Red Alert Sunday 8/9/09

Rolled into River Falls this evening around 5pm. The Chiefs had the day off so there has not been much activity here on the campus. I saw a few no name guys heading into the cafeteria to have dinner tonight but that was about it. Tomorrow practice starts at 8:50am. I will join Roger tomorrow morning at 8am along with Adam Teicher from the KC Star. Looking forward to a solid 10 days in River Falls as the Chiefs will work towards their first pre season game of the year on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.

One side note about my drive up here. I stopped at a casino at the Iowa border and played some black jack. It's the first time that I have done that while making this trip. (5th year of TC for me) I won so I am thinking about hitting the one on the Minnesota/Iowa border on the way home. Does this mean that I have a gambling problem?

Talk to you in the morning.

The New "K"

The new Kauffman Stadium feels dramatically different than it used to. I enjoyed all of the new amenities on opening day and 610 Saturday. The wider concourses are a huge addition as well as the SRO seats in right fields and the new seats added above and below the fountains in left field.

There were a few things that concern me about the renovations.

The bathroom situation is a disaster! There is no other way to put it. I don’t know how the ball was dropped on this, maybe it was the removal of the troughs that used to be there but there need to be changes to the restroom set up. No where is it more evident than in the outfield experience. (I know I waited 20 min on opening day.) Take out some of the stalls and add a few more urinals please!

If the lines at the concession stands are as slow as they were opening weekend then we will have major issues. I am giving them a pass on this because when you open as many new options then there are going to be some issues in the first few days.
I expect after one weekend there will be people who overreact about the bathroom situation The Royals you the fans an explanation.

Big 12 tournament 2nd half KU/Baylor

Collins comes out big early in the second half scoring five in a row for Kansas. That cut the Baylor lead to 2 with 16:30 to play.

Baylors offense has cooled from the perimeter.

Sherron Collins big time 3 with 14:55 to play KU ties it up. Great Shot! Add another three for Collins. He is beginning to catch fire.

49-49 12:33 to play.

Tyrel Reed with a huge 3 from the corner gives KU a three point lead.

Markieff Morris tip in makes it a five point Kansas lead with 9:14 to play.

Kansas was an eight point favorite lets see if they cover.

Baylor is playing a 2-3 zone that is giving Kansas problems from time to time. There are a few possessions where they look like they know exactly what to do and others when they look extremely robotic. With 6:35 in the game KU should be having a much easier time attacking the zone. They are not. It has completely taken Cole Aldrich out of the offensive flow for Kansas.

Baylor up 5 with 5 minutes to play.

Baylor up eight on a LaceDarius Dun three. KU is in trouble. Dun has been left wide open the last two possessions and made one of two. 3:40 to play.

Kansas looks tired.

Remember when I said Kansas was in trouble? How about back to back threes from Reed and Collins from Kansas. Now not so much.

65-64 Baylor 2:39 to go.

Collins drives and misses a lay-up putting Kansas in a position where they have to foul with just over a minute to go down 3.

Collins shoots an airball from three. Baylor ball 26.5 seconds to go. Terrible shot. He was wide ass open and shot an airball. Not a very All-American like play. He has been pretty good in the second half up to Kansas's last two posessions.

Baylor up 5 with 18.3 to play. This game is OVER! good night Jayhawks. There will be plenty of tickets available here in OKC this weekend.

69-64 BAYLOR

Big 12 tournament Thursday Blog KU/Baylor Halftime

First Half Thoughts


Sherron Collins is still in a funk. He can’t seen to get into a rhythm in offense. He has however
done a nice job on Curtis Jerrells (10 pts) in the first half.

Cole Aldrich has 8 rebounds in the first half but on the boards but doesn't seem to be as aggressive as Coach Self wants him to be.

Tyshawn Taylor has been solid and helped provide Kansas scoring with 10 first half points.

Baylor has been on fire from the 3 point line making 5 threes in the first half. That spark helped them build the 17 point lead but Kansas did a nice job making a run at the end of the first half.

At the end of the first half Scott Drew chose not to get out of the zone with under 20 seconds to play KU found Tyshawn Taylor in the corner for an 3 and the lead was cut from 7 to 4 at halftime.

I still like Kansas in this game to win but I don't think that it will be by more than 7.

Kansas Basketball

First for the Kansas/Texas game. Sherron Collins needs to make better decisions in transition. Watching him on Saturday afternoon I felt like I was watching the pre season Collins and not the kid who has made gigantic steps this season to improve his game. Best example and it happened more than a handful of times Saturday. Collins takes it coast to coast and forces a terrible lay up that he misses. I know that I have been critical of Collins but his ability to play out of control bothers me. The reason that it doesn’t bother Kansas fans, it’s worked well for him. The reason that it bothers me I think that he has gotten lucky more than a few times and your luck will run out eventually.

Cole Aldrich needs to develop into the type of player that doesn’t just fade into the background when his teammates don’t get him the ball. I know that he relies on them to feed him in the post but the next step needs to be to develop a mid range game that allows him to face up make a nice strong move to the bucket and finish. Playing with your back to the basket can be effective but you will always have to have teammates that understand how important it is to get the ball. Doing that will also help his NBA draft stock rise.

Tyshawn Taylor is going to be a very nice player for Kansas. However he has not picked up what the Jayhawks are trying to do on defense and that limits his playing time. If Taylor was playing on the Kansas team most people thought that they were going to have this season it wouldn’t be that big an issue. They are much better than expected so it is.

Kansas goes 14-2 in a year that most experts believed would be a rebuilding year. That is a huge accomplishment for Bill Self and his staff.. Now the question should be how far do you think Kansas can go in the NCAA tournament.?

I have struggled with this in all sports and try and evaluate how the team has changed over the course of the season and if the landscape of the sport has changes over the season. This year in college basketball is definitely one of those seasons so my expectations for Kansas have changed and here is why.

College Basketball outside of the Big East and the top two teams in the ACC is way down this season. So if Kansas is the benefit of a 3 seed or higher they will be able to coast into the sweet sixteen before they have to play one of those few elite teams in the country.

There are few teams that have a dominant big man. Lately Cole Aldich has been inconsistent but when both he and Sherron Collins are playing at the level that we have seen them reach in spurts this season there is not doubt that they could put together a magical nigh. The problem. We haven’t seen them do it in the past two games.

The answer to the question, How far do I think that Kansas can go in the NCAA tournament?

They should make the sweet sixteen and to me that is a great season for the Jayhawks, This week the Big 12 tournament will be a good re-start to try and get the Hawks back on track. There is no way that the big 12 gets a #1 seed for anyone this year look for the big 12 champ to be the highest 2 seed.

Random Vegas Thoughts

Just returned from Las Vegas yesterday and thought I would pass along a few thoughts about my favorite place on earth sin city.

Penny slots are back in Vegas. Blame it on the economy but at the Mirage where I stayed there were more penny slots than quarter, nickel or dollar slots combined. Here is the funny thing, you are going to bet just as much playing penny slots as you would playing max credits on a quarter slot. I am guilty. I enjoyed playing the pennies.

Drink service has never been faster. We were all over the strip and never had a problem getting a cocktail. Even when we were just playing the penny slots. Maybe they know now more that ever it is important to keep the players drunk so they don’t realize that they just gambled away the little remains of their 401k.

You know how the rule to raising a daughter it keep her off the pole. My goal for raising a son will be to keep him of the stage in any type of theatrical production. Say Beatles LOVE and couldn’t help but think what the guys dad would think if he saw his son prancing around the stage in tights. Sorry son I will let you play soccer before I let you even consider being in the school musical.

What does the guy handing out the hookers phone numbers think of the Jesus Loves us and forgives your sins people? The Jesus people were out in full force this past weekend. Awkward combo.

The reason that I have a little dislike for Chicago is because when you are walking around Michigan avenue people wander like zombies with no purpose or intent to pay attention to who they might run into. Walking in the strip and even in the casinos this weekend was TERRIBLE. Here is a tip if you don’t have any idea where you are going get out of the way and let me get by. Add that to my list of pet peeves.

People that dress up like statues scare me.

You are a loser if you take your kids to Vegas and they are under the age of 18. What the hell are they supposed to do there? If you can afford to go to Las Vegas then you can get someone to watch your kid.

When did a cheeseburger become $15 dollars? I love Vegas but lunch for two can’t be done for less than 30 bucks. Impossible.

Royals Spring Training Notes

Fresh off a week with the Royals at Spring Training here are a few thoughts about the team and the Spring Training experience.

- The Royals lineup this season should be far more effective at scoring runs. Adding Mike Jacobs clearly adds pop but it also provides protection for Jose Guillen and Billy Butler. Butler by the way is having an outstanding spring training early. I hope that the hand injury that he suffered on Sunday is not serious.

- Alex Gordon understands that this is a make or break season. He will never admit it but watching the way that he is preparing you can tell that he knows that this year could be the turning point in the bigs.

-Mark Teahen at second base is going to be a long process with some speed bumps and more downs that ups. The Royals have an issue at that position. Do you trade defense for zero offense in Willie Bloomquist. Do you sacrifice defense for average offense ( Mark Teahen) or do you trust a balanced player Alberto Callaspo to stay focused and out of Trey Hillmans doghouse this season. My prediction, Callaspo is the starting second baseman on opening day.


- There are two things that allow fans the most access to players. Training camp in the NFL and Spring Training in MLB. My advice for Royals fans next season. Try to plan your trip so you can see the last day or so of workouts before spring training games begin. This will allow you amazing access to the team for autographs and pictures at the practice facility and a chance to check a few games out during your trip. Once the games begin you have access to the players for autographs etc but it is nowhere near as informal is it gets when the team is working out on the practice fields.

NCAA Tournament Conference Projections

Let’s go conference by conference and see who is in and out of the NCAA tournament. Note there are 34 at large and 21 conference champs. * equals a conference bubble team.

Big 12
Kansas
Missouri
Oklahoma

Texas*
Oklahoma State*
Kansas State*

Pac 10
Washington
UCLA
Arizona State
California

Arizona*

Big East
UConn
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Marquette
Villanova
Providence
West Virginia
Syracuse
Georgetown

Cinnicnati*

ACC
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
Florida State
Clemson
Boston College

Big10
Michigan State
Purdue
Illinois
Wisconsin
Penn State

SEC
Louisiana State
Tennessee
South Carolina
Florida
Kentucky

Auburn*

C-USA
Memphis

A-10
Xavier
Dayton

Mountain West
Utah
BYU

Missouri Valley
Creighton

College Basketball Thoughts

Missouri

Missouri has been a pleasant surprise this season. What Mike Anderson has done in Columbia deserves serious consideration for the big 12 coach of the year. (Probably wont win it see OU and Jeff Capel)That being said I worry about the Tigers sometimes. When they are going good and creating points off of turnovers and getting the max out of each one of their possessions they are a very tough team to beat. When they get stuck in a game with better teams that don't allow them to dictate tempo Missouri tends to struggle in their half-court sets.

Prediction: Mizzou makes it to the elite eight this season and pulls a major upset in the second weekend of the tourney.

Kansas

They Jayhawks will be a tough out in March because they are so well coached. Bill Self has been getting the most out of his players this season and may be in the middle of one of the best coaching jobs that he has ever done. It's one thing to coach a bunch of super talented players and manage the ego and talent. It is a completely different task to get more from average players and have them mesh together into a solid well balanced team.

Prediction: Kansas gets bounced in the sweet 16 round. A good step for a team that we were talking about at one point not making the NCAA tournament.

Kansas State

Really? Will the high school coach even get his team to the tourney? Probably not. However KSU is a scary match-up for people in the Big 12 tourney. If Pullen and Clemente get hot from the outside they have the ability to completely dominate a game from the guard spots. That makes them dangerous as hell. The key. Can the high school coach find a way to use these two weapons to make a run? If he does it will surprise me.

Prediction: KSU misses the NCAA Tournament.

Border War React!

So for 30 minutes Kansas out played the Missouri Tigers, built a 14 point lead and turned it over 20 plus times and still lost the game. Can you take anything out of this win for Mizzouri? The loss for Kansas?

*Missouri is a good basketball team and showed what their style of defense can do to a team that can handle the pressure. It wears them down. Kansas had nothing in the tank down the strech and that led to them getting no stops or even buckets for the final minutes of the second half. It wasn't the full court pressure that beat Kansas it was them being speed up and out of sync once the broke the full court pressure. Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend came on the show to give his thoughts on the game today check out the audio here.

#16 Kansas @ #19 Missouri

Big Monday tonight in Columbia looks to be a chance for Missouri to break a streak that dates back to the arrival of Mike Anderson in Columbia. The Tigers haven't beaten the Jayhawks in the past five meetings and on paper tonight looks like a match-up that should favor Missouri.

One of the biggest problems that I have with Missouri this season is the fact that in big games like tonight they haven't come to play. The Illinois game was a disaster and the Tigers looked uncomfortable, shell shocked and poorly coached. Since that loss we have seen a different Tiger team; that's the one that must show up tonight for them to have a shot to beat Kansas.

Kansas has been a pleasant surprise this season and Bill Self has done a masterful coaching job with such a young team. I love to see coaches that get more out of their players and are able to figure out how to motivate them perfectly. The players deserve credit too. Sharon Collins has been a very good floor general when he isn't turning it over and the addition of Mario Little has added another scoring option on the perimeter. Making the Jayhawks much better than I would have expected.

I like Kansas to win this game tonight. Missouri has to prove to me that they can handle a moment on this stage. Be big enough to get it done and that will make me a believer that this team could be dangerous in March.

Haley is In

Guess that there is no reason to pine for John Gruden now. Todd Haley was introduced as the head coach of the Chiefs today. Haley seems like a likeable person and I wish him well in Kansas City. He is arriving in the perfect situation and in the perfect city.
Kansas City is looking for change and that gives him a longer leash than most. Haley seems like a reach to me I would have much rather seen Chan Gailey take over this team as the head coach but the bottom line is this. The Chiefs new GM Scott Pioli has a good relationship with Haley and that is important for the decisions that they will make together as they try and rebuild the Chiefs. Listen to the show Monday for a complete breakdown.

Chris and Cowboy with LJ

LJ came on the show to set the record straight with what he expects to happen to him this season. A detailed account of the interview here. It’s clearly time for Larry to go. Now it depends on what the Chiefs decide to do with him. One thing is for sure if Larry is in Kansas City next season it will take a major change in his attitude and a leap of faith from the new head coach.

I vote no for Todd Haley + Synthetic Grass

Here is why:
Haley has only been the Offensive Coordinator in Arizona for count it ONE! Full season. During that season he had two of the most dynamic WR’s in the NFL at his disposal.

He has admitted that he has a hard time keeping his cool on the sidelines. Is this really the guy that you trust to be your coach of the future? I don’t , this is just another red flag for me. Young, inexperienced and not afraid to mix it up on the sidelines. Can’t do it as a head coach.

Finally. The trend of hiring coaches that you have never heard of will eventually bite someone in the rear end. Trends come to an end and I think this one is over. Plus Haley rolls with synthetic grass in his yard. Can we really trust that guy?

Tomorrow I will tell you why John Gruden should be the Chiefs next coach.

Super Bowl Recap + Todd Haley

Never travel on Super Bowl Sunday if the team that you have been pulling for all season is in the game. Guess that explains the level of faith that I had in the Arizona Cardinals when I booked my airfare the week of the NFC divisional rounds.

It was a tough game to follow and between stops in Phoenix and Dallas as I was able to catch the beginning and end of the game before watching the entire game when I got home on TiVo. Best Super Bowl that I have ever seen. Keep in mind I was born in 1981. Nevertheless a great game.

Let the Todd Haley talk begin. At this point I expect that the Chiefs have had contact with Haley and have an idea of wether or not he is willing to come to Kansas City. I hope he is not. More on that coming up tommorow.