps a part of their childhood, mostly the forefront of pop culture since everyone alive could hear a radio.

2009 NBA Playoffs - Houston vs. Lakers, Game 1

It's exciting to see the Rockets play in the second round. Even in my short time here, I've been disappointed by the first round exits at the hands of the Jazz. Most of Houston was happy with the Rockets seeing anyone in the first round other than the Jazz. Indeed, by the last game of the season, a matchup with the Jazz was not possible. Unfortunately, Houston lost its last game with the Mavericks and slipped from a possible 2nd seed all the way to the 5th seed. Not only did this make home court unlikely throughout the playoffs (I'm rooting for a Rockets-Hawks finals!), they had to face the Lakers in the second round, instead of the Mavericks. Season series: Lakers 4, Rockets 0.

Game 1

- Yao starts strong. Two quick fouls on Bynum and another quick one on Odom. They'd really like to see two of the three (Bynum, Odom, Gasol) on the bench with foul trouble. Yao is taking his shots quickly. He could spend a little more time getting his shots. He can pass well out of the double team.

- Who's that guy that sits next to Jack Nicholson? If you look crazy sitting next to Jack ...

Apparently it is Lou Adler, an "important" record producer in the 50's and 60's.

- Scola baseline to baseline. He's got more offensive game than he shows. The Argentinian national team runs a lot of its offense through him.

- Battier gets rocked in the face and has to tell the refs he's bleeding. These playoffs have gone past physical. Lots of cheap shots and lots of contact on 50-50 balls. Even if "no blood, no foul" is true, apparently the inverse is not true. (Inverse? Converse? Contrapositive? Austin, you're the math teacher)

- Bynum had a sweet rebound / short jumper where he didn't bring the ball below his head. That's a quick play that's tough to defend.

- The Lakers keep jumping passes. The Rockets will really need Brooks and Lowry to take care of the ball. Keep it out of Barry and Ron's hands.

- Shane Battier is great. Any foul down low, he shoots his hand up in the air. This just saved Yao or Scola a foul. He's also doing a great job on Kobe - 4/12, 0 FT, 8 pts in the first half.

--- Second Half ---

- Brooks really doesn't look for the shot. He should go ahead and take the open looks, but with Yao and Artest and shooters in Battier and Wafer, an unselfish PG is an asset.

- Battier is in Bryant's head, Kobe has passed in the air at least three times. Kobe's makes have come on Lakers' confusion on the offensive end. When he can get lost behind other players, he's been getting good looks.

- Ron-Ron kept true to his word and went with the Wafer mohawk. He gets bonus points for getting the Rockets logo shaved into the side.

- Kobe has a game high 23 points, but on 24 shots. This is ok as far as Battier and the Rockets are concerned. His season average PPS was 1.29.

- I'm not sure I like the switch to Artest on Bryant in the 4th quarter. Bryant has played most of the game, so Battier needs a rest, but Artest is emotional, to say the least. Bryant doesn't need any more motivation, and Bryant will capitalize on Artest's gambles.

--- end of game ---

Well, that was a pleasant surprise. Rockets take game 1! Yao gave Rockets fans a scare, but was able to come back and close out the game. What a great asset to have a post player that can go 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Brooks missed another free throw down the stretch, which is worrisome. It's easy to forget that he's a second year player and wasn't the starting point guard until half-way through the season. Year after year, the Rockets play so many different starting lineups and somehow remain competitive.

Quick thoughts:

Rick Adelman rocks the crossbar. A couple side-shields and those would pass for safety shields.

- Man, the TNT guys sure changed their tune. All of them said the Lakers would own the Rockets. A little different now that Houston took the first in LA. Now they're saying the regular season series didn't mean anything. Whatever, Houston is always slighted. Battier has done a good job of articulating it. Yao has elluded to it. Artest proclaimed a first round win wasn't the goal.

- TNT shows the replay of Battier getting his brow bust open. CWebb says Battier can take it, he's from a tough high school. (They went to the same Detroit high school.)

Well, Houston wins the first. I'll be on the road for the second (may have to stop to watch it) and the third (Austin, Joe, we'll have to find a place) and the fourth (again, might have to stop) but this thing has gotten serious, and I'm excited.

Brackins Returns to ISU

Here's a good article about Blake Griffin's effect on Craig Brackins's decision to return to Iowa State.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=543169

It turns out, someone had to actually do what fans have been advocating for years. Will Blalock left for the NBA draft after his junior year in 2006. ISU fans' position was that he could stay for one more year, run the team without Curtis Stinson, and improve his draft status. As it was, Blalock was selected with the last pick and never caught on with an NBA team.

It has always been my position that a basketball player should never leave early unless they are being talked about as being a lottery pick. The reason behind this is that most likely, 30 players are being thrown around as lottery picks, and 3o players get selected in the first round. The first round, of course, corresponds to guaranteed contracts.

Last year, Blake Griffin would have been a lottery pick. Instead, he came back for one more year of college and became the consensus number one pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Obviously, this can only happen for one player a year, but his decision has had an impact on many players eligible for this year's draft. At least ten potential first round draft picks have chose to return for another year of college basketball.

Players have finally realized that getting drafted does not guarantee NBA riches. The real money comes with finding a spot and staying on NBA rosters. This is much more likely as a lottery pick. Big money up front means more chances to make it, more time in the league leads to longevity.

This applies to Brackins. In all likelihood, he would have been a first round pick. Probably a fringe lottery pick. Nearly 20 and 10 in the Big 12 deserves that type of consideration. The NBA is littered with great college players who left early (Sean May, Adam Morrison, etc) that were never truly dominant. Brackins now understands the importance of dominating at one level before advancing to the next. He is the leading returning scorer, and the last three drafts have featured the best player in the Big 12 getting picked second overall.

Brackins choice to return is good for ISU fans, teammates and coaches, but it's also good for Craig. If he can improve his game next year and move into the lottery, he stands a much better chance at making an impact in the NBA and having a long career, increasing his chances at making big money.

Texans 2009 Draft - live blog

The Texans have a lot of holes, especially on defense. NONE of the player the Texans were supposedly looking at have been picked yet now that the Texans are up at 15. I'd love to see them trade this and drop back a few spots. Maybe they could find someone to jump up for Maclin. Chris Wells, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews are all still available. I'd see them going for one of the OLB. They may have thought Cushing would have been gone by now.


Rd 1 Pick 15 - Brian Cushing OLB USC


The Texans were likely willing to settle with Clay Matthews. Cushing was regarded as a slightly better prospect than Matthews. They may have taken Malcolm Jenkins if he hadn't been picked by the Saints with the 14 pick. Cushing looks effective against the run and getting into the backfield.

--- Rd 2 ---

Looking forward, I'd like to see the Texans pick a hard hitting CB that would be an option to use at safety, unfortunately, it doesn't look like one will be available at 46 unless a couple players slide a bit. Maybe Rashad Johnson, a safety from Alabama or there are a couple DE options around there.

Rd2 Pick 14 (46) Connor Barwin DE Cincy

Rashad Johnson was still available but they went with a DE here. Maybe they felt they ended up with a run stopper at OLB and needed a little more help with the pass rush. Raw player, only played DE for one year. Graded as a better pass rusher than run stopper.

--- Rd3 ---

Still looking for someone to play safety. Rashad Johnson is still available, as well as DJ Moore, a CB out of Vandy. Players ranked in the 70's where the Texans next pick will be Andre Brown, a RB out of N.C. State, and a big CB out of OSU.

Rd3 Pick 13 (77 Overall) - Antoine Caldwell OC Alabama

The Texans passed up quite a few CB, a couple S and another center with a better grade. Caldwell has good size at 6'3", has played center, guard and tackle. Looks to be more of a pass protector than run blocker, the ability to play center and guard gives the Texans some versatility.

--- Rd4 ---

Still no CB, still no S, no RB. A little concerning is the run on CB that occurred from the middle through the end of the third round. Also Johnson, rated 43rd overall and 2nd safety got picked. Texans have two picks in the fourth. Maybe we'll see a RB picked with one of them. There are four RB in the vicinity of their picks. Most of them are smaller, like Javon Ringer out of MSU, who is only 5'9". The Texans should be looking for a bruiser for short yardage situations. Rashad Jennings out of Liberty fits the size requirement at 6'1", 231 lbs but apparently doesn't play that big.

Rd4 Pick 12 (112 Overall) Glover Quin S

Quin played CB in college but doesn't appear to have any shot of playing CB in the NFL. Would be big for a CB, small for a S. This pick seems to be a stretch, there were pure safeties available and some CB. Not a run stopper. David Bruton out of ND picked two spots later, has better size (6'2") and looks to be an elite run stopper.

I'm a little worried that the Texans will throw away these last 4 picks. The last pick seems like a 'tweener that won't fit in anywhere. They either need CB or safety help over the top and they didn't get either with Quin.

Rd4 Pick 22 (122 Overall) Anthony Hill TE

Not sure what the deal with this one is. Hill is a big dude at 6'5", Daniels is having contract issues, maybe they want to try to move him to T? Really not sure.

--- Rd5 ---

Rd5 Pick 16 (152 Overall) James Casey TE

Another TE?!? This kid is from Rice, he's ranked high enough that he probably should have gone in the third. Catches the ball, blocks, he played all over the field in college. Maybe the Texans bring him in and use him for short distance back? This pick was great, if only they hadn't picked Hill in the fourth.

Rd6 Pick 15 (188 Overall) Brice McCain CB

Not sure about this guy, graded a 30 overall, no information on him much at all. Rashad Jennings from Liberty is still available. They passed up all the CB on the Scouts.com ranked players list. Small at 5'9", probably tough for him to make an impact.

--- Rd7 ---

Maybe the Texans think they will only get backups at this point. I'd like to see them try to hit some home runs. I don't mind going back to back at the same position, as long as it wasn't TE. Maybe they are going to let Owen Daniels walk. It's hard to tell what they'll do with the last pick. It's probably not worth even guessing about.

Rd7 Pick 14 (223 Overall) Troy Nolan S

At least this player had something written up about him. Like most of the picks, passed up on higher rated players at the position. Looks to be average to below average.

--- end of draft ---

There will be a more comprehensive recap later incorporating some comments and thoughts from elsewhere. The Texans, at first glance, have addressed their holes - OLB, CB, S. I like the first couple of picks, and even the third round pick of a center. After that, they lost me. Two tight ends doesn't make sense, two safeties that won't start doesn't make sense. No big RB to pair with Slaton.

My Grade: C-

I gave last year's (2008) draft a B and the average pundit grade was a C. This year's draft is at least a full grade lower. They lose because of all the players they passed over with their picks. They didn't go for players who've shown the ability to play, or players who have unique abilities or size. If the Texans say they couldn't find players that would compete against the players on their sub-par defense, they weren't looking hard enough.

Texans Draft 2009 Preview

The Texans had a good draft in 2008, trading down and still got their guy in Duane Brown. He started all 16 games at LT as a rookie, and I didn't notice him getting worked over. The other obvious home run was 3rd round pick Steve Slaton who finished with 1282 yards rushing and 377 receiving.

2009 Needs
CB, OLB, RB

CB - Dunta Robinson came back from major injury and wasn't the same as he had been. Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett are serviceable backups but can't match up with the premier WR in the league, especially if the front seven isn't getting pressure on the QB.

OLB - The Texans could use a pass-rush OLB to compliment Mario Williams. They could put them on different sides or they could overload and bring them both from one side. It would be nice if their pick could stuff the run as well. The Jags have a good running game and the Titans will be leaning heavily on their two back system as well.

RB - The Texans DO NOT need a running back in the first round. I'd like to see them get a goal-line bruiser type latter in the rounds. Rd3 worked well for them last year, maybe they could get lucky there again.

Other needs - anything on defense. The offense is pretty set and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go defense with all 7 picks. In addition to OLB and CB, they might be looking for a DT, FS, SS. If they could find a CB with some size maybe they could try them at CB and move them to safety. For offense, they could be looking for another WR, third string QB, OL help.

American Idol Top 13? Results

Quickie here, I got a late start.

Kanye, better than I've seen him before. A little bit autotune, a little bit raw. It worked.

Jasmine got bumped for real. Didn't even get to be part of the tease. Not surprising. Too bad this was one of the judges picks. America 1, Judges 0. She has been straight terrible every step of the way. I guess she must have had the "complete package" or been "marketable" or "looked great." Another reason why this show would probably be better without the four morons. Everyone has been saying more music, more music, more music, and the judges keep going more and more towards a pretty package.

The judges save is an interesting twist, and doesn't turn a vote around, but won't mean much before 5 left. Daughtry got kicked 3rd or 4th right? Seacrest said he'd be saved but

Anoop and Jorge bottom two. Just as I've predicted.

Jorge goes home. I thought he'd be safe because he was actually voted into the top 13?. But Anoop is a crowd favorite. Simon and Randy were "deliberating" so they didn't have to listen.

This is great!!! They ask the judges if they want to save them. High drama! Simon crapping on someone's dreams every week, sign me up!

Carrie Underwood singing the "go home" song. Sounds like she recorded it in a closet full of clothes. The chick on 94.5 won't like that very much. Long live Motley Crue!

No surprises. Kelly Clarkson set a low bar for the AI alumni. Not a lot of steam heading into next week.

Tops going forward: Danny Gokey, the theater kid, Allison for the girls.

American Idol 2009 - Top 36 #2

Went 1 for 3 last week. Michael Sarver wasn't even on the radar. He lucked out, but I like him, so it's okay. Pale chick moves on, she won't be terrible, should pick some interesting songs. Danny Gokey was no surprise. I'll look for the last performer tonight to be the best.

Jasmine - I thought they were going to start out the show with a strong performance, really get the ball rolling. I thought wrong. Love Song would be good to sing, but it's also all over. Everyone can sing along with it ... except Jasmine.

*The keyboard was really, really tin-y. It's one of rare songs on the radio that uses a real piano, they could have found a better synth sound. NOT going on.

Matt Giraud - Another terrible performance. Maybe it's time to stay away from anything that's currently on the radio. This guy needed his piano. Georgia on my Mind was sweet in Hollywood. This was sour. You can't take one of these over-the-top songs and try to do more with it. Similar to anything from Alicia Keys, to make it their own, they need to do less with it. He's still one of the judges favorites. Early favorite for wild-card?

*Speaking of wild-card, how is that going to work? I think it is an hour show next Thursday. It doesn't look like anyone will actually sing again, the judges will just pick from tapes? It would be better if everyone got another chance, but then it would be difficult to fit in three commercial breaks in the first 23 minutes.

Jeanine - Another recent pop song. Was it worse than the first two? Who cares. It sucked. Simon agrees; three performers, three terribles.

*Simon says wrong song choice AGAIN. Good singers could sing the phonebook, or any of these first three songs. I'm ready for the judges to own up. They picked these "singers," it's at least partially their fault that more than half so far have been "terrible" in Simon's words.

Norman - It's a big joke but I like it. The first thing worth watching tonight. He can kinda sing a little bit if he took it seriously. The fact he picked THE American Idol song "You're gonna love me." It was great that it was all about staying on the show. Tell you what, it was the best so far.

*More uncomfortable banter. Is this really necessary? Everything that Simon retorts to Ryan is accepted as a slam against his sexual orientation, even when the diggs are weak at best.

Allison - Uncomfortable banter, this time involving a contestant. They should test run the conversations with Ryan. This one wouldn't have made the cut. Ryan: "What is Idol School like?" Allison: "It's a room." The performance sounded good, the judges didn't seem into it, but then the comments are glowing. She benefited from the four terrible performances before her. Three will advance out of these last eight, she's got pretty good odds. Really stupid faces, could turn out to be really obnoxious.

Kris Allen - This could be one of my favorite performances ever. I've liked "Man in the Mirror" as long as I can remember. He's sings the song pretty well, but the arrangment makes it sound like an 80's soft pop song. Kara hits it on the head, the second half was really pretty good but the first half was rough. This is the way that all of these performances have been in the top 36. He went for it and is my top guy tonight.

-A second great song, part of the British female soul-pop thing going on. Good song choice for her, wasn't sung very well. Was SHOUTING the second half. She thinks she's great. Now Simon hopes America votes for her because she is "current." Not that she has sung well before tonight, or might sing well going forward. I wouldn't vote for her. Second to Allison.

*I might quit watching if I hear anymore about "package artist" "viable" "current" "camera loves you" "in this market," etc. I think the judges feel the need to justify the popularity of the show by producing a commercial success.

Breitzke - Not great, but not nearly as completely horrible as most have been tonight. I bet at least one judge calls it kareoke. And none call him "commercial" or a "package artist." Simon hated, hated the song. And he's fru-strated.

Jesse - She looks good. Sings alright. I bet the judges love it. She is also an "entertainer." Like Jackie Tohn, and the "Put Your Records On" girl, and I don't mean that in a good way. Too much talking after the singing. Just stand there and take it. She's in the running though. The judges didn't love it.

*When kids oversing, they say it's too much. When the singers take it easy, the judges want more. Sub-par singers will always sound bland when they're laid back and horrible when they oversing. This comes back on the judges choices for the top 36. A good, semi-professional singer can sing soft or slow and still bring it with some purpose.

**Fox is really pimping that new show Dollhouse. I tried watching the first episode. It wasn't very good, and if a show can't muster a good show for the series opener, it doesn't hold a lot of promise for the rest of the 7 shows that air before it's cancelled.

Crazy Hair Kai - Boring. Next.

Misshavanna - Curious song choice. Not terrible. Some register problems. The held notes had good tone. She actually would have benefitted from a slower song eventhough the judges thought she should loosen up. BTW, she dwarfed Ryan.

*No parents in the coke room this time. They probably just wanted to change up the formula, but I'm all for cutting out the parents - these kids are lame enough on their own.

Adam Lambert - He should have sung Dude Looks Like A Lady because he does. He stole Rihanna's haircut and glove, and was wearing ugs throughout hollywood week. All over the place, but because the band actually tried on this arrangement, he sounds alright. Another lock for the top 12.

Lambert for the guys, Allison for the girls, Kris Allen for the wild card. I'd be a little surprised if the wild card is guys for both first weeks. Others in the running, but not because everyone was extraordinary - Misshavonna, Jesse, Breitzke, and surprisingly, Norman.

First up on the news on Fox, this heartwarming story - Less Traffic During Morning Commute, presumably because fewer people have jobs to drive to.

American Idol 2009 - Top 36 Show #1

I'm back live blogging this stuff. If the first performer is any indication, this will be "interesting"

Jackie Tohn - Not a great performance. Katy Perry's top, M.I.A's shoes and pants. She's over the top. An "entertainer." I guess. Not good. She'd better start practicing for the wild-card show.

Ricky Braddy - That dude wasn't bad. Started out slow but really got going. I didn't know about the song choice at first, it's usually more safe to go with a fast song, especially early in the show. He sang the song quite well.

*Simon has already brought out the "star potential" bit. Why can't it just be about a singing competition. If they worried more about great singing and less about looking good, jumping around, I really think the show would be happier with the results. Last year's talent was sub-par at best. 100,000 audition, you'd think they should be able to find 36 that had some serious chops.

- This girl looks pretty pale. She looked fine in some of the pictures and videos but she looks weird here. Not top 3. Not much else to say. Well, the judges didn't agree with me. Simon LOVED her. Comparisons to Kelly Clarkson. I suppose that means she'll have to move on.

Brent Keith - some country. Haven't had a guy ride the country train all the way yet on AI. It might be time. But it won't be Brent. Seems like a decent guy. Fighting for third right now. Not a good sign. He'll have to rock the wild-card show.

*Simon digs on Bucky Covington. He's starting this season out rough. Kara is taking it easy tonight. I think by next week, the two of them will be at each other's throats.

Stievie Wright - I'm really crapping on people here, but I like her with her hair up in the front instead of flat. Sometimes she looks older than 17, so they put her in a shirt/skirt, skinny jeans and bedazzled shoes. Now she looks like she belongs on the disney channel. Really not good singing. Last place so far. Her parents are huuuuuuge.

Anoop Dogg - Said he was going to bring energy to the show every week. Then sings "Angel of Mine." That song doesn't even bring energy to a high school dance, let alone the biggest show on television. Disappointing. It looks like I'll have to pick a different favorite. Uh oh. He just said he picked a song because it meant something to him. Kiss of Death.

Casey Carlson - Her facial expressions are over the top. Vocals are weak at best. She should have done some easy country song and dressed the part. Would have made it on easily. Surprise, her mom is a fan.

*What's with the microphone? It looks like they borrowed it from Carrie Underwood.

Michael Sarver - Middle of the road, I guess. Not great, not as terrible as a couple of the others. Maybe third so far? Not worse than Carlson or Wright. Somewhere between 3 and 5. Up tempo song, that helps.

*Ted Danson in the house!

Anne Marie Bostovich - Big song. Wasn't terrible. That probably means it was pretty good. Unfortunately, Randy Jackson doesn't think anyone should sing this song. They should take it off the list, I guess. Along with Mariah and Whitney and the Police and ... Good looking, didn't suck. Close to the top three.

Stephen Fowler - Old school Michael Jackson. I really liked the song. Randy didn't like it. Simon didn't like it. Add Michael to the list of songs you can't sing. I bet Paula likes it. Ooh, she doesn't. I didn't think it was that bad. I would have said top half. But with the judges crapping on it, he won't move ahead with it.

Tatiana Del Toro - Before she sings: If she makes it, I might not watch the next show she's in. Possibly the most annoying person ever on this show. She's singing a Whitney song. Hopefully it is terrible. After the song: Well, it wasn't terrible. Unfortunately. Really weird faces at the end. Wouldn't be surprised if she goes on. Early favorite for votefortheworst.com. Simon lays it down! Excellent.

Danny Gokey - Top 3. He touched the untouchable Mariah. Started out rough but Kara LOVES it. Paula likes it. Randy likes it. Simon thought it was "good." He hit it on the head. End was great. Beginning was rough, but it was rough for everyone tonight. And usually is this early in the competition.

Top 3, consensus between me and mrroby: Danny, top guy. Anne Marie, top girl. Ricky Braddy, freebee. Others in running for the third spot: Pale Girl, Anoop Dogg, and unfortunately, Tatiana.

More next time...

MLB.com Propaganda

Almost two months and no posts. There's been a lot to comment about, Obama, recession, "stimulus" plans, etc. We've been dropping the ball. Unfortunately, this post isn't nearly that deep.

Anyway, I came across this article on mlb.com. It seems in this market, everyone is watching their ass. At least this writer knows where his check comes from. If this doesn't read like a press release from Major League Baseball, I don't know what does.

"Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expressed sadness and anger while repudiating Rodriguez's past choices and once again detailed the significant steps MLB has taken to eradicate the problem. "

Had anyone ever heard the word 'repudiating' until John McCain started running for president? However, to explain this detail, notice the author does not use quotes, merely paragraphs of facts.

"The statement outlined several steps MLB has taken to fight drug use. Under Selig's watch, the use of performance-enhancing substances has decreased from more than 9 percent to lower than 1 percent; he successfully negotiated getting a testing program added to the Basic Agreement in 2002, and with the mandatory random testing penalties that began in 2004, MLB now has "the toughest program in professional sports with the stiffest penalties.""

The only quotes I see are on the last line. Not a big deal, I suppose, but I hadn't heard these statistics anywhere else. The latest numbers are public record. It would be possible to determine the number of players suspended for PEDs since 2005. But how would someone without access know that 9 percent used when Selig started in ... well I don't know when. 1992 or 1998.

"MLB's testing program, which is conducted at the WADA-certified laboratory in Montreal, is unannounced, random and year-round and uses the most modern technology. In addition to two mandatory tests during the season, every player is subject to additional year-round, random testing. There is no limit to how many times a player can be tested. And in 2006, MLB expanded the program and began to randomly test for amphetamines, thus attacking a problem that had existed in baseball for decades. "

Again, no quotes in the article. Just propaganda. Read the rest, it is truly ridiculous. The comments by Selig are again ambiguous and toothless.

Selig is 74. He graduated from college more than 40 years before ameeks did. If anyone knows how Selig made enough money to become the largest public stockholder of the Milwaukee Braves, I'd like to know. Also, what happened to public stockholders... maybe another blog topic?!?