This is interesting to me...and no one else

What I'm looking forward to this weekend.

• Ok my Warriors have a game Saturday night against the Nebraska School of Agriculture.  It seems like those guys from the Agriculture school stay planted in the lane...(waiting for you to acknowledge how corny I am...good).  
• Football this weekend is going to be nuts.  Patriots vs Ravens. San Fran vs G Men.  I'm going to go with what I hope will happen and what I think will happen.  Let's start with hope.  Who doesn't want to see the Harbaugh brothers in the Superbowl.  Then we can make bets on how many times the camera will cut away to the Harbaugh parents.  Also I just think that would be exciting.  Now here is what I think will happen.  Instead of 2 or 1 Harbaugh in the big dance I say there will be none.  Patriots beat the Ravens 30-17 and G Men beat San Fran 20-10.  Can't wait to watch.
• Kansas plays Texas in Austin on Saturday in Austin.  KU will win 77-68
• Baylor plays Missouri in Waco.  Baylor wins 80-67
• I'm going to clean my house.

This is real. I don't like the Denver Broncos but I like the way that Tim Tebow has proved people wrong. He makes a great point about all of this saying more about the experts then it does about Tebow.

I am not saying this is good. I am just presenting it to you for discussion

Intramural Power Rankings week 1

The beginning of the year is usually a bleak and dreary time.  Nobody has any money.  You aren't excited by eating at Village Inn anymore, and whenever you walk outside you feel like hitting something.  Timeout, what is with people beating women in Nebraska?  Anyone else perplexed by the graph below?  There is a bright spot to the new year.  It is what young men at Union College dream about when they go to sleep and what they have swimming in their heads as they slumber.  That's right Intramural basketball.  Time to show Ron Dodds what a huge mistake it was to not pick you on the team.  Time to show all of the haters your skills.  Time to show Richard Young that he isn't as good as he thinks he is.  Yes it is that time my friends.  Trash talk has been elevated.  Ankles have been taped up.  Free throws have been practiced.  And without any further talk from this guy here is the Power Rankings for the first week of the season.

1.  Richard and Mel's Squad.  AKA the Light Blue team.
I know what you are thinking.  How could Richard put his team as the best team in intramurals?  Well it is simple.  His team has the best players.  Shall we break it down.  Mel Chibende has the most hops on campus.  He has also been nominated for smiliest dude and nicest guy who plays basketball.  Tough to find any other player in Intramurals that can shut down Mel's explosiveness.  Jake Allen was the leading scorer in intramurals last year.  So people let Rich pick him up on his squad.  Not alot of common sense going on in the draft room people.  Kyle Breyer and Rayshawn are the best low post combination in Intramurals.  Both love to crash boards and clean up other people's messes.  Don't sleep on Kyle Breyer.  He will make you believe this year.  Now let's talk about Richard Young.  People have mentioned that he doesn't have it anymore, he is an old man, his arthiritic ankle will stop him so you don't need to, all you have to do is rob his house and he won't be a part of the equation.  All these things are true.  But I'm pretty sure as I type this Richard is cackling drinking some silk milk in his championship T shirt from last year.

2.  Drew and T's Purple (scratch) Purple (scratch) Purple Squad
What this team doesn't have in size they make up for in Confidence.  T might be the most athletic player in Intramurals.  Drew is a steady co captian with a nack for hitting big shots.  They struck draft gold when they drafted Zack Frishman who will combine outside shooting and out of control drives to the cup for the Purple squad.  They also picked up a seasoned veteran in Carl Dupper to help with ball handling and shooting.  But there are still alot of questions for this squad.  Like who is going to D up? Who is going to get boards?  Is there enough basketball to go around on this team?  What about team chemistry?  Purple will have to handle all of these questions if they plan to make it to the Championship game.

3.  Damien and Max.
This team has the most will to win.  They are the most competitive and talk the most trash (Minus light blue...actually just minus Richard).  This squad is also one of the most athletic squads in the league.  Max, Chapi and Aaron Stanley love to bang down low.  Damien loves to drive and use his pull up jumper.  But there is a gaping hole at the point guard position.  Who  is going to get these fellas the rock?  Chad Dupper is going to have to step up in a big way if this squad wants to make noise in the dance.  Come out to the thunderdome tomorrow night for a late Christmas present to see if they can put an end to Richard and his cronies.  Damien and Richard in the Thunderdome.  Sign me up!

4. Jared Henry and Seth Gaskin's Yellow Squad
I had this team ranked a little higher when the league started. Last year Jared and Michael Adams had a team that was one shot away from bringing home some more laundry. This year Jared is trying to get back to the championship and avenge his loss. He picked up the athletic Seth to help him along his journey. There are a few problems here though. Last year Jared was able to dribble around screens and shoot threes without any problems. This year who is going to set screens? Who is going to move the ball? Jared tried to pick up Edgar to help down low. But if there is a volleyball game in town please believe he will be at that thing. He can't bang with the bigs and get boards if he is out with the coeds.

5.  Boomer and Ron
On paper this team has alot of potential.  Ron is a scrappy ball player who doesn't back down from anyone.  Boomer has the complete offensive package.  Micah is a point guard that you are going to have keep your eyes on.  Thomas will body you up and then take your cookies.  The problems here are going to revolve around team chemistry and staying poised.  Nobody wants to play these guys.  We will see how they develop through the season.

6.  Justin Braman and Brock Reichert
This is a complete team.  They have size with Justin and Brock and they have speed with Jeff and Hadji.  Hadji might be the dirtiest player in the league and I don't think he would have a problem with me saying that.  With Hadji and Jeff you are going to have to get out to their three point shooters.  With Brock and Justin you are going to have to D up down low.  Pick your poison.  The questions on this team revolve around who the alpha dog is.  Who is going to take the last shot down the stretch?  Will they have enough point guard leadership to make a run?

7.  Team Minnetonka
I have ranked this team low because I really have no idea what they are going to be like.  Minnesota flavor with Kody Hines.  They don't have many freshman on this team which is always a plus.  Kyle and Chayse are going to have to play big for this team to achieve intramural greatness.

8.  Jeff and Dalton
Someone has to be last right.  Don't take this as an insult but let it motivate you to the top.  In order for this team to win Shawn Santana has to score 40 pts a game.  Simple enough.

This year intramurals has much more talent then in year's passed.  Who will win?  You have to come out and watch to find out.

I started listening to Nas after my girlfriend and I broke up my sophomore year of college. I actually liked Nas more then Jay Z at the time. Only Mikeydise knows this.

This takes me back to 02

My dude Whitlock

It's Over

Here is a time line of the last 24 hrs.

10:00 PM Saturday Night: I'm on the phone with Mikeydise. We talk about how he thinks that we have a shot to win the game. We talk about how amazing it is to be in the playoffs. We talk about how nervous we are. It is a moment of reflection.

10:15 PM: While finishing my last slice of Kathy Fogg's Lemon Pie I decide that there is no way that I am going to be able to sleep tonight. The weather is getting bad so I call Ariel Webstar and ask her if it's cool if we go to Kansas City tonight so we can beat the weather. If I am going to be stuck anywhere it's going to be in KC.

11:00 PM: Ariel and I load up the 96 Camry and head to KC. We talk about a million topics. I didn't really know her very well before this trip. An awesome way to get to know someone is to sit next to them for six hours of driving.

3:00 AM: After getting to my folks crib in South Kansas City I am finally able to get some sleep.

8:00 AM: Wake up. Try to sleep. It's not going to happen. lay wide awake thinking about the game.

9:00 AM: Leave for JoJo's

10:00 AM: Leave JoJo's for Arrowhead.

10:30 AM: Walking around the parking lot is surreal. All I can think is that I can't believe I will be watching a Chiefs playoff game in a few minutes. I get into the stadium grab a hot dog and head down to watch the players warm up.

11:00 AM: Roger Goodell comes out of the tunnel and starts signing autographs for the Chiefs fans. Dante Stallworth comes over and gives him a big hug. Todd Haley leaves the field for the locker room and thanks all the Chiefs fans around me for being at the game.

11:30 AM: I head up to my seat. I feel like I'm going into battle.

11:50 AM: The Stealth Bomber flys over. The crowd is getting juiced. This is the most pumped up crowd that I have seen at Arrowhead this year. Everyone is happy and nervous. There is a real tension in the air. Everyone is filled with hope. Natalie once told me that the Chiefs have taught her to never have hope.

Start of the first quarter: The Ravens march down the field. We hold them to a field goal and a moral victory. Our offense takes over and goes three and out. Tamba strips Flacco of the ball and Jamal Charles makes the most exciting play of the game. To describe to you how I was feeling when Jamal Charles scored is to say that I was going out of my mind. After he scored I really thought we had an amazing chance to win. I started to think about Pittsburgh and where I was going to watch the game. I was thinking about how far the Chiefs have come. I was thinking about how happy I was going to be after the game.

Halftime: I go to the bathroom and refresh my twitter. At this time there is hope.

Midway through the 4th Quarter: I realize that I haven't said a word for about 20 minutes. Here comes the self pity. JoJo would later comment that I didn't say a word all game. I remember that I was shaking but I wasn't cold. I guess it is hard to describe how much I wanted the Chiefs to win this game.

End of game: As we walk out of the stadium I give JoJo a little hug and we talk about how it was a good season.
Shoutouts to the Webb family and the Paradise family. They are great fans. I respect them. I don't respect many fans but they lay it all out on the line.

Drive home: I get a text from my mom saying that she is sorry that the Chiefs lost and that God and family are the most important things in life. Ariel and I listen to depressing music. We discuss Union College. We wonder why the Chiefs don't love us when we love them so much. I wish I was Izaby Da Baby that way this loss wouldn't hurt so bad and I could take a nap.

I mention to Ariel how losses like this make me think of all the other things in my life that are bootsy.

• I am close to out of Silk Milk
• NaTaTa keeps buying the extra fiber bread
• My ankle hurts
• The Union Warriors are on a losing streak
• January has the worst movies
• I won't get to talk to Michael Paradise until Mel Kiper comes out with his third mock draft
• I don't have many honors on my Pathfinder Sash
• The sun makes it hard for me to see my computer screen every day at around 4 in the afternoon
• Duke is #1 in the nation
• The Royals are goin to probably have their worst season of all time
• Natalie really likes Glee
• I can't properly digest milk products

7:30 PM: I walk into my house and I see that NaTaTa has baked me a Pecan Pie. And I realize that nothing even matters at all.

I love this video. I am really interested in how the media works at Chiefs games. This is an inside look at that. I recognize alot of the Chiefs beat writers in this video. I'm lame. Also nobody will like this video.

My most hated teams. Hit the jump for the list

What makes you really hate a team in sports? As I am sitting here on my vacation watching some good college hoops I have been thinking about my most hated teams and what makes me really hate them. I don't know if I think like many of you but this is what really makes me hate teams.

1. Long time rivalries: Teams like the Denver Broncos and Mizzou Tigers are easy for me to hate due to the rivalry that my teams (Chiefs, Royals, and Jayhawks) have with them.

2. My general dislike of certain players: It's why people hate the Lakers. It's why I want the Heat to lose every game.

3. I hate them cause everyone hates them: Duke, Campion, Yankees. I'm just kidding about Campion I just don't like Michael Beans. Disiking a team for this reason is also a sign of respect.

4. Personal Grudges: North Carolina, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins.

5. The Other Team's Fans: This goes into it alot more then people think. Hearing from the other team's fans is a direct reason why I hate some teams.

I have been thinking about this list throughout my life and it has changed alot depending on where I am in my life. When I break down each team that I hate I will let you in on a little bit of what I'm thinking.

Lebron

Two good columns about this series here and here.

Hands down best rapper to ever come out of the twin cities. Sick remix 1:36 hit this up.

Here is the bullet point of my presentation (Sports Version)

• I am really excited about Monday Night Football in Kansas City.  The last time the Chiefs played a Monday night game in Kansas City was in 2004.  We lost to the Patriots.  I was at that game.  Clark Hunt has promised that it will be a big event.  The kickoff is at 9:15.  I am going to need to start a countdown here on my blog.
• The Royals are sucking the life out of me. If Zack Grienke doesn't pitch well tonight I am going to be in a bad mood.  It looks like that Monday Night that the Chiefs have a game the Royals also have a game.  Can anyone say double header?
• This offseason has really got me pumped for KU basketball again.  Josh Selby coming in is exciting.  Hopefully we can land another recruit.
• I am tired cause I was up late watching the NBA playoffs. Thursday will be an exciting day. Chicago and Cleveland in Chicago, Oklahoma and LA in Oklahoma, and the NFL Draft.

Alex Gordon's first start of the season today. I'm giving him one more chance

Selby to KU

Big Rich's Sports thoughts for the weekend

A couple thoughts

1.  Many people say that this is the best time for sports all year.  We have the Final Four, opening night of baseball and the beginning of the season, NBA making a push for the playoffs,  the Masters next weekend, and Union College hockey intramurals in full swing.  I think it's a great time and I am trying to decide how I am going to get through Monday.  How am I going to be able to watch the Royal home opener, my dvd of the Jayhawks 2008 Championship game, and the actual championship game?  Is there enough time?  I'm trying to get to bed earlier here.

2.  Here are some quick NBA thoughts.  I am glad the Zombies/Thunder made the playoffs.  I like Kevin Durant.  I want him to do well.  The New Orleans Hornets need to feel terrible about losing to the Nets.  The Target Center floor is terrible.  I know I have probably said that before but I can't watch the T Wolves play just because of that horrible floor.  It's stupid. 

3.  Baseball starts tomorrow night.  Every year I renew my effort to watch the Royals all season long.  How many people think that I will be able to hang till mid July?  I'm still excited.  Grienke!

4.  Duke is making me believe that they are actually good.  I am very sad that they won tonight.  You can call me a hater if you want.  I don't think that I am.  I just don't wan't them to win.  Here is my prediction.  Butler muddies up the game and slows it down and makes it kinda unbearable to watch.  Duke wins by 13 anyway.  Dang.  If Jason comes up to me with his Jason grin I will be tempted to go ballistic on him.  Which makes me think of something.  You hate the teams that you are around their fans the most.  For example I don't know any K State fans.  I was kinda rooting for them against Butler.  I do know tons of Denver Broncos fans.  Is that why I hate the Donkeys?  Michael do you hate the Broncos or do you hate Drew Meckleburg?  That's right Drew Meckleburg gets a shout out.

5.  You are wrong if you think right now is the best time for sports.  It's second to late October.  World Series, NBA has started, College Basketball kicking off.  NFL going strong.  Nothing better then late October.  Holler at me.

Big Rich's thoughts from the weekend. College Basketball wrapup

It's all over for me.  The college basketball season is gone.  I know the final four is this weekend but with Duke making it I am inclined to not watch any of it.  Duke is the only 1 seed to make it to the final four.  I hate them.  So with that it's time to move on.  What are we moving on to?  Well it's something that many of my readers hate...baseball.  Don't worry I am not going to hit everyone over the head with baseball posts every day.  But it wouldn't be right if I didn't throw a shout out to my Royals. But before we go into baseball season there is still some basketball to be talked about.  Here are a few thoughts moving foward.

1.  I am tired of March Madness AKA March Sadness.  Everybody talks about the beauty of the NCAA tournament.  I do agree that it is beautiful.  It's beautiful to casual fans.  It's not beautiful to me.  My team got upset.  I am upset.  It's hard to say that Kansas was the best basketball team in the nation when they got beat by a team from the valley.  I've had this feeling too often.  But like I always say I can't lie to myself.  I love college basketball.  Bill Self has turned me into a spoiled basketball fan.  His success and the greatness of his teams leads me only to expect greatness.  When the Jayhawks came up short I was hugely disapointed.  But I don't think I would want it any other way. 

2.  Cole Aldrich is going to go pro next year.  His freshmen year I thought that he was an overrated Mcdonalds All American.  He leaves as one of the best defenders in Kansas History.  He was instrumental to our National Championship in 2008 when he let Tyler Hansbourough know what was really good.  Am I sad to see him leave.  Yes and No.  Yes cause he is a beast, and no because I think it's time for me to move on emotionally. 

3.  Sherron Collins is one of my favortie Jayhawks of all time.  He will be missed.  I don't know if he will have a successful NBA career.  I think his ceiling is to be a Jacque Vaughn like journey man.  If he stays in the NBA more then 3 years I will be very impressed. 

4.  Make sure to watch Josh Selby tonight in the Powerade Jam fest.  6:30 on ESPN 2.  If he doesn't commit to KU I will cry and then cancel my subscription to Jayhawkslant. 

5.  Next weekend I think I'll clean my garage or something.

6.  I have introduced a new label at the bottom.  If you read this without checking the label thats yo bad.