TheTastyGreek

Anyone who wants to hear why Modano is the worst current/former athlete I've ever had to deal with (a list that includes notoriously difficult or outright hostile people like John Wetteland, Brent Severyn, Tony Siragusa, Spencer Tillman, and Roy "Cockwatcher" Williams, among others) is welcome to come by and ask me in person. I'm not hard to find... We're flying our flag in the parking lot of every home football game and I'm at 75% of our basketball games, home and away.

When, when, WHEN WILL THEY SELL GREEN ONES AGAIN?!???

You realize that it isn't some sort of prediction or assessment of worth by oddsmakers, right? They set a line so that a relatively equal amount of money will be wagered on each side and they won't be exposed to losses that exceed the margins they earn from accepting the wagers. If people think it's high, they'll bet accordingly and it will come down. And if they don't...

23 points. Saved you all a click.

And, if memory serves me correctly... Guess which one in particular was bitter over not getting hired instead of Todd Dodge? Playing North Texas isn't as funny when you can't ride along on Bob Stoops' jock and stand behind a top 5 team, I guess.

EDIT: Upon further consideration... Let me just say that I couldn't be happier to beat any first season coach more than Kevin Wilson. I hope he enjoyed his hearty laughs back in 2007. Payback is a biologically specific term for a female dog.

I'd say maybe try to trade him for Tom Brady... But Brady is a skirt-chasing celebri-humping glory boy who can't stop himself from throwing away interceptions and games, and who can't even get through a season without snapping like a twig.

I can't speak for everyone else, but the reason *I* was upset about it is that it happened when we were down by multiple scores with 2:48 to play at the end of the last game of the season when we were sitting a 2-9 and on our way to 2-10. And the coach who made the decision had "Fired" written all over him at the time. This McNulty thing strikes me more like Dodge playing Vizza as a true freshman before handing him the job, or starting Riley at receiver to get him on the field as a true freshman. Some people had a problem with both of those decisions, but they at least happened at a point in the season when they could make a difference for that year. The Riley move was surprising and I didn't love the idea... But it was at least something that made sense given the state of our receiving corps. I generally don't like playing true freshmen as special teamers or minimal-use backups... But I'm willing to wait and see what happens with this situation before saying we've made a bad call. And even if McNulty continues to struggle... It's one thing to burn a redshirt on someone who seems action in 11 games and gets to develop and compete against a variety of teams in a variety of situations... And quite another to sit a guy for more than 717 out of 720 minutes of his season then throw him out there so you can have a 3-5% chance at ending your godawful coaching career with a win that lets you avoid ANOTHER 10 loss season.

If only someone had put out the "Hamilton can run an offense" memo a 2 years ago...

One of the genuine "nice guys" of his sport. Like Kirby Puckett in baseball and Warren Moon in football.

The last open letter was an editorial in the NT Daily.

If we do a 2 for 1, we don't get a guarantee. We have to play guarantee games against someone. People were just saying that they want it to be lower tier teams than perennial top 10 programs like Texas, LSU, and Alabama. Now, for at least 2 of the next 5 years, our guarantee game is going to be a middling Big 10 team instead. Somehow, this is a bad thing? As for selling out a game in exchange for giving up a guarantee... I remember that being said years ago, too... But I don't think it still applies. Even if we sold out Apogee at $25 per person (and no students showed up, so that we could get revenue for those tickets), gross revenue would be about $760,000. Meanwhile, the price of guarantee games has risen up to the $1,000,000 area.

My only hope is that everyone that's shouting about how others are idiots, cheap, lazy... Whatever label applies regarding parking, price, or any other complaint... I hope that they'll be as assertive and unyielding about getting themselves out to basketball games this year. Even on weekdays!

I think it's fine. Even if he is primarily a football prospect, one of the others on our list gave up football to focus on hoops. Mr. Ballard could be the same. Good find, SUMG.

Think happy thoughts for the next twelve and a half hours, people. Positive energy, doing the bull dance, etc.

Are you a basketball season ticket holder for UTA, by any chance? DuckMav, anyone else that visits... Let me know if any UTA season ticket holders are reading. I have a question for you guys.

To solicit credit card companies to send me junk mail?

Git sum pitchin.

When their coach started, he went 0-11 in his first season. Double digit losses every week but one, half of them by 4 TDs or more. They were an absolute embarrassment, inside and outside the Belt. They couldn't even put up a respectable game against anyone, much less seriously compete. Until they ran into Todd Dodge in game 12 and picked up a win, of course.

Who is?

That's what's on it for me, too. Either you're all set, or we're both screwed.

FSSW+. I can't watch Formula 1 on FIOS, but I apparently I can watch World Poker Tour reruns. And our game.

I'm going to throw my guess in, too. JJ doesn't generally like to start freshmen and he hesitates to start JUCO newcomers. Witness Howerton starting over Tramiel, Tristan seeing minimal early season minutes behind Dennis/Willingham/McCoy, among other examples. Even Josh White only started as a 2 guard, not at the point. Hogans is an obvious starter. I think, given their previous D1 experience, Patton and Franklin both play as 2/3 hybrids. JJ hasn't been as reluctant to throw guys coming from other D1s (Colin Dennis, Odufuwa) right out on the floor as starters. That leaves point guard and the second post up for grabs. Post looks like it'll be Holmen or Edwards. Even Tramiel didn't start right away as a JUCO transfer, and Stojilkovic seems like more of a roleplayer sub type than a starting option. I really like Edwards, especially after last year's SBC tournament. If he's healthy, I hope it's him. But JJ has shown a soft spot for Holmen, even at times when he seemed lost or made poor decisions. Gotta figure Holmen starts. I really, really don't think we're going to see a true freshman starting as our point guard. I think it'll be Chris Jones starting there by the time we get back from Loyola Marymount, if not sooner... But I don't think we start the season with a freshman there. That means either Alzee or Brandan Walton. I wish we knew how Alzee was doing in rehabbing his injury. I'll guess Walton. If Walton isn't starting off the top, I don't like what that says about how much he'll be contributing at the end of the year. Hogans Holmen Patton Franklin Walton There's my best guess.

Remember... The school has been sponsoring a there-and-back shuttle for our SBC Tournament games for the past few years. Don't rule out at least a game or two in Hot Springs, even if you are a broke student.

Vacation, early departure from work, or half-days are already set and confirmed for UTA, Texas, Centennial Classic at Loyola Marymount, and Hot Springs. May try to do Tech and Mississippi State, too. Plus the weekend roadies to Louisiana and Arkansas.