Let me preface this by saying this much: This is Timmy Hickle's optimism. Everyone else on the face of the earth is skeptical of this Hoosier team, assuming the worst, but I believe. I believe not because we have the best team in the world, but because we are Hoosiers, and when you have the Hoosier mentality, nothing can keep you from a banner. Last night was the first time I saw that Hoosier mentality since 2002, so call me crazy, but I can see the light. Now onto the blog...
Last night in Assembly Hall, I witnessed two things...
1. I witnessed the worst home loss in our school's history, and to Wisconsin nonetheless.
2. I witnessed the moment that will live in our hearts when we raise Banner Number Six.
For those of you who missed the game, we were getting handled by the Badgers. Our performance was sloppy at best and the officiating was ugly as it's been all season. With 9:53 remaining, Tom Crean chewed out an official for the second time in the past minute. The official ejected him, but Crean wouldn't go quietly. He continued to argue, continued to fight, until he was escorted out...
BUT WAIT, HE'S NOT DONE!
He then stormed back on the court and began to scream again, as the crowd grew louder and louder in his favor. As he was escorted down the hallway, there is video of him hitting things as he walked down the hallway. The team continued to be overwhelmed by a Wisconsin team that, I would argue, was not more skilled as much as they were more experienced and organized. To the layman, this appears to be a disaster... Just another season of destruction in the post-Sampson era. To the true Hoosier fan, however, we noticed something...
While we couldn't hear what he said to the refs, any lifelong Hoosier fan heard a couple things going through their head...
"I'm sick and fucking tired of losing to fucking Purdue."
or,
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here have past, I want they bury me upside down so my critics can kiss my ass."
or maybe even,
"If the NBA were on channel five and a bunch of frogs making love was on channel four, I'd watch the frogs, even if the frogs were coming in fuzzy."
I'm not saying Tom Crean is the new General, but last night, for the first time since a Bobby Knight team graduated (under Mike Davis) we saw the Hoosier spirit reincarnated. We saw something that really resonates with Hoosier Nation.
You talk to me about one-and-dones? Bad memories.
You talk to me about big recruits? Bad connotations.
You talk to me about my head coach being thrown out after an emotional outburst? NOW we're talking about Hoosier basketball.
I just want to end this with one thought from Coach Crean after last night's game...
"I will never, ever apologize for my passion for believing what I think is right. The passion is the overriding emotion. It's not anything else."
Well, Tom, we're not asking for an apology, we're giving you a standing ovation. Now take that passion and make these guys ache in practice. I believe in them, you believe in them, it's your turn to make the nation believe in them.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Reason I'll Be Crying Like a Baby on Friday...
I'm a simple guy. For as opinionated as I am, I have very few actual "beliefs." I think that a public option on healthcare reform would help increase competition and improve the availability of quality care, but I don't believe it because a belief requires so much more conviction than a thought or an idea. A belief requires undoubting faith, and at this point in my life, I really only have three actual beliefs...
1. There is a God.
2. Education can fix anything.
3. I've seen crazier stuff happen in my life.
One and two are conversations for another time. Today, I want to discuss number three, something I'm sure many of you have heard me say before in my life. Anytime I face the improbable, I've got a go to phrase...
"I've seen crazier stuff happen in my life."
What's that, you might ask?
Once upon a time, there was a scrawny boy born in southern California. He was born with hip deformities and told it would be a miracle if he could walk...
Fast forward to May 7, 1995, and this little boy scored eight points in nine seconds to propel the Indiana Pacers to the most improbable comeback in NBA history. To this day, he is mentioned among the legends.
Little Timmy Hickle was four years old at the time, and while I may not remember much about 1995, that's something you never ever forget. This man is proof that impossible truly is nothing.
Friday is still three days away and yet my inner four year old is jumping for joy. For those of you who don't know, Friday is the early release party for Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks at Conseco Fieldhouse. I'll be there, Reggie will be there, it will be a fantastic time, but the reason I'm most excited isn't to get an autograph, but rather to relive one of the greatest rivalries in basketball history.
Today, the Pacers are abysmal. I love them, but they lost to the Timberwolves. 'Nuff said. The issue, however, isn't that my team isn't winning. Rather, the game as a whole has changed so dramatically from the game I fell in love with. No longer are there rivalries so intense that the very mention of the opposition makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The game has been like this since the early 2000's, but I never noticed because of the renewed rivalry between the Pacers and the Pistons, culminating in the brawl and subsequently ending after the Pacers' elimination in the 2005 Playoffs, marking the end of the Miller era. We had Reggie and Ron-Ron, two guys who are both extremely capable of getting into the opponent's head and destroying them psychologically. Now players are quieter, nicer, not trying to gouge out Michael Jordan's eyes or being head butt by John Starks. This game is less dramatic, and the drama is exactly what I miss the most.
Look at the NBA Finals last year. Boring. No smack talk, no bad blood, no excitement. I miss Reggie for the clutch shots, but even more for the theater he created. Dan Klores, the director of Winning Time has compared Reggie's story to an operatic comedy. I couldn't have put it better.
"What if I told you he was the reason the city never slept?" -Dan Klores
"To Reggie, Pacers versus Knicks was more than a basketball series. It was a battle of Biblical proportions. You had Indianapolis, the Holy city, and you had New York, Sodom and Gomorra." -Cheryl Miller
It's beautiful... I can't wait for it... and for those of you going with me, don't be surprised when I cry, because I will... a lot. Not because I'm sad, but at the beauty that is this epic tale.
Additionally, this is a reminder that we face our own "New York Knicks" every day. We all face insurmountable odds from time to time. We all have our own miracles to preform. I can think of half a dozen miracles I need over the course of the next five days. The one thing that Reggie reminded us, however, is that a miracle, at any point in time, is only nine seconds away.
Nine seconds is all I need. It's Miller Time.
I'd like to leave you with this... To quote Reggie in the clip "Game over, bitch."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ICBGQXbft8
1. There is a God.
2. Education can fix anything.
3. I've seen crazier stuff happen in my life.
One and two are conversations for another time. Today, I want to discuss number three, something I'm sure many of you have heard me say before in my life. Anytime I face the improbable, I've got a go to phrase...
"I've seen crazier stuff happen in my life."
What's that, you might ask?
Once upon a time, there was a scrawny boy born in southern California. He was born with hip deformities and told it would be a miracle if he could walk...
Fast forward to May 7, 1995, and this little boy scored eight points in nine seconds to propel the Indiana Pacers to the most improbable comeback in NBA history. To this day, he is mentioned among the legends.
Little Timmy Hickle was four years old at the time, and while I may not remember much about 1995, that's something you never ever forget. This man is proof that impossible truly is nothing.
Friday is still three days away and yet my inner four year old is jumping for joy. For those of you who don't know, Friday is the early release party for Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks at Conseco Fieldhouse. I'll be there, Reggie will be there, it will be a fantastic time, but the reason I'm most excited isn't to get an autograph, but rather to relive one of the greatest rivalries in basketball history.
Today, the Pacers are abysmal. I love them, but they lost to the Timberwolves. 'Nuff said. The issue, however, isn't that my team isn't winning. Rather, the game as a whole has changed so dramatically from the game I fell in love with. No longer are there rivalries so intense that the very mention of the opposition makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The game has been like this since the early 2000's, but I never noticed because of the renewed rivalry between the Pacers and the Pistons, culminating in the brawl and subsequently ending after the Pacers' elimination in the 2005 Playoffs, marking the end of the Miller era. We had Reggie and Ron-Ron, two guys who are both extremely capable of getting into the opponent's head and destroying them psychologically. Now players are quieter, nicer, not trying to gouge out Michael Jordan's eyes or being head butt by John Starks. This game is less dramatic, and the drama is exactly what I miss the most.
Look at the NBA Finals last year. Boring. No smack talk, no bad blood, no excitement. I miss Reggie for the clutch shots, but even more for the theater he created. Dan Klores, the director of Winning Time has compared Reggie's story to an operatic comedy. I couldn't have put it better.
"What if I told you he was the reason the city never slept?" -Dan Klores
"To Reggie, Pacers versus Knicks was more than a basketball series. It was a battle of Biblical proportions. You had Indianapolis, the Holy city, and you had New York, Sodom and Gomorra." -Cheryl Miller
It's beautiful... I can't wait for it... and for those of you going with me, don't be surprised when I cry, because I will... a lot. Not because I'm sad, but at the beauty that is this epic tale.
Additionally, this is a reminder that we face our own "New York Knicks" every day. We all face insurmountable odds from time to time. We all have our own miracles to preform. I can think of half a dozen miracles I need over the course of the next five days. The one thing that Reggie reminded us, however, is that a miracle, at any point in time, is only nine seconds away.
Nine seconds is all I need. It's Miller Time.
I'd like to leave you with this... To quote Reggie in the clip "Game over, bitch."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ICBGQXbft8
Friday, February 19, 2010
R.O.C.K. in the Senate?
Well, Bayh, I hope you're happy. Now that you've announced your retirement, not only have you sent Republicans scrambling for your seat, but you've also somehow managed to find worse candidates than yourself on the Democratic side to start popping up. The more I look at the potential candidates, I cringe, but it looks likely that Baron Hill will be the frontrunner.
Baron Hill, really?
Let me preface this by saying I'm a critic of all my elected officials, it's my responsibility as a citizen to know what they're doing and be dissatisfied with the results as I see fit. That being said, as the Representative for Indiana's ninth district, Hill has served on three committees including the Joint Economics Committee. Don't get me wrong, if you've got an econ guy running for office, sign me up because I can get on board with that, but he's not an econ guy. Not only is his degree in history, but he has received abysmally low ratings from interests groups for the American taxpayers. Now, I can give him credit in a couple of areas. Number one, he supported H.R. 2272, which was designed to put America back in the driver's seat in regards to science and mathematics education.
Honestly, if the election were today, that one vote is enough to keep me voting in his column. Despite the fact that he hasn't made a speech on education in the two years since he cast that vote, I can forgive him. But here's the deal, Baron. As a United States Senator, you should be one of the best citizens our state has to offer. Preferably, you should be in the top two. Indiana has a horrible history of electing unproductive senators who can't seem to make any noise when they reach Washington. Perhaps this is Hoosier Hospitality preventing them from rising in opposition, but I doubt it.
Hoosiers are leaders, not followers, so why is it that we are still yet to elect a single senator who could be an innovator? (The one exception to this rule could be said to be Dan Quayle who was not only the 44th Vice President of the United States, but also wasn't afraid to stick his neck out in the senate. I disagree with this assessment strictly because he was both intellectually and politically weak nationally.... Oh yeah, and he can't spell the word "potato"). Now, I'm not saying that Baron Hill is awful. He's good at his current job, representing southern Indiana. I don't believe, however, he's politically strong enough to carry his own weight in the Senate. Don't believe me? Go to his website, read a couple of position statements, and tell me how many times you see a buzz word. He's too weak for the seat... So who to choose, who to choose?
There's a lot of talk recently about John Mellencamp potentially making a run for the seat. All I can do is shrug and hope something crazy happens. Not only is there a strong push from several Hoosier groups, but Mellencamp has not denied the claims that he's running. Recently, his agent said that they have no statement on the issue, which raises two immediate questions...
1.) Why would the same man who said "I don't want to be a politician. I don't like politics. It's petty; it fights dirty" run for the United States Senate?
2.) Is there actually a chance he could fight authority and NOT have authority win?
My answer to both is we don't know. I don't buy that he's about to run out of nowhere, but then again, I could see it happening. I feel like after 2008, he has hit a point where he'd get involved strictly to "fight authority."
But wait folks, here's the beauty... If Mellencamp runs, I guarantee a victory. Not only will he win, but he has a chance to do something that no Hoosier politician has ever done, make a national splash that can actually make a difference in this nation. He can be our Al Franken, but with more spunk. The best part? Those walls that have been holding Indianapolis back politically and economically?
They'll come tumblin' down.
Baron Hill, really?
Let me preface this by saying I'm a critic of all my elected officials, it's my responsibility as a citizen to know what they're doing and be dissatisfied with the results as I see fit. That being said, as the Representative for Indiana's ninth district, Hill has served on three committees including the Joint Economics Committee. Don't get me wrong, if you've got an econ guy running for office, sign me up because I can get on board with that, but he's not an econ guy. Not only is his degree in history, but he has received abysmally low ratings from interests groups for the American taxpayers. Now, I can give him credit in a couple of areas. Number one, he supported H.R. 2272, which was designed to put America back in the driver's seat in regards to science and mathematics education.
Honestly, if the election were today, that one vote is enough to keep me voting in his column. Despite the fact that he hasn't made a speech on education in the two years since he cast that vote, I can forgive him. But here's the deal, Baron. As a United States Senator, you should be one of the best citizens our state has to offer. Preferably, you should be in the top two. Indiana has a horrible history of electing unproductive senators who can't seem to make any noise when they reach Washington. Perhaps this is Hoosier Hospitality preventing them from rising in opposition, but I doubt it.
Hoosiers are leaders, not followers, so why is it that we are still yet to elect a single senator who could be an innovator? (The one exception to this rule could be said to be Dan Quayle who was not only the 44th Vice President of the United States, but also wasn't afraid to stick his neck out in the senate. I disagree with this assessment strictly because he was both intellectually and politically weak nationally.... Oh yeah, and he can't spell the word "potato"). Now, I'm not saying that Baron Hill is awful. He's good at his current job, representing southern Indiana. I don't believe, however, he's politically strong enough to carry his own weight in the Senate. Don't believe me? Go to his website, read a couple of position statements, and tell me how many times you see a buzz word. He's too weak for the seat... So who to choose, who to choose?
There's a lot of talk recently about John Mellencamp potentially making a run for the seat. All I can do is shrug and hope something crazy happens. Not only is there a strong push from several Hoosier groups, but Mellencamp has not denied the claims that he's running. Recently, his agent said that they have no statement on the issue, which raises two immediate questions...
1.) Why would the same man who said "I don't want to be a politician. I don't like politics. It's petty; it fights dirty" run for the United States Senate?
2.) Is there actually a chance he could fight authority and NOT have authority win?
My answer to both is we don't know. I don't buy that he's about to run out of nowhere, but then again, I could see it happening. I feel like after 2008, he has hit a point where he'd get involved strictly to "fight authority."
But wait folks, here's the beauty... If Mellencamp runs, I guarantee a victory. Not only will he win, but he has a chance to do something that no Hoosier politician has ever done, make a national splash that can actually make a difference in this nation. He can be our Al Franken, but with more spunk. The best part? Those walls that have been holding Indianapolis back politically and economically?
They'll come tumblin' down.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
No Great Wall of Indy.
So here I am... Sitting in Ballentine, taking a break from the tedious process of studying for an exam. To set the scene, I'm wearing a Pacers t-shirt, Pacers hat, and reading about our three point loss to the Spurs last night. I'm trying my hardest to grasp on to any sliver of hope I have for this team to win the greatest title we could possibly reach for...
The Number One Pick.
Here's the issue. As of right now, we're tied for fourth place for least wins in the league. We're not going to beat the Nets, but if we can get enough ping pong balls, there's a good chance that we can still get the #1 slot.
I know how great John Wall is. He is going to be the #1 pick regardless of what happens to the Wildcats in March. He is undoubtedly one of the most skilled one guards to ever come out of the NCAA. Think about it for a second. If we managed to land this slot, we'd be starting next year with the following lineup...
5- Roy Hibbert
4- Tyler Hansbrough
3- Danny Granger
2- Brandon Rush
1- John Wall
We're talking about two all stars in Danny and Wall and two players in Hansbrough and Hibbert that can be dominant figures on the rotation of a winning team. With AJ Price and Dahntay Jones on the bench, we have some depth at guard. We have no depth at the 4 and 5 slots, which will be an issue with a foul-prone Hibbert, but we're going shopping for an aging big man in 2012.
"But Tim, What about Murphy and Dunleavy? Why aren't you talking about them?"
We need to boot them, STAT.
Don't get me wrong, they're good players, but they're average compared to other NBA starters and they'd be riding the pine anywhere else in the league. If I were Larry Legend, I'd be working my ass off calling other miserable teams trying to get a second top-ten draft choice. As much as Wall would help us, could you imagine a front court of Roy Hibbert and DeMarcus Cousins?
However unlikely it is, it's something to think about. When you compile these expiring contracts with a second and/or third round draft pick, we just might be able to get someone to bite. All that aside, however, the most important thing to realize is that we need two things immediately, and two more things in the long run.
Right now, we need a new coach and a great point guard.
O'Brein's contract is over at the end of next season. If we renew his contract, we're selling ourselves short. There is no excuse for a team with as many skilled players as we have to be playing this inconsistently. If you can't win, then you can't win, but when you can beat the Magic and lose to the Timberwolves in the same week, you know you have an issue on the bench, not on the court.
Bring in a good coach, and a great point guard, suddenly this offense will work. Assuming Brandon Rush can start to gain some consistency in his third year in the league, this is a team that will have one of the best starting lineups in the league. Let's say, hypothetically, that we DO get John Wall, let's compare the lineup I mentioned to one of the most well-rounded starting lineups in the league currently.
Pacers Lakers Advantage
Tim, Derek Fisher has won three titles! You think some rookie phenom can come out and dominate him.
Without a doubt. John Wall is physically dominant. When he gets to the NBA, if he learns how to run the offense, he can and will be the guy who dwarfs the Allen Iversons of the past.
Mike Vanderjact, to this day the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he's out of a job. Was it because of one missed field goal? No. He lost his job because he missed a clutch kick, then joked about it on Letterman.
That's not being the best you can be.
Don't be so sure.
The Number One Pick.
Here's the issue. As of right now, we're tied for fourth place for least wins in the league. We're not going to beat the Nets, but if we can get enough ping pong balls, there's a good chance that we can still get the #1 slot.
I know how great John Wall is. He is going to be the #1 pick regardless of what happens to the Wildcats in March. He is undoubtedly one of the most skilled one guards to ever come out of the NCAA. Think about it for a second. If we managed to land this slot, we'd be starting next year with the following lineup...
5- Roy Hibbert
4- Tyler Hansbrough
3- Danny Granger
2- Brandon Rush
1- John Wall
We're talking about two all stars in Danny and Wall and two players in Hansbrough and Hibbert that can be dominant figures on the rotation of a winning team. With AJ Price and Dahntay Jones on the bench, we have some depth at guard. We have no depth at the 4 and 5 slots, which will be an issue with a foul-prone Hibbert, but we're going shopping for an aging big man in 2012.
"But Tim, What about Murphy and Dunleavy? Why aren't you talking about them?"
We need to boot them, STAT.
Don't get me wrong, they're good players, but they're average compared to other NBA starters and they'd be riding the pine anywhere else in the league. If I were Larry Legend, I'd be working my ass off calling other miserable teams trying to get a second top-ten draft choice. As much as Wall would help us, could you imagine a front court of Roy Hibbert and DeMarcus Cousins?
However unlikely it is, it's something to think about. When you compile these expiring contracts with a second and/or third round draft pick, we just might be able to get someone to bite. All that aside, however, the most important thing to realize is that we need two things immediately, and two more things in the long run.
Right now, we need a new coach and a great point guard.
O'Brein's contract is over at the end of next season. If we renew his contract, we're selling ourselves short. There is no excuse for a team with as many skilled players as we have to be playing this inconsistently. If you can't win, then you can't win, but when you can beat the Magic and lose to the Timberwolves in the same week, you know you have an issue on the bench, not on the court.
Bring in a good coach, and a great point guard, suddenly this offense will work. Assuming Brandon Rush can start to gain some consistency in his third year in the league, this is a team that will have one of the best starting lineups in the league. Let's say, hypothetically, that we DO get John Wall, let's compare the lineup I mentioned to one of the most well-rounded starting lineups in the league currently.
Pacers Lakers Advantage
5- Roy Hibbert Andrew Bynum Pacers
4- Tyler Hansbrough Paul Gasol Lakers
3- Danny Granger Ron Artest Pacers
2- Brandon Rush Kobe Bryant Lakers
1- John Wall Derek Fisher Pacers
What the hell, Tim? You really think Roy Hibbert has an advantage over Andrew Bynum?!
Yes. Roy is going to be a third year player next year, Bynum will be in his fifth year. Bynum has hit his prime. As you look at his totals, it appears he's not going to get any better than a 15.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG guy. Hibbert, however, is improving by the game. Currently, he's averaging 11.1 PPG and 5.9 RPG (compared to 7.1 and 3.4 respectively his rookie year). By this time next year, he'll be averaging about the same as Bynum and he's a much more dominant presence on defense.
But Tim, you said you love Ron-Ron! Why do you think he's worse than Danny?
Because he is. While he was once the most dominant defenders in the league, he's become washed up. He's old news. His glory days were in Indiana, not in LA.
Tim, Derek Fisher has won three titles! You think some rookie phenom can come out and dominate him.
Without a doubt. John Wall is physically dominant. When he gets to the NBA, if he learns how to run the offense, he can and will be the guy who dwarfs the Allen Iversons of the past.
Granted, the Lakers have much more depth in their bigs than we do, but depth comes after skill upfront, not before it.
Now, here's the dilemma. When I look at John Wall, I don't see Indiana basketball. I know what it looks like when I see it, and as great as he is, he belongs in New Jersey, Golden State, Washington, or Sacramento. He's a coast player. Coast teams care about being the best team in the league that year. Midwest fans, Indiana especially, prefer to be the best that they can be in all aspects of the game.
Case and point: Ron Artest, one of the greatest defenders in NBA history, kicked out of town because of fan protest. Not because we thought he was bad for the team, but bad for the community and culture of the city.
Mike Vanderjact, to this day the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he's out of a job. Was it because of one missed field goal? No. He lost his job because he missed a clutch kick, then joked about it on Letterman.
That's not being the best you can be.
You miss a kick, you lose a game... Indiana will still accept you. We may not love you or throw down $150/ticket to watch you play, but we'll still accept you and wait patiently for you to come around. If you compromise our values, however, you won't be so lucky. We're a bitter group, us Hoosiers, and we'll get you. Just ask the sell out crowd that came to see Ron Artest's return to Conseco with the Kings. Not only was there deafening boos whenever he touched the ball, but when the ball ricocheted into the stands, a middle aged woman grabbed it and heaved it, Peyton Manning style, pegging Artest in the back of the head.
John Wall is a great player, but he cheated to get where he is today. This scares me. He's the best player in this draft, but I'm not convinced he's best for the Hoosier state.
Rings or not, I'd rather have Reggie than Starks, Dungy over Bellicheck.
Rings or not, I'd rather have Reggie than Starks, Dungy over Bellicheck.
So as the ping pong balls bounce this June, who've you got? John Wall?
Don't be so sure.
Friday, February 5, 2010
A Bandwagon Lament Part 2
Maybe I'm just crazy... Maybe.
Maybe I'm alone in the corner with Tom Crean as the only two people who still believe in Banner Six, but the more I watch this team, the more converts I see. I know we lost last night, but I guarantee in the coming years, February 4th, 2010 will a day that we remember as a turning point.
Two years ago, our team was undermined and destroyed. Last year, we were in shambles. This year, even the most optimistic fans were just hoping we could turn the corner, but the general consensus was that this rebuilding process would take years.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new Indiana Hoosiers.
Out of nowhere, Tom "The Wall" Pritchard learned how to play basketball. Christian Watford looked like he had inherited some Kobe chromosomes, and Devan Dumes apparently picked up some defense at the NBA's Goodwill. What surprised me the most, however, was the passionate play of freshman Jordan Hulls. As a Bloomington South kid, Hulls is born and raised Cream and Crimson, so I fully expected him to come out at the beginning of the game and just start shooting. As a born-and-raised Hoosier, when it's IU-Purdue, you want---no---you NEED to be the hero. Now, don't be mistaken, his nerves showed, but despite his scrambling around midcourt late into the shot clock, his nerves didn't negatively impact us. By keeping his emotions in check (and two key threes didn't hurt), Hulls proved that (despite my fears), we DO have a reliable guard to run the offense in the future. As skilled as Jeremiah Rivers is, he plays with his heart. As much as I love watching his sick crossovers, there's only so much patience I can have with the guy who insists on driving into the lane and chucking the ball at the backboard every time we need points. Yet another question mark answered. So let's look at our team next year without our next recruiting class.
Tom Pritchard- With a very loud 13 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal, "The Wall" who was once known most for having balls bounce off him has established a post presence that we've been lacking. If he can play for the rest of the season with half the intensity he displayed in the first half last night, we've got a hell of a team to watch
Christian Watford- Beast. His stats speak for themselves. I'm not going to elaborate because it's unnecessary.
Verdell Jones III- My greatest fear about him going into this season is that he has sticky hands. He wants the ball (good), but he wants to keep it when he shouldn't (bad). He's skilled, however, and he's learned how to work with the team. Come next year, everyone will know his name.
Maurice Creek- Remember me? I guarantee... yes... GUARANTEE that if Maurice Creek was healthy last night we win that game. Regardless, he's the centerpiece of this team. This is the guy that's going to make it on the Tshirts. "Got Creek?" perhaps? Maybe you prefer something else, but one thing is sure, when he comes back, we won't be Up a Creek Without a Paddle.
Jordi Hulls- The glue holding together our lineup. This kid has it. He's skilled, but we knew that. Now we know that he has mental fortitude. He showed courage not in a lack of nerves, but rather a conquering of his nerves. This is the first test, but give this kid two years and he'll be leading the charge towards Banner Six.
So maybe I'm crazy, or maybe Crean knows what he's doing. Maybe this team has what it takes. For those of you who aren't along for the ride right now, I beg you to jump on board now. This team is the next great story in Indiana basketball.
First, there was Milan.
Then there was Bobby, Reggie, Larry Legend.
Now, there's Tom Crean and the next generation of Hoosier Hysteria.
From Bobby Plump to Bobby Knight and everyone inbetween, we've seen too many legends in Indiana to not recognize one when he's coaching our sidelines.
Banner Six, here we come.
Maybe I'm alone in the corner with Tom Crean as the only two people who still believe in Banner Six, but the more I watch this team, the more converts I see. I know we lost last night, but I guarantee in the coming years, February 4th, 2010 will a day that we remember as a turning point.
Two years ago, our team was undermined and destroyed. Last year, we were in shambles. This year, even the most optimistic fans were just hoping we could turn the corner, but the general consensus was that this rebuilding process would take years.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new Indiana Hoosiers.
Out of nowhere, Tom "The Wall" Pritchard learned how to play basketball. Christian Watford looked like he had inherited some Kobe chromosomes, and Devan Dumes apparently picked up some defense at the NBA's Goodwill. What surprised me the most, however, was the passionate play of freshman Jordan Hulls. As a Bloomington South kid, Hulls is born and raised Cream and Crimson, so I fully expected him to come out at the beginning of the game and just start shooting. As a born-and-raised Hoosier, when it's IU-Purdue, you want---no---you NEED to be the hero. Now, don't be mistaken, his nerves showed, but despite his scrambling around midcourt late into the shot clock, his nerves didn't negatively impact us. By keeping his emotions in check (and two key threes didn't hurt), Hulls proved that (despite my fears), we DO have a reliable guard to run the offense in the future. As skilled as Jeremiah Rivers is, he plays with his heart. As much as I love watching his sick crossovers, there's only so much patience I can have with the guy who insists on driving into the lane and chucking the ball at the backboard every time we need points. Yet another question mark answered. So let's look at our team next year without our next recruiting class.
Tom Pritchard- With a very loud 13 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal, "The Wall" who was once known most for having balls bounce off him has established a post presence that we've been lacking. If he can play for the rest of the season with half the intensity he displayed in the first half last night, we've got a hell of a team to watch
Christian Watford- Beast. His stats speak for themselves. I'm not going to elaborate because it's unnecessary.
Verdell Jones III- My greatest fear about him going into this season is that he has sticky hands. He wants the ball (good), but he wants to keep it when he shouldn't (bad). He's skilled, however, and he's learned how to work with the team. Come next year, everyone will know his name.
Maurice Creek- Remember me? I guarantee... yes... GUARANTEE that if Maurice Creek was healthy last night we win that game. Regardless, he's the centerpiece of this team. This is the guy that's going to make it on the Tshirts. "Got Creek?" perhaps? Maybe you prefer something else, but one thing is sure, when he comes back, we won't be Up a Creek Without a Paddle.
Jordi Hulls- The glue holding together our lineup. This kid has it. He's skilled, but we knew that. Now we know that he has mental fortitude. He showed courage not in a lack of nerves, but rather a conquering of his nerves. This is the first test, but give this kid two years and he'll be leading the charge towards Banner Six.
So maybe I'm crazy, or maybe Crean knows what he's doing. Maybe this team has what it takes. For those of you who aren't along for the ride right now, I beg you to jump on board now. This team is the next great story in Indiana basketball.
First, there was Milan.
Then there was Bobby, Reggie, Larry Legend.
Now, there's Tom Crean and the next generation of Hoosier Hysteria.
From Bobby Plump to Bobby Knight and everyone inbetween, we've seen too many legends in Indiana to not recognize one when he's coaching our sidelines.
Banner Six, here we come.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Call To Action
Ladies and Gentlemen, I want you to take note.
We are approaching a turning point in our society. The world has shrunk to the size of my Macbook and now the whole world fits in my backpack. Consequently, we are now in competition with the rest of the world over everything. Right now, we're winning. Congratulations, America. One thing you have to realize, however, is that we've gotten lucky.
Who is carrying us right now? Today, the younger generation is holding onto the coattails of the baby boomers. They're the ones running the show. There are two reasons for this:
1.) They are more experienced.
2.) They are better than their generation anywhere else in the world.
Over the past thirty years, America's ranking in education has been slipping. We're now "middle of the pack" on a global scale and at the bottom among other first-world nations.
Pop Quiz: What is the number one influence to building a nation's GDP? Is it...
A.) Low Taxes
B.) Increased capital
C.) Increased labor
D.) Education
If you guessed D, you're correct.
Watch what happens next. The baby boomers are in their victory lap. They're retiring soon. Once they're gone, it's up to us. Our university-educated populace will take the reigns, but you'd be shocked who can slip through the cracks of a University. We'll try our damndest, but we won't be able to keep up with other nations, because even though their kids went to the same universities our kids went to, their kids left with a much higher GPA and much more retention of information.
Where are we in Indianapolis?
Indiana is ranked 24th in the nation. Just breaking the top half of American test scores. We're no Alaska (46) or Arizona (50), but we have a long way to go before we can even be the best in a relatively poor nation academically.
What people don't realize is that whoever decides to take the education initiative seriously over the next decade is going to be the next superpower. Both nationally and locally, we have to take this seriously.
Let's imagine this for a second... Indianapolis creates a new education initiative that will actually work. We rise to the top of the nation and bring up the national average. Suddenly, businesses start to notice and migrate. Our economy booms and now the 13th largest city in the US becomes larger, richer, with more wealth to spread around. If we get a system that works, we could become the new Empire State.
We can make everyone better off and improve the quality of life for all Hoosiers. We're standing on the edge of history right now, and the choices we make today will define what language our great grandchildren will be doing business in.
There is one person who wants to keep that language English and put America back on top. Brian Williams (not the NBC anchor) is running for mayor of Indianapolis. This man is the one man who can give us hope for a successful tomorrow by fighting for it today. As a member of the board of directors for IndyReads, Brian gets it. He knows what we're facing, and he is willing to step up to the plate.
So tell me, Indianapolis. Today, on the brink of history, who has your vote?
We are approaching a turning point in our society. The world has shrunk to the size of my Macbook and now the whole world fits in my backpack. Consequently, we are now in competition with the rest of the world over everything. Right now, we're winning. Congratulations, America. One thing you have to realize, however, is that we've gotten lucky.
Who is carrying us right now? Today, the younger generation is holding onto the coattails of the baby boomers. They're the ones running the show. There are two reasons for this:
1.) They are more experienced.
2.) They are better than their generation anywhere else in the world.
Over the past thirty years, America's ranking in education has been slipping. We're now "middle of the pack" on a global scale and at the bottom among other first-world nations.
Pop Quiz: What is the number one influence to building a nation's GDP? Is it...
A.) Low Taxes
B.) Increased capital
C.) Increased labor
D.) Education
If you guessed D, you're correct.
Watch what happens next. The baby boomers are in their victory lap. They're retiring soon. Once they're gone, it's up to us. Our university-educated populace will take the reigns, but you'd be shocked who can slip through the cracks of a University. We'll try our damndest, but we won't be able to keep up with other nations, because even though their kids went to the same universities our kids went to, their kids left with a much higher GPA and much more retention of information.
Where are we in Indianapolis?
Indiana is ranked 24th in the nation. Just breaking the top half of American test scores. We're no Alaska (46) or Arizona (50), but we have a long way to go before we can even be the best in a relatively poor nation academically.
What people don't realize is that whoever decides to take the education initiative seriously over the next decade is going to be the next superpower. Both nationally and locally, we have to take this seriously.
Let's imagine this for a second... Indianapolis creates a new education initiative that will actually work. We rise to the top of the nation and bring up the national average. Suddenly, businesses start to notice and migrate. Our economy booms and now the 13th largest city in the US becomes larger, richer, with more wealth to spread around. If we get a system that works, we could become the new Empire State.
We can make everyone better off and improve the quality of life for all Hoosiers. We're standing on the edge of history right now, and the choices we make today will define what language our great grandchildren will be doing business in.
There is one person who wants to keep that language English and put America back on top. Brian Williams (not the NBC anchor) is running for mayor of Indianapolis. This man is the one man who can give us hope for a successful tomorrow by fighting for it today. As a member of the board of directors for IndyReads, Brian gets it. He knows what we're facing, and he is willing to step up to the plate.
So tell me, Indianapolis. Today, on the brink of history, who has your vote?
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