Stay with me for a minute here.

Anyone who watched the game last night saw Roy Williams with a Kansas sweater on smiling like his son just hit the winning jumper. Quite strange in my book considering he is now the head coach of another school that was just knocked off by said Jayhawks, but I’ll let that go, for now. I can believe he still has a soft spot in his heart for Kansas.

(Photo thanks to Yahoo Sports.)

Now please consider this: Roy Williams coached at Kansas for 15 years. During his tenure as head coach, Kansas was in the AP Top 25 in 242 of 268 weekly polls. They reached the No. 1 ranking in the country in six different seasons and were ranked at least No. 2 in the nation in 11 of the 15 seasons. Yet he never won the National Championship, getting to the Final Four 3 times and the Championship Game once. He simply couldn’t get Kansas the Championship he / they so coveted.

5 Years later, two years removed from his National Title with North Carolina he’s back, coaching arguably, the Number 1 team in the country; only to be sidetracked, beaten by his alma mater in the Final Four.

North Carolina was a great team this year. Take out the games Ty Lawson missed and they were nearly untouchable. Hansbrough (Jr.), Lawson (So.), and Ellington (So.) are all expected to dip their toes in the NBA Draft. UNC's incoming recruits: John Henson, Dexter Strickland and David and Travis Wear are not going to contribute immediately. None of them is a Derrick Rose, Kevin Love or Michael Beasley. They all need seasoning and none of them plays guard. Bobby Frasor is a nice player but is not nearly as explosive as Ellington or Lawson.

Back to last night. Williams is wearing a Jayhawk sweater. Is Roy’s heart that big? Is he that cunning? Would he lose on purpose?

Kansas gets their much coveted National Championship. Regardless of whether he is at the helm, we have all seen Williams’ tears. Kansas means a lot to the man. He already has his championship and sees that he stands in the way of Kansas folk getting theirs. If NC loses, KU is that much closer.

In losing, perhaps he gets Lawson to stay in school and work on his jump shot. He gets Ellington to stay in school and work on his ball handling and dribble drive. He gets Hansbrough to stay in school and bring his skill level up to his level of intensity. He persuades all three to come back and win the Championship that "Got Away". Williams would get all three back while losing nothing. NC goes on to win the National Championship in 2009. He is entrenched in the pantheon of great coaches, now having taken six teams to the Final Four and two to the pinnacle of College Basketball.

Nothing from nothing, just sayin’. We all know Abraham Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy and John F. Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln. Perhaps a loss is not just a loss. But a win is a win – just ask the guy in the Jayhawk sweater.

Howdy Folks. Hope all is well with all of you. Holidays, in-laws, extended family, snow for some of us, sleet and freezing rain for others… it’s just a brilliant time of year. My wife and subsist on Eggnog loaded with brandy and Vodka tonics as far as the eye can see. My 3 and 5 year old daughters like water with lemon so they can sit on the floor, watch “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” for the 94th time and look exasperated just like Mum and Dad. It’s family bonding time

My 3 year old actually said when I stated I was going out to shovel: “Where the hell do you think you’re going? The movie is not over – so that means your time on the floor with us is not over.” So, after getting permission from her to load up the Vodka, I sat back down, drowning myself in Whoville.

As I sat there I thought about me. I know selfish right? Being a dad, a husband, a brother and a son takes a toll. I have two sisters, mother, a wife and two daughters. I don’t think I have to tell you just how much estrogen fogs my vision, controls my life and creates issues out of statements. No offense ladies, but we men do believe in simplicity while most women believe in complexity. If something is easy there’s a reason for that… and women are hell bent to find that reason. Find out where the difficulty lies and exploit it, talk it to death, go over it… while men would just as soon relish the ease, wallow in all that is complete, void of questions.

Okay, I am tangent ridden here – sorry about that.

So I was thinking about myself; thinking about my days a soccer star in college and high school. I use “star” loosely, but this is my blog and my memories and in both, I am the Crispin Glover of the Indy Movie set.

As a man I have a “hero” complex. Most men do from conversation I have had with mates. Being the guy to do a tracheotomy with a pen in restaurant; being the guy who disarms the bank robber; the one who just happens to be at the right place at the right time and catches the baby being thrown out of the window to escape a fire. Try as I might, it’s hard to be second all the time. It’s hard knowing you’re a hero to your wife and kids, but never hearing it. I know my daughters think I’m the strongest man ever. I know my wife thinks… I better not finish this, because I have no idea what my wife thinks. I thought I knew that she loved the color blue. That turned out to be wrong. I thought she loved when I kissed her ear – that came crashing down in a “Ya know that thing you do – yeah, I hate that” conversation. Fun stuff.

There are certain movies that evoke this emotion the – I wanna be a hero, a tough guy with a heart of gold, a protector. Not so much hero, but men I would like to be or rather find themselves in a situation, a moment where I would like the opportunity to be. The beginning fight scene on the “island” in No Escape with Ray Liotta is one. The end of The Professional with Jean Reno is another. I want to be THAT guy.

It’s the same way with sports. Imagine being Joe Carter – game winning homerun to win the 1993 World Series. Michael Jordan, 1998 – over or rather around Bryon Russell – hand extended in a shooters finish to win the NBA Championship. Tiger Woods – Augusta 2005 16th hole.

I want to be that guy.

I would never trade the spot from where I write this. I do not bemoan my lot in life. I do however occasionally daydream. My kids are wonderful, never fight, will some day grace the covers of both Vogue and Time. So will yours. My wife is beautiful and smart and a Tomcat in the sack. So is yours. Daydreaming – see what I mean?

Who do you want to be if only for a moment; to be in that situation, do what they did?

On the ice in Lake Placid, 1980?

Aussie Annette Kellerman, 1907 attracting National attention as the first underwater ballerina in the New York Hippodrome?

Perhaps Dave Chen, member of the 2007 Chinese Softball League of Chicago Champion, Goodfellas and League MVP.

I’m out like Isiah, I mean Marbury, I mean Jalen...

Wow, been awhile.  Things look different, feel different: so many new avatars, new names.  It is going to take a hella long time to acclimate myself.

There a few of you I know, a few who stayed with it and I have to tell you, you look good.  The #### Clarks of the blogging world.

Dime - you look chunky, fattening up on the draft and all of the trade rumors: Kobe going to the Saudis for Shuda Ben Kovictadah and a player to be named, Garnett going to Boston for Red Auerbach's soul, Jermaine O'Neal to the Knicks for their first round pick in the 2008 - 2015 draft.

Miracle - you look good.  Aside from the Soccer bashing I mean.

Bafongu - Still making the rounds - sad informative piece on Benoit.  Truly saddens me.  With kids of mine and wife that I actually like, I read these stories in disgust.  (Is it just me or does there seem to be a rash of fathers/husbands, killing their wives and children?  This is easily the 4th story I have heard in the last two months.)

Socal - you couldn't get much fatter last time I was here, so it shocks me a bit to see that your literary waistband has expanded a notch or two.  Great piece on fatherhood changing a man.  I say man, because it takes a man to be a father… not to “father a child”, but “be a father to a child”.  Nice call on ditching golf.  A hole in one on your way to a 68 wouldn’t stay with you nearly as long as the repeated looks on your daughter’s face while watching the game with you.

EdHardiman – Still running strong – still delusional about the Hoosiers chances of doing anything beyond harkening us for the old days and Jimmy Chitwood.  (Regardless, I love your attention to detail and wit.)

A lot has happened since I last wrote…

David Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy and now his “Bestest Friend” Tom Cruise wants to buy them.  Their wives now look identical with their bob haircuts – not that there is anything wrong with that, I am a fan of looking at both of them.  But seriously, how are these two couples friends?  Beckham is the most popular athlete in the world.  Sorry soccer haters, but it’s true.  Last time I checked there was no phenomenon in many Asian countries for woman to shave their Hoo Hahs in the “Jordan” or the “Jeter” or the “Brady” or the “Tiger” meaning they would match his changing hairstyles, like they do with Beckham.  Tom Cruise a chunky has been.  He will never be what he once was.  Posh is Posh.  You may not like her, but her stint as a ####e Girl has given her more than enough money to buy and sell adoration.  Katie Holmes has become a “Single White Female”.  She matches Vic’s clothes, hair… if she names her next son “Bronx”, I would be worried, very worried.

Rod Beck died.  This saddened me.  He was the closer form the trailer park.  The guy who made no bones about his mullet, his handlebar or his job.  The guy was a players’ player.  His autopsy is going to come out and I am sincerely hoping the guy had a bad ticker and not something more sinister like drugs… but, I’m not holding my breath.

Kobe demanded to be traded then took it back and the demanded to be traded and then demanded that he be the next Batman and then he wanted all of the Laker Girls to be called “Kobe’s Beef and Boobs”.  (Them girls have some junk in the trunk.)  Dr. Buss’ son then weighed in on the subject on his blog.  Seriously?  This guy must have balls of iron to think that anyone cares what he has to say or that anyone even knows who he is.

Michael Barrett got his royal arse kicked by Carlos Zambrano and then flushed by the Cubs.  The guy was a decent hitter, but quite possibly the worst combination of base runner / signal caller.

Zach Braff has come out in the tabloids as a ladies man.  Zach Braff?  The guy makes Beckham look like a weightlifter and Jim Carrey somehow seem less goofy.  I am a huge fan of Scrubs, but this guy as a ladies man just shocks me.  He’s the guy the women befriend.  They sleep in their underwear, safe in the knowledge that he isn’t smuggling a roll of lifesavers or a new employee of the “Just let me verify your cup size” Bra company.

Tank Johnson, Pacman, Chris Henry… all got busted for something and suspended.  Is it a factor of class that Tank is cut and the other two remain on their respective rosters?  Or is it success that has brought this about?  The Bears are the best team out of the three, went to the Super Bowl last year… does this success allow them to cut a guy like Tank, while the Bengals and Titans are more forgiving needing these guys to win?  Either way, kudos to the Bears.  I love being able to root for a team that stands for something other than a hearing.

More to come, I have a few breaks this summer, so hopefully I can get back, stay back and meet some o’ y’all.

I’m out like drunken ####stick trying to tackle my man Howry.

Ahhhh December 31st and January 1st!  Those were the days.  Those were the days that I would start drinking early and not stop until late the next day.  I would consume mass amount of chips, 7 layer dip, little hors d’ ouerves that women love to parade out in front of each other and receive culinary accolades for the time they spent slaving…

Those were the days.  I used to gear up for them.  Just as I would the beginning of March for “Madness”!  These used to be two of the greatest time slots in sports.  For viewers and fans, college is vastly superior to the pros in just about every sporting facet.  Super Bowl?  Yeah, it’s still cool, but now it seems to be about the Ads more than the game and for anyone outside Seattle or Pittsburgh, the game insufferably boring.  Penalty here, INT there… come on!  Where is Tennessee v. St. Louis when you need ‘em?

Pro basketball is a joke.  So much money, so little talent.  There are a few marquee players and even they, i.e. LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Kobe Bryant don’t warrant the money they are being paid.  LeBron walked off the court before the end of a loss.  Wallace can’t conform to rules and calls his ex Piston mates to cry about it and Kobe is a PR nightmare with his past.  I am so sick of prima donna athletes that can’t even show up for 3 hours a night to give their all.  3 hours!  My work day is on average, 11 hours.  Nearly 4 times as long as their and I work more often.  I don’t have the luxury of “phoning it in” or sitting due to injury.  If I don’t work, my paycheck gets very small.  Theirs?  Guaranteed money baby!

This is why I love college sports.  Not only are the guys playing for their life… I am going under the au####e of them not being paid ala Reggie Bush.  They are students as well.  Many of them barely show up for class much less get good grades, but some do.  Some care about academics as well as sports… these guys know they won’t get any PT in the pros – no matter what sport they play.  They know this is their moment – give it now or sit down.

All of this brings me back to 12/31 – 1/1.  I remember when all of the Bowl Games were played in this 48 hour span.  It was glorious!  Game after game, beer after beer and the women just kept refilling the plates with more and more spinach dip, more mini quiches… My stomach would cry midway through the evening of the 31st, but I didn’t care.  This was my time to abuse my body.  Second wind, third wind, I had them all in reserve.

Now, the powers that be have decided to prolong the season.  Let’s have one BCS game on the 1st, another one on the 2nd, still another on the third and finally, the Championship on the 8th!  The 8th!

Advertising dollars and the gross sense of “playing hard to get” has ruined one of the most sacred times in all of sports.  By making us wait, they dilute the pool of interest not expand it.  I am just about footballed out by the time the Championship game comes around.  Yes I watch and yes I imbibe, but it’s not nearly as much fun.  I have to work the next day and it’s not like the prolonged debauchery of the 31st and 1st.  the first is a day of Bloody Marys – little something to get you back in the swing… everyone expects you to be a little slow on the uptake the 2nd of January… and sometimes, when the dos smile on us, the 1st is a Sunday so we get the 2nd off.  We never get the 9th off… despite the fact that Muslims all over the world are celebrating the next day, with it being al Adha and all.

To those who see the bottomline, all of you number crunchers, all of you guys who think playing the role of the #### will get her to like you more and came up with the brilliantly ridiculous idea of prolonging our wait for the BCS Championship, shame on you.  It’s about the fans.  It’s about the beer companies… all of those little mom and pop shops that churn out mini quiche after mini quiche.  Give us back our 48 hours of bliss… our college football close out.

After all, it’s us that actually watch the Poinsettia Bowl and the Papa Johns.com Bowl.  I have no idea who plays for TCU, but for that day, I am Horned Frog fan and I am a Pirate of Eastern Carolina fan… just cuz.  We do this out of respect for what we have together.  Our relationship is built on trust and need.  We trust you to give us what we need and we reciprocate by giving you all we have… our down time our admiration our undying love of the game.  If you breach this trust, we will find other things to do.  I hear Heroes is a hell of a show.  Maybe the cute little cheerleader will divert my attention from your Rose Bowl, your BCS Championship.  Don’t take what we have for granted.  Sooner or later one of my girls will remember where they hid the remote.  Or one of these days I may just check and see if the actual TV has an on off button or some rudimentary way to change the channel.  It’s not likely, but it could happen.

Big__Al is “Blog of the Day”? You have got to be kidding.  The guy has written 4 posts, all of which have bashed soccer, the World Cup, and soccer players in general, with the venom of a homophobe, intimating that soccer players are, in general, ####. 

This is the chosen, “Blog of the Day”.  Not that Fox Sports had any credibility, but this is absolutely ridiculous.  By choosing this post, you accept this thinking, this blog technique, to bash any and all.  This is the same guy who wished for a terrorist attack while watching the World Cup.  Whether it was done tongue in cheek, is not the point.  That is a gross statement to make.

Congratulations Fox.  You have actually found a way to look dumber.  Of all the blogs to choose from, you go with the guy who talks about wanting terrorist attacks and has nothing better to say, so he bashes the World Cup and an entire genre of athlete.

This guy beat out SportsUniverse and Bread and Circuses; two very good blogs, who consistently (please note they have written more than 4 mediocre posts) bring good stuff to the table.

What an effin’ joke.

*Please note that after posting this, I received this comment from one of the "Powers that be" at FoxSports...  (I was impressed.)

Hey guys-
The BOTD is determined algorithmically. We're not exposing the exact algorithm so that it's more difficult for people to game.

Kareem

** Yes, I am aware of the irony that after writing this and getting the explanation, that my blog now appears in the space allogated through an algorithm... though I would not put it past Fox to put my Blog up there so I get nailed to the wall a bit by fellow bloggers as a sort of "That's what you get when you call us out, so stop #### with us".  In actuality, that would be pretty funny.