New Job!!

Hey all!! Well, finally I'm working. I'm a substitute teacher in my local school district. Since Thursday when I set up my subfinding account, I've received something like 15 phone calls for spots that are open. I have worked for 3 days, two in elementary school and the third at the middle school. It has been an adventure so far. I guess with it being the last day before a decent Thanksgiving break..most of the teachers weren't going anywhere just yet? I should have tons of sub positions now that it is flu season, here's hoping!!

Correction...

I have a mistake to correct..the score to the Michigan St.-Brown game from last night is wrong. The correct score was 45-34. It probably makes no difference, but some Big Ten basketball fans might care about it more than I understand. I apologize for the misquoting of the score last night.

College Basketball is Back!!

I know some of you dislike my consistent talk of basketball..well, in the kind words of some friends of mine.."Yeah, College Basketball called me, and it doesn't like you either."

It should be an interesting season..I know I've already spent much time listening to exhibition games and now the real games are underway. Not many quality wins, unless you consider Maryland being Vermont in the Coaches vs. Cancer tourney tonight. For those of you who are Michigan State Spartan fans, they had a shocker of a game, slow paced and certainly didn't kick butt against the Ivy League's Brown Bears. Conveniently located in the great state of Rhode Island. It must have been a game where the Bears played a Princeton-style offense where the court was spaced out a little and the tempo was slow. The game should have been a Spartan blowout, but they are young..so it was 54-44.

On a really side note...Congrats to the Democrats!! We've got control of Congress!! Take that conservative Republicans! Well, I take that back..the Republicans are that bad, but who knows days later?

Take care all and Happy College Basketball Season!!

A Political Thought

We're now 12 days from the mid-term elections for new governors, congressmen, local leaders and things of this nature. I wonder..how many of you choose who you will vote for based on the issues and what/how the person your voting for believes? If you're not issues-oriented, how many of you vote based on what each candidate has done in a previous office and therefore vote based on the leadership qualities of the person you want in office?

I'll admit, in these non-Presidential elections I'll either vote of the Democrat or the person I know by name and what they've done. If the candidate has proven to be a good, strong leader then I want him or her representing me in office. Sure, I sound greedy when I speak of myself here, but if they are showing good leadership and have a good, clear, strong voting record that benefits the people I'm surrounded by, then the person has shown me they can do a good job. In a Presidential election, of course I'll look at the issues and see which potential candidate I want to back and give my support fully. If I don't care about the issues in a Presidential election, well..I could be supporting someone who is as confusing to understand and George W. Bush has been for the last 6 years. I've seen the result of poor decisions on his part lately, and not having a job to look forward and greater job creation..well, he hasn't done a suitable job in supporting and contributing to the success of all Americans, as he should do. He has supported too many money-hungry political fatcats..and I'm tired of that myself.

I think I especially see his not entirely strong lack of leadership when he made a political point yesterday in trying to buy some swing votes and those who have suggested they will not vote at all because of what is going on out in Iraq with the troops. While I don't support an all-out removal of troops at one significant time.. I do support suggested deadlines to be met by the Iraqi government with the result of a certain number of troops returning home as each deadline is satisfactorially met. I understand some of you will disagree with me, but as I said, I don't support an all-out immediately policy. I support the troops protecting us, but I'm not sure they are really fighting terrorism there as much as they are supporting the Iraqi troops in a civil war. President Bush tried to 'dodge the bullet' by saying what he hoped many Democrats wanted to hear, but honestly..I don't think he fooled any Democrats or potential swing voters with his act yesterday. He just said what we, as Democrats, knew he would say, so it wasn't a big surprise, it was just a "calm before the storm", as I thought of it.

If any of you have some dissent in what I'm saying, I'd be glad to discuss it. My email is cmlrun@yahoo.com. I don't care who is a Republican, Democrat, Green, Socialist, Independent or Apathetic...please go vote. You have a better voice by voting, even if the candidate you vote for loses. It means in two years, you can make a real difference. Go out and Rock Your Vote!!

Thanks...

Struggling to find something to write about

Other than working a lot lately, I haven't been able to find anything to really write about. I mean, sure there are plenty of stories out there in politics, entertainment and sports, but nothing "blog worthy". If any of you have some ideas...I'd be glad to hear of them, and consider the possibilities.

A Job Update

Well, its been a bit of time since my last blog, sorry..I guess a new job and lots of work will do that. The job has been good though. I know many of the people hate working for the organization because of a lack of control over what the organization should be doing and how things should work for the employees. I've had a great experience though. I walk around the stadium as a food vendor selling pizza and hot dogs. While the prices are slightly high for a slice of pizza or hot dogs...I don't mind it cause I make money regardless of how much each item does sell for.
The killer is about to come. Tonight I start a long 9-game homestand, and while it will be crazy, I hope I'll make a load of money so I can pay my school loans and enjoy getting something going with those again.
The team is doing well too. Currently they are 29-24 and in first place in their division. They keep this up and I'll get to work in the playoffs.

Ok, I'm watching the Cubs game against the Washington Nationals..the Nats have a mascots or specialty race much like the Pittsburgh Piroges or the Sausage race in Milwaukee. The Nationals race 'dead presidents'. That's kinda scary, but I guess Teddy Roosevelt won by a nose..

A Fun Survey Thing that Seems True To Me

Your Personality Is

Idealist (NF) You are a passionate, caring, and unique person.You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals. You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily.Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings. You seek out other empathetic people to befriend.Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships. In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily. At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career. With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone. As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style. On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.

The Three Question Personality Test

What A Country!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060515/ap_en_ce/people_foster

University of Pennsylvania held its commencement ceremony this weekend. As an honorary graduate, Jodie Foster speaks out about how things have been in this country since September 11, 2001 and other worldly concerns. Then she ends her talk by rapping a verse of Eminem. This shocks the crowd, but they like it because its different.
Towards the end of the article, I see that comedian Yakov Schmirnoff gets his masters from UPenn. He is a Russian comedian who was famous for a comedy act using the phrase "What A Country!!", then he would laugh like he has a throat problem and just keep going. Yes, it was a sight to see.

It was a great story considering all we are hearing about immigration and how President (yikes) Bush is going to man the border with upto 6,000 National Guard troops. Is this good? Its worth a shot to keep the criminal-minded immigrants out of our country. I think his idea of temporary work for immigrants is ok, but let the company decide if the person is welcome to stay, and if not..then they go! No Soup for them!

Later folks!!

Concessions

I had a work meeting Monday night to go over details of the organization and job matters (tax papers, bleh). I found out that I'll be working in concessions, but I could be a beer vendor so I could be walking along perfecting my beer pouring skills..well, maybe.

Otherwise, I would love to see the Cubs break this losing streak. Its like a bad flu, maybe even bird flu? It has been ugly..they are 1- for the month of May. Its not cool.

I guess otherwise I don't have much else to chat about here..nothing real striking lately. I'll get back to you if there is..

A Bit of Good News

For those of you who are wondering, I have a job for the summer! I'll be working with the Rockford Riverhawks in gameday operations. This could be anything from ushering, ticket-taking, concessions, team store sales, or anything they might deem me necessary for. The website for the team is www.rockfordriverhawks.com. It should be an amazing season in a new stadium. I'm sure its "state of the art", but I'll know more for sure about that on Monday night when we have our first meeting to get things going organizationally for the exhibition season and then regular season.

I'll keep you all updated on this..take care!!

Life As I've Lived It Lately

Last Tuesday I had an interview with a church near my hometown. While this was great cause I'm local and didn't have to relocate to enjoy the job, I am glad that I didn't get this position. Honestly, the search committee seemed to believe that I was going to do exactly what they wanted by the book and then maybe put my own ideas in. Well, I could have done that if necessary, but some of what I would like to do required family/parental support to help the youth feel good about having a relationship with God. Sadly, this church really only wanted me to be the kind of youth director who ordered and served pizza and let the kids play volleyball every week. I could parse in a devotional whenever I wished, but apparently they didn't see that as being necessary. I found they wanted me to be more of a babysitter to their youth, rather than an adult leader to them in a way that helps create trust and belonging in a group they want to be a part of.
I felt real committed to wanting to have a great ministry that could grow and help other youth and families feel welcome to know what kind of growth their youth want and are getting. The problem is that this church didn't sound as though they wanted a man with a mind for ministry to come in and ruin what they believe works..which to me seems like punishment by way of excommunication or by smacking them around alot. It's not my nature, and I don't want to dicipline someone unless the attitude is beyond appropriate, at least then I would address the problem and talk with the youth in question about what is going on.
Thankfully, I don't have to deal with this church wanting to make me someone I'm not. I try to be more of a positive model for youth to feel they can emulate, not just like another parent who doesn't care what the kids do and then punish them with timeouts, grounding, taking away possessions, locking them into the house as though they are in a maximum security hole or anything like that. I see now why they only had about 4-12 kids show up from Sunday to Sunday, and then about 20+ only show up when they were having a grand event or going on some work camp trip or campout. I hope this model isn't the only way churches know how to be and that I can grow to be a better youth minister than they thought I would be.

From there, now I'm waiting to hear from our independent league baseball team about having a job with them this summer. Granted it would be about 3.5 months of work, but it would be fun working as an usher, ticket taker, concessionaire, team store worker, or whatever they may choose for me to be. I'll hear about this one this week.

Yeah Cubs!! I know the pitching is skeptical, but with Greg Maddux and Ryan Dempster I'm not too worried there. With Derrek Lee down for about two months, that will be sketchy, but I won't mind it as long as we look for a taller and more rangy first baseman so that Todd Walker can go back to his natural position of second base. It'll get better, with the speed on the basepaths and the ability to steal bases, we can play much more action-focused small ball, rather than always swinging for the fences and settling for a .500-.600 record on the season.

What Is This Whole Deal With the Truth of Certain Things We Read?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060330/sc_afp/sciencereligion_060329234231

What is the deal with things being accurate in the Bible? Do they have to be historically and perfectly accurate?
According to this story, everything does have to be accurate. This isn't right or truthful for something that is an interpretation of what one man believes. I don't believe that the crucifixion was portrayed in a wrong fashion. This could just be a way for us as sinners to see what could happen to us and how we would look. Who cares how we can be placed on the cross or in what ways the nails cut into us, just so that we know that we could be crucified. It's getting really out of control how things are being cut in fashions that bring questions to the validity of the way something was done. Makes being a book reader worthless if everything has to be cut and dry truthful rather than up to imagination. This is why I'm personally tired of conservatives trying to force their way into everything in society, book form and whatever else they try to take credit for themselves.

To Ponder or Not to Ponder

So I've been really bugged about something lately. I guess it shouldn't be something that bothers me so much, but it does bother me more than I expect. In terms of my job searching, I've had to totally rethink my last resort in jobs to apply for. I've thought if I really had to I would apply to work at a local bar or pub here in Rockford or Machesney Park. I just struggle with the idea because my ideal career is in youth ministry. My issue is do I try working in a bar until I can get a youth ministry job, and not have that affect my ability to work with youth, at least in the eyes of the congregation I would be at? Now I've had some friends that think it would be a great job, since I'm not an avid drinker, and it would be different. Others say that it doesn't seem like it should be a problem to work in a bar then work with youth in a church, since associate'preaching pastors do that and still get to work with the youth? I've even had a few friends say it would be best if I just forgot about the idea altogether. I decided I bring it to those of you who do look at this and let you help me figure it out.
I've also considered trying to work in radio doing a show for youth that brings messages to them in ways and terms that are easier for them to understand and feel compelled to go out and pass along to friends and other people they want to see come to Christ. I don't have radio experience, but I'd totally do what I could to learn and work my way up the line..or as Johnny Cash might say "Walk the Line".
If neither of these options work, then I'm out for department stores or restaurants until I can get the youth ministry job of my dreams, whether the ministry is in Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, and other places that seem interesting to consider.
Well, those are just a few things I'm pondering. I'll try and update much sooner next time I have something come to mind, or that I want to write about.

Later!!

Some Random Music Listening I Had

I just happened to be really bored last night so I decided to listen to some music from the 80s. It just happens that these are the songs I heard:
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) by Dead or Alive
-"You Spin Me Right Round Baby, Right Round Like A Record player, right round round round.

The Promise by When In Rome
- What a name for a band.

Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
- What a great song from a guy who started his American career in soap operas.

The Heart of Rock 'n Roll by Huey Lewis and the News

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
-Can you say it went "ad nauseum" when the White Sox were in the World Series?

Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles
Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday

Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
-Famous from The Breakfast Club

Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen
-Definitely a seductive song from Dirty Dancing.

If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (O.M.B.)
Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears
Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams
-Got My First Real Six-String, Bought It At The Five and Dime.

True by Spandau Ballet
-What a name for a band. Was Xanadu Ballet not as cool or something?

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi
-Shot Through The Heart And You're To Blame...

Tainted Love by Soft Cell
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2
Love Shack by The B-52s
I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls
(I Just) Died In Your Arms by Cutting Crew
-Where did this name come from? The same basket as Soft Cell?

Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
-Heard in Zoolander, the 'trance' song

Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benatar
Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
-Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I've ever known, like a drifter I was born to walk alone.

Maniac by Michael Sembello
-The song used by Chris Farley when he was getting the mud washed off of him at the gast station.

867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone
-Alright, who ever tried really calling Jenny on that number?

Venus by Bananarama
-I'm your Venus, You're my fire, You're Desire

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
-It's the Eye of the Tiger, its the thrill of the fight, rising up to the terrors of our rival.
-Come on, how many of you haven't heard this one at enough high school or college sports events? Or do you just watch Rocky IV alot?

Beat It by Michael Jackson
-I wonder how often he used that song for sexual purposes?

She Blinded Me WIth Science by Thomas Dolby
-That is one twisted video.

Careless Whisper by Wham!
-Yes, this would be the same band who brought us, "Wake Me Up, Before You Go-Go!"

Broken Wings by Mr. Mister
-Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly Again Learn to live so free.

Ah, what a fun night of music that was. Hope you liked getting to have a look back at a great decade of music. And on this note, I'm off for some more 80s music.

Barry Bonds Must Go!

Barry Bonds needs to shut his yap or deal with the consequences of getting spit on and having beer purposely spilled on him all season. Regardless of how many home runs he might hit, he needs to go. He's a cancer to the game. Most teams have a player who is a cancer to the chemistry of the team, but Barry Bonds is a cancer to the entire league. He's also a hypocrite. He wants the media to leave him alone, but yet when he doesn't get the attention he wants, he does something to get attention..be it talking to the media or denying that he ever used steroids. Hello, you don't grow to look like you ate two people and they stuck in your chest after being a frickin stick figure for 12 years. Come on, admit you took the 'roids and accept your punishment since you've tarnished yourself, your 73 homers in one season, and your entire career with the Giants. If Bud Selig was the smart man he believes he is...he'd ban you from the game just like A. Barlett Giamatti did to Pete Rose when he bet on baseball.

And I don't want to see him on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, admittedly the games are interesting, but if he's in it after today, the reputation the classic was building will be tarnished. It will start to have a look of the "Anti-Olympics" where every drug user can be on a team and play regardless of his ability. Bonds has no respect for the league, the San Francisco Giants, or anyone he comes into contact with in baseball.

World Baseball Classic?

I know it has been horribly talked about alot lately, but What's with the World Baseball Classic? I think it's more like an event than it is a classic because after this concludes and all the major leaguers return to their respective teams, something will happen to all of those pitchers and fielders or hitters with star power. It's a travesty...and who came up with this bad idea? Non other than Bud Selig, the innovator of baseball controversy in Minnesota and Montreal when he said both of those teams could be contracted, meaning they wouldn't exist. Well, he got one team right, but they exist in another baseball city..the Washington Nationals.
I think the worst decision baseball made was voting Bud Selig to be commissioner. He's veering on worse than NHL commissioner Gary Bettmann. Marketing in both of these sports just reached the basic point of downhill. Neither man says or does the right thing to guarantee money-making or growth of the sport in the small market areas. I mean look at Pittsburgh. They are basically a small market in everything, except for the NFL and steelmaking. The Pirates can't keep a good team at all, and the Penguins are on the verge of bankruptcy if they don't watch out. I think that may have something to do with why Mario Lemieux retired earlier this season. I mean he even owns a part of the team...I don't know which part, but he might want to trade up for something else within the ownership group. Even the poor Kansas City Royals, who want to compete in the AL Central, can't because they don't have the money, even with revenue-sharing, to field a solid team that doesn't look like it needs a couple of more years of playing in places like Omaha and other minor league towns. I mean even my hometown of Rockford, IL had an affiliation with the Royals. I think the only players from those Rockford teams you made the majors were Mike Sweeney and Johnny Damon, who isn't even with the team anymore, and he has a world series ring to show off for getting out of Kansas City. Now they have prospect Zach Grienke who has left the team for personal reasons...I shouldn't dog on him, but I wonder if any part of that is because he was dropped from the US roster in the WBC? I have to be careful with him though because I also have him on my fantasy roster this season, I hope he pans out on a staff that bodes Mark Prior, Mark Buehrle, and Brad Radke along with John Lieber and Ryan Dempster.
We'll see what comes of this World Baseball Classic, but I think it's another in a long line of bad publicity moves by a professional sports association who has no idea how to market to kids playing the game and having a dream of making it big in the pros. I mean pretty soon, we'll be going to games and instead of scorecards, we'll be buying pronunciation guides cause we won't be able to say many of the foreign names on the rosters.
Ugh, this is going to be an interesting Spring Training when even the radio listener will go "Who is this guy playing second base?" Get the WBC over after like a week of bad play and low ratings cause you'll have score reports and highlights set for some areas, like NBC had with the Olympics, so no one will watch.

A Day Full of Basketball-Bracketbusters Style

First off, here's the list of games I watched or listened to a part of today...watch out there are 19 of them throughout the day.
Bucknell vs. Northern Iowa
Missouri St. vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
DePaul vs. St. John's
Texas A&M vs. Baylor
Northern Illinois vs. Winthrop
Chicago St. vs. Valparaiso (Women's game)
Oral Roberts vs. Montana
Marist vs. Old Dominion
Fairfield vs. Loyola (Chicago)
Delaware vs. Cleveland St.
Louisiana Tech vs. Southern Illinois
Illinois-Chicago vs. Murray St.
Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
Niagra vs. Valparaiso (Men's game)
George Mason vs. Wichita St.
Louisville vs. Syracuse
California St.-Northridge vs. Boise St.
Fresno St. vs. Creighton
Santa Clara vs. Hawaii

That's the list...what an incredibly insane number of games. It was great fun though, considering two of those games went to Double Overtime before a winner was decided.

I must say for a Bracketbusters game, Bucknell and Northern Iowa was just as great as ESPN hoped it would be. This game presented the best in fundamental basketball. Being that I'm more of a fundamental basketball player and fan of the game, I love getting to see things like a ballhandler using the armbar to protect the ball from being stolen, passing inside to get easy layups, and "pick the picker" so you can open up a passing lane to get the ball inside to a forward or center for the high percentage layup. Ah, Bucknell may not have won the game on the scoreboard, but in my heart when it comes to fundamentals, Bucknell won. A wonderfully played game by both teams, I must admit.
The Chicago St./Valpo game for the Valpo women was incredible. At one point late in the second half, the women were down as much as 11 points. They came back with excellent passing and getting the ball inside for layups and some drawing of fouls. I was shocked that this game went to one overtime, but on Senior Day, the ladies were after my heart and they didn't give up when the win looked out of their grasp. What a way to win for the classy trio of seniors, who in the 2 years I knew each of them, they won my hearts with their play and character off the court. It will be different listening to the women after this season when I only know about 3 women on the roster again. It was a great ride watching and listening to these ladies play a game they love.

Louisiana Tech played a heroic game against Southern Illinois. With SIU being in the might Missouri Valley Conference many didn't believe that LA Tech stood a chance. The men of Tech showed they really want to win the bid in the Western Athletic Conference. It's possible they could get it, but they have to work out some kinks, but they should get there sometime in the near future. Keep it up Tech and you'll be there.

The Valparaiso men were a class act tonight as well. This started with the exceptional allowance of a senior walk-on getting the chance to start when another senior stepped aside and gave him the spot to start for the first and last time in the Crusader uniform at home. Way to go Homer for allowing Jim to have Seth's starting spot tonight. Jim really worked hard to just get into a Valpo uniform three years ago. He played a good game, even if he didn't get very many minutes (4). It was a great ride for this team..especially the group of seniors in their last home game as well.

While this whole concept of Bracketbusters is a unique opportunity for some of the "mid-majors" in smaller conferences to get some national exposure with a possible game on any of the ESPN family of networks, it sorta makes a fan wish that more of the games were actually good games, rather than opportunities for about 75 teams to just have a non-conference game that is a guaranteed return game for next season. It has gotten to be a bloated tournament setup where maybe two or three of these games are of good quality, otherwise many of the games are just extra drivel for ESPN to have something to replace the fact that they no longer show hockey and they really want to cause an office NCAA bracket pool to get blown up massively.
It's good to support teams that aren't in the bloated conferences like the Big East, Big Ten, ACC, SEC or the Mountain West, and the Big Twelve. These conferences get over-billed because they have all the big name schools mostly the one who overpopulate the brackets come tourney time or the top25 rankings throughout the season.
It will definitely be good to see how the Bucknells, Northern Iowas, and Southern Illinois-types will do in pulling the proverbial upset in the first round of the tournament. I hope for a few good ones, but it'll probably be an upset by one of the lower ranking teams in a major conference that does something in the second round or in the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight rounds.

I don't know about you, but this was a great day of basketball and I'm glad I got to enjoy it. If you don't mind, I'll get back to the games I'm currently watching or listening to...they would be the last two on the list above. Take care all...and have a good weekend. Watch some Daytona 500 or Olympic something, my cheeky wee monkeys.

Coaching Changes Aplenty

Read these first:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2332415&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/060215Vitaleondavis.html?lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2

It has been a wild last two weeks of college basketball.
First, the resignation of Quin Synder at Missouri. While this one was expected to happen, some say it was a year later than it should have been.
Second, Eddie Sutton, a legend in his own right, only man to coach four different teams into the NCAA tournament (Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma St.), is now on leave of absence for what some might consider personal reasons, but it is result of his car accident Friday night. As of now, we know it's from drinking, which he had previously sought treatment for in 1989. He's at a school who already has his successor named, his son Sean Sutton. It's a good time for him to go. His only reason for staying now is a selfish plea for the Hall of Fame, by becoming the fifth coach in Men's College Basketball to have 800 career coaching wins. Sorry, Eddie..you had a good career, time to let Sean loose.
Third, Mike Davis. What can you say about a coach who basically was stuck between a rock and a hard place since 1976 when Bobby Knight coached Indiana to its first of three NCAA championships? Granted Mike Davis was probably starting to play basketball in 1976, but as previous "legend replacers" have proven...you're screwed if you expect to replace a legend and be just like him. I know Mike had already voiced his opinion that "Indiana needs to one of their own". The problem: Indiana Hoosier fans want either Bobby Knight to come back home to Bloomington where the fans will accept him with open arms and several steak dinners, or they want Steve Alford, their golden boy, to resign the coaching job he's successfully enjoyed at Iowa to come and take over the spot IU fans believe he should have gotten the second he was handed his diploma from IU. Of course he would have been an assistant first, but that would have kept the bickering to a minimum, and Steve Alford probably would have ended up at someplace like Iowa once Dr. Tom Davis had stepped down anyway. Like I said before though, Indiana Hoosier fans really just need to grow up and grow out of their conservative ways. You make a mockery of college basketball when you try to hold all of your coaches to the same expectations that were presented by coaches like Bobby Knight or Valparaiso's Homer Drew.

I'm sure there will be plenty more coaching changes once March comes along and all but 97 teams have turned in uniforms and sworn off the weight room for a couple weeks. It will be interesting to see what comes of these three coaching positions and where Quin Synder and Mike Davis may work next season or thereafter.

I'll go through the coaching ranks here soon and see what coaches look like they may not be back at their schools after this season. I'll also kind of think about where coaches like Rick Majerus, Bob Huggins, and Steve Lavin or others along that line will be next season too.

Unreal Sports Dilemmas

Eddie Sutton just cemented his seat in retirement. After a good career at Oklahoma St. and the revelation, at least to me, of the probationary issues he brought to Kentucky plus his alcohol abuse, it's time for him to step back even if he is 6 wins away from 800 for his career. That is exceptional, and although it may hold him back from the College Basketball Hall of Fame, he knows he will have a spot in Ok State's hall. I don't think he'll be able to overcome this DUI stance that Oklahoma considers tough.

I also have a feeling that with all the recent coaching matters in the college game there will be other coaches to join the carousel that already holds Bob Huggins and Quin Synder. I wouldn't to surprised to see either Huggins or Rick Majerus with the job at Mizzou. Either one would be a good fit. Huggins just got a raw deal because Cincy is more of a local style for most of the students who do go there. Mike Davis will most definitely be out. He's made enough excuses about the school's theory of keeping him or showing the long road to nowhere, which I believe goes thru every small town in Indiana. I'm sure I'm also missing a few other coaches who will join the carousel in the coming weeks. More will be known come conference tourney time or after the NCAA field has been set.

And it's official, Michelle Kwan has stepped aside. Luckily it was with enough time for the US to call a suitable replacement for her. She lived a good Olympic shelf life, but now she's got time to heal up and either start here professional skating career or starting the career she went to school for. It was a good career Michelle. We'll see you sitting in a broadcast booth somewhere soon.

Here's What I'm Burning On

Ok, so after that 'Ode To Jim Rome'...
Today, in olympic coverage I read that Michelle Kwan may be withdrawing from the figure skating competition because of a groin pull. This groin pull she has was what caused her to have to sit out of the National Championship and Trials. If she knew prior to today that this was going to be a problem, she should have withdrawn consideration for being on the team. She became a grievance before the Trials because she wants to win the gold so badly...well, who wouldn't? This is where Emily Hughes should be, not sitting back waiting for Michelle to sit it out. This should tarnish the reputation and great image that Kwan made in winning the US championships for a few years in a row there. I don't want to go as far as calling her a "has been", but she needs to be responsible and know that injuries of her nature need time and with all the striding and jumps she has to do in skating, she should have sat out, even if it means she would never get the gold. I mean how many of us recreational athletes have dreamed at one time or another of being an Olympian and winning the gold?

Another burn is all the whining from the Colts camp because they didn't win their first playoff game...so they struggled. It happens, get over it and move on. At least now you know that Peyton Manning is an overpriced QB who hasn't really known how to win since he led Tennessee to the national title back in 1997. They are like the Red Sox of the NFL. They do everything to buy or keep a winning team, but they can't seem to win when it counts. (Though I give credit to the Sox, at least they have won a title, in my lifetime.)

I'm also tired of hearing the debate for J.J. Redick vs. Adam Morrison as National Player of the Year in College Basketball. They are both overrated players who can win as long as the team revolves around them. Once either one experiences some defense on them, they freeze up and don't make or create the shots that give them so many 30+ point games. They aren't quality for talk of Player of the Year yet...they have conference tourneys and NCAA Tourney games to still play. Let the debate begin once they get to the first round of the NCAA tourney. Even if it is only the Eastern Seaboard Production Network (Thanks, Sports Radio 670 The Score) that keeps that debate going cause they can't create relevant stories for the current week or the way a team like the Indiana Hoosiers are playing. Granted alot of the Hoosier talk is still bitterness at Myles Brand for firing Bobby Knight. Hey Indiana, Bobby Knight might be a great coach and Myles Brand might be an idiot but, GROW UP!

And that fans is what I'm burning on...Goodnight!

Valpo Losing Again

I don't know how it is that Valpo can't seem to win the games that are so important that they virtually have true meaning to how fans follow them. Tonight they once again lose a key conference to IUPUI 75-67. With this loss, they have cemented that they will not win the conference regular season title. It's always inevitable that they will lose at least one important game, but this year, they've lost 5 games in conference.

I dont' know if that has anything to do with the loss of Kenny Harris in April, the NCAA toying with the new center Mo Kone, or if this team is just being recruited wrong and so the hopes and expectations for the season are dashed like all the fans are cheering on the college basketball version of the Chicago Cubs. I've just about had it with getting my hopes up about a good game with this team. I've even said they will lose in the conference tournament semifinals...maybe it's time to retract that and say they won't get past the quarterfinals this year either?

After tonight, not one person on this season's team is worthy of a job as a professional basketball player. They might be ok as high school or junior high coaches, but none of these guys can make even a pro practice squad.

I hope they show some improvement on Saturday against Western Illinois, but I'm not holding out alot of hope. At least now I have the Fighting Illini to keep rooting on to do well in the NCAA tourney. Probably not going as far as last season, but they'll make some noise.
I'll write more later as I think of other things with this team that angers me.