Man on the Street Says....Fish in the AFC

Ramblings about the AFC from way up here in the cheap seats. You may recall I picked the Eagles to represent at the big dance in Jerry’s new ballroom, Febrauary 6. Yep, the Eagles. That’s w/o McNabb and with a virtual tabula rasa in Kolb directing the attack! Ya gotta admit there is no limb too far for me. Without further “Addai,” here goes.

In the East everyone likes the Jets. I like the “T” Soprano led Dolphins as much if not more. The Pats are still trying to capture the magic they once had. I think it went west with age and its muse fatherhood. The Bills? Well let’s just say “fuhgettaboutit!” I like the Fish to fight it out with the Jets. The team that doesn’t win the division will get the wild card. Whatever, I have the Fish all the way. The additions of Brandon Marshall, one of the best YAC receivers, on offense and game wrecker Karlos Dansby on D, are huge. The ‘Cat and added maturity of Henne will offset any slippage of the D. Look for big production out of Second Rounder Koa Misi from Utah replacing Joey Porter. Big “T” has a good schedule, tough place to play and backs galore. Go Fish!

In cold country everyone is picking the Ravens, and with the addition of Bolden and another year of success for Flacco/Rice and company, doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why. I think the Ravens will be better, but not at the right time to win it all. The Bengals and Browns will improve, but not enough. I have the Steelers falling as they age and struggle with whoever calls the plays until Big Ben returns from his forced absence to grow a conscience. Good luck with that! I see dead people as locker room issues get worse until Tomlin and Co. flush the big one after this year.

The south if not everyone seems perpetually under the spell of “size 8.” That’s Peyton Manning for those who aren’t aware of my disdain for the future hall of famer! One has to give him, Caldwell and the Colts their due. They’ll win the division in a cake walk, but bet they don’t sit their horses this year. The Titans are going to find out why Fisher had to be forced to start the NFL’s version of Vincesanity. Says here they could be starting Collins at Miami in week 10! Houston gets touted every year and disappoints despite having a QB built for the Fantasy game! Jacksonville? See Buffalo.

From this distance the west will be unusually interesting this year, even to those not “jonesing” for the Chefriots! The Chargers are a virtual lock in most pre season prognostications. I’m picking the hated and virtually moribund Raidahs to prevail in a Whacko-Jacko of a season (sorry MJ fans). Their schedule is favorable with the only long trips to Pittsburg and Jacksonville. Oakland’s defense showed promise last year. Campbell will be a steadying influence and the running game under Hue Jackson will improve with Bush and McFadden sharing the load in the popular dual RB paradigm. The Chiefs will be better but still come up short. Look out next year! Bronco fans will be disappointed as the wunderkind McDaniels led Broncs get off to a much slower start this year, see weeks 4-8.

I see the playoffs like this: Wild Card Rd: Dolphins def Houston. Division Rd: Dolphins def Raiders, Ravens def Jets. Championship Rd. Dolphins def Ravens. Super Bowl: Eagles def. Dolphins!

I’ll be away for awhile chewing Beatle nut and contemplating raising a ruckus. But I’ll be baaaack before you know it to size up the 2010 Fantasy Football (PPL) season. Until then…

Ty Patterson, the Vibe’s infrequent-biased-clearly-controversial contributor.

Chiefs D has lots of talent, will it be better? 2010 Chiefs D Preview by VC

Would you believe we are just one month until Chiefs training camp returns to Missouri for the first time in 20 years?

The Rolling Stones' Start Me Up! is doing just that as I sit here on a day in which a 95-degree summer day brings back memories of two-a-days and salt tablets!

The Chiefs report to Missouri Western in St. Joseph on July 30, ending a 20-year run at their River Falls, Wis., summer home.

Matt is telling ya about the Chiefs offense for the upcoming year. My job today is to focus on the D and that will be headlined by first-round pick Eric Berry, a 6-foot 211-pound defensive back out of Tennessee who earned first-team snaps midway through OTA's this spring.

Just like his dad, James, he served as team captain and was a three-year starter at good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee! He studied dentistry there and sported a 3.75 grade point average and even interned this past summer at a Georgia dentist office. I just hope he causes some major pain to opposing players.

He nearly broke the all-time NCAA record for interception return yards. His 494 yards rank only behind the 501 yards generated by Florida State's Terrell Buckley from 1989-91. The strong safety ended up with 14 picks and was the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award winner (nation's best defensive back) and the SEC defensive player of the year.

"I am enjoying it," Berry said of his stint so far in KC. "I love being in Kansas City right now and it has been fun."

Just hope the fun is only beginning!

Another rookie DB poised to see some playing time is Javier Arenas, who made countless game-changing plays for Alabama. Since he moved to left corner his junior year, he picked off six passes and deflected 18 others.

His ability to play inside the box is unique. He made 63 plays against the opposing ground game and held carriers to just a 3.5 yard per carry average and no touchdowns. He logged seven QB sacks in his last 27 games, 17.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and eight pressures - the highest figures for any starting CB in the FBS ranks the past two years.

Look for him to possibly see some time on special teams. His total of 215 kick returns (punts or kickoffs) rank second in SEC history while his total of 3,918 yards rank second in NCAA history.

Kendrick Lewis is another rookie DB to keep your eye on. The 6-foot 198-pounder from Ole Miss may be best remembered in these parts for his two-pick performance in this past year's Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State. He started all 13 games at free safety and led the Rebels in four categories, including forced fumbles (3) and blocked kicks (2).

Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays began OTA's at inside linebacker with the first team defense. However, midway through OTA's Jovan Belcher and Derrick Johnson took over as first-team leaders there. The four players jockeyed their way on first and second team reps that never lasted more than a few consecutive practices.

"This time of year the depth chart stuff is really not something I get caught up and we're not caught up in it as a coaching staff - we're moving guys around for a lot of different reasons," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said.

The Chiefs didn't mess with ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey during OTA's and both figure to be at their customary spot on Aug. 13 when the Chiefs open their preseason at Atlanta. When healthy, Mike Vrabel and Tamba Hali played nearly every snap at outside linebacker. Brandon Carr became the first Chiefs rookie corner to start all 16 games since Kevin Ross in 1984.

Tackle Ron Edwards begins his fourth year in KC and is expected to be the nose tackle in KC's new 3-4 defensive alignment, a system he has previously excelled in.

You have to wait until Aug. 27 to see the Chiefs play a home preseason game when the Philadelphia Eagles invade the new Arrowhead. Don't know if I can wait that long or not. The Royals are, well, the Royals and the world knows about my golf game. Start Me Up, Baby!

Chiefs Offensive Preview 2010 by MP

It is almost time Kansas City Chief Football Fanatics! Organized Team Activities began recently and here is your preview of the offense in 2010. Kickoff is right around the corner!

It will be very easy to put last year behind us, what an absolute debacle that was! The good news is that we have several things going for us this year, first and foremost being the development of the offensive unit.

The biggest issues from last year: Haley calling the plays, embarrassing offensive line, new QB new system, and dropped balls by the receiving corps.

What has been done to fix some of those issues? Maybe the biggest (literally) is that Charlie Weis comes to KC to call all the plays as the new OC. Weis is renowned for working well with QB's and he will bring with him a system that Matt Cassel is very familiar with. Weis is a wily coordinator with a great pedigree primarily from his stint in New England. The O Line has been shored up with Ryan Lilja from the Colts, former Chief Casey Wiegmann coming back, and Brandon Albert back from injury. Plus no matter what happens the line cannot be worse than last year!! Cassel has another year under his belt and that means more familiarity with Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers. How tough must it been being Cassel last year spending it on his back with very little opportunity to build any confidence at all? Jamaal Charles is back from a stellar '09 at RB along with a huge pickup in my opinion in Thomas Jones. Jones is a grind it out, bona fide hard yard RB and take pressure off the smaller Charles from having to carry it too much between the tackles. Speaking of smaller, we drafted small but snazzy slot back Dexter McCluster. He will be our Wes Welker in the Patriots, I mean Chiefs, upgraded offensive attack.

“We’re coming together as an offensive unit,” Cassel said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of production during the off-season. Look at what we have in terms of established personnel. Jamaal established himself last year as a big-time running back. We know what Dwayne can do and Chris, too. Dexter McCluster has come in and added something. He can play multiple positions. We added Thomas Jones. Jerheme Urban is giving us depth at receiver.

“We’ve got a collection of guys who will immediately make us a better offense.”

I am with Cassel and hopeful for this year. I think with the weak schedule that we have we can muster an 8 or 9 win season. That may be a bit overly optimistic. What may also be optimistic is that we have the right Head Coach. Taking Haley out of the play calling mix does not hide him. I will be watching closely to see if this is a guy that should be calling the shots for our team or teaching LJ how to hit shots on the golf course.

While optimism and hope and maybes and shoulds are laced throughout this article, Chiefs fans should be excited. Like the offensive line, it is impossible to be worse than last year!

NBA Draft time!

Many get excited for the NFL draft. I am one of those guys too, but what I really get excited about is the NBA Draft which happens Thursday!!

Over the years I have found NBADraft.net to have the best insight to how the draft will play out.

Here is their latest mock of this year's lottery:

1 Washington John Wall 6-4 196 PG Kentucky Fr.
2 *Philadelphia Evan Turner 6-7 214 SG Ohio State Jr.
3 New Jersey Derrick Favors 6-10 245 PF Georgia Tech Fr.
4 Minnesota Wesley Johnson 6-7 206 SF Syracuse Jr.
5 Sacramento DeMarcus Cousins 6-11 292 PF/C Kentucky Fr.
6 Golden St. Ekpe Udoh 6-10 237 PF Baylor Jr.
7 Detroit Greg Monroe 6-11 247 PF/C Georgetown So.
8 LA Clippers Al-Farouq Aminu 6-8 216 SF Wake Forest So.
9 *Utah Luke Babbitt 6-9 218 SF/PF Nevada So.
10 Indiana Cole Aldrich 6-10 236 C Kansas Jr.
11 New Orleans Paul George 6-9 214 SF Fresno St. So.
12 Memphis Patrick Patterson 6-9 240 PF Kentucky Jr.
13 Toronto Devin Ebanks 6-8 208 SF West Virginia So.
14 Houston Gordon Hayward 6-8 211 SF Butler So.

Admittedly over the year's my knowledge has slipped and I do not know all of the guys like I used to...but quickly here are my thoughts.

Of the lotto I like Favors the most, followed by Wall and then Patrick Patterson. Favors is great with both hands around the hoop and a great athlete, Patterson is good inside and has range outside. Wall is so quick that despite shooting problems he will be a good rook and great pro. I think Hayward has a chance with Aldrich and Babbit at being starters very soon. The rest to me seem risky. I think Evan Turner is a great college player, but I would be surprised if he is athletic enough to be a good NBA player. Monroe could be really good as he is a left handed big guy, but every time I have seen him I have been unimpressed. Aminu from Wake is a guy I like, but not sure how he shoots it. I do know he tries to flush it everytime he has a chance, which I like, but again he is 6' 7" and has to be able to shoot it to be a pro. I think Wesley Johnson is way overrated and will be a bust, and Cousins has a bad attitude and overrated as well.

Just outside of the Lotto but still projected high are guys like X Henry, Ed Davis and Lance Stephenson. I think all 3 are a waste and teams will regret selecting them.

Guys I like later first round and beyond are Damian James, though needs to improve shooting; Eric Bledsoe, overshadowed as other frosh guard at Kentucky, but has a whole lotta skills; Willie Warren if he is not a head case; and the sleeper I like best is: Larry Sanders, not the HBO character played by Garry Shandling, but a 6' 10" unreal athlete from VCU who can block shots and get up and down. He just needs to bulk up a little as he is very light in the cakes, but could turn into a great one.

Good value picks are some big guys that can take up space and score in the paint. I do not think Samardo Samuels, Harangody or Derrick Caracter can hurt you and these are all space-eaters that can clog the middle and give you a few solid minutes off the pine. Craig Brackins from Iowa State may surprise some folk too as he has range at 6'10".

Get ready for what looks to be a good draft. I am rooting for the OKC Thunder to continue to build on last year and add pieces that could make them a contender out West. They pick at 21, 26, 32 and 51. How sweet would a trade up to try to get Favors, or maybe snagging a tandem of Hayward and James at 21 and 26 be? They have the foundation to be solid and just need some size and a few skilled wing guys are they are on their way!!

The VC MP Showdown at Hidden Valley

Here is the lowdown on the VC/MP Showdown at the Hidden Valley Golf course today. First off, it was 96 in the shade today if that tells you what we were up against!! Definitely a tough test of golf.

To set the stage VC showed up (late) this morning with persimmon sticks circa the Bobby Jones era wearing a K-State Wildcats hat. I have to say that he did swing them nicely and persevered very well in the extreme heat. He certainly produced some SportsCenter-esque shots that included a chip over a bunker on 4 to 6 inches from the cup. He hooked a hooded 5 iron around trees that rolled up nicely on 8 that left him an 18 footer for bird. On 11 he pummeled a 3 iron over water on a par 3 to 10 feet and promptly made birdie! He had another par or two on the back as well.

Those were his highlights folks. Now let me give you the other side. I guess I should have known I was in trouble when on 15 he hit maybe his 6th ball out of bounds and asked me if we were counting penalty strokes!!! Trouble I thought!!! I also couldn't help but notice throughout the day despite telling VC that we play everything down, his ball always mysteriously was sitting up and looking pretty just before every shot. Sometime later I discovered what he called "Pomona" rules which apparently means that you can basically tee up any shot anywhere! His low light was a meltdown on 18 which included 6 shots to the green after hitting his second ball out of the middle of the fairway. Needless to say, not many words spoken for a bit after that!

My day was basically my typical. Hit it OK on the front, shot my customary 50 on the back and didn't do anything too terribly bad or good for that matter. I did however play everything where it lied, including one out of the waist high fescue that caused VC to mutter..."kick it out"....and I now know why. Apparently VC was utilizing a foot wedge all day and not counting the stroke!!! Oh I did hit a 9 iron with the chips down on 18 from 115 to within 6 feet but missed the birdie putt!

When all was said and done I won by as many years as VC is my senior, 10 big ones baby! 97 and 107 respectively!!! Certainly not great scoring but a great time!!

I must also add that VC, despite the loss today, pegged an international player winning the US Open AND the Lakers winning it all, touche VC....well played!!

The K: Will it be full of Red or Blue? by VC

The annual invasion of the Sea of Red begins this week when the 2010 version of the I-70 Series embarks on Kauffman Stadium this weekend, June 25-27.

Perhaps no Major League team travels better than the St. Louis Cardinals, whose fans from Springfield, Joplin, Butler, Columbia and Warrensburg take advantage of the short drive into the city where the banks of the Kaw and Ole Missouri converge.

This year they only play the one three-game series. That, Commissioner Bud Selig, may be your biggest mistake this year! These rivalries need to play a home-and-home series each year. The heck with KC playing at Atlanta this past weekend! Why didn't KC play at St. Louis before its early-week series this week in Washington? Guess Selig was more concerned about looking his best when he announed this past week The K would be the site of the 2012 All-Star Game.

Guess we'd better not complain too much, huh?

Oh well, enough about that. Let's talk Cardinals-Royals while we can!

The Royals have held their own against their National League counterparts in 2010. They are 5-5 following Friday night's 6-4 loss in Atlanta. Still, they had won back-to-back series (first time that's happened in 2010) against Cincinnati and Houston going into their six-game roadtrip that began Friday night.

Ned Yost may just be the man for this job. He's taken a lifeless Boys in Blue that Trey Hillman couldn't resuscitate to a respectable 17-16 mark since taking over. Overall, they are 29-39 and are 9.5 games behind AL Central leading Minnesota, which seems to treat the Royals like Voo-Doo dolls. Since there are three teams ahead of them in the AL Central standings, they are only four games behind the Chicago White Sox for third place. Considering where they were headed two months ago, third place and 75 wins for the year wouldn't be a bad accomplishment.

The Royals are tied with Boston for the top spot in the majors with a .279 team batting average, 16 points better than the Cardinals. The difference between the Cardinals contending and the Royals running in the other direction is simple - pitching. St. Louis boasts the second-best team earned run average in the bigs at 3.21 (only behind San Diego). Only four teams are worse than the Royals, who check in with a 4.85 team ERA.

If you're a Royals fan, you cringe when looking at these 2010 pitching stats:

St. Louis - five shutouts, 15 saves in 20 save opportunities, 51 home runs allowed in 606 innings pitched.

KC - 0 shutouts, 17 saves in 28 save opportunities, 72 long balls in 603 innings pitched.

Ya think Albert Pujols is looking to pad to his 15 long balls and 50 RBI through Friday night?

The Royals are OK offensively. Billy Butler is likely headed to this year's All-Star game as the Royals representative as he leads the team in doubles, hits, total bases and average. Heck, his .338 average is third-best in the AL. Jose Guillen, yea he's making boat loads of cash, is the team trend-setter in runs scored, homers and RBI. Throw in Scott Podsednik's 19 stolen bases and notable years from David DeJesus and Mike Aviles (.324 and .317 averages, respectively) and you have something to build on for 2011.

Pitching? News flash to Topeka native and Missouri Tiger star Aaron Crow at Northwest Arkansas, please get your act together and soon. This team needs you PRONTO!

Everything good that happened to Zack Greinke in 2009 is happening in reverse for the defending Cy Young Award winner. He's 2-8 but does sport a respectable 3.94 ERA and a nifty 78:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Then there's Brian Bannister, who had won five straight games before getting blasted at Cincinnati and was the loser Friday night at Atlanta. He's now 6-5 overall with an ERA nearing six as he prepares for his next scheduled start Wednesday at Washington and some guy named Stephen Strasburg.

"I was really gun shy out there tonight," Bannister said following Friday's loss in which he allowed five runs in the first four innings. "I was having flashbacks to Cincinnati. I had zero confidence."

Fortunately, Bannister won't have to face the Cardinals. The Royals' scheduled hurlers in the series include Kyle Davies (4-5, 6.01), Bruce Chen (3-1, 4.15) and Anthony Lerew (0-0, 3.00), who is coming off a strong six-inning, no-decision effort Thursday against Houston.

Should be a fun series. The K will be packed, even though red will be the primary color all three days. That's Ok, they're honoring the 1985 World Series champions Saturday. Maybe Don Denkinger will throw out the first pitch as well! Go Royals!

My shout this week? You hafta ask? It's my purple-clad Lakers, Baby, who sent those Bean-town Boys back East following that dramatic win in Game 7 Thursday night! I don't care if Patterson calls them the Evil Empire. To me they're called NBA champions who won me five bucks in the process! Nice!

25th Anniversary Cards Royals at the K! by MP

Cards v. Royals baby at the K! 25th Anniversary of the Royals winning it all against these very Cardinals. Who can't remember 1985?? Heck, it was just like yesterday, right Royals fans?

You gotta love it as it conjures up great memories. These days about all the Royals have is a shot at one of these meaningless series, dark days for sure with the boys in blue. Hey at least Hillman is gone. Too bad that the Cards are rollin' and look even better this year. Simply put they have the best hitter in the last 20 years and when said and done will be in the HOF, that man is #5 Albert Pujols! Of course they also bring a formidable offensive crew led by Matt Holliday, Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick. Defensively the Royals have to deal with a good staff featuring the great arms of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Hard to argue with that outfit for sure, especially when you can't name three players for the Royals that you would worry about. Billy Butler, Zack Greinke and get back to me when you come up with a third, oh wait Scott Posednik, yeah that's the ticket!

The K should be juiced for the series as these series are what the Royals are playing for. Maybe the Royals pull out this one, who knows? It certainly doesn't mean much and will not mean the Royals are in the playoffs or are even close. Go ahead and root against the Birds and hope the lowly Royals win a meaningless series.

It isn't easy writing this as a Royals fan, but you just have to appreciate St. Louis. Say what you will about La Russa and his style, the facts are that the Birds are in it every year. As a fan you cannot ask for more. Hats off to St. Louis and their organization, definitely a class act. Heck, maybe the next article is about a lifelong Royals fan who sells his fan rights and jumps ship! Hellllooooo Red Birds!!!

We aren't ready for that just yet. We have hopes tied to Ned Yost baby! We are hangin on to our Kansas City Royals. Let's hope for a good series coming up. Royals fans will remember it much longer. We have conditioned ourselves to remember '85 like yesterday. We remember John Tudor getting torched, the birth of Sabes! And yes we also remember the call, here is some nostalgia for ya:

"Little squibber to the right side, Worrell racing to cover and the throw doesn't get him"
—ABC Sports announcer Al Michaels calling Don Denkinger's infamous call in Game 6.

Not sure how good your memory really is but what we can expect and what is similar to '85 is that the best player is still #5 (though for the wrong team), the best Team is probably still the one in Red, and the series win means more to the Royals franchise than the Cardinals. Who says things are that different 25 years later!

Around the dial: Congrats Lakers. I was close picking a 7 gamer and surprising many I think by the scare that the Celts put into LA. US Open, uhhhh VC has no one from his story that even made the cut? And my guy Phil shoots 66 on Friday!!! Coming soon NBA Draft preview, can you say John Wall number one? Looking forward to playing Hidden Valley with VC this week, will be good to see him after what, 17 years? Oh yeah look forward to June 29th, VC and I will be covering a Royals game live. Last thing: Strasburg sets rookie record for K's in first 3 games played in majors. He is the real deal folks!!

May the Best Man Win? by MP

How am I supposed to survive? I had to watch Butler get beat by Duke and now LA beats Boston?? For 3 and a half quarters tonight and for all but seconds in the Butler game I was feeling good. I mean we had both games! Can someone tell me when the team that tries the hardest will win? Will the underdog ever do it again on the bigtime stage?

Talking about the Lakers Boston series as a coverage piece would not do it justice. It was ugly and the stats are ugly. But what was beautiful was seeing two teams going after it like never before. It was effort, defense, loose balls and bad TV. I absolutely loved it! I really have no complaints but I just happen to favor Boston as I think they truly are a team where I feel LA is Kobe and the other guys.

The Lakers are great and certainly no one can take anything away from them. They out rebounded Boston when it counted most, Game 7, by a 53-40 count. That actually turned out to be the stat that meant something, the team who won the total rebound count won each game and LA snuck out one more game.

Depth, size and lack of offense killed Boston in the series and especially Game 7. Having to rely on Rasheed Wallace without Perkins and making someone watch Wallace play could have been the most torture of the whole deal. Is anyone worse than that guy? Big Baby played one great game in the series, but not tonight. Ray Allen was horrific all series except oddly enough Game 2 in LA. Pierce and KG were average for them all series long. Offensively the Celts are just bad. KG on the block would have been nice as it seemed Gasol could not guard him all series, but considering they rarely went to that I have to guess that KG was too tired to have that called that often. Rondo seemed reluctant to try to make a play and true to form could not hit the open shot. Heck the whole Celtics team had open shots all series, they just couldn't hit 'em!

From the Lakers standpoint I give the credit to Gasol. That is why objectivity is a reach for me because I just have a hard time talking about how great Kobe is. He is great, and a great competitor, but still he is someone I see as selfish and very hard for me to watch. Gasol with his length and skill is so long and tough to match up with. When the tide turned tonight with about 7 minutes to go Kobe couldn't hit anything. It was Gasol either scoring low or getting to the line and he finally started making his freebies. Artest played better tonight than he did all series on both ends of the floor. It was a weird combination of events.

It was a sad deal for me because I felt and still feel that Boston deserved it. They are more of a team and played their tails off all series. They should be rewarded. They got almost every loose ball every game throughout the series. That to me means determination and desire. That still counts!

When all is done, I just want the guy who fights hardest to win. Can anyone deny that Boston and Butler fought harder? I suppose there are plenty of Duke and LA fans out there so I guess so. It especially burns because I was so close to being able to refer to my previous story about the Celts winning and why it would happen. Now VC is ahead 1-0 and I get to listen to him and everyone else talk about the Lakers.

I am worn out from grinding and waiting for best man to win. Sports imitate life and the Top 1 percent wins again! It has made me sick of my favorite sport and need a break. I am sure I will be back rooting for bracket busters and other underdogs of all kinds. It sure would be nice to see Kobe get what he really deserves. I guess I can keep hope alive as I am rooting for the kid with the 3 heart transplants at the US Open. You know what would really top it off? Tiger missing the cut at Pebble Beach!!!

What other newspapers are saying

Now that it's official and the 15-year-old Big XII Conference remains just that, here's what other newspapers across the country said in today's headlines:

Topeka Capital-Journal
God Bless Texas!

Austin American-Statesman
Breakfast with Bevo: Don't mess with Texas!

Dallas Morning News
Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens blasts Pac-10, Nebraska and Missouri
Big 12 Commish: Texas wooed by TV: no new expansion; likely no title game

Tulsa World
Should Texas get credit for saving the Big 12?

Kansas City Star
It's official: Big 12 Conference lives on

Wichita Eagle
Texas pulls Big 12 back from abyss
KU, K-State stuck together in crisis

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Mizzou has home
Problem delayed, not solved

Des Moines Register
The Big 12 is alive and kicking

Oklahoma City Oklahoman
Dan Beebe: Big 12 landscape wasn't clear until Monday

Los Angeles Times
Texas turns down Pac-10 invitation, will stay in Big 12

New York Times
Despite flirtations, Texas agrees to stay in Big 12 and save it

Denver Post
Missouri Gov. says Big 12 won't miss Colorado or Nebraska

Lincoln (Neb.) Star Journal
Big 12 bounces back, lives to play again

Big XII Update - June 14

5:30 PM Update

All indications - multiple reports anyway - are that the 10 remaining Big XII teams will remain united and stay put.

Commissioner Dan Beebe, whom I berated last week for not being proactive, apparently gets some credit for saving this league. A new TV contract with Fox and Fox Sports Net - no ABC or ESPN - is close to being hammered out, meaning a game of the week will be on the national Fox network in football. It also appears FSN will also have a game at either the 11:30 a.m. or 6 p.m. time slot as it has for the last several years.

Yea baby!

That will reap each Big XII school up to $20 million per team and possibly even more. And, reports say the Big XII will keep its automatic BCS bid which will net the conference millions more.

Each conference school may end up with another $2 million each from departure penalties that Colorado and Nebraska will have to fork out.

Yea baby!

Earlier Monday, the Kansas Board of Regents got involved, contacting similar boards from most of the Southern teams to remain in the Big XII.

"A 10-institution Big 12 Conference appears to be a win-win for all involved," regent Jill Docking of Wichita, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, said. "Our universities, students, alumni and state would all benefit from K-State's and KU's continued affiliation in a Big XII consisting of the 10 remaining universities. A 10-institution Big XII would have an extremely bright future."

Earlier Monday, The Kansas City Star was reporting that Missouri and other schools were in discussions with Texas. KU officials were not commenting about the UT discussions.

There was speculation late Sunday that a plane carrying Pac-10 officials was headed to Kansas City to have discussions today with KU. The plane never arrived, and a flight tracking Web site said today the plane was returning to California.

"Our priority is to keep the Big 12 together and strong," Jim Marchiony, KU's associate athletic director for external affairs told The Star.

No word on if the new league will go to five two-team divisions or just one 10-team league. One possibility was moving Oklahoma to the North. Stay tuned.

5:30 AM Update


Basically the way I see it, one of two things will happen concerning the 10 remaining Big XII schools. Of course, all hinges on what the Texas Longhorns do, probably as early as tomorrow, when the Texas Board of Regents meets in Austin, Texas. Not only will the eyes of Texas be upon them, but the eyes of the whole country as well.

Situation 1: UT votes to leave the Big XII, goes to the Pac-10, and takes OU and O-State with them. If A&M wants in, the fourth and final slot goes to them. If A&M opts for the SEC, look for Kansas to be invited to the Pac-10. (The Pac-10 commish's plane landed in KC around 10 pm Sunday, reportedly to visit with KU officials today.)


If Situation 1 occurs, the four remaining schools (K-State, Iowa State, Baylor and Missouri) will join forces with the 10-member Mountain West Conference. KU will be in this mix if A&M heads west. From what I've been able to read, the Big XII will remain the Big XII, and television revenue will be distributed the same way it is now to the member schools: the more you're on TV, the more money you collect. Also, the Big XII would keep, at least from what I'm reading, its automatic slot for a BCS game, which is HUGE, people! H-U-G-E! We're talking millions here!

Chances of Situation 1 occurring? 60 percent. Up until Sunday, I was looking at 80 percent.

Situation 2: UT turns up its nose at the Pac-10 and remains in the Big XII. Tech stays. A&M now has to choose between the Big XII and the SEC. Now the eyes turn to the Sooner State where their Regents meet Wednesday. Look for the Sooners & Cowboys to remain Big XII brothers.

KU and MU I haven't been concerned with all along, and I stated this on my blog Saturday. K-State, because it doesn't have the basketball name that KU has, has been a concern. But I'm feeling better about the Wildcats' chances of landing/staying in a BCS conference as each moment passes.

While I'm only saying there's a 40 percent chance Situation 2 occurs, I look at it this way. It's late July in Kansas, it hasn't rained in 5 weeks, and the thermometer registers 105 degrees daily. Your local meteorologist on the 10 pm news says there's now a 40 percent chance of rain tomorrow instead of the 20 percent he predicted on the 6 pm news. Forty percent chance of rain is sounding pretty good!

Maybe by 10 pm today, that chance of Situation 2 holding true will be much higher! I'm keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed, how about you?

From the Cheapseats by Ty our M.O.T.S.

Bye Bye Big 12! Hold onto your seat cushions, the Big 12 will soon be defunct. And what is the root cause of the demise of what has been a hallowed athletic conference boasting powerhouse football, men's basketball, baseball, track and field, women's basketball, swimming and cross country teams for decades? TV money, or just money. It's all about the Benjamins. But hold on, is it really that smart in the long term for Nebraska and Colorado and the Texas/Oklahoma combine to cut and run now? From this distance and with an admitted lack of understanding of the legal implications I don't think so. Here's why.

Everyone knows football is the big dog. They command the television markets in the US, hands down. But what does the financial picture look like in ten or twenty years-assuming Iran hasn't pulled the plug on all of us? Here are some things to contemplate. Football goes away, I mean completely as we know it today; pro, college and high school. And why? Two words, head injuries! The impact of medical science determining that after one concussion, a person is destined to experience diminution of the quality and quantity of their LIFE with a second concussion! How many parents or even bullet proof young people are going to want to risk certain life threatening consequences for the sake of Bubba and the Tailgaters (and that ain't no music group)? If you want to kill something as the old addage goes "take the head and the rest will follow" pretty much says it all. Football is just too violent for its own good. But if you try to take away the violence...uh oh! What you got then? SOCCER. Ouch.

But the violence problem resulting in inexorable brain damage after ONE CONCUSSION isn't the only problem-fatal though it may be. How about the burgeoning international popularity of basketball? Which brings me back to various institutions deep sixing the Big 12. The implications for KU and it's glorious basketball program are gigantic. They got no home dude. Of yeah they'll get picked up at some point but it won't go down the way anyone who cares about KU or basketball wants. Unless...here's a thought...KU...goes out on its own and with other powerful basketball schools establishes its own conference, one based solely on HOOP!

Here's how this could go down. KU contacts the richest basketball institutions in the country with not so rich or downright bankrupt football traditions like of say, KENTUCKY, SYRACUSE, UCONN, DUKE, UCLA, NORTH CAROLINA, LOUISVILLE, INDIANA, MICHIGAN STATE to go with the Hawks and form the American Basketball Conference. The television contract (ABC nee ESPN) they could generate for their games would be huge. Heck, with the NCAA penalties USC is facing maybe they'd opt in too. C ya Kiffin!

And there are a lot of other teams that would love to get in such a prestigious conference. Would they drop football you ask? Have their medical staff consider the implications of trying to prevent concussions when two 6 foot 5 inch 275 lb hell bent 20 year old young men hurtling at one another at roughly 4.4 forty yard speed collide. Let's see what could be done to assure said gladiators will be able to sit in the bleachers at their kids' high school graduation rather than view it from a chair with chrome wheels.

What will the future hold for football and it's position of economic pre eminence in 2010? Can't say for sure but you have to admit the two headed monster of head injuries and growing popularity ($$$ value)of basketball internationally in a world shrinking by the nano second does give pause. Could KU lead a movement to create a national athletic conference intent on cornering the men's college basketball market, and position itself for the potential demise of intercollegiate football. Up here in the cheapseats we think it could happen! But then again, we thought Shaq would be a dud in the NBA. Go figure.

Saddest day in KC sports history? Maybe!

For over 100 years, sports fans in the Great Plains have enjoyed watching teams affiliated with what began as the Big Six, which became the Big Seven, then Eight and most recently XII.

There was the Fifth Down game between Colorado and Missouri, the game of the century between Nebraska and Oklahoma, Kansas State's stunning upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in the 2003 Big XII championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. Multiple national championship trophies made their way to trophy counters at OU, NU, Texas and Colorado.

Cherish those memories. Beginning Tuesday, that's all we may have of this league that has brought us Dr. Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer, Bill Snyder and countless Heisman Trophy winners.

This much we know: Colorado is headed west, young man, and Nebraska is moving on to greener pastures to the east. The 2010-11 sports season will be the last of the Big XII as we know the Big XII now. Nebraska is scheduled to begin playing in the Big Ten in the 2011-12 year. Colorado won't join the Pac-10 until the 2012-13 school year.

Beyond that, we have to wait until the Texas Board of Regents meets Tuesday in Austin, Texas. Like it or not, the Texas Longhorns hold the hand that affects Kansas, K-State, Missouri, Baylor and Iowa State. The way I see it, if Texas bolts for the Pac-10 or somewhere else, the Big XII is history. The Big XII can survive without Nebraska OR Texas but unfortunately not both.

"If the University of Texas were to decide that they want to be a member of the Big 12, then I'm confident the Big 12 would stay together," Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy told The Associated Press. "If the University of Texas decides they do not wish to and wish to do something else, then I think the conference will be greatly altered."

If Texas remains united with the nine other brethren, this league can make it.

As of now, the Big Ten is not interested in any other Big XII members like Missouri, Commissioner Dan Beebe said Friday afternoon.

"If the 10 members we have left remain together, we have 10 that have more value than the 11 have in the Pac-10," Beebe said. "There can still be some value to a 10-member conference."

Now for the speculation: all indications point to Texas and Texas Tech going to the Pac-10 with Oklahoma and Okie State. Texas A&M?

The Austin American Statesman reported that Texas A&M is torn between joining the Pac-10 or Southeastern Conference. The newspaper noted the Aggies have a 72-hour timetable to accept the Pac-10's offer.

Friday evening, Conference-USA came into the picture concerning the five teams that are left. East Carolina Athletic Director Terry Holland said C-USA is preparing to compete for the remaining Big XII members if the meltdown continues to a full implosion, according to a statement.

K-State President Kirk Schulz and AD John Currie issued a joint statement on Friday.

"Obviously, this is a critical moment in the history of K-State but also one of great opportunity. We are in constant communication with each other, and our sole focus remains on the process of maintaining K-State's significant and meaningful place in intercollegiate athletics.

"We also remain in regular contact with the governor, Board of Regents and our respective counterparts at the University of Kansas as we work in concert and examine all our options."

KU and Mizzou will land on their feet in a power conference, whether it's the Big East, ACC or perhaps the SEC or Pac-10. K-State may not be as fortunate. Because the Wildcats don't have the basketball draw like KU, the Mountain West, where Boise State landed from the WAC, is one possibility for the Wildcats.

"We have a strong desire to keep this league together," Beebe said. "I'm going to go all the way to the final whistle to fight for the 10 teams that are left."

If the Big XII remains, there are issues like scheduling to work out. Remember, conference schedules are made up years in advance so teams can piece their non-conference schedules in place. Beebe said Friday that how the league conducts conference regular-season and conference championships will now be up to the member schools.

One of the headlines in today's Kansas City Star said it best: "Is this the worst day in KC sports history?"

Doubtful. It may be the second-worst day only behind what we read next week.

My shout-out this week goes to Bren Fisher, who qualified for the Kansas Amateur Golf Tournament Friday. Bren is my ace in the hole concerning any golf questions and aided in my blog last week on here. The Kansas Amateur is soon at Hutchinson's Prairie Dunes, site of several USGA events including the U.S. Women's Open a few years ago. Nice goin' Bren!

See Ya Big 12....by MP

Wow the Big 12 gone? I just don't understand. Read VC's story as he knows all the politics, but I certainly would have thought the Big 12 could say goodbye to Nebraska and maybe recruit Arkansas or someone and be right back as good as ever. I don't get it and it is a sad deal when you support something for so long and then in one day....gone!

The Jayhawks are homeless and Mizzou? What in the world is going on? My plea would be that KU, KSU and MU go somewhere together. This is causing all sorts of rivalries to go away. Last I checked the Red River shootout was a nationally televised ratings winner and now gone?

Like I said read up on what the resident expert VC has to say. He knows the deal!

Have you been watching Boston and LA? As this is written, 2-2 and shaping up to be another great one. I believe this guy told you it would be great! Who is counting, but I also said Kobe would have to cover Rondo which is the case, and how that would open up Pierce and Allen. Well they are open but cannot throw one in the ocean! If the Celts or specifically Pierce or Allen were shooting it, this series would be a done deal! Still fantastic stuff!!!

Strasburg! 14 K's in his debut. Wow he may truly live up to hype.

Remember to check out the US Open this week. As you peruse this blog VC and I wrote up some stuff as it at Pebble Beach this year and will be special. VC says the guys from across the water will have the winner, I have Mickelson and our boys here!

Keep your eye on these things this week and next as great things are happening. Soon it will be NBA draft time as baseball heats up and football gets ready to rumble.

You gotta love this stuff...oh yeah and last thing, read the Wooden article by VC again, masterful work!!!

Father's Day and the US Open at Pebble Beach! by MP

What goes together better than the Open at Pebble on Father's Day? Cheeseburgers and fries maybe, but not much else! You have to remember Payne Stewart consoling Phil Mickelson after draining a nails putt to win the '99 Open at Pinehurst with "but, you are gonna be a father!" Definitely an all-time moment in golf. It is that time of year again and guess what? It is time for more history to be made!

Here are your winners in the four previous US Opens held at Pebble Beach: Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Tiger Woods and Jack! Awesome stuff! We are talking the Golden Bear hitting THE one iron shot of all-time that hits the flag in '72. You have Watson telling caddy Bruce Edwards he was GOING to chip in and promptly does to win in '82. You have Tigre winning by 15 shots in '00 shooting 12 under. I mean these moments define golf history let alone US Opens!

It is hard to figure just who will win. I am going to present the side that someone from the greatest country in the world will win and VC has the other guys. Another shoe-in win for me I think! But just for the heck of it here is why.

You basically have Phil, Tiger, Stricker, Furyk, maybe Zach Johnson and possibly a youngster like Glover. Then you get into real dark horses like Watson, Corey Pavin and Fred Couples. Tough to call for sure. When I cannot make a decision on who to pick I do what all smart sports fans should do. I check out the Vegas odds. If anyone has ever put down a simple bet on any sport you know that those odds makers know the game. Those guys can tell you the Stimpmeter at Pebble when the wind is gusting or not as well as the reads on all the toughest greens. It is uncanny for sure. Vegas says the FIELD gets 2/1 odds to win which is not that great and a nice way of saying they aren't real sure who is winning either. Tiger is 2/1, Phil is 5/2 and then next is Stricker at 22/1.

Stricker is probably the pick. He is rock solid and is the number 4 golfer in the world. He is also the owner of one of the sweetest, simplest swings while being maybe the best pure putter in the game. This could be the coming out party for Stricker formerly just the guy sponsored by Kohl's. I cannot pick him though as it still would be is first major and there is also a reason he is 22/1. I think Tiger has too much happening right now with his neck and personal drama. He needs a massage and more than one kind of therapy in my opinion, which certainly does not hurt my feelings! As much as I love Watson, and he makes history again becoming the only player to play in all 5 Opens at Pebble, he is past being able to put together 4 rounds with the big-timers. Same deal with Pavin, though how great would it for the Ryder Cup Captain to win it? I cannot go with Freddy either or any of those other guys like Glover, Furyk or Johnson. So just who will it be?

Sitting down?

This is a stunner but I am takin my main man. You guessed it! Phil "Daddy's Pants" Mickelson!! Who said you wouldn't find slanted journalism on this blog baby? I made no promises! I am goin with Phil for several reasons, most of them the right ones. It would be historic, as he is from the USA and the number 2 golfer in the World! He is certainly due an Open after the aforementioned loss to Payne and the meltdown at Winged Foot in '06 when Bones should have broken his driver, or his arm when he went to grab it! Phil has great history at Pebble as he won the AT&T twice there in '05 and '07. He is coming off the Masters win and would have a chance at the Grand Slam. The Masters and the Open anywhere but especially Pebble, are you kidding me? That is a year for the books!

So print and frame another prediction that surely will come back to haunt me! Phil wins the '10 US Open. I know I should go with Stricker, and especially at 22/1, wouldn't that would be nice? But truthfully while I am with Phil, remember what I said earlier about the odds makers and that 2/1 field bet! Let my main man VC tell you how Lee "I missed that putt because my other hand was around my throat" Westwood, or the Big Easy, Retief or Angel Cabrera will win. It simply isn't going to happen! This is as prestigious as it gets. The US Open and Pebble Beach means history and I have a feeling in my bones that this one will be an all-timer. So get ready for a fantastic weekend. Dad's out there, have a burger and fries, take a quick nap and then kick back and watch the Big Lefthander take home the Title!

To my Dad especially and all Dad's out there: Happy Father's Day!

MP's picks and pans around the dial and respective leagues:

Watch for Stephen Strasburg's MLB debut this week...all I read and hear is that he is the real deal... I got a kick out of VC's shout out's as he gives a shout to Justin Rose but didn't pick him in his group of international players who could contend for the Open.....Anyone see Albert go yard against the Cubbies? 3 Dingers is a nice day at office......Lakers and Celts tied up. Goin to Boston for 3. Beauty of Game 2 was the Celts had every opportunity to fold and they played tough and gutted it out.......I will be in sunny Las Vegas next week broadcasting live!!! Have a great week everyone!

U.S. Open Field Loaded with International Talent by VC

Next to the NCAA Tournament and a Wildcat bowl game, the U.S. Open may be my next favorite sport to plop down and watch! I've got a great wifey! With the final round falling on Father's Day, she typically takes the kids and leaves me alone so I can enjoy NBC's coverage of this great tournament.

A total of 9,050 entries were accepted for the 110th Open June 17-20, the second-most in history, which this year is at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links which features the picturesque Stillwater Cove and the Monterey Peninsula. A record 9,086 entries were accepted last year when Bethpage State Park in New York's Long Island hosted the event. Local 18-hole qualifying was held at 111 sites back in May.

Now we're down to 156 players which will be trimmed to the low 60 scorers and ties and any player within 10 strokes of the leader.

If Patterson and I were teeing it up, we wouldn't be within 100 shots of the leader, but that's another topic for another day.

The International field is loaded, baby, and ready to even the 2010 Majors' score at 1-all going into next month's British Open. Because I'm only a hacker at best, I tried to think how I would condense the International threats to my final five. After some serious soul-searching, the Good Man Above delivered my golfing prayer.

My contact was a text message or Facebook message away. Ladies and Gentlemen, now on the First Tee Box, Bren Fisher of Emporia, Kan.

Bren and I have have communicated several times through Social Networking and didn't meet face-to-face until just a few days ago. Yep, complete strangers texting? For you wives and girlfriends out there, when two guys who love sports and one's a Beaker fan and the other a Cat Man, lively conversations tend to surface even if we had never met. When we finally did meet up, first words out of my mouth were "It feels like we've known each other for a long time."

He plays golf at Pittsburg State University and is busy this summer honing his golfing skills, including an appearance this week in the Kansas Four-Ball at a not-too-shabby course here in the Sunflower State, Alvamar in Lawrence.

He's full of golf knowledge, so I decided to stick my 3-iron back in the bag (no woods for me, please...they hate me, I hate them. Just ask Scott Paske or Dave Hendricks from previous adventures last month. Woods are not nice to me) and call on the man who earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors a year ago in his freshman year for the Gorillas.

My-sorry-Bren's top five International picks are Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Sim.

McIlroy, just 21 and from Holywood, Northern Ireland, tied for 10th last year at Bethpage. He carded a 68 in the final round last year and finished with a 282.

"The atmosphere has been great, especially playing with Anthony (Kim) which is just as well because I have played three rounds over four days with him," he said last year. "But obviously he is popular because he was a Ryder Cup hero last year and then there are a fair few Irish in New York so the support we have had has been great and helped us along a bit."

Scott, 29, was born in Australia but now calls Switzerland home. He competed for one season at UNLV before turning pro. He owns seven PGA Tour victories, the last at the Valero Texas Open earlier this year at San Antonio.

He once fired a 62 at Los Coyotes Country Club in southern California during sectional qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur. Sixty-two? Hey, I've shot 62 before! Just not tellin ya how many holes that was!

The 34-year-old Poulter from England shot a final-round 67 in last year's U.S. Open as he tied for 18th. He's played in six U.S. Opens and his best showing was in 2006 at Winged Foot when he tied for 12th.

Another Aussie high on Bren's list is Ogilvy, the '06 champ. Even more impressive is this: he's a distant relative of Sir Angus Ogilvy, part of Britain's Royal Family and an even more distant relative of Scotland's King of Bannockburn fame, Robert the Bruce.

Nice!

He was given a set of cut-down clubs by his father at the age of 7 and progressed to scratch handicap by 16.

Niiiiice!

The 5-9, 150-pound Sim (Dude, ya ever heard of McDonald's?) was born in Scotland but now calls Australia home, sweet home.

The co-leader of the 2008 Australian Masters with Robert Allenby, the 25-year-old Sim finished in a tie for 11th after a final-round 77. In his only U.S. Open appearance, he tied for 18th a year ago.

"I think Michael Sim is a young and upcoming star who will be very good on the PGA Tour once he gets some experience under his belt," Bren said.

"The others are all consistent and strong international players who I believe could win any tournament at any given time with their games," he added.

So which International player walks down the 18th fairway June 20 to a thundering standing ovation and is this year's champ?

Bren, take it away.

"I think that Michael Sim has a very great opportunity to take the U.S. Open title this year," Bren said. "However, it is only his second appearance and I just don't know if he is ready to handle the nerves of the U.S. Open quite yet.

"So if I had to pick my favorite International player to win the tournament this year, it would have to be Rory McIlroy! He may be young as well, but he has had a lot more time in the press and spotlight than Sim has had and McIlroy has already showed us that he can handle pressure and take home a victory."

Oh, by the way, McIlroy is listed at 22:1 odds to win the U.S. Open. Only five other golfers have better odds. I like your pick, Bren!
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VC's Vibes and Shout Outs:

My shout this week goes to 29-year-old Justin Rose, who won his first PGA event with a come-from-behind win at this past weekend's Memorial in Dublin, Ohio. His 6-under 66 did not include a bogey as he overcame a four-shot deficit. Tiger Woods also came from four shots back last year to win this same tournament.

Tribute to John Wooden by VC: UCLA Dynasty began in Kansas City

It was March 1964. Lyndon B. Johnson was just in his fourth month as our nation's 36th President after being sworn in as Commander-in-Chief following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

The Final Four, nothing like the Final Four you saw two months ago, was held in cozy Municipal Auditorium, downtown Kansas City, Mo.

Only 16 teams were invited to the NCAA Tournament in '64. You had to win your regular-season conference championship to get an NCAA invite back then. Kansas State's Wildcats won the Big Eight Conference with a 12-2 conference log.

Coach Tex Winter's Wildcats beat Texas Western (now known as Texas-El Paso) and fifth-ranked Wichita State to reach the Muni. Joining the Cats that year were Michigan, Duke and UCLA, coached by 54-year-old John Wooden, whose death Friday of natural causes was being compared to that of the death of a President and for good reason.

Two-time Big Eight selection Willie Murrell averaged 25 points per game during the Wildcat run, which ended in a 90-82 loss to Wooden's Bruins in the national semis.

The irony to this story? K-State hasn't been in the Final Four since. For UCLA, though, it was just the beginning of The Dynasty. Ten national championships beginning in 1964 and resuming in '65, '67-73 and '75.

Wooden's signature was his rolled-up program in his hand, kneeling to players in his huddle during a timeout. He won an uncanny 620 games in 27 years, including 88 straight wins in one stretch. Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, were perhaps two of the greatest to play for The Wizard of Westwood.

To Coach Wooden, there were three rules he preached: no profanity, no tardiness and no criticizing their teammates.

"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player," was one of his most important messages to his players.

"It's kind of hard to talk about coach Wooden simply, because he was a complex man," Abdul-Jabbar said in a statement released through UCLA. "But he taught in a very simple way. He just used sports as a means to teach us how to apply ourselves to any situation."

He was born Oct. 14, 1910 on a farm near Martinsville, Ind. Perhaps the original Field of Dreams was built here, as Wooden's dad built a baseball diamond among his wheat, corn and alfalfa. While baseball was his favorite sport, he and his brother, Maurice would find an occasional ball and play basketball in a hoop nailed to the barn's hayloft.

He went on to play collegiately at Purdue, where he was the college player of the year his senior year when the Boilermakers won the national championship in 1932.

UCLA came calling in 1949. He immediately put his stamp on the Bruin program.

He lived by advice from his dad. "Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books - especially the Bible - build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day."

There were more.

"Learn as if you were to live forever, live as if you were to die tomorrow."

"Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you."

It was at UCLA where the players learned about Wooden's "Pyramid of Success", a chart he used to inspire his players and sum up his code for life. The cornerstones were Industriousness and Enthusiasm. The building blocks featured Faith, Patience, Loyalty and Self-Control. At the top of the Pyramid was Competitive Greatness.

Players also learned at the first practice how to correctly put on their socks and playing shoes. No long hair was allowed by Wooden and he demanded his boys to shave their facial hair.

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are," Wooden would tell his players.

Asked in a 2008 interview to The Associated Press the secret to his long life, Wooden said: "Not being afraid of death and having peace within yourself. All of life is peaks and valleys. Don't let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low."

Then asked what he would like God to say when he arrived at the Pearly Gates, he said: "Well done."

Well done indeed, Coach! Thank you and may you enjoy the fruits of your labor at that great Pauley Pavillion in the Sky!