BIRD CALLS

The trade deadline has come and gone and the Pacers do nothing. Well, the team is sucking, J.O. is a band-aid and there is even a qoute on the Pacers home page from Larry himself that says "There has got to be changes made and we're going to make them." What? maybe you are what needs to be changed Larry. You acknowledge that there needs to be changes, yet you do not make them. WTF are you gonna do then? How are you gonna change the team? Here's my reccomendation; fire yourself, bench most of the starters then give players like Shawne Williams, Ike Diogu and Danny Granger (the only hope for the future that we have) as many minutes as possible, hope the team tanks and wish for luck in the lottery. Then play the field in the off season and try to get something for J.O. That's what i would do Larry, but hey you're the boss. I guess we'll have to suffer through the rest of the season. Thanks Larry!
Z

Boiler Up

After all the recent talk about the Hoosiers, and rightly so, I think we need to give those kids up there in West Lafayette some love. Not only do they have to deal with living in West Lafayette, but they are the hottest team in the Big Ten. They have won 13 of their last 14 and at this point they lead Northwestern by 4 at the half. And I believe they have got IU, in what will be the most anticipated rivalry game in recent memory, on Tuesday. And they're doing this with four freshman. With all the talk about Sampson, we need to recogize that Matt Painter is doing a helluva job. He's probably already a lock for Big Ten coach of the year. And let's hope to God, he's doing it legit. I tend to think so, but I've been wrong before. This Boiler team, if they can stay healthy, may be around for a while. I love it. I'm so excited about the state of college hoops in Indiana. Let's hope that IU can get everything sorted out, hopefully avoid the dreaded NCAA sanctions, and continue to rebuild that once proud program. Like the saying goes: "In 49 states it's just basketball...but this is Indiana". Zup.

the Dude

This Cheating Will Not Stand

Ironically, shortly after we post about the success of the Hoosiers and how Sampson is such a great coach, a story about his alleged NCAA violations surfaces. Great...way to go. There is one thing in sports the Dude will not abide and that's cheaters. From Belicheat to Bonds to Clemens, if you cheat you're a d-bag and should be gotten rid of promptly and without apology. If these allegations are true, then IU needs to get rid of him ASAP and avoid as many sanctions as possible. Gordon and White will be gone next year anyway, so might as well clean house and start over. Until then, I guess we just wait and see. AARGGHH.

the Dude

Let's Go IU

Well, I suppose it's about time this blog gave some love to the Indiana Hoosiers. They are coming off a spectacular, if not dangerous, 3ot win against the Illini and a gritty W against a pretty tough Ohio State team, both on the road. With only one loss in the Big Ten, they are tied for first with none other than the Purdue Boilermakers. What is this 1988? Sampson has got these guys playing tough, defensive basketball. And with DJ White inside and the amazing Frosh, Eric Gordon outside they might be able to make a run in the tournament. The NCAA tournament is about getting hot at the right time, just ask the 06 Florida Gators, and these Hoosiers are playing their best basketball right now. It's been so long since college hoops have been relevant in the state of Indiana. Now we have the Hoosiers and the Boilers sittin' atop the conference and don't look now but the ever Cinderella Butler Bulldogs are #10 in the land and we know what they can do come March Madness. No matter who your squad is, it's great to see Indiana basketball back where it should be, at the top. Let's go IU!

the Dude

2nd half

finally murphy hit from outside, 1st half he was broke...and now he forced it...free throws, i'll take it. the worst part of the game so far, as the Fiesty One gets a dunk, is that Fieldhouse is virtually empty. Apparently we have the worst attendance in the league, which is insane in such a hoop-crazy state. Come on Larry Legend, give us something. The Blazers are turning it over, time for our boys to put them away. where the hell is Diogu. with JO out shouldn't he be gettin' some minutes.
its an ugly 3rd quarter and the pacers have built a small lead but cant extend it despite multiple turnovers by the blazers. the threes aint droppin'...end of the third and up eight, we just gotta maintain for 1 more Q, translation, we gotta make shots...Foster picks up two O-boards and finishes both of them. Holdin' onto a 9 point lead. We're about due for a tre...and Deiner comes thru for me. DG thru the lane... and one. Thank goodness for Danny, who knows where we'd be without him tonight. Hell yeah, make it 9 in a row. They didn't have Roy, but a win's a win. In fact, that's 2 in a row. Go Blue and Gold. Naptown represents!!!

Zoo and the Dude Live

With the Blazers in Nap, Zoo and I are able to watch the game and blog live. At this moment they are 2 minutes left in the second quarter and the Blue and Gold are lookin' good. So far, we're launchin' tres with no conscience. DG is hot so far. By the way, the local Blazers broadcasters are horrible, especially one Mike Rice. He may possibly be the worst color commentator in the league. He tried to make the statement that Indiana basketball fans like their run n' gun style. Which is completely untrue, as anyone from anywhere knows. We Hoosiers like our traditional basketball, fundamentally sound and at times very boring. Rick Carlisle anyone. Anyway, at the half the good guys are up 51-48.
Zoo here, Pacers got a lead at half, an eight game win streak against the blazers at stake, not much else. As other teams make moves to improve, the pacers are sitting on their hands and enjoying just ending a 7 game losing streak. J O has been out and tinsley has been in and out, so who do we got? from the looks of it, not much more than solid group of role players. At this point in the East, the last spot in the playoffs is up for grabs and honestly, i'm not interested. i'll take our chances in the draft because it looks like larry isn't going to make any moves....well, 2nd half is about to start. Go pacers! i hate losing but i'll always love my pacers.

BOBBY!!

Oh Bobby, it's just like you to go out unexpectedly, suddenly, mid-season, no one had a clue. You did it your way. Always your way. And it was the best way. Always the best way. You always ran the cleanest damn program in the country. And the passion you have for the game and its integrity is unsurpassed. I can relate to a man that throws chairs across basketball courts. That's intense passion. That's what pushes men towards greatness. And you always stressed greatness off the court. You stressed education and honesty. You taught boys how to be men. And all the while, you were yourself... an intense basketball coach, a teacher of life, a role model and an icon. no more and no less.... we love you bobby!!
z

Oh Glorious Day

At the risk of being redundant, I just have to revel in last nights Super Bowl victory by the New York football Giants over the cheaters. It was made even sweeter by the fact that a Manning beat them with classic Manning heroics. And how sweet was it to see the pretty boy on his ass all night and yelling at his receivers. Hey chowdaheads, he's human just like Peyton. And like Peyton, when you get pressure on him he makes mistakes. No perfect season. I'm so glad they made it so far undefeated just to lose in the biggest game, on the biggest stage. It's sort of sad to say, but I've never in my life rooted so hard for one team to lose. The Horse might as well have been playing. So all you Patsies fans, you lost fair and square, to a better team. And just for the record there were no Patsies fans on the Indy Star forums last night or today. Like their coach they are as classless in defeat as they are in victory. Here's to hoping Belicheat gets his in the Spygate Part Deux. What's that famous axiom "Cheaters ..." See ya next year jerks.

Now a short rant on the Blue and Gold. We've lost five in a row and things are looking grim. JO is out (thank God) and JT is oft injured or sick. That leaves our subs. Out here in P-town the Blazers second unit is called the "white unit". In Naptown we have the real White Unit, and they are not nearly as effective. Deiner, Foster (God bless him), Mike D, Murph. They just can't get the job done. I like O'Brien's philosophy, but we need more athleticism to make it work consistently. Looks like we need to make some deals and then hope for the best in the lottery. Maybe we can get Gordon. How great would that Naptowner look in the Blue and Gold. Do it Larry Legend. We need something to look forward to until the Horse get rollin' again.

the Dude

Cheaters never...

..win. ohhhhhh sweet justice! Made even sweeter by the fact that it was another Manning that knocked off the cheaters in the postseason. Thats 2 years in a row, billy cheaterchik, that a Manning has gotcha. It's bad enough you're a cheater (and apparently you may have cheated in winning your first Super Bowl against the Rams) but your a bad loser also. Walking off the field early in the Super Bowl...that's monumentally classless. Great coach? check. D-bag? check. Cheater? check. Undefeated? i don't think so.
You gotta give it to the G-men. Their D flat out shut down the high powered O of the cheat squad. The model has never tasted so much turf. I enjoyed every sack and knock down. Thank you G-men. It wasn't the Horse but it still tasted sweet.
Next year....? Colts 31, Cowboys 28.
Z