SUMG

After following this team through twelve games (now 8-4).......how do you think our men's team will finish up? I'm predicting that we win the SBC tournament; but lose (in a very close game) in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney.

The NFL has gone so far overboard since the Janet Jackson incident, that it is ridiculous. They first had a Canipshun fit about the Nicolette Sheridan promo with Terrell Owens and now the Randy Moss "mooning." Earth to the NFL: The JJ incident involved actual (albeit brief) nudity. The second two, didn't. Big diff.

Then tell that to Tony Dungy. He's the one who was quoted in today's DMN, commenting on the situation. I don't know if it's a tradition or not....I have never heard of it either. But, I also know of no reason for the coach of the Indianapolis Colts to make up something to defend a player, who isn't even on his team.

Don't get me wrong here....I think Randy Moss is a punk. His incident of almost running over the parking meter cop in Minneapolis, going to the dressing room during the Vikes final regular season game when time was still on the clock, and numerous other incidents prove that he's a punk. And, when I first saw him "moon" the Green Bay fans, I thought, "What an ***hole". (He didn't really moon their fans, for those who didn't see it.....after a score he just pantomimed dropping his pants and bending over). But today, Tony Dungy (who I really respect), said that he thought Moss' moonshot was "humorous." And the kicker.....according to Dungy, "Green Bay fans have a tradition of mooning the visiting team's bus." To me, that's a pretty funny (and basically harmless) tradition. So, now that I know what Moss did, and the context in which he did it........I'll give him a pass on the incident last Sunday. And two......can't wait until our opening home game next year......cause I'm droppin' trou, baby!

DENTON - The 2004-05 edition of the Tina Slinker and Johnny Jones shows premiere tonight at 6:30 p.m. on KNTU FM 88.1! Join Mean Green broadcasters Hank Dickenson and Steven Bartolotta and head basketball coaches Johnny Jones and Tina Slinker tonight from El Guapo's at 419 South Elm Street in Denton (the old Mercado Juarez location, just a few blocks south of Denton's downtown square). The hour-long broadcast begins with the Tina Slinker Show at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by the Johnny Jones Show at 7 p.m. The coaches shows will air live from El Guapo's every Monday night on KNTU FM 88.1.

No, I wouldn't. I thought when he got there, he should have thrown. Coaches like him, get way too conservative once they get in field goal range. The percentage of missed field goals (especially 40 yarders) is a lot higher than the percentage of passes that are intercepted. So some might have called him an idiot for trying to make it an easier field goal. I wouldn't have.

He had 6 blocks, as well. When I went to the Green-White scrimmage in October, I was really impressed with Jeffrey. He is very athletic. But at the start of the season he was buried on the bench. The good side to Barnett's injury: It's allowed Simpson to get some playing time, and come into his own. (By the way the men's game was in Las Cruces........so most of us had to listen to it on the radio/internet. The women's game is the one that was in Denton).

I didn't see the whole game, as I was back in the computer room....listening to the UNT hoops game. But, I did see the overtime of the Jets-Chargers game, and Marty Schottenheimer did something that a lot of NFL coaches do---he got conservative at the wrong time. The Chargers had the ball on the Jets 22 (or so), and instead of trying to pass or do anything to make it more of a chip shot field goal (to win the game)......he hands off to LT three times, proceeds to lose a yard, and forces his rookie kicker to try a 39-40 yard field goal (on a wet field). Why do coaches think that a 39-40 field goal is a gimme. I see it all the time (in the NFL)....get into field goal range......and do nothing else out of fear that an interception might happen......blah, blah, blah. I didn't really have a favorite team in this game....but I do think Schottenheimer was an idiot to not to try and make the game winning field goal a little more "chip shot" length..... if you will.

Hop and C Wat both had huge games (scoring 24 and 23 respectively). Simpson was great.....blocking 6 or 7 shots. NMSU lead early...but we took the lead 10-7....and lead for the rest of the game (except one moment early in the 2nd half when it was tied 41-41). Our biggest lead was 11........it went back and forth in the second half (us with a 6-10 point lead; then they would make it closer) but they never tied it up (in the last 15 minutes)....and we pulled away at the end.

Our women beat NMSU......I think the final was 63-55. NMSU had just beat a top 20 team (Houston) earlier in the week. And the guys beat NMSU 79-69.....for our first win in Las Cruces since 1974 Way to go Mean Green!

I'd say that tenative January schedule is a little Denver heavy.

Hey if the stinkin' Red Sox can end their curse........it's time for us to end this 31 year Las Cruces drought. GMG!

Coach Slinker started off her UNT career with a winning season.....followed by 8 straight losing seasons. I wouldn't exactly call our school impatient in this situation. I don't think anyone is advocating making a change in mid-season. Personally, I'll wait and see how the season plays out. But I do think it's time we start taking another of our potential money making sports a little more seriously. If places like SFA and La. Tech can have great women's programs (as they have in the past) why can't we?

Go to www.houstonchronicle.com Once on the front page click on Sports........there on the left of the Sports Page are the columnists which they have on staff, or carry (Norman is syndicated). If you go on there, you can read his archived columns (several months worth). Norman is very funny, IMHO.......and each week his column makes me LOL at least a couple of times (sometimes more). Norman is also the color commentator on ESPN's poker coverage. And from the promos, you can see Norman has a role (maybe as himself) in the upcoming ESPN drama series about poker called "Tilt." The Houston chronicle online edition, usually has Norman's newest weekly column posted on Tuesday of the week.

(This is the weekly column written by syndicated columnist Norman Chad): These are 24 (more) facts, tried and true, about the widening world of sports television: 1 — One day — and something tells me this won't happen in my lifetime — the breakup of ESPN will rival the breakup of the Soviet Union. 2 — T-Mobile has a new cell-phone promotion: "Couples Talk Free." To be honest, this doesn't sound like such a good idea. 3 — Even though it's a medical improbability, I get a canker sore every time I watch I, Max. 4 — You know that look Tony Soprano has when he emerges from bed after a night of bad dreams? I wake up that way every week after Big Monday. 5 — The moment someone starts the Bowling Network, I'm a 24-7 shut-in. 6 — If he gets any more irritating, Dr. Phil is going to wind up on Crossfire or Around the Horn. 7 — I recently stumbled across the wedding video from my first marriage and completely had forgotten that Charlie Jones did the play-by-play. 8 — Who knew that the "P" in ESPN stood for poker? (Radio Days I: Nothing's better than when you're on Interstate 70, driving through Pennsylvania or Ohio, and the truckers are bearing down on you and there's an SUV posse every which way and you're, oh, maybe, one bad lane change away from road rage and, suddenly, a basketball or baseball game comes across your AM dial, and, static and all, soothes the soul for the next hour or so.) 9 — I will jump into Lake Michigan with a DVD player on my back before I watch a single nanosecond of The Amazing Race or Aaron Brown. 10 — Today: Nanny 911 on Fox. Tomorrow: Vitale 911 on ESPN. 11 — Whenever he retires from broadcasting, you've got to figure Craig Sager can parcel off his wardrobe on eBay. 12 — Lately, I fancy Red Vines and Slim Jims, aka "The Dark Side of Atkins Diet." 13 — I saw Vince Cellini on the Golf Channel the other day. I thought he had left the country. 14 — One of the times I was married, I had to put an "Authorized Personnel Only" sign on the remote. 15 — Tony Siragusa always looks like he's about to say something interesting. And then he opens his mouth. 16 — Sooner or later, I wouldn't be surprised if ESPN buys the rights to the sunset. (Radio Days II: I hate it when a friend borrows your car for a day and changes the presets on the radio. That's like coming into someone's home and rearranging their furniture.) 17 — I have never smoked marijuana, and that, I believe, impairs my ability to appreciate Bill Walton. 18 — Sometimes, at 2 or 3 in the morning, I'll stop on an infomercial if it looks like it has a good story line. 19 — I crunched some numbers and it wasn't pretty: Since 1970, I have spent 1,750 hours watching Monday Night Football and 17 hours reading great literature. 19A — I crunched some other numbers and it also wasn't pretty: Ahmad Rashad has spent more time in my living room than all of my spouses combined. 20 — Oddly enough, sometimes I miss NBC Sports. 21 — Camera phones are nice, but I'd prefer a microwave oven with TiVo. 22 — The late Don Drysdale had a rule: "You hit one of ours, I hit two of yours." I wish that applied to watching sports on television. 23 — If there's an afterlife, I'm assuming everything will be pay-per-view. Ask the Slouch Q: I watched Celebrity Blackjack on GSN the other night — with not one but three Baldwin brothers — and actually liked it. My question is simple: Why? JERRY NASSAN Lincoln Park, N.J. A: Is there is a more dashing figure in American culture today than a Baldwin brother at a blackjack table? I think not. Q: I see Illinois hired Ron Zook as its head football coach. Is fireronzook.com up and running again? BRENDAN WALSH Chicago A: I love it when readers do my job for me. Q: Will Vinny Testaverde's Social Security count against the Cowboys' salary cap next season? ROGER FIERST Cleveland A: Pay the man, Shirley. Q: Did you make a New Year's resolution? LARRY LASS Houston A: The same one I make every year — no TV on weekends. You, too, can enter the $1.25 Ask The Slouch Cash Giveaway. Just e-mail asktheslouch@aol.com and, if your question is used, you win $1.25.

The Hilltoppers are receiving 3 votes in the AP basketball poll. They are 10-1 and play at Virginia on Wednesday night.

With as many injuries as the Giants had on defense....it's insane that Parcells didn't play Romo or Henson some tonight. The big fat Tuna has proven that without Belicheck....he's average, at best. And he's a horrible judge of talent.

31 turnovers pretty much says it all. (Bobo had 8 in 29 minutes; Mireles had 6 in 26 minutes). A & M is now 9-1; we're 5-7.

This bit of genius comes from the same guy who thinks that Marshall University is located in Texas. Also, no one was gonna jump ship if our team didn't beat LSU or Texas.....where do you get that nonsense from?

No we weren't out of players. Our coaches just didn't send enough out on the floor.

Slinker's overall record at this point is: 190-232 Down through the years: 1989-90 (16-11) 1990-91 (6-20) 1991-92 (8-18) 1992-93 (9-17) 1993-94 (10-17) 1994-95 (10-17) 1995-96 (11-16) 1996-97 (5-21) 1997-98 (10-17) 1998-99 (20-8) 1999-00 (17-11) 2000-01 (19-11) 2001-02 (21-9) 2002-03 (12-16) 2003-04 (11-17) 2004-05 (5-6) Two WNIT appearances: 2001---lost to Oklahoma State 79-67 2002---lost to Washington 82-61 I would dare say, that if she wasn't fired after 8 straight losing seasons, she's not gonna be fired any time soon.

1) Anyone notice that New Orleans (5-7 now) picked up a nice OOC win last night? They beat a 9-2 Southern Miss team, 67-56. The game was in New Orleans. 2) At 9-1, I wonder if WKU will start receiving some votes in one of the polls soon. They have a big game with Virginia (I think on the 5th)....where they could make a little more noise for the league. I think their only loss is to Evansville, with wins over the likes of Georgia, Austin Peay, Montana and a host of cupcakes. Anyway....nice to be in a quality b-ball league. I remember years in the Southland and some in the BWC, where every conference team would be under .500 at this point, and there would be several winless teams. (Our least number of wins is 3).

Joe....I wasn't at the game....just listened to it on the internet. But according to the announcer, after our player was double-teamed, tied up for 5 seconds forcing a turnover....he looked out and noticed that we only had 4 players on the court. So with 9.2 seconds left, down by just two.....you figure to get off a shot to tie the game, or maybe even go for a three-pointer for the win. We didn't even get a shot off. Then we fouled UTA on their inbounds, they made both free throws (that's why the final margin of victory was 4 points).

I like Coach Slinker and her staff, too. As a matter of fact, they've done a great job recruiting for next year, as we signed 4 of the top 35 players in Texas. But that being said.....if after a timeout, we only have four players on the floor (at a crucial time in the game), well that is one of the biggest bonehead moves I've ever seen in college basketball. (ranks right up there with: Chris Webber calling timeout when Michigan didn't have any; and Derek Harper dribbling the ball and running the clock out, at the end of a tied Mavericks' playoff game). It's amazing to me, nowadays......teams (football and basketball) have more coaches than ever......and yet little stuff seems to be overlooked more often now, than when teams had skeleton staffs.

UTA 59 UNT 55 The game is 57-55, our women make a defensive stop and have the ball with 9.2 seconds left. Tina calls a timeout. (which is our final timeout). When we come out of the timeout, the player who gets the ball inbounds....is double-teamed, has no one to throw to, and can't call timeout (since we're out of them).....and gets called for a five-seconds violation. One reason no one was open: WE ONLY HAD 4 PLAYERS ON THE COURT.