So be true to your school now/ Just like you would to your girl (or guy)
OK, maybe the wisdom of Brian Wilson doesn’t have much if anything to do with today’s entry. But I did hear it on the radio today, and the Bard of 60s teen culture was all that and fostered us to become fully Cali in my day. He was deceptively wise.
Plus I’ve been wanting to weigh in on the whole not-so-true-to-his-school Dusty May to Dallas deal.
At least as much as we know.
It’s been what, ten days or so since the word broke that the two year coach of the national champs was deep ditching Ann Arbor to mentor Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
No official word that I’ve seen from the NBA franchise.
Nor from May, though there he was at the Draft, his team grabbing one of his Wolverines with their first pick.
Nor any announcement from Michigan about a replacement.
Though there was a story recently in which assistant Mike Boynton, formerly head man at Oklahoma State, acknowledged he’d been asked to run the show on an interim basis.
So, what’s the hold up on official announcements out of Big D?
Contract negotiations is my guess. Salary issues? Roster control parameters?
Of course, we’re anxious to see if May says it was the whole NIL quagmire that accelerated his jump to the next level, which most observers believe was inevitable in Brad Stevens fashion at some juncture.
I love that May won’t be in the college game. Being the next Coach K and all.
The take on the matter that made me smile came from an IU diehard. Who like most Crimson & Cream fanatics remain pissed that the Hoosiers didn’t pull the plug on Mike Woodson when former manager May was available to return to his alma mater.
He wants him to become disenchanted with the NBA and return to Bloomington.
Stranger things have happened.
What we do know is that the haughty maize and blue gang have lost three high level coaches in recent times. John Beilein and Jim Harbaugh having bailed before May.
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May’s move also adds a wrinkle to the reality that he was just that close to being U of L’s coach.
Landing Pat Kelsey, who has the energy for yearly roster flips and the current craziness of college sports, appears luckier than ever.
We love the one we’re with.
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Yes I’m a hoopaholic 24/7/365, but I must admit I’m diggin’ the scene with a futbol lean.
More than comfortable am I to admit that the World Cup, for oh so many reasons, is The Best Sporting Event In The World. Easily the biggest.
Remember having a holiday in Spain with my bride and friends during the ’06 WC. In Granada, the streets were empty one afternoon when the Spanish side was in action. Except for bars and restaurants which were jammed; people crowded outside watching on TVs in the windows.
Got a sense of that global obsession the other late afternoon, when I stopped by Adelita for some carry out. It’s the marvelous little family-run Mexican restaurant on Frankfort Ave and Ewing.
The whole fam, including grandma usually in the kitchen cooking, were sitting in front of a big screen watching Ecuador vs. Germany on Telemundo. My guy, usually behind the counter, advised he had a five game parlay going.
For probably the first time ever (for men) that fervor is catching on universally around here. Given that the USMNT is legit, and North America’s the host.
Rest easy. As much as I’m locked in, not going to try and convince you to watch if you don’t wanna.
But of interest in our b-ball obsessive minds: There has been a fascinating conversation about the expanded World Cup Finals and the expanding NCAA tournament.
How if the b-ball guys handle it in the same manner as FIBA, there’ll be more underdogs who might surprise.
Like Ivory Coast and Cape Verde, who made the knockout round of 32.
Bosnia-Herzegovina is in.
Long time power Italy didn’t even make to the final 48.
Selection committee, you payin’ attention? Take heed. Do it right.
Merrimack, not 17-17 Auburn.
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For Cardinal fans looking for a rooting interest other than USA, here’s a couple.
Flory Bigunga’s Congo DR.
Alvaro Folgueiras’s Spain.
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Oh yeah, the BS. (A football aside.)
Brendan Sorsby.
No NCAA. Ever.
No NFL. At least for a year.
No help from NFLPA.
No CFL.
Chris Redman, say no.
Kid’s getting an abject lesson in the realities of recovery from addiction.
He’s not in charge.
There shall be ongoing consequences for his behavior.
Recovery is not immediate.
Certainly hope his life finds ballast.
Though, shame on me, I’m getting a small kick from his comeuppance. Having experienced it as part of my own recovery from addiction starting in the early 80s and ongoing.
The hubris of his “team” brings a bemused smile. Cody Campbell, there are things money cannot buy.
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Now for gratuitous self promotion.
I recently posted a piece about my favorite summer album.
You can read it here.
— c d kaplan
