Five Good Questions with Brian Bennett about the Louisville Cardinals

Today's Five Good Questions is with Brian Bennett of The Louisville Courier-Journal...Brian covers the red-hot Louisville Cardinals....I want to thank Brian for his time...

Q1. It looks like Louisville is finally on the right track. What is the feeling in Louisville about the Cardinals chances going into the Big Dance?
A. Louisville has won seven straight games and is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Cardinals have a good chance of being a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, with an outside shot at a No. 2 if they win out. They look to me like a team that will make the second weekend and a darkhorse Final Four candidate with the right draw.

Q2. What are the strengths of this Louisville team?
A. This is not a great shooting team. But they defend every night, almost always holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting. They have great size and length up front with David Padgett, Earl Clark, Juan Palacios, Derrick Caracter and Terrence Williams. They're deep and athletic. They pass the ball well, and when they're doing that they get open shots and make the offense work. They're deep.

Q3. How do you think the Cardinals would match-up against a Memphis or Tennessee?
A. They might have trouble matching their offensive firepower, but they have more size than either team and would make it more of a halfcourt game with their defense. I actually like their chances against a team like that moreso than a deliberate team like UCLA.

Q4. What do you see the Cardinals doing in the Big East Tournament?
A. I think Louisville will get to the final and possibly win it, depending on the matchups. The Cardinals seem like they're on a mission to me.

Q5. In your opinion, how far can this Louisville team go in the NCAA Tournament?
A. As I said earlier, I think they're a Sweet 16/Elite Eight team with Final Four potential if things break their way.

Once again, I want to thank Brian for his time...

Beers with Bloggers - Jon from Complete Sports

Today's Beers with Bloggers feature is with Jon from Complete Sports....Jon is quietly one of the upper echelon of sports bloggers...I encourage everyone to bookmark his site...before we begin, I want to thank him for taking the time to respond...

Q1. Here is the basic blog question - but why do you blog? How long have you been doing Complete Sports?
I blog mostly because I love sports. I love watching sports, I love reading about sports, I love talking about sports, and as I have discovered, I love writing. What I like about doing a general sports blog like I do is that there is never a shortage of information... once baseball is over there is football. Once football is over there is basketball. Once basketball is over there is baseball. Wash, rinse, repeat. There is never a time where there is nothing in the sports world to discuss or write about... any time I'm not writing it's more so because I just don't have the time, not because there's nothing to talk about.

Also, on a personal level, I suppose it's a little bit about the small bit of recognition. I mean, obviously it's not like my blog is being read by thousands of people per day, but it might be read by hundreds of people on a given day... and it gives me satisfaction when someone has found my writing interesting enough to comment on it and want to discuss it. Because to be honest, as much as I love writing and I love sports, I probably wouldn't blog if nobody ever read it.

As for length, I've been doing Complete Sports for a little over 2 years now. I have slowed down a little bit lately as real life (read: lots and lots and lots of homework) has interfered, but I still post as much as I can and I love doing it.

Q2. What makes a good blog?
This is maybe a little cliche, but having your own voice and style. I don't like blogs that just report the news... I'm not going to read a blog to get my news, because it's simply not feasible. But having opinions on what happens or what will happen, that makes for a good blog. Don't tell me who got traded where, because I'll already know that information - tell me what you think about the deal. I love reading people's opinions, because it gives me different perspectives to consider when forming my own opinions.

Also, and I suppose this is a bit hypocritical of me to say when looking at my blog lately, but posting on a very regular basis is a must. Especially if you're just starting out, you should be posting basically everyday. You can't expect people to come back if they know it probably won't be updated. This can be a really hard thing to do (again, as I'm finding out!), but posting everyday is pretty key.

Also, humor can be good - a la Zach at The Big Picture as well as a plethora of other sites. Lastly, you should probably be able to write if you want to have a good blog. I mean, I'm an accounting student, not an English teacher, but if I see obvious errors with grammar, I'm not going to read it. Take a couple extra minutes to proofread your post, make sure you're capitalization and punctuation is OK, and then hit post. I'm kind of an elitist snob like that.

Q3. What are your strengths at blogging? Why is Complete Sports a good blog?
My strength, I think, is that I know sports pretty well, especially basketball and baseball. I've been playing these sports for most of my life, and watching them for even longer. I've played and coached basketball for a long time, and I think I know a lot of the intricacies of the game pretty well. Same for baseball. Also, in my mind(!), I can look at things in a fairly reasonable manner and base my opinion on that (well, unless it comes to the Vikings or Twins, in which case I cannot even feign objectivity). Also, and the readers can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think my writing is at least OK.

Q4. Enough about blogging. The NCAA Tournament is fast approaching. Who are your picks to make the Final Four and why?
The greatest sporting event on Earth! Going into the season, I had UCLA, Memphis, Kansas, and Tennessee, with UCLA beating Kansas for the title. I feel pretty good about these choices right now.

I think, when they're healthy and playing at their best, UCLA is the best team in the country. Defensively, we all know about Ben Howland. But they're efficient offensively, and for a couple of reasons are even better on this side of the ball than they have been over the past 2 seasons. One, they have Kevin Love, a model of efficiency. Two, the emergence of Russell Westbrook as a legit threat. He's a solid shooter, but he's also very quick off the dribble, gets to the rim, and can find the open man. His emergence as a really good player adds a little more athleticism that they were missing last year.

Among the other teams, I like their chances. We saw what Tennessee can do when they beat Memphis on the road. I think adding Tyler Smith will be enough to put them over the top and into the Final Four. Kansas is extremely deep and talented. Memphis is really good defensively, and they're fine as long as they're knocking shots down. All of these teams are deep, can wreak havoc defensively, and have enough offensive firepower to reach the Final Four.

Q5. What are your thoughts about the NBA not allowing high school graduates to go straight to the NBA? Do you think the league should have went a step further and made it mandatory that a player has to play at least two years of college ball?
I admittedly have some qualms about not allowing a high school kid to decide whether he wants to enter the NBA Draft, but I'm not going to complain about it because I think the rule helps both the NBA and NCAA. For the NCAA, the benefits are obvious... guys like Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Greg Oden, Derrick Rose, etc. make the college game so much more exciting. There is so much more star talent in the NCAA because of this rule (and because of some of the stars that have entered the college game in the past 2 seasons), and it's a really fun thing to see. For the NBA, it benefits them because for every LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire that has immediate success in the NBA, there are guys like Leon Smith and Ndudi Ebi, talented guys who might have had a better chance of being successful if they had played college ball rather than riding the pine in the Association.

By the same token, I would love to see the NBA make it mandatory for players to have to stay 2 years in college for selfish reasons, but I'm not really sure that it should. That seems like it might be overstepping its boundaries a little more.

Q6. Real quick - your thoughts about the opinionated Charles Barkley?
I LOVE Charles Barkley. Absolutely, unequivocally hilarious. This is basically already an accepted fact, but the trio of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley is almost too awesome for words.

Q7. With all the moves that took place before the NBA trading deadline, which team improved the most?
Obviously we have to look at the Lakers, who appear to be the best team in the NBA at the moment. Beyond the fact that they didn't give up anything of real consequence (with all apologies to Javaris Crittenton), Gasol was a perfect addition as an unselfish, skilled big man. As their record since the trade attests to, he's a perfect fit for the triangle and makes the Lakers so very dangerous.

Beyond that, I love what the Cavaliers did. LeBron is now surrounded by shooters, which is the perfect situation. They saw Ben Wallace as the key cog in the deal, but I thought the addition of Joe Smith flew under the radar a little as a great addition. With range out to 17-18 feet, that's a great fit playing next to LeBron. He should be able to make a living off of those midrange jumpers. I actually like the Cavs to win the East after that deal.

Looking a little deeper (and perhaps going beyond the scope of the question, which asked for the most improved team), I loved the Spurs addition of Kurt Thomas. Just a solid role player that fits in well. The Spurs are still awesome.

Q8. I have to ask a non-sports question - Obama, Clinton, or McCain? Why?
Right now I'm an Obama guy. To be honest, I don't follow politics all that much, but I like Obama's ideas, and I think he's got a fresh face and a fresher perspective which would be good for the country. Plus, I'm in college, and the cool thing to do in college is to be Pro-Obama!

Q9. Who are the five hottest women in sports and/or broadcasting?
Hmmm... hopefully it doesn't take away from my manliness to say that I hardly pay attention to sideline reporters (which seems to be the primary function that women in broadcasting serve at this point)... I'm not even sure I could name 5 total. So I'll just take the one obvious choice of Erin Andrews, and then take Stacey Dales, who is pretty cute and a solid broadcaster to boot. It's a little lame of me to only take 2 rather than 5, but that's really all I can think of at the moment.

Q10. Last question, this segment is called "Beers with Bloggers." So what are some of your favorite brews? What are some beers that you like that may not be well known nationally?
Again, hopefully this doesn't take down my manliness as a blogger :), but I barely ever drink. Like, I'm probably one of the least qualified people to answer this question, being that I can about count on one hand the number of times in my life I have drank. Hmmm... maybe it's a good thing that this wasn't well known before this interview, or I might not have qualified to be interviewed!! So I'll do the lame thing and abstain from answering, since I really have no answer.

For the record, my favorite beverage is Dr. Pepper! What else do you need??

Once again, I want to thank Jon for taking the time to respond...it is much appreciated...

Myron Cope Dies

Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers announcer Myron Cope died today at the age of 79....he served in the Steelers broadcast booth for 35 years and was the originator of The Terrible Towel...

Myron Cope (born January 23, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), whose given name is Myron Sydney Kopelman, was a color commentator for the Pittsburgh Steelers' radio broadcasts for 35 years. He is known for his nasal voice and a level of excitement rarely exhibited in the broadcast booth.

He is so far the only football announcer to be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, and is also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Cope was born in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh. He was originally a journalist before becoming a broadcaster. His first job was in Erie, Pennsylvania with the Daily Times. Cope then became a freelance journalist, most notably for Sports Illustrated. Cope's profile of Howard Cosell was selected by Sports Illustrated during its 50th Anniversary as one of the 50 best pieces ever published in the magazine.

In the late 1960s, Cope was being heard on the radio in Pittsburgh. His unique nasal voice was noticed by the Steelers' brass. He was made a member of the Steelers' radio team in 1970. As the Steelers won the Super Bowl four times, Cope gained a measure of fame.

His gold towel, called The Terrible Towel, has become a rallying tool for the black and gold.Like other sports announcers in Pittsburgh, particularly the late Pirates announcer Bob Prince, Cope has a repertoire of unique catchphrases employed in his broadcasts such as "Hum-Hah!" and "Okel Dokel" (his version of "okey dokey").

Cope often uses Yiddish expressions, especially "Feh!" and "Yoi!" (sometimes multiplied as "Double Yoi" or "Triple Yoi").In keeping with his comic personality, a series of television commentaries on WTAE TV saw Cope calling himself "Doctor Cope" and wearing a white lab coat while pretending to examine the opposing team's strengths and weaknesses through a microscope he called "the Cope-roscope".Cope has also created nicknames for key players. It was Cope who gave Steelers running back Jerome Bettis the highly marketable nickname of "The Bus," and Kordell Stewart the name "Slash".

Cope's style was an important influence on Pittsburgh Penguins announcer Mike Lange and ESPN commentator Chris Berman.Cope used a wide range of nicknames for other teams including "Bungles" (Cincinnati Bengals), "Cleve Sandlotters" and "Cleve Brownies" (Cleveland Browns), "Mini Vikes" (Minnesota Vikings) and "Redfaces" (Washington Redskins).Cope's autobiography Double Yoi was published in 2002.Cope announced his retirement from broadcasting on June 21, 2005, citing his recent health concerns.

His retirement was major news in the entire Pittsburgh area. On June 28, 2005, it was announced Cope would receive the Pete Rozelle Award for long time exceptional contributions to pro football in television and radio.

On October 31, 2005, Cope was honored for his lifetime accomplishments at halftime of the contest between the Steelers and the Ravens.

Stories around the nation

Nashville Tennessean sports columnist David Climer writes how the #1 Volunteers melted down at Vanderbilt... "Simply put, the Vols lost their composure. Why? Because Vanderbilt forced the issue. The same team that stared down so much adversity at the FedExForum on Saturday in the upset of then-No. 1 Memphis, lost its grip three nights later." ...

David Climer

Newark Star-Ledger sports columnist Steve Politi writes how organ donation has helped other... "Eleven months ago, the Rays made a much different trip to New Jersey. They left their home in Concord, N.C., to find their 21-year-old son, a vibrant college senior who was here to entertain North Carolina basketball fans as the furry ram mascot, in a coma and on life support." ....

Steve Politi

Washington Post sports reporter Camille Powell writes how Georgetown freshman Austin Freeman is one cool person.... "DeMatha Coach Mike Jones noticed that the first time he saw Freeman play, when he was in the seventh grade. Jones was struck by his maturity, and how he never played out of control -- so much so, that Jones assumed Freeman was already in high school." ....

Camille Powell

Portland Oregonian sports columnist John Canzano writes how Barack Obama give Portland rookie Greg Oden a call recently... "Greg Oden took a two-minute telephone call from Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday in which the men discussed basketball, mohawk haircuts and Oden's knee." ...

John Canzano

Dallas Morning News sports columnist Kevin Sherrington writes how Pat Knight is not guaranteed success at Texas Tech.... "Pat Knight is now fodder for the scientific debate over the effects of genes and environment and their impact on the win-loss column. His father, Bob, has done all he could. He raised him, coached him, employed him and took a job where his son would be assured of succeeding him." ...

Kevin Sherrington

Hat Trick of Stories

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times writes how Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes is a blogger.... "Hughes has seen a lot on his Web site, philhughes.wordpress.com, since starting it Jan. 16. Through Monday afternoon, the site had attracted more than 340,000 visitors from six continents." ....

Tyler Kepner

Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti writes that Tiger Woods has over taken MJ as DA MAN... "As Jordan blends into a relatively subdued mid-life existence -- except when Cuba Gooding Jr. screams that he's wearing MJ's underwear -- Woods is elevating the bar of dominance to unprecedented levels." ...

Jay Mariotti

Los Angeles Times sports reporter Sam Farmer writes about NFL Draft stud Chris Long and dealing with being Howie's son... "The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Long has gone from the hunter to the hunted, and stands a good chance of becoming the first overall pick of the Miami Dolphins -- a distinction that would lead to a rookie contract including about $35 million guaranteed." ......

Sam Farmer

Big Games of the Weekday

Here are this week's big games in college hoops....the rating is the most recent RPI rating....

Monday, February 25
#5 Texas (22-4) @ #38 Kansas State (17-8)
K-State got upset by Baylor...they cannot be looking ahead to their Saturday match-up at Kansas either...the Longhorns are on a 7 game win streak...

Tuesday, February 26
#54 Ohio State (17-10) @ #19 Indiana (23-4)
The Hoosiers were not impressive with their 3 point win over pitiful Northwestern....the players need to make up their mind - are they going to stew about Kelvin Sampson resigning or are they going to show the nation their resiliency and play to their potential?...

#1 Tennessee (24-2) @ #10 Vanderbilt (23-4)
The Volunteers have to be on extra special upset alert...72 hours after the biggest win in their program's history, Tennessee goes into another in-state hornet's nest at Vanderbilt...the Vols smoked Vandy by 20 in mid-January....watch out Bruce Pearl!!!...

Wednesday, February 27
#45 Ole Miss (18-8) @ #65 Kentucky (15-10)
A month ago, the Rebels looked like a lock for the tournament...but over the last 10 games they are sputtering at 3-7...suddenly Kentucky is working their way back into the tourney picture...Big Blue is 9-3 in the conference and are 8-1 over their last nine including a win over Tennessee...

#55 Texas Tech (15-11) @ #47 Texas A&M (20-7)
T2 has won three of its last four games...if they want to mount a charge for the Big Dance, it begins against A&M, a team they beat earlier this season...

#68 UAB (19-8) @ #83 UTEP (16-9)
UAB won the earlier meeting...a UTEP win will help Conference USA get possibly four teams to the Big Dance...

Thursday, February 28
#20 Notre Dame (21-5) @ #14 Louisville (22-6)
Right now, these may be the two best teams in the Big East...this should be a donnybrook...

#66 Maryland (17-11) @ #62 Wake Forest (16-9)
The Terps are coming off a loss at The U...this is a must win for Maryland...Wake is in better shape of making the tournament...

#15 Michigan State (22-5) @ #13 Wisconsin (22-4)
This is the only match-up of the season for these two Big 10 superpowers...

Sunday Stories

Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti is exasperated that Rex Grossman is back with the Bears... "Have you ever seen such a sorry quarterback hold a city hostage for so long? Welcome to Year Six of Turnoversaurus Rex, an experiment that should have ended last season but is prolonged to ad nauseum by an organization of dubious competence." ....

Jay Mariotti

To read more about the Kelvin Sampson fallout, check out the Indianapolis Star...

Indianapolis Star

The Kansas City Star has an interview with blogger demigod Will Leitch of Deadspin...

Will Leitch

New York Times reporter Ben Shpigel writes about Sandy Koufax's annual visit to the Mets spring training facility... "Koufax, who has long enjoyed counseling players but rarely, if ever, speaks about it, put himself back into a spotlight that he has tried so hard to avoid." ...

Ben Shpigel

New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey writes about the early morning rise for Olympian Michael Phelps in preparation to time change in China... "He is turning his biorhythms upside down because he will be swimming finals in the middle of the morning in August, courtesy of the collaboration between the organizers of the Beijing Summer Games and that most capitalistic of entities, the National Broadcasting Company." ...

George Vecsey

Seattle Times sports columnist Jerry Brewer writes about the Mariners new pitching coach - Mel Stottlemyre... "He has mastered the subtlety of coaching. Even this early in spring training, with a staff he barely knows, Stottlemyre can make his points through looks and body language. When he speaks, he's normally positive." ...

Jerry Brewer

#2 Tennessee at #1 Memphis - The Saturday Night Showdown

Saturday Night's match-up of #1 Memphis vs. #2 Tennessee just may be the game of the season....I said at the beginning of the season that Tennessee would win the title this year....I will go with Rocky Top to beat Big Blue in Memphis...below are some stats and articles about the big game...

Tennessee Volunteers - Head Coach - Bruce Pearl
Chris Lofton (15.4 ppg, 3.3. reb, 2.0 assts)
JaJuan Smith (14.3, 3.2, 2.5)
Tyler Smith (13.4, 6.5, 3.7)
Wayne Chism (9.2, 6.0, 1.2)
J.P. Prince (8.6, 3.2, 1.9)
Ramar Smith (8.3, 2.4, 3.2)
As a team, the Volunteers shoot 64% from the free throw line and 36% from three point range....

Memphis Tigers - Head Coach - John Calipari
Chris Douglas-Roberts (17.9 ppg, 4.5 reb, 1.5 assts)
Derrick Rose (13.7, 4.3, 4.3)
Robert Dozier (10.1, 7.2, 1.2)
Doneal Mack (8.0, 1.6, 0.6)
Antonio Anderson (7.8, 3.5, 3.5)
Joey Dorsey (7.4, 10.5, 0.6)
As a team, the Tigers shoot 58% from the free throw line and 34% from three point range...

Tom Charlier of the Knoxville News writes how fans are getting revved up for Saturday’s big game.... “All week, fans in Knoxville have taken out newspaper ads and flooded the UT ticket offices with calls in search of scarce tickets. A student pep group looked for ways to get more orange-clad representation in ESPN's College GameDay event in Memphis.” ....

Tom Charlier

Zack McMillan of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes how the Memphis campus is quickly becoming Orange Hater.... “Dianne Parker, manager of the store, said this has been the biggest week she has seen at the store, where she has worked since 2001. And those "I HATE ORANGE" shirts have been so popular she has reordered them several times already.” .....

Zack McMillan

Jim Masilak of the Memphis Commerical Appeal writes how Tigers star Chris Douglas-Roberts has been a force since coming back from the flu..... “In the Tigers' past three games, the All-America candidate and reigning Conference USA Player of the Week is averaging 27.7points while shooting a white-hot 64.7percent from the field.” .....

Jim Masilak

Five Good Questions with Bruce Pascoe about Arizona Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Bruce Pascoe of The Arizona Republic about Arizona Wildcat Basketball....I emailed Bruce a few weeks ago and because of an overload of emails, he just got back to me this week...I want to thank Bruce for responding....

Q1. The latest RPI has the Wildcats at #18 in the nation with a 15-9 overall mark. Is Arizona a quality team or is the RPI off the mark with the #18 rating?
A. Their RPI is what it is – just a computer formula. They’ve played the toughest schedule in the country according to the computers so the RPI is high. That doesn’t mean they’re the 18th best team and I think the NCAA selection committee knows that. But they could get into the field with 17 or 18 D-I wins, whereas many other teams with that record won’t.

They are a quality team on the bubble of the Top 25, when healthy. But they are very thin and have two starters out now and went 1-3 when Jerryd Bayless was out last month.

Q2. How have the players handled it this season without Lute Olson on the sidelines?
A. They’ve handled it well. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes but they never seem to let that affect their focus, at least since they lost to Virginia in November, when Olson was still thinking of returning.

Not only do they have a new coach running things but O’Neill is doing so with a totally different style — a much more structured offense and almost no zone defense whatsoever. He’s a much, much different personality, too.

Q3. Last season Chase Budinger was a freshman sensation. Over the last year, how has his game developed?
A. Budinger has developed more consistency. He’s always been a great shooter but has improved defensively and on getting to the basket. He does have room to grow as far as being more aggressive. He’s a very nice guy off the court and sometimes it does seem like that transfers on the court.

Q4. How has Coach Olson's leave affected recruiting?
A. The jury is still out. The 2008 guys are ok because they all signed binding letters before the leave was for the whole year but they also all seem to be OK with the idea that O’Neill might be their coach. 2009 is a different case: They have one commitment that appears to be solid (G Abdul Gaddy) but I suspect there are a lot of kids waiting to see if Arizona does well with O’Neill and if the Olson situation is resolved. The Olson situation needs to be resolved shortly after the season because they are trying to get another 08 signee in the spring.

Q5. What does this team have to do if it wants to make the NCAA Tournament? Do you see it happening?
A. I think they’ll get in if they win 3 more games — either out of their six regular season games or with a win in the Pac-10 Tourney. But right now they are staring down the barrel of yet another 8-9 bracket, where they have been in three of the past four seasons (and never survived that first weekend).

Once again, I want to thank Bruce for his time....

Beers with Bloggers - Interview with Zach from The Big Picture

Last week I interviewed Mandy and Lauren from Girls Gone Sports....in our second installment of Beers with Bloggers, I bring to you one of the best sports bloggers out there - to hell with Deadspin...today's interview is with Zach from The Big Picture....I will admit that Zach inspired me to start blogging on a regular basis...he always responds to his emails and doesn't think he is high and mighty like some bloggers...on his blog, he is famous for his "Who Would You Do" Tournament (in which one is coming up shortly) and What Grinds My Gears segment....I want to thank Zach for taking the time to respond....it is much appreciated...

Q1. You have been interviewed by other bloggers, so I am going to try and stay away from the basic blogging questions. But I do have to ask, why do you blog?
A. At first, it was because I was a naive college senior. I thought, somehow, by blogging I'd get noticed by a bigger, mainstream media outlet that would offer me a high-paying job where I could choose my hours, not work very hard and sleep with all the Sales girls. And, of course, still get benefits. When I realized that wasn't going to happen I just stayed with it because blogging's fun and pretty addicting. And I know that if I stop for even a week, everything I've built will disappear.

Q2. What makes a good blog?
A. The same thing that makes a good woman: looks, entertainment value and consistency. Did that work? A blog must look good. It sounds superficial, but if I have trouble reading or navigating the site, I'm out of there in a hurry. It doesn't need to have over-the-top design, but clean, crisp and easy to find your way around. A blog must be entertaining. This is probably the toughest one. I'll break it in to two parts:
1. Voice/strong writing. I'm all about "voice" and love to be able to hear the written words of some of my favorite sites. A site with a good voice might lack in originality, but with strong writing, I'll read regularly. Two of my favorites that have a very distinguished voice are The Hater Nation and Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Blog.

2. Originality. Having unique material is huge -- that's what makes sites like Deadspin and The Big Lead so valuable and daily stops. They find offbeat stories or point you towards ones that you'd have trouble finding on their own. I'd like to point out that both of those sites also have defined voices. There are many other sites that search hard and find little nuggets of crazy sports info, but I rarely check out those sites because they're lacking voice. Meanwhile, you have sites like Kissing Suzy Kolber that doesn't find unique stories per se, but writes creative posts about a well-covered story, such as fake first-person narratives or made up dialogues.

A blog must post frequently. That's an easy one. If I'm directed to a blog who posts every three days, I'll pretty much write it off. Also though, I like the consistency of reoccurring features or segments. It helps blogs stand out -- especially at first while still building a readership.

Q3. Now onto some actual sports questions. It is quite possible that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa could all be up for election into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the same year. If you had a vote, would you vote them in and why?
A. I'd vote them all in to the HOF in a heartbeat. I'll probably get slammed for this. I usually tune out to anything steroids related, but with so many guys doped up, the 90s and 2000s were an enhanced playing field, but more than people think, a level one. If Bonds homered off of Clemens, does that mean two wrongs don't make a home run?

I've been a SF Giants season ticket holder for 14 years -- Bonds' tenure in orange and black. He is hands down the most impressive player I have -- or will ever -- see play. Steroids made him get stronger and his head look like a balloon, but for all the shit he pumped in to his body, none of it could help his hand-eye coordination, his selectiveness at the plate or his mechanics. Without juice, he might not be the home run king, but he'd still be a perennial all-star and have multiple batting titles.

Q4. The Big Dance is coming up fast. Who are your four teams to make the Final Four this season?
A. At the beginning of the season, I said Indiana, Memphis, UCLA and Georgetown. Picks I still like Indiana except their coach did some alleged cheating, which will be a huge distraction. And the Big 10 should be considered a mid-major. So Indiana is out, in goes UNC. I fucking detest Carolina, but they're one of those teams who finds a way to win a game they have no business winning. Memphis I'll still give the nod. UCLA is hands down the best team in the country when they're on. And hell, let's stick with Georgetown. The Big East is a good league, so I'll give credit to its best team.

Q5. With you living in the Northwest, what are your thoughts about the Supersonics possibly leaving Seattle?
A.I wasn't born up here and I would rather swim in the ocean with paper cuts all over my body than watch an NBA game, so I'm not terribly connected to the Sonics. But Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley summed it up pretty well. Steve Kelley

Q6. Many are ranking the Giants win over the Patriots as one of the greatest upsets in sports history. With you being younger than my old ass, what are the greatest sports upsets that you have seen? (you did not have to be in attendance)
A. Great question. Appalachian State beating Michigan ranks right up there.

I wouldn't call Boise State beating Oklahoma a giant upset, but, as I've mentioned before, that was the most fantastic game I have ever watched. So it sorta counts.

George Mason beating UConn and getting to the Final Four deserves plenty of consideration. I'd be surprised if something like that happens again anytime soon, even with the closing gap between majors, the Big 10 and mid-majors.

The Marlins beating the Yankees in the 2003 World Series was pretty big.

If I had to choose one, I'd go with App State over Michigan, with George Mason a close second. App State had smaller, slower and less-recruited athletes, they were playing a top-5 team with plenty of returning talent and they were on the fucking road!

Q7. Who do you think are some of the best sports announcers in the business today and why?
A. Mike Patrick and Gus Johnson are my favorites. Anything they're calling they make infinitely more exciting. A lot of people rip on Patrick, but I think he's wonderful. He could be calling an NBA game with Philly leading Minnesota by 40 with three minutes left and I'd still be entertained.

Johnson is much like Patrick, with better catch phrases. The story-telling and enthusiasm of Jon Miller is also wonderful. And a general rule: anyone on FOX is bad. That's held up pretty well lately.

Q8. Real quick - the five hottest women in sports and/or sports broadcasting.
A. I sorta cheated. The first three are more models than broadcasters.
1. Lisa Guerrero
2. Ines Sainz
3. Lisa Dergan
4. Erin Andrews
5. Jill Arrington

Q9. Who are the five greatest athletes in the last 25 years?
1. Michael Jordan
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Wayne Gretzky
4. Michael Phelps
5. Barry Bonds

Q10. Last question, this segment is called "Beers with Bloggers." So what are some of your favorite brews? What are some good beers in the Northwest?
A. Love Newcastle, Fat Tire, and Olde English. When I was 18, I think my favorite was probably Steele Reserve or King Cobra.

Once again, I would like to thank Zach for his time...

Five Good Questions with Rob Herbst about Western Kentucky Hoops

Today's Five Good Questions is with Rob Herbst of the Bowling Green (Ky) News....Rob covers Western Kentucky Basketball...and right now, the Hilltoppers are one of the hottest teams in the country....I want to thank Rob for his time...now lets find out what is going on with WKU....

Q1. The Hilltoppers are on an 11 game winning streak. What has been the key to this streak?
A. Two things - defense and experience. Having six seniors certainly helps, but WKU has played much tougher defense during its streak. The Hilltoppers were a mess defensively last season and often had to win shootouts to be successful. Although the personnel is largely the same from last season, the Hilltoppers have made drastic improvements defensively recently and have actually won games because of their defense, instead of losing them. WKU has given up more than 70 points against only two Sun Belt teams this year and the Hilltoppers don't exactly play at a slow tempo.

Q2. Who are some of the Western Kentucky players we should get familiar with?
A. Senior guard/forward Courtney Lee is a possible late first-round draft pick. He recently became the school's third 2000-point scorer and has a shot to become the school's all-time leading scorer, depending on how many postseason games WKU plays. He's bounced back this season after dealing with a foot injury last season and is averaging around 21 ppg. Senior point guard Tyrone Brazelton, a JUCO transfer from Chicago has also emerged this season as WKU's second-leading scorer. He's small (generously listed at 6-0), but may be WKU's most important player.

Q3. What are Western Kentucky's strengths?
A. Along with defense, guard play. Lee and Brazelton are difficult for Sun Belt Conference teams to handle and WKU rarely struggles offensively because of them. WKU is also pretty deep, which allows it to play up-tempo.

Q4. What type of coach is Darrin Horn? What can you tell us about him?
A. He's a born-and-bred WKU guy. He played at WKU in the 1990s and played on three NCAA Tournament teams. The Hilltoppers' 1995 team that Horn was a part of was the last WKU team to win an NCAA Tournament game - against Michigan. WKU also went to the Sweet 16 in 1993. After his playing days, he got into coaching and eventually landed as a Tom Crean assistant at Marquette. He was on the staff when Marquette went to the Final Four when he was hired at WKU after Dennis Felton left for Georgia. There was some pressure on Horn going into this season because he was headed into year No. 5 without an NCAA Tournament bid, not good for a basketball school in a basketball state. Whether or not they get the tournament bid, the pressure has probably been lessened some because of the regular-season success.

Q5. In a one-game situation, can Western Kentucky beat the heavyweights such as North Carolina, Duke, or Memphis? What would it take to pull off the upset?
A. WKU played just about even with Tennessee on a neutral court before falling by six in Nashville back in December, so it can hang with top teams and intimidation wouldn't be a factor against other heavyweights. But hanging and beating is a different story. WKU would need to hold its own inside for a chance to win. The Hilltoppers' interior is no strength. WKU starts a true freshman and sophomore in the paint and neither are averaging more than 5 ppg. Teams with quality big men give WKU problems....The Hilltoppers would also need Courtney Lee to be on top of his game because he could carry them in an upset bid. A less-than-stellar Lee would make an upset bid difficult.

Once again I would like to thank Rob for his time...

Five Good Questions with Kevin Cary about Davidson Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Kevin Cary of The Charlotte Observer who covers Davidson Basketball...the Wildcats are 18-6 and on a 15-game winning streak going into tonight's game against UNC Greensboro...Davidson is ranked 56th in the latest RPI....I want to thank Kevin for his time...

Q1. The Wildcats may be the hottest team in the country with a 15 game winning streak. What has been the key to this streak?
A. Lots of things have contributed to Davidson's recent play. Forward Andrew Lovedale entered the starting lineup the night the streak started, and he has become an inside scoring threat. The Wildcats have also abandoned one of their early-season tactics, where inside players would step out for 3-point attempts. Now, Davidson typically relies on guards Stephen Curry (photo) and Jason Richards for outside shots. It also helps that Curry had the wrap removed from his left wrist in early January. He has a partially torn ligament in his wrist, but he's been much better without the wrap. He's averaging 29.6 points in his last 10 games.

Q2. Who are some of the Davidson players we should get familiar with?
A. Curry is the first player folks think about, and with good reason. He's a once in a generation kind of player for Davidson, a great shooter who is learning how to also score through drives and mid-range jumpers. Point guard Jason Richards leads the nation in assists, and he's the engine behind the Davidson offense. The other Wildcats are more role players, but forward Thomas Sander and guard Max Paulhus Gosselin are good defenders who help Davidson create turnovers.

Q3. What are Davidson's strengths?
A. The Wildcats don't turn the ball over, and they are getting better at the free throw line. Davidson struggled from the line in nonconference play, but has raised its percentage to 72 percent. That's not a fluke - Davidson shot 75 percent last season, and has almost everyone back from that team.

Q4. What type of coach is Bob McKillop? What can you tell us about him?
A. McKillop is the kind of coach who gives his players confidence by allowing to take almost any open shot. He's not afraid to make moves during games, and has given Curry the freedom to thrive in his system. He holds his players accountable, and gets much more upset over mental errors than anything else.

Q5. I noticed that earlier this season Davidson lost by only 1 point to N.C. State, 4 points to North Carolina, 6 points to Duke, and 12 points to UCLA. They have played some heavyweights real tough. How far can Davidson go in the Big Dance?
A. The Wildcats will certainly be a trendy pick to win a first-round game assuming they make it. Whether Davidson can go farther depends on matchups. Teams with deep, athletic frontlines (such as Maryland last season) are not a strong matchup for Davidson. But even though the Wildcats haven't won a NCAA Tournament game since 1970, a Sweet 16 run isn't out of the question if things fall into place.

Once again I would like to thank Kevin for taking the time to talk about one of the hottest teams in the nation...

Ohio State fans show their assholes once again!!!

On Sunday, during halftime of the Michigan-Ohio State basketball game, new Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez addressed the Michigan crowd for the first time...at center court, Rodriguez stood with his wife and son...as he was talking, the freaking Neanderthal Ohio State scum kept interrupting him with chants of "Tressel"...once again, the Ohio State fans showed their animalistic no class behavior...

When Tressel first got the Ohio State job, he addressed the Buckeye fans during halftime of a Michigan-OSU basketball game...there were Michigan fans in attendance that day...but instead of behaving like jackasses, the Michigan fans allowed Tressel to address his crowd...but with that being in Columbus, even if a Michigan fan dared to open his mouth he probably would have ended up in the hospital from some drunken Southern Ohio farmer who would have thrown something...

In the end, 98.7% of Ohio State fans are arrogant scum just like their sweatervested smug head football coach...

What's Up Baby?

I don't know who took this picture, but the baby's face is hard to describe. He looks like he is about to cry yet he looks mad too. I think there's some photoshop magic going on with this picture.

This week's big games

Here are some of the big games this week in college basketball....(the ranking is the latest RPI)

Monday
#47 Syracuse (17-9) @ #15 Louisville (20-6)
The Cuse got whooped by S. Florida earlier in the week, then came back to beat Georgetown on Saturday...The Ville is on a five game winning streak and one of the hottest teams in the country...The Cuse needs this game badly...

#37 Texas A&M (19-5) @ #6 Texas (20-4)
The Aggies stuck it to Texas by 17 points in late January...that was the last time Texas has lost a game...the Aggies need another quality win...

Tuesday
#28 Purdue (21-5) @ #24 Indiana (21-4)
Because of the whacky Big Ten rotation schedule, this is the only time these two in-state rivals will play this regular season....this may be the last game for IU head coach Kelvin Sampson...Purdue last lost on January 8th to Michigan State...they are on an 11 game roll...head coach Matt Painter should get some votes for National Coach of the Year...

Wednesday
#158 Penn State (12-12) @ #14 Michigan State (20-5)
Back on February 2nd, the Spartans rolled into Happy Valley with a 19-2 mark and sitting pretty...they were thumped that night by Penn State and have yet to recover...Sparty has lost three of its last four games including Saturday's ugly beatdown at Indiana...this is a big game for Tom Izzo to see if he can get his team's swagger back...

#4 North Carolina (24-2) @ #58 N.C. State (15-10)
The Tar Heels got back on track after Saturday's 40 point win over Va. Tech...but they cannot sleep on N.C. State...the Wolfpack can always come up and bite their arch-rival at any time...

Thursday
#18 Pitt (18-6) @ #26 Notre Dame (19-5)
The Panthers are 5-5 in their last 10 games...the Irish have won 34 straight home games...Irish sophomore Luke Harangody is one of the best unknown players in the country....

Thad (Matta) gets thumped!!!

MICHIGAN BEATS OHIO STATE

Sunday Stories

Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers writes how new Dodgers manager Joe Torre says that he has nothing to prove... "At the very least, after failing to win a postseason game in 14 years with the Mets, Braves and Cardinals and then enjoying tremendous success with the Yankees, doesn't Torre have to prove he can win with a team not packing the highest payroll?" ....

T.J. Simers

Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige writes about his love for baseball.... "I know that the most famous sports columnist of all, Red Smith, was right when he wrote: "Ninety feet between bases represents man's closest approach to perfection. The fastest man in the world hits a grounder to an infielder, who fields it cleanly. The hitter must lose the race. But if the ball is bobbled or slowed by the grass, he can win. That's perfect balance."

Woody Paige

The Orlando Sentinel is loaded with information about today's Daytona 500...

Daytona 500

Chicago Sun-Times sports reporter Jim O'Donnell writes about one Indiana Hoosier basketball fan who wants to see a change... "His glasses, sugar-and-cinnamon beard and cannonballed silhouette were mere framework for the Magic Markered message on his white sweatshirt: ''Bring Back Bobby.'' ...

Jim O'Donnell

Newark star-Ledger sports columnist Steve Politi writes that Andy Pettitte's statements have but Roger Clemens in a corner... "You might not believe McNamee, the shady trainer-turned-dealer. You might not believe Clemens, the desperate and delusional legend trying to salvage what's left of his once-impenetrable image. But Pettitte? It's hard not to believe him." ...

Steve Politi

Longtime Plain Dealer sports reporter Chuck Heaton dies

Longtime Cleveland Plain Dealer sports writer Chuck Heaton died on Thursday...for those who are not from N.E. Ohio, they may know Heaton's daughter, Patricia, who starred on the television show "Everybody Loves Raymond"....

His son Michael, who works for The Plain Dealer, recalls coming into the kitchen of their Bay Village home and seeing his father listening to the radio to an Indians game, typing a story, a beer at his side...

When Heaton retired, he held the No.1 card in the Baseball Writers Association of America, meaning he had the longest working tenure of any baseball writer in the country....

Below are some links about Heaton...

Bob Dolgan

Mary Kay Cabot

Terry Pluto

Tony Grossi

Beers with bloggers: Interview with Girls Gone Sports

Today I start a new feature of interviewing fellow bloggers...and I start off with two women who do the blog ...Girls Gone Sports ....Lauren (whose photo is on the left) is from Dallas writes that she is "a short girl, however, what I lack in height I make up for in breast."....her co-blogger is Mandy (below) who is 23-years-old and a native of Pittsburgh...Mandy now lives in Texas...

Before I begin, I would like to thank Mandy and Lauren for taking the time to respond...it is much appreciated...

Q1. First off, why did you ladies decide to start a blog that focuses on sports?
Mandy - We just loved the sports humor blogs we read and decided that we wanted to do it too. That, and we have incredibly overinflated egos and we thought that everyone else would find us as funny and insightful as we find ourselves.

Lauren – Yeah, we figured that we had just as much knowledge and opinions on stuff and our sex wasn't as represented in the blog world. Therefore we decided we'd scream until our blog was read.

Q2.Before I go any further, I have to ask, whose chest is that on the top of your blog page? How did you choose between the two of you, whose chest to use for the photo?
M - A lady never poses topless and tells.
L – Where are your manners sir?

Q3. This question is for Mandy. I read that even though you currently live in Texas, you are a native of Pittsburgh. What are your thoughts of the Steelers this past season under new head coach Mike Tomlin?
M - I saw a lot of promising stuff under Mike Tomlin. The fact that as a rookie coach he managed to transform an 8-8 team plagued with injuries, an awful O-line and a dismal special teams unit into division champs was pretty darn impressive. The regime change certainly seemed to do Ben Roethlisberger good. However, I think Tomlin needs to gain better control over his players (we got killed by stupid penalties this season and he allowed that fracas with the Patriots to happen) and make some smarter play calling in high pressure situations (the 3 runs and out during the Steelers' final drive of the Jaguars playoff game is a good example of some of his not so great play calling).

Q4. For you Lauren, you write that you are a fan of all Dallas teams. So, what is your opinion of Tony Romo? The guy gets all this publicity, but he has yet to win a playoff game. Is he the right quarterback to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl?
L – Well, I don't know if he is the right guy but he's the guy we got. I support him and have all my eggs in his basket. A lot of people want to rag on him for his no winning playoff games, and the stupid mistakes he's made on the field. But he also seems to make miracles happen on there too (like the crazy "kick the bad snap" and still get away with the win during the Rams game). I do think he gets way to much publicity for his off the field antics and I think that there are other players on the team that should be given more of the spotlight.

Q5. This is for both of you, both Pitt and Texas have good basketball teams this year who will make the Big Dance. Right now, who are your picks for the Final Four?
M - Despite the fact that I came in 2nd in the Pittsburgh Celebrity NCAA Pool last year, I don't follow college hoops and I'm really awful at this stuff. So, umm... Memphis, UCLA, Kansas, Georgetown?

L- In my Facebook pool I just picked teams that had the coolest mascots and/or hottest players.

Q6. I have to get a girl's opinion, who do you think are the hottest female athletes out there today?
M - The ladies of tennis - Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko, Daniela Hantuchova - kind of have a corner on the market, but I think Milene Domingues, Tanith Belbin and Missy Gibson need some love too.
L – The ladies of American Gladiators.

Q7. So Lauren, you write that Erin Andrews and you are from the sorority. Did you ever meet her? If so, tell all us men about her.
L – Um no. I was a ZTA at a school in Texas, she was one in Florida. But we're all sisters. (GAG)

Q8. Real quick - you have to choose just one for a hot date - Tom Brady, Tony Romo, or Jeremy Shockey?
M - Hmmm...which is worse - an illegitimate child, an association with a Cowboy, or whatever V.D. Shockey's carrying? I guess I'll go with Tom Brady. Those are probably some pretty sweet child support checks.
L – Can I choose none of the above?

Q9. Growing up, did either of you play sports? How did you learn about sports - father or a brother?
M - I had quite an illustrious basketball career in middle school/high school. They called me Mandy Jordan. True story. My entire family watched the Steelers growing up, so I couldn't really say who introduced me to sports, but football was definitely the first sport I was interested in. I'm the biggest sports fan in my family by far; my brothers could care less.

L – This may be a shock to you but ladies don't really need that male influence in their life to learn about sports. Yes I have a father that loves football and a brother who played in high school, but I learned about sports on my own. We have fully functioning brains that are completely capable of forming sporting opinions just like the opposite sex. My grandmother loves baseball and she got me my first tennis racquet. I guess if anything my mom was the one who encouraged me to learn about sports when I was younger. I took dance for 9 years and got tired of it so she let me pick some other kind of activity to do seeing as how I had no desire to be a cheerleader like she was.

Q10. Last question, what is the worst part about blogging?
M - Well, we don't earn much money off the blog, so unfortunately it takes a backseat to our day jobs. It's hard for us to compete with the "pro" bloggers out there and keep up a readership when we can only post once or twice a day. But we try to keep posting regularly for the few loyal readers that we have. They rightfully berated us back into blogging when we took a hiatus at the end of last year.

L- I agree with what Mandy said. The money thing is a problem and it's hard to balance school, work and the blog everyday. There are so many blogs out there so it's tough to compete. Staying fresh and coming up with new things that no one else is doing can also be challenging, mainly because we both read a ton of other witty and creative writers out there that are trying to be just as clever and attention grabbing as we are. Hopefully one day someone will discover how awesome we are pay us to this or something equally as cool.

Once again, I would like to thank Mandy and Lauren for their time....and I encourage everyone to check out their blog...

Five Good Questions with Joe Rexrode about Michigan State Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal.....Joe took the time to respond to some questions about Michigan State basketball.....

Q1. How good is this Michigan State team compared to some of coach Tom Izzo's other great teams?
A. This team is a cut below Izzo's best teams. It certainly doesn't compare with the 1999-2001 squads that went to three straight Final Fours and won the 2000 national title. That team was led by Mateen Cleaves, of course, and the 2001 team was Izzo's most talented, with Jason Richardson as a sophomore, Charlie Bell as a senior and Zach Randolph as a one-and-done freshman. This team could match up with the 2004-05 Final Four team (Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, Paul Davis), but as of yet it does not deserve that comparison. The talent and depth are there, the chemistry is not.

Q2. What areas must they improve upon?
A. Turnovers have been a problem. It's never an Izzo strength because he prefers an up-tempo style of play, but this team has been especially sloppy at times. Other than that, the Spartans defend, rebound and shoot well, and they get assists on nearly 70 percent of their baskets, a very impressive number that suggest unselfishness. But this team has been inconsistent. Drew Neitzel's (photo) shot is there one game, gone the next. He's playing well overall -- near the lead nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio -- but MSU needs him to hit shots. Raymar Morgan was dominant in the nonleague season, but he has been erratic and foul-prone in Big Ten play. The big men are up and down. And the three freshman perimeter players are big helps on offense, liabilities too often on defense. The pieces are there, but a lot of things need to come together soon if this team is going to reach its potential.

Q3. How do you see the Spartans match-up against the likes of a Memphis or Duke?
A. Those two teams, in particular, would be tough matchups because they're filled with big perimeter players who can drive to the basket. MSU would match up much better with top teams such as UCLA (which edged MSU in November after trailing by 13) and North Carolina. The Spartans are better off against teams with "two big" lineups because MSU has frontcourt depth. And although Raymar Morgan is an effective power forward in a small lineup, that lineup doesn't work unless the freshmen are playing well. Freshmen Chris Allen and Durrell Summers bring a lot of firepower off the bench. Their defensive progress in the next month will have a lot to say about how MSU does in March. In general, when this team is playing its best it can hang with anybody. The UCLA game and a convincing win over Texas in December are indications of that.

Q4. Do the Spartans still have a shot at a number 1 seed? If not, how high do you see them being seeded?
A. It's not likely at this point. The Spartans would have to win out, or close to it, and get some help. I think they're in the 3-4 range right now, although their schedule finishes with several tough road games, which is a chance to move up.

Q5. Real quick, at this moment, who are your Final Four teams? And why?
A. Kansas. The most talented team. You've got to get it done this year, Bill Self. Memphis. Against my better judgment, but the Tigers have the chops to get to San Antonio. UCLA. When it comes down to it, the Bruins will get there because they defend. Tennessee. Should have been there a year ago. This team has tons of weapons, and Tyler Smith makes the difference.

I want to thank Joe once again for his time.....it is much appreciated.....

Five Good Questions with Jeff Walker about Bob Knight

Today’s Five Good Questions is with Jeff Walker of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal....Jeff covers Texas Tech basketball and was kind enough to respond concerning former Red Raider head coach Bob Knight and his sudden retirement....

Q1. What is the feeling down in Lubbock now that Coach Knight has retired?
A. Honestly, I don't know because the team has been on the road for two games this week. I think the general sentiment was shock ... not that it happened this year, but that it happened before the season ended. I think Pat has said and done some things in this short time that has most fans willing to keep an open mind about him.

Q2. Coach Knight has a bad reputation in dealing with the media. How was your relations with him?
A. He hated me. No, I'm kidding. We got along well. He treated me fairly and I believe I did the same.

Q3. What did it mean to Texas Tech and its basketball program to have Bob Knight as its coach?
A. I have been saying for quite some time that Bob Knight and Mike Leach have brought more exposure, more attention, more publicity to Texas Tech than anyone has before. Knight took four teams to the NCAA Tournament, brought repeated nationally televised games, while Leach has taken Tech to eight consecutive bowls -- two on New Year's Day -- and has an offense that is appealing to most.

Q4.When he took the job at Texas Tech, many believed that Coach Knight had one good run left in him. Why did he have a difficult time taking the Red Raiders deep into the NCAA Tournament?
A. If you aren't Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, et al, how many times do you really take a team deep into the NCAA Tournament? His team went to the Sweet 16 three years ago and was close to going to the Elite Eight. If you look at the history of Tech's program, one other coach (AD Gerald Myers) took Tech to as many as four NCAA Tournaments and he coached here for 20 years. Knight did it in six.

Q5. Some media people up north here are ripping Coach Knight for "quitting on his team." What are your thoughts?
A. I've found there are people that either like him or don't and your opinion probably won't change on that no matter what he does ... good or bad. His players have said they don't feel he quit on them, so if they don't feel that way, why should anyone else?

Once again I would like to thank Jeff for his time....it is much appreciated.....

This week's big games

Here are some of the big games this week in college basketball....(the ranking is the latest RPI)

Monday
#5 Kansas (22-1) @ #10 Texas (18-4)
The Jayhawks will need their A game in Austin if they want to beat B.J. Augustin and the Horns...this is the only regular season meeting between these two...

Tuesday
#12 Michigan State (20-3) @ #40 Purdue (19-5)
Purdue has real quietly become a solid team in the Big 10...Sparty beat the Boilermakers 78-75 in early January...

Wednesday
#20 Wisconsin (19-4) @ #35 Indiana (20-3)
These two faced off on January 31st and the Badgers smoked Indiana 62-49...the Hoosiers are 20-3, but the strength of schedule (SOS) (ranked 131st) is what is holding them back in the RPI...this is the first of three straight big home games for IU...following the Badgers, Michigan State and Purdue come to Assembly Hall...

#54 Maryland (16-8) @ #2 Duke (21-1)
It doesn't matter what the records are when these two play each other...Maryland hates Duke with a passion...the Terps lost to Duke 93-84 a few weeks back in a game in which they led most of the way...a win here for Maryland would ease a lot of concerns they may have come Selection Sunday...and remember, the Terps went into Chapel Hill and beat UNC earlier this season....

Kansas Jayhawks - 20 years ago

It has been 20 years since head coach Larry Brown and All-American Danny Manning led the Kansas Jayhawks to the National Title in basketball.....the Lawrence (Kan) Journal World did a special anniversary feature on that title team....

Mark Fagan

Sunday Stories

New York Times reporter John Branch writes how former N.Y. Giants general manager never stopped believing in Eli Manning..... "Accorsi paced in a tiny circle in front of his seat. Manning lurched the Giants forward in fits and starts. A fourth-down conversion moved the chains once. They moved again on the game's most memorable play, when Manning escaped the clutches of two pass rushers, then lobbed a wobbly pass that David Tyree caught 32 yards downfield by momentarily wedging the ball against his helmet with one hand." ....

John Branch

New York Times reporter Jack Curry writes how new Yankees manager Joe Girardi is dealing with his ailing father..... "As Girardi raved about embarking on a new beginning with the Yankees, he meandered into an emotional discussion about a possible ending. After Girardi drives to Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday for spring training, he is not sure when or if he will see his ailing father again." ....

Jack Curry

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke writes that the time is right for the Dodgers to leave Dodgertown... "The Dodgers had 51 wonderful years in Dodgertown. The problem is, they've been there 61 years. Those good old days are long gone, and it only makes sense that the Dodgers disappear with them. Like an aging Brooklyn snowbird exchanging blank stares with a kid Los Angeles outfielder, the Dodgers and Vero Beach no longer fit. The Dodgers don't have many fans there. Their players no longer feel a connection there. Those 10-a.m.-back-home game broadcasts feel alien from there. Dodgertown has become less a "town" than a museum." ......

Bill Plaschke

Los Angeles Times reporter Chuck Culpepper travels to Barcelona, Spail to get the lowdown on the newest Laker - Pau Gasol..... "That's the fairy-tale name of the industrial, 80,000-strong suburb where Gasol's hands began their two-decade love affair with the basketball. That's where the fenced-in schoolyard of his childhood sits in a back corner of town, beyond the streets with local shops and the bus stops with "Juno" ads." ....

Chuck Culpepper

Washington Post reporter Daniel LeDuc writes how 2,500 people applied for jobs at the new Washington Nationals ballpark.... "Applicants began lining up more than three hours before the doors opened, stretching around the block; many people wore Nationals caps or shirts." ....

Daniel LeDuc

Washington Post reporter Les Carpenter writes about the late Sean Taylor - off the field.... "To those who knew him, Taylor's appearance at his great-grandmother's house was Sean: impulsive, mysterious and yet sincerely heartfelt." ....

Les Carpenter

Wonder whatever happened to Tonya Harding?.....well last night she was in Louisville....

Louisville Courier-Journal

Michigan gets great crop of recruits, even without Pryor - - yet

2008 University of Michigan Football Recruiting Class
(As of 10 p.m. EST, Feb. 6, 2008)

Ricky Barnum OL 6-2 265 Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson)
Boubacar Cissoko DB 5-9 175 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical)
Mike Cox RB 6-0 206 Dorchester, Conn. (Avon Old Farms)
Kenny Demens LB 6-1 226 Oak Park, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)
Justin Feagin QB 6-0 190 Deerfield, Fla. (American Heritage)
J.B. Fitzgerald LB 6-3 230 Princeton Junction, N.J. (West Windsor Plainsboro)
J.T. Floyd DB 6-0 190 Greenville, S.C. (J.L. Mann)
Taylor Hill LB 6-2 205 Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney)
Rocko Khoury OL 6-5 280 Traverse City, Mich. (Traverse City West)
Kevin Koger TE 6-4 220 Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer)
Mike Martin DL 6-2 285 Redford, Mich. (Catholic Central)
Sam McGuffie RB 5-11 185 Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair)
Elliott Mealer OL 6-6 280 Wauseon, Ohio (Wauseon)
Brandon Moore TE 6-6 221 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Patrick Omameh OL 6-4 260 Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales)
Dann O'Neill OL 6-7 295 Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven)
Terrence Robinson ATH 5-9 170 Klein, Texas (Oak)
Roy Roundtree WR 6-0 154 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Michael Shaw ATH 6-0 185 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Brandon Smith DB 6-3 210 New Brunswick, N.J. (New Brunswick)
Darryl Stonum WR 6-3 185 Stafford, Texas (Dulles)
Kurt Wermers OL 6-5 260 Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point)
Marcus Witherspoon LB 6-2 225 Atlantic City, N.J. (Holy Spirit)

Roster by State
Connecticut: Mike Cox
Florida: Ricky Barnum, Justin Feagin
Indiana: Kurt Wermers
Michigan: Boubacar Cissoko, Kenny Demens, Rocko Khoury, Mike Martin, Dan O'Neill
New Jersey: J.B. Fitzgerald, Brandon Smith, Marcus Witherspoon
Ohio: Taylor Hill, Kevin Koger, Elliott Mealer, Brandon Moore, Patrick Omameh, Roy Roundtree, Michael Shaw
South Carolina: J.T. Floyd
Texas: Sam McGuffie, Terrence Robinson, Darryl Stonum

Five Good Questions with Paul Kenyon about Rhode Island Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal-Bulletin....Paul covers the Rhode Island Rams who are 19-3 and ranked 19th in the RPI....

Q1. The Rams have three losses so far, but I noticed that one of their wins came against Syracuse earlier this season. What did the Rams do in that game to beat a team from one of the major conferences, the Big East?
A. Good shooting can cover a lot of bases. The Rams made their first nine 3-pointers in the Dome _ so much for the difficult background in the big arena _ and finished the game 12-for-18 on threes. The starting guards, Jimmy Baron and Parfait Bitee were a combined 10-for-13. URI had trouble stopping Syracuse. The Orange scored 89. But URI got 91.

Q2. Who are some of the Rams players we should get familiar with?
A. Will Daniels, a 6-8 forward, is having a tremendous season. He's a senior who had gotten better every year. He's averaging 18 points and nearly seven rebounds. Baron, the coach's son, is one of the best shooters in the country, with range as deep as anyone. He regularly shoot from 28 and 30 feet and is in the top 30 in the country for the second straight year in both 3s made and 3-point percentage. Bitee, the point guard, is a natural off guard who has learned a new role with on-the-job-training. He's having an excellent year, too, leading the A-10 in 3-point percentage and being in the top five in assists and assist/turnover ratio.

Q3. What area(s) must the team improve upon?
A. The team gambles a lot on defense, in part because it feels it has to. It is not strong overall defensively and is particularly vulnerable to a good big man who works inside. It also is a very average rebounding team.

Q4. What are Rhode Island's strengths?
A. As noted above, the team can put points on the board. As we stand today it is 13th in the country at just over 82 a game. Another strength is depth. Coach Jim Baron uses a nine-man rotation. Because the teams pushes the pace so much at both ends, that has helped wear down some teams. They've been a good second-half team.

Q5. What does this team have to do if they want to have a long tournament run in the Big Dance?
A. They have to keep pushing the pace, keep putting points on the board. They have scored at least 80 in 15 of their 22 starts thus far. They win by outscoring people, not out-defending teams.

I want to thank Paul for taking the time to respond....it is much appreciated...

Minnesota quietly gets a running quarterback with loads of potential

Terrelle Pryor has been the talk of the recruiting season, but real quietly, the University of Minnesota may have gotten a Pryor Jr in Marqueis Gray a 6'5" quarterback from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis...here is what was written about Gray:

MarQueis Gray - Ben Davis H.S.
6-5 225 Class of 2008
Gray is the enigma of the class of 2008. He has tremendous athletic ability and talent. MarQueis plays in the premiere conference in Indiana. He has shown shades of ability cut in the mold of Vince Young. When he runs he is a load to bring down, when he throws he does so with strength and has a fluid type motion. But can he win and play with heart and desire? Those high school coaches who have seen him play know that he has all the tools to be a great one. But, not sure he wants it bad enough. He has the physical capability of taking over a game. His signature game this year was against Lawrence North where he ran for 199 yards and threw for 130 yards. He is capable of dominating and he is capable of flopping. 2007 could be his breakout year if he discovers consistency.

An Indiana College Coach says: “Gray could be the most physically dominating quarterback in Indiana. He had D1 size, speed, strength, but he is also a Jekyl and Hyde. You never know who is going to show up each week. From a physical point of view, he has everything.”

Five Good Questions with Sean Keeler about Drake Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Register about Drake Basketball....Sean took a few minutes to respond about a nationally ranked Drake team that is 20-1 going into its game tonight against Illinois State.....the Bulldogs have an RPI rating of #8....

Q1. Many people in the country do not know about Drake basketball and their impressive record. Is this team for real? Why?
A. Real enough to win the Missouri Valley Conference, that’s for sure. This team shoots the 3-ball, defends, rebounds and closes games — tight games — as well as any I’ve seen in six years of covering this league. They’re doing it with seniors. They’re doing it with two former walk-ons in the starting lineup. They’re doing it with a first-year head coach. They’re doing it at a school where sports come a distant second to academic responsibilities. And they’re doing it in the best mid-major conference in the country. If there’s a better basketball story going than Drake right now, brother, I’d like to see it.

Q2. Who are some of the players that we should get familiar with?
A. + Adam Emmenecker, senior point guard, former walk-on. Only just put on scholarship before this season. He’s a 3.9 GPA student with four majors/concentrations, already has a job with a major Des Moines company (Principal) wrapped up for next year, and in his first year as a starter, he’s become the best point guard in the MVC not named Daniel Ruffin. I think even some of Adam’s coaches are surprised a little at how well he’s played. And more than a few MVC coaches think, if Drake hangs on to win this league, he’ll be the conference’s player of the year. This from a kid who had baseball scholarship offers from Boston College and Michigan out of high school in Saginaw, Mich., and elected to walk on at a little private school in Des Moines so he could play basketball, his first love, at a Division I level.

+ ‘Bucky’ Cox, junior power forward. If Adam isn’t the most valuable player on this team, then Bucky is. Another former walk-on, the 6-foot-8 Cox has built himself into the prototype MVC big man: Strong enough to clean up down low, versatile enough to pop out and knock down clutch 3-pointers. They use him everywhere on the floor — and he’s comfortable shooting from just about anywhere on the floor.

+ Josh Young, sophomore guard. The budding star, the team’s best long-range rhreat. Drake went 3-0 without the 6-1 Oklahoma native in the rotation, but they’re a much better team when he’s healthy. No fear. He’d shoot from mid-court if his coaches would let him.

+ Klayton Korver, senior forward. Two bad knees, one sweet shot, one incredible senior season. The little brother of NBA standout Kyle is the 6-6 heart of this team. He’s quicker than he looks defensively and has his older brother’s range. Always has a green light. And when he’s on, it’s a lot of fun to watch.

+ Leonard Houston, senior guard. The 6-3 Michigan native is Drake’s captain on the court, especially defensively. Good on-the-ball defender, quick hands. Clutch, too. His putback at Creighton last month forced overtime and his trey from the corner in the rematch iced the Bulldogs’ first sweep of their MVC rivals in more than a decade.

Q3. What area(s) must the team improve upon?
A. Getting to the paint. Like a lot of mid-majors, this is a perimeter-oriented team. When the shots are falling, they can blow you out of the gym. When they’re not, things tend to get bogged down a bit. Teams are going to start challenging Drake to beat their guys off the dribble and drive inside. Will the Bulldogs be able to take advantage? There’s a some good quickness here, but not a heck of a lot of size. They tend to live or die by the trey.

Q4. What kind of coach is Keno Davis? What can you tell us about him?
A. Reserved, smart, driven, and self-depreciating. Basically, he’s is father’s son. He learned a lot from watching his dad, Dr. Tom Davis, growing up. But you can also see some of the things he picked up as an assistant to Bruce Pearl, although I don’t expect him to come to a Drake women’s basketball game with his shirt off and his body painted blue.

Q5. Last question, how well do you think Drake can match-up with the "Dukes and Memphises" of the college basketball world?
A. Physically, not all that well – the size and depth differential would probably do them in against bigger, stronger teams from power conferences (Memphis, Kansas, UCLA, etc.). But if you try to get into a game of ‘H-O-R-S-E’ with this team, you’re going to lose. They’ve got four starters who are comfortable from the beyond the arc and a point guard who loves to drive and kick to any one of them. I don’t know how many of those battles the Bulldogs would win, but it would be an awful lot of fun watching them try.

Once again I would like to thank Sean for taking the time to get us up-to-date with the Drake Bulldogs....

She's at it again - Hillary goes to the tears just one day before Super Tuesday

Hillary Clinton cries in Connecticut
by Jason George

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sen. Hillary Clinton teared up this morning at an event at the Yale Child Study Center, where she worked while in law school in the early 1970s.

A doctor, who was introducing Clinton, began to choke up, leading Clinton's eyes to fill with tears, which she wiped out of her left eye. At the time, the doctor was saying how proud he was that sheepskin-coat, bell-bottom-wearing young woman he met in 1972 was now running for president.

"Well, I said I would not tear up; already we're not exactly on the path," Clinton said with emotion after the introduction.

Clinton is holding a roundtable discussion with Connecticut women to talk about childcare and healthcare.

When Clinton got misty-eyed at an event in New Hampshire on Jan. 7, politicos and pundits filled hours discussing if it helped her, and Clinton eventually pointed to the moment as when she "found her voice" and turned the corner in the Granite State.

At the time, there was much debate if the candidate's emotional response to a question -- "How do you do it?"" -- was genuine or calculated.

Let the conversation begin again...

Stiles Points Comment - SHE IS MORE FAKE THAN A $3 BILL....HOW ARE PEOPLE BUYING HER SHIT????

Super Bowl Thoughts

The New York Giants win is considered an upset, but when you think about it, it was not that big of an upset...1) the Giants were a road tested team; 2) just a month ago, the Giants lost a close game to New England, so they knew the Patriots and knew they could hang with them; 3) the Giants had one of the best defenses in the NFL....so yes, it was an upset in the sense that New England was 18-0....

This is probably one of the few instances when a New York sports team was cheered by many in the nation....usually most sports fans hate New York City sports teams, but because Americans love to hate winners and success, the Giants were the darlings of the Super Bowl...if a rematch was played next week, the Giants would be hated by everyone....

Take that Tiki Barber!!!....it was sweet that the Giants won the Super Bowl the year after Barber retired....Barber was a jerk earlier in the season when he ripped former teammate Eli Manning of not being a leader....he also layed into head coach Tom Coughlin for being a tyrant...it looks like it was YOU Tiki who was the problem....

Bill Belichick made a mistake by not wearing his traditional gray hoodie...he looked out of sync with the red hoodie...

The game had good pace....there was not a lot of delays and penalties...

There is no doubt the Patriot players who made the Pro Bowl do not want to play in that meaningless game....

Whether you love or hate the Patriots, think about it, they were 35 stinking seconds from having a perfect season....all that work since September, week after week after stinking week, and it all came down to 35 seconds....a place in history was lost in 35 seconds....a perfect regular season is now meaningless....the Patriots have to be sick...

The talk around the water cooler will be "what was the best commercial?"....who cares?!?!?!....plus, we don't have a water cooler in our office...

I was rooting for the Patriots because I wanted to see history be made, but it was nice to see Eli Manning win the Super Bowl and be the MVP....earlier this season I had doubts if Eli would ever get it done in New York....but he proved me and all his critics wrong...