See ya Colorado

Ok so apparently Colorado was the first Big 12 school to bail out to the Pac 10.

What does this mean? Instead of being bottom feeders in the Big 12, they will be bottom feeders of the Pac 10. Colorado leaving the Big 12 isn't that big of a deal. There are no articles saying "impeding doom of the Big 12 if Colorado leaves" so I beg you to read between the lines...Colorado is easily replaceable. Maybe their basketball team was sick of all the Colorado Jayhawks and Western Kansans making their basketball arena "Allen Fieldhouse West." It's pure fact that the past few years, the "away" game at Colorado was like a home game for KU, just taking place in Colorado.

The doom of the Big 12 still is blamed on Nebraska if they leave.

Bye Bye Big 12?

UGH.

I am horribly saddened, shocked and in a glass case of emotion about the possible (and more than likely imminent) collapse of the Big 12.

Let's start this off right and naturally point fingers. I blame Nebraska. Nebraska and their need/want to join the Big Ten. Nebraska couldn't hack it in the Big 12 and to quote my brother wanted their football program to "return to a cream of the crop status-pun being they are the cornhuskers" and they just couldn't and would not be able to compete yearly with Oklahoma and Texas.

So now that we know who's to blame...NEBRASKA!!! Let me be clear. I don't place blame on fans, students, teachers of the U. of Nebraska. They don't have a say in this. It's the greedy, revenue, money seeking board of regents and the higher ups of Nebraska (uh Tom Osbourne I'm giving you a menacing look).

The Pac-10 wants Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK-St., and would rather have Colorado than Baylor; those schools in men's basketball were all 1-15 in Allen Fieldhouse.

My concern and I will admit highly insecure feeling is what will happen to Kansas (and I guess Kansas State....ugh ok fine, Mizzou too). It's not every day that I actually give a crap about Missouri, but word around town is they wanted the Big Ten, but now the Big Ten has lost interest. Ouch, sounds kind of like some of my past relationships :) haha just kidding!

Kansas has formed an alliance with K-State. We won't go to a conference that won't have them. So where will KU land? I could be horribly biased (not likely though) but what conference wouldn't want KU!? We've got a huge Alumni base (and we frickin are willing to travel for our JAYHAWKS), our basketball team 6 straight conference titles-a few National Championships- our football program is..well..we have football. I have heard KU's search for a conference compared to Lebron's pending free agency, yeah it's gonna be THAT big.

I will admit though, the recent ticket scandal and Lou Perkins' scandal might give other conferences a second thought about us. However, I just am hoping that's my pessimistic side.

To wrap this up. I'm sad to see the demise of the Big 12. Blame Nebraska. Who wouldn't want Kansas?! (For those who don't, then fine I didn't want to play your crap team anyways.) Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

World Cup 2010

Photo courtesy Vanity Fair, Annie Leibovitz.

Cheers for the World Cup this summer!!! Actually, in less than one month. June 11 is the beginning of the World Cup in South Africa.





USA all the way! Well, actually I don't think the US will win it, despite their amazing play in last summer's Confederations Cup in South Africa, the team has had big injury setbacks lately. If you do not know who I'm talking about, well then go do your own research.





The US defense and midfield I believe is quite stable and solid. But with Charlie Davies not fully recovered from his tragic car accident last October, Jozy Altidore seems to be the lone US scoring attack.





However, the US has surprised many in the past. I thoroughly hope they have another strong, dominant showing like last summer's Confederations Cup, but making out of the group play (including an absolute drubbing of England on June 12) would be an improvement from the 2006 World Cup.





p.s. Annie Leibovitz, why did you photograph Landon Donovan bent over?? Despite the obvious (and rude/inappropriate) puns that could come of this photograph, it just kind of shows a disrespect of American futbol...bent over, lower than the others, seemingly submissive?? I would have liked to see him standing upright, confident like the others on the cover.

XOXO.
GO USA!!!!

March Sadness

Well talk about a let down. Who would have thought the number one overall team in the tournament would lose to some hairy, gross shrek look-a-likes from Northern Iowa.

Not me.

So now Bill Self, in seven years, you have 3 BAD/HORRIBLE/EMBARRASSING losses in the NCAA Tournament and one amazing year (2008). Should I be satisfied? I can't even begin to do the math to figure out how the 3 utter embarrassing losses compares to one amazing year...does 2008 cancel out two of those losses? I don't know.

I still love Coach Self. Don't get me wrong, but I just can't believe the roller coaster it's been with him. I mean, how is it that the #1 Jayhawks were made to look like fools who couldn't put together an offensive threat until it was too late?!

It still just hurts.

I can't even force myself to watch or keep track of any other tournament games, although I was pleasantly pleased to see another #1 go down, mostly the fact it was Syracuse is what really put a smile on my face.

However, I would like to put on blast KU fans who are now rooting to see K-State take it all. Really?! Honestly?! Come ON! You are the same people who call them unclassy, hairy, make fun of Frank Martin and now you are rooting for them? Tell you what, turn in your Crimson and Blue and just go purple. Go focus your need to cheer for something Kansas on the Royals, or Jayhawk Baseball. Anything else but rooting for K-State.

Heck, go Butler!

March Madness, a few days early

Since it's not officially March yet, the "madness" can't officially begin, but I don't care. I've already had March Madness since mid-February. Actually, my exact diagnosis was Saturday, Feb. 13 when KU beat K-State in overtime. That's when I knew, we were on to something.

While still toothless, Cole Aldrich has regained his form yet Sherron Collins went on an offensive lapse (which he doesn't worry about because KU is still winning games). Freshman Xavier Henry has rebounded from his "freshman slump" and has been dominating again. I could continue, but I will say I would NEVER trade Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry or any guy on KU for that pansy John Wall (who KU stopped recruiting after he was caught for breaking and entering).

A real man wears the Crimson and Blue of Kansas. I have such great feelings about these 2010 Jayhawks, I already booked my ticket to Lawrence for the weekend of April 2-6. I recently came across a great article comparing the 2008 Jayhawks and the 2010 Jayhawks.. check it out here

The Jayhawks have already won at least a share of the Big 12 Regular Season Title, our SIXTH in a row and with a K-State loss and a KU win today, it will be all ours. Throughout this 2009-2010 Basketball season, KU may have had a few "downs" with the only loss @ Tennessee, an OT victory at hapless Colorado...however it is wise to note: the Big 12 is the RPI #1 League in the Nation. Kansas has already staked a claim of winning the league, for the 6th straight year. Now that is pure domination.

So I beg you February, end...quickly...I am ready for the madness to begin! Rock Chalk Jayhawk, GO KU

What's in a Tooth?

It's been well publicized that Cole Aldrich is missing a tooth. It got knocked out during a game last season, they put it back in, then it got knocked out again and now he's more than content playing without it this season.

However I'm beginning to feel that tooth was Cole's super power. Last season, he averaged a double-double every game. While I'm not precisely aware of his season stats as of today, I can say this: he is playing his way out of a NBA lottery pick should he chose to leave KU for the NBA after this season.

Lately, Cole is not good. Missing free throws and basically lacking a killer instinct. While I would rather he stay all four years at KU, I hate to see him playing so horribly (mostly because every game he sucks, that makes me more and more nervous about our chances at winning the National Championship this year...). Especially after this last game vs. Texas Tech, Cole (and all the starters) looked like he was just going through the motions. Not crashing the boards, pulling down rebounds, slammin' dunks. It's really painful, at times, to watch him play.

So please Cole, start playing better...now.

In a completely unrelated topic, Tyshawn Taylor you can transfer to another school. I wouldn't mind it. In fact, I'll help you find another school to play at. You are an embarrassment to everything Kansas stands for.

Trimming the Fat

It's now official. Kansas Football coach Mark Mangino "resigned." That's either a nice way of saying he was going to get fired, so he decided to resign or he was sick of the current mistreatment by Lew Perkins (athletic director) and former players. Whichever it was, it's kind of sad to see.

First things first...yes...he was a large man. Many people made fun of him and the KU Football program because of his appearance. So Kansas decided to trim the fat.

Moving on.

It's a little unstable now at Kansas Football-land. Who is going to be our new coach? Charlie Weis? I wouldn't mind seeing that. I mean if you squinted your eyes, they kind of look alike. However, I feel that's wishful thinking. I don't think he would want to come coach Kansas Football. Kansas Football is still fighting for respect and credibility as a legitimate football program. Mangino made this football program what it is. The media is finally talking about Kansas Football and the past two seasons were nationally ranked.

My biggest fear is that our next football coach is going to be from a smaller program and it'll take him (or her) a couple seasons to establish himself. I wouldn't classify Kansas Football as the ultimate destination or even a desirable destination for a coach.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, reports of Mangino's treatment of players is utterly despicable and he should have been fired. However, those are still allegations that have not been proven true. A Kansas fan really can not be totally happy with this considering the fact our football team was an absolute JOKE of a program until he took over. I fear our next coach is going to revert the program back to 2003.

Well I don't want to end this post on a sad note...at least it's KANSAS BASKETBALL SEASON! #1 National Ranking (check), undefeated record (check), Bill Self gettin' his coaching on (check)!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU!

*Oh and Sunday is a big, big day. Kansas @ UCLA. I've got my tickets. Let's show this town how basketball is really done! Beak 'em Hawks.

Rock Shock Football

Hands down, Mark Mangino is the fattest college football coach. I would need photographic evidence to prove me wrong.

Apparently he also has quite the temper.

I'm still trying to figure out what is going on with Kansas Football, besides our five game losing streak (soon to be six since we are playing #3 in the nation Texas this week). Rumor has it, Mangino may have gone too far in his discipline and tough love approach to coaching. The "big tough football player" at the receiving end of his discipline just couldn't handle it anymore and went crying to Athletics Director Lew Perkins. Now instead of keeping everything on the down low and out of public eye, Perkins decides to declare to everyone that they had a players only meeting and will conduct an investigation.

Especially after the infamous football-basketball brawl, why would you seek out attention on this?! Mangino did not want to elaborate as to what's going on, he's smart.

There you have it. Kansas athletics will be conducting an investigation on the incident. Oh and it will be conducted by an unbiased person, in case you don't know what unbiased means here's Quarterback Todd Reesing to explain:

"Lew said an unbiased person, who will have no opinions either way, will conduct the investigation"

Thanks for the clarification Todd.

Bit of advice Lew, instead of launching an investigation during the season, couldn't you have waited a while? Honestly, Mangino and other players can say this won't be a distraction but it will be! Not like our season is headed in the right direction, but seriously, you've just given Missouri fans some ammunition to use against us and you announce it the day of Kansas basketball's biggest game of the season (so far)!? Not cool.

You've taken all the swagger away from the football team.

It's been a while

Honestly there hasn't been anything that has really annoyed or over excited me in a while in the sports world.

I will say a couple things...
#1 San Francisco 49ers caving to Michael Crabtree is a joke. They started out 3-1 and since signing him have not won a game. They deserve that. San Francisco sellouts.

#2 It's laughable to call North Carolina's 88-72 win over Florida International a "rout" that is not a rout. It's a solid win. Kansas' 107-68 win over Fort Hays State....THAT is a rout. Total domination works too.

#3 I was lucky enough to secure two tickets to the Kansas-UCLA basketball game on December 6 in LA. Words can't describe how excited I am. Shout out to Scott for being out of town and unable to use his tickets! Thank YOU!!

#4 Kansas football has gone MIA. At least Kansas Basketball season has started.

Love for Kansas

For all those who don't know-Kansans can be crazy in love with their school. We don't take school pride lightly. March 2008, I finally got my KU tattoo that I had been wanting since I turned 18. Well at 23 I finally did it. I went in to the tattoo parlor Big Daddy Cadillac's in Lawrence, KS wanting a tattoo that was a heart with 'KU' inside it and "04 07' around the outside, representing the years I attended KU. Mentally I was picturing a small tattoo. That is until the tattoo artist drew up my tat, showed it to me and it was about three times bigger than I imagined. I was in love. Two and a half hours later, I was tatted up.

However, this woman totally puts my tattoo to shame. It's amazing. Rock Chalk. Oh and it's worth noting...Kansas Men's Basketball is ranked preseason #1 in all the major polls, but I didn't need a poll to validate this. Any Kansas fan always knows-we are #1.

(Photo courtesy of kusports.com)

Spoiled Brat

One thing I hate most-are unproven rookies who think because they have a certain last name they can make outrageous demands.

Today's Victim: University of Central Florida's freshman guard Marcus Jordan.

He AGREED to play ball at UCF. Going through recruitment, at some point he must have realized "this school wears Adidas, I am a spoiled brat, my dad is Michael Jordan, I want to wear Nike, this may be a problem."

Marcus Jordan only wears Nike. Just like his dad. So why would he chose a school that has a $3 million contract with Adidas? Chose a different school. Since he's playing at UCF, clearly he isn't as good as his dad, otherwise he'd try to go to Kansas (we wouldn't accept him cuz he's not worth wasting a scholarship on), Duke or North Carolina.

Again, why choose a school when you know they don't wear Nike? You are either completely selfish, pompous spoiled brat and think because your dad is MJ you can demand they make an exception for you. Or you paid Derrick Rose to take your ACT/SAT score to get into college and the score was so pathetic your only option was UCF. (Feel free to make the Derrick Rose/Memphis/Cheating scandal connection to that)

Suck it up. Wear the free Adidas gear. Or go back in time, sign letter of intent to play at a school that has a contract with Nike. Build your own legacy. Oh wait, UCF Basketball won't be winning the National Championship anytime soon, so trying to follow in your father's footsteps is already wasting your time.

*update- Through the rumor mills, I heard that UCF promised they would switch to Nike? Possibly an attempt to lure him to UCF? Regardless, he's a spoiled brat. Wear whatever jersey brand you are given. I mean it's not like you are PAYING tuition to go to that school.

Can Lane Kiffin Please Shut His Mouth?

Seriously. Shut your mouth. I know he is trying to garner publicity for Tennessee Football, but in my mind the best way to get publicity for your team is by winning games and beating Florida. Not by beating up Florida and Urban Meyer in the press.

Kiffin's way of getting publicity for his football program is by making a fool of himself in the media. I will say I felt bad for Kiffin after getting fired from the Oakland Raiders, in what still looks somewhat 'unfair' however since taking over the football program at Tennessee I wish Kiffin would just go away.

My main question is: who does he think he is? Did anybody really know about him and/or care about him pre-firing at Oakland? I didn't. Now he can't keep is mouth shut. My advice-win games, build consecutive winning seasons and maybe beat Florida occasionally and then you can make bold statements because you'll have the past results to back you up.

One of my best friends told me that if I were a dog, I would be a Chihuahua because my bark is louder than my bite (ie. I would yell at someone/defend myself to the fullest, but lack the physical strength and size to actually do any real damage)...and I would classify Lane Kiffin as one too. So would John Taylor at CollegeFootballTalk.com "The more I hear from Kiffin, and the more I see what he's doing on Saturdays, I'll be damned if that lil' ankle-nipper might not be putting together a football program whose bite can match the coach's yelp. Eventually."

Photo Credit: Wade Payne / Associated Press

Welcome!

As my first post it's typical to introduce myself, my beliefs and what you can expect from me on this blog.

Hi. I'm Courtney. I'm a girl who loves sports (gasp!) I find myself to be the brunette bloggin' version of Erin Andrews. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, (Wayzata, Minnesota) graduated college from the University of Kansas and currently living in Los Angeles. It's crucial to let you know right now-my motto is Beat LA. I am not one of the bandwagon sports people. I'll explain later.

My passion is sports. Yet if you saw me on the street, you'd think I was the girliest girl ever. I love shopping, I love to wear over-size sunglasses, nothing is more comfortable than a sundress and cowboy boots (or high heels). Yet I am most comfortable at a Buffalo Wild Wings, drinking a beer, or three, and watching whatever sports is on tv.

I'm like the Jim Rome of sports chat, with a Jessica Beil body (I keep in shape).

Now to the good stuff, my beliefs. I believe in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball (oooo and now our Football team is pretty darn good too!) I believe in the Minnesota Twins, we don't have the payroll of the Yankees or Red Sox, but our heart and soul is cleaner and better than any other team. Period. Plus we are getting a brand new outdoor ball park for the 2010 Season, Target Field horray!! Now, if we can get a great starting pitcher, get Pat Neshek and Kevin Slowey healthy, look for the Twins to be AL Central Champs again. I used to be a die hard Minnesota Vikings fan, yet with the take over of Brad Childress and his laughable attempts at finding a QB, my fan-hood has dwindled. I thought it was absolutely pathetic gamble at getting Brett Favre. Let's be honest, if the Vikes, Childress and Brett do not win the Super Bowl this year, bye-bye Childress. The Vikes are 5-0 thus far, don't get too excited, I remember the Vikes going 15-1 only to lose 42-0 at NY Giants. I don't think it's unreasonable to demand nothing less than a Super Bowl victory this year or Childress deserves to be fired and signing Brett Favre was a complete waste. He's 40 years old. It's clear that its a SB victory this year or bust. Looking to the future is not something the owners of the Vikings are doing. The backup QB's are Tavaris Jackson, John David Booty and Sage Rosenfels, which translates to Brett Favre needs to avoid a serious injury or the Vikes are screwed.

It's obvious my sports loyalties belong to Kansas Jayhawks and Minnesota Twins. I would like to revert to something I touched on earlier...BEAT LA! . Just because I currently live in LA, does not mean I like LA teams. Lakers=vomit; Dodgers= vomit; Clippers=wait, does anyone actually like the Clippers? LA Kings=leave hockey to the north.

I started this blog because I always have a lot to say regarding sports and athletes and I needed an appropriate forum to do so. My friends, family and co-workers always say "if there is something you don't know about sports or an athlete, ask Courtney. She'll know." Also, most of my guy friends have asked me about my opinion about a certain game, team, stats, players etc. I give my opinion in a blunt, honest statement. I have also worked (and currently interning) with professional soccer teams in their PR/Communications departments, so you know that my posts will be informed, thoughtful and un-biased statements. Except if it's something about Kansas Basketball, because I have a KU tattoo and I'm planning my second KU tat after we win the 2010 National Championship this year. I love my Jayhawks and I think the University of Missouri is the worst example of a collegiate team. Muck Fizzou, Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

Hugs and Love,
cmack