Talk of the Nation...or not

On my way home from KWCH last week, I was listening to NPR's Talk of the Nation. Neal Conan was interviewing Jen Rizzotti, a former standout at UConn and 11 year coach at the University of Hartford. The subject of UConn woman's 74-game winning streak turned into a discussion about coverage of the woman's NCAA tournament, or lack there of.
I thought it was an interesting interview given that Rizzotti was former player of the year and played point guard for Uconn's first national championship team. Rizzotti also spoke from a coaches point of view explaining the politics of recruiting and her opinions on talent in woman's sports. She and a few call-ins had interesting theories on why the woman's tournament and woman's basketball as a whole is lacking patronage.
If you have a 20 minutes to listen to a fun interview check this out.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125176108

KWCH Tour

The tour through the KWCH station was interesting. It was have made it more interesting to see the building before they moved things around. Getting to see where their work stations were compared to where they are now kind of showed how well the station might be doing. I really liked being able to see where the news cast actually takes place. The best part about the set was the cameras. Hearing them talk about how they control the cameras was kind of cool. I can't even imagine being that one guy that sits behind the desk and has to control the movement of all the cameras. I'm sure it takes a lot of practice.

I also enjoyed getting to sit in on their meeting. Getting to hear how everything gets planned out was interesting and entertaining at the same time. It was also amazing to me how little time they have to plan and get information for stories. They were making plans for the news cast that was going to take place that same day.

Overall I really enjoyed the tour of KWCH but I think I'll stick with the print side of journalism because I still don't think television is for me.

The Other Tournament

Well, I guess I'll be that guy. I'll be the guy to write about soccer. I'll readily confess that I love the sport. The two years I spent at Barton County Community College working in the sports information department made my love for the sport flourish. So I'll discuss the "other" tournament going on here at the end of March.

While everyone in America is enjoying the NCAA Tournament, the UEFA Champions League started its quarterfinals this week. The Champions League takes the top teams from all the European soccer leagues, such as in England, Germany, Spain and Italy and pits them together. The best comparison for America would be if the NFL and CFL champions actually played off for football supremacy. So the Champions League provides European fans something that American sports lack and that is the opportunity to compete against the best of the best across the board.

Just like the NCAA Tournament, the Champions League tournament features upsets of its own. In the round of 16, Italian club Internazionale upset the favorite from England, Chelsea FC. If you thought KU falling to UNI was big, it doesn't compare when you factor in the passion of European soccer fans.

While the NCAA Tournament winds down and Major League Baseball is just getting started, take some time to check out soccer, which is in its important stretch of the season over in England. There's still a lot to play for and if you're bored and looking for something new, there's plenty of opportunities to learn the rules and enjoy "the beautiful game".

I also wanted to post this story from ESPN to follow up on a blog post I did earlier about NCAA Tournament expansion. This is the latest news with Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany calling expansion "probable" when the NCAA Board of Directors meets on April 29. It's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Tournament Expansion Likely

Still alive — barely — in my bracket picks

How’s your NCAA bracket looking heading into Final Four weekend?

Like a few others out there, I cast my lot in NCAA men’s basketball bracket pools. Unlike most in the state, however, I didn’t have KU in my Final Four.

In fact, I had the Jayhawks losing to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 in St. Louis. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it out of Oklahoma City.

I had Michigan State meeting Kansas State in one semifinal, and West Virginia-Baylor in the other. Unfortunately, Butler and Duke ruined my chances.

I do have Bob Huggins’ West Virginia team winning it all. My plan was for West Virginia and K-State to meet in the championship game.

I still could be half right.

The Not Basketball Association

On Sunday night, I went to Oklahoma City to see the Thunder. A buddy had offered me a free ticket to go with him and a group of his friends and, being the hoops junkie that I am, I took him up on his offer. I knew that the basketball wouldn't be fundamentally sound, but I figured I could ignore that enough to appreciate the talent of athleticism of guys like Kevin Durant.

When we got to the game, I felt like I had just stepped into a Vegas casino. There were just too many barely dressed 'dancers' (yeah right) and lights for my taste. The video intro was flashy and the horde of fairweather fans slid into their seats just in time for the game. They gave half-hearted cheers to guys like Nenad Krstic, but they nearly threw up when they announced Kevin Durant's name.

Then, right before tipoff, the Ford Center became an insanely annoying sea of inflatable plastic boomsticks. I got hit in the head four times before I finally turned around and told the guy behind me to shove his clappers under his seat before I shoved them somewhere he didn't want me to shove them.

The game started and, within the first few minutes, 34-year-old Andre Miller drove down the court past four Thunder players who thought 'transition defense' was some kind of foreign term. Miller's rickety knees carried him to 24 points that night, primarily because nobody cared enough to stop him.

The most disappointing part of the game, though, was Kevin Durant. I remember the Durant Era at Texas (which lasted all of one year), and it was fun to watch. As a Longhorn, Durant was a guy who played so hard that you started sweating just watching him. He had heart, intensity, and any other cheesy word you can use to describe that intangible 'it' factor. Now, as the Thunder's superstar, Durant was a lazy diva. He jumped around every two seconds to call for the ball, played defense five feet off his man, and took contested 30-footers that were bad shots even for him. On one possession, teammate Russell Westbrook took a wide-open shot while Durant was calling for the ball. Only a few ticks later, Durant stormed over to Westbrook to give him a piece of his mind.

Only one player really played like he cared: Eric Maynor, formerly of VCU. Watching the game, I loved how Maynor played. He never came out of defensive stance, had good pace on offense, and was smooth with the ball. Everything Maynor did was smart and with effort. But, as I walked out, I realized that all of that is likely because he is only a rookie. Just because he is not yet corrupted by the NBA money tree doesn't mean that he never will be.

With a minute left, and the game still slightly in question, Thunder fans headed for the exits. Their team was down by 8, but they hadn't really come to see basketball anyway. They had come to see the booty-shaking Thunder girls, clap some cheap inflatable sticks together, and get drunk off $6 Bud Lights.

All of this leads me to one conclusion: NBA fans aren't fans of basketball because the NBA isn't real basketball at all. It is an overhyped, oversexed, money-corrupted league where the rich get richer and the fans are naive fools who want only to be entertained.

No Feeling Like This...

As a kid, shooting hoops in my driveway, I dreamt of winning championships. I wanted it all. I wanted to be a state champion, NCAA Tournament champion, and an NBA Finals champion. And heck, if I'd known about the Euroleague when I was five, I probably would've wanted their championship, too.

Dreams die, though. I lost my NBA Finals and national championship dreams before I hit middle school, but I didn't lose my state championship dreams 'til I hit high school. Stuck in a 6A school in Missouri that was oozing with talent, I saw a world I didn't believe in. It was no longer about how well you played the game. It was politics at its worst (or best, depending on your point of view). I played on the freshman team that year and led the JV team in scoring at a tournament the following summer. I was far from a varsity player, but I was getting better. Most of my teammates figured I was a lock to start on the sophomore team.

But, like I said, dreams die. And when I walked into the coaches' office three days into practice (when everyone thought cuts were over) my championship dream evaporated. I was just too small, they told me, for a 6' guard. They said not to come back and try out the next year. I was 125 pounds and was never going to be big enough. I was relegated to pickup games where I was nothing more than a serviceable role player. Guys like Mike Dixon (freshman PG at Mizzou) and Todd Fletcher (starting SG at Air Force) made me feel like I was still playing, but I knew there was no box score for these games.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I realized I never should've stopped dreaming. Sitting in the locker room before the championship game, I knew I was about to be part of something big. I had done a large part of the scouting for our opponent and knew it wouldn't be a close game. Two hours later, I was part of a championship. But, looking at the distraught underdogs (the 7 seed, overcame huge odds to meet us in the final), I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. For their seniors, it was over. They had fallen short.

For all but one the season ends with a loss. And for the champion, it rarely works out exactly as you envision.

The Epitome of Hospitality

Back in December, I went with Heights to Avila University in Kansas City for our game in the Hy-Vee Shootout. As I walked in the door, Gary Thomason, our JV head coach and varsity assistant, told me that there is only one way to tell a good coach from a bad coach: "How fast can he find the hospitality room? And you can't ask anyone, either. You have to have a nose for it. I'm a damn good coach. No one finds a hospitality room like Gary Thomason."

And he was right. Within two minutes, Gary had food and drink in hand, enjoying all the free concessions that Avila had to offer. I thought his whole speech was kind of a joke. I just didn't understand, though. A couple of weeks ago, back in Emporia, I finally figured out what he meant.

Gary and I arrived in Emporia early on the first day to scout the two first-round games preceding us. We walked in, shook a couple of hands, chatted with Joanna Chadwick, then made our way to the hospitality room.

"This place is great. They have the best chicken dumplings. Everything is good," he said.

As I walked in, I saw no chicken dumplings. I did, however, see a smorgasbord of food fit for a king. Every type of potato chip known to mankind was scattered on the row of tables. There were cheesy potato casseroles, pulled pork sandwiches, soups, and all the caffeine you could possibly want to put through your veins. This place was incredible. Being that I had to scout three games that day, as well as be on the bench for the Heights game, my trips to this magical place were short. However, though they were short, they were frequent.

On the second day, I walked by concession stands feeling sorry for the people in line.

'Those sorry saps don't know what they're missing,' I thought. 'Nachos? Please, I prefer pulled pork with butt sauce (still not sure what that is, but I liked it).'

By the third day, I was feeling cocky. I would walk in to the W.L. White Civic Center with a strut in my step. I was unstoppable, and I had a stamp on my hand to prove it. I would walk into heaven--I mean the hospitality room--talk to Jeffrey Lutz, make my way to the food, plop down for ten minutes, and inject some false energy in the form of a few cups of Coke.

Of course, without a doubt, winning the 6A state championship was my favorite part of Emporia. It's not even close. The hospitality room, though, was pretty darn good, too.

So Emporia, I thank you. You were quite hospitable.

Another successful KS freshman at OU

About a week ago, Chris Parker wrote about the college success of Chase Nelson and Kendrick Maple of Wichita Heights, and Tyler Caldwell from Goddard.

I am going to expand on it and throw in Joanna McFarland from Derby, another Kansan from the class of 2009, who like Maple and Caldwell is an Oklahoma freshman.

McFarland has logged some good minutes this year as a freshman on the University of Oklahoma Lady Sooners basketball team and has added 137 points with 134 rebounds to the OU total on the year. She is also the team’s third-leading shot blocker with 10.

After a 77-72 overtime win for Oklahoma over Notre Dame last night, McFarland’s Lady Sooner team is one win over Kentucky away from the women’s Final Four in San Antonio.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with the McFarland family last year and all though it kills me to be for OU, I can’t help but to pull for this team as long as McFarland is on it. Although they are ferociously competitive, you couldn't ask for a nicer family.

And believe me it is a struggle for her siblings to approve of their sister’s team as well. Sister Jessica and brother Jacob are both K-State alums and sister Jackie went to Colorado. Jessica and Jackie both played basketball for their respective schools before going on to pro careers overseas.

However it will be no problem for any of the four of us to pull for the Lady Sooners, who are three wins away from a national championship (or, realistically, two wins away from, at the very least, a shot at ending UConn's winning streak).

For the next four years, with another of the Wichita wrestlers Kyle Detmer, Caldwell, Maple, and McFarland, consider me an OU fan.

Ugh. I guess it will be the next five years when you throw in Blake Bell.

A late night for KWCH, K-State fans

Like the folks at Channel 12, I wasn't counting on the K-State game going two overtimes.

When we visited Catch It Kansas and the KWCH news meeting Thursday afternoon, everyone was focused on the big game that night. They all knew it would be a late news night since the game didn't start until 8:37 or so. But two overtimes? Bet there were some tired pups at the station.

It was a great game to watch. What I liked was the praise each coach had afterward for not only his team, but the opponent, too. Xavier certainly is better than it was earlier in the season when the Wildcats won handily. Peaking at the right time of the season is crucial. Witness the Jayhawks, who might have hit their best in the Big 12 tourney finale against K-State.

Becky Nordyke, a diehard KSU fan who teaches with me, has more of a spring in her step today. Even better, her sister has promised her a ticket to the Final Four if the Wildcats make it. I think she'd melt if that happens.

And, after West Virginia's win last night, my hopes for a Huggins-Martin matchup are still alive.

March Madness =KSU in the Sweet 16

.....DOUBLE OVERTIME! This game epitimizes March Madness.

1st off, Frank Martin may kill a ref in this game...! I think if anyone could have fire come out of their eyes, it would be Frank. There definitley should have been a foul called before Merryweather's call..bad call, especially for KSU.

My brackets are shot to crap, I don't know about everyone else but with KU, Cornell, Syarcuse, and Maryland out, I have to root for a fellow Big 12 team and I guess since they are from Kansas, it will do.

This game is insane. Xavier can't miss a 3, Sutton is out, double overtime, fatigued athletes...what's going to happen??!! Let's Go Cats! (this pains me...)

KWCH Tour

The trip to KWCH has been my favorite visit we've taken so far. I took the Studio B class at Wichita State but that's the closest I've ever been to an actual television station. I know it doesn't compare so I was excited to take this visit.

It was great to see all the latest technology they have at KWCH. It also really puts watching the 10 o'clock news in perspective. When you watch on television, the sets look really spacious and spread out but seeing it all up close, they don't really have that much room to operate. The upgrades in equipment, like automatic cameras, probably helped out in the studio by cutting out the people you have in that space.

I liked seeing the news room. It was interesting how it's spaced out in its own sections but everyone still interacts because its open. And even though they don't have much of their own space, I like the set up for Catch It Kansas. It's hard to believe they shoot their own show right there in their section of the news room. That really makes things seem small in comparison.

My favorite thing was getting to be in the production meeting, mostly because it was so unexpected. It was an experience that really got the people I see on television across as real people instead of (and it might not be the right word) local celebrities. They're applying the skills we are learning to the actual professions. It really helps make a job in this industry seem attainable as long as you're willing to work.

KWCH Visit

That was such a fun experience!!!! I keep thinking I know what I want to do with my future in sports and writing and each visit we go on keeps me wanting to be involved in that field of communications...oh my, but anyways, KWCH was definitley neat. My highlight was getting the chance to trash Mike's desk..haha just kidding Mike! My personal highlight was getting the oppertunity to sit in on the editor/production/reporters meeting. It was cool to see that they are totally laid back and enjoy their job. I could totally do that for the rest of my life. It reminded me of our newsroom on Friday afternoons at the Sunflower.

I liked getting to see the studio and where everything is taped. I've seen the Fox side, but I had never seen the KWCH side of the studio. It's a lot different then it looks on TV, which was cool. It sucks that some jobs were cut in the because of our technology advances, which also worries me about print writing, but it was also funny picturing that camera rounding a corner and taking an unexpecting person off guard.

The station as a whole was pretty sweet, especially them being one of the best in the State, thats a pretty nice bragging right. I never knew they taped the CatchItKansas show right there in the middle of the room, so that was a random fact I found cool to know.

I agree with what they told us about getting our foot in the door and always looking for an oppertunity to advance. It's about who you know and I think KWCH is a pretty sweet place and would be a cool job.

Kansas Sports Museum = SWEET!!

So I was definitely impressed with the Kansas Sports Musuem. For as young as it is, they have a descent following and lot's and lot's of cool Kansas memorobilla. I personally enjoyed the WSU National Championship video the best. I thought it was cool to see Brummett in his prime moment of his career. It was also cool to see a younger Gene and just the whole video as a whole got me super excited for WSU baseball this season.

I liked all the old Sports Illustrated magazines that hosted Kansas athletes throughout the years (especially all the KU Basketball ones from previous years). I enjoyed going through the 'tmuseum and finding about atheltes that I hadn't even realized were Kansas athletes. I enjoyed seeing pictures and jereseys of student athletes that I did actually know, so that was cool too.

I would definitley like to go back when they bring in the traveling exhibits. It's a cool musuem and I hope that it keeps gaining a following and keep expanding as more and more Kansas athletes keep succeeding.

Yeah, KU lost, but mostly UNI won.

Ugh, I didn't really want to post anything on the KU/UNI game, but since pretty much everyone in existence (and I don't just mean on here, but everywhere) has had their say, I feel compelled to do the same. Which probably says more about me than it does about anyone else. Whatever.

The problem I have with what 97% of everyone is saying is that it focuses almost solely on KU. On how they "choked." On how they "didn't take UNI seriously." On how they "didn't play up to their potential." I'm not actually sure I would disagree with any of these things, and obviously I was surprised that UNI won. But I wasn't fall-on-the-floor shocked by the outcome. And I think approaching the game from this KU-centric direction doesn't tell the real story.

I watched the game in a bar in Lawrence surrounded by KU fans (not on purpose, exactly... a strange confluence of events led me to be there at that time). Now, being a Shocker fan, and, on a smaller scale, a Missouri Valley fan, I'd seen UNI play five or six times this year. So I knew what to expect. The funny thing was, I quickly realized the pro-KU crowd was busy complaining about exactly the things I expected to see from UNI. Their defensive strategy is to clog up the middle and make the other team shoot jump shots over them. So what happened? Sherron Collins spent the entire game getting frustrated that he couldn't get to the rim. Moreover, UNI is one of the dirtiest teams I've seen this year, bumping, pushing, pulling, and yet they somehow never get called for it. The result? The entire bar wailing about how UNI was getting all the calls. UNI loves to slow things down and pick the other team apart. Meaning? The KU crowd was aghast that KU never got around to "running right over them."

Basically, it turned out that the game I watched was pretty much identical, in style, at least, to every single other game I've seen UNI play this year. UNI exerted their will. So why does that mean KU choked? That's just not what I saw. I saw one team play exactly the way they wanted to and beat the other team. Which is sort of the point of basketball.

Yeah, I get it, KU was the overall #1 seed, and even I figured they'd probably go ahead and win the national championship. But anyone who has paid any attention to UNI this year knew exactly what they were going to get, and they got it.

KU Loss

There's not much else to add that hasn't already been said about Kansas' stunning second-round exit in this season's N.C.A.A. tournament to Northern Iowa.

For me, as a die-hard K-State fan, it was a very satisfying night. It ranks ahead of the night the streak ended with Beasley standing on top of press row in front of the angriest fans in the nation. It also ranks ahead of watching Jim Wooldridge try to collect pity points in his dying years, wearing a neck brace on the sideline. I miss the Wooly days. Ok, not really.

But it was very satisfying to see the demise this KU team took. This was worse than Rhode Island. Worse than Bradley. Worse than Bucknell. The Jayhawks have been roasted across the nation and it has been a joy to watch. In a way, it has weeded through the fans this season.

Think about it. 2008 was arguably the year of the Jayhawk. They won the Orange Bowl and the national title in basketball. Yes, I couldn't say much that season. It was frustrating, but I respected the accomplishments and didn't rain on their fans' parades. At least the fans I knew were invested.

This season has been a different story. This has been a year that has tested the wills of KU fans everywhere. Your football team was absolutely horrendous after entering the season with your slogan as "History Awaits." Mangino was nationally roasted and the program was nationally embarrassed by what all of a sudden turned to be soft. Amazing what happens when you're not winning. All of those warm, fuzzy feelings start to go away.

Now this. But this time a historic loss. This year was KU's title to lose. And they lost it. About two weeks before anybody thought they might.

Yes, KU fans are being weeded out right now. The ones that will truly stick with their programs I respect. Yes, their basketball team will always be in the Top 25 and always be in contention for a Big 12 title. I'm not so convinced on their football team, but they are making strides with the hiring of Turner Gill.

All of a sudden, it's not such of a good time to be a Jayhawk. Can't say that too often.

Yes, right now is the time of the Wildcat. As a long fan of the basketball program and watching the Wooly-led teams scrap for 15 victories a season, it makes this year's run so much more special. I feel like I can value it more, or appreciate it more than a fan who hopped on when Huggy Bear brought along B-Eazy.

There's not too many times when K-State is the nation's darling from the state of Kansas. It's a good time to be a Wildcat, indeed.

Collegiate: The Dream Team

Love them or hate them, you cannot deny what the Collegiate boys basketball team has accomplished. More specifically, the group of five seniors this season.

What the Collegiate fans, parents, players and coaches have experienced this season is something special. Because a group like this doesn’t come around too often. And by not often, I mean once-in-a-lifetime.

Last night’s record-tying performance in the Class 3A state championship game has been a long-time coming. Since the fifth grade, in fact.

That’s when this group was united at Collegiate. That’s when The Dream was originated. All five of these guys lived, breathed and practiced basketball all for one common goal — winning a state title their senior year.

It was obvious when the group arrived in middle school and left with one loss in two years that they were destined for greatness in high school. They had undefeated seasons on the freshman team and then on the sophomore team before having the reigns handed over to them their junior seasons. All they did was complete a 26-0 season with a state title. This season had only one blemish, but the state tournament run was unmatched.

Never has a team dominated a Class 3A state tournament like Collegiate did this season. The Spartans won by margins of 32, 24 and 40 for a 206-100 margin. All games were either over by the end of the first quarter, or a few minutes into the second. All games ended with Collegiate running clock with reserves. The 40-point victory in the state title game tied the state record for widest margin in such a game.

No one in Class 3A came even remotely close this season to knocking off the team. This team effortlessly won a state title. This season, with this group, I think Collegiate could have won 4A, finished second in the City League and competed well in the Class 5A and 6A state tournaments. For this season, yes, Collegiate was just too good for 3A.

Does that mean they should be bumped up to 4A? Not necessarily. This year’s group was just that good. Like I said, a group like that only comes around once every so long. Collegiate is not going to be as dominant as it was this season next year. I think the Spartans will still be in the mix for the state title, but they won’t be near the favorite.

So why is this group so good? Well, first off, it has all the right parts for a basketball line-up.

Bryce Cornejo is the definition of what you would want in a point guard. He has high basketball knowledge, knows where and when to find his teammates, rebounds well and can knock down the outside shot when teams focus on other shooters.

Ty Fiegel gets over-looked a bit, but is just as important as Cornejo when it comes to adding perimeter shooting. Teams are likely to Box-and-1 Jablonski, which leaves the three-point arc open. Fiegel has such a smooth release and can knock down the open three-pointer, making teams pay.

Blake Jablonski is the leading-scorer, the go-to guy whenever the Spartans are in need of a basket. He’s one of the best pin-point shooters I’ve seen play in recent seasons, and can keep defenders honest with his mid-range game.

Brett LeMaster is another one that is forgotten. That is, until they run a back screen for him and he’s throwing down an alley-oop. He’s by far the most athletic among the starters and often guards the other team’s best player. He’s a solid defender, and adds a whole other dimension with his hops for easy alley-oop’s and tip-in’s.

Tre Bailey, at 6-6, provides the final piece: the big man. He kind of goes under-used since Cornejo, Fiegel and Jablonski are such good shooters, but he has found his niche corralling offensive rebounds and altering opponent’s shots with his lanky frame when they come inside the lane.

Together, they make up what has been deemed “The Dream Team.” Why not? If ever there was a Dream Team, this would be it. With all the success, there is always sure to be plenty of hater’s out there that accompany it. After all, this group has won two state basketball title’s and a football one this past fall.

One of the more frustrating/annoying things I read on this blog is when people say, “Well, Collegiate should win. After all, they get to recruit and/or pay their players.” Really? When, exactly, did this “recruiting” begin? Did Mitch Fiegel and his son, Ty, drive around Wichita, scouring the 11- and 12-year-old YMCA leagues? Did Fiegel spend countless hours on the phone, taking in-home visits and tempting these kids 11-year-old’s with the latest video game to come play for Collegiate? Really? That’s what you think?

Any time Collegiate leaves home and plays a road game, it is the villain. The group has never minded the target on their back that inevitably comes with winning. They’ve embraced it. Not being the villains, but playing the role of the favorites. To be honest, there’s no reason to hate these kids. If any of the commenters took the time to come to a game, watch these kids play, talk to them after the game, I guarantee they would come away impressed. That’s because you can’t find a nicer collection of kids anywhere. If there was ever a group that deserved success, it’s this group because of the amount of time and effort they put into basketball. Not because they’re getting paid. Not because they were recruited to Collegiate. It’s because they play better team basketball than anyone in the state.

Fiegel’s system doesn’t embrace the stereotypical star player. I think Blake Jablonski could average 20 or more points a game if he played enough. I think Bryce Cornejo could be a star somewhere else if he played enough. But all five of these seniors have put their ego’s on the back-burner, brought the team mentality to the front, and bought fully into the 5-in, 5-out system. You won’t find too many kids willing to sacrifice playing time and stats to better the team’s chances of winning.

When this group bought into the system, they completely sold-out. Fiegel always preaches “Defense Decides Championships” and this group played defense better than anyone I’ve seen this season. The Spartans forced their three state tournament opponents into 34 of 117 shooting (29 percent) and 57 turnovers a game. And remember, Collegiate called off the dogs for the most part by the end of the third quarter.

This group has been special to watch grow and mature into the dominant bunch they have bunch. Heck, they have even given “Gum” a new meaning. Ty Fiegel, Doug Burton and Raymond Taylor just started saying stuff was “gum” before the Kapaun Mount Carmel game in the El Dorado Tournament since their pre-game meals always included Bazooka gum. It’s stuck since, and now everyone at Collegiate’s lingo includes “gum” as the new word for “cool” or “sweet.” That’s what you’re hearing them say in the video in the middle of my story. I think it’s pretty funny.

Sometimes you are lucky enough to witness a team that transcends greatness. I was lucky enough to see that this weekend in Hutchinson. I always feel when a team accomplishes something really special, I have to match that in my story. So in a way, I believe it has challenged me to become a better writer.

But when a team achieves at such a high level of success and their dominance leaves a memory that will forever be with you, there is only one word left to describe it: GUM.

This is the last I am gonna talk (on this blog to this class or to any KU fans that i know).

KU, and this is hindsight mind you, had been sleepwalking through a lot of games down the stretch.

And while I'm at it, they did the same thing in the non-conference early in the year too!

Playing to just get by...we'll turn the switch on when we need to.

Texas (nut punching) Tech almost beat them in the Big XII tournament.

But...just turn the switch on. Watch us waste you!

Ops! The NCAA tournament isn't that forgiving!

Is that on Self? Or the players who left tears on the court instead of effort.

Did KU sleepwalk through the UNI game, and who is to blame?

Kansas Sports Museum

OK, first off, I think we can all agree that the best part of the Sports Museum was the video playing highlights of Wichita State's National Championship baseball season set to "The Final Countdown." Right? Right.

Having established that, I liked the rest of it, too. It turns out that I've actually seen most of the displays they had there when they were down in Wichita. I didn't realize that going in, but I seem to remember now that the museum had some sort of open house when it was in Wichita, and I took a stroll through there then. I most certainly didn't pay for it, that much I know. Would I pay for it? Well, not now, not that I've seen the whole thing for free, but had I paid to go in, I wouldn't feel buyer's remorse. I was pretty impressed with everything they had-- I mostly just expected some large cutouts of photos, and while there were a LOT of those, there were plenty of actual artifacts that made the displays seem more real. (I can't stand the natural history museums in New York or DC because they're basically full of a bunch of big dioramas. Dull. Show me some real stuff. Although the dinosaurs are fantastic.)

I do wish they had a little more context surrounding some of the items on display. Often, I saw a player or team photo and there was no label anywhere. Generally, I gleaned where that person/team was from, but often not the significance of showing that particular person/team. I don't know if that's a result of them having moved or what, but it was a little frustrating.

And a larger Shocker section.

Still, though, I'd tell other people to go without hesitation. Turns out there are a lot of things I don't know about Kansas sports history.

DOWN GOES FRAZ...KU!

As a K-State fan, let me first say that there has never been a time in my life I can remember when K-State went further in the tournament than KU.

So, allow me to gloat just a little.

Hey KU fans! I know you have won a bizillion Big 8 and Big XII championships, not to mention a couple of national titles since 1988.

All very true.

But...WHERE ARE YOU GUYS WATCHING THE K-STATE GAME THIS WEEK!

I know, K-State will be lucky to win every game in front of them, even though they stomped Xavier's guts out earlier.

It is supposed to be hard! It's the Sweet 16! There are legit teams here. It's not like the second round where you get to play nobodies like Northern Iowa.

Knowing folks in the locker room after the bomb exploded...I can give you a quote.

"What KU left on the court, they made up for in the locker room."

What that means is that, if they had played to their potential, THEY WOULD HAVE WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

But they spent all the energy--that would have won the game--crying afterword.

Everybody was crying (Adam Morrison) uncontrollably, except...Xavier Henry.

Xavier was cracking smiles and looking like he could care less. Why would he care? He's in the draft. Millions await. Who cares about NCAA championships and doing it wrong!

Ohh, Marcus Morris, weeping uncontrollably. We are still the better team! Marcus pleads!

Yes. You are WAY better.

That is what makes this victory so sweet for every one else! All you had to do is play to your potential!

But instead, you will live the rest of your crying lives, wondering what would have happened if you had spent the energy you gave to crying afterword to the game itself.

Ali Farokhmanesh's 3-pointer...the biggest shot I have ever seen (Laetner included)! King Kong Balls!

I was looking for a reason to crack into the 18-year-old scotch, and Ali...you gave it to me.

Wildcats! GET EXCITED! This doesn't happen every year!

Kansas Sports Museum

The Kansas Sports Museum was a great way to spend an afternoon out of class. The facility, I thought, was pretty accommodating despite being located in a strip mall off the freeway in Newton, Kansas.
Once inside the maze of memorabilia, I became lost and intrigued with Kansas' rich sports history. With such a large space they did a nice job filling the walls and dedicating sections to there respective sport.
I especially enjoyed the Sports Illustrated wall. There are a lot more athletes with Kansas connections that have graced the cover than I thought, or remembered. This wall, being one of the first in the museum, was dedicated to some of sports greatest athletes. To be a kid and see this would be pretty exciting, and offer hope of being on such a monument.
I liked how high school sports teams and JUCO teams in Kansas were a part of the museum, as we know, there have been some great teams that have produced quality players over the years.
I would like to see the new Kansas Sports Museum with updated memorabilia. I didn't see anything about KU's 2008 national championship. I think Mario's "Miracle shot" deserves a little screen time, perhaps on a loop.
Perhaps by moving into its new location at the Boathouse, the museum will be able to expand its collection. They should have plenty of room for more interactive stations, and by the time they get settled in, hopefully a few more Kansas teams will make history.

Sports Museum review

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame was not what I expected, but in a good way.

I expected a lot smaller museum. I guess I didn’t realize there would be history about high schools and I didn’t realize Kansas had such a rich history in sports.

The really cool thing to me was to see the Sports Illustrated covers that featured Kansas athletes. I wish there had been more artifacts — seeing the old Converse “basketball” shoes and antique footballs is more what I enjoy.

The photographs were vivid, as sports photography is, but I do think the museum could benefit from some interactive exhibits.

The most interactive part of the exhibit that I noticed was a high school pole-vaulting record, which was mesmerizing. I think it would be interesting to have cardboard cutouts of some of the larger athletes so you could compare your height and weight to them.

I thought it was odd that Kansas State had such a large area in the museum, while KU and WSU were much smaller exhibits. I imagine that part of their exhibits are based on people donating items from their estates, and hopefully people continue to donate to the museum so it can continue to grow. It’s going to have to if it will fill out the large area at the Boathouse.

I also noticed that some of the newer towns’ high schools did not have exhibits. Hopefully they will continue to create new areas as the museum grows and newer cities (Goddard and Derby, for example) begin to make history.

I expected a much larger exhibit featuring WSU’s plane crash. They could get more archive photos from the WSU library, and I hope they expand it with a documentary and photos. It is really an interesting story.

WSU Baseball Spring Break Trip

We left on our west coast trip flying high and feeling really good about how we were playing... oh how things can change over the course of week. We got off to a good start on Friday night against Long Beach State with an 8-0 win, and then things went downhill from there. We blew a late-inning lead on Saturday and got beat soundly on Sunday.

We tried to clear our heads during the trip over to Arizona, but to our dismay, it did not help. Dispite having a good workout at Arizona's field on Monday, we got blistered both Tuesday and Wednesday. It was not the traditional Shocker Baseball that fans are used to seeing, to say the least.

On a more positive note, the facilities we played in on the west coast are second to none. The fields were in immaculate condition and I think I can safely say that the playing surface at the University of Arizona is one of the top 5 college playing surfaces in the country.

One thing that disappointed me about west coast college baseball is the lack of fan support. Neither Long Beach State nor Arizona draw well. They draw an average of about 1,000 people per game. This is especially disappointing because of the exceptional facilities they play in, not to mention the great weather on the west coast.

This is something I would like to see changed about college baseball on the west coast.

Do you believe in unpredictability?

College basketball fans, like myself are still slightly puzzled about the Kansas loss to Northern Iowa last week in the NCAA tournament. But in all seriousness, this should not surprise anyone because of the sheer size of the NCAA basketball tournament. 64 teams make for nothing less than a crap shoot of a tournament where anyone can beat anyone, making it almost impossible to predict who will win or lose.

With the 64-team field, mid-major schools such as St. Mary's and Northern Iowa have the opportunity to do damage every year in the NCAA's. There are a plethora of possibilities for upsets in 16-team brackets, and it never fails that there will be at least half a dozen or more upsets every year in the tourney. In short, even though the number one overall seed went down to a team from the Missouri Valley Conference, do not be surprised because these things are impossible to predict.

Welcome to March Madness!

Tim Tebow Meets Resistance?

As I was browsing deadspin.com this morning, I came across an interesting post about Tim Tebow. Their post was a reaction to the Pro Football Talk blog on the NBC Sports website. Now, to preface this, there only seems to be two views on Tim Tebow: love him or hate him. Considering that I don't know anyone around here that is a Florida fan, I would assume most readers of this would not like him. Now on to the story.

During the NFL combine while Tim Tebow's group was preparing to take the Wonderlic test, Tebow requested the group bow their heads in prayer. It is reported that another player told Tebow to "shut the [expletive] up." I will include a link to the whole NBC Sports story at the end of my post.

Now everyone that watches sports knows that prayer, God and religion are common subjects. We know this is especially big with Tim Tebow. I have no problem with prayer or religion in sports. It has its place. Lately however, it seems like this is why people don't like Tebow. Tebow doesn't just do his prayer and do his own thing with his faith. No, not Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow's religion is in your face. Instead of having a "live and let live" attitude about faith, it appears as if Tim Tebow wants to convert you. He wants you to know how strongly he believes. This is what causes him to come across as pretentious. While I'm sure he's not an all bad person if you meet him, it's stories like this that really widens the disdain for the guy. He just comes off as pushy. What are you thoughts on religion's role in sports? Are you a Tebow fan? Why or why not?

Here's the link:

Tebow's pre-Wonderlic prayer request falls flat

These are the stories that make my day!!! :)

Kansas State basketball: Returning to the big stage

BY KELLIS ROBINETT

The Wichita Eagle

MANHATTAN — In a region with names like Butler and Xavier, it's strange to think of Kansas State as the upstart. But of the teams headed to Salt Lake City this week, K-State has by far the least recent Sweet 16 experience.

The Wildcats haven't been on this stage since 1988, when star player Mitch Richmond and coach Lon Kruger took K-State to the Elite Eight. Butler and Xavier, meanwhile, have become regulars at the regional level. The Bulldogs were here as recently as 2007 and the Musketeers are making their third straight trip.

Add historical powerhouse Syracuse into the mix as the fourth team in the pod, and the Wildcats are practically the new kid on the block.

"It's just another great step for these kids," Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. "They've continued to elevate our program and continued to build that bridge that connects the tradition K-State has with the present. That's been a big objective of ours since I got here."

Some may look at the Wildcats' tournament inexperience as an advantage for the other three teams, but K-State players don't think that will be a factor.

Their competitors may have experience at this level, but after playing nine NCAA Tournament teams and traveling all across the country for games in the regular season, these Wildcats say there's nothing they haven't seen yet.

"That's why we play a very competitive schedule," senior guard Chris Merriewether said. "If we didn't play anybody all year I think something like the Sweet 16 would be very tough for us, but we probably wouldn't be here if that were the case. Since we actually played people, I think that prepared us for very difficult games in March."

The first two games of the NCAA Tournament posed few challenges for the Wildcats. They advanced through both with double-digit victories.

ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla watched K-State play North Texas at the Ford Center, and saw the BYU game on TV. He said it didn't look like the big stage bothered the Wildcats at all.

He expects it won't in Salt Lake City, either.

"The thing that has set K-State apart all season is that they always play with a sense of urgency," Fraschilla said. "In Oklahoma City, nothing changed. They went out there and played like it was life and death. When you play like that, nothing is going to surprise you."

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/24/1238954/returning-to-the-big-stage.html#storylink=omni_popular#ixzz0j6p8AS6C

What happened in OKC?

All the KU detractors are at again. Let the Jayhawks lose, which they seldom do, and more than K-State fans are at their throats (see link, video below). A K-State friend of one of my sons now refers to Northern Iowa guard Ali Farokhmanesh, who hit that last 3-point dagger, as the "KU Killer," "Jayhawk Assassin" or "My New Best Friend."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uejv2zz6bU

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13090780/its-a-crying-shame-kansas-didnt-want-it-sooner

I was fortunate enough to attend the Thursday games in Oklahoma City (great arena, by the way), so I got to see both KU and K-State. Their games on Thursday were boring — K-State because it was a blowout against North Texas, and KU because the Jayhawks were lackluster against Lehigh. Had the Jayhawks been up against a better team, they'd have gone out in the first round.

Northern Iowa and BYU had great first-round games. Hated to see Lon Kruger's UNLV team lose, but I wanted the matchup between BYU's and K-State's guards. I'm not a huge Northern Iowa fan, but I like coach Ben Jacobson, and I always cheer for the Missouri Valley, which always gets slighted at NCAA selection time (can you say Big East?).

The weather was as bad as KU in Oklahoma City, so we came home before Saturday's regional finals because we didn't want to get snowed in. We actually had a better view at home on TV, but you can't beat the live arena atmosphere.

Once again, K-State — especially Pullen and Clemente — looked good. KU, on the other hand, lost to an inspired, disciplined Northern Iowa team.

I have K-State in the Final Four in one of my brackets, along with West Virginia, which I have winning it all. Wouldn't a Huggins-Martin matchup in the title game be great, especially for the Wildcat faithful?

Incidentally, I had KU losing to Michigan State in the first game in St. Louis anyway. I'm a Bill Self fan, who is far less arrogant than Roy Williams and a much better coach. Roy and his North Carolina team may end up winning the NIT, though.

Museum Tour

I enjoyed the tour at the museum. It was interesting to see all the people that have some sort of connection with Kansas. It was also interesting to see all the different pieces from different schools. It was amazing to me how large the museum was. Most people think nothing much comes out of Kansas but after visiting the museum I know thats not true.

The person I was most surprised to see had an association with Kansas was Bill Parcells. They had his sports illustrated cover and it said he attended WSU. I had no clue about that. It was also interesting to see all the different sports illustrated covers that featured Kansas University basketball players. Although Im not much of a KU fan it was still interesting to see a big magazine like sports illustrated had some interest in Kansas.

The most interesting artifact I saw was probably the old jerseys spread throughout the museum. To see how they have changed over the years was amazing to me. The one that caught my attention the most was the old baseball uniform that hung in the WSU baseball section of the museum. It looked so thick and heavy, not something I would want to be wearing during the summer months of baseball season.

I enjoyed the museum very much and have already started planning my trip back with my boyfriend so I can show him all the interesting things I got to see.

Lutz at it again!!

Sorry, this one's in no way a fluke

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Add Northern Iowa to the list no Kansas fan wants to read.

To Bradley, Bucknell, Rhode Island and UTEP. To the teams that shocked Rock Chalk in the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas is going home two weeks early. Sherron Collins' college career is over and it ended in the frustration of a loss to a team from the Missouri Valley Conference, the league that sneaked nobody but its champion into the NCAA Tournament.

By the way, in its last three games against Valley teams, Kansas has lost to Bradley and now Northern Iowa and survived a scare against Southern Illinois. All of those games were played in the NCAA Tournament because the mighty Jayhawks would never, ever schedule a regular-season game against a Valley team. That would be beneath them.

Well, I suspect the MVC is just fine with meeting up with Kansas on the biggest stage and underneath the brightest lights given the result.

Listen, I'm not saying Northern Iowa is a better basketball team than Kansas, which spent most of this season as the country's top-ranked team and was this tournament's No. 1 seed. That would be ludicrous.

What isn't "out there" is to contend that Northern Iowa is a tougher, more disciplined and even a smarter team than KU. The Jayhawks spent most of the game trying to find a way to exploit the Little Engine That Could, only to watch that engine flatten them like a pancake.

Collins, who Kansas coach Bill Self called "the face of the program" for the past two seasons, didn't even show his face during the postgame news conference, leaving Tyrel Reed and Cole Aldrich to take the slinging arrows. Both of them talked about the pain of not being able to advance farther for Collins. So did Self.

Collins usually puts Kansas on his shoulders during times of stress. Against Northern Iowa, he was too busy engaging in immature antics with UNI point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe, who found an entry into Collins' head early and stayed there the whole game.

Ahelegbe made 1 of 11 shots and scored five points. Yet even with those nasty numbers, he played Collins to a standstill because Collins waited too long to assert himself physically because he was so compromised mentally.

He often complained to officials that he was being pushed or held. He shoved Ahelegbe as the teams were walking to the bench for a timeout. But late, after Northern Iowa had finally been able to put the game out of reach, Ahelegbe just laughed at Collins.

Collins played 38 minutes, most of them spinning his wheels. He scored 10 points, eight in the second half, but turned the ball over five times.

Kansas spent forever trying to discover a way to exploit the Panthers, but wasn't able to until pressing UNI full-court during the final couple of minutes. That resulted in mass panic for the Panthers, but they were able to avert a disaster and hold on thanks to an amazing shot by guard Ali Farokhmanesh, who is becoming one of those March heroes this tournament thrives on.

After a hot first half, Farokhmanesh was 0 for 6 from the three-point line in the second half before making the biggest shot of the game, a trey, with 34 seconds left. It stopped the bleeding for the Panthers and gave them a 66-62 lead.

Farokhmanesh took the shot with a bunch of time — about 28 seconds — left on the shot clock because no KU defender stepped up to guard him. Still, it was a courageous shot that came after a thought process that probably went something like this:

"I'm wide open. I can't believe it. But I haven't made a three-pointer in the second half and we're up by one and there's a lot of time left on the shot clock. If I miss this, they're gonna revoke my scholarship and escort me out of Cedar Falls. Ah, what the heck? I'm a senior.''

And he fired away.

KU had no such heroics. It appeared the Jayhawks' late full-court pressure might make up for a halting performance in every other area. It forced three turnovers and sparked a 6-0 run that brought them to within 63-62 with 44 seconds left.

But there were no more Northern Iowa turnovers, only Farokhmanesh's three-pointer and three late free throws to seal the win.

Kansas' players, of course, were distraught. Marcus and Markieff Morris fell to their knees after the final buzzer and cried. There wasn't a dry eye in the locker room, where Collins did talk to reporters after exchanging emotional hugs with his teammates.

"I don't get another chance at it,'' he said. "It hurts so bad. Kansas is a place I call home. Going back to Chicago (his hometown) is fun, but (Kansas) is home. I wanted to go out the right way but I wasn't able to.''

It's impossible to quantify how much the Kansas players were hurting. But if you hear any of them talk about how it was a fluke, please correct them.

Northern Iowa's win wasn't a fluke. The Panthers have played their style of basketball all season and only four teams have figured out a way to beat them. They make it really difficult to score and they don't make many mistakes of judgment.

You have to beat Northern Iowa to beat Northern Iowa, and Kansas wasn't able to pull it off.

Self said the Panthers were the first team he looked at in the Midwest bracket, the first team that made him to a double-take. It wasn't Georgetown, Michigan State, Maryland, Tennessee, Oklahoma State or Ohio State. It was Northern Iowa.

"There were things that happened during the game that I felt like wasn't poor play by us, more so Northern Iowa really making plays,'' Self said.

He was asked if it was the toughest loss he has had to endure. Surely the Bucknell and Bradley losses came to his mind, but this defeat is the freshest. The KU teams that lost to Bucknell and Bradley were a 3-seed and a 4-seed.

These Jayhawks were a strong favorite to win it all, to win Kansas' second national championship in three years. From the time the basketballs were rolled out in October, Kansas was the team to beat.

And Northern Iowa beat them. Fair and square. For 40 minutes.

Northern Iowa.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/21/1235095/sorry-this-ones-in-no-way-a-fluke.html#ixzz0j2ihvKx5

KU KO'd

Don't worry Jayhawk fans. Sure it hurts now, but know this: your team simply wasn't that good. I don't say this to hate, I say this because it's simply the truth. Any no. 1 seed that loses to team who couldn't beat Evansville doesn't deserve to even sniff the sweetness of the 1-6. Cole Aldridge, good player. Mr. Collins, ditto. Xavier, I'd take'em. But none of that matters. Northern Iowa, a'hem, I mean Northern Iowa, outhustled the Rock Chalkers to every loose ball and played smart basketball: they shot and shot and shot and were careless (see Farokmenesh's ill-advised, yet wholly effective trey at the end of the game) because that's what underdogs should be.

Don't feel bad that Self's subpar stars fooled you. Every single "expert" on ESPN.com picked the Jayhawks to reach the Final Four. Buncha Diaper Dandy dumbasses. I'm not without fault; I had KU advancing to the Elite Eight, so the Northern Iowa Thingamajiggers put a big ole Red X through my bracket too, as did the St. Mary Whatstheirnames and the Washington Hushpuppies (though I was on with my Cornell selection. Go Big Red!). But that's meaningless. I'm usually out by the second round anyway. But I still care because we now have 25% of the sixteen remaining teams ranked 9th or higher. Wow, what a final four that could be: St. Mary's vs. Cornell or Washington and Northern Iowa versus which ever highest seed plays like their ranking. Go ahead, name one player from each team. Maybe now you can, but a week ago, you'd have struggled (though No. Iowa might be somewhat familiar to us Shocker fans).

I bet CBS is really thrilled with last weekend's events. Four Cinderellas don't make a right. They just send people to Gamblers Anonymous.

Marshall Could Leave? What a Shocker! (Pun Intended)

I love the coaching rumor mill. It shows the true colors of a fan base and displays their affection (or lack thereof) for their current coach. That is why I said around midseason that I hoped Gregg Marshall's name would be thrown around this time of year. I just wanted to see the ensuing reaction. And now, I am seeing it.

In the past week or so, Marshall's name has been thrown into the pot for two jobs: Iowa and Auburn. Auburn makes sense because Marshall is from the southeast and many speculate he has always wanted to be an SEC coach. Iowa doesn't make much sense (logistically, at least); but, then again, neither did his hiring here at WSU. It doesn't matter who may be ahead of him in these coaching searches or in the searches to come. The drama of the whole thing is just fun to watch, especially if you read ShockerNet (which I do, but do not post).

Yesterday, I found this:

"There have been two openings come available that Marshall's name has been thrown out for: Iowa and Auburn. If for some reason he decides to leave, who would replace him? Now Sexton doesn't have as many connections as we would hope for, so the pool would probably be limited. Maybe a middle Mid-Major coach or KU/K-State assistants. Now, picture this: Danny Manning. A strong post coach, he would be able to help Stutz, Jerome, and EO. This could lead to stronger post play, and with an assistant who is strong with guards, we could set up to be a strong team. Also, Danny Manning is familiar with Evan Wessel's style of play, do to his recruiting of Perry Ellis. Now, Perry Ellis loves Danny Manning. IF Danny can pull PE, think of how amazing that would be."

-http://www.shockernet.net/sn/viewtopic.php?t=16668&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

This made me laugh. Marshall hasn't even left yet, and people are already selecting Danny Manning as his replacement. I also found it funny that part of his reason was to bring Perry to WSU. What?

Of course, if/when Marshall does leave, that is when the real ridiculousness will begin. I'll be tuning in to see what crazy things people will say. Will you?

Just for Fun!!

I know probably 90% of the people on this blog have filled out a bracket. So who did everyone pick to win it all?

NCAA Tournament

I found this article online. I thought it was interesting and some what entertaining!

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- So is this the year when chalk turns to dust, when bad seeds are spit from the mouths of babes and the NCAA tournament is commandeered deep into the final rounds by TV-ignored charmers rising from obscurity? It's a fair and compelling question now that Kansas has annihilated brackets everywhere, reverting to its old choking ways by losing to Northern Iowa -- campus in Cedar Falls, 92 percent of its students from Iowa, Kurt Warner the most famous alum, "The Bridges of Madison County" author the most famous faculty member -- and titillating those of us hoping for the first no-friggin'-way national champion since, oh, Villanova in 1985.

Already, we have evidence that the term "upset" is laughably obsolete, killed by parity, the NBAand the farcical overhyping of superconferences such as the Big 12 and Big East. Kansas, reviving coach Bill Self's rap as a early-round flop, was the overall No. 1 seed, only to blow a chance to become the sport's pre-eminent program. Villanova, a loser to a St. Mary's team from somewhere in California, was a No. 2 seed. Georgetown and New Mexico, which was crushed Saturday in San Jose by resurgent Washington, were No. 3 seeds. Vanderbilt lost to lovableMurray State as a No. 4 seed. Marquette and Notre Dame couldn't justify No. 6 seeds, Clemsonand Oklahoma State bombed as No. 7s. Ten double-digit seeds have won in the first three days, one more than last year, and anyone tempted to say Kansas' crash forges easier paths forKentucky, Syracuse and Duke had better beware.

For they could go bust, too, in what seems to be the wildest and most unpredictable tournament in eons, just as I like it and all the gambling fools hate it.

"It's the NCAA tournament," Kansas State coach Frank Martin said after his second-seeded team survived BYU. "There's not going to be any easy outs in this thing."


I'm beginning to fantasize, for instance, that this actually could be the year when a perennial overachiever team like Butler sheds its fairy-tale profile and starts taking on the complexion of what it truly is: a serious player. Maybe you don't believe the Bulldogs can beat Syracuse and Kansas State in the West Regional, but armed with a 22-game winning streak after a 54-52 victory over Murray State and their third Sweet 16 berth in eight seasons, can anything be considered "impossible" -- as radio announcer Brad Sham barked in calling the final seconds of Northern Iowa's conquest? I realize Butler plays in the very red-bricked relic where Milan High School, the real-life home of Bobby Plump and coach Marvin Wood, won the 1954 Indiana state championship and became the cinematic inspiration for Jimmy Chitwood, coach Norman Dale and "Hoosiers." But can we get our heads out of Hinkle Fieldhouse and grasp 2010, please.

March Madness

Every sports blog has to have the standard March Madness post right? I figured I'd get one out of the way this morning while I'm waiting for day one of the tournament to start. The sun is shining; it feels like a brand new season. 64 teams get a fresh start and all it takes is one six game winning streak to hoist the prize. And while it's a great day outside, I'll just have to open the blinds in my apartment because I don't plan on leaving my confines. It'll be a blizzard of junk food, soda (maybe an adult beverage if you're of age and choose to participate), good friends and of course basketball.

There will be drama. There will be big shots and, for the first couple days at least, some blowouts. Players and coaches have the chance to cement a place in history over the next three weekends. Fans have their brackets filled out and we've all joined our buddies' bracket pools. All that's left to do after the long regular season is sit back and enjoy the playoff that football doesn't give us.

So how do you enjoy watching the tournament? Especially the first weekend since there's so many games. Anyone care to share their picks for the Final Four? I've Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia and Villanova. Agree? Disagree?

Sports Museum

The trip to Newton to see the Kansas Sports Museum was interesting. I remember as a kid going to Abilene to see the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame before all the financial issues started shuffling the place around. A lot of people don't think about Kansas much, especially in the sense of sports. It's not a recruiting hot bed and we don't have any professional teams playing within our borders. We do have great college tradition and there's plenty of high school stories to be told. A trip through the museum certainly affirms those thoughts.

To me, the most interesting item in the museum was John Hadl's MVP trophy. The sheer size of the award was impressive, especially with the trophies leagues give out now. The basketball and football jerseys were nice to see because it's easy to forget how many professionals have ties to the area.

While overall I would say the Newton trip was fun, I don't think I'd pay $7 to go back. It's nice to see once, but it just doesn't have the draw that makes me want to keep visiting. Maybe in 10 to 15 years it would be nice to go back, if some major events happen in the state or we have some players hit it big.

Nope. Can't do it.

I'm a pretty big hockey fan. I don't have, like, Gretzky posters on my walls or anything, but I do watch it when I can find it, and I even go down to the Ice Center to watch the local club teams sometimes.

But if there's one thing that I've always had a little trouble with, it's the violence. I understand, the game is so ridiculously frustrating, sliding around, running into things, getting bumped and pulled constantly, back and forth, back and forth. That frustration percolates quickly and people need to blow off steam (that's all without even mentioning the strategic aspects of fighting).

But the NHL's reaction to Matt Cooke's recent hit on Marc Savard... well, I think I might've hit my breaking point. Here's the hit:

The NHL has determined that this hit does not merit a penalty.

The thing is, based on their own rules, they're right. Shoulder-to-head hits are perfectly legal. Yep. Despite the fact that Cooke very intentionally blindsides Savard's head with his shoulder (elbow?), the game's own rules make it so that the NHL gets to say it can't really do anything.

I can't get behind that. In fact, I kind of feel sick about the idea of watching hockey after learning this. I'm not interested if it's going to be a bloodsport (I reserve the right to complete hypocrisy regarding my enjoyment of boxing). Yeah, I've seen worse, but I've also seen the league suspend people for those things.

I mean, head shots? Really? That's all good?

Apparently, after this, the league's general managers proposed a rule that disallows intentional head hits. I will be very glad if this rule is adopted. But, really, doesn't this seem like something that probably should have been taken care of earlier?

Big 12 Tournament

Today marks the start of Championship Week. Even though that's a term coined by ESPN to draw viewers into their coverage of the major basketball conferences' championship tournaments, that's what it is. The major tournaments are crammed into this week as well as many of the mid major conferences handing out their automatic bids. Well here in Kansas, this is Big 12 country. The Shockers had a good run in the MVC tournament and are likely headed to the NIT. For Championship Week, I wanted to analyze the Big 12 Tournament. I was going to give a little bit of info on the four teams I think can win the tournament and why. But I could only think of 3. Anyway, here they are.

Kansas- The list has to start with the Jayhawks. They finished with a four game lead in the conference rated the toughest in the RPI rankings. While the Big 12 had a good season from a national standpoint, it was still Kansas plus everyone else. They have the coach, experienced players and are playing their best basketball of the season so far. Kansas is the favorite to win this tournament.

Kansas State- The Wildcats get the #2 seed for the tournament and made a splash on the national scene, particularly with a win over Texas vaulting them into the top 10 in the national polls. They've lost a little momentum, going 0-2 in the week before the tournament, and a home loss to Iowa State doesn't look good. However, it doesn't take much for their guard combo to get hot and if they start lighting it up, it'll be hard to stop their roll since you play consecutive days.

Baylor- The Bears from Waco finished tied for second in the standings and get the #3 seed. Baylor is undoubtedly dangerous. They have a good guard combo in LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter, but they're not weak down low either with Quincy Acy and Ekpe Udoh. They play a zone defense that you have to hit your outside shots to beat. They can light it up from three point range and like to play fast. Baylor hoisting a Big 12 title trophy? It could happen.

I considered adding Oklahoma State, the #7 seed, as a surprise pick if they get hot but I couldn't convince myself to do it. Who do you think will win the Big 12 Tournament? Are there any teams you could make a case for that I haven't touched on?

Shocker? Fan? Shocker fan?

Well, I did it. I actually watched a game without being forced to for work or by friends or my boyfriend or anyone else. I cheered on the Shockers during their MVC championship game against UNI from my futon, Twittering about it in my jammies and yelling at the TV.

What is happening to me?

I followed the Saints all season because my boyfriend and his friends are zealous fans, and actually got into the Super Bowl game (not enough to completely ignore the fact that Puppy Bowl was on, but come on). I watched several games and although I didn’t understand everything I feel like I’m getting back into the game.

I used to watch wrestling tournaments in high school and know all about track and soccer, because I was involved in both. I used to go to Derby’s Friday night games and cheer on my team from the stands.

And then something just happened. I stopped watching sports at all.

I guess I never particularly considered myself a die-hard sports fan like those other folks who have teams they follow religiously. I never followed a season the entire way through. I never put money on anything. I don’t know the rules and technicalities and the ins and outs, but I do enjoy watching a good game.

I don’t know every player on the Shockers roster, or the entire history of the team off the top of my head, but I do like to cheer the team on.

I never like to say that I like sports but I don’t follow them religiously because being a casual fan seems like more of a sin than not enjoying sports at all. I just hate when I talk about the Shockers game and someone starts spouting off stats to me like they’re a box score. I don’t care. Was it a good game or not?

The Shockers disappointed me today, something I didn’t expect. Not particularly because I expected us to win (although I hoped, and it definitely looked possible before the second half), but because I never expected to care enough to be disappointed.