Jack’s Blog

There are college programs in certain sports that are considered rebuilding jobs - constant rebuilding jobs.  It’s not that these colleges are simply losers; in other sports, they might even dominate.  Coaches (either assistants, head coaches at lesser levels who want to move up, or those who’ve lost their jobs) can tell you the teams in rebuilding modes.  They’re were they are trying to get hired.  Some schools are fine institutions but have close to zero tradition in a certain sport - or maybe a couple sports).  Just a few examples would be: in basketball - Arizona State, Penn State, Rice, Toledo; in football - Kentucky, Duke, Minnesota, New Mexico after watching them play today, I decided to examine the New Mexico Lobos.

The Fresno State-New Mexico game was a perfect example of a derailing of a rebuilding project - because it began so great for the underdog.  The Bulldogs are, themselves, playing under first year coach Tim DeRuyter and are experiencing a rebirth from last season.  Former coach Pat Hill, except for last season, had a successful run after he replaced legendary coach Jim Sweeney whose program had slipped during his last couple seasons.

The down years in Fresno would look like championship performances if exchanged for many of the seasons in Albuquerque.  Although coach Rocky Long took the Lobos to five bowls in seven years, going to a bowl game only puts your club in the top 55-60% of all the FBS schools (is that what the big guys are still called?)  Also consider this is a program who, in 2010 lost to Oregon 72-0.  Tradition is in short order at UNM, especially when compared with the Lobos’ basketball history.

They now have Bob Davie, former coach at Notre Dame, heading up the program and his guys have been competing - to the tune of a 3-3 record - which had their fans about ready to carve Davie’s bust into the Sandia Mountains.  With Davie attempting to build a (semi-)winner at UNM, due to its horrific tradition, they need every break - and certainly can’t miss golden opportunities when they present themselves.

Well, yesterday started off great and the Lobos jumped out to a 21-0 lead - in the first quarter!  This was no fluke; the Lobos were in command of the game.  But football is a long game and they still needed to, as football coaches love to say, “make plays.”  What happened next was indicative of teams who are close to turning the corner, but just can’t (or, maybe, subconsciously don’t) really want to win.

In order were four plays that sealed New Mexico’s fate.  First was a sure touchdown pass the Lobos’ running back (running a wheel route) dropped.  His hands were backward (at least according to the coaches who taught me in the late 1960s), i.e. thumbs together instead of pinkies together.  Next was a receiver running a slant pattern, wide open, dropping another certain TD.  Subsequent to one of these they went for a field goal and the kicker hooked it right, which was followed by a Fresno State touchdown, the drive lasting 1:36.

The next two were as bad because they could have stemmed the tide since the momentum had swung to the Bulldogs’ side of the field.  One was a deep pattern in which the Lobo receiver had a couple steps (in announcer’s verbiage, “wide open”) on his defender but the up-until-then accurate QB overthrew his man by at least three yards.  The last play was the absolute clincher.  It happens to teams like this year’s New Mexico squad and just takes the wind out of their sails.  It’s almost like, “We surrender.  You were gift wrapping that one for us and we’re going to refuse it.”

Apparently, the Fresno State receiver ran a “go” route when the Bulldogs’ QB thought he was going to stop.  Consequently, the corner linebacker for UNM was standing directly in the path of the ball.  Ahead of the corner was nothing but green.  His eyes must have gotten so big, they got in the way of his hands as he tried to catch the on-the-money-but-to-the-wrong-guy-throw.  It hit him in the stomach before he dropped it.

To New Mexico’s credit, it took four plays to bring them down.  Some teams fold after just one or two.  That bodes well for Davie and his troops.  A football renaissance may take place in Albuquerque after all.  It’s not an impossible place to win (see San Jose State).  Lobos hoops always fields a formidable squad.  It’s just that, after the fourth “lost” play, the floodgates opened and Fresno State, with its vast array of skilled people, scored seemingly every time they got the ball.  The determination of the ‘Dogs was too much for UNM.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the Lobos lost their first and second team QBs to injury?  If someone is unsure of the impact that would have, take into account that a passing game most of all depends on timing.  Exactly how much timing would you guess the third team guy gets with the first team wideouts?  Hint: the answer’s zero.

There are bound to be a heck of a lot of failures ahead for new coach Bob Davie.  He just needs to keep in mind the quote by Winston Churchill:

“Success is measured by your ability to maintain enthusiasm between failures.”

In this day and age (actually, in every day and age), superstar athletes are idolized by a fairly segment of society.  It’s human nature.  We are always in awe of people who can do things we can’t do.  Especially when those skills are televised.

Long ago, a coaching friend of mine from Ohio told me a story of he and his wife attending a party shortly after they had returned from a fantastic vacation.  When the host asked him how his vacation was, my buddy was excited to tell the group.  Until he looked to his immediate left and the guy standing there was John Glenn.  The astronaut.  Shortly after Glenn had returned from the first-ever trip to the moon.  My friend his vacation was OK and moved on.

Usually, astronauts aren’t as likely to be recognized as great running backs.  And Adrian Peterson is in that category.  The adulation is fun but with it comes responsibility and when an athlete - or some other entertainer - makes the wrong move, what follows isn’t fun.

Adrian Peterson is charged with resisting arrest, following an altercation in a bar at, or around, 2:30 am.  One way all of this could have been avoided is Peterson could have followed the rule, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”  While it might be poor judgment to be out that late, it’s not against the law.  Resisting arrest is.

Peterson has hired high-profile attorney Rusty Hardin, the lawyer who got Roger Clemens a not guilty verdict when he was facing a charge of lying to Congress.  Why, skeptics say, would AP have to hire him if he was innocent?  There is a simple answer to that.  Because he wants the best lawyer available!  It’s not like innocent people don’t want the best representation.

Peterson tweeted the famous Winston Churchill line - “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on.”  Whether that idea was Peterson’s or Hardin’s (or someone else’s) doesn’t matter.  (Note: I wonder if Churchill would have used light years had he known the Internet was going to be invented.  For that matter, I wonder if he would have tweeted it himself if he could have).  From my perch, all the talking heads at ESPN and I are in agreement - because of how Adrian Peterson has thus far conducted himself.  In summary, the feeling is:

“His record is squeaky clean up to now.  I give him a pass.”

Living in Fresno, it doesn’t take long to realize this is Giants’ Country.  And that’s during an average year.  Now that they’re one game away from winning it all, you can actually feel the energy in the entire region.

Not everyone is a San Fran fan but those who are elevate the level of excitement in such a way that it generates a positive feeling throughout the area.  Add to the fact that the Giants won their third game in the World Series on Halloween - as if the San Joaquin Valley needed another reason to wear orange and black - and people are on the verge of jubilation.

I’m from New Jersey and my mother’s side of the family was from Brooklyn.  In 1954 the New York Giants won the World Series and I can truthfully say I don’t remember that event at all - except for the catch Willie Mays made on Vic Wertz.  Even back then the replays were shown over and over.

But a year later, the Dodgers won their first World Series - when I was 7 - and I remember almost everything about it.   I grew up a staunch Dodgers fan and now I think of all the kids around that age who are Giants’ fans and the memories they’ll have (unless they pull a colossal choke).  Even the grownups are acting giddy.  Maybe it’s because, should the Giants manage one more win, they’ll be World Champs.  Their first since . . . 1954.

That is something to cheer about and with the economy in the shape it is, seeing people laugh or smile or even act foolish makes you realize what sports can do.  Sure, the Rangers’ faithful will be disappointed, but in a few days, they’ll be thinking about the wonderful ride their ballclub took them on and they’ll be happy too - although not as delirious as the Giants fans.

Winning feels so good it makes people forget about their troubles - if only for a brief period.  What sports does is brighten people’s attitudes and as Winston Churchill said:

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

In this year’s version of MLB’s “playoffs,” one guy threw the first no hitter (in post-season play) since 1956, while the other fired a two-hitter and struck out 14.  Roy Halladay vs. Tim Lincecum in Game 1 of the NLCS.  If ever there was a game in which nothing needed to be said, this one’s as close to “it” as we’ll ever see.

So, I’ll take the advice of Sir Winston Churchill who once said:

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” 

Or, in this case, watch.  Call me courageous.

Tom Izzo is a grunt - and admits to it.  Nothing easy ever came to him.  Sure, he has one of the best jobs in the nation but he worked his butt off to get it to that position - as a graduate assistant, full-time assistant and as the guy in charge.  He wasn’t a star player who walked into a cake job.

At first, following Jud Heathcote, one of the wisest coaches - and sharpest wits in the business - was a challenge.  And that’s nothing short of one of the great understatements of all time.  Jud had won a national championship (with Magic Johnson) and came close on other occasions - all the while, doing it his way.

Tom’s first year at Michigan State found his club in the NIT.  For his maiden postseason voyage, they sent him and the Spartans packing to Fresno.  It was Jerry Tarkanian’s first year with the Bulldogs and, by the end of the season, Jerry’s guys had bought into his pressure defense.  Tom’s offensive philosophy was to run plays.  Jerry’s defensive philosophy was not to let teams runs plays, to force them to make plays.  By the time MSU pulled into Fresno’s Selland Arena, the joint was hoppin’ - 10,220 strong.  The ‘Dogs blew away Sparty.  Years later, the two teams and coaches met again - in the NCAA tournament’s second round.  This time, after years of gruntwork, i.e. serious recruiting, Izzo got his revenge - beating Tark and eventually making it to Final Four.  Where he’s seemingly been ever since.

Last year, the stars were aligned and not only did Michigan State make it to the Final Game, but it was held in the Palace at Auburn Hills, nearly walking distance for Spartan fans.  Unfortunately, the opponents were the UNC Tarheel teams, loaded with first round draft picks.  The ‘Heels prevailed but this year, while UNC’s season turned south, Michigan State returned stronger than ever.

And then, in as exciting a second round game as the tourney’s ever seen, they knocked off Maryland - only because they had the ball last.  In the process, however, they lost Kalin Lucas, their point guard and leader on the court.  For the rest of the tournament.  What looked like a stroke of luck, #1 overall seed and next opponent, Kansas, was upset by Northern Iowa, turned sour after Lucas went down.  While the Spartans could still get by UNI, Ohio State looms as the team standing between them and another Final Four (if the Buckeyes can get past Tennessee) and, ironically, OSU found itself where MSU is now earlier in the season when their superstar, Evan Turner, took a nasty spill and sat out a number of games. 

When’s a good time to get hurt?  Turner is probably still smarting from the awful fall he took early in the year (while dunking), but he’s thankful he’s healthy now, while Lucas can only cheer.  But at least those guys got hurt in action, helping their teams win a game. 

Darryl “Truck” Bryant of West Virginia broke his right foot in practice.  We’re talking about practice.  Maybe Allen Iverson had it right.  Although that’s really not the case.  The foot had begun to bother Bryant in the Mountaineers second round game against Missouri.  He changed shoes at halftime, knowing something was wrong. 

Bob Huggins has been to the Final Four once before - in 1991 as a #4 seed.  I didn’t even have to look it up, as it is indelibly etched into my brain.  I was associate head coach at USC and we were the #2 seed (in the Midwest).  We were handed a crushing defeat by Georgia Tech (their freshman, James Forrest hit the first three-pointer of his college career - with 0:00.8 of a second left in the game - and us up two).  This, following then-Memphis State’s upset of #3 Arkansas and the day before the biggest upset, UTEP beating #1 Kansas.

Hugs thought his team this year was better than that club.  Until Bryant went down in Tuesday’s practice.  This type of adversity is devastating, but when it happens twice to the same guy.  Huggins best team, the 1999-2000 Cincinnati Bearcats, were poised to make a run at a national championship when, during the Conference USA tournament, Kenyon Martin, the ‘Cats’ star broke his leg and missed the NCAA tournament.  How good was he?  A short while later, he became the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.

As harsh as it sounds, the Spartans and Mountaineers should heed the advice of one of the world’s great leaders, Sir Winston Churchill:

“If you’re going through hell, . . . keep going.”�

After hearing coaches, congressmen and other “high up there” people (you readers know what I’m talking about) speak, I realized I haven’t felt, for quite a while, the same inspirational stirring I used to when I listened to public speakers.  It drove me back to a blog I did on 7/6/07, entitled, The Two Greatest Speakers of All-Time.  Tell me if you don’t agree, or if you don’t, let me know your faves.

As has been noted on several occasions, I was a member of the National Speakers Association for a number of years.  Listening to professional - and even some amateur - speakers is an enjoyable pastime for me.  I value the education I receive listening to the topic, but even moreso, I really get into the speaker’s delivery, mannerisms and, simply, the overall presentation and everything that’s part of it.  If it fits into my style, I’ll incorporate it into my speeches.  And it won’t take me but one speech to realize whether what I thought would work for me actually does, or if I should leave it alone - that it might be something only that particular speaker could pull off.

Throughout the years, I’ve listened, observed and studied the greats, e.g. Zig Ziglar, Cavett Robert, Art Berg, Jeannie Robertson, Patricia Fripp, W. Mitchell, Hubie Brown, Art Holst, Les Brown, you get the idea.  I love learning and being entertained by speakers and there are so many great ones out there.

But … for my money, the two best speakers ever are Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King, Jr.  When you heard Churchill, you were obviously impressed, but the more you listen to his speeches, the more you realize the unbelivable command of the English language he had (he never even paused to think about the right word to use, it seemed to just come to him) and the fact that he never, ever stuttered or lost track of his thoughts.  He rose to speak and nailed it - on the first take (as if he were allowed another).

Dr. King’s greatest oratorical traits were his enunciation and use of inflection.  He pronounced each and every word precisely.  His voice would rise and lower at exactly the right time, thus holding his audience’s attention independent of the length of the speech.  Several others have attempted to imitate his style (certainly a wise idea), but I’ve yet to hear anyone master those two characteristics which absolutely captivated every crowd to whom he spoke.

Although many can recite bits and pieces of their speeches (”This is our finest hour!” and “I have a dream!”), the line which sums them up, as well as all truly great speakers is: 

“People remember more what they feel than what they hear.”

Anyone who’s ever listened to the speeches of Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King, Jr. “felt” infinitely more than they heard.

Saturday’s blog was about Reggie Miller claiming the defense played by Hedo Turgolu on LeBron James’ game-winning shot with one second left (Game 2) wasn’t good.  Even after Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson and a seemingly countless number of replays - as well as post-game interviews with players and coaches from both sides - should have made it apparent to Reggie that the defense was as good as it could have been - it was more of a matter that the offense by LBJ was just “indefensible” - ol’ Reg stubbornly insisted he was right.

Two days later, the subject came up again (prior to Game 3) and, hoping against hope that he would have realized the error of his idiocy ways - to show that he was able to see what everyone else in the world who saw the play understood - once more, Miller clung to his lone opinion.  As video of his sister, Cheryl, was shown on TNT, he blurted out that everyone could forget the notion that Candace Parker or Lisa Leslie or anyone else was the best female college basketball player of all-time - that Cheryl Miller, with her back-back- national championships was far and away the best female player ever.

This statement is completely understandable.  There are zillions of people who might disagree with him on that opinion - and maybe just as many who might be behind Reggie.  Blood is thicker than stats or anything else known to humankind.  But why someone would continue to . . .  Then, in the discussion in the makeshift studio at the Amway Center started by Barkley, regarding the incompetency, the reversed (upon further review) to inconsistency of the referees, the more-and-more outspoken Miller made the statement that there should be much more use of the replay video by the officials “to get it right.”

First to make an attempt at rebutttal was EJ, who stated the obvious: in such a fast-paced game as basketball is, anything similar to what Reggie proposed would interrupt the rhythm of the game.  This obvious fact alone should have ended the discussion.  The Jet chimed in with his thought - that it should be used much more frequently for foul calls and whether a Flagrant One or a Flagrant Two (meaning automatic ejection) to make sure those were called properly because how much of an impact a mistaken would have on, not only a game, but on a series as well.   

Naturally (at this point, we should expect nothing less), Reggie disagreed, claiming he wanted to make sure the officials got it right!  Smith countered with a few plays from the past they’d been discussing over the last few broadcasts.  One was when Reggie gave Michael Jordan a two-hand shove to ensure himself of getting open, just prior to hitting the game-winning jumper and, just to show it was nothing personal in his feeling on the subject, the fact that Kenny himself (might have) traveled before a game-winner he hit.

Still, Reggie persisted that his opinion was not to be swayed (maybe they should jave told Cheryl to tell him his ideas were way off), maintaining, he just wanted to make sure the refs got it right.

I came up with something that just might shoot holes in Sir Reggie’s theory - on this subject, not the one where his is to always be the last word.  Had the referees gone to the video on LeBron’s last second shot, they would have seen that he pushed Turgolu after the Magic “point forward” had shut down the first option (that of throwing LeBron a lob to tie it).  If the officials had been allowed to go to the video, they would have called a foul on James and wiped off the basket.

While that wouldn’t have shown Reggie to be wrong in either case, i.e. he’d still think Turgolu’s D was less than what was satisfactory and that this would disrupt the flow of the game (there was only one second left anyway), it would simply make a mockery of it, and, in all probability, spark a riot at the Quicken Loans Arena.

AND, take into account what Reggie said “The Michael Jordan of Turkey” (as Chuck and Kenny refer to Hedo) should have done, in order not to let LeBron create enough space to be able to get the look he did, so he could knock down the game-winner: “He should have grabbed his arm,” was the advice that Miller would give Turgolu in that situation.

Consider the ramifications of that strategy, coupled with his latest bit of (il)logical thought. Assuming LeBron would have shaken free from Turgolu’s grasp (a pretty safe bet since James looks as though he could shake free from the grips of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster - even if they each were in possession of one apiece of those late night power tools that has such a grip you can hold a house on the California Coast and keep it from falling into the Pacific during a perfect storm - assuming one of those tools could find a place to hold onto the house … and “The Perfect Storm” happening to be traveling through that part of California shortly after the grip was applied).  Whew! 

Then, the referees would have to make the fans and teams wait while they watched Hedo Turgolu grabbing LeBron James’ arm (a foul), James pushing the Magic defender away (a foul) and still check on whether the shot left the shooter’s hand before the clock went off and whether the shooter was completely behind the three point line.  Sounds like a good time to take a potty break.

I fear Reggie has become too fanatical regarding his opinions and what we know what Winston Churchill said about fanatics:

“A fanatic is someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

     �

In my 7/6/07 blog, I made the statement that, my choices for the two greatest speakers of all-time are Sir Winston Churchill and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Churchill, because of his magnificent presence, his ability to speak without stuttering (seemingly, ever) and the thorough command he had of the English language (never at a loss for the proper word).  King’s powerful speaking style was due to his unmatched use of inflection and his ability to motivate people to action, making him the idol of speakers everywhere.

Now, along comes Barack Obama, as real a threat to either crack the top two or make it the Big Three as anyone in recent memory (certainly in the political world).  Aside from a little stuttering (which only serves to make him come across as more “human”), Obama’s use of the English language is diverse, yet never does he speak above the heads of his audience, and as far as “motivating to action,” he got people to vote who never did before, and got them - and enough others - to vote for him so that he is now the 44th President of the United States.

All he’s ever gotten accomplished, whether as a community organizer or a Senator is not only because of his charisma but, as a speaker, he can hold an audience’s attention, successfully explain his point and has an extremely high “believability factor.” 

Yes, he is a dreamer.  But, when the smoke clears, aren’t we all?  After hearing his inaugural speech, I’m certain we’ll all hope the following statement is true:

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.”   �