Everybody needs to stay positive today. Not only are we almost to the weekend, but I am convinced thinking good thoughts can make this day better. I did, then I found a video with High-5's and mustaches. That means good things are going to happen.
And to help everyone feel the same positivity, I am ditching the Low-5 today and doubling up on the High-5. Enjoy.
1. John Calipari. I talked about this yesterday and the big day everyone expected for Calipari turned out to be exactly that.
Gary Parrish does a great job taking a time out from the e-mail hateration to applaud Calipari for flipping the script at UK after the disappointing loss to WVU. It's worth a read.
And also has a throwaway line Bearcats fans should be pretty interested in. That being Calipari's deft move to have 2011 Michael Gilchrist verbal yesterday may sway prized UC recruit Marquis Teague to jump onto the Wildcats bandwagon as well.
As much as I appreciate the deep thought it took for Parrish to put this together, I equally appreciate how little it took Seth Davis to do this. There is nothing better than a little play on words for the sake of some low-brow humor.
2. Jordan Crawford not coming back. Here is a quote from an NBA scout (more on Crawford can be found here) that is all the reason why Crawford shouldn't return to Xavier.
"His stock is probably not going to be higher than what it is right now."
3. Lance Stephenson should be. The Hoop Doctors with an analysis of why Lance is making the wrong decision. They project him at late 2nd round and say he could have jumped to a lottery pick next year. Not breaking news, but yet another confirmation.
4. Marcus Barnett. Good story on the receiver-turned-corner-turned receiver Marcus Barnett from Josh Katzowitz. Not sure where Barnett fits in among this crop of wideouts, but he adds to the depth there.
By the way, if you haven't bought Bearcats Rising yet, do it. And buy it for a dollar more than the cover price. It would mean a lot to JKatz. His ego needs some love.
5. NBA Playoffs. Finally the NBA will be watchable once again. It is amazing how much I love the NBA playoffs compared to how little I watch the regular season. I will watch 2x more NBA this weekend than I have all season.
It's just great to finally see players a) care b) actually play all four quarters c) give me an excuse to link to this commerical.
My favorite series to watch in each league:
Oklahoma City vs. LA
OKC might not be there yet, but seeing just how far away this young team and Kevin Durant are to the Lakers will be fun. Particularly since Kobe thinks they are underdogs in the playoffs.
Milwaukee vs. Atlanta
The slogan in Milwaukee right now is Fear the Deer. That alone scores them points with me. These are two of the hottest teams in the league. While everyone talks about Cleveland and Orlando, Atlanta is a darkhorse to make the Finals out of the East.
High-5, Part II (Stay Positive, people!)
1. The Onion Sports Network. It is coming to Comedy Central. Couldn't be happier. That means more great stories like this. And let's hope more updates on the VH1 Reality Show Bus Slut Spill.
2. Dale Hansen. Likely, you have seen this by now. And almost as likely, you have seen the reaction of Dale Hansen (NSFW language in headline), sports director at a Dallas news station.
First off, let me say this, Jerry needs to be aware that this can happen to him and stop drunkenly bashing people. Period. He should know better.
I don't believe in these camera phone to internet catching people saying stuff making its way into mainstream media, but, honestly, that is our day and age. I wasn't a reporter back in the day before the cell phone/Internet era, having graduated from OU in 2003, but know enough about it -- even specifically involving Jerry Jones from Jeff Pearlman's book Boys will be Boys -- to know this type of stuff and much worse was uttered after a few beers off the record to reporters and the like -- and know enough to know it still is.
I appreciate Hansen standing up for what he believes in, even if he is off base in his cliched blogger-in-the-basement-eating-Cheetos rant. That is pretty tired. The rest of it, though, I respect for saying what he believes despite ripping his bosses in the process.
3. The seven kids on every youth sports team. The Pickle has been cranking out these lists and this is another good one.
Bonus points for a random shot at Duke.
4. Drunken teenagers. To be fair, when you are 18, getting drunk and stealing a police car can be very exhausting
5. The Carstache. It is what you think it is. It's a mustache for your car. Please let this become a trend. Please.
Getting drunk when you are 18? Been there, done that (it was legal when I was 18). Stealing a patrol car? Well, where I lived when I was 18, the patrol cars were Chevrolet Caprice Classics and my dad drove one of those, so I didn't bother. I just went cow tipping instead.
A Carstache? And I thought the bra was bad enough. Let alone many adult movies from the 80s.
5 out of 7 on every team on which I played. No girls on our teams and the weird kids' team sport was the chess team. No rockers, though they were all Mensa candidates.
Carstache huh? Does this give new meaning to the phrase "Mustache Ride?!?!" Hay-Oh