The Press Conference

Amazing stat

2009-06-25T12:37:00.002-05:00

Amazing statistic today in Sports Illustrated. Of the current 1,042 players and managers in the major leagues, 26 of them have college degrees.

26 out of 1,042.

That is .02% of players or managers in the big leagues.

This might be one of the more amazing statistics that I've seen.

I'd like to see this done in other sports as well. My guess would be baseball has the lowest %.

WOW...

Golf Humor

2009-06-24T12:11:00.003-05:00

Pretty good stuff here...

Here is an actual sign posted at a golf club in Scotland , UK
1. BACK STRAIGHT, KNEES BENT, FEET SHOULDER WIDTH APART.
2. FORM A LOOSE GRIP.
3. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!
4. AVOID A QUICK BACK SWING.
5. STAY OUT OF THE WATER.
6. TRY NOT TO HIT ANYONE.
7. IF YOU ARE TAKING TOO LONG, LET OTHERS GO AHEAD OF YOU.
8. DON'T STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
9. QUIET PLEASE...WHILE OTHERS ARE PREPARING.
10. DON'T TAKE EXTRA STROKES.

WELL DONE... NOW, FLUSH THE URINAL, GO OUTSIDE, AND TEE OFF.

Work advice

2009-06-16T11:12:00.002-05:00

Good article I found on MSN today.

See how many of these you fall into...

10 worst work habits

KSU scandal

2009-05-28T15:23:00.000-05:00

Great read from Joe Posnanski's blog about the KSU football scandal.

Snyder-Prince

2009-05-28T15:21:00.002-05:00

This is a great blurb about KSU's former head coach, Ron Prince...

From Joe Posnanski's blog...

Then, the team flattened out. Snyder stepped down — we’re slowly getting to the story — and the Wildcats hired a Virginia assistant coach named Ron Prince. From the first day, it seemed like a strange hire. Prince was from Kansas. But — at least from afar — he seemed utterly un-Kansas State. He seemed aloof, maybe arrogant. He seemed pretty certain that he had the answers. This was quite the opposite of Snyder, who was always quick to remind us that he was not a very smart man. I like Kansas State quite a lot — my wife went there — and I think there’s a certain Midwestern level-headedness about the place. Prince did not seem to fit that at all.

My man Charles...

2009-05-27T18:34:00.002-05:00

Top 50 from Sir Charles...

Take the time to read all 50...it's worth your while.

50. "I can be bought. If they paid me enough, I'd work for the Klan."

49. "You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."

48. "I don't hate anyone, at least not for more than 48 minutes, barring overtime."

47. "We better not be doing the Bulls this year. Man, they suck! Bunch of high school kids with $70 million contracts. Damn! I hate my mother for having me too soon."

46. "You can talk without saying a thing. I don't ever want to be that type of person."

45. After retiring from basketball "I'm just what America needs - another unemployed black man.

44. Ernie: "Did they recognize you in South Dakota?"Charles: "Yes, they did. It was easy because I was the only black person there. When they see me walking down the street they say 'There he goes again'. And when I come back the next year they say 'He's back yawl!'"

43. Right after Peja won the 3-point contest: "Kenny said it was going to be an all-international night. I want to know which international brother is going to win the slam dunk contest."

42. On the Enron scandal investigation: "Almost all those politicians took money from Enron, and there they are holding hearings. That's like O.J. Simpson getting in the Rae Carruth jury pool."

41. "I had to explain to my daughter why that skank Monica Lewinski has an hour special on HBO this weekend."

40. Ernie: "Auburn is a pretty good school. To graduate from there I suppose you really need to work hard and put forth maximum effort."Charles: "20 pts and 10 rebounds will get you through also!"

39. "Every time I think about changing a diaper, I run a little bit harder and a little bit faster to make sure I can afford a nanny until my daughter's old enough to take care of that herself."

38. EJ: "Did you graduate from Auburn?"Charles: "No, but I have a couple people working for me who did."

37. "*** Bavetta and Moses parted the Red Sea together."

36. Ernie Johnson, on Reggie Evans being caught grabbing the rocks of Chris Kaman: "(Reggie Evans) got caught with his hand in the cookie jar."Charles Barkley: "Ernie, I don't know where you get your cookies at but the rest of us don't get ours there."

35. On his 17-year old daughter not dating yet: "Thank goodness. I just hope she doesn't start before I go in the Hall of Fame. That way, I won't have to kill anybody before I get inducted."

34. Kenny: "There's guys who go over to Europe and play overseas from America, and they dominate!"Charles: "Those are called 'brothers'

33. After Wang has a shot blocked: "He's got to bring something stronger than that. That's like bringing milk to a bar, it's not strong enough"

32. Barkley on Turner Sports office having a betting pool on his weight: "That is starting to hurt my feelings. I don't mind skinny people making fun of me, we all do that, but I don't want fat people making fun of me."

31. "We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good."

30. When the Dream Team was about to play the Angola national team, during pre-game interviews the other USA players provided diplomatic, face saving comments about how they would play hard and felt strongly they would win. When Chuck was asked about Angola and the game, he replied: "They're in a lot of trouble."

29. Charles Barkley on his thoughts about retiring before the season: "I remember sitting down with the Rockets and saying, 'Yeah. I'm going to retire.' They said, 'Well, we'll give you $9 million.' And I said, 'You got a pen on you?'"

28. Man, everything gets blamed on the Clintons, every single thing in this world. I think Bill Clinton shot JFK, too.

27. "I know why his name is DMX. Because his real name is Earl. Imagine if his name was Earl the rapper."

26. "If you go out with a girl and they say she has a great personality, she's ugly. If they tell you a guy works hard, he can't play a lick. Same thing."

25. After Kevin Garnett threw a ball into the crowd out of frustration and was ejected. They showed footage of the man that got hit by the ball being taken away in a stretcher and his daughter was crying. Charles commented that players take passes to the face all the time. He topped it off by saying: "You know why that little girl's crying? It's because she's thinking 'my daddy's a wussy'".

24. Barkley on Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith eating a box of hot Krispy Kreme donuts in front of him: "Both of y'all are2 going to hell for that. Y'all are going to hell with a first-class ticket. Is that how you treat your partner? Krispy Kreme might be the greatest invention in the history of civilization when they're hot. Y'all are cruel man."

23. "It's kinda great to see the Celtics doin well again cuz that was so much fun in my day to go to the Boston Garden and they spit at you and throw things at you and talk about your mom. It sounds like dinner at Kenny Smith's house."

22. "I think that the team that wins game five will win the series. Unless we lose game five."

21. Charles Barkley after seeing a picture of Sam Cassell on the screen: "Phone home." And later he remarks to Kenny, "Sam Cassell is a good guy, but he's not going to wind up on the cover of GQ anytime soon."

20. While watching someone in Australia put $1 million worth of rubies on a table: "Damn, must not be any black folks in Australia. You can't just leave $1 million worth of jewelry lying around the 'hood."

19. Asked if he had ever been in the governor's office in Montgomery, Barkley said no. "They don't let many black people in the governor's mansion in Alabama," he said, "unless they're cleaning."

18. On the goal of the '92 Olympic Dream Team when playing Panama in the Tournament of the Americas: "To get the Canal back."

17. To Kenny: "Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too close, kissin his!"

16. Barkley on Hanno Mottola, who, as EJ remarked "is the first NBA player from Finland". Charles replies: "Of course he is the first NBA player from Finland, he's the only person in Finland."

15. On supersized Oliver Miller: "You can't even jump high enough to touch the rim, unless they put a Big Mac on it."

14. "All I know is, as long as I led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, my grades would be fine."

13. On North Carolina missing 22 of its last 23 shots in losing to Georgetown in the NCAA tournament last weekend: "Stevie Wonder could make one of 23 shots."

12. I'd never buy my girl a watch... she's already got a clock over the stove.

11. "I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I've got a technique. It's called just go get the damn ball."

10. On the Portland Trail Blazers (back when they were known as the Jail Blazers) serving Thanksgiving meals: "In between arrests they do community service."

9. "Yeah Ernie, its called defense, I mean I wouldn't know anything about it personally but I've heard about it through the grapevine.

8. "Well, when I went off to college, the guys I used to hang with were pumping gas and voting Democrat. Today they're still pumping gas and voting Democrat. Guess the Democrats didn't do much for them."

7. "When I was recruited at Auburn [university], they took me to a strip joint. When I saw those titties on Buffy, I knew that Auburn met my academic requirements."

6. "Hey Stanley, you could be a great player if you learned just two words: I'm full."-- Barkley yelling to 300-plus-pound Houston Rockets teammate Stanley Roberts

5. "I heard Tonya Harding is calling herself the Charles Barkley of figure skating. I was going to sue her for defamation of character, but then I realized I have no character."

4. On the All-Star Game: "Hell, there ain't but 15 black millionaires in the whole country & half of 'em are right here in this room."

3. On Jerry Krause still being able to keep his job as GM of the Chicago Bulls: "Jerry Krause must have pictures of his boss's wife having sex with a monkey."

2. After throwing a guy through a 1st floor window in a bar Charles was in front of the judge.Judge: "Your sanctions are community service and a fine, do you have any regrets?"Charles: "Yeah I regret we weren't on a higher floor"

1. After an Olympic Dream Team victory over Angola, in which they won 116-48, Charles got into a physical altercation with a member of Angola towards the end of the game, afterwards he says: "Somebody hits me, I'm going to hit him back. Even if it does look like he hasn't eaten in a couple weeks. I thought he was going to pull a spear on me."

USA! USA! USA!

2009-05-20T18:00:00.002-05:00

I remember setting my alarm for 3am in Gypsum, KS this past year so that I could wake up and root on team USA in the gold medal game.

I've often joke that I only root for 3 "teams"...The KC Royals, Tiger Woods and the team that I coach. Team USA is definitely a fourth. No matter the sport. So I only root for 4 "teams"

Watching Team USA play basketball last summer was a true treat. I hope this article is true and they maintain that edge in 2010.

USA! USA! USA!

KSU in the news

2009-05-20T17:57:00.001-05:00

For all the wrong reasons...

When you have incompetent people in authority positions, stuff like this is bound to happen.

I hate saying this, b/c I think it's arrogant/gloating, but...

Told you so

Great picture

2009-05-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

Trouble in Texas

2009-05-20T08:31:00.003-05:00

He's my only source of income...

This article is definitely one of my favorites.

I also know a friend in Oregon who will enjoy it.

Woman busted at Nowitzki house : I'm pregnant

Here I come, there you go...

2009-05-18T13:19:00.002-05:00

Hmmmmm...

I'm still trying to figure out what to type....

Hmmmmm...

Well, just check the article...write your own...

Baseball playoffs

2009-05-18T07:31:00.002-05:00

I am still hopeful that the Royals will make the playoffs this year.

I LOVE playoff baseball and I think what FOX is doing is really smart.

MLB, FOX move up start times

Outliers

2009-05-14T11:39:00.002-05:00

More Outliers...
page 84...

"To get a sense of how absurd the selection process at elite Ivy League schools has become, consider the following statistics. In 2008, 27,462 of the most highly qualified high school seniors in the world applied to Harvard University. Of these students, 2,500 of them scored a perfect 800 on the SAT critical reading test and 3,300 had a perfect score on the SAT math exam. More than 3,300 were ranked first in their high school class. How many did Harvard accept? About 1,600, which is to say they rejected 93 out of every 100 applicants."

Make sure to pick up a copy of the book...you'll like it.

Outliers answer

2009-05-14T11:37:00.002-05:00

The reason manhole covers are round...

"Round manhole cover can't fall into the manhole, no matter how much you twist and turn it. A rectangular cover can: All you have to do is tilt it sideways."

Judge

2009-05-13T13:08:00.003-05:00

I really didnt want to post again, b/c I wanted you to think about the question from "Outliers"...so please think about that question...

When you get stuck, take a look at this article, pay special attention to the quote from the judge...

Judge with some humor

Outliers

2009-05-13T12:44:00.003-05:00

I'm reading the book, "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and sincerely enjoying it...

An excerpt from the book:
"High tech companies are convinced that those at the very top of the IQ scale have the greatest potential. Microsoft, famously, asks job applicants a battery of questions designed to test their smarts, including the classic...

*I want you to post comments as to what you think the answer is. I'll post the answer tomorrow*

Q: Why are manhole covers round?

Maybe its not about the $

2009-05-13T12:30:00.001-05:00

This might be the first athlete in the history who says, "its not about the money" and it turns out, it may not be about the money!

Jason Taylor took a 7 million dollar pay cut so that he could play for the Dolphins.

Staying home in Miami

Another good read

2009-05-13T11:40:00.001-05:00

A kid willing to help and give back...

Here's a reason to root for Davidson that's not Stephon Curry.

Andrew Lovedale

Another Pastner article

2009-05-13T11:28:00.001-05:00

It's extremely difficult to follow the post I just made, but...here's an attempt.

Here's another article about Josh Pastner.

Safe to say, I'm a Memphis fan.

"Spending two frenetic days with Josh Pastner"

My favorite blog post ever

2009-05-13T09:36:00.002-05:00

This is perhaps my favorite blog post I've ever put on here.

Please pay special attention to 1:16-1:40. It would be good if you watched that part at least 5 times.

WOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOO!

Power & Light district

2009-05-13T08:11:00.002-05:00

This is a GREAT article that my buddy from Oregon sent me.

It talks about Portland's want/need for a place like KC has created.

Portland gets some Rose Quarter revitalization ideas

Did you know what "huffing" was...

2009-05-12T11:03:00.001-05:00

Ladies and gentleman...the local newspaper!

Wal-Mart huffer...wait, can you say that?

White Sox

2009-05-11T11:43:00.002-05:00

If there is any more reason to hate the White Sox, it's this...

The arrogance to just come out and say it makes me mad.

Then again, the White Sox could give $50,000 to a charity and I would still find fault with it.

I hate them...

Jenks threw inside to "send a message"

Baseball

2009-05-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

Just a bit outside...

First pitch

Newspaper part 2

2009-05-11T08:21:00.001-05:00

It keeps getting better!

Deer - Airport...huh?

Newspaper

2009-05-11T08:05:00.002-05:00

You never quite know what you're going to find in the local newspaper!

This was posted on Sunday, to start Mother's day...

Taser story

Simmons

2009-05-08T12:02:00.004-05:00

Bill Simmons at his usual best. This guy has set quite a standard for his writing. He's truly the best...

May 7th, 2014

2009-05-08T11:30:00.001-05:00

This takes marketing a product to a new level!

Craig's list...sister?

Outside the Lines article

2009-05-07T13:20:00.003-05:00

This is from ESPN's outside the lines.

NFL ref Ed Hochuli is the topic.

Good read.

Another Greinke...

2009-05-07T09:57:00.002-05:00

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.com

More Zack attack...

Newspaper

2009-05-06T12:49:00.003-05:00

Now...I don't quite know how to prepare you for this article. I don't know if the article is quite needed though.

Check the headline, then reference the picture...pay special attention to the hooded sweatshirt.

WOW!

Some people are extremely pathetic...this guy might take the cake...

Izzo

2009-05-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

This is why he's one of my favorites...

"Same old song and dance? Not with Izzo, whose regular-guy talk is no act"

Baltimore Sun

2009-05-06T10:28:00.001-05:00

A title does this article justice...WOW!

Press Box Layoff: How the Baltimore Sun Fired Me

Budget cuts

2009-05-05T13:59:00.001-05:00

This was news to me when I read it. Have any of you heard anything about this?

This would be pretty amazing if it ended up happening.

I'm somewhat speechless about it.

Hard times in New Orleans...

On the subject of weird news...

2009-05-05T13:41:00.001-05:00

This story might just take the cake.

If someone told me this, I would think they were lying. No way you can make something like this up...

Tale of two boyfriends involves a gun, two knives and two wounds...

Baseball

2009-05-05T11:42:00.002-05:00

One of the many reasons why baseball is "America's pastime" is in this article.

This is why baseball is my favorite sport...

11 year Minor Leaguer called up

Barkley quote

2009-05-05T09:39:00.002-05:00

If you haven't had a chance, The Golf Channel has a program, "The Haney Project", where world re known golf coach Hank Haney tries to fix Charles Barkley's swing.

Haney is Tiger Woods' coach, if that helps.

It's worth trying to catch an episode of...

Check Barkley's quote from the Dan Patrick show this morning...

Dan asked Barkley about his improving golf game. "If I could find the guy who invented that game, I'd beat the hell out of him," Barkley said.

Coaching in the NBA

2009-05-04T13:14:00.001-05:00

I've always thought coaching in the NBA would be awesome...

ESPN Truehoop blog caught a good exchange between Atlanta's coach and one of his stars during the playoffs...

Mike Bibby to Coach Woodson

Greinke part 4

2009-05-04T11:31:00.001-05:00

This is the best one yet...

MLB.com Greinke article

Greinke part 3

2009-05-04T10:17:00.001-05:00

USA Today article on Zack

Hockey

2009-05-04T07:47:00.003-05:00

I love the hockey play-offs. The teams geniunely hate each other.

I suppose this minor league hockey team also has some hate. Pay special attention to the goalie after he gives up the goal.

Goalie - watch about the 14 second mark

Greinke mania 2

2009-04-30T07:54:00.004-05:00

Here is the article from SI.

I feel like a kid, I'm going to run home after school today to get my SI.

The article is written by Joe Posnanski, a local KC Star reporter and terrific writer.

It's nice to see KC getting some national love. I've waiting my entire life for the Royals to mean something.

"The rise of the young Royals ace has been spectacular"

Greinke mania

2009-04-30T07:52:00.003-05:00

With Greinke being on the cover of SI, a lot of other media outlets have started to try to get a piece.

I feel very fortunate to have watched him his entire career.

Greinke - Foxsports.com

Baseball

2009-04-28T08:47:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are die hard baseball fans like me, I've got an interesting challenge for you.

Next time you're watching a game (try to watch the entire 9 innings), count how many times you see a player swing and miss.

Major League players don't get nearly enough credit for how good they are hitting the baseball. Also, pitchers don't get enough credit for how well they work the hitters. Notice...hitters will swing and foul it off, but very rarely do you see a player swing and miss. You especially don't see the player swing and miss more than once in the same at-bat.

That is probably the biggest different between

Coach Snyder

2009-04-28T08:34:00.001-05:00

Great article about one of my idol's...

Coach Snyder - SI.com

Coach Cal's house

2009-04-23T08:41:00.002-05:00

On the subject of coaches houses, take a look at the 7 bedroom, 8 full bathroom place Calipari is planning on moving into.

Lexington, KY - 2.295 million

Denver

2009-04-22T11:41:00.002-05:00

When the Bronco's fired Mike Shanahan a while back I thought it was a curious move. I thought he had proven himself enough at that place that he would be able to go out on his own terms. Instead, they fired him and brought in a 32 year old assistant who will have to prove a lot to people who are Bronco fans in year one.

Once I received this email from a good friend I decided it was no longer time to feel sorry for Mike Shanahan. I'd say he did just fine.

If you put 20% down, your monthly payment would only be $90,000

20 Cherry Hills Park Drive, Denver, CO

Proof reading

2009-04-22T09:23:00.003-05:00

If you've ever underestimated the importance of proof reading something before you send it...here's a little tid bit.

*This post is also coming from a guy who spelled his boss' name wrong on his last reference list. So take it for what it's worth...

You better proof it!

Leadership

2009-04-22T09:05:00.002-05:00

Interesting perspective on leadership from Coach Williams at Marquette via, mucoach2coach.com

The Sahara plays tricks on the eyes of its travelers. As the desert sun beats down on the sand, heat waves rise from the ground. Light bends as it passes through the superheated air, painting illusory pictures on the horizon. To thirsty travelers moving through the Sahara, it often appears as if an oasis looms in the distance. However, as the voyagers journey on, the oasis proves to be nothing more than a mirage.

Unfortunately, the ranks of leadership are inhabited by a host of mirages: people who look impressive from a distance, but end up being disappointments. After being fooled by a few mirages, followers become jaded about leadership. That seems as true now as it ever has been. Our trust in leaders has been shaken as politicians have reneged on promises, CEOs have squandered money entrusted to their firms, and managers have advanced self-interests above all else.

To restore society's confidence with those in power, leaders have to be able to inspire. I'm not talking about inspiring someone to buy into the corporate vision statement, to meet quarterly sales goals, or to work more efficiently. These aren't bad things, but right now, people are looking for a leader attuned to their personal needs. They want leaders who will encourage them, believe in their potential, and help them grow.

Agree or disagree?

2009-04-21T08:42:00.002-05:00

This is a really interesting story...

Which side do you take? Nationals? Dukes?

$500 fine for talking to Little League team

Newspaper

2009-04-20T08:03:00.003-05:00

Melynda and I are still trying to figure out how this was printed in the Salina paper. As a point of reference for the article, Salina has over 46,000 people.

If I was the editor, I would be nervous if I published this to 46 people.

Prom Dancing...

Carl's Jr

2009-04-16T14:29:00.003-05:00

In case you're planning on going out to eat anytime soon, take a look at this...

THE WORST DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL IN AMERICA
Carl’s Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger with Medium Natural Cut Fries and 32 oz Coke

2,618 calories
144 g fat (51.5 g saturated fat)
2,892 mg sodium

Of all the gut-growing, heart-stopping, life-threatening burgers in the fast food world, there is none whose damage to your general well-being is as catastrophic as this. Consider these heart-stopping comparisons: This meal has the caloric equivalent of 13 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donuts; the saturated fat equivalent of 52 strips of bacon; and the salt equivalent of seven and a half large orders of McDonald’s French fries!

NBA

2009-04-16T14:03:00.004-05:00

One of the reason that so many people love college basketball more than the NBA is because they feel like all of the college guys play every game like it's their last. There is no coasting in college.

Well, I have a hard time believing not every game matters in the NBA too. That's why depth is such an issue and if you need to rest your "stars", you should be able to play elite level players behind them.

Now, take a look at this from NBA TrueHoop, and tell me, "Not every game matters"

It was a February 3 game against the Nuggets. Chris Tomasson of INDenverTimes remembers it well:
The Spurs J.V. team battled well. But they fell 104-96 to assure that Denver won the season series 2-1.

Well, guess what? The Spurs and the Nuggets both finished the season 54-28, with Denver, due to the tiebreaker, getting the No. 2 seed in the West and San Antonio settling for No. 3.
Had Popovich used his top players that night and the Spurs won, San Antonio would be the No. 2 seed and would be in line for homecourt advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Of course, an extra loss would have meant the Nuggets would have finished the season 53-29. That would have resulted in them losing the Northwest Division to Portland (54-28) and losing a tiebreaker to Houston (53-29) for the No. 4 seed.

So, if Popovich had used his top players that night and the Spurs won, the Nuggets now would be the No. 5 seed instead of having homecourt advantage to start the postseason for the first time since 1988.

Hypotheticals can drive you crazy. And who's to say the extra wear and tear wouldn't have cost the Spurs another game or two somewhere down the line.
To me the point is, more than anything: It's a very close contest, and every little decision has the potential to matter.

UofA Coach

2009-04-16T10:51:00.003-05:00

I've always respected the way that Sean Miller's teams played while he was at Xavier. They always played "tough." I'm sure he will have success when he starts up at UofA.

I guess not only can the guy coach, but he's got some other skills too...

12 year old Sean Miller

Catch

2009-04-14T08:39:00.002-05:00

Now THIS is an impressive catch...one of the best you'll ever see...

ASU practice catch

(By the way, how about the 3 chicks just walking along the side of the field during practice...hmmm...)

Beasley

2009-04-13T14:04:00.004-05:00

Good article from the SunSentinel about Michael Beasley and Pat Riley.

I've always had a lot of respect for Pat Riley. As the saying goes, "can't argue with results."

That means it's time for Beasley to grow up

Memphis Coach article

2009-04-13T12:14:00.003-05:00

I've been in Coach Pastner's "network" for about the last 8 years. I reached out to him as a Senior in High School because I was so amazed at his story. (At the time, he had just became a 23 year old assistant at Arizona). He has always been great about staying in touch. The point in the article about him maintaining a network is very true. I can attest.

I've kept close tabs on Coach and occasionally trade emails with him during the year.

This is a terrific article, trying to somehow summarize Coach Pastner.

Doesn't this stuff only happen in movies?

2009-04-13T12:11:00.001-05:00

So you want to be a Navy SEAL huh?

Check out the vivid description about the pirate hostage situation.

"3 phenomenal shots"

How about these seats...

2009-04-13T10:34:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was able to go to the Royals and Yankees game at the "New K." The stadium is absolutely incredible and has everything you could possibly want a stadium to have. Since the stadium is better, I would think more fans are going to come, more money is going to be generated and then Dayton Moore is going to be able to get a couple more pitchers in here to set this team over the top.

Okay, my point...We had terrific seats and sat directly beside the Yankee dugout. Section 123, row A, seat 1 to be exact. As a die hard baseball fan my entire life, to see the Royals and Yankees basically sitting in the dugout was close to a dream come true.

So, I thought my experience was the coolest of cool's...well, try this one...

Try these seats

Jay Bilas on Tom Izzo

2009-04-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

From Jay Bilas from ESPN:

Who wouldn't want to play for Tom Izzo? While he is an extraordinary coach, teacher and strategist, he always makes it about the players and he has a humility to him that is incredibly refreshing. I was fortunate to go with Izzo to the Middle East twice to coach U.S. Servicemen for Operation Hardwood, and the soldiers that Izzo coached told him that they would take a bullet for him. They absolutely loved him. He told them that a charge would be more than enough.

Actually, the first year we were in the Middle East, Izzo's team was unbeatable and ripped through the tournament without a loss. The second year, his team was not quite as good. After a loss, Izzo had his team on an outdoor court, in 120 degree heat, practicing! Even in the Middle East, it was about working hard and winning. Nobody appreciated the troops more than Izzo did, and nobody was affected by the experience in a more profound way.

Top pickup ballers we love...

2009-04-07T16:30:00.003-05:00

This is a terrific read. All of us that have played basketball growing up know someone who fits exactly in these categories.

Top 11 pickup ballers we love to hate...

This is a good one...

2009-04-07T16:27:00.001-05:00

Good stuff...

A woman takes a lover home during the day while her husband is at work.
Her 9-year old son comes home unexpectedly, sees them and hides in the bedroom closet to watch.

The woman's husband also comes home. She puts her lover in the closet, not realizing that the little boy is in there already.

The little boy says, "Dark in here."

The man says, "Yes, it is."

Boy: "I have a baseball."

Man: "That's nice"

Boy: "Want to buy it?"

Man: "No, thanks."

Boy: "My Dad's outside.."

Man: "OK, how much?"

Boy: "$250"

In the next few weeks, it happens again that the boy and the lover are in the closet together.

Boy: "Dark in here."

Man: "Yes, it is."

Boy: "I have a baseball glove."

The lover, remembering the last time, asks the boy, "How much?"

Boy: "$750"

Man: "Sold."

A few days later, the Dad says to the boy, "Grab your glove, let's go outside and have a game of catch.."

The boy says, "I can't, I sold my baseball and my glove."

The Dad asks, "How much did you sell them for?"

Boy: "$1,000"

The Dad says, "That's terrible to over charge your friends like that...that is way more than those two things cost. I'm taking you to church, to confession."

They go to the church and the Dad makes the little boy sit in the confessional booth and closes the door.

The boy says, "Dark in here."

The priest says, "Don't start that shit again; you're in my closet now."

Diamondbacks

2009-04-07T16:12:00.001-05:00

Everyone knows how much of a fan I am of the Royals...

Well, The D-Backs are now #2...

Some dreams do come true...

Another Reilly article

2009-04-01T12:58:00.001-05:00

Another blog post from Rick Reilly.

Reason to root for THABEET!

Final 4 - Try again

2009-03-31T14:15:00.002-05:00

This is a different way to look at the Final Four.

Final Four Likability Index

Billy Clyde

2009-03-31T10:06:00.001-05:00

I don't think that former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie wanted to talk to the media...

Gillispie chased by reporter

Watch your local news...

2009-03-25T11:57:00.002-05:00

Maybe I need to spend more time watching my local news. You couldn't stage this...

Interview of 2, turns to 1...

No bonus ball

2009-03-24T11:38:00.002-05:00

Larry Eustachy - Southern Mississippi's Head Men's Basketball Coach gives back his bonus

Friends

2009-03-23T12:51:00.004-05:00

Just a quick reminder to never underestimate the value that a friendship has.

A friend is there to help you in times of need. A friend is there to share in your greatest joys.

In my case, a good friend was there to help me spell check my boss' name on a resume.

Again, never underestimate the value of a friendship!

Shaq

2009-03-23T10:45:00.003-05:00

No one could ever say Shaq isn't creative.

Think he has a little bit of fun?

Shaq pre-game intro.

Sleepwalking

2009-03-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

Had this sent to me by a good friend.

What do you do in your sleep?!

Impressive

2009-03-21T20:01:00.003-05:00

Who set this up? Who gets to clean it up?

Check out the video...

Another Team USA baseball

2009-03-18T08:40:00.001-05:00

Before you read the article that I'm going to attach, make sure that you watch the highlights of USA v. Puerto Rico.

It will set the mood for this article...

TEAM USA PROVIDES MEMORY OF A LIFETIME

Team USA Baseball

2009-03-18T08:34:00.003-05:00

If you haven't already, take the time to watch the highlights of USA v. Puerto Rico in the WBC (World Baseball Classic).

You want to talk about passion? Awesome, stuff...

USA, USA, USA!

Sports story

2009-03-16T10:21:00.001-05:00

This could classify as one of the worst sports stories ever...

A new meaning to the phrase,

Shot on goal...

1/2 court for 1/2 million...

2009-03-15T18:48:00.001-05:00

Take the 6 minutes to watch this video, it's one of the better ones I've seen in a while.

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1902812

Syracuse - UCONN game

2009-03-13T12:40:00.002-05:00

I was at home last night taking a test for one of my courses and I had the TV on with pic in a pic working. The big picture featured the Big XII game, while the smaller picture had the Big EAST game of Syracuse and UCONN. I'm sure that you've already seen/heard about the game, but I couldn't take my eyes off of it and was up well into the morning to see it thru. (12:26am was when I remember going up stairs).

When I was at KSU, we traveled to Corvallis, Oregon to play Oregon State in December of 2003. Here is the link to the article from it. Our game with them went 3 OT's and was the longest game I've ever been a part of. I was exhausted and didn't even play. Last night, Syracuse and UCONN played TWICE as many OT's as we did.

Make sure to check the box score I'm attaching.

Syracuse v. UCONN - 6OT's

- Each team shot the ball over 100 times.
- For a point of reference: In the UCLA - Washington State game, the teams combined for 108 FGA

- UCONN attempted 35 3's
- 54 combined offensive rebounds, UCONN had 31.
- 69 rebounds for UCONN as a team.
- 66 fouls called.

Those are just a few...but my favorite!...
- Jonny Flynn played 67 minutes in a college basketball game

Gator baseball fan

2009-03-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

I'm officially a Florida Gator baseball fan...

----------------------

McArthur was a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Florida when he was severely injured in a random act of violence on Oct. 30, 2003. A stranger punched him, and McArthur hit his head on the pavement outside of a Gainesville nightspot. He had two brain operations within 24 hours after the attack and later had a third in May 2004 at Tampa General Hospital. He was in a drug-induced coma for five days, and doctors weren't sure if he would survive. McArthur went through an extensive rehabilitation process and returned to the Gator baseball program for the 2005 season after taking a medical redshirt in 2004. For everything McArthur has gone through on and off the baseball diamond, his competitive behavior and never-say-quit attitude are well-respected by the entire Gator community. He is a true leader in every sense of the word, someone who puts the team above any individual accomplishments or awards. While many people going through similar situations might have ended his or her career at the first sign of adversity, McArthur continues to set a positive example through his actions and commitment to the Florida baseball program and the University. His relationships with the coaching staff and teammates are solid and the respect they have for him cannot be measured in words since the coaches and players have the utmost respect for his willingness to sacrifice his body for them. While every student-athlete obviously wants to win every time they step on the playing field, McArthur understands that there are sometimes larger things at work in the big picture of our lives. Although people often say that winning or losing can be a "matter of life and death," he can take a different perspective knowing everything he has overcome to continue playing the sport he loves. Trying to describe his response to victory and defeat can be difficult since there are days when McArthur realizes that just competing with his teammates brings him more satisfaction than any result. His motivation to do the best he can and lead by example are traits which each individual should strive to emulate. In the long run, collegiate athletics can provide life lessons and McArthur's work ethic and attitude illustrate a clear understanding of teamwork and being a role model for everyone around him.

McArthur recently received a President's Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush's Council on Service and Participation which recognizes McArthur's contributions to the Gainesville community and demonstrating values that "make our nation strong in helping to build a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America." President Bush wrote, "Your ability to overcome adversity is a testament to your character, and your compassionate efforts serve as an inspiration to others. You are making our Nation better and stronger, one person at a time." McArthur constantly lends his time and support to a variety of charitable causes. He was named to the 2008 SEC Baseball Community Service Team that highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts. McArthur has been a representative on Florida's Student-Athlete Committee (SAC) and is a frequent speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings. He often visits the pediatric care unit at Shands Hospital (where he was a patient recovering from his life-threatening injuries) and has participated in wheel-chair basketball with Special Olympians. McArthur spoke at "Youth Quake," an organization that provides alternative Christian entertainment that confronts issues relevant to today\'s teenagers and has given speeches at Gainesville middle schools about the importance of doing well in school. In addition, he is a member of the Big Brothers\' organization in which he often brings little kids to practice and brightens their day by having them around the Gator baseball players. McArthur was the keynote speaker at the March of Dimes Health Conference that was held on the University of Florida campus on Dec. 2, 2008. His responsibility was to engage 350 at-risk middle school students by his speech. This was the 20th year for the conference and McArthur was chosen because the group was looking for "an athlete with a motivating story and a person who can teach these children the importance of believing in their dreams." He also participated in the Climb for Cancer Sports Camp last October. The camp, which was held on campus at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center and the Gator football practice fields, allowed children to participate in a number of athletic activities. The camp was made up of four sports venues which included football, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Both the children and student-athletes were able to enjoy themselves in activities ranging from pick-up basketball and volleyball games in the O'Dome, to soccer drills or a game of catch at the football practice fields. Climb for Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that has funded or created several programs which provide support to the patient and family, research grants, and given kids the opportunity to attend camps such as this one.

After taking a medical redshirt in 2004, Brandon McArthur played in 64 games in 2005, making 60 starts at third base, as Florida enjoyed its best season in school history. The Orange and Blue was the runner-up at the NCAA College World Series and captured its first Southeastern Conference championship in seven years, putting together an overall mark of 48-23. McArthur played an integral role in the team's success and was the lone member of the team chosen to the SEC All-Freshman Team after batting .286 in 28 league outings. During his sophomore year in 2006, he participated in 46 of the Gators' 56 games and made starts at second base (25 games), third base (13 games) and as the club's designated hitter (five). As a junior in '07, McArthur underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow after being injured on opening night. After working hard in the off-season to get back into shape, he was enjoying a tremendous campaign before rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on April 2, 2008. McArthur elected not to have surgery until following the season and batted a remarkable .367 (29-for-79) with 20 RBI over his final 20 games of the year while playing hurt. He wound up setting career-highs in batting average (.337), runs batted in (44), doubles (11) and triples (3) and was a catalyst in UF's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2005. Picked to finish 11th of 12 teams in the SEC, the Gators were second in the Eastern Division and third overall. In voting conducted by the Gator Dugout Club, supporters of UF's baseball program, at the conclusion of last season, McArthur took home two of the four awards. He collected the Mr. Gator Baseball Award, symbolic of the player who most personifies the spirit of Gator Baseball, and the Steve Georgiadis Award, presented to the Gator baseball player who has most overcome adversity. The Georgiadis Award is given in memory of former Gator pitcher Steve Georgiadis, who passed away on March 17, 1990. McArthur underwent successful knee surgery over the summer and is hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a team-leading eight RBI through five games for the 12th-ranked Gators (5-0).

Another role model...?

2009-03-12T13:08:00.001-05:00

Travis Henry, 30, a former N.F.L. running back who played for three teams from 2001 to 2007, has nine children -- each by a different mother, some born as closely as a few months apart. Reports of Henry's prolific procreating, generated by child-support disputes, have highlighted how futile the N.F.L.'s attempts can be at educating its players about making wise choices. The disputes have even eclipsed the attention he received after he was indicted on charges of cocaine trafficking. "They've got my blood; I've got to deal with it," Henry said of fiscal responsibilities to his children. He spoke by telephone from his Denver residence, where he was under house arrest until recently for the drug matter. Henry had just returned from Atlanta, where a judge showed little sympathy for his predicament during a hearing and declined to lower monthly payments from $3,000 for a 4-year-old son. Three days after the telephone interview, he was jailed for falling $16,600 behind on support for a youngster in Frostproof, Fla., his hometown. "I love all my kids," he said in the interview, but asserted he could not afford the designated amounts, estimated at $170,000 a year by Randy Kessler, his Atlanta lawyer. Kessler said Henry was virtually broke. "I've lost everything in this mess I've gotten myself into," Henry said

Role Model

2009-03-11T09:43:00.001-05:00

My good buddy passed this one along to me.

Check it out...

Not a TD, but Elway still scores big...

Blind date

2009-03-11T09:39:00.001-05:00

Perhaps I should just use an RSS feed on my blog for every Rick Reilly article.

I didn't post the last one regarding a kid being treated to a day with John Elway, I'll try to find it.

This one hits home, especially with it being basketball.

Amazing story

From the Orlando paper

2009-03-10T13:09:00.001-05:00

A group of fans hung out in the lobby of the team hotel in Detroit most of the day on Monday, seeking autographs. Magic C Dwight Howard not only accommodated them with his signature, but he bought them hamburgers. Might be one of the reasons that Howard received more than a record 3 million all-star votes last month. ... Cool move by Howard, I remember hearing stories about Michael Jordan staying at different hotels from the Bulls to avoid fans asking for autographs. Howard is a class act. -- Orlando Sentinel

Houston Rockets

2009-03-06T09:01:00.001-06:00

This is a great video.

Watch it all the way to the end.

Duke

2009-03-03T13:29:00.001-06:00

Watch the right "pivot" foot...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFDIkJKDXM&eurl=http://withleather.uproxx.com/

Dream still lives...

2009-03-02T12:59:00.000-06:00

It is March, that means March Madness.

The dream still lives for my team...

Sweet 16 - Missouri State HS Bracket

60 million reasons to work for this guy...

2009-02-25T12:31:00.001-06:00

A good story of generosity.

Good job Mr. Abess

In case you didn't know...

2009-02-25T12:29:00.001-06:00

In reference to my last post...

For not "playing" in a single NBA game this year for the Knicks:

Marbury makes 4 times more money in a DAY then I make in a YEAR.

Now THIS is pathetic...

2009-02-25T10:28:00.001-06:00

The New York Knicks are quickly becoming my favorite NBA team. I've long had love for the SA Spurs. The Trailblazers moved up my charts about 2 years ago and are right there now.

It goes something like this.

1 - Spurs
2a - Knicks
2b - Blazers

The Knicks did themselves VERY well yesterday by cutting Stephon Marbury.

If you think, "oh, poor Stephon, he got cut"...Going to be hard for him to find a job in this economy...

Make sure you read Darren Rovell's piece I've linked...

Graduate

2009-02-20T13:23:00.000-06:00

One of the greatest highlights of my life so far was my graduation from KSU. Many of you know that feeling that I'm talking about. The great sense of relief, accomplishment and optimism that goes along with graduation.

This story proves, you're never too old to graduate!

Good for him!

Some dreams never die

2009-02-20T13:18:00.002-06:00

This is why I think basketball is the greatest sport in the world. You can play it by yourself, you can play it recreational or competitive and you can play it at almost any age.

Just like this guy...

JUCO at its best

3 wishes

2009-02-20T11:29:00.003-06:00

This is a kid wise beyond his years. From a fourt grade writing assignment to a super sub at Clemson, Tanner has come a long way. Although, some things never change...

Terrific story, and reason to root for Clemson.

Tanner's Toys

I told you so...

2009-02-17T11:02:00.001-06:00

Not to say I told you so, but...I told you so.

Check out my December 8th Post...

Prince to UVA

Alex Rodriguez

2009-02-12T21:37:00.003-06:00

The more I was thinking about Alex Rodriguez I began to wonder something...

With everything going on, how is it going to be possible for this guy to perform at his "normal" level on the field?

Taking a look at the #'s...

Since Rodriguez has played in an "everyday" role, 14 seasons...

he has hit no less then, .285.
he has averaged, 39.5 homeruns
he has averaged 115 RBI's.

With everything that is going on in this life, here is the question I pose going into the 2009 season.

Out of the 3 Stats...how many will A-Rod eclipse? Will he hit higher than .285? Power out 40 homers? Drive in 115 runs?

The thing I'll keep my eye on closely is his BA. He'll have the ability to drive in runs with the lineup surrounding him. I say he has a career low in BA this year...

If A-Rod does 2 of the 3, I will be absolutely amazed...

[Royals pitchers and catchers report tomorrow! 2/13!]

How many...

2009-02-12T07:58:00.000-06:00

How many times can you genuinely say, "Thank you" with a smile during the day?

You'd be surprised at people's reaction.

The Four Agreements

2009-02-11T12:37:00.004-06:00

There is a book that I was refered to back in 2004, titled "The Four Agreements". Recently, Tom Brady mentioned how he read the book and got a great deal out of it.

Eric Musselman outlined the 4 major agreements on his blog and I am posting them here.

I challenge you to take a hard look and evaluate where you fit into these "agreements"...

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word: "The word is a force; it is the power you have to express and communicate, to think, and thereby create the events in your life. When you are impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself. Being impeccable with your word is the correct use of your energy.But making this agreement is difficult because we have learned to do precisely the opposite. We have learned to lie as a habit of our communication with others and more importantly ourselves. We use the word to curse, to blame, to find guilt, to destroy. Of course, we also use it in the right way, but not too often. Mostly we use the word to spread our personal poison -- to express anger, jealousy, envy, and hate.We must begin to understand what the word is and what the word does."

2. Don't Take Anything Personally: "Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about "me." We think we are responsible for everything. Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.When you take things personally, then you feel offended [when someone insults you], and your reaction is to defend your beliefs. You have the need to be right and make everybody else wrong.Others are going to have their own opinion according to their belief system, so nothing they think about me is really about me, but it is about them. Don't take anything personally because by taking things personally you set yourself up to suffer for nothing.When you make it a strong habit not to take anything personally, you avoid many upsets in your life. Your anger, jealousy, and envy will disappear. Write this agreement on paper, and put it on your refrigerator to remind you all the time: Don't take anything personally."

3. Don't Make Assumptions: "We have a tendency to make assumptions about everything. The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We make assumptions about what others are doing or thinking -- we take it personally -- then we blame them. We also make assumptions about ourselves, and this creates a lot of inner conflict.Even if we hear something and we don't understand, we make assumptions about what it means and then believe the assumptions. When we believe something, we assume we are right about it to the point that we will destroy relationships in order to defend our position.The way to keep yourself from making assumptions is to ask questions. Make sure the communication is clear. If you don't understand, ask. Have the courage to ask questions until you are clear as you can be, and even then do not assume you know all there is to know about a given situation. Without making assumptions your word becomes impeccable.Don't make assumptions. Just saying this sounds easy, but I understand it is difficult to do because we so often do exactly the opposite."

4. Always Do Your Best: "The fourth agreement is about the action of the first three. Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. Everything is alive and changing all the time, so your best will sometimes be high quality, and other times it will not be as good.Doing your best, you are going to live your life intensely. You are going to be productive, you are going to be good to yourself, because you will be giving yourself to your family, to your community, to everything. It is the action that is going to make you feel intensely happy.When you always do your best, you take action. Doing your best is taking the action because you love it, not because you're expecting a reward. Most people do exactly the opposite: They only take action when they expect a reward, and they don't enjoy the action. And that's the reason they won't do their best.When you do your best, you learn to accept yourself. But you have to be aware and learn from your mistakes. Learning from your mistakes means you practice, look honestly at the results, and keep practicing. This increases your awareness.By doing your best, the habits of misusing your word, taking things personally, and making assumptions will become weaker and less frequent with time."

A-Rod

2009-02-09T14:18:00.001-06:00

Obviously, everyone has their own thoughts on A-Rod, and I am planning on posting mine in the next couple of days.

He has since, admitted taking steroids. So here is my question to you..."What else is there to talk about?"

He has admitted to making a horrible mistake, he has come clean and acknowledged what he did was wrong and is hopeful to move on.

I hope that we don't ridicule A-Rod like we did/do Bonds because of the fundamental difference between how they handled the entire thing. Think about how much pride A-Rod must have lost when that report surfaced.

Think Roger Clemens would be thought of in a different light?

In America, isn't the truth supposed to carry some weight?

US Air

2009-02-05T13:34:00.001-06:00

Make sure to go to CNN.com, or MSBC.com and check out the audio recording from the flight that ended up in the Hudson.

It's worth listening to a couple of times...amazing poise.

Also, here is the transcript...

Remember

2009-02-03T13:53:00.001-06:00

A life worth remembering...

Habitat for Humanity

Disclosure

2009-02-02T12:28:00.001-06:00

I just saw Sportscenter and Tim Hassleback just brought up this same point.

Obviously I'm not the only one that saw it, but I didn't steal it from someone else.

Super Bowl

2009-02-02T12:20:00.003-06:00

We have all seen the replays of James Harrison's INT return for Touchdown.

I've seen it so much that I started watching different things on the return.

With NBC's camera in the end zone that Harrison returns the INT, watch Larry Fitzgerald. Try to "spotlight" #11 for the Cards and see if you can follow him the entire way.

Towards the end of the INT return, Fitzgerald seems about to catch him, when he is blocked. Thing of it is, he is blocked by #21 for the Cardinals, Rolle. 21 plays defense and was not on the field.

So...here you go...

Harrison was returning the INT and Fitzgerald was about to get him, when he bumped into one of his own teammates on the sideline who wasn't even in the game!!!!

Think if he doesn't bump into him how different the game is!

The Press Conference

Amazing stat

Golf Humor

Work advice

KSU scandal

Snyder-Prince

My man Charles...

USA! USA! USA!

KSU in the news

Great picture

Trouble in Texas

Here I come, there you go...

Baseball playoffs

Outliers

Outliers answer

Judge

Outliers

Maybe its not about the $

Another good read

Another Pastner article

My favorite blog post ever

Power & Light district

Did you know what "huffing" was...

White Sox

Baseball

Newspaper part 2

Newspaper

Simmons

Ad

Outside the Lines article

Another Greinke...

Newspaper

Izzo

Baltimore Sun

Budget cuts

On the subject of weird news...

Baseball

Barkley quote

Coaching in the NBA

Greinke part 4

Greinke part 3

Hockey

Greinke mania 2

Greinke mania

Baseball

Coach Snyder

Coach Cal's house

Denver

Proof reading

Leadership

Agree or disagree?

Newspaper

Carl's Jr

NBA

UofA Coach

Catch

Beasley

Memphis Coach article

Doesn't this stuff only happen in movies?

How about these seats...

Jay Bilas on Tom Izzo

Top pickup ballers we love...

This is a good one...

Diamondbacks

Another Reilly article

Final 4 - Try again

Billy Clyde

Watch your local news...

No bonus ball

Friends

Shaq

Sleepwalking

Impressive

Another Team USA baseball

Team USA Baseball

Sports story

1/2 court for 1/2 million...

Syracuse - UCONN game

Gator baseball fan

Another role model...?