Why Kelvin Sampson is the Wrong Man for IU

Here is a super funny blog post from Hoosier Insider blogger, Terry Hutchens about why Kelvin Sampson is not the right man for the IU coaching job.

The best coach available who wanted to come to Indiana University

Not the best way to describe somebody coming to coach your basketball team, but there it was in black and white:

It’s not a good sign when your new coach is described as if he were the last puppy left at the Humane Society. In the awe-uninspiring words delivered by former IU Alumni Association executive council member Keith Hedrick to the Journal-Gazette, Sampson, in athletic director Rick Greenspan’s mind, was “the best coach available who wanted to come to Indiana University.” You definitely want that quote on the cover of next year’s media guide.

Was hiring Kelvin Sampson the best Indiana could do? Did we not even ask all the sexy names out there: Calipari, Few, Beilin, Crean? Or worse—Did these guys turn us down? Turn a coaching job at friggin’ IU down? You just don’t do that…right?

My, how delusional Hoosier Nation must be. We actually believe our own hype that we’re one of the top five basketball schools in the country and that top-tier coaches would be knocking on our door, resumes in hand.

Apparently, we’re not. For starters, IU has one of the worst facilities on the planet. This will have to change. Assembly Hall needed to be demolished 10-years after it was built. It seemed old when I attended I.U. in the late 80’s. Secondly, the athletic department is financially strapped from years of mismanagement and buying out contracts of fired coaches. Third, we’ve sucked over the past 10 years except for that anomoly in 2002.

And fourth, some guy named Bobby Knight and all the stupidity that goes along with legacy. Exhibit number one:

"Greenspan obviously doesn't understand there's more to the tradition of IU basketball than winning basketball games," said Ted Kitchel, a forward on the 1981 national championship team. It's an absolute disgrace. I wouldn't hire that guy to coach my fifth-grade girls team. That guy is absolutely what we don't want at IU."

Who wants to coach in this guy’s ever-present shadow and deal with his rabid supporters?

Kelvin Sampson does.

What’s interesting about this hire is having to stop and think about it. It prevented an emotional reaction either way. For me anyway. Once the shock wore off I read and researched. I read articles written by haters (examples here, here, and here) and supporters (examples here, here, and here) alike. Jason Whitlock wrote a really good one that logically breaks down the hiring as opposed to somebody like Dick Vitale who just spews love and adoration about all things basketball unless it concerns IU not naming the floor at Asembly Hall after the General, Robert Montgomery Knight (just kiss him already, Dick. We all know you love the man.).

I also watched the press conference announcing Sampson as the new coach and listened to a post-conference audio interview of IU's Athletic Director, Rick Greenspan. So far, I like what I’ve read and heard from Sampson, and I’m comfortable with what’s going on with the NCAA violations.

The hiring of Kelvin Sampson has no sex. No sizzle. No wow factor. And maybe that’s what Hoosier Nation really needs right now. We’ve been bitching about results for three years. And throughout his career that’s exactly what Sampson has done—deliver results to the tune of nine straight 20-win seasons in a power conference with Juco transfers, castoffs, and kids of questionable character…and he did it at a football school. I’m salivating at the thought of what he can do with IU’s resources.

Welcome to Hoosier Nation, Coach. You’re one of us now—and I, for one, am glad.

Guilty as Charged

If this doesn't put the final nail in the coffin that was Barry Bond's Hall of Fame career, then we're all idiots.

Barry Bonds plans to sue the authors and publisher of a book that alleges the San Francisco Giants' slugger used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds' attorneys sent a letter Thursday to an agent for the authors of "Game of Shadows," alerting them of plans to sue the writers, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts this month.

"Our client, Barry Bonds, will seek an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order against them, as well as Gotham Books/Penguin USA, Sports Illustrated Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle," Alison Berry Wilkinson, an associate of Bonds' lead attorney, Michael Rains, wrote in the letter. "This injunctive action will be brought pursuant to California's Unfair Competition Law ... to obtain, in summary, disgorgement of any profits related to or derived from the publication and distribution of the book."

The letter, signed by Wilkinson was posted on the Chronicle's Web site. A hearing was tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday in San Francisco Superior Court.

"The reason we filed in the lawsuit in the simplest terms possible is to prevent the authors from promoting themselves and profiting from illegal conduct," Rains told The Associated Press on Thursday.

So instead of suing for libel or slander, Barry is suing because the authors obtained the truth illegally.

How much more of a smoking gun can there be?

Who is the Next IU Coach?

Terry Hutchens of the Indianapolis Star has presented a list of the top 10 coaching candidates for the Indiana Hoosiers. Here is his list with my comments included:

1. Mark Few (Gonzaga): He has name recognition, he's a winner and surely it would be easier to recruit players to Indiana than to Gonzaga. His record in seven years with the Zags is 188-40. His name frequently is tossed about, but this might be the job he couldn't turn down. A great choice. It's obvious the man can coach. What he has done at Gonzaga is remarkable. If given the resources of IU, what could he do?

2. Tom Crean (Marquette): He has Big Ten roots at Michigan State and proved he could recruit Indiana when he landed Richmond's Dominic James at Marquette. Crean would be a good face for the program, someone comfortable playing golf with alumni and entertaining at banquets. I wouldn't be disappointed if he was named coach.

3. Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M): He's the new hot name, and you can't discount his success at Texas A&M, a more difficult sell to recruits than IU. He also has Big Ten roots, coaching under Bill Self at Illinois. He's simply a hot name. He needs another year or two of success to be considered an option for a program like IU.

4. Randy Wittman (Orlando, NBA): Again, he would be the right face for the program. The primary concern is that he has never been a college coach or recruited at this level. Recruiting is a top concern, but maybe that's something he could hire an assistant to do. A candidate only an alumni from Wittman's era could love. He lacks coaching experience at the collegiate level. I'm not impressed, even if Mark Cuban is.

5. Alford (Iowa): Even with the disappointing end to the Hawkeyes' season, he has to be in the mix. He's the one guy with college coaching experience at the big-time Division I level who could reunite the fan base and get Indiana fans excited again. Missouri's interest in him could scuttle this scenario. He's out of the running. And I didn't want him anyway.

6. John Calipari (Memphis): It might be a difficult time for him to leave Memphis, but his name is well-known and he could immediately get Indiana back to the elite level. He could certainly make IU back into a major powerhouse. He's done everywhere he's gone. I'm not sure about his priorities about graduating players, though. For a program like IU, this is important.

7. Rick Barnes (Texas): It would be tough to leave that program, but the lure of being the showcase program and not the also-ran to the football team would have to at least be intriguing. The question? Money. I hadn't considered Barnes at all because of his success at Texas. But as stated above, is the lure of being the coach of a showcase program enough of a temptation to leave? I could see him here.

8. Karl Hobbs (George Washington): He's one of the hottest mid-major coaches after building the Colonials into a top-10 team this season. If not Indiana, another big-name school will be calling soon. Eh, another hot coach. He's had one good year that I'm aware of. If he's had a few years of success, then we can talk.

9. Billy Donovan (Florida): Some think he has his eyes on Kentucky if Tubby Smith leaves, but Indiana could give him pause. As may be the case in many of these situations, IU would have to make a serious commitment in terms of facilities. I would love to have Donovan. He's got it all. As stated above, though, Donovan going after a possible opening at Kentucky makes the most sense for him as he would get to stay in the SEC.

10. Brad Brownell (North Carolina-Wilmington): Hoosier native falls into the up-and-coming category. He grew up in Evansville, played on the same high school team as Calbert Cheaney and played college ball at DePauw. The question is: Could he compete for the job with the coaches on this list? No name recognition. No interest from IU. I'm not sure why this guy is even on the list.

Absent from this list is Mike Montgomery, the former Stanford head coach and current coach of the Golden State Warriors. I hope Mongomery is on IU's Athletic Director Rick Greenspan's short list. He made Stanford into a Pac 10 power and a perennial Sweet 16 team. He could probably be lured back into the college game if IU makes some needed upgrades to the facilities, which looked out of date when I attended IU in the late 80's.

My top candidates:

1. Mike Montgomery
2. Mark Few
3. Billy Donovan
4. Tom Crean
5. Rick Barnes

Greenspan is supposed to make his choice in April. I think I'm looking forward the reaction of Hoosier Nation as much as I am finding out who the coach will be.

Don't you love March Madness?

Why Johnny is Fat

It's bad enough that little Johnny has sneakers with built-in wheels so he doesn't have to walk completely across the mall on his way to food court to purchase fried cheese sticks, he can now cruise around the neighborhood on an electric skateboard. This latest fitness trend is brought to you by the fine folks at Exkate.

Fitness? Seriously. This was on display at the Super Show, the annual exhibition-celebration of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association held early this year in Orlando, Florida.

If this is what passes for fitness these days, you can bet that current obesity rates in our children will continue to rise.

The Future Looks Bright

Finally, it’s over. The Mike Davis era at Indiana is has mercifully come to an end after a 90-80 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

I’m sad that the season is over because I love Hoosier basketball. But I was conflicted because I did not want Davis to have any more success that he could call his own and consequently use to pad his resume and use against IU.

I’m fighting the temptation to turn this post into yet another Davis rant. That will be another post. Instead, I’ll keep it short and turn my attention to the future; a future that I’m actually looking forward to — if the right coach is hired.

IU will return a terrific point guard in Earl Calloway who came into his own during last part of the season. During the NCAA tournament he willed IU to a victory over San Diego State in the first round and had a near triple-double in a loss to Gonzaga. He has speed, vision, and can distribute the rock. With the right coach, I can see him being one of top point guards in the nation next year.

D.J. White will return. He has talked about transferring to where ever Davis ends up, but that would require him to sit out an entire year after being sidelined for 90% of this year’s games due to injury. He’ll be back and the former Big Ten Freshman of the Year will be hungry to prove himself ready for the NBA.

IU will also return three other productive players: Ben Allen, Roderick Wilmont, and A.J. Ratliff.

I know next year will be a rebuilding year, but these five guys form a terrific nucleus around which a skilled coach can build a competitive team. And by skilled coach, I mean those not named Steve Alford and Isiah Thomas.

Update
Terry Hutchens over of the Hoosier Insider has a post about this same thing.

Let's take a look, first with the possibly idealistic view that everyone that is eligible to be back returns. The starting lineup would probably look this way:

Point Guard -- Earl Calloway. If one guy emerged from the two NCAA Tournament games it was Calloway. I think for most of the season he believed his role on the team was to push the ball up court, get it in the hands of either Killingsworth or one of IU's catch-and-shoot guys on the perimeter, and use his quickness to pay dividends on defense. In the NCAA Tournament, he emerged as a player who can do all of those things and be an effective scorer, too.

Shooting Guard -- Roderick Wilmont or A.J. Ratliff. These guys could both potentially be in the starting lineup if Ratliff gets over his sophomore jinx. But these guys will be looked upon to shoulder a lot of the perimeter scoring load.

Off Guard/Small Forward -- Robert Vaden. If Vaden returns, he could be a solid candidate for first-team all-Big Ten honors. He needs to do better handling the ball and work on some of his passing decisions, but the guy can flat-out play.

Forward/Power Forward -- Ben Allen. I think this is a role that he could potentially settle into, but he'll need to make good strides over the summer. The breakout season that many hoped for this season could occur under a new coach next year.

Power Forward/Center -- D.J. White. If White decides to return, Indiana will be a team that will be given instant status as a squad that could compete for the Big Ten championship. Sure, Ohio State will be the favorite, but Indiana, with White, would at least be considered a team in the upper third of the conference.

My only disagreement here is that I think Vaden will be gone so I didn't even bother speculating. Davis has already received a call from Mississippi about its head coach position and I don't see Vaden having a problem sitting out a year, especially if its a decent program.

Billy Packer Sucks

And to tell you why Billy Packer sucks, I'm going to let blogger Matt May tell you some of the reasons.

The difference is palpable and it's a shame that Majerus won't be around for the tourney. CBS is apparently under the assumption that because Packer is "controversial" people tune in. On the contrary, there is no other outlet for watching the Final Four and, therefore, no choice. It would be interesting to see how many viewers watch Final Four weekend with the mute button super-glued on their remote.

For me, Packer has always been somebody who loves to hear himself talk. He's like Dick Vitale but without a personality. He simply drones on and on about the game and brings zero insight to what I'm watching. He likes to make statements. That's it. No real analysis to explain why he made his statement other than, "Here's what I think."

Hell, I'd rather listen to Vitale. At least he loves the game.

Anybody else want to weigh in on this? Why does Packer suck?

My Final Four

I've got several brackets completed, but here are my Final Four picks for the office tournament.

• Duke
• Connecticut
• UCLA
• Florida

UCLA takes care of Duke. UConn topples Florida.

UCLA outlasts UConn for the championship.

In this bracket, I've got IU losing in the first round to San Diego State.

Mmmmmm....Donut Burger

The burger that would do Homer Simpson proud: the donut burger.

This latest culinary disaster was created by the Gateway Grizzlies, a minor league baseball team in the Frontier League.

The Grizzlies and Krispy Kreme Doughnutshave teamed up to create “Baseball’s Best Burger.” The burger, which was introduced at Gateway’s December 10th sale, consists of a thick and juicy burger topped with sharp cheddar cheese and two slices of bacon. The burger is then placed in between each side of a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut.

The burger is said to weigh in at 1,000 calories and contain 45 grams of fat. By comparison, a Whopper with cheese only has 760 calories but has 47 grams of fat.

“We have had the opportunity to bring in a new concession item for the past two seasons and each of them have been very successful. We look forward to Baseball’s Best Burger and the excitement it will bring to the ballpark,” said Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg.

Not to mention the paramedic visits.

Just Say NO!

CBS SportsLine.com: Isiah talking with Hoosiers? Witnesses say yes

Indiana Hoosiers legend Isiah Thomas was on campus Tuesday in Bloomington, Ind., and was spotted by two people walking into the office of the president, those witnesses told CBS SportsLine.com.

Rumors like this continue to scare the pee out of me. But does Isiah want the job? So far, he's saying all the things I want to hear:

Thomas denied an Internet report that said two witnesses saw him enter the office of university president Adam Herbert. "I have no interest in the Indiana coaching job," Thomas said in his statement.

But with this guy, you can never tell if he's telling the truth. He has no soul. He's left such a trail of destruction wherever he goes that his nickname should be Armageddon. I wouldn't put it past him to make a trip to Bloomington to gauge the university's interest in him and find a way to get away from the mess he's created in New York.

Injured Cheerleader Keeps Her Spirit

From MSNBC.com: Cheerleader worried for team, not herself

A cheerleader who continued to cheer for her team from a gurney despite tumbling 15 feet onto her head said Wednesday she was worried the accident would distract from the basketball game.

“My biggest concern was that I didn’t want my squad to be distracted — so that they could continue cheering on the team — and I didn’t want my team to be distracted from winning the game,” Kristi Yamaoka, 18, told NBC’s “Today” show.

I was watching this game and saw a replay of the fall. Like everybody else, I watched to see if she would be okay. But when she started her cheer routine from the gurney, I laughed through my tears. It was a great moment.

Granted, the Missouri Valley Conference had a typical knee-jerk response to the incident by banning certain cheerleading stunts during the women's basketball conference tournament. Everybody seemed okay with this stuff prior to the injury.

I guess it's all fun and games until somebody falls 15 feet and breaks a spine.

Hotter Than A Pistol

If you haven't heard the story about Jason McElwain, a 17-year-old autistic boy who scored 20 points in four minutes in his team's home finale, then consider yourself outed from the rock you've been under.

And if Hollywood has anything to say about it, you will hear plenty more about him.

His play drew national attention, and a flood of calls from Hollywood. His parents have received inquiries from about 25 production companies ranging from The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. to independent documentary filmmakers.

My one request is that this movie does not end up in the hands of Jerry Bruckheimer. He has a way of messing with the facts when it comes to movies based on true stories.

Let's hope Jason's story ends up in the capable hands of independent filmmakers, people who care about making sure the human element of the story gets told correctly as opposed to pumping out a formulaic script.

Why not put Jason's story into the capable hands of Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, the writer and director of Hoosiers--recently the choice of the readers of USA Today newspaper as the best sports movie of all time. In 2001 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

I think Jason's story is culturally and emotionally significant.

"There are thousands of families across the country, getting a diagnosis of autism for their 3-year-old; they took at Jason and have tears in their eyes," said Dr. Susan Hyman, an associate professor for pediatrics at the University of Rochester's Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities. "Because the image they have in their minds isn't of some strapping young teenager making baskets from half court. The hope and the promise this provides -- it's priceless."

Put another way, before McElwain's sharpshooting, high-profile role models for children with autism were few and far between--and there aren't many whom those inside the autism community can relate to.

Until now.

“I’m not really that different,” he said. “I don’t really care about this autistic situation, really. It’s just the way I am. The advice I’d give to autistic people is just keep working, just keep dreaming, you’ll get your chance and you’ll do it.”

As much as I would hate to see Hoosiers replaced as the greatest sports movie ever, I wouldn't mind if Jason's story becomes the one to do it.

Out With the Old Mike, In With the New?

A fellow by the name of iugrad gave me this link over at Potshots with Pete:

Monty hearts IU: Through various middlemen, former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery has made it clear that he's interested in Indiana if Indiana is interested in him. Montgomery is enduring his second straight losing NBA season at Golden State. For the record, in my book, Montgomery should be the first choice at Indiana. What he did at Stanford (393-167) boggles the mind. Imagine him at Indiana.

Believe me, I am.

This little blurb is by Gregg Doyel at CBS SportsLine.com. It may only a small blurb, but it has given me so much hope. Recent buzz surrounding the next coach at IU had begun to include the Great Destroyer, Isiah Thomas, former IU golden boy and current destroyer of the New York Knicks. I was starting to lose faith in humanity, but now? Oh, baby.

If IU's athletic director, Rick Greenspan, has any sense at all, Mike Montgomery would be at the top of his list.

To work for Pitino, assistants need to shed pounds

This is a great article by Aditi Kinkhabawal over at SI.com.

Hats off to Rick Pitino for not only demanding physical responsibility from his players, but from his assistant coaches as well.

At Louisville, punishments are meted out in practice-closing push-ups. These days, Menzies pops down and does them alongside his players. He can do 150. You'd better believe there's not a Cardinal who whines about how many he's got to do.

"We're preaching to these kids about self-discipline and about being able to set goals and maintain them," Menzies said. "They respect your words a little more when you're living what you're telling them."

That is so true. Now if only Philip Fulmer would follow Pitino's advice.