White men can't jump????

Well maybe they can jump, but as you can see by this video, there is a BIG difference between jumping and DUNKING!
Arthur and Rush are just in a different league!

KANSAS JAYHAWKS - NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

For all of the years when Kansas was SOOOOO close, and even those years when KU should have been close, but was upset in the first few rounds.... This more than makes up for it.

What a year! What a tournament! What a final game!!!!

Beware! Crackdown on NCAA Pools....

If this year is anything like 2005, BE CAREFUL!!!!

As some of you may recall (most will not), American jails "flooded over" in 2005 after law enforcement officials conducted a nationwide NCAA March Madness bracket sting. In total "[a]bout 67 million people were rounded up, which experts said exceeded the government's expectations by 'almost 67 million people.'"

So keep those office pools quiet and be vigilant!

To get the full flavor of what happened in 2005, click here.

Kansas #1 in Midwest Region

I am Challenging You to Men's Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com

This message is from thirdof9 who is challenging you to play Men's Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.
This game gives you the chance to win $10,000 by predicting the winner of the most games in the 63 game men's college basketball tournament. A correct selection in the first round counts as 10 points, and in each succesive round the point values are doubled. You can create up to ten entries, and best of all, it's FREE to play.

Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=130

Game Front: http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage
Group: Fans of Kansas

Here's what else they had to say:

And so it begins.....

March madness for the Kansas faithful officially begins tonight. And like all Kansas fans, I am very optimistic this year (like every year). There is something about being a Kansas fan that makes it impossible to place anyone other team in the winner's box in my bracket. Much like Boston Red Sox fans I would assume.
Unlike a Red Sox fan, I have never experience the highs of watching my team win the big one. I was not a KU fan in 1988 when Danny and the Miracles brought it home. And since becoming a fan after enrolling at KU in 1994, I have witnessed only disappointment at the end of the season. This leads to two things.
First, I am forced to laugh at myself when I actually feel disappointed when the 'Hawks ONLY make it to the final four or the elite eight. Not many teams around the country have enjoyed the level of success that KU has enjoyed. And most teams and their fans would love to make it past the first and/or second weekend of the tourney. This year I will tell myself that it doesn't matter how far KU goes (as long as they don't get beat in the first round) and I will be happy with the season as a whole. But that is a lie and I am incapable of actually feeling happy after KU loses.
The Second thing about KU getting so close to winning it all in most years is that I hate, absolutely HATE any team that beats KU in the tourney. For example, I never really cared about U of A basketball, but after the 1997 tourney, I hate them. The same with Rhode Island (1998), Kentucky (1999), Duke (2000), Illinois (2001 - I was in Chicago at the time, so it was even more painful), Maryland (2002 - final four), Syracuse (2003 - final game), Georgia Tech (2004 - final four, OT), and UCLA (2007). And ALL self-respecting KU fans get a sharp pain when they hear about Bradley (1st round loss in 2006) and Bucknell (1st round loss in 2006).
But KU basketball is amazing. KU's history is UNMATCHED and you can trace the roots of a slew of major program to KU. For example:
-Dr. Naismith, the inventor of the game was KU's first coach
-Adolf Rupp (of Kentucky fame) was a reserve on the basketball team under legendary coach Dr. Forrest "Phog" Allen from 1919 to 1923.
-Dean Smith (of Carolina fame) played for Kansas in the early 50's and won the national championship in 1952 and finished second in 1953.
So this year, I am not going to worry about the results, I am just going to enjoy the game(s). And if you believe that.........

K-State's New Sponsorship Deal?

Thanks to Roddy, I received this tidbit of information....

Evidentally, K-State's Michael Beasley has a bit of a hard time controlling himself and needed a few gatorade towels to "relieve" himself.....

Imagine what will happen when the #3 Jayhawks play at Allen Fieldhouse West next month. Where is K-State's Depends sponsorship when you need it.

Weekend Recap

Last weekend was a great weekend. While I missed most of the athletic fun - Mizzou losing to Oklahoma in the Big XII title game and KU beating USC in basketball after a close game - I did have a great time with some friends from Chicago.
DC and LC - two great friends from law school - and DC's brother and his wife came out for a weekend of snow, "gaming" and fun in Tahoe. While the snow part was a total bust, there was plenty of fun to go around and everyone came away a winner on the gaming front. It was a great weekend and hopefully they will be back soon when there is snow on the ground so DC can "shred it up."
On the sports side, KU fans should be bummed right now if the pre-big XII game rumors proved to be true. Prior to Saturday's big gagme, it was thought that Missouri would have to win the game for KU to be invited to a BCS bowl game. However, come sunday afternoon it was not KU that was left out as a result of Missouri's loss, but Missouri!!!! While on the outside I feel for the MU players and fans who have a real argument for getting screwed, my sides hurt so very bad from laughing on the inside. So Orange Bowl and Virgina Tech, here come the Jayhawks. And for those left out of the BCS and headed down to the Cotton bowl - it just doesn't pay to be a MU player or fan!!! Ever.
So while you may have won the Border Battle, it turns out you lost the Border War. See you guys after the new year when KU thumps you in Bball.

Allen Fieldhouse

Amazing how a little good bball from the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse can lift your spirits. Went to the KU-Arizona game on Sunday night. And aside from the 1,000 or so empty seats in the Northwest corner of the student section (not cool students) it was awesome.
Although the fellas were a little soft after leading 20-9 and failed to put the Wildcats down, BRush was money on his not-so-gimpy knee. He showed some explosiveness that he has not shown since being at KU. He definitely seems to be playing with a sense of urgency and was clearly the best player on the floor - although Chase "I can whine with the best of them" Butinger gave him a good run.

My new favorite thing about Allen Fieldhouse? The video board and the history film they show before introducing the KU players. It is simply impressive and I can't help but get goose bumps everytime I see it. Amazing.

Other than that, it is always great to be back in Lawrence. It always feels comforting.
Went to Quinton's and did a little shopping for my buddy Tibid [if you don't know Tibid, he will be making his appearance on the blog shortly].

How do you spell choke?

K.U.
Alternate spelling ...... REESING.

Not sure how it looked at home folks but at Arrowhead it was not pretty.
Missouri's keys to the game in winning 36-28....
1. Get Reesing to play like he is 5 foot 10 inches. He was anything but cool under pressure, throwing two interceptions and underthrowing it numerous times. He did not show up in the first half ... period. To his credit though, he was a stud towards the end of the game and his rushing TD on 4th and 2 was money. But by then the damage had been done.
2. Paging offensive line. Please report to arrowhead.
3. Secondary....... please cover someone.
4. Webb. Your only job is to kick the ball through the uprights. What were you doing in the first half. Seriously.

So my assessment. KU is either the most overrated team in the nation or they choked. Hard. (At least for 3 quarters). I think had they played their game from the beginning, they would have beaten MU. But MU took KU out of their game and, as they say, that was that.

Not too happy right now.

I am going to the bar. See you all later and hopefully KU basketball will make me feel better tomorrow.

KU Basketball 1-0

So Kansas is now UNDEFEATED - just like the footall team. Not too out of the ordinary because I don't know if I was alive the last time KU lost their season opener. Although it may have been against UNC in the pre-season NIT a few years back. Anyways, Darnell Jackson and Sherron Collins led the way; each putting up over 20 points.

KU's Game Leaders
Points - S. Collins 22
Rebounds - Arthur 6
Assists - R. Stewart 8
Steals - S. Collins 4
Blocks - S. Kaun 1

HERE WE GO!!!!

Tonight the Kansas men's basketball team tips off and begins their 2007-2008 season. It should be a great season with good games against Arizona on November 25, at USC Dec 2, DePaul on December 8, Georgia Tech on December 18, and Boston College on January 5 before they start their regular conference season.

I think the Jayhawks will be very strong this year. Admittedly, the loss of Julian Wright to the NBA is not insignificant. However, with Darrell Arthur's improvement over the summer, KU will have a solid (and big) scoring and defending presence to go with Sasha and Darnell. And once Brandon Rush returns from his injury in December sometime, they will have what may be the best backcourt in the country: Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins.

Once KU is at full strength, Coach Self will have many different options to put on the floor. They can go big with Sasha, Darnell and Darrell, or they can got with a quicker three guard set-up and rotate through Brandon, Russell, Sherron, and Mario.

And the kicker is, that is not even taking into account the possibility that one of the freshman will step up and earn some serious minutes. KU is deep this year. D - EEP.

Anyways, (minus Brady Morningstar, who is redshirting this year) here is the 2007-08 Kansas Men's Basketball Team.

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
00 Darrell Arthur Forward 6-9 230 So.
2 Conner Teahan Guard 6-5 200 Fr.
3 Russell Robinson Guard 6-1 200 Sr.
4 Sherron Collins Guard 5-11 200 So.
5 Rodrick Stewart Guard 6-4 205 RS-Sr.
10 Jeremy Case Guard 6-1 182 RS-Sr.
11 Brennan Bechard Guard 6-0 183 Jr.
14 Tyrel Reed Guard 6-3 180 Fr.
15 Mario Chalmers Guard 6-1 195 Jr.
22 Chase Buford Guard 6-3 200 Fr.
24 Sasha Kaun Center 6-11 245 Sr.
25 Brandon Rush Guard 6-6 210 Jr.
32 Darnell Jackson Forward 6-8 250 Sr.
40 Brad Witherspoon Guard 6-1 180 Sr.
45 Cole Aldrich Center 6-11 245 Fr.
54 Matt Kleinmann Center 6-10 247 RS-Jr.

With KU's great football season (Game tomorrow against Oklahoma State) and the expectations of a great basketball season, KU may just have the best athletic season ever. Now all KU needs is a good season for the men's swimming team. Oh wait, they dropped that program - jerks.

ROCK CHALK!!!

End of World - or - End of Era????

Kansas is now 9-0 in football. What? Are you kidding me?

Either this is the most recent sign of the apocolypse, or it is truly the end of an era an era when KU was the most sought after homecoming opponent in the land.

I mean seriously. I googled "fighting Manginos" and was suprised that there are over 1,300 hits!!! [Results 1 - 10 of about 1,320 for "fighting manginos".]

And the first hit was another blog with the headline "Kansas Over Nebraska 39-76: Fighting Manginos Will Go To A BCS Game" http://dreadnaught.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/kansas-over-nebraska-39-76-fighting-manginos-will-go-to-a-bcs-game/

This is an unprecedented year for the "fighting Manginos", or as my step-father-in-law calls them, the "fighting Mandingos." The last time I remember being this interested in the football program was back in 1995 when I was a student at KU and the football team went 7-0. But this is all cool and hopefully it is not a fluke.

Regardless of what happens the rest of the year, a top 5 BCS ranking, national exposure, and a guaranteed season of 9 wins convinces me that Mr. Mangino - that fine athletic specimin - is definitely worth his weight this year. And that is no small feat.